Recap of the SmackDown Elimination Chamber Match from No Way Out.
Edge and the Edge Heads are out after the usual opening video. Edge calls himself a predator, which is rather odd. Edge says he’s not afraid of facing Undertaker at WrestleMania, and says he sees this match as a chance to cement his legacy. Edge says that the fans are afraid to take a chance because they know they’ll fail, but Edge takes on the seemingly impossible and succeeds. Edge says he’ll be the man to defeat Undertaker, but the bell gongs and we suddenly (too abruptly if you ask me) cut to Undertaker attacking the trio. Edge makes the escape while Undertaker poses.
Commercials.
Rey Mysterio addresses his future … tonight!
Money In The Bank Qualifier: Shelton Benjamin vs. Jimmy Wang Yang
Lock up and Benjamin gets a takedown. Benjamin covers for a one count. Benjamin takes Yang down again for another one count. Benjamin takes Yang into the corner but Yang trips Benjamin and covers for a two count. Benjamin hits Yang with a shoulder body toss for a two count. Benjamin goes for a power bomb, and nails it – sending Yang into the turnbuckles. Benjamin covers for another failed pinfall attempt. Yang gets a school boy on Benjamin for a two count! Yang flips through a backslide attempt by Benjamin and gets a tight package on Benjamin for a two count. Benjamin with the exploder suplex on Yang for a two count. Benjamin hit’s a backbreaker on Yang and follows up with a backbreaker submission hold, but Yang knees Benjamin in the head enough times to stop the hold. Benjamin nails an awesome top rope belly to belly on Yang! Benjamin covers but Yang kicks out right before the three count. Benjamin goes to power bomb Yang into the turnbuckles again, but Yang turns it into a hurricanrana sending Benjamin into the turnbuckle! Yang gets a small package on Benjamin for a two count. Spinning heel kick by Yang for another two count! Yang with a head scissor’s takedown. Yang with the heel kick in the corner, Yang connects with the top rope cross body for a two count – almost a three! Yang gets a sunset flip for another close two count! Yang misses the moonsault and Benjamin nails the STO for the three count!
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Very, very good way to start the in ring portion of SmackDown. There were a few moments there where it actually felt like Yang might be on his way to the MITB Match. The match wasn’t without it’s faults, such as the rest hold after the awesome belly to belly, but the goodness was good. Six out of Ten.
Maryse returns to camera and flirts with Theodore Long, taking him into his office …
Commercials.
Footage of the Hornswoggle Cage segment from RAW.
Jesse and Festus vs. Deuce and Domino w/ Cherry
Festus goes gonzo on Deuce to begin. Festus runs into a boot by Deuce, but Festus clotheslines Deuce down moments later. Festus with a scoop slam on Deuce, before Jesse tags in and gets scoop slammed onto Deuce. Jesse with a drop toe hold on Deuce, baseball slide to the head for a two count. Jesse dropkicks Deuce off the ring apron. Domino tries to attack Jesse from behind, but that fails. Deuce sends Cherry into Jesse, allowing enough of a distraction for Deuce to attack Jesse. Deuce with a sleeper over Jesse. Jesse begins nailing Deuce with forearms, but Deuce knees Jesse and hangs him up on the top rope. Domino tags in and nails Jesse with a elbow drop. Jesse’s nose is now quite bloody. Domino tries to cheap shot Festus, but Festus takes Domino down. Festus tags in and flapjacks Domino right away! Festus controls the match in his own way. Jesse tagged back in, and Festus launches him onto Domino – Jesse covers for a three count.
Winners: Jesse and Festus
Enough competition to keep it from being a squash, which puts it in my good books. Three out of Ten.
Commercials.
Video of Big Show / Floyd Mayweather so far.
Commercials.
WWE in South America.
Big Daddy V w/ Matt Striker vs. Shannon Moore
Moore tries to run away from V, and even gets some offence in, but V dominates and wins.
Winner: Big Daddy V
Squash. -Five out of Ten.
Up next: Batista vs. Montel Vontavious Porter
Commercials.
Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Batista
Batista forces Porter into the corner right away, but the referee breaks it up. Porter with a headlock on Batista, but Batista gets to the ropes. Porter kicks Batista down in the corner, and Batista comes back with punches. Both men are still selling the Elimination Chamber, good for them. Porter sends Batista into the second turnbuckle before hitting the back of his neck with a clothesline. Porter sets Batista up on the apron and big boots him in the head.
Porter with a front facelock on Batista, but Batista trips him up – Porter acts quickly and kicks Batista away, sending him out of the ring. Porter slams Batista face first into the ring apron before sending him back into the ring for a two count. Porter with an arm lock on Batista, turning it into a front facelock. Batista turns the facelock into a bear hug, but Batista has to let Porter down – Porter acts quickly by nailing a face buster for a two count. Porter off the ropes into a kick, Batista goes for a Batista Bomb but Porter escapes. Porter sends the back of Batista’s neck into the top rope. Batista gets to his feet but Porter right away nails a big boot and covers for a two count.
Porter sets up for the Playmaker but Batista turns it into a Spinebuster! Another spine buster, and another! Batista nails the Batista Bomb for the three count.
Winner: Batista
Normally, I’d say that Batista didn’t get enough offence in – which would be true if the last moments of the match hadn’t worked in so perfectly with the injuries. Not sure if I made this clear last week, but I’ve become a big fan of the Batista vs. Montel Vontavious Porter matches. Six out of Ten.
Commercials.
Recap of JBL destroying Hornswoggle on RAW.
Commercials.
The Great Khali vs. Kane
Khali shoves Kane to start, so Kane begins the offence. Khali grabs Kane by the throat and knocks him right down. Kane fights Khali into the corner for a running clothesline. Kane goes for a second but runs into an elbow, and Khali follows up with a clothesline of his own. Khali with elbows in the corner. Kane goes up top but Khali chops him down to the canvas. Khali irish whips Kane, and Kane comes back into a big boot. Khali locks in the shoulder claw. Kane escapes and tries taking Khali down with a boot, but fails. Khali locks in the Vice Grip, and Kane turns it into a pinfall by falling on Khali for the three count!
Winner: Kane
Khali keeps the hold applied afterwards. Meh, interesting ending at least. One out of Ten.
Commercials.
Chuck Palumbo vs. Matt Johnson
Palumbo dominates the match while Michelle McCool watches on backstage. Just an extended squash.
Winner: Chuck Palumbo
Squash. -Five out of Ten.
Rey Mysterio is up next!
Commercials.
Rey Mysterio makes his way out to the ring. Mysterio says his bicep may be torn, and he has to get surgery done this weekend. Which means, he won’t be a part of WrestleMania. Mysterio says that he’s glad to be in his home town for the last time before he heals up. Vickie Guerrero is wheeled on out by Theodore Long, and she says that he may be hurt but she doesn’t give a damn. Guerrero shows a recap of Mysterio attacking her last week, and since he’s not going to apologise to her – she won’t apologise for what’s about to happen. She’s going to force him to compete, and demands a referee run to the ring. Guerrero books Rey Mysterio vs. ECW Champion Chavo Guerrero, for right now. Well, really, that’s what Mysterio gets for wearing his wrestling gear to the ring for a promo.
Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero
Guerrero attacks Mysterio right away as the bell rings. Guerrero hooks the arm of Mysterio, but Mysterio kicks Guerrero away. Mysterio flips over Guerrero in the corner, but Guerrero turns and dropkicks Mysterio down. Guerrero returns to attacking the arm, but Mysterio gets to the ropes so Guerrero gets a baseball slide to the arm, sending Mysterio outside. Guerrero sends Mysterio arm first into the ring apron. Mysterio tries to take Guerrero down, but Guerrero prevents it. Mysterio uses Guerrero’s own momentum to send him out of the ring, where he nails a seated senton from the ring apron.
Guerrero goes for a superplex, but Mysterio prevents it by head butting Guerrero off the top rope. Mysterio gets another seated senton for a one count. Running leg drop by Mysterio. Mysterio runs into a boot by Guerrero. Guerrero goes for a sunset flip, but Mysterio rolls through and dropkicks Guerrero. Mysterio sets Guerrero up for the 619 and hits it! Mysterio tries to capitalise, but can’t because of his arm. Mysterio goes to the top rope, but Guerrero knocks him down to the canvas. Guerrero nails the Three Amigos – with the final being a brain buster. Guerrero misses the Frog Splash! Mysterio gets a sunset flip variation over Guerrero for the three count!
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Hey, they worked with what they had, and put in an alright match. Four out of Ten. Post match, Vickie Guerrero isn’t happy – and says that it’s her turn to hurt Rey … Cue The Big Show! Mysterio tries to run, but Big Show prevents it. Show steps on the arm of Mysterio, before squeezing it. Big Show nails the Show Stopper on Mysterio to end this.
Shelton Benjamin defeats Jimmy Wang Yang: 6/10
Jesse and Festus defeat Deuce and Domino: 3/10
Big Daddy V squashes Shannon More: -5/10
Batista defeats Montel Vontavious Porter: 6/10
Kane defeats The Great Khali: 1/10
Chuck Palumbo defeats Matt Johnson: -5/10
Rey Mysterio defeats Chavo Guerrero: 4/10
SmackDown 22/02/08: 10/70
Undertaker vs. Edge looks to be off to a good start, and I can’t wait for it to get momentum. I also really hope they utilize the whole Ministry of Darkness history. Benjamin / Yang and Porter / Batista were the highlights of this week’s episode, and worth checking out. Until next week’s episode, have a good one!
