Kick off right away with a recap of the Draft. Best draft since the original, rivalled only by the original and the 2005 draft. Nice to see Rey Mysterio off of SmackDown, and I’m obviously VERY happy to see Jeff Hardy and Brian Kendrick on SmackDown … how I missed Kendrick.
Vickie Guerrero is backstage. She is very emotional over what happened to Vinnie Mac on RAW. It was an interesting segment, maybe not a great one but an interesting one none the less – that’s enough to satisfy me. On behalf of her and her family, she wishes Vinnie their prays and hopes that he isn’t confined to a Wheelchair much like she is … Cough … Vickie then says he would want them all to focus on the positives of their lives, like her marriage and their success in the draft. Vickie says the line I never thought I’d hear “Superior Draftâ€. Vickie introduces J.R..
Gotta love JR’s entrance music, but I lost a lot of respect after hearing JR considered quitting after being moved to SmackDown. He and Foley will make an awesome team. Very nice touch to have JR make his own introduction too. JR promises SmackDown will never be the same again, and here’s one of – if not the main reason – Triple H! Man, this is just god damned awkward. JR, Triple H … this is going to take a bit of getting used to.
Triple H says what a difference a day can make. Only a few days ago, Vince was a crazy guy giving away money and Trips was top dog on RAW. Now, Vince is still crazy just not giving money out anymore. And for the first time in six (SIX! Phaw!) years, he’s on SmackDown. But it’s nice to see Mick Foley (noting his “impeccable style†but not how he beat the hell out of him several times a near decade ago) and JR, the one man he’d rather having come over to SmackDown with him. Trips says that so long as the fans are here, then he’s home – but enough of the blatant sucking up and onto the blatant shilling, Night of Champions. Triple H vs. John Cena. WWE Championship. Only on PPV. Man, I never noticed Trips’ biceps before … and Edge interrupts, and it looks like he shoved a pair of socks down the front if you know what I mean. Suppose some of you didn’t need to know that, though.
So now we have WWE Champion and World Heavy Weight Champion together in the ring. Edge says that they’re the best of the best. Edge says that some people think there’s a chance that they can’t co-exist, but Edge knows they can get along. Trips says he appreciates the positive thinking, Trips sees major problems. 1: Their egos, with apparently Trips’ being much better. 2: Trips’ will still be a champion after Night of Champions. Edge gets all pissy because he might be loosing his belt, so to welcome Trips back to SmackDown – Edge tells trips that in World Heavy Weight title matches between the two, Edge hasn’t lost to Batista. Meanwhile, Trips has taped out to Cena in a title match. Edge says that SmackDown is his house and his show – did anyone else know that Edge is taller than Trips? – and demands that Trips start learning how to respect him. Batista’s music hits, and out comes Dave – so glad I may never have to recap a Batista match ever again. Trips throws Edge out of the ring and into a spear from Batista. Batista grabs the belt, JR references Evolution while Batista and Trips pose with the belts. Well, between those three segments, that was a way to open SmackDown.
Still to come: Batista’s Final SmackDown Match vs. Umaga, as well as Champion Vs. Champion in Matt Hardy vs. Edge.
Commercials.
Also tonight: Rey Mysterio’s Final Appearance on SmackDown.
Kane and The Big Show vs. Mark Henry and Montel Vontavious Porter
Porter and Kane start, for good old times before Kane heads off to RAW. Porter with punches to Kane to start before he gets some kicks to the leg of Kane. Kane gets offence in, with a low drop kick to a seated Porter as well as hooking his arm on the rope. Kane tags out to Show. Show head butts Porter down and picks him up for a Military Press. Henry tagged in. Lock up and neither get the advantage. Henry kicks Show and begins punching him into the corner. Show begins fighting back at Henry and gets the chest bitch chop, before tagging out to Kane. Kane with offence to Henry, but Henry sends Kane into his corner for an avalanche. Porter tags himself in and kicks away at Kane and covers for a one count. Kane starts getting to his feet but Porter big boots him. Porter covers for a very brief count. Porter with a headlock on Kane, Kane pushes him into the ropes and Porter comes back into a sideslam. Henry with some disturbing grunts. Kane with running clotheslines to Porter as well as a big boot. Kane signals for the Chokeslam but Porter slides out of the ring, yelling for Henry to finish the match. Henry throws Porter back into the ring, and a Chokeslam ends this.
Winners: Kane and The Big Show
Could’ve been worse. I wonder if they’ve let a Mark Henry face turn cross their mind? Three out of Ten.
Vickie is planning her wedding with her wedding planner. They still need to talk about stuff, and Vickie’s kids will be there next week! MY GOSH! Edge comes in and is quite upset over what happened, and Vickie reminds Edge that Batista is off the show soon. Vickie tells her to think about taking care of Matt Hardy tonight.
Commercials.
Still, still to come: Batista vs. Umaga. Foley and JR really hype up Umaga, and even throw in a video package. An awesome one at that too.
Ryder – pants.
Finlay and Hornswoggle vs. Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder
I won’t have to recap many more Finlay matches. Damn. I won’t have to recap much more Hornswoggle. Thank god. Finlay and Hawkins start. Lock up and Hawkins takes Finlay to the corner right away. Finlay chops Ryder AND Hawkins, before nailing Hawkins with an atomic drop. Finlay gives Hornswoggle some more momentum heading into Ryder. Hawkins slams Finlay into the turnbuckles. Hawkins goes with a baseball slide but Finlay gets the apron up and clubs away. Ryder distracts Finlay and Hawkins connects with the baseball slide. Hawkins with a suplex before Ryder is tagged in. Finlay throws Ryder outside and spears Hawkins in the corner. Finlay with a Celtic Cross to Hawkins, and Tadpole Splash ends it.
Winners: Finlay and Hornswoggle
Meh, served it’s purpose I guess, and was active enough. Two out of Ten. Morrison and Miz pose from the entrance way. Those abs are damned distracting, in a good way.
Up next: Champion vs. Champion, Edge vs. Matt Hardy.
Commercials.
Tonight: Rey Mysterio’s Final Appearance.
Champion vs. Champion: Matt Hardy vs. Edge
Edge gets MAJOR heat. JR doesn’t want to picture Edge naked. Lock up and the pair head to the corner, with the referee splitting them up. Lock up and Edge hooks the arm of Hardy, Hardy reverses it and gets a hammerlock on Edge. Edge gets a drop toe hold and follows with a headlock, but Hardy escapes and turns it into a hammerlock. Edge stops the hammerlock by forcing Hardy into the corner, before elbowing Hardy into the nose. Hardy with the clothesline bulldog for the early two count pinfall. Edge misses a punch and Hardy goes for the Side Effect but Edge escapes. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate but Edge escapes and cowers in the corner as we head to a break.
Commercials.
We’re back and Edge is still in the corner, only to run into an arm drag from Hardy. JR notes Edge selling the spear from Batista. Edge rolls through a scoop slam and tries for his reverse X-Factor but Hardy grabs the ropes and Edge falls down hard. On the outside, Hardy jumps off the apron with a clothesline. Hardy tries for the ten count punches in the corner but Edge drops Hardy head first on the top turnbuckle. Pretty sure, turned away from the television for a moment. Edge cross bodies Hardy throat first onto the second rope in a nice moment. Edge covers for a two count. Edge beats on Hardy in the corner, before setting Hardy on the apron for a big kick to the chest.
Back in the ring, Edge gets a facelock on Hardy. Hardy escapes and the two fight over a backslide, which Hardy wins and gets a two count – Edge escapes but turns right into the Side Effect for a two count! Hardy gets the corner clothesline but Edge pushes him off the Bulldog. Edge runs into a pair of boots from Hardy, and Hardy gets a Yodel Elbow to Edge. Edge avoids the Yodel Legdrop but Hardy lands on his feet and nails Edge with a DDT for a two count, near a three! Hardy climbs to the top rope but a Moonsault misses! Edge goes for the Spear but Hardy avoids and Edge hit’s the second rope! Edge blocks a Twist of Fate with a Backslide for a two count! Hardy with a school boy for a two! Hardy turns into the spear for the three count!
Winner: Edge
Very, very good ending. And boy did this match do what it set out to do – make Matt Hardy look a million bucks. Quality match, and a very good way to farewell Hardy off of SmackDown – ignoring the ECW / SmackDown talents relation. Eight out of Ten.
Still to come: Batista vs. Umaga.
Commercials.
Foley and JR introduce a hype video for Jeff Hardy. I miss him having good hair. Hardy makes his redebut next week on SmackDown.
JR and Foley run down some of the Night of Champions card. I miss the times when they would show us the entire card.
Kelly Kelly and Michelle McCool make their entrances …
Commercials.
Kelly Kelly, Cherry and Michelle McCool vs. Maryse, Victoria and Natalya Neidhart
Mc and Maryse begin. Mc takes it right to Maryse. Mc goes for a hip toss, Maryse blocks it so Mc nails a Russian leg sweep. Victoria tagged in but Mc decides to bring her in the hard way. Mc with her second rope arm drag. Mc with a dropkick to Victoria for a one count. Mc with a headlock before tagging in Kelly, who comes in with a nice sunset flip. Kelly with a hurricanrana for a two count! Cherry in but Victoria sends her into the corner. Cherry kicks Victoria away and nails Victoria with a bulldog for a two count. Mc and Neidhart in. Lock up and Mc gets a takedown to Neidhart. Neidhart with a sunset flip, Mc rolls through and dropkicks Neidhart for a two count. Mc off the ropes into a wheelborrow body scissors but Neidhart drops her throat first on the top rope. Neidhart forces Mc into her team’s corner, Mc knocks Victoria away. We cut to see Vickie paying more attention to the match than her wedding stuff. Neidhart with a NICE Surfboard to Mc, applied still even after Mc’s arms escape Neidhart’s hold. Mc goes for the heel hook but Neidhart stops it. Neidhart with a sleeper to Mc but Mc nails a jawbreaker. Victoria back in with a scoop slam and standing Moonsault for a two count. Maryse in with a kick to the gut of Mc. Maryse with a scoop slam for a one count over Mc. Maryse knocks Kelly off the apron, Mc kicks Maryse down and tags out to Cherry. Cherry in with a clothesline to Maryse. Maryse off the ropes into an elbow from Cherry. Cherry with a swinging neck breaker for a one and a half over Maryse. Cherry with punches to Maryse in the corner which Neidhart prevents – Mc and Kelly take care of Victoria and Neidhart, but Maryse gets a school boy over Cherry for the three count!
Winners: Victoria, Maryse and Natalya Neidhart
Man, by SmackDown Diva’s Standards – this was awesome. Honestly, future Mc / Neidhart matches are going to be a strong way to start this new belt. Hopefully afterwards, Victoria and Kelly Kelly will be there to keep the momentum going. Seven out of Ten.
Commercials.
Mr. Kennedy returns to SmackDown next week!
Domino w/ manly facial hair vs. Vladimir Koslov
Lock up and neither get any advantage. Domino with a headlock on Koslov, Koslov pushes him off and Domino comes back into a shoulder block. Lock up and Domino goes after the arm of Koslov, but Koslov gets a big arm drag and follows up with an arm lock. Domino tries fighting him off but Koslov hooks their arms, nails head butts and follows up with an overhead belly to belly. Domino with right hands to Koslov, even gets a running elbow which takes Koslov down. Koslov boots Domino down. Domino with a pair of shoulders to Koslov. Domino goes up top but gets hit with that massive head butt to the gut to give Koslov the victory, while the referee does the X signal!
Winner: Vladimir Koslov
Nowhere near Noble / Koslov, but still good. Three out of Ten. Domino is getting checked on by the referee afterwards.
Rey Mysterio is backstage when he runs into Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle gives Rey Mysterio his hand. Mysterio taps his heels together and Hornswoggle waves goodbye … Awwwwwwwww! I promised I wasn’t going to cry and then they tug at my heart strings!
Commercials.
Rey Mysterio comes on out and the crowd are rather glad to see him. Mysterio thanks the fans for their support as he became Cruiser Weight Champion, Tag Team Champion and, of course, World Heavy Weight Champion. Mysterio invites the fans to join him on RAW. Mysterio speaks in Spanish and the crowd really loves that. Mysterio finishes his speech and Batista’s music hits. The pair hug in the middle of the ring as we head to commercials.
Commercials.
Batista vs. Umaga
Oh, my first Umaga match coverage! I feel like a girl on Prom night! Punches to begin, but Umaga knocks Batista down by pushing him into the ropes and Batista comes back into a high elbow. Butt drop misses and Batista goes for an early Batista Bomb but Umaga turns it into a shoulder body toss. Batista back up to his feet and gets a shot to the throat from Umaga. Umaga picks Batista up and head butts him down, splash gets Umaga a two count and this match is already better than their WrestleMania match. For what little that says. Batista with right to Umaga, but a single right from Umaga Batista falls down. Umaga sends Batista into the corner with force. Umaga claws the neck / shoulder area of Batista. Batista near escapes it, but doesn’t. – the second time, however, he does! Batista comes off the ropes into a dropkick from Umaga!!!! Umaga covers for a failed pinfall attempt. Umaga with head butts to Batista, five in total. Umaga reapplies the claw but Batista escapes. Batista goes for a slam but Umaga’s weight doesn’t work in Batista’s advantage and Umaga drops on Batista for a two count.
Umaga runs into a boot from Batista. Umaga tries for a stinger splash in the corner but Batista avoids! Batista with clotheslines to Umaga in the corner. Batista with a cool Spinebuster on Umaga. Batista signals for the Batista Bomb, but La Familia run in and attack Batista!
Winner: Batista
Batista begins fighting off La Familia, but Umaga super kicks Batista down. La Familia try to continue their assault, but Umaga takes control and Ass Avalanches Batista! La Familia bring Batista into the middle of the ring, and Umaga goes to the top rope – but Trips is here! Trips drops Umaga groin first on the top rope, before he and Batista clean house! Pedigree to Ryder, Batista Bomb to Hawkins! Cool visual there. Match would’ve been so much better with a finish, but they did really well with the shortened time that they had. Superior to their WrestleMania match. Six out of Ten. Oh, that reminds me, you should all know – I’m an Umaga mark.
Kane and The Big Show defeat Mark Henry and Montel Vontavious Porter: 3/10
Finlay and Hornswoggle defeat Curt Hawkins and Zach Ryder: 2/10
Edge defeats Matt Hardy: 8/10
Maryse, Victoria and Natalya Neidhart defeat Cherry, Kelly Kelly and Michelle McCool: 7/10
Vladimir Koslov defeats Domino: 3/10
Batista defeats Umaga: 6/10
27/06/08: 29/50
Hey, a pretty good show. Obviously because of all the comings and goings, this show really stood out – they actually did their best to make it feel like an important show. I think they succeeded. This episode, in my opinion, stands head and shoulders above all the other SmackDowns this year. Take that for what it’s worth.
