Friday Night Smackdown

Friday Night Smackdown

February 8, 2008 – Recap by Sassy

BREAKING NEWS

Since this reporter is behind in reporting, I can tell you that Rey Mysterio injured a bicep.  The injury was reported on February 15, 2008. There is no word yet on how serious the injury was or how much time Mysterio may miss due to the injury.

Smackdown is broadcast from Corpus Christi, TX

on the CW network.

Ringside announcers: Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman

Ring announcer: Justin Roberts

The Animal Batista enters the arena, then the ring. He is dressed in wrestling attire. Batista stops on the way to the ring to say something to a fan but the camera panned away so I can’t tell you what the exchange appeared to be. It has been reported Batista has had verbal confrontations with several fans in the last few months.

Michael Cole is waiting in the ring with a mic to talk to Batista about the Elimination Chamber match he will be in at the No Way Out pay per view. If Batista wins the match, he will go on to Wrestlemania. Batista says that he will win the match and he will go on to Wrestlemania to reclaim his heavyweight championship.

The WWE United States Champion, M.V.P., interrupts Batista. MVP takes the mic from Cole and faces Batista. MVP is there to tell Batista that MVP will be the one winning the Elimination Chamber match and Batista disagrees, but Big Daddy V and Matt Stryker interrupt them.

Stryker has the mic and he tells everyone that V will be the one winning the Elimination Chamber match and will continue on to Wrestlemania. Stay with us, folks, we should have everyone who will be in the Elimination Chamber match in the ring shortly. And The Great Khali and Ranjin Singh interrupt Stryker.

Khali takes the mic from Singh and points to V.  I don’t know what’s he’s saying, but he’s giving V an earful. Singh says that Khali will be going to the main event at Wrestlemania and that Khali isn’t afraid of any man in the Elimination Chamber match. Finlay and Hornswoggle interrupt Singh.

Finlay has the mic in his hand as he and Hornswoggle enter the ring. Finlay says they just came out to join the party. He says he has come to fight and the lights go out.

When the lights come on, The Undertaker has entered the ring. Everyone bails out of the ring with the exception of Batista and Finlay. The Undertaker doesn’t say anything but he does let the rest of the Elimination Chamber members know that The Undertaker will be the one winning the match and going on to Wrestlemania.

Smackdown Elimination Chamber match entrants:

Batista

MVP

Big Daddy V

The Great Khali

Finlay

The Undertaker

I’m betting on The Undertaker although Batista, Finlay and MVP are among my other favorites.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, we find out that tonight there will be a 6-man tag team match. It will be The Undertaker, Batista and Finlay taking on Big Daddy V, M.V.P. and The Great Khali.

The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin from ECW

Benjamin has mic in hand to tell the audience there ain’t no stoppin’ him.

Vs.

The Big Red Machine Kane weighing 323 lbs.

Audience favorite: Kane

My favorite: I like them both but tend to favor Kane

Kane certainly has a size advantage in this match but Benjamin has been known to fight low down and dirty. Two weeks ago on WWE ECW Benjamin faced Kane and walked out of the match getting himself counted out. Things don’t look good for Benjamin as the match begins. Kane is doing a great job of manhandling Benjamin. Benjamin manages to go up and off the top ropes sending Kane to the mat. Kane comes up with a choke slam but Benjamin gets in the ropes to make Kane break the hold. It doesn’t work for long as Benjamin meets Kane’s boot. Kane gets hung up on the top turnbuckle and Benjamin takes advantage coming off the top turnbuckle with a neck breaker before going for the cover. Kane powers out of the pin. Benjamin has Kane down on the mat but the live audience is behind Kane. Kane gets to his feet. Benjamin sends Kane back down to the mat but still can’t get the three count. Benjamin comes off the top rope and meets Kane’s fist, then two clotheslines. Kane goes for the big boot but Benjamin slides under. Kane gets Benjamin against the corner post and delivers several forearms before sending Benjamin to the mat with a sidewalk slam. Kane goes up on the top rope and comes off with a flying clothesline. Benjamin rolls out of the ring and this time Kane follows him out. Benjamin’s head meets the guardrail but Benjamin sends Kane into the corner post. Kane knocks Benjamin off of the top turnbuckle and into the ring. As Kane gets up on the ring apron, the referee rings the bell and announces that Benjamin wins the match due to a count out. Kane does not look happy.

Winner

The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin

Not a bad match although I’m never happy with count out wins.

Cole advises the audience that Vickie Guerrero is back after being injured Rey Mysterio at The Royal Rumble.

Promo for next week’s Monday Night Raw with John Cena taking on The World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry, Jeff Hardy facing HBK Shawn Michaels, and Hornswoggle taking on Vince McMahon.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, on Smackdown two weeks ago, beat down of Jamie Noble by Chuck Palumbo also knocking down Michelle McCool, last week the apology of Palumbo to McCool with McCool slapping Palumbo and refusing to accept his apology. Palumbo tells McCool that Noble will pay for what she did.

Chuck Palumbo from San Diego, CA, weighing 280 lbs.

Accompanied to the ring by his motorcycle

Vs.

Jamie Noble from Hanover, WV, weighing 202 lbs.

Accompanied to the ring by Michelle McCool

Audience favorite: I’m not sure

My favorite: I like them both but don’t like the direction of Palumbo’s heel turn

Palumbo is not happy that McCool enters the arena with Noble. Palumbo may have the size advantage but Noble is quick in the ring. Noble meets Palumbo’s boot and instead of going for the cover, Palumbo decides to deliver fists to Noble’s face and head. Palumbo is spending time worrying about McCool’s reactions, which gives Noble time to get out of Palumbo’s way. Palumbo goes shoulder first into the ring post when Noble steps out of the way. Noble is now in charge of the match and both men go over the top rope and to the floor outside the ring. Noble is back to his feet first and he continues to work on Palumbo before rolling back inside the ring. Palumbo is back on his feet and tries to get back in the ring, but Noble delivers a drop kick and sends Palumbo back to the floor. Noble goes up on the top turnbuckle and comes off, but Palumbo moves out of the way and Noble hits the motorcycle. Palumbo picks Noble up and rolls him back into the ring and delivers a slam to the mat, goes for the cover and gets the three count.

Winner

Chuck Palumbo

With a little help from his motorcycle

Not a bad match and Jamie Noble does take a lot of dangerous falls and drops in this match.

After the match, McCool can’t decide whether to get in the ring to help Noble or not. Palumbo picks Noble up off the mat and sends him shoulder first into the corner post, then goes outside the ring to work on Noble some more. We have McCool running around the ring yelling for Palumbo to stop and Noble taking some nasty slams on the outside of the ring. The fans are giving Palumbo a hard time but he doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the fans. Palumbo yells something at McCool before continuing the assault on Noble, sending him face first into the guardrail. The ref is trying to get Palumbo out of the area and McCool finally makes it over to Noble to check on him. Palumbo comes back and again goes after Noble. Palumbo drags Noble around the ring and to the area by the entrance ramp before getting on his motorcycle, firing it up and ordering everyone away from Noble. I thought for a minute there Palumbo was going to run over Noble with the bike, but he didn’t. He does stop long enough to glare at Noble, McCool and the ref before going up the entrance ramp and out of the arena.

The after match was too much. No one likes to see anyone get beat down and have it continue for any length of time. Although I don’t mind seeing Palumbo do a heel turn, I don’t like the direction WWE used to get him there. He does make a great crazy hulk. Noble has always been one of my favorites and he continues to work the ring well no matter how large his opponent may be.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, promo for WWE in Japan.

Tag Team Match

Jesse & Festus

At a combined weight of 501 lbs.

Festus enters the arena with a paper back over his head

Vs.

Deuce & Domino from the Other Side of the Tracks (already in the ring)

At a combined weight of 455 lbs.

Accompanied by Cherry

Audience favorites: Jesse & Festus

My favorites: Jesse & Festus

Jesse has the mic as he enters the ring. He wants to tell everyone about Festus and his psychological treatment for his mood disorder. The new and improved Festus is unveiled but he looks the same as he did before his treatment. Jesse says that after the bell rings, Festus will have the face of a changed man. The bell rings and Festus goes ballistic – not exactly a change from the old Festus.

Jesse and Deuce start the match and Jesse delivers a quick roll up but Deuce kicks out. Jesse is working over Deuce and again goes for a cover but Deuce again kicks out. Jesse comes off the top rope and again goes for the cover but Domino pulls Jesse off of Deuce and out onto the floor. Jesse delivers a blow to Domino but gets caught by Deuce when he tries to get back in the ring. Deuce goes for a cover but Jesse manages to power out. Jesse is in the wrong corner and now he’s in the ring with Domino. Festus tries to get into the ring but the ref stops him. Festus is encouraging Jesse to tag him in and Jesse manages to suplex Domino. Jesse is crawling toward his corner but he gets caught. Domino has Jesse by the leg and Deuce runs across to block Jesse from getting a tag but Festus nails Deuce and sends him crashing to the canvas, giving Jesse time to get the tag. Festus has a grip on Domino before he even enters the ring. He runs him across the ring to the other ring post and slams him face first into the top turnbuckle. Deuce is back on his feet and Festus is now in the ring. He sends Deuce flying through the ropes and to the floor. He delivers a boot to Domino’s face as Jesse runs around the side of the ring to take care of Deuce. Cherry gets too close to the ring and Festus makes a grab for her, which gives Domino time to get back to his feet. Festus sends Domino into the ropes and then slams him to the mat, goes for the cover and gets the win.

Winners

Festus

&

Jesse

Another nice match. I enjoy watching Jesse in the ring. He’s quick and does know his wrestling. Festus is a brute and uses force to do what he does, but he is an effective competitor and the perfect partner for Jesse.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, last week’s Smackdown with Teddy Long announcing that at No Way Out, Edge will face Rey Mysterio in a rematch for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

Edge enters the arena for his Cutting Edge segment. I believe his guest will be Vickie which means we will hear a lot of blah, blah, boring blah. No offense, but I don’t like this storyline at all. And it has nothing to do with Vickie being Eddie Guerrero’s widow, it’s just that this isn’t working yet WWE continues to drag it out.

Before Edge introduces the love of his life, Vickie Guerrero, he shows the footage of Vickie being nailed with the 619 by Rey Mysterio at The Royal Rumble. It certainly wasn’t Mysterio’s fault. If you stick your face in a wrestling match, you should be prepared to take the punishment. Obviously Vickie doesn’t handle taking the 619 well since she claimed to be “injured”.

As Vickie enters the arena being pushed by Teddy Long in a wheelchair. The audience delivers chants of “you suck” to Vickie’s ring and then begins chants of “Eddie” or “Teddy”. Edge sends Teddy Long out of the ring so that Edge can have time alone with Vickie.  I am trying not to laugh too hard. It’s not exactly “alone” with the entire live audience and the entire audience at home watching. Edge tells Vickie that next week is Valentine’s Day and next week he wants to ask her a very important question. Edge says that this week Rey Mysterio owes her an apology for what he did to her at The Royal Rumble. Edge calls out Mysterio to apologize to Vickie.

Rey Mysterio does enter the arena to the cheers of the audience. He is not dressed for ring action but then neither is Edge. He makes his way to the ring and enters with mic in hand. Vickie demands an apology from Mysterio. Mysterio starts to talk but Vickie slaps him. Mysterio tries again to talk to her and again she slaps him. Mysterio says he is there to explain and when he blocks the next slap, Edge attacks Mysterio, knocking him down to the mat. Mysterio goes for the 619, but Edge moves out of the way. Edge charges Mysterio and nearly runs into Vickie in her wheelchair but manages to stop in time. He turns to get smacked by Mysterio but Mysterio then runs into Edge’s boot Edge is out of the ring and looking for a steel chair, actually two steel chairs which he brings into the ring. Mysterio is back up, delivers a drop kick that sends the chairs into Edge’s face, and this time he does hit Edge with the 619. Edge rolls out of the ring and Mysterio flies out of the ring to slam Edge into the announcer’s table. The audience is very happy with the way this turned out. Vickie is not, obviously.

Mysterio is now in the ring with Vickie. He tells her that he almost forgot to tell her he was sorry. He then leaves the ring and the arena.

This was nearly as good as a real match. It gave Mysterio a chance to pound a little on Edge and kept Edge and Vickie from running their mouths through the entire segment.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, replay of the confrontation between Mysterio, Edge and Vickie that happened before the commercial break.

Cole reminds the audience that Edge will face Rey Mysterio in a rematch for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at No Way Out.

Other matches at No Way Out -

Randy Orton will defend his WWE Championship against John Cena.

Ric Flair will face Mr. Kennedy in a Career Threatening Match.

Raw Elimination Chamber Match: Y2J Chris Jericho vs. John Bradshaw Layfield vs. HBK Shawn Michaels vs. Jeff Hardy vs. The Game Triple H vs. Umaga

Smackdown Elimination Chamber Match:  Big Daddy V vs. M.V.P. vs. The Great Khali vs. Batista vs. Finlay vs. The Undertaker.

Cole reminds the audience about the 6-man tag team match, all entrants in the No Way Out Elimination Chamber match will be later tonight.

The Raw Rebound

McMahon attempts to make Hornswoggle kiss his ass but Hornswoggle refuses and then is saved by Finlay. Hornswoggle does bite McMahon’s ass before bailing out of the ring with Finlay. McMahon then tells the audience that on the next Raw, he will face Hornswoggle in a No Disqualification Match and if Finlay gets involved in the match, he will be fired.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break, Edge is interrupted backstage by the new interviewer. She asks him what Edge is going to ask Vickie next week and then asks if he is going to propose. Edge tells her it isn’t any of her business and tells her if she really wants to know, she can tune in next Friday.

Tag Team Match

Kurt Hawkins

&

Zach Ryder

Both from Long Island, NY

At a combined weight of 437 lbs.

Vs.

Shannon Moore

&

Jimmy Wang Yang

At a combined weight of 410 lbs.

Audience favorite: Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang

My favorites: Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang

Ryder and Yang begin the match. I do like Yang and Moore as a tag team but I prefer Ryder & Hawkins as The Major Brothers. Yang ends up on the floor outside after interference by Hawkins. Yang appears to have injured his left wrist as a result of the fall to the floor. Hawkins and Ryder trade off tags and continue to work on Yang’s injured wrist. Yang manages to deliver a boot to Hawkins skull, allowing Yang to make the tag to Moore. Moore manages a cover but Ryder puts a stop to the count. Moore gets taken down and the opposite team gets the three count.

Winners

Kurt Hawkins

&

Zach Ryder

This could have been a good match but it was too short to allow Yang and Moore to use their high flying maneuvers.

Promo for The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin DVD that will be available next Tuesday.

Commercial break.

Back from commercial break.

Main Event

6 Man Tag Team Match

The Great Khali from India, 7’0”, 420 lbs.

Accompanied to the ring by Ranjin Singh

&

Big Daddy V from Harlem, NY, weighing 487 lbs.

Accompanied to the ring by Matt Stryker

&

M.V.P. from Miami, FL, weighing 238 lbs.

United States Champion

Vs.

The Animal Batista from Washington, DC, weighing 290 lbs.

&

Finlay from Belfast, Northern Ireland, weighing 233 lbs.

Accompanied to the ring by Hornswoggle

&

The Undertaker from Death Valley, weighing 299 lbs.

Audience favorites: Batista, Finlay & Undertaker

My favorites: Batista, Finlay, Undertaker & M.V.P.

Promo for the two Elimination Chamber matches at No Way Out.

Commercial break before the match begins.

Back from commercial break, the match is already underway with Finlay facing Khali in the ring. Finlay isn’t faring well. MVP gets the tag and the ref has to tell Khali to leave the ring as MVP enters. Finlay gets the upper hand against MVP and goes for the cover but MVP manages to kick out. Finlay tags in Batista and MVP tries to get away but can’t. MVP manages to get Batista into his corner and tags in V.  Batista manages to get V into the corner and deliver several shoulder blocks. Batista gets V back into his corner and tags in Undertaker. Undertaker goes to work on V’s left arm and shoulder. Undertaker goes up to the top rope, but V manages to send Undertaker back down to the mat. Undertaker sends V shoulder first into the corner post and again goes up to the top rope before coming off with a slam that sends V down to one knee. MVP comes into the ring and Undertaker takes him through the same move he just used on V. The interference by MVP gives V a chance to deliver a clothesline that sends Undertaker down to the mat. V tags in Khali and we go to

COMMERCIAL BREAK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MATCH!

AND THE MAIN EVENT NO LESS!

Back from commercial break, MVP is now in the ring with Undertaker. MVP goes for a cover but only gets a two count before Undertaker powers out. MVP does a little boxing but Undertaker comes off the ropes with a hard right and then another, sending MVP down to the canvas. Undertaker tags in Batista who goes to work on MVP. Batista charges across the ring to send a forearm to V, sending him to the floor. Batista delivers a suplex to MVP and goes for a cover but MVP manages to kick out. MVP is in the wrong corner as Batista tags in Finlay. Finlay goes for the cover, MVP kicks out, Finlay charges to send a fist to V and Khali on the ring apron and then turns back to MVP. The ref is trying to keep V and Khali out of the ring. MVP sends Finlay off the top turnbuckle and onto the floor. V goes down to the floor and after Finlay as Batista tries to enter the ring. Undertaker goes around the ring to chase off Stryker and V. Undertaker has a chair as MVP rolls Finlay back into the ring. MVP goes for the cover but Finlay manages to kick out at the count of two. MVP has Finlay in the wrong corner as he tags in Khali. Khali stops to show Undertaker he is the strongest man in the ring and Finlay is in trouble. Khali tags in V and Finlay is in the wrong corner as V goes to work on him. V tags in MVP and MVP goes to work on Finlay’s neck. Hornswoggle is pounding on the ring apron to get Finlay back to his feet. Finlay is up and delivers a few knees, but when he comes off the ropes, MVP catches him with a drop toehold. MVP delivers a kick to Finlay’s head, but can’t get the three count. Finlay is looking for a tag but is too far away from his corner. Finlay manages to break free from MVP and as MVP goes for the kick, Finlay gets out of the way and tags in Undertaker. Undertaker delivers two splashes before sending MVP face first into the turnbuckle and then a boot to the head. MVP is down on the mat and Undertaker delivers a leg drop and goes for the cover but MVP kicks out. V enters the ring. He picks up Undertaker and delivers a Samoan drop but as he turns around, Batista delivers a spear to V. Khali enters the ring and delivers a chop to Batista’s head before Finlay delivers a shot with the shillelagh to Khali’s head. MVP delivers a blow to Finlay, taking him down to the mat. Finlay rolls out of the ring and MVP is left alone in the ring with Undertaker who delivers a choke slam. Coach says the ref has declared the match over with no winner. Finlay is in the ring, facing Undertaker, Batista is in the opposite corner.

Winners

No One

On the next Friday Night Smackdown, Edge’s question for Vickie.

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