The Smackdown! Report (04/07/06): World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
Submitted by Chad Matthews on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 9:49 PM EST





The Smackdown! Report (04/07/06)

The show opened with a slightly remixed SD intro theme.

Match 1: WWE Tag Team Champions MNM vs. Paul London and Brian Kendrick
-(CMV1 note- bear with me, as I recall these two teams are hard to keep up with when facing each other…by the way, this was a non-title match). London and Kendrick interrupted Melina’s entrance, picking her up off the apron before she could make her way into the ring. Once the match got underway, Paul and Brian caught Nitro with a double hip toss and followed with simultaneous kicks. A running dropkick from Kendrick scored the first near fall of the match. Mercury, meanwhile, distracted the ref and allowed Melina to grab Brian’s foot. He and Melina then pulled him out of the ring feet-first and sent him crashing to the floor. Nitro tagged in Mercury, who grabbed a rear waist-lock. Brian battled back and tried to tag, but Nitro came into the ring and attacked him, tossing him to the outside. Back in the ring, Mercury used a gordbuster to hang Brian’s mid-section over the top rope. He dragged him back to the mat and got a near fall. Nitro back in soon after…he connected with a unique hip-swinging leg drop. MNM continued to isolate Brian in the corner, but Kendrick battled back and reversed a Nitro suplex attempt into a small package. Mercury distracted the ref, though, keeping him from making the count. Nitro escaped the pinning predicament and hit a side Russian leg sweep. Melina got involved again (behind the ref’s back). Mercury then tagged back in and connected on a double leg drop with Nitro. Four covers later and Kendrick was still fighting. A nice double team followed that saw Mercury give Brian a backbreaker and leave him across his knee, only to see Nitro hop over the top rope and catch Kendrick with an elbow drop. London finally got the hot tag soon after, but the ref was again distracted and didn’t see it. MNM, thus, continued their isolation and tried a double back drop, but Kendrick reversed out, rolled b/t them, and got the hot tag. London cleaned house and eventually hit a dropsault onto Nitro, while landing on Mercury for a near fall. Illegal interference again came into play, though, allowing MNM to temporarily regain control. They then went for the Snapshot, but Kendrick came in and took out Nitro, allowing London to roll through and score a very close near fall. London then dodged more interference and found himself in position to end the match with the 450 splash on Mercury. However, Nitro pushed him off the top rope and caused London to land in the ring awkwardly. Kendrick came in out of nowhere and took Johnny out of the picture. The finish came when Mercury got distracted and allowed himself to get rolled up and pinned by London. London and Kendrick defeated MNM at 9:46. (CMV1 rating- ** ½) (CMV1 note- very entertaining tag team match. It had a very quick pace throughout and the near ten-minutes given to it flew by. With London and Kendrick’s non-title win, we may actually have our first legit tag title feud in quite awhile).


Backstage, Booker T and Sharmell were shown going into SD GM Teddy Long’s office to inform him that they had gotten a restraining order against the Boogeyman. Obviously, Book and Sharmell were tickled to death with themselves. (CMV1 note- so apparently a terrible match at the biggest show of the year doesn’t warrant a stupid feud being discontinued in the case of the Boogeyman).

A video highlight package of the early parts to the Orton-Mysterio feud aired, specifically taking us back to when Mysterio dedicated his Royal Rumble performance to the late Eddie Guerrero. It also showed Rey winning the Rumble by last eliminating the Legend Killer.

Match 2: Booker T (w/ Sharmell) vs. Gunner Scott
-Booker grabbed a waist lock to gain first strike points. The former 5-time WCW champion dominated for the next several sequences, using a pressing kick and a spinebuster to maintain control. Then, the Boogeyman’s music started playing, allowing Scott to catch the distracted Bookerman with a roll-up and bridge pin for the win at 2:49. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *). (CMV1 note- rumor has it that Gunner Scott is actually Brent Albright, one of the standouts of the current OVW crop. If that’s the case, then it’s nice to have him on SD. Just for your info if you didn’t catch the show, he looks to me like Chris Benoit w/ Paul Burchill’s head attached…seriously). After the match, Teddy Long, in an attempt to annoy Booker, sarcastically apologized for the music miscue and congratulated Scott for his win.

A second video highlight package aired of the No Way Out build-up to the Mysterio-Orton match, where Orton constantly put down Eddie Guerrero. It showed Orton defeating Rey with a roll-up to win the guaranteed title shot at Mania, as well as the clip from the following week’s Smackdown that saw Teddy Long add Rey to the title match at Mania.

Backstage, Chris Benoit congratulated Gunner on his win and welcomed him to Smackdown.


Match 3: Chris Benoit vs. Simon Dean
-Simon road his segue right at Benoit during the Crippler’s entrance. Benoit simply clotheslined him off it, though. In the ring, Benoit dominated with a snap suplex and an elbow drop. He then tried for another elbow drop, but Dean moved out of the way and connected on a sloppy bulldog after a sloppy attempt at a takedown. Simon proceeded to use a wear down hold for about 20-seconds, before Benoit took over again and won the match via submission. Benoit defeated Dean w/ the Crossface. (CMV1 rating- ¼ *). After the match, a video promotion for next week’s Great American Celebration aired, featuring the new United States Champion, John Bradshaw Layfield. (CMV1 note- sloppy and boring when Dean was on offense…a little uncharacteristic of him…but the match served it’s purpose and essentially just put over Benoit as the dominant wrestler. However, the post-match announcement of JBL’s celebration next week has me intrigued…that should be quite entertaining).

A third video highlight package aired and highlighted Rey Mysterio’s win last Sunday, making him the smallest World Champion in history.

Backstage, Kurt Angle confronted Randy Orton, who was getting prepared for his upcoming match. Orton asked Angle if he was missing something…oh, yes, he said, it was the World Heavyweight Championship. Not to worry, though, as Orton said he could find it around his waist after he beats Rey Mysterio in a few minutes. They proceeded to have a stare down, but Angle slapped him and showed some of that usual great (albeit slightly over-the-top) intensity with a few “YEAH”s.


Match 4: World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton
-(CMV1 note- this is Rey Mysterio’s first title defense…Congrats to Rey on his win at Wrestlemania, by the way). A bit of a feeling out process in the early going before they locked up and Randy backed him into the corner. A clean break followed, but Randy slapped Rey. Mysterio then pushed Orton before they locked up again. Rey with a headlock that sent Randy to his knees. Orton back up, but Rey held onto the headlock and used it to take him down to the mat. Randy countered out into a head scissors, but Rey kipped out of it. Orton wasted no time in grabbing a headlock of his own. Rey tossed Orton into the ropes, but Randy came back with a shoulder tackle. Mysterio tried to get things going with a double kick to the gut, but Orton with his own kick to the gut to regain control. Orton then backed Rey into the corner and Irish whipped him into the opposite corner. Rey with a leapfrog to avoid contact, but Randy turned around, dropped to both knees, and caught Rey with a nice European uppercut for the first near fall. Randy then applied a rear chinlock. Mysterio battled out and tried for a wheelbarrow bulldog, but Orton countered and threw Rey face first into the mat. Orton then reapplied the chinlock. Rey again battled back, though, and gained some much needed momentum with a beautiful tilt-a-whirl head scissor. Mysterio then dropped Orton into 619 position, but when he went for his patented move, Randy moved out of the way and rolled out of the ring. Rey stayed with it, though, and caught Orton with a springboard Seated Senton to the outside. Back in the ring, Rey scored a near fall and mounted Orton for 18 punches in the corner. Orton got back in control by reversing Rey’s Irish whip attempt and connecting on his patented backbreaker for a near fall. Randy then locked in the rear chinlock again. Rey tried to fight back, but Orton grabbed his head and threw him down hard to the mat. Back to the rear chinlock. Rey tried to reach the ropes, but Orton pulled him back to the center before hitting him with several clubbing blows. The Legend Killer proceeded to toss Rey into the ropes with an Irish whip. Mysterio hooked his arms around the ropes to stop his momentum. Orton came charging at him, but Rey got his feet up and caught Randy in the face with both feet. Rey then hopped over the top and looking for a springboard attack, but Orton saw it coming and connected with a nice dropkick just as Rey was about to launch. Rey was, thus, sent crashing to the outside as we got a dreaded mid-match commercial break. Back from the break, Orton had Rey again locked in a rear choke, this time with his legs wrapped around the mid-section for extra pressure. Mysterio eventually made it to the ropes to break the hold, but Orton tossed him into the corner once they made it to their feet. Rey again tried to leap frog Randy, but this time Orton caught him and tossed him face-first to the mat. Orton then locked in the rear choke again, but Rey again battled back with elbows to the gut. Fast forward to Orton going to the second rope for an elbow drop reminiscent of Cowboy Bob, but Mysterio got his feet up and drilled Orton in the face. Randy ended up in 619 position, but nothing came of it. Rey ended up catching Orton with a spinning wheel barrow bulldog instead for a very close near fall. A Seated Senton followed, and then a dropkick to the back of the head for another near fall. Orton regained momentum with a thumb to the eye, but it was short-lived as Rey took to the air with a springboard moonsault. Orton caught him in mid-air, though, and tried to counter into a bodyslam. However, Rey countered the counter and hit a reverse DDT. Fast forward to Rey Mysterio on the top rope looking for a flying crossbody. Orton was again able to thwart Rey’s offense with another nicely timed dropkick, though. The Legend Killer then poised himself for the RKO, but his attempt was countered, as Rey spun around and delivered a nice enziguiri. When they reached their feet, Orton tried for a neck breaker after setting Rey up on his shoulder, but Rey countered and went flying toward the ropes. When he came off the ropes, though, Orton drilled him with a clothesline. Randy then tossed Rey into the turnbuckle and charged at him, but Rey moved and sent Orton shoulder-first into the post. Mysterio capitalized, went out to the apron, and nailed Randy with an around-the-post 619. The shot sent Randy spiraling around in the ring before dropping into 619 position on the opposite side. Rey was poised for a springboard attack, but he changed gears and connected on a second 619. With Randy reeling, Mysterio springboarded back into the ring and caught Orton with the Drop of the Dime. 1…2…3!!! Rey Mysterio retained the WHC at 21:38. (CMV1 rating- *** ½) (CMV1 note- very good TV match. Orton used the rear chinlock quite a bit, but there was sufficient action to make up for it, w/ some really nice counters and a couple of legit near falls. I still can’t get over how well these two work together, and I sincerely hope that Orton’s suspension will help him get his act together. I want to see this match as a PPV main-event this year).


Palmer Cannon said that the following video did not reflect the views of the network. A video hype package then aired for the upcoming debut of the Miz.

Backstage, Rey Mysterio was interviewed about his title win and subsequent first successful title defense. Mysterio kept it short and sweet, thanking his fans and his family, whom he brought into the view of the camera and hugged.

Further backstage, William Regal approached Pirate Paul Burchill (who is a very nice guy whom I had my picture taken during Wrestlemania weekend) and once again tried to get him to drop the Pirate gimmick. Burchill said that he was enjoying himself and celebrating his family’s heritage in the process…not to mention he’s undefeated since the change. Finally, they agreed to have one more match, and if Regal wins he’ll drop the Pirate gimmick. However, if Burchill wins then Regal has to dress in an outfit of his choosing…that being a “buxom wench.” (CMV1 note- good segment featuring some charisma from Burchill).

Match 5: Pirate Burchill vs. William Regal
-In a quick match, the finish came when Burchill defeated Regal via C4. (CMV1 rating- ½ *) (CMV1 note- an extra quarter star for there actually being a purpose to this short, yet effective match. Burchill continues to impress in limited duty and I really look forward to seeing him continue w/ this gimmick. It’s not the greatest thing in the world, but it’s not supposed to make him a main-eventer…it’s supposed to get him known by the fans who largely have not seen him do anything, but the occasional tag match for the last 9 months. With time, hopefully the crowd will gain a respect for his in-ring ability and entertaining segments that he brings with his gimmick. If that happens, perhaps he can bust out from the gimmick into a better-rounded superstar. He’s a unique talent…I hope this Pirate thing catches on).

Backstage, Teddy Long had assembled Kurt Angle, Booker T, Matt Hardy, Finlay, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, and Chris Benoit in his office to make an important announcement. The King of the Ring tournament will be making it’s comeback on the SD brand and the first match will be next week, as Kurt Angle will go one-on-one with Randy Orton!


Match 6: Mark Henry vs. Undertaker
-(CMV1 note- man, I’m getting tired of this eye sore of a match. Taker has managed to get two decent matches out of Henry, but still…enough is enough). Before the match, Henry cut a short promo basically repeating everything he’s said before about Taker (you know, that he’d beat him and wasn’t afraid of him). Well, this obviously was never supposed to be much of match, as shortly after it began, Davairi came out with a monster of a man known as Dalip (nicknamed “Giant”) Singh. Perhaps you remember him as the huge, mountain of a man from the Adam Sandler remake of “The Longest Yard.” Anyhow, Henry basically ducked out as Singh attacked and dominated the Undertaker. Thus, Henry and Taker wrestled to a no-contest. (CMV1 rating- ½ *). (CMV1 note- wow is Dalip Singh a big guy. I really can’t say much about him accept that he was decent in his role of beating down the Deadman, but I can’t help but think that the guy is just another novelty act that has been brought in to feud with and then lose to the Undertaker before getting canned. I hope I’m wrong, because the guy is going to be easy to hate…he’s ugly as hell, huge, and just beat up Taker…there’s going to be a lot of moaning and groaning over this, though, as it’s very reminiscent of the 500 times they’ve already brought some big dude into feud w/ Taker…and very few of the those feuds have been successful in the eyes of the smarks that probably make up the majority of my readers).


All in all…I actually really enjoyed this show for the most part. I thought the opening match was solid and the Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton match was…There was nice advancement of a few of the major storylines coming out of Mania, as well, with two short segments involving Angle-Orton and Benoit-JBL. I liked the announcement of the return of the KOTR tournament, which I assume is simply to determine a number one contender for the WHC at Judgment Day. Nice to see a couple of solid debuts to add some more talent to the SD brand, too. …





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