Smackdown 6 Oct 2006
Submitted by Rudi Pavani on Friday, October 6, 2006 at 10:05 PM EST





G'day again fellow Smackdown devotees! 'Tis Rudi again reporting on the Smackdown episode leading up to No Mercy this Sunday. Who knows what lies ahead? I'll give my tips after today's episode and we'll see how right I am. I read in LOP that Chris Benoit is making a comeback at house shows in November and I'm looking forward to seeing him back in the ring! Whilst I'm here I'll say a little 'hi' to Nicole as well, Georgia's own most amazing Southern Belle and very much missed! Love you so much! Now, on with the show!

We open with King Booker and Queen Sharmell backstage. We know both Booker and Lashley are facing each other at No Mercy but today it's 'pick your poison' match with each of them choosing the opponent the other will go up against for the show. Booker announces that Lashley will face none other The Animal, Batista. Lashley appears backstage too and announces that the man Booker will come up against is the 'man who loves to fight' Finlay! (Authors note - This was announced early in the week on wwe.com so it isn't a surprise there. It also wasn't a surprise the opponents that they would pick for each other. Some little part of me in a dream sequence had Booker picking Tatanka to fight Lashley and Lashley picking the Lil' Bastard to fight Booker but then I woke up to reality! This promises to be a good show today!)

Again no opening credits, straight into the cameras panning through the crowd in Wichita Kansas which are absolutely going off! Cole and JBL are discussing the 'pick your poison' matches and JBL has the goofiest of all looks. Lets hope the commentary today is worth the build up to the show!

The crowd goes crazy as we get Rey Mysterio's music happening and once again he pops up from the stage and I'm looking forward to the first match already, a tag team match up. As he comes down the ramp way to the ring he gives his pendant to a guy in the crowd and greets a number of the crowd as he makes his way to the ring. We're then given the music of Matt Hardy as he makes his way down to the ring to a great pop from the crowd as well. To almost no reaction from the crowd we're introduced to Gregory Helms who come out on stage. Helms from just off the stage then points to the back and to a great amount of heat we get Chavo's music as both Vickie Guerrero and he come out and the three of them make their way down to the ring together.

Match 1: Rey Mysterio & Matt Hardy vs. Gregory Helms & Chavo Guerrero.
We begin with Chavo mouthing off at Rey saying he wants him in the ring and Rey obliges only for Chavo to get out of the ring leaving Rey to face Helms who smirks away. Rey lunges at Chavo who hops off the apron and Helms straight off the bat runs in and collects Rey in the back of the head and takes quick advantage with some right hands and a knee before attempting an Irish whip off the ropes. Rey slides between the legs of Helms and takes him down with a nice head scissors and then bounces Helms off the top turnbuckle in his corner as he makes the tag to Hardy. Hardy takes to Helms with some left and rights knocking him to the canvas and then a whip off the ropes into an elbow. He drops the elbow onto Helms who is on the canvas again and instead of attempting a pin drops and gives some big rights to the head of Helms to a three count from the referee before breaking it off and planting a kick to the back of Helms. He then makes the tag to Rey who springs off the top ropes with a double fist to the back of Helms. Rey attempts a whip into the ropes which is reversed by Helms and Rey locks his arms into the ropes keeping him there. Helms charges in and is met by a boot to the face staggering him. Rey rushes in to take the advantage and walks into a very nice spinebuster by Helms leaving Rey holding onto the back of his head. Rey is dragged by the leg into the opposite corner as the tag is made to Chavo who enters the ring and drops a couple of right feet into Rey before picking him up and giving him an uppercut sending him to the canvas again before putting in the boots again and playing to the crowd to a chorus of boos. Another uppercut and the tag is made to Helms.

Helms comes in and plants a boot to Rey before bouncing his head off the top turnbuckle. He then whips Rey into the opposite corner but as he charges in is taken down by a drop toe hold and connects head first into the second turnbuckle. Rey staggers to his corner and makes the tag to Hardy who comes in and gives Helms a clothesline repeating the dose on Chavo who has also rushed into the ring! Hardy whips Helms into the corner and follows up with a clothesline before coming out form the corner and giving Helms a bulldog. A cover to the count of two is broken up by Chavo who then is confronted by Rey. Rey beats Chavo into the ropes and then as he tries to come in again is tossed over the top of the ropes by Chavo but only onto the apron. Chavo catches Rey with a forearm as he tries to launch himself over the ropes and Rey is on the floor! Hardy comes in with a clothesline to the back of the head of Chavo putting him over the ropes and onto the floor as well! Hardy turns into a double knee drop maneuvre by Helms who takes advantage and hammers away at Hardy. Helms chokes Hardy with the boot using the ropes as leverage. With a handful of hair he takes Hardy down again and puts Hardy into a scissor lock around the neck trying for a submission. Hardy manages to get out of the hold and drops an elbow into the back of the head of Helms but can't take the advantage and in taken down with a kick to the gut.
We get the tag to Chavo who has made it back up into the corner and he comes in over the top ropes with a boot to the head of Hardy which doesn't quite connect as it should but still enough for him to come in with a kick to the back of the leg of Hardy bringing him to his knees where he then drops him to the canvas with the hits to the back of the head and some more boots for good measure. The crowd picks up on a big Chavo sucks chant which he takes note of by looking around before dropping Hardy flat on his back with a right hand to the face. He salutes the crowd and makes a tag to Helms who comes in and gives Hardy a kick to the gut before choking him on the middle ropes. As Helms remonstrates with the referee Chavo comes around and tries to choke Hardy on the ropes as well. Helms goes to bounce off the ropes only to be met by a clothesline from Hardy who has managed to push Chavo away. Chavo comes into help and is taken down with a spinebuster from Hardy as well! The referees rolls Chavo towards the ring apron and Hardy just manages to make the tag to Rey despite Helms trying to hold him back. Rey comes over the top ropes with a seated senton onto Helms and follows up with a right hand taking down Chavo who is still in the ring and kicking into the hamstring of Helms, then Chavo then Helms again. Helms reverses an Irish whip from Rey who bounces off the middle ropes and Helms ducks under it leaving Chavo to meet a cross body press by Rey. Rey comes back with a twirling head scissors onto Helms. Rey walks into a boot by Chavo who bounces off the ropes and over the top of Rey bringing him down but Rey rolls through and comes back with a kick to the back of the head of Chavo but is then met by a clothesline from Helms.

It's Hardy now in the ring who plants some right hands into Helms and then picks up Chavo and whips him into the corner. Hardy drops onto all fours and Rey runs and leaps off his back and takes Chavo down into the middle ropes with a head scissors into a 619 position. Hardy tries to put the Twist of Fate onto Helms who reverses the move but is tripped up by Hardy and he's down in the ropes right next to Chavo. Rey plants the 619 on both Chavo and Helms and the crowd is just loving this! Chavo rolls out of the ring and Helms is left staggering and turns into a kick to the gut by Hardy who successfully takes him down with the Twist of Fate! Rey drops the dime from the top and we get a three count and the match is over! Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy defeated Gregory Helms and Chavo Guerrero in 7 minutes (Rudi's rating ***) Hardy and Rey celebrate in the middle of the ring as Chavo and Vickie Guerrero shout at them from up the aisle and the crowd have just loved this match! (Author's note - A great match to start the show and the crowd were totally into it. If these wrestlers put on similar matches at No Mercy we're in for a good PPV I think.

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and backstage we're welcomed back to the CW network (FOX here in Australia) by Maryse and it looks like we've got a new Diva on the show following up from her appearance a few weeks ago when she was on the Montreal show. Can she fight?

Back to the show and the music of Sylvester Terkay who comes out to once again not much of a reaction followed by Elijah Burke who is the actual participant in this match. Elijah Burke grabs the microphone and talks up his boxing record and that he is the only man crazy enough to spar with Terkay before introducing himself which does get some nice heat reaction from the crowd. His intro is interrupted by the music of Tatanka who runs down to the ring for his match up.

Match 2: Elijah Burke vs. Tatanka.
At the ring of the bell Terkay is still in the ring and he confronts Tatanka and pushes him in the chest. As Tatanka reacts and goes for Terkay, Elijah Burke comes in with a couple of right arms to the head of Tatanka as Terkay then leaves the ring. Burke whips Tatanka into the ropes and he ducks an attempted clothesline and gives Burke a nice chop and another two which bounces Burke onto the canvas. Tatanka bounces Burke into the top turnbuckle. Tatanka whips Burke into the opposite corner with authority and gives him a kick to the midsection and then berates Burke for trying to attack him at the start of the match and then takes him down with a big right hand! He follows up with a suplex and a two count on Burke. An Irish whip is attempted which is reversed by Burke who connects with his knee to the midsection of Tatanka somersaulting him over. Burke then comes in with a kick to the chest of Tatanka and then brings him into the corner with a right arm to the head. Burke goes to whip Tatanka into the opposite corner but swings him around face first back into the corner he came from and as Tatanka turns around is met by a very nice standing dropkick back into the corner!

Burke plays to the crowd a little which obviously allows Tatanka to catch his breath for a minute as he manages to chop Burke and then again as Burke comes in for him. Burke is brought to his knees by Tatanka but is then given a double poke into the ribs hurting him and he staggers into the corner where Burke comes in for a shoulder block to the midsection and then crushes Tatanka into the ropes. He steps back and mouths off at Tatanka before taking up a boxing stance and coming in and sparring at the head and midsection of Tatanka who covers up but not well enough. Tatanka with a big right hand from Burke drops to the canvas on hands and knees and receives a kick to the gut for good measure putting him on his back. We then see Burke running into the corner and hanging off the top turnbuckle before dropping an elbow onto Tatanka (interesting move whatever it is called) and then goes for the two count. A seated abdominal stretch is applied and then a neck lock which is powered out of by Tatanka who attempts a fightback. He connects with some chops to the midsection of Burke. We get both wrestlers planting some big hits on each other with Tatanka taking the advantage. He whips Burke off the rope and picks him up dropping him face first into the canvas. Tatanka stalks Burke and plants three clotheslines onto him before picking him up over his shoulders for a back drop called by Cole as an End of Trail Samoan Drop (unclear in commentary sorry) and then goes to the top rope for what is called his Bingo drop by Cole which is the big chop to the head from the top rope.

We almost get a three count by the referee, two and 3/4 before Burke manages to break out of it. Tatanka once again is not happy with the referee but takes Burke into the corner then whips him into the opposite corner meeting him with the shoulder to the midsection. A side Russian leg sweep by Tatanka and he goes for the count but is interrupted by Terkay on the apron at the count of one. Tatanka knocks him off the apron but is distracted enough to be met with a blow to the back of the neck by Burke and then some hits into the gut whilst Tatanka is still facing the ropes. As the referee remonstrates with Burke pushing him way Terkay delivers a straight right into the gut of Tatanka. Burke delivers a face first leg sweep to Tatanka into the canvas then rolls him over for the three count! Elijah Burke defeated Tatanka in approximately 6 minutes (Rudi's rating * 1/2) Terkay comes into the ring, raises the hand of Burke and then to the most heat he has had from the crowd in the show delivers a belly to belly suplex to Tatanka. Both Burke and Terkay then mouth off over Tatanka. (Author's note - I'm not sure what to make of this match to be honest. Burke certainly shows a lot of promise as a wrestler and given the opportunity can certainly handle his own in the ring. I'm surprised Terkay isn't up for a match in the PPV given the build up he has had though I can see him having maybe a run in on the weekend and taking out either Lashley or Batista or I'm even thinking Finlay here from the win perhaps and giving him a feud to begin to showcase his apparent wrestling ability. As to Tatanka? He continues to have a problem with the ref and surely at some stage in the near future is perhaps going to turn heel? Let's wait and see).

Commercial break...

Back from commercial to the cameras panning through the crowd and Cole talking about the new Cena movie being released within a week followed by a promo for the movie.

We return to backstage and Booker talking to his knights, Regal & Finlay and taking out his anger on Lashley thinking he could put one over on him by having Finlay face up against him in a match. Booker tells Finlay to be a good knight and when the bell rings to lie down and let Booker have the easy win. Finlay says he has a question and turns to Regal asking him if he would lay down for King Booker to which Regal answers in the affirmative before looking anxiously at his watch and declaring a prior engagement rushes off, obviously sensing something happening here. Finlay to a big cheer from the crowd tells King Booker that he didn't make the match, Lashley did and that hey won't lay down because he is Finlay, and he loves to fight. He then wanders off to a shocked and angry Booker telling him not to do this. (Author's note - I'll review the match up and then make a comment about Finlay there).

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we have King Booker half way to the ring Queen Sharmell in two with her grating introduction of 'All hail King Booker!' which she repeats like a scratched CD. There doesn't seem to be much of a reaction from the crowd during the introduction of King Booker though maybe the regal appearance and stare scares everyone into silence! To a bit more of a positive reaction we get the music of Finlay and he makes his way down to the ring.

Match 3: Finlay vs. King Booker.
The match begins with the two wrestlers eyeing each other off as they move around the ring and Finlay stealing a glance at Sharmell outside the ring before they lock up in the middle of the ring and tussle around with Booker yelling at Finlay to 'lay down for your king'. Finlay finally breaks the lock up with a push against the face of Booker. They glare at each other before Finlay slides out to the floor from under the bottom rope and confronts Sharmell who was making her way towards the shillelagh of Finlay in the corner. As Finlay glares at her Booker attacks with a drop kick through the ropes sending Finlay crashing into the announcer's table then comes out of the ring and delivers kicks to the midsection of Finlay whilst he is on the floor. Booker picks up Finlay and rams him head first into the steel steps. Choking him against the ring Booker once again tells Finlay to lay down for him before tossing him in the ring. He comes in and straddles Finlay and delivers right hands to the head of Finlay before screaming at him again and picking him up from the canvas and delivering two big right chops. He then gives Finlay an Irish whip but lowers his head and is met by a big kick from Finlay who then gives Booker a big clothesline! The crowd are cheering Finlay on big time here! Finlay drops a knee to the side of the head of Booker and goes for the one count then picks Booker up and gives him a right arm to the head and another big clothesline! Finlay attempts another count which Booker breaks out of and Finlay latches on a chin lock.

Booker manages to get to his feet and tries to hit his way out of the neck lock but is given three big upper arms by Finlay which drops him to the canvas again. Finlay grabs the legs of Booker and stomps a big right foot into the midsection and another to cheers from the crowd. Finlay now bounces the head of Booker into the top turnbuckle. Dragging Booker to the canvas Finlay leaves the ring and bands the neck of Booker against the edge of the ring then turns him onto his back and drops an elbow to the face. Coming back into the ring he picks up Booker and rams him shoulder first into the steel ring post! On the apron now and Finlay gives Booker some big boots to the head and Booker is hanging over the middle rope. Finlay comes back into the ring and attempts to roll up Booker but gets the two count only and works on the shoulder and neck area of Booker. Booker gains advantage by picking himself up and dropping to the canvas smashing the jaw of Finlay against his head! Booker tries to whip Finlay into the corner but it's reversed though Booker springs over the top of Finlay as he rushes in and as Finlay bounces off the corner is met by a big spinebuster from Booker who gets the two count. A snapmare by Booker and another two count on Finlay! Booker picks Finlay up, looks him in the eye and gives him a big right hand staggering him against the ropes then repeats the dose. Finlay tries to hit back but Booker delivers the bigger hit dropping Finlay to his knees.

Booker picks him up again but is met by a poke to the eyes. We get an Irish whip from Finlay which he then walks into an attempted bookend by Booker. Finlay blocks it with some elbows then bounces off the ropes and ducks the attempted high kick from Booker and is tripped up by Sharmell as he bounces off the opposite ropes. His distraction by Sharmell allows Booker to give him a high kick when Finlay turns around. To some huge boos from the crowd Booker plays to the crowd by dropping to his knee and getting ready for his spinnaroo when from outside the ring Sharmell starts screaming as she is confronted by the Lil' Bastard who appears to be holding a dead mouse or rat in his hand and he chases her around the outside of the ring much to the cheers of the crowd! Lil' Bastard corners Sharmell on the ring steps and Booker is in the same corner trying to protect Sharmell. This allows Finlay the chance to lay his hands onto his shillelagh. As Booker finally turns his attention back into the ring Finlay takes the legs out from under Booker with his shillelagh and one, two, three!
Finlay got a big pop and there were a few different chants for him during the match. Sharmell eventually grabbed his leg to trip him, which brought out the Little Bastard, who chased Sharmell up the ring steps while holding a fake mouse by the tail. Booker came over to check on her, which gave Finlay a chance to grab the shillelagh. He cracked Booker with it and got the pin. Fit Finlay defeated King Booker in approximately 6 minutes (Rudi's rating ** 1/2). The crowd is going nuts for Finlay and Sharmell is very upset on the outside. Finlay stares down at Booker and then with a smirk on his face raises his arm to the crowd! (Author's note - Very entertaining match I thought with Finlay certainly having the cheers from the crowd for this match and for his win. In my opinion Smackdown is top heavy with heels such as Booker, Terkay, Regal, and MVP and the possible heel turn of Tatanka whilst Batista and Lashley with perhaps Vito making up the faces. Finlay since the introduction of the Lil' Bastard has had more of an entertaining role and I can see the WWE perhaps taking the opportunity of maybe not turning him quite into a face but certainly into a character of his own. This of course is merely speculation but the support he got from the crowd tonight was maybe a sign that it's time for a change).
Backstage we get a split screen vision of both Lashley and Batista making their way towards the ring.

Commercial break...

Back from commercial we get another flashback to the Booker vs. Finlay match with the ending, which leads into Lashley making his way onto stage to quite a big pop from the crowd. To a huge pop from the crowd Batista comes out onto stage and he is certainly way over with the crowd and his pyro just gets them cheering more. Lashley stares down at Batista from inside the ring before he makes his way into the ring.

Match 4: Bobby Lashley vs. Batista.
Batista and Lashley in the ring stare each other down for a very long moment before Batista offers his hand to Lashley which is accepted and the match officially begins. Both wrestlers wander around the ring psyching themselves and limbering themselves up for the contest. From the crowd there is a Batista chant which when it dies down is replaced by a Lashley chant before the wrestlers finally after a minute of the match actually going rush at each other and lock up in the middle of the ring. Both wrestlers break to a stand off though Batista was down to one knee when they broke up. They lock up again with both wrestlers going down to a knee before another clean break ensures. They stalk each other before they take each other's hands in a test of strength. Once again it is a stalemate until Batista uses a boot to kick the hand of Lashley away who then comes back and wraps his arms around the thigh of Batista. Batista is forced against the ropes and the wrestlers break clean again. They lock up again with Lashley getting a headlock onto Batista and pushing him up against the ropes. Batista breaks the headlock with an Irish whip on Lashley and is taken down by a shoulder block in the middle of the ring and slowly gets up nodding his head at the power of Lashley. Batista asks Lashley if he is ready and take the advantage by kicking him in the midsection and then following up with some right arms. Batista whips Lashley off the ropes and takes him down with a shoulder block of his own. Batista takes the advantage with another kick to the midsection and prepares to give Lashley a Batista bomb but Lashley backs away very quickly. Both wrestlers literally go head to head in the middle of the ring before Lashley unleashes some big right arms on Batista and then trying to scoop slam Batista which is blocked by The Animal who lays elbows on the back of the neck of Lashley to break the hold.

Lashley comes off the ropes only to be taken down by an elbow from Batista who goes for the cover on Lashley but only to the count of two. He then gets a chin lock on Lashley and with his legs around his waist attempts to wear him out. Lashley manages to get to his feet and breaks out of the chin lock with elbows to the midsection of Batista but is stopped by a knee to the gut from Batista who then whips Lashley into the corner and follows up with a clothesline. Batista delivers shoulder blocks into the midsection of Lashley and then attempts to whip him into the opposite corner but it's reversed and Lashley comes in with his own clothesline against Batista and then gives him a huge shoulder block of his own. Batista staggers out of the corner into a kick to the gut by Lashley. Lashley bounces off the ropes with what looks like is going to be a legdrop to the back of Batista but is met by a bit boot to the face from Batista to the huge delight of the crowd. Batista picks up Lashley and whips him into the ropes but lowers his head too early and is met by a kick from Lashley and the honours seem to be very even in this match! Batista comes off the ropes and Lashley ducks a clothesline and walks into what is going to be a body slam by Lashley who holds Batista on his shoulder for too long allowing Batista to break out from behind, pushes Lashley into the ropes and both wrestlers deliver clotheslines and we have both of them on the canvas! As the referee is delivering a double count Finlay runs into the ring and drops and elbow onto Batista and the referee goes for the bell. Bobby Lashley and Batista fought to a no result in 5 minutes (Rudi's rating *) (Author's note- What can one say about this match except that it shows that it's certainly not time for these two to engage in a feud. Batista was certainly very much over with the crowd and it's way to early to put Lashley up against someone as popular as Batista on a feud style storyline. The match lacked in a number of moves but was there just to show the awesome power of these two big guns. It was designed as a build up for No Mercy in mind however and in that context can't be too heavily criticised).

As Finlay is beating into Batista King Booker runs to the ring and proceeds to take some revenge on Finlay. Lashley gets to his feet and Batista and he fight toe to toe before Batista breaks it off and starts hitting Finlay whilst Lashley goes at it with Booker. The ring is swamped by referees and 'officials' and we get Teddy Long coming straight out from backstage telling everyone to stop fighting and that is enough! The wrestlers are isolated in all four corners of the ring and Long says that he can see that all four wrestler want to go at it bad. He then announces to a huge cheer from the crowd that the Championship match at No Mercy won't be a one on one between King Booker and Lashley but a Fatal Fourway match with Batista and Finlay involved as well. Booker so does not look impressed at the decision and the crowd erupts again at the mention of the name Batista. The wrestlers still restrained by officials are still glaring and trying to get at each other as we lead into the break.

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we're in the office of Teddy Long with King Booker and Queen Sharmell yelling at Long against the match up he has just made. We're joined by Lashley who tells Long that he'll take on anyone for the Championship. Finlay comes in and waves his shillelagh at Lashley saying he knows he can beat him before waving it at Booker saying that he just beat him. The wrestlers are arguing with each other and then go quiet as the camera pans out and we have Batista in there as well as the crowd goes crazy again. Batista says good decision to Long shaking his hand and then to the others says 'Can't we all get along?' Booker responds with 'Good decision my ass!' before Long interrupts and says that seeing they all can't get along that for the main event of the show he is going to have a tag team match with Booker and Finlay teaming up against Lashley and Batista, once again to the huge cheer from the crowd. Booker is not impressed with having to team up with Finlay as we go back to the commentary desk. (Author's note- Good little segment which ties up a main event for the show considering that with the four major players fighting half way into a two hour show there was bound to be something teed up at the end). JBL has the classic shocked expression on his face as he says that Long is way out of his league in organising the Fatal Four-way!

Back to some action and we get the music of Jimmy Wang Yang coming out to a good reaction from the crowd and a promo played in the corner of the screen saying that a good redneck likes NASCAR and beer and that he's coming at the TV from the heartland of America for the match up tonight. To some nice heat from the crowd comes the music of Sylvan, the Ambassador of Quebec as he makes his way down to the ring as we're treated to video highlights of their match up last week where Sylvan won the match with his feet up on the ropes.

Match 5: Sylvan vs. Jimmy Wang Yang.
The match begins with Yang getting a big USA chant going in the crowd. The wrestlers lock up in the middle of the ring with Sylvan taking the first advantage by getting Yang into an armbar which Yang reverses with a nice standing somersault with one hand on the ropes. Sylvan with an elbow to the head breaks the hold and plants some big arms onto Yang. He whips Yang off the ropes but an attempted arm drag is reversed by a spinning twist from Yang, a kick to the midsection and then a heel kick to the back of Sylvan which the crowd just enjoyed big time. Yang delivers a big right hand chop to Sylvan staggering him into the corner. Another whip into the opposite corner is followed up with another spinning heel kick landing himself onto the apron. He lifts himself back into the ring and delivers a big yeehah to the crowd and then a one count onto Sylvan. Yang delivers a couple of kicks into the back of Sylvan and then whips him off the ropes and tries to arm drag Sylvan but is blocked from doing so. Yang somersaults on the spot and before he can do anything else is taken down by a big clothesline from Sylvan. He quickly takes the advantage with a couple of kicks to the midsection and a dropped elbow onto Yang before getting jeers from the crowd after yelling something at them in French. He picks up Yang and slams him hard into the corner and grabs Yang in a big bear hug as he staggers out. The crowd starts another big USA chant and Yang responds by elbowing the back of the head of Sylvan breaking the bear hug and then delivering some forearm jolts to the head of Sylvan before ramming him into the corner face first. Sylvan staggers to the middle of the ring and then charges Yang in the corner only to be met by another elbow which Yang follows up with a spinning head scissors and then a clothesline and then another.

He takes Sylvan and delivers a high back body drop after whipping him into the ropes. Kicks to the legs of Sylvan are followed up by a DDT and almost a three count before Sylvan kicks out. Yang again goes to whip Sylvan off the ropes but it's reversed and Sylvan delivers a big side slam onto Yang and gets a two count of his own. Sylvan goes to the second rope as Yang is slowly getting up but as he lunges at him is bet by a huge spinning heel kick to the jaw and Yang almost gets a three count which Sylvan just manages to break out of much to the dismay of Yang. Yang once again with some arms to the head of Sylvan before he tries to whip him into the corner and it's reversed by Sylvan. Sylvan goes to charge in and stops in time to not get a boot to the face of Yang and grabs his leg and has a huge smile on his face before Yang delivers another spinning kick to the head of Sylvan and the crowd are loving this. Yang hops onto the shoulders of Sylvan and attempts to take him down with a roll up but Sylvan drops onto Yang and gets the three count on him using the ropes as leverage! Sylvan defeated Jimmy Wang Yang in 4 minutes (Rudi's ratings **) Sylvan rolls out of the ring and Yang is left in the ring looking unimpressed at not being able to take the win. (Author's note - I hate the gimmick by Yang still as I don't think the 'redneck' concept works here in Australia but I can't take away from the wrestling ability of Akio. There are some great moves and given the chance has quite a few more up his sleeve. Sylvan hasn't unimpressed either in the past couple of weeks and maybe it's the start of a bit of a push for him again. He's certainly very solid at the moment. These two have worked okay together and hopefully we'll get an Akio win in the next week or so).

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we have excerpts from a press conference held for No Mercy which focused quite a bit on Helms and Hardy being both from North Carolina. A nice little vignette.

We're then brought back to the ring where Chimel introduces MVP for his first public appearance as a Smackdown superstar. He has appeared of course over the past few weeks but not as a member of the Smackdown ensemble but during the negotiation process. He comes out onto a platform set up next to the stage area to a lot of jeers from the crowd. He told the crowd that he was basically 'it' and the crowd actually responded to his promo as in the old Stone Cold Austin days where they'd pipe up at the end of every sentence. The crowd deserves it's own credit for being so 'up' for the whole show.

We're then shown another promo by Kennedy filmed with him dressed in black and with a black backdrop. His promo talks up Undertaker and everything he has achieved and then proceeds to say he wasn't afraid by his Houdini style garbage. He says he isn't scared any of the tricks or tactics and that at No Mercy he is going to shock the crowd when he wins against him. A decade and a half of history will mean nothing and Mr. Kennedy is the future. (Author's note - This was a good promo and was very simply done. What it means though is that maybe Undertaker will come out with some more elaborate hocus pocus?)

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and Michelle McCool is shown backstage with Idol Stevens and K.C. James. The three of them talk up the chances of the Tag Team Titles changing hands at the PPV and McCool mentions she is going out to have a match against Ashley where she is going to give her a lesson in physical education.

On stage we get the music of Kendrick and London as with Ashley they come out and make their way to the ring. We then get the music to Stevens and James as with McCool they make their way to the ring and hold the ropes for McCool to enter. The tag teams mouth off at each other before the referee clears everyone from the ring.

Match 6: Michelle McCool (with K C James & Idol Stevens vs. Ashley (with Brian Kendrick & Paul London).
McCool and Ashley lock up in the middle of the ring and push each other off. As they go to lock up again McCool kicks Ashley in the midsection and delivers an upper cut to the throat of Ashley. A handful of hair and she yanks Ashley onto her back. She picks her up by the hair and rams her against the corner and gives her a shoulder to the midsection before laying some kicks into the same region. In a move reminiscent to Stacey Kiebler McCool chokes a standing Ashley in the corner with a foot to the throat. She then takes a handful of hair again and throws Ashley across the ring. She then mouths off at Ashley before giving her a clothesline and covers Ashley for only a two count. Another two count and then another and McCool has a go at the referee for not counting quick enough. McCool tries a body slam which Ashley slides out of and pushes her against the ropes face first and then gives McCool a forearm to the back as she bounces off. She repeats the move and then gets McCool in an abdominal stretch and falls to the ground with her for a two count. They both get to their feet at the same time and McCool tries to kick Ashley who grabs her leg and then trips her up to the ground. Ashley then applies a Boston crab to McCool who is dragged to the ropes by James when Stevens distracts the ref and Kendrick & London. With McCool hanging onto the bottom ropes Ashley grabs her by the legs and lifts her back into the middle of the ring before going for another pin.

She gives McCool a kick to the midsection followed by the weakest whip into the corner I have ever seen before coming in and using her legs on the stomach of McCool for leverage somersaults McCool back into the middle of the ring. Ashley with some right forearms before an attempted whip into the corner is reversed by McCool who walks into an elbow. Ashley from the second rope goes for a body press on McCool and the pin which is rolled out of by McCool who with a handful of skirt gets the three count herself. Michelle McCool defeated Ashley in 3 minutes (Rudi's ratings 1/4) Kendrick and Stevens come into the ring to console Ashley as McCool with Stevens and James celebrate outside of the ring. (Author's note - It has to be only because of the lead up to No Mercy but why oh why are we treated to ladies matches when they surely have limited talent in the ring. The women's division in Smackdown has a long way to go I think).

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we have a video vignette from the launch of John Cena's movie The Marine at Camp Pendleton in San Diego CA. Brief interviews with some of the WWE stars, the red carpet, co-star Kelly Carlson, marines, and lots of John Cena chants and him signing autographs for the crowd assembled.

Back to the show with Cole and JBL commenting on the premiere and even JBL saying it's awesome. First nice thing he's said all show! They run through the line up at No Mercy before the music of Finlay blares and he makes his way to the ring with a good cheer from the crowd. Finlay goes out of the ring and peeks under the ring apron to make sure perhaps that Lil' Bastard is still there as we go to a...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we have King Booker in the ring face to face with Finlay obviously still upset from their earlier matchup where Finlay took to Booker with the shillelagh. To a big pop comes Lashley to the ring with an intent stare, then to the hugest pop out comes Batista to the ring minus his pyros which were used for his earlier match up against Lashley.

Match 7: Batista and Bobby Lashley vs. King Booker and Finlay.
The match begins with Batista and Lashley discussing the match at No Mercy with Lashley making signs of him wanting the belt around his waist when Finlay goes on the offensive and attacks Batista from behind and then kicking him in the midsection as Lashley exits the ring. Finlay grabs Batista around the waist but is rammed into the corner back first. Batista unleashes with some big back elbows on Finlay then spins around and delivers with some big shoulder blocks to the midsection of Finlay. Batista delivers a suplex on Finlay who takes the easy way out by rolling out of the ring. Batista follows and unleashes a clothesline onto Finlay on the floor. Batista rolls Finlay back into the ring for a two count and then bounces his head into the turnbuckle before making the tag to Lashley. With Batista still holding Finlay, Lashley spears him in the corner. Finlay staggers around the ring and slaps the unwanted tag onto Booker who just looks at him before having to enter the ring. Booker and Lashley lock up with Booker being forced into the corner. The break is not clean however as Booker delivers a poke to the eye and unloads with knees and fists and forearms to the head to Lashley bringing him to his knees with the crowd chanting Bobby! Booker tries to whip Lashley across the ring which is reversed and Booker trying to spring back over the top of a charging Lashley is picked up over his shoulder. Booker breaks out of an attempted power slam but cannot avoid being given a spinebuster by Lashley. Lashley goes for the pin which is broken up by Finlay. Booker goes the way of Finlay earlier in the match and rolls out of the ring with Lashley in tow but unlike earlier is given a back kick from Booker into the midsection and is then rammed into the steel steps head first!

Booker kicks into the head of Lashley outside the ring before picking him up and throwing him back into the ring. Booker now with the back heel kick into the chest of Lashley but only manages a one count. Booker rams Lashley into his corner and instead of making the tag to Finlay slaps Finlay in the chest instead for the tag. Finlay enters the ring and stares down Booker before unleashing a big clothesline onto Lashley. A one count again on Lashley. Finlay gets Lashley into a chin lock designed to wear down Lashley who manages with the support from the crowd to get back onto his feet and breaks the hold with some big elbows to the gut of Finlay. Lashley attempts to bounce off the ropes for some advantage but is knocked down by Finlay with a hit to the head. Finlay then drops himself behind first onto Lashley and attempts the pin but is only able to get a one count. Finlay makes another non regulation tag to Booker who comes in and gives a kick to the chest of Lashley. Booker with a roll on Lashley and then comes off the ropes with a dropkick and gets a two count on Lashley. The crowd starts up a huge Batista chant as Lashley tries to get the tag to him. Booker attempts a suplex onto Lashley but can't find the leverage to bring him over and Lashley unleashes one on Booker. Both men are down but Booker manages to tag Finlay by slapping him on the leg. Finlay comes in and delivers a hit onto Batista on the apron making him want to come into the ring. Whilst the referee's attention is taken with getting him back out of the ring Finlay grabs Lashley and brings him to his corner where Booker unleashes a stiff right hand to the jaw.

Finlay drops a big elbow into the chest of Lashley and then another and Lashley has been in trouble most of this match. Finlay throws Lashley out of the ring and onto the floor and as he is being admonished by the referee Booker chops Lashley three times against the barricade before he throws him back into the ring. Finlay with some uppercuts to Lashley against the ropes but Lashley hits back and tries to make the tag to Batista but is tripped up and Finlay applies a head lock to Lashley on the canvas. Another Batista chant as Lashley tries to make the tag to Batista. Booker enters the ring distracting the referee who misses the tag made to Batista. The referee puts Batista out of the ring as Booker and Finlay double team Lashley in the corner. The tag is made by Finlay to Booker who gives Lashley a big chop against the ropes. Booker berates Lashley calling him a peasant before an Irish whip is applied. Lashley ducks under the big leg of Booker and comes back spearing him to the canvas. Booker manages to roll over and tag in Finlay who doesn't make it before Lashley gets the hot tag on Batista! The crowd goes ballistic as Batista comes into the ring taking down Finlay with a big right hand then one on Booker and another on Finlay and another on Booker before Regal hits the ring and causes the disqualification. Batista and Bobby Lashley defeated King Booker and Finlay by disqualification in 9 minutes. (Rudi's rating **1/2) Batista takes down Regal, slams Finlay into a corner and delivers his trademark clothesline, gives Booker a spinebuster then gives one to Regal! Lashley comes towards Batista and is given a spinebuster as well!! And the crowd have just lapped this up! As Batista is stalking Finlay to give him one as well the Lil' Bastard sneaks in and delivers a low blow to Batista momentarily distracting him. Batista grabs at him but only manages to get his jacket. Batista turns and misses a lunge at him by Finlay wielding the shillelagh, grabs Finlay and delivers a spinebuster on him as well! Batista mounts the corner and gives the belt around the waist signal before staring down Lashley for a moment and repeating the signal as the show ends. (Author's note- That was a powerful ending to the show and it certainly was a great build up to the Fatal Four Way between them this Sunday! Is it time for Batista to regain his title?)

I'm giving this show a 7 out of ten this week, only ruined really by the poor match between Ashley and McCool though whether the release of Kash from the Pitbulls had something to do with the interruption to how they were going to build up the Tag Team title match is unknown. Below are my predictions for No Mercy and please feel free to give me feedback as always to rudip1@pacific.net.au I look forward to seeing how the fallout is on the show next week. Have a great one and I look forward to seeing you all on the flip side! Cheers!

No Mercy predictions:
Fatal Fourway b/w King Booker, Lashley, Batista and Finlay - Out of left field here and Finlay for the title beating Booker and starting a new feud.
Mr. Kennedy vs. The Undertaker - Being a non title match up maybe Undertaker but I'll go for a DQ against Kennedy.
Chavo Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio - Mysterio with the win but then being taken out by Chavo which will lead into the break being taken by Rey.
MVP vs. Jimmy Wang Yang I'll predict with the show in NC. MVP has to have a first up win.
Helms vs. Hardy - Hardy with a run in perhaps by his brother.
Kendrick/London vs. James/Stevens - Kendrick & London to retain the titles for the meantime.








*NEW GALLERY* Wow! Very Rare but AMAZING Natalya Neidhart Bedroom Photos!

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