Smackdown 23rd February, 2007
Submitted by Rudi Pavani on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at 3:27 AM EST





G'day all to another week of Smackdown. My name is Rudi (rudip1@pacific.net.au) and I write to you all the way from Melbourne Australia. It's been a long week with some very warm and muggy weather here and the cold still in various places overseas. This Sunday past we had No Way Out, the Smackdown PPV. From my predictions I missed out on Jimmy Wang Yang winning the cruiserweight open though he did pin Gregory Helms at one stage throughout the match and I picked Booker to beat Kane which was wrong. The ending of the tag team match HBK/Cena vs. Batista/Undertaker I was close as Batista did take out Undertaker which let Cena and HBK win but didn’t cheapen Undertaker or Batista at all. I didn’t watch it but let's see the fallout from it and what happens this week! On with the show!

Quick recap from last week
Boogeyman defeated Finlay and we were introduced to Little Boogey.
Deuce defeated Brian Kendrick.
King Booker and Queen Sharmell did a comedy take on a movie review of Kane’s See no Evil movie.
Cena and Shawn Michaels defeated Mr. Kennedy and MVP with MVP being the fall guy.
Kristal did pretty much a strip for Teddy Long in the continuation of that angle.
Jillian Hall showed she still can’t sing.
Gregory Helms beat up on Scotty 2 Hotty for a while before most of the cruiserweights made an appearance on the show.
Maryse continued her journey in welcoming us back to Smackdown.
Batista/Undertaker beat Orton/Edge with Edge being the fall guy.
Cena/Michaels enter the ring and take out Batista/Undertaker in revenge of their being taken out the week earlier on RAW.


We begin with a video recap of Undertaker choosing who he wants to wrestle at Wrestlemania. We are then given a video recap of what happened at No Way Out with the tag team match of Cena/HBK vs. Undertaker/Batista with Batista turning on Undertaker and delivering a spinebuster on him and then Cena/HBK getting the win whilst Batista looked on.

The show this week comes to us from San Diego California and we start off with Batista being introduced to the ring by Cole. He comes down in a suit, we get the pyros and when he enters he shows off the belt before shaking the hand of Michael Cole and grabbing the mic. There is a mixture of jeers and cheers as he talks up the winning streak of Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Undertaker is the phenom and he has nothing but respect for him as he takes the glasses off. He can't apologise for what happened at No Way Out though because it was payback for what Undertaker had done three weeks ago when he chose Batista to wrestle and then sealed the deal with a chokeslam. Batista loves competition, he didn't cry when it happened, he just said that payback was a bitch. Now Undertaker and him are even. Now they can go to Wrestlemania and give them a match the viewers won't ever forget. They're both going to bring their A-game to Wrestlemania. Batista says he isn't intimidated by Undertaker. The crowd wouldn't respect him if he was intimidated. It doesn't matter who the crowd cheers for. This is about competition. He plans on walking into Wrestlemania as the champion to cheers and he plans on walking out as champion to a number of cheers before his music hits and he stares up at the Wrestlemania sign before we get a reminder that Rey is going to appear on Smackdown tonight.

We're given a video recap of Rey from No Way Out in 2005 where he won the Tag Team Champion with Eddie Guerrero as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we're given a Maryse welcome back with her lying on the floor in front of a fireplace before we get notification of a Money in the Bank match between Kane and King Booker before the music of Matt Hardy hits and he comes out to a big pop from the crowd. The music of London and Kendrick then hits and they come out to the ring accompanied by Ashley. The music then of Joey Mercury hits and he makes his way out to the ring still wearing the face mask. We then get the music of Deuce and Domino and they come out to the ring in the car then to the ring mouthing off at London and Kendrick.

Match 1: Matt Hardy, Brian Kendrick and Paul London (with Ashley) vs. Joey Mercury, Deuce 'n' Domino (with Cherry)
The wrestlers all mouth off at each other before the match begins with Matt Hardy and Joey Mercury who lock up in the middle of the ring. Hardy is pushed into the opposing corner and Mercury takes to him with Deuce and Domino before Hardy fights off all three of them and gives Mercury a poorly executed inverted Atomic Drop. Hardy is then set upon by Deuce and Domino before London and Kendrick enter the ring and dropkick Deuce and Domino causing them to slide out of the ring. Mercury goes after Hardy but he's tossed over the top rope and into Deuce and Domino who are standing together ringside getting their wits about them still. Hardy exits the ring and throws Mercury back into the ring and he works on his left arm before tagging Kendrick who enters, works on the arm then tags in London and the two continue very quick tags keeping Mercury pretty much in their corner. Mercury is whipped into the corner and London follows him in with a high elbow as the momentum takes him to the apron. The legal man in the ring is Kendrick and as Mercury staggers out of the corner he's met by a charging flying heel kick! Kendrick climbs to the top rope but is yanked off by Domino, catching his throat against the top rope in the process.

Mercury makes the tag to Deuce who comes in and begins to work on Kendrick with blows to the chest, a choke hold and more work before he tags in Domino who whips Kendrick face first into the corner before tagging in Mercury. Mercury now works on Kendrick and attempts a pin for only a two count before tagging in Deuce who kicks Kendrick in the chest and then gets Cherry to polish his shoe before he kicks him again. The crowd begins a we want Matt chant as Domino is tagged in and knees Kendrick in the chest. The referee is distracted by Domino and Deuce blindsides Kendrick. Another tag and Deuce is in and they double slam Kendrick face first into the canvas before the attempted pin is made which is broken by London coming into the ring at the last moment as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and Mercury is working on Kendrick with a foot to the chest as another we want Matt chant begins as we get another attempt at a in. A bear hug by Mercury as Kendrick gets to his feet as Ashley tries to get a chant happening from the crowd. Kendrick tries to make the tag but is slammed onto his back by Mercury who then knocks London off the apron and onto the floor but can't quite do the same to Hardy. Mercury turns around to go back after Kendrick but a rolling somersault avoids the lunge of Mercury and to a huge pop from the crowd the hot tag is made to Hardy! Hardy with two clotheslines on Mercury and then an Irish whip across the ring which is reversed and Hardy meets Domino who is waiting for him on the apron with a forearm knocking him down to the floor! Hardy ducks under a Mercury blow and connects with the Side Effect to a pop from the crowd and an attempted cover. Hardy gets Mercury into a headlock and lands with a bulldog at the same time dropkicking Domino who has entered the ring. Domino rolls out of the ring and Hardy climbs the second rope and lands a leg drop onto Mercury and the crowd just love Matt Hardy! An attempted pin which is broken up by Deuce. London and Kendrick enter the ring and whip Deuce across the ring but he slides out under the bottom rope and stands next to Domino who is there as well. This just to a nice cheer from the crowd allows London and Kendrick to launch themselves over the top rope and into the both of them! In the ring Mercury has removed his face mask without the referee noticing and tries to clock Hardy with it but he ducks and then connects with the Twist of Fate and this one is over!
Matt Hardy, Paul London and Brian Kendrick (with Ashley) defeated Joey Mercury, Deuce 'n' Domino (with Cherry) in 11 minutes.
Rudi's rating - ***
Rudi's rant - A nice match with Kendrick playing the face in peril for a lot of it before Hardy getting the hot tag and getting the win. It certainly wasn't the best match I've seen from these wrestlers but there was plenty of action and the crowd were into it. Deuce 'n' Domino need to be given a decent feud against some other non existent tag team lest they become very stale in this current feud with the champions. We've had four matches involving these two teams for the past three weeks and though there is still life in their feud I don't want them to get too stale too quickly.

Post match and Hardy/London/Kendrick and Ashley celebrate their win in the ring whilst Deuce 'n' Domino look on angry from the rampway as we get a replay of the final few second of the match before we go backstage and Kristal is welcoming Vickie for an interview. Vickie has something very important to be taken care of tonight according to Kristal after their talk at No Way Out. It's already been taken care of says Vickie as the two hug before we go to Cole and JBL at ringside and JBL mentions 'Kristal Lewinsky' and that nothing good is going to come out of it so we are about to see some harassment suit taken out against Long in the next week or so as we then go to a video recap of a Money in the Bank qualifying match from Raw on Monday between Edge and RVD with Edge winning after some interference by Orton and the spear by Edge. C.M. Punk also qualified in a match on ECW for the Money in the Bank event at Wrestlemania as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and an outside view of San Diego in the evening as we get a video recap of Rey Mysterio last year winning the Royal Rumble last year against Randy Orton.

Back to action and the new Cruiserweight Champion of the world, Chavo Guerrero is introduced as he struts his way to the ring to a number of jeers from the crowd. Chavo mouths off at the crowd whilst showing off the belt as the music of Scotty 2 Hotty hits and he makes his way out to a nice pop from the crowd.

Match 2: Chavo Guerrero vs. Scotty 2 Hotty in a non title match up
The bell rings to start the match and Scotty who is still taking off his top is taken to by Chavo who assaults him in the corner as we get a Chavo sucks chant before Scotty fights back before Chavo gains control again with a knee to the chest. He whips Scotty into the ropes and attempts the hip toss as he comes out but it's blocked by Scotty who reverses the hold, backflips into position and then delivers a hip toss onto Chavo. There is another as we get a video of an intent Gregory Helms looking at the match on a monitor from somewhere backstage. Back to the ring and Scotty lands a poorly executed spinning headscissors and launches Chavo through the ropes and onto the floor. Chavo reenters only to be met by a dropkick from Scotty staggering him into the corner. Scotty climbs the ropes and takes to Chavo in the corner with the crowd counting to 6 the number of blows to the head before Chavo just dumps him over the top rope and onto the floor!

We get to an eight count before Scotty manages to reenter the ring to be met by kicks from Chavo to the chest. Chavo mouths off at him then delivers and uppercut onto Scotty into the ropes but Scotty comes back with a big right which staggers Chavo for a moment before he then just kicks him again and regains the advantage. Chavo chokes Scotty against the bottom rope before a sideslam, an attempted pin and then another sideslam before locking in a leg lock with a cradle type move before a surfboard type move with a knee and then a head to the spine and then the knee again. Scotty manages to get to his feet and lands an inside cradle for a two count before Chavo breaks out and lands a big boot to the chest. Chavo is again in charge and he locks in an abdominal stretch. A backbreaker now by Chavo who mouths off at him again. The crowd isn't into this as Scotty finally makes a comeback, ducks an attempted blow by Chavo and gives him and elbow to the jaw and then again! A back elbow and a head to the turnbuckle then a whip into the ropes and a back body drop by Scotty! Scotty feels the cheers from the crowd and looks to come off the ropes but is met by a kick to the chest from Chavo who then goes for the Three Amigos. He lands two of them to a number of boos from the crowd before Scotty slides out of the third one before Chavo can connect with it and then takes Chavo down with a bulldog!

Scotty now to a pop from the crowd gets that look and whilst Chavo lies looking half dead goes through the whole actions for the Worm before landing in and then Chavo rolls out under the bottom rope and onto the floor to avoid an attempted pin. From the apron Scotty somersaults onto Chavo on the floor with the somersault senton. He throws Chavo back into the ring and then rolls over Chavo as he reenters the ring. He comes off the ropes and tries to roll up Chavo but it's reversed by him as he rolls through. With his feet on the ropes he gets the three count from the referee and this one is done!
Chavo Guerrero defeated Scotty 2 Hotty in a non title match up in 8 minutes.
Rudi's rating - **
Rudi's rant - the crowd weren't really into this match except for the heel chants at Chavo especially as he tried to land the Three Amigos and then there was a pop for the Worm by Scotty. Otherwise it wasn't the most exciting of matches and I'm not sure where WWE are going with Chavo holding the title belt. I can only think maybe a heel vs. heel feud with Gregory Helms culminating at Wrestlemania? Or a triple threat match involving Jimmy Wang Yang? Who knows?

Post match and Chavo celebrates the win from the floor as he hugs the belt and Gregory Helms is still watching the match from the monitor as Scotty doesn't look too happy with the loss from inside the ring. Chavo wags the ringer at Scotty as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and a video recap of Rey Mysterio winning Wrestlemania 22 last year and so far this show is looking more like a highlights package more than anything else though I'm more glad than anyone in knowing that Rey is coming back to action soon. We're given the music of King Booker and accompanies by Sharmell he makes his way slowly to the ring. In the ring they're still going through his introduction as the music of Kane hits and he makes his way to the ring in normal Kane fashion without and fanfare until he enters the ring and he sets off the ringpost pyros.

King Booker vs. Kane in a Money in the Bank qualification match with a falls count anywhere stipulation
The bell rings to start the match and after Booker stops prancing around the ring Kane lunges at him only to have Booker duck underneath and come back at Kane with a number of blows in the corner. Booker with the early advantage with a number of knees in the corner and then a chop to the throat and a choke before whipping him across the ring. It's reversed and to a nice cheer from the crowd Booker meets a boot to the face! Kane with the advantage as he beats on Booker in the corner before throwing him out through the ropes and onto the floor. He picks him up and drops Booker neck first on the barricades and then goes for the pin before putting him on the apron and working on his head before going back into the ring to choke him against the ropes. An Irish whip across the ring is met off the ropes by a Booker kick to the chest and he then goes to work with right hands on Kane in the corner. Kane fights back with two big uppercuts on Booker. Kane then focuses on working on Booker in the corner yet again and this match is dragging a little. An attempted pin by Kane but only for a two count. An Irish whip across the ring is met by an elbow from Booker to Kane as he charges him into the corner and then a heel kick and an attempted pin. It's not the turn of Booker to throw Kane through the ropes and then have his head bounced off the steel steps and then the announcers table before being thrown back in the ring. Booker grabs the bell and goes to hit Kane with it but Kane ducks under it and then with a right hand knocks Booker out of the ring. Kane takes to Booker outside the ring and bounces his head against the barricades before assaulting him some more. Another blow against the barricades up the rampway until Booker out of the blue kicks Kane in the chest and then DDT's him on the rampway and almost gets a three count. Booker continues to stomp away at Kane. He then attempts another cover but only a two count! Booker misses a scissors kick and Kane retaliates with an uppercut and then connects with a number of rights as he pushes him back down the rampway toward the ring. Kane rams Booker into the steel steps and only gets a two count for a cover. Kane slams his head against the steps again then picks him up and rams him back first into the ring post. Kane throws Booker back into the ring and then is distracted by Sharmell and whilst he is it allows Booker to pick up the ring bell and when Kane goes to enter the ring he's clocked in the head by it and falls to the floor as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and Kane is giving Booker a Samoan drop. Booker still is holding onto the arm of Kane that he was working on. Kane hip tosses Booker off finally but an angry Booker then just gives him a clothesline before liming him up for a back heel kick and another attempted pin. This match is going through the motions as Booker beats into Kane some more and the crowd has settled into not much reaction as Booker throws Kane out the ring again and then picks up a chair. He goes after Kane but Kane kicks the chair into his face and then goes for the cover again. He throws Booker into the ring and then climbs the top rope and gives Booker a clothesline from the top rope and an attempted pin again. Kane now with the blows on Booker against the corner. He walks away and charges back in with a clothesline almost knocking Booker outside the ring and then another one! Kane with a sideslam and another attempted pin. He whips Booker across the ring but Booker grabs the rope and stops. Kane goes after him but Booker throws him over the top rope! Booker goes to leap at him from the apron but Kane catches him with a hand around the throat and looks to chokeslam him on the floor but out of nowhere appears Great Khali! Khali takes to Kane with a number of blow. To a huge cheer Kane grabs him around the throat but is met by a chop to the head. Khali headbutts him a couple of times then throws him into a barrier knocking him over before he raises his hands to the crowd earning jeers. Booker looks at Khali as he walks back up the rampway and then decides to pin Kane and we have a winner.
King Booker defeated Kane in a Money in the Bank match in 18 minutes.
Rudi's rating - ** 1/2
Rudi's rant - I rated this match not as high as what I may have liked because it really didn't enthrall me as much as such a match should. A Falls Count Anywhere match normally means going through the crowd, a few more things happening up on stage, maybe more weapons used and this didn't have much of that and then there was the interference by Khali for no reason at all. This brand side stepping is becoming too widely used and maybe it's time a brand gets cut and wrestlers are sent to bolster up the existing rosters or perhaps it's an idea to just use existing wrestlers we don't see for weeks on end like Regal and Taylor or even in this case Benoit.

Post match Booker and Sharmell celebrate the victory as we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and a promo for Wrestlemania 37 days away as we get a replay of Khali taking care of Kane and Booker picking up the victory. booker and Sharmell are celebrating their win and then Khali just appears behind Sharmell. Sharmell looks up at him in shock as Booker extends his hand and Khali shakes it and then wanders off and Booker and Sharmell continue to celebrate.

We're then given a replay from last week and Ashley revealing her cover of the Playboy magazine she is appearing in and there is canned cheering put in as if you read my review from last week there wasn't that much applause for it sadly for Ashley. Back to Cole and JBL and JBL comments on Ashley and how pretty she is before we get another replay of last week and the introduction of Little Boogeyman. We've got a mixed tag team coming up after the next commercial break...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and we're given another Smackdown highlight from last year with Rey Mysterio where JBL was forced to quit wrestling when he lost in this I Quit match on he day of my birthday!

Back to reality and the music of Finlay hits and he makes his way to the ring. Finlay enters the ring and sets himself, shillelagh in hand with a quirky smile as the music of Boogeyman and Little Boogeyman hits and together they come out, Lil Boogey on the back of big Boogey before he crawls through his legs and together they go through the same antics. Together they gyrate down toward the ring. Big Boogey helps little Boogey onto the apron as from under the apron ring we see Lil' Bastard poking his head out as we go to...

Commercial break...

Match 4: Finlay and Lil' Bastard vs. Big Boogey and Little Boogey
Back from commercial and the match is underway with Boogeyman on the attack with clotheslines on Finlay and a back body drop before locking in a bear hug on Finlay. This show has been cut here for some reason as the next shot has Finlay working on the arm of Boogeyman in the corner. Finlay is on the floor wrapping the arm of Boogeyman around the ring post. Finlay reenters the ring and grabs the worms off the ring post as Little Boogey tries to stop him. Finlay throws him out of the ring as Finlay stomps on the worms as JBL yells for PETA. Finlay throws some worms at Cole who has backed away from the announcers table. Whilst Finlay is distracted this allows Little Boogey to come in and give Finlay a low blow before going to work in him with some punches. This is enough for Lil' Bastard to come into the ring to a big pop from the crowd and go after Little Boogey. Unbeknownst to him, Little Boogey has wormed up and when he's spun around he spits them into the face of Lil' Bastard. They go after each other with Little Boogey giving Lil' Bastard a clothesline! He turns around and is met by a kick to the face from Finlay! Finlay turns around and is met by a kick to the face from Big Boogey! Big Boogey grabs Lil' Bastard but from behind is hit in the back of the leg by Finlay with the shillelagh! Lil' Bastard gives Big Boogey a DDT and thankfully this one is over!
Finlay and Lil' Bastard defeated Big Boogey and Little Boogey in 5 minutes.
Rudi's rating - 0 to *** depending on how you look at it
Rudi's rant - During the week I've fielded emails from people who say I've been too harsh on Boogey over the weeks and I said to myself that I'd clean the slate and relook at a match of his see if I can be positive. Here we have a match where Lil' Bastard and Little Boogey got more cheers than Big Boogey and Finlay together. It says something about the feud in general I think? The crowd loved it and there will be people out there who do love it but Lil' Bastard landing a DDT on Big Boogey? It looked great if you bypass the fact that Big Boogey did most of the work on it. The rest of the match from what I saw was comedic relief. Lil' Bastard as a Finlay attachment has grown on me and I don't mind that gimmick at all. Little Boogey is also funny in how he mimics the moves of Big Boogey almost perfectly. Besides the fact the crowd and a lot of viewers like Boogey, I just couldn't rate it sorry yet I understand how some people can have the attraction over the gimmick. Just look beyond the gimmick though please and see that he just can't wrestle. There so needs to be improvement in his work.

Post match Finlay and Lil' Bastard celebrate up the rampway as we get a replay of the last few seconds of the match. We see the Bogeys’ leave the ring and strut their stuff up the rampway as we get JBL and Cole discussing Hall of Fame and JBL commenting on how Rey Mysterio should never have beaten him. We're shown a picture of Dusty Rhodes as the first inductee and then given a video package on Mr. Perfect who posthumously is being added to the Hall of Fame. A wonderful choice and a wonderful video package with interviews with his father, Edge, and Flair giving some insight into the career of Mr. Perfect. JBL comments on how wrestling was a better place with Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect) being a part of it before we go to...

Commercial break...

Back from commercial and Maryse welcomes us back again, in French this time. We get a recap of Batista and his speech first up from the show today and then next week Undertaker will talk to us.

The crowd begins to cheer as the music of Rey Mysterio hits and he comes out on stage in a suit and with a cane. He takes in the cheers of the crowd then makes his way down toward the ring acknowledging members of the crowd along the barricades. I'll state here I like Rey and what he brings to wrestling and his genuine rapport with the fans and here we are in his home town of San Diego. With a mic he says he's going to be back soon and it feels great being in a WWE ring again and he's looking forward to coming back and being and better than ever. Three months since surgery and he's way ahead of schedule! He speaks Spanish to the crowd to a big pop before all of a sudden we get the music of Vince McMahon who struts out to the ring and is followed by a lot of security who surround the ring. Vince makes reference about his size as to that of Rey Mysterio. Vince discusses this match at Wrestlemania involving him and Donald Trump and asks Rey who he thinks will win. Vince gets down to one knee making more fun of Rey's height in that he may be able to hear him if he gets lower down to him. Rey tells Vince he is a loser which makes Vince call out Umaga and Rey isn't scared of him really and won't recant on his loser comment about Vince so Vince grabs the cane Rey has and hits him in the leg with it before tossing him to Umaga. Umaga gives Rey a Samoan drop, gives him the bum splash in the corner and then with Rey looking like he's totally out of it in the middle of the ring after being dragged there by Umaga is given a splash onto his legs from the top rope. We end the show with Rey being put onto a stretcher. Rudi's rant - Ummmm, This was supposed to be a bit of a homecoming for Rey after having been out of a ring for three months after surgery. All throughout the show he was built up and then after getting a great reaction from his home crowd, Vince comes out and totally buries him. Maybe it was an indication of what could happen if he doesn't renew with WWE that he'll become everyone's whipping boy? This is another instance of the cross branding tonight that was just a failure. It was just very hard viewing.

Okay, end of the show time and what did I think of this show? For weeks I've commented on how Smackdown has been very much the 'A' branded show with great matches, great buildups, great storylines. Maybe the wrestlers were told this week after the PPV that they could take it easy? Outside of the first match, the six man tag, everything else was way off. Batista has lost the better of his mic skills. He's going through the motions almost? I don't know what it is. Maybe he's just a better heel? Booker and Kane just dragged in their match up. The Boogeys vs. Finlay and Lil' Bastard was funny but bad wrestling. Chavo and Scotty just wasn't a great match. Where were the following? Benoit, Undertaker, Regal, Taylor, Miz, Helms, Jimmy Wang Yang, MVP, Daivari, Jillian, Mr. Kennedy, Teddy Long, heck even Mark Henry would have been a better appearance. Even Maryse seemed way off tonight in the fuzzy videos. It was just a real miss of a show. I actually watched it twice and it just was so much worse the second time around! The only other highlight of the whole show outside of the view of Eddie Guerrero again was the video package on Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect) which I'd already seen on RAW. I'm giving the show a 3 out of 10 today. The commentators? JBL and Cole seemed way off, maybe Cole was still under the weather but there was not much spark there, they get a 5 though and the crowd? Who knows how much they paid but I think they missed out today and it showed, 5 out of 10. Let's hope next week is a lot better. Take care ya'll in whatever you have planned for your week ahead.










*NEW GALLERY* Amazing! RAW's Melina Taking a Shower Backstage!

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