SmackDown! 01-04-08: Beat the Clock Sprint Results
Submitted by MIK on Friday, January 4, 2008 at 11:55 PM EST



Friday Night SmackDown!
Richmond Coliseum: Richmond VA

Hello everyone, it’s me MIK aka the ECW reporter. I received a late notice, but still managed some time to fill in for Christopher this week by doing the report for this week. Pardon any mistakes as I quickly typed this up.

Tonight’s SmackDown! opens with a recap of a few weeks back when Batista ‘won’ the handicap title match, but only to be ‘screwed’ out of the title and beaten down with chair shots including a conchairto.

After the video package, Michael Cole welcomes us to the first SmackDown! of 2008. Momentarily, we see Vickie Guerrero being rolled down halfway up the ramp in her chair with Teddy Long. She first wishes everyone a happy new year and gets down to business. She sets up a Beat the Clock Sprint Challenge for tonight where the winner receives a title shot with Edge at the Royal Rumble. She further mentions that tonight if Batista or Undertaker dare lay a finger on Edge, then their hopes of ever having a title match on SmackDown! will be “blown into smokes.” Afterwards, she introduces Jonathan Coachman as SmackDowns! brand new color commentator.

Match 1: Finlay v. MVP (BEAT the CLOCK)
The match begins with a few strike attacks from MVP who eventually gets the upper hand. After a few minutes of dominating, Finlay slaps MVP, but MVP retaliates with even a more powerful slap knocking the Irishman off his feat. MVP then nails a running knee lift and Finlay is hurt. After several more minutes of mat wrestling, MVP corners Finlay and continues his assault. In the meantime, Hornswoggle from under the ring, slips a shillelagh into the ring that catches MVP’s attention. MVP attempts to get the weapon, but the referee takes it away from and hands it to someone on the outside. During this distraction, Hornswoggle gives Finlay a second shillelagh and Finlay smashes MVP over the head with it and gets the victory at 9:46 seconds. (Rating: 3.5/5)

Post-Match: Vince’s music hits the arena and he makes his way down to the ring to congratulate Hornswoggle not even bothering to pay attention to Finlay.

-Commercial-

Match 2: Michelle McCool & Chuck Palumbo v. Victoria & Kenny Dykstra
Didn’t really pay too much attention to this match and I apologize. From memory, all I can recall is that after about 8 minutes of wrestling, Victoria gets the win over Michelle McCool via the Widows Peak. After the match, Palumbo gets into the ring and verbally assaults McCool and leaves her in the ring as he rides off on his motorcycle. (Rating: 2/5)

We see Vickie Guerrero in the back and Chavo walks in. He is frustrated and tells Vickie she is ruining the Guerrero name. Chavo then tells her he wishes he can have something back and that is actually something that is not tangible. Rather he wishes that he can have some previous time back. (A reference basically saying that he wishes Eddie were here to see this. I can’t say I disagree…if only he really were here.)

-Commercial-

Match 3: Chavo Guerrero v. Funaki (BEAT the CLOCK)
As the match starts, Funaki grabs Chavo in an early headlock, but minutes later, Chavo gains control of the match and begins kicking a grounded Funaki several times. Chavo dominates most of the match from this point on until about 2 minutes left in the match where Funaki strikes with a dropkick and tries getting the crowd behind him. Unfortunately, Chavo catches him in position of the Gory Bomb and wins the match at 6:02 seconds. (Rating 2.5/5)

-Commercial-

Batista makes his way down to the ring and prepares for his BEAT the CLOCK match. Curt Hawkins comes out alone. As the he enters the ring, Vickie appears on the titantron and orders this match to be a handicap match. Hawkins partner, is none other than Zack Ryder. (Edge-heads)

Match 4: Batista v. Hawkins & Ryder in a Handicap Match (BEAT the CLOCK)
Batista starts off with a few punches and elbow strikes to both men, but they eventually find a way to double team and knock the animal off his feet. The fight spills over to the outside where Batista regains momentum by using the objects around him. With about 1 minute left on the clock, the crowd gets anxious and Batista tackles both men and goes on to spinebuster Ryder. He attempts the Batista Bomb with about 10 seconds left on the clock, but Hawkins who is lying on the mat, grabs Ryder so Batista can’t lift Ryder to do the Batista Bomb. Time runs out and Batista is disappointed. Crowd responds with boos.
(Rating: 3/5)

-Commercial-

-RAW Rebound is shown. Its about the Ric Flair/Triple H match where Regal came down to the ring and attacked Flair giving Flair the chance to avoid retirement and forcing Triple H to lose his Rumble spot.

Back from break, MVP is on the phone with someone and he just viewed the RAW Rebound. He ends his conversation by saying he will make an impact. He will do this by challenging Ric Flair and beating him, thus forcing the 16- time world champion into retirement.

Match 5: Deuce & Domino v. Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore
Yet another match I really didn’t pay too much attention too and I apologize again. Early on in the match Yang hits a dropkick and takes an early advantage, but only to get countered moments later. Interesting spot saw Yang locked onto the ropes as Domino leaps off the top rope and clobbers Yang. From this point on for about a 3 minutes, Yang is in trouble, but finally makes the hot tag to his Moore who jumps onto Domino right away taking him down. After some speedy action, Yang and Moore pick up the victory. (Rating: 2.5/5)

-Commercial-

Rey is interviewed. He says though he doesn’t know his opponent for later on tonight, he will be fast and furious in attempts to be the BEAT the CLOCK champion.

Undertaker makes his way down to the ring with a great reaction from the crowd. Matt Striker’s music hits the arena making everyone to believe that he is Takers opponent, but walks out with a referees shirt. He says that he is indeed the referee and introduces Takers opponent to be Mark Henry.

Match 6: Undertaker v. Mark Henry (BEAT the CLOCK)
Undertaker strikes first with a few punches and backs Henry into the corner. Minutes later, Undertaker attempts to run and clothesline Henry, but instead Henry, like a wall, doesn’t move and instead knocks Taker off his feet. With about 1 minute left on the clock, Undertaker attempts Old School, but Henry catches Taker and locks in a bearhug. Taker breaks out of it and reverses a clothesline from Henry into a chokeslam with 11 seconds remaining. 1…2………….NO! Striker does stops at 2 and Undertaker gives Striker an evil stare. Striker runs out of the ring as the time runs out. Interesting finish. (Rating: 3/5)

Post-Match: Undertaker is angry and powerslams Henry which is followed by his signature leg drop before the camera goes to break.

-Commercial-

TIME TO BEAT: 6:02

Rey Mysterio comes out to a nice pop. Edge comes out with the Edge-heads to a rather surprise as Edge is introduced as Rey’s opponent.

Match 7: Rey Mysterio v. Edge (BEAT the CLOCK)
Match begins with Edge grabbing the ropes and eventually leaving the ring to waste some time off the clock. Rey looks disappointed already and attempts to trick Edge by faking a dive to the outside. Edge slides into the ring and charges towards Rey, but is countered and Rey strikes with a few aerial moves. Turning point occurs when Rey is distracted by the Edge-heads and still decides to bounce off the ropes but is instead big booted right in the face. With about 3:34 seconds to go, Batista comes out and manhandles both Edge-heads outside of the ring with rams and clothesline leaving Edge in disbelief before he leaves. (Remember, Batista as well as Taker still cannot lay a hand on Edge). Rey who is still knocked down is continued to be on the receiving end of numerous kicks by Edge. With 2:14 seconds left, Undertaker appears on the stage to much of the audiences delight. Edge is confused and looks terrified. Taker makes a signal and the lights go off. When the lights come back on, Undertaker is gone and Edge is on the ropes in position for the 619. Mysterio sees an opportunistic situation and hits the 619 and gets the victory following a big splash with 1:29 left to spare. (Rating: 3.5)

Post-Match: Edge looks like he is about to cry as Mysterio celebrates. Edge makes a sick look at Mysterio, but Rey signals for the Championship as SmackDown! comes to a close.


Quick Match Results:
-Finlay defeated MVP in 9:46 sec.
-Kenny Dykstra & Victoria defeated Michelle McCool & Chuck Palumbo.
-Chavo Guerrero defeated Funaki in 6:02 sec.
-Batista failed to beat Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins within the time limit in a Handicap Match.
-Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore defeated Deuce & Domino
-Undertaker failed to be Mark Henry within the time limit in a Special Guest Referee Match.
-Rey Mysterio defeated Edge with 1:29 sec. left to spare to become No. 1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship Title.

Highlight of the Night: Rey Mysterio v. Edge


Overall tonight’s show was pretty good with a few slumps in between. I’m not too big of a fan of the BEAT the CLOCK challenges as I feel that it makes one think too much on time constraints. However, since it was after 1 year this was done, I have no problem with that. Nonetheless, I feel like SmackDown! needs something earth-shattering like in order to really score high on the ratings, because I certainly believe it should be a better show than what we see on a weekly basis. 6/10.



Wow! That was some typing I put together in the last few minutes. It was fun doing the report, but lets hope Christopher can return to writing the SmackDown! reports starting next week. Writing 2 reports in a week takes a lot of time, but it’s a challenging experience…=p.

Any questions, comments, concern? Feel free to email me, MIK, at akbarsaadi@yahoo.com.



Check back next week to see how the Rey/Edge storyline progresses. Also, what new fate is in store for both Batista and Undertaker as we roll on towards the Royal Rumble? Tune in next Friday Night!









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