SmackDown! Report (08/22/08): The Dead Returns!
Submitted by MIK on Friday, August 22, 2008 at 10:10 PM EST
SmackDown! moves to My Network TV on October 3, 2008! Check WWE.com for more information.
Friday Night Smackdown!
Fridays 8/7 ET
Moline, Illinois
Tonight, after a brutal Hell in a Cell Match at SummerSlam this past Sunday, The Undertaker returns! Also as the road to Unforgiven begins, Triple H will have to defend his WWE Championship in a Championship Scramble. Who will his opponents be? Let’s Find Out!
SmackDown! video package rolls and fireworks go off as we are welcomed to another edition of Friday Night SmackDown!
Maria is shown in the ring awaiting her opponent, Natalya.
Match 1: Maria v. Natalya
Match starts with Natalya getting in a fireman’s carry on Maria. Natalya attempts an armlock, but Maria reverses the maneuver by applying a headscissors. The two then separate and lock up, but Maria gets the better of it as she takes down Natalya with a headlock. As the match progresses, Maria appears to control the pace of the match as she applies a wristlock and follows it up with a nice headscissors takedown. Maria then strikes Natalya with kicks, but Natalya eventually catches and leg drags Maria down. Natalya continues to work on the leg of Maria by slamming her onto the ropes as well as applying a basic leg lock. Maria uses her leg and catches Natalya in the throat to release the hold and successfully follows it up with a jawbreaker. Maria then clotheslines Natalya a few times before connecting with a bronco buster. Natalya rolls to the apron, but gets knocked off of it when Maria drills her in the abdomen. As Maria goes to the outside, Maryse’s music hits and she makes her way down the ramp. Natalya attacks Maria from behind and Maryse follows it up with several kicks to the face. The referee calls for the bell.
Post-Match: Natalya and Maryse roll Maria to the ring and continue the beatdown until Michelle McCool runs in to make the save. The heel divas escape and celebrate up the ramp way.
(Match Rating: 3/5. A very solid basic wrestling contest between the two divas. It could have used a little more crowd reaction, but the mat wrestling and techniques were good.)
Backstage, we see Chavo and Bam Neely rolling Vickie around in her wheelchair when Big Show suddenly approaches them. Show says the Championship Scramble idea is a good one and he cannot wait for his qualifying match. Vickie stops Show and tells him that he cannot participate in the Scramble Qualifier because he is oversized. Show looks a frustrated and walks off.
Up Next: 10 Man Battle Royal where the winner will qualify for the WWE Championship Scramble Match and Unforgiven.
Big Show’s music hits and he makes his way to ringside. He grabs a chair and sits down.
-Commercial-
Did you Know? More people watched SmackDown! last Friday Night than the NFL on FOX.
In the ring, we see Armando Estrada, Funaki, Super Crazy, Scotty Goldman, and Ryan Braddock. Justin Roberts informs everyone this is a qualifying match for the Championship Scramble.
The Brian Kendrick makes his way down to the ring accompanied by Ezekiel.
Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins then make their way down to the ring.
Jimmy Wang Yang makes his way down to the ring.
Vladimir Koslov makes his way down to the ring.
Match 2: WWE Championship Scramble Qualifying Match – 10 Man Battle Royal
Bell rings and all men take it to each other in different sides of the ring. 2 minutes into the match, Koslov is elminated by a group of superstars. Goldman is next to go by a double clothesline from Ryder and Hawkins. Crowd chants for Big Show and so he gets out of his seat and enters the ring. Show immediately tosses Braddock out of the ring and proceeds to lift and throw out Ryder, Hawkins, and Super Crazy all at the same time! Show then grabs and throws Kendrick to the opposite side of the ring and proceeds to toss Estrada out of the ring. Show then slaps Funaki across the chest to send him over the ropes. Show then grabs Kendrick and hurls him to the outside, but Ezekiel catches him. Show doesn’t realize it and proceeds to throw Yang over the ropes with a press slam. Show’s music plays and he steps over the ropes and to the outside and celebrates up the ramp as he walks to the back.
Ezekiel puts Kendrick back in the ring and two referees come to the conclusion that Kendrick’s feet did not touch the floor and as a result, he is the winner of the Battle Royal and is officially qualified to face Triple H at Unforgiven.
Post-Match: Kendrick celebrates and runs around in the ring as the crowd boos him.
(Match Rating: 3/5. This Kendrick win is very interesting to say the least. I’m going to wait and see Unforgiven before I make my judgment on Kendrick.)
Tonight the Undertaker returns to SmackDown!
-Commercial-
Tazz and JR talk about Kendrick’s win. They then show another video of R-Truth and informs us that he debuts next Friday Night!
Justin Roberts tells everyone that our next contest is a Championship Scramble Qualifying match set for one fall.
MVP makes his way down to the ring to a chord of boos.
“Biscuits and Gravy!!!!” MVP’s opponent is Festus. Jesse takes a seat at ringside.
Match 3: WWE Championship Scramble Qualifying Match – MVP v. Festus
Bell rings and Festus charges at MVP, but MVP dodges it and corners Festus in the corner. Unfortunately for MVP, Festus takes MVP down with clotheslines and punches. The two then exchange a few shots and Festus proceeds to kick MVP in the face. Festus then strikes MVP with a thunderous uppercut. Festus covers, but gets a 2 count. Festus then hits a fall-a-way slam. MVP crawls into the corner and the referee tells Festus to back away. As he does, MVP capitalizes off the distraction by kicking Festus in the knee and ramming his shoulder into the steel post. MVP then rams Festus’s shoulder into the turnbuckle and ties it around the ring ropes and kicks it a few times. A few “MVP!” chants start. Festus tries fighting back, but MVP kicks the injured arm of Festus. MVP applies an armlock in the middle of the ring and repeatedly knocks Festus down whenever he tries getting back up. Eventually after some time, Festus does manage to escape the hold and headbutts MVP down. MVP rolls to the apron and Festus follows, but when Festus tries attacking, MVP yanks Festus’s arm once again using the ropes. MVP gets back in the ring and connects with an armbar takedown. After receiving a 2 count, both men get to their feet and punch each other with Festus getting the better. Festus attempts a body splash, but MVP moves out of the way and snapmares Festus. MVP locks in another arm submission hold, but this time Festus gets out of quickly by countering it with a samoan drop. Festus irish whips MVP to the corner and takes him down with a hard shoulder tackle. Festus sits on MVP, but gets a 2 count. As Festus picks up MVP, MVP strikes Festus’s throat. MVP then tries hitting his signature kick to the face, but instead gets caught by a big boot from Festus. MVP rolls to the outside and Festus follows. The referee’s 10 count begins. When the referee was at 8, MVP kicked Jesse in the face on the outside and ran inside the ring. Festus cared for Jesse, but got counted out.
Post-Match: Festus chases MVP in the ring, but the bell then rings. Match is over and Festus is still as a statue. MVP taunts in front of Festus and proceeds to kick him out of the ring with the power kick.
(Match Rating: 3/5. Surprisingly, this was a good match. I didn’t expect Festus to get beaten down for the majority of the match.)
Justin Roberts informs everyone that MVP is now officially qualified for the Championship Scramble at Unforgiven. Crowd Boos.
Up Next: Finlay v. Shelton Benjamin where the winner will qualify for the WWE Championship Scramble at Unforgiven.
-Commercial-
Shelton Benjamin makes his way down to the ring. He grabs a microphone and says that he needs to get a little something off of his chest. He says that to be the Gold Standard, means you’re obsessed with winning, you’re obsessed with gold. He then mentions how the news talk about Michael Phelps being the new Gold Standard. Benjamin is ticked off and informs everyone that he is the one and only Gold Standard.
Finlay comes out accompanied to the ring by Hornswoggle.
Match 4: WWE Championship Scramble Qualifying Match – Shelton Benjamin v. Finlay
Bell rings and the two lockup. Benjamin corners Finlay and backs off. They attempt to lockup again, but Finlay goes behind Benjamin and knocks him down with a elbow to the face. Benjamin gets back up and tease a test of strength, but Finlay instead applies a headlock takedown. After breaking the hold, Benjamin retreats to the corner to regroup. Benjamin gets a cheap shot and begins to pound on Finlay. It’s a fist fight! They roll out of the ring and eventually have a staredown. They cautiously roll back into the ring without taking their eyes off each other. Finlay tackles Benjamin down and locks his legs. Finally after a few minutes, Benjamin breaks the hold as he finds his way to the ropes. Benjamin goes to the corner and Finlay tries hitting a spear, but hits the ring post. Benjamin takes control as he strikes with numerous punches and kicks. At this point, Benjamin applies a modified sleeper hold. Finlay breaks the hold but immediately gets snapmared and kicked in the back. The referee asks Finlay if he wants to continue and he replies with a yes. Finlay rolls to the outside and grabs his face. Benjamin tries a baseball slide, but Finlay pulls the ring apron and traps Benjamin. Finlay pounds Benjamin and eventually tosses him back into the ring. As Finlay follows, Benjamin grabs and sets Finlay up on the top rope. Finlay shoves Benjamin off, but Benjamin comes right back and punches Finlay off the top and to the outside!
-Commercial-
Back, we see Benjamin has a headlock applied on Finlay. Finlay kicks Benjamin to the head to break the hold. Finlay tries getting a breather, but gets kicked in the face. Benjamin tries applying another sleeper, but Finlay takes him down with a jawbreaker. Benjamin, however, gets right back up and clothesline Finlay down. Benjamin applies a nerve hold. The camera zooms into Hornswoggle’s face and he is worried. Eventually, Finlay manages to slide Benjamin to a backslide, but gets only a 2 count. As they get back up, Benjamin kicks Finlay in the face and connects with a T-Bone Suplex. Benjamin signals for PayDirt, but gets clothselined down. Finlay lifts Benjamin up for the Celtic Cross, but Mike Knox comes to ringside and grabs Hornswoggle. Finlay looks at Knox, but from behind Benjamin hits the PayDirt and gets the 3 count.
Post-Match: Hornswoggle escapes from Knox. Knox gets in the ring and hits a big boot on Finlay.
(Rating: 3.5/5. A very good physical match between the two. As I said many times before, Benjamin has a bright future!)
Still later on tonight, The Undertaker returns to SmackDown!
-Commercial-
“Time to Play the Game!” Hits and Justin Roberts tells everyone to please welcome the WWE Champion, Triple H! The Game comes out in street clothes as JR and Tazz inform us that our final qualifying match is up next!
-Commercial-
Triple H is shown sitting alongside JR and Tazz doing commentary.
The Great Khali’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring accompanied by Ranjin Singh
“No More Words!” Hits and Jeff Hardy comes out to another huge ovation.
Match 5: WWE Championship Scramble Qualifying Match – Great Khali v. Jeff Hardy
The two stare each other down until Khali shoves Jeff away. Jeff Hardy dodges a few punch attempts from Khali and slaps Khali in the face and leaves the ring. Eventually, he gets back in the ring, but gets clotheslined downed. Khali corners Jeff and stumps a mudhole in him. Khali then foot chokes Jeff. Khali then strikes Jeff in the corner with an elbow strike. Khali gets a 2 count and not long after applies a nerve hold. Once Jeff breaks out of the hold, Khali clubs Jeff in the back to bring him down to the mat again. Khali proceeds to bodyslam Jeff and taunts to the crowd. Khali signals for the Khali bomb, but Jeff pokes Khali in the eyes and goes up top to the turnbuckle. As he prepares to jump, Khali slaps Jeff across the chest that sends him to the outside. Khali tries to grab Jeff, but Jeff manages to choke Khali on the ropes. Jeff gets back in the ring and signals for the Twist of Fate. Yes, he connects and Jeff goes to the top. At this point, Ranjin Singh gets on the apron and distracts Jeff and Khali makes it back to his feet and applies the Vice Grip. Triple H gets out of his seat and punches Singh off the apron. Triple H grabs a steel chair and teases to hit Singh. Khali sees it and goes after Triple H while the referee attends to Jeff. Triple H swings the chair and hits Khali in the head. Jeff gets back up and connects with the Whisper in the Wind (it was actually botched). Jeff then goes up top and hits the Swanton Bomb for the win.
Post-Match: Jeff celebrates up the ramp way as we go to break.
(Match Rating: 3/5. Another good bout. It’s good to see Jeff Hardy back in the title hunt.)
-Commercial-
JR and Tazz go over the WWE Championship Scramble Match at Unforgiven. It will now be MVP v. The Brian Kendrick v. Shelton Benjamin v. Jeff Hardy v. Triple H for the WWE Championship!
Triple H is in the ring and he has a microphone in hand. Triple H talks about the Championship Scramble Match. He says that those odds don’t favor him too much and it’s more than likely that title will change hands. He tells his competitors that they shouldn’t celebrate too much, because the 5th guy in that ring is a 12 time champion. The 5th guy in that match has been in every match the WWE has to offer and has come out on top. The 5th guy is known for a reason, because he is the Game!
At this point, Kenny Dykstra’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring.
Triple H is smiling.
Dykstra grabs the microphone out of Triple H’s hands and says that he is sick and tired of people not taking him seriously around here. He attempts to say his name, but Triple H kicks him and connects with the Pedigree!
Before Triple H leaves, he says, “Good to see you Kenney.”
Triple H plays with the crowd as he heads to the back.
Backstage, Vickie, Chavo, and Bam Neely are talking. Vickie is writing out an apology statement in her notebook. Suddenly Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins come and they inform the rest of the Family that the Undertaker is here. Vickie says that it’s time to go out in the ring and make a formal apology.
(Segment Rating: 4/5. A good promo that did its part to hype the Unforgiven title bout with a brief comedy feeling at the end)
-Commercial-
The Undertaker Returns!
We see the entire Family in the middle of the ring with the exception of Edge, who is still selling his injuries from SummerSlam.
Vickie begins to speak as the crowd boos her. She reads out a statement from her notebook. She says…
“I consider myself a great woman. A great woman that is not too big to apologize for her actions. A great woman who admits there have been mistakes. A great woman who stands on her own two feet and looks at adversity in the face. A great woman who eventually does the next right thing. And that’s why I am here tonight to apologize to the Undertaker!”
Vickie puts down the notebook and asks everyone to join her in a standing ovation for our beloved Undertaker!
Gong!
The entire crowd gets out of their seats and cheers.
Gong! The lights go out and Taker’s music hits. This is amazing!
As Undertaker enters the ring, the entire Family back away a few steps. Vickie looks a little worried.
As the crowd finally quiets down, Vickie tells Undertaker that she delivered her husband, Edge, to him inside Hell in a Cell and gave him the chance to extract his revenge. And so she asks for unforgiveness. She asks him to please accept her apology. Vickie then gets out of her wheelchair and gets down on her knees and asks taker once more to accept her apology.
Undertaker walks toward her and grabs the microphone out of her hands. Undertaker says, “Look at me woman! I didn’t come out here for an apology. I come for your soul!”
At this point, Chavo orders the rest of Family to circle around the Undertaker. They are about to attack. Meanwhile, Vickie leaves the ring.
Bam Neely is first to get knocked off his feet, followed by Chavo, Hawkins, and Ryder. Finally after a few minutes, the number’s game gets the best of the Undertaker as the entire Family pounds the dead man and strikes at him with numerous kicks. Finally, Chavo tells the Family to hold Undertaker up as he grabs a steel chair from ringside.
Chavo charges at Undertaker with the chair, but gets kicked in the face. Taker headbutts Neely and takes out Ryder and Hawkins. Taker then throws Chavo onto Neely which sends them to the outside and proceed to give Ryder and Hawkins a chokeslam.
Undertaker turns around and sees Vickie.
JR adds to look at the carnage being shown in the ring.
Undertaker then signals the rest in peace sign to Vickie as the show goes off the air…
(Segment Rating: 4.5/5. A very good segment. It sure is good to see the Undertaker again on SmackDown!)
Quick Match Results:
-Match 1: Maria def. Natalya via. DQ
-Match 2: The Brian Kendrick won 10 Man Battle Royal to qualify for WWE Championship Scramble
-Match 3: MVP def. Festus to qualify for WWE Championship Scramble
-Match 4: Shelton Benjamin def. Finlay to qualify for WWE Championship Scramble
-Match 5: Jeff Hardy def. Great Khali to qualify for WWE Championship Scramble
Smack of the Night: Shelton Benjamin vs. Finlay
Impact of the Night: Triple H nailing Great Khali with a steel chair.
Overall tonight’s SmackDown! was a good one considering it was the first event coming off a major PPV. Pretty much all wrestling tonight which is never a bad thing in WWE. The WWE Championship Scramble looks a little shaky from the SmackDown! side, but I think it will give the upper mid-carders a chance to shine on a big stage. It should also be interesting to see where this Undertaker/Vickie storyline is heading to. Final Rating: 7.5/10. (Good! B).
Do you have any questions, concerns, or comments? If so, feel free to email me, MIK, at mik123@ymail.com
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