LAST WEEK ON SMACKDOWN:  Kennedy had 331 days before his title shot, but only 3 days before he lost it, The Miz stole a hat and it’s was probably best that Dusty didn’t get a job with a couple of S’s in the title…

THIS WEEK…

Chris Benoit & Matt Hardy def. MVP & Finlay in a "Nothing funny to read here.  Just a damn fine match." match

After a promo (the first of many throughout the night) hyping the cage match and the usual opening gubbins, we started with the magnificent entrance of MVP!  Finlay followed, naturally, with Benoit and Hardy after them.  As Benoit came out, it was announced that Benoit & MVP would be facing each other at Judgment Day, in a 2 out of 3 falls match!  Gonna be a good one folks!!!

Finlay & Benoit started off with along collar and elbow, until Finlay wrung the arm, Benoit punching his way out of it.  Finlay retreated with MVP tagging in.  MVP got a side headlock, but after being shoved off, hit a shoulder block.  Benoit soon went for the Crossface, but Porter made the ropes quickly.  Hardy was tagged in, dropping an elbow for 1.  Benoit came back in , taking MVP into a corner and chopping him in it.  However, Benoit was caught in the same corner, with MVP laying shots to the gut.  However, as MVP came back, Benoit pushed him off and hit a Northern Lights suplex for 2.  Hardy was tagged in.  A neckbreaker got Matt 2, but MVP kneed Matt in the gut and tagged in Finlay.  Benoit was tagged in though, and he chopped away on Finlay, sending him from the ring.  A baseball slide missed but he hit a suplex on the outside on Finlay.  Hornswaggle tried to rally his man form under the ring as we took a break.

We came back to see Benoit in the middle of a back suplex, as Cole relayed that Benoit & Hardy were the dominant team.  Hardy came in and hit a bulldog out of the corner for 2.  Hardy got on a headlock, but was pushed into the heel corner, where MVP was tagged in, where he put boots to Hardy, before distracting the referee, so Finlay could do the same.  MVP was caught with the Side Effect, but Finlay broke up the count.  Hardy went to the second rope, and hit a standing elbow for 2.  However, Hardy was driven into a corner, where he was then placed on top, However, Porter was elbowed off, allowing Hardy to hit a moonsault for 2.  However, it seemed Hardy hurt his knee.  Hardy came off the ropes into a log roll by MVP, brilliantly targeting the legs.  Finlay was tagged in, where he put on a Single-leg crab.  While Hardy made the ropes, Finlay stayed on top of Hardy, targeting the leg, locking in an Indian Deathlock.  MVP was tagged in, where he kicked the knee before dropping elbows on it.  Hardy fought off a toe-hold, but couldn't make the tag before MVP got to him.  However, Hardy hit an enziguri.  Hardy tagged Benoit and MVP tagged Finlay.  Benoit started with the Germans, before knocking MVP from the apron.  However, this allowed Finlay gather himself enough to roll out of the way of the Diving headbutt.  MVP came in, and after twisting the leg, floating over into a cover for the three count!

Thoughts - 7.5/10 - Damn good opener and damn fine TV match period.  And once again, it's the little things are putting MVP a class above at the moment.  I mean, when is the last time you saw someone do a log roll in a wrestling match, and yet, it was a perfect move for him to do at the time.

Michelle McCool def. Jillian Hall in a "Quicker next time, please, Michelle..." match

After a promo, showcasing Undertaker's decision to face Batista at Wrestlemania, and an ad break, we came back to hear Jillian in the middle of a caterwaul...  Thankfully (although not quickly enough), Michelle came out.  They locked up, but after Jillian slapped Michelle, they a brief catfight, which Jillian got the better of.  However, after ducking a punch, Michelle locked in a camel clutch, but Jillian made the ropes.  Jillian took Michelle down, choking her, before doing something similar in the ropes.  She hit her Cartwheel elbow drop for 2, before pulling on Michelle's hair.  Jillian locked in a sleeper, while exercising her lungs.  Michelle also stole one, but Jillian kicked out.  They slugged it out, with Michelle taking down Jillian twice, before  hitting a snap suplex.  Michelle then hit a nice Belly to belly suplex, but was taken down.  Jillian then hit the move of my darling, Molly Holly, the cartwheel ass bump in the corner, but coming out, Michelle hit a backbreaker for the win!

Thoughts - 5/10 - They tried their damnedest out there, and they had a pretty decent match going.  And if everything was perfectly crisp, then it would certainly have been a good 'un, but as it was, it wasn't perfect

Some stuff for next week...

Backstage, Kristal was rubbing Teddy's shoulders, wondering if he had found an assistant yet.  Teddy said he couldn't.  Kristal was about to suggest someone when a couple of country boys walked in.  Long identified them as the Daltons.  One of them looks a bit like Kane..."wink wink"...  They talked about having a match later that night, but Long couldn't, so he told them to get to Baltimore and they'd get their debut.

Anyway, Kristal suggested Vicki Guerrero.  Teddy said that you couldn't trust the Guerreros.  However, Kristal made her case for Vicki, before saying that if she lost Teddy, she didn't know what she would do, prompting Teddy to say that he would give her an interview next week.

Have you put 2 and 2 together yet?

After a No Way out recap of the doings between Taker & Tista, and another ad break, The RAW Rebound recapped Kennedy's involvement on Monday night, and the goading of Edge into defending, and losing, the Money In The Bank briefcase.

I can't wait either Ashley...well, it means you won't be talking...

Cole & JBL introduced Ashley for a Satellite interview.  They recapped the attack on her by Jillian.  She said she was anxious to get back.  She talked about music being her motivator, saying that anything by "Rage Against The Machine" was a motivator.  Don't ask me.  I just recap this stuff...

They brought up London & Kendrick.  Ashley said it was disappointing, but they would be back, and encouraging her to "make it on her own"...

Yeah...whatever...

Paul London def. Domino in an "It must be nice for them to win some non-title matches..." match

And from a bandage, there was nothing, as London made his return.  The Champs made their way out next in a pink Caddy.  As Cherry was brought in the ring, we saw how much London was rocking a beard.  Domino dived for London, but he jumped out the way.  They circled each other, before London caught a leg, and kicked away, but Domino shoved him off.  Domino got a kick to the ribs, but London avoided Domino after being whipped off the ropes.  Domino went outside, when London hit a moonsault from the apron akin to the one he missed.  But this time, he landed on his feet.  However, Domino caught him coming back in and went to work on London, locking in a wrist-cum-headlock.  Domino dumped London down and went to the second rope.  the move was countered, but Domino saw it coming.

They fought over a backslide, but London flipped out and hit a flapjack.  London shoved Domino off a corner charge, before hitting a headscissors and a drop kick while Domino was on his knees.  Deuce got on the apron, but London turned around and hit a spin kick.  Deuce again went up tot he ring, but Spanky held Deuce's feet while London hit the Dropsault off of Deuce onto Domino for the three count!

Thoughts - 6.5/10 - A very solid match, and the story the announcers were getting across (That London had to prove he was good to go again) was very well put over.

Why?

A Snitsky video aired.  First RAW and now Smackdown?  Que?  Huh?  Wha?  Buh?  Guh?

Kane def. Dave Taylor in a "Little people.  Loud noises.  It's a potent combination" match

Kane came out first, but was followed by Boogeyman and Lil' Boogey.  Kane had a wry smile on his face as they came out.  Taylor & Regal (wearing some new merch for them), as they focused on Regal's bust lip from a house show at the weekend.  They teased a lock up, but Kane punched Taylor into the corner, where Kane began to work him over.  Kane hit a bodyslam, before dropping the elbow.  Taylor was whipped off the ropes, but stopped his own momentum and went outside.  However Kane just brought him back in.  Taylor was whipped into the corner, but Taylor reversed it, where Regal tried to help.  But it didn't really work.  After taking Taylor down, Kane went outside after Regal, but was caught by Taylor coming back in.  Taylor worked in a wristlock, but as they got up, they traded uppercuts.  Kane got the better of it, as Taylor was whipped into the corner and clotheslined twice.  Kane then hit the side slam, before going up.  Regal got up on the apron, but Little Boogey pulled him off the apron with Big Boogey clotheslining him.  Kane hit the clothesline and the chokeslam for the win.

After the match, Kane set off his pyro, scaring the crap out of Lil' Boogeyman.

Thoughts - 6/10 - Decent enough match, that is always more fun when Boogeyman and his midget are around.  If it's decided that Kane & Boogey are going to feud with each other, then I for one will be sad about it, because they have potential.

The road to Cena being Cena begins...

We're in April 2003 and "Basic Thuganomics" kicks in.  Yep, it's the John Cena heel period.  He cut a rap on Chris Benoit.  Certain fans on the forum will be wishing they were British.  this was the final match in a Number One Contenders title tournament for Brock Lesnar's title.  this was a damn fine match, which Cena won, with WWE sending Cena & Lesnar out there to die with neither ready to carry the other at that point.

The calm before the storm...

Back to the present day, we first saw Ben Roethlisberger mugging it up for the camera, before we recapped the Last Man Standing match.

The Undertaker & Batista fought to a draw in a "Taker is a dude.  Plain & Simple." Cage match for the World Heavyweight Title

They locked up, taking it all around the ring, although they broke, when it hit the ropes.  Taker got a knee to the gut, before going to work on Batista.  Batista came back, forcing Taker towards the ropes.  However, Batista was whipped off the ropes and hit with a Big boot for 2.  Undertaker targeted Batista's bandaged leg, kicking it a few times, before headbutting him.  Taker hit a bodyslam, but Batista moved out the way of an elbow drop.  Batista hit a clothesline for 2.  Batista looked for the Batista Bomb early, but Taker punched the leg.  Taker dropped an elbow (WITH HIS BAD ARM) on Batista's leg before ramming his head in the corner.  Undertaker propped Batista on the top rope, and went up.  Batista punched the ribs to block a superplex, before coming off the top turnbuckle with a shoulder tackle for 2.  Very nice it was too.  Batista went for the door, but Taker caught him, hitting the injured leg once again.

Back after a break, Batista was trying to pull Taker back form an escape attempt.  Taker kicked Batista away but decided to come back and continue to work on Batista.  However, Batista caught him and unloaded on Taker.  Batista gave taker a donkey kick low blow, and called for the door, but quickly decided to go back on the attack instead, putting shoulders into Taker's gut, before hard whipping him into the other corner with a clothesline in that corner to boot.  Batista went up, but Taker was able to follow, punching Batista in the leg, before Batista ended up crotched on the top rope.  With Batista between the cage and the ropes, Taker came off the other ropes and hit a Big Boot.  Batista sparked into life with punches, but after Taker ducked a clothesline, they took each other out.  They were up quickly though, as another break was taken.

Batista kicked Taker in the head for 2, as we came back.  Batista rammed Taker's head into a corner a couple of times, before slugging away at him, following with a clothesline for 2.  Taker came back with shots to the knee, placing Batista in the corner.  Undertaker charged in with a couple of clotheslines, before hitting Snake Eyes and a Big Boot.  Taker called for, and got, the Chokeslam.  JBL called it, but the cover only scored a 2 count.  Taker then signalled for the Tombstone, but Batista slipped out, ramming Taker into the cage.  And next time we saw him, Taker was headed for "stuck pig" territory as we took another break.

Batista was continuing to take advantage of taker's open wound, ramming him into the cage, before hitting the spinebuster for 2.  Batista hit some mounted punches in the corner, but Taker caught him with a powerbomb for a near 2 count.  Taker called for the door.  He was halfway out, but Batista caught him, drawing Taker back in.  Batista was placed on the top turnbuckle and teased a chokeslam from the top turnbuckle, but Batista elbowed out of it, before punching Taker off of the top. 

As Batista got towards the top of the cage, Taker did the zombie sit-up and sped up to the top.  They crawled over at the same time and then dropped at the same time (well, to be frank, in the shot of them dropping, you could tell Taker hit the floor milliseconds before Batista, but you'd have to be a douche to complain).

Everyone, well, Cole & JBL sat in a stunned silence as Mickey Henson & Jim Korderas consulted with each other.  In a PHENOMENAL touch, they went over to the announce table to get a look at the replays on their monitors.  That was a truly brilliant idea.  Indeed, they two men acted really well here.  What I generally hate is the clichéd "ref 1 thinks it's one guy, ref 2 thinks it's the other", just because it's done to death.  But here, they were just discussing it, and what it meant for the result.  And then, like any other human being, rather than just taking a punt at the correct answer, like they normally do, they took advantage of the situation they were in, and used the technology at hand to decide such an important decision.  I know I've gone on more about this than I probably should have, but damn, if it wasn't good to see!

Indeed, the replay showed that their feet hit at the same time (of course, anything can be done with editing ;)).  Korderas, assumedly the official in charge, told Chimel they decided it was a draw and Taker retained.  Batista collapsed as the word "draw" passed Chimel's lips.

Thoughts - 9/10 - This was an awesome stand up brawl, with some excellent drama at the very end.  Great stuff, and if it wasn't for the circumstances surrounding Undertaker's injury, this was be a great excuse for a rematch, specifically, Hell In A Cell, but that's gonna have to wait, if it happens at all.  And frankly, Undertaker deserves all the credit in the world for working this match with his injury.  The man is a stud.

Batista magically disappeared as Undertaker came around with the belt, ready to leave, when into the shot came Mark Henry!  Henry laid shots to Taker's bloody head, before he was rammed back-first into the ringpost.  In the ring, Henry gave Taker a clothesline, before hitting the World's Strongest Splash...twice.  Job done, Henry took his leave, as the show came to a concl...

Then it happened...

EDGE'S MUSIC KICKED IN!  Yep, The Rated R Opportunist came out, passing Henry on the way, with a speedily redesigned MITB briefcase.  He handed the case to Korderas and demanded the bell be rung.  Korderas, obviously not entirely happy, gave Chimel the 911, and after the official announcement, called for the bell.

Edge def. The Undertaker to become World Heavyweight Champion in a "One less challenger for Cena…" match

Edge went right for a pin.  One...Two...kick-out!

Edge tried again.  One...Two...ANOTHER kick-out!

Edge sensed this might not be his night after all, as he turned to see Undertaker sit up.  However, Taker couldn't quite sit up, collapsing down.  Edge went to a corner and readied his next move, while Taker slowly got up, and when he did, he turned right into a spear!  It was then academic, no matter how many "Not this way"'s Cole gave it.

Edge became World Heavyweight Champion.

They recapped the last few minutes events, before seeing Edge holding up the World Title and MITB case in the aisle.  However, he spied Undertaker getting up, so Edge went back to the ring and smacked him with the MITB case, before posing in the ring as the show ended.

Thoughts - 10/10 - It's tough to rate this, because there wasn't much of a match to speak, especially for a title match.  However, for the all round booking of it and the awesomeness of Edge, I say "stuff it!" and am giving it the full whack. 

OVERALL - 9/10 (+ 2 on last week) - Frankly, I thought this was an awesome effort from the Smackdown crew this week.  An excellent match in the “advertised” main event, as well as the surprise (albeit a VERY spoiled one) of the “real” main event.  Not only that, but it was backed up by a good opener, a match from 2 ever-improving women and a couple of solid matches in between.  They built up to the cage match awesomely throughout the show, as well as pushing stuff for the future, in terms of Vicki’s interview and the Dalton boys/brothers making their debut.

There has been some debate about whether or not they should have taken the MITB off of Kennedy and put it on Edge, but in all seriousness, the WWE made the call they HAD to make.    It’s one thing to say that they could have kept it on Kennedy, as he had declared for Wrestlemania anyway.  However, Undertaker is out for quite a while.  At the time, the prognosis on Kennedy was that he’d be out to the New Year, although they got damn lucky in that he’s be out only for a couple of months.

That’s 2 main event level guys out from a show not exactly over-run with main eventers.  They needed to move someone across, and using the MITB was the best way, in the short term, to have someone jump, not only shoring up the star value of the show, but also adding the spark of drama as they did with the title win.  In the circumstances (and even then, I’d say the same in hindsight), it was brilliant booking by the WWE.  And then Kennedy has a ready made feud when he does return, and unlike when Orton was turned, people have a vested interest in cheering him.  You could sense it coming.  It’s a good time to be on the Smackdown bandwagon right now.

That’s all I got for now, but if you have something to say about this week’s Smackdown, you can e-mail me at dedicated e-mail address, or come hunt me down on the WWI Forums!

OR, you can find me along with the rest of the dribbling masses on MY OWN MYSPACE PAGE!

Well, I’ll be back soon enough (quite possibly/probably the TNA Sacrifice real-time), but for now, I believe I’ve fulfilled my contractual obligations.  For reading this, And continuing to support World Wrestling Insanity, you’re cooler than the other side of the pillow…

I’m out.