Rest In Peace, Bam Bam.

LAST WEEK ON SMACKDOWN: Dennis Stamp apparently “humbled” the Iron Sheik, Chris Benoit lost properly and Undertaker didn’t work fast enough (well, that happens every week, to be honest…)

THE SHOW

And to the winner, the spoils...

Before the credits, we are reminded of the result of the Smackdown Sprint (with it coming down to Kennedy, undertaker (and Miz, if you want to count his ass), and after the opening titles, we are gonna have us some Ken Kennedy! Kenneth makes his way out, calls for his personal microphone and reminds everyone he won the thing, as no-one could beat his time. The crowd chanted "You Suck", but Kennedy got in a nice riposte by pointing out he was the Number one contender. He name checked Kane, but that's hardly fair, since Kane came before Kennedy, so he never actually had a chance of beating Kennedy's time...

he also mentioned Undertaker, and called Miz "reality TV star and one the fastest rising superstars in our industry" and said that Miz took Taker "to the limit". Kennedy then recapped his first year in the WWE, with the vaunted "I've beaten 6 champions" stat. Kennedy wrapped things up, but Teddy Long made his way out.

Long congratulated Kennedy for winning, but pointed out that it was controversial. Guess what he says next. Yep, he's facing Undertaker and if Undertaker wins, Taker is in the title match, although Kennedy's status is unaffected. Man, Long LOVES screwing around with title matches after a contender is chosen, huh?

Matt Hardy def. Joey Mercury in a "Brutus Beefcake wants his mask back..." match

After a Maryse cameo on the couch (where the only words I understood were "Smackdown" and the "Pour quoi", which is French for "Why", Matt hardy makes his way out and we, once again, see Joey Mercury's face explode, before his attempts to disfigure Hardy last week. And it was quite funny to see Mercury's determined look on him with a mask and a huge fur coat on...

And we seem to have a fairly hot crowd tonight, as a fairly big "Hardy" chant starts before anything happens. A collar and elbow sends Mercury into the corner, where he acts concerned hardy will go after the face, but he cheap-shotted Hardy. A shot by Hardy lands on mercury's face, sending him from the ring, but Matt gets too close and Mercury pulls him out. When they went back in, Mercury took over. In the corner, mercury pressed Hardy's face into the bottom turnbuckle. He went for a chinlock, but Hardy jawbreaker-ed out of it. A pair of Side Effects got 2 each time. A Twist of Fate was countered into a Double underhook, but Hardy rolled out of it with the pin for the three.

Right after the pin though, RAW's Johnny Nitro (and Melina) ran in and MNM beat hardy up. They pulled away some of the ringside padding, where they proceeded to give Hardy a Snapshot on the exposed floor!

Thoughts - 6.5/10 - Decent enough action in the 5 minutes they got, and the final spot of the scene was rather cool.

Sometimes you see the camera man, sometimes you don't... And sometimes, you just need a video editor...

Miz is bragging about his main event last week to Ashley and Layla, and about how he took Taker to the limit, although as Ashley pointed out, Taker was milliseconds away from winning. Kane approached from behind, staring down Miz, who slid away.

We then see Kristal come to Vicki’s locker room. Just as she begins to start an interview, Vicki said she had something private to discuss with her, ushering her in. Alone.

And on that, we get a big ol' recap of Benoit's involvement in the Guerrero's lives over the last few months.

MVP, William Regal & Dave Taylor def. Vito, Brian Kendrick and Paul London in a "A match where London didn't have to try and die, although he did anyway..." match

We come back from commercial break to see Regal and Taylor in the ring already, awaiting their partner, MVP. This week, MVP has found the courage to zip up his singlet a bit higher. of the opponents, Vito came out first, where he waited for London & Kendrick, although when they came out, they all sprinted to the ring and got the action under way. Officially London and Regal started out, but tags came fast from each side. However, the heels had Vito cornered and beaten down. Makes a change for Paul London, huh? Getting to stand there for once...

Taylor stayed on offence most of the time, although it was on MVP's watch when Vito finally managed to make the tag after a sustained beating. Kendrick came in and cleaned house, although a pin attempt was broken up by the former Bluebloods. After London blitzed himself diving on Taylor, Spanky went for Sliced Bread #2 on Regal, but MVP, the legal man, caught Spanky and slammed him for the win.

Thoughts - 7/10 - this was pretty decent fare, and who could not like a beat down on Vito?

Chris Benoit def. Chavo Guerrero to retain the US Title in a "That'll be the last time Chavo tries using a chair in a match..." match

After a Wrestlemania video, with an AWESOME sounding theme, it was time for Chimel to point out the unique way a No DQ match runs. Benoit was out first, followed by Guerrero, who was once again, without Vicki.

Chavo gets right to the stuff that would have gotten himself DQ'ed otherwise , as he gave Benoit a low blow, following up with a nice back suplex and a side suplex. Chavo then took off the top and middle turnbuckles in one corner, but Benoit stopped himself from being rammed into that corner. Benoit went for the triple Germans, but Chavo elbowed out of it. A back stretch was countered into the Crossface. With the ropes being no help, Chavo slithered out of the ring, but Benoit kept on him with the move, but Chavo managed to send Benoit into the steel steps. Chavo got a chair but Benoit ducked. Back in the ring, a wild chair swing by Chavo was countered into another Crossface. Again, Chavo fought out of it. However, another chair usage by Chavo was ducked, which led to Benoit suplexing Chavo on the chair. After being chopped in the corner, Chavo managed to send Benoit into the corner with the exposed turnbuckles. Chavo then went to work on Benoit's arm with the ubiquitous chair, including a very nice arm-breaker spot with the chair.

Benoit fought back, and slingshotted Chavo over and out of the of the ring, which he followed up with a baseball slide. However, as they neared the announce area, Chavo used the US title. A set of Three Amigo's later, the last of which was on the chair, saw a frog Splash by Chavo. However, Benoit moved. And the Wolverine took over on offence, with suplexes on both the chair and US belt. Benoit went up top, but Chavo moved, with Benoit selling the hell of the crash and burn. However, yet another chair usage by Chavo was ducked, with Benoit locking in the Sharpshooter this time. Chavo tried to reach the chair, but Benoit pulled away, leaving Chavo no choice but to tap.

Thoughts - 8/10 - This was a really good TV match (and it would have held it's own on PPV), and it told a really good story, with Chavo targeting the arm, but Benoit using the Sharpshooter in the end to pull out the win.

From The (apparently very shallow) Vault

And just because we missed our Bobby Lashley fix from the "From the Vault" bit last week, we are this week treated to a Finlay vs. Lashley match from August. I would say "guess the year?", but there could only be one. WHY?!?!?! Why not highlight some of the "Smackdown Six" stuff form 2002? How about commemorating HHH's re-injury by some of his work on Smackdown?

Either way, we got stuck with the whole match here, which Finlay won by DQ.

Deuce & Domino def. God knows who in a "Happy Days are here again...oh yeah, I'm gonna have a million of these..." match

And just as I ruminated about Regal and Taylor not winning the tag belts last week because someone else might be coming along, here they are! And boy, here they REALLY are...

They came out in a red corvette, with Cherry skating the best she could at ringside. The way she came into the ring was very cool though. Domino got on the microphone and introduced Deuce, with Deuce returning the favour. Domino then introduced Cherry, who if you don't know, if Domino's "sweet, innocent, baby sister" and Deuce's "chick". They turned their attention to the pair of scrubs they were facing.

The newbies went on the attack, and kept right on the jobbers. The offence was fairly basic, although Deuce, who's really Jimmy Snuka's son, impressed me more, with some cool kicks,

Thoughts - 5/10 - Well, it was hardly a full showcase of what they have to offer, but as an introduction to these two, I thought it was fine, and I fairly enjoyed it. Ooooooooooooo!

Kane def. The Miz in a "Rabbit...meet headlights..." match

After some Maryse barely covered by red sheets, we came to the Big Red Monster, as JBL reiterated his new found love for the French. And once again, Miz came out looking as though he was about to cry like a big baby. Miz tired early, but Kane barely sold a thing and took control on offence. Hell, this was basically a squash which ended with a chokeslam.

Thoughts - 4.5/10 - Even a person who hates squash matches with a passion will probably had a sly grin on their face with this...

I forgot the Rumble was only a couple of weeks away...

After the RAW Rebound, with DX's non-end, as its main feature, we find Kristal chatting (you could say flirting with) to Teddy Long as King Booker and Sharmell approach. Booker told T Lo that rather than in a non-existent rematch, he would win the Royal Rumble to get his title back. Teddy Long was happy for him. Really. Honestly. I thought Long was gonna throw a winner's party there and then. Instead, however, what Long did do was make a 6 man Rumble-style match for next week.

Ken Kennedy def. Undertaker by DQ in a "There's only one real contender in this match and Kennedy weren't it..." match

Keeping his promise form earlier (although I didn't write it down. Not because I didn't believe him or anything. it was just a short one question interview, where he said he was coming out for this match), Batista indeed, came out to take in the main event, wearing a suit, turtle neck jersey and full pyro.

We came back form a non-ad break to see Batista sat at ringside, and actually taking Cole's side, unlike every other guest the announcers get.

Undertaker tired to end this one early, going for old School and a face buster. However, Kennedy stayed in it. that said, but Taker didn't seem to be in a selling mood early on, as he threw Kennedy to the outside, where Taker stayed on him with punches to the kidneys, rolling Kenneth back in as we took our final break.

We come back with undertaker will on offence. Slow and methodical offence. He placed Kennedy on the top rope but the superplex was blocked. however, before Kennedy could do anything, Undertaker sat right up and knocked him off the top. After a running knee, Cole talked about the momentum shifting. I wonder from where. Undertaker was all over Kennedy before and he was all over Kennedy now. Indeed, it was after Cole wondered about Taker taking control of the match from himself when Kennedy actually got some offence in, going after Taker's knee. However, Taker caught Kennedy caught off the apron, and rammed his back into the ringpost. Back in the ring, Taker went for the Last Ride, but Kennedy jumped out and chop-blocked the knee again. Taker was soon back up though, to roll some Snake Eyes and hit his big Boot. Kennedy was sent out again, where he gave Batista a cheapshot. Batista snapped and as Kennedy was prone for a chokeslam, Batista speared Kennedy out of his boots for the DQ, costing Taker his shot at a title shot. Kennedy slithered up the ramp as the show ended, with Undertaker looking rather miffed...

Thoughts - 6.5/10 - I have to say, I wasn't a massive fan of the way this match was booked although I did really like the end, with Kennedy, assumedly, making Batista snap, thus earning the DQ for himself and preventing Taker in getting the title shot. However, in the match that proceeded it, it would have helped Kennedy a whole lot more if he were allowed to look like a title contender, rather than a chump. I'm not saying Kennedy should have won or anything, but he should have gotten some sustained offence in. One flurry working over Taker's knee was nowhere near enough.

OVERALL - 6.5/10 (- 0.5 on last week) - Another notch down on last week, and while the action was good, overall, it wasn’t up to the standard of last week. Then again, I can hardly blame them, when half the roster is in a multi man match, and there is only a couple of brand-specific matches happening at the PPV, if there’s to be more than the title match coming from Smackdown at all. That said, Benoit vs. Chavo was very good, and the six man tag was short but energetic. I would still say it was the best show of the week, but RAW closed in this week, in my opinion.

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, 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.