Smackdown
Aaron Wood's Smackdown - Finlay vs. Taker. Yep, I said Taker...
By Aaron Wood
Mar 9, 2007, 19:50

LAST WEEK ON SMACKDOWN:  MVP was Ballin’, Undertaker was Diggin’, Vince was Screwin’ and Jillian was Singin’…

THIS WEEK…

King Booker def. Matt Hardy in a "GUY ALREADY IN THE RING WINS SHOCK!" match

After somewhat of a reduced recap, focusing on what Batista said last week, in his fruity turtleneck (with appropriate clippage), and Undertaker's video rebuttal straight out of the early 90's, we forgo an opening with King Booker already in the ring, posing away as sparks fly behind him, as he awaited his opponent, Matt hardy.  As Hardy came out, Cole first pimped the Triple Threat on RAW for the final spot in the Money In The Bank match, then Sharmell joined Cole & JBL on commentary.

Hardy started hot early with a running bulldog for a 2 count.  Booker got some shoulders in on Hardy's gut, but Hardy slipped out of a scoop slam to roll Booker up for another 2.  A headlock by Hardy was broken by knees, but Hardy signalled for a Twist Of Fate.  Booker countered that though, slipping to the outside.  Hardy dived onto the King as we took a break.

hardy was in control as we came back, as Hardy had apparently got the better of the commercial break action, with an elbow drop.  However, Booker dropped hardy across the top rope, hitting a shuffle kick for 2.  In the corner, Booker laid in some punches and stomps.  Booker propped Hardy on the top rope.  Booker hit some more punches, but Hardy blocked the suplex from the second rope.  Booker was pushed off, but missed the moonsault.  A nice neckbreaker from Booker scored a close 2 count.  Booker settled into a top wristlock, as we saw Booker had a busted lip.  Hardy got separation, laying in some haymakers, but Hardy came off the ropes right into a spin kick from Booker.  Mounted, Booker laid some punches, before posing.  Hardy blocked a suplex, hitting one of his own.  As the crowd got behind Hardy, Matthew got some momentum going, hitting a Side Russian Leg Sweep for a 2 count.  Hardy whipped the King into the corner, but the bulldog was blocked, but Booker retaliatory scissors kick was also countered.  Hardy hit a leg drop off the second rope before signalling for a Twist Of Fate, but Booker pushed him off into the ropes.  Sharmell used her high heel shoe to smack hardy, allowing Booker to hit the Scissors Kick for the win!

Thoughts - 7/10 - This was a decent affair.  Nothing spectacular, but a decent enough opener.  Plus Hardy wasn't pinned clean, so he doesn't really lose too much face in losing.

Here's hoping we see that video package next year...

Kristal was backstage with Batista, thankfully dressed to wrestle.  Kristal didn't bother with any questions though, sending it to a video package highlighting Undertaker' Wrestlemania streak.  For those who recall, this was effectively the exact same video package as they ran last year to highlight the streak, except with a 14th man, Mark Henry, at the beginning of it.

Back live, Batista looked impressed, all the streak incredible.  Dave said that he would end the streak on April 1st.  He moved onto Kane, calling him names, before saying that he was going to do to Kane what he would to do to Undertaker.

Just in case you missed every other WWE show this week...

After a PSA by Ken Kennedy telling us not to do stuff at home, and a Maryse bit, we went to Cole & JBL who plugged the contract signing on RAW this coming Monday, before getting a lengthy recap (including Bischoff, Foley and Shane's cameos, and I still  say, in the formers case, they should have had Eric mention his shaving at Vince's hands) of Austin's placement as referee for the match.

Why look at pictures when you employ the real thing?

Teddy Long was looking at, what were apparently pictures of Kristal's pictures on wwe.com, MVP barged in, complaining about how he lost his shot at Wrestlemania, despite the fact he wasn't pinned, so he was challenging Benoit, who was pinned, for his US Title.  Long didn't make the match right away, but took it under consideration.  Hey, what MVP said made sense.  There is a point to the match.  It wasn't just thrown together.  Me like it.

Blabbermouth...

Kristal ran up to Kane in the back, blabbing about what Batista said about Kane.  Kane laughed at the motion that he was "sick, demented and twisted", saying Batsiat didn't know how true that was.

Batista def. Kane in a "Well, Kane is the weaker half-brother..." match

Unfortunately, even if you didn't read the spoilers, Kane set off his pyro before the match, so you knew what was going down.  Or "who" to be precise.  They locked up, and Kane got the better of it.  Strangely, Kane brought the wrestling in the early going, taking it to the mat.  However, Batista took Kane into the corner, and blocked Kane's attempted arm drag.  back into a corner, Batista drove shoulders into Kane, before hitting a short-arm clothesline for 2.  Whipped off the ropes, Batista ate an elbow, before taking a couple of uppercuts, then elbows and punches in the corner.  Batista came off the ropes, hitting a DDT.  Kane wanted the chokeslam, but Batista blocked it and clotheslined Batista over the top rope, as we went to commercials.

Back form break, Batista was throwing fists with Kane in the corner, but Kane turned things around, throwing punches of his own, but after chasing away the ref, Kane took another clothesline.  Kane was knocked outside, but got up quickly and dragged Deacon Dave out.  That ended up being a good move, because he reversed a whip, sending Batista into the steps.  Back in, Kane went for a bodyscissors around Batista’s waist.  However, Batista was able to elbow Kane in the head to get out of it.  Kane whipped Batista off the ropes, hitting a big boot for 2, before driving a knee to Dave's back.

Kane dragged Batista into the corner, stretching the back around the ring post.  The Deacon was whipped hard into the corner, before dropping an elbow to the back.  Kane locked in a bearhug, but Batista was able to work his way out of it.  Batista started to get going, but Kane stopped it with a boot to the head.  Kane went up top, but Batista countered it with...well, a clothesline I guess, although it wasn't much of one.  However, as Batista was about to make a cover, Kane sat up.  However, things were going Batista’s way, as he hit a big boot of his own for 2.  Kane hit a side slam for a 2 count, and went right back up top again.  This time, the clothesline connected, and he scored a close 2 count with it.

Kane signalled for the chokeslam, but Batista ducked and hit the spinebuster.  Batista went for the Batista Bomb, but was driven into the corner, and Kane hit the chokeslam.  However, it was 2 and 99/100ths.  Kane was really frustrated .  In the corner, Kane mounted the Champ, and started throwing punches down, but in the right position, Batista managed to hit the powerbomb for the three!!!

Thoughts - 6.5/10 - This was a pretty solid big man match, but I'd have liked to see Batista do more to get the win.  Kane threw the kitchen sink, while Batista barely strung 2 moves together and won after only having to do half his move.  Decent stuff before the end though.

Who is this guy again?

For whatever reason, we got a recap of the last couple of weeks in the life of Bobby Lashley, beginning with his placement as Trumps guy, right to his nearly-charismatic performance on ECW this past Tuesday.  I'm all for hype, and I'm liking this feud, but no-one and nothing on this show has anything to do with it this week, so, it might have been nice to forget it for a while.

MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week, after seeing the same match for the second time in three weeks, I wrote to the WWE, asking for more variety in these UK-centric "From The Vault" segments.  And I can only imagine they read it.  Why?  Because this was a God damn DOOZY~!~!~!~!~! (yes, 5 tilde/bangs worth...), as we went back all the way to May 2002, 4 days removed from Judgement Day, as HHH, fresh from Hell In A Cell against Chris Jericho, took on LANCE STORM!!!

HHH came out first (???), followed by Storm who cut a promo saying that HHH showed himself to be a barbaric animal who was about to be taught a lesson by a wrestling technician.  HHH hit a hard high knee right out of the gate, but felt the effects, as the crowd ROARED for HHH.  Storm hit a jawbreaker, and hung HHH off the top, going to the outside.  Storm got right back in, but ended up eating another knee.  HHH whipped Lance off the ropes, but Storm used the momentum to hit a sweet dropkick.  Storm sent HHH into the corner, with chops and punches, before whipping HHH hard into the opposite corner, and this crowd is HOT!  And the reason why this match was picked kinda became clear, as Cole & Taz(z) talked about Hogan announcing his retirement, which would happen later that night, apparently.  Storm stayed in control, busting HHH open.  Storm hit a beautiful springboard clothesline, before punching the cut on HHH's forehead.

HHH began to battle back, ducking a corner charge and hitting a neckbreaker.  A spinebuster got a 2 count, but walked into a superkick.  Storm went for the Single Leg Boston Crab, but HHH managed to make the ropes.  Storm waited his time and hit another sweet superkick.  Storm went up top, but HHH shoved Mike Chioda into the ropes, knocking the referee off, allowing HHH to hit the Pedigree for the win

And the fact this match was so old and so damn good is the reason I just called play by play on it.  And for all the crap we give HHH for that period, that was a very even match.  I just hope this isn't a one off.  I may well write to the WWE and thank WWE for it.

Oh, how I have missed thee...  No, I don't mean Miz...

It being the UK, we cut into the next segment, after the Playboy plugging, as Melina came out as Miz's second guest on his debut edition of his Piper's Pit rip off, MizTV (the logo for which was SO an MTV logo rip off).  And guess what was there?  The OBSENELY, MASSIVELY, TOTALLY EXPANSIVE JeriTron 5000!  I missed that.  It looked very cool.

Anyway, the women debated the virtues of posing nekkid in Playboy, before Ashley made the official challenge to a title match at Wrestlemania.  Miz asked to look at the belt, which allowed Melina to start a catfight, but Ashley got the better of it, sending Melina scurrying form the ring.

It's one of those hazards when it comes to segments where stuff is plugged.  However, with it being Ashley & Miz talking, I think being a Brit may well have paid off this time...

Does Khali mean "Vicious"?  Ouch...

Kristal approached Kane again, looking for his opinion on the Title match at Wrestlemania, but before he got 2 words out, The Great Khali appeared and laid a whooping on Kane, throwing him into a cage-like fence, busting him open, before hitting FIVE headbutts, which you could actually hear!!!  Kane was then rammed into the fence again, at which point Khali celebrated his devastation, and walked off.

Ken Kennedy def. CM Punk in a "Can Punk stay?" match

Ken Kennedy came out first as Cole point out that Wrestlemania 23 was 23 days away.  Kennedy called for his microphone and cut his usual opening promo, ending it by calling himself "Mr. Money In The Bank...Bank..."  Brilliant.  Simply Brilliant.  Punk came out next, to a decent, if not all that loud, reaction.

They traded kicks after the bell, but Kennedy took control, driving Punk into the corner.  Punk got angry though, and skeedaddled outside, but when Punk followed him, Kennedy hit a nice clothesline on the outside, rolling him back for 2.  Kennedy stomped away on Punk in the corner, before hitting a running knee to Punk's head.  Kennedy hit a slam, but a splash met knees.  Punk kicked away, but Punk's corner knee was countered, when Kennedy dumped Punk to the outside and the crowd were silent.  THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!!!  Than again, they were pretty bad all night.

Back from break, Kennedy was covering Punk for 2.  Kennedy put on a necklock, before hitting crossfaces across Punk's face.  They got into a fist fight, which Punk got the better of, as he jumped off the ropes for a splash, and then hit a jumping side kick for 2.  Punk sent Kennedy into the corner, and managed to hit the knee/bulldog combo he tried earlier.  Punk measured Kennedy, but Kenneth knocked Punk off the top rope, hitting a hangman's neckbreaker for the win.

Thoughts - 7/10 - A good match, if a little on the short side for my liking.  However, unlike the opener, while Kennedy got lucky in being able to hit a finishing move on Punk, this was a clean win.  Don't worry, I'm not about to start any dumbass tirades on the WWE burying Punk or any nonsense like that.  However, I'd have thought they'd have kept the MITB guys on a pretty even par, like they did with Booker/Hardy, but now, Punk is a notch below now.

I would be surprised if there was anything that wasn't Irish about him.

Kristal, continuing her busy night, was with Finlay.  Finlay said he wasn't afraid of the dark, death or the Undertaker.  He said there was hot Irish blood in his veins, and so there was no fear in his Irish eyes.  We then cut to a PSA of Finlay telling us not to try stuff at home.  Does that include keeping a midget we can't decide the name off under our beds, because I'm screwed otherwise...

Undertaker def. Finlay in a "Well, if that's his only warm up match, he could well be pretty cool by April 1st..." match

Finlay gave Taker the run-around in the early stages, but Taker quickly caught him, and started with the fists.  Undertaker wrung the left arm and shoulder of Finlay before hitting Old School, locking the arm as he made a pin for 2.  Wrapping the arm round the top rope in the corner, Undertaker went back to punching Finlay.  Finlay tried pulling the hair, but raked the eyes instead to get some punches of his own in.  Things spilled outside, as Finlay banged taker's head into the apron and announce table, in between shots.  Taker came back, and threw Finlay into the timekeepers.  Hornswaggle (not used to that yet) made an appearance, distracting everyone long enough for Finlay to drive a chair into Taker's gut as we took our final ad break.

Back from break, Finlay is still in control, but unlike the other matches with ad breaks in them, Undertaker didn't immediately retake control.  Indeed, it was only when they went back outside that Undertaker landed a couple of haymakers, before hitting his classic leg drop on the apron.  Finlay got bounced head first off the announce table, before taking a boot square in the jaw.  Undertaker looked to drop Finlay on something on the outside, but Finlay slipped out, and sent the Deadman into the steps, before hitting a Double Axe Handle from the apron to the ground.  Finlay then aimed for Taker's ribs, using the side of the ring to his full advantage.  However, another dive off the apron saw him caught by Undertaker and driven into the ringpost.  Those ribs must have hurt though as Finlay countered again, once more sending Taker into some steps.  back in the ring, Finlay drove knees into the ribs.  Finlay went for a suplex, but it was blocked a couple of times, before Taker hit one of his own.  A fist fight ensued, before they started running the ropes, where Undertaker hit his flying clothesline.  Taker then followed with Snake Eyes, a big boot and a leg drop for a long 2.  Hornswaggle made another appearance, hitting Taker with a big shillelagh, to no effect.  Finlay hit a low blow and a DDT for 2.  The ref was downed, so Finlay whacked Taker with his usual shillelagh a couple of times, but it only got a very long 2 count.  Taker stood up, as Finlay picked up the former Little Bastard, but was kicked down.  Taker hit the chokeslam and then followed up with the Tombstone for the win.

Thoughts - 7/10 - I thought this started off really well, but the second half of the half wasn't so good.  It was fine enough.  I just don't think it clicked as well as it had done.  Decently stiff though.

After the match, Batista’s music hit, and he did his Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down pose, to which Taker countered with the Throat Slash, as the 2 men stared each other down as the show ended.

OVERALL - 7/10 (+/- 0 on last week) - Pretty good show this week, although it was a markedly different one, concentrating on the Smackdown side of Wrestlemania, rather than the whole of the WWE getting involved.  I mean, as I said earlier, while I’m liking the Billionaire stuff, it was quite refreshing to have a show where it only got a couple of recaps.  The main focus was, thankfully, the Batista/Undertaker after a few weeks of severely underwhelming stuff, and while they didn’t interact until the very end, it was still good hype as them being spread out allowed the match to be talked about right through the show.  I liked how they began to get Kane’s perspective too, as he’s connected to Taker and was Batista’s opponent tonight, and say what you will about Khali, but he can deliver a beatdown, that’s for sure.  If those headbutts weren’t real, they sure sounded convincing.

I also liked the talk about the Money In The Bank match, from them plugging the match on RAW a ton of times to MVP’s “Benoit got beat, and I lost my shot because of it”, not only making the match seem important, but also making an instant issue between MVP & Benoit.

Good, and different show overall.

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.