Smackdown
Aaron Wood's Smackdown - Friday the 13th...Unlucky for Kennedy...
By Aaron Wood
Apr 13, 2007, 19:35

LAST WEEK ON SMACKDOWN:  Booker saved his marriage by attempting career suicide, The Miz & Matt Hardy won matches, Timbaland showed us what he though of Brooke and the Irish Guy stuck up for his midget…

THIS WEEK…

There goes my hopes of Batista being pinned again...

We start this week with Teddy Long, who managed to tear himself away from Kristal for long enough to make it down to the ring.  He's thuggin' and buggin' away until his music stops when he says that since Batista said he wanted his rematch, everyone has wondered where and when that match would happen.  And so, Long decided that Smackdown would have their slice of the Backlash action, as the rematch would happen there.  But it wouldn't be any ol' rematch.  This time, it was Last Man Standing!  Long then kicked off the show...

Seems like disablement wasn’t so appealing after all…

...which brought out Finlay.  Alone.  No worries though, as Hornswaggle makes his presence under the ring known.  Kennedy came out net as we saw what happened last week with Finlay's threat to Kennedy.  However, before the action got underway, Kennedy got his mic.  Kennedy said they didn't have to fight, and that he had wanted to talk to him all week.  He said that the 2 of them were at Wrestlemania.  Tension was high and things happened.  Kennedy said he took responsibility for what happened and that he apologised.  Finlay got himself on the mic.  Finlay said he had never met someone who whimpers and grovels like Kennedy, but he was giving Ken the benefit of the doubt and accept the apology.  But it came with a warning of shillelagh insertion (down the throat, you dirty minded people!).  Kennedy thanked Finlay.  They agreed not to wrestle.

However, this prompted Teddy to come back out to say that if they didn't want to fight each other, they could be a tag team, with their opponents being Batista & Undertaker.  Kennedy & Finlay were a little pissed...

Who said Jillian couldn't be in the video?  She just can't sing in it!

Michelle McCool (sigh) was adjusting her bra when she heard a commotion.  She ran down the corridor to find Jillian beating up Ashley, with Jillian ranting about last week's mocking and Timbaland's video.  In theory a good segment, right?  But in practise, it was horrible.  And it was horrible for one reason and one reason alone.  Ashley's crying noises were, in fact, laughter noises.  Ashley's acting here made Kelly Kelly's dancing look like she was Ginger freakin' Rogers!  However, it was redeemable by the amount of cleavage Michelle was showing off, so you can watch this on mute and think it was well done.

Helluva early this week...

We go back into the vault, once again, to 2002 (June to be precise), as we hit a King Of The Ring qualifier between Bob Holly & Tajiri!  Tazz immediately declared Holly as his pick to win it all.  Yeah...  They talk about the field rounding out, before moving onto Austin taking his ball and going home (when he was supposed to face Brock Lesnar and lose in a KOR qualifier).  Did Austin piss WWE off this week?  Suffice to say, this didn't last too long, and Holly won with an Alabama Slam, post-Tarantula.

While I'm here talking about past Smackdown stuff, once you've finished reading the review, look out and see how you can be involved with my WWI output next week!

Paul London & Brian Kendrick def. Deuce & Domino by DQ to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles in a "At least Londrick didn't pin them..." match

We come back with Deuce & Domino in the ring, as Kendrick & London bounded out, as Cole & JBL spoke of their minds given Ashley's condition.  London went for an early small package but only got one, with Deuce clubbing away on London to gain the advantage.  London kicked Deuce in the hamstring, prompting him to make a tag.  Spanky soon came in too, as he worked on Domino's arm, as I noticed that London has a nice goatee going.  London came off the top with a double-foot stomp on the arm.  Deuce tagged back in however, and clubbed on London in the corner.  In the opposite corner, London mounted Deuce for a 10 punch, but at three, jumped over Mickie Henson and dropkicked Domino off the apron when he began to approach.  Kendrick then dropkicked Deuce out the ring too before dropping down, allowing London to jump off his back onto the greasers as the show went to a break.

Back live, Spanky came in and worked over Deuce's arm.  Deuce ducked out the way of a Kendrick charge, and Domino snapped Kendrick's neck off the top rope, giving the heels the advantage.  Domino got a nice butterfly suplex for a 2 count, before whipping Kendrick off the ropes, hitting him with an elbow for another 2.  Deuce came back in, and managed to stop Spanky from tagging out.  Domino came back in, and it was him who made the fatal mistake, as Spanky blocked a charge and tagged in London.  London hit a running dropkick on then an inverted atomic drop followed by a headscissors on Domino.  London went up and hit the mule kick for 2 when Deuce saved.  Deuce dumped Spanky out of the ring, and while the referee remonstrated with him, the illegally involved Deuce hit the Crack 'Em In The Mouth.  Henson disqualified Deuce & Domino on the spot. 

Thoughts - 7.5/10 - Pretty good match here, with an equally weak and good finish.  Weak, because it felt kinda flat given the match before it, but good because it was good officiating (even JBL was on board).  I wonder if there is a gimmick rematch in the works...

Teddy Long...MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS!

Backstage, Teddy & Kristal were hand in hand, and talking about the 400th Smackdown episode in Milan, as Deuce & Domino barged in, highly annoyed about getting disqualified.  Long suggested they should abide by the rules or expect the referee to job his job.

MVP def. Chris Benoit in a "Battle of the busted gums" Non-Title match

And it's time for OUR BOY~! MVP!  And this week, he was so cool, his glasses stayed on!  Until he took them off, of course.  JBL put over MVP and his strategy at Wrestlemania against Benoit.  They start out in a similar way to their Wrestlemania match, going move for move, but with neither man getting a definite advantage.  That was until Benoit hit a drop-toe hold and went for the Crossface, but MVP quickly escaped and took a short powder on the outside.  Benoit got MVP in the corner and unleashed a few chops.  Benoit charged, but Porter got a foot up.  Benoit countered a suplex attempt with one of his own, following that up with a forearm and a backbreaker for 2.  Benoit again looked for the Crossface, but MVP put his foot on the rope.  After getting a one count, he put Benoit in a hold, as we saw blood on MVP's teeth.  Benoit got out of it and hit a German, forcing Porter to take another powder.  Benoit tried suplexing Porter back in, before trying to German suplex him off the apron.  When that didn't work however, Benoit dropped him face first onto the apron.  However, MVP was able to send Benoit into the ringpost as another ad break came up.

We came back to see MVP go for a cover, before going back to work on the arm and neck again, with the Half Nelson/chinlock.  Damn nice.    Benoit got out again, but had a German counters.  Benoit hit a couple of headbutts.  Benoit ran the ropes, but MVP hit a NICE belly to belly throw.  Montel went back to the arm again, first using a hold and then dropkicking the shoulder, getting him a 2 count. A few elbow drops were followed with a pin, but Benoit was too near the ropes.  MVP tired kicking Benoit, but he ducked the first 2 shots.  The third try scored a 2 count though.  Benoit came back with a Northern Lights suplex (with bridge) for 2.

MVP tried a delayed vertical suplex, but Benoit countered into a Crossface, but MVP made the ropes.  Benoit hit the Triple Germans and went up top.  MVP caught Benoit in the corner, but was forced off.  Benoit took the dive, but MVP rolled out of the way.  MVP rolled onto Benoit for 2.  He placed Benoit in the corner and hit his running high boot for another near fall.  MVP applied a Camel Clutch, but Benoit was far too near the ropes.  Porter kicked Benoit in the face a couple of times, but dilly-dallied too long, allowing Benoit to hit another German.  A second was countered.  MVP motioned to German Benoit over the top rope, but Benoit rolled through.  However, MVP sat down on it and used the second rope to help him get the pin!

Thoughts - 8/10 - Damn fine match.  Maybe even better than their Wrestlemania match overall.  I would say it was a better finishing sequence.  Not because MVP won, but just it's execution.  If there was one crit to be made of the Mania match, it would be that the finish kinda came suddenly, and with a move that Benoit uses a lot, but doesn't often win with.  Still, that and this were good.

Odds and Sods...

After the break, MVP told Kristal that he would soon be US Champ.  Cole & JBL then sent it to a replay of the end of last week's show with King Booker's tombstoning by Taker on the announce table, with Cole announcing he was out "indefinitely".  We then got, for the first time in a while, a RAW Rebound...

Another one?!?!

And we dip back into the Vault!  And this time, it's July 2002 and we are taking in Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero against The Hurricane.  Form a historical standpoint, Bischoff had just joined.  Chavo won the match using an STF.  Man, that didn't last.  Chavo got in the mic and said he was the premier cruiserweight in the WWE, bringing up Rey, who was funnily enough, just about to debut.  And Chavo made the challenge for Mysterio's debut.

Kane def. Daivari in a "Well, he clearly never delivered any messages, so frankly, he deserves it!" match

We come back to the present day with Daivari doing a Vince impression and in glittery cyan pants  Kane came out, as they brought up Kane telling Daivari to give Khali a message.  Daivari tired an early flurry, but he didn't have a hope in hell.  Kane brutalised Daivari in the corner, before hitting the sideslam and the flying clothesline.  He stretched Daivari round the ringpost before hitting the chokeslam for the quick win.

After the match, Taylor & Regal ran in, doing their damnedest to get revenge on Kane.  They tried, but they didn't exactly succeed beyond their initial flurry.  They gave up when Kane wouldn't go down and headed back up the aisle.

Thoughts - 3/10 - What can you say really?  At least the Englishmen weren't too bitchified here, although it has to happen if there's any handicap match.

Batista & Undertaker def. Ken Kennedy & Finlay when Batista pinned Kennedy in a "The Art Of Unfriendly Tags 101" match

After a mark Henry return video aired, the man who Henry put out, Batista, made his way out, followed by Taker.  I'm surprised they didn't send the heels out first and made them wait for the Champ.  Taker & Finlay started us off.  Well, I say "started", but Finlay just gave Taker the run-around and tagged in the current "banker".  Kennedy came in, but didn't have as much luck outrunning Undertaker, as he was forced into a corner, as Taker started punching away.  Kennedy blocked a charge however, and worked Taker into his corner, where Finlay was tagged in.  Finlay & Kennedy tried their hand at cheating before Kennedy came back in.  Undertaker mounted Comebacks, but found himself constantly double teamed.  However, Undertaker got Snake eyes on Finlay, when Batista blind tagged himself in.  Batista hit a spinebuster on Kennedy before Taker blind tagged himself back in.  They argued as we took our final break.

Undertaker had Kennedy under control when we came back, but decided to bring Batista back in with a tag that was more akin to a slap on the chest.  Deacon Dave drove shoulders into Kennedy's gut before tagging Taker back in with a slap on the arm.  Meh.  Taker's was manlier.  Finlay prevented Old School from happening, but Taker reversed an Irish Whip and hit a Big Boot for 2.  Taker tagged Batista in again, with Batista hitting a suplex.  Kennedy made it out of the ring with a thumb to the eye and a tag to Finlay.  Batista caught Finlay coming off the middle rope, soon hitting a clothesline for 2.  Taker came back in, working Finlay over on the apron.  Taker began to work over Finlay's arm, setting up for Old School in his corner.  But before he could hit it, Batista brought himself in.  As they stared each other down, Finlay clubbed Batista down, as the heels took the advantage.  Kennedy went to work on Batista's knee, before tagging out, allowing Finlay to work in a leglock.  the two continued to work over the knee, even when Batista managed to get out the ring, as Finlay used the shillelagh.  This prompted Taker to take the top half of the steps and throw them in the ring!  This allowed Kennedy to ram Batista's back into the apron.  Back in the ring, Kennedy tried locking in an Indian Deathlock, but Batista managed to stop him, with the price being a few punches.  Batista suddenly was set for a powerbomb, but Kennedy chop-blocked the leg and brought Finlay back in.

Finlay locked in a near Single-leg Boston Crab, but Batista powered out.  Finlay kept the advantage, but kicking the knee, before tagging in Kennedy again.  however, Kennedy ran into a spinebuster, allowing him to properly tag in Undertaker.  Taker was the "house en feugo".  he hit the chokeslam on Kennedy, but Batista tagged himself in.  He went for the Batista Bomb, and with the other two otherwise occupied, Batista hit it for the 3!

Undertaker wasn't best pleased, while Batista looked pretty smug and satisfied with himself as the show ended.

Thoughts - 8/10 - Another good match here with a pretty damn good story to it, with Taker & Batista forcing each other into the match while Kennedy & Finlay worked over Batista's knee.  You can complain and moan about Kennedy getting pinned here, and I wouldn't necessarily argue with you, but really, it was six of one and half a dozen of the other.  It doesn't really matter.  Kennedy has a shot, literally, in the bank, so he's effectively bullet-proof.

OVERALL - 7.5/10 (+ 0.5 on last week) - Good show this week.  Certainly the most entertaining of the week, with three good matches.  I like how Taker & Batista advanced, as it was a rather “unfriendly rivalry”, rather than them being chummy, since they are still ostensibly babyfaces.  And there was stuff here that could build either for Backlash or Judgement Day, such as the tag titles and Kane & The Brits.

Now, as mentioned earlier, it will be Smackdown’s 400^th show next week, so I’m doing to be doing an audio show and a written column prior to next Friday’s show, and you can help me out!  If you have any favourite moments (good, bad, funny or sad) from Smackdown that you wish to share with me and the world, then you can either e-mail me at dedicated e-mail address, or, if you are already member of our great message boards (and if you’re not, why not?), you can be even quicker by sending me a Personal Message.  OR, if you are a member of MySpace, you will find me at www.myspace.com/aaron24wood, where you can send me a message there too!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now, but 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.