Friday Night Smackdown!
Fridays 8/7 ET
Prior to the show, we are shown clips from No Mercy with Big
Show knocking out the Undertaker.
New SmackDown! video plays and we are immediately starting
the show with Chavo and Vickie Guerrero (who is back in a wheelchair).
She says that two weeks ago she was "brutally and
viciously" attacked by the Undertaker. She claims she could hear the
sounds of her vertebra cracking when he "turned her upside down and
tombstoned" her. Because of that she is once again "confined to this
hideous wheelchair and pathetic neckbrace." The crowd chants "you
suck" at her and she responds with another "excuse me." She then
states that the Undertaker got his at No Mercy and because of that, she is
giving the man who knocked out the Undertaker a WWE title match tonight against
Triple H.
The Big Show is introduced makes his way down to the ring
with a huge smile on his face.
He tells everyone that he told them so that he would take
out the Undertaker at No Mercy. He says that he could hear the fans screaming
Takers name, wanting him to summon his dark side, but that their screams meant
nothing compared to his fist.
We are then shown a few clips from No Mercy again.
Show then adds that he recalls knocking out Chris Jericho,
The Great Khali, and many more. He says there is an old saying, "didn't
see what hit him," but tonight, Triple H will see exactly what hit's him
and after tonight, he will not only be known as the man who KO'ed the
Undertaker, but WWE Champion.
This all leads to Vladimir Kozlov coming out. Kozlov says a
few words in his native language and eventually says that he is making a
challenge to the person that shall win the WWE Champion Match scheduled for
later on tonight.
Big Show responds that he should reconsider because not only
is he a giant, but an American.
(Segment Rating: 4/5. A good promo that continues to add
more depth to the Kozlov/Triple altercation.)
-Commercial-
We are set to have our first action of the night with the
lovely divas.
Brie Bella is introduced as well as Natalya who is
accompanied to the ring by Victoria.
Match 1: Brie Bella v. Natalya
Brie starts out jumping Natalya hitting a Thez Press right
after the bell sounds. They roll around fighting for position before being pull
apart. Natalya shoots Brie into the corner but Brie tips up over Ms. Neidhart.
Brie runs to the opposite corner and comes off with a sloppy reverse cross body
on Natalya. Brie quickly goes to the apron. Natalya goes to reach for her but
Brie slides under Natalya's legs back into the ring and gets her into a sunset
pin. After another pin attempt, they lock in a battle for a backslide which
Bella comes out on top and gets a two count. Brie lands a stiff single footed
dropkick to the face. Natalya whips Brie into the corned and comes charging but
is met by a back elbow. Natalya stammers back but then hits a seriously strong
discus lariat to take Brie down. Natalya slaps Brie and then applies a sleeper
for just a few seconds. Brie tries to take her over with a crucifix into
another sunset pin for a near fall. Natalya quickly gets to her feet and hits a
Hart-Attack clothesline that would make her Uncle Bret proud. She misses and
elbow drop and Brie rolls out of the ring and tries to go under it. Victoria
grabs her leg but both are pulled under and Victoria comes out quickly with a
frightened look on her face...It's Hornswoggle. Hornswoggle comes out and
chases Victoria off. Bella appears from the far side of the ring smiling, but
goes back under. A second later, Bella comes out from the side of the ring Brie
first went under. She gets into the ring and quickly pins Natalya with a
crucifix for the win.
(Match Rating: 2.5/5. More comedy than the actual wrestling
itself. Not bad though.)
We are shown a few clips of John Cena’s neck surgery.
-Commercial-
Back, we see Funaki in the backstage area practicing his
announcing skills when he is suddenly approached by R-Truth. Truth says that he
want to know Funaki better and asks for his real full name. Funaki says that
his middle name was “Fu” and his last name was “Naki,” and that his first name
was “Kung”…so his full name is “Kung Fu Naki.” Truth then raps about Funaki’s
name which leaves the audience laughing.
Further backstage, Triple H is shown texting his vote for
the special guest referee in the Chris Jericho/Batista match at Cyber Sunday
when Jeff Hardy approaches him. Jeff tells Triple H that he's watched their
match from No Mercy and says that he brought it, but Triple H brought it more
and he thinks it's unfair that Triple H has to defend the title so quickly
against The Big Show. Jeff wishes him luck and leaves. Jeff quickly returns to
tell Triple H that whom ever wins tonight, he will take on for the title.
R-Truth’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring
through the crowd.
-Commercial-
Shelton Benjamin appears on the titantron. He states that
even though there is a decline in the economy, you can always depend on the
Gold Standard.
Benjamin then comes out.
Match 2: R-Truth v. Shelton Benjamin
As soon as the bell rings, Shelton attacks Truth with
numerous right hands, forearms and knees Shelton mounds a downed Truth and
starts throwing more right hands before getting up and pitching Truth to the
floor Benjamin throws Truth into the barricade. They get back in the ring and
Truth takes Benjamin down with an STO like move and mounts the champ firing
away right hands of his own. Back on their feet, Truth lands a big forearm at
send Benjamin into the corner where he gets pounded on by some more punches
from Truth. Truth goes to whip Shelton off the ropes, but Shelton stops his
momentum by sliding, turns around and nails Truth with a big clothesline
(sequence looked really good) and got a 2 count on a pin attempt. Benjamin
applies a rear chin lock to slow down the pace. Truth eventually gets out of
the hold with a belly-to-back suplex and gets a two count from it. Truth starts
to get fired up hitting 3 right hands followed by a clothes line. Truth hits
the corkscrew flying forearm and gets a two count. Shelton quickly changes the
momentum with a backbreaker which gets him a two count as well. As Shelton
tries to set Truth up for another move, Truth counters with a quick roll up for
the 3 count.
(Match Rating: 3/5. A good solid match. I would like to see
these two go at it for the title very soon)
-Commercial-
Jeff Hardy’s music hits and he makes his way down to the
ring to a huge ovation.
His opponent is MVP. Gregory Helms pops in the corner of the
screen and says that the “P” in “MVP” stands for “Please win a match.”
Match 3: Jeff Hardy v. MVP
The bell rings and the crowd gets behind Jeff. MVP quickly
manages to get in a few flash pins on Jeff. After 3 attempts at a quick pin on,
Jeff reverses the tide and nails MVP with a running forearm. Jeff hits a sitout
gordbuster and then makes his way to the top rope. While Jeff does this, MVP
slides out of the ring and calls a time out.
-Commercial-
Back from break Jeff is being whipped into the corner but he
tips up and MVP goes under him. Jeff hits a spinning mule kick to knock MVP
back into the corner on his ass. Jeff attempts the tip-up dropkick but MVP
kicks him off. MVP goes for the cover and gets a two, so he tries another cover
and again, only a two count. MVP delivers trade make knees to Jeff while
holding him in a half nelson and follows them out with a body slam and a knee
drop, which leads to yet another 2 count. MVP applies a seated abdominal
stretch to Jeff to wear him down. Jeff gets out and hits the ropes, but is met
by a flap-jack like move from MVP who tries to get the pin again, but no dice.
MVP nails Jeff with a few heabutts and goes for yet another pin attempt to no
avail. Frustrated, MVP applies a reverse bearhug and takes Jeff down to the
mat. After that doesn't work, MVP hits Jeff with a face buster for...you
guessed it, a two count. Jeff hits the Whisper in the Wind and gets a two count
of his own. Jeff sends MVP into the corner after a dropkick and then hits two
tip-up dropkicks on MVP before climbing to the top and hitting the Swanton for
the three count and the victory.
(Match Rating: 3.5/5. Great Match! Every time these two
fight, they put on one heck of a show!)
Post-Match: Vladimir Kozlov makes his way to the ring. The
two fight for a while until Jeff goes for a reverse cross body off the middle
ropes but gets headbutted in mid-air.
-Commercial-
Justin Roberts introduces Maria to be the special guest ring
announcer for our next match.
Match 4: Jesse, Festus, Carltio & Primo vs. Ryan
Braddock, Curt Hawkins, Zach Ryder, Kenny Dykstra
Ryder and Carltio start. Carltio hits a quebrada on Ryder.
Hawkins tags in and hits the Curt Henning rolling neck snap. Braddock then
comes in and drops a knee and gets a two count. Dykstra tags in and comes in
with a double axe handle off the top rope which nets him a two count. Kenny
applies a rear chin lock on Carlito while Primo tries...weakly, to get the fans
to chant for his brother. Carltio gets out of the chin lock, but Kenny runs
over and knocks Primo off the apron. Kenny turns around and is met by a rana
and Carlito then makes the tag to Festus. Jesse and Primo hit synchronized tope
suicidas onto the heels on the outside while Festus takes care of Kenny in the
ring. Festus hits the fireman's carry flap jack on Kenny and gets the pin.
(Match Rating: 3/5. Quite interesting throughout the
duration of the match.)
Post-Match: Festus is returned to his dazed and confused
state, but he wanders outside the ring and stares at Maria.
We are shown a clip of Big Show knocking out Chris Jericho.
-Commercial-
The Great Khali is in the ring. He wrestles 3 jobbers.
Match 5: The Great Khali v. 3 Jobbers
As the bell rings, the 3 jobbers charge at Khali, but eventually
2 of them run away. Khali brain chops the remaining jobber for the win.
Post-Match: Khali host’s the kiss cam and eventually plants
one on this large woman.
(Match/Segment Rating: 1.5/5. Uhhh!!!)
-Commercial-
Clips from Vladimir Kozlov’s assault is shown.
Next week, Jeff Hardy will take on Vladimir Kozlov.
Kozlov is shown backstage. He states that he will break Jeff
in half next week.
Triple H’s music hits and he makes his way down to the ring
to a nice ovation.
-Commercial-
Big Show comes out to the ring.
Main Event: Triple H v. Big Show (WWE Championship Match)
Triple H- Triple H tries to "stick and move" but
quickly gets chucked over the top rope by Show. Show quickly makes his way
after him and a slugfest ensues on the outside. Show charges The Game, but HHH
moves and Show hits the ring post shoulder first. Show gets back in the ring
and when Triple H gets to the apron to also get back in, Show meets him and
nails a headbutt to knock HHH back to the floor. Triple H tries to get in
again, but this time when Show grabs him, HHH drops down and hangs Show's neck
up on the top rope. Triple H tries to get on the offense but Show quickly hits
a big side slam to stop him.
-Commercial-
Big Show has Triple H in a neck vice and applies the
pressure. Triple H tries to power out, but Show heabutts him in the back of the
head and then spins his leg over The Game and drops him down with a leg drop
(that looked good) and gets a near fall. Triple H back up into the corner and
show comes charging for a big avalanche but Triple H moves and the Shows hits
the buckles. Triple H stumbles back into the corner and Show comes charging
again and this time gets two booths to the face. Triple H jumps off the middle
rope onto shows back and applies a sleeper. Show stood on his feet for a long
time while Tripe H just hung onto him on Show's back with the sleeper. Show
eventually pulled Triple H off over his head. Show goes to drop and elbow but
misses. Triple H hits the facebuster on his knee and goes for the Pedigree but
Show blocks and backdrops him while falling back and cradling his head. Shows
pumps his fists and sets the Game up for the big KO punch but Triple H ducks.
Show quickly changes gears and catches a charging Triple H with the chokeslam. Show
then signals for the KO Punch again, but the light’s go off…
The match ends in a No Contest.
Light’s come back on and The Undertaker appears in the ring
and strikes the Big Show knocking him out of the ring.
Light’s go back out…
When they come back on, Undertaker strikes at Show some more
in the ramp way and they brawl to the back.
Vladimir Kozlov then enters the scene and heads towards the
ring to face Triple H. The two take it to each other until Kozlov manages to
headbutt the Game down. This leads to Jeff Hardy coming in for the save, but he
is tackled down. Eventually Triple H gets up and he and Jeff double team the
Moscow Mauler out of the ring. As Kozlov heads back up the ramp, Jeff hits the
Twist of Fate of the Game to end the show!
(Match/Segment Rating: 3.5/5. Not bad segment, but the match
did seem slow at times).
