WWE Smackdown review
August 24, 2007
Aired on UPN
Report by Chris Rivers, PWTorch.com contributor

A pre-show splash screen promoting Rey Mysterio's return to Smackdown tonight is shown.

The show kicks off with Teddy Long and Khali in the middle of the ring. Teddy states that tonight a new number one contender will be decided for the World Heavyweight Championship. There will be a four man tournament. The first match will be Kane vs. Finlay with the winner facing the winner of the Batista vs. Rey Mysterio match to determine the new number one contender. Teddy doesn't waste any time. He calls for Kane and Finlay to come down and get things started.

(1) Finlay defeated Kane. Kane begins to dominate with punches and kicks. A snap-mare by Kane is followed by a low drop kick. Kane begins to work over Finlay's arm including snapping the arm over the top rope. Kane delivers a kick to Finlay's arm and follows that up with a wrist-lock and an uppercut. Both men to the outside. Kane pulls Finlay shoulder first into the post. Back in the ring Kane delivers a boot to Finlay's head. Once again on the outside Finlay drives Kane backward into the steps. Back in the ring Finlay puts the boots to Kane. Finlay goes for the cover, but only gets a one count when Kane grabs the bottom rope. Kane's back up and delivers two uppercuts to Finlay. Kane sends Finlay into the corner, but misses the big splash. Finlay drops an elbow on Kane and covers him for a one count when the referee caught Finlay with his feet on the ropes. An uppercut by Kane. Finlay delivers a dropkick to Kane and gets a quick two count. Finlay tries a splash from the second turnbuckle, but Kane gets his knees up. Kane punches Finlay and sends Finlay into the corner, following it up with a clothesline in the corner. Finlay catches Kane with another elbow as he's coming back into the corner. Kane delivers yet another clothesline and sends Finlay into the corner. Finlay stumbles out into a sidewalk slam from Kane. Kane heads to the top rope and hits a flying clothesline followed by a chokeslam. At this point Hornswoggle distracts Kane and the referee, allowing Finlay to use the shillelagh to knockout Kane and pick-up the one, two, three victory.

Cole and JBL plug Matt Hardy and MVP vs. Deuce and Domino for the WWE Tag Team Championship by recapping last week's events.

[Commercial]

The Daltons have a "Going Back to School" promo. Jesse calls Festus a modern day Einstein. He then says that Festus has the face of an Academic All-American.

(2) MVP and Matt Hardy defeated Deuce and Domino (w/ Cherry) to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship. Hardy goes after Deuce and Domino on the outside. MVP tosses Deuce in and goes for a quick pin, but only gets a one count. MVP with a quick fireman's carry into a pin for another one count. Rollover by MVP into a pin attempt for a two count. Deuce delivers some punches to MVP. MVP with a drop toe hold as Hardy tags himself in. While Hardy and MVP argue, Deuce tags in Domino. Hardy starts off with a few punches to Domino followed by a bodyslam and a clothesline in the corner from Hardy. Hardy with a bulldog and a quick cover for a one count. Wristlock by Hardy and a tag to MVP. Wrist-lock by MVP and a tag to Hardy. Domino lands a few punches and tags out to Deuce. Deuce slams Hardy's head into the turnbuckle and follows it up by landing a few punches. Tag to Domino. Double clothesline from Matt Hardy. Hardy hits Domino with a few punches then hits an elbow from the second turnbuckle. MVP tags himself in and grabs a front-face lock on Domino. Hardy tags in and hits Domino with some punches, followed by a bodyslam. Hardy then hits a running elbow drop for a one count. Deuce hits Hardy with a clothesline from the outside. Domino goes for the cover, but only gets a one count. Tag to Deuce.

[Commercial]

Domino and Hardy are in the ring. Hardy delivers some punches and a kick to Domino before being pulled into the corner. Domino tags Deuce. Punches and kicks to Hardy, but Hardy comes back with punches and kicks of his own. Drop toe hold by Deuce followed by a tag to Domino. A legdrop by Domino for a two count. Chinlock by Domino, but Hardy fights back with a punch to the gut and a jawbreaker. Domino tags Deuce who delivers a double ax handle to the back of Hardy. Hardy manages some punches, but Deuce delivers a snap-mare to hardy followed by a version of the Million Dollar Dream. Hardy escapes with a backflip. Deuce tags Domino who locks in a front face-lock on Hardy. Cherry distracts MVP on the outside. Hardy backs Domino into the MVP/Hardy corner, but he can't get MVP's attention. Roll-up by Domino for the two count on Hardy. MVP breaks up the pin attempt and then slaps Matt Hardy. Domino locks Matt Hardy into a headlock and then drives both of his knees into Hardy's face for a two count. Domino tags Deuce. Deuce delivers a clothesline in the corner on Hardy and tags right back out to Domino. Deuce slingshots Domino into Hardy for a clothesline in the corner. Hardy starts throwing elbows and punches in an attempt to make it out of the corner. Hardy delivers a kick to Domino's gut and attempts the Twist of Fate. Domino blocks it and shoves Hardy off and right into Deuce who was standing on the apron. Hardy hits the Side Effect. He slaps MVP for the tag and then hits the Twist of Fate on Domino. MVP throws Hardy out of the ring and covers Domino for the three count. MVP celebrates with the titles in the ring as Hardy looks on from the outside.

Vince and Batista are backstage. Vince says they have a lot in common and that Batista could be his son. Batista points out that Vince is a billionaire and that Batista was raised by a single mom who worked hard and could barely put food on the table. He says that if he finds out Vince is his father, after all of the years of struggle when Vince didn't offer any help, he'll beat Vince unmercifully.

Hype for Rey vs. Batista

[Commercial]

The invitation to Teddy and Kristal's wedding is shown.

Eugene has the t-shirt gun in the ring when Mark Henry makes his way down. Eugene accidentally shoots Henry with the t-shirt gun. Henry grabs Eugene, clamps him in the bear hug, and throws him from the ring. Henry then says he'll leave Taker a bloody carcass at Unforgiven. Taker's video airs on the screen, but this time it ends with Taker's hand rising from the Death Valley sand.

More hype for Rey vs. Batista

[Commercial]

(3) Rey Mysterio defeated Batista by disqualification. Batista and Rey start off by shaking hands. They tie-up and Batista powers Rey to the corner and follows with a clean break. Rey tries a drop toehold, but Batista drops down into a front facelock. Rey makes the ropes and delivers four kicks to Batista's hamstring. Batista shoves him off and powers him up, but Rey slips off of Batista's shoulder and delivers another kick to Batista's hamstring. Rey comes off the ropes and hits an awkward looking hurricurrana. Rey comes off the ropes again into a Batista clothesline. Batista attempts back-to-back covers, both for one counts. Batista tosses Rey to the outside. Back in the ring, Rey delivers two kicks to Batista followed by a springboard off the ropes for a missed cross-body as Batista moves out of the way. A quick cover by Batista for a two count. Batista locks in a body-scissors, followed by a chinlock. Rey tries to break up the hold with elbows to Batista, but Batista drives a knee into Rey's gut. Batista sends Rey into the corner, but misses a clothesline. Rey hits a dropkick to Batista's leg. Batista chases Rey on the outside and is met by a dropkick from Rey as he tries to re-enter the ring. Batista makes his way back in and sends Rey to the corner. Rey charges out of the corner into a big Batista boot. Batista attempts the Batista Bomb, but Rey grabs the top rope. Batista pushes Rey over to the apron. Rey delivers a shoulder to the gut and then clotheslines Batista with the top rope. Rey then hits the Sitting Senton for a two count. Rey hits a dropkick to Batista's back and attempts the 619, but Batista catches him. Spinebuster on Rey. Finlay runs down with a chair, but Batista stops him. Batista tries to use the chair on Finlay, but the referee won't let him. He shoves the referee and is disqualified.

Cole and JBL show the return of Triple H from Raw.

Up next: Mr. McMahon

[Commercial]

Ashley's role on Survivor is plugged

Mr. McMahon and Coach head to the ring. Vince now denies having sex with any of the women Triple H brought out on Raw. Coach brings out some candidates for Vince to look at and starts with Cheryl from New York. He supposedly met her in 1983. Next is a threesome consisting of Theresa, Elizabeth, and Spice. Vince had a foursome going with them on New Year's Eve 1977. Finally there was Mary Catherine. Actually, Sister Mary Catherine. She says Vince was so good back in 1981 that no one else could satisfy her except God. A pretty lame segment really. It's sad that this is how Vince has to get his kicks these days. Afterward, Vince says he'll face his family Monday on Raw, but he's not worried.

Next up: Masterlock Challenge with Chuck Palumbo

Summerslam Highlights

[Commercial]

The Kane Masterlock Challenge from last week is recapped along with the Palumbo vs. Masters match that followed.

Masters is in the ring waiting for Palumbo. Instead of locking in the Masterlock, Masters attacks Palumbo from behind, but Palumbo then gains control and Masters heads for cover.

[Commercial]

Jamie Noble is in the back talking to Shannon Moore about forming a plan to take down Hornswoggle. Moore acts like he cares, but slaps an "I love leprechauns" sign on Noble's back.

Rey vs. Finlay is hyped.

[Commercial]

Rey defeated Finlay to earn the Number One Contendership for the World Heavyweight Title. Side headlock by Finlay. Finlay bounces off the ropes, knocking Rey down with a shoulder block. Rey, into the corner, leaps over a charging Finlay and delivers three kicks to Finlay's hamstring. Finlay with a punch. Rey into the ropes, springboard off the second rope into a bulldog for a one count. Rey delivers kicks, punches, and shoulder-blocks to Finlay in the corner. A short clothesline by Finlay for a two count. Rey into the ropes, holds on, and ducks a charging Finlay who falls to the outside. Rey with a double kick to Finlay's chest through the ropes. Hornswoggle peeks out from under the ring and trips up Rey on the floor. Finlay back in the ring.

[Commercial]

Finlay has a camel clutch on Rey and then begins slamming Rey repeatedly with Rey's leg hitting the bottom rope. Finlay applies the Half-Boston Crab. Rey works free and delivers some kicks to Finlay. Rey delivers a drop toehold on Finlay into the second turnbuckle. A roll-up by Rey for a two count. Rey delivers a kick to Finlay's head for another two count. Rey sends Finlay into the ropes, but sets too early and gets kicked in the face. Rey delivers the 619 to the back of Finlay's head and follows it up with the sunset flip for the pin. As Rey celebrates, Khali makes his way to the ring. Rey's thrown down, but as he's pulling himself up, Batista makes the save. A 619 by Rey and a spear by Batista on Khali to end the show.

Score (6.0): Not a bad Smackdown. We saw a new number one contender named for the World Heavyweight Championship and saw a WWE Tag Team Title swap.

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