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WWE Smackdown review
December 28, 2007
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

A review of this show probably isn’t necessary, but I’m a completist so.....

-Smackdown Open.

-Michael Cole voice-overs various opening pyro and said that this Smackdown will show WWE’s greatest matches of 2007. It was funny hearing his voice-over so monotone over the clips of fireworks and fans screaming and cheering, a spot where you usually hear the announcers yelling for the opening of the program. Cole revealed the #5 match.

Match #5- MONEY IN THE BANK LADDER MATCH FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE MATCH- WRESTLEMANIA 23- APRIL 1, 2007

Since match recaps are found elsewhere on the site, I won’t bother to do the play-by-play. I’ll probably just chime in with my thoughts at various points throughout. The match wasn’t shown in its entirety as I thought it would be. All six announcers did this match, which is tough, and this is coming from someone with a broadcasting background. I had trouble at times with just two people. Then again, WWE is more well-produced than my college radio station, I’m sure. That Ken-ton that Kennedy missed looked brutal, as it appeared as though he caught his head on the ladder. As good as the match was, there were some really choreographed spots, like Edge’s spears and Punk spinning the ladder. A commercial break was taken right after Hardy jumped onto Edge and broke the ladder.

[Commercial Break]

There wasn’t much more action shown, as Kennedy knocked Punk off the ladder to grab the briefcase and win.

WINNER- Mr. Kennedy.

-Cole told us to stay tuned as match #4 is next!

-A video package hyping Beth Phoenix aired. The crowd in Buffalo REALLY wanted to see her two weeks ago on Raw. Too bad we didn’t get her.

[Commercial Break]

-The Smack of the Night was Triple H’s return at SummerSlam, 8/26.

Match #4- TRIPLE H vs. RANDY ORTON, LAST MAN STANDING MATCH FOR THE WWE TITLE- NO MERCY- OCTOBER 7, 2007.

Unlike a lot of matches in this style, this one didn’t have a slow start, culminating with the hot finishing sequence. They went right at it from the opening bell. Of course, with the numerous standing ten-counts throughout the match, there wasn’t a need to start slow, as they’d have ample time to recover during those periods. A break was taken after Triple H hit Orton with the stairs.

[Commercial Break]

This is another example of a match that was made all the better by JR’s commentary. Ah, the screen went black and white when Triple H got busted open. It went back to color for the finish.

WINNER: Orton.

-Let Us Take You Back to Raw from two weeks ago: Flair’s promo and clips of his match with Umaga were shown. On Monday, Flair faces Triple H in a career-threatening match.

-Next week on Smackdown, a “Beat the Clock” tournament will begin and the winner will face Edge for the World Title at Royal Rumble.

-Match #3 is next.

[Commercial Break]

Match #3- JOHN CENA vs. SHAWN MICHAELS- RAW- APRIL 23, 2007.

I don’t know that this was better than their WrestleMania match, but whatever. I remember it being really strange seeing this match start at 10:00 and thinking, “why are they running the main event so early?” An hour later, we found out. They showed a “match duration” clock in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen a few times during the replay. After a near-fall, they went to break.

[Commercial Break]

I wonder if an American crowd would’ve stayed with the action and been so hot for the match throughout, as the London crowd was into it through the whole thing, even after being conditioned to see Raw matches go only four minutes or so on average.

WINNER: Michaels.

-Tribute to the Troops clips are shown, with a message to them from Hillary Clinton.

[Commercial Break]

-WWE’s most memorable moments of 2007 are shown: They include the return of Y2J, Hornswoggle as Vince’s son, Austin’s beer bash at Santino’s expense, the 2007 Diva Search, Edge cashing in the Money in the Bank title chance, the billionaire match at WM,

Match #2- REY MYSTERIO, TRIPLE H, JEFF HARDY, KANE vs. MR. KENNEDY, BIG DADDY V, FINLAY, MVP, UMAGA- SURVIVOR SERIES- NOVEMBER 18, 2007

The match was joined in progress. Odd choice for match number two. A break was taken after Rey was eliminated.

[Commercial Break]

All eliminations were shown. I still think they should do more of these traditional Survivor Series matches, if not to just get the undercard guys some time on PPV.

WINNERS: Hardy and Triple H.

-A quick plug for Hardy vs. Orton at Royal Rumble.

-The #1 match is next!

[Commercial Break]

Match #1- UNDERTAKER vs. BATISTA, WORLD TITLE MATCH- WRESTLEMANIA 23- APRIL 1, 2007

Not a bad choice for number one. The crowd reaction is pretty funny here, as they are solidly behind Taker. Taker’s dive over the top rope to the outside is still amazing to see, both for someone his age and size. After that move, they went to the last break.

[Commercial Break]

I don’t know what it is about Undertaker being able to get good matches consistently out of Batista. Maybe just a good match-up.

WINNER: Undertaker.

-A video package giving background on Edge getting his World Title back.

-A final plug for Beat the Clock next week.



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