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WWE Smackdown review
January 4, 2008
Taped December 29, 2007 in Richmond, Va.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-WWE Open.

-A video package of the World Title happenings from two weeks ago started things off.

-Smackdown Open.

-Michael Cole wished viewers a happy new year and welcomed us to Smackdown from Richmond. Teddy Long wheeled Vickie Guerrero out. She said that if Batista or Undertaker put their hands on Edge, their chance for a World Title match would be out the window. Vickie, in cahoots with Edge, decided to make a beat-the-clock challenge, with the winner facing Edge for the title at Royal Rumble. She said Finlay, Rey Mysterio, Batista and Undertaker would be in action. Guerrero brought out the new color commentator, Jonathon Coachman. And I so loved the Regal-Coach dynamic from Raw.

1- BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE- FINALY w/HORNSWOGGLE vs. MVP

Some mat wrestling to start, which ended in a stalemate. They traded slaps as neither man could get the advantage. Outside the ring, MVP clotheslined Finlay and they went to the first break.

[Commercial Break]

Finlay had MVP in a leg-lock out of break. Finlay applied the body-scissors, but MVP was on top. He got some blows in but couldn’t get out. These guys were not wrestling at a “beat the clock” pace. After a kick to the head and a pin attempt, Porter went back to a rest-hold. Seriously? Finlay went shoulder-first into the post and MVP hit the running kick. Finlay, though, got his foot on the rope on a cover. MVP got a hold of a shillaleigh, which the ref took away from him. Meanwhile, Finlay got one of his own, used it on MVP, and got the win.

WINNER: Finlay, at 9:46. The psychology didn’t really make sense for this type of match.

-Mr. McMahon sauntered out during the post-match celebration. He knelt down and hugged Hornswoggle....and that was it.

[Commercial Break]

2- CHUCK PALUMBO & MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. KENNY DYKSTRA & VICTORIA

The girls tagged in after the guys traded flurries of offense. Michelle back-flipped out of a wrist-lock, but got thrown shoulder-first into the post. Kenny shouted “break it” as Victoria worked on Michelle’s left arm. Over-head belly-to-belly by Chuck after the men came in. Chuck missed a running kick and Kenny hit a neck-breaker for two. Palumbo suplexed Kenny off the top. In a mis-timed spot, Michelle hit a flying bodypress onto Victoria, who came in too early and had to stall as Michelle reached the top rope. In the end, Dykstra distracted McCool long enough for Victoria to hit the Widow’s Peak for the pin.

WINNERS: Dykstra & Victoria, at 4:38.

After the match, Chuck threw a tantrum in the ring and left on his bike without Michelle.

-Backstage, Teddy got Vickie the wrong coffee. Chavo barged in and said her relationship with Edge is tearing the Guerrero family apart. Chavo said he wanted to roll back the hands of time and said he wanted something he just couldn’t have. Strange, but even stranger that they didn’t mention anything about it the rest of the night.

[Commercial Break]

3- BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE- CHAVO GUERRERO vs. FUNAKI

Chavo dominated and got some quick pin attempts early on. Headscissors by Funaki, but that was about all he got. Chavo got frustrated when couldn’t get a three-count. Many roll-up variations were used during the match. Enziguiri by Funaki, then a cross-body for two. Chavo held on to the ropes to avoid a roll-up and hit the Gory Bomb for the three.

WINNER: Chavo, at 6:02. Good match, but I don’t think anybody bought Funaki winning/surviving past 9:46.

-Batista fights next!

[Commercial Break]

4- BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE- BATISTA vs. CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER; HANDICAP MATCH

It was originally scheduled as Batista vs. Hawkins, but Vickie made Teddy announce it as a handicap match. Why didn’t Vickie just make that match in the first place, since Batista had no idea who he was fighting. Batista sling-shotted Hawkins onto the turnbuckle, but his attempt at a Batista Bomb was thwarted by Ryder. Double-team whip into the buckle by the former Majors. Hawkins kicked Batista out of the ring and they caught him coming back in with a legdrop to the back of the head. An ugly double-DDT spot took place that I think they botched, because they went right back to it and this time, Batista back-dropped out of it. Batista tried to hit a Batista Bomb with :10 to go, but one of the guys (not sure which; but I think Cole called them by the wrong name the entire match) held on to the other’s leg so Batista couldn’t pick him up. And then time expired.

WINNER: No contest, at 6:02.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage, MVP watched the Raw Rebound while talking on his phone. He was not happy about his loss and wants others to respect his greatness. He said he’s going to make history: He’s going to retire Ric Flair.

-Cole & Coach talked to Rey Mysterio, who was backstage. He said he doesn’t know who his opponent will be, but he has to beat the clock, which fits his style.

[Commercial Break]

5- DEUCE ‘N DOMINO vs. JIMMY WANG YANG & SHANNON MOORE

Yang was ole’d out of the ring, which knocked Cherry down. He helped her up, which drew the ire of Domino. After being brutalized, Yang made the hot tag to Moore. Cole called the duo, “The Redneck Rejects.” Moore pushed Domino into Deuce, who was on the top rope, then rolled up Domino for three.

WINNERS: Yang & Moore, at 3:42.

[Commercial Break]

6- BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE- UNDERTAKER vs. MARK HENRY

This was originally scheduled as Taker vs. Matt Striker, but Striker came out in a referee shirt. He said he isn’t Taker’s opponent, but the special referee. His opponent: Mark Henry. Henry started with a shoulderblock. Taker got some momentum but was shoulderblocked down again. Outside the ring, Henry got thrown into the ring steps head-first. Taker went for Old School, but was stopped by Henry. DDT by Taker. Henry, though, caught the Dead Man in a bearhug. Taker battled back and hit the chokeslam. Striker counted to two, but with :08, stopped short of counting three. He then fled the ring as time expire.

WINNER: No contest, at 6:02.

Taker body-slammed Henry in anger after the match.

[Commercial Break]

-Another Diva Search reject was backstage handling interviews. I hope they didn’t get rid of Anastacia already. Anyway, she was backstage with Striker. He said Taker simply couldn’t beat the clock and also threatened him. If Taker ever put his hands on Striker, Big Daddy V would be ready to defend him.

-Coach & Cole ran down the Royal Rumble card thus far.

-Rey’s match is next.

[Commercial Break]

7- BEAT THE CLOCK CHALLENGE- REY MYSTERIO vs. EDGE

Edge came out with his doppelgangers. Edge stalled for the first minute by dodging Rey. Rey hit a hurricanrana and dropkick when Edge was finally ready to go. Seated senton from Rey got two. Edge turned the tide with a boot to the face. Rey was thrown to the outside for Ryder and Hawkins to feast on. Batista came out and took out the tag team. That distracted Edge and Rey rolled him up for a near-fall. Edge went back on offense and Taker came out. The lights went out and when they came back on, Edge was in position for the 619. Rey hit it, then hit the springboard cross-body for the win, and under the time-limit.

WINNER: Rey Mysterio, at 4:37.

-Rey celebrated in the ring as the show faded out.




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