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WWE Smackdown review
January 11, 2008
Taped January 8, in Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-WWE Open.

-A video package of last week’s Beat The Clock matches aired.

-The show opened with Vickie Guerrero and Theodore Long in mid-ring. She asked the fans to help her welcome “my family’s long-time friend” and the new #1 contender for the World Title, Rey Mysterio. Rey came out to a big pop. Rey didn’t take Vickie’s congratulations well, because he said he knew she was on Edge’s side. Rey said he’ll put aside whatever happened in the past between them, because he’s there for her. He wanted to know what was up with Edge, but Vickie didn’t want to discuss it. She said she has every right to move on with her life, but Rey said, “what about....” and Vickie said, “what about EDDIE? Is that what you were going to say?” She said Eddie was no longer with us, but she knows he’d want her to move on with her life. She then said Edge would make the perfect father-figure, as she sounded like she wanted more kids. Rey said Edge doesn’t really love her, which brought out the champion, who had apparently heard enough. He was incensed. Edge said Vickie being the love of his life was reality. He said he’d still be champion at the Rumble, and he and Vickie would still be in love. Rey said he might be in love, but he won’t be World Champion. Then Chavo’s music hit and he came out.

Chavo told Rey to mind his own business. “No matter how hard you try, you’re NEVER going to be a Guerrero.” Chavo asked how Vickie can sit there and call herself a Guerrero, since every other member of the family is disgusted with what she’s doing. Vickie was tired of being embarrassed and played the GM card. Vickie said she pays them to wrestle, and tonight, Rey and Chavo will wrestle each other. Teddy then wheeled Vickie out of the ring as Rey and Chavo stared at each other. Well, this angle isn’t my cup of tea, but I guess it’s sorta interesting that they’re not making Chavo a straight heel. Nobody stood out here, as they were all sharing the spotlight.

[Commercial Break]

-Michael Cole and Jonathon Coachman announced that Batista and Undertaker have been entered into the Royal Rumble.

1- CHUCK PALUMBO vs. JAMIE NOBLE

Chuck rode out with Michelle McCool on his hog. Wow, that sounds dirty. Cole noted that, while Noble has beaten Palumbo three times in a row, he did some research and no one has ever beaten Palumbo four times in a row. That’s some nice detective work, Lou. I guess they figured the Noble and McCool storyline wasn’t interesting enough, so they made up that “record” to get more interest in the match. Palumbo used his power to just toss Noble around in the beginning. Palumbo had Noble down on the ground and was brutalizing him with forearms. Palumbo tried to separate Noble’s jaw with his bare hands. Samoan drop by Chcuk, but only got a two-count. Palumbo slammed Noble back-first into the turnbuckle. Noble wormed his way out of a move and started kicking at the legs of Palumbo. Top-rope clothesline by Noble. Crucifix roll-up for three by Noble!

WINNER: Noble at 4:41. Palumbo dominated, and Noble was painted as just getting lucky.

Palumbo was trying to keep his rage in until he saw Michelle in the ring. He walked up to her and backed her into the corner. “Chuck’s a loser” chant started by the crowd. Noble crept back out into the entryway, distracting Palumbo long enough for McCool to escape.

-Vickie was looking at numerous pictures of her and Edge backstage. Edge came in and shooed Teddy out of the room. Vickie said she was lucky to have a guy like Edge in her life. Edge gave Vickie a back rub to relieve her stress.

-Batista was walking backstage, coming to the ring to face MVP...next!

[Commercial Break]

-Tonight, it’s a handicap match: Mark Henry & Matt Striker vs. Undertaker. Also, Chavo vs. Rey.

2- MVP vs. BATISTA

MVP got on the stick before the match and talked about all the titles he’s won since coming to Smackdown. He said at Royal Rumble, he’ll add another title to his resume: “Man who retired Ric Flair.” He said Flair was the greatest, before MVP came into the industry. Montel said he wished Flair was at the arena, but he was in Japan doing promotional work. He did some more boasting until Batista’s music hit.

MVP tried to hit and run against Batista and did so successfully. MVP worked Batista to the mat with a side-headlock. Batista showed off a leap-frog, then shoulderblocked MVP down. Elbowdrop by Batista, then some shoulders in the corner. Knee to the temple by MVP, then he went after the legs. Porter hit his running kick and knocked Batista out of the ring.

[Commercial Break]

Cole said that MVP had dominated throughout the break. MVP tried to whip Batista into the corner but Batista fought back. MVP dropped him with a toe-hold, then a dropkick. Porter continued to work the head and neck region of Batista with submission moves. Batista used his power to pick up MVP and slam him, but MVP rolled over and continued holding on to a headlock. Batista turned the tables and was able to free himself, but his shoulder into the corner hurt his neck after MVP had been working on it. He recovered and hit a tilt-a-whirl side-slam by Batista got two. Spinebuster by the Animal. He set up for the Batista Bomb but MVP scurried out of the ring. He took control by draping Batista over the middle rope and hit the running kick again. He tried a pile-driver on the outside, but Batista back-dropped him instead. Batista was the aggressor, but made a mistake and missed a charge on MVP, instead hitting the post. The count from referee Charles Robinson was on, and both men were on the apron at eight. Batista knocked MVP off the apron to win by count-out.

WINNER: Batista at 12:42.

Batista didn’t want to win that way and went after MVP. Porter grabbed a chair, but Batista speared him on the outside.

-Still to come, Hornswoggle faces Ranjin Singh in an arm-wrestling match. Oh boy. And the handicap match is next.

[Commercial Break]

-Tonight, Rey Mysterio faces Chavo Guerrero.

3- MARK HENRY & MATT STRIKER vs. THE UNDERTAKER- HANDICAP MATCH

Henry started with Taker and Taker started working Henry’s left arm and less than a minute into the match, went for the rope-walk. It’s just not believable that soon in a match, and luckily, Striker distracted Taker enough for Henry to pull him down. That was about it, as Taker went back on offense, kicking Striker in the head. He splashed both men in opposite corners then gave Striker the Snake Eyes and the big boot. Old School to Henry again. Still think it’s kinda early- because of the time it takes, I think an opponent really needs to be worn down for that move to work so early. Tombstone for Striker and that’s all.

WINNER: Taker at 2:25.

As soon as the bell rang, Big Daddy V came down. Taker fought him and Henry off and foolishly tried a double-chokeslam. It didn’t work, but he did hit a DDT on Henry. Then a flying clothesline on V. Chokeslam for Henry ended the attack. Taker did a Triple H job on these guys.

-Backstage, Vince McMahon told Hornswoggle he was never more proud of him then on Raw when he qualified with Mick Foley for the Royal Rumble. Vince talked Hornswoggle up to Finlay. Finlay said Vince wasn’t holding up his end of the bargain. Vince told him in that gravelly voice, never to talk to him like that again. Vince gave Finlay a spot in the Rumble to look after Horny. He also told Finlay to look out for his son in the arm wrestling match tonight.

[Commercial Break]

-Raw Rebound aired. It focused on the Umaga vs. Jeff Hardy cage match.

4- RANJIN SINGH vs. HORNSWOGGLE- ARM-WRESTLING MATCH

Singh got on the mic and prematurely pronounced victory. Hornswoggle’s arms weren’t long enough to reach, so referee Jimmy Korderas got a chair from ringside. Singh had Khali with him and Hornswoggle had Finlay with him. Finlay had some sort of device that shocked Singh when he grabbed the post on the table for leverage. Hornswoggle put on a pair of rubber gloves and as Singh was being shocked by holding the post, Hornswoggle beat him several times. Khali kicked Finlay out of the ring but Finlay grabbed a chair and hit Khali with a chair as Khali grabbed Hornswoggle.

WINNER: Hornswoggle. More high comedy from the WWE writing team.

[Commercial Break]

-Yet to come, Rey Mysterio faces Chavo Guerrero.

5- KANE vs. DOMINO

Domino pushed Kane and talked trash. Not a good idea. Uppercut put Domino down and Kane punched away at the former tag champ in the corner. Running clothesline in the corner from The Big Red Machine. Sidewalk slam by Kane, who then went to the top. He hit the clothesline and set up for the chokeslam. Deuce distracted Kane, allowing Domino to get some brief offense. He went to the top and was caught by the throat by Kane, chokeslammed, and pinned.

WINNER: Kane at 1:34. Just a squash for Kane to build up his credibility going into the Rumble.

-A vignette for Eve (she was the diva search winner) coming to Smackdown aired. It included her work in the diva search contest.

[Commercial Break]

-Michael Cole and Coach ran down the Royal Rumble card.

-Clips of the Smackdown “I Quit” match from October 2006 aired.

-Both men were walking backstage, headed to the ring for their confrontation.

[Commercial Break]

6- REY MYSTERIO vs. CHAVO GUERRERO

I’m surprised we didn’t get an interview from either guy, giving their thoughts on the match, especially with the ambiguity of Chavo’s character at this point. Before the match started, Edge walked out, belt over shoulder. He joined the commentary team for the bout. Coach tries to play the heel commentator, but he doesn’t have the credibility that JBL had. It’s a tough act to follow, no doubt. Headscissor by Rey on Chavo, followed by a somersault for a near-fall. European uppercut by Chavo. Bodyslam and a somersault onto Rey by Chavo for two. Interesting dichotomy here. Chavo got hung up on the ropes and Rey kicked him in the back. Chavo threw Rey face-first into the steel steps after a couple of mis-timed moves. Rey was hurting on the outside as the show went to break.

[Commercial Break]

Chavo had Rey in an arm-bar when the show returned. Faceplant by Chavo for one. Chavo stuffed his boot into Rey’s throat in the corner until the ref made him break. Side suplex for two. Chavo did some more stretching of Rey until Rey twisted out. Rey hit another headscissor, then ducked a Chavo dive and Guerrero went through the ropes. Rey went from the top and jumped onto Chavo on the outside. Chavo flipped Rey over his head for a two-count. Guerrero went for the Three Amigos, but Rey blocked the second one and threw Chavo in position for the 619. That connected, and Rey hit a frogsplash (though it appeared to be more of a regular splash) for the three count.

WINNER: Rey at 11:14.

Edge attacked Rey after the match, but Rey was getting the upper hand. That changed when Kurt Hawkins and Zach Rider came to Edge’s aide. Edge taunted Rey with the belt as Rey was lying prone in the ring.



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