By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
January 18, 2008
Taped 1/15/08 in Birmingham, AL.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-WWE Open.

-A video package aired showing the final elimination of last year’s Royal Rumble, with Undertaker coming out on top.

-The bell tolled back in the arena, signaling the Undertaker’s entrance. He slowly made his way to the ring. He said it’s not often he comes out to talk, because he usually doesn’t have much to say. He issued a warning to the 29 other men set to step in the ring nine days from now at the Royal Rumble. If they stand before him, they will fall before him, Taker said. He said if they enter the ring, they will rest in peace. At that, Big Daddy V and Matt Striker came out. Striker said the big difference between last year’s and this year’s Rumble is that Big Daddy V wasn’t in it last year. Striker said V would dominate at the Rumble. The former Viscera then made his way to the ring. Taker punched him off the apron and down to the mat, where V pulled Taker to the outside. They traded blows, then Taker whipped V into the steel steps. V backed away and up the aisle at the behest of Striker.

-Michael Cole threw it to a video package of last week’s opening segment, with Vickie introducing Rey as the #1 contender. We also saw clips of Rey’s match last week as well as the subsequent attack by Edge.

-Later tonight, Edge & Chavo Guerrero take on CM Punk & Rey Mysterio.

[Commercial Break]

-Batista faces Mark Henry tonight and Ric Flair will be on the VIP Lounge with MVP.

1- THE GREAT KHALI vs. FINLAY

They showed Finlay rescuing Hornswoggle from Khali this past Monday night. They did some comedy as the bell rang, with Hornswoggle getting the best of Ranjin Singh at ringside. Finlay backed Singh down as they took another break.

[Commercial Break]


Finlay hammered away upon return, but Khali clotheslined him down. Big back elbows in the corner from Khali. Finlay was thrown outside and Khali followed. Khali missed a chop and hit his hand on the post. Khali, from the floor, chopped Finlay, who was on the apron. One-armed bodyslam by Khali. The nerve hold was applied. As Hornswoggle distracted the ref, Finlay nailed Khali with a low-blow. Singh grabbed the shillaleigh so Finlay couldn’t use it, and tossed it up the aisle. Hornswoggle, in response, pulled out a bigger one. Finlay tossed Singh out of the ring and Khali hit the double-handed chokeslam, then put Finlay in the head vice for the victory.

WINNER: Khali, at 11:03.

-Backstage, Edge comforted Vickie, saying he knows she’ll walk again soon and said he’d always be there for her. Vickie called him a hero and Edge was flattered. Edge sent Teddy Long away so they could make out, but Chavo Guerrero interrupted. He said he had second thoughts about what he said last week. Chavo wanted the three of them to be a big, happy family. The tone in Chavo’s voice made you think he thought otherwise.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired. Guess what they showed?

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

Yang worked a side headlock, then tagged Moore. Dropkick by Moore earned a one-count. Standing side-kick to the gut by Deuce, who then tagged Domino. Moore low-bridged the ropes and Domino went over the top. Domino worked over Moore after he hesitated on a move because Cherry was in the way. Deuce hung Moore on the rope and Domino came off with a forearm to the back. Domino missed a corner charge and Moore tagged Yang. Deuce broke up a pin attempt but Moore landed a flying headscissor to dispose of Deuce. Meanwhile, Yang hit a moonsault on Domino for the win.

WINNERS: Yang & Moore at 6:39.

-Vince yelled at Finlay backstage for allowing Khali to put his hands on his son. Vince thought Finlay owed him an apology for what he said Monday night. As for next week, Vince made a Khali vs. Finlay match, only next week, it’ll be a Belfast Brawl.

-Batista was walking backstage- he faces Mark Henry next.

[Commercial Break]

3- BATISTA vs. MARK HENRY

Henry, in a lock-up battle, powered Batista to the ground. Shoulder tackle took down the former champ again. Henry got cocky and pie-faced Batista. The Animal went on a rampage and kicked Henry out of the ring. Henry turned the tide and whipped Batista into the steps, then drove his spine into the ring post. Vader bomb by Henry missed, as Batista got his knees up. Henry missed a charge and Batista hit a spear for a two-count. Another spear, then Henry back-dropped out of a Batista Bomb. He missed a splash, allowing Batista to hit a spinebuster for the win.

WINNER: Batista at 5:00.

-Highlights of this past Tuesday’s Punk/Chavo match aired.

-Still to come, the big tag match. But next, Flair on the VIP Lounge.

[Commercial Break]

-In the VIP Lounge, MVP gave his usual spiel, then brought out Ric Flair. The two shook hands and even bumped knuckles. Flair said he was tearing up VIP Lounges before MVP was born. He doesn’t think MVP has what it takes to beat him. MVP said he did it once and he’ll do it again. Flair said the loss to MVP is one blemish on his record that he’ll correct. Flair said MVP reminded him of himself and he wanted to get it on right there. After MVP mocked Flair’s old nicknames, Flair chopped him over the couch. Good segment.

[Commercial Break]

4- MICHELLE MCCOOL vs. LAYLA

Layla’s entrance walk is almost as exaggerated as Vince’s at this point. Headlock take-down from Michelle. Sunset flip by Layla but she couldn’t hang on and Michelle met her with a dropkick. Michelle missed a charge and Layla hit some kicks to the leg. She continued to work on the left leg. Vicious chops highlighted Michelle’s comeback. She then hit an impressive double-underhook face-plant for the pin.

WINNER: McCool at 3:53.

-Tonight, CM Punk & Rey Mysterio face Chavo Guerrero & Edge.

[Commercial Break]

-Jamie Noble approached Michelle backstage and asked if she was alright. Before he could say what he wanted, a stagehand showed Michelle some flowers that were delivered to her. She thought they were from Noble, but Chuck Palumbo came on the scene and said they were from her. He apologized, laying it on real thick. Michelle accepted, much to the chagrin of Noble. Michelle asked them to get along, for her. They both agreed.

-Cole and Coach ran down the Rumble card.

-Rey Mysterio was walking backstage, heading to the ring for his match. He came upon Teddy and Vickie, who wished him good luck. He just kept walking.

[Commercial Break]

5- EDGE & CHAVO GUERRERO vs. CM PUNK & REY MYSTERIO

Chain wrestling to start from Chavo and CM. Punk hit a boot to the face and tagged Rey in. After Chavo gave him a European uppercut, the tag was made to Edge. Rey hit a head-scissor, then set Edge up for the 619. Edge got out of the way, but was kicked off the apron by Punk. Chavo dove at Punk but missed, going over the top rope. Rey and CM hit stereo dives through the ropes on their opponents, sending the show to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Edge and Punk were in and Edge was laying the boots to Punk. Tag to Chavo, who did the same. Punk fought back against Edge with chops. Edge threw Punk to the mat, and he slid shoulder-first into the ring post. Chavo tagged in and went right to work on the vulnerable body part. Eventually, Rey got the hot tag and went to work with a flurry of offense on Chavo. He hit the 619, but Edge nailed Rey in the leg with a chair to draw the DQ.

WINNERS: Punk & Rey by DQ at 10:48.

-Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins came out to assist in the post-match beat-down. Edge and Chavo embraced after the damage had been done.

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