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WWE Smackdown review
February 8, 2008
Taped 2/5/08 in Corpus Christi, Tx.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor


-WWE Open.

-Smackdown Open

-Batista came to the ring, in wrestling gear, to do an interview with Michael Cole. Cole’s suit looked about a size or two too big. Batista had his own mic after taking Eve Torres’ last week. Whatever happened to the announcer holding the microphone? Batista said he has the experience edge in Elimination Chamber matches, and after No Way Out, he’ll be the one facing the champ at WrestleMania. MVP came out, so expect a similar segment to Raw’s, with the chamber participants. A little variety wouldn’t hurt. MVP said Batista has never been in a Chamber match with him before. Big Daddy V and Matt Striker were next. Striker said V would crush everyone inside the structure, then painted a picture of what would happen to each of them. Great Khali and Ranjin Singh came out and Khali said their talk was futile (Singh’s words) and that he wasn’t afraid of anyone. Finlay with Hornswoggle came out next. He said he came to fight. The lights went out and when they went back on, Undertaker was in the ring. Everyone bailed but Finlay and Batista. Just a segment to make it look like each one has a chance in the match.

[Commercial Break]

-Tonight, Finlay, Undertaker & Batista face Big Daddy V, MVP and Khali in a six-man tag match.

1- SHELTON BENJAMIN vs. KANE

Kane worked over Shelton in the corner and hit a seated dropkick. After a cross-body off the top by Shelton, Kane hit a big boot. Shelton drop-toed Kane into the turnbuckle. Blockbuster off the top for a one-count. DDT by Shelton for a near-fall. After catching Kane with a back elbow, Shelton got caught coming off the second rope and was hit with a thrust to the throat. Kane hit his flying clothesline but Shelton rolled to the outside. Kane went after him and they fought to the apron when Shelton was knocked off the top rope and into the ring by Kane. At that point, the referee was at nine with his count and Shelton got in just before the ten; Kane was not so lucky.

WINNER: Benjamin by count-out at 6:03. Unique ending. Kane is really getting clunky in the ring.

-Vickie Guerrero is the special guest on The Cutting Edge tonight.

[Commercial Break]

2- CHUCK PALUMBO vs. JAMIE NOBLE

Noble came out then waved for Michelle McCool to come out with him. After a quick back-and-forth, Chuck hit a big boot. Palumbo then socked Jamie in the head a bunch of times. Palumbo missed an elbow off the 2nd rope. Palumbo missed a charge and rammed his shoulder into the post. Noble cross-bodied Chuck over the top rope. Noble went to the top, but Chuck re-directed Jamie into his bike. Full Throttle back in the ring for the three.

WINNER: Palumbo at 3:56.

Chuck continued to do damage after the match, slamming Jamie into the post and onto the mat outside the ring as Michelle was nearly in tears. Chuck dragged a limp Jamie into the aisle and got a crazed look in his eye. He began to rev up his bike, but stopped short of running Noble over. He instead rode to the back. Another good segment for this feud.

[Commercial Break]

3- JESSE & FESTUS vs. DEUCE ‘N DOMINO

Festus came to the ring with a paper bag over his head. The “new and improved” Festus had the same facials as the old Festus and transformed as usual once the bell rang. Jesse got the best of Deuce early on. Domino broke up a pin attempt, giving Deuce the time he needed to recover. Domino applied a chinlock to Jesse, who fought out. The tag was finally made to Festus, who cleaned house. A couple of splashes on Domino from Festus. After an attempted distraction by Cherry, Festus hit his finisher on Domino for the win.

WINNERS: Jesse & Festus at 4:04. Not sure what the point of the “new” Festus angle was.

-Next is Vickie Guerrero on The Cutting Edge.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge came out to host his talk show. He showed Vickie getting the 619 at the Royal Rumble and said that’s an example of the power of love. He wanted all of the fans to give Vickie the respect she deserves. He introduced Vickie as his soul mate. Teddy Long wheeled her down to the ring. Edge sent Teddy to the back for privacy reasons. In an arena full of thousands of fans. On TV in front of millions. Edge had a big question to ask Vickie. It was to be a Valentine surprise for her next week. Edge said Rey owed her an apology, then he called him out. Mysterio came out, looking quite dapper. Vickie demanded an apology from him. Before he could say three words, Vickie slapped him. When he tried to explain, she slapped him again. She said he disgusted her. He blocked a third slap and Edge attacked him. Rey made a comeback, but then Edge flattened him with a foot to the face. Edge retrieved two chairs from ringside, but it gave Rey time to get his bearings and he ended up hitting a 619. Rey then got a mic and said “I’m sorry” to Vickie.

[Commercial Break]

-A replay aired of what just happened.

-Coach and Cole previewed the No Way Out lineup. I really like the Seether song they’re using as the theme; it’s different than a lot of the basic rock themes they use.

-Still to come, the six-man tag.

[Commercial Break]

-Edge was walking backstage when he came upon Eve Torres. She wanted to know if the big question for next week is him asking Vickie to marry him. He was offended that she would ask such a private question and said she’d find out next week, like everyone else.

4- CURT HAWKINS & ZACK RYDER vs. SHANNON MOORE & JIMMY WANG YANG

Arm-drag and a “yee-hah!” from Yang. Yang hit another arm-drag, to which Cole chimed in, “Yang with a highly unorthodox style.” Yeah, nothing more unorthodox than a couple of arm-drags. Double-team by the Edgeheads for the advantage. After working over Yang, both legal men made tags. After a distraction by Ryder, Hawkins hit the Curtain Call-like finisher on Moore for the three-count (get it?).

WINNERS: Hawkins & Ryder at 3:32.

[Commercial Break]

-All six men made their entrances for the main event, which is next.

[Commercial Break]

5- GREAT KHALI, BIG DADDY V & MVP vs. BATISTA, FINLAY & UNDERTAKER

Match was joined in progress with Finlay and Khali. Short clothesline on MVP after he tagged in. Taker & Batista worked over V, including some headbutts that consisted of Taker hitting V with his hair. Taker hit Old School on V, then MVP. Khali tagged in going into break.

[Commercial Break]

Taker fought it out with MVP and eventually all three men worked over the heel. After Finlay got knocked to ringside and the heels got some cheap-shots in, Taker got upset and grabbed a chair. He never used it though. Finlay took an extended beating and eventually it broke down with everyone coming in and hitting their signature spots. That included Finlay using the shillaleigh, and somewhere in here, the ref threw the match out.

WINNERS: No Contest at 14:31.

The faces stood in the ring, but leery of each other, as the show ended.

Final Thoughts: A good show, but they’re getting a lot of mileage right now out of two angles that are carrying the show. The Rey vs. Edge feud and the Noble vs. Palumbo feud are the only two to speak of, really. Luckily, they are both coming along nicely, though it makes the other matches on the show feel just thrown together. They’re trying hard to make it seem like all the players in the Chamber match have a shot and they need to considering only one or two can seriously be considered.

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