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We start off tonight’s show with a look back at last year’s Royal Rumble match when Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker were the final two men in the match. We see Taker win the match to advance to the main event at Wrestlemania.
We are live on tape from Birmingham, Alabama and your announcers are Michael ‘Mute’ Cole and Jonathan ‘Shoot’ Coachman.
The Undertaker comes to the ring as only the Undertaker can. The Undertaker tells the crowd that he does not come out that often and put a microphone in his hand because on most occasions, he does not have that much to say. He says that he does not talk about taking souls, he just does it. In nine days, he will step into the ring at the Royal Rumble, the same Royal Rumble that he won last year. He says that he is out here to issue a warning to the twenty-nine men who will step into that ring with him. He tells them to listen to him carefully. He tells them that if they stand before him, they will fall before him. If you enter that ring, you will rest . . . in . . . peace.
The Undertaker is interrupted by Big Daddy V and Matt Striker who come out and Striker has something to say. Striker tells the Undertaker that there is one big difference between this year’s Royal Rumble and last year’s Royal Rumble and that was that Big Daddy V was not in the match. Striker says that with all of Taker’s powers, how does he plan to move Big Daddy V over the top rope and to the floor. Striker holds Big Daddy V back. Striker wants to know if Taker is going to stare at and taunt Big Daddy V. What everyone is looking at is the man who will dominate twenty-nine others on their way to the championship at Wrestlemania.
Big Daddy V comes to the ring but Taker punches at Big Daddy V before he enters. Taker is pulled to the floor and he brawls with Big Daddy V. Taker Irish whips Big Daddy V into the ring steps and Striker forces Big Daddy V to the back.
Michael Cole talks about what has happened between Vickie Guerrero, Chavo Guerrero, and Rey Mysterio as it relates to Edge. We go to last week when Rey said that he wanted to know what the deal is with Edge and Vickie. We then see Edge confront Rey in the ring. We also see Chavo Guerrero come out and question the relationship. We then see footage from last week’s match between Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero which saw Edge interfere after Rey’s victory. We go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage from the Mini Royal Rumble match from Raw that saw Finlay and the Great Khali battle.
Match Number One: Great Khali with Ranjin Singh versus Fit Finlay with Hornswoggle
Before Khali and Finlay can lock up, Hornswoggle makes an appearance from under the ring as he appears in front of Singh and hits him. Singh chases Hornswoggle around the ring, but Finlay is on the floor to scare Singh to the ground. We go to commercial.
We are back and Finlay is punching Khali but Khali with a clothesline and then he sends Finlay into the turnbuckles and he kicks Finlay repeatedly. Khali with a series of Andre back elbows in the corner. Khali with a punch to Finlay’s head and Finlay goes down hard. Khali throws Finlay out of the ring and Khali goes out after him and throws Finlay into the ringside barrier and apron. Khali tries for a chop but Finlay moves and Khali chops the ring post. Finlay with kicks from the apron but Khali with a chop that takes Finlay down. Khali with a big boot to Finlay followed by a slam. Khali with the nerve hold to Finlay and Finlay tries to get back to his feet. Finlay with elbows but Khali with a forearm and Finlay is back down to the mat. Khali with another slam followed by an Irish whip as he lumbers towards the corner. Finlay with kicks to Khali followed by punches but Khali grabs Finlay. Hornswoggle enters the ring to distract the referee and allow Finlay to connect with a low blow on Khali. Finlay with a shoulder tackle from the second turnbuckle. Finlay goes for the shillelagh but Singh grabs it first and tosses it away from the ring. Singh thinks he has put one past Finlay, but Hornswoggle shows a larger shillelagh and he uses it on Singh. Finlay rolls Singh into the ring and he rolls Hornswoggle in as well. Hornswoggle with a punch to Singh and then Finlay slams Hornswoggle onto Singh. Finlay throws Singh out of the ring and Khali grabs Hornswoggle. Khali releases Hornswoggle and then Khali hits a vertical choke slam on Finlay followed by the Khali Krush and the referee calls for the bell.
Winner: Great Khali
We see Edge and Vickie Guerrero in Vickie’s office along with Vickie’s gofer Teddy Long. Edge says that he is so happy that the doctor allowed Vickie to take off the neck brace and he hopes that she will be able to walk again. Edge says that he will be there for Vickie. Vickie appreciates what Edge did for her last week when Rey and Chavo confronted her. Vickie also says that she meant that Edge would be a good father figure. Vickie says that Edge is her hero and fathers are heroes. Edge asks Vickie if she really thinks he could be a good father figure. Vickie starts to show Edge how much she appreciates Edge being a hero but Teddy Long pipes in to interrupt the very special moment. Teddy wants to make sure that they know that he is in here. Vickie tells Teddy to get them something to eat.
Teddy leaves but before they can kiss, Chavo Guerrero enters the office. Chavo tells Vickie that he has had some second thoughts about what he said last week. He agrees with what Vickie said last week. Chavo tells Edge that he is a pretty good guy and then he suggests that the three of them become one big happy family. Vickie says that this is what she has been hoping for. We go to commercial.
We are back and Coach and Cole talk about the Royal Rumble and mention Jeff Hardy and his performance this past Monday night on Raw. We go to the Raw Rebound with footage from the Hardy/Orton match and what happened after the disqualification.
We are back and Deuce, Domino, and Cherry are in the ring for the next match.
Match Number Two: Deuce and Domino with Cherry versus Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore
Deuce and Yang start things off and Deuce backs Yang into the corner and he pushes Yang. They lock up again and Deuce with a side head lock and shoulder tackle but Yang trips Deuce and applies a side head lock. Yang with a side head lock take down when Deuce tries for a suplex to get out of the hold. Yang tags in Moore and Yang with a front face lock and Moore with a slingshot senton from the apron onto Deuce for a near fall. Moore with a side head lock to Deuce and Moore is sent into the corner and Moore with a drop kick for a near fall. Moore returns to the side head lock and Yang is tagged back in. Moore with a snap mare and Yang with a drop kick. Deuce with a back kick to Yang and he tags in Domino but Yang with an inside cradle for a near fall. Moore tags in and he gets a near fall with a slingshot sunset flip. Moore with a side head lock to Domino and Moore holds on to the ropes while Domino charges and Domino goes over the top rope to the floor. Cherry checks on Domino and Moore sets for an Asai moonsault but he stops on the apron when he sees Cherry in the way. Moore gets distracted and Domino pulls Moore off the apron and Moore hits his head on the apron. Domino tosses Moore into the apron and then back into the ring and gets a near fall. Deuce is tagged back in and he hits a fist drop and gets a near fall. Deuce with a front face lock and then he hits a jumping heel kick on Moore. Deuce drops Moore on the top rope and Domino with a springboard forearm to Moore’s back for a near fall. Domino with a rear chin lock on Moore but Moore with punches and forearms. Moore misses a clothesline and Domino hits a jumping back elbow. Deuce is tagged back in and he connects with elbows and kicks to Moore. Deuce with an arm bar but Moore gets back to his feet. Domino is tagged back in and he kicks Moore. Domino misses a splash into the corner and that allows Moore to tag Yang back into the match. Yang with a forearm and cross body to Domino before he knocks Deuce down on the apron. Yang with a clothesline to Domino and a series of kicks. Yang with an Irish whip and a running kick to the head as Yang goes to the apron and hits a missile drop kick but Deuce breaks up the cover. Yang with a kick to Deuce and then Moore with a rana to Deuce and Deuce goes to the floor. Yang goes up top but Cherry distracts him and Domino is able to grab Yang. Domino tries to take care of Yang but Yang escapes and hits a moonsault for the three count.
Winners: Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore
We go to Finlay in his locker room and he is visited by Vince McMahon. Vince wants to know what happened and whether Khali got his hands on his son Hornswoggle. Vince reminds Finlay of the deal that they have. Vince reminds Finlay of what Finlay said on Monday night. Vince says that Finlay might owe him an apology. Vince wonders what they are going to do about Khali. Next week on Smackdown, it will be Finlay versus Khali in a Belfast Brawl.
Batista is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and we see footage of Batista winning the Royal Rumble match in 2005 eliminating John Cena to win the match.
Match Number Three: Batista versus Mark Henry
They lock up and Henry pushes Batista into the corner but Batista locks up quickly. Henry pushes Batista down to the mat and then they circle each other. Batista with a side head lock and Henry with a shoulder tackle. Henry and Batista have words for each other and then Henry pie faces Batista but Batista punches Henry and connects with shoulders in the corner. Batista with a running shoulder into the corner and then he kicks Henry out of the ring to the floor. Batista goes after Henry and Batista punches Henry. Henry with a head butt and Batista goes down. Henry Irish whips Batista into the ring steps. Henry runs Batista’s back into the ring post and then he rolls Batista back into the ring. Henry with a hard Irish whip and Batista goes down. Henry goes up to the turnbuckles and he prepared for a splash but Batista gets his knees up. Batista with punches and kicks to Henry but Henry with an Irish whip but Henry misses a splash into the corner. Batista with a spear to Henry for a two count and Henry with an emphatic kick out. Batista with another spear and Batista sets for the Batista Bomb but Henry with a back body drop. Henry tries for a splash but Batista moves. Batista with a spinebuster for the three count.
Winner: Batista
We go to a look at the Chavo Guerrero versus CM Punk match from Tuesday night’s episode of ECW when Edge hit Punk from behind with the title belt and Punk got counted out allowing Chavo to get another title match against Punk. We go to commercial.
We are back and the ring is set up for the VIP Lounge and Montel Vontavious Porter is already in the ring. He says that when he is in the ring that big things are popping while little things are stopping. He introduces his guest, and he says that he is better than everyone else. He says that his guest is the epitome of a VIP. He mentions that his guest’s career has spanned thirty-five years. The next time that he meets his guest will be his last time in action. Porter brings out Ric Flair and Flair enters the Lounge. Flair and Porter shake hands and then Flair thanks Porter for the fabulous introduction. However, there isn’t anyone who does not know The Nature Boy Ric Flair. Porter tells Flair to settle down. Flair says that when he hears VIP Lounge, he wants to dance all night. Flair points out that he has been tearing up VIP Lounges since before Porter was born. Flair says that a lot of them were in Birmingham and then he woooos. Porter points out that in nine days, Flair’s career is over. Flair says that he does not think that Porter has what it takes to beat Ric Flair. Porter reminds Flair of their match at Vengeance and he says that he will beat Flair again at the Royal Rumble. Porter reminds Flair that he is half man and half amazing as well as the highest paid superstar in Smackdown history. Flair reminds Porter that he is the man. Flair says that there is no denying his loss in Houston. Flair says that he has wrestled Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Buddy Rogers, the Rock, Austin, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and the Undertaker among others. Flair says that is just a blemish on his career. Flair says that Porter has a great future, but Porter cannot lace the boots of anyone that he mentioned earlier. Porter says that is okay because they can lace his and so can Flair. Porter says that at the Royal Rumble, Flair will be looking at the greatest day of his life and the last day of Flair’s career. Flair says that he likes Porter and the look. He says that Porter reminds him of a guy named Ric Flair when he was younger and more boisterous. He says that Porter is nothing like Ric Flair. Porter says that Flair is right because he is better than Flair.
Flair says that they should not wait until the Royal Rumble but Porter says that they are not going to waste that in Birmingham. They are going to do it the Mecca and in the center of the media universe. Porter repeats what Flair says in all of his promos about being the jet flying, limousine riding, kiss stealing, wheeling and dealing son of a gun. He tells Flair to meet the half man, half amazing, corn row wearing, savoir fairing, jaw dropping, bottom popping, modern day Mack. Porter says that when everyone sees him beat Flair they will know that Flair is not better than him. Flair chops Porter and then he leaves the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Smack of the Night: Jamie Noble defeating Chuck Palumbo last week and Palumbo’s confrontation with Michelle McCool after the match.
Match Number Four: Michelle McCool versus Layla
Michelle with a side head lock and take down. Layla with a reversal but Michelle with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Michelle with an arm bar but Layla with a sunset flip but Michelle rolls through and hits a drop kick for a near fall. Michelle with a punch followed by an Irish whip but she misses a charge into the corner and Layla with a series of kicks to the leg but Michelle pushes Layla away. Layla clips the back of the leg and then she continues to work on the leg with elbows and then she wrings the knee into the mat. Layla wraps Michelle’s leg in the ropes and then she slams the leg into the apron. Layla with a kick followed by another elbow drop to the knee. Michelle with a forearm to the back and then she connects with a leg to Layla’s head. Michelle punches Layla and then kicks Layla in the head. Michelle blocks a punch and responds with a kick and clothesline followed by a drop kick. Michelle with a big boot to Layla and then she gets Layla up in a double underhook front driver for the three count.
Winner: Michelle McCool
We go to commercial.
We are back and Eve is coming to Smackdown soon. If you are not sure who Eve is, she is the woman who won Diva Search: The Silicone Menace.
Michelle McCool is in the back with Jamie Noble and Jamie tells Michelle that her match was awesome. Noble starts to talk about what happened last week and he is interrupted by someone telling Michelle that some flowers were delivered for her earlier and they happen to be sitting on the table right next to where they are talking. Michelle loves the flowers and says that Jamie shouldn’t have done this. Chuck stops Michelle and tells her that the flowers are from him. He says that he feels horrible about the way that he acted last week. Chuck says that he is emotional and he lets them get the best of him. Chuck says that he never should have taken them out on Michelle. He says that he is sorry and points out that they are best friends. Chuck says that he puts Michelle on a pedestal. Chuck says that he does not want to lose her. Michelle says that he is not going to lose her.
Noble cannot believe that Chuck is going to try to give Michelle roses to make up for how he acted last week. Palumbo tells Noble to back off because he is trying to apologize. Noble and Palumbo start to argue and then Michelle tells them to stop. Michelle tells Chuck that it was sweet that he gave her flowers and Noble has been nice to her the whole time. Michelle wants them to get along for her. Chuck and Noble agree to do it for Michelle.
It is time to run through the card for the Royal Rumble
Rey Mysterio is walking in the back towards the ring and he stops when he sees Vickie Guerrero and her manservant/driver/food getter guy/jack of all trades Teddy Long. Vickie wishes Rey the best of luck in his match tonight. Rey says that he cannot believe it. Rey continues to walk as we go to commercial.
Match Number Five: CM Punk and Rey Mysterio versus Edge and Chavo Guerrero
Punk and Chavo start things off and Punk with an arm bar but Chavo with a single leg take down into a side head lock. Chavo with a shoulder tackle but Punk with a jumping leg lariat followed by a kick and knees. Punk with an Irish whip and Rey is tagged in. Punk holds Chavo up for Rey to hit a springboard seated senton for a two count. Chavo with a Latino uppercut and then he tags in Edge. Edge with a kick and then he tries for a power bomb but Rey with an arm drag. Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors and then Rey sends Edge into the ropes. Rey sets for the 619, but Edge goes to the apron. Punk with a kick that knocks Edge off the apron. Chavo charges at Rey and Punk but they duck down and Chavo goes to the floor. Rey and Punk hit stereo suicide dives as we go to commercial.
We are back and Rey with a snap mare to Edge and Punk is tagged in. Rey and Punk with kicks to Edge and a near fall. Punk with knees to Edge followed by a hard Irish whip and Punk follows that with chops in the corner. Punk with the punches of ten but Chavo sneaks up on the apron but Punk sees it and hits a clothesline. Edge with a big boot to Punk to gain control of the match. Edge with kicks to the back and then he tags in Chavo who also works on Punk’s midsection. Chavo with a Latino uppercut and then he works on Punk’s arm with a key lock. Chavo with a near fall and then he tags Edge back into the match. Edge with a kick to Punk but Punk with chops and a forearm. Edge with a kick and Punk tries for the tag but Edge kicks Punk and then he sends Punk into the ring post. Chavo attacks Punk while on the apron. Chavo tags in and hits a double sledge from the top. Chavo with a snap mare and arm bar. Punk with kicks to Chavo to get out of the hold. Chavo with a back breaker for a near fall. Punk blocks a kick from Chavo and he connects with a kick of his own. Edge tags in and he knocks Rey off the apron. Punk with a running knee into the corner but Edge is able to get out of the bulldog. Punk leap frogs the spear attempt and both men are down. Chavo tags in and he knocks Punk into Rey so Rey can be tagged in. Rey with an arm drag to Chavo. Rey with a springboard cross body for a near fall. Chavo with a sunset flip but Rey rolls through and hits a neck breaker and drop kick. Rey knocks Edge off the apron and then he gets a near fall on Chavo. Rey with forearms to Chavo and Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors that sends Chavo into the ropes. Rey with the 619 but Edge hits Rey in the back with a steel chair and the referee calls for the bell.
Winners: Rey Mysterio and CM Punk by disqualification
After the match, Edge attacks Rey in the corner. Punk goes after Edge but he is stopped by Chavo and the Edge Rmy. Chavo hits a divorce court on Punk and then Edge with a spear to Rey as we go to credits.
Smackdown Thoughts:
The Matches:
The Khali/Finlay match was okay but I think it is about time that they stop this feud. While there are probably not that many wrestlers who could get an interesting or passable match from Khali, Finlay could do so much more.
The tag match between Yang/Moore and Deuce & Domino was a decent tag match. I wonder why they did not have the tag champions on the show? Yang and Moore work very well together in the ring. This match helped restore Deuce and Domino a little bit of their stature since they were former tag team champions.
The Mark Henry/Batista match was a decent big man match for television.
I did not think that I would ever say this, but I liked the Michelle McCool/Layla match. There were a few spots that I would have been more critical of if there were veterans in the ring for the match. I liked Michelle’s finisher.
I really liked the main event. While I am usually critical of Cole and Coach, they did a good job of building Punk as an equal of the other three men in the match. There was a lot of good action in the match and nobody was harmed by the finish.
The Rest of the Show:
I thought the Undertaker promo at the start of the show was good because it was not over the top and completely within character for Taker to cut a promo like that. I think Big Daddy V’s presence helped to set up a potential match for a pay per view if Taker is not going to win the Rumble.
What was the deal with Finlay wearing the green boots?
Can you really see pain?
If we are going to have wrestlers use nerve holds in order to incapacitate the arm, why not have them do it to the leg as well since the leg is as important as the arm?
With the way that Layla was kicking Michelle in the leg after the missed charge into the corner, I thought I was watching the movie All the Marbles for a minute because she reminded me of one of the women who were the tag team champions in the movie.
During the FTD Moment of the Night, did anyone else think that Chuck Palumbo was trying out for the remake of 10 Things I Hate About You? Does anyone else expect to see this angle go the same way that the storyline between Kelly Taylor, Brandon Walsh, and Dylan McKay went after Kelly was in the fire and she was asked to choose one of them but she decided to go out on her own?
I thought the VIP Lounge was a great segment and might have done more to elevate Porter than the match will. Flair is still one of the best on the mic and he has shown it during his Will I be retiring or not Tour. Porter has been the top guy on Smackdown along with Edge and he held his own with Flair and might have outperformed him on this week’s show.
Feel free to send feedback to richard@pwinsider.com
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