We start off with a look back at Cyber Sunday and see highlights from the pay per view.
We are live on tape from Uniondale, Long Island, New York and your announcers are Michael ‘Gorton Fisherman’ Cole and John ‘Wang Labs downgraded from buy to hold’ Layfield.
We are told that Taker and Batista will face Mark Henry and Great Khali tonight.
Batista comes to the ring and he has a mic. Batista says that he grew up a pretty poor kid in Washington D.C. and he had to get in a lot of fights. He says that he has been in many fights during his time in the WWE. On Sunday night he accomplished something that he did not think he would do. He beat the Undertaker. The rivalry between him and the Undertaker has been a war. Taker won one, he won one, and they had two draws so they are even. Tonight, they are tag team partners. He says that they have not settled their differences but he tells Taker that he has his back tonight. Batista wonders if Taker has his back . . .
The lights go out and Taker appears behind Batista in the ring when the lights come back on. Taker tells Batista that he can rest assured that he has Batista’s back because Batista still has the one thing that he wants. Batista asks Taker if he is asking for a rematch. Batista tells Taker that it is done and he has a rematch. Batista walks out of the ring and Taker tells Batista that he wants Hell in a Cell. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jamie Noble is reading the WWE Magazine. Noble sees Vickie Guerrero and he tells her to stop stalking him because he is just minding his business in the hallway. Vickie tells Noble to relax. She says that she needs to finalize the Hell in a Cell Match. Jamie loves that he is going to be in the match, but Vickie bursts his bubble. Vickie says that she has a gift for Noble and it is a Rey Mysterio DVD. Noble says that Mysterio is good but Jamie Noble is great and he does not want the DVD. Vickie tells Noble that maybe he would want to watch the DVD because Noble will be in a match with Rey tonight. Noble wants to make sure that he is going to be wrestling Rey Mysterio instead of the likes of Batista, Great Khali, or the Undertaker. Noble tells Vickie that he knew that she was sweet on him and he won her over. Noble says that he likes Vickie and he says that she is a good business woman. Noble takes the Mysterio DVD and tells Vickie that he has some DVDs that they can watch later.
Match Number One: Domino with Deuce and Cherry versus Festus with Jesse
The bell rings and Jesse turns into the monster that he can be. Festus blocks a punch and he slams Domino and then he tosses Domino across the ring by the ears. Festus with a back body drop and flying shoulder tackle for a near fall. Festus gets distracted by Deuce and Domino climbs on Festus’s back and he rakes the eyes. Domino punches and slaps Festus followed by a knee to the head and kicks to the leg. Domino with knees to the head one more time followed by a forearm. Domino with punches to Festus. Festus with punches and chops but Domino with a snap mare and rear chin lock. Domino gets Festus in a front face lock but Festus sends Domino into the ropes and Festus with a head butt followed by a kick and punch. Festus tosses Domino into the air. Deuce gets on the apron to distract Festus but when he returns to the floor, Jesse hits a flying forearm from the ring steps. Festus with a flap jack from a TKO set up for the three count.
Winner: Festus
We go to commercial.
We are back with a look back at the announcement on Monday night of the winner of Diva Search: The Silicone Menace. We hear Eve’s comments about winning the competition.
After Rey Mysterio comes to the ring for his match against Jamie Noble and Fit Finlay comes to ringside. We are told that they will be wrestling next week.
Match Number Two: Rey Mysterio versus Jamie Noble
Noble with a front face lock as Mysterio tries to escape. Rey with an arm bar. Noble gets to his feet and he hits a Northern Lights suplex. Noble works on Rey’s arm and he gets a near fall. Rey with a sunset flip for a near fall but Noble with a knee to the midsection. Noble misses a clothesline and Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Rey sends Noble into the ropes but Noble gets out of the ring before Rey can hit the 619. Rey goes after Noble and kicks him in the leg. Noble is sent back into the ring first and Noble is able to attack Rey as he returns to the ring. Noble with a kick and then he gets Rey on his shoulders and he hits an Ace Cutter that also drops Rey across the top rope. Noble goes outside the ring and hits Rey from behind. Noble rolls Rey back into the ring. Noble with a hammer lock and then he slams Rey on his arm. Noble continues to work on Rey’s arm and Noble gets a one count. Noble with a knee to Rey’s arm. Noble with a forearm to Rey’s arm followed by forearms. Noble with a Northern Lights suplex with a hammer lock for a two count. Noble with a key lock and then he turns it into an arm bar. Noble with an elbow drop to Rey’s shoulder. Noble tries for a belly-to-back suplex with a hammer lock but Rey is able to counter it into a cross body for a near fall. Noble with a head butt to Rey. Rey with a kick but Noble tosses Rey into the air and Noble with a near fall. Noble returns to the key lock on Rey. Rey with a satellite Fujiwara arm bar but Noble gets out of the hold and sends Rey into the turnbuckles. Noble charges at Rey but Rey moves and Noble goes into the ring post. Rey with a kick to Noble and then Rey hits a springboard cross body for a two count. Rey tries for a wheelbarrow move but Noble blocks it and he goes to the arm. Rey kicks Noble in the face. Rey with a kick to the chest followed by an Irish whip. Rey is sent to the apron and then he hits the springboard seated senton. Noble with a power slam for a two count. Noble gets Rey up on his shoulders but Rey gets out of the hold. Rey with a head scissors that sends Noble into the ropes and Rey with a 619. Rey tries for a springboard rana but Noble blocks it. Noble tries for the Gibson Driver but Rey counters with a rana for the three count.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
After the match, Finlay gets on the mic and he congratulates Rey. Finlay tells Rey that he knows a lot about him. He calls Rey a quitter and he says that when he was laying on the stretcher when Rey thought he was hurt, he felt weakness. He can smell fear with Rey. He calls Rey a quitter, weak, soft, and fearful. Next week, Rey is going to be a loser. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rebound.
Matt Hardy is in the back with a woman talking about her dog when Montel Vontavious Porter interrupts. Porter says that he heard that Matt was looking for him and Matt confirms that he was looking for Porter. Porter wonders if Matt will be ready next week. Porter says that they will be defending the tag titles next week. He says that Cyber Sunday wasn’t a bad thing. Not only did he survive, he thrived. Matt says Porter won because he was better than them. Porter says that Hardy finally gets it. Porter asks Matt what he wanted to talk to him about. Matt says that he was wishing Montel luck for his match. Porter is surprised to hear that he has a match since he is only dressed for a photo shoot. Matt tells Porter that he is wrestling next against Kane.
Match Number Three: Kane versus Montel Vontavious Porter
Porter with a side head lock but Kane with forearms to the ribs. Kane misses a punch and Porter responds with punches of his own as he works on Kane’s ribs. The referee tells Porter to stop and Kane responds with an uppercut and a punch to the midsection followed by a boot to the head. Kane with a hard Irish whip and then he applies a body scissors. Porter with forearms to the ribs followed by a knee as he escapes the hold. Porter with a kick to Kane but Kane with a big boot as Porter comes off the ropes. Kane with a back breaker to Porter but Porter gets his foot on the rope. Kane with a boot to Porter’s head. Kane with a shoulder in the corner. Kane with an Irish whip but he misses a charge into the corner and Porter with a knee to the midsection. Porter continues to work on the ribs and he gets a two count. Porter with a body scissors but Kane escapes with a series of elbows. Kane with a suplex but he can only get a two count. Porter with a kick to Kane followed by a head butt to the midsection. Porter with a kick to the back and to the ribs. Kane with a kick to Porter’s ribs followed by an uppercut. Porter with a knee to the ribs and then he goes up to the second turnbuckle for another knee. Porter with a kick to the back and then he returns to the body scissors. Kane turns it into a bear hug on Porter. Porter punches Kane and connects with elbows to the head. Porter with a kick to the ribs and then he uses the ropes for extra leverage as he jumps on Kane’s midsection. Porter applies a seated abdominal stretch but Kane gets out of the hold. Kane with an uppercut to Porter but Porter with the running boot to Kane’s head. Porter with a baseball slide that sends Kane into the ringside barrier. We go to commercial.
We are back and Porter still has the body scissors on Kane. We see footage during the break when Porter hits a running boot to the head. Back to live on tape action and Porter returns to the ribs. Porter with a running knee to the ribs in the corner. Porter misses the running boot in the corner. Kane with an Irish whip followed by a running clothesline. Porter tries to float over but Kane catches him and drops Porter face first on the mat. Kane with an uppercut followed by a clothesline. Kane with an Irish whip and then he tosses Porter into the air. Kane goes up top for the flying clothesline and he connects.
Big Daddy V comes to the ring and he is accompanied by Matt Striker. Porter tries to use the distraction to his benefit, but it backfires and Kane hits a choke slam for the three count.
Winner: Kane
After the match, Big Daddy V attacks Kane with forearms. Big Daddy V gets Kane up and hits a Samoan drop. Big Daddy V leaves the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Stay in the Game Moment: Coach versus Hornswoggle from Raw with Mick Foley as guest referee.
Match Number Four: Mick Foley versus Jonathan Coachman with Guest Referee Mr. McMahon
While Coach and Foley think they are waiting for Vince McMahon, Hornswoggle McMahon appears from under the ring and he enters the ring. He calls for the bell. Coach pushes Foley and then Foley pushes Coach over Hornswoggle. Foley with a series of punches to Coach and Hornswoggle stops Foley and he punches Coachman. Foley runs Coach’s face across the top rope. Hornswoggle warns Foley and then he pokes Coachman in the face. Foley with a clothesline to Coachman followed by an elbow drop. Hornswoggle with an elbow drop of his own. Hornswoggle wants to see Mr. Socko and he gets it from his pants. Foley with the Mandible Claw to Coachman and Coachman goes out. Hornswoggle goes up top for a frog splash and Foley gets the three count.
Winner: Mick Foley
We go to commercial.
We are back and CM Punk will be on Smackdown next week.
Match Number Five: Chuck Palumbo with Michelle McCool versus Kenny Dykstra with Victoria
Chuck with a side head lock take down but Dykstra with a head scissors and a punch but Palumbo with a clothesline to Dykstra. Palumbo with a back elbow and punches. Palumbo with an Irish whip but Dykstra with a boot when Palumbo charges. Dykstra misses a clothesline and Palumbo with a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall. Dykstra rolls out of the ring and Palumbo goes after him. Dykstra sends Palumbo’s back into the apron and then they return to the ring and he gets a near fall. Dykstra with a boot to Palumbo followed by a rear chin lock. Dykstra with a forearm to Palumbo’s back. Dykstra tries for another but Palumbo with a punch to Dykstra followed by more punches. Dykstra tries for a leap frog but Palumbo catches him and hits a power slam. Palumbo with a standing back body drop to Dykstra followed by a running boot to the head of Dykstra. Palumbo goes up top and Victoria gets on the apron to distract him but Michelle knocks Victoria off the apron. Dykstra stops Palumbo and punches him on the turnbuckles but Dykstra tries for a superplex. Palumbo blocks it and he knocks Dykstra off the turnbuckles. Palumbo with a shoulder tackle followed by Full Throttle for the three count.
Winner: Chuck Palumbo
We go to a DVD signing with Rey Mysterio in Washington D.C.
Great Khali and Runjin Singh are in the locker room and Mark Henry enters. Henry wants to know if Khali is ready. He says that Taker and Batista are going to tear each other apart at Hell in a Cell. They will not trust each other. Henry mentions that they made a pact to work together tonight. Singh says that Taker and Batista are already divided so the Silverback and Punjabi Giant are going to go out there and conquer. We go to commercial.
Match Number Six: Undertaker and Batista versus Mark Henry and Great Khali with Runjin Singh
Henry and Taker start things off and Taker with a boot and punches followed by more kicks and punches. Taker sets for Old School but Henry stops him. Henry with an Irish whip but Henry charges into a boot and then Taker works on the arm and shoulder. Taker wraps Henry’s arm in the ropes as he punches Henry. Taker goes Old School on Henry and then he punches Khali on the apron. Taker throws Henry over the top rope as we go to commercial.
We are back and Batista with a snap mare for a near fall. Batista with shoulders in the corner to Henry’s midsection. Taker tags in and he head butts Henry. Taker punches Henry in the corner. Taker with a running knee into the corner for a near fall. Henry backs Taker into his corner and Khali tags in. Khali kicks Taker in the corner but Taker punches back. Both men exchange punches but Khali with boots to Taker and then he chokes Taker with his boot. While the referee admonishes Khali, Henry attacks Taker. Khali with a clothesline to Taker and then he raises his arms to celebrate. Henry is tagged in and Henry kicks Taker in the midsection. Taker with a DDT to Henry and both men are down. Batista tags in and he punches Henry followed by a kick and clothesline for a near fall. Batista with a punch to Khali on the apron. Henry runs Batista into the corner and then Khali is tagged back in and he punches Batista. Khali chokes Batista in the corner. Batista fights his way out of the corner but he runs into a big boot from Khali for a near fall. Khali with elbows in the corner and then he gets a near fall. Khali with a clothesline to Batista and then he applies a nerve hold to Batista. Batista gets out of the hold with a jaw breaker and then he punches Khali. Khali with the chop to the top of the head and then he gets a two count with a Jericho Cover. Khali applies the vise grip to Batista. Batista goes down to his knees but Taker gets Khali to release the hold and then Batista hits a spear on Khali. Henry and Taker tag in. Taker punches Henry in the corner and then he hits the running clothesline into the corner. Taker punches Khali and then he hits a series of running clotheslines on Henry and Khali. Taker grabs Henry and Khali but Henry and Khali punch Taker. Batista with a spinebuster to Henry while Taker tries for a choke slam on Khali but Khali punches Taker. Taker with a big boot to Khali. Batista sets up for the Batista Bomb on Henry but from out of nowhere, Bradshaw comes into the ring and he hits a clothesline on Batista and the referee calls for the bell. Bradshaw with a low kick to Taker.
Winners: Batista and Undertaker by disqualification
After the match Henry with a standing power slam on Batista. Khali with a chop to Taker’s head. Khali with the Khali Krush on Taker while Henry has Batista in a bear hug as we go to credits.
Smackdown Thoughts
The Matches
I thought the Domino/Festus match was okay and a decent way to start off the show. By having them at the start of the show, more people are going to remember Jesse and Festus than if they were in a segment around 9:15. I am not a big fan of Festus’s work, but I am also not sold on Domino. I think the stronger wrestlers in the respective teams were outside the ring during this match.
The way that they have been booking Jamie Noble over the last few weeks, I can forget about the crap with Shannon Moore. His match with Rey Mysterio is the way that Noble should have been booked his entire time in the WWE. It might have been the closest that I have seen to Noble’s work in the independent companies and Ring of Honor.
The best thing about the Porter/Kane match was that Porter was in the match. I have not enjoyed Kane’s recent work and he appears to have taken the Lita and Candice Michelle ‘Diminishing Returns Wrestling School’ courses. I don’t really mind that Kane is being programmed with the likes of Big Daddy V because he will be in the ring with wrestlers who are as slow as he is. So Porter is supposed to be one of the best on the Smackdown brand but he loses to Kane?
The Mick Foley/Jonathan Coachman was an okay comedy match and reminded me more of the midget matches that they had in the past. You had referee involvement as well as a lot of humor. So Mick Foley got a win in a match in his home town which when you consider what Jim Ross has gone through in Oklahoma City, it is a shock that he could win.
I did not like the Chuck Palumbo/Kenny Dykstra match. I think that they have a potential star with Kenny Dykstra but this feud has done as much to hurt his career as his run in the Spirit Squad did. If Kenny appears to have no chance of winning, why should I care about the feud?
I thought the main event was okay. The match was definitely better when Mark Henry was in the ring for his team. At least there was no tension teased between Taker and Batista since they said they would work together. I guess if Kevin Nash can lay out the champion in TNA then a retired announcer can take care of the two men who are going to be wrestling for the brand’s main event on the biggest pay per view of the fall.
Other Thoughts and Observations
Why did they have to do a wide shot of Batista’s Wonder Woman spin?
Why does the challenger get to determine the stipulation for the rematch to a match that he lost?
I thought the opening segment with Batista and Taker was good. It was not too long and it got the message across. They are partners tonight and they will be BFFs for one night, but after this is over, they are back to battling for the title. Imagine if this segment was done on Raw because it would have been three times longer and gotten one-third of the message across.
I thought the Jamie Noble/Vickie Guerrero segment in the back was good. Noble finally learned that you don’t annoy the boss and you won’t be put in matches against people who are twice your size.
I thought Bradshaw was great when he pointed out that Cole calls moves he is unfamiliar with ‘unorthodox’. I miss the Mark Loyd ‘Whatamaneuver’ days. Even though I am not 100 percent certain of the reference, I loved it when he called Cole ‘DDP’ after Cole said he would need ice because of Finlay hitting him in the hand with the shillelagh.
I liked the Matt Hardy/Montel Vontavious Porter segment in the back. I liked how Matt was telling Porter about the match just when Kane’s pyro went off. While the match was not as good as the pyro, it was a good touch.
Does this mean that Kane gets a United States Title Match since he is now technically the number one contender for the title.
I was impressed that the entrances for the main event only took six or seven minutes.
Feel free to send feedback to richard@pwinsider.com
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