PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

DAILY LARIAT: ONE STOP SHOPPING FOR ALL THE DAY'S WWE NEWS

SMACKDOWN PREVIEW (NON-SPOILER); 'SEASON PREMIERE' ON CW NETWORK TONIGHT 
by Buck Woodward 

Taped for tonight on Smackdown: 

- World Champion King Booker T vs. The Undertaker.

- WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. Kid Kash & Jamie Noble vs. KC James & Idol Stevens.

- Batista & Bobby Lashley vs. Fit Finlay & William Regal.

- Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero.

- Matt Hardy vs. Gregory Helms. 

- Tatanka vs. Sylvan.

- Sho Funaki vs. The Miz. 

- John Cena, Theodore R. Long, Layla El, Kristal Marshall, Jimmy Yang, Vickie Guerrero, Elijah Burke, Sylvester Terkay, Sharmell, Vito and Ken Kennedy will also appear on the show.

ECW RETURNS TO WHERE IT ALL ENDED, RAW IN MEXICO AND MORE WWE NOTES 
by Buck Woodward 

In a strange twist, ECW is the busiest WWE brand this weekend. The Smackdown brand is off this weekend, since the original plan was the give the crew a break after last week's tour of Israel, which ended up being canceled (and some Smackdown stars getting tacked onto ECW shows as a result). The Raw brand is finishing up their tour of Mexico, which ends tomorrow. So, that leaves ECW, which has three house shows this weekend, including a Monday event, before television on Tuesday. 

The Raw brand (with special guest Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero) are in the midst of a series of shows in Mexico. Tonight, September 22nd, they are at the Plaza de Toros in Tijuana, Mexico with the following lineup:
- Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Randy Orton & Edge.
- Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero in a 2 out of 3 Falls match.
- Super Crazy vs. Shelton Benjamin.
- Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro vs. Jeff Hardy.
- World Tag Team Champions The Spirit Squad vs. The Highlanders.
- Kane vs. Umaga. 
- Carlito & Val Venis vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch.
- Mickie James vs. Lita. 

The Raw crew then hits the Plaza de Toros in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday, September 23rd with a slightly different lineup that includes John Cena: 
- WWE Champion John Cena vs. Edge.
- Triple H & Shawn Michaels vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch.
- Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero.
- Kane vs. Umaga.
- Carlito vs. Randy Orton.
- Intercontinental Champion Johnny Nitro vs. Jeff Hardy.
- World Tag Team Champions The Spirit Squad vs. The Highlanders.
- Mickie James vs. Lita, with Val Venis as the special referee.
- Super Crazy vs. Shelton Benjamin.

Raw broadcasts from the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Monday, September 25th.

ECW starts their run on Saturday, September 23rd, at the Oil Palace in Tyler, Texas with the following lineup being advertised locally:
- ECW Champion Big Show vs. Rob Van Dam.
- Sabu vs. Justin Credible in an Extreme Rules match.
- Tommy Dreamer vs. Test.
- The Sandman vs. Kevin Thorn. 
- Balls Mahoney vs. Mike Knox.
- CM Punk vs. Stevie Richards.
- FBI vs. Neikirk & O'Reilly.
- Francine vs. Kelly in an "Extreme Vixen Body Contest".

The ECW crew then hits Pine Bluff, Arkansas on Sunday, September 24th at the Pine Bluff Convention Center with Rob Van Dam, Big Show, Tommy Dreamer, Test, Sandman, Sabu, Justin Credible, The FBI, Francine, Kelly Kelly, Balls Mahoney and Mike Knox listed as appearing. For you trivia buffs, this is the exact same venue as the final "original" ECW show, held on January 13, 2001 headlined by The Sandman vs. Justin Credible.

ECW then has a house show on Monday, September 25th, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas at the Fort Smith Civic Center with the same lineup as the Tyler, Texas show, except that CM Punk is listed as facing Rene Dupree on this show. 

ECW then broadcasts live (after two weeks of taped shows) and Smackdown tapes their second episode for the CW Network on Tuesday, September 26th at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Page 1

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet