RISE UP was back this week. They NEED to play the SmackDown opening video every single week without fail!!!
To kick off the penultimate SmackDown before WrestleMania 23, we have Vincent Kennedy McMahon open the show. On Raw that week, McMahon was involved in the shaving of… Eugene… He said he had so much fun on Monday night. Umaga had destroyed Eugene in a match beforehand. He cut a promo on Trump and then the crowd too. Great Vince heel stuff. He said he had made a match on Raw for the next week; Bobby Lashely vs … himself… he guaranteed he’d beat him. He wants to have fun tonight too, and makes a match for Bobby Lashley tonight. He then introduces Bobby Lashley’s opponent… and out comes Mr Kennedy. My GOD I’m so bored of Mr Kennedy… Anyway Vince does Kennedy’s announcing gimmick, then introduces Lashley’s other opponent… and out comes Raw’s RANDY ORTON (THIS is more like it)! Vince then goes to the corner and does Orton’s pose. Randy said it was great and thanked Vince for the opportunity tonight. Kennedy did the same. Both of these had lost to Lashley in recent weeks one on one so Vince now had the idea to put them together… in a handicap TABLES match!
WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick with Ashley vs MNM (Joey Mercury & Johnny Nitro with WWE Women’s Champion Melina) for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Mercury and London began, but Nitro and Kendrick soon came in and London got a nearfall after a double team. But Nitro then helped his partner out after helping Mercury move out the way of a dropkick. A reminder here that Ashley and Melina are the ones who are actually on the WrestleMania card, yet they’re stood on the outside as valets here… Nitro got a nearfall after. MNM sent London crashing into the top ropes before Mercury followed up squeezing his chest, London tried to get the tag but Mercury rolled him over for a nearfall, and as this happened London got away and ran for the tag to Brian Kendrick. Kendrick ran wild at both Mercury and Nitro, Kendrick getting a nearfall after a kick to the jaw on Mercury. Kendrick went for Sliced Bread and knocked Nitro off the apron in the process, but Mercury pulled him down off the top for a neackbreaker, but only got a 2 count off the pin. Melina was PISSED at ringside. Kendrick tagged out to London who hit a top rope missile dropkick that Nitro had to break up the pin from. MNM tried the snap shot but Kendrick came in and broke it up. London got out of a nearfall from Mercury, Mercury then had London on the top rope and the two brawled, then as London knocked him down then Melina tried to (behind the refs back) pull London down, but Ashley put a stop to that, London hit a cross body off the top rope and then pinned Mercury. The champions retain.
Kristal interviewed Kane (and his giant hook) backstage. Kane got uncomfortably close to her, as she asked about his attack on Daivari last week, they showed pics of his injuries too as she asked how far he was prepared to go in his battle with The Great Khali at WrestleMania? Kane revealed the hook and said in a sinister voice ‘all the way’ before a menacing laugh as Kristal ran away scared. Kane is the babyface by the way…
Maryse was on (I can’t even be arsed with her segments anymore)…
Cruserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero vs Jimmy Wang Yang
Chavo got the better of the start, but Wang Yang came back with a back kick off the top. Then he hit a weird looking kick, and then flipped off Chavo’s back and then dropkicked him out the ring. He went after him and bounced him off the announce table, then went to the top for a crossbody but Chavo countered with a kick to the midsection in mid air. Chavo then stomped on Jimmy, then hit a hard punch for a nearfall. Jimmy got out of a rest hold but soon got hit with another dropkick for a nearfall. Chavo again had Jimmy in a hold, this time wrenching at his arms, but Wang Yang again after getting out of it got hit with another dropkick for another Chavo nearfall. Guerrero bounced his opponent off the top rope, then twisted Wang Yang’s arm, then into an abdominal strect, Jimmy hit an arm drag to escape, then soon after hit a hurricanrana, dropping Chavo over him, mutliple clotheslines and then soon after he got hit with the three amigos suplexes… only Wang Yang escaped a third, then after dodging another attack he came off the top for the standing moonsault and got the win. The champion pinned! Chavo couldn’t believe it after dominating most of the match.
A memorial video for Arnold Skaaland played. It was very very well done.
HERE IS THE MOMENT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!!!
MVP came out… he took the mic and introduced his opponent, saying he had searched the globe looking for the best champions. He introduced the champion of Liechtenstein… CEDRICK VON HAUSSEN!!! I’m not going to say anything but I implore you to google this guy… then you’ll get it…
MVP defeated CEDRICK VON HAUSSEN
MVP clotheslined him before the bell, then stomped at kicked at him. He hit a scoop slam, danced around, then hit his ballin elbow but lifted him up before the pin counted for three. He hit a running kick in the corner, kneed at his midsection, then hit the playmaker for the win in about a minute. Maybe less.
MVP cut a promo after saying he was on a roll to WrestleMania and to his first title, the United States Championship.
Another battle of the billionaires video aired; the likes of Tony Hawk, Ricki Lake and Kevin Federline offered their thoughts on who they wanted to see their head shaved. The Large majority said Trump. Figures.
ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley vs Mr Kennedy & Randy Orton in a Tables match
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrgtgmvW1dQ
Kristal interviewed Batista. They looked back at what happened last week, when Taker threw Finlay into Batista at ringside. Batista said he was a little angry, but it’s not about getting angry it’s about getting even. He said he thought they would co-exist tonight just fine… during the match… hmm…
Gregory Helms had a match against the US Champion.
The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika) were revealed as the next inductees to the WWE Hall of Fame class for 2007. This was one of the most stacked years they have ever done for the hall for sure.
JBL left the commentary desk… saying he had something to do… after the ad break he was backstage where he spoke to GM Teddy Long (who he interrupted giving Kristal a rose)… he said he had a proposition to him, he said next week he John Bradshaw Layfield wanted to interview both Batista and The Undertaker in the same ring at the same time. JBL said he knew what he was doing, and Teddy Long made it official.
King Booker ran into Batista backstage. Finlay jumped him from behind and both men ambushed him. They were eventually pulled away by various refs and officials. They really laid the boot into the World Champion…
King Booker with Queen Sharmell & Finlay vs World Heavyweight Champion Batista & Royal Rumble winner The Undertaker
After Booker and Finlay made their entrances, Undertaker came out… but no sign of Batista….
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7lf0o6
Josh.