WWE 2006

WWE Friday Night Smackdown

September 1, 2006

- Friday Night Smackdown was taped at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.

- It’s The Stock Exchange to start the show! John Bradshaw Layfield is ready and waiting and introduces his guest — Mr Kennedy. Wait a minute, doesn’t Kennedy have a little match against The Undertaker to prepare for? He’s clearly not distracted by that as he comes down to the ring looking cocky as hell, does his introduction for himself, and then turns to JBL to ask his first question. Layfield says he has been preparing for this interview all week, as he really wants to get into the mindset of Kennedy. JBL pauses, and then says he’s desperate to ask one question in particular — GONG! Before he can say another word, the lights go out, and The Undertaker starts his slow and steady march down to the ring. Kennedy takes his t-shirt off and we have our opening contest - 74%.

- Under complete duress, John Bradshaw Layfield has joined Michael Cole and Tazz on commentary over the first commercial break of the night. WWE are clearly assuming people will stick around for The Undertaker against Mr Kennedy. They are served up a fair treat. We’ve found out over the last few months that these two work really well together. And it’s added to by Layfield on commentary, as he not-so-silently fumes about the fact that his show — his SHOW DAMN IT COLE — was interrupted by The Undertaker’s entrance, and that he showed no respect to The Stock Exchange. The Undertaker has the better of the match, flying over the top with a big dive and going Old School. Kennedy does try to recover, courtesy of a little eye gouge on Taker along the way, but an attempt at a superplex is reversed into the Last Ride by the Dead Man. Before Taker can cover and get the pinfall, though, JBL dashes out of the commentary booth — “I’m not putting up with this freak doing whatever he wants any longer Cole!” — and slides into the ring before hitting a big Clothesline From Hell. Referee Jim Korderas is forced to ring the bell for a disqualification victory for The Undertaker. The Undertaker beats Mr Kennedy by DQ after interference - 80%.

- John Bradshaw Layfield and Mr Kennedy lay boots into The Undertaker — clearly neither of them are over their loss at Summerslam. This just draws out Kurt Angle, who doesn’t even wait around for the You Suck chants, that’s how keen he is to save Taker. He clears out both JBL and Kennedy pretty quickly. As the latter duo back up the ramp, Teddy Long’s music hits. He comes out and says this has all got a bit too tense between these four men. So he’s making a match for next week — JBL and Kennedy vs Kurt Angle and The Undertaker! Not one for lying on the ground and selling an assault, Taker sits up and stands at the ropes, making a cut-throat gesture as Smackdown goes to the back.

- … where Mark Henry and Lashley are still brawling. I genuinely love the idea that they have just been fighting away since last week. Did they stop for meals? Did they share meals? Did they… fall in love? Eventually, security pours in to separate them. Co-general manager Eric Bischoff is on the scene shortly after, cocksure grin on his face. He says he’s bored of all of his carefully orchestrated parts of Smackdown being ruined by the two behemoths stood in front of him. He wants them to settle this feud once and for all next week — in a street fight! Henry and Lashley nod at one another — and then dive through security again to brawl. Bischoff orders security to get them out of his arena — 61%.

- Nunzio and Vito are in the ring for a match on the main show, which is weird. And even weirder, Paul London and Brian Kendrick are accompanied to the ring by Hardcore Holly. If you don’t recall, and Michael Cole is assuming you don’t, Nunzio and Vito have been having issues with Holly on Velocity. He’s just keen to be at ringside after they both mocked him for his defeat to Jack Bull last week. Which means he doesn’t get involved, but the omnipresent threat of Bob is a real distraction to both Nunzio and Vito. At one point, Nunzio has a seriously painful looking leg hold in on London but he’s so worried that Holly will distract the referee or climb onto the apron or do SOMETHING that he releases it and goes to jaw with him. Which allows London to hot tag in Kendrick, who takes Vito out and then hits the Sliced Bread #2 on Nunzio for the win. Brian Kendrick and Paul London (w/Hardcore Holly) beat Nunzio and Vito - 78%.

- Hardcore Holly raises both Brian Kendrick and Paul London’s hands after the match, with the camera showing Nunzio shouting, “Hey, what’s your deal Bob?” as Smackdown cuts to a break.

- Kristal introduces the champion King Booker and the rest of the King’s Court. She asks Paul Burchill why he isn’t preparing for his match against Jeff Hardy next, which William Regal answers. He says he is so confident Paul will win, he’s barely prepped him at all. Jeff, after all, is just a loser like his brother Matt, and possibly an even bigger one at that. I suppose he was essentially unemployable for three years. King Booker then interjects and says while William is the Lord of all of the United States, he is the King of Smackdown and the King has been entertained. He says he is enjoying watching Rey Mysterio struggle after taking what he loved most away from him. Booker has relaxed, has been massaged by Sharmell and will watch as Rey falls apart tonight. That prompts Rey to walk into shot. Rey says he has been doing some soul searching — and he can guarantee right here, right now, that he will have one more match for the belt. Booker says he can’t wait to take him on one more time and shut him down — but reminds Rey he has to get through Batista first - 77%.

- Maybe, just maybe, William Regal should have encouraged Paul Burchill to do the smallest amount of preparation work for this match. In retrospect, he should have really thought about how to block a dropkick from Jeff Hardy or a running forearm or even a Swanton Bomb. Maybe they should have, as a duo, worked out how to deal with Matt Hardy on the outside. But they did not, as Regal made very clear in his interview, and so even when Jeff was well on top and Regal tried to interfere by throwing him the brass knuckles, all it took was one Matt drag off the apron and a Twist of Fate to take him out of the contest. And then Jeff just hit his Swanton Bomb for the win, ending this all in about three minutes. Jeff Hardy (w/Matt Hardy) beats Paul Burchill (w/William Regal) - 77%.

- After the match, the Hardy Boyz celebrate together as Michael Cole confirms that Jeff will face William Regal NEXT WEEK for his belt.

- Backstage, there’s no interviewer but Steven Richards, Sean Morley and Jack Bull are there looking angry. Have we ever had confirmation these guys are called Right To Censor again, by the way, or are we all assuming? Richards takes the lead and says he beat Sabu but Chavo Guerrero had to get involved again. He says what Chavo does not understand is that he and his group of men have a right to censor (AH! There we go!) action they do not agree with on behalf of The CW. And Sabu is the worst example of the lewd action that takes place on Smackdown. So, Richards says, they want to permanently stop his actions. To that end, Richards and Bull are challenging Sabu and Chavo to a match on Velocity. Richards promises it will be the end of the extremist’s extreme ways - 69%.

- After his incredibly challenging half a minute of action earlier tonight, Kurt Angle is having a massage in the trainer’s room. That’s nice for him. Randy Orton walks in and tells Angle to get off the table — he booked this slot and needs the treatment after his incredibly tough match with Rey Mysterio last week. Angle says he’s not getting up. Orton tells the trainer to check his list — he’s checking it twice — and he’ll see that Orton should be on that table right now. The trainer does check and says Orton actually missed his slot earlier in the night. Orton walks away in a huff. As he does, Angle turns to the trainer and says the match against Rey must have been tough for Orton — after all, he lost - 82%.

- Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki looked fairly good on Velocity despite losing to MNM, so they have been rewarded — in a sense — with a non-title match against the WWE Tag Team champions Kid Kash and Jamie Noble. I guess if they win this, they get a shot at the belts or whatever? Unfortunately for them, they do not win this. They do not come close to winning this. They get beaten with Funaki taking the Dead Drop in about four minutes. Kid Kash and Jamie Noble beat Funaki and Scotty 2 Hotty - 82%.

- Another week, another second-to-last segment in which MNM complain about the fact they are nowhere near the title picture. They beat Funaki and Scotty 2 Hotty last week, damn it! Or however it is that Melina puts it. They wonder why they are not getting to face the champions. Super Crazy, who has just walked into shot along with Psicosis, suggests that maybe it was because they were so close to losing when they faced Funaki and Scotty. Psicosis butts in, adding that everyone on Smackdown is just bored with MNM at this point. Melina asks: “Is this boring?” Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury jump in and throw The Mexicools into catering tables before Mercury manages a Double Arm DDT on Psicosis and Nitro hits a superkick on Super Crazy - 68%.

- Just in case you’re not entirely aware of the circumstances around Rey Mysterio taking on Batista in the main event (boy are these two both popular people), then — Rey lost to King Booker at Summerslam courtesy of an interference from what looked like Gregory Helms in a superhero outfit, and Batista was in the match and beating up Randy Orton while it all happened. Orton lost to Rey last week, this is the second match in a three-week gauntlet for Rey to decide whether or not he gets another shot at King Booker. The fans are not entirely sure who to support in this one, but edge towards Rey when he plays the role of the face in peril and takes the majority of Batista’s offence. The two brawl around ringside, and as the show cuts to a commercial Rey is thrown into the steel stairs. When it comes back, Batista is keeping up the offence. However, after a couple of minutes of being worked over in the corner, Mysterio manages to turn an attempt at a Batista Bomb into a hurricanrana, which gets a very close two count. At that point, King Booker makes his way down to the ring with William Regal and Paul Burchill either side of him. They stay out of it for a bit… until Mysterio manages to trip Batista up while dodging an attempted spinebuster, and then hit a 619. At that point, Regal jumps up onto the apron. No bother — Mysterio knocks him off. But Burchill is on another one, which distracts Nick Patrick. While he is, Booker slides into the ring and goes for a turnaround on Mysterio and a Book-End. Mysterio, though, elbows him away, slides through and bundles him out of the ring. Mysterio then climbs out to the apron and goes to springboard into a hurricanrana on Batista… only for Batista to catch him and then deliver a huge Batista Bomb! Batista covers… and gets the three. Batista beats Rey Mysterio - 77%.

- King Booker celebrates with the rest of the King’s Court at ringside as Rey Mysterio looks dejected in the corner. But it’s not for particularly long. Teddy Long strolls out, swiftly pursued by Eric Bischoff. Bischoff tries to stop Long, and grabs his microphone, saying: “If you think you’re putting Mysterio in a title match after that, you’ve got another thing coming!”. Long says he has a very different idea — Rey lost fair and squad. Which means someone else deserves a title shot — Batista! That gets a big cheer, and an even bigger one follows when Long says it will take place next week on Smackdown. Michael Cole tells us to tune in, and we probably will, as Smackdown comes to an end.

WWE Monday Night RAW

September 4, 2006

- RAW is live from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

- How else would you start a Monday Night RAW broadcast from the former home of World Championship Wrestling? That’s right! By welcoming The McMahon family and all of their associated hanger-ons to the ring for a long promo about how they won the war against WCW. Despite all the grief Vince McMahon gives the audience, and despite Shane McMahon joking about how WCW was only worth anything when he temporarily owned it — good to see they’re still going with that line — the biggest heat is for Kevin Nash, just for standing there and reminding everyone of what exactly went wrong. After about five minutes of consecutive jeering, the fans get the chance to cheer as D-Generation X make their way out. Triple H says that after recent weeks, they want to get their hands on Nash, which gets a big roar. Nash then says the McMahons were so desperate for his help at Summerslam that has an even better contract than he did in WCW — he only wrestles on a limited number of nights a year and he’s going to tell D-Generation X right here and right now that tonight, in this podunk town, is not one of them. That gets big jeers. Vince says he has an issue to resolve before then anyway. He points out that himself and Shane are fighting champions, and want to keep hold of their World Tag Team titles. He says that WWE rules state champions have to defend their belts every 30 days or risk having it stripped from them. So, Vince says, he wants to find some number one contenders for Unforgiven. Vince says last week, D-Generation X brawled with Sean O’Haire and Test, while Carlito and Big Show fought Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. As far as he’s concerned, those four teams all deserve a shot. So tonight, D-X will team up with Carlito and Big Show to take on Sean O’Haire, Test, Carlito and Big Show… with the person who gets the winning pinfall earning his team a title shot. D-X smile and nod, but Vince gets back on the microphone. He promises one thing — D-Generation X might be in the ring in tonight’s main event, but they will not be leaving it with the title shot - 93%.

- This match was set up after Goldust attacked Charlie Haas for daring to be a one-off challenger to Rob Van Dam and his title, and it actually feels as though there’s something good going on between these two. The crowd are surprisingly into it, the in-ring work is really solid and it’s basically exactly what you’d want from an opening televised match — about six minutes of good old fashioned wrasslin’ with a story-driven ending. That story-driven ending, you ask? Well, Goldust has Haas all set up for the Curtain Call when Haas uses his technical prowess to turn around, knee Goldust in the stomach and hit a Fisherman Suplex. Goldust raises his shoulder at two, but Haas holds onto the leg and turns with Goldust into the Haas Of Pain. Goldust is clearly in agony, Stacy Keibler is freaking out — but that’s when Umaga slides into the ring and hits a big splash on Haas, causing Jack Doan to ring the bell. Charlie Haas beats Goldust (w/Stacy Keibler) by disqualification - 84%.

- Not that Goldust avoids Umaga’s wrath. Goldust is hit with a big Samoan Spike before Umaga poses wildly in the middle of the ring. Armando Alejandro Estrada runs in and makes a title gesture around Umaga’s waist, just in case you were wondering where the WWE are going with all of this.

- The cameras immediately cut backstage, where Rene Dupree is stood watching this, his title draped across his shoulder. Maria Kanellis, unsurprisingly, is curious to know how he feels about the challengers massing for his belt. Dupree says it is simple — he is not worried at all about people who want to take him on. After all, he’s beaten Ric Flair, Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin and countless others. But what, Maria asks, about Umaga, who has never lost a match in WWE. Dupree says whether it is Charlie Haas, Goldust, Umaga or Rikishi or Samu, he promises he will be walking out of Unforgiven in three weeks time with his title - 80%.

- This worked out well last week, so presumably it’ll work well this week. Rob Van Dam takes on X-Pac, with the clear intention of furthering two feuds. Which ones? Well, the first feud is furthered when X-Pac somehow gets the run of the WWE Heavyweight champion for a minute — urgh. He looks to hit a Bronco Buster, but that just draws out Kenny Dykstra, who has decided he dislikes the cut of X-Pac’s jib or something. When Dykstra comes out, X-Pac gets distracted and allows himself to be hit with a big German Suplex by Van Dam. As Dykstra laughs on the outside, Van Dam springs up to the top and hits the Five Star Frogsplash on X-Pac for the win. Rob Van Dam (w/Paul Heyman) beats X-Pac - 84%.

- The second feud? That kicks off when Paul Heyman climbs into the ring to lift Rob Van Dam’s hand in the air. Heyman has a microphone with him and says plenty of people have been asking him how he feels about his client finally going up one-on-one against Cena later this month. He says he has been confused by the questions. He asks Van Dam how many times he has beaten Cena with the title on the line in the last few months. Van Dam counts it up. Heyman turns to the camera — once when he cashed in his Money In the Bank briefcase, once at Vengeance and once at Summerslam. That’s three times, Heyman clarifies. Heyman says there aren’t many guarantees in this life beyond death and taxes, but he will make a Paul Heyman guarantee — Rob Van Dam will walk out of Unforgiven as the WWE champion. That brings out John Cena, who stops at the top of the stage. He says there’s a little flaw with Heyman’s calculations. He talks about how Van Dam beat him after Matt Striker’s steel chair assault, and how at neither of the two pay-per-views has he been pinned by Van Dam, with others taking the fall each time. Cena says he has not been beaten clean by Van Dam. That annoys Van Dam. He says he deserves to be the champion and Cena cannot take his achievements away from him. Cena says if he’s so sure he deserves it, why doesn’t he put the belt on the line next week on Monday Night RAW, and Cena can take it back from him. That gets a big cheer. Heyman wags his finger though, and makes it clear he won’t be tricked into letting Van Dam defend the belt next week. Cena will have to wait for Unforgiven. But he will offer up an olive branch and tells Cena they can face off in the ring next week in a six-man tag team match, with both men finding partners. Cena accepts - 84%.

- Maria Kanellis is delighted to welcome her next guest Ric Flair, and Flair is delighted to speak to her. Which he would be. He’s asked about managing to get the win over Chris Masters last week. Flair speaks about how he did not have a single moment of fear because he’s the kiss-stealing, wheeling, dealing — when the lights go off. Someone really should look into whoever is doing the wiring at WWE events. When they come back on, The Punk, The Brute and The Student are stood staring angrily at Flair. Flair asks what The Punk and his group of mask wearing misfits are doing there. The Punk looks at him and says he has a way of delivering another inspirational message to Kane, who he promises will be reborn soon enough. Beating Ric Flair, a genuine legend, and retiring him in the ring tonight will show Kane what happens when a person brings out their monstrous side. Flair says he can’t help but want to put someone like The Punk back in his place — and reminds him that to be the man, he has to beat the man. The Punk tells Flair to enjoy his last few minutes as a wrestler - 94%.

- Chris Masters makes his way to the ring, at which stage the Titantron lights up, showing a clip from earlier tonight, and Nick Dinsmore is shown speaking to Eugene using the power of CINEMATOGRAPHY. Nick tells Eugene he wants him to go prove a point about their family, that they are not cowards, and that Masters was wrong to attack him as he did last week. Nick says Eugene should take this match. Eugene then comes out. As much as Eugene looks slightly more amped up than he has done in recent months, this one still ends the way you would expect it to — with a Masterlock and a loss for Eugene after about four minutes. Chris Masters beats Eugene - 72%.

- Backstage, Trish Stratus and Trinity Williams are chatting away. Trinity asks Trish whether she thinks Beth Phoenix should get a title shot at Unforgiven. Trish thinks about it for a second and tells Trinity not to get her wrong — anyone who has Phoenix’s raw physical talent deserves to be in the mix. But, she says, there’s a right way and a wrong way to go about things and BAM. Beth Phoenix takes Trish out with a chair to the back. BAM. She does the same to Trinity’s stomach. Phoenix then grabs the camera and screams down it — she wants James at Unforgiven - 70%.

- It’s incredible, really, that they’re giving this one away on free television — and given The Punk’s record since he first turned up on RAW, wearing a Kane mask he’d found in a bin, you seriously worry about Ric Flair’s future. The way they’ve edged around giving away a really big match for the future or hurting either man or forcing Flair to retire is by having this one be shenanigan filled within about a minute of it starting. After a lock-up and The Punk pushing Flair across the ring, Ain’t No Stopping Me Now blares over the speakers. The Brute and The Student charge up the ramp in a bid to stop Shelton Benjamin before he can come out and do anything, but he instead hops over the barricade and manages to jump up onto the apron. Jim Ross says Flair better hope Benjamin doesn’t get him disqualified, or his career is over. The Punk is ready, though, and manages to knock Benjamin down before he can get involved. The Brute and The Student then make their way back down the ramp, with The Student punching Benjamin across the face and The Brute throwing him into the steel stairs. As The Punk watches on, enjoying the brutality of it all, Flair sneaks up behind him, rolls him up, and gets the three count with his feet on the ropes to a big cheer. Ric Flair beats The Punk (w/The Brute and The Student) - 81%.

- The Punk looks shocked at the defeat, but before he can go and attack Ric Flair, Shelton Benjamin manages to roll in the other side of the ring and tackle him. They exchange blows and roll to the outside, leaving Flair in the ring. He has his hand raised, but as he does, Edge, of all people, appears behind him. You know how this goes — spear! Jim Ross asks why in the world Edge attacked Flair. Jerry Lawler says he doesn’t need a reason — he can just do what he wants.

- In case you don’t watch HEAT — and maybe you should — Justin Credible has beaten Matt Striker for two weeks running, which Paul Heyman is now telling the latter makes Heyman Inc look bad. So he’s arranged for Striker to have another match against Credible on HEAT this week. Heyman insists he’s confident Striker can finally get the win and prove how great Heyman Inc are. You know, apart from the fact the WWE Heavyweight champion is part of the group. Just forget that for a moment - 69%.

- Here’s your four versus four main event, which might be here because there’s a certain one of the big four pay-per-views looming shortly over the horizon. Triple H and Shawn Michaels have to be regarded as the favourites to take on The McMahons here. Sean O’Haire and Test are accompanied by Kevin Nash, Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch seem to be fully invested in helping them win, while Carlito and Big Show are sort of just there. It’s an odd stipulation but does lend itself to fun moments, like Triple H dashing into the ring and breaking up a pinfall on Cade after a Carlito backstabber, leading to a stare off and Michaels having to burst into the ring and keep them apart from each other. The end comes when O’Haire is trying to hit a Cruel Intentions on Michaels, only for the Heartbreak Kid to slide down his back and hit a big superkick. He gets over to the corner and tags in Triple H, who cleans house, sending both Cade and Murdoch over the top rope when they charge in and try to swing the momentum of the match. He then grabs the charging Test and lands a huge spinebuster on him. He tries to cover, but referee Mike Chioda explains he’s not the legal man. HHH is briefly distracted and that allows Big Show to tag his back. Triple H is angry about that and after jawing with Show, knocks Carlito clean off the apron. Michaels jumps in just as Big Show climbs into the ring, with Triple H ducking a clubbing forearm and HBK instead hitting a Sweet Chin Music! Show staggers but doesn’t fall, leading to Triple H hitting a Pedigree on Show. Just as Triple H turns his attention back to O’Haire, who is slowly rising, Kenny Dykstra appears at ringside and Michaels slides out to go and meet him before he can do anything to them. He brawls with him up the ramp. HHH hits a Pedigree on O’Haire, but as he does, Kevin Nash climbs up onto the apron. HHH goes after him, still not over Summerslam. He manages to lay punches into him straight away, but as he does, the legal Big Show crawls over and drapes an arm over the downed O’Haire, with Chioda counting the three — that’s a shock! Carlito and Big Show/D-Generation X beat Sean O’Haire and Test/Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch - 72%.

- Carlito and Big Show celebrate in the ring, and despite D-Generation X winning the match, they sure look like losers on the outside. Nash chuckles as he slinks away from Triple H, Shawn Michaels mouths “What?!” at the camera and Jim Ross claims Carlito and Big Show stole it as RAW goes off the air.

WWE HEAT, September 9, 2006

- HEAT was taped at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

- Every show needs them. You know the guys. A thrown-together tag team that make no sense at all, both in terms of their gimmicks and their styles. They just exist to job, job and job again. And they’re useful for house shows, where they fill a spot, and nights like this where they get four minutes to lose to Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch. I’m speaking, of course, about Snitsky and Norman Smiley, or Miles of Smiles. It’s Smiley who takes the loss courtesy of a Half Nelson Suplex from Murdoch. Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade beat Miles of Smiles - 67%. 

- Look, Umaga faces Road Warrior next. Let’s not pretend anything happens here except for Umaga hitting a Samoan Spike to beat the veteran. What is of note is that Armando Alejandro Estrada joins commentary and insists Umaga wants the WWE Intercontinental title at Unforgiven. Umaga (w/Armando Alejandro Estrada) beats Road Warrior - 73%.

- We get a brief recap of the recent matches between Matt Striker and Justin Credible, and the fact that Paul Heyman told Striker to beat Credible tonight and bring the respect back to Heyman Inc.

- Paul Heyman spends his entire journey down to the ring with Matt Striker hyping his client up and trying to get across how important this match is. Not that it makes much of a difference, as from the first bell Justin Credible is well on top in this match. Eventually, though, a Credible headlock is nicely reversed by Striker, who tries to hit the Doing The Deal. Before he can, though, a bald man hops over the barricade and climbs up onto the apron. Striker is distracted, lets go despite Heyman screaming at him not to, and Credible turns him around into the That’s Incredible for the pin and win. Justin Credible beats Matt Striker (w/Paul Heyman) - 75%.

- The bald man walks over to Justin Credible and raises his hand. Paul Heyman hops into the ring and backs both the bald man and the other bald man who is called Justin Credible up into the corner and has a pop at them. But, then, with the camera on his face, he grins and tells them to “Go get Striker!”. The duo round on Matt Striker, beating him in the corner. Credible rolls out of the ring and grabs a table, before bringing it into the ring and setting it up. He then bounces Striker off the ropes before the bald man puts him through it with a huge spinebuster! Heyman raises both men’s hands and laughs to end HEAT with Striker down at their feet - 75%.

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WWE Velocity, September 9, 2006

- In one of the least inspirational moves of all time, Hardcore Holly’s tag team partner for his pseudo-grudge match with the FBI is… Gunner Scott. It’s not exactly hard for Nunzio and Vito to overcome the mashed-together duo, with miscommunication giving the former the chance to hit the Sicilian Slice on Scott and get the win. Nunzio and Vito beat Hardcore Holly and Gunner Scott - 67%.

- After the match, there’s a solid bit of argument between Hardcore Holly and Gunner Scott. Holly concludes by telling Scott he’ll “find someone else”.

- Most of Austin Healy’s match — aside from the questionable remarks about Torrie Wilson — against Scotty 2 Hotty is spent talking about his victory against Ultimo Dragon last week. It’s almost as though they’re building up to something. Scotty is in the match, but not tremendously, and it’s no surprise when Healy gets the win with the Heal To Head after about five minutes. Austin Healy (w/Torrie Wilson) beats Scotty 2 Hotty - 77%.

- Eric Bischoff is given oversight of Velocity tonight and it is the co-general manager who Torrie Wilson approaches after a short Shopzone break. She is a little bit flirty but more importantly, a little bit keen on getting her client Austin Healy a Cruiserweight title shot. Bischoff is a bit overwhelmed by the very Torrie-ness of her and consents to the match for next week on Velocity - 56%.

- This match between Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury and The Mexicools is billed as an opportunity for MNM to get some revenge after last week’s defeat. Joey Styles and Tazz on commentary — by the way, they’re the team for Velocity — also point out that MNM will have to undergo some serious soul-searching, as they discussed on Smackdown, if they lose again. And after a 10-minute classic in which the match swings back and forward, that’s exactly what happens. This time it’s Nitro who takes the pinfall, with Mercury getting accidentally bumped off the apron when an attempted superkick on Psicosis misses. Super Crazy then rushes in and hits a springboard Tornado DDT for the pin and win. The Mexicools (Super Crazy and Psicosis) beat MNM (Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury) - 85%.

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GrappleNews.net

News and notes

There have been some major rumblings behind the scenes in recent weeks over the future direction of WWE. It sounds as though both Stephanie and Shane McMahon have been positioning themselves for more power in the future, with both said to be working well together. It’s not exactly clear what this means for Vince, who has supposedly taking a slight backseat over the last couple of months. Serious seeming meetings have been taking place with no clear outcome or even topic for those outside the immediate inner circle. We’ll keep an eye on this and try to find out more in the coming weeks.

If Ric Flair’s run of losses suggested he was on the way toward the exit, think again. Part of what we are hearing is that behind the scenes there is a lot of positivity about the 57-year-old and the reactions he has been getting. People are clearly desperate not to see him retire. Beyond that, though, there is a suggestion that creative have big plans for him.

There have been a new batch of contracts handed out, with The Punk being signed to a three-year deal. That’s the longest agreement of the handful that have been signed. Trinity Williams, who recently made her debut on RAW, Nicky, Drew Hankinson and Oleg Prudius have all signed one-year contracts.

There’s no role for him on television as it stands, but Prudius is one that WWE are looking to move up at some stage soon. Frankie Kazarian, Nicky and Tytus are all not happy to still be down in development.

It’s not all all been renewals and retentions, though. Viscera has been allowed to leave after his contract expired, as we have been reporting for months. Johnny Riggs has also been released.

WWE Friday Night Smackdown

September 15, 2006

- WWE Smackdown was taped at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

- Before Friday Night Smackdown gets underway in earnest, Michael Cole and Tazz tell us they have some footage to show us from earlier in the day. Teddy Long is walking into the arena and looks pretty happy, but before he does, he is stopped by Eric Bischoff. Bischoff has a shit-eating grin on his face. He looks like the cat who got the cream. The… burger eater who… got the burger. He tells Long that he has just had a message come through from the board of directors. The long and short of it is that they are appalled at the way Long intervened last week to give the benefit of the doubt to a pair of wrestlers he clearly personally likes in Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio. So they’re giving him time to reflect — and he’s now got to stay away from Smackdown for an indefinite period of time. Long looks shocked, while Bischoff just laughs — “it’s time for me to put a real mark on this place” - 72%.

- Back in the arena, Mark Henry is making his way out flanked by Simon Dean and The Gymini. He’s followed out by Batista, with — and I feel like you’d have suffered a head injury to forget this — Michael Cole reminding us of Henry’s attack last week. But before the two big brutes can bash each other, Eric Bischoff brings himself out from the back. Bischoff says Teddy Long made a unilateral decision last week to pair these two off — but it’s already the sort of grudge match that should not just be thrown away willy nilly. Especially on a show that already features two title matches. So Bischoff is making this a six-man tag match. RIP Teddy, gone but not forgotten. Bischoff can already see two partners for Henry in The Gymini… so how about these two for Batista? Batista turns at the bottom of the ramp to see who Bischoff has selected for him — before Scotty 2 Hotty’s music and he comes out with Funaki. Jesus - 71%.

- If you want an indication of just how much the WWE likes Batista and Mark Henry, then watch how this one plays out. Henry is utterly dominant for the first four minutes of the match, throwing Scotty 2 Hotty around the ring like a ragdoll. Funaki then gets the same treatment from the ostensible world’s strongest man, with Henry at one point just lifting him clean into the air and tossing him over the top rope and straight at the waiting 2 Hotty (Scotty? Hotty?). But after a bit, and with Henry getting slightly too cocky — has pinning someone with one foot ever worked and if so, was it ever going to work on Funaki, Mark? — the Japanese lightweight manages to roll through after ducking an attempt at a clothesline and get the tag to Batista. As he charges in, Henry is slapped on the back by Jake Gymini for some reason. Simon Dean carps on from ringside about him being the fresher man, but Henry is angry. Which is a great excuse for Batista to toss him over the top rope. Jake then runs in and tries to club Batista’s back, but Batista just turns around angrily and picks him up for a big spinebuster. Jesse Gymini tries to get involved and take Batista out but he is just picked up and slammed with a spinebuster of his own. Batista then picks Jake up and hits a Batista Bomb for an easy three. Batista, Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki beat Jake Gymini, Jesse Gymini and Mark Henry - 64%.

- Batista celebrates with Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki, which is a fun image. Meanwhile, Mark Henry backs up the ramp with Simon Dean, with Henry shouting, “This ain’t over”.

- Speaking of people being on the angrier side of things, Kurt Angle is rampaging around backstage. “Where’s Orton?!” he can be heard shouting over and over, looking in different rooms, slamming doors and telling people to get out of his way. Kurt, have you heard that you win more friends with kindness? 🙂. Angle sees a shadow duck down a corridor and pursues, rounding the corner… only to confront The Boogeyman, tucking into a worm sandwich. Plenty of protein in that. Angle looks baffled, turns around and tries to retrace his steps, but walks straight into a steel chair shot! The camera pans up and there is Randy Orton, throwing the chair down. Orton clears his nose out on Angle and then walks away - 81%.

- It’s The Stock Exchange with John Bradshaw Layfield, and this week his guests are Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro and Melina. JBL gently probes and nudges about their recent struggles — their loss of the tag titles, their near loss to Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki, their defeats to The Mexicools. Mercury takes the lead, saying that every great team has down moments. Every great athlete has struggles. It’s all about finding the right formula to start winning again. Nitro takes over, saying MNM know they haven’t been clicking recently, and it’s time to find a way to alter that. JBL asks whether they need a new manager, whether Melina is the issue? That gets Melina’s goat, and she asks JBL who in the world he thinks he is to ask a question like that. JBL points out he’s a former WWE Champion and a wrestling god. Melina asks what he’s done lately. She says she’s been talking strategy with Johnny and Joey and they’re all still on the same page — “right boys?”. Nitro and Mercury nod their heads. Melina says she’s promised the pair they will have gold around their waists again soon enough. JBL asks how they’re going to go about it. Melina says the answer is simple — they’re done with Smackdown. The trio throw down their microphones and walk out as the crowd sing, “Hey hey, goodbye”. JBL looks baffled. I realised he was annoying, but I didn’t realise he was that annoying - 74%.

- Speaking of tag titles, it’s Brian Kendrick against Kid Kash next, with a shot at the titles on the line for Kendrick and his partner Paul London. This is great — obviously. The way these two teams have brought consistent quality to any combination of matches has been a massive highlight on Smackdown over the last few months. And this one is just as good as any of the other matches they’ve had. Kash plays a phenomenal dickhead, dragging Kendrick around ringside by the hair and taking time to argue with fans in the front row. At one stage, he grabs a fan’s beer, takes a drink and then pours the rest on the downed Kendrick. But his focus on being an arsehole means he takes his eye off the ball as the match goes on. Just as he should be taking advantage, having hit a brainbuster, he lets Kendrick up from the pinfall and tries to hit another brainbuster on him. Kendrick reverses it into a fisherman’s suplex, which Kash kicks out of. Kash gets an eye rake in on Kendrick, which causes Jim Korderas to protest at him. As he does, Jamie Noble pops up onto the apron and tries to distract Kendrick. But Paul London is ready for it, running across the apron and taking Noble out with a huge hurricanrana. That distracts Kash, who turns into a big Sliced Bread #2 from Kendrick and takes the pinfall loss! Brian Kendrick (w/Paul London) beats Kid Kash (w/Jamie Noble) - 89%.

- The following message is brought to us by The Parent And Priest Council’s Right To Censor Inappropriate Television. It’s footage of Right To Censor beating up Chavo Guerrero and Sabu. And then it’s Steven Richards’ face, flanked by Sean Morley and Jack Bull. Richards says he wants to end the situation. It’s time to make it clear that cheating, like Chavo is a fan of, is immoral. And that hardcore shenanigans, like Sabu is a fan of, are bloodthirsty and unacceptable in modern society. So, Richards says, next week Morley and Bull will take on the pair — and it will be the end of the conversation. Chavo and Sabu will be shown the light - 69%.

- Jeff Hardy is accompanied down to the ring by Matt Hardy, who immediately joins Michael Cole and Tazz on commentary. Honestly, the amount of times that the south-spun voice of Matt talks about how he’s desperate for Jeff to win the United States title so he can have a shot… anyway, Jeff has to win it from William Regal first. Regal comes down to the ring with Paul Burchill at his side. Cole says Regal is fundamentally one of the most dangerous men in the WWE — technically gifted and with a moral code about two shades darker than Darth Vader. And that comes to the fore throughout the match. Every time Jeff seems to have the advantage, Regal uses Burchill to either distract him, distract the referee, pull the ropes out of the way when Regal has a submission hold in, or just cause enough chaos at ringside that Regal does not look like he will let the match slip. At one stage, Regal tries to get himself counted out to retain the title, but it’s fair to say Matt is not having his brother screwed over by Regal in the same way he was. He stops him from backing up the ramp, and gives Jeff the opportunity to slide out of the ring and then throw the Brit back in. At that stage, Burchill dashes over and goes for Matt, throwing him into the barricade. Jeff is distracted by that and it seems like that is a great opportunity for Regal to take him out with a Regal Cutter. But Jeff pushes him away and into the corner. Hardy runs, Regal moves out of the way, but that’s just a great chance for Jeff to hit the Whisper In the Wind. That gets a two count. Regal tries to roll him up and put his feet on the ropes, but Hardy still manages to kick out. The champion hits a few chops on Hardy and forces him into the corner, and then lifts him up. He goes for a superplex, but Hardy punches his way clear and pushes Regal back. A Swanton Bomb follows, but Regal rolls out of the way. Regal again goes for a Regal Cutter, but Hardy knees him, and then lands a massive Twist Of Fate. It’s a cover from Jeff — and we have a new WWE United States champion. Jeff Hardy (w/Matt Hardy) beats William Regal (w/Paul Burchill) to win the WWE United States title - 80%.

- Kristall Marshall has some time with Lashley backstage. Lashley speaks about how he has been regarded as a physical phenomenon since he arrived in WWE, but that it might have been Mark Henry’s in-ring veteran know-ho- sorry, I am struggling to type here through my tears of joy. Henry’s in-ring know-how!? Anyway, that nonexistent thing is why Lashley lost, apparently. Mr Kennedy must also find that funny or just fancies butting in. He suggests Lashley just accepts he lost to a better man last week, rather than making excuses. That strikes me as a winning tactic, Ken - 65%.

- The camera follows Matt and Jeff Hardy through the corridors backstage. Matt seems to be enjoying Jeff’s title win more than the new champion, popping champagne and pouring it over his brother in sheer excitement. Jeff says he’s delighted to have captured such a prestigious honour just months after his return to WWE, and that he hopes it’s the start — and next step — of something big for him. Matt is basically salivating over the belt and asks Jeff when he can have a shot at it. Jeff says: “All in good time, big brother. Let’s enjoy this success first.” Matt gives him a high five, but then as Jeff walks away, he drops the big grin from his face - 81%.

- Here we are then. Finally, a conclusion to the Rey Mysterio-King Booker feud that feels as though it has been going on for the best part of six months. It’s been two pay-per-views. Rey is unbelievably popular, Booker is pretty hated by everyone in Worcester, so good job everyone behind the scenes. There’s no William Regal or Paul Burchill at ringside for Booker, but he does have Sharmell with him. Mysterio has the best of the opening, using his speed to really upset Booker’s rhythm and avoid any powerful moves from the champion. But just before we got to a commercial break, Booker manages to dodge an attempted springboard dropkick, which sees referee Nick Patrick get mildly hit — he doesn’t go down, just drops to one knee — and then Booker lands a big low blow while Patrick’s back is turned. After the adverts — did you know they do frosted shreddies now? — Booker is well on top and throwing Mysterio into the area around ringside. One particularly impressive bump sees Mysterio try to Old School across the barricade before Booker basically launches him across the outside area and into the ring apron, back first. He tries to get a pinfall after that, but Mysterio manages to just about kick out at two. A few minutes on, Booker tries to end the match with a Scissor Kick, but Mysterio rolls out of the way and Booker lands butt first on the mat. He then bounces up and Mysterio hits a big hurricanrana. There’s a long count with both men out. Patrick reaches eight before Mysterio gets up and starts landing punches on Booker, who is back to his knees. Booker slowly rises and tries to chop his way out of the situation. He manages to build momentum, but as he bounces off the ropes and goes for a clothesline, Mysterio manages to trip him up onto the second rope with a drop toe hold. Mysterio then bounces and lands a big 619! As he goes to Drop The Dime, though, Sharmell jumps up on the apron and distracts the referee. And that, my friends, is the moment when the man we can all assume is Gregory Helms, dressed in his black and red Hurricane outfit, jumps out of the crowd and cracks Mysterio on the back of the head with a baseball bat. Mysterio goes limp, Helms throws him into the ring, Booker hits a Book End and gets the pin. King Booker (c) (w/Sharmell) beats Rey Mysterio to retain the WWE World Heavyweight title - 81%.

- A delighted King Booker celebrates with the title as Michael Cole offers his usual “What the hell?” and Tazz suggests Gregory Helms clearly has a problem with Rey Mysterio that is not going away. The show ends with Helms staring down Mysterio.