Friday Night Smackdown!
July 27, 2007
Fresno, California
ANGLE: Edge Opens Smackdown! + GM Teddy Long Announces Battle Royal (87%)
Smackdown! starts with the World Heavyweight Champion, Edge, who is all smiles after defeating "The Big Red Machine," Kane, @ The Great American Bash to retain.
Edge grabs the stick and starts gloating. He says that Sunday night proved that he is the "greatest World Champion in WWE history." Edge says that no one is on his level and that we are living in the "Rated R Era."
The music of Smackdown! General Manager, Theodore Long, hits and Long comes out on the stage. Long congratulates Edge on his defense, despite the fact that Edge used his championship belt to aid him.
Long then says that next week on Smackdown! there will be a 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal to determine Edge's challenger for the World Heavyweight Championship @ SummerSlam!!!
That wasn't all. Long says that tonight, Edge would be in action versus "The Animal," Batista!!! "The Rated 'R' Superstar" was left flustered to end the segment.
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ANGLE: Michelle McCool Backstage Interview Interrupted by Victoria (77%)
The newest WWE Diva, Michelle McCool, was backstage with Josh Mathews. Mathews welcomed McCool back to the Smackdown! brand and asked her how excited she was to be here.
Before McCool could even get a word in, Victoria shows up to interrupt yet another interview. Josh Mathews just puts his hands up and walks off as Victoria gets in McCool's face.
Victoria once again states how she doesn't get any recognition. She said she made quick work of Torrie Wilson on Sunday and now wants to make quicker work of McCool.
McCool says that sounds like a challenge for tonight, to which Victoria nods. McCool says she accepts and Victoria will take on Michelle McCool in her first match back.
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MATCH 1: Mark Henry vs. Hardcore Holly (66%, 2*)
"The World's Strongest Man," Mark Henry fought Hardcore Holly in the opening bout.
Holly, with the size disadvantage, sized-up Henry, and when Henry wanted to go for a test of strength, Holly declined by kicking him in the hamstring. Holly would then hit a few punches and chops before Henry shoved him away.
Holly fell to the mat but got right back up and the tenacious veteran went back on the attack. This time though, Henry grabbed Holly and chucked him in the corner. Henry hit an elbow strike to the face and then held his elbow under Holly's throat, choking him.
Referee Jimmy Korderas got to a four-count and Henry finally let go. Korderas ordered Henry off and yelled at him. Henry went back at Holly but got kicked in the gut, staggering him to the middle of the ring. Holly then hit a dropkick and almost knocked down the big man, and Henry used the ropes the catch himself.
Holly ran at Henry to knock him over the top rope, but Henry countered and threw Holly over the top rope, and Holly spilled hard to the outside. Henry went out to get Holly and drove him back first a couple of times off the apron.
Henry then displayed his massive strength and threw Holly through the second rope from the ground. Henry got back in the ring and hit a running splash to get the win.
WINNER - Mark Henry by Pinfall [6:28]
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ANGLE: Rey Mysterio Returns at SummerSlam! (90%)
Another hype video plays for the return of Rey Mysterio. This time though it is revealed that he will make his return to action at SummerSlam!
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ANGLE: Chavo Storms Into Office and Asks Vickie About Mysterio (76%)
Back from commercial break and Chavo Guerrero has stormed into the General Manager's office and asks Vickie Guerrero what she knows about Rey Mysterio's return. Teddy Long grabs Kristal and the two leave the room.
Vickie tells her nephew to cool it and wants to know what the problem is. Chavo says he's going to put him out for good and Vickie tells him to squash this beef because they are family.
Chavo says Rey was never family and "only used our family to get ahead." Chavo yells "HE WAS NEVER FAMILY!" in Vickie's face before leaving. Teddy and Kristal come back in and console a shaken Vickie.
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MATCH 2: MVP vs. Chuck Palumbo (59%, 1.5*)
The United States Champion, MVP took on Chuck Palumbo next.
Palumbo used his size to get the early advantage on MVP, as he laid in knees to the gut and sent MVP towards the corner. After a couple of shoulder thrusts, Palumbo threw MVP across the ring with a Fall Away Slam.
MVP rolled out of the ring and Palumbo went out after him. MVP hit Palumbo with a right, staggering him back, but then Palumbo charged at MVP. Near the steel steps, MVP hit a drop toehold and Palumbo bounced face-first off the top step.
MVP bounced Palumbo's head off the apron and then rolled him back in the ring with his head hanging over the apron. MVP hit a running big boot to the face of Palumbo.
Back in the ring, MVP applied a chinlock and held it in until Palumbo countered and hit a back drop, putting the match in balance as both men remained down.
Palumbo was up first and charged at MVP with a big boot of his own, but MVP moved and Palumbo straddled himself on the top rope. With Palumbo having just one leg on the canvas, MVP took advantage and chop-blocked Palumbo.
Palumbo fell and clutched at his knee and MVP got him up and hit the "Playmaker" to win the contest.
WINNER - MVP by Pinfall [8:17]
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ANGLE: Batista Backstage Interview (85%)
"The Animal," Batista is backstage with Josh Mathews and Mathews asks him about his win over The Great Khali on Sunday and then his match versus Edge tonight.
Batista says that he thanks Khali because he unlocked a new side of "The Animal." A side that Batista likes. Batista says that he's going to punish Edge tonight.
Since Edge is still the champ, Batista says he knows he can't compete in the battle royal, but that he's going to make sure that as long as Edge holds that World Heavyweight Championship, that he is going to make his life a living hell.
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MATCH 3: Funaki vs. Jamie Noble (65%, 2*)
Cruiserweight action was next as Funaki took on Jamie Noble.
A collar-and-elbow tie-up started the match until Noble kneed Funaki in the midsection and clubbed him down to the mat. Noble threw Funaki head-first into the top turnbuckle and then stomped on him until Referee Jimmy Korderas backed him away.
Noble tried to Irish Whip Funaki into the opposite corner, but Funaki reversed and whipped Noble. On the rebound, Funaki hit a back body drop, followed by a forearm knockdown and then a front dropkick to the head of a downed Noble. Funaki got a near-fall.
Funaki went to whip Noble off the ropes again, but Noble blocked holding behind the top rope. Funaki hit a few chops and punches to get Noble to loosen his grip, but Noble countered the whip and lifted up Funaki, and stunned him off the top rope.
After stomping away at Funaki, Noble hit a scoop slam and a quick leg drop, but only got a near-fall. After picking Funaki back up, the two traded quick moves for the next minute.
Noble chopped away at Funaki and placed him on the top rope, but Funaki hit a right on Noble and then tried to hit a tornado DDT. Noble threw him off, but Funaki landed on his feet. Noble charged to hit a clothesline, but Funaki ducked and shocked Noble with a backslide pin to pull off the upset.
WINNER - Funaki by Pinfall [7:24]
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ANGLE: The Great Khali Promo (77%)
A promo plays on the titantron with The Great Khali and his translator Ranjin Singh. Singh says that Khali is one of the 15 men that will be in the battle royal next week.
Singh says what that means is at SummerSlam, The Great Khali will become the World Heavyweight Champion...the most dominant champion in WWE history.
Khali speaks in Punjabi before raising his arms and yelling. JBL chimes in and said: "who the hell is going to throw him out?"
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MATCH 4: Victoria vs. Michelle McCool (60%, 1.5*)
Michelle McCool made her Smackdown! re-debut versus Victoria.
The match begins with Victoria getting in McCool's face before shoving her. McCool then shoves Victoria to the mat and Victoria is appalled.
Victoria gets up and the two trash talk again but Victoria gets a cheap shot in and kicks McCool in the gut. Victoria hits a suplex and then stays on McCool and applies a reverse chinlock.
McCool got to her feet and shot Victoria off the ropes, breaking the hold. McCool hit a running forearm to Victoria on the rebound to knock her down. McCool then hit an impressive belly-to-belly suplex and got a near-fall.
McCool placed Victoria in the corner and hit a few strikes. After trying to kick Victoria, Victoria blocked the attempt and grabbed her leg to pull her into a clothesline.
Victoria went for her signature "Spider's Web" swinging side slam, but McCool turned it into a pin after Victoria swung her around. Victoria kicked out at the last second but then took a boot to the face from McCool when both ladies got up.
McCool then picked up Victoria and hit a lifting double underhook sitout facebuster to get the surprising and convincing victory.
WINNER - Michelle McCool by Pinfall [6:38]
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ANGLE: 15-Man Battle Royal Hype (85%)
A match graphic highlighting some participants for the 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal is shown. Some of the names confirmed are: The Great Khali, Kane, Mark Henry, MVP, Matt Hardy, Finlay, and Chris Masters.
The camera cuts to Michael Cole and JBL as they discuss the battle royal and wonder who will become the #1 Contender and go onto SummerSlam to face Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship.
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***MAIN EVENT*** MATCH 5: Batista vs. Edge (81%, 3.5*)
The Smackdown! Main Event saw the World Heavyweight Champion, Edge, take on his rival, "The Animal," Batista.
The two exchanged some holds and strikes in the first couple of minutes until Batista, who had a waist lock on Edge, slammed him to the mat. Batista then applied an armlock to Edge.
Edge would get up and fight out of the hold with a couple of punches. Edge went off the ropes, but Batista knocked him down with a shoulder block.
Batista used his power to deadlift Edge off the canvas and attempt a spinebuster, but Edge turned it into a DDT. Edge then worked on the leg of Batista, dropping an elbow on the inside of his knee. Edge continued with a leg lock, putting pressure on Batista's knee.
Edge then tried to apply a Sharpshooter, but Batista kicked Edge off. Batista got up and went for a clothesline, but Edge ducked and then kicked the back of Batista's leg, knocking him down.
Edge locked in the Sharpshooter and Batista fought for about a minute before getting to the bottom rope. Edge couldn't believe he didn't get a submission and went out of the ring to grab a steel chair.
Edge got in the ring but Referee Nick Patrick tried to take the chair away from Edge. As this was happening, Batista hit a SPEAR! on Edge. After about 30 seconds of both men being down, Batista set up Edge for a Batista Bomb, but once he got Edge up, his bad leg gave out.
This resulted in Batista falling down on his back and Edge having his whole weight on his upper body. Edge hooked the bad leg with one arm and as Nick Patrick made the count, Edge reached out in front of him with the other hand and used the ropes for leverage. Nick Patrick didn't see in the position he was making the cover and Edge stole the win.
WINNER - Edge by Pinfall [11:12]
ANGLE: Edge Bashes Batista's Knee Post-Match (90%)
After stealing the win, Edge grabbed the steel chair he tried introducing to the match. Edge went over to Batista and lined up a chair shot. Nick Patrick tried stopping Edge, but Edge shoved him to the mat.
Edge then started hammering away at Batista's bad leg, driving the top of the chair into Batista's knee. Batista let out screams of agony as Edge hit him half a dozen times.
Nick Patrick then waved for help and a bevy of road agents came down to stop Edge. Batista was rolling around, holding his knee. Edge dropped the chair and was being led out of the ring but once he saw Batista try to get back up, he grabbed the chair again and nailed Batista over the back to keep him down.
Edge was satisfied with the damage and was walked to the back as Batista slowly recovered and looked daggers toward Edge as he grimaced in pain.
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FINAL Smackdown! Rating (85%, 2.60 million viewers)