Friday Night Smackdown!
August 3rd, 2007
Phoenix, Arizona
ANGLE: Smackdown Starts w/ The Cutting Edge (87%)
“Metalingus” hits the airwaves as the show kicks off with the World Heavyweight Champion, Edge. The ring is set up for "The Cutting Edge," with a black canvas donning the "Rated R Superstar" logo and two stools.
Edge says he's going to bring his guest out shortly but he wanted to first talk about what he did to Batista last week. Edge directs everyone to the titantron and commentates over the video of him bashing Batista's knee in with a chair and then laughs at Batista clutching his knee in agony.
Edge is clearly proud of himself and then talks about the 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle that is happening tonight to determine his challenger at SummerSlam.
Edge starts running down the list of participants and says he doesn't matter who wins because no one is taking the title away from him.
Edge then calls out his guest, announcing that he also is a World Champion and won an impressive match this past Tuesday Night to retain his championship. This is of course ECW Champion, Johnny Nitro and he poses his way down to the ring.
Edge and Nitro talk about Nitro's win over CM Punk on ECW and Nitro hurls an insult towards Punk. Nitro then says he still has a bone to pick with Edge. Edge is confused and Nitro reminds him about walking out on their tag match on ECW a few weeks back.
The two start bickering a little until "This Fire Burns" hits and CM Punk comes out on the stage!
Punk says he was going to actually congratulate Nitro for beating him fair and square, but because Nitro decided to be an arrogant ass and rub it in, Punk said screw it.
Edge then cut off Punk and asked him what the hell he was even doing out here, let alone in the building.
Punk sarcastically laughed and then said that he would be one of the participants in tonight's 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal to see who would face Edge at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Punk's music hits while Edge and Nitro looked shocked that this was a possibility.
-----
ANGLE: Cole and JBL Rundown Battle Royal (85%)
Michael Cole and JBL welcome us into the first Smackdown! of August and run down an updated list of participants for the 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal. The graphic on-screen shows CM Punk being added to the fray.
Cole and JBL offer their excitement as Smackdown! goes to a commercial break.
-----
ANGLE: Rey Mysterio Hype Video (91%)
On the return from commercial break, another quick hype video plays for the return of Rey Mysterio @ SummerSlam.
(OOC: Pretend it says SummerSlam instead of Smackdown!)
-----
MATCH 1: Chavo Guerrero vs. Funaki (70%, 2*)
Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero would face off against Funaki in the opening contest. Chavo was in a bad mood, probably because of the Rey Mysterio promo that just played.
Funaki beat Jamie Noble last week and was looking for a win over the champ to potentially get a title shot down the line.
The match was pretty standard for the most part as Chavo controlled while Funaki got in some bursts of quick offense. However, Chavo could not concentrate on the match, and went out of the ring a couple of times to yell at some kids with Rey Mysterio masks on.
After being dropkicked out of the ring again, Chavo was getting laughed at by a different fan with a Rey mask on and actually ripped the mask off the kid's head!
Funaki came out to stop Chavo from taking it any further but Chavo reversed and slammed Funaki face-first off the ring apron. Chavo then put Rey's mask on Funaki and just started beating him down.
Not listening to Referee Charles Robinson's instruction to get back in the ring, Robinson called for a disqualification before continuing the count.
WINNER - Funaki by DQ [7:20]
-----
ANGLE: Chavo Post-Match Beatdown on "Rey Mysterio" (79%)
The DQ just made Chavo more angry, and Funaki in the mask became a symbol of what he was going to do to Mysterio. Chavo grabbed a chair and put it around Funaki's neck. Chavo then flung Funaki chair-first into the ring post, in an ugly scene.
Vickie Guerrero came out moments later with paramedics and scolded Chavo, asking him: "What is wrong with you?" Chavo can be heard saying "give me Rey at SummerSlam or this will happen every week going forward."
Vickie Guerrero gave a frustrated look towards Chavo as she led him away from the scene. Medics attended to a hurt Funaki and Funaki was complaining about his neck. Cole and JBL speculated that he could have a crushed larynx. Funaki was laid on a stretcher and the medics placed a neck brace on him, but Funaki gave the crowd a thumbs up as he was rolled out.
-----
ANGLE: Extreme Exposé and The Miz Wish Each Other Luck (70%)
A shot goes to the backstage area where ECW's Miz is walking. He runs into the trio of Kelly Kelly, Layla, and Brooke once again and both exchange greetings.
Miz then tells the ladies of Extreme Exposé that he is one of the entrants in tonight's 15-Man Battle Royal. He then wishes Layla luck in her match tonight. Layla is facing off against Victoria.
The ladies return the favor in wishing Miz luck, but Kelly Kelly is a little more forward and gives Miz a "good luck hug." Miz smiles but then it turns to a puzzled look when Layla and Brooke give him a stern look behind Kelly Kelly's back.
-----
MATCH 2: Deuce & Domino w/Cherry vs. The Ballard Brothers (52%, 1.5*)
The WWE Tag Team Champions, Deuce & Domino were in action next against The Ballard Brothers, Shane and Shannon.
This one was not much of a contest as Deuce & Domino dominated the enhancement tag team. The Ballard Brothers did get a brief shine in the match, but it was quickly thwarted by Deuce.
Deuce and Domino ended up hitting the "West Side Stomp" double team finisher, which was similar to the legendary "Hart Attack" finisher, only with a jumping hook kick instead of a lariat.
Domino made the cover and the tag champs kept their roll going. Cherry entered the ring, handed her boys the titles, and raised both of their arms as the trio celebrated the victory.
WINNERS - Deuce & Domino by Pinfall [4:37]
-----
ANGLE: Teddy Long Announces Big Match (76%)
Smackdown! General Manager, Theodore Long is shown on the titantron and he says he has big news to announce.
Long says after the two World Champions had a little squabble earlier in the ring, that being Edge & Johnny Nitro, Long decided to call up ECW GM, Mick Foley.
The result of that call is that next Tuesday on ECW, the ECW Champion, Johnny Nitro, will go one-on-one with the World Heavyweight Champion, "The Rated 'R' Superstar," Edge.
-----
MATCH 3: Victoria vs. Layla w/Kelly Kelly and Brooke (58%, 1.5*)
Women's action was next as Victoria took on one third of Extreme Exposé, Layla.
These ladies have a small bit of history after Victoria degraded them on Smackdown! about a month ago. Victoria was also coming off a loss to a re-debuting Michelle McCool.
Victoria dominated the match and despite a small flurry of offense from Layla, Victoria got the victory after hitting the "Widow's Peak."
WINNER - Victoria by Pinfall [5:16]
After the bell rang, Victoria was going to do more damage to Layla, but Kelly Kelly got in the ring. Unfortunately, she took a massive clothesline and was knocked down. Victoria mounted Kelly and began to lay in rights and lefts.
Oddly, Brooke hesitated to help out Kelly, but Michelle McCool's music hit seconds later and McCool ran Victoria off, as she began to choke Kelly Kelly.
Brooke did get in the ring to check on Layla, while McCool checked on Kelly Kelly and stared down a devilishly smirking Victoria.
-----
ANGLE: Battle Royal Entrances (81%)
After a quick commercial break, a few participants for the 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal were already in the ring. Those superstars were; Kenny Dykstra, Hardcore Holly, Chuck Palumbo, Chris Masters, and The Miz.
"This Fire Burns" and CM Punk made his entrance, followed by "I'm Comin," as the United States Champion, MVP made his entrance.
"Don't Waste My Time" hit and Elijah Burke was introduced as an entrant. Burke's talk with Mick Foley must of convinced Foley to add him (as well as Punk and Miz) to the match.
Burke poses walking down the ramp and takes his time getting in the ring.
-----
ANGLE: Surprise Entrance (92%)
All of a sudden a loud "WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" is heard and the classic tune of "The Nature Boy," Ric Flair hits, and Flair is back from his injury on Smackdown!
Flair struts down the ramp as Smackdown! jumps to another commercial break.
-----
ANGLE: More Battle Royal Entrances (90%)
Back from break and Matt Hardy's music is playing. During break "The Belfast Bruiser," Finlay made his entrance and Hardy is wrapping up his as he throws his hand sign on the middle rope.
"Some Bodies Gonna Get It" hits and "The World's Strongest Man," Mark Henry made his way down the entrance ramp.
Fire Pyros then went off and "Slow Chemical" marked the entrance of "The Big Red Machine," Kane.
Once Kane made it in, the odds-on favorite, The Great Khali, made his entrance. Ranjin Singh came out with Khali but walked to the back after coming out on the stage.
Khali stepped over the top rope and there was only one more entrant to make their way down to the ring.
-----
ANGLE: Final Participant Entrance (97%)
With 14 men in the ring and one more participant left to make his entrance, the titantron starts going a little screwy. Almost like a computer system error happened, the titantron starts flashing the following video:
The final participant is Y2J, CHRIS JERICHO!!!
Jericho is back after a two-year hiatus and is in the Battle Royal. The other 14 men are in stunned silence as Cole, JBL, and the fans are going nuts.
-----
***MAIN EVENT*** MATCH 4: #1 Contender 15-Man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal with the Winner Earning a Match vs. Edge at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship (80%, 3*)
Jericho would enter the ring and the bell rang to start the match but everyone kind of stared in shock at Y2J for a few seconds before Finlay punched Hardcore Holly and kickstarted the fight all around the ring.
For the first couple of minutes, everyone was linked up except for The Great Khali, who stood alone in the corner and had either chopped or swatted a few guys trying to eliminate him.
The first elimination came shortly after as Chris Masters attempted a "Masterlock" on Chuck Palumbo, but Palumbo ran towards the ropes and broke off the hold. Masters' momentum carried himself over the rope and Masters pounded the mat in frustration.
***ELIMINATION #1 - Chris Masters by Chuck Palumbo [2:59]***
Over the next minute, Ric Flair found his way over by The Great Khali and shockingly, Flair didn't back down. Flair hit chops on the big man, but it had very little effect. Khali then grabbed Flair, but Kane hit Khali with a throat thrust and started working on him.
The next elimination came as The Miz went after Flair, after he disengaged with Khali. Miz got one leg of Flair's over the top rope, but then Flair poked him in the eye. Miz retreated towards the middle of the ring but then charged back at Flair, who pulled down the top rope and low-bridged The Miz.
***ELIMINATION #2 - The Miz by Ric Flair [4:18]***
Back to the action and Y2J and MVP are duking it out. Jericho gets MVP on his back but MVP spins out of a "Walls of Jericho" attempt and Jericho has a close call almost flying over the top rope. With Jericho catching himself on the apron, MVP tried to knock him out but Jericho hit him with a forearm and came back in.
The next elimination came in a flash as Finlay and CM Punk were fighting in the corner. Finlay had hit a few chops on Punk and then Elijah Burke yelled something at Finlay. Finlay held Punk as Burke went to the opposite corner. Trying to attempt an "Elijah Express" on Punk, Burke charged but Punk shoved Finlay out of the way and met Burke halfway with a flying leg lariat. Punk then picked up Burke, hit a "GTS" and Burke stayed vertical, allowing Punk to throw him out.
***ELIMINATION #3 - Elijah Burke by CM Punk [6:12]***
Moments after Burke's elimination, the camera jumps back to the ring and Kenny Dykstra is trying to hit a double axe-handle off the middle rope to Kane, but Kane catches Kenny in mid-flight, hand on throat. Kane walks over near the ropes and Chokeslams Kenny Dykstra out.
***ELIMINATION #4 - Kenny Dykstra by Kane [6:31]***
Punk and Finlay were slugging at each other again but then after recovering from the GTS, Elijah Burke got back on the apron and distracted Punk. Burke grabbed one of Punk's arms but Punk swatted him off. Unfortunately for Punk, this allowed Finlay to take advantage and catch Punk off guard, dumping him over the top rope.
***ELIMINATION #5 - CM Punk by Finlay [7:09]***
Punk couldn't believe it and chased Elijah Burke, who was laughing at Punk, all the way up the ramp and to the back. Back in the ring, Kane found an unlikely ally in Hardcore Holly. The two were punching away at The Great Khali, but Holly got overzealous and in the blink of an eye, Khali grabbed Holly by the throat with both hands and attempted to Chokeslam him off like he did to Flair. However, Kane hit Khali in the back and Khali dropped Holly and he landed on the apron. Khali then elbowed Kane and turned back to Holly and hit the big chop on his head, knocking him off the apron and to the floor.
***ELIMINATION #6 - Hardcore Holly by The Great Khali [7:45]***
After being elbowed by Khali, Kane ended up in the clutches of Chuck Palumbo, who was having a good showing in the match. Palumbo hit a few strikes but then tried to hit his "Full Throttle" finisher of Kane. Palumbo tried to display some serious strength, but it was miscalculated, and Kane fought out of it. Kane, with a hand on Palumbo's throat, shoved Palumbo over the top rope to eliminate him.
***ELIMINATION #7 - Chuck Palumbo by Kane [8:23]***
After the elimination Smackdown! would go to a commercial break as half the field remained. After a couple minute break, a couple replays were shown of what was missed during commercial. No eliminations took place but Ric Flair had a close call, and Mark Henry and The Great Khali were teeing off on another.
Khali then locked in the "Vice Grip" on Mark Henry! Henry stirred for about ten seconds but used his massive strength to break the hold, leaving the crowd, Cole, and JBL in awe. Khali was still able to hit a clothesline off of the broken hold and Henry was knocked to the ground.
This stopped the action as everyone realized Khali just knocked down "The World's Strongest Man." This resulted in the other six men going after Khali. They started punching beating him down, but after a few seconds, Khali popped up and threw everyone off of him.
Everyone fell to the mat except for one man...Kane. Kane started punching Khali and Khali fell back near the ropes. Kane then tried a clothesline on Khali, but Khali moved just an inch off the ground. As Kane and Khali started choking each other near the ropes, Mark Henry would recover and lift both men up and over the top rope for the double elimination!!!
***ELIMINATIONS #8 and #9 - Kane and The Great Khali by Mark Henry [12:19]***
Henry started beating his chest and screaming at Kane and Khali as Cole and JBL were going crazy. The action stopped again as everyone was left shocked. Just like that the battle royal was down to six: Henry, Hardy, Finlay, MVP, Flair, and the returning Y2J. The six circled around each other before Finlay broke the seal again, chopping Flair.
The two cagey vets began a chop-off, while Jericho was caught up with MVP, and Hardy with Henry. Jericho had MVP reeling, but MVP hung onto the ropes like a sloth. Flair then hit Finlay with an inverted Atomic Drop, and Jericho, who stopped trying to eliminate MVP, took advantage and ran from behind Finlay, grabbing him by the back of the head and throwing him out.
***ELIMINATION #10 - Finlay by Chris Jericho [14:42]***
Jericho pumped his fists to the crowd, yelling "Yeah Baby!" and turned around into a chop by Flair. The two of them kept at it while MVP was trying to talk Matt Hardy into forming an alliance to get Mark Henry out. After a brief delay, Hardy seemed to accept the temporary arrangement and the two went at the big man.
Henry kept shoving both away one-at-a-time, but both MVP and Hardy were persistent and kept coming back. The two wore Henry down and Henry went into a seated position in the corner. MVP choked Henry with his knee for a few seconds before Hardy checked-in and laid in a few boots.
However, as Hardy had his back turned, MVP tried to sneak attack Hardy and throw him out. MVP got Hardy on the apron, but Hardy hung on to MVP. MVP attempted to hit an inverted suplex on Hardy to throw him off, but Hardy reversed it and suplexed MVP out of the ring. MVP managed to turn sideways in the air and now both men were standing on the apron.
The two traded blows back and forth before MVP shoved Hardy back first into the ring post. Hardy laid up against pole in pain and MVP went to the opposite end of the apron. MVP then charged at Hardy to hit a "Player's Boot" to Hardy, but Hardy moved and went to the second step of the steel stairs while holding the post. MVP was not expecting that possibility but was able to slow down before booting the post. Unfortunately for MVP, Hardy was at the perfect level to trip him up and MVP slipped off the apron and was eliminated.
***ELIMINATION #11 - MVP by Matt Hardy [17:31]***
Down to the final four, and Hardy attempted to get back in the ring but MVP was hanging onto his leg. After finally kicking him off, Hardy was not able to get back into the ring and Mark Henry came at him like a 18-wheeler, body-checking him off the apron to eliminate him.
***ELIMINATION #12 - Matt Hardy by Mark Henry [17:48]***
Hardy hit the deck pretty hard and MVP went over to stand over him, pointing in his face and hurling insults before walking off. With just three men left, action went back into the ring as Jericho clubbed Henry from behind. Y2J and Flair were now working together to eliminate Henry, but Henry got out of it again by shoving Flair and headbutting Jericho.
Flair went at Henry again but Henry caught "The Nature Boy" with "The World's Strongest Slam!" Henry peeled Flair off the mat and dumped him over to get his fourth elimination of the match.
***ELIMINATION #13 - Ric Flair by Mark Henry [19:07]***
And now we were down to two men. Y2J, Chris Jericho, and "The World's Strongest Man," Mark Henry. Jericho was still down from the headbutt, but when Henry went to pick him up, Jericho was playing possum and tripped up Henry's legs, causing Henry to fall down. Jericho then tried to apply the "Walls of Jericho," but Henry's tree trunk legs were too much, and Henry kicked Jericho off, sending him back-first into the corner.
Henry got up and charged to hit Jericho with a corner splash, but Jericho moved. Henry bounced off the top turnbuckle and Y2J busted out a new move, a jumping double knee facebreaker. The impact of the move sent Henry towards the ropes, and Jericho went on the attack and tried to eliminate Henry.
The only problem was that Jericho just did not have the power to lift Henry over the top rope. After a couple of failed attempts, Jericho went to the middle of the ring and charged with a clothesline, but Henry barely stirred. He tried a second time, but Henry stopped and caught him. Henry powered Jericho over the top rope and onto the apron, but Y2J was able to hang Henry's neck over the top rope.
Henry wobbled in the ring, holding his throat, and Jericho got back in the ring and hit a running bulldog. Henry was lying in the middle of the ring, in position for Jericho to attempt a "Lionsault." Jericho all but nailed it, but Henry, in maybe his most impressive feat of strength in the match, caught Jericho in mid-air from a supine position and did a full on sit-up, with Jericho in exact position to take a "World's Strongest Slam."
Henry was able to roll-over and get up with Jericho in position, but instead of slamming Y2J, he carried him over to the ropes. Henry tried throwing Jericho out, but Y2J hung onto the back of his neck and started to use Henry's momentum to pull him out over the top. However, Henry was able to get a foot down and catch himself on the apron, but now both men were in danger.
Henry went to grab Jericho again, but this time Jericho used his speed advantage to quickly get back into the ring and whip Henry's left arm off the top rope. Henry shook his arm but hung on with his right. Jericho, now starting to doubt if he could eliminate Henry, tried pulling Henry's right hand fingers off the rope, but Henry piefaced Jericho with his left hand and sent him to the mat.
Jericho got right back up and hit a dropkick to the legs of Henry, and Henry's right leg was now dangling, but Henry was able to barely hang on to the ropes with both hands. With Henry teetering, Jericho had one more trick up his sleeve, and Y2J hit the Springboard Dropkick to knock Henry off and win the battle royal!
***FINAL ELIMINATION #14 - Mark Henry by Chris Jericho***
WINNER - Chris Jericho by Over-the-Top-Rope Elimination [24:12]
-----
ANGLE: Chris Jericho Celebrates Win (100%)
Y2J has done it! Chris Jericho has made his return to the WWE and will now face "The Rated 'R' Superstar," Edge at SummerSlam for the World Heavyweight Championship.
As Mark Henry walks back up the ramp in frustration, Jericho celebrates in the ring. Multiple replays of the battle royal are shown, as Cole and JBL break down the finish. Back to ringside and Jericho has exited the ring and is giving high-fives to every fan in the front row as Smackdown! comes to a end.
-----
FINAL Smackdown! Rating (87%, 2.97 million viewers)
(OOC: Royal Rumble/Battle Royal is my favorite match type to book and expand upon, so I hope you enjoy the long read. I hope each elimination makes sense!)
