WWE '07 - The Show Must Go On!

Smackdown!
August 17, 2007
Albany, New York

ANGLE: Smackdown! Intro + Rundown (90%)

 
Smackdown! opens with Michael Cole and JBL welcoming us into the capital of New York State.

A graphic then shows that "The Animal," Batista, and "The Nature Boy," Ric Flair have been granted a WWE Tag Team Championship Match against Deuce and Domino.

Also to come tonight, Chris Jericho brings back his show "The Highlight Reel," with special guest, the World Heavyweight Champion and opponent at SummerSlam, Edge.

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MATCH 1: Mark Henry vs. The Major Brothers - Handicap Match (55%, 1*)

 
"Some Bodies Gonna Get It" hits the arena and "The World's Strongest Man," Mark Henry makes his way down to the ring.

As Henry makes his entrance, Cole and JBL cover the replay from last week when Henry ruined the Kane vs. Great Khali Main Event and took both men down. Cole says Khali suffered an injury at the hands of Henry and then a graphic shows Henry vs. Kane @ SummerSlam.

The Major Brothers come out next and Tony Chimel announces it is a Handicap Match. The brothers look hesitant walking down the ramp and JBL calls them "dead men walking."

The match goes exactly as anyone expected as Henry toys with both for a couple of minutes before hitting a "World's Strongest Slam" to Brett on top of Brian, who was already down on the mat.

Henry covered both at the same time for the quick win.

WINNER - Mark Henry by Pinfall [2:48]

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ANGLE: Edge Talks to Smackdown! GM Teddy Long (93%)

 
The World Heavyweight Champion, Edge has arrived at the building and is shown walking to Smackdown! General Manager, Theodore Long's office.

Edge barges in and Teddy asks how the champ is doing. Edge is pissed off and tells Teddy that he better do something about Batista because he is threatening "your World Champion."

Edge says he shouldn't have to live with eyes in the back of his head when he has an important title defense in nine days.

Teddy assures Edge that he will speak to Batista and also tells Edge that Chris Jericho has asked him to be a guest on tonight's "Highlight Reel."

Edge gets annoyed at the audacity Jericho has to hold his "inferior" show and says that he is the "Rated 'R' Superstar," not a stupid guest. Edge tells Teddy he'll be glad to "crash" the show and walks out.

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MATCH 2: MVP vs. Hardcore Holly (69%, 2*)

 
The second contest of the night had Hardcore Holly face off against the United States Champion, MVP.

Holly was hard-hitting at the start with some knife-edge chops, some boots in the corner, and then a scoop slam. MVP rolled to the outside for a quick respite before telling referee Charles Robinson to back Holly up.

MVP would take control soon after a boot to the midsection and a high knee lift to Holly's face. MVP then applied a rear chinlock until Holly elbowed his way out.

Holly would then hit a standing dropkick causing MVP to stumble over to the ropes. Holly picked up MVP's legs and gave him his signature kick to the midsection.

Holly went for an "Alabama Slam" next, but MVP snuck out the back door and rolled up Holly for a near-fall. When both men got up, MVP stopped Holly's momentum with a sharp clothesline.

From there it was academic as MVP hit his "Ballin' Elbow" and then planted Holly with the "Playmaker" leg-assisted swinging neckbreaker for the win

WINNER - MVP by Pinfall [8:53]

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ANGLE: Vickie Tells Chavo that Mysterio Will Show Up to Smackdown! Next Week (82%)


Vickie Guerrero is walking around backstage when she hears someone call out "Oh Vickie!" Vickie's face turns to dread as it's her nephew Chavo Guerrero.


Chavo asks Aunt Vickie if she has heard from Rey Mysterio and if he accepted the challenge laid out last week.

Vickie says that she did hear from Rey and that he will show up next week on Smackdown! to give Chavo an answer. Vickie says that there will be no physicality or else she's going to strip Chavo of the Cruiserweight Championship.

Vickie walks off as Chavo gives a cunning look.

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MATCH 3: Finlay vs. Chuck Palumbo (72%, 3*)

 
"The Belfast Bruiser" Finlay took on Chuck Palumbo in the third match of the night.

Both men went at it in the first few minutes of the bout. Finlay with his brawling, strikes, and overall nastiness, and Palumbo with some power moves, including an overhear belly-to-belly suplex.

After some more back-and-forth, Finlay pulled out all the stops and hit Palumbo with an impressive "Rolling Hills" Fireman's Carry Slam. Palumbo kicked out though causing Finlay to show frustration.


Moments later, Hornswoggle appeared from under the ring and threw in Finlay's shillelagh. Referee Nick Patrick saw this though, kicked it out of the ring, and sent Hornswoggle packing.

Hornswoggle went berserk and ran into the ring and tried to bite Patrick in the leg, making Patrick jump out of the ring. Eventually, Hornswoggle abided by his instruction and walked to the back.


All of that was for show as while that was happening, Patrick had his back turned to the ring, and "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters jumped the barricade, grabbed the shillelagh, and cracked Palumbo in the head when he reached out to grab him through the ropes.

Finlay would make the cover and pick up the victory.

WINNER - Finlay by Pinfall [9:16]

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ANGLE: Deuce & Domino Asked About Tag Title Defense (63%)

 
The camera takes us to a shot of Smackdown! General Manager, Theodore Long relaxing in his office. That is until the WWE Tag Team Champions, Deuce & Domino, along with Cherry, bust in all bothered about their match.

They ask how Teddy can even make this kind of match on such short notice and Cherry chimes in and says they didn't even have time to prepare.

Long tells them that if they are true champions, they will take on any challenge. Long then also says it's been a while since those titles have been put on the line so the match will happen tonight!

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ANGLE: The Highlight Reel (98%)


Back from a commercial break and "Break The Walls Down" hits as "Y2J" Chris Jericho makes his way to the ring.

Jericho lets the crowd cheer him before welcoming them to "The Highlight Reel." Jericho then uses the "new and improved JERITRON 5000" to show everyone a replay of him winning the #1 Contender Battle Royal.

Y2J starts talking about facing Edge but just as he is about to say that he will become the new World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam, "Metalingus" hits and Edge comes out early.


Once in the ring Edge tells Jericho to shut his mouth. Edge tells Jericho to look at him and in a crazed manner iterates that no one will ever take this title away from him.

Jericho tells Edge to bring it down a notch and says he understands Edge's emotions are high since Batista has him "scared shitless." Jericho smirks while Edge is staring through him.

Jericho then gets serious and tells Edge he better focus on him. Jericho finishes the statement he tried to earlier and right in Edge's face says he will become the new World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam.

Edge tosses his mic and then gets nose-to-nose with Jericho. The two are mumbling barbs back and forth and Edge then lifts his World Heavyweight Championship.

Edge starts to back off and looks like he is leaving the ring, but charges at Jericho! Jericho catches Edge and takes him down on his back. Jericho goes to put the "Walls of Jericho" on but Edge squirms out and gets out of the ring.

With the World Title still in the ring, Jericho looks at it and picks it up while Edge is visibly ticked off that Y2J got the best of him. Jericho lifts the title up as the segment ends.

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MATCH 4: Victoria vs. Talia Madison (57%, 1*)

 
Victoria's music hit and she headed down the ramp for a match between Talia Madison, an enhancement talent who was already in the ring and given a quick intro by Tony Chimel.

Victoria controlled the majority of the match but Talia did have an impressive showing, getting a brief moment of shine before Victoria cut her off with a vicious boot to the face.

From there, Victoria ended the contest with "Widow's Peak."

WINNER - Victoria by Pinfall [5:27]

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ANGLE: Batista/Flair Talk Before Match (97%)

 
The shot goes to Batista and Ric Flair in the locker room as they talk about tonight's Tag Team Title Match.

Flair brings up what Edge said earlier to Teddy Long and both chuckle. Batista tells Flair that his focus tonight is solely on becoming tag team champs for the third time!

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MATCH 5: Jamie Noble vs. Jimmy Wang Yang (72%, 3*)

 
Cruiserweight action was next as Jamie Noble squared off against Jimmy Wang Yang.

After a brief exchange that saw Yang take the early advantage with a headscissors takedown, Noble assumed control after hitting a dropkick to Yang's knee.

From there, Noble hit a gutbuster and applied a Dragon Sleeper. Yang would get to his feet and flip backward over Noble and counter into a standing sitout shiranui. Yang would grab Noble's leg for the pin attempt and get a close near-fall.

Noble would use the corner to get up but Yang nailed him with a corner backflip kick. Noble fell to the mat in position for Yang to go to the top and attempt a corkscrew 450° splash, but Noble wisely rolled out of the ring.

Yang hopped off the top rope and stood on the apron. Yang waited for Noble to get to his feet and was going to hit a running kick, but Noble dodged it and then swept Yang's leg, causing Yang to fall straight back on the apron hard.

Noble got back in the ring and hit a sitout double underhook powerbomb to pick up the victory.

WINNER - Jamie Noble by Pinfall [6:41]

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***MAIN EVENT*** MATCH 6: Deuce & Domino (c) w/Cherry vs. Batista & Ric Flair
for the WWE Tag Team Championship (70%, 1.5*)

 
After a break, the Smackdown! Main Event was next for the WWE Tag Team Championship as the defending champs, Deuce & Domino took on "The Animal" Batista & "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

Batista started for his team and Deuce & Domino played a quick game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who would start. Domino lost so he started the match.

Batista started the match by tossing Domino in the corner before hitting shoulder thrusts. Batista then grabbed him around the neck with both hands and threw him across the ring. Domino scurried and tagged Deuce in, who looked like he wanted no part.

Deuce came in and hit a few strikes, but Batista put him down after Deuce went off the ropes and got floored by a shoulder block. Batista dragged Deuce into his corner and tagged in Flair.

Flair started off with some classic chops in the corner before hitting an inverted Atomic Drop and knocking Deuce down with a final chop. Flair then lined up and dropped a knee on Deuce's head.

After getting Deuce up, Flair went to hit a vertical suplex, but Deuce blocked it and hit his own, turning the tide of the match. From there, the tag champs took control as frequent tags kept "The Nature Boy" isolated.

Domino then insultingly applied a Figure-Four Leg Lock to Flair and tried to get him to tap to the submission he made famous. Batista and the crowd willed Flair on and eventually, he reversed the hold, forcing Domino to break.


Batista then began stomping the mat trying to get Flair to make the hot tag. As he did this ECW's Johnny Nitro came out of nowhere and tried grabbing Batista's leg to pull him off the apron. Batista shook him off and then dropped down off the apron.

Batista proceeded to chase Nitro around the ring once and up the ramp. Nitro was run all the way to the back by Batista, but as he chased Nitro, Flair was left without someone to tag in.

Deuce was tagged back in, and the duo hit the "West Side Stomp" bearhug/jumping hook kick double-team maneuver. Batista sprinted back down but he was too late and Deuce made the cover to score the massive upset.

WINNERS - Deuce & Domino by Pinfall [14:04]

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ANGLE: Deuce & Domino Celebrate Upset Win (81%)

Deuce & Domino can not believe that they have won the match and defended their titles. Cherry brings in the belts and the two celebrate like they won the lottery.

Meanwhile, Batista has his head on his hands as reality sinks in. Batista helps Flair get to his feet out of the ring and all they can do is watch as Deuce & Domino rub the win in their face.

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FINAL Smackdown! Rating (84%, 2.97 million viewers)

(OOC: Batista and Flair were pissed about letting D 'n' D go over. Oh well gotta be a team player!!!)