Smackdown!
August 24, 2007
Columbus, Ohio
ANGLE: Smackdown Intro + Match Rundown (89%)
"Rise Up" begins playing and the Smackdown! Intro kicks off the show, followed by pyros. Michael Cole and JBL welcome us in and give a rundown of tonight's card.
World Heavyweight Champion, Edge, will take on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair in the Main Event while Rey Mysterio returns to face-off with Chavo Guerrero prior to their Mask vs. Title Match @ SummerSlam.
Cole then mentions that Y2J will be in singles action for the first time since his return...and as the countdown begins, that match is right now!
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MATCH 1: Chris Jericho vs. Chris Masters (83%, 3*)
Jericho makes his entrance as the opening contest is a tune-up match against "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters.
After a couple of lock-ups to start the match, Jericho was pushed into the corner by Masters. Referee Charles Robinson made Masters break but he slapped Y2J in the face. Jericho then returned the favor and sent Masters staggering toward the middle of the ring.
Jericho went towards Masters, but Masters sprung at Y2J and decked him with a clothesline. Masters followed it up by picking Jericho up and dropping him with a side backbreaker.
Masters began working on Jericho's right leg, dropping a couple of elbows in the knee area and then putting his leg on the middle rope before jumping up and dropping his weight on it.
Masters then whipped Jericho hard into the corner, and Y2J collapsed to the ground after the velocity of the whip. Masters then picked Jericho up and was attempting a Gorilla Press Slam, but Jericho was able to squirm his way off and end up behind Masters.
Jericho would hit a dropkick to the back of Masters, sending him through the top and middle ropes to the outside. Jericho would then hit a baseball slide and send Masters stumbling into the barricade.
Jericho rolled Masters back into the ring but when he went to attempt the Walls of Jericho, Masters got out of it by grabbing the back of Y2J's head and pulling him closer, hitting a couple of rights.
Masters would then nail Jericho with a Spinebuster and begin stalking him to attempt the Masterlock. Jericho got to his feet and Masters all but cinched it in until Jericho turned his position into somewhat of a stunner.
Masters held his jaw as Jericho would hit his signature One-Handed Bulldog, followed by a Lionsault. Y2J went for the pin but Masters just barely got his shoulder up.
Jericho waited for Masters to get to his feet and hit his new finisher, the Codebreaker. The double knees to the face were all she wrote and Y2J picked up a pivotal win on his way to SummerSlam.
WINNER - Chris Jericho by Pinfall [10:48]
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ANGLE: Deuce & Domino Gloat About Last Week's Win (65%)
Back from the commercial break and the WWE Tag Team Champions along with Cherry are standing by with Josh Mathews.
Deuce & Domino are in a smiling mood but as Mathews asks about their unlikely title defense from last week, Deuce & Domino feel disrespected by Mathews bringing up the fact that many believe they only won because of interference by Johnny Nitro.
Deuce & Domino squash that and say that they are the best unit on this side of the tracks and they proved it by beating two future Hall of Famers last week. They then bring attention to Cherry, who will be teaming with Victoria next, and give her encouragement.
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MATCH 2: Michelle McCool & Ashley Massaro w/Torrie Wilson vs. Victoria & Cherry (61%, 1*)
The second contest of the night was Michelle McCool & the returning Ashley Massaro versus the team of Victoria & Cherry. Torrie Wilson came out with Michelle McCool and the two waited halfway down the ramp as Ashley's music hit.
B-Roll footage then showed Ashley competing on the hit reality TV show, Survivor (explaining her absence from TV). JBL then made fun of her for being the second islander voted out.
The match began with Victoria and McCool and the two went back and forth for the first minute and a half before Victoria hit a boot to the midsection and a snap suplex to McCool.
After stomping away at McCool in her corner, Cherry was tagged in and continued the corner work. Cherry hit a snapmare and then placed McCool in a reverse chinlock.
McCool would eventually make her way up and shoot Cherry off the ropes before connecting with a big boot to Cherry's face. McCool tagged Ashley in and she went to the top rope and hit a diving crossbody as Cherry got to her feet, getting a near fall.
Ashley then went for a suplex but it was blocked and Cherry hit one of her own. Both ladies were down, and as the crowd anticipated McCool to get the hot tag, Victoria left her post and was going to walk over to McCool.
However, Torrie Wilson cut her off halfway and the two argued. Ashley would get to Michelle and make the tag while Victoria shoved Torrie aside. Ashley would then hit a diving splash onto Victoria on the outside.
Back to the ring and McCool would pick up Cherry and hit the Wings of Love lifting double underhook sitout facebuster for the win.
WINNERS - Michelle McCool & Ashley Massaro by Pinfall [7:13]
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ANGLE: Johnny Nitro Complains to Teddy Long (82%)
The camera cuts to Smackdown! General Manager Theodore Long in his office talking with his fiancée, Kristal Marshall.
Moments later ECW's Johnny Nitro enters the shot and asks Long what the hell he thinks he's doing making him defend the ECW Title against Batista.
Nitro takes off his glasses for full effect and Long tells Nitro that he not only messed with Batista but he messed with him by ruining the Smackdown! Main Event last week.
Nitro says that all the GMs are just drunk with power and that Long should be removed from his duties, just like Mick Foley. Nitro says he's going to appeal this match to the board of directors.
Long laughs and says that maybe Nitro should keep his nose out of other people's business. Long says Nitro can complain all he wants but the board already cleared the match and that he should be focused on getting ready to face an "angry Animal."
Nitro huffs and puffs as he briskly exits the frame.
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MATCH 3: Kane & Matt Hardy vs. Mark Henry & MVP (81%, 3*)
The next contest of the night would combine two SummerSlam matches together as Kane & Matt Hardy would take on the team of Mark Henry & United States Champion, MVP.
Hardy and Henry began the match and very quickly "The World's Strongest Man" gained the advantage. A couple of frequent tags by Henry and MVP were the norm for the first few minutes of the match until Hardy hit a flash DDT on MVP.
Hardy made the hot tag to "The Big Red Machine" Kane and Kane came in on fire, knocking MVP down with a couple of throat thrusts and then knocking Henry on his rear outside when he tried to get in the ring.
Kane would hit a sidewalk slam and then tag Hardy back in, who got on the second rope and hit his signature leg drop on MVP. Hardy then stalked MVP and put his arms up to signal for a Twist of Fate.
Henry, who recuperated from getting knocked off the apron, came from behind and tripped Kane from the apron, causing Kane to hit off the apron, head-first. Henry then drove Kane back-first into the steel ring steps.
The noise caused Hardy to get briefly distracted and turn around to see what happened. While doing so, MVP would take advantage and roll up Hardy from behind. MVP would then put his feet on the ropes at the count of two to get extra leverage and pin Hardy for the win.
WINNERS - Mark Henry & MVP by Pinfall [10:02]
MVP quickly rolled out of the ring, grabbed his U.S. Title, and raised his arm as he and Henry were victorious. Hardy tried pleading with referee Charles Robinson, but he did not see MVP's feet on the ropes.
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ANGLE: Batista/Flair Talk Backstage (90%)
Backstage, in the locker room, Batista and Ric Flair are shown talking. Batista brings up Flair's match with Edge tonight and tells Ric he can be in his corner.
Flair tells the big man to calm down and says he'll be just fine. He says Batista should be focusing on taking the ECW Championship from that punk, Johnny Nitro.
Batista hesitantly agrees and gives Flair a quick handshake hug before walking out.
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MATCH 4: Finlay vs. Hardcore Holly (77%, 2.5*)
"The Belfast Bruiser" Finlay would be in action next against Hardcore Holly. Both men will be involved in Sunday's Hardcore Battle Royal @ SummerSlam to determine the new Hardcore Champion.
This contest was a hard-hitting affair as both men share a similar style. The men exchanged chops, rights, and a lot of strikes. The ending came when Holly hit a sitout slam and then Hornswoggle appeared from under the ring.
Referee Jimmy Korderas tried to corral Hornswoggle as Holly wanted to go out and attack him. With Korderas turning his attention to stopping Holly, Hornswoggle threw in Finlay's shillelagh.
Hornswoggle went back under the ring and Korderas was inspecting as Holly turned around into a shillelagh shot to his midsection. Finlay tossed the evidence and then hit the Celtic Cross to pick up the win.
WINNER - Finlay by Pinfall [8:19]
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ANGLE: Rey/Chavo Confrontation (86%)
The camera cuts to Michael Cole and JBL who talk about the feud between Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero before a short video package is played.
After the video finishes "Booyaka 619" hits and Rey Mysterio makes his return to the WWE! Mysterio gets a loud, sustained reaction and lets the crowd chant for a minute before starting to talk.
But before Mysterio could finish his first sentence, the music of Chavo Guerrero hits interrupting Rey. Chavo already has a mic in hand and tells the crowd to shut it as they boo him coming down the ramp.
Chavo gets in the ring and tells Rey that no one wants to hear what he has to say other than if he accepts his challenge for SummerSlam. Rey doesn't answer right away and Chavo begins a tirade.
Chavo calls Rey a coward and says he won't accept because under that mask, he is simply just a fraud. Chavo says he wants to expose him so badly but it's clear that Rey doesn't have the cajones to accept.
As Mysterio puts the mic to his mouth and starts getting animated, Vickie Guerrero walks down to the ring. Once again, Vickie tries to see if she can somehow salvage this feud but Chavo yells at "Aunt Vickie" to quit it.
Rey then gets in Chavo's face and tells him to cool it. He says for weeks he's watched Chavo mistreat Vickie and he's sick of it. Rey says whether Chavo likes him or not, the Guerreros and Mysterios will always be family.
Rey tells Chavo that he accepts his challenge! Chavo begins to smirk and slowly backs out of the ring. Rey comforts Vickie and hugs her in the ring as Chavo talks trash walking back up the ramp.
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ANGLE: SummerSlam Match Card Rundown (84%)
Back from the commercial break and Michael Cole and JBL go over the match card for the major Smackdown! matches @ SummerSlam.
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***MAIN EVENT*** MATCH 5: Edge vs. Ric Flair (92%, 3*)
The Smackdown! Main Event was next as World Heavyweight Champion, Edge would take on "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
The match started with Flair asking for a lock-up before feigning and taunting Edge, slicking his hair back and strutting. Edge then aggressively locked up and sent Flair into the corner before hitting him with a few chops.
Flair then returned the favor and switched positions before hitting his signature chops. Flair went to whip Edge out of the corner but Edge reversed it and sent Flair hard into the corner. Flair rebounded and walked right into a back body drop by Edge.
Edge then slowed the action down with a sleeper hold. Flair finally fought to his feet after a minute or so and hit a back suplex to break the hold. Flair then went for the Figure-Four Leglock, but Edge kicked him off. Edge charged, but Flair hit a shin breaker, and Edge fell to the mat.
Flair then locked in the Figure-Four and had Edge screaming in pain. After a minute, Edge was able to push his way to the bottom rope and break the submission. Edge rolled out of the ring to buy some time.
Flair came out to retrieve Edge and rolled him back into the ring. When Flair entered back into the ring, Edge kicked the rope and it resulted in the Nature Boy getting a rope shot to his groin. Flair yelled in pain as he fell to the mat and held his lower region.
Edge then got into position and delivered a Spear when Flair rose to his feet. Edge made the cover and picked up the victory.
WINNER - Edge by Pinfall [10:29]
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ANGLE: Y2J Gets Another One Up on Edge (93%)
After Edge gets his hand raised he then decides to continue to assault Ric Flair. He hits Flair with a few stomps and is about to set up for another Spear when "I Walk Alone" hits and Batista comes running down.
Batista enters as Edge slides out of the ring and goes to grab his World Title. Batista checks on Flair while Edge is slowly walking up the ramp backward.
Edge is jawing with Batista but behind him, Chris Jericho appears. Edge is oblivious to Y2J approaching him and Jericho eventually gets to Edge and surprises him by throwing him back in the ring.
Edge gets up and shoots a look at Y2J before turning around to be hit with a Batista Bomb!
Batista's music hits again as he helps Flair while Jericho is shown smirking as Edge is writhing in pain in the middle of the ring.
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FINAL Smackdown Rating (86%, 2.99 million viewers)
