Smackdown!
August 31, 2007
Uncasville, Connecticut
ANGLE: JBL Explains His Actions (88%)
After the Smackdown! Intro plays, Tony Chimel starts off the show by asking the crowd to welcome Smackdown! Color Commentator, John Bradshaw Layfield.
JBL is booed as he stands in the middle of the ring. JBL says the question that everyone is wondering and that is why did he attack Batista?
JBL said he thought his in-ring career was over a little over a year ago and decided to watch from the sidelines and become a commentator. JBL says that in that time he's watched 'The Animal' make his mark on Friday nights.
JBL says Batista is impressive, no doubt but the one thing Batista doesn't have is respect. JBL mentions that Batista "respects" 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, but if he had any respect for him he'd tell him what he needs to hear and that is that Flair needs to retire.
JBL says instead, Flair is put in harm's way and that Batista is all brawn and no brain so he can't realize he's putting the man he owes his career to in danger.
JBL says he listened to the doctors when they told him the cold, hard reality but he worked his ass off to get cleared behind the scenes. He said that shove on Sunday was the "powder keg" to convince him to return and teach Batista about respect.
'I Walk Alone' then hits and JBL's face turns white. Batista starts powerwalking to the ring and JBL exits and gets behind the barricade in the timekeeper's table.
Batista enters the ring and grabs the mic that JBL dropped but before he can speak Smackdown! GM, Theodore Long comes out and tells Batista to calm down.
Teddy says that JBL is still officially a commentator and that Batista is not permitted to put his hands on him...tonight...but that changes next week because since JBL is cleared, he will become an active member of the Smackdown! roster.
Teddy also says he has an idea and makes Batista vs. JBL for Unforgiven and Batista smirks as he stares at JBL.
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ANGLE: Y2J Backstage Interview (87%)
The shot goes backstage with Josh Mathews as he welcomes in 'Y2J' Chris Jericho. Mathews asks Jericho about his SummerSlam match and also tonight when he and Kane will team together to face Edge and Mark Henry.
Jericho says Edge is called "The Ultimate Opportunist" for a reason and that he should have known better for falling into the trap of getting hit with the steel chair.
Y2J says that if he gets another crack at it, he'll make sure to not be so naive. Jericho says when it comes to tonight, he looks forward to "returning the favor" to Edge.
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MATCH 1: Chris Masters vs. Chuck Palumbo (61%, 2*)
Chris Masters and Chuck Palumbo continued their feud after squaring off three weeks ago. Palumbo got the victory in that one but then Masters cost Palumbo a match against Finlay.
Both men were able to control portions of the match but in the closing moments, Masters tried locking in the 'Masterlock.' After nearly getting it cinched in, Palumbo drove backward and squashed Masters into the corner, releasing the hold.
Palumbo started hitting rights and lefts in the corner but referee Jimmy Korderas backed him up. When Palumbo went to walk back towards Masters, Masters grabbed the belt loop on his jeans and sent Palumbo face-first into the middle turnbuckle.
Masters then waited until Palumbo got to his feet and lifted him up into a vertical suplex position. Masters then slammed him down, similar to a 'Jackhammer' and Masters picked up the victory.
WINNER - Chris Masters by Pinfall [9:08]
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ANGLE: Hardy vs. MVP United States Title Rematch Next Week! (85%)
A replay of Matt Hardy winning the United States Championship at SummerSlam plays, followed by MVP attacking Hardy during a backstage interview later that night.
A graphic then shows that MVP will invoke his rematch clause and face Hardy next week for the U.S. Title.
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MATCH 2: Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay (83%, 3.5*)
'Booyaka 619' hits and the new Cruiserweight Champion, Rey Mysterio made his way out. A replay of the Mask vs. Title match plays as Rey makes his entrance as he squares off against Finlay in this contest who is without Hornswoggle. A replay shows him getting thrown through a table by Elijah Burke during the Hardcore Battle Royal.
Finlay would get the upper hand at the beginning of the match and control the early to middle portion of the contest. Finlay used a strategy to slow down and ground Mysterio, and that resulted in a few rest holds, including a reverse chinlock where Finlay repeatedly clubbed Mysterio's chest.
Eventually, Rey got some momentum going and started coming back with a flurry of offense, including a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown that caused Finlay to retreat to the outside. Mysterio then went to hit a baseball slide to Finlay, who was resting with his arm on the apron, but Finlay pulled the ring skirt, causing Mysterio to slide in.
With Mysterio trapped in between, Finlay pounded away at Mysterio before Mysterio collapsed to the ground. Finlay then rolled Mysterio back in and when Rey got up, Finlay hit him with a 'Celtic Cross.'
Finlay went for the cover, 1....2....and Mysterio just got the shoulder up! Finlay was in disbelief and argued with referee Charles Robinson. Finlay then had the gears turning and went to sneakily grab his shillelagh resting on the steel steps, but Charles Robinson saw and admonished Finlay, taking it away from him.
Arguing with the ref, Finlay had his back turned to Mysterio and Rey hit him with a dropkick that sent him on the ropes in '619' position. Mysterio would then hit the '619' before going to the top rope and finishing Finlay off with a Frog Splash.
WINNER - Rey Mysterio by Pinfall [11:22]
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ANGLE: Flair Talks to Batista (90%)
Backstage, Batista is walking and still looks to be visible stewing over what JBL said earlier in the night when 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair enters the picture.
The two exchange pleasantries before Flair told Batista not to listen to what that loudmouth jackass JBL said. Flair says he still can handle himself just fine and to prove it, he's going to ask Teddy Long to be JBL's first match back.
Batista says he'll make sure JBL will regret ever coming back and that he'll finish him off at Unforgiven as Smackdown! goes to a commercial break.
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ANGLE: Deuce & Domino Open Challenge (66%)
Returning from the break, the WWE Tag Team Champions, Deuce & Domino are in the ring with Cherry.
Deuce has a mic and starts talking about how Deuce & Domino are the greatest tag team in the WWE today. Deuce again brings up that they beat Batista & Ric Flair and the crowd boos at that mention.
Domino then grabs the mic and says that they can beat anyone. Domino says that tonight they are challenging any team in the back to a match.
After a little delay, familiar music starts playing...
It's a remix of Bret 'The Hitman' Hart's music as two men and a woman make their way out. JBL goes on to mention that they are the final remnants of the Hart Dynasty.
Michael Cole says that we have David Hart Smith, the son of 'The British Bulldog' Davey Boy Smith, TJ Wilson, the final graduate of the legendary Hart Dungeon, and the daughter of Jim 'The Anvil' Neidhart, Natalya.
Deuce & Domino don't know what to think of the surprise but the duo answered the challenge and referee Jimmy Korderas makes his way down to start the contest.
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MATCH 3: Deuce & Domino w/Cherry vs. The Hart Dynasty [DH Smith & TJ Wilson] w/Natalya Neidhart (55%, 1*)
The match began with TJ Wilson and Domino and the newbie Wilson got the upper hand with some quick strikes and moves, frustrating Domino. Deuce would get tagged in and Wilson would frustrate him as well, culminating in a jumping roundhouse kick to the side of Domino's face.
Wilson then went out to the apron and hit a springboard leg drop that got a near fall. DH Smith was then tagged in and the six-foot-five powerhouse picked Domino up and slammed him down with a belly-to-belly suplex.
Smith sent Domino back into his corner and hit a couple of corner clotheslines and back elbows before tagging Wilson in again. Smith then lifted Domino and kept him in a vertical suplex position as Wilson went to the top rope and hit a diving crossbody to an upside-down Domino.
After another near fall, Domino assumed control when he punched Wilson in the midsection as Wilson picked him up. Deuce and Domino then controlled Wilson and isolated him on their side of the ring over the next couple of minutes.
With Wilson being held in the corner by Domino, Deuce went for a running splash in the corner, but Wilson elbowed Domino off and moved at the last minute causing Deuce to connect with the turnbuckles.
Wilson made the hot tag to Smith and DH came in on fire, knocking Deuce down a couple of times with clotheslines and then hitting Domino off the apron with a big boot. Wilson then picked Deuce up to attempt his father's signature running powerslam, but Cherry tried getting involved by distracting referee Jimmy Korderas.
Natalya then came over and socked Cherry right in the face, knocking her on her rear end. Smith re-assumed position and hit the running powerslam to pick up the upset victory.
WINNERS - The Hart Dynasty by Pinfall [8:46]
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ANGLE: Victoria Backstage Interview (73%)
Backstage, Josh Mathews quickly covers the successful debut for the Hart Dynasty before Victoria enters the picture, startling Mathews.
Victoria asks Mathews if he's going to interview her and Mathews complies out of fear. Mathews wasn't sure what to say and Victoria tells him to ask about her victory at SummerSlam.
Victoria grabs the mic away from Mathews and says he's useless and scares him off. Victoria laughs manically about beating down the other ladies, saying that it replays over and over in her dreams at night.
Victoria says she isn't finished though and wants to continue torturing Michelle McCool. The camera cuts back to Michael Cole and JBL and both are perturbed by Victoria as they move on.
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MATCH 4: Jamie Noble vs. Shannon Moore (73%, 2.5*)
Cruiserweight action was next as Jamie Noble took on Shannon Moore. This was a classical fast-paced match by the two and both were able to get a ton of shine.
Noble kept Moore grounded while Moore took to the air to gain control of the match. At one point, Noble, like a bulldog, had a rear chinlock applied to Moore, but Moore got up, spun out of the move, and then hit Noble with a sunset flip powerbomb, getting a near fall.
Moore went to the top rope and waited until Noble got up but when he attempted to hit his 'Mooregasm' corkscrew senton. Noble dropkicked him as he came down. Noble took advantage of the situation and applied a Dragon Sleeper submission to get Moore to tap out for the victory.
WINNER - Jamie Noble by Submission [8:54]
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ANGLE: Vickie Guerrero Talks to Teddy Long About Chavo (73%)
A backstage shot shows Vickie Guerrero talking with Smackdown! GM Theodore Long. Vickie says she hasn't heard from her nephew Chavo since Sunday and is worried.
Kristal Marshall comes over to comfort her as Teddy reassures Vickie that she made the correct call. Teddy says that Chavo has a lot of personal demons to sort through and it's not a reflection on Vickie.
Vickie reiterates that she knows she made the right call but laments that the people closest to her just can't get along.
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***MAIN EVENT*** MATCH 5: Edge & Mark Henry vs. Chris Jericho & Kane (90%, 3*)
The Main Event was next as World Heavyweight Champion, Edge teamed with 'The World's Strongest Man' Mark Henry to take on the team of 'Y2J' Chris Jericho and 'The Big Red Machine' Kane.
Jericho started for his team and wanted Edge in the ring, but Edge declined and had Henry start it off. After a quick flurry from Jericho, Henry shut him down by catching him in a bearhug and then driving him into the corner.
Edge would tag in and get a few stomps in on the corner, but then tagged right back out. Henry shot Edge a little glance but started working on Jericho some more. Henry lifted Jericho up in a Military Press position, but Y2J was able to slide off and end up behind Henry.
Y2J kicked Henry in the leg, sending him down to one knee, before climbing to the top rope. Henry recovered and turned around to get hit with a missile dropkick by Jericho. Jericho made a cover but got thrown off and that was his cue to tag in Kane.
Kane and Henry started going at it in the middle of the ring as they traded blows. Kane hit his signature throat thrust uppercut, sending Henry backward and as he rebounded off the ropes, Kane went off the ropes on the opposite side and connected with a big boot knocking Henry off his feet.
Kane then signaled for a Chokeslam attempt but Edge tried to get in the ring. Referee Charles Robinson held him back but this prompted Y2J to head on over and pull Edge off the apron. The two began trading blows on the outside as back in the ring, Henry blinded Kane with a thumb to the eye behind Robinson's back.
Edge and Jericho ended up fighting all the way up the ramp and Henry would go on to hit his 'World's Strongest Slam' on Kane. Instead of covering Kane for the win, Henry decided he wanted to do more damage to 'The Big Red Machine.'
Henry went outside and grabbed a steel chair that he would bring into the ring. Robinson warned Henry but Henry made a move towards him and Robinson flinched and jumped out of the ring out of fear.
Henry set the chair in the middle of the ring and was about to pick up Kane to hit him with another slam, this time on the chair but...
RESULT - No Contest [11:35]
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ANGLE: A Surprise Return! (92%)
...THE LIGHTS WENT OUT!!!
The lights come back on and THE UNDERTAKER! is in the ring behind Mark Henry
Henry turns around and has 'Taker put his hand around his throat before dropping him with a thunderous Chokeslam.
Undertaker checks on his brother Kane and helps him up. 'Taker sees Henry stirring and does his cutthroat taunt. Undertaker then gets the big man up and drops Henry with a Tombstone Piledriver!
The Undertaker's music plays the show out and he and Kane nod at each other as Henry is out cold in the middle of the ring.
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FINAL Smackdown Rating (83%, 2.83 million viewers)
