WWE 2008: 'The Next Generation'

Friday Night Smackdown - April 11, 2008

[Opening Credits]

“Welcome to Friday Night Smackdown! Last week, we saw Kane and La Familia throw everything at The Undertaker to keep him down, only for him to rise from the ashes and stand tall once again. I’m Michael Cole and alongside me is Jonathan Coachman, and Coach, how far are La Familia prepared to go in their pursuit of destroying The Undertaker?”

“As far as it takes. Even somebody as resilient as The Undertaker has a limit Michael, and Edge won’t stop until he finds that limit and pushes him beyond it.”

“Many have tried, and many have failed. We saw last week that even a Tombstone from Kane couldn’t keep him down for very long.”

“You only need three seconds to win a match, Michael. When Edge and Vickie are back next week from their well deserved night off at one of the finest spas in the state, you’ll see that everything is going to plan.”

“Ah yes folks, our General Manager Vickie Guerrero, and her fiancé Edge, aren’t here tonight. Neither is Teddy Long, leaving Chavo Guerrero in charge.”

“There should always be a Guerrero on Smackdown Cole, and I look forward to seeing Chavo’s vision come to life tonight.”

“Well you’re more optimistic than I am Coach, but nevertheless, we do have a great show for you tonight. Matt Hardy defends his United States Title against MVP in a rematch from WrestleMania, one that Chavo Guerrero will no doubt be watching closely.”

“Chavo will fight for the US Title at Backlash, and he’s going to be ready for whichever of those two men he has to face.”

“Meanwhile, Finlay and Hornswoggle return after taking a week off to spend time back home in Ireland, and they’ll face the indomitable Festus.”

“Festus is a complete wildcard, Michael.”

“Festus is a wildcard, but Finlay has a veteran’s know-how and a brawler’s instinct, and Hornswoggle is often the difference maker.”

“Finally in our main event, The Undertaker will face ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ Mark Henry. Henry has never defeated The Undertaker one on one, so this is a great opportunity for him to change that.”

“A genius decision to put these two together by Chavo, he’s off to a great start. Do you think The Undertaker will be in any condition to face The World’s Strongest Man? He may have sat up after his beating last week, but what condition will he be in tonight?”

“Hate to say it, Coach, but I’ll have to agree with you on that one. Now, up next is our first match of the evening as Deuce ‘n’ Domino face off against Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore in tag team action. Next!”

—

Deuce ‘n’ Domino w/ Cherry vs. Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore

Cole reminds us that these two teams met back in January in a match at the Royal Rumble, which Moore and Yang were victorious in. Since then neither team has been able to effectively challenge The Miz and John Morrison for their titles, although Yang and Moore have certainly come closer than anyone else. Cherry gets a nice cheer from the crowd on her way in which seems to annoy her charges, especially Domino. Domino starts against Yang and is clearly very fired up as he gets an early advantage on the high-flyer by grounding him and working him over in the corner. Frequent tags isolate Yang as Moore tries to get the crowd going. He gets a mild response. Cherry does the same and gets a much bigger response. Deuce gets her to knock it off, but she saunters off to pose with some of the fans at ringside.

“Cherry is a distraction right now for the wrong team!”

“I quite like it, actually Coach, she’s got a great personality.”

“She should be trying to help her team win.”

Taking advantage of the distraction, Yang manages to counter a double-team manoeuvre, sending Deuce crashing to the mat with a well-timed dropkick. Deuce comes back to cut him off but misses a crossbody and YANG MAKES THE TAG! Moore leaps into action, launching himself off the top rope with a breathtaking crossbody that takes down the oncoming Domino. Deuce is up and he gets dropped with a spinning heel kick. Moore helps Yang to his feet as Cherry continues to play to the crowd, encouraging them to cheer on her team. A few at ringside oblige, but the overwhelming majority start to chant for Cherry instead! In the ring, with Deuce and Domino reeling, Moore drops Deuce with the Mooregasm, and Yang comes off the top with Yang Time. Moore makes the cover. 1…2…3.

Winners: Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore

The crowd cheers as Yang and Moore celebrate their hard-fought victory, while Cherry checks on her team. Domino berates her and asks “what the hell you doin’ kid?” and the three of them walk to the back rather disgruntled. Moore and Yang celebrate their victory in the ring as we go to an early commercial break.

—

The Power of Positivity Pt. 1

The scene opens at a luxurious spa facility where Vickie Guerrero and Edge are seen relaxing in plush robes, surrounded by serene ambiance, and attended to by a harem of women. In the corner is Teddy Long, scribbling furiously into a notepad labelled ‘The Book of Mack’.

“Isn't this just heavenly, Edge?” Vickie sighs, contentedly. “A well-deserved break from all the chaos”.

Edge nods pensively but he looks somewhat distant. His mind seemingly preoccupied.

“What’s on your mind, darling?”

“It’s just…” He pauses, gathering his thoughts. “I can't shake the feeling that without your beautiful face and brilliant brain overseeing everything, things might not…unfold… how they need to.”

“Chavo's in charge tonight my love, remember? He’ll take care of things.”

“I love Chavo. I do. He’s your nephew, and I have every confidence in him, but his eagerness to prove himself might get in the way of our primary focus on The Undertaker,”

Vickie smiles and places a reassuring hand on Edge’s shoulder. ”Oh, darling, don't worry about Chavo. He's a Guerrero, after all. He'll handle everything just fine. Besides, you need this time to unwind. You've been carrying so much weight on your shoulders lately.”

Edge nods reluctantly, relaxing back into his hammock. “I guess you're right. We’re just so close to realising our goals.”

“Trust me, Edge.” Vickie quietly cackles. “I have a good feeling about tonight. And hey, why don't we make the most of our time here? I heard about this diamond package they offer. Maybe it'll help us... get on the same page.”

Edge raises an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. “The diamond package, huh? Sounds intriguing. What's it about?”

Vickie’s smile turns to a mischievous grin. “Oh, just a little something to help us find our inner balance. They even have a Yogi who can guide us ‘on the spiritual journey of a lifetime’.

Edge meets her eyes and smirks. “Well we’ve certainly had our fair share of those. Might be hard to top.”

Teddy Long looks over at the pair of them aghast, shakes his head, and returns to his writing.

“Well then, let's see what this ‘diamond package’ has to offer.”

—

Festus w/ Jesse vs. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle

Festus is out first - completely vacant - accompanied to the ring by his brother Jesse. Michael Cole reminds us that Festus is undefeated in singles competition, owing to the fury that he brings once the ring bell rings. Finlay is out next without Hornswoggle, although Coach remarks that Finlay’s son doesn’t tend to take the usual route to the ring.

“After his loss at Wrestlemania, Finlay and his son Hornswoggle spent time with family back in Ireland, no doubt catching up on the years they’ve spent apart.”

DING! DING! DING!

As the bell rings, Festus’ eyes snap open, a primal roar escaping his lips as he springs into action. He moves with a frenetic energy, throwing windmilling attacks at Finlay who bobs and weaves before landing a haymaker of his own. It doesn’t even phase Festus. He pushes forward against Finlay with forearms and then a body slam right into the corner with Finlay’s head bouncing off the mat as he lands. Festus stomps the downed Irishman but Finlay fights up to a knee and then a drop toe hold sends Festus face first into the turnbuckle. That one registers but he shakes it off quickly. Hard chop by Finlay.

“WOOO!”

Finlay gets some distance and ducks a clothesline, misses a back elbow, and gets dropped with a shoulder tackle! Festus runs the ropes again, Finlay gets up, but gets knocked right back down with another shoulder tackle. He gets up one more time and once more he goes down.

“Finlay may need to change his game up a bit if he wants to get the better of Festus.”

Finlay does just that as he throws some strikes at Festus’ abdomen trying to wind the big man, and when he charges, Finlay dodges and rolls through with a school boy, 1…2…Kickout. Another charge and Finlay jumps over with a sunset flip, 1…2..Festus powers out and gets straight back to his feet. Finlay tries an irish whip but gets reversed, kicks a ducking Festus and then drives his elbow down hard into his spine. Swinging neckbreaker. 1…2…Kickout! Festus once again powers out, but this time he gets up and catches Finlay in mid-air trying a shoulder tackle, lifts him onto his shoulder and hits a running powerslam that the Bulldog would’ve been proud of. 1…2..Finlay kicks out.

Clubbing blows to the back keep Finlay down and he uses that ‘veteran know-how’ to roll outside and gather himself once more. Festus looks to follow but Finlay pops up and yanks him neck first onto the top rope, sending him crashing back to the canvas. Finlay drops down and tries to shake off the attack but it isn’t long before Festus is climbing out of the ring after him, this time unimpeded. Finlay again tries to put some distance between them as Festus gives chase.

“Coach, look, it’s Hornswoggle!”

Hornswoggle pops his head out of the ring apron to a big response from the crowd. Finlay slides in past him as Festus comes round the corner and stops. Dead.

“What the..”

“Have we ever seen anything stop Festus during a match?”

Festus is frozen in place, staring straight ahead at Hornswoggle, his expression vacant. Jesse looks confused and checks on his brother who is as unresponsive as he is outside of a match. Jesse tries to wake him up but it doesn’t work. To be fair, Hornswoggle is equally frozen in place, having not expected the big man to come charging around the corner. He takes a step back and glances at Finlay in the ring who simply shrugs. Hornswoggle backs away and disappears back under the ring. Finlay jumps out, shoves Jesse out of the way, and drags Festus back into the ring. He signals for the Celtic Cross when all of a sudden Festus blinks, roars, and grabs Finlay in a bearhug.

“He’s awake!”

Finlay tries to fight him off but can’t break the grip, and when Festus scoops him up into a fireman’s carry, there’s only one way this match is ending. Sit-Out Flapjack. Festus makes the cover. 1…2…3! The bell rings and his eyes glaze over once again. Jesse checks on him, still looking confused, and then leads him out of the ring.

Winner: Festus

“Well we’ve never seen Festus like that before, Michael.”

“Something about Hornswoggle stopped him in his tracks, but he came to just in time to finish this one with the Sit-Out Flapjack. Another win for Festus. Now, let’s take a quick look at events that transpired this past Tuesday on our ECW brand.”

—

A video package shows highlights from the match between Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, Big Show, and Tommy Dreamer. All three men opened by attacking Big Show but he held his own until The Great Khali came out and attacked. They brawl out of the ring and through the crowd and then both men disappear. Show doesn’t return. The three remaining fought and battled, dealing with Kane’s interference, working together to take him down. The end of the match came as CM Punk had Tommy Dreamer locked in the Anaconda Vice and Rob Van Dam on the top rope. He could hit a five star frog splash and take out both men and possibly win the match, but he sees Kane stirring outside, and chooses to dive onto him with a crossbody and take him out instead. Dreamer taps and CM Punk wins, earning a title shot against Kane at Backlash.

—

Obsessions

After that recap, we cut backstage to Eve Torres standing poised ready to interview The Big Show.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guest at this time, the largest athlete in the world, The Big Show!" The crowd cheers as Big Show steps forward, comically towering over Eve who cranes her neck to meet his gaze. "Big Show, we just saw what happened three days ago on ECW with The Great Khali interfering in the number one contender’s match."

Big Show's expression darkens as he cuts Eve off and takes the mic. “Eve, let me tell you something. Over the last couple of weeks I can’t go anywhere without seeing The Great Khali. I wrestle a match? There he is. I go to the gym? There he is. I’ve had to start showering back at the hotel just so I can have some peace!” Big Show chuckles but when Eve joins in his mood quickly turns back serious once again. She nods.

“It does seem like he’s got an obsession with you

"I think you’re onto something, but you know what, Eve? I'm done playing games with Khali. I'm done with the mind games, the sneak attacks, and the constant interference. At Backlash, I'm going to do what I do best. I'm going to step into that ring, and I'm going to break The Great Khali."

His words hang in the air as Big Show turns to leave. The camera lingers for a few seconds on him, but for once we don’t have The Great Khali standing by to attack him. The camera swings back to Eve.

"The Big Show means business. We'll see if The Great Khali is up to the challenge at Backlash. Michael, Coach, back to you boys at ringside.”

—

John Morrison © w/ The Miz vs. Little Guido

Little Guido is already in the ring pacing and eagerly awaiting his opponent. The Miz heads out first, moonlighting as a commentator in case the wrestling gig doesn’t quite work out. John Morrison comes out separately and hands his tag belt off to The Miz. Cole explains that Miz and Morrison were mocking Guido’s Full Blooded Italians group on their weekly web show ‘The Dirt Sheet’, leading to Guido facing Miz three days ago. Guido  Guido got the win over Miz on ECW with a small package roll up, and ever competitive, John Morrison wants to prove he’s better than his partner.

“Miz, it’s great to have you out here with us, how ya been?”

“Well I’ve been spending more time than I’d like on ECW, Coach, but as one half of the tag team champions and the most recognisable social media star in the company, I can’t complain too much.”

Cole voices his disdain for Miz as Morrison gets things underway, using his speed to throw Guido off and not allow him to incorporate his shoot style ground game. Morrison hits a beautiful spinning heel kick for a one count, and then follows up with an STO backbreaker before pulling Guido back up and hitting a russian legsweep for a two count.

“You had some trouble with Guido on ECW, but it looks like Morrison has learned from your mistakes.”

“Did you not see that he was holding my tights Michael? As far as I’m concerned I won that match by disqualification. Those ECW referees are a joke”

“I don’t know anything about that Miz, but your partner John Morrison is doing a great job in the opening of this match.”

Guido keeps trying to fight to a vertical base and finally makes it when Morrison goes for a split-legged moonsault and finds nothing but canvas. Guido works over the left shoulder and stomps it hard into the mat. Miz complains but a brief smile flickers on his face. Guido keeps Morrison down, preventing him from using his speed, and continues to work over the shoulder. Miz chooses this moment to get up and shout something at Guido but he doesn’t let the distraction bother him and locks in a shoulder breaker hold. Morrison flails but manages to scoot around and get his legs on the bottom rope to break the hold. Guido backs up, but as the referee checks on Morrison, Miz grabs his foot and tries to get him to come outside.

Guido declines and laughs at The Miz, but this buys Morrison some valuable time to recover. Guido looks to drag him out of the corner but Morrison hits a sidekick to the head, and then hits a rolling front kick, knocking Guido into the ropes. Morrison seizes the opportunity and clotheslines Guido up and over the top rope, sending him crashing into the floor outside. He looks to follow him out but the referee gets in his way and tells him to stay in the ring. Morrison argues and tries to push through but the referee isn’t moving. Miz grabs his belt, measures Guido, and NAILS him in the face with it. Morrison finally moves the referee and grabs Guido, throwing him back into the ring.

“What the hell was that for Miz?”

“It’s called making a statement, Cole, you wouldn’t know anything about it.”

Morrison hits the split-legged moonsault onto the prone Little Guido and the referee makes the count. 1…2..3. John Morrison wins. Miz grabs both belts and slides in to celebrate with his partner. Morrison has a few not-so-pleasant words for him saying he had it won, he didn’t need to get involved. Miz protests and Morrison drops it, choosing to pose with the belts instead.

Winner: John Morrison

“This one is over thanks to the Miz’s interference. He ran through Guido with the title.”

“Work as hard as you have to and no more, Michael. It’s all about getting the job done. You might not like it, but it’s effective.”

“I don’t like it, and I don’t think John Morrison was all too pleased either as he felt he was turning the tide.”

—

The Power of Positivity Pt. 2

“We’ve been going at this for half an hour, it’s no good!” Vickie cries as the camera cuts back to her and Edge at the woodland spa. Teddy Long is still with them, standing at the back of the room with a towel draped over each arm, looking as awkward as you can possibly imagine, as Vickie and Edge are getting massages. “I’ve been knotted for years - ow!”

“Like you said to me earlier baby, just relax. Have a glass of whatever this is, it’s changed my mood completely!” Edge gestures at one of their female attendants to pour them both another drink.

Vickie settles in and the two lock hands. Teddy Long, still lingering in the background, shifts uncomfortably, feeling out of place amidst the serene atmosphere. "I don't know about y'all, but I prefer a good old-fashioned workout over all this... pampering," he mutters under his breath, adjusting the towels on his arms.

Ignoring Teddy's grumbling, Vickie reaches out to him with a playful smile. "Oh, Teddy, don't be such a sourpuss. Embrace the power of positivity!" she exclaims with a rather piercing high-pitched squeal, raising her glass in a toast.

Edge chuckles, amused by Vickie's infectious, if slightly forced, enthusiasm. "She's right, Teddy. You could use a little relaxation yourself. Why don't you go and enjoy some downtime? We'll call you if we need anything," he suggests, motioning for Teddy to leave.

Reluctantly, Teddy nods and heads for the door, muttering something about being the assistant manager of Smackdown and not a personal assistant. As the door closes behind him, Edge and Vickie share a wicked glance, but then Edge seems to remember something.

“What time are we booked in for the yoga? That sensei sounds incredible.”

“Enough time for us to have the room to ourselves.” She smiles, pauses, looks around at the attendants and then finally clears her throat. “Excuse me, can we have the room please.” She smiles as sweetly as she can possibly manage and then calls for the lights to be turned off as the staff leave the room. Thankfully, at the sound of giggles and rustling sheets, we head to a commercial break.

—

Stack The Deck

As we return from the break, Michael Cole is standing in the ring and he asks everyone to welcome his guest at this time, ‘The Animal’ Dave Batista. Batista is here in street gear and he’s got a smile on his face. The crowd is delighted to see him. He steps into the ring and takes a microphone from Cole as his music cuts off.

“Dave, it’s great to have you with us tonight, tell me, how are you feeling after everything that’s happened since WrestleMania?”

Dave takes a second, adjusts his leather jacket and slowly and methodically places his sunglasses in his breast pocket. “Thanks Michael, it’s great to be back here in Boston”. Cheap pop. “But to answer your question, there’s been a lot to process. I know Shawn’s had his way of handling it and I’ve got mine.”

“Speaking of Shawn Michaels, the two of you shared an uncomfortable moment eleven days ago on RAW”.

We cut to a video clip showing the moment that Shawn Michaels came down to say goodbye to Flair, with both Chris Jericho and Batista exchanging glances and not looking too impressed with the Heartbreak Kid.

“I got no problems with Shawn. Do I wish he could put his ego aside for one night? Sure, but I know that at WrestleMania, and especially against Ric Flair, I would be making a mockery of the man I love, my friend, The Nature Boy, if I asked Shawn to do anything less. That being said, whilst I don’t blame him for his actions, I can’t help but wonder if he can ever truly be at peace with his decisions.”

“I’d like to ask you about your match with Umaga at WrestleMania, if I may?” Batista nods. “It was a hard-fought battle, but ultimately one where you came up short. What lessons can you learn from a match like that?”

“You learn far more from a loss than you ever will from a win. You have to learn that one the hard way, but it’s true. Look, any loss is a tough pill to swallow, no doubt about it, but you reassess, reevaluate, and you come back even stronger.”

“BA-TI-STA! BA-TI-STA!”

“I realised that since I lost the World Heavyweight Title to Edge last year, I haven’t been myself. I’ve been a step off the pace, I was training less, not putting in the work like I used to. But then, at WrestleMania, I faced off against the Samoan Bulldozer and for the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t even at the races. I’ve lost before, but this was a wake up call. After that loss something inside me switched back on, I found that spark again, and let me tell you that spark has turned into a flame and now I am burning to get back into the ring.”

“Is that your goal, Batista? To reclaim the World Heavyweight Title?”

“Four months is a long time Michael. It might not seem like it, but in this business it’s a lifetime. I may have rediscovered my passion for this business, but I’m in no rush to make the same mistakes I did before. Oh no, this time I’ve got a game plan.”

“A game plan…?”

“Yep, but unfortunately, I’m going to need to keep these cards close to my chest. I’ve got a plan, and mark my words, when that plan comes to fruition, I’ll be standing at the top of the mountain once again.”

“Well, there we have it, folks, straight from the mouth of 'The Animal' himself! Thank you for joining us tonight, Batista.”

Batista nods, a determined glint in his eyes, and hands the microphone back to Cole. He takes a moment to soak in the cheers from the crowd before taking his sunglasses and putting them back on and then exiting the ring. As Batista makes his way up the ramp, his passion rekindled with a newfound purpose, the camera cuts away to an advertisement for Backlash.

—

At Backlash, WWE Heavyweight Champion John Cena will defend his newly won title against the winner of the King of the Ring. Four will become two after this coming Monday’s semi-finals are done with, and then, only one final hurdle to be crowned WWE royalty. Edge may have lost his World Heavyweight Title to The Undertaker at WrestleMania, but his fiancee and Smackdown’s General Manager, Vickie Guerrero, wasted no time in announcing his rematch. CM Punk will face Kane for the ECW Heavyweight Title. Big Show has challenged The Great Khali, and we know that Chavo Guerrero will challenge for the United States Title, but who will be the champion going into Backlash? Matt Hardy or MVP? We’ll find that out next!

—

United States Title Match: Matt Hardy © vs. Montel Vontavious Porter

Chavo Guerrero comes out with Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins - both of whom are sporting neck braces - before the match and Chavo gets on commentary. MVP, and then Matt Hardy, make their way to the ring, both to a good response. The two men stand face to face in the ring as the bell sounds, MVP does his usual “I’m better than you at everything” speech which gets Matt fired up, returning with the zinger “You’re only better at getting your ass beat” and so MVP shoves Matt, gets shoved in return, and then SLAPS the spit out of Hardy’s mouth. Both men start exchanging strikes but MVP has the advantage and presses on. Matt tries to hit a clothesline but MVP dodges and gets a roll up for a one count. The two men stand off.

“This is why MVP is a former champion, and I am a future champion. The golden roll-up rule: hold the tights.”

“We wouldn’t expect anything different from you Chavo, but some people have a bit more integrity than breaking the rules to win.”

“The winners make the rules Michael, remember that.”

Matt gives MVP a sarcastic applause and then offers a test of strength. MVP is all-game but as soon as they lace fingers he kicks Matt in the gut and hits a double arm suplex for another one count. Matt gets up and just about avoids a big boot from MVP who gets tangled in the corner. Matt kicks out the other leg and stomps him into the corner. He tries a suplex out of the corner but MVP blocks and hits a sit-out front suplex. MVP again goes for the big boot, looking to end it early, but Matt rolls out of the ring, He points at Chavo, Curt, and Zack, and reminds them to mind their own business and stay out of it. Chavo smiles, and Matt turns as MVP comes flying out of the ring with a suicide dive, wiping out the champion!

“Now that's what I call taking the fight to the champion, Cole! MVP is showing exactly why he's a force to be reckoned with!”

“I couldn’t agree more Coach, MVP has been really impressive here tonight.”

MVP wastes no time in seizing control of the match. He pummels Matt with a barrage of strikes, keeping the champion on the defensive. With a look of steely determination in his eyes, he drags Matt by the hair and rolls him back into the ring, eager to capitalise on his advantage. 1…2…kickout. MVP continues to wear Matt down, a series of punishing blows to the midsection leave Matt gasping for air, and just about kicking out before three. MVP feels the time is right for another Big Boot, but Matt disagrees, and hits him with a running side effect! Matt drapes an arm over MVP but he kicks out easily. MVP reverses an irish whip and BIG BOOT. He nearly took Matt’s head off. He makes the cover. One..Two…Thr-NO! Matt kicked out!

MVP signals for the Playmaker as he stalks the champion, looking to put him away. Matt reverses out, Twist of Fate-no! MVP drives Matt back into the corner. He lifts Matt up to the second rope but gets kicked away. He charges in again and gets kicked again. Matt grabs MVP and hits a beautiful tornado DDT. One…Two…KICKOUT. Matt goes back up to the second rope, throws up the team extreme poses and comes crashing down with a leg drop. Cover. Loooooong two count. After MVP throws a few empty swings, Matt grabs his opponent and nails him with the Twist of Fate. One..Two…Three! Matt Hardy retains!

Winner: Matt Hardy

“A wrestling clinic put on by the United States Champion Matt Hardy. He took everything MVP could throw at him, weathered it, and came back fighting. A great win for the champion.”

Chavo is already leaving the commentary booth but Matt sees him approaching and offers him the opportunity to get into the ring with him right now. Chavo declines and sits back down, saying he’ll take the title at Backlash. He can wait.

[Commercial Break]

—

‘Shooting Star’ Evan Bourne w/ Michelle McCool vs. Kenny Dykstra w/ Victoria

We come back from commercial break to both men already in the ring and their manager’s outside, Victoria keeping her distance from Michelle McCool and telling Dykstra he’s got this. Cole tells us that after a period of time apart they had got back together and it was Victoria that arranged this match to get Kenny back on a win streak, having lost all of his matches so far this year. Evan made an impressive debut last week as the first future star of Michelle McCool’s ‘McCool Runnings Talent Agency’, defeating seasoned veteran Jamie Noble. Dykstra will present a very different challenge.

“Since you’re still out here Chavo, who do you favour for this match?”

“Órale, Michael. Evan Bourne moves well but if Kenny can get back that ruthless aggression he once had, he could be the next breakout star on Smackdown.”

The bell rings, and the match begins with both Evan Bourne and Kenny Dykstra circling one another cautiously. They lock up in the centre, vying for control. Dykstra manages to gain the upper hand with a quick arm drag, but Bourne is back on his feet in an instant, ready to retaliate.They lock up again, this time Evan grabs Kenny in a side headlock. Kenny tries to push him off after running the ropes but Evan drops down and holds on. Kenny weakens Bourne’s grip with a few elbows to the gut and this time he breaks free and comes off the ropes with a dropkick. Evan gets up to one knee and they stand off.

“Equal footing early on here.”

The two men exchange a series of quick manoeuvres, Dykstra reversing well trying to keep up with the high-flyer. Bourne gains momentum with a lightning-fast spinning heel kick that sends Dykstra staggering backward. But Dykstra quickly recovers, targeting Bourne's knee with a chop block, and then follows up with three successive elbow drops to the knee hoping to keep his opponent grounded.

“Dykstra cutting off the aerial assault, that weaponry that Bourne possesses.”

“It’s a great gameplan Cole.”

Dykstra continues to focus his assault on Bourne's knee, using a combination of strikes and submission holds to wear him down. Bourne grits his teeth, fighting through the pain as he struggles to regain his footing. With the support of the crowd behind him, Bourne fights back to his feet but a front kick attempt is caught by Kenny, who nails him with a dragon screw, reigniting the agony in Bourne’s knee. Victoria cheers on from ringside as Michelle McCool tries to get Evan to stand up and fight. Dykstra drags Bourne to his feet and toys with him. Mocking his groggy opponent in front of him and then slapping him in the face, Kenny tells him to “wake up” before dropping him again with a right hand. Bourne kicks out at Kenny, who dodges and stomps the knee once more. McCool tries to get the crowd going.

“Up! Up! Up! Up!”

A few members of the crowd follow suit, but it does off quickly when Kenny applies the figure four leglock. Evan tries to drag himself backwards to the ropes but he’s got a long way to go.

“Bourne’s shooting star might have already burned out!”

As Evan is writhing in pain trying desperately to pull himself to the ropes, a woman jumps the barricade and sprints around the ring to attack Victoria! Victoria never saw it coming and gets blindsided by the woman who keeps screaming “You had this coming!”. Dykstra lets go of the hold and goes to intervene. The woman notices him and jumps back over the barricade, disappearing into the crowd.

“Who the hell was that?”

“I’ve no idea Coach. Chavo, you’re in charge tonight, care to shed any light on why a fan was able to get out here and attack one of our wrestlers?”

“I…I’ve no idea!” Chavo looks confused.

“Might be worth investigating. Meanwhile we still have a match to call.” Chavo gets up and leaves, directing Curt and Zach to do the same - although with their neck braces on they are somewhat cumbersome and slow.

“Dykstra is checking on Victoria but he’s about to get counted out if he doesn’t get back in the ring.”

Kenny hears the referee count “EIGHT!” and reluctantly slides back into the ring, his eyes more focussed on Victoria than on his opponent, allowing Evan to spring up with one last desperate attempt and he WIPES OUT Dykstra with a BRUTAL roundhouse kick. Both men collapse to the floor, Bourne drapes his arm over. One...Two...Three!

“Evan Bourne capitalises on Dykstra’s distraction and gets the win with a vicious roundhouse kick.”

“The referee should have called this one over after Victoria was attacked, Michael! Dykstra was doing the right thing checking on his partner and then Evan sneak attacked him.”

“I’m not sure Evan knew anything about it. It looked like he just acted out of instinct to me.”

“We’ll have to disagree on that one Michael. Anyway, once Chavo finds the assailant, she’ll be dealt with by the police.”

“Yes, as much as I can’t say I’m a fan of Victoria, we don’t encourage any fans to get involved in the action.”

“Did you hear what she said Michael? ‘You had this coming!” I wonder what she meant?”

Winner: ‘Shooting Star’ Evan Bourne

As Bourne celebrates his victory with McCool in the ring, Dykstra checks on Victoria and asks her what we all want to know, “Who was that?”. Her response is inaudible as he helps her to the back. She’s holding her neck and seems to be in a lot of pain as we cut away again.

—

The Power of Positivity Pt. 3

As the feed cuts back to the woodland spa, Edge and Vickie are seen emerging from beneath the covers of a massage table, their hair tousled and their expressions radiant. Just before Edge can speak, the door to the spa room creaks open once again, breaking the spell of their private reverie. In steps the yoga instructor, his presence commanding attention as he strides into the room with an air of confidence,either unaware or unconcerned with what has just transpired.

"Welcome, Edge and Vickie," he says in a deep, resonant voice, his eyes gleaming with a spark of inner wisdom. “I am the Yogi here, Yogi Page.”

Edge and Vickie exchange a bemused glance as they take in the sight of the imposing figure before them. Something about him seems oddly familiar to Edge, but he can't quite place where he’s seen him before. “Do I know you?”

“I believe that all souls are intertwined, don’t you? Perhaps in a former life? Now, if you take these robes, we shall reconvene in the room just down the hall.” He smiles. “I’ll give you both a few minutes.”

Edge furrows his brow, a puzzled expression crossing his face as the Yogi makes his leave. "Yogi Page, huh? Why do I recognise him? He just seems so... oddly familiar."

Vickie shoots him a curious look, but they both get dressed and follow the Yogi's instructions, donning the robes provided and making their way to the designated room down the hall. As they enter, they find Yogi Page waiting for them, a serene smile emanating from him.

"Let us begin our practice," he says, his voice smooth and melodious. "We will start with some simple yoga poses to centre ourselves and connect our breathing with our muscles."

Edge and Vickie nod in agreement, Vickie somewhat more reluctant than Edge, who already appears eager to get started. As they move through the poses, Edge displays great strength and flexibility as he effortlessly assumes each posture, while Vickie struggles to keep up, her movements clumsy and awkward, occasionally falling over and landing on her backside. With Edge's encouragement and Yogi Page's gentle guidance, she begins to find her rhythm, although by now she is damp with sweat.

“How does that feel now?” asks Edge, standing on one leg with his arms raised high above his head.

“It…feels…fine…” manages Vickie, clearly more at home atop the massage tables. Both of them rise from their mats, bow towards one another, and then turn to face Yogi Page for his

guidance, only to find that he's vanished without a trace.

As Edge and Vickie exchange puzzled looks, the room seems to fill with a sense of mystery and wonder. "Where did he go?" Vickie wonders aloud, her voice tinged with a mixture of confusion and awe.

Edge shrugs, a bemused smile playing on his lips. "Who knows? Maybe he's off to enlighten someone else." They both chuckle. “I just wish I could place him.”

Edge and Vickie gather their belongings and make their way out of the room feeling invigorated and their spirits lifted by the experience. As they step back into the bustling spa, they can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the unexpected journey they've just embarked on. Edge puts his arm around Vickie and thanks her once again for knowing exactly what he needed in order to be ready for The Undertaker at Backlash.

And as they make their way back to their private retreat, Vickie comments that it’s probably almost time for the main event if Edge wanted to retire and watch Mark Henry destroy The Undertaker. He says that sounds like a perfect way to end their day. The camera fades to black and we cut back to the arena.

—

Non-Title Match: The Undertaker © vs. Mark Henry

Mark Henry heads out first as Cole tells us that Chavo may be in charge tonight, but Vickie Guerrero’s fingerprints are all over this match. Coachman calls it genius, Cole gets upset about it, and then both men get cut off.

GONG!

As ever, The Undertaker’s entrance is absolutely epic, the crowd pops hard for it, and the World Heavyweight Champion methodically walks down the ramp. Henry slaps himself a couple of times to get fired up as Taker removes his hood and the two men go face to face. Cole reminds us that Henry has never beaten The Undertaker in a one on one match, and The Deadman looks intense and determined to deal with The World’s Strongest Man. Henry gets in his face but Undertaker doesn’t move an inch. Henry is nose to nose with the Deadman who just waits. Mark takes a step back and that’s the cue for Taker to start throwing bombs. Henry tries to respond but misses and gets driven into the turnbuckle with body shots and big right hands. The referee tries to get Taker to let Henry out of the corner so he gives him some room before charging in with an avalanche. A second attempt sees Henry catch him and charge him into the opposite corner with a running shoulder charge.

“What impressive strength from Henry, carrying the three hundred five pound Deadman at a canter across the ring!”

Henry goes for his own avalanche but misses and then eats a big boot which only staggers him. Two further punches leave Henry wobbling, and a running lariat finally knocks him down, although only to one knee. Taker grabs an arm, wrenches it down, and then looks to go Old School. Henry fights out of it and sits Taker down on the top rope. Henry follows him up and pummels Taker before trying to get a superplex. Taker counters that effort and shoves Henry off, but The World’s Strongest Man is resilient and he goes back up, weakens Taker with headbutts and then nails a MASSIVE Superplex! Taker went flying, but Henry hit hard too. We get a picture-in-picture replay.

“Have you ever seen Henry go for that!?”

Both men get up and start swinging again but a headbutt from Henry only makes Taker mad as he stares him down. A chop does the same and when he tries to hit the ropes Undertaker clotheslines him up and over to the outside. Taker wastes no time and follows him out, beating him down with kicks and punches before getting reversed into the steel steps.

“Taker hit shoulder first and got wiped out.”

Henry grabs Taker and drives him several times into the side of the ring before rolling him in, and hitting a big splash. Cover. 1...2..Kickout! A second splash gets an even longer count and Henry tells the referee to speed up his counting. He goes to the well a third time but this time Undertaker rolls out of the way, sits up, and looks ready to fire back. Henry tries to cut him off but a right hand is blocked and answered with a strong left. Henry goes off the ropes, misses a shoulder block, RUNNING DDT! Taker planted him hard. One..Two…Kickout!

“Henry hit hard but he had enough awareness to get the shoulder up!”

Undertaker stalks Henry and when he turns around grabs him by the throat. Taker can’t get him up and Henry kicks to escape. Henry comes crashing in to him with a clothesline but the Undertaker sits up. Henry doesn’t realise and turns around AGAIN into the Chokeslam. He goes up and Taker slams him back down. Cover. One..Two..KICKOUT!

“How did Henry kick out of that!? Undertaker can’t believe it and neither can I.”

Undertaker grabs Henry and signals for The Last Ride, but Henry hits the back body drop and then a big three hundred and ninety pound leg drop for two. Henry goes for the splash again but Taker sits up and goozles Henry. Henry fights out of it again and drives Undertaker into the corner. Henry ascends the ropes and starts the ten count punch in the corner, Taker fights out after three.

“Surely not..?”

“I think he’s going to..”

Undertaker lifts Henry up and out of the corner and drives him down hard with the Last Ride. He makes the cover. One...Two...Three!

Winner: The Undertaker

The Undertaker emerges victorious once again, extending his streak of dominance over Mark Henry in singles competition. Despite Henry's impressive strength and resilience, The Deadman proves why he is the World Heavyweight Champion, weathering Henry's onslaught and delivering a decisive Last Ride to secure the win. Taker poses with the belt as the show comes to a close, and you have to imagine that after a night of luxury and relaxation, somewhere out there, Edge and Vickie Guerrero are very disappointed.

“Undertaker prevails once again. It’s been one heck of a show tonight. From my partner Jonathan Coachman and me, Michael Cole, thanks for watching. Goodbye.”

—

Results:

1. Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore def. Deuce ‘n’ Domino w/ Cherry [05:54]

2. Festus w/ Jesse def. Finlay w/ Hornswoggle [07:16]

3. John Morrison w/ The Miz def. Little Guido [06:33]

4. US Title Match: Matt Hardy © def. MVP [12:01]

5. Evan Bourne w/ Michelle McCool def. Kenny Dykstra w/ Victoria [09:49]

6. Non-Title Match: The Undertaker © def. Mark Henry [10:20]