By Wade Keller, Torch editor

WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
AUGUST 11, 2006
TAPED 8/7 IN NASHVILLE, TENN.
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, TORCH EDITOR

-After the Smackdown opening, Michael Cole and JBL plugged the two TV main events. JBL called Mr. Kennedy Smackdown's fastest rising stars.

-Great Khali and Daivari walked to the ring together. Daivari answered the Undertaker challenge for a Last Man Standing Match at Summerslam. Daivari said Undertaker isn't worthy of a match with Khali. "To Great Khali, Undertaker, you truly are a dead man. We do not accept. We will not see you in a Last Man Standing match." Cole called them cowards. Undertaker's ring entrance began and Taker made his way to the ring. Cole said Taker is focused and intense like he's never seen him before. Khali and Taker exchanged punches. Kahli looks significantly bigger than Taker in every way. Taker got off a chokeslam. Khali bailed out and Daivari looked on in fear. JBL said that was as big a statement as at WrestleMania III when Hulk Hogan bodyslammed Andre the Giant.

-They went to a clip of Chavo Guerrero last week explaining his motivation for turning on Rey Mysterio, stating he was a leech on the Guerrero name.

-Backstage, Vickie Guerrero asked Chavo why he was doing what he was doing. Chavo said he's known her for a very long time. He said he was at her wedding with Eddie. He said Rey is trying to steal the Guerrero name. "You may not have been born a Guerrero, but you're as much a Guerrero as any of us," said Chavo. Chavo said it's been a tough year, but we're all familia. Vickie blamed him for breaking up their family. Chavo said Rey is trying to tear it up. "As much as Rey wants it to be, Rey's last name is not Guerrero. Rey Mysterio is not part of the Guerrero family. Remember that." Vickie shook her head.

[Commercial Break]

1 - GREGORY HELMS vs. TATANKA

They again touted Helmes as the longest reigning champion in WWE. It means nothing when he's treated like a jobber and the belt has no history of being respects and when nobody seems to be fighting for title shots to get the title. Bland match. Just filling time with no purpose other than giving JBL time to riff on Indian casinos. At 4:00 Tatanka went to the top rope and came off with a chop. JBL said Tatanka is the underdog and Helms is on a roll. Helms came back with a neckbreaker and a Shining Wizard for the pin, although Tatanka's foot was under the bottom rope. Tatanka yelled at the ref after the match. He looked really mad.

WINNER: Helms in 5:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2*

-Daivari yelled at Teddy Long to get control of his show, complaining about Undertaker attacking Khali earlier. Long said he would not force Daivari to face Khali at Summerslam. Daivari was relieved and tried to walk away. Long then informed him they'd have a Last Man Standing match on Smackdown instead. Daivari threw a fit.

[Commercial Break]

2 - PAUL LONDON & BRIAN KENDRICK (w/Michelle McCool) vs. K.C. JAMES & IDOL STEVENS

JBL and Cole raved about Long's decision to book Taker vs. Khali next week. London opened with a headlock in the first minute. James and Stevens bumped into each other to end their offense. Then Kendrick got the hot-tag, but he was soon double-teamed. London then hit both Stevens and James with a flying clothesline. James kicked Kendrick in the head as the ref was distracted by Stevens, then Stevens rolled up Kendrick with a yank of the tights for the win.

WINNERS: Stevens & James in 4:00.

STAR RATING: *

-Kristal interrupted a conversation Ashley was having with Luke Perry backstage. Luke said he was there to judge the Diva Competition.

[Commercial Break]

-The Miz stood in the ring and introduced the Diva Talent Contest. Josh, a fan from Nashville, was in the ring to help out. Each of the remaining contestants displayed talents. We had kick boxing and dancing, with Luke refereeing a fight between two of them. Then we had MMA and trash talking. Luke Perry, as is the case with any celebrity, looked foolish but tried hard to keep his dignity. "Yeah, that's why I come to rasslin'!" he said at one point. Ugh.

-Vickie cried on camera about the loss of Eddie and she told Rey to stop. She begged him to forgive Chavo and become friends. Rey did his best to cry and said he'd try his best in the name of Eddie Guerrero. The camera focused on Vickie crying. This is just the worst.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. MR. KENNEDY

As Kennedy gained control in the opening minutes, Cole asked JBL what Kennedy has done to move up in the ranks so quickly. JBL praised him for stepping up when Mark Henry went down. Rey blocked a Kennedy top rope move and then head scissored him to the mat.

[START SECOND HOUR]

[Commercial Break]

Kennedy settled into a head twist in mid-ring. At 11:00, Rey made a comeback and set up a 619. Chavo charged to the ring. Rey dove to ringside with a slidekick and then brawled with him. JBL claimed Rey attacked Chavo for no reason when he was coming to the ring to watch. Vickie came out to break them up, but Chavo knocked Rey into Vickie. Vickie went down and hard and didn't get up. Rey checked on her. Chavo kicked Rey in the head, then checked on Vickie. Vickie shook herself free and screeched at Rey and Chavo.

WINNER: No decision in 12:00.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- The action was okay, but once again by not acknowledging that the match never had a finish or an announced decision demeans the investment viewers put in wanting to see a winner and loser. WWE does this too often, where the match is forgotten about as soon as an angle takes place.

[Commercial Break]

-Backstage, Booker T and Sharmell talked about Booker taking out his challengers on Smackdown one at a time starting with Batista at Summerslam.

4 - SYLVAN vs. VITO

A clip aired of Vito working at the gym in his dress as people gave him weird looks in the background. JBL and Cole bantered as usual about Vito's clothing. JBL said it's too bad that a good match is lost on everyone since they're distracted by Vito's dress.

WINNER: Vito in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Not sure about the good match part, but the one-note joke that is Vito has run its course already.

-Raw Rebound aired.

[Commercial Break]

-A clip aired of the Taker-Khali angle at the start of the show.

5 - SYLVESTER TERKAY (w/Elijah Burke) vs. JOBBER

They showed clips of Terkay's previous TV wins. Terkay pounded away on the nameless opponent. He did a spinning backfist that shot right over the top of his head. Terkay then applied a submission and the ref called for the bell.

WINNER: Terkay in 1:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- He looks very dominant. Can he go beyond a squash win, though, and hold people's interest?

[Commercial Break]

-A vignette aired for the pending return of The Boogeyman. Just what Smackdown needed. They went to Cole and JBL at ringside. JBL acted petrified at the thought of Boogeyman returning. They promoted the entire Smackdown line-up.

-Ring introductions took place for the main event tag match. Booker T and Sharmell also came out and joined JBL and Cole on commentary at ringside.

[Commercial Break]

6 - BOBBY LASHLEY & BATISTA vs. FINLAY & WILLIAM REGAL

Batista opened up against Finlay, then quickly tagged out to Lashley. Booker commented on defending against Batista at Summerslam. Finlay pulled the top rope down as Lashley bounced into it, so he fell to the floor. The little green guy then came out from under the ring. Finlay slammed him onto Lashley. JBL claimed there may be 15 or 20 under there and they might be reproducing. As Lashley took a beating from the heel duo, Booker claimed Batista was taking a break and wanted no part of the match. Sharmell asked Cole at one point, "Did you attempt to correct the King?" At 6:00 Lashley hot-tagged Batista, who cleaned house for a minute. Batista and Lashley stereo speared both heels, then Batista pinned Regal after a Spinebuster.

WINNERS: Batista & Lashley in 7:00.

STAR RATING: * -- Bland match. Booker and Sharmell kept it moderately interesting.

-After the match, Batista addressed Booker at ringside. He thanked him for holding his title for him, but added at Summerslam he was going to take it back.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax