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KELLER'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 11/10: Batista vs. Finlay, Lashley vs. Booker, Benoit, Boogey

Nov 10, 2006 - 11:25:00 PM
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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT
NOVEMBER 10, 2006
AIRED ON UPN


-The show opened with Tony Chimmel introducing King Booker and Sharmell. He said Booker claims to be the Champions of Champions. Michael Cole and JBL talked about fans voting for Booker's title to be on the line at Cyber Sunday, then still-shots aired of the main event including K-Fed interfering and costing John Cena the match. Booker and Sharmell walked to the ring. Booker talked for a couple of minutes, methodically doing his schtick about emerging a hero and a legend after Cyber Sunday. He said, "It's been said that Alexander the Great, when he had no more worlds to conquer, he wept. I, King Booker, stands here before you weeping." JBL said, "What a humble man. What a sad day."

Teddy Long walked out. Cole said he must be pleased that Booker kept the title. JBL claimed the vote meant Booker is the most popular wrestler on the planet. Cole said he was misinterpreting. Long said on behalf of the Smackdown fans, he wanted to congratulate him on becoming the Champion of Champions. Booker interrupted Long and waved at the crowd and said, "Thank you allll! Thank you! Thank you!" Long said he brought some photographers out there with him to get pictures of him posing with Booker and Sharmell. Long then said there was one other thing, Columbo style. Long said last week there was one man who came out to protect him and the title. He said he owes that man a favor. Booker said he didn't ask Batista for any favors and he didn't need any protection. Long said he's the G.M. of Smackdown and he asked Batista to protect him as a favor to him and he more than earned the favor, and that is a chance at the title at Survivor Series. Booker protested. Long said he didn't say he would get a match against him, but he would get a shot at the title. Long said come Survivor Series, he may no longer be champion. Booker asked what he was talking about. Long said he is going to put that title on the line "right now." The crowd cheered. Long called for a referee. Booker said he'd sue him for everything he's got. Long announced Bobby Lashley would be his opponent.

Lashley walked out onto the stage. JBL accused Long of being racist. JBL said Booker hasn't had a chance to stretch or warm-up.

1 -- KING BOOKER (w/Sharmell) vs. BOBBY LASHLEY -- World Hvt. Title match

Lashley took early control in the match, battering Booker in the corner. Booker took over with a thumb to the eye at 1:00. Lashey came back and clotheslined Booker over the top rope, at which point they cut to a break at 2:00.

[Commercial Break]

Lashley had booker in a chinlock as they returned from the break. JBL continued to complain about Booker not having time to warm up. Lashley charged the corner, but Booker moved, and he went shoulder-first into the post. Booker then yanked him crotch-first into the post at ringside at 8:00. JBL said Lashley's voice just got higher. Good one! Booker methodically, or as Cole said "slowly, taking his time," worked over Lashley for a few minutes, including a keylock on the mat. Then he worked over Lashley's knee. Lashley surprised Booker with a leverage pin attempt, but Booker escaped and went back on the offensive. Lashley caught Booker in mid-air and turned it into a powerslam at 12:00 for a near fall. JBL called it a display of "freaky strength." Lashley hit a spinebuster for a near fall at 13:00. Sharmell distracted the ref, then Booker poked Lashley in the eye again. Lashley grabbed Sharmell by her hand. Booker it Lashley from behind and schoolboyed him for the three count. Lashley avoided a post-match scissors kick and clotheslined Booker out of the ring. That meant Lashley's music got to play instead of Booker's, as Booker and Sharmell celebrated their win in the aisleway.

WINNER: Booker in 14:00 to retain the World Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Okay action. Not electrifying, by any means, but not bad.

-Highlights aired of Finlay attacking and bloodying Batista, hyping the TV main event.

[Commercial Break]

-Clips aired of Cena appearing on various talk shows promoting "The Marine."

-MVP walked into Teddy Long's office. Long told him to knock first. He said he was about to sit down and watch Kane's movie, "See No Evil." He said there are scenes in there that weren't in the movie. MVP said there were scenes last week in his match nobody should have seen. He said he has provisions in his contract preventing such abuse, such as being put in no-DQ matches. Long said if MVP wants to wrestle singles matches, he can wrestle Kane in a street fight. MVP reacted like it wasn't what he wanted.

-Backstage, Chris Benoit walked up to Chavo Guerrero and Vickie Guerrero chatting. Benoit asked what happened to the sweet Vickie he once knew. Benoit said he thinks there's something going on that has to do with Eddie's estate. Vickie told Benoit to worry about his U.S. Title because Chavo was gunning for it at Survivor Series.

-Cole plugged that tonight Undertaker would address Mr. Kennedy's Survivor Series challenge.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- MATT HARDY & JIMMY WANG YANG (w/Amy) vs. GREGORY HELMS & SYLVAN

An inset interview aired with Yang's new girl, Amy, who loves her rednecks. Yang said he loves her short-shorts. Sylvan didn't get his own ring intro. He came out to Helm's intro. Hardy and Yang each got their own ring intro. JBL asked the obvious question: "It'd me interesting for me to know, why was Teddy Long about to watch a DVD during Smackdown. So wonder he's so loopy with his decisions." Cole had no answer and just called the start of the match. It is a great question, though. Cole asked JBL why a man of Asian decent can't be a redneck. JBL said it's just not possible. Yang and Sylvan both hot-tagged their partners at 6:00. Hardy took control on Helms and hit the Side Effect. Cole talked about the Survivor Series match involving Hardy and Helms. Hardy threw an interfering Sylvan over the top rope. Yang then flipped onto him at ringside. Hardy then gave Helms a Twist of Fate off the ropes for the win. Hardy needs new music.

WINNER: Hardy & Yang in 7:00.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Okay action. Nothing memorable. Routine and solid execution.

-They showed Mr. Kennedy heading toward the entrance tunnel.

[Commercial Break]

-Kennedy walked to the ring. He said the fans are looking at the future of sports entertainment. He said Undertaker's 16 year path of destruction is impressive, "but more impressive is me." He talked of his wins over four World Champions. He said he's become bigger than Smackdown itself. He said he could expand his horizons by going to Raw or ECW, but one man got in his way - the Undertaker. He talked about his debut at the 1990 Survivor Series, and he vowed to end his career at the 2006 Survivor Series. Kennedy called Undertaker to the ring. He said if he's everything they say, he'll show himself. "Dead Man, come out and play!" he said. Undertaker's music then played. Cole said it's one thing to call out the Undertaker, but another to taunt him. JBL said Kennedy had done everything he has promised. As Taker entered the ring, Kennedy attacked him with his mic. Taker bled from the forehead. Kennedy yelled in Taker's face, "Nobody underestimates me!" Taker grabbed Kennedy by the throat. Kennedy immediately beat Taker down with the mic in response. After Kennedy left the ring, Taker struggled to grab the ropes and pull himself up. Now that's how you build a heel and create a demand to see the hero get revenge. Why don't they follow that format more often? Kennedy gained something from that segment, and it's the first time in a while a top heel has gained anything from a TV angle on any of WWE's programs.

[Commercial Break]

-They replayed highlights of the Kennedy-Taker angle.

3 -- CHRIS BENOIT vs. K.C. JAMES -- Non-Title match

At 2:00, Benoit hit a series of suplexes. JBL said watching Benoit is like watching Michael Jordan play for the Chicago Bulls. Benoit hit the diving headbutt, then applied the Crippler Crossface for the win.

WINNER: Benoit in 3:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Good squash-like match for Benoit to get in some of his signature moves.

-A quick soundbite aired with Boogeyman saying, "I'm the Boogeyman, and I'm coming to get ya!"

[Commercial Break]

-A segment aired of Batista playing a bad guy on Smallville. He said it was amazing to see how much detail goes into each and every scene. I bet that was amazing considering what he's used to.

-Cole and JBL were shown on camera chatting about Batista vs. Finlay. Boogeyman's entrance interrupted them.

4 -- BOOGEYMAN vs. T.J. DALTON

Boogeyman attacked Dalton at ringside, then crawled into the ring. He opened his mouth and worms came out. JBL wondered if he regurgitated them. Boogeyman then slammed him to the mat for the quick win. Then he dropped worms from his mouth onto Dalton's face.

WINNER: Boogeyman in 1:00.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Not much to it, but he remains quite a spectacle. Getting beyond his one-note gimmick is the challenge.

-A video recap aired of the Batista-Finlay feud.

[Commercial Break]

-The Raw Rebound aired.

-Backstage, Krystal walked up to Miz backstage, angry at Miz because she said he shoved her into Boogeyman last week. Miz said it was a misunderstanding and he'd make it up to her. He said he has challenged Boogeyman to a match next week. Miz is so ridiculously annoying. And believeable. Which is scary.

-Fit Finlay's ring intro took place.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- FIT FINLAY vs. BATISTA

After Batista dominated for just over a minute, they cut to another break.

[Commercial Break]

They showed during the break that Batista rammed Finlay into the ring apron. Batista went to a bearhug in the ring. Finlay dove off the ring apron at Batista at ringside, but Batista caught him and then floored him with a big boot. As he re-entered the ring, the Little Bastard hit his leg with the shillelagh. Finlay then got in sustained offense for two minutes. Batista fought back, but Finlay then took Batista down and worked over his legs. Finlay dove at Batista in the corner, but Batista moved and Finlay went shoulder-first into the ringpost. Batista struggled to his feet and then threw his shoulder into Finlay's gut. After two clotheslines, Batista powerslammed Finlay to the mat. Batista scored a two count at 14:00. After a powerslam, Batista shook the top rope. Finlay punched at Batista's knee. Batista fought back with a spear. Booker charged to the ring. Batista turned toward him. Booker backed off. Batista then threw a charging Finlay into Booker as he climbed onto the ring apron. Then he gave Finlay a spinebuster for the win.

WINNER: Batista in 15:00.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Solid average match. Batista's move-set is still too reminiscent of what muscular indy guys attempt in their first matches. He's smoother with the execution, but it still feels too basic and limited to just a half dozen or so powermoves, punches, and clotheslines without enough "ground game" to give him that all-around credibility. Finlay got a decent match out of him, though. It's tough not to have a decent match with Finlay, but it's tough to have a great match with Finlay, also, because he's so stubbornly set in his ways and doesn't stray at all.


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