By Greg Parks, PWTorch Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
December 7, 2007
Taped 12/2/07 in Florence, S.C.
Aired on The CW
Report by Greg Parks, Torch Team Contributor

-WWE Open.

-Highlights of the last two weeks on Smackdown aired, concerning Edge, Undertaker and Batista, as well as the return of Teddy Long.

-Smackdown Open.

-Teddy Long came out for the State of Smackdown Address. He said he was called in at the last minute due to Vickie Guerrero’s injury. Teddy re-announced the triple threat match that he made last week. He made another match for the PPV: MVP vs. Rey Mysterio, for the U.S. Title. As Teddy was about to make another announcement, Edge interrupted. Edge accused Teddy of giving away title matches like it was candy at Halloween. He said there would be hell to pay once Vickie got back. Edge once again addressed Vickie to the camera to garner some more heel heat. The former champ complained of Teddy stripping him of the title when Edge was laid up with a torn pec. Long said because Edge cost Undertaker his title shot, Taker deserved another shot at the belt, hence the three-way at the PPV. Edge demanded redemption, so Teddy put him in a match for later tonight with Kane. Teddy seemed re-energized on the mic here. That was his best performance I can remember.

-Tonight, MVP hosts former Freebird Michael Hayes in the VIP Lounge. That’s kind of random. Also, Batista is in action.

[Commercial Break]

1- THE MIZ & JOHN MORRISON vs. JESSE & FESTUS

Good pop for the faces. Festus went after Morrison when the bell rang, but Jesse and Miz ended up as the legal men. Jesse countered a few moves by Miz and seemed to out-smart the heels. Flying bodypress from the top got two. Miz got the advantage by choking Jesse on the middle rope. Jesse hit an enziguiri that led to Festus tagging in and Michael Cole calling him a “hoss.” Festus, as usual, cleaned house with his unorthodox power moves. He hit a running boot on Morrison, then tagged out. Jesse got crotched on the top rope by Morrison, who then covered him for the three.

WINNERS: Morrison & Miz at 2:54. Not a big loss for Jesse and Festus, as Morrison and Miz seemed to just barely escape with the win.

-Anastacia Rose was backstage with ECW Superstar Elijah Burke. He’s fighting Batista tonight, and Batista made comments on WWE.com about Burke not even being on his mind. Burke noted that since the talent exchange, he’s beaten every Smackdown wrestler he has fought. That match is up next.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole plugged Edge vs. Kane. Interesting new graphics they used on that one. Clips of Edge’s Mardi Gras celebration from July aired, where Kane attacked him.

2- BATISTA vs. ELIJAH BURKE

Batista backed Burke into the corner, and Burke cheap-shotted Batista to get out. Batista didn’t take too kindly to that, and went on the attack. Batista went to charge at Burke in the corner, but Elijah came out and dropkicked Batista in the legs. Burke stomped away at Batista, then hit his high elbowdrop for a near fall. Burke kept working on the knee, but as Burke came off the top, Batista speared him in mid-air. Pretty impressive visual. Batista Bomb ended it.

WINNER: Batista at 2:34. Despite the quick match, it wasn’t really a squash, which is what I feared. Burke got enough offense in to seem credible.

-Michelle McCool was talking to a stagehand backstage when Jamie Noble walked up to her. Noble hit on her, but as usual, she was having none of it. McCool said at least Chuck doesn’t have to shop at Baby Gap. “Why...why do you hurt me so?” asked Jamie. Jamie had a deal for Michelle- if he beats Chuck, Michelle would go on a date with him. She agreed. She clearly hasn’t watched wrestling long enough to know it’s never a good idea to agree to that stipulation.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed a clip of Batista spearing Burke in mid-air from the last match. Cole and JBL plugged Edge vs. Kane again as well.

3- JAMIE NOBLE vs. CHUCK PALUMBO

Jamie came out wearing a shirt that read, “Noble 2, Pulambo 0.” Of course, the mis-spelling was on purpose. Palumbo hit a hard chop on Noble in the corner, then another. Noble wiggled out of a suplex attempt and went to work. Palumbo no-sold some offense and then hit an overhead throw. Palumbo drove Noble into the turnbuckle and clotheslined Noble. Jamie caught Chuck with boots in the corner. Jamie started getting hot again, so Michelle got on the apron to distract him. It almost worked, but Noble avoided Chuck’s charge. He stopped short so as to not hit McCool, which allowed Noble to roll up Chuck and get the victory AND the date.

WINNER: Noble at 2:19. Dominated by Palumbo, for the most part. But the match played second-fiddle to the dating storyline.

-Cole and JBL plugged the WCCW DVD and showed some highlights as JBL said that’s what got him into wrestling. They segued into plugging Michael Hayes on the VIP Lounge, next.

[Commercial Break]

-Montel Vontavious Porter was in the ring, set to host the VIP Lounge. After spouting some catchphrases, MVP plugged the WCCW DVD. Of course, he was a WCCW fan growing up. He said the best feud was the Fabulous Freebirds vs. The Von Erich Family. The trailer for the DVD then aired. Either the crowd or the audio sweetner were fans of the trailer. Michael Hayes was then introduced. The two got off on the wrong foot as MVP, for some reason, implored Hayes to sit down, but Hayes said he’d prefer to stand. Hayes brought up five dead Von Erichs, while only one is left. He said the message from the DVD is “don’t do drugs.” MVP said Hayes looked good for his age. Hayes took it as a shot and MVP said he was a lot younger than Hayes. “True dat” said Hayes. The Freebird said MVP’s time was about up with him. He said Porter better come up with some respect quickly. MVP noted Hayes’ thickening waistline and thinning hairline. MVP brought up Hayes’ relationship with the Hardys. No mention of him managing them though. Hayes was unhappy they were getting off-subject again. MVP wanted to know how Hayes felt when he crippled Matt Hardy. Hayes said when Hardy comes back, MVP is going to have a problem on his hands. He then brought up how MVP was pinned last week by Rey Mysterio. Hayes predicted MVP would lose the U.S. Title. MVP changed the subject and said Hayes was the third wheel on the Freebirds. He said Hayes couldn’t even lace up his boots. Hayes said MVP had no respect for yesterday and the people that came before him. Hayes said MVP doesn’t have to worry about yesterday or tomorrow, instead, right now, because he was going to whoop his ass. MVP got to Hayes first though and wailed on the Freebird. Hayes got a few shots in, but MVP hit the running boot and the Playmaker. Porter said he doesn’t care about the past. Rey Mysterio came out and attacked MVP, including running him over his own couch. Porter then bailed. Great segment. Hayes played his role well and was great on the mic.

-Edge vs. Kane is still to come. More clips of the July Mardi Gras celebration aired.

[Commercial Break]

-Another set of highlights of Batista spearing Elijah Burke.

-Batista joined Anastacia Rose backstage. He said he doesn’t have to get pinned to lose at Armageddon. He said the battles with Undertaker have taken a toll on him mentally and physically, but have made him more confident. He’s ready for the challenge.

-Raw Rebound aired.

-Hornswoggle was backstage, inside Deuce ‘N Domino’s car, pretending to drive. Domino yelled at Horny, calling him a freak. Finlay was there to defend him. Hornswoggle broke the antenna off the car. Domino had to hold Deuce back. Deuce faces Finlay, one-on-one, next.

[Commercial Break]

4- FINLAY vs. DEUCE

Cole brought up JBL protecting Hornswoggle on RAW. JBL said it’s all about the money and he doesn’t care what happens to the little man tonight. Finlay smothered Deuce on the mat at the beginning of the match, then hit a few European uppercuts. A shoulderblock from Finlay put Deuce down for the two-count. Butt splash to the mid-section for two by the Irishman. Domino started chasing Hornswoggle on the outside, which allowed Deuce to take over offensively. Deuce hit a high kick to the jaw. Hornswoggle got a fire extinguisher from under the ring and sprayed it at Cherry. Deuce took the extinguisher and as referee Jimmy Korderas was dealing with the distraction, Finlay got the shillaleigh and bopped Deuce in the head with it, then made the pin.

WINNER: Finlay at 3:45.

-After the match, Great Khali came out. Deuce and Domino attacked Finlay to make sure he’d stay in the ring and be easy pickings for Khali. Khali got in the ring and applies the vice grip. Hornswoggle screamed on the outside as Khali left Finlay lying face-down in the ring.

[Commercial Break]

-Clips of what just happened with Khali and Finlay.

-Michael Cole and JBL ran down the Armageddon card.

-Batista walked out to join the broadcast team and watch Edge vs. Kane from ringside. JBL even shook Batista’s hand as the champ sat down. Edge came out and addressed Vickie once again before the match.

[Commercial Break]

5- EDGE vs. KANE

Edge pounded away at Kane in the corner. Kane, though, grabbed hold of Edge’s throat and tossed him into the corner for a beating. Kane threw Edge shoulder-first into the ring post. Cole noted Kane had a great game plan, working on Edge’s left pectoral muscle. Kane worked on stretching the shoulder and the pectoral muscle out using the top rope. The tide turned when Edge rolled out of the way of a Kane elbowdrop. Edge dropkicked Kane under the ring rope and to the floor. Edge jumped on Kane, but the Big Red Machine caught him and slammed him into the edge of the apron. As Kane was getting in the ring, Edge nailed Kane, who flew into the barricade on the outside.

[Commercial Break]

Edge was in control out of break. Kane tried to work out of a rear waistlock. He was successful, and threw Edge off of him when the Canadian tried a DDT. Kane hit some running clotheslines in the corner, then a sidewalk slam. Edge ducked to avoid a clothesline off the top from Kane. Edge went for the spear but got hit with a boot. Kane went for the chokeslam but Edge kicked his way out. Kane caught Edge with a right hand as Edge was coming off the top. Kane went back to the top and was successful in hitting the clothesline this time. He got Edge in the chokeslam, but Edge grabbed the ropes. He went to the outside and grabbed a chair...and was immediately disqualified when he brought the chair into the ring, without even using it. Edge got the chair kicked back in his face and Kane went for the steel steps. But Edge got Kane with a drop-toe hold and then a spear. Edge went for the move he hit Undertaker with at Survivor Series (steel chair to the head with the man lying on the steps), but Batista came in to stop things. There was a standoff, as either man was waiting for the other to make a move. The lights went out and when they came on, Taker had Edge in a choke hold. But Batista speared Undertaker and Edge got away.

WINNER: Kane by DQ at 10:51. Slightly above-average TV match.

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