Friday Night Smackdown!
Peoria, Illinois
January 12, 2007
Perfect timing
By Lennie DiFino
January 12, 2007
The Beat the Clock Sprint wrapped up this week on SmackDown, and Mr. Kennedy,
right or wrong, fair or not, is going to the Royal Rumble to challenge Batista
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Kennedy has defeated six former world champions on his ascension to No. 1
contender status, and now The Animal is standing firmly in his path. Batista
told SmackDown fans he would “never look past and never underestimate Mr.
Kennedy.” The Animal has tasted defeat at the hands of Kennedy once before, and
at Royal Rumble, they will face off for Batista’s World Heavyweight
Championship.
In the last Beat the Clock Sprint match, Undertaker seemed poised to overtake
the time of 5 minutes 7 seconds posted last week by Kennedy. When he took on The
Miz, The Phenom looked to capitalize and move on to Royal Rumble. However,
Kennedy interfered, pulling Miz out of the ring. Undertaker chased him off, and
delivered the Tombstone to Miz, but it was too late. As the buzzer sounded, Mr.
Kennedy celebrated at the expense of Undertaker.
MVP returned to action, to take part in the Beat the Clock Sprint, still showing
the ill effects of the burns he received last month in an Inferno Match. As MVP
was hoping to fulfill what he believes to be his destiny to be World Heavyweight
Champion, his opponent Vito was eager to make the most of his own opportunity -
and to take advantage of the less than 100 percent Porter. The two men attempted
numerous pinfalls, but neither MVP nor Vito could gain an advantage and beat the
clock.
Matt Hardy and Finlay faced off in the Beat the Clock Sprint, each with their
focus on victory. Hardy finally had the chance to elevate himself into the World
Heavyweight Championship mix, but The Irishman had plans of his own. Little
Bastard made an appearance, and Finlay used that as his opening to attack Hardy
with a shillelagh to the knee. Finlay applied a submission maneuver to that same
knee, but could only watch the clock count down and expire as Matt Hardy would
not quit.
With Finlay’s hold still applied, Joey Mercury, donning a protective mask,
attacked and viciously assaulted Hardy, still blaming Hardy for his
disfigurement. WWE officials stopped the young, angry Superstar before he could
inflict severe damage, but Mercury made it clear to WWE fans that, “until
General Manager Theodore Long gives me what I want, this will continue.”
The Beat the Clock Sprint winner Mr. Kennedy was also in action against United
States Champion Chris Benoit.
As Chavo Guerrero sat ringside on commentary, Benoit and Kennedy went back and
forth. When JBL and Michael Cole questioned where Chavo’s business manager
Vickie Guerrero was, he responded, “This has nothing to do with Vickie and
everything to do with Chris Benoit.” As Benoit was poised to take the victory,
Guerrero once again interfered, and as the Rabid Wolverine hooked the
Sharpshooter on Chavo, Kennedy stole the victory.
General Manager Theodore Long has announced that next week on SmackDown, Chavo
Guerrero will challenge Chris Benoit for the United States Championship in a No
Disqualification Match.
WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick squared off against
William Regal and Dave Taylor for the titles. Regal and Taylor claimed this was
their night, telling London and Kendrick, “There are no ladders in this match.”
The match pitted the brute strength of Regal and Taylor against the speed and
agility of London and Kendrick. In the end, London and Kendrick sealed the
victory, much to the disgust of Regal and Taylor. The WWE Tag Team Champions
have held the titles for nearly 8 months now.
Jimmy Wang Yang and Tatanka had another physically brutal match. Tatanka picked
up the victory, using his strength and power to neutralize Yang’s quickness.
Tatanka has been focused since unleashing the vengeful warrior, and this budding
rivalry with SmackDown’s resident redneck has picked up the past two weeks.
Matches
Matt Hardy vs. Finlay (No Contest)
Tatanka def. Jimmy Wang Yang
Mr. Kennedy def. United States Champion Chris Benoit
WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick def. William Regal and Dave Taylor
MVP vs. Vito (No Contest)
Undertaker vs. Miz (No Contest)