Smackdown!
Nashville, Tennessee
August 11, 2006
Dead Man Walking?
By Brett Hoffman
August 11, 2006
On a chaotic edition of SmackDown from Nashville, The Great Khali’s master plan
to avoid facing Undertaker in a Last Man Standing Match was spoiled in a big way
when he received a ground breaking chokeslam from the Phenom. To make matters
worse, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long ordered the Punjabi warrior to
meet Undertaker in a Last Man Standing match next week on the show. Also,
Batista dominated the Tag-Team main event and then had a message for King
Booker, and the family feud between Rey Mysterio, Chavo and an innocent Vickie
Guerrero continued, all as SmackDown surges towards the biggest party of the
Summer.
Two weeks ago on SmackDown, Undertaker challenged Great Khali to a Last Man
Standing match at SummerSlam. This week, Daivari and Khali immediately addressed
the situation.
“Undertaker, you might as well be a dead man…” said Khali’s spokesman. “Because,
to The Great Khali, you do not exist. He’s beat you down week after week after
week. You are nothing to The Great Khali. We do not accept your challenge for a
Last Man Standing Match at SummerSlam.”
Seconds later, with Daivari and Khali still in the ring, Undertaker took matters
into his own hands. The Phenom rushed the ring and immediately went after the
Punjabi monster. The Deadman softened him up with a barrage of lefts and rights
and then delivered a statement that shook the foundation of SmackDown. With
Khali wobbly and vulnerable, Undertaker grabbed for his throat, elevated him and
drove him to the mat with a thunderous chokeslam. Not only was it the first time
anyone manhandled The Great Khali, but it was the first time anyone even took
the 7 foot 3, 420 pound monster off his feet.
Moments later, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long delivered the final blow
to Khali’s auspicious evening. “The Great Khali will not wrestle Undertaker at
SummerSlam,” said Long. “Because next week, right here on SmackDown, The Great
Khali will go one-on-one with Undertaker in a Last Man Standing Match.”
The main event on SmackDown was a tag match pitting power vs. experience as
Batista and Lashley teamed up to take on United States Champion Finlay and his
partner William Regal.
The unique pairings provided the kind of aggressive action that you can only
find on SmackDown. Finlay and Regal, who themselves have been going at it for
weeks, used their advantage in technical wrestling to keep the bigger men off
their feet. The strategy however didn’t work for long because when Batista got
into the ring, things broke down in a hurry.
The former World Heavyweight Champion, who in recent weeks has repeatedly spoken
of his desire to regain the gold showed the fire that made him such a dominant
Champion. The Animal made quick work of the opposition, obliterating Regal with
a high-impact spinebuster and scoring the pin.
After the match, Batista addressed King Booker, who had joined Michael Cole and
JBL for commentary. “Nothing personal Booker, but thanks for holding onto my
Championship for me,” said the former Champ. “At SummerSlam, I’ll be needing
that back.” (Watch the Animal dominate)
Whether or not Batista can slow down the streaking King is still up in the air.
But one thing is for sure, if he delivers a spinebuster to King Booker the likes
of the one he gave William Regal, the gold could very easily be changing hands
at SummerSlam.
Also this week on SmackDown, former World Champion Rey Mysterio faced off with
the red-hot Mr. Kennedy, but the match was interrupted and overshadowed by the
continuation of the emotional and dramatic family feud between Rey and former
close friend Chavo Guerrero.
Eddie Guerrero’s widow Vickie, who last week found herself in the middle of the
bitter family dispute was at SmackDown again this week. In the locker room, an
emotionally distraught Vickie tried to talk some sense into the former friends.
Chavo however, tried to turn the tables. Echoing many of the sentiments he
shared last week, Chavo told Vickie that Rey was to blame for the family
squabbles.
“I didn’t start this Vickie. I know things are messed up lately, but I’ve known
you for a long time,” said Chavo. “Rey is trying to steal the Guerrero name. You
might not be blood Vickie, but you married a Guerrero, you’re as much of a
Guerrero as any of us. The fact is that Rey is trying to tear our family apart.
His last name is not Guerrero.”
Chavo continued, promising Vickie that he would do his best to avoid further
confrontation. “I will do my best,” said Chavo. “In honor of Eddie, I will do my
best to avoid that bottom feeding leech Rey Mysterio.
Later, Rey Mysterio made a similar promise to Vickie. “I’ll try my best in the
name of Eddie Guerrero…” said Rey. “I’ll try to avoid fighting him. I can’t
guarantee anything, but I guarantee you I will try my best.”
By the time the night was over, only one man had honored his promise.
Showing the resiliency that has made him the Superstar that he is today, Rey was
able to shake off the distractions of his family affairs and focus on the match
at hand. But, just when he appeared to be on the verge of putting Kennedy away,
Chavo stormed the ring. Rey met his former friend with a sliding dropkick and an
intense brawl immediately ensued.
Overwhelmed, Vickie came ringside in an attempt to break up the fight, but found
herself in the wrong place at the wrong time as she was inadvertently knocked
down when Chavo pushed Rey into her. Noticing the innocent peacemaker lying
helpless on the arena floor, Rey turned his attention to a motionless Vickie.
Seconds later, Chavo showed the world his true colors when he leveled Rey from
behind with a cheap shot. What was at one time a minor scuffle between friends
has officially escalated into a full scale family feud.
SmackDown also played host to another of its many celebrity fans this week. The
star of NBC’s new hit show ‘Windfall’ and Nashville’s own Luke Perry appeared on
this week’s show. First, the veteran actor was seen hitting on two of the
sexiest women on television, Ashley and Kristal. Later, he participated in this
week’s Diva Search Talent Contest. For more on the Diva Search, Click Here.
Several of SmackDown’s rising young stars were also in action this week on
SmackDown. Fresh of their impressive debuts of a week ago, Michelle McCool’s
teacher’s pets, K.C. James and Idol Stevens were back in action. The smooth
newcomers sent a message to the tag-team division and immediately put themselves
in the Championship hunt when they took out current Tag-Team Champions London &
Kendrick in non-title action.
Also, renowned bully and amateur wrestling specialist Sylvester Terkay was back
in action. The decorated newcomer dominated another opponent both before and
after the bell. In just three weeks, Terkay has established himself as an
absolute force to be reckoned with for any and all WWE Superstars.
Montel Vontavious Porter was seen chatting with SmackDown General Manager
Theodore Long in the locker room again this week. Long attempted to make an
offer to M.V.P., but was again referred to the young Superstar’s agent.
The longest current reigning Champion in all of WWE, Cruiserweight Champion
Gregory Helms, was also in action this week. The king of the Cruiserweight
mountain recorded a controversial victory over the Native American Tatanka when
the referee failed to notice Tatanka’s leg under the rope during the pin.
Afterwards, Tatanka was irate with the referee’s mistake.
In other action, Vito remained undefeated since donning the dress as he danced
his way to victory over the Ambassador-at-Large to Quebec, Sylvan.
As first reported on WWE.com earier this week, The Boogeyman is coming back to
SmackDown. For those viewers that missed the announcement, a special video
package aired this week to remind fans of this imminent return.
Matches
Gregory Helms def. Tatanka
K.C. James & Idol Stevens def. London & Kendrick
Rey Mysterio vs. Mr. Kennedy (No-Contest)
Vito def. Sylvan
Sylvester Terkay def. Local
Batista & Lashley def. Finlay & William Regal