Smackdown!
Reading, Pennsylvania
September 1, 2006
Signing Bonus
By Brett Hoffman
September 1, 2006
On a chaotic edition of Friday Night SmackDown from Reading, the Animal gave
himself a signing bonus when he drove King Booker through a table just moments
after signing a contract for a World Heavyweight Championship match on next
week’s show. Also, Mr. Kennedy captured the United States Championship, and
Vickie Guerrero shocked the world when she announced that she is Chavo
Guerrero’s new business manager.
On Friday night, General Manager Theodore Long decided that the issue between
King Booker and Batista had not been adequately resolved, therefore, he ordered
a contract signing for a match on next week’s SmackDown for King Booker’s World
Heavyweight Championship. Prior to the signing, King Booker addressed his
SmackDown Kingdom.
“My loyal subjects, this rematch for my World Heavyweight Championship is
nothing more than a sham,” said the King. “This rogue Batista is nothing more
than a fraud. A fraud who could not beat me at the SummerSlam games. It is a
farce, that a ruler as wise and mighty as I should even breathe the same air as
this scoundrel, not to mention having to wrestle him. But, I will. I will prove
beyond any shadow of a doubt that a King’s royalty can tame the beast called
Batista.”
Batista responded to the King. “You are only Champion because of a
technicality,” said the Animal. “You never beat me for the gold, and you better
get that through your pompous, inflated, thick head because next week, I’m
taking back my World Heavyweight Championship.” Seconds later, Batista drove his
point home with authority when he picked up the Champion and sent him through a
table with a devastating spinebuster. What will happen next week when the Animal
gets his shot at redemption? (Watch)
Earlier in the evening, Mr. McMahon’s hired guns from SummerSlam and RAW, United
States Champion Finlay and Mr. Kennedy were seen arguing in Theodore Long’s
office over who the real United States Champion should be. After listening in on
the conversation, Long decided to let the two fight it out to determine who
indeed deserved to hold the U.S. gold, but not before promising to “spice it
up".
Seconds before the match began, Long revealed what he meant when he promised to
spice things up. “I told you I was going to add a little something to this match
playa,” said the General Manager. “This match is going to be a Triple Threat,
and the third member is Bobby Lashley!” The Reading crowd exploded as Lashley
joined the mix.
As always, in a Triple Threat match, the champion is at a distinct disadvantage
because the rules state that he doesn’t need to be pinned to lose his gold. On
this night, those rules did the champion in. After a lengthy match that saw wild
brawling both inside and outside the ring, and appearances from Little Bastard
and Finlay’s trademark shillelagh, Mr. Kennedy took advantage of a golden
opportunity to capture the championship that he has apparently had his eye on
since his arrival on SmackDown.
With Kennedy temporarily removed from the action, Lashley appeared to have put
Finlay down for the count when he powerslammed his bitter rival and went for the
cover. Ever the opportunist, Kennedy jumped back in the ring and rolled Lashley
over during mid-pin, holding the tights to keep Lashley down for a three-count
to become the new United States Champion. Just like that, the championship
slipped through Finlay’s hands without being pinned, and Kennedy made good on
his word that he was indeed the real United States Champion.
Earlier in the week, sources told WWE.com that Rey Mysterio was going to kick
off SmackDown looking to get answers from Vickie Guerrero regarding her recent
actions. Last week on SmackDown, Vickie brutally assaulted Rey with a steel
chair and then met Chavo Guerrero in an embrace as they stood over Mysterio’s
motionless body.
Friday night, Vickie answered Rey’s pleas and met him in the ring to explain her
actions. The answers she gave however, were not the ones that Rey was hoping for
as he was left heartbroken in the middle of the ring.
“Rey, Eddie thought of you as a brother,” said Vickie. “He thought of you as
family. But Rey, I think of you as an insignificant part of my past. It’s time
for me to move on Rey. It's time for me to focus on myself. That’s why I’m happy
to announce that I am the new business manager of Chavo Guerrero.”
After delivering the shocking news, Vickie slapped Rey across the face and left
the ring. A distraught and confused Mysterio looked on as Vickie once again
shared an embrace with Chavo on the SmackDown stage.
Last week during an interview with 2006 Diva Search Winner Layla, The Miz told
the world that he would be making his in-ring debut this week on SmackDown. The
former reality TV star took on Tatanka in his debut, and surprised everyone when
he picked up an impressive victory. The enthusiastic newcomer took advantage of
a distracted Tatanka, who for the third week in a row spent more time arguing
with the referee than focusing on his opponent. Mizanin’s victory however, was
not without controversy, as he mocked the Native American’s culture throughout
the match, and then used the ropes for leverage on the pin. After the match, the
Miz celebrated his first victory like he had just won the World Championship.
Nonetheless, despite what some people predicted for the Miz, he wasn’t exactly a
flop in his big debut.
Also on last week’s show, Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms, who is the
longest reigning current champion in all of sports-entertainment, interfered
during Matt Hardy’s match with Mr. Kennedy, costing the fan-favorite the
victory. This week, the two squared off in one-on-one action. In a hard fought
battle full of high risk maneuvers and aggressive action, Hardy avoided Helms
repeated attempts to bend the rules to pull out a well-deserved win. Luckily for
Helms, it was a non-title contest, so the Cruiserweight Champion will live to
fight another day.
Since donning his new unique ring apparel - a dress - Vito has been undefeated
on SmackDown. This week, the unorthodox Superstar was back in action taking on
Sir William Regal. It became clear from the start that the newly dubbed Knight
was uncomfortable with his SmackDown assignment. Right from the start, Vito
played on his opponents weaknesses, taunting Regal repeatedly by lifting and
flapping his dress to get a reaction from the crowd. Not long into the match,
Regal decided he’d had enough of the scantily clad Vito and retreated back to
the King’s quarters. As a result, Vito was the victor via countout, keeping his
streak alive since switching to the dress.
In recent weeks, SmackDown’s tag-team scene has heated up. WWE Tag-Team
Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick were in action taking on The Pitbulls. On
last week’s show, Kash and Noble interfered during the Paul London vs. K.C.
James match and beat on both teams, resulting in a no-contest. This week, London
& Kendrick got a small measure of revenge when they defeated the Pitbulls. After
the match however, K.C. James and Idol Stevens stormed the ring and laid a
beating on both teams. At the end of the night, London and Kendrick were still
the tag champs, but with the intensity in the SmackDown tag-team division, it’s
clear that any team could walk away with the gold on any night.
And also this week, SmackDown announcer Michael Cole interviewed free-agent
Montel Vontavious Porter about his current contract status. M.V.P. told Cole
that as soon as General Manager Theodore Long makes the right offer, the
Smackdown roster would be dramatically upgraded. When Cole suggested that M.V.P.
may be hiding behind his agent, Porter offered the following response:
“Let me make something clear,” said M.V.P. “I don’t hide behind anybody. I could
beat anyone in this building, any man on the SmackDown roster. Even if it means
busting Batista, or rearranging the furniture in Lashley’s mouth, I am a world
class athlete extraordinaire.”
Whether or not M.V.P. has the goods is still in the air. Once he signs a
contract, the WWE fans may finally get the answers.
Matches
Matt Hardy def. Gregory Helms
Mr. Kennedy def. Lashley and U.S. Champion Finlay
Paul London & Brian Kendrick def. The Pitbulls
The Miz def. Tatanka
Vito def. Sir William Regal (count-out)