Friday Night Smackdown!
Trenton, New Jersey
March 16, 2007
thanks to: wwe.com
Anger abound
By Lennie DiFino
March 16, 2007
With just over two weeks remaining until WrestleMania 23, the tension between
World Heavyweight Champion Batista and Undertaker is at a boiling point.
Batista began his night as a guest on Miz TV, and after The Miz insulted Batista
by saying, “I don’t think you can stop Undertaker,” the young SmackDown
Superstar played an early April Fool’s joke on The Animal, having paid someone
to turn out the lights and play Undertaker’s music. The World Heavyweight
Champion was not amused, and had the last laugh, delivering an explosive Batista
Bomb.
Later in the night, Batista sat ringside on commentary as Undertaker faced King
Booker in one-on-one action.
With Undertaker poised to capture a victory, Finlay interfered with the
shillelagh, and he and Booker double-teamed the Phenom as Batista looked on.
Undertaker fought back and dismantled Finlay and King Booker, and then threw the
Irishman into Batista.
After laying King Booker out, Undertaker walked his way up the ramp and turned
to see an angry Batista staring from the ring. In 16 days at WrestleMania 23,
these two Superstars will square off for the richest prize in
sports-entertainment – the World Heavyweight Championship.
MVP will also be seeking a championship on April 1 as he goes up against United
States Champion Chris Benoit. Porter defeated El Grande Latte with the
Playmaker, and continued to berate Benoit, even labeling him as a coward.
General Manager Theodore Long then granted the cocky MVP his WrestleMania wish.
Benoit made his way out and brawled with MVP, looking to apply the Crossface. If
Benoit is able to get MVP in his clutches at Ford Field, Porter’s wish may
become a nightmare.
Mr. Kennedy and Matt Hardy, two of the Money in the Bank Ladder Match
participants at WrestleMania, were in action against each other. Kennedy still
claims to be “the future of sports-entertainment,” but Hardy is hoping to assert
his own legacy.
While Kennedy claimed prior to the match that nobody would stop his ascension up
the ladder at WrestleMania, Matt Hardy stopped the loudmouth on this night.
Hardy defeated Kennedy with the Twist of Fate, as he continues to build momentum
heading into the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Kane sent a clear message to The Great Khali, as he destroyed Daivari and then
dragged his opponent out of the arena with a hook. Last week, Kane was referred
to as demented, twisted, and sick. This week, the Big Red Monster showed WWE
fans just how far he will take his battle with Khali, bringing flashbacks to his
movie See No Evil.
WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick teamed with Playboy cover
girl Ashley to take on MNM in a Six-Person Tag Match. London and Kendrick have
become the fourth longest Tag Champions in WWE history, holding the titles for
300 days. Nitro, Mercury and Women’s Champion Melina stole the victory from the
high-octane trio after Melina interfered. After the match, Ashley and Melina
fought outside the ring until being separated by their teams. As Ashley and
Melina head toward a showdown at WrestleMania, this personal and bitter rivalry
is becoming as hot as the two Divas.
Hornswoggle, SmackDown’s leprechaun, wished all WWE fans a very happy St.
Patrick’s Day, but was met with screams when he requested Queen Sharmell, “Kiss
me, I’m Irish.”
Finally, Mr. Fuji was announced as the latest inductee into WWE’s Hall of Fame,
joining the Class of 2007.
Just 16 days remain until April 1, when WWE fans will pack Ford Field in Detroit
for WrestleMania 23. Be sure to tune into SmackDown each and every Friday as the
Road to WrestleMania continues on The CW Network.
Matches
Matt Hardy def. Mr. Kennedy
MVP def. El Grande Latte
MNM def. WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick & Ashley
Kane vs. Daivari (No Contest)
King Booker vs. Undertaker (No Contest)