Friday Night Smackdown!
Miami, Florida
April 4, 2008
results thanks to wwe.com
MIAMI – Saying goodbye to wrestling legend Ric Flair has not been easy for our fans and WWE Superstars alike. On Friday Night SmackDown, Shawn Michaels tried to explain what it feels like to have ended the career of his boyhood idol, "Naitch," at WrestleMania XXIV. But while struggling to express his mixed emotions, HBK was confronted in the ring by Batista, who claimed HBK’s actions on The Grandest Stage of Them All were both selfish and wrong.
Return of fate
Matt Hardy shocked everyone at WrestleMania XXIV by emerging from the crowd to
go after United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter during the Money in the
Bank Ladder Match. The returning Superstar quickly put an end to MVP’s chances
for the coveted championship contract with a wicked Twist of Fate. On Friday
Night SmackDown, the two clashed in a vicious and malicious battle, featuring
kicks, punches and headbutts. Once again, though, it was the Twist of Fate that
did in MVP, as Hardy used the devastating maneuver to claim victory in their
non-title match.
One cool ride
In the SmackDown Diva Competition, Michelle McCool defeated fellow finalist
Cherry to win the slick, new custom Beverly Hills Chopper. On hand to present
McCool with her new ride were Beverly Hills Chopper owner, Johnny Fratto and
son, Johnny, Jr. But the first few moments of McCool’s reign as top Diva quickly
brought out the critics. First, it was Victoria who came into the arena to brawl
with McCool. Then out of nowhere, a mysterious blonde Diva viciously attacked
McCool. Despite Cherry’s efforts the help McCool, the blonde brutally slammed
McCool into the ring post.
Gigantic showdown
In tag action, a swinging neck breaker from WWE Tag Team Champion John Morrison
to Shannon Moore allowed the Shaman of Sexy & The Miz to get the win over Moore
& Jimmy Wang Yang. But, before the opponents could clear the ring, The Great
Khali came in to clear house. First it was The Miz & Morrison who felt the
7-footer’s wrath. Next, Khali pressed Yang high overhead and tossed him to the
arena floor before finishing up his path of destruction by chokeslamming Moore.
But, before the dust could clear, Big Show came into the arena to confront Khali.
“Monday night you got in my face (on Raw), tonight I’m in yours,” Show bellowed.
It looked like the two titans would clash, but Khali once again chose to save it
for another day, leaving the ring.
Biscuits & beatings
Since debuting on SmackDown last fall, Festus has been manhandling opponents and
taking care of business. In the 24-man Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXIV, he was
a force to be reckoned with. In perhaps his strongest showing yet, the corn-fed
colossus absolutely destroyed Zack Ryder on SmackDown. Using brute force, Festus
tossed the Rated-R entourage member around the ring and got the easy pinfall.
From Russia…with love?
Russian bruiser Vladimir Kozlov burst onto the SmackDown scene by crushing Matt
Bentley in a dominating show of force. From the start, Kozlov launched a vicious
offense that Bentley could not counter, resulting in a commanding win.
Brothers of Destruction
Things didn’t go very well at WrestleMania XXIV for Chavo Guerrero and Edge, who
both left Orlando as ex-champions. Edge lost his World Heavyweight Championship
to Undertaker, while Chavo lost the ECW Championship to Undertaker’s brother,
Kane. “I have never been so ticked off in my life,” the Rated-R Superstar said
at the opening of SmackDown about losing his title. Chavo was equally
disappointed in his ‘Mania showing.
But, it didn’t take long for SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero to step
in and lay down plans try to bring the titles back to “the family.” On SmackDown,
the GM announced the blockbuster card for Backlash on pay-per-view on April 27.
Chavo will face Kane in an ECW Championship rematch, and Edge will challenge The
Phenom to try to regain the World Heavyweight Championship.
Continuing down her vindictive path, the GM ordered Kane and Undertaker to face
each other that night on SmackDown. If either brother declined to face the
other, he would be stripped of his respective championship. With such high
stakes, the match went on as ordered. However, before a victor could be decided,
Edge, Chavo, Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder stepped in to attack the brothers. In the
end, though, the Brothers of Destruction lived up to their name as they turned
the tables on Chavo and Edge with chokeslams, capped off with double Tombstone
Piledrivers. Ouch!
Matches
Matt Hardy def. United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter (Non-title
match)
Festus def. Zack Ryder
Vladimir Kozlov def. Matt Bentley
WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz & John Morrison def. Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore (Non-title match)
World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker vs. ECW Champion Kane (No Contest)