wrestling / TV Reports

The Smackdown Breakdown – 11.10.06

November 12, 2006 | Posted by J.D. Dunn

WWE Smackdown
by J.D. Dunn

  • November 10, 2006
  • Your hosts are Michael Cole and John Bradshaw Layfield.

  • The “champion of champions” King Booker opens the show with Queen Sharmell. He thanks all his loyal subjects. General Manager Theodore Long interrupts the fun, though, demanding that Booker actually **GASP** defend the title against Bobby Lashley. Oh, and if he survives, he gets Batista at the Survivor Series.
  • World Heavyweight Title: King Booker (w/Queen Sharmell) vs. Bobby Lashley.
    Lashley spears him right away and works the arm. Ah, Bobby, you devious master of psychology. A clothesline sends Booker to the floor as we go to break. When we come back, Lashley has Booker in a chinlock. Lashley hits a stalling vertical suplex to cut off a comeback. Finally, Bobby misses a corner charge and posts himself. Book gets two off a thrust kick and two more off a sideslam. A kneebreaker sets up a spinning toehold by Booker. Lashley comes back with that Rick Steiner-ish powerslam for a close two. A spinebuster gets two more. Sharmell provides a brief distraction and tries to lowblow Lashley, but he blocks. That distraction allows Booker to roll him up from behind for the weak victory at 13:48. **

  • MVP interrupts Teddy Long while Teddy is trying to watch the brand new DVD of “See No Evil.” Long makes him pay by booking a Street Fight between MVP and Kane.
  • Elsewhere, Chris Benoit interrupts Chavo and Vicki’s meeting of the minds to demand an explanation for their behavior. Vicki tells him to worry about his title instead.
  • Matt Hardy & Jimmy Wang Yang (w/Amy) vs. Gregory Helms & Sylvan.
    Amy is Jimmy’s “woman.” Judging by the way they’re nuzzling each other in the pre-show package, I’m guessing she’s also his sister. Hey, he’s a redneck. Not that that’d stop most guys as she leaves a lot of the other Divas in the dust. I think it’s the southern girl gimmick. Yang gets caught in the wrong corner for some incredibly bland heel offense. What in the hell happened to Gregory Helms? This used to be one of the innovative cruiserweights of the future. JBL and Cole debate over whether or not an Asian man can be a redneck. Hardy gets the hot tag and destroys the heels because it’s time for another push to give him hope just so Vince can pull the rug out from under him next month. Hardy finishes Helms with a Twist of Fate off the second rope at 7:22. Amy’s hot. In fact, for irony’s sake, they should have Matt form a regular partnership with Yang only to wind up stealing “Amy” away from him. Anyway, Amy’s hot. *1/2

  • Mr. Kennedy calls out the Undertaker. Well, it’s Kennedy, so it takes about five minutes. When Taker finally comes down, Kennedy kicks him in the nuts and beats him to death with the microphone. Okay, so he kicked him in the nuts, but this was still an impressive beatdown for a normal-sized guy on the Undertaker. Taker hasn’t sold for someone like that since Austin left. And Kennedy didn’t use Bob Orton Jr’s distraction. In a rare strong moment for a heel, he just overpowered the Undertaker by fighting dirty.
  • Chris Benoit vs. KC James (w/Michelle McCool).
    Remember when Benoit took on Bobby Eaton in WCW? Well, if you don’t, here it is again. Benoit dominates until James snaps his neck on the top rope. Benoit comes back with a German Suplex. ROLLING GERMANS! Man, JBL is really stepping on the “put Benoit over” gas pedal, isn’t he? The Crippler Crossface ends it at 3:44. 3/4*

  • Batista will be on Smallville. Hey, riddle me this? Why is it that they’ve had four different Superman series over the last fifteen years, but only one animated one about Spider-Man? Come on, Peter Parker’s love life is just begging for one of those “O.C./Everwood” type of teen-angst dramas.
  • The Boogeyman vs. TJ Dalton.
    Dalton (Timothy?) tries to escape, but Boogey’s coming to get him, so he catches up with him and spits out worms. The double-arm chokeslam finishes at 1:12. 1/4*

  • In the back, Kristal confronts the Miz about getting rid of the Boogeyman. He challenges Boogey to a match next week. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but Miz really reminds me of Matthew Lillard’s character from “Scream.” BETTER “LIVER” ALONE!
  • Batista vs. Fit Finlay.
    Batista overpowers Finlay early, and we take a break. We come back to Batista holding a bearhug. Cole announces a “traditional Survivor Series matchup” featuring a mish-mash of ECW, Raw, and SD superstars. I wish they could get over the whole “heel/face” divide. It was more interesting last year when it was heels and faces teaming up from each brand. Finally, the Little Bastard gets in a clandestine shillelagh shot on Batista’s leg, allowing Finlay to take over. Finlay locks in a stepover toehold, but Batista makes the ropes. The ‘Tiste posts Finlay and hits a Muscle Buster. For shame, Dave. For shame. Finlay hits Batista’s bad knee to block the Demonbomb, but Batista hits a Bossman Slam. King Booker tries to interfere but winds up colliding with Finlay. Batista catches Finlay with a spinebuster on the rebound for the win at 15:37. **

    Final Thoughts: They probably need to rethink the Batista character a bit, or at least how they’re going to push him. When he got over in late 2004, he was a bad ass who wouldn’t put up with the establishment (Triple H). Now, he *is* the establishment as the #1 babyface on Smackdown. What he needs is a) a better heel than Booker to face (really, do you *want* to see Booker lose?) and b) a straight-laced babyface to play off. They almost had something with the one-upsmanship between Lashley and Batista, but they are essentially the same character.


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