411’s WWE Smackdown Report 04.11.08

We kick the show off with Great Khali in the ring with several dancers from India. One of the dancers has a mic and says they, along with Great Khali, are very peaceful people and Khali wants to make a peace offering to the Big Show. Khali grabs the mic and talks all the jibber jabber that he does so well. This brings out Big Show. Khali jibber jabbers some more and a dancer tells Big Show that Khali wants to present to him religious river water from India. The next gift is the world’s finest scotch from India. Big Show takes a swig and doesn’t enjoy it. The next gift is a live chicken so the Big Show can have an endless supply of eggs. The fourth gift is a live goat for goat milk and he will never be thirsty. Big Show grabs a mic and says word can’t describe the way he feels right now. This is so unexpected but Big Show can show him how he feels. He gives Khali and a hand shake….and then a big sucker punch, knocking out Great Khali. Big Show walks out and Khali is still down.

Match #1: Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore vs. WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison (ECW) and Miz (ECW) (non title)

Moore and Morison kick it off. Moore shoves Morrison and then Morrison shoves him back. Morrison gets a headlock and then a high elbow. Moore gets a quick roll up for two though and then a hurricanrana. Tag to Yang and he gets a running dropkick for two. Suplex by Yang for another two count. Yang gets Morrison in the corner for a few right hands until Morrison gets a clothesline and tags in Miz. Scoop slam by the Miz for two. Back body drop attempt by Miz but Yang lands on his feet and delivers a spinning heel kick for two. Tag to Moore and they hit a suplex/rolling senton combo. Miz gets back on top after sliding Moore into the ropes. Morrison gets an illegal kick to the head of Moore and Miz gets a two. Tag to Morrison and they nail the catapult/forearm/elbow drop combo. Ummmm…..let’s call it the Mizard of Sexy. You know….Wizard of Oz, Shaman of Sexy…..fine…..hate it, I don’t care. If anyone has a better idea, leave it in the comments. Back to the action, Morrison has a headlock on Moore and then tags in Miz. Miz hits the running splash clothesline for two. Chinlock by the Miz and then a big clothesline. Tag to Morrison and he kicks away at Moore and hits a spinning leg drop. Morrison beats on Moore and then another chin lock. Scoop slam to Moore but Morrison gets too cocky so Moore gets a kick and tags Yang who goes educated X-Pac/RVD feet on Morrison’s ass and a missile drop kick for two. Miz and Moore go at it distracting Yang and Morrison gets a springboard heel kick for two. Tag to Miz and Yang takes out Morrison but Miz hits a modified version of the Reality Check for the win. (**3/4) Another good match between these two teams.

Winners: John Morrison and Miz via pin fall on Jimmy Wang Yang by Miz

We cut to a location where Edge and Vicky Guerrero are getting pampered to take away Edge’s stress from WrestleMania.

-Commercial-

Match #2: Finlay w/ Hornswoggle vs. Matt Striker (ECW)

Hornswoggle slides under the ring as both me lock up. Finlay gets a headlock and a shoulder block. Big uppercut to Striker. Striker and Finlay stare down and Hornswoggle distracts Striker after shooting him with a super soaker. Finlay takes advantage and hits a clothesline. Striker gets a few shots in though and starts to work on the arm of Finlay. Finlay fights back with a rolling senton, clotheslines, and a catapult. Seating senton by Finlay for two. Striker nails a drop toe hold and a big kick. Finlay rolls out of the ring and Striker goes for a baseball slide but Finlay lefts the apron and Striker gets caught. Finlay beats on him and rolls back in the ring. Hornswoggle comes by him and throws a bucket of confetti on him. He hands Striker an umbrella but Striker throws it. Finlay comes from behind and dumps a bucket of water on him. He then throws the bucket at Striker and both men get in the ring. Finlay misses a shoulder charge and eats turnbuckle. The referee checks on him and Hornswoggle nails Striker with an inflatable shillelagh. The ref deals with Hornswoggle allowing Finlay to hit Striker with a real shillelagh for the win. After the match, Hornswoggle hits Striker with the Tadpole Splash. (*3/4) Not much of a match, but fun.

Winner: Finlay via pin fall

-Commercial-

Victoria comes out to the ring for her match with the “mysterious” diva who beat up Michelle McCool. Victoria announces her as her best friend and her name is Natalya Neidhart. She then introduces clips of her father, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Neidhart gets on the mic and says the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and she has a message for the divas….if you mess with the best, you will fall like the rest.

Match #3: Michelle McCool vs. Victoria w/Natalya Neidhart

McCool jumps Victoria right away and beats her down. Dropkick to the face of Victoria and a clothesline on the outside of the ring. Both girls back in the ring and Victoria hits a clothesline. McCool takes Victoria down by the hair and goes to the top rope where Victoria meets her and hits a Superplex for two. McCool gets a big boot on Victoria though and a spinning neckbreaker. Natalya distracts McCool though and Victoria gets a roll up for the win. (3/4*) Too short to mean anything but had a few decent spots and it was just to introduce Natayla.

Winner: Victoria via pin fall

-Commercial-

Michael Cole gets in the ring saying WWE has had matches over championships, friendship, and women. But at Backlash, in perhaps the most emotional match in WWE history, Batista will take on Shawn Michaels. We then get a video package of the last two weeks with Michaels and Batista. Cole then brings out Batista and Michaels. Batista says they don’t need an interviewer or talk show host so they can talk one on one. HBK says everyone has moved on, including Ric Flair, except for Batista. HBK says Batista’s problem isn’t about what happened between Flair and HBK, his problem is with HBK. Batista agrees but says WrestleMania opened his eyes. Batista says Michaels in the same old HBK. He respects what HBK has done, but not how he did it by stepping on people and stabbing people in the back. HBK says at Batista’s size he gets the luxury of not having to take as many shortcuts. Michaels says he want to man up with Batista and tells him at Backlash, he is going to knock Batista’s teeth down his throat. Both men drop their mics. HBK fakes a Sweet Chin Music attempt. Batista tries a Batista Bomb but HBK slips away and they smile at each other.

-Commercial-

Match #4: Matt Logan vs. Vladimir Kozlov

I’m more excited about seeing Logan. He has a good look. Vladimir knocks him down though. Logan gets a few shots but Vladimir knocks him around. Big boot by Vladimir. Logan tried a top rope cross body but Vladimir catches him and hits a reverse DDT for the win. (DUD) Vladimir…..sucks. Sorry to say it that early but he is way too bland.

Winner: Vladimir Koslov via pin fall

Edge and Vicky Guerrero are still living the life of luxury and makes Teddy Long get them drinks.

-Commercial-

The WWE United States Champion, MVP is out to do some special guest commentary!

Match #5: Chuck Palumbo vs. Matt Hardy

If you need a new bike or one fixed, call 619-977-4884. Before the match, MVP announces that he wants a one on one non title match with Matt Hardy next week on Smackdown. MVP takes some pretty funny shots at Jonathan Coachman’s commentating. Chuck hits a few takedowns on Hardy until Hardy gets a wristlock. Chuck gets to the ropes and hits him with a high elbow. Chuck beats down Hardy in the corner with several strikes and chops. Snapmare and kick to Hardy and then a side headlock. Chuck slams him down but misses an elbow drop. Enzaguri by Hardy and then Hardy takes both himself and Chuck out of the ring with a clothesline. MVP distracts Hardy allowing Chuck to take down Hardy from behind as we go to commercial.

-Commercial-

We’re back with Palumbo dominating Hardy. Palumbo takes down Hardy with a big back body drop for two. Another side headlock by Chuck and then a big boot for two. Chuck with yet another side headlock but Hardy fights out. Big boot to Chuck and then a Side Effect for two. Hardy gets some forearm shots and a splash but misses the bulldog. He side steps Chuck though after a splash attempt and hits the “AHHHHH I’m on the top rope so look at me!!!” elbow drop and then a top rope leg drop. Chuck counters a Twist of Fate and nails a fall away slam for two. Hardy counters a powerslam attempt and hits the Twist of Fate for the win! (***1/4) Solid match between the two men and the match gets a little higher rating for the great bashing of Coachman by MVP on commentary….hilarious!

Winner: Matt Hardy via pin fall

-Commercial-

We’re back with Eve interviewing Jesse and Festus. Eve asks Jesse how Festus feels about tonight. Jesse seems worried and says he doesn’t know what to say and has never seen Festus like this. He hopes Festus is prepared. He has been trying to talk to him but honestly, he is nervous for him as this is the biggest match of his career. He points at Festus and says that is the face of a man who is about to go face to face with Undertaker.

Kid Rock brings us the theme song for Backlash….All Summer Long. For a show in Spring. Ok. They officially announce Big Show vs. Great Khali to the card to go along with the three title matches and HBK vs. Batista.

Edge and Vicky are in bed now squirting whip cream and eating strawberries. Lights go out and they moan until Teddy interrupts as he does not want to watch them and leaves. Vicky gets all “cranky fat girl” and Edge calms her down with some lovin’.

Match #6: Festus w/Jesse vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Undertaker (non title)

The bell rings and Taker hits a big boot, some jabs, and another big boot. Festus powers back but Taker takes him down and hits a leg drop. Old School by Taker but Festus nails a powerslam and then beats Taker down. Taker tries to fight back but Festus over powers him. Taker hits a boot and then a clothesline to get back in the match. Scoop slam by Taker but he misses an elbow drop. He cloth lines Taker out of the ring and then beats him off the crowd barrier. Haha, beats him off. Anyway, Festus rolls Taker in the ring and continues to pound away on Taker. Festus uppercuts Taker out of the ring but Taker whips Festus into the ring steps. Taker hangs Festus on the apron and hits a boot, an elbow, and a leg drop. Both men in the ring and they exchange shots. Taker runs off the ropes and hits the swinging DDT for two. Taker pounds away on Festus but Festus comes right back with rights of his own. Taker take Festus down with a clothesline and whips him around the ring. Festus comes back though with a boot and shoulderblock. Festus gets Taker up but Taker counters and hits a Chokeslam. Festus gets his foot on the ropes after a two count. Taker chases Jesse away giving Festus a chance to nail Taker with a clothesline. Festus hammers away on Taker but misses Taker with a splash and takes out the ref. He hits Taker with an ax kick. He gets close to Taker and Taker locks Festus into the Gogo plata. Another ref comes down and he calls for the bell. Jesse pleads Taker to release the hold and he does. (**1/4) Not a bad match and I like what they did here. Festus looks strong for staying in the hold that long without tapping.

Winner: Undertaker via ref decision

Miz wins via pin fall: 2 Points

John Morrison wins via his teammate: 1 Point

Finlay wins via pin fall: 2 Points

Victoria wins via pin fall: 2 Points

Vladimir Kozlov wins via pin fall: 2 Points

Matt Hardy wins via pin fall: 2 Points

Undertaker wins main event via ref decision: 3 Points

Here are the rules of the 2008 Smackdown Wrestler of the Year Competition followed by who scored what tonight:
1. The winner of each match will receive two points unless it is by count out or DQ in which they will receive one point.
2. The winner of a title match will receive an additional point for retaining and two additional points for winning a belt.
3. The winner of the main event will get an additional point.
4. The winner of a specialty match will get an additional point.
5. In a tag team match, a wrestler on the winning team that does not pick up the win will get one point. If the match ends in a DQ or a DRAW, both members of the winning team will get one point.
6. If the match ends in a draw, all wresters involved will get half a point for participating.
7. If it is an elimination match, each elimination is worth one point.
8. If the match is for example, a Best Two Out of Three Falls Match or an Iron Man Match, each fall is worth one point.

Undertaker increases his lead with a big win over Festus while Finlay makes a big jump and Matt Hardy, Vladimir Kozlov, Miz, and John Morrison continue to climb.

1. WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Undertaker (21.5)

2.Batista (16)

3. ECW Champion: Kane (ECW) (13)
3. Rey Mysterio (13)

5. Edge (12)
5. Festus (12)

7. Finlay (10)

8. CM Punk (ECW) (9)
8. Jimmy Wang Yang (9)

10. Curt Hawkins (8.5)
10. Zack Ryder (8.5)

12. Chuck Palumbo (8)

13. WWE Tag Team Champion: John Morrison (ECW) (7.5)
13. WWE United States Champion: MVP (7.5)

15. Big Show (7)
15. Jesse (7)

17. Great Khali (6)

18. Michelle McCool (5.5)
18. WWE Tag Team Champion: Miz (ECW) (6.5)

20. Chavo Guerrero (5)
20. Shannon Moore (5)
20. Victoria (5)

23. Mark Henry (4.5)

24. Big Daddy V (ECW) (4)
24. Matt Hardy (4)
24. Vladimir Kozlov (4)

27. Shelton Benjamin (ECW) (3)

28. Jaime Noble (2.5)

29. Cherry (2)
29. Chris Jericho (RAW) (2)
29. Hornswoggle (2)
29. Kofi Kingston (ECW) (2)

33. Kenny Dykstra (1)
33. Ric Flair (1)