The season premier of SmackDown on the CW Network could be summed up in two words High Impact! From the new opening and fireworks to the action in the ring, tonight was a night of surprises as King Booker would face The Phenom himself, The Undertaker.
King Booker, who has had his confrontations with the eclectic (and undefeated) Vito wanted out of the main event match on Friday; feeling that Vito was not worthy to step in the same ring as the World Heavyweight Champion. Good fortune smiled upon The King as General Manager Theodore Long said that Vito willing stepped down for the season premier. A delighted King Booker had his fortunes reversed; however, as Long announced that The Undertaker would be taking Vito’s place in the Main event.
While King Booker mulled over his problem in facing Taker, Batista looked to settle his problem with Finlay. With SmackDown’s number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, Bobby Lashley in tow; the two marched to the ring to take on Finlay and Sir William in tag team competition.
In previous encounters between the two teams, the combined might of Batista and Lashley proved too much for Finlay and Regal; could Irish eyes be smiling?
On September 8th, after a hard-fought match with King Booker, The Animal was viciously attacked by Finlay. Left bloodied in the ring; Finlay said that he was Batista’s worst nightmare. Tonight, Batista looked to exact some revenge as he started the match for his team.
Finlay, who has managed to stay one step ahead of the former WWE World Champion, distracted Batista while Regal attacked from behind to start the match. However; despite Regal’s attempt to gain control of the match, The Animal continued his attack.
At one point, all four men ended up in the ring, with both Batista and Lashley dominating; at one point, playing up to the raucous Bell Centre crowd.
While King Booker’s knights were being batted around the ring, Finlay showed clear presence of mind to stay away from Batista. However, despite brief volley by the team of Finlay and Regal, it would be a rib-shattering spear from the number one contender that ended the match, allowing Batista and Lashley to emerge victorious.
Layla El, the competitor who took the 2006 WWE Diva Competition by storm debuted tonight as she introduced herself to the SmackDown crowd. However, El’s introduction would be cut short as Kristal came to the ring. The SmackDown Diva, known for her bitter rivalry with Ashley, stated that she was tired of the Diva search winners coming to SmackDown and doing whatever they wanted. Without warning, Kristal attacked El.
As the action in the ring intensified, Jillian Hall rushed to the ring, seemingly to come to the aid of Layla by assaulting Kristal.
Stripping Kristal of her shirt, Hall chased the bitter Diva from the ring and celebrated with a grateful Layla. As spontaneous as Kristal’s attack, Hall pounced on Layla and stripped her down to her bra as well. As a mortified El ran from the ring, Hall proved to the crowd that there is room for only one SmackDown Diva and she was standing in the ring.
Few feuds have become as personal as the battle between Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero. From Chavo’s betrayal at the Great American Bash to their war at SummerSlam; the animosity between both men has yet to be quelled.
It seemed that the former friends had taken completely different paths. Chavo ended his retirement and returned to the ring with renewed vigor. Rey, alternatively, seemed not to be able to regain his composure after SummerSlam.
Tonight they would meet once more in an effort to settle their differences. A new Mysterio emerged from the entranceway; a warrior looking to fight for his honor mores so than for his fans. This was more than evident as he rushed to the ring and attacked the waiting Guerrero.
Both men, filled with hatred for one another, pulled out all the stops. The action, too volatile for the ring, spilled out onto the floor and into the crowd. Soon, the wrestling match became an all out brawl.
The match became so intense, that referees had to separate both Guerrero and Mysterio, the match ending in a no contest to the displeasure of the crowd. While the match settled nothing, gave viewers a glimpse of what’s to come at No Mercy on October 8th.
Champions remain champions by finding ways to win. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms epitomized the word champion as he faced Matt Hardy in a non-title match. Former friends and North Carolina natives, Helms and Hardy created a rivalry, which saw each competitor trying to one-up the other.
Hardy brought the fight to Helms early, controlling the match and keeping the Champion off balance. However, Helms would prove why he is Sport Entertainment’s longest running champion, by utilizing his unorthodox style.
Viewers watched both men overcome his opponent’s finisher. Helms blocked the Twist of Fate, while Hardy kicked out of the Shining Wizard. Surprisingly, Hardy pulled a trick out of Helm’s championship book and hit a low blow on the champion for the win.
The Miz has been on a streak as of late. His undefeated streak was on the line tonight as the Veteran Killer took on SmackDown’s Number One Announcer, Funaki.
Mizanin’s steady improvement was evident as he showed more of his athleticism. A reversal into an arm drag impressed both the crowd and viewers alike. However, despite an improvement in skill, his attitude remained the same as he mocked Funaki using stereotypes of the Japanese.
Unfortunately, Funaki could not mount enough offense to stave off Mizanin’s Mizard of Oz, losing the match and allowing The Miz to remain undefeated.
The eye of the hurricane that is the SmackDown tag team division centered on The Pitbulls, the team of K.C. James and Idol Stevens and the SmackDown Tag Team Champions Brian Kendrick and Paul London. Tonight, a stormed brewed as each team participated in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Tag Titles.
The match picked of the velocity of an F5 tornado as each team pulled out all stops to top the others. The start of the match saw the Pitbulls, Stevens and James take turns hammering the Tag Team Champs. After several near falls by all three teams, London and Kendrick showed the crowd why they remain on top of the SmackDown tag roster, by pulling out a win and retaining their titles.
The surprise of the night was not an appearance by Montel Vontavious Porter; but by an appearance by the new WWE Champion, John Cena.
Cena stopped by to personally thank General Manager Long for offering to bring Cena aboard SmackDown. The WWE Champion told the GM, “I owe you one.”
Being the Mack Daddy of Matchmaking, it would not take long for the General Manager to collect on Cena’s words. If asked if Cena would participate in a six-man tag match next week on SmackDown. The Professor of Thugonomics would be teamed with Batista and Lashley to take on King Booker and his Royal Knights, Final and Sir William.
“Think of it,” Long said to Cena as he looked off in the distance. “For the first time ever, the WWE Champion would face the World Heavyweight Champion on SmackDown!”
Liking what he heard, Cena agree to participate in a match that has to be one of the biggest in SmackDown history.
While American audiences can be hard on French athletes, tonight in Montreal, Quebec’s Ambassador, Sylvan received an ovation fit for a king. Greeting the fans in French, he prepared to take on Tatanka.
The honorary Lakota Tribe member charged the ring, only to be greeted with a series of kicks and punches from Sylvan. While Tatanka took charge of the match, it would be Sylvan who emerged victorious by reversing a sunset flip by Tatanka (grabbing the ropes in the process) and sitting down for the pin.
The crowd cheered heartily for the hometown favorite as he acknowledged them in return.
When the lights darken and the funeral dirge plays, it can only mean one thing; it is time for someone to rest in peace. Tonight, that someone might be King Booker as he took on The Undertaker in the SmackDown main event.
United States Champion Ken Kennedy joined Michael Cole and JBL to provide commentary on the match. Kennedy, who claimed to have beaten everyone on the SmackDown roster, will face The Undertaker on October 8th at No Mercy.
Both King Booker and The Undertaker knew one another well as they counter one another’s move. Taker sought to end the match quickly however, The King has other plans. Squirming out of Taker’s Tombstone, King Booker hit The Phenom with a low blow, which led the referee to call the match in favor of The Undertaker.
The King followed up his dastardly deed by hitting Taker in the face with a devastating shot with the championship belt; the blow sending the Deadman to the mat.
Believing that he had slain yet another beast, King Booker left the ring to celebrate, however, Lashley had other ideas as he rushed from the back, grabbed the World Heavyweight Champion and threw him back into the ring.
As the King recovered from the assault, Taker rose and stared down the monarch as Mr. Kennedy looked on in disbelief. The Champion tried to fight, but was caught in chokeslam for his efforts. Nevertheless, Taker was not finished as he pounded King Booker into the mat with a Tombstone Pile Driver.
Thought the match had been over, Taker covered his prey and with a demonic expression, stared down The United States Champion who looked as if he himself looked into the eyes of Death.
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