With only three days until WWE Cyber Sunday, SmackDown rolled into St. Louis, Missouri. The Animal, Batista greeted a rabid St. Louis audience, looking for one Fit Finlay.
"Finlay you said you love to fight," the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion said. "Well so do I. It's about time for someone to take that shillelagh and shove it..."
Unfortunately, The Animal never finished his sentence as ECW General Manager Paul Heyman made is way to the ring. Being the ever opportunist, Heyman looked to add Batista to his ranks.
"I covet you," Heyman crooned. "...the SmackDown fans don't appreciate you. I can mold your career where you know it needs to be."
It took only a second for Batista to consider Heyman's offer...a resounding no! Hitting Heyman's security detail with spinebuster after spinebuster, until the ECW Champion Big Show attacked from behind.
Batista would not be denied as he battled back against the 7-foot giant. However, SmackDown World Heavyweight Champion King Booker would push the advantage his way, double teaming Batista. However, Raw Champion John Cena would enter the fray and lend a hand to The Animal. What would happen when all four men take part in tonight's main event?
United Stated Champion Chris Benoit talked about the possibility of facing the Samoan Bulldozer, Umanga at Cyber Sunday until he saw Vickie Guerrero in the distance. Trying to find out what went on between she, Chavo Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, Ms. Guerrero only replied, "I know you were close to Eddie, but you were not as close as you think."
The cryptic statement left both Benoit and the fans confused as she walked off. With the relationship between Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit being well documented across the wrestling world, what could Vickie mean?
The red-hot rivalry between Matt Hardy and WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms continued as they locked up in singles competition. Hell-bent on proving that Hardy's win was a fluke, the longest reigning champion in sports entertainment history pulled out all the stops to prove he was the better wrestler.
Matt Hardy battled back, wanting to prove to the Cruiserweight Champion that Hardy's win at No Mercy was due to his superior skills. As the advantage teetered between these two athletes, It would be Helms who would steal a win from under Hardy.
Mr. Kennedy may have been looking for The Undertaker, but he found Kane instead. Filling in for infirmed Montel Vontavious Porter, claiming an intestinal virus, the former United States Champion would not back down from SmackDown's newest Monster as they faced off in a No Disqualification Match.
Kane looked to make quick work of SmackDown's most charismatic superstar. The Big Red Machine would be dismayed to learn that Kennedy would not fall prey so easily. With victories over several former WWE Champions, Kennedy looked to add Kane to his list of victims. Not backing down from The Monster, Kennedy relentlessly pursued Kane, working on his left leg. With surgical precision, the smaller Kennedy looked to neutralize Kane's power base.
An appearance by the supposed "sick" MVP revitalized Kane as he battled back against Kennedy. Setting up for a devastating chokeslam, Porter would attack Kane's leg with steel chair and helped Kennedy pin Kane to give The Monster his first loss since being in SmackDown.
Seeing that MVP was miraculously healed. SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long, signed a match for next week that would pit Mr. Kennedy and MVP against The Brothers of Destruction, Kane and The Undertaker.
Former number one contender, Bobby Lashley teamed up with the Native American Tatanka in tag action against the formidable team of William Regal and Dave Taylor. Last week, Regal swore that he would no longer be SmackDown's whipping boy and tonight he looked to make good on that promise.
Lashley dominated the match early, using his strength to his advantage. However, Regal and Taylor demonstrated that brains can conquer brawn as they turned the tide in their favor. The three-time special forces champion would not surrender despite the odds, making the tag to Tatanka.
The honorary Lakota Tribe member hit the ring on fire, landing huge body drops to both Taylor and Regal. Though in recent months, Tatanka had been in a slump, it looked as if he would be garnering a win that would put him back on the winning track. Fate would not be so kind, however, and Regal stole a victory.
Feeling once more that he had been the victim of bad officiating, Tatanka snapped attacking the referee and viciously assault his partner Lashley. At one point, the once fan favorite kicked stomped on Lashley's groin and stormed off.
The Divas saw action tonight in SmackDown's Trick or Treat Battle Royal. The participants, Jillian (Elvis), Michelle McCool (Naughty Nurse), Kristal (Gold Digger), Ashley (Fairy) and Layla (Playboy Bunny) and The Miz as the special referee. Jillian, Ashley and Michelle were eliminated early, leaving Kristal and Layla alone in the ring.
Both women have had their confrontations since Layla became the newest Diva to grace the SmackDown locker room and tonight was no different. Layla would show that the beauty was also a brawler as she fought to eliminate Kristal. It looked like Layla would get her wish as she attempted to suplex Kristal out of the ring, but The Miz would pull Layla off the ring apron and on to the floor, awarding Kristal the win.
The Miz and Kristal would not have long to celebrate as The Bogeyman made his return to the SmackDown ring. Choosing to flee rather than fight, the undefeated Mizanin threw Kristal to The Master of Nightmares. The Bogeyman would enjoy the sacrifice as he paralyzed the diva in fear and covered her with night crawlers.
What could be called a clash of kings, the main event saw the champions from all three brands, SmackDown, Raw and ECW faced off in tag action. Raw Champion John Cena and The Animal Dave Batista faced SmackDown Champion King Booker and ECW Big Show.
The match saw both teams working as cohesive units...evenly matched and prepared for battle. Batista dominated for his team and Big Show bulldozed his way through the competition. Neither side had a clear advantage until Big Show, remembering Booker's attack on Raw, walked out on the SmackDown champion.
As the King looked on in disbelief, Cena made the tag to Batista. From there it was a downward spiral as Batista and Cena took control of the match and picked up the win. With King Booker picking up a loss just days before Cyber Sunday, how will this effect his performance in the ring?
