More than 15,000 fans erupted at the Manchester News Arena as The Bogeyman crawled his way to the ring to face Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and Kristal Matthews in a handicap match. In previous weeks, SmackDown's scariest superstar has terrorized and tormented the new power couple and looked to take that terror to new heights.
While The Miz has not been to eager to face the unorthodox Bogeyman in previous weeks, he showed little fear as he mounted a quick offense against The Man from the Bottomless Pit.
However, like the stuff of nightmares, The Bogeyman rose and attacked The Miz with a fistful of night crawlers. With Mizanin stunned on the outside, The Bogeyman sought out his intended prey, Kristal.
Grabbing the screaming Diva, The Bogeyman produced yet a second fistful of worms. He stuffed them in his mouth and proceeded to drool them over Matthews' head. Not satisfied with sending Matthews into the abyss of madness, The Dark One literally spit a worm into the young Diva's mouth.
As the aptly-named Worm King crept back to the entrance, The Champion of Champions, King Booker contemplated his tag match against Batista and Lashley. Basking in his title defense at Cyber Sunday, the World Heavyweight Champion would not only have to contend with the combined awesome power of both Batista and Lashley, he would also have to keep an eye on Finlay, a former knight to the champion.
Rey Mysterio underwent knee surgery to repair the damage caused by Chavo Guerrero at their I Quit Match several weeks ago. Sources say he will be out of action between four to six months. With such major surgery, many wonder if Mysterio can return to action at the same level he's been known to perform.
The United States Champion, Chris Benoit saw non-title action as he faced The Vengeful Warrior, Tatanka. Since turning his back on the fans several weeks ago, the Lakota Tribe member has a new look to go with his new attitude.
Though the champion took control of the match early, Tatanka would turn the tide of battle, using the referee to his advantage. Ironically, Tatanka's transformation was due in part to his beliefs that the SmackDown referees where prejudiced against him.
At one point in the match Benoit tried to lock on the sharpshooter, a finisher made famous by Hall of Fame inductee Bret "The Hitman"Hart. As the crowd stood in appreciation to Benoit's homage, Tatanka was able to fight his was out of the devastating submission hold.
Armed with a new, more aggressive attitude, Tanaka battled back. Though The Vengeful Warrior has mounted some offense, the United States Champion lived up to his name displayed the tenacity of his namesake, connecting with his trademark triple German suplexes and following up with the sharpshooter and grabbing the win.
Victory would come at a price, however, has Chavo Guerrero hit the ring and blasted the champion from the back. Guerrero viciously continued his assault; at one point, grabbing a chair and attacking Benoit's knee. With both men meeting a week from Sunday at Survivor series, will the champion be 100 percent?
Last week, the charismatic and often controversial Ken Kennedy left The Undertaker in a pool of his own blood. We now know that both men will meet at Survivor series in a first blood match. Sixteen years ago, the Undertaker made his debut, which birthed his decade and a half of destruction. Will that chapter in history end and a new begin if Kennedy manages to draw more blood from The Phenom?
While Taker and Kennedy were set for Survivor Series, Kane and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) knuckled up in a Street Fight rules match. With no count outs or disqualifications, The Monster had a chance of keeping the fight-then-flight MVP in action.
The Big Red Machine dominated the match. At one point, Kane stuffed MVP in a telephone booth and turned the entire structure over with his opponent trapped inside. Beating the self-professed SmackDown's hottest prospect, Kane looked to end the match—and possibly Porter's career—by tombstoning MVP on a chair.
Surprisingly, MVP proved that his was equally about action as he was about bling. After reversing Kane's tombstone attempt, Port connected with a DDT that left The Monster stunned. Grabbing the ring bell in this anything goes-style match, MVP looked the ring Kane's bell, literally.
However, the rookie made a serious rookie mistake my not following up with a pin attempt. Playing to the crowd instead of trying to win the match, Kane sat up and gained the advantage over MVP. Not wanting to make the same mistake as Porter, Kane grabbed the steel steps looking to end the match.
As Kane set up to smash MVP with the ring steps, Mr. Kennedy would make an appearance and blindside The Monster. SmackDown's two biggest egos worked over Kane until the funeral gongs sounded which heralded the coming of The Undertaker.
Both men bailed as Taker hit the ring to check on his fallen brother. In SmackDown alliances seem to run thin and Kennedy threw MVP in the ring, a sacrifice to The Phenom.
Caught between The Brothers of Destruction, MVP looked as if he had looked into the face of death. However, he would not have time to react as both Kane and Undertaker tore into him like a pack of wolves would prey, nailing MVP with a double chokeslam.
Manchester cheered the return of William Regal as he faced one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London, accompanied by WWE Diva Ashley. With Dave Taylor on the shelf, the Blackpool native tore into the tag champion with the same vigor as he has in previous weeks.
Countering London's high-flying tactics, Regal showed what made him a multi-championship winner over the years. At one point, Regal connected with a devastating suplex maneuver that left the champion sprawled on the mat. London worked to get back into the match, however, but Regal's tenacity and ring intellect proved to be too much for London.
As Regal threw London from the ring, the tag champion landed on Ashley, knocking her unconscious. This brought out London's partner, Brian Kendrick, who checked on the fallen Diva. Unable to keep his mind on the match, London found himself staring up at the the lights as Regal emerged victorious.
Two-time Armed Forces Champion Bobby Lashley sent the wrestling world reeling when he made his intentions known on ECW, naming himself as the sixth and final entrant in the brand's extreme elimination chamber.
Stopping by to thank SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long for the opportunities to compete on Fridays hottest night of television, Long wish him the best, not only in ECW, but in his tag match tonight with Batista against King Booker and Finlay.
Since debuting on SmackDown on September 2005, Lashley has been soft-spoken but hard hitting. The former United States Champion is looking to take it to the extreme and making his ECW debut at the Extreme Elimination Chamber is a way to do it.
At Survivor Series, The Hardy Boys will reunite as they join DX and ECW extremist CM Punk in a traditional Survivor Series elimination match against Team Rated RKO, Mike Knox, Gregory Helms and Johnny Nitro. Tonight on SmackDown, Matt Hardy took on Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in single competition.
The match teetered back and forth as the mutual hatred for both competitors pushed themselves to greater heights as they looked to outperform one another. While Helms looked to cheat his way to a victory, it would be Hardy connecting with the twist of fate that gained him the victory.
The main event saw King Booker and Finlay pitted against Batista and Lashley. Both teams have met on several occasion either in single competition or in tag action. Tonight would be Lashley's last match as a member of the SmackDown roster.
As all four men went nose-to-nose in the ring Manchester looked as if it would not be able to contain the explosive action that was underway with Batista and Finlay starting the match.
The Animal mauled Finlay as he continually had his sights set on the World Heavyweight Champion. Though Batista and King Booker are slated to meet one another at Survivor Series, The Animal wanted a piece of the King tonight.
Though the combined might of Batista and Lashley carried them to solid victories in previous encounters, this rocked back and forth as both King Booker and Finlay would not easily relent.
However, neither Batista nor Lashley would be denied their destinies this night as Batista connected with a spinebuster on King Booker to earn the victory.
Since Batista had to forfeit the title due to injury on January 10, 2006, he has been relentless, yet come up short in his quest. With Survivor Series emanating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—the same city in which is relinquished his title—could gold once again shine around The Animals waist?
Contents copyright © 2006 by Trinae Angelique Ross. No part of this report may be used without the expressed written permission of the author or the webmaster. Inquiries regarding reprints should be made to the author or to the webmaster.
