Report by: Stevie J, rajah.com reader
These results are courtesy of our own Stevie J, who is in attendance at tonight's
show in Des Moines, IA!
SD Titantron shows WM23 highlights.
Chimel introduces Smackdown. Opening match - Shawn Daivari has an arab head dress on
and is cutting a promo in Farsi. Chuck Palumbo rides out on a motorcycle to
interrupt. It's Palumbo vs. Daivari! Palumbo wins after 4-5 minutes with a slam and
a pin then rides his hog out. He got a pretty good reaction, Daivari got good heat.
JBL and Cole arrive. Chimel sets us up to show signs. SD opens and we are underway!
Edge music and promo with pyros to start. He promises to usher in a "Rated R" era.
Teddy Long comes out to make a 4 way for #1 contender at One Night Stand. Mark
Henry, Kane, Batista and Finlay. One Night Stand match will be in a steel cage 15
feet high!
London and Kendrick vs Regal and Taylor. Deuce and Domino come out to the ramp to
watch. Kendrick gets beat up by Taylor and thrown out. He and Regal make quick tags
to continue the rudo beatdown. Kendrick hits SB#2 and tags. London goes top rope,
Deuce and Domino push him off for the DQ. KLC win. Brawl outside afterwards. HUGE
BOO for Deuce and Domino as they leave. Good pop for KLC.
Hornswaggle gets chased by Edge backstage because he stole Edge's belt. Finlay stops
him and says you can have this back... FOR NOW!
Jillian comes out to sing "Jillatonic". SHE STINKS! Boogeyman interrupts. She tries
to flee but a diva throws her back in. She tries again and Lil Boogey blocks. They
both put worms on her and she flees in horror.
Back in his office, Teddy Long officially welcomes Vickie Guerrero as his new
assistant. She is thrilled and so is Kristal.
Next up - Matt Hardy vs. The Miz. Miz works an arm and the crowd is tepid with
excitement. Hardy gets several good pops nonetheless. Miz finally gets some heat for
pulling his hair for a head slam. Miz hits a neckbreaker and poses. Matt fights back
with punches. Clothesline in the corner. 2 count. Scoop slam and top rope elbow. Miz
blocks a twist of fate. Hardy gets the side effect for 2 then twist of fate for 3!!
BIG POP! Matt leaves holding his belt in one hand and his head in the other, and
then bows to the crowd.
Mark Henry does a Titantron promo and declares himself king of the jungle. He vows
to win the 4 way and promises he will show us just how vicious a silverback gorilla
can be at One Night Stand!
Balloon displays and a podium are brought out presumably for MVP. Balloons form two
arches on the ramp and the podium is in the ring. MVP rides down to the ring in a
convertible drop top like the king of the prom. He gets a pyro on the ramp and
sparklers in the ring. MVP cuts a promo and says he proved he was worth every penny,
and that Benoit should come out to make the celebration complete. Benoit comes out.
MVP demands a handshake and Benoit gives it to him. He also demands Chris raise his
hand to declare him the future and Benoit the past. MVP gets in his face and Chris
gets fed up! He unleashes German suplexes and chops. MVP flees the ring and glares
as Benoit poses.
On the Titantron, Kane promises the 4 way will be fatal for his opponents, and One
Night Stand will be Edge's last stand. A promo package for WWE 24/7 follows as the
lights are dimmed to the strains of Van Halen's classic "Right Now".
Chavo Guerrero vs. Jimmy Wang Yang (presumably non title) as the lights come back
up. Babyface beats up the heel to start and the crowd is pin drop quiet. Chavo
dropkicks Yang in the knees as he goes top rope for a li'l heat. Chavo works him
over, but Yang comes back with chops. Chavo applies a half crab and Yang gets to the
ropes. Chavo goes for it again but Yang breaks again. They're not booing this, but
almost no one is cheering and it's a shame. Backslide by Yang for two and a headkick
followed by clotheslines and a high back bodydrop. Chavo kicks the knee again and
does Eddie's rolling suplexes. Chavo goes top rope for frogsplash and is cut off.
They fight over a superplex and fall off into a roll up by Yang for 3. Yang wins but
it's non title. Chavo retains, clutching the belt like it's his most cherished
possession.
Batista is on the Titantron with Kristal. He says one guy loves to fight, one is
king of the jungle, and one wants fatality - but it won't be fatal 4 him!
Edge out first for fatal 4 way to huge boos.
Batista is out first for the 4 way, followed in order by Kane, Finlay, and Henry is
last. The whole arena smells like smoke from all the pyros. Big babyface pop for
Batista. Kane and Finlay to start. Batista and Henry in when they spill out. Finlay
jumps on Henry's back, but Henry finally throws him over. Cluster in the ring. Side
slam by Kane on Batista. Batista top rope press on Henry for 2 count. Batista
suplexes Finlay off the ropes. Henry bodysplashes them. Kane hits boots and goes for
chokeslam, turns into a punch fight. Kane with boot, Batista clotheslines. Henry
powerbombs Kane. Henry scoops Batista for the strong slam but gets 2 count. Cluster
again and Finlay hits everyone with the shillalegh! Little Bastard in and Batista
spears Finlay so Little Bastard runs away. Big demon bomb by Batista on Finlay for
the 1 2 3. Batista is the new No. 1 contender!
Batista stares down Edge, who is sitting at announcer's table and leaves, getting
big pops the whole time.
After Smackdown ended, the dark match was Daniel Rodimer (as Dan Rodman, 309 lbs
from Clearwater, FL) over Funaki in a squash that went way too long and got no heat.
Neg heat for Rodman.
The ringside and ramp looked pretty full, camera side seemed 2/3rds taped off.
