WWE Smackdown! Report (6/22/07) - Taped in Charlotte, North Carolina

Smackdown - June 22, 2007, Charlotte, NC (taped June 19)
Report by Erich West, rajah.com reporter

Smackdown is off to a questionable start as we see - in the ring - not wrestlers, but two directors' chairs. And with the entrance of Edge, the World Heavyweight Champion, we are about to join the 'The Cutting Edge," the "most controversial talk show in WWE history," according to Michael Cole and JBL, anyway. This is WWE standard stuff - why wrestling when we can chitchat or see what Vince's corpse is up to? Down to?

Edge has a "heavy heart" and already I am settling in for more of the Vince McMoron memorializing. But 'The Cutting Edge' isn't content with just memorializing tonight. No. We're in for a night of accusations as the search is on for the person responsible for giving us all relief from Mr McMahon's presence....er....I mean...doing Vince in. Out comes Torrie Wilson, newest Smackdown diva, looking out of this world, I might add, and she is promptly accused of being involved in McMahon's death. He doesn't get far before the US Champion, MVP, makes his way to the ring to stop Edge's seemingly unjustified accusations. Miss Wilson looks relieved until MVP turns on her and demands that she take a lie detector test. Exciting! Two big men are ganging up on one diva. But not for long. Ric Flair's entrance music is heard. A vaudevillian double-take by MVP that should have given him whiplash and soon we have Ric Flair opening up on both Edge and MVP until Flair is overpowered (Miss Wilson wisely exited the ring) and the beatdown is in full force until Batista comes out to make the save - to a huge reaction, deservedly. There are only a few things on Smackdown that deserve crowd recognition and Batista is one of them. The main event is set, if you haven't already guessed. Batista teaming with Ric Flair against the two champions, Edge and MVP. Even if I were living under a rock, I'd surely know a PPV must be in the works.

We are finally treated to a wrestling match, and the first match of the evening is Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore vs Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble. Moore has toned down the punk look and quite honestly, seems like he can move in a ring without all the excess paraphernalia. And move he does. Both he and Jamie Noble give us a show with some pretty acrobatic, athletic and technical moves. The real contest, however, and true to building the upcoming PPV, is Guerrero and Wang Yang. Moore makes an attempt for the pin when Wang Yang keeps Noble outside the ring but Chavo is able to reverse it and pick up the pin. Winners: Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble.

Next we are treated to a real eye-opener, Mark Henry vs Funaki. Huh? A cruiserweight guy in the ring against a man of Mark Henry's size? Oh, I get it, this is the WWE's version of comic relief. (I thought we were getting that with the Vince death story.) Anyway, Funaki sells everything that Henry throws at him - or maybe this is real, considering the size difference. At one point Henry gorilla presses him and the crowds on each side of the ring entice Henry to throw Funaki their way. Henry is about to oblige when Funaki slips down his back. Henry is not pleased, as you can imagine, and he finishes Funaki off with two ring-shaking bodyslams and a bearhug submission. Winner: Mark Henry

Backstage we go as it's been at least 20 minutes with no mention of McMahon. Daniel Beck, spokesperson for the WWE, gives us the bad news. There will be an investigation into the "death" of Vince McMahon. But, he says with a dramatic pause, "...the company and the show must go on." Maybe it's good news for the show.....but that's appearing doubtful if we are to be inundated with this silly backstage drama rather than wrestling. And it's getting sillier. General Manager Teddy Long asks Kristal to join him in the ring later for "something important. Vickie Guerrero, a witness to this conversation, seems a little offput by the attention accorded Kristal by Teddy Long. I am offput also, Vick. I tuned in for wrestling.

Our third match is Matt Hardy vs Finlay. The crowd is all over Hardy and the chanting seems endless. The action goes outside the ring and Hornswoggle makes his inevitable appearance, trying to distract Hardy, who steps on his Lilliputian hands. Enough of a distraction, though, for Finlay to regain control. These two are putting on a real show, and it's infuriating to have it all interrupted by a commercial break. On returning, we are forced to witness, in split screen, what happened during the break, thereby interrupting things again. Finlay goes to work on Hardy's knee and it's open season as Finlay puts every move imaginable on Hardy's now-tender leg. Hardy manages to escape all this and an attempt at the Twist of Fate fails when Finlay backs him into the corner. Hardy elbows his way out and Finlay is faltering. Did you not expect Hornswoggle to interfere - again? Have you not seen this dozens of times? Finlay hits Hardy with the shillelagh, but rather than get the pin, Hardy executes a quick Twist of Fate and picks up the win. Winner: Matt Hardy

The lowest point of the show now hits. A rehash of the embarrassing - and downright wrong - footage of Stephanie McMahon, crying about the loss of the only man she" has ever known as her dad." I wipe a tear from my eye for her lack of ethics. After inviting us to join her on a "3-hour celebration" on next week's RAW, she exits the ring and the crowd, understandably, is perplexed at the way she can brazenly involve herself in this unethical debacle.

It's now time for Teddy Long's important announcement. After more nauseating eulogizing of Vince McMahon, Long drops to one knee and proposes. Kristal breaks down in tears and it is unknown whether she is deliriously happy or expecting a better offer. We are left in doubt as she backs out of the ring and exits.

On with the fourth match: Chris Masters vs Danny Shanley. I don't recall Mr Shanley's name on the Smackdown roster, but no matter. Mr Masters, making his Smackdown debut, is a presence all his own and has a way with working a ring that demands attention. He has a new, abbreviated entrance that is much more effective, getting him to the ring faster so we can enjoy more of his entertaining heel-style. Like Batista, Masters is one of the few things about Smackdown that deserves crowd recognition and he gets it, the crowd increasing its response with every moment of destruction Masters metes out to his opponent. Shanley, a 260-pounder, is outmuscled and outclassed. A nice debut and welcome to Smackdown to 'The Masterpiece." Winner: Chris Masters

We go from a high point to a low point in the show as a still-screen shot of "Sensational" Sherri Martel is shown, indicating her tenure on this earth from 1958 to 2007. Given what the WWE is doing with the story about Vince McMahon's "death," the inclusion of such an announcement about Ms Martel's passing is, to say the least, disgraceful. It's not unlikely that there are people who may assume that Ms Martel's passing is also a hoax. .

Cut back to Teddy Long and Kristal. In the "privacy" of the backstage area, Kristal accepts the offer, getting a darn good look at the size of the ring before she does so. Let's see. Next week's RAW is a memorial service. Will next week's Smackdown offer us a wedding?

More investigation announcements. All are considered suspects, including wrestlers and backstage personnel. The limousine driver and an unnamed "youngster" are singled out. Do we care? It's time for the main event: Batista and Ric Flair vs MVP and Edge

We start off with the trademark Ric Flair chops - Edge being the recipient and he pratfalls better than Flair ever did. Batista and MVP are in and MVP is simply outclassed by Batista. In comes Flair ("WOOOOO!") and the chops continue. The crowd is either really into Flair or they love to do those "WOOOOO's!" or both. Batista is back in and it's a one count on MVP. The US Champ is not doing too well as Flair brings Batista back in. Batista drops his guard, unusually, and MVP brings him down with a couple of boots. Time for a commercial break, I'd say. Nothing much else happening.

When we come back, Batista is at the mercy of Edge. MVP is tagged in to add his brand of punishment. A clothesline goes nowhere and Batista sideslams him - the crowd going wild - as they do, deservedly, for him. Flair does some more work and attempts a Figure Four, but Edge spears him. MVP goes for the cover but Batista makes the save. MVP attempts a comeback but can anything stop the Flair chops? Not for 30 years, so why now? MVP tags Edge and the two go at it until Edge back bodydrops Flair. MVP in again and soon both men are down. Flair is stretched mercilessly by MVP, the crowd whipping Batista into a frenzy as he tries to tag in. Flair takes some brutal punishment and it's amazing how much his body can take after all these years. Batista is pacing the apron as Edge and MVP exact endless torture on Flair. MVP misses a huge boot to the corner and Flair drops him, finally tagging Batista in. Batista goes to town on Edge and a huge back bodydrop and clotheslines from corner to corner turn Edge into Gumby. A powerbomb and Edge is upholstering the canvas. MVP and Flair end up outside as Batista stalks Edge and goes for the spear, but Edge leapfrogs him. Edge allows that it's time for his own spear, but Batista is having none of it and powerbombs him to the mat, whipping the crowd into a frenzy as the "animal" emerges. Batista Bomb on Edge and Edge is cooked. Winners: Batista and Ric Flair. If Batista is on Vengeance, it could be worth the entire price of the PPV.

Second week of Smackdown since the draft and my eyes are slowly opening. In addition to the mainstay Batista, the arrival of Chris Masters, Torrie Wilson and Ric Flair could mean the redemption of Friday Night Smackdown. Now all we need is the McMahon death angle to be "buried" and we'll be all set.