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Smackdown: Poison changes Mercy lineup
By
JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
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It's the go-home edition of Smackdown before we head to No Mercy, which means
we'll either see some good matches or super short ones. Oh, and we'll find out
some information about the main event of the PPV tonight. Let's just get to
the action.
Before the show even kicks off, both King Booker and Bobby Lashley announce
their choices for the "pick your poison" element of tonight's mathes.
Match 1 - Rey Mysterio/Matt Hardy vs. Gregory Helms/Chavo Guerrero
The white contacts are back for Mysterio, which means he's all about business
tonight. By the way, methinks the family reunion Monday will be the Hardyz.
As you would expect, the match is very solid, with Rey Rey and V.1 both taking
heat segments. Helms is particularly impressive, getting a Blue Lightning Bomb
and a facecracker at different points. Eventually, Rey gets a double 619, and
pins Helms after a combo of the Twist ofFate and the Springboard Legdrop.
Winners: Rey Mysterio/Matt Hardy
The French girl from the Diva Search welcomes us back. If it weren't for the
accent, she would be the latest N.F.D.
Match 2 - Elijah Burke vs. Tatanka
Thankfully, the SD! writing staff appears to have steered away from the storyline
I feared. If you're wondering what it was, look at Shelton Benjamin's newest
gimmick on Raw.
Burke looks damn impressive with his offence, using innovative offence and
stiff-looking strikes. The match soon takes on the standard segments. Eventually,
Tatanka gets the Pemmican Drop and the Tomahawk, but he doesn't get the pin.
Eventually Turkay provides he distraction and a heart punch, allowing Burke
to get the duke with The Stroke.
Winner: Elijah Burke
Post-match, Turkay gets a spinning B2B suplex.
Match 3 - King Booker vs. Fit Finlay
As always, the M.A.D.E. annoys me to the point of muting my television. If
THQ is reading this, please, please, PLEASE do not include her in the next Smackdown!
vs. Raw. game.
The match starts with Booker getting the advantage after distraction from the
M.A.D.E. It isn't long, however, before Finlay gets the advantage. The action
then continues going bak and forth in a good wrestling bout. Heatless, because
the fans don't know who to cheer for, but heatless nonetheless. Eventually,
the lebrechaun comes out with a rat which spooks the M.A.D.E., distracting King
Booker, allowing Finlay to grab the International Object (wink, wink Eric Bischoff)
and get the duke.
Winner: Fit Finlay
Match 4 - Bobby Lashley vs. Batista
The two start off with a handshake then go through various tests of strength,
establishing how equal they are. The match then goes to similar back-and-forth
action as our last match until King Booker and Finlay run in.
Winner: No Contest
The four then start to skirmish, until the agents come out (including Ricky
Steamboat, Mike Rotundo and Dean Malenko). Teddy Long then officially makes
the No Mercy match a Fatal Four-Way match. Of course, we don't know if this
is first-to-a-fall or elimination format.
Backstage, Booker and the M.A.D.E., Lashley and Batista confront Long. The
result is a tag match with Booker and Finlay vs. Batista and Lashley later tonight.
Match 5 - Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Sylvan Grenier
This is a rematch from last week's bout. Thankfully, despite the lame gimmick,
Yang is still able to use his innovative offence. Give him the Cruiserweight
belt now and let him feud with Psichosis for a few months; please! Then again,
Grenier is looking impressive in the ring with Yang; maybe they should feud
longer.
Eventally, Grenier gets the win after a surprisningly entertaining match, holding
the ropes after reversing a roll-up. Well, hopefully this losing streak lead
to Yang rediscovering his Japanese heritage (Samurai spirit perhaps?).
Winner: Sylvan Grenier
Next up, M.V.P. cuts a promo to establish himself as a heel. It doesn't take
long for the fans to start on the "What?" chants.
Backstage, we go to Mr. Kennedy cuts a much better promo than the one we just
saw.
Backstage, Michelle McCool, K.C. James and Idol Stevens cut a promo for the
PPV title match.
Match 6 - Ashley Massaro vs. Michelle McCool
The two Diva Search alumni work a decent little match here, giving us a bit
more hope for a post-Trish Stratus era for the Women's Division. McCool ends
up getting the victory, rolling through a cross body press.
Winner: Michelle McCool
Match 7 - King Booker/Fit Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley/Batista
Well, the intent is good here, but running these guys, three of which are either
pushing or over 40, twice in one night isn't the smartest plan.
The psychology here, would theoretically be that you don't want to tag in for
your injured partner so they can absorb the most punishment possible in advance
of the title match Sunday and we get that from Booker and Finlay but not Lashley
and Batista. Guess which tandem feature veterans of 15+ years in the biz...
The match is actually pretty solid before until William Regal comes in the
for the DQ.
Winners: Bobby Lashley/Batista
Post-match, Batista clears the ring of everyone, including Lashley, with spinebusters.
He also almost gets the leprachaun, who attempted a low-blow.
