Full Credit: Steve Khan, WrestlingObserver.com
WWE Friday Night SmackDown! Report
By Steve Khan
email: sh2k3@yahoo.com
Air Date: January 6, 2006
Taped from the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Big News: MNM retained their tag-titles in a steel cage match against
Batista and Rey Mysterio with help from Mark Henry. Also, Chris Benoit tied
the best of seven series at three.
Best Match: Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton
Worst Match: None.
Line of the Night: “That’s not juice!” – Kennedy to Michael Cole, who’s
favourite juice is Kool-aid
Show Details: A recap of the Melina/Batista/Henry angle aired. Once again,
an MNM title win is forgotten in the midst of something else. Tazz announced
that for the first time in 6 years, the tag-titles would be defended in a
Steel Cage. Cole said it was to keep outsiders from getting in the ring…
JBL w/Jillian Hall vs. Matt Hardy – Falls Count Anywhere
JBL cut a promo about Hardy before the match. They should let wrestlers do
this more often. JBL went into the crowd and said this would be like 2005
and 2004, the Year of the Wrestling God. Hardy came out and chased JBL into
the crowd. JBL tossed Hardy over the barricade and then on top of the
announce table. Hardy countered and dropped JBL through the announce table,
which looked unintentional. JBL kicked out after two. JBL bounced Hardy off
the steel steps and hit him in the back with a chair for a two count in the
ring. Hardy dropkicked JBL to the outside and followed with a plancha for a
two count. Matt brought out a ladder and hit JBL twice in the gut. JBL
whipped Hardy into the barricade but Matt followed with several shots with a
trash can lid. Hardy placed JBL on the hood of JBL’s limo and climbed up the
ladder. Jillian Hall tried to pull Hardy off, which allowed JBL enough time
to get up. JBL knocked Hardy off the ladder with a trash can and Hardy fell
onto the hood of the limo. JBL pinned Hardy for the win. This match was way
too quick for a falls count anywhere match. After the match, the Boogeyman
came out of the limo’s sunroof and stalked JBL. He ended up shoving worms
down Jillian’s skirt.
Mark Henry w/Melina vs. Three guys
This is exactly what you’d expect. Henry used a lot of big power moves on
the smaller guys. I’m not sure why the WWE thinks people will see Henry as a
threat to Batista, when he’s had zero success as a wrestler throughout his
entire career in the WWE. Also, a front slam is not a convincing finisher.
After the match, Cole interviewed Melina, who said stated what she did last
week was right. Mark Henry is here for her protection.
Backstage, Randy Orton said he wasn’t going to tap last week, and Sharmell
cost him the match. Sharmell was angry. Randy said he owns Benoit and would
beat him tonight as long as Sharmell didn’t get involved. Orton said he
would deliver the US Title to Booker, but then Booker would owe him one.
Booker didn’t seem to understand what Orton was getting at, but was more
concerned about becoming US Champ.
Ken Kennedy came out to the ring and said he was going to change how
Smackdown is called on Fridays. He then joined Tazz and Cole on commentary.
Kennedy said the Network sent him out there. He also claimed that
Smackdown’s ratings have increased 86% since moving to Fridays.
Kid Kash vs. Juventud
I’m shocked they’re allowing a rematch between these two. I’m glad though.
The Juice gave Kash a high dropkick followed by a backbreaker to the knee.
Juventud tossed Kash to the outside and hit him with a Hilo from the top
turnbuckle. The crowd didn’t bite. Kash went for a springboard moonsault but
Juventud escaped. Juvi went for a hurricanrana but Kash caught him for a
single leg Boston crab. A portion of the crowd started to rally behind Juvi.
The Juice hit a hurricanrana off the top rope for a two count. Juvi missed a
450 splash and Kash hit the Dead Level brainbuster for the win. Nice match.
Hopefully there are more cruiserweight matches each week.
Kristal conducted one of the most inconsequential interviews of all time,
asking Booker if it was difficult being married on Smackdown. Booker said it
was like paradise every week. Orlando Jordan interrupted, saying Booker made
the wrong choice last week. Jordan wants another chance at Benoit. Booker
and Sharmell again made fun of OJ. Booker said Jordan would have to earn
respect the hard way. Jordan had no problem with that, and made sure Booker
T was aware of it.
Elsewhere, fake reporters and cameramen waited for Batista to make a
statement. He claimed he was innocent of the charges and would never commit
sexual harassment on anyone. He waited for questions from the reporters,
when Mark Henry interrupted. Henry asked what Batista’s problem is and why
he would take advantage of an innocent person. He called Batista “sick”,
which is funny coming from Mark Henry given his past with Mae Young, which
is what most people will always remember Mark Henry for. Batista said this
wasn’t the time or place, unless Mark Henry wanted it to be. Batista told
Mark to get out of his face, which he did. This is such a terrible angle for
Batista.
Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton – Match 6
Booker joined the commentary table. Benoit was all over Orton early.
Sharmell tripped Benoit and Orton confronted her. The referee ejected
Sharmell from ringside. Orton applied a headlock and the crowd chanted
“Let’s Go Benoit.” Orton gave Benoit a vertical suplex for two and went back
to the headlock. Benoit countered a vertical suplex into a German. Randy was
able to drop the top rope on Benoit, sending him to the outside. Benoit
fought back after a commercial break and hit the Triple Vertical Suplexes
followed by a diving headbutt, but Orton kicked out. Benoit applied a
Sharpshooter. As Orton crawled to the ropes, Benoit floated over and applied
the Crossface. Randy managed to get to the ropes. Orton went for an RKO but
Benoit pushed him away. Orton caught Benoit off the ropes and hit a
backbreaker. Randy set up for an RKO when Orlando Jordan came in from the
crowd and attacked Booker T. He then took a crutch and hit Benoit in the
head. Benoit wins via DQ and the series is tied 3-3. The big comeback wasn’t
much of one, but the injury to Booker didn’t help. However, I don’t see why
they couldn’t give Benoit at least one clean win over Orton. It doesn’t feel
like Benoit has fought back.
Another promo aired for Fit Finley. He’s being built as an Irish tough guy.
Simon Dean came out and called 2006 the year of the Simon System. Simon
called out any two guys from the back who wanted to go through the Simon
Challenge. London and Spanky ran out wearing their weird new masks. Simon
referred to them as Batman and Robin. London and Spanky were ready for a
fight, but Simon said they wouldn’t be facing Simon, they’d be facing a new
tag team sponsored by the Simon System. The Shane Twins debuted as “The
Gymini” and squashed Spanky and London. It feels like somebody new is
debuting every week. This was actually a better and more impressive squash
than we’ve seen in the past. Like earlier tonight. Its too bad London and
Spanky had to be the victims. The squash finished with the Shane Twins
tossing London and Spanky over the ropes straight to the outside of the
ring. With the black tights and gloves, the Shane Twins each looked like
Goldberg.
Bobby Lashley did a promo backstage, stating he has entered this year’s
Royal Rumble. His goal is to win the Rumble. Lashley likes the sound of
Lashley versus Batista at WrestleMania. They aired a Lashley promo video.
Tazz called Lashley “soft spoken, but very hard hitting” which is true if
you’ve never heard him speak.
MNM vs. Rey Mysterio & Batista – Steel Cage – WWE Tag-Team Titles
Rey wore an Eddie tribute shirt to the ring. Anytime MNM tried to escape the
ring, Tazz said it wouldn’t win them the match. I guess that means you can
only win by pinfall or submission. Batista took down Mercury and Rey gave
Nitro a bulldog from the top rope, while hitting Mercury with a legdrop.
Mercury gave Rey a back body drop into the steel cage and Nitro gave Batista
a missile dropkick. The crowd chanted “Eddie.” MNM followed by giving Rey a
double chokeslam, and gave Batista two double dropkicks into the steel cage,
in an attempt to keep him out of the match. MNM then grabbed Rey by the legs
and launched him into the cage. Rey was able to throw Mercury into the cage
and attempted a crucifix pin on Nitro for two. Mysterio hit Mercury with a
crossbody off the tope of the cage. Rey tried his wheelbarrow bulldog, but
MNM slammed him into the mat. Batista finally got up and took control.
Batista dropped both guys groin first over the top rope and hit a couple
spine busters. Batista signaled for the end when Mark Henry slowly ran out.
Henry ripped the chain lock off the door as Batista waited for him. Henry
then ripped the door off the hinges and pushed it into the ring. Mercury
held on to Batista allowing Henry to attack him from behind. Henry threw
Batista into the cage and used the door on Batista and Rey. Nitro covered
Rey for the pinfall victory.
