Full Credit: WrestlingObserver.com
Report by James Thake
I’ll get my Happy New Year out of the way so we can move onto the first SmackDown of the 2008 (despite it being taped in 2007).
The News: Thanks to the Undertaker, Rey Mysterio won the beat the clock challenge to become the number one contender. The new colour commentator is Coach.
What Happened:
Teddy Long wheels out Vickie Guerrero, who announces a beat the clock challenge for the title match at the Royal Rumble. She then introduces Jonathan Coachman as the new SmackDown colour commentator to replace JBL. We get to hear his music, which is a good start. He stands on the announce table to soak up the crowd.
Beat the Clock
Finlay vs MVP
Apart from MVP having to chase Hornswoggle under the ring, the early part of the match is all mat work with both men attempting quick covers from half nelsons. After a commercial break, the clock is ticking beyond 5 minutes and they are continuing mat holds. Finlay breaks out of a long headlock before being kicked in the head by MVP for a 2 count. They go back to submissions with Finlay working MVP’s arm. Finlay runs shoulder first into the ring post before hitting the big running boot. Finlay gets his foot on the bottom rope at 2. Hornswoggle throws a shillelagh into the ring and Finlay uses another one as the referee removes the first.
Winner – Finlay by pinfall at 9:46
The victory brings out Mr. McMahon, who hugs his son and gives him some low fives. On his exit, he passes his Hornswoggle his hat. Slightly surreal.
Chuck Palumbo and Michelle McCool vs Kenny Dykstra and Victoria
Chuck and Kenny start the match. Chuck overpowers Kenny who quickly tags to Victoria. Victoria jumps on Chuck’s back, so he flips her over his head and whips Michelle off the ropes and she comes back with a low dropkick for a 2 count. Michelle hits her backflip armdrag but Victoria sends her into the ring post for 2. Victoria works Michelle’s arm including a dropkick on it for 2. The men get tagged in and Chuck takes it to Kenny with several throws to counter Dykstra’s every move. Dykstra sidesteps Palumbo in the corner and he takes control with a neckbreaker for 2. Chuck hits a Superplex. The women tag in with Michelle hitting a top rope crossbody. She kicks Kenny off the apron but the distraction lets Victoria hit the Widow’s Peak for the win.
Winners – Victoria and Kenny Dykstra by pinfall.
Chucky gets weawy weawy mad, has a go at Michelle and rides out on his own.
Backstage, Vickie sends Teddy out with bad coffee. Chavo Guerrero comes in and has a go at her for her relationship with Edge. He says it’s tearing the Guerrero family apart. This is a slightly uncomfortable segment. She puts him in the beat the clock.
Beat the Clock
Chavo Guerrero vs Funaki
I really want Funaki to get a World Title match. Chavo gets several 2 counts early on after a series of uppercuts. Funaki gets some 2 counts of his own from a reversal and then a headscissors. A tilt-a-whirl slam gets two 2 counts for Chavo. Chavo then goes back to uppercuts. Funaki gets 2 from a rollup. Chavo continues to make cover attempts from simple moves and shoves. He gets a close 2 from a jacknife cover. Funaki gets a couple of close twos from a roll up and a backslide. He gets another 2 from an enziguri. He hits a middle rope crossbody for yet another 2. Chavo uses knees to the head before hitting the Gori Bomb for the three count.
Winner – Chavo Guerrero by pinfall. After years of burial, Funaki got way too much offence in. The new time is 6:02.
Beat the Clock
Batista vs The Edge Heads
Thanks to Vickie Guerrero, Batista has to beat the clock in a handicap match. Batista takes it to both men hitting shoulder thrusts in the corner on Ryder. He sets Ryder up for the Batista Bomb, but Hawkins breaks it up. The Edge Heads double team Batista who catches Hawkins off the middle rope and tosses him into the turnbuckle. They hit the high/low for a 2 count. Batista gets double whipped into the corner, dropkicked, and then kicked to the outside. On the floor, Batista fights off both men. Hawkins holds Batista half out of the ring, and Ryder comes off the top rope with a legdrop snapping Batista off the ropes. This gets them a 2 count. Hawkins and Ryder continue to double team Batista getting the odd 2 count leaving a minute left. Batista gets hit with a Double DDT. They go for the same move, but Batista flips them both over his head. He hits a clothesline on both before clotheslining them in the corner. He hits a powerslam and a spinebuster, but there isn’t enough time for him to hit the Batista Bomb on either man.
Time Limit Draw.
The Raw Rebound is the great Flair/HHH angle from Raw.
We watch MVP talk on the phone backstage, as he conveniently tells us his plans. He says he’s going to do what HHH can’t, and retire Ric Flair.
Rey Mysterio talks about his Beat the Clock match. He says he’s got to be fast and furious, which is his style. He’s going to do anything in his power to get back the World Title.
Deuce N’ Domino vs Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore
Deuce and Jimmy start the match. Deuce holds the advantage before Jimmy takes it to him with various kicks. Deuce throws Yang to the outside who almost lands on Cherry. Domino takes exception to Yang checking on Cherry allowing Deuce to drop him on the edge of the ring for a 2 count. Deuce hangs Yang on the top rope and tags in Domino who springboards in with a legdrop for 2. Domino takes a Hurricanrana before Yang tags to Moore. A couple of legdrops give him a 2 count. He gets another broken up by Deuce from a springboard crossbody. Moore reverses a double team sending Domino into the crotch of Deuce. He then rolls up Domino for the victory.
Winners – Shannon Moore and Jimmy Wang Yang by pinfall.
Beat the Clock
The Undertaker vs Mark Henry – Referee: Matt Striker
All by order of Vickie Guerrero of course. Undertaker takes it Henry who fights back with headbutts and right hands. Striker plays fair at first counting towards 5 when Henry chokes Taker in the corner. On the outside, Undertaker whips Henry into the steel steps. He hits the apron leg drop. Taker works the shoulder using the top rope to help. Henry blocks the Old School and clotheslines Undertaker for 2. Undertaker hits a DDT. He goes for Old School again, but Henry catches him off the ropes in a bearhug. ‘Taker fights out and hits the chokeslam with 10 seconds remaining. Striker gets to 2 and stops for the remaining 5 seconds.
Time Limit Draw.
Cole says it should be renamed “Beat the Crock” as Undertaker slams Henry and hits a legdrop.
A brand new diva search reject interviews Matt Striker. Who has Big Daddy V standing there.
Cole and Coach run down the Royal Rumble card so far which now includes JBL vs Chris Jericho.
Beat the Clock
Rey Mysterio vs Edge
I wonder whose decision this would be. Edge starts by avoiding Rey, hiding in the ropes and going to the outside to watch and get moral support from his groupies. Mysterio bounces off the ropes, teasing Edge back into the ring where he hits a Hurricanrana and a dropkick. Rey springboards into the seated senton for 2. Edge kicks Rey in the face before throwing him to the outside. Edge distracts the ref as the Edgeheads attack Rey. Batista runs down and takes out Ryder and Hawkins, sending them both into the crowd. Rey dropkicks Edge into the ropes. Edge avoids the 619 but gets rolled up fro 2. Rey springboards into a rollup for another 2 and Edge’s mouth is bleeding. Edge reverses the wheelbarrow dropping Rey onto the top turnbuckle. With two minutes left, the Undertaker comes into the entrance way. A gong makes the lights go out, and a little while later, the lights come up with another gong. Undertaker is gone and Edge is in the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and a splash to beat the clock.
Winner – Rey Mysterio by pinfall, the new #1 contender.
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