Post by NayNay on Dec 23, 2006 13:49:09 GMT -5
WWE SMACKDOWN
DECEMBER 22, 2006
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA
-SmackDown! begins with King Booker, Finlay and Queen Sharmell in the office with Teddy Long telling him they want a rematch with Cena and Batista in this weeks show. It isn’t going to happen according to Long who says they had their chance. But we want the best competition you have to offer is the comeback from Booker and Finlay. Long can dig that so in the show, he's putting them up against The Brothers of Destruction themselves, Kane and Undertaker! Booker, Finlay and Sharmell protest loudly with NO, shocked looks on their faces as we go to the opening credits...
-Batista makes his way out to stage egging on the crowd before the pyros go off and he makes his way down to the ring taking in the adulation from this crowd. He salutes the crowd from all four corners of the ring before taking the microphone. He wishes everyone happy holidays around the world. He's feeling pretty festive himself. He's wearing red trunks! It's been a hell of a year, ups and downs, but he's finishing up strong. He talks about the win at Armageddon where he and Cena beat up on Finlay and Booker. He talks about relinquishing the belt early in the year but he's where he belongs now, back in the ring as the Heavyweight Champion! All of a sudden we get some festive music as Santa Claus starts to make his way down to the ring with a bemused Batista looking on from the ring. Santa throws out merchandise into the crowd as he makes his way down to ringside and into the ring with Batista looking on with a goofy expression on his face. In the ring, Santa gives Batista a box of candy canes to throw out into the crowd and as Batista is distracted doing so Santa knocks him to the canvas with a steel pipe, nicely wrapped in red ribbon mind you! The crowd begin to jeer as Santa leaves the ring and head back up the rampway. We're interrupted by Long who comes out on stage! He doesn't know who Santa is except, well, that he isn't Santa Claus! He's got present for Santa though. A match with Batista as he calls for a referee. Santa, after an initial moment of shock runs back into the ring where he attacks Batista in the corner as he is still nursing his injured arm where he was hit.
Batista vs. Fake Santa (Sylvan)
Santa works on the injured arm of Batista sliding out of the ring and hitting into the arm of Batista across the edge of ring. He smashes it again before sliding back into the ring as the crowd starts up a huge Batista chant! He goes for a pin but only for a two count before working more on the arm of Batista. All of a sudden Batista just picks him up and rams him into the corner before favouring his injured arm and then coming in to clothesline him in the corner! He tries again but is met by a boot to the chest staggering him. Fake Santa charges him but is taken down with a back body drop. Another clothesline by Batista and then a spear as the crowd go nuts. Batista rips off the hat and beard revealing Sylvan! The crowd jeer him as Batista picks him up and gives him a spinebuster! A Batista Bomb and this one is over!
Batista defeated Fake Santa (Sylvan) in two minutes.
-After the match Batista stares down a prone Sylvan before saluting the crowd. Cole and JBL discuss the Benoit/Chavo Guerrero match with a number of stills taken from Armageddon. JBL comments that Chavo is a champion of women's rights as we get a preview of the match coming up.
Chris Benoit vs. Chavo Guerrero (with Vickie Guerrero) for the United States Championship
The match begins with Chavo and Benoit locking up in the ring before Chavo is forced into the corner. He reverses positions with Benoit and begins to lay punches into him. The crowd has started up with a big Chavo sucks chant as Benoit counters with a chop to the chest of Chavo knocking him down. Benoit is a flurry of punches and kicks before viciously slamming Chavo into the corner. A snap suplex and an attempted pin by Benoit is broken by Chavo putting his feet on the ropes. Benoit's advantage is briefly broken by Chavo who manages to counteract Benoit and begin his own assault on him with a number of punches and kicks to the back! Chavo tells the crowd they suck as he continues his assault on Benoit with a body slam, an elbow drop and an attempted pin. Benoit is quick to kick out and try to take the advantage with a drop toe hold, then the Crippler Crossface but it's too close to the ropes and Chavo uses them to force the break. Benoit twists Chavo around and looks to deliver a front suplex but they're both too close to the ropes and Chavo is thrown over the top rope with Benoit still hanging on doing the same thing and both wrestlers are on the floor! Back from commercial and Chavo is in command of the match working on the arm of Benoit whilst keeping him in a scissor lock. The crowd is chanting lets' go Benoit as he manages to get back to his feet and take Chavo down in a desperation move before Chavo once again with a back breaker takes control of the match. Benoit once again tries to get back into the match by attempting the Sharpshooter but it's kicked out of by Chavo who whips Benoit hard into the corner again. More work on the back and neck of Benoit with Benoit finally managing to break free of a Chavo rest hold. Chavo whips Benoit into the ropes and misses with a dropkick as Benoit hangs onto the ropes. Benoit once again attempts to lock in the Sharpshooter but once again Chavo kicks out of it! Chavo charges at Benoit but is picked up and dropped on the top rope staggering him. Benoit comes off the ropes and takes him down with a shoulder block! He tries again but meets a knee to the midsection and the momentum is only temporarily halted as Benoit quickly gains an upper hand with chops to the chest of Chavo. He whips him into the ropes and them picks him up with the momentum and lets go, landing Chavo face first into the canvas! The crowd are loving this comeback! Benoit now with three German suplexes before he runs his finger across his throat and mounts the ropes! Benoit dives and connects with the flying headbutt! Benoit with an attempted pin but Chavo just kicks out. Benoit picks him up and mounts him on the ropes where he can't suplex him off as Chavo knocks him back to the canvas! Chavo now from the top rope attempts the Frog splash but connects with the raised knees of Benoit! Benoit locks in the Crossface as Vickie runs for the title belt and enters the ring and hits Benoit with it and this one is over!
Christ Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero (with Vickie) by disqualification and retains the United States Championship in 13 minutes.
-After the match Benoit lets go of Chavo and stares down Vickie He takes his title from the referee and hobbles slowly out of the ring continually looking at Vickie. His music hits as Chavo gets back to his feet and yells at Vickie for disqualifying him. Chavo pokes his finger at Vickie knocking her to the canvas as the crowd jeers. Benoit seeing this makes his way back into the ring and looks down at Vickie seeming unsure of what to do as Chavo comes back into the ring and takes him down from behind! Chavo picks up the title belt and takes out Benoit with it to huge jeers from the crowd before beating his chest at Benoit, then looking at Vickie before getting out of the ring and walking away as we go to a replay of the disqualification. Back to live action as Benoit staggers slowly up the rampway with Chavo looking down at him from the stage.
-Backstage and Finlay is with King Booker and Queen Sharmell and they're not happy about the match they have for the show. Sharmell comments on how Kennedy hasn't been seen since Armageddon and MVP is in the burns unit following his Inferno match with Kane. Finlay tells Booker that they can do this! That they can work as a team as they can do, as they should do and take care of Kane/Undertaker. Booker says yes, we can do this.... I think... as they clasp hands.
-Back from commercial and Gregory Helms is in the ring being introduced as the longest running Cruiserweight Champion. He has a mic and he tells the crowd that he wants competition for Christmas. He's beaten everyone. He says the only thing to do over Christmas is to pig out and move up to the heavyweight division as there is noone.......... As we get the music of the Boogeyman and through the smoke and to a shocked looked from Helms he makes his way to the ring. Helms removes his coat and waits for him. Helms tries to take it to Boogeyman before Boogeyman comes back at him and then finally does the worm thing and Helms hightails it out of there and then Boogeyman does the worm thing on Chimel.
-Back from commercial and the music of MnM is playing as Joey Mercury walks out slowly from backstage. JBL is saying how when it first happened Joey thought he's lost his eye there was that much blood pouring. Joey enters the ring and grabs a mic. JBL for once sounds really humble about the injuries and calls Joey a champion for being out there. Joey talks about his ladder match at Armageddon and what happened to his face which he defines as violent trauma. We get to see the footage of what happened as we get a warning from Cole saying the footage is quite gruesome. It's a very somber feel from JBL and Cole and the crowd actually give Joey Mercury a cheer and that is really cool. Joey holds two people responsible though for what happened, the Hardyz to which the crowd cheers at their name. Because of them he's lost 50% of the vision in his left eye. Because of them the nose bones have been shattered, he's had 33 stitches to his face, he's lost his movie star good looks... The music of Matt Hardy hits and he makes his way slowly to the ring as well. Hardy in the ring with a mic says noone meant for this to happen. It's unfortunate it happened. The injury occurred because they were competing in a dangerous match. Hardy continues that it was a dangerous match and anyone could have been injured. Matt Hardy goes to leave the ring but Joey calls him back. Unfortunate he says... twice... They maimed him. He says to Matt do you want to fight him? He baits Hardy on and on and pushes Matt and continues to taunt him. Matt refuses and backs off and goes to leave the ring again. Mercury says that maybe if Matt won't fight him that he'll fight Nitro as the MnM music hits and Nitro and Melina come to the ring.
Matt Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro (with Melina)
Matt Hardy is still looking down at Mercury who has left the ring when Nitro attacks him from behind. Nitro straddles Hardy and beats into him until Hardy makes the comeback and beats Nitro into the corner. This match is more like a brawl as Nitro rolls out the ring for a breather. Hardy hadn't had time to remove his top but he does so and then reaches out to grab Nitro who literally just grabs him and pulls him out onto the floor. Hardy is kicked in the ribs and Nitro confers with Mercury about what he's going to do before slamming the head of Hardy into the apron and rolling him back into the ring. Nitro is certainly on the offensive as Mercury yells at Nitro to maim him. Hardy is whipped into the corner but manages to duck out of the way of a charging Nitro. A clothesline by Hardy is followed up with a bulldog! An attempted pin by Hardy who then knocks Nitro down again before attempting an elbow drop from the ropes which Nitro moves out the way from. Nitro recovers first with a kick to the midsection of Hardy followed up with blows to the head. The crowd starts up a Hardy chant as Matt tries to comeback with a sideeffect on Nitro that doesn't come off as Nitro is hanging onto the ropes. Elbows to the head from Nitro and a neckbreaker and a scream from Melina as Nitro exits the ring and reaches under the ring for a ladder. Back from commercial is mounting the ropes before Hardy beats him down to a straddle of the ropes. Hardy climbs the ropes and suplexes Nitro down to the canvas and both wrestlers are laid out as we go to what happened during the commercial where Hardy dropkicked the ladder into Nitro as he was trying to bring it into the ring. The ladder was taken away by officials. Back to live action and a double count by the referee broken at 8 as Hardy crawls and tries to pin Nitro. Hardy is back to his feet and picks up Nitro from the canvas but is rammed into the corner as the crowds starts another Hardy chant! Nitro charges again but is staggered back with an elbow to the head. Hardy mounts the ropes but is distracted by Melina grabbing him by the ankle. This gives Nitro the chance to give him a kick to the head knocking him off the ropes and to the floor! Mercury wants Nitro to maim him as Nitro throws Hardy back into the ring and can't complete the pin. He exits the ring dragging Hardy over the apron to his chest then walks away and comes back with a huge kick to the chest! Nitro back in the ring slingshots Hardy along the bottom rope then fails with another pin attempt. He picks him up and whips him chest first into the corner and then jumps off the ropes and fails to connect with a spinning kick as Hardy manages to duck under it! Hardy comes back with a clothesline and both wrestlers again are on the canvas getting a double count to 6 before they both are to their feet and Hardy to the delight of the crowd takes to Nitro with a barrage of punches. Hardy now with a bunch of knees to the head of Nitro before coming off the ropes with a kick to head. Hardy can't make the cover and drags Nitro to his feet who comes back with a right hand of his own. He tries another but misses as Hardy connects with another sideeffect but once again can only get a two count! A neckbreaker from Hardy who then mounts the ropes and gives a leg drop to Nitro but once again only a two count! Hardy picks up Nitro and with a kick to the midsection prepares him for a Twist of Fate but is pushed off by Nitro into the ropes. Nitro charges but is caught by a kick to the midsection. Hardy goes for another Twist of Fate but it's reversed by Nitro who pulls Hardy down and with his legs on the ropes for leverage gets the pin!
Johnny Nitro defeated Matt Hardy in 9 minutes.
-After the match Melina points at Mercury in victory and Nitro takes Mercury under the arm and slowly escorts him away from the ring whilst Hardy looks down at them from the ring. We get a still of MVP running from the ring his back on fire as JBL says that he's going to enter the ring and call down Teddy Long to take him to task about the Inferno match from Armageddon.
-Back from commercial and JBL is in the ring. He talks about Armageddon and how he was appalled with the Inferno match and why there hasn't been one for 7 1/2 years. He quotes the bible and how the match reminded him of hell and then we see a recap of MVP being set on fire. He continues his rant about how he could smell the burning of flesh with MVP coming by the announcers table. JBL calls this whole match garbage. JBL wants him Teddy Long fired. He calls down Teddy Long to the ring and wants him to apologise to him, to the crowd, to MVP. JBL tells Teddy he's going to be sued. He calls him down again. No answer. JBL turns his attention to the crowd and lambastes the fact that they cheered at the match. He continues his tirade against the crowd and how they want to see the blood, people on fire, and that disgusts him! He said Rome didn't fall because of the gladiators, Rome fell because of the sick fans in the stands. JBL says that if America goes down it won't be because of the good people but because of people like the crowd, those who embarrass the country and those around them. Those people make him sick!
Ashley and Layla vs. Kristal and Jillian Hall
Ashley and Kristal start this one off with Kristal pushing Ashley away but getting a kick to the midsection in return. A couple of heads to the turnbuckle and an Irish whip culminating in a high elbow by Ashley and she's in early control of this match. Ashley slams Kristal and makes the tag. Layla and Ashley clasp hands and do a drop of the fists onto Kristal. Layla goes for a pin but it's kicked out of at one. Kristal breaks free from Layla and lunges to her corner to make the tag to Jillian! Jillian baits Layla to hit her in the face to which Layla happily obliges then whips Jillian across the ring but is knocked to the canvas on return by Jillian who then slams her head into the canvas a number of times for good measure. Jillian tries for the pin unsuccessfully then gives her a backbreaker and attempts another pin to no avail. She drags Layla into the corner and knees her in the midsection before whipping her into the opposite corner! She raises her arms to the crowd and then with a somersault tripe twist half pike maneuver comes across the ring and looks to slam back first into Layla but in her time wasting leading up to the move Layla has had a chance to recuperate and Jillian is met with a double kick to the back! Layla staggers over and makes the tag to Ashley who comes in and takes Jillian down with a couple of clotheslines. A whip across the ring is reversed by Jillian who misses with a clothesline of her own as Ashley ducks under it and comes back and takes Jillian down with a spinning head scissors! Ashley whips Jillian over with a somersault type head scissor move and goes for the pin but it's broken by Kristal who charges into the ring. Layla enters the ring now and speaks Kristal before being taken to task by the referee whose attention is diverted in getting her out of the ring. Ashley tosses Jillian into the corner and mounts the ropes and looks to sunset flip Jillian but Kristal on the apron holds onto Jillian and Ashley falls back first onto the canvas. Jillian goes for the pin using the ropes for leverage but Layla gets there in time and kicks her legs off the ropes as Ashley makes the kick out! Jillian faces off at Layla on the apron who takes a handful of hair and drops to the floor lynching Jillian across the top rope! Jillian falls to the canvas and Ashley climbs to the second rope and comes off with an elbow drop that Cole calls the 'skull stroke or style stroke'? I couldn't quite pick out the name sorry. Ashley goes for the pin and gets it and another match is done!
Ashley and Layla defeated Kristal and Jillian Hall in 3 minutes.
-After the match Ashley is hugged by Layla and they celebrate their win together as Ashley salutes the crowd from the ropes and they hug as we're shown an outside view of the stadium which. We're then brought back to ringside where Michael Cole talks to Vladimir Kozlov (Oleg Prodius) who has this really inane smile as he speaks to the crowd. Vladimir rants off in Russian and salutes the crowd as we get a vignette about the upcoming tag team match.
King Booker and Finlay (with Sharmell) vs. Kane and Undertaker
We begin with Undertaker and Booker in the ring and Booker taking the advantage against him into the corner. Booker takes to him until he is pulled away and chastised by the referee. This just gives a chance for Undertaker to grab him by the throat with both hands and throw him in the corner where he unloads on him. Undertaker starts to work on the arm of Booker softening him up before he just throws him across the ring. More work on the arm as a big Undertaker chant starts up in the crowd and Undertaker does an Old School off the top rope. Undertaker turns and meets an interfering Finlay with a kick to the midsection before trying to do the Old School on him! It's broken though by Booker who lunges for the ropes, causing Undertaker to crotch himself on the ropes! Booker now mounts the ropes and superplexes Undertaker off the top rope! He goes for the pin but Undertaker kicks out and then sits up as the tag is made by Booker. Booker holds him as Finlay continues the assault on him before leaving the ring. Finlay offloads with a number of uppercuts before Undertaker attempts to fight back but Finlay takes the advantage back quickly. He whips Undertaker into the ropes but is met with a DDT in the middle of the ring! Undertaker makes the tag and Kane takes to Finlay and Booker who has entered the ring with big rights. He whips Booker into the ropes then clotheslines Finlay who has staggered into the opposite corner. He does the same to Booker and then picks him up and drops him with a sideslam! He goes for the cover on Booker but it's broken up by Finlay who is then attacked by Undertaker who has entered the ring. To a huge cheer from the crowd Finlay and Booker are whipped off the ropes and given a big boot to the face by Undertaker and Kane who then set themselves up for chokeslams. Finlay and Booker are out of the ring though in record time. Back from commercial and Kane is working on Booker in the corner with a number of lefts and rights knocking him to the canvas before throttling him with a boot. Booker is being beaten here and Kane drags him to the apron, exits the ring and offloads with a big elbow! Back in the ring Finlay has entered and as the referee is dealing with him Undertaker from the apron gives Booker a legdrop! Kane goes for the cover on Booker but he kicks out. We get a suplex from Kane and another attempted pin broken by Finlay who has entered the ring again. A tag is made by Kane to Undertaker who enters the rings and gives Booker a boot to the midsection. Undertaker continues the assault on him and then chases the referee out of the ring as the referee was taking him to task about his working on Booker in the corner. Undertaker is stunned with a thumb to the eye as he comes back to take care of Booker. The tag is made to Finlay who comes in and hits Undertaker into the ropes. Uppercuts by Finlay who then tries to come off the ropes but is met by a boot to the face! Undertaker slams Finlay into the corner and then picks him up as gives him Snake Eyes and comes off the ropes again with another boot to the face of the staggering Finlay! Undertaker whips Finlay into the corner again then tags in Kane. Undertaker goes for a big boot again to Finlay before he exits but Finlay ducks out of the way and Undertaker catches himself over the top rope before hitting the floor. Booker takes to Undertaker on the floor as Kane goes to the corner to see what has happened with Undertaker. From behind Finlay whacks Kane as Undertaker is flattened by a big high kick from Booker! The momentum seems to have changed with Finlay tagging Booker but he is met by a boot to the face from Kane as he comes into the ring. Kane takes to Booker, whips him across the ring and gives him a high elbow before trying to mount the ropes. Finlay tries to interfere but is knocked from the canvas with a thumb to the eye. Kane dives at Booker from the ropes but is met with a heel kick! Booker takes the advantage kicking into the head of Kane before giving Kane a back kick as on the outside of the ring Finlay slams the head of Undertaker into the announcer's table! Booker tags Finlay who jumps on Kane before going for a pin which is kicked out of at 2. On the outside of the ring Booker takes out Undertaker with a chair shot! Finlay now works on the neck of Kane with a rest hold. Kane breaks out and tries to come off the ropes but is taken down with a blow to the head! A tag to Booker who takes down Kane with a back kick as he's whipped off the ropes by Finlay! Another attempted cover but for a near pin fall as Finlay is caught by a hand to the throat by Undertaker as he tries to hit him with the shillelagh! Not to worry though as Finlay give a kick to the groin of Undertaker and then takes him out properly with the shillelagh! The referee was distracted by Sharmell on the apron during this and we see Booker taking it to Kane on the canvas with a barrage of blows to the head. Booker tags Finlay in and Finlay stomps the hand of Kane and then tags Booker in again as Undertaker is still on the floor! Booker whips Kane into the ropes, misses with a clothesline as Kane ducks underneath it and they double clotheslines each other! The crowd goes nuts as Finlay tries to tackle Undertaker on the outside of the ring again but is met by a big boot to the face and Undertaker staggers back to his own corner as Kane and Booker are trying to get up. Both wrestlers make it to all fours and both just manage to make tags, Finlay a moment quicker than Kane. He rushes in but is met with a right hand as Undertaker takes it to both he and Booker in the ring! It's Undertaker's turn to clean house as he clothesline Booker and Finlay not once by twice as they're in opposite corners!! Undertaker to a huge cheer from the crowd grabs them both around the throat but they break the hold with a double kick to the midsection!
Booker and Finlay slingshot Undertaker across the ring but as he bounces off he ducks under the attempted double clothesline! They turn around but are caught around the throat by Undertaker and Kane who has managed to come back into the ring! What we get now as the crowd explodes is a double chokeslam! Undertaker runs his hand across his throat and stalks Finlay, picks him up, delivers with the Tombstone Piledriver, makes the pin and we have our winners!
Kane and Undertaker defeated King Booker and Finlay (with Sharmell) in 14 minutes.
-After the match Sharmell is shown cradling Booker on the outside as Kane and Undertaker in the ring celebrate their win with Kane's ringside pyros going off as we get a replay of the win from Undertaker as the show goes off air.
DECEMBER 22, 2006
HAMPTON, VIRGINIA
-SmackDown! begins with King Booker, Finlay and Queen Sharmell in the office with Teddy Long telling him they want a rematch with Cena and Batista in this weeks show. It isn’t going to happen according to Long who says they had their chance. But we want the best competition you have to offer is the comeback from Booker and Finlay. Long can dig that so in the show, he's putting them up against The Brothers of Destruction themselves, Kane and Undertaker! Booker, Finlay and Sharmell protest loudly with NO, shocked looks on their faces as we go to the opening credits...
-Batista makes his way out to stage egging on the crowd before the pyros go off and he makes his way down to the ring taking in the adulation from this crowd. He salutes the crowd from all four corners of the ring before taking the microphone. He wishes everyone happy holidays around the world. He's feeling pretty festive himself. He's wearing red trunks! It's been a hell of a year, ups and downs, but he's finishing up strong. He talks about the win at Armageddon where he and Cena beat up on Finlay and Booker. He talks about relinquishing the belt early in the year but he's where he belongs now, back in the ring as the Heavyweight Champion! All of a sudden we get some festive music as Santa Claus starts to make his way down to the ring with a bemused Batista looking on from the ring. Santa throws out merchandise into the crowd as he makes his way down to ringside and into the ring with Batista looking on with a goofy expression on his face. In the ring, Santa gives Batista a box of candy canes to throw out into the crowd and as Batista is distracted doing so Santa knocks him to the canvas with a steel pipe, nicely wrapped in red ribbon mind you! The crowd begin to jeer as Santa leaves the ring and head back up the rampway. We're interrupted by Long who comes out on stage! He doesn't know who Santa is except, well, that he isn't Santa Claus! He's got present for Santa though. A match with Batista as he calls for a referee. Santa, after an initial moment of shock runs back into the ring where he attacks Batista in the corner as he is still nursing his injured arm where he was hit.
Batista vs. Fake Santa (Sylvan)
Santa works on the injured arm of Batista sliding out of the ring and hitting into the arm of Batista across the edge of ring. He smashes it again before sliding back into the ring as the crowd starts up a huge Batista chant! He goes for a pin but only for a two count before working more on the arm of Batista. All of a sudden Batista just picks him up and rams him into the corner before favouring his injured arm and then coming in to clothesline him in the corner! He tries again but is met by a boot to the chest staggering him. Fake Santa charges him but is taken down with a back body drop. Another clothesline by Batista and then a spear as the crowd go nuts. Batista rips off the hat and beard revealing Sylvan! The crowd jeer him as Batista picks him up and gives him a spinebuster! A Batista Bomb and this one is over!
Batista defeated Fake Santa (Sylvan) in two minutes.
-After the match Batista stares down a prone Sylvan before saluting the crowd. Cole and JBL discuss the Benoit/Chavo Guerrero match with a number of stills taken from Armageddon. JBL comments that Chavo is a champion of women's rights as we get a preview of the match coming up.
Chris Benoit vs. Chavo Guerrero (with Vickie Guerrero) for the United States Championship
The match begins with Chavo and Benoit locking up in the ring before Chavo is forced into the corner. He reverses positions with Benoit and begins to lay punches into him. The crowd has started up with a big Chavo sucks chant as Benoit counters with a chop to the chest of Chavo knocking him down. Benoit is a flurry of punches and kicks before viciously slamming Chavo into the corner. A snap suplex and an attempted pin by Benoit is broken by Chavo putting his feet on the ropes. Benoit's advantage is briefly broken by Chavo who manages to counteract Benoit and begin his own assault on him with a number of punches and kicks to the back! Chavo tells the crowd they suck as he continues his assault on Benoit with a body slam, an elbow drop and an attempted pin. Benoit is quick to kick out and try to take the advantage with a drop toe hold, then the Crippler Crossface but it's too close to the ropes and Chavo uses them to force the break. Benoit twists Chavo around and looks to deliver a front suplex but they're both too close to the ropes and Chavo is thrown over the top rope with Benoit still hanging on doing the same thing and both wrestlers are on the floor! Back from commercial and Chavo is in command of the match working on the arm of Benoit whilst keeping him in a scissor lock. The crowd is chanting lets' go Benoit as he manages to get back to his feet and take Chavo down in a desperation move before Chavo once again with a back breaker takes control of the match. Benoit once again tries to get back into the match by attempting the Sharpshooter but it's kicked out of by Chavo who whips Benoit hard into the corner again. More work on the back and neck of Benoit with Benoit finally managing to break free of a Chavo rest hold. Chavo whips Benoit into the ropes and misses with a dropkick as Benoit hangs onto the ropes. Benoit once again attempts to lock in the Sharpshooter but once again Chavo kicks out of it! Chavo charges at Benoit but is picked up and dropped on the top rope staggering him. Benoit comes off the ropes and takes him down with a shoulder block! He tries again but meets a knee to the midsection and the momentum is only temporarily halted as Benoit quickly gains an upper hand with chops to the chest of Chavo. He whips him into the ropes and them picks him up with the momentum and lets go, landing Chavo face first into the canvas! The crowd are loving this comeback! Benoit now with three German suplexes before he runs his finger across his throat and mounts the ropes! Benoit dives and connects with the flying headbutt! Benoit with an attempted pin but Chavo just kicks out. Benoit picks him up and mounts him on the ropes where he can't suplex him off as Chavo knocks him back to the canvas! Chavo now from the top rope attempts the Frog splash but connects with the raised knees of Benoit! Benoit locks in the Crossface as Vickie runs for the title belt and enters the ring and hits Benoit with it and this one is over!
Christ Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero (with Vickie) by disqualification and retains the United States Championship in 13 minutes.
-After the match Benoit lets go of Chavo and stares down Vickie He takes his title from the referee and hobbles slowly out of the ring continually looking at Vickie. His music hits as Chavo gets back to his feet and yells at Vickie for disqualifying him. Chavo pokes his finger at Vickie knocking her to the canvas as the crowd jeers. Benoit seeing this makes his way back into the ring and looks down at Vickie seeming unsure of what to do as Chavo comes back into the ring and takes him down from behind! Chavo picks up the title belt and takes out Benoit with it to huge jeers from the crowd before beating his chest at Benoit, then looking at Vickie before getting out of the ring and walking away as we go to a replay of the disqualification. Back to live action as Benoit staggers slowly up the rampway with Chavo looking down at him from the stage.
-Backstage and Finlay is with King Booker and Queen Sharmell and they're not happy about the match they have for the show. Sharmell comments on how Kennedy hasn't been seen since Armageddon and MVP is in the burns unit following his Inferno match with Kane. Finlay tells Booker that they can do this! That they can work as a team as they can do, as they should do and take care of Kane/Undertaker. Booker says yes, we can do this.... I think... as they clasp hands.
-Back from commercial and Gregory Helms is in the ring being introduced as the longest running Cruiserweight Champion. He has a mic and he tells the crowd that he wants competition for Christmas. He's beaten everyone. He says the only thing to do over Christmas is to pig out and move up to the heavyweight division as there is noone.......... As we get the music of the Boogeyman and through the smoke and to a shocked looked from Helms he makes his way to the ring. Helms removes his coat and waits for him. Helms tries to take it to Boogeyman before Boogeyman comes back at him and then finally does the worm thing and Helms hightails it out of there and then Boogeyman does the worm thing on Chimel.
-Back from commercial and the music of MnM is playing as Joey Mercury walks out slowly from backstage. JBL is saying how when it first happened Joey thought he's lost his eye there was that much blood pouring. Joey enters the ring and grabs a mic. JBL for once sounds really humble about the injuries and calls Joey a champion for being out there. Joey talks about his ladder match at Armageddon and what happened to his face which he defines as violent trauma. We get to see the footage of what happened as we get a warning from Cole saying the footage is quite gruesome. It's a very somber feel from JBL and Cole and the crowd actually give Joey Mercury a cheer and that is really cool. Joey holds two people responsible though for what happened, the Hardyz to which the crowd cheers at their name. Because of them he's lost 50% of the vision in his left eye. Because of them the nose bones have been shattered, he's had 33 stitches to his face, he's lost his movie star good looks... The music of Matt Hardy hits and he makes his way slowly to the ring as well. Hardy in the ring with a mic says noone meant for this to happen. It's unfortunate it happened. The injury occurred because they were competing in a dangerous match. Hardy continues that it was a dangerous match and anyone could have been injured. Matt Hardy goes to leave the ring but Joey calls him back. Unfortunate he says... twice... They maimed him. He says to Matt do you want to fight him? He baits Hardy on and on and pushes Matt and continues to taunt him. Matt refuses and backs off and goes to leave the ring again. Mercury says that maybe if Matt won't fight him that he'll fight Nitro as the MnM music hits and Nitro and Melina come to the ring.
Matt Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro (with Melina)
Matt Hardy is still looking down at Mercury who has left the ring when Nitro attacks him from behind. Nitro straddles Hardy and beats into him until Hardy makes the comeback and beats Nitro into the corner. This match is more like a brawl as Nitro rolls out the ring for a breather. Hardy hadn't had time to remove his top but he does so and then reaches out to grab Nitro who literally just grabs him and pulls him out onto the floor. Hardy is kicked in the ribs and Nitro confers with Mercury about what he's going to do before slamming the head of Hardy into the apron and rolling him back into the ring. Nitro is certainly on the offensive as Mercury yells at Nitro to maim him. Hardy is whipped into the corner but manages to duck out of the way of a charging Nitro. A clothesline by Hardy is followed up with a bulldog! An attempted pin by Hardy who then knocks Nitro down again before attempting an elbow drop from the ropes which Nitro moves out the way from. Nitro recovers first with a kick to the midsection of Hardy followed up with blows to the head. The crowd starts up a Hardy chant as Matt tries to comeback with a sideeffect on Nitro that doesn't come off as Nitro is hanging onto the ropes. Elbows to the head from Nitro and a neckbreaker and a scream from Melina as Nitro exits the ring and reaches under the ring for a ladder. Back from commercial is mounting the ropes before Hardy beats him down to a straddle of the ropes. Hardy climbs the ropes and suplexes Nitro down to the canvas and both wrestlers are laid out as we go to what happened during the commercial where Hardy dropkicked the ladder into Nitro as he was trying to bring it into the ring. The ladder was taken away by officials. Back to live action and a double count by the referee broken at 8 as Hardy crawls and tries to pin Nitro. Hardy is back to his feet and picks up Nitro from the canvas but is rammed into the corner as the crowds starts another Hardy chant! Nitro charges again but is staggered back with an elbow to the head. Hardy mounts the ropes but is distracted by Melina grabbing him by the ankle. This gives Nitro the chance to give him a kick to the head knocking him off the ropes and to the floor! Mercury wants Nitro to maim him as Nitro throws Hardy back into the ring and can't complete the pin. He exits the ring dragging Hardy over the apron to his chest then walks away and comes back with a huge kick to the chest! Nitro back in the ring slingshots Hardy along the bottom rope then fails with another pin attempt. He picks him up and whips him chest first into the corner and then jumps off the ropes and fails to connect with a spinning kick as Hardy manages to duck under it! Hardy comes back with a clothesline and both wrestlers again are on the canvas getting a double count to 6 before they both are to their feet and Hardy to the delight of the crowd takes to Nitro with a barrage of punches. Hardy now with a bunch of knees to the head of Nitro before coming off the ropes with a kick to head. Hardy can't make the cover and drags Nitro to his feet who comes back with a right hand of his own. He tries another but misses as Hardy connects with another sideeffect but once again can only get a two count! A neckbreaker from Hardy who then mounts the ropes and gives a leg drop to Nitro but once again only a two count! Hardy picks up Nitro and with a kick to the midsection prepares him for a Twist of Fate but is pushed off by Nitro into the ropes. Nitro charges but is caught by a kick to the midsection. Hardy goes for another Twist of Fate but it's reversed by Nitro who pulls Hardy down and with his legs on the ropes for leverage gets the pin!
Johnny Nitro defeated Matt Hardy in 9 minutes.
-After the match Melina points at Mercury in victory and Nitro takes Mercury under the arm and slowly escorts him away from the ring whilst Hardy looks down at them from the ring. We get a still of MVP running from the ring his back on fire as JBL says that he's going to enter the ring and call down Teddy Long to take him to task about the Inferno match from Armageddon.
-Back from commercial and JBL is in the ring. He talks about Armageddon and how he was appalled with the Inferno match and why there hasn't been one for 7 1/2 years. He quotes the bible and how the match reminded him of hell and then we see a recap of MVP being set on fire. He continues his rant about how he could smell the burning of flesh with MVP coming by the announcers table. JBL calls this whole match garbage. JBL wants him Teddy Long fired. He calls down Teddy Long to the ring and wants him to apologise to him, to the crowd, to MVP. JBL tells Teddy he's going to be sued. He calls him down again. No answer. JBL turns his attention to the crowd and lambastes the fact that they cheered at the match. He continues his tirade against the crowd and how they want to see the blood, people on fire, and that disgusts him! He said Rome didn't fall because of the gladiators, Rome fell because of the sick fans in the stands. JBL says that if America goes down it won't be because of the good people but because of people like the crowd, those who embarrass the country and those around them. Those people make him sick!
Ashley and Layla vs. Kristal and Jillian Hall
Ashley and Kristal start this one off with Kristal pushing Ashley away but getting a kick to the midsection in return. A couple of heads to the turnbuckle and an Irish whip culminating in a high elbow by Ashley and she's in early control of this match. Ashley slams Kristal and makes the tag. Layla and Ashley clasp hands and do a drop of the fists onto Kristal. Layla goes for a pin but it's kicked out of at one. Kristal breaks free from Layla and lunges to her corner to make the tag to Jillian! Jillian baits Layla to hit her in the face to which Layla happily obliges then whips Jillian across the ring but is knocked to the canvas on return by Jillian who then slams her head into the canvas a number of times for good measure. Jillian tries for the pin unsuccessfully then gives her a backbreaker and attempts another pin to no avail. She drags Layla into the corner and knees her in the midsection before whipping her into the opposite corner! She raises her arms to the crowd and then with a somersault tripe twist half pike maneuver comes across the ring and looks to slam back first into Layla but in her time wasting leading up to the move Layla has had a chance to recuperate and Jillian is met with a double kick to the back! Layla staggers over and makes the tag to Ashley who comes in and takes Jillian down with a couple of clotheslines. A whip across the ring is reversed by Jillian who misses with a clothesline of her own as Ashley ducks under it and comes back and takes Jillian down with a spinning head scissors! Ashley whips Jillian over with a somersault type head scissor move and goes for the pin but it's broken by Kristal who charges into the ring. Layla enters the ring now and speaks Kristal before being taken to task by the referee whose attention is diverted in getting her out of the ring. Ashley tosses Jillian into the corner and mounts the ropes and looks to sunset flip Jillian but Kristal on the apron holds onto Jillian and Ashley falls back first onto the canvas. Jillian goes for the pin using the ropes for leverage but Layla gets there in time and kicks her legs off the ropes as Ashley makes the kick out! Jillian faces off at Layla on the apron who takes a handful of hair and drops to the floor lynching Jillian across the top rope! Jillian falls to the canvas and Ashley climbs to the second rope and comes off with an elbow drop that Cole calls the 'skull stroke or style stroke'? I couldn't quite pick out the name sorry. Ashley goes for the pin and gets it and another match is done!
Ashley and Layla defeated Kristal and Jillian Hall in 3 minutes.
-After the match Ashley is hugged by Layla and they celebrate their win together as Ashley salutes the crowd from the ropes and they hug as we're shown an outside view of the stadium which. We're then brought back to ringside where Michael Cole talks to Vladimir Kozlov (Oleg Prodius) who has this really inane smile as he speaks to the crowd. Vladimir rants off in Russian and salutes the crowd as we get a vignette about the upcoming tag team match.
King Booker and Finlay (with Sharmell) vs. Kane and Undertaker
We begin with Undertaker and Booker in the ring and Booker taking the advantage against him into the corner. Booker takes to him until he is pulled away and chastised by the referee. This just gives a chance for Undertaker to grab him by the throat with both hands and throw him in the corner where he unloads on him. Undertaker starts to work on the arm of Booker softening him up before he just throws him across the ring. More work on the arm as a big Undertaker chant starts up in the crowd and Undertaker does an Old School off the top rope. Undertaker turns and meets an interfering Finlay with a kick to the midsection before trying to do the Old School on him! It's broken though by Booker who lunges for the ropes, causing Undertaker to crotch himself on the ropes! Booker now mounts the ropes and superplexes Undertaker off the top rope! He goes for the pin but Undertaker kicks out and then sits up as the tag is made by Booker. Booker holds him as Finlay continues the assault on him before leaving the ring. Finlay offloads with a number of uppercuts before Undertaker attempts to fight back but Finlay takes the advantage back quickly. He whips Undertaker into the ropes but is met with a DDT in the middle of the ring! Undertaker makes the tag and Kane takes to Finlay and Booker who has entered the ring with big rights. He whips Booker into the ropes then clotheslines Finlay who has staggered into the opposite corner. He does the same to Booker and then picks him up and drops him with a sideslam! He goes for the cover on Booker but it's broken up by Finlay who is then attacked by Undertaker who has entered the ring. To a huge cheer from the crowd Finlay and Booker are whipped off the ropes and given a big boot to the face by Undertaker and Kane who then set themselves up for chokeslams. Finlay and Booker are out of the ring though in record time. Back from commercial and Kane is working on Booker in the corner with a number of lefts and rights knocking him to the canvas before throttling him with a boot. Booker is being beaten here and Kane drags him to the apron, exits the ring and offloads with a big elbow! Back in the ring Finlay has entered and as the referee is dealing with him Undertaker from the apron gives Booker a legdrop! Kane goes for the cover on Booker but he kicks out. We get a suplex from Kane and another attempted pin broken by Finlay who has entered the ring again. A tag is made by Kane to Undertaker who enters the rings and gives Booker a boot to the midsection. Undertaker continues the assault on him and then chases the referee out of the ring as the referee was taking him to task about his working on Booker in the corner. Undertaker is stunned with a thumb to the eye as he comes back to take care of Booker. The tag is made to Finlay who comes in and hits Undertaker into the ropes. Uppercuts by Finlay who then tries to come off the ropes but is met by a boot to the face! Undertaker slams Finlay into the corner and then picks him up as gives him Snake Eyes and comes off the ropes again with another boot to the face of the staggering Finlay! Undertaker whips Finlay into the corner again then tags in Kane. Undertaker goes for a big boot again to Finlay before he exits but Finlay ducks out of the way and Undertaker catches himself over the top rope before hitting the floor. Booker takes to Undertaker on the floor as Kane goes to the corner to see what has happened with Undertaker. From behind Finlay whacks Kane as Undertaker is flattened by a big high kick from Booker! The momentum seems to have changed with Finlay tagging Booker but he is met by a boot to the face from Kane as he comes into the ring. Kane takes to Booker, whips him across the ring and gives him a high elbow before trying to mount the ropes. Finlay tries to interfere but is knocked from the canvas with a thumb to the eye. Kane dives at Booker from the ropes but is met with a heel kick! Booker takes the advantage kicking into the head of Kane before giving Kane a back kick as on the outside of the ring Finlay slams the head of Undertaker into the announcer's table! Booker tags Finlay who jumps on Kane before going for a pin which is kicked out of at 2. On the outside of the ring Booker takes out Undertaker with a chair shot! Finlay now works on the neck of Kane with a rest hold. Kane breaks out and tries to come off the ropes but is taken down with a blow to the head! A tag to Booker who takes down Kane with a back kick as he's whipped off the ropes by Finlay! Another attempted cover but for a near pin fall as Finlay is caught by a hand to the throat by Undertaker as he tries to hit him with the shillelagh! Not to worry though as Finlay give a kick to the groin of Undertaker and then takes him out properly with the shillelagh! The referee was distracted by Sharmell on the apron during this and we see Booker taking it to Kane on the canvas with a barrage of blows to the head. Booker tags Finlay in and Finlay stomps the hand of Kane and then tags Booker in again as Undertaker is still on the floor! Booker whips Kane into the ropes, misses with a clothesline as Kane ducks underneath it and they double clotheslines each other! The crowd goes nuts as Finlay tries to tackle Undertaker on the outside of the ring again but is met by a big boot to the face and Undertaker staggers back to his own corner as Kane and Booker are trying to get up. Both wrestlers make it to all fours and both just manage to make tags, Finlay a moment quicker than Kane. He rushes in but is met with a right hand as Undertaker takes it to both he and Booker in the ring! It's Undertaker's turn to clean house as he clothesline Booker and Finlay not once by twice as they're in opposite corners!! Undertaker to a huge cheer from the crowd grabs them both around the throat but they break the hold with a double kick to the midsection!
Booker and Finlay slingshot Undertaker across the ring but as he bounces off he ducks under the attempted double clothesline! They turn around but are caught around the throat by Undertaker and Kane who has managed to come back into the ring! What we get now as the crowd explodes is a double chokeslam! Undertaker runs his hand across his throat and stalks Finlay, picks him up, delivers with the Tombstone Piledriver, makes the pin and we have our winners!
Kane and Undertaker defeated King Booker and Finlay (with Sharmell) in 14 minutes.
-After the match Sharmell is shown cradling Booker on the outside as Kane and Undertaker in the ring celebrate their win with Kane's ringside pyros going off as we get a replay of the win from Undertaker as the show goes off air.
