Source: Gerweck.net

The opening show credits and lots of pyrotechnics greet us. Cole tells us we’re 16 days away from Wrestlemania and hypes the main event cage match for later in the show.

-Maria makes her way out, as she is about to have some involvement in the Smackdown diva contest. She says it’s good to be home. This is her home, Chicago she says. Maria is excited to be part of bunnymania and tonight she is hosting the Smackdown diva contest.

-Maria introduces the entire Smackdown diva faction, Eve, Victoria, Michelle, Maryse, and Cherry. She goes over the rules of the contest and announces that Maryse has been kicked off. She looks disgusted by the news. She then exits stage right. Maria now has the girls follow her to the end of the ramp. She gives them the directions of how to complete the obstacle course!

-Maria says that just because you have the shortest time it means nothing! Eve goes first. She’s in a potato sack now. Maria said she had fancy footwork. 23 seconds it took her, but don’t worry it means nothing.

-Cherry is up now. She moves through the tires briskly and hops around in the potato sack and across the line in 22 seconds! Faster then Eve, but again, it doesn’t matter.

-Victoria falls out of the ring as she fakes a bump like last week. She celebrates too early and wastes a couple seconds crossing the line and finishes in 25 seconds.

-Michelle McCool’s turn. She’s really lagging here. Apparently she finished in 20 seconds. I guess she might have.

-Maria announces that McCool had the quickest time, but remember it doesn’t matter what your time was. It’s up to the audience who decides the winner by texting in your vote.

-Flair is in the back and he’s approached by HBK. Flair thanks him for showing up. Flair’s worried someone will get hurt and he wants nothing less than the showstopper Shawn Michael’s at ‘Mania. HBK tells him not to worry, as he’ll get nothing but the best from HBK. He then starts talking strategy as they go to commercial.

-Back from the break Cole hypes MVP vs. Batista in a no holds barred match.

-They hit the Raw Rebound earlier then usual this week. It’s a look back at the well laid out Big Show and Mayweather segment. They throw in some clips from the Chicago ‘Mania press conference earlier this week.

-Moore and Yang are in the ring as they return from the video package.

-Big Show is taking on both and he’s headed out.

MOORE & YANG VS. BIG SHOW- HANDICAPPED MATCH

-The bell rings and Big Show goes after Moore while Yang creeps up from behind. They beat on Big Show, but he uses his strength to toss them aside. He has them both set up in the corner front to back and rams his shoulder into them. He tosses Yang across the ring and chokes Moore and now a hip toss. Yang tries to come back with some offense, but he's thrown into the turnbuckle. Now Big Show pops Yang with a big right hand. Now Moore gets popped with a big right hand for the pin.

***Big Show wins in squash fashion in 3:00.

-After the match Big Show picks up Yang and tosses him up over the top to the floor. Shades of Monday night! Big Show now exits and let’s Moore live. I guess he had pity on him, but what did Yang do to disrespect Big Show? Cole and Coach then do their usual piss-poor job of hyping up Big Show.

-They hype the Miz and Morrison match for later in an MITB qualifier.

-John Morrison makes his way out first for the match. Cole talks about the MITB participants.

-Miz follows out while they discuss the interesting dynamic of tag partners facing off for a spot in MITB.

JOHN MORRISON VS. THE MIZ- MITB QUALIFIER

-They circle the ring and Morrison goes for a quick roll up that gets 2. Miz comes back with a clothesline. Morrison bails and Miz points at the ‘Mania light up logo hanging near the ceiling. Miz gets in a side headlock takedown as Morrison reenters the ring. Morrison hits a backbreaker out of it and puts on a single leg boston crab. Miz fights to get to the ropes and does so successfully. Morrison hits some forearms to the back and some big right hands. Miz comes back with some of his own then Morrison hits a spear into a jackknife style pin attempt for 2.

-Miz chases Morrison around the ring and Morrison catches him with a kick and inverted DDT as they hop back inside. Morrison hits the corkscrew neckbreaker and it’s over.

***Morrison wins and qualifies for MITB in 5:00. (*1/4).

-After the match they make it official that the field for the MITB match is complete, so it will be 7 people and their technically not replacing Jeff Hardy in the match.

-Out of a break Cole and Coach discuss the main event cage match, which Coach uses as a segue to move into talk of another feud that started in a cage. That is JBL and Finlay. They show a video package that is an overview of the entire feud from its conception up to what happened on this past Monday night.

-Finlay joins them in an interview from backstage. They ask how he’s feeling and then Finlay asks them if they have children. He says there is no way to explain how it feels to have your child in the hospital in pain for something he didn’t do. Hornswoggle will get better, but never be the same and it can’t be changed. He’s going to get JBL back and kick the crap out of him.

-MVP makes his way out to the ring for his no holds barred title defense. They mention that MVP has qualified for the MITB. They show still shots of his victory at a house show that got him the spot.

-They head to commercial and come back to show the Animal’s full entrance complete with the Uzi hands.

MVP VS. BATISTA- US TITLE MATCH- NO HOLDS BARRED

-They stand toe-to-toe and then back away from each other. Greco-Roman knuckle lock up to start and MVP takes Batista off his feet. He keeps him grounded at first, but the Animal gets to his feet and charges at MVP who dodges and flees to the outside. Batista calmly waits inside and MVP eventually gets back in. Batista runs at MVP again who moves aside. Batista hits a kick to the gut and then works over him in the corner. Now a kick to the face for 2. MVP goes for a running kick, but Batista dodges it and swings a big forearm at MVP. Belly-to-Belly suplex on Batista off the ropes by MVP. That was very Puroresu, strong-style!

-Batista gets kicked outside. MVP flies off the apron and gets caught by Batista who crushes him up against the barricade. Back inside MVP hits a big right hand and his fist was wrapped in his chain. Now he’s choking him with the chain. Batista comes back with a clothesline as he sells the throat injury.

***2nd HOUR

-Batista charges at MVP, who hits a drop toe hold and Batista’s face hits the turnbuckle. Now MVP is trying to expose the cold steel of the middle turnbuckle on the far right side. Batista blocks any attempt by MVP to make his face meet it. Batista hits a powerslam for 2. Now a spinebuster and he goes for the Bomb, but MVP scrambles out from his thighs and ducks outside. MVP jams a steel chair into Batista’s stomach on the floor. He swings the chair at him, but Batista moves and the chair hits the ring post. Batista slams MVP’s head into the announce table. MVP blocks himself from getting smashed into the ring post and Batista receives the move instead.

-Batista back in control still on the outside. MVP gets his head smashed into the announce table some more. MVP hits a low blow and Cole reminds us it’s perfectly legal! MVP hits the big running kick outside and Batista looks dazed on the concrete as they head to break 9:00 in.

-Back from the break they’re still on the outside. Batista is down as MVP gets to his feet. MVP picks up a chair ready to use it, but Batista gets up and spears him. He throws him back inside and goes for the cover, but MVP kicks out at 2. Cole reminds us that it’s not falls count anywhere, just no holds barred. Batista goes for a big boot and again MVP ducks to the outside. Batista makes his way to the apron to go after MVP, but MVP swings a chair from the floor hitting Batista in the knee. MVP rips up the floor mats to expose the hard concrete. He goes for a DDT, but Batista flips him over for a back body drop. Now Batista is swinging a steel chair on MVP. MVP gets thrown inside again for a pin attempt and that gets 2.

-MVP throws Batista head first into the exposed turnbuckle. He goes outside and grabs a chair. He drives it into Batista’s back and then goes up top and swings the chair.

-Umaga runs to the ring and is stalking Batista from behind. Batista blocks a swing of the chair by MVP and throws him off the top. He turns around to be met by Umaga who grabs him by the throat and hits the Samoan spike that takes Batista out. MVP drags himself over for the pin and win.

***MVP wins with help from Umaga in 17:00. (**).

-Back from the break they recap the Umaga and Batista action.

-They then play the video package on Mayweather that they showed on Raw this past Monday.

-Kane is headed to the ring for tag team action. After the break.

-Noble is already in the ring after the break and will be Kane’s partner.

-Palumbo rides his bike to ringside and will be one half of the opposing team.

-Great Khali!

-Cole mentions the 24 man battle royal at ‘Mania for a shot at Chavo’s title. He says all 4 of these men will be in the battle Royal.

KANE & NOBLE VS. PALUMBO & KHALI

-Kane and Palumbo start it off. Palumbo hits a series of kicks and fists on Kane. Kane rings the arm and then hits the side slam. Noble wants in the match, bad! Kane hits a big boot and screams for a tag some more. He gets it! Noble runs in then gets slammed by Chuck. Now a short arm clothesline by Palumbo. Khali gets the tag as Palumbo holds up Noble and Khali chops him down. Cole wonders how you’re going to throw Khali over the top rope at ‘Mania. Didn’t someone have to do it at the Rumble? Huh?

-Khali works over Noble’s taped up ribs. Khali puts on the vice grip and Kane comes in to save him. Kane ends up on the outside with Palumbo. Khali picks Noble up and hits tree slam while Kane stands on the outside and watches. Khali makes the pin and gets the win for the heels.

***Khali and Palumbo get the victory in 4:00. (1/2*).

-Up next is the main event!

-The cage is lowering.

-We get the Brisco induction video package from Raw.

-Woo! Ric Flair is headed to the ring.

-HBK makes his way out. I hope when this match is over he doesn’t regret missing Dora the Explorer for it. Wait, this was taped on Tuesday, he is home watching Dora the Explorer.

-Edge with Hawkins and Rider make their way out together.

-Vickie is still in the wheel chair as she comes out to the ramp. She says this was supposed to be a handicapped match, so she’s adding Chavo Guerrero Jr. to it.

FLAIR & HBK VS. EDGE & HAWKINS & RIDER & GUERRERO JR.- STEEL CAGE

-Flair and HBK waste no time going at the heels as Chavo is currently locked out of the cage. Can he find a way in? We’ll find out after the break!

-Back from the break Chavo is climbing into the cage. Flair is trying to escape as Edge catches up to him. Flair lays in some chops on him and now he’s got chops for Chavo as he comes down from the cage. HBK is working over the Edge heads. Flair still chopping away at Chavo who drops to the mat. Now Hawkins and Rider work over Flair and Edge throws HBK into the cage. Edge hits a spear on Flair and the Edge heads along with Chavo put the boots to HBK.

-They tie HBK up into the ropes and Edge hits a spear on him. Edge now pounding on Flair in the corner. Now their all teaming up on Flair with HBK tied in the ropes. Ok, now their all beating on HBK again and back to Flair. Flair comes back with a couple chops, but they gang up on him and put a stop to any kind of comeback. Flair is bleeding. They pick him up and throw him head first into the cage. Lawn dart!

-HBK is still tied up in the ropes kicking away at the Edge heads to little effect. Edge drags over Flair and pins him in front of HBK, but pulls him up at 2. They kick away at Flair some more making HBK watch his fiend and mentor get beat up. Again, Flair tries to come back with chops to no avail.

-Edge goes for another spear on HBK, but he gets a boot up and breaks out of the ropes! He hits a series of punches, but quickly ends up being beat back down. Flair is wearing a crimson mask! He chops his way out of the corner for a moment, but again quickly handled and beat back down. HBK is in the tree of woe and Chavo screams at him to “Watch this!” Flair gets thrown into the cage again. Flair’s hair is soaked in blood.

-HBK trying to mount another comeback, but I don’t even have to tell you how that turns out. Well, Chavo goes for a frog splash, and HBK gets a boot to the gut in. Flair hits a low blow on Edge. Their both so worn out they stay on the mat and can’t move. HBK gets up and hits the flying forearm off the ropes. HBK now springs up! Fists for Hawkins, or Rider. Edge and Chavo get thrown in the cage.

-HBK heads up top and goes for the flying elbow. He hits it! Now it’s time to tune up the band. Edge goes for the spear and HBK side steps it. Edge spears Chavo! Low blow by Flair, now Flair has a figure four locked in! HBK locks in the inverted figure four! Chavo hits a frog splash off the top that breaks up both submissions.

-The door is opened and Edge is crawling to the door. The bell tolls! The lights go out! Gong!

-The lights come back on and Taker is in the ring! He grabs Edge and goes for a Choke slam, but Hawkins and Rider attack. Double choke slam on them. Edge is trying to escape the cage and Chavo gets thrown into it. Edge is at the top of the cage and Taker goes after him, but it’s too late.

***Edge, Hawkins, Rider, and Chavo win in 16:00. (*1/2).

-After the match Taker stares at Edge while he stands atop the ramp.



OVERALL: Ok episode of Smackdown.

The main event really lagged at times with the on going beat downs. It had its moments and the finish with Taker coming in was the best thing they’ve done to build this match yet. That isn’t saying much, but it’s something. The idea of Edge always escaping is the path they’ve been taking and the sensible one. I’d like to see Taker do a little more to put fear in Edge, but I guess the argument that the presence of the dead man is enough can be made.

Big Show’s Smackdown appearances are really not helping anything. Coach and Cole do a horrifically cheesy job building him up. Everything he does offensively they have to ask, what if that happens to Mayweather at ‘Mania? That could end Floyd’s career if that happens to him! I get the point of what they’re trying to do, but it’s overkill.

On top of that, didn’t the Smackdown writers get the memo? Show is officially face now, isn’t he? Why is he squashing two sort of over, Smackdown face wrestlers? I prefer not to see D&D, but isn’t that the perfect spot for them?

Palumbo, Kane, Noble and Khali are all officially in the 24-man battle royal for a shot at Chavo’s title at Mania. I guess of those 4 that the favorite would be Kane as of now. I won’t comment on their match.

The Batista and MVP title match was fine and Umaga getting involved is exactly what you’d expect. Nothing more to really be said about that.

The Diva contest got a lot dumber this week. Why even time the obstacle course when it doesn’t matter? Couldn’t the winner at least be saved from elimination or something? Give me something!

Morrison is in MITB, which should help the match even more. MITB has a really good line up without a weak spot in it this year. It should be an exciting match, of course. With no more spots left in the match it looks like Matt Hardy may be a surprise entrant in the battle royal. If that is the case he’ll definitely replace Kane as the favorite to win at this point.

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