Smackdown Recap 08.31.07

Smackdown recap from Albany, NY:

Smackdown opened with Teddy Long, The Great Khali and his manager Singh standing in the ring. Long said tonight they would find out Khali's opponent for the title at Unforgiven. Long said there would be a championship competition tonight with a series of matches to determine Khali's opponent. First match would be Finlay going against Kane. Second match would be Rey Mysterio facing Batista. The winners of the 2 contests would then compete and the winner of that gets to face Khali at Unforgiven.

Kane came down to the ring for his match with Khali still in the ring. Kane stared Khali down until Finlay came down for the match.

Kane vs. Finlay (Tournament Match 1)

Kane picked up Finlay's shalalee and tossed it out of the ring up the ramp. Just then, Hornswaggle appeared from under the apron cover and put another shalalee at the corner of the ring for Finlay. Kane began to dominate Finlay, knocking him to the mat, then dropkicking him while seated. Kane worked on the left shoulder/arm area of Finlay. Kane pulled Finlay to the outside of the ring then yanked his arm against the ringpost.

Back in the ring, Kane continued to dominate as he caused Finlay to fall backwards out of the ring. As Kane, went out to beat up Finlay more, Finlay was able to ram Kane right into the steel steps. The two men got back into the ring, where Kane regained the momentum briefly until he ran at Finlay in the corner. Finlay moved away and then was able to drop Kane to the mat. Kane tried to fight back from a seated position but Finlay dropkicked him down. Finlay tried to splash onto Kane from the corner ropes, but Kane put his knees up, then was able to start beating Finlay up.

Kane delivered a solid clothesline to Finlay in the ring, knocking him down, then used a sideslam. Kane finally was able to grab Finlay in a chokeslam and slam him down to the mat. Finlay got up and Kane went to pick him up for a slam. Finlay slid off and attacked Kane's leg. As the two men continued to face off, the ref saw Hornswaggle come up to the corner of the ring area. The ref was distracted, allowing Finlay to grab his shalalee and clock Kane over the head. Finlay picks up the pinfall victory.

Winner: Finlay wins via pinfall over Kane.

JBL and Michael Cole discussed that the Tag Team titles would be on the line coming up. They reviewed last week's 1 on 1 basketball competition between Matt Hardy an MVP, where Deuce and Domino ran out to beat them up. Hardy and MVP will face Deuce and Domino for the tag titles tonight.

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Jesse and Festus promo shown discussing "Back to School". Jesse said his favorite class was lunch. Jesse said Festus excelled in all of his classes in school, and that Festus has the face of an "Academic All-American".

MVP & Matt Hardy vs. Deuce & Domino (Tag Team Title Match)

Hardy and MVP started to argue in the ring before Deuce and Domino arrived to the ramp. Matt Hardy started to attack Deuce and Domino outside the ring as they got there. MVP ran outside the ring and brought in Deuce then tried for a fast pin. Hardy and Domino got back to their corners, as Deuce gained control of MVP briefly. MVP tripped Deuce down, then Hardy managed to slap MVP for a tag in, as Domino entered.

Matt began to dominate on Domino, and he and MVP tagged in and out to work on him. Domino finally pulled Matt Hardy over to his corner so Deuce could get back in. Deuce and Domino tried to doubleteam Hardy but he ducked them off the ropes then clotheslined both down. Hardy knocked Domino the mat with an elbow drop off the ropes, then was slapped by MVP for a tag. Hardy began to dominate Domino, until the ref became distracted. Deuce ran over on the side apron and clotheslined down Hardy, then tagged back in as Smackdown hit commercial.

When Smackdown returned, Domino had Matt Hardy down on the mat. Hardy stood up and struggled to kick Domino then tried to go for a tag to MVP. Domino grabbed Hardy and brought him back to tag Deuce in. Hardy fought his way out of the corner, until Deuce tripped him then dragged him back to Domino. Deuce and Domino continued to keep Matt down and away from MVP. Every time Hardy was able to stand up, he was knocked back down by the tag champs.

MVP used various antics including walking over to talk to Cherry during the match as Matt continued to get beat up. Matt was finally able to knock Domino off the side apron and then escape from Deuce. Hardy went over and slapped MVP in the face then eluded Deuce's attack to land the Twist of Fate! MVP entered the ring off the slap in the face tag, and tossed Matt out through the ropes. MVP pinned Deuce for the win making Hardy/MVP the new tag champs!

Winners: Matt Hardy & MVP win via pinfall over Deuce and Domino to become the new Tag Team champs.

Vince McMahon was shown backstage and welcomed Batista into his office. Vince said he was thinking over the possibility that Batista might be his son. Batista talked about how he and his mother lived in poverty when he was growing up, and told Vince he would beat him unmercifully if it turns out Vince was his dad and did nothing to help. Vince quickly said he just realized there's no resemblance between them.

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Wedding invitiation promo shown for Kristal and Teddy Long's wedding which will be at Phlips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia in 3 weeks on Smackdown.

Eugene shown in the ring shooting off T-shirts to the crowd. Just then, Mark Henry's music came on as Henry walked down to the ring. Once in the ring, the T shirt gun Eugene was holding accidentally went off shooting a shirt into Mark Henry. Eugene dropped the gun and tried to back away to the corner, where Mark Henry ran at him and smashed into him. Henry then put Eugene up in a Bear Hug until Eugene was out of it. Henry tossed Eugene out of the ring then started to yell on a mic about how Undertaker will be back for Unforgiven.

Just then Undertaker's bell chimed and the arena went dark. A promo video was shown on the Titantron showed the dessert with a child whispering about the man who can't be destroyed. Out of nowhere, Undertaker's hand reached up from out of the sand as if buried.

Rey Mysterio vs. Batista (Tournament Match 2)

Batista applauded in the ring as Mysterio came out to a roaring crowd. Cole noted that Mysterio and Batista were former tag champs. The two hugged and shook hands prior to the match. Mysterio tried to go for Batista's leg for a takedown, kicking him. Batista smiled seeing that Rey was bringing his A game. Batista finally slammed Rey down, but Rey got back up and was able to do a head scissors to take down Batista. Despite this, Batista clotheslined Mysterio as he came off the ropes. Batista tossed Rey outside the ring to try to get the countout.

Rey came back into the ring and tried to sprinboard off the ropes at Batista, who moved causing Mysterio to fall to the mat. Mysterio finally escaped Batista at one point and exited the ring. Batista tried to chase him outside, but Mysterio rolled back into the ring then ran and dropkicked Batista. Batista got back into the ring angry and started to take control, then went for the Batista Bomb. Mysterio was able to grab the top rope as Batista flipped him over onto the apron. Mysterio managed to drop Batista near the ropes, then went for the 619. Batista caught Mysterio's legs as he tried for it. Batista then brought Rey into the ring and slammed him down. Batista was preparing to wrap things up but just then Finlay ran down to the ring with a steel chair.

The ref grabbed the chair that Finlay had brought to the ring and ordered Finlay out. Batista then grabbed the chair and tried to take it from the ref. As the ref ordered Batista to let go, Batista shoved the ref and tossed the chair out at Finlay. The ref called for the bell due to Batista's shove, giving Mysterio the win!

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins due to DQ on Batista. Mysterio advances to the tournament finals.

Highlights shown from this past Monday's Raw, where Vince McMahon was a guest on Carlito's Cabana. Triple H appeared and had 4 different women come out to the ramp claiming to be Vince's former lovers, one being Carlito's sister and one being named "Frankie" or "Frank". Later on, William Regal informed Vince that Linda, Stephanie and Shane would be on the next Raw to confront Vince with their attorneys.

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Michael Cole posed the question "what has suspended Diva Ashley been up to?" then talked about how Ashley is part of Survivor in China. Footage was shown of Ashley discussing how she's prepared for the challenge.

Vince McMahon and Coach both came down to the ring. Vince made jokes in the ring about his sexual relations. Coach said he wants the world to know that Vince only associates himself with the highest caliber females. Coach said he intends to prove exactly what kind of a man Vince is. Coach asked Vince to recall an incident in 1983 and called a woman out to the ramp named "Cheryl". Coach asked Cheryl if she had anything to say to Vince. Cheryl began to praise Vince saying since the night they spent together she hasn't had a man quite like him. Coach then recalled Vince's wild romp back in New Haven, Connecticut and called out Theresa, Elizabeth and Sky. Coach asked the women to comment on the night of passion and they said Vince helped them bring in the New Year with a bang.

Finally, Coach asked Mary Katherine to come out, who was dressed as a nun. The woman claimed she chose God after she spent the night with Vince because she could never be with any other man. Vince remarked she was "second to Nun" and said maybe later tonight he and the women could share 1 more memory.

Vince then talked about how he hates lawyers and all his family cares about is money. Vince said all he wants is to meet his long lost son and show him the love of a family.

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Highlight shown from last week's Smackdown where Chris Masters went to put the Masterlock on Kane, but ended up getting chokeslammed down. Chuck Palumbo later came out and wrestled Masters, defeating him easily.

Masterlock Challenge - Chuck Palumbo

Palumbo rode down the ramp on a chopper then posed from the corner in the ring. Masters made sure the steel chair was set up just right for Palumbo. Masters began to go for the Masterlock then wrapped an arm around Palumbo's neck. Masters yanked Palumbo down to try to attack him on the mat, but Palumbo got the upperhand. Masters rolled out of the ring holding his jaw/chin as he walked up the ramp.

Winner: Masterlock Challenge ended when Masters tried to attack Chuck Palumbo.

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Footage shown from this past week's Raw with Randy Orton discussing how he wants another shot at Cena's title. John Cena was in the ring said how about "John Cena vs. Triple H?". GM William Regal came out to allow tell Cena he would face King Booker tonight. Later on, as Cena was about to defeat Booker, Randy Orton came out to attack Cena in the ring. Orton then grabbed Cena's dad from the crowd and tossed him over the barrier. Orton proceeded to run and kick Cena's dad in the head with his boot as Cena looked out from the ring.

Jamie Noble shown backstage talking to a WWE staff as Shannon Moore came up to him. Noble said he would go out to the ring and rip Hornswaggle's head off right now but Moore tried to calm him down. Noble said he needs a plan. He said next week nobody will stop him when he goes out and takes Hornswaggle's title. Moore patted Noble on the back as he left. When Noble turned, Moore had stuck a sign on his back saying "I Love Leprechauns".

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Rey Mysterio vs. Finlay (Tournament Finals)

Rey came down to the ring favoring his back and limping a slight bit. Cole and JBL went over highlights of Rey's match against Batista where he won thanks to Batista getting disqualified.

Finlay grappled with Rey early trying to push him to the ropes. Rey was able to gain momentum off the ropes and DDT Finlay down. Mysterio started to ram into Finlay and punch him in the ring corner. Finlay tried to take control as he tossed Mysterio to the ropes but Rey grabbed the ropes, then ducked as Finlay ran at him, causing Finlay to go over the top rope. Mysterio then ran and did a slide dropkick to knock Finlay down outside the ring. Rey went out to go after Finlay, but Hornswaggle crawled out from under the apron and grabbed Rey's foot, tripping him down. Finlay jumped and sat on Mysterio's back, then went into the ring as Smackdown went to commercial.

When Smackdown returned, Finlay had Rey down in the ring in a submission hold. Rey escaped and tried to run off the ropes at Finlay but was clotheslined down. Finlay began to slam Rey down so his leg would hit the ropes. Finlay started to work on the injured back of Rey putting him in a Boston Crab style hold. Mysterio was able to get on 1 foot and then kick Finlay in the head with his other. Mysterio used his speed to elude Finlay as he came at him. Mysterio used several moves and eventually Finlay fell backwards against the ropes. Rey then ran off the opposite ropes and connected the 619, kicking Finlay in the back of his head. Mysterio then jumped off the top ropes and was able to roll up Finlay in a pin to grab the victory and an opportunity to face Khali at Unforgiven.

As Rey celebrated in the ring, all of a sudden, the Great Khali came down to the ring with his manager Singh. Khali towered in front of Mysterio was trying to look at him. Khali grabbed Mysterio and shoved him down hard to the ropes. Rey struggled to try to get up by the ropes. Khali began to signal that he would try to crush Rey's head in between his hands. Just then, Batista ran down to the ring, attacking Batista from behind. Batista knocked Khali face first into the ropes then told Rey to do the 619. Rey connected on it causing Khali to stagger backwards. As Khali turned, Batista ran at him and speared him down. Batista riled up the crowd as Smackdown went off the air.

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall over Finlay to become the #1 Contender for the Great Khali's World Heavyweight Title.