WWE Smackdown Recap 11.23.07

Smackdown Recap from Tampa, Florida:

Smackdown opened with highlights of the Survivor Series Hell in a Cell match between Undertaker and Batista. Taker was in control after doing several finishers on Batista including a piledriver on steel steps. As the ref went to count a pin, Edge snuck out from under the ring and yanked the ref out of the ring. Edge then attacked Taker and left him laying on the mat for Batista to pin.

Edge shown sitting on a couch in an office backstage. Vickie Guerrero began to yell at Edge about interrupting such a great match at Survivor Series. Vickie said next week Edge would have a world title opportunity against Batista next week. Edge said that means he is #1 contender now and Undertaker would take a backseat in the title chase. Vickie then told Edge he can thank her later on and the two started to kiss.

Michael Cole said tonight Edge will host the "Cutting Edge" with special guest Batista. Cole also said Mr. McMahon is continuing his tough love on Hornswoggle with a match tonight against Mark Henry.

JBL was in ring for an interview and introduced MVP who came down to the ring in a suit wearing the US belt. Footage shown from last week's show where MVP attacked Matt Hardy's leg after they lost their tag team match. MVP said he's feeling so much better not to have Hardy weighing him down. JBL guaranteed that MVP will be a world champion one day. JBL had a ring with various jewels on it presented to MVP from the United Nations. JBL called it the United States first championship ring. JBL left the ring as MVP started to brag to the crowd on the mic about being the most valuable player on Smackdown.

As MVP continued his rant, out came Rey Mysterio. Rey called MVP a "punk" and told him he's been ducking Matt Hardy because he's scared. Just then, MVP gave a right hand punch and knocked Rey down. MVP went to continue the attack, but Mysterio took control and knocked MVP to the ropes. Rey went for the 619 but MVP slid out of the ring and exited up the ramp.

The Miz and John Morrison shown on their way out to the ring backstage.

---

Highlights shown of Morrison and Miz winning the tag team titles on Smackdown last week. Cole announced that Vickie Guerrero has set up a match between MVP and Rey Mysterio for later tonight.

The Major Brothers vs. The Miz & John Morrison

Morrison started off against Brian, who came off the ropes to knock him down. Brian twisted the arm of Morrison as he backed him to the corner. Brett tagged in and Morrison was able to ram him back to his corner to tag Miz in. Brian fought his way out of the corner punching the Miz down. Miz took control when Morrison yanked Brian's hair down from behind and he crashed to the mat. Miz then grabbed his legs to catapult him into the bottom rope. In came Morrison and he began to hold Brian down to the mat.

Brian got to his feet and gained momentum. Miz tagged in and tried to knock Brian down but he shoved him into his partner for a tag. In came Brett and he started to attack Miz. Morrison ran into the ring to attack, but Brian pulled the top rope down causing Morrison to spill outside the ring. Miz was able to score the Reality Check finisher to take the pin on Brett.

Winners: The Miz and John Morrison win via pinfall over the Major Brothers.

Finlay was in the locker room as Mr. McMahon came back to talk to him. Vince said he knows Finlay is concerned for his friend Hornswoggle. Vince told Finlay it's a matter of "tough love". Vince said he has a surprise for Finlay tonight. Vince said it would be a handicap match tonight, as he'd allow Hornswoggle to team up with Finlay to face Mark Henry.

---

Big Daddy V vs. Kane

Highlights of this past Tuesday's ECW were shown with Kane winning the match, but receiving an after match attack from V and Striker.

Kane started to punch away at V's back and midsection early, then clotheslined him in the corner. V grabbed Kane and put him in the corner and started to chop away. V then ran off the ropes to splash Kane in the corner, knocking Kane to one knee. V continued to chop away at Kane then slammed him to the mat. V layed on top of Kane to crush him with a hold. V got up to pick Kane up and Kane started to fight. V clotheslined him back down then tried to splash him off the ropes, but Kane moved.

Kane had momentum and started to elbow drop V followed by a leg drop. A pin attempt failed as V escaped, so Kane went to the ropes. As Kane prepared to jump, in came Striker with a chair. Kane jumped off the ropes and took Striker down and the ref called for the bell for a DQ. Kane picked up the chair and cracked it down across V's back.

Winner: Kane wins due to disqualification when Matt Striker interfered.

Rey Mysterio shown walking backstage on his way out for the next match.

---

Baseball star Wade Boggs shown sitting front row in the Smackdown crowd.

Rey Mysterio vs. MVP

The two grappled with MVP forcing Rey to the corner. The ref broke it up and they got in each others' face with Rey bringing MVP down to put a scissor hold on him. Rey started using quick armbar takedowns to toss MVP around the ring. MVP managed to back Rey into a corner and attack. Rey was able to kick his way out of it and did a hurricanrana off the ropes to toss MVP down.

Rey did a springboard jump off the ropes onto MVP and then tried for a pin with MVP kicking out. MVP rolled out of the ring and kicked the steel steps as Smackdown went to commercial. Smackdown returned with MVP tossing Rey up over his back off the ropes. MVP dropped a knee on Rey then tried for a few pins with Rey kicking out of each. Rey started to gain momentum but MVP clotheslined him right down to the mat. Rey escaped a pin and turned the tables when he climbed the ropes and punched at MVP in the corner. MVP shoved him down then used a kick to knock Rey down. MVP continued to kick at Rey around the ring. MVP held Rey down to the mat with a hold on his arm and neck. Rey started to kick back to hit MVP in the head. MVP tried to whip Rey to the ropes, but Rey jumped up to DDT MVP to the mat. The ref began to count both guys down.

Both men got to their feet and Rey landed several forearms on MVP. Rey wtih kicks to MVP's leg and then knocked him down with a kick to MVP's face. MVP tried to roll Mysterio up for a pin but Rey flipped out then dropkicked MVP down. Rey managed to get a flip off the top rope and land on MVP then delivered a kick to the back of his head. Rey was able to connect on a 619, then went to springboard off the top ropes. Rey knocked MVP to the ropes for a second 619 and then jumped off the ropes at him. MVP knocked Rey to the mat near the ropes and took a pin using the top rope for leverage.

Winner: MVP wins via pinfall over Rey Mysterio.

Batista showed up in Vickie Guerrero's office and asked why Edge deserves a title shot over Undertaker. Vickie told Batista that Edge deserves it and she loves him. Vickie ordered Batista to leave her office as she looked lovestruck.

---

Highlights shown from Survivor Series including Team HHH vs Team Umaga match and the Hell in a Cell match.

Backstage, Jesse said Festus is a huge John Cena fan. Jesse said Festus was first in line to buy the new John Cena dvd. Festus was shown dressed in Cena gear including a Hustle Loyalty Respect t-shirt and chains. Jesse said Festus has the face of a man "who knows when the champ is here", and Festus did the "you can't see me" hand in front of his face.

Michelle McCool shown sitting on a motorcycle backstage. Jamie Noble came up to Michelle and started hitting on her. Noble suggested they go hook up and whispered in her ear causing Michelle to slap him. Noble said after he finishes off her "friend" Chuck Palumbo in the ring he'd come back to show her what a man can do.

Hornswoggle and Finlay shown walking backstage on the way out to their upcoming match.

Hornswoggle & Finlay vs. Mark Henry

Highlights shown from the Hornswoggle vs. Khali Survivor Series match where Finlay came down to intervene and save his friend.

Hornswoggle kicked Henry from behind causing him to turn his attention and Finlay then did the same. The two continued this attack until Henry pushed Hornswoggle back then hammered Finlay. Henry tried to splash Finlay in the corner with Finlay moving away. Finlay then picked up Hornswoggle and used him to toss at Henry and as a battering ram. Finlay continued to do this, using his partner as a weapon against Henry. Henry was able to knock Finlay down to the mat then chased Hornswoggle out of the ring.

Hornswoggle ran around the outside of the ring and drove under the apron. Henry grabed him by the legs to pull him out, but Hornswoggle had a shalaleigh in hand. Henry tossed the leprechaun in the ring and grabbed the shalaleigh tossing it across the ring. Just then, Finlay had got back up with another shalaleigh. Henry turned as the ref was looking away and Finlay clocked Henry over the head. Hornswoggle then climbed the ropes to splash Henry for the pinfall win.

As Hornswoggle and Finlay celebrated, The Great Khali came down the ramp and got in the ring. Henry hit Finlay from behind with the shalaleigh and Khali picked up Finlay with 2 hands to slam him down to the mat.

Winners: Finlay & Hornswoggle win via pinfall over Mark Henry.

---

Jamie Noble vs. Chuck Palumbo

Palumbo and Michelle rode down the ramp to the ring on a motorcycle before the match. Palumbo knocked Noble down to the mat several times as the match started, then picked him up and held him in a suplex position before bringing him down to the mat. Chuck tried for the early pin with Noble kicking out. Noble finally escaped and gave a knee to the back of Chuck's neck.

With Chuck down, Noble twisted his arm a bit but it wasn't enough to keep him down. Palumbo got to his feet to life Noble and drop him back. Noble tried to mount an attack off the ropes with Palumbo punching him down then ramming him to the corner. Palumbo continued to knock Noble around the ring. Noble climbed the ropes and went to jump at Chuck but Chuck managed to catch him and throw him back. After more of a battle, Noble managed to get on the ropes again and jumped on Palumbo to roll him up for a surprise pinfall. After winning, Noble blew a kiss to Michelle McCool.

Winner: Jamie Noble wins via pinfall over Chuck Palumbo.

Torrie Wilson shown walking backstage on the way out for a match.

---

Replay shown of Orton's Torch passing ceremony with Y2J showing up to interrupt saying he is back to save the WWE from Randy Orton. Y2J claimed he would take the WWE title from Orton on the first opportunity he gets.

Michael Cole announced Armageddon for December 16th with Call of Duty 4 as its sponsor.

Torrie Wilson vs. Victoria

Victoria backed Torrie to the corner and tried to attack but Torrie got out and forced Victoria to the corner. Torrie started to attack then whipped her to the opposite corner. Victoria managed to pick up Torrie on her shoulders and deliver a side slam. In control, Victoria began to beat up Torrie around the ring. Victoria tried for a flip off the top ropes onto Torrie, but Torrie rolled out of the way. Torrie began to battle back and clotheslined Victoria down from the corner.

Torrie delivered a dropkick to Victoria off the ropes then climbed the corner ropes to splash Victoria. Torrie failed at a pin and Victoria pushed Torrie down to the ropes. Victoria put Torrie up in the Widow's Peak, but Torrie slid off and scored a neckbreaker to get the pin.

Winner: Torrie Wilson wins via pinfall over Victoria.

Cutting Edge with Batista

Edge came down to the ring with Vickie Guerrero for the Cutting Edge. Edge told the crowd to admit it's great to see him again. Edge thanked Vickie and said she's also the love of his life. Edge said next week he will defeat Batista for the World Heavyweight title. Batista came down to the ring in a suit carrying his belt.

Batista told Edge and Vickie he's sick over what's going on between them. Batista said Edge doesn't deserve a title shot but he deserves every ounce of the ass whooping he's gonna get next week. Batista dropped his mic then shoved Edge down to the ropes. Batista pointed a finger at Vickie before leaving the ring. Vickie checked on the fallen Edge as Batista exited up the ramp with his title.

Edge got back to his feet with Vickie just in time for the arena to go dark and the Undertaker to appear in the ring behind him. Edge quickly noticed and slid out of the ring leaving Vickie there. Undertaker turned his attention to her and grabbed her around the neck with one hand. Edge pleaded from the ramp as the Undertaker picked her up on a shoulder then did the Tombstone piledriver. Down on his knees Undertaker stared out menacingly at Edge who was visibly shaken at the top of the ramp.