Smackdown Recap 02.22.08

Smackdown recap from San Diego, CA:

Smackdown opened with highlights of WWE's No Way Out PPV with the Elimination Chamber. It came down to Undertaker vs. Batista. Taker countered a Batista move and pulled them over the ropes, then did a Tombstone Piledriver to defeat the Animal. Taker will now head to Wrestlemania 24 to face Edge for the World Heavyweight title.

Edge came down to the ring along with Ryder and Hawkins. Michael Cole noted that Rey Mysterio lost his title match at No Way Out and is now heading to surgery for an injury. Edge spoke to the crowd about still holding the title and about how he gets to face Undertaker at WM24. Edge said that Undertaker is undefeated at Wrestlemania but so is Edge. Edge said he isn't afraid of the Undertaker and after 15 years he will be the one to break Taker's undefeated streak.

Edge had the camera close up on his face to say he would be victorious, but all of a sudden the arena went dark and Undertaker's bell toll was heard. The lights came back and Taker had Edge by the throat. Ryder and Hawkins tried to intervene with Taker beating them both up. Taker got in some punches on Edge before he slipped out of the ring. Taker chokeslammed down one of Edge's proteges then gave the signal that Edge will soon be RIP.

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Coach said later tonight Rey Mysterio will come out to discuss his career future with Smackdown.

Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Shelton Benjamin
Money in the Bank Qualifying match

Shelton spoke before the match exclaiming "Ain't No Stoppin' me now!" with regards to his chances for Money in the Bank. Early on Shelton picked up Yang then threw him into the turnbuckle causing Yang to hurt his back. Shelton started hammering away on Yang's neck. Yang gained some momentum by jumping over Shelton to dodge him. Shelton regained control driving his knee in Yang's back. Shelton seated Yang up on the corner then ripped Yang's shirt off. Yang pushed Shelton away. As Jimmy tried to get up for a move, Shelton quickly ran to jump back up to the ropes and suplexed Yang off. Yang rolled out of the ring to recover.

Shelton continued to dominate and wear down Yang's back. Shelton picked up Yang again for a Powerbomb type move, but this time Yang used headscissors and flipped Shelton down. Yang had several near falls on Shelton. Yang connected on several moves including a flying body press off the corner. Yang went for a moonsault but Shelton ducked. Yang landed on his feet but Shelton was quick to grab Yang and then slam him down face first.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin wins via pinfall over Jimmy Wang Yang to qualify for the Wrestlemania 24 Money in the Bank match.

Backstage, Teddy Long ran into WWE Diva Maryse. Maryse told Teddy she really hasn't been on Smackdown much lately and asked for just 5 minutes of his time. Teddy said he is the assistant GM as Maryse provocatively lead him into an office.

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Footage was shown of Hornswoggle. Michael Cole said he is currently resting in a Southern California hospital and is suffering from swelling of the brain and cerebral hemoraging.

Deuce & Domino vs. Jesse & Festus

Footage shown from last week's 6 man tag match where the heels ambushed Jesse, Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore after the bell rang. Jesse had to ring the bell near the ring to get Festus to clean house.

Festus turned into a wild animal as the bell rang for tonight's match. Festus grabbed Deuce and began to beat him up around the ring before tagging Jesse in. Festus picked up Jesse to slam him down onto Deuce. Jesse used quick moves around the ring including a sliding dropkick into Deuce. At one point, Jesse dropkicked Deuce off the apron then punched Domino off. Jesse started fighting outside the ring until Deuce pushed Cherry into him as a distraction. This allowed Deuce to land a kick to Jesse's head.

Back in the ring, Deuce kept Jesse down in a headlock for a bit. Domino tagged in after Deuce draped Jesse over the top rope. Jesse had a bloody nose and Cole said it may have been broken on the spin kick from Deuce. Jesse managed to get a tag when Domino picked him up close to Festus. Festus tagged in and began to beat up both opponents. Festus hit two huge splashes on Domino then booted Deuce out of the ring. Festus tagged a bloody and beat up Jesse who jumped off the ropes to splash onto Domino.

Winner: Jesse & Festus win via pinfall over Deuce & Domino.

Raw Rebound showed highlights of Big Show's return to Raw. Show wanted to publicly apologize to Floyd Mayweather for what happened at No Way Out. Mayweather came out to the ring with his entourage. The two shook hands but as Mayweather was walking back up the ramp, Show taunted him and called him out. Floyd ran back to the ring and told Show he accepts a match.

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Footage of WWE's tour of South America last week was shown. Rey Mysterio, Matt Striker, CM Punk, Shelton Benjamin and Michelle McCool interview footage also was shown.

Shannon Moore vs. Big Daddy V

Coach noted there is a 283 pound weight difference between the two wrestlers. V picked up Moore with both hands to slam him back as the match started. Moore tried to gain some momentum as he ran off the ropes, but V picked him up and did the side slam on him. V started to step on Moore before the ref stopped him. V continued to dominate the match as he picked up and threw Moore down on the mat.

Moore tried to mount some offense and brought V down to one knee after a flurry of kicks to his leg. Moore ran at V but V picked him up to slam him back to the mat. After an elbow drop on Moore the match was over.

Winner: Big Daddy V wins via pinfall over Shannon Moore.

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MVP vs. Batista

A rematch from last week's show and between two Elimination Chamber opponents. MVP was favoring his back due to injury from the chamber. MVP took control early by kicking away at Batista in the corner. Batista regained control and went at MVP in the corner. MVP was able to trip the Animal down causing him to hit face first into the turnbuckle. MVP was able to knock Batista out of the ring, but Batista got back in at 5.

The two fought at it in the ring more until MVP forced Batista outside through the ropes. The ref started to count again and MVP went out to attack Batista. MVP beat up Batista outside the ring some then brought him back in. Batista was able to escape MVP's attack and put him into a bear hug. MVP escaped and came of the ropes. Batista caught him for a move but MVP rolled out of the ring. MVP went out and recovered then came back in to get the upperhand. MVP had the Playmaker set up, but Batista countered. After a spinebuster and several more moves, Batista scored the Batista Bomb on MVP.

Winner: Batista wins via pinfall over MVP.

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Highlight promo shown to announce Wrestlemania 24 is just 37 days away. Michael Cole discussed the injuries Hornswoggle sustained on this past week's Raw thanks to JBL. Hornswoggle was attacked inside a steel cage by JBL during the Vince McMahon vs. Hornswoggle match. Highlights were shown of Finlay trying to stop Mr. McMahon from having the match. JBL came out of nowhere to attack Finlay, then handcuff him to the ropes. JBL then beat up Hornswoggle around the cage as Finlay screamed in protest.

Former boxing champion Eric Morales shown seated in the front row of the audience.

Kane vs. The Great Khali

Khali shoved Kane early, then Kane came back punching away. Khali gave a huge shot to Kane knocking him down. Khali tossed Kane to a corner where he began to kick away. Kane dodged Khali in the corner then caught him with an upperhand. Kane went to the top ropes, but Khali chopped him down to the mat. Khali delivered a huge boot to Kane's face off the ropes. Khali put a vice grip on Kane's shoulder and continued to dismantle him. Khali locked in the Vice grip on Kane's skull. Kane was able to push himself off the ropes causing him to fall back on the mat on Khali. Khali kept the vice grip locked in, but with his shoulders on the mat, the ref counted a 3 count pinfall. Khali was confused after the bell as the ref announced Kane had won it.

Winner: Kane wins via pinfall over The Great Khali.

Highlights of the Undertaker's 15 Wrestlemania wins were shown in a promotional video.

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Congratulations were given to Ric Flair for being the first wrestler inducted into WWE's 2008 Hall of Fame.

Matt Jackson vs. Chuck Palumbo

An angry Palumbo knocked down Jackson early and gave him a serious boot to the face. Michelle McCool was shown watching the match backstage. Palumbo went outside the ring to beat up his opponent as he slammed his back into the ringpost. Chuck continued to dominate the match and slammed Jackson to the mat hard. Chuck pulled up after a 2 count even though he had the clear win. Chuck finished off Jackson with his finisher "The Full Throttle" to take the win.

Winner: Chuck Palumbo wins via pinfall over Matt Jackson.

An injured Rey Mysterio was shown putting on a second mask as he made his way out to address his hometown crowd.

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Rey Mysterio's Speech

Rey came out to a cheering San Diego crowd wearing a second mask over his regular one. Rey took off the mask and placed it over his daughter's head as she was in the front row of the crowd.

Rey informed the crowd that doctors told the crowd his right bicep muscle is completely torn. Rey said unfortunately he needs surgery for his bicep and that means he can't be part of this year's Wrestlemania. Rey said this is killing him but it's great for his last time in the ring for a while to be in front of his hometown fans.

Rey continued speaking in Spanish, but just then Vickie Guerrero came out to the ramp in her wheelchair pushed by Teddy Long. Vickie was still angry over Rey jumping on her a week ago on Smackdown. Vickie told the crowd to shutup and ordered a ref to come out for Rey to face her "familia", nephew Chavo.

Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero

ECW champ Chavo Guerrero cockily strutted down to the ring for the match. Rey prepared to fight despite his injury. Chavo ambushed Rey early and attacked him near the ropes. Chavo slammed Rey to the mat on his bad arm with Vickie smiling from ringside. Smackdown hit a commercial break with Rey down on the mat.

The match continued with Chavo holding Rey's hurt arm back. Rey looked to be in agony down on the mat. Rey managed to kick his leg back into Chavo to get him away. Rey tried to mount some offense and jumped over Chavo in the corner. Chavo came right back to knock Rey to the mat, The beatdown continued with Chavo stalking Rey outside the ring to continue punishing him.

Back in the ring Rey was able to use his momentum to pull Chavo out through the ropes. Rey used a West Coast Pop on Chavo outside the ring. Vickie continued to look on from ringside, hell bent on revenge. The two men went to the corner and Rey shoved Chavo back. Rey jumped off the ropes onto Chavo and went for a pin. Chavo kicked out and was able to kick Rey when he got tossed to the corner. Rey had another near pinfall. Rey was able to kick Chavo in the head and Chavo fell onto the middle rope. Rey hit a 619 then went to the apron but due to his hurt arm, Rey couldnt climb onto the top rope. Rey went for the corner, but Chavo was back up and knocked Rey off. Chavo did a series of 3 suplexes and taunted Rey on the mat.

Chavo went for a huge frogsplash off the ropes but Rey moved out of the way. Rey seized opportunity and quickly rolled Chavo up for a pinfall. Rey with the quick pinfall victory despite his injury!

Vickie screamed for the celebrating to stop after the match and told Rey it was "her turn to hurt him". Just then, Big Show came walking down to the ring purposefully. Rey tried to exit the ring as Show got in, but Show grabbed him. Big Show ran into Rey in the corner, knocking him to the mat. Show pinned Rey's arm down with 1 foot and walked on his hurt bicep several times then used a hold to painfully pull Rey's arm. Show finished with a huge chokeslam on Rey leaving him down on the mat.

Winner: Rey Mysterio wins via pinfall over Chavo Guerrero.

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