Smackdown Recap 03.14.08

Smackdown Preview from Chicago, IL

Smackdown kicked off with WWE Diva Maria coming down to the ring. Maria announced herself as host of the Smackdown Diva contest tonight. Each of the Smackdown divas came to the top of the ramp, and Maria announced that Maryse had been eliminated first from the contest.

Next up was the obstacle course challenge for the WWE Divas to run through. The course had them run to the ring over a balance beam, then run through a set of tires in the ring, then do a potato sack hop outside the ring, back over a small ramp and across the finish line. Eve went first with a time of 23 seconds. WWE Diva Cherry finished next in just 22 seconds, edging out Eve. Next up was WWE Diva Victoria, who finished the course in 25 seconds due to some antics where she tripped out of the ring, Michelle McCool dashed through the course in just 20 seconds the best time of all divas.

WWE Diva Maria Kanellis reminded fans to text their favorite diva's name (EVE, CHERRY, VICTORIA or MICHELLE) to 44993 to vote for them in the contest this week.

Backstage, Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels spoke in the locker room. Flair talked to Michaels about not getting hurt tonight watching his back in the 3 on1 cage match. Flair said he wanted Michaels at 100% for WM24. Michaels promised he'd be at his best for the Pay Per View, and tonight he'll be there to make sure it's 3 on 2.

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The WWE Raw Rebound highlighted the Floyd Mayweather and Big Show official weigh in. Floyd Mayweather came in at 149.1 lbs, with Show weighing in at 441.4 lbs. After the weigh in a melee broke out when Show grabbed Mayweather and tossed him out of the ring onto several WWE Superstars. Mayweather's posse started to fight with the wrestlers and Shane McMahon ended up shoved down on the ramp. Michael Cole stated after the footage that Mayweather hurt his elbow and asked if maybe he might be having second thoughts about WM24.

Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang vs. Big Show

Show took on the two wrestlers to again prepare for Wrestlemania 24 and show his dominance. Show quickly shoved the two attacking opponents to the mat, then threw them into the corner for a beating. Show threw Yang across the ring then went and grabbed Moore in a chokehold. Yang tried to do a moonsault off the corner ropes but Show caught him on his shoulder, then slammed him face first on the ropes. Show picked up Moore then gave him a right hand shot to knock him to the mat. Show put 1 foot on Moore to score the pin.

After winning, Show picked up Yang over head and tossed him out over the top rope, leaving Moore laying down in the ring.

Winner: Big Show wins via pinfall over Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang.

Wrestlemania XXIV promo shown which highlighted the WWE Title Triple Threat match between John Cena, Randy Orton & Triple H.

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WWE Slam of the week showed this past Tuesday's Extreme Rules WWE Tag team title match between Delaney/Dreamer & Morrison/Miz. Miz and Morrison managed to pick up the win after tossing Colin Delaney out of the ring, then slamming Tommy Dreamer through a table set up in the corner.

The Miz vs. John Morrison
Money in the Bank Qualifying match

The two tag team champs faced off in this contest for a spot in the MITB match at WM24. Morrison faked a handshake to start things then tried to roll up Miz.

The match was a seesaw affair with each man gaining the upperhand on the other. Morrison escaped from the ring to recover after a Miz attack. Morrison slid back in with Miz chasing him, then attacked Miz. Morrison went for his finisher, but Miz reversed to hit the Reality Check. However, Morrison kicked out of the pinfall. After fighting a bit more, Morrison was able to grab Miz for a swinging neckbreaker and pickup the pinfall.

Winner: John Morrison wins via pinfall over The Miz, to earn a spot in the Money in the Bank Ladder match at WM24.

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Michael Cole announced that Vickie Guerrero has included Shawn Michaels as part of tonight's cage match. Therefore it will be Michaels and Flair vs. Edge, Ryder & Hawkins in a 3 on 2 cage match. Next up, Cole and Coach reviewed the incidents involving Vince McMahon, JBL, Finlay and Hornswoggle. Finlay and JBL will do battle in a Belfast Brawl at Wrestlemania 24.

Finlay appeared for a backstage interview. Cole asked Finlay to verbalize how he's been feeling. Finlay said it's hard to put his feelings into words about having to see his son get attacked viciously. Finlay said he has to live with what has happened to Hornswoggle, but so will JBL after the beating he gets at WM24.

WWE Smack of the Night showed highlights of last week's Batista vs MVP match for the US title. The fight spilled out of the ring where both men were being counted out. MVP managed to crawl in and kick Batista away from the ring to beat the count, and keep his belt.

Batista vs. MVP
US Title match
No Holds Barred

Photos were shown of MVP defeating Jamie Noble at a Live House show last Saturday to earn a spot in the WM24 Money in the Bank Match.

In this matchup, anything went as MVP put his belt on the line with No Holds Barred. Cole noted that MVP has held the US title for nearly 10 months now. At one point MVP escaped a Batista Bomb then slid out of the ring. Batista came out after him, but MVP used a steel chair to smash on Batista. Batista recovered and grabbed MVP then started to slam him face first into the announce table. The two fought near the crowd barricade with Batista in control. Batista brought MVP over to try to smash him into the ringpost. MVP countered then slammed Batista into it. Batista recovered again then started to slam MVP onto the announce table more.

MVP hit Batista with a cheap low blow, but it was legal. MVP then used a running kick to boot Batista near the crowd barrier as Smackdown went to commercial. The show returned with MVP about to hit Batista with a steel chair. Batista ran and Speared MVP down then brought him in the ring, but only scored a 2 count. MVP managed to get back out of the ring and hit Batista in the leg with the steel chair. MVP then tore the covering off the outside floor and prepared to DDT Batista. The Animal countered and flipped MVP up over his back onto the floor. Batista picked up the steel chair and bashed it over MVP.

Batista seemed to have the upperhand and was en route to the US title, but MVP continued to survive pinfall attempts. MVP continued using the steel chair to beat Batista, until Batista grabbed it in the ring. Just then, Raw superstar Umaga came out of nowhere into the ring. As Batista just slammed MVP down, Umaga grabbed Batista and gave him the Samoan Spike. Batista was down for the count and MVP captured the pinfall win to keep his title.

Winner: MVP wins via pinfall over Batista to retain the United States championship.

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Wrestlemania 24 commercial was shown highlighting the World Heavyweight title match. Undertaker's undefeated streak will be on the line versus Edge's title. Edge has also claimed Undertaker has never defeated him.

Cole and Coach reviewed the Mayweather vs. Show match coming up at Wrestlemania 24. Highlights were shown from the press conference and various incidents involving Big Show and Money Mayweather.

Jamie Noble & Kane vs. Chuck Palumbo & Great Khali

Superstars from the wwe kane and Jamie Noble tagged up to face Chuck Palumbo & the Great Khali. Noble was looking to gain some revenge on Palumbo after their recent encounters, despite Noble having taped ribs.

Early on, Kane took control over Palumbo, before tagging in an eager Jamie Noble. Noble landed a flying splash onto Chuck off the ropes, but Chuck quickly recovered. Palumbo took control of Noble before tagging in Khali. Eventually all 4 men got into it, with Kane taking Palumbo to the outside punching away at him. This left Khali alone in the ring with Noble. Khali picked up Noble with two hands and slammed him down to the mat hard. Khali pinned Noble with just 1 foot before Kane could get back into the ring.

Winners: The Great Khali & Chuck Palumbo win via pinfall over Kane & Jamie Noble.

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The latest of the 2008 WWE Hall of Fame Class, Jerry & Jack Briscoe were showed via a highlight video package.

Ric Flair & Shawn Michaels vs. Edge, Ryder & Hawkins
3 on 2 Steel Cage match

This match was setup last week after a cocky Edge told Flair he would receive a beat down in the steel cage. Shawn Michaels told Flair, his WM24 opponent, that he would be his partner for tonight, and Vickie Guerrero added HBK to the match.

Before the match could begin, Teddy Long wheeled Vickie Guerrero onto the ramp. Vickie announced via microphone that since this is a handicap match she was adding Chavo Guerrero onto the team of Edge, Ryder & Hawkins. Flair and Michaels immediately started to attack the 3 men in the ring. As Chavo tried to enter the cage, Michaels ran over to slam the door causing Chavo to fall. Smackdown hit a commercial break as the fight inside the ring continued.

Chavo eventually got into the cage and the beatdown began. Edge landed a Spear tackling Flair to the mat. The four men started to taunt HBK and Flair, beating them up. Shawn Michaels was tied up in the ropes as Edge mocked him then Speared him. Michael Cole stated that the match had become "an all out assault". With HBK stuck in the ropes still, all 4 heels began to toss Flair around the ring and beat him up. Flair finally was busted open and bleeding visibly on the forehead. Edge had Flair down for a pin but pulled up after 2 then punched Flair more.

Michaels was helpless, stuck in the ropes and forced to watch his friend Flair being beat up. Michaels finally got loose as Chavo started to kick him in the corner. Flair tried to fight back against his opponents but it was shortlived. HBK managed to battle his way out of the ropes and gave a boot to Edge. Edge and Chavo managed to overcome HBK and had him hanging upside down in the corner. Edge delivered a spear on HBK then went over to beat up Flair.

Flair managed to score a low blow on Edge then whipped him to the corner where Ryder & Hawkins had climbed up. R&H both fell on the ropes. Michaels gained momentum on Chavo and Edge. HBK went to the corner ropes and landed an elbow drop. Flair and Michaels got figure fours on Edge and one of Ryder or Hawkins. Chavo climbed the corner ropes and Frog Splashed them.

As Edge and his team continued to beat up Flair and Michaels, all of a sudden the arena went dark. Undertaker showed up in the ring after his bell tolled. Edge turned and Taker caught him around the neck with one hand. Chavo attacked Taker from behind but the Phenom gave him a big boot. Ryder and Hawkins tried for a doubleteam on Taker. Taker managed to slam both men down then went after Edge who was climbing the cage wall. Chavo came and grabbed Taker from behind. Taker dropped down into the ring and grabbed Chavo to give him a Tombstone Piledriver. Just then, Edge managed to get to the top of the cage. Taker tried to climb fast and grab him but Edge dropped to the outside to win the match.

Winners: Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Ryder & Hawkins win the steel cage match over Shawn Michaels & Ric Flair.

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