Smackdown Recap 04.04.08

Smackdown recap from Miami, FL:

As Smackdown started, Michael Cole and Johnathan Coachman announced tonight we will hear "mixed emotions" from Shawn Michaels. Edge, Chavo Guerrero, Ryder & Hawkins made their way down to the ring, with Teddy Long pushing Vickie in her wheelchair. Edge discussed how outraged he was over losing the World Heavyweight title to Undertaker. Edge said he not only let himself and the fans down, but also Vickie. Edge apologized to her and promised that he will regain the title very soon. Chavo spoke next about losing his ECW title, and about letting the family down. Chavo also claimed that Kane cheated, and he doesn't have the guts to face him. Chavo also vowed to regain the ECW title.

Vickie asked for the mic from Chavo, and told the fans as Smackdown GM she was announcing rematches for both men at Backlash. Vickie announced a champion vs. champion, brother vs. brother, Kane vs. Undertaker match for later on. Edge, Chavo, Ryder & Hawkins raised their arms up in unison as Smackdown went to commercial.

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Highlights from Wrestlemania this past Sunday were shown with Matt Hardy making a surprise return to the MITB Ladder match. Matt ran into the ring and climbed up the ladder to deliver the Twist of Fate on MVP, also preventing MVP from winning.

Matt Hardy vs. MVP

The Smackdown feud was reborn tonight as Matt made his return to face the man who put him out of action with an injury 5 months ago. MVP last beat up Matt in their tag team loss to Miz and Morrison, seriously injuring Matt's knee.

MVP started off aggressively attacking Matt, but Hardy soon took over. Matt delivered a neckbreaker and began to punch on MVP. The two started to roll around punching each other then spilled out of the ring. Matt gained the upperhand then tossed MVP back into the ring. Matt kept control and MVP tried to roll out of the ring to recover. Matt followed him out, beat on him some more than put him back in the ring. Matt tried to enter, but MVP was able to kick him, then elbow drop on him through the ropes. MVP began to bash Matt's head against the mat and stomped on him.

Matt tried to battle out of the corner, but MVP bashed him face first to the turnbuckle, then tossed Matt out. Outside the ring, MVP bounced Matt face first off the commentators table. Back in the ring, MVP put Matt into a submission headlock down on the mat. Matt got to his feet then slammed MVP backwards. Both men got up and MVP delivered a boot to Matt's head knocking him back down. MVP continued to beat down Matt, then went for a move off the corner and Matt moved. Matt began to target MVP's leg and knee, stepping and stomping on it.

After working on MVP from outside the ring, Matt came back in and hit a bulldog on him. Matt continued his focus on the injured knee. The two men fought outside the ring with a hobbling MVP taking control. In the ring, Matt ducked a MVP clothesline then hit the Side Effect. Matt hit the elbow drop on the back of MVP's head off the ropes, then went for Twist of Fate. MVP countered to clothesline Matt down. Matt got to the corner and MVP ran at him. After a dropkick to MVP's hurt knee, Matt waited for MVP to get up, then hit him with the Twist of Fate.

Winner: Matt Hardy wins via pinfall over MVP.

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Coach reminded fans that the song from Flair's farewell was Leave the Memories Alone (Album Version) by Fuel from their album Angels and Devils

Festus w/Jesse vs. Zach Ryder w/Hawkins

In an earlier interview, Ryder & Hawkins discussed Festus and how they plan to handle him. Once the bell rang, Festus chased his opponent from the ring then punched down Hawkins outside the ring. Back in the ring, Festus started to toss around his opponent and beat on him. Festus delivered a series of headbutts on Ryder's body down on the mat. Ryder started to fight back and worked on Festus' left arm. Festus clubbed Ryder a few times knocking him down. After a flying shoulder to Ryder, Festus picked him up and slammed him down, then did a sitting splash. Hawkins got on the apron but Festus kicked him down. Festus then sat Ryder on the corner ropes, punched him then grabbed him for the finishing flapjack move.

Winner: Festus wins via pinfall over Zach Ryder.

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Cole & Coach introduced highlights of Flair's loss to Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 24, then launched into Flair's Farewell Address from this past Monday's episode of Raw. Ricky Steamboat, Greg the Hammer Valentine, Dan Malenko and the original Four Horsemen were amongst the wrestlers who came to the ring to hug and thank Flair. The show concluded with wrestlers and divas from Raw, Smackdown & ECW standing at the bottom of the ramp to applaud and thank the legendary Ric Flair.

Shawn Michaels shown walking backstage on his way out to address the Smackdown fans.

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Commercial shown for WWE: The Music, vol. 8 available at Amazon.com and music retailers.

Shawn Michaels made his way to the ring. Michaels said at first he felt upset over ending Flair's career at WM24. Then HBK said after hugging Flair at this past Monday's Raw it gave him a bit of closure. As Michaels continued speaking, he was soon interrupted by the music of Batista. The Animal came down to the ring and stared at HBK. Batista told Michaels that he's glad he found closure, but not many other wrestlers have. Batista said it was the last time he got to see his friend Ric Flair compete in the ring. Batista said it bothers him he will never see his friend at another arena again. Michaels said it was the hardest thing he's ever done, but Batista told HBK made the wrong decision. Michaels said he gave him the Showstopper at Wrestlemania, as Flair asked for. Batista said he wouldn't have let his ego get in the way of his friendship with Flair.

Batista called Michaels selfish for what he did to Flair. Michaels tried to apologize, but Batista said it wasn't enough. Batista confronted HBK about the "Old Yeller" comments he made to Flair weeks ago on Raw. Batista asked if HBK thought of Flair as some sick, dying dog, then dropped his mic. Batista stared Michaels down some more then exited the ring and went up the ramp.

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Kane was shown backstage thinking over his upcoming match tonight with his brother The Undertaker.

Matt Bentley vs. Vladimir Kozlov

Kozlov made his Smackdown debut tonight, arriving to the ring with no music or lights. Cole noted Kozlov is trained in wrestling, kickboxing and judo. Early on he used a boot to Bentley's gut knocking him to the mat. Kozlov continued an angry expression as he rammed into Bentley in the corner, then put a boot against his throat. Bentley punched and kicked back from the corner, but Kozlov knocked him back down. Kozlov picked up Bentley on his shoulders then dropped quickly to his knees to finish the man off. Kozlov yelled and posed in the ring before leaving.

Winner: Vladimir Kozlov wins via pinfall over Matt Bentley.

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Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang vs. The Miz & John Morrison

Yang and Moore took the early advantage on Miz. Moore held on Miz' arm, but Miz pushed him away then tagged in Morrison. Morrison gave a cheap shot to Yang on the apron causing Yang to grab Morrison's hair. As the ref was attending to the interference, Miz snuck in the ring and knocked Moore to the mat. Morrison waited for Moore to stagger to his feet then delivered a swinging neckbreaker on him for the win.

As soon as the bell rang, the Great Khali's music came on and Khali came walking down the ramp to the ring. As Khali got into the ring, Moorison and Miz charged at him. Khali grabbed both men with each hand, shoved Miz away then chopped Morrison down. Khali reached outside the ring to grab Yang, then picked him up overhead. Khali tossed Yang out of the ring over the ropes, then focused on Moore. Khali picked up Moore with both hands and slammed him to the mat hard. Khali picked up a mic and began to yell incoherently until the Big Show's music and pyro came on. Big Show walked down to the ring staring at Khali. Show said Monday night Khali got in his face, so tonight Show is in his face. Khali turned around and exited over the top rope, then walked back up the ramp. This marked the second encounter between the two where Khali retreated up the ramp.

Winners: The Miz & John Morrison win via pinfall over Shannon Moore & Jimmy Wang Yang.

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Michael Cole made the announcement that next week Finlay & Hornswoggle make their return home to the Smackdown show.

Teddy Long was in the ring to announce the Smackdown Top Diva winner. Along with Teddy in the ring were Johnny Frato Jr, Jake Frato and Johnny Frato Sr the owners of the Beverly Hills Custom Chopper shop. Teddy then introduced the 2 finalist divas, Cherry and Michelle McCool. The two divas stood at the bottom of the ramp to await the announcement. Teddy gave Johnny Frato the honor of announcing the Top Smackdown Diva as Michelle McCool. Cherry hugged Michelle and the 2 divas admired the new motorcycle.

Just then, Victoria made her way to the top of the ramp. Victoria said the contest was a complete joke since she is the top diva on Smackdown. Victoria went at Michelle for a clothesline, but Michelle headed her off. As the two were fighting, a new blonde diva made her way to the ring and attacked Michelle. Cherry tried to intervene but got slapped by the new diva. Cole and Coach remarked that they had no idea who the other female was.

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Cole and Coach took a special look at the highlights from this past Sunday's Wrestlemania 24. Highlights included fireworks displays, Kim Kardashian, Snoop Dogg, Festus, the Belfast Brawl, MITB Ladder match, Kane's quick title win over Chavo and the main event title fights. Also shown were the final match of Ric Flair as well as Floyd Mayweather using a chair and brass knuckles on Big Show to get the win. Michael Cole noted that Kane's win over Chavo was the 2nd fastest win in Wrestlemania history. King Kong Bundy holds the record from Wrestlemania 1.

Kane vs. Undertaker

The two new champions and brothers faced off in the Smackdown main event created by Vickie Guerrero. This would mark the 1st time in 4 years the two brothers faced off in a match. The two grappled early with Undertaker and Kane trying to knock each other down. Each man had a headlock on the other and Kane finally threw a shoulder off the ropes to knock Taker down. Kane slammed Taker down several times then failed at a pinfall.

Kane had Undertaker's arm, but Taker knocked his brother to the mat and grabbed his wrist to pull on. The 2 men got back to their feet to grapple again, and Taker knocked Kane to the mat. Taker began twisting Kane's ankle near the ropes. Kane eventually shoved Taker away and got back to his feet. Tanker continued to yank on Kane's arm and wrist then pushed him down to the mat. Kane backed Taker into the corner, then the ref broke it apart. Kane shoved Taker in the corner, and Taker threw a punch back. Kane slapped Taker back, and the two began to go back and forth with it. Kane managed to whip Taker to the ropes after taking several punches, then delivered a huge boot to his brother. Undertaker managed to regain composure.

Taker threw his brother to the corner and began punching away. Kane fell onto the top rope and Taker dumped him outside the ring. Outside the two brothers fought further with Kane taking control and tossing Taker back in. The two began to punch back and forth from their knees. Undertaker fell to the mat while Kane caught his breath. From off the ropes Taker caught Kane with one arm around the throat for a chokeslam. Kane applied a chokeslam clutch to Taker's throat. The 2 shoved each other away and then double-booted one another. The ref counted while both men were down. Finally after 7, both men sat up at the same time.

Just then, Chavo, Edge, Ryder & Hawkins charged down and got into the ring, attacking Undertaker and Kane. The foursome continued to kick, punch and stomp away at the Brothers of Destruction. With Kane and Undertaker appearing to be down, Edge and his crew celebrated. Suddenly, Taker and Kane sat up, then got up to fight back. The brothers tossed Ryder & Hawkins out of the ring. Kane grabbed Chavo and Taker grabbed Edge. They delivered their signature chokeslams and Tombstone Piledrivers on their Backlash opponents to end Smackdown.

Winner: No winner announced due to interference from Edge, Chavo, Ryder & Hawkins.

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