"WWE Friday Night SmackDown!" Talkback (Spoilers)

[The Penguin]

SmackDown is the last stop on the way to Unforgiven. We just days away from the return of the Undertaker. At the end of the last week's show, the World Title match changed, witness the fallout and the build-up tonight!

Colossal collisions before Unforgiven
September 14, 2007

This Friday, for the first time on network television, Batista faces The Great Khali in the ring. After Khali defeated Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy in a non-title match on Raw this past Monday, The Animal attacked. Still seeking retribution for his friend Rey Mysterio, who was beaten and bloodied last week on SmackDown by the Punjab Giant's vicious Vise Grip, Batista speared the champion. Will Batista be able to defeat The Great Khali just 48 hours before they battle each other, and hopefully Mysterio, in a Triple Threat Match at Unforgiven?

SmackDown's Irishman Finlay will also be in action when he squares off against Kane in a Belfast Brawl. The no-holds-barred environment would seem to favor the Big Red Monster, but the Irishman is showing no signs of fear. "I have spent all my life fighting, so I know how to handle people bigger than me," he said. "Believe me, I am prepared for this match."

They may be the new WWE Tag Team Champions, but the rivalry continues between Matt Hardy & Montel Vontavious Porter. Hardy wanted an opportunity at MVP’s United States Title, but the Ballin’ Superstar declined, pointing out that he has set up a match against former tag champs Deuce & Domino for Unforgiven. He also gave Matt another challenge – facing Deuce in an impromptu match – then aided the unknowing Hardy in picking up the victory. Is SmackDown’s Franchise Playa trying to convince Matt to stop going for the U.S. bling, and focus on being part of MVP’s team?

Mark Henry received a startling surprise last week when he found a druid awaiting him inside the ring. As the World’s Strongest Man grabbed for the dark figure, the lights flickered, a familiar death knell sounded and the mysterious being vanished. Henry will meet Undertaker at Unforgiven this Sunday, but with druids reappearing and footage from Death Valley haunting him, what does this mean for the self-proclaimed Silverback? Can even he destroy a man who just keeps coming back?

Find out the answers to these questions and more on SmackDown this Friday night, 8/7 CT, only on The CW Network.

[SirLemming]

Man, this is getting sad. I guess they didn't think the Undertaker vs. Mark Henry feud was boring enough, so they decided to work the feud completely through video packages, many of which seem to be almost exactly the same every week. It's not like I really want to see Mark Henry wrestle, but it'd be better than having him waste time in the ring trying to be threatening to someone who's not in the arena.

I liked the match they chose to start the show. I also liked Festus at the party. Although it got me thinking maybe Jesse & Festus should have a match with the Major Brothers -- a match where they see who can go the longest without wrestling.

[VCXZX]

Hahaha. I get it. Big **** Johnson. **** in a box. Nice to see the WWE is catching up to pop culture.

[VCXZX]

I do not want to see Theodore Long without a shirt again. That was scary. Festus and a Doom reunion were the best parts of those bits.

overall, not a great Smackdown.

[hobbyfan]

Just posted my picks for Unforgiven. It's time to take the World title off Khali. He's a two-move wonder, but one of those moves could legit kill someone if not checked.

When can we see the Daltons wrestle?

Last I knew, Butch Reed had traded wrestling for rodeo, of all things. Looks good for a guy who hasn't been in a major promotion in nearly 20 years. Naturally, Ron Simmons puts the exclamation point on the proceedings, but can someone please tell Vince that the walking joke that is Mr. Johnson is another gimmick past its expiration point?

The Chick Kick is alive and well, now used by Michelle McCool. Well, she is as tall as Trish, IIRC.

Poor Kenny still can't buy a win on Smackdown. Maybe it's off to ECW next?

No Hornswoggle tonight. Maybe the next time we see him (on Raw), he'll walk down the ramp like everyone else?

The way Finlay worked the left arm of Kane, I wondered about an injury angle. I guess not.

Domino outwrestled MVP. Simple as that. The preening poser will soon say bye-bye to his titles.

Somehow, I get the feeling the wedding isn't going to come off without a hitch. Something's going to happen to spoil the proceedings.

[The Penguin]

If you'll permit my thoughts on SmackDown...


I thought we were going to get the Michelle-Victoria match this week and the tag match with Palumbo and Kenny the following week rather than both of them at the same time. Losing is just going to make Victoria more crazy and she seems to be rubbing off on Kenny.

The bachelor and bachelorette parties were pretty much what one would expect from any TV wedding prep. The ‘dueling’ strippers and then the eventual misunderstanding on both sides. Only real highlights were Butch Reed showing up as well as Ron’s DAMN! to Teddy wearing next to nothing. I think Teddy’s son is older than Kristal.

Matt and MVP playing chess was a good time. I’m starting to think MVP didn’t really sneeze.

I figured after the weeks of the same video, we would get Undertaker’s disembodied voice this week. The Silverback wasn’t quite able to keep his guard up in the sight of that burning… symbol.

Shannon just keeps showing more and more. After he just got owned by Punk for a month straight in ECW, his silent transfer to SmackDown is working out well. He has been a great foil for Noble in his issues with Hornswoggle and on Friday the former Prince of Punk made it work for him.

Despite in his street clothes, MVP went after Domino like a champ. I got a feeling though that Matt wasn’t being geniunely supportive. He did try to assist Porter, but the U.S. Champ should have just taken the assist rather than get angry.

The Belfast Brawl was a fairly brutal affair. Kane and Finlay really went after it. I suspect there isn’t too much of this feud left, but this was a good one to watch.

Without looking at the main event in light of the results of Unforgiven, Khali seemed unstoppable after crushing Batista the same why he did Rey (obviously The Animal has a thicker skull).