WWE taped this week’s edition of SmackDown at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Special thanks to Wrestling News World readers Jonathan, Sean, and Courtney Barrios for sending text-message updates. If you are attending a WWE event in the near future and would be interested in sending live text-message updates email your name, mobile number, and show date to wnwryan [at] yahoo.com. Thanks for your support!
* A WrestleMania XXIV video package is shown.
Dark Match:
* Kizarny b. Curt Hawkins
– Kizarny got the win via pinfall in about five minutes after hitting a DDT. Several “you can’t wrestle” chants were heard around the arena.
WWE SmackDown: (Airing This Friday)
* JR & Tazz come out to ringside.
* Shelton Benjamin b. Hurricane Helms to retain the US Title.
– Several near falls for Helms. Match went back and forth but ended with Benjamin retaining.
* A video clip from Armageddon is shown.
* WWE Champion Jeff Hardy appears on the screen to cut a promo like he has in recent weeks. He talks about facing The Big Show later tonight.
* Triple H comes out and cuts a promo about Armageddon. He calls out Vladimir Kozlov for costing him the title at the pay-per-view. Chavo Guerrrero is shown backstage on the screen instead. He says that Vickie Guerrero has ordered that if Hunter lays a hand on Kozlov again he will not be allowed in the Royal Rumble and will never get a WWE title shot again. Hunter insults Chavo by saying that the Guerreros he knew would say it to his face. Chavo teases going to the ring. Vickie comes out to major heat. She announces Chavo vs. Triple H for right now.
* Triple H b. Chavo Guerrero in a short squash match
– After the match Hunter grabs a sledgehammer, hits Chavo, and poses on the ramp before heading to the back.
* Carlito w/Primo & The Bella Twins b. The Brian Kendrick w/Ezekiel with a Backstabber.
* A vignette airs promoting the upcoming return of Umaga to SmackDown.
* Edge is shown backstage whining to Vickie Guerrero about Jeff Hardy as WWE Champion. Big Show walks in and explains to Edge how he protected Vickie while he was gone. They talk about Show’s match against Jeff Hardy for later tonight.
* Maria and Michelle McCool are shown backstage. Maria is the special referee for the title match between McCool and Maryse tonight. They talk about how they’ve known each other for four years. Michelle talks about how Maria has screwed up a lot of things lately and asks her not to screw up the match for her tonight.
* Maryse b. Michelle McCool for the Divas Title
– Maria (guest referee) is out first. Maryse follows to a mix of boos and cheers. Michelle is out last to a pop. Typical divas match with lots of back and forth action. Maryse has several two counts but after missing an elbow, the match goes Michelle’s way. Maryse eventually recovers and pins Michelle to win the title. After the match Maria helps Michelle up and the new champ poses on the ramp. As Maria goes to get out of the ring, Michelle attacks her. “You Suck” chants begin. Michelle throws Maria into the ring post and stands over her. She finally exists to lots of heat. Maria is helped to the back by referee Charles Robinson.
* A Tribute to the Troops video package is shown.
* The Great Khali w/Ranjin Singh b. MVP
– The Great Khali gets the win with a double handed chokeslam.
* Ken Kennedy comes out and mocks MVP in a promo to promote his Behind Enemy Lines movie.
* Vladimir Kozlov b. Jimmy Wang Yang in a squash match.
– After Kozlov comes to the ring a video package is shown saying that Kizarny will debut on next week’s SmackDown (he worked a dark match tonight). After the match Kozlov cuts a promo in the ring about how he is going to win the Royal Rumble and become the new champion.
* Big Show is shown in the back lacing his boots. Edge walks up. Big Show says he’s going to do what Edge can’t which is beat Jeff Hardy. He asks how the marital relationship is between Edge and Vickie. He walks off leaving Edge standing there.
* WWE Champion Jeff Hardy b. Big Show
– Big Show is out first. WWE Champion Jeff Hardy is out next to a huge pop. Hardy gets the win via countout.
