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WWC Smackdown - 05.10.07

rey619Posted on 08/08/06 at 17:02:42

Phoenix, Arizona welcomes you to another edition of WWC Smackdown! Tonight, Rob van Dam and Chris Benoit will face each other in the main event. Group A of the Tag-Team World Cup will be wrapped up, and Colt Cabana takes on the "Bavarian Butcher" Merciless. This, and more! But first, let's take a look at our two pre-show matches, broadcasted free of charge on our website.

Naruki Doi pinned Super Crazy after hitting him with a kendo stick in 0:04:31.
Rating: ***
[Psicosis interfered against Naruki Doi.]
[Dragon Kid interfered against Super Crazy.]

Mexico and Japan have fought against each other in the World Cup, and two of the members squared off here tonight. Both team-mates tried to interfere, but it was the Dojo members that cheated the most, and therefore scored the win.

TEAM UK SEEKS EXTERNAL HELP

In addition to the matches, the pre-show webcast featured Captain Burchill and First Mate Spud's meeting with the Amazing Darkstone, an illusionist and hypnotist. Think of the comic book character Mandrake, and you have a fitting description of Darkstone. Spud entered a trance, and Darkstone instructed him not to be afraid of the ring. Burchill paid Darkstone with a pearl necklace and a golden tooth, before he left satisfied.

Hart Foundation 2G (Teddy Hart and Harry Smith) defeated
Nunzio and Tony Mamaluke when Teddy Hart pinned Nunzio after the Doomsday Rana
in 0:16:17.
Rating: *** 1/2

In our second pre-show match, the Hart Foundation took home the win for Canada, and with that, the group victory as well. Italy had to hope for an upset win for Team UK later on tonight.

Smackdown

LASHLEY ON THE RAMPAGE

Smackdown opens with a lot of confusion and commotion backstage. We see Josh Matthews trying to keep up with Shane McMahon and a host of security guards. The backstage area is in shambles, as Lashley is thrashing everything in order to get his hands on the Dojo members, who are just trying to stay clear of the big man, their speed and agility allowing them to escape. Shane tries to reason with Lashley, but to no avail. Shane asks Lashley what he wants, and the answer is "Chris Benoit in the ring". Shane tells him that Benoit is already booked tonight, but he guarantees him that he will get what he wants, as long as he calms down. Lashley hesitates, but nods silently.

Claudio Castagnoli vs Jamie Noble(c)w/Dusty Rhodes for the WWC Strong-Style championship

This was a big break for the Swiss, no doubt. He came here with his Dutch tag-team partner to participate in the Tag Team World Cup, but due to his European-style wrestling, WWC management decided to give him a match for the Strong-Style championship.

After what occurred two weeks ago, Taz was naturally quite reserved in his announcing duties, and you could see Michael Cole struggle to get some relevant words from him. More than often, it was limited to "I hope Noble is choked to death by that Austrian guy." Cole tried to correct Taz, saying that Claudio was in fact Swiss, but Taz didn't care, and started calling him "that European fellow."

Claudio put up a good fight, and had Noble under control for a period in the match, dishing out several of his trademark maneuvers. Noble is a seasoned veteran however, and when the Dragon Sleeper was locked in, there was no way out.

After the match, Dusty Rhodes brought a microphone into the ring. Noble said that WWC didn't really have any competition for him, that much was certain. He said that he was now officially the best submission wrestler in the history of wrestling, and dared anyone to challenge him on that. He gazed at Taz, egging him on. Michael Cole tried to tell Taz to sit down, but the former ECW World Champion got up and removed his sunglasses. He told Jamie Noble that he still had one more match left in him, and if that meant defeating Noble for the Strong-Style Championship, the better. Taz accepted Noble's challenge, and told him to bring his A-game to the Saturday Night Main Event in just over two weeks time.

Jamie Noble defeated Claudio Castagnoli when Claudio Castagnoli passed out in
the Dragon Sleeper in 0:08:57.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Jamie Noble retained the WWC Strong-Style Championship.)

MNM ON THE WARPATH

Josh Matthews stands by with Nitro, Mercury and Merciless. He asks Nitro if Melina is here tonight, to which Nitro nods affirmingly. He says that Melina's loyalty is at question tonight, and before the show is over, she will have to prove her allegiance.

Team UK (Cpt. Burchill & First Mate Spud) vs Team US (Paul London & Brian Kendrick) in a Tag-Team World Cup 2007 Group A Match

After Italy's loss to Canada at the pre-show, Team US needed a win here over Team UK to advance. That shouldn't be too hard, considering Spud's ringphobia. But did Team US know of their meeting with the Amazing Darkstone? And did it have any impact?

The Cap'n started the match, but Spud did at least have the guts to stand on the ring apron. Burchill is a physical imposing specimen, and dominated Kendrick in the opening, until London got the hot tag and brought Burchill down with a leaping tornado DDT. Spud had still not entered the ring, but when Burchill clotheslined London over the ropes, Spud did beat on him on the outside, sending him back in for Burchill. The numbers game did catch up with Captain Burchill, and he desperately sought the tag. To the great dismay of Team US and their numerous fans in the crowd, Spud DID tag him, and almost brought London down with a beautiful sunset flip. The Amazing Darkstone had cured Spud! The small-statured First Mate followed up his initial assault with a superkick and a Stardust Press, but London refused to stay down.

The end came when Burchill cracked London's rib with a backbreaker, then took himself and Kendrick out of the ring with a clothesline. Spud went high-risk, and landed a perfect frog splash on London to win the match for Team UK. London and Kendrick are gone in the tournament, and backstage, Team Italy must have been ecstatic.

Team UK (Cpt.Burchill and First Mate Spud) defeated
Team USA (Paul London and Brian Kendrick) when Spud pinned P. London after
a frog splash in 0:17:15.
Rating: ** 3/4

ROB VAN DAM HAS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE CHAMP, AND TO BENOIT

Josh Matthews stands by with Rob van Dam, who is interrupted by Bill Alfonso as he is about to cut his promo. Alfonso says that Rob Van Dam has two targets now, Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio. Benoit stuck his nose where it didn't belong, and robbed RVD for a title match. Fortunately for him, because of Rey's naivety, RVD still got a title shot, but that doesn't change the fact that Benoit would go down tonight. And at the Saturday Night Main Event, Rob van Dam would win the WWC World Title. RVD tried to cut in, but Alfonso continued, saying that since the referee last time didn't do his job, Alfonso suggested keeping the referee's involvement to a minimum this time. Alfonso asked Rey if he would accept that this would be a ladder match! Matthewes then thanked RVD . . or rather, Alfonso, for the interview.

Colt Cabana w/CM Punk vs Merciless w/Joey Mercury

The match has been made, at Saturday Night Main Event in just over two weeks, Second City Saints will face Merciless and Joey Mercury, and the tag-team titles will be on the line. In addition to that, Melina's loyalty will also be on "trial" here tonight, as Johnny Nitro had promised. He didn't take to kindly on her going A-wOL last show . . coincidentally, so did the Saints.

Cabana tried his comedy routine on Merciless, but it failed miserably. Merciless pounded Cabana with backbreakers and slams, before he brought out a strand of barbed wire behind the referee's back. CM Punk was ringside and tried to warn ref Korderas, but Joey Mercury took out Punk with a chairshot. Cabana tried to take a breather on the outside, his right arm a bloody mess after the barbed wire attack. Merciless proved to be a very agile big man, as he flew over the ropes with a plancha.

This turned out to be one hell of a match. Merciless took Cabana down with the Death Shot twice, but the gutsy Cabana escaped both times. One with help from Punk, the other by reaching towards the rope. Cabana was bleeding profusely, but still managed to land Merciless with the Colt 45. He was too slow making the cover, however, and Merciless kicked out. Punk tried taking Merciless out with a chair, but was caught by the referee and sent to the back. The Austrian used this to his advantage, and finally, Cabana didn't survive the Death Shot. Exceptional match!

ANOTHER MATCH IS MADE

The security guards still had Punk under control, but then, Nitro, Melina and Mercury came over to them and told them to drag Punk back to the ring to suffer another beating from their Austrian friend. The guards smiled, and Nitro gave them some money while Melina watched with a disturbed look on her face.

Merciless wiped Cabana's blood across his chin as he waited gleefully for Punk to arrive. Nick Patrick ran in to officiate, and the corrupt security guards held Cabana at bay on the outside.

CM Punk vs Merciless w/the rest of MNM and a host of corrupt security guards

Merciless tossed Punk around like a rag doll right after the bell, but suddenly, Punk caught his opponent with a neck crank, causing both to fall on the mat. Merciless' shoulders were down as he tried to get out of the hold, and Patrick counted the 3 count! Punk had defeated Merciless in just over a minute!

CM Punk pinned Merciless after a neck crank in 0:01:03.
Rating: **

Merciless couldn't believe what happened, and neither could MNM (although Melina did smile a little). Nitro commanded the security guards into the ring, where they grabbed a hold of Punk. Cabana was also brought into the ring. Nitro grabbed a mic, addressing Melina. Melina had not acted in a loyal manner as of late, and now was the time to prove which side she was on. One of the security guards produced a taser, giving it to Nitro. Nitro told Melina that in order to prove her loyalty, she should taser Punk and Cabana.

The beautiful Melina hesitated as she approached the Saints. Punk pleaded with Melina not to do it, but then she smiled deviously and stuck the taser right under Punk's chin, causing him to convulse badly. She then repeated the process with Cabana. Both Saints lied motionless in the ring as the vocal crowd chanted "You're a crackwhore" at Melina, as MNM was escorted out of the ring by the security guards.

Chris Benoit w/the Dojo vs Rob Van Dam w/Bill Alfonso

An enemy of your enemy is not a friend, at least not where RVD and Chris Benoit are concerned. First, Benoit attacked RVD after the previous SNME (or, more or less helped Rey Mysterio, that is). Two weeks later, Benoit betrayed his tag-team partner RVD in order to help Lashley win a title match. Just so he could make some money on illegal gambling.

Benoit had wisely brought down the Dojo to act as bodyguards, in case Lashley decided to exact his promised revenge on Benoit for screwing him out of the World Heavyweight Championship. The opening of the match saw some nice chain-wrestling as the two ring veterans vyed for position. They spilled to the floor when Benoit hit a tope on RVD. Lashley ran down at this point, and Benoit high-tailed back into the ring as the Dojo frantically kept the raging beast at bay with kendo sticks and kicks to the legs, trying to cut the redwood down.

Lashley had to retreat, and Benoit could concentrate fully on his match. Not an easy task, as Bill Alfonso sent a chair into the ring for RVD to use. Benoit's back took quite a beating as he suplexed the Crippler on top of it. Van Dam even took a page out of Benoit's book, trying to make him submit to a facelock. Benoit is a tough one, though, and didn't yield that easily.

The Dojo was still on the guard for Lashley, but didn't expect the World Champ, Rey Mysterio to come running down. Rey took out Dragon Kid with a chair shot, but was then clubbed in the back by Doi. The Dojo stomped away on Rey, and ref Patrick went outside to break it up. He shouldn't have done that, as Lashley sprinted down, taking out three Japanese guys and a ref with a huge double (quadruple?) clothesline. As Lashley tossed the Dojo around ringside, Benoit and RVD sent each other to the ground with a double clothesline. As no enemies remained for Lashley, the big guy crawled into the ring and picked up RVD. He positioned RVD on the top turnbuckle, exchanged some words with him, before he catapulted him across the ring. RVD could never have made the Five Star Frog Splash without some assistance, but fortunately for him, Lashley was there to help him. Jimmy Korderas ran in to make the pin.

Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Benoit with the Five Star Frog Splash in 0:14:25.
Rating: ***
[Bobby Lashley interfered against Chris Benoit.]

Lashley, RVD and Rey Mysterio stood in the ring triumphantly and taunted the Dojo as they retreated. It seems as if Rey and RVD have buried the hatchet, at least temporarily for the sake of preventing Benoit from ruining the great sport for the sake of money.

Card rating: ***
rey619Posted on 08/08/06 at 17:22:38

**** News and rumors ****

- Breaking News! Lashley is apparently gone from WWC, and allegedly told Shane McMahon on the evening after Smackdown. This certainly puts a cog in the wheels of the current plans, but all in all, Shane took it very well. Lashley has not delivered in the ring at all, and wasn't very over with the crowd. It is rumored that he will seek employment in Stephanie's WEW, and since Lashley was under contract, it is expected that WWC gets a wrestler in return, or a substantial amount of money. Shelton Benjamin, Eugene or Carlito are names being mentioned in a possible trade.

- Kid Kash opted not to extend his contract, choosing to go back to TNA. WWC had originally planned a revenge angle when Elijah Burke returned from his injury, another scrapped idea. Where this leaves Burke's former valet turned Kash's slave, Beth Phoenix, is unclear. The Shane Twins did not get extensions on their contract, as WWC Management feels that they have plenty of tag-teams already.

- The magician who helped Spud overcome his ringphobia is the Amazing Darkstone, an indy wrestler out of Canada. It is unknown at this point whether or not he will be used again.

World Wrestling Confederation continues to grow, and they are turning a steady profit now, despite the added financial costs involved with Chris Benoit's contract. Unfortunately, WEW is rumored to receive a second timeslot during the summer, something WWC also desperately needs. 2 hours every 14 day is not enough to keep wrestlers or crowd interested.
91Posted on 08/08/06 at 19:10:17

AHHHH, Team USA DON'T win a tag team wrestling world cup tournament. You've just become the second person in history to book it like that, after years of WCW's shitty "USA win every time" angles. Kudos.

Also, I find it cruelly amusing that much of the show revolved around Lashley and he walks. That'll leave you the nice challenge of working around that.
americamamushiPosted on 08/08/06 at 21:53:11

I enjoy the Team UK stuff quite a bit.

Wasn't expecting Punk to take the win over Merciless, but he got lucky.  Melina really is a crack whore.  AN ELECTRIC CRACK WHORE! *shakes fist violently* :)

Hot end to the show.  Tough break with losing Lashley, but the prospect of Carlito and Eugene coming to WWC intrigues me quite a great deal.

Couple more losses besides Lashley, though Lashley is the one that hurts the most.  I have faith you can cover the loss with a fair ammount of ease though.
Snabbit888Posted on 08/08/06 at 22:17:19

Spud being afraid of the ring is still bloody priceless.

Lashley, you big lug.  Tearing shit apart.

Taz vs. Noble should be a cool event.  With Taz's bad neck though, I don't see him winning.  Should help put Noble over more.

I did not see Team UK winning, and though it was a fine match and fun, I was hoping you'd stretch out Spud's ring fear for a few more weeks.  Here's hoping he has a relapse.

RVD will probably do the J-O-B tonight, methinks.

I like the stuff going with MNM and how torn Melina has been over the whole thing.  CORRUPT SECURITY GUARDS!  Hehe.  Punk gets a quick duke over Merciless, but suffers a taser attack from Melina.  That whorebag.

Didn't expect RVD to win, but I have no problems with him doing so, even if the match was a tad overbooked.  Nothing wrong with that though as sometimes that's what you gotta do to move things forward.  Nice show all-around.
lazy_duckPosted on 08/08/06 at 22:58:23

On 08/08/06 at 19:10:17, 91 wrote:
Also, I find it cruelly amusing that much of the show revolved around Lashley and he walks. That'll leave you the nice challenge of working around that.
I was thinking the same thing when I read the news report after the show. Lahley's kidney problems must have affected his head :)
rey619Posted on 08/09/06 at 11:36:34

I just couldn't let RVD job again after he jobbed to Test last show. After all, he has a world title shot coming up. As for Lashley, I had been thinking for quite some time about releasing him anyway. I couldn't find a decent hoss I liked to work a program with him (Lesnar went to TNA, Batista went to WEW), but it was still a smack in the mouth when it happened. Well, I can always make an angle out of it.

Spud only has a short-term contract, but if he is willing to re-sign, I think I might keep the tag-team. And you just wait and see, the storyline might not be over yet, I simply wanted them to defeat Team US for a purpose yet to be revealed.

Thanks for the feedback guys