Getting Over 8.31.06: SmackDown! Part Two!!!
Posted by Mike LaFave on 08.31.2006
You want tag teams; I got your tag teams!!! With the SmackDown! Six in place, it’s now time for second step in the three part plan to get SmackDown! on par with Raw!!!
Getting Over
You want tag teams; I got your tag teams!!! With the SmackDown! Six in place, it's now time for second step in the three part plan to get SmackDown! on par with Raw
I know what you're thinking, the SmackDown! Six Series was so good that that alone would bring SmackDown! to heights it hasn't seen since Heyman had the book…but wait, there's more! This week I rebuild a solid and competitive tag division. That doesn't mean I get over a tag tam feud, I'm taking it a step further than that, I'm building the whole division.
Before we dive into it, I need to apologize. College started back up this week and to top that off, my grandfather and one of my best friends both took vacations in the ER. When you combine those things with the fact that I have poor time management skills, it's a recipe for a rushed column. The rebuilding is still well planned and outlined, but unfortunately I'm unable to describe the matches and promos in as much detail as I normally do. The promo part hurts me the most, because it's some of the most fun I have with my column. I also have to unfortunately skip the "Over There' and "Over My Head" sections, due to lack of time. Again, I'm sorry for the disappointment and I hope you understand, but enjoy the rebuilding of the tag division as I embark on part two of getting over SmackDown!
Getting Over SmackDown! Part 2:
SmackDown! 09/01 - Last week we all saw the Pitbulls run in to interrupt the match between London and Kendrick and the Teacher's Pets. This week, the champs take on the team of Kash and Noble with the straps on the line. As a measure of revenge for the previous SmackDown! Stevens and James run in and attack both teams, resulting in the match being thrown out.
SmackDown! 09/08 - London and Kendrick make their way down to the ring and state that they will face the winners of the following match between the Pitbulls and the Teacher's Pets. The match starts at the 10:00pm spot, by 10:16pm, James and Noble are down crawling to their respective corners in an attempt to make a tag. Just then, Burke and Terkay come running out from the back and beat down both teams. London and Kendrick, who had been watching the number one contender's match at ringside try to stop the bullies, but are over powered by the bigger men. Burke and Terkay then leave, smiling and admiring their handy-work.
SmackDown! 09/15 - Burke is accompanied to the ring by Terkay as they explain their actions from the previous week. He tells the crowd that there is no combination of SuperStars on the SmackDown! roster that can go toe-to-toe with them. He then demands a championship match for the following week, which brings Teddy Long out to address the demand. Long tells the new team that on SmackDown! people have to earn title matches. He then makes a triple threat match for the following week. A representative from Burke/Terkay, the Pitbulls and the Teacher's Pets will face off; the winning man's team will become the number one contenders for London and Kendrick's titles at No Mercy!
SmackDown! 09/22 - The three representatives in the triple threat are; Terkay, Idol Stevens and Kid Kash. The two smaller men decide their best way to compete is to double team Terkay. The strategy is working perfectly as they have Terkay reeling. Burke sees that their chance at the tag titles is about to slip away, so he comes up with a plan of action. He walks over to Michelle McCool and begins to flirt. He eyes her up and down, and then gives her a light pat on the ass when she attempts to walk away. Idol takes notice of Burke's actions and leaves the ring to confront him. Kash begins to yell to Stevens, "Remember the Plan Man!!!" When Kash gives up hope on his temporary alley, he turns around just in time to be on the receiving end of Terkay's spinning discuses punch. The impact from the blow is so swift and devastating that it not only knocks Kash out cold, but doesn't allow Noble the time needed to stop the count allowing Terkay to win the match for his team!
SmackDown! 09/29 - London and Kendrick take on the Pitbulls in a non title match. After the match gets underway, Burke and Terkay wander out to the ramp way to observe the proceedings. After a few more minutes the Teacher's Pets run out from the back yielding chairs and lay out Burke and Terkay. They don't stop there, as they make their way to the ring lay out all four participants in the match!
SmackDown! 10/06 - Burke and Terkay are involved in their first official tag team match against a pair of local jobbers. The number one contenders make short work of the enhancement talent as London and Kendrick scout their opponents from afar
No Mercy 10/08 - Before match gets underway, the Pitbulls and Teacher's Pets are seen hovering around a monitor watching the action and arguing over the eventual outcome of the match and who will get the next title shot. Both the challengers and champions are in the ring, set to do battle when a familiar guitar riff fills the arena. The crowd goes crazy when they lay their eyes on their returning hero, Chris Benoit! Benoit takes his time making his way to the ring, soaking up the roar of the crowd. Benoit grabs a mic and steps in the ring. "It's so good to be back! I can't tell you how much I missed you guys…but more than that I've missed the competition. While I've been away, I've kept a close eye on my second home, SmackDown!. And what did I see? I saw that the tag team scene is the place to be! It's where the action is! And where you find action…you'll find Chris Benoit!" Benoit wanders around the ring watching the action as London and Kendrick put up a great fight against the much bigger team. The tide eventually turns and Burke looks to have the championship won. He looks over and notices Benoit applauding with approval. Burke screams to the Crippler, "you better rethink getting involved in the tag division now, bitch!" Benoit doesn't take kindly to Burke's smack talking. He hops on the apron, grabs Burke by the hair and jump back down to the floor, clotheslineing Burke's neck into the ropes. This is enough to allow Kendrick to roll Burke up and retain the tag team titles!
SmackDown! 10/13 - London and Kendrick come down to the ring to celebrate their title defense at No Mercy. The party is interrupted when Benoit decides to crash it. Chris shakes hands with both champs and then informs them and the audience that everyone will find out who his partner is next week!
SmackDown! 10/20 - The show starts with Benoit's big announcement. He stalls a little to build suspense, but instead of Benoit's new teammate coming down the aisle, Burke and Terkay come down. They stalk Benoit, who prepares himself for a fight. As soon as the duo attacks the Crippler, Gunner Scott rushes down to make the save! Teddy Long breaks up the brawl and announces that the two teams will face off next week!
Latter in the evening the Teacher's Pets pick up an impressive win over a local team.
SmackDown! 10/27 - The program opens with a non title match between the champs and the Teacher's Pets. It's a back and forth battle, but at the end, the challengers upset London and Kendrick!
Later on The Pitbulls defeat the same team that the Teacher's Pets knocked off the previous week.
In the main event, the team of Gunner Scott and Chris Benoit take on Burke and Terkay. It's a stiff match, with both teams gaining and giving up the advantage. Burke tries to Irish whip Benoit into the turnbuckle, but Chris is able to reverse the momentum and lock in the crippler cross face on Burke. Burke fights off the pain as long as possible and is about to tap out when Terkay smashes Benoit across the back with a steel chair, ending the match via disqualification. Terkay winds up to crack Benoit a second time when Gunner runs in and sacrifices himself for his teammate. Terkay nail Gunner between the eyes, busting him wide open!
SmackDown! 11/03 - London and Kendrick are again challenged in a non title affair. They control the majority of the match, but end up on the losing end to the Pitbulls after some great double team action by Noble and Kash!
Later on thatnight, the production team runs hospital footage of doctors stitching Scott's head back together thanks to the beating he received the previous week. Cameras switch to Burke and Terkay who, like us, had just witnessed the hospital footage. Burke high fives Terkay and they smile and brag, reveling in the damage they've caused!
SmackDown! 11/10 - In a one on one match up, Benoit with Gunner Scott in his corner takes on the bully Terkay with his corner man Burke. The two fighters stiff the hell out each other. Benoit gets a gash on his forehead, but only gets more aggressive once he sees his own blood trickle down his face. Benoit proceeds to head butt his opponent without abandon! Burke hops up on the apron, to which Gunner responds in kind. Burke steps in the ring, while Gunner follows him step for step. Both Burke and Gunner begin to get physical with their partner's adversary. The ref can't regain control of the match and throws it out.
When SmackDown! comes back from commercial, JBL and Michael Cole start to analyze a replay of London and Kendrick's recent losses. After showing the second upset, Cole announces that since both the Teacher's Pets and the Pitbulls own a victory over the champs, they will meet up the following week to determine the new number one contender!
SmackDown! 11/17 - In the tag team match, it isn't long before the strategy of both teams is obvious…cheat to win! In the end, the Pitbulls are able to out cheat the Teacher's Pets and earn a title shot!
Later on, Gunner is shown in the back with Chris Benoit by his side. "Terkay thinks he's some sort of bully. Well, everyone knows only insecure people bully others. Incase you don't understand what I'm saying Terkay, I'm saying I can out wrestle you and I can out fight you! Terkay, next week, you'll take the bullet!" As Gunner walks away he bumps into Teddy Long in the hallway. Long informs Gunner and the audience that in a traditional Survivor Series Elimination match, Gunner and his partner Benoit will team up with the tag champs London and Kendrick to take on Kash, Noble, Burke and Terkay!
SmackDown! 11/24 - The Teacher's Pets beat Scotty Too Hotty and Funaki fairly easily. After the bout, Michelle McCool address the crowd, "just because class is at recess doesn't mean that everyone shouldn't be studying for the next test! Believe me when I tell you, forgetting about the Teacher's Pets will without question result in a failing grade!"
Gunner takes a beating from Terkay in their match and keeps coming back for more. Terkay begins to question if he can put Scott away. Gunner gains the advantage and the momentum in the match when he's distracted by Burke and put in a key lock, forcing him to submit. Burke and Terkay have a post match beat down in mind for Gunner, but Benoit has different plans as he evens the odds. The Pitbulls run down and join in, beating Benoit and the still hurt Scott. It's not long before London and Kendrick get involved leading to an all out brawl!
Survivor Series 11/26 - The elimination match is only a couple minutes in, when Michelle McCool, Idol Stevens and KC James make an appearance. They sneak their way down to the ring with out the participants of the match noticing. James and Stevens both have chairs in hand and sandwich Brian Kendrick's head between them! Kendrick collapses from the apron to the floor, knocked unconscious. Paul London, who is the legal man for his team, notices what has just transpired and dives out of the ring, landing on the Teacher's Pets! He lets his fists go wild but after several shots, the Teacher's Pets are able to escape, with London giving chase. EMT come out to attend to Kendrick, they put him on a stretcher and bring him to the back, leaving Benoit and Gunner to go it alone against all four of their opponents. Benoit and Gunner fight with all they have, but The Pitbulls and Burke and Terkay make frequent tags, putting an end to any offensive momentum the outnumbered team attempts to gain. Benoit is able to get Kash to tap to the crippler cross face, while Gunner soon after submits Noble with the crowbar, making both sides even. But the punishment has already been done and both Benoit and Scott are fatigued and in pain. A few minutes later, Burke hits Gunner with the Elijah Experience for the elimination. Benoit tries to once again even the odds, but to no avail as Terkay nails Chris with a muscle buster for the victory!
SmackDown! 12/01 - As Benoit and Gunner make their way down to the ring, a pre-taped promo is shown of them complaining that if not for the Teacher's Pets involvement at Survivor Series they would have never been in an underdog position and hence would have never lost the match. The match is going back and forth at the ten minute mark, when the Teacher's Pets use some interference from Michelle McCool to gain the advantage and it looks as though they are about to win the match. Just then, London and Kendrick come sprinting through the crowd and attack Stevens and James. This run in brings both the Pitbulls and Burke and Terkay down to the ring for a missive brawl! Teddy Long comes out and he has had enough! He announces that next week all the teams will be involved in a number one contender Tag Team Turmoil match!
SmackDown! 12/08 - Before Tony Chimel lets everyone know who the first two teams to compete are, London and Kendrick come down and join JBL and Michael Cole at the announce booth. Benoit and Gunner enter the match first, followed by the Pitbulls. The action is fast, furious and stiff! The Pitbulls really put a beating on Benoit but he able to apply the cross face on Kash to move on to the next team. The Teacher's Pets come down and they single out Gunner Scott. Just when it looks as though Scoot has nothing left to offer, he slaps the crowbar on KC James and his team once again advances. That leaves us with Benoit and Gunner vs. Burke and Terkay. Chris and Scott put up a great fight against the two bigger, fresher men, but they have gone through too much to handle the big bullies and end up falling victim to a submission maneuver. Burke and Terkay exchange an emotional hug as they celebrate becoming the number one contenders for Armageddon!
SmackDown! 12/15 - Burke cuts promo about how easy it's going to be for his team to win the titles, "look at the so-called champs. I'm bigger than both of them…a lot bigger! And hell, my boy Terkay here, he's a lot bigger than me! London, Kendrick, you boys are running into a couple big problems come Sunday!" London and Kendrick run down and actually beat down the bigger men! Burke and Terkay are able to sneak away and escape to the back with looks of shock on their faces.
Later on that same night, Benoit and Gunner, the Pitbulls and the Teacher's Pets are shown sitting in the locker room squabbling with each other. Teddy Long enters the room and informs them that at Armageddon, there will be a triple threat tag team number one contender's match featuring all the men in this room!
Armageddon 12/17 - The show opens with the triple threat tag team match. The match is filled with double teaming and all the teams trying to work together at different points throughout. After over sixteen minutes of action, Benoit's experience wins out as he uses a victory role on Jamie Noble for the win!
Later, in the tag championship match, London and Kendrick come down like a pair of wild animals, dominating the early portion of the match. Eventually the bigger team is able to get the advantage and they beat the champs from pillar to post. On several occasions the crowd believes it's over only to have their heroes kick out! But in the end, it's just too much to overcome and Burke and Terkay end London and Kendrick's nearly seven month run as tag champs! As if the former champs aren't hurt enough, the new title holders put a severe beating on London and Kendrick until WWE officials are finally able to pull them away. London and Kendrick are both put on stretchers and wheeled to the back.
SmackDown! 12/22 - Benoit and Gunner have a solid match with the Teacher's Pets. Stevens and James actually have the better of things and Scott is in trouble when Benoit uses his experience to his advantage. He walks over to McCool and begins to threaten her, which obviously draws the attention of her pets. James is first to attack Benoit, but gets a kick to the gut and a ddt on the concrete floor for his trouble. Idol begins to chase Benoit around the ring, but the crippler falls to the ground and drop toe-holds Idol face first into the steel steps. He rolls Stevens back into the ring where the groggy Gunner Scott is able to crawl over and pick up the win! Burke and Terkay walk out to the ramp and clap for their future challenger's victory. Then they each hold up their belt and shake their heads as they walk away.
SmackDown! 12/29 - Benoit and Gunner put on a show stealing match with the Pitbulls, going twenty minutes at the 10:00pm slot. The number one contenders are able to pick up the win when Gunner reverses a Kid Kash roll up into one of his own. Benoit and Gunner celebrate in the ring when the Pitbulls push them from behind. Chris and Scott turn around expecting another fight, but Kash and Noble instead extend their hands in a show of respect. The two teams all shale hands and show off to the crowd, when Burke and Terkay run into the ring and beat down the four men who had just been involved in a war!
SmackDown! 1/05 - The Teacher's Pets run in to the Pitbulls in the back. McCool looks down at them for losing their edge against Benoit and Gunner and explains how it will cost them in the long run. The Pitbulls don't care much for her opinions and Kash responds with, "well, ya know what I think of that…" and slaps her on the ass. Noble laughs and they walk away.
Burke and Gunner have a technical battle at the midway point in the show. Both men look strong in the match, but after twelve minutes back and forth, Burke is able to pick up a clean win!
SmackDown! 1/12 - The Pitbulls are seconds away from getting a win over a pair of local jobber when the Teacher's Pets run down. McCool distracts the ref while James and Stevens sandwich Noble's head between two chairs. McCool trips Kash so he's not able to make the save and the Pitbulls lose thanks to the Teacher's Pets!
Benoit looks to win one back for his team this week against Burke. Burke holds his own against the wilily veteran, but after ten minutes the Crippler is able to gain a solid advantage. The ref takes a bump and Terkay comes in and nails Benoit with a muscle buster. An Elijah Experience later and Burke has upset Chris Benoit!
SmackDown! 1/19 - The Pitbulls take out all their frustrations over the events of the past few weeks in a match with the Teacher's Pets. The Pittbulls dominate both Pets, even having the opportunity to win on a couple different occasions, but instead choosing to continue to dish out punishment. That is until Michelle McCool smacks Jamie Noble in the back with a chair while the referee's back is turned, allowing KC James to pick up a victory for his team.
Next up is the contract signing for the tag team championship match at the Royal Rumble! Benoit and Terkay never take their eyes off each other, Benoit with his big toothless smile and Terkay with a nasty scowl. Everything goes down as planned and the contract is signed by all parties. There is a big standing stare down between Benoit (with Gunner holding him back) and Terkay (with Burke holding him back).
SmackDown! 1/26 - Teddy Long comes down to the ring to announce that the Pitbulls have demanded a rematch with out Michelle McCool at ringside and that he has accepted their request and that the match will happen right now! Just like the previous week, the Pitbulls dominate the action from the start. The Teacher's Pets are able to gain the advantage just long enough to hit their double team finisher on Kash and pick up the win. As they walk together to the back, barley able to put one foot in front of the other, Cole comments that, "they don't look like winners do they!"
London and Kendrick make their return to get revenge on Burke and Terkay. Cole informs the audience that since the title match has already been signed for the Royal Rumble, this contest is non title match. London and Kendrick surprise everyone by starting off strong. After awhile Burke and Terkay are able to start getting some offense in, but the former champs are still fighting back. Terkay gets a submission hold on London who is about to submit when Gunner Scott runs down and distracts the ref. Gunner and Burke begin to exchange blows while Chris Benoit comes out and hits a kamikaze head butt off the top rope on Terkay. London is able to roll over and upset the champs!
Royal Rumble 1/28 - The tag team championship match between champions, Burke and Terkay and challengers, Benoit and Gunner, opens the show. It's an intense match full of stiff action. Burke and Terkay get the advantage and keep Benoit singled out. When Benoit is finally able to get the hot tag to Gunner, all hell breaks lose with Scott going nuts! Gunner tags in a recuperated Benoit and they both apply their finishing submission holds onto an opponent. Burke and Terkay both hold out as long as possible, but the pain is too much to bear and they both end up tapping out! Your winners and NEW tag team champions, Gunner Scott and Chris Benoit!!!
From there, due to the roll they've been on the Teacher's Pet start a program against the new champs. Meantime, Burke and Terkay and London and Kendrick battle it out in a blood feud, both wanting revenge against each other and both claiming they want their titles back! After all this, Gymini returns (replacing Burke and Terkay who are back on the singles scene) for a program w/ Benoit and Gunner. Finally, Benoit turns on Gunner and Gymini win the belts, and defend the tag titles against the other contenders.
Over the Top:
What I've done is establish five credible tag teams with two long term feuds. We have Benoit making his long awaited return going up against two men who have been running rampant over SmackDown! since they debuted. Then we also have both the Teacher's Pets and the Pitbulls fighting it out with London and Kendrick for the tag titles. It is essential to avoid focusing only on the tag champs and number one contenders. That's what the E has been doing in their recent attempts at a tag team scene. The problem with it is, once you have the belts change hands, where do you go? How I set it up, we have a tag division with many different combinations for programs and champions established for the future.
I'm also making Benoit's return a big deal. But I don't feel he should jump into the main event scene. I feel he would be best served giving the run to, the tag team championship, Terkay and Burke.
This idea would lead to not only compelling stories, but great matches. When you pair the new tag division I have built with the SmackDown! Six Series going on at the same time, I feel it's safe to say that the best wrestling on TV would be on Friday Nights!
Over and Out:
Again, I'm already late, I'm exhausted, and I have to be up for an early class in the morning. That being said, I really don't have the time or energy to pimp out my fellow writers with full links. But I'll still give a couple mentions.
As always be sure to check out my favorite columns, Hidden Highlight and the 3 R's.
Also, even though he's dangerously close to gimmick infringement, check out Andy Clark's Shimmy as this week he gives his EARLY Wrestlemania 23 card predictions.
And finally, if you like staying up to date with what the up and comers down in OVW are doing, be sure to check out Steve Sullivan's Crystal Ball this week.
Ok guys, once again, I can't tell you how sorry I am about the shortened column this week. It won't happen again…well at least, not any time soon. I hope you still enjoyed the column though. We now have two out of the three parts in place to get SmackDown! on the same level as Raw. Next week we take a quick look at what the US and CW champs would be doing during all of this time. But the main focus of the column will be the Big Money Main Event Program! Should be good stuff…but until then, over and out!
