The 10th Day News Report for 12.19.07

Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 12.19.2007

Heat results, Smackdown rundown, possible No Way Out main event, Johnny Jeter on his way out, JBL on his way back in, Final Resolution card, Sting, Rhino and Ron Killings updates, ECW Thoughts and EWR on 411

As you might remember from last week, I was supposed to be at Armageddon. I didn't go because of the bad weather. Admittedly, it wasn't as bad Sunday as originally projected and I could have made it, but I was in a funky funk by that point and just resigned to say to hell with it. The reviews I've read of the show have been middling, so maybe I lucked out. I did miss the historical event of triple Edges. I want them to feud with a stable of fake Stings. There is a TNA house show in Youngstown at the end of January and I might try to make that.

MAILBAG

We will also use this space to address things form the comments section at the end of columns that has recently been added to 411. Last week, my comparing Kofi Kingston to Dee Jay from the Street Fighter video games was seen as a ‘they all look alike' type comment. This was certainly not my intention. In look, style and clothes Kofi did remind me a bit of Dee Jay. Maybe it's just that they are just going for a generic Jamaican fighter look. His video comes off like mirror universe Carlito. I would be interested to know if they gave Kofi this character because they thought they would be losing Carlito.

A few people also expressed dislike for the EWR on 411 section. Admittedly, response to that has gone down as is my fun in doing it. I know you can't please all the people all the time, but if it's like 90% of the people then that sounds like a personal problem for me. Speak now or forever hold your peace on the matter. I'm taking the matter under great consideration and may stop the feature with the Royal Rumble. However, I do put the section at the very end for a reason. If you don't like it, just don't read that far.

NEWS AND NOTES

-The fake Edges at Armageddon were played by the Major Brothers. WWE has an article up where the Majors state they assisted Edge because he promised that he could deliver them tag team gold. Edge as a heel champion could benefit from a stable protecting him, but the Majors will probably be booked like cannon fodder. The Basham Brothers didn't benefit much in the long run from their association with JBL. An interesting tact would be to have the Majors still sort of faces, but the tag belts mean so much to them that they are willing to go against their own ethics and good sense to get them. The ends justify the means sort of reasoning. This places importance on the titles and help keep them somewhat faces since two heels in Miz and John Morrison currently have the belts. Credit: WWE.com

-As reported last week, Carlito has decided to stay with WWE when many thought he would leave. In further detail, WWE considers Carlito a name talent with value to the company and didn't want to lose him to TNA. Carlito was unhappy with his position in the company and his comical character. Carlito felt that he has been punished due to comments he made in an interview before Wrestlemania that he was unhappy about not being on the show. Carlito's father Carlos Colon has also been on WWE to turn his WWC into a developmental territory. WWE feels this has no upside for them as they have no problem selling out in Puerto Rico without local talent. This has been a sticking point. Vince McMahon has said to have been hard on Carlito, feeling that he is often unmotivated in the ring. This was a primary reason for his feud with Ric Flair earlier this year. McMahon purposely sent the two out for their Judgment Day match without a finish and then called in for Flair to go over to see how Carlito would react. After the match McMahon reportedly said to Carlito "better" meaning he saw something in the match he liked. I like Carlito, but agree with the take that he sometimes seems unmotivated and sloppy. Of course, this could be because he is unhappy as he says. However, you can't push one guy over everyone else to make him happy. I'm sure teaming with comedy character Santino isn't making him do cartwheels. Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-In your online Heat report Drew McIntyre went over Atlas DaBone in a dark match. McIntyre has been working Smackdown, but has been moved to RAW. The Highlanders beat the not so super team of Jim Duggan and Super Crazy. Snitksy jobbed Mike Toland. DH Smith went over Charlie Haas in the match of misfit wrestlers. After RAW, Chris Jericho won over Randy Orton by DQ due to interference from JBL. Hey, I thought he was live via satellite. How did he get there so fast? Credit: PWInsider.com

-In a non-spoiler rundown for Smackdown we have:
*Kofi Kingston beat Dave Taylor in a dark match
*Vicky Guerrero officially presents Edge with the World Title
*Finlay and Hornswoggle vs. The Great Khali and Runjin Singh
*Ric Flair promo
*CM Punk, Kane and Rey Mysterio vs. MVP, Big Daddy V and Mark Henry
*Festus vs. Decue. Both men are dressed like Santa. I just had to tell you that one.
*JBL promo
*Batista vs. Edge and his Edge Heads
Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE is reportedly very much behind the push of Jeff Hardy. He got high marks for his bit on RAW with Vince McMahon and his performance in the main event of the show. They feel he has matured greatly over the years and is ready for such a push. I like seeing new guys given a chance and have greatly enjoyed Jeff over his most recent run in WWE more than just about anytime. He seems more focused and a student of the game akin to his brother Matt. Credit: PWInsider.com

-The Georgia Athletic Commission has started regulating wrestling events. WWE is exempt as they are a company valued over $25 million. WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt has stated that they would stop running shows in the state if they would fall under the new regulation. I don't think that will scare them and if you're not held to the rule now then why makes waves about it? The new regulations would not go into affect for another sixty days and the state is working with local promoters on how to best govern wrestling in the state. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE Magazine has named Batista their superstar of the year and his match with Undertaker at Wrestlemania 23 their match of the year. I don't know if I would agree with either, but Batista has been very solid this past year. Maybe Batista gets it as the main event guy that hasn't missed any time due to injury. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Candice Michelle will be doing an upcoming "girls spread" for Playboy's Cyber Club. I don't know what the means, but I think I'll like it. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Tickets for the Royal Rumble will go on sale December 29th. It's to be held in New York. Hey, another cold weather city farther north further into winter. Brilliant WWE! Credit: PWInsider.com

-Local advertisements for No Way Out in February are promoting an elimination chamber for a WWE title shot at Wrestlemania. This was reported last week, but now a list of names for the match has been revealed. They include Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, Ken Kennedy, Bobby Lashley and Umaga. This booking is not set in stone of course. The pay per view will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Finally, they go to a warm weather city in winter. And one with a dry heat at that. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Johnny Jeter has been removed from OVW's roster page. Jeter on his MySpace page has put up a statement that he was going to WWE headquarters for a meeting and then back to his home in San Diego. The page lists his mood as mellow. He had recently been working Smackdown/ECW house shows as Jayden Jeter. He was also a member of the Spirit Squad. There is no current word on what the deal is, but it might be his possible release. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Rumors have John Bradshaw Layfield possibly returning to the ring full time. Layfield did interfere with the WWE Title match at Armageddon and have a confrontation with Chris Jericho on RAW. He possibly might work a program with Y2J. Spoilers from RAW have JBL stating that he is going to RAW to wrestle. Tazz finished out the show with Cole. Kevin Dunn is said to be auditioning commentators to take JBL's spot next to Michael Cole on Smackdown. No names have been released at this time. I'd like to see the list, because I don't think they have a lot of people in current employ for the slot. I've always wanted to hear Arn Anderson on commentary. He's got the smarts and was always a good promo, but I don't know how he would translate as a color man. I'd love to audition just for the experience, but I doubt 411 is the best reference. Flair could retire and take the spot, but I question him as a color man too. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE will be releasing DVDs next year for Bobby Lashley, Steve Austin, the Rock, Mr. Perfect, Hell in a Cell matches and a SummerSlam box set. Reportedly, Chris Benoit matches will be kept in the SummerSlam compilation. I need the Mr. Perfect DVD big time, especially if they put a bunch of AWA stuff on there. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Smackdown last Friday scored a 2.7 rating. RAW scored a 3.5 rating. That up from recent but down for the year average. Credit: PWInsider.com

-WWE Unforgiven did 215,000 buys, down from last year. Cyber Sunday did 195,000 buys, down from last year. In positive news, No Mercy was up with 270,000 buys. Credit: PWInsider.com

-A script for the January 8th TNA Impact show has been leaked and posted on the internet. According to previously known spoilers, the script looks to be legit. It can be downloaded for viewing here. It is kind of interesting to see how they lay things out and structure the show. I know movie and TV scripts, but this is very different in the overall writing. I find it odd that they designate who is a face and heel and the usage of other insider terms like ‘shine' and ‘heat,' but I guess those are real technical terms for the business. It's just odd because those are terms I know and use and I'm fare from being an insider. The dialogue is pretty horrible. Most of the guys they have cutting promos like Booker T, Kurt Angle, Bubba Ray and BG James could cut better promos on their own. Credit: keepandshare.com

-SPOILERS FOR FINAL RESOLUTION!

According to the leaked script, the card for Final Resolution will contain:

*Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage for the TNA Title
*Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash vs. AJ Styles and Tomko for the TNA Tag Titles
*Booker T and Sharmell vs. Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks
*Kaz vs. Black Reign
*Abyss vs. Judas Mesias
*Gail Kim vs. Awesome Kong in a no DQ match for the Knockouts Title
*Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave vs. LAX
Credit: keepandshare.com

-TNA has hired Disco Inferno, Glen Gilberti as a backstage producer for the company. I'd be interested in seeing a script he worked on leaked. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Sting has apparently come to a verbal agreement with TNA for a one year contract extension through 2008. While Sting will be 49 next year, TNA owner Dixie Carter views Sting as a major league name that can help the company greatly in marketing and merchandising. Spike TV, which airs Impact, is known to be very high on Sting. They even kicked in part of his salary in 2006 so TNA could use him. Sting reportedly pulled in $500,000 for the year. While TNA will be expanding their house show schedule in 2008 Sting would work few if any of them. Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-As reported last week, Ron Killings is done with TNA. He took his release when they were offered free and clear to anyone who wanted to leave after the last pay per view. Killings will be heading to Mexico to work for AAA. Jeff Hardy and Umaga have both put in a good word for Killings in coming into WWE. That worked so well for Monty Brown. However, Killings might be a good fit for Smackdown. They don't have any major league faces on the roster outside of CM Punk. Killings would match up well with Elijah Burke, John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin or CM Punk if they made him a heel too. Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-TNA through their website has announced the release of Christopher Daniels. This is simply part of the angle from the last Impact where Daniels was fired through the pink slip in his Feast or Fired suitcase. Daniels has not been let go from the company. To work the angle further, Daniels will be doing a lot of indy dates over the next few months. Credit: PWInsider.com

-TNA is working a deal that if you buy $50 worth of merchandise you get a free TNA themed Christmas ornament. If it has Jay Lethal on it dressed like Savage with a Santa hat, I want one. Credit: TNA Shop

-Rhino is back in the gym training for his return to the ring. Rhino took some time off for family problems and nagging neck problems. I'm not sure how he'd fit in with them now, but he's certainly a usable talent. It's just sad that he got shuffled down the ranks when other big names jumped to the company. Credit: PWInsider.com

-TNA scored a 1.2 rating last Thursday, up slightly from recent weeks. Credit: PWInsider.com

-TNA will be releasing a best of 2007 DVD in March. A match list is yet to be confirmed. Credit: PWInsider.com

-The February 28th TNA house show in Long Island is advertising Kurt Angle vs. Booker T and Samoa Joe vs. Robert Roode as the top two matches. Credit: PWInsider.com

-A reality TV show called "Hart Nation" is in pre-production. It will follow Bret Hart's ex-wife Julie and their four kids Blade, Beans, Dallas and Jade. Bruce Willis to Bret Hart, "your children have weird names." Credit: PWInsider.com

-John Graziano, who was injured in a car wreck by Nick Hogan, is said to be making some slight progress. He is semiconscious and his eyes are open. He still can't breathe on his own. Hogan is facing several criminal charges relating to the incident. The Graziano family is also expected to file a civil suit. It has been hypothesized that the divorce between Linda and Hulk Hogan is a ruse to protect assets of the family if such a case occurs. Credit: Tampa channel 10.

-Lawyer Cary Ichter for Chris Benoit's father Michael has stated that he is hopeful that the two sides in the Benoit estate lawsuit will come to terms soon. Michael is representing Chris' two children from his first marriage against the mother of Nancy Benoit. Due to Georgia state law, if Nancy was killed after son Daniel then her mother as next of kin would be entitled to at least some of the estate. The estate is estimated to be worth $1.5 million to $3 million. Michael had also petitioned WWE for $2 million to Chris's surviving children as"recognition for their father's contributions to the company." WWE has refused. Ichter says his client is considering a possible lawsuit against WWE. Credit: AP reports

-Diamond Dallas Page has a blog up where he talks about visiting Lex Luger. Luger is still paralyzed and residing in a spinal treatment center in Marietta, Georgia. Luger suffered a spinal stroke in October. Credit: PWInsider.com

-A documentary is currently in production on Bruno Sammartino entitled The Ring of Honor. It has nothing to do with the federation of the same name. Credit: PWInsider.com

-Nigel McGuiness vs. Chris Hero for Dayton on January 25th as been turned into a cage match for Ring of Honor. On January 11th for Boston Austin Aries will squared off with Erick Stevens over the dissolving of the Resilience. Stevens will face Bryan Danielson the next night in Edison, New Jersey. Bushwhacker Luke with be a special guest for pictures and autographs at the RoH shows in Manhattan on December 29th and 30th. For the December 29th show Jay and Mark Briscoe will face Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero in a best two out of three falls match. The Briscoes have one eight straight falls in such contests. Credit: RoHWrestling.com

ECW THOUGHTS

-We get credits instead of a cold opening for once. They're in Rochester, New York. The main event will be MVP vs. CM Punk. That could be damn good, but I doubt they give it time. Big Daddy V and Mark Henry will probably interfere.

-John Morrison and the Miz vs. Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore. This is a rematch from last week. The sad thing is that none of these guys are taken seriously. Moore starts with Morrison. Moore goes for some quick pins early by giving Miz a schooling in covers 101. Miz tags to Morrison. Morrison gets some shots in, but Moore slugs back. Morrison reverses a hip toss and hits a break dance elbow. Moore comes back with arm drags and then tags Yang. He opens with a basement dropkick and then works on the arm. Yang actually gets a pin attempt with a key lock. Morrison powers out, but takes a seriously messed up tilt-a-whirl head scissors. I mean messed up in a good way. Tag to Miz, but the faces retain control. Yang gets sky on a dropkick for two. Yang knocks Morrison to the floor and then dumps Miz. The champs block stereo baseball slides and beat on the challengers. They roll back into the ring to break the count. We go to break. It's not really a spot fest, but if feels overly choreographed. I'm digging the mat wrestling big time.

Back from break, Morrison is working over Yang as he plays face in peril. Yang kicks Morrison off and makes the cover. He goes to town on Morrison. Moore nails a swinging neckbreaker. Moore tries to go up top, but is hung up by Miz. This allows Morrison to meet him up there. Moore shove Morrison off the top, but then Miz comes back to shove Moore off. Tag to Miz. Miz goes through his pedestrian offense. He hits a catapult under the bottom rope and follows with a neck vice. Moore fights out, but eats a dropkick. In a cool move, Miz slingshots Moore into a forearm by Morrison on the apron. Then he slingshots in with a leg drop while Moore lays over Miz's knees. Morrison works what Styles calls a variation on a Japanese sleeper. Morrison gets kicked as he comes off the top. Tags all around. Yang leg sweeps Miz and hits a flipping kick. He throws Miz to the floor and jumps out onto him. Morrison hits him, but Moore baseball slides into John. He follows with a senton press to the floor. Back in the ring Miz rolls through a leg drop for a near fall. Miz shoves Yang into the ropes, but Morrison inadvertently kicks his own partner. Yang finishes with the moonsault. Who says tag wrestling is dead in WWE? Oh, I think I did. I just hope this doesn't lead to static between Miz and Morrison. They work surprisingly well together as do Moore and Yang. Let's build a time machine so we can go get the Rock ‘n Roll Express and the Fantastics from about 1986 to mix in here.

-We see Punk warming up in the back before another commercial.

-Tazz hosts a contest between Shelton Benjamin and local boy Colin Delaney. Delaney looks like he just showed up in prison on a kiddie porn charge. He confirms that he's nervous. This is his first professional match. They are so setting this up for the 1-2-3 Kid angle. Benjamin gets the exploder right off the bat. Delaney lands a punch, but gets his head kicked off. Benjamin beats him down. Benjamin gets him up for a powerbomb and then just pitches him into the corner. Benjamin finishes with a leaping inverted bulldog. We should probably call that the Gold Rush. Benjamin grabs a mic and hits his catchphrase/ theme song title. Benjamin looked hella impressive, but I don't get why they did the introduction with Delaney. Maybe they thought it would put more heat on Benjamin if Delaney was the most severe underdog possible and Benjamin just whipped his ass like he invented the concept. If you're not going to do anything with Delaney, why give him face time? They set it up so you think something is going on and then nothing happens.

-After the ads we get a Kofi Kingston video. He stops a pickpocket from preying on beachgoers. I'll say it again, he's mirror universe Carlito.

-Kenny Dykstra with Victoria vs. Nunzio the Christmas Elf. Carlito think he has a beef, at least he's not Nunzio. He's dressed like one of Santa's elves. He offers Dykstra a candy cane. Yeah, that works. Kenny just beats him down. A delay suplex gets two. Kenndy dumps out the bag of candy canes. Nunzio gets a brief shine, but Kenny slugs him down and goes to the chinlock. Nunzio powers out, but takes a backdrop. Nunzio gets his feet up on a blind charge and goes up top. Kenny catches him for a flapjack. He finishes with a top rope leg drop. Remember that Nunzio dressed up like Dracula for Halloween. Just turn him into the Calendar Man from Batman. He dresses up like something for every holiday that comes along. Also, Victoria is 36. Kenny is 21. Victoria was in high school before Kenny was born. You think they would do something with that.

-An MVP promo video is shown.

-MVP vs. CM Punk. Porter introduces himself to the uninformed ECW fans. Considering that ECW and Smackdown run together, they probably know who he is. He's half man, half amazing and better than Punk. We go to commercial before the match starts. Next week's show will be a best of 2007. We come back with the match underway. MVP works a headlock. Punk fights out. He gets a drop toehold with a floatover into an armbar. MVP reverses and gets a cover. He uses a fireman's carry to set up another cover. They go to a front chancery. Punk powers out. He goes to a triangle choke. Porter flips out of that into a headlock. Punk breaks with a head scissors. Porter turns them over and flips out. Punk gets a headlock. I swear to God Tazz says that MVP breaks that with a "penis roll." Punk works a head scissors. A dropkick sets up a kick to the back of the head. Porter is kicked on a backdrop try, but Punk then runs into an overhead suplex. A kick to the head gets two. A back elbow off the ropes gets two. Porter has a modified chinlock/neck vice type thing. Punk fights out. Porter catches the ropes so Punk whiffs on a dropkick. Boot to the head! A facebreaker gets two. A discuss punch leads to a camel clutch. I think I did build that time machine and we went back to 1986. Punk breaks like Hogan on the Iron Sheik. Punk blocks a suplex twice. He lands a high knee to the mush for two. He gets a running high knee in the corner. He brings him out with a bulldog. A springboard clothesline gets two. They slug it out. MVP gets a bridged German suplex for two. Punk scores a stepover enzuigiri. He goes up top, but Porter nails him. Punk is caught in the tree of woe. MVP stomps him. He ignores the ref's call to back off and gets disqualified. That was cheap. I was totally digging the match until then. Just because he can, Porter hits a running big boot to the head. Feud these guys stat! Then for no particular good reason Chavo Guerrero runs out and jumps Punk. He hits a "methodical" Three Amigos, according to Joey Styles, and finishes off with a frog splash. The crowd is totally dead for all that. Chavo is still considered a low card guy, because he really wasn't able to capitalize on any momentum coming out of the Mysterio feud. He's also been gone for some time and for him out of sight is out of mind.

EWR on 411

Smackdown for 12.20.07

Wolfie D hits the Silver Bullet (swinging DDT) on Jamie Noble, but Chavo Guerrero breaks up the pin. JC Ice comes in and brawls with Chavo. Wolfie small packages Jamie, but he rolls it over and wiggles into the Trailer Hitch for the submission.
Match Rating: 77%

PG-13 argues in the back about the loss. They turn a corner. Screaming is heard, then nothing.
Segment Rating: 65%

Jay Briscoe gets an inverted stunner on Chris Sabin and tags Mark for the Brisc-O. Bill Alfonso gets on the apron. Austin Aries has the bottle of ice. Jay superkicks it into Aries face. Aries is out, but Jay has hurt his foot. The referee turns around and disqualifies Sabin and Aries since they are in possession of the bottle. Alfonso commands a beat down on Jay. They work over the foot until Mark recovers to save with a chair.
Match Rating: 74%

Gene Okerlund has Batista and Sister Grace. Grace is very sullen. Batista accuses Colt Cabana of not following through on their deal. He is supposed to sleep with Sister Grace because he lost to him last week and now he's nowhere to be seen. If he's any kind of man, which Batista doubts, he'll show up on Velocity to man up. Tonight Batista is going to take out Al Snow for sticking his nose in their business.
Segment Rating: 61%

Sister Grace kneels at ringside and prays the whole match. Snow locks in the beast choker. Batista powers out and runs Snow into the turnbuckles to break. Batista takes Snow off the ropes on his shoulders and spinebusters him big time for the wins.
Match Rating: 65%

Gene Okerlund finds an excited William Regal. Regal used his British charm to get Cheerleader Melissa to talk. She's been acting secretary for Teddy Long as he looks for a new GM for Smackdown. She tells him that he will be very interested in seeing who he announces tonight. She said Long had misgivings about the hire, but he was going to go with his gut and hire him. Regal knows it has to be him. A new day is dawning on Smackdown and for WWE.
Segment Rating: 81%

Chris Cage hits the Cage Breaker (cradle brainbuster) on Chad Wicks. He covers for two and then pulls him up. He wants to injure him again like he did before. He lines up another, but Wicks fights out and reverses to a suplex. He hot tags Jay Lethal. He works the Savage punches in taking out all of Evolution. A top rope elbow smash gets two on Cage. Carlito comes in for the backcracker and the Carlito's Way (implant DDT) for the win.
Match Rating: 75%

Paul London is distraught about the loss Evolution just took. Triple H tells him not to worry about it. If he loses the title in the battle royal tonight then that is something to worry about. Triple H reminds the newest member of Evolution what his main job is. It is to protect him and his title belt at all times. London is Triple H's insurance policy out there in the ring tonight. Long thought he would cause trouble by putting London out there, but Triple H knows he will be a good little foot soldier for him. Right? London nods yes, but doesn't say anything.
Segment Rating: 79%

Shane Helms moves out of the way of a splash from the top rope by AJ Styles. He hits the Nightmare on Helms Street and covers. Alfonso puts Styles' foot on the bottom rope and walks away. The ref calls off the pin. The Briscoes come out to protest that. Aries and Sabin follow and they all brawl. Helms eats foot on a charge and AJ finishes with the Styles Clash.
Match Rating: 78%

Teddy Long takes the ring to announce the new GM of Smackdown. William Regal comes out and starts making his introductory speech. Long asks if he is trippin'. It's not him. Long introduces the real general manager. Glass shatters. It's Steve Austin. Regal is beside himself. Austin has no managerial skills. He let the Million Dollar Corporation be driven into extinction by his Commonwealth at Survivor Series. Long knows that, but that takes away any conflict of interest Austin might have had. It was the main thing that had Long go with him over Regal. Austin says there is one thing he has to do before officially becoming the general manager. He shoots Regal the double bird and then stunners him. Ok, now he'll take the job. He thought doing that after would be unprofessional.
Segment Rating: 81%

Triple H takes up residency in a corner and lets Paul London fend off anyone who comes near him. Rhyno spears Brock Lesnar to the floor and they brawl off. Rey Mysterio goes for a 619 on Jericho, but Booker T thrust kicks him off the apron. Jericho offers his hand to Booker for the save and uses that to pitch him out. Orton throws over Jericho, but he skins the cat back in. Paul Burchill clotheslines him out, but he skins the cat back in. Punk finally knocks him out with a flying shoulder tackle. Orton, Punk and Burchill team up to grab London and toss him. During that Triple H manages to upend Orton. Punk tries another flying shoulder tackle, but Hunter ducks under that and he flies out. It's down to Triple H and Burchill. The champ begs off into the corner, but uses that to low blow Burchill. He gets him up on his shoulders, Burchill wiggles out and shoves Triple H toward the ropes. He holds on and backs Burchill off with a back elbow. Triple H stalks him with a double axe handle, but Paul punches him in the ribs a few times. They grapple on the ropes. London tries to get involved, but the referees back him off. Both men spill over the ropes, but hold on. Triple H's feet graze the ground, but he pulls them up fast before any of the ref's can see as they are dealing with London. Triple H and Burchill take turns chopping each other as they hang there. Triple H brings his knees up and twists to drive them into Burchill's side. He drops to the floor. Triple H retains the belt.
Match Rating: 74%

Show Rating: 72%

Velocity for 12.22.07

Scott Taylor blocks the Rocker Dropper by Marty Jannetty, flips him into the air and catches him for the Decommissioned (side piledriver). Taylor wins.
Match Rating: 58%

Steve Austin apologizes to William Regal for stunning him on Smackdown. He just had to get that out of his system. Now that he's the general manager of the brand he has to conduct himself with propriety. Regal is surprised Austin knows that word. He had to look it up. Regal is upset about Cheerleader Melissa messing with him and making him think he would be the GM. Austin will do Regal a solid and allow him to get revenge against her next week on Smackdown. How so? He can have a match with her boyfriend CM Punk. Austin goes to leave. Oh, one more thing…he stunners Regal again.
Segment Rating: 80%

Regal is shaken up from the stunner. Norman Smiley gets the big wiggle on him and then wins with the Norman Conquest. Regal kind of comes around and throws a fit for losing to Smiley of all people.
Match Rating: 72%

Gene Okerlund catches up with Colt Cabana. He asks about him not being at Smackdown. Cabana wasn't avoiding the deal he made with Batista. He just needed time to think. He needed time to figure out what Batista hoped to accomplish with this sick deal. He's gay and having sex with a woman isn't going to change that. Batista thinking that is warped. He hoped that he could reach Batista and teach him tolerance, but he's too far gone. He regrets making the bet. He wouldn't do it again. However, he did do it and he will stand by it. Unlike Batista, he is a man of integrity.
Segment Rating: 71%

Stephanie McMahon distracts the referee so Nigel McGuiness can use his iron to whack Rosey before the three minute mark hits. Steve Austin appears on the Titantron and demands the match be restarted. Oh, by the way, if you keep timing from the end of the match, it's over three minutes. Three Minute Warning bust some heads and pin Windsor with a double flying headbutt.
Match Rating: 79%

Gene Okerlund is with Stacy Keibler. She thinks Medusa is a beautiful person inside and out. However, a long time ago one person told her she wasn't and that hurt her inside and out. She wants to help Medusa by proving to her that the whole world thinks that she's sexy. Her pictures were good enough then and new pictures would be just as good now. Medusa interrupts. She sees through Stacy's lies. She wants to humiliate her. Medusa is tough because she has to be. She's far from that naïve young girl that was taken advantage of. She is a wrestler. A veteran wrestler and she is going to show Stacy that tonight.
Segment Rating: 75%

Security comes out and surrounds the ring as Aidan Nathans faces off with EZ Money. Austin feels that Nathans is a security risk. Nathans goes for his mace, but Kevin Von Erich stops him. EZ Money splashes him in the corner from behind. He brings him out with a Canadian backbreaker. Nathans submits.
Match Rating: 70%

Triple H visits with Austin. Hunter knows that Austin won't book Burchill against him in various multi man matches like Long did. Austin says he's right. At least for next week. He'll tell him what. He'll book Burchill vs. London and make Triple H the special guest referee. Triple H likes that. However, he expects Triple H to conduct himself like any other WWE referee. He's got this job by being a law and order candidate. Any referee who doesn't conduct himself properly will be suspended for 30 days. And if Triple H can't defend the title within 30 days then he loses it.
Segment Rating: 88%

Medusa beats the hell out of Stacy. She gets a German suplex with a bridge for a pin, but can't hold it. A snap suplex gets another cover, but Stacy gets one of her long legs on the bottom rope. Medusa gets frustrated and therefore sloppy as she telegraphs a backdrop. Stacy gets a sunset flip. Medusa blocks it and sets down on her. Stacy gets her long legs up to hook her shoulders and flip Medusa over. She gets the pin and the rights to the photos.
Match Rating: 69%

Colt Cabana goes to see Batista and Sister Manning. Batista gloats over winning. Manning tells him to be pious and humble. They did not do this for his glory, but for the greater glory. Colt tells Batista that this is between her and him. He can stay put. They leave.
Segment Rating: 73%

Adrian Serrano ducks the Turkey Stuffer (haymaker punch) by Turkey Creek Johnson. He follows up with his own big punch. He follows with a clothesline. Tag to Kennedy for the Kenton to finish.
Match Rating: 62%

Show Rating: 71%

Armageddon for 12.23.07

The Masked Superstar has the Executioner in a headlock. He wiggles out of his mask to get free, we all know he's Erik Watts anyway. Superstar turns around into a dropkick by Watts. He falls into the ropes and gets tied up. Watts removes the mask to reveal Chris Hero. Watts celebrates as he finally feels vindicated for being right. Hero gets free and schoolboys Watts for the win, but he doesn't care.
Match Rating: 76%

Scott Steiner goes suplex happy on Terry Funk. He backs up into the corner and calls a time out. Steiner stalks in and takes a low blow. Funk punches on Steiner in the corner. Funk backs up for a lariat, but Scott explodes out of the corner with a Steiner line. He locks in the Steiner Recliner. The Spinebuster runs out. Scott blasts him off the apron. Funk tries to attack from behind with his branding iron, but Scott turns around to catch Funk with a belly to belly suplex and wins. Scott Steiner is the new security chief on RAW and Funk has to be his flunky.
Match Rating: 77%

Victoria drops Bethany Sanchez crotch first on the top rope and then shakes it back and forth until she crashes to the floor. Victoria climbs the ladder for the Women's title. Sanchez crawls into the ring and knocks the ladder over. Victoria lands crotch first on the ropes. Sanchez shakes the ropes until she falls off. Sanchez throws a ladder on top of Victoria on the floor and then topes out onto it. She slowly makes her way back into the ring and climbs a second ladder. Victoria gets on the top turnbuckle with a ladder. She jumps off and throws the ladder into Bethany. Bethany holds her side. Victoria springboards onto the ladder to knock Behtany off. She lands on top of the other ladder. Victoria reclaims the Women's Title. Victoria celebrates with the title while whispering sweet nothings to it.
(Bethany Sanchez suffered an injury in the match to her back. She'll be out 1 month.)
Match Rating: 66%

So Cal Val picks a fight with Trish Stratus on the outside. This distracts the referee so Johnny Nitro can plaster Christian with a chair. He covers for one, two, thre…Trish brawls with Val into the ring and they roll over the referee to stop the count. Nitro kicks both women to the floor. Christian blocks the List and turns it into the Unprettier. Val throws Trish into the ring post and puts Johnny's foot on the bottom rope. Christian tries for another Unprettier, but Nitro shoves him out of it. He hits Christian as he comes off the ropes with his springboard kick. The List finishes.
Match Rating: 74%

Bobby Lashley uses his strength to dominate Matt Hardy, but just can't put him away. He goes for the Dominator, but Hardy pulls Lashley forward and rolls into a small package. Lashley breaks. Hardy steps under a lariat into the Side Effect. He goes up top, but Paul Heyman gets on the apron and tries to shake Hardy off. Matt knocks him off the apron with a double axe handle. Lashley charges Matt on the apron, but eats a forearm. Matt sunset flips over the ropes in for the pin to retain the IC Title.
Match Rating: 77%

Rob Van Dam and Sylvan Grenier have a war of legs. Van Dam gets a step over enzuigiri, but eats knees on a Rolling Thunder. Tags all around. Conway goes to town on Edge. Edge bails and tries to hide behind Lita. Lita fires a back kick into his crotch. Conway flies over her for a clothesline. Conway rolls Edge into the ring. Van Dam nails Conway with a missile dropkick. Grenier comes over to help out. Edge planchas out onto everybody. Edge and RVD roll Conway into the ring and hit the old Hart Attack clothesline for the win.
Match Rating: 80%

Kurt Angle tries to talk his brother out of their match and offers him a handshake. Eric takes it and Kurt tries to sucker him with a short arm clothesline. However, Eric ducks under it into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Eric works on the leg and wants to get the tap out with the ankle lock. Of course, Kurt knows how to counter it. Kurt gets the Angle Slam and goes up top for the Angle-sault. Eric recovers and rushes him for a super German suplex. He can't hold on for the pin. Eric lines up the Angle-plex, but Kurt throws his weight back into a small package. Eric turns that over. They roll around the mat. Kurt comes out of the pile with the ankle lock and grapevine. Eric refuses to submit. He makes the ropes to break. Kurt then goes for the Angle-plex, but Eric counters that into a snap suplex. The Angle-driver wins for Eric. Eric offers his hand to Kurt afterwards, but he refuses to accept.
Match Rating: 76%

The Undertaker and Big Show slug it. The rest of the Dangerous Alliance try to get involved, but Kane fights them off for his brother. Undertaker elbows out of a choke slam try. He hits his flying clothesline. Old school ropewalk. Running clothesline. UT signals for the choke slam. Show puts his shoulder into UT and rushes him into the corner. Show does the big chest slap. That just makes Undertaker mad. He slugs back. He back heel trips Show and grabs some sky on a leg drop. It gets two. Choke slam gets two. UT gets the Tombstone for the win and a title shot.
Match Rating: 71%

The Rock and Ron Killings shake hands before the match. It's a pretty even keel contest. Rock hits the snap DDT for two. Killings gets a running bulldog for two. Rock backdrops out of the Truth or Consequences. Killings rolls out of the way of the People's Elbow. Rock pushes out of the Clockstopper. Killings fights out of the Rock Bottom. He gets his own for two. He measures Rock for the Clockstopper, but he rolls to the floor. Killings chases him to the outside. He yells at Rock for what he thinks is a cheap tactic. They argue on the outside. It erupts into a slugfest. They take a double count out.
Match Rating: 72%

Show Rating: 73%

RAW for 12.24.07

The Family's new girl Laura Banderas uses her feminine wiles to distract Teddy Hart so Nunzio can pick up the win with the Sicilian Slice. The ploy doesn't work on Abyss and Nunzio loses to the Black Hole Slam. The World's Greatest Tag Team isolate the Irish Warrior and work him over. He warriors up, but Benjamin rolls out of the way of the splash. He gets the Exploder. Abyss breaks up the pin. Haas takes him to the floor. Benjamin slips out of the press slam for a second exploder and gets the win.
Match Rating: 80%

So Cal Val is dressed more for a day at the beach than in the ring. Trish Stratus takes exception to that and schools her. Stratusfaction wins.
Match Rating: 59%

Jeff Hardy refuses to dance with Disco Fury. Disco tells him that he's a lot more uptight than he used to be and maybe that's why he's losing all the time. The fans cheer Jeff on, so he busts a move with Fury. This gives Hardy some extra fire in the match and he wins with the Swanton after the Twist of Fate.
Match Rating: 74%

John Cena gets the chain out of his boot, but Tank Toland smacks him with the turret to make the chain go flying. Cena grabs the ropes to stop the Tank Buster. He twists around into a body scissors and powers into a ground and pound. Five knuckle shuffle. Flashback. FU wins it.
Match Rating: 74%

Because I wasn't paying attention Michael Hart does double duty in teaming with Nattie Neidhart. The rundown Hart takes the Stevie-Kick. Nattie breaks up the pin. Alexis Laree rushes in to nail her with the Kiss of Death. Stevie-T. Richards and Laree celebrate with a hug.
Match Rating: 63%

David Flair hip tosses out of an abdominal stretch by David Flair. He baseball slides into him to knock him to the floor. Brown gets toweled off and some water from April Hunter. Flair attacks them and throws Brown back into the ring. Brown catches Flair coming in with a knee lift. He gets a Russian leg sweep and follows with a knee drop. Since we don't have MVP, we'll give Brown the Playmaker for the duke.
Match Rating: 63%

Jim Ross would call the match between Rick Steiner and the Spinebuster bowling shoe ugly. Steiner gets a bulldog and barks at the Spinebuster on the mat. Terry Funk runs out. Scott follows and pulls Funk off the apron. They brawl on the outside. The Spinebuster puts something in his mask. He headbutts Rick and he's out. A spinning standing spinebuster wins.
Match Rating: 66%

Harry Smith is no nonsense against Molly Holly, but she's scrappy. Smith catches her on the Molly-Go-Round, but she ranas out of it. She gets a victory roll for two. An Oklahoma Roll for two. Smith pokes her in the eye and hits a running shoulder tackle. Super Smith Slam lays her out.
Match Rating: 72%

Ultimo Dragon makes with the smoke, but it allows Vinnie Vegas to knock him out with the roll of poker chips. Chris Masters makes Gamble tap to the Masterlock. Young tries to save Will Mewes from the same fate, but Albright cuts him off and nails the Flux Capacitor on him for good measure. Mewes submits.
Match Rating: 67%

Kane choke slams Big Vito. Matt Morgan runs into the ring into a choke slam. Paul Heyman comes in and nails Kane with a chair for the DQ. He no sells and Kane choke slams him.
Match Rating: 72%

Kane ushers Katie Vick into the ring to strip Paul Heyman for their tuxedo/evening gown match. Big Show comes out and attacks Kane. Vito and Morgan come around to help push Kane to the back. Heyman had a cane with his tux combo and breaks it over Katie's head. He strips her for the win. Katie pulls the taser out of her bra and shocks Heyman's groin again. She then kicks him in the nuts until Scott Steiner leads out security. He kicks Heyman in the nuts. He then calls out the locker room and about all the faces come out to punt Heyman in the groin.
Match Rating: 58%

Show Rating: 67%

Smackdown card for next week, choose all winners

Paul Burchill vs. Paul London with special guest referee Triple H

CM Punk vs. William Regal for the US Title

The Happening (Styles, Aries and Sabin) vs. The Briscoe Brothers and Shane Helms

Chris Cage vs. Black Machismo Jay Lethal

The Backseat Boys (Kashmere and Acid) vs. Chad Wicks and Carlito in a hardcore tag

Rhyno vs. Brock Lesnar

Booker T vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho

The Byron Dynasty (Kennedy and Nathans) vs. Maven and Jimmy Snuka, Jr.

Jamie Noble vs. Lone Wolf Scott Taylor

The Commonwealth (Nathans, Windsor and McGuiness) vs. Norman Smiley, Shark Boy and Marty Jannetty

Fred Curry vs. Batista

Stacy Keibler vs. Stephanie McMahon

RAW Card for Next week, choose all winners

The Rock vs. the Undertaker for the RAW Brand Title

Matt Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro for the IC Title

Victoria vs. Trish Stratus for the Women's title

Rated RVD (Edge and Van Dam) vs. The World's Greatest Tag Team (Benjamin and Haas) vs. The Troubleshooters (Albright and Masters) for the RAW tag team titles

Jeff Hardy and John Cena vs. Tank Toland and Disco Fury

Stevie Richards, Molly Holly and Alexis Laree vs. Harry Smith, Nattie Neidhart and Sonya Blackhawk

Christian vs. Slyk Wagner Brown

David Flair vs. Kurt Angle

Kane vs. Big Show

Matt Morgan vs. Bobby Lashley

Big Vito and Matt Morgan vs. Abyss and Irish Warrior

Danny Inferno vs. Nick Dinsmore