Original Airdate: Friday, August 18th, 2006
Verizon Center
Washington DC
Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2
We get a long Great Khali/Undertaker video to start, which I'm sure made everyone want to tune into the show tonight.
Batista vs. Sylvan
Batista is in his hometown tonight. Sylvan gets some promo time on the way to the ring, but Batista attacks him before the bell. He hits a spinebuster and then the Batista Bomb for the victory. Next.
Match Rating: 1/4*
They show Layla winning the Diva Search contest.
Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Sylvester Terkay
Scotty always gets his TV entrance. MVP is in the suite with some ladies on his flip phone. Scotty gets a couple of shots to the face of Terkay, but it has little to no effect. Terkay hits him with a kick to knock him off the apron. After getting some water in the corner, Scotty's able to get some boots in, but it doesn't work and Terkay hits a muscle buster for the victory. I have to say, I like Terkay more in 2022 than I did in 2006. That's not saying a whole lot, but he is more impressive than I remember.
Match Rating: 1/2*
We get a look back at Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio
Paul London and Brian Kendrick are with Kristal to talk about Idol Stevens and KC James until they are attacked with Michelle McCool barking orders.
Mr. Kennedy vs. Tatanka
This already has gone on longer than I thought it would. They really were dedicated to giving Tatanka some TV time. A lot more than I ever remembered. After they start saying how Kennedy is the biggest star, we get a legit back-and-forth match between these two with Kennedy trying to even head to the back. Unfortunately not much happens until the end. Tatanka goes for the End Of The Trail, but Kennedy rakes his eyes and then rolls him up and holds the tights for the victory. Tatanka isn't happy after the match and argues with the referee. I'm not sure what that did for Kennedy. I get him being a heel, but this should have been a decisive win.
Match Rating: **
We now get a video package of Los Guerreros. This leads to Vickie Guerrero going into Teddy Long's office and pleading to stop this match from happening.
Last Man Standing Match
Great Khali vs. Undertaker
I can tell you who won't be the last man standing and that is me. Taker is able to chop Khali down and gets him in a triangle choke in the ropes. Khali gets to his feet, but he is wobbly and falls down. Daivari comes from behind and hits Taker in the back with a chair. He goes after Daivari on the top of the stage, but a distraction from Khali allows for a low blow from Daivari. Khali slams him into the fake glass part of the set and then throws him off the stage and through some tables. Taker gets to his feet at the 9 count and we go into a commercial break. When we come back, Khali is still dominating and gets him tied up in the ropes. They go back outside and Khali throws Taker into the steps. Taker battles back and sets Khali's head on the steps and Taker nails him with a chair. Khali is now bleeding, which I really don't remember. I didn't watch a lot of SmackDown during this time, but I probably made sure not to watch this one. Taker then hits Khali with two direct chair shots to the head because wrestling was extremely stupid during this era and pretended like concussions didn't exist. Khali tries to get up, but he can't get to his feet. Minus the ignorant and unnecessary finish, I will say that Taker put a lot of effort into this one and they delivered one of Khali's best matches.
Match Rating: **1/2
The Boogeyman is coming back and probably coming to getcha.
Vito vs. Scott Fowler
Hey, did you know that guys who wear dresses can also like sports? I'm not sure why we're going back to jobbers here. You know the drill here, it's the same match he has been having for weeks.
Match Rating: 1/4*
United States Championship Match
Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley
I'm pretty sure that the only reason this feud went on forever was to help Lashley get some ringwork with one of the best. I know that's not a hot take, but it definitely didn't hurt. I didn't watch any of Lashley's non-WWE stuff, but it's pretty amazing how he is doing the best work I have seen him do 16 years after this. Finlay fakes an eye injury, but it doesn't work and he gets press slammed. Regal comes out and pushes Lashley from behind, which allows the distraction for Finlay to push him into the ring post. Back from commercial and Lashley hits a back body drop on the mat outside the ring. On the way back in, Finlay clubs Lashley with a clothesline. Finlay slows things down and goes to work on the left arm of Lashley. Lashley makes his comeback and hits a vertical suplex, but Regal distracts him and out comes Hornswoggle. Finlay lifts him up and Lashley spears Finlay. He hits the running powerslam, but Regal pulls the referee out of the ring and attacks Lashley. We have a disqualification and Hornswoggle hits Lashley with the shillelagh. Lashley eventually gets the best of the attack thanks to the help of a chair. The match was pretty good, but the ending fell flat.
Match Rating: **3/4
King Booker and Queen Sharmell are backstage on their way to the ring.
After the commercial break, Booker and Sharmell are in the ring, where they invite Batista to come to the ring. Rather than face Booker at SummerSlam, he has a plan B for Batista. That plan is for Batista to bow down and kiss Booker's feet. Sharmell puts down a pillow and takes off Booker's shoe and sock. Batista ponders it and goes down to one knee. He looks at Booker and stomps on his foot before clotheslining him over the ropes. This was a weak finish, as I would have had Regal and Finlay attack him and force him to kiss his foot to end the show.
This was kind of a weird episode. It was oddly entertaining despite being full of a lot of things I didn't necessarily think I'd want to watch. It was far from great, but just solidly entertaining.
Overall Rating: 60%
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