Original Airdate: Friday, November 17th, 2006
Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester, England
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Handicap Match
Miz & Kristal vs. Boogeyman
I definitely didn't expect this to kick off the show. Miz gets in a little bit of offense, impressing even JBL. Boogeyman hits Miz with some worms and knocks him out of the ring. This allows Boogeyman to terrify Kristal with some worms and Miz decides not to make the save. She freaks out and Boogeyman walks away? Miz then comes in and tries to calm her down. So we have a no contest, I suppose.
Match Rating: No Rating
Finlay interrupts Queen Sharmell's "All hail King Booker" and says that he doesn't like it, but they are tag team partners tonight.
We get a Rey Mysterio surgery update. They expect him out 4-6 months.
Chris Benoit vs. Tatanka
I know I say this every time Tatanka wrestles in 2006, but this is as random as it gets. Tatanka gets to dominate the early going of the match because he's expected to headline WrestleMania. He stomps away and then throws him into the steel steps outside the ring. Tatanka gets the Boston Crab locked in and we even get a dramatic crawl to the bottom rope from Benoit. Benoit fights back with some German suplexes, locks in the Sharpshooter and picks up the victory. I just assumed that Chavo would interfere here, but instead he comes and attacks him after the match. Chavo grabs a chair and hits him in the knee with it. The match was fine for what it was.
Match Rating: *3/4
Teddy Long approaches Kane backstage, but he doesn't want to talk.
We get a Mr. Kennedy/Undertaker hype package that shows the attack by Kennedy last week. Mr. Kennedy then has a studio promo talking about how he has defeated 5 former world champions. He says that is how Undertaker used to be too, but not any more. He then holds up the bloody microphone from last week and that it symbolizes a changing of the guard. He says their match at Survivor Series will be a first blood match.
Paul London vs. William Regal
It's kind of interesting that they would pick London here for Regal's opponent in England. Regal hits a vicious looking kick to the head that causes him to hit it on the ring post. Regal hits a nice suplex into a bridge and almost picks up the victory. I wouldn't mind this one getting 10 minutes, but I'm sure it will be over in the next 30 seconds. Regal ducks a London crossbody and he flies out of the ring and he lands on Ashley. Kendrick comes out to check on her as the match continues. London is confused and it allows Regal to throw him off the second rope. Regal hits a running knee to the head of London and picks up the victory to the delight of most of the audience. This was really short, but everything we got was good. After the match, Ashley goes to check in on London and Kendrick is a little frustrated by that.
Match Rating: **1/4
They show Bobby Lashley getting the final spot in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. Lashley is shown going into Teddy's office and talking about him winning the ECW Championship. Teddy seems pretty okay with losing one of his top stars.
Street Fight
Kane vs. MVP
Kane's all over MVP in the early going. MVP grabs a chair but he kicks it away and they start brawling up the aisle. They have their usual British props up by the ramp and Kane ends up in the phone booth. Kane pushes his hands through the glass and into the face of MVP. Kane shoves MVP in the booth and tips it over. They head back to the ring and this time MVP is able to use the chair. They go right back outside and Kane launches MVP over the announce table. MVP battles back and hits a DDT on top of a chair, but Kane kicks out at 2. After the commercial break, MVP hits Kane in the head with a ring bell but of course he sits up from that. Kane hits some of his generic big man offense before heading up to the top rope to hit the clothesline. Kane brings in the steel steps, but out comes Mr. Kennedy to stop him. They work together and ram the steps into Kane's face for the victory. They go to attack him some more and out comes Undertaker. MVP bails, but Kennedy waits for him in the ring before rolling out of the ring as well. Kennedy then throws MVP in the ring and then Kane sits up. MVP gets attacked by both and then double chokeslammed while Kennedy walks to the back. He teases running back down there, but is headed for the locker room. The only way you can make a Kane match entertaining is to dress it up with smoke and mirrors, which is what they did here. MVP looked more than competent as a new competitor.
Match Rating: **1/4
Matt Hardy vs. Gregory Helms
Helms attacks Hardy before he even gets his jacket off. They're trying to cram a lot in here, so I wouldn't be surprised if this one is over quickly. Helms tries to cheat by grabbing the ropes during a pinfall. He gets caught and is frustrated. Hardy ducks the Shining Wizard and Hardy hits the Side Effect. He hits the Twist Of Fate and that's all. This was exciting, but way too short. Maybe this is finally it for these two?
Match Rating: *3/4
MVP is back with a doctor, but the doctor lets Teddy Long know he will be okay. Long lets MVP know that he has to face Kane in a steel cage match next week.
King Booker and Queen Sharmell are talking until they realize Batista is right behind them. Batista tells him he's going to beat him up tonight.
King Booker & Finlay vs. Bobby Lashley & Batista
Batista dominates his rival Finlay and hits his catapult into the top rope and back into his knees. Finlay rolls over to Booker and tags him in. Booker has no luck and then Lashley is tagged in and he cleans house. He and Batista hit a double delayed vertical suplex on Finlay and double clothesline him over th top into the commercial break. Lashley goes for the baseball slide, but Finlay traps him in the ring apron and goes to work. They isolate Lashley after they throw his shoulder into the ring post. Out comes Hornswoggle and he gets thrown onto Lashley outside the ring. Lashley continues to get worked on until he finally crawls over to Batista for the hot tag. Batista is very over with the Manchester crowd. Batista clotheslines Finlay over the top rope. He signals for the Batista Bomb, but Finlay comes in and clotheslines him. Lashley hits a Spear on Finlay before getting hits with a super kick from Booker. Queen Sharmell hits the scepter over the head of Batista, but he is able to kick out at 2. Booker goes for the Scissor Kick, but Batista hits the spinebuster and picks up the victory. Batista was booked pretty strong here heading in as a challenger, basically signaling the end for Booker's title reign. The match was entertaining and the crowd was very into it. A good way to end a good episode.
Match Rating: ***
This was another good episode for the blue brand. Anything would look good compared to the garbage Raw has been churning out lately, but this one was entertaining as soon as the Boogeyman junk was out of the way.
Overall Rating: 68%
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