WWE: Friday Night Smackdown
April 13, 2007
Providence, RI
Dunkin Donuts Center

The current Smackdown champions are as follows:
World Heavyweight Champion: The Undertaker (4/2/2007)
WWE United States Champion: Chris Benoit (10/13/2006)
WWE Tag Team Champions: Paul London & Brian Kendrick (5/21/2006)
WWE Cruiserweight Champion: Chavo Guerrero (2/18/2007)

Read along if you have the WWE Network!

Your hosts are Michael Cole and JBL.

Smackdown GM Teddy Long is in the ring (without Kristal hanging around) and announces Batista will get his rematch against the Undertaker for the world title in two weeks at Backlash in a LAST MAN STANDING match. Holla holla holla.

• Mr. Kennedy vs. Finlay (w/Hornswoggle)
  

No match. Mr. Kennedy wants to make nice. Finlay accepts his apology as long as he doesn’t touch his Hornswoggle. Hold up there, playa. Teddy Long comes back out and says since these two guys are so chummy, they can team up against Batista and Da Undatakah.

In the back, Jillian injures Ashley’s leg to keep her out of Timbaland’s video. Seriously, a Nancy Kerrigan angle in 2007?

SMACK OF THE NIGHT brought to you by RGX Body Spray: No Way Out 2007, London & Kendrick defeated Deuce N Domino to regain the WWE tag titles.

• WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. Deuce N Domino (w/Cherry)
  

The champs hit a double armdrag on Domino early, and London dropkicks Deuce off the apron (and nearly catches referee Mickey Hinson too). He nearly misses a somersault plancha, too. Commercials! When we come back, the champs are working over Deuce’s arm. Kendrick winds up playing face-in-peril for a bit, and the match bogs down. See, that’s why Deuce N Domino aren’t primetime yet. London gets the hot tag and cleans house. Deuce N Domino start to double-team and set up for the Big Boot Finish (Crack ‘Em In Da Mouth?), but ref Mickey Jay DQ’s them because Deuce won’t get out of the ring. (9:14 shown) The crowd craps on the finish and I admit it was pretty weak. Not a *bad* match otherwise. I still don’t think Deuce N Domino were the ones to take over the tag belts, but whatevs. Oops, spoiler alert. **¼

In the back, Teddy Long makes plans with Kristal to go to Milan, Italy next week for the 400th episode of Smackdown. Deuce & Domino interrupt to complain and Teddy tells them to obey the rules. You know, like the one about interoffice dating.

• Chris Benoit vs. MVP
  

MVP tries the same defensive strategy he tried at WrestleMania, but Benoit fires away with chops. Benoit charges into a boot, but reverses a Snap Suplex of his own. MVP makes it to the ropes to avoid a Crippler Crossface and locks in a neck vice. Benoit powers up and reverses to a German Suplex. MVP retreats to the apron where Benoit tries to German Suplex him to the floor! Benoit has to settle for yanking him off the apron instead and he pays for it by getting sent into the post. Commercials. AND WE’RE BACK! Benoit is in the neck vice again. Benoit elbows out of it, but runs right into a belly-to-belly throw. MVP goes after the shoulder again and refocuses on his defensive strategy. Benoit hits a northern lights suplex and knees his way out of a suplex right down into the Crippler Crossface! MVP makes the ropes, but winds up taking the Hat Trick of Germans! MVP cuts off the Swandive Headbutt, but gets chopped back down to the mat. Here comes the Swandive Headbutt, but he misses! Fantastic. MVP hits a Helluva Kick in the corner, but it only gets two despite him making the “touchdown” sign. MVP blocks another Hat Trick of Germans and tries to German suplex Benoit OVER the top rope. Benoit counters to a rollup, but MVP blocks and grabs a handful of ropes for the three-count. (16:06 shown) This match has the time to establish a depth that the WrestleMania match was missing. MVP continues to impress and Benoit looks intent on bringing him along. Awesome match. To get the full story, watch their WrestleMania 23 match before this one. ***½

Elsewhere, Kristal interviews MVP. He told you so. For all the playa haters out there, MVP will be straight up BALLIN when he’s the US champ.

Raw Rebound time.

• Kane vs. Daivari
  

Daivari is Kane’s next victim after his loss at Khali at WrestleMania. I’m embarrassed for ya too, pal. Unlike last week, this match goes bell to bell and ends with a CHOKESLAM in 2:37. Afterwards, William Regal and Dave Taylor attack in retaliation for last week. This got awkward, but Kane makes his own save and they head for the ramp.

Mark Henry vignette. The World’s Strongest Man Returns. When though?

• The Undertaker & Batista vs. Mr. Kennedy & Finlay
  

Finlay makes Kennedy start with the Undertaker. Taker holds his own until the numbers overwhelm him. Kennedy chokes Taker with the tag rope as Finlay distracts the ref. Batista is kind of apathetic about the whole thing. Taker gets sick of that and tees off on both guys. Batista blind tags himself in as Kennedy cuts off the big boot. Batista cleans house and stops to do the Ultimate Warrior pose, but Taker tags himself back in the match. A little tit for tat if you will. Commercials! When we return, Taker and Batista are arguing over who should be in the match. Taker goes Old School on Kennedy, but Finlay cuts him off. Things start to get boring as it’s just a pissing contest between Taker and Batista while Finlay and Kennedy are only around to bump for them. Taker goes for Old School again, but Batista tags himself in. He stops to smirk at Taker and gets blindsided by Finlay. Kennedy clips Batista’s knee for two and now Kennedy and Finlay can do some work. Finlay nails Batista with the shillelagh, so Taker tosses the ring steps in the ring. Business just picked up! Taker’s tantrum doesn’t help much as Kennedy continues to work Batista’s leg. Finlay grabs a half-crab. Batista powers to the ropes, but Finlay dropkicks his knee. Finally, Batista hits Finlay with a spinebuster and hot tags Taker. He cleans house and Batista tags himself in – AGAIN. Finlay sends Taker to the floor for a brawl while Batista drills Kennedy with the DEMON BOMB for the win. (17:38 shown) This was boring while the faces were doing their thing and slightly better when the heels took over. All their leg work never really went anywhere though and it was just to build time. The point was to further the Taker versus Batista match for Backlash and I think it achieved what it set out to do. **½

More Smackdown on the Ten Years After series next week! Until then, so long for now!