411’s WWE Smackdown Report: 1.20.06

JBL versus Bobby Lashley

Jillian’s got a bandage on her face, and she looks plenty scared. Lockup, and Lashley backs JBL into the corner. JBL kicks his way out and tries for a running shoulder, but no dice. JBL clotheslines Lashley down, then gets the clubbing blows. He slams Lashley to the corner and punches away on him. Lashley reverses a whip and catches JBL with a belly to belly suplex. Lashley gets two running forearms, then clothesline JBL in the corner. JBL takes a powder, then hides behind Jillian when Lashley follows. JBL gets an eye poke and goes back in. Lashley avoids a big boot and gets another clothesline and belly to belly. He gets shoulder rams on JBL in the corner, then a back body drop. JBL dodges a corner charge and hits the Clothesline from Hell. The lights go red, and The Boogeyman sneaks up from behind on JBL. Lashley takes advantage and hits the Dominator for the win.

Winner: Bobby Lashley
Match Time: 3:14
Rating: **1/4
Commentary: Match made Lashley look like crap, and built up a future match that makes little sense.

Backstage, London and Kendrick congratulate Kurt Angle. Matt Hardy does the same. So does Rey, but he also warns Angle that he’ll win the number one contender’s match against Mark Henry. Angle says it’ll be a hell of a match. The congrats continue from Animal, Funaki, and Regal. Angle comes chest to chest with Mark Henry. Henry took out Batista, he’ll take out Rey, and Kurt can’t beat him. Angle wishes Henry luck, then tells him not to get in his face. He’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. When the people chant “You Suck,” they’re talking to his opponents, and he warns Mark Henry not to be one of his opponents. Angle as a face is really refreshing now.

Booker T and Sharmell leave their dressing room, heading to the ring for the U.S. Title celebration.

Backstage, Jillian complains to Teddy Long about The Boogeyman. She says that Boogeyman disfigured her. JBL enters, mad at Long and The Boogeyman. JBL says he’s not afraid of The Boogeyman, so Long books them together at the Rumble. JBL asks Long if he’ll call off the match if he admits he’s afraid. Long says no.

It’s time for the celebration, and Sharmell introduces Booker. Balloons fall from the ceiling, followed by sparklers in the ring. Booker thanks the fans who believed in him, and says that he did it all by himself. Sharmell calls Benoit a loser, then kisses Booker because he’s a winner. Orlando Jordan interrupts the “Can You Dig That…,” coming out to a new, inferior version of his theme music. Jordan talks about how Booker ran him down, then challenges Booker to a match immediately. Booker and Sharmell start laughing. Booker tells Jordan he’s not cleared to wrestle. Jordan shoves him down, and Teddy Long heads out. Long makes Orton versus Jordan tonight, with Orton defending the U.S. Title for Booker.

Matt Hardy versus Finlay

Hardy goes for a shot on Finlay, but no dice. Finlay gets a kick and a European Uppercut, then a snapmare/buttdrop for two. Another European Uppercut, and Hardy fights back with punches. Hardy whips, and gets an inverted atomic drop. Hardy catapults Finlay over the top, then kicks him away from the apron. Hardy follows up with a plancha and punches. Back in, Hardy gets two. Finlay reverses a whip, then blocks a sunset flip with a hair pull. He rams his knee into Hardy’s head, then gets more stiff shots. He slams his leg on Hardy’s arm, then stomps his head. Finlay gets a crisp slam, then a kneedrop. He puts on a head twist with a hair pull, then drives an elbow into Hardy’s shoulder. He goes back to the hold, but Hardy gets up and out. Hardy gets a whip, but telegraphs and takes a HARD kick from Finlay. Hardy gets a backdrop, then pulls Finlay off the ropes with a slam. Hardy gets a running forearm, then dodges a clothesline and hits the Side Effect for two. Finlay reverses a whip to the corner, but Hardy boots a charge and goes to the second turnbuckle. He gets the legdrop (more of a senton, though), for two. Hardy signals for the Twist of Fate, but Finlay shoves him off and rolls out of the ring. Hardy goes for a baseball slide, but Finlay lifts up the ring skirt and Hardy gets tangled. Finlay lands some hard shots, then takes Hardy back in the ring. Finlay gets Hardy against the bottom rope, then lands repeated crossface blows. He doesn’t break on five, so Finlay gets DQed. Post-match, Finlay takes the microphone from Tony Chimel and tells the referee that he’ll show him why someone should be disqualified. He pulls Hardy’s head over the ring steps, then stomps on it.

Winner: Matt Hardy
Match Time: 5:48
Rating: ***
Commentary: Good debut from Finlay, who looked tough and cagey out there. Kudos to Hardy for taking hard asskicking number 1,000 since returning.

Earlier tonight, Daivari was backstage with Teddy Long. He complains about how he brought Angle to Smackdown, and Angle fired him and beat him up. He wants Long to force Angle to take him back as a manager. Long books Angle versus Daivari, which doesn’t sit too well with Daivari, as you’d imagine.

Footage of Batista’s surgery is shown. Everything went well, according to WWE.com. Feel better soon!

Rey Mysterio versus Mark Henry

Henry tries to get Rey in the corner, but Rey springs out and kicks his leg. Rey tries to fake Mark Henry out, and he manages to crotch him on the second rope. Rey gets several kicks, but Henry shoves him down. Rey gets tosses out of the ring, and makes Henry give him chase. He catches Rey by the leg as Rey re-enters, then yanks him out of the ring and into the guardrail. Rey dodges a clothesline and hits a dropkick, followed by a suicide dive against Henry. Rey is in the ring as we go to a commercial. When we get back, Rey is hammering Henry to little effect. Rey comes running, but crashes into a Henry clothesline. Mark Henry squashes Rey in the corner, but Rey manages to kick his legs from the ground. Henry lifts him up and slams him down. He stands on Rey with both feet. Yikes. Rey dodges a splash off the ropes, then gets a dropkick to Henry’s head. He knocks Henry to the ropes, but Mark Henry gets a big clothesline as Rey charges him. Henry stands on Rey again, this time using the ropes for balance. Henry suplexes Rey onto the top rope, then kicks him in the chest. Rey falls to the arena floor. Henry follows and tosses Rey back inside. Rey gets up in the corner, and dodges a charge. Rey goes back to kicking the legs, but Mark Henry catches him by the throat. Henry lifts him up for a press slam and holds him for a while. Rey slides down and gets a chop block, sending Henry down. Rey goes to the apron and springs in, but Henry catches him. He tries to toss Rey out, but Rey guillotines him on the rope and gets a springboard dropkick. Rey hits a 619 to Henry’s back, then one to his gut. He hits a third in proper position, then goes up to the top rope. He gets a frog splash, but Henry kicks out. He holds onto Rey and slams him down (let’s call that move the Crowdkiller), scoring the pin.

Winner: Mark Henry
Match Time: 11:57 (including commercial)
Rating: ***1/4
Commentary: Good stuff. Anybody who doubts Rey’s psychology or ability past highspots in any fashion need only watch this match, or his match against JBL at No Mercy (***3/4). Seriously, Rey could and should hold the big belt someday. And I’m not convinced that he won’t.

Mr. Kennedy heads out and teases giving away a shirt. He doesn’t, though, because he’s a bad guy.

The Gymini versus Brian Kendrick and Paul London

M’boys are on Smackdown! They hit dropkicks on the Gymini, continually knocking them down. The pull down the rope so one goes over, then hit a crossbody on the other. London gets a crossbody on one, and the other kicks him. One tags out to Two, and they hit a double shoulder. Clubbing blow on London, tag back to One. London gets a boot, but they catch him and throw him REALLY high up into the air. That gets two. London dodges elbow drops and tags Kendrick, who gets a flying frorearm. He gets punches, but One reverses a whip. Air Sabu on Two, One catches an Air Sabu and throws London on Spanky. They get the Double Union Jack for the win.

Winners: The Gymini
Match Time: 2:32
Rating: *1/2
Commentary: To do: give these guys different names, write them on their trunks. Simon Dean was blowing a whistle throughout the match, which Tazz said brought back memories. Funny.

WWE U.S. Championship Match: Randy Orton (defending) versus Orlando Jordan

Lockup, with Orton getting a headlock. Orton spins around and gets a drop toe hold, then gets up and poses. Another lockup, and Jordan backs Orton into the corner. Jordan breaks clean, Orton whips him across the ring. Jordan dodges a charge and gets two armdrags. Orton takes a powder. Back in, Orton gets a kick and another headlock. Orton gets a running shoulder. Jordan gets a hiptoss, then an armdrag. He clotheslines Orton out of the ring, then goes for a plancha. Orton moves, and Jordan hits the floor nastily. We go to a commercial. Back on, Orton gets two kneedrops for two. He applies a bodyscissors chinlock, as he’s apt to do. “Randy” chant, even though he’s the heel. Orton turns it to a front facelock, but Jordan reverses with a jawbreaker. Orton hits the dropkick for two. Orton slams Jordan’s head to the mat with his knee. Jordan fights back with gut punches, but Orton hits a knee. He whips Jordan and catches him with a kitchen sink, then goes to a rear naked choke. Jordan gets up, and Orton backs him into the corner. He gets some punches, then whips Jordan back to the same corner. Jordan dodges a charge and Orton goes to the post shoulder first. Jordan gets a rollup with the trunks for two. Jordan gets some stomps, then kneedrops to Orton’s shoulder. Jordan applies a shoulderlock. Orton punches Jordan and reverses to the 3.0 for two. Jordan wrenches Orton’s arm, then nails a dropkick to the arm. Jordan covers for two. Back up, Jordan gets PUNCHES! Orton ducks the last one, but Jordan gets a swinging neckbreaker. Sharmell runs down, followed by Booker T. Jordan is distracted on top, and Orton goes for a superplex. Jordan knocks him down, but Booker hits Jordan with his crutch. The RKO follows and finishes. Benoit runs in afterwards and chops/Germans Randy Orton and Booker T.

Winner: Randy Orton
Match Time: 12:57 (including commercial)
Rating: **3/4
Commentary: Jordan was more able than Orton here. No lie. I’m dreading it if Orton’s going to be going for the title at WrestleMania. At least we’ll get to see Angle suplex his ass off.

Mark Henry video package airs. He’s strong, apparently.

Daivari cuts a promo backstage about how something “screwed up” is going to happen in his match against Angle.

Kurt Angle versus Daivari

Angle chants “You Suck” at Daivari, and the crowd seems to be into it. Before the match can start, though, Melina and Mark Henry head out. Daivari attacks Angle from behind, then runs into a belly to belly suplex. Daivari heads outside, then comes back in. He kicks, but Kurt catches his boot and flips him over. Daivari goes out again, and the big story here is Angle staring down Henry. Daivari gets a low blow and works Angle over a bit, but the champ fights back, getting European Uppercuts and a German Suplex. Angle chases Daivari around the ring, then catches him and whips him into Mark Henry. Henry catches him, and Angle punches Daivari’s back until both men go down. Angle nails Daivari with the Angle Slam, then puts on the Angle Lock. Melina jumps on Angle, drawing the DQ. He tosses Melina off and applies the Ankle Lock, but Henry makes the save. He nails Angle with the Crowdkiller. Henry takes the steel steps into the ring, then drives them into Angle’s back, knocking him out of the ring. Daivari helps Melina up and tells her that he’s “got it from here.” Daivari takes the microphone and tells Angle that it was screwed up, and Angle got screwed. Daivari announces that he is now Mark Henry’s manager.

Winner: Kurt Angle
Match Time: 2:15
Rating: *3/4
Commentary: Not much of a match.