[jetskid48]

I guess I'll continue doing this until OO's recaps begin again. Only problem with this week is that Smackdown isn't on tonight here in NY because of Mets Baseball. As long as it's on tomorrow night, I'll put up the recap as soon as I can watch it.

Here's the Preview:

Source: WWE.com

Preview: Backlash Battlefield
April 18, 2008

WrestleMania XXIV is in the books, but the land of SmackDown is experiencing lingering effects from the grand event that point to an epic war at Backlash on Sunday, April 27. This week, there could be an international incident when SmackDown travels across the pond to the United Kingdom.

Ever since Undertaker defeated Edge at WrestleMania XXIV to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero has thrown all kinds of challenges his way. Last Friday on SmackDown, it was the corn-fed colossus, Festus.

Tuesday night on ECW on Sci Fi, however, The Deadman took a detour to the Land of the Extreme, as he and brother Kane - who Guerrero has also thrown in The Phenom's path - teamed up for the first time ever in ECW to topple WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz.

This Friday, however, the GM has ordered Undertaker to face another formidable opponent The Phenom is all too familiar with – Batista.

In their last one-on-one encounter, The Animal defeated The Deadman in a Hell in a Cell Match at Survivor Series 2007. (Read more) Both men will be looking to gain momentum for their major Backlash battles, but The Animal also knows that a win over The Phenom would please VIckie Guerrero and possibly put him in line for another title opportunity.

But before Batista faces Undertaker, he will be a special guest on Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel to kick off Friday Night SmackDown. On the last edition of Jericho’s Highlight Reel on Raw, HBK delivered some hard-hitting Sweet Chin Music to the champion. Now that Y2J has been named the special referee in the HBK vs. Batista match at Backlash, what could be in store when he brings the Highlight Reel to Friday night?

Two of the biggest Superstars in the world – Big Show and Mark Henry – are set to do battle in a match this Friday on SmackDown. Last Friday, Big Show dropped The Great Khali with a knockout punch after rejecting the Punjabi giant’s Peace Offering. With Big Show on the warpath to facing the Punjabi giant at Backlash, what kind of battle will we see when he collides with the World’s Strongest Man?

Things are shaking up in the land of Divas now that Natalya Neidhart is in the fray. In her SmackDown debut, Natalya delivered a vicious beating to Michelle McCool. A week later on SmackDown, Natalya distracted McCool, causing her to lose to Victoria. Now that Natalya and Victoria appear to have formed an alliance, what will the rest of the Divas have to say about it?

As the SmackDown Superstars get ready for all out war at Backlash, witness all of the planning on Friday Night SmackDown at 8/7 CT on The CW Network.

As a final note, they announced that Smackdown will still be on Fridays when it moves to MyNetworkTV. While Thursdays are packed with stuff anyway, I was kinda hoping for the move so that when it moves, instead of being blocked by the Mets, it wouldn't be blocked by the Yankees here. Oh well. Anyway, might be a good card tonight.

[jetskid48]

Smackdown Recap 4/18/08 - By: JetsKid48

We're taped from England...still...and we're starting out cold with the Highlight Reel.

Jericho has Batista out as a retort for Monday's Reel with HBK. He talks and talks about how he agrees with Batista; HBK is a phony who enjoyed retiring Flair. Jericho says that by giving him Sweet Chin Music, that HBK was basically admitting it.

Batista comes back and says he never asked him to talk on his behalf and will confront his own problems. He didn't want Jericho to get into his business and wants to deal with HBK on his own.

Jericho says he didn't want to become the ref, but was made to be. He finds it weird that Batista is so upset about Flair retiring though. Maybe he's upset because he feels like he should have been the one to be able to retire Flair. It must have hurt Batista that Flair chose him instead. Jericho saw the emotion between Flair and HBK, but saw that Batista was "too cool" to show his own emotion. He then starts to ask the crowd if Batista wanted to retire Flair, then if he's more selfish than HBK? This leads Dave to Batista Bomb him and leave.

Commerical.

Back and Matt Hardy has come down to ringside for some commentary.

1. MVP v. Tommy Dreamer (Non-title)
Dreamer starts off by hitting a few punches. He locks in an armbar but MVP breaks it. Neckbraker by MVP for 2. A few kicks follow. Chin lock by MVP but Dreamer gets out of it. MVP comes back and hits the big kick to the face for two. MVP elbow drop for 2. MVP goes to the top rope but gets clothelined down and then a bulldog. Neckbraker for 2. MVP counters and goes for the Playmaker but Dreamer counters that and hits the DDT. 2 count when MVP puts his legs on the ropes. Dreamer gets him up but he reverses for a big boot in the corner for 3.

Winner: MVP

Commercial.

2. Hornswoggle v. Striker
Yeah, Hornswoggle. A bunch of tennis balls are thrown at Striker, followed by 10 water guns being sprayed on him. Striker finally gets HS down wans slaps him around a bit. Striker goes to grab the Shileliegh but the ref stops him and gets distracted. Finlay rolls in and hits Striker with a different one. Tadpole Splash. Pin.

Winner: Finlay. I'm guessing these two are gonna be a pro-kids act for a while now.

Big Show in the back says he's going to finish what he started with Khali at Backlash. Tonight, Mark Henrys going to need all his strength to beat him. Yay.

Commerical.

3. Chavo (w. Neely) v. Noble.
One year ago, and this is probably for the Cruiserweight belt. Lots of chain wrestling to start off. Rollups by Noble get him 2 a few times. Finally, Chavo hits a Gory Bomb, then uses the ropes to choke Noble. Armbar to Noble but Noble gets up and gets a back body drop. Northern Lights Suplex by Noble and some knees to Chavo's head. Chavo gets up and goes for the 3 amigos, but the 3rd is reversed into a swinging neckbreaker. Noble goes for a Cloverleaf but Chavo kicks him. Chavo to the top and Frog Splash.

Winner: Chavo.

After the match, Bam Neely gives Noble a Half-Nelson Slam. Side note, Cole pretty much destroyed Coach's analyst rep during this match by calling him out on comments on Neely and Coach admitting that he hasn't even talked to him and knows nothing. Of course, this is only true if Coach had any rep before hand.

Commercial.

4. Big Show v. Henry.
Basically a bunch of punches and headbutts. Henry picks up Show for a second and locks in a Bearhug. After a while, he breaks it and hits a big boot. Chokeslam on Henry but Khali comes out and Show runs to the outside. Khali hits his chop on him then throws him into the steps. They get in the ring and Khali tries to get the double choke slam. After Show gets him in his own double choke (probably to help him do this next move) Khali is finally able to get him up and Khali Bomb him.

Winner: I guess Show by DQ.

Commercial.

5. Cherry v. Victoria.
Story of this match is that Cherry sucks ass in the ring, but has been put in there as revenge for two weeks ago when Victoria and Nattie beat her up. He gets a few kicks and roll ups in there but the whole match is dominated by Victoria, pimping up that she's a 'real' women's wrestler. So of course, Michelle McCool jumps up on the ropes and distracts Victoria long enough for Cherry to get a rollup, possibly with the tights, and pin Victoria.

Winner: Cherry. She has new music. They also bring up her possible breakup with Deuce and Domino. Does it matter? Probably not.

Commerical.

Vladimir Kozlov v. Some Brit.
All Vlad dominance, followed by the Brit getting a few EUROPEAN UPPERCUTS in there before Vlad Zidane's him. Reverse DDT. Done.

Winner: Kozlov.

Commercial.

7. Undertaker v. Batista (Non-title)
Edge and his heads are watching from the crowd. Taker gets some jabs to start off. Announcers start to pimp the history between the two. UT goes for Old School and is countered into a clothesline by Batista for the 100th time. Double Clothesline and both are down.

Commercial.

Wer're back and their both fighting on the top rope. Batista gets teh superplex after a bit of fighting for two. Taker chokes him and a few hits. Old School, then Taker does his ring apron stuff. UT goes for a Tombstone but it's reversed into a Spear for 2. Both get tot their feet and the outside and fight until a 10 count.

Result: Double Countout.

They're still fighting when all of a sudden, Taker attack Edge and brings him over the barricade. Both Edgeheads are now over and Taker and Batista take them all out in the ring. Chavo and Bam get out and much the same happens to them. Finally, Vickie comes out and yells at them and says Edge could sue since he was on the crowd. He won't, but instead, they will have to fight again next week. And this time, the Championship will be on the line. Done.

At least next week will have to be better than this one with an actual title defense and probable finish. This is probably the first week in a while where Raw beat Smackdown in quality. I'm starting to miss the one good match per week Smackdown was boasting. No Miz or Morrison, no Hardy match, no real Finlay match, and no tag matches. I guess that's what happens in that case.

Back next week...maybe.

[jetskid48]

Smackdown Recap is up.