WWE's No. 2 Story of 2006

SmackDown! December 29, 2006

WWE SmackDown! presented The Best of 2006 Friday night. WWE Films release of SEE NO EVIL and The Marine came in as the No. 2 story of the year. Throughout the show, many memorable events and moments were aired, including the reunion of the Brothers of Destruction.

The No. 2 Story Section features a few stills from SEE NO EVIL and some articles on the debut, Premiere, and DVD release of WWE's, and KANE's, first full length film. WWE.com has also provided a Video section showcasing the KANE vs Jacob Goodnight promo, and comments from KANE & the SNE cast.

And to All A Good Night

SmackDown! December 22, 2006
Hampton, Virginia

This week's show begins with "King" Booker, Finlay and "Queen" Sharmell in GM Teddy Long's office demanding a rematch with Cena and Batista. Long says it isn’t gonna happen - they had their chance. "King" Booker bristles, Finlay counters saying they only want what's best for the show, which Teddy can did. So, the GM books a spectacular match for them - putting them up against The Brothers of Destruction themselves, Kane and UnderTaker! With shocked looks on their faces Booker, Finlay and Sharmell protest loudly "NO!", and we go with the opening credits.

Finlay and Booker enter the ring and shake hands. 'Slow Chemical' wails, heralding the arrival of KANE, and as he makes his way to the ring, face fixed with an intense expression, Booker and Finlay slide to the outside. The gong that only means one thing sounds and the crowd goes crazy as UnderTaker makes his way to the ring with Sharmell shown holding tightly onto Booker on the outside of the ring.

The match starts with UnderTaker and Booker in the ring, Booker takes the advantage against 'Taker in the corner, pummelling the dead man until pulled away and given a warning by the referee. Taker's turn now - he grabs Booker by the throat with both hands and throws him in the corner where he unloads on him. Taker now works over Booker's arm then just up and throws him across the ring. More work on the arm as a big UnderTaker chant starts up in the crowd and Taker goes Old School off the top rope. Undertaker turns and meets an interfering Finlay with a kick to the midsection then goes uptop to SmackDown! some Old School on him, but Booker lunges for the ropes, causing Undertaker to catch a crotch on the ropes!

Booker now mounts the ropes and superplexes Taker off the top rope! He goes for the pin but Taker kicks out and then sits up as Booker tags Finlay in. Booker holds Taker as Finlay continues the assault. Finlay offloads with a number of uppercuts before the UnderTaker statrs to fight back but Finlay takes the advantage back quickly. He whips Taker into the ropes but the crafty dead man rebounds with a DDT in the middle of the ring before making the tag to KANE! Kane unleashes on Finlay AND Booker, who has entered the ring, with big rights. He whips Booker into the ropes then clotheslines Finlay who has staggered into the opposite corner. He does the same to Booker and then picks him up and drops him with a sideslam! He goes for the cover on Booker but it's broken up by Finlay who is then attacked by Taker who has entered the ring. To a huge cheer from the crowd, Finlay and Booker are whipped off the ropes and given a big boot to the face by The Brothers of Destruction who then set up for chokeslams. Finlay and Booker are out of the ring though in record time as we go to commercial break...

Back from commercial, Kane is working on Booker in the corner with alternating lefts and rights, knocking him to the canvas before throttling him with a boot. Kane drags him to the apron, exits the ring and nearly takes his head off with a big elbow! Back in the ring Finlay has entered and as the referee is dealing with him UnderTaker delivers to Booker a legdrop from the apron! Kane goes for the cover on Booker but the 'King' kicks out. Kane executes a suples and another attempted pin, again broken by Finlay who's back in the ring. Kane tags to UnderTaker who enters the rings with a boot to Booker's middle. Undertaker presses the assault on him, chasing off the referee taking him to task over working Booker over in the corner.

UnderTaker is stunned with a thumb to the eye as he comes back to take care of Booker. The tag is made to Finlay who comes in and hits UnderTaker into the ropes following up with fists of fury. Finlay then tries to zing off the ropes and is met by a boot to the face! Undertaker slams Finlay into the corner, picks him up to deliver Snake Eyes and comes off the ropes again with another big boot and Finlay staggers! Taker whips Finlay into the corner again then tags in Kane. Undertaker goes for a big boot again to Finlay before he exits but Finlay ducks out of the way and Undertaker catches himself over the top rope before hitting the floor. Booker takes to Undertaker on the floor as Kane goes to the corner to see what has happened with his brother.

From behind Finlay whacks Kane and at the same time Undertaker is flattened by a big high kick from Booker! The momentum seems to have changed with Finlay tagging Booker but he is met by a boot to the face from Kane as he comes into the ring. Kane whips Booker across the ring and follows with a high elbow before trying to mount the ropes. Finlay tries to interfere but is knocked from the canvas with a thumb to the eye. Kane dives at Booker from the ropes but is met with a heel kick! Booker takes the advantage kicking into Kane's head before giving Kane a back kick. Meanwhile on the outside of the ring Finlay slams the Taker's head into the announcer's table! Booker tags Finlay who jumps on Kane before going for a pin but Kane kicks out at 2. On the outside of the ring Booker takes Undertaker down with a chair shot! In the ring, Finlay works Kane with a rest hold which Kane breaks A tag to Booker who fells Kane with a back kick as he's whipped off the ropes by Finlay! Another attempted cover foiled as Finlay is caught by a hand to the throat by Undertaker as he tries to hit him with the shillelagh! Finlay counters with a kick to Taker's groin before laying him out properly with the shillelagh!

The referee was distracted by Sharmell on the apron during all this and we see Booker going wild on Kane on the canvas with a barrage of blows to the head. Booker tags Finlay in and Finlay stomps on Kane's hand then tags Booker in again. The Undertaker is still on the floor! Booker whips Kane into the ropes, misses with a clothesline as Kane ducks underneath it and they double clotheslines each other! The crowd goes nuts as Finlay tries to tackle Undertaker on the outside of the ring again only to be met by a big boot to the face and Undertaker staggers back to his own corner as Kane and Booker struggle to get up. Both wrestlers make it to all fours and both just manage to make tags under the referrees count, Booker a mite faster than Kane. Finlay rushes in and is met with a right hand as Undertaker takes soupbones to both finlay and Booker in the ring! It's Undertaker's turn to clean house as he clothesline Booker and Finlay not once by twice as they're in opposite corners!! As the crowd roars it's approval, Undertaker grabs them both around the throat but they break the hold with a double kick to the gut!

Booker and Finlay slingshot Undertaker across the ring and as he bounces off he ducks under the attempted double clothesline! They turn around but are caught around the throat by Undertaker and Kane who has managed to come back into the ring! What we get now as the crowd explodes is a double chokeslam! Undertaker runs his hand across his throat and stalks Finlay, picks him up, delivers the Tombstone Piledriver, makes the pin and we have our winners!

Kane and Undertaker celebrate their win with Kane's pyros going off as Sharmell is shown cradling Booker on the floor outside the ring. We get a replay of the win as the show goes off air. [photos] [vid] [wwe.com]

Welcome to Kane's Inferno

ARMAGEDDON December 17, 2006
Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA

The heat was on Montel Vontavious Porter from the moment he entered the ring for his Inferno Match with Kane at Armageddon… but it wasn’t just from the fans who were trying to boo him out of the Richmond Coliseum. It was the eight-foot, 500-degree flames surrounding the ring that ultimately claimed him Sunday night. Though he’d be transported to a local burn unit for treatment, one thing was clear: MVP may have lost a lot more than a grueling contest to the Big Red Monster.

As documented by WWE.com throughout the hours building up to Armageddon, MVP tried acting unconcerned about going into a match where the sole stipulation is to set your opponent on fire. Having defeated Kane on two previous occasions—a Street Fight and a Steel Cage Match—he had claimed that he would be celebrating another victory at Armageddon. But as Kane joined him inside the ring and summoned the flames to erupt from all four corners, it dawned on MVP that he was in the devil’s burning playground.

The loud, crackling flames threatened to melt the very ring ropes as they flared up several feet with every impact made on the mat. MVP tried desperately to mount an offense against the Big Red Monster, who at one point delivered a Chokeslam from Hell that shot the flames up to their highest point, and brought every WWE fan in the arena to their feet.

Those same WWE fans continued standing as Kane removed one of the corner turnbuckles, then ignited it so he could set his opponent on fire. Narrowly escaping, MVP nearly stole the victory with a series of dropkicks that sent the Big Red Monster rolling toward the flames. But Kane dodged the final blow, and when MVP tried escaping his wrath by climbing up the top rope, he threw him over the fire, near the announcers’ table. He then climbed up top and followed MVP to the outside, delivering a near-fatal blow from above.

Eerily smiling as the flames danced beside them, Kane dragged MVP over to the steel ring post and proceeded to set his back on fire. Screaming in agony, MVP ran back toward the steel ramp, but the pain proved too much; he was unconscious by the time officials doused the flames on his back with fire extinguishers, then rushed him to the back for immediate medical attention. Meanwhile Kane, still smiling, returned to the ring and celebrated in the middle of what truly looked like Hell on Earth. [photos] [Behind the Inferno] [wwe.com]

If the Hearse's A-rockin', Don't Come A-knockin'

SmackDown! December 15, 2006
Boston, Mass.

Michael Cole & JBL introduce the show amid the blast of SmackDown! pyros. Tonight's main event - Kane & Taker vs. MVP & Kennedy. We get a video package hyping Kane's Inferno Match.

Backstage, MVP is on his cell phone threatening to fire his agent for not getting him out of his inferno match. Mr. Kennedy walked up to MVP and teased him on his fear over a match where he might get a blister or something. He faces the possibility of being thrown into the back of a hearse.

"Do you know where you go when you're in the back of a hearse? You go to the cemetary." Kennedy hissed. Their argument escalates, then Kennedy said they had to stop it and get on the same page. MVP asked if he was with him. Kennedy said he was. They shook hands.

We get a shot of Undertaker and Kane facing each other as fog swirled around them. Taker rolled his eyes back into his head before they both turned to look full on at the camera. OHHHH Yeah!

A hearse sits in the entranceway, intimidating the loudmouths. MVP jumps at his own pyro. Kennedy opens the hearse to make sure it's really empty this week. Kane stands by it with an evil grin. During Taker's ring intro, JBL sells the Last Ride match then onto a tirade, claiming his Last Ride bout with the Undertaker ruined his career. He goes as far as to question why Teddy Long remains on as GM after booking all this. o.O

KANE & UNDERTAKER vs. MR. KENNEDY & MVP

JBL sells the Infero Match, wondering aloud how MVP could prepare to beat Kane in an Inferno Match when Kane likes fire! Taker and Kane took early control on MVP. JBL complained that the Smackdown fans are cheering freaks like Taker and Kane instead of role models like Kennedy and MVP. Kane opens by pummeling Kennedy in the corner and giving him a double-arm chokeslam. Kane lifts Kennedy and holds him up with a vise grip around the neck, Kennedy gets in an elbow then tags in MVP in a panic.

MVP tries some close quarters knees but Kane sideslams him. Diving clothesline from Kane before he sets MVP up for Taker. The dead man strikes away in the corner and intimidates the referee. Taker goes to work on MVP's arm and goes up top but Kennedy distracts him and for his trouble Kennedy gets tagged in.

Kennedy comes in and wails on Taker beating him down in the corner. Kennedy kicks the deadman so hard Taker falls outside where MVP takes over bouncing his head off the steps. Kennedy tags out and holds Taker for MVP to kick at him some more. Taker rallies to come back with the Old School Ropewalk Forearm. Kane gets the blind tag and boots a charging MVP in the face. Kane turns and Kennedy runs into a big boot too. JBL takes this opportunity to explain the make up of the chemistry between Kane and 'Taker - they'd kill each other, he says, but if you mess with one of them, you have to deal with both of them.

Taker and Kane knocked MVP out of the ring, then double chokeslammed Kennedy in mid-ring. They both signal for the end with throat-slash arm gestures, but when Taker lifted Kennedy for the Tombstone, MVP yanked Kennedy out of the ring. Taker back-flipped over the top rope to the floor and pursued MVP onto the TitonTron stage where he threw him into the set. Kane has left the ring in pursuit of Kennedy, the referee makes the ten count and calls for the bell.

Meanwhile, Kennedy and Kane are going at it outside the ring and Kane gets whipped into the ringside steps. JBL wondered if Kane would even make it to Armageddon. Kennedy DDT's Kane for good measure then makes a dash for the hearse to get behind the wheel. MVP runs out to stomped on Kane some more, then waves Kennedy on. Kennedy guns the engine and honks. The lights go out and when they come back on, Taker was in the passenger seat, just sitting there like a passenger going for a ride. Kennedy turns his head, eyes wide - then Taker snaps his head around to galvanize Kennedy with a menacing stare, and Ken can't get out of there fast enough! Finally he makes it out to join MVP in between the front of the hearse and the prone figure of Kane. Kane sits up - the thoroughly freaked out heels flee - and Kane's body spasms with laughter.

Just two days 'til Armageddon! [photos] [vid] [wwe.com]

And When the Lights Go Out . . .

SmackDown! December 8, 2006
Florence Civic Center, Florence, SC

MVP's in Teddy Long's office complaining about his match with Kane at Armageddon. He contends the GM creates a new gimmick match every time he beats Kane and he's too good to be surrounded by 500 degree flames! MVP says matches like this aren't in his contract to which Long replies that he would like to see anywhere in the contract that he can be pulled from any match and if MVP doesn't fight, he's fired! Teddy Long says he can make a match next week for MVP that will help to soften Kane up a bit - MVP and Kennedy versus Kane. Oh, and Kane's partner will be . . . the UnderTaker! MVP ain't happy ~

Next, we get a vid clip of a masked Kane in an inferno match before we're shown Kane standing in front of a Christmas tree. Kane is rolling in his hand what appears to be smoking coals and sings "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" before breaking into a maniacal laugh! We go to JBL and Cole hyping the match at Armageddon.

Back to the ring Mr. Kennedy makes his way down to the ring. Another flashback from earlier in the show with what transpired between Undertaker and Kennedy. Kennedy awaits the arrival of Kane. There is a bit of a delay before Kane's entrance music finally hits and he makes his way to the ring.

Kane vs. Mr. Kennedy
Kane has just enough time to enter the ring before Kennedy begins his assault on him. He offloads with a number of punches then comes off the ropes and is met by a boot to the face much to the crowd's delight! It's Kane's turn now as he takes down Kennedy with an uppercut and then chokes him with the boot before beating into him again. He slams Kennedy and then delivers an elbow drop to him. Kennedy fights back, however, forcing Kane into the corner before Kane grabs ahold of Kennedy's throat, tosses him back into the corner and begins his assault. A leg drop from Kane and an attempted pin. Kennedy tries to crawl out of the ring but is stopped by Kane who elbows him on the apron before suplexing him back into the ring. A whip into the corner has Kennedy elbowing Kane as a follow up. The momentum changes again as Kane takes down Kennedy with a vicious looking clothesline! Kennedy staggers out of the ring with Kane hot on his heels, but Kennedy had a plan and rips the padding from the top of one of the crowd barricades, set to use Kane's head on it. Kane was ready though and offloads with a big right hand before tossing Kennedy back into the ring!

Kane unleashes on Kennedy, taking him down with a short arm clothesline before beating on Kennedy in the corner knocking him to the canvas. He chokes Kennedy with the boot before being forced to make the break with the referee's count. Kane walks away and as he comes back at Kennedy is grabbed by the front of his tights and yanked out of the ring! Kane has his eyes raked by Kennedy as he tries to re-enter the ring then Kennedy lands a dropkick knocking Kane back to the floor, his head hitting the top of the barricade that was exposed earlier! We get a count of 9 before Kane manages to roll back into the ring to be met by an elbow to the back and another with Kennedy taking the advantage. He gives Kane a DDT and a near fall ensues. Kennedy doesn't look happy as he goes after Kane again and is met by an uppercut. Kane can't press the advantage though, and Kennedy slammed his head into the turnbuckle before taking him down to the mat with a side Russian leg sweep and another attempted pin.

Kennedy locks in a chin lock but Kane manages to gain his feet before Kennedy gets backs him in the corner, bringing him back to the canvas with a number of kicks to the midsection. Kennedy looks on at a seemingly dazed Kane before going back for more. He's met by a vise-like-grip around the throat as Kane, to the crowd's delight, gets to his feet and looks to slam Kennedy! Kennedy escapes with a kick to Kane's midsection then starts to counter with another DDT but Kane just picks him and throws him across the ring to land face first on the canvas! Kane proceeds with a number of right hands on Kennedy before whipping him into the ropes and landing a back body drop! Kennedy staggers into the corner and is given a clothesline by Kane! With the cheering of the crowd ringing loudly around the arena, Kane follows up with another one! Kennedy staggers out of the corner and is given a side slam by Kane who picks him up with one arm!

Kane whips Kennedy into the ropes but telegraphs his move by bending over - Kennedy rebounds with a kick to Kane's middle followed by a swinging neck breaker! Kennedy wants to seize the advantage and climbs the ropes but Kane sits up and as Kennedy flies from the ropes he meets with a huge uppercut! Kane now climbs the ropes to take Kennedy down with a flying clothesline, stalking his prey around the ring after he scrambles up. Out from the back rushes MVP to enter the ring and Kane's grasp. Referee calls for the bell - looks like a No Contest!

Both Kennedy and MVP viciously double team Kane, bringing the Big Red Monster to the canvas, looking to annihilate him. All of a sudden we hear the UnderTaker's gong and the lights go out! When they come back on Kane is nowhere to be seen, his Inferno Match opponent at Armageddon, Montel Vontavious Porter, is standing alone in the ring with Kennedy up the rampway. Kennedy decides it's time to get out of there as once again he goes through the crowd and up the steps. MVP is left standing there looking around in confusion as Kane's pyro goes off! MVP looks around scared now - Kennedy, ducked down behind a fan's seat and nibbling on his thmb, looks on nervously as the show ends. . .

Next week, Theodore Long has announced that The Brothers of Destruction will face MVP & Mr. Kennedy on SmackDown!

[photos] [vid] [wwe.com]

SmackDown! in Europe

December 3 thru 7 2006

SmackDown! Superstars took time to tour in Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. I've found only one mention on the web:

SmackDown! live in Lisbon
By Andrew Rote with Craig Melvin
December 5, 2006
SmackDown Superstars were welcomed by a sold-out arena in Lisbon, Portugal. The night marked the first of two shows for the city.

WWE fans were especially enthusiastic over Batista, who approached as many members of the SmackDown audience as he could. Mr. Kennedy, however, was not greeted as warmly. As a result, he got in the faces of the vocal members of the crowd.

SmackDown is set for one more show in Portugal tonight. Afterward, the European tour continues to Spain, then Switzerland.

Nearing the End

SmackDown! December 1, 2006
HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY
Theodore Long announced two other matches for Armageddon - a Last Ride Match between Undertaker & Mr. Kennedy and an Inferno Match between the monster Kane & MVP.

On this night, however, Undertaker would face Montel Vontavious Porter as he sought revenge for losing the First Blood Match at Survivor Series due to MVP’s interference.

MVP tried to gain early control with the Undertaker not selling any of his blows before he caught MVP in the corner and worked on him. He clotheslined MVP hard in the corner and beat up on him before he mounted the rope and walked the tightrope before crashing down on MVP. MVP tried to take control but was taken down by a flying clothesline from Undertaker. Undertaker removed the padding from the turnbuckle and tried to slam MVP's head against it but was blocked by MVP who then worked on Undertaker with a number of blows before being taken down by another clotheslines and given a Snake Eyes and a boot to the head! Undertaker exited the ring and grabbed a chair and brought it into the ring and tried to hit MVP who rolled out at the last moment and started backing up the rampway!

All of a sudden Mr. Kennedy ran from the back and tried to toss MVP back into the ring but it was reversed by MVP who threw Kennedy into the ring! The crowd went crazy as Kennedy was taken down with a boot to the face from the Undertaker and MVP was shown laughing as he backed up the stage to head for the back. The lights went out and the fires of hell erupted announcing the arrival of KANE!

KANE made his way towards the ring with MVP backing away from him. The crowd was going crazy as MVP backed up against the ring and was picked up by Undertaker who threw him into the ring. Kennedy tried to attack Undertaker but was knocked down and Undertaker worked on him as Kane worked on MVP. MVP and Kennedy were taken down by boots to the head off the ropes and then just as Undertaker and Kane looked to grab them for choke slams Kennedy exited the ring, jumped over the announcers table and into the crowd - MVP rolled out of the ring and made his way up the rampway! The bothers stood tall in the ring, allowing the fans to get their fill of the Brothers of Destruction together again.

At Armageddon, the rivalry between MVP and Kane will literally heat up, while The Phenom looks to take Kennedy for one last ride.

[photos] [vid] [wwe.com]