Dot Net readers Michael Whalen and Judith A. Stephenson are at the WWE Smackdown taping in Houston, Texas and are passing along separate reports that are combined into the one report below.

Dark match

1. Goldust defeated Kaval (a/k/a Low-Ki). Kaval told us how much better he is than all of us. Goldust was the obvious fan favorite. Disappointing offense from Kaval. I expected more from him in this match. The ECW and WWE Superstars taping followed this match.

WWE Smackdown

Batista came out first. He said he did not ask for the street fight with Rey Mysterio. He said Rey doesn't deserve to be in the same ring with him. He added that he's noticed that people boo him now but he doesn't care. He was born to be the champion. Evolution needed him so he used them to advance his career. Rey needed him to watch his back. Batista said he definitely doesn't need the fans. A fan held up a sign that read "Badtista."

Dave asks for a spotlight because that's what he's in WWE for. It's all about Batista. The topic turned to Undertaker. Badtista has beaten Taker down the past two weeks and has seen fear in his eyes. He said we should get used to hearing "World Heavyweight Champion Batista." He was booed mercilessly when he talked about beating Taker down the last two weeks.

They teased the Matt Hardy and R-Truth vs. C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows match that was coming up next.

Punk and Gallows came to the ring. Punk bashed the Jeff Hardy DVD that is flying off the shelves. He said he's disappointed that parents are buying it. They might as well be stuffing their kids' stockings with hallucinogenic mushrooms (the crowd loved that one). Festus, er, Gallows jumped up and down for some reason. R-Truth rapped as he and Hardy passed out DVDs. Punk told people to sell them on eBay rather than watch them. Killings hit Punk with the mic after delivering his final "What's up?" line.

1. C.M. Punk and Luke Gallows defeated Matt Hardy and R-Truth. Good tag team work by Hardy and Truth. They look good as a team. Good end to the match. Punk threw out Truth. Matt went for the Twist of Fate, but Punk turned it into the GTS. Hardy cout out and pushed Punk into Gallows, who tagged in and nailed a big boot for the win. "Fun match," Michael wrote. "Good mic work by Punk. So far Punk and Badtista tie for most heat."

Eric Escobar told Vickie Guerrero that everyone thought she was his mom...except his mom isn't as big as Texas. She said he'd be fighting Chris Jericho tonight.

Mike Knox told Kane that they are both misunderstood monsters and that he enjoyed fighting him. Kane says they aren't alike but they will fight tonight. Knox offered to ride in the ambulance with Kane. "A weird exchange of words but interesting," Michael wrote.

2. Big Show and Chris Jericho defeated Eric Escobar. No pre-match mic work from Jericho, which disappointed both of our correspondents. Vickie came out shortly after the match started and informed Escobar that it would be a handicap match. Show came out and eventually dropped the leg on Escobar, and Jericho followed up by making him tap to the Walls of Jericho.

After the match, Jericho promised victory at TLC and to wipe DX from the face of the earth. He said Show is more destructive than any table, ladder, or chair. Show took the mic and said he and Jericho are the end of Hunter and Shawn.

There was a segment with Drew McIntyre whining about not being on the cover of WWE Magazine. Morrison, the man he beat last week, is on the cover. He questioned why people believe in John Morrison and questioned whether it's because he's American and McIntyre is Scottish?

Morrison comes out dressed as William Wallace (a/k/a Mel Gibson in Braveheart). Morrison used a Scottish accent. McIntyre said Morrison looked ridiculous. Morrison said no one can understand what McIntyre says that's why the fans hate him. Morrison says Drew's head is so far up Vince McMahon's ass that his nose is brown. McIntyre gets coffee for Ricky Steamboat, twitters with IRS, and gets flex all for Roddy Piper and a few other things. Good stuff.

Morrison dropped his sword and asked why a crazy old man's endorsement makes him feel chosen. A short brawl took place and McIntyre left through the crowd.

A Rey Mysterio vs. Batista video aired.

3. Kane defeated Mike Knox. Kane won clean with a chokeslam. Judith wrote that it wasn't a bad match. Michael wrote that it was hard hitting, but nothing special.

4. Mickie James and Maria defeated Michelle McCool and Layla. The crowd loved Mickie. McCool and Layla were not met with heat but rather indifference. Mickie threw Layla into the ropes to collide with McCool as Layla rebounded Mickie got the roll up. Michelle recovered just in time to see the ref count three.

Mickie and McCool will fight for the WWE Women's Title on Sunday at TLC.

A video hyped the street fight main event.

The announcers hyped the pay-per-view while standing inside the ring.

5. Batista defeated Rey Mysterio in a street fight. Rey came out and the crowd went nuts. Batista came out to an appropriate heel reaction. Batista threw Rey around like a sock to start the match. Rey got some offense and the crowd went nuts. Shortly into the match, Rey played cat and mouse to elude Batista, rolling over his back and feinting a 619.

The match spilled to the outside. Batista used Rey's head to assault the announce table. Batista played the unrelenting animal well, keeping the offense on Rey. Batista set up a chair for the Batista Bomb, but Rey fought out and knocked Batista onto the chair. Rey hit the 619 but couldn't get the three count. Rey hit Batista with the chair but the comeback was short lived. Batista hit the bomb for the win.

Batista put Rey's head inside the chair and then went to the top rope. The lights went out and the bell tolled for Batista. Taker was standing in the ring when the lights came on. He beat Batista down and grabbed the chair. Batista makes a quick exit. Taker had the second biggest pop of the night.

Dark Match

1. Undertaker defeated C.M. Punk to retain the World Hvt. Championship. Punk escapes to the floor after the bell. He returns to get hit by taker and again takes it outside to hide on top of the announce table. Offense was all taker. Punk played the coward.

Both guys went outside and Punk got his first real offense going. He hit a few kicks and then rolled Taker inside the ring where he got a couple of two counts. The crowd was getting loud behind Taker. Old School on Punk for a two count. Has that ever won for you Taker? Taker hit the Last Ride for the win. A decent quick match. Taker actually smiled for a moment and seemed to have a good time roughing up Punk, but the Old School rope walk seemed difficult for him.

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