WWE Smackdown Taping
London, Ontario
Report by Dot Net reader Martin Dasko

Dark Match

1. Jamie Noble defeated Ted DiBiase Jr.

Smackdown Tapings
 
Smackdown opened with Teddy Long wheeling Vickie Guerrero to the ramp alongside Edge, who kept a low profile so that he would not get cheered. She announced that Undertaker would fight for the vacant title at Judgement Day. He will meet the winner of an over the top battle royal. The contestants in the battle royal would be determined through a series of five matches involving former champions, with the five winners advancing to the battle royal. She said Edge was not medically cleared and therefore would not participate.
 
1. Matt Hardy beat CM Punk in a battle royal qualifier.

2. Finlay fought MVP to a draw in a battle royal qualifier. The shoulders of both wrestlers were pinned. Vickie came out and announced that she would be positive and consider both men winners and battle royal entrants.

3. Batista defeated John Morrison in a battle royal qualifier. I guess this was the battle for Melina (although it wasn't portrayed that way at the tapings).

4. Natalya def Kelly Kelly.

5. Big Show beat Tommy Dreamer in a battle royal qualifier.

6. Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero (w/Bam Neely) in a battle royal qualifier. Another clean pin for Kane, so what's the point of Chavo's bodyguard?

7. Vladimir Kozlov squashed a local jobber.

8. Edge won the battle royal and will face Undertaker for the vacant World Hvt. Championship at Judgment Day. The crowd was split because there were five faces and one heel in the ring. MVP eliminated Hardy. Kane threw out Finlay. Batista threw out MPV. Big show eliminated Kane. Finally, Batista threw out Big Show and appeared to win the match.

As Batista was being announced the winner, Vickie came out and said Edge had just been medically cleared to enter the battle royal. Edge ran down and eliminated Batista. So basically this means the entire episode of Smackdown was one big waste of time. Vickie could have made that the match right off the bat instead of holding the battle royal qualifiers.

Notes
Neither Undertaker nor John Cena made the trip to Ontario, as they were not at the tapings despite half the kids holding signs for both wrestlers.

The wrestling crowd has greatly changed. It was mostly little kids with their parents, and a few people in the 18-35 age range trying to create the "Bizarro World" vibe that Ontario was once known for.

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