WWE: SmackDown! Rebound For May 23rd

After a controversial ending to Judgment Day, SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero started off the show with a company shattering announcement.

She made the match for the World Heavyweight Championship at One Night Stand: Edge vs. The Undertaker in a TLC Match.

However, it got worse: If Undertaker loses the match, he will be banished from the WWE for good. 

First Bout: Deuce, Domino, & Maryse defeat Jesse, Festus, & Cherry

The first bout began with the snapping Festus turning into combat mode to start the match against Domino. Jesse was tagged in while Deuce is brought in to restore momentum in his team’s favor. The former tag champions continued to tag in and out and further the punishment on the blond hillbilly.

But Jesse fought back and managed to tag in Cherry while Maryse was brought in by the other team. The catfight between the two divas continued until Deuce and Domino interfered with a pinfall, bringing Jesse and Festus.

After Festus hit the bicycle kick on Deuce, her former partner elbowed Cherry as he hit the ground. Maryse capitalized on the shot and hit a devastating kick to Cherry's head for the win. 

In the back, Edge and Vickie basked in their latest mind games on the Phenom, until Chavo Guerrero came in to issue an “apology” to La Familia for walking out last week.

In response, his aunt put him in the main event against none other than The Undertaker. To show their support, Edge “promised” that La Familia will be out there to help Chavo out.

The show returns with the introduction of MVP for his VIP Lounge with special guest: Former SmackDown! GM Teddy Long. As Long prepared to explain his actions from last week, MVP took this time to berate Long and blame him for his shortcomings during his rookie year on SmackDown!

That is, until Batista came out to make his presence felt in the Lounge. He issued a warning to MVP, and to show he means business, he then proceeded to trash the VIP Lounge. 

In the back, MVP goes into Vickie’s office and demands respect and that she do something about the disrespect that Batista showed him during the segment. His reward: A match with the Animal later tonight.

Second Bout: Finlay defeats Chuck Palumbo

The match began with Finlay showing Chuck some mat mechanics. But “KO” Palumbo retaliated with clotheslines and several boots to the skull. He drove several knees to Finlay’s back and finished them off with a headlock and several punches.

Hornswoggle made his presence felt with a super soaker and squirts several shots at Palumb, giving his dad a brief advantage. 

A very brief advantage, as a big boot quickly sent Finlay to the outside. Back in the ring, Palumbo continued the assault and reapplied the headlock, along with several knees to the back. Finlay recoverd with a series of clotheslines and slams. The two battled back and forth until Palumbo turned his attention to Hornswoggle.

As Palumbo approached him, Horny nails him with the green mist (aka The Irish Spring), and Finlay nails him with the shillelagh for the win.

Third Bout: Batista defeats MVP

The match began with MVP and Batista feeling each other out, but the Animal then displayed his raw strength and power. MVP tried to gain momentum, but a big boot sent him to the outside. Batista had the advantage until MVP hit him with a drop toe hold followed by The 305, sending the Beast to the outside. 

Back from commercial, MVP was in complete control of the match. Batista fired back with shoulder thrusts in the corner, but Porter retaliated with a falling arm wrench from the top rope, allowing him to focus completely on the left arm of Batista. As MVP goes for another big kick, Batista spears him nearly out of his boots.

The Animal began to build momentum and returned the favor to MVP, ramming his left shoulder into the steel ring post. MVP hit a quick elbow, but just as he went in for the kill, Batista picked him up and nailed him with the spinebuster followed by the Batista Bomb (both of these with one arm) for the win.

Main Event: Undertaker defeats Chavo Guerrero

The match began with Chavo ducking the Phenom. After almost nailing the chokeslam in the early stages, Chavo sends the Deadman to the outside to get ambushed by Edge, Hawkins, and Ryder. The referee caught wind of these actions and banished the three to the back. Kind of makes you wonder if this was the plan all along.

After Chavo attempted to get the upper hand, Taker went in for the chokeslam, only to get distracted by Bam Neely. Chavo hit a series of punches to take out the Phenom, but Undertaker fought back, going for the chokeslam again. Neely interfered once more and got cold cocked for his troubles. While the ref tends to Neely, Chavo used a low blow to drop his opponent. 

As the Latino Warrior went up top for the Frog Splash, Taker rose up and got ready for the arrival of his opponent. When Chavo came down, he was caught by the Deadman and subsequently dropped with the Tombstone Piledriver as the former World Champion (according to La Familia) picks up the win.

SmackDown! was a good show at the end, but what surprises will happen when the WWE rolls into the Rockies for RAW, ECW, and SmackDown!? Tune in this Monday when RAW goes live in Denver, Colorado.