Animal Unleashed: WWE SmackDown! Rebound

This week was not just about McMahon's Millions. It was also about how life on SmackDown! would be without the Phenom. Tonight, we all got our answer in physical fashion.

Here now is the SmackDown! Rebound!

The show opens with highlights from the TLC Match @ One Night Stand followed by La Familia drinking champagne in the ring awaiting the arrival of their leader, Edge. As Edge makes his way to the ring, members of his crew are smiling and applauding. Vickie also makes the announcement that on July 11th on SmackDown!, she and Edge will officially get married. Bu

But before they could bask even more, Batista crashes the party and announces that he will challenge Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship. But Vickie changes plans and tells him that he will have to earn his spot by winning an eight man tag match later on tonight. Two catches, though: 1) She picks the opponent and 2) If Batista loses, he will never get another shot at the World Title again.

First Bout: Belfast Brawl- Finlay defeats Chuck Palumbo

The match begins with a slugfest that spills out and around the ring, but a cheap shot gives Palumbo the upper hand. As the fight continues, the toys start flying out and about as KO Palumbo uses a trash can to keep control of the match.

It isn't until a drop toe hold into a trash can that Finlay recovers enough to go on the offensive. But again, Palumbo remains one step ahead and nails the Irishman with another can. He then goes out and grabs a chain from his bike. As he prepares to use the chain once again, Hornswoggle low blows him and provides enough distraction for Finlay to knock him silly with the chain for the victory.

As the show returns, the Big Show makes his appearance in the Staples Center as MVP looks on from a skybox. He talks about the Singapore Cane Match and his upcoming match against Kane for the ECW Championship at Night of Champions.

All of a sudden, Mark Henry comes out and tells the big man that he isn't championship material. So Big Show calls him out, but Henry quickly retreats before the confrontation gets physical.

Second Bout: The Great Khali defeats Deuce and Domino

If the former tag champs knew who their opponent was, they would have never gotten out of that '57 Chevy. The Great Khali made his return to SmackDown! with a handicap match against the two from across the track.

As the match begins, Deuce tries to use speed and strength to take down the big man. But Khali counters with a massive claw. After that, Domino tries his luck with him, but the Punjabi Giant hits a big elbow and a big boot to send him back to the corner. All of a sudden, both men try to take him down, only to get chopped across the head and get dropped with the Khali Bomb for their troubles as the Giant returns with a victory to the SmackDown! kingdom.

In the back, Vickie Guerrero makes yet another huge announcement, but this one to the Divas: At Night of Champions, two of the Divas will collide to be crowned the first Divas Champion, SmackDown!'s newest championship. Tonight, there will be a Golden Dreams Match to determine the first entrant in the match.

As the show returns from break, Santino Marella, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Kimmel, and Cousin Sal make their way to the ring for the next match.

Third Bout: Cousin Sal defeats Santino Marella

As the bell rings, Santino taunts his opponent with a lazy boy body slam. Sal returns to the ring with a Greco Roman takedown followed by a tight headlock that keeps Marella at bay. Following a forearm shot and an airplane spin, Sal is on the offensive.

Marella nails another slam, and continues the taunt towards Piper. As he goes off he rope, Kimmel grabs his leg and provides enough distraction for Sal to get the rollup for the upset victory. Following the match, Santino knocks down Sal and approaches Kimmel, only to get clocked with the dangerous right hand of Piper.

Back from break, the Staples Center crowd is still laughing and buzzing over the upset victory by Cousin Sal, until Kimmel announces Sal's next opponent: The Big Show. Also in the back, The Dirt Sheet is taunting Hornswoggle until Finlay intervenes and Hornswoggle chases them off with a Super Soaker.

Fourth Bout: Natalya wins Golden Dreams Match

As the match begins, the Divas all gang up on Maryse, who sprints towards the Golden Star. One by one, the Divas start sending each other out of the ring, until it's down to Michelle McCool and Maryse. After sending Maryse out of the ring, McCool goes for the star, but is stopped short by Victoria.

The two Divas battle on the top rope, and Victoria has her set up for a Superplex, which Natalya turns into a Super Canadien Powerbomb to put both Divas down for the count. Natalya then sprints up the pole, snags the Star, and earns her spot in the Divas Championship Match at Night of Champions.

Fifth Bout: Vladimir Kozlov defeats Jimmy Wang Yang

As the bell rings, Kozlov has Yang in a standing headlock and polishes it off with a big boot to the skull. He then applies a Single Leg Boston Crab, which Yang somehow gets out of.

As Yang starts fighting back until Kozlov counters with a reverse Head Ram followed by a strong Belly to Belly Slam for the quick victory.

A quick programming note: Don't forget that the WWE Draft will be June 23rd live on RAW on the USA Network!

Main Event: Team Batista defeats La Familia

Before the match even begins, the screwjob starts. Batista's partners, as chosen by Vickie Guerrero, are: Nunzio, Funaki and Colin Delaney. I know...what a bitch!

Batista and Zach Ryder start the match as the bell rings. After getting punked, Ryder taqs in Chavo. Batista just picks up where he left off with some technical power in the corner followed by a Jackhammer on the Latino Warrior. After pleading to get into the match, Delaney is physically brought in with a slam splash (with some help from Batista) as SmackDown! takes its final break.

The show returns with Kurt Hawkins and Ryder having their way with Delaney (with some help from Bam Neely), followed by Chavo. Edge finally decides to tag in and spends the duration of his time in the ring taunting Batista much to the delight of his flushing bride (insert jokes here). To add insult to injury, he nails The Animal and forces a tag between Delaney and Funaki.

Chavo is brought in to continue the punishment, and as Funaki fights back, Hawkins comes in and applies a submission. Edge is brought back in and tries to keep control of the situation, but thanks to Hawkins, Funaki is able to get the tag to the Animal.

Talk about unleashed, Batista comes in and takes everybody out, but just as he gets ready for the Batista Bomb, La Familia recovers and attacks him. But Team Batista comes in and sends everyone packing. But it's after a Double Spear to Hawkins and Chavo, followed by a spinebuster to Edge that Batista takes over again.

Following a kick to the gut to Ryder, he drops him with a Batista Bomb to pick up the much needed victory over La Familia. The party is over for Vickie Guerrero as the Animal continues his destructive ways and earns a shot at Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Don't forget that this Monday: It's all about the mon-ayy! See you Monday on RAW for McMahon's Million Dollar Mania!