On Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 5:20 AM EST Friends and foes
By Lennie DiFino
January 4, 2008
Results courtesy of WWE.com
RICHMOND, Va. – New year, same bad luck for Chuck Palumbo. The revved-up Superstar joined Michelle McCool in a Mixed Tag Team Match on SmackDown against Kenny Dykstra & Victoria, but the two friends were unable to find a way to prevail. Palumbo has had a string of bad luck recently, and his frustrations erupted after the loss; Palumbo verbally assaulting McCool, and then left her behind as he rode out of the Richmond Coliseum on his motorcycle.
Hoe-down Showdown
Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore continued their impressive 2007 hot streak into the new year when they faced former WWE Tag Team Champions Deuce & Domino. The boys from the Other Side of the Tracks have been searching for a win for some time, but their 2008 began on a sour note. Yang & Moore hope they can carry their recent success to Tuesday night, challenging reiging champions John Morrison & The Miz for the gold in a 15 Minutes of Fame Match on ECW on Sci Fi. Will WWE's resident redneck Yang and his partner Moore's 15 minutes end with a golden celebration?
SmackDown’s new voices
When JBL departed the commentary booth to make his in-ring return on Raw, General Manager Vickie Guerrero used her power to bring Jonathan Coachman to Friday Night SmackDown as Michael Cole’s new broadcast colleague. (Meet Jonathan Coachman) Also joining the SmackDown team as its new correspondent is Lena Yada, one of the finalists from the 2007 Diva Search.
Brazen Baller
After being defeated by Finlay in the Beat the Clock Challenge, United States Champion MVP was seen in the locker room area on his cell phone, still seething. 2007 was an impact year for MVP, but the Ballin’ Superstar has his sights set even higher in 2008. His first resolution: To end the career of the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. What plans does MVP have for the 16-time World Champion, a man he has beaten before?
Clock strikes 619
The Beat the Clock Challenge on SmackDown saw the Superstars vying for the best time in order to earn the opportunity to face Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship at Royal Rumble. When all was said and done, Rey Mysterio clocked in the quickest, and the Master of the 619 will go to Royal Rumble to face the Rated-R Superstar for the gold.
Matches:
* Finlay def. United States Champion MVP (Non-title, Beat the Clock)
* Kenny Dykstra & Victoria def. Chuck Palumbo & Michelle McCool
* Chavo Guerrero def. Funaki (Beat the Clock)
* Batista vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder (No Contest, Beat the Clock)
* Jimmy Wang Yang & Shannon Moore def. Deuce & Domino
* Undertaker vs. Mark Henry (No Contest, Beat the Clock)
* Rey Mysterio def. World Heavyweight Champion Edge to become No. 1 contender(Non-title, Beat the Clock)