SmackDown swings right off the bat as we are pre-recorded from London, England with The Highlight Reel. For some reason, the crowd noises seem faker than usual. Weird, because the British fans are always loud for most things and don't particularly need editing. Regardless, your host Chris Jericho brings out Batista to a mixed reaction of cheers and boos, and recaps the promo from Raw in which Shawn Michaels kicked Jericho in the face. Jericho claims that this proves their theory about Shawn, and that Big Dave is welcome. Batista takes exception and suggests that Jericho stay out of his business, despite being special referee for the upcoming match at Backlash. Y2J goes on to theorise that Batista is jealous because Ric Flair chose Michaels to retire him, rather than Dave. Jericho asks for a show of hands from the crowd of those who feel that he is right. There were quite a lot of hands in the air here. What a weird but novel visual. Anyway, Dave hits the Batista Bomb and leaves Y2J lying to, yet again, a mixed reaction.

Matt Hardy joins the ringside commentary team for the MVP match with Tommy Dreamer. Nothing really to it. MVP has the advantage over Dreamer, Matt puts MVP over, Dreamer gains momentum and counters, MVP recovers and kicks Dreamer in the head. Your winner: MVP. Strong heat for the champion post-match, despite a lack of reaction during it. More tellingly, no one really seemed to care about poor Tommy.

Backstage, Finlay and Hornswoggle pump up. Insert your own joke.

Mid-ring, Matt Striker moans because he has to face the troll tonight, which brings Hornswoggle out. It's sad to think that this guy has more charisma than a large sector of the roster and yet will never reach anything beyond being a laugh for kids. Comedy match alert~! Hornswoggle juggles (quite well, I might add) and throws the balls at Striker. Then he sprays Striker over and over with water guns, until the teacher snaps and knocks down Finlay at ringside. Big mistake, as Finlay throws Hornswoggle at Striker on the outside. Back inside, Finlay hits Striker with the shilleleigh and the troll hits the Tadpole Splash for the win. I've spent more time recapping this match than MVP/Dreamer. Never thought I'd see the day.

Backstage, some random bint is stood with The Big Show, recapping the wonderful segment from last week (better than Angle/Joe? Answers on a postcard). TBS says he'll finish Khali at Backlash but will deal with Mark Henry tonight.

Chavo Guerrero hits the ring accompanied by his bodyguard Bam Neilly. Tonight's opponent: Jamie Noble. The two exchange the usual chain wrestling holds and keep things relatively in Chavo's favour in a pretty slow but smooth style. Things pick up near the end with both men exchanging near-falls and Guerrero hitting the Two Amigos and seeing the third reversed into a neckbreaker. Chavo eventually nails the Frog Splash and gets the clean win. Post-match, the new bodyguard drops Noble with a Half-Nelson Slam. The crowd seems politely into it, but nothing more.

Michael Cole plugs the King Of The Ring tournament this Monday on the three-hour Raw as Mark Henry and Big Show get their fight under way. They begin with the collar-and-elbow tie-up, and then just go into the brawling. Henry locks in the bear hug that has "felt the likes of many men in the WWE". My line of the night thus far. This needs more Mike Adamle. Show kicks Henry in the face and hits the chokeslam but The Great Khali strolls to ringside and chops Show in the head, throwing him into the ringsteps. In the ring, Khali drops the giant with the Khali Bomb and poses as only Khali can do.

A video recap airs, chronicling the Undertaker/Batista match tonight. Great video and nice touch, but I wouldn't have minded seeing this last week.

Cherry is in the ring accompanied by Satan to face Victoria, accompanied by Natalya Neidhart. The story is that Cherry is scared and Victoria is the bully. Every week, I love Victoria more. "Where's your boyfriend?" Which one is supposed to be which in that team? I thought they were gay. Anyway, Cherry cries and Victoria just keeps hitting her. Victoria trash-talks Satan and the fearless stupid cow jumps on the apron to bury Victoria and distract her enough for Cherry to roll her up and score the win. I'm sorry, but why did Cherry have to be so scared and wimpy and practically squashed whilst McCool gets to act like The Undertaker? No selling. No fear. Bad-ass look. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear they were shagging...

Vladimir Kozlov squashes another jobber who I swear the ring announcer called "Leeroy Kinky". If ever there was a Hulk Hogan superstar name out there, that'd be it. A Scorpion Deathdrop does it for this one.

An Edge/Undertaker recap video is next. Lots of kissing with Edge and Vickie. Maybe we can get Edge & Vickie vs. Undertaker and McCool one day. I've always wanted to see Edge tap to a female megastar. We return to ringside where Edge, Hawkins and Ryder have their front row tickets on hand to observe the following match.

Said match is the main event: The Undertaker vs. Batista in a non-title match. The crowd is quiet but the action is pretty quick-paced to begin with, both men running on high-energy with pin attempts and a psychotic Edge watching over the barricade. Batista hits a Superplex off the top rope for the applause of the rated R-nterage. The fight spills outside and The Undertaker throws Edge over onto the floor and into the ring whilst Batista lays out Hawkins and Ryder. Big Dave and Taker corner Edge, but Chavo and his bodyguard interfere. Everyone scarpers, leaving the two babyfaces alone in the ring.

Vickie Guerrero is wheeled out at this point and announces that The Undertaker and Batista will face off next week for the World championship. The winner will face Edge at Backlash. The show closes with the epic staredown between the two, as Edge and Vickie watch on.

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