May 2006 | Week 2 | Smackdown!
Stephanie McMahon, the newly appointed CEO of WWE decreed before this match that if her husband, HHH, were able to beat Kane in a one on one matchup that would secure an opportunity for him and Shawn Michaels, DX, to face the Brothers of Destruction at the next PPV for the World Tag Team Titles. Kane put up a very good fight but eventually was pinned after a catching Pedigree finisher from The Game.
To determine the #1 contender for Booker T's United States Championship, McMahon gave three of WWE's newest members a unique opportunity to face each other in a triple threat matchup. The winner would get a shot at Booker's belt at Backlash. Sheamus ended up brutalizing both Styles and Nakamura after his impressive showing against Booker last week. He went for the pin after a Brogue Kick on Styles but Nakamura broke it up. He then took out Nakamura and threw him out of the ring. Styles tried to capitalize while Sheamus wasn't paying attention to him but ended up running right into a second Brogue Kick and eating a pinfall as Sheamus booked his US title shot.
Continuing on with the theme of giving young guys opportunities, Stephanie McMahon announced the debut of another Irish superstar, Finn Balor. The young upstart was going to get a chance against Rob Van Dam to become the #1 contender for Eddie Guerrero's Intercontinental Championship. Balor seized upon it immediately, not even bothering to finish his entrance and instead rushing the ring to brutalize Van Dam early. RVD got back into things when the bell rang but that early advantage played on throughout the match. Van Dam started to build some momentum and went for the Rolling Thunder but Balor got his knees up at the last second. He then picked up RVD for the 1916 before climbing the top rope. Finn then hit a double foot stomp from the top rope that he calls the "Coup de Grace", nearly fracturing RVD's ribcage before picking up an insanely impressive pinfall victory.
Umaga wanted revenge on his distant family member, The Rock after he interfered and cost him his match against British Bulldog last week. So he challenged him to a one on one non-title match. At least... it was supposed to be one on one. Not long after the match started, Jimmy Uso, who was supposed to still be in WWE Developmental, came to ringside seemingly in Umaga, his uncle's corner. He then proceeded to regularly interfere in the match. The Rock had Umaga dead to rights a couple times but Jimmy distracted the ref and just ran enough interference to prevent The Great One from picking up the victory. The tables really turned when Jimmy removed the turnbuckle pad and Umaga whipped Rock headfirst into it right after. That left Rocky in a daze for just long enough to eat a Samoan Spike and Umaga to pick up a huge win. After the match, Umaga kneeled down next to Rock and grabbed a microphone declaring proudly, "Now... I'M the Tribal Chief."