Rey Mysterio has had a hellacious last couple of months. He has had to endure beatings from the likes of Mark Henry, The Great Khali, Kane, JBL and Kurt Angle, but it just keeps getting worse for Mysterio. He already had to face Rob Van Dam Wednesday at WWE vs. ECW Head to Head, and just days before defending his World Championship against the homicidal, suicidal, genocidal, death-defying maniac Sabu at ECW One Night Stand, Mysterio will have to face the rough and tough Finlay in a non-title match tonight on SmackDown. What kind of shape is Rey in after his battle against RVD, and what kind of shape will the World Champ be in after Finlay is done with him? Will Rey even make it to One Night Stand?

Finlay certainly has some interesting ideas on what he’d like to do to the World Champion tonight on SmackDown.

“I’m going to take Rey on a journey that he’s never been on before,” said the fighting Irishman. “I’ve wrestled Rey Mysterio before, and I’m going to take him on a journey; I’m going to take him on a mystery tour. I’m going to rip his head off and stick it where the sun don’t shine.”

If Finlay is able to accomplish his violent goals, one would have to think that he would have to be one of the odds on favorites to get a World Championship opportunity in the near future – something Finlay believes he deserves.

“I don’t think it takes me beating Rey Mysterio to deserve a Championship opportunity. I am a competitor, and I can take anybody out at any given time. Just like anybody can be beaten at any given time, I deserved it 20 years ago, not just today.”

Although this has been yet another hellacious week for the champion, Mysterio is not shying away from having to face Finlay tonight.

“I’ve wrestled Finlay before, and he brings out the best in me,” said Mysterio. “There’s a side of him that wants to go out there and tear me apart, but there’s also a side of me that wants to go out there and defend my right of being the World Champions – my right of what I am in the ring. Even when Finlay made his debut on SmackDown, we were all stepping back because we know how tough he is. We respect him for what he’s done, and I just have to go out there and prove to myself and to the fans hat I can stand up for myself and I can beat Finlay.”

The fact that Mysterio has endured so much punishment over the last couple of months means nothing to Finlay. The fighting Irishman has no compassion for the World Champion.

“This is not a ballet. This is a fight game. I don’t care how many battles he’s been through. I’ve been through battles just like everybody else here. Another battle is just another day, and I’m going to kick his head off.”

Not only has Mysterio endured serious physical punishment as of late, but he also has to be mentally worn out. The World Champion also has a big decision to make. As WWE.com reported earlier this week, ECW’s Paul Heyman has offered the World Champion the opportunity to jump ship to the new ECW. When asked by WWE.com about his decision, Mysterio declined to comment, but did say that he would have an answer tonight on SmackDown.

How will Mysterio hold up as his hell week continues? Can he overcome the bruising Finlay? And will he even be a SmackDown Superstar anymore when the night is over? Tune in to Friday Night SmackDown tonight at 8/7 CT on UPN to find out.