If Paul Heyman’s New Year’s Resolution was to continue his dominance over the doings on SmackDown!, the very first day of 2004 may have proved that Heyman’s plans are about to be ruined. On a night when several SmackDown! Superstars saw their New Year truly become a happy one, Heyman was in anything but a celebratory mood by evening’s end.
After an announcement that Hardcore Holly would meet Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble on January 25, Heyman set out to put Holly out of action long before the match by putting Holly in a match against the Big Show. The match developed when Show spoiled Rey Mysterio’s celebration at winning the Cruiserweight Championship after he opened SmackDown! by pinning Tajiri to end Tajiri’s reign as Cruiserweight Champion.
Show used the moment not to congratulate Mysterio, but to steal the spotlight for himself, and his new shirt. After Mysterio took offense to Show’s actions, the Big Show unleashed an assault on Mysterio that brought Holly to the ring in Mysterio’s defense. With the Big Show enraged at Holly’s interference, Heyman immediately set the match between Show and Holly with the hopes that Show would be able to injure Holly as he has done to so many others.
However, in what would become a common theme for Heyman, the plan did not work out. Although Show won the battle by disqualification, Holly won the war. Using a steel chair provided by Mysterio, Holly unleashed a vicious assault on the Big Show with several chair shots to the head that left Show bloodied in the middle of the ring.
And if that was not enough to spoil Heyman’s New Year celebration, both John Cena and Chris Benoit would take care of the rest. After an altercation between Cena and Heyman where Cena questioned Heyman’s manhood for not making the trip to Iraq, Heyman thought he put Cena in a situation where he stacked the deck against Cena’s aspirations at the WWE Championship. Heyman announced that Cena and a partner of his choice would face the FBI in a Handicap Match, with the stipulation that if Cena and his partner would lose, neither would enter the Rumble.
With just seconds to find a partner before the match, Cena was saved by an unlikely partner when Chris Benoit came to the ring in Cena’s defense. The two were victorious over the FBI, sending them to the Rumble and a shot to face the WWE Champion. For Benoit, this opportunity is nothing short of golden as Heyman has repeatedly vowed that Benoit would never gain another shot at the WWE Championship as long as he is the General Manager of SmackDown!. Seeing that Benoit now has a chance to get his Championship opportunity, Heyman announced to Benoit’s face that he would be the first to enter the Royal Rumble and would have to survive the challenge of 29 others in order to get his shot at the WWE Championship. However, Benoit seemed undeterred by Heyman’s actions and vowed to find a way to victory.
Speaking of the Royal Rumble, Kurt Angle returned to the ring on SmackDown! and announced that not only would he enter the Rumble with the hopes of winning it for the first time, but he would dedicate his efforts to the men and women fighting for America’s freedom. After an emotional speech where he praised the sacrifice of America’s soldiers, Angle said he would win on their behalf.
Angle also made his presence felt a short time later when it seemed that the recent tensions between Eddie and Chavo Guerrero came to a head. After losing their match to the Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team, Chavo declared that he had enough of the actions of his Uncle, Eddie. After slapping Eddie across the face, it appeared as if Los Guerreros were about to come to blows when Angle entered the ring to separate the two and try to restore calm to the Guerrero family. By evening’s end, it was not clear whether or not Angle’s efforts were successful.
If the first SmackDown! of 2004 is a sign of things to come, there are many exciting Thursday’s ahead this year! Rey Mysterio won the Cruiserweight Championship during the first match of the year, and it is clear that the first pay-per-view event of 2004 will be an event that can not be missed. Who else will enter the Royal Rumble on behalf of SmackDown!? How will Chris Benoit prepare for what could be the greatest challenge of his illustrious career? Are Los Guerreros finished as a tag team? How will Paul Heyman react to a tumultuous beginning to 2004?
Match Results:
Rey Mysterio defeated Tajiri to win the Cruiserweight
Championship
Bradshaw defeated Rhyno
Chris Benoit & John Cena defeated the FBI in a Handicap Match to earn spots in the Royal Rumble
The Big Show defeated Hardcore Holly via disqualification
The Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team defeated Los
Guerreros
WHY CHAVO, WHY?
Jan. 8, 2004
His heart was broken, a loved one lost. Eddie Guerrero was left lying in his own blood in the middle of the ring, heartbroken, lost and hurt. Los Guerreros are no more. It is now Eddie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero – two individuals with the same last name and blood-line, but the bond ends there. La Raza is broken. The dream is over.
While there were signs for several weeks of dissention within Los Guerreros, nothing could have prepared Eddie or the wrestling world for what happened on SmackDown! After all, Kurt Angle, acting as an intermediary for Eddie and Chavo Guerrero, persuaded the two to shake hands and put their differences aside to open SmackDown!. Angle even convinced General Manager Paul Heyman to put Los Guerreros in a match against the Basham Brothers for the WWE Tag Team Championship after the Bashams attacked Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty – rendering them unable to compete.
For a while, all seemed well for Los Guerreros as they worked well together and even had the upper hand for much of the match. However, the tide quickly turned, and after the Bashams earned the pinfall victory, they proceeded to assault Eddie. Chavo was outside the ring and looked as if he was going to get a chair to help fend off the Bashams, but instead he sat on the chair and observed the attack on Eddie from a distance. After the Bashams finally left the ring, Chavo entered to help Eddie to his feet – only to knock him back down and attack him until he bled. And when the attack was finally over, Chavo added perhaps the greatest insult of all – he left the arena in Eddie’s low rider!
In the locker room, Angle tried to console Eddie and apologize for getting involved, but by the look on Eddie’s face, it was clear that there is no consolation. What that means for Eddie Guerrero remains to be seen.
Also on SmackDown!, a week after suffering perhaps the toughest night in his tenure as SmackDown! GM, Paul Heyman tried to get his plans to protect Brock Lesnar from Hardcore Holly and to destroy Chris Benoit back on track. However, the harder he tries to put forth his plan, the more it seems to backfire. First, he put Benoit in a Royal Rumble style match against all three members of the FBI. However, despite the odds, Benoit survived the challenge and found a way to throw all three members of FBI over the top rope to win the match.
Later, Hardcore Holly and the Big Show had a rematch, this
time in a Street Fight in front of Holly's Alabama faithful. In a grueling match for both Superstars,
Hardcore Holly lived up to his nickname and won the match.
Afterwards, he taunted Brock Lesnar – who sat at the announcer’s
table to offer his commentary on the match. SmackDown! ended
with the two participants in the match at the Royal Rumble for
the WWE Championship ready to go after each other … but there
are still more than two weeks to go until the Rumble! Will
Lesnar and Holly be able to last that long without getting their
hands on each other? Tune in to find out!
SmackDown! also saw Jamie Noble fail to arrive in time for his No. 1
Contender’s Match against Tajiri. In his effort to find a
“suitable replacement,” Heyman forced Nidia to
participate in Noble’s place. The blinded Nidia was forced to
compete without her cane and Tajiri quickly won. When Tajiri
went to cause further injury, Rey Mysterio – who had earlier
defeated Akio – ran to the ring to help Nidia. Noble would
appear later and shoved Mysterio out of the way as he helped
Nidia to the back, but a confused Nidia failed to understand
what happened.
Has the relationship between Noble and Nidia opened a new chapter? How will Eddie Guerrero react to the attack from Chavo? What will Paul Heyman have up his sleeve as the Royal Rumble quickly approaches?
Match Results:
Chris Benoit defeated the FBI in a Royal Rumble Elimination
Match
The Basham Brothers vs. Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty was ruled a No
Contest
The Basham Brothers defeated Los Guerreros
John Cena defeated A-Train
Rey Mysterio defeated Akio
Tajiri defeated Nidia
Hardcore Holly defeated the Big Show in a non-title Street Fight
HEYMAN BITES OFF MORE THAN HE CAN CHEW
Jan. 15, 2004
Paul Heyman thought he picked the perfect night to gamble. After all, his SmackDown! show took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena – home to one of the most popular casinos on the East Coast. So Heyman entered SmackDown! thinking that there was no better night to gamble … especially when the GM could stack the odds completely in his favor.
After a confrontation with John Cena to open SmackDown! in which Heyman was saved by an opportunistic Rhyno, Heyman set up what he thought was a sure thing when he arranged the first-ever Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap Match between Rhyno and Cena. Had Cena lost, he would have had a bar of soap put in his mouth, courtesy of Heyman. However, a Cena victory would leave Heyman with the soapy taste in his mouth. And to get the inside track, Heyman created another stipulation where Rhyno would compete under ECW rules (i.e. no rules) whereas Cena would be given zero tolerance for any rules infractions.
Unfortunately for Heyman, his bet went bust and the result left him with a bitter pill to swallow, literally. Rhyno did not come through, and Cena scored the win, leading to a Heyman escape attempt. Heyman apparently had rolled the dice once too often and crapped out -- courtesy of Chris Benoit -- who dragged Heyman back to the ring. With Benoit holding Heyman down in a Sharpshooter, Cena gave Heyman a taste of his own medicine and proceeded to wash the GM’s mouth out with soap. He then repeated, just to make sure Heyman was thoroughly cleansed.
Heyman has started 2004 with three straight weeks of disappointment. During the next 10 days, he will have SmackDown! and then Royal Rumble to turn things around. Does he have a plan in mind? Tune in to find out!
Heyman’s misery paled in comparison to that of Eddie Guerrero. One week after suffering an assault at the hands of his nephew, Chavo, Guerrero entered the arena to learn from Kurt Angle that the elder Chavo Guerrero – Eddie’s brother and Chavo’s father – would be there to discuss the situation. The meeting held some promise at the beginning as the elder Chavo apologized for his son’s actions. However, soon after Chavo, Jr. entered the mix, the situation changed, and both father and son attacked Eddie, leaving him lying in the ring for the second week in a row. As a result of the incident, Eddie and Chavo Guerrero will meet at the Royal Rumble, and based on the last two weeks, this match could get ugly. Eddie later appeared to want to attack Kurt Angle, but he instead thanked Angle for showing him the light and he claimed he will now turn his attention on gaining revenge on his nephew at the Rumble.
Speaking of Royal Rumble, thanks to Heyman’s plans, several more participants in the 30-man Battle Royal were revealed on SmackDown! via the results of Qualification Matches. However, it seemed as if the matches Heyman set up led to some dissention among two SmackDown! teams. First, the much anticipated WWE Tag Team Championship Match between the Basham Brothers and Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty was cancelled in lieu of a one on one match between the two challengers. Rikishi scored the win and will enter the Royal Rumble, but the match appeared to lead to a rift between the Rikishi/Scotty 2 Hotty team. The same thing happened when all three members of the FBI had a Battle Royal to determine the lone Rumble participant from the three. Nunzio gained the win, but neither Chuck Palumbo nor Johnny Stamboli seemed happy. The Big Show and both members of the Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team also earned spots in the Royal Rumble and a potential shot at the WWE Championship. Show beat Funaki despite wearing a neck brace, courtesy of Hardcore Holly as a result of their match a week ago. There was actually a restraining order for Holly to stay 50-feet away from Show, a restraining order which Brock Lesnar took full advantage of and stayed by Show's side the entire evening.
With one SmackDown! to go before Royal Rumble, is there dissention within the ranks of the FBI and Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty? Will Hardcore Holly take a final crack at Brock Lesnar before their Royal Rumble match? Who will be the final SmackDown! participants in the Royal Rumble?
Match Results:
Jamie Noble defeated Tajiri in a No. 1 Contender’s Match –
Noble will face Rey Mysterio at Royal Rumble
Rikishi defeated Scotty 2 Hotty to earn a spot in the Royal Rumble
The Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team defeated the Basham Brothers to earn spots in the Royal Rumble
Nunzio defeated Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli in a Battle Royal to earn a spot in the Royal Rumble
The Big Show defeated Funaki to earn a spot in the Royal Rumble
John Cena defeated Rhyno in a Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap
Match
CAN EDDIE REBOUND FOR THE RUMBLE?
Jan. 22, 2004
Out to destroy his cousin and brother, Eddie Guerrero entered the final SmackDown! before the Royal Rumble as a man on a mission. Teaming with Kurt Angle against the elder and younger Chavo Guerrero, Eddie sought retribution for their vicious assault last week and the opportunity to gain the advantage heading into Sunday’s match with his former tag team partner. However, by evening’s end, Eddie’s life would be filled with more questions than answers, and he now must wonder what else can go wrong just hours before what could be the biggest match of his career.
The Guerrero/Angle team had anything but a smooth start as Eddie attempted to start the match, only to be held back by Angle, who started the match in order to allow Eddie to calm down. That theme would reoccur throughout the match as Eddie tried to enter the mix on several occasions, only to be thwarted by Angle. When the time finally came and Eddie seemed to be in control, Angle himself would spoil the evening, albeit by accident. Angle fell victim to a thumb to his eye that was so vicious that he was temporarily blinded. When his partner came over to check on his status, Angle gave Eddie an Angleslam, apparently mistaking him for one of the opponents. As Angle was escorted from the ring by doctors, a felled Eddie was on his own, and Chavo hit the Frogsplash for the win.
In three days, the former Los Guerreros team
will engage each other one-on-one in what could be one of the
most intense matches in Royal Rumble history. Can Eddie get it
together before the match or will his misfortune continue?
Also on SmackDown!, while Eddie Guerrero’s fortunes were heading
south, those of John Cena and Chris Benoit have never been
better, as the duo once again survived an attempt by Paul Heyman
to thwart their efforts to win the Royal Rumble. One week after
getting a taste of his own medicine at the hands of Cena via a
bar of soap, Heyman vowed to begin a new era for SmackDown! and
“clean up” the recent vulgar activities he thought were taking
place, courtesy of Cena and Benoit. By putting Cena and Benoit
in a match against Rhyno, Matt Morgan, the Big Show and Brock
Lesnar, he thought he could take care of Cena and Benoit once
and for all.
However, as seems to be the usual case in recent weeks, Cena and Benoit scored the victory after a Big Show no-show and early departure by Lesnar evened the odds. There may be no WWE Superstars on a tear more than Cena and Benoit heading into the Royal Rumble and Sunday could see Heyman’s worst nightmares come true if either Superstar gains the win. However, in what could be another sign of things to come, Big Show did appear later on to attack both Benoit and Cena, and left both lying in the ring. Is there any Superstar out there who can throw the largest professional athlete on earth over the top rope?
Speaking of the Rumble, for the second straight week on SmackDown!, Heyman allowed different SmackDown! Superstars the opportunity to earn spots in the Rumble via Qualifying Matches, where it was revealed that Tajiri, A-Train, and Bradshaw will enter the Rumble, as will Ernest “The Cat” Miller. Will a SmackDown! Superstar win the Rumble and go to WrestleMania? Find out this Sunday during the Royal Rumble.
SmackDown! comes to you live next week from our Nation’s Capital and will have all of the fallout from Royal Rumble. Who will win the Rumble and go to WrestleMania? Will Eddie Guerrero gain revenge on his cousin and brother? Will Rey Mysterio be successful against a ruthless Jamie Noble?
Match Results:
Rey Mysterio defeated Chuck Palumbo
Tajiri defeated Billy Kidman in a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match
A-Train defeated Shannon Moore in a Royal Rumble Qualifying
Match
Chris Benoit & John Cena defeated Rhyno, Matt Morgan, Big Show &
Brock Lesnar
Bradshaw defeated Akio & Sakoda in a Triple Threat Royal Rumble
Qualifying Match
Chavo Guerrero, Jr. & Chavo Guerrero defeated Eddie Guerrero &
Kurt Angle
HEYMAN RESPONDS; GUERRERO CLIMBS ANOTHER STEP
Jan. 29, 2004
Paul Heyman seems to like it when his back is pressed firmly against a wall. Just when it seemed as if the SmackDown! General Manager had committed the most grievous error of his tenure, Heyman not only stunned the SmackDown! audience by vindicating himself … he left them gasping in awe!
Three days after the revelation that 2004 Royal Rumble Champion Chris Benoit had defected to RAW thanks to a legal loophole, Mr. McMahon entered the ring on SmackDown! seeking answers. How could a triumph for SmackDown! turn into tragedy so quickly? What would Heyman do to make it up to the SmackDown! audience who had packed the MCI Center in Washington, D.C.? Heyman had an answer. He didn’t just take SmackDown! in a new direction, he made television history … and in the process, the next star for World Wrestling Entertainment may have been born.
For the first time in the history of broadcast television, Paul Heyman’s SmackDown! presented a Royal Rumble Match. 15 SmackDown! Superstars entered the ring in 90-second intervals to determine the No. 1 Contender for the WWE Championship – who would challenge for the Title at No Way Out. For the 13 SmackDown! Superstars who were unsuccessful at the Royal Rumble, this was a chance at vindication and another shot at the WWE Championship. For Eddie Guerrero and Hardcore Holly – who did not compete in the Rumble Match – it was the opportunity of a lifetime.
In the end, despite suffering an assault moments before the Rumble Match that left him temporarily unconscious, Guerrero earned the trip to No Way Out with a thrilling elimination of Kurt Angle – who had entered the ring first and lasted to the very end. Despite the presence of Superstars such as Big Show, John Cena and Rikishi, it is Latino Heat who will be the next to challenge Brock Lesnar. He has held almost every championship a WWE Superstar can aspire to hold during his career and now Guerrero stands on the final step to the top of the mountain. Will he take that next step? Find out at No Way Out on February 15.
However, with three weeks to go until Guerrero
faces Lesnar, Guerrero’s challenges on the road to No Way Out
will not be easy. Namely, his rivalry with nephew Chavo did not
end with Eddie’s victory at Royal Rumble. On SmackDown!, Chavo
vowed revenge. What does this mean for Eddie as he prepares for
the biggest match of his career? Stay tuned to find out.
Speaking of Lesnar, the WWE Champion responded to Goldberg’s
challenge that he is "next" by claiming that Goldberg is a “Brock Lesnar wannabe” and that he is not afraid of anybody. In fact,
he challenged any SmackDown! Superstar to a non-title match and
laughed when Orlando Jordan accepted the challenge. After the
match, Lesnar was in no laughing mood as Jordan pushed Lesnar to
the limit, ultimately losing to the WWE Champion via the Brock
Lock.
In other action, Rey Mysterio and Jamie Noble met once again for
the Cruiserweight Championship in a match that concluded with a
stunning turn of events for Noble. After Noble’s girlfriend,
Nidia, interfered with Noble’s attempt to attack Mysterio,
Mysterio gained the win, prompting Noble to thrust Nidia into
the ring. During an argument between the two, Nidia stunned
Noble when she removed her sunglasses to reveal that she has regained her
vision! What does this mean for Noble and Nidia? How long was
Nidia able to see? Stay tuned to SmackDown! to find out.
SmackDown! comes to you next week from Cleveland just over two weeks before No Way Out. Will any other matches for the pay-per-view event develop? How will Nidia react to Noble’s recent actions now that she can see? How will Eddie Guerrero handle the dual challenges of Chavo Guerrero and his upcoming match for the WWE Championship?
Match Results:
The Basham Brothers defeated Billy Kidman & Paul London
Rey Mysterio defeated Jamie Noble
Brock Lesnar defeated Orlando Jordan
Eddie Guerrero won the SmackDown! Royal Rumble to earn a shot
for the WWE Championship at No Way Out
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS AS NO WAY OUT APPROACHES
Feb. 5, 2004
In his efforts to put forth the notion that he is the General Manager of not only a weekly wrestling show, but a sports entertainment empire, Paul Heyman declared on SmackDown! that his show is superior not only because of its action and excitement, but – as Heyman put it – because it is a “land of opportunity.” And on SmackDown!, Heyman’s words proved to be true as opportunity knocked for several SmackDown! Superstars.
And nobody answered when opportunity came knocking in a bigger way than the tag team duo of Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty. Finally getting the opportunity to challenge for the WWE Tag Team Championship with no pre-match interference, the team made the most of their chance when they stunned the Basham Brothers to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. Despite the fact that there appeared to be some dissention between Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty three weeks ago when they competed in a Royal Rumble Qualifying Match against each other, the duo never looked as strong as they did on SmackDown! as they began their first reign with the WWE Tag Team Championship!
Speaking of opportunities, with No Way Out 10 days away and WrestleMania XX on the horizon, the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage of them all brought out the best in the Superstars of SmackDown! Earlier in the evening, Heyman announced that he would reveal the man who would be the No. 1 Contender for the WWE Championship at WreslteMania XX. By evening’s end, the competition became so fierce that it will require a Triple Threat Match at No Way Out to determine the No. 1 Contender. The Big Show – fresh off of his impressive victory over Billy Gunn, Kurt Angle – who defeated Hardcore Holly, and John Cena – who was able to pick a fight with Angle and Big Show – will face each other at No Way Out, with the winner gaining the opportunity of a lifetime … to go to WrestleMania XX and compete for the WWE Championship.
But who will be the WWE Champion when WrestleMania rolls around? Brock Lesnar and Eddie Guerrero – who will meet for the WWE Championship at No Way Out – had their first face to face encounter on SmackDown! with both proclaiming why they will win on Feb. 15. Lesnar claimed that Guerrero’s recent accomplishments were impressive, but not nearly as impressive as his defeats of Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and many others. Guerrero responded by saying that Lesnar’s accomplishments do not match the personal adversity he has faced to get to this point in his career, and that beating Lesnar to reach the top of the mountain would simply be overcoming another obstacle. Guerrero vowed that Lesnar will face all of the hated that Guerrero holds within that makes him Latino Heat.
And if the upcoming SmackDown! pay-per-view was not enough to heat up an otherwise chilly winter night, the announcement from the hottest Divas on SmackDown! surely took care of it. Torrie Wilson and Sable, two Divas who have graced the pages of Playboy Magazine individually, will now do so together! The March issue of Playboy will feature both Torrie Wilson and Sable. And next week on SmackDown!, both lovely ladies will be present for a live interview!
SmackDown! also saw an escalation of activities within the Cruiserweight Division when Chavo Guerrero set his sights on Rey Mysterio and the Cruiserweight Championship. Guerrero arranged for a match between the two at No Way Out when he vowed he would not only defeat Mysterio, but remove his mask as well! However, as a tune-up, Mysterio met the elder Chavo Guerrero and defeated him handily. After a post-match assault at the hands of Chavo Guerrero, will Mysterio be able to fend off both father and son to retain his Cruiserweight Championship after No Way Out? Stay tuned to find out!
SmackDown! next week will come to you just three days before No Way Out and if tonight’s action was a sign of things to come, the developments for the SmackDown! pay-per-view event are going to come quickly! Will somebody challenge the newly crowned WWE Tag Team Champions? How will the participants in the Triple Threat No. 1 Contender’s Match prepare for the biggest opportunity of their careers? Will Nidia be ready for her No Way Out Match against Jamie Noble?
Match Results:
Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty defeated the Basham Brothers
Big Show defeated Billy Gunn
Billy Kidman defeated Jamie Noble
Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero, Sr.
Kurt Angle defeated Hardcore Holly
EDDIE'S ADDICTION ON FULL DISPLAY; NO WAY OUT APPROACHES
Feb. 12, 2004
Eddie Guerrero is once again an addict. But this time around, he is proud to hold his head high and proclaim that his addiction is no longer to the ruinous effects of drugs and alcohol, but to his family, his friends, and the satisfaction of a job well done in the ring. He is addicted on success, and will do anything to defeat those who hold him back. His addiction is to the fire that burns within and resonates every time Latino Heat prepares for battle.
On the final SmackDown! before No Way Out, Guerrero’s addiction sent a message that could leave Brock Lesnar trembling until their match for the WWE Championship in three days. While Lesnar mocked Guerrero and his chances to win at No Way Out – even providing a Mariachi Band to poke fun at Guerrero’s Latino heritage – Guerrero got angry, and overcame serious odds to score a major win. Shortly before Guerrero was to take the ring with Kurt Angle to face Lesnar and the Big Show, Angle was knocked out by an unknown assailant and rendered unable to compete. When it seemed like Guerrero would be forced to face the two giants alone, John Cena saved the day by entering as Guerrero’s partner.
Still, the Guerrero/Cena team faced a serious size disadvantage and struggled to gain momentum throughout the match. However, a sudden emergence of Angle distracted Lesnar and Big Show long enough for Guerrero to grab Cena’s chain. After hitting Lesnar with the chain, Guerrero pinned him, proving credibility to Guerrero’s claim that he will do anything to win at No Way Out. While Lesnar claimed that Guerrero has no chance to win on Sunday, Guerrero may have proved that he is the biggest threat Lesnar has ever faced!
Speaking of No Way Out, the news concerning the pay-per-view event came fast and furiously on SmackDown! First, instead of having to worry about both Chavo Guerrero and his father for their No Way Out encounter, Rey Mysterio decided to even the odds and dropped a bombshell. In Mysterio’s corner will be legendary boxer Jorge Paez, the former IBF Featherweight Champion, who has 79 career wins in the boxing ring to his credit. Paez quickly proved that he will be more than just a celebrity guest at No Way Out when he stepped in the ring to face the elder Chavo Guerrero – and quickly knocked him out with a vicious hook!
Also, another match was added for the pay-per-view event and a major stipulation was added to an existing match when it was announced that Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship for the first time when they compete in a Handicap Match against the Basham Brothers and Shaniqua. Later on SmackDown!, Nidia made an appearance to once again get under ex-boyfriend Jamie Noble’s skin. First, she announced that for their match at No Way Out, Noble will be blindfolded and forced to compete with the same conditions that Nidia faced for more than two months. Moments later, Nidia – who had entered the arena via a truck with a wood-chipper in tow – added injury to insult when she destroyed the mink coat that Noble bought her via the wood-chipper!
SmackDown! also featured an interview with Torrie Wilson and Sable that was revealing in more ways that one. The Diva duo revealed that their former tensions have been set aside now that they spent some quality time together. They also claimed that the RAW Diva team of Miss Jackie and Stacy Keibler are acting out of petty jealousy in their efforts to claim hottest Diva status. The interview featured several images from the photoshoot for their Playboy Magazine appearance … a magazine that will be on newsstands on Friday, Feb. 13!
In three days, the first SmackDown! brand pay-per-view event in the Paul Heyman era will take place with many questions set to be answered. Can Eddie Guerrero climb to the top of the mountain? Who will be the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XX? Will there be new Cruiserweight or WWE Tag Team Champions?
Match Results:
Rey Mysterio defeated Tajiri
Danny Basham defeated Scotty 2 Hotty
Hardcore Holly defeated Rhyno via disqualification
Bradshaw defeated Shelton Benjamin
Eddie Guerrero & John Cena defeated Brock Lesnar & Big Show
ANGLE SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS; SHOW-CENA AT WRESTLEMANIA
Feb. 19, 2004
Only days after finally winning the WWE Championship at No Way Out, Eddie Guerrero learned his first lesson from the top of the mountain … the view from above is a very lonely one. On SmackDown!, while he battled his nephew Chavo, who recently betrayed him, in order to retain the WWE Championship, he learned of a new foe to stab him in the back. Kurt Angle – a man who has spent weeks proclaiming friendship with Guerrero and who was the first to publicly congratulate Guerrero on SmackDown! – ruined what was supposed to be Eddie Guerrero’s night of celebration by unleashing an assault that was as vicious as it was shocking on Guerrero at the end of his match with Chavo.
Angle was in the ring after being appointed
referee for the match by SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman.
Instead of counting Eddie’s attempted pinfall after a Frog
Splash on Chavo, he attacked Eddie and left him bloodied in the
ring. What Angle failed to do was explain exactly why he
assaulted his former friend. It was Angle who went out of his
way to defend Eddie when Chavo Guerrero first turned on
him. Angle even defended Eddie earlier in the evening when Heyman
questioned who assaulted the elder Chavo Guerrero in the back of
the arena.
Less than two hours after leading the crowd to three cheers for
Eddie Guerrero, Angle tried to destroy him. Is this solely
because Angle is the No. 1 Contender for Eddie’s WWE
Championship, or was there another motive? Watch SmackDown! next
week and perhaps Angle will have some answers.
In other action, the first SmackDown! match for WrestleMania was
set when John Cena challenged the Big Show for the U.S.
Championship. Shortly after Show defeated Hardcore Holly to
retain the U.S. Championship, Cena appeared to once again mock
Show and pointed out that Show has never defeated Cena before.
Now the two will meet on the biggest stage of them all. Will Cena
gain his first Championship or will Show finally have Cena’s
number? Find out on March 14 at WrestleMania.
Speaking of WrestleMania, former WWE Champion Brock Lesnar made a plea to Mr. McMahon for the opportunity to face Goldberg at WrestleMania XX. In fact, after Goldberg’s actions helped lead to Eddie Guerrero’s victory at No Way Out, on SmackDown! Lesnar literally got on his knees and begged Mr. McMahon to make the match. Will Mr. McMahon allow a Goldberg-Lesnar match to happen? Stay tuned to find out!
SmackDown! also saw another Superstar get attacked in the back of the arena without any witnesses. This time it was the elder Chavo Guerrero who was knocked out and was ultimately unable to referee the match between the Guerreros to end the evening. After Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, and now the elder Chavo were attacked, who is behind these attacks? Who is next to be attacked? Can SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman gain control of this situation? Watch SmackDown! next week to see if there are any further assaults take place or if the culprit is found!
With the Road to WrestleMania continuing, SmackDown! next week comes to you from Kansas City, where Kurt Angle will have some explaining to do. Why did he attack a man he called his friend? How will Eddie Guerrero respond? Will Mr. McMahon have a response to Brock Lesnar’s pleas?
Match Results:
Kurt Angle & John Cena defeated the Basham Brothers
Big Show defeated Hardcore Holly to retain the U.S. Championship
Eddie Guerrero vs. Chavo Guerrero ended in a no contest
LATINO HEAT IN HOT WATER
Feb. 26, 2004
When the bell rings, the fire and passion known as Latino Heat has produced one of the greatest Superstars to ever set foot in the ring. He is the WWE Champion. He is one of the most popular men in the world of sports entertainment. But, when Latino Heat flares up between matches, sometimes the fire burns the very man who produces it, and on SmackDown! Eddie Guerrero’s hot blood got the best of him.
One week after suffering an assault from Kurt Angle that was as painful as it was shocking, Guerrero arrived to SmackDown! a man on a mission. He wanted answers and he wanted revenge, and it did not matter what he had to do to get them. Ultimately, all Guerrero’s temper got him was a night in jail, courtesy of SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman.
After interrupting a Heyman meeting with Tajiri and company, Guerrero hit the ring and demanded Angle’s presence. When Angle did not appear, Guerrero stalked his former friend to the back of the arena. When Angle was finally spotted, Heyman did his best to keep the two separate, and an untimely shove from Guerrero sent Dawn Marie to the floor, screaming in pain. For his actions, Guerrero was banished from the arena for the night … but his night was not over.
Later, Angle hit the ring to give his side of the story and his version was one in which his actions helped preserve the integrity of American values. Angle said that a former drug addict who endorses lying, cheating and stealing should not be WWE Champion because such a spokesman could ultimately destroy the moral cornerstone of America. Angle admitted that his actions were unpopular but added that history will remember him as a role model and American Hero.
Angle’s words brought Guerrero out of nowhere, and the WWE Champion had his opportunity to attack Angle, albeit a brief attack. Soon, Guerrero was surrounded by security guards and arrested for a night in jail. Angle taunted Guerrero all the way to the police car and guaranteed that he will become the WWE Champion at WrestleMania. With two SmackDown! appearances before their WrestleMania XX match, will Guerrero and Angle be able to keep their hands off of each other until March 14? Stay tuned to find out.
Speaking of WrestleMania, three days after Mr. McMahon dropped several WrestleMania bombshells on RAW, Heyman used SmackDown! to drop one of his own. While it seemed as if Rey Mysterio was headed to victory in a Fatal Fourway No. 1 Contender’s Match to earn the right to challenge Chavo Guerrero at WrestleMania for the Cruiserweight Championship, Heyman stunned the SmackDown! audience with an interruption. Thanks to a protest by Tajiri about Japanese representation in the SmackDown! match, the match was cancelled. In lieu of a one on one Cruiserweight Championship Match at WrestleMania, there will be an Open Cruiserweight Elimination Match where Chavo Guerrero will defend the Championship against any Cruiserweight who seeks entry. The winner of the Elimination Match will walk out as Cruiserweight Champion.
And Mysterio spent little time proving his desire to win.
Although he already competed in a match on SmackDown!, Mysterio
went to the ring for a second time when John Cena was down a tag
team partner with Eddie Guerrero’s banishment from the arena.
Guerrero and Cena defeated the Big Show and Chavo Guerrero in a
thrilling match that featured Cena giving a post-match FU to the
elder Chavo Guerrero.
Also on SmackDown!, Brock Lesnar was interviewed for the first time
since RAW when it was announced that Lesnar will face Goldberg
at WrestleMania and that Stone Cold Steve Austin would be the
special guest referee. After giving an F-5 to Austin at the end
of RAW, Lesnar explained on SmackDown! that Austin earned the
F-5 for giving Goldberg the front row ticket to No Way Out that
led to Lesnar losing the WWE Championship. Lesnar said that at
WrestleMania, Goldberg will feel the pain that Lesnar felt at No
Way Out, and if Austin seeks any form of revenge, he will learn
the meaning of, “Off the Hook Pain.”
As WrestleMania XX approaches, SmackDown! comes to you from Savannah, Georgia – the final stop for SmackDown! before returning to the New York area for the week preceding WrestleMania. With his anger not satisfied, will Eddie Guerrero try to get to Kurt Angle again? How will Brock Lesnar continue to prepare for perhaps the challenge of his life at WrestleMania? What other WrestleMania developments will take place?
Match Results:
The Fatal Fourway No. 1 Contender's Match for the
Cruiserweight Championship was cancelled by SmackDown! General
Manager Paul Heyman
APA defeated Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty in a non-title match
Brock Lesnar defeated Billy Gunn
Rey Mysterio & John Cena defeated Big Show & Chavo Guerrero
EDDIE LIES ... BUT HEYMAN/ANGLE DECEIVE
March 4, 2004
Paul Heyman and Kurt Angle will stop at nothing to take the WWE Championship away from Eddie Guerrero. They will delve into his past and expose the demons of drug and alcohol abuse that once haunted Latino Heat. They will provoke Guerrero’s temper only to have him arrested, and use that arrest to try to justify their actions against Eddie. But only on SmackDown! did they show the world exactly how far they would go to destroy Eddie Guerrero when they gave him a taste of his own medicine!
Guerrero claims to be the one who lies, cheats, and steals … but on SmackDown! it was deception from Heyman and Angle that led to Angle leaving Guerrero knocked out in the ring for the second time in three weeks. Moments after Eddie used trickery to infuriate Heyman when he admitted lying over an apology to Heyman for his actions a week earlier, Heyman challenged Eddie to a match … a match where Guerrero’s hands would be handcuffed behind his back!
The “challenge” was nothing more than a ruse as once Guerrero’s hands were locked into the cuffs, Heyman made his escape to reveal that Angle – who Heyman claimed was home in Pittsburgh and who had appeared “via satellite” earlier in the evening from Pittsburgh – was in the building the entire time. Angle chased Guerrero to the ring while he taped his hands and prepared to attack the helpless WWE Champion. Although Guerrero put up a valiant fight considering that he had no use of his arms, Angle ultimately left Guerrero lying in the middle of the ring after knocking him out with the WWE Championship Belt.
For three straight weeks, Angle has used deception and trickery to gain the upper hand on Eddie Guerrero. With only one SmackDown! left before WrestleMania, can Guerrero find a way to gain his edge back? Watch SmackDown! next week to find out!
Also on SmackDown!, the hunt for the WWE Tag Team Championship is quickly becoming a free-for-all as several teams are now trying to knock each other off in their quest to dethrone Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty. First, in what was supposed to be a singles match between Scotty 2 Hotty and Danny Basham, Doug Basham was able to pull a switch with his brother to gain the victory over Scotty. Later, the Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team raised the stakes in their feud against the APA when they dressed up as Faarooq and Bradshaw and mocked the team by mimicking them. The effort brought out the APA who went on the attack, only to be stunned when the Basham Brothers made their way to the ring. Seconds later, it was a four-some when Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty ran to the ring to join the fray. With three teams seemingly ready to do anything to get a WWE Tag Team Championship opportunity, is one team finally going to get it? Stay tuned to find out!
SmackDown! also saw two WrestleMania participants in top form as both Brock Lesnar and John Cena scored impressive victories. Lesnar revealed himself as the man who stole Stone Cold Steve Austin’s ATV when he drove out in the vehicle for his match with Hardcore Holly. After defeating Holly handily, Lesnar declared that now that Austin is “out of the way,” Goldberg is “next” at WrestleMania. Cena quickly defeated his nemesis, A-Train, and the victory brought out his WrestleMania opponent, the Big Show, who declared that while WrestleMania is where it all begins … again -- for Cena, it is going to be the end.
Will the action leading up to both Lesnar and Cena’s matches at WrestleMania escalate any further on the final SmackDown! before WrestleMania? Will there be any last-second developments surrounding WrestleMania XX? Only one way to find out … watch the final stop on the Road to WrestleMania as SmackDown! comes to you from Atlantic City, N.J. next week.
Match Results:
Brock Lesnar defeated Hardcore Holly
Danny Basham defeated Scotty 2 Hotty
Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman & Ultimo Dragon defeated Tajiri, Akio
& Sakoda
John Cena defeated A-Train
Eddie Guerrero vs. Paul Heyman ended in a no contest.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR LESNAR/HEYMAN?
March 11, 2004
He called for unity. He cried for solidarity. He begged for his Superstars to do what was good for SmackDown! In the end, after months of head-games and favoritism, all SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman got was a taste of his own medicine … and a Stunner.
On SmackDown!, Stone Cold Steve Austin made an appearance to reclaim his prized ATV and to send a message that when he officiates the match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg at WrestleMania, he will not be pushed around. By the end of the evening, every single member of the SmackDown! roster seemed to get the message, some in a harder way than others. Before Austin’s entrance, Heyman went man-to-man to ask them to defend their show from a RAW intruder. He even lined the entrance ramp to the ring with SmackDown! Superstars to prevent Austin from getting his hands on Lesnar, Heyman and the ATV. However, much to Heyman’s chagrin, when it was time to take action, his very own roster did show solidarity and unity … but by letting Austin through and then leaving the arena. In perhaps the biggest slap to Heyman’s face, the very last man to let Austin by was the Big Show – a one-time Heyman confidant – who actually encouraged Austin to go after Heyman and Lesnar.
Seconds later, Austin had his ATV back and proceeded to gain a measure of revenge by bloodying Lesnar and giving Heyman the customary Stunner. As WrestleMania fast approaches, it is clear that Stone Cold was unaffected by weeks of mind games and antics by Lesnar. In fact, the Rattlesnake appears stronger than ever. The question that remains is what becomes of Heyman as SmackDown! General Manager? Was this a mutiny or a simple sign of respect for a legend like Austin? Stay tuned to find out!
The final SmackDown! before WrestleMania also featured many of the participants in the upcoming pay-per-view extravaganza in top form, particularly those defending Championships on Sunday. Big Show was victorious in a Handicap Match where he looked about as mean as he has ever looked before. However, judging by John Cena’s victorious effort against Rhyno, it seems as if their match for the U.S. Championship on Sunday is going to be nothing short of a dog-fight. Eddie Guerrero also enjoyed an impressive victory, as did Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty – who defeated former WWE Tag Team Champions the Basham Brothers. At the end of his match, Guerrero proclaimed that he will not only win his WrestleMania match against Kurt Angle, but he will then, “lie, cheat and steal more than ever before!”
SmackDown! also revealed that the upcoming Cruiserweight Open at WrestleMania has the chance to get out of control in a hurry. What started as a singles match between Rey Mysterio and Jamie Noble quickly escalated into an Eight Man Tag Team Match when several participants in the Open interfered to try to gain the edge before WrestleMania. By the end of the match on SmackDown!, all 10 Cruiserweights were in the ring fighting it out. With nine hungry challengers ready to do anything to win the Cruiserweight Championship, can Chavo Guerrero survive what could be the biggest match of his life? Find out at WrestleMania, and watch SmackDown! next week to see all of the fallout!
The Road to WrestleMania XX is over and the next stop for all of the Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment is Madison Square Garden for WrestleMania on Sunday at 7/6 CT, exclusively on pay-per-view. Will Eddie Guerrero or Kurt Angle be the WWE Champion? Who will be the U.S., Cruiserweight and WWE Tag Team Champions? Are Torrie Wilson & Sable the hottest Divas in WWE?
Match Results:
John Cena defeated Rhyno
Rey Mysterio, Funaki, Billy Kidman & Ultimo Dragon defeated
Akio, Sakoda, Tajiri & Jamie Noble
Eddie Guerrero defeated Shelton Benjamin
Big Show defeated John Walters & Arch Kincaid in a Handicap
Match
Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty defeated the Basham Brothers
NOT A MAN ALIVE CAN STOP HEYMAN ... BUT A DEAD MAN CAN!
March 18, 2004
The security blanket is gone, the protection is over, and Paul Heyman’s SmackDown! is quickly becoming a free-for-all. Without Brock Lesnar to serve as the muscle behind the administration, Heyman has seemingly lost control of his very own show … and the upcoming draft lottery could be the very best thing to ever happen to him!
On SmackDown!, Heyman was successful as usual in providing a competitive and entertaining program that included three Championship Matches and culminated with a match for the WWE Championship between Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio that brought the Fleet Center crowd to its feet. After winning a gauntlet to gain the Championship opportunity – including a win over the Big Show – Mysterio gave Guerrero a run for his money and seemed seconds from the WWE Championship, only to lose the match to Guerrero. While the two stood together as a sign of mutual respect for a job well done, Heyman entered the arena to announce that despite their presence in a main event match during SmackDown!, the presence of Mysterio and Guerrero on the SmackDown! roster is not within Heyman’s vision for the show. He stated that with Mysterio and Guerrero on SmackDown!, “English is a second language,” and that he hoped both get “deported” to RAW via the draft lottery on Monday.
Heyman’s tirade ended with his boldest claim of all … “there is not a man alive who can stand in my way.”
And just then … the dead man cometh. The lights dimmed, the gong rang out, and the Undertaker entered the arena. After methodically stalking Heyman into the ring, the Undertaker received the push of the evening when Mysterio and Guerrero shoved Heyman into Takers arms, and he laid the GM out in the middle of the ring via a Tombstone. For the second straight week, Heyman was left unconscious in the ring, courtesy of the Superstars on his roster. What will the upcoming draft lottery on RAW mean for Heyman and his future as SmackDown! General Manager? Can Heyman regain control of “his” show? Stay tuned!
But Heyman’s rough conclusion to the evening did not mean he could not cause some damage. In fact, an era is over on SmackDown! as the APA has had their last call together. After Faarooq mocked Heyman backstage for last week’s Stunner by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Heyman replied with a challenge that if the APA did not defeat Scotty 2 Hotty & Rikishi for the WWE Tag Team Championships, “they” they would be fired. When the APA was unsuccessful, “they,” turned into Faarooq, and the APA is no more. In fact, when Bradshaw was informed that he could remain on SmackDown!, even he turned his back on his former partner and friend, and Faarooq stormed out of the arena in anger at Bradshaw’s lack of unity.
This was the final SmackDown! before the draft lottery to take place on RAW and next week, SmackDown! begins a new era when it comes to you from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Who will comprise the new SmackDown! roster? Will Paul Heyman be able to regain control of his show? What new rivalries will develop as a result of the lottery? Watch RAW to see the draft lottery, and tune in to SmackDown! next week for the first night in a new era. It all happens at 8/7 CT on UPN!
Match Results:
John Cena defeated Rhyno
Scotty 2 Hotty & Rikishi defeated the APA
Shelton Benjamin defeated Charlie Haas
Shelton Benjamin defeated Billy Gunn
Rey Mysterio defeated Shelton Benjamin
Rey Mysterio defeated the Big Show via count-out
Eddie Guerrero defeated Rey Mysterio
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE ...
March 25, 2004
It was the beginning of a new era for SmackDown! A new leader was announced. Several new Superstars were introduced to the roster. New opportunities were offered for every Superstar who competed -- and survived -- the Paul Heyman era as SmackDown! General Manager. But for WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero, the more things have changed on SmackDown!, the more they remained the same.
When Guerrero defeated Kurt Angle at WrestleMania, he may have won the battle, but the war appears to be far from over. After introducing himself as the new SmackDown! General Manager, Angle declared the beginning of a new era with SmackDown! reaching new lofty heights never attained before. And immediately, he set out to live up to his word by announcing that he had traded Triple H back to RAW in exchange for three Superstars who were considered among the elite on the RAW roster. SmackDown! lost one of the best in sports entertainment in Triple H, but by gaining Booker T and the Dudley Boyz, Angle said that he was adding Superstars who could make an immediate impact on SmackDown! and who could help lead the program to even greater heights. He also declared that SmackDown! would become the land of opportunity more so than during the administration of his predecessor.
And Angle went right to work -- providing new SmackDown!
Superstar Spike Dudley with an opportunity to win the
Cruiserweight Championship from Chavo Guerrero, and Booker T
with an opportunity to win the WWE Championship from Eddie
Guerrero. However, it was Bradshaw who stole the spotlight.
Moments after declaring that the end of the APA is the best
thing for him and that he would now advance to new heights
himself, Bradshaw stunned the SmackDown! audience when he
attacked Eddie Guerrero just when it seemed that Guerrero was
only seconds from victory over Booker T. Bradshaw unleashed a
Clothesline from Hell on a shocked Guerrero and left the WWE
Champion lying in the middle of the ring yet again. With Angle
as the SmackDown! General Manager and a new crop of challengers
for the WWE Championship appearing -- including Booker T and
Bradshaw -- will Eddie Guerrero ever be safe? Stay tuned to find
out!
Speaking of Booker T, the former RAW Superstar made it clear that the
recent transaction that brought him to SmackDown! was not a
welcome one and he declared that SmackDown! is the "minor
leagues." Although he did receive an opportunity to win the WWE
Championship, he also caused quite a stir in the SmackDown!
locker room and, according to Hardcore Holly, there are many who
are out to prove that SmackDown! will be far more formidable
than Booker T thinks. What does this mean for Booker T? Who will
be the next to offer him a challenge? Find out next week on
SmackDown!
It was a night of serious and sudden impact on SmackDown! as the recent roster changes seem to have brought a whole new attitude to the SmackDown! Superstars. What does Kurt Angle have in store for his second week as SmackDown! General Manager? Will somebody try to take out Booker T after his statements concerning SmackDown!? How will Eddie Guerrero react to the attack from Bradshaw? Only one way to find out ... watch SmackDown! next week at 8/7 CT on UPN!
Match Results:
Rob Van Dam defeated Charlie Haas
Rene Dupree defeated Billy Kidman
The Dudley Boyz defeated the Basham Brothers
Chavo Guerrero defeated Spike Dudley
Eddie Guerrero defeated Booker T via disqualification
THE GREAT AMERICAN AWARD
April 1, 2004
Like him or not, there are few Superstars in WWE who stand for American values the way SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle does. On SmackDown!, Angle spent his second week as GM trying to instill a slice of Americana into the program he is charged with bringing to a new level of success.
It is called the Kurt Angle Great American Award, and not only will it go the individual who, according to Angle, "exemplifies what a role model and hero should be," but Angle is seeking feedback from WWE fans as to who should be the winner. The winner not only gets the respect of Angle and a tremendous trophy, but more importantly, the winner will be the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. WWE fans may vote for one of the five contenders on WWE.com until midnight on Monday, with the winner being announced on SmackDown! next week.
Four of the nominees were decided upon via in-ring competition, with the Big Show, Charlie Haas, Booker T and John Cena winning their Nomination Matches. The fifth, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, was entered into the mix by order of Angle.
The man most impacted by the creation of the Great American Award is Guerrero himself, who showed on SmackDown! that he will be in top form no matter who is the No. 1 Contender. One week after falling victim to a vicious attack from Bradshaw, Guerrero had a chance to confront Bradshaw and gain a measure of revenge. While Bradshaw proclaimed that last week's antics were not personal but, "just business," Guerrero decided to make it personal by engaging in what was nothing short of a hostile takeover. After the two had words, Guerrero chased Bradshaw into the custom limo Bradshaw purchased and snared his $1,000, 10-gallon hat.
And Guerrero was not finished there. The WWE Champion decided to bring fan participation to a whole new level and attempt to prove that the hat really held 10 gallons when he allowed fans at ringside to dump their concessions into Bradshaw's hat! The result was quite a mess for Bradshaw as his prized possession was left in ruins in the middle of the ring. Guerrero has made their rivalry personal ... what will Bradshaw have planned next?
Next week on SmackDown!, the winner of the Kurt Angle Great American Award and new No. 1 Contender will be revealed. Who will win the award and be the next to challenge Eddie Guerrero?
Match Results:
The Big Show defeated Rikishi in a Nomination Match
Rey Mysterio & Spike Dudley defeated Chavo Guerrero Sr. & Chavo
Guerrero
Charlie Haas defeated Rob Van Dam in a Nomination Match
Booker T defeated Hardcore Holly in a Nomination Match
The Dudley Boyz defeated Akio & Sakoda
John Cena defeated the FBI in a Handicap Nomination Match
BRADSHAW, EDDIE STEAL THE AWARD
April 8, 2004
When General Manager Kurt Angle said he would accept fan input as to who should win the Kurt Angle Great American Award, what he did not tell SmackDown! fans was that they would account for only 50 percent of Angle's decision. Nearly a half million fans voted for the award's recipient, and Angle abided by his word and gave the award to a SmackDown! Superstar named John. The problem was that the winner was not John Cena, who led all of the finalists with more than 280,000 votes. The winner of the Great American Award and new No. 1 Contender for the WWE Championship is John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
JBL earned the award despite the vote by showing a video of himself catching several individuals attempting to enter the United States over the U.S./Mexico border. By forcing the individuals back into Mexico, JBL proved himself worthy of the award, according to Angle. However, the celebration did not last long as Eddie Guerrero entered the fray to spoil JBL's party. Moments after being told to take the night off, Guerrero stole the coveted trophy and replaced it with one that was in honor of Guerrero himself. An outraged Angle and JBL demanded the trophy back, but Guerrero had other plans as he first damaged and later destroyed the trophy intended for JBL, marking the second straight week Guerrero has destroyed property of JBL.
SmackDown! comes to you next week from Indianapolis where former partners Rob Van Dam and Booker T will meet. What will happen when these two collide? How will JBL react to Eddie Guerrero's recent actions? What will the first week for the Theodore Long/Mark Jindrak partnership bring?
Match Results:
The Dudley Boyz defeated Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty in a
non-title match
Chavo Guerrero defeated Jamie Noble
John Cena defeated Danny Basham
Charlie Haas & the Big Show defeated Rob Van Dam & Booker T
Rene Dupree defeated Orlando Jordan
Spike Dudley defeated Johnny Stamboli
There are times when SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle is a man that everybody loves to hate. There are other times when Angle is a man that can make everybody laugh. On SmackDown!, the jeers and jokes so often sent Angle’s way were suddenly silenced when the concern of the entire sports entertainment world turned his way. A horrific fall from a ledge in the belly of Indianapolis Conseco Fieldhouse, courtesy of the Big Show, left Angle bloodied, battered and unconscious as SmackDown! came to an end. Now Angle could be in for the battle of his life – and it has nothing to do with his exploits in the ring.
The incident occurred after SmackDown! was set to go off the air. The Big Show – who earlier in the evening lost a match to Eddie Guerrero after he had vowed to quit WWE if he lost – had stalked Torrie Wilson after he thought he heard her laughing at him after the loss. An enraged Show brought the Diva to the ledge and threatened to throw her off because of the situation that occurred earlier. As the cameras prepared to stop rolling to end the evening, Angle was summoned to the scene where he ran up to the ledge to try to convince Show to let Wilson go. The situation escalated to the point where Show let Wilson go, but instead grabbed Angle. After some words between the two, Angle was hurled off of the ledge and landed several feet below. As the SmackDown! cameras stopped rolling, Angle was seen unconscious on the floor in a pool of his own blood.
Next week, SmackDown! comes to you from Kelowna, British Columbia where there will be an update offered on Angle’s condition. How bad were the injuries that Angle suffered? Is the Big Show’s career with WWE over? Will Show be held accountable for his actions against Angle? Find out on SmackDown!
The incident overshadowed a night when Booker T showed that the recent change in his behavior is permanent. One week after abandoning former best friend Rob Van Dam during a tag team match, the two squared off in the ring. An otherwise clean match was marred when Van Dam became tangled in the ropes. Instead of helping Van Dam out so the match could continue, Booker T assaulted a helpless Van Dam to the point where Booker T was disqualified. The assault continued long after the bell rang, and only ended when RVD fell through the ropes to the floor. Booker T then celebrated with his trademark Spinaroony, seemingly satisfied with what he did. It seems as if Booker T is now the most hated man in the SmackDown! locker room.
SmackDown! also featured the debut of Rico as he made a grand entrance along with Miss Jackie. Rico also found an innovative way to score a victory over Charlie Haas. Instead of pinning Haas, Rico kissed his foe and then scared him away from the ring with a display of his pink underwear. Haas not only was counted out, but the interaction with Rico caused him to vomit right in front of the SmackDown! cameras.
By the time the night was over, however, all thoughts were on Angle and the serious medical situation he faced as SmackDown! came to an end. Don’t miss SmackDown! next week when Angle’s condition is updated and the fallout from this situation develops. It all happens next Thursday night at 8/7 CT on UPN.
Match Results:
John Cena defeated Chavo Guerrero
Rico defeated Charlie Haas via countout
Eddie Guerrero defeated the Big Show
Mark Jindrak defeated Spike Dudley
Rob Van Dam defeated Booker T via disqualification
The ship was rudderless, the captain was nowhere to be found … but the show continued, and SmackDown! once again produced a historic night. With General Manager Kurt Angle convalescing from serious injuries suffered at the hands of the Big Show one week ago, former General Manager Paul Heyman was asked by Mr. McMahon to steer the ship for one night only. Not only did Heyman ensure that SmackDown! ran smoothly, but by the end of the night it was clear that he can still be an impact player on the SmackDown! roster.
Not only are there new WWE Tag Team Champions, as the unlikely pair of Rico & Charlie Haas defeated Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty, but one of the greatest tag teams of all time showed their true colors. After Booker T defeated Rob Van Dam, Heyman took to the ring to announce his one-night appointment. He then turned his attention to Van Dam, who Heyman called a “disgrace to the legacy of ECW.” Heyman’s remarks brought the Dudley Boyz to the ring, as the brothers took exception to Heyman’s comments. After Heyman called the Dudleys “domesticated pets” who are no longer extreme, Bubba Ray & D-Von displayed just how much they can still shock the crowd as they turned on Van Dam and assaulted their former ECW comrade.
After Heyman told the Dudleys that their attack on RVD was, “just a start,” they proved that they were willing to do anything to be the force they were under Heyman when D-Von Dudley (with Bubba Ray’s help) defeated WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. Is this a sign of things for the Dudley Boyz? Stay tuned to find out.
Speaking of Guerrero, the loss to D-Von was just one of Guerrero’s worries, as the WWE Champion was once again victimized by John Bradshaw Layfield. The attack included a Clothesline From Hell, and Guerrero was left unconscious in the middle of the ring as SmackDown! came to a close. With their clash at Judgment Day weeks away, will Guerrero have a plan in mind to gain an edge over JBL? Find out on SmackDown!
SmackDown! also featured the inaugural Café de Rene, as Rene Dupree hosted 2004 Diva cover girl Torrie Wilson. Discussions about the 2004 Divas Magazine quickly turned into scathing questions from Dupree concerning last week’s incident with the Big Show. The situation turned ugly as Wilson slapped Dupree, who in turn doused Wilson with wine and attempted to attack her. Luckily, John Cena came to Wilson’s aid. As a result of the incident, Rene Dupree will meet Torrie Wilson one on one, next week on SmackDown!
SmackDown! emanates from Oklahoma City next week where the question is, who will be in charge? Will Kurt Angle make his return from injury or will another party be forced to take over for the night? Who will be the first to target the new WWE Tag Team Champions? Will Torrie Wilson handle the challenge of one of the toughest young Superstars on SmackDown!? Only one way to find out … watch SmackDown! next week at 8/7 PM CT on UPN.
Match Results:
Booker T defeated Rob Van Dam
Charlie Haas & Rico defeated Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty to win the
WWE Tag Team Championship
John Bradshaw Layfield defeated El Gran Luchadore
Chavo Guerrero Sr. & Chavo Guerrero defeated John Cena in a
Handicap Match
D-Von Dudley defeated Eddie Guerrero
Kurt Angle is back, but he is never going to be the same again. Two weeks removed from a horrific fall suffered at the hands of the Big Show, the wheelchair bound General Manager of SmackDown! opened the evening with a shocking announcement – he will never wrestle again. His knee is injured beyond repair, and internal injuries as a result of the plunge are just too great … the in-ring career of the former WWE Champion is now over.
Angle may be finished in the ring, but he is still a force in WWE, and his return as SmackDown! GM proved just that. Although he was ultimately unsuccessful this evening in destroying Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Rob Van Dam and anybody else trying to get in his way, Mr. Angle – as he now expects to be called – vowed that he will have the last laugh, and with a blockbuster SmackDown! coming next week, his words could very well ring true.
Guerrero, Angle’s target ever since the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, was once again in the crosshairs, but this time he finished on top. For the second consecutive week, the WWE Champion was forced to face “The Dudley” – who this week was Bubba Ray. However, unlike a week ago, Guerrero won the match, and when both Dudleys attempted to attack Guerrero afterwards, Rob Van Dam – who earlier suffered an assault at the hands of the Dudleys for the second straight week – came to the ring in Guerrero’s defense. The result was an incredible moment as Van Dam and Guerrero put their trademark aerial skills on display simultaneously as both Dudleys were felled by Frog Splashes. A furious Angle announced from ringside that, “somebody’s going to pay,” and that next week Guerrero & Van Dam will face the Dudley Boyz.
In other action, Booker T’s win over Billy Gunn was overshadowed by darkness and a gong shortly after the match. However, this time it was not a false alarm. The Undertaker finally made his appearance in the ring to confront Booker T. However, Booker T did not back down. He grabbed the urn from Paul Bearer and attacked the Undertaker. Seconds after falling to the ground, the Undertaker sat up, sending Booker T running through the crowd. However, that was a mere skirmish as the true battle between these two is coming. Angle announced that Booker T and Undertaker will meet one on one at Judgment Day. However, the Undertaker will have some obstacles before the pay-per-view event as he will be in action next week on SmackDown! by order of Mr. Angle.
Speaking of Judgment Day, Angle added a match between John Cena and Rene Dupree. As Dupree stalked Torrie Wilson at the beginning of their much-anticipated match, Cena suddenly ran to the ring to protect Wilson. An enraged Dupree demanded an opportunity for revenge, and at Judgment Day he will get his chance. Ironically, the match is for the United States Championship and, as Angle pointed out, there could be a Frenchman holding the U.S. Championship after Judgment Day.
Next week, SmackDown! emanates from Tucson where several huge matches are already scheduled. Not only will the tag team match involving Eddie Guerrero and Rob Van Dam against the Dudley Boyz take place, but the Undertaker will be in action as well. Also, it will be Chavo Guerrero vs. “The World,” as the Cruiserweight Champion issued an open challenge to any Cruiserweight he has never faced before. Who will be Guerrero's mystery opponent? Will Mr. Angle have the last laugh as he promised? Only one way to find out … watch SmackDown! at 8/7 PM CT on UPN.
Match Results:
Rene Dupree defeated Torrie Wilson
Chavo Guerrero defeated Nunzio
Booker T defeated Billy Gunn
Charlie Haas & Rico defeated the Basham Brothers
Eddie Guerrero defeated Bubba Ray Dudley
On SmackDown!, it was announced that the mother of WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero – who suffered a mild heart attack during an altercation with John Bradshaw Layfield at a SmackDown! Live Event only four days earlier – was home from the hospital in guarded condition, but the good news concerning his mother did not alleviate the pain Guerrero is suffering.
When JBL accused the Guerrero family matriarch of faking the heart attack as part of the “lying, cheating and stealing” that Eddie is renowned for, the WWE Champion lost his temper and took his anger out on everybody he could find. Seconds after Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio defeated the Dudley Boyz, there was mass chaos in the ring. With a crazed look on his face, Guerrero showed the world exactly how angry he was. He flattened both Dudleys, two referees and close friend RVD with a chair, and clearly was willing to do the same to anybody else who crossed his path.
Fortunately for JBL, the No. 1 Contender was in New York and Guerrero will have to wait another day to exact his revenge. That day could be next week in Reno, Nevada when JBL promised he would return. On the final SmackDown! before their clash at Judgment Day, will Guerrero be able to contain his emotions, or is an early altercation with JBL imminent? Find out next week.
Also on SmackDown!, if the week’s events were not bad enough for the Guerrero family already, Chavo Guerrero had a terrible evening as well. One week after challenging any cruiserweight he has never faced before, Guerrero received his match against an unlikely opponent. WWE Diva Jacqueline returned to the ring, and despite the mocking of both Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Classic, Jacqueline scored the stunning upset to win the Cruiserweight Championship in what can be considered the upset of the year. How will this affect the usually cocky Guerrero? Stay tuned to find out.
SmackDown! also featured a very special appearance by the Undertaker, who saw his first action since WrestleMania, at the order of Mr. Angle. Not only did ‘Taker have a match, but it was a Handicap Match against the FBI. If ‘Taker’s Handicap Match is a sign of things to come, Booker T could be in for a rough evening at Judgment Day as the Dead Man simply decimated the FBI, giving Nunzio a Last Ride and Johnny Stamboli a Tombstone Piledriver. Booker T spent SmackDown! looking for any edge he could gain over the Undertaker for their upcoming match. Can he find it next week? Watch SmackDown! to find out.
Speaking of Judgment Day, Rene Dupree has been the butt of many John Cena jokes leading up to their match for the United States Championship at the pay-per-view. But on SmackDown!, Dupree proved that he is no longer in a laughing mood. After Cena came to the ring to defend Torrie Wilson, Dupree unleashed one of the most savage beatings Cena has ever suffered – a beating that included Cena being crashed through the announce table. Will Cena be able to recover in time for Judgment Day?
The final SmackDown! before Judgment Day comes to you next week from Reno, Nevada next week at 8/7 PM CT on UPN.
Match Results:
John Cena defeated Doug Basham
Jacqueline defeated Chavo Guerrero to win the Cruiserweight
Championship
The Undertaker defeated the FBI in a Handicap Match
Torrie Wilson vs. Dawn Marie ended in no contest
Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio defeated the Dudley Boyz
Only 72 hours before Judgment Day, John Bradshaw Layfield raised the bar even higher. On SmackDown!, Layfield not only gained another advantage on WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero by having Guerrero arrested for an attack on JBL’s limo, but Layfield took a step that very few athletes ever take, a step that creates legends in competition … JBL guaranteed victory.
Moments after handily defeating Rey Mysterio, JBL proclaimed that winning the WWE Championship was his destiny, and that at Judgment Day he will win the WWE Championship. It was not just a statement of confidence … it was a guarantee. With Guerrero still distraught, and seemingly unable to control his emotions is JBL in the driver’s seat going into Judgment Day? Watch Judgment Day this Sunday on pay-per-view to find out.
Judgment Day was a hot topic on SmackDown!, as several matches were added to the pay-per-view event that will take place live from the sold-out STAPLES Center in Los Angeles this Sunday. On SmackDown!, it was clear that tensions between Rob Van Dam and the Dudley Boyz are still simmering after the Dudleys attempted to assault RVD once again after D-Von defeated Van Dam. Only this time, Rey Mysterio came to the ring to aid RVD and forced the Dudleys out of the ring. As a result, it will be RVD & Rey Mysterio facing the Dudleys at Judgment Day.
Also at Judgment Day, in a rematch of last week’s Cruiserweight Championship Match that saw Jacqueline pull off a shocking upset over Chavo Guerrero, the two will meet again for the title, but this time with a twist. Guerrero interrupted an interview with Jacqueline, and declared that he is not only the better competitor, but he can beat Jacqueline with one arm tied behind his back. At Judgment Day, Guerrero will have the chance to prove just that when his arm is tied behind his back for the match.
On SmackDown! it was also announced that Charlie Haas & Rico will defend the WWE Tag Team Championship against Billy Gunn & Hardcore Holly at Judgment Day. Also, Mordecai will be in the ring for the first time at the pay-per-view event.
Next week, SmackDown! emanates from Las Vegas. Did Bradshaw live up to his promise of defeating Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship? Will a Frenchman leave Judgment Day as the United States Champion? Watch Judgment Day on pay-per-view to find out. Then watch SmackDown! next week at 8/7 PM CT on UPN for the fallout.
Match Results:
D-Von Dudley defeated Rob Van Dam
Chavo Guerrero Classic defeated Jacqueline in a Non-Title Match
Booker T defeated the FBI in a Handicap Match
Hardcore Holly defeated Rico
John Cena defeated Sakoda
John Bradshaw Layfield defeated Rey Mysterio
Chavo Guerrero reclaimed the Cruiserweight Championship on Sunday night at Judgment Day. However, he had little time to celebrate, as he defended the title in a Triple Threat Match on SmackDown! against Spike Dudley and his father, Chavo Classic. Remarkably, the elder Guerrero walked away with the win and the Cruiserweight Championship after he inadvertently pinned his son. After the match, both Guerreros' faces wore looks of complete shock.
The man that refers to himself as the right hand of the father, Mordecai, was hell bent on making his presence felt this week on SmackDown! The mysterious man in white attacked and destroyed both Billy Kidman and Akio prior to their scheduled match.
Also on SmackDown!, John Cena defended the United States Championship against Rene Dupree in a rematch from Judgment Day. The match ended in controversy when Dupree delivered a low blow to Cena outside of the ring. The dirty tactic caused Cena to be counted out of the ring. Dupree went home with the winner's portion of the purse; however, he was unable to claim the gold.
Next week on SmackDown!, a count-out victory will be nearly impossible as Cena once again defends the United States Championship against Dupree. This time, the match will be contested under Lumberjack Match rules.
Match Results:
WWE Tag Team Champions Rico & Charlie Haas
defeated the F.B.I.
Chavo Classic defeated Chavo Guerrero & Spike Dudley for the Cruiserweight Championship
Rene Dupree defeated United States Champion John Cena by count out
Booker T defeated Funaki
John Bradshaw Layfield & the Dudley Boyz defeated Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam
Paul Heyman boldly challenged the Dudley Boyz to "make an impact," and they did just that this week on SmackDown! Heyman, who is not officially employed by SmackDown!, apparently obtained a ticket to the show, and walked to ringside during the opening match, which pitted Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio against Bubba Ray & D-Von. Just when it appeared to be "the beginning of the end" for the Dudleys, Paul Heyman jumped over the guardrail, grabbed Mysterio's leg and pulled the San Diego native off the ring apron and down to the floor. After Bubba Day hurled Mysterio off the announcers' table, and then tossed him back into the ring, he was quickly covered and pinned by D-Von. Security tried to arrest Heyman, but the Dudleys grabbed him and brought him backstage.
There, Heyman insulted the Dudleys -- he even slapped D-Von -- and told them they shouldn't be content to merely win a match. He pointed out that in spite of all their victories, they weren't in the main event, weren't getting the title shots and weren't making all the money they could. He told them, "Pick a victim, and make an impact, even if that victim has to be me. Or I'll find somebody to make an impact on you."
Later, the Dudleys were spotted in the parking lot, throwing someone into the trunk of their car and driving away. An urn was left behind -- revealing that the Dudleys apparently selected Paul Bearer as their victim, much to the delight of Heyman.
Also on SmackDown!, General Manager Kurt Angle named a No. 1 contender to Eddie Guerrero's WWE Championship for The Great American Bash: John Bradshaw Layfield. JBL claimed that Eddie was "lying" last week when he suddenly collapsed, and in reality was just trying to avoid another beating like the one he got at Judgment Day. Layfield added, "At the Great American Bash, what I'm doing to do you is going to be damn near criminal." JBL also said that Angle is allowing him to pick the stipulation for their match at The Great American Bash. JBL said he was going to think about it and reveal the stipulation next week on SmackDown!
Angle also ordered Eddie Guerrero into one-on-one action this week, but Latino Heat's match with Danny Basham never officially got underway. Angle interrupted and said he had come to the realization that Eddie would probably "fake another injury and then sue me." So Angle said Guerrero wouldn't be wrestling at all until he signed a release form clearing Angle of any liabilities.
Match Results:
Dudley Boyz defeated Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam
Booker T def. Scotty 2 Hotty
Eddie Guerrero vs. Danny Basham never officially got underway
Torrie Wilson & Spike Dudley def. Dawn Marie & Jamie Noble
Chavo Classic def. Akio to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
John Cena def. Rene Dupree in a Lumberjack Match to retain the United States Championship
Undertaker may have no choice but to join forces with the Dudley Boyz and Paul Heyman. One week after Paul Bearer was kidnapped by the Dudleys, Heyman told the Deadman that he'll never see Bearer again, unless he agrees to align himself with the very men responsible for the kidnapping! Heyman said, "It's not Undertaker that has Paul Heyman by the throat... it's Paul Heyman who has YOU by the throat." Heyman said he'd give Undertaker one week to think about it. What will his decision be? Find out next week on SmackDown!
Also on the show, John Bradshaw Layfield announced the stipulation for his WWE Championship Match with Eddie Guerrero at The Great American Bash (Sunday, June 27 live on pay-per-view from Norfolk, Va.). JBL said that it'll be a Texas Bull Rope Match, meaning that Latino Heat -- the master of lying, cheating and stealing -- won't be able to get disqualified because there is no disqualification. The rules of the match: One man ties his hand to one end of the rope, the other man ties his hand to the other -- and from there, anything goes! To win, you must drag your opponent to all four corners and touch them in succession.
John Cena interrupted Booker T's in-ring interview, and soon a melee ensued between the two men. General Manager Kurt Angle came out and was inadvertently knocked over by Cena. Angle -- already injured, and already no fan of Cena's -- was irate. He threatened to call the WWE Board of Directors and have Cena stripped of the U.S. Championship! Surely there will be more developments next week on SmackDown!
Elsewhere on SmackDown!, Mordecai came out to the ring for a highly unusual prayer in which he insulted the crowd in Toronto, calling them sinners, and he damned them all to hell. He said, "Father, you will forgive the sinners, but I will not!"
It was also announced that Kenzo Suzuki of Japan will debut next week on the show.
SmackDown! kicked off with a tribute to Mr. James Dudley, who died earlier this week at the age of 93. Dudley is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame
Match Results:
WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero defeated Danny Basham
Cruiserweight Champion Chavo Classic def. Funaki
Miss Jackie won the Summer Break Out Bikini Contest
Rey Mysterio def. Rene Dupree
Undertaker vs. Booker T ended in a no contest
The self-proclaimed most manipulative mind in World Wrestling Entertainment has coerced control over the most destructive force on SmackDown!
The Undertaker bowed to the pressure Thursday night, aligning with Paul Heyman and the Dudley Boys in a desperate attempt to prevent harm from coming to longtime friend and advisor Paul Bearer. With the Deadman kneeling before him, Heyman raised the urn — the symbol of his newfound power — welcoming this dark turn of events. Be sure to watch next week to learn, with the Undertaker, what Heyman has planned next.
Also, SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle’s specially devised Triple Play Challenge was supposed to be “the beginning of the end of John Cena.” Instead, the United States Champion again made a mockery of Angle by not only outlasting a trio of opponents in five-minute matches, but unofficially winning a fourth bout in overtime. Challengers Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Rene Dupree all failed to defeat Cena in the stipulated time, missing their chance to earn a title shot at The Great American Bash. But an increasingly frustrated Angle will send all three challengers to Norfolk, Va., for the pay-per-view event, anyway. It will be a Fatal Fourway for the U.S. Championship.
Fresh from the comfort of an exclusive hotel salon, John “Bradshaw” Layfield found himself in for a rough ride, courtesy of WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. Opting for a decadent meal over a match in Uniondale, N.Y., JBL just wanted a limousine ride back to the city. Instead Guerrero, posing as the driver, took Layfield for a spin … ending in a crash. On this night, the champ got the best of a tossed and battered JBL, who ended up covered in salad and dressing.
Match Results:
Kenzo Suzuki defeated Scotty 2 Hotty
Rey Mysterio def. Chavo Guerrero
John Cena outlasted Booker T
John Cena outlasted Rob Van Dam
John Cena outlasted Rene Dupree
Paul Heyman cemented his hold on the Undertaker Thursday night, ordering a “demonstration of loyalty” and calling for the Phenom to “do the right thing” at The Great American Bash 10 days from now … or else.
In a “Live Free or Die” Handicap Match at the SmackDown! pay-per-view, Heyman will pit his newest acquisition, the Undertaker, against the new WWE Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz. Why? Because “even the big dog needs to be trained,” according to Heyman. And if the Deadman doesn’t satisfy his new master, Paul Bearer will be entombed in concrete crypt.
“There will come a day where the Undertaker will realize he should be loyal to me simply based on my greatness,” said Heyman. “But in the meantime … the Undertaker feels for Paul Bearer. The Undertaker cares for Paul Bearer, and that is a weakness of the Undertaker that I’m willing to exploit.”
In the very first act of exploitation, Heyman directed the Undertaker to destroy a tag match between the team of John Cena and Rob Van Dam and the duo of Booker T and Rene Dupree. The Deadman — at Heyman’s bidding — chokeslammed RVD before delivering a Tombstone Piledriver to Cena.
Also on SmackDown!, WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero frog splashed his way past Doug Basham in an impromptu matchup, then interrupted John “Bradshaw” Layfield’s first public speech addressing his CNBC firing. What began as a rivalry has clearly turned into hatred between these two. JBL promised that “blood will flow like a river” in their Texas Bull Rope Match at The Great American Bash.
Of course General Manager Kurt Angle chimed in Thursday, sicking bodyguard Luther Reigns on Funaki (in Reigns’ WWE debut) and revealing a new wrinkle for Cena’s United States Championship defense at the Bash: It’s still a Fatal Fourway Match — but it’s also now an Elimination Match, as well.
Match Results:
The Dudley Boyz defeat Rico and Charlie Haas
with Miss Jackie (new WWE Tag Team Champions)
WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero def. Doug Basham
Kenzo Suzuki def. Spike Dudley
Rey Mysterio def. Chavo Classic (new Cruiserweight Champion)
Luther Reigns def. Funaki
John Cena/RVD vs. Booker T/Rene Dupree ended in a no contest
(Undertaker interference)
All John Cena wanted was a face-to-face, man-to-Deadman chat. What he got, thanks to General Manager Kurt Angle, was the most difficult match of his young career.
A more focused, dangerous Undertaker made a “demonstration of loyalty” out of Cena for the second straight week, systematically breaking down and tearing apart the upstart SmackDown! Superstar. When it was all over, Cena once again fell victim to a Tombstone Piledriver.
Cena left everything he had in the ring — holding his own with the Phenom and battling back from near annihilation multiple times. Cena even hit the FU as part of a well-executed counter attack, but the finisher came during a chaotic sequence that left the referee the unconscious victim of a clothesline. Cena’s cover proved fruitless, and the veteran Undertaker took full advantage of the lawless environment. First the Phenom landed a driving chokeslam. Then, he blasted Cena with a fistful of chained steel.
The hard-fought main event ended in a manner that must have felt like déjà vu for the United States Champion, and quite likely it weakened Cena only days before his Fatal Fourway Match at The Great American Bash.
Seeing the Deadman once again do Paul Heyman’s bidding was a chilling reminder of what awaits at Sunday’s pay-per-view in Norfolk, Va. Will the Undertaker save Paul Bearer from a Concrete Crypt by doing the “right thing” against the Dudley Boyz? Perhaps more importantly, will Heyman do the right thing by Bearer — or will the Undertaker’s closest confident suffocate in a tomb of cement.
In other SmackDown! action, Luther Reigns hoped to teach WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero “a little respect.” And although Reigns displayed shocking power (including an effortless press slam), Guerrero proved too wily and strong-willed. After Eddie’s famous frog splash, John “Bradshaw” Layfield could take no more, opting to soften Guerrero himself with a bull rope. Both men showed they can creatively use that rope to their advantage when the two square off in a Texas Bull Rope Match at the Bash. But it’s hard to imagine how either intense competitor will succeed in dragging the other to all four corners of the ring in succession, as the special match stipulates.
SmackDown! had major implications for The Great American Bash card. Chavo Guerrero outlasted nine other cruiserweights to earn a pay-per-view title match against Rey Mysterio. Also, two Playboy cover girls will lock bunny ears at the Bash: Torrie Wilson will tangle with Sable! For the record, all the SmackDown! Divas — including the two in-ring competitors — will still host the extravaganza.
Match Results:
Chavo Guerrero wins the 10-man cruiserweight
Battle Royal
Order of elimination: Spike Dudley, Nunzio, Paul London, Shannon
Moore, Akio, Scotty 2 Hotty, Funaki, Jamie Noble, Billy Kidman
Billy Gunn defeats Kenzo Suzuki (DQ)
Rene Dupree def. Rob Van Dam
Eddie Guerrero def. Luther Reigns (DQ)
The Undertaker def. John Cena
JBL may believe that his WWE Championship reign is the “dawn of a new era” in sports entertainment, but sundown might come on SmackDown! in two weeks time.
After the proud new champ polished off hand-picked opponent Spike Dudley, bitter rival Eddie Guerrero appeared. He informed JBL that his contract guarantees a rematch — and this time, it’s Eddie who gets to select the match stipulation. So, when SmackDown! sets down in Providence, R.I., the glad-handing JBL will have to weather Latino Heat in a steel cage.
More than one powerhouse Superstar left SmackDown! scowling: Mordecai’s undefeated streak was stopped by undersized Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio.
In an important update, we learned that Paul Bearer sustained severe internal damage — including injuries to the lungs and trachea — when he was entombed in a Concrete Crypt by the Undertaker at The Great American Bash. The devious Paul Heyman gloated over the Bash outcome, telling the Fayetteville, N.C., crowd that he “compelled the Undertaker to face his only weakness.” Heyman clearly felt Bearer had been holding the Phenom back, and will do so no longer.
“Now the Undertaker has no conscience. Now the Undertaker has no restraints,” Heyman said Thursday night. But now that the Undertaker is unrestrained, Heyman better hope the Deadman doesn’t come for him.
SmackDown! also had implications for United States Champion John Cena. He had words with Kenzo Suzuki and watched Booker T earn the No. 1 contender slot when Booker emerged from a Triple Threat Match with Rob Van Dam and Rene Dupree. As a result, Cena will square off against the five-time WCW Champion next Thursday, with the U.S. title on the line.
Lastly, referee Charles Robinson almost didn’t make it out of Fayetteville intact. After botching the Bash match between Torrie Wilson and Sable, General Manager Kurt Angle ordered Robinson to ref Thursday’s rematch. The contest, in which Torrie triumphed with a DDT, went without incident. Still, Angle wasn’t satisfied, throwing Robinson into the ring to wrestle big man Luther Reigns. Luckily for Robinson, Charlie Haas had unfinished business with Reigns and stepped between the two when the battle had barely begun.
Match Results:
Booker T defeats Rob Van Dam and Rene Dupree
(Triple Threat Match) to become the No. 1 contender.
Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio def. Mordecai (non-title
match)
Torrie Wilson def. Sable
The match between Luther Reigns and Charles Robinson was stopped
when Robinson was incapacitated and Charlie Haas intervened
JBL def. Spike Dudley
Winnipeg, Manitoba, was a tough place to be a title holder on Thursday night. WWE Champion JBL was deceived, United States Champion John Cena was stripped and the 18-time tag champs fell to a couple of crisp, counterattacking cruiserweights.
After months of trying to wrestle the United States Championship away from Cena through a steady diet of difficult matches, General Manager Kurt Angle finally succeeded — by taking an out-of-the-ring shortcut. Angle vacated the belt after Cena defied previous warnings and put his hands on the SmackDown! GM. But it might be worthy to note that at the time, Cena was battling his scheduled opponent, Booker T, as well as enforcer Luther Reigns, a cane-wielding Angle and fiery Kenzo Suzuki. A Reigns sneak-attack and powerslam left Cena writhing in the ring; Angle’s proclamation added insult to injury.
After nearly losing the WWE Tag Team titles on Velocity, The Dudleys were wary of the courageous tandem of Paul London and Billy Kidman. They isolated London in classic Dudley fashion, using their superior size to grind down the challenger. But both London and Kidman proved far more resilient than expected, eventually turning the tables on D-Von and Bubba Ray.
With a WAZZUP! headbutt of their own, the challengers began building momentum. When a London crescent kick set up Kidman’s patented Shooting Star Press, we suddenly had an upset special. The new WWE Tag Team Champions were met with a hero’s welcome backstage, and surprisingly, they even received a congratulatory handshake from the beaten Dudleys.
WWE Champion JBL hand-picked another opponent Thursday, seemingly ensuring a smooth path to next week’s Steel Cage Match with Eddie Guerrero. Promising a “champion vs. champion” competition, JBL brought out a Mexican title holder, El Gran Luchadore.
Just as planned, JBL dominated with power moves. But when he tossed El Gran Luchadore to the outside, things quickly got interesting. The masked Mexican Superstar switched with an near-identical wrestler under the ring — one who could hold his own with the WWE Champion. Suddenly, JBL had his hands full with his opponent. And before he could fully sort out the circumstances, El Gran began to strut just like Latino Heat! After finding himself on the wrong end of the “Three Amigos” suplexes, JBL knew something was amiss and made for the entrance ramp. The familiar-sounding second Luchadore reminded JBL that next week, there will be no running from the Steel Cage.
Match Results:
Rob Van Dam defeats Mark Jindrak
Paul London and Billy Kidman def. The Dudleys (new WWE Tag Team
Champions)
JBL and El Gran Luchadore wrestle to a no contest
Chavo Guerrero/Akio/Jamie Noble def. Spike Dudley/Scotty 2 Hotty/Rey
Mysterio (Six-man tag match)
John Cena def. Booker T (DQ; United States Championship vacated)
WWE Champion JBL retained his title in a Steel Cage Match Thursday night, but the bigger story was who gave him a crucial assist: SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle.
Angle, who earlier in the evening said he’d likely be wheelchair-bound for life, made a shocking and all-too-physical appearance during the match between former champion Eddie Guerrero and JBL. As the masked El Gran Luchadore, Angle scaled the 15-foot-high cage, grabbing Guerrero and holding him long enough for JBL to escape for the victory. Eddie succeeded in unmasking Angle before he could make his getaway, revealing Angle to be a fraud and trickster with an unnecessary leg cast and wheelchair.
Angle promised that this would be “a night no one will ever forget.” But at the time he seemed to be referring to his plans for John Cena — not the night’s main event in which the WWE Championship was decided in a Steel Cage Match for the first-ever time on SmackDown!
Before donning the garb and mask of a Mexican champion, Angle made a big-time match for next week: John Cena vs. an infuriated Luther Reigns. Angle also placed Cena in another unfair situation — an Elimination Handicap Match against Rene Dupree, Booker T and Kenzo Suzuki. Cena managed to eliminate two of his opponents, but Booker T finished him off after getting a little help from Luther Reigns. With the big win, is Booker T first in line for the vacant United States Championship?
Earlier, Spike Dudley got some unsolicited help from the Dudleys during a tag-team match. The Dudleys seemed quite pleased until D-Von lost to Paul London one-on-one. With the rollup victory, London stated his case that winning the WWE Tag Team Championship with Billy Kidman wasn’t a fluke, after all.
Lastly, John Heidenreich revealed that he’s now aligned with the dastardly Paul Heyman. Only time will tell what influence Heyman will have on the young WWE Superstar.
Match Results:
Spike Dudley and Rey Mysterio defeat Chavo
Guerrero and Jamie Noble
Booker T (eliminated Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree) def. John Cena
(Three-on-one Handicap Elimination Match)
Paul London (with Billy Kidman) def. D-Von Dudley (with Bubba
Ray Dudley)
WWE Champion JBL def. Eddie Guerrero (Steel Cage Match)
General Manager Kurt Angle, drunk on power, had a blast firing dedicated SmackDown! employees Thursday night … until the one man who outranks Angle put his foot down.
In a surprise appearance, Mr. McMahon showed Angle what a berating from the boss feels like — firing GM Angle for his wheelchair masquerade before placing him back on the active roster of Superstars. To cap it all off, Mr. McMahon ordered Angle to face Latino Heat Eddie Guerrero at SummerSlam.
In another huge SummerSlam development, the Undertaker announced to JBL and the world that he’ll challenge for the WWE Championship at the Toronto pay-per-view on Aug. 15. He made the declaration with a chokeslam, leaving JBL unconscious in the middle of the ring. It was a quick and calamitous turnaround for the WWE Champion, who went from no SummerSlam opponent to a future date with The Phenom all in the blink of an eye.
Angle’s firing clouded the United States Championship picture considerably. Before being removed from his duties, Angle promised the title to Booker T. But it was John Cena who scored an impressive win over the formidable Luther Reigns on Thursday.
There were quite a few Dudley sightings on SmackDown!, as Bubba Ray beat Billy Kidman. D-Von came up short against Rey Mysterio, but Spike won a huge Triple Threat Match against Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble to become the No. 1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Championship.
All that action contributed directly to next Thursday’s card. Spike will get his shot against good friend Rey Mysterio, and The Dudleys will try to become 19-time tag champions when they get their rematch against Paul London and Billy Kidman.
Also announced was a stellar Velocity main event: Rob Van Dam will take on Rene Dupree this Saturday night.
Match Results:
Spike Dudley defeats Chavo Guerrero and Jamie
Noble (Triple Threat No. 1 Contender Match)
Bubba Ray Dudley (with D-Von) def. Billy Kidman (with Paul
London)
WWE Champion JBL def. a Philadelphia youth
The Fatal Fourway Lingerie Match with Sable, Dawn Marie, Torrie
Wilson and Miss Jackie never officially gets underway
Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio def. D-Von Dudley (Non-title
match)
John Cena def. Luther Reigns
The July 29 episode of SmackDown! was easily the busiest in recent memory. Not only was a new General Manager named by WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon, but three titles were on the line, as well. As if that was not enough, Eddie Guerrero characteristically stole items from Kurt Angle's old office and put them up for bid on Auction.WWE.com. The following items were stolen, and can now be bid on. All proceeds will go to Tomorrows Children's Fund, which helps children with cancer:
This week's SmackDown! may have been the greatest night in the long career of Theodore Long. The former manager and referee was named General Manager of SmackDown! His first order of business was to straighten out the United States Championship picture. In a SmackDown! first, Long pitted eight WWE Superstars in an Elimination Match. The last man standing would be the U.S. Champion. When the smoke cleared, it was Booker T pinning John Cena, then Rob Van Dam, to pick up the win and capture the championship.
Not only was a new U.S. Champion crowned on SmackDown!, but so was a new Cruiserweight Champion, as Spike Dudley pinned Rey Mysterio's shoulders to the mat to secure the title. The win, however, came after Bubba Ray and D-Von interfered on behalf of Spike. The new Cruiserweight Champion was distraught about learning how he won, as the interference came without his knowledge. Next week on SmackDown!, Spike will team up with Mysterio to try and gain some revenge against the Dudleys.
In other championship action, Paul London and Billy Kidman were able to retain their WWE Tag Team Championship by defeating the Dudleys. The win, however, came after some Rey Mysterio interference. It appears as though Mysterio believes that turnabout is fair play.
It was also announced that Funaki, Tony Chimel and the SmackDown! Divas were given their jobs back by Mr. McMahon. This happened after SmackDown! went off the air last week.
Match Results:
Spike Dudley defeated Rey Mysterio for the
Cruiserweight Championship
WWE Tag Team Champions London & Kidman def. the Dudleys
Booker T won an Elimination Match for the U.S. Title.
Order of elimination:
Charlie Haas by Billy Gunn
Rene Dupree by Luther Reigns
Kenzo Suzuki by DQ
Billy Gunn by John Cena
Luther Reigns by John Cena
John Cena by Booker T
Rob Van Dam by. Booker T
The cocky WWE Champion, JBL, attempted to make a joke out of his upcoming title defense against the Undertaker at SummerSlam. Thinking Undertaker was not in the arena this week, JBL called him out to the ring in an attempt to prove he was not scared.
Just as JBL planned, the Undertaker's music rang through the arena. However, rather than having the Deadman come out to the ring, JBL arranged for a mini-Undertaker to come out. The young man, dressed in Undertaker clothing, stood about three feet tall. The WWE Champion then showed his dominance over the mini-Undertaker by picking him up for the Tombstone. It was at this moment that the Undertaker's music hit again. This time, the real Undertaker came to confront JBL. Luckily for the champ, Orlando Jordan ran to the ring to save him before Undertaker could do any real damage.
Speaking of Orlando Jordan, the young man made his return to the ring after a long hiatus. It has been learned that Jordan, who is one of 11 children, took the time off to tend to family matters.
Elsewhere on SmackDown!, John Cena defeated Rob Van Dam in a thrilling No. 1 Contender's Match for the United States Championship. As a result, Cena was awarded a shot at Booker T. This will not be a regular one fall match, however. Right after the match, General Manager Theodore R. Long made the announcement that Cena and Booker will do battle in a best of five series of matches. The first Superstar to pick up three wins will be the undisputed U.S. Champion. The first match in the series will take place at SummerSlam.
In one of the more despicable acts seen this year on SmackDown!, Spike Dudley turned on his partner Rey Mysterio to join forces with his brothers D-Von and Bubba Ray. To prove his point, Spike went as far as to put Mysterio on a table and jump off the top rope onto him.
In other SmackDown! action, Kurt Angle looked great in his return to the ring, forcing Charlie Haas to tap out. Also, Eddie Guerrero , along with the SmackDown! Divas, raised the value of the Kurt Angle WWE Auction items.
Match Results:
John Cena defeated Rob Van Dam
Orlando Jordan def. Rene Dupree
Kurt Angle def. Charlie Haas
WWE Tag Team Champions Kidman & London def. The Basham Bros.
The Dudleys def. Spike & Rey Mysterio
Despite fleeing from the ring last week with a scared look on his face, JBL announced this week that he was not afraid of the Undertaker. In fact, JBL guaranteed a victory over Undertaker this Sunday at SummerSlam. How could the WWE Champion make such a bold prediction? According to JBL, it's because he is going into the match with a plan that will focus on exploiting the Undertaker's few weaknesses. What this plan is is unsure at this moment. Be sure to watch SummerSlam, live on pay-per-view this Sunday, to find out.
JBL then introduced his new Chief of Staff -- the same man that aided JBL last week when faced with the Undertaker. That man is Orlando Jordan. Dressed equally as dapper as JBL, Jordan spoke to the SmackDown! crowd. According to the youngster, he used to expect handouts. He simply sat around and waited for good opportunities to happen to him. Everything changed for Jordan when he saw JBL. According to Jordan, JBL showed him not to just sit around and wait for opportunity. You must grab it for yourself.
Later in the night, in a match arranged by JBL, Orlando Jordan took on the Undertaker in one-on-one action. The young Chief of Staff looked impressive against the legend, despite losing the match by disqualification when JBL interfered. JBL's attempt to soften his challenger just days before SummerSlam seemed fruitless, however, as the Deadman simply sat up after receiving a Clothesline From Hell.
An interesting piece of footage aired, featuring Heidenreich and Paul Heyman. It was not unlike the others that have ran in weeks past. However, Heyman did hint towards Heidenreich victimizing somebody at SummerSlam this Sunday. Whether or not this becomes a reality remains to be seen. Was Heyman hinting at SummerSlam appearance for Heidenreich?
Just days before they meet in what is promising to be an unbelievable match, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero met each other in the middle of the SmackDown! ring. Each one accused the other of lying, cheating and stealing at one point or another in their brutal rivalry. In the end, however, both men reluctantly and physically shook hands at the orders of General Manager Theodore R. Long. There will obviously be no hand shaking this Sunday when they meet at SummerSlam.
SummerSlam has been widely recognized as WWE's answer to the Summer Games. In a prelude to SummerSlam, Theodore Long ordered a Summer Games Relay Match. The contest was one fall to a finish, featuring two teams of three. The match began with two men in the ring. At the end of a five-minute period, a new Superstar would relieve his team's man. This cycle would continue until there was a winner. The teams -- Team Cena (John Cena, Charlie Haas and Rob Van Dam) and Team Booker (Booker T, Luther Reigns and Rene Dupree). After more than five periods of non-stop action, it was John Cena getting the pinfall victory over Booker T, leaving fans to speculate whether this was also a prelude to the best of five series Cena and Booker have coming up. Only time will tell.
MATCH RESULTS:
Spike Dudley defeated Paul London
Nunzio def. Chavo Guerrero
Undertaker def. Orlando Jordan via DQ
Team Cena def. Team Booker
Take notice, Eric Bischoff. Your counterpart on SmackDown! is dropping bombshells.
In what was literally and figuratively huge news, Theodore Long announced to the crowd in Hamilton, Ontario, that he had rehired the force known as Big Show. As if that wasn’t enough, we also learned that Tough Enough will return on SmackDown! and UPN with the winner claiming a cool $1 million.
In contrast, Latino Heat Eddie Guerrero was hot and bothered after Kurt Angle gave his lowrider a new paint job. The Olympic Champion left his tag match with Luther Reigns to retrieve two cans of white paint, which he used to soil Guerrero’s prized vehicle.
Meanwhile, Angle’s bodyguard-turned-partner got the worst of a match made by GM Long. First, Rey Mysterio hit a 619, which bounced Reigns into a perfect position to suffer a frog splash from Eddie. That got the three-count, but Guerrero’s wheels took a beating, too.
Earlier, a HALO brace-wearing JBL lamented the treatment he got from Undertaker at SummerSlam. While reliving his trip through a limo roof at the Deadman’s hands, the infamous bell tolled. The WWE Champion and Chief-of-Staff Orlando Jordan exited through the crowd before the Undertaker could even make his way to the ring area.
Rob Van Dam may wish he had made a quick exit following his win over rival Rene Dupree. While still recovering from the impact of hitting a Five-Star Frog Splash, Kenzo Suzuki attacked. The Bronze Warrior picked apart what was left of Mr. Thursday Night after an exhausting bout with Dupree.
John Cena also suffered a sneak attack from the Dudleys, who were led by an arrogant, bossy and confident Cruiserweight Champion. As a result, Cena got a match with D-Von, winning with the FU.
There’s already a great deal to anticipate for SmackDown! next week. Paul Heyman’s latest protégé, Heidenreich, will debut. Also, Cena will face United States Champion Booker T in Match No. 2 of their best-of-five series. Cena leads 1-0 after scoring the opening pinfall at SummerSlam.
MATCH RESULTS:
Cruiserweight Champion Spike Dudley defeats Scotty 2 Hotty
Jamie Noble & Chavo Guerrero def. Paul London and Billy Kidman
(non-title match)
John Cena def. D-Von Dudley
Rob Van Dam def. Rene Dupree
Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio def. Kurt Angle & Luther Reigns
John Bradshaw Layfield has had better nights.
Still recovering from major injuries suffered during SummerSlam, JBL lost his ten-gallon hat and then was painfully separated from his back brace and neck halo by an enraged Undertaker Thursday night on SmackDown!
Still, the one thing JBL held on to happened to be his most prized possession:
The WWE Championship.
After catching SmackDown! GM Theodore Long at a very bad time early in the show, JBL was forced to put his WWE Championship on the line against Undertaker in the main event in Fresno.
But since JBL was in no shape to compete, Long designated JBL Chief of Staff Orlando Jordan to wrestle the Deadman. If Jordan lost the match, JBL lost the Championship.
And while Jordan proved a worthy opponent, his inexperience began to show as the Phenom connected on a big chokeslam and eventually a massive Tombstone.
But before Taker could earn the certain three-count, JBL managed to get a grip of the referee’s leg, pulling him out of the ring. The intentional disqualification secured a win for the Undertaker, but more importantly, it guaranteed JBL would retain the WWE Championship.
Undertaker made sure JBL paid for his meddling, tearing off his back and neck supports before planting the WWE Champion right next to his trusted employee with another chokeslam.
Also on SmackDown!, United States Champion Booker T evened his best-of-five series with John Cena in a tightly-contested match. Booker T, who guaranteed last week he would win the next three showdowns, used a well-timed backslide and a little bit of leverage from the ropes to get the crucial victory.
In other big news, Long announced that Kurt Angle would face nemesis Eddie Guerrero in a Best-of-Three falls match next week on SmackDown!
The match was made after Latino Heat inadvertently detailed Long’s beloved 1989 Lincoln Town Car with a metal pipe. Guerrero was under the impression the car belonged to Angle, who now might pay dearly for his parking lot rouse.
Paul Heyman finally introduced the WWE to Heidenreich at SmackDown! The giant but seemingly unstable Superstar wasted no time in making his presence felt, pummeling announcer Josh Mathews in a fit of unbridled rage. Will Heidenreich live up to the hype?
MATCH RESULTS:
Rob Van Dam defeated Kenzo Suzuki, but was then greeted with
a brutal double-team from Suzuki and a meddling Rene Dupree.
Angle def. Rey Mysterio in a match that was also part of Angle’s punishment for ruining Long’s car.
U.S. Champion Booker T def. John Cena
Billy Kidman def. Chavo Guerrero.
Undertaker def. Orlando Jordan via DQ
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