Full Credit: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com
Smackdown for March 17th opened with the Smackdown opening video, then the announcers recapped how John Cena gave General Manager Theodore R. Long the FU last week for standing in the way of him getting his hands on JBL.
Kurt Angle vs. Marty Jannetty. Angle came out first, saying that despite the Rockers reunion on Raw, there is no way to prepare for a match with an Olympic champion. Angle made a pun about Jannetty knowing how to “rock” and tonight we would see if he could “tap”. The fans chanted “Marty” at the start of the bout. Angle backed Jannetty into the corner on a lockup, then broke clean. Angle and Jannetty exchanged holds on the mat, with Jannetty keeping up with Angle. The “Marty” chant started up again as Angle missed an elbowdrop and Jannetty kipped up. Angle grabbed a side headlock, hit a shoulderblock, then went back to the headlock. Jannetty reversed the headlock into a crucifix, but Angle went back to the hold. Angle hit another shoulderblock, but Jannetty came back with an armdrag. Jannetty dropped a knee on Angle’s arm, then went to an armbar. They traded reversals on an armbar, with Jannetty taking make over. Angle went to the corner to force a break, and broke clean.
Angle grabbed a front facelock, but Jannetty reversed into a hammerlock. Angle snapmared out into a chinlock, but Jannetty reversed back into the armbar. Angle scooped up Jannetty and sent him over the top rope. Jannetty skinned the cat, pulled Angle over the top rope with a headscissors, then skinned the cat back into the ring. Jannetty kicked Angle between the ropes, then hit a top rope axhandle to the floor. Jannetty returned to the ring as they went to commercial.
Back from the commercial, Angle had Jannetty down on the mat in a reverse bear hug, and rolled Jannetty’s shoulders to the mat for a two count. We saw that during the break, Angle had thrown Jannetty into the ringpost. Jannetty elbowed out of the bear hug, but Angle hit a knee to the gut for a two count. Angle delivered a vertical suplex for another two. Angle hit a backbreaker for another two, then applied a bodyscissors. Angle ripped at Jannetty’s face while maintaining the hold. Jannetty escaped with a jawbreaker, but Angle tossed him with a released belly to belly suplex. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Jannetty countered into an armdrag. Jannetty worked over Angle in a corner, but missed a charge and Angle hit a German suplex for a trio of two counts. Angle applied a inverted bear hug, but Jannetty rolled it into a pinning position for a two count. Angle floated into a camel clutch variation, driving his knee into Jannetty’s back. Angle went into a waistlock, and tried to roll Jannetty into a pinning position. Jannetty battled back, and hit Angle with a DDT. The “Marty” chant started again. Jannetty hit some right hands, missed a clothesline, but turned right around and hit a reverse elbow. Jannetty ran into an Angle boot, but came right back with a spinning leg lariat. Jannetty pounded Angle in a corner, and Angle went to powerbomb him out, but Jannetty took him over with a rana.
Jannetty went to the top rope and hit a flying bodypress, but Angle rolled through into a cover of his own for a two count. Angle then hit a German suplex and pulled the straps down. Angle went for an Angle Slam, but Jannetty rolled through it and cradled Angle for a two count. Angle grabbed Jannetty’s leg for the ankle lock, but Jannetty kicked it away before he could apply it. Jannetty rolled up Angle from behind for a two count. Angle went for the ankle lock again, but Jannetty rolled out if it, sending Angle face first into the turnbuckles. Jannetty went for the Rocker Dropper, but Angle grabbed Jannetty’s foot and applied the ankle lock. Jannetty went to kick it away, but Angle held on. Jannetty rolled over and kicked Angle over and over, but Angle wouldn’t let go. Angle added a leglace to the ankle lock, and Jannetty struggled in the hold for some time, before tapping out at the eighteen minute mark. Winner: Kurt Angle.
General Manager Theodore R. Long addressed the Smackdown audience about John Cena’s attack last week, saying that type of action would not be allowed. JBL interrupted Long, saying he expected Cena to be suspended for what he did last week (mentioning the attack on himself as well as the Long incident). Long said that Cena was not suspended, but if he laid his hands on JBL again, he would forfeit his Wrestlemania title shot. Long did say that if the two were in a match together, Cena could do whatever he wanted to JBL. JBL seemed happy with that, until Long told him that JBL and the Bashams would face Cena, Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero later tonight.
Backstage, Chavo Guerrero approached Eddie Guerrero, asking where Rey Mysterio was. Chavo told Eddie that Rey was holding him back, saying Eddie was settling for being tag team champion when he was WWE champion last year. Chavo said that Rey beat Eddie before they started teaming, and Eddie now teaming with him was a disgrace to the family. Chavo told Eddie he should stop using the Guerrero name, and walked off. Eddie threw a chair across the room and seemed very agitated by what Chavo had said.
Torrie Wilson and Joy Giovanni were posing for pictures with fans in the crowd, wearing green dresses for St. Patrick’s Day.
Booker T vs. Luther Reigns. Booker’s wife, Sharmell (former Nitro Girl/interviewer), was shown in the crowd. Before the match could begin, Heidenreich came out and joined the announcers at ringside. Booker and Luther locked up, with Booker breaking clean in the corner. Reigns hit a kick to the gut, but missed a clothesline. Booker hit a series of chops, but Luther came back with a Hot Shot, and followed with a clothesline. Heidenreich had a headset on, but wasn’t saying anything. Reigns put Booker in a head vice, and threw him to the mat as the fans began chanting for Booker. Reigns hit a short arm clothesline for a two count, then applied a rear chinlock. Booker hit a back suplex and delivered a series of right hands. Booker hit a trio of clotheslines, then planted him with a spinebuster. Booker missed a side kick, ducked a clothesline, then hit a superkick. Booker did the Spinarooni, then hit the ax kick for the clean pin at the three minute mark. Winner: Booker T.
Heidenreich stood on the announce table and got on the mic as Booker T was leaving. Heidenreich told Booker not to leave, as he had a poem for him. Heidenreich read a poem thanking Booker T for “showing him the light”. Heidenreich said that Booker T had shown him a new way to live his life. Heidenreich thanked Booker and “the whole world” for this. Heidenreich said “this is real” while Booker gestured that Heidenreich was nuts before leaving.
The Kurt Angle-Christy Hemme “When Harry Met Sally” promo for Wrestlemania aired.
The Randy Orton-Undertaker contract signing was next. Theodore R. Long was in the ring, and began to talk about the match, when Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff’s music hit, and Bischoff came to the ring. Bischoff said that Raw would dominate the interpromotional matches at Wrestlemania, and brought out Randy Orton. Long then introduced the Undertaker, pointing out his 12-0 record at Wrestlemania. Undertaker came out, and walked around the table set up in the ring, with Orton always making sure to stay on the opposite side. Undertaker signed the contract, then turned it to face Orton. Orton, before signing, grabbed the mic and said he had respect for the Undertaker. Orton said he will make Undertaker 12-1, and said he was not afraid. They moved face to face with each other, and Orton said 12 men (actually, 13, one was a handicap match) had tried and failed. Orton said he would not fail, and called himself the “Legend Killer” again. Orton signed the contract, then slapped the Undertaker. Undertaker took off his hat, and started shaking in the ring. The lights flickered, and Randy Orton jumped out of the ring. Smoke filled the arena, and Undertaker raised his hands. Lightning bolts crashed down on either side of Orton, and exploded. Orton backed out of the arena, looking spooked, as Undertaker glared at him.
We had a flashback to Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania III to hype Hogan going into the Hall Of Fame.
Miss Jackie and Lauren Jones were posing for pictures with fans in the crowd, wearing green dresses for St. Patrick’s Day.
Paul London vs. Billy Kidman. The announcers put over that London is now (by virtue of his win over Akio on Velocity) is now the number one contender to the Cruiserweight Title. They said he would get his title match “eventually”. They also mentioned that this was Kidman’s return from injury, and put over the past between the two men. They went for a test of strength, with Kidman kicking London in the gut. London reversed several move attempts by Kidman, grabbing a sunset flip for two, and hitting a dropkick after a monkey flip for another two. London was backdropped to the apron, and went for a slingshot, but Kidman dropkicked him, sending London crashing to the floor. Kidman trash talked London on the floor and tossed him back into the ring for a two count. Kidman kicked London in the back and drove his knee into it, applying a modified camel clutch before going back to stomping it. Kidman choked London across the middle rope, then snapmared him and kicked him in the back. Kidman applied a rear chinlock, but London elbowed out. Kidman was given a drop toe hold into the turnbuckles. Kidman went for a backdrop, but London kicked it away and hit a series of chops, followed by a flying forearm and a clothesline. London hit a rana, and followed with a dropsault for a two count. Kidman rammed London into a corner, then set him up for a superplex. London shoved Kidman off, but Kidman came back with punches and tried it again. London threw off Kidman, then hit a 450 splash off the top rope for the pin at the six minute mark. Winner: Paul London.
We saw that Carlito Caribbean Cool was sitting behind a snack counter, reading a newspaper. The other employee said that Cool was supposed to be helping him, per order of Theodore R. Long. Carlito took the next order, a hot dog from a kid, and gave him the hot dog, but pocketed the kid’s money. When the kid asked for change, Carlito sprayed ketchup at him. A man stood up for the kid, and Carlito bit into the hot dog and spat it at him. Carlito announced that the counter was closed, and went back to his newspaper.
A classic Steve Austin moment, him rolling over The Rock’s car with a monster truck from 1999, was shown.
Michael Cole interviewed The Big Show in the ring about his Wrestlemania Sumo Match with Akebono. Michael Cole went over the stats, saying Big Show is 470 pounds, and Akebono is 510 pounds. They showed a clip of an old Akebono sumo victory. Big Show said he has never been in a sumo match, or faced anyone heavier than him. Show put over Akebono’s accomplishments, then he said he was the only person on the planet that Akebono couldn’t “push around”.
Backstage, Orlando Jordan asked JBL if he was concerned with facing John Cena tonight in the six-man tag, as JBL paced back and forth. Jordan gave JBL a pep talk, pointing out that they were both champions, and that Jordan beat Cena, so he knew JBL could do it. JBL suddenly looked up and reiterated what Long had said earlier, that if Cena touches him outside the ring, he loses the Wrestlemania title match. JBL told Jordan to follow him, as he needed a “witness”.
The Raw Rebound was shown.
Dawn Marie was in the crowd posing with the fans for pictures. Dawn spied Michelle McCool doing the same, and confronted her. Dawn and Michelle started brawling, fighting over the security wall into the ringside area. Referees came out and broke it up.
The announcers went over the Wrestlemania card, no new matches were added.
Backstage, JBL approached John Cena, trying to goad him into hitting him. Cena just stared at JBL, except when he looked at the title belt. JBL said Cena’s mother had to sleep with the landlord to pay the rent. JBL said Cena probably didn’t even know who is father was. Cena cracked his knuckles. JBL dared Cena to hit him, calling him a coward. Cena said JBL was as stupid as he looked. Cena said he wasn’t going to hit him now. Cena said in five minutes, he could beat him up when the bell rings. He thanked JBL for the “motivation” and walked away.
They aired a video on Christy Hemme appearing in Playboy.
John Bradshaw Layfield, Doug & Danny Basham, with Orlando Jordan, vs. John Cena, Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio. JBL’s team entered together in JBL’s limo, Eddie & Rey entered in a green low rider, and Cena came out last, with new theme music. The bell rang and Cena decked JBL. JBL rolled out of the ring, and Cena went to work on Danny, giving him a hip toss and a series of rights. Cena slammed Danny and dropped an elbow. Cena held out Danny’s hand, but JBL wouldn’t tag in. Cena tagged in Guerrero, who sent Basham to the floor as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Doug was working over Guerrero, but Eddie came back with an elbow and tagged in Rey, who hit a springboard bodypress for a two count. Doug raked Rey’s eyes and tagged in Danny, who stomped Rey down. JBL tagged in and booted Rey in the face. JBL chopped Rey, but missed a clothesline and Rey dropkicked his leg out from under him. Rey hit a dropkick to the face and tagged in Cena. JBL ran from the ring, and tagged Danny Basham from the floor. Cena gave Danny Basham a vertical suplex and tagged in Rey. Guerrero choked Danny with the tag rope from the apron, getting an “Eddie” chant. Danny kicked Rey in the gut and went for a powerbomb, but Rey flipped Danny in 619 position. Rey pulled Doug throat first across the top rope, then gave Danny the 619. Doug grabbed Rey from the floor and threw him into the security wall. Rey was thrown back into the ring, and JBL hit a neckbreaker for a two count. JBL gave Rey a fallaway slam. The Bashams tagged in and out, keeping Rey away from his corner, and hitting him with a double flapjack. Danny put Rey in a front facelock, and Doug tagged in and did the same. Rey finally tagged Cena, who cleaned house on the Bashams. The referee presumably didn’t see the tag, due to Eddie going after Orlando Jordan on the outside. Cena and JBL went at it, battling to the floor, where JBL reversed a whip and sent Cena into the ringsteps. Mysterio hit JBL with a pescado. In the ring, Eddie Guerrero gave Danny the Three Amigos vertical suplexes. Eddie knocked Orlando Jordan off the apron, and went to the ropes for the frog splash, but Rey hit Danny with a springboard legdrop for the win at the twelve minute mark. Winners: John Cena, Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio.
Guerrero looked annoyed, but celebrated the win with Rey. On the outside, JBL went to hit Cena with a chair, but missed. Cena grabbed the chair, and threatened to hit JBL with it, but was reminded that the match was over, and he could not hit JBL without losing his WWE Title match. JBL goaded Cena, but Cena beat the crap out of Doug Basham with the chair instead. Cena then set up the chair next to JBL, who had been crawling away, and did the “You can’t see me” gesture. Cena then walked off to end the show.
