Full Credit: Steve Khan, wrestlingobserver.com
WWE SmackDown! Report
By Steve Khan
email: sh2k3@yahoo.com
Air Date: April 7, 2005
Taped from the iPayOne Center in San Diego, California
Big News: JBL defeated Rey Mysterio by DQ in the main event when Eddie
Guerrero attacked JBL. This was the first of three matches where the winners
will face in a triple threat match for the number one contender spot. Next
week from Chicago will be Kurt Angle against Eddie Guerrero, leaving Big
Show versus Booker T on an undisclosed date. Also, John Cena will apparently
unveil a modified version of the WWE Championship next week.
Turns/Title Changes: None.
Best Match: JBL vs. Rey Mysterio
Worst Match: None. But there was really only one other match.
Line of the Night: “Let me inform you little man. In order to challenge the
WWE Champion, you at least have to be an adult.” – Kurt Angle to Rey
Mysterio
Show Details: The show started with the former Champion making his way out,
just like on RAW. JBL must have good ears, because he was upset by all the
people cheering for Cena after he won the title. JBL wants his title back.
Eddie Guerrero interrupted and received a huge reception. JBL told Eddie to
leave because there are no green cards being handed out here. Guerrero
thinks he should be the first guy in line to face John Cena. Booker T made
his way out to make his case, which brought “Eddie” chants. Big Show came
out to a good reception, but once he started talking more “Eddie” chants
started. Rey came out next, which no one in the ring could understand.
Mysterio said if his tag partner is going to throw his name in, then he will
too. Kurt Angle came out next and pointed out that JBL, Big Show and Eddie
all lost at WrestleMania, and Booker T wasn’t even at WM21. Angle then said
he could make them all tap out, just like he made Shawn Michaels tap out.
JBL told everyone to get out of his ring, which brought out Teddy Long.
Teddy said JBL was so confident in himself that he neglected to put a
rematch clause in his contract, and thus, all six men would have to earn
their opportunity at the title. Teddy made JBL versus Rey Mysterio for
tonight. Entertaining segment, and Eddie Guerrero was clearly the most over
guy in the ring.
Paul London vs. Billy Kidman – WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Chavo was on commentary for this match. He was upset over being tossed out
of the ring last week by “25” men. Kidman was in total control. Chavo said
he likes Kidman’s mean streak, neglecting to mention when Kidman knocked him
out with the SSP. Kidman tossed London into the turnbuckle and London fell
to the outside, basically landing on his neck. London’s head scraped the
metal of the turnbuckle and was busted wide open. As the match went on,
there was blood everywhere. The ref asked if London wanted to continue,
which he did. Kidman hit the BK bomb but didn’t go for the SSP. Kidman
attempted a neck breaker, but London countered into a small package for the
win. Chavo and Kidman beat up a bloody London after the match.
Luther Reigns was talking with a bunch of Cruiserweights backstage about
WrestleMania. There were TWO new faceless women with them. He was making fun
of the Big Show for losing and showing a little too much skin. Big Show was
right behind him and challenged Luther for a match tonight.
Big Show vs. Luther Reigns
Luther was able to knock Show off his feet with a running shoulder block but
Show powered out of the pinfall after a one count. Show squished Luther in
the corner and hit the Choke Slam for the win.
John Cena made his way out to a pretty good response, and he was wearing a
San Diego Padres Dave Winfield throwback. Cena went over his critics and
those who said he disrespected the US title by modifying it. He said that
was nothing and you’re looking at the current WWE Championship Title for the
last time. The reaction overall for Cena was pretty strong, but Eddie’s was
bigger. To be fair, they are in southern California. Cena went into the
crowd and said he doesn’t care who his next opponent was, and pandered to
the crowd. Cena then left through the crowd. There was one guy in the crowd
who kept yelling “You Suck” at Cena throughout the promo. Hopefully he
doesn’t run into that one guy.
Kurt Angle made his way out for the Invitational. Angle said he has to face
Eddie Guerrero next week in Chicago and will make Eddie tap on his way to
taking the WWE Title from John Cena. Angle brought out a local jobber who
introduced himself in Spanish. Angle told him to speak English so the crowd
chanted something at Angle in Spanish. Angle hit a German Suplex, Angle Slam
and Ankle Lock, making the jobber tap within a minute. Kurt said Eddie would
suffer the same fate next week. This was another good promo by Angle to add
more heat to his match next week.
Backstage, Steve Romero interviewed Carlito and wanted to know why he
interrupted in Piper’s Pit. Carlito said Piper’s Pit was boring and he
needed to spice things up. In fact, Carlito will host his own show next week
called “Carlito’s Cabana”. Elsewhere, Eddie said he would have Rey’s back
tonight, but Rey said that didn’t work out for them last week and thinks he
can beat anyone on any given night, not just tonight being in his hometown.
He then reminded Eddie who won at WrestleMania. Eddie wasn’t impressed.
Jackie, Dawn and Torrie were out next for a Bikini Contest. Earlier tonight,
they showed both Torrie and Jackie as they prepared, but they didn’t show
Dawn, which I thought was unfair. The rookie divas interrupted and wanted to
show off. Michelle and Lauren were both booed. Dawn got the loudest response
and was declared the winner.
JBL vs. Rey Mysterio
I hate the “Just a Big Loser” signs for JBL. Can’t anyone come up with
something better than that? Loud “619” chants to start. They played cat and
mouse allowing Mysterio to baseball slide JBL to the outside. JBL came back
with hard shots and set up for a power bomb. Mysterio punched his way out
and flipped JBL to the outside with a head scissors. After a commercial
break, Mysterio was in control with a sleeper on JBL. Bradshaw flipped Rey
to the side and took over hitting a shoulder block followed later by a
vertical suplex. JBL nailed a fallaway slam off the second rope for a two
count. Mysterio ducked under one big boot but JBL came right back and nailed
a second one. Mysterio escaped to the outside but JBL followed. The crowd
chanted briefly for Eddie to make the save. Jordan attacked Rey with the ref
distracted. JBL hit a lackluster spine buster. JBL set Mysterio on the top
rope but Rey knocked JBL down and nailed a moonsault for a near fall.
Mysterio came off the ropes dropkicking JBL to his knees followed by a
dropkick to the face for a two count. JBL went for a fallaway slam but
Mysterio countered into a DDT. Rey went for the 619 but Jordan tripped him.
Eddie made his way out and beat up Orlando Jordan. JBL kicked Eddie down,
but Rey nailed a spring board dropkick sending JBL onto the middle rope.
Mysterio hit the 619 followed by the West Coast Pop but the count was broken
up at two when Eddie came in to attack JBL. Mysterio was disqualified giving
JBL the win. Mysterio and Eddie argued after the match when the Bashams
attacked. The crowd just seemed severely disappointed and uninterested when
Eddie and Rey were arguing, instead of anticipating a turn. John Cena made
the save and gave FU’s to the Bashams to end the show.
Final Thoughts: Tonight’s show was up and down, but decent overall with a
good focus throughout the show on the WWE Championship. There was a serious
lack of wrestling though, with only two real matches. Still, they have left
more intrigue than usual for people to watch next week’s show, with
Eddie/Angle, Carlito’s Cabana, Cena’s title unveiling and the continuation
of Eddie/Rey.
Match Results:
Paul London beat Billy Kidman – Cruiserweight Title
Big Show beat Luther Reigns
Kurt Angle beat local San Diego jobber
Dawn beat the others – Bikini Contest
JBL beat Rey Mysterio via DQ
