World Wrestling Entertainment 2004: A Different Route

[MattHarms]

A look at the events leading up to Kurt Angle/Triple H for the World Heavyweight Title is shown!

Triple H is backstage, talking to Evolution. He wants to go it alone to prove that he can beat Kurt Angle. Triple H promises to walk in the World Heavyweight Champion and walk out as the World Heavyweight Champion.

World Heavyweight Title Match:

Kurt Angle vs Triple H©

Both men lock up and Angle quickly takes Triple H to the canvas with a fireman's carry. Angle just embarassed the Game right out of the starting gate. They lock up and Angle goes behind with a hammerlock before burying his foot into the thigh of Triple H and forcing him down and then flipping over into a headlock. Angle cranks on the hold and Triple H attempts to push off but Angle has a tight grip. Triple H pulls himself up and into the ropes which Angle cleanly breaks. Angle then quickly grabs the arm of Triple H and armdrag. Angle rolls over Trips and puts the hammerlock on before ramming a series of knees into the shoulder of the Game and rolling him over into a pinning predicament but it only gets a two count. Angle pulls up and European Uppercut to the chest of Triple H rocking him back. Angle goes behind Triple H and waistlock takedown. Angle goes to a front facelock and Triple H attempts to roll out but Angle switches up to a seated Full Nelson and Triple H drags himself underneath the ropes, right in the nick of time as Angle nearly had a bodyscissors on, which would have made that hold hard to escape. Angle pulls himself up and grabs the arm of Triple H, pulling him into some chops before gripping Triple H and bringing him down with a belly to belly suplex. Angle covers but only scores a two count.

Angle picks up Triple H and whips him into the corner. Angle charges in but he runs head on into the boot of Triple H. Angle falls back and Triple H connects with an elbow down across the chest. Triple H waits on Angle and punch to the midsection. A double axe handle right between the shoulder blades and Triple H assaults Angle with punches before whipping him into the ropes. The Game leaps at Angle and leaping knee to the chest knocks him down. Triple H makes the cover hooking the leg but Angle manages to bridge out at two so Triple H rolls him over and elbow driven down across the neck. Triple H now stands on the neck of Angle. Triple H is trying to reinjure the neck, the same neck that got injured a year ago. Triple H picks up Angle and hammers away at him with punches. Triple H grabs Angle around the head and reverse neckbreaker bringing Angle down onto his head. Angle clutches his neck, while lying on his side. Triple H covers Angle hooking the leg but he manages to kick out. Triple H lifts up Angle and punches to the back of the neck. Angle is lifted up off the canvas and Triple H whips Angle into the corner. Angle collides back first into the corner and Triple H hooks him before bringing him down across the knee with a facebuster. Angle flies into the air before landing on his back. Triple H covers Angle but the Olympic Hero manages to raise his shoulder up at two.

Triple H pulls Angle to his feet and headfirst into the corner. Triple H chokes Angle in the corner, breaking just before five. Triple H knees Angle in the midsection. Hook and hoisted up. Vertical Suplex drives Angle down onto his back. Every move Triple H does to the neck and back of Angle, drives him a bit closer to parlaysis and Triple H doesn't give a damn! All he cares about is that World Heavyweight Title! Triple H covers once again but Angle manages to kick out again. Angle has guts, but will that win him the World Heavyweight Championship! Triple H picks up Angle and into the corner stomach first. Triple H hooks Angle from behind and belly to back suplex. Triple H used a bit of a high angle, dropping Angle down onto his head hard. Triple H is not going for the cover, instead he picks up Angle and knees him in the midsection. Triple H hooks Angle and DDT. Angle's head impacts with the canvas. The crowd boos as Triple H stands over Angle saying: "Was defecting to Raw really worth me breaking your neck, hero?" Triple H gives the signal. Pedigree coming up. Triple H pulls up Angle and pounds away at the neck before setting up Angle but Angle counters with a brutal high back body drop.

Angle takes Triple H down but that may have took whatever energy Angle had out of him. Triple H is up and he angrily charges Angle but Angle ducks underneath and grips Triple H in a waistlock before dropping Triple H with a German Suplex release. Angle clutches the back of his neck, in pain. Angle pulls himself up but Triple H is back up, to boos from the crowd. Triple H catches Angle across the back of the head with a clothesline. Angle lands on the apron, whacking the back of his head. Triple H steps to the floor and picks up Angle. Triple H lifts up Angle and drops him throat first down across the guardrail. Triple H rolls Angle back into the ring. Triple H steps into the ring and Triple H whips Angle into the ropes. Hoisted up and down across the back with a Spinebuster. Triple H smirks at Angle and picks him up once again. Triple H picks up Angle and sets him up. Triple H hoists up Angle and piledriver perhaps. Angle attempts to fight it but Triple H has it and Triple H drops to his knees, bringing Angle down onto his head with a reverse Tombstone Piledriver. Thankfully, Angle got his hands up, blocking some of the impact. Triple H makes the cover hooking the leg but Angle once again avoids defeat.

Triple H has a sick expression on his face. Triple H picks up Angle and sets him up. Another Piledriver perhaps but Angle trips up Triple H and rocks back. Catapault sends Triple H flying into the referee. Triple H staggers and Angle Slam bringing Triple H down. Angle has the cover but there is no referee to count. Angle has the damn title won! Angle pulls himself up and pulls down the straps. Angle grabs the leg of Triple H and Ankle Lock applied. Angle has the Ankle Lock locked on Triple H. Angle has that move on and Triple H is squirming but he manages to roll out and Angle falls on the apron. This allows Triple H to go to the floor and reach underneath the ring. Triple H has the sledgehammer! The crowd boos, as we know what is coming up! Angle is up and he punches Triple H but Triple H jabs the handle into the ribs of Angle before backing up and hitting Angle across the back of the neck with the sledgehammer. Angle falls to his knees, going completely limp. Triple H raises the sledgehammer over his head but decides to toss it when he sees the referee rolling over. That son of a bitch is going to retain his title by use of that damn sledgehammer and that blow may have been the deathblow to the neck of Angle! Triple H covers Angle hooking the leg but Angle kicks out at two and three fourths!

Still some life left in Angle. Triple H rolls to the outside and grabs the sledgehammer. Triple H is going to try and get himself disqualified, so he can hold onto the title. What a cheap tactic! Triple H raises the Sledgehammer but Angle delivers a kick to the groin. Triple H is doubled over and another kick to the groin, as the referee takes the sledgehammer away from Triple H. Angle is up, pounding away at Triple H. Angle hooks Triple H and lifts him up. German Suplex. Angle holds onto Triple H. Another German Suplex. Angle holds onto Triple H, the pain shooting through his neck has got to be killing him and a third German Suplex, releasing this time. Angle Angle is up and he gives the signal. Angle Slam coming up but Triple H drops down and low blow to Angle. Triple H sets up Angle and Pedigree. Angle bounces into the air and Triple H is down. Triple H is slowly crawling over to Angle, that Triple German took a bit out of him. Triple H makes the cover hooking the leg but Angle rolls the shoulder up just before the three count!.

Triple H has a look of shock on his face and he picks up Angle. Sleeperhold applied. Triple H is putting the pressure on the injured neck, attempting to force the chin to dig into the breastbone of Angle. Angle sinks to his knees and the referee checks Angle. The arm drops two and a half times before Angle fights back but Triple H has the hold on too well so instead of trying to break, Angle runs up the buckles, and flips back, bridging backwards. Triple H is not prepared for this unusual tactic, so he is trapped underneath the weight of Angle and Angle scores the pin, capturing the World Heavyweight Title.

Winner and new World Heavyweight Champion: Kurt Angle(after reversing a sleeper into a flipping bridge)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 85

Match Quality: 67

Kurt Angle slides to the outside as the referee follows him and hands him the World Heavyweight Title Belt. Angle holds up the belt with one hand and clutches his neck with the other as Triple H fumes in the ring. Triple H is not too happy that he lost his beloved World Heavyweight Title Belt tonight at Wrestlemania XX.

Randy Orton is backstage when he bumps into the Rock. Randy Orton tells the Rock to watch where he is going but the Rock responds with a "who in the blue hell, are you." Orton introduces himself as the best third generation wrestler in the history of the WWE, the greatest Interconinental Champion of all time Ra...IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR NAME IS! The Rock says that Orton may be talking about how he is the greatest third generation wrestler in the world but as long Orton doesn't beat the Rock, the Rock will remain the best third generation superstar. Orton asks one more question to the Rock. "Does the Rock consider himself a legend?" The Rock responds with a yes, because the Rock has laid the smack down on the best in the company. Orton tells the Rock that the Rock may be a legend but "Randy Orton is a legend killer." The Rock says he doesn't sweat Orton before walking off.

A video package involving Shawn Michaels and The Rock is shown.

Battle of the Legends:

Shawn Michaels vs the Rock

Lock up and hiptoss right away takes the Rock down. Shawn Michaels looks down at the Rock with a cocky smirk on his face and the Rock looks at HBK with an amused look on his face before slapping the taste of the mouth of Michaels. Both men follow that up by exploding into each other with punches. The Rock gains the better and scores a knockdown with a shoulderblock. The Rock picks up Michaels and whips him into the ropes. The Rock takes Michaels down with a back elbow smash with Michaels rolling to the floor. The Rock mocks HBK's posing, drawing cheers from the crowd. Shawn Michaels enters the ring and grabs the Rock, whipping him into the ropes. Michaels leapfrogs over the Rock before catching him on the rebound with a monkey flip. Shawn Michaels backs off and leaps at the Rock with a running jumping forearm smash. Michaels covers the Rock hooking the leg and a two count. Leaping stomp to the chest and Shawn Michaels picks up the Rock. Michaels winds up and punches to the Rock. Whip into the ropes. Shawn Michaels takes the Rock up and down with a high back body drop.

Shawn Michaels waits on the Rock and grabs him around the head and snap mares him before taking him down with a jumping neck snap. Michaels then follows that up with a headscissors submission, cranking on the head of the Rock but the Rock kips out of it and back to his feet. The Rock blocks a punch and hammers away at Michaels with some of his own. The Rock whips Michaels into the ropes and belly to belly throw catching Michaels on the rebound. The Rock is poised and he goes for the Rock Bottom but Michaels elbows out and clothesline taking the Rock down. Shawn Micahels spreads the legs of the Rock and stomp to the groin, drawing boos. Shawn Michaels picks up the Rock and elbow to the face. Another elbow to the face and Shawn Michaels hooks the Rock before hoisting him up and bringing him down with a vertical suplex. Leg dropped down across the chest of Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels lifts up The Rock and hooks him in a dragon sleeper. Shawn Michaels wrenches on the head of the Rock, attempting to force a submission.

The move is being fought by the Rock. Michaels hoists up the Rock and spins out, driving an elbow down across the chest of the Rock. Shawn Michaels drags the Rock to the ring apron and rolls him over, before driving an elbow down across the back of the head. Michaels climbs to the apron and drives a double axe handle down across the back of the head of the Rock! Michaels steps into the ring and drags the Rock back to the center before drilling an elbow down across the chest. The Rock is lifted up and Shawn Michaels picks up the Rock, before setting him up the top rope. Shawn Michaels climbs up, hooking the Rock. Shawn Michaels lifts the Rock up but the Rock fights off. The Rock pounds away at on Michaels and knocks him off the ropes. Michaels lands on his feet and the Rock leaps off with a forearm to the face, knocking Michaels down to the canvas. The Rock is poised and running forearm to the face of Michaels. The Rock waits on Michaels and Spinebuster. The Rock steps through and Sharpshooter applied to Shawn Michaels.

The Rock has the hold applied. Michaels grabs the ankle of the Rock and pushes back, breaking the hold. HBK has had a lot of experience breaking this particular move and Shawn is back up, firing a knee into the ribs of the Rock before whipping him into the ropes. Powerslam brings the Rock down to the canvas. The Rock is prone and Shawn Michaels steps to the outside. High risk move on the way. Michaels is up on the top rope and he leaps off. Flying Elbowdrop to the chest of the Rock. Michaels pulls himself up, cueing the band. Sweet Chin Music coming up. The Rock will have to be put out with this hold. The Rock is up and Superkick is ducked as the Rock rolls underneath. The Rock grabs Michaels and Rock Bottom planting Shawn Michaels into the canvas. The Rock covers the leg but Michaels kicks out at two and three fourths!.

The Rock pulls himself up and fires a kick to the head of Michaels before pulling off the elbowpad. It is time for the People's Elbow. The Rock goes right, the Rock goes left, and Shawn Michaels kips up to his feet and catches the Rock with a quick superkick/ The crowd is in shock, that move came out of nowhere. Shawn Michaels was playing possum! The Rock goes down hard and Shawn Michaels covers, hooking the leg, to score the pin. Shawn Michaels has scored the pin with the Superkick at Wrestlemania XX over the Rock!

Winner: Shawn Michaels(w/the Superkick)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 69

Shawn Michaels celebrates the win as the Rock pulls himself up to a sitting position, massaging his jaw. Another Wrestlemania moment as that kip up and Superkick countered the People's Elbow at the last possible moment.

A look at tonight's main event, involving Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit for the WWE Championship.

WWE Heavyweight Championship Match:

Chris Benoit vs Brock Lesnar©

Benoit gives Lesnar an intense stare as he steps into the ring and camly steps forward before laying into Lesnar with chops. Lesnar tries to cover up but Benoit decides to punch away at Lesnar. Benoit whips Lesnar into the ropes and huge chop knocking Lesnar down to his back. Lesnar attempts to get to his knees and Benoit delivers a dropkick to the side of the head. Benoit picks up Lesnar and hammers away at the chest with chops. Benoit whips Lesnar into the ropes and knee to the back. Benoit grabs Lesnar's ears and headutts him. Lesnar is on dream street and Benoit snap mares Lesnar before catching him with a dropkick to the back Benoit picks up Lesnar and hammers away at him. Benoit grabs Lesnar and headsmash into the buckle. Another buckle ram and Benoit whips Lesnar into the ropes. Benoit knees Lesnar in the midsection and hooks him in a gutwrench. Benoit hoists up Lesnar and brings him down with a gutbuster. Benoit then drives an elbow down across the back of the head. Benoit grabs the arm and attempts to go for the Crossface but Lesnar rolls out and to the floor.

Lesnar looks paniced. Benoit nearly had him in the early going and Benoit slides to the floor, catching Lesnar with a baseball slide, before hammering him with more chops. Benoit grabs Lesnar and whips him into the ring steps. Benoit grabs Lesnar and rams him into the guardrail. Benoit chops Lesnar some more before rolling him into the ring. Benoit steps into the ring and Lesnar catches him with a knee clip. Lesnar injured that knee back in an attempt at No Way Out. Lesnar grabs the knee of Benoit and delivers a few forearms inside the knee before taking Benoit down with a dragon screw. Lesnar measures Benoit before dropping an elbow down acorss the leg. Benoit screams in pain but Lesnar picks up Benoit and kick to the leg. Another kick to the leg and the leg buckles. Lesnar whips Benoit into the corner and Lesnar delivers a running knee to the leg of Benoit. Lesnar lifts up Benoit and drapes the knee into the corner before hammering away with punches and kicks to the leg. Hooked is Benoit and he is brought down with a knee crunching atomic drop.

Benoit rolls around, clutching the knee and Lesnar grabs the leg, before whipping it back into the canvas. Lesnar wraps around the leg and drives it down into the canvas with a leg scissors stomp before applying a leg grapevine. Lesnar works the leg but Benoit counters with a headbutt to Lesnar. Lesnar is stunned and Benoit pulls himself up, ramming Lesnar into the corner. Benoit chops away at Lesnar but Lesnar stomps Benoit cold with a vicious kick to the leg. Lesnar dips around and takes the knee out from underneath Benoit with a chop block. Lesnar lifts up the leg and punches away at it before draping it over the bottom rope. Lesnar hoists himself up and drops his full two hundred and seventy five pounds down onto the knee. Lesnar pulls the knee of the ropes and drops his own knee onto it. Benoit is in huge amounts of pain and Lesnar hoists up Benoit over his shoulder and takes a running start, before flipping Benoit into the corner and ramming his knees into the corner.

Lesnar trips Benoit and rams a knee into the back of the leg. Lesnar grabs Benoit's leg and drops a leg down across it. Lesnar turns Benoit over and reverse kneebar. Benoit is in pain but he is close to the ropes, so not much damage is done as Benoit grabs for a break. Lesnar picks up Benoit and Lesnar kicks Benoit in the knee before hooking him and bringing him down with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Benoit is dazed and Lesnar grabs the leg, dragging Benoit towards the floor. Lesnar pulls the leg back and smashes it into the ringpost. Benoit is in pain and the referee is asking Benoit if he wants to call the match but Benoit says no. Lesnar picks up Benoit and drags him to the floor. Lesnar lifts up Benoit in position for the F-5 but flips his knees into the ringpost. Both of them crack hard and Lesnar rolls into the ring, leaving Benoit for dead. The referee is putting the count on Chris Benoit. Lesnar is going to use this cheap way to hold onto the title! But at nine, Benoit pulls himself back in. Lesnar is shocked and he hammers away at Benoit before lifting him up. Lesnar brings Benoit to his shoulders. Lesnar flips Benoit down with the F-5. Benoit hits the canvas hard and Lesnar walks around, thinkng the match is in the bag. Lesnar covers but Benoit kicks out at two and a half!

Lesnar freaks out and picks up Benoit. Lesnar pounds away at Benoit and lifts him up before pushing him into the corner. Lesnar hooks Benoit in a waistlock and takes him down with a German Suplex release. Benoit's head connected with the canvas and Lesnar steps to the outside. Lesnar is going up to the top rope but once he gets there, he seems a little hesitent, remebering what happened at last year's Wrestlemania, when he went up top. This allows Benoit time to get up and limp over to Lesnar, hammering him with chops. Benoit climbs up with Lesnar and attempts to go for a superplex but Lesnar shoves him off. Lesnar throws all cauction to the ring and leaps off. Shooting Star Press misses completely. The second year in the row that move did not turn out too well for Mr. Lesnar! Benoit steps to the outside, driving the hand across the thorat. He limps up the top and Swandive Headbutt to the back of the head of Lesnar. Benoit rolls over Lesnar but Lesnar manages to roll the shoulder up at two and three fourths!

Benoit pulls himself up and grabs Lensar. German Suplex rocks Lesnar. Benoit hangs onto the move. Benoit yanks Lesnar up but Lesnar counters with a low blow back kick and grabs the leg of Benoit, snapping him over with a dragon screw. Lesnar fires some knees into the back of the head of Benoit before hooking him. Lesnar applies the Brock Lock to Chris Benoit!. This brutal submission move is ripping and tearing at the leg of Benoit! This is how Lesnar beat Benoit last December on Smackdown! Benoit is attempting to struggle but this hold may be too much, Benoit may once again pass out from the pain. The crowd is chanting "let's go Benoit" but Benoit doesn't have too much left. Benoit reaches to the ropes and he manages to grab the ropes, barely. Lesnar has to break the hold, which he does. Lesnar pulls up Benoit and lifts him up but Benoit drops down and takes Lesnar down by the arm. Crippler Crossface is locked in!.

Benoit has the hold on, pulling back. Lesnar shakes his head no on the check for submission. Benoit is cranking on the hold, moving his forearm onto the bridge of the nose of Lesnar and grinding up and down on it, punishing Lesnar for more effect. Lesnar has a busted nose because of this but he won't submit. Lesnar is attempting to get to the ropes but he can't quite make it so Lesnar is attempting to roll Benoit onto his back and Lesnar does, rolling Benoit into a pinning predicament which only gets a two count before Benoit rolls the hold right back into the Crippler Crossface!. The crowd is chanting: "Tap, Tap, Tap". Lesnar is close to the ropes. Lesnar is almost there, Benoit is struggling to hold him but as Lesnar has his fingertips close to the ropes, Benoit jerks him back to the center of the ring. That moment of freedom, gone in an instant! Lesnar is reaching, he can't hold on much longer. The crowd is excited, Benoit has this hold on tight, an anaconda like grip. He will not be denied. Lesnar makes one final desperate push to the rope but it is no good. Lesnar screams out in frustration before tapping out to an ear spltting pop. Chris Benoit has done it, he is the new WWE Champion

Winner and new WWE Heavyweight Champion: Chris Benoit(w/the Crippler Crossface)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 78

Benoit pulls himself up, battered knee and all but Lesnar is down, from the effects of the prolonged Crossface. Benoit accepts the belt as the fans at Madison Square Garden chant "Benoit". Benoit manages to pull himself up, his eighteen year oddessy coming to an end but the crowd is cheering, as the lockeroom empties, with Superstars of Raw and Smackdown alike, led by brand new World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. Paul London, Billy Kidman, Angle, The APA, The Hurricane, Rosey, Rey Misterio, Shawn Michaels, and many others mob Benoit in the ring. Even the rulebreakers of the WWE, such as Rhyno, La Resistance, the WGTT, and Evolution come out to pay Benoit his respects. Two men are not happy, and that is Smackdown General Manager Paul Heyman. Heyman stands in the aisle, glaring at the celebrating in ring and ex-Champion Brock Lesnar, who massages his shoulder, as the crowd alternates between chanting "You Tapped Out" and "Benoit". Wrestlemania draws to a close with Benoit standing in the ring, finally after all these years of climbing to the top, walking out of Wrestlemania XX with the WWE Championship! Good night, everyone!

[MattHarms]

WWE Raw 3/15/04

WWE Women's Title Match:

Trish Stratus vs Victoria©

Trish is back from a minor injury she suffered back towards the end of January and she returns with a bang, taking it to Victoria. Quite a few nearfalls but who should spoil the party, but ex Women's Champion, Molly Holly, who rushes the ring and attacks both Trish and Victoria. The referee throws the match out and the three women brawl with each other. Nothing has been settled since Wrestlemania between Victoria and Molly and there is no love lost between Trish and Molly as well. Referees come out, seperating the three women.

Winner: No Decision

Segment Rating: 75

Crowd Reaction: 82

Match Quality: 59

Rene Dupree is backstage, talking about his new found singles career but says that Rob Conway will not be left out in the cold and La Resistance will return to the tag excellence they are known for. Dupree calls in the returning Sylvan Grenier. Dupree will win the World Heavyweight Title or maybe the Interconinental Title and Grenier and Conway will take care of the World Tag Team Titles. That's the plan for La Resistance and Dupree promises to start his new singles career against Booker T tonight.

Segment Rating: 69

Vince McMahon struts out, to a mixed reaction from the crowd. Mr. McMahon talks about how an artistic success Wrestlemania XX was and how it all began again but next week, the WWE will be shook up, with the first ever Draft Lottery. All the superstars of Raw and Smackdown are eligible. Each General Manager gets to draw six names at random and then trades can be made for up to a week, before the trades get frozen. Vince says that no one is safe from the draft lottery and he hopes to see some new exciting matches as a result of this. Vince leaves, as the announcers hype up the draft lottery next week.

Segment Rating: 85

Rene Dupree vs Booker T

Pretty decent brawl tonight. Booker T kept Dupree on his toes but when Booker T went for the Scissors Kick, Dupree ducked and Booker T crashed into the canvas. This allowed Dupree to hit Booker T with a Michinoku Driver, dubbed "The Bastille Driver" by the announcers and score what has to be the biggest win in his career over the five time former WCW World Champion.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver)

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 84

The Highlight Reil is back and Chris Jericho introduces his guest, Rob Van Dam. Van Dam comes out to boos from the crowd. Back and forth interview, with Van Dam getting annoyed at Jericho's questions. RVD tells Jericho that he attacked Eddie Guerrero last night, because he didn't get the respect he deserved from Guerrero and now Jericho isn't respecting him and that's not cool. Rob Van Dam challenges Jericho to a match, which Jericho accepts and it is on after the commercial break.

Segment Rating: 92

Chris Jericho vs Rob Van Dam

Chops and the like are traded with Van Dam raking the eyes of Jericho and brutalizing him with a series of vicious kicks to the head and chops to the chest. Van Dam rams Jericho into the guardrail. Van Dam goes for a moonsault but Jericho ducks and Jericho fights back, with some vicious offense of his own. Triple Power Bomb and Walls of Jericho but Van Dam makes it to the ropes. Jericho works over Van Dam some more but Van Dam stops him cold with a low blow and Van Dam delivers a vicious kick to the back of the head before going up top and leaping onto Jericho with the new and improved and vicious, Five Star Frog Splash. Van Dam covers to score an academic pin in this hard hitting, stiff match.

Winner: Rob Van Dam(w/the Five Star Frog Splash)

Segment Rating: 93

Crowd Reaction: 96

Match Quality: 88

Maven vs Kane

Kane squashes Maven like an insect, taking out all of his frustrations on Maven but when Kane hits the Choke Slam, he doesn't go for the cover, he instead grabs a chair and assaults Maven with it. The referee disqualifies Kane and Kane smashes the chair over the head of the referee. Kane picks up Maven and Tombstone on the chair. Kane wedges Maven's head in the chair and goes to Pillmanize his neck but security is out and they back Kane off. Kane sends security flying everywhere with punches but Maven is pulled to the outside. Kane has snapped after last night.

Winner by Disqualification: Maven

Crowd Reaction: 63

Crowd Reaction: 61

Match Quality: 66

Randy Orton cuts a promo, talking about all the legends he has vanquished and he wants to add the Rock to his list. Orton offers the Rock a match, a shot at the Interconinental Title even. Orton promises that the Rock will fall to the might of the Legend Killer.

Segment Rating: 82

World Tag Team Title Match:

Val Venis and Lance Storm© vs Test and Scott Steiner

Steiner and Test battered the champions with power offense, nearly winning the belts on one occassion with a huge irish whip from Steiner into a Test Big Boot to Val Venis. Eventually Storm got in, fists of fire. Superkick to Steiner but Test grabbed a tag team title belt but Val jerked it away, allowing Storm to roll up Test from behind and score the pin to retain the World Tag Team Titles

Winners: Val Venis and Lance Storm(w/ a roll up)

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 72

Match Quality: 76

Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle vs Batista and Randy Orton

This match featured Shawn Michaels getting pummeled by Evolution for most of the match but he managed to get a hot tag to the World Heavyweight Champion. Angle is in, suplexes and clotheslines. Angle Slam to Batista but Orton attacks Angle and this brings Shawn Michaels into the ring. Michaels is poised and Shawn Michaels connects with the Superkick on Kurt Angle! The crowd is in shock. Orton covers Angle and scores the pin. Why the hell, why Shawn, why!

Winners: Randy Orton and Batista(after Shawn Michaels stabbed his partner in the back)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 88

Match Quality: 79

Evolution leaves and Shawn Michaels talks trash to Kurt Angle before picking up the World Heavyweight Title Belt and decking Angle across the face with it as he gets up. Michaels yells "this should be mine" before holding up the World Heavyweight Title Belt and taunting Angle. Raw fades to copyright with the fans tossing trash at Shawn Michaels in the ring.

Segment Rating: 86

Show Rating: 80

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 3/18/04

Jamie Noble vs Edge

This was the first in ring apperence on Smackdown for Edge in over a year and he made the most of it, battering Noble from pillar to post. Noble bumped well for Edge and even got in some offense of his own, working over the previously injured neck of Edge. Noble goes for the Tiger Bomb but Edge backdrops out of it. Edge scores the Spear and pins Noble to win this match. The crowd cheers as Edge has won two straight matches in his return to the WWE.

Winner: Edge(w/the Spear)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 85

Match Quality: 80

Chris Benoit cuts an intense promo about his long, eighteen year struggle to the top and offers any and all comers a shot at the WWE World Title, because he wants to go down as a fighting champion.

Segment Rating: 72

WWE Tag Team Title Match:

The APA vs Shooting Star Express©

London and Kidman now want to be known as the Shooting Star Express. The APA tossed London and Kidman around like ragdolls with Kidman and London outsmarting Bradshaw and Faarooq with high flying offense, shades of the Rock and Roll Express in their earlier days. Bradshaw eventually went for the Clothesline from Hell to London which was ducked and that allowed Kidman to missile dropkick Bradshaw so he fell over the back of London and London rolled him up with Faarooq slow to make the save. This scores the pin, as Faarooq couldn't get in in time. After the match, Bradshaw and Faarooq exchanged words with Bradshaw knocked Faarooq out with the Clothesline from Hell to boos from the crowd. Bradshaw spits on his long time partner and declares their partnership to be over.

Winners: Paul London and Billy Kidman(w/the springboard dropkick/school yard trip combo to Bradshaw)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 78

Match Quality: 87

Brock Lesnar vs Hardcore Holly is scheduled to happen but Brock Lesnar comes out to the ring in his street clothes, wheeling a suitcase behind him. Lesnar gets on the microphone, talking about last Sunday and how he threw everything at Benoit, but it still wasn't enough. How he gave it is all but the fans didn't respect him which leads the fans to chant "You tapped out!" to Lesnar in the ring. Lesnar doesn't want any part of the fans and he doesn't want any part of the WWE. Lesnar has losts his love for the business because of the fans who don't show him the respect he deserves and even more, what does he see tonight. He has to wrestle Hardcore Holly. Lesnar says he has beaten Holly more times then he can count. This week, it will be Brock Lesnar vs Hardcore Holly but what's next. Brock Lesnar vs Orlando Jordan? Brock Lesnar vs Funaki? Lesnar calls himself the greatest champion to ever walk the face of the earth and says that until he gets a champion's treatment, he is going home. Lesnar says, screw his match with Hardcore Holly, screw Smackdown! and more importantly, screw Paul Heyman. Lesnar walks out, with the fans chanting "You Tapped Out!" at his retreating back.

Segment Rating: 84

Paul Heyman is backstage, freaking out and scrambling for another match. Hardcore Holly confronts him and asks what's going on, and he came to work tonight, looking for a fight and his fight walked out. Heyman tells Holly to go to the ring and he will get him his fight. Heyman sees Rhyno by the water cooler and begs Rhyno to go down to the ring and face Hardcore Holly in a standbye match. Rhyno tells Heyman it's no problem, he will even put the United States Title on the line. Heyman thanks Rhyno and curses Lesnar for costing him "millions of dollars" because of his little stunt.

WWE United States Title Match:

Hardcore Holly vs Rhyno©

The announcers call Lesnar's actions unproffesional and not becoming of a Smackdown! superstar. Rhyno and Hardcore Holly trade punches with Hardcore Holly gaining the brief advantage and connecting with a dropkick and a leaping forearm to the head for a pair of nearfalls. Hardcore Holly goes for the Alabama Slam but Rhyno reverses it and delivers a power bomb before running down Holly with the Gore to score the pin and retain the title.

Winner and still United States Champion: Rhyno(w/the Gore)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 81

Eddie cuts an intense promo about burying his war with Chavo tonight and then about Rob Van Dam. Brand extension be damned, Eddie will get Van Dam in the ring. Of course, the draft lottery holds the possibility that one may end up on the others show so the differences can be settled in the ring. Eddie promises that everyone who crosses him will feel the heat.

Segment Rating: 81

Paul Heyman is still stressed out about the Lesnar thing but Rey Misterio Jr comes into his office, wanting a match against a wrestler who is not a cruiserweight. Heyman snaps at Rey, saying he has more important things on his mind than making matches, and says if Rey wants to hang with the big boys, Rey can have Sean O' Haire. Paul says he hopes O' Haire snaps Rey in half for Rey daring to bother Heyman at such a crucial time.

Segment Rating: 91

Rick Cornell vs the Undertaker(w/Paul Bearer)

You might remember Cornell as former WCW wrestler, Reno but tonight he is jobber fodder for the man from the Darkside. Taker slowly beats down Cornell, selling nothing because Mr. Cornell is not that important. Tombstone and arms crossed score the pin in a little under two minutes. The Undertaker is back in his original form and the stars on Smackdown better stand up and take note.

Winner: The Undertaker(w/the Tombstone Piledriver)

Segment Rating: 71

Crowd Reaction: 65

Match Quality: 78

James Mitchell cuts a promo on behalf of Sean O' Haire. Mitchell promises that Rey Misterio Jr will be the next sacrifice for Sean O' Haire and no one can stop O' Haire, whether they be alive or dead.

Segment Rating: 63

Rey Misterio Jr vs Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell)

This was Rey attempting to use his speed to out move O' Haire but O' Haire punished Rey for daring to show him up, delivering a series of brutal power moves but Rey managed to counter with power bomb with a rana. Series of lucha style moves, including a Cannonball to the floor. Rey signals for the end but Mitchell gets involve and this allows Rey to cream him with the 6-1-9 which allows O' Haire to take Rey down with a springboard clothesline before planting Rey into the canvas with the Prophecy to score the pin.

Winner: Sean O' Haire(w/the Prophecy)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 81

O' Haire continues to pummel on Rey after the match but the lights go out and the gong of the Undertaker is heard throughout the arena. His music plays but they come back on. O' Haire has a confused look on his face. I think Mitchell's comments that no one alive or dead being able to stop O' Haire may have irritated the Undertaker.

Steel Cage Match:

Chavo vs Eddie Guerrero

This was perhaps one of the best cage matches in the history of Smackdown, with both Guerreros using the cage in the weapon and being is brutal as Network TV will allow. A huge DDT off the top rope nearly gave Chavo the chance to escape but Eddie fought back and rammed Chavo into the cage before hitting the three amigos. Eddie climbs to the top of the cage and Frog Splashes Chavo all the way off the top of the cage. Eddie favors his bruised ribs but manages to make the cover and score the win that that impressive Super Frog Splash.

Winner: Eddie Guerrero(w/the Frog Splash off the top of the cage)

Segment Rating: 89

Crowd Reaction: 88

Match Quality: 91

Hype for the Draft Lottery Monday as Smackdown! goes off the air.

Segment Rating: 78

WWE Velocity 3/20/04-The last Velocity for some Smackdown! superstars perhaps. Only the draft lottery holds the key. Billy Gunn scored a win over Chris Kanyon as Kanyon continues his slump on Smackdown! The World's Greatest Tag Team triumpthed over Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli in a great old school style tag team match. Funaki scored an upset win over Nunzio and in the main event, Ultimo Dragon retained his WWE Cruiserweight Title against Tajiri with the Asai DDT. Also, the incident from Smackdown involving a wrestler whose name we can't state for legal reasons is touched upon briefly but said incident isn't replayed, just know that Paul Heyman is suing this man for breaching his contract for his match with Hardcore Holly.

[MattHarms]

WWE Heat 3/21/04: The last edition of Heat before the Monday draft lottery featured the new and improved La Resistance of Rob Conway and Sylvan Grenier over Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak. Gail Kim continued her winning ways on Heat by making Lita submit to a weird version of a figure four sleeperhold. Rico scored a win over Rodney Mack and in the main event, Christian pinned Stevie Richards after using the ropes for leverage.

WWE Raw 3/22/04-The Draft Lottery

WWE Women's Title Match:

Trish Stratus vs Molly Holly vs Victoria©

Pretty good match to kick things off with Molly and Trish forming an alliance to take out the champion. Gail Kim watched from the ramp, scouting the three women in the ring for a future Women's Title Shot. Trish and Molly's alliance fell apart with Molly accidentally hitting Trish with the Molly Go Round and Victoria rolling up Molly for the pin.

Winner: Victoria(w/a roll up)

Segment Rating: 67

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 64

Heyman and Bischoff are out on the podium. It's draft time. It is noted that tonight's main event will feature a special draft all stars match with some of the superstars drafted involved. By virtue of coin toss, Eric Bischoff gets to pick first. Bischoff does and says his pick may be the biggest in the draft and it's only the first one. Eric Bischoff welcomes The Big Show to Raw. Heyman looks none too pleased as Big Show trades his Smackdown! t-shirt for a Raw T-Shirt. Heyman reaches in and goes to pick again. Heyman pulls the pick out and looks at it, with a big grin spreading across his face. Heyman tells Eric Bischoff to kiss the Franchise Player of Raw good bye as Triple H is now on Smackdown! We see Triple H backstage, looking pissed and throwing chairs. Triple H is now Smackdown! talent and he has no Evolution to protect him over on Smackdown!

Segment Rating: 88

Randy Orton along with Ric Flair comes out, talking about his match against the former member of the Nation of Domination who has held the Interconinental Title and has quite a fan following. Althrough Orton does mention, that he smells what the fans are cooking, it won't be the Rock. "Welcome Aboard the Ho Train". The Godfather comes out, with a half a dozen hoes, dancing out and waving his pimp cane. Godfather welcomes us aboard the Ho Train and reminds us that Pimpin' Ain't Easy. The Godfather offers the hoes to Ric Flair to take the night off and make this a one on one match. Flair, being Flair, accepts with a giant "woooo!" Flair leaves with the hoes as the bell rings kicking off this Interconinental Title Match.

Segment Rating: 77:

WWE Interconinental Title Match:

The Godfather vs Randy Orton©

The Godfather worked over Orton for most the match, getting some good offense and even hitting the Ho Train. Godfather goes for the Pimp Drop but Orton counters with the RKO and covers but he pulls the Godfather up at two. Orton gets up and delivers a bastardized version of the People's Elbow to score the pin. Orton raises his eyebrow and mocks the Rock after the match

Winner: Randy Orton(w/the RKO and the People's Elbow)

Segment Rating: 63

Crowd Reaction: 74

Match Quality: 63

Back to the podium. Bischoff says that he hopes Heyman gets a real Lemon next time before picking his guy. Bischoff announces that Raw will get a piece of the Kish as Rikishi has a new home on Raw. Rikishi comes out and does a little dance for the crowd to a few cheers. Heyman makes his pick and says that Smackdown! is stealing one of the best young guns on Raw, the French Phenom himself, Rene Dupree. Dupree comes out and does the French Tickler before trading in his Raw T-Shirt for a Smackdown one. Dupree says he owes his fans one final performance and the Y2J countdown comes up as Chris Jericho comes out for a match with Dupree

Segment Rating: 75

Rene Dupree vs Chris Jericho

Pretty good match with Dupree bumping around for all the offense of Y2J. However, the Lionsault is missed and Dupree scoops up Jericho before bringing him down with the Bastille Driver and hooks the leg to score another big win.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver)

Segment Rating: 71

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 73

Back to the podium. Eric Bischoff says he is feeling in a good mood and the next guy who gets drafted to Raw will get a World Heavyweight Title Shot. Bischoff reaches in and picks out a name. Say goodbye to the cornerstone of the Cruiserweight Division, as Rey Misterio Jr will come to Raw. Heyman picks his guy and Booker T has a new home on Smackdown!

World Heavyweight Title Match:

Rey Misterio Jr vs Kurt Angle©

These two have had their battles on Smackdown and this is their first one on one meeting on Raw. Angle was kept off balance by Rey but Angle managed to counter a dive with a fallaway slam and work over Rey with suplex after suplex. Ankle Lock is put on but Rey counters with a headscissors, causing Angle to fall on the middle rope. 6-1-9. Rey signals for the West Coast Pop but Shawn Michaels runs to the ring and knocks out Kurt Angle with the Superkick. The referee calls for the bell. Rey looks not too pleased, he had the title one. West Coast Pop attempt but Shawn Michaels counters with the Superkick, knocking Rey down in mid air. Shawn Michaels picks up the belt and bashes the belt into his head. Shawn Michaels, for the second week in a row, poses over Angle with the belt.

Winner by Disqualification: Kurt Angle

Segment Rating: 77

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 87

World Tag Team Title Match:

The Super Heroes vs Val Venis and Lance Storm©

Val Venis and Lance Storm used old school Memphis tactics to keep the match in their favor but Rosey came back and tagged in the Hurricane. Hurricane enters the ring and takes down Storm with the Overcast but Val Venis attacks him. Rosey enters the ring but in the crossfire, Hurricane accidentally hits Rosey so Rosey walks off due to this. Lance Storm delivers a power bomb and Val Venis leaps off the top with the Money Shot onto The Hurricane to score the win.

Winner: Val Venis and Lance Storm

Segment Rating: 68

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 81

Back to the draft. Bischoff reaches in and says that Raw will get a dose of Latino Heat as Eddie Guerrero appears on Raw. Eddie comes out and cuts a promo on Rob Van Dam and says that he is happy to get some revenge on the injuries that RVD gave him at Wrestlemania but Rob Van Dam comes out and says that if Eddie gets in his way, Rob Van Dam will give him something worse. This leads to Eddie leaping at Van Dam and trading punches with him. Eddie attempts to throw Rob Van Dam off the ramp and to the concrete below but security comes out and pulls RVD and Eddie apart. Back to the draft Heyman says that the Cruiserweight division will get a new addition. Stand back, there is a Hurricane coming to Smackdown! Bischoff makes his next pick. Raw will get one of the toughest brawlers in the business as Bradshaw comes to Raw. Heyman picks and says that Smackdown gets an even tougher brawler, once he recovers from his injuries. Who will be next as Bill Goldberg comes to Smackdown!

Segment Rating: 82

Hardcore Match:

Terry Funk vs Kane

Kane battered Terry Funk through most the match with Funk getting some brief offense here and there. Kane eventually lit a table on fire, to boos and put Funk through the flaming table with the Choke Slam to score the pin. Kane grabbed Funk and attempted to pillmanize his next but the Big Show comes out to the ring. The Big Show and Kane trades punches, as some security comes out, foolish enough to get in between these two big men. Kane eventually leaves, promising to put the Big Show down.

Winner: Kane(w/the Choke Slam)

Segment Rating: 67

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 67

Final draft pick time. Bischoff makes his pick and Bischoff thinks he knows this pick as Edge will be appearing on Raw now. Heyman goes and makes his final pick. Christian will find a new home on Smackdown! The draft is done, but trades can be made for the next week. Log onto WWE.com for details.

Draft All Stars Match:

Bradshaw, Edge, and Rikishi vs Triple H, Christian, and Booker T

Bradshaw didn't look dressed to wrestle, he came out in a three piece suit and a cowboy hat. Rikishi and Edge did most the work, with Rikishi getting caught in the new Smackdown wrestlers corner. Rikishi eventually made the tag and Edge came out. Bradshaw walked out, declaring "I don't care about this nothing match, when I have important stock investments to make". Edge caught both Christian and Booker with Spears but Triple H caught Edge with a knee to the back of the head and goes for the Pedigree but Edge countered with a catapault and Speared Triple H on the rebound. Edge made the cover hooking the leg and scored the pin. Edge has just pinned Triple H! That is no doubt the biggest win in the career of Edge. Raw goes off the air on this note.

Winners: Rikishi/Edge/Bradshaw(w/a Spear on Triple H)

Segment Rating: 71

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 77

Final Draft Results:

From Raw to Smackdown

1)Triple H

2)Rene Dupree

3)Booker T

4)The Hurricane

5)Goldberg

6)Christian

From Smackdown to Raw:

1)The Big Show

2)Rikishi

3)Rey Misterio Jr.

4)Eddie Guerrero

5)Bradshaw

6)Edge

Segment Rating: 73

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 3/25/04

Triple H is out to start, of course. New show, same story. Triple H cuts a ranting promo about how the draft was fixed and how he should be sent back to Raw instead of being forced to compete for a brand that is owned by someone's who can't make a dollar even it was handed to him. Triple H says he wants Heyman out here and he wants Heyman out here now. Heyman comes out and says how it is an honor to meet Triple H. Heyman says that Triple H is a big name, a big draw, and Heyman would hate to lose him. Heyman says it will be a whole new chance for Triple H to prove himself and what better way would this be than for Triple H to start from the bottom of the ladder and work his way to the top. Triple H sputters and says if Heyman doesn't trade him back, the least he can do his hand him a WWE World Title Shot. Heyman asks how someone can get something, if they haven't earned it. Heyman says, he is a fair man and he is going to give Triple H a chance to prove himself. Therefore tonight Triple H will be in action and Heyman says that he will be scouting Triple H, to see if he deserves the title shots he requests. Triple H promises to take out whomever Heyman brings out.

Segment Rating: 80

#1 Contenders Tournament:

Rhyno vs Booker T

Rhyno's United States Title is not on the line. These two worked pretty well together, look for future matches between these two. Rhyno works over the back and ribs of Booker T but when he went for the Gore, Booker avoided it and Rhyno hit the buckles. Booker T hit a knee to the midsection before hitting the Axe Kick but he only got two. Harlem Side Kick but another two. Rhyno fights back and Rhyno Bomb but Booker T kicks out. Gore is countered with a floatover roll up and Booker T advances to the semifinals of the number one contenders tournament.

Winner: Booker T(w/a floatover roll up)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 83

Rene Dupree cuts a promo, introducing himself to the Smackdown fans. He is the French Phenom, you know. Dupree says his lifelong dream is to win the WWE Title and he will get a chance to do so by winning the number one contenders tournament. The first step in his way would be Hardcore Holly. Dupree says he doesn't sweat Hardcore Holly and Dupree says with big wins over Booker T and Chris Jericho in his remaining weeks on Raw, Hardcore Holly should be nothing new.

Segment Rating: 68

The Dudley Boys vs The Shooting Star Express and Ultimo Dragon

Standard six man tag team match with a lot of flying around with the non-Dudley team. The Dudleys took out London and Kidman with a couple of vicious moves on the floor as Dragon took on Spike in the ring. Dragon goes for the Asai DDT but Bubba grabs the foot and that flips Dragon off the top and Spike manages to reverse the move and connect with the Dudley Dawg. Spike covers Dragon as his brothers hold down the legs of the Dragon and Spike has just pinned the WWE Cruiserweight Champion in this six man tag team match! That ought to net him a possible title shot.

Winners: The Dudley Boys(w/the Dudley Dawg to Dragon)

Segmemt Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 81

James Mitchell and Sean O' Haire are in the ring. Mitchell talks about the Undertaker. Mitchell says that the Undertaker's little tricks do not scare him or Sean O' Haire. Mitchell declares that this man(O' Haire) has stared into darkness and laughed at it. Mitchell says that if the Undertaker messes with O' Haire again, The Undertaker will be the one, resting in peace.

Segment Rating: 67

Scotty 2 Hotty vs Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell)

Scotty 2 Hotty manages to keep this match from becoming a complete squash by hitting a nearfall off a bulldog off the second rope and a springboard dropkick plus a couple over average cruiserweight moves but O' Haire decides enough is enough and batters Mr. 2 Hotty. Prophecy and O' Haire crosses the arms across the chest, mocking the Undertaker, before scoring the pin. After the match, the lights flicker briefly and the gong is heard, as the Undertaker plays more mindgames with Sean O' Haire.

Winner: Sean O' Haire(w/the Prophecy)

Segment Rating: 75

Crowd Reaction: 70

Match Quality: 81

Christian introduces himself "for all those without the benefit of Cable TV". Christian declares himself the most charismatic man on Thursday Nights and says that Smackdown! is about to get a dose of Peepitude. Christian says his first opponent, Ron Simmons, got abadoned by his old partner, Bradshaw, because he is old and washed up while guys like Christian are the future of this sport and "pretty fly for a white guy". Christian calls out Ron Simmons so they can "get physical, but in a totally heterosexual way of course" and Christian can win for all his Smackdown! peeps. Pretty corny promo but a lot of crowd heat.

Segment Rating: 85

Ron Simmons vs Christian

This match was hampered by Simmons not wanting to sell anything for one of the many new Superstars on Smackdown. Match was ended when Christian delivered a low blow and gave Simmons the Unprettier to score the pin. Simmons needs to retire, as he can't sell worth a damn anymore.

Winner: Christian(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 68

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 59

Rico(w/Miss Jackie) vs Triple H

Triple H is not too pleased that he has to face Rico and Rico makes Triple H angry by slapping him on the backside so Triple H pounds Rico for a good portion of the mat, busting his nose open even but when Triple H grabbed a chair to finish Rico, the referee took it away. Triple H argued with the referee but when he turned around, Rico nearly took the head of Trips off with a Spinning Round House Kick. Rico covers and the crowd pops big time, as Rico has just scored a pin over Triple H! That may have been the upset of the century! Triple H doesn't give Rico too much time to celebrate as Trips attacks Rico from behind and Pedigrees him before shoving Jackie to the mat.

Winner: Rico(w/a Spinning Round House Kick to the head)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 87

Match Quality: 74

#1 Contenders Tournament

Hardcore Holly vs Rene Dupree

Dupree was cocky to start but Hardcore Holly quickly changed that, stiffing Dupree on a few shots. Dupree spent most of this match on the defense but one mistake from Holly, a clothesline hit the post on the outside and Dupree works over Holly before hitting the Bastille Driver and scoring the pin to advance into the number one contenders tournament.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 75

Match Quality: 82

WWE Heavyweight Title Match:

Tajiri vs Chris Benoit©

This match was made a title bout at the last minute, due to Benoit wanting to be a fighting champion. Benoit and Tajiri traded chops and kicks before Tajiri knocks Benoit to the floor and somersault plancha to the floor. Tajiri works over Benoit and nice Brain Buster but Benoit avoids being pinned. Benoit comes back, Triple German but Tajiri goes for the mist but Benoit blocks it with his forearm before taking down Tajiri and Crippler Crossface. Benoit pulls back on the hold and Tajiri struggles before tapping out, giving Benoit his first successful title defense.

Winner: Chris Benoit(w/the Crippler Crossface)

Segment Rating: 86

Crowd Reaction: 75

Match Quality: 97

Show Rating: 76

WWE Velocity for 3/27/04: The World's Greatest Tag Team had another classic tag team match, against Akio and Sakoda of Kyo Dai. The WGTT came out on top for this match. Jamie Noble made Funaki submit to the Trailer Hitch in a pretty good Cruiserweight Match and Chavo pinned Chris Kanyon after using the ropes for leverage.

[MattHarms]

WWE Heat 3/28/04: La Resistance and Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade split singles matches with each other as Rob Conway pinned Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade defeated Sylvan Grenier. Also, Steven Richards scored the biggest win in his career, defeating Ric Flair to further the Evolution vs Extreme Storyline. Sure it was by disqualification when Batista ran in and creamed Stevie but a win is a win. Dreamer makes the save after the match. Also a special announcement by Eric Bischoff is aired, which announces Kurt Angle defending the World Heavyweight Title against Shawn Michaels at Backlash.

WWE Raw 3/29/04

Highlight Reil to kick off Raw. Chris Jericho comes to the ring and introduces us to the Highlight Reil. Jericho introduces his guest, "A man who has sold out recently". Cue the new music and out comes Bradshaw, in a cowboy hat and a three piece suit. Bradshaw says he has turned over a new leaf in the world of wrestling. He is no longer an "ass backwards redneck drunk", he is a winner. He is a man of the people, the voice of America, and a true American Hero. Cue Jericho making wretching noises in the background. Bradshaw says from this day forward, he will no longer be known simply as Bradshaw, he will now be known as John Bradshaw Layfield. "Know that name well, it will soon be the most successful on Raw". Jericho says that JBL makes him sick to his stomach and Jericho says that JBL is not the hero that he claims to be. Cue the footage on the Jeri-tron Five Thousand and One(Upgrade!). We see two weeks ago on Smackdown with JBL decking Ron Simmons with the Clothesline from Hell and last week during the Draft All Stars Match where JBL walked out on his partners. JBL says that he figured Jericho would disrespect him because "you, my friend, are a Canadian and we all know that Canada is really a low rent version of the United States of America". Jericho takes offense but JBL backs off when he wants a fight but cheapshots Jericho when he turns his back. JBL sets up Jericho and huge power bomb in the ring. JBL walks off, to boos from the crowd. Jericho will not be too pleased when he gets up.

Segment Rating: 82

Gail Kim and Molly Holly vs Trish Stratus and Victoria

Trish got beat in the heel corner for most the match but she came back and Victoria got the tag. Victoria battered both Molly and Gail with punches, clotheslines, and suplexes but when she charged Molly, Molly moved and Victoria rammed her shoulder into the ringpost. Gail and Molly brutalized the shoulder of Victoria with Gail Kim putting on a cross armbreaker and having Victoria tap out. Gail Kim just forced the Women's Champion to submit. That should give Gail a title match down the line!

Winners: Gail Kim and Victoria(w/the Cross Armbreaker to Victoria from Gail Kim)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 68

Eric Bischoff is in the ring when a man walks into his office. He introduces himself as Nick Dinsmore, long time Wrestling Fan from Louisville Kentucky. Dinsmore says it is a pleasure to meet Eric Bischoff and he wonders if he could get a spot on the Raw Roster. He has been training hard for about a year and would really like a spot in the ring. Bischoff shoots him down and says that they don't put nobodies off the street straight into the Raw ring. Dinsmore says he needs the job, he needs the money to pay off some shady italian looking figures that threatened his family if he doesn't pay up. Bischoff doesn't bite but he will give Dinsmore a chance, but not as a wrestler. It will be Dinsmore refereeing the Tag Team Title Match tonight. Dinsmore says that Bischoff wouldn't regret this and he runs off.

Segment Rating: 79

WWE Tag Team Title Match with Special Guest Referee Nick Dinsmore:

La Resistance vs Jindrak/Cade vs Val Venis and Lance Storm©

Dinsmore played a fair referee. The FBI(who got traded to Raw recently), watched from the ramp, perhaps scouting the tag team division on Raw. Nevertheless, there presense appeared to have unnerved Dinsmore for a brief moment. In the end, Conway went for a World Tag Team Title Belt but Dinsmore took it away. Conway went after Dinsmore but Val Venis grabbed Conway and German Suplex to score the pin and retain the titles. The FBI left the ringside area after the match, there work done.

Winners: Val Venis and Lance Storm

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 66

Match Quality: 81

Randy Orton is out to the ring and he says that the newest member of Evolution passed his test earlier tonight, with flying colors. The crowd boos as JBL comes out to the ring. JBL says it is an honor to be accepted into a group full of true and blue Americans such as Evolution and beating up a little Canadian punk like Jericho was a good way to do so. Orton then turns his attention to his business for tonight. Orton said that he would put his Interconinental Title on the line against a former tag team partner of Mick Foley and once again, Orton said he doesn't lie and he never mentioned the Rock's name. Orton introduces his opponent and it is...Mikey Whipwreck! A few cheers for Mikey for those who remember him from his ECW days. Mikey enters the ring and this Interconinental Title Match is underway.

Segment Rating: 71

WWE Interconinental Title Match:

Mikey Whipwreck vs Randy Orton©(w/John Bradshaw Layfield)

Whipwreck took the beating that he was so known for in ECW but managed to come back and score with the Whippersnapper(which JR calls a modified neckbreaker, of course) but JBL pulls Mikey out of the ring. JBL clocks Mikey with the Clothesline from Hell(which is redubbed the Clothesline from Pennsylvania Avenue by the Announcers) before rolling Mikey into the ring. Orton delivers the RKO and then delivers his version of the People's Elbow to score the pin. Evolution beat down Mikey after the match, until Chris Jericho makes the save, chasing off Evolution. Jericho gets on the microphone and challenges JBL to a match at Backlash which JBL accepts.

Winner: Randy Orton(w/the RKO and People's Elbow)

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 74

Match Quality: 75

Eddie Guerrero is about ready to face off against Rodney Mack but Rob Van Dam attacks him from behind. Eddie and RVD trade punches in the ramp with Eddie ramming Van Dam into the ringpost and rolling him into the ring. Eddie pounds away on Van Dam but Van Dam rolls to the floor and grabs a chair. Eddie grabs Van Dam and gets chaired in the face. Van Dam batters Eddie with another couple chair shots before rolling him into the ring. Van Dam jabs the chair into the ankle a couple of times before folding the chair over the leg. Van Dam delivers a spinning leg drop, snapping the chair shut on the ankle of Eddie. Van Dam then double stomps the chair, causing Eddie further pain. That ankle may be broken and Van Dam looks pleased at what happened. Van Dam has attacked Eddie Guerrero once again and it obvious that RVD has an axe to grind with Eddie because Eddie's popularity is higher than RVD's at his peak.

Segment Rating: 86

Scott Steiner(w/Test) vs Rey Misterio Jr

Rey showed why he is one of the top five wrestlers in the entire company by bumping off of Steiner's suplexes and making Steiner look like a monster. Rey makes a comeback and doesn't do anything too complicated but once he sets up for the West Coast Pop, Test shoves Rey off the top for the disqualification. Test enters the ring and Big Boot, causing Rey to do a 360 sell in mid air. Double Team on Rey in the ring but Edge runs out with a chair and runs Test and Steiner out of the ring. Edge and Rey were friends over on Smackdown and now Edge has just saved Rey from a possible career ending beating from two much larger men in Scott Steiner and Test. Backlash matches is the theme of the night as Steiner gets on the microphone and challenges Edge and Rey to face him and Test at Backlash. Edge converses with Rey before accepting.

Winner by Disqualification: Rey Misterio Jr

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 71

The Godfather(w/three hoes) vs Rob Van Dam

Godfather attempts to offer Van Dam the hoes but Van Dam belts him with a kick in response. Squash by Van Dam as the Godfather seems to be novelity act at this point in his career. The newly vicious and improved Five Star Frog Splash scores the win. Van Dam grabs a chair and bashes it over the head of Godfather, just to remind us that this is the new Rob Van Dam and he is no longer a laid back guy.

Winner: Rob Van Dam(w/the Five Star Frog Splash)

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 72

The Big Show, Terry Funk, and Tommy Dreamer vs Ric Flair, Batista, and Kane

Two more matches signed for Backlash, and this six man tag team match is a preview of both of them. Kane will collide with the Big Show and Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk face off against Batista and Ric Flair in a No Holds Barred Match. This was a out and out brawl. The end came when Batista caught Dreamer with a Spinebuster to score the pin but the real story is the Big Show battering Kane and putting him through the Spanish Announcer's Table with the Choke Slam. Big Show does not fear Kane and he just laid out the Big Red Machine.

Winners: Batista, Flair, and Kane(w/a Batista Spinebuster to Tommy Dreamer)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 67

Shawn Michaels is out, to explain his actions involving Kurt Angle. Shawn Michaels takes us back to about two months ago on Raw. It was Shawn Michaels against Kurt Angle, winner goes to Wrestlemania to face the World Heavyweight Champion. That night, Shawn Michaels lost to Kurt Angle and that woke up Shawn Michaels. Michaels declares that the Shawn Michaels of 1997 would have beaten Kurt Angle. That Shawn Michaels took no prisoners, he thrived on being controversal but once it came to get it done in the ring, he scored the win, night after night, he was a one man show. Shawn Michaels accuses Angle of hiding behind his Olympic accomplishments and says that "the true fans will cheer the Heartbreak Kid and doesn't hide behind the blind patriotism of America". Shawn Michaels declares that Angle is a fraud and he will expose him for the fraud he is, come Backlash. Michaels would go on but Angle comes out and interrupts him. Angle declares that anyone is a fraud, it would be Shawn Michaels. Kurt Angle suffered a major neck injury but was only out for three months while Shawn Michaels milked a back injury for four years and not only that, "but you faked a knee injury to get out of facing Bret Hart for the title and that makes you the fraud, not me." Big oohs for that and Angles goes further saying that Michaels could not beat a true champion like himself or Bret Hart, and "we all know the fix was in there." Michaels takes the microphone and says that he beat Bret Hart at the end and that's all that matters and he will beat Kurt Angle in the end as well. Angle says that Michaels at Backlash, he will make Michaels tap, for all the careers that he screwed with. Michaels tells Angle, that they don't have to wait until Backlash and Angle takes this invite, rushing to the ring. Punches are traded but Michaels gains the advantage. Superkick is blocked and Ankle Lock is locked on. Angle has the leg of Michaels but Michaels removes his boot and Angle is distracted by this and this allows Michaels to get up and Superkick Kurt Angle from behind. That was right in the back of the head. Shawn Michaels picks up Angle and takes him down with his own version of the Angle Slam. Michaels picks up the World Heavyweight Title Belt and stands over Angle with it. Could this be a sign for Backlash? See you next week.

Segment Rating: 95

Show Rating: 79

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 4/1/04

WWE Cruiserweight Title Match:

Spike Dudley vs Ultimo Dragon©

These two did not click that well and it made for one of the most bleh Cruiserweight Matches in recently memory. Ending came with Dragon connecting with the Asai DDT to score the pin.

Winner: Ultimo Dragon(w/the Asai DDT)

Segment Rating: 65

Crowd Reaction: 56

Match Quality: 75

Triple H is out with a chair and he sits in the middle of the ring, demanding that Paul Heyman comes out. Triple H says that Heyman set up Triple H to fail last week against Rico when the referee distracted the Game long enough for Rico to score with a cheap shot. Heyman comes out and says that he doesn't like people with an attitude problem on his show. Heyman says that Triple H better shape up and be a team player. Heyman will not fire Triple H because Trips will go running back to Raw but Heyman can sure as hell suspend Triple H. Triple H gets up and dares Heyman to suspend him. Triple H puts his hands on Heyman and shoves him so Heyman snaps and suspends Triple H for thirty days. So Triple H kicks Heyman in the groin and delivers the Pedigree. Triple H picks up the chair and bashes it into the head of Heyman a dozen times, busting him open as brutally as network TV would allow. Some of the crowd cheers for Triple H because they hate Heyman. Heyman is battered and injured, clutching his neck. Triple H leaves the ring, as medics come out to tend to Heyman.

Segment Rating: 79

During the break, Heyman got stretched out, with his condition in doubt because of the brutal beating Triple H laid upon him. Paul London and Billy Kidman come out to defend their Tag Team Titles against Akio and Sakoda but the Dudley Boys confront London and Kidman in the entryway, demanding a Tag Title Shot. London and Kidman blow the Dudleys off but the Dudleys jump London and Kidman from behind, beating them down into the ramp. D-Von gets the table and set up in the ring. London gets dumped onto the table as Kidman gets set up into the Super Bomb Position from Bubba. Bubba leaps off and Super Bomb through the table, sending Kidman crashing onto Paul London and through the table. The Dudley Boys pick up the Tag Team Title Belts and hold them up, to boos from the crowd.

Segment Rating: 65

Contenders Tournament Match:

Charlie Haas vs Shelton Benjamin

This match was pretty good, due to the fact that they knew each others style all too well and lots of counters were made. Benjamin eventually scored the pin after reversing the Haas of Pain into a Monkey Flip and then hitting a new finishing move, a cross armed German Suplex, which is dubbed "The Money Maker" by the announcers to score the pin. Benjamin will face Booker T next week in the Semifinals.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin(w/the Money Maker)

Segment Rating: 71

Crowd Reaction: 52

Match Quality: 91

Sean O' Haire is in the ring along with his manager James Mitchell. Mitchell calls a long promo about the darkness and calls out the Undertaker. The lights go out and the Undertaker stands on the ramp with Paul Bearer. Bearer clutches the earn and O' Haire beckons the Undertaker to come to the ring. O'Haire then leaves the ring to go after the Undertaker but the lights go out and the Undertaker is standing in the ring behind James Mitchell. Taker grabs Mitchell by the throat and chokes him down to his knees before O' Haire runs back to the ring as the lights go out again. When they come back on, the Undertaker is gone and Mitchell is on his knees, clutching his throat. O' Haire promises vengeance against the Undertaker.

Segment Rating: 72

Rico is in the ring. He talks about his win against Triple H last night and how he is going to go straight to the top, by winning the number one contenders tournament. First up is Christian. Rico says it is his goal to win the WWE World Title and nothing will stop him now.

Segment Rating: 78

Christian vs Rico(w/Miss Jackie)

This match was one of those matches that had no right to be good but was. Rico bumped a lot off of Christian's offense, catching Christian with some martial arts offense here and there, which Christian sells like a pro. Ten Count Punches from Rico is reversed into a low blow and Christian delivers a reverse DDT for a two and a half count. Christian argues with the referee and Rico catches Christian with a Spinning Roundhouse Kick as he turns around. The same move that he used to pin Triple H last week and Rico covers and scores the pin. That one kick did the job again. Don't turn your back on Rico, one kick, that's all it takes. Rico will face Rene Dupree next week in the Semifinals.

Winner: Rico(w/the Spinning Roundhouse Kick)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 85

Match Quality: 90

Chavo vs the Hurricane

Both these men turned it up several notches, as Smackdown continues to have the most exciting Cruiserweight Wrestling on the planet. Chavo's attempted Gory Bomb is countered and Shining Enzuigiri scores the pin. After the match, Chavo attacks Hurricane and lays him out with the Gory Bomb to boos from the crowd.

Winner: The Hurricane(w/the Shining Enzuigiri)

Segment Rating: 86

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 97

Rhyno cuts an intense promo, promising to stop the WWE World Title reign of Chris Benoit cold with the Gore.

Segment Rating: 69

Jamie Noble vs Booker T

Booker T will face Shelton Benjamin next week in the Semifinals of the Number One Contenders Tournament, so he has a nice little warm up against Noble. Noble works over the knees of Booker T for most of the match and puts him in the Trailer Hitch. Booker gets to the ropes and Noble sets up Booker for the Tiger Driver but Booker countered with a backdrop. Leaping Forearm, Spinebuster, kick, and Axe Kick and Booker T scores the pin.

Winner: Booker T(w/the Axe Kick)

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 84

Match Quality: 77

WWE World Title:

Rhyno vs Chris Benoit

Rhyno batters Benoit throughout most of this match, hitting a vicious Super Set Flip Power Bomb off the top rope, scoring a nearfall. Rhyno goes for the Gore but Benoit moves and he hits the corner. Triple German Suplex, Crossface blocked, Snap Suplex. Swandive Headbutt attempted but Rhyno rolled over and Benoit hits the canvas. Roll up gets two. Gore is countered into the Crossface and Rhyno taps out, as Benoit retains the title.

Winner: Chris Benoit(w/the Crippler Crossface)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 81

Segment Rating: 74

WWE Velocity 4/3/04: Maven pinned A-Train with a roll up. Akio and Sakoda defeated Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki when Akio pinned Funaki with the 450 Splash. Tajiri pinned Shannon Moore after reversing a power bomb with the mist and hitting the Kick of Death. In the main event, Rene Dupree pins Billy Gunn with the Bastille Driver in a little tuneup match for his Semifinal Match in the Contenders Tournament with Rico in this Thursday, on Smackdown.

[MattHarms]

WWE Heat 4/4/04: Palumbo and Stamboli of the FBI defeated Chad Collyer and Nigel McGuiness when Palumbo pinned Collyer after they hit the Kiss of Death. Rob Van Dam vs Eddie Guerrero is announced for Backlash. Jazz battled Lita to a double countout. Rikishi came out with a new look, with his hair dyed jet black and wearing thug gear along with Rosey, who is no longer dressed as a Superhero in Training and wearing thug gear as well. Rosey and Rikishi defeated Jason Cross and Derek Wylde when Rikishi pinned Cross after a Samoan Drop/Second Rope Splash combo. In the main event, Chris Jericho made Nunzio submit to the Walls of Jericho.

WWE Raw 4/5/04

The Island Warriors(Rosey and Rikishi) vs Val Venis and Lance Storm

The tag team champions battled Rikishi and Rosey in this special non title match. The newest team on Raw battered the champions throughout this match but Storm and Venis managed to come back. Val Venis nearly pinned Rosey with the Money Shot and all four men are in the ring. This allows Rikishi to superkick Val Venis and Rosey to plant him with a vicious Samoan Drop to score the pin and win this non title match.

Winners: The Island Warriors(w/a Samoan Drop)

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 77

Randy Orton is out for his usual Interconinental Title Match. Orton says that his opponent tonight is going to be against a wrestler who has faced Stone Cold Steve Austin in the past at Wrestlemania. It will be the Carribean Legend himself, Savio Vega. Savio Vega's theme music kicks up but an image flickers on the titan tron that sees Savio Vega laid out in the back. "IF YOU SMELL, WHAT THE ROCK, IS COOKING!" The Rock comes out to an explosive pop from the crowd. The Rock gets on the microphone and says that he is sick and tired about how Randy Orton has been running his mouth over the past few weeks about being better than the Rock. Using the Rock's name to hype up his Interconinental Title Matches. Now the Rock is here and he is going shut Orton's mouth. Orton dares the Rock to come out to the ring and the Rock does. Orton attacks the Rock as he enters the ring, battering him with punches. RKO attempt but it is blocked. Rock Bottom sends Orton down! The Rock gets on the microphone and declares that if Randy Orton has the guts, he will go one on one with the Great One in Thirteen Days at Backlash. If you smelll, what the Rock...is cooking.

Segment Rating: 95

Eddie Guerrero cuts a heated promo, promising that make Rob Van Dam pay for all he has done to Latino Heat. In the past few weeks RVD has broken Eddie's ribs and last week, RVD attempted to break Eddie's ankle. Eddie says that RVD will feel the burn at Backlash.

Segment Rating: 92

WWE Women's Title Match:

Lita vs Jazz vs Victoria©

Business as usual for Victoria, who pummeled both of the challengers while playing them against each other. Lita hit Jazz with a moonsault towards the end but got hit with a DDT from Victoria and then Victoria covered Jazz for the pin to retain her title.

Winner: Victoria(after a Lita Moonsault to Jazz)

Segment Rating: 66

Crowd Reaction: 68

Match Quality: 63

Edge and Rey Misterio Jr vs Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli

The former Tag Team Champions over on Smackdown, Rey and Edge are back together and they look pretty good against the FBI tonight. Rey and Edge will face Test and Scott Steiner at Backlash. Rey suffered a beating for most the match but managed to tag Edge. Edge battered the FBI before catching Palumbo with the Spear and scoring the pin.

Winners: Edge and Rey Misterio Jr(w/a Spear from Edge to Palumbo)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 78

Match Quality: 82

Evolution's John Bradshaw Layfield comes out. He's a Real American Hero, you know. He says at Backlash, he will put down Chris Jericho, for the good of the country and tonight, he faces the Big Show. JBL says that he is quicker than the Big Show, but that isn't saying much, as the Big Show moves like "a drunk sloth". He is smarter then the Big Show but JBL says that isn't saying that much, as the Big Show shows about as many brains as a "monkey on crack". JBL does know that he will beat the Big Show in the center of the ring tonight on Raw.

Segment Rating: 77

John Bradshaw Layfield vs The Big Show

Usual hosstacular match, that you should be seeing towards the top of the card, as long as Vince McMahon has a breath left in his body. Show batters JBL, who plays the coward heel well but Kane comes out and attacks the Big Show on the floor leading to JBL scoring the win via a countout. The announcers call JBL "the luckiest man alive". Kane sends Show into the ring and Kane and JBL double team Show but Chris Jericho runs out and makes the save, which leads to an impromptu tag team match being made on the fly.

Winner By Countout: JBL

Segment Rating: 69

Crowd Reaction: 70

Match Quality: 70

Chris Jericho and The Big Show vs Kane and John Bradshaw Layfield

The beating of Show was continued during most of this match before the Show exploded out of the corner with a double clothesline and makes the tag to Jericho. Jericho pounds both Kane and Layfield and hits the Lionsault on Kane before delivering the Walls to JBL but JBL isn't legal so Kane kicks Jericho in the face before setting him up and planting him with the Choke Slam to score the pin. JBL adds a power bomb to the fun on Jericho after the match. JBL vs Jericho, Kane vs Show, Backlash in Thirteen Days.

Winners: JBL and Kane(w/a Choke Slam to Chris Jericho)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 70

Ric Flair cuts a fired up promo on behalf of Batista about Batista's Singapore Cane Match with Tommy Dreamer. Ric Flair says that Evolution will wipe out whomever is left fighting for the honor of ECW in Tommy Dreamer, Terry Funk, and Steven Richards

Segment Rating: 99

Singapore Cane Match:

Tommy Dreamer vs Batista(w/Ric Flair)

Dreamer beats the crap out of Batista with the cane for most of the match and Flair interferes, getting a caning himself which allows Batista to deliver the Spinebuster before breaking the cane over Dreamer's head and scoring with the Batista Bomb for the pin. Batista and Flair double team Dreamer until Terry Funk runs out with a baseball bat to make the save.

Winner: Batista(w/the Batista Bomb)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 67

Match Quality: 79

Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels vs Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle

High impact match. Kurt Angle got knocked around pretty good by RVD and Shawn Michaels but he managed to avoid an RVD spin kick which accidentally hit Shawn Michaels. Tag made to Eddie and Eddie enters the ring, battering Van Dam and Michaels. Angle takes Michaels to the floor and they trade punches, brawling to the back. RVD catches Eddie with a low blow and grabs a chair from ringside but Eddie hits a low blow and grabs the chair, smashing it over the head of RVD for the disqualification. Eddie brutalizes Van Dam with the chair some more. Eddie has snapped. Eddie climbs to the outside and Frog Splash to RVD. Eddie stands in the ring with the chair in hand as Raw goes off the air.

Winners By Disqualification: Rob Van Dam and Shawn Michaels

Segment Rating: 88

Crowd Reaction: 91

Match Quality: 84

Segment Rating: 81

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 4/8/04

Smackdown kicks off with an announcement by the WWE Board of Directors. Due to the injuries that Paul Heyman suffered, we will have a new acting General Manager for Smackdown. Cue Jim Cornette. Cornette enters the board room and shakes the hands of all the directors. He declares that he is going to make sure to Smackdown becomes the top brand in the WWE. Cornette assures us that he has no political agendas, like the two previous General Managers(Paul Heyman and Stephanie McMahon) and will get back to no nonsense wrestling action. Cornette's first night on the job will be next Thursday, April 15th and he promises to have a slam bang show then.

Segment Rating: 77

Contenders Tournament Semifinals:

Shelton Benjamin vs Booker T

Both these men took it to each other tonight. Benjamin went for the Money Maker but Booker avoided it and connected with the Harlem Side Kick to score the pin and advance to the finals. Booker T will face either Rene Dupree or Rico next week on Smackdown.

Winner: Booker T(w/the Harlem Side Kick)

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 77

Chris Benoit cuts a promo, declaring that it doesn't matter who wins the tournament, he promises to walk out of the WWE World Title Match in two weeks with the belt. He talks about the six man tonight and promises to make someone tap out to the Crossface. He says he is going to be the WWE World Champion for a long time and dares anyone to prove him wrong.

Segment Rating: 76

Scotty 2 Hotty vs Jamie Noble

This match was ten times better than it had any right to be. Noble had used all kinds of cool submission moves over Scotty but Scotty managed to come back and deliver a Springboard DDT but Noble avoided being pinned. Rana is countered into a power bomb and the knees are wrenched before the Trailer Hitch is applied. Scotty taps out, giving Noble the win. Noble talks trash about Ultimo Dragon and about how he wants to win the Cruiserweight Title once again.

Winner: Jamie Noble(w/the Trailer Hitch)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 92

Rene Dupree cuts a promo, declaring he is the only one worthy of the title shot and promises to put Rico down in the semifinals of the tournament tonight.

Segment Rating: 73

Contenders Tournament Semifinals:

Rico(w/Miss Jackie) vs Rene Dupree

Rico keeps Dupree off balance for a good portion of this match with his martial arts offense. The announcers talk about the suspended Triple H and how he will return in three weeks on April 29th. Rico delivered the Spinning Roundhouse Kick but Dupree landed on the floor. Rico rolls him up but only gets a two count due to the downtime. Rico works over Dupree in the corner but Dupree suckers him into a low blow and scores the pin with a cradle with the feet on the ropes. As a result, next week it will be Booker T vs Rene Dupree where the winner faces Chris Benoit on April 22nd.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/an illegal cradle)

Segment Rating: 77

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 72

Charlie Haas vs the Undertaker(w/Paul Bearer)

Haas worked over the Undertaker with some offense, working over the leg but when Haas delivered a T-Bone Suplex, Bearer raised the urn and Taker sat up. Taker slowly pounded Haas in the corner. Choke Slam. Tombstone but Sean O' Haire ran into the ring with a metal pipe and dents it over the head of the Undertaker for the disqualification. Prophecy delivered and O' Haire looks smug until Bearer raises the urn and Taker sits up. O' Haire decides to run off as the Undertaker looks down at O' Haire with a cold, blank expression.

Winner By Disqualification: The Undertaker

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 75

Christian cuts a promo, declaring himself to be the most destructive force on Smackdown. Christian promises to prove his point further by beating the Hurricane tonight on Smackdown for he is Christian and he is the MVP of Smackdown.

Segment Rating: 81

Christian vs the Hurricane

These two deliver the goods, much like there Heat Match earlier this year, they got quite some time to tell a story. Back and forth offense for most of the match with many nearfalls. The Hurricane goes for the Eye of the Hurricane but Christian counters with a low blow. Unprettier is blocked. Overcast connects but Christian kicks out. Another Eye of the Hurricane is countered into the Unprettier which Christian scores the pin in this match of the year candidate.

Winner: Christian(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 90

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 100

Rhyno and the Dudley Boys vs Paul London, Billy Kidman, and Chris Benoit

Brutal power vs speed and techinical ability match. Benoit got caught in no man's land for most of the match but managed to deliver a German Suplex on D-Von and get the tag. London jumps around, hitting all kinds of high flying moves, including a 450 Splash on Rhyno which would have gotten the pin, had Rhyno been the legal man. This allows The Dudleys to attack London and put him down with the 3D. Bubba then scores the pin on London. Kidman gets a 3D as well after the match and when Benoit attempts to save, he gets the Gore. Smackdown goes off the air with The Dudley Boys and Rhyno standing tall.

Winners: The Dudley Boys and Rhyno(w/the 3D to London)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 83

Show Rating: 77

WWE Velocity 4/10/04: Hardcore Holly pinned Chris Kanyon with the Alabama Slam. A-Train pinned Ernest Miller in less than ten seconds with a boot to the face. Tajiri pinned Funaki in a pretty close match after misting him in the face and delivering the Kick of Death. Maven pinned Chavo after reversing a suplex into a small package. Chavo assaulted Maven after the match, laying him out with a brain buster, so this could be a brand new VELOCITY EXCLUSIVE~! feud.

WWE Heat 4/11/04: Mikey Whipwreck pinned Nunzio in a pretty good cruiserweight match with the Whippersnapper. The Godfather vs Mark Henry never took place, because Mark Henry took the hoes(much to the disgust of Theodore Long) and the Godfather won the match by forfeit. After Mark Henry left, Theodore Long promised to bring in a new client to take down the Godfather for "deflaming the name of the black man". Rob Conway(w/Sylvan Grenier) defeated Mark Jindrak(w/Garrison Cade) when Conway pinned Jindrak after Grenier grabbed Jindrak's ankle on an attempted suplex and Conway landed on top for the pin. In the main event, Gail Kim made Trish Stratus submit to a headscissors submission.

WWE Monday Night Raw 4/12/04

Raw opens up with the Highlight Reil. Chris Jericho is your host and his guest is his tag team partner, the Rock. A little back and forth between Rock and Jericho, with Jericho mentioning his success against the Rock but in a friendly way. Eventually, they mutually bash Randy Orton but the legend Killer comes out, not looking too happy. Orton says he is going to put down the Rock at Backlash and if Jericho wants a piece of him, Jericho will get RKOed as well. The Rock tells Orton to "Just Bring It". Orton runs out and attacks Jericho but the Rock grabs Orton and plants him with the Rock Bosttom. Jericho grabs Orton and puts him in the Walls of Jericho to cheers. Orton has been wasted by the Rock and Chris Jericho.

Segment Rating: 84

Rikishi(w/Rosey) vs Lance Storm(w/Val Venis)

This match is a preview for the World Tag Team Title Match this Sunday between the Island Warriors and Val Venis and Lance Storm. Pretty cookie/cutter match with Rosey running in and attacking Storm for the disqualification. Rosey and Rikishi beat down Storm but Val Venis makes the save. The tables are turned and Val gets beaten down as well. The Island Warriors stand over the World Tag Team Champions.

Winner by Disqualification: Lance Storm

Segment Rating: 75

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 78

Kane cuts an intense promo, promising to tear Kurt Angle apart and then go onto the Big Show this Sunday.

Segment Rating: 70

Handicap Match:

La Resistance vs Eddie Guerrero

Eddie kept a few steps ahead, battering La Resistance and using hit and run tactics but as Eddie prepared to finish and go to the top rope for the Frog Splash but Rob Van Dam shoves him off. This allows La Resistance to deliver Au Revior to Eddie to score the pin. After the match, RVD battered Eddie with punches and kicks before going up top and Five Star Frog Splash. RVD will face Eddie this Sunday at Backlash.

Winner: La Resistance(w/the Au Revior)

Segment Rating: 70

Crowd Reaction: 68

Match Quality: 72

Mikey Whipwreck and Steven Richards vs Rey Misterio Jr and Edge

Whipwreck and Richards played heels and battered Rey throughout the match but Rey fought back and made the tag to Edge. Edge runs into the ring and attacks everyone. Edge hits the Spear on Richards to score the pin. After the match, Scott Steiner and Test ran out and attacks Rey and Edge, battering them down to the canvas, leaving them down on the canvas. This Sunday-Rey/Edge vs Steiner/Test at Backlash.

Winners: Rey/Edge

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 78

Match Quality: 85

Shawn Michaels cuts a promo, saying that Kurt Angle will be destroyed this Sunday and Michaels would take the World Heavyweight Title come Backlash. He will dance over Kurt Angle, all night long.

Segment Rating: 86

The Big Show vs Shawn Michaels

This match didn't go down well as well as the Big Show didn't seem to want to sell anything. The Big Show went for the Choke Slam towards the end but Shawn kicks him in the groin and delivers a Superkick to the stomach. Show slowly drops down and Shawn Michaels scores the pin.

Winner: Shawn Michaels(w/the Superkick)

Segment Rating: 69

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 47

Theodore Long thugs and bugs out. Footage from Heat last night with Mark Henry taking the hoes from the Godfather. Theodore declares that he is not too happy with Mark Henry and wants to call him out for a heart to heart talk. Out comes Mark Henry and Mark Henry is dressed like the Godfather. Theodore Long says that Mark Henry has turned into a steoreotype of the black man, by dressing up like a pimp. Theodore Long says that Mark Henry will be dealt with and he slaps Henry. Henry grabs Long by the throat but Rodney Mack runs out and attacks Mark Henry but Mark Henry shrugs him off and delivers a powerslam and goes after Long but Christopher Nowinski(fresh off injury) runs out from the ring and hits Mark Henry in the back of the head with a foreign object. Nowinski sets up Henry and takes him down with an version of the Roll of the Dice, dubbed the Honor Roll by JR and King. Theodore Long shakes hands with Nowinski, as the irony of a white man from Havard defending the honor of colored man is discussed by the announcers.

Segment Rating: 72

Non Title Match:

Kane vs Kurt Angle

Kane batters Angle, and works over his neck but Angle comes back and delivers the Triple German. Ankle Lock but Kane powers out. Angle Slam but Angle is unable to cover quickly so Kane gets up and boots Angle to the floor. Kane steps to the floor and grabs a chair and assaults Angle with it for the disqualification. Kane rolls Angle into the ring and goes for the Tombstone but Angle drops down and connects with the Angle Slam but Shawn Michaels runs out and lays out Angle with the Superkick again. Michaels stands over Angle, making the belt motion around his waist to boos from the crowd.

Winner by Disqualification: Kurt Angle

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 90

Match Quality: 75

John Bradshaw Layfield and Randy Orton vs Chris Jericho and the Rock

The Rock is battered for most of the match, making JBL and Orton look dangerous but when JBL goes for the Clothesline from Pennsylvania Avenue but the Rock ducks and Spinebuster. Tag made to Jericho and Jericho batters everyone with chops. Lionsault to Orton but JBL breaks it up. Rock attacks JBL, knocking him to the floor. Walls on Orton but Orton manages to get to the ropes. Jericho pounds away on Orton but Orton catches him with a low blow and catching him with the RKO to score the pin. After the match the Rock and Orton staredown but we are out of time. See you at Backlash!

Winners: Randy Orton and JBL(w/the RKO to Jericho)

Segment Rating: 84

Crowd Reaction: 87

Match Quality: 79

Segment Rating: 78

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 4/15/04

WWE United States Title Match:

Paul London vs Rhyno©

London attempts to keep a step ahead of Rhyno by using his speed. Up top but 450 Splash misses. Rhyno delivers a huge power bomb and finishes off London with the Gore to score the pin to retain the title. After the match, the Dudley Boys attack London and Kidman runs out to attempt and make the save but Kidman gets destroyed as well. The Dudley Boys stand tall over Kidman and London.

Winner: Rhyno(w/the Gore)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 82

Triple H cuts a pre taped promo, promising to make Rico pay for his embarassment a few weeks ago when Trips returns on April 29th from his suspension. Rico will be put down as many have been before and Triple H promises to kill Rico's momentum.

Segment Rating: 85

Jim Cornette is in the locker room where he makes London and Kidman against the Dudley Boys for the WWE Tag Team Titles next week on Smackdown.

Segment Rating: 77

Billy Gunn vs Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell)

O' Haire beats down Gunn for most of the match with Gunn only getting in a few moves. O' Haire finally puts Gunn out of his misery with the Prophecy. O' Haire folds the arms across the chest of Gunn to score the pin.

Winner: Sean O' Haire(w/the Prophecy)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 74

Match Quality: 78

Mitchell gets on the microphone and says that the Undertaker's end will be near, when he steps into the ring with Sean O' Haire. O' Haire just rolled right over another wrestler and nothing can stop him. Not even the Undertaker. Cue the lights and the Undertaker's voice promises to make O' Haire rest in peace when they collide in the ring.

Segment Rating: 82

Shelton Benjamin(w/Charlie Haas) vs the Hurricane

The Hurricane's good singles match streak continues as him and Shelton have a nice speed vs techinical match. Hurricane nearly won with the Shining Enzuigiri but Haas put the foot on the bottom rope. Hurricane takes out Haas with a pescado and enters the ring, getting caught with the T-Bone Suplex and Benjamin put down Hurricane to score the pin. After the match, the WGTT double team the Hurricane but Shannon Moore runs out to the ring, dressed in a silver version of the Hurricane's outfit with a smaller mask. Shannon Moore enters the ring and attacks the WGTT and helps the Hurricane fight them off. The WGTT run off to fight another day as Moore and Hurricane stand in the ring.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin(w/the T-Bone Suplex)

Segment Rating: 86

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 92

Christian cuts an in ring promo before the match, calling himself the MVP of Smackdown and promising to carry his team to a victory against Rico and Benoit tonight.

Segment Rating: 74

Chris Benoit and Rico vs Tajiri and Christian

Rico was battered for most of the match, nearly getting his face kicked in by Tajiri but Benoit gets tagged and chops for all. Triple Germans on Tajiri but Christian is the legal man and Christian takes out the leg of Benoit before setting him up and taking him down with the Unprettier. Christian covers and pins the WWE World Champion. Christian has a big smirk on his face as he just pinned the champion.

Winners: Christian and Tajiri(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality; 83

Spike Dudley vs Jamie Noble

Token match. Spike Dudley goes for the Dudley Dog but Noble fights out and chops away at Spike and hits the Tiger Bomb for the pin. Noble makes note that he wants a chance at Ultimo Dragon and the Cruiserweight Title and he will beat the whole Cruiserweight Division to do so.

Winner: Jamie Noble(w/the Tiger Bomb)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 76

A look at the previous rounds of the number one contenders tournament leading up to tonights Booker T/Rene Dupree final match.

Segment Rating: 84

Winner gets a shot at the WWE World Champion Chris Benoit next week:

Rene Dupree vs Booker T

Hard hitting bout with Dupree working over the knee of Booker T in an attempt to take away the Harlem Side Kick and the Scissor Kick. Dupree puts a standing figure four on Booker T but Booker fights out. Chops and forearm to the face. Spinaroonie but the knee gives out. To the shoulders and Bastille Driver but Booker is underneath the ropes and thus Dupree cannot go for the pin. Dupree goes for a second Bastille Driver but Booker drops down and counters with a reverse roll up and scores the pin. Booker T will get the title shot next week against Chris Benoit! Dupree attacks Booker T after the match, kicking his leg out from underneath him. Dupree stands over Booker T doing the French Tickler.

Winner: Booker T(w/a reverse roll up)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 87

Show Rating: 78

WWE Velocity 4/17/04: Chavo pinned Maven with his feet on the ropes in the latest match of their feud. Kanyon pinned Funaki with the Flatliner and in the main event, A-Train rolled right over Hardcore Holly with the Derailer.

WWE.COM Special Report

Ric Flair is pulling out of Backlash and taking a hiatus from the WWE for the time being due to personal problems. As a result, the scheduled Hardcore Tag Team Match will now be Batista vs Terry Funk in a Hardcore Match

Edited January 6, 2006 by MattHarms

[MattHarms]

Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade vs La Resistance

This match is on Heat, prior to Backlash, to warm up the crowd. Cade starts out with Conway. Both men lock up and Cade delivers a hiptoss before punching away at Conway and whipping him into the ropes. Knee to the chest and tag to Jindrak. Jindrak and Cade double team Conway before taking him down with a double clothesline. Jindrak fires a kneedop down across the chest of Conway and lifts him up. Suplex set up but Conway manages to block it so Jindrak fires an elbow to the face. Another elbow drilled to the face. Jindrak whips Conway into the ropes and leaping leg lariat to the chest. Jindrak lifts up Conway and knee to the chest. Jindrak whips Conway into the ropes and he lifts him up before sending him down with a spinebuster. Jindrak grabs the legs and turns Conway over into a Boston Crab before making the tag to Cade. Cade hits Conway with a legdrop to the back of the head and Jindrak drops the hold. Cover from Cade but only a two count. Cade lifts up Conway and whip into the ropes no reversed and Grenier buries a knee into the back which allows Conway to knock down Cade with a clothesline on the rebound.

Tag to Sylvan Grenier. Grenier enters the ring, battering Cade with punches. Irish whip into the ropes. Grenier takes down Cade with a clothesline before measuring him and taking him down with an elbowdrop. Grenier lifts up Cade and chop to the chest. Another chop to the chest. Whip into the corner and Grenier catches Cade with a knee to the back. Grenier lifts up Cade and backbreaker. Grenier holds Cade but Cade manages to fight back in a bit and grab Grenier around the head before taking him down with a bulldog. Cade has got to make the tag. Tag made to Jindrak on the other end as Conway gets tagged in. Jindrak pounds away at Conway before whipping him to the ropes and flapjack. Clotheslines for all and Jindrak presses Conway over his head before slamming him down to the canvas. Jindrak goes to the top rope. He waits on Conway and takes him down with a springboard clothesline but he only scores a two count.

Jindrak has Conway set up for a power bomb but Grenier is on the top rope. Jindrak attacks Grenier, knocking him off the ropes and Conway catches Jindrak with a low blow. Conway rolls up Jindrak and pulls the tights to score the tainted win. La Resistance win this match on Heat.

Winners: La Resistance(w/an illegal pull of the tights)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 66

Match Quality: 80

La Resistance celebrate their ill gotten victory as Heat goes off the air with one final Backlash plug. On Pay Per View in Two Minutes.

WWE Backlash 2004-April 18th 2004

Rey Misterio Jr and Edge vs Scott Steiner and Test

Scott Steiner is more ticked off than usual for some reason this evening. Rey starts out with Big Poppa Pump and Pump slaps the taste out of the mouth of Rey but Rey ducks underneath a clothesline and takes Steiner down with a dropkick. Rey waits on Steiner and takes one of his massive arms before flipping him down to the canvas awkwardly with an armdrag. Rey backs off and tags Edge. Edge and Rey whip Steiner into the ropes and double knee before they hook Steiner and take him over with a double suplex. Edge bounces off the ropes and leaping elbowdrop to the chest of Big Poppa Pump. Edge hoists up Steiner and chops away at him. Leg Lariat and Edge signals, going up top. Edge is up but Test cuts him off, shoving into the arms of Scott Steiner, who takes Edge down with a belly to belly suplex. Bicep kiss but the elbow misses and Edge is up and knee to the chest of Steiner before bringing Rey back in. Irish whip from Edge, which sends Steiner into a Springboard Thesz Press from Rey. Rey covers hooking a leg but only gets a two count. Rey picks up Steiner and punches away. Whip into the ropes and attempted dropkick but Steiner catches the legs and rocks back, sending Rey into the corner with a catapault.

Rey's chest hit the corner hard and Steiner batters Rey with a bunch of forearms from behind before setting him up with a double underhook and nearly driving Rey through the canvas with a power bomb. Stomps and tag to Test. Double irish whip and hoist up to Rey before he is slammed down with a double Gorilla Press. Test pounds away at Rey and lifts him up in a full nelson before shaking him like a ragdoll and nearly planting Rey into the canvas with a hellacious full nelson slam. Test covers Rey hooking the leg but Rey barely gets the shoulder up. Test lifts up Rey and whips him over the buckle. Rey goes halfway over before staggering out and Test grabs Rey by the throat and tosses him over into the other corner. Test charges in and corner clothesline, squashing Rey like an insect in the corner. Test grabs Rey in a choke lift and throws him down before booting him in the chest and setting him up in a pumphandle. Test muscles Rey but Rey slips down the back and dropkicks Test from behind, right into the tag of Scott Steiner. Steiner rushes in and nearly murders Rey with a vicious clothesline.

Steiner sets up Rey in a rear waistlock and huge belly to belly suplex. Rey is smashed into the canvas once again and Steiner lifts up Rey and batters Rey with a series of punches before lifting Rey over his head and bringing him down with a Gorilla Press Gutbuster. Steiner follows that up by kicking Rey like a soccer ball in the ribs. Steiner lifts up Rey and hoists him up in attempt for a power bomb but Rey counters with a Frankensteiner which Steiner takes badly. Rey rushes off the ropes and 6-1-9 to Steiner. Edge is extending his hand, as Rey has got to make the tag. Steiner is closer and tag to Test. Test enters the ring and goes for the Big Boot to Rey but Rey ducks underneath and Test catches his leg on the ropes, the force knocking back and Edge gets tagged in. Edge leaps into the ring with a forearm to the face knocking Test back. Edge rushes Steiner and knocks him off the ring apron. Edge rushes Test and spinning leg lariat brings Test down. Edge lifts up Test and pounds away at him before hooking him and bringing him down with a faceplant. Cover but Steiner breaks it up.

Steiner pounds away at Edge but is forced back into the corner. Test continues the beating and tags in Steiner. Steiner is in and he holds Edge with Test poised. Attempted Big Boot but Edge ducks and Test connects with the Big Boot, knocking Steiner out. Rey Misterio Jr leaps in and catches Test with the West Coast Pop. Rey kicks Test to the outside as Edge waits for a groggy Steiner to get up. Edge cuts Steiner down with the Spear. Rey is on the top rope and he leaps off. Dropping of the Dime as Edge makes the tag on the way down. Rey makes the cover on Steiner and scores the pin.

Winners: Rey Misterio Jr and Edge(Spear/Dropping of the Dime Combo with Steiner)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 76

Rey and Edge get the win, winning their first Pay Per View match as a tag team on Raw.

Kane vs the Big Show

Show attacks Kane, battering him with punches before whipping him into the corner. Show nearly crushes Kane in the corner with a clothesline. Show chokes Kane with the boot in the corner and elbow driven to the chesst. Show whips Kane into the ropes and huge forearm to the chest. Show backs off and stands on the chest of Kane, like he is standing on a curb. Stomps to Kane and Show kneels down, to choke away on Kane. Kane counters with some choking of his own and Kane pulls himself up and smothers the Big Show in the corner before battering him with bunches of punches. Kane backs off and thrust to the throat of the Big Show. More choking in the corner and Kane whips Show off the ropes. Clothesline but the Big Show remains on his feet. Another clothesline and the Big Show still remains on his feet. Kane backs off and boot to the chest, doubling the Big Show over. Kane fires a kick to the chest but the Big Show still remains on his feet. Kane grabs Show by the throat and attempts the Choke Slam but he can't get Show up and Show shoves off Kane before catching him in the face with a boot. Kane is knocked down and Show makes the cover, hooking the leg but only gets a two count.

Big Show picks up Kane and massive forearm over the back. Another massive forearm and whip into the ropes. Show lifts up Kane and side slam nearly driving the Big Red Machine into the canvas. Kane sits up and Show kicks Kane in the face before bringing him up and tossing Kane into the corner. Running back avalanche and Show drives a massive forearm over the back. Show goes for a clothesline but Kane ducks underneath and grabs Show by the throat but Show counters by kicking Kane low. Show headbutts Kane and Kane falls to the floor. Show walks over and steps over the top rope. Show pounds away on Kane with both men on the ring apron and Show uses his massive arm to clothesline Kane back into the ring. The Big Show is going to the top rope now. Seven Feet Tall, Over Four Hundred Pounds, ready to hit the Big Red Machine. Flying Elbow off the top rope misses. Show hits the canvas hard and Kane is up, kicking away at the chest of the Big Show before making a cover which only scores a two count. Kane waits on the Big Show to get up before delivering a big boot, which causes Show to drop to one knee.

Kane steps behind Show and nerve hold applied on the Big Show. Kane puts the pressure on Show, attempting to cut off the flow of blood from the brain with this nerve hold. Kane lifts Show up to his feet before hammering him. Kane whips Big Show into the corner. Kane backs off and knee to the midsection. Another knee to the midsection. Kane steps to the outside. Up on the top rope is Kane. Kane leaps off and knocks the Big Show to his back with a huge clothesline. Kane goes for the cover but the Big Show manages to power out at two. Kane has an evil smirk on his face and Kane rolls to the floor. Kane lifts up the timekeeper by the throat before throwing him out of his chair. Kane now takes the chair and slides it into the ring. Kane could get himself disqualified but I don't think he cares. Kane has some evil intentions in mind with that chair. Kane lifts up the chair and sets it up in the corner. Kane has the Big Show up and attempts to whip him into the chair but Show puts the breaks on and whips Kane into the corner. Kane's back collides with the chair. Show rushes into the corner and avalanches Kane, sandwhiching him between the chair and his body. Show hoists up Kane and puts him on the top rope.

Show climbs to the bottom rope and chokes away at Kane when he is on the top rope. Show is trying to choke Kane out on the top rope, perhaps about ready to Choke Slam Kane all the way to the floor. The referee attempts to pull Show off but all he gets is a stray elbow in the face, knocking him back. This allows Kane to reach down and grab the chair. Kane beams the Show over the head with the chair,causing him to fall off the bottom rope into the ring. Kane leaps off with the chair and drives it into the face of the Big Show while he is on his back. Kane gets rid of the evidence as the referee comes to and scores the pin.

Winner: Kane(after using a chair)

Segment Rating: 67

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 56

Kane rolls to the outside and grabs the chair. Show is on his hands and knees and Kane bashes the chair over the back of Show. Kane jabs the chair into the neck of Show. Show clutches his neck and another jab. Kane bashes the chair over the back of the head of the Big Show and folds the chair over his head. Kane steps to the top rope and leaps off. Kneedrop to the chair, snapping it shut over the head of the Big Show. Show screams in pain, his neck could be broken. Kane laughs at the misfortune of the Big Show. Medics come out as Kane walks off. Another victim has fallen to Kane.

Evolution plots backstage. Orton vows that Evolution will win all their matches tonight, "in the memory of the great Ric Flair". JBL presents his fellow Evolution members with a framed potrait of Ric Flair, circa 1981, holding up the NWA World Title, for inspiration. JBL promises to defeat Chris Jericho and takes the portrait of Ric Flair with him.

Chris Jericho vs John Bradshaw Layfield(w/the portrait of Ric Flair, circa 1981)

JBL locks up and shoves Jericho off into the corner before battering him with punches and whipping him into the ropes. Back elbow smash is ducked and Jericho comes back with chops, battering JBL. Jericho rams Layfield into the corner a couple of times before another couple of chops. Jericho whips JBL into the ropes but JBL reverses. Shoulderblock knocks Jericho down to his back. Cockiness so Jericho kips up and kicks Layfield in the face, knocking him to the ring apron. Jericho leaps to the middle rope and springboard dropkick knocking Layfield to the floor. Jericho baseball slides out, catching Bradshaw across the back of the head. Jericho has JBL by the hair and headfirst into the ringpost. Jericho pounds away at Layfield and into the ring. To the top rope and missile dropkick to the chest knocks Layfield back. Jericho makes the cover hooking the leg but only gets a two count. Jericho lifts up Layfield and attempts a bulldog but Layfield shoves him off and knocks Jericho down with a forearm to the back of the head. Layfield batters Jericho with stomps before bringing him up to his feet and taking him down with a short armed back elbow to the chest.

Couple of elbows driven down across the chest and Layfield lifts Jericho up. Knee to the midsection and Layfield hooks Jericho before bringing him down with a suplex. Jericho clutches his back in pain and Layfield covers hooking the leg but only gets a two count. Layfield lifts up Jericho and elbow to the face. Whip into the ropes and Layfield rushes into Jericho, knocking him down with a massive shoulderblock. Layfield points at the portrait of Ric Flair before kicking Jericho into the face. Jericho attempts to pull himself up to his knees but more kicks to the chest. Layfield lifts up Jericho and another suplex brings Jericho down. Layfield runs off the ropes and leaping knee crashing into the chest of Jericho. Layfield lifs Jericho up by the hair and into the corner. Boots drilled right into the chest of Jericho. John Bradshaw Layfield whips Jericho into the ropes and catches him with a knee to the chest on the rebound. Layfield gets in a three point stance. I don't believe this. Layfield bellows and charges, taking Jericho down with a version of Jim Duggan's old three point stance shoulderblock. Jericho goes down as Layfield salutes the crowd, getting boos. Layfield makes the cover but Jericho manages to kick out at two.

Layfield lifts up Jericho and a couple of knees buried into the midsection. Abdominal stretch is applied and Layfield uses the ropes, to give some added leverage. Jericho screams out in pain and as the referee turns around, Layfield lets go of the ropes. The referee goes to check on Jericho and Layfield grabs onto the ropes again. More pressure being applied to Jerciho. The referee looks up and Layfield once again lets go before breaking the hold and whipping Jericho chest first into the corner. Layfield lifts up Jericho and brings him crashing down with a belly to back suplex. Layfield raises his fist up in the air. Clothesline from Pennslyvania Avenue could be coming up shortly. Layfield rushes Jericho but Jericho drops down and Layfield hits the corner with a full head of steam. Jericho is attempting to gain his bearings as JBL clutches his arm in pain. JBL goes for a punch but Jericho blocks it and fires back with a punch of his own. Chops from Jericho and Jericho whips JBL into the ropes. Jericho leaps at JBL with a flying forearm, knocking him down to the canvas. Layfield rolls to the floor but Jericho slides out after him and rams JBL into the ring apron, before rolling him into the ring.

Jericho enters the ring and pummels JBL with chops. Irish whip into the corner. Jericho rushes into the corner but JBL gets the foot up into the face. Jericho gets knocked down by the force. Layfield lifts up Jericho and pounds away on him before lifting him up but Jericho drops down behind JBL and plants him with a running faceplant. Jericho leaps to the second rope and Lionsault attempt but JBL moves and Jericho lands on his face. Layfield decks Jericho with the Clothesline from Pennsylvania Avenue. Jericho falls between the second and third rope and all the way to the floor. The referee puts the count on Jericho but JBL stops the count at nine and rolls out to get Jericho, rolling him back into the ring. Layfield makes the cover but Jericho manages to kick out at two!

Layfield is frustrated and he walks over to the corner. Layfield is now untying that turnbuckle. He is removing the protection from that corner, exposing that solid steel bolt. Layfield turns around right into a double leg trip from Jericho! Walls of Jericho is locked on. Jericho has the Walls locked on and it looks like JBL may have to submit. Jericho is pulling back on the hold but JBL is attempting to make to the ropes. He is looking about ready to tap but he barely makes it to the ropes. Jericho breaks the hold and rushes Layfield. Chops to Layfield. Jericho has JBL and whips him into the ropes. Jericho ducks the head and Layfield makes him pay for it, by ramming a pair of forearms over the back of the head. Layfield has Jericho set up, power bomb attempt but Jericho fights out with punches. Layfield responds by falling back and sending Jericho crashing facefirst into the exposed turnbuckle. Jericho is busted wide open from landing on the steel, a cut has been opened above his right eye. Layfield has Jericho and a huge power bomb, nearly driving Jericho into the canvas. Layfield covers and scores a pin, to mass boos from the crowd. JBL has just defeated Chris Jericho at Backlash.

Winner: John Bradshaw Layfield(w/a power bomb)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 85

Match Quality: 81

JBL pulls himself up and raises his arm in the air for the victory. Jericho has been put down by JBL tonight at Backlash.

World Tag Team Title Match:

The Island Warriors vs Val Venis and Lance Storm©

Rosey starts out against Val Venis. Val clinches on a side headlock but Rosey shoves him off and Val goes for a shoulderblock but he bounces off the sizeable frame of Rosey. Rosey batters Val with a forearm across the back of the head. Another forearm battered across the back of the head. Rosey whips Val Venis into the corner and goes for a clothesline but Val avoids it and Rosey hits the corner. Val fires some chops and snap mare to Rosey, followed by a leaping kneedrop to the chest. Val Venis lifts up Rosey and rams him into the corner before bringing Lance Storm into the ropes. Irish whip into the ropes and double back elbow smash brings Rosey down. Storm scrapes his boot across the chest of Rosey a couple of times before lifting him up and battering him with chops. Storm whips Rosey into the ropes and handspring into a corner clothesline. Rosey is doubled over and Storm goes for the Superkick but Rosey ducks and Storm loses his balance which allows Rosey to grab Storm and slam him down with a spinning sidewalk slam. Tag to Rikishi. Rikishi enters the ring and poses before jabbing Storm in the throat. Another couple of jabs and whip into the ropes. Rikishi hoists up Storm and nearly crushes him with a Samoan Drop. Rikishi covers Storm hooking the leg but only scores a two count.

Rikishi pounds away at Storm and whips him into the corner. Kishi rushes into the corner and rams his sizeable posterior into the chest of Storm, which causes him to become doubled over and Rikishi grabs Storm, causing him to crash down with a vicious belly to belly suplex. Rikishi covers Storm hooking the leg but Storm manages to bring the shoulder up at two. Rikishi lifts up Storm and whip into the ropes. Rikishi catches Storm with a thrust kick to the chest before dragging him over to the corner. Rikishi climbs up. Banzai Drop coming up. Rikishi jumps up and down but the sitdown misses. Rikishi is down and Storm has got to make the tag. Storm is crawling over to the corner and tag to Val Venis as Rosey gets tagged in. Val Venis punches away on Rosey before pulling him down into a short arm clothesline. Rikishi attempts to step into the ring but Val Venis kicks the middle rope, crotching Rikishi but Rosey kicks Val Venis in the midsection and lifts him up onto his shoulders before bringing him down into a reverse Samoan Drop. Rosey is climbing to the top rope facing the crowd. Rosey is on the second rope. Rosey leaps off but the pump splash misses and Rosey hits the canvas. Rosey is staggered and Lance Storm steps into the ring and Superkicks Rosey .This allows Val Venis to climb to the top rope and connect with the Money Shot to score the pin and retain the World Tag Team Titles.

Winners: Val Venis and Lance Storm(w/the Money Shot)

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 72

Match Quality: 77

Hardcore Rules Match

Terry Funk vs Batista(w/the portrait of Ric Flair, circa 1981)

Funk attacks Batista on his entrance with a cookie sheet, decking Batista with a couple of shots to the back before ramming him into the ring apron. Funk reaches underneath the ring and trash can lid, which Funk decks Batista over the head with. Funk pounds away at Batista and rolls him into the ring. Funk brings the ever present kendo stick into things and crotches Batista on it before decking him with a couple of shots on the back. Funk grabs Batista and DDT, driving him down into the canvas. Legdrop to the back of the head and Terry Funk rolls to the floor, grabbing a chair from underneath the ring. Funk climbs to the top rope with the chair but Batista catches him as he comes off and spinebuster drives Funk down. Batista bellows and waits for Funk to get up before decking him with a lariat to the back of the head. Batista lifts up Funk and huge side slam. Batista rolls to the floor and reaches underneath the ring, pulling out a pair of trash cans, before throwing them into the ring. Batista sets up Terry Funk, Batista Bomb on the trash can but Terry Funk counters with a high back body drop on the trash can. The can collapses underneath the impact of Batista hitting and Terry Funk drops an elbow down across the chest of Batista.

Terry Funk picks up the second trash can and crushes it over the head of Batista as he gets to his feet. Funk grabs Batista and spinning toe hold. Funk is working over the leg of Batista before sliding to the floor and grabbing a couple of road signs and a fire extiguisher. Funk throws the signs into the ring and Batista attempts to grab Funk but Funk catches Batista in the face with a fire extiguisher blast. Funk takes down Batista with a clothesline and climbs to the top rope, facing the crowd. Funk leaps off but the moonsault misses completely. Batista is up with the road sign and a series of stiff shots with the road sign before dragging the chair into the center of the ring. Batista has Funk set up and Batista Bomb, sending Funk crashing skull first into the chair. Batista covers to score the easy pin.

Winner: Batista(w/the Batista Bomb on the chair)

Segment Rating: 69

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 67

After the match, Batista batters Funk and goes for another Batista Bomb, but Tommy Dreamer runs out, singapore cane in hand and decks Batista from behind. Dreamer knocks Batista to his knees with a series of cane shots before winding up and hitting a big swing with the cane, knocking Batista out.

The next time that Raw will be on Pay Per View is June 12th. WWE Vengeance, only on Pay Per View. Don't you dare miss it.

Rob Van Dam vs Eddie Guerrero

Lock up and Eddie takes down Van Dam with a snap mare but Van Dam quickly gets up to his feet and fakes a thumb point before slapping the taste out of the mouth of Eddie, drawing boots. Van Dam whips Eddie into the ropes. Van Dam lifts up Eddie and knee to the midsection. Van Dam goes for a legsweep but Eddie leapfrogs over it and European Uppercut driving Van Dam back into the corner. Eddie batters Van Dam with chops and irish whip into the ropes. Eddie takes down Van Dam with a dropkick. Eddie rubs the soles of his boots into the face of Van Dam as the "Eddie" chants start. Eddie lifts up Van Dam and a series of forearms across the back of the head before an European Uppercut. Eddie whips Van Dam into the corner and knee to the midsection. Eddie grabs Van Dam in a reverse facelock and wrenches the neck before drilling an elbow down across the chest of Van Dam. Stepping to the floor and slingshot senton splash connects. Eddie makes the cover hooking the leg but Van Dam gets the shoulder up. Eddie lifts up Van Dam and chops before sending him into the ropes with an irish whip, no reversal. Van Dam goes for a kick but Eddie blocks it so Van Dam responds with a stepover back kick and covers, scoring a two count.

Van Dam sneers before kneeling beside Eddie and battering him with forearms across the chest. Van Dam whips Eddie into the corner and running knee to the chest. Van Dam fires a knee to the chest of Eddie and scoops him up before bringing him down to the canvas with a front slam. Spinning legdrop to Eddie and Van Dam makes the cover hooking the leg but only gets a two count. Eddie is pulling himself up and Van Dam blasts Eddie with a kick to the face. Another couple of kicks to the face and irish whip into the ropes. Spin kick by Van Dam connects. Van Dam backs off and rolling forward, before delivering the Rolling Thunder to Eddie. Van Dam makes the cover but Eddie manages to roll the shoulder up at two. Van Dam lifts up Eddie and elbow driven down across the back of the head. A couple of kicks to the chest before a spin kick knocks Eddie to the ring apron. Van Dam takes a running start and catches Eddie with a shoulder to the midsection. Eddie flies into the guardrail. Van Dam slides out and grabs Eddie, ramming him facefirst into the ring steps. Van Dam grabs the legs of Eddie and rocks back, before catapaulting Eddie facefirst into the ringpost.

Van Dam rolls into the ring, breaking the count. Eddie's has been split open from that ringpost shot. He is bleeding and Van Dam slides out, catching Eddie with a kick to the face, opening the cut up worse. Van Dam rams Eddie into the guardrail and blood droplets land on the top of the guardrail. Van Dam rolls Eddie into the ring and Van Dam is on the ring apron. Slingshot legdrop. Cover hooking the leg but Eddie manages to kick out at two. Van Dam lifts up Eddie and chops him before whipping him into the corner. Van Dam catches Eddie with a rolling kick, crushing Eddie in the corner. Van Dam hooks Eddie in a cradle before bringing him down with a fisherman suplex. Van Dam bridges, but only scores a two count. Van Dam lifts up Eddie and knee to the midsection. Van Dam whips Eddie into the corner and Eddie collides chest first. Van Dam hooks Eddie and brings him down with a massive backbreaker before kneeling down beside him and attempting to open up that cut further with a series of rapid fire punches. Van Dam drops a leg down across the chest of Eddie before taking it to the top rope. Van Dam is on the top rope and The Five Star Frog Splash does not find it's mark

Eddie pulls himself up but Van Dam takes his leg out with a legsweep. Van Dam steps to the top rope and waits on Eddie to get up. Flying cross body but Eddie manages to catch RVD and nearly drive him through the mat with a vicious powerslam. Eddie is up and chops to the chest. Hooking Van Dam and snap suplex. Eddie hangs on and another snap suplex. Eddie hangs on again and hoists him up before bringing him down with a brain buster. Eddie makes the cover hooking the leg but only scores a two count. Eddie lifts up Van Dam and hammers away at him before sending him into the corner with an irish whip. Eddie hooks Van Dam from behind and spinning belly to back suplex brings him down. Eddie pats the chest. Frog Splash coming up. Eddie leaps off but Van Dam rolls to the outside of the ring to avoid Eddie. Eddie lands on his feet and rushes Van Dam, taking him down with a baseball slide into a Swinging DDT on the floor. Eddie attempts to pull Van Dam into the ring but Van Dam is hanging onto the guardrail for dear life so Eddie has to abandon this so he can break the count but in the time it takes Eddie to roll back in and roll back out, Van Dam has his hands on the ring bell!. Eddie lifts up Van Dam and rolls him back into the ring, bell and all.

Eddie enters the ring and knee to the midsection of Van Dam. Eddie causes Van Dam to drop the bell and runs him into the corner, ramming him facefirst into it before climbing to the second rope with Van Dam in his grasp. Tornado DDT brings Van Dam out of the corner and Eddie heads up top. This time, Eddie will not be stopped. Eddie leaps off for the Frog Splash but Van Dam blocks it, using the ring bell as the weapon. A solid ding is heard as Eddie's head collides with the bell. The referee warns Van Dam to get rid of the bell and Van Dam does, going up top. Van Dam leaps off and nearly crushes Eddie's ribs with a vicious Five Star Frog Splash. Van Dam delivers a cocky cover to score the pin, thanks to that ring bell shot and that vicious Five Star Frog Splash.

Winner: Rob Van Dam(via the Five Star Frog Splash)

Segment Rating: 88

Crowd Reaction: 91

Match Quality: 84

Van Dam stands over Eddie as the crowd boos him. Van Dam has really been something else since Wrestlemania. One final parting kick to the head and Van Dam departs as medics come out to check on Eddie.

A video package detailing Kurt Angle against Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Title is shown.

World Heavyweight Title Match:

Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle©

Both men lock up and Angle goes behind with a waistlock and takes Michaels to the canvas with a waistlock takedown before working on a hammerlock. Angle fires a couple of knees to the arm of Michaels before Michaels gets to the ropes. Angle lets up as Michaels gets up and Angle levels him with some chops before hooking him around the arm and flipping him to the canvas with an armdrag. Angle puts on a short arm scissors, bending the elbow back. Michaels attempts to roll out but Angle has the hold on until Michaels finds a means out, by getting to the ropes. Angle is up and decks Michaels with an European Uppercut to the chest before hooking the doubled over Michaels and bringing him down with a gutwrench suplex. Angle waits for Michaels to sit up and dropkick to the back of the head. Angle picks up Michaels and trips him, attempting to go for the Ankle Lock but Michaels rolls out and kicks Angle off. Angle turns around and Michaels catches him with a thumb to the eye. Michaels fires a couple of jabs before whipping Angle into the ropes. Shoulderblock knocks Angle down but Angle goes right to the ankle again and Michaels once again avoids being put in the hold.

Angle waits on Michaels before rushing him but Michaels hoists up Angle and sends him crashing to the floor with a high back body drop. Shawn Michaels slides to the floor and elbow rammed down across the head of Angle. Michaels rams Angle into the ring apron and rolls him into the ring. Michaels climbs to the top rope, quick as a cat, and flies down onto Angle with a double axe handle. Leaping stomp to the chest and arrogant pose, drawing boos. Shawn Michaels lifts up Angle and lifts him up before bringing him down with an inverted atomic drop. Michaels measures Angle before blasting him with a punch. Michaels whips Angle into the corner and corner clothesline. Michaels hooks Angle and takes him over with a snap suplex. Knee driven into the face of Angle and Michaels lifts up Angle before ramming him into the buckle. Body shots to Angle and Michaels whips Angle into the ropes. Michaels hoists up Angle and brings him down across the top rope with a Hotshot.. Angle staggers around and Michaels kicks Angle in the ribs before hooking him in a front facelock. Swinging neckbreaker brings Angle down right onto that previously damaged neck.

Michaels goes right to a chokehold before picking up Angle and elbow rammed across the back of the head. Michaels grips Angle in a side headlock and runs up the buckles, before flipping Angle with a headlock takedown. Michaels grips on the hold. Michaels is twisting at the neck of Angle but Angle is in the ropes so Michaels breaks the hold. Michaels lifts up Angle and elbow driven to the head. Michaels whips Angle into the ropes and high knee to the chest. Michaels lifts up Angle before hooking him. Michaels poses before dropping Angle down with a DDT, casually. Michaels climbs to the second rope and leaps down, drilling the knee to the chest. Michaels lifts up Angle and puts him on the top rope. Michaels climbs up with Angle, punching away. Michaels hooks Angle and sends him crashing down off the top rope with a vicious superplex. Michaels floats over for the cover but only scores a two and a half count. Michaels picks himself up and cues the band. Sweet Chin Music coming up. Michaels swings for Angle but Angle ducks and hooks Michaels. Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex dumps Michaels down onto his head.

Michaels is down and Angle pulls himself up. Angle attacks Michaels with punches before hooking him and creaming him with another vicious Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex. Michaels' brains are scrambled and Angle makes the cover hooking the leg but only scores a two count. Angle brings up Michaels and forearms across the back of the head. Angle hooks Michaels in a gutwrench and dumps him down with a gutwrench suplex. Angle has Michaels and grabs him in a waistlock as he gets up and German Suplex. Angle holds onto the move and Michaels is dumped onto the back of his head with another German Suplex. Angle pulls up Michaels and a third German Suplex. Michaels is dazed but he blocks a fourth German Suplex by kicking Angle low. Michaels backs off and nearly takes Angle's head off with the Sweet Chin Music. Angle falls as Michaels lays waste to Angle with that kick. Michaels covers Angle hooking the leg but Angle is in the ropes at two and three fourths!

Michaels is ticked and he stomps away at Angle before stepping to the outside. Michaels is ascending the ropes. He leaps off and flying elbowdrop to the chest of Angle. Angle is down and Michaels cues the band for one more round. Michaels swings for the fences but Angle ducks the kick and sets up Michaels. Angle Slam drills Michaels into the canvas with perfection. Angle is slow to cover but he drapes the arm on Michaels with Michaels roll the shoulder up at two and three fourths. Angle pulls himself up and pulls down the shoulder straps. Angle grabs the ankle but Michaels thumbs him in the eyes. Michaels grabs Angle and whips him into the corner. Michaels charges in but Angle moves and Michaels collides with the corner. Waistlock and huge German Suplex release. Angle climbs to the top rope, facing the crowd. Angle flips off but huge Moonsault delivered to Shawn Michaels. Michaels was crushed underneath Angle but on the cover, Michaels kicks out at two and three fourths.

Angle picks up Michaels and whips him into the ropes. Angle hooks Michaels and another overhead belly to belly suplex. Michaels has got to be out of it for all the shots he has taken to the head. Angle pulls the straps back up only to pull them back down and grip the ankle. Angle has got the Ankle. Ankle Lock is locked on Shawn Michaels. Michaels is attempting to push out of the hold but Angle has the ankle gripped tight. Michaels scissors Angle's waist with his free leg and rolls him into a pinning predicament. Two count only off of this before Angle holds onto the ankle. Angle has got it applied. Ankle Lock is locked on and Michaels is getting close to the ropes. Michaels is nearly to the ropes but Angle pulls him back into the center of the ring. Michaels is about ready to tap but he manages to fall on the ropes on the third time that the hand went down. Angle has the hold on and he is seeing red. He is not letting up on the Ankle Lock despite Michaels being in the ropes. The referee is putting the count on Angle and Angle breaks the hold but Michaels turns around and spits in Angle's face. Angle leaps back on the leg, pounding away at it viciously before clinching the Ankle Lock back on. Michaels struggles for another second before reaching the ropes. This time Angle is letting up. Angle is trying to break the ankle of Shawn Michaels. A snap is heard but the referee is calling for the bell. Angle has been disqualified for refusing to break the hold when Michaels grabbed onto the rope!

Winner by Disqualification: Shawn Michaels

Segment Rating: 91

Crowd Reaction: 96

Match Quality: 80

The road agents are out and they yank Angle off of Michaels who is clutching his ankle and wincing in pain. A gourney is being brought out, so Michaels can be stretchered out of the arena. Michaels is carried to the ring and put on the gourny and wheeled backstage but Angle leaps out of the ring and grabs the leg of Michaels, hammering it with punch after punch. Angle turns Michaels over and Ankle Lock applied. Angle is trying to injure that ankle further. Eric Bischoff is coming out with the police and they are pulling Angle off of Shawn Michaels. Angle is being handcuffed and led out of here, managing to give Michaels one more parting kick to the ankle. Bischoff screams to "get that maniac out of here!". Angle has lost that match but retained the title and injured Shawn Michaels. After all of Michaels' attempts to get under the skin of Kurt Angle, it appears that it came back to bite him.

A look at Randy Orton against The Rock for the Interconinental Title.

Orton has some talks with JBL and Batista. Orton is going to go this match alone, to prove once and for all why he is the legend killer. The legend of the Rock will go down in flames tonight at Backlash.

The Rock cuts an interview, where he verbally abuses the Coach(as per his contract) and vows to put Randy Orton out to pasture and become, for the third time, the WWE Interconinental Champion.

WWE Interconinental Title Match:

The Rock vs Randy Orton©

Staredown to start out and both men trade punches with the Rock backing off and running Randy Orton over with a clothesline. More punches and the Rock whips Randy Orton into the ropes and back elbow smash brings Orton down. Rock fires a kick to the midsection. Another kick drilled to the midsection and the Rock goes for a shot but Orton ducks underneath it but the Rock manages to catch Orton with a back drop. The Rock punches away at Orton before winding up and sending him flying into the corner with a haymaker. The Rock whips Orton off into the ropes. The Rock kicks Orton and backs off before running at him with a clothesline. Orton begs off but the Rock will have none of that, battering Orton with punches before hooking him and bringing him down with a DDT. The Rock makes the cover hooking the leg but only scores a two count. The Rock stomps away at Orton and goes for the Sharpshooter but Orton quickly gets to the ropes and thus the hold most be broken. The Rock pulls up Orton and punches. Irish whip into the ropes and the Rock ducks the head which Orton comes back with a swinging neckbreaker.

Orton poses before the Rock gets up and forearm to the chest. Another forearm to the chest and he pulls the Rock into a short arm clothesline. Orton backs off and elbow driven down across the chest of the Rock. Orton raises his eyebrow in a mocking fashion, drawing boos from the crowd before stomping away at the Rock. Orton lifts up the Rock and whip into the corner. Running knee to the midsection. Orton climbs behind the Rock and the Rock is up as Orton leaps off with a flying cross body block. Cover hooking the leg but the Rock manages to roll the shoulder up at two. Orton lifts up the Rock and chop to the chest. Orton whips the Rock into the ropes and leaping dropkick. Orton waits on the Rock and signals. RKO attempt but the Rock shoves him off and belly to belly throw takes Orton down. The crowd starts with the "Rocky" chants as the Rock is up and he beats Orton to the punch before punching away. The Rock whips Orton into the ropes and he hoists him up. Spinebuster Slam and the Rock steps through, this time putting on the Sharpshooter. The Rock sits down on the hold, attempting to make the Interconinental Champion submit. Orton struggles and manages to make it to the ropes.

The Rock breaks the hold and fires some stomps to the chest of Orton. The Rock rams Orton into the corner a couple of times before whipping him into the ropes. The Rock hoists up Orton and Samoan Drop. The Rock takes the elbowpad off and tosses it to the crowd. I believe it's coming up. The most electrifying move in the WWE today, the People's Elbow. The elbow is driven down across Orton and the Rock makes the cover but Orton manages to roll the shoulder up at two and three fourths. The Rock signals for Orton to just bring it and a groggy Orton is to his knees but when the Rock grabs him, Orton stuns the Rock with a low blow before hooking him around the head and taking him down with a DDT. Orton makes the cover, hooking the leg but the Rock gets out. More punches from Orton and Orton puts the sleeper on the Rock. Orton is trying to put the Rock out but after about thirty seconds, The Rock counters by backing Orton into the corner. Orton fires some punches and climbs up to the top rope. Orton is up and he leaps off but the Rock catches him and delivers the Rock Bottom. The crowd is on their feet, this should be over. The Rock makes the cover but Orton rolls the shoulder up off the canvas!

The Rock gives the referee a dirty look before hoisting the half dead Randy Orton off the canvas and setting him up for another Rock Bottom but Randy Orton counters it on the lift up with the RKO. Orton, with his last bit of energy, rolls over the prone form of the Rock and collapses on top for the cover, to score the pin. Orton survived a Sharpshooter, the People's Elbow, and the Rock Bottom before reversing a second Rock Bottom into the RKO to retain the Interconinental Title!

Winner and still champion: Randy Orton(w/the RKO)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 87

Match Quality: 72

Orton gets his hand raised as he demands the Interconinental Title Belt. Orton gets up and the Rock is up. The Rock offers Orton a handshake but Orton just shakes his head at the Rock and points to the Interconinental Title Belt before walking off. What a sign of disrespect! The Rock stews in his loss as Orton holds the Interconinental Belt over his head. See you on Raw!

Show Rating: 77

[MattHarms]

WWE Monday Night Raw 4/19/04

Shawn Michaels comes out at the start of Raw, on crutches. Last nights World Heavyweight Title Match is talked about and how Eric Bischoff suspended Kurt Angle. Michaels declares that he was robbed of his rightful title and he never tapped, he never will tap to Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock. Michaels is still the show stopper, the headliner, the main event, the icon, and soon, after his ankle injury heals in a few weeks, he will be the brand new World Heavyweight Champion. Shawn Michaels accuses Angle of hiding from him, as the announcers yell that HBK knows full well that Angle is suspended. Michaels promises Sweet Chin Music in the future of Angle and walks off.

Segment Rating: 90

World Tag Team Title Match:

La Resistance vs Val Venis and Lance Storm©

Storm got battered for most of the match but when Conway missed an elbow, he made the tag to Val Venis. Val Venis pummels La Resistance but they come back. A double team is botched and Val Venis delivers a fisherman suplex on Grenier to score the pin and retain the titles.

Winners: Val Venis and Lance Storm(w/a fisherman suplex)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 67

Match Quality: 79

Randy Orton bullies some backstage staff and brags up his recent wins as Interconinental Champion when he bumps into Rey Misterio Jr. Rey tells Orton to watch where he is going and Orton says that he doesn't have to listen to a "midget" like Rey. Rey responds by decking Orton with a forearm, knocking him onto his backside. Rey says if Orton wants more, he can face Rey in the ring and bring that Interconinental Title Belt as well. Orton says he might have to make an example out of Rey later.

Segment Rating: 78

Molly Holly vs Gail Kim vs Trish Stratus

The winner is the number one contender for the Women's Title held by Victoria and will receive a shot next week. All three of these women traded nearfalls but in the end, Trish hit the chick kick on Molly but Gail managed to dropkick Trish to the floor and steal the pin on Molly to receive a women's title match next week on Raw.

Winner: Gail Kim(after a Trish Chick Kick on Molly)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 64

Nunzio(w/Johnny Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo) vs Chris Jericho

Jericho had his back against the wall for most of this match, as Palumbo and Stamboli interfered throughout the match. Jericho had the Walls on Nunzio towards the end but Palumbo snuck in as Stamboli distracted the referee. Superkick takes Jericho down and Nunzio scores the pin over Chris Jericho. The FBI triple teams Jericho after the match to boos before Val Venis and Lance Storm run out with chairs and chase off with the FBI. The FBI stares up at the World Tag Team Champions as they check on their fellow Canadian.

Winner: Nunzio(w/interference)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 78

Match Quality: 89

Rob Van Dam has a few words about Eddie Guerrero and promises to win his match with Rey Misterio Jr tonight, because no one is quicker and faster than Rob Van Dam and he will prove it against Rey tonight.

Segment Rating: 86

The Godfather(w/hoes) vs Kane

The Godfather offers Kane the hoes before the match but Kane responds with a Yakuza Kick. Short beating by Kane, ending with a Choke Slam. Kane delivers another Choke Slam after the match.

Winner: Kane(w/the Choke Slam)

Segment Rating: 69

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 65

Steven Richards, Terry Funk, and Tommy Dreamer vs Randy Orton, Batista, and John Bradshaw Layfield

Pretty standard brawl but Terry Funk has Orton set up for a piledriver which causes Steven Richards to deck Terry Funk with a kendo stick that Tommy Dreamer brought to the ring. The referee was tied up as the crowd boos Steven Richards. He has sold out his team. Batista finishes off Funk with a spinebuster. After the match, Richards, Batista, Orton, and JBL stomp down Funk and Dreamer with Orton presenting Steven Richards with an Evolution T-Shirt, which he takes. JR damns Richards' soul to hell. Steven Richards is the newest member of Evolution!

Winners: JBL, Orton, and Batista(w/a Steven Richards heel turn and a spinebuster to Terry Funk)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 75

The Rock comes out. It takes about five minutes for the cheers to subside before the Rock begins. The Rock says it's been a hell of a ride all these years and he declares that he apperciates all the support that the World Wrestling Entertainment fans have given but the Rock hasn't been as a good as he could be. He declares that Randy Orton shocked him last night, Shawn Michaels shocked him at Wrestlemania, and it seems like when he wrestles now a days, he loses a lot more than he wins. The Rock says he is going to quit while he is ahead, last night at Backlash you have seen...pryo explosion and Kane makes his way down to the ring. Kane grabs the microphone and says that the Rock is nothing more than a "pretty boy Hollywood punk". Kane says people like the Rock look down at people like Kane. The Rock interrupts Kane and tells him to get his "big Red Retard Candy Ass" out of the ring, because this is the Rock's time and Kane has no business being out here. Kane says that the Rock has no business working two months out of the year and hiding in Hollywood for the remaining ten. Kane grabs the Rock by the throat but the Rock punches out and clotheslines Kane down. The Rock and Kane are going at it but the Rock runs right into a boot from Kane. Kane grabs the Rock and Choke Slam. Kane pulls the Rock up and scoops him up before planting him with a Tombstone Piledriver. Kane slides to the floor and picks up a chair. Kane declares that Rock isn't in Hollywood anymore, he is in Kane's world and that world has lots of pain and is worse than Hell. Kane jabs the chair into the throat of the Rock a dozen times before draping the chair over the Rock's head. The crowd boos big time, as they can see what's happening next. Kane climbs to the top rope and dives off, kneedropping the chair, snapping it around the neck of the Rock, pillmanizing his neck. The Rock thrashes around madly, clutching his throat while Kane has an evil grin on his face. The emts are out but the Rock can barely breath! Kane walks off, looking pleased himself, but the Rock could be badly injured. The Rock's throat may have been crushed by that evil bastard!

Segment Rating: 87

We get back from the extended commercial break and the announcers talk about that Kane has done the same thing to John Heidenreich and as of last night, the Big Show recently but they have been lucky and will only be out for a few months. Kane attempted to crush the Rock's windpipe and came as close to succeeding as possible without doing the deed. Meanwhile backstage, all the wrestlers(faces and heels) alike, shoot Kane a dirty look but Kane just laughs at them and declares that anyone who gets in his way will suffer a similar fate, "if you smell what Kane is cooking". Kane walks off.

Rey Misterio Jr vs Rob Van Dam

RVD attempted to out quick Rey but that is playing with fire, as RVD got burned. Rey kept RVD off balance with several lucha libre style moves but RVD gained control by cheating. Rob Van Dam works over the back and ribs of Rey but the Five Star misses. 6-1-9 Connects and Rey hits the West Coast Pop but before Rey can cover, Randy Orton slides into the ring and clocks Rey in the face with the Interconinental Title Belt for the disqualification. Double team by Orton and Van Dam but Eddie Guerrero rushes out with his hand bandaged from last night. Brawl and Eddie and Rey manage to drive RVD and Orton back.

Winner by Disqualification: Rey Misterio Jr

Segment Rating: 91

Crowd Reaction: 87

Match Quality: 95

Eric Bischoff storms out and declares that if these four men want to settle the score, next week it will be Rey and Eddie against Orton and RVD. Raw goes off the air with the announcers hyping up that big match for next week.

Segment Rating: 87

Show Rating: 82

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 4/22/04

Chavo vs The Hurricane(w/the Magnificent Moore) vs Tajiri vs Jamie Noble

Shannon Moore, is of course, the Magnificent Moore, The Hurricane's new Superhero in Training here on Smackdown. Tornado Rules apply, first pinfall will face Dragon at Judgement Day for the Cruiserweight Title. The Hurricane appeared to have Chavo finished off but the World's Greatest Tag Team attacked the Magnificent Moore on the floor. The Hurricane leaps on the WGTT with a flip plancha as Noble grabs Chavo and finishes him off with a tiger bomb to score the pin and the right to face Ultimo Dragon at Judgement Day for the Cruiserweight Title.

Winner: Jamie Noble(w/a Tiger Bomb)

Segment Rating: 84

Crowd Reaction: 78

Match Quality: 90

James Mitchell talks about the Undertaker on behalf on Sean O' Haire and promises O' Haire to be the one to take the Undertaker out when they compete at Judgement Day.

Segment Rating: 75

Rene Dupree is backstage, not too happy about being put against Spike Dudley. He confronts Jim Cornette and wants a bigger match. Cornette says he has a chance for Rene Dupree to break into the main event scene at Judgement Day. It is against a wrestler from Smcakdown, who hasn't competed in a while. Dupree says no sweat "he will destroy the rusty punk". Cornette finishes that it will be Rene Dupree vs the returning Bill Goldberg at Judgement Day. Dupree has a wide eyed look before we fade out.

Segment Rating: 74

Rene Dupree vs Spike Dudley

Another day at the office for Mr. Dupree. Spike Dudley does what he does best and that is bump around like a pinball for the heel's offense. Dupree delivers the Bastille Driver but picked up Spike Dudley and put him down with the Jackhammer, mocking Goldberg. Dupree covers and scores the pin. After the match, Goldberg's music comes out and his voice declares Dupree to be "next" at Judgement Day.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver and the Jackhammer)

Segment Rating: 75

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 80

Christian declares himself to be an inspiration to many and a hero to all. He talks up his win over Benoit in last week's tag team match and says he is going to continue his winning streak on Smackdown. The Captain has spoken, so heed his words.

Segment Rating: 76

Hardcore Holly vs Christian

Hardcore Holly battered Christian for most of the match, with Christian avoiding losing and managing to strike Hardcore Holly with a low blow before delivering the Unprettier to score the pin.

Winner: Christian(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 81

Rico(w/Miss Jackie) vs Chris Kanyon

Kanyon dominates a match for once, punishing Rico with some of the innovative offense that he is known for. Kanyon goes for the Flatliner but Rico shoves him off and hits him with the One Shot(the same spinning roundhouse kick that knocked out Triple H and scored the pin against him). Rico covers and scores the pin on Kanyon. Rico poses which gives the announcers some time to hype that Triple H will return next week and he wants a piece of Rico.

Winner: Rico(w/the One Shot)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 72

Match Quality: 80

Prince Nana vs Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell)

Squish goes Nana. O' Haire beats him down and delivers the Prophecy before scoring the pin. Supernatural effects involving the Undertaker after the match, which plays mindgames with O' Haire.

Winner: Sean O' Haire(w/the Prophecy)

Segment Rating: 59

Crowd Reaction: 55

Match Quality: 64

The Dudley Boys promise to win the tag team titles and break down the Shooting Star Express, by any means.

Segment Rating: 66

WWE Tag Team Title Match:

The Dudley Boys vs The Shooting Star Express©

Paul London knows what it's like to be in a pinball machine after getting a brutal beating from the Dudley Boys but London managed to make the tag and Kidman attacks the Dudleys but Bubba catches him with a low blow. Bubba foolishly attempts to power bomb Kidman and we all know what happens. Kidman is up and Shooting Star Press connects but before Kidman can make the cover, D-Von blasts Kidman in the back of the head with the tag team title belt for the disqualification. D-Von beats on Kidman but London catches him with a springboard dropkick. Bubba leaps at London and puts him in a flapjack before slamming him down with a Bubba Cutter. D-Von gets the table and D-Von drags it into the ring. Set up and London is plopped up on the table while Kidman is put up with Bubba. Super Bomb drives Kidman through the table and onto London. Bubba goes into that trance as medics come out and we go to a break.

Winners by Disqualification: The Shooting Star Express

Segment Rating: 88

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 96

WWE Heavyweight Title Match:

Booker T vs Chris Benoit©

Handshake to start. Slow match, pretty much with Booker and Benoit appearing to pace themselves in preparing for a longer match but Benoit pulls out the Triple Germans and goes for the Crossface but Booker T fights out. Book End scores a nearfall. Houston Hangover misses. Diving Headbutt misses and both men come up. Fistfight, chop fest, criss cross, and both men down, which allows a hooded figure to jump over the guardrail. He pushes past security and enters the ring and knocks down both Booker T and Chris Benoit with a double clothesline. Benoit is brought up and down with the F-5. The hood comes down and it's Brock Lesnar! Lesnar has returned. Lesnar gives the F-5 to Booker T. The referee has thrown this match out and Lesnar grabs the referee and puts him down with the F-5. Lesnar picks up the belt and walks off with it. Lesnar poses with the belt on the ramp, as the crowd pelts garbage at him. Lesnar leaves with the belt. Benoit and Booker are not going to be happy when they woke up.

Winner: No Contest due to Brock Lesnar attacking everyone

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 74

Match Quality: 72

Show Rating: 73

WWE Velocity 4/24/04: Maven pinned Funaki after the Missile Dropkick. A-Train pinned Scotty 2 Hotty after the Pump Kick. Kyo Dai defeated Vito and Sal Thomaselli when Akio pinned Sal with a double fisherman buster and in the main event, Charlie Haas defeated the Magnificent Moore when Shelton Benjamin tripped up Moore and Haas scored the pin. After the match, the WGTT beat down Moore but he was saved by the Hurricane.

[MattHarms]

WWE Heat 4/25/04: Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade defeated Vito and Sal Thomaselli when Cade pinned Vito with the Flying Legdrop. Mikey Whipwreck pinned Prince Nana with the Whippersnapper. Chris Nowinski, Rodney Mack, and Jazz defeated Victoria, the Godfather, and Mark Henry when Nowinski pinned The Godfather after using the ropes. In the main event, Edge pinned Scott Steiner after delivering the Spear.

WWE Monday Night Raw 4/26/04

Kurt Angle is out. He talks about his suspension but he is back and angrier then ever. He wants a piece of Shawn Michaels and offers to put the title on the line tonight. Eric Bischoff comes out, to play the Vince McMahon to Angle's Stone Cold Steve Austin. Bischoff says that Angle will not face off against Shawn Michaels until Bischoff says so. Bischoff says that Angle will play by his rules and Bischoff goes as far as banning the Ankle Lock. If Angle uses the Ankle Lock ever again, he will be stripped of the World Heavyweight Title. Bischoff punishes Angle for breaking the ankle of Shawn Michaels at Backlash, before putting him in match against Scott Steiner. Angle promises to take out Steiner to prove a point. "It's True, it's True".

Segment Rating: 78

Test vs Chris Jericho

Typical Raw bout here. Test pounds on Jericho for a few minutes before Jericho comes back and delivers a bulldog and Lionsault but the FBI comes out to stir up some trouble. Jericho attacks the FBI, kicking them down to the floor. Jericho turns around and eats the Boot of Test. Test scores the pin. After the match, the FBI swarms the ring, like rabid vultures and assaults Jericho before the World Tag Team Champions make the save. Venis and Storm look down at the FBI, as the FBI look at the belts with a hungry look.

Winner: Test(w/the Big Boot)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 82

Match Quality: 76

Eric Bischoff is backstage. He announces that in two weeks, the second Raw: Clash of the Champions, big Prime Time TV special will be on. He announces the first match, a six man tag team match between the FBI against Jericho, Val Venis, and Lance Storm and if the FBI win, they become the World Tag Team Champions.

Steven Richards is out, with JBL and Batista. Steven Richards says that he joined Evolution because "he is tired of being in the shadow of others." He promises to use his experience to lead Evolution straight to the top of Raw. Steven Richards dares Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer to stop him.

Segment Rating: 77

Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak vs Batista and John Bradshaw Layfield(w/Steven Richards)

JBL and Batista beat around the Rookie Sensations but before Jindrak and Cade can get too much of a beating, a crazed Terry Funk rushes into the ring and he has a baseball bat in hand. Funk slides into the ring and hits JBL in the stomach with it for the disqualification. Funk swings the bat like a madman and Evolution scatters, with Steven Richards promises revenge.

Winners by Disqualification: JBL and Batista

Segment Rating: 74

Crowd Reaction: 69

Match Quality: 80

WWE Women's Title Match:

Gail Kim vs Victoria©

Back and forth match, with Gail Kim working over the knee of Victoria and negating most of her offense. Eventually the referee gets bumped and Gail Kim grabs a chair but Victoria blocks it and assaults Gail Kim with the chair but Victoria gets caught...for the disqualfication. Victoria has a crazed look on his face. Gail Kim wins the match, but not the title and she cannot be pleased by that.

Winner by Disqualification: Gail Kim(Victoria remains Women's Champion)

Segment Rating: 72

Crowd Reaction: 66

Match Quality: 79

Eric Bischoff confronts Evolution, promising them a one on one match with Terry Funk. After some thought, JBL decides that it will be Terry Funk vs JBL in two weeks at the Prime Time Clash Special.

The Godfather welcomes us to the newest talk show on Raw, "The Pimp Shop." He welcomes his first guest, Christopher Nowinski. Nowinski mocks the Godfather and then Mark Henry, calling them of inferior breeding. Eventually, the Godfather gets ticked and attacks Nowinski but it is a trap as Rodney Mack and Jazz run in(with Theodore Long directing traffic) and beat down the Godfather but Mark Herny and Stacy Keibler(making her return to Raw after a few months absense), makes the save. The Playas Club scatters but Theodore Long decides to challenge Henry, Godfather, and Keibler to an intergender tag team match against the Playas Club.

Segment Rating: 67

The Playas Club(w/Theodore Long) vs Stacy Keibler, Mark Henry, and the Godfather

Stacy has been off for a few months, down in Ohio Valley Wrestling and she hangs with Jazz easily enough. Brawl to settle it all and eventually Mark Henry catches Rodney Mack with the World's Strongest Slam to score the pin and win this intergender tag team match.

Winners: Stacy, Mark Henry, and Godfather

Segment Rating: 64

Crowd Reaction: 66

Match Quality: 60

Scott Steiner vs Kurt Angle

Non Title Match and Scott Steiner really dogs it tonight, making his Royal Rumble 2003 match with Triple H look like a classic. Steiner batters Angle with some half hearted power offense but when Scott Steiner goes for a Samoan Drop, Angle counters with a sunset flip to score the pin. After the match, Shawn Michaels limps out, on crutches and decks Kurt Angle from behind with his crutch. Scott Steiner and Shawn Michaels exchange a smirk before Steiner turns around and Michaels decks him with the crutch from behind. Shawn Michaels poses to boos from the crowd.

Winner: Kurt Angle(w/a sunset flip)

Segment Rating: 75

Crowd Reaction: 82

Match Quality: 60

Edge vs Kane

Edge attacks Kane with ruthless agression, battering him with punches and kicks but a Spear misses and Edge goes to the floor. Kane batters Edge with punches before delivering a clothesline and going to the top rope. Kane leaps off with a Super Clothesline before lifting him up and grabbing him by the throat. Choke Slam is blocked by a low blow. Edge delivers the Spear but Kane sits up. Edge pounds away at Kane and grabs a chair to attempt to cut Kane down to size but Kane kicks the chair into the face of Edge. Kane picks up the chair and waffles Edge with it for the disqualification. The referee gets a chairshot as well and Edge spears the chair into Kane. Edge walks off before Kane can get up, which he does a minute after Edge leaves. Kane has a ticked off look on his face and he yells that "it's not over"

Winner by Disqualification: Edge

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 75

Randy Orton and Rob Van Dam vs Rey Misterio Jr and Eddie Guerrero

Eddie Guerrero played face in peril for most of this match, with RVD and Orton battering Eddie with a variety of moves. Orton's boot lace from his right boot is slowly undone by Eddie and pulled out eventually but Eddie doesn't have a chance to use it as Orton pounds him. Van Dam goes up top but Five Star Frog Splash hits the knees and Eddie makes the tag to Rey(Orton gets tagged on the other end). Rey batters Orton with a variety of high flying moves but when Rey goes up top, Orton crotches him and slams him off the top. Punches and RKO set up but Eddie grabs Orton's removed boot lace and wrapped it around his throat from behind. Orton is pulled off of Rey and Eddie punches Orton, causing Orton to fall on the middle rope. Rey dials it up and 6-1-9. Rey leaps to the middle of the top rope and West Coast Pop. Leg hooked and the pin is scored. Rey has just pinned the Interconinental Champion! Eddie and Rey celebrate on the entrance ramp as Orton sulks in the ring. Raw comes on the air.

Winners: Rey Misterio Jr and Eddie Guerrero(w/the West Coast Pop to Randy Orton)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 86

Show Rating: 76

WWE.Com

Scott Steiner has been released from his WWE Contract. We here in the WWE wishes him the best in his future endeavors

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 4/29/04

Brock Lesnar comes out with riot cops surrounding him. Lesnar declares that he is the only wrestler on Smackdown, deserving a title shot and he will disrupt every main event match that has anything remotely to do with the title, until he gets what is his. Lesnar refuses to compete in any matches, other than the matches with the titles on the line. Lesnar promises that he will keep messing up the main event scene on Smackdown, until he gets what he wants, and that would be a title match against Chris Benoit.

Segment Rating: 74

Rene Dupree vs Maven

Standard match with Dupree controlling most of the match, before his match with the returning Goldberg at Judgement Day. Maven missed a flying cross body and Dupree wrapped up the match with the Bastille Driver. After the match, the voice of Goldberg is heard again, promising that Dupree will be next at Judgement Day.

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 78

Christian talks about how it's his destiny to lead Smackdown as their champion and he has a few words to say about Booker T. Christian says that him and Booker have had their wars on Raw but Christian came out on top every time. Christian states that tonight should be no different and then, he will beat Chris Benoit to become the WWE Champion.

Segment Rating: 80

James Mitchell is in the ring. He talks about how Sean O' Haire will put the Undertaker in his final resting place at Judgement Day but the lights go out and the Undertaker enters the ring. Mitchell appears to be alone and Undertaker starts choking Mitchell but O' Haire enters the ring and puts the Undertaker out with ether. The Undertaker drops to one knee before sinking to two knees and then going limp. O' Haire has just taken out the Dead Man with that ether! Paul Bearer is out and he raises the urn, which raises the Undertaker which causes O' Haire and Mitchell to get out of dodge. Mitchell yells about the urn and how he will get it away from Bearer, so he can take away the powers of the Undertaker.

Segment Rating: 81

Tajiri vs Billy Gunn

Tajiri uses his kicks to keep Gunn off balance but Gunn eventually comes back but as he sets up Tajiri for a power bomb, he gets mist spat into his eyes and Tajiri winds up, decking Gunn with a kick. Tajiri then scores the pin.

Winner: Tajiri(w/the mist and Kick of Death)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 75

Match Quality: 78

Jim Cornette is in the lockeroom when A-Train angrily gets in his face. A-Train is not too happy about his lack of airtime recently but Jim Cornette decides to give him a big chance tonight. A non title match against the WWE Hevayweight Champion Chris Benoit. A-Train accepts the challenge, promising to run straight over the champion.

Segment Rating: 73

The Dudley Boys and Triple H vs Rico and The Shooting Star Express

Triple H looked ready to get his hands on Rico but he had to settle for Kidman for the majority of the match, as the Dudleys and the Game took turns picking apart one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions. Eventually hot tag to Rico and Rico takes down everyone with martial arts blows but Triple H comes back and sets up Rico for the Pedigree but Rico counters with a catapault and rolls up Triple H to score the pin. Rico has just pinned Triple H for the second time! After the match, Rico leaves as Triple H tosses the referee in a fit of rage.

Winners: The Shooting Star Express and Rico(w/a roll up to Triple H)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 80

Triple H storms into the lockeroom, all in a tizzy about being pinned by Rico, yet again. He demands a match against Rico at Judgement Day. Jim Cornette is on the spot and he gives Triple H his match, even making it a number one contenders match for the WWE World Title, which satisfies Triple H to no end.

Segment Rating: 79

Non Title Match

A-Train vs Chris Benoit

Vicious brawl right here with A-Train controlling a good portion of this match. Attempted Derailer is blocked and Benoit chops away at A-Train but attempted headbutt hits the referee and Benoit delivers the Triple German on A-Train but Brock Lesnar sneaks into the ring(he was standing in the crowd with the riot squad at the start of the match) and sprays mace in the eyes of Benoit before bashing Benoit over his head with a nightstick. Lesnar lifts up Benoit and drives him down with the F-5. A-Train splashes the back of Benoit and rolls him over to score the pin. A-Train has just pinned the champion in this non title match. Lesnar steps into the ring, talking trash to Benoit and making the belt motion around his waist.

Winner: A-Train(w/Lesnar outside interference)

Segment Rating: 71

Crowd Reaction: 69

Match Quality: 75

Booker T vs Christian

Christian works over the leg of Booker T, preventing most of his offense but Booker T comes back and hits a spinebuster but the match is prematurely ended, again as Brock Lesnar rolls into the ring and attacks Christian and Booker T as the referee throws this match out. F-5 to Booker T. F-5 to Christian. Brock Lesnar yells: "I want my belt!" as Smackdown goes off the air with Christian and Booker T laid out in the ring.

Winner: No Contest due to Brock Lesnar interference

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 84

Match Quality: 78

Show Rating: 75

WWE Velocity 5/1/04: Scotty 2 Hotty pins Akio with a Springboard DDT, The Hurricane defeated Shelton Benjamin by disqualification after Charlie Haas interfered. The Magnificent Moore made the save and we had a brawl between the four men, who will compete in a tag team match at Judgement Day, Justice Count vs the World's Greatest Tag Team and in the main event, Rhyno retained his United States Title after Goring Hardcore Holly.

[MattHarms]

WWE Heat 5/2/04: Mikey Whipwreck pinned Rob Conway after avoiding interference from Sylvan Grenier. La Resistance beat down Mikey after the match, laying him out with the Au Revior. The Island Warriors defeated Cade and Jindrak when Rosey pinned Garrison Cade with a Samoan Drop/Neckbreaker combo with Rikishi. Nunzio of the FBI defeated Val Venis, after using the ropes for leverage.

WWE Monday Night Raw for 5/3/04

Gail Kim and Ivory vs Trish Stratus and Victoria

By the numbers women's tag team match as Trish was beaten for most of the match but Victoria got the hot tag and took out the heels, ending up finishing Ivory with the Widow's Peak. After the match, Gail Kim attacked Victoria with a shoulderbreaker, a shot to the arm with the Women's Title Belt and a fujiwara armbar. Victoria favors her arm after the match, as next week, Gail Kim will face off against Victoria in a No Disqualification Match for the Women's Title.

Winners: Trish Stratus and Victoria(w/the Widow's Peak to Ivory)

Segment Rating: 69

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 61

Eric Bischoff is backstage, with a backstage flunkee. Bischoff has called the young man here for a very specific job. He is to referee the match between Kurt Angle and Kane tonight and do the right thing, if he knows what Bischoff is saying. The young flukee eagerly agrees, glad to get such a big chance to do something, other than fetch the ring gear of other wrestlers from their cars. Bischoff asks the backstage flunkee, turned referee, his name and he replies with "Nitro, Johnny Nitro." Bischoff likes the sound of that name and he says if Mr. Nitro does the right thing, he will get a full time refereeing gig on Raw and perhaps even a spot as a member of the Raw wrestling roster.

Segment Rating: 74

Chris Jericho is back with the Highlight Reil and his guests are the FBI, who will be facing Chris Jericho, Val Venis, and Lance Storm next week in six man tag team action. Nunzio mocks Jericho's inability to win as of late and Jericho eventually snaps, grabbing Nunzio by the throat and challenging him to a match. Nunzio accepts.

Segment Rating: 70

Nunzio(w/Johnny Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo) vs Chris Jericho

Jericho controls most of this match, battering Nunzio from pillar to post but Palumbo grabs the leg and Jericho fights him and Stamboli off with allows Nunzio to grab Jericho and force him down with the Arriverderci to score the pin. After the match, the FBI assaults Jericho until Val Venis and Lance Storm run out to make the save, as the annoncers hype up their six man tag team match next week.

Winner: Nunzio(w/the Arriverderci)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 89

The Winner is Part of the World Heavyweight Title Triple Threat Match next week:

Edge vs Eddie Guerrero

Handshake to start and nice little wrestling match, with both men breaking cleanly on holds. Eddie hits the triple suplex and goes for the Frog Splash but Edge avoids it and pounds away on Eddie. Electric Chair Drop scores a nearfall and Edge is ready for the Spear but Eddie avoids it and Edge takes a nasty knock on the floor. As the referee checks on Edge, Rob Van Dam runs out from the back, decking Eddie across the back with a chair before placing the chair into his hands and assaulting him with a Van Daminator. Van Dam leaves the ring and Edge rolls into the ring, inadvertantly rolling on top of Eddie to score the pin. After the match, Edge is perplexed but he takes the victory none the less.

Winner: Edge(thanks to RVD interference)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 81

Kane is backstage, laughing at the recent misfortunes that he is inflicted upon injured Raw stars like the Rock and the Big Show and promises to add the crown jewel, the World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, to his collection by pulling down Angle into a pit of dispair and fire. Kane declares that the gold will be his one way or another and dares anyone to step into the darkness.

Segment Rating: 78

Lance Storm vs Rob Van Dam

Usual WWE style televised match, with Van Dam putting Storm down and going up top but Eddie Guerrero runs out and pushes Van Dam off the top rope. Van Dam spins around to go after Eddie and gets rolled up from behind by Storm and pinned. Eddie laughs at Van Dam but Van Dam attacks Eddie and these two rivals brawl on the floor.

Winner: Lance Storm(after outside help from Eddie Guerrero

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 77

Match Quality: 75

An announcement is made that at the special next week, Rob Van Dam will face off against Eddie Guerrero in a Backlash rematch.

Randy Orton is backstage and declares that his loss to Rey last week was an out and out fluke. Orton promises to add another notch into his Legend Killing belt against Rey-Rey and promises to walk out with the Interconinental Title by any means possible, even if they are a bit illegal or cheap.

Segment Rating: 74

Special Referee: Johnny Nitro

Kane vs Kurt Angle

Pretty decent match with Nitro favoring Kane more than Angle, not that Kane needed it as he dominated good portions of this match but Angle managed to deliver a couple of overhead suplexes to scramble Kane's brains and attempt the Angle Slam but Kane avoids it and barbeques Angle's face with a fireball. Angle staggers back and brushes into Nitro, which causes Johnny Nitro to call for the bell and award the match via disqualification to...Kane, due to "illegal assault of a WWE official". Kane makes the belt motion around his waist and leaves, with Angle clutching his burnt flesh.

Winner by Disqualification: Kane(due to Johnny Nitro screwing Kurt Angle out of the match)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 90

Match Quality: 76

Bischoff announces that his handpicked challenger will be Kane. So it will be Edge vs Kane vs Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Title next week and Angle may not be a hundred percent due to the fireball thing.

Segment Rating: 84

WWE Interconinental Title Match:

Rey Misterio Jr vs Randy Orton©

Pretty good free TV match with Orton battering Rey with power offense but Rey coming back with high flying. Rey has Orton on the ropes and dropkick to the back. 6-1-9 and Dropping the Dime gets a nearfall. Rey signals for the West Coast Pop but Orton avoids it. RKO is blocked and another 6-1-9. Rey sets up Orton for the West Coast Pop but as Orton gets up, he casually shoves the referee to the side before eating the West Coast Pop. Rey has Orton pinned but the referee calls for the bell, disqualifying Orton for his assault. The crowd chants "bulls**t" and it's hard to disagree with him. Rey got screwed big time out of the Interconinental Title. Orton attacks Rey after the match and smokes him with the RKO after cheapshotting him from behind. Orton standing tall is the last thing we see as Raw fades to black.

Winner By Disqualfication: Rey Misterio Jr

Segment Rating: 86

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 87

Show Rating: 78

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 5/6/04

Christian vs the Magnificent Moore

Moore and Christian have a pretty even, high flying match but the World's Greatest Tag Team decides to come out and heckle Moore which causes a distraction. Low blow by Christian and Unprettier scores the pin, as Christian wins thanks to a little help from the WGTT. After the match, the WGTT pounds Moore into a fine paste but the Hurricane runs out and helps even odds, as the announcers put the hard sell on the WGTT/Justice Count tag team match in ten days.

Winner: Christian(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 85

James Mitchell is backstage, plotting with Sean O' Haire. Mitchell talks about how if they can get the urn away from Paul Bearer, then can neutralize the Undertaker and put him in his final resting place. Evil laughter is heard and plans are made to take away the source of the Undertaker's powers.

Segment Rating: 72

Billy Gunn vs Triple H

Gunn gets a fair bit of offense, scoring a couple of two counts but Triple H decides about four or five minutes in that playtimes over and beats down Gunn, finishing him off with the Pedigree. Triple H will face the Rico for the Number One Contendership for the WWE Title at Judgement Day. Speaking of Rico, he runs out and gets about one or two shots in on Triple H before Triple H beats him down and delivers the Pedigree, laying out Rico. Triple H stands over Rico, looking smug.

Winner: Triple H(w/the Pedigree)

Segment Rating: 80

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 76

Christian cuts a promo, taking Brock to task for his actions last week and promising to become the WWE Champion, should he enter the ring one on one with Chris Benoit. Christian says that no one will hold him down and the WWE will experience the era of Captain Charisma.

Segment Rating: 80

Jim Cornette is out and says, despite the fact that he doesn't want to take up air time at expense of the talent, he has an announcement to make. At Judgement Day, the WWE Title will be on the line but it was a tough decision to declare the challenger. Brock Lesnar, is of course, obligated a rematch due to being the ex champion, Christian has pinned the current champion in a tag team match, and Booker T's title shot two weeks ago was ruined. So what Cornette is going to do is make it a fatal four way match, between Lesnar, Christian, Booker T, and whomever walks out with the title between A-Train and Chris Benoit later tonight. That is your Judgement Day main event.

Segment Rating: 86

Paul London(w/Billy Kidman) vs Bubba Ray Dudley(w/D-Von Dudley)

Tag team tables match at Judgement Day. The rules are simple. Both members of a team must be put through a table with an offensive move before the match is lost and whomever wins will be the WWE Tag Team Champions. By the numbers match as Bubba overwelms London with power moves before London comes back. London Calling attempt but D-Von shoves London off the ropes for the disqualification. The Dudleys beat up London and then Kidman when he attempts to save. 3D to London. 3D to Kidman. D-Von gets the table. Kidman on the table. London into the clutches of Bubba. Super Bomb onto Kidman and through the table. Bubba goes into his trance and D-Von testifys.

Winner by Disqualification: Paul London

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 80

Rene Dupree cuts a promo about how he is the true phenom and Goldberg will be put down at Judgement Day.

Segment Rating: 68

Scotty 2 Hotty vs Rene Dupree

The designated victim tonight is Scotty 2 Hotty and Dupree squashes him until Hotty makes a brief comeback which includes a Worm. Springboard DDT is ducked and Hotty crashes and burns before Dupree sets up Hotty and Bastille Driver scores the pin. Goldberg's voice appears and warns Dupree that he will be "next"

Winner: Rene Dupree(w/the Bastille Driver)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 74

Match Quality: 73

WWE Title Match:

A-Train vs Chris Benoit©

Benoit plays his role as underdog champion well, selling a possible concussion most the match due to A-Train tossing Benoit headfirst into the post. Pump Kick nearly wins the title. A-Train works over Benoit and goes for the Derailer but Benoit counters and Triple German Suplex. Benoit up top but he is too light headed and A-Train pounds him. Derailer but Benoit is in the ropes at two and three fourths. Another Derailer but Benoit reverses into a roll up, to score the pin. A-Train is ticked but Brock Lesnar rushes out and assaults Benoit, with help from A-Train. Lesnar holds Benoit so A-Train can lay waste to him with a pump kick. Lesnar then delivers an F-5 to Benoit. Lesnar gets on the microphone and declares that he is going to destroy Benoit over and over again, until the title comes back into his hands. He says that A-Train is his new bodyguard, due to the fact that Smackdown stars are jealous of his popularity and Lesnar doesn't need Smackdown but Smackdown needs Lesnar. A-Train nods his head and looks meancing.

Winner: Chris Benoit(w/a roll up)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 73

Match Quality: 83

Non Title Match:

Rhyno vs The Undertaker(w/Paul Bearer)

Rhyno explodes into the Undertaker with power move, after power move but Bearer kept raising the urn and Undertaker kept sitting up. Rhyno gets beaten down, taking down with a choke slam but O' Haire runs out with Mitchell and a pipe in hand. O' Haire whacks Undertaker in the ribs with the pipe, with the referee calling for the disqualfication. Double team from O' Haire and Rhyno, with Mitchell directing traffic. Mitchell hands Rhyno a wad of money and yells at him to "go get the urn", which Rhyno does but the crowd erupts into cheers. John Cena runs out from the back, making his return from injury!. Cena slides into the ring and decks Rhyno, pounding away at him. Mitchell gets in Cena's face and gets an F-U for his trouble. O' Haire and Cena get into it but Rhyno attacks Cena from behind and two on one beatdown but the urn is raised and Taker sits up and pulls O' Haire off, battering him with punches. Cena gets the better of Rhyno and knocks him to the floor with UT doing the same on the other end to O' Haire. Cena and UT share a look of grudging respect after the match as Rhyno and O' Haire fume.

Winner By Disqualification: The Undertaker

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 78

Brock Lesnar(w/A-Train) vs Booker T

Pretty awkward styles clash right here, with A-Train interfering whenever he can to batter Booker T. Booker T eventually fights back but runs into Lesnar but Chris Benoit runs out with a chair and attacks Brock Lesnar, which signals a disqualification. A-Train runs in and attacks Benoit from behind, with Benoit being assaulted by A-Train. Lesnar and A-Train stomp away at Benoit with Booker T making the save and then assaulting Benoit. Scissors Kick takes a concussed Benoit down, as Booker yells "I don't need your help, sucka." Booker T stands in the ring to a mixed reaction as Lesnar and A-Train smirk at the fact that they appeared to have managed to turn Benoit and Booker against each other.

Winner by Disqualification: Brock Lesnar

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 68

Show Rating: 75

Velocity for 5/8/04: Tajiri pinned Funaki with the Kick of Death. The World's Greatest Tag Team defeated the Maximo Brothers in a great tag team match that has earned the Maximo brothers a developemental deal. Ultimo Dragon pinned Chavo with the Asai DDT to retain his Cruiserweight Title and in the main event, Sean O' Haire put down Hardcore Holly once again with the Prophecy. Also, John Cena vs Rhyno for the United States Title is announced for Judgement Day.

[MattHarms]

Heat for 5/9/04: Mikey Whipwreck scored an upset pin over Rikishi but the Island Warriors destroyed Mr. Whipwreck after the match. Test harassed Stacy Keibler backstage, saying she was nothing without him and Mark Henry, giving rebirth to his sexual chocolate persona, made the save. This leads to Mark Henry pinning Test with the World's Strongest Slam. In the main event Jindrak and Cade defeated Tommy Dreamer and Terry Funk when Jindrak pinned Funk with a well placed Stevie Kick after Steven Richards interfered.

WWE Monday Night Raw 5/10/04: Clash of the Champions II

Terry Funk vs John Bradshaw Layfield

Stiff Southern Style Brawl with both men trading brutal punches, kicks, and chops. Funk pulls out the Moonsault from the mothballs to gain a nearfall. Funk works a spinning toe hold but JBL kicks him off and sends Funk over the buckle, headfirst into the ringpost. Clothesline from Pennsylvania Avenue knocks Funk out for the pin. After the match, JBL brings a chair into the ring and batters Funk with it before driving Funk headfirst into a chair with a power bomb. Funk does a stretcher job as JBL looks pleased about seriously injuring Terry Funk.

Winner: JBL(w/the Clothesline from Pennsylvania Avenue)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 82

Kane cuts a promo, talking about how mayhem and destruction drives him and promises to destroy Kurt Angle and Edge and walk out with the World Heavyweight Title. Kane declares that the World Heavyweight Title will enter the darkness.

Segment Rating: 71

Randy Orton comes out and declares that he has challenged a Mexican Wrestling Legend and he has come out to see if anyone has accepted the challenge. Pause before the crowd cheers as La Parka comes down to the ring, complete with chair. La Parka does a dance with use of the chair. Orton asks if La Parka is man enough to hang with the Legend Killer. Orton says he is a fan of La Parka's classic feud with Disco Inferno back in WCW but promises to kill the legend of La Parka tonight so he asks if La Parka accepts the challenge. La Parka responds by dancing on the chair. Orton takes that as a next and the match is on. The crowd is eating this up big time as La Parka got massive cheers.

Segment Rating: 92(see what I mean)

WWE Interconinental Title Match:

La Parka vs Randy Orton©

Pretty damn good match with La Parka getting quite a bit of offense onto Orton. Orton seemed lost when La Parka was using lucha libre tactics on him and the announcers played that into the match, saying Orton is not too familar with that style of wrestling and that could be his downfall. Orton gets lucky as Parka misses a dive into the railing and Orton rolls him into the ring before snapping off an RKO to score the pin. After the match, Rey Misterio Jr runs out and leaps to the top rope. Super Frankensteiner knocks Orton for a loop and Rey stands in the ring, daring Orton to come into the ring.

Winner: Randy Orton(w/the RKO)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 81

Singapore Cane on a Pole:

Tommy Dreamer vs Batista

Eric Bischoff's lackey Johnny Nitro is your special guest referee for this match. Dreamer batters Batista for most this match, but Nitro decides to strictly enforce the rules(even through there are none, except for the rule about the pinfall not being able to take place until the cane is off the pole, keep that in mind) which causes Dreamer to go after Nitro and Batista score with a spinebuster which Nitro fast counts, causing massive heat as the singapore cane wasn't even removed from the pole and the ending wasn't supposed to happen until it wasn't. Nitro gets the hell out of the ring before Dreamer can get retribution.

Winner: Batista(w/a spinebuster)

Segment Rating: 72

Crowd Reaction: 66

Match Quality: 78

World Tag Team Title Match:

The FBI vs Chris Jericho, Val Venis, and Lance Storm©

Jericho seemed to want to prove a point, being in for the better part of this match and getting quite a beating. Eventually Lance Storm gets frustrated with Jericho's lack of team work and tags himself in. Storm cleans house and Val Venis and Lance Storm snap off the Hart Attack on Nunzio to score the pin. Jericho throws a fit after the match, due to him still not getting a pin since Wrestlemania XX and being denied that chance once again.

Winners: Chris Jericho, Val Venis, and Lance Storm

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 81

WWE Women's Title, No Disqualification Match:

Gail Kim vs Victoria©

Victoria gets a Giant Swing to start and batters Gail Kim, delivering a couple of snap suplexes and some stomps. Victoria goes on top but moonsault misses. Gail Kim takes a pair of brass knuckles from her top and goes to attempt to hit Victoria with them but Victoria counters with a backslide for a two count. Victoria slides to the outside and grabs a chair and swings it but Gail ducks and the referee gets plastered. This brings Steven Richards out from the back and Steven Richards slides into the ring as Gail Kim and Victoria trade punches. The past alliance between Richards and Victoria has been brought out as Richards teases to Superkick Gail Kim before blasting Victoria in the face with the Steven Kick. Gail Kim covers for the pin but no referee so Johnny Nitro(to quite a few boos) runs out, and makes the count, despite Victoria raising the shoulder up at two and a half and awarding Gail Kim the Women's Title.

Winner and new Champion: Gail Kim(due to a modified Montreal Finish by corrupt referee Johnny Nitro and Steven Richards interfere)

Segment Rating: 72

Crowd Reaction: 65

Match Quality: 79

A backstage segment is shown as Steven Richards welcomes Gail Kim to Evolution and thanks Johnny Nitro for his help but a crazed Tommy Dreamer(weilding the unused singapore cane from earlier) and an even more crazed Victoria rush into the lockeroom. Dreamer swings the cane wildly as Victoria attempts to choke Richards out but Batista and JBL attack Dreamer and pull Victoria off of Richards before slamming her into a locker. JBL remarks that no one messes with Evolution, while he is on watch.

Rikishi vs Rey Misterio Jr

This is revealed to be Rey-Rey's punishment for decking Orton earlier as the announces speculate on a possible alliance between Eric Bischoff and Evolution due to the back that Bischoff's corrupt referee Johnny Nitro helped Evolution win two matches tonight and then this punishment match with one of Evolution's top enemies. Rikishi batters Rey and nearly wins with a vicious Samoan Drop but Banzai Drop is missed and 6-1-9 followed by the Dropping of the Dime gets the pin. After the match, Randy Orton attempts to sneak in but gets belted in the face with the 6-1-9. Rey has gotten the better of Orton not once but twice tonight.

Winner: Rey Misterio Jr(w/the Dropping of the Dime)

Segment Rating: 77

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 75

Rob Van Dam vs Eddie Guerrero

Pretty scaled down version, trying to fit a twenty five minute pay per view match into a ten minute televised window and coming out a bit sloppy. A Frog Splash from each misses and chops are traded but Van Dam loses his balance on a kick and Eddie suckers him into the corner, using the ropes to score the pin. Eddie rolls to the floor and RVD looks livid. Eddie has cheated Van Dam out of the win.

Winner: Eddie Guerrero(after using the ropes for leverage after a corner trip up)

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 84

Match Quality: 77

World Heavyweight Title Match:

Edge vs Kane vs Kurt Angle©

Edge and Kane formed a brief alliance during this match but it falls apart as Kane chokes Edge. Angle manages to stay out of the way before most of this match, catching either man with a suplex whenever but always falling from the first offensive move, to save himself. The ending came when Kane grabbed Edge for the Choke Slam but Edge kicked Kane in the groin and backs off, before delivering the Spear. Kane is down but Angle delivers the Angle Slam to Edge. Angle scores the pin on Edge to retain the title.

Winner: Kurt Angle(w/the Angle Slam)

Segment Rating: 84

Crowd Reaction: 87

Match Quality: 79

Kurt Angle is in the ring, playing to the crowd but the crowd boos as Shawn Michaels runs to the ring(his ankle healed after about a month's time) and catches Angle with the Sweet Chin Music to the back of the head, causing Angle to drop to the ring apron. Michaels pounds away at Angle and drags him into the ring. Shawn Michaels batters Angle and grabs the belt, before pasting Angle in the face with it. Shawn Michaels slides under the ropes and goes underneath the ring, pulling out a ladder. Michaels hoists up the ladder and rams it into the midsection of Angle. Angle is stunned and Michaels lifts up Angle and slams him before setting up the ladder in the corner. Michaels climbs the ladder and leaps off. Flying Elbowdrop from about twelve feet in the air! Michaels clutches his side but pulls himself up and stands over Angle before grabbing for the microphone. Michaels yells: "Vengeance. Kurt Angle against the Showstopper, the Headliner, the Main Event, the Icon, in the match that HBK built. Shawn Michaels against Kurt Angle at Vengeance in a Ladder Match for the World Heavyweight Championship! Whatcha gotta say about that Kurt!" Michaels stomps Angle before climbing the ladder with the belt and strapping it around his waist as Raw goes off the air.

Segment Rating: 90

Show Rating: 80

[MattHarms]

WWE Smackdown 5/13/04

We are live and Chris Benoit is arriving backstage when he gets jumped by A-Train and Brock Lesnar. Lesnar and A-Train batter Benoit before laying him out with a double gutbuster. Lesnar lifts up Benoit and F-5 right on a wooden pallate. Lesnar taunts Benoit before they walk off.

Segment Rating: 64

The Hurricane(w/the Magnificent Moore) vs Shelton Benjamin(w/Charlie Haas)

Lots of mat wrestling to start. Hass eventually interfered on Benjamin's behalf and Benjamin gained control, keeping the Hurricane off balance with suplex after suplex. Shelton Benjamin goes for the Dragon Whip but Hurricane ducks and comes back. Series of dropkicks and clotheslines. Overcast Neckbreaker scores a nearfall and Benjamin gets knocked to the ring apron. Hurricane attempts to bring Benjamin back into the ring with a suplex but Haas jerks the legs out from underneath him, allowing Shelton to fall on top for the pin. After the match, both teams fight, which hype is made for their tag team match at Judgement Day.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin(w/a trip up from Haas)

Segment Rating: 86

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 92

John Cena raps a bit backstage and promises to take back the United States Title that was taken him due to injury come Judgement Day.

Segment Rating: 87

Funaki vs Jamie Noble

This match was pretty damn good, PPV quality even. Not your typical Funaki squash as Funaki got in quite a few moves, even pulling out a WWE style fisherman buster and a Diamond Dust but Noble ducks a missile dropkick and delivers a vicious Tiger Bomb(quite a lot of snap on it) to score the pin. Noble will face Ultimo Dragon for the Cruiserweight Title this Sunday.

Winner: Jamie Noble(w/the Tiger Bomb)

Segment Rating: 89

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 100

Triple H calls himself the best thing that ever happened to Smackdown and will make Rico simply a memory come Judgement Day. Triple H tells Rico to pay close attention when he faces off against Hardcore Holly, as the Cerebral Assassin will put Hardcore Holly down into a heap on the canvas and then beat Rico to earn his rightful WWE Title Shot this Sunday.

Segment Rating: 85

Hardcore Holly vs Triple H

Hardcore Holly proved why he is one of the longest serving wrestlers in the WWE by pummeling Trips quite a bit before Trips reverses a backdrop into a facebuster. Hardcore Holly's ribs are worked over and Triple H grabs a chair but Hardcore Holly dropkicks it into his face for a nearfall. Hardcore Holly pounds Triple H and the referee accidentally gets sandwhiched. Triple H chairs Hardcore Holly twice before going underneath the ring and pulling out the sledgehammer but before Trips can use it on Hardcore, Rico enters the ring and knocks Triple H out with a Spinning Roundhouse Kick. Hardcore Holly pulls himself up, sets up Triple H and takes him down with the Alabama Slam. Hardcore Holly covers and scores the pin, thanks to Rico. After Triple H gets up, he attacks the referee, laying him out with the Pedigree before grabbing a camera(after decking a cameraman) and destroying it with his sledgehammer. Triple H is not happy do to Rico costing him this match.

Winner: Hardcore Holly(w/Rico interference and an Alabama Slam)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 82

Match Quality: 85

Billy Kidman vs Christian

The Dudley Boys watch from the ramp as Christian batters Kidman for most of this match but makes the common error of attempting to power bomb Kidman. Reversed and Kidman is up top. Shooting Star Press misses and Christian pounds away Kidman some before before hitting a swinging vertical suplex and setting up Kidman before slamming him down with the Unprettier to score the pin. After the match, the Dudleys come down and get their licks in on Kidman before London comes down and attacks the Dudleys, grabbing D-Von and delivering a Tornado DDT off the ring apron, through the Spanish Announcer's table, putting D-Von through the table. Table match hype for this Sunday.

Winner: Christian(w/the Unprettier)

Segment Rating: 83

Crowd Reaction: 81

Match Quality: 85

James Mitchell promises that Sean O' Haire will finish off the Undertaker once and for all this Sunday and the Undertaker will rest in peace. O' Haire adds that they are not telling anyone anything they don't already know.

Segment Rating: 67

Rhyno and Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell) vs the Undertaker and John Cena(w/Paul Bearer)

Cena is welcomed back to Smackdown by kicking the ever living crap kicked out of him by O' Haire and Rhyno but Gore is avoided and tag to the Undertaker. Undertaker gives his two opponents no quarter and also no sell, as he batters both men, without reacting to anything. Undertaker sets up O' Haire for the Tombstone but Rhyno pounds away at the Undertaker before taking him down with a Spinebuster. Seanton Bomb and Rhyno covers but Taker kicks out and then sits up as Bearer raises the urn. Gore from Rhyno is avoided and Rhyno hits the buckles before Taker grips his throat and Choke Slams Rhyno. Arms across the chest, for the pin. O' Haire attacks Taker after the match, laying him out with the Cruel Intentions. O' Haire attempts to steal the urn but Cena makes the save and this allows Bearer to use the urn to cause the Undertaker to sit up one again. Mitchell and O' Haire take that as their cue to leave.

Winners: The Undertaker and John Cena(w/a choke slam to Rhyno)

Segment Rating: 81

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 78

A-Train and Brock Lesnar vs Chris Benoit and Booker T

Benoit comes out with his ribs taped up from the attack earlier. Lesnar and Train spend most of the match focusing on the ribs with Benoit throwing a chop or a suplex before recoiling in pain. Lesnar taunts Booker T for most of the match and Booker finally snaps and beats up Lesnar but when he goes for a Harlem Side Kick, Lesnar ducks and Benoit gets struck in the face. A-Train takes Booker T out with a pump kick and Lesnar hits the F-5 on the champion and covers him, while kneeling down on the chest to score the pin. Lesnar picks up the belt, to parade around with it. Benoit is not too happy with Booker and Benoit attacks Booker after the match, latching on the Crossface. Benoit works over Booker as security comes out to pull Benoit off. With that, Smackdown goes off the air.

Winners: A-Train and Brock Lesnar(w/the F-5 to Benoit)

Segment Rating: 76

Crowd Reaction: 75

Match Quality: 77

Show Rating: 77

WWE Velocity for 5/15/04: Due to the Smackdown Pay Per View tommorow night, the Superstars of Raw take over Velocity for this one week. By the numbers show as Mikey Whipwreck defeated Rosey with the Whippersnapper, La Resistance defeated Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade with the Au Revior, and in the main event, Molly Holly pinned Lita after using the ropes for leverage. It is announced that more info will be given about Raw's next Pay Per View on June 12th, Vengeance, airing this Monday on Raw.

[MattHarms]

A-Train vs Billy Gunn

Both men lock up and A-Train shoves off Gunn before going for a clothesline which Gunn ducks and jabs away at the A-Train. Headlock but A-Train powers out and shoulderblock takes down Billy Gunn. A-Train lifts up Gunn and massive forearm across the back. Whip into the corner and A-Train batters Billy Gunn with a knee to the midsection. A-Train scoops up Gunn before bringing him down with a backbreaker. A-Train backs off and massive elbow driven across the chest. A-Train makes the cover but only a two count. Billy Gunn is lifted off the canvas and battered with punches before getting pulled into a short clothesline. A-Train attempts to smother Gunn with a choke before lifting him up and tossing him into the corner. A-Train gets a running start and Avalanche squashes Gunn in the corner. Gunn is staggering and A-Train lifts him over his head in a Gorilla Press. Huge slam heaves Gunn to the canvas. A-Train backs off and leaps up. Splash across the chest of Gunn. Gunn deflates underneath the impact and A-Train covers but Gunn manages to roll the shoulder up off the canvas at two.

A-Train lifts up Gunn and puts him on his shoulders before spinning and bringing down Gunn with a neckbreaker. Gunn clutches his neck and A-Train batters Gunn with a couple of knees to the side before dragging Gunn to the corner. A-Train climbs to the second rope and pumps up and down on the top rope a couple of times before coming down. Pump splash does not find it's mark. A-Train has hit the canvas hard. Gunn pulls himself up and waits on A-Train. Jabs for A-Train and Gunn drives an elbow down across the head of A-Train. Gunn whips A-Train into the ropes and clothesline. Gunn waits on A-Train and another clothesline. Gunn waits on A-Train and another clothesline. Train is rocked and Gunn covers but only scores a two count. Gunn lifts up A-Train and elbow. Gunn backs off and leaps in the air for the Fame-Asser but A-Train avoids it.

Gunn catches A-Train with a kick to the midsection on the rebound and hooks him around the head. DDT brings A-Train down onto his face. Gunn rolls over A-Train, hooking the leg for the cover but A-Train kicks out at two. Gunn stomps A-Train and then heads to the top rope. Gunn waits on Train to get up and when Train does, Gunn leaps off for a double axe handle but A-Train catches Gunn with a pump kick to the chest on the way down. Gunn is stunned and A-Train lifts up Gunn on his shoulder. Derailer snaps Gunn down. A-Train makes the cover to score the pin.

Winner: A-Train(w/the Derailer)

Segment Rating: 73

Crowd Reaction: 71

Match Quality: 75

A-Train celebrates his win as we fade out with one final hype to Judgement Day.

WWE Judgement Day 2004-Only on Pay Per View-May 16th 2004

Justice Count vs the World's Greatest Tag Team

The Magnificent Moore begins with Charlie Haas. Both men lock up and Hass gets on a quick headlock but Moore manages to push him off and take down Haas with a dropkick. Moore picks up Haas and a couple of punches before whipping him into the ropes. Moore hooks Haas around the arm and flips him to the canvas with a hiptoss. Moore grabs Haas in a headlock and runs up the buckles, before taking him down with a super side headlock takedown. Moore lifts up Haas and wrings out the arm before tagging in the Hurricane. The Hurricane leaps to the top rope and comes off onto the arm of Haas with a forearm to the arm. The Hurricane whips Haas into the ropes and clothesline. The Hurricane kicks Haas and backs off, before taking him down with a swinging neckbreaker. The Hurricane covers but only scores a two count. The Hurricane lifts up Haas and a pair of forearms across the chest before whipping Haas into the ropes. Leg lariat to the chest knocks Charlie Haas back. The Hurricane lifts up Haas and front facelock before making the tag to the Maginificent Moore. Moore leaps into the ring and down across the the back of Charlie Haas with an axe handle.

Moore whips Haas into the corner and rushes in. Leg lariat and Haas stumbles out of the corner, before falling on his face. Moore grips the leg of Haas and rolls through with a la magistral cradle. Two count only. Moore grabs the arm of Haas and wrings it before putting the leg over the head but Haas counters by flipping Moore off. Waistlock grab and Belly to belly suplex brings Moore down. Haas drives a knee into the side of the head of Moore and lifts him up. Haas scoops up Moore and brings him down with a backbreaker before holding him and making the tag to Shelton Benjamin. The World's Greatest Tag Team punish Moore with a backbreaker/slingshot kneedrop combination. Moore is in pain and Shelton makes the cover hooking the leg but only scores a two count. Shelton lifts up Moore and a series of rapid fire kicks to the ribs. Irish whip brings Moore into the ropes and spinning leg lariat to the chest. Tag to Charlie Haas and the WGTT set up Moore. Double front face suplex drives the Magnificent One to the canvas. A cover from Haas and another two count. Haas lifts up Moore by the head and wrenches him in a front facelock. Haas lifts up Moore and delayed vertical suplex. Haas grabs the legs of Moore and rocks back. Catapault sends Moore flying facefirst into the turnbuckle.

Moore staggers, turning around. Knee from Haas and hook. Tag to Shelton Benjamin as the World's Greatest Tag Team are isolating Moore with quick tags, in and out of the ring. Vertical Suplex/Springboard Clothesline combo plants Moore. Moore looks out of it but Benjamin wastes a couple of seconds before going for the cover. Two count only. That couple second indecision could have cost Moore. Benjamin hoists up Moore and open handed slap across the chest ricochets across the arena. Benjamin distracts the referee as Haas reaches into the ring with the tag rope and wraps it around the throat of Moore behind the back of the referee. Hurricane enters the ring and this allows the WGTT to double team Moore in the corner. Haas enters the ring, holding the legs of Moore as Shelton backs off. Haas and Benjamin punish Moore with the Broken Arrow. Moore falls back and Haas is now in the ring, illegally, making the cover but only a two count as Moore manages to bring the shoulder up off the canvas.

Haas lifts up Moore and shot to the back. Another shot to the back and Haas whips Moore into the ropes. Tilt a whirl is blocked and Moore flips Haas over onto his back with a Frankensteiner. Moore has got to make the tag, to the Hurricane. He has been in this match for quite some time and has been pounded on. Moore is nearly to the tag but Benjamin runs into the ring and the referee has to hold him back. Moore gets the tag to the Hurricane. Hurricane rushes into the ring and takes down Haas with a dropkick before knocking Benjamin off the ring apron but he is forced back into the corner by the referee. The referee cannot allow the tag, if the referee did not see the tag! Moore is brought into the corner, for more torture as the Hurricane argues with the referee. Benjamin and Haas switch positions and Haas holds the arms behind the back of Moore as Shelton backs off. Stinger Splash from Shelton to Moore. Moore's arms are let go of and he falls facefirst onto the canvas. Shelton covers hooking the leg but only scores a two and a half count when Moore barely brings the shoulder up.

Shelton Benjamin whips Moore into the corner. Benjamin charges in but Moore gets both feet up into the face and leaps to the second rope. Somersault neckbreaker brings Shelton crashing down to the canvas. The Hurricane reaches into the ring, extending his hand for the tag. Moore may be too far away, as Shelton Benjamin appears to be closer to making the tag to Charlie Haas. Tag to Haas and Haas enters the ring, grabbing the leg of Moore but Moore twists his body and kicks Haas off. Hot tag to the Hurricane. Hurricane leaps to the top rope and takes Haas down with a springboard dropkick. Waiting on Haas and a series of chops. Hurricane whips Haas into the ropes and hoists him up. Flapjack brings Haas down onto his chest. Hurricane leaps to the second rope and dropkick knocks Benjamin off the ring apron and to the floor. The Hurricane kicks Haas in the midsection and inverted facelock. Eye of the Hurricane snaps Haas down and the Hurricane covers but Benjamin breaks up the pin at two and a half.

Benjamin batters Hurricane with chops and goes for a clothesline but Hurricane ducks and superkick knocks Benjamin for a loop, to the floor. The Hurricane puts Haas onto his shoulders as Moore enters the ring. Samoan Drop/Swinging Neckbreaker combo brings Haas down. This could do it but Hurricane and Moore climb to the top rope(the same rope). Combination Legdrop/Splash punishes Haas and Hurricane covers but Moore is ushered out of the ring. The referee turns around and makes the count but Benjamin pulls Hurricane off at two and three fourths. Moore leaps into the ring and goes after Benjamin but Benjamin hoists up Moore and dumps him to the floor. Benjamin rushes Hurricane and catches him with a leg lariat to the chest, which knocks Hurricane into a waistlock from Haas. German Suplex brings Hurricane down to the canvas. Haas bridges and scores the pin, winning this match.

Winners: The World's Greatest Tag Team(combination leg lariat/German Suplex to Hurricane)

Segment Rating: 85

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 94

The World's Greatest Tag Team celebrates their win as replays are shown from the last few moves of this match.

WWE Cruiserweight Title Match:

Jamie Noble vs Ultimo Dragon©

Mocking bow from Noble to start before Noble spits in Dragon's face. Dragon respounds by assaulting Noble with kick after kick before gripping on a headlock before Noble shoves off Dragon and knocks him down with a shoulderblock. Dragon kips up and grabs Noble around the arm. Arm drag flips Noble down to the canvas. Dragon blasts Noble with a series of chops, raising welts on his chest before whipping Noble into the corner. Dragon charges in and batters Noble with kicks. Dragon backs off and Noble falls on his backside, clutching his ribs. Dragon delivers a snap kick to the nose. Noble is stunned and Dragon lifts up Noble. Dragon whips Noble into the ropes. Dragon lifts up Noble. High back body drop. Dragon leaps up and kick to the back of the head, causes Noble to fall on his face just as quick as he gets back up. Dragon lifts up Noble and chop to the chest. Palm thrust and Noble backs off, screaming in pain. Dragon whips Noble into the corner chest first. Dragon rushes into the corner and knee to the back. Waistlock hook and attempted German Suplex but Noble counters with a jawbreaker. Back up and elbow driven down across the chest. Noble makes the cover but only scores a one count.

Noble lifts up Dragon and elbow driven down across the back of the head. European Uppercut across the chest, sends Dragon into the corner. Noble winds up and chop across the chest. Another chop across the chest and Noble turns around, grabbing Dragon before flipping Ultimo to his back. Dropkick to the back of the head snaps Dragon forward. Noble rolls over Dragon and knee rammed down across the back of the head. Dragon is lifted up and forearm across the back. Noble hooks Dragon in an inverted facelock and lifts him up. Inverted suplex sends Dragon onto his face and Noble rolls over Dragon, covering and hooking the leg. Two count. Noble pounds away at Dragon and steps to the outside. Noble is climbing to the top rope. Noble leaps off and legdrop down across the chest. Noble rolls over Dragon and kicks to the ribs. Noble lifts up Dragon and hook. Hoisted up and dropped onto the head with a brain buster. Dragon stands up on his head before flopping down on his head. Noble grabs Dragon and scissored front facelock. Wrenching up and down on the neck, attempting to injure it. Dragon struggles against the grip and after about a minute, Dragon grips the rope, breaking the hold.

Noble lifts up Dragon and scoops him up, before bringing Dragon down with a backbreaker. Nbole climbs to the second rope. Noble waits on Dragon and leaps off. Clothesline from the second rope knocks Dragon to his back. Off the canvas and Noble hooks Dragon for a double underhook but Dragon fights it so Noble shoves Dragon off and kick to the ribs. Noble hooks Dragon and DDT brings the Dragon down onto his head. Noble rolls over Dragon and lifts him up. Hook and snap suplex. Noble climbs to the top rope. Noble is on the top rope but Dragon is up and dropkick, which causes Noble to crotch himself on the top rope. The crowd cheers as Dragon climbs up with Noble, punching away at Noble. Leaping to the shoulders and Super Frankensteiner flips Noble off the ropes. Noble lands hard and Dragon is a bit slow to cover but he does, to score a two count. Dragon lifts up Noble and grips his arm, before battering him with a couple of chops. Irish whip, no reversal but Dragon grips the top rope and handstand up. Dropkick to Noble knocking him back. Dragon lifts up Noble and waistlock. German Suplex dumps Noble on the back of his head. Dragon bridges for the cover but only a two and a half count.

Dragon lifts up Noble, gripping Noble around the head. Run up the buckles. Attempted Asai DDT which is countered into an inverted suplex from Noble. Dragon got dropped down onto his face and Noble fires a knee to the back of the head. Another knee to the back of the head and Noble hooks Dragon. Huge belly to back suplex, dumping Dragon onto the back of his head. Noble waits on Dragon before kneeing him. Noble grips Dragon in a double underhook and brings Dragon down onto the back of his head with the Tiger Bomb. Noble has Dragon held down, but only a two and three fourths count! Noble is getting frustrated and Noble steps to the top rope. Noble is up on the top rope and he leaps off but Dragon meets him with a kick to the ribs.. Set up and huge running sitdown power bomb sends Noble crashing down. Dragon grips the head of Noble and applies the Dragon Sleeper. The head is wrenched up and down. Noble attempts to fight it but he has nowhere to go, so he taps, giving Dragon the win as Dragon retains the Cruiserweight Title.

Winner and Still Champion: Ultimo Dragon(w/the Dragon Sleeper)

Segment Rating: 87

Crowd Reaction: 76

Match Quality: 99

We cut backstage, where James Mitchell is talking with someone backstage. All we here that when Mitchell gives the signal, this man is supposed to come down to the ring, later on tonight, during O' Haire vs the Undertaker.

Rene Dupree comes out, and calls himself the French Phenom. He says he has danced all over the competition on Smackdown and will get his biggest win to date as he faces off against Bill Goldberg. Goldberg comes out to much fanfare and Dupree attacks Goldberg as he enters the ring, to kickstart this match.

Rene Dupree vs Bill Goldberg

Dupree batters Goldberg with punches but Goldberg shrugs it off and gives a mighty bellow, before exploding into Dupree with a clothesline. Goldberg waits for Dupree and another clothesline. Goldberg lifts up Dupree and Gorilla Press. Goldberg delivers a Gorilla Press into a huge powerslam. Goldberg gives the signal. Dupree is up and Goldberg does a running start. Dupree gets ran down with the Spear. Goldberg lifts up the limp Dupree and hooks him. Splat goes Dupree as Goldberg brings him down with the Jackhammer. Goldberg makes the cover and scores the pin, in less than a minute.

Winner: Bill Goldberg(w/the Jackhammer)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 83

Match Quality: 73

Goldberg poses for the crowd and remarks to the camera "That's one" referring to that his Smackdown winning streak is now 1-0. The announcers speculate that Goldberg may be trying to recreate his original 1998 winning streak from WCW here on Smackdown.

WWE United States Title Match

John Cena vs Rhyno©

The announcers state the fact that this match was supposed to happen at Wrestlemania XX but Cena suffered an injury and was stripped of the title. Rhyno was awarded the title due to being the number one contender. Lock up and Cena shoves off Rhyno, before peppering him with punches. Attempted ram into the buckle but Rhyno blocks it, so Cena fires some kicks to the midsection. Cena delivers a snap mare. Leaping kneedrop smashes into the chest of Rhyno. Rhyno is lifted up by the hair and Cena whips Rhyno. Back elbow is ducked and Rhyno comes back off with a knee to the midsection, which flips Cena to his back. Rhyno winds up and double axe handle rammed between the shoulders. Kick to the ribs and Cena is lifted up but hair gripped. Jaw is rammed into the top of the head of Cena and Cena shoves back Rhyno, before battering him with forearms to the chest. Cena whips Rhyno in but the head is ducked. This allows Rhyno to kick Cena in the face and grip Cena into a bearhug before bringing him down to the canvas with a belly to belly suplex. Cena clutches his back and Rhyno backs off. Splash to the chest of Cena. Cena deflates like a balloon popped with a pin as Rhyno covers hooking the leg but only scores a two count.

Rhyno lifts up Cena and grips the arm, before firing some kicks to the ribs. Whip into the corner. Rhyno charges in and corner clothesline squashes Cena into the corner. Some choking to Cena as Rhyno brings Cena up to his feet. Rhyno kicks Cena in the midsection. Gutwrench is grabbed and Rhyno brings Cena down with a gutwrench suplex. Dragging the prone form of the challenger to the corner, Rhyno climbs to the second rope. Knee driven down across the chest of Cena. Rhyno hooks the leg for the cover but Cena rolls out at two. Rhyno brings up Cena and hammers him with forearms over the back. Rhyno backs off and clothesline, which causes Cena to tumble to the floor. Rhyno takes a running start. Tope Suicida sends Cena crashing backfirst into the railing. The announcers marvel at the man the size of Rhyno doing a move like that but Rhyno is not finished as he scoops up Cena. Throat first drop onto the guardrail and Cena is clutching his throat in pain. Rhyno rolls into the ring to break the count before rolling back out to administer more punishment, in the form of punches. Rhyno grabs Cena and headfirst into the ring apron. Rhyno rolls Cena into the ring. To the outside and slingshot it. Rhyno catches Cena with a slingshot splash. Cover hooking the leg but only a two count.

Rhyno stomps away at Cena and lifts him up. Headbutt rocks Cena. Cena is on rubber legs as Rhyno grips him and irish whip. Hoist up and Cena is smashed into the canvas backfirst with a spinebuster. Rhyno rolls over Cena and camel clutch applied. Rhyno is working over the back of Cena and Cena may have to submit. He is fading fast in this camel clutch. The referee checks with Cena and they do the arm drop thing, with Cena's arm shooting up at two and a half. Cena fights to his feet but Rhyno holds on, so Cena falls back, impacting the back of Rhyno into the canvas. Cena is up and he blocks a punch from Rhyno before battering him with punches. Cena whips Rhyno into the ropes and leaping forearm to the face knocks Rhyno down. Cena pumps it up, before drilling Rhyno onto the top of the head with the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Cena covers hooking the leg but Rhyno manages to power out at two. Cena waits on Rhyno and knee. Cena raises the roof and F-U, no, Cena cannot get Rhyno up due to the back. Cena's back is in pain and Rhyno kicks Cena before setting up up. Huge Power Bomb drives Cena down into the canvas. Rhyno covers the prone Cena but Cena brings the shoulder up at two and three fourths, but barely. Cena's back has to be killing him from all the torture that Rhyno has inflicted on it.

Rhyno lifts up Cena and massive forearms over the back. Rhyno puts Cena in a bodyslam and spine first ram into the corner. Cena is prone and Rhyno backs off, giving the signal for the Gore. Rhyno rushes forward but Cena moves and Rhyno Gores the ringpost. Rhyno falls back, knocked silly and Cena manages to collapse on top to score the pin and capture the United States Title.

Winner and New United States Champion: John Cena(after Rhyno accidentally Gored the Ringpost and hit headfirst)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 85

Match Quality: 76

Cena pulls himself up, clutching his back but Rhyno is up and not too happy. Cena turns around and Rhyno assaults Cena with the Gore. Cena has been nearly snapped in half by the force of Rhyno. Rhyno goes to the outside and grabs a chair. Rhyno is not too happy after he lost the title. The chair is taken to Cena's back. Cena is hurt but Rhyno is not done. Piledriver on the Steel Chair. Cena has been driven headfirst onto the chair and goes limp. Rhyno has a sadistic smirk as the announcers damn Rhyno to hell and say that Cena could be more seriously hurt that last night, because now, in official WWE canon, it was Rhyno who hurt Cena last time, and not an injury when Cena was lifting weights. Medics are out as replays are shown of Rhyno's savage beating.

Josh Mathews is backstage with Rhyno, who says he may have lost the title, but "what good is a title, when you are a cripple." Rhyno says that he will keep hurting anyone and Cena was just a small example. Rhyno declares that title loss has awaken the Man Beast inside of him and Smackdown had better be aware.

Goldberg is about to leave the arena when Brock Lesnar stops him. Lesnar introduces himself as "the main attraction on Smackdown" and says that he was impressed with Goldberg's win earlier tonight. Lesnar offers to form an alliance with Goldberg, so they can run roughshot over Smackdown. Goldberg blows off Lesnar, by declaring that "he works alone." Lesnar tells Goldberg he is making a mistake and grabs Goldberg's arm, which Goldberg decks Lesnar with a big punch. Goldberg says, "there's your mistake, Lesnar." before leaving the building. Lesnar vows that this isn't over but he has a title match to focus on tonight.

Winner Receives a WWE Championship Shot at the Great American Bash

Rico(w/Miss Jackie) vs Triple H

Hype for the winner of this match receiving a WWE Title Shot on July 4th at the Great American Bash. Triple H takes his time getting in the ring, which frustrates the more inexperienced Rico to no end. Triple H locks up with Rico but Rico manages to take Triple H down with a hiptoss. Triple H looks frustrated and charges Rico but Rico kicks Triple H in the chest and grabs Triple H in a wristlock, before going behind in a hammerlock and kicks the thigh. Rico flips over Triple H, using the arm and Triple H lands on his back. Triple H looks about ready to snap and Rico grabs Triple H and wrings out the arm. Rico pulls Triple H into a leg lariat, knocking him down to the canvas. Rico covers but only a two count. Rico climbs to the top rope. Rico is about to leap off but Triple H rolls to the floor, so Rico puts the breaks on. Baseball Slide is avoided and Triple H pops Rico across the back of the head with a clothesline. Triple H pounds on Rico with a series of vicious punches and Miss Jackie stops Triple H by grabbing his hair but Triple H shoves Miss Jackie to the floor. This pisses Rico off and Rico explodes into chops before rolling Triple H back into the ring.

Rico enters the ring and gets a knee to the chest. Triple H fires some stomps and chokes Rico with his boot. Triple H rubs the soles of his boots into the face of Rico. The Game lifts up Rico and whip into the corner. Triple H fires some boots into the chest of Rico. Triple H whips Rico into the ropes and knee to the midsection. Huge facebuster brings Rico down. Triple H covers but only a two count. Triple H lifts up Rico and knee to the face. Irish whip and Triple H lifts up Rico before bringing him down with a spinebuster. Triple H gives the signal. Pedigree coming up perhaps. Kick to Rico and double arm hook but Rico counters by lifting up Triple H and sending him crashing down to the canvas with a backdrop. Triple H is back up and Rico goes for a martial arts kick but Triple H catches it so Rico pops Triple H across the back of the head with an enzuigiri kick. Triple H falls to his knees and another enzuigiri to the back of the head and Rico covers Triple H hooking the leg but only a two count. Rico lifts up Triple H and punches.

Rico brings Triple H into the ropes. Rico leaps at Triple H and Spinning Roundhouse Kick brings Triple H down to the canvas. That is the same move that Rico used to beat Triple H two months ago. Rico covers but Triple H rolls the shoulder up off the canvas at two. Rico is frustrated but he goes for a spin kick but Triple H ducks. Sleeperhold is grabbed on. Triple H has got the sleeperhold on Rico. Triple H is working Rico down and Rico is attempting to struggle but Triple H is using those massive arms to put Rico out. Down to one knee and the referee checks the arm. Lift up and down. The referee checks the arm again. Lift up and down again. The referee checks the arm a third time. Lift up and down again, for the third time. Rico is out, the arm dropped three times.

Winner: Triple H(by Rico passing out to a sleeperhold)

Segment Rating: 82

Crowd Reaction: 86

Match Quality: 75

Triple H has proved his dominance over Rico, not even needing to use the Pedigree. Of course Triple H grabs the limp form of Rico and drops him with the Pedigree, just because he can. Triple H will face the WWE Champion July 4th at the Great American Bash but the question of who the champion will be answered later tonight, in the Fatal Four Way Match for the title.

WWE Tag Team Title Tables Match:

The Dudley Boys vs the Shooting Star Express©

Kidman gets jumped as he enters the ring and London gets knocked to the floor. The Dudley Boys pound away at Kidman and whip him into the ropes. Hoist up and double flapjack nearly plants Kidman headfirst into the canvas. Kidman appears to be concussed, severely. D-Von gets the table as Bubba stomps away at Kidman before dropping an elbow down. D-Von knocks London down with a clothesline from behind. D-Von slides the table in and Bubba lifts up Kidman and whip into the corner. Bubba squashes Kidman with an avalanche. D-Von sets up the table as Bubba climbs to the second rope. D-Von gives Kidman to Bubba. Bubba leaps off, with a super power bomb but Kidman's head bounces off the edge of the table. The table does not break but Bubba lifts up Kidman and drops him through the table with a power bomb. Kidman has been eliminated from this match after taking those two nasty knocks to the head in the first couple of minutes. London is on the top rope and cross body takes D-Von down. London stomps away at D-Von before leaping up and double stomp. Bubba swings at London but London ducks and leaps at Bubba, before bringing him down with a bulldog.

London is left in a two on one as London climbs to the top rope. D-Von shakes the ropes and London gets crotched. D-Von climbs up with London. D-Von grabs London and superplex brings London off the ropes. London crashes hard into the canvas. Bubba goes to the outside and pulls a table out, putting in near the ring apron. London is battered with stomps from D-Von as D-Von does a dance before lifting up London and elevated Inverted DDT brings Londo down to the canvas. D-Von backs off and falling headbutt to the shoulder. D-Von hoists up London and pounds away at him. D-Von lifts up London and attempts to dump him to the floor but London hangs onto the top rope and falls to the ring apron. D-Von pounds away on London and attempts to suplex him down onto the table stomach first but London reverses and elbow to the head. London suplexes D-Von onto the ring apron. London slides into the ring and steps back before leaping at D-Von as he comes up. Dropsault sends D-Von flying off the ring apron and crashing through the table. D-Von has been eliminated from this match, leaving it down to Bubba vs London.

Bubba slides into the ring and pounds away at London. Whip into the ropes and Bubba takes down London with a clothesline. Bubba lifts up London and scoops him up, before putting him in the tree of woe. Bubba backs up and knee rammed into the chest of London. Another knee to the chest. Bubba pulls London out of the corner and whip into the corner. Kick to the midsection and hook around the head. Swinging neckbreaker snaps London down. Bubba lifts up London, full nelson. Bubba Bomb brings London down into the canvas and Bubba rolls to the outside. Bubba reaches underneath the ring and pulls out a table. Bubba slides the table into the ring. Bubba stomps away at London before setting up the table. Up goes London and headfirst into the table before Bubba plops London onto the table. Bubba rams forearms to the chest before stepping to the outside. Bubba is up on the top rope. Leaping off. Bubba attempts to put London through with the table with a Top Rope Senton but London rolls off and Bubba destroys the table crashing backfirst through it. The match is not over, however, as to be eliminated, you must be put through the table with an offensive move, not a defensive move!

London is up and Bubba is up as well. Bubba has a shattered table piece and he rams the edge into the ribs of London. Bubba raises the table half over his head and snaps it down into the back of London. Bubba rushes London and clothesline knocks him to the outside. Bubba steps to the outside and pounds away at London. London is slumped against the guardrail and Bubba charges but London drops down and Bubba takes out an entire section of guardrail by running into it.. London chops away at Bubba, grabbing him in a headlock and fighting up the crowd. Bubba grabs a fans drink and sloshes it into the eyes of London. Bubba grabs a chair and smashes it into the head of London. Headfirst into the wall as Bubba spies a table. Bubba pulls the table out, right in front of the balcony area. He has some plans for London. Bubba smashes London with a punch before pulling London up the stairs and onto the balcony. Bubba grabs London by the throat and chokes away at him, attempting to push him over the rail but London thumbs Bubba in the eye.

London chops away at the chest before picking up a chair and smashing it into the head of Bubba. Bubba loses his balance and falls down the stairs. London takes a running start and leaps over the stairs, knocking Bubba down with a cross body. Bubba is down and London lifts up Bubba. Headfirst into the covered table in front of the balcony. London backs off and clothesline. Bubba is slumped on the table and London climbs up. London climbs onto the balcony railing. That is a twelve foot drop. There is no way London can pull this off. London Calling Shooting Star Express off the Balcony Railing, which causes London to put Bubba through the table. The bell rings as London wins this match. The crowd chants "holy shit" at that final move from London.

Winners: The Shooting Star Express(w/the London Calling from a Balcony Railing through the table)

Segment Rating: 88

Crowd Reaction: 84

Match Quality: 93

Replay of London's death defying leap from many different angles. London fought the odds, due to Kidman getting taken out early and beat both Dudley Boys in their own match.

Sean O' Haire(w/James Mitchell) vs The Undertaker(w/Paul Bearer)

Staredown to start, as despite O' Haire being 6'6", the Undertaker looks down at him. Undertaker batters O' Haire with punches and whip into the ropes. The Undertaker thrusts O' Haire in the throat and Undertaker shoves O' Haire into the corner before ramming him across the chest with an elbow. Knuckle lock and knees to the midsection. Irish whip into the ropes. The Undertaker takes down O' Haire with an elbow. Back off and the Undertaker drops an elbow down across the chest. The Undertaker slowly walks over and punch to the chest, which sends O'Haire flying back into the corner. The Undertaker batters O' Haire with more punches and throttles him in the corner. Taker whips O' Haire into the corner. The Undertaker charges in but O' Haire drops down and the Undertaker hits the corner, slowly falling back to the canvas. Bearer raises the urn and the Undertaker sits up which causes Mitchell to throw a fit at ringside. Mitchell takes a step towards Bearer but a glare from the Undertaker stops him in his tracks and this distract allows O' Haire to attack the Undertaker from behind with shots to the back of the head.

More punches and O' Haire whips the Undertaker into the ropes. O' Haire takes down the Undertaker with a huge clothesline. O' Haire lifts up Taker and scoops him up. O' Haire slams Taker down. Few men can manhandle the Undertaker like that but O' Haire just did! O' Haire steps to the outside. O' Haire climbs to the top rope and the Undertaker staggers up. Springboard Clothesline knocks the Undertaker back to the canvas. O' Haire makes the cover but the Undertaker rolls the shoulder up off the canvas at a one count. O' Haire lifts up the Undertaker and pounds away at him. O' Haire hooks the Undertaker. Snap suplex brings the Undertaker over to the canvas. O' Haire goes to the top rope. O' Haire is pearched and ready to fly. Seanton Bomb to the chest of the Undertaker. O' Haire is about to go for the cover but The Undertaker grabs O' Haire by the throat, choking him. O' Haire pounds away at the Undertaker with punches and the Undertaker slumps to the canvas. O' Haire gets a moment to catch his breath and is about to go for the cover again, but the Undertaker reaches up and chokes away at O'Haire again. Forearms across the chest and O' Haire backs off before the Undertaker sits up.

O' Haire goes for a punch but the Undertaker blocks it and thrusts to the throat. The Undertaker backs off and clothesline to O' Haire. The Undertaker lifts up O' Haire and irish whip, sending O' Haire off the ropes. Clothesline is ducked but not a leaping clothesline. The Undertaker waits on O' Haire and to the throat. Choke Slam sends O' Haire into the canvas. Mitchell is on the ring apron and the Undertaker chokes Mitchell before shoving him down. O' Haire catches the Undertaker with a clothesline from behind.. O' Haire sets up the Undertaker for the Prophecy but the Undertaker reverses into the Tombstone position. Mortis runs out to the ring, with a skull on a steel rod. The announcers hype that Mortis was the first client of James Mitchell back in WCW, so that must have been the man that Mitchell was talking to earlier tonight. The Undertaker gets whacked in the knee with the steel rod. Disqualification is called for.

Winner by Disqualification: The Undertaker(due to Mortis interfering)

Segment Rating: 78

Crowd Reaction: 80

Match Quality: 75

Mortis whacks the Undertaker in the ribs with the steel rod as O' Haire joins in the beating. Bearer goes to raise the urn but Mortis slides to the outside and kicks Bearer in the face. Mortis grabs Bearer and throws him into the steel steps. Bearer takes an ugly bump into the steps and Mortis picks up the urn, handing it to James Mitchell, who looks pleased. O' Haire brings down the Undertaker with the Prophecy but there is no Bearer to raise the urn, so the Undertaker is helpless. Mortis climbs into the ring and lifts up the Undertaker. Taker gets planted with a reverse Russian Legsweep. The announcers inform us, that that is called the DOA. O' Haire and Mortis leave, with the Undertaker motionless in the ring from the beating and Bearer knocked out. They have destroyed the Undertaker and the urn has been stolen!

A video package look at the fatal four way match for the WWE Title is shown.

Fatal Four Way Match for the WWE Championship

Christian vs Brock Lesnar vs Booker T vs Chris Benoit©

This match is under Texas Tornado Rules and is one fall to a finish. Whomever scores the first pinfall or submission is the WWE champion. Christian and Lesnar and Booker T and Benoit pair off. Booker T and Benoit get into a slugfest as Lesnar tosses Christian around before Christian goes right to the eyes. Benoit whips his battle with Booker T, battering him with chops. Benoit whips Booker T into the ropes and huge chop knocks Booker T to his back. Benoit lifts up Booker T and headbutt. Christian pounds away at Lesnar but Lesnar counters with a knee and tosses Christian to the floor. Lesnar clubs Benoit from behind, hooking him in a gutwench but Benoit counters with a backdrop and he works over Lesnar with chops. Benoit whips Lesnar into the ropes. Elbow is ducked on the first round but not on the second one. Benoit batters Lesnar with stomps before picking him up. Shoved into the corner and chops to the chest but Booker T kicks Benoit from behind. Booker T whips Benoit into the ropes and clothesline takes Benoit down. Booker T goes for a kick but Benoit blocks it. A couple of kicks to the hamstring, followed by a dragon screw, snapping Booker T to the canvas.

Christian enters the ring and attacks Benoit from behind. Christian whips Benoit into the ropes. Kick to the midsection. Christian goes behind Benoit and forearm to the back of the head. More forearms and some punches before Christian grabs Benoit and reverse DDT brings down Benoit. Christian covers but Lesnar pulls Christian off the cover at two. Lesnar hammers away at Christian and whip into the corner. Hook and overhead belly to belly suplex brings Christian. lesnar waits on Christian and another overhead belly to belly suplex. Lesnar lifts up Christian and attempts to go for the F-5 but Christian drops behind. Knee to the back and inverted facelock into a backbreaker. Christian hammers the back of Lesnar before getting pummeled from behind by a recovering Benoit. Chops and Christian is whipped into the corner. Hook and belly to back suplex. Benoit now goes after Lesnar, hammering him with chops. Benoit hooks Lesnar and German Suplex drops Lesnar down. Benoit looks poised but Booker T catches him from the blind side with a clothesline.

Booker T whips Benoit to the corner. Booker T charges in but Benoit moves and Booker T crashes into the corner. Chop block to the knee takes Booker T down and Benoit hammers away at the leg with hamstring kicks. Benoit hooks Booker and lifts him up, before bringing him down with a knee crunching atomic drop. Meanwhile, Christian attempts to sneak a pin in on Lesnar but he only scores a two count. Christian lifts up Lesnar and elbow to the back of the head. Another elbow. Christian whips Lesnar into the ropes but Lesnar reverses. Lesnar hoists up Christian and snap spinebuster. Benoit forearms Lesnar from behind and Benoit hooks Lesnar. Belly to back suplex. Benoit climbs to the top rope. Benoit is up on the top rope. Diving Headbutt to the chest of Lesnar. Lesnar is hurt but so is Benoit. This allows Booker to attempt to cover Lesnar to steal the pin. Two and a half count before Benoit kicks Booker T off the cover. Benoit grabs Booker T and takes him down with a single leg. Knees to the back of the leg and Benoit steps through. Sharpshooter applied on Booker T. Benoit is sitting back on the hold, while pulling back on the legs.

Benoit is working this hold but Lesnar is up. Clothesline to the back of the head before Booker T gets a chance to tap. Lesnar sets up Benoit and overhead belly to belly suplex. Lesnar gives the signal. The F-5 could be coming but Christian kicks Lesnar from behind. Russian Legsweep sends Lesnar down. Christian attempts a cover but only scores a two count. Christian kicks Benoit as he gets up. DDT brings Benoit down. Christian goes for a cover on Benoit but Benoit manages to roll the shoulder. Christian starts to throw a tantrum but Lesnar grabs him in a waistlock. Christian fights out with some elbows but yet another elbow is ducked. Wrist Clutch Suplex dumps Christian down into the canvas from Lesnar. Lesnar kicks Benoit and Lesnar has Benoit onto his shoulders. F-5 is blocked and Benoit takes Lesnar down by the arm, putting the Crippler Crossface on. Wrestlemania is remembered, as Benoit works over Lesnar attempting to make him tap but Booker T hammers Benoit, to break up the hold. Booker T pounds away at Benoit, before throwing him across the ring. Booker T covers Lesnar but only scores a two count once again.

Booker T lifts up Lesnar and knee to the midsection. Booker T backs off and attempted Axe Kick. Lesnar moves and Booker T crashes down into the canvas. Christian meanwhile grabs the arms of Benoit, attempting the Unprettier but Benoit grips the arm of Christian and takes him down with the Crippler Crossface. Benoit has the hold on but Lesnar has Booker T by the leg, folding back his knee with a kneebar. It seems to be a battle of who can get their opponent to submit first between Lesnar and Benoit. Both men are viciously putting their hold on and Christian is attempting to roll Benoit to his back but Benoit is grinding his forearm into the nose of Christian. Christian taps just a split second before Booker T does. The bell rings and Benoit has retained the title, but barely.

Winner: Chris Benoit(w/the Crippler Crossface to Christian)

Segment Rating: 79

Crowd Reaction: 79

Match Quality: 80

Benoit drops Christian and takes the championship belt as Lesnar's mouth hangs open in shock. Lesnar thought he had the belt won but Benoit proved to be more vicious on this night, by forcing Christian to tap just a split second before Booker T. Judgement Day fades out with Benoit giving Lesnar a toothless smirk from the ramp, while holding the belt over his head. See you on Smackdown!

Show Rating: 79