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TNA
SmackDown from JHawk's Beak (6/23/2005)
Posted by Jared "JHawk" Hawkins on Jun 23, 2005, 21:12
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SmackDown from JHawk's Beak (6/23/2005)
by Jared "JHawk" Hawkins
After a Raw that had some of the most confusing booking I've seen in recent memory, we move over to SmackDown.
Tonight: In the main event, Rey Misterio Jr. meets Eddy Guerrero in the match that will likely be the blowoff to their lengthy feud. Plus, I've heard rumblings concerning the UPN debuts of Psicosis, Super Crazy, and Juventud Guerrera, and another draft pick moves from Raw to SmackDown.
Segment 1
Taped 6.21.2005 from the Convention Center in Tucson, Arizona! The draft lottery continues! The end of the hottest feud of the spring!
And Randy Orton entering the ring for the opening promo. His reputation as a legend killer has followed him to SmackDown. Look at all the guys he's beat. After about 45 minutes of naming names, he admits he was injured during his match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania. Then what was the point of facing Batista on the following Raw? Anyway, Orton waited for revenge, and he got it last week. Get used to moments like that, courtesy of the RKO. The promo's over...oops, spoke too soon, as clips of Taker pinning Orton at WrestleMania play on the Titantron. Then cue the gong, because to paraphrase the girl from Poltergeist, "He's heeeeeere!" Down go the lights, and The Undertaker is in the ring Sabu style. Orton quickly leaves the ring, saying the showdown is going to be on Orton's terms. Taker: "Wait? Death waits for no one." Then a lightning bolt strikes Randy Orton, and he's all "Oww, my nose!" Now, is he imitating one of the Brady girls or Kip from Napoleon Dynamite? You make the call!
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Just a boring promo from Orton with a special effect present to break the monotony. Seriously, this was the same spiel we always got from Orton prior to his face turn last August. It was wearing thin then, and time has not been kind to it.
Segment 2
One fall: WWE Tag Team Champion Joey Mercury (w/Nitro and Melina) vs. Heidenreich
Remember last week when Melina broke Heidenreich's heart and MNM beat the hell out of the friendless oaf? That's what set this one up. Heidenreich throws some right hands, using half of his moveset in the opening ten seconds. Backdrop. Clothesline. Wow, a new move! Nitro trips Heidenreich, which is enough of a distraction to slow Heidenreich down for about a second. Mercury hits a back elbow out of desperation, then gets in a neckbreaker for 2. Kicks to the ribs and face. Snap mare, then a kneedrop for 2. Sleeperhold. Heidenreich breaks with an armdrag(!), but Mercury clotheslines him down. Mercury pounds away, but Heidenreich is hulking up, brother! Inverted atomic drop, then a clothesline that sends Mercury over the top rope. Melina to the apron, and she slaps Heidenreich. Melina backs away, only for Michelle McCool to take Melina down with a Thesz press. While the referee breaks it up, Nitro kicks Heidenreich in the head, which is enough for Mercury to get the pin at 3:53.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
That was actually better than I expected. Heidenreich actually busted out a new move or two to his moveset, and I was shocked enough by how Michelle attacked on Melina that I almost popped for it. Almost. Thank God the right guy went over here, but all that's left is to get some sort of official word as to who Heidenreich's next friend is so we can have challengers for the tag team titles.
Segment 3
Rey vs. Eddy later tonight, and earlier tonight, Rey Misterio Jr. admitted to trying to end it last week before ever getting into another match with Eddy. Eddy got away, but he opened up a side of Rey Misterio Jr. he never knew he had. It's about redemption -- NOT victory -- tonight.
Melina has taken offense to Michelle's attacks, so Melina wants to challenge Michelle for next week. MNM tells her she's not exactly a wrestler, but they won't tell her she can't beat Michelle.
John Bradshaw Layfield asks Theodore Long to award him with the new SmackDown Championship later tonight. I thought we were waiting for the draft to be over before we made that decision. Long promises JBL will be happy with Long's decision. Long almost slips that he's got the new draft pick handy in his office, but he won't reveal who it is.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Hopefully this "new side" of Rey actually becomes a key part of the match tonight and isn't something just said in passing, because that has a ton of potential. But seriously, they don't want to make a decision about the WWE Championship until after the draft, but they're announcing a "new" SmackDown Title later tonight? There's still next week left in the draft, Teddy! We're supposed to forget what you told us two weeks ago?
Segment 4
We'll announce the new draft pick later tonight.
One fall for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship of the World: Chavito Guerrero vs. Paul London�
Another blowoff to a months-long feud? Feeling out process to start, and this better be leading to a 15-minute match. A bit of chain wrestling before Chavo begins to use knees and forearms to try to turn this into a brawl. London lands on his feet after a backdrop attempt and takes Chavo down with a flapjack. Standing rana. London backdrops Chavo over the top to the floor, but before he can do the dive, out come Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis, and Super Crazy in a lawn mower or something. Are we absolutely sure Vince Russo isn't still with the company in some fashion? They attack both men, causing the double DQ at 3:33. All three of them take turns laying out London. They then get the mic and complain about being degraded...right before calling the lawn mower "the Mexican limo 2005". They're claiming they'll take over SmackDown before dubbing themselves "the Mexicools".
COMMERCIAL BREAK
The good: Bringing in Juvi, Psicosis, and Super Crazy. Immediately making it clear they're taking over the cruiserweight division. Giving them a push and some sort of direction right off the bat. The bad: WWE's unwritten rule that anything resembling a good cruiserweight match has to be interrupted by interference. Seriously, can somebody name me the last legit cruiserweight match on SmackDown that didn't end prematurely thanks to some sort of interference?
Segment 5
JBL has already begun his promo about SmackDown's lack of a champion since John Cena's victory at WrestleMania. And he's downright giddy because his victory over The Undertaker is going to lead to Teddy Long awarding him the new SmackDown Champion tonight. That's what, three World Titles in the same company now, and we haven't even brought ECW back fulltime, which could be a fourth if they decided to go through with it. Out comes Booker T to protest, but since JBL's beaten him twice already, I doubt he's being named champion over JBL. Booker doesn't want to be named champion. Whoever gets it should have to earn it. And to earn it, you gotta fight for it. If Eric Bischoff would have had that mentality around September 2, 2002 or so, Raw would probably have been a much different show. Booker challenges JBL for the title tonight in SmackDown, but Chris Benoit is out to stake his claim for the title. Tell me this will end up being a round robin tournament. Just to change things up a bit. Benoit wants a triple threat, Booker's fine with it, but JBL's not down with it; "I don't even know what down means." And here comes The Big Show to make it four. Show wants a fatal four way or Bradshaw to step down and let the other three have a triple threat match. Here comes Teddy Long to finally make a call. Next week, after the draft, JBL will be named the SmackDown Champion...if he wins a five man challenge match. These four men and The Undertaker. And if one of champions from Raw moves over to SmackDown? Or what about Muhammad Hassan and Daivari. Um...both of them? What the hell? And as expected, Hassan immediately cries racism. Dude, you lost to John Cena in 2 minutes 16 seconds on Raw Monday night, so don't even try it. He claims to have had the longest undefeated streak in WWE history even though Tatanka went almost two years without a loss. He then insults all four of the men in the ring in trying to make his claim for a title shot. Long doesn't know if Hassan deserves it, but he'll give Hassan the opportunity and make this thing a six way. And as soon as Long gets the words out of his mouth, the four in the ring all take turns beating on Hassan before turning their attention to Daivari. Oh, and Hassan's going to have to eat his words. He said he could beat The Big Show any night of the week. He gets his chance next.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Two questions that desperately need answered between now and next week:
1. What does happen if one of Raw's champions gets drafted to SmackDown next week?
2. How can Daivari and Hassan both come over at the same time? Cole and Tazz briefly speculated that they must be a package deal, but after making a big deal that Sharmell of all people could be drafted solo and that tag teams could be broken up, how can you justify anybody being a package deal? If Daivari was just a manager, I might be able to buy it, but since he wrestles part-time, I don't know how you can justify it.
I guess this is a decent enough way to crown a new champion without resorting to another tournament, and it's not a bad backup plan in the event a champion isn't drafted to SmackDown, but I'd have rather seen a round robin tournament. Make everybody wrestle five times and may the best man win.
Segment 6
Muhammad Hassan (w/Daivari) vs. The Big Show
The match has started during the commercial break, and Show is kicking the crap out of Hassan in the early going. Matt Morgan makes a token appearance at ringside, and he's apparently joining Michael Cole and Tazz at the broadcast table. And that raises a question. Daivari and Hassan are a package deal, but Carlito and Morgan aren't? These questions are making my head hurt and are distracting from the match, which is still all The Big Show anyway. Show tosses Daivari into the ring, Morgan brings in a chair, the referee goes down, Morgan goes down, and Hassan uses the chair to his advantage. A chair shot to the throat, and a cover, and Nick Patrick recovers enough to get the pin at 4:43 aired.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
My God, what a clusterfuck that was! I mean, how does that help anybody? Hassan gets destroyed, Morgan does no damage, and Show's so big he's going to be perceived as a threat whether he loses cleanly or with a chair to the throat.
Segment 7
The main event is next, and your hosts recap the entire feud.
Steve Romero interviews Eddy Guerrero, and nobody believes Eddy can beat Rey. But Eddy knows what he's capable of...does Rey?
COMMERCIAL BREAK
This match is going to be the determining factor whether this show is a thumbs up or a thumbs down. Seriously. This should be an absolutely fantastic matchup, and I can't wait!
Segment 8
Next week, Michelle McCool vs. Melina Perez, plus the six man elimination match for the new SmackDown Championship!
One fall: Eddy Guerrero vs. Rey Misterio Jr.
There's the bell, and we are underway. Eddy's sporting a nasty bruise after taking eleven chair shots from Rey last week. Collar-and-elbow into the corner, and a clean break. Eddy with a headlock, Rey counters with a headscissors, and both men to their feet for the stalemate. Eddy tries to work the left arm, but Rey immediately counters with an armdrag. Eddy with a drop toehold and into a cross facelock. Rey pushes Eddy into the corner, and we get a clean break. Lockup, back into the corner, and another clean break. Eddy with a single-leg, and he goes for a modified surfboard. He settles for pulling on the arms with the head to the back. Side headlock. Off the ropes, shoulderblock. Off the ropes, reverse monkey flip, and Eddy heads to the floor. Rey immediately dives out of the ring onto Eddy.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
While I know this is the beginning of what's going to end up being nearly a 30-minute match should it get all three segments, this is totally wrong. As much hatred as has been building over the last three months, this should have started off as a brawl and continued to be a brawl for the duration. It would probably cut the match to 15 minutes instead of 30, but it would more accurately tell the story.
Segment 9
Rey covers for 2. Snap mare, followed by a snap legdrop for 2. Abdominal stretch. Eddy battles out, but Rey goes right back to it. Into the ropes to force the break. Kick, chop, snap mare, seated abdominal stretch. Eddy lifts Rey to get out of it and places him on the turnbuckle. Eddy feints the clean break and knocks Rey off the turnbuckle to the arena floor. And now Eddy goes into beatdown mode, using his surroundings to beat the holy hell out of his opponent. It only took eleven minutes to finally get to this point of the match.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
OK, they've done their pacing to establish it's going to be a long match, and Rey outwrestled Eddy. Now that they've introduced the brawling and high impact, it needs to be a fight as opposed to a wrestling match the rest of the way.
Segment 10
Gory Special submission, as we see that Eddy rammed Rey's back into the ringpost during the break. Rey tries to break but essentially walks into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Eddy then begins to slap Rey just to humuliate him, then starts kicking him in the back before standing on his head. Damn! Vicious power bomb, and Eddy goes into the William Regal-esque multiple cover/multiple kickout spot. Camel clutch, and somewhere Muhammad Hassan crying racism on account of gimmick infringement. Rey is able to slip out of it and shift his weight to send Eddy to the floor, but Eddy is right back in with an elbowdrop to the back. Again Eddy stands on Rey's head. Chokehold, followed by a full nelson. Eddy slips in a choke, shielding it from Brian Hebner. Rey counters a corner whip, taking Eddy down with a flying headscissors. A dropkick to the back sends Eddy into perfect position, but Eddy's not that hurt, so he catches Rey coming in with a clothesline for a near fall. Chinlock with an arm trapped. Rey tries to elbow out of it, but Eddy catches him with a huge backbreaker that earns a couple of two counts. Rey struggles to stand, but he tries to fight back. He's able to get his flippy bulldog thing in. They begin to trade blows, and Rey slowly gains the advantage. Rey with a kick to the face and a clothesline. Backdrop. Springboard high cross body for 2. Springboard seated senton for 2. Rey with a series of punches, and he hurts his own hand doing it. An elbow knocks Eddy down, and he climbs up top, but Eddy is quickly there to stop it, and Rey crumbles to the canvas. Eddy goes into the Three Amigos. Rey counters the third, dropkicking Eddy into the ropes, but Eddy avoids the 619 and gets his third Amigo in. Up top, but Rey avoids the frog splash. Rey covers for 2. Eddy tries a power bomb, but Rey ranas him into the ropes and connects with the 619. Dropping the Dime, and Rey gets the pin at 27:51. Damn!
END OF SHOW
Before I go into this match, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. That was an excellent match, probably among the top five I've seen so far this year. Just an absolute thing of beauty.
HOWEVER!
The story for this one was all wrong. Rey Misterio Jr. cuts a promo talking about this one being about redemption rather than victory. Where was Rey simply going for redemption? I never really saw that. I saw Rey take a pretty solid beating and refuse to stay down, but I never saw him trying to hurt Eddy Guerrero. The way they set this one up, that was the aspect that seemed to be the thing to watch for, and there's no sign of it.
But terrific strategy from Eddy Guerrero, particularly just before the second commercial break. Eddy's focus was to win and win at all costs. He tried wrestling Misterio, he was losing with that approach, so he got vicious. He hurt Rey's back and he worked on it. Rey should have used less of his high-flying offense near the end -- he could barely stand but he's springboarding off the ropes? -- but you can't fault Eddy Guerrero's psychology one bit.
Again, a great wrestling match, but not one that fit the story behind the feud.
Overall...well, I said the main event was going to make or break the show, and I'll stand by that. Thumbs up, if only because I wasn't completely bored outside of Orton's promo and the excellent main event took a quarter of the show by itself. They still should have waited another week before announcing anything having to do with the new SmackDown Title, and I still want a real explanation as to how Hassan and Daivari can change shows together when all the hype essentially said something like that couldn't happen, but with those being my two main issues, I'll take this and run like hell.
Can they make it two-for-two next week? Or do you think they struck out tonight as well? Contact me and let me know what you thought.
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