WWE SmackDown! Results: 1/1/04 By: Rob Morris on 01/02/04
WWE SmackDown!
Date: 1/1/2004
Venue: Laredo Entertainment
Location: Laredo, Texas
Recap of two weeks ago, when Hardcore Holly and Shannon Moore defeated A-Train and Matt Morgan, securing not only a title shot against Brock Lesnar but Holly’s job.
And now, welcome to SmackDown! Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.
It is announced that Holly’s title shot against Lesnar will indeed take place at the Royal Rumble.
Match #1: Rey Mysterio vs. Tajiri (w/ Kyo Dai) for the Cruiserweight Championship
The champion, Tajiri is accompanied by Akio and Sakoda. They stay ringside as Tajiri faces off against Rey Mysterio. Lockup. Separate, lockup against. Tajiri gets Rey in a leglock then a chinlock, taking control of the match. Rey goes into a quick cover but gets lilttle. Tajiri fakes a test of strength and trips up Rey. Rey leaps on Tajiri’s shoulders and rolls him up for 2. Tajiri goes right back to work on Rey’s legs, but Rey is resilient. Rey with a high armdrag, but Tajiri comes back and takes him down. Harsh whip by Tajiri. Elbow shot. Rey jumps to the 2nd rope and hits another armdrag. Handspring elbow fails as Rey kicks Tajiri out of the ring. Rey comes with a rolling senton to the outside on Tajiri! Rey gets flanked by Kyo Dai, but he heads up the ramp to prevent being attacked as we cut to commercial.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 1 ~
Rey is on the apron, shoulder to the gut. He jumps back in and trips Tajiri into 619 position, but Akio trips him up. Rey tries it again, but Sakoda pulls Rey out of the ring. Back in, Tajiri covers for only 2. Tajiri kicks Rey from behind, taunting for him to get up. His kicks keep him down, but Rey tries to fight on his back. Tajiri with a high kneebuster. Cover for 2. Tajiri lifts Rey but Rey rolls the champ up, only getting 2. Rey rolls to the outside. The ref begins the count, but Tajiri goes after Rey, driving his elbow into Rey’s injured knee. Back in the ring, Tajiri continues the attack, getting Rey into the Tree of Woe. Dropkick to the knee, as Rey falls and gets covered for 2. Rey tries to battle back, but a swift kick to the knee stops his momentum. Tajiri’s head meets the turnbuckle, and Rey fights away from the Tarantula. Rey desperately dropkicks Tajiri. They go up top, and Rey hits a top rope hurricanrana! 1-2-NO!! Both men are down. They get up at the same time, Rey with multiple punches. Springboard crossbody off the 2nd rope by Rey. Rey plants Tajiri for a 2 count. Tilt a whirl is revered into a cover by Rey for 2. Tajiri launches Rey over the rope, but Rey hangs on. West Coast Pop gets reversed by Tajiri into a Half Boston Crab. The injured knee is targeted. Rey struggles to get to the ropes… and he does! Tajiri holds the leg, allowing Rey to hit an inziguri. Rey is slow to get up. Tajiri put Rey on the turnbuckle. Rey fights back, headbutting Tajiri off the top. Rey goes up and leaps at Tajiri, but takes a swift kick to the gut. Running sitout powerbomb by Tajiri! 1-2-NO!! Tajiri signals for the end, but the stiff kcik misses and Rey rolsl him up for a very near fall. Rey head scissors Tajiri into 619 position… and it connects! West Coast Pop… fails, as Tajiri kicks him in the facd! Sakoda holds Rey as Tajiri sprays the mist, but Rey moves and it hits Sakoda. A surprised Tajiri gets nailed with the West Coast Pop! 1-2-3!! Rey Mysterio is your new Cruiserweight Champion! Very solid matchup between two of the best cruiserweights in the business. Fantastic bout from start to finish, and near falls aplenty. Nothing like a red-hot opener to get the crowd alive for the show.
Winner: Rey Mysterio, the new Cruiserweight Champion
Cole comes into the ring to congratulate Rey. What a way to kick off the new year. Rey says he has a New Year’s resolution, and that was to become the Cruiserweight Championship. He honestly didn’t think it would happen tonight, but he’s proud to say he loves to perform for all the fans. He gets a Texas pop. He says Happy New Year to everybody around the world. He celebrates, but his party is interrupted by The Big Show. Cole stays in the ring as Show comes in. He takes Cole’s mic, getting a chorus of boos before he can speak. Show congratulates Rey, but there’s more important business to discuss. That business is the hottest thing on the market: his new merchandise. Rey tries to interrupt, but Show continues to pimp his new shirt, explaining the “big” innuendos. He says there are shirts for athletes like him, and some for most of us who are, well… “Kinda fat.” Rey snags the shirt from Show. Show says if he wants one he’ll sell him one. Show wants it back. Rey teases tossing it, as Show demands it back. Rey teases Show some more. Show says if he throws that shirt into the crowd, he’ll beat his ass right here. Rey goes to give the shirt to Show… but throws it in the crowd. Show gets pissed and charges Rey, but Rey punches the hell outta Show. That didn’t last long, as Rey gets slapped and tossed around. Show lifts Rey up for the Chokeslam, but Hardcore Holly comes in with the save! Show gets knocked into position for the 619 and he takes one! Holly and the new Cruiserweight Champion head up the ramp as Show throws a tantrum in the ring.
Three American troops in Baghdad wish everyone and their families a Happy New Year.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 2 ~
Show is fuming backstage, throwing shit around. He even shatters a monitor when Paul Heyman tries to calm him down. Heyman says Show was victimized, and he shouldn’t be. Heyman wants to give Show a match against Holly. Show smashes another monitor, then walks away.
Match #2: Bradshaw vs. Rhyno
They show footage of Bradshaw’s visit to Baghdad for last week’s special SmackDown! show in Iraq. They also recap that bad match from two weeks ago with Faarooq and Rhyno. Rhyno and Bradshaw stare each other down and lockup. Bradshaw takes control in the corner with some right hands, a shoulder takedown, and an elbow drop. 2 count. More right hands, and Rhyno gets whipped and clotheslined. Rhyno answers then with a DDT. He covers for 2. Rhyno with a right hand and an elbow, bringing Bradshaw to his knee. Bradshaw into the turnbuckle, then gets a vertical suplex from Rhyno. Covers for 2. Rhyno charges, but gets caught and takes the Last Call. Bradshaw with a big boot. Rhyno with a thumb to the eyes. Rhyno misses a charge, allowing Bradshaw to his the Clothesline from Hell and get the pin. For a match this short, they still kept up the tempo and dished out the offense. Still, this could’ve been so much better.
Winner: Bradshaw
Tazz displays the Lowrider Magazine cover with Eddie Guerrero on the cover. Footage airs, showing Eddie & Chavo Guerrero at a lowrider show earlier today.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 3 ~
Puddle of Mudd, “Nothing Left to Loose,” the official theme song of the Royal Rumble.
Cole and Tazz reminisce about last’s week SmackDown! special, “Christmas in Baghdad.” The special video packge highlighting that tour is shown, the one aired last week and on Monday’s Raw to the theme of Creed’s “Weathered.”
Pan a shot of the Texas crowd, chanting “USA!”
Heyman is facing the camera and says he has to come clean. He says it was an honor to support the troops, and… but, wait, here’s John Cena to get in his face. Cena says Heyman talks about being there, but Cena was there. He was there, Heyman wasn’t. Where were you? Cena cuts Heyman off, saying he sees through all his crap. He’s nothing but a big fat coward. Heyman says he’s been called a lot of things, but he’s never been called a coward, because he’s a leader of men. He fights and believes in his country. To demonstrate, let’s talk about the Royal Rumble. He controls that opportunity, and so far he’s not in, but he’ll be given the opportunity. If he wins tonight, he’ll be in the Rumble. It’ll be Cena and a partner of choice vs. the FBI. If he and his partner win, they’ll both be entered into the Rumble. That match is next, so Cena better hurry. “Happy New Year!” Heyman screams sarcastically.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 4 ~
Match #3: The FBI vs. John Cena & Mystery Partner
Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo, and Johnny Stamboli are already waiting in the ring as Cena comes down the ramp and cuts a rap on them. To get to the Rumble, he’s gotta beat the three stooges, their door swings the wrong way, bring another hit because they’re not full-blooded but they’re full of ::raises mic::. And out comes his partner… Chris Benoit! Benoit gets the mic, saying he has nothing to lose, and he’s tired of Heyman’s crap. He says he’ll be Cena’s partner and make the FBI tap (Word life!). A melee between all five men breaks out to start the match. Cena and Stamboli start with Cena in control. He lifts Stamboli into the FU, but it’s broken up. Stamboli covers for 2. Cena is trapped in the FBI’s corner and gets beaten up. Palumbo in with several knees to the gut. Nunzio in, stomping Cena and keeping him down. Palumbo back in, but Cena fights back, only to get kneed again. Chuck suplexes and covers, but Benoit pulls him out. Palumbo with a headlock as Benoit is chanting his partner’s name. Chuck with a hard right hand to Cena. Cena elbows Nunzio and Stamboli off the apron, but Palumbo drives Cena into the turnbuckle. Nunzio and STamboli drive Cena’s lower extremities into the ring post. Stamboli is ring, grounding Cena and applying a rear chinlock. Cena fights out and rolls him up for 2. Stamboli fires back with a clothesline for 2. Palumbo in. Boot to the face. Cover is broken up again by Benoit. Palumbo hits the turnbuckle and Cena hits a spinning back suplex. Both men are down. Benoit’s in… HE’S ON FIRE!! Snap suplex. Back elbow, forearm, charges galore. German suplex on Palumbo! Then Nunzio! THEN Stamboli! Benoit goes cutthroat as he goes up top. Suicide Headbutt on Stamboli! 1-2-breakup by Nunzio! Palumbo and Stamboli turn a double armdrag into a slam, getting a 2 count out of it. Benoit locks the Sharpshooter on Stamboli, but the ref is taking care of Cena. Benoit gets clocked as Stamboli falls on Benoit, only getting 2. Stamboli presses Benoit, and it’s reversed into the Crossface! Cena FUs Palumbo as Stamboli taps out! Chris Benoit and John Cena are headed to the Royal Rumble! Benoit and Cena gives props to each other to show respect, as I give props to this match for being good.
Winners: Chris Benoit and John Cena
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 5 ~
They show a line of hundreds of troops from last week waiting to get autographs from the WWE Superstars.
OH YEA!! Kurt Angle is back, baby! With smiles, he grabs the microphone as the crowd chats for him. “Your Olympic Hero is back, baby!” (didn’t I just say that?) He says after his well deserved break, frankly it’s great to be back. After watching Christmas in Baghdad, he felt and enormous sense of pride. Pride for all of the Amercian troops. “Thank you.” A “USA!” chant erupts, and that’s what Angle wants to hear. He had the rare opportunity to go overseas three weeks ago, and it was the opportunity of a lifetime. He got to know these soldiers fighting for our freedom, and he was overwhelmed with joy and pride. He’s proud to be an American. Getting to know them, there was a young man in particular, who’s been there for a year. Before he left to fight for his country, his wife was 8 months pregnant. After six weeks, his wife gave birth to a baby girl. He was so excited, everyday he was there he wanted to live to see his girl for the first time. What was tearing him up is that every day he spent there, he knew he was missing out on that precious time with his girl. Not to know her, love her, see her first steps, or to hear her say daddy. That’s because he is over there fighting for us. When he finally gets the chance to see his girl, she will only see him as a mere acquaintance. Such is the sacrifice. Angle has a girl, but he can’t stand being away from her and her not knowing him. Sometimes, Angle wishes he could kick ass for this country. Again with the “USA!” chants. But he’s not a soldier. He’s a wrestler. What he can do is kick ass right here in this ring. Since this is the new year, he has a resolution: he’s gonna enter himself into the 2004 Royal Rumble! He’s not just gonna enter, he’s gonna throw 29 superstars over the top rope and win the Rumble for the first time in his career, and he’s gonna do it for all those soldiers fighting for our freedom. “Thank you, and God bless you.”
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 6 ~
Match #4: The Big Show vs. Hardcore Holly in a non-title bout
Good grief, when the hell is Show gonna actually defend the United States Championship? Cole and Tazz recap the events leading up to this matchup. Holly rushes the ring to start up. Show throws Holly twice intot he corner. Holly fights back with some right hands, but Show responds with a clothesline. Elbow drop by Show. Giant hand slap, then a boot to the throat. Headbutt to the back of Holly’s head. He lifts Holly into a bodyslam. Show with the Hardlog, but Show lifts Holly up before the ref can finish counting. Holly comes back with several kicks, but Show stops him. Holly is down, and Show is pressed all his weight onto the back of Holly’s surgically repaired neck. Show elbows Holly’s neck. Clothesline misses, and Holly tackles Show’s knee, taking the big man down. Holly is up and punches at Show. Chokeslam attempt averted as Holly hangs Show up on the top rope. Holly goes up top and nails a neckbreaker for 2. Holly gets caught in a sidewalk slam. Show pulls the strap down and stands over the fallen Holly. He lifts Holly up and hits a shoulderbreaker. Holly is writing in pain as Show stares down his opponent. Show gets Holly in a Full Nelson submission, but Rey goes up top with a chair. He leaps, but Show punches the chair into Rey’s face! Holly blatantly low blows Show for the DQ. Show controlled most of this match, as it made Holly look very weak. The DQ ending adds to that, which makes you question Holly’s chances against Lesnar at the Rumble.
Winner: The Big Show via DQ
Holly takes the chair and wallops Show with it. Holly shoves the referee down, then hits Show with a couple more chair shots to the head. As Rey and Holly head up the ramp, Show is screaming in anger as blood is dripping down his face.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 7 ~
Video package airs highlighting the return of Billy Gunn, which will be at the Rumble.
Dawn Marie asks Heyman when she’s gonna get the cover of SmackDown! magazine, but Heyman tells her to take a walk as Benoit walks in laughing. Benoit says he may be looking at the next Rumble winner, no wait, the next WWE Champion. Heyman says there’s a difference between him and everybody to see SmackDown!: they’re working grunts, and he’s management. Benoit is a working stiff for management like him. At the Rumble, Benoit will get stopped by management. He can scratch and claw his way to the top, but Heyman’s job is to stop him from doing so. Therefore, Heyman is making Benoit the #1 entrant into the Rumble. Benoit grabs and squeezes Heyman’s finger and growls at him, saying he will get what he wants and Heyman (who is on his knees in pain) can not stop him.
Several superstars congratulate Rey, including Eddie Guerrero, Orlando Jones, Funaki, and Bradshaw. Eddie says that need to put Rey’s name on the title plate. Eddie talks about being in the rumble as Chavo Guerrero comes in and asks to speak to his uncle. Chavo wants to know what’s going on. He’s gonna join the Rumble? How selfish! Chavo reminds them that they’re a tag team, and their goal is to bring home the tag straps. Forget about the Rumble.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 8 ~
Match #5: Los Guerreros vs. The World’s Greatest Tag Team
These two teams always put on a good match… but how many times has this match taken place over the past few months? Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas measure their opponents, looking for a fight. Eddie starts off against Benjamin. Lockup. Eddie gets shoved intot he corner. Eddie kicks away, throws Benjamin into the turnbuckle. Chavo in. Back suplex. Shelton comes back with a knee to the gut. Haas in, but takes a high dropkick from Chavo. Cover for 2. Haas forces Chavo into his corner. Blind tag made. Chavo works on Haas walks into a T-Bone Suplex from Benjamin. Cover for 2. Haas comes in to continue the assault. Elbow to the ack of the head. Chavo boots Haas face twice, but Haas responds with a powerslam. Eddie knocks Haas down from behind. The ref scolds Eddie, but he doesn’t wanna hear it. Chavo refuses to make a tag, and ends up getting taken down by Haas. Cover for 2. “Eddie!” chants erupts. They trade right hands, then collide into each other. Both men are down. Eddie goes to the other corner rope to distract the ref and Benjamin, allowing Eddie to drag Chavo to his corner! Chavo tags and Eddie’s ON FIRE!! Top rope armdrag-head scissors combo! Haas takes the Vertical Suplex Trifecta. Eddie’s pumped up, but Chavo tags in from behind. Benjamin blindsides Eddie, as Chavo goes up top and gloats for a while. Chavo with a Frog Splash, but Haas raises his knees. Chavo is reeling, and takes a devastating Superkick from Benjamin! Haas into the cover and scores the pinfall! It wasn’t the usual 10-15 minute tag match these two teams excel at with each other, but with the time that it was given and the in-ring drama involved, it was quite entertaining.
Winners: The World’s Greatest Tag Team
Eddie goes to Chavo’s aid, but Chavo shoves his uncle away. Chavo, with the mic, saying this a very public thing. He asks Eddie why we lost the match. Chavo blames it all on Eddie, and claims he’s sick of it. Chavo claims he worked just as hard as Eddie. Eddie starts a “Chavo!” chant, but Chavo only hears them chant Eddie, and that eggs on the “Eddie!” chant. Chavo’s sick of it, and he’s sick of Eddie. He slaps Eddie in the face as Eddie’s stunned. He looks hurt physically and emotionally, but then his temper flares. However, Kurt Angle runs down to keep both men from fighting each other. Chavo slips out of the ring and heads up the ramp as Angle and Eddie argue in the ring. Angle apparently won’t allow two family members to fight each other.
~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 9 ~
Backstage, Angle and Eddie are exchanging words. Angle tells Eddie to calm down, telling him to be rational. They’re family, says Angle. Angle enters the Rumble for his country, but Eddie’s just selfish. Chavo is flesh and blood. Eddie says Angle is nothing to him. Angle retains that Chavo is his family. Angle tell Eddie to look in the mirror to see him problem.
Cole and Tazz discuss these turn of events. A “Happy New Year!” graphic is displayed as Cole and Tazz wish us all a... yeah, you get the idea already. This brings the show to an end.
