Original Airdate: Thursday, January 6th, 2005
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio
My god, the intro song to this show horrible. Maybe the worst intro song that I can remember and that is saying something when it comes to wrestling. Despite being a taped show, it definitely has more of a live feel than I remember it having at the time. Mysterio comes down with a camcorder and they are using it as the 619 Cam. These two will go on to open up WrestleMania 21 in a couple of months. This is apparently a rematch from the previous week. The more I go back and watch retro wrestling, the more I appreciate Mysterio. These two together are magic. After a couple attempts, Eddie is finally able to slow things down and works on Mysterio with a hammerlock. Eddie catches Mysterio's springboard moonsault and puts him in the tree of woe. Guerrero goes for the dropkick to the face, but Mysterio is able to lift up, causing Eddie to crotch himself on the pole. During the commercial, Mysterio hits a nice moonsault that looks like it probably legit hurt Guerrero. Mysterio reverses a sleeper hold into one of his own. Eddie gets out and they appear to have a little big of a misstep, which he turns into a nearfall. Another springboard moonsault from Mysterio hits and hes back to a sleeper hold. Guerrero goes for a powerbomb, Mysterio gets out of it and sets him up for a 619, but Eddie is out of there. Man, I miss Eddie. Guerrero blocks a top rope hurricanrana and Eddie goes for a sunset flip and then Mysterio rolls out and dropkicks him. This match would still bring the house down in 2019. Referee bump and Eddie has a big smile on his face. Eddie grabs the belt and lays it on Mysterio and lays down next to him. Rey then puts the belt back on Eddie and says he was hit with the belt. Eddie is trying to hide it and the ref catches him trying to get rid of it. While Eddie is watching the refs on the ropes, Rey goes for a 619 again and Eddie moves and rolls Mysterio up. They roll all around until Mysterio ends up on top and gets the victory. This was such a fun match between two of the best ever.
Match Rating: **** (out of 5)
Heidenreich is backstage and we get the fake boos piped in. Paul Heyman says he will get rid of the casket stipulation at Royal Rumble.
We are getting a battle rap between John Cena and Kenzo Suzuki.
Carlito is down for what the announcers think is for guest commentating, but he says that he is down to get signatures to remove Teddy Long as the Smackdown GM.
Cruiserweight Championship Match
Funaki vs. Akio
We are about 30 seconds in and we are already focusing more on Carlito than the match. Carlito is in the ring trying to get a signature from Charles Robinson. Meanwhile, Akio and Funaki are having a solid match. Funaki comes off the top rope, but Akio nails him with a spinning heel kick. Akio then misses a moonsault that leads to a Tornado DDT and a 3 count. Good match for what it was, which was a backdrop to the Carlito angle. Carlito then spits an apple at Joy Giovanni.
Match Rating: **
Heyman and Heidenreich is now with Long trying to remove the casket stipulation. Long's fine acting skills are in rare form tonight. Heidenreich was really a weird character. Long decides to give Heidenrich with a match with Undertaker tonight with the stipulation that if he wins, the Royal Rumble match is no longer a casket match. Oh and it's a handicap match with Heyman teaming up with Heidenreich. Heyman is furious, but Heidenreich says he's got this.
Kurt Angle is with police officers telling them to guard his medals. Amy Weber then comes in to talk to Angle. I do not remember Amy Weber at all (outside of her name). She invites Angle to come to her locker room to get better acquainted.
Kurt Angle Invitational
Kurt Angle vs. Brian Black
Angle is on the mic and he says he is in a gambling mood. He says he will either pin or make his opponent tap in under 3 minutes or else he will give him his gold medal. Brian Black introduces himself and Angle punches him right in the face. Ankle lock and it's over in 26 seconds. Good heel heat here for Angle.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Daniel Puder is met backstage by Jackie and Torrie. Puder acts like a jerk. It's easy to see why he didn't last.
It's Battle Rap time. First comes Kenzo Suzuki dressed up as Uncle Sam. Cena then comes out with his spinner US Championship. This was still his old entrance music. Kenzo, who barely speaks English, sounds exactly how you think. Cena then does his and it's safe to say that none of this would be able to be on the air in 2019. This leads to Divas to come out (including Michelle McCool) just to make this segment even worse. Hiroko attacks McCool and Kenzo attacks Cena. Cena clears him out of the ring and ends it with "If you want some, come get some". That was the opposite of entertaining.
Rob Van Dam vs. Doug Basham
This was when the Bashams were in JBL's Cabinet. What a useless faction that was. It's amazing to me that even on a roster that lacked the depth of Raw at the time, they still didn't pull the trigger on RVD as champion. The Bashams are among the more forgettable performers of the era. RVD is over with the crowd as usual. The referee orders Mysterio to leave, but Danny Basham gets to stay. Alrighty then. Basham goes up top, but RVD gets his feet up. Rolling Thunder and then RVD is about to go up top, but Danny grabs his leg and distracts him and the ref. Orlando Jordan hands Doug something, but RVD knocks him out. Danny comes in and rolls Doug out and then hits RVD with a sit down powerbomb for the victory.
Match Rating: *1/4
Kurt Angle is now in Amy Weber's locker room waiting for her to arrive. He checks the bathroom and hears the water running. Angle starts undressing and rubs his nipples. No words. For anyone who thinks they need to get rid of TV-PG should watch this and the Cena segment. The shower is off and it's Joy and she's screaming at the sight of Angle. She runs around backstage with only a towel to get away from Angle. She runs into the arms of Big Show. Angle's explanation doesn't work and Show is chasing Angle to the ring. They start to brawl, which brings out Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns, who aren't able to do anything. Show punches the chair onto Angle's head and stands tall.
JBL is backstage and reveals that they put a Amy Weber sign over Joy Giovanni's locker room.
Heidenreich is backstage punching a wall. He says he isn't afraid of the Undertaker, just the casket.
Heidenreich & Paul Heyman vs. Undertaker
Heyman is wearing a suit. We're less than a minute in and Heidenreich already puts Taker in a headlock. Heidenreich goes to work with some big boots. Taker gets the jumping clothesline and gives him Snake Eyes and a big boot. Old School time. He gets down to one knee and out come the druids with two caskets. Heidenreich is freaking out. Taker lifts his hands up and the casket opens. Heidenreich tags in Heyman and bails through the crowd. For some reason Heyman doesn't do the same, which leads to him trying to talk his way out of this. tombstone to Heyman and he drags him into the casket and closes the door. Taker's music plays even though technically the match isn't over? No explanation given on that one.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Well, that show sure took a dive after a hot start. Mysterio and Guerrero put on an amazing opener, but the rest is pretty much garbage. It's amazing how many forgettable wrestlers were on the roster at this time. Joy Giovanni, Orlando Jordan, Mark Jindrak, Luther Reigns, the Bashams, etc. The opener is well worth your time, but then feel free to move on to another show.
Overall Rating: 48%
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