Original Airdate: Thursday, March 31st, 2005
Reliant Arena
Houston, Texas
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Eddie Guerrero vs. Danny Basham
It's always good to start right with a match. Jerry Lawler is with Michael Cole this week. Eddie starts with an eye poke, but Basham is able to overcome it and goes to work on Eddie. Basham misses a splash in the corner and Eddie hits a nice dropkick. Three Amigos by Eddie and then Doug Basham grabs Eddie and goes to work. Rey Mysterio comes down and Doug backdrops him into the ropes and Rey accidentally kicks Eddie in the head. Danny gets the pinfall victory. This was just a last minute bonus wrinkle to build to their WrestleMania match. The match was too short to be anything special, but at least the finish was unique.
Match Rating: *3/4
They show a hype video for the JBL/John Cena match. JBL is with Teddy Long and he is guaranteeing that he will walk out as WWE Champion.
Cruiserweight Championship Battle Royal
Since there is no Cruiserweight Championship match at WrestleMania (shocking, I know), we are getting this match. They instantly eliminate Chavo, so we are now guaranteed a new champion. Chavo tries to grab his title, claiming that everyone cheated. Funaki and Nunzio are eliminated fairly quickly Scotty 2 Hotty hits the worm on Spike Dudley and then eliminates him with a kick. The crowd is clearly behind Scotty. Scotty of course is then eliminated by Akio. Paul London hits a moonsault but then is greeted by a dropkick courtesy of Billy Kidman. Kidman and Akio are working together to try to eliminate London, who is clearly going to win this match. Kidman and Akio argue, which leads to Akio getting eliminated. Kidman tosses over London over the ropes, but he holds on and uses a hurricanrana to pull Kidman over and out. London is the new Cruiserweight Champion. Watching the replay did not make this move look great, as Kidman just sort of willingly walked right into his legs.
Match Rating: *1/4
Akebono has arrived to the building. Teddy Long is backstage reading the SmackDown magazine and in walks Carlito. Carlito says instead of him putting on a cowboy hat or singing, he should be in a match tonight. He says that he is now medically cleared. Carlito says he doesn't care who his opponent is so Long chooses John Cena.
Eddie is asking if Rey hit him on purpose earlier, which of course Rey says he doesn't. Rey says he's going to talk to Teddy Long and challenge Doug Basham tonight. Eddie tells him that he will have his back just like he did for him.
Luther Reigns' plunge down the ranks continues as he is already in the ring. They then cut to Booker T and Sharmell backstage. Sharmell pumps up Booker before his match.
Luther Reigns vs. Booker T
Hey, Booker. We're so sorry that you don't have a featured match at WrestleMania, so we'll let you fight Luther Reigns in your hometown. That should make everything better. Booker takes the early advantage until he goes for a kick and Reigns ducks, leaving Booker on the top rope. Reigns doesn't stay on top for long, as we get a spinebuster by Booker and then a spinaroonie. Reigns for some reason decides do duck right into a scissors kick and Booker gets the win. That was a pretty paint by the numbers match, which of course is no surprise.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Long walks into his office and sees Cowboy Bob Orton sitting there and they give each other a hug. Orton says Randy has gone too far and now he wants to talk to the Undertaker, which Long says is a bad idea. After the commercial break, Bob Orton comes down to the ring and asks for Undertaker to come to the ring to hear him out. After a long pause, he is on his way down. Bob says Randy has gone way too far and he loves his son. He thinks Randy is the future of this business, but not if Taker takes him out at WrestleMania. Taker then goes to chokeslam Bob and out comes Randy, who hits him with an RKO. Michael Cole wonders if this was a setup? No, Michael. It wasn't.
Rey Mysterio vs. Doug Basham
Danny distracts Rey and Doug attacks him from behind. Mysterio hits a springboard seated senton for a 2 count. You can tell this match isn't going to be very long as they are working at brisk pace. 619 from Rey and he goes up top. Danny tries to stop Rey and Eddie runs in and hits the top rope, which causes Rey to lose his balance and Doug Basham takes advantage for the pinfall. Decent match, but much too short to be anything memorable.
Match Rating: *1/2
After the match, Eddie explains that accidents happen and they then hug.
Kurt Angle is with Josh Matthews. Angle doesn't like his question and attacks him. He takes him out to the ring and continues the assault. Matthews tries to fight back out of desperation, but of course Angle snaps and hits the Angle Slam and puts him in the Ankle Lock. As Angle steps on Matthews' head, he tells Shawn Michaels that this is what he can expect at WrestleMania. He then asks Shawn to watch this video package of Angle, which I believe is the one they have shown before.
Michael Cole is in the ring and brings down Big Show and Akebono. They have an electronic scale on the stage and both men are going to get weighed. Big Show weighs in at 493 pounds and Akebono weighs in at 504 pounds. Big Show says this is the first time he has fought someone who has weighed more than him, but he's still taller than him. Akebono is trying really hard to remember his lines. Akebono says he would like to have a WWE style match tonight.
Akebono vs. Eddie Vegas
Akebono doesn't even take his kimono off. Vegas tries to attack him, but gets destroyed. After knocking him down with a thrust, he quickly pins him. This is just one of these things that really just didn't work out well at all.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Carlito vs. John Cena
Cena chases Carlito around the ring and despite Carlito outsmarting him, Cena fights off Carlito's punches and gives him a few punches. Carlito rakes the eye and it still doesn't slow down Cena. Cena starts pumping up his sneakers and out comes JBL with some law enforcement and they take Cena down. JBL says it is for him destroying his limo last week. They give Cena the Steve Austin treatment and handcuff him. JBL then gives Cena a cheap shot as he's being walked to the back and then does the You Can't See Me. JBL stands tall as the show comes to an end. For those keeping score, the match had no official finish, so I really have no official rating.
Match Rating: N/A
While Raw was not a stellar show by any means, it was once again significantly stronger than what we got here. The Eddie/Rey build was fun, but most of the rest fell flat for me. I know it's the go home show for WrestleMania, so I'm not expecting too many great matches, but one nice feature match would have been effective here. Regardless of what we got here, I am still very much looking forward to watching WrestleMania soon.
Overall Rating: 34%
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