Original Airdate: Thursday, May 19th, 2005
Tyson Events Center
Sioux City, Iowa
Follow me on Twitter: @WorkTheNetwork2
It can't be said enough how terrible the SmackDown intro music is. Carlito is out for Carlito's Cabana. Since Big Show turned down Carlito, Carlito has now turned to Matt Morgan as his backup. He comes out to no reaction whatsoever from the live crowd, which is never good in the opening segment when the crowd is at their loudest. Morgan accepts his offer by stuttering because he stutters. Did you know Matt Morgan stutters? Out comes Big Show and we have a brawl. Morgan hits him with a chair and Big Show is down while Carlito and Morgan head to the back.
JBL is shown in a downtown area and he claims that all rappers are thugs and they deserve to be in jail. JBL says that Cena's new CD isn't worth the plastic it's wrapped in.
JBL vs. Scotty 2 Hotty
This is a rematch from the March 24th episode of SmackDown. JBL delivers a big boot right at the bell. Scotty gets a little bit off offense with a superkick, but then JBL bounces back with a huge lariat. JBL then repeatedly beats Scotty down in the corner as the referee tries to stop him. Charles Robinson stops the match and disqualifies JBL. JBL grabs a mic and reminds us that there are no disqualifications at Judgment Day. JBL then tries to get Scotty to say "I quit" but he refuses. JBL goes nuts on him and then forces him to say it. This was exactly what you thought it was going to be and was effective.
Match Rating: 1/2* (out of 5)
They show a clip of John Cena throwing out the first pitch at a Red Sox game. Surprisingly he isn't very good at baseball.
Booker is furious backstage while talking to Teddy Long. He wants Angle tonight, but Long has banned Angle from the arena due to his actions last week. Instead, Booker is fighting Mark Jindrak tonight. He still works here? Long apologizes and he tells Booker that Angle will issue an apology via satellite tonight or else he will be suspended indefinitely. He lets Booker know that he will be facing Angle at Judgment Day.
After the break, Jindrak talks to Sharmell and tells her that she shouldn't take what Angle did to her personally. He then repeats what Angle called her last week and then Booker attacks him. Booker keeps brawling him in towards the crowd and Michael Cole somehow thinks that this means the match has officially started? Nick Patrick comes out and they are in the ring and the bell rings.
Mark Jindrak vs. Booker T
Jindrak is already busted open. Jindrak gets his quick moment to shine, but not for very long. Booker hits a leaping forearm and a Book End. Scissor Kick to the back of the head and that's it. Well, the goal was to make Booker look strong and it did. However, the angle is such garbage that it's hard to look past it.
Match Rating: 1/2*
JBL is talking to the Bashams until Long interrupts. He informs JBL that if he lays a hand on Cena, he's going to hit him where it hurts.
Eddie is out once again carrying Mysterio's mask. Eddie stands in the ring as the crowd chants "Eddie sucks". Eddie continues to just stand there and after a long while he looks at the mask, throws it on the ground and wipes his boots on it. He sets down the microphone and heads to the back to some boos. This continues to be the best thing going on SmackDown.
Orlando Jordan vs. Heidenreich
Dream match here on free TV. Heidenreich before the match says it's time to make a new friend. Jordan then tells him that nobody likes him and that after he beats him tonight, no one will want to be his friend ever again. Jordan hits him with a cheap shot to start the match. He then hits him with a really awkward looking clothesline. Heidenreich makes him comeback and now he hits some awkward looking offense. These two have zero chemistry tonight. Heidenreich hits a big boot for a 2 count. Heidenreich catches Jordan and hits a sit down suplex and gets the victory in this non-title match.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Heidenreich brings his new friend to the ring and they do the Bushwhacker 2.0.
They show a lengthy recap of the Angle/Booker story, which means WWE is not as embarrassed as they should be. They run down the updated card now with Carlito vs. Big Show and MNM vs. Charlie Haas and Hardcore Holly.
Joey Mercury vs. Hardcore Holly
Mercury hits a duo of hip tosses and this is already the best match on the show. Holly then chops Mercury harder than Mercury probably ever had been up to this point in his life. It is kind of remarkable that Holly lasted nearly 4 years from match. Holly hits a nice superplex and both men are down. Holly hits a couple of clotheslines and dropkicks. Melina and Nitro try to get involved, but Holly is having none of it and hits the Alabama Slam for the victory. I have no idea what Holly and Haas did to earn their opportunity, but this match made me want to see it.
Match Rating: **1/2
Kurt Angle is with us live via satellite and they also show clips of Booker and Sharmell watching backstage. He apologizes because he has to, but then goes on to say that he and Sharmell kissed and that she liked it. Booker kicks down the TV in anger.
John Cena is backstage for an interview. Cena makes up chapter names while flipping through JBL's book. Josh Matthews for some reason starts trying to be cool and raps. Cena grabs the mic and tells him to leave. He then goes all 2008 era Cena about how he's a champion and all that jazz.
Handicap Match
John Cena vs. The Basham Brothers
There's a point in time that this probably would have been a good match, but Cena wasn't quite at that level yet. I feel like he didn't hit that level until the second half of 2006. The Bashams obviously try to take advantage of the handicap and they do. As Cena is in a chinlock, JBL grabs a mic and tells Cena to say "I quit". JBL continues to yell at Cena as the Bashams continue to dominate. Cena hits both of the Basham's heads together and makes his comeback. You Can't See Me and the FU are enough for him to finish them off. This was fine.
Match Rating: *1/4
Well, this certainly wasn't one of SmackDown's finest shows, but it did continue setting up the Judgment Day show which looks like a pretty good card overall. It would have been nice to have one more good match on here, but it was clear that their main focus was to make sure all of the storylines were advanced for the show and that's fine too.
Overall Rating: 48%
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