Monday, May 23rd, 2005
Resch Center
Green Bay, Wisconsin
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A big group of security are out to start the show. They line the ramp and out come Edge and Lita. Lita cuts a promo on how she used Kane and how she had him wrapped around her finger. This isn't particularly good work here. It doesn't help that the Kane storyline was so terrible. While she had Kane running around doing her dirty work, she was falling in love with a real man. This is all kind of surreal knowing what really happened with Matt Hardy, even the second time around. Edge seems a little uncomfortable here as well. They make out to no real response. This angle would eventually gain some steam, but this wasn't the start they were probably hoping for. They pan to Kane watching in his locker room.
Eric Bischoff is back and he wants a funeral for ECW. In walks Shelton Benjamin, who is looking for his tag team partner, Chris Jericho. Bischoff then tells Shelton his match is a handicap match.
Handicap Match
Muhammad Hassan & Daivari vs. Shelton Benjamin
The heels immediately work the handicap to their advantage, but Shelton is able to take care of them. They botch a hip toss spot, which looked to be on Hassan. Shelton gets most of the offense in surprisingly. Daivari tries to bring in a chair, which the referee takes away from him. That causes a distraction, allowing Hassan to hit his finisher for the victory. That was kind of a weird match, as I expected Hassan to get most of the offense.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Chris Jericho is shown walking into the building. They ask him about being late and blames it on the Fozzy tour of Australia. He tells Todd Grisham to tell Eric Bischoff that he'll face anyone tonight.
Christian and Tomko are backstage talking about the SmackDown roster. Edge and Lita walk in. Edge tells Christian that if he helps him win the championship tonight, that he would gift him the Money In The Bank briefcase.
Chris Masters vs. Steven Richards
Masters immediately slams Richards into the turnbuckle and hits two backbreakers and then tosses him to the mat. Masters goes for the move that broke Richards' nose, but Richards gets his revenge, pounding away. Masters quickly counters and clubs his knee. Masters then gets him in the Master Lock and that is all. Obviously a squash match.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Grisham tells Bischoff about Jericho. Bischoff then tells Grisham to go and interview Kane, which he reluctantly heads out to do.
Chris Jericho vs. Sylvain Grenier
Grenier starts off quickly and drops Jericho face first on the barricade. As far as "I'll fight anyone from the locker room" mystery opponents go, Grenier may be about the worst. Jericho fights back, but Grenier gets his knees up on the Lionsault attempt. Jericho hits the springboard dropkick and then turns him over the Walls Of Jericho and the victory. Jericho gave Grenier as much as he could for a 3 minute squash match.
Match Rating: 1/2*
As Jericho celebrates, Shelton walks out. Jericho grabs the microphone and apologizes for showing up late. Jericho sells how busy he is as he backpedals up the ramp. Shelton's not buying it.
The Draft Lottery begins on June 6th.
Eric Bischoff is in the ring for the funeral of ECW. He runs down ECW and says that he killed it once and that he will kill it again. He is on a crusade and no one is going to stop me, which naturally leads to Vince McMahon's music hitting. Vince tells Bischoff that he secretly helped financed ECW. He said he had a feeling that a lot of the stars of ECW would eventually become stars in WWE. He lists Mick Foley, the Dudleyz and Steve Austin. Vince says that Bischoff drove ECW to bankruptcy and that as a result Vince acquired debt. Vince said that ECW is not dead because everywhere he goes, he hears the chants. He is going to present the Tajiri/Benoit match from last week tonight. Vince says that the only brand that is dead is WCW. Vince says he's not qualified to talk about ECW, so he invites Paul Heyman out. Heyman points out that this is the first time WWE, WCW and ECW have been in the same ring at the same time. Paul says that ECW was about more than garbage wrestling, like bringing Rey Mysterio to the US, submission wrestling with guys like Tazz, and the passion of the fan in supporting guys like Rob Van Dam. He invites Bischoff to experience what ECW is at One Night Stand. Vince says that he is fine with Bischoff getting a group of wrestlers to try and stop One Night Stand because he likes a big fight as much as he does a big pile of money. Heyman tells Bischoff that he is starting a fire that he can't put out and then sets the ECW wreath on fire. This was a surreal segment and was a good way to build up excitement to One Night Stand to people unfamiliar with ECW's brand.
ECW Rules Match
Chris Benoit vs. Tajiri
As Benoit is making his way out, Tajiri comes out and attacks him with a kendo stick. Benoit grabs the stick, but Tajiri blows the green mist in his face. You can tell this match isn't going to get much time if the green mist comes out less than 30 seconds into the match. Tajiri grabs some weapons into the ring. Tajiri attempts to clap the trash can lids on Benoit, but he ducks and hits a German suplex. He puts Tajiri into the Crippler Crossface. Tajiri grabs the kendo stick and tries to use it to break out, but Benoit puts it in his mouth and Tajiri taps out. I'm not sure what that really accomplished. Why not give them a few more minutes?
Match Rating: 1/2*
Flair walks into Batista's locker room. Flair thanks him for saving him last week and they shake hands.
Kane is rocking back and forth in his locker room and Grisham reluctantly attempts to interview him. Kane says his whole life has been about pain and that he was born to bring pain. He says this pain hurts and starts to pretend to cry and then goes into a sinister laugh. He says that maybe he deserves this for everything that he's done. He then goes back into attempting to cry and saying how he doesn't want it. Yeah, this isn't going over any better here in 2019 as it did in 2005.
After the break, Kane is shown leaving the arena.
Maria is out and brings Viscera to the ring. God help us all. She then asks Lilian Garcia to the ring. Viscera says he waited for her last week and she never showed up. The lights dim and they put on some music. Viscera asks Maria to go grab a hot dog from a fan. Last week he sang and this week he is going to dance. I'm not sure if Lilian was supposed to laugh, but I can't really blame her. This is terrible. He pulls his pants down and is wearing red silk boxers. Out comes Coach to interrupt. He tells Viscera that Bischoff doesn't have time for a sexual harassment lawsuit and calls him an embarrassment. Viscera slaps Coach on the chest and hits a Samoan Drop. Then he humps him. Vince just had to have loved this. He then kisses Lilian.
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Edge vs. Batista
Batista bumps Edge off of the apron and into the barricade. Out come Christian and Tomko, which is a nice wrinkle to this match. While Batista is in the middle of the 10 count punch, Christian interferes while Lita distracts the ref. Even with all of the advantages, it doesn't completely feel like the crowd is taking Edge as a serious threat. Batista hits a big superplex and both men are down. The referee is down and in comes Tomko and Christian. Ric Flair comes down and takes care of all three of them until he is blindsided by Edge with a spear. Batista is up and gives some spinebusters and clotheslines Tomko and Christian out of the ring. Edge hits the spear and the ref slowly climbs into the ring for a 2 count. Edge grabs the briefcase, but Batista ducks and dishes out another spinebuster. Batista Bomb time and that's all. That was an enjoyable TV main event. Nothing special, but it had a good story filled with characters that I am invested in.
Match Rating: **3/4
Batista and Flair hug and then Triple H's music hits and he walks out with a sledgehammer. Flair then hits a low blow on Batista. Triple H hits him with the sledgehammer and grabs the title. Triple H unloads on Batista and he is busted open. Triple H grabs the mic and says "Hell In A Cell" and then hits a Pedigree.
Well, most of the show was nothing but the two good segments were quite good. Just having Heyman, Bischoff and Vince in the same ring was historic and it was a bonus that it actually helped build nicely to One Night Stand. The main event match was well done and the ending to the show was intense. I would say that was my favorite segment of the Batista/Triple H feud, as it felt more believable compared to everything else they have done. This is nothing to go out of your way for, but you can do worse.
Overall Rating: 56%
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