Original Airdate: Thursday, August 25th, 2005
Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Bob Orton is in the ring to kick off the show. He introduces Randy to the ring. They embrace and apparently we aren't getting a promo here.
Randy Orton vs. Hardcore Holly
This is a perfect role for Hardcore Holly here and I'm not sure why he isn't being used more here. They get through feeling out process and Holly knocks Orton down with a shoulder tackle. Surprisingly, we are getting a mostly mat-based match here so far. Holly hits a suplex from the apron and back into the ring. Orton follows it up by dumping Orton to the floor, but Holly lands on his feet. He gets back in the ring and eats a dropkick from Orton. Orton props Holly up in the corner, but Holly pushes him away, but gets a boot to the face as he comes off the second rope. Back on their feet, Orton hits a big uppercut for a 2 count. Holly hits an elbow to the face and a back body drop. Holly then goes for a full nelson slam and gets a nearfall. Holly is up top and hits a clothesline for another nearfall. Holly hits his vicious chops and then goes for the Alabama Slam, but Bob Orton gets on the apron to distract Holly. It backfires and Holly hits a dropkick. Bob Orton distracts again and this time it pays off. Orton hits the RKO and gets the victory. Interestingly, Holly was treated as if he was on Orton's level here and it took a distraction to defeat him. I'm fine with that, but I'm just surprised. It started slow, but finished fairly strong.
Match Rating: **1/4 (out of 5)
Teddy Long is backstage and questions some guy in his office. He introduces himself as Palmer Canon, who is from the network. In two weeks, SmackDown is debuting on Friday night. He says that they need something huge for the Friday debut and that he's come up with a great idea for the main event. He says that they should have JBL vs. Batista in a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship. They shake hands and look forward to working with one another.
It's Peep Show time and his guests tonight are Booker T and Sharmell. Christian asks them if they are still on speaking terms after last week's argument. He compares Booker to Tommy Lee and then tries to come up with a list of accomplishments for Booker, but is at a loss for words. Sharmell then agrees with Christian. Booker reminds them that he beat Christian at Great American Bash and then also beat up Kurt Angle. Sharmell apologizes, but says that Christian makes a good point. She says that she is a beauty queen and that he needs to start looking out for himself and remembering who he really is. Booker starts to do the "Five Time" routine, but out come the Mexicools. Christian jumps off the apron and knocks Psicosis off the tractor. Juvy starts attacking Christian, but Booker makes the save. Booker than dumps Super Crazy and Psicosis over the top rope. Christian takes care of Juvy and they retreat. Booker and Christian look at each other to try to make sense of what just happened.
Jillian Hall is in the ring holding a copy of SmackDown Magazine with MNM on the cover and introduces them.
Johnny Nitro vs. Heidenreich
After a little bit of Heidenreich offense, Nitro avoids a charging Heidenreich and hits a superkick. Heidenreich fires back with a clothesline and a side slam. Animal, Jillian and Melina are all on the apron distracting the ref. Mercury grabs a chair and hits Heidenreich, but the ref sees it and calls for the disqualification. Nitro hits a missile dropkick to take out Animal. The intros were longer than the match.
Match Rating: 1/4*
The new United States Champion, Chris Benoit is here and reminds us that he beat Orlando Jordan in 25 1/2 seconds. They do a split screen of the match and Benoit getting a cup of coffee to see which one takes longer.
JBL is backstage with Jordan and he's making fun of him losing so quickly. JBL says he can barely walk and that he needs Jordan for longer than 25 1/2 seconds.
Booker T & Christian vs. Super Crazy & Psicosis
Wow, the Mexicools get two entrances in one night. They start the match off right away and it's Christian and Super Crazy starting things off. Christian hits a powerslam and gets some right fists in. Juvy distracts Christian, but Christian recovers and hits an odd fall away slam before making the tag to Booker. After some shenanigans, Super Crazy is able to hit a missile dropkick on Christian. He then hits a low dropkick to a seated Christian, which then leads to the pace picking up. Super Crazy misses with the moonsault and both men make tags. Booker cleans house with some kicks and a spinebuster. Booker goes for the scissor kick, but Juvy holds onto Booker, allowing Psicosis and Super Crazy to attack him. Sharmell starts yelling at Christian for not helping Booker out. Booker explodes for a double clothesline, while Christian walks to the back. The Mexicools hit a double back suplex and get the victory. Christian is sporting a bloody nose as he walks to the back. Sharmell is back in the ring telling Booker what happened. The match was pretty entertaining, but definitely too much on the short side.
Match Rating: **1/4
The Ortons are backstage and says that they fooled the Undertaker. This somehow leads to him promoting how he signed an Undertaker DVD and it's going up for sale on wwe.com and the proceeds will go to the Undertaker's retirement fund.
Palmer Canon is telling Teddy that he is loving this episode tonight. He says that this show needs to have more of Randy Orton. Teddy says he has a surprise announcement to make and heads to Gorilla position.
His big announcement is that there will be a lingerie pillow fight and that Stacy Keibler is now on SmackDown. He then announces that Christy Hemme is also on SmackDown. He tells the ladies to get ready and then Palmer Canon comes out to stop the match. He says that the demographic that they are trying to attract does not want this.
Ken Kennedy vs. Funaki
Kennedy comes out to no reaction here, since he hasn't had any vignettes. They say that he has been on Velocity, so I do a quick check and it looks like he has wrestled on the last two episodes. Kennedy grabs the mic from Tony Chimel and does ring introductions for both Funaki and himself. Kennedy definitely shows more character in about 30 seconds here as guys like Jindrak and Luther Reigns ever did. Kennedy ducks a crossbody and Funaki goes out of the ring. Kennedy fakes throwing Funaki into the barrier, but throws him in the ring instead. Kennedy misses a boot to the face and Funaki comes back with an enzuigiri. Funaki goes for the tornado DDT, but Kennedy throws him back on the top turnbuckle and Kennedy hits the impressive Green Bay Plunge off the second rope. He then grabs the mic and announces himself as the winner. I know he didn't turn out exactly how they had hoped for him, but Kennedy would definitely become one of the better upper mid-card acts here for the next couple of years.
Match Rating: *
JBL, Orlando Jordan & Eddie Guerrero vs. Batista, Chris Benoit & Rey Mysterio
I honestly don't know why they don't book 6 man tag matches more often for TV shows. It's an easy way to continue a feud without someone getting pinned and the entrances alone give you over five minutes of TV time. Benoit and Jordan start things off and he's already lasted longer than he did at SummerSlam. During the commercial break, Rey was going for the 619, but Eddie grabbed him as he was going off the ropes. Eddie tags in JBL, which prompts Rey to tag in Batista. He takes down JBL and then tosses Eddie at Orlando Jordan. Benoit continues the offense by going after JBL's taped ribs. Benoit goes for the Sharpshooter, but JBL kicks him off and sends him over the ropes with an assist from Jordan. Jordan attacks him behind the ref's back. The heels cut the ring in half on Benoit. Benoit hits an enuigiri and makes the tag to Batista, who hits a spinebuster on Jordan. He goes for the Batista Bomb, but Eddie hits a dropkick from behind. Benoit is in and hits a German suplex until JBL breaks up a Sharpshooter attempt. Mysterio makes the save and Batista clotheslines JBL over the top rope. 619 on Jordan, followed by a German suplex and a Batista Bomb finishes it off. That was exactly what you would want out of this match. This was a good way to end the show as they build towards the Friday night debut.
Match Rating: ***
This was a really solid episode for the blue brand. Kennedy showed a lot of promise as a personality in his debut, Booker is starting to show some heelish tendencies and the main event was a good time. The rest of it for the most part was good enough to recommend this episode.
Overall Rating: 60%
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