Original Airdate: Friday, November 18th, 2005
Target Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Batista is out in Eddie's low rider. He gives an emotional promo about Eddie's love for the wrestling business and has a hard time getting through it. As he walks away, he leaves the World Heavyweight Championship on the hood.
We get an Eddie highlight package and this time the Network has the rights to the song that was chosen.
Matt Hardy vs. Carlito
Hardy gets hit with a drop toe hold by Carlito and it sends him through the ropes and out of the ring. Back in the ring, Carlito dominates until he tries to mock Hardy on the second turnbuckle and Hardy gets a boot up. Hardy hits a back body drop and a Side Effect. Carlito though comes back and hits the Backstabber for a close call. I believe that is the debut of that move. Hardy hits the leg drop off the second rope. He goes for the Twist Of Fate, but Carlito escapes. Carlito goes for a vertical suplex, but Hardy is able to counter it into the Twist Of Fate and gets the victory. This was just a feel good victory for one of SmackDown's favorite stars.
Match Rating: ** (out of 5)
Vince McMahon says that Eddie loved performing, but not as much as he loved his family.
Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich vs. Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch
It's a battle of the former champions on their respective brands. Heidenreich gets kicked in the back when he runs off the ropes and then gets dumped outside of the ring. Cade and Murdoch cut the ring in half and isolate Heidenreich in the corner. Animal is in and hits Cade and Murdoch with a double clothesline. Heidenreich hits a side slam and then they hit the Doomsday Device on Cade and get the victory.
Match Rating: 1/2*
Booker T and Sharmell tell Eddie's family that they can always reach out to them if they ever need anything.
Big Show talks about how proud Eddie was of his children.
Chavo Guerrero vs. JBL
JBL goes right after Chavo with some clubbing blows. Chavo pulls on JBL to regain the advantage and then hits him with a thumb to the eye. Chavo hits a dive over the top rope and then a missile dropkick back in the ring. JBL catches a crossbody attempt and he hits him with a fall away slam. JBL tries to wear down Chavo with a sleeper hold. Chavo makes the comeback with some right hands and a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Chavo counters the fall away slam into a DDT for a 2 count. Chavo throws a chair in the ring and then tosses a second one to JBL when the ref isn't looking. Chavo falls down and sells it like he was hit and then hits JBL with a low blow when the ref goes to get rid of the chair. Chavo hits the Three Amigos and the Frog Splash for the victory. This was a nice tribute match.
Match Rating: **3/4
JBL talks about how much Eddie has meant to his life and career.
Cruiserweight Battle Royal
There are only two Raw competitors and the SmackDown crew starts attacking both of them to start things off. Juvy, who is the current Cruiserweight Champion, knocks Brian Kendrick out with a kick. Funaki fakes an alliance with Tajiri and then tosses him out. Unfortunately for Funaki, Gregory Helms then quickly tosses him out. Scotty 2 Hotty hits a double worm on Helms and Nunzio. He then tosses Kid Kash out. London hits a Dropsault on Helms and sends him out. Scotty and Psicosis both are eliminated and we are down to Juvy, Nunzio and London. Nunzio gets both opponents on the apron, but they back body drop him out of the match. They both stomp each other until they are able to roll back in the ring. Juvy shifts his weight while on London's shoulders, sending London out of the ring as he grabs the ropes to remain in the ring. This was one of the better battle royal in terms of short TV battle royals.
Match Rating: **1/4
Shane McMahon reiterates how much Eddie loved his family.
Triple H vs. Chris Benoit
These two had a fantastic match on the March 14th Raw earlier this year. After a little bit of back and forth, Benoit gets the advantage with some chops. Triple H sidesteps Benoit and tosses him over the top rope as we go into a commercial break. Triple H works on the back of Benoit and hits a big spinebuster. Triple H now pulls out the abdominal stretch and then puts him in a sleeper hold. Benoit gets out and goes for a Sharpshooter, but Triple H kicks out before he can get it on. Benoit hits a slingshot and follows it up with three German suplexes. Benoit hits the top rope headbutt for a 2 count. Benoit counters a Pedigree attempt into the Crippler Crossface. Benoit rolls him into the center of the ring, rolls him into a pin attempt and gains the victory. After the match, Benoit and Triple H hug while the fans chant "Eddie". Dean Malenko comes into the ring to join Benoit.
Match Rating: **1/2
There will never be another Eddie Guerrero. 15 years have passed and it still is hard to believe that he is gone. It is very apparent how much he meant to everyone in the locker room in 2005 and how much he still means to so many of the current Superstars, as so many have paid tribute to him. This was a loving tribute to a great performer.
Overall Rating: 68%
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