Friday, September 11, 2020

SmackDown 11-25-05 Review

Original Airdate: Friday, November 25th, 2005
Hallam FM Arena
Sheffield, Yorkshire, England

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Teddy Long is talking with security and telling them to be ready for anything. 

United States Championship Match
Booker T vs. Chris Benoit

Sharmell comes out separately and then introduces Booker. Benoit gets some chops in and after some Booker offense, Benoit goes right back to chops again. Booker hangs Benoit on the top rope with a suplex. After Benoit battles back from the edge of the ring, Booker throws Benoit shoulder-first into the ring post. Booker hits a back kick to the jaw of Benoit and follows it up with a vertical suplex. We get an accidental ref bump and then Benoit puts Booker in the Sharpshooter. Charles Robinson runs down as only he can, but Booker gets to the bottom rope. Benoit hits the three German suplexes and then heads to climb the ropes, but Sharmell distracts him. This allows Booker to hit a superplex. Both men had their shoulders down and since there just happened to be two referees, they both counted different guys and then argue over who won the match. It goes to commercial break and when we come back Teddy Long is in the ring to help make the decision. Teddy asks to see the replay. It looks like both men's shoulders were indeed down and Sharmell reminds Long that the champion retains in the event of a tie. Teddy Long strips the title from Booker and says that the title is vacated. He then announces that we are getting a second best of seven series and the first match will take place at Survivor Series. The match was good, even if it led to an angle. 

Match Rating: **3/4

They show JBL and he is outside looking for Raw. He opens a van door and it's Boogeyman. 

The Dicks vs. Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich

Who in the world thought this was a good idea? They start brawling outside the ring before the bell rings. Heidenreich takes care of one Dick and then destroys the second Dick. Chad Dick snaps his neck over the top rope. The Dicks use quick tags to take control, but Heidenreich gets his boot up on a Dick. I'm sorry, I just don't care enough to check which Dick is which. Animal is tagged in. Behind the ref's back, they spray baby lotion in his eyes and steal the victory. What a time to be alive.

Match Rating: 1/4*

Mr. Kennedy vs. Matt Hardy

Hardy has some momentum to start with, but Kennedy rolls out of the way of Hardy's moonsault attempt and then starts working on Hardy's back. These are two guys who really deserved to be on Survivor Series, but they naturally chose Lashley over them. Hardy fights back and hits a Side Effect. He goes for the Twist Of Fate, but Kennedy escapes. Hardy climbs the top rope, but Kennedy is there and is trying to hit the Green Bay Plunge. Hardy hits a top rope bulldog instead, but Hardy grabs the bottom rope on the pinfall attempt. Hardy clotheslines Kennedy over the top rope and hits a double ax handle off the apron. Kennedy retaliates by slamming Hardy's head on the steps. Kennedy grabs a chair, but before he can use it, Charles Robinson grabs it. While they are fighting over it, he hits Robinson in the gut with it and that's a disqualification. This is the definition of booking yourself into a corner. Neither one of these guys can afford to lose here, so we get that nonsense finish.

Match Rating: **

Eric Bischoff is here outside and he tells Teddy that they are closer than he thinks. 

Christy Hemme vs. Melina 

Christy immediately his Melina with a dropkick and then MNM try to get involved, but the referee has them ejected. Christy hits a top rope crossbody and then a split legged leg drop. On the outside though, Melina follows up with a clothesline. Melina hits a backbreaker and works on the back of Christy. Christy makes a little bit of a comeback, but Melina slams Chrisy face-first into the mat and picks up the quick victory. Both women are athletic, but both have a long way to go as wrestlers. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

Batista is shown getting wrapped up and in walks Randy Orton. He tells Batista that he was the best member of Evolution and that he will be taking the World Heavyweight Championship tonight. Batista reminds Orton that he lost his title to Triple H and was kicked out of Evolution. Batista says he beat Triple H and left Evolution on his terms.

They show highlights of Nunzio winning the Cruiserweight Championship from Juventud Guerrera in Italy. Carlito and Chris Masters are walking into the crowd with tickets. 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match
Nunzio vs. Juventud Guerrera

Juvy launches himself over the top rope at Nunzio and Vito, who both move out of the way. Back in the ring, Juvy fights back and hits a spinning heel kick. Nunzio misses with a leg drop off the second rope and then Juvy catches Nunzio on his shoulder. He hits the Juvy Driver and regains his title back. This was solid for a short match, but why not give them more time? Did we really need a million matches on this show?

Match Rating: *1/4

William Regal & Paul Burchill vs. JBL & Rey Mysterio

Regal and Rey start off, which I am more than okay with. Rey hits a big running knee, but JBL breaks up the pin attempt. Rey hits a pop up hurricanrana on Burchill. He hits the 619 and the springboard leg drop, but Regal breaks it up. JBL hits a the Clothesline From Hell on Regal. Out comes Shawn Michaels and he hits Sweet Chin Music on JBL. Carlito and Chris Masters come in and start attacking JBL and Rey. The SmackDown locker room comes out and Masters and Carlito retreat. We get a no contest here. 

Match Rating: 1/2*

Orlando Jordan vs. Bobby Lashley

Jordan attacks Lashley as he walks into the ring. Lashley just ends up hitting a spinebuster and then a vertical suplex. Lashley tosses Jordan around for a little bit and then hits the Dominator for the easy victory. 

Match Rating: 1/4*

No Holds Barred Match For The World Heavyweight Championship
Randy Orton vs. Batista

Teddy Long has the SmackDown locker room around the ring as security here. They lock up and out comes the Raw locker room. We get a huge brawl out in the aisle way. Cade and Murdoch bring Orton into the ring and they both get RKO's. Michaels hits Sweet Chin Music on Orton. Mysterio hits 619 on Michaels. Carlito and Masters take care of Mysterio and then Batista gives them spinebusters. In come Big Show and Kane. Batista handles them for a little bit, but it's too much. Show and Kane then double chokeslam Batista through the announce table, while the brawl moves to the ring. 

Match Rating: N/R

The ending was fun, but they just tried to cram way too much in here. There is nothing essential to see here, but it did a nice job continuing the Raw vs. SmackDown feud heading into Sunday's show. 

Overall Rating: 49%

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