Original Airdate: Friday, December 30th, 2005
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
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Booker T, Sharmell, Chris Benoit and Teddy Long are all arguing backstage to start the show. Booker is stating that due to injury, he is unable to compete tonight. Booker says he is going to find a replacement for tonight. If Booker's replacement wins, Booker will win the United States Championship.
JBL vs. Matt Hardy
Hardy tries to start quickly, but JBL turns it around and hits a neckbreaker. JBL continues where he left off at Armageddon with an ambush of power moves. Hardy is able to hit an awkward variation of a bulldog, but it doesn't go anywhere, as JBL recovers and this a shoulder tackle. JBL removes the turnbuckle padding, but Hardy is able to block him and hits JBL's head on the exposed metal. Hardy hits a second rope leg drop for a 2 count. JBL escapes a Twist Of Fate and sets Hardy on the top rope. Boogeyman's music hits and out he crawls. JBL is distracted, but hits a fall away slam from the second rope anyways. JBL hits the Clothesline From Hell, but then goes out of the ring. Boogeyman spits worms at JBL, but he moves Jillian Hall in front of him and it hits her in the chest. They run away and JBL is counted out. I'm not really sure why JBL was picked to be Boogeyman's first feud, but this sure made Hardy look like a jobber.
Match Rating: *1/4
Booker and Sharmell are backstage and up walks Orlando Jordan. Jordan says that he would be honored to be Booker's replacement tonight. Sharmell isn't having it.
The Mexicools vs. The Dicks
Imagine this being the first wrestling match you ever watched. I bet it was probably your last also. Super Crazy hits a spin kick and they hit a double roll through slam. After a short Dick heat segment, Super Crazy gets the hot tag and hits a nice springboard dropkick. Super Crazy goes for the moonsault, but Chad breaks it up. Crazy hits a sunset flip instead, but it's broken up by Chad. Psicosis hits a sweet missile dropkick with assistance from Super Crazy launching whichever Dick it was. Crazy hits the moonsault and they get the victory. Super Crazy deserved so much better than this.
Match Rating: *3/4
Booker walks into Randy Orton's locker room. Booker is able to talk Orton into taking his spot tonight.
Melina is out for a press conference and says that she was the victim of a sexual predator. This whole storyline is just absolute garbage. Melina was just not strong enough on the mic here in 2005 to carry this long of a segment by herself. After about 5 minutes, she announces that she is going to be suing Batista for sexual harassment.
Match Five In A Best Of Seven Series For The United States Championship
Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton
Booker is up 3-1 here and is introduced by Sharmell to come out to be a guest announcer. This one is pretty slow to start, but that's not too surprising with these two. Orton hits a nice suplex, but Benoit counters with a couple of arm drags. After some mat wrestling, Orton is able to get up and send Benoit over the top rope to the floor. After some more stalling, Benoit hits a couple of German suplexes and goes for the Crippler Crossface, but Orton gets to the ropes before he really locks it in. Benoit hits a dive to the outside. After the commercial break, Orton is back in control and sends him shoulder-first into the ring post. Orton misses with a top rope crossbody and Benoit hits a German suplex again. He then hits the Three Amigos, but then misses with the top rope headbutt. Benoit is still able to lock in the Crippler Crossface, but in comes Sharmell hits Benoit over the head with a crutch for the disqualification. After the match, Orton hits a RKO on Benoit. Regardless, the best of seven is now 3-2. This match was not very good, especially for the amount of time it was given.
Match Rating: *3/4
Funaki introduces Kid Kash out for an interview. He makes fun of Juventud saying that it means Mexican salamander. God, I can't believe he didn't get over more. He then goes on about foreigners including Funaki. He then takes a cheap shot on Funaki and hits the Dead Level on the stage.
Finally something good about this show: a Finlay vignette.
Sylvan vs. Bobby Lashley
Sylvan attacks Lashley on his way into the ring, which usually ends well. Lashley quickly turns it around and drives his shoulder into his midsection. Sylvan sneaks out of the ring and then tries to attack Lashley from behind, but it of course doesn't work. Lashley hits a belly-to-belly suplex and again Sylvan gets out of the ring. This time Sylvan walks to the back and gets counted out. I'm not sure I get the point of this one.
Match Rating: 1/4*
Josh Matthews is with Batista, who just basically talks about staying focused on his match tonight.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
MNM vs. Rey Mysterio & Batista
The champs start out hot with Mysterio hitting a dropkick and a springboard leg drop for a nearfall. Mysterio goes for another springboard, but Nitro hits a superkick knocking him off the apron. From there MNM use multiple double teams to work on Mysterio's knee. Mysterio does a great chase sequence in an effort to make a tag that leads to him hitting a double DDT and finally getting the tag to Batista. He destroys both opponents and then Mysterio hits a top rope hurricanrana to Nitro on the apron and to the floor. Jimmy Korderas gets knocked down and is unable to count the pin for Batista. Out comes Mark Henry to attack Batista out of nowhere. He hits the World's Strongest Slam and MNM are your new champions on the final episode of SmackDown in 2005. This was actually a really entertaining main event here and the highlight of the show by a mile.
Match Rating: ***1/2
This was a pretty dull episode up until the main event. While I wasn't very sold on Mark Henry in 2005, he eventually became a valuable player for the years to come. It will be interesting to have a little hindsight when looking at his run here. Other than that, this was a pretty flat ending to 2005.
Overall Rating: 49%
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