Original Airdate: Friday, January 27th, 2006
BI-LO Center
Greenville, South Carolina
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Rey Mysterio vs. Mark Henry
Mysterio attacks Henry before he gets in the ring and knocks him off the apron. Henry quickly knocks him down with a clothesline. Henry misses with a splash and Mysterio hits him with a dropkick. Mysterio goes for a DDT, but Henry just throws him down instead. Is there anyone that Mysterio doesn't have good chemistry with? Mysterio hides under the ring and then surprises Henry with a leap off the apron. He then hits a variation of the 619 off the ring post. Mysterio keeps the momentum going and hits a 619, but Henry catches Mysterio on the springboard. Henry then hits the World's Strongest Slam and that is all. This was another good match between these two. Mysterio's ability to have great matches with big opponents is right there with Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart.
Match Rating: ***1/4 (out of 5)
Matt Hardy cuts a backstage promo saying that most people don't expect him to main event WrestleMania, but that motivates him.
Booker T and Sharmell are pumping up Randy Orton, who reminds them that they owe him a favor. Orton says that they may be the last two men in the Royal Rumble and he might have to cash in that favor.
Tag Team Triple Threat Royal Rumble Qualifying Match
Mexicools vs. Nunzio & Vito vs. The Dicks
The match starts in progress just to give you an idea of how important it is. I always enjoy seeing Nunzio on SmackDown. He and Vito isolate Psicosis for a little bit. In comes Super Crazy with a hot tag, but his pin attempt is broken up by the Dicks. The Mexicools pick up the victory after a wheelbarrow slam and will both be in the Rumble as a result. The match was just a time filler.
Match Rating: *1/2
No Holds Barred Match
Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton
There isn't a whole lot going on to start the match. Orton grabs a trash can lid for the first weapon if you had that in "What's Under The Ring? Bingo". Benoit tries to get the Sharpshooter, but Orton gets out with a thumb to the eye. I don't know, but I'm not really digging this match so far. Benoit hits a northern lights suplex and then slams Orton into the steps. They start brawling in the entrance way and then back into the ring. Benoit then hits the Three Amigos and slaps his chest in honor of Eddie. Benoit fights of Orton and hits a top rope superplex. They again go outside and Orton hits Benoit in the head with a trash can. Benoit hits the three German suplexes, but Orton wisely grabs a trash can lid when Benoit goes off the top rope for a headbutt. Benoit returns the favor when Orton goes off the ropes and puts Orton in the Crippler Crossface and he taps. I'm sure a lot of people will love this match, I was not one of them. The last few minutes were fun, but the rest kind of felt meaningless.
Match Rating: **1/2
Animal talks about all of the different types of matches he has won in his career, but he has never won the Royal Rumble.
Finlay vs. Funaki
Finlay hits a quick clothesline and a splash to kick things off. Finlay continues emphasizing his unique and aggressive offense here and then hits the Celtic Cross for the victory. After the match, Finlay continues the assault and the referee then reverses the decision. Finlay then gets on the mic and insults all of us yellow belly Americans. He tells us to get over our anxieties, because he loves to fight and he's not going away. He then gives Funaki another Celtic Cross for good measure.
Match Rating: 3/4*
JBL is with Jillian Hall and tells her that he isn't afraid of Boogeyman. Oh, and we're still talking about the "beauty mark".
Lashley says that he will remain undefeated at the Royal Rumble.
JBL vs. Scotty 2 Hotty
Scotty gets an arm drag and a dropkick in until JBL knocks him silly with a boot to the face. Scotty is able to get in a superkick and signals for the Worm. JBL is there to hit him with a Clothesline From Hell instead and then Boogey's music hits. Boogey is nowhere to be seen, but thousands of worms are dumped in the middle of the ring. Then from behind, Boogeyman is there and causes JBL to fall in the worms. It's hard not to think that Boogeyman is truly the most bizarre character to ever be on WWE TV. There was no finish to the match, so it doesn't get a rating.
Match Rating: N/R
Melina walks into Teddy Long's office. She shows him that her ankle is swollen and she lets him know that he now has two strikes against him.
Mark Henry and Daivari are interviewed backstage and they let us know that we are looking at the next World Heavyweight Champion.
Champion vs. Champions Handicap Match
MNM vs. Kurt Angle
We join the match in progress and we start off with some mat wrestling. The numbers game gets to Angle, as Nitro pulls Mercury out of the corner and he drives his own shoulder into the ring post. MNM goes for the Snapshot, but Angle counters and takes both men out. Melina distracts the referee and Mercury hits Angle with a roll of quarters, but Angle is able to still kick out. Angle hits an Angle Slam on Mercury and then a belly-to-belly over the top rope on Nitro. Angle puts the Ankle Lock in and that is all. I'm not sure I like how they made MNM look like a complete joke here. Out comes Mark Henry and they go at it. Angle sort of, kind of hits an Angle Slam and then puts in the Ankle Lock. Henry is able to push him out of the ring with his leg and Angle is in disbelief. The match felt like a squash, despite it being a handicap match for their Tag Team Champions.
Match Rating: *3/4
This was a solid enough episode overall that did a decent job building towards the Royal Rumble. I'm not 100% sure that the fans are buying Henry yet, but the Royal Rumble is the perfect show to test out challengers at. Finlay continues to be a bright spot early in his run and I'm sure most people enjoyed the No Holds Barred match more than I did.
Overall Rating: 60%
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