Sunday, February 19th, 2006
1st Mariner Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
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Cruiserweight Open For The Cruiserweight Championship
Gregory Helms vs. Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Paul London vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Funaki vs. Super Crazy vs. Psicosis vs. Nunzio vs. Kid Kash
Helms slides out of the ring and everyone goes to work as he watches on the outside. The Mexicools knock London and Kendrick out of the ring and launch themselves over the top rope onto both of them. London hits a hurricanrana, but then immediately eats a missile dropkick from Super Crazy. I get the storyline for the match, but this type of thing is really hard to pull off. Kid Kash has a nicely executed spot where he launches himself over the top rope and hits a hurricanrana on Psicosis. London and Kendrick then get a chance to use their teamwork and hit a double crossbody off the top rope to the floor. Super Crazy is looking to join the fun outside, but Helms shuts it down. He misses with a Shining Wizard and Crazy gets a nearfall. They all trade big moves, as they often like to do in these multi-man matches. Scotty hits the Worm, but Psicosis saves the pinfall. Kash hits the Dead Level, but then Crazy hits a Senton. Helms comes in and steals the victory. The ending was predictable, but the action was good. After the match, Helms gets chased to the back by his opponents.
Match Rating: **3/4
Booker T is all fired up and saying that he's not ready to go out there yet. Teddy Long says that he looks 100% to him. Sharmell and Booker both get down on their knees to beg. Teddy says that either he fights tonight or he forfeits the title. Sharmell was really good here and continues to be an unsung hero.
Kristal is interrupted by Finlay, who says that since he doesn't have a fight tonight, he'll pick a fight. So he picks up Kristal and takes her to the ring. Out comes Bobby Lashley to make the save and they start going at it. JBL's music hits and he's out in his limo.
Bobby Lashley vs. JBL
I have to say, I do not remember the Finlay brawl at all. Lashley is all over JBL to begin and to JBL's credit, he is selling big time for the new star. The action spills outside and Lashley hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Lashley goes for the Dominator, but JBL throws him through the ropes. As Lashley is walking back in, he is greeted with a boot to the face. JBL hits a couple of swinging neckbreakers and elbow drops. This match is longer than I remember it being. JBL puts on the sleeper and he's not only putting Lashley under, but I'm getting close to tapping out here as well. JBL goes up top, but Lashley catches him for a powerslam. Lashley hits more belly-to-belly suplexes and JBL is busted open. Lashley goes for a Dominator, but JBL slides out. He goes for a Clothesline From Hell, but Lashley catches him for a T-Bone Suplex, but JBL kicks out of the pin attempt. Out comes Finlay and he helps create a distraction. He hits Lashley with the shillelagh in the head. JBL follows it up with the Clothesline From Hell and hands Lashley his first singles defeat. Lashley looked dominant here, even in defeat. This kind of felt like more of a TV angle, but it was by no means bad overall.
Match Rating: **1/4
Tony Chimel announces a special guest and it's none other than Batista. He says the first reason he is here is to see Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker and the second reason is to see the SmackDown fans. The third reason he is here is to tell us his torn bicep isn't torn anymore.
Randy Orton walks into Kurt Angle's locker room to talk trash. Kurt fires back and says that he is focused on Undertaker.
MNM vs. Matt Hardy & Tatanka
This is a non-title match for whatever reason. Tatanka came out to a very minimal reaction. Hardy and Tatanka get the early advantage and show off a little bit of teamwork, causing MNM to retreat outside the ring. Hardy counters a double suplex and hits a double neckbreaker. He tags in Tatanka and he greets MNM with some chops and fists. The action spills outside and Melina rakes Tatanka's eyes behind the referee's back. Nitro then hits him with a dropkick off the apron and they isolate Tatanka in the corner. Tatanka is able to pull off a clothesline and make the tag to Hardy. Hardy hits a running bulldog/clothesline combo and a Side Effect. Mercury counters a Twist Of Fate and Nitro hits him with a superkick. Hardy fires back with a double clothesline and tags in Tatanka. He hits a double top rope chop. He hits End Of The Trail and Hardy hits the Twist Of Fate and they gain the victory over the champs. This was a decent match that they slowly won over the crowd by working hard.
Match Rating: **3/4
United States Championship Match
Chris Benoit vs. Booker T
Before the match, Booker has Teddy Long out and then declares that he is forfeiting the title. Benoit grabs the mic and chants "Coward" as he is walking to the back. Benoit says that he isn't going to accept the title like this and he tells Booker to come in the ring right now. Sharmell starts yelling at him and begins slapping him. Booker then comes from behind and attacks him and we are underway. Benoit ducks a leg lariat and goes to work. We have a sloppy spot where Booker goes for a pin by putting his feet on the ropes, but they just fall over. They recover nicely though and they are outside the ring. Benoit throws Booker into the steps, but after some stalling Booker pulls Benoit into the steps. After some rest holds by Booker, Benoit fights out with some elbows and hits a German suplex. He tries for a Crippler Crossface, but we are back to Booker and rest holds. Booker hits a few vertical suplexes and gets a 2 count. Benoit tries to build some momentum, but he runs into a Booker boot in the corner. Booker goes for the Scissor Kick, but Benoit moves and hits more chops. Benoit hits the Three Amigos and gets a nearfall. Booker is able to slow him down again and hits a spinning leg lariat. Booker climbs the ropes, but Benoit is there and hits a superplex. Booker hits a big spinebuster and again goes up top. He goes for the somersault leg drop, but Benoit rolls out of the way. Benoit now hits his trio of German suplexes and he goes up to the top. Sharmell distracts him on the apron and Booker crotches him. Booker hits the Scissor Kick, but Benoit kicks out. The crowd is finally starting to wake up. Benoit tries to go for the Sharpshooter, but Booker kicks out and Benoit's momentum knocks Sharmell off the apron. He gets Booker into the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring and then switches into the Crippler Crossface for the victory. I probably should re-watch their WCW series before saying this, but I will say it anyways. I always felt that the chemistry between Booker and Benoit was overrated. For the most part this match was slow and paint by the numbers. I believe Booker was actually nursing a real injury here and that may be part of it. Either way, this was just very average to me.
Match Rating: **1/2
After showing Sharmell and Booker limping back to the locker rom, Benoit celebrates with Rey backstage. After that the rest of the babyface roster is there and also notably Pat Patterson. Chavo and Vickie are there and they congratulate him as well. He then tells Rey to do this for Eddie. Rey hugs Vickie.
WrestleMania #1 Contender Match
Randy Orton vs. Rey Mysterio
Despite the terrible build for this match, the crowd is 100% behind Rey. They would have been without the terrible Eddie story. As bad as it all is, Randy is very easy to dislike. I know after so many years you have to switch things up, but it's kind of amazing that they ever felt like he could play the face role. Mysterio hits a nice bulldog early on and has Orton reeling. Orton is able to move out of the way of a springboard crossbody and slows things down. Orton mocks Eddie Guerrero by slapping his shoulder. WWE sometimes just doesn't know when to stop themselves, do they? Mysterio hits the tilt-a-whirl headscissors and it sends Orton out of the ring. He goes for the seated senton off the apron, but Orton catches him and swings him into the ring post. Orton hits an awesome variation of a neckbreaker and gets a 2 count. He goes for it again, but this time Mysterio hits an arm drag that sends Orton rolling out again and he is selling his shoulder. Mysterio hits a drop toe hold and Orton hits the second turnbuckle. Mysterio climbs to the top rope, but Orton gets there first and puts him on his shoulders for a super electric chair. Rey battles out and hits sunset flip powerbomb and almost gets the pinfall. Mysterio hits a springboard senton and a reverse blockbuster. Orton catches Mysterio's moonsault, but he spins around and drives Orton to the mat. Mysterio goes off the top rope, but Orton hits him with a standing dropkick. Orton is ready for the RKO, but Mysterio hits a dropkick. Orton baits him into a 619, moves out of the way and rolls him up for the victory. I remember knowing that this was going to happen, but at the same time was still stunned they actually would. The crowd agrees. Good match, but the Eddie stuff hurts it and Rey was having great matches with anyone with a pulse.
Match Rating: ***1/2
After the match, Orton grabs the mic and tells him that he's going to WrestleMania. He asks Mysterio where he's going and drops the mic. Mysterio is an emotional wreck and is beside himself. After Cole and Tazz dissect the situation, they show Mysterio apologizing to Vickie and Chavo. Chavo tells him to keep his chin up and that he didn't let anyone down. This just all feels way too close to home.
World Heavyweight Championship Match
Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker
Taker targets the left arm and shoulder of Angle early on. We get the dueling "Let's go Taker"/"Let's go Angle" chants and Taker is definitely appealing to the Cena segment. I'm not sure if this is a hot take or anything, but I'll take Cena over Taker any day of the week. Taker misses with a boot in the corner and then Angle bounces him off the apron and he lands hard into the barricade. Angle leaps off the apron, but Taker catches him and drives him into the ring post. Taker follows that up with a guillotine leg drop and gets a 2 count. Angle ducks a clothesline and clips the knee of Taker and then slams it on the ring post. Angle then does the Figure Four on the ring post. Taker tries to make a comeback and goes for another guillotine leg drop, but this time Angle catches it and puts him in an Ankle Lock outside the ring. He rolls in the ring to break the count and rolls right back out to put him in it again. Back in the ring he works on the leg until Taker is able to break the hold. Angle takes him right back down. This time Taker counters it with a triangle choke until Angle gets his foot on the bottom rope. They end up outside the ring again and Taker throws Angle into Tony Chimel for whatever reason. Angle is able to hit an Angle Slam through a table and both men are down. Taker throws Angle into the steps. Back into the ring, Taker is up top. Angle tries to stop him, but he knocks him back to the mat. Angle climbs the ropes and hits a suplex off the top for a nearfall. Taker goes for a chokeslam, but Angle rolls through and turns it into an Ankle Lock in the middle of the ring. Taker counters that into a triangle choke. Angle again rolls through and turns it into an Ankle Lock again. Taker is out and hits a chokeslam and the crowd bought the nearfall on that one. Taker goes for the Last Ride, but again Angle rolls through and into the Ankle Lock. Undertaker again kicks out, but this time Angle hits an Angle Slam for another close call. Taker is going for the Tombstone, but Angle flips him over and then Taker flips it back. Angle takes it from there and turns it into yet another Ankle Lock. Taker is able to get another triangle choke and Angle looks to be out. Nick Patrick checks his arm and on the third drop, Angle snaps out of it and jumps through and gets a pinfall victory while Taker still has the hold on. Patrick lets Chimel know that Angle was the victor by pin and Taker isn't happy with it. He lifts Angle up and throws him in the corner and tells Angle that he's not done with him. Kind of a weird ending there and the show is off the air. This was a very good main event, although I will have to say not as good as I had remembered.
Match Rating: ****
Outside of the terrible Eddie Guerrero storyline with Randy Orton, nothing was actively bad on this show. Every match but one got 10 minutes or more and that helped with the overall quality of the show. None of the first four matches are worth seeking out, but both of the headliner matches delivered enough to make this one a thumbs up overall.
Overall Rating: 71%
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