JUNE 17, 2004 - SMACKDOWN!
It feels like it's been over a hundred days since the last WWE program, but it's really only been three
Tonight on SmackDown!, we find out who will join Shelton Benjamin in the semifinals of the King of the Ring tournament as The Rock and Brock Lesnar do battle one last time in a Last Man Standing Match! Plus, the feud between the Dangerous Alliance and Los Guerreros will come to an end in a brutal Ladder Match!
We kick things off with a handicap match as the Intercontinental Champion, the animal Batista hopes to continue his roll as he takes on Funaki and the one-legged man in the ass-kicking contest Zach Gowan. The babyfaces take an early advantage, double-teaming Bats until he manages to catch Gowan with a spinebuster to set up the Batista Bomb for the win.
The Cruiserweight division is once again on display next as Jamie Noble, Nova, Paul London, and Ultimo Dragon take on Akio, Carlito, Johnny Jeter, and Nunzio. Dragon and Carlito carry most of the match, with Dragon at one point taking offense from all four heels, isolating him from his corner. Eventually, though Paul London manages to make a hot tag to turn things back in his team's favor. And in the end, he hits Akio with Diamond Dust to set up London Calling and the win in a very exciting match.
Matt Morgan is walking by himself backstage when there's an off-screen "Whoosh!" Morgan turns to see Hurricane standing with his hand outstretched. "Citizen Morgan, the Hurricane has been watching you since your debut. You're a very impressive physical specimen, yet you let the supervillain Paul Heyman control your destiny for so long. Whassupwitdat?!?" Morgan tries to answer, but "Never mind all that. Lately, you've been a man without a mission. You have such potential for good, but you need guidance to become the hero you're destined to be. With your power and my Hurri-powers, we could one day be the most unstoppable force on SmackDown! What do you say, Matthew?" There's a long beat while Morgan eyes the bizarre diminuitive superhero. "Yeah, sure, what the hell."
Triple-threat action is up next, but it may as well be another handicap match as Aaron Stevens takes on Theodore Long's Playas' Club proteges, Chris Nowinski and Mark Henry. It looks like there might be trouble in paradise early as Henry and Nowinski exchange blows, but they eventually turn their attention to Stevens, double-teaming him mercilessly. As Stevens starts to get some momentum going, Teddy Long jumps up onto the apron to distract him, allowing Henry to lay him out and hit a big splash for the win.
Over the last several weeks, the Dudley Boyz have tried - and failed - to wrest the World Tag Team Titles back from the Metro Connection. Tonight, it's six-man action as Bubba and D-Von team with their brother Spike to take on Billy, Chris, and John Layfield. Spike and Gunn carry most of the action, with all three heels taking turns teeing off on Spike until Bubba manages to turn things around for the faces, isolating Gunn. Spike winds up taking the fall as Kanyon hits him with I'm Betta Than You for the win.
From his backstage office, Vince McMahon announces a new match for King of the Ring. The loser of tonight's Last Man Standing Match will face off against the man who can retrieve the briefcase with the tag-team title shot in our Ladder Match for a WWE Title shot on SmackDown!
At King of the Ring, Christian will be defending the Cruiserweight Title against his longtime rival Rey Mysterio. Tonight he faces a tune-up match of sorts as he faces Rico. Good match with a couple of nearfalls, but Christian winds up putting Rico away with the Unprettier for the win. After the match, Mysterio springboards into the ring to lay Xian out with the West Coast Pop!
Rey gets to stay in the ring, as he's in a huge tag-team match next. He teams with John Cena against the newly-reformed Hardy Boyz! The crowd is red-hot for this one. Quick tags all around setting up every possible combination in the ring. Matt lays out Rey with a superkick, then all hell breaks loose. While the ref is distracted, Christian hits the ring for a measure of revenge, hitting Rey with an Unprettier allowing WWE Champion Matt Hardy to pick up the cheap win after the match, the three heels pummel the babyfaces.
After the match, the Hardyz grab the microphone. They cut a decent promo on Cena and The Rock, of all people. Matt and Jeff have been "on the cusp" for four long years. Every announcer, every fan talks about how superstardom is right around the corner for them. Well, they're tired of waiting for their opportunity. This beating tonight was a message to the SmackDown! main event scene. We're done waiting - we're coming for your spot! And Matt has a special reminder for Cena. Next week, it's you and me for a spot in the King of the Ring semis, and all it takes is a simple Twist of Fate for your luck to run out! I'm the champion now, and next week, I officially climb out of your shadow!
And now it's time for the first half of tonight's double main event. It's Eddie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero against Billy Kidman and Tajiri one last time... in a Ladder Match! The winners face off against Metro Connection next week for the World Tag Team Titles, and whoever retrieves the briefcase is entered into that huge #1 contender's match at King of the Ring! Los Guerreros take the early edge as Eddie hits a back heel kick on Kidman and Chavo hits a rolling kick on Tajiri. Eddie whips Kidman into a ladder, but Tajiri trips Chavo and hits a rolling kick of his own on Eddie. The Dangerous Alliance hit a double back elbow on Eddie. Tajiri hits a flying cross body, and Kidman climbs halfway up the ladder and nails Chavo with a flying clothesline. Tajiri tries to hiptoss Eddie, but it's reversed, and he hops up to hit a super Frankenseiner on Kidman, sending him to the floor! Tajiri starts to climb up for the briefcase, but he's met at the top by Eddie and Chavo, who send him crashing to the mat with a double superplex! Eddie reaches up and grabs the briefcase! Eddie is going to King of the Ring and Los Guerreros get their title shot!
For months, The Rock and Brock Lesnar have battled each other in a grueling series of matches. Tonight, they meet for the final time in a Last Man Standing Match. Not only that, the winner advances to the SmackDown! final of King of the Ring, making them one of the final four men with a chance at the crown and a guaranteed title shot any time in the next year! Rock slams Lesnar, but gets tripped. Lesnar slams Rock and hits him with a massive lariat. Lesnar goes to suplex Rock on the outside, but Rock reverses it and Lesnar slides across the announce table. He makes it to his feet at six. Rock powerbombs Lesnar, but Lesnar grabs a kendo stick from under the ring and hits a White Russian Legsweep. Rock stays down for an eight count. Lesnar tries to get Rock up for the F-5, but Rock counters it into the Rock Bottom! And Lesnar's not getting up! Rock wins! Rock wins! The crowd erupts as SmackDown! goes off the air. The People's Champion is now two wins away from being the People's King!
We now know that Shelton Benjamin will represent RAW at King of the Ring and that The Rock will be in SmackDown!'s final. Over the next week, their opponents will be decided. Also, by virtue of Eddie's win and Brock's loss tonight, Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar has been officially announced for King of the Ring. That added to Rey Mysterio versus Christian for the Cruiserweight Title and RAW's World Title match between Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho, and King of the Ring is shaping up to be one of the biggest shows of the year! Who knows what will happen over the next week to help shape the rest of that supercard?