[loopydate]

SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 - UNFORGIVEN

For the first time in recent memory, possibly in WWE history, the curtain of a WWE pay-per-view is going to be jerked... by a World Title Match! A-Train has earned tonight's shot by winning a 27-man tournament over the last several weeks on RAW. Sean O'Haire clearly doesn't take his challenger seriously. Could this come back to bite him?

World Title Match - A-Train vs. Sean O'Haire (c)

Sean O'Haire with a spinning neckbreaker on A-Train. Full nelson slam on A-Train. Cover for a two count. Sean O'Haire misses a clothesline. A-Train strikes Sean O'Haire. A-Train strikes Sean O'Haire. Hooks the leg for a two count. Flapjack from A-Train on O'Haire. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Running clothesline from A-Train, sloppily done. O'Haire counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Nice piledriver on A-Train. Hooks the leg for a two count. Sean O'Haire scores with a standing spinebuster. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Rude Awakening on A-Train by O'Haire. Stiff chop lights up A-Train. A-Train pushes out of a Sean O'Haire hold. A-Train hits a right hand on Sean O'Haire. A-Train turns O'Haire inside-out with a clothesline. Big Show comes running down the aisle with a chair! O'Haire and A-Train continue fighting, unaware of the intrusion. Big Show slides in and prepares to swing the chair...but A-Train moves! Show accidentally blasts O'Haire with a chair to the head! A-Train throws Show out of the ring! A-Train moves in for the kill. Here it comes - Train Wreck. 1....2...3, it's finished. Sean O'Haire slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Show turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. **1\2 rating. Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling.

Overall Rating: 72%
Crowd Reaction: 86%
Match Quality: 67%

A couple of weeks ago, Natural Born Ministry members Undertaker and Damien issued an open challenge to any tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment. It was unexpectedly answered by SmackDown! Superstars Paul London and Rico.

Paul London and Rico vs. Damien and Undertaker

Damien takes a kick to the chest, and staggers back. Rico hits a spinning back kick. Cover for a two count. Damien ducks a wild right hand. Damien bodyslams Rico. Damien hits a stump piledriver on Rico. Tag between Damien and Undertaker. Rico takes a right hand to the temple from Undertaker. Rico counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Rico tags out to Paul London. Rico \ London whip Undertaker into the corner. Rico whips Paul London in for a hard clothesline to follow-up. London uses a basement dropkick to the knee. There's a two count on the pin. Lightning kick by London on Undertaker. London tags out to Rico. Flying knee to the face from Rico. Is it Mutoh Appreciation Night? Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Undertaker pushes out of a Rico hold. Undertaker tags out to Damien. Back elbow connects, Rico staggers backward. Damien moves in for the kill. Chokeslam!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! Almost a *** rating, but there were some bits that dragged, so **3\4 instead.

Overall Rating: 67%
Crowd Reaction: 76%
Match Quality: 73%

Two of the fastest-rising stars in World Wrestling Entertainment are RAW's Randy Orton and Shelton Benjamin. Both men are looking to make a name for themselves as bona fide main eventers, and tonight they look to do so at the other's expense.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Randy Orton

Stiff chop lights up Shelton. Randy Orton fires off some right and left hands. Fallaway slam by Randy Orton. Flying shoulder tackle by Orton sends Shelton to the mat. Shelton Benjamin reverses a hip toss. Big clothesline on Orton. Spinebuster by Shelton Benjamin. Cover for a two count. Randy Orton avoids a Shelton Benjamin avalanche. Randy Orton hits a bulldog off the ropes. Cover for a two count. Double Arm DDT by Orton, Shelton got destroyed. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Shelton reverses a Randy Orton hammerlock. Shelton Benjamin fires off some right and left hands. Orton blocks a kick from Shelton Benjamin. Big clothesline on Shelton. Shelton Benjamin is in trouble. RKO!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! It gets a ***1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 76%
Crowd Reaction: 86%
Match Quality: 85%

Since losing his United States Title to the 2004 King of the Ring Chris Benoit, Rob Van Dam has been out for revenge. He's got his shot tonight.

United States Title Match - Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Benoit (c)

Chris Benoit snap suplexes RVD...with authority! ('With authority', trademark G.Monsoon 1986.) Doctor Bomb, RVD is hurt. Hooks the leg for a two count. RVD counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. RVD hits a massive spinning kick to the jaw. Hard back suplex on Benoit. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? There's a two count on the pin. Back heel kick off the second rope, Benoit goes flying. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. RVD uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Chris Benoit takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. RVD walks into a killer lariat. There's a two count on the pin. Devastating Tiger Driver 91 very nearly crushes the neck of RVD. Misawa is probably laughing with glee at the moment. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. RVD gets caught with a short powerbomb from Benoit. Big forearm by Chris Benoit, ripping a page from the NOAH playbook. RVD powers out of a headlock. RVD uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Back heel kick off the second rope, Benoit goes down. Chris Benoit gets whipped into the corner by RVD, who charges in with a clothesline. Benoit grabs the referee and pulls him in the way! The referee calls for the DQ as he collapses to the mat in pain. Chris Benoit gets out of the ring and walks off, having taken the cheap way out. I don't think the fight has finished. Rob Van Dam and Benoit have begun brawling again! They wind up brawling all the way down the aisle and out of view. **1\2 rating for a decent contest.

Overall Rating: 69%
Crowd Reaction: 83%
Match Quality: 64%

With a surprising new World Champion, tonight's matchup between Rhyno and Chris Jericho could go a long way toward determining a pecking order among challengers for A-Train. This rivalry has become very personal, and they'll look to blow off some steam tonight.

Rhyno vs. Chris Jericho

Rhyno slams Chris Jericho. Rhyno hits a right hand. Big clothesline on Jericho. Rhyno with a spinning neckbreaker on Jericho. Rhyno only gets knees on a splash. Hard back suplex on Rhyno. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Jericho crushes Rhyno with a running senton. There's a two count on the pin. Rhyno fights out of a grapple. Jericho walks into a spike slam. Cover for a two count. Powerbomb on Jericho. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Jericho reverses a waistlock. Jericho hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Rhyno ducks a clothesline attempt. Rhyno with a spinning neckbreaker on Jericho. Chris Jericho can barely stand. Here it comes - Gore. 1....2...3, it's finished. Chris Jericho slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Rhyno turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. I can't decide whether it's a *** or a ***1\2 match...let's go for a ***1\4 rating to make it fair.

Overall Rating: 77%
Crowd Reaction: 90%
Match Quality: 80%

Recently, Tajiri has made it his mission to make John Cena's life a living hell. Cena looks to bounce back in our next contest.

John Cena vs. Tajiri

Tajiri receives some punishment. John Cena hits some punches. Back elbow connects, Tajiri staggers backward. Bodyslam by Cena. Tajiri counters a sleeper hold by turning it into a jaw breaker. Legsweep out of Nowhere. Where is Nowhere, and why do moves keep coming out of there? Does it have a factory? Tajiri crushes Cena with a running senton. Cover for a two count. Cena blocks a kick from Tajiri. Spear by John Cena. Hooks the leg for a two count. John Cena scores with a standing spinebuster. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. John Cena misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Tajiri bodyslams John Cena. John Cena powers out of a Tajiri headlock. Fallaway slam by John Cena. John Cena moves in for the kill. F-U! 1....2....3. I don't think the fight has finished. John Cena and Tajiri have begun brawling again! They wind up brawling all the way down the aisle and out of view. A good *** rating.

Overall Rating: 78%
Crowd Reaction: 92%
Match Quality: 77%

Eddie Guerrero had hoped for a match against his rival Christian tonight, but Christian's recent injury has postponed that match until No Mercy. Will that contest be for the Intercontinental Title? Jeff Hardy will certainly be trying to make it not so as he defends the gold.

Intercontinental Title Match - Eddie Guerrero vs. Jeff Hardy (c)

Dropkick connects, Eddie goes down. Eddie Guerrero ducks a clothesline attempt. Eddie hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. The referee bumps after catching a wild right hand and is down. Springboard dropkick from Eddie Guerrero. Nicely done. Hooks the leg, but the referee is still out. Hardy drops out the back of a Eddie Guerrero bodyslam attempt. Spin kick by Jeff Hardy to the face. Flying reverse elbow by Jeff Hardy. Cover for a two count. Back heel kick off the second rope, Eddie goes down. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Eddie backdrops Jeff Hardy out of a piledriver attempt. Flying reverse elbow by Eddie Guerrero. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Hardy counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Jeff Hardy floors Eddie Guerrero...and climbs the turnbuckles. Through the air, Swanton Bomb! 1....2....3. I'll give it a **1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 71%
Crowd Reaction: 87%
Match Quality: 63%

Rey Mysterio has long made a career out of being a giant killer. But tonight he faces possibly the most dangerous giant of all-time, the monstrous Brock Lesnar!

Rey Mysterio vs. Brock Lesnar

Rey Mysterio scores with a back heel kick on Lesnar. Rey hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Hard back suplex on Lesnar. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Second rope flying axe handle, Lesnar goes down. Brock Lesnar ducks a clothesline attempt. Brock Lesnar with a spinning neckbreaker on Rey. Big piledriver on Rey. Cover for a two count. Rey Mysterio reverses a hip toss. Lesnar takes a hurrancarana from Rey Mysterio. Cover for a two count. Springboard dropkick from Rey Mysterio. Nicely done. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Lesnar pushes out of a Rey Mysterio hold. Chanelling the spirit of Misawa, Brock Lesnar uses a forearm to the face. Rey Mysterio elbows Brock Lesnar in the face to break a hammerlock. Lesnar takes a flying neckbreaker from Rey Mysterio. Brock Lesnar can barely stand. 6-1-9! 1....2....3. Brock Lesnar goes nuts, screaming and yelling at everyone within earshot. I can't decide whether it's a *** or a ***1\2 match...let's go for a ***1\4 rating to make it fair.

Overall Rating: 82%
Crowd Reaction: 99%
Match Quality: 76%

We opened the show tonight with a World Title match, and we'll be ending it with the WWE Championship. The longest-reigning champion of the last year, The Rock, looks to get his gold from Matt Hardy Version 2.0 who has been dominant since winning the belt from Rock's friend and tag team partner John Cena.

WWE Title Match - The Rock vs. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 (c)

Matt Hardy Version 2.0 scores with a back heel kick on Rock. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 fires off some right and left hands. Rude Awakening on The Rock by Matt. Matt uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Rock reverses a Matt Hardy Version 2.0 hammerlock. Big clothesline on Matt. Full nelson slam on Matt. Hooks the leg for a two count. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 elbows The Rock in the face to break a hammerlock. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. There's a two count on the pin. Back heel kick off the second rope, Rock goes down. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. The Rock avoids a Matt Hardy Version 2.0 avalanche. Matt takes a headbutt from The Rock. Matt powers out of a headlock. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 hits a rolling kick on Rock. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 has The Rock down on the canvas and is ascending the corner. Off the top - Middle-Rope Legdrop, forget about it. 1....2...3! Matt Hardy Version 2.0 goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory I can't decide whether it's a *** or a ***1\2 match...let's go for a ***1\4 rating to make it fair.

Overall Rating: 82%
Crowd Reaction: 100%
Match Quality: 76%