[loopydate]

JUNE 24, 2004 - SMACKDOWN!

Just three nights away from King of the Ring, and we've still got one more semifinal berth to decide tonight as WWE Champion Matt Hardy Version 2.0 takes on one of the men he and his brother called out last week, former champion John Cena! Plus, non-title action between Intercontinental Champion Batista and The Rock and a World Tag Team Title match with Los Guerreros challenging the Metro Connection!

Last week, The Hurricane approached Matt Morgan with a proposal - Hurricane would give the youngster the guidance he needs if he would team up with him against the forces of evil. Tonight, Morgan, now named The Blueprint, takes his first step toward heroism as the Superfriends take on Teddy Long's Playas' Club - Mark Henry and Chris Nowinski. The heroes take the early advantage, isolating Nowinski with brawling from Blueprint and martial artistry from Hurricane. The Harvard grad manages to catch Hurricane with a powerslam and tag in Henry. Henry goes to work on Hurricane for a bit until Hurricane tags in someone the World's Strongest Man's size. Blueprint hits the ropes for a big move, but Long trips him! The ref sees it and calls for the DQ. The Playas' Club starts to triple-team the faces when Aaron Stevens, who got laid out by PC last week, rushes in to chase Teddy Long out of the ring. Curiouser and curiouser.

Backstage, Paul Heyman is with Brock Lesnar. Heyman tells the camera that Brock Lesnar has been naked since WrestleMania. For three months, this 300-pound monster has been light. When John Cena took the WWE Title from Lesnar, he ended the most dominant reign in recent memory. And Cena had to squander it against Matt Hardy. And now the brass says that for Brock to earn another shot at the belt, he has to go through Eddie Guerrero at King of the Ring? Brock has annihilated Guerrero before and he's going to do it again. And to give Eddie a glimpse of what's in store for him on Sunday, Lesnar has asked for a match against one of Eddie's luchador amigos, Ultimo Dragon. Let this be a lesson, Eddie. Nothing stands between Brock Lesnar and what is rightfully is. Nothing.

What appears to be a squash waiting to happen turns out to be anything but. Dragon has been languishing in clusterfuck midcard matches for months, and sees tonight as a genuine opportunity to put himself on the radar. Dragon goes right after Lesnar wtih a back suplex and a flying cross body. He misses an elbow, and Lesnar hits a back suplex of his own, then a neckbreaker, and a brutal DVD for two. Lesnar kicks Dragon hard in the chest, but Dragon takes Lesnar down and hits a running senton for two. Tornado DDT for two. Can Dragon pull off the huge upset? Rolling kick, then a stiff high kick. Dragon goes for a clothesline, but Lesnar ducks it and hits a fallaway slam and another Death Valley driver. From there, it's all academic as Lesnar picks up the win with the F-5. After the match, Lesnar continues to pummel Dragon with a series of brutal punches.

Multiple-time World Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz have struggled lately against the Metro Connection and badly need a notch in the W column to work back into the title scene. Tonight, they face the makeshift duo of Carlito and John Layfield. Not surprisingly, the duo's lack of chemistry costs them in the end as Carlito accidentally takes a punch from Layfield which allows D-Von to hit his reverse DDT for the win. After the match, Layfield and Carlito argue until Layfield walks off.

This Sunday night, Rey Mysterio will challenge Christian for the Cruiserweight Title, but tonight he teams with the man Xian beat last week (Rico) to take on Billy Kidman and Tajiri, the Dangerous Alliance! These four put on a tremendous match with lots of near falls, quick tags, and high spots. Eventually, Rey looks about set to finish off Tajiri when Christian blasts Rey from behind with a chair allowing Tajiri to roll him up for the win. After the match, Christian joins Kidman and Tajiri as they brutalize Rey and Rico.

Back from commercial, and Rey is stopped by an interviewer. This match at King of the Ring is going to finally be the end of this rivalry with Christian. Only one man can be Cruiserweight Champion, and since they can't seem to do it cleanly, let's pull out all the stops. Rey Mysterio versus Christian at King of the Ring, the Cruiserweight Title on the line... in a Hardcore Match!

Last week, Los Guerreros beat the Dangerous Alliance in a Ladder Match to earn a shot at the Metro Connection's World Tag Team Titles tonight. Eddie has got to be aware that Brock Lesnar will be watching this match, looking for any sign of weakness before their big match Sunday at King of the Ring. Vince McMahon has called that match a #1 contender's match, so the stakes are insanely high. But first, Eddie and his nephew Chavo have to make it through Billy Gunn and Chris Kanyon in this title match. Los Guerreros work over Kanyon early until a double hot-tag spot brings in Eddie and Gunn. Eddie looks ready to put Gunn away, but Paul Heyman makes another appearance, distracting Eddie, allowing Gunn to sneak up and hit the Fameasser to retain the belts! Heyman must be out here on Lesnar's behalf, and he's cost Eddie the World Tag Team Titles! After the match, Eddie and Chavo get a small measure of revenge against Gunn and Kanyon.

Three out of the final four in the King of the Ring tournament have already been determined. The RAW final will feature Shelton Benjamin against Chris Benoit. We also know that The Rock will face the winner of our next contest - John Cena against the WWE Champion Matt Hardy Version 2.0! These two have had a storied rivalry, and the crowd is red hot for what winds up being a decent match. Matt winds up laying Cena out with a punch, but collapses. The ref checks on him and doesn't notice Jeff Hardy race to ringside and ascend the turnbuckles, blasting Cena with the Swanton Bomb! Matt drags himself on top of Cena for the cheap victory. Matt's going to King of the Ring! After the match, Cena chases off both Hardy Boyz and grabs the microphone.

He issues a challenge. If Jeff Hardy wants to get in on his business like this, Cena's going to make Hardy his business. You want my spot? Come and get it! The match is on for King of the Ring!

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon appears on the TitanTron and announces that Matt Hardy Version 2.0 has officially been added to the King of the Ring semifinals against The Rock! Rock versus Hardy and Benjamin versus Benoit in three nights!

In tonight's non-title main event, Intercontinental Champion Batista takes on the man one of SmackDown!'s King of the Ring finalists, The Rock! These two match up pretty well from a physical standpoint, and "physical" is a great way to describe the contest. In the end, though, The Rock is just too much for the up-and-coming IC Champion and puts him away with the Rock Bottom to send the crowd home happy.