[loopydate]

JULY 25, 2004 - VENGEANCE

For the second straight month, the pay-per-view preshow match pits Edge against Undertaker. These two have had a disappointing feud that I was hoping would push Undertaker back up the ranks, but Edge's overness is actually dropping moreso than UT's is rising.

Edge vs. Undertaker

Big backdrop on Undertaker, executed well. Edge hits a bulldog off the ropes. Cover for a two count. Undertaker counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Undertaker hits a right hand on Edge. Undertaker with a badly-executed spinning neckbreaker on Edge. Hooks the leg for a two count. Side suplex from Undertaker. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Edge takes a right hand to the temple from Undertaker. Edge counters a sleeper hold by turning it into a jaw breaker. Edge hits a bulldog off the ropes. Hooks the leg for a two count. Powerbomb on Undertaker. Pin, but Undertaker is out just before the three count. Bodyslam by Edge. Edge hits a right hand. Undertaker kicks Edge in the gut to reverse the momentum. Big kick from Undertaker. Flapjack from Undertaker on Edge. Edge hooks up a suplex, but Undertaker flips out and lands on his feet, and quickly grabs the tights to score with a school boy pin! 1...2..3! The referee somehow missed the blatant cheating! The fight has started up again! Edge attacks Undertaker, and they brawl all around ringside, then into the crowd! They eventually disappear backstage, still fighting. ** rating for this one. Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling.

Overall Rating: 62%
Crowd Reaction: 63%
Match Quality: 63%

Last month, Shelton Benjamin handed the Ministry's rookie monster Damien his first WWE defeat. Since then, Damien has been hell-bent (no pun intended) on destroying Benjamin and getting his win back.

Shelton Benjamin vs. Damien

Shelton Benjamin snap suplexes Damien. Damien powers out of a headlock. Damien slams Shelton Benjamin. The referee bumps after catching a wild right hand and is down. Damien scores with a standing spinebuster. Pinfall attempt, but the ref is conveniently laid out. Shelton Benjamin reverses a hip toss. Shelton Benjamin snap suplexes Damien...with authority! ('With authority', trademark G.Monsoon 1986.) Doctor Bomb, Damien landed hard. Cover for a two count. Shelton Benjamin plants Damien with an exploder suplex. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Shelton Benjamin misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Spinebuster by Damien. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Damien misses a clothesline. Damien gets whipped into the corner by Shelton, who charges in with a clothesline. Damien grabs the referee and pulls him in the way! The referee calls for the DQ as he collapses to the mat in pain. Damien gets out of the ring and walks off, having taken the cheap way out. Damien looks furious. The referee walks over...and gets blasted with a clothesline! Damien has lost it! *** rating, as it was good, but nothing too special.

Overall Rating: 84%
Crowd Reaction: 88%
Match Quality: 78%

Since his shocking return earlier this month, Randy Orton has dominated both RAW and SmackDown! Proclaiming himself the biggest free agent in wrestling, Orton has bounced back and forth between both shows, destroying everyone who crossed his path. Along the way, SmackDown!'s resident superhero The Hurricane decided that Orton is the biggest superhero in WWE and has vowed to stop him.

The Hurricane vs. Randy Orton

Orton receives some punishment. Hurricane hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Orton takes a flying neckbreaker from The Hurricane. Orton takes a flying neckbreaker from The Hurricane. Randy Orton comes up with a right hand out of nowhere. Flying shoulder tackle by Orton sends Hurricane to the mat. Powerful Spear by Randy Orton. Hooks the leg for a two count. The Hurricane ducks a clothesline attempt. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. Hooks the leg for a two count. Power drive elbow by The Hurricane. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Orton powers out of a headlock. Randy Orton fires off some right and left hands. The Hurricane takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Hard back suplex on Orton. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Randy Orton can barely stand. Eye Of The Hurricane! 1....2....3. The Hurricane extends his hand to Orton...but it is ignored! I'll give this a ***1\4 rating.

Overall Rating: 84%
Crowd Reaction: 86%
Match Quality: 81%

A few weeks back, Tajiri won a triple threat to earn a title shot at Rey Mysterio's Cruiserweight Title. Christian blames Rico for taking the fall in that contest, leading to tonight's contest.

Rico vs. Christian

Spinning back kick from Rico. Rico strikes Christian. Hard back suplex on Christian. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Hard back suplex on Christian. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Christian fights out of a grapple. Big backdrop on Rico, executed well. Tiger bomb by Christian, although no mention is made of whether it originated in Pearl River. There's a two count on the pin. Rico kicks Christian in the gut to reverse the momentum. Super kick by Rico. There's a two count on the pin. Springboard dropkick from Rico. Nicely done. Pin, but Christian is out just before the three count. Rico only gets knees on a splash. Chanelling the spirit of Misawa, Christian uses a forearm to the face. Rico pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Rico hits a dropkick on Christian. Christian can barely stand. Spinning Kick! 1....2....3. This one gets a ***1\4 rating, it was a good bout.

Overall Rating: 88%
Crowd Reaction: 93%
Match Quality: 78%

Over the last several weeks, WWE Tag Team Champions Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho have been at odds with fellow ECW alumni Rhyno and Rob Van Dam. Tonight, the titles are on the line in a Hardcore Match!

Hardcore Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles - Rhyno and Rob Van Dam vs. Canadian Violence (c)

Fallaway slam by Rhyno. Shining Wizard on Benoit, RVD really laid that one in. RVD \ Rhyno hook up Jericho, then hit a double suplex. Rhyno slams Chris Benoit onto the table. Chris Jericho reverses a hip toss. Chris Benoit snap suplexes Rhyno...with authority! ('With authority', trademark G.Monsoon 1986.) Benoit uses a table as a ram on Rhyno. Tiger suplex on RVD, right from out of the Misawa playbook. Double arm suplex by Chris Benoit, Rhyno hits hard. Rhyno is all alone...Crossface Walls Combo!! 1....2....3! A ****1\4 rating, great bout.

Overall Rating: 91%
Crowd Reaction: 91%
Match Quality: 92%

As mentioned earlier, Tajiri earned a shot at Rey Mysterio's Cruiserweight Title tonight, and this looks to be a strong budding rivalry

Cruiserweight Title Match - Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Tajiri

Tajiri strikes Rey. Rey Mysterio fights out of a grapple. Tajiri walks into a high dropkick from Rey Mysterio. Rey whips Tajiri into the turnbuckles...and predictably, the referee gets sandwiched. Tajiri walks into a face crusher variation. Pinfall attempt, but the ref is conveniently laid out. Tajiri fights out of a grapple. Rey takes a flying neckbreaker from Tajiri. 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. Diamond Dust from Tajiri, Rey is out. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Rey powers out of a headlock. Super kick by Rey Mysterio. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Tajiri pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Rey Mysterio gets whipped into the corner by Tajiri, and flips all the way over to the outside! Rey stays down on the outside, hurt. The referee reaches a ten count, and this one is over. Tajiri slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Rey turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. A **** rating for a good contest.

Overall Rating: 90%
Crowd Reaction: 92%
Match Quality: 87%

Sean O'Haire has been chasing World Champion Kurt Angle for weeks, playing mindgames with the champion. Tonight, he finally gets what he wants - a shot at the gold!

World Title Match - Kurt Angle (c) vs. Sean O'Haire

Angle receives some punishment. Angle gets slammed. Big clothesline on Angle. Bodyslam by O'Haire. Angle pushes out of a Sean O'Haire hold. Running knee lift from Kurt Angle. Powerful Spear by Kurt Angle. Cover for a two count. O'Haire counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Massive backbreaker, Angle got planted. Early reports indicate that the back was *not* actually broken, so the move's name should actually be backhurter. There's a two count on the pin. Death valley driver by Sean O'Haire, Kurt Angle got planted. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Sean O'Haire misses a clothesline. Angle slams Sean O'Haire. Angle only gets knees on a splash. Bodyslam by O'Haire. Kurt Angle tries to get a big slam, but it is blocked when O'Haire goes to the eyes! Sean O'Haire quickly scores with a field-goal kick between the legs! Kurt Angle collapses! The referee didn't see the illegal blow! 1...2...3! Kurt Angle got screwed! Sean O'Haire leaves the ring and heads off down the aisle at speed. O'Haire has the victory, and isn't hanging around for Kurt Angle to look for revenge. Almost a *** rating, but there were some bits that dragged, so **3\4 instead.

Overall Rating: 80%
Crowd Reaction: 84%
Match Quality: 73%

All month long, The Hardy Boyz have been trying to prove their supremacy atop SmackDown!, drawing the ire of The Rock and John Cena. Up next, a fatal fourway match for Matt's WWE Title!

Fatal Fourway for the WWE Title - John Cena vs. The Rock vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 (c)

Cena walks into a high dropkick from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Hard back suplex on Cena. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Cover for a two count. Cena counters a backdrop attempt with a kick to the face. Cena tags out to Jeff Hardy. Hardy hits a dropkick on Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Matt reverses an irish whip...and Jeff Hardy runs into the referee. Springboard dropkick from Jeff Hardy. Nicely done. Pinfall attempt, but the ref is conveniently laid out. Hardy hits a dropkick on Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Matt blocks the suplex attempt. Tag between Matt Hardy Version 2.0 and The Rock. Big piledriver on Hardy. The Rock with a spinning neckbreaker on Hardy. Rock drops an elbow...but misses. Fate can be so cruel. Spin kick by Jeff Hardy to the face. Power drive elbow by Jeff Hardy. Hardy tags out to Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Matt hits a dropkick on The Rock. Vicious kick to the teeth from Matt Hardy Version 2.0. The Rock can barely stand. Twist Of Fate! 1....2....3. *** rating for a good bout.

Overall Rating: 83%
Crowd Reaction: 88%
Match Quality: 73%

During the preshow, SmackDown! General Manager Steve Austin shuffled the card around a bit, deciding that the match with the best chance of being MotN was our following contest - a rematch between hated rivals Eddie Guerrero and Brock Lesnar. Thus, it's now our main event!

Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar

Spinning back kick from Eddie Guerrero. Spinning back kick from Eddie Guerrero. Driven DDT by Eddie Guerrero. The ring shook violently, instantly making it better at selling than some of the current roster. Spin kick by Eddie Guerrero to the face. Brock Lesnar elbows Eddie Guerrero in the face to break a hammerlock. Eddie gets caught with a short powerbomb from Lesnar. Lesnar hits a stump piledriver on Eddie Guerrero. There's a two count on the pin. Eddie Guerrero fights out of a grapple. Eddie crushes Lesnar with a big legdrop. Hooks the leg for a two count. Tiger suplex on Lesnar, right from out of the Misawa playbook. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Brock Lesnar pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Eddie receives some punishment. Brock Lesnar gets taken down out of nowhere. Eddie uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Eddie Guerrero has Brock Lesnar down on the canvas and is ascending the corner. Off the top - Frog Splash, forget about it. 1....2...3! Eddie Guerrero goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory *** rating, as it was good, but nothing too special.

Overall Rating: 87%
Crowd Reaction: 93%
Match Quality: 75%