Smackdown! Spoilers

[CBright7831 0]

WWE Smackdown Tapings

Roanoke Civic Center

Roanoke, VA 3/8/05

by John Massey

 

 

Here are the results of tonight's Smackdown tapings in Roanoke, Virginia (taped 3/8/05 to air 3/10/05):

 

The show opened with the Kid Rock video altered with a historical Wrestlemania twist.

 

No dark matches.

 

Velocity:

 

1) Joey Matthews and Johnny Nitro defeated Nunzio and Shannon Moore in about 6 minutes when Nitro pinned Nunzio after a tag team DDT.

 

2) The Bashman Brothers defeated Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas. Holly had Danny Bashman up on his head and Doug kicked Holly in the head, which lead to Danny rolling over for the pinfall in about 8 minutes.

 

3) Spike Dudley defeated Scotty 2 Hotty in seven minutes. After an unsuccessful Worm attempt, Spike rolled up Scotty and held on to the tights for the pin.

 

Chavo Guerrero Jr. then made his way out for commentary.

 

4) Paul London defeated Akio in a #1 Contender Cruiserweight match. Very good match that went about thirteen minutes. The finish saw Akio go for a top rope hurrancanrana and London reverse out of it with a roll through for the pin.

 

The Eugene Hollywood Wrestlemania Video aired. As this aired, production changed the set over to Smackdown.

 

Michael Cole and Tazz then made their way out.

 

Smackdown:

 

There was no opening at the beginning.

 

1) Booker T. defeated Heidenreich in a no disqualification match in 9 minutes. This could air at any point on the show since it was taped prior to the opening of Smackdown. Booker won after nailing the Green Machine with a harlem hangover, sidekick and then a vicious chairshot. Not bad considering one of the parties involved and Booker did his best to carry his opponent to a decent match.

 

The HHH/Batista Wrestlemania Promo aired.

 

The Smackdown opening was then shown. A video package recapped last week's events with JBL, John Cena and Orlando Jordan.

 

JBL & the Cabinet In-Ring Promo

-This was about a fifteen minute segment. JBL and company made their way to the ring. JBL talked about last week's events and how Orlando Jordan is the greatest athlete in Smackdown history. He then challenged Eddie Guerrero and Rey Misterio Jr. to a tag team title match later on in the night. He said that JBL and Jordan would take two more belts by the end of the night. JBL then talked about Cena's disrespect for the United States title by customizing the belt saying "That's something kids do to their cars when they should be saving their money for their education: pathetic!" JBL then dropped the belt into a trash can and they blew up the spinning belt inside of the trash can in the center of the ring. JBL then presented Orlando with the previous version of the US Title (saying he had it shipped directly from WWE headquarters this week) and JBL and his cabinet left the ring.

 

The Triple H Hollywood Wrestlemania Video aired.

 

A video then showed the challenge that Randy Orton issued to the Undertaker on Raw.

 

Backstage, Teddy Long talked to Carlito and told Carlito that his job tonight would be to find the Undertaker and get his answer to Orton's challenge for Mania.

 

Elsewhere backstage, Eddy and Rey were talking about the tag team match later in the show when Chavo Jr. came in and told them that he does not want to see them lose the tag team titles because that would make him the only Guerrero with gold. Interesting segment but it didn't go anywhere during the show.

 

Josh Matthews was shown waiting outside (apparently for John Cena to arrive).

 

Carlito was then shown searching for Undertaker backstage. He was visibly scared (by this point, we've had about 45 minutes without in-ring action. Can we get a match?)

 

2) Mark Jindrak defeated Luther Reigns in 3 minutes (I should have kept my mouth shut about wanting a match). Reigns came out first and Jindrak attacked him int he aisle. Not the greatest action in this one, and the crowd had a faint "boring" chant for much of the 180 seconds that the match lasted.

 

John Cena arrived but basically brushed off Matthews backstage.

 

John Centa In-Ring Promo

-Cena then made his way out to a huge pop. Cena really stepped it up with his mic work in this segment. He was more serious and direct and I think that went far with the crowd (as opposed to the gay jokes and the humor that caters to pre-teens). Cena called out JBL and crew saying that they got in his business and how he wants a fight. After a couple of minutes, Teddy Long made his way out. He said that he could not risk the WWE Title match at Wrestlemania but could change the tag team match later in the night and give Cena a rematch against Jordan for the US Title. Cena didn't like the idea and asked Long, "You did see what they did to me last week didn't you?" Cena basically told Long that he's either a part of the solution or part of the problem, and tonight, he was part of the problem. Cena then gave Long the FU and left the ring.

 

The ring crew then hung Kurt Angle's gold medals above the ring and placed a ladder in the ring.

 

Kurt Angle then made his way out. He talked about Shawn Michaels' accomplishments and then showed footage of the 1994 Wrestlemania Ladder Match between Michaels and Razor Ramon. Angle then said that he would show Michaels how a real ladder match is executed.

 

3) Kurt Angle defeated Hometown Hero Mike Haywood in 3 minutes. Angle destroyed Haywood and dominated for the short while it lasted, and did so while the ladder was erected in the ring. The ladder didn't move, nor was it used. Angle then put Haywood in the Ankle Lock for a few moments as Haywood tapped out repeatedly. Angle then non-chalantly climbed the ladder and retreived his medals. At the top of the ladder, Angle sat. The crowd chanted "You Suck" (Angle and JBL were equally over as the biggest heels of the night). Angle said that the ladder match wasn't so bad, and if he would have faced Michaels in 94, it would have had the same result. Angle then showed footage of the 1989 Wrestlemania with the debut of the Rockers. He said that Marty Jannetty taught Michaels everything he knows but Shawn always got the spotlight. He said that he's challenged Jannetty next week for Smackdown and Jannetty will face him and that he will make him tap out.

 

The Undertaker Hollywood Wrestlemania video aired.

 

Wrestlemania Recall aired from a couple years ago with the backstage segment involving Okerlund, Heenan, Moolah and Mae Young leaving the room backstage.

 

Backstage, The Big Show was interviewed regarding Akebono. Footage was shown of the staredown in Japan between the two. Josh Matthews told the Big Show that Akebono has challenged the Big Show to a sumo match at Wrestlemania. Big Show accepted the challenge. This received no reaction whatsoever from the crowd. Why? Because no one cares.

 

There was then a rundown of the Wrestlemania lineup.

 

The Christy Playboy Video aired.

 

Carlito In-Ring Segment

-Carlito then made his way out. He said that he needed to get an answer from the Undertaker regarding Orton and that he was tired of looking for him backstage (even though we only saw him search one place all night). Undertaker made his way out. He entered the ring, grabbed Carlito by the throat, said a few words and accepted the challenge, then tombstoned Carlito and left. The actual words spoke by Taker and the tombstone lasted less than 45 seconds. The entrance and Taker leaving the ring lasted close to six minutes. Ridiculous.

 

Backstage, JBL and Orlando began walking towards the ring entrance area and talking about the upcoming match-up.

 

4) Eddie Guerrero and Rey Misterio Jr. defeated JBL and Orlando Jordan in 15 minutes via disqualification. Eddie and Rey made their way out first in a customized car. JBL and company then made their way out in the limo. This was a solid matchup, but not enough to save the lack of quality (or any for that matter) in-ring work on the show. A lack in logic here. Cena was angry in his in-ring segment earlier in the show. He wanted JBL and company. He demanded they come to the ring. He held a pipe doing all of this. Teddy Long never once threated to suspend him, fire him, fine him, or any type of punishment if he attacked JBL and company. So one would think that Cena would come down immediately after the match began and attack the people that he had been after all night. This didn't happen of course. Instead, the match went fifteen minutes and when Rey Jr. went for the 619, JBL nailed him over the head with a chair, prompting a DQ. The Bashams then ran out (they were originally at ringside but sent to the back by the referee midway through). The Bashams, JBL, and Jordan laid out Eddie and Rey. Cena then ran in (through the crowd) and cleaned house and cleared the ring of JBL and company. JBL then hit the floor and jumped over the barricade, standing by the fans. JBL and Cena had a staredown and that's where the show will end on Thursday night.

 

After the cameras stopped rolling, Cena called JBL back into the ring. He challenged him to a match and JBL said not tonight. JBL and Jordan then tried to head backstage but Cena had another idea in mind instead, a tag team match. The Big Show then came out. So the advertised dark match of JBL/Cena/Big Show 3-way for the title has now become JBL/Jordan v. Big Show/Cena.

 

In the dark match main event, Big Show and John Cena defeated JBL and Orlando Jordan in 13 minutes. Cena pinned Jordan to end the match. After the match, Cena talked some more on the mic and left through the crowd.

 

Final Notes:

 

I would estimate about 5500-6000 in attendance. For the parts of the arena not blocked off, it was surpisingly full. The show reminded me of some old WCW Thunder shows, where there just isn't enough big name, star power on the show to carry the event. It also brought back flashbacks of the Russo era with the jumps from one segment to another and large gaps without any in-ring action. If that isn't enough, if you look at the Velocity results, three of the four matches have been on Velocity at least once in the past month. Creative probably doesn't care about that, because no one watches Velocity right?

 

It was nice to not have to deal with garbage segments involving the unnamed and unimportant Smackdown divas. That was one plus on the show. Also, JBL was great in his role. As mentioned earlier, JBL and Angle were about equally over as the biggest heels of the night and both were excellent in their mic work. Cena, Taker, Big Show and Booker T were the most over faces during the night. Everyone was great in their roles and worked really hard with what they had to work with. It's just unfortunate that the company isn't giving them MUCH to work with.

 

 

From Sammy Eanes:

 

WWE Smackdown Spoilers Roanoke VA Civic Center 03/08/05

 

We got there a little late, so I’m not 100% sure what happened at the very

beginning. Sounded like MNM may have wrestled a dark match, because of the way

a guy around me was describing the girl that was out earlier, but he didn’t

provide the best description either.

This was the first WWE

TV taping in Roanoke since Raw back in December of 1997.

 

First Match I saw was Bob Holly & Charlie Haas versus Bashams.

Basic Velocity match. Crowd was pretty hot, especially for Bob Holly. Bashams

got the victory, but fans still chanted for Holly afterwards.

 

Scotty 2 Hotty versus Akio

A lot of stalling early by Spike. Dudley used a full nelson early. Are they

not worried about him using Masters’ finisher? Scotty came back with a

superkick for a near fall, then hit the bulldog and went for the worm, but

Spike rolled outside. Scotty went to suplex

Spike back into the ring, but Spike rolled him up and used the tights for the

pin.

 

Paul London versus Akio

Chavo Guerrero came out to do commentary for this one. London did the Brody

stomp again. Couple good near falls early. London clotheslined Akio outside

and hit a plancha. Back inside Akio worked over London’s leg. Akio went for a

huracanrana from the top rope, but London rolled through with a sunset flip

for the pin. London and Chavo stared each other down afterwards. Possibly the

best match of the night, which isn’t saying a whole lot.

 

Next Tazz and Michael Cole came out for Smackdown. Although it was weird,

because they switched the apron and what not and changed the jumbo tron to

Smackdown, although this next match may not be on the show. Let me preface all

of this by saying that if you want a lot of in-ring wrestling, this weeks show

is not for you.

 

Booker T versus Heidenreich

WEAK punches from Heidenreich early. The two fought to the outside where

Booker T got posted. Back inside Booker used a forearm and spinebuster.

Heidenreich went for a chair, but Booker used a scissors kick and then grabbed

the chair. Booker hit him with a nasty chair shot and pinned Heidenreich to a

pretty big pop. Heidenreich looked real woozy when he got up. If this is on

television, boy am I sad to see them blow off this program so soon.

 

HHH Batista promo aired, some pop, but not that great.

 

Up next they ran the Smackdown open, with no pyro, then recapped last week

with Orlando Jordan winning the United States Title.

 

JBL, Jordan, the Bashams and security all came out. JBL talked about letting

the fans relish in his greatness. He said he was going to celebrate a man who

embodies the cabinet, Orlando Jordan, who beat Cena last week “one on one”.

Loud Cena chants. JBL said Virginia is backwards and should chant for OJ. JBL

went on to make jokes about Hispanics and challenged Eddie Guerrero and Rey

Mysterio to a tag title match tonight against he and OJ. JBL then made fun of

the spinning US Title, which I think is very cool, and said it symbolized

everything he hated about John Cena. He then put the belt in a trash can and

flipped a switch which set off pyro from the trash can. He then presented OJ

with the other US title belt.

 

The Mania Hollywood promos aired all night. Ric Flair got a big time pop

during the Braveheart one.

 

Recap of the Randy Orton challenge to Undertaker on Raw

 

Back inside Theodore Long is on the phone when Carlito shows up. Long says he

wanted Carlito to find Undertaker tonight and find out what Taker’s response

is to Orton’s challenge. Peanut says he’ll fire Carlito if he doesn’t do it.

 

Josh Matthews was shown waiting outside for John Cena to arrive.

Carlito was looking for Taker, a Civic Center employee accidentally turned off

the lights and freaked out CCC.

 

FINALLY we get a wrestling match…oh..and it’s Luther Reigns versus Mark

Jindrak. Jindrak jumped Reigns coming down the isle. Really a nothing match,

but what did you expect. Jindrak showed a tiny little bit of fire. Thankfully

this was kept short, like 3 minute short, Jindrak pinned Reigns.

 

Cena was shown arriving at the building, Josh Matthews asked him a question,

but the crowd was too loud and I couldn’t hear what Cena said.

 

Kurt Angle came out with his gold medals handing from the ceiling and a ladder

in the ring. He flashed us back to 1994, said when he was training for the

Olympics, Shawn Michaels was competing with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X in a

ladder match. They showed clips. The highlights had a WWE 24/7 bug in the

corner. Angle said many consider that the best ladder match ever, but that’s

only because he’s never wrestled one. They brought out this week’s whipping

boy, who is an indy guy with NWA Virginia and some of the others around. Angle

asked what his name was, but before he could get it all out, Angle slapped

him. Angle fish hooked him and beat him down, before slapping on the ankle

lock, then climbing the ladder and getting his medals. Angle then said he

wanted to flash back even further. He said that in 1989, Jose Canseco was

hitting home runs, the B52s were on top of the charts and Shawn Michaels made

his WrestleMania debut. They showed footage of the Rockers coming out for

their WrestleMania V Match. He said that everyone knows Marty Jannetty taught

Shawn Michaels everything he knows and that Jannetty was the real glue that

held the Rockers together. Angle said that he had arranged a match with

Jannetty next week in Savannah, GA. Angle said next week Michaels can learn

another thing from Jannetty, how to tap out to Kurt Angle.

 

I guess the biggest news of the night came in the next segment as Big Show and

Joy were backstage with Josh. Matthews brought up the Akebono challenge and

they officially announced Big Show versus Akebono in a sumo challenge at

WrestleMania.

 

They then ran down the Mania card, biggest pop, by far, was for Austin in

Piper’s Pit. I’d say the Cena/JBL match got an even reaction to the

HHH/Batista match.

 

Carlito came to the ring and was tired of looking for Undertaker. He called

out the Dead Man, who promptly came out. Taker grabbed Carlito by the throat

and was short and to the point, he said Randy Orton will be like the rest who

have tried to stop him at Mania and Orton will rest in peace. Undertaker then

tombstoned Carlito.

 

They ran down the Hall of Fame inductees again, Hogan got almost no reaction

and even some boos. Piper got by far the biggest reaction of any of the Hall

of Famers.

 

Main Event: World Tag Team Titles: Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio versus JBL &

OJ. Eddie and Rey were way over. Very loud Eddie and 619 chants. Rey used a

huracanrana for an early near fall on OJ. Eddie used the tag rope to choke

JBL. The cabinet took control as JBL did a delayed vertical suplex and a

fall-away slam on Misterio. OJ came in and they got heat on Myterio. Rey came

back with a tornado DDT on JBL and got the hot tag to Eddie, who cleaned

house. They had OJ set up for the 619, but JBL was hiding outside and hit Rey

with a chair when he attempted it, causing a DQ. The Bashams, who had been

kicked out from ringside earlier in the match, returned until John Cena came

out and made the save. He threw the Bashams out of the ring, then FU’d OJ

while starring down JBL, who was in the crowd by this point.

 

Show ends there but they did the extra match of JBL and OJ against Cena and

Big Show. Long match, but nothing much to it. Cena pinned Jordan with the FU

then went into the crowd to send the chain gang home happy.

 

Overall definitely not the best show I’ve been to, but it was decent. Fans

were definitely into Cena and JBL, especially when the two locked up together

in the dark match main event.

[SuperJerk 0]

Kurt Angle LADDER invitational. He challenges HBK to a ladder match at WM21 and says next week he will have a match with, yes, Marty Janetty.

 

The HELL~?????

[Enigma 0]

Haha!

 

Marty Jannetty on Smackdown next week!

[algrim 0]

If Big Show is going to have a match w/Akebono at WM, have OJ defend the belt against Booker. It's better than having him wrestle Heidenreich.

[The Metal Maniac 0]

Big Show is told that Akebono has challenged him to a sumo match at WM21, he accepts.

 

They're going to re-define terrible with this one.

 

And they're gonna have TWO ladder matches at WM? Horseshit.

[Guest Rrrsh]

So Angle chalanged HBK to a ladder match fro WM 21 when there is a Ladder match already on the card?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Stupid WWE probably forgot about the other ladder match when they made this one. 2/3 falls would be a better choice..imo.

[Guest Trivia247]

there must be some ethical reason why Viscera could get another contract with the WWE like three times and Marty hasn't been seen since what 94?

[BorneAgain 0]

These spoilers sound strange/fake. Another ladder match at WM? Booker and Heidenreich as a dark match? Cena FU'ing Long? Marty Jannety?!

[Guest Shadow]

I hope this means Shawn counters back with a IRONMAN challenge.

 

I hope the idea is Kurt's doing whatever it takes to beat shawn at his game and at his "level" so shawn one-ups the challenge.

[Enigma 0]

Marty returned to WWE in fall 1995 and stayed until fall 1996 doing the New Rockers tag team with Al "Leif Cassidy" Snow.

 

Then he did some random jobber appearances on Nitro until 1998. I do believe Jannetty was in the Cruiserweight Battle Royal at Slamboree 1998.

[CanadianChick 0]

I really hope the ladder stip doesn't stick. Otherwise, Angle/HBK will get smoked by the 6 way, because both will try to be spotastic and there are 6 (okay, maybe 5) guys willing to bump rather than two.

[Guest Shadow]

there must be some ethical reason why Viscera could get another contract with the WWE like three times and Marty hasn't been seen since what 94?

Marty Jannetty has a long history of drug problems that he's only recently been able to kick.

 

Marty Jannetty was always a distruption one way or the other in his day.

[Vern Gagne 0]

These spoilers sound strange/fake. Another ladder match at WM? Booker and Heidenreich as a dark match? Cena FU'ing Long? Marty Jannety?!

The same thing was said about last week's spoilers, and those turned out to be true.

 

Could Marty go through the Barbershop Window, again?

[Guest LooneyTune]

Marty Jannetty being on Smackdown just bought me a ticket to watch Smackdown for the 2nd time in 2005. Velocity has London vs. Akio? I'm on board for that.

[BorneAgain 0]

These spoilers sound strange/fake. Another ladder match at WM? Booker and Heidenreich as a dark match? Cena FU'ing Long? Marty Jannety?!

The same thing was said about last week's spoilers, and those turned out to be true.

 

Could Marty go through the Barbershop Window, again?

Yeah, but some of the things on last week's show were expected. Of course they were continue the lame feud between Booker and Heidenreich, and hell I predicted JBL costing Cena the title after the Rumble. This stuff here is just plain weird.

[UZI Suicide 0]

A question about the ladder match(es) at WM.... how do you have a ladder match with no titles? I thought the whole object was to climb and grab a belt.

[Taker666 0]

Ok, If Angle Vs HBK is a Ladder Match(which I don't think is actually going to happen) what would they be climbing the ladder for??

 

EDIT: guy above me beat me to it.

[krease 0]

I hope this means Shawn counters back with a IRONMAN challenge.

I could see that happening; it's more likely than the end result being two ladder matches.

 

next week he will have a match with, yes, Marty Janetty

I wonder if this'll actually happen...I may have to actually pay attention to smackdown next week...

[Guest LooneyTune]

It will probably be a bait and switch... (if so, I won't watch SD again) and is it me, or do a lot of people spell Jannetty's name wrong when doing these kind of recaps?

[Hoff 0]

Hey, wait...how can they do a ladder match with no titles?

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Paul London def. Akio

 

LONDON/AKIO IV: A NEW HOPE.

[Fökai 0]

In my opinion, the ladder challenge is there to further the storyline - Kurt keeps one-upping Shawn by throwing out ludicrous claims and challenges, which Shawn kepts rejecting with the same "been there, done that" schtick.

 

This will either lead to a straight-up match, or something that hasn't been done at a Wrestlemania (2 out of 3 falls?).

 

Next Monday, Shawn will challenge Angle to a first-blood match.

[Guest Shadow]

Thats basically what i was going with, it would be a interesting dynamic to see the SHOWSTOPPER famous for gimmicks refusing to do ladder matches and cage matches and cells and casket matches and challenge the GOLD MEDAL wrestler to a straight wrestling match.

[Guest Shadow]

In my opinion, the ladder challenge is there to further the storyline - Kurt keeps one-upping Shawn by throwing out ludicrous claims and challenges, which Shawn kepts rejecting with the same "been there, done that" schtick.

 

This will either lead to a straight-up match, or something that hasn't been done at a Wrestlemania (2 out of 3 falls?).

 

Next Monday, Shawn will challenge Angle to a first-blood match.

first blood match? Shawn will be tapping a blood vessel before sexy boy even stops playing.

[genius33 0]

these are fake... no doubt in my mind

[Guest Shadow]

again, we thought last week was fake.

 

they sound realistic enough to me.

[AndrewTS 0]

Hey, wait...how can they do a ladder match with no titles?

Briefcase hanging over the ring?

 

Awards OJ with a new US title (the original one) and destroys the spinner belt.

 

YES!!!

[BorneAgain 0]

If these are real, I see they didn't feel like dragging out that Jindrak-Reigns, odd considering they're doing the exact opposite with Heidenreich-Booker.

[genius33 0]

there is no source... and its too soon after the show would've ended. spoilers don't come on tuesday nights until at least a half hour later than now.