Smackdown!

Saitama, Japan
February 10, 2005

SMACKDOWN! INVADES JAPAN
FEB. 10, 2005
Thanks to a nicely-timed bye, Kurt Angle should be well-rested and ready when he arrives in his hometown of Pittsburgh for No Way Out on Feb. 20.

The Olympic Champion advanced in the SmackDown! No. 1 Contender Tournament with an exhausting quarterfinal victory over Rey Mysterio in front of 17,000 fans in Saitama, Japan, Thursday night.

The first SmackDown! to take place from Japan certainly didn’t disappoint. Angle and Mysterio went back-and-forth in the main event, with Mysterio finally hitting Angle with a 619 on his third attempt.

But the resilient Angle outlasted the cruiserweight and eventually forced Mysterio to tap out to the ankle lock.

Meanwhile, United States Champion John Cena made relatively short work of JBL’s Chief of Staff Orlando Jordan in the last quarterfinal match. Cena will renew an old rivalry with Booker T next week in Cleveland in the semifinal round.

The winner of that match will face Angle at No Way Out in the final, and the winner of that match gets a shot at the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21.

Also, the appreciative Japanese fans saw Eddie Guerrero defeat Kenzo Suzuki and Funaki defeat Chavo Guerrero to retain his Cruiserweight Championship.


WWE Champion JBL had his typically unique night. After the champ was supposedly knocked silly from a tranquilizer dart accidentally fired by Image Consultant Amy Weber, JBL made his way to the ring, barked insults at an inflatable Godzilla and then stripped down to his underwear.

Big Show, JBL’s opponent at No Way Out in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match, came out to check on JBL, who suddenly appeared much sharper, hitting Show with a Clothesline From Hell and then calling for his Cabinet to finish the job.

But Show would mount an inspiring comeback, and a couple of chokeslams later, he cleared the ring, just adding more bad blood between him and the champion leading into Feb. 20.

Also, another match was added to the No Way Out card. It all started when Luther Reigns, who cost Undertaker a victory last week against Rene Dupree, boldly announced he had no fear of the ‘Taker. Moments later, during a tag team match against the Bashams, ‘Taker appeared in the ring. But Reigns ran for cover as the Deadman punished Mark Jindrak with a chokeslam.

Reigns and Undertaker will now face each other at No Way Out.

Torrie Wilson defeated Hiroko in a Kimono Match. Hiroko left the ring highly embarassed and barely dressed.



MATCH RESULTS

Eddie Guerrero def. Kenzo Suzuki

Funaki def. Chavo Guerrero

Bashams vs. Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak (No Contest)

John Cena def. Orlando Jordan

Torrie Wilson def. Hiroko (Kimono Match)

Kurt Angle def. Rey Mysterio