Smackdown!
Orlando, Florida
February 3, 2006
Who's going to WrestleMania?
February 3, 2006
Rey Mysterio defied the odds and outlasted 29 other Superstars to win the Royal
Rumble, but will he be going to WrestleMania 22 to fight for a World
Championship? By winning the Rumble, Mysterio earned a title opportunity at the
biggest event of the year, but before Rey could give his celebratory speech on
SmackDown, he was interrupted by Randy Orton – the same man that he eliminated
last to win the match.
Orton said that there is no way that Mysterio could beat him in a normal match.
He said that he only won because of some divine intervention. Mysterio wasn’t
buying it, but Orton really got under his skin when he said that Eddie wasn’t
looking down on him from heaven, he was looking up at him from hell. Orton
challenged Mysterio to a match for his No. 1 Contendership, but before he
received an answer, Mysterio snapped and attacked the Legend Killer. Officials
stepped in and separated the two, but they would meet later in the main event.
In a blockbuster tag team match, Kurt Angle teamed up with Rey Mysterio to take
on Orton and Angle’s Royal Rumble opponent, Mark Henry. Henry and Orton cut the
ring in half and used their size to gain the upper hand. With so much bad blood
involved, though, it’s no surprise that this one broke down. With Rey dealing
with Orton in the ring, Angle knocked Henry off the apron and ran him into the
steel post. Daivari confronted Angle, but that just angered the Wrestling
Machine, who chased him through the crowd. Henry followed right behind, leaving
Rey and Randy in the ring. Mysterio looked to have things going his way and went
for a sunset flip. Orton once again used his size advantage, and before being
taken over for the pin attempt, Orton sat down on Rey for a pin of his own.
Rey looked flabbergasted, and Orton rubbed it in when he said that Mysterio had
as much of a chance of beating him as Eddie Guerrero does of coming back to
life. Mysterio wasted no time in responding, saying that on behalf of Eddie
Guerrero, he accepted Orton’s challenge for his title opportunity at
WrestleMania.
That wasn’t the only question left unanswered as SmackDown went off the air. Who
would be the World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 22? As the Royal Rumble
went off the air less than a week ago, Undertaker issued a challenge to Kurt
Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship. Angle said that Undertaker may be
the phenom, but when he steps inside the ring, Angle is a Wrestling Machine. He
said that when the bell rings, he has no soul either. Undertaker was unfazed by
Angle’s comments, though, and said that at No Way Out, Angle would rest in
peace. With that, the lights went out, and the Deadman was nowhere to be seen.
This action-packed edition of SmackDown also featured two Championship matches.
Booker T was slated to defend his United States Championship against Chris
Benoit. Before the match, however, Booker T informed Theodore Long that his
doctor had instructed him not to wrestle because he had aggravated his groin
injury at the Royal Rumble. Long said that was fine, but he had to find a
replacement to defend the U.S. Championship for him. Booker T said he had the
perfect guy for the job – Finlay. Benoit and Finlay didn’t hold anything back as
vicious chops were flying everywhere. Benoit hit the rolling German suplexes,
and was poised to go to the top rope for the flying headbutt. Booker T saw that
and got nervous, getting up from the announce table. With Benoit distracted by
Booker, Finlay was saved – but only temporarily. The Rabid Wolvering was able to
lock in the Crossface, but before Finlay could tap, Sharmell got in the ring and
blasted Benoit with Booker’s crutch, causing a disqualification. Booker T was
still the U.S. Champion.
The WWE Tag Team Championship was also on the line as MNM took on The Mexicools.
Psicosis and Super Crazy went to the air early and often, and they seemed to
have MNM on the ropes. Super Crazy went to the top rope for his patented
moonsault, but Melina nailed him with her boot, knocking him out. After the
being hit with a foreign object, the pin was academic and MNM retained the
Championship.
Plus, JBL addressed the crowd, claiming once again that he was a wrestling god.
He said that he didn’t belong in the wrestling ring with freaks like the
Boogeyman. With that, Lashley’s music hit, as he prepared for singles
competition against Chad Dick. JBL watched the impressive Lashley, who defeated
him a week ago, from the outside. The hard-hitting, soft-spoken Lashley made
short work of Dick, but he was taken out by JBL’s Clotheseline from Hell right
after the pin.
Josh Mathews interviewed the new Cruiserweight Champion, and in turn, new
addition to SmackDown, Gregory Helms. Helms said that he doesn’t represent the
Cruiserweight Division, he is the Cruiserweight Division. Nunzio confronted
Helms, and said that he’s not better than anyone and challenged him for the
gold. Helms accepted the challenge, and the two will face off next week.
The Juniors were back in action as well. Tzuki was able to get the win over
Octagon Cito in a fast-paced match. William Regal and Paul Burchill also
confronted Theodore Long and network executive Palmer Canon backstage. Regal and
Burchill were having a hard time getting along becomes Regal comes from royalty
and Burchill is a descendent of pirates. It was agreed that the two would part
ways.
Matches
Randy Orton & Mark Henry def. Rey Mysterio & World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit def. Fit Finlay (DQ)
WWE Tag Team Champions MNM def. The Mexicools
Lashley def. Chad Dick
Tzuki def. Octagon Cito (Juniors Match)