Smackdown!

Atlantic City, New Jersey
March 11, 2004

 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR LESNAR/HEYMAN?
 

He called for unity. He cried for solidarity. He begged for his Superstars to do what was good for SmackDown! In the end, after months of head-games and favoritism, all SmackDown! General Manager Paul Heyman got was a taste of his own medicine … and a Stunner.

On SmackDown!, Stone Cold Steve Austin made an appearance to reclaim his prized ATV and to send a message that when he officiates the match between Brock Lesnar and Goldberg at WrestleMania, he will not be pushed around. By the end of the evening, every single member of the SmackDown! roster seemed to get the message, some in a harder way than others. Before Austin’s entrance, Heyman went man-to-man to ask them to defend their show from a RAW intruder. He even lined the entrance ramp to the ring with SmackDown! Superstars to prevent Austin from getting his hands on Lesnar, Heyman and the ATV. However, much to Heyman’s chagrin, when it was time to take action, his very own roster did show solidarity and unity … but by letting Austin through and then leaving the arena. In perhaps the biggest slap to Heyman’s face, the very last man to let Austin by was the Big Show – a one-time Heyman confidant – who actually encouraged Austin to go after Heyman and Lesnar.

Seconds later, Austin had his ATV back and proceeded to gain a measure of revenge by bloodying Lesnar and giving Heyman the customary Stunner. As WrestleMania fast approaches, it is clear that Stone Cold was unaffected by weeks of mind games and antics by Lesnar. In fact, the Rattlesnake appears stronger than ever. The question that remains is what becomes of Heyman as SmackDown! General Manager? Was this a mutiny or a simple sign of respect for a legend like Austin? Stay tuned to find out!

The final SmackDown! before WrestleMania also featured many of the participants in the upcoming pay-per-view extravaganza in top form, particularly those defending Championships on Sunday. Big Show was victorious in a Handicap Match where he looked about as mean as he has ever looked before. However, judging by John Cena’s victorious effort against Rhyno, it seems as if their match for the U.S. Championship on Sunday is going to be nothing short of a dog-fight. Eddie Guerrero also enjoyed an impressive victory, as did Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty – who defeated former WWE Tag Team Champions the Basham Brothers. At the end of his match, Guerrero proclaimed that he will not only win his WrestleMania match against Kurt Angle, but he will then, “lie, cheat and steal more than ever before!”

SmackDown! also revealed that the upcoming Cruiserweight Open at WrestleMania has the chance to get out of control in a hurry. What started as a singles match between Rey Mysterio and Jamie Noble quickly escalated into an Eight Man Tag Team Match when several participants in the Open interfered to try to gain the edge before WrestleMania. By the end of the match on SmackDown!, all 10 Cruiserweights were in the ring fighting it out. With nine hungry challengers ready to do anything to win the Cruiserweight Championship, can Chavo Guerrero survive what could be the biggest match of his life? Find out at WrestleMania, and watch SmackDown! next week to see all of the fallout!

The Road to WrestleMania XX is over and the next stop for all of the Superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment is Madison Square Garden for WrestleMania on Sunday at 7/6 CT, exclusively on pay-per-view. Will Eddie Guerrero or Kurt Angle be the WWE Champion? Who will be the U.S., Cruiserweight and WWE Tag Team Champions? Are Torrie Wilson & Sable the hottest Divas in WWE? Watch WrestleMania to find out and tune in to see all of the fallout on SmackDown! next week at 8/7 CT on UPN!

Match Results:

John Cena defeated Rhyno

Rey Mysterio, Funaki, Billy Kidman & Ultimo Dragon defeated Akio, Sakoda, Tajiri & Jamie Noble

Eddie Guerrero defeated Shelton Benjamin

Big Show defeated John Walters & Arch Kincaid in a Handicap Match

Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty defeated the Basham Brothers