Smackdown!
Nashville, Tennessee
December 16, 2004
PUDER WINS, NO REST FOR JBL
After winning four challenges, including the Dixie Dog Fight at Armageddon,
Daniel Puder did all he could to convince WWE fans he was worthy of earning the
$1,000,000 Tough Enough contract.
It turns out they liked what they saw.
Puder was named the $1,000,000 Tough Enough winner over Mike Mizanin as
SmackDown! landed in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday.
But Puder received more than a big contract. Al Snow announced he would be an
entrant at next month’s Royal Rumble, with a chance to headline WrestleMania 21.
Meanwhile, so much for giving JBL some time to savor his historic victory at
Armageddon.
The WWE Champion was able to bask in the moment ever so briefly.
JBL gave an opening speech with all the pomp and circumstance of a presidential
inauguration, only to be interrupted by four-time World Champion Kurt Angle.
Angle downplayed JBL’s accomplishments and challenged him to a match. After JBL
declined, citing holiday obligations, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long
interceded and made the main event himself.
JBL had his hands full with Angle in the main event, especially since Long also
banned Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak and JBL’s Cabinet from ringside.
In fact, the pre-match emotions on both sides were running so high that Image
Consultant Amy Weber got in a fight with Joy, who was merely handing out candy
canes ringside.
Still, the right hand men of both Superstars would return and battle outside the
ring, distracting the referee at the most critical time as JBL was tapping out
to the ankle lock, which Angle applied four different times.
Eventually, Jordan nailed Angle with the belt, giving the American Hero the win
by disqualification, but keeping the belt with JBL.
But maybe not for long.
None other than Big Show came down and cleared house, chokeslamming Reigns,
Jindrak, the Bashams and giving Jordan that newly unveiled F-5.
He then stared down JBL, who looked petrified as Show announced he’s coming
after the champ and his WWE Championship.
SmackDown! also featured a pair of exciting tag team matches as Booker T & Eddie
Guerrero defeated Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree.
Also, WWE Tag Team Champions Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio defeated Billy Kidman &
Akio.
Heidenreich, fresh off his bizarre Armageddon appearance in which he cost
Undertaker the title, took a seat in the middle of the ring and recited another
poem, this one taunting ‘Taker.
Long later announced that Heidenreich would face Undertaker next week when the
SmackDown! crew visits the troops in the Middle East.
MATCH RESULTS
Rey Mysterio & RVD defeat Akio & Billy Kidman
Booker T & Eddie Guerrero def. Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree
Kurt Angle def. WWE Champion JBL via DQ