Smackdown!

Houston, Texas
March 31, 2005

MARCH 31, 2005
COUNTING DOWN

Just when you thought the animosity between WWE Champion JBL and John Cena couldn’t run any deeper, SmackDown! came to Houston, Texas, Thursday with WrestleMania 21 just three days away.


During Cena’s match with a returning Carlito, JBL came to the ring with four police officers demanding Cena was arrested for vandalizing JBL’s limo last week. The cops put Cena in handcuffs and dragged him out of the ring. Meanwhile, JBL taunted the challenger and eventually sent him down with a low blow as the bitter enemies prepare for their match at WrestleMania 21. WATCH: 56k | 300k Earlier in the night, JBL guaranteed victory against Cena on Sunday.

SmackDown! also had a surprise visit from Cowboy Bob Orton, who will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend. Orton told SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long he stopped by to talk to Undertaker, Randy Orton’s opponent at WrestleMania.

Bob Orton told the crowd and Undertaker that his son had gotten in a little over his head with his actions in recent weeks, including slapping Undertaker and hitting the RKO on Stacy Keibler on RAW.

Orton proceeded to ask Taker to show mercy on his son come April 3. For his part, Undertaker said the Legend Killer had already sealed his fate with that slap.

But just before Undertaker could drop the mic and leave the ring, RAW’s Randy Orton flew in and caught him with an RKO, as father and son successfully set up the Deadman. The tension was raised to another level as their WrestleMania showdown looms.

Kurt Angle was in a bad mood the entire night, and announcer Josh Mathews paid the price this week. After taking offense to a question during a backstage interview, Angle lost it, beating Mathews up and down the ramp and eventually putting him in the ankle lock in the center of the ring.

Angle, obviously enraged, kept calling out Shawn Michaels during the entire attack. Angle and HBK will lock horns come WrestleMania this Sunday on pay-per-view.

Angle also introduced his own video tribute:

The official weigh-in for Big Show and Akebono also took place Thursday. Big Show came in at 493 pounds but was actually outweighed by Akebono, who came in at 504 pounds in the scale.

Nearly 1,000 pounds will be in the ring when these two meet during their WrestleMania Sumo Match.

Paul London won an exciting 8-Man Cruiserweight Battle Royal to become new Cruiserweight Champion. Chavo Guerrero, the former champ, had his fate sealed when all seven competitors immediately tossed Guerrero from the ring.paul london



Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio each lost to a Basham Thursday. And in each match, one good friend and tag team partner inadvertently cost the other a chance to win. Both Latino Heat and Mysterio would forgive and forget, but could any of this play a role in their huge match coming up at WrestleMania?

Meanwhile, Booker T, in his hometown, defeated Luther Reigns.

Be sure to watch WrestleMania 21 this Sunday at a special starting time of 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Also don’t forget Daylight Savings time is this weekend. Spring ahead.


MATCH RESULTS

Danny Basham def. Eddie Guerrero

Paul London wins Cruiserweight Battle Royal, New Champion (order of elimination: Chavo Guerrero, Funaki, Nunzio, Spike Dudley, Scotty 2 Hotty, Akio, Billy Kidman)

Booker T def. Luther Reigns

Doug Basham def. Rey Mysterio

Akebono def. Local Houston wrestler

John Cena vs. Carlito (No Contest)