Smackdown!

Tucson, Arizona
June 23, 2005

thanks to lordsofpain.net

Smackdown for June 23rd opened with hype for the Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio match tonight, then went into the usual opening video.

Randy Orton came to the ring, and got on the mic, bragging about his reputation as a "Legend Killer" and how he has "made history" several times, including being the youngest WWE World Champion in history. Orton then talked about Undertaker taking advantage of the fact that he was injured at Wrestlemania, costing him his chance to make history again, and then showed clips of his Smackdown debut and RKO of the Undertaker from last week. Orton said he would continue to make history, and was about to leave, when the lights flickered. Clips of Undertaker defeating Randy Orton at Wrestlemania were shown on the big screen, as the ring filled with smoke. The lights went out again, and when they came back up, Undertaker was in the ring. They had a staredown, but Orton bailed out of the ring, saying he would not face Taker on "his terms". Orton said that Undertaker would have to wait to face him. Undertaker said that "death waits for no one" and a bolt of lightning landed next to Orton. Orton stumbled away, as Undertaker's eyes rolled into the back of his head in the ring.

Joey Mercury (with Melina & Johnny Nitro) vs. Heidenreich. They recapped last week's confrontation between MNM and Heidenreich & The WWE Divas. Heidenreich went right to work on Mercury with punches at the bell, then whipped him back and forth between corners. Heidenreich hit a backdrop and a pair of clotheslines, then Nitro tried to trip Heidenreich up. Heidenreich pulled Nitro onto the apron, and Nitro raked his eyes. Heidenreich responded by booting Nitro off the apron. Mercury hit a back elbow and a neckbreaker for a two count. Mercury pounded Heidenreich on the mat, then kicked him in the gut and head. Mercury snapmared Heidenreich and delivered a kneedrop for a two count, then applied a sleeper. Heidenreich armdragged out of it, but Mercury downed him with a clothesline. Heidenreich did his weird walk to psyche himself up, then hit a reverse atomic drop and clotheslined Mercury over the top rope and to the floor. Melina got on the apron and slapped Heidenreich. Michelle McCool ran out and tackled Melina. The referee was distracted by the catfight on the apron, allowing Nitro to run in and superkick Heidenreich. Mercury got the pin at the four minute mark. Winner: Joey Mercury.

MNM celebrated in the aisle, as Michelle helped Heidenreich up in the ring. Melina was still outraged about McCool attacking her.

An interview with Rey Mysterio aired, with Rey saying he enjoyed hitting Eddie Guerrero with a chair last week, and that this feud has brought out a new side of him. He said he wasn't going for a win tonight against Eddie.

Backstage, Melina was still angry about McCool, saying she wasn't even a "B-List Diva". Melina said she was going to challenge McCool to a match.

JBL came to Theodore R. Long's office door, and said that due to his win over The Undertaker last week, he deserved to be given the chance to become the new Smackdown champion. Long said he would have an announcement about that situation later tonight, and it would involve JBL. JBL then tried to figure out who the new draft pick (who was presumably in Long's office) is, but Long wouldn't give him a clue.

Cruiserweight Champion Paul London vs. Chavo Guerrero. They traded kicks at the start, then locked up and went to the ropes for a clean break. Chavo grabbed an armdrag out of a lockup, and London applauded him. Chavo went for a hammerlock, then switched into an armbar, but London reversed into his own. Chavo started throwing forearms, then choked London down in a corner with his boot. Chavo continued his onslaught, then backdropped London, but London landed on his feet and gave Chavo a flapjack. London hit a standing rana, elbowed a charging Chavo, then hit a mulekick off the second rope. Londond backdropped Chavo to the floor, then warmed up for a dive. Suddenly, Mexican music started playing, and Juventud, Super Crazy and Psicosis drove out on a lawn mower, wearing overalls. A graphic listed them as "The Mexicools". They hit the ring, laying out Chavo on the floor with a Psicosis senton off the apron and brutalizing London in the ring. Crazy gave London a moonsault and Psicosis gave him a top rope legdrop. Juventud rang a bell. Result: No Contest

Juventud got on the mic and talked about all the stereotypes Mexicans have had to endure. They remarked that the lawn mower is a "Mexican limo". Juventud said that they are not working for the "Gringos" anymore. Juventud said they were taking over Smackdown and the Cruiserweight Division. He said they weren't "Mexican" anymore, they are the "Mexicools".

Back from break, JBL was in the middle of praising himself, and saying that since he beat the Undertaker and is "Mr. Smackdown", that Theodore R. Long had no choice but to name him the champion of Smackdown. JBL said that regardless of religious denomination or sexual orientation, everyone could now bow at the feet of the "wrestling god". Booker T's music hit, and Booker came out to the ring.

JBL said he admired Booker, and that Booker didn't have to bow at his feet. JBL said he thought it was classy of Booker to come down and shake his hand and congratulate him on being named champion. Booker took the mic and said no one should be named champion, the championship should be earned. Booker challenged JBL to a match tonight, with the winner walking away as the new Smackdown champion. Booker delivered his "Can you dig that sucka?" line, and Chris Benoit's music hit.

Benoit came out and JBL thought that Benoit was coming out to be the "voice of reason" in the situation. Benoit said there will not be a one-on-one match for the title, and proposed JBL vs. Booker T vs. Chris Benoit in a Triple Threat match for the title. Booker said he was down with it, but JBL was not. JBL said he shouldn't have to fight for the title, and no one would convince him otherwise. Big Show's music then came on.

Big Show strolled to the ring, and said either he was going to be in the mix, making it a Fatal Four Way, or it could be a Triple Threat with Show vs. Benoit vs. Booker ... once they beat up JBL. Booker and Benoit liked that idea, when General Manager Theodore R. Long came out, carrying a title belt bag.

JBL told Long to name him the Smackdown Champion. Long said that after the draft next week, JBL would be the Smackdown champion .... if he won a special Five Man Challenge match with JBL vs. Booker vs. Benoit vs. Big Show vs. The Undertaker. As the crowd reacted, Muhammad Hassan's music hit.

Hassan and Daivari strolled down to the ring, with the announcers figuring out that he had to be the new draft pick from Raw. Daivari introduced Hassan to the crowd in Farci, to the boos of the crowd. Hassan complained about being treated like a "second-class citizen" again, and that he deserved to be the new Smackdown champion. He claimed to have the longest undefeated streak in WWE history. Hassan complained about being discriminated against, then said he was better than all of the wrestlers in the ring. Hassan got in the face of each wrestler in the ring, insulting them (including calling JBL a "quitter").

Long got back on the mic, and said Smackdown is the "land of opportunity" and made it a six-man elimination match next week for the Smackdown Championship. JBL shoved Hassan, Booker hit him, Benoit kneed him, and Big Show flung him from the ring. Daivari was then cornered, and Big Show scooped him up and press slammed him onto Hassan at ringside. Long got on the mic, and said that since Hassan felt he was better than everyone, his Smackdown debut match would be next .... against The Big Show.

Big Show vs. Muhammad Hassan, with Daivari. Show was tossing around Hassan as they returned from break. Show chopped Hassan, and when Hassan tried to retreat to the floor, Show pulled him onto the apron and hiptossed him into the ring. Matt Morgan came to ringside and joined the announcers. Hassan poked Show in the eyes and tried to mount some offense, but Show swatted him down. Show gave Hassan a delayed vertical suplex. Morgan complained about Carlito being traded to Raw, but said it would give him the opportunity to shine. Show headbutted Hassan to the mat. Show gave Hassan a loud chop, then a reverse splash in the corner and a shoulderblock. Daivari got on the apron, and Show threw him into the ring. With the referee distracted by Daivari, Morgan got in the ring with a chair. Show tossed Hassan to the side (into the referee) and punched the chair into the face of Morgan. Show gave Morgan a chokeslam, while Hassan picked up the chair and hit Show with it. Show absorbed the shot, and went to pick up the chair, but Hassan jumped off the second rope, driving Show into the chair, and got the pin at the five minute mark. Winner: Muhammad Hassan.

A video package on the Rey Mysterio-Eddie Guerrero feud was shown.

Backstage, Eddie Guerrero was shown taping up his hands. Steve Romero came in to interview Eddie, who already knew what the question was. Eddie talked about how no one believes he can beat Rey Mysterio. Guerrero said that Rey doesn't know what he is capable of.

Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio. Eddie sported a big bruise on his side from Rey's chair attack last week. They locked up and went to the corner, and Eddie broke clean. Eddie grabbed a headlock and took Rey to the mat, but Rey broke out with a headscissors and both men went back to their feet. Eddie put Rey in a hammerlock, but Rey kipped up out of it and armdragged Guerrero to the mat. Guerrero grabbed a drop toe hold and applied a side headlock. Rey powered out of it with a top wristlock, and they went to the corner. Rey broke clean. Another lock up, and Eddie broke clean in the corner. Eddie grabbed a single leg, and applied a surfboard variation. Rey got to his feet, but Eddie hit a shoulderblock. Rey leapfrogged Eddie and monkeyflipped him. Guerrero rolled to the floor, and Mysterio hit a pescado as they went to break.

Back from commercial, Rey covered Eddie for a two count, and hit a powerdrive legdrop for another two. Rey applied an abdominal stretch, targeting Eddie's bruise. Eddie hiptossed out, but Rey grabbed a drop toe hold and reapplied the abdominal stretch. They went to the ropes, and the referee forced a break. Rey kicked Eddie's leg and chopped him, then applied a Stretch Plum variation on the mat. Eddie got to this feet and sat Rey in a corner on the top rope. Eddie acted like he was going to break clean, then shoved Mysterio off the top rope and to the floor. Guerrero went after him on the floor, ramming him into the announcers table and the steel ring steps. Eddie got in the ring and argued with the referee about counting them out, since Eddie wants to beat Rey. They went to break with Rey down on the floor and Eddie still yelling at the referee in the ring.

Back from commercial, Guerrero put Rey in a Gory Special, and we saw that during the break, Eddie had rammed Rey back first into the ringpost. Rey broke out with an armdrag, but Eddie grabbed him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Eddie stomped Rey's back, then stood on his face. Eddie kicked at Rey's back, trash talking him. Guerrero stood on the side of Rey's head, then hit a powerbomb for a two count. Guerrero covered Rey twice more, but he kicked out again and again. Eddie applied a camel clutch. Rey struggled in the hold, then tripped out of it, sending Eddie to the floor. Guerrero got right back in and dropped an elbow to Rey's back. Eddie then whipped Mysterio hard into the corner. Eddie stood on the side of Rey's head again. Eddie choked Rey, then put him in a full nelson. Eddie would choke Rey whenever he turned, so their backs were to the referee.

Eddie gave Rey some forearms and chops in a corner, then whipped him across the ring. Rey managed to grab a headscissors takedown, and dropkicked Eddie in the back. Rey bounded off the ropes, but Eddie nailed him with a lariat for a two count. Eddie went to a camel clutch variation, but Rey elbowed out of it. Eddie hit a backbreaker for a pair of two counts. Guerrero complained to the referee about the counts. Eddie dared Rey to stand up, then pounded him with a right hand. Rey battled back with kicks and punches, but Eddie out punched him. Rey came back with a bodyscissors into a bulldog, and both men were down.

Both men got to their feet and began exchanging punches. Eddie poked Rey in the eyes, but Rey bounced off the ropes and hit a kick to the face, followed by a pair of clotheslines. Mysterio hit a springboard cross body block off the second rope, then a springboard senton for a two count. Rey pounded Eddie on the mat with right hands. Eddie whipped Rey into a corner, but ran into an elbow. Rey went to the top rope, but Eddie crotched him. Rey fell back into the ring, and Eddie started to dance in the ring. Guerrero went for the Three Amigos vertical suplexes, but on the third one, Rey floated over and dropkicked Eddie in the back. Rey went for the 619, but Guerrero ducked it, then grabbed Rey in the third vertical suplex. Eddie went for the frog splash, but Mysterio rolled out of the way and Eddie crashed to the mat. Mysterio rolled onto Guerrero for a two count. Both men were slow to their feet. Eddie kicked Rey in the gut and went for a powerbomb, but Rey flipped over Guerrero and kicked him into 619 position. Rey hit the 619, then hit a springboard legdrop, landing on the back of Guerrero's head and driving Eddie face first into the mat. Rey got the pin at the 28 minute mark. Winner: Rey Mysterio.

Rey Mysterio fell to his knees in the aisle in celebration. In the ring, Guerrero stared at Rey, dumbfounded, then a grin crossed his face as he shook in the ring.

A commercial for next week's Championship Elimination match was shown.