Smackdown!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 13, 2006
New World Heavyweight Champion
January 13, 2006
One of the most historic and chaotic weeks in WWE history culminated with RAW’s
Kurt Angle winning the World Heavyweight Championship on SmackDown.
An emotional Batista began the night addressing an equally emotional crowd in
Philadelphia. He handed the World Heavyweight Championship to General Manger
Theodore Long and explained that he will be sidelined indefinitely because of a
severe triceps injury suffered at the hands of Mark Henry. True to the way he
reigned as world champion, Batista said he had to “do the right thing” and
relinquish the title since he’d be unable to defend it in the ring.
Many of the fans in attendance shouted out begging him to reconsider; some
Batista supporters were openly weeping in the highly charged atmosphere. But
attention quickly shifted to the night’s main event when Mr. Long announced that
a new World Heavyweight Champion would be declared that night in a 20-man,
over-the-top Battle Royal.
Participants ranged from the fleet Rey Mysterio to the massive Mark Henry to the
powerhouse Lashley to the longest-reigning world champion in SmackDown history,
JBL. Chris Benoit and Randy Orton were not eligible because they'd instead
battle in the final match of the best-of-seven series for the United States
Championship.
But with 19 of the 20 combatants in the ring, the Olympic gold medalist from RAW
shocked everyone by emerging as the final Battle Royal entrant. Ultimately, the
match came down to Angle and Henry as the final two Superstars. Despite
absorbing an Angle Slam, Henry bounced back and twice crushed Kurt into the
corner with an avalanche. Angle somehow responded with a German suplex to the
gargantuan Henry. Angle later managed an innovative head scissors from a
hurricanrana position — twisting and leveraging Henry over the top rope. As
Henry’s weight shifted, both men crashed toward the floor. “The World’s
Strongest Man” hit the floor first, while only one of Kurt’s feet ever touched
the ground. As a result, the intense Kurt Angle was declared new World
Heavyweight Champion, and he held the belt high for all to see. It was the first
time in history that a Battle Royal had determined the World Heavyweight
Championship.
If that weren’t enough, a new United States Champion was also crowned in
unprecedented fashion. Thanks to an illegal cheap shot, best-of-seven
replacement Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit in Match No. 7. In doing so,
Booker T was credited with a 4-3 series victory and the United States
Championship. It was the first-ever time that a substitute has won the United
States Championship for someone else.
After the match, Orton reminded Booker T that he owes “The Legend Killer” one.
In addition, the legendary “Rowdy One” hosted Piper’s Pit. JBL and Jillian
crashed the show as guests. But when Piper had heard enough, he called out his
originally planned visitor: The Boogeyman. A shaken JBL sacrificed Jillian and
bailed from the ring. Then, The Boogeyman did the unthinkable: He ate the
hideous growth off Jillian’s face.
Matches
Kurt Angle wins 20-man Battle Royal (new World Heavyweight Champion)
Randy Orton def. Chris Benoit in
Match No. 7 (Booker T is new United States Champion)