*SPOILERS* obviously.
It's likely that one or two of Eddie's matches will be shown during the show, since the matches were quite short.
It's likely that one or two of Eddie's matches will be shown during the show, since the matches were quite short.
WWE Raw/Smackdown report
Nov. 13, 2005
Minneapolis, Minn.
WWE taped both Raw and Smackdown at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. However, with the death of Eddie Guerrero earlier in the day, this became a tribute show, and pretty much no storylines moved forward.
I spoke with a St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter as I walked in the door to the Target Center. (I’m quoted in today’s paper. Kind of unusual for me to be answering, not asking, the questions.) It certainly appears that everyone knows about Guerrero’s death.
The crowd at the Target Center appears to be perhaps 7,000; the lower deck is 90 percent full, and there are a handful of people in the upper deck opposite the hard camera. The show gets underway at 6:02. There is a low-rider on stage.
Lillian Garcia welcomed us to this special tribute show. No announcers for this first match.
(1) Ken Kennedy defeats Val Venis at 4:38. Kennedy wrestled extensively in Minnesota for four years, so he got a nice pop, but he was heavily booed as he reminded everyone he is from Green Bay, Wis. A loud “Green Bay sucks” chant began. Val hit a Russian Leg Sweep. Kennedy hit a Divorce Court armbreaker, and he worked on Venis’ left arm extensively.
Val fought back with a clothesline, a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall, and a spinebuster. He went to the top rope for the Money Shot, but he got crotched in the corner. This allowed Kennedy to hit his forward roll slam for the pin. Basic match.
The entire roster stood in front of the Titantron; there is no stage tonight. Chris Benoit was in tears. The crowd chanted “Thank You Eddie!” Vince McMahon said Guerrero was in his prime, at 38 years old. “Tonight, we celebrate the life, of Eddie Guerrero,” McMahon said. Big Show and Chavo Guerrero are shown crying. Vince said Eddie would have wanted the show to go on. The awesome video tribute to Guerrero, set to a Johnny Cash song, is played. Seriously, how do they put together a video this wonderful in just a few hours?
If you watched the Raw after Owen Hart died, you saw wrestlers sitting down backstage, staring directly into the camera, and talking candidly about Hart. The same situation here. Cena told the crowd that Eddie was a great man, and he was a father figure.
Styles & Coach & Lawler took their seats in the commentary booth. A clip aired from a Raw episode when Eddie sprayed Big Show with sewage.
(2) Big Show & Kane defeat Mercury & Nitro (w/Melina) at 3:43. Basic and short. Big Show hit his big chops on Mercury. Kane hit a side slam. Kane suplexed both Mercury & Nitro at the same time. Big Show hit a running splash in the corner on both heels. Big Show forcibly kissed Melina on the ring apron. Big Show and Kane hit a double chokeslam on Nitro and pinned him. Disappointing that the Smackdown tag champions were so quickly defeated.
The cameras focused on the announce team, and the crowd chanted, “We want J.R.!” Another clip aired, showing Eddie Guerrero auctioning off all of Kurt Angle’s belongings.
(3) Kurt Angle defeats Shelton Benjamin at 7:37. Really good for the time given. Shelton hit a nice armdrag. Angle hit a belly-to-belly overhead suplex, a European Uppercut, and a backbreaker over his knee. Shelton hit a DDT and a Samoan Drop. Angle went for the anklelock, but Shelton fought out of it and he hit a nice spin heel kick to the face. Shelton nailed a top-rope clothesline.
Angle fought back with two German Suplexes, then an Angle Slam for a nearfall; Angle couldn’t believe it that it was only 2! Shelton nailed a back suplex off the ropes, and Angle rotated in the air, landing on his stomach Angle locked in the anklelock, and Shelton submitted. Good match.
WWE aired a skit from Eddie & Chavo, from the lying, cheating, stealing days. A backstage interview with Chavo aired. Chavo said they were only three years apart, and Eddie was like his brother. “We lived (wrestling) ever since we were born,” Chavo said. He said they dreamed of being tag champions, and that happened in WWE. He said he will never have a partner like Eddie again.
(4) Rey Mysterio defeats Shawn Michaels at 11:41. A very good match. Both wore Eddie shirts to the ring; that happened in most of the matches over the course of the show. They opened with some standing switches, then some quicker reversals and a standoff. Rey hit a springboard splash for a nearfall. Shawn hit some chops. Rey hit a nice plancha to the floor, and they were both down. In the ring, Michaels hit a swinging neckbreaker and he applied a sleeper at 6:00.
Michaels stayed on top with a backbreaker over his knee, then some kneedrops to the back. Rey hit a nice headscissors takedown and some spin kicks to the thigh. Rey did Eddie’s “hip shuffle,” and the crowd popped. Rey nailed a basement dropkick to Shawn’s face. Michaels fought back with a flying forearm. Rey missed a 619. Michaels connected on a top-rope elbow drop. Rey avoided the Sweet Chin Music/standing side kick. Rey hit the 619, then his springboard splash for the pin. They hugged after the match.
Batista did the backstage interview. He was crying. “It just doesn’t seem real,” he said. Batista said Eddie was quick to pull out the Bible and quote passages to help Batista through some hard times. “He was so damn funny,” Batista said.
(5) Melina won a nine-woman battle royal at 4:55. Fun match. The other eight competitors are: Maria, Ashley, Christy Hemme, Victoria, Jillian Hall, Mickie James, Candice Michelle and Trish Stratus. So, there are NINE women. That meant that four, one-on-one battles started, and Maria just stood in a corner, and looked dumb and confused. Jillian has a black patch over her ‘growth’ on her face. Trish did the Matrix to avoid a double clothesline. In a fun spot, Maria snuck up behind Victoria, kicked her in the rear, and Victoria fell through the ropes and was eliminated.
So, the final three were Melina, Trish and Maria. Maria got cocky and was ready to fight now, but Melina & Trish worked together to eliminate her. Melina then eliminated Trish, and she taunted Trish after the win. Not bad action, actually. (Where is Stacy? She’s vanished. Obviously, no Lita or Torrie Wilson either.)
A clip aired, showing Eddie and Benoit celebrating together at Wrestlemania. That’s the scene I will always remember.
(6) Eugene defeats Simon Dean at 3:56. Simon offered Eugene a nutritious bar; Eugene took a bite from it, and he didn’t like it. Eugene did some Junk Yard Dog spots. Eugene played with Simon’s scooter at ringside. Simon was angered by this, and he hit some stomps, a clothesline, and he applied a nice cravat/chinlock. Eugene became angry, and he hit some punches, then an airplane spin. Eugene hit the Rock Bottom/uranage for the pin. Eugene left on Dean’s scooter.
Chris Benoit did the next backstage interview. “He was such a kind-hearted person,” Benoit said. He said they spent a lot of time on the road together, and they talked about life. “I love Eddie Guerrero,” he said. He said Eddie made a great impression on his life.
A clip aired of Eddie winning the title by pinning Brock Lesnar.
Triple H did a sitdown interview. He said that Eddie could draw out any emotion he wanted. Triple H said Eddie had a lot of demons, but he overcame them. “I don’t know if I’ve met anyone who had a bad thing to say about Eddie,” Triple H said. This interview was fast-forwarded, because now Triple H is crying, as he said Eddie would have wanted this show to continue.
(7) Ric Flair defeats William Regal at 4:35. Ric immediately went to work on Regal’s left leg, applying a single-leg crab. Ric hit some chops. Regal came back with some stiff clubbing forearms, and Ric did the FlairFlop. They brawled on the floor. Flair hit two clips on Regal’s knee, and he applied the Figure Four Leglock, and Regal tapped out. Fun, but short.
A clip aired of Eddie covering Chyna to win the intercontinental title, and his apology to her backstage, where we saw his unforgettable devilish grin.
(8) John Cena defeats Randy Orton (w/Cowboy Bob Orton) via DQ at 4:40. Cena hit a backbody drop. Orton hit some European uppercuts and stomps, then his cross-the-back neckbreaker. Orton applied a sleeper, and he hit a nice dropkick for a nearfall. They collided, and both were down at 3:00.
Cena hit a side slam, then his “You can’t see me” dropping punch to the face. Cena went for the FU Slam, when Bob ran in the ring and hit Cena, causing the DQ. The Ortons briefly beat up Cena, but Cena took control and hit Orton with an FU slam.
The set change took literally 8 to 10 minutes. I couldn’t believe how quickly they moved the announcers table to the back and set up the Smackdown set. They showed a hot Divas video, then a preview for Kane’s movie, dubbed “See No Evil,” which is set to be released in the spring. Wow, it looks like he will be playing his wrestling character, hunting people down in an old apartment building.
SMACKDOWN TAPING
Eddie’s theme song played, and Batista drove the low-rider to ringside. Batista cut a promo in the ring, saying, “I can’t believe you’re gone.” Batista is crying. He said that Eddie loved his family and he loved the wrestling business. He said he knows Eddie has found peace. As Batista left, he placed the WWE title on the hood of the low-rider; the title sat there for the rest of the show. Classy.
(9) Matt Hardy defeats Carlito at 6:01. Fun match. Matt cheated early, grabbing Carlito by his hair to hold onto a headlock, then he slammed Carlito’s face into the corner repeatedly. Carlito hit some punches; he went for a move off the top rope, but Matt got his foot up to block it. Matt hit a high backbody drop, then a Side Effect for a nearfall. Carlito hit a Lungblower/double knees to the back for a nearfall.
Hardy hit the second-rope guillotine legdrop. Carlito blocked a Twist of Fate. However, a moment later, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate for the pin. Good match.
Vince McMahon did the next backstage interview. He said Eddie will be remembered as one of the greats, and he loved to perform. Vince cried a bit too, saying that Eddie loved his family. “Eddie was a damn good man,” McMahon said.
(10) Animal & Heidenreich defeat Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch at 4:50. I heartily booed the new LOD. Heidenreich and Cade started the match, and Heidenreich hit some punches and a clothesline. Murdoch beat up Heidenreich on the floor. In the ring, Murdoch hit a loud chop. Animal made the hot tag at 4:00, and he hit a shoulder tackle, then a double shouldertackle on both Cade & Murdoch. LOD hit the Doomsday device, and Animal pinned Cade.
Wow, Animal is really fat, and really slow. All he could be trusted to do in this match was hit two shouldertackles. Nepotism has been good to Animal. He makes Heidenreich look like a good worker.
Big Show did a backstage interview, saying Eddie was full of life. “He’s with God now,” Show said.
(11) Chavo Guerrero defeats JBL (w/Jillian Hall) at 8:29. A memorable match, and I think it is my favorite of this show. (No Kerwin White tonight, and hopefully, never again!) The crowd loudly chanted, “Chavo!” Chavo hit some armdrags and a plancha to the floor. JBL tried to hide behind Jillian. In the ring, Chavo hit a missile dropkick. JBL hit a Samoan Drop, then a swinging neckbreaker, and he applied a sleeper. The crowd chanted, “Eddie!”
Chavo came back with a dropkick, and they both were down. Chavo hit a headscissors takedown, a DDT, and he brought a chair into the ring. He did Eddie’s spot, where he tossed the chair to JBL, and he CRASHED to the mat; the ref turned around and admonished JBL for hitting him with the chair, as JBL pleaded innocent. The crowd is EATING this up. The ref took the chair and put it outside the ring; this allowed Chavo to hit a low blow, hit the Three Amigos/rolling suplexes, and hit the Frogsplash for the pin.
Chavo drank in the love from the crowd, as he mouthed “Thank you” to us. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said on the mic. He said that Eddie devoted his life to this business. Classy, memorable match.
(12) Juventud won an 11-man cruiserweight battle royal at 5:48. In the only sign of Raw vs. Smackdown war on this show, the nine smackdown cruiserweights beat up on the two Raw men – Gregory Helms and Tajiri – as soon as the bell rang. Brian “Spanky” Kendrick was tossed first. Super Crazy, Tajiri, Sho Funaki, Kid Kash, Gregory Helms, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Psicosis all were flipped out, in that order.
We are down to just Juventud, Paul London, and Nunzio. Juvy and London worked together to flip out Nunzio. Juventud sat on London’s shoulder and did a Victory Roll, holding onto the top rope, while flipping London to the floor. Good action.
(13) Chris Benoit defeats Triple H at 12:41. Triple H stalled on the floor. Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface, but Triple H escaped and he stalled on the floor some more. Benoit followed him, and he hit some chops on the floor. In the ring, Benoit unloaded a series of punches, and Triple H did a Flair Flop.
Triple H whipped Benoit into the corner, and Benoit crashed into the turnbuckle HARD, and the crowd popped for it. Triple H worked on Benoit’s back, and he hit a spinebuster. Benoit fought back with some more chops. Triple H applied a sleeper, but Benoit eventually reversed it and applied his own sleeper.
Benoit blocked a Pedigree. Benoit hit three consecutive German Suplexes, then the top-rope flying headbutt for a nearfall. Benoit again blocked the Pedigree, and he applied a Crippler Crossface. Triple H wouldn’t submit. Benoit rolled Triple H over while the Crossface was still applied, and he scored the pin.
They hugged in the ring. Dean Malenko came out, and he hugged Benoit. “We’ve lost a brother we loved dearly,” Benoit said. “Eddie was a true inspiration.” They left the ring as Eddie’s theme song played.
Final thoughts: A memorable night of wrestling. As a long time wrestling fan, I first saw Eddie when he surfaced in WCW (in 1996?) He truly was a great entertainer. I saw Eddie vs. Rey numerous times live, and they were always fun matches. I remember one of the first times I saw Eddie live, he fought Dean Malenko. Dean had gotten the upper hand, and Eddie ran, on his knees, to the corner to hug the ref for dear life. God, how the crowd HATED Eddie when he did that.
The man knew how to draw emotion out of the crowd. And he was such a fantastic worker. I recall seeing Eddie vs. Diamond Dallas Page at a house show, before Page was good at all, and they tore it down.
The matches Sunday? Yes, a lot of them were what you would expect… there isn’t much of a story that can be told in a four-minute match. Chavo-JBL edges out Benoit-Triple H and Rey-Michaels as my favorite on this night. Outside of being forced to watch Heidenreich & Animal in the ring, I have few complaints … I would have liked to seen Booker T.
Nov. 13, 2005
Minneapolis, Minn.
WWE taped both Raw and Smackdown at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. However, with the death of Eddie Guerrero earlier in the day, this became a tribute show, and pretty much no storylines moved forward.
I spoke with a St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter as I walked in the door to the Target Center. (I’m quoted in today’s paper. Kind of unusual for me to be answering, not asking, the questions.) It certainly appears that everyone knows about Guerrero’s death.
The crowd at the Target Center appears to be perhaps 7,000; the lower deck is 90 percent full, and there are a handful of people in the upper deck opposite the hard camera. The show gets underway at 6:02. There is a low-rider on stage.
Lillian Garcia welcomed us to this special tribute show. No announcers for this first match.
(1) Ken Kennedy defeats Val Venis at 4:38. Kennedy wrestled extensively in Minnesota for four years, so he got a nice pop, but he was heavily booed as he reminded everyone he is from Green Bay, Wis. A loud “Green Bay sucks” chant began. Val hit a Russian Leg Sweep. Kennedy hit a Divorce Court armbreaker, and he worked on Venis’ left arm extensively.
Val fought back with a clothesline, a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall, and a spinebuster. He went to the top rope for the Money Shot, but he got crotched in the corner. This allowed Kennedy to hit his forward roll slam for the pin. Basic match.
The entire roster stood in front of the Titantron; there is no stage tonight. Chris Benoit was in tears. The crowd chanted “Thank You Eddie!” Vince McMahon said Guerrero was in his prime, at 38 years old. “Tonight, we celebrate the life, of Eddie Guerrero,” McMahon said. Big Show and Chavo Guerrero are shown crying. Vince said Eddie would have wanted the show to go on. The awesome video tribute to Guerrero, set to a Johnny Cash song, is played. Seriously, how do they put together a video this wonderful in just a few hours?
If you watched the Raw after Owen Hart died, you saw wrestlers sitting down backstage, staring directly into the camera, and talking candidly about Hart. The same situation here. Cena told the crowd that Eddie was a great man, and he was a father figure.
Styles & Coach & Lawler took their seats in the commentary booth. A clip aired from a Raw episode when Eddie sprayed Big Show with sewage.
(2) Big Show & Kane defeat Mercury & Nitro (w/Melina) at 3:43. Basic and short. Big Show hit his big chops on Mercury. Kane hit a side slam. Kane suplexed both Mercury & Nitro at the same time. Big Show hit a running splash in the corner on both heels. Big Show forcibly kissed Melina on the ring apron. Big Show and Kane hit a double chokeslam on Nitro and pinned him. Disappointing that the Smackdown tag champions were so quickly defeated.
The cameras focused on the announce team, and the crowd chanted, “We want J.R.!” Another clip aired, showing Eddie Guerrero auctioning off all of Kurt Angle’s belongings.
(3) Kurt Angle defeats Shelton Benjamin at 7:37. Really good for the time given. Shelton hit a nice armdrag. Angle hit a belly-to-belly overhead suplex, a European Uppercut, and a backbreaker over his knee. Shelton hit a DDT and a Samoan Drop. Angle went for the anklelock, but Shelton fought out of it and he hit a nice spin heel kick to the face. Shelton nailed a top-rope clothesline.
Angle fought back with two German Suplexes, then an Angle Slam for a nearfall; Angle couldn’t believe it that it was only 2! Shelton nailed a back suplex off the ropes, and Angle rotated in the air, landing on his stomach Angle locked in the anklelock, and Shelton submitted. Good match.
WWE aired a skit from Eddie & Chavo, from the lying, cheating, stealing days. A backstage interview with Chavo aired. Chavo said they were only three years apart, and Eddie was like his brother. “We lived (wrestling) ever since we were born,” Chavo said. He said they dreamed of being tag champions, and that happened in WWE. He said he will never have a partner like Eddie again.
(4) Rey Mysterio defeats Shawn Michaels at 11:41. A very good match. Both wore Eddie shirts to the ring; that happened in most of the matches over the course of the show. They opened with some standing switches, then some quicker reversals and a standoff. Rey hit a springboard splash for a nearfall. Shawn hit some chops. Rey hit a nice plancha to the floor, and they were both down. In the ring, Michaels hit a swinging neckbreaker and he applied a sleeper at 6:00.
Michaels stayed on top with a backbreaker over his knee, then some kneedrops to the back. Rey hit a nice headscissors takedown and some spin kicks to the thigh. Rey did Eddie’s “hip shuffle,” and the crowd popped. Rey nailed a basement dropkick to Shawn’s face. Michaels fought back with a flying forearm. Rey missed a 619. Michaels connected on a top-rope elbow drop. Rey avoided the Sweet Chin Music/standing side kick. Rey hit the 619, then his springboard splash for the pin. They hugged after the match.
Batista did the backstage interview. He was crying. “It just doesn’t seem real,” he said. Batista said Eddie was quick to pull out the Bible and quote passages to help Batista through some hard times. “He was so damn funny,” Batista said.
(5) Melina won a nine-woman battle royal at 4:55. Fun match. The other eight competitors are: Maria, Ashley, Christy Hemme, Victoria, Jillian Hall, Mickie James, Candice Michelle and Trish Stratus. So, there are NINE women. That meant that four, one-on-one battles started, and Maria just stood in a corner, and looked dumb and confused. Jillian has a black patch over her ‘growth’ on her face. Trish did the Matrix to avoid a double clothesline. In a fun spot, Maria snuck up behind Victoria, kicked her in the rear, and Victoria fell through the ropes and was eliminated.
So, the final three were Melina, Trish and Maria. Maria got cocky and was ready to fight now, but Melina & Trish worked together to eliminate her. Melina then eliminated Trish, and she taunted Trish after the win. Not bad action, actually. (Where is Stacy? She’s vanished. Obviously, no Lita or Torrie Wilson either.)
A clip aired, showing Eddie and Benoit celebrating together at Wrestlemania. That’s the scene I will always remember.
(6) Eugene defeats Simon Dean at 3:56. Simon offered Eugene a nutritious bar; Eugene took a bite from it, and he didn’t like it. Eugene did some Junk Yard Dog spots. Eugene played with Simon’s scooter at ringside. Simon was angered by this, and he hit some stomps, a clothesline, and he applied a nice cravat/chinlock. Eugene became angry, and he hit some punches, then an airplane spin. Eugene hit the Rock Bottom/uranage for the pin. Eugene left on Dean’s scooter.
Chris Benoit did the next backstage interview. “He was such a kind-hearted person,” Benoit said. He said they spent a lot of time on the road together, and they talked about life. “I love Eddie Guerrero,” he said. He said Eddie made a great impression on his life.
A clip aired of Eddie winning the title by pinning Brock Lesnar.
Triple H did a sitdown interview. He said that Eddie could draw out any emotion he wanted. Triple H said Eddie had a lot of demons, but he overcame them. “I don’t know if I’ve met anyone who had a bad thing to say about Eddie,” Triple H said. This interview was fast-forwarded, because now Triple H is crying, as he said Eddie would have wanted this show to continue.
(7) Ric Flair defeats William Regal at 4:35. Ric immediately went to work on Regal’s left leg, applying a single-leg crab. Ric hit some chops. Regal came back with some stiff clubbing forearms, and Ric did the FlairFlop. They brawled on the floor. Flair hit two clips on Regal’s knee, and he applied the Figure Four Leglock, and Regal tapped out. Fun, but short.
A clip aired of Eddie covering Chyna to win the intercontinental title, and his apology to her backstage, where we saw his unforgettable devilish grin.
(8) John Cena defeats Randy Orton (w/Cowboy Bob Orton) via DQ at 4:40. Cena hit a backbody drop. Orton hit some European uppercuts and stomps, then his cross-the-back neckbreaker. Orton applied a sleeper, and he hit a nice dropkick for a nearfall. They collided, and both were down at 3:00.
Cena hit a side slam, then his “You can’t see me” dropping punch to the face. Cena went for the FU Slam, when Bob ran in the ring and hit Cena, causing the DQ. The Ortons briefly beat up Cena, but Cena took control and hit Orton with an FU slam.
The set change took literally 8 to 10 minutes. I couldn’t believe how quickly they moved the announcers table to the back and set up the Smackdown set. They showed a hot Divas video, then a preview for Kane’s movie, dubbed “See No Evil,” which is set to be released in the spring. Wow, it looks like he will be playing his wrestling character, hunting people down in an old apartment building.
SMACKDOWN TAPING
Eddie’s theme song played, and Batista drove the low-rider to ringside. Batista cut a promo in the ring, saying, “I can’t believe you’re gone.” Batista is crying. He said that Eddie loved his family and he loved the wrestling business. He said he knows Eddie has found peace. As Batista left, he placed the WWE title on the hood of the low-rider; the title sat there for the rest of the show. Classy.
(9) Matt Hardy defeats Carlito at 6:01. Fun match. Matt cheated early, grabbing Carlito by his hair to hold onto a headlock, then he slammed Carlito’s face into the corner repeatedly. Carlito hit some punches; he went for a move off the top rope, but Matt got his foot up to block it. Matt hit a high backbody drop, then a Side Effect for a nearfall. Carlito hit a Lungblower/double knees to the back for a nearfall.
Hardy hit the second-rope guillotine legdrop. Carlito blocked a Twist of Fate. However, a moment later, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate for the pin. Good match.
Vince McMahon did the next backstage interview. He said Eddie will be remembered as one of the greats, and he loved to perform. Vince cried a bit too, saying that Eddie loved his family. “Eddie was a damn good man,” McMahon said.
(10) Animal & Heidenreich defeat Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch at 4:50. I heartily booed the new LOD. Heidenreich and Cade started the match, and Heidenreich hit some punches and a clothesline. Murdoch beat up Heidenreich on the floor. In the ring, Murdoch hit a loud chop. Animal made the hot tag at 4:00, and he hit a shoulder tackle, then a double shouldertackle on both Cade & Murdoch. LOD hit the Doomsday device, and Animal pinned Cade.
Wow, Animal is really fat, and really slow. All he could be trusted to do in this match was hit two shouldertackles. Nepotism has been good to Animal. He makes Heidenreich look like a good worker.
Big Show did a backstage interview, saying Eddie was full of life. “He’s with God now,” Show said.
(11) Chavo Guerrero defeats JBL (w/Jillian Hall) at 8:29. A memorable match, and I think it is my favorite of this show. (No Kerwin White tonight, and hopefully, never again!) The crowd loudly chanted, “Chavo!” Chavo hit some armdrags and a plancha to the floor. JBL tried to hide behind Jillian. In the ring, Chavo hit a missile dropkick. JBL hit a Samoan Drop, then a swinging neckbreaker, and he applied a sleeper. The crowd chanted, “Eddie!”
Chavo came back with a dropkick, and they both were down. Chavo hit a headscissors takedown, a DDT, and he brought a chair into the ring. He did Eddie’s spot, where he tossed the chair to JBL, and he CRASHED to the mat; the ref turned around and admonished JBL for hitting him with the chair, as JBL pleaded innocent. The crowd is EATING this up. The ref took the chair and put it outside the ring; this allowed Chavo to hit a low blow, hit the Three Amigos/rolling suplexes, and hit the Frogsplash for the pin.
Chavo drank in the love from the crowd, as he mouthed “Thank you” to us. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he said on the mic. He said that Eddie devoted his life to this business. Classy, memorable match.
(12) Juventud won an 11-man cruiserweight battle royal at 5:48. In the only sign of Raw vs. Smackdown war on this show, the nine smackdown cruiserweights beat up on the two Raw men – Gregory Helms and Tajiri – as soon as the bell rang. Brian “Spanky” Kendrick was tossed first. Super Crazy, Tajiri, Sho Funaki, Kid Kash, Gregory Helms, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Psicosis all were flipped out, in that order.
We are down to just Juventud, Paul London, and Nunzio. Juvy and London worked together to flip out Nunzio. Juventud sat on London’s shoulder and did a Victory Roll, holding onto the top rope, while flipping London to the floor. Good action.
(13) Chris Benoit defeats Triple H at 12:41. Triple H stalled on the floor. Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface, but Triple H escaped and he stalled on the floor some more. Benoit followed him, and he hit some chops on the floor. In the ring, Benoit unloaded a series of punches, and Triple H did a Flair Flop.
Triple H whipped Benoit into the corner, and Benoit crashed into the turnbuckle HARD, and the crowd popped for it. Triple H worked on Benoit’s back, and he hit a spinebuster. Benoit fought back with some more chops. Triple H applied a sleeper, but Benoit eventually reversed it and applied his own sleeper.
Benoit blocked a Pedigree. Benoit hit three consecutive German Suplexes, then the top-rope flying headbutt for a nearfall. Benoit again blocked the Pedigree, and he applied a Crippler Crossface. Triple H wouldn’t submit. Benoit rolled Triple H over while the Crossface was still applied, and he scored the pin.
They hugged in the ring. Dean Malenko came out, and he hugged Benoit. “We’ve lost a brother we loved dearly,” Benoit said. “Eddie was a true inspiration.” They left the ring as Eddie’s theme song played.
Final thoughts: A memorable night of wrestling. As a long time wrestling fan, I first saw Eddie when he surfaced in WCW (in 1996?) He truly was a great entertainer. I saw Eddie vs. Rey numerous times live, and they were always fun matches. I remember one of the first times I saw Eddie live, he fought Dean Malenko. Dean had gotten the upper hand, and Eddie ran, on his knees, to the corner to hug the ref for dear life. God, how the crowd HATED Eddie when he did that.
The man knew how to draw emotion out of the crowd. And he was such a fantastic worker. I recall seeing Eddie vs. Diamond Dallas Page at a house show, before Page was good at all, and they tore it down.
The matches Sunday? Yes, a lot of them were what you would expect… there isn’t much of a story that can be told in a four-minute match. Chavo-JBL edges out Benoit-Triple H and Rey-Michaels as my favorite on this night. Outside of being forced to watch Heidenreich & Animal in the ring, I have few complaints … I would have liked to seen Booker T.
