Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: CORNWALL CIVIC CENTER
Location: CORNWALL, ONTARIO, CANADA
          on January 2005 at 8:00pm

Interview:
The WWE Champion...
Click here to see highlights.

Hollywood Hogan changes the Royal Rumble title match, while Chris Benoit fires
back with a surprise of his own.


Kevin Nash defeated Shawn Michaels by countout in 0:02:45.
Rating: ** 3/4

The Jack Knife on the outside saw Shawn Michaels defeated once again.  HBK
was clearly struggling with his back after the match, which could explain some
of his poor results lately.


Tajiri pinned Jamie Noble with the Stiff kick to the head in 0:10:24.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Tajiri retained the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.)

nWo member Noble failed in his bid to take the Cruiserweight Title from the
current champion Tajiri.


Interview:
Richards is angry...
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Steven Richards isn't happy with his position in the WWE, and announces that
he intends to change that at the Royal Rumble.


Steven Richards pinned Funaki with the Stevie-T in 0:06:49.
Rating: ***

Richards put down Funaki for the 3-count, and once again re-iterated the 
point that he was going to win the Royal Rumble.


nWo (Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner) defeated Booker T and Kurt Angle when
Jarrett pinned Booker T with the Stroke in 0:24:15.
Rating: *** 1/2

Jarrett made up for the loss on Raw by pinning Booker T this week, all thanks
to a fast count from Nick Patrick.  However, almost as soon as the three count
was registered, the lights went out on the building yet again.


Interview:
Lights out?
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Jeff Jarrett receives a chilling message from the man he buried in his own
casket - The Undertaker.


Goldberg defeated Randy Orton by disqualification in 0:15:40.
Rating: ***

Goldberg could have pinned Orton, but Tim White was down after Orton had
attacked him.  When White eventually did awaken, his first action was to DQ
the Legend Killer, thus preventing 'Berg from being able to get proper revenge
on him.


Chris Benoit made X-Pac submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:10:32.
Rating: **** 1/4

Chris Benoit managed to make X-Pac tap out to the crossface, and then grabbed
a mic ready to reveal his stipulation.


Interview:
Benoit's stipulation...
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Chris Benoit adds some very special stipulations to the title match at the 
Royal Rumble, all of which revolve around former commissioner Shane McMahon!



Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

What an interesting night of action.  Chris Benoit picked up a great victory
over X-Pac, and then dropped the bombshell that he was bringing Shane McMahon
back to WWE at the Royal Rumble, less than two months after the nWo thought
that they had gotten rid of him for good.  Whether he stays for just one night
or permanently is all down to Benoit, though.

Goldberg got a small manner of revenge over Randy Orton tonight, when he beat
the Legend Killer by disqualification.  However, you could tell that Goldberg
would much rather have had a pinfall victory, and therefore will be gunning for
Orton in the weeks to come.  Berg might get his chance at the Royal Rumble,
as he has entered himself into the 30-Man main event.

Also entered into the Rumble, it would seem, is the Undertaker.  He has not
been seen since Jeff Jarrett beat him in a casket match at No Mercy, but right
here tonight, he sent a message to Jarrett, telling him that he would be back
very soon.  If Jarrett is in the ring when the Taker returns at the Rumble, it
is safe to say that he probably won't be in there for much longer.

Another defeat for Shawn Michaels tonight, while Steven Richards continues to
go from strength to strength.  Has being defeated by Stevie Night Heat made a
severe dent in HBK's confidence, or is the once successfull career of Shawn
Michaels finally winding down to a close?

Don't forget, the tag titles are on the line on Raw this Monday, as Bret Hart
and Stone Cold defend against the Outsiders.  The Dudley Boys will be watching
this match with extreme interest, as they get to face the winners at the Royal
Rumble.

Next Show: Raw