Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: FREEMAN COLISEUM
Location: TEXAS, UNITED STATES
          on February 2005 at 8:00pm

Interview:
Back in control, Shane O Mac...
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Shane O Mac sets up the main event for No Way Out, vows to destroy the nWo, and
feeds the first victim to the Dead Man.


X-Pac and The Undertaker battled to a double countout in 0:09:21.
Rating: ** 1/2

The Undertaker didn't care about victory, all he wanted to do was hurt X-Pac,
and send a message to the Big Show.


[WWE Title Shot Tournament - Round 1]:
Randy Orton defeated Shawn Michaels by countout in 0:02:01.
Rating: ** 3/4
[Hollywood Hogan interfered against Shawn Michaels.]
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Hollywood Hogan, who was supposed to be banned from the building, made his way
to ringside and attacked Michaels, causing him to be counted out.

Orton celebrated his victory, only to realise that this meant he would have
to face Goldberg next week on Smackdown.


Interview:
The Game Plan...
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Triple H tells Booker T that he'll take the IC title not because he wants it,
but to hurt the Booker Man.


Triple H pinned Maven after a powerslam in 0:07:02.
Rating: ***

Not even needing a Pedigree to earn victory, Triple H polishes off Maven in
seven minutes.


12-Man Battle Royal:
Taka Michinoku won a 12-man Battle Royal:
         x Hurricane defeated U. Dragon after a power bomb in 0:00:57
         x Rey Rey defeated Noble in 0:02:38
         x Rey Rey defeated Tajiri after a top-rope Frankensteiner in 0:02:46
         x Rey Rey defeated Funaki after a Frankensteiner in 0:03:43
         x Rey Rey defeated Spike after the West Coast Pop in 0:06:05
         x M. Hardy defeated Rey Rey after an Asai moonsault in 0:07:06
         x M. Hardy defeated B. Kendrick after a flying bodypress in 0:07:11
         x Michinoku defeated D. Malenko after a side step in 0:09:56
         x Michinoku defeated M. Hardy after a moonsault in 0:10:04
         x Michinoku defeated Moore after the Michinoku Driver in 0:10:24
         x Michinoku defeated Hurricane after the Michinoku Driver in 0:10:33
Rating: *** 1/2
(Taka Michinoku won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.)
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Taka Michinoku dominated the later stages of the match to finally realise his
dream of becoming Cruiserweight Champion.


Interview:
Orton has advanced...
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Randy Orton talks about his victory earlier tonight, and facing Goldberg next
week.


[WWE Title Shot Tournament - Round 1]:
Kane pinned Steve Austin with the Choke Slam in 0:19:31.
Rating: *** 3/4

A controversial victory for Kane, after Austin twice had 3-counts reversed 
after Kane complained of fast counting.  After the match, Austin gave the ref
the Stunner.


Chris Benoit, Lance Storm and Val Venis defeated
nWo (Brock Lesnar, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) when Venis defeated Lesnar by
disqualification in 0:16:57.
Rating: ** 3/4
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Lesnar's use of Tim White as a human shield caused him to be disqualified, and
therefore determined that Lesnar vs Benoit at No Way Out would be a Ladder
Match for the WWE title.



Card rating: *** 1/4


Match observations: 

An interesting night of action, which determined that we would see a Ladder
Match in the main event at No Way Out, after Brock Lesnar ended up getting 
himself disqualified.  Of course, a ladder match doesn't guarantee a lack of
nWo interference, but steps can obviously still be taken to prevent that.

Shawn Michaels was said to be incredibly angry, after he was cost the chance
to go to Wrestlemania by Hollywood Hogan and Randy Orton here tonight.  The big
question is though, how did Hogan get in when he was apparently barred from
the building?

Stone Cold Steve Austin was also displeased with the result of his match, after
he twice got the win over Kane, only for the match to be restarted both times
after Kane complained of fast counts.  Kane will face the winner of the last
first round match on Raw, which will be between Bret Hart, and an opponent who
is yet to be named.

In a great Cruiserweight Battle Royal match, Taka Michinoku was able to win
the Cruiserweight Title, beating the Hurricane last of all for the victory.  It
remains to be seen what new life Taka can breathe into the division, especially
considering the news that the now-former champion Tajiri will be leaving the
company.

Next Show: Raw