Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTER
Location: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
          on June 2005 at 8:00pm

Interview:
More match-making from McMahon...
Click here to see highlights.

Shane McMahon books some rather interesting matches for the evening.


Handicap-Match:
The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) defeated
Steve Austin when S. Benjamin defeated S. Austin when S. Austin passed out in
an armbar submission in 0:04:00.
Rating: ** 3/4

After the amount of blood Austin lost on Monday, there was very little in the 
way of resistance in him tonight, thus causing him to pass out again.  Does he
stand any chance at all against Ted DiBiase on Sunday?


Spike Dudley pinned Rhyno after a swinging bulldog in 0:11:46.
Rating: ** 1/2

Spike with a shock victory over Rhyno.  The 150-pounder managed to escape into
the crowd before Rhyno could take revenge.


Interview:
Y2J speaks...
Click here to see highlights.

Chris Jericho is looking forward to maybe winning the IC title on Sunday.


Ted DiBiase pinned Funaki after a gutwrench suplex in 0:14:57.
Rating: ***

Funaki proved to be a formidable opponent, but DiBiase eventually earned the
victory.  As he celebrated, a bloodied and bandaged Stone Cold Steve Austin
raced down to the ring and attacked.  Austin very nearly hit the Stunner on
DiBiase, but the Million Dollar Man managed to escape in time.


The Big Show and Hollywood Hogan defeated Randy Orton and Kane when Hollywood
 pinned Kane with the Big Leg Drop in 0:22:13.
Rating: *** 1/2

Hogan managed to pin Kane with the big leg drop, but don't forget, pins won't
count on Sunday during the Buried Alive match.


Interview:
A surprise...
Click here to see highlights.

A William Regal interview is interrupted by a returning superstar.


William Regal pinned Eddie Guerrero after an inside cradle in 0:17:08.
Rating: *** 3/4

Eddie's return ended in disappointment, as Regal picked up the win.  However,
there seemed to be suggestions of a fast count, so don't be surprised to see
these two square off again in the near future.


18-Man Battle Royal:
Ric Flair won an 18-man Battle Royal:
         x Flair threw out Benoit after a kneebreaker in 0:02:30
         x HHH threw out Edge after a stomp in 0:04:14
         x Cactus Jack threw out Cena in 0:04:57
         x Y2J threw out Michaels after an armdrag takedown in 0:07:03
         x B. Kendrick threw out Vader in 0:10:13
         x Daniels threw out Rey Rey in 0:13:42
         x Hall threw out JBL after a roundhouse right in 0:20:26
         x T. Funk threw out Y2J in 0:21:18
         x Angle threw out Venis in 0:26:17
         x Angle threw out Daniels after an armdrag takedown in 0:33:28
         x Angle threw out Cactus Jack in 0:36:52
         x Flair threw out Angle after an elbowsmash in 0:41:05
         x Hall threw out HHH after a side step in 0:43:12
         x Tazz threw out Hall after a Dragon Tazzplex in 0:45:11
         x Flair threw out T. Funk after a facerake in 0:47:24
         x Flair threw out Tazz after a chop in 0:54:39
         x Flair threw out B. Kendrick after a chop in 0:54:58
Rating: *** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Ric Flair won the massive Great American Bash preview, eliminating his Bash
opponent Chris Benoit in short order, and proving that he can go for much more
than the 30 minute limit that his Ultimate Submission match will have.



Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

And so, we head into the Great American Bash with a number of interesting
situations at hand.  Stone Cold Steve Austin looks to be in serious trouble
with regards to his match with Ted DiBiase.  He hasn't won in a number of 
weeks, even before he lost the title, and his physical condition is still far
from perfect after last Monday's first blood match.  The smart money would
suggest that DiBiase will go over at the Bash.

Randy Orton is going to have a fight on his hands to keep the belt, as he seems
unable to withstand the power of the Big Show.  Although it was Hogan pinning
Kane that ended the tag match tonight, it was clear that Big Show is more than
capable of doing a number on the legend-killing champion.  As for Hogan and the
Big Red Machine, Hogan's win tonight is only likely to increase the brutality 
of Sunday's Buried Alive match.

The return of Eddie Guerrero tonight was a very much welcome one, and we can
expect to seem him and William Regal square off again very soon, after their
match ended with a smattering of controversy.  However, they'll have to wait
until after Sunday, as the card for the Bash is full.

Ric Flair's win tonight will stand him in good stead for his match against
Chris Benoit on Sunday.  Flair obviously is more than capable of going for 30
minutes or more, but can he make Benoit tap out?  And can the Rabid Wolverine
do the same to the Nature Boy?  And above all this, how many times can they do
it within the 30 minutes?  We'll find out those answers on Pay Per View.

Next Show: The Great American Bash