Smackdown

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

Interview:
Old Rivalries Reunite...
Click here to see highlights.

Shane McMahon shows up to rip on Hollywood Hogan.


nWo (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Scott Steiner) defeated
The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) and Booker T when Hall
 pinned Bubba with the Outsider Edge in 0:09:19.
Rating: *** 1/4

The nWo champions lifted the spirits of the faction by getting the win in the
six man tag.

Following the match, it was announced that there would be a special Royal
Rumble preview here tonight.  12 of the competitors from the Rumble have been
sorted randomly into three-man teams.  These teams will compete in a four 
corners elimination match tonight.  Immediately afterwards, the team that wins
will split and face each other in a Triangle elimination match.


Handicap-Match:
Goldberg defeated nWo (Marty Jannetty and X-Pac) when Goldberg pinned Jannetty
 with the Jackhammer in 0:16:09.
Rating: ***

Despite the 2-on-1 disadvantage, Goldberg was able to earn the victory.  After
the match, he yelled out to Randy Orton that he would see him at the Rumble.


Interview:
Words from the Dark Side...
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One last message from the Undertaker before he returns at the Rumble.


Four Corners Match:
Shawn Michaels, Steven Richards and Chris Jericho defeated
Kurt Angle, Christian and Cactus Jack, Kane, Eddie Guerrero and Triple H and
Test, Rob Van Dam and Matt Hardy:
         x Stevie beat RVD via the Stevie-T in 0:36:15
         x E. Guerrero beat Christian via a waistlock suplex in 0:40:31
         x Y2J beat E. Guerrero via an Asai moonsault in 0:44:36
Rating: *** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

After a gruelling bout, it's down to Jericho, Michaels and Richards in the 2nd
part of the preview match.


Triangle Match:
Shawn Michaels defeated Steven Richards and Chris Jericho:
         x Y2J beat Stevie via an Asai moonsault in 0:02:34
         x Michaels beat Y2J via an abdominal stretch in 0:09:04
Rating: *** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

A rejuvinated Shawn Michaels picked up the victory over an exhausted Jericho.
HBK must surely be a favourite to emerge victorious from the Rumble.


Interview:
Words with Edge...
Click here to see highlights.

Edge sends out a message to the Royal Rumble competitors, prior to his match
with Randy Orton.


Edge pinned Randy Orton after a spear in 0:06:17.
Rating: ****

After receiving his second spear this week, Orton fell victim to Edge.  After
the match was over, Goldberg appeared on the ramp and laughed at Randy.


No-Countout-No-DQ-Match with Special Referee Chris Benoit:
Brock Lesnar pinned Hollywood Hogan with the F-5 in 0:24:38.
Rating: ** 3/4
Click here to see highlights.

Brock Lesnar surprised nWo leader Hogan by pinning him with the F-5.  Guest
referee Benoit wisely chose to slip out of the ring before he could be the 
victim of a 2 on 1 attack, although this seemed unlikely as Hogan appeared to
be too shocked by the result of the match.



Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

Well, the Royal Rumble is just a few days away, and things seem to be boiling
up to a fever pitch.  Brock Lesnar pinned fellow nWo member Hollywood Hogan
cleanly with the F-5 tonight, and if that happens on Sunday, then Chris Benoit
will lose the WWE title, even though he's not involved in the decision.  What
role will Shane McMahon play as referee?  Will he help to keep the belt around
the waist of the champion, or will he be forced to hand it back to the nWo.

Of course, despite the importance of the title match, most people's eye will
be on the Royal Rumble match itself.  Shawn Michaels emerged victorious from
tonight's preview matches, but despite the near 60 minutes he was at ringside,
he wasn't involved in the match the whole time.  If he gets a low number, it
may well not prove to be HBK's night.  A number of favourites are starting to
emerge other than Michaels though, these being Goldberg, Kane and Edge.  Don't
forget, the nWo will have strong representation in the match, and at some point
we will also see the return of the Undertaker.

With the two matches mentioned above, plus a wealth of other title defences,
it's shaping up to be quite the show at the Royal Rumble, the first stop on
the road to Wrestlemania.

Next Show: Royal Rumble