Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: FREEDOM HALL
Location: KENTUCKY, UNITED STATES
          on May 2005 at 8:00pm

Val Venis pinned Shelton Benjamin with the Money Shot in 0:03:48.
Rating: ***

Quick victory for Val Venis, but his joy was shortlived, as Charlie Haas ran
down to ringside to attack him.  A double team ensued, but eventually Edge
made his way down to make the save.


Kane pinned Rey Mysterio with the Choke Slam in 0:02:43.
Rating: *** 1/4

Another very quick match saw the Big Red Monster gain revenge on Rey Rey for
eliminating him from the Battle Royal on Monday.


Interview:
The Game's Offer...
Click here to see highlights.

Triple H offers Kane the chance to join Evolution at Judgment Day, due to the
departure of Batista.  The Big Red Machine duly accepts.


No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
Tazz defeated Bubba Ray Dudley when Bubba Ray Dudley passed out in the
Tazzmission in 0:04:11. Bubba Ray Dudley suffered a back injury. He will be out
for approximately 3 cards.
Rating: ***

Tazz got a big win, but the injury suffered by Bubba may have put paid to the
scheduled Thug Life vs Dudley Boys match for Judgment Day.


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

An arrogant Billy Kidman plays down the chances of his three potential
challengers.


Triangle Match:
Brian Kendrick defeated Tajiri and Paul London:
         x London beat Tajiri via countout in 0:00:57
         x B. Kendrick beat London via the Sliced Bread #2 in 0:11:09
Rating: *** 1/4
[Christopher Daniels interfered against Tajiri.]

Brian Kendrick picked up the win to earn a title shot against Billy Kidman.  It
seems odd that Christopher Daniels would concern himself with Tajiri though,
considering that the Fallen Angel has an Intercontinental Title shot to worry
about.


Terry Funk defeated Ric Flair when Ric Flair passed out in the Spinning Toe Hold
 in 0:17:14.
Rating: *** 1/4

An amazing win for Funk, as he made Flair pass out.  However, shortly after the
final bell rang, the fires of hell erupted, as Kane made his way down to the
ring.  Never one to back away from a fight, Funk attempted to nail the monster
with a steel chair, but it had no effect.  Funk soon fell victim to a Choke
Slam, as Triple H (who had followed Kane down) dared Benoit and Jericho to
interfere.


Interview:
Hogan prepares for Vader...
Click here to see highlights.

Hollywood Hogan sends a message to Vader, Ted DiBiase and Shane McMahon.


Hollywood Hogan defeated Vader by countout in 0:12:05.
Rating: * 3/4
[Sting and Steve Austin interfered against Vader.]
Click here to see highlights.

With a little help from his friends, Stone Cold and Sting, Hollywood Hogan was
able to pick up the victory, his first since his return.



Card rating: ** 3/4


Match observations: 

Certainly a fairly good night of action, although the main event was somewhat
of a disappointment.  I'm sure that Vader will be less than pleased about 
being assaulted by the WWE Champion, and a man who he has defeated in the past.
Chances are, he'll be looking for revenge come Raw this Monday night.

Terry Funk is another man looking for revenge on Monday, and he'll be hoping
to get it when he goes one on one with Kane.  This should be a brutal match,
after the Big Red Monster destroyed Funk following his gruelling match with
Ric Flair.  Kane is also now in the 6 man tag match at Judgment Day, replacing
Batista, who is no longer with WWE.

Brian Kendrick will attempt to become Cruiserweight Champion once again at the
PPV, after he won the triangle match tonight.  But can he take the title from
a clearly confidence-oozing Billy Kidman?  Also, why did Christopher Daniels
attack Tajiri and cause him to lose the match?  We may find out on Raw, as
Tajiri and Daniels are going to go one-on-one, just six days prior to the IC
title shot of the Fallen Angel.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, there was a Thug Life vs Dudley Boys match set
for Judgment Day.  However, due to the injury suffered by Bubba Dudley tonight,
this match is now in jeapordy.  We aim to give you an update on this situation
by Monday.

Next Show: Raw