Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: MYRIAD CONVENTION CENTER
Location: OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES
          on June 2005 at 8:00pm

20-Man Tag Team Battle Royal:
Edge and Val Venis won a 10-team Battle Royal:
         x L. Storm defeated Danny (partner: Doug Basham) after a German suplex
 in 0:01:17
         x R. Dupree defeated M. Hardy (partner: Jeff Hardy) after
a flying forearm in 0:01:46
         x Cena defeated L. Storm (partner: William Regal) after a powerslam in
0:01:51
         x S. Grenier defeated Haas (partner: Shelton Benjamin) after
a clothesline in 0:05:55
         x D-Von defeated S. Grenier (partner: Rene Dupree) after a short lariat
 in 0:06:27
         x Cena defeated Grandmaster Sexay (partner: Scotty Too Hotty)
 after the F-U in 0:06:45
         x Edge defeated D-Von (partner: Bubba Ray Dudley) after
a waistlock suplex in 0:09:55
         x Angle defeated Tazz (partner: John Cena) after a German suplex in
           0:10:19
         x Edge defeated JBL (partner: Kurt Angle) after the Edgeacution in
           0:11:25
Rating: ****
Click here to see highlights.

Great opener.  Just as JBL was dominating Edge, the Canadian pulled out a shock
win to take the victory for himself and Val Venis, thus meaning that they'll go
up against the champs at the Bash.


The Big Show pinned Shannon Moore with the Showstopper in 0:19:59.
Rating: *** 3/4

After taking quite a beating from Moore, Big Show managed to pull out a choke
slam for the win.


Interview:
The Champion confronts the Challenger...
Click here to see highlights.

Randy Orton criticizes Big Show's performance, only for the 500lb monster to
reveal the methods behind his madness.


Scott Steiner and Test defeated Kaientai (Taka Michinoku and Funaki) when Test
 pinned Funaki with the Big Boot in 0:17:31.
Rating: *** 3/4

Good performance from Steiner and Test, allowing them to pick up the win.


Interview:
Benoit's challenge...
Click here to see highlights.

Chris Benoit challenges Ric Flair to an ultimate submission match.


Four Corners Match:
Chris Jericho defeated Booker T, Rico and Rhyno when Y2J pinned Rhyno after
a flying dropkick in 0:05:51.
Rating: ** 1/4

A quick win for Jericho, which has earned him an IC title shot at the Bash.  If
he can defeat Chris Daniels once again, he'll be reunited with the gold for the
first time in over six months, since he lost it to Scott Steiner.


Brian Kendrick and Paul London defeated Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman when
B. Kendrick pinned Kidman with the Sliced Bread #2 in 0:12:21.
Rating: *** 3/4

After two double countout non-finishes, Kendrick was able to pin Kidman to win
the match for his team.  However, Mysterio took some revenge by clocking the
Cruiserweight Champ with his own belt after the bell.


Interview:
Hogan responds...
Click here to see highlights.

Hollywood Hogan talks about his upcoming match with Kane at the Bash.


Texas Death No-Countout-No-DQ-Falls-Count-Anywhere Match:
Triple H pinned Terry Funk with the Pedigree in 0:08:21.
Rating: ****
Click here to see highlights.

One Pedigree was all it took, as Triple H gained revenge over Terry Funk in a
brutal, but superb match.



Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

A very good night of action, with an excellent main event, evoking memories of
many hardcore tussles in the past.  In the end, it was Triple H who emerged
victorious, now adding Terry Funk to his list of conquests, which also includes
Chris Jericho.  Helmsley may well go after Benoit next, but the Rabid Wolverine
currently has his own issues with Ric Flair, which will culminate at the Great
American Bash in an Ultimate Submissions Match between the two.

Number 1 contenders were being determined tonight, and we know now that Chris
Jericho will face Christopher Daniels for the IC title.  Jericho has already
picked up a couple of wins over the Fallen Angel, so he should be favourite to
regain the title he lost back at Armageddon.  In the meantime, Edge and Val
Venis, who originally weren't going to be in the tag battle royal, beat off
stiff competition from The Great Americans (JBL and Angle) in order to earn
their shot at Shawn Michaels and Cactus Jack for the Bash.

When you consider the beating that Big Show took from Shannon Moore was one 
that he allowed him to give, you have to seriously question whether Randy Orton
can hold onto the belt at the PPV, when Show will be in a much less generous 
mood than the one he was in tonight.  Could Orton's reign end in a matter of
weeks.  It would seem so at this rate.

Next Show: Raw