Smackdown

Card Information:
 Held in: SAGINAW CIVIC CENTER
Location: MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
          on September 2005 at 8:00pm

Interview:
Funk makes a major announcement...
Click here to see highlights.

The co-commissioner makes a shocking change to the Unforgiven main event.


Ultimo Dragon, Paul London and Tajiri defeated
Steve Austin, Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman when London pinned Rey Rey after
the Running Forearm Smash in 0:18:20.
Rating: **** 1/4

It was the face team that came out victorious, as London pinned Rey Mysterio
with a forearm smash.  During the match, it was announced that the previously
scheduled Ultimo Dragon vs Billy Kidman match for Unforgiven had been changed
to a five man Crusierweight Battle Royal, featuring the five Cruiserweights
involved in this match, with the title on the line.  Steve Austin would be in
the corner of Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman for the match.


Cactus Jack pinned Eddie Guerrero with the Double Arm DDT in 0:01:52.
Rating: ***

Jack made short work of Eddie Guerrero, before motioning to the crowd that he
would defeat Shawn Michaels at Unforgiven.  HBK soon came rushing down to the
ring to brawl with his former tag partner, before officials seperated them.


Interview:
A contendership challenge...
Click here to see highlights.

AJ Styles issues a challenge to the Basham Brothers on behalf of himself, and
his returning partner, Raven.


Number-One-Contenders-Match:
AJ Styles and Raven defeated The Basham Brothers (Doug Basham and Danny Basham)
 when Raven pinned Danny after an elbowdrop from the second turnbuckle in
           0:01:18.
Rating: **

AJ Styles and Raven won the match with ease, and will now go on to challenge
Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin at Unforgiven.


The Undertaker pinned Shannon Moore with the Tombstone in 0:00:31.
Rating: *

Another big time squash, as the Taker destroys Shannon Moore.


Interview:
Brotherly Hate...
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Undertaker and Kane engage in a war of words.


The Rock pinned Batista after the Rock Bottom in 0:09:43.
Rating: **

It took two Rock Bottoms in the end, but the People's Champ picked up the win.
His joy was shortlived, however, as Randy Orton pounced and launched a 2-on-1
attack.  Chris Jericho soon came running down to ringside, but he was unable
to stop the onslaught, and soon fell victim to a Batista Bomb.


Handicap-Match:
Evolution (Ric Flair and Triple H) defeated Chris Benoit when HHH pinned Benoit
 with the Pedigree in 0:20:59.
Rating: ****
Click here to see highlights.

Benoit worked with all his heart and all his guts for 20 long minutes against
Evolution, but in the end, he fell victim to the Pedigree.  Is this what will
happen at Unforgiven?



Card rating: ** 1/2


Match observations: 

The face of Unforgiven took another twist tonight, as Ric Flair was added to
the main event, to make it a triple threat for the WWE Title.  With Triple H
pinning Benoit cleanly with the Pedigree here tonight, surely nothing now can
stop Evolution from leaving the Pay Per View with the Championship.

It truly was an Evolution night again here, as Batista and Randy Orton laid 
waste to The Rock and Chris Jericho, despite Batista being defeated by the
Great One.  Evolution will hope to come out of Unforgiven with three wins from
three matches, and there's a very good chance that will happen.

Two other title matches for Unforgiven changed tonight as well, with AJ Styles
and Raven coming back to swipe the Tag Title contendership from the Basham
Brothers.  With Styles and Raven having already beaten Haas and Benjamin once
before, we could be one for an amazing match at the Pay Per View.

The Crusierweight Title match was the other one to change, with the proposed
1 on 1 match between Ultimo Dragon and Billy Kidman being changed to a 5 man
battle royal, featuring Ultimo, Kidman, Rey Mysterio, Paul London and Tajiri.
This should be a classic, though the wild card will obviously be Steve Austin,
who will be in the corner of both Kidman and Mysterio.

We also known that Shane McMahon and Terry Funk will clash in a hardcore match
at Unforgiven.  The original plans for this PPV had McMahon facing Roddy Piper,
so Funk is obviously determined to just pick up where the Rowdy Scot left off.

One more match announced is Big Show versus Brock Lesnar.  Both men were banned
from the building tonight to prevent further altercations between them.

Next Show: Raw