The WWE intro plays, followed by:
Fireworks of blue hues dazzle a pumped audience, just two days before Judgment Day!
"What an action-packed, star-studded edition of SmackDown! we have in store tonight, everybody!"
The cameras dawn upon SmackDown!'s commentary duo, Michael Cole and Tazz, the former nearly bursting from his seat with the other resting in a smoldering ecstasy!
"Not only do we have scheduled what is sure to be another five-star encounter between Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio for the United States Championship, a triple threat preview of the championship match this sunday at Judgment Day, but we also have a contest that will determine what kind of main event there will be AT Judgment Day for the coveted World Heavyweight Championship!"
"You're excited, Cole! I'm excited! It's SmackDown!, baby! I don't know whose more pumped-- you and me or these crazy fans!"
"Well, let's not keep 'em waiting, partner! The first match is about to start!"
"VIVA LA RAZA!" The crowd ejects from their seats at the sound. Eddie Guerrero makes his colorful arrival in a shimmering gold truck, honking the horn a few times to the delight of the crowd. "Ha-ha, I'm lovin' it, Cole! Latino Heat rollin' in with style, lookin' to ride out with some familar US championship gold around his waist! Viva la raza, Cole!" Tazz rambles something about the Spanish language, as if Cole knows any more about it than he does, they both laugh as Eddie makes his lively entrance into the ring.
"Rey-Rey, ready to razzle and dazzle the crowd tonight, with his high-flying lucha libre style, in this definite rocket-buster of a match, Cole!" Meanwhile, at ringside, Mysterio gives a child in the crowd a spare mask. "Rey Mysterio, showing appreciation to the fans..." Cole says in an admiring tone. The camera shows Guerrero smiling at the gesture.
The two friends stare each other down in the ring, the audience split in favor of each party. "Eddie had to win a 2 out of 3 falls match to get here tonight. Now is his chance to win back the US Championship..." Cole explains, the only words spoken before the two men lock up and kick off a frenetic, back-and-forth technical display with enough high-flying moves to compete with an amusement park! Eddie gets rocked onto the middle rope and booted right back off them with the 619, Mysterio spinning his legs around to wallop Guerrero, who flies back, rolling on the canvas. Meanwhile, Mysterio takes it to the air for the tenth or so time in the match, aiming to retain the title with the West Coast Pop.
"WHOA! Drop-kick to the mush! Mysterio's down!"
"Let's take a look at the replay for that one, Tazz!"
While the replay occurs, Guerrero lands a frog splash on Mysterio's back while Tazz & Cole are still commentating on the replay. "DAMN! CAN'T EVEN TALK FOR A SECOND, COLE! THIS IS NUTS!" Eddie rolls over Mysterio, who is motionless in the ring, hooks both legs, but Mysterio somehow kicks out a blink before the 3 count!
"Everyone on their feet here for this awesome contest! Let's take a look at what happened, Tazz!"
"If they'll let us-- ha!"
The replay is allowed as both Mysterio & Guerrero catch their breath, showing the crippling frog splash to Mysterio's spine. "Geez! That had to hurt, Cole!" But the action is already bubbling back up, nearly at full throttle, as Mysterio dares to bond with the ropes one last time. But Guerrero meets him half-way, jumps up on the turnbuckle, and cinches up a vertical suplex from the top rope! "OH-MY-GAWD, COLE! That's gotta be it..." But Eddie isn't through. Just like last week, he spins his hips and lifts Mysterio back up and lands two more suplexes! Eddie is exhausted, Mysterio is done for, and Latino Heat can't even look at the top rope at this point. He inches an arm over the champ.
"The winner of this match, and the new United States Champion, Eddie... Guerrero!"
VIVA LA RAZA!
"What a win for Guerrero, Cole! I'm taking off my shades out of respect for that one!"
"I can't blame ya, partner. Eddie pulled out a great win. What a way to kick off SmackDown! here tonight..."
Meanwhile, in the ring, Mysterio has still yet to move, and the referee holds up Eddie's arm, who is still slow to recover...
***************************
Camera slips backstage to find Christian & Chris Jericho chatting in the locker room. The crowd boos briefly but listens as the two superstars carry on a conversation. Jericho is leading the talk in a half-whisper.
"Instead of wasting time in singles, let's rack up some gold for both of us first, man." He slaps Christian's chest, who is liking what he is hearing. "Tag Team gold. That has-been Flair and never-was 'Masterpiece' (Jericho is making finger quotations as a way of mockery, along with the tone of his voice) were lucky to win the titles when they could. And between the two of us, their luck has run out."
"That sounds good to me, bro. They're cool looking belts, too, man. They'll definitely interest the chicks, huh? My female peeps..."
"You know it."
"Looks like those guys are still in cahoots..."
"I don't get you, Cole. Christian and Y2J are more than capable of being credible champions."
"You're right, but I still don't like their style of winning."
***************************
After a commercial break and another promo for Judgment Day...
"AIN'T NO STOPPING ME NOW!" Shelton Benjamin makes his entrance.
"Hey, check it out, Cole. A new hair color for Benjamin! Looks good, eh?"
"It might, Tazz, but I wish he would regain his old attitude or develop a better one."
"Well, if he did, we wouldn't be having this match now, would we?"
Charlies Haas makes his way out to the ring, the crowd cheering him on. But to no avail. After a near submission courtesy of the Haas of Pain, Benjamin scrambles out of the hold and holds onto the ropes for the dirty win. The crowd doesn't like it, neither does Cole, but Tazz applauds the sneaky effort by the gold-haired stallion.
Again, the camera drifts to the backstage area, where Rob Van Dam is seen warming up, shadow-boxing (or better yet shadow-kicking), but in an actual shadow, the silhouette of a man tossing a round object from his hand is seen on the adjacent wall. A voice, laced with a Puerto Rican accent hits the air. "Careful. You'll pull something, cabron."
Mr. Thursday Night looks over at the stranger. "Trust me, I got it covered. And who are you supposed to be?" He responds in a confident and gravelly voice. "Me? Oh, nobody... just the guy that's going to mop the canvas with your over-inflated ego tonight." Carlito 'Caribbean' Cool steps into frame, taking a bite from a green apple.
"Fresh from RAW..." Cole chimes in.
"But you look busy, I don't know, mayne. Maybe I find some better competition, eh?" Carlito raises his eyebrows.
"RVD's over-inflated ego? How about this guy's? Sheesh!" Tazz remarks.
"Nah, like I said..." RVD approaches the mysterious newcomer. "I got it covered. Because I'm Rob... Van..."
"Damn. Is that all you do? Talk? I mean, I'm a nice talker. The ladies like it. But I don't enjoy talking to punks, y'know?" Carlito cuts RVD off in his nonchalant and arrogant style.
"Damn, now I see why Bischoff couldn't wait to get rid of this guy..." Tazz cuts in again.
All RVD does is nod his head in response. "But whatever. I'll see ya out there, I guess..." Carlito says, tossing the apple at Van Dam's feet before he strolls off-screen.
***************************
"WOO!" The crowd implodes at the sound of the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, who emerges through the curtain with the other half of the Tag Team Champions, the Masterpiece, Chris Masters, to the delight of the fans. "Tag Team Championship on the line!" The Masterpiece's muscles dare to bustle more as he waits alongside Flair for the challengers.
"New theme, eh? That's a pretty cool way to celebrate their first match as a team."
"But will it mark their first victory as a team? That waits to be seen, partner..."
After sneaking one of the tag team belts into the ring, Jericho and Christian stomp away at Flair. The referee tries to break it up, since Christian is the only legal man, but Masters does it for them, lifting Jericho off his feet with the punishing Masterlock. Being swung through the air, Jericho "inadvertently" knocks the referee down while Christian nails a low blow on Flair. The Masterpiece flings Jericho over the top rope to the floor, but Christian runs up from behind and does the same to Masters. The referee is still down, Flair is trying to recover, up to one knee. With the referee out of it for just a moment longer, Christian blasts Flair with the championship belt for the cheap victory.
Cole is outraged, but that's how it is done by the likes of Christian and Jericho. Backstage, The Rock cuts a promo--one of a kind as always--saying The Rock is going to take what is rightfully The Rock's property, the World Heavyweight Championship, while also laying the SmackDown! on "the rest of their candy-asses, whether that means 3 or 4!"
"I spit in the face of people who don't want to be cool." Carlito's blunt them commences, marking the hostile encounter between himself and Rob Van Dam. Clearly RVD is out to prove himself against the arrogant new arrival, but Carlito impresses both Cole & Tazz as well as a good amount of the crowd, who actually start booing Mr. Thursday Night. Tazz doesn't like it, and neither does Rob Van Dam, who nearly wins after his split-legged moonsault. Knocking Carlito down again, he tries the reliable five star frog splash.
But Carlito beats him to the punch, limberly joining RVD on the turnbuckle and knocking the kicking highlight reel onto the ropes after a well-timed poke to the dazzling dragon's eyes. Van Dam groans in pain from the low blow. "High risk, high cost, Cole." But as Carlito prepares what appears to be a superplex attempt, RVD head-butts him off and regains his bearings, sailing through the air with a diving martial arts kick. Fie, it misses! His leg suffers abuse as a result of the misfire and Carlito takes advantage, leaping into the air and placing his hands on Van Dam's shoulders, piercing Mr. Thursday Night's back with the caps of his knees. A louder groan escapes RVD, as Carlito gets the win.
"It's a great win for the new SmackDown! talent, but he should work on that nasty attitude."
"Nah, Cole. Van Dam's my guy, we both know that, but you can't fault this new guy, Carlito, because that's how you back it up in the ring. RVD got beat..."
***************************
The camera shows Batista putting on his ring gear, applying tape and knee pads, with a concentrated expression on his face. "The Animal getting ready for a monumentally important match tonight..." Tazz says he can't wait for it, but the match that follows winds up being a solid substitute for the time-being.
"IF YA SMELL!!!!" The Rock enters, followed by Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker, who are all deadlocked as far as fan reaction goes. But tonight isn't about fan reaction. It's about gaining some momentum heading into Judgment Day, regardless of whether it's going to be a fatal 4 or 5 way match, as The Rock said in his promo. The Brahma Bull's eyes are sizzling hot tonight, the Phenom's a misty dark pair as Hogan's eyes are fueled with the spirit of his loyal followers. It's a close bout, but ultimately, The Undertaker is slapped out of the ring to a mixed reaction from the crowd, courtesy of The Great One. But The Rock gets planted with a devastating big boot from the Immortal Hulkster and is put away by the sequential leg drop!
"Deja Vu from last week, Cole!"
"Pretty much, partner!"
"What a great win for the Hulkster!"
"I wonder if this is a preview of Sunday night, Tazz..."
"I'm sure Batista has something to say about that one."
After a commercial break and a final Judgment Day advertisement, the Animal makes his anticipated entrance to a smattering of boos and cheers. "Well, it's time to put up or shut up for Batista, Cole." Cole agrees, saying: "If he wins, he'll be added to the main event at Judgment Day." Tazz agrees and says, "But if he loses, it's all over but the crying for the big bull Batista!"
Next, the World Heavyweight Champion enters, ignoring the mixed reaction that he has gotten used to, though the crowd winds up fueling him on later in the match. Preparing to crush Batista's dreams at being a World Champion this sunday at Judgment Day with Sweet Chin Music, stomping his foot in synch with the fickle crowd, HBK rushes in and gets planted with a deafening spear!
HBK writhes in pain, but only momentarily as the Animal shakes the ropes, antagonizing the crowd and rallying his scattered supporters, and puts the champion down in more than convincing fashion with a mountain-shattering Batista Bomb. "What a comeback, Cole! I had a feeling the Animal was going to pull it out!"
Cole takes a breath and then says, "Well, that means this sunday at Judgment Day, the odds will be stacked even higher against the current champion, Shawn Michaels with 4 challengers instead of 3. It will definitely be a match for the ages, that's for sure." The camera moves to Cole. "Ladies and gentlemen, we hope you'll join us for Judgment Day, this sunday on pay-per-view!"
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