Report by: pwinsider.com
Smackdown for June 9th opened with General Manager Theodore R. Long in the ring. They recapped how WWE Champion John Cena was drafted to Raw this past Monday. The announcers played it up as Cena moving on to "new opportunities" and wished him the best. Long was then going to address the championship situation, but was interrupted by JBL's music.
JBL came to the ring, and said he would make Long's job easier. JBL said Cena was a "fan" of his, and although they had a "bitter rivalry" we will never know who the better man really was. JBL said the Smackdown locker room was lost without a true leader, and said he would let Long name him as the new champion. Long told JBL to shut up, and then said that Vince McMahon had decided that there would be no decision on the championship until after the draft lottery was concluded at the end of the month.
Long then introduced the first draft pick for Smackdown, a man who has headlined Wrestlemania:
Chris Benoit is the first Raw wrestler to be drafted to Smackdown.
Benoit came out to a big ovation, as JBL threw off his jacket and looked upset. Long and Benoit shook hands, and a "Benoit" chant started up, but was interrupted by JBL who said that it was "his show". Benoit said he was "psyched" to be on Smackdown. Benoit said that JBL had done a lot on Smackdown, including something he had never done ... quit (in reference to JBL's "I Quit" match loss to Cena). The fans chanted "You Quit". Benoit told JBL how he had seen the things JBL did on Smackdown, but said things would be changing now.
JBL said he and Benoit were getting off on the wrong foot. JBL said he was present when Benoit won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, when he won the World Title, and he's always been a fan of his. However, JBL said the one thing he couldn't stand about Benoit was his being proud of ECW. JBL said it was like Joe Montana winning the Superbowl with San Francisco, then being proud of playing for Kansas City (which is where they were). JBL then ridiculed ECW, making fun of Balls Mahoney. Benoit said he was proud of his whole career, then ridiculed JBL for begging for a championship he didn't deserve. Benoit then challenged JBL to a match tonight.
JBL said it was his show, and newcomers don't make the rules. Long said it was "the people's show" and tonight we would see Chris Benoit vs. JBL. Long left the ring, and JBL and Benoit went face to face. JBL backed off, then took a swing at Benoit. Benoit gave him a German suplex, then went for the Crippler Crossface, but JBL got out of the ring. JBL stared at Benoit as he backed down the aisle, and Benoit smiled at him.
They showed footage of Kurt Angle "legally groping" (Michael Cole's words) Sharmell last week during the handicap match with Angle vs. Sharmell & Booker T last week. They then pushed the singles match between Booker T and Kurt Angle for later tonight as they went to break.
Carlito, with Matt Morgan, vs. Charlie Haas, with Hardcore Holly. Haas rolled out of a headlock at the start, then hit a shoulderblock. Carlito shoved Haas, and Haas shoved him down, then hit a hiptoss and armdrag. Haas went to work on the arm, and gave Carlito a shoulderbreaker and a kneedrop. Carlito tried to go on offense after breaking an armbar on the ropes, but Haas stayed on him until Carlito shoved Haas into the turnbuckles and hit a forearm across the back of the head. Carlito applied a front facelock, but Haas came back with a dropkick and a Stinger Splash. Haas hit a running forearm and a clothesline, then a running kneelift. Haas backdropped Carlito, but Carlito poked him in the eyes. Morgan got on the apron, but Haas reversed a whip and sent Carlito into Morgan. Morgan fell to the floor, and Haas went for a plancha. It looked like Haas went down headfirst on the floor, but he got right back up. Haas went for a sunset flip on Carlito off the apron, but Morgan reached in and grabbed Carlito's hands to stop it. Holly hit Morgan, and Carlito went down into the flip, but rolled through it and grabbed Haas' trunks for the pin at the four minute mark. Winner: Carlito.
Post-match, Holly punched Morgan, Carlito punched Holly down, and Haas punched Carlito down. Morgan then grabbed Haas and gave him an F5. Morgan and Carlito then left the ring before Holly could get at them.
The "ECW Invasion" of Raw this past week was recapped. Michael Cole speculated that ECW might show up on Smackdown tonight. Tazz acted as if he had no knowledge of that possibility.
A video package on Rob Van Dam to promote the ECW One Night Stand PPV.
Backstage, Heidenreich was telling Chris Benoit that he wanted Benoit to be his new "best friend". He said he was going to write a new "disasterpiece" to convince Benoit to be his friend. Heidenreich walked off, and Benoit seemed bemused by Heidenreich. Eddie Guerrero approached Chris Benoit, and they warmly greeted each other. They talked about facing each other at the ECW One Night Stand PPV this Sunday, then Eddie mentioned how the last time they were in the ring together, it was Wrestlemania 20, when both were champions. Benoit wanted to know what Eddie was getting at, and Guerrero said that if the board of directors orders a match to between them (given their status as former champions) to determine a new WWE Champion, he wanted Benoit to know he will remain his "close friend". Benoit then took Guerrero to task, pointing out how he treated his "friend" Rey Mysterio. Benoit then pointed out that Guerrero still hasn't managed to beat Mysterio, and said "Adios Amigo".
Kurt Angle was interviewed, and again acted obsessed with Sharmell. When asked about "taking liberties" with her during the handicap match last week, Angle said that when he tried to get off of Sharmell, she wouldn't let go of him. Angle said he felt the "chemistry" between them.
Cruiserweight Champion Paul London vs. Akio. They started off fast, reversing holds, with London grabbing an armdrag, but Akip coming back with a kick in the corner. London elbowed a charging Akio, then hit a mule kick off the ropes to the back. Eddie Guerrero's music started, and he walked out, distracting London, and allowing Akio to take over with some kicks. Akio put London in a choke on the ropes, while Guerrero grabbed the mic and came into the ring, saying he had something to get off his chest. London dropkicked Akio into Guerrero. Guerrero grabbed him and threw him shoulder first into the ringpost. London then confronted Guerrero, and Guerrero flung him out of the ring. London got back in and the two traded blows, and Guerrero tossed him again. London returned to the ring yet again, and this time Guerrero threw him over the top rope, and London landed hard on the floor. Result: No contest.
Guerrero said pointed to London and said that was the problem, the lack of respect he was given. Eddie said that the fans and wrestlers don't give him respect because they all think he can't beat Rey Mysterio. Eddie reminded everyone how he sent Rey out on a stretcher to the hospital. Guerrero talked about "wrapping a steel chair around his head" at Judgment Day. Eddie then said he promised to beat Rey, and said he never makes a promise he can't keep.
They replayed Angle taking advantage of Sharmell during the handicap match last week again.
Kurt Angle came to the ring, and said that while everyone knows where he stands with Booker T & Sharmell, but no one knows where Tazz stands where ECW is concerned. Angle said he wanted to know if Tazz was with him, or was letting his "foolish pride" get in the way and was siding with ECW. Angle said he wanted an answer by the end of the night. Tazz told Michael Cole that he answers to no one, including Angle, and said he was just going to do his job and call the match.
Booker T, with Sharmell, vs. Kurt Angle. Booker T came to the ring stone faced, just staring at Angle. They locked up, and went to the corner, with Booker breaking clean. Cole wondered why Booker brought his wife out with him. Angle hit a shoulderblock, but Booker came back with a hiptoss and armdrag. They traded armbars, with Angle driving his elbow into Booker's shoulder and applied a Fujiwara armbar. They went to the ropes, and Booker hit some shoulderblocks. Booker hit a clothesline, then chopped him in the corner. Booker choked Angle against the ropes and drove a forearm into his chest. Booker dropped Angle across the top rope, then gave him an ax kick from the apron as Angle was slouched over the top rope. Booker chopped Angle on the floor, then tossed him back in.
Angle took over as Booker got back in, hitting some forearms. Angle dodged a charging Booker, hitting punches in the corner. Booker returned fire, then hit a back kick. Booker hit some chops, but missed an elbow in the corner and Angle hit a German suplex. Angle stomped Booker in the gut, then hit a backbreaker for a two count. Angle worked on Booker's back, then choked him against the middle rope. Angle hit a back suplex for two, then applied a bodyscissors. Booker battled out, but Angle hit an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle charged Booker T, but Booker backdropped him over the top rope and to the floor. Booker collapsed in the ring as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Booker was hitting some chops, then hit a forearm and pair of clotheslines. Booker delivered a vertical suplex, then set him up for a an ax kick, but thought better of it as Angle wasn't in position. Angle grabbed Booker for an Angle Slam, but Booker reversed it into a Bookend for a two count. Booker missed a sidekick, and Angle delivered a pair of German suplexes. On the third try, Booker rolled into a victory roll for a two count. Booker missed a right hand, and Angle hit an Angle Slam for a two count. Angle pulled the straps down, and applied the ankle lock. Booker rolled through it, sending Angle into the turnbuckles. Angle charged Booker, and Booker hit a spinebuster. Booker did a spinarooni, then kicked Angle in the gut. Booker hit an ax kick for a two count. Angle hooked Booker's foot and applied an ankle lock. Booker crawled near the ropes, but Angle pulled him back into the middle of the ring. Booker struggled to the ropes again, and made them. Angle released the ankle lock on the four count.
Angle went for the hold again, but Booker kicked Angle off, and into the referee. Angle, seeing the referee was down, chased after Sharmell briefly, but then tossed the ring announcer down and grabbed a steel chair. Angle hit Booker in the ankle with the chair. Angle screamed at Sharmell, and waited for Booker to get up. Angle swung at Booker, but Booker ducked and Angle hit the top rope, with the chair bouncing off and hitting Angle in the face. Both men slowly got up, and Booker hit an ax kick for the pin at the eighteen minute mark. Winner: Booker T.
Booker T and Sharmell walked off, smiling, while Angle threw a tantrum in the ring.
Back from break, Angle was just sitting in the corner of the ring, staring straight ahead. Angle then rolled out of the ring and grabbed a chair. Angle stood in front of Tazz and said he had changed his mind. Angle demanded an answer now. Tazz stood up, took off his sunglasses, and threw down his headset. Angle said Tazz was going to give him the answer he wanted, or he was going to take the chair ... and unfold it and sit next to him until he got his answer. Angle sat down next to Tazz and stared straight ahead. Tazz stared at Angle, while Cole tried to make sense of the situation. Nothing happened for a while, then Angle said he wasn't going to play Tazz' "game". Angle got up and left, then ran back and hit Tazz with the microphone. Angle then "smashed Tazz' head with a chair" (off camera). Angle took the mic and said he had made Tazz' decision for him. Angle promised that he, JBL, Eric Bischoff, and the rest of the anti-ECW crew would finish off ECW this Sunday. Angle was left, and a bloody Tazz was helped to his feet. Tazz eventually shrugged off the help and walked to the back under his own power.
Michael Cole was now calling the match alone.
Heidenreich came out, looking for a new friend. He picked a very attractive female (instead of a little kid), but as he was bringing her into the ring, his (unnamed) opponent attacked him.
Heidenreich vs. ??? Heidenreich finished him off in less than 30 seconds with a side slam. Winner: Heidenreich.
Heidenreich brought the girl into the ring, and read a poem about John Cena being drafted to Raw, and about his search for a friend. He mentioned searching the "highest peaks" and the camera man focused on the well endowed woman's breasts. No Heidenreich walk this week.
The Raw Rebound was shown.
Paul Heyman, at the request of Theodore R. Long, was introduced as the guest commentator for the Chris Benoit-JBL match. Heyman came out, followed by Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley, Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno, and The Sandman.
Chris Benoit vs. JBL. JBL came out with Orlando Jordan, but after seeing the ECW crew, he sent Orlando back to get the Bashams. Benoit hit some chops at the start, and JBL retreated to the floor. Back in the ring, Benoit punched and pounded JBL down. Benoit kept up the assault, but JBL reversed a whip to the corner and stomped Benoit. They traded chops, with Benoit getting the better of it. Benoit ran into a JBL boot, and JBL followed with a shoulderblock. Benoit tripped up JBL and went for a sharpshooter, but JBL made the ropes. Michael Cole said Eric Bischoff put ECW out of business, and Heyman agreed. JBL hit a boot to the face, then posed over Benoit. JBL went for a powerbomb, but Benoit tripped him and applied a Sharpshooter. The Bashams got on the apron, but Benoit knocked them down, then reapplied the Sharpshooter. Jordan got on the apron, but Benoit chased him down. This allowed JBL to knocked Benoit to the floor. Matt Morgan and Carlito joined the Bashams and Jordan at ringside as they went to break.
Back from commercial, JBL was choking Benoit on the bottom rope. JBL pounded Benoit in a corner, then whipped him hard across the ring. JBL went for a back suplex, but Benoit shifted his weight and landed on top. JBL stomped Benoit, then applied a sleeper. Benoit struggled in the hold, then got out with a back suplex. Both men were down, and got up at the same time. Benoit hit a series of rights and chops, then a running forearm. Benoit hit a snap suplex, then delivered three German suplexes. Kurt Angle came out, as Benoit went to the top rope. Benoit hit the diving headbutt, but JBL kicked out at two. Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface, and Angle ran in and attacked Benoit. Ending the match in a DQ at the thirteen minute mark. Winner via DQ: Chris Benoit.
The ring filled up with wrestlers. Rhyno gave JBL the Gore. Dreamer gave Carlito the Death Valley Driver. Sandman caned a Basham. Tazz' music began playing, and Tazz, with a bandage on his head, came to the ring, followed by Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney. Tazz put a Basham in the Tazzmission, then began yelling at Angle, who was on the floor. Axl & Balls gave Morgan chairshots. The Dudleys gave Orlando Jordan 3D. The ECW crew stood in the ring, arguing with the Smackdown wrestlers on the floor, as the show ended.
