WWE SmackDown! – January 8, 2004
Propst Arena – Huntsville, AL
Announcers: Michael Cole & Tazz

SmackDown begins with a look back at last week and the events that transpired between Los Guerreros, including Chavo Jr. smacking his uncle Eddie in the face following their defeat to The Self-Proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag-Team. Kurt Angle, our Olympic hero, then attempted to play the role of peacemaker to calm the tensions. Eddie, however, just ended up more hot tempered given that Angle’s attempt to rationalize with him didn’t go over well as Kurt agreed with Chavo that Eddie was acting selfishly. Will the fallout continue tonight?

Michael Cole and Tazz welcome the television audience to Huntsville, AL. Tonight, The Big Show and Hardcore Holly will finish what they started last week. This time, they’ll square off in a Street Fight. Also tonight, the WWE Tag-Team Championship will be on-the-line!

Kurt Angle is welcomed by ring announcer Tony Chimel. Cole remarks on how great it is to have Angle back in WWE and mentions his emotional speech to the American troops last week. Tazz, playing the role of contrarian, agrees Angle’s words hit home but they didn’t bring a tear to his eyes despite being emotional. Ha! Tazz was all about Angle’s tribute last week. Anyway, a racous ovation for Angle as the people of Huntsville, AL love him. Angle communicates that last week was a near perfect beginning to the new year. He made his return and vowed to win the Royal Rumble for our troops. Despite that, something didn’t sit well with him and that’s the apparent self-destruction of one of the great tag teams in the world (Los Guerreros). Angle knows full well it’s none of his business but he can’t sit idly by and watch it happen. Angle asks Chavo Jr. to come out so this kerfuffle can be settled once and for all right now. Chavo makes his entrance to his own music. That’s a sure sign of disconnect, no? Chavo enters the ring with a look of bewilderment toward Angle and he appears standoffish. Kurt has his work cut out for him as the peacemaker. Angle asks Chavo if he crossed the line last week when he slapped Eddie? Also, doesn’t he want to do the right thing for the family by apologizing so they can put the incident behind him? The Huntsville crowd chants “Eddie! Eddie!” That won’t help change Chavo’s mind. Tazz thinks the “Eddie!” chant would make Chavo angry. Angle asks Chavo if he thinks he owes Eddie a public apology tonight? Chavo takes the mic from Angle and says he thinks otherwise. He says slapping Eddie was about keeping his family together, it was about showing Eddie “tough love.” And “tough love,” isn’t easy. Chavo answers Angle’s question regarding giving his uncle Eddie a public apology tonight in the affirmative of no. “I will not!” Chavo continues, “In fact, if Eddie was in this ring with me right now, I’d slap him even harder!” Cole, taking this in, is in disbelief over that admission. The crowd begins another “Eddie” chant. Chavo admits to Angle, that he’s even thinking about slapping him. Watch it Chavo. Angle takes the mic back to tell Chavo he didn’t ask him to come out here for a fight but to give him an opportunity to do the right thing. At long last, Eddie’s music hits! “Viva La Raza.” Everyone best get ready for some hot-tempered “Latino Heat.” In the ring, Chavo draws a line with his foot. Eddie charges into the ring but Chavo bails. Kurt has to hold Eddie back. This isn’t proving to be an easy task. Angle asks Eddie to listen to him for a second and then he can beat the hell out of Chavo if he still wants to. Angle reminds both they are family. He specifically challenges Chavo’s manhood, asking him to get back in the ring and come face-to-face with his uncle Eddie if he has the balls to do so. Chavo does enter the ring but tensions remain high so Angle has to step between both. He asks one question before they tear each other apart. That’s which one will be the “better man” and stick his hand out? Chavo immediately offers his hand. Eddie has obvious hesitation to do the same. Angle pleads with Eddie to offer his hand even going so far as to remind him that it was Chavo who was there for him, la familia, when Eddie was down and out in the gutter (Eddie’s 2001 addiction to pain killer medication and a stint in drug rehab). With that level of a guilt trip laid out, Eddie finally offers his hand to Chavo. The handshake is a quick one on is on the frosty side. Angle raises the hands of each man but there appears to be a want-to for them both to get at each other. Tazz, at least, says what we all see. Eddie exits the ring and the segment concludes. There’s more to ensue here obviously but this is good stuff!

Cole transitions to Hardcore Holly versus The Big Show and how their match concluded last week. Holly leveled The Big Show with several chair shots which busted open the head of the United States Champion. Josh Matthews is backstage with The Big Show. He asks Show why ask for a Street Fight tonight? Show has a steel chair in his hands and answers Matthews that Holly made him bleed last week by using the chair and that’s why he went directly to Paul Heyman to ask for Holly in a Street Fight. Show wants to be able to use a chair and anything else to make Holly suffer.

Heyman places Chris Benoit in a mini Royal Rumble match versus all three members of the F.B.I. Benoit is the number one entrant at the PPV as Heyman ruled on SmackDown last week so he is giving Benoit a preview of what it will be like to be #1.

Mini-Royal Rumble:
Chris Benoit vs. The Full Blooded Italians (F.B.I.) [Johnny “The Bull” Stamboli, Chuck Palumbo & Nunzio]

Result/Analysis: Benoit (4:21) via over the top rope elimination. Heyman watches from the aisle throughout. Stamboli is the first F.B.I. out but he doesn’t present much of a fight, though, he survives the two minutes prior to the entry of Palumbo at #3. Palumbo successfully takes the fight to Benoit. In the midst of that, however, with Benoit having suplexed Stamboli onto the top rope, Benoit baseball slides to eliminate a Palumbo collision and Stamboli is eliminated. Heyman can see his plan backfiring. Nunzio is #4 but his impact is moot. I don’t think he even makes it to one minute before he’s eliminated and it’s Benoit v Palumbo one-on-one. The Chuckster has the upper hand for a bit but this is clearly Benoit’s match to win. Palumbo hits a Samoan Drop which causes Benoit to groggily stands up near the near-side ropes. Palumbo then tries a kick but Benoit ducks and dumps him over the top rope to win. Heyman acknowledges Benoit in victory with a sarcastic clap and then leaves. Cole and Tazz hype up Benoit’s win as a preview of what could be in Philadelphia at the actual Royal Rumble on January 25. While not a match per se, Benoit wrestled this mini-Rumble as if were just a 3-on-1 handicap match in that he utilized his usual move set (snap suplexes, chops, the crossface, the sharpshooter, German suplexes, etc). The Benoit push is picking up steam. Is he a Rumble favorite?

Rating: **

Up next Cole says is a WWE Tag-Team Championship match-up. The Basham Brothers defend their titles against Scotty Too Hotty and Rikishi, two men who carry a non-title victory over the champions into tonight.

WWE Tag-Team Championship:
Scotty Too Hotty & Rikishi vs. The Basham Brothers [Doug & Danny] (c) (w/ Shaniqua)

Result/Analysis: No Contest. The Basham’s jump “Too Cool 2.0” from behind during their ring entrance when only Shaniqua appears with the title belts. The beat down continues, including Shaniqua, until both Scotty Too Hotty and Rikishi are laid out. Angle’s music hits and your Olympic hero appears in the aisle with a mic in hand. Angle says he just left Paul Heyman’s office, and well, hell must have frozen over because they’ve made a joint agreement. Angle reminds The Basham’s that SmackDown had “advertised” a WWE Tag-Team Championship match here tonight and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Up next he says, it will be The Basham Brothers defending the WWE tag-team titles against Los Guerreros. The Huntsville crowd definitely approves of that.

WWE Tag-Team Championship:
The Basham Brothers [Doug & Danny] (c) (w/ Shaniqua) vs. Los Guerreros [Chavo Jr. & Eddie]

Result/Analysis: The Basham Brothers via pinfall (12:54 shown) when Doug pins Chavo. Stay with me here as the recap will be detailed for this excellent match and the pay-off to the Los Guerreros drama that follows. The early stages of the match is entirely controlled and dominated by Los Guerreros. The first 4 1/2 minutes thereabouts. Within that, Michael Cole waxes poetic on giving Kurt Angle all the credit for getting Los Guerreros back together earlier tonight. With the match spiraling against The Basham’s and the titles in peril, Shaniqua distracts referee Nick Patrick for The Basham’s to double-team Eddie, including Danny low bridging the ring ropes, to cause Eddie to take a spill outside the ring. The Basham’s then isolate Eddie in their corner and work him over for several minutes. Eddie gets close to Chavo once to tag him back in but Chavo is cheap shot by Danny while Doug is the legal man. Danny in now and he applies a single-leg Boston crab on Eddie twice over. The Basham’s combine on a slingshot suplex using the top rope as all of The Basham’s offense is to target Eddie’s lower back. Psychology! Doug’s choice of move is the body slam. Eddie’s further attempts to free himself for a tag to Chavo are a flying headscissors and a back suplex counter but each time he can’t make it over to Chavo. Doug powerbombs Eddie for a long two count as Chavo prevents the three count by entering the ring to break up the pin. Danny puts a knee into Eddie’s back to further weaken it on his next time in. Eddie finally dropkick counters off a rope exchange and is able to tag Chavo! The crowd feels the title change now. Chavo clotheslines and hits a back drop on Doug. He dropkicks Danny as he comes in to help. Doug takes a spinning DDT in mid air, followed by a flying plancha for a two count. Danny comes in but he takes a spinning back suplex. Eddie, meanwhile, is elbowed off the ring apron and onto the floor while still foggy. The Basham’s try a double-team move on Chavo but Eddie trips up Danny near the ropes, then clotheslines him outside the ring. Eddie enters the ring and it’s a double dropkick on Doug by Los Guerreros. Eddie planchas Danny on the floor as Chavo planchas Doug on the floor. The crowd is hot! Chavo rolls Doug back in the ring and tries a sunset flip from the apron next. Doug grabs the ring ropes, however, and then Shaniqua’s hands for leverage, and he pins Chavo for a three count retaining the belts. Cole complains on commentary how The Basham’s and Shaniqua cheated. After the bell, with Chavo outside the ring distraught over the loss, The Basham’s lay the boots to Eddie. Chavo grabs a steel chair and sees Eddie getting attacked. Instead of rushing to his uncle’s aide, though, Chavo places the chair down and takes a seat to watch Eddie get absolutely pummeled. Cole and Tazz plead with Chavo to help Eddie. Chavo stares on as The Basham’s deliver a double chokeslam! A double single-leg Boston Crab follows as Chavo continues to watch. The crowd chants “Chavo sucks!” Chavo is seething in anger and jealousy as he looks on. The Basham’s & Shaniqua at last depart. Chavo gets up from the chair and climbs into the ring. Eddie struggles to his feet, even using Chavo to help himself up. Chavo asks Eddie if he’s OK but everyone knows what’s about to happen next. Eddie nods and mouths that he’s OK. Chavo decks him with a right hand punch. You can see a fan in the crowd giving Chavo a double bird. Ha. Cole is in disbelief. Eddie on that mat is seen is disbelief at Chavo laying him out. Chavo gets on top of Eddie and hammers away with more punches as the crowd chants “asshole” at him. Chavo punches Eddie until he’s busted open above his left eye. Jesus. Chavo is covered in his uncle’s blood here. Wow. Chavo doesn’t leave the ring until he lays in one final boot stomp to Eddie’s head. Ouch! He leaves the ring and exits the arena in the low rider as the fans chant “you suck” at him. Eddie, left in a bloody heap, asks the attending referees “Why’d he do that”?!? as they help him to his feet. Los Guerreros are effectively no more with Chavo’s heel turn. Despite Angle’s efforts, this break-up was written in stone. A+ stuff.

Rating: ***3/4 (the match was really good with 1/2* added on for the Chavo heel turn and how that went down)

Cole and Tazz recap the end to the match and Chavo’s betrayal of Eddie after a commercial break. There remains stunned silence and a hush in the crowd.

A-Train vs. John Cena

Result/Analysis: Cena via pinfall (2:50) following the F-U. A-Train was mere named enhancement talent for the SmackDown brand and nothing more. Cena’s monster push was only beginning in January 2004. Thankfully for his development, being away from the RAW brand where Evolution and Shawn Michaels resided, Cena being a SmackDown superstar allowed him to flourish and prosper more naturally. He’d have been just another guy over at RAW. Cena’s rap promos were quite over with the younger audience and that added to his schtick. You knew back then that Cena was going to be WWE’s next top guy, especially when he’d get better in the ring and would wrestle/be paired against the more established guys. Word life.

Rating: *

Backstage, a despondent Eddie Guerrero is receiving medical attention as Kurt Angle kneels down next to him to apologize for misjudging Chavo like he did. Angle admits his guilt over tonight and tells Eddie that he feels responsible. Eddie can’t muster a single word in response. He’s simply too broken up, not to mention a bloody mess.

Cole and Tazz rewind to last week on SkackDown when Rey Mysterio overcame Tajiri, and his henchmen (Akio and Sakoda), to recapture the Cruiserweight Championship.

Non-Title Match:
Rey Mysterio [WWE Cruiserweight Champion] vs. Akio (w/ Sakoda)

Result/Analysis: Mysterio via pinfall (4:38) following the West Coast Pop. Any match with Mysterio in it delivered and this one is no different. Given the interference last week by Akio and Sakoda during Tajiri’s unsuccessful title defense it’s logical booking that Mysterio faced either to follow up on that. Cole said Tajiri would face Jamie Noble in a number one contender’s match later on so his two henchmen were to soften up Mysterio for the possible re-match. Akio, as astute wrestling fan had known from his time in the Jung Dragons while in WCW, could definitely work a match. He nearly matches Mysterio here but few Cruiserweights could ever get on the same level. Mysterio could counter moves in mid air in his sleep he was that gifted. Sakoda, for his appearance here, eats a 619 with Akio prior to the West Coast Pop finisher. There was no justification for Akio to be wrestling for the title so in this case, the match being non-title suited.

Rating: **1/2

We transition from that nifty little match-up to “The Best of Billy Gunn” narrated by Billy Gunn himself. Oh please. Billy thanks the fans for the overwhelming response he received last week to his video highlight package. No one reacted, trust me. Gunn promises to give us over the next three weeks the top three moments out of his incredible career. This week, at #3, is when “he” won the tag-team titles for the first time while teaming with Bart as The Smoking Gunns versus the tag-team of The 1-2-3 Kid and “Spark Plugg” Bob Holly. Billy, of course, shows us only his individual highlights from that 1995 Monday Night Raw bout. Next week, we’ll see highlight #2. Ugh. Why do we have to wait an entire week?!?

Meanwhile, Josh Mathews asks Hardcore Holly about the Street Fight he’s in tonight versus The Big Show. Holly reacts confidently because a Street Fight, in his backyard of Alabama no less, is right up his alley. Tonight, Holly says, The Big Show is going to find out what an Alabama ass whooping is all about. You’d think that (a) being the number one contender and (b) competing in his home state, Holly goes over in the main event.

Elsewhere, Nidia attempts to call her boyfriend Jamie Noble as he’s yet to appear at the arena. Heyman just so happens to catch wind of Noble not being present and says since the number one contender’s match with Tajiri is up next then he’ll have to name a suitable replacement should Noble no-show and that suitable replacement he informs Nidia will be her. That’s problematic as Nidia remains blinded from the black mist spewed at her by Tajiri two months beforehand.

WrestleMania recall: Lawrence Taylor defeating Bam Bam Bigelow in 1995 at WrestleMania XI.

#1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Championship:
Tajiri vs. Nidia

Result/Analysis: Tajiri via pinfall (1:05) following a legsweep. Heyman forced Nidia to compete sans Noble even though compromised back a lack of sight. Cole is in hysterics on commentary over Heyman stooping to this level. Tajiri makes quick work of Nadia, who can give no resistance. Afterward, Mysterio comes to Nidia’s aide, saving her from a kick to the head. His efforts of compassion, however, arent appreciated by the now-present Noble, who pushes Mysterio down to assist Nidia himself. Ring Announcer Tony Chimel announced Tajiri as the winner but not the #1 contender. I’d think the match now happens next week. If so, Noble, I suspect, will win.

Rating: N/A

Up next, it’s the Street Fight!

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar comes out to join Cole and Tazz for commentary. Asked by Cole why he’s out here, Lesnar responds, to see The Big Show kick Hardcore Holly’s ass. Tazz, plainly puts it that Lesnar is the WWE Champion and he can whatever he wants. My hope is Lesnar gets involved in the match.

Street Fight:
The Big Show [WWE United States Champion] vs. Hardcore Holly

Result/Analysis: Holly via submission (4:58). The Big Show taps out while being choked out by a steel chair. Stupid. Weak. Also, the match was more “Hardcore Rules” than it being any semblance of a “Street Fight.” There’s the obligatory spot where Holly decks Lesnar at the announcer’s table though that went nowhere. After the match, Holly stares at Lesnar and vice-versa with Brock holding up the title belt. Holly runs at Lesnar with a chair but Lesnar bails out into the crowd. Holly stands tall on the announce table as SmackDown concludes.

Rating: DUD

The Verdict: The Chavo heel turn on Eddie at last materialized and quite effectively. Of course, however, it won’t have a pay-off other than Eddie winning their eventual match. Still, at least the booking of Chavo’s heel turn gets a solid A grade. The Basham Brothers looked good in the match, too. Elsewhere, Benoit continued his roll. No one is being pushed more as the Royal Rumble approaches. Cena is the most over guy for the SmackDown brand. He’s the fresh guy that’s now established after two years. Mysterio and Noble seems likely for the Rumble assuming Noble can become the #1 contender. With Angle’s interjection into the Los Guerreros drama I’m just dreaming of a spring and summer of matches between your Olympic hero and Latino Heat. How phenomenal would that be?