Full Credit: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com
Smackdown for March 3rd opened with a recap of how John Cena and The Big Show ruined JBL’s “Celebration Of Excellence” from last week.
John Cena (wearing the jersey of the greatest defensive player in the history of football, New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor) came out to the ring, as the announcers discussed how Cena would be defending the U.S. Title against Orlando Jordan later tonight. Cena said how he was “sick” of JBL flaunting his wealth. Cena said how he was just like the fans, and talked about how he used to buy tickets to shows and T-shirts just like everyone in the building. Cena then made fun of WWE Ice Cream Bars (does he realize they still make them?). Cena said he busted up JBL’s party because he wants to fight. Cena said JBL ducked him last week, and ducked him this week, which is why Cena is facing Orlando Jordan tonight. Cena called JBL a coward, but used a work that was bleeped on the show. Cena promised to win the WWE Title at Wrestlemania.
WWE Tag Team Champions Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio vs. Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns. Guerrero & Rey entered together in Eddie’s lowrider, with Rey filming the crowd with the “619 cam”. Jindrak and Reigns were talking to each other as they came out, and the announcers discussed their shoving match and brawl from last week. Eddie started the match with Reigns, with Eddie trying to apply holds, but Luther making the ropes. Luther backed Eddie into a corner and hit some kicks and punches, but Guerrero reversed a whip and hit a back elbow. Rey tagged in, and hit a springboard double axhandle to the back of Reigns. Rey started to kick Reigns, but Luther kneed him in the gut and tagged in Jindrak. Jindrak choked Rey against the ropes and stomped him. Rey slid under the legs of Jindrak, took him down, and dropkicked him in the face. Rey covered, but the referee was yelling at Guerrero for not holding the tag rope. Jindrak hit a Reigns-assisted Hot Shot on Rey. Reigns tagged in and choked Mysterio against the ropes. Reigns whipped Mysterio hard into a corner, and tagged in Jindrak, who applied a surfboard.
Rey kicked out of the move, and gave Jindrak a bulldog out of a bodyscissors. Reigns tagged in and elbowdropped Rey to keep him from making a tag. Reigns slammed Mysterio and dropped another elbow for two. Reigns backed Mysterio into his corner, but Rey booted a charging Reigns twice, then dropkicked him into 619 position. Jindrak kneed Rey from the apron, while Eddie pulled Reigns throat first over the middle rope. Rey crawled between Reign’s legs and tagged Guerrero, who cleaned house on both opponents with dropkicks and a headscissors. All four men started fighting in the ring. Jindrak went for a powerbomb on Rey, but Rey turned it into a rana and both men fell to the floor. In the ring, Guerrero hit two vertical suplexed on Reigns. Reigns blocked the third, and tried to slam Guerrero, but Eddie floated over it and Rey Mysterio hit Reigns with a springboard senton. Jindrak pulled Rey from the ring and fought with him. Guerrero gave Reigns a suplex, and went to the top for the frog splash. Rey gave Jindrak a 619 on the floor to keep him out of the ring, while Eddie hit Reigns with the splash for the pin at the eight minute mark. Winners: Eddie Guerrero & Rey Mysterio.
Post-match, Jindrak helped Reigns up, but Reigns started yelling and shoving Jindrak. Jindrak tried to leave, but Reigns stopped him and slapped him. Jindrak knocked out Reigns with one left hand to the jaw.
Tazz and Michael Cole discussed the Wrestlemania match between Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels.
Backstage, Lauren Jones, Joy Giovanni and Michelle McCool were talking about Raw, when Dawn Marie came in and started ripping into them verbally, saying she runs the locker room. Dawn targeted Joy specifically, but Michelle got between them. Dawn challenged Michelle (making reference to being slammed by Michelle at No Way Out), to a mixed tag match later tonight.
Smackdown General Manager Theodore R. Long was talking on his phone when Carlito Caribbean Cool walked into his office. Long gave him a snow shovel, and told him his job tonight was the shovel the snow outside the arena. Carlito protested, but Long said if he didn’t do it, he would be fired from Smackdown. Carlito walked off, muttering in Spanish.
Booker T was shown getting ready to head to the ring.
A video package on The Rock’s role in “Be Cool” was shown.
The Piper’s Pit with Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania was plugged.
Booker T vs. Heidenreich. The disqualification finish between the two from No Way Out (Booker won when Heidenreich used a chair) was recapped as Booker made his entrance. Booker attacked Heidenreich as soon as he entered the ring, hitting a back elbow and stomped him down in a corner. Booker delivered a vertical suplex, then chopped Heidenreich and worked him over in a corner. Heidenreich battled back with punches, but Booker kicked him in the gut and sent him to the mat with a back kick. Booker hit a jumping kick, and Heidenreich rolled to the floor. Booker went after him, and rammed Heidenreich into the security wall. Heidenreich reversed a whip and sent Booker into the ring post. Heidenreich rolled Booker back into the ring and threw him shoulder first into the ring post. Heidenreich went to the floor and slammed Booker’s arm into the post. Heidenreich crawled back in for a two count, then applied an overhead wristlock.
Booker broke out with a jawbreaker, then hit a series of punches. Booker downed him with a clothesline, then hit another one. Heidenreich tried a clothesline of his own, but Booker ducked it, and hit a superkick to the chest. Booker then hit a side kick, and pounded Heidenreich with chops and punches. Heidenreich blocked a whip into the corner twice, and when he did take the ride, he followed it by booting a charging Booker. Heidenreich then flipped Booker with a clothesline. Heidenreich went to ringside and got a chair. Heidenreich entered the ring with it, but Booker superkicked the chair into Heidenreich’s face. Booker picked up the chair, but the referee warned him not to use it. Booker dropped the chair, but then gave Heidenreich and DDT into it. The referee disqualified Booker at the six minute mark for the chair use. Winner via disqualification: Heidenreich.
Post-match, Booker gave Heidenreich an ax kick and did the Spinarooni.
The John Cena & JBL Wrestlemania spoof of “A Few Good Men” was shown.
Kurt Angle came out for the Invitational Challenge. Before bringing out an opponent, Angle had them replay his attack on Shawn Michaels from Raw, warning the audience that it was graphic. Angle’s attack on Michaels was replayed in black and white (due to the blood). Angle then talked about how he had heard for years that Michaels was the “greatest athlete in the WWE”, but Angle had embarrassed him twice, referring to Raw and the Royal Rumble. Angle promised that the “biggest embarrassment” for Michaels would be at Wrestlemania, and Angle would prove that he is the greatest athlete in the WWE.
Angle called for his opponent, and a man came out to the ring in a sweatsuit, the hood covering his face. Angle assumed it was Shawn Michaels, and pulled the hood off, to reveal that it wasn’t Shawn Michaels. A TV cameraman in the ring put his camera down while Angle talked to his potential opponent. The camera man took off his hat, glasses, and fake mustache to reveal Shawn Michaels. Michaels attacked Angle and started brawling with him. The security guards that were watching Angle’s gold medal tried to intercede, and Michaels superkicked one of them. Michaels and Angle went back to brawling, and a ton of security hit the ring. Angle got out and backed down the aisle, while Michaels was held in the ring by security, Michaels yelling at Angle the whole time.
A commercial for WWE 24/7 was shown.
They replayed Shawn Michaels’ attack on Angle. We saw that during the break, Michaels was being escorted out by security. Theodore R. Long approached them, and told Michaels that he had to have him removed from the building. Michaels said it was fine, he just wanted a “little piece” of Angle tonight, and that he’d get the rest of Wrestlemania. Shawn left peacefully, telling Long that they were “cool”.
Dawn Marie & Rene Dupree vs. Michelle McCool & The Big Show. Dawn came out first, with Dupree. Michelle then came out, alone. As she approached the ring, she smiled, and then Big Show’s music hit. Dupree started complaining to Dawn about this turn of events. Michelle and Dawn started the match, with Dawn shoving Michelle and slapping her. Dawn stood on Michelle’s hair and pulled up on her arms. Michelle kicked Dawn away, and kipped up off the mat. Dawn whipped Michelle across the ring, but Michelle did a cartwheel and came back with a low cross bodyblock. Dawn backed off, then threw a shot at Michelle. Michelle did a handspring, then did an elbow in the corner (NOT a handspring into an elbow). Dawn tripped Michelle into the ropes, and tagged in Dupree. Dupree stood over Michelle and did the French Tickler dance, but Michelle kicked him between the legs. Michelle tagged in the Big Show. Show did the Tickler dance while standing over the downed Dupree, then gave him a chokeslam for the pin at the three minute mark. Winners: Michelle McCool & The Big Show.
Show put Michelle up on his shoulders to celebrate the win.
Carlito was shown outside, his arm in a sling and not wearing a jacket (but he did have a hat on), refusing to shovel. A car drove by, and water splashed on him. Carlito then slipped on the ice and fell into the slush.
The announcement that Hulk Hogan would be inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame this year was replayed.
WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield came to the ring, complaining about having his celebration last week ruined by Big Show and John Cena (“two people that can’t beat me”). JBL said the fans “must respect” him, since he is their WWE Champion. JBL said Cena needs to respect him as well. JBL said Cena respects nothing, and that he has made a mockery of the U.S. Title. JBL said he hates Cena for what he is and what he stands for. JBL said it makes him sick to be in the same room with John Cena, and that he hates the fact that he has to wrestle him at Wrestlemania. JBL said he never paid to sit in the stands like John Cena. JBL said the fans pay to see him, he doesn’t pay to see them. JBL put over his high brow upbringing, then ripped into the fans for being low-class and having single parent homes. JBL complained about having to give “handouts” to support lower class people. JBL said the fans should worship him, as he was a “once in a lifetime performer” and that he was the “most recognizable name on the planet”. JBL said he was going to walk out if the fans didn’t give him respect. The fans booed, and JBL walked out.
JBL was shown walking through the back. The Bashams and Orlando Jordan approached him, and JBL said he was leaving. The Bashams got in the limo, but when Orlando tried to, JBL told him he wanted Jordan to stay and win the U.S. Title from John Cena. JBL said he would send Orlando back to “the hood” where he could be with “those people” if he didn’t win the belt. JBL told Orlando he would be out of the cabinet if he didn’t win the title. JBL left with the Bashams, leaving behind a stunned Orlando Jordan.
Christy Hemme’s appearance in Playboy was plugged.
Rey Mysterio was shown in the back packing up his Tag Team Title belt. Chavo Guerrero entered, and Rey greeted him with a hug. Chavo asked where Eddie was, and Rey said he was in the shower. Chavo said that Eddie was just using Rey, and pointed out that Rey has beaten Eddie several times, and that Eddie doesn’t like to lose. Rey said he and Eddie were the tag team champions, and Chavo said that Eddie was just biding his time before ambushing Rey, and that he likes to keep his enemies right by his side. Chavo said you can never trust a Guerrero, and walked off.
Big Show and Joy were talking in the back. Sho Funaki entered, and asked Big Show about the rumors in Japan about Big Show possibly facing sumo legend Akebono. Show said he would be happy to meet Akebono (who Show shook hands with in Japan) in the ring.
The Raw Rewind was shown.
The Wrestlemania Rewind was The Honky Tonk Man defeating Jake Roberts at Wrestlemania III, which was followed by rock legend Alice Cooper putting Damien (Jake’s Snake) on Jimmy Hart.
U.S. Champion John Cena vs. Orlando Jordan. Cena went for a cradle at the start, and got a two count. Jordan hit a knee to the gut and took Cena down with a side mare. Cena rolled Jordan over for a two count. Cena backdropped a charging Jordan and hit a clothesline and a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Cena ran into a Jordan boot, but Cena came right back with a side slam. Cena did the “You Can’t See Me” and hit the Five Knuckle Shuffle fistdrop. A frustrated Jordan rolled to the floor and kicked the ringsteps as they went to break.
Back from the break, Cena hit a hiptoss for a two count, then applied a rear naked choke. Jordan elbowed out, but missed a cross bodyblock. Cena slammed Jordan, then hit a legdrop for a trio of two counts. Cena rammed Jordan into the top turnbuckle and worked him over in the corner. Cena snapmared Jordan and went back to the rear naked choke. Cena hit a series of rights on Jordan, but Jordan poked him in the eyes. Jordan grabbed a double leg takedown and put his feet on the ropes for a two count. Jordan hit a flying bodypress, but Cena reversed for a two count. Cena hit a series of punches in a corner, but Jordan powerbombed out of the corner for a two count.
Jordan decked Cena with a right hand for two, then covered again for another two. Jordan pounded Cena on the mat with punches, and got another two count. Jordan hit a back elbow for a two count. Jordan snapmared Cena and applied a rear chinlock. Cena elbowed out, but Jordan hit a knee to the gut and dropkicked Cena for a two count. Jordan slammed Cena and delivered a legdrop for a two count, then applied a rear naked choke. Cena got out with a back suplex, and both men were laid out on the mat. Both men got up, and Jordan planted Cena with a powerslam for a two count. Jordan missed a clothesline, and Cena hit a flying shoulderblock. Jordan went for Cena’s chain in the corner, but Cena hit Jordan with a reverse elbow. Cena hit three lariats in a row, then a reverse atomic drop and the Throwback neckbreaker for a two count. Cena hit a back suplex into a side slam, then pumped up his sneakers. Cena hit the FU, and the Bashams ran down. Cena knocked one of them off the apron twice, then caught the other one coming off the top rope and gave him the FU. Cena then went back towards Jordan, who was on the far side of the ring, as the referee got the Basham out of the ring. JBL, who was hidden next to the ring, popped up and hit Cena in the head with the WWE Title belt. Jordan crawled onto Cena, and got the three count at the fifteen minute mark. Winner and new U.S. Champion: Orlando Jordan.
Their plan a success, JBL and Jordan celebrated in the aisle, mocking Cena, as John Cena stared at them from the mat to end the show.
Following tonight’s Smackdown, here is the updated card for Wrestlemania 21.
– World Heavyweight Champion Triple H vs. Batista.
– WWE Champion John Bradshaw Layfield vs. John Cena.
– Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle.
– Piper’s Pit, hosted by Rowdy Roddy Piper, with special guest Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Teased tonight on Smackdown, but not “officially announced” yet:
– The Big Show vs. Akebono.
Teased on Raw this week, but not “officially announced” yet:
– Ladder match with Chris Jericho and five other participants.
– Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker (this match is already being used in advertising for the event).