WWE Smackdown Report for 3/18/04: Gauntlet set up for a shot at the WWE Championship!
Submitted by Matthew Tremley on Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 11:12 PM EST



WWE Smackdown
Airdate: March 18th, 2004

John Cena heads to the ring to start the show off showcasing his new United States Championship belt. He cuts a pretty funny rap about Big Show losing the title, and making a reference to gay marriages that he quickly apologizes to Michael Cole for. Before Cena's match can start, Paul Heyman comes out and informs everyone that Brock Lesnar has indeed left the WWE. He talks about the upcoming lottery on Monday, giving us one big clue on how it will work. Apparently, the GM's won't be switching sides. Both Bischoff & Heyman will be pulling names out of the lottery, and that's how each superstar is determined for what brand they will work on. Heyman starts ranting about how the entire locker room left him at the mercy of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin last week, and hopes each and every one of them get drafted to Raw. Paul then makes the mistake of slapping Cena in the face. John blocks a second slap and knocks Heyman on his ass with one punch. Cena's about to do more damage when Rhyno runs in to make the save and to start the first match.

Match 1: World Wrestling Entertainment United States Championship: John Cena (Champion) vs. Rhyno

Rhyno starts off quickly, but runs into a boot from Cena. He regains control after connecting with a spinebuster for two. Cena makes his comeback (already??), but runs into an elbow in the corner and Rhyno takes advantage by laying the boots to him. Cena throws a few punches to rock the "man-beast", and elbows Rhyno down to the mat. Cena connects with a backdrop suplex, stops to pump it up, and nails the Five-Knuckle Shuffle. As Rhyno gets to his feet, John lands a kick to the mid-section and follows that up with the F-U. Cena makes the cover and gets the win to retain the U.S. Championship. Decent match for what it was, but they were given no time to really accomplish anything and it's sad cause I know Rhyno & Cena could have one hell of a match if given the opportunity.

Winner: John Cena (Still WWE U.S. Champion)

We get a promo video hyping the return of Edge to the WWE. I bet you ten bucks that no matter what the lottery says, Edge will somehow end up on Raw when it's all over with and done.

Meanwhile, Heyman is walking down the hallway when he bumps into the APA. Faarooq & Bradshaw make the mistake of laughing at him, so Paul decides to go into "asshole" mode and informs them that if they don't win their upcoming WWE Tag Team Championship match against Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty, then they're fired.

Match 2: World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Championship: Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty (Champions) vs. The APA

Scotty was about to start the match off, but Bradshaw wanted Rikishi in the ring so Scotty was more than happy to make the tag. Both men slug it out to start, with Rikishi gaining the upper hand after a headbutt. Rikishi chops Bradshaw in the corner and makes the tag to Scotty. He fires off a few shots on Bradshaw, and manages to avoid a charge in the corner with a big boot, but Scotty's luck runs out when he jumps right into a blockbuster slam for two. Bradshaw tags in Faarooq, who throws a few punches and then connects with a shoulderbreaker for two. Faarooq tags Bradshaw back in, and he connects with a shoulderblock on Scotty for another two count. Bradshaw debuts his version of the torture rack, but Scotty manages to escape. His freedom doesn't last long, as Bradshaw sends him to the mat again after a big boot. Faarooq tags in and gets two off of Bradshaw's boot. Faarooq hits a chinlock, and the APA continue to dominate, making frequent tags and isolating Scotty in their corner. Finally, Scotty is able to make the hot tag to Rikishi after he blocks a superplex attempt with a tornado DDT. Rikishi comes in with his ass cheeks on fire, nailing Bradshaw with another DDT. Scotty attempts the W-O-R-M, but doesn't realize that Faarooq is standing only a foot away and gets knocked down as a result. Rikishi manages to take out Faarooq, and ducks a Clothesline from Hell attempt from Bradshaw. Rikishi nails Bradshaw with a superkick as he's coming back off the ropes, makes the cover, and picks up the win to retain the titles. The APA are now "fired", which is pretty ironic when you think about it since Faarooq really did get fired from the WWE earlier today.

Winners: Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty (Still WWE Tag Team Champions)

After the break, the APA storm into Heyman's office and demand that he tell them that they're fired to their faces. Paul informs both of them that he didn't say the APA was fired, only Faarooq. Apparently, Heyman sees a bright future for Bradshaw since he's such a financial wizard. Faarooq is ready to leave and expects Bradshaw to follow him out, but Bradshaw doesn't move. We get out last "Damn!" from Faarooq, as he leaves Heyman's office in disgust of his former tag team partner.

Meanwhile, Heyman heads over to another locker room and informs The World's Greatest Tag Team, Billy Gunn, and Rey Mysterio that they will be involved in a gauntlet tonight, and the winner will receive a shot at the WWE Championship against Eddie Guerrero later in the show. Just to be the asshole he is, Heyman tells Shelton that he's first and his first opponent will be his tag team partner, Charlie Haas.

Match 3: WWE Championship Gauntlet Match: Shelton Benjamin vs. Charlie Haas

Both men start out with some mat work to begin the match, trading wristlocks, with Haas gaining control of Shelton's arm. Benjamin manages to take Haas down with a headlock, and TWGTT proceed to do a few more mat wrestling moves but it's a stalemate between the two. Charlie goes back to work on the arm of Benjamin, but Shelton reverses. Benjamin's escape doesn't last long, as Haas connects with a drop-toehold which sends Shelton down to the mat. Haas continues to work on the arm, but Shelton is about to flip out of the move and then starts to taunt his partner before escaping from the ring. Shelton does the exact same thing after he got back into the ring and managed to escape a facelock that Haas applied to him. Once Shelton gets back into the ring, Haas connects with a pair of clothesline, a backdrop, and then a backdrop suplex for a two count. Charlie nails Shelton with a dropkick, and then hits a german suplex with a bridge for another two. Shelton tries to go for the superkick, but Haas manages to catch Benjamin's foot before it connects. Unfortunately for Haas, he also forgot that Shelton loves to use that setup to connect with his Dragon Whip finisher, which connects. Shelton makes the cover and picks up the win to advance in the gauntlet. After the match, both Haas & Benjamin shake hands.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin

Meanwhile, Faarooq is heading out of the arena as Bradshaw tries to explain himself. It's no use however, as Faarooq just keeps walking out of the WWE for good.

Match 4: WWE Championship Gauntlet Match: Shelton Benjamin vs. "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn

Benjamin attacks early, knocking Gunn down and then choking him in the corner. Billy fires off a few punches, but runs into an elbow and then a lariat out of the corner. Both men head to the outside, where they continue to brawl. Gunn gets the upper hand when he whips Shelton into the railing and sends him back in where he drops a knee for a two count. Shelton comes back with a powerslam for two, and then hits a chinlock. Billy fights out of it, but runs into another elbow which gets two for Shelton. Benjamin hits a running knee to the head, and then goes for the chinlock again. Gunn escapes this time with a jawbreaker, and follows that up with a big boot and a neckbreaker from the corner. Both men are down, but Billy makes it to his feet first and nails Shelton with a tilt-a-whirl slam. Gunn whips Shelton into the corner and actually connects with his big splash, but he takes too long in trying for the Fameasser, and this allows Shelton to get the quick rollup (with help from the ropes) to get the win to advance on in the gauntlet.

Winner: Shelton Benjamin

The Big Show comes to the ring, as Shelton looks on in horror. Show complains about being robbed by John Cena at Wrestlemania, and was able to get placed in the gauntlet as the last guy by Paul Heyman.

Match 5: WWE Championship Gauntlet Match: Shelton Benjamin vs. Rey Mysterio

Shelton manages to win during the lockup and stomps Rey down to the mat, but Mysterio is about to connect with a big boot from the corner and a headscissors which takes Shelton out of his game. Rey attempts a monkey flip, but Benjamin blocks it so Mysterio decides to go for a sunset flip instead for two. Benjamin connects out of nowhere with an exploder suplex for two, and follows that up with a backdrop suplex for two. Shelton starts to work on the arm and shoulder area of Mysterio, stomping away at him in the corner. Rey tries to fight back, but Shelton whips Mysterio hard into the corner and locks in a cross-armbreaker. Rey manages to escape, and connects with a springboard bulldog for two. Shelton tries a charge in the corner but gets nothing but boot. He is, however, able to connect with a powerslam on Mysterio for two. Shelton tries for a german suplex, but Rey is able to counter it into a rana, sending Benjamin in position for the 619 which connects. Mysterio springboards back into the ring and drops the dime on Shelton. Rey makes the cover, and picks up the win to advance.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

Match 6: WWE Championship Gauntlet Match: Rey Mysterio vs. The Big Show

Rey tries to outsmart the Big Show to start, managing to stay out of his reach thanks to his speed. However, it doesn't last long and Show is quickly able to assert his dominance over Mysterio by tossing him around the ring and standing on his head. Rey tries for a dropkick to the knee, but walks into a big boot as he tries to follow that up. Show gets a two count, and then continues to step on him and chuck him around the ring. Show drops a big legdrop on Mysterio for a two count. Show continues to have fun stepping on Mysterio, and then hits a big power press-slam. Just then, John Cena's music hits and the new U.S. Champion walks toward the ring taunting Big Show with the title belt. Big Show heads out to confront him, and in turn doesn't see Mysterio coming with a 619 to the side of the head. With the referee trying to keep Mysterio back from the ropes, Cena sneaks up behind Show and clocks him in the head with the title belt. Show lumbers forward and smacks his head into the steel post. This is enough to keep him dazed and confused long enough for Mysterio to pick up the win via a countout. Rey Mysterio will face Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship next!

Winner: Rey Mysterio via countout

Match 7: World Wrestling Entertainment Championship: "Latino Heat" Eddie Guerrero (Champion) vs. Rey Mysterio

Eddie gets a headlock to start, but Rey gets out of it and the two trade armdrags to a stalemate. Eddie goes back to the headlock, but manages to hang on this time when Mysterio tries to escape. Rey finally does get out, connecting with a rana on Eddie for two, and then a sunset flip for two. A flying headscissors sends Guerrero out to the floor, and when he comes back in, his "Latino Heat" has started to flare up. Rey goes for his own headlock, but Eddie counters and hammerlocks his arm on the mat. Eddie locks in an armbar, but Rey is able to make it to the ropes. Eddie takes Mysterio down to the mat again and goes back to work on the arm and shoulder through another armbar. Rey manages to reverse the armbar, hitting a snapmare and a monkeyflip on Guerrero. Eddie manages to dump Rey on the apron, but when Guerrero tries to connect with a move, Rey counters with a headscissors to the floor. Mysterio connects with a huge springboard asai moonsault to take Eddie down. When we return from the commercial break, we see Eddie has regained control as he hits a nice superplex on Mysterio for two. Eddie sends Mysterio to the floor, and then throws him back in where he gets a two count off a backbreaker. Eddie locks Rey into a hangman's submission hold, but Rey is able to counter by flipping over and getting a small package for two. Eddie clotheslines him down for a two count, and goes back to work on the arm via a bridged hammerlock. Eddie continues to work on the arm, but Rey finally starts making his comeback after connecting with a springboard DDT which gets two. Rey hits his springboard senton on Guerrero for two, and then tries for another springboard moonsault but gets caught by Eddie. However, Rey manages to reverse the counter with a DDT on Guerrero for two. Rey goes for a rana, but Eddie counters into his rolling vertical suplexes. Mysterio is able to counter the last one by getting a quick rollup for two, but Eddie is not to be denied. Guerrero connects with the final vertical suplex and then heads up for the frog splash. Mysterio is just able to get out of the way in time, and follows up Eddie's mistake with a dropkick which sends him into position for the 619 which connects. Rey tries to drop the dime again, but Eddie moves out of the way and gets a nice rollup on Mysterio for the win to retain the championship. Awesome match, that only these two can bring to the game. Anyone who hasn't seen what these two can do against each other during their stay in WCW has missed out on some seriously good wrestling matches.

Winner: Eddie Guerrero (Still WWE Champion)

After the match, Eddie is helping Rey to his feet when Paul Heyman interrupts the post-match celebration to tell both guys that he hopes both of them are gone after this Monday from Smackdown. Of course, with Heyman being such an ass tonight, there always has to be some payback in the end. This comes about when Heyman says that there isn't a person "alive" that can do anything about it. Naturally, that cues the GONG and out comes the Undertaker in his western "Deadman" outfit. Heyman runs back into the ring as Taker climbs up the steps. Taker removes his hat and coat to reveal that he's pretty much wearing the same thing he used to wear as the "American Bad-Ass", and Mysterio & Guerrero shove Heyman into Taker, who quickly disposes of the Smackdown GM with a tombstone to end the show.

Match of the Show: Guerrero vs. Mysterio

Overall: A very interesting show. I was wondering how Smackdown would fare after the announcement of the brand lottery on Raw, but it turned out all right. Heyman was in his element as the "asshole" GM, firing the APA which of course will lead to a singles push for Bradshaw that no one wants. We also got some awesome wrestling matches, with Guerrero/Mysterio topping all of them combined. I was also interested in seeing how far they pushed Shelton Benjamin. Maybe TWGTT could be split up come this Monday so we could be in store for a singles run by Shelton. Either way you look at it, this was a good show for in-ring work, and one final Smackdown for at least some of the guys on the roster who could end up on Raw after this Monday is over with and done.

Matthew Tremley
E-mail: tremley@wrestlingheadlines.com









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