Welcome back! The first Raw Review of the year is done, and now it is time for the first Smackdown show of 2005. There's been a lot of reports going around about WWE looking to add Cruiserweights to their OVW roster, for possible use on the Smackdown brand. The rumored talent that is being considered are some of the best and most well liked Independent stars in the Northeast (Jack Evans & Jay Lethal to name a few) if these reports work out, and deals can be made the future of the WWE roster is in good shape, as Jack Evans, Jay Lethal and any number of the other talent could offer a more athletic, fast paced and high flying style, that would make Smackdown unique to Raw. Well let's get on with the show!

Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio- Eddie comes out to the ring in a red Impala, Joy Giovanni is at ringside, she will be the guest time keeper for the night. Then Rey comes out with a handicam, called the 6:19 cam. Rey hands the camera to Eddie who then goes over to tape Joy and then he hands the camera back to Rey. The Match then starts with a lock up and Eddie turns it into a hammerlock and then into a headlock, Rey then fights out and uses the ropes to do a rolling arm-drag into a head scissors. The lock up into a test of strength, Rey rolls into a sunset flip and gets a two count. Eddie then gets Rey back into a headlock, they shoot off the ropes and Rey hits another head scissors. Eddie then throws Rey into the ropes as he lifts him up he hits him with a sort of inverted powerbomb, then back into an arm-bar, and works the arm.Then a double under hook pin attempt for two, and back into the arm-lock. Rey crawls to the ropes, and Eddie has to break the hold. Rey tries a springboard moonsault but Eddie catches him and slams him into the corner inverted into a tree off woe. Eddie comes in for a slideing dropkick to Rey's head but Rey lifts his body up into a sitting position and Eddie goes into the post. Rey takes control with a plancha to the outside, then a twisting moonsault to the inside and then a two count pin. Rey hits a ddt, and Eddie gets his foot on the rope and the count is stopped at two, Eddie and Rey then trade sleeper holds. Eddie spins Rey around, and gets a two count. Another springboard moonsault for another two count. The crowd trades 619 and Eddie chants. Rey misses the 619, then Rey tries a bronco buster, but Eddie gets his leg up and gets a two count. Both go off the ropes and Rey hits a monkey flip. Rey leaps at Eddie to go for a hurricanrana but Eddie pushes rey over his head and Rey hits the ref. Eddie get the tag title and puts it on Rey, before the ref gets up Rey puts it on Eddie. Rey then tells the ref Eddie hit him with the belt, Eddie tries to hide the belt but the ref see's it. Eddie is on his knees pleading with the ref outside the ring, Rey for the 619,Eddie ducks it. Then Rey rolls him up for a quick One…Two…Three!! After the match Rey jokes with Eddie, Rey offers a handshake, Eddie looks annoyed but Rey shakes hands. This was the best match I have seen on Smackdown I a long time, I guess it's all down hill from here! The Brand kicks off 2005 in amazing fashion.

Match Rating- **** ½

Heidenreich backstage and says I knew I could count on you, The camera pans back and it's Paul Heyman. He says he can get the casket match stipulation at the PPV changed and since he use to be GM he knows how to do it, and he will go take care of it right now. We then go to commercial.

Segment Rating- ** ½

We come back from commercial to Carlito who comes out with a petition in his hand, he comes out to join the commentating team for the next match. The petition is to get Theodore Long removed as Smackdown GM.

Funaki (c) vs. Akio- This match is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. They both go into a collar and elbow tie up and trade quick reversals and arm drags. Funaki gets a series of quick two counts. Carlito tries to get the ref to sign his petition, while his back is turned Akio takes charge with a sleeper. Carlito gets cameramen to sign his petition. In the ring Akio hits a back body drop, Funaki rolls out of the way of a corkscrew, Funaki comes of the second rope and hits a spinning DDT, and gets the three count. Carlito tries to get Joy to sign his petition and he gets annoyed and acts like he will spit apple on her, he stops as she covers up. She then puts her guard down and he spits it on her. This was a real fast paced match, both of these guys show potential and look to be improving. Carlito was fun to watch as he got fans and workers to sign his petition.

Match Rating- ***
Post Match Action- ** ½

Heyman & Heidenreich are in Teddy Long's office and Heyman is telling Teddy that he thinks that the casket match is cruel and unusual punishment. Heyman explains what happens in a casket match, as he does Heidenreich becomes more and more nervous looking. Teddy Long says if Heidenreich & Heyman beats Undertaker tonight, Heidenreich gets to change the stipulation. Heyman starts to panic, but Heidenreich tells him not to worry.

Segment Rating- ** ½

Kurt is backstage qith Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak, Amy Weber comes over and she wants to talk to Kurt alone, Amy says she wants to talk about becoming his image consultant and to come to her private locker room to get better acquainted. Angle has a goofy grim on his face as Amy walks out. This was entertaining, but nothing to special, Angle always has been great at playing the goofy uptight Boy Scout, and Amy is always a great bonus (she was my personal pick during the Diva search)

Segment Rating- ***

Kurt Angle Invitational (Kurt Angle vs. Brian Black) Angle says that he will beat his opponent in less then 3 seconds or give his gold medal.Angle sucker puches him and takes charge and dominates Brian and gets him in the Ankle Lock and makes him tap at 2:34 (he beats him in 26 seconds)

Daniel Puder is backstage, Torrie Wilson & Jackie Gayda come up to him. He tells Torrie Wilson "Oh you were a playboy cover girl, That's cool, if that's your thing" and then tells Jackie that she got what she deserved, since when she was on Tough Enough, she tried to get her boyfriend to stay with her after she cheated on him, and then Charlie Hass dumped her, He then says "You can go now" and that all women are the same "They are all after my money" He does his cocky contest winner thing pretty well, with his UFC background Smackdown might have a hidden gem in Puder.

Segment Rating- ***

John Cena vs. Kenzo Suzuki (Battle Rap)- Kenzo comes out with Hiroko and he is decked out like Uncle Sam. John Cena comes out, wearing a Red Sox jersey and a Ruck Fules t-shirt, he gives his Jersey to a young kid at ringside. It is announced that Cena will defend his U.S. Title next week against Kenzo Suzuki. Kenzo says Cena is "About to get served" Kenzo mimics Cena as he raps. I couldn't understand ½ of what Kenzo said, but Cena was hilarious. Then Cena has Michelle, Rachelle & Lauren come out. Cena hypes up the crowd, Kenzo is checking out Rachelle, then Michelle then Hiroko jumps on Michelle's back, Cena pulls her off and Kenzo sneak attacks Cena, Cena gets back in control real quick and Kenzo & Hiroko retreat. This segment was meant to build up the match next week and it did a decent job of doing just that, Kenzo is great mild comic-relief (which is good since he really is not a great worker) and Cena is just money on the mic.

Segment Rating- *** ½

RVD w/ Rey Mysterio vs. Doug Basham w/ Danny Basham & Orlando Jordan- This was just an average match, nothing of real interest with a screw job ending that has Doug and Danny switch and beat RVD, there was nothing bad about the match ,but for whatever reason I just didn't think it was anything great (Which is odd since I think RVD is one of my favorite talents on the show)

Match Rating- ***

Angle is backstage, he knocks on Amy Weber's door and nobody answers so he walks in. Angle sits down on a sofa and waits, he gets impatient. He open the bathroom door and approaches the shower, he removes his clothes, and rubs his nipples (that was just disturbing!) and waits for Amy to come out of the shower, only it's Joy Giovanni. Joy screams and runs away, her towel falls as she runs, Angle smiles and then Joy runs back and takes the towel while screaming the entire time, then she runs through the arena nothing but a towel, Angle chases after her to apologize. But he runs into Big Show. Big Show chases Angle to the ring. Luther & Jindrak come out to help, but Big Show dominates them, Angle hits Big Show in the back with a chair but has no effect. Big Show punches to chair into Angles face. Angle, Jindrak & Luther Reigns retreat. Man Kurt has no luck with women, huh? we still don't know what happened in the hotel room with Stephanie McMahon, a few years ago.

Segment Rating- *** ¼

JBL is backstage with Amy Weber & Orlando Jordan, they walk over to Amy Weber's locker room and they remove the sign and it actually was Joy Giovanni's locker room. So he set up Angle and Big Show as well as Joy (Since she has had problems with Amy) this is just another segment that makes JBL one of the better heel champions in some time. The segment was to short to give a high rating to, especially since it was done just to explain the Angle-Joy-Big Show mix up.

Segment Rating- ** ½

Undertaker vs. Heidenreich & Paul Heyman- Before the match, Paul Heyman is backstage talking to Heidenreich and Paul tells him that if Theodore Long had not made the handicapped match, he would have offered to fight by his side because he believes in him. Heidenreich & Heyman come out first, Well at least I like Heidenreich's music. Undertaker does his classic dead-man entrance. Undertaker and Heidenreich tie up and he hits a hard shoulder take down. Taker throws him into the ropes, and another shoulder tackle. Undertaker actually uses a couple of hip tosses and arm drags before Heidenreich regains control, with a chin lock, Undertaker fights free and Heidenreich takes him down again, this time for a two count. Undertaker gets Heidenreich in the corner and lays into him with hard right hands, then hits him with snake eyes, Heyman starts to look worried. Then Undertaker climbs to the top rope and hits old school, Undertaker drops to his knee and raises his arm, and the druid music comes on and druids come out with two caskets, Heidenreich starts to panic, when one of the caskets opens ominously by itself, Heidenreich tags in Heyman and runs into the crowd and he may still very well be running as you read this! Heyman begs Undertaker to let him go, Undertaker tombstones Heyman and places him in the casket and then closes the casket. The lights dim and Undertakers music hits as Smackdown goes off the air Undertaker is looking at the caskets. This was a rather quick match, but I am a fan of anything that involves classic Undertaker, this also has been reported as a way for WWE to write out Heyman from current storylines. It remains to be seen what Paul Heyman's status is with the company after he was removed from Smackdown's writing team, and then had his profile removed from WWE.com. The hope is that it is all a work to set up the rumored ECW Reborn PPV in June in New York City.

Match Rating- ***

I was very surprised by the quality of this weeks show, the best match of the night was the opening match and really set the tone for the rest of the night. While nothing other then the Eddie Guerrero/Rey Mysterio match approached greatness, there was actually nothing I could really complain about other then Heidenreich. Now if WWE can keep Smackdown at this level for the next 51 weeks, it will be a banner year for the brand, considering the rather poor 2004.The chances of that happening is slim, but there is always the chance. I hope you all enjoyed my second column of the year and hope you will all join me back here next week for my Raw review, Thanks for reading!