Welcome to yet another articulate, entertaining, informative and downright fun edition of the greatest recap column on the internet The Smart Mark’s Guide To The WWE. I am of course just kidding, it may not be 100% true but I do try and make it live up to those bold claims every week. I enjoy trying to capture the action of the WWE and convey them to you in words, so that if someone missed a part of Raw or Smackdown they know they can check out The Smart Mark’s Guide To The WWE available only on DOI (Mick Foley is no the only one that can do cheap plugs!) and know they will get a informative and hopefully fun recap, so they can fell that they have not missed a thing. That is the thing I think has been forgotten just a little bit, as we all became more and more “smart” to this business, we sometimes take it too seriously and dissect every aspect of every match, we look for work rate and blown spots and forget to just sit back and enjoy one of the best forms of escapism on television, with larger then life characters and over the top storylines that make up professional wrestling. So it is 8pm and I am going to get lost in some sports entertainment and try to have fun while I’m at it, hope you all come along for the ride.

The show starts off with a recap of everything that has happened in the last few weeks between JBL and his Cabinet, Big Show & Joy and Kurt Angle, Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak. This is one of the most original feuds going on in the WWE at the moment, if more feuds were this fresh WWE would be in great shape.

Segment Rating- ***

Theodore Long is in the ring and says that Kurt Angle has played JBL and he will come into the ring tonight and make a public apology to Joy Giovanni. Then he adds that if Kurt Angle refuses to apologize, he will be removed from the title match at Royal Rumble and will not be given a rematch in 2005. He also says that he promised Kurt that when he arrives, nobody will lay a hand on him because he must make the apology. Then he goes on to say that once he is done it is then “Open Season” on Kurt Angle and he does not care if it is JBL or Big Show, but he will learn if you play with fire you will get burned! He then says that is all later on in the night, and the next match is for the WWE Tag Team Titles!

Segment Rating- ***

The Basham Brothers (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero & Booker T- The Basham’s are escorted to the ring with fellow Cabinet member Orlando Jordan. Booker T & Danny Basham star off and Booker lands a few hard chops in the corner and then he tags in Eddie, Eddie stomps on Danny and then takes Danny down with a shoulder block. Eddie ties Danny up, tags in Booker T for a quick double team move. Danny tags in Doug and Booker tags Eddie back in, Eddie & Doug feel each other out, and Eddie then lands an airplane spin and Eddie tags in Booker T and he lands a heel kick, and gets a two count that was broken up by Danny Basham. Danny and Doug go to regroup outside the ring only to have Booker T & Eddie Guerrero springboard over the top rope to the outside, and come crashing down on them (commercial time) back from commercial Eddie Guerreo backdrops Doug Basham, Doug Counters a suplex and Doug tags in Danny Basham. Booker T tags in and lands a crescent kick, Danny & Doug switch while the ref tries to restore order after a broken pin attempt. Danny is now back in, and gets the upper hand on Booker T, he locks in a full nelson and gets Booker down on the mat, Booker fights back up and powers out of it, Booker T gets scooped slammed by Danny Basham. Danny gets a two count, Eddie Guerrero brakes up the pin. The Basham’s trap Booker T in their corner, Eddie in a comedic moment moves the tag rope closer to Booker T only to have the Referee yell at him and put it back in it’s right place. The Basham’s tag and keep a fresh man in, and continue to isolate Booker T in their corner, getting a handful of two counts and continuing to wear down Booker T and cutting the ring in half. Booker T hits a desperation spine buster and makes the hot tag to Eddie Guerrero who cleans house and takes charge taking down both Basham’s with a Arm drag/Head Scissors combo. He then hits the Three Amigos, Danny Basham attempts to hit Eddie with the belt, Eddie ducks it and gets the belt and nails him with it, but the referee sees it and Disqualifies Eddie Guerrero & Booker T. Booker goes off on Eddie and Eddie walks out of the ring, Danny Basham attack Booker T alone in the ring, Eddie watches from the ramp as Doug & Orlando Jordan join in. Eddie hesitates and then charges into the ring and helps clean house, Booker T hits a scissor kick on Orlando Jordan & Eddie then hits the frog splash on Jordan, while Booker does the spinaronni. Booker T & Eddie Guerrero stare at each other. Basham’s retain the titles & the tension between Booker T & Eddie Guerrero continues it’s slow build to a possible match. This was a great old school style tag match.

Match Rating- *** ½

JBL and Amy Weber are talking backstage, JBL is interviewed by Josh Matthews and JBL says what Kurt Angle was wrong, that while he set up Kurt Angle. Kurt Angle tied up and gagged a helpless woman, he gets really intense and says tonight the perception of JBL will be forever changed and Kurt Angle will learn. Next we see Big Show waiting by the back entrance, he tells Joy that he does not care what Theodore Long says he is going to beat an apology out of Kurt Angle when he arrives, he then tells Joy that this might not be the best place for her and she should leave and she does just that. JBL continues to be a great worker on the mic, in my opinion he is very under appreciated.

Segment Rating- *** ¼

Akio vs. Scotty 2 Hotty- This is a Royal Rumble qualifying match, this is Scotty 2 Hotty’s return to Smackdown from a cancer scare, he is back at 100% and I am happy for him that he is healthy and back in action, Akio takes charge, and gets Scotty down quickly, Scotty battles back hard and gets Akio in an arm lock, Scotty then lands a dropkick, the battle spills outside and Akio lands a Russian leg sweep into the barrier on Scotty 2 Hotty and then gets sent back into the ring by Akio. Akio throws Scotty into the corner, then follows up with a suplex and then follows up with a surfboard submission, then an abdominal stretch. Akio attempts a back suplex, but Scotty reverses, Akio gets back in charges and hits the back suplex, Akio attempts a corkscrew moonsault and misses, Scotty sets up form the W-O-R-M and hits it for the ONE, TWO and THREE!

Match Rating- *** ¼

John Cena is interviewed by Josh Matthews about his upcoming match with Rene Dupree and what his chances in the Royal Rumble, Cena busts out one of his raps about the Royal Rumble and what it means. This was a rather short interview segment, which is not using one of Cena’s main strengths well as he is one of the best entertainers when he has a microphone in his hand.

Segment Rating- ***

Big Show is still sitting by the door, Theodore Long comes along and tries to reason with him. Long calls his name a couple of times with no response, Teddy then says he hopes he doesn’t do something he regrets. Big Show says he will not regret anything he does once Angle arrives.

Segment Rating- ***

Carlito comes out with his petition and has several fans sign it as he makes his way to the ring, he says Teddy Long just sat around and let poor Joy Giovanni get abducted last week. He says that is just one of the horrible things that has happened since he has been GM, including Carlito’s arm being in a sling. Heidenreich’s music hits and he marches towards the ring, Carlito looks nervous and backs away and he drops his petition, Heidenreich picks it up and signs the petition, Heidenreich says he wants Theodore Long gone too! He claims Long is trying to force him into a casket match, he says he is not afraid of the Undertaker but he hates caskets, and he will do anything to get out of that match. The lights go out and the Undertaker’s bell tolls and Undertaker appears on the Titantron (crowd starts chanting Rest in Peace)and tells Heidenreich’s days are numbered, he says he will meet his maker and that his maker will bring him face to face with his greatest fear. The camera pans back to reveal a casket, when Undertaker opens it, there is a life size dummy of Heidenreich inside. Heidenreich screams “NO! I don’t want to go in a CASKET!!!!” Undertaker says “at the Royal Rumble you will Rest in Peace!” Heidenreich then walks off screaming NO! This was just vintage Undertaker, and I will never get tired of seeing it. They also managed to forward two storylines in one segment both the Heidenreich/Undertaker and Carlito/Long feuds are being done great.

Segment Rating- *** ¾

Big Show is still waiting for Angle, he hears someone coming and grabs a steel chair it ends up being some of the Diva search girls, he says hello and they go on their way.

Segment Rating- ** ½

John Cena vs. Renee Dupree- This match is another Royal Rumble qualifying match, Renee takes Cena down with a shoulder block, they then lock up and Cena shoulder blocks Dupree out of the ring. Cena throws Dupree back in the ring, as Cena was coming back in Dupree sends him flying back outside. Dupree works over Cena outside and sends him back in the ring, Dupree is cocky and gets caught in a small package for a two count, Dupree gets Cena in a chin lock Cena works his way to his feet and hits a face first back drop and the ref starts a double 10 count and they both get up around five. Cena starts getting more aggressive and lands several big blows and finishes up with a tilt a whirl slam and attempts the five knuckle shuffle, he misses. He gets Dupree down again and connects with the five knuckle shuffle. He goes for the FU, only to have Dupree reverse it and attempt a FU of his own, but that is reversed and Cena hits the FU and gets the three count! Cena celebrates, but Suzuki sneak attacks Cena and assaults him and finishes him off with an Arrow-Leg Sweep. Kenzo is looking at Cena from the ramp as Cena starts getting back up and stares right back at him, Cena is heading to the Royal Rumble but it looks like his feud with Kenzo will not be that short lived after all. Very good match, although the multiple finisher reversal finish is used a little much, this one was done well and it really was exciting, even though it was easy to know Cena was going to win because he is a main player on Smackdown and should be in the Rumble.

Match Rating- *** ¾

Big Show is sitting waiting for Angle and JBL approaches him, he says while he knows they are opponents at the Royal Rumble, he thinks for one night they should put their differences aside. That after Kurt Angle apologizes to Joy, that they team up and destroy Kurt Angle together. He says that he knows he is a giant, and does not need his help in destroying him but that after what he did last week he wants him just as much as Big Show, he says after that they will go on to Royal Rumble one on one and let the best man win. Big Show says for once he has to say JBL has a great idea and that he will think about it, JBL nods in agreement and leaves.

Segment Rating- *** ½

Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero- This is the third Royal Rumble qualifying match up of the night, Rey & Chavo shake hands and lock up and a series of quick lock ups and reversals and Rey finally gets the upper hand with a take down, Rey & Chavo both get near pin falls. They lock up again, Rey springboards of the ropes and gets caught, but Rey reverses out anyway. Chavo fights back and hits a nasty inverted power bomb, Chavo charges at Rey, Rey ducks down sending Chavo over the top rope, Chavo lands on his feet on the apron, they exchange blows and reversals, until Rey comes down of the ropes and drops Chavo’s neck across the top rope and he falls to the floor, Chavo starts to lose his temper and kicks the steps and barrier (commercial) back from commercial Chavo hits a suplex on Rey and gets a two count, then puts Rey in a sitting half nelson, Chavo hits a hard kick to the back of Reys knee, he tries another but Rey leaps over the leg sweep, Rey takes Chavo down, but not for long and Chavo is back in charge in no time with a wrist lock, Rey fights out and sends Chavo into the corner, Rey charges in, but Chavo gets an elbow up, Chavo goes for an electric chair but it’s reversed and then Rey gets a near pin, Rey goes for a spring board cross body, but Chavo counters with a drop kick to Mysterios stomach. Chavo hits a variation of the razors edge, and gets a two count, Rey hits a drop toe hold and Chavo falls over the second rope, Rey attempts the 619, but Chavo ducks it and hits a sitdown powerbomb for a two count, Chavo picks Mysterio up, as he does Mysterio takes Chavo down with a head scissors and he falls over the second rope and Rey hits the 619 and follows up with a springboard top rope splash, for the three count. No matter how well I write this match up, it will not do it justice, this match stole the show and was probably one of the best move for move, hold for hold, catch as catch can style matches I have ever seen in the WWE. I am glad I am taping this because I am going to watch it over and over!

Match rating- **** ½

Kurt Angle sneaks into the arena through the crowd and makes his way to the ring (commercial) Angle says it is time to do this and asks for Joy Giovanni to come out. Joy slowly makes her way out and stops on the ramp. Kurt starts to read a hand written apology, that pretty much says he did what he did out of competitive spirit and not personal, and she seems to be a very nice young lady even though her taste in men is suspect, he says if he has caused her any mental or physical harm he apologizes. He says he knows who is behind the curtain and asks for Big Show to come out so he can face the music. Big Show tells Joy to leave and Big Show stalks his way to the ring staring a hole in Angle, as Show enters the ring Angle bails out and says we will settle it at the Rumble and attempts to leave, JBL’s music hits and out comes JBL and the Cabinet. JBL asks him where he thinks he is going, that he can’t talk his way out of this one that he promised the people a beating and he is going to get what he deserves and so will he. JBL and Angle smile and shake hands, Angle waves to the back and out comes Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns. Big Show takes out the Basham’s as they come in the ring, then Big Show fends off Jindrak & Reigns. Then all of Angles men and JBL and his Cabinet all run in the ring and pile on Big Show, but Big Show sends them all flying! Big Show has JBL & Kurt Angle set up for a double choke slam, but Orlando Jordan takes out his legs. They all take turns taking their shots at Big Show, they order Luther Reigns to get the steel steps and bring them inside the ring, Kurt Angle & JBL hold the steps together and wait for Big Show to make his way to his feet, as he does they charge at him with the steps and take him out, as he falls through the ropes and to the floor. Kurt Angle & JBL smile at each other as Smackdown goes off the air. This was a great segment, the union of JBL & his Cabinet with Kurt Angle and his group may not be the Corporate Ministry, but it is still a damn impressive alliance. This is just one of countless pushes Big Show has received over the years, but this one is off to a great start.

Segment Rating- ****

Smackdown once again was very entertaining and defiantly surpassed this weeks Raw. I still find it hard to believe that Smackdown has improved so much in such a short amount of time, I had a feeling that 2005 would be the year Smackdown improved, but I thought it would be a slow build up to it. The last few weeks of Smackdown have in no way resembled the mess that was Smackdown 2004. I am really looking forward to next weeks edition, just to see how they continue to move these feuds further along. Thanks for reading, check back early next week for the Raw recap.