-The attendance was only a few thousand, which is very low for the Bell Center here in Montreal usually for a wrestling show. The entire upper deck was taped-off and they did move some people around during the dark matches to came the arena look full.
-Murphy’s Law was in effect, which in case you didn’t know is whatever could go wrong, can go wrong. At the beginning of the show there was obviously a problem with the pyro, as there were people climbing onto the titantron trying to fix things. They ended up doing the pyro part at the end of the show, which I guess will air on television at the beginning.
-I saw many signs get confiscated, many of which dealing with the Bret Hart Screwjob, Suck It, or with any mention of WCW or ECW. Why WWE would want to confiscate signs that have to do with promotions that they own the rights to I do not know, but it did leave a bad taste to start of the show for many people.
Dark Matches:
– Spike Dudley b Tyson Dux (announced from Montreal despite being from Toronto)
– Funaki & Paul London b Nunzio & Shannon Moore (good match, got the crowd going).
Velocity:
– Hardcore Holly b Robbie McAllister (Toronto indy worker)
– Kenzo Suzuki b Charlie Haas
Crowd was told to stand and prepare for the SmackDown! opening. They introduced the new WWE diva, Lauren. She did a lap around the ring and left. They then brought out Teddy Long. The SmackDown! opening was never taped.
Long stated that Kurt Angle must apologize in the ring tonight to Joy Giovanni for what he did last week or he will be removed from the title match at the Royal Rumble and will not receive another title shot in 2005 (gotta love those stips nobody believes). He also said that it will be open season on Kurt Angle after he apologizes.
JBL was shown backstage stating that he hasn’t swallowed what Angle did to him and that he would never do such a thing to a woman. He said Kurt Angle will pay and that no one will believe what he will do to him tonight.
The Basham Brothers (w/ Orlando Jordan) b Eddie Guerrero & Booker T – DQ
Eddie got a huge pop coming out. They were given a lot of time, approximately 20 minutes. Eddie ducked a belt shot from one of the Bashams, picked up the belt and nailed him with it. Nick Patrick turned around and saw him with the belt in his hand and called for the bell. Booker and Eddie argued after the match and Guerrero left. Booker got beat down by the Bashams and Jordan but Eddie returned for the save.
Big Show was shown backstage waiting by the door for Kurt Angle to arrive.
Miss Jackie and Dawn Marie were brought out to shoot some t-shirts into the crowd.
Scotty Too Hotty b Akio in a Royal Rumble Qualifier with the Worm.
Carlito Carribean Cool came out and had people at ringside sign a petition. He claimed Theodore Long was responsible for what happened to Joy Giovanni and for his arm being in a sling. This brought out Heidenreich who signed the petition. He said he did not want to wrestle The Undertaker in a casket match at the Royal Rumble. The lights went out and the gong sounded. An Undertaker promo aired, the standard pre-casket match routine we’ve heard many times before. Heidenreich exited by the crowd.
Show heard someone coming and grabbed a chair but it was only two anonymous women from the Dive Search.
John Cena promo hyping his Royal Rumble Qualifier with Renee Dupree.
John Cena b Rene Dupree with the FU to enter the Royal Rumble. Kenzo Suzuki jumped him after the match. They later showed a SmackDown! graphic with the two of them on it. I gather they will meet next week for the US Title. Cena was wearing a Montreal Canadiens Jersey and got a big pop. Rene Dupree also got a pop.
Big Show was shown still waiting for Kurt Angle. Bradshaw walked up to the Big Show and told him to be allies and take out Kurt Angle. He explained to him that if they take out Kurt Angle, then it would be Big Show vs. JBL for the WWE title instead of Kurt Angle getting the title shot. Big Show told JBL that it was the smartest thing he had ever heard him say. They both agreed.
Rey Mysterio b Chavo Guerrero with the 619 in a Royal Rumble Qualifier.
Kurt Angle came out from the crowd and called out Joy. He started to somewhat apologize, then Angle called out the Big Show. Angle read an apology off a piece of paper. Angle walked out of the ring as soon as Big Show entered the ring. Then Bradshaw, Orlando Jordan and The Basham Brothers came out to trap Kurt Angle so he won’t escape. JBL tells Kurt Angle “You’re going to get what you deserve and I will get what I deserve.” They ran in the ring and all attacked the Big Show, revealing it was all a setup. Then Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak came out to help on the attack against the Big Show. They brought out a stretcher but Big Show refused medical attention.
Show goes off the air.
Dark Main Event:
Undertaker b JBL & Orlando Jordan in a casket match. Taker was the most over guy on the show.
