Columbus, Ohio
Commentators: Michael Cole & Tazz
SmackDown! Report
Kurt Angle's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the General Manager of Smackdown!. Kurt Angle got in the ring and he said that as all of you know, last week he made the ultimate sacrifice. He set aside his wrestling career and championship aspirations to become the new General Manager of Smackdown!. Not only did he do it for the greater good of this show, he did it for all the Smackdown! fans as well. And if his first week as the General Manager is any indication, he thinks it's safe to say that he's on his way to building a bigger, better Smackdown!. Oh it's true. But he can't do it alone, oh no. That is why tonight, he's looking for someone special. Someone in that Smackdown! locker room who has the ability to step up and take charge; to be a role model and a hero just like him. What he's looking for is a great American. Someone who has what it takes to win this; Kurt Angle revealed a trophy in the ring and it is the Kurt Angle Great American Award. Whoever wins this award exemplifies what a role model and hero should be. And obviously, Eddie Guerrero does not qualify. (boos) Kurt said there's a reason he doesn't qualify. Not only does the winner exemplify a great American, but the winner receives something much more and that's the opportunity to be the number one contender for the WWE Championship. You see as the General Manager of Smackdown!, Kurt put together a series of matches tonight and the winners of these matches will become the official nominees of this prestigious award. So, wrestlers good luck and make Kurt Angle proud.
Great American Nominee Award Match
The Big Show vs. Rikishi
The first of these matches will begin right now. The Big Show's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring and his opponent is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions, Rikishi!
Rikishi and The Big Show exchanged right hands at the start of the match and Rikishi went to whip The Big Show off the ropes but Big Show stopped himself and then he whipped Rikishi off the ropes and knocked him down to the mat with a shoulder block.
Rikishi hit The Big Show with a super kick and Big Show remained on his feet and Rikishi hit him with another one to send him down to the corner. Rikishi then gave The Big Show the stink face until Big Show shoved Rikishi out of the corner down to the mat.
Rikishi charged at The Big Show in the corner and The Big Show caught Rikishi by the throat and gave him the choke slam and a pin for the three count to get the win.
Winner - The Big Show
Earlier tonight: Bradshaw was shown pulling up to the arena in a limo with longhorns on the hood of the vehicle. The limo driver opened the door for Bradshaw and Bradshaw asked the guy where the hell did he learn how to drive? We have laws here and you don't just drive however you want. The driver, who couldn't speak English, said something in another language. Bradshaw yelled at him for not speaking English and poked fun at him.
Rey Mysterio and Spike Dudley vs. Chavo, Sr. and Chavo, Jr.
The music of Rey Mysterio hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a tag team contest with Spike Dudley against the tag team duo of Chavo Guerrero, Sr. and the WWE Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero started it off in the ring and the two locked it up and Chavo took Rey down to the mat with a waist lock and Rey countered it into a hammer lock until Chavo Guerrero nailed Rey Mysterio in the head with a reverse elbow.
Rey Mysterio went for a springboard moonsault but Chavo Guerrero caught him and then Rey quickly took Chavo Guerrero down to the mat to make the escape.
Rey Mysterio went for the 619 on Chavo, Sr. but Chavo, Jr. got in the ring and knocked Rey to the outside of the ring with a clothesline.
Spike Dudley caught Chavo, Jr. and gave him the Dudley Dog, stepping on Chavo, Sr. in the process and then he pinned Chavo, Jr. for the three count after the Dudley Dog to pick up the victory!
Winners - Rey Mysterio and Spike Dudley
As Mysterio and Spike Dudley celebrated their win, Bradshaw hit the ring and laid into both Mysterio and Spike Dudley and the fans chanted "you suck, you suck" at John Bradshaw Layfield as he posed on the ropes to further anger the fans.
Great American Award Nominee Match
Rob Van Dam vs. Charlie Haas
Rob Van Dam's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a Great American Award Nominee Match against Charlie Haas in a rematch from last week's edition of Smackdown! when Rob Van Dam pulled off the victory against Haas.
Rob Van Dam and Charlie Haas locked it up in the center of the ring and Charlie put Rob in a waist lock and then he took him down to the mat and went right into a front face lock and Rob Van Dam fought out of it and scared Charlie into the corner.
A frustrated Charlie Haas threatened to use a steel chair on Rob Van Dam but the referee convinced him not to use it.
Charlie Haas grabbed Rob Van Dam by the leg and pulled him towards the ring post and then he slammed his leg left into the ring post a couple times.
Rob Van Dam knocked Haas down to the mat and then he hit him with the rolling thunder and pinned him for a two count. RVD then backed Haas into the corner and hit him with a forearm and then some shoulder blocks to the mid section.
Rob Van Dam went to the top rope and went for the frog splash but Charlie Haas rolled out of the way to send RVD crashing down to the mat. Haas then charged at RVD but RVD dumped him over the top rope with a drop kick and then RVD knocked Haas down to the mats next to the steel chair with a baseball slide.
Charlie Haas grabbed the steel chair and lifted it up into the head of Rob Van Dam as Rob came over the top rope with a high cross body, crashing into the steel chair. With both men down on the outside of the ring, the referee started the count and counted both men out of the ring.
Kurt Angle came out and said that's not going to cut it. This is Smackdown! where there are winners and losers and when a decision can't be reached, the next logical step is to determine who was ahead on points. Kurt Angle watched the match and it's obvious to him who is clearly ahead on points. The next nominee for the Kurt Angle Great American Award and the winner of this match is Charlie Haas!
Winner - Charlie Haas
A pumped up Charlie Haas celebrated his win on the outside of the ring as Rob Van Dam was noticeably upset at Kurt Angle's decision.
Backstage: Booker T was shown with Kurt Angle and Booker said that he's not feeling it at all. Kurt tried to tell Booker how important he is. He's a five time WCW Champion and a prime time player. All Kurt wants to know is what can he do to make Booker happy? Booker said he gets no respect around here. Last week, the Smackdown! audience booed him and that's the first time that ever happened. Everyone knows that he's the biggest thing that ever hit Smackdown!. Booker didn't do anything but tell the truth and Eddie Guerrero attacked him. Eddie Guerrero is a minor league player and if Booker T was the WWE Champion, the whole world would have a Champion we could be proud of. Kurt said that he can't agree with Booker on everything, but he agrees with his passion and he's going to make a great WWE Champion. Which is why tonight, Kurt is going to put him in a match. If he wins that match tonight, he is going to be a nominee for the Kurt Angle Great American Award and not only that, he'll have the chance to become the number one contender for the WWE Championship. Remember the guy that got in your face on Smackdown! last week? Kurt is going to do a major favor tonight because he just made the list; it's Booker T vs. Hardcore Holly and that's next.
Great American Award Nominee Match
Booker T vs. Hardcore Holly
Booker T's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a one on one match against Hardcore Holly and this is yet another Great American Award Nominee Match!
Hardcore Holly and Booker T exchanged words and then the two locked it up and Booker gave Holly a knee to the mid section and then a clubbing blow to the back of the head and then some right hands and chops right into the corner.
Booker T gave Hardcore Holly a clothesline to knock himself and Holly over the top rope to the arena floor.
Booker T kicked Hardcore Holly in the face to knock him to the outside of the ring and then Booker got out of the ring and rearranged the steel steps. Booker grabbed Holly and went to suplex Holly onto the steel steps but Holly countered it into a suplex of his own on the arena floor.
Booker T rolled Holly up for a two count and then he knocked Holly down with a super kick and then a pin for another two count.
Booker T planted Holly with the Book End and then he covered him but only got a two count as Hardcore Holly was somehow able to kick out.
Hardcore Holly went for a power slam but Booker T got out of it and he rolled Holly up, hooking the tights to pick up the victory.
Winner - Booker T
The Dudley Boyz vs. Akio and Sakoda
The music of the Dudley Boyz hit in the arena and they made their way out to the ring for a tag team contest against Akio and Sakoda.
Bubba Ray and Sakoda started it off in the ring and the two locked it up and Bubba went behind Sakoda and then he put him in a side headlock and Sakoda battled out of it with a couple shots to the mid section and then a whip off the ropes and Bubba Ray Dudley came back with a hard shoulder knock down to send Sakoda down to the mat.
The Dudley Boyz hit Akio with the 3D and then D-Von covered him for the three count to pick up the win!
Winners - The Dudley Boyz
Spike Dudley was shown backstage with an ice pack on his neck and the Dudleys showed up and started talking. Theodore Long showed up and said that they're all there to represent Smackdown! and it's a brand new start. Theodore asked for a new beginning because with a little advice from Theodore R. Long, he can take them all to the top, the land of the dollar bill. Theodore Long whipped out some playas cards and gave it to the Dudleys, but he didn't have one for Spike Dudley.
Backstage: Bradshaw's limo driver was shown polishing the limo and Eddie Guerrero pulled up in a bright orange low rider and the fans went nuts as he showed up at the arena. Eddie got out of the low rider and took a look at Bradshaw's limo and he greeted the limo driver and Eddie asked who's limo is this? The driver said that it's Bradshaw's limo and Eddie left, saying odelay.
Great American Award Nominee Handicap Match
John Cena vs. Johnny Stamboli and Nunzio
Rene Dupree's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring along with his dog Fifi. Dupree joined Michael Cole and Tazz for a bit of commentary during this next match, which is Nuznio and Johnny Stamboli against John Cena in a Handicap Match and this is a Great American Award Nominee Match! John Cena worked the mic prior to the match to anger Rene Dupree.
Johnny Stamboli started the match off in the ring against John Cena and the two exchanged words and Cena knocked Stamboli down with a hard right hand and then the two locked it up in the center of the ring. Stamboli put Cena in a hammer lock and then he gave him a shot to the back.
Johnny Stamboli and Nunzio went to spike piledriver Cena but Cena countered it with a slingshot to knock Nunzio down from the top rope.
John Cena grabbed Johnny Stamboli and planted him with the FU and then the pin for the three count to pick up the win.
Winner - John Cena
John Cena got out of the ring and he taunted Rene Dupree who was very protective of his dog, Fifi.
Kurt Angle was shown backstage and he said that it looks like we have four nominees for the Kurt Angle Great American Award and all four of them want to be the winner and number one contender for the WWE Championship. Kurt said speaking of Championships, he wants to see Eddie Guerrero in the ring because he has a major announcement that effects him, next!
Kurt Angle's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the General Manager of Smackdown!. Kurt took the mic and said that he is pretty impressed with the Smackdown! locker room tonight. Obviously, Triple H wouldn't have made it five seconds here. Kurt is glad he traded him. Anyway, the first annual Kurt Angle Great American Award winner will be announced next week on Smackdown!. And since he values the Smackdown! fans, he is giving them the power to vote for the winner. You can vote on wwe.com up until midnight on Monday. Remember, not only does the winner receive this award but he will also be the number one contender to face Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Championship. You know, the more Eddie Guerrero lies, cheats and steals, the more he desecrates this country.
Eddie Guerrero's music hit in the arena and he drove his low rider into the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the WWE Champion and he stood face to face with Kurt Angle. Kurt started to say something but Eddie Guerrero took the mic right from him before he could speak. Kurt requested another microphone and he got one. Kurt said that as he was saying, he doesn't appreciate... Eddie cut him off, saying odelay, holmes. Eddie said that he knows Kurt is the General Manager now, but he has a question. If Eddie Guerrero is such a threat to Kurt Angle, Smackdown! and to the entire country, why doesn't Kurt Angle just do something about it right here, right now. Kurt said that he is the General Manager and that he is not going to fight Eddie because he's something that Eddie will never be; responsible. Kurt wanted Eddie to come out here because he wants to introduce him to someone that all of these fans can be proud of. Eddie asked who it is and Kurt told him to hold on a second there. He's a man that clotheslined Eddie Guerrero to hell last week on Smackdown!. As a matter a fact, he is now the fifth and final nominee for the Kurt Angle Great American Award and that's none other than John Bradshaw Layfield. Bradshaw's music then hit in the arena and he rode out into the arena in his limo and he popped out of the back of it with a smirk on his face. Bradshaw climbed to the top of the limo and he told Kurt that he is honored to be nominated for the Great American Award. And he's sure of one thing and that is that he is a shoe in for this award because who better to represent America than the essence of success in America, Bradshaw? Bradshaw grew up in a small town of Sweetwater, Texas and he went to the local college and then played pro football. He left that town and state to go to the place he called home, the greatest city in the world, New York City. He now lives in Central Park and he now makes more in a week than most people make in a year. And he has earned every dime. He has inherited nothing and he has not been given anything. What greater success stories are there in America than him? He is an author of a book and on May 1st, he becomes a radio talk show host. He works on network TV as a financial political analyst and he talks about America. You can see him this week at 11:30am EST on Fox News. Bradshaw promised that you'll learn something this Saturday morning. Bradshaw then said "I'll be damned, it's Eddie Guerrero" as if to say he didn't know Eddie was out there. Bradshaw said that he sees how hot headed Eddie is and he mentioned last week and how it was just business. It had nothing to do with Eddie Guerrero, its business and that is how you make an impact. Bradshaw told Eddie that he has something he wants and what he wants, he gets. And no, it's not Eddie's little car, it's the WWE Championship that he has right there on his shoulder. He wants it and he's going to take it from him. You can call it a hostile takeover or whatever you want, but Eddie has no choice in this matter. He's taking the Championship and there's nothing Eddie can do about it. Understand this; impact players make impacts and this isn't personal, it's just business.
Eddie Guerrero said that in that case, he'll make it personal. Eddie Guerrero then got out of the ring and went over to Bradshaw's limo and tried to get at Bradshaw but Bradshaw got back inside the limo to get away from Eddie Guerrero. Eddie took Bradshaw's hat and Bradshaw said that's a thousand dollar hat and he wants it back. Eddie challenged Bradshaw to come back and get it and Bradshaw said that he's in a three thousand dollar suit. Eddie poked fun at the size of Bradshaw's hat and then he treated the hat like crap to further anger Bradshaw. Eddie got the fans to pour things into Bradshaw's hat from food to water to beer to soda. Eddie Guerrero then brought the hat in the ring and set it down and stomped away on it to destroy it and Bradshaw was pissed off but he didn't get out of the limo to do anything about it. The show ended with Bradshaw telling Eddie Guerrero that he's going to pay for this as Eddie Guerrero tossed the hat to the crowd.
Credit: WrestlingAttitude.com