|Date: May 22, 2005
|Venue: Target Center |City: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|Attendance: 12, 000 |Buys: 260, 000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Judgment Day has finally arrived for many of the Smackdown superstars. On the poster is WWE Champion John Cena and tonight he will be defending his title against number one contender John “Bradshaw” Layfield. Layfield made the mistake of not putting a rematch clause in his contract but his fortunes would change as he first beat Rey Mysterio and then won a fatal four way match against Booker T, Kurt Angle and The Big Show to become number one contender. John Cena has unveiled his own brand new spinning WWE Championship something Layfield has taken offence to. JBL has been carrying the previous WWE Championship title ever since whilst Cena carries the official title. Cena challenged JBL to an I Quit match at Judgment Day, a match Layfield accepted. Ever since then JBL has made an example of the likes of Scotty 2 Hotty, making them say “I Quit” as he prepares for his WWE title match.

Another big match set for tonight is between former friends Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. This one has been brewing for a while, first with Chavo Guerrero stirring the pot and making trouble between Eddie and Mysterio. Mysterio has beat Eddie in every match they have wrestled, including their big match at Wrestlemania. Eddie and Mysterio lost their WWE Tag Team Championships to newcomers MNM after Eddie leftMysterio to wrestle the match on his own. Eddie would finally turn heel the week after, attacking Mysterio, suplexing him on the ring steps and leaving him a bloody mess. Teddy Long made the match between the two for Judgment Day.

The other heavily hyped match for the show is between Booker T and Kurt Angle. I’m not going to lie, this is the most bizarre rivalry WWE has seen in a long long time. It started with the two men costing each other a WWE title shot in a fatal four way match. That’s fine. Kurt then started calling Booker T’s wife Sharmell a “gutterslut”. And this is where it got out of hand. Kurt then admitted to wanting to have “beastiality” sex with Sharmell. He’s managed to get her alone since then and claimed she touched him inappropriately. This whole thing is weird. But they meet tonight. Carlito returns to PPV tonight. He asked Big Show to be his bodyguard and Show turned him down and stole his apple. After Big Show ate the apple, he started foaming at the mouth as Carlito had poisoned it. Carlito then got a new bodyguard in Matt Morgan who attack The Big Show. A match was then made between Carlito and Big Show for Judgment Day.

There are a few more title matches scheduled for tonight. Paul London and chavo Guerrero have had their problems for a few months and it was Chavo who London won the Cruiserweight Championship from, albeit in a battle royal. Chavo gets his rematch tonight. MNM are to defend the WWE Tag Team Championships they won from Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio against Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas. And Orlando Jordan defends his United States Championship against the man that beat him on Smackdown last week, Heidenreich.

On Heat prior to the show Nunzio defeated Akio.

The show kicks off with a video package, first focusing on Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, then Kurt Angle and Booker T and finally John Cena and John “Bradshaw” Layfield.

MNM (Johnny Nitro & Joey Mercury) (c) vs. Hardcore Holly & Charlie Haas – WWE Tag Team Championship Match

Michael Cole welcomes us to the show as MNM’s theme music hits. Melina hypes up the tag team champions who walk down the aisle on a red carpet. Johnny Nitro has technically wrestled on pay per view before, under his real name in a bar brawl not long after he won Tough Enough. It’s a pay per view debut for Joey Mercury. Charlie Haas has a 1-1 record at Judgment Day PPV’s, Hardcore holly has a 0-1 record and at last years event, Charlie Haas and Rico actually defeated Hardcore Holly and Billy Gunn. Johnny Nitro and Charlie Haas kick off the match and it’s Haas with the takedown. Nitro applies a key-lock which Haas gets out of by arm-dragging Nitro out of the ring. Haas brings Nitro back into the ring and hits an armdrag for a one count. Haas tags in Holly who has now been in the WWE over 11 years. Nitro tags in Mercury who gets knocked down. Lots of reversals and counters that ends with a dropkick from Hardcore Holly. Holly then hits his trademark kick to the gut before taking a cheap shot at Nitro.

Mercury takes the advantage and hits a couple of chops but Hardcore then hits a couple of his own and they sound painful. Hardcore attempts his Alabama slam on Mercury but Nitro stops that from happening. Mercury tags in Nitro who hits a big knee to the gut. I like this Johnny Nitro, he looks the part and is decent in the ring too. He tags in Mercury who hits a neckbreaker for the first near fall of the night. Hardcore fights back with some chops but then runs into the boot of Mercury who follows that up with a clothesline. Mercury tags in Nitro who hits a big right hand and then chokes Holly with his boot. Nitro applies a chinlock which Holly gets out of with a snapmare. Hardcore then hits a full nelson slam and the fans break out in a “Holly” chant. Nitro tags in Mercury and Holly tags in Haas! Haas clears the ring of the tag team champions and then flies out on to both men with a suicide dive!

Back in the ring and Melina grabs Haas’ leg. Mercury tries to take advantage of the distraction but Haas rolls him up for a two count. Haas then hits an exploder suplex and all four men are in the ring. Holly misses with a shoulder charge in the corner which distracts the referee long enough for Mercury to kick out of a pinfall attempt from Haas. Nitro then hangs Haas on the top rope and MNM hit their finisher “The Snapshot” on Haas which is enough for the three! MNM win the match and retain their tag team championships tonight!

Rating: 6/10

We see some footage showing how the match between Carlito and Big Show came about. Carlito poisoned the big man!

The Big Show vs. Carlito

This is a first PPV match between these two men and also a first proper PPV match for Carlito! Carlito was involved in a Survivor Series match last year but ran away before the match even began. Carlito is joined by his bodyguard Matt Morgan. Big Show has wrestled 4 Judgment Day PPV matches before and he’s lost every one of them. He’s been beaten by Shane McMahon, Rhyno, Steve Austin and Brock Lesnar. Carlito gets on the mic before the match and defends his stuttering bodyguard Morgan before saying tonight he’ll be defeating The Big Show. Carlito looks to run away in the early going, diving out of the ring. Big Show has a terrible moustache at the moment. He grabs Carlito and tosses him into the corner before hitting him with some big chops and a headbutt. Matt Morgan distracts Big Show and Carlito tries to take advantage but Big Show fights him off and throws him across the ring. Show then hits another big chop and a powerslam. The big man bounces off the ropes but Matt Morgan pulls down the top rope and Big Show falls over the top to the outside where Morgan lays in some right hands.

Back in the ring and Carlito gets a near fall. Carlito then tries to keep Big Show grounded but Big Show keeps fighting him off. Show hits a headbutt, a clothesline and a couple of Irish whips before squashing Carlito in the corner. Big Show then accidentally throws Carlito into the referee, knocking the ref down. Carlito hits a low blow and then Big Show attempts his chokeslam but Marr Morgan gets in the ring and hits Big Show with a boot and then an F5! Morgan throws the referee back in the ring and Carlito covers Big Show and gets the 3! Carlito wins tonight with a lot of help from Matt Morgan! That’s 5 straight Judgment Day losses for The Big Show.

Rating: 4/10

There’s a video package next hyping the match between Kurt Angle and Booker T. It started with the two men costing each other a shot at the WWE Championship. Kurt then targeted Booker T’s wife, first calling her a gutterslut and then wanting to have sex with her. It truly is the most bizarre feud I have seen in years.

Backstage Sharmell are backstage with Sharmell motivating her husband. A delivery man then hands a gift to Sharmell, sexy underwear and handcuffs. Booker is fuming and heads off to find Kurt.

Paul London (c) vs. Chavo Guerrero – Cruiserweight Championship Match

This is a first singles match between these two men on PPV. Chavo has a 1-0 record at Judgment Day PPV’s as he beat Jacqueline last year but London makes his Judgment Day debut tonight. I like London, he’s a great Cruiserweight Champion. Chavo lays in some boots in the early going and some right hands. Guerrero then hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. It’s all Chavo in the early going as he lays into London with right hands before applying a key-lock. London starts to fight back with clotheslines and a standing hurricanrana for a two count. Chavo takes the advantage with uppercuts but London hits a mule kick and a dropsault before heading to the top and flying off with a 450 splash but Chavo gets his knees up. Chavo hits a side suplex for a near fall and then lays in some boots.

Chavo suplexes London on to the top rope and then kicks him in the ribs for a near fall. Chavo then applies an abdominal stretch which London gets out of. Chavo is right back to work with a hard Irish whip but London counters a suplex and hits a belly to belly. Chavo is first up though and the two men slug it out. Chavo attempts a back body drop but London lands on his feet and hits a spinning heel kick for a two count. London hits a flying forearm in the corner but misses with a second. Chavo attempts a clothesline but London ducks it and hits an enzeguri for a two count. Chavo rolls London up from nowhere and grabs onto the bottom rope but the Cruiserweight champion kicks out. Chavo attempts the gorybomb but London counters it and spinkicks Chavo down to the mat. London then climbs to the top but Chavo rolls out of the ring. London dives out of the ring and just about catches Chavo. Looks like he hurt himself more.

Chavo is first back in the ring and kicks London back out before hitting him with a suicide dive! London gets back in the ring and crotches Chavo on the top rope. London then backdrops Chavo to the mat below before hitting him with the 450 splash for the three! Paul London wins the match and retains his Cruiserweight championship tonight! Not a bad match between the two men but two very different styles.

Rating: 5.5/10

Booker T is backstage looking for Kurt Angle. He probably shouldn’t have left his wife alone. Funaki doesn’t know where Kurt is. Somebody is having a piss. Billy Kidman, Hardcore Holly and Shannon Moore haven’t seen Kurt either. We then see Sharmell backstage and Kurt Angle dives on top of her. Kurts music hits and it’s time for the match.

Booker T vs. Kurt Angle

Amazingly this is the first singles match between these two men on PPV. Kurt has a 1-2 record at Judgment Day PPV’s whilst Booker has a 0-2 record. Kurt would go joint with Bret Hart for PPV wins with 35 should he win this. Booker T goes right for Angle, laying into him with right hands and boots. Booker T hits his roundhouse kick but Kurt hits a boot of his own and then applies a front facelock. There’s no Sharmell at ringside for this match. Booker hits some chops in the corner but Kurt, who is bleeding from the mouth, hits an uppercut. Angle hits a snapmare and then applies a sleeper. Booker gets out of it and hits a hiptoss and then drops Kurt on the top rope. Booker T hits a snapmare of his own and then a basement dropkick. Kurt from nowhere tries to apply the ankle lock but Booker T kicks him off. Booker then drops Kurt Angle on the top rope and follows it up with a scissors kick on the top rope, sending Kurt to the outside. Booker hits some chops on the outside but Kurt reverses an Irish whip, sending Booker into the ring post.

Back in the ring and Kurt hits a few knees to the face before dropping an elbow and hitting an uppercut. Kurt hits a suplex for a two count and then applies a body-scissors. Booker gets out of it with lefts and rights but then misses with a big kick which allows Angle to hits a back suplex for a near fall. Kurt hits some right hands and uppercuts before laying in some boots. Angle hits a backbreaker for a near fall and then applies a reverse gut-wrench. Booker fights out of it and hits a spinning heel kick and both men are down. Kurt is bleeding from the head now. Booker hits some chops and a flying forearm before hitting a clothesline and a suplex for a two count. Booker hits a superkick and tries for his scissors kick but Kurt gets out of the way. Kurt attempts the Angle slam but Booker nips down and hits the book end! Booker hooks the leg but Kurt kicks out at 2! Booker gives us a spin-er-oonie and then tries for his scissors kick but Angle counters it. Kurt hits two consecutive German suplexes and then a belly to belly suplex for a near fall.

Angle tries for the Angle slam but Booker counters it and rolls Kurt up for the three! There looks to be a bit of confusion, was there a botch? Kurt attacks booker after the match, hitting him with an Angle slam as Sharmell runs out to the ring. Kurt disposes of Booker and grabs Sharmell. He looks to handcuff her to the ropes but Booker T makes the save and handcuffs Angle to the top rope! Booker T then lays into a defenceless Kurt Angle. Sharmell lays in some slaps of her own and a low blow!

Rating: 6.75/10

They show Roberto Duran at ringside who apparently quit a boxing match once.

We see Tazz’s keys to victory (in the I Quit match). Start well, be persistent and don’t quit. Great advice Tazz.

Orlando Jordan (c) vs. Heidenreich – United States Championship Match

It’s a first PPV match between these two men who both make their Judgment Day debuts tonight. Heidenreich beat Orlando Jordan in a non-title match on Smackdown last week so gets his title shot tonight. Heidenreich gets on the mic before the match and wants to find a new friend. Heidenreich marches around the ring and finds a friend, a little girl. Bit weird this. He then takes the child away to read her a poem. Very very weird. Jordan hits Heidenreich with a baseball slide and then throws him back into the ring where he lays in some boots. Orlando goes up to the middle rope and kicks Heidenreich who catches him with a belly to belly for a near fall. Orlando throws Heidenreich out of the ring and talks smack at the young girl. Heidenreich hits some right hands and rolls Jordan back into the ring. Jordan takes the advantage with a back suplex for a two count. Jordan then applies a neck vice and keeps Heidenreich grounded with a knee.

Jordan hits some boots to the side of Heidenreichs head but Heidenreich starts marching and then hits some lefts and rights of his own. Heidenreich hits a couple of clotheslines and a back body drop before hitting a big boot for a near fall. Jordan hits a couple of boots and a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Heidenreich rolls Jordan up for a near fall but Jordan hits a DDT which is enough for the three. It’s not often you see a DDT end a match. Not a great match but not the worst I’ve ever seen. The little girl helps Heidenreich up to his feet after the match.

Rating: 3.5/10

Backstage Josh Mathews is with John “Bradshaw” Layfield. Layfield says that lives will be broken in tonights fight. Bradshaw cuts a good promo and says that Cena will be covered in blood tonight.

There’s a video package next for Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero.

Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero

This is the second PPV match between these two men. Mysterio won the previous match at Wrestlemania. Eddie has a 3-1 record at Judgment Day PPV’s whilst Mysterio has a 1-0 record. Eddie has been so good as a heel so far and he’s given Mysterio a great rub at the same time. Guerrero lays into Mysterio with right hands and chops in the early going and then hits some knees. Mysterio knocks Eddie down and then hits some boots of his own. Eddie exits the ring and Rey goes after him but Guerrero hits a knee and then throws Rey into the ring steps. Guerrero throws Rey into the ring to break the referees count before pulling him back out and throwing him into the ringpost. Guerrero then spinebusters Mysterio into the announce table. Guerrero hits another spinebuster onto the announce table and then throws Mysterio back into the ring. Back in the ring and Eddie hits right hands, boots and a dropkick for a near fall. Guerrero hits a side suplex for a two count and then straight away hooks on a side headlock. Guerrero applies an abdominal stretch to Mysterio who screams in agony.

Mysterio gets out of the abdominal stretch but Guerrero takes him right back down with an inverted powerbomb. Guerrero lays in some more boots and then applies a single leg Boston crab. Mysterio gets out of it and takes Eddie down with an enzeguri. Both men get to their feet and Mysterio hits a monkey flip and then a springboard headbutt for a two count. The two men slug it out and it’s advantage Guerrero after he hits a dropkick to Mysterio’s knees. Guerrero then applies a Boston crab similar to a walls of Jericho before sitting down on it. Guerrero then applies an STF which Mysterio gets out of by getting to the ropes. Guerrero throws Mysterio out of the ring under the bottom rope and then sets up the ring steps for something. Mysterio tries to fight Eddie off but can’t and so Eddie tries for a brainbuster on the steps but Mysterio pushes him into the ringpost. Mysterio then hits a 619 around the ringpost! Mysterio throws Guerrero back into the ring and the two men slug it out again. Mysterio knocks Eddie down with a running boots, two clotheslines and a springboard cross body for a two count. Mysterio hits a spinning heel kick and then rolls out to the apron where he hits a seated senton for a close two count.

Mysterio hits some lefts and rights but misses with a shoulder charge in the corner. Guerrero hits a superplex from the top rope and both men are down. Mysterio kicks out of three consecutive pinfalls. Mysterio hits a drop toe hold onto the middle rope but out comes Chavo Guerrero! Chavo distracts the referee and Eddie exits the ring and grabs a chair! Mysterio dropkicks Eddie as he re-enters the ring and then hits a drop toe hold onto the middle rope! Mysterio dropkicks Chavo off the apron and then hits Eddie with the 619! Mysterio tries for the west coast pop but Eddie swings the chair at Rey! The referee sees it and disqualifies Guerrero! Mysterio wins the match but Eddie doesn’t care. Eddie smashes Mysterio with the chair a few more times and then screams “who’s your daddy”. Great match between these two.

Rating: 7.25/10

There’s a video package up next for John Cena and John “Bradshaw” Layfield’s I Quit match.

John Cena (c) vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield – I Quit match for the WWE Championship

This is a re-match from Wrestlemania XXI where John Cena beat Layfield for the WWE Championship. Both men have fought on two Judgment Day PPV’s before, Bradshaw has a 1-1 record whilst Cena has a 2-0 record. Layfield makes his entrance in his limo but Cena comes out on the back of a huge track with somebody spinning decks and re-mixes his entrance theme. It’s a really impressive entrance to be honest. The two men lock up and try to out-power each other in the early going. Cena hits a headlock takedown but Bradshaw knocks him down with a shoulder barge. Cena hits a suplex but JBL fights back with some chops and then a DDT. Cena hits a back body drop and then clotheslines JBL out of the ring. Cena follows and smashes Layfield into the ring steps but JBL reverses an Irish whip and sends Cena into the crowd! The two men fight into the crowd where JBL hits a DDT. They fight back to the ringside area where Layfield asks Cena if he quits before throwing him into the ring steps.

Layfield grabs timekeepers belt and then chokes Cena with it around the ringpost. Cena manages to force Layfield into the ringpost but can’t keep the advantage. JBL takes the announce table apart but Cena back body drops Layfield through it! Cena then clobbers Layfield with a monitor before throwing the challenger over the announce table. JBL grabs a chair and smashes Cena with it which slows down the action. Layfield grabs the ring steps and smashes them into Cena’s face and Cena is now a bloody mess. I’m not sure it’s real blood to tell you the truth. Looks a weird colour and there’s way too much of it. Back in the ring and JBL hits three big clotheslines. Layfield then grabs Cena’s chain and chokes Cena with it. Cena fights back with clotheslines of his own and then a hiptoss and a 5 knuckle shuffle. JBL exits the ring and heads to the back but Cena is in pursuit. Cena smashes Layfield into the limo before suplexing him onto the hood. Layfield hits a thumb to the eye and then hits Cena with a neckbreaker on the hood.

JBL grabs some cable and chokes Cena with it in the technical area. Cena refuses to quit, manages to escape from the cable and then throws JBL through a TV set. Bradshaw is now bleeding from the face although I’m not sure how much glass was in that tv set. Cena throws Layfield into the window of the limo and the two men then battle on top of the limo when Cena hits JBL with a suplex on the roof of it. JBL tries to crawl into the limo but Cena grabs him and throws him into the open door. Cena does it again, probably because the door didn’t come off the hinges. It doesn’t the second time either so Cena kicks the door off. Cena then throws JBL onto the back of the lorry he came in on but Layfield hits him with a DDT. JBL climbs on top of a speaker and chokes Cena with some cable but Cena beats Layfield with a microphone and Layfield falls off the speaker and falls through a table. Cena then grabs a pipe off the top of the truck but Layfield grabs the mic and shouts “I Quit”! This one is over! Cena retains his WWE Championship tonight. Layfield thinks he’s out-smarted Cena but the champion runs at Layfield with the pipe anyway, sending him through some glass signs. Cena wins tonight though in his first PPV defence of his title.

Rating: 7.75/10

Well that didn’t feel like a terrible show, it seemed like a much better show than last years terrible event. The tag team title match that kicked off the show was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. MNM are two talented guys, I am a big fan of this team. Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas not so much but Holly was really over in this match. The Smackdown tag team division is pretty terrible at the moment, they could really do with some new teams. MNM aren’t completely polished yet but they’re not far off. No idea who steps up to challenge them next as there are no other teams besides The Bashams. Carlito beat The Big Show after Matt Morgan got involved and F5’d the big man. This might be the end of this feud or it may be a way or transitioning into a Big Show/Matt Morgan feud. I guess we’ll find out!

Paul London beat Chavo Guerrero cleanly which should put an end to this feud. It was a clash of styles with the high-flying Paul London against the mat based Chavo Guerrero. I like that London won, there are plenty more competitors in that division with Akio, Nunzio, Billy Kidman, Funaki, Shannon Moore etc etc. I wouldn’t mind seeing London and Shannon Moore actually. Booker T beat Kurt Angle with a roll up which looked like a botch. There was a big pause and Angle looked a bit confused. But Booker won and he and Sharmell laid in the boots and slaps to Kurt after the match. I am hoping this feud is over which is a shame because I like both of these men and they actually have a lot of chemistry. It’s just the weird direction this feud has taken was completely unnecessary. Orlando Jordan beat Heidenreich in a not so memorable match. I hate this Heidenreich rubbish. I preferred him as a heel. There’s no need for this rivalry to continue but the United States Championship does need a shot in the arm and that probably means taking it off Orlando and putting it on somebody like Booker T.

I really liked the finish to Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio. This feud is the best thing on smackdown right now and needs to continue so this was the perfect way to do this. Eddie loses by DQ but leaves the match looking strong. These two put on good matches and Eddie’s promos have been phenomenal as of late so please keep this going. This should run all the way to Summerslam. It also elevates Rey Mysterio from Cruiserweight/tag team guy to upper midcarder. In the main event John Cena beat JBL in another finish I really liked. Layfield came across like an absolute quitter which is perfect for his character. He still got his comeuppance which is what the fans wanted to see but it’s Cena that leaves with the title. This will probably be the end of this feud. The draft is coming up so I suspect this’ll be the end of this rivalry. It’ll be interesting to see what Layfield is up to now he’s no longer in the championship picture. Overall a decent show, perfectly watchable with all the talent in the right place.

Overall Rating: 58.2/100 (ranked joint 85th out of 179)

Match Of The Night: John Cena vs. John “Bradshaw” Layfield
Worst Match Of The Night: Orlando Jordan vs. Heidenreich
Surprise Of The Night: An abrupt end to Booker T & Kurt Angle?
Worst Booking Of The Night: N/A
Superstar Of The Night: John Cena
Judgment Day 2005 Will Be Remembered For: The brutal I Quit match