Report by: pwinsider.com
Smackdown for July 21st opened with a video hyping the upcoming Great American Bash PPV main event of World Champion Batista vs. JBL. It was then announced that JBL would be having his victory speech for this Sunday's match tonight, showing that he was confident he would win.
Rey Mysterio vs. Super Crazy, with Juventud & Psicosis. Rey started off with an armwringer, but Crazy tripped out, only to be armdragged by Rey. They did a test of strength, with Crazy tripping Rey to the mat, but Rey bridged up, going into a bodyscissors and then an armdrag. Crazy applied a hammerlock, and Rey tried to roll out, but Crazy maintained the hold. Rey flipped over Crazy into a reverse rana, but Crazy hit a dropkick for two. Rey tripped Crazy to set up a 619, but Crazy bailed out to the floor. When Crazy got back in, Juventud and Psicosis interfered to give Crazy an advantage. Crazy stood on Rey's head as it was across the top turnbuckle. Crazy missed a charge and ran shoulder first into the ringpost. Eddie Guerrero walked down the aisle, stopping Rey in his tracks, as they went to commercial.
Back from break, Eddie Guerrero had joined the announcers and was explaining that he only wanted what was best for Rey, as Mysterio got a two count on Crazy with a moonsault. Crazy reversed a rana attempt into a reverse powerbomb. Guerrero said that manipulation was his "new addiction". Crazy hit a dropkick to Rey's face for two. Tazz tried to find out why Guerrero was doing this to Rey, and Guerrero told him to shut up. Rey went to the ropes after elbowing Crazy, but Crazy stopped him and went up for an Electric Chair, but Rey turned it into a Victory Roll, but Crazy blocked that and applied a Rocking Horse. Crazy then moved into a surfboard. Rey came back with a spinkick, while Guerrero continued to snap at Tazz and Michael Cole when they would point out that Guerrero was doing this for himself, not to help Rey. Crazy hit a gutbuster for two, and then applied an abdominal stretch on the mat. Rey elbowed out, and Crazy rammed Rey into the ringpost and then slammed him.
Crazy went for a springboard moonsault, but Rey moved and Crazy crashed to the mat. Rey hit some kicked to the leg and a springboard bodyblock for a two count. Rey used a headscissors to send Crazy into the middle turnbuckle. Rey went to the apron, but missed a shoulderblock and Crazy legdropped him between the ropes. Crazy then hit a springboard moonsault for a two count. Rey blocked a flapjack attempt with a rana to set up Super Crazy for a 619. Guerrero ran into the ring, grabbing a rake that Psicosis came out with, and broke the rake over Mysterio's back. The referee called for the DQ at the 18 minute mark. Winner via DQ: Rey Mysterio.
Eddie stared at the downed Rey, then walked off to the back.
A vignette "paid for by friends of JBL" compared JBL to George Washington, saying both were "great Americans".
Backstage, General Manager Theodore R. Long intercepted Eddie Guerrero, who was on his way out of the building. Guerrero bragged about how he was going to beat Rey Mysterio at the Great American Bash, and reveal Rey's secret. Long informed Guerrero that he has a match tonight, and Guerrero complained that his gear was in the car. Long told him to get his gear, because he has a match tonight. Guerrero wanted to know who he was facing, and Long said "it's a secret" and laughed as he walked away.
Josh Mathews interviewed Christian, who had them show footage of him beating Booker T with the Unprettier last week, but didn't show his pre-match attack. Mathews asked Christian if he was worried about angering Booker T. Christian showed no fear, saying he is the only man in recent memory to main event Raw and Smackdown. Christian kept referring to Mathews as "Ryan Secrest". Christian said Booker would be a "two-time, two-time, loser" at the Bash.
Road Warrior Animal was getting ready for a match, when Heidenreich came in and read him a poem, making several references to the late Road Warrior Hawk. Animal laughed and said Heidenreich was "more like Hawk" than he thought. As Animal walked off, Heidenreich kept saying "What a rush" to himself.
A vignette "paid for by friends of JBL" compared JBL to Neil Armstrong, saying both were "great Americans".
Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich vs. Nick Berk & Julio Dinero. This was like a classic Road Warrior squash, with Dinero being clotheslined and Berk powerslammed. Dinero was tossed to the floor, and Berk was given the Doomsday Device for the win in under a minute. MNM watched the carnage from a monitor in the back. Winners: Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich
The Raw Rebound, focusing on Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan, was shown.
Eddie Guerrero came to the ring to face his "secret" opponent. Eddie acted confident, until he heard Chris Benoit's music hit. Guerrero started to leave, and Benoit (who had a bandage on the back of his neck), called him back to the ring. Guerrero said he didn't want to wrestle him. Benoit said he was one of Guerrero's best friends "at one time". Benoit said he wanted to know why Eddie was lashing out at people. Benoit said he wanted to know what was going on. Eddie tried to leave, but Benoit stopped him. Benoit tried to talk to Eddie, but Eddie decked him with a right hand, and the referee called for the bell to start the match.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit. Eddie hit a suplex, then went outside and grabbed a chair. Referee Nick Patrick took the chair away from him, and Guerrero hit Benoit with a low blow for a two count. Guerrero choked Benoit against the middle rope and stomped him. Guerrero whipped Benoit hard into a corner. Benoit fired off a chop, but Guerrero poked him in the eyes. Guerrero raked his boot across Benoit's face. Benoit whipped Guerrero into the corner and hit a released German suplex. Both men were down at they went to break.
Back from commercial, Benoit was working over Guerrero with knees in the corner, but Guerrero dropkicked Benoit's leg out from under him. Guerrero dragged Benoit by the leg to the ring apron and slammed the leg into the ringpost twice. Guerrero rammed Benoit into the announcers table three times, then tossed him back into the ring and hit a slingshot somersault senton for a two count. Guerrero elbowdropped Benoit's knee and applied a leglock. Benoit headbutted out of it, and Guerrero dropkicked the bad leg and applied a leglace. Benoit rolled to the ropes to force a break. Guerrero kicked at the weakened leg, then applied a standing toe hold. Benoit rolled through it, and went for a Sharpshooter, but Guerrero tripped out of it. Guerrero kicked at the leg, then went back to the leglace. Guerrero then switched to an STF, but Benoit blocked the facelock and grabbed the ropes to force a break.
Guerrero delivered a back suplex, and the bandage on Benoit's neck fell off. Guerrero went to the top rope, but Benoit stopped him and delivered several chops. They battled on the ropes, with Benoit hitting several headbutts. They struggled on the ropes, with Benoit finally delivering a top rope superplex. Benoit was bleeding from the headbutts he had given Guerrero. Benoit, limping, went to the top rope for the diving headbutt, but Guerrero rolled out of the way. Guerrero rammed Benoit into the top turnbuckle, then delivered a pair of chops. He missed a third chop, and Benoit unloaded with two of his own. Guerrero staggered away from Benoit, but Benoit hit another chop, a knee to the gut, and another chop. Eddie dropped to his knees and begged off, then poked Benoit in the eyes. Guerrero went for a chop, but Benoit moved and hit his own chop. Benoit then hit three consecutive German suplexes. Benoit went to the top rope and hit the diving headbutt. Benoit covered, but Guerrero got his foot on the bottom rope. Benoit went for the legs of Guerrero, but Guerrero kept kicking Benoit away. Benoit finally got the legs and pulled Guerrero off the ropes and into the center of the ring. Benoit went for the Sharpshooter, but Guerrero reversed it into a small package, which Benoit then reversed for a two count. Guerrero hit a kick to the gut, then went for the Three Amigos. Eddie hit two vertical suplexes, but on the third Benoit floated over and went for the Crippler Crossface. As he got it locked it, Eddie grabbed the ropes to force a break. Guerrero rolled out of the ring and walked off, intentionally getting counted out at the 18 minute mark. Winner via countout: Chris Benoit.
As Guerrero got near the entranceway, Rey Mysterio jumped out and attacked him. Officials pulled Rey off as Guerrero crawled through the curtain on his hands and knees.
Candice Michelle came out to the ring, and announced that The Great American Bash would be aired on the Armed Forces network for U.S. Troops. Melina interrupted, coming to the ring alone (well, except for the paparazzi). Melina took the mic and said that she heard that Candice was going to be the referee for the match between Melina and Torrie at the Bash. Melina told Candice that her fifteen minutes of fame were up, and her Superbowl commercial was "so last year". Melina said she was the "most dominant female" in WWE, and that she was going to strip Torrie to her "nasty bra and panties" at the Bash. Melina then said she was going to hold a "demonstration" and knocked down Candice. Melina hit a forearm and then stripped Candice down to her bra and panties. Torrie ran in for the save, giving Melina a clothesline and kicking her to the floor.
A vignette "paid for by friends of JBL" compared JBL to Martin Luther King, saying both were "great Americans".
A video package on the Great American Bash press conference from earlier this week was shown. Highlight was JBL and Batista arguing, with Batista using the "You talking to me?" line.
Booker T, with Sharmell, vs. Simon Dean. Dean talked about how out of shape the Baltimore audience was as he came to the ring. Dean said he respected Booker, but he didn't respect the way Sharmell goes to the buffet line "five times, five time...". Booker yanked Dean into the ring and went to work on him, hitting a sidekick and a series of chops and punches in a corner. Dean kicked Booker in the gut and raked the eyes, then whipped Booker into the corner. Booker elbowed a charging Dean and hit a side kick. Booker gave Dean a flapjack and did the spinarooni. Booker hit the ax kick and scored the pin at the two minute mark. Winner: Booker T.
Booker T tossed Dean out of the ring, then got on the mic. Booker said that Christian talked trash, and said he was like Dean, a "Richard Simmons wannabe". Booker promised to defeat Christian on Sunday at the Great American Bash, and delivered the "Can you dig that sucka?" line before leaving.
A vignette "paid for by friends of JBL" compared JBL to Ronald Reagan, saying both were "great Americans".
A vignette for the Boogey Man was shown.
A video package on the recent events in the Eddie Guerrero-Rey Mysterio feud was shown.
The Great American Bash card was reviewed. The Mexicools vs. BWO, announced on WWE.com, was confirmed for the show.
The ring was being decorated in red, white and blue for JBL's "victory speech". Orlando Jordan came out to the ring as they went to commercial.
Back from break, Jordan pointed out that JBL's WWE Title reign began one year ago at the Great American Bash. He introduced JBL, who came out in a convertible, dressed like Uncle Sam (ala Apollo Creed in Rocky) while confetti fell from the ceiling. JBL came to the podium and gave his "victory speech", talking about the videos comparing himself to "great, but lesser" men like Washington and King. JBL continued his bragging, then took the fans to task for vilifying him, while praising Batista. JBL said Batista was a coward for not facing him at Wrestlemania when he had the chance to do so. JBL pointed out Batista being on the cover of Smackdown magazine, and revealed a mock-up for the next issue, showing JBL standing over Batista, and declaring him the new World Champion. JBL promised to win the title, then proclaimed himself a "wrestling god".
Batista's music hit, and the World Heavyweight Champion came out. Batista got into the ring, and laughed at JBL's outfit. Batista asked JBL if he realized how ridiculous he looked. Batista mocked JBL calling himself a "great American" and a "wrestling god". Batista said JBL was "a liar, a loudmouth, a bully, and a phony" and that he was going to "expose" him at the Great American Bash. Batista talked about JBL guaranteeing victory, and said that he "guaranteed" he was going to "whip JBL's ass" right now. Batista attacked JBL and Jordan, with Orlando Jordan taking a spinebuster as JBL escaped. JBL, bleeding from under the eye, stared at Batista, who put on the Uncle Sam hat and jacket, and held up the title belt, as the show ended.
Lineup for The Great American Bash:
- World Champion Batista vs. John Bradshaw Layfield.
- WWE Tag Team Champions MNM vs. Road Warrior Animal & Heidenreich.
- U.S. Champion Orlando Jordan vs. Chris Benoit.
- Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio. If Eddie wins, he will tell Rey's "secret". If he loses, he will never reveal it.
- The Undertaker vs. Muhammad Hassan in a number one contender match.
- Melina vs. Torrie Wilson in a Bra & Panties match. Candice Michelle will be the referee.
- Booker T vs. Christian.
- The Mexicools vs. The BWO.
