Richard Trionfo called in the following results from tonight's Smackdown taping in Orlando, Florida:
Dark Match:
*The Shane Twins defeated Shannon Moore and Steve Madison
Velocity
*Scotty Too Hotty pinned ?
*Bob Holly defeated Spike Dudley
*Akio pinned Paul London
*Charlie Haas defeated Rene Dupree
Smackdown:
*The Basham Brothers won a Fatal Four Way match, defeating WWE Tag Team champions Rob Van Dam & Rey Misterio, Eddie Guerrero & Booker T, and Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns as Rey was pinned by Danny. Van Dam didn't do anything in the match but was attacked and "injured" after the match. Van Dam was stretchered out. The Bashams are the new Tag Team champions.
*Backstage, The Big Show made Kurt Angle apologize to Joy Giovanni for last week.
*They aired a recap of the Four Way and Van Dam's injury.
*Backstage, JBL's crew walked into Big Show and Joy Giovanni. Amy Weber didn't want to apologize to Giovanni, setting up a match between the two women later tonight.
*In the Kurt Angle Classic, Kurt Angle forced Roderick Strong to tap out.
*WWE United States champion John Cena pinned Kenzo Suzuki.
*Amy Weber beat Joy Giovanni via forfeit when she didnt come out. There is a storyline of what happened to Giovanni with everyone in Teddy Long's office as she is "missing."
*WWE Cruiserweight champion Funaki defeated Nunzio
*Carlito Caribbean Cool and JBL both said they didn't know what happened to Joy when questioned by Teddy Long. Miss Jackie and Torrie Wilson said they saw Orlando Jordan following her.
*They did a "ceremony" where JBL, with his cabinet, was presented with "Man of the Year" from the Florida Agridculture Group (F.A.G, get it?). Kurt Angle confronts JBL and it turns out Joy is in the trunk of the limo, unconscious. She is taken off and given oxygen. Big Show hits the ring and chokeslams Orlando and everyone else.
*Kurt Angle, Mark Jindrak, and Luther Reigns talk backstage reveal they set everyone up and did it to Joy. Show stalks them as the show ends.
*In a dark match, The Undertaker defeated Orlando Jordan and WWE champion John Bradshaw Layfield in a casket match.
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Bashams are new Tag Team Champions? There is no God. If this were OVW, maybe I'd enjoy this decision, but BLECH. Smackdown looks lame once again, but Velocity is must see considering the last two times Akio and London fought on Velocity the matches were pretty good considering time restrictions.
Yeah, London/Akio sounds tape-worthy, considering I've taped their last two matches. Smackdown sounds pretty skipable, but I may check it out, just to see Roderick Strong get squashed by Angle...
I don't mind the Bashams nearly as much as I once did. Funaki/Nunzio should be decent, even if it's short, and I definetly wanna see Roderick get owned.
Here's some more detailed spoilers if anyone actually wants to read them:
credit: PWInsider
WWE Smackdown and Velocity Spoilers for January 11, 2005
by Richard Trionfo
The Smackdown brand continues down the road to the Royal Rumble with this week’s taping for Smackdown and Velocity. This week’s show comes to you from Tampa, Florida and the appropriately named St. Pete Times Forum. Smackdown has been promoted with two title matches, one for the WWE Tag Titles and the other for the U.S. Title.
Here are the dark matches/Velocity results (make sure to check out Matt’s Velocity Report over the weekend for full details):
Dark Match (might have made it to Velocity): Shannon Moore and Steve Madison versus Todd and Mike Shane. The Shanes got the win when Madison got pinned after a Fireman’s Carry into a Diamond Cutter.
Velocity Match Number One: Scotty 2 Hotty versus unknown wrestler. Scotty got the win with the W-O-R-M.
Velocity Match Number Two: Bob Holly versus Spike Dudley. Bob Holly pinned Spike Dudley after an Alabama Slam.
Velocity Match Number Three: Paul London versus Akio. Paul London came out first and he slid completely through the ring to the floor on the other side. Akio with an arm drag. London pushes Akio when the ref asks for a clean break in the corner. London pushes Akio again. Akio with a side head lock, but London reverses. Akio reverses and connects with a shoulder block. London with a single leg sweep and a side head lock. Akio tries for a belly-to-back suplex, but London flips out of the hold and hits a dropsault on Akio, sending Akio out of the ring. London tries for a tope, but sees Akio move, so he lands on the apron and then hits a springboard Asai Moonsault. London with a tope back into the ring. Forearm by London. Akio with an Irish whip, but he charges into a London boot. London tries for another springboard moonsault, this time in the ring and Akio ducks under him. London lands on his feet, and he charges at Akio. Akio with an overhead belly-to-belly throw that sends London into the turnbuckles and then he falls on his neck. Both men are down, but Akio gets up first. Akio works on London’s neck. Akio with a sleeper. London kicks Akio and then misses an Enziguiri. Akio with an elbow to London’s back followed by a kick and a standing moonsault on London’s back. Akio with a rear chin lock. Akio continues to work on London’s back. Akio with an Irish whip, and then he charges at London in the corner and does a back flip off London’s chest. London with a super kick and both men are down. Akio with a kick and chops to London. London with forearms and kicks followed by a series of punches to Akio’s back. Back body drop by London followed by kicks. London with a jumping leg lariat off an Irish whip. London with another Irish whip, but Akio stops a charging London and then goes up top and hits a corkscrew body press for the three count. After the match, Akio and London shake hands (this will probably not make it on television).
Two of the Divas came out to shoot some t-shirts into the crowd.
Velocity Match Number Four: Rene Dupree (with Fifi) versus Charlie Haas. The crowd starts a ‘USA’ chant before the match. Dupree tries to stop them, but Haas encourages the crowd to continue. Dupree with a side head lock followed by a shoulder block and then Dupree struts for the crowd. Dupree poses for the crowd as well. Haas with a side head lock and a shoulder block. Haas with another shoulder block that knocks Dupree out of the ring. Haas brings Dupree into the ring from the apron and then has Dupree in an arm bar. Dupree and Haas exchange punches and then Haas with a hard Irish whip. Haas with an arm bar, but Dupree sends Haas into the ropes and then Dupree chokes Haas on the bottom rope. Dupree chops Haas and then gives him a hard Irish whip. Snap mare and knee drop by Dupree and then a rear chin lock. Dupree pulls Haas’ hair and then he goes up top. Haas recovers and runs the turnbuckle and hits an arm drag. Both men are down. Haas and Dupree exchange punches with Haas gaining the advantage. Haas with a reverse atomic drop, standing drop kick and back body drop on Dupree. Haas with a clothesline and a flying forearm. Haas tries for a Stinger Splash, but Dupree moves and then Dupree does the French Tickler. Dupree tries to slam Haas, but Haas gets out of the hold and hits the Exploder Suplex for the three count.
Smackdown Results (make sure to check out Ryan’s Smackdown Report for full details, assuming Buck will not be back in time to do a report):
The broadcast began with footage of Kurt Angle seeing Joy in the shower, assuming it was Amy; followed by Kurt Angle bumping into the Big Show and being chased into the ring only to see Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns come out to attack Show before Show could take control of the situation.
Kurt Angle is walking in the back and he sees Big Show and Joy. Angle says that he wants to apologize for what happened last week. He called it one of the most humiliating events in his life and blames Bradshaw for that. Angle says that he would never do anything like what Bradshaw did last week. Joy accepts the apology and thanks Angle. Show says that Angle is a man for apologizing, but there is someone else who owes Joy an apology, and that man is Bradshaw.
Match Number One: Four Way Elimination Tag Title Match: Team 1039 (Rey Mysterio Junior and Rob Van Dam) versus Eddie Guerrero (with low rider) and Booker T versus Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns versus the Basham Brothers. Guerrero and Jindrak start off the match Jindrak does his Rick Rude Memorial pose after a clean break. Eddie kicks Jindrak and then works him over in Van Dam and Mysterio’s corner. Jindrak with a shoulder block and then he poses again. Jindrak with a side head lock on Guerrero. Guerrero tries to get out with a top wrist lock, but Jindrak uses his power to keep Guerrero in the head lock. Guerrero chops Jindrak and tags in Booker. Booker with punches, chops, and kicks. Booker distracts the ref while Eddie chokes Jindrak with the tag rope. Booker with a hammer lock, but Jindrak escapes with an elbow. Jindrak punches Booker. Booker blocks a hip toss and hits a short arm clothesline on Jindrak. Booker with a back heel kick on Jindrak. Booker tags in Eddie, but before he leaves the action, he gives Jindrak a side slam followed by a hilo by Guerrero from the apron. Jindrak with a back body drop for a two count. Eddie with a drop kick to Jindrak and then Eddie tags in Doug Basham. Jindrak with a slap to Basham, but Doug with a spear. Luther makes the save and then Danny gets into the ring. Doug with a hot shot on Jindrak. Rey trips Doug as he tries to go off the ropes. Rey jumps in and hits a 619 on Jindrak, and Eddie rolls Doug on top of Jindrak. The ref finishes dealing with Danny and Reigns to make the three count to eliminate Jindrak and Reigns. Now it is Rey and Doug in the ring. Danny with a kick to Rey and then he throws him down. Rey ducks under a Basham boot and kicks Doug a number of times. Rey ducks a Basham clothesline and hits a springboard wheelbarrow into an arm drag. Doug tags in Eddie. While still on the apron, Eddie tags in Booker. Then they exchange about ten tags before Eddie eventually gets in the ring. Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors on Eddie. Rey with another tilt-a-whirl head scissors on Eddie. Eddie kicks Rey and then chops him in the corner. Booker tags in and he chops Rey. Booker with a spinebuster for a two count. Booker punches Rey, but Rey hits a drop kick as Booker tries to toss him in the air. Eddie chokes Rey while Booker distracts the ref. Eddie tags back in and hits a Latino Uppercut. Eddie has Rey in the Gori Special, but Rey escapes with an arm drag followed by a monkey flip. Rey hits a springboard rana for a three count on Eddie Guerrero to eliminate him. Doug attacks Rey from behind and punches him. Danny tags in and Rey tries another wheelbarrow, but Danny hits a Sit Out Face Slam while Doug hits Van Dam with a forearm on the apron. Doug goes around the ring and grabs the ring steps and he hits Van Dam in the leg with the steps, sending Van Dam to the floor in pain. Danny punches Rey. Rey with a drop toe hold on Danny in the corner and then Rey goes outside to check on Van Dam. Rey comes back in and punches Danny. Danny with a kick in the corner followed by an Irish whip and running shoulder block in the corner. Meanwhile, two referees come down and check on Van Dam. Danny with another Irish whip, but this time, Rey moves out of the way on the running shoulder block attempt, and Danny’s shoulder hits the ring post. Rey goes outside again to check on Van Dam. Doug switches with Danny and he stomps on Rey when he returns to the ring. Rey hits a springboard crossbody while a stretcher comes to the ring to take Van Dam to the back. Rey checks on Van Dam. Rey is suplexed back into the ring by Doug followed by a side head lock. Van Dam is taken to the back. Rey with a wheelbarrow into a bulldog on Doug, but Danny makes the save. Danny kicks Rey, but Rey with a jumping leg lariat on Danny that knocks him out of the ring. Rey with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors on Doug that sends him into the ropes. Rey hits the 619, but when he tries for a springboard move, Doug ducks down and Rey bumps into the ref, giving Danny enough time to switch with Doug. Danny with a vertical choke into a Sit Out Power Bomb for the three count. After the match, Bradshaw, Orlando Jordan, and Amy Weber come out to congratulate the new tag team champions.
Josh Matthews is in the back with Kenzo Suzuki and Hiroko to find out what he thinks about his match with John Cena tonight. Hiroko takes the mic and says that John Cena tried to break up one of the most beloved couples in America. Not Jennifer and Brad, but Kenzo and Hiroko.
They go somewhere else in the back where Bradshaw, Amy, and Orlando Jordan talk about how successful his administration has become. They walk right into Big Show and Joy. Show wants an apology for the one person he cares about. Bradshaw apologizes for any inappropriate actions last week. Show suggests that Amy should also apologize. Amy says that things might have gotten out of hand, but she says that Joy liked being naked in the hallway. Amy also says that Joy screamed in the hallway so she could get people to look at her. Amy calls Joy a slut, and that leads to a catfight. From out of nowhere, Teddy Long comes out and suggests that they settle things in the ring. Teddy announces a match between Amy and Joy with all other people barred from ringside.
They showed the video about the Japan tapings of Raw and Smackdown that was aired on Monday night.
Time for the Kurt Angle Invitational and Kurt is accompanied to the ring by his usual two ‘security’ guards (one of them was Antonio Banks) and the gold medal. Angle has some words for Bradshaw before he gets to his match. Angle says that he knows that Bradshaw cannot beat him, so he had Big Show try to do it last week. Angle says that he will win the title at the Royal Rumble. Angle says that just like no one needs to beat Bradshaw at Royal Rumble to win the title, you do not have to beat Angle to get the gold medal. You only have to last three minutes with him. Out comes Angle’s opponent, and it is Roderick Strong. Angle has a question for Roderick. He wants to know what Roderick thinks his chances are of beating an Olympic Gold Medalist are. Roderick says that he doesn’t know what his chances are of winning, but he knows that he can do ‘this’. ‘This’ turns out to be a slap to Angle’s face. The bell rings and Strong leaves the ring and Angle chases after him. Strong gets back in the ring, and Angle grabs his leg. Angle pounds on Strong. Angle tries for a short arm clothesline, but Strong ducks and gets a rollup for a two count. Angle with a clothesline on Strong followed by a number of crossfaces. Angle with the double chicken wing on Strong. Strong with a number of forearms to Angle, but Angle ducks and hits a Release German Suplex with Strong landing on his chest. The straps go down and Angle applies the Ankle Lock and Strong taps in 1:58. Angle gets his medal placed around his neck and he goes to the back.
They show a Wrestlemania Recall of Roddy Piper and Morton Downey Junior in Piper’s Pit.
The next match is the U.S. Title match and out first is the challenger, Kenzo Suzuki (with Hiroko). Out next is John Cena in a Doug Williams jersey. Cena does his usual yo-yo-ing and does a pro-US promo saying that Suzuki will not win. Kenzo with a chop and kicks. Kenzo works over Cena in the corner. Cena tackles Kenzo and punches him. Cena with the back elbow, bulldog off the Irish whip, Five Knuckle Shuffle with bow, then he pumps up his shoes and hits the F-U for the three count in just more than one and a half minutes.
Amy is in a locker room getting ready for her match. Bradshaw tries to give her some moral support, but he mentions that he has a ‘Man of the Year’ photo shot to worry about. Amy tells Bradshaw that she is scared.
They go to Joy with Big Show and she says that she has been waiting for a while to do this to Amy. Joy walks to the ring.
They show a video package to set up the casket match between Taker and Heidenreich at Royal Rumble.
It is time for the next match and Amy comes out to the ring first. Joy’s music plays, but she does not come to the ring. As a result, Amy is named the winner by forfeit.
Teddy Long is in his office with Charles Robinson and he wants to know where Joy was since as the ref, Charles must have seen something. Big Show enters the office and says that he saw her before the match. Show tells Teddy Long to get to the bottom of things. Steve Keirn, Fit Finlay, and security come in. Teddy wants Bradshaw in his office immediately while they also check the arena and parking lot for Joy. Heidenreich enters the office, and Teddy tells him unless he knows where Joy is, he doesn’t want to talk to him.
Bradshaw is in Teddy’s office. He does not care about the fact that Joy is missing. Bradshaw says that he is accepting a Man of the Year award, and he says that he would never do something like kidnap Joy on a night like this. Teddy says that he hopes Bradshaw’s alibi checks out.
The next match is for the Cruiserweight title. Funaki comes out first. His opponent is Nunzio. Nunzio with a knee and forearm to Funaki. Nunzio with a shoulder block. Funaki with a back kick followed by a back body drop. Funaki with an arm drag and arm bar. Nunzio takes down Funaki with some help using Funaki’s hair. Funaki with an arm drag. Nunzio with an Irish whip, but Funaki lands on the second rope and tries for a springboard crossbody, but Nunzio with a drop kick. Nunzio punches Funaki and then gives him a snap mare and side head lock. Funaki with an Irish whip, but he runs into a knee from Nunzio. Nunzio with a Sicilian Slice on Funaki for a two count. Nunzio slams Funaki and then hits a knee drop. Funaki with a jaw breaker followed by an enziguiri. Nunzio misses a clothesline and Funaki with chops. Irish whip by Nunzio, but Funaki moves on a splash attempt. Funaki with a bulldog and then he goes up top for a crossbody, but the momentum sends Nunzio on top for a two count. Funaki with the Tornado DDT for the three count.
Carlito Caribbean Cool is in Teddy Long’s office with his petition. He says that he has an alibi to show that he had nothing to do with Joy’s disappearance. Teddy tells Carly to leave. While they leave, Torrie and Jackie enter with security. Torrie says that they saw Orlando Jordan following Joy. Teddy tells security to get Orlando Jordan in his office.
Orlando Jordan is in Teddy Long’s office and he says that he had an alibi to prove that he did not kidnap Joy. Big Show enters Teddy’s office and chokes Orlando. Teddy says that he will check out Orlando’s alibi. Show says that if Orlando is lying, and if anyone with Bradshaw did it, they will suffer.
The ring is decorated with a carpet and two orange trees as well as two buckets of oranges. The ‘Florida Agriculture Group’ President, B Gordon Ellensworth is in the ring to present Bradshaw with the Florida Agriculture Group Man of the Year award. He talks about how Bradshaw did so much for the state of Florida. Out comes the JBLimo with Bradshaw, Orlando Jordan, Amy Weber, and the Bashams. Bradshaw mentions how much he enjoys thinking about families chanting ‘JBL’ as they drink their orange juice. Bradshaw said that he was proud to be the FAG man of the year. Bradshaw says that the people of Tampa are not used to cheering because of their football team. Kurt Angle comes out and yells at Bradshaw for trying to get Show to injure Angle last week, and then to try to get Show out of their match at Royal Rumble by kidnapping Joy. Angle hears something in the trunk of the JBLimo. He gets the keys and Joy is in there. Big Show comes out to check on Joy. Bradshaw says that he had nothing to do with that, but Show does not believe him. Show attacks the Bashams and choke slams both of them. Then Orlando hits Show with a low blow and he goes for a chair. Orlando hits Show with the chair, but Show knocks the chair away and he choke slams Orlando followed by a number of chair shots. Bradshaw and Amy escape into the crowd. While Show is in the ring, on the screen, we see Angle in the back with Jindrak and Reigns talking about how they kidnapped Joy and put her in the trunk.
That is where the taping ended.
Here is what happened, only for the fans in attendance:
Orlando Jordan was lying in the ring for a few minutes, and he was given a mic by the Bashams. He says that he is getting out of Tampa, and claims that he is going to sue Show for what he did to him. He says that he is going to get Johnnie Cochran. Before he can get to the back, Teddy Long comes out and tells Orlando that he is not going to leave because he made a casket match for the people in Tampa. Teddy says that he does not lie to the people, he does not cheat the people, and he does not try to play the people. Teddy asks the fans if they want a casket match and the fans ‘Holla Holla Holla’ back. Teddy tells them to get to the ring. Then he says that Orlando can walk to the ring by himself so he sends the Bashams to the back, and if they don’t go to the back, they will be stripped of their titles and fired on the spot. Teddy tells Bradshaw to come out, and by some miracle, he has changed into his wrestling gear from his suit. Teddy says that he is the HNIC tonight. He calls Bradshaw ‘bucko’ and then Bradshaw tells Teddy that nobody calls him ‘Bucko’. Of course this starts a ‘bucko’ chant in the arena. Time for their opponent to come to the ring. The lights go down and Taker comes to the ring. Four minutes later, he is finished. Bradshaw and Orlando try to double team Taker, but he takes care of them. He sends Orlando over the top rope to the floor. Punches and elbows by Taker to Bradshaw. Taker gives referee Brian Hebner a nasty look and he runs out of the ring in fear. Taker sends Bradshaw over the top rope onto the casket. Taker goes after Orlando and sends him into the announce table. Bradshaw attacks Taker from behind. Bradshaw punches Taker. Taker reverses and Irish whip and he sends Bradshaw into the ring steps. Taker punches Bradshaw and kicks him. Taker with an elbow drop onto Orlando who was resting on the announce table. Taker rolls Bradshaw into the ring. The casket opens. Bradshaw punches Bradshaw and rolls him into the casket, but Orlando makes the save. Taker ducks a double clothesline and hits a double clothesline. Taker with a DDT on Jordan followed by one on Bradshaw. Orlando rolls out of the ring and Taker follows him out. Taker slams Orlando’s head onto the top of the casket. The casket opens again and Taker slams the lid on Orlando’s head. Bradshaw gets a chair, but Taker kicks Bradshaw in the head while he held up the chair. Taker with an Irish whip on Orlando that sends him into the casket. Taker runs Bradshaw’s head into the casket. Taker tosses Bradshaw into the casket, but he jumps out of it. Taker sends Orlando into the ring post, but Bradshaw has taken another chair and hits Taker in the head with it. Bradshaw runs Taker’s head into the casket. Bradshaw throws Taker into the casket, but he uses his leg to prevent the casket from being closed. Taker punches Bradshaw and emerges from the casket. Taker goes Old School on Bradshaw followed by a head and arm inverted DDT. Orlando returns to the ring and Taker kicks him. Taker with a back elbow to Orlando, but then he goes outside the ring to work on Bradshaw. Taker with the elbow outside the ring followed by the leg drop from the apron. Orlando attacks Taker when he comes back into the ring and punches him. Taker with a choke slam on Orlando. Bradshaw drops Taker on the top rope when he tries to get Bradshaw. Bradshaw goes up top, but Taker stops him and hits a Superplex. The casket opens again. Taker sets up for the Last Ride, but Bradshaw with a low blow. Orlando holds Taker for the Clothesline from Wall Street, but Taker moves and he nails Orlando. Orlando rolls into the casket. Taker with a choke slam followed by a tombstone on Bradshaw and then he rolls him on top of Orlando and the casket is closed.
Comments about the tapings: The arena was set up for about 9,000 at the most in a 20,000 seat arena. About 1/3 of the arena was closed off by the stage set up. Most of the third level was tarped off as well as parts of the lower level and the club level. The part of the arena that was set up was about 80 to 90 percent full. . . The crowd was definitely quieter than the TNA crowds at their tapings (I don’t know if it was because of the size of the facility compared to the one in Orlando for Impact). . . The most popular chant/cheer during the entire show was ‘U.S.A’, but it is not surprising because of the military presence in the Tampa area. . . As was mentioned in the spoilers that I called in to Mike throughout the night (sorry for so many calls Mike), Van Dam was limping to the ring and did not do anything in the ring during the match. . . The last time that there were ‘Flames’ in the Ice Palace, they lost as well so Booker T should not feel bad that he did not win tag team gold. . . Before the tag match, I was talking to a friend of mine at the tapings that with the knowledge of Van Dam’s injury that I would not be surprised if they gave the belts to the Bashams because it would be like the near monopoly of titles that Team Canada has in TNA (3 of 4 titles held by one group). I just don’t see Orlando Jordan or Amy winning the Cruiserweight title. . . The crowd really did not like it when Eddie and Booker got eliminated. . . In addition to Van Dam not doing anything in the match, Luther’s only involvement was scuffling with Danny Basham. He did nothing during the match besides the interference. . . I still wonder why a team in an elimination match would want to be involved in the match until they were one of the last two people/teams. . . As a wrestling fan, it is sad to see Amy and Joy’s catfight and the announcement that they would have a match later in the show got a bigger reaction than the Paul London/Akio match. . . Since I have seen a lot of independent workers from the Tampa area at NWA Florida, TNA, and FIP shows, I was trying to figure out which one would face Kurt Angle. After the most recent indy shows I attended, I was hoping for Roderick Strong and thank you WWE for an early birthday present. . . I don’t know if it was amplified by the microphone in Angle’s hand or something else, but that slap sounded pretty loud from the suite where I was watching the show. . . If you want to know what Roderick Strong can really do in the ring, please check out the Full Impact Pro Wrestling Reports from last weekend on PWInsider.com, when he wrestled Samoa Joe twice. . . If a crowd is going to do the ‘What’ deal during promos, you don’t have to say it at a specific time interval. You should wait until they say something. . . Since Cena’s gimmick includes wearing sports jerseys, why couldn’t he have worn a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey? They did win the Stanley Cup last season. . . I was talking to a friend after the Cena match and we talked about how Cena could have incorporated the Lightning into his promo. He could have said ‘Another champ is here’ or ‘Lightning struck once in this arena, but it won’t happen tonight’. . . By the way, memo to John Cena, the show was being taped in Tampa, Florida, not ‘Tampa Bay’ because that is a region (of course, Tampa’s arena is named after a St. Petersburg newspaper). . . For those of you keeping score at home: Cena’s promo was 3 minutes 9 seconds, the match lasted 1 minute 38 seconds. . . In case you were wondering, the plaque had ‘JBL’, not John Bradshaw Layfield on it. . . I guess Bradshaw does not follow all sports, because the people of Tampa had a lot to cheer about in June with the Lightning winning the Stanley Cup. . . It was just a little too convenient that Kurt Angle could hear Joy in the trunk while fans closer to the limo couldn’t hear anything. . . Is it really a good thing to have the involvement of the two wrestlers in your second biggest match at Royal Rumble be limited to less than a minute of Heidenreich in Teddy Long’s office? Of course, I am not complaining about Heidenreich not wrestling at all.
Actually, if anything, Scotty vs. ??? might get cut, or they might show all four matches. Heat makes it almost common place to air 4 matches inside of an hour, so Velocity can do the same as long as 1 is a squash match.