GROSS THOUGHTSStory By: Brandon Gross
May 18, 2003
Welcome to an all new "Gross Thoughts." Judgement Day is tonight and I thought that instead of my usual preview article, I would give you how I would book the evening.
So far, the card is as follows:
(Confirmed by WWE.com)
1. Kevin Nash vs. HHH for the World Title
2. Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show for the WWE Title in a stretcher match.
3. Team Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero and ??? in a Ladder Match for the Tag Team Titles
4. IC Title Battle Royal
5. Mr. America vs. Roddy Piper
6. Sable vs. Torrie Bikini Challenge
7. Scott Steiner/Test vs. La Resistance
Rumored
8. Jazz vs. Trish vs. Jaqueline vs. Victoria for the WWE Women's Title
9. Benoit/Rhyno/Spanky vs. John Cena/FBI
Nine matches is a lot for a 3 hour PPV. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Steiner tag match on Heat before. If not, expect some short matches.
Here is how I would book Judgement Day:
The opening is a highlight video package of the nights matches. Then we see that all 3 GM's are in the same office. Bischoff is upset that they need to share. He states that this is the last time something like this will happen. Stephanie wonders what he means. Goldberg enters the office and asks to speak to Steve Austin. Austin agrees and the two leave.
We go live to the arena and the exploding pyro. Michael Cole and Tazz welcome everyone to Judgement Day as John Cena's mucic hits to open the night. Cena and the FBI come out, followed by Benoit, Rhyno, and Spanky. The match goes between 10 and 15 minutes and ends with Benoit pinning one of the members of the FBI.
Next the broadcast goes to JR and The King. They set up the Women's Title match and the four ladies make their way to the ring. Towards the end, Trish is about to win the match and pin Jazz when Jaqueline throws her off, beats her down, and puts Jazz over her for the cover. Jazz retains and Jaqueline joins her and Theodore Long. This sets up a handicap match at the next PPV between Trish and Jazz/Jaqueline where Lita can return to help Trish.
We go backstage where Austin and Goldberg conclude their talk with Goldberg thanking Austin. Bischoff comes over and asks what that was all about. Austin tells him to wait and find out. Bischoff says that if Austin wants surprises, he will get the surprise of his life later on. Austin asks Bischoff where he is going. Bischoff replies "To see our boss."
Back to the action as it is time for Steiner/Test versus La Resistance. The teams make their way to the ring and the match begins. It is a short match (under ten minutes) that ends when Stacey causes her team to get distracted and Steiner gets pinned. Test is enraged at Steiner and picks him up and brings a chair into the ring. He holds Steiner and gives Stacey the chair. He demands that she hit him with it. She cannot do it. Finally, Steiner frees himself. Then, Stacey hits Test with the chair. JR speculates if she did it on purpose or not.
Background to the Tag Team title match is shown and Team Angle is the first team out. Eddie then comes out without Chavo. Eddie gets the mic and explains that Stephanie McMahon gave him the chance to find a new partner to replace Chavo. He looked around the locker room and decided that there is only one person who deserves this shot with him and who is a true friend. They came to WWE together and now he wants to win the tag titles with him. He calls out Benoit. Benoit comes to the ring and shakes Eddie's hand. The match begins and Eddie/Benoit eventually climb up and win the titles. As they celebrate in the ring, Rhyno comes down with Spanky. Benoit goes to shake Rhyno's hand but the man-beast is hesistant. Finally he shakes hands with Benoit. Benoit turns around and Rhyno gores him from behind. He then gores Eddie. He asks Spanky if he is coming with him or not. Spanky does. They two leave.
A video plays highlighting the Sable/Torrie feud. Michael Cole gets into the ring to officiate the bikini challenge. Sable and Torrie come out and do their poses for the audience. By popular vote, Torrie wins the match. Sable, angered, slaps Michael Cole in the face and leaves.
Backstage we see Vince talking to Piper about destroying Mr. America later. Bischoff enters the room. He asks to have a moment alone with Vince. Vince agrees but asks where Stone Cold is. Bischoff says that Austin is busy at the moment and he needs to take care of some business...alone.
Back in the ring JR and Lawler introduce a video package highlighting the prestige of the Intercontinental Title. After, Austin's music hits. He is here to present the title to the winner. The participants are introduced: Christian, Booker T, Kane, RVD, Lance Storm, Goldust, Chris Jericho. Austin then says that before the match begins, he needs to add a little something to it. He says that the justification he used to enter Booker T into the Battle Royal was that he used to be WCW's US Champion. Since those titles were unified years ago, other US Champions should be eligible. With that said, he introduces the last competitor in the Battle Royal...GOLDBERG! The match begins. At some point, Christian/Jericho/Goldberg eliminate each other furthering their feud. The final 4 are RVD, Kane, Booker T, and Goldust. It is obviously a 2 on 2 situation as they have both been or are current tag teams. Goldust is eliminated and so is Booker T. RVD and Kane are left and RVD immediately eliminates Kane. Winner, and new IC Champion...RVD. Austin presents RVD with the title as Kane looks on holding both tag-title belts.
Next up is Mr. America versus Roddy Piper. The match is on the shorter side and after repeated interference from O'Haire and Vince, Roddy Piper wins the match. Vince is about to take the mask off until Stephanie runs down to the ring and covers Mr. America to protect him. Vince has O'Haire restrain Stephanie but Mr. America "hulks up" and clears the ring. He and Stephanie shake hands.
Brock Lesnar versus The Big Show is up next. The match goes about 15 minutes when Big Show knocks out the referee and chokeslams Lesnar onto a chair and the WWE Title. He goes to wake the referee up but Rey Mysterio runs down to the ring and begins to go to work on Big Show. Rey 619's him and Big Show staggers from that right into an F-5. Lesnar retains the title.
The main event of the night is Kevin Nash against HHH. The match goes about 15-20 minutes. HBK is in Nash's corner and Flair is in HHH's corner. Eventually, all chaos breaks loose with all four men in the ring. The referee calls for the DQ bell. As the men brawl, Bischoff's music hits and he comes down to the ring. He said that Austin's surprise of putting Goldberg in the battle royal was only the beginning. He promised a huge announcement and he is going to give one. He says that from the moment he became GM he always had a battle to fight. First is was with Stephanie McMahon. Then is was with Vince. Now it is with Austin. He says that he spoke to Vince earlier and made a legendary deal. He is done sharing the stage. He is done allowing Smackdown to bring down his brand of sports entertainment. He says that after speaking to Vince, who by the way, is very upset with Stephanie, they came to a mutual decision. Next month, instead of the usual King of the Ring, RAW will have 100% of the rights to the PPV. Smackdown will be dark for the night and for the first time in WWE history, only one brand will be represented...the best brand. He was thinking for a name for the show and decided to let this match inspire him. The name is Bad Blood...something these men in the ring definitely have. Also, while he is out here, he may as well make the main event for the Bad Blood PPV. It is going to a fatal-4-way match for the WWE World Title between HHH, Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, and Ric Flair. Good luck, boys.
The show ends with all four men looking at each other while JR ponders where friends alliances will lie now that the title is at stake.
This sets up the following card for Bad Blood:
1. HHH/Nash/HBK/Flair for the World Title
2. Goldberg vs. Christian: if Goldberg wins (which he will), it is also...
3. Goldberg vs. Chris Jericho
4. RVD vs. Kane for the IC Title (They forfeit the tag titles)
Tag Title Tournament (to make up for no KOTR)
Semi:
5. Booker T. and Goldust vs. Test/Steiner
6. Dudley Boys vs. La Resistance
Finals:
7. Booker T/Goldust vs. Dudley Boys
Also
8. Hurricane vs. Chris Nowinski
9. Trish vs. Jazz/Jaqueline (Lita returns to help Trish)
Well, that's how I would book the next two months of WWE programming. We shall see what WWE does. Speaking of which, here is what I think WWE will do...
-La Resistance def. Test/Steiner with a problem over Stacey.
-Torrie defeats Sable
-Jazz retains
-Eddie/Rey Mysterio win Tag Titles
-Christian wins IC Title Battle Royal
-Team Benoit def. Team Cena
-Lesnar def. Big Show
-Mr. America def. Roddy Piper
-Nash def. HHH for the Title
It should be an average show with some matches having potential to exceed expectations. The ladder match will steal the show, I am sure.
Send all feedback to GrossThoughts@yahoo.com
Until next time...this has been this time.
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