[loopydate]

DECEMBER 26, 2004 - STARRCADE

Eric Bischoff's pet project kicks off with the latest battle in the war between Shelton Benjamin and Undertaker! Undertaker dealt the biggest blow so far when he brought Shelton's best friend Haas into the Natural Born Ministry, and tonight he hopes to punish Shelton physically as well as emotionally!

Shelton Benjamin vs. Undertaker

Shelton slams Undertaker. Shelton drops an elbow...but misses. Fate can be so cruel. Undertaker strikes Shelton Benjamin. We have our mandatory ref bump, as he goes down after accidentally getting caught by an elbow to the face. Undertaker scores with a poor standing spinebuster. Cover, but there's no one to count for Undertaker. Shelton counters an avalanche with a raised foot to the face. Back elbow connects, Undertaker staggers backward. Tiger bomb by Shelton Benjamin, although no mention is made of whether it originated in Pearl River. There's a two count on the pin. Tiger Driver nearly crushes the spine of Undertaker. Misawa approves i'm sure. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Shelton Benjamin gets taken down out of nowhere. Powerslam from Undertaker on Shelton. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Undertaker only gets knees on a splash. Undertaker is in trouble. Dragon Whip!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! Shelton Benjamin is still in the ring celebrating. Undertaker pushes the referee away. Undertaker spins Shelton around. Undertaker hits the Last Ride! **1\2 rating for a decent contest.

Overall Rating: 69%
Crowd Reaction: 70%
Match Quality: 68%

Our first of several title matches pits Cruiserweight Champion Paul London against former WWE Champion Matt Hardy Version 2.0! These two have engaged in several battles, and Matt has the momentum after cheating to beat London two nights ago on SmackDown!

Cruiserweight Title - Paul London (c) vs. Matt Hardy Version 2.0

Paul London strikes Matt. Stiff high kick on Matt by Paul London who has evidently been watching some old AJPW tapes recently. London hits a dropkick on Matt Hardy Version 2.0. Hard back suplex on Matt. Anyone remember when that was Shawn Michaels's finisher? Paul London misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Matt uses a basement dropkick to the knee. Super kick by Matt Hardy Version 2.0. There's a two count on the pin. Matt Hardy Version 2.0 misses a big legdrop after stalling too long. Matt takes a hurrancarana from Paul London. Hooks the leg for a two count. Springboard dropkick from Paul London. Nicely done. Pin, but Matt is out just before the three count. Matt powers out of a headlock. Standing leg lariat by Matt Hardy Version 2.0 on London. Paul London comes up with a right hand out of nowhere. Spin kick by Paul London to the face. Paul London has Matt Hardy Version 2.0 down on the canvas and is ascending the corner. Through the air, London Calling! 1....2....3. That was good. **** rating.

Overall Rating: 87%
Crowd Reaction: 84%
Match Quality: 91%

Over the last several weeks on RAW, a tournament has been held between the top contenders for Trish Stratus' Women's Title. "Elite Diva" Mickie James outlasted everyone else to earn the shot tonight!

Women's Title - Trish Stratus (c) vs. Mickie James

Trish Stratus takes a right hand to the temple from Mickie. Mickie hits an arm drag on Trish. Mickie James hits a right hand on Trish Stratus. Mickie James strikes Trish Stratus. Trish pushes out of a Mickie James hold. Mickie James takes a right hand to the temple from Trish. Weak bodyslam by Trish. Hooks the leg for a two count. Trish drops an elbow...but misses. Fate can be so cruel. Back heel kick from Mickie on Trish. There's a two count on the pin. Slingshot clothesline by Mickie, who almost messed it up by slipping on the ropes. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Trish blocks a punch. Mickie hits a punch, but takes one right back. CLUBBERIN', CLUBBERIN', THEY BE CLUBBERIN' TONY! Sorry, flashback moment. Trish Stratus gets taken down out of nowhere. Mickie hits a spinning back kick. Trish Stratus gets whipped into the turnbuckles by Mickie. Tornado DDT!!! 1....2....3!! It's all over. Mickie James extends her hand to Trish...and it is accepted! They shake! I'll give it a **1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 77%
Crowd Reaction: 83%
Match Quality: 65%

For the last month, Rob Van Dam and Randy Orton have been engaged in a tremendous best-of-five series. Tonight is the culmination of that series, both men holding two wins!

Rob Van Dam vs. Randy Orton

Driven DDT by Rob Van Dam. The ring shook violently, instantly making it better at selling than some of the current roster. Lightning kick by RVD on Orton. Cover for a two count. Orton counters an arm wringer with an elbow to the side of the head. Randy Orton hits some punches. Fallaway slam by Randy Orton. There's a two count on the pin. Double Arm DDT by Orton, RVD got destroyed. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Bodyslam by Orton. RVD counters a sleeper hold by turning it into a jaw breaker. Beautiful spinning arm drag out of the corner by RVD. There's a two count on the pin. Diamond Dust from Rob Van Dam, Orton is out. Pin, but Orton is out just before the three count. Flying elbow from Rob Van Dam. RVD hits a massive spinning kick to the jaw. Orton kicks Rob Van Dam in the gut to reverse the momentum. Big clothesline on RVD. Death valley driver by Randy Orton, Rob Van Dam got planted. Rob Van Dam can barely stand. Here it comes - RKO. 1....2...3, it's finished. The fight has started up again! Rob Van Dam attacks Orton, and they brawl all around ringside, then into the crowd! They eventually disappear backstage, still fighting. It gets a ***1\2 rating.

Overall Rating: 89%
Crowd Reaction: 92%
Match Quality: 85%

The feud between Rhyno and Brock Lesnar dates back to over a year ago when Rhyno rejected a spot in Brock Lesnar's stable in the hopes of earning a shot at Lesnar's title. That match never came to be, but once Rhyno won the World Title, Lesnar set his sights on the Manbeast after winning World War 3 to earn a title shot. And tonight, they will go at it for Rhyno's title one last time in a Texas Death Match!

Texas Death Match for the World Title - Rhyno (c) vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar gets slammed. Rhyno uses a big bag of popcorn to floor Lesnar. Big backdrop on Lesnar, executed well. Fallaway slam by Rhyno. Lesnar powers out of a headlock. Lesnar chair shots Rhyno. Massive backbreaker, Rhyno got planted. Early reports indicate that the back was *not* actually broken, so the move's name should actually be backhurter. Pin : 1 - 2- 3. Lesnar defeats Rhyno. The referee gets to a five count....and Rhyno gets back up. Rhyno elbows Brock Lesnar in the face to break a hammerlock. Nice piledriver on Lesnar. Pin, three count, it's over. Rhyno pins Lesnar. The referee gets to a five count....and Brock Lesnar gets back up. Brutal powerbomb on Lesnar. Cover gets three. Rhyno pinned Lesnar. The referee counts: 6....7...8....but Lesnar stands up. Lesnar blocks a punch. Brock Lesnar uses move #193 (arm-BAR). Rhyno elbows Brock Lesnar in the face to break a hammerlock. Big clothesline on Lesnar. Brock Lesnar can barely stand. Gore! GORE! GOOOOOOOORE!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! The referee counts to 10, this match is over! Rhyno goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory A ****1\2 rating for a great match.

Overall Rating: 97%
Crowd Reaction: 99%
Match Quality: 95%

The rivalry between United States Champion Chris Benoit and Rey Mysterio took a turn for the personal when Benoit accused Mysterio of adultery after he was kissed by Mickie James as a thank-you for Rey saving her from Benoit. Tonight, Benoit's title is on the line, but Rey is looking for revenge!

United States Title - Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Benoit (c)

Kick from Rey Mysterio to the leg. Chris Benoit comes up with a right hand out of nowhere. Double arm suplex by Chris Benoit, Rey hits hard. We have our mandatory ref bump, as he goes down after accidentally getting caught by an elbow to the face. Wicked Tiger Suplex by Chris Benoit on Rey. Hooks the leg, but the referee is still out. Chris Benoit gets taken down out of nowhere. Flying elbow from Rey Mysterio. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. Cover for a two count. Diamond Dust from Rey Mysterio, Benoit is out. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Rey walks into a trip. Reverse DDT into a backbreaker by Chris Benoit, great move. Hooks the leg for a close fall. Rey blocks a kick from Chris Benoit. Rey Mysterio moves in for the kill. West Coast Pop!!! That shook the ring. 1....2....3!! Chris Benoit slides to the outside and grabs a chair, then climbs back into the ring. Rey turns around...and gets planted with a huge chair shot to the head! He is left down and out on the canvas. *** rating for a good bout.

Overall Rating: 90%
Crowd Reaction: 97%
Match Quality: 74%

Two of WWE's most charismatic Superstars have been engaged in a war both verbal and physical of late, and tonight Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho look to put their rival away for good!

Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Jericho

Jericho hits a wicked chop that echoes through the building. Jericho drops an elbow...but misses. Fate can be so cruel. Eddie Guerrero strikes Jericho. Chris Jericho charges, Eddie moves, and the referee is conveniently placed to get knocked out. DDT from the top rope by Eddie Guerrero. That looked brutal. Hooks the leg, but the referee is still out. Chris Jericho pulls a mule kick out of nowhere. Spin kick by Chris Jericho to the face. Spinning bulldog in the corner, Eddie is down. Cover for a two count. Slingshot senton by Jericho, crushing the chest of Eddie. Pinfall attempt gets a 2.9999. Eddie reverses a waistlock. Flying cross body off the top rope! I'll give a 0.8 on the Steamboat scale for that effort. Pin : 1 - 2 - 2.9999999. Chris Jericho elbows Eddie Guerrero in the face to break a hammerlock. Chris Jericho has Eddie Guerrero down on the canvas. Walls of Jericho!!! Eddie Guerrero taps out! I can't decide whether it's a *** or a ***1\2 match...let's go for a ***1\4 rating to make it fair.

Overall Rating: 93%
Crowd Reaction: 100%
Match Quality: 78%

Tajiri has emerged as a very unlikely contender for the WWE Title, but has more than proven his worth, taking The Rock to the limit every time they've been inside the ring together. Tonight, Tajiri gets his first actual shot at the gold, but the People's Champion has promised his people a win.

WWE Title - The Rock (c) vs. Tajiri

Flying shoulder tackle by Rock sends Tajiri to the mat. Massive backbreaker, Tajiri got planted. Early reports indicate that the back was *not* actually broken, so the move's name should actually be backhurter. There's a two count on the pin. Tajiri ducks a clothesline attempt. Tajiri strikes Rock. Rock takes a flying neckbreaker from Tajiri. Cover for a two count. Tiger suplex on Rock, right from out of the Misawa playbook. Cover, but there's a last second kick-out. Flying elbow from Tajiri. Rock blocks a punch. Massive backbreaker, Tajiri got planted. Early reports indicate that the back was *not* actually broken, so the move's name should actually be backhurter. Hooks the leg for a two count. The Rock scores with a big spinebuster. Pin, but Tajiri is out just before the three count. Big backdrop on Tajiri, executed well. Rock bodyslams Tajiri. Tajiri avoids a The Rock avalanche. Rock takes a flying neckbreaker from Tajiri. Springboard dropkick from Tajiri. Nicely done. Tajiri moves in for the kill. Here it comes - Kick Of Death. 1....2...3, it's finished. Tajiri goes into the crowd, where he celebrates his victory A ****1\4 rating, great bout.

Overall Rating: 96%
Crowd Reaction: 100%
Match Quality: 89%

Last month, Jeff Hardy was stripped of both the Intercontinental and World Tag Team Titles. Los Guerreros won the vacant tag belts, and sixteen top SmackDown! stars have battled it out in a tournament to determine a new IC champ. John Cena and Christian have torn through the brackets (as well as each other), and tonight the tournament - and their feud - will come to an end in our main event... inside a steel cage!

Steel Cage Match for the vacant Intercontinental Title - John Cena vs. Christian

Christian launches Cena into the cage wall. Cena takes a quick lariat. Cena blocks a kick from Christian. John Cena hits some punches. Back elbow connects, Christian staggers backward. John Cena throws Christian into the cage. Rude Awakening on Christian by Cena. John Cena and Christian climb the cage....but both end up crashing back to the canvas after a struggle! Cena only gets knees on a splash. Reverse DDT on Cena. Christian hits a great swinging DDT on John Cena. Bodyslam by Christian. Christian drives Cena into the cage side. John Cena takes the advantage after a i-block-your-punch-you-don't-block-mine routine. Bodyslam by Cena. Powerbomb on Christian. Christian is in trouble. F-U! John Cena and Christian climb the cage....until Christian gets knocked off by a right hand! Cena climbs over the top for the win! John Cena climbs each turnbuckle in turn, working the crowd as he celebrates his victory Almost a *** rating, but there were some bits that dragged, so **3\4 instead.

Overall Rating: 90%
Crowd Reaction: 100%
Match Quality: 68%