SummerSlam (2004)

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SummerSlam (2004)
Details
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand (s)	Raw SmackDown!
Date	August 15, 2004[1]
Venue	Air Canada Centre[1]
City	Toronto, Ontario[1]
Attendance	17,640[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
Vengeance (2004)	SummerSlam (2004)	Unforgiven (2004)
SummerSlam chronology
SummerSlam (2003)	SummerSlam (2004)	SummerSlam (2005)

SummerSlam (2004) was the seventeenth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on August 15, 2004 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario and featured talent from the Raw and SmackDown! brands.^[2] The official theme song was "Summertime Blues" by Rush.^[3] The tagline was "Let the Games Begin."

The main match on the Raw brand was Chris Benoit versus Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship, which Orton won by pinfall after performing an RKO.^[4] The predominant match on the SmackDown! brand was John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) versus The Undertaker for the WWE Championship, which JBL won after The Undertaker was disqualified.^[4] The featured matches on the undercard included Kurt Angle versus Eddie Guerrero and Triple H versus Eugene.^[5]

Contents 1 Report 1.1 Background 1.2 Event 1.3 Aftermath 2 Results 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Report

[edit] Background

The main feud heading into SummerSlam on the Raw brand was between Chris Benoit and Randy Orton, with the two feuding over the World Heavyweight Championship. At, Vengeance, Benoit defeated Triple H to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.^[6][7][8] On the July 26 edition of Raw, Orton won a 20-man Battle royal, last eliminating Chris Jericho, to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.^[9][10] Also that night, Benoit defeated Triple H in a 60-minute Iron Man match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.^[9][10] The next week on Raw, Evolution (Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair) defeated Benoit, Edge, and Chris Jericho. Evolution won the match after Orton pinned Benoit following an RKO.^[11][12] The next week, on the August 9 edition of Raw, Benoit defeated Orton and Triple H in a Handicap match by disqualification.^[13][14]

The main feud on the SmackDown! brand was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and The Undertaker, with the two feuding over the WWE Championship. JBL won the title two months prior at The Great American Bash by defeating then-champion Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope match.^[15][16][17] One month later, on the July 22 edition of SmackDown!, JBL defeated a jobber to retain the WWE Championship. After the match, Undertaker came out and challenged JBL to a match at SummerSlam.^[18][19] On the August 5 edition of SmackDown!, as JBL called out The Undertaker, a midget wrestler, dressed as The Undertaker, came out and began imitating the real Undertaker. The real Undertaker came out shortly afterwards and attacked JBL, until Orlando Jordan came to make the save.^[20][21] The following week, Undertaker defeated Orlando Jordan by disqualification after JBL interfered and executed a Clothesline from Hell on The Undertaker.^[22][23]

The secondary feud on the SmackDown! brand was between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. The feud first started in March at WrestleMania XX, when Guerrero defeated Angle to successfully retain the WWE Championship. Guerrero lost the title to John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) in June, when Angle, then-SmackDown! General Manager, screwed Guerrero and declared JBL the winner.^[15][16][17] Three weeks later, on the July 15 edition of SmackDown!, JBL defeated Guerrero in a Steel Cage match to retain the WWE Championship. Towards the end of the match, El Gran Luchadore (Kurt Angle) interfered, giving JBL enough time to escape the cage and win the match. After the match ended, Guerrero attacked El Gran Luchadore and pulled off his mask, revealing him to be Kurt Angle.^[24][25] The following week, on SmackDown!, Vince McMahon booked a match between Angle and Guerrero for SummerSlam.^[18][19]

[edit] Event

Other on-screen talent^[3]

Role:	Name:
Commentator	Jerry Lawler (Raw)
	Jim Ross (Raw)
	Tazz (SmackDown!)
	Michael Cole (SmackDown!)
	Carlos Cabrera (Spanish)
	Hugo Savinovich (Spanish)
Ring announcer	Lilian Garcia
	Howard Finkel
	Tony Chimel
Referee	Chad Patton (Raw)
	Jack Doan (Raw)
	Earl Hebner (Raw)
	Mike Chioda (SmackDown!)
	Jim Korderas (SmackDown!)
	Nick Patrick (SmackDown!)
	Charles Robinson (SmackDown!)
Interviewer	Jonathan Coachman
	Todd Grisham

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, Rob Van Dam defeated René Duprée in a match taped for Sunday Night HEAT.^[26] The first match that aired was a six-man tag team match between the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von and Spike) and Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London. During the match, the team of Mysterio, Kidman, and London dominated the Dudley Boyz. Back and forth action took place between the teams, but the Dudleys emerged victorious, after Spike managed to pin Kidman after a 3D from Bubba Ray and D-Von.^[26]

The next match was the encounter of "Till Death Do Us Part" match between Kane and Matt Hardy. Hardy gained control over Kane, as he performed a Twist of Fate on Kane outside the ring. Kane, however, broke the nine count. Hardy also managed to hit Kane with the ring bell, but Kane kicked out, as Hardy went for a pin on Kane. The match came to a close when Kane reversed a suplex attempt by Hardy and countering into a chokeslam from the top rope and pinned Hardy. As a result of the pre-match stipulation, Lita had to marry Kane.^[26] The third match was the first of the "Best of 5" series for the WWE United States Championship between John Cena and Booker T. Early in the match, Cena took the upper hand over Booker. The match saw Cena and Booker take the advantage over each other. The last moments in the match saw Booker hit Cena with a Scissors Kick, in which Cena recovered quickly and hit an FU on Booker, which saw Cena score the first pinfall in the series.^[26]

The fourth match was a Triple Threat match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship involving Edge, Batista and Chris Jericho. In the match, Edge and Jericho double-teamed Batista, as they sent him to the outside. All three men took the upper hand in the title match until Edge hit a spear on Jericho, moments after Jericho hit a springboard on Batista, which resulted in Edge retaining the title, after covering Jericho for the win.^[26] The next match was between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. Angle gained control over Guerrero, as he focused on Guerrero's leg. At one point, Angle tried untying Guerrero's boot. Guerrero managed to reverse Angle's assault. During the match, the referee was knocked out, as a result, Guerrero took off his boot and hit both Angle and Luther Reigns, who was at ringside and tried getting involved in the match. The match concluded when Angle was able to kick out of a Frog Splash and got the ankle lock on Guerrero, which caused Guerrero to submit and give the win to Angle.^[26]

The following match was between Triple H and Eugene. At the start of the match, Triple H attacked Raw ring announcer Lilian Garcia, as distraction to attack Eugene. Eugene, however, countered Triple H's attacks with a Rock Bottom. One point in the match saw Ric Flair come down at ringside, which resulted in Flair getting ejected by the referee, after Flair tried interfering. As Flair was leaving from ringside, William Regal met up with Flair and hit Flair with a pair of brass knuckles. After seeing the events that took place, Eugene was distracted, which resulted in him losing the match, after Triple H performed a Pedigree on Eugene and pinned him.^[26]

The match that followed was for the WWE Championship between John "Bradshaw" Layfield and The Undertaker. Immediately, JBL and Undertaker started the match in the outside of the ring. JBL and Undertaker were able to kick out from being pinned, after both men performed their finisher moves. Mid-way in the match, the referee was knocked out, which resulted in Orlando Jordan, who accompanied JBL to ringside, handing JBL the WWE title, with which JBL hit Undertaker. Undertaker, however, managed to kick out on the two count. The last moments in the match saw Undertaker hit JBL with the WWE title, in which the referee viewed this and called for the bell and disqualified Undertaker, which resulted in JBL winning the match. Afterwards, Undertaker chokeslammed JBL through the roof of his limousine and was taken out on a stretcher.^[26]

The last match of the night was the main event between Chris Benoit and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. The match saw Orton attempting to get Benoit in a Sharpshooter, but he was quickly countered with Benoit maneuvering a Sharpshooter of his own. During the match, Benoit and Orton were on the outside of the ring, and Benoit catapulted himself through the ropes towards Orton. Orton, however, dodged it, which resulted in Benoit crashing head first into the security barrier. Later in the match, Benoit performed six German suplexes on Orton, but he lost the advantage after Orton blocked a headbutt attempt. The last moment in the title match saw Benoit trying to get the Crippler Crossface on Orton. Orton however, was able to escape and hit an RKO and get the pinfall, thus winning the World Heavyweight Championship and becoming the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.^[26]

[edit] Aftermath

On the August 16 edition of Raw, Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit in a rematch to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.^[27] After the match, Evolution (Batista, Ric Flair, and Triple H), threw Orton a mock celebration, only to reveal that they were not pleased with his new victory. While Batista had Orton propped on his shoulders, Triple H gave him a pleased thumbs up, but abruptly changed it to a thumbs-down and told Batista to drop Orton to the mat. Flair and Batista then attacked Orton as Triple H told him that he was nothing without Evolution.^[27] On the August 23 edition of Raw, Triple H told Orton to give him the title or pay the price.^[28] Orton refused and spit in Triple H's face followed by hitting him with the title belt.^[28] Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then booked a match between Orton and Triple H for the title at Unforgiven.^[28] At Unforgiven, Orton lost the title when he was pinned by Triple H.^[29]

The feud between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and The Undertaker continued. The next few weeks on SmackDown!, JBL wore a neck brace, after recuperating from Undertaker's chokeslam.^[30] On the August 26 edition of SmackDown!, Orlando Jordan, who was representing JBL, met Undertaker in a WWE Championship match, in which Undertaker won after interference from JBL, which resulted in JBL retaining the title.^[31][32] The following week on SmackDown!, General Manager Theodore Long booked a Last Ride match at No Mercy between JBL and Undertaker.^[33][34] At No Mercy, JBL retained the title after interference by Heidenreich.^[35]

[edit] Results

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

• Sunday Night HEAT match: Rob Van Dam defeated René Duprée (9:38)^[1][36][37]
  • RVD pinned Duprée after a Five-Star Frog Splash.
• The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von and Spike) defeated Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London (8:07)^[2][5][38]
  • Spike pinned Kidman after a 3D from Bubba Ray and D-Von.
• Kane defeated Matt Hardy (with Lita) in a "Till Death Do Us Part" match (6:08)^[2][5][38]
  • Kane pinned Hardy after a chokeslam from the top rope.
  • As a result, Lita had to marry Kane.
• John Cena defeated Booker T in match 1 of a "Best of 5" series for the WWE United States Championship (6:26)^[2][5][38]
  • Cena pinned Booker after an FU.
• Edge defeated Chris Jericho and Batista in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship (8:26)^[2][5][38]
  • Edge pinned Jericho after a spear.
• Kurt Angle (with Luther Reigns) defeated Eddie Guerrero (13:37)^[2][5][38]
  • Angle forced Guerrero to submit with an ankle lock.
• Triple H (with Ric Flair) defeated Eugene (14:06)^[2][5][38]
  • Triple H pinned Eugene after a Pedigree.
  • Eugene had become distracted when William Regal came to ringside and hit Flair with brass knuckles.
• Team Dream (Joy Giovanni, Amy Weber, Tracie Wright, Maria Kanellis, Christy Hemme and Michelle McCool) defeated Team Diva (Victoria, Gail Kim, Jazz, Stacy Keibler, Molly Holly and Nidia) in a game of "Diva Dodgeball" (1:24)^[2][5][38]
  • Carmella DeCesare did not show up for Team Dream, so Trish Stratus of Team Diva sat out to make it even.
• John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) (with Orlando Jordan) defeated The Undertaker by disqualification to retain the WWE Championship (17:37)^[2][4][38]
  • Undertaker was disqualified after hitting JBL with the WWE Title belt.
• Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit to win the World Heavyweight Championship (20:08)^[2][4][38]
  • Orton pinned Benoit after an RKO.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official 2004 SummerSlam Site