10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2005
6. The First Friday Show Was A Banger
UPN moved SmackDown to Friday's starting with the 9 September episode. A benefit concert held in aid of victims who'd suffered the wrath of Hurricane Katrina meant that the first hour was going to air exclusively on WWE.com. Then, UPN would air the second hour; WWE's hands were tied there, but they must've been a bit miffed considering the jump from Thursdays to Fridays was the network's call in the first place.
The timing wasn't great, although the benefit bid for those affected was obviously important.
Soldiering on, Vince and troops put on the best card they could think of anyway. Yes, Chris Benoit beat Orlando Jordan in a few seconds (again!), and the team of Heidenreich and Animal retaining their tag belts against MNM was only as good as match involving big Jon was going to be, but at least those weaker points happened early or were short.
The real lures for fans tuning in came in the form of a steel cage grudge match between old friends turned enemies Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, as well as a 'Bullrope Match' for the World Heavyweight Title between reigning champ Batista and perennial SmackDown linchpin JBL.
Those were some tasty matches SmackDown could brag about for this first foray onto Friday nights. You can’t really argue with 2 PLE quality scraps on a 2-hour show. WWE tried their best to offset the annoying .com thing and give fans something worth going out of their way to see.
Guerrero vs. Rey would go down in history as Eddie's final big gimmick bout too.