9 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2004
8. Eddie Guerrero’s ‘Forgotten Frog Splash’
Eddie Guerrero became one of SmackDown's premier stars in 2004. He won the WWE Title from Brock Lesnar in a neat surprise switch up at No Way Out in February, then set about the task of elevating JBL so the ex-tag-teamer could become a bonafide main eventer. This was something Guerrero took very seriously, but he was also determined to help somebody he got on with behind the scenes.
The pair had several bloody/intense matches as rivals. Come July, creative were ready to move both onto other things, so they decided to blow the feud off on the 15 July SmackDown by putting them inside a steel cage. Predictably, because they always had, Eddie and Bradshaw meshed well in the gimmick bout, but one spot in particular stood out as awe inspiring.
Guerrero scaled the 15-foot (allegedly - it looked higher!) high structure, looked back with just a splash of concern, positioned himself, then leapt off to hit his trademark Frog Splash finisher. That took incredible guts, and it must've hurt like hell. Looking back, it's pretty obvious that Eddie wasn't selling as he rolled around the canvas in agony afterwards. He felt every bit of that landing.
Kurt Angle interfered to help JBL win, which put a bow on the Guerrero vs. Bradshaw feud, but nobody really talks about Eddie’s frog splash when discussing big bumps. That's a shame, because it was something else. Layfield had nerves of steel to stay still until the last possible second (he raised up slightly off the mat to soak up some of the impact), and Guerrero showed balls a-go-go to work the high spot as planned.
Eddie's forgotten Frog Splash deserves more praise.