Can Angle be stopped?
The Kemper Arena in Kansas City was the last stop on the Road to WrestleMania, and it was also the last opportunity World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio would have to gain momentum heading into their huge Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 22.
In the beginning of the night it appeared as though the Legend Killer Randy Orton would be the one heading into the biggest event of the year with the upper hand, but when it was all said and done, it was the Wrestling Machine that looked unstoppable.
Rey Mysterio kicked off SmackDown by calling out Randy Orton. The master of the 619 was sick and tired of being considered a charity case. He felt he was desesrving of his spot in the WrestleMania main event, and he wanted to prove it to Orton with a one-on-one match on SmackDown. Before Orton could even come out, the Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle came to the ring. The Wrestling Machine said that after being set up by Orton the previous week, Angle wanted the Legend Killer one-on-one as well. Before long, Orton and SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long both came out to the ramp. Orton got in the heads of Angle and Mysterio and convinced them that instead of fighting him, they should fight each other. Long agreed to make the match, but he also had Orton escorted out of the building by security so he wouldn't be able to interfere in the match later on. It appeared as though Angle and Mysterio would be in action just two days before WrestleMania, and Orton would get time to rest up.
Mysterio and Angle started their match off slow, almost as if they were scouting each other for their WrestleMania Triple Threat Match. Mysterio went for the 619 early on, but Angle had it well-scouted and avoided the maneuver. Angle knocked Mysterio to the outside and rammed him back-first into the barrier. The Wrestling Machine went to a grounded style and wore Rey down with a bodyscissors, continuing to work on the back.
Mysterio was able to absorb the punishment and bounced back with a West Coast Pop, but he could only get a two-count. Soon after, he went for the 619 again, but Angle caught him in mid-maneuver and reversed it into an ankle lock. Mysterio was forced to tap out, and the Wrestling Machine emerged victorious in the non-title match. Angle left the ring with a smile on his face, but with Rey down, Orton, who was apparently still in the building, snuck inside the ring and hit Mysterio with an RKO. At first Angle looked stunned at what happened, but a sly smile crept across his face realizing one of his WrestleMania opponents was further injured.
Orton yelled at Angle to wipe that smile off his face because at WrestleMania it would be him that was knocked out with an RKO. Angle rushed the ring, and he and the Legend Killer traded lefts and rights. Orton went for an RKO, but the Wrestling Machine reversed it into an Angle Slam. He pounced on the Legend Killer and cinched in the ankle lock. Even though it wasn't an official match, Orton tapped out. Angle had apparently conquered both of his WrestleMania opponents in the course of mere minutes during the last stop on the Road to WrestleMania.
United States Champion Chris Benoit and JBL both looked primed and ready for their match at WrestleMania as well. Benoit picked up an impressive victory over the Road Warrior, and JBL decimated his opponent with two clotheslines from hell for a win as well. The two met backstage after Benoit's win, and JBL, as usual, was not at a loss for words. He said that he had defeating one of the greatest technical wrestlers of their generation in Eddie Guerrero and at WrestleMania 22 he will defeat another great technical wrestler in Benoit.
Booker T and Sharmell will have to face their biggest fear -- the Boogeyman -- at WrestleMania 22, but the bizarre Superstar didn't want to wait until then. Booker T was facing Paul Burchill in one-on-one action when the worm-loving Boogeyman's music hit and the mysterious red smoke filled the arena. Booker T went under the ring to look for his nemesis, but when he did so, Boogeyman emerged and threw Sharmell over his shoulders and went to the back. Booker T followed in hot pursuit throughout much of SmackDown. He followed a trail of worms until he finally found his wife in the bowels of Kemper Arena. Booker rescued Sharmell, but the couple continues to be haunted by SmackDown's most bizarre Superstar.
At WrestleMania 22, the World's Strongest Man will be the 14th Superstar to try and bring Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania streak to a screeching halt. Henry addressed the SmackDown fans in a mock funeral for the Deadman's streak. He chronicled all 13 of the previous Superstars, but he reminded everyone that those Superstars were not the World's Strongest Man. Henry said that he took out Batista, pinned the World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, and at WrestleMania 22, he will end Undertaker's undefeated streak.
Lashley, Matt Hardy and Finlay will represent SmackDown in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 22, but on Friday Night SmackDown, they found themselves involved in a six man tag team match. Hardy and Lashley teamed up with Tatanka to take on Finlay and WWE Tag Team Champions MNM. In the end, Lashley was able to distract Joey Mercury long enough for Hardy to hit him with the Twist of Fate for the win. Lashley and Hardy, along with Tatanka, were victorious, but at WrestleMania it will be every man for himself, and there will be no teammates.
The Mexicools were also in action as they defeated the tag team of Kid Kash & Jamie Noble.
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