SummerSlam (2004)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=SummerSlam (2004)


tagline=Let the Games Begin
theme="Summertime Blues" (Rush)cite DVD-notes|title=SummerSlam 2004 [DVD] |titleyear=2004|year=2004|publisher=WWE Home Video|location=Stamford, Connecticut|publisherid= WWE56084]
promotion=World Wrestling Entertainment
brand=Raw
SmackDown!
date=August 15 2004cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/summer.html#2004|title=SummerSlam 2004 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|accessdate=2008-02-15]
venue=Air Canada Centre
city=Toronto, Ontario
attendance=17,640
lastevent=Vengeance (2004)
nextevent=Unforgiven (2004)
event=SummerSlam
lastevent2=SummerSlam (2003)
nextevent2=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.cite web|first=Jason|last =Clevett|date=2004-08-15|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/08/16/585826.html|title=Orton-Benoit, Guerrero-Angle save SummerSlam|publisher=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-02-15]

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.cite web|date=2004-08-15|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/2004/mainevent/|title=SummerSlam main events|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-02-15] The predominant match on the SmackDown! brand was John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) versus The Undertaker for the WWE Championship, which JBL won after Undertaker was disqualified. The featured matches on the undercard included Kurt Angle versus Eddie Guerrero and Triple H versus Eugene.cite web|date=2004-08-15|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/2004/results/|title=SummerSlam 2004 results|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-02-15]

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 title. [cite web|date=2004-07-11|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2004/mainevent/|title=World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit defeats Triple H to retain|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-02-15] [cite web|first=Rick|last=Scaia|date=2004-07-11|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/recaps/ppv/20040711.shtml|title=WWE Raw presents Vengeance|publisher=Online Onslaught|accessdate=2008-02-15] [cite web|author=Widro|date=2004-07-11|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/31156/411s-WWE-Vengeance-Report-07.11.04.htm|title=411's WWE Vengeance Report 07.11.04|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-15] 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 title at SummerSlam.cite web|author=PK|date=2004-07-26|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30822/411s-WWE-Raw-Report-07.26.04.htm|title=411's WWE Raw Report 07.26.04|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-23] cite web|date=2004-07-26|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040726.html|title=July 26, 2004 Raw results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-23] Also that night, Benoit defeated Triple H in a 60-minute Iron Man match to retain the title. The following 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. [cite web|date=2004-08-02|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/040802.htm|title=August 2, 2004 Raw results|publisher=PWWEW.net| accessdate=2008-02-23] [cite web|date=2004-08-02|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040802.html|title=August 2, 2004 Raw results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-23] On the August 9 edition of "Raw", Benoit defeated the team of Orton and Triple H in a Handicap match by disqualification.cite web|first=Alex|last=Obal|date=2004-08-09|url= http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30829/411s-WWE-Raw-Report-07.26.04.htm|title=411's WWE Raw Report 08.09.04| publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-02-23] cite web|date=2004-08-09|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040809.html|title=August 9, 2004 Raw results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-23]

The primary feud on the SmackDown! brand was between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and The Undertaker, both of whom wanted the WWE Championship. JBL had won the title two months prior at The Great American Bash by defeating then-champion Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope match.cite web|date= 2004-06-27|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/2004/mainevent/|title=JBL vs. Eddie Guerrero in a Texas Bullrope Match for the WWE Championship|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-02-24] cite web| first=Rick|last=Scaia|date=2004-06-27|url=http://www.oowrestling.com/recaps/ppv/20040627.shtml|title=SmackDown! presents... WWE Great American Bash|publisher=Online Onslaught|accessdate=2008-02-24] cite web|first=Adam|last=Martin|date=2004-06-27|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2004/1088391565.shtml|title=Full WWE Great American Bash (SmackDown!) PPV Results - 6/27/04|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2008-02-24] One month later, on the July 22 edition of "SmackDown!", JBL defeated a jobber to retain the title. After the match, Undertaker came out and challenged JBL to a match at SummerSlam.cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040722.htm|title=SummerSlam Surprises|accessdate=2008-03-08|date=2004-07-22|publisher=PWWEW.net] cite web|url= http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040722.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 22, 2004|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] On the August 5 edition of "SmackDown!", as JBL called out The Undertaker, a midget wrestler came out and began to imitate the real Undertaker. The real Undertaker came out shortly afterwards and attacked JBL, until Orlando Jordan came out to help him. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040805.htm|title=No Laughing Matter|accessdate=2008-03-08|date=2004-08-05|publisher= PWWEW.net] [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040805.html|title=SmackDown! results - August 5, 2004|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] The following week, Undertaker defeated Jordan by disqualification after JBL interfered and executed a Clothesline from Hell on Undertaker. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040812.htm|title=JBL Guarantees Victory|accessdate=2008-03-08|date=2004-08-12|publisher=PWWEW.net] [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040812.html|title=SmackDown! results - August 12, 2004|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]

The secondary feud on the SmackDown! brand was between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. The feud first started 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. Three weeks later, on the July 15 edition of "SmackDown!", JBL defeated Guerrero in a Steel Cage match to retain the title. Towards the end of the match, El Gran Luchadore (portrayed by Angle) interfered, giving JBL enough time to escape the cage and win the match. After the match ended, Guerrero attacked Luchadore and pulled off his mask, revealing him to be Kurt Angle. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040715.htm|title=Angle's a Fraud|accessdate=2008-03-08|date=2004-07-15|publisher=PWWEW.net] [cite web|url= http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040715.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 15, 2004|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] On the following edition of "SmackDown!", Vince McMahon scheduled a match between Angle and Guerrero for SummerSlam.

Event

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, Rob Van Dam defeated René Duprée in a match taped for "Sunday Night Heat".cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/august/2004.htm|title=WWE SummerSlam 2004|accessdate=2008-02-23|publisher=PWWEW.net] The first match that aired was a six-man tag team match between the team of the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray, D-Von and Spike) and the team of Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London. Towards the end of the match, Spike pinned Kidman after a 3D from Bubba Ray and D-Von to win the match for his team.

The next match was between Kane and Matt Hardy. Hardy gained control over Kane, after performing a Twist of Fate onto Kane outside of the ring and hit him with the ring bell. Kane then countered a suplex attempt by Hardy into a chokeslam from the top rope. Kane scored the pinfall on Hardy to win the match. As a result of the pre-match stipulation, Lita was forced to marry Kane, as part of their on-going storyline. The third match was between John Cena and Booker T in a "Best of 5 series" for the WWE United States Championship In this "series," Cena and Booker would compete in up to five matches, where the first person to win three matches would become the new United States Champion. Early in the match, Cena gained the advantage over Booker, but towards the end of the match, Booker performed a scissors kick on Cena, who retaliated by performing an FU. Cena scored the pinfall to win the match and gain the upper-hand in the "Best of 5 series."

The following match was a Triple Threat match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship involving Edge, Batista and Chris Jericho. During the match, Edge and Jericho performed double-team maneuvers onto Batista. Toward the match's end, Edge performed a spear on Jericho to score the pinfall and retain the title. The fifth match on the card was between Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. Angle gained control over Guerrero early on in the match. Mid-match, the referee was knocked out, and as a result, Guerrero took his boot off and used it to hit both Angle and Luther Reigns, who was at ringside with Angle and tried to get involved in the match. The match concluded when Angle was able to counter a frog splash and perform an ankle lock on Guerrero. Angle then won the match via submission after Guerrero tapped-out.

The next match was between Triple H and Eugene. At the start of the match, Triple H pretended to attack the ring announcer, Lilian Garcia, as a distraction to attack Eugene. Eugene countered Triple H's attacks by delivering a Rock Bottom. During the match, Ric Flair came down to ringside to interfere, but he was ejected by the referee. As Flair was leaving from ringside, William Regal hit Flair with a pair of brass knuckles. After losing focus by watching the events that took place, Triple H performed a Pedigree on Eugene and pinned him to win the match.

The following match was for the WWE Championship between John "Bradshaw" Layfield and The Undertaker. Immediately, JBL and Undertaker started the match outside of the ring. Mid-match, the referee was knocked out, so Orlando Jordan, who accompanied JBL to ringside, handed JBL the title, which JBL used to hit Undertaker. In the last moments in the match, Undertaker countered and hit JBL with the title. The referee saw this and disqualified Undertaker, which resulted in JBL winning the match. Afterwards, Undertaker started to take his frustration out on JBL by delivering a chokeslam to JBL through the roof of JBL's limousine. This caused JBL to have to be taken out of the arena on a stretcher.

The last match of the card was the main event between Chris Benoit and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Early on in the match, Orton attempted to perform a Sharpshooter on Benoit, but instead, Benoit performed a Sharpshooter of his own. Later in the match, Benoit performed six German suplexes on Orton, but lost the advantage after Orton blocked a headbutt attempt. Towards the end of the match, Benoit attempted to perform a Crippler Crossface on Orton. Orton, however, was able to escape, perform an RKO, and win the match via pinfall. As a result, Orton became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.. Following the match whilst Orton was celebrating his victory, Benoit returned to the ring and offered Orton a handshake, telling him to "be a man" which Orton accepted.

Aftermath

On the August 16 edition of "Raw", Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit in a rematch to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040816.html|title=Raw results - August 16, 2004|accessdate=2008-01-15| publisher=Online World of Wrestling] 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. He then told Batista to drop Orton to the mat, and Flair and Batista attacked Orton as Triple H told him that he was nothing without Evolution. On the August 23 edition of "Raw", Triple H told Orton to give him the title or "pay the price".cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/040823.htm|title=The Wedding Bell Tolls|accessdate=2008-01-15|date=2004-08-23|publisher=PWWEW.net] Orton refused, and then he spit in Triple H's face and hit him with the title belt List of professional wrestling s _tu. face. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then scheduled a match between Orton and Triple H for the title at Unforgiven. At Unforgiven, Orton lost the title when he was pinned by Triple H. [cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/september/2004.htm|title=WWE Unforgiven 2004|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=PWWEW.net]

The feud between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and The Undertaker continued. The next few weeks on "SmackDown!", JBL wore a neck brace, to signify that he was recuperating from Undertaker's chokeslam. [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040819.html|title=SmackDown! results - August 19, 2004|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] On the August 26 edition of "SmackDown!", Orlando Jordan defended the WWE Championship for JBL against The Undertaker. Undertaker won the match via disqualification following interference from JBL; as a result, JBL retained the title. [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040826.html|title=SmackDown! results - August 26, 2004|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] [cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040826.htm|title=A Surrogate Defense|accessdate=2008-02-16|date=2004-08-19|publisher=PWWEW.net] The following week on "SmackDown!", General Manager Theodore Long scheduled a Last Ride match at No Mercy between JBL and Undertaker. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/040908.htm|title=Nobody's Safe|accessdate=2008-02-16|date=2004-09-09|publisher=PWWEW.net] [cite web|url=http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040909.html|title=SmackDown! results - September 9, 2004|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] At No Mercy, JBL retained the title after interference by Heidenreich. [cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/october/smackdown2004.htm|title=WWE No Mercy 2004|accessdate=2008-02-16|publisher=PWWEW.net]

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/2004/ Official 2004 SummerSlam Site]