REY MYSTERIO (C) VS. JAMIE NOBLE

 Before the match Josh Matthews, interviewing John Cena before the Royal Rumble match. Unfortunately, his rhyme allows Rob Van Dam to interrupt at the end and call himself the winner.

Rey Mysterio © vs. Jamie Noble w/ Nidia (WWE Cruiserweight championship)

WWE Royal Rumble 2004 (25^th January 2004)

(C) World Wrestling Entertainment

Jamie Noble's girlfriend Nidia was recently blinded by Tajiri's green mist. She has a stick and sunglasses because kayfabe. Michael Cole thinks it's disgusting that Noble brings her out to the ring but Tazz calls it help.

They lock up and Noble gets a waistlock, standing switch by Mysterio but Noble rushes to the ropes and sends Mysterio across the ring. Rey Mysterio dropkicks Noble into position for the 619 but Noble is quickly up and meets Rey in the middle of the ring, sending him up in the air and helping him down to the mat from the flapjack. Jamie Noble doesn't let Rey breathe, stomping him on the mat. Jamie Noble sends Rey Mysterio into the corner and beats him down with right hands and chops. Jamie Noble tries to hang Mysterio across the top rope but Rey bounces straight off. Jamie Noble covers but gets a nearfall, a kick to Rey Mysterio's back gets Noble a second nearfall in a minute. Jamie Noble sends Rey Mysterio off the ropes with an irish whip but it shakes the cobwebs up as Rey rolls Noble up for a nearfall of his own!

Jamie Noble is quick to his feet and he levels Mysterio with a clothesline, he hesitates before covering and gets a nearfall but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he wanted to wear Mysterio down more as he applied a chinlock. Jamie Noble goes back to the midsection, transitioning into an abdominal stretch on the mat. Noble can't get the pressure he wants so he tries to raise to his feet and Rey Mysterio finds an opening to fight back until Jamie Noble kicks him in the gut. An irish whip sends Mysterio into the ropes and Noble sends him into the air but that gives him the space to hit Noble with a dropkick and catch a breather in the corner. Jamie Noble charges at Mysterio in the corner but Mysterio gets his boot up. Rey hits rights and chops. Mysterio climbs on Noble's shoulders for an electric chair into headscissors. Rey Mysterio runs off the ropes hitting Jamie Noble with a wheelbarrow bulldog but only gets a nearfall.

Rey Mysterio springboards back from the middle rope with a crossbody but lands in a gutbuster by Jamie Noble. Jamie Noble tries to end it with a Tiger Driver but Rey Mysterio counters. Jamie Noble knees at the champion's head but gets too close to Nidia who accidentally trips the wrong person. Jamie Noble lets her know it's him in a way no lady should be spoken to and Rey Mysterio dropkicks him from behind. Rey Mysterio hits the 619 and the flying senton gets Rey the pin so he retains his title.

WINNER: REY MYSTERIO (STILL WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION)

Smackdown used the cruiserweights to open their portion of the show. It's a tried and true method and having Rey Mysterio at this point in his career was almost a guarantee that Smackdown would dominate the early portion of the highlight reel. Jamie Noble's control was well done, between general wearing down and working on Mysterio's midsection, cutting of his cardio and giving Noble more of an advantage as the match went on drew sympathy for Rey. Jamie Noble bringing his disabled girlfriend out for the match and that decision was the sort of simple psychology that can be put into multiple situations and work just as well if the people care. ** but personally I'd rate it 6/10.