Michael Cole and Tazz are on commentary for this match. Before the match, Funaki interviews himself. Spike Dudley interrupts, calling Funaki pathetic, this fires Funaki up, telling Spike he'll take the title in the form of a knock-knock joke. He won a battle royal the previous Smackdown to become #1 contender. Spike Dudley makes his way out, Spike won the title back in July.
SPIKE DUDLEY © VS. FUNAKI
(WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
WWE Armageddon 2004 (12th December 2004)
They circle and lock up, chain wrestling begins the match, and Spike has Funaki in a headscissors on the mat. Funaki is a former Hardcore Champion, winning it for 20 seconds in the Wrestlemania 2000 Hardcore battle royal. Funaki trips Spike Dudley and covers but Spike immediately kicks out. They lock up again and Funaki rolls Spike up for a nearfall, Spike runs into another small package for 2 before taking some time by the ropes. Funaki gets a drop toehold, the Oklahoma roll gets another 2 count. Spike Dudley knees Funaki in the midsection and a forearm then sends him off the ropes, Funaki blocks a hip toss, underarm spin puts Spike on the mat and Funaki has him in the armbar. Funaki works the arm with elbows, but Spike gets to his feet and makes it to the ropes. Spike takes a shot with his forearm, Funaki reverses an irish whip, Spike Dudley lands behind on the slam attempts and tries to push Funaki into the ropes but is sent outside. Funaki hits Spike with a baseball slide and brings him back in the ring, Funaki covers but Spike kicks out at 1.
Funaki goes back to the arm and sends Spike into the corner but runs into a back elbow. Spke Dudley gets to the top rope but Funaki socks him and sends him across the ring. Funaki hits a running dropkick for another nearfall. Funaki gets in some right hands and sends Spike from corner to corner, Spike sends Funaki over the top rope but he lands on the apron. Spike Dudley shoulder barges him through the ropes. Spike Dudley goes on the attack with rights over the ropes and brings Funaki to the corner, he climbs the ropes but Funaki cuts him off, Funaki climbs up the other side of the corner, he sets up a superplex but Spike counters it, sending Funaki to the floor. The referee starts counting Funaki out of the ring but he makes it to the apron at 8. Spike Dudley knocks him down to the floor and brings him back into the ring, covering for 2. Spike Dudley hits the double stomp and puts an abdominal stretch on Funaki, clubbing at Funaki's ribs. Funaki is able to make it to his feet and counters with a hip toss, but Spike Dudley headbutts him.
Spike Dudley lifts Funaki to slam him, but Funaki lands on Spike in a cover, Spike kicks out at 2. Funaki reverses a back suplex into another pin for 2. Spike kicks Funaki in the gut, fireman's carry into a gutbuster from Spike gets a nearfall. Spike Dudley puts another abdominal stretch on Funaki. Funaki tries to fight out of it but Spike hammers at his midsection, Funaki is able to reverse it, he gets some shots on Spike but Spike knocks him down. Spike Dudley sends Funaki into the corner Bret Hart style, Funaki flips back out of a back suplex attempt and puts Spike on the top turnbuckle. He gets hung in the Tree of Woe and Funaki hits a double stomp in the corner! He hits Spike with right hands and sends him off the ropes into a back body drop. Funaki knocks Spike down with a clothesline. Spike Dudley is sent into the corner, he walks out into a bulldog, Funaki covers but only gets a nearfall. Spike Dudley reverses an irish whip, Funaki tries to kick Spike but gets caught, Funaki hits an enziguri and covers but Spike kicks out at the last second.
Spike reverses an irish whip sending Funaki into the corner but Funaki moves out of the way, so Spike collides with the turnbuckles. Funaki hits a crossbody from the top rope 1, 2, 2.9! Funaki hits Spike with right hands as they get to their feet. Both men block attempts at hitting the turnbuckles and Funaki elbows Spike in the gut. Funaki gets to the middle rope and slaps the taste from Spike's mouth, but Spike is able to push away from the tornado DDT. Spike Dudley with a running headbutt to the midsection, Funaki pushes off a Dudley Dog attempt and short-arm, no Spike gets a sunset flip but Funaki rolls through to his feet and a jackknife cover 1, 2, 3!
WINNER: FUNAKI (NEW WWE Cruiserweight Champion)
This was a better match than I expected when I saw this again. It was a feel-good moment and I remembered likeing the Funaki title reign at the time but times have changed since then. They made Funaki look almost like Spike's equal– As a match it's but personally I'd rate it 0/10
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