REY MYSTERIO (C) VS. JBL

 To quickly recap the story, Rey Mysterio won the 2006 Royal Rumble match from #2. That’s the same as #1, and I’ll die on that damn hill. Anyway, he then won the World Heavyweight Championship, he took on all opponents and was beaten by bigger guys in the run-up to tonight’s match. The song for this event on the Network is what would be used for CM Punk’s first WWECW theme.

Earlier in the night Michael Cole and Tazz, on commentary go to JBL backstage, he says the feel-good story of 2006 ends tonight. He notices Chavo Guerrero, who is here to support Rey. JBL corrects him and says he’ll watch Rey lose tonight just like Eddie Guerrero lost the WWE title to him in 2004. We then cut to Steve Austin being crowned the 1996 King of the Ring in preparation for the 2006 Final later tonight.  JBL makes his way out in his limo, he’s already the US Champion and wants to be the first Smackdown Superstar to hold both belts. There’s a long pause before Rey’s music hits and JBL audibly calls it mind games.

 

REY MYSTERIO © VS. JOHN “BRADSHAW” LAYFIELD

(WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

WWE Judgement Day 2006 (21^st May 2006)

The fans chant for Eddie as JBL starts pushing Rey down. Rey Mysterio connects with knee kicks but is shoved away again. They lock up and Bradshaw uses his strength again. Rey connects with leg kicks and pulls JBL into a side headlock. JBL lifts Mysterio and places him on the top turnbuckle, talking trash before Mysterio slaps him.

  John “Bradshaw” Layfield kicks Mysterio in the gut and clubs him down to the mat, Mysterio’s head is sent into the turnbuckle and he’s beaten down in the corner with right hands by JBL. JBL clubs Rey down and stomps on his fingers, Rey is sent into the ropes but he holds on, avoiding a big boot by JBL, and a drop toehold leaves JBL over the middle rope, but he avoids the 619, going to the floor. Rey Mysterio knocks him down with a baseball slide and follows with a seated senton from the apron, he gets back in the ring and hits a crossbody from the middle rope for a 2 count. He gets another after a dropkick and running leg drop. Mysterio connects with a shoulder block in the corner and the 10 punches, before choking JBL with his boot. Rey Mysterio hits a sliding dropkick to JBL’s ballsack and it’s fine because he’s a babyface.He goes back to his more conventional movesets dropkicking JBL out of the ring. JBL cuts off Mysterio with a big boot and sends Rey into the ring steps before taking a rest. Speaking of which I wish they’d take a rest with the replays in this match.

  JBL decks Mysterio and sends him back in the ring before they get counted out. The fans chant for a 619 but it doesn’t seem likely as Mysterio is sent out of the ring with a right hand. JBL sends Rey’s head off the ring steps and taunts his wife in the crowd. JBL rolls Rey in the ring and covers but Rey kicks out at 2. JBL hits a suplex and pops his hips, her connects with the second. Rey is hung over the top rope and a boot sends him to the floor. JBL shows Rey’s wife his wound from the ring steps and intimidates her before hitting Rey with a Fallaway slam right in front of her. JBL brings Rey back into the ring and covers, but Rey kicks out at 2. JBL slaps Rey Mysterio in the corner as we see his wife in the crowd again. JBL hits Rey with short-arm clotheslines and leaves the referee to count the champion down. Rey Mysterio makes it to his feet at 9 but isn’t there for long after JBL connects with a running big boot.

  JBL covers 1, 2, NO! Rey kicks out and JBL looks pissed off. Rey Mysterio tries to fight back with right hands but is cut off with a thumb to the eye. JBL puts him in a sleeper hold and starts clubbing at Rey’s cut. JBL screams at the referee to check Rey’s arm as they get to the mat but lets Mysterio go at 2. He decides to cover but Rey Mysterio kicks out at 2. Rey is perched on the top turnbuckle but he fights off a back superplex attempt, Rey hits a moonsault onto JBL, but he kicks out at 2. Rey Mysterio ducks the clothesline attempt and kicks JBL in the back of the knee, he connects with right hands and gets a running start, ducking another clothesline. Rey springs back from the middle rope with another crossbody but he’s slow to his feet. He kicks Bradshaw in the jaw and quickly covers but JBL kicks out again. JBL counters a bronco buster with a well-placed boot, 

 JBL lifts Rey for a powerbomb but Rey Mysterio fights it off. JBL is draped over the middle rope again, and Rey Mysterio hits the 619! Nick Patrick is pulled in the way of the springboard splash. JBL powerbombs Rey Mysterio and demands another referee. Charles Robinson runs down but Rey is able to kick out at 2! JBL decks Robinson and brings a chair into the ring. Rey Mysterio kicks the chair back into JBL’s face and hits another 619, he goes to the top rope and hits the Frog Splash for the win.

WINNER: REY MYSTERIO (STILL World Heavyweight Champion)

JBL dominated the whole match, any offense Rey got in was a lucky shot. It took 2 referee bumps, hesitation and a chair being used against him to protects JBL, even with it being his own fault. This is one of the main reasons Rey Mysterio’s title run is looked back on as a joke. [*] 1.5/10

After the match, Chavo comes out to celebrate the victory with Rey Mysterio, because scraping through when you were clearly outclassed should be celebrated.