PAUL LONDON (C) VS. CHAVO GUERRERO

 Before he match, Sharmell is backstage with BookerT, she asks Booker to take Kurt Angle out and Booker T says he will. Some lingerie and handcuffs show up for Sharmell and Booker T goes looking for Mr. Angle. Chavo makes his way out first and he has 2 victories over the champion, having beaten London by count out, and pinning him in a tag match on Smackdown recently. Paul London sprints to the ring and we’re ready to start.

Michael Cole and Tazz are on commentary for this match.

PAUL LONDON © VS. CHAVO GUERRERO

(WWE Cruiserweight Championship)

WWE Judgement Day 2005 (22^nd May 2005)

  They circle and throw strikes just out of range, Paul London takes Chavo down and is kicked away. Chavo Guerrero is the first one to his feet, he clubs down on London and kicks him in the ribs. Paul London fights with forearms from his knees but is stunned with a European uppercut.

  Chavo Guerrero sends London off the ropes with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and continues the assault. Paul London is sent into the top turnbuckle, Chavo runs across the ring to do the same thing before taking shots at Paul London’s ribs and snapmaring him out of the corner. Chavo traps London’s arm and puts him in a top wristlock. Tazz talks about rib injuries staying with you for a while as London makes it to his feet. Chavo cuts him off with knees to the midsection and sends Paul London off the ropes, but London comes back with a clothesline, then another. Paul London leapfrogs Chavo and hits a standing hurricanrana for a nearfall. Chavo meets London with a knee to the midsection and a European uppercut before sending him across the ring. Paul London gets his knees up on the charge and gets to the middle rope. Paul London hits a mule kick, jumping over Chavo and sending him into the middle turnbuckle then connects with the dropsault (dropkick landing in a moonsault) which I will always think is underrated. Paul London hits the 450 Splash but lands on Chavo’s knees to turn the momentum again.

  Paul London fights back from his knees, and Chavo counters an irish whip into a back suplex for 2. Chavo chokes London against the middle rope and drapes him over the top by the ribs before a dropkick to the injured target brings London back into the ring. Chavo Guerrero covers and gets 2. Chavo Guerrero works an abdominal stretch until London elbows his way free, Chavo tries to counter back into a slam but Paul London lands on top for a cover 1, 2, no! Paul London is sent into the corner Bret Hart style before Chavo targets his kidneys with forearm strikes. Paul London flips out of a back suplex and hits a belly-to-belly. Chavo Guerrero is the first up, but London fights to his feet and backs Chavo into the ropes with forearms and chops. Chavo reverses an irish whip, London lands on his feet from the backdrop and knocks Chavo down with a heel kick! 1, 2, Chavo was barely down for 2 but he gets sent across the ring. Paul London storms at Chavo with a forearm. Paul London tries it again but this time hits the turnbuckle as Chavo avoids the charge. Paul London hits an enziguri, 1,2, Chavo grabs the bottom rope. Chavo Guerrero counters an irish whip, London jumps on his shoulders and tries to roll through but Chavo sits on the pin, grabbing the rope, London kicks out at 2!

  Chavo Guerrero goes back to stomping on London’s ribcage before arguing with the referee, which is sound strategy. Paul London blocks being sent into the turnbuckles, because that stops being fun after a while. He knocks Chavo back with an elbow, the second one doesn’t connect properly so London distracts us with a flip out of the corner. Paul London fights off the Gory Bomb and knocks Chavo down with a spinning kick. Paul London goes to the top rope, so Chavo rolls out of the ring to avoid the 450 Splash. Paul London changes direction and dives from the top to the floor with a somersault senton which Chavo catches none of. We see a replay to confirm my suspicions and Paul London brings Chavo back in the ring. London connects with a shoulder through the ropes but is knocked out of the air with a forearm from Chavo, sending the champion back to the floor. Chavo Guerrero dives through the ropes, this time London’s thinking “fuck catching you” and that seems to be how you get a replay in this match. Chavo Guerrero makes his way to the top rope but London cuts him off. They fight over a superplex, Chavo attacks the ribs and looks out to the floor.

  Chavo Guerrero tries to pick London up for a powerbomb but Paul London fights out of it and sends Chavo overhead and to the mat with a back body drop. Paul London repositions himself on the top rope and hits the 450 Splash for the win.

WINNER: PAUL LONDON (STILL WWE Cruiserweight Champion)

These guys were given time and it in turn we got a decent undercard match. It’s amazing how that happens. There was good work against London’s ribs and he had some decent hope spots whilst fighting from underneath but he didn’t look like a cardboard champion. The two missed dives were scary, but it was still a fun match. [**½] 4.5/10