ORLANDO JORDAN VS. JOHN CENA

 Before the match, we get the Basic Instinct-themed WrestleMania 21 commercial. We’re taped in Tokyo, Japan for tonight’s broadcast. John Cena is the WWE United States Champion at this point and he enters first. He has a prematch rap for Orlando Jordan and JBL. He’s looking to become a double champion. Orlando Jordan makes his way out as we see Cena hit an F-U on JBL last week.

Tazz and Michael Cole are on commentary for this match.

 

ORLANDO JORDAN VS. JOHN CENA

(WWE Championship Tournament quarterfinal)

WWE Smackdown (10^th February 2005)

  They lock up and Orlando Jordan knees Cena in the gut. Jordan beats Cena down with clubbing blows and sends the champ’s head into the top turnbuckle.

  Orlando Jordan drives his shoulder into Cena’s ribs as Nick Patrick counts. John Cena reverses an irish whip and catches Jordan with a hip toss. Cena hits a fisherman suplex and covers for 2. Orlando Jordan is sent into the corner. Cena squashes him in the corner and elbows him repeatedly in the jaw. John Cena catches a kick, he sends Orlando Jordan into the corner and runs into a boot. Orlando Jordan explodes out of the corner with a clothesline before utilising his boxing experience. Jordan hits three elbow drops on Cena and covers for 2. John Cena fights to his feet with forearms but an irish whip is reversed. Cena runs into a powerslam for 2.

  Michael Cole reminds us of the progress in the tournament. The winner of tonight’s main event goes straight to the finals is all I can tell you for this review. Orlando Jordan has Cena in a chinlock, with his knee in Cena’s back. John Cena is caught with a back suplex when he fights to his feet, Orlando Jordan covers for 2. A swinging neckbreaker gets Orlando Jordan another 2 count as Tazz complains about slow counts. Orlando Jordan sends Cena off the ropes into a back elbow and covers for another nearfall. Cena connects with a right hand to Jordan’s midsection and rushes him with a back elbow. A right hand and a headbutt set up a running clothesline. Cena knocks Orlando Jordan down with a back elbow and a running shoulder tackle.

  John Cena hits the Protobomb and a Five Knuckle Shuffle. John Cena hits the F-U and covers for the 3 count.

WINNER: JOHN CENA

 This was a short match, but Orlando Jordan was made to look like enough of a threat before it became comical. John Cena was over and being in a city that WWE didn’t hit often amplified that. [*¾] 3.5/10