On June 23, 2005, WWE Friday Night Smackdown, taped in Tucson, Arizona, featured the pinnacle moment of the Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero feud, an epic battle that has remained etched in the minds of wrestling fans two decades on. This intense episode became the crucible in which the turbulent emotions and high-stakes drama of their rivalry came to a boil, reshaping careers and leaving a significant mark on professional wrestling.
The show began with a montage diving into the heated history between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. Announcers Michael Cole and Tazz welcomed viewers, setting the tone for a night of fierce confrontations and mounting drama among Smackdown’s top superstars. Rivalries old and new were poised to collide, with the Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero feud the focal point of the night’s drama.
Randy Orton Stirs the Pot Among Main Eventers
Randy Orton opened the evening, reminding the audience that he is the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history. Orton referenced legendary names he’s faced—Mick Foley, Harley Race, Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Brock Lesnar—emphasizing the legacy he is forging. He turned his ire toward Undertaker, blaming him for his failure to secure victory at WrestleMania 21, and recounted giving Taker the RKO on Smackdown following his draft from Raw, asserting dominance and seeking revenge.
As Orton boasted, footage of Undertaker besting him with a Tombstone was displayed, causing Orton to lose his composure. He threatened Undertaker, hinting at an inevitable rematch under his conditions.
You won’t know when, you won’t know where,
—Randy Orton, World Heavyweight Champion.
Undertaker, you’re just going to have to wait.
—Randy Orton, World Heavyweight Champion. The chilling atmosphere intensified when Undertaker appeared out of nowhere, prompting Orton to retreat, keeping the tension high and their rivalry unresolved.
Tag Team and Women’s Division Tensions Rise
Heidenreich faced Joey Mercury, accompanied by Johnny Nitro and Melina. Mercury controlled the early minutes, applying pressure with a chinlock, before Heidenreich staged a short-lived comeback. Ring-side chaos erupted as Melina slapped Heidenreich and Michelle McCool scuffled with Melina. With the referee distracted, Nitro delivered a superkick to Heidenreich, allowing Mercury to score the pinfall. Mercury emerged victorious in a brief but unforgettable encounter highlighting the volatility of the tag team landscape and the increasing involvement of the women’s division.
Afterwards, Melina declared her intent to challenge Michelle McCool, dismissing her as unworthy and setting up a future showdown. Mercury and Nitro initially doubted Melina’s wrestling ability but eventually voiced support, while Melina mocked her rival by suggesting McCool would soon be known as Michelle McLoser. Their heated exchange underlined the deepening competition among the divas, foreshadowing more confrontations to come.
Championship Ambitions and Draft Lottery Intrigue
JBL, looking to assert himself as the next Smackdown Champion, lobbied Teddy Long for the title. Long, however, teased a major announcement about the future of the championship and refused to let JBL enter his office. Speculation soared about which Raw superstar would join Smackdown as the latest draft pick, with names like Triple H and Batista on everyone’s mind. This uncertainty set the stage for future brand-defining moments, with the Smackdown title scene left up in the air and ripe for conflict.
Cruiserweight Chaos: Los Mexi-Cools Arrive
Paul London charged into a Cruiserweight Title match against Chavo Guerrero, only for the contest to erupt in chaos at the hands of Psicosis, Super Crazy, and Juventud Guerrera. The trio rode to the ring on a “Mexican Rider 2005” riding mower, launching a surprise assault on both competitors and cutting a passionate promo. Juventud Guerrera declared,
This is the beginning. This is our statement. Things are going to change. We are tired of working for you. Now Los Gringos are going to be working for us.
—Juventud Guerrera, Luchador. They united in defiance, stating,
We are not Mexicans, we are Mexi-Cools.
—Los Mexi-Cools, Faction. With their arrival, the Cruiserweight Division gained an energetic, rebellious edge, promising to shake up Smackdown and broader WWE.
The match ended in a no contest, but injected new life into the division and presented Paul London with unfamiliar adversaries. For a weight class that often occupied the show’s periphery, the spotlight finally shone fiercely on its stars.
Major Shakeups in the Smackdown Title Picture
As anticipation built, JBL strode to the ring believing he would be crowned Smackdown Champion, but Booker T interrupted, refusing to endorse JBL and insisting the championship should be earned, not given. Tensions grew as Chris Benoit and Big Show joined the fray, each making their own case for inclusion in the title match. Teddy Long announced a five-way contest for the following week: JBL, Booker T, Chris Benoit, Big Show, and the Undertaker would compete for the coveted championship.
Amid the growing chaos, Muhammad Hassan and his manager Khosrow Daivari made their Smackdown debut. Hassan, feeling unwelcome, argued for his rightful place in the title match and taunted his opponents, dismissing Booker T’s WCW accolades and branding JBL a quitter. Long granted Hassan’s demand and added him to the championship bout. Tensions spilled over as Big Show tossed Daivari out of the ring, while JBL and Hassan clashed, previewing the anarchy expected at the upcoming championship contest.
Brand Transfers and Legacy Concerns
The Smackdown landscape braced for further upheaval as fans and pundits speculated whether the company would create a new title or transfer an existing world title from Raw back to Smackdown. With stars such as John Cena, Batista, Triple H, Christian, and Jericho in the title picture, the integrity and prestige of the championships hung in the balance. The ongoing brand split made each move and draft selection pivotal, fueling debate over the long-term impact on storylines and championship legacy.
Big Show vs Muhammad Hassan: Controversial Debut Win
The looming title shuffle was mirrored in the ring by the hard-hitting match between Big Show and Muhammad Hassan. With Matt Morgan at ringside providing commentary, tension escalated quickly. After enduring Hassan’s early offense, Big Show regained control before being distracted by Morgan. With the official detained and Daivari thrown into the ring, Hassan used a chair to stun Big Show and secure a tainted victory, giving him a controversial but notable win in his Smackdown debut.
Hassan’s turnaround from doing the “time-honored tradition” of losing on Raw before joining Smackdown, to gaining renewed credibility with a key victory, was not lost on fans. As observed, it is common for superstars moving between brands to be showcased in a way that elevates their status upon arrival.
The Climactic Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero Main Event
The highlight of the night—and arguably of the entire summer—was the confrontation between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero. In a pre-match promo, Rey revealed the personal stakes motivating him to end his conflict with Guerrero once and for all after inflicting a brutal chair assault previously.
It felt so good. But he got away. But Eddie opened up a side of me I never thought existed. Tonight, I’m not going in to win a match. No, no, no. I’m going in for redemption.
—Rey Mysterio, WWE Superstar. The emotional undertones of the feud reached their zenith, casting the match as more than a contest but as a battle for personal redemption and revenge.
As the match began with half an hour remaining, Mysterio and Guerrero paced themselves deliberately, trading holds and circling until Mysterio’s outside dive triggered the first momentum shift. After a commercial break, the match became a showcase of Guerrero’s aggression, as he disregarded clean breaks and unleashed a ruthless assault on Mysterio outside the ring.
Guerrero’s mean streak was evident, and the crowd sensed the urgency as Mysterio struggled to recover. The back-and-forth drama intensified, with Mysterio rallying intermittently, only for Guerrero to regain control with calculated, punishing tactics. High-impact moves and signature maneuvers, including Guerrero’s Three Amigos and Mysterio’s multiple attempts at the 619, kept the crowd on edge, echoing the energy of an NBA team relentlessly trying to close a stubborn point deficit.
With approximately four minutes left, Mysterio unleashed his signature offense, hitting a springboard off the ropes and locking in a near-fall. The climax arrived when Guerrero went for a frog splash, only for Mysterio to evade. Mysterio then executed the 619 and finished with a “Drop the Dime” maneuver, pinning Guerrero at the 28-minute mark. Guerrero forced a smile to mask his disappointment as the show faded out, sealing another classic chapter in their storied rivalry.
Aftermath and Lasting Impact of the 2005 Feud
The Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero feud in 2005 remains one of the most emotional and intense rivalries ever seen in WWE, leaving indelible marks on both competitors and raising the stakes for future Smackdown superstars. The main event match not only showcased technical wrestling but also wove personal betrayal and quest for redemption into a singular, compelling narrative. The Smackdown main event delivered on all fronts, embodying the turbulent feelings that made this storyline unforgettable.
This night also cemented the influence of supporting figures like JBL, Booker T, Big Show, Chris Benoit, Muhammad Hassan, and others, whose actions on the same night rippled across the WWE landscape. As the championship picture and the Cruiserweight Division were shaken up, and as Rey Mysterio’s quest for closure dominated the main event, the episode foreshadowed dramatic developments in the weeks to follow. Even after twenty years, the Rey Mysterio vs Eddie Guerrero feud stands as a benchmark in wrestling history—one where intense emotions, high stakes, and unforgettable performances converged at the heart of Smackdown.
