Judgment Day (2006)

Background

On the May 5 episode of SmackDown!, after Rey Mysterio expressed his feelings about being World Heavyweight Champion, John "Bradshaw" Layfield came out and declared himself the number-one contender. JBL immediately began degrading Mysterio because of his Mexican heritage, saying he was an illegal immigrant and that Mysterio doesn’t deserve to be champion. Mysterio reacted by saying that he'd fight anyone at any time. In turn, JBL announced that Mysterio would face off against Mark Henry later that night. During the match, Mysterio tried to use his quickness to avoid Henry, but was easily countered by Henry's power. Mysterio was able to hit a 619 and a Seated senton, but was defeated when Henry hit the World's Strongest Slam for the pin. The next week on SmackDown!, JBL announced that Mysterio would take on The Great Khali later that night. During the match, Mysterio attempted a springboard dropkick, but it had no effect. Khali then picked up Mysterio and hit a Two-handed chokeslam for the win. On the May 19 episode of SmackDown!, JBL said that Mysterio didn't look so well due to the beatings he endured in past weeks and that he probably didn't even know what day it was. Mysterio answered and told him the day, May 19. Kane, who in recent weeks attacked anyone who said May 19, came out and faced off against Mysterio. Kane dominated most of the match, hitting a variety of power moves. Kane then began to hear voices in his head saying May 19, which caused him to go into a psychotic trance. JBL told him to finish the job, but mistakenly said May 19, causing Kane to attack him. As a result, the match ended in a no-contest.

The other main match on the card was Booker T versus Bobby Lashley in the finals of the 2006 King of the Ring tournament. On the April 7 episode of Smackdown!, SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long announced the 2006 King of the Ring Tournament. In the first match of the first round, Kurt Angle defeated Randy Orton after breaking Orton's ankle by refusing to let go of the Ankle Lock. In the second qualifying match, Booker T defeated Matt Hardy after a low blow while Booker's valet, Sharmell, distracted the referee. In the third qualifying match, Bobby Lashley defeated Mark Henry by countout after was knocked to the outside of the ring. In the last match of the first round Finlay defeated Chris Benoit after a chair-shot and a Celtic Cross. On May 12, in the semifinals, Lashley defeated Finlay with a spear, and Angle was unable to compete against Booker due to ribs injuries he sustained after being attacked by Henry. This occurred after Lashley eliminated Henry from the tournament that same night. Angle had to forfeit, thus Booker qualified for the finals. Two weeks later, Angle demanded a match against Henry from SmackDown! General Manager Long, but Long refused to let Angle compete that night. Instead, he booked a match pitting Angle and Henry for Judgment Day. Also, in result of the King Of the Ring tournament, a match between Chris Benoit and Finlay was made.

The third match on the card was The Undertaker versus The Great Khali. This feud began when Khali attacked The Undertaker at the beginning of April. After the attack, the Undertaker didn't appear on television again until Judgment Day, leading Khali's manager, Daivari, to proclaim that Khali was "the real phenomenon". Over the next few weeks, Khali and Daivari continued to proclaim that Khali was better than the Undertaker, however, on May 5, General Manager Long told Khali and Daivari that the Undertaker had challenged Khali to a match at Judgment Day. Later that night, Khali accepted the challenge.

Event

Before the event went live on pay-per-view, Matt Hardy defeated Simon Dean in a dark match.

Preliminary matches

The first match that aired on pay-per-view was the WWE Tag Team Championship match between MNM (Johnny Nitro, Joey Mercury, and their manager, Melina) and their challengers Paul London and Brian Kendrick. After a largely back and forth match, Mercury accidentally ran into Nitro, who hit Melina on the outside. This distracted Mercury, allowing London to roll-up Mercury for the victory and the Tag Team titles.

The second match was between Chris Benoit and Finlay. Benoit took advantage after three German suplexes, but missed a diving headbutt, allowing Finlay to gain control. After the Three Amigos, however, Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface, and Finlay submitted, giving Benoit the win.

The third match was between Melina and Jillian Hall. Melina controlled the early stages of the match, until Hall was able to pin her with a sunset flip, even though Melina's hand was on the bottom rope.

The next match was the Cruiserweight Title match between the champion, Gregory Helms, and Super Crazy. In a high-flying match, including a suicide senton by Crazy, Crazy took control about half-way through the match. Helms countered, however, and after a Powerbomb, Helms pinned Crazy to retain the title by using the ropes for leverage.

The fifth match was between Kurt Angle and Mark Henry. Angle, who had his ribs taped, lost the match by countout after Henry tackled him against the ringpost on the outside. After the decision, however, Angle hit Henry with a steel chair and applied the ankle lock on Henry. He then Angle Slammed him onto an announce table and proceeded to hit him with a further chairshot, sending Henry through an announce table.

In the sixth match, Booker T faced Bobby Lashley in the King of the Ring Final. Lashley took control early on in the match, until he hit the ringpost with a shoulder block attempt. This allowed Booker to take control, although Lashley quickly countered with a belly to belly suplex. Before he could capitalize, however, Booker's valet, Sharmell, distracted Lashley. After some more back and forth offense, Sharmell caused another distraction, allowing Booker's associate Finlay to hit Lashley with a shillelagh. Booker then pinned him to win the tournament. Lashley was outraged, however, and speared Booker through a throne to gain some revenge.

The next match was between The Undertaker and The Great Khali. Khali dominated the match for large periods, although the Undertaker did manage to execute his signature "Old School". After the Undertaker failed to execute a chokeslam, Khali took control again, and pinned the Undertaker following a Big Boot.

Main event

In the main event Rey Mysterio defended the World Heavyweight Championship against United States Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). After the beginning went back and forth, JBL took control after he threw Mysterio into the steel steps on the outside. After continued offense from JBL, Mysterio fought back, but when Mysterio went for a West Coast Pop, JBL avoided by pulling referee Nick Patrick in front of him. A second referee, Charles Robinson, replaced Patrick, but after Mysterio kicked out of a JBL Bomb, JBL attacked Robinson. JBL then brought a steel chair into the ring, but Mysterio kicked it back into his face. Mysterio followed it up with a 619 and Frog Splash to pin JBL and retain his championship.

Aftermath

On the following edititon of SmackDown!, the King of the Ring coronation ceremony took place.Booker T was crowned by William Regal, and he became known as King Booker. Booker also announced his wife, Sharmell as his Queen. Booker eventually built up a Court, with "Sir William Regal" and "Sir Finlay" joining. King Booker also continued his feud with Bobby Lashley, until they finally had their blow-off match inside a steel cage. King Booker went on to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, while Finlay and Regal continued the Court's feud with Lashley.

WWE also announced the return of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), as a brand. Paul Heyman was in charge, and given to draft picks to bolster his roster. His only SmackDown! pick was Kurt Angle, who wrestled his last match on SmackDown! on June 2. Angle went on to wrestle the returning Randy Orton at ECW One Night Stand, after storyline breaking his ankle in April. Orton tapped out to lose the match.

On the episode of SmackDown! after Judgment Day, Rey Mysterio again defeated John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), forcing JBL to retire from wrestling. JBL, however, returned as the new SmackDown! Color commentator on June 16. Mysterio was then challenged to a match at One Night Stand, for the World Heavyweight Championship, by Sabu, repeatedly leading up to the match. At One Night Stand, the match ended in a No Contest, after it was ruled that neither Sabu or Mysterio could continue after Sabu used a DDT to drive Mysterio and himself through a table. As a result, Mysterio retained the title.

The Great Khali and The Undertaker continued to feud, with Khali challenging the Undertaker to a Punjabi Prison match at The Great American Bash. The Undertaker accepted the match the following week, sending a message over the speakers, and interrupting a segment where Daivari and Khali were mocking him. The Undertaker made his first appearance on SmackDown!, since Judgment Day, the following week to send a message to Khali. Before the match at the Great American Bash, however, Khali was replaced with the Big Show, due to a problem with his liver. Khali and the Undertaker feuded for the rest of the summer, finally completing their feud just before SummerSlam.