Judgment Day (2004)

Judgment Day
Promotional poster featuring The Undertaker
Promotion	World Wrestling Entertainment
Brand	SmackDown!
Date	May 16, 2004
City	Los Angeles, California
Venue	Staples Center
Attendance	18,722
Buy rate	235,000 [1]
Tagline	Souls will cry.
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous Backlash Next → Bad Blood
Judgment Day chronology
← Previous 2003 Next → 2005

The 2004 Judgment Day was the sixth Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held exclusively for wrestlers from the promotion's SmackDown! brand division. The event took place on May 16, 2004, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The main event was for the WWE Championship between Eddie Guerrero and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), which JBL won by disqualification after Guerrero hit JBL with the WWE Championship belt; titles do not change hands via disqualification or countout unless stipulated, thus Guerrero retained. Featured matches on undercard were The Undertaker versus Booker T, John Cena versus René Duprée for the WWE United States Championship and Chavo Guerrero versus Jacqueline for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.

Production

Background

The event was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Judgment Day was first held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as the 25th In Your House pay-per-view (PPV) in October 1998. ^[2] It then returned in May 2000 as its own event, establishing Judgment Day as the promotion's annual May PPV. The 2004 event was the sixth Judgment Day and was held on May 16 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. While the previous year's event had featured wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown! brands, the 2004 event featured wrestlers exclusively from the SmackDown! brand. ^[3]

Storylines

The event featured eight professional wrestling matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the SmackDown! brand, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television show, SmackDown! . ^{[4] [5]}

The main rivalry heading into Judgment Day was between Eddie Guerrero and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) with the two battling over the WWE Championship. On the March 25 episode of SmackDown!, recently drafted Raw superstar Booker T insulted SmackDown! superstars. ^[6] The new SmackDown! General Manager Kurt Angle gave Booker T an opportunity against Guerrero for the WWE Championship. A member of the recently disbanded APA, JBL interfered in the match, having turned heel earlier in the night and attacked Guerrero with a Clothesline from Hell. On the April 8 episode of SmackDown!, Angle announced that the winner of the Great American Award would become the number one contender for the WWE Championship and gave the award to JBL. However, Guerrero came out, stole the trophy and broke it. ^[7] On the April 22 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero lost to D-Von Dudley in a non-title match after another interference by JBL. ^[8] On the April 29 episode of SmackDown!, JBL cut a promo about Guerrero's ancestors, saying they were illegal immigrants. On the May 6 episode of SmackDown!, it was announced that JBL caused Guerrero's mother to suffer a heart attack at a house show on May 2 when he threatened her and grabbed her by the shoulder in front of Guerrero's family. On the May 13 episode of SmackDown!, Guerrero was arrested after he destroyed JBL's limousine, and JBL defeated Guerrero's friend Rey Mysterio.

The other main match on the card was between Booker T and The Undertaker. On the April 22 episode of SmackDown!, Booker T defeated Rob Van Dam and bragged about how he was the biggest star on the SmackDown! brand, but then ran away as he saw The Undertaker walk down the ramp. On the April 29 episode of SmackDown!, Booker T tried to attack The Undertaker to no avail, making Kurt Angle book a match between them for Judgment Day. On the May 6 episode of SmackDown!, Booker T went to a voodoo witch in order to try and overcome The Undertaker, and the witch told him to use dirt from an unmarked grave against his foe. On the May 13 episode of SmackDown!, Booker T defeated the FBI, and then had a staredown with The Undertaker.

Another feud heading into the event was between John Cena and Rene Dupree over the WWE United States Championship. The feud began after Dupree was drafted to the SmackDown! brand. On the April 22 episode of SmackDown!, Dupree had a talk show called "Cafe de René", with Torrie Wilson as his guest. Dupree insulted Wilson and tried to attack her, only for Cena to save her. On the April 29 episode of SmackDown!, Cena interfered in Dupree's match with Wilson, and Kurt Angle booked the match for Judgment Day. On the May 6 episode of SmackDown!, both Cena and Dupree attacked each other during Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson's match. On the May 13 episode of SmackDown!, Dupree said that he would be the first French man to be the United States Champion.

Event

Other on-screen personnel

Role:	Name:
English commentators	Michael Cole
	Tazz
Spanish commentators	Carlos Cabrera
	Hugo Savinovich
Interviewer	Josh Mathews
Ring announcer	Tony Chimel
Referees	Charles Robinson
	Nick Patrick
	Jimmy Korderas

Before the Judgment Day event aired live on pay-per-view, Mark Jindrak defeated Funaki in a match that aired on Sunday Night Heat . ^[9]

Preliminary matches

The pay-per-view began with a tag team match, where the team of Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam faced The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley). Bubba Ray and D-Von attempted a 3-D on Mysterio, but Van Dam prevented the move and Mysterio performed a 619 on Bubba Ray and D-Von. Van Dam performed a Five Star Frog Splash on D-Von to win the match. ^{[9] [10]}

The next match was between Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie. Wilson ripped Marie's trunks and exposed her thong before pinning Marie with a backslide to win the match. ^{[9] [10]}

The third match was between Mordecai and Scotty 2 Hotty, which Mordecai won after performing a crucifix powerbomb. ^{[9] [10]}

The fourth match was between Charlie Haas and Rico (managed by Miss Jackie) and Billy Gunn and Hardcore Holly for the WWE Tag Team Championship. Holly attempted to execute the Alabama Slam on Haas, but Rico performed a superkick on Holly while Gunn distracted the referee. Haas pinned Holly with a sunset flip to retain the titles. ^{[9] [10]}

The following match was between Jacqueline and Chavo Guerrero (managed by Chavo Classic) for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Guerrero wrestled the match with his left arm tied behind his back. After back and forth action, Chavo Classic untied Guerrero's left arm and distracted the referee, allowing Guerrero to hit Jacqueline with the arm, drop her throat-first over the top rope and perform a Gory Bomb to win the title. ^{[9] [10]}

After that, John Cena defended the WWE United States Championship against René Duprée. Cena performed an FU on Dupree to retain the title. ^{[9] [10]}

Main event matches

The next match was a standard match between The Undertaker and Booker T. In the climax, the referee was knocked down, and Booker T threw dirt at the Undertaker to no effect. Booker T performed the scissors kick on The Undertaker for a two count. The Undertaker won the match after executing a clothesline followed by a Tombstone Piledriver on Booker T. ^{[9] [10]}

In the main event, Eddie Guerrero defended the WWE Championship against John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). Both men were able to gain control early in the match. Guerrero attempted to execute a plancha on JBL, but JBL caught Guerrero with a fallaway slam onto the floor and performed a back body drop onto a broadcast table. Back in the ring, JBL applied a bear hug, but Guerrero escaped by poking JBL in the eye and performed a dropkick followed by Three Amigos. After Guerrero collided with the referee, JBL hit Guerrero with a steel chair, causing Guerrero to bleed profusely (which in reality was caused by botched blading that resulted in Guerrero cutting an artery in his forehead). JBL performed a Clothesline from Hell on Guerrero as another referee counted the pinfall for a two count. JBL attempted a second Clothesline from Hell on Guerrero, but Guerrero avoided and collided with the referee. JBL powerbombed Guerrero as the original referee counted the pinfall for a two count. Guerrero went for a frog splash, which JBL avoided. JBL retrieved a steel chair, distracting the referee and allowing JBL to retrieve the title belt. Guerrero attacked JBL with a low blow whilst the referee was distracted. The referee disqualified Guerrero after he struck JBL with the title belt, meaning JBL won the match by disqualification, but Guerrero retained the WWE Championship. After the match, Guerrero continued to attack JBL with the title belt and a steel chair, causing JBL to bleed, until officials separated the two. ^{[9] [10] [11]}

"The chair shot was very stiff. [...] Eddie went deep. Very deep. I had no idea until I watched that tape back how much blood there was, I have seen some bloodbaths in Japan, Europe, Mexico and Texas-I had been in several-I have never seen anything like that."

— Layfield recounting the match between him and Guerrero at Judgment Day ^[12]

Results

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1H	Mark Jindrak (with Theodore Long) defeated Funaki by pinfall	Singles match	3:44
2	Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) by pinfall	Tag team match	15:17
3	Torrie Wilson defeated Dawn Marie by pinfall	Singles match	6:15
4	Mordecai defeated Scotty 2 Hotty by pinfall	Singles match	3:02
5	Charlie Haas and Rico (c) (with Miss Jackie) defeated Billy Gunn and Hardcore Holly by pinfall	Tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship	10:26
6	Chavo Guerrero (with Chavo Classic) defeated Jacqueline (c) by pinfall	Singles match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship	4:49
7	John Cena (c) defeated René Duprée by pinfall	Singles match for the WWE United States Championship	9:54
8	The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer) defeated Booker T by pinfall	Singles match	11:28
9	John "Bradshaw" Layfield defeated Eddie Guerrero (c) by disqualification	Singles match for the WWE Championship	23:16
(c)  – the champion(s) heading into the match H  – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

References

1. "WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)". Wrestlenomics. March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
2. Cawthon, Graham (2013). The History of Professional Wrestling. Vol. 2: WWF 1990–1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN   B00RWUNSRS.
3. "Judgment Day 2004 Venue". World Wrestling Entertainment . Archived from the original on March 23, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
4. Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
5. "Live & Televised Entertainment". WWE . Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
6. "The More Things Change". World Wrestling Entertainment . March 25, 2004. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
7. "Bradshaw, Eddie Steal The Award". World Wrestling Entertainment . April 8, 2004. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
8. "The Show Continues ... Heyman Returns For One Night Only". World Wrestling Entertainment. April 22, 2004. Archived from the original on December 12, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
9. Martin, Adam (May 16, 2004). "Full WWE Judgment Day (SmackDown) PPV Results - 5/16/04; Los Angeles, CA". WrestleView. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
10. Keller, Wade (May 16, 2004). "5/16 WWE Judgment Day PPV review: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event". Pro Wrestling Torch. TDH Communications Inc. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
11. "Eddie Guerrero vs. JBL for the WWE Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2008.
12. Layfield, John. "My -feud- with my friend Eddie". The Layfield Report. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2025.

External links

• Judgment Day 2004 official website