No Way Out 2004

No Way Out 2004 Review


Here's my very first review from the new WWE Network! I've had so much fun playing around with it all day, but now it's time to get back to the reviews and this one seemed very appropriate.

Ten years ago, almost to this day, I started watching professional wrestling for the first time. I'll always remember turning on Smackdown for the first time and seeing Rey Mysterio and Tajiri go one on one. This was the first PPV I have ever watched and for that reason it will always hold a place in my heart. The main event is the reason why I have stayed a fan for so long; because it showed that anything can happen in the craziest and best sport in the world. So here it is, No Way Out 2004.




Sable and Torrie Wilson come out to start the show because they are on the cover of Playboy. I'll take these two starting a show over the Authority any day of the week. All they do is welcome us to No Way Out.



The Basham Brothers & Shaniqua vs Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty
Smackdown Tag Titles are on the line. The Basham's gimp gimmick was really weird. I remember hearing somewhere that Rikishi made Shaniqua's breasts swell up to twice their size, but I can't remember how he did it. This was a good choice for the opener as it was a fun match and got the crowd fired up due to the antics of Rikishi and Scotty. **1/4



Jamie Noble vs Nidia
Noble has to be blindfolded during the match. Yes this was actually a feud that had been built up for a few months due to Nidia becoming 'blind' and costing Noble a lot of matches. Noble was pretty good in his role though. For a blindfold match, it wasn't that bad, even if that isn't saying much at all. Not bad while it lasted. *



APA vs The World's Greatest Tag Team
Sadly both teams were only a couple of months away from being split up, which was a shame for TWGTT since they were easily the best tag team in the WWE, but at least the splitting up of the APA gave us the JBL character.This was just a filler match that you could have easily seen on Smackdown. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. **



Goldberg is in the building. I'm sure he won't disrupt anything.



The General Manager Paul Heyman comes out to complain about Goldberg being here at the PPV. Brock Lesnar arrives. He calls Goldberg a bitch and that brings him into the ring. Lesnar takes a jackhammer and security arrives to take out Goldberg. Good segment to build up their upcoming match at Mania, even if it didn't turn out so well.



Hardcore Holly vs Rhyno
Poor Holly went from bring in a main match for the WWE Title to being in a match only just made on Sunday Night Heat. A solid match here, even if it did feel like just another filler match for the show. Kudos to both guys for getting the crowd into the match. **1/2



Rey Mysterio vs Chavo Guerrero
Cruiserweight Title is on the line. Chavo didn't look too great coming out of the Royal Rumble PPV, as he looked easily beaten by his uncle Eddie, but this match made him look good again. Mysterio can make just about anyone look good. These guys have had so many matches against each other and this was a great one. An awesome back and forth cruiserweight match that kicks the show into a higher gear. Great stuff. ***3/4



Kurt Angle vs John Cena vs The Big Show
The winner of this match will go on to face the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania. Angle was definitely the favourite here as Cena was still a rising star, and I don't think anyone wanted to see Show win it. Show was the US Champ and had only defended it a couple of times since winning it in October. A good match here, although it did have it's slow moments thanks to Show, but Angle and Cena carried it well enough. ***



Eddie Guerrero vs Brock Lesnar
WWE Title is on the line. Definitely an all time classic here, and a genuinely heartwarming moment in wrestling history, especially now that Eddie is no longer with us. This is a guy who worked hard to get where he was and here he was finally rewarded with the biggest moment in his career. Probably one of the greatest matches of all time, and for good reason, as both guys looked incredibly motivated. Check this one out if you haven't seen it already. ****3/4




7.5/10. A very good show here from a year when there wasn't many. Apart from an all time classic, you also get a great cruiserweight match and a good triple threat match. There was quite a lot of filler, but at least it wasn't bad and usually quite solid. A recommended show.