The WWE from November of 2005 to April of 2006 is regarded by most in the professional wrestling world as “The Black Plague of Wrestling”. While that may not be the most accurate description, it is without a doubt one that vividly paints a mental picture as to the state of World Wrestling Entertainment during this time. From one disaster and tragedy to the next, the WWE’s legs were cut off at every conceivable point. This is a timeline and history of what occurred during these infamous six months that led the WWE to where it is today, a company in turmoil desperately in need of restructuring, yet unable to do so.
While the Smackdown Brand had a month ahead of itself trying to completely rebuild after a devastating November while also trying to put on a PPV that would attract an audience despite having lost a number of Main Eventers, the Raw Brand had other, perhaps smaller, issues to deal with.
The first Raw after Survivor Series, on November 28, began the wind down for the year with a number of intriguing angles. Eric Bischoff opened the show with a celebration for Edge, the new WWE Champion. Bischoff welcomed the new champion after a video history with streamers, confetti, and balloons. He announced that Edge had the night off, with pay and that, so he could not destroy the night, John Cena had been barred from the building. He further stated that those that had failed him at SurSer would be punished over the next few weeks, and that it started tonight. Eric Bischoff called Coach to the ring, where he made the formal announcement that Raw’s new permanent announce team was Joey Styles and Jerry Lawler. Coach, for failing to stop his “good buddy” Goldust and the freak Boogeyman, was wrestling tonight for his and Mark Henry’s job on Raw. Coach was defeated in quick fashion by Chris Masters, and promptly fired from Raw. Masters, however, had not redeemed himself with Bischoff yet, and he was told that the following week he would face Mick Foley in a Street Fight. The remainder of the post SurSer Raw featured the Main Event of Ric Flair defending his IC Title against Shelton Benjamin. Flair looked to have the match in hand when HHH came to the ring sledgehammer in hand. He was stopped, however, when JBL attacked HHH from behind. While these two fought to the back HHH pinned Shelton to retain. The show ended with JBL and HHH fighting in the back.
The First SD of December saw Teddy Long promising the Team Smackdown members that they each had one favor they could cash in any time that month for helping to prove that SD was indeed the “A” show in the WWE. He further announced that Chavo Guerrero, the surprise fifth member of Team Smackdown, was now officially on SD, replacing his fallen uncle on the roster. A backstage skit showed the odd nature of the relationship between Goldust, The Boogeyman, and Long, as well as revealing that Goldust offered up his services to Long at SurSer to get revenge on Coach for turning his back on Goldust after their loss at Taboo Tuesday. Long rewarded the duo with a match that night against Vito and Nunzio, that they won. Chavo wrestled his first official match under SD against Funaki, which he won to a rousing ovation from the fans with The Frog Splash. JBL and Long seemed to be on the same page, although it was cryptic, and Long told JBL that he would indeed get his favor. JBL left the arena, only to be attacked in the parking garage by HHH, who laid JBL out with his sledgehammer before leaving. Long further announced that Batista had undergone surgery this past week, and as a result the WWE World Title had been vacated. He announced a one night eight man tournament for Armageddon to crown a new World Heavyweight Champion. To end the night, Chris Benoit asked for his favor, a WWE United States Title Match against Booker T, with Sharmell barred from ringside. Benoit won the US Title again in the Main Event match.
On the first Raw of December HHH bragged about his destruction of JBL, which led to Teddy Long appearing. As part of the stipulations of his match with Bischoff at SurSer, the winning General Manager got the luxury of making one decision involving the other brand’s roster. Long announced that as it was JBL’s favor, HHH was hereby traded to SD effective immediately. HHH threw a fit as security came to the ring to escort him from the building while the fans “sang” him off of Raw. Bischoff was livid in the back about HHH, and as he was ranting he overheard Show and Kane arguing. Show, for the second week in a row, was berating Kane for being the first man eliminated in the SurSer match. The two behemoths almost came to blows, leading the already enraged Bischoff to announce his punishment for the two men. In the Main Event Big Show would face Kane in a Choke Slam Match. Masters defeated Mick Foley in their Street Fight by beating him down with a lead pipe before locking in The Master Lock. Edge was again given the night off, while again Cena was barred from the building. For the second week in a row Styles and Lawler wished Kurt Angle well, without actually revealing what was being reported on the internet, Angle’s career was over. In the Main Event another wrestler’s career came to an end in yet another freak accident. The Big Show Choke Slammed Kane onto the announce table on the stage, however the table collapsed at an angle and Kane slid head first towards the floor below. The fans chanted “Holy Shit” at this awesome move, however Raw ended abruptly with Kane crumpled on the floor below and officials rushing to his aid.
Off camera, politics, egos, and injuries continued to plague the promotion. Cena’s role off camera was being reported as a punishment for injuring Angle, although most saw the allegations as baseless, Foley was vocal about having issues with his just starting feud with Masters, who he felt didn’t deserve and wasn’t ready for the rub he would get by defeating a legend of Foley’s status, and Edge, the new Raw Champion, was unable to wrestle for the remainder of the month due to his torn bicep. However the biggest was the injury to Kane. Already wrestling with a severely injured back, Kane’s bad bump had further broken his back. Kane had surgery within days, and again reports of his injury being career ending surfaced. Most were surprised that HHH had agreed to go to SD, however again internet reports immediately surfaced that HHH was going to win the WWE World Heavyweight title at Armageddon.
SD on December 9th continued the build to Armageddon by introducing HHH to the show in a promo where he berated the show and its wrestlers. This brought out Hardcore Holly to defend the show, and a match was made, which HHH won. However after the match The Wrestling…GOD came out in his limo and cut a promo on HHH cementing his new face status, as well as a match between the two at Armageddon, in the first round of the World Heavyweight Title Tournament. The rest of the brackets were announced and featured Randy Orton, Matt Hardy, Chris Benoit, Booker T, Rey Mysterio, and Mr. Kennedy. The Boogeyman and Goldust defeated Paul London and Brian Kendrick, continuing their odd union. MNM defeated LOD to retain their titles this night, while starting a full on feud with The Mexicools. Finally, in the Main Event Randy Orton defeated Matt Hardy one on one with help from his father and, oddly enough, Mr. Kennedy. This led to Rey and Chavo coming to the ring to make the save.
The December 12th Raw featured Kurt Angle in the ring, where he delivered an emotional and well received retirement speech. He spoke about his career and his love of wrestling, before breaking down in the ring. He asked the fans to send him off one last time, and as his music played the fans chanted “Thank You” after being prompted by Shawn Michaels, who came to the ring and hugged the departing Kurt Angle. This night saw Edge and Lita arrive in a limo, only to have the still barred Cena attack Edge in the parking garage. Cena was arrested, but not before he got his hands on Edge. The odd thing is that amidst some cheering for Cena in this segment there could clearly be heard “Cena Sucks” chants from the crowd. Masters, who looked to be ready to feud with Foley, was this week instead thrust into a feud with the IC Champion Ric Flair. Bischoff made the match early, and at The Royal Rumble Flair would defend his title against Masters. Kane’s status was revealed, and Show came to the ring to cut a promo bragging about how he ended Kane’s career, cementing him as a new top level heel for Raw. Show also announced that he would defend the titles on his own, leading Bischoff to making the night’s Tag Team Main Event for the titles, The Big Show versus Eugene and Rosey. In the match Rosey and Eugene actually had Show on the ropes, when Edge appeared in the ring and speared Rosey through the ropes to the floor below. Show then pinned Eugene to win. He and Edge shook hands, then Show handed one of the Tag Team Titles to Edge as the show went off the air.
The final SD before Armageddon on December 16th featured The Boogeyman and Goldust defeating The Dicks in a Tag Team comedy match. However after the match a new team appeared on SD and beat down The Freaks badly. Bobby Lashley and Orlando Jordan beat the team senseless as Coach and Mark Henry came to the ring. Henry crushed Goldust in a Bear Hug as Coach announced that he was their new manager, and they were challenging The Freaks to a match at Armageddon. In a backstage segment afterwards, it was revealed that Long hired Henry and Coach because this was Lashley’s favor. Matt Hardy defeated Randy Orton in a singles match with The Twist Of Fate, shocking everyone. Afterwards Hardy was again attacked by The Orton’s and Mr. Kennedy. This week nobody came to Hardy’s aid. Nunzio won a Cruiserweight Battle Royal to become the number one contender. JBL was interviewed, and he and HHH once again fought in the back. Rey and Chavo both cashed in their favor’s this night as well, and it was the same thing, a US Title shot against Benoit. Benoit lost the title when Chavo hit The Frog Splash on Rey to become the new US Champion.
On Sunday December 18th Armageddon came out like this:
With Kane and Angle effectively gone from WWE TV and with nothing new on the Stone Cold Steve Austin front, the last thing the WWE needed was to lose another Main Event star, but that happened as it was widely, and accurately, reported that Mick Foley and the WWE had parted ways following Foley’s refusal to lose to Chris Masters in a Boiler Room Brawl match at the Royal Rumble.
At the December 19th Raw, Lita, The Big Show, and Edge came to the ring and revealed how Edge had won the Money In The Bank shot at WrestleMania XXI in the six man ladder match for the World Heavyweight Title. However at Homecoming when Edge put his MITB shot on the line against Matt Hardy a new contract was added to the briefcase, this one being for the WWE World Title. Edge revealed that he had now cashed in both and ended the best year of his life in wrestling by once again unifying the titles. He claimed that he was the new Undisputed WWE World Champion, as well as one half of the Tag Team Champions on Raw. Flair and Shelton Benjamin defeated Chris Masters and Gregory Helms when Flair made Helms submit to The Figure Four after Masters walked out on his partner. Trish Stratus defended the Women’s Title against Candice Michelle successfully. Bischoff announced that Cena would be allowed back on Raw after the new year, but that he would not get his rematch against Edge as he forfeited it when he broke his ban from the arena last week. He then announced Carlito’s punishment. He would face HBK in the Main Event, and should he lose he would have his head shaved on the final live Raw of 2005. The match took place, but during the match The Big Show attacked HBK, completely destroying him. Edge and Lita come to the ring with Bischoff, who announced that Carlito is safe, as this is HBK’s punishment, and he is far more deserving of punishment than Carlito is. As Show Choke Slammed HBK over the top rope to the floor below Bischoff announced that HBK is the new number one contender to Edge’s titles, and that he will get the title shot at The Royal Rumble. The quartet laughed as the show ended.
The final “live” SD of 2005 on December 23 opened up with Edge, Lita, and The Big Show as well. They explained the same thing to Teddy Long and the SD audience that they explained on Raw. Long made the Main Event for the night of Edge vs. Benoit, but Edge said no, as he had already awarded the next title shot to HBK. He said Benoit can get in line and wait. MNM and James Noble, who cut a promo explaining how he moved to Hollywood with the remainder of his inheritance and is no longer the country bumpkin he once was while he name drops Tom and Katie, Jessica, and Ashton and Demi, and said that he and MNM run in the same circles now, defeated The Mexicools and Juvi when Noble pinned Juvi. Chavo successfully defended his newly won US Title against Booker T, but after he was beat down. Matt Hardy and Rey defeated Randy Orton and Mr. Kennedy, but afterwards they were also beaten down. The Main Event featured HHH and JBL wrestling to a Double Count Out in their match, before being separated by SD security. This caused Long to make the match for The Royal Rumble, HHH vs. JBL inside a Steel Cage. In the final segment of the night Chris Benoit gave a short and emotional speech saying that he was taking some time off to be with his family. He wished everyone a happy holidays, then said he hopes to be back sometime after the new year.
The Raw and SD in the last week of December were Best Of Shows.
In December the WWE further felt the effects of The Black Plague Of Wrestling, as they lost Kurt Angle and Kane from active competition, as well as put both WWE World Titles on Edge, a man who could not actively compete yet. Another blow came, as it was widely reported that Chris Benoit’s speech on SD was in fact his farewell speech, as he and WWE had been unable to come to terms on a new contract. This was further reported by WWE.com, who flat out said that Chris Benoit and the WWE had parted ways, and that Benoit was wished the best of luck in the future.
However the final blow for the year 2005 to the WWE would not even come from within.
On the New Years Eve edition of TNA Impact, from 11:30 to midnight, Christian Cage defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA World Title. As Christian celebrated, the countdown to midnight began. As the timer hit 5 the lights went off and at zero fireworks erupted in the Impact Zone. A spotlight hit the entranceway as Christian and the rest looked on. Perhaps Mike Tenay said it best at 12:00:02 am on Sunday January 1st, 2006.
“Wait a second Don, there’s a man there in the…oh my god, Don, fans, that’s CHRIS JERICHO!”
With his arms stretched out he spun around and Chris Jericho ushered in the first official wrestling angle of 2006 when he jumped to TNA and challenged Christian to a match later in the month for the NWA World Title.