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.
The WWE, falling apart from within slowly but surely, would suffer another month of tumultuous events, unforeseen exits, releases from the Midcard, and the loss of yet one more Main Event Superstar in February of 2006. However unlike previous months during “The Black Plague Of Wrestling” there would be no silver lining. No excellent PPV like The Royal Rumble, no returning stars like RVD, Taker, and Chris Benoit, and no good press such as the Real Sports special on HBO would save the WWE from the darkest month during “The Black Plague”. All WWE had to look forward to was the end of the roster split, a lame duck PPV between The Rumble and WMXXII, and loads of criticism from the internet.
The WWE’s roster split was originally designed to give more TV time to those that were not receiving enough, make room for everyone on the enormous roster following the purchase of WCW and the additions of former WCW and ECW wrestlers, and ultimately to make the WWE more money with expanded PPV’s. However what the roster split wound up doing wrong far outweighed what it ever did right. With the losses of Austin, Foley, Angle, Kane, Eddie Guerrero, and Jericho from the upper card, as well as the final confirmation that UPN was indeed canceling SD come May 26, 2006, those within upper management and creative realized that the roster split was a failed experiment that no longer had a place within the WWE. It had to end. The groundwork had been unknowingly, even from WWE, laid in October, November, and December, and January had begun the process in full form. February was to be the month that saw it all come to a head and an end at No Way Out
Sadly, getting there would prove to be the biggest challenge of all, especially when one star was taken out just prior to the event, and another announced his impending retirement a few days prior.
On February 3rd 2006 the WWE presented SD, the first show of February, picking up the thread that had been laid out on the final Raw of January when the show opened with Edge, Lita, The Big Show, and Eric Bischoff in the ring. Teddy Long quickly made his way out, and the challenge was officially made. Raw vs. SD at SD’s “exclusive” PPV No Way Out Six inter brand matches, fourteen wrestlers, and the unification of the two sets of Tag Team Titles were to be featured at the event. Long refused to comment, but as the show went on Vince McMahon made an appearance for the first time since November on WWE TV to give his blessing. Whichever GM’s brand won would find himself in control of the entire merged WWE television empire. At the end of the show Long made his decision known when Bischoff and company again hit the ring to get an answer, and were attacked by Matt Hardy and Chris Benoit. SD said yes. The remainder of the show featured MNM getting a rematch against The Mexicools, which they lost, Booker T defending his newly won US Title against Chavo, and retaining, William Regal defeating Rey, and in the Main Event Edge, HHH, Mr. Kennedy, and Randy Orton defeating Benoit, Hardy, The Undertaker, and JBL when HHH once pinned JBL.
While the show had been a strong one, the only thing that made any noise was the end of the split. While one match was already set, The Mexicools vs. RVD and Cena with the Tag Team Titles being merged, four other wrestlers, Edge, Show, Hardy, and Benoit, seemed to be a lock for the event. What everyone wanted to know was whom else would get the nod to participate and which brand was going to survive.
Monday February 6th saw Raw return, and the show was hurting from the lack of upper tier wrestlers. Ric Flair made his return and defeated Carlito before attacking Chris Masters in the back. Flair laid out the challenge after his attack for next week. Flair and Masters with the IC Title on the line in a Submission Match. Cena and RVD continued to squabble, and as such were actually defeated by Cade and Murdoch in a non title match when RVD was pinned by Cade when Cena walked out on his partner. The fans, who had been turning on Cena for months, really let him have it. Later in the show the two seemed to patch up their differences when they were confronted by Bischoff. Val Venis defeated Viscera again, while Shelton Benjamin defeated Antonio from The Heart Throbs with relative ease. Finally, in the last ever defense of the WWE Women’s Title, Mickie James defeated Trish Stratus. The Main Event was The Big Show defeating Rob Conway in a squash. The show ended with Bischoff announcing that Raw was going to be represented at No Way Out by Edge, The Big Show, Chris Masters, Ric Flair, Shelton Benjamin and RVD and Cena. Teddy Long arrived with Chris Benoit, Matt Hardy, HBK, Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, and Super Crazy and Psicocis. The two teams brawled in the ring to end the show.
What would cause the WWE to scrap their women’s division without any warning and without any fanfare? The losses of Mickie James and Trish Stratus had signaled this move. Torrie Wilson had already been released, and although the company had billed it as a mutual decision, the truth was revealed via Meltzer on the internet. Torrie had a cocaine addiction, and her sudden return home during the Australia tour had been a suspension by the company trying to hide the problem. However under the new drug policy and with eyes watching, the WWE had released Torrie, with hopes that she might one day return clean. However in the case of Mickie James, it was a move in the ring in her match with Trish that put her on the shelf. A minor injury really, and one that many felt she should work through, but Mickie broke her left wrist during a botched dive through the ropes to Trish. She asked for time off, and she got it. With her went the Women’s Title, especially since Trish Stratus’ contract was up, and she did not re-sign. In all actuality, Trish’s contract had actually come to an end in mid January, and she had wrestled the next month without a working agreement. Both sides had tried to work out a new deal, but rumors of a lowball offer, similar to rumors swirling around when Christian and Benoit’s contracts were up, were in this case too true. Trish stopped negotiations, but did one final appearance with the WWE on the February 6th edition of Raw to put Mickie over one last time. Her debut on TNA Impact two weeks later was both a surprise and a sign that the WWE had perhaps dropped the ball yet again. Her “shoot” promo the week after with Jericho at her side was seen as the sign that she had no intention of ever returning to the WWE, since her comments were so extreme and biased against the WWE. All of this coupled with a small female roster anyways saw the end of the Women’s Division, as well as several other releases. Jillian Hall had been off of TV since JBL’s face turn, and despite glowing reports of her wrestling abilities in OVW, she was released. Victoria soon followed, as did Ivory, who had been doing little for some time anyways. The WWE had gutted its Divas/Women’s Division.
On February 10th, SD opened with Teddy Long announcing that tonight’s Main Event was going to feature the match that he had planned for No Way out prior to the PPV changing. Furthermore, he revealed that HHH and JBL would be the ONLY non inter brand match at the PPV, as the situation between the two had grown out of hand. He announced HHH vs. JBL in the second ever Barb Wired Steel Cage Match for No Way Out. This was followed by JBL wrestling The Dicks in a Handicap Match, which he won, and the last match of HHH’s career as he took on Stevie Richards. The match ended with HHH winning, but a botched Stevie Kick had sealed HHH’s fate. He had received a concussion, similar to the one Bret Hart had received at the hands of Bill Goldberg. James Noble defended his Cruiserweight Title against Paul London, and the Mexicools defeated the team of Nunzio and Kid Kash. Matt Hardy once again received an over the top rope Powerbomb from Big Show after he defeated Mark Henry, which brought HBK out to make the save. In the Main Event, Booker T’s extremely short US Title reign came to an end when he was pinned by Chavo in a match that also featured William Regal and Rey.
While it was some time before the WWE and HHH knew the true extent of his injuries, one thing was for sure, he would be unable to compete at No Way Out. The concussion was severe, and travel was out of the question. It came as no surprise to anyone when Stevie Richards was not only released, but released out of his contract with a full buy out and sent on his merry way. The WWE buried him in the coming weeks as well, sending anyone and everyone out to destroy the man’s credibility and name. However without a 90 Day No Compete Clause, Stevie was welcome to wrestle anywhere he liked, and where he liked was TNA, who took him in with open arms and actually promoted his career ending Super Kick to HHH. The war was fully on between TNA and the WWE, however the WWE seemed to be completely unaware.
February 13th was the final Raw before No Way Out, and the show opened with JBL’s limo arriving, and he alongside the SD competitors for No Way Out arrived. Cena and RVD defeated Cade and Murdoch in a rematch from last week, for the titles, but afterwards were attacked by The Mexicools. The attack was a bad idea, however, as RVD and Cena were on the same page and laid out their SD counterparts, even posing with both sets of Tag Team Titles afterwards. Shelton challenged the Big Show to a rematch, but the ending was a No Decision when Matt Hardy and HBK ran in and the match became a brawl. Randy Orton attacked Eric Bischoff in his own office, who was surprisingly enough saved by Val Venis. JBL and Edge got into it backstage, where Teddy Long told Eric Bischoff that JBL was now on Team SD and he was facing Edge for the WWE Undisputed World Heavyweight Title. Two more men seemed to have been added to No Way Out, making the total an odd number with seven matches. The Main Event saw Orton and Benoit join Joey Styles and The King on commentary to watch Masters defeat Ric Flair for the IC Title in a Submission Match, when Flair was forced to submit to the Master Lock. Oddly enough Orton and Benoit argued when Benoit did not allow Orton to RKO Flair after he had RKO’ed Masters. The show ended with Benoit and Flair shaking hands after Benoit hit The Rolling Germans on Orton.
More criticism hit the WWE, this time in the form of Chris Masters. He had defeated Flair twice and won the IC Title, yet critics claimed it was obvious that Masters was on the juice, and a push of this magnitude seemed contrary to their much publicized claims of their testing and drug policy. WWE’s response was the release of Gene Snitsky, whom they claimed failed his testing and refused treatment. Despite several attempts by many on the internet, Snitsky never said a bad word about the WWE, something Meltzer reported was due to the fact that WWE had promised to bring him back at a later date if he kept his mouth shut. Rosey was also released, apparently due to a failed drug test, something many found hard to believe.
February 17th was the final SD prior to No Way Out, and it featured a huge Main Event, however the show was completely overshadowed by the announcement by Meltzer that the Undertaker had made it known to WWE officials and Vince McMahon personally that he was retiring after WMXXII. The speculation began, especially when it was leaked that he would be facing Randy Orton in a Hell in A Cell Match at WMXXII. Would he go out undefeated at WrestleMania, or would the Legend Killer do just that? As for the show, James Noble pinned Chavo in a non titles match, immediately claiming he was too good for the Cruiserweight Division and challenging Chavo to a US Title Match for the next week. Chavo countered with a Title vs. Title Match for next week. Matt Hardy defeated Mr. Kennedy for the millionth time, Randy Orton defeated Hardcore Holly, and Juvi defeated Brian Kendrick. In the Main Event Chris Benoit and HBK defeated Edge and Randy Orton when Benoit pinned Orton after Edge walked out on his teammate. In the back after the match Edge explained to Teddy Long that he was not going to team with a SD Superstar two days before No Way Out. The show ended with Bischoff arriving and distracting Long as Edge Speared him.
Up next was No Way Out:
Yes, somehow the WWE managed to make an already lame duck PPV even lamer by not delivering the actual end of the roster split as promised. To say the backlash was loud and deserving was being kind. While TNA had provided easily their best PPV ever to date in February, the WWE had promised something and then, by using “extra” matches, had not delivered at all. Their attempt to make up for it was the focus of the Raw on February 20th.
The show opened with Vince McMahon in the ring, livid. He verbally abused both Long and Bischoff for lying to the fans, and told both GM’s that he would end it once and for all. Three matches, tonight, and the fans would pick the stars. The fans were told to vote on WWE.com starting now, and the top three vote getters from each brand in the first hour would meet in the second hour to finally end the split. The remainder of the first hour featured the new WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions The Mexicools defending their titles against The Heart Throbs for some bizarre reason, The Conman defeating Tyson Tomko, and Cena and RVD having a flat out brawl in the back. The first fans pick match was Matt Hardy vs. Shelton Benjamin. It was a very good match that Hardy won. The second fans pick match was HBK vs. The Big Show, and this time Show defeated HBK. It was one apiece. The final match was Edge vs. Benoit, voted by the fans, and presumably giving the Main Event of WMXXII away for free. Go WWE. Benoit pinned Edge after run ins from JBL, HBK, Show, and Masters. The show ended with Vince McMahon firing Eric Bischoff.
The final SD of February was on the 23rd, and it opened with all WWE Superstars in the ring, while Teddy Long was at the ramp. He welcomed the merged roster, and then ran down the nights event, the first non brand show in almost three years. In the first match JBL and HBK were defeated by Cade and Murdoch when HBK Super Kicked JBL, allowing Cade to get the pin. The fans turned on HBK, who left the building without a word as to why. Juvi defeated Gregory Helms and Shelton Benjamin defeated Tajiri in two good matches. However the Shelton and Helms feud from a few months prior seemed totally forgotten about. Cena and RVD again came to blows, and Long made the two for WMXXII. Cena then went on to defeat Hardcore Holly amidst “Cena Sucks” and “Die Johnny Die” chants. Cena then cut a promo, effectively turning himself heel, despite the fans hatred of him anyways. In the Title vs. Title Match, James Noble became the new US Champion as well as the Cruiserweight Champion when he pinned Chavo with help from MNM. He then declared once again that he was too good for the Cruiserweight Title, burying it in the process. In the Main Event Edge, Show, and Masters defeated Benoit, Rey, and Matt Hardy when Edge pinned Benoit.
Prior to this SD, the WWE had five titles. After this show, the WWE had four, the WWE Undisputed World Heavyweight, the WWE Undisputed Tag Team, The WWE IC, and the WWE US. In one month the WWE did away with the Women’s and Cruiserweight titles. As a result of the Cruiserweight Title being dropped, Brian Kendrick and Paul London requested and were granted their releases, with their 90 Day No Compete Clause in full effect. In one month the WWE had lost two divisions and over ten wrestlers, as well as the announced retirement of another and forced retirement of HHH.
But the last Raw of February would add one more loss.
Raw on the 27th opened with Teddy Long making the big announcement that Taker and Orton was going to be a Hell In A Cell match. Orton came out and challenged Taker to take it to the next level. Orton’s career vs. Taker’s in the cell at WMXXII. The WWE effectively gave away the ending of the match to anyone with access to a computer. Orton took it a step further when he said he was going to show Taker how dangerous he was when he wrestled Ric Flair later that night with the same stipulation. JBL defeated Lance Cade one on one, then called out HBK. Instead he got a video feed of HBK and HHH from Conneticut. The once best friends had fixed their problems, and HBK was going to finish what HHH could not due to the sloppiness of Stevie in the ring. Another WMXXII match was made. RVD defeated Helms and then was attacked by Cena, who seemed reinvigorated in the ring. The Mexicools and Juvi defeated The Nation members Henry, Jordan, and Lashley when Juvi pinned Henry. The Chair Swinging Freaks made their WWE return to defeat The Heart Throbs in the most mismatched encounter of the year thus far. In the Main Event Ric Flair was defeated by Randy Orton. After the match Flair cut a lengthy, emotional, and heartfelt promo announcing this as his final match in the WWE. He left to a chorus of cheers that was deafening.
The Nature Boy retired from the ring to end the wildest and quite possibly the worst month WWE had in years.