Judgment Day (2006) - Background

Background

The main feud heading into Judgment Day 2006 involved Rey Mysterio and John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) with the two battling over the World Heavyweight Championship. 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 anytime. 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. The tournament was first announced by SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long on the April 7 episode of SmackDown!. He announced the participants and that the first match, Kurt Angle versus Randy Orton, would take place next week. In this match, Angle won after, in storyline, breaking Orton's ankle by refusing to break his Ankle Lock. The second qualifying match was between Booker and Matt Hardy on April 21. Booker won the match after a low blow while his valet, Sharmell, had the referee distracted. The third qualifying match was Lashley versus Mark Henry. Lashley won by countout after Henry was knocked to the outside of the ring. The final first round match was Finlay versus Chris Benoit, which Finlay won after a chair-shot and a Celtic Cross. The semi-final round took place on May 12, with Finlay taking on Lashley, and Booker versus Angle. Lashley won his match with a Spear, however, Angle was unable to compete in his match and had to forfeit, meaning Booker also qualified for the final. Angle was unable to compete due to the injuries to his ribs that he sustained after being attacked by Henry. This happened after Henry was eliminated from the King Of The Ring tournament, that same night, by Lashley. 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 the match for Judgment Day. Also as a result of the King Of the Ring tournament, a Chris Benoit vs Finlay match was set up.

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.