Forgotten Favorites 08.31.10: SummerSlam 2004 – The Dudleys vs. Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and Paul London

Welcome back, wrestling fans. It’s time once again to fire up the flux capacitor and revisit those unrecognized moments of wrestling’s past.

According to the word on the net, one of the biggest tag teams in wrestling history recently became free agents. With Brother Ray and Brother Devon seemingly done with TNA, the possibility exists for the former Dudley Boyz to return to the stage where they helped revolutionize the entire tag team division. This week we’re going to revisit the last strong run of the Dudleys’ WWE career, which saw them mixing it up with one of the fastest rising teams on the SmackDown roster.

So yeah … who wants great wrestling?

SummerSlam – August 15, 2004
The Dudleys vs. Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and Paul London

WHY IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED

So you may have heard of this promotion down in Florida that gets a lot of grief from a sizable portion of the online wrestling audience. Whether it’s a big fat hard-to-justify contract being thrown at an over-the-hill performer or an entire PPV being scrapped in favor of non-contracted over-the-hill performers, the fact is that Total Nonstop Action gets a lot of dirt kicked its way, and rarely are they deemed worthy of sitting at the cool kids’ table. Despite Dixie Carter repeatedly insisting that her company is turning the corner and soon to topple its competition, TNA remains the Rodney Dangerfield of both the IWC and the entire wrestling community at large. No respect, I tell ‘ya. No respect.

While I myself am often Lance Storming all over the absurdities of TNA’s broadcasts, I still must give credit where credit is due, and that means respectfully acknowledging when TNA has actually done something correctly. While painful bookings and clusterfucks abound in TNA’s history books, with many wrestlers’ names being dragged through the mud amidst nonsensical plot twists and match burials, there has remained one piece of the TNA puzzle that, despite having spent four years down in those dangerous Florida trenches, has made it out alive with its reputation intact.

The 875 time World Tag Team Champions of the Universe.

Acting on their strong desire to actually get paid for doing their jobs, Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley left Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1999 for the greener pastures of the World Wrestling Federation. Except for a brief period of time following the initial Raw/SmackDown brand extension, the Dudley Boyz spent the majority of their six-year WWE career as a cornerstone of the company’s tag team division, a feat which sounds absolutely miraculous by the current WWE’s standards of tag team wrestling. They helped revolutionize their division, racked up unprecedented championship victories, and main evented PPVs. When the Dudleys were released from their contracts in July of 2005, the team was still no worse for wear, remaining one of the most respected and dominant tag teams in the world of wrestling.

Fast forward five years later and amazingly, after the team has been thoroughly put through the TNA wringer, the more recently-dubbed Team 3D still caries the same aura of dominance. In a company where ex-WWE acquisitions are more-often-than-not booked in ways that boggle the collective mind of the IWC, Team 3D remained among the most well looked after (and well used) on the TNA roster. Picking up wins where they should have while also putting over the younger talent where appropriate, Team 3D has been nothing but goodness for TNA since they first came on board five years ago. A veteran laying down for an up-and-comer does not mean that the older established guy has to come out looking any less than he did going in, and this has been proven by the work done by Ray and Devon in TNA. Putting over teams like Beer Money has been nothing but win for both the veteran and younger teams, as the unestablished become established and the older stars stay fresh by rolling with the times.

For their first couple of years with the WWE, the Dudley Boyz were in the same position that the majority of their TNA competition has been in, that being the role of the two young guys climbing the ranks of the tag team division. But their latter E years were much like their entire TNA career: bringing prestige and awareness to the tag division while also putting over the new guys. Unfortunately, this is where I think the WWE fell short in utilizing the Dudleys. For their last two years in the E, there was admittedly not a whole lot going on for the Dudleys, and what was going on could’ve been so much more. To prove this point, I offer the brief rivalry that the Dudleys engaged in with Billy Kidman and Paul London in the summer of 2004.

Gimmicks are overrated.

While the last several months of their only Raw-exclusive stint were somewhat lackluster, the Dudleys were one SmackDown trade and heel turn away from rejuvenating their careers. Siding with the villainous SmackDown General Manager Paul Heyman, Bubba Ray and D-Von kicked off their last strong WWE run on the April 22nd edition of SmackDown, returning to their heelish ways with an attack on Rob Van Dam. Serving as Heyman’s evil cronies, the Dudleys returned to their dominance of old, picking up the WWE Tag Team Titles on the June 17th SmackDown with a win over the formidable team of Charlie Haas and Rico, then going on to main event the Great American Bash against The Undertaker.

But in the midst of such extreme dominance, an unforeseen bump in the road knocked the Dudley Boyz way off course. Billy Kidman and Paul London — two cruiserweights randomly paired months earlier and far from heavily featured — came out of nowhere to score a major upset victory on the July 8th SmackDown, lifting the titles off of one of the most decorated tag teams in history.

Arguably just as significant for Kidman and London as the victory itself was the scene that played out afterwards in the backstage area. Cameras followed the newly crowned Tag Team Champions as they were congratulated by their peers … and the Dudley Boyz?

The Dudleys put London and Kidman over both inside the ring and out, and the new champs came out looking like a million bucks. Regardless of the team’s lack of established history, London and Kidman were instantly credible and eligible of being called the best tag team in the company. The hand-shake following the match sealed the deal, coming across even stronger due to the fact that the Dudleys were remaining heels throughout the whole thing. On the July 29th SmackDown, the Dudleys went one further and put the high flyers over one more time with the titles on the line.

Paths ended up criss-crossing with the Cruiserweight Title feud that was building between Rey Mysterio and Spike Dudleys, and all paths converged together on August 15th at SummerSlam. Those damn Dudleys teamed up with little brother Spike to take on Rey Mysterio and, still reigning as Tag Champs, Billy Kidman and Paul London. The result was a showcase of some excellent six-man tag action featuring the best of both tag team and cruiserweight divisions. Despite the fact that the faces didn’t come out victorious, Rey and the Tag Team Champs came out looking just as strong, owing largely to the excellent work done by a still-strong team in the Dudleys.

What’s worth keeping in mind about all of this is the fact that London and Kidman were made instantly into a legitimate team by way of their interaction with the Dudley Boyz. With news of the most decorated tag team in history apparently fulfilling all of their contractual obligations with TNA, there’s now a chance that the Dudleys could end up back on the same stage that made them into worldwide wrestling superstars. Should the WWE decide to pick up Bubba Ray and D-Von, they would be well served to remember all that the damn Dudleys did for one completely unestablished team on SmackDown in their very last run. What was done once for Kidman and London — as well as for a number of teams in TNA — could be done again for a WWE tag team division that’s desperately lacking in established and crowd-drawing teams.

WHY IT ISN’T REMEMBERED

Unfortunately, neither the Dudleys nor the championship pairing of Kidman and London would accomplish much in the WWE after SummerSlam. Two weeks after this week’s featued Forgotten Favorite, Billy Kidman was involved in a SmackDown incident that saw a Shooting Star Press take Chavo Guerrero out of action. Overwhelmed with guilt, Kidman lost his confidence inside the ring, fearful of seriously threatening the career of another of his peers with a botched Shooting Star. This lost confidence led to Kidman walking out on his partner in a title defense on September 9th, leaving Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree to pick Paul London’s bones and claim the Tag Titles.

Kidman was all sorts of torn up inside. He knew that fans loved to see his Shooting Star Press, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to put another one of his fellow competitors’ career in danger. Enraged by what he perceived to be unreasonably bloodthirsty fans, as well as a tag team partner that didn’t understand his inner turmoil, Kidman turned to the dark side and waged an unholy heel war on Paul London. The former Tag Team Champions collided on October 3rd at the SmackDown-only No Mercy PPV.

The London/Kidman rivalry would halfway continue off and on for a few months, but it would never regain the momentum it had going into No Mercy. The feud ended up meaning nothing, as both men would flounder in the cruiserweight division for several months, neither having any featured storylines or serious rivalries. London ended up winning the Cruiserweight Title the following March, although the belt was quickly decreasing in significance with each passing month. Kidman ended up being released from his contract along with the Dudleys in the first week of July, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In retrospect, it’s too bad that things didn’t work out for all four guys involved in the only legitimate tag team rivalry on SmackDown in the summer of 2004. Kidman and London were split up way too soon, and the storyline fueling their break-up — which had way more layers and mileage than it was ever acknowledged for — ended up being meaningless in the long run. London vs. Kidman is an afterthought in the history of the SmackDown midcard, and their tag team run is sorely overlooked, largely due to it hardly lasting more than a couple of months.

– –

BONUS MATCH(!)

No Mercy – October 3, 2004
Billy Kidman vs. Paul London

– –

That ACTION ZONE match! Find it! (Hell, I might have it on a tape somewhere in a box.) It’s really good, with 4 people who trust each other and want to make each other look good, and definitely an early sign of the greatness Shawn was starting to build.

Shawn Austin at KotR is good, too.

And add me to the list of people who think RAW then was pretty amazing. The Shades of Grey thing gets a lot of flack, but when it was done right – as everyone having legitimate motivations that were bigger than just face/heel, it worked very well.

Posted By: Victor

The shades of grey stuff is sorely missed in today’s product, which at times can become a bit too cookie cutter. The London/Kidman rivalry discussed this week is a good example, as Kidman’s heel turn was much more complicated than a dude simply turning into an asshole.

Poor choice yet again.

I can’t remember the last time I clicked on this link, and thought, “Yeah, I remember that great match!”

Posted By: Zeus

Well, it is called Forgotten Favorites. So if you don’t remember my choices …

Love this match. Really thought, as bad as the Hardcore Title matches were from time to time, that this was a very fitting and the right way to send it off.

Posted By: TJ

The Hardcore Title matches got pretty ridiculous in the last few months, and then this gem came along to send the division off. It was a great match, but disappointing in a way, since this was the way the Hardcore division should’ve been booked all along.

Just to let you know Grimm,I will probably keep making comments about CM Punk/Elijah Burke JD 2007 until you see how awesome it was for yourself and do a forgotten favorite on it.I hope I don’t have to do too many more of these comments.If you watch it an say that you didn’t like it(though I don’t think that is likely)then I will most likely stop,but just watch it already.

Posted By: Still Guest#8287

It’s gonna happen, loyal reader and commenter. I become more of a Pope mark every week, so the Burke/Punk goodness will happen sooner than later.

Poor choice yet again.

I can’t remember the last time I clicked on this link, and thought, “Yeah, I remember that great match!”

Posted By: Zeus

Do u read the title of the column because it is called FORGOTTEN favorites,not just favorites.That means it is a match you don’t usually remember but is a great match.

Posted By: Still Guest#8287

This.

It’s a relief to see I’ve been watching wrestling longer than you and I’m only 20.I’ve been watching since I was around 5 so I’ve been watching since around 1995.No disrespect you on that on but it makes me proud to see how long I’ve been watching it and it’s good to know it’s in my blood and not just some fad for me.Maybe that’s why I still put up with this crap.I can’t imagine not watching wrestling.Too bad being on the IWC has ruined the way I view wrestling forever.Anyway, you know what’s a forgotten favorite of mine?The match between Randy Orton and Christian from some Raw in 2005.This was when Randy was still a face.It was sometime after Royal Rumble.I think it was the Raw where Triple H made it look like JBL tried to run over Batista.I have it on tape somewhere.I loved this match because it was long, back and forth, a nail biter, and had one of the best finishes I ever seen.To say I was a mark for Randy Orton and the RKO during his face run is a understatement.My friends in school hated me because of how much I liked him.

Posted By: SeanTNA

You are much encouraged to click the nifty little Jim Grimm link at the bottom of this column and check out the Forgotten Favorite archives. I covered that particular Christian-Orton match some time back and it was indeed one hell of a showcase. The RKO finish is pure awesomeness.

Nice choice, although I think Raven/Rhyno at Backlash 2001 captured the ECW feel much better.

And a truly forgotten ECW-esque favourite might be the Stevie Richards/Tommy Dreamer Singapore Cane match from RAW 2003; the finish being Dreamer literally shattering the cane over Stevie’s head…

Posted By: mr_wishart

I had completely forgotten about the Singapore Cane match. They tried to get that ECW feel back for a brief period, and however successful it sort of was, it meant nothing once the Hardcore Title was gone. Sad state of affairs.

Stone Cold vs Flair the week before Austin walked out.

It is a 10 minute chop fest and probably my favorite TV match of ALL TIME!

Posted By: AG Awesome

This match is greatness and will likely be featured at some point.

Great pick again, as is standard for this column. I really miss the Hardcore title and have been watching the glory days of Crash/Raven/Blackman on YouTube when anything could happen in those matches. I miss the days when a guy would get pinned putside the arena after some goofy wackiness ensuing.

This also proved that ECW, for all its hardcore revolutionizing, really brought technical wrestling back to the forefront.

I’m a huge ECW mark and while I’ll even concede they were lacking in certain areas at times and tend to be overrated, that their absence nowadays is glaring. That said, and also as an admitted TNA mark, I was against the reunion PPV, as I believe you should let sleeping dogs lie. It also took focus away from the current storylines and burdgeoning stars, and looked silly (holding a reunion PPv for a company you didn’t even have anything to do with?).

A final note, cool to hear someone else got into wrasslin’ around the WM 14 mark. This was also the era that I got into wrestling, and it shows in your writing.

Posted By: Yeppers

That’s exactly what I was going for with my ECW analysis. If TNA’s goal is to capture that original ECW audience that has stepped away from wrestling, they missed the mark entirely in their execution. The goal shouldn’t be to showcase the guys that made up the original ECW, but to focus on the anything-can-happen feeling that went along with every original ECW broadcast.

That was a great Hardcore match. But TNA matches should also count, The First Ultimate X match, Aj VS Lynn VS Low Ki VS Pyschosis, AMW VS XXX there first Steel Cage Match, Punk/Dinero/Raven VS Red Shirt Security,
WWE Forgotten Favorites
CM Punk VS Burke
The New Breed VS ECW Originals Hardcore match
Shannon Moore and Matt Hardy VS Spanky and Rey Mysterio
The Cruserweight open from Wrestlemania XX
Ric Flair VS Kurt Angle
Angle VS Shawn Ironman Match
The ROck Vs Brock Lesnar
Shawn Michaels VS Mankind MIND GAMES
Mankind VS The Rock Last Man Standing Match
Paul London VS Akio
Taz VS Sabu Barely legal
Sabu VS Big Show
RVD VS Sabu Ladder Match WWECW
Jamie Noble VS Tajiri
Rey Mysterio VS Ultimo Dragon WCW World War 3
And Eddy Guerrero VS Rey Mysterio Mask VS Title WCW.
All Forgotten Favorites

Posted By: King OF Diamonds

Quite a list, Diamond King. I wouldn’t classify some of them as Forgotten exactly, but others are definitely possible future columns. Angle-Flair from Raw doesn’t get any attention, and I was a big fan of anytime Noble and Tajiri got in the ring together.

I incorrectly read the preface about coming off the second biggest show of the year as being about the time period of the FF match and was ready with all manner of SummerSlam ’02 defense. You were saved because that show was fucking awesome.

Posted By: neverAcquiesce

To hate on SummerSlam ’02 would be sacrilege. I have morals, man. It’s on the same untouchable level as WrestleMania 17, Backlash 2000, and any of the PPVs in the final year of WCW. I mean … what?

– –

That’s gonna do it for this week. Keep those comments and suggestions rolling, and I’ll be back to satisfy your forgotten wrestling hunger in one week’s time.

Until then, stay safe and out of Dundalk.