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Lita (c) vs. Trish Stratus vs. Victoria vs. Gail Kim
June 6, 2004
The Context:The Women's Championship picture has devolved from a simple rivalry into a chaotic power struggle involving four distinct, dangerous personalities. Lita, the daredevil champion, finds herself encircled by enemies on all sides. Her nemesis Trish Stratus is obsessed with reclaiming her throne. Victoria, the unpredictable wildcard, wants to hurt everyone indiscriminately. And Gail Kim, the technical assassin, has emerged from the shadows not as a pawn, but as a silent predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. General Manager Eric Bischoff, unable to contain the violence to singles matches, has made the call: A Fatal 4-Way Match where the first pinfall or submission decides the champion. The odds are stacked against Lita, who can lose her title without even being involved in the decision.
The Catalyst (May 10th) The chaos began in the aftermath of the Draft. During a highly anticipated match between Victoria and Gail Kim, Trish Stratus made her presence felt. But this wasn't just interference; it was a statement. Trish attacked Victoria, causing a disqualification, and then signaled for a further beatdown. Lita, nursing injured ribs from a previous encounter, rushed the ring to save her former rival, Victoria. However, the numbers game shifted unexpectedly. Gail Kim, seeing an opportunity to take out the champion, blindsided Lita with a chop block. It wasn't an alliance with Trish; it was opportunism. As Lita lay prone, Trish locked in a submission, screaming that Lita was a "broken champion," while Gail stood over them, eyeing the title belt with a hungry, possessive glare. The message was clear: everyone wanted the gold, and Lita was the prey.
The Fracture (May 17th) With Lita absent to sell the rib injury, the contenders turned on each other. Trish Stratus cut a promo claiming she was the "Queen" of the division and that the title was her birthright. She dismissed Gail Kim as a "flash in the pan" and Victoria as a "psycho." This arrogance backfired immediately. Gail Kim interrupted, not with words, but with action, engaging Trish in a technical wrestling clinic that left the former champion scrambling. Just as things heated up, Victoria’s music hit. The "Vicious Vixen" stormed the ring, not to align with anyone, but to create chaos. She laid out both Trish and Gail with a Widows Peak, standing tall in the center of the ring, pulling her hair and screaming. It became evident that there were no teams here—only four women with singular goals.
The Uneasy Alliances (May 24th) In an attempt to restore order, Eric Bischoff booked a tag team match: Lita & Victoria vs. Trish Stratus & Gail Kim. The match was a psychological minefield. Lita, heavily taped, struggled to trust the unstable Victoria, who refused to tag out, wanting to inflict pain herself. On the other side, the tension between Trish and Gail was palpable, with both women constantly trying to steal the spotlight. The finish came when Lita, fighting through pain, hit a Twist of Fate on Gail. However, before she could cover, Trish threw Victoria into Lita, breaking the pin and causing mass confusion. In the scramble, Gail Kim rolled up a distracted Lita for a shocking three-count. Gail had pinned the champion. The post-match scene was anarchy: Trish argued with Gail, furious that she didn't get the pin, while Victoria shoved Lita, blaming her for the loss.
The Total Collapse (May 31st) On the final Raw before King of the Ring, Bischoff demanded a "Summit" to make the Fatal 4-Way match official. He hoped that a verbal confrontation would keep the peace, but it was a powder keg waiting to explode. Trish insulted Lita’s injury history, calling her "damaged goods." Gail Kim coldly stated she had already pinned Lita and would do it again on Sunday. Victoria simply stared at the others, vibrating with intensity, before flipping the podium over onto Trish. The summit dissolved into a four-woman brawl that spilled out of the ring and up the ramp. Security tried to intervene but were tossed aside. The defining image of the night saw Lita, desperate to prove she was still the high-flying risk-taker, climbing the stage scaffolding and diving onto all three challengers below. As bodies lay strewn across the steel stage, Lita clutched her ribs in agony but held the title high. She had survived the brawl, but at what cost to her body?
Heading into Sacramento, the variables are endless. Trish Stratus has the experience and the cunning. Gail Kim has the technical prowess and the momentum of pinning the champion. Victoria has the unpredictability and raw power. And Lita has the heart of a champion, but a broken body. In a match where alliances are non-existent and danger comes from every direction, can Lita survive the odds, or will a new Queen be crowned in the chaos of the Fatal 4-Way?
ROUNDTABLE: Who Leaves Sacramento as Women's Champion?
June 6, 2004
WWE.com has gathered a panel of experts from Raw, SmackDown, and Heat to break down the chaotic Fatal 4-Way match for the Women's Championship. With alliances shattered and careers on the line, our experts weigh in on who will survive the carnage at King of the Ring.
Jim Ross (Raw Play-by-Play): "Folks, this is a demolition derby, plain and simple. Lita has the heart of a lion, but her body has been through hell. Those ribs are a target you can see from the cheap seats. Trish Stratus is as cunning as they come, and she’s got a mean streak a mile wide. But don’t sleep on Victoria; she’s unpredictable, and in a match with no rules, chaos favors the insane. However, my gut tells me that Gail Kim is the one to watch. She’s cold, calculated, and she’s already pinned the champion. She’ll let the others destroy each other and pick the bones." Prediction: Gail Kim
The Coach (Raw Color Commentary): "JR, you’re too sentimental. Lita is damaged goods. Victoria is a loose cannon. Gail is talented, sure, but she lacks the big-match experience of a true queen. There is only one woman in this match who knows how to manipulate every situation to her advantage. Trish Stratus isn't just a wrestler; she’s a mastermind. She started this chaos to get her title back, and she’s going to finish it. The Queen reclaims her throne tonight." Prediction: Trish Stratus
Ivory (WWE Experience Host): "I’ve been in the ring with all of them. This isn't about wrestling ability anymore; it's about survival. Lita is hurt, yes, but that’s when she’s most dangerous. She fights best when her back is against the wall. Plus, she doesn't have to be the one to get the pin, but she also doesn't have to be pinned to lose. That stipulation scares me. But I think Lita’s desire to prove she’s not 'broken' will carry her through. She’ll hit a moonsault off something high and leave with the gold." Prediction: Lita
Todd Grisham (Sunday Night Heat): "I saw Victoria flip a table last week with one hand. She’s terrifying. In a Fatal 4-Way, the first fall wins. Victoria hits the Widows Peak out of nowhere, and it’s lights out. She doesn't care about alliances or strategies; she just wants to hurt people. I think she catches Trish or Gail while they're arguing and steals this one." Prediction: Victoria
Tazz (SmackDown Color Commentary): "Let me tell ya somethin', Cole. You got a lot of moving parts here. Trish and Gail? They got bad blood, no doubt about it. But don't sleep on Victoria, she's loopy, she's dangerous! But here's the thing, Lita? She's hurtin'. She's fightin' on fumes, baby. I hate to agree with Coachman, but Trish is smart. She's gonna let Gail do the heavy lifting, then bam! She steals it. Book it." Prediction: Trish Stratus
Technical Mastery vs. Blunt Force – The Road to King of the Ring
Kurt Angle & AJ Styles vs. HBK & Luther Reigns - If HBK and Reigns win then HBK will get a World Heavyweight Championship Match at the next PPV Vengeance
- If Angle/Styles win then HBK will never get another chance at the World Heavyweight Championship as long as Angle is champion
May 6th: The Genesis of Conflict
The post-draft era of SmackDown began with a definitive statement from World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. Fresh off a career-defining victory at Backlash, Angle opened the season premiere with his "State of SmackDown" address, declaring a new order built on the "Three I's"—Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence. He promised to flush out the "attitude" of the past in favor of pure athleticism. This sermon was interrupted by the brand’s biggest acquisition, Shawn Michaels. The "Heartbreak Kid," visibly disgusted by his draft status and feeling disrespected by being moved from the flagship show, didn't come to pay homage; he came to demand a title shot to "save" the brand from Angle’s boring utopia. Angle, projecting the icy arrogance of a champion at his peak, laughed in the icon’s face. He told Michaels that on his show, reputation means nothing without results, ordering HBK to "earn his place" in the King of the Ring tournament later that night.
The humiliation for Michaels became absolute during the main event, a King of the Ring qualifying match against Randy Orton. Angle set up a desk at ringside, mockingly holding up Olympic scorecards to "grade" Michaels' performance, giving him 2s and 3s for his signature moves. The psychological warfare worked; a distracted and seething Michaels took his eyes off Orton to scream at Angle, walking right into an RKO for the 1-2-3. Angle stood over the fallen legend, clapping sarcastically, while Michaels sat in the ring, realizing that on this brand, his legacy offered him no protection against the "Wrestling Machine." Backstage, Michaels destroyed the interview set, shouting that if Angle wanted a war on his terms, he had made a grave mistake.
May 13th: The Proxy War
Kurt Angle continued his crusade to reshape the roster by approaching the "Phenomenal" AJ Styles backstage. Angle offered to take the young technician under his wing, seeing a kindred spirit in Styles’ prowess and recent King of the Ring qualifier victory. However, the logic hole of their alliance was closed here: Styles, brimming with confidence, respectfully declined the offer. "I respect your gold medals, Kurt," Styles said, "but I don't need a handler. I’m here to build my own legacy." Angle, though insulted, pivoted quickly. He decided to use Styles as a prop to taunt Michaels anyway, praising Styles to the commentary team as "the athlete Shawn wishes he still was" during Styles' semifinal match against Randy Orton.
The match was a technical masterpiece, with Styles seemingly on the verge of an upset that would solidify his stardom. But Shawn Michaels, consumed by bitterness over his own elimination and Angle's constant comparisons, refused to let the "new generation" shine at his expense. In a moment of pure spite, HBK hopped the barricade—not to attack Angle, but to ruin Angle’s "favorite prospect." While the referee was distracted, Michaels delivered a thunderous Sweet Chin Music to Styles, costing the rookie the match and his King of the Ring dreams. It wasn't just interference; it was a scorched-earth tactic. Michaels grabbed a headset and looked directly at Angle: "You want technical perfection, Kurt? I just broke it. I don't care about the rules anymore."
May 20th: The Mercenary and The Stakes
Realizing he could not out-wrestle Kurt Angle in a fair fight, Shawn Michaels arrived on SmackDown with a new, dark strategy. He admitted to the world that his technical wrestling days were behind him if it meant losing to Angle. He needed an equalizer—something that didn't care about wrist locks. Enter Luther Reigns. A monolithic force of nature, Reigns was introduced not as a partner, but as a "blunt instrument" purchased to do a job. In a terrifying display, Reigns cleared the ring of Angle's private security team, tossing grown men like lawn darts while Angle watched from the ramp, visibly calculating the threat. Reigns cornered Angle, preparing to powerbomb the champion onto the concrete steps.
Suddenly, AJ Styles flew into the frame, leveling Reigns with a Phenomenal Forearm and saving Angle from a broken neck. The "logic bridge" for the team was solidified backstage immediately following the save. When Angle thanked Styles, the Phenomenal One cut him off cold: "I didn't do it for you. I did it because Shawn cost me the King of the Ring. You want him? So do I." General Manager Teddy Long, seeing the escalating violence, booked the tag team match for King of the Ring: Angle and Styles vs. Michaels and Reigns. To ensure maximum volatility, Long added a high-stakes stipulation: If Shawn Michaels’ team wins, HBK gets a World Heavyweight Championship match at the next Pay-Per-View. If Kurt Angle's team wins then HBK will never get a World Heavyweight Championship match while Angle is still the champion. Now, Angle wasn't just fighting for pride; he was fighting for his reign.
May 27th: A Study in Contrast
The chemistry—or lack thereof—between the two teams was put to the test in a "Tune-Up" episode. In a match against the Basham Brothers, Angle and Styles proved that mutual respect is a powerful weapon. Despite their personal friction, they operated like a well-oiled machine, cutting the ring in half with quick tags and a seamless blend of amateur wrestling and aerial offense. They fought with a shared purpose—the preservation of the sport's integrity—and secured a dominant submission victory. Angle raised Styles' hand, finally earning the young star's nod of respect.
On the other side of the bracket, Shawn Michaels and Luther Reigns were a picture of dysfunction against local competitors. Michaels wrestled the majority of the match, refusing to tag in his partner, visibly untrusting of the big man's lack of finesse. Reigns, tired of being treated like a prop, eventually forced a tag by slapping Michaels’ chest hard. Reigns ended the match immediately with one stiff, clumsy clothesline. The victory was secured, but the tension was undeniable; Michaels looked at Reigns not with pride, but with the frustration of an artist forced to paint with a sledgehammer. The commentary team drove the point home: Angle and Styles had the skill, but Michaels and Reigns possessed a volatile power that might just be enough to steal the win.
June 3rd: The Trap is Sprung
The psychological warfare reached its zenith on the "Go-Home" edition of SmackDown in Los Angeles. Kurt Angle stood in the center of the ring, hosting an "Olympic Medal Ceremony" for AJ Styles, ready to present him with a Team Angle singlet to solidify their unit. However, Styles never made his entrance. The TitanTron flickered to life, revealing a chaotic scene in the parking lot. Luther Reigns had ambushed Styles near the rental cars, violently tossing the "Phenomenal One" through a windshield. A horrified Angle watched his partner’s destruction, sprinting backstage only to find it was a decoy strategy.
As Angle arrived at the wreckage, he was blindsided by Shawn Michaels, who attacked him with a steel chair. The "Technical Masterpiece" was dragged back into the arena where Reigns awaited. The segment ended with a chilling visual: Reigns holding Angle's leg against the steel ring post while Michaels smashed it with the chair—a focused attack to eliminate the Ankle Lock from Angle's arsenal. With Styles hospitalized and Angle unable to put weight on his leg, Michaels and Reigns stood tall over the fallen champion. They had proven their hypothesis: Technical mastery means nothing when you have a blunt instrument. The road to King of the Ring ends with the Champions broken, and the challengers looking unstoppable.
CAN A BROKEN ANGLE SURVIVE? THE WRESTLING WORLD WEIGHS IN
Let’s go around the horn with our panel of experts for their predictions on this volatile matchup. We'll start with the color commentator for SmackDown, Tazz.
Tazz (SmackDown Commentator): "Look, Cole, let me tell you somethin’. You know I got nothin’ but respect for Kurt Angle. The guy’s a machine, a legit tough guy, and this kid Styles, he’s got some serious skills. Any other day of the week, I’m bettin’ on technique. But we saw what happened on SmackDown. You can’t slap an Ankle Lock on somebody when you can barely stand on your own two feet. Michaels and that monster Reigns took away Angle’s best weapon. It pains me to say it, but brute force is gonna trump gold medals tonight. I’m going with Michaels and Reigns."
Jim Ross (Raw Lead Announcer): "Bah Gawd, Tazz, I hate to agree with you, but the facts are the facts. We are looking at a desperate Shawn Michaels. A desperate man is a dangerous man, especially when that man is arguably the greatest performer in history fighting for one last shot at the gold. You add in Luther Reigns—who is frankly a walking condominium with a bad attitude—and the odds are stacked. Kurt Angle has the heart of an Olympic champion, and young AJ Styles has a phenomenal future, but tonight? Tonight they are walking into a massacre. Angle is compromised. Michaels and Reigns win, and Heaven help the Champion after that."
Jerry "The King" Lawler (Raw Color Commentator): "Oh, please, JR, save the sob story for someone who cares! Kurt Angle and his boring 'Three I’s' are finally going to get what’s coming to them. Isn't it ironic? The 'wrestling machine' is going to break down because he got outsmarted. Shawn Michaels realized he didn't need to out-wrestle Angle; he just needed to hire a 300-pound blunt object to cripple him! It’s brilliant! That little rookie Styles is going to be running for his life out there. This is going to be easiest payday of Luther Reigns' life. HBK and Reigns take it, and the Heartbreak Kid gets his title shot! Woo hoo!"
Ivory (Backstage Interviewer/Host): "I look at this from a tactical standpoint. On one side, you have Angle and Styles, who, when healthy, are a cohesive, technical unit. On the other side, you have Michaels and Reigns, who barely tolerate each other. Usually, the cohesive team wins. However, the psychological warfare Shawn Michaels has played is masterful. He’s broken Angle physically and tried to break Styles mentally. I don't like their methods, and I don't think they’ll ever be friends, but Michaels and Reigns have the momentum and the health advantage. I have to pick Michaels and Reigns."
Todd Grisham (Heat Announcer): "Guys, I spoke to the SmackDown trainer just twenty minutes ago. He wouldn't confirm the extent of the damage to Kurt Angle's ankle, but he did say the Champion refused analgesic injections because he wants to 'feel the match.' That sounds brave, but it might be foolish against someone like Luther Reigns. The stipulation is the key here. Shawn Michaels wants that title shot more than anything. I think the hunger of HBK combined with the injury to Angle is too much to overcome. Put me down for Michaels and Reigns as well."
FINAL PREDICTION TALLY
Kurt Angle & AJ Styles: 0 Votes Shawn Michaels & Luther Reigns: 5 Votes (Tazz, JR, The King, Ivory, Grisham)
Confirmed Card for King of the Ring 2004
WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: TABLES MATCH WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London & Brian Kendrick vs. The Dudley Boyz
Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. The Big Show
Fatal Four Way Womens Championship: Lita (c) vs. Trish Stratus vs. Gail Kim vs. Victoria
Tag Team Match Kurt Angle & AJ Styles vs. Shawn Michaels & Luther Reigns
