The predominant match on the undercard, was Kurt Angle versus John Cena, where the winner would face the WWE Champion for the title at WrestleMania 21.

At the Royal Rumble, JBL defended his WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match against Kurt Angle and Big Show.

[6][7] During the bout, members from Team Angle (Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak) and JBL's Cabinet (Orlando Jordan and the Basham Brothers) interfered, and eventually the Cabinet helped JBL retain his championship by pinning Angle.

General manager Theodore Long, who immediately announced a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match between JBL and Big Show for the WWE Championship at No Way Out.

[6][7] On the February 3 episode of SmackDown!, Big Show defeated the Basham Brothers in a handicap match.

[9][10] The main match on the undercard was the Number One Contender tournament final between John Cena and Kurt Angle.

General Manager Theodore Long on the February 3 episode of SmackDown!, and he booked some of the first-round matches for that night.

[8] The winner of the tournament would earn a main event spot challenging for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21.

[8] The match ended in a double countout due to Luther Reigns preventing The Undertaker from re-entering the ring.

[8] The double countout meant that neither man advanced in the tournament, thereby giving a bye in the semi-finals to the winner of the other qualifying match.

[9] Due to this win and the double countout the week before, Angle received a bye into the finals of the tournament.

[8] On the February 10 episode of SmackDown!, Reigns cut a promo on The Undertaker, and claimed that he wasn't scared of him.

[10] Before the event went live on pay-per-view, Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas defeated Kenzo Suzuki and René Duprée, with Hiroko, in a match taped for Heat.

[5][11] The next participant was Shannon Moore, who missed a Corkscrew Moonsault, allowing London to perform a 450° splash to eliminate him.

[5][12] The fifth match was the final of the tournament to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Championship between Kurt Angle and John Cena.

[1][13] The participants were Michelle McCool, Joy Giovanni, Lauren Jones, and Rochelle Loewen, and the segments were hosted by Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie.

[11][12] The first event was an "evening gown" competition, which took place after the WWE Tag Team Championship match.

[5][11][12] The main event was the Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship between John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and Big Show.

[11][12][14] JBL took the early advantage in the match and tried to climb the cage to escape but was stopped by the barbed wire.

[5][12] General manager Theodore Long ejected the Cabinet from ringside but Jordan passed the bolt cutters through the cage to JBL.

[11][12] On the following episode of SmackDown!, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio successfully defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against the former champions, the Basham Brothers.

[15] They continued to defend the titles against other teams, including Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns,[16] John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and Orlando Jordan,[17] and Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas.

[18] The following week, on SmackDown!, Guerrero faced Danny Basham, but Mysterio accidentally cost him the match.

[19][22] Reigns had fallen out with his tag team partner, Jindrak, just a few weeks prior, setting up matches between them.

[16][17] On the February 24 episode of SmackDown!, Chavo Guerrero successfully defended his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Funaki.

[22] Orton fled the ring after the Undertaker began to fill the arena with smoke, and didn't sign the contract.

[20][28] Kurt Angle entered into a feud with Shawn Michaels, with the pair fighting over who was the better wrestler in WWE.

[16] Jordan won the title after the Basham Brothers distracted the referee, and JBL hit Cena with the WWE Championship belt.