WWF Smackdown 7/5/2001

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, July 5th, 2001

Taped (7/3) from the TacomaDome in Tacoma, WA

List of WWF & WCW Champions at the time:
● WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin (4/01/2001)
● WWF Intercontinental Champion: Albert (6/28/2001)
● WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Dudley Boyz (6/21/2001)
● WWF European Champion: Matt Hardy (4/26/2001)
● WWF Hardcore Champion: Mike Awesome (6/25/2001)
● WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: X-Pac (6/25/2001)
● WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Booker T (3/26/2001)
● WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion: Booker T (3/18/2001)
● WCW World Tag Team Champions: Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire (1/14/2001)
● WCW Cruiserweight Champion: Shane Helms (3/18/2001)

~ Smackdown comes on the air with the Vince McMahon/Torrie Wilson/Linda McMahon saga from Raw, yet no mention of the Invasion. Yep, the next big angle is taking a backseat to Vince’s latest libido-fest when you’d figure the it would be front and center in the highlights package. But in hindsight you can’t totally fault them after the way it actually went down on Raw.

Anyway Michael Cole welcomes us to the show along with Tazz as he talks about history being made on Smackdown. Tonight Chris Jericho & Spike Dudley will team up to challenge the Dudley Boyz for the Tag Team Titles. Plus it’s WCW on WWF TV once again as Diamond Dallas Page challenges Booker T for the WCW Championship. I don’t know if the Tacoma fans are going to be any more receptive to this match after the debacle three days ago, but let’s see how this plays out.

WWF WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES: The Dudley Boyz © vs. Chris Jericho & Spike Dudley
This is Jericho’s rematch for the belts after Spike helped him get a handicap win over the Dudleys on Raw. Plus Spike wasn’t able to unseat the Dudleys at King of the Ring with Kane as his partner so maybe his luck will be different with Jericho. Spike also comes out without Molly Holly as Cole informs us that Spike asked Molly to stay backstage for this. D’Von goes right to work on Jericho then whips him into a corner but Jericho comes out with a clothesline then hammers D’Von with chops. Jericho whips D’Von and hits a knee to the chest and an armdrag then springs off the ropes with a dropkick. D’Von rolls out to the floor as Bubba comes in but Jericho hits a backdrop then dropkicks him through the ropes. The Dudleys regroup on the floor when Jericho drops to the mat and Spike launches off him and hits a plancha. Spike rolls D’Von back in the ring and Jericho slams him then sets him up while Spike climbs to the top rope. The referee keeps Bubba out while Jericho and Spike do the “Wassup” and Spike hits the headbutt to the groin. Spike takes over on D’Von and jabs his eyes then goes for a whip, D’Von revrses but misses a clothesline. Spike goes for the Dudley Dawg but D’Von sets him on the top rope and Bubba throws him into a tree of woe. D’Von stomps away at Spike before tagging Bubba in to take over and Bubba whips Spike and hits a backdrop. Bubba walks over Spike’s face and slams him then tags D’Von in and the Dudleys hit a double flapjack. Bubba draws Jericho in to distract the referee while D’Von chokes Spike on the mat and whips him into a corner. D’Von goes for a splash and Spike sidesteps it then charges at him but D’Von backdrops Spike over the ropes. Spike lands on his feet on the apron and ducks a clothesline from D’Von but runs into a boot from Bubba. Bubba decks Spike on the floor then rolls him back in the ring and D’Von covers but Jericho makes the save. D’Von slams Spike then hops to the middle rope but misses a legdrop and both men crawl toward their corners. D’Von tags Bubba in but Jericho is able to get his tag from Spike and comes off the ropes with a flying forearm. Jericho follows up with a clothesline then pops D’Von off the apron and nails Bubba with a spinning heelkick. Jericho whips Bubba into a corner then goes for the bulldog and misses it but takes Bubba down by the legs. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho when D’Von comes back in but Jericho breaks the hold to clothesline him. Spike tags in then climbs to the top rope and nails Bubba with a missle dropkick but only gets a two count. Jericho fights D’Von on the floor while Spike comes off the ropes for a Sunset Flip but can’t get Bubba over. However Jericho decks Bubba from the apron causing him to fall back into the Sunset Flip for a two count. D’Von throws Jericho off the apron and onto the barricade when Spike sets Bubba up for the Dudley Dawg. However Bubba throws Spike off him and the Dudleys plants him with the 3D for the clean pin to retain. (6:38) It was obvious the Dudleys weren’t losing the titles but this wasn’t a bad match. The Dudleys stand over their fallen half-brother and taunt him with the belts when Jericho clears the ring of the them and glares out at them as they give him some parting words. **

~ Backstage Vince McMahon is pacing about when Steve Austin comes in with Debra and asks how he’s doing. Vince rambles about being set up by Torrie Wilson on Raw and Debra feels that he got what he deserved. Austin tries to help Vince come to grips with what happened then tells him that he brough him a present from Texas and gives him a box. Vince opens it to find a cowboy ha while Austin opens another box with a matching hat and Vince’s mood immediately brightens as he and Austin slip the hats on and talk about being cowboys and such. Kurt Angle comes in the room and greets both guys then points out how they have the same identical cowboy hats on. Angle apologizes for what happened on Monday but Vince assures him that Austin’s gift is really cheering him up. Angle then gets sad, feeling that Austin didn’t get him a gift but Austin says he does have something for Angle. Austin gives Angle another gift box and Angle excitedly opens his present to find … a child’s cowboy hat. Angle slips the hat on anyway and really enjoys it as the others tell him he looks “great”.

~ Back from break Cole and Tazz talk about the tension that’s building between the WWF and WCW staff. A clip is shown of WWF referee Earl Hebner arguing with WCW referee Nick Patrick in the lockerroom earlier today. Hebner tells Patrick to keep his shirts on their side and Patrick tells him they can have their stuff where they want. The two of them eventually start shoving each other and the other referees have to separate them. Apparenlty they’re trying to show how this WWF/WCW war is affecting more than the wrestlers, but come on, a referee feud?

Crash Holly vs. Jacqueline – Intergender Match
Crash and Jackie had that falling out on Raw so he wants some revenge or something. Crash knocks Jackie down to start and lays the boots to her then grabs her by the chin and talks trash to her. Crash whips Jackie but Jackie slides under him and and gets in her shots until Crash hits a knee to the chest. Crash throws Jackie through the ropes then goes for a baseball slide but Jackie avoids it and clotheslines him. Jackie then pulls Crash by the arm into the ringpost before pulling him back in the ring by the bad arm. Crash rakes Jackie’s face and stomps her down then whips her into a corner and charges but Jackie dodges it and hits an armdrag. Jackie slaps on an armwringer when Crash shoves her down but misses an elbowdrop. Jackie gets another armwringer then climbs to the middle rope and hits a legdrop right on the bad arm. Jackie whips Crash into a corner but eats a knee and Crash goes for a DDT but Jackie slams him by the arm. Jackie then goes for a tornado DDT but Crash counters it into a Northern Lights Suplex for a two count. Crash climbs to the top rope but Jackie bumps Crashs leg causing him to straddle the top turnbuckle. Jackie goes up herself and hits Crash with a Frankensteiner that gets her the three count. (3:14) So for the second time this week Crash jobs to a woman. Strangely entertaining match, I guess Dean Malenko isn’t the only one who can get a decent showing out of Jacqueline. **

~ Back from break Trish Stratus visits Jeff Hardy in the lockerroom and thanks him for saving her on Raw, with Jeff accepting her thanks. Matt Hardy and Lita then come in and Lita is not happy with Trish being there as Trish says she’s there just to thank Jeff then heads out while Matt and Lita stare at Jeff unapprovingly. Awkward.

~ Back in the arena Cole and Tazz recaps the WCW Title Match on Raw and Booker T’s subsequent beatdown, as well the only images of Buff being in a WWF main event. We then get footage of Booker T arriving at the arena earlier today and Hardcore Holly taunting him about Monday. Booker then makes his way down the hallway past several of the WWF wrestlers who are clearing a path for him. Booker eventually finds the Acolytes waiting at the end of the line and they tease him for getting beaten down. Booker admits he got his @** kicked and he may get it kicked again tonight but he is still the WCW Champion and he is going to defend his title. Booker then departs and Bradshaw seems a bit impressed by his resolve.

~ Elsewhere Vince is asking Austin and Angle why Booker T is here and they decide to give him another beating tonight when someone knocks on their door. Angle answers it before letting in some guy who presents Vince with an envelope. Once the guy leaves Vince realizes he’s just been served with a court summons and berates Angle for letting him in. Vince opens the envelope and finds that he must appear in court on July 23rd for a divorce settlement with Linda. Oh, that’s the day after Invasion, what a coincedence. Vince rips the note up while Austin blames Angle and demands he give him his hat back and the two start arguing. Vince quickly tells them to shut up and Austin and Angle continue exchanging unpleasantries as we go to commercial.

Now this was going to be the original setup for the so-called “brand extension”; supposedly the McMahons were going to divorce and be forced to split all their assets 50-50, leading to one of the shows going to WCW and the other going to the WWF.

~ Back from break we apparently have a bonus WCW match as Billy Kidman is making his way to the ring. And we’re even getting the WCW commentators as Scott Hudson and Arn Anderson are calling the action.

WCW CRUSIERWEIGHT TITLE: Shane Gregory Helms © vs. Billy Kidman
I guess Sugar Shane is going by his real name to avoid confusion with Shane McMahon or something. Kind of how Steven Regal suddenly became William. Both men lockup and Kidman get a headlock but Helms shoves him away as we see X-Pac watching backstage. Kidman rolls Helms up for a quick count then gets him in a Sunset Flip for a two count and Helms slaps him. Kidman unloads on Helms then whips him into a corner and charges but Helms backdrops him over the ropes. Kidman lands on his feet and shoulderblocks Helms through the ropes then comes back in with a headscissors. Kidman dropkicks Helms through the ropes then slings himself over the rope and connects with a plancha. Kidman throws Helms back in the ring then climbs to the top rope and hits a crossbody for a two count. Kidman goes for a whip, Helms reverses it and Kidman kicks the face but Helms hiptosses him over the ropes. Helms goes out and stomps away at Kidman before catapulting him into the post and rolling him back in the ring. Helms hits a backbreaker then goes for the Vertebreaker but Kidman slips out of it and hits a tornado bulldog. Kidman goes for a whip, Helms reverses but Kidman slides under him and hits a Rydien bomb for a two count. Kidman whips Helms into a corner and comes off the ropes but Helms nails him with a superkick for a near fall. Helms goes for a suplex, Kidman floats over him and drills him with a falcon arrow then climbs to the top rope. Kidman goes for the Shooting Star Press but misses and Helms hits the Nightmare on Helms Street for a two. Helms goes for the Vertebreaker again and this time gets Kidman over but Kidman is able to counter it. Kidman then drills Helms with something like an inverted Pedigree and gets the 1..2..3 for the belt! (4:15) Kidman wins the title in his first WWF appearence. Solid enough match and while the crowd wasn’t 100% into it, they weren’t outright hostile toward it either. **

~ Backstage Vince gries to Austin and Angle about Linda McMahon and Torrie Wilson of trying to ruin his reputaion. Debra doesn’t think it possible but Vince feels it’s only possible if he lets it happen, which he’s not about to do. Vince feels the solution is to go out to the public and tell them his side of the story, feeling that they’ll understand. Vince heads out while Angle tells Austin about learning to tell the truth in the cub scouts as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we find Christian again getting friendly with Edge’s King of the Ring trophy when Edge comes in. Christain tells Edge he’s just polishing it and that he’s upset he can’t be at ringside for his Intercontinental Title match then offers to stay behind with the trophy instead. Edge reluctantly accepts the offer then departs while Christian is left hugging the trophy. Ooookay.

~ Out in the arena Vince McMahon heads out to the ring becasue heaven help us if we don’t get a McMahon promo. Vince first sets his cowboy hat on a ringpost as we get a shot of Austin and Angle both watching him from the back. Vince takes the mic and first talks on how we suppsoedly leave the world the same way we come in, with nothing, but that’s not the case because when everyone dies, they leave with either a good or a bad reputation. Vince claims Linda is trying to lead everyone into believing that he’s a womanizer and philanderer which isn’t true after she teamed with Torrie Wilson to try and soil his reputation on Raw. Vince claims that he wasn’t really going to go that far with Torrie, he was just simply testing her loyalty to the WWF. Vince tells us how he’s experienced a lot of trama this week, including getting the court subponea for July 23rd. Vince tells the fans as well as the judge presiding over his divorce case that he’s sorry for causing anyone pain. Vince is soon brought to tears and gets on his knees, regretting that day he was born, and the crowd isn’t buying it. While Vince is weeping in the ring Austin reacts backstage by holding his heart and wiping tears from his eyes. Vince continues to beg for forgiveness when William Regal and Tajiri run out and try to talk reason to him. Regal tells Vince it’s not his fault his overwhelming kindness has made him the victim then proceeds to embrace him as Austin and Angle look on shocked. Vince’s mood instantly changes and he agress that everything’s not his fault, that it’s not his fault that women find him incredibly attractive and irresistible and that’s he a virile man. Vince also says it’s not his fault that he’s a charasmatic self-made billionaire that people take advantage of. Vince says he has nothing in common with any of the fans in the arena and that he’s proud to be Vince McMahon. Vince happily leaves the ring as Regal and Tajiri applaud him while Austin and Angle share a look and we lament the 10 minutes of our lives we wasted there.

The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita) vs. “The One” Billy Gunn & The Big Show
Show has some issue with the Hardys after being embarassed on Raw, though why he recruited Billy as his partner is anyone’s guess. Cole suggests it’s because both men underacheieved in the WWF or something. And how you would like to be the Hardys, going from being in main events with Austin and Triple H, to this. Anyway Matt Hardy and Billy lockup to start this off and Billy forces Matt into a corner then kicks away at him. Billy goes for a whip, Matt reverses him into a corner and eats an elbow but comes back with an armdrag. Matt hits another amrdrag and gets an armbar when Billy whips him but Matt trips him with a drop toehold. Jeff tags in and helps Matt whip Billy into a corner and Matt drops down while Jeff hits the Poetry in Motion. Jeff applies an armwringer but Billy rakes the face then tags Show in and Show throws Jeff into a corner. Show charges when Jeff sidesteps him then hops to the middle rope and leaps off but Show catches him. Jeff tries for a huricanrana but Show counters with a giant flapjack then hits a crossface shot and a headbutt. Show hammers Jeff with knees in a corner then throws him across the ring and hits an elbowdrop and a legdrop. Show hops to the middle rope but misses an elbwodrop and Jeff tries to crawl to his corner to make the tag. Billy gets his tag and tries to cut Jeff off but Jeff kicks Billy away and manages to tag in Matt. Matt hits some clotheslines then goes for a whip, Billy reverses it but Matt hits a swinging DDT for a two. Matt comes off the ropes but Billy tisses him out to the floor then Show tags in and goes out after Matt. Lita climbs to the top and hits Billy with the huricanrana before Show press slams Matt back over the ropes. Show grabs Matt for a chokeslam but Jeff climbs to the top rope and breaks it up with a missile dropkick. Show is reeling when Matt dropkicks him in the knee then manages to drill him with the Twist of Fate! Jeff climbs to the top rope and connects with the Swanton Bomb while Matt also climbs to the top rope. Matt hits the guilltine legdrop and covers Show but the referee is too busy getting Jeff out of the ring. Billy comes in and takes Matt out with the One and Only and Show drapes an arm over him for the three. (5:21) Ugh, they actually jobbed the Hardys to a makeshift duo that nobody cares about and they couldn’t even get a good match out of it. DUD

~ Backstage the now-happy Vince tells Austin, Angle, Debra, Regal and Tajiri that he’s ready to celebrate being him by taking the rest of the night off and even invites Tajiri to join him for a drink at the nearest bar. Vince and Tajiri head out while Austin and Angle glare at Regal and ask him what he was thinking hugging Vince. Regal tries to explain but Austin (with Angle repeating his words) warns him never to hug Vince again or else. Austin tells Regal he makes him sick, as does Angle, which leads to them arguing again. Sigh, this was funny at first but now it’s getting a little repetitive.

~ Back from break Albert makes his way to the ring for a title defense. Edge comes out next but first gets on the mic and talks about his match being somewhat of a mixed bag for him; while he’s happy to have a Intercontinental Title match no one will see it because everyone changes the channel once Albert’s music hits. Edge also makes fun of X-Factor’s theme song and name (and rightfully so) before sliding in the ring and it’s on.

WWF INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE: Albert © vs. Edge
Albert gets in the first shots and tosses Edge over the ropes but Edge lands on his feet on the apron. Edge slides under Albert back in the ring and gets in his shots then goes for a hurcanrana but Albert blocks it. Edge fights out of a powerbomb attempt and tries going into a Sunset Flip but Albert blocks that as well. Albert grabs Edge by the throat but Edge fights out of the Baldobomb attempt and connects with a dropkick. Edge comes off the ropes but runs into a bicycle kick and Albert follows it up with a pair of backbreakers. Albert whips Edge into a corner as we see Christian watching backstage and eating popcorn from Edge’s trophy. Albert clubs Edge’s back then whips him into another corner and gres for an Avalanche but Edge avoids it. Albert stops himself and tosses Edge into the turnbuckles then hits an Argentine backbreaker for a two count. Albert whips Edge into a corner and charges, Edge stops him with an elbow but runs right into a bear hug. Edge breaks the hold with an ear clap then comes off the ropes and Albert hits a bodyblock but misses a splash. Edge comes off the ropes again and Albert grabs him in the double choke but Edge counters it into a DDT. Edge hits the Edge-o-matic then climbs to the top rope and connects with a missile dropkick but only gets two. Edge hits the count-along punches in a corner but Albert low blows him then hits the Baldobomb and that’s it. (3:36) Yep, Albert totally dominated that encounter. So having two bad matches with Billy Gunn wasn’t enough, now Edge gets squashed by Albert. Not a good start to his King of the Ring reign so far. DUD

~ Backstage the Acolytes have assembed the WWF midcarders to try to apologize to Test for Monday’s beatdown. explaining that they were lead by bad information. Bradshaw even offers a beer but Test just storms off as Steve Austin and Kurt Angle walk up to the group with Austin wanting to address them. Austin says he understands that they beat Test up for a good reason, because they though he was betraying the WWF, and greanted they made a mistake but Test will get over it and that the beating will make him stronger. Austin implores that they all have to stick together in order to stop WCW from infecting the WWF like a bacteria. Austin tells them to kill a snake they need to cut off its head and that Booker T, the head of the snake, is here tonight. Austin whips the group into a frenzy about they need to make an example of Booker T tonight and they’re with him. However Angle steps in and tells them that Austin could have done this by himself but he wants everyone else with him. Angle adds that Austin could beat up Booker T all by himself just like he could beat up everyone else if he wanted to. Angle says they should stick together and Bradshaw decides to follow his adivce..by going and having a beer together. On that note all the wrestlers depart while Austin glares at Angle who doesn’t understand what he just did there. Austin then slams down his cowboy hat in frustration to cap off this scene and walks off as we go to commercial.

Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Dean Malenko (w/Perry Saturn & Terri)
I believe this is one of Malenko’s final matches as he retired shortly after this show. Both men lockup to start, Malenko gets a headlock into a takedown but Scotty counters with a headscisstors. Malenko applies another headlock, Scotty shoves Malenko into the ropes but Malenko hits a shoulderblock. Scotty kips up and trips Malenko with a drop toehold then hits a dropkick and an armdrag into an armbar. Scotty wrenches the arm when Malenko goes for a whip, Scotty reverses it but Malenko fakes him out. Malenko slams Scotty by the knee and kicks at the knee repeately then Scotty goes an enzuigiri but misses it. Malenko elbowdrops Scotty’s knee then goes for the Texas Cloverleaf but Scotty grabs the rope for the break. Malenko sets Scotty on the top rope then goes up after him looking for a superplex but Scotty fights him off. Scotty then connects with a missile dropkick as we see Saturn outside sitting in the lap of Howard Finkle. Scotty goes for a whip, Malenko reverses but lowers the head and Scotty gets a backslide for a two count. Scotty rolls Malenko up for a two and Malenko goes for a suplex but Scotty counters into a rollup for a two. Soctty comes of the ropes with a forearm then whips Malenko but lowers the head and Malenko kicks the face. Malenko goes for a powerbomb, Scotty floats over and goes for a bulldog but Malenko ducks and hits a suplex. Scotty rolls out to the floor when Saturn comes in wearing Scotty’s headgear and dances around just like him. Scotty even goes for the Worm when Malenko decides enough is enough and throws Saturn through the ropes. However that allows Scotty to come up from behind with the bulldog then hits the Worm and gets the pin. (4:10) Scotty celebrates while Terri chastises Saturn who seems more interested in the Worm to notice. Solid enough match that was nearly overshadowed by Saturn’s antics. **

~ Backstage Diamond Dallas Page is stretching for his match when referee Billy Silverman walks up wishing him luck but DDP is confident he’ll beat Booker T and make him famous. DDP asks Silverman if he’s seen Undertaker tonight and Silverman says he hasn’t. DDP says Kane is watching Sara but he knows that Taker is still somewhere in town and dares him to show up so he can cut his head off with the Diamond Cutter.

~ Back from break we get a look at the Tacoma skyline before getting highlights from Tough Enough.

~ Backstage Austin is ranting to Angle and Debra about Booker T being here after the beating they gave him, with Debra asking what he’s going to do about it. Austin tells her what he’ll do while Angle agrees with him the whole way, so Austin then asks Angle what he would do to Booker T. Angle says he’d take Booker out with the Olympic Slam then make him tap to the Anklelock before breaking his ankle so Austin inspires Angle to go out get Booker right now and Angle eventually departs as we go to commercial.

WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Booker T © vs. Diamond Dallas Page
Scott Hudson and Arn Anderson are back on commentary but let’s see if the crowd turns on this match as well. Also Booker is still billed as “WCW & U.S. Champion” even though he still doesn’t have the U.S. belt with him. DDP pounces on Booker right away as he tries to step through the ropes but Booker quickly fights back. Booker goes for a whip, DDP reverses but Booker hits an elbow that sends DDP tumbling through the ropes. Booker goes out to the steps and hits DDP with an axehandle then rams him into the barricade and hits a chop. Booker throws DDP back in the ring but DDP greets him with a sledge then stomps him in the head. DDP pulls Booker into a shoulderblock and goes for the Diamond Cutter but Booker shoves him into a corner. Booker hits a clothesline then goes up for the count-along punches but DDP drops him onto the turnbuckles. DDP kicks Booker in the ribs then grabs his arm while stomping him in the chest and hits a short-arm clothesline. DDP throws Booker through the ropes then goes out after him but Booker rams DDP into the announce table and DDP accidentally kicks Scott Hudson in the ear as he flips over the table. Ouch! Booker pops DDP over the barricade then nails him with a superkick in the crowd. DDP starts fighitng back and clotheslines Booker back over the barricade then rams him into the table and throws him back in the ring. DDP climbs to the top rope and connects with a flying clothesline for a two count then applies a camel clutch. DDP sits down on Booker’s back and boots him in the head then whips him into a corner and hits a crossbody. Booker fights back and whips DDP but misses the Harlem sidekick and DDP hits a powerbomb for a near fall. DDP whips Booker into a corner and goes for a splash but misses it and crotches himself on the top rope. Booker rallies and goes for a whip, DDP reverses but Booker hits a flying forearm followed by the Axe Kick. Booker gets back to his feet with the spinaroonie then hits the Harlem sidekick sending DDP through the ropes. Booker goes out but DDP drives him into the apron and throws him into the steps then tosses him in the ring. DDP brings a chair in and DDT’s Booker into it but only gets a two count so he readies the chair again. However DDP spots The Undertaker coming out and stares at him, allowing Booker to roll him up for the three. (7:07) Well it was a better match than last time and at least we got a finish. Crowd still wouldn’t get into it, though. It’s still two WCW guys wrestling in a WWF ring and expecting the WWF crowd to care. **

Anyway Taker rushes the ring but DDP does what he’s been doing, running away. Taker chases him to the back while Kurt Angle comes out as well and nails Booker from behind. Angle goes for the Olympic Slam but Booker floats over and deck Angle then lays him out with the Axe Kick. Booker clocks Angle with his WCW Title belt then departs, leaving Angle laying in the ring.

However we’re not done yet as we see Taker searching for DDP and finding him outside the building waitng for him. DDP tells Taker it’s not looking good for him as Taker finds himself surounded by a number of WCW wrestlers. I believe that’s Chavo Guerrero, Mike Awesome, Lance Storm, Buff Bagwell, Shawn Stasiak and Chris Kanyon. Taker tries to fight them all off but they overwhelm him and ram him into a semi truck then continue thier beat down. Awesome spears Taker into a closed garage door before DDP calls his friends off so he can get him a piece of Taker. See, this is what WCW should have been doing in the first place, using their numbers to take out a WWF top guy and look like something of a real threat. This would have been fine if the show ended here.

Unfortunately it doesn’t. Shane McMahon comes out and pulls DDP off then orders his WCW men to back off but DDP clotheslines him!? DDP then throws Shane into a door and knocks him out with a shot as the other guys ask what the heck he’s doing? Booker T then comes out to calm things down but Awesome tells him this doesn’t concern him and shoves him. Booker shoves back but he gets beaten down and thrown into the door as well and he, Shane and Taker are all out. The wrestlers leave while DDP takes a moment to taunt the fallen Undertaker as Smackdown goes off the air. Yep, the WCW guys attack their owner and world champion for no real reason other than getting in the way or something.

Conclusion: Okay program, better than Raw, but it still highlighted the glaring problems the WWF was having at the time properly building up what was supposed to be the next huge angle. With WWF vs. WCW being the main selling point of InVasion you’d figure there’d be plenty of WCW guys appearing on the programs looking to challenge the WWF guys, setting up matches for the pay-per-view. However we’ve barely seen any of them, and the few that have appeared are fighting and wrestling each other (which again the WWF fans did NOT care about enough to see on thier show) instead of uniting against the WWF. Not to mention the shows are packed with meaningless matches that are doing nothing to build toward the supercard as well as plenty of bad booking, such as The Hardys and Edge being forced to put over slugs like Albert, Big Show and Billy Gunn. The bookers just wasn’t getting it, and just when it looked like they started to, their desperation would get the better of them, as we’ll see in the next review. Thumbs down for this show.