Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 9/5/2002
From: Green Bay, WI
Opening Contest: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Billy Gunn: Gunn wastes no time working over Mysterio with strikes and stomps. Gunn chokes Mysterio in the corner. Mysterio ducks a clothesline, but Gunn hits a tilt a whirl slam. Gunn stomps on Mysterio to keep control of the contest. Gunn drops Mysterio with snake eyes in the corner leading to a two count. Gunn sends Mysterio into the corner chest first and delivers a strike to the back. Mysterio dropkicks Gunn on the knee, but Gunn cuts Mysterio off with a clothesline for a near fall. Gunn drives Mysterio down with a neckbreaker. Mysterio is stopped by a knee lift, but hits a springboard head scissors. Mysterio hits a springboard dropkick to stagger Gunn. Mysterio tries for the 619, but Palumbo catches Mysterio and decks Mysterio on the floor while Rico distracted the referee. Gunn can’t get a three count on a cover attempt. Gunn works over Mysterio in the corner with several strikes. Gunn tries for a press slam, but Mysterio counters with a rollup and wins the match. (**. An enjoyable start to the match with Mysterio showcasing his moves and Gunn displaying some fun power moves. It looks like Billy & Chuck are not going to be a focus.) After the match, Rico says that tonight will be the single greatest moment of his life. Rico says it is time right now. Chuck has something to ask Billy, apparently. Rico is excited about this news. Rico wants Chuck to reach into his tights and pull out the love. Chuck has a ring. Chuck gets down on one knee and proposes to Billy. Chuck wants Billy to be his partner for life. Billy is shocked and accepts.
Second Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble vs. Shannon Moore: Early on, they trade wrist locks and hammerlocks. Noble backs Moore into a corner and delivers several strikes. Moore hammers away on Noble to gain the advantage. Moore hip tosses Noble followed by a spinning heel kick. Nidia grabs Moore’s foot, but Noble is dropkicked off the apron moments later. Moore hits a somersault dive to the floor! Moore sends Noble into the corner and hits a heel kick. Noble clotheslines Moore to gain control of the contest. Noble plants Moore with a back suplex for a two count. Noble drives Moore into the corner a few times and delivers a backbreaker for a near fall. Noble stomps Moore and they trade strikes with Moore getting the advantage. Noble kicks Moore and is met with a heel kick. Moore elbows Noble to the mat followed by a neckbreaker for a two count. Moore hits a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Moore plants Noble with a spinebuster and goes to the top hitting another moonsault for a near fall. Noble tried for a Tiger Bomb, but Moore counters and nearly wins with a rollup. Moore avoids Noble in the corner and Noble hits the post. Moore leaps off, but Noble hit a powerbomb! Noble hits the Tiger Bomb for the clean win in the middle of the ring. (**. I’m glad they went with a clean finish for Noble. Moore had a hot streak for a few weeks, but doesn’t need to be protected. They worked a solid match and it held my interest. I think Moore will do well as a fall guy for the Cruiserweight division.)
Backstage, Paul Heyman is talking with WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar and tells Lesnar to not take Randy Orton lightly. Heyman notes that Orton and Lesnar came up together. Orton enters the scene and tells Lesnar to listen to his agent. Orton respects Lesnar, but doesn’t sweat him. Lesnar ends the segment by saying that he will.
Backstage, Edge meets up with Rikishi, who is sporting a new shirt. Edge puts over Wisconsin and promotes the six man tag match they have tonight. Edge wants to know if Rikishi is going to back the ass up. Rikishi says the stink face wasn’t intended to be funny. Rikishi says the ass represents the ass of life and it stinks. Rikishi gives people a smell of his ass when he wants them to experience it. Rikishi tells Edge that he will back that ass up tonight.
Third Contest: WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton in a non-title match: Orton attacks Lesnar early on with strikes. Lesnar clubs Orton over the back, but Orton almost wins with a rollup out of the corner. Lesnar tosses Orton with an overhead suplex. Lesnar knee lifts Orton and tosses Orton over the ropes to the floor. Lesnar rolls Orton into the ring and delivers a kick to the face. Orton tries for a clothesline, but Lesnar comes back with a clothesline of his own. Lesnar kicks Orton and delivers a few shoulder rams in the corner. Lesnar hits a running shoulder ram in the corner to drop Orton to the mat. Lesnar tries for a slam, but Orton counters. Orton is met with a clothesline in the corner. Lesnar stomps on Orton in the corner and chokes Orton briefly. Lesnar has Orton over his shoulder and drives Orton into the turnbuckles a few times. Orton fights back with strikes, but Lesnar quickly stops that momentum. Lesnar has Orton over his shoulder and drops to his knees. Orton dropkicks Lesnar on the knee and hits a headlock backbreaker. Orton heads to the top rope hitting a crossbody, but Lesnar rolls through and finishes Orton off with the F-5 for the win. (*1/2. An enjoyable match with Orton showcasing some good pace and energy. The finishing sequence was nicely done. Orton showed some good babyface fire here.)
Backstage, Mark Henry is walking and shakes hands with Billy and Chuck.
Backstage, Crash Holly thanks Stephanie McMahon for the opportunity. Stephanie thanks Crash for what he did to Bischoff on RAW. Rev. D-Von enters the room and he’s pissed about Billy and Chuck getting engaged. Stephanie revels that Billy and Chuck are having a commitment ceremony next week on Smackdown. D-Von is furious about this news. Stephanie tells D-Von it is immoral to pretend to be a man of the cloth. Stephanie reminds D-Von of his match tonight against Batista.
Fourth Contest: Tajiri vs. Mark Henry: Tajiri kicks Henry on the knee a few times to try and weaken Henry, but Henry doesn’t budge. Henry knee lifts Henry followed by a strike to the back. Henry press slams Tajiri to the mat gut first. Henry splashes Tajiri over the middle rope and slides to the floor. Henry blocks a handspring by knocking Tajiri to the apron. Tajiri kicks Henry on the apron and tries for a sunset flip, but Henry blocks it. Tajiri kicks Henry several times and delivers a dropkick to the face. Tajiri knee drops Henry, but only gets a one count. Henry blocks a kick, but Tajiri tries for the tarantula. Henry is too big and counters by slamming Tajiri to the mat. Henry plants Tajiri with a running powerslam for the win. (1/4*. A bizarre choice to have Henry squash Tajiri here. I would have tried and value Tajiri as a Cruiserweight instead of sacrificing him to Henry.)
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon is moderating a face to face between WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker. Lesnar doesn’t have a lot to say and says he lets his actions speak louder than his words. Lesnar goes through his accolades as an collegiate wrestler. Lesnar also goes over his accomplishments in the WWE during his short tenure in the company. Lesnar brags about destroying Orton and not even breaking a sweat in the process. Lesnar makes fun of Taker’s age. Taker talks about Lesnar being 25 and being at the top of the world. Taker has seen the look on Lesnar’s face many times. Taker puts over Lesnar for being impressive, but Taker sees inexperience. Taker tells Lesnar that he hasn’t been tested. Taker is going to bring Lesnar to places that he’s never been at Unforgiven. Taker asks if Lesnar has ever had to wipe blood from his eyes or feel ribs sticking out. Taker tells Lesnar that he’s going to beat him up at Unforgiven. Taker doesn’t think that Lesnar has had the fights yet and promises that Lesnar is his at Unforgiven. Heyman chimes in and claps for Taker’s speech. Heyman proceeds to put over Lesnar. Heyman says that Lesnar is focused on Taker while Taker is distracted by family business at home. Stephanie chimes in and says this isn’t about family. Heyman says the championship is Lesnar’s family. Heyman notes that Taker has to tend to his pregnant wife at home. Taker warns Heyman about where he’s going with this. Heyman warns Taker about getting hurt to the point that Taker wouldn’t be able to take care of his family. Heyman tells Taker he refuses to take care of his unborn child. Taker gets up and has a standoff with Lesnar until Heyman pulls Lesnar away.
Fifth Contest: Batista vs. Rev. D-Von: D-Von beats on Batista while taunting him in the corner. Batista lifts D-Von up by his neck and slams D-Von to the mat. D-Von bails to the floor to regroup and tried to use a chair, but Batista prevented that. D-Von got a chair from under the ring and hit Batista over the back while the referee wasn’t looking. D-Von gets a two count following an elbow drop. Batista tries for a slam, but ducks a right hand and kicks D-Von. Batista plants D-Von with the Batista Bomb and cleanly wins the match. (*. Not much of a match, but the right decision. Batista could be the next muscle guy that Smackdown focuses on and builds up.)
Backstage, Nidia talks with WCW Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble and asks if they will ever get married like Billy and Chuck. Noble assures Nida they will, but when they hug Noble makes a face suggesting that’s never going to happen.
Backstage, Matt Hardy is showing footage from Smackdown last week to Shannon Moore. Hardy is putting over his performance against Brock Lesnar. Hardy wants Moore to watch him wrestle Hardcore Holly. Hardy wants Moore to listen to him and follow him. Hardcore Holly enters the scene and tells Hardy he left out some footage like Lesnar hitting the F5 for the win. Hardy thinks Holly is jealous because his star is fading, but Holly will see Hardy out there.
Backstage, Eddie Guerrero is talking with Kurt Angle. Guerrero isn’t going to take it easy this week and is pissed that Rikishi cost him the number one contenders spot. Angle chimes in and tells Guerrero that he was the guy robbed. Guerrero wants to know why Angle didn’t beat Taker last week. Angle calls Guerrero Cheech. Chris Benoit walks up from behind and Angle is trashing Benoit for getting pinned and is unaware of Benoit being behind him. Guerrero wants Angle to continue the trashing and Benoit lets out a fake laugh. Benoit laughs at Angle suggesting he’s better than him. Benoit wants Angle to prove that he can make him tap (he has already). Guerrero restores order as they have a match tonight.
Sixth Contest: Hardcore Holly vs. Matt Hardy: Hardy tries for a rollup and gets a two count. Hardy taunts Holly telling Holly he almost won already. Holly backslides Hardy for a two count and taunts Hardy, but Hardy decks Holly with a right hand. They begin to trade strikes in the corner with Holly running into a back elbow. Hardy hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Holly sends Hardy to the floor, but Hardy gets on the apron and is sent into the ring post back first. Holly beats on Hardy with strikes and chops before returning to the ring. Holly plants Hardy with a back suplex for a two count. Holly drives Hardy down with a backbreaker for a two count. Holly sits Hardy on the top turnbuckle and is elbowed off. Hardy gains his footing to hit a moonsault for a near fall. They trade a few strikes in the middle of the ring. Holly chops Hardy, but Hardy hits the Side Effect for a near fall. Holly elbows Hardy and places Hardy over the top from to deliver a kick to the groin out of a wheelbarrow. Holly powerbombs Hardy for a two count. Hardy kicks Holly in the corner and leaps off the middle rope to deliver a leg drop for a two count. Holly stops Hardy with a standing dropkick managing a near fall. Holly tries for the Alabama Slam, but Hardy counters with a rollup for a near fall. Holly avoids the Twist of Fate. Holly counters a rollup with one of his own and a handful of tights to win the match. (*1/2. I’m thinking these losses are going to make Hardy go absolutely nuts, but it’s going to add to his delusional character. I have very little to zero interest in Holly.)
Backstage, Funaki is trying to get a comment out of Rico. Funaki talks about the marriage next week. Rico says we are going to see an experience or happening next week. It will be an event that we won’t believe. Rico will make sure everything goes according to plan. Rico will be there for Chuck and walks off.
Backstage, Crash and Hardcore Holly meet and shake hands with Hardcore wishing Crash luck.
Seventh Contest: Crash Holly vs. The Hurricane: Crash shoves Hurricane away to start the match. Holly elbows Hurricane into a corner, but Hurricane delivers several right hands and puts Crash in the tree of woe. Hurricane stands on Holly’s groin before hitting a suplex. Hurricane leaps off the top to hit a crossbody for a two count. Crash drops Hurricane over the top rope and hits a back suplex. Crash stomps on Hurricane and tries for a suplex. Hurricane hits the Eye of the Hurricane. Hurricane delivers a few right hands and a clothesline. Hurricane connects with the blockbuster off the middle rope. Hurricane nails Holly with the shining wizard for a near fall. Hurricane misses a splash in the corner and Holly misses a spear hitting the post shoulder first. Hurricane stands on the top rope with Holly hitting a top rope swinging neckbreaker. Hurricane signals for the chokeslam, but Holly counters with a rollup for the win. (*1/2. I’m not surprised that Crash won in his debut on the brand as it would have made little sense to have him jump ship and lose. Crash being on Smackdown makes a lot of sense as he can challenge for the Cruiserweight title since the hardcore division on RAW no longer exists. It’s just weird to see Hurricane putting him over and appears to be moving down the ranks in the division.)
Main Event: Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit vs. The Undertaker, Edge & Rikishi: Rikishi and Angle kickoff the six man tag main event. Angle wants a piece of Taker instead, though. Taker tags in and keeps wrist control on Angle, but Angle stops Taker with a knee lift. Taker nails Angle with a big boot and a leg drop for a two count. Taker signals for a chokeslam, but Angle backs away and tags in Benoit. Benoit kicks Taker a few times in the midsection to gain control in the corner. Taker tosses Benoit into the corner and pummels Benoit with strikes. Rikishi tags in and hammers away on Benoit before hitting a clothesline. Rikishi plants Benoit with a sit out spinebuster. Rikishi knocks Guerrero off the apron and plants Benoit with a Samoan Drop. Edge tags in and nails Guerrero with a forearm smash, slam and a flapjack. Edge works over Guerrero with right hands in the corner until Angle drops Edge throat first over the top rope from the apron. Angle and Taker have a confrontation on the floor. Guerrero works over Edge with forearm shots a snap suplex for a two count. Angle tags in and kicks Edge in the midsection followed by a right hand.
Angle plants Edge with a back suplex for a two count. Benoit tags in and kicks Edge in the midsection. Benoit delivers a backbreaker for a two count. Guerrero tags in and hits a slingshot senton for a near fall. Guerrero decks Edge with a forearm strike. Guerrero dropkicks Edge and tags in Angle. Angle takes Edge over with a suplex, but Taker gets involved to stop the pin attempt. Angle controls Edge on the mat with a sleeper. Edge elbows free, but runs into an overhead suplex. Edge plants Angle with the jumping DDT. Edge tries to tag, but is stopped by Benoit knocking Rikishi off the apron. Edge kicks free and tags in Taker. Taker cleans house with clotheslines and drops Angle face first over the top rope. Taker elbows Angle allowing Rikishi to hit a belly to belly suplex. Guerrero low blows Taker to save Benoit from a chokeslam. Rikishi sends Guerrero to the floor. Angle gets the ankle lock on Rikishi, but Edge makes the save and spears Angle in the corner. Guerrero and Edge go over the top to the floor. Rikishi splashes Angle in the corner and goes for the stink face. Rikishi gives Angle the stink face! Benoit sends Rikishi shoulder first into the ring post. Benoit laughs at Angle for getting the stink face. Guerrero tries to keep the peace between them. Benoit and Angle proceed to counter each others submission attempts.. Guerrero is distracted by Angle sending Benoit into the ring post. Guerrero is left alone in the ring as Edge, Rikishi and Taker are standing behind him. Guerrero is terrified of this. Guerrero tries to warm up to them, but Guerrero is met with punches and a spear by Edge. Edge puts Guerrero face first into Rikishi’s backside. Taker chokeslams Guerrero for the win. (**1/4. A decent match, but nothing all that great. Looks like they are going with a Benoit vs. Angle feud, which is fine. But, Benoit has tapped to Angle several times and did so just a year ago. So, don’t insult the fans intelligence by trying to suggest that Angle couldn’t do it. I was fully expecting Lesnar to get involved, but I’m glad they didn’t go that route.)
Final Thoughts:
I’d say this was a really average episode of Smackdown. It was weird to not have a long talking segment in the ring, but it was a nice change of pace. The action was mostly average with nothing being awful. I liked the Taker/Lesnar promo, but it feels a little similar to HHH/HBK by getting the family comments involved. I’m interested in seeing a Lesnar/Taker match now and think the intensity between the two will make for a fun match.
Thanks for reading.