WWE Smackdown 9/19/2002

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 9/19/2002
From: Colorado Springs, CO

Opening Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble & Nidia vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. & Torrie Wilson: Nidia and Wilson have a catfight to start the match. Wilson has control and chops Nidia against the ropes. Wilson kicks Nidia followed by a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Wilson misses a spear in the corner and Nidia hits a snap suplex for a two count. Noble tags in and prevents Wilson from tagging out. Wilson kicks Noble away and Mysterio hits a springboard splash onto Noble. Mysterio head scissors Noble into the corner face first for a near fall. Noble lifts Mysterio into the air and down to the mat gut first for a near fall. Noble runs into a boot and Mysterio hits a springboard wheelbarrow bulldog for a near fall as Nidia breaks the cover. Nidia bails to the floor and Noble clotheslines Mysterio on the outside. Wilson stops the cover and Noble tries for a double under hook, but Mysterio dropkicks Noble to the floor. Wilson clotheslines Nidia several times and Nidia drops in the corner. Mysterio tries for the bronco buster, but Wilson wants to do it. Wilson does the bronco buster to Nidia. Noble pulls Nidia to the floor and begs Wilson to do the bronco buster to him. Mysterio instead leaps over Wilson and does the bronco buster to Noble. Mysterio nails Noble with the 619. Nidia tries to stop Rey, but Wilson takes care of Nidia. Mysterio uses the Code Red on Noble to win the match. (**. Not a bad match. I hope that this doesn’t mean that Rey is going to be stuck in the Cruiserweight division. Rey is above that division at this point and should be in the main events for Smackdown.)

Backstage, Rev. D-Von is telling Stephanie McMahon that Batista worked for him and was under contract. Stephanie reminds D-Von that he fired Batista and she wants Batista on the brand. D-Von better help her or someone is going to be fired. Paul Heyman enters the office and says that he’s worried about the main event at Unforgiven. Heyman has armed guards for Lesnar tonight. Stephanie tells Heyman that Undertaker’s wife went into false labor and Heyman wonders if she is okay. Stephanie says that Sara has been released and Taker is on his way. She suggests that Heyman keep the security team close to Lesnar. Heyman leaves the room and meets with Lesnar with about a dozen security guards. They walk off after Heyman tells Lesnar that Taker is on the way.

Smackdown General Manager, Stephanie McMahon, makes her way down to the ring. Stephanie admits that Bischoff pulled an impressive stunt last week, but you never screw with a McMahon. She got even with Bischoff on RAW and she shows footage from the show. Stephanie goes over the stipulations for Unforgiven. Stephanie accepts the challenge, but will address the stipulation later tonight. Stephanie introduces the “greatest tag team in WWE history” Billy and Chuck to join her. Billy wants to set the record straight, so to speak. Billy says they are going to love beating up Jamal and Rosey on Sunday. Billy thinks things are a little cloudy for him. He could stay partners with Chuck or pursue his singles career. Chuck grabs the microphone and says that Billy goes both ways. Billy knows Chuck is excited to go down… to LA for the PPV. They will be there on Sunday and does his Suck It taunt.

However, Kurt Angle cuts into the segment and remains on the aisle. Angle asks when did Smackdown turn into a bad episode of Three’s Company and calls them pathetic. Angle thought it was a poor stunt last week and reminds them of him winning a medal. Chuck gets the fans to chant that Angle sucks and wonders what the fans could mean by that. Angle says he’s not gay and has no problem with gay people. Angle claims that gay people love him and in fact everyone loves him. Angle challenges to either one of them to a singles match tonight. Stephanie says she wants them in tag action to get ready for the PPV. Angle will team with anyone backstage and will allow Will & Grace to pick his partner. Stephanie reveals that Angle will team with Chris Benoit in the main event. Angle says that’s a hard one to swallow, but insists he didn’t mean that. Angle is going to climb onto either one of them and get the three count, but is getting frustrated with the confusions. Angle is going to throw their legs up and get the pin. Angle just says he’ll see them in the ring to close the segment.

Backstage, Paul Heyman and Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar are walking. Security don’t go to the ringside area because they were paid to protect backstage only. Heyman gives them direction to lookout for Undertaker and asks Lesnar to keep this quick.

Second Contest: Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena in a non-title match: Lesnar tosses Cena with a throw for a near fall. Cena has a look of being terrified on his face. Lesnar knocks Cena down to counter a hammerlock and puts a full nelson on Cena followed by an elbow drop to the lower back. Cena hammers away on Lesnar, but Lesnar tosses Cena overhead with a suplex. Lesnar stomps on Cena a few times on the ribs. Lesnar continues to beat on Cena with strikes. Lesnar keeps Cena on the mat with elbow drops. Lesnar lifts Cena into the air to hit a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. Lesnar keeps a bearhug on Cena to keep Cena on the mat. Cena manages to reach the ropes to break the hold. Cena elbows Lesnar, but is kept on the mat. Cena gets to his feet while delivering more elbows. Lesnar plants Cena with a back suplex and goes back to the bearhug. Lesnar drives Cena down with several more gut busters. Heyman wants Lesnar to hurry up. Cena kicks Lesnar followed by a jawbreaker. Cena ducks a clothesline and dropkicks Lesnar. Lesnar drives Cena back first into the corner, but Cena tries for a crucifix. Lesnar counters with the F5 to win the match. (*. I was bored by this as the bearhug spot took forever. This kind of felt like a 1985 undercard match with that spot taking so long. Cena started off hot with his debut, but he’s really amounted to nothing.)

A video promoting Rikishi is shown where Rikishi explains the scar on his stomach. Rikishi was a victim of a drive by shooting. Rikishi had died for three minutes in the emergency room.

Backstage, Eddie Guerrero is looking into a hand mirror when Chavo Guerrero Jr. enters to see if Eddie is ready. Eddie still has the smell of Chavo’s ass on his face. Eddie asks if Chavo has ever gotten a stink face, and knows that he hasn’t. Eddie tells Chavo that Edge has disrespected him for the last time. Eddie promises that Edge’s face will not be the same. Eddie promises that Edge will never disrespect him ever again.

Third Contest: Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Rikishi & Edge: Rikishi and Chavo start the match with Rikishi delivering strikes to Eddie, as well. Chavo avoids a sit down splash, but is decked by a right hand after being punched by Edge. Edge works over Chavo with right hands and a leaping clothesline. Edge stomps on Chavo followed by a backdrop. Edge clotheslines Chavo and hits a face buster. Chavo sends Edge over the top to the floor where Eddie has a chair and misses a chair shot hitting the post. Chavo baseball slides Edge and Eddie delivers several strikes. Eddie beats on Edge with right hands to keep control in the ring. Eddie continues to strike Edge and taunts him. Chavo delivers a slingshot knee strike and uppercuts Edge. Eddie chokes Edge while the referee is distracted. Chavo plants Edge with a back suplex and Eddie hits a slingshot splash for a near fall. Edge takes Eddie over with a snap powerslam for a two count. Eddie stops Edge with a forearm and decks Rikishi on the apron. Edge is briefly double teamed while the referee isn’t looking. Eddie tries for a tornado DDT, but Edge shoves Eddie out of the corner and tries to tag out.

Rikishi and Chavo get the tags with Rikishi cleaning house. Rikishi delivers a running clothesline to both men. The Guerrero’s try for a double suplex, but Rikishi counters with a double suplex of his own. Rikishi splashes Chavo in the corner and does the same to Eddie. They both drop down in opposite corners. Rikishi gives Chavo the stink face! Edge and Eddie go to the floor while Chavo decks Rikishi with a TV camera and manages to pin Rikishi for the win! (**1/2. I enjoyed the match and was completely surprised to see Chavo get the pin even by cheating. Eddie and Chavo are a fun team to watch.) After the match, Edge spears Chavo. Eddie smashes Edge with a vicious chair shot and Edge has been busted wide open. Edge and Rikishi are left laying.

Prior to the next match, Matt Hardy cuts a promo explaining why he asked for this match. The fans are chanting for Jeff Hardy. Matt sees potential with Hurricane and brags about beating Undertaker last week.

Fourth Contest: The Hurricane vs. Matt Hardy: Hardy arm drags Hurricane to start the match and taunts the fans. Hardy gets a rollup on Hurricane for a two count. Hurricane gets a two count with a rollup and Hardy drops Hurricane with a right hand. Hurricane takes Hardy down with a Thez Press and delivers right hands. Hurricane hits a crossbody off the top rope for a two count. Hurricane signals for a chokeslam, but Hardy elbows free to hit a swinging neckbreaker. Hardy sends Hurricane into the turnbuckle followed by strikes. Hardy delivers an elbow drop after a snapmare for a two count. Hurricane comes off the ropes with a crossbody. Hurricane back elbows Hurricane and continues with right hands. Hardy drops Hurricane throat first over the top rope followed by a back suplex with an elbow drop on the way down. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Hurricane counters with a leaping neckbreaker. Hurricane nails Hardy with a leaping clothesline and right hands. Hurricane hits a blockbuster for a two count. Hardy boots Hurricane in the corner and misses a leg drop off the middle rope. Hurricane connects with the shining wizard for a two count. Hardy plants Hurricane with the Side Effect for a two count. Hardy tries for a slam, but Hurricane hits a neckbreaker/elbow drop for a near fall. Hurricane heads to the top rope, but is met with a strike in midair. Hardy tries for the Twist of Fate, but Hardy low blows Hurricane and hits the Twist of Fate for the win. (**1/4. A fine match and a good win for Hardy to give him some level of momentum. Hardy is doing well with the delusional character. I don’t see it becoming a main act, but it will have legs in the undercard.)

Backstage, Paul Heyman is with Brock Lesnar and begs Lesnar for them to leave. Heyman wants to leave but realizes that Taker will be in the parking lot. Heyman thinks he’s in the parking lot. Heyman thinks they will be staying in the locker room all night long.

Backstage, Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle are talking, but the camera is spying on them so we don’t know what they were saying.

Main Event: Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Billy & Chuck: Benoit and Chuck kickoff the tag team main event. Benoit backs Chuck into a corner to deliver a strike. Benoit blocks a hip toss, but Chuck tosses Benoit with an overhead suplex and a dropkick. Angle is on the apron laughing at Benoit. Benoit chops Angle to tag him in. Chuck hip tosses Angle followed by a right hand. Angle elbows Chuck to the mat. Chuck connects with a clothesline for a two count. Benoit is laughing at Angle. Angle hammers away on Billy in the corner. Billy clotheslines Angle and hits a tilt a whirl slam for a two count. Angle staggers around and Billy clotheslines Angle over the top to the floor. Benoit clotheslines Billy on the floor and rolls Billy back into the ring for Angle to stomp on Billy. Angle takes Billy over with a snap suplex for a two count. Benoit tags in and trades strikes with Billy. Billy is sent chest first into the corner and Benoit hits a few German suplexs. Benoit stomps on Billy and tags in Angle. Billy tries for a Fameasser, but Angle avoids it and hits a series of German suplexs for a two count. Angle controls Billy with a front face lock on the mat. Billy jabs Angle a few times and Angle tosses Billy overhead with a suplex. Angle knocks Chuck off the apron and tries for the Angle Slam, but Billy counters with a cobra clutch slam. Benoit is tagged in and Chuck runs in connecting with right hands on Benoit. Chuck powerslams Benoit, but Angle hits the Angle Slam from behind. Billy nails Angle with the Fameasser. Benoit tosses Billy with a German suplex. Chuck tosses Benoit overhead. Angle counters a superkick with the ankle lock, but Chuck doesn’t give in. Benoit knocks Angle off the hold and locks in the Crossface on Chuck! Billy makes the save and knocks Angle off the apron. Chuck nails Benoit with a superkick for the clean win. (**. I am stunned that Billy and Chuck earned a clean win over Benoit and Angle. I love it since Billy and Chuck have regularly teamed, but it’s a shocking decision. The action was fine and the tension between Angle and Benoit was played up well.) After the match, Angle hits the Angle Slam and locks in an ankle lock on Benoit, who is tapping out. Benoit manages to counter and locks in the Crossface and Angle is tapping out.

Backstage, the Undertaker has arrived and tosses his bag to the side. Taker is walking around on the hunt for Lesnar. The show goes to commercial.

The Undertaker makes his way down to the ring. Taker has a microphone and says this is strictly personal. Taker wants to teach Lesnar a lesson. Taker calls Lesnar out or he’ll go back there and find Lesnar. Taker recalls Lesnar putting his hands on Sara’s stomach and said life is a bitch. Well, payback is a bitch. Lesnar’s music hits and makes his way out, but Heyman is trying to prevent this from happening. Lesnar gets in the ring and they begin to brawl with Lesnar shoulder ramming Taker in the corner. Taker tosses Lesnar into the corner and delivers right hands. Taker decks Lesnar to the floor when Matt Hardy jumps on Taker, but is tossed off. Hardy gets up again and Taker continues to hammer away on Hardy in the corner. Lesnar and Heyman runoff, but Taker is on the hunt. Lesnar is behind security and Heyman says that Lesnar is in protective custody. Lesnar and Heyman drive off in a police car. Taker is frustrated to close the program.

Final Thoughts:
A decent Smackdown, but there wasn’t much to really get excited about. Instead of a go-home show it almost felt like a filler week. I would be stunned if Lesnar/Taker wasn’t the main event at Unforgiven. Smackdown has the stronger PPV matches and I’m most looking forward to those matches.

Thanks for reading.