World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 10/17/2002. From: Toronto, Ontario
Opening Contest: Ron Simmons & Rev. D-Von vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio Jr. in the semifinals of the Smackdown Tag Title Tournament: Simmons and Edge kickoff the tag match with Simmons getting a few right hands in. Edge comes off the ropes with a shoulder block. Edge elbows Simmons in the corner and hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Simmons stops Edge with a jawbreaker. Edge plants D-Von with a flapjack. Mysterio tags in and leaps off the top rope to splash D-Von. Mysterio dropkicks a seated D-Von. Mysterio head scissors Simmons. Mysterio drop toe holds D-Von over the middle rope, but misses the 619. Simmons plants Mysterio with a spinebuster. D-Von keeps control with stomps on the mat. D-Von misses a clothesline but press slams Mysterio to the mat. D-Von misses a middle rope elbow drop. Mysterio heel kicks D-Von and tags in Edge. Edge hits a top rope clothesline and clotheslines Simmons. Edge dropkicks both D-Von and Simmons. Edge backdrops D-Von and plants Simmons with a facebuster. Edge yanks D-Von down from behind and is stopped by Simmons with a clothesline. Mysterio dropkicks Simmons to the floor and hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Edge spears D-Von in the corner and sits D-Von on the top turnbuckle. Mysterio is lifted into the air and takes D-Von off the top with a hurricanrana for a two count. Simmons makes the save and slams Edge. Mysterio dumps Simmons to the floor. Mysterio hits the 619 on D-Von and tries for the West Coast Pop, but is powerbombed by Simmons. Edge spears Simmons. Edge counters the Saving Grace and plants D-Von with a jumping DDT for the win. After the match, Eddie Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero Jr. attack Mysterio and Edge. Chavo plants Edge with a suplex and Eddie connects with a frog splash to leave them laying. (**1/4. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Simmons and D-Von displayed some good power moves and looked fine in defeat. Rey and Edge are a ton of fun to watch as a team.)
Backstage, Funaki is with Tajiri, who will be the referee for Jamie Noble vs. Nidia. Tajiri says they are both crazy. Nidia wonders why she is crazy, is it because she want a piece of her man. She’s going to make him beg for mercy just like in the bedroom. Noble enters the scene and says this is going to get rough, just like their sex. Nidia likes it rough and slaps Noble. Okay..
Second Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble vs. Nidia: Noble throws Nidia down and is met with a kick to the groin. Nidia delivers a few strikes, but is shoved away. Nidia jumps on Noble’s back and is slammed to the mat. Noble tells Nidia that is enough and Nidia nearly wins with an inside cradle. Noble tackles Nidia and Nidia gets on top for a moment. Noble mounts Nidia and wants to punch her, but begs to stop the match. Nidia gets a two count and delivers a dropkick. Noble sidesteps a dropkick attempt. Nidia eye rakes Noble and continues with strikes against the ropes. Nidia kicks Noble in the chest. Noble counters a sunset flip and kneels down to pin Nidia for the win. After the match, Nidia forearms Tajiri. Noble attacks Tajiri and Nidia double teams Tajiri with stomps. Noble hits a double under hook powerbomb. Noble says he’s the only man who touches his woman. Noble and Nidia makeup and make out. (1/2*. I didn’t care for the segment, but I’m interested in a Noble vs. Tajiri match.)
Backstage, Undertaker is getting equipped with a microphone for a sit down interview. After a commercial, Taker is interviewed by Michael Cole from the announcers table. Taker says he’s never been a liar in his life and he’s here to get some things off his chest and set the record straight. Taker does know Traci, but says it was a long time ago. Taker knew her long before he met his wife Sara. Taker was surprised to see her and he made a judgement call. Taker could only think of his wife seeing this on TV. Taker hasn’t seen Traci in seven years and doesn’t know if she has been paid off by Heyman and Lesnar. Taker says the hell he’s been through is nothing the hell he’ll put them through inside Hell in a Cell.
Backstage, Eddie and Chavo are thrilled with what they did. They enter a locker room that is darkened and it’s Chris Benoit standing there. Benoit stands there in silence. Eddie wants to know why Benoit is looking at him like that. Eddie says that Benoit thinks they jumped him and they are offended by that. Eddie reminds Benoit that he was there with him when they jumped from WCW to WWE and the same thing from RAW to Smackdown. Eddie mentions is demons and personal issues and how Benoit was there for him to cry on his shoulder. Benoit backs off and doesn’t say a word. Eddie says his feelings are hurt. Eddie wants Benoit to hit him, but Benoit isn’t budging. Chavo cools Eddie down and shames Benoit for acting that way. Benoit never said a word.
Backstage, Traci is pissed off with what Taker just said. Lesnar thinks that Stephanie would be interested in hearing about this.
Earlier tonight, John Cena cut a promo saying that Billy Kidman tapped out to lose the match last week and suggests Kidman get use to losing. Looks like a Cena heel turn, folks.
Third Contest: Billy Kidman vs. John Cena: Cena gets arm control to kickoff the match, but Kidman counters quickly. Kidman arm drags Cena out of the corner. Kidman snapmares Cena followed by a hurricanrana to send Cena into a corner. Cena kicks Kidman in the midsection and eventually leg sweeps Kidman before sending Kidman over the top to the floor with a slingshot. Cena sends Kidman hard into the corner and keeps working over the back. Cena elbows Kidman to the mat managing a two count. Cena drives Kidman down with a back suplex for a near fall. Kidman works over Cena with right hands, but an eye rake stops his momentum. Cena plants Kidman with a delayed vertical suplex for a near fall. Cena keeps his knee between Kidman’s shoulder blades. The fans are chanting “Cena Sucks’. Kidman dropkicks Cena a few times. Kidman boots Cena in the corner and comes off the middle rope with an elbow strike for a near fall. Cena spikes Kidman with a DDT for a near fall. Kidman nearly wins with a sunset flip rollup. Kidman kicks Cena on the side of the head. Kidman goes to the top rope and manages to connect with a facebuster to counter a press slam leading to a near fall. Cena backslides Kidman and uses the ropes for leverage to win the match. (*1/4. Cena didn’t connect as a face and I’m not sure he’s connecting a heel. I think the fans really believe that he sucks, because he does, quite frankly. Cena has started doing the Word Life hand symbol, which is something I hadn’t noticed before.)
Backstage, Stephanie is in her office when Traci, Lesnar and Heyman enter the room. Traci claims that she slept with Taker ten days ago. Stephanie says that Traci is no longer welcomed at Smackdown. Heyman wants Stephanie to think about the future with Lesnar. Heyman says that Taker isn’t a key for the future. Heyman says it is in the interest of Smackdown to not allow Taker to enter the pay per view with the cast on his arm. Stephanie will consider the request and will decide on that later tonight. Stephanie tells Lesnar that he has a match with Chuck Palumbo next.
Backstage, Undertaker is in Stephanie’s office and says that Traci is a lying bitch for claiming they slept together ten days ago. Taker can’t believe that Stephanie is considering Heyman’s request to get the cast off his arm. Stephanie has to look at both sides of the argument. Taker shows Stephanie how offensive he can be and smashes a lamp with his cast.
Fourth Contest: Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Chuck Palumbo: Chuck has completely dropped the gimmick and that’s because Billy Gunn has suffered a serious injury. Lesnar shoulder rams Palumbo in the corner, but Palumbo fights back with a boot. Lesnar leg sweeps Palumbo to the mat. Lesnar sends Palumbo hard into the corner and rams Palumbo ribs first into the ring post. Lesnar continues to beat on Palumbo with stomps in the corner. Lesnar continues to beat on Palumbo to maintain control of the contest. Lesnar clotheslines Palumbo followed by a short arm clothesline. Palumbo fights back with strikes and is stopped by Lesnar with a strike. Lesnar chokes Palumbo over the middle rope. Lesnar takes Palumbo over with a vertical suplex for a near fall. Lesnar continues to beat on Palumbo on the mat. Lesnar tosses Palumbo overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Lesnar keeps Palumbo on the mat with a bearhug. Palumbo elbows Lesnar, but Lesnar has Palumbo in a powerslam position driving Palumbo back first into the corner. Palumbo is in the tree of woe and Lesnar delivers a running shoulder ram. Palumbo counters another strike by delivering a mule kick. Lesnar misses a spear and hits the post shoulder first. Palumbo connects with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Palumbo superkicks Lesnar two times and nearly wins the match, but Lesnar got to the ropes. Lesnar tosses Palumbo with an overhead belly to belly suplex and a clothesline. Lesnar drives Palumbo down with a backbreaker. Lesnar finishes Palumbo off with the F5! After the match, Taker slides into the ring and big boots Lesnar followed by stomps in the corner. Taker decks everyone with his cast. Taker screams every time he uses the cast. Lesnar has been busted wide open. Lesnar escapes the ring and leaves with Heyman. (*1/2. Well, Chuck is certainly going to be in some limbo moving forward. Palumbo looked fine in there when he had to shine, though. For a meaningless filler match, it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve watched. The aftermath was fun, though.)
Backstage, Torrie Wilson is stretching when she sees her father in the distance. Al didn’t want to miss his daughter in action. Torrie knows that her dad is lonely and saw Dawn give him her room key. Torrie warns her father about Dawn and says that she’s a predator. Al gives Torrie some flowers to completely ignore what she said.
Fifth Contest: Rikishi & Torrie Wilson vs. Matt Hardy & Dawn Marie: Torrie and Dawn started the match, but Hardy tagged in and tagged back out when Rikishi entered the match. Dawn says that Rikishi is disgusting and slaps him. Rikishi press slams Dawn into Hardy. Torrie tags in and hits a swinging neckbreaker on Marie for a two count. Torrie chops Marie, but runs into a big boot. Marie tries for a cover managing a two count. Torrie slams Marie and tags in Rikishi. Rikishi stands over Marie, but misses a sit down splash. Hardy tags in and and sunset flips Rikishi, but can’t get him down. Rikishi hammers away on Hardy and Hardy hits a Side Effect for a two count. Hardy goes to the corner and leaps off the middle rope missing a leg drop attempt. Rikishi misses the Twist of Fate and is slammed down by Rikishi followed by a superkick. Marie gets on Rikishi’s back, but is sent back first into Hardy in the corner. Torrie tags in and clotheslines both of them in the corner. Rikishi hits a running back splash causing Hardy and Maire to fall down. Rikishi returns and Hardy puts Marie’s face in the way to avoid the Stink Face. Hardy puts Marie on Torrie with an inside cradle to get the three count. After the match, Torrie low blows Hardy and slaps Marie. Rikishi splashes Hardy into the corner and Torrie teases doing the Stink Face. Hardy wants it and closes his eyes, but gets a face full of Rikishi instead. (*. Another match that I wasn’t interested in and I’m not sure how Torrie could get pinned when she took very little actual offense.)
Backstage, Brock Lesnar is getting checked on by a doctor. Lesnar says he will be fine. Lesnar demands that Heyman get Stephanie to have Taker remove the cast before their match at No Mercy.
Backstage, Heyman confronts Stephanie in her office trying to convince her to have Taker remove the cast. Stephanie promises to make her decision by the end of the night. Heyman continues to scream, but Stephanie stays calm and tells Heyman to leave.
Backstage, Kurt Angle is talking to Chris Benoit and thinks that Benoit is jealous of his gold medals. Angle realizes it’s not about the medals. Angle can’t believe that Benoit thinks Angle had something to do with the Guerrero’s attacking him last week. Angle is going to smarten Benoit up and says that he would attack Angle in front of his face. Angle doesn’t want Benoit to screw up and doesn’t know what he’ll do for a year. Angle doesn’t need a full year to train for the Olympics.
Backstage, Torrie is looking for her father and she’s told the flowers weren’t for her, but rather for Dawn Marie. Torrie continues to look for her father. She sees his shoes on a chair and walks into the shower. She hears noises and Al is in the shower with Dawn Marie! Dawn is naked but Al is wearing a shirt.
Edge and Mysterio attack the Guerrero’s during their entrance. Mysterio leaps off the apron to head scissors Chavo. Edge drops Eddie over the guard railing. Angle beats on Edge in the corner for some reason. Benoit stomps on Mysterio in the corner. Edge spears Angle. Edge drop toe holds Benoit over the middle rope and Mysterio hits the 619. All four men involved in the main event are laid out as the show goes to commercial.
Main Event: Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero Jr. in the semifinals of the Smackdown Tag Title Tournament: Eddie stomps on Angle in the corner as the match started during the commercial. Eddie forearms Angle against the ropes and stomps on the mat. Angle elbows Eddie and hip tosses Chavo. Angle punches Eddie in the corner followed by stomps. Angle clotheslines Eddie coming out of the corner for a two count. Angle decks Chavo off the apron and hits a vertical suplex on Eddie for a two count. Benoit tags into the match and works over Eddie with strikes. Benoit forearms Eddie coming off the ropes for a near fall. Benoit delivers a backbreaker for another near fall. Benoit tags in Angle and kicks Eddie in the corner. Eddie uppercuts Angle and tags in Chavo. Chavo stomps on Angle followed by a short arm clothesline for a near fall. Chavo uppercuts Angle, but Angle tosses Chavo overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Benoit knee lifts Chavo coming off the ropes. Benoit plants Chavo with a back suplex for a near fall. Benoit clotheslines Chavo, but misses a second one. Chavo connects with a back suplex for a near fall. Eddie tags back in and stomps on Benoit. Eddie uppercuts Benoit, but Benoit takes Guerrero down with a Crossface, but Chavo stops that from happening. Benoit chops Chavo, but Chavo uppercuts and chops Benoit in the corner.
Chavo keeps a sleeper on Benoit on the mat. Benoit fights back with a few chops, but Chavo connects with a dropkick and tags in Eddie. Eddie connects with a slingshot senton onto Benoit from the apron. Eddie stomps on Benoit on the apron. Chavo chokes Benoit while the referee is distracted. Chavo keeps a sleeper on Benoit and is rammed into the corner. Benoit sends Chavo into the corner and is met with an elbow strike. Benoit crotches Chavo on the top rope and hits a superplex. Angle tags in and cleans house with clotheslines. Angle backdrops Eddie and tosses Chavo with a German suplex. Angle hits an overhead suplex on Eddie for a two count. Chavo dropkicks Angle and Benoit tosses Chavo with a German suplex. Benoit tosses Eddie with a German suplex. Benoit goes to the top hitting a diving headbutt on Eddie! Angle goes for the cover, but Chavo makes the save. Chavo spikes Angle with a brainbuster and clotheslines Benoit over the top to the floor. Eddie nearly gets a three count on Angle. Eddie heads to the top rope looking for the frog splash, but Angle runs the ropes only to get shoved off. Eddie hits the frog splash, but Benoit pulls Eddie off and into the Crossface. Chavo makes the save, but Benoit German suplexs Chavo to the floor. Eddie sends Angle into Benoit knocking Benoit to the floor. Eddie locks in the El Passo Lasso, but Angle counters with the ankle lock! Chavo has a chair, but Benoit pulls it away. Benoit shakes Chavo’s hand, but hits the Guerrero’s with the chair. Angle connects with the Angle Slam and pins Eddie to advance to the finals of the tag title tournament. (***1/4. A good main event with the best action that was on the whole show. It shouldn’t be a surprise since these four are some of the most consistent wrestlers in the company. The tag title finals is going to be awesome on PPV.)
Backstage, Marc Lloyd is pacing outside of Stephanie’s office. Stephanie leaves her office and Lloyd asks if she has come to a decision. Stephanie is going to make her decision public in the ring.
Stephanie McMahon makes her way out and calls out Smackdown Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman. Stephanie says she’s thought this through and notes that Lesnar broke Taker’s hand to begin with and that the Hell In A Cell is an anything goes kind of match. Stephanie agrees that Taker has been using the cast as a weapon. Stephanie announces that Taker will be allowed to wear the cast. Lesnar is not happy about that decision. Lesnar prevents Stephanie from leaving and backs her into a corner. Lesnar gets in her face and touches her hair, but Stephanie isn’t showing fear. Undertaker gets in the ring and is stopped by a spinebuster from Lesnar. Lesnar stomps on the broken hand. Heyman slaps Taker saying that Taker gets hell on Sunday. Lesnar leaves the ring, but Heyman tries to kick Taker. Taker hits Heyman with the cast and decks Lesnar to the floor again. Heyman has been busted open as Taker continues to beat on Heyman in the corner. Taker decks Lesnar off the apron to the floor. Taker pummels Heyman while Lesnar retreats up the aisle. Taker has Heyman’s blood all over his cast to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Realistically Smackdown was a disappointing show and a rare boring one for me this time around. The go-home show leading into No Mercy didn’t hype me up all that much. I’m still most interested in the Smackdown matches, but this episode just felt repetitive from what they’ve seen in recent weeks. No Mercy should be a really good PPV and I’m interested to see what they do coming out of it.
Thanks for reading.