WWE Velocity 6/29/2002

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 6/29/2002
From: Chicago, IL

Matches:
1.) Tajiri defeated Albert
2.) Christian defeated The Hurricane
3.) Billy Kidman defeated Funaki
4.) WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. to retain the title

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Albert works over Tajiri with strikes and shoulder rams in the corner to begin the contest. Tajiri avoids a clothesline and kicks Albert a few times. Tajiri kicks Albert after sliding through Albert’s legs. Albert regains control with a clothesline and a big splash off the ropes for a two count. Albert casually chokes Tajiri with his knee. Albert drives Tajiri into the corner a few times while over his shoulder. Albert plants Tajiri with a powerslam for a near fall. Albert presses his boot into the back of Tajiri, but doesn’t get a submission. Albert elbow drops Tajiri on the lower back and taunts Tajiri briefly. Albert fails on a press slam attack allowing Tajiri to deliver several kicks. Tajiri avoids Albert in the corner to deliver a kick for a near fall. Tajiri misses a tornado DDT attempt but plants Albert with a tornado DDT on a second attempt for a near fall. Tajiri misses a kick to the head, but avoids the Baldo Bomb. Tajiri avoids a bicycle kick and punches Albert. Albert connects with a double under hook slam before heading to the middle rope. Albert tries for a splash, but is kicked. Tajiri nails Albert with a kick to the head for the win. (**. Another shocking result here with Tajiri winning the match cleanly. I’m confused with why the WWE is feeding Albert to the Cruiserweight talents in recent weeks on Velocity. I’m not going to complain about it as I’d love to see Tajiri get a bigger push.)

2.) Christian shoulder blocks Hurricane and taunts the crowd. Hurricane mocks Christian and his temper tantrums. Hurricane monkey flips Christian followed by a forearm smash for a two count. Hurricane elbows Christian in the corner and goes to the top, but is crotched by Christian. Christian drops Hurricane over the top rope and knocks Hurricane off the apron into the barricade. Christian kicks Hurricane in the ribs followed by strikes on the mat. Christian delivers a gut buster for a two count. Christian kicks Hurricane in the ribs again, but Hurricane fires back with strikes. Christian misses a back suplex attempt allowing Hurricane to hit a neckbreaker and a few right hands. Hurricane tries for a chokeslam, but Christian breaks free only to me dropped to the mat. Hurricane gets out of a reverse DDT with a superkick and a shining wizard for a near fall. Christian tosses Hurricane to the apron. Hurricane has his cape and chokes Christian with it on the apron. Hurricane nearly wins following a top rope crossbody. Christian tries for the Un-Prettier, but Hurricane counters with a rollup. Christian rolls through and uses the ropes for leverage to win the match. (*1/2. The finish protects Hurricane, who has had a rough week with losing the Cruiserweight Championship at KOTR. The action was fine for what it was.)

3.) Funaki gets a hammerlock on Kidman, but Kidman snapmares Funaki down followed by a dropkick to send Funaki to the floor. Kidman hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor onto Funaki. Kidman misses a running attack and flies over the top to the floor. Funaki stomps on Kidman outside the ring before returning to the ring. Funaki elbows Kidman to the mat and plays to the crowd. Funaki hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Kidman head scissors Funaki out of the corner. Funaki rolls through a sunset flip and dropkicks a seated Kidman for a near fall. Funaki eye rakes Kidman and delivers a scoop slam. Funaki misses an elbow drop off the middle rope. They trade right hands with Kidman getting the advantage. Kidman misses a clothesline but kicks Funaki on the side of the head for a two count. Funaki forearms Kidman in the corner followed by a bulldog for a two count. Funaki plants Kidman with a DDT for a two count. Funaki heads to the top rope, but Kidman stops Funaki with strikes. Kidman hits a top rope hurricanrana for the win. (**. Funaki never stood a chance here, but the match was fine for what it was. There wasn’t a lot of high flying offense, but it was still enjoyable.)

4.) Chavo arm drags Noble to start the match and Noble checks in with Nidia for a plan in the corner. They trade a couple of go-behinds leading to a standoff after Chavo tossed Noble away. Chavo hammers away on Noble with right hands. Chavo delivers a tilt a whirl backbreaker and stomps on Noble to maintain the advantage. Chavo chops Noble to the mat. Noble tosses Chavo with an exploder suplex. Noble rams Chavo into the corner and delivers shoulder rams. Noble elbow drops Chavo and locks in a chin lock with his knee on Chavo’s upper back. Noble stomps on Chavo followed by a scoop slam and leg drop for a two count. Chavo elbows Noble and knocks Noble into the corner. Chavo hammers away on Noble in the corner to keep control. Chavo flapjacks Noble to the mat followed by a clothesline and the Gory Special. Chavo tries for a cover, but Noble kicks out at two. Noble dumps Chavo to the apron and is rammed into the buckle. Chavo is distracted by Nidia allowing Noble to try for a suplex off the top. Chavo shoves Noble off the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick for a near fall. Chavo elbows Noble in the corner, but Noble counters a tornado DDT with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Noble kicks Chavo, but Chavo breaks free with an arm drag. Noble takes Chavo down with a dragon screw leg whip and locks in the Trailer Hitch submission to win the match. (**. While Noble is the champion, this remains a big win for him and his creditability moving forward. Chavo has name value and had been a champion in WCW. I love the booking here and it shows that Noble should be seen as a force in the division.)

Final Thoughts:
The action this week was consistent and I thought it was a good episode. I was interested in all the matches and I like the ideas of the Cruiserweight division getting a heavy focus on Velocity.

Thanks for reading