WWE Heat 7/21/2002

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Heat
Date: 7/21/2002
From:

Matches:
1.) Goldust defeated Steven Richards

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) This is the same day as Vengeance on PPV. Thus, as per usual, Heat will mostly be interviews and video packages with one feature match.

2.) Backstage, Lilian Garcia interviews John Cena. Garcia mentions the beating Cena took from Jericho on Smackdown. Cena was knocked down by a chair several times, but he wouldn’t stay down. Cena is here for one reason and that is to challenge Jericho. Cena dares Jericho to leave the chair and wrestle him man to man. Cena is a rookie that is going to kick Jericho’s ass. Cena does a rewind and repeats that he’s going to kick Jericho’s ass.

3.) Richards shoulder blocks Goldust to start the match and taunts Goldust for a moment. Goldust shoulder blocks Richards and arm drags Richards a couple of times. Richards comes off the ropes and is backdropped by Goldust. Richards sends Goldust chest first into the ropes and connects with a neckbreaker. Richards locks in a chin lock after a few knee drops, but doesn’t get a submission. Goldust gets to his feet and elbows free from Richards. Richards chops Goldust in the corner, but is shoved away in the corner. Richards misses a splash in the corner and crashes to the mat. Goldust hammers away on Richards followed by a couple of clotheslines. Goldust atomic drops Richards and delivers a clothesline for a two count. Goldust drops down and punches Richards. Goldust signals for a reverse DDT, but Richards floats over and plants Goldust with a reverse DDT for a two count. Richards waits in the corner for a superkick. Goldust blocks a superkick, but Richards connects on a second attempt for a near fall. Goldust takes Richards down with a powerslam for the clean win. (*1/2. The crowd responded well to the match and they seemed to buy into a few near falls that Richards got. Goldust is getting over a babyface and was able to get the crowd into the match.)

4.) Backstage, Terri interviews Chris Jericho regarding Cena’s challenge from earlier. Jericho thinks that Cena is a stupid, clueless jackass. Jericho recalls hitting Cena with a chair a bunch of times. Jericho accepts Cena’s challenge for a wrestling match. Jericho promises to teach Cena another lesson. Jericho is going to end Cena’s career before it even begins. Jericho believes he should get an reward for being on the show and preventing a mass refund. Jericho is going to end Cena’s rookie punk career tonight.

5.) Tazz and Michael Cole make their way down to the ring to confront Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross. Tazz puts them over as the greatest broadcast team in their business. Tazz says they answer to Stephanie McMahon on Smackdown just as they answer to Bischoff on RAW. Tazz says they need to start calling some pay per views. Tazz talks about Jim Ross hitting home runs every night out. Tazz thinks that Michael Cole deserves a shot, too. Tazz asks Lawler if he’s afraid of competition. Lawler gets up and is ready for a confrontation. Jim Ross offers to let them call the first half of the pay per view and they will call the second half. Tazz and Cole accept that offer.

Final Thoughts:
I was a bit a surprised that there wasn’t more promos by other talent on the show. Instead, they focused on only Jericho/Cena for the live promos and kept the video packages mostly to the main event three way dace. The feature match was decent and did a fine job to warm up the crowd. As a lead in, the show didn’t add much excitement to the PPV, but the PPV looks to be solid anyway.

Thanks for reading.