WWE Velocity 8/10/2002

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 8/10/2002
From:

Matches:
1.) Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Tajiri by disqualification
2.) Rico defeated Funaki
3.) Bull Buchanan defeated Mike Awesome
4.) Hardcore Holly defeated Albert

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Earlier today, Rico was working on Marc Lloyd’s hair and insulting him. Hardcore Holly enters and Lloyd tries to run, but Holly makes him stay. Holly suggests they belong with each other on a Saturday evening. Rico tells Holly to leave, but Holly instead gets hair clippers and buzzes the back of Rico’s head.

2.) Tajiri and Chavo counter each other on the mat to start the match, Tajiri arm drags Chavo a few times to gain control and they have a standoff. Chavo shoves Tajiri and is met with a savant kick. Tajiri continues to work over Chavo and blocks a sunset flip by going to the floor and elbows Chavo over the apron. Tajiri sends Chavo into the post, but misses a kick. Chavo stomps on Tajiri to keep control of the contest. Chavo slams Tajiri’s leg over the apron and continues with stomps in the ring. Tajiri almost wins with a cradle. Chavo keeps Tajiri on the mat with a leg lock. Chavo puts a stretch muffler on Tajiri, but doesn’t get a submission. Chavo works over Tajiri in the corner and wrenches over the knee. Tajiri shoves Chavo away and locks in the tarantula, but has to let go. Chavo punches Tajiri on the leg and pulls Tajiri to the mat face first. Tajiri delivers a tilt a whirl backbreaker, but Chavo dropkicks Tajiri on the knee. Chavo uppercuts Tajiri a few times against the ropes. Tajiri fires back with chops in the corner. Tajiri connects with a German suplex, but can’t hold onto the bridge leading to a near fall. Tajiri heads to the top rope missing a moonsault and tried to land on his feet, but his hurt foot bothers him. Chavo connects with an over the shoulder backbreaker for a near fall. Chavo stomps on Tajiri a few times and taunts the crowd. Tajiri sends Chavo into the corner and delivers a kick from the apron. Chavo slams Tajiri off the top to the mat. Tajiri mists Chavo coming off the top and the referee calls for a disqualification. (*1/2. Well, Tajiri was in trouble with his injured foot so I understand the finish here. However, it completely deflated the crowd because I’m not sure they understood why the babyface Tajiri would do that. These two have some chemistry and I’d be interested in a rematch.)

3.) Funaki tries for a go-behind, but Rico counters with a wrist lock. Funaki almost wins with an inside cradle. They have a standoff and Rico claps for Funaki before bowing to show respect. Rico proceeds to deck Funaki with a clothesline and yells at the fans. Rico rams Funaki into the corner and delivers a few strikes. Funaki hip tosses Rico out of the corner followed by hip tosses and dropkicks Rico to the floor. Funaki stomps on Rico to keep the advantage. Rico begs off in the corner and wants to shake hands. Funaki doesn’t buy it, but Rico drops Funaki over the turnbuckle and delivers a savant kick. Rico chokes Funaki over the middle rope. Rico kicks Funaki several times followed by a standing dropkick for a two count. Funaki fires back with right hands and a spin kick to chest. Rico mule kicks Funaki to the mat for a near fall. Rico slams Funaki and delivers an elbow drop. Rico thinks he has Funaki where he wants him and goes to the top rope missing a moonsault. Rico misses a clothesline and Funaki delivers a few right hands. Funaki bulldogs Rico out of the corner for a near fall. Funaki almost wins with a rollup. Rico hits a hip toss turned into a neckbreaker for a two count. Rico tries for a powerbomb, but Funaki counters and backdrops Rico. Rico spin kicks Funaki and that’s good enough for the three count. (*1/2. I like Rico and think that he does very well with the character and showcases solid in-ring offense to hold my interest. It was a mostly basic match, but it was a fine one at that.)

4.) Buchanan works over Awesome in the corner with strikes, but Awesome comes back with a leaping shoulder block. Awesome clotheslines Buchanan over the top to the floor. Awesome hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Buchanan stops Awesome on the apron, but is dropped throat first over the top rope. Awesome nearly wins following a flying clothesline off the top rope. Buchanan kicks Awesome and avoids a splash in the corner to knock Awesome down and deliver several right hands in the corner. Buchanan delivers a neckbreaker for a near fall. Buchanan forearms Awesome several times over the back. Buchanan hits a nice springboard twisting clothesline off the top for a two count. Buchanan keeps a sleeper on Awesome, but doesn’t get a submission. Awesome elbows free, but is yanked down by his hair. Buchanan works over Awesome with several strikes before dumping Awesome to the floor. Buchanan sends Awesome into the ring steps shoulder first. Buchanan is met by a slingshot shoulder block by Awesome from the apron. Awesome connects with a back suplex and a clothesline. Awesome heads to the top rope, but misses a splash. Buchanan is sent into the corner, but boots a charging Awesome. Buchanan goes to the top rope hitting a leg drop for the clean win in the middle of the ring. (*1/2. That felt like an awkward match and the crowd seemed a bit confused by the match it seemed like. Bull hasn’t been seen on TV since sometime in 2001 before the Invasion if I’m remembering correctly. These two have good agility and they displayed that in the match. The match just felt a little clunky at times.)

5.) Albert sends Holly into the ring steps and delivers a few strikes. Holly sends Albert into the ring post followed by chops. Holly kicks Albert a few times, but Albert goes for a press slam hitting a sit out slam for a two count. Albert rams Holly into the corner followed by a kick to the midsection. Albert chops Holly and scares the referee. Holly fires back with strikes and chops. Holly kicks Albert and ducks a clothesline. Albert connects with an over the shoulder backbreaker. Albert clubs on Holly over the apron. Albert kicks Holly again to keep control of the match. Albert catapults Holly throat first into the middle rope and manages a two count. Albert clubs on Holly over the apron, but is kicked away. Holly sends Albert into the ring post face first followed by a few chops. Holly nails Albert with a standing dropkick for a near fall. Holly continues with chops in the corner. Albert misses a splash and Holly connects with a clothesline for a two count. Holly heads to the top rope, but is crotched by Albert. Albert signals for the Baldo Bomb, but Holly punches free. Albert nails Holly with a bicycle kick for a two count. Albert argues with the referee and Holly wins the match with a rollup. After the match, Albert sends Holly to the floor, but Holly sends Albert into the ring steps. Holly walks back over to Marc Lloyd at the announcers table. Holly grabs Lloyd by the collar and threatens Lloyd. However, Rico comes out and savant kicks Holly. Rico shakes Lloyd’s hand and then slaps him. (*1/2. The aftermath of the match is confusing and I have no idea why Holly is upset with Lloyd. The match was fine and felt similar to their previous match.)

Final Thoughts:
This week was a skippable episode of Velocity as none of the matches stood out all that much.

Thanks for reading.