WWE Velocity 10/5/2002

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 10/5/2002
From:

Matches:
1.) John Cena defeated Albert
2.) Billy Kidman defeated Doug Basham
3.) Tajiri defeated Shannon Moore

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Earlier tonight, Funaki cut a promo about Albert attacking him two weeks ago after Funaki earned an upset victory. Funaki interviews John Cena, who is wrestling Albert tonight. Cena says that Albert is the kind of bully who steals lunch money and actually used it to buy lunch for himself. Cena says that nobody bullies him around.

2.) Albert shoves Cena down to the mat out of a lockup. Albert shoulder blocks Cena coming off the ropes and taunts Cena in the corner. Cena gains control by working over the left arm. Albert elbows free from Cena, but Cena punches Albert in the corner. Cena drop toe holds Albert and delivers a strike. Albert kicks Cena in the corner and sends Cena hard into the corner back first. Albert knee lifts Cena a few times to the mat and taunts the referee. Albert tries for a cover, but Cena kicks out at two. Albert rubs his forearm into Cena’s face and taunts the crowd. Cena battles back with right hands, but Albert hits a splash in the corner for a two count. Albert clotheslines Cena a few times managing a two count on the cover. Albert lays Cena over the top turnbuckle delivering a few strikes to the chest. Albert argues with the referee and Cena hits a middle rope dropkick. They begin to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Albert catches Cena, but Cena counters with a back suplex for a two count. Cena punches Albert, but runs into a bicycle kick and almost wins the match. Cena plants Albert with a spinning slam for the clean win. (*1/2. They are really trying to still push Cena and give him some level of momentum, but he’s just really bland and doesn’t connect with the audience very much. The poor booking of Albert continues, as well.)

3.) Basham works over Kidman with right hands and slaps Kidman against the ropes. Kidman takes Basham over with a hurricanrana and is dumped to the apron. Kidman floats over into the ring and is met with an eye rake. Basham catapults Kidman over the top to the floor. Basham sends Kidman into the barricade. Basham goes for a cover, but Kidman kicks out at two. Basham forearms Kidman on the back followed by a snap suplex and holds on to deliver a vertical suplex for a two count. Basham keeps a chin lock on Kidman, but isn’t able to get a submission. Basham switches to a rollup for a near fall. Kidman backslides Basham for a two count. Basham side slams Kidman for a near fall. Basham puts a surfboard on Kidman, but can’t get a submission. Basham stomps on Kidman in the corner. Kidman is sent into the corner back first. Basham presses Kidman’s back against the ring post, but still doesn’t get a submission. Basham scoop slams Kidman and heads to the top rope. Basham leaps off and Kidman dropkicks Basham in midair. Basham ducks a clothesline and Kidman clotheslines Basham followed by a forearm. Kidman hits a bulldog for a two count. Kidman boots Basham in the corner, but Basham hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Kidman counters a slam, but misses a clothesline. Basham hits a nice springboard leg lariat for a two count. Basham tries for a powerbomb, but Kidman counters with a kick to the head for a near fall. Basham takes Kidman down with a side Russian leg sweep. Basham goes to the top rope hitting a leg drop for a near fall. Basham sits Kidman on the top turnbuckle, but Kidman counters a superplex hitting a facebuster off the middle rope! Kidman sets Basham up in the corner and hits the Shooting Star Press for the clean win. (***. They got plenty of time and Basham looked a lot better compared to last weeks match against Moore. I’m thinking because Kidman is more experienced that he was able to put the shine on Basham a lot more effectively. Basham showed some compelling offense and I really enjoyed this one.)

4.) Tajiri and Moore trade hammerlocks in the opening moments. Moore shoulder blocks Tajiri and keeps arm control for a second. Tajiri sends Moore into the ropes and is dropkicked by Moore for a two count. Tajiri dropkicks Moore on the knee and continues with stomps in the corner. Moore fights back with a right hand, but a kick to the leg stops Moore. Tajiri sends Moore into the corner and trips Moore in the corner to deliver an elbow strike to the leg. Tajiri drives Moore’s knee down to the mat. Moore counters being driven down to the mat, but Tajiri keeps control by somersaulting with the leg to slam Moore to the mat back first. Tajiri takes Moore down to the mat and wrenches on the leg. Moore kicks Tajiri away, but Tajiri stomps Moore on the knee. Moore sunset flips Tajiri for a two count. Tajiri dropkicks Moore on the knee to keep control of the contest. Tajiri wrenches on Moore’s knee over the middle rope. Moore kicks Tajiri away in the corner. Tajiri takes Moore down with a dragon screw leg whip. Tajiri elbows Moore on the knee, but is kicked into the ropes. Moore kicks Tajiri in the midsection and decks Tajiri with a clothesline. Moore elbows Tajiri to the mat and delivers a scoop slam. Moore hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Tajiri kicks Moore and tries for a powerbomb, but Moore counters with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Tajiri tries for a handspring, but Moore delivers a spinning heel kick to the back for a near fall. Moore struggles climbing to the top rope and misses a corkscrew dive. Tajiri delivers a superkick and wins the match. (*1/2. Not the best showing for Moore, but I’m thinking that working over the leg kind of prevented Moore from showcasing his move set in the best way. I appreciate the clean finish as that should be the case for Tajiri against Moore.)

Final Thoughts:
I’m going to give this a thumbs up since the Basham/Kidman match is a hidden gem of a match on Velocity in my opinion. Basham has the tools to be a stud for the WWE.

Thanks for reading.