WWE Velocity 10/26/2002

World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 10/26/2002
From:

Matches:
1.) Funaki defeated Crash Holly
2.) Albert defeated Chuck Palumbo
3.) Rev. D-Von & Ron Simmons defeated Chase Stevens & Big Bully Douglas
4.) Torrie Wilson defeated Nidia in a bikini match

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Funaki keeps wrist control on Holly, but they counter each other with head scissors on the mat and that leads to a standoff. Funaki wants to shake hands and Crash accepts. Crash goes into his tights and grabs a Japanese headband to mock Funaki. Funaki punches Crash followed by hip tosses and dropkicks Crash to the floor. Funaki brings Crash back into the ring quickly. Funaki kicks Crash and is dropped over the top rope by Crash. Crash clotheslines Funaki and removes the headband. Crash slams Funaki, but Funaki nearly wins with a sunset flip. Crash decks Funaki to the floor, but gets Funaki back into the ring. Crash misses a splash in the corner and Funaki hits a bulldog. Crash misses an axe handle strike and is dropkicked by Funaki for a two count. Funaki heads to the top rope hitting a crossbody, but Crash rolls through for a near fall. Crash stomps on Funaki’s back and taunts the crowd. Funaki counters a rollup with a cradle and wins the match. (*1/4. I’m starting to realize that maybe Crash isn’t an ideal fit for the cruiserweight division after all. Crash doesn’t really do the kind of moves you’d expect from the division and his matches lately have been a little too boring.)

2.) Albert backs Palumbo into a corner, but they keep a lockup. Albert misses a strike in the corner and Palumbo delivers a few right hands. Albert splashes Palumbo twice in the corner. Albert splashes Palumbo on the mat and rubs his forearm into Chuck’s face for a near fall. Albert clotheslines Palumbo as the fans chant for Albert to shave his back. Chuck fires back with right hands, but is stopped by a knee lift. Albert delivers a few clubbing blows in the corner. Albert scares the referee away. Albert drops Chuck with a right hand to the mat. Albert catapults Palumbo throat first into the ropes. Albert tries for a cover, but Palumbo kicks out at two. Albert keeps Palumbo on the mat with a sleeper. Palumbo elbows free and delivers right hands. Albert comes out of the corner to connect with a bicycle kick for a near fall. Albert goes to the middle rope and hits a splash for a near fall. Albert misses a splash in the corner and Chuck trades right hands. Chuck tosses Albert overhead with a belly to belly suplex. Chuck connects with a superkick, but Albert reaches the ropes to break the count. Chuck hammers away on Albert in the corner. Albert eye rakes Chuck and drops Chuck over the turnbuckle before hitting the Baldo Bomb for the win. (**. I liked the match as it was hard hitting and Albert had a decisive win. Chuck did well in defeat and was able to showcase his strength a couple of times. This win for Albert feels like a momentum shift kind of win for him.)

3.) Chase Stevens had been working for TNA earlier in 2002 with Cassidy O’Reilly as the Hot Shots. He’d go on to be part of the Naturals with Andy Douglas for a few years in TNA. Big Bully Douglas isn’t very well known, but Michael Cole joked that he’s a Will Sasso knockoff. D-Von and Simmons dominated the match and won following a top rope diving headbutt by D-Von.

4.) Nidia gets wrist control on Wilson before taking Wilson down with a headlock. Wilson takes Nidia down and slingshots Nidia into the corner chest first. Nidia comes back with a clothesline. Torrie almost wins with an inside cradle. Wilson clotheslines Nidia a few times followed by a neckbreaker for a two count. Nidia avoids a dropkick and stomps on Wilson to keep control. Nidia knee lifts Wilson in the midsection a few times. Nidia hits a snap suplex for a near fall. Nidia spears Wilson in the corner a few times. Nidia stomps on Wilson’s lower midsection. Wilson drop toe holds Nidia over the middle rope and delivers a slap. Wilson runs into a clothesline and Nidia gets a two count. Wilson kicks Nidia a few times and delivers a chop against the ropes. Wilson gets a rollup out of the corner and pins Nidia for the win. (DUD. I’m glad these kinds of matches don’t exist in wrestling anymore.)

Final Thoughts:
I’d consider this a skippable episode, with the only enjoyable match being between Albert and Chuck.

Thanks for reading.