World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 12/12/2002
From: Atlanta, GA
A video package promoting the issue between Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson is aired. Dawn offered a proposition to Torrie. Dawn offered her hotel room key to Torrie and if Torrie goes through with it then Dawn won’t marry Al, Torrie’s father.
Opening Contest: Rikishi vs. B2 (Bull Buchanan): Rikishi decks Buchanan with several right hands and drops Buchanan to the mat. Rikishi clotheslines Buchanan in the corner and hits a backdrop as Bull sensed the Stink Face coming. Bull knee lifts Rikishi and continues with stomps in the corner. Buchanan springboards off the top rope to hit Rikishi with a clothesline. John Cena is at ringside supporting Buchanan. Rikishi elbows Buchanan to get out of a headlock and hits a Samoan Drop. Rikishi gets distracted by Cena and slingshots Cena into the ring. Rikishi decks Cena over the top to the floor. Rikishi savant kicks Buchanan into the corner and hits a splash. Rikishi tries for the Stink Face, but Bull delivers a low blow. Cena enters with a chain wrapped around his fist and decks Rikishi with it. Buchanan covers and wins the match. (*1/2. B2 displayed his incredible athletic ability with the springboard clothesline. If he had a little bit of chemistry he’d probably be more successful. Even with Cena getting involved, I’m surprised that B2 prevailed.)
Backstage, Torrie Wilson as arrived to the arena and is getting looks from various male backstage workers. Torrie meets with the makeup woman, Jan. Jancan’t believe what she’s been hearing lately. Jan says that Dawn Marie is spreading some nasty rumors about what happened in the hotel room. Torrie excuses herself.
Earlier today, Brock Lesnar was signing autographs and Michael Cole says that a surprising person asked for an autograph. After a break, we see that Kurt Angle approached Lesnar during the autograph signing and asked Lesnar to be in his corner at Armageddon if he agrees to help him beat Big Show at the PPV. Angle offers to give Lesnar a title shot. Lesnar tells Angle if he gets his suspension lifted, he’ll think about it.
Backstage, Paul Heyman and WWE World Champion Big Show barged into Stephanie McMahon’s office, but she asks them to leave the office. Show yells, too, but that doesn’t change anything. They leave and Heyman tells Show to relax.
Earlier today, Bill DeMott shared a pre-tape promo saying that he enjoys his work because he likes beating up people.
Second Contest: Bill DeMott vs. Shannon Moore: Moore starts off with right hands, but DeMott hits a back suplex and slams the back of Moore’s head onto the mat. Moore forearms DeMott several times, but an uppercut stops him. DeMott plants Moore with a pop up powerbomb. Moore comes back with a shoulder ram from the apron, but DeMott blocks a rollup attempt. DeMott sends Moore into the corner, but Moore avoids DeMott and almost wins with a rollup. DeMott stops Moore with a powerslam and goes to the top rope hitting the No Laughing Matter for the win. (*1/2. I’m probably in the minority here, but I could get behind DeMott as a heel force on Smackdown.)
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon tells Paul Heyman and Big Show that she’s excited to sign Scott Steiner tonight. Heyman doesn’t care about that and asks if Stephanie realizes what Brock Lesnar is capable of. Stephanie knows they are there because she may get rid of the suspension. Heyman tells Stephanie that Lesnar should be barred from Smackdown forever. Stephanie says that when Lesnar isn’t on Smackdown then they lose money. Heyman freaks out about Kurt Angle wanting to win the title, too. Stephanie reveals that as of Armageddon, Lesnar’s suspension will be lifted. Heyman freaks out and Show tells Heyman he needs to fix this as they storm out of the room.
Third Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champions Eddie & Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. Chris Benoit & WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman: Eddie and Benoit kickoff the match with Eddie backing Benoit into a corner and they have a standoff. Benoit shoulder blocks Eddie, but Eddie tackles Benoit to the mat. Eddie chops Benoit to gain the advantage in the corner. Benoit misses a chop in the corner. Chavo tags into the match and beats on Benoit until Benoit chops Chavo and delivers a scoop slam. Kidman tags in and hits a slingshot leg drop for a one count. Kidman forearms Chavo, but misses a clothesline. Kidman takes Chavo over with a hurricanrana. Kidman clotheslines Chavo, but Chavo knee lifts Kidman. Chavo stomps on Kidman in the corner. Eddie pummels Kidman in the corner while the referee is distracted. Chavo hits a back suplex on Kidman and Eddie hits a slingshot senton. Eddie elbows Kidman several times as the fans chant that Eddie sucks. Eddie hits a suplex, but Kidman kicks out at two. Chavo dropkicks a seated Kidman for a two count. Kidman fights back with strikes, but Chavo delivers a spinebuster for a near fall. Chavo works over Kidman in the corner and tosses Kidman through the ropes to the floor where Eddie scoop slams Kidman.
Chavo rolls Kidman into the ring and Eddie fakes a tag. Eddie stomps on Kidman and tries for a powerbomb, but Kidman counters with a facebuster. Eddie prevents Kidman from tagging out and Chavo dropkicks Kidman on the mat. Chavo stomps Kidman and chokes Kidman over the middle rope. Kidman drives Chavo into the corner back first and Benoit is ready for the tag. Chavo stops Kidman again and tags in Eddie. Eddie stomps Kidman, but Kidman fights back with strikes. Kidman delivers a flurry of strikes and backdrops Eddie. Kidman powerbombs Eddie and tags in Benoit. Benoit sends Eddie into the corner to deliver chops. Benoit tries for the Crossface as we go to commercial.
Kidman keeps a sleeper on Chavo as we see footage of Eddie tapping during the break, but the referee didn’t see it. Kidman is dumped to the floor when Eddie pulls down the ropes. Benoit tries to help, but is distracting the referee instead. Chavo rolls Kidman into the ring and rams Kidman into the corner face first. Guerrero’s control Kidman to hit a rolling leg slam. Benoit enters to stomp Eddie to break a leg hold on Kidman. Eddie forearms Kidman to the mat. Eddie tries for a back suplex, but Kidman lands on top for a splash. Eddie regains control with stomps. Eddie stomps Kidman and delivers a fireman’s carry. Eddie keeps control with a hammerlock. Eddie keeps a hammerlock on Kidman, but only gets a two count on a cover. Benoit breaks the pin again and Chavo enters to keep wrist control. Kidman head scissors Chavo to the mat. Kidman is stopped by a knee lift to the midsection and Chavo decks Benoit on the apron. Kidman head scissors Eddie across the ring and dropkicks Chavo. Benoit gets the hot tag, but the referee didn’t see the tag again. Kidman is double teamed, but Benoit goes after Eddie hitting a German suplex and does the same to Chavo. Benoit takes Eddie over with a snap suplex and does the same to Chavo. Benoit climbs to the top rope and leaps off hitting a diving headbutt. The referee counts the cover despite knowing Benoit isn’t the legal man. Benoit puts the Crossface on Chavo while Kidman hits a sit out powerbomb on Eddie. Kidman misses the Shooting Star Press and Eddie covers Kidman with his feet on the ropes to retain the titles. (***1/2. It should not be a surprised that this was a fun TV tag title match. The finish was nicely done and the long heat segment by Kidman held my interest. This was a lot of fun to watch.)
Backstage, Torrie Wilson confronts Dawn Marie and asks what is Dawn doing. Torrie wants to know why she’s spreading rumors. Torrie says what happened in the hotel room between them was strictly business and should remain between them. Dawn takes off her robe and begins to remind Torrie about their night together, which makes Torrie uncomfortable. Dawn says that everything she has said has been truth and hasn’t said one lie. Torrie tells Dawn she better do what she promised. Torrie says that Al is outside and Dawn better get dressed and get to the ring and publicly call off the wedding.
Dawn Marie makes her way out to the ring to handle the issue with Torrie Wilson and Al. Dawn knows that everyone has likely heard some nasty rumors about her this week. Dawn says there is something they need to discuss and she asks Al Wilson to come out to the ring. Al makes his way down to the ring and Dawn says she made a promise and she keeps her word. Dawn can see the way Al is looking at her. Dawn missed Al so much and she’s not going to lie to Al. Dawn says that everything Al heard about her and Torrie actually happened. Dawn says even though it’s true she spent the night with Torrie that she wants Al to understand that every time she looked into Torrie’s eyes she saw Al’s. Dawn promises that everything reminded her of Al. Dawn missed Al so much and that Torrie was her only connection to Al. Dawn asks Al what it’s going to be. Dawn asks if Al will ever find another woman that makes him feel the way she makes him feel. Dawn needs to know how Al feels about her. Al says he still wants to marry Dawn. Dawn also wants to still marry Al and she’s going to still marry Al no matter what. Torrie runs into the ring and attacks Dawn. Torrie tosses Dawn to the mat and rams Dawn’s face onto the mat. Al tries to help get Torrie off of Dawn, but Torrie shoves Al. Torrie and Dawn fall through the ropes to the floor. Torrie sends Dawn into the ring steps. Torrie is eventually held back by several referees while Dawn escapes up the ramp. Dawn promises to show the whole world what Torrie is all about at Armageddon. Dawn is going to show the world how much she enjoyed the night in the hotel room. Torrie tries to charge at Dawn, but is stopped again. Dawn claims that Torrie is a sexual predator to end the segment.
Fourth Contest: Crash Holly vs. Jamie Noble: Noble starts off with a boot to the midsection and clubs Holly over the back for a two count. Noble slams Holly for another near fall. Noble forearms Holly a few times, but Holly comes back with a hip toss out of the corner a dropkick. Holly atomic drops Noble, but runs into an elbow strike. They trade right hands until Holly hits a clothesline and a backdrop. Holly counters a head scissors with a sit out slam for a near fall. Holly sends Noble into the corner and tries for a bulldog, but Noble counters and Holly tries for a powerbomb. Noble kicks free and attempts a hurricanrana, but Holly blocks it. However, a man dressed in white (Little Guido from ECW) storms the ring and attacks Holly causing a disqualification. It appears this is Nunzio, who is Noble’s cousin. Nunzio drives Holly down with a fisherman buster. (*. I’m a fan of Guido, so having him as an addition to the Cruiserweight division is fine by me.)
Outside, a black limo has arrived to the arena and someone tells Stephanie McMahon that Scott Steiner has arrived. She’s going to the ring to present a contract to Steiner.
Stephanie McMahon comes down to the ring and introduces Scott Steiner. Steiner makes his way out and looks shredded as per usual. Steiner says that Stephanie offered some interesting offers and notes that Stephanie wanted to see what it was like to be a freak for Steiner. Steiner says they drove off in a limo and nobody knows what happened. Steiner reveals that nothing happened and says Stephanie broke all her promises. Steiner can see the need and want for Stephanie to be with a real man. Steiner knows that Stephanie wants a piece of the Freakzilla. Stephanie doesn’t think this is the right time to make good on her promises. She clarifies that she was offering a signing bonus. Steiner lays Stephanie onto a stable and says why wait and likes people watching. Stephanie pushes Steiner away and tells Steiner that she doesn’t know what kind of woman Steiner thinks she is. Stephanie says she is first class and she’s all business. The fans are calling Stephanie a slut. Steiner can’t trust Stephanie in his personal life how can he trust Stephanie with his career. Steiner calls Stephanie a tease. Steiner asks the fans if he can trust Stephanie, and its overwhelmingly no. Steiner says Smackdown is a great show, but he’s not signing because of Stephanie. Steiner leaves saying he’s going to RAW. Stephanie panics and tries to promise she’ll put out, but Steiner walks off and Eric Bischoff appears at the top of the stage to taunt Stephanie.
Footage from Smackdown last week when A-Train defeated Rey Mysterio Jr. and took Rey out with a chair shot to the knee. Mysterio ended up having knee surgery and it could be career ending (its not). A-Train did the same thing to Edge last week with a chair.
Backstage, Edge is interviewed regarding A-Train. Edge says that he started the night last week watching his best friend and partner get attacked. Edge got attacked too and almost won the number one contender spot. Edge promises that A-Train is going to get a beatdown. Kurt Angle enters the scene and says he’s teaming with Edge. Angle just wanted to be there to hear what Edge had to say. Edge asks if Angle has his back tonight. Angle is confident that he’ll have Edge’s back just as much as he’s confident that Brock Lesnar will have his back at Armageddon.
Main Event: WWE World Champion Big Show & A-Train vs. Kurt Angle & Edge: Show and Edge kickoff the tag match with Show shoving Edge to the mat and threatens to kick Edge’s ass. Edge ducks a lockup and kicks Show on the knee a few times. Show tosses Edge into a corner and delivers a chop in the corner. Edge drops Show over the top rope and Angle tags into the match. Train also tags into the match and sends Angle into the ropes to deliver a shoulder block. Angle regroups in the corner covering up, but Train doesn’t followup. The crowd is chanting for Train to shave his back. Angle takes Train down to the mat and keeps control with a front face lock. Train rams Angle back first into the corner and delivers a few shoulder rams and right hands. Train sends Angle into a corner, but runs into an elbow. Angle leaps off the middle rope to hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Edge stomps Train in the corner followed by right hands. Train sends Edge into the corner and keeps control with strikes. Train boots Edge in the corner, but Edge blocks a strike and punches Train. Edge avoids a press slam with a rollup for a two count. Edge hammers away on Train, but runs into a bicycle kick. Train elbow drops Edge on the knee and slams Edge’s knee over the apron. Show steps over the ropes and delivers a backbreaker to Edge. Show continues with a leg drop to the knee. Show decks Angle off the apron. Show continues with another leg drop and drives Edge’s knee onto the mat.
Show delivers an elbow drop to the right knee as Heyman yells at Edge. Train enters the match and stomps on Edge’s knee. Train tags Show back into the match and Show focuses on the knee some more. Show stomps on Edge’s knee, but Edge responds with a few chops. Show knee lifts Edge to the mat. Edge struggles to his feet and Show drives Edge back down with a vertical suplex for a two count. Show overhand chops Edge in the corner and tags in Train to keep control of the contest. Train continues with right hands as the fans continue to taunt Train about his back. Train wraps Edge’s knee around the middle rope, but Edge clubs Train over the back to break free. Edge sits on the top turnbuckle and spikes Train with a tornado DDT. Angle is on the apron ready for a tag. Angle and Show are tagged in with Angle hammering away on Show. Show knee lifts Angle, but Angle dropkicks Show on the knee. Train decks Angle and misses a splash in the corner. Angle hits a German suplex and holds on to hit a series of German suplexs. Show stops Angle with a big boot and hits a reverse powerbomb sending Angle to the mat face first. Edge leaps off the top rope to missile dropkick Show. Edge comes off the ropes with a leaping forearm to stagger Show. Edge spears Train after Show sidestepped the move. Show misses a big boot and crotches himself over the top rope. Edge climbs to the top, but Train whacks Edge on the right knee with a chair shot. Edge crashes to the floor from the top rope. Show overhand chops Angle in the corner a couple of times. Show tosses Angle out of the corner. Train splashes Angle in the corner Angle staggers Show with a jawbreaker. Train accidentally splashes Show in the corner. Angle hits the Angle Slam on both Train and Show. Angle goes for the ankle lock, but Heyman gets on the apron. Show plants Angle with a chokeslam and wins the match. (**1/2. The trend would make me think that Angle is going to win the title at Armageddon with Show getting a pin on him just a few days away from the show. I enjoyed this tag match and it kept a good pace throughout.) After the match, Train drives Angle down with an over the shoulder backbreaker.
Final Thoughts:
A solid go-home show for Smackdown. Show/Angle isn’t the strongest main event, but the question involving Lesnar’s involvement is likely the bigger deal than the match. A very good tag title match and the pacing of the show made this fly by.
Thanks for reading.