World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 12/26/2002
From: Tulsa, OK
Stephanie McMahon makes her way down to the ring to kickoff the show to cut a promo. McMahon notes that everyone saw a graphic for WWE World Champion Kurt Angle defending against Big Show, but that match isn’t happening tonight. Stephanie credits Brock Lesnar for being the reason the match isn’t happening. Stephanie says that Angle isn’t able to wrestle until the Royal Rumble due to Lesnar’s attack after Smackdown went off the air. Stephanie is going to show the footage of what happened later tonight.
Big Show makes his way down to the ring to confront Stephanie. Stephanie asks where Paul Heyman is at, but Show says that Heyman isn’t there yet. Show wanted to talk to Stephanie on his own. Show didn’t feel like waiting to talk to Stephanie in her office. Show is upset that Stephanie didn’t name Show as Angle’s opponent at Royal Rumble. Show gets in Stephanie’s face trying to intimidate her to make him the opponent. Stephanie threatens to suspend Show if he doesn’t backoff. Stephanie says she is the general manager and thinks Show needs to earn a title shot. Thus, Show will wrestle in a number one contenders match where the winner faces Angle at the Royal Rumble. Stephanie reveals that it will be Big Show vs. Chris Benoit.
Chris Benoit makes his way out to the ring to confront Big Show. Benoit stands right in front of Show and says that Show has no idea of what he’s capable of. Benoit tells Show that he hasn’t forgotten about being chokeslammed. Benoit reminds Show that he made Kurt Angle tap out last week and he’ll do the same tonight to Big Show. Show reminds Benoit he’s a giant and tells Benoit that he’s not. Show mocks Benoit’s height and doesn’t see himself getting knocked down. Benoit low blows Show to drop him to the mat and Benoit laughs!
Opening Contest: Bill DeMott vs. Crash Holly: DeMott blocks being pulled to the floor and kicks Holly. DeMott rams Holly into the ring post shoulder first. DeMott wraps Holly’s arm around the ring post to keep control as the match officially starts. DeMott wraps Holly’s arm under the top rope and delivers a strike. DeMott drops Holly’s arm over the top rope. Holly responds with strikes, but DeMott avoids a backdrop with a kick to knock Holly to the mat. DeMott puts an arm lock on Holly, but doesn’t get a submission. DeMott clubs on Holly for a few moments. Holly fires back with right hands, but misses a kick. DeMott avoids a kick and elbow drops Holly on the back. DeMott plants Holly with a powerbomb. DeMott heads to the top rope hitting the top rope moonsault for the win. (NR. A complete squash for DeMott and I’m fine with it.)
Backstage, Dawn Marie is with Al Wilson. Dawn is excited about their wedding night taking place next week on Smackdown. Al has a present for Dawn and it’s Viagra. Dawn calls Al a naughty man and Al opens her present for him. It’s a video camera. Dawn says they can make movies for all their adventures. Dawn wants to capture their entire honeymoon and enjoy it all the time. Dawn proceeds to kiss Al to end the segment.
Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore make their way down to the ring to cut a promo. Hardy says there is a problem slowly destroying Smackdown. Hardy believes Brock Lesnar is a problem. Hardy asks Shannon Moore if Lesnar is a problem, and Moore agrees. Hardy has proof that Lesnar is a problem to Smackdown. Hardy shows footage of Lesnar tossing Moore to the floor and hitting an F5. Hardy says that Lesnar may have beaten Moore, but he’s not defeated. Hardy challenges Brock Lesnar to a singles match next week on Smackdown. Hardy wants Lesnar to bring everything he has because Mattattiude is going to whole new level. Hardy proceeds to attack Shannon Moore.
Backstage, WWE World Champion Kurt Angle is on crutches with Paul Heyman entering the arena. Heyman praises Angle for addressing the fans tonight despite the injury to his right knee.
Second Contest: WWE Tag Team Champions Eddie Guerrero & Chavo Guerrero Jr. vs. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman & Edge: Kidman and Chavo kickoff the title match with Chavo taking Kidman down to the mat and keeps arm control. Kidman counters with a hammerlock, but Chavo breaks free only to be hip tossed. Kidman hip tosses Eddie, as well. Chavo lifts Kidman into the air and Kidman dropkicks Eddie. Kidman head scissors Chavo to the mat and hits an arm drag to keep arm control. Kidman punches Chavo a few times, but Eddie knee lifts Kidman from the apron. Chavo knocks Kidman to the floor where Eddie stomps on Kidman. Chavo stomps on Kidman and delivers a backbreaker. Eddie slingshots in to senton splash Kidman over Chavo’s knee. Eddie continues with right hands and tries for a back suplex, but Kidman counters and drops Eddie with a kick to the head. Edge gets the hot tag and cleans house with clotheslines and a backdrop to the champs. Edge drives Eddie to the mat with a face plant. Chavo stops Edge on the top rope, but is shoved off. Edge missile dropkicks the champs and covers Eddie for a near fall. Edge plants Chavo with a flapjack, but Eddie hits Edge on the knee to gain control.
Eddie locks in the Lasso From El Passo, but Kidman bulldogs Eddge. Chavo clotheslines himself and Kidman over the top to the floor. Edge drops Eddie over the top rope throat first and hits a spear. Edge goes for the cover, but Chavo breaks the cover. Chavo goes to the floor and grabs a championship. Chavo decides it’s time for them to leave the match. The referee tells the ring announcer that if they don’t return to the match they will lose the match and the titles. Chavo and Eddie don’t like that announcement. The show goes to commercial.
Edge hammers away on Eddie as the match continues. Edge misses a spear in the corner. Chavo tags into the match and dropkicks Edge in the corner. Chavo uppercuts Edge to the mat and manages a two count. Chavo keeps a sleeper on Edge, but it doesn’t last too long. Edge powers to his feet and elbows free. Edge ducks a clothesline and yanks Chavo down from behind. Edge crawls to the corner, but Eddie decks Kidman off the apron. Chavo is tagged back in and Edge hits a double flapjack. Edge makes his way to the corner and tags in Kidman. Kidman cleans house with clotheslines and dropkicks to the champs. Kidman drops Chavo over his knee, but Eddie makes the save. Eddie plants Kidman with a back suplex. Eddie climbs to the top rope and leaps off missing the frog splash. Edge charges, but Eddie dumps Edge to the floor. Kidman dropkicks Eddie to the floor and plants Chavo with a sit out spinebuster. Kidman leaps off the top hitting the Shooting Star Press, but Eddie pulls the referee out of the ring. The referee calls for the bell, but says the champs are trying to be disqualified. Thus, the match restarts with a no disqualification stipulation.
Edge and Kidman knock the champs off the apron. Kidman rolls Chavo into the ring and pummels Chavo with a flurry of strikes. Kidman baseball slides Eddie and counters a powerbomb to face plant Chavo. Kidman goes to the top rope again, but Eddie shoves Kidman off to the floor. Edge flips Eddie back into the ring and hammers away on Eddie. Edge avoids a title shot from Chavo and decks Chavo with the championship. Edge rolls Kidman into the ring and Kidman covers Chavo leading to a near fall as Eddie breaks the cover. Edge and Eddie brawl until Edge clotheslines Eddie to the floor. Kidman tries to tag in Edge, but A-Train comes out and drives Edge down with an over the shoulder backbreaker. Eddie leaps off the top to frog splash Kidman as Chavo held Kidman’s leg. Chavo covers and pins Kidman to retain the titles. (***1/2. Even though the restarts were a little annoying, it certainly added to the match for the heat aspect. These four guys worked a great match with plenty of close calls and it flew by. Kidman has cemented himself as part of the core guys for Smackdown putting on quality matches. A-Train’s attack made little sense considering he’s landing on his own knees to inflict the punishment to Edge. It didn’t seem to have logic. Pick a better move to use, Train.)
We see footage from after Smackdown went off the air. Lesnar remained on the mat as Angle, Show, and Heyman stood tall. Angle pulled Lesnar to his feet and delivered a few strikes in the corner. Angle taunts the crowd and Show gets a few stomps in, as well. Heyman is screaming at Lesnar that he hates him from the apron. Lesnar blocked a strike and decks Angle. Lesnar shoulder rams Show in the corner and clotheslines Show to the floor. Lesnar clotheslines Angle and continues with stomps in the corner. Show returns to the ring with a chair as Lesnar kicks the ropes to low blow Show. Lesnar whacks Show over the head with a chair shot and does the same to Angle. Angle struggles to his feet on the floor, but Lesnar follows and clubs Angle over the chest. Lesnar picks Angle up for an F5 and hits the F5 into the ring post! Angle is holding his right knee in agony screaming “oh my knee!” Lesnar scares Heyman away. Angle is helped by several officials on the floor and Angle is screaming that his knee is torn. Lesnar isn’t done with Angle. Lesnar drives Angle’s knee onto the barricade and yells at Angle it’s his title. Lesnar leaves and Angle is helped backstage to end the segment. The whole beating went from 10:01 to 10:08.
Paul Heyman is in the ring to cut a promo and he blames Stephanie McMahon for Kurt Angle’s injury. Heyman doesn’t like that Stephanie forced Angle to reveal their partnership. Heyman would appreciate the fans show a little bit of intelligence when he brings out WWE World Champion, Kurt Angle. Angle makes his way out using crutches as the fans shower him with “You Suck” chants. Angle doesn’t know how Heyman lasted so long with a remorsefulness monster in Brock Lesnar. Angle knows that Lesnar won the title in his first year in the business, but Angle credits the success to Heyman. Angle notes that he accomplished the same things as Lesnar, but he did so on his own. Angle accomplished something that Lesnar will never accomplish and that’s being an Olympic Gold Medalist. Angle thinks the fans and Lesnar are jealous of him. Angle believes that Lesnar attacked him not for hiring Heyman. Angle says that Michael Jordan has an agent and you don’t see Kobe Bryant attacking him with a chair. Angle says he’s a very important person and needs an agent. Angle says these people don’t know what it’s like to have an agent and they never will. Angle says that Lesnar needs to learn respect. Angle reveals that every cartridge in his knee has been torn and he’s pissed it was right before Christmas. Angle knows the fans like that Lesnar did that to him. Angle says despite what Lesnar did to him he’s still standing. Angle says he’s going to defend the title at Royal Rumble, but it will be either Chris Benoit or Big Show. He’ll never defend against Brock Lesnar. Angle promises to take Lesnar down like the punk that he is if Lesnar ever gets in his face again. Heyman chimes in and says Lesnar will never get the chance to do it again to Angle. Heyman tells Angle he has a contingency plan and introduces Team Angle. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin make their way down to the ring to Angle’s music. Heyman introduces Angle to the contingency plan. Angle is now the captain of his own team. Heyman formally introduces Haas and Benjamin. Heyman mentions that Benjamin was Lesnar’s former teammate and roommate at the University of Minnesota. Angle shakes their hands and is thrilled to have two guys on his team. Angle thinks it is a great Christmas present. Angle already can tell they have respect unlike Lesnar and the fans. Angle says that wrestling is like a game of human chess. Angle announces “checkmate.”
Backstage, Funaki is standing outside the women’s locker room and is trying to get comments regarding the wedding next week.
Prior to the next match, John Cena does a rap putting over Bull Buchanan.
Third Contest: Bull Buchanan vs. Rikishi: Rikishi hammers away on Buchanan on the aisle and sends Buchanan into the ring steps. Rikishi savant kicks Buchanan to the mat. Buchanan is met with a running back splash in the corner. Cena pulls Buchanan out to save him from the stink face. Buchanan sends Rikishi into the ring steps and ring post. Rikishi rams Buchanan onto the commentary table face first. Buchanan hits a springboard clothesline for a near fall. Buchanan decks Rikishi with several jabs to stagger Rikishi. Rikishi backdrops Buchanan over the top to the floor. Rikishi nails Cena with a right hand, but Buchanan clotheslines Rikishi. Cena distracts the referee and tosses a chain to Buchanan. Buchanan misses a strike and is nailed by a savant kick. Rikishi hits a Bonzai Drop to win the match. (1/2*. Rikishi continues to get a singles push and I’m not entirely sure the direction for him at this point.)
Backstage, Funaki is with Torrie Wilson for an interview. Funaki brings up her father marrying Dawn Marie next week. Torrie isn’t sure that she’ll be at the wedding next week. She’s surprised that Al hasn’t come to his senses yet. Al Wilson enters the scene and says he heard what Torrie said about breaking her heart. Al asks if Torrie ever wondered what he wanted. Al says it’s always about Torrie, but what about him. Al thought they were a family with a strong father and daughter relationship. Al says next week he’s doing something for himself. He’s going to marry his sweetheart. Al tells Torrie they are going to plan for a child and hopes the child wouldn’t be a disgrace and disappointment like her. That leaves Torrie in shambles.
Backstage, WWE Tag Team Champions Eddie & Chavo Guerrero say people are jealous. They walk into John Cena and Bull Buchanan saying this is the closest they will get to the tag titles. Chavo says they had to work hard for what they’ve won. Cena is ready for a fight, but the champs tell them to chill out. Eddie wants Cena to do a favor and say hello to all the people in Massachusetts that they’re still the champs. They mock Cena and Buchanan before walking off.
Backstage, Chris Benoit is interviewed regarding his match with Big Show. Benoit says that he proved that size doesn’t mean anything to him and he’s going to prove it tonight by beating him to become the number one contender. Benoit believes that he’s better than Kurt Angle and he’ll prove that to Kurt, himself and everyone else once again at Royal Rumble.
Backstage, Kurt Angle is hyping Big Show up to win the match tonight. Angle would be honored to wrestle Big Show for the title at the Royal Rumble. Angle can’t go out there and help Show physically. Angle says he’ll be out there in spirit.
Main Event: Chris Benoit vs. Big Show in a number one contenders match: Benoit goes right after Show with several strikes, but Show tosses Benoit away. Show chops Benoit in the corner to gain control of the match. Show overhand chops Benoit in the corner and yells at the referee. Show tosses Benoit across the ring with a hip toss. Show drops Benoit with a kick to the face. Benoit tries for a Crossface, but Show avoids it and press slams Benoit to the mat gut first. Show delivers a punt to the ribs. Show casually stands on Benoit’s ribs and delivers another kick to the ribs. Show sends Benoit hard into the corner. Show sends Benoit chest first into the corner, but Benoit fights back with chops. Benoit tries for the Crossface, but Show breaks free with a side slam for a near fall. Show sends Benoit chest first into the corner and removes the top turnbuckle in the corner. Benoit struggles to his feet and Show chops Benoit in the corner. Benoit slides to the floor in the corner to avoid the exposed turnbuckle. Benoit stomps on Show several times. Show shoves Benoit away and misses a clothesline. Benoit dropkicks Show on the knee and delivers a kick to the head. Benoit hooks Show for a German suplex and hits it! Heyman can’t believe it!
Benoit climbs to the top rope and hits a diving headbutt, but Show kicks out at two. Benoit knocks Show face first into the exposed turnbuckle and delivers a few chops. Show tries for a chokeslam, but Benoit hooks Show for a rollup and pins Show to win the match! After the match, Show signals for a chokeslam, but Benoit counters with the Crossface and Show is tapping out. However, Haas and Benjamin slide into the ring to attack Benoit. They hit a superkick into a German suplex combo. Haas sets Benoit up for a powerbomb and Benjamin leaps off the top to hit a bulldog. Haas locks in the Haas of Pain while Benjamin stomps on Benoit. Show drives Benoit down to the mat with a chokeslam. (*1/2. Considering the size difference it was a fine encounter with Benoit displaying his strength by hitting an impressive German suplex. I’m glad that Show didn’t win, and Benoit being inserted into the challenger role should make it an easy build to Rumble without Lesnar in the position.)
Haas and Benjamin bring Benoit up the aisle to where WWE World Champion Kurt Angle meets Benoit. Angle says that Benoit doesn’t stand a chance against him and that Benoit is weak. Angle chokes Benoit with his crutch while taunting Benoit. Angle stands over a laid out Benoit to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Haas and Benjamin making their official debuts on Smackdown continues to add to the depth of the Smackdown roster. I feel like they will bring freshness to the roster and are two guys that will hold their own against a strong Smackdown roster. I enjoyed the show this week and I’m interested in a Benoit/Angle title match since they were tag partners just a month ago. Smackdown continues to be a breeze to watch compared to RAW.
Thanks for reading.