World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 12/28/2002
From:
Matches:
1.) Matt Hardy defeated Brandon Groom
2.) A-Train defeated Funaki
3.) Nunzio & Jamie Noble defeated Vinnie Valentino & Gabe Roach
4.) John Cena defeated Chuck Palumbo
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Funaki tries for a crossbody to the floor, but is caught. Funaki dropkicks Train on the apron and continues with a few dropkicks. Train tries for a press slam, but Funaki counters, but Train delivers a knee drop to the back of the head. Funaki avoids a splash and hits a kick to the head. Train drops Funaki over the top rope gut first and continues with a kick to the head. Train continues with strikes in the corner and drives Funaki into the corner back first followed by a couple of backbreakers for a two count. Funaki punches Train several times, but Train cuts him off. Train puts an abdominal stretch on Funaki, and uses the ropes for leverage. Train eye rakes Funaki, but doesn’t get a submission. The referee sees Train cheating and bails to the floor when Train threatens him. Funaki boots Train in the corner a few times. Funaki tries for a tornado DDT, but Train avoids it. Train stops Funaki on the middle rope, but Funaki hits a middle rope bulldog for a near fall. Funaki plants Train with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Train plants Funaki with an over the shoulder backbreaker and wins the match. (*1/2. If they are attempting to build A-Train as a viable heel on the Smackdown roster the booking of this match left me confused. Funaki getting as much offense as he did didn’t help Train whatsoever. Train should have dominated the match and done so quickly. If he has a tough time against Funaki, how is anyone suppose to buy into him as a monster heel?)
2.) Nunzio and Noble won their match with a double fisherman buster. This is their first time teaming together.
3.) John Cena does a rap before his match insulting the Oklahoma crowd.
4.) Palumbo decks Cena with a right hand on the floor and they return to the ring where Palumbo misses a clothesline, but decks Cena. Palumbo hits a reverse hip toss and a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. B2 distracts Palumbo allowing Cena to hit a clothesline to gain control of the match. Cena sends Palumbo hard into the corner back first and gets a two count. Cena sends Palumbo to the floor where B2 delivers several cheap shots and Cena gets another near fall. Cena chokes Palumbo over the middle rope, and B2 does the same when the referee is distracted. Cena takes Palumbo over with a snap suplex for a two count. Cena puts a full nelson on Palumbo, but doesn’t get a submission. Cena decks Palumbo to the mat and delivers a forearm strike for a near fall. Cena puts the full nelson back on Palumbo, but doesn’t get the submission, again. Palumbo kicks Cena away, but Cena goes back for the full nelson. Palumbo plants Cena with a back suplex to break free from the hold. Palumbo clotheslines Cena followed by a backdrop. Palumbo strikes Cena in the corner and hits a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Cena eye rakes Palumbo, but Palumbo tries for a belly to belly suplex. Cena eye rakes free, but leaps off the middle rope and Palumbo hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Palumbo decks Cena with a discus punch. Palumbo superkicks B2, but Cena low blows Palumbo and wins the match with a rollup. (*. That wasn’t all that impressive or interesting. Palumbo didn’t get a moment to shine as he normally does. The rapper gimmick for Cena was exactly what he needed to excel in the company.)
Final Thoughts:
A skippable episode of Velocity for original content, but it did a great job of keeping the viewer updated on what’s going on with Smackdown and their major storylines.
Thanks for reading.