World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 1/11/2003
From: Tucson, AZ
Matches:
1.) Bill DeMott defeated Mike Wellington
2.) Diamondback (Brian Kendrick) defeated Funaki
3.) Chuck Palumbo defeated Keiji Sakoda
4.) Nunzio defeated Crash Holly
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Demott dominates the match and wins his squash match with an impressive Doctor Bomb. Demott adapting the Doctor Bomb as his finisher was a great decision.
2.) Oddly enough, they show footage from Tough Enough where Matt Cappotelli got legit beat up by Bob Holly. The segment featured Bill DeMott showing compassion and having a heart, which contradicts his WWE persona.
3.) Diamondback actually gets an entrance, which is a bit weird. Obviously, Diamondback is Brian Kendrick (Spanky) under a mask.
4.) Funaki controls the bout with a wrist lock, but Diamondback counters quickly. Diamondback arm drags Funaki, but is taken down quickly. Diamondback gets a two count with a rollup leading to a standoff and Funaki appears surprised. Diamondback springboards off the ropes to arm drag Funaki across the ring. Funaki hits a top rope crossbody for a two count. Funaki boot scrapes Diamondback on the mat. Funaki holds onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick attempt. Diamondback nearly surprises Funaki with a rollup, but Funaki responds with a clothesline to regain control. Funaki takes Diamondback over with a snap suplex and a kneeling dropkick. Funaki controls Diamondback on the mat with a sleeper hold. Diamondback elbows free, but is met with a knee lift to the midsection. Diamondback tries to fight back with strikes, but is cutoff by Funaki. Funaki dropkicks Diamondback in midair on a springboard attempt. Funaki tries for a German suplex, but Diamondback lands on his feet and kicks Funaki on the side of the head for a two count. Diamondback nails Funaki with a forearm strike out of the corner followed by a heel kick for a near fall. Diamondback chops Funaki a few times, but Funaki delivers a bulldog for a near fall. Funaki rams Diamondback into the corner and delivers a strike from the middle rope. Diamondback hits the Slice Bread out of the corner and picks up the win! (***. This is the kind of match that makes me love Velocity. I don’t think anyone would expect Diamondback to win a match over Funaki let alone have a competitive match. I enjoyed this quite a bit and love the booking. Clearly Kendrick must have a contract at this point otherwise this isn’t happening.)
5.) Palumbo backs Sakoda against the ropes and shoves him followed by a forearm strike. Palumbo tries for a slam, but Sakoda counters with a few arm drags and keeps arm control on the mat. Palumbo forearms Sakoda in the corner followed by a knee lift to send Sakoda to the floor. Sakoda decks Palumbo off the apron and leaps off the apron, but Palumbo catches Sakoda and rams Sakoda into the post back first. Palumbo tries for a cover, but Sakoda kicks out at two. Palumbo shoulder rams Sakoda on the back in the corner followed by a back suplex. Palumbo covers Sakoda for a near fall. Palumbo tosses Sakoda overhead with a suplex. Palumbo covers again managing a two count. Palumbo puts Sakoda in a Torture Rack, but Sakoda fights out and forearms Palumbo several times. Sakoda sunset flips Palumbo for a near fall. Palumbo decks Sakoda with a right hand and delivers a running clothesline in the corner. Sakoda elbows Palumbo in the corner, and avoids a spear in the corner. Sakoda forearms Palumbo several times to drop Palumbo to the mat. Sakoda backdrops Palumbo for a two count. Sakoda heads to the top rope, but is met with a superkick in midair. (*1/2. Palumbo did a few cheap shots in the match, which comes across like he’s acting a bit of a heel. They got some decent time, but Sakoda didn’t do much to impress.)
6.) Nunzio wants to shake hands, but Crash shakes hands with the referee instead. Crash drop toe holds Nunzio followed by a strike for a near fall. Crash arm drags Nunzio and keeps control with a headlock. Nunzio breaks free, but Crash hits an electric chair slam for a two count. Crash tries for a head scissors, but Nunzio crotches Crash on the ropes. Nunzio yanks Crash’s arm over the top rope several times. Nunzio drops down to the floor and hyperextends Crash’s left arm. Nunzio continues to work over Crash’s arm. Crash gets out of a hammerlock with a rollup for a two count. Nunzio decks Crash with a forearm smash for a two count. Nunzio kicks Crash several times before trying to lift Crash up, but Crash gets a rollup for a two count. Nunzio puts an arm bar on Crash, but Crash reaches the ropes quickly. Nunzio focuses his offense on the left elbow, but doesn’t get a submission. Crash fights back with a few forearm strikes, but Nunzio sends Crash into the corner. Crash elbows Nunzio in the corner and sidesteps a splash. Crash comes off the ropes to deliver a tornado DDT for a near fall. Crash powerbombs Nunzio out of the corner with one arm, but only gets a two count. Crash stomps Nunzio, but Nunzio delivers a knee lift. Nunzio dumps Crash to the apron. Crash slides into the ring, but Nunzio hits a springboard tornado arm breaker to pickup the win. (*1/2. Nunzio is good and his style is fresh compared to the other Cruiserweight guys. He’s capable of having some good matches as he did on a regular basis with Super Crazy and Tajiri in ECW. Crash is essentially a jobber and it’s remarkable how quickly he faded from his peak popularity several years ago. Once the hardcore division concluded, it was just a matter of time.)
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed the show and I credit it to the Diamondback/Funaki match as I was not expecting an upset win there at all. Anything Smackdown related continues to be very easy to watch.
Thanks for reading.