World Wrestling Entertainment presents Heat
Date: 1/26/2003
From: Providence, RI
Matches:
1.) Molly Holly defeated Jacqueline
2.) Rico defeated Aaron Stevens
3.) Christian defeated Spike Dudley
4.) Maven defeated Christopher Nowinski
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Jacqueline trips Holly at the start, but doesn’t followup on the advantage. Holly takes Jacqueline down to the mat, but Jacqueline quickly counters and gets leg control. Jacqueline locks in a surfboard, but Holly breaks free. Holly dumps Jacqueline to the apron, but Jacqueline head scissors Holly over the top to the floor. Jacqueline continues with chops on the floor. Holly tries for a powerbomb, but drops Jacqueline onto the apron face first and rams Jacqueline back first into the apron leading to a near fall. Holly hits a bridging suplex for a two count. Jacqueline gets a rollup on Holly, but Holly kicks out and clotheslines Jacqueline for a two count. Holly chops Jacqueline and tries for a handspring elbow, but Jacqueline nails Holly with a clothesline to the back for a near fall. Jacqueline strikes Holly into the corner and pummels Holly with right hands. Holly powerbombs Jacqueline out of the corner and puts her feet on the ropes for a two count. Jacqueline head scissors Holly out of the corner. Holly drops Jacqueline over the top rope and picks up the win. (*1/2. Not too bad of a match. Holly is over as a heel and she’s very good in the ring. She should be in line for a push in the women’s division.)
2.) A vignette promoting Nathan Jones is shown.
3.) Rico came out using the music that had previously belonged to Billy & Chuck.
4.) Rico kicks Stevens on the butt after a hammerlock. Rico yanks Stevens down to the mat by his hair and they have a standoff. Stevens hip tosses Rico followed by a hair pull and kicks Rico on the butt. Stevens clotheslines and dropkicks Rico for a two count. Rico eye pokes Stevens in the corner before hitting a middle rope bulldog and a short arm clothesline. Rico rams Stevens into the corner and delivers several kicks leading to a near fall. Rico keeps a nerve hold on Stevens, but doesn’t get a submission. Stevens snapmares free and sends rico chest first into the ropes before hitting a flying forearm and a clothesline. Stevens clotheslines Rico again and Rico begs off in the corner. Stevens comes off the ropes to hit a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Stevens sends Rico into the corner and hits an inverted neckbreaker for a near fall. Rico stops Stevens with a jawbreaker and a spin kick for the win. (*1/2. Not a bad enhancement match. Rico clearly has skill in the ring and that may be lost on fans due to his character. Stevens looked good, and it was a bit jarring to see him so scrawny considering he’s a thicker guy nowadays.)
5.) Christian backs Dudley into a corner, but misses a strike attempt. Christian shoves Dudley to the mat after getting in Spike’s face. Christian taunts the crowd. Dudley gets control with a headlock and drop toe holds Christian followed by several slaps to the back of the head. Spike punches Christian into the corner. Christian kicks Spike, but is rammed into the corner several times. Spike plays to the crowd and stomps Christian. Christian stops Dudley with a boot to the midsection and drops Spike gut first over the top rope. Christian grabs Dudley on the apron and delivers a few strikes. Christian gets a running start and knocks Dudley off the apron to the floor. Christian taunts the fans before rolling Dudley back into the ring and delivers another kick to the ribs. Christian drives Dudley to the mat with a gut buster and argues with the referee. Dudley tries to fight back, but is stopped by Christian. Dudley comes off the ropes to stop Christian with a headbutt to the midsection. Spike punches Christian followed by a forearm smash and a bulldog. Dudley drives Christian to the mat with a neckbreaker for a two count. Christian plants Dudley with a reverse DDT for a two count. Christian jokes Dudley over the middle rope followed several strikes to the back. Dudley knee strikes Christian, but is stopped on the top turnbuckle. Christian tries for a suplex, but Dudley bites Christina’s forehead to break free and delivers a double stomp for a two count. Spike pummels Christian in the corner, but is taken off by the referee. Christian avoids the Dudley Dog and eye rakes Dudley leading to a rollup with his feet on the ropes to win the match. (*1/2. I kind of expected better from these two, but it wasn’t an awful bout. I’m actually surprised they weren’t the main event of the show. I’m not sure why we’re protecting Spike here with the cheat finish either.)
6.) A vignette promoting Sean O’Haire, which is the same on from Velocity.
7.) Nowinski controls Maven with a headlock and hammerlock before letting go and taunting Maven in the corner. Nowinski gets a waist lock on Maven, but settles for an arm drag and taunts Maven again. Nowinski kicks Maven in the midsection, but Maven almost wins with a rollup. Maven gets an inside cradle for a two count. Maven keeps a side headlock on Nowinski for a few moments. Nowinski backs Maven into a corner and delivers a strike to the midsection. Nowinski goes to the apron and drops Maven’s arm over the top rope. Nowinski delivers a knee strike to Maven. Nowinski sends Maven shoulder first into the post. Nowinski leg drops Maven on the arm and slams Maven’s arm onto the mat. Nowinski keeps an arm bar on Maven, but doesn’t get a submission. Maven forearms Nowinski and hits a crossbody off the ropes for a two count. Nowinski splashes onto Maven’s left arm. Nowinski drives Maven down with an arm breaker for a two count. Nowinski keeps an arm bar on Maven, but doesn’t get a submission again. Maven stops Nowinski with a jawbreaker and a forearm strike a couple of times. Maven backdrops Nowinski and blocks a kick to hit a back suplex for a two count. Maven fakes a crossbody off the middle rope and instead delivers a missile dropkick for the win. (*. There’s not much to this and it kind of came across as two guys training to be wrestlers. Considering their exposure on MTV with Tough Enough, I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that this ended up being the main event.)
Final Thoughts:
An average episode of Heat, but mostly boring. The in-ring this week didn’t have much entertainment attached to it. It was nice to see Rico get a showcase, though.
Thanks for reading.