World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 2/6/2003
From: Philadelphia, PA
There is a wooden crate in the ring with a crane attached to it from the crowd. The crane lifts the wooden crate into the air. There is a note on the crate saying it is for the Undertaker.
Opening Contest: Jamie Noble vs. Rey Mysterio: Noble takes Mysterio down at the start, but Mysterio arm drags Noble. Noble clotheslines Mysterio and avoids a hurricanrana by running through Mysterio. Noble drives Mysterio down with a gut buster for a near fall. Noble stomps Mysterio on the mat and locks in an abdominal stretch. Mysterio nails Noble with a wheelbarrow bulldog. Mysterio hammers away on Noble and hits a springboard crossbody. Mysterio spikes Noble with a tornado DDT for a two count. Mysterio strikes Noble and sends Noble into the corner. Mysterio goes to the apron, but is pulled off by Nidia. Noble baseball slides Mysterio on the floor. Noble tries for a back suplex, but Mysterio drop toe holds Noble over the middle rope and tries for the 619, but Nidia makes the save. Noble plants Mysterio with a slingshot sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Noble tries for a powerbomb, but Mysterio counters and kicks Noble on the head. Mysterio dropkicks Noble into Nidia and they are both over the middle rope. Mysterio hits a double 619 and hits the West Coast Pop to pin Noble. (**. This was fine for what it was. Noble wasn’t presented as a major threat to Mysterio, but did have a couple of bright spots to not look like a complete enhancement guy.)
The Rock joins the show via satellite from Hollywood, CA. Rock is getting a decent amount of jeers from the crowd. Rock says he’s cooking something in the kitchen that the fans would love and it’s a Philly cheesecake. Rock admits he’s lying and wouldn’t ever eat that. Rock jokes about being lactose and getting gassy last time. Rock asks his chef for Tampa tofu to get heel heat from the crowd. Rock recalls standing outside the Spectrum and standing next to the Rocky statue. Rock says he’ll proudly be the People’s Champion. Rock has no problem with the fans chanting for him or booing him. Rock always wants to entertain the fans, but has one question. Rock wants to know why they are booing him. Rock figures it out because it is Philadelphia and that is what they do. They booed McNabb and Mike Schmidt. They like to boo greatness. Rock notes that the fans have never booed Hulk Hogan, who is good, but not great. Rock can’t explain how excited he is to wrestle Hogan again at No Way Out. Rock wonders what happened to the phone calls with Hogan that have dried up. Rock mentions a commercial that Hogan has done recently with Terry Bradshaw and a muppet. Rock knows that Hulkamania will not die, but he does know one thing. Rock is going to lay the smackdown all over Hogan’s ass at No Way Out.
Second Contest: Rikishi vs. Nunzio: Nunzio attacks before the bell, but is knocked away. Nunzio works over Rikishi’s knee to gain the advantage for a two count. Nunzio stomps Rikishi along with an overhand strike to the back, but Rikishi slams Nunzio to the mat a couple of times. Rikishi savant kicks Nunzio into the corner and hits a big splash. Nunzio drops down in the corner and Rikishi hits a running back splash. Rikishi hits a Bonzai Drop for the win. (1/2*. Basically a showcase for Rikishi because the man always needs to be getting a push.) After the match, Rikishi dances, but Nunzio gets on the microphone to cutoff Rikishi. Nunzio asks if Rikishi is trying to disrespect him. Nunzio says the people he’s with will not like that. Nunzio says Rikishi isn’t going to like the people he’s with and says Rikishi made a big mistake before running off.
Paul Heyman comes out to the stage where the wooden crate is now stationed. Heyman thinks it is time for the monkeys that he has hired to bring the gift down to the ring with him. Heyman says the gift is for the Undertaker. Smackdown goes to commercial, and upon returning Heyman is in the ring with the wooden crate. Heyman says that Undertaker turned a deaf ear to the singing telegram since from his client (Big Show). Heyman reveals that Big Show is not at the arena tonight. Heyman calls out the Undertaker to come out and accept the gift.
The Undertaker makes his way down to the ring on his motorcycle. Heyman naturally bailed from the ring as Taker scopes out the wooden crate. Taker opens the crate and has a puzzled look on his face. Brother Love steps out of the crate and does his usual spiel. Love jumps into Undertaker’s arms, but Taker isn’t receptive to the hug. Love says it is so good to see Undertaker once again and has a message for him. The message is of love and forgiveness. Love wants Taker to understand and forgive the Big Show. Love asks Undertaker who brought him to the WWE to begin with and takes credit for that. Love asks if Undertaker learned the lessons of love and forgiveness. Love thinks that Taker should forgive Big Show. Taker grows tired of the talking and grabs the microphone. Taker grabs Love by the throat and delivers a chokeslam. Taker spikes Love with a tombstone piledriver to end the segment.
Backstage, Hulk Hogan is walking when he shakes hands with two enhancement guys. Hogan looks over to his right and sees Brock Lesnar who says “welcome back” and Hogan walks off as Lesnar laughs.
Third Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman vs. Matt Hardy in a non-title match: Hardy begs off in the corner and shoves Moore into Kidman, who is backdropped. Hardy plants Kidman with the Side Effect to get the early advantage. Hardy slams Kidman and comes off the ropes to deliver an elbow drop for a two count. Hardy elbows Kidman coming off the ropes followed by a leg drop for a two count. Hardy chokes Kidman in the ropes. Kidman fights back with a few kicks and head scissors Hardy into the corner. Kidman sends Hardy chest first into the corner, but Hardy responds with a sleeper. Kidman dropkicks Hardy coming off the ropes. Kidman connects with a leaping elbow and a few clotheslines. Kidman hits a sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Kidman is caught in the corner and dropped over the top rope. Hardy hits a back suplex/elbow drop combo for a near fall. Kidman avoids a slam, but Hardy attempts the Twist of Fate only for Kidman to counter with a bulldog out of the corner. Kidman drags Hardy to the corner and looks for the Shooting Star Press, but Hardy stops Kidman. Hardy is shoved off the middle rope and Kidman leaps off missing an axe handle. Kidman counters the Twist of Fate and manages a rollup on Hardy to win the match. (**. A solid match and perhaps a bit of an upset despite Kidman being the champion. Hardy has been involved in some major angles with the top guys and Kidman got a clean win. That’s a huge finish for Kidman.) After the match, Hardy tells the commentary team that he’s dropping down to 220lbs and become a Cruiserweight to take the title from Kidman the next time they wrestle.
Backstage, Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle is hyping up Team Angle saying tonight is the biggest night of their careers and wants them to soar. Kurt says they are winners unlike the Eagles. Kurt wants them to bring home the gold tonight. However, he will not be out there with them because he’s focusing on his match with Benoit later on in the night.
Fourth Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champions Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo) vs. Team Angle (Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin): Benjamin and Chavo kickoff the title match. Chavo gains control with a waist lock, but Benjamin counters. Chavo takes Benjamin down to the mat and they have a standoff. Benjamin leg trips Chavo to the mat, but Chavo counters to gain control on the mat briefly. Chavo taunts Benjamin that he can’t beat him and tags in Eddie. Eddie gets a one count on a quick cover attempt and they have another standoff. Benjamin backs Eddie into a corner and Haas tags into the match, but Eddie backs away to avoid a double team. Eddie tries for a drop toe hold, but Haas avoids it. Eddie still manages to take Haas down to the mat and gets headlock control. Eddie shoulder blocks Haas and tags in Chavo. Chavo dropkicks a seated Haas for a two count. Chavo back suplexs Haas and Eddie hits a slingshot senton from the apron for a near fall. Haas clubs Eddie over the back and takes Eddie down to the mat for a near fall. Haas tags in Benjamin, but Eddie delivers a suplex and tags in Chavo. Chavo pummels Benjamin with a few strikes followed by an uppercut. Chavo clotheslines Benjamin coming off the ropes and rams Benjamin into the corner. Chavo stomps Benjamin in the corner. Eddie chokes Benjamin with the tag rope as the referee is distracted.
Eddie continues to work over Benjamin in the corner with a flurry of strikes. Chavo chokes Benjamin while the referee is out of position. The champs ram Benjamin groin first into the ring post. Chavo stomps Benjamin several times on the mat. Benjamin is double teamed in the corner with stomps by the champs. Eddie snapmares Benjamin and puts a sleeper on. Benjamin drives Eddie to the mat with a back suplex. Haas tags into the match and kicks Eddie in the corner a few times. All four men are in the ring brawling. Haas and Eddie are sent into each other. Benjamin dumps Chavo to the apron where Eddie dropkicks Benjamin into the referee, who knocks Chavo off the apron into the announcers table as the show goes to commercial.
Chavo comes off the ropes and is sent down to the mat gut first by Benjamin. Haas tags into the match and elbow drops Chavo on the mat a few times for a near fall. Haas knee lifts Chavo in the corner and Benjamin enters to drop Chavo over the top rope. Benjamin splashes Chavo after leaping over Haas back for a two count. Eddie trips Benjamin and pummels Haas on the mat. Chavo gets a two count on Benjamin, but Benjamin clotheslines Chavo and knocks Eddie to the floor. Chavo connects with a double DDT. Eddie enters the match and clotheslines the challengers. Eddie decks Benjamin to the floor and backdrops Haas. Eddie takes Haas over with a trio of suplexs for a near fall. Eddie crotches Haas onto the top rope and hits a superplex leading to Chavo hitting a frog splash off another corner for a two count as Benjamin made the save. Chavo has Haas in the corner hitting a tornado DDT, but Benjamin knocks Eddie off the top to the floor. Chavo backdrops Benjamin to the floor and dives off to hit a crossbody on Benjamin on the floor.
Eddie gets back in the ring and clotheslines Haas. Haas lifts Eddie up and down to the mat followed by an overhead suplex for a near fall. Benjamin leaps over Haas back to splash Eddie and Haas hits a German suplex, but Chavo makes the save. Benjamin tosses Chavo to the floor. Eddie is sat on the top rope, but Chavo drops Haas with an electric chair slam and Eddie hits a sunset flip powerbomb on Benjamin for a near fall. Eddie climbs to the top, but Heyman grabs Eddie’s boot. Chavo takes Heyman out with a crossbody. Eddie frog splashes Benjamin, but Benjamin isn’t the legal man. Haas comes up from behind and gets a rollup on Eddie to steal the pin and titles! (***1/2. I thought that was great. The action became chaotic and the near falls were believable. It felt like the right time to put the titles on a fresh team and it’s obvious that Haas and Benjamin are more than capable to carry their own in the tag division.)
Hollywood Hulk Hogan makes his way out down to the ring to cut a promo on The Rock. Before Hogan can even say a word, Rock appears on the big screen via satellite once again. Rock says Hogan is looking great and can’t wait to wrestle him again at No Way Out. Rock is going to sit there and listen to what Hogan has to say. Rock gives Hogan direction as to when to speak. Hogan says he’s out there to see if Vince McMahon had the guts to face him in the ring. Hogan didn’t think Rock would poke his head in from Hollywood. Rock requests Hogan face forward his promo to the good part. Hogan tells Rock that distance is a luxury. Rock proceeds to leave the scene because his tofu is ready to be eaten. Rock asks Hogan to not bore his fans with his promo. Rock wants Hogan to remind him at No Way Out to whip his ass because he’s got a busy day. Hogan continues his promo saying he heard Rock get booed out of the building at the 10 year RAW Anniversary Show. Hogan says people are talking about him and saying things that aren’t true. Hogan recalls what McMahon said about him last week. Hogan notes that McMahon considers Hulkamania to be on life support. Hogan knows one thing that he truly believes in. Hogan declares that McMahon is full of shit. Hogan says at the end of the day it boils down to one thing and that’s McMahon is afraid to death to step in the ring with him. Hogan says the rematch with Rock will the rematch of all rematches. Hogan says at No Way Out will be Hogan vs. Rock jabroni part two. Hogan believes that millions of his fans will boo Rock out of the building at the PPV. Hogan asks what Rock is going to do when Hulkamania runs wild on Rock.
Backstage, some of the locker room was watching Hogan on the screen. Sean O’Haire pulls Brian Kendrick off to the side and talks about the singing telegram that Kendrick did recently. O’Haire gives Kendrick a scarf and suggests that Kendrick to streak in order to make an impact. Kendrick accepts that and puts the scarf on and strips down his clothing as the show cuts to break.
Brian Kendrick comes out and streaks during A-Train’s entrance. Referee Brian Hebner chases after Kendrick and they run through the crowd.
Fifth Contest: A-Train vs. Shannon Moore: Moore works over Train with a few strikes, but is shoved away and met with a bicycle kick. Train pummels Moore with strikes on the mat. Train catapults Moore throat first into the middle rope. Train delivers the Train Wreck and wins the match in short order. After the match, Kendrick runs back to the ringside area and ducks a clothesline attempt by Train in the ring. Kendrick goes under the ring to escape the referees. Kendrick still manages to escape the referees and runs backstage. (*. A dominate win for A-Train, but it seemed to be overshadowed by Kendrick’s antics.)
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon is on the phone talking about Bischoff’s deadline. Stephanie needs to know if Austin has been signed. Kendrick runs into Stephanie’s office while she’s on the phone. Stephanie naturally looks at his exposed body. Kendrick says he’s excited to meet her, but then is pulled away. Stephanie jokes that she could see that Kendrick was excited to meet her.
John Cena makes his way out to the ring to cut a promo. Cena has something to say and tells the fans to listen to him. Cena issues a challenge to Brock Lesnar and says Lesnar sucks just as bad as Philadelphia. Cena insults Lesnar calling him dumb and clumsy. Cena suggests that he’s the next big thing if he takes his clothes off. Cena challenges Lesnar to a match for next week so that he can kick Lesnar’s ass and leaves the ring.
Main Event: Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit in a non-title match: Angle gets a headlock on Benoit and gains control on the mat. Benoit sends Angle into the ropes, but is met with a shoulder block. Benoit forearms Angle and arm drags Angle to the mat to keep arm control. Angle sends Benoit into the corner and delivers a few right hands in the corner. Benoit chops Angle, but Angle responds with right hands. Benoit boots a charging Angle and delivers a clothesline. Benoit takes Angle over with a snap suplex for a two count. Benoit chops Angle against the ropes, but Angle tosses Benoit overhead with a suplex. Angle kicks Benoit in the midsection followed by strikes to the back. Angle nails Benoit with a short arm clothesline for a two count. Angle tosses Benoit through the ropes to the floor. Heyman nails Benoit with a running double axe strike. Angle rolls Benoit into the ring and gets a two count as Benoit reaches the ropes. Angle knee lifts Benoit several times and hits a snap suplex for a two count. Angle snapmares Benoit to the mat and keeps a body scissors on Benoit. Angle is bleeding from the mouth, but isn’t able to get a submission out of Benoit. Benoit arm drags Angle, but is met with a knee lift. Angle tries for a cover, but Benoit kicks out at two. Angle stomps Benoit on the mat several times. Angle shoulder rams Benoit in the corner several times. Angle forearm strikes Benoit followed by a back suplex for a near fall.
Benoit fires back with a few chops out of the corner, but Angle knee lifts Benoit. Benoit clotheslines Angle and backdrops Angle coming off the ropes. Benoit tries for a German suplex, but Angle counters with an ankle lock. Benoit counters with a rollup for a two count. Benoit locks in the Crossface, but Angle doesn’t submit. Angle tries to hit the Angle Slam, but Benoit avoids it and hits a German suplex. Angle elbows Benoit to break free and kicks Benoit. Benoit avoids an arm drag and locks in the Crossface. Angle counters with an ankle lock. Benoit rolls over and locks in the Crossface. Angle manages to break the hold and Benoit stomps Angle on the mat. Angle kicks Benoit away, but Benoit responds with an elbow strike. Benoit climbs to the top rope, but Angle is shoved off the middle rope. Angle buckle bombs Benoit, but Benoit comes back with a German suplex. Benoit is bleeding from the forehead. After a moment, Benoit tries for a cover, but Angle kicks out at two. Benoit tosses Angle with another German suplex. Benoit heads to the top rope and leaps off missing a diving headbutt attempt. Angle gets a rollup and nearly pins Benoit. Angle knee lifts Benoit and elbows free from a German suplex. Angle connects with the Angle Slam for the clean win. (***1/2. A good match, as expected. I was not expecting the clean finish in the middle of the ring. That should signify that Angle is moving on from Benoit completely. It felt like there was a lot of crowd interest and it shouldn’t be a surprise since their classic encounter at the Royal Rumble.) After the match, Angle offers a handshake. Benoit accepts the handshake. However, Haas and Benjamin attack Benoit from behind. Edge runs into the ring and spears Angle, but is double teamed in the corner. Brock Lesnar runs into the ring and cleans house hitting an F5 on Benjamin. Haas stumbles into an F5, as well.
Final Thoughts:
A good episode this week for Smackdown as the main event and tag title matches stood out. I’m liking the slow build for the Show/Taker match, which is a bit of a surprise for me. Hardy going into the Cruiserweight division seems to be the right move and potential good heel work coming from it. Smackdown continues to deliver quality programming with an absolutely loaded roster.
Thanks for reading.