World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 2/20/2003
From: Indianapolis, IN
The Rock’s music hits and Rock comes out to the stage where there are two wooden boxes, which are two more fits for the Undertaker from Big Show. Rock soaks up the reaction from the crowd. Rock does his catchphrases to kickoff the promo, but says he doesn’t care about where he is at. Rock clarifies that nobody cares about what he has to say. Rock feels the fans don’t want to hear what he has to say tonight. Rock thinks the fans aren’t really feeling what he’s got to say. Rock has heard some people booing him tonight. Rock asks why they want to boo him. Rock says he’s there because of all the fans. Rock is committed to the people and committed to the company. Rock’s cellphone goes off and takes it in the middle of the ring. Rock is on the phone with his personal assistant. Rock has to take care of some business and asks the fans to keep it down. Rock says he’s flying out tonight to not be with the hicks. Rock claims he’s talking about the hickory trees and not the people. Rock asks if the fans really want to boo him. Rock asks if the fans understand the line they’ll cross if they boo him. The fans continue to boo him despite his warnings. Rock asks one last time if they want to boo him, and they continue to boo him loudly. Rock asks if they boo him because he sold out. Rock asks if it’s because his head is too big, but notes that Larry Bird has a big head and isn’t booed. Rock says he’s going to make Hogan his little bitch. Rock isn’t going to talk about kicking Hogan’s ass because Hogan isn’t there. Rock is going to tell Hogan to his face what he’ll do when he arrives. Rock says singing along with the Rock is over with since the fans have made their decision. Rock wants the crowd to have some self respect. Rock finishes his catchphrase on his own without the crowd saying it with him.
They are promoting the main event as Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle defending against Brock Lesnar. It got the tale of the tape treatment.
Opening Contest: Chris Benoit vs. The A-Train: Train knee strikes Benoit in the corner several times for the early advantage. Train misses a splash in the corner and Benoit chops Train. Train runs through Benoit with a clothesline. Train plants Benoit with the Muscle Buster for a near fall as Benoit reaches the bottom rope. Train tries for the Derailer, but Benoit locks in the Crossface. Train tries to break free, but Benoit locks in the Crossface again. Train has nowhere to go in the middle of the ring, but doesn’t submit. Benoit holds onto Train and delivers chops. Benoit manages to get a rollup and pins Train for the win. (1/2*. I’m not sure why they continue to, well, derail any kind of momentum for Train. For the shortness of the match, it was solid. However, there wasn’t enough substance for this to mean anything.)
Backstage, Hulk Hogan has arrived to the arena.
Backstage, Funaki attempts to enter Rock’s locker room, but is stopped by security. Funaki says Hogan is here and wants to know when the showdown will happen. Funaki tries to bribe them, but security says Rock will only see Hulk Hogan.
Second Contest: Rikishi vs. Johnny Stamboli: Rikishi goes after Stamboli on the entrance way and delivers right hands ramming Stamboli into the apron. Rikishi sends Stamboli into the ropes looking for a belly to belly, but Stamboli fights free and press slams Rikishi to the mat! Stamboli goes for a cover, but Rikishi kicks out at two. Stamboli leaps off the top hitting a leg drop. Stamboli rams Rikishi into the corner and delivers shoulder rams. Stamboli stomps Rikishi in the corner and delivers strikes. Rikishi sends Stamboli into the corner and delivers a few strikes before hitting a Samoan Drop. Rikishi nails Stamboli with a superkick and picks up the win. After the match, Chuck Palumbo tries to attack Rikishi, but fails. Nunzio leaps off the top and is caught by Rikishi. Palumbo returns and superkicks Rikishi. Rikishi is mugged by the FBI. Palumbo decks Rikishi with a right hand several times. Stamboli drops Rikishi with a right hand. Palumbo pummels Rikishi and Nunzio delivers a flurry of strikes. (*. I hate that Rikishi won. Stamboli displayed some great strength and if he had won here over Rikishi it would have given them some major creditability. I don’t understand this obsession with pushing Rikishi and having him win seemingly all the time.)
Backstage, Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle is training with Team Angle. Angle is training with Benjamin while Haas is hyping Angle up. Angle says he’s going to lead by example and talks about the three I’s. Angle is going to live up to those standards. Angle is going to compete in the singles match with Lesnar because of the champion he is.
A video package promoting Los Guerreros is shown. Chavo and Eddie Guerrero are walking on the sidewalk where they are talking to a woman pushing a stroller. They talk to her saying she’s on Baywatch before turning their attention to the baby in the stroller. They walk off saying that baby was ugly. They also robbed her of her watch and wallet. Chavo took the baby bottle.
Third Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Matt Hardy & Shannon Moore: Mysterio and Moore kickoff the tag match with Moore getting wrist control. Moore forearms Mysterio and delivers a spinning heel kick for a two count. Kidman shoulder rams Moore and double hip tosses Moore with Mysterio. Mysterio leg drops Moore with help from Kidman for a two count. Hardy tags into the match and hits the Side Effect on Kidman for a near fall. Hardy scoop slams Kidman and delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Hardy backs Kidman into the corner and stomps Kidman in the corner to keep control of the bout. Hardy back suplexs Kidman for a two count. Hardy keeps a front face lock on Kidman, but doesn’t get a submission. Kidman avoids the Twist of Fate and dropkicks Hardy. Kidman crawls to the corner and tags in Mysterio. Mysterio springboard splashes Hardy and takes Moore down with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Mysterio hits a springboard crossbody on Hardy. Mysterio head scissors Moore over the top to the floor. Mysterio dropkicks Hardy over the middle rope. Mysterio nails Hardy with a 619. Moore grabs Mysterio, but is kicked away. Hardy plants Mysterio with a powerbomb for a two count. Kidman tags in and missile dropkicks Hardy, who didn’t know of the tag. Moore leaps off the top to leg drop Kidman and Hardy gets a two count. Hardy slams Kidman, but is stopped on the middle rope. Mysterio nails Hardy with a hurricanrana after Kidman lifted Mysterio into the corner. Kidman knocks Moore off the apron. Kidman backdrops Mysterio over the top onto Moore. Hardy nails Kidman with the Twist of Fate to pickup the win. (***. A good match with constant action. Mysterio and Kidman would be a great regular team similar to their time in WCW if they wanted to strengthen the tag division at some point. Hardy probably should win the Cruiserweight championship at this point and put some meaning behind the title defenses since the weight limit angle has gotten over.)
Earlier this week. Michael Cole talked to Nathan Jones. Jones says the American people have been forgiving for his history, which includes burglary Jones tells Cole his goal is to be the next Smackdown World Champion. Jones has some unfinished business with the biggest dog in the yard. Jones is coming across crazy.
The first of two wooden crates is being dropped off into the ring. The Undertaker is seen walking backstage towards the ring.
Back from commercial, the second wooden crate is being lowered into the ring. There’s a video package highlighting the feud between Big Show and Undertaker over the past several weeks.
The Undertaker makes his way down to the ring on his motorcycle to cut a promo and find out what is inside the wooden crates. Taker stares at the crates and opens the smaller one first. A dog comes out of the crate, but there’s nothing else in the crate. Taker hands the dog to the production team. Taker opens the bigger crate, but Big Show slides into the ring from behind and attacks Taker! Show sends Taker into crate several times and delivers a right hand to drop Taker. Show drives Taker down with a chokeslam! Show leaves Taker laid out. Taker gets up to his feet and the fans applaud Taker.
During the commercial, Big Show is seen screaming in the parking lot saying that he’ll be at No Way Out and he’s not scared of anyone as he got in a car that sped away.
Fourth Contest: Torrie Wilson vs. Nidia in a paddle on a pole match: Nidia knee lifts and strikes Wilson several times. Wilson kicks Nidia in the corner several times. Nidia kicks Wilson in the corner and delivers a clothesline. Nidia elbow drops Wilson, but Wilson kicks Nidia followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Jamie Noble gets on the apron, but Wilson knocks Noble off. Wilson hits a snap suplex on Nidia. Dawn Marie comes out, but is knocked off, too. Noble sneaks back in and powerslams Wilson. Nidia climbs to grab the paddle to win the match. After the match, Nidia uses the paddle on Wilson. Noble holds Wilson and Nidia spanks Wilson with the paddle. Funaki runs down and clotheslines Noble followed by an atomic drop and catapults Noble over the top to the floor. (NR. These matches accomplish nothing and is just eye candy nonsense.)
Backstage, Hulk Hogan is walking to the Rock’s door, but is stopped by security. Hogan says if the Rock doesn’t want to hear what he has to say, then he’ll listen out in the ring.
Hulk Hogan makes his way out to the ring to cut a promo. The Rock joins the segment before Hogan’s music even finishes playing. They have a stare down in the middle of the ring. Rock has something to say to Hogan and asks for water. Rock wants to clear the air and believes an apology is in order. Rock admits some rude, disrespectful things were said and done. Rock thinks Hogan should apologize to him. Hogan is obviously fuming. Rock tells Hogan that he’s said rude things about him and making fun of him. Rock wants Hogan to apologize. Rock reminds Hogan that Hogan called him a Rock-a-jabroni. Rock tells Hogan to know his role and shut his mouth. Rock tells Hogan he was rude to him and should apologize. Rock says that Hogan was worthless until Rock challenged Hogan for WrestleMania last year. Rock is taking credit for the resurgence of Hogan’s career. Rock asks if Hogan is going to apologize to him, yes or no. Hogan says “hell no” and tells Rock he’s not responsible for the resurgence and instead credits the fans. Rock mocks the fans saying they all love Hogan. Rock says Hogan might not remember WrestleMania from last year. Rock puts over their rematch as being the biggest rematch of all-time. Rock thinks Hogan might not remember because he kicked Hogan’s ass so badly. Hogan gets fired up and rips his shirt. Rock says he doesn’t mean what’s he’s saying and is just entertaining. Rock wants to electrify this Sunday like he knows they can. Rock offers a handshake. Hogan approaches to shake hands, but Rock spits water into Hogan’s face and walks up the ramp. Rock mocks Hogan to end the segment.
Backstage, John Cena thanks Brock Lesnar for destroying his knee and now he’s crippled. Cena promises Lesnar will remember his name and he’s out for revenge. Cena is going to keep his eyes on Lesnar. Cena says this is jail and that they are inmates and Lesnar just dropped the soap (which gets an audible laugh from the live crowd).
Kurt Angle has a microphone and asks if Lesnar really wants to go through with it. Lesnar assures that he wants to. Angle says that he never told Lesnar the stipulation to wrestling him tonight. All Lesnar has to do is beat Shelton Benjamin right now. However, in order to wrestle Benjamin he needs to wrestle Charlie Haas.
Main Event: Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle & Smackdown Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin vs. Brock Lesnar in a gauntlet match: Lesnar tosses Haas overhead to kickoff the match. Haas leg sweeps Lesnar and keeps a front face lock on Lesnar for a moment. Haas keeps the front face lock on Lesnar, but is sent with a backdrop. Lesnar shoulder rams Haas in the corner. Lesnar runs into an elbow in the corner and Haas tosses Lesnar with a German suplex. Lesnar decks Haas with a couple of clotheslines. Lesnar shoulder rams Haas followed by clubbing blows in the corner. Lesnar rams Haas into the corner and hip tosses Haas across the ring. Lesnar knee lifts Haas in the corner. Lesnar sends Haas into the corner back first. Lesnar tosses Haas overhead with a suplex. Lesnar sends Haas into the corner again. Lesnar tosses Haas overhead with an other suplex. Lesnar drops Haas with a series of backbreakers and press slams Haas into the F5 to win the first match of the gauntlet. Angle hypes up Benjamin on the floor.
Benjamin slides into a knee lift by Lesnar and an overhand strike followed by an overhead suplex. Lesnar stomps Benjamin in the corner and clubs Benjamin over the back with a forearm. Lesnar tosses Benjamin with an overhead suplex and spits at Angle. Lesnar hooks Benjamin for a suplex and drives Benjamin to the mat. Benjamin dropkicks Lesnar on the knee and delivers a kick to the face. Benjamin stomps Lesnar in the corner and works over Lesnar’s left arm over the bottom rope. Benjamin delivers an arm breaker. Benjamin keeps Lesnar on the mat with an arm bar. Benjamin presses his arm into Lesnar’s arm and keeps arm control. Benjamin stomps the arm several times. Benjamin slaps Lesnar and locks in an arm bar, but doesn’t get a submission. Benjamin knee drops Lesnar with arm control and puts an arm bar on Lesnar. Benjamin stomps Lesnar on the mat and keeps arm control on the mat with an arm bar. Benjamin tries to get a submission, but Lesnar refuses to submit. Lesnar gets to his feet and powerbombs Benjamin with one arm. Lesnar decks Benjamin with a couple of clotheslines and shoulder rams Benjamin in the corner. Lesnar tosses Benjamin overhead with a suplex. Lesnar knee lifts Benjamin before delivering another overhead suplex. Angle gets on the apron to distract Lesnar. Benjamin tries for a superkick, but Lesnar counters and clotheslines Benjamin. Lesnar hits an Angle Slam and pins Benjamin for the win of the second fall. Angle is panicking on the floor with Heyman. Lesnar is grinning as Angle prepares on the ramp.
Angle marches towards the ring as Lesnar waits in the ring. Angle is ready as the bell sounds. Heyman enters and whacks Lesnar over the back with a chair shot. The referee calls for the bell. Lesnar tackles Heyman, but Angle puts a choke on Lesnar. Lesnar tosses Angle over the top to the floor to break free. Lesnar grabs Heyman and tries for the F5, but Angle chop blocks Lesnar. Lesnar is beaten down on the mat as Team Angle pummels Lesnar with strikes and stomps. Angle puts an ankle lock on Lesnar as Haas and Benjamin taunt Lesnar. Edge and Chris Benoit finally make their way out to make the save and brawl with Team Angle. (**1/2. It’s a good story, and I don’t mind the bait and switch. We can’t be getting Angle vs. Lesnar on free TV. Heyman getting involved puts more heat on Angle and is building to that showdown even more. Lesnar plowing through Team Angle wasn’t a shocker by any means, but I noticeably cared about Benjamin more than Haas and thought their segment was better. Anyway, a good match that is arguably more of a segment to hype up the Mania showdown.)
Final Thoughts:
Surprisingly, Smackdown didn’t focus on great in-ring wrestling this week and they spent a lot of time focusing on the angles. They did it better than RAW tends to do, so the show flew by regardless of the lack of standout wrestling. Smackdown has more compelling stories and are using their talent a lot better than RAW. So, while Smackdown is an average show this week, I still felt like it was a worthwhile viewing experience.
Thanks for reading.