World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 2/22/2003
From: Indianapolis, IN
Matches:
1.) WWE Cruiserweight Champion Billy Kidman defeated Shannon Moore in a non-title match
2.) Bill DeMott defeated Funaki
3.) Chuck Palumbo & Nunzio defeated Johnny Jeter & Nova
4.) Los Guerreros (Eddie & Chavo) defeated Smackdown Tag Team Champions Team Angle (Haas & Benjamin) by count-out in a non-title match
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Moore elbows Kidman to get out of a waist lock and delivers a few strikes. Kidman ducks a clothesline and head scissors Moore. Kidman punches Moore in the corner, but is dropped over the top rope chest first. Moore plants Kidman with a back suplex for a two count. Moore forearms Kidman on the lower back followed by a suplex for a two count. Moore sends Kidman into the corner back first. Moore rams Kidman into the corner back first and taunts Kidman on the mat before getting a two count. Moore presses his knee into Kidman’s back and pulls back on his arms, but doesn’t get a submission. Moore strikes Kidman and sends Kidman into the corner. Kidman boots Moore followed by a few clotheslines. Kidman drops Moore over his knee with a backbreaker for a near fall. Kidman sends Moore into the corner chest first, but Moore hits a springboard back elbow for a near fall. Kidman counters a suplex with a cradle for a two count. Moore kicks Kidman and slams the champ. Moore heads to the middle rope missing a senton splash. Kidman plants Moore with a spinebuster. Kidman heads to the top rope hitting the Shooting Star Press for the win. (**1/2. A solid match with consistent action. The match makes a lot of sense considering Kidman’s upcoming match with Matt Hardy tomorrow night at No Way Out. I like when Velocity gets worthwhile matches.) After the match, Moore has a little bit of a temper tantrum.
2.) DeMott avoids a quick attack by Funaki, but Funaki dropkicks DeMott getting into the ring. DeMott works over Funaki with several strikes. DeMott elbows Funaki coming off the ropes. Funaki kicks DeMott on the side of the head. Funaki strikes DeMott in the corner. DeMott misses a splash in the corner. Funaki drops DeMott with a bulldog for a two count. DeMott plants Funaki with a back suplex. DeMott nails Funaki with crossface strikes. Funaki stops DeMott with a jawbreaker and tries for a crucifix, but DeMott hits a Samoan Drop. DeMott heads to the top rope missing an elbow drop. Funaki climbs to the top rope hitting a crossbody for a near fall. DeMott cuts Funaki off with a clothesline. DeMott drives Funaki down with a vicious powerbomb to win the match. (*1/2. I’m not sure why, but I’m sold on DeMott as a potential bully heel on Velocity. I’d almost rather DeMott get a push rather than A-Train has gotten over the past several months.)
3.) Nunzio and Nova kickoff the tag match. Nova takes Nunzio down to the mat with a waist lock, but they counter each other. Nunzio backs Nova into a corner and misses a strike. Nova arm drags Nunzio and tags in Jeter. Jeter keeps wrist control and strikes Nunzio over the arm. Nova tags in and stomps Nunzio on the arm. Nova returns to the match, but Nunzio forearms Nova only to be arm dragged to the mat again. Nunzio yanks Nova down by the hair and tags in Palumbo. Palumbo strikes Nova in the corner several times followed by stomps. Nova avoids a slam and head scissors Palumbo. Nova dropkicks Palumbo into the ropes. Nova elbows Nunzio off the apron, but Palumbo drops Nova with a Samoan Drop. Nunzio stomps on Nova in the corner as the referee is distracted. Nunzio hits a middle rope leg drop over Nova’s neck for a two count. Nova is sent into Palumbo, who hits a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Palumbo drops Nova with a discus punch. Nunzio returns to the match and keeps Nova on the mat with an arm bar. Nunzio strikes the shoulder of Nova, but can’t get a submission. Nova forearms Nunzio followed by a kick to the head. Palumbo tags into the match and Jeter gets tagged into the match. Jeter dropkicks Palumbo on the knee followed by a spin kick. Jeter punches Nunzio in the corner, but turns into a superkick by Palumbo leading to the three count. (*. The crowd didn’t seem interested in this one at all. Nova didn’t do anything of interest and looked like an average wrestler look wise. Jeter is a promising OVW wrestler and he sold well for the few moves he took from Palumbo.)
4.) Haas and Eddie kickoff the main event with Eddie getting control on the mat for a moment before a standoff. Eddie leg sweeps Haas to the mat and they have a test of strength. Eddie leg sweeps Haas, but Haas responds with a leg sweep for a one count. Haas puts a wrist lock on Eddie, but Eddie kips up and dropkicks Haas. Eddie forearms Haas and rams Haas into the corner. Eddie holds Haas for Chavo to deliver a slingshot dropkick to Haas ribs. Chavo rams Haas into the corner and delivers a back suplex. Eddie slingshot senton splashes Haas for a two count. Eddie rams Haas into the corner and tags in Chavo. Chavo dropkicks a seated Haas for a two count. Haas elbows Chavo coming off the ropes. Chavo drop toe holds Benjamin and delivers a few uppercuts in the corner. Eddie chokes Benjamin while the referee is distracted. Chavo uppercuts Benjamin in the corner several times and clotheslines Haas off the apron. Chavo sends Benjamin into the corner, but misses a splash. Benjamin clotheslines Chavo and stomps Chavo on the mat. Benjamin kicks Chavo to the floor. Haas strikes Chavo over the back and rolls Chavo into the ring. Benjamin tries for a cover, but Chavo kicks out. Chavo uppercuts Benjamin, but is met with a boot to the midsection. Haas elbow drops Chavo followed by strikes on the mat. Haas sends Chavo into the corner, but is met with a boot. Haas tosses Chavo overhead with a suplex for a two count as Eddie breaks the cover. Benjamin snap suplexs Chavo for a two count. Haas returns to the match and clubs Chavo over the back followed by shoulder rams. Chavo fights out of the corner and tries to tag in Eddie, but is stopped by Haas. Benjamin elbow drops Chavo on the back, but Chavo uppercuts Benjamin. Chavo dropkicks Benjamin and tags in Eddie. Eddie cleans house with clotheslines and strikes on the champions. Eddie backdrops Haas and dropkicks Benjamin to the floor. Eddie suplexs Haas and holds on to deliver several suplexs to Haas. Eddie tries for a cover, but Benjamin makes the save. Chavo backdrops Benjamin over the top to the floor. Haas comes off the ropes and is met with a double elbow strike. Chavo spikes Haas with a tornado DDT. Benjamin pulls Haas out of the ring to avoid the frog splash by Eddie. Haas and Benjamin walk up the aisle and take a count-out loss. (**. It’s a big main event for Velocity standards even if it’s non-title. It would have been foolish to think these two teams would go nuts on Velocity. They put on an average match and didn’t go over the top. With the finish it felt like a 1980s WWF finish, and I don’t mind it in this situation.)
Final Thoughts:
A good episode of Velocity to give a few feuds last minute focus and we got a couple of entertaining matches for the hour program.
Thanks for reading.