World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 2/27/2003
From: London, Ontario, Canada
Mr. McMahon makes his way out to the ring to kickoff the show. McMahon screwed over Hulk Hogan at No Way Out this past Sunday. McMahon has some bad news, but also some good news. McMahon announces that the Rock will not be at the arena. Rock has earned the right to go to whichever show he wants to go to whenever he wants and has chosen to go to RAW. McMahon announces the good news that Hogan will not be at the arena either. McMahon says that Hogan is using the excuse of a family emergency. Hogan believes there’s only one reason why Hogan isn’t there tonight and it’s because Hogan is a coward and is afraid of McMahon. McMahon warns that you don’t screw with him as the fans are chanting for Hogan loudly. McMahon insists you don’t screw with him and instead he screws with Hogan. McMahon brags about screwing over Hogan at No Way Out. McMahon describes what happened at the PPV. McMahon declares that McMahonamania is running wild.
Opening Contest: Jamie Noble & Nidia vs. Funaki & Torrie Wilson: Funaki and Noble kickoff the tag match. Noble snapmares Funaki followed by a shoulder block. Funaki hip tosses and dropkicks Noble. Funaki works over Noble with strikes in the corner. Noble stops Funaki with a neckbreaker and stomps Funaki on the mat. Noble forearms Funaki to the mat. Noble rams Funaki into Nidia’s boot in the corner. Noble slams Funaki and Nidia enters to leg drop Funaki followed by stomps on the mat. Nidia delivers a standing double stomp and Noble returns to the match. Noble kicks Funaki and Nidia holds Funaki. Funaki slams Nidia into the ring from the apron. Funaki catapults Noble into Nidia in the corner and hits a bulldog for a near fall. Funaki elbows Noble in the corner and sits on the top turnbuckle. They collide on a double clothesline. Nidia tags into the match and heads to the top rope missing a big splash on Funaki. Wilson enters into the ring and clotheslines Nidia. Wilson tosses Nidia across the ring. Wilson rams Nidia into the corner followed by a kick to the midsection. Wilson elbows Nidia and kicks Noble away. Wilson slaps Noble a couple of times. Nidia throws Wilson to the mat. Wilson bails to the floor and tries to escape Noble. Funaki baseball slides Noble and hits a crossbody to the floor. Wilson drops Nidia with a side Russian leg sweep for a two count. Nidia is sent into Dawn Marie on the apron and Wilson rolls Nidia up for the win. (*1/2. Not a bad mixed tag match and the crowd responded well to the action.)
Smackdown GM Stephanie McMahon makes her way out to provide an announcement. McMahon say that a Smackdown Diva will be in Playboy doing a full nude pictorial. Stephanie teases the fans if they want to see what is underneath their clothing and lingerie. Stephanie teased she’ll be in Playboy. Instead, Stephanie announces that Torrie Wilson will be in next months issue of Playboy. Dawn Marie and Nidia are not thrilled about this announcement. Torrie is thrilled.
During the break, Torrie Wilson met up with Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie says that Wilson will be shooting the cover next week. Brian Kendrick meets up with Stephanie and says he was trying to prove how badly he wanted a job on Smackdown. Kendrick wants to wrestle Kurt Angle tonight to prove he wants a job. Stephanie doesn’t take Kendrick seriously, but tells Kendrick if he can last five minutes with Angle then he’ll be the newest addition to Smackdown. Kendrick freaks out with excitement.
Second Contest: Eddie Guerrero vs. Nunzio: Guerrero puts a headlock on Nunzio and takes Nunzio down to the mat. Nunzio counters and they have a standoff. Guerrero shoulder blocks Nunzio for a two count and forearms Nunzio into the ropes. Guerrero dropkicks Nunzio coming off the ropes. Guerrero kicks Nunzio in the midsection and arm drags Nunzio across the ring,. Nunzio sends Guerrero chest first into the corner. Nunzio shoulder rams Guerrero in the corner followed by stomps. Guerrero is tripped by Palumbo and Nunzio stomps Guerrero over the back for a two count. Nunzio chokes Guerrero on the mat and eye gouges Guerrero. Nunzio tries for a cover, but manages a near fall. Nunzio controls Guerrero with a sleeper. Guerrero elbows Nunzio and knee strikes Guerrero in the corner followed by a middle rope leg drop for a two count. Guerrero drops Nunzio with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Guerrero pummels Nunzio in the corner with right hands. Nunzio kicks Guerrero, but Guerrero plants Nunzio with an electric chair slam for a near fall. Guerrero tosses Nunzio with an overhead suplex for a two count. Guerrero leaps off the top, but rolls through. Nunzio tries for an inside cradle, but Guerrero counters with a rollup to win the match. After the match, Palumbo and Stamboli attack Eddie and Chavo until Rikishi comes down and makes the save. (*1/2. The action was a bit awkward because of the size difference. Nunzio is best used in the Cruiserweight division and strictly being used in that division.)
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon meets with Paul Heyman. Stephanie talks about the match tonight where Lesnar makes his own stipulation for next week. Lesnar will have a steel cage match next week with any member of Team Angle should he win tonight against Team Angle. Heyman isn’t a fan of this development, but is kicked out of her office.
Footage from No Way Out where Edge was attacked backstage and has suffered a serious neck injury.
Backstage, Chris Benoit tells Brock Lesnar that Kurt Angle may act like an idiot, but he know what he’s doing. Benoit warns Lesnar that Kurt will do whatever it takes to retain the championship. Benoit knows Team Angle is behind what happened to Edge. Benoit knows that Edge will be out of action for a year. Benoit hypes up Lesnar’s opportunity to win tonight and get a chance at one of the members of Team Angle in a cage next week. Benoit says Angle isn’t the only man who has friends around here. Benoit knocks on the door and asks if the person is ready and he’ll see them at ringside. Looks like Benoit has some backup.
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy cuts a promo in the ring and thanks for their support during his crash diet to make weight. Hardy celebrates being the new Cruiserweight Champion. Hardy mentions Edge being out with a neck injury and likely being out for a year. Hardy wishes Edge well on his road to recovery. Hardy makes a couple of jokes, but Benoit makes his way out to cutoff Hardy. Benoit’s partner is revealed as being… Rhyno! Rhyno is back from injury!
Third Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy & Shannon Moore vs. Chris Benoit & Rhyno: Rhyno decks Moore with a clothesline and works over Moore with right hands and stomps. Rhyno nails Moore with a spear in the corner and tags in Benoit. Benoit nails Moore with a forearm strike and a snap suplex. Benoit knocks Hardy off the apron. Moore is sent into the corner chest first, but Hardy trips Benoit from the floor. Benoit is double teamed in the corner. Hardy works over Benoit with strikes in the corner. Benoit elbows Hardy in the corner. Hardy plants Benoit with the Side Effect for a near fall. Hardy elbows Benoit followed by a leg drop and mounts Benoit to deliver right hands. Moore tags in and works over Benoit with strikes over the back. Moore drives Benoit down with a back suplex for a two count. Moore hits a snap suplex on Benoit for a two count. Moore keeps Benoit on the mat with a chin lock. Hardy tags into the match and Benoit is double teamed in the corner. Moore misses a splash in the corner. Benoit tosses Hardy with a German suplex. Rhyno gets the hot tag and cleans house with strikes on both Moore and Hardy. Rhyno backdrops Moore and plants Hardy with a spinebuster. Rhyno counters a spinning heel kick by Moore by hitting a running powerslam. Benoit leaps off the top to hit a diving headbutt on Moore. Hardy knocks Benoit to the floor, but Hardy is met with the GORE! Rhyno covers and pins Hardy for the win! (**. Rhyno looks to be in fantastic shape and is 100% after being out for 16-months due to a neck injury suffered in late 2001. I wasn’t expecting such a strong response from the crowd, but they love Rhyno. This was a fun segment and match.)
Footage from last week where Nathan Jones said he had unfinished business with the biggest dog in the yard. We see Undertaker getting on his motorcycle to head to the ring.
The Undertaker makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Undertaker says that A-Train is trying to get his attention. Taker says that Train got his attention on Sunday. Taker warns there was consequences for the actions. Taker declares it is time to shut up and fight. A-Train makes his way out to join the segment. Paul Heyman has joined A-Train and has a microphone. Heyman says Undertaker used an illegal chokehold at No Way Out on his favorite client. Heyman reveals he’s signed A-Train and considers Train to be his own phenom. Heyman reminds us all the guys he’s currently the agent for. Big Show’s music hits and Show makes his way out and is selling his neck for the illegal chokehold. Show, Train and Heyman slowly make their way to the ring as Taker prepares to fight. Taker fights off Train with a big boot and strikes Show in the corner. Show decks Taker with a clothesline. Show delivers a chokeslam to Taker. Train hits a middle rope splash. Show grabs a steel chair, but Nathan Jones comes out and makes the save knocking Show off the apron. Jones scares Train with several wild kicks and stumbles. Jones stands tall and is freaking out. Taker gets to his feet and the heels return to the ring. Train tries for a chokebomb, but Jones avoids it and scares Train with more wild kicks. The heels leave the ringside area a second time. (I think the heels came back out for editing purposes, but they didn’t edit it out?)
Fourth Contest: Chuck Palumbo vs. Rikishi: Rikishi works over Palumbo in the corner with strikes. Palumbo knee lifts Rikishi followed by right hands. Palumbo ducks a clothesline, but is sent over the top to the floor. Rikishi clotheslines Palumbo and continues with strikes against the ropes. Palumbo clubs Rikishi over the back and delivers a big boot for a near fall. Rikishi hits a Samoan Drop and savant kicks Palumbo to the mat. Rikishi tosses Nunzio into the ring and savant kicks Palumbo. Nunzio has a pipe and hits Chavo Guerrero with it. Nunzio whacks Eddie Guerrero on the back of the knee. Rikishi splashes Palumbo in the corner. Rikishi tries for the Bonzai Drop, but Nunzio hits Rikishi with the pipe. Stamboli powerbombs Rikishi off the middle rope as the referee called for the bell. Rikishi wins by disqualification. (*. The action wasn’t going bad and I could get behind a six man tag between these two teams as long as it’s a TV match and not going to be a focus for PPV.)
Backstage, John Cena raps about watching Brock Lesnar on the internet. Cena insists that hell make Lesnar bleed and he’s the next big thing. Cena notes that Lesnar stole his brass ring. Cena reveals that his finishing move is called the FU.
Fifth Contest: Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle vs. Brian Kendrick in a five minute challenge: Angle drops to his knees to start off with some mat wrestling. Kendrick tries to get any momentum, but Angle easily rolls through and mounts Kendrick. Angle has his eyes closed and arms behind his back while on his knees. Kendrick nails Angle with a kick to the face. Angle tosses Kendrick with an overhead belly to belly suplex and pummels Kendrick in the corner with right hands. Angle knocks Kendrick off the top turnbuckle with a strike and Kendrick crashes to the floor. Angle drops Kendrick over the railing chest first. Angle puts the ankle lock on Kendrick but quickly lets go of the hold. Angle decks Kendrick with a clothesline. Angle drops Kendrick to the mat instead of doing the Angle Slam. Angle chokes Kendrick over the middle rope. Angle pummels Kendrick over the middle rope. Kendrick elbows Angle and ducks a clothesline. Kendrick drops Angle over his knee face first for a one count. Kendrick kicks Angle on the side of the head. Angle misses a spear and hits the ring post. Kendrick drop toe holds Angle and almost hits the Slice Bread. Angle avoids it and nails Kendrick with a vicious clothesline. Kendrick forearms Angle several times, but Angle hits the Olympic Slam and covers Kendrick to win the match with two-seconds left on the clock. (***. That was great and Kendrick nearly winning on several occasions got the crowd to buy into the action. Angle gave Kendrick a ton more than he needed to and it’s an amazing opportunity for Kendrick to showcase himself and be a member of the roster despite the loss. Kendrick would be a great addition to the Cruiserweight division.) After the match, Kendrick can’t believe he was only two-seconds away from getting a contract on Smackdown. Kurt Angle grabs a microphone and insists that Team Angle had nothing to do with the demise of Edge at No Way Out. Angle tells Kendrick to standup and apologizes when he realizes he is standing up. Angle admits that Kendrick has guts, but doesn’t think Kendrick will make it in the business. Angle raises Kendrick’s arm and delivers a vicious clothesline saying it is for Lesnar. Angle stomps Kendrick on the mat before tossing Kendrick to the floor. Angle sends Kendrick into the ring steps and Kendrick flips over the steps. Angle rams Kendrick into the ring post. Angle taunts Lesnar by hitting the F5 in the middle of the ring.
Sylvan Grenier, who was the personally selected referee for Rock vs. Hogan at No Way Out, makes his way out to the ring. Grenier speaks in French at first. Grenier introduces the footage from No Way Out where Rock pinned Hogan due to Hogan getting screwed by McMahon and the lights getting turned off. Grenier slid a chair to Rock allowing for a chair shot to Hogan’s head. Rock pinned Hogan after the Rock Bottom. Grenier remains in the ring after the footage and casually waves to end the segment. (Grenier was a bit awkward in delivery.)
Footage from No Way Out is shown where Hulk Hogan ran into Stephanie McMahon and told her to tell her father he’s going to beat the living hell out of Vince McMahon.
Backstage, Paul Heyman is with Team Angle and tells them Brock Lesnar will never stop chasing the title as long as Angle is the champion. Heyman knew they needed more to protect the title from Lesnar and that’s where Haas and Benjamin came into the picture. Heyman says that Lesnar wants to break through the unit and get the title off Angle. Haas and Benjamin promise they will not let it happen.
Backstage, Brock Lesnar is preparing for the main event.
Main Event: Smackdown Tag Team Champions Team Angle (Haas & Benjamin) vs. Brock Lesnar in a handicap match: Lesnar and Haas kickoff the match with Lesnar shoving Haas to the mat to kickoff the match. Haas responds with strikes in the corner followed by stomps to the chest. Lesnar knee lifts Haas and shoulder rams Haas in the corner several times. Lesnar hip tosses Haas out of the corner across the ring. Lesnar runs into an elbow in the corner. Lesnar delivers a backbreaker and fallaway slams Haas. Lesnar knee lifts Haas and sends Haas hard into the corner where Benjamin tags into the match. Lesnar overhead suplexs Benjamin and clubs Benjamin over the back several times. Benjamin fights back with right hands, but is stopped by Lesnar. Lesnar drives Benjamin into the corner to avoid a DDT attempt. Lesnar shoulder rams and knee lifts Benjamin. Lesnar rams Benjamin into the corner and delivers a shoulder ram. Lesnar shoulder rams Benjamin again in the corner. Lesnar runs into a knee strike in the corner. Haas clotheslines Lesnar over the top to the floor. Heyman stomps Lesnar to get cheap shots in. Benjamin stomps Lesnar on the mat several times. Benjamin strikes Lesnar in the corner, but is tossed away. Lesnar decks Benjamin with a clothesline. Lesnar clubs Benjamin over the back with strikes. Lesnar chops Benjamin, but is tripped by Angle on the floor. Lesnar chases Angle and gets his hands on Angle until Benjamin baseball slides Lesnar. Haas sends Lesnar into the ring post face first. Heyman whacks Lesnar over the back with a chair shot. Benjamin tries for a cover, but only gets a two count.
Haas sends Lesnar chest first into the corner and puts Lesnar in a tree of woe. Haas stomps Lesnar in the corner and tags in Benjamin to continue the attack with a baseball slide. Haas delivers a back suplex and covers Lesnar for a two count. Haas keeps Lesnar on the mat with a body scissors. Lesnar gets to his feet with Haas on his back and gets to a corner. Lesnar climbs to the middle rope and jumps backward to break free from Haas. Benjamin gets tagged into the match and Lesnar decks Benjamin with several clotheslines. Lesnar sends Haas into Benjamin and hits an overhead suplex. Lesnar knocks Angle off the apron. Benjamin superkicks Lesnar as Haas hits a German suplex for a near fall. Benjamin rams the back of Lesnar’s head onto the mat. Benjamin and Haas double team Lesnar in the corner. Lesnar shoves Haas and Benjamin away. Lesnar tries for the F5 on Haas, but Benjamin makes the save. Haas is knocked to the floor and Lesnar hits the F5 on Benjamin to pickup the clean win. After the match, Kurt Angle can’t believe it. Lesnar grabs Heyman and tries for the F5, but Angle slides into the ring and chop blocks Lesnar to save Heyman. Lesnar grabs a microphone and brags about beating Haas and Benjamin. Lesnar mentions that he can pick anyone on Team Angle to be in a steel cage with him. Lesnar reveals the team member that he picks for a steel cage match next week is… Paul Heyman! Kurt Angle has a relieved smirk on his face and backs off as Heyman is left stunned. (***. As expected this was a good match. Team Angle is great and they add so much to the show. The depth on Smackdown is nuts.)
Final Thoughts:
On paper the action looks a little weaker than normal, but it was actually still a strong showing for Smackdown. Rhyno had a successful return to the promotion and they touched on the feuds fairly well throughout the program. I enjoyed the show and it showed they don’t need to rely on heavy on matches to produce an entertaining show. Smackdown is well rounded and the best brand.
Thanks for reading.