World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 3/27/2003
From: San Jose, CA
Opening Contest: WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy & Shannon Moore vs. Rey Mysterio & Brian Kendrick: Moore and Kendrick kickoff the match with Moore working over Kendrick hitting a snap suplex for a two count. Kendrick forearms Moore followed by chops. Mysterio dropkicks Moore on the back allowing Kendrick to hit a hurricanrana. Kendrick swings Moore by his legs and Mysterio delivers a dropkick for a two count. Mysterio sends Kendrick into the corner, but is met with a boot. Hardy tags into the match and Mysterio kips up. They shove each other and Mysterio strikes Hardy. Mysterio dropkicks a seated Hardy for a near fall. Kendrick tags back into the match and Hardy is sent chest first into the corner. Kendrick sunset flips Hardy for a near fall. Hardy powerbombs Kendrick as Moore leaps off the middle rope to drive Kendrick to the mat for a near fall. Moore returns to the match and stomps Kendrick followed by a back suplex for a two count. Hardy tags in and rams Kendrick into the corner. Kendrick boots Hardy, but Hardy stops Kendrick with a Space Mountain Bomb for a near fall. Moore returns to the match and pummels Kendrick followed by a snap suplex for a two count. Kendrick delivers a facebuster over his knee. Hardy tags in and misses an elbow drop. Mysterio hits a springboard splash on Hardy. Mysterio dropkicks Hardy on the knee followed by a springboard leg drop for a two count as Moore makes the save. Mysterio sends Moore to the floor. Mysterio tags in Kendrick and Kendrick plants Hardy with a springboard tornado DDT for a near fall. Mysterio is pulled to the floor by Moore. Mysterio head scissors Hardy to the floor. Moore nails Kendrick with a spinning heel kick. Kendrick kicks Moore and hits the Slice Bread. Hardy manages to hit two Twist of Fates for the win. (**. Hardy had to do his finisher twice because he lost the hold on Kendrick and it looked weird. It’s a solid match, and I wasn’t expecting Kendrick to take the fall. I thought Moore would be taking the fall to give Mysterio some momentum or Kendrick momentum for after Mania.) After the match, Mysterio dropkicks Moore and dumps Hardy to the floor. Mysterio nails Moore with the 619 followed by the West Coast Pop. Hardy returns and hits the Twist of Fate to leave Mysterio laying. Hardy delivers a second Twist of Fate on Mysterio.
Backstage, Hulk Hogan has arrived to the arena with Jimmy Hart and his son Nick Hogan. Hulk goes to take care of something.
Second Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champion Charlie Haas vs. Eddie Guerrero: Guerrero gets a one count after a takedown. Haas leg sweeps Guerrero for a one count. Guerrero head scissors Haas into the corner. Guerrero dropkicks Haas coming off the ropes. Guerrero shoulder blocks Haas and continues with forearm strikes against the ropes. Haas drops Guerrero over the top rope and delivers an arm breaker. Haas stomps Guerrero to the floor. Haas rams Guerrero shoulder first into the ring post a couple of times. Guerrero arm drags Haas, but is met with a clothesline for a near fall. Haas lifts Guerrero up by his arm a couple of times leading to a two count. Haas keeps arm control on the mat, but Guerrero doesn’t submit. Haas presses his knee into Guerrero’s back. Guerrero gets to his feet and hits a back suplex. Haas misses a splash in the corner and trades strikes with Guerrero. Guerrero jabs Haas several times. Guerrero backdrops Haas followed by a clothesline. Guerrero knocks Haas into the ropes. Guerrero gets a rollup on Haas for a two count. Guerrero sends Haas into the corner. Haas drops Guerrero chest first over the top turnbuckle. Haas hits a bridging supelx for a near fall. Guerrero delivers a knee, but Haas yanks Guerrero to the mat by his arm. Guerrero manages to counter Haas with a rollup and pins Haas for the win. (*1/2. This was a bit boring as they were kind of repetitive with their spots. They kept it basic, which is fine, but it didn’t hold my interest.)
Backstage, Josh Matthews meets with John Cena. Cena says he’s here for one reason and his target is Brock Lesnar. Cena is going to call out Lesnar.
Backstage, Brock Lesnar is walking when Josh Matthews tells Lesnar that John Cena is calling him out tonight. Lesnar says Cena can do whatever he wants beause he’s focusing on winning the title at WrestleMania.
Backstage, Undertaker walks up to Nathan Jones about his match. Jones says he just had the match and reveals that he’s laid out Chuck Palumbo already. Taker says Jones will wrestle at WrestleMania and walks off telling Jones why what he did is a little bit wrong.
A video package promoting McMahon vs. Hogan is shown where Vince is working out in the gym with Shane McMahon hyping Vince up throughout the workout.
Backstage, Jamie Noble and Nidia are walking. They walk by the Playboy poster of Torrie Wilson. Nidia is pissed about being picked over. Nidia asks Noble who is prettier and Noble doesn’t quickly say Nidia, which makes her mad. Nidia promises to rip Torrie’s face apart and make Torrie ugly.
Third Contest: Nidia vs. Torrie Wilson: Nidia attacks Wilson as Noble distracted Wilson. Nidia sends Wilson through the ropes to the floor. Nidia grabs a steel chair, but Wilson baseball slides the chair into Nidia’s face. Wilson rolls Nidia into the ring for a near fall. Wilson chops Nidia before yanking Nidia to the mat for a near fall. Noble trips Wilson from the floor and Nidia dropkicks Wilson for a near fall. Nidia rams Wilson face first onto the mat a few times. Nidia forearms Wilson followed by an uppercut. Nidia runs into a boot in the corner. Wilson hits a swinging neckbreaker, but Noble distracts the referee. Nidia nearly wins with an inside cradle. Nidia strikes Wilson over the back. Wilson delivers a tornado DDT for the win. (1/2*. It’s better than doing bikini contests, I guess)
Backstage, Big Show and A-Train are walking when Nathan Jones walks up. Train and Show tell Jones their issue is for WrestleMania and they know Jones won’t do anything without Taker. Show says the term down under has a new meaning since Jones went to prison.
A vignette of Sean O’Haire is shown where O’Haire tells us to eat whatever we want.
Fourth Contest: A-Train & Big Show vs. Chris Benoit & Rhyno: Rhyno and Train kickoff the tag match. Train backs Rhyno into the ropes and gains control in the corner. Train misses a strike and Rhyno pummels Train with several punches and stomps. Train gains the advantage with strikes and knee lifts. Rhyno elbows Train followed by chops. Rhyno spears Train in the corner followed by strikes over the back. Benoit strikes Train against the ropes. Benoit chops Train against the ropes. Train shoulder blocks Benoit and misses a big splash. Train tries for a press slam, but settles for an elbow. Show enters the match and traps Benoit in the corner. Show tosses Benoit into the corner a couple of times. Benoit delivers a few chops and counters a chokeslam. Show runs through Benoit with a clothesline. Show sends Benoit into the corner and delivers an overhand chop. Show stands on Benoit over the bottom rope. Show tosses Benoit across the ring. Show overhand chops Benoit in the corner. Benoit chops Show, but is met with a knee lift. Show chokes Benoit on the mat. Show headbutts Benoit into the corner and tags in Train. Train delivers a backbreaker and strikes Benoit to the mat. Train stomps Benoit on the mat. Train sends Benoit chest first into the corner and puts on a reverse full nelson. Train then drops to his knees. Train pulls Benoit to the corner and misses a splash as Benoit got his knees up. Benoit drop toe holds Train into the corner and delivers a German suplex. Rhyno gets the hot tag and cleans house with strikes. Rhyno clotheslines Train and rams Show into the corner. Show boots Benoit to the floor as Rhyno hit a belly to belly suplex on Train. Show decks Rhyno to the floor. Nathan Jones runs out and attacks both Show and Train to cause a disqualification. Show nails Jones with a clothesline and several strikes. Undertaker runs down to the ring and makes the save. Jones clotheslines Train to the floor while Taker punches Show to the floor. (**. A decent tag match, but the involvement by Jones was not a surprise. I’m enjoying Benoit and Rhyno working as a team.)
Backstage, Smackdown World Champion Kurt Angle is looking for Brock Lesnar.
Hulk Hogan makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Hogan agrees with a sign that reads McMahon fears Hulkamania. Hogan has had a business relationship for twenty years with McMahon and notes he never knew him. Hogan has seen McMahon do some illegal things, but never realized how mentally twisted McMahon truly is. Hogan admits that McMahon may be a genius, but he’s an evil genius. Hogan recalls what happened at No Way Out where Hogan was screwed over in his match against Rock. Hogan realized later that it was an evil plan by McMahon. Hogan should have been better prepared for last week knowing McMahon wouldn’t have signed a contract with him. Hogan didn’t think McMahon would stoop so low last week. Hogan mentions that McMahon forced Hogan to sign the contract in his own blood. Hogan agreed to have a street fight with McMahon, but Hogan doesn’t know the evil man. Hogan asks if he should have put his career on the line at WrestleMania. Hogan is a man of his word and will put his career on the line. Hogan knows this will not be his last time on Smackdown. Hogan knows it will not be his last match. Hogan knows he can beat McMahon in a fight. Hogan says the fight has been brewing for twenty years and will be a fight we’ve never seen before. We’ll see a Hogan we’ve never seen before. Hogan promises he will leave McMahon laying in a pool of his own blood.
Fifth Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin vs. Chavo Guerrero: Guerrero gets a waist lock on Benjamin for a moment. Benjamin gets out of a cover attempt quickly and they have a standoff. Benjamin works over Guerrero with strikes in the corner. Guerrero uppercuts Benjamin and head scissors Benjamin to the mat followed by a dropkick. Guerrero dropkicks a kneeling Benjamin for a two count. Guerrero strikes Benjamin against the ropes. Benjamin misses a clothesline and drives Guerrero to the mat chest first followed by a chop block. Benjamin stomps on Guerrero’s knee and delivers a leg drop. Benjamin knee drops Guerrero on the mat and wrenches on Chavo’s leg for a moment. Benjamin works over Guerrero in the corner with right hands. Haas decks Guerrero from the apron and Eddie chases Haas around the ring for a moment. Benjamin drives Guerrero’s knee down to the mat. Benjamin locks in a modified figure four. Guerrero reaches the ropes to break the hold. Benjamin drops Guerrero with a knee breaker and goes back to a modified figure four. Guerrero kicks Benjamin followed by strikes. Guerrero nearly wins with an inside cradle. Benjamin dropkicks Guerrero on the knee. Benjamin continues to wrench on Guerrero’s knee. Benjamin leg drops Guerrero on the knee. Guerrero almost wins with a rollup. Guerrero nails Benjamin with a kick to the head for a near fall. Guerrero sunset flips Benjamin, but Haas holds Benjamin until Eddie pulls Haas off and sends Haas into the post. Benjamin keeps control with strikes to Chavo’s back. Guerrero drop toe holds Benjamin and gets a rollup for the win. After the match, Team Angle hit Los Guerreros with the tag titles. Benoit and Rhyno enter the ring and take out Team Angle with a Crossface and GORE! (*. Chavo is not all that entertaining competing in a singles role. It’s not that he’s not good in the ring, but he’s just not entertaining. This felt slow and a bit boring, similar to the other bout.)
Backstage, John Cena is getting ready.
Backstage, Kurt Angle meets Brock Lesnar in his locker room. They stare at each other for a moment. Kurt never wanted to admit that they’re very much alike, more so than Lesnar will ever know. They are champions and both winners. Kurt says Lesnar is a kid, a rookie. Kurt knows Lesnar has a bright future. However, Lesnar’s life will never be the same at WrestleMania. Kurt believes their match will raise the bar and wrestling will never be the same. Kurt thinks they both know they are the best the business has to offer. Kurt is okay if Lesnar ends his career at WrestleMania because he’s done it all. Angle notes it is his fourth Mania, but it is Lesnar’s first and may be his last. Angle asks if Lesnar is willing to put his life and career on the line for one match. Kurt isn’t going into the match half speed. He’s going into it with everything he has. Kurt will not think twice about hurting or ending Lesnar’s career and he wanted to tell Lesnar to his face. Lesnar tells Kurt he has a lot of courage to come in there after what Kurt did to him last week. Lesnar agrees they will raise the bar at Mania and says he’s doing the same as Kurt. Lesnar can live with Mania being his final match, too. Lesnar says the belt around Angle’s waist is worth it to him. Lesnar admits he’s a big freaking kid, but at WrestleMania he’s coming home with the WWE title. They stare each other down before Kurt departs the locker room.
A video package of Vince McMahon working out for his match against Hulk Hogan is shown. Vince got extra physical with Tom Prichard, prompting Shane McMahon to ask what is wrong with Vince. Vince thanks Tom with an evil grin.
Main Event: John Cena vs. Rikishi: Cena quickly attacks Rikishi with strikes and knee lifts. Rikishi strikes Cena over the top to the floor and plays to the crowd. Rikishi follows to the floor and strikes Cena, but Cena sends Rikishi into the ring steps. Cena clubs Rikishi over the back and drives Rikishi into the exposed barricade back first a couple of times. Cena covers for a two count. Cena puts a body scissors on Rikishi and puts a sleeper on. Cena keeps the hold on Rikishi for a little while. Rikishi begins to fight to his feet. Rikishi elbows free and strikes Cena a few times. Rikishi clotheslines Cena followed by a Samoan Drop. Cena sunset flips Rikishi and avoids a butt splash, but not a savant kick. Rikishi waits in the corner clapping his cheeks and splashes Cena in the corner. Rikishi delivers the stink face. Rikishi goes to the middle rope, but Cena gets his knees up and kicks Rikishi into the referee. Cena wraps his chain around his hand and punches Rikishi with the chain. Cena covers, but Rikishi kicks out at two. Cena waits for Rikishi to get to his feet. Cena picks Rikishi up and hits the FU for the win! (*1/2. It’s a rare sight to see Rikishi taking a singles pin fall loss, so they must have something planned for Cena. The rapper gimmick has helped him tremendously.)
Cena grabs a microphone afterward and asks if Lesnar still thinks he’s a joke. Cena says Lesnar should come to the ring and get some pain. Cena is calling out Lesnar. Cena decides to leave the ring and go backstage to get some from Lesnar as the show goes to commercial.
Cena returns to the ring and says Lesnar is trying to punk him out. Cena says he was told that Lesnar is coming out there to meet him and insults the crowd. Cena says San Jose is as gangster as the new Michael Jackson. Lesnar makes his way out. Lesnar heads to the ring slowly and Cena waits for Brock. Lesnar leaps onto the apron and enters the ring. Cena and Lesnar have a standoff in the middle of the ring. Cena spits in Lesnar’s face. Lesnar clotheslines Cena followed by strikes to the back and shoulder rams in the corner. Cena elbows Lesnar in the corner and continues with punches. Lesnar counters and hits the F5 to leave Cena laying. Lesnar walks off without further incident.
Final Thoughts:
Similar to RAW, this show lacked energy that I’d hope for the go-home show. It almost felt as if this was a filler show instead of the last show to sell a major PPV. The best moment on the show didn’t happen in front of the live crowd as the segment between Kurt and Brock backstage was intense and hyped the main event very well.
Thanks for reading.