World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 4/3/2003
From: Spokane, WA
They air a lengthy WrestleMania video package highlighting what happened at the event.
Smackdown General Manager Stephanie McMahon makes her way out to the aisle and talks about WrestleMania 19 being one of the greatest Manias of all time. Stephanie puts over the effort by Kurt Angle and the new Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar. Stephanie notes that neither man are there due to the injuries they suffered. Angle could be out for as much as two months with a hamstring and neck injury. Lesnar should be back next week and is out due to a concussion. Stephanie says those are the sacrifices the wrestlers make to win the championship. Stephanie notes the questions remain on who will be the next challenger. Stephanie is going to let the wrestlers fight it out. There is going to be a three week tournament and the winner will face Lesnar at Backlash. The tournament begins right now!
Opening Contest: The Undertaker vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. in a tournament match: Mysterio uses his speed early on to avoid Taker’s offense. Taker tosses Mysterio into the corner, but Mysterio delivers a dropkick to the knee and dropkicks Taker over the top to the floor. Taker stops Mysterio with a big boot. Taker clotheslines Mysterio in the corner. Taker strikes Mysterio to the ribs to drop Mysterio to the mat. Mysterio stops Taker with a jawbreaker. Mysterio strikes Taker several times with right hands. Taker grabs Mysterio by the throat, but Mysteriou counters a chokeslam attempt by hitting a tornado DDT! Mysterio nails Taker with the 619 and covers for a two count. Mysterio heads to the apron trying for the West Coast Pop, but Taker counters with the Last Ride. Taker covers and pins Mysterio. (**1/2. A good sprint of a match. Taker’s Last Ride looked absolutely brutal here. This is a unique match and it would be quite a bit before they squared off again in WWE.) After the match, Taker shows respect to Mysterio.
Backstage, Vince McMahon is walking into the arena and has a bandage on his forehead. A security guys tells McMahon he hasn’t seen Hogan. McMahon wants to be alerted when Hogan arrives to the arena.
WWE Crusierweight Champion Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore come out to the commentary table for the next match.
Second Contest: Jamie Noble vs. Brian Kendrick: Noble knee lifts Kendrick followed by strikes and rams Kendrick into the corner followed by more stomps. Noble continues to stomp Kendrick in the corner, but Kendrick delivers a boot and dropkicks Noble to the floor. Kendrick double springboards off the ropes and dives onto Noble. Kendrick rolls Noble back into the ring and kicks Nidia off the apron. Kendrick shoves Noble away and hits a crossbody for a two count. Noble sends Kendrick into the corner, but misses a German suplex. Noble delivers a snap powerslam for a two count. Noble heads to the top rope, but is stopped by Kendrick. Kendrick hits a top rope hurricanrana, but Noble rolls through for a two count. Noble decks Kendrick with a clothesline. Kendrick forearms Noble several times, but Nidia knocks Kendrick to the floor. Noble accidentally hits Nidia and Kendrick hits the Slice Bread #2 for the clean win. After the match, Matt Hardy dumps Kendrick over the top to the floor from behind.
Matt Hardy grabs a microphone and reminds everyone that he’s the best WWE Cruiserweight Champion of the world. Hardy is out there issuing a challenge to the new Smackdown World Champion, Brock Lesnar. Hardy believes Lesnar is faking his concussion and wants to fight Lesnar in a champion vs. champion match. Kendrick gets back in the ring and dropkicks Moore. Hardy plants Kendrick with a Twist of Fate and stands tall.
A video focusing on Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo and Johnny Stamboli are shown. Nunzio has taped up a guy and they essentially have stolen his car. They are the FBI.
More footage from WrestleMania 19 is shown. Lesnar clearly being dazed following the main event is highlighted. They show footage of Lesnar trying the shooting star press and landing on his head.
Roddy Piper returns to WWE next week on Smackdown.
Third Contest: A-Train vs. Chris Benoit in a tournament match: Train tries for a few jabs, but Benoit gets waist control until Train knocks Benoit to the mat and delivers a few knee strikes. Train rolls Benoit back into the ring and yanks Benoit to the mat. Benoit gets the Crossface locked in for a moment. Benoit manages to get the Crossface fully locked in, but Train manages to break free and locks in a modified chin lock and slams Benoit to the mat. Train tries for a cover, but Benoit kicks out at two. Train keeps control on Benoit with a chin lock before delivering strikes to the back in the corner. Train sends Benoit hard into the corner back first. Train keeps Benoit on the mat with a sleeper. Benoit elbows Train followed by chops. Train tosses Benoit to the apron. Benoit chops Train and tries for a sunset flip. Train counters and catapults Benoit throat first into the middle rope. Train stands on Benoit’s throat. Benoit shoulder rams Train followed by more chops. Train knee lifts Benoit and tries for a slam. Train elbows Benoit from behind. Train misses a splash in the corner and Benoit hits a German suplex holding onto Train to deliver a few more. Benoit signals for the end. Benoit heads to the top rope diving off to hit the diving headbutt. Benoit tries for a cover, but Train gets his boot on the bottom rope. Benoit kicks Train on the mat, but is met with a bicycle kick. Train pulls Benoit up and tries for the Derailer, but Benoit counters with the Crossface. Train tries for break free, but Benoit kicks off the ropes and keeps the Crossface locked in forcing Train to submit. (**1/2. A solid match as they kept a good pace and there was some hard hitting action throughout. I thought maybe Train would prevail, but Benoit advancing isn’t a bad choice either. Benoit vs. Lesnar on PPV would be insane if it were to happen.)
Backstage, Vince McMahon is on the phone. McMahon lets someone come into his room and it is Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie asks how Vince is doing. Vince says he’s going to do something in the ring with Hogan that he should have done a long time ago. Stephanie doesn’t want Vince to do something he’s going to regret and walks off.
Backstage, Torrie Wilson is getting ready for her Playboy coming out party.
Fourth Contest: Eddie Guerrero vs. John Cena in a tournament match: Cena attacks before the bell and clubs away on Guerrero’s neck and upperback. Cena stomps Guerrero in the corner before choking Guerrero for a moment. Cena tries for a delayed vertical suplex and drives Guerrero down to the mat. Cena covers for a two count. Cena clubs Guerrero over the back and locks in a bearhug. Cena drives Guerrero into the corner and hits a belly to belly suplex for a two count. Cena keeps a sleeper on Guerrero in the middle of the ring. Cena switches to a bearhug. Guerrero headbutts Cena a few times. Guerrero breaks free and drop toe holds Cena into the middle turnbuckle. Guerrero ducks a right hand and strikes Cena a few times followed by a leaping forearm smash. Guerrero forearms Cena and decks Cena with a clothesline. Guerrero delivers a suplex and holds onto Cena to hit a few more for a two count. Guerrero heads to the top rope and missile dropkicks Cena for a two count. Cena eye rakes Guerrero and puts Guerrero on his shoulders to deliver an electric chair slam. Cena grabs his chain in the corner. Guerrero dropkicks Cena to avoid the strike. Guerrero grabs the chain, but the referee stops him. Guerrero back suplexs Cena and heads to the top rope. Guerrero rolls through and hits a hurricanrana. Cena catches Guerrero in the corner looking for the FU and hits it! Cena covers and pins Guerrero cleanly! (**1/2. I mean, at the time, this is a massive upset for Cena to win cleanly. Cena has a reason to want a piece of Lesnar at Backlash considering the injury earlier in the year. A quality bout between these two.)
Outside, a black limo arrives to the arena. Hulk Hogan exits with Jimmy Hart and Nick Hogan. Hogan and his pals head into the arena. Nick asks “where is catering?” but they cut away from that quickly.
Torrie Wilson comes down to the ring for her Playboy coming out party. Her magazine is displayed in the corner on a large poster board. Wilson can’t believe all these people want to see her naked. Wilson asks how the people would feel about a special coming out tonight. Wilson asks if they’d like a sneak preview. Torrie teases, but SABLE makes her way out! Sable enters the ring and grabs the microphone. Sable tells Torrie she’s sorry to interrupt here, but she’s having a coming out party herself. Sable announces she’s back in the WWE. Sable notes she’s been gone a long time, but some things never change. Sable sees all the men still come to see her and the women still want to be her. Sable thinks Wilson wants to be her. Sable notes she posed for Playboy before. Sable is happy for Wilson. Sable thinks a lot of people don’t believe there’s enough room for two divas such as themselves. Sable thinks they are going to be the best of friends. Sable proceeds to plant a soft kiss on Wilson, which leaves Wilson a little startled.
Fifth Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champions Team Angle (Haas & Benjamin) vs. Funaki & Tajiri in a non-title match: Benjamin and Haas attack quickly to gain the advantage. Benjamin decks Funaki with a clothesline and delivers a backdrop. Benjamin taunts Funaki, but is kicked by Tajiri from behind. Funaki and Tajiri taunt Benjamin before double teaming Benjamin with strikes. Funaki head scissors Benjamin. Haas is met with a drop toe hold by Funaki and a dropkick by Tajiri. Haas legally enters and Funaki is met with a double elbow strike. Haas wants a piece of Tajiri. Haas kicks Tajiri and rams Tajiri into the corner. Haas sends Tajiri into the corner, but is shoved away. Tajiri spin kicks Haas for a two count. Tajiri chops Haas against the ropes. Benjamin is kicked by Tajiri on the apron. Tajiri nails Haas with a kick, as well. Benjamin holds Tajiri to allow Haas to deck Tajiri and deliver a back suplex for a two count. Haas overhead suplexs Tajiri and taunts the crowd. Haas tags in Benjamin and holds Tajiri over the top rope Benjamin leaps over Haas to splash onto Tajiri for a two count. Benjamin keeps a chin lock on Tajiri. Benjamin locks in a Boston Crab. Tajiri manages to power free, but can’t make a tag. Haas returns to the match, but Tajiri hits a handspring double back elbow. Tajiri tags in Funaki. Funaki cleans house with several chops and strikes. Funaki backdrops Haas and does the same to Benjamin. Funaki yanks Haas down from the apron and hits a flying crossbody for a two count as Benjamin makes the save. Tajiri gets the tarantula on Benjamin! Funaki boots Haas in the corner and tries for a tornado DDT, but Haas avoids it. Benjamin chop blocks Funaki allowing Haas to lock in the Haas of Pain and Funaki is forced to submit. (***. Team Angle is great. They are such a great addition to Smackdown it’s incredible how good they are already. Funaki and Tajiri are a fun underdog team. Tajiri could get a big push and be credible just for his lethal kicks on their own. A fun TV bout.)
Backstage, Nunzio meets up with Palumbo and Stamboli asking if they are ready. Nunzio says they are going to have a sit down with the Undertaker and he’s going to listen to him.. or else.
Backstage, Josh Matthews runs up to John Cena as Cena is leaving the arena. Matthews says Cena is wrestling Undertaker next week. Cena knows that people think his chances of winning are not good. Cena knows that anything can happen on any given Smackdown. Cena will shock the world by making Taker fall. He’ll leave him like a clear pool table with no balls.
Backstage, the FBI meet up with the Undertaker to discuss a problem they are having. Taker invites them to sit down at a table. Nunzio says the problem is with Nathan Jones. Nunzio says they whacked Jones for what he did to Palumbo last week on Smackdown. Nunzio wants to bury the hatchet. Taker agrees everyone must be held accountable for their actions. Taker tells Nunzio they chose WrestleMania to take out Jones, and Jones was is partner. Taker almost got his head kicked in and tells FBI he’s not burying the hatchet. Taker says they have a problem. Nunzio is sorry Taker feels that way, but insists they had no choice. Nathan Jones enters the room and asks if there’s a problem. Nunzio says they will deal with the problem when they are ready and want to do deal with it. FBI walk off as Taker says they aren’t hard to find.
Main Event: Big Show vs. Rhyno in a tournament match: Show misses a strike and Rhyno delivers a few strikes. Show tosses Rhyno into the corner and delivers a chop. Show clubs Rhyno over the back and steps on the lower back. Rhyno fights back with strikes to the midsection, but a knee lift stops him. Show clubs Rhyno over the chest and steps on Rhyno’s chest on the apron. Show continues with a headbutt to drop Rhyno to the mat. Show tosses Rhyno across the ring. Show steps on Rhyno’s chest again on the apron. Show clubs Rhyno to the mat again. Rhyno fights back with right hands and comes off the ropes, but is met with a side slam. Show covers, but Rhyno kicks out at two. Show rams Rhyno into the corner and removes the top turnbuckle pad. Rhyno strikes Show, but is met with a headbutt. Show misses a splash hitting the exposed turnbuckle. Rhyno GORES Show into the corner! A-Train distracts Rhyno for a moment, but Rhyno GORES Show anyway! Rhyno tries for the cover, but Train enters and stomps Rhyno. Train nails Rhyno with the bicycle kick and the referee calls for the DQ. Train wants Show to snap Rhyno’s neck. Show leg drops Rhyno and stands tall. (*1/2. I would have loved Rhyno to pin Show with the GORE into the exposed buckle. Rhyno has been getting strong responses and a huge win over Show would have made sense.)
Vince McMahon makes his way out down to the ring to cut a promo. McMahon wants to get the fans attention for what he’s saying tonight. McMahon says he’s misjudged Hogan. He under estimated the power of Hulkamania and knows he should have never put down the American icon known as Hulk Hogan. McMahon wants to set the record straight. McMahon wants to call out Hogan to the ring, but he’s not wanting to fight Hogan since he’s been there done that. McMahon wants to apologize to Hogan. McMahon calls out Hogan.
Hogan’s music hits and Hogan makes his way out to a thunderous ovation. Hogan tells McMahon that he’s listening. McMahon tells Hogan this is very difficult for him to accept defeat. McMahon doesn’t like the taste of defeat, but he’s a realist. McMahon is dealing with the reality of their match and admits Hogan beat the hell out of him. McMahon accepts that it happened, and doesn’t like it, but accepts it. McMahon wants to put it behind him. McMahon wants to turn the clock back twenty years. McMahon hopes Hogan can forgive him, and they could be friends again. McMahon offers a handshake. Hogan doesn’t shake the hand. McMahon doesn’t blame Hogan for not shaking his hand and goes to leave. Hogan tells McMahon to wait a minute. Hogan says if McMahon is serious… and offers his hand. McMahon shakes Hogan’s hand. Hogan’s music plays.
McMahon leaves the ring as Hogan remains in the ring. Hogan gets on the microphone and tells McMahon to wait a minute. Hogan thanks McMahon. McMahon mouths “you’re welcome” and walks up the aisle to the backstage area. McMahon stops at the top of the aisle and says “no, no, no.” McMahon thanks Hogan from the bottom of his heart for all the memories. McMahon says all the people have just memories because this is the last time they’ll see Hogan in the ring. McMahon says he’s killed Hulkamania and Hogan doesn’t even know it. McMahon tells Hogan that Mr. McMahon never loses, pal. McMahon tells Hogan he’s on the shelf. McMahon is going to honor Hogan’s contract and pay every dollar, but Hogan will stay home. McMahon is denying the fans of ever seeing Hogan ever again. McMahon doesn’t care what it costs him as a billionaire. McMahon promises that Hogan is going to rot at home day by day. McMahon believes the fans will forget about Hogan. McMahon says if Hogan doesn’t like what he had to say, then he’ll be in the parking lot.
Hogan leaves the ring seemingly going to the parking lot. Camera follow Hogan backstage as Hogan searches for McMahon. Hogan sees McMahon standing in front of his limo. McMahon is ready for Hogan. McMahon tells Hogan it’s not over between them. McMahon signals for police. McMahon is standing in front of the limo where Nick Hogan and Jimmy Hart are waiting. Nick is pleading with Hogan to get in the car and McMahon tells Hogan to get out of here. Hogan slowly gets in the car as McMahon throws Hogan’s bags into the trunk. McMahon demands the car leave and the limo drives off. McMahon stands in the parking lot smiling that he never loses.
Final Thoughts:
I enjoyed this weeks episode as they had some good wrestling as per usual. I feel like I’m rooting for Benoit to win the tournament as a PPV match with Lesnar would be nuts. However, Cena has a reason for the match and despite not being an established named at this point, it would make sense to use him on a secondary PPV. The closing segment with McMahon and Hogan was fine and now that Hogan is ‘fired’ I’m sure this is a slow burn for something major at SummerSlam, I’d have to guess.
Thanks for reading.