World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 4/10/2003
From: Rosemont, IL
Earlier tonight, Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar arrived to the arena, and is actually in a better mood than usual. Lesnar signs some autographs including a female’s chest. (Mr. Kennedy is one of the extras and is acting a bit over the top.)
Opening Contest: Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy in a non-title match: Hardy tells Lesnar to step over his title, and Lesnar kicks the championship to the side. Lesnar taunts Hardy with his championship and steps on it to prevent Hardy from moving it. Lesnar decks Hardy with a clothesline followed by stomps. Shannon Moore tries to get involved, but distracts Lesnar allowing Hardy to hit Lesnar from behind with the Cruiserweight Championship for a two count. Hardy stomps Lesnar in the corner followed by strikes. Hardy continues to strike Lesnar, but runs into a boot. Lesnar dumps Hardy to the apron. Hardy drops Lesnar over the top rope back first. Hardy connects with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Hardy dropkicks a seated Lesnar a couple of times. Hardy chokes Lesnar over the middle rope and splashes onto Lesnar’s back. Lesnar stands up with Hardy on his shoulders to deliver an electric chair slam. Hardy clotheslines Lesnar and comes off the ropes again, but Lesnar clotheslines Hardy followed by an overhead suplex. Lesnar overhead suplexs Hardy a second time. Lesnar tries for a powerslam, but Moore saves Hardy. Lesnar decks Moore off the apron, but counters the Twist of Fate with the F5 for the win. (**. I thought they told a fine story here with Hardy actually getting a good near fall after the title strike to the head. This should probably conclude this story, which has gone on for a longer time than I ever thought it would, but was entertaining for the most part.)
We see a video package of Roddy Piper talking about Piper’s Pit. Piper’s Pit returns for the first time in fourteen years tonight on Smackdown. Tazz and Michael Cole talk about Hulk Hogan competing for the fans and not for money and Cole doesn’t like how Hogan’s been treated by McMahon.
Sable makes her way out to the ring to sit at ringside and she’s reading Torrie Wilson’s Playboy magazine.
Second Contest: Jamie Noble & Nidia vs. Brian Kendrick & Torrie Wilson: Noble goes after Kendrick before the bell delivering several strikes. Kendrick sends Noble into Nidia’s boot leading to a near fall. Noble tries for a suplex, but Kendrick lands on his feet and tries for a tornado DDT, but Noble suplexs Kendrick into the corner. Nidia chokes Kendrick over the ropes. Nidia dropkicks Kendrick on the side of the head and continues with stomps. Noble side suplexs Kendrick for a two count. Noble sends Kendrick into the corner back first and continues with a forearm strike to the back. Noble yanks Kendrick to the mat by his hair. Noble forearms Kendrick over the back. Noble keeps Kendrick on the mat with a neck vice. Kendrick drops Noble over his knee. Kendrick forearms Noble, but Noble kicks Kendrick on the knee. Kendrick nails Noble with a kick to the head. Noble counters the Slice Bread #2 with a neckbreaker. Noble scoop slams Kendrick and tags in Nidia. Nidia misses a splash off the top and Wilson gets the tag. Wilson clotheslines Nidia and catapults Nidia into the corner followed by chops against the ropes. Wilson delivers a side Russian leg sweep and punches Noble off the apron. Wilson gets a two count following a dropkick on Nidia. Wilson clotheslines Nidia out of the corner. Kendrick missile dropkicks Noble. Wilson hits a swinging neckbreaker, but noble pulls Wilson to the floor. Kendrick baseball slides Noble. Nidia shoves Kendrick off the top onto the railing. Nidia hits a crossbody on Noble on accident. Wilson plants Nidia with a tornado DDT to pickup the win. (*1/2. All the fans cared about was Torrie Wilson and they got what they wanted from this.) After the match, Sable claps for Wilson.
Backstage, Chris Benoit walks up to Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar and puts him over, but says he looks forward to wrestling Lesnar at Backlash. Rhyno walks up and tells Benoit that he’s going to wrestle Lesnar at Backlash. Lesnar tells them that one of them will have hell to pay at Backlash.
Third Contest: Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno in the semifinals of the tournament: Rhyno backs Benoit into the ropes and into a corner before breaking off cleanly and they slap hands showing respect. Rhyno drop toe holds Benoit and they have another standoff. Rhyno leg sweeps Benoit and keeps Benoit on the mat, but Benoit counters with a suplex. Rhyno knee lifts Benoit and they counter hammerlocks. Rhyno yanks Benoit to the mat and they have a standoff. Rhyno shoulder blocks Benoit for a two count. Rhyno drives Benoit to the mat with a delayed vertical suplex for a two count. Rhyno rams Benoit into the corner, but Benoit responds with a chop out of the corner. Benoit decks Rhyno with a clothesline. Benoit rams Rhyno into the corner and delivers a chop. Rhyno snapmares Benoit and delivers a stomp to the chest. Rhyno keeps control with a sleeper on the mat. Benoit pummels Rhyno with strikes and a knee lift to the midsection for a two count. Benoit knee lifts Rhyno a second time for another near fall. Benoit sends Rhyno into the corner chest first. Rhyno avoids a dropkick by holding the ropes for a two count. Rhyno keeps a body scissors on Benoit while also trying for an arm bar. Benoit manages to break free after getting a two count. Rhyno continues to work over Benoit in the corner. Rhyno hits a belly to belly suplex and goes to the corner looking for the GORE. Benoit sidesteps in the corner and chops Rhyno several times. Rhyno spears Benoit in the corner. Rhyno plants Benoit with a spinebuster and gets a two count. Benoit sends Rhyno chest first into the corner and delivers a running elbow. Benoit heads to the top rope hitting a diving headbutt, but Rhyno kicks out at two. Rhyno gets to the ropes to break the Crossface. Rhyno elbows Benoit, but misses a clothesline. Benoit elbows Rhyno and takes Rhyno over with a backslide to pickup the win. (**. A little bit underwhelming between these two. I’m not sure if the fans bought into Rhyno as a serious contender. It’s a fine TV match, but I think I was hoping for a more impressive showing from Rhyno.) After the match, Benoit and Rhyno show respect for each other.
Vince McMahon makes his way out to the ring to cut a promo. McMahon has a big smile on his face. The ring is setup for Piper’s Pit, by the way. McMahon is thrilled that he terminated Hulkamania. McMahon promises to honor the contract and keep Hogan at home. McMahon says every day Hogan stays home his body rots. McMahon has also decided to pull something else off the shelf. McMahon introduces Roddy Piper.
McMahon also reveals that he’s Piper’s special guest. Piper notes that McMahon has short fingers and asks if McMahon knows what women think about that. Piper tells McMahon that nobody but him made himself or Piper’s Pit. Piper warns McMahon to not play with him and McMahon tells Piper to chill and sit down. McMahon pokes fun at Piper’s gut. McMahon says the last time he saw a stomach that big it was Mae Young when she was nine months pregnant with a hand and Piper’s carrying twins. McMahon brings up the Kiss My Ass club. Piper brings up McMahon failing as a music promoter. Piper also brings up the WBF and football. Piper tells McMahon that the only job he’s been able to hold is the one his father gave him. Piper calls McMahon “junior”, which is something McMahon truly dislikes. McMahon says they have one thing in common and that is a disliking for Hogan. Piper agrees. Piper tells Hogan that McMahon created Hogan and he hates Hogan. Piper also hates McMahon. McMahon calls Piper an SOB, but Piper says it takes one to know one. McMahon offers a handshake, and Piper accepts it. As McMahon leaves, but Piper tells McMahon he deserves credit for losing to Hogan at WrestleMania. That pisses off McMahon.
Rikishi’s music hits and Rikishi comes out with a coconut. Rikishi doesn’t look thrilled and Piper seems a bit worried about what is going on. Piper is saying “he’s not scheduled” as if this is a off the script moment. Rikishi does Jimmy Snuka’s hand signal. Rikishi asks Piper if it looks familiar to him. Rikishi remembers what Piper did to Snuka some twenty years ago. Rikishi says he’s been waiting a long time, but Piper takes the coconut. Sean O’Haire comes out of nowhere and clotheslines Rikishi! O’Haire grabs a wooden chair and whacks Rikishi with it. O’Haire whacks Rikishi over the back. O’Haire holds Rikishi and Piper nails Rikishi with the coconut.
A vignette promoting Slyvan Grenier and Rene Dupree is shown. They aren’t going to buy into America’s propaganda. They tell us to not be afraid of them.
Smackdown Tag Team Champions Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin cut a promo saying that they dedicate their tag match for Kurt Angle. Angle is having neck surgery and Haas demands a silent prayer. Benjamin chimes in and says this is why the Cubs haven’t won a title in one hundred years. You’ve got to respect winners.
Fourth Contest: Smackdown Tag Team Champions Team Angle (Haas & Benjamin) vs. Rey Mysterio Jr. & Tajiri in a non-title match: Haas and Tajiri kickoff the match with Haas arm dragging Tajiri to keep arm control. Tajiri kicks Haas a few times. Tajiri tags in Mysterio while putting the tarantula on Haas. Mysterio dropkicks Haas in the ropes, but Benjamin breaks the cover. Mysterio shoulder rams Haas from the apron, but Haas drops Mysterio over the ropes. Benjamin tags in and Mysterio delivers a dropkick. Mysterio elbows Benjamin and arm drags Benjamin across the ring. Mysterio slides to the floor and yanks Haas to the floor. Benjamin superkicks Mysterio to the floor. Haas knee lifts Mysterio on the floor. Benjamin superkicks Mysterio on the apron. Benjamin tries for a cover, but Mysterio kicks out at two. Benjamin knee lifts Mysterio several times. Haas tags into the match and Benjamin drops Mysterio gut first over Haas knee. Haas tries for a cover, but Mysterio kicks out. Haas controls Mysterio with an abdominal stretch. Mysterio breaks free, but is met with a knee lift. Haas sends Mysterio into the corner. Mysterio back elbows Haas a few times. Mysterio head scissors Haas to the mat. Tajiri gets the hot tag and kicks Haas followed by a spinning heel kick to Benjamin. Tajiri takes Haas over with a hurricanrana and a handspring twisting forearm for a two count. Benjamin works over Tajiri against the ropes. Mysterio splashes onto Benjamin, but Haas clotheslines Mysterio. Tajiri is sent to the floor. Haas holds Mysterio in a powerbomb position, but Tajiri kicks Benjamin off the ropes. Tajiri kicks Haas over the middle rope leading to the 619. Mysterio hits a springboard leg drop and pins Haas for the win. (***. A good TV match. I’m not even annoyed by Mysterio and Tajiri winning over Team Angle since they don’t team on a regular basis. Team Angle has only been around for a few months and they aren’t a dominating team. I like the upset victory and likely makes for a tag title match soon.)
Backstage, Josh Matthews interviews The Undertaker. Taker says he expects to get hurt in the ring. Taker expects to be respected backstage. Taker has more shower time than Cena has ring time. Taker promises he’s going to beat up Cena and then bust him up. Taker says Cena is going to learn.
Fifth Contest: Nathan Jones vs. Bill DeMott: This is the in-ring debut of Nathan Jones. DeMott controls with a hammerlock, but Jones decks DeMott with a right hand. DeMott takes Jones down to the mat and keeps a front face lock on Jones. Jones sits DeMott on the top rope, but DeMott delivers a few strikes. Jones sends DeMott through the ropes to the floor. DeMott drops Jones over the top rope, but is met with a big boot for the win. (DUD. That was horrible. The big boot was probably supposed to look more impactful, but it didn’t look good. DeMott is suppose to be a bully and he’s losing to a big boot. The crowd was silent and didn’t care about Jones.)
Backstage, the FBI are talking to cops. Nunzio says someone stole $1,200 from him. Palumbo claims someone stole a belt. Stamboli stammers saying a laptop was stolen, too. Nunzio has a good idea as to who could have done this.
Backstage, Sable walks into Torrie Wilson’s locker room. Torrie is showering and Sable talks to Torrie. Sable says Torrie’s Playboy is almost selling as well as hers. Sable has Torrie’s towel and tells her to come and get it. Torrie walks out of the shower keeping eye contact to grab the towel.
Backstage, the police confront Nathan Jones for questioning regarding the stolen property. The Undertaker walks into the scene and defends Jones. The police try to defuse the situation, but Taker thinks it is because Jones has done prison time before. Jones is escorted away for questioning.
Backstage, John Cena is walking backstage preparing for the main event. John Cena cuts a rap during his entrance saying he’s the new phenom and Taker will need an army of darkness to beat him. Cena hopes Paul Bearer has a new urn to bury Taker’s ashes.
Main Event: The Undertaker vs. John Cena in the semifinals of the tournament: Taker backs Cena into a corner and delivers a few elbow strikes. Taker knee lifts Cena a few times. Taker strikes Cena against the ropes to maintain control of the bout. Cena punches Taker several times, but Taker cuts Cena off with a stomp. Taker taunts Cena against the ropes about talking about him. Taker strikes Cena to the mat followed by an elbow strike to the side of the head. Taker knee lifts Cena to the mat and continues to yell at Cena. Taker grabs Cena by the throat and plants Cena with a chokeslam. Taker tries for a cover, but Cena puts his boot on the bottom rope. Taker digs his forearm into Cena’s face. Taker stomps Cena on the mat causing Cena to crash to the floor as the show goes to commercial.
Taker rams Cena face first onto the ring steps during the break. Taker elbows Cena over the apron a few times. Taker proceeds to deliver a leg drop on the apron. Taker waits in the corner and clotheslines Cena. Taker continues with a flurry of strikes in the corner. Cena grabs his chain in the corner and decks Taker to gain the advantage. Cena shoulder blocks Taker through the ropes to the floor. Cena drops Taker’s arm over the top rope and shoulder blocks Taker off the apron to the floor. Cena strikes Taker over the arm several times. Cena slams Taker’s arm over the railing a few times. Cena taunts the crowd as Taker struggles to get back in the ring. Cena baseball slides Taker off the apron to the floor. Cena clubs Taker over the shoulder and stomps Taker on the steps. Taker misses a clothesline, but shoulder blocks Cena. Taker walks the ropes to deliver Old School. Taker sets Cena up for the Last Ride, but Cena counters and delivers an arm breaker for a near fall. Cena pummels Taker on the mat with right hands. Cena keeps an arm bar on Taker, but doesn’t get a submission. Taker drops Cena with a right hand.
Cena fights back with strikes to Taker’s injured elbow. Taker decks Cena to the mat. Cena quickly regains control in the corner. Taker snake eyes Cena into the corner and delivers a big boot. Taker holds his elbow in pain. Taker accidentally splashes the referee in the corner. Cena plants Taker with a spinebuster. Cena tries for an FU, but Taker counters and hits the Last Ride. However, there’s no referee. The FBI try to get involved, but Taker takes them out. Palumbo whacks Taker over the head with a steel chair. Taker is stomped by the FBI. Palumbo punches Taker on the mat. Nunzio whacks Taker over the back with a chair shot. Cena crawls over and covers Taker. The referee is awake and counts the fall giving Cena the victory. (**1/2. Well, Cole kind of ruined this match when he noted that Taker delayed elbow surgery for this match. It was obvious Cena was going to go over in some way. The FBI getting involved is rather weak, but I guess it gives Taker something for when he returns whenever that’s going to be. I’d imagine Taker is getting elbow surgery and will be out for a bit. Cena vs. Benoit is an interesting match and since Cena does have a storyline reason for Lesnar, he’s got to be the favorite, but a match between Lesnar and Benoit is something I’d much rather see on PPV.)
Final Thoughts:
An average episode of Smackdown this week. Piper being on Smackdown feels like it’s the kind of angle that should be on RAW. Smackdown has been the younger feeling brand and typically has strong in-ring wrestling. It’s not a bad show, but they’ve had better episodes. Looks like they are taking a chance on Cena in the main event scene. Cena probably doesn’t get this opportunity without a brand split.
Thanks for reading.