World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 5/1/2003
From: Manchester, NH
Footage from Backlash is shown where Big Show smashed Mysterio into the ring post when Mysterio was strapped to a stretcher.
MATCH #1: LOS GUERREROS (EDDIE & CHAVO) VS. WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION MATT HARDY & SHANNON MOORE
NOTE: Los Guerreros have the tag titles, but they are not the champions. They lost at Backlash, but stole the tag titles anyway.
FINISH: Chavo hits Hardy with a tag title allowing Eddie to hit a frog splash for the win. After the match, Los Guerreros fight off the heels. Moore is backdropped over the top to the floor. Team Angle run down to ringside trying to get the tag titles back, but fail to do so.
Bob’s Take: Crash hits Eddie from the floor with his book to allow the heels to get the advantage. Hardy gets the control working over Eddie for a bit and double teamed with Moore. Hardy continued with a Side Effect, but Eddie got out of the pin. Chavo cleaned house because he got tired of the double teaming and also took out Crash with a crossbody to the floor. Moore and Hardy hit a Samoan Drop/neckbreaker combo on the second try. Chavo hits Hardy with the tag title allowing Eddie to hit the frog splash for the win. A fairly formula tag match, but it was a solid enough match, I’d say.
Match Rating: **
Backstage, we see Mr. America’s locker room. After a commercial, Josh Matthews walks up to Stephanie McMahon in front of the locker room. Stephanie doesn’t know who Mr. America is and is going to meet him for the first time. Team Angle walk into the scene and they’re pissed about the titles being stolen from them. Stephanie thought it was great and promises the titles will be returned tonight. Stephanie reveals they will be defending the titles at Judgment Day in a ladder match against Los Guerreros.
A video package highlighting the feud between Rey Mysterio and Big Show.
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon is leaving Mr. America’s locker room a bit concerned.
Big Show has a microphone and cuts a promo in the ring. Show says all he hears is people saying he should pick on people his own size, but notes that there’s nobody his size. So, Show has picked his opponent for tonight and they are bigger than Mysterio. It is Funaki.
MATCH #2: BIG SHOW VS. FUNAKI
FINISH: Big Show decides against doing a chokeslam and destroys Funaki with a clothesline to win the match.
Bob’s Take: As expected, Show dominates Funaki at the start because he’s a monster. Funaki does crotch Show over the top for a glimpse of hope and hit a missile dropkick to stagger Show. Funaki followed up with a tornado DDT, but a big boot stopped his momentum. I liked the hope spot or Funaki, but Big Show winning was obviously going to be the direction and he looks like a monster in a good way.
Match Rating: SQUASH
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon is in her office and she’s concerned. She is told that Mr. McMahon is on the way to the arena.
Backstage, Big Show is walking and getting dirty looks from various wrestlers. A-Train walks up and says what Show did to Mysterio was great.
John Cena comes out to cut a promo. Cena believes he got robbed at Backlash. Cena believes it was a miscarriage of justice. Cena thinks Lesnar was tapping out to his headlock and insults the Red Sox. Cena compares the referee to Bill Buckner missing calls and ground balls. Brian Kendrick joins the segment and he’s dressed like a rapper. Kendrick calls himself Spanky. Spanky came up with a rap of his own. Cena calls over Brian Habner and tells Brian to give Spanky a beat. Hebner proceeds to give a good beat for Spanky. Spanky says what Cena is telling the people is crap. Spanky insults Cena for losing to Brock. Spanky gets the crowd to chant Cena sucks. Cena ends up decking Spanky with a clothesline and rips off Spanky’s shirt. Cena plants Spanky with the FU (officially named).
Backstage, FBI are playing dice with some random guy. They talk about what they’ve accomplished recently and they are going to take care of Benoit tonight.
MATCH #3: CHRIS BENOIT VS. JOHNNY STAMBOLI
FINISH: Rhyno comes out to GORE Nunzio to prevent interference, and it is made a tag team match.
Bob’s Take: This has to be the biggest singles match in Stamboli’s career. Benoit had to fight off the FBI on the floor, and Stamboli got control in the ring. Stamboli didn’t do anything during his control segment that I would classify as compelling. Nunzio got in the ring after Benoit hit a diving headbutt, but Rhyno GORED Nunzio leading to the match to be thrown out and switched to a tag match. Benoit is great in his role, as per usual. Stamboli just didn’t do anything to create interest.
Match Rating: *1/2
MATCH #4: CHRIS BENOIT & RHYNO VS. THE FBI (STAMBOLI & PALUMBO)
FINISH: Rhyno GORES Stamboli, but Nunzio pulled Palumbo onto Benoit to steal the victory.
Bob’s Take: Palumbo is working the match in his street clothes. Rhyno continues to get a good crowd reaction since his return from his neck injury. I’m starting to think that Rhyno would benefit from a push. Palumbo gets the first momentum of this extended segment by superkicking Rhyno at one point. Palumbo got great extension while wearing jeans. FBI hit a double slam on Rhyno, similar to the H-Bomb. Benoit gets the hot tag and cleans house. This is a massive upset with the FBI pinning Benoit. I’m not buying into the FBI as a serious threat on Smackdown, but they needed to win this kind of match to get any sort of momentum.
Match Rating: **
In the parking lot, Stephanie McMahon is leaving a message on Mr. McMahon’s phone saying there’s no reason Vince needs to show up to the arena. Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar arrives and says he has something he needs to do tonight despite having the night off.
Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Lesnar gets a lengthy ovation from the crowd before even speaking. Lesnar puts over the fight he had with Cena at Backlash and puts over Cena for giving him a hell of a fight. Lesnar is here to talk about something else and he’s here to talk about something that disturbed him. Lesnar is looking for another fight tonight. Lesnar brings up Big Show and he’s looking for a fight with him for what he did to Rey Mysterio at Backlash. Lesnar calls Show gutless for doing what he did. Lesnar considers Show to be a gutless coward and wants to know why Show did it. Lesnar thinks Show did it because Mysterio has a bigger heart than him. Lesnar thinks Show is lacking heart to reach the top. Lesnar says Show doesn’t have the heart of a true champion. Lesnar isn’t standing for Show being a bully. Lesnar calls out Big Show to the ring and try to bully him.
Big Show comes out and says that Mysterio got what he had coming to him. Show says he’ll beat Lesnar just like he did at Survivor Series. Show isn’t going to get in the ring until Lesnar puts the title on the line and Lesnar tells Show to come and get it. However, Show says he gets to pick the time and place for when he challenges for the title. Lesnar suggests right now in Manchester, and the crowd agrees. Show says Lesnar is on, but not tonight. Show proceeds to walk off the stage to end the segment.
MATCH #5: SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS TEAM ANGLE (HAAS & BENJAMIN) VS. AARON STEVENS & JOHN WALTERS
FINISH: Haas atomic drops Walters and Benjamin nails Walters with a superkick for the win. After the match, Haas says stealing for the Guerreros may be a tradition, but their tradition is winning. Haas wants their tag titles to be given back to them. Los Guerreros come out to the ring. Eddie admits what they did was wrong and says stealing is wrong. Eddie claims they feel horrible for this. They want to make an apology. Team Angle are given back their tag titles and they celebrate. Guerreros leave without incident. Haas gets on the microphone and tells Guerreros to get a good look at the titles because they will never get them again. Haas promises they will win the ladder match at Judgment Day. Chavo admits they are the tag champions, but they are Olympic gold medalists. Chavo reveals they have stolen the gold medals and Team Angle are livid.
Bob’s Take: It’s kinda cool to see Aaron Stevens from OVW and John Walters from ROH on Smackdown to compete in an enhancement match with the tag champs. There wasn’t much shine for Team Angle aside from the finish, but it was fine for it was.
Match Rating: SQUASH
Backstage, Sable meets up with Torrie Wilson, but Wilson isn’t thrilled. Sable asks if Torrie is ready for their match. Torrie doesn’t appreciate Sable lying to Stacy about what happened between her and Test. Torrie doesn’t want to team with Sable. Sable tells Torrie that like it or not they are partners. Sable suggests they can be great partners as long as Torrie is willing to play with her. Sable says if Torrie doesn’t play with her that what happened last week would be just a taste as to what she can do. Sable tells Torrie that they play for the same team.
MAIN EVENT: DAWN MARIE & NIDIA VS. TORRIE WILSON & SABLE
FINISH: Sable walks out on Torrie. Dawn locks in a single leg Boston Crab on the injured left leg causing Torrie to submit.
Bob’s Take: This is a bit confusing that Sable would lead the attack last week on Torrie, but now she’s teaming with Torrie? Seems like this is being booked in reverse. Torrie displays some decent wrestling including a swinging neckbreaker. Torrie probably deserves credit for actively improving in the ring and shedding the eye candy stigma. Dawn Marie also locks in a stretch muffler, which is not something I expected to see. Torrie sells her left leg rather well considering how much work is done to her leg throughout the match. Of course, Torrie tries to tag in Sable, but Sable is not interested in tagging into the match and walks off. Yeah, that was a bit expected, wasn’t it? I’d say this was far better in-ring wise that I ever would have expected.
Match Rating: *
Outside, Stephanie McMahon is on the phone saying that Vince must have gotten her messages because he’s not there and the show is almost over. However, Mr. McMahon arrives behind her in a limo. Vince wants to meet Mr. America and Stephanie notes that she had never met him prior to tonight. Vince is excited to meet Mr. America, but Stephanie is a bit nervous.
Roddy Piper and Sean O’Haire make their way out to the ring as Piper is going to be hosting Piper’s Pit. Piper talks about Chris Jericho and has seen him wrestling, talk and sing. Piper tells Jericho when he gets talent he can give him a call. Piper puts over Sean O’Haire for beating Rikishi at Backlash and says O’Haire in the man. Piper introduces the debuting Mr. America.
Mr. America’s music hits and it’s Real American theme song. Mr. America comes out wearing red, white, and blue and a mask. It is blatantly obviously Hulk Hogan. I mean, he’s facial hair is sticking out. Piper is freaking out with anger and Sean O’Haire is stunned to see Mr. America. Piper says this is not the country of stupidity. Piper calls it out from the start that Mr. America is Hulk Hogan and Piper knows it for a fact. America chimes in and says he’d be more than happy to kick Piper’s ass from sea to shining sea. America says he is freedom, justice and liberty for all. America denies that he is Hulk Hogan.
Mr. McMahon’s music hits and Vince McMahon comes out to the ring absolutely fuming. McMahon confronts America and says he had suspended Hogan and wanted Hogan to rot at home for the duration of his contract. McMahon didn’t want the fans to have the chance to cheer for him ever again. McMahon can’t believe Hogan would show up in his ring on his show. McMahon is going to send Hogan home again. McMahon is sending Hogan home with a lawsuit. McMahon tells Hogan to get out of here. America responds and says McMahon has a serious case of brain damage since his beating at WrestleMania. McMahon doesn’t appreciate his intelligence being insulted. McMahon switches up and agrees that America isn’t Hulk Hogan. McMahon is sure that America has signed a contract with WWE. McMahon wants America to read his lips and proceeds to fire America. McMahon holds the ropes open for America to leave.
America says he’s not going anywhere. America didn’t sign with Vince, but rather Stephanie McMahon. America signed with Stephanie with an iron clad contract. America can’t be fired or suspended and he’s not going anywhere. There’s nothing Vince can do about it. America says “God Bless America!” Vince is fuming in the ring upon hearing this news. Vince is going to prove that America is in fact Hulk Hogan. Vince is going to rip America’s mask off his face. Vince notes that Piper and O”Haire will help him. America asks one question and that’s what are they going to do when the 24-inch patriots run wild on them. America fights off O’Haire, Piper and McMahon. America leaves the ring as pyro goes off and there is a bunch of confetti falling from the rafters as Vince is left livid in the ring and America is waving an American flag on the entrance way.
Final Thoughts:
Another episode where the in-ring for Smackdown wasn’t very good. The closing segment with Mr. America was entertaining and was a good way to end the program. Show vs. Lesnar is the obvious direction to go in for the main event scene as there isn’t a viable challenger to Lesnar since the heel side is a bit weaker on Smackdown. This is at best an average episode of Smackdown, but I wish there was stronger action in-ring.
Thanks for reading.