World Wrestling Entertainment presents Velocity
Date: 5/10/2003
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
MATCH #1: CRASH VS. CHAVO GUERRERO
FINISH: Chavo wins following the Gory Bomb.
Bob’s Take: Technically, this match is taped before Smackdown, so it’s a bit out of order for Chavo to be coming out with the gold medal again. Shannon Moore provides a distraction to allow Crash to get the momentum. Moore rams Chavo into the apron back first to assist some more. Crash continues his attack with a backbreaker a couple of times. Chavo fights back with a dropkick and backdrop. Chavo continued with a nice pump handle suplex for a near fall before finishing off Crash moments later. For the most part, this was fine a bout. Crash looked pretty good when he was controlling the bout and this may have been one of his better showings of the year. Chavo on his own is not someone that tends to hold my interest in WWE, but this was okay overall.
Match Rating: **
MATCH #2: THE FBI (PALUMBO & STAMBOLI) VS. MARK BARTOLUCCI & MIKE HUGHES
FINISH: Stamboli finishes off Hughes with a gorilla press slam and the FBI hit their version of the H-Bomb for the win. After the match, Palumbo superkicks Bartolucci. Stamboli leg drops Bartolucci over Palumbo’s knee.
Bob’s Take: I don’t think I ever realized just how much of a focus the FBI got on TV at this point. It’s a bit funny to think six months ago Palumbo was pretending to be gay with Billy and now he’s suppose to be this tough mobster-like hitman. Stamboli is someone I’m mostly indifferent about, but he does display some great power moves. I think his struggle is cutting promos, so he’s a bit limited there. As you’d expect, this is mostly an extended squash for the FBI. Hughes gets a short heat segment and it’s obvious he’s not very seasoned. I appreciate trying to push new talent, but the FBI just don’t seem to connecting.
Match Rating: SQUASH
MAIN EVENT: SEAN O’HAIRE VS. FUNAKI
FINISH: O’Haire wins following the Prophecy.
Bob’s Take: O’Haire has been getting quite the rub associating with Roddy Piper. Funaki tries to get some momentum, but O’Haire stops Funaki with a kick to the chest. This probably should have been a far more dominant showing for O’Haire. Funaki delivered a tornado DDT, but O’Haire hit the Prophecy to finish Funaki off.
Match Rating: *1/2
Final Thoughts:
There wasn’t much going on here and the talent showcased aren’t all that interesting. So, this is probably a skippable episode of Velocity.
Thanks for reading.