World Wrestling Entertainment presents Smackdown
Date: 5/15/2003
From: Baltimore, MD
Tonight, Mr. America will be Piper’s Pit.
Vince McMahon makes his way out to the ring to kickoff Smackdown. McMahon has no doubt as to who Mr. America truly is. McMahon knows that everyone knows who Mr. America is. McMahon says that Mr. America has twisted values that are different from everyone else. Mr. America is full of deceit. McMahon knows that America is Hulk Hogan and he won’t show his true identity. McMahon believes Hogan is greedy and tells the fans to shut up, but they won’t. McMahon says that Mr. America doesn’t care that he batters women and shows footage from last week where America accidentally knocked down Stephanie McMahon after breaking free from Vince trying to remove his mask. McMahon is not going to beat up America to a bloody pulp, but rather he’s going to let someone else do it. McMahon is offering an open contract to anyone who will take Hogan on at Judgment Day. McMahon says someone will sign the contract and they will end Hogan once and for all. McMahon will remove the mask at Judgment Day to reveal Hogan’s identity.
The FBI come out to join the segment. McMahon seems to be a bit confused by the FBI’s appearance. Nunzio gets the microphone and reminds McMahon who they are. Nunzio makes reference that Vince beat the federal FBI, but they are the Full Blooded Italians. Nunzio says they take care of problems such as Hogan. Nunzio says he had a video made to showcase their greatest hits. The video is shown and it’s footage of the FBI taking out wrestlers such as Rikishi, Undertaker, Nathan Jones, Chris Benoit, and Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar (trapping him in a room). Nunzio brags about that resume. Nunzio says if they are hired he can consider the contract closed. Johnny Stamboli says they will be on Hogan like baked on ziti. Nunzio clarifies that Stamboli isn’t the smartest, but he’s as strong as an ox. McMahon suggests they talk backstage as this is interesting.
MATCH #1: RIKISHI VS. CHUCK PALUMBO
FINISH: Late in the match, Rikishi gets distracted by Stamboli allowing Palumbo to deliver a superkick for the win. After the match, Smackdown World Champion Brock Lesnar arrived to the arena and stormed to the ring to clean house on the FBI.
Bob’s Take: Rikishi gets distracted early on by Stamboli, but avoided a sneak attack by Palumbo to hit a DDT early on. Palumbo decks Rikishi with a big boot, but missed a superkick and Rikishi didn’t miss one. Rikishi hit a Samoan Drop and a running back splash. Rikishi popped his shoulder up right after the count of three because it’s a rarity for him to do a job. It wouldn’t have made sense for the FBI to lose here after the opening segment. Not much to the match, for the most part.
Match Rating: *
During the break, Stephanie McMahon meets up with Brock Lesnar and says what he just did was impressive. Stephanie talks about not having a stretcher match in over seventeen years because it is brutal. Stephanie considers to be a barbarian and hopes he brings that same aggression to Judgment Day.
Torrie Wilson comes out to the stage and teases what she’s going to wear at Judgment Day. Wilson is going to offer a sneak peak and reveals her bikini much to the delight of the audience. Wilson suggests she’ll be wearing something a lot more revealing at Judgement Day.
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon enters her office and there are flowers on her desk. Stephanie thinks there from her father, but she reads the card and doesn’t look thrilled. Vince McMahon enters the room and knows Stephanie feels bad for messing up his mask removal. Vince accepts Stephanie’s apology. Stephanie thought the flowers were from Vince, but instead the flowers from Hulk Hogan. The flowers are red and yellow. The red and white flowers are from Mr. America. Stephanie believes it is two different men. Stephanie decides to leave, but Vince stops her. Stephanie thanks Vince for accepting her apology before leaving. Vince breaks the vases against the wall in anger.
Earlier today, Rey Mysterio arrived to the arena with a steel briefcase. Mysterio is not cleared, but he will have an interview.
MATCH #2: WWE CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION MATT HARDY VS. TAJIRI
FINISH: Late in the match, Crash distracts Tajiri and is kicked off the apron. Hardy takes advantage to hit the Twist of Fate for the win. After the match, Hardy believes he has what it takes to take care of Mr. America at Judgment Day. Tajiri leaps off the top to dive onto Hardy and Moore.
Bob’s Take: Tajiri taunts Hardy early on and nearly won with a spinning heel kick. Shannon Moore provided a distraction on the floor allowing Hardy to drop Tajiri gut first over the top rope. Hardy’s offense is his standard approach including the Side Effect. Tajiri avoids a crucifix powerbomb to deliver a nice kick to the face. Tajiri overwhelms Hardy with a flurry of kicks. Tajiri hit a handspring back elbow and handspring kicked Moore off the apron before hitting a springboard kick on Hardy. Tajiri is a lot of fun to watch and the crowd responds well to his momentum. If Mysterio wasn’t clearly the top contender for the title, I think Tajiri in the role of chasing Hardy would be a lot of fun. I enjoyed the bout.
Match Rating: **1/2
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon runs into Mr. America and thanks him for the flowers. Stephanie asks America to thank Hulk Hogan for her and she gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Prior to the next match, John Cena cuts a promo wanting to be the man to take out Mr. America/Hulk Hogan. Cena also talks about Chris Benoit and not letting the crossface hurt him.
MATCH #3: JOHN CENA VS. CHRIS BENOIT
FINISH: Late in the match, Benoit has the Crossface on Cena, but Stamboli attacks causing a disqualification. After the match, Rhyno GORES Stamboli, but is met with a chair shot by Nunziao to the knee. Spanky dropkicks Nunzio and sends Cena to the floor with a hurricanrana to stand tall.
Bob’s Take: A competitive back and forth start between these two in the early stages until Cena decked Benoit from behind and sent Benoit into the post shoulder first. Cena focused his attack onto Benoit’s left shoulder. At one point, the FBI come out to ringside to distract Benoit and allow Cena to regain control, but they are ejected quickly by the referee. Cena methodically works over Benoit’s neck and shoulder area for a good amount of time. Benoit battles back with a dropkick and drop toe hold into the corner. Benoit continued with a German suplex out of the corner. Benoit nailed Cena with the diving headbutt. FBI is really becoming an annoying group, and not in the good way. The aftermath was fine, and the match itself was rather basic, but not bad.
Match Rating: **
Piper’s Pit is next. Roddy Piper makes his way out to the ring with Sean O’Haire by his side. Piper says it is time for the games to end and the professionals to begin. Piper says a lot of guts have been laid on the mat than what’s there now. Piper brings up the open contract being on Hogan and how anyone able to remove the mask gets a lot of money. Piper says half the wrestlers want to do it to kiss ass and the other half want to do it for their careers. However, Piper doesn’t need to do it for either reason. Piper has hated Hogan for twenty years. Piper doesn’t want Mr. America at Judgment Day, but rather, Piper demands it.
Mr. America makes his way out to join the segment. America enters the ring and does his usual taunt that is similar to Hulk Hogan’s. Piper insults America saying he’d wear a mask too if he was as ugly as him. America recalls seeing Hogan beat up Piper and knows that’s why he’s angry. America says if he’s put into a match against Piper at Judgment Day then he’d be happy to kick his ass. Piper knows that he fought Hogan all over the world in front of millions of people, but Hogan could never beat Piper to a three count. America notes that Hogan may not have done it, but Piper has never beaten Mr. America. Piper threatens a fan (Zach Gowen) in the front row waving an American flag. Sean O’Haire goes to the fan in the front row as Piper attacks America from behind. America fights off Piper and O’Haire with strikes followed by a big boot to Piper. O’Haire trips America to prevent the leg drop and whacks America over the back with several chair shots. The young fan hits Piper with the flag to prevent America’s mask coming off, but O’Haire tackles the fan. Piper attacks the fan and pulls on his leg, which rips off. Yes, it’s a fake leg. O’Haire comically says “did you rip his leg off?” and leaves the ring. Piper seems to be a bit confused and leaves the ring.
Backstage, Vince McMahon asks Piper and O’Haire what he just saw. O’Haire says he had nothing to do with this. McMahon is not happy because this is lawsuit material. Piper doesn’t have an answer. McMahon has to go and think about what’s going to happen to their careers. McMahon leaves and Piper asks O’Haire how he could say he wasn’t in on it. O’Haire tells Piper that his career is on the line for something Piper did.
MAIN EVENT: SMACKDOWN TAG TEAM CHAMPION SHELTON BENJAMIN VS. EDDIE GUERRERO
NOTE: Eddie stills has Angle’s picture, and has put a mustache on the picture to taunt Team Angle.
FINISH: Late in the match, Haas comes out with a ladder to distract Guerrero allowing Benjamin to superkick Guerrero for the win. Guerrero dropkicks the ladder into the champs and grabs the portrait of Angle. Guerrero smashes the portrait over Benjamin’s head.
Bob’s Take: Benjamin showcased his wrestling ability hitting a suplex early on, but Guerrero responded with a nice top rope hurricanrana. Benjamin planted Guerrero with a powerbomb to retain the advantage. The match is rather short, but there’s some decent action. This felt like more of an angle advancement for the ladder match. Interestingly, Chavo is not seen at all.
Match Rating: **1/4
Backstage, Vince McMahon is with Piper and O’Haire and believes O’Haire has genuine concern over what happened. McMahon knows Piper and has known him for a long time. McMahon knows Piper has no remorse over what happened and knows Piper doesn’t care about the kid. McMahon knows that Piper lacks sympathy. McMahon says that is why he’s going to wrestle Mr. America at Judgment Day. McMahon believes Piper can get him what he wants. Piper doesn’t say a word.
Sable comes out mimicking what Torrie Wilson did earlier. Sable reveals her bikini for tonight teasing what she may wear at Judgment Day. Sable promises that Wilson will not look as hot as her.
We get a rundown for Judgment Day, with JR and Jerry Lawler appearing to rundown the RAW side of the event.
Backstage, Rey Mysterio shares that he should be cleared to compete in a couple of weeks. Mysterio is going to fulfill his goal of winning the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Mysterio didn’t think he’d be able to wrestle again when Big Show put him on the stretcher. Mysterio wondered if his career was over. Mysterio felt scared. Michael Cole asks if Mysterio would ever consider wrestling Big Show. Mysterio takes a deep breath and says he doesn’t know if he’d do it. Mysterio can’t answer that, but suddenly Big Show grabs Mysterio by the neck.
Big Show has Rey Mysterio over his shoulder with a stretcher in hand and making his way to the ring. A couple of referees are trying to stop Show, but Show chops Mysterio and press slams Mysterio into the ring. Mysterio slingshots the stretcher into Show’s face and hits the 619! Mysterio is caught coming off the top rope and Show hit a Samoan Drop drop. Big Show lifts Mysterio for a chokeslam, but Brock Lesnar slides into the ring and tackles Show. Lesnar whacks Show with the stretcher over the back a few times. Lesnar hits the F5 on Show! Big Show gets to his feet and yells at Lesnar saying he’s still up. However, Mysterio jumped off the top to bulldog Show from behind! Show looks livid! Lesnar poses with Mysterio on his shoulder to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Smackdown’s side for Judgment Day 2003 looks to be fairly decent focusing on the stretcher match between Lesnar & Show, ladder match tag title match, and Piper vs. Hogan twenty years after their peak. I feel like this week didn’t have a strong showing for a go-home show. Lesnar was hardly on the show. The closing segment was effective, but the show just felt like a toss away week before a PPV. I can’t say it was bad per se, but it’s at best an average show.
Thanks for reading.