Smackdown!

Tulsa, Oklahoma
December 26, 2002

Heading in to SmackDown!, fans were anxious to see the scheduled WWE Championship match between Big Show and Kurt Angle. Unfortunately for Big Show and the fans, the match never took place. Rather, Stephanie McMahon took to the ring at the top of the show and let everybody know that Angle was physically unable to compete. Kurt's physical downfall came when SmackDown! went off the air last week. It was then that Brock Lesnar decimated the Champion, tearing every ligament in his leg.

There was going to be a No. 1 Contender's match, however. Stephanie booked Big Show vs. Chris Benoit, the winner would face Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. The match was a back and forth battle with Benoit finally winning in the end. After the pinfall, however, Benoit was destroyed by Big Show, Kurt Angle and Team Angle -- the duo of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin.

In other Brock Lesnar news, Matt Hardy claimed that Lesnar was single handedly destroying SmackDown! Being the cocky competitor that Matt Hardy is, he challenged Brock to a match next week on SmackDown! After the challenge was set, Matt turned his attention on his MF-er Shannon Moore. Still injured from the week before at the hands of Brock Lesnar, Hardy attacked Moore, leaving him helpless in the middle of the ring.

Elsewhere on SmackDown!, Al Wilson and Dawn Marie exchanged holiday gifts. Al gave Dawn Marie a gift they would both benefit from, Viagra. And Dawn Marie gave Al a video camera. One could only hope that they do not use the two gifts together.

Match results:

Bill DeMott def. Crash

Los Guerreros def. Edge & Kidman

Rikishi def. B2

Chris Benoit def. Big Show