Smackdown!
Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania
March 13, 2003
At 11:04 AM Brock Lesnar arrived to the Mellon Arena, set for the WWE Title night. Kurt Angle and his group arrived at 12:43, Kurt in a trance and looking a bit fearful and weary of his evening.
Number One Contender match as Rhyno/Benoit square off with Eddie/Chavo. My call was a three-way a while back, so Im assuming that will set it up.
MATCH 1: TEAM ANGLE VS. REY
MYSTERIO & BILLY KIDMAN (Non-Title)
Hass kicked it off with Kidman and Charlie hit a few basic
takedowns before Billy tried to up the pace, unsuccessful until
Benjamin tagged into the match. Rey, in his gear that the LWO
angle needed, was a little too fast for Shelton, hitting a
beautiful spinning headscissors takeover that got a two count.
Benjamin with a flying armbar takedown put Kidman in trouble and
the Champions began their assault of Billy Kidmans left
arm. Kidman certainly needed a tag after several minutes of arm
offense on behalf of Team Angle, although they did find time for
their leapfrog double team that always looks great with Sheltons
leaping ability. Billy finally made it to Rey at 5:16 and
Mysterio attacked both Haas and Benjamin as only he can, nearly
pinning Haas at 5:40. Kidman blind tagged himself in near the
ropes and countered a powerbomb into a facebuster as Team Angle
was in trouble. 619 from Rey to Haas and then a perfect Asai
moonsault to Haas on the floor. Kidman hit the Shooting Star
Press but Shelton pulled Billy off the cover (late, but they
allowed it.) Kidman was pinned with the Benjamin superkick
Haas German bridge suplex tandem attack.
Stephanie on the phone in her office as Brian Kendrick comes in bearing flowers for her. He thanks her for the match with Kurt Angle a few weeks ago, she says she was impressed and he leaves as she goes back to her call. (This kid is not exactly a good talker, thats something hell need big time. I wish him well but hes really going to have to turn it up in that regard.)
Jamie Noble visited the Playboy Mansion earlier in the day, taking a cheap cab to the front door. It was 9:17 AM when he rang the doorbell he was still ringing it at 12:07. Finally someone opened the door and said the pool had already been cleaned. At 1:42 the guy opened the door again and Noble talked to him about wanting to tell Hef that he was making the mistake of a lifetime in picking Torrie over Nidia, and also telling the guy to tell Hugh to watch GGW tonight on PPV. Two guards helped Noble off the property. Later tonight Torries cover revealed.
MATCH 2: RIKISHI VS. CHUCK PALUMBO
(W/ FBI)
Palumbo with his superkick at 0:06 after FBI distraction but the
Samoan kicked out at one. Chuck with a belly to belly as he
certainly has been focusing on his size as of late, probably a
smart move to incorporate some power into his repertoire. The
Kish fought back around 1:30 and hit his Samoan drop and his own
superkick, then backed it up on Chuck
put him down in the
corner, and passed on the Stinkface. Nunzio and the Bull tried to
come in from the floor but Eddie and Chavo ran out and cleared
them to the floor before anything started. The Rumpshaker won it
for Rikishi as a result of Los Gs.
New Mania match announced officially by Cole, Taker and Nathan Jones taking on A-Train and Big Show. (I guess they did go with the tag as I was afraid of last week. Jones could turn that fast though perhaps not, no doubt soon though. If Takers streak ends due to Train and Show, that just wouldnt uh sit well with uh me.)
Taker looking for Jones in the back but unsuccessful then sees him in a mirror with his head down basically sitting in the dark. Jones tells Big Evil he has learned to appreciate the peacefulness of silence and solitude through his ten years in prison. Taker understands that, but reminds him there will be no peace at Wrestlemania. The Phenom also wants to help Jones learn what to expect from Train and Show, watching their match tonight would help and Nathan is game for it.
Raw brand hits Moline tomorrow night, Lincoln on Saturday, Columbia on Sunday, and then Raw live in St. Louis at Savvis on Monday.
MATCH 3: BIG SHOW & A-TRAIN
VS. FUNAKI & TAJIRI
Well
you can guess. Earlier today Funaki tried to encourage
Tajiri and the Buzzsaw talked of his feet and mist being the
factor. Well he sort of talked about it. Show laid both guys out
in the first five seconds, then meathook chopped Funaki, the
legal man, before a press step away slam and a tag to the
A-Train. Show did commentary for a minute or so as Tajiri tagged
in and hit a trio of chops before being run through with a
shoulder block. Kicks from both Japanese stars as Train was
caught in the wrong position momentarily. This was ugly for the
foreigners, though they got a few kicks in here and there and
came close to a fall that brought Show back to the ring. It ended
with a chokeslam for Tajiri and then the Train Wreck backbreaker
on Funaki that won it.
They did a poll with the fans outside as to who would win the Lesnar/Angle match tonight 3-2 in favor of Brock.
BOOT OF THE WEEK (Lugz): Nidia flashing Mathews last week after challenging Torrie to a Body Challenge for tonights Girls Gone Wild PPV.
Dawn Marie in the back runs into Sean OHaire, who senses something is the matter. Dawn says she has a beautiful body also and shes a little upset that Torrie got the Playboy shoot. OHaire brings up the fact that the GGW women will show theirs tonight on the PPV, but Dawn could show her voluptuous body on SmackDown this evening. Are you telling me I should flash the audience here tonight? Dawn, Im not telling you anything that you dont already know.
Torrie talking from GGW as she wants to show her cover for Playboy magazine. She shows it off saying if you think this is hot, wait until you see whats inside. (Cover is hot, which is not a surprise of course.)
Dawn Maries music hit and out she came as Cole and Tazz mentioned the GGW PPV for about the hundredth time since 8 PM. You people think that I have a voluptuous body dont you? While those girls are going wild tonight on PPV, I am going wild right here on SmackDown. She began to unbutton her top, flashing in Tazz and Coles direction before holding it shut the middle rope blocked the TV view of the main event where Im sure tape blocked everyone elses view. Another ad for the GGW Spring Break Uncensored PPV, as theyre going for all they can with this thing.
Austin, Hogan, Triple H, and Vince McMahon take part in Wrestlemania 3rd Degree on March 23rd on TNN to answer many questions, including the true superstar of the decade. First Ive heard of that sit down four way interview.
Earlier this week, John Cena did another taped rap towards Brock Lesnar, this time apparently in the waiting room of the doctors office, calling Brock the poster child for the pill and going down easier than a ho for a five dollar bill. Ill whack you more times than a masturbation tournament. That was awfully funny and very well-executed again from Cena, who is quietly making a name for himself in a perfect character.
MATCH 4: RHYNO & CHRIS BENOIT
VS. LOS GUERREROS (Number One Contender)
Chris and Chavo started things out as I believe Brian Hebner
forgot to call for the bell in this one. Mat wrestling from both
men as well as a feeling out period before Eddie tagged himself
in once he and Chavo held a coaching session. To counter that,
Benoit tagged Rhyno into the ring, and the Man Beast overpowered
Eddie, but couldnt outthink his counterpart. Rhyno with a
high facebuster and a tag to Benoit at 2:38 as Eddie was in minor
trouble following a kitchen sink knee lift that got a two count.
Chavo hit a belly to back suplex on Rhyno, dropping him on his
neck with it, but the bigger man powered Guerrero to his corner
and Benoit easily tagged in to relieve him. Guerrero fired away
at the Crippler, who matched him and took him down with a
Crossface at 5:18 but Eddie rolled through and fought to the
ropes, then tagged in. Eddie had to try and peel his nephew off
of Benoit as Chavo was frantically attacking, showing how badly
he wanted that spot at Wrestlemania. At 7:40, Chris Benoit needed
a tag but after a kitchen sink rollup, Chavo nailed him with a
double thrust and made the tag to Eddie, who hit his apron senton
for a near fall. Fan response was dying big time as Benoits
tough evening continued at the hands of Los Guerreros, but they
came alive as Chris tried a Crossface but Chavo rolled him right
out of the ring. All four ended up on the floor as Rhyno
clotheslined Eddie and checked on Benoit and the show took a
break at 9:59, coming back at basically 13:00 with Chavo trying
his own poor variation on a Crossface that did not work
there was no Crossface, it was a headlock and then turned more
into a Crossface kind of maneuver. Rhyno tagged in at 14:03 and
Chavo didnt know it
it was kind of anticlimactic to
come in that way but the Man Beast turned up the power on Chavo.
Benoit had Guerrero on the top rope later in the match and Eddie
turned it into a sunset powerbomb as Rhyno broke up the cover and
then tossed Chavo to the floor at 16:43. Small package on Benoit
from Eddie after baiting Rhyno to charge him in the corner.
Benoit gave Eddie a belly to back to the floor and Chavo
connected with a dropkick on the Rabid Wolverine. Crossface on
Chavo at 17:35 as Eddie came off the top with the Frog Splash
onto Benoit, which broke up the cover. Eddie stumbled right into
a Gore but then Chavo brought Rhyno to the floor with a
headscissors that put them both over the top. Benoit covered
Eddie but Guerrero kicked out at 18:17. This one folks, was
pretty much a classic, definitely one of the better WWE TV
matches youll probably ever see. Benoit with the rolling
Germans, after the second Eddie countered with his own move, the
triple vertical suplexes, but the second one turned into a
Crossface. Eddie battled through to a waistlock that was reversed
and Benoit hit yet another German suplex, looking for a second as
Team Angle hit the ring, assaulting all four men with the belts
and leaving.
Footage from last Thursday as Vince and Hogan verbally went at it and set up their fight, The Battle in Seattle as Raw magazines XIX special terms it. Vince we then see in a special set up area where I would guess he will talk from after the break.
SmackDown crew hits up Miami on Saturday, Tampa on Sunday, and tapes next weeks show in Louisville on Tuesday.
Stephanie angry walks up to Haas and Benjamin, who were celebrating, until they find out the WWE Tag Titles are in a triple threat against Los Guerreros and Benoit and Rhyno.
Classic footage of Vince and Hogan through the years, the WWF star that the Hulkster became when he pinned the Iron Sheik for the WWF Championship, then the phenomenon of Hulkamania and many of his memorable moments to Rick Derringers Real American. Then shots of Hogan talking about 1983 to 1993 and how he ran with the banner like no one else could, but it was Vince McMahon who set up the deals and the strategy and gave him the chance. Plenty of the old Vince/Hogan segments together as announcer/interviewer to main event superstar. Then shots of Hogan on Rivers, Carson, Arsenio, Letterman, Regis, and everywhere else you can imagine though they didnt show every single thing. Then from the Wrestlemania VIII preshow spectacular, Vince thanking Hogan for Hulkamania before potentially the career ending match with Sid Justice.
Now Vince live, Now what you people just saw was a historic piece of footage now what you saw, well you know what, lets take a look at it again. Alright, one more time. (They showed the handshake and the thank you from Hogan to Vince.) You see that was history in the making because it was the first and only time that Hulk Hogan ever said thank you to me for anything and all these years Hulk Hogan said thank you one time, and you just saw it. A real ingrate huh? Thats exactly what you are Hogan. But it wasnt always that way, because at one time we were the best of friends. We were inseparable. We even rode Harleys together, got into spirited situations from time to time together. But then you changed, and when you changed you hurt me, you hurt my family, and you hurt my business. And you being the sociopath that you are Hogan Im sure didnt bother you, but it bothered me, it hurt me, it cut me to the bone. I know now that you werent saying thank you to me at all, way back then you were saying screw you Vince McMahon, and thats exactly what you did at the first opportunity you had you screwed me, you defected to WCW and you said all those hurtful things to and about me Hogan. Me being who I am as a human being, I actually forgave you for all of that and I actually invited you back, knowing that this is my ballpark, I just allow you and a few others to play in it. And after I brought you back, you challenge me to a match at Wrestlemania, well its on, its going to happen, but as I said this isnt a match, this is a fight, a fight like never before Hogan. After this fight is over with at Wrestlemania, I know Im going to be hurt all over again. I know Im going to feel like my guts have been torn out. I know that Im going to feel that my heart has been broken. Im going to be devastated, you know why, because you Hogan are going to force me to do what I never really wanted to do, and thats kill one of my own creations, Hulkamania. And for that Hogan, for that I will never ever forgive you never.
Next week, Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon sign the contract for Wrestlemania.
We see Trish shooting her sorority sisters skit for MadTV which Stratus likes as shes able to show her comedic side.
BURN OF THE NIGHT (Stacker 2): Rey over Tajiri and Noble to get the shot at Matt Hardy for Wrestlemania, winning the three way last week.
MATCH 5: MATT HARDY (W/ Shannon
Moore) VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUIN
Matt has never locked his keys in his car and Matt
hates cleaning his carpet. In the back, Rey Mysterio
watching the monitor closely as Matt had made this a non-title
Cruiserweight challenge sparring session
to whomever
accepted it. On the mic Matt talked of not defending his title
until Mania but to make sure his Mattributes stayed finely tuned
the challenge was opened to everyone but Rey. Obviously the
Penguin, wearing an admirable mask, was Brian Spanky
Kendrick, even in the black and green boots, but once he tried
the hometown pop, the fans were totally behind him. The Penguin
took Matt down and Hardy stopped it, saying it was an exhibition
before decking the kid with a hard right hand. Shannon helped to
choke the Penguin on the middle rope before Matt hit his Ricochet
a kickout from the Penguin. Matt was just too much for the
Penguin, finally pulling the mask off and celebrating it as we
see it was one Brian Kendrick. He then assaulted Matt as the
match was still on, using quickness and hitting a springboard
dropkick. Kendrick with a near fall on Matt at 4:02 and then a
turning variation of a tornado DDT variation that got a two
count. Moore had entered the ring and Kendrick ran into him, then
hit some moves on both men at one time. Shannon pulled Matt out
of the ring at 4:55 and the two stumbled up the ramp. In the
back, Rey had stood up in front of his monitor.
Press conference at the ESPNZone in Times Square this coming Tuesday at 11 AM. Cole and Tazz both say it is absolutely huge.
In the back, Rey put Kendrick over huge and congratulated him on a great effort. Brian then wished Mysterio luck at Wrestlemania before screaming This is it to himself about the opportunity he may be looking at soon.
We see the footage of Angle winning the Championship, then Brock winning the Rumble, then Angles mind games of the Team Angle gauntlet that Brock ran through Heymans interference and the F-5 that keeps him off of this weeks show from last weeks cage match. Lesnar, by winning that match, gets Kurt here tonight.
Brock finishing some final stretches using a pair of hockey goals before taking off towards the ring. Tale of the tape once again as Brock has about sixty pounds and four inches on the Olympic gold medalist.
WRESTLEMANIA MOMENT: From 1987 and III Hogan over Andre for the WWF Championship.
MATCH 6: KURT ANGLE VS. BROCK
LESNAR (WWE Championship)
Kurt came out, went into the ring, then got on his knees in the
corner as if he was praying, with his gold underneath him. Brock
attacked Kurt, who was still in the corner, driving shoulders
into the small of his back and throwing knee lifts as Angle did
no fighting back at all. F-5 at 0:27 and a 1-2
Brock got up
off the count looking like he saw a ghost. Angle still in his
crushed velvet hooded jacket and out as Brock left the ring to
run up after Team Angle, who had just arrived. In the ring, one
Kurt switched with another
who looked exactly like him.
Brock re-entered and Angle with a small package won it at 1:19.
We see the real Kurt go up the ramp and the second one, bald as
well, being attacked and busted open, taking the F-5 into the
ring post
and yep, its one Eric Angle.