Smackdown spoilers from Fresno
by Dan Schilling
I'd also say that the vast majority of the attendees were of Hispanic origin. This was definitely the best place to do Eddie's big celebration, and it made for a great atmosphere.
The crowd was hot all night, popping huge for any mention of Eddie, and breaking out into "Eddie" chants throughout the night.
We were treated to 2 or 3 really good video packages detailing the history of WrestleMania, one accompanied by Foo Fighters' "Times Like These" and one to POD's "Boom". The third one was the one we've all been seeing lately (the one that ends with Vince turning to camera and saying "Where it all begins...again"). Big pop for Mania. The folks in attendance tonight all seemed to be buzzing about the show. Good sign.
Dark Match:
Orlando Jordan vs. A-Train: Say what you will about the Train, he IS over. As long as he doesn't shave that back of his, he'll get a reaction. Jordan won with a roll-up if I remember correctly.
Velocity:
Rey and Kidman vs. Jamie Noble and Nunzio: This was your typical "new age" cruiserweight match (i.e., "slowed down to a snail's pace with restholds a plenty"). Rey and Kidman won when Rey hit the West Coast Pop on Noble. The crowd was hot for this match (as they were for ALMOST all of them).
Rhyno vs. Shannon Moore: Shannon might as well retire. No one gives a damn about him. Why he didn't get to join Matt Hardy on RAW, I'll never know. Of course Shannon STILL wouldn't get any TV time, but at least he'd have a gimmick. Shannon was actually booed for the majority of the match. Rhyno won with the Gore.
Paul London vs. Sakoda: Even worse than Shannon is Paul London. Has this guy ever been on SmackDown? Nobody even knew who he was. The match died a horrible death. Sakoda won, but how I don't remember again. There was one highlight, and that was London attempting and missing a 360 splash from the top rope. It woke the building up for a split second.
Scotty and Rikishi vs. The FBI (Johnny The Bull and Chuck Palumbo): Scotty and Rikishi were quite over. Their shtick has a surprisingly long shelf life. It's mystifying how many smart fans complain about these guys too. The vast majority of fans love them. Rikishi got the duke with the Banzai Drop. The crowd was fairly peeved that they didn't dance though. Scotty offered a courtesy wave as a replacement. No one bought it.
SmackDown!:
Show starts with a great video package for Eddie's title win and celebration. First huge pop of the night was for the package.
Heyman comes on saying Brock will not be in the building because he's "too dangerous" to have around after losing his belt. He also announces that Eddie will be defending his title against Chavo, and a special referee will be on hand.
Pyro, music, SmackDown! on UPN.
Angle enters and proceeds to cut the corniest promo of the night, showing a palpable lack of sincerity when congratulating Eddie on winning. Cena interrupts, basically calling Angle a dork and sucking up to Eddie and the Fresno crowd. Things get heated, but Heyman shows up again on the Titantron, deciding to put Angle and Cena in a tag match with the Bashams.
Angle and Cena vs. The Basham Brothers: The Bashams were, of course, without Shaniqua. Angle and Cena teased dissention throughout the match. Cean played face in peril, Angle makes the hot tag, cleans house, hits the Angle Slam, and locks in the Ankle Lock. The hold is broken, with Angle getting pushed into his corner. Cena makes a blind tag, jumps in, and hits the F-U, and getting the 1-2-3.
Rey Mysterio enters Paul Heyman's office. Heyman says he's sure Rey wants to complain about getting screwed on Sunday. Rey quickly retorts, saying that what he really wants is to lobby for a rematch. Paul makes a deal with Rey, that if Chavo can beat Eddie for the WWE title, then Rey can have his rematch, for both the Cruiserweight and WWE titles, but Rey is not allowed to interfere or he'll face the wrath of the special referee.
Billy Gunn vs. Tajiri: Billy Gunn is totally worthless. I thought I'd mention that. Tajiri won with the Kick after interference from Akio and Sakoda.
The APA, Scotty, and Rikishi share a beer, and get to talking about the tag titles. The APA ostensibly challenges them for the belts, but are interrupted by The World's Greatest Tag Team, who also stake a claim to the titles based on their win at No Way Out. The APA though, tosses TWGTT out of their "office".
Eddie comes out to a HUGE face pop. To accentuate the moment, we get red, white, and green confetti and balloons, and some really impressive (even for WWE) fireworks. Eddie talks about how "we" won the title, how his win was for everyone who people said wasn't "tall enough or handsome enough" to make it. Chavo comes out and cuts his typical promo, about how he should have gotten the ballons and fireworks because he won the Cruiserweight belt at NWO. He blames Eddie for stealing his spotlight. Naturally, he vows to win the title later on tonight.
This segment is awesome. If for nothing else, watch the show for this segment. It's a classic wrestling moment.
Confetti is cleaned up and time wasted.
Big Show vs. Hardcore Holly: Holly, being Mr. Tough Guy, jumped Big Show from behind to start the match. Naturally, this was a slow, plodding affair that Show won handily with the Chokeslam. Show, BTW, was quite the attraction for the crowd, getting one of the better "non-racially motivated" reactions of the evening. Cena came out again, and challenged Show for the U.S. title at WrestleMania. Show accepted after Cena insinuated that Show would be a coward is he didn't accept. Show said he had "more guts than brains", to which an especially smart-assed fan said "But Show, you have more guts than anyone."
Chavo Sr. is shown laid out, with Angle standing over him. Heyman rushes in, trying to make sense of everything. Angle says he's tired of all of the attacks, and that it was probably Eddie who was the perp.
More confetti clean-up and a video about the Playboy shoot and an ad for "Divas Undressed" the DVD.
Josh Matthews announces Brock is in the building.
Brock then, comes out, after a trailer for Walking Tall. Big time heat for Lesnar, pulled out the old "Bobby Heenan Joke Book" and insinuated that Eddie had probably pawned the title as "that's what all Mexicans do, right?" There was a very uneasy feeling in the air after that one. Lesnar says he's depressed, that he deserves the belt because he's a good guy, an NCAA Champion, and an "American citizen". Then the topic switches to Goldberg. Lesnar gets on his knees and begs Vince to give him a match with Goldberg at WrestleMania. I don't know if making Lesnar out to look like a pansy is the smartest idea for a supposed "monster heel", but damned if he wasn't the most over heel in the building tonight.
Heyman approaches Angle, and appoints him special ref for the main event. Angle protests, saying he's not a referee.
Eddie vs. Chavo: Chavo comes out sans Sr. and Eddie comes out in a low-rider. The hydrolics got a bigger pop than Billy Gunn. Sr. waddled out late in the match, but was taken out by Rey who ran down on Eddie's behalf. Eddie hits the Frog Splash, and of course, finally, Angle turns, not counting the fall (He must have learned from his business with Brock during the summer, that if you're going to be a special referee, YOU should be the one doing the screwing). Angle worked Eddie over good, hitting the Angle Slam. Eddie bladed. This was pretty much a one-man version of the beatdown from Monday. Angle walked up the ramp and stared back at the ring, which I would assume is where the show ends. Angle then comes back, starts working Eddie over again, but Eddie makes his comeback and his the Frog Splash. He celebrates and leaves under his own power. Angle gets up, as the crowd boos him mercilessly. Angle says "I don't suck. I won an Olympic Gold Medal." He puts over the match at Ma!
nia big time and punctuates the night by saying Fresno can "kiss his ass".
Overall, the show was really solid. Wrestling wise, there's nothing to get excited about. Eddie/Chavo was the only real match of interest. The show was really based primarily on getting Eddie over (as if they had to try in this town) and pushing WrestleMania.
Biggest Pops:
1. Eddie
2. Rey
3. Cena
4. Angle
Biggest Heat:
1. Lesnar
2. Angle after the turn
3. Big Show
4. Heyman
--Dave Schilling
Credit: Observer
