The One and Only Smackdown! July 31, 2002

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Hey all, time for the HELLA early (though not as early as Flyboy's attempted two-days early RAW thread) Smackdown! thread. I don't remember any particular matches being confirmed for last week, but this week's official WWE preview promises Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Tajiri! Although Tajiri's matches have been somewhat generic lately, consisting mainly of lots of kicks, because of his moveset being restricted by the WWE, I believe that this match will be another winner, just like last week's, and allow both men to look great. It'll also be nice to see Chavo back on Velocity, unless (which is what I'm hoping) he interferes against Rey in the match-up to continue a feud.

 

The real question for this week is, who will Steph "steal" from RAW to appear on Smackdown? Monday saw the RAW debut of Team Canada (and more importantly, the tag team titles!) and Chris Jericho; will Stephanie steal some Canadians of her own, namely Chris Benoit, the IC champ? I hope not, as I was proven wrong by the RVD/Benoit match Monday that the two can work well, and I'd like to see it continued.

 

Post thoughts, questions, and any NON-SPOILER confirmed matches I may have missed. As usual, keep the spoilers the F out until 8pm EST, 5pm PST tonight.

[Guest evenflowDDT]

Oh yea, for those who think my paraphrasing/hype isn't good enough, here's the WWE's official preview, word for word:

 

Can't wait until tonight to find out what happens? Click here to read the entire results in the SmackDown! spoiler!

 

SmackDown! kicks off on UPN this Thursday live from Charlotte!

 

On last week's episode, RAW general manager Eric Bischoff rode away with four superstars who defected to his Monday night program. Don't think for a second that Stephanie McMahon will sit idle and let Bischoff ruin her show. How will the SmackDown! general manager strike back? Tune in Thursday to find out!

 

Brock Lesnar upset both Kurt Angle and Hollywood Hulk Hogan last week. The Olympic Hero and the Hulkster were noticeably agitated, and are certain to seek revenge. See what becomes of the Next Big Thing this Thursday night!

 

There's plenty more reason to tune in to SmackDown! this Thursday night. Just seven days after making an impressive debut in WWE, Rey Mysterio leaps back into action by taking on fellow high-flier Tajiri!

 

You never know what will happen on SmackDown! Don't miss it this Thursday on UPN! Check your local listings for time and channel.

 

Will the oft-rumored Vince/Hogan feud be put off yet again to involve Brock and Hogan in a mini (and hopefully [probably the only time I'd hope for it] one-sided with Brock kicking major ass) feud, or will The Rock just appear and cut another unfunny promo that makes Brock look like a fool? Who will The Rock beat on Smackdown tomorrow... Angle again? Or will he finally suck it up and job in a non-title match like a man? Time will tell... or the spoilers, but I'd rather not read those.

[Guest HartFan86]

Sounds like an ok show. I'll be watching as always.

[Guest Austin3164life]

I still think Raw is the better show, although the WWE is starting to pick up the slack, slowly but surely. I might tune in to see if I am entertained.

[Guest thebigjig]

I think they need to slow down a bit on the roster jumps... I mean, yeah I know they want to balance out the rosters and everything with an equal amount of A-team talent so to speak, but damn... do we have to have a surprise jump on every show? It just kind of ruins the novelty of it for me. Of course I may just be nitpicking a bit too much

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I think they need to slow down a bit on the roster jumps... I mean, yeah I know they want to balance out the rosters and everything with an equal amount of A-team talent so to speak, but damn... do we have to have a surprise jump on every show? It just kind of ruins the novelty of it for me. Of course I may just be nitpicking a bit too much

Well, as it is right now, Smackdown! is definitely NOT an "A-team talent" show. It's only big names (not counting The Rock, because he appears on both shows and will be leaving soon anyway) are Rey (VERY good, but not necessarily known to the crowd or marketable!), Angle (VERY good in both providing good matches and entertaining the crowd, easily the best all-around on Smackdown's roster!), Edge (good!), Brock (not as good as Angle or Edge, but quickly shaping up to be a credible contender for the undisputed title and an entertaining guy without many to give him proper credit), and Hogan (has-been!).

 

I agree that having jumpers appear on every show DOES remove a lot of the shock and novelty of the storyline, but if the rosters don't "even out", we'd have either nothing but rookie/cruiserweight matches (and then what of my beloved Velocity? ) or we'd be stuck with Mark Henry vs. John Cena matches every week. Also, the sudden flood of ship-jumpers is obviously building up to some sort of GM vs. GM or show vs. show storyline. I just hope it isn't Stephanie vs. Eric at SummerSlam...

[Guest thebigjig]

Stephanie vs. Eric at SummerSlam?

 

Yeah... that evokes nightmares

 

 

But look at it this way... it would probably be better than Vince vs. Eric at SS

[Guest Big Poppa Popick]

I so love Raw...but I wish Smackdown had kept Triple H...then I would be in heaven

[Guest evenflowDDT]

I so love Raw...but I wish Smackdown had kept Triple H...then I would be in heaven

Yea, but then they couldn't tease at/build to HHH vs. HBK. Although I suppose they could've had Steph steal HBK, remember that Bischoff signing HHH was the first time in a while that they had actually given the "heel" an advantage in a "feud", if you consider GM vs. GM to be a legitimate feud.

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

But look at it this way... it would probably be better than Vince vs. Eric at SS

No way man. Vince vs Bisch is WM material!

[Guest thebigjig]

lol I was thinking workrate wise

[Guest JHawk]

Non-spoiler confirmed match:

 

My on-screen cable guide promises Hulk Hogan and The Rock against Billy and Chuck. Rah.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

wasn't Rock and Hogan vs. Billy and Chuck last week?

[Guest Shaved Bear]

man this better be a good show,

 

 

dont put any spoilers bedore the show begins

[Guest Ironman]

SPOILER!!!

 

HHH makes an appearance on BOTH shows from now on!

 

RATINGS PROBLEMS NO MORE!!

[Guest Shaved Bear]

SPOILER!!!

 

HHH makes an appearance on BOTH shows from now on!

 

RATINGS PROBLEMS NO MORE!!

please be joking

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

Tajiri Vs Rey should be good. If given time.

[Guest Trivia247]

I wonder what Colored Contacts they will give the bulked up Rey Rey.

Maybe the WWE will force him to breath Fire or something goofy like that.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Once again, I regret not having a TV in my office. Meaning I can't share my whimsical comments with you fellows...

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

Spoiler:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't-Chris-Benoit-just-starting-a-feud-with-RVD,who-is-a

member-of-the-Raw-Roster.Now-that-Benoit-is-on-Smackdown

and-has-taken-the-Intercontinental-Championship-with

him,could-RVD-be-the-next-to-head-on-down-to-Smackdown?

[Guest The Superstar]

I know...I was reading USA Today this morning and it said "Rock and Hollywood Hogan vs. Billy and Chuck" I almost did a spit take, had I not read the spoilers

[Guest chirs3]

Smackdown. Oh joy. The staple of my Thursday nights. Without it, I would surely-

 

*falls asleep*

 

In case you haven't noticed, I'm less than excited.

 

Especially since RAW IS JERICHO! RAW IS JERICHO! YES! YES! YESYESYESYEEEEESSS! Bischoff, I'm begging you, get Angle out of the shithole that is Smackdown and I will abandon Thursday night WWE Foreverrrr!

 

Ahem.

 

----> If Rey-Rey will pull out more actual OFFENSE, and less "Oh, here's one of nine hundred ways I can pin a man" moves, then we'll talk.

 

----> Since someone mentioned it, I'm not sure if I want Steph to take Benoit. But then again, if Benoit stays on Raw, we could have Eddie/RVD over again, note-for-note. Heel cheats to win, heel cheats to retain, face wins back, with no real reason for the fued. We'll see.

 

----> Let's see if Stephanie can survive one more night without Team Canada... man, that was a deathblow. I can't wait to hear Cole mourning the loss of Test. Though maybe that will be overshadowed by RAW IS JERICHO! RAW IS JERICHO! YES! YES! YESYESYESYESYESSSSS! THERE IS A GOD!

 

Maybe if tonight's Smackdown actually produces storylines, fueds, and matches that both don't suck and don't run under four minutes, I'll lighten up on 'em.

 

But until then...

 

RAW..IS..JERICHO!

[Guest The Superstar]

man, I was SO marking out when Jericho's music hit on RAW. Jericho vs. Flair? Oh hell yeah.

 

Oh yeah, um...smackdown. Will we get a Angle/Brock match? or will that wait? Will Hogan want a piece of Brock for stealing his limo and making Hogan walk to his hotel? Tune in to find out!

[Guest Shaved Bear]

this thread will go to *5* pages

[Guest The Superstar]

Maybe 10 if it gets really exciting (read: MAIN EVENT!)

[Guest CanadianChris]

Especially since RAW IS JERICHO! RAW IS JERICHO! YES! YES! YESYESYESYEEEEESSS! Bischoff, I'm begging you, get Angle out of the shithole that is Smackdown and I will abandon Thursday night WWE Foreverrrr!

We'll see.

[Guest The Superstar]

::Cowers in fear of what will be the 1st hour main event, but relaxes when he realizes what happens during the 2nd hour main ::

[Guest The Superstar]

wh00! REY ALREADY HAS HIS OWN T-SHIRT!

 

 

why is HHH still in the Smackdown credits?

[Guest Nevermortal]

That powerbomb had some STANK on it.

[Guest LesnarLunatic]

Tajiri is being very stiff here