WWE SMACKDOWN WORKRATE REPORT- 8/22/2002! PART 3.

[Guest DEAN RASMUSSEN]

WHAT WORKED:

 

- Nidia vs Molly was a-okay if a bit stilted and multi-camera-angled in it`s execution. Molly`s finisher is a peck of fun so the actual ring-stuff makes the top. The angle where Nidia has to win the belt before she realize her dream to be a true slut within her is absolutely beautiful since it is an integral part of her charater. The backstage guard basically no-selling Nidia`s big ole titties was an insight to his generation; he isn`t so old as to not remember NATURAL big titties so seeing plastic versions make him reminisce to his youth, perhaps to a burlesque house, perhaps the Rockettes, then his mind travels back to the actual women he had loved- he feels an appreciation of what was offered him because he knew that what caressed with his hand and kissed tenderly with his lips was honest and real. Here he sees a child painted up and physically altered and he can no more conjure lust for them as we could for a digitally altered picture that makes Anna Kournikova appear naked. He has never made the leap to the naked dishonesty before him.

 

- Chris Benoit is a really great professional wrestler. In the match against the Rock and Edge, he and Eddy Guerrerro are just the fucking GOD KING GODS of the Professional Wrestling. The undercurrent is really cool- as the Rock has bad ribs going in and Eddy and Benoit pulverize them into a paste that the Rock kinda randomly sells throughout the match. Before that aspect kicks in the beat the living dogshit out of Edge and Edge is quite the game recipient- trading chops with Benoit (Jesus Christ. Benoit fucking MURDERS Edge with those chops. That was fucking balls out) and taking the pounding to build the heat of the match to the explosion when he finally tags in the Rock. Then they have the ass-beating of the Rock with Benoit brawling like a motherfucker with Rock to the floor back into the ring, leading up big bumps by Edge to make the first Rock escape of the Crossface all dramatic and the recovery by Edge to make the second Crossface plausible in the context of the match. The middle section was a little cumbersome as Eddy and Benoit were struggling to find new and innovative ways to beat the shit out of Edge so there were large pauses as Benoit and Eddy became too methodical, but it was a slow build to big payoff- as they go from nearfall to save to big bump to save to submission to save, all the way up to Rock and Edge`s final comeback. The only one who came out of this looking any the weaker is Eddy and I`m thinking that he should have gotten the pin since it seems like giving Eddy the win at Summerslams doesn`t help Edge any- but the booking of this would suggest Eddy going over Sunday. Minor quibbles of a really good (SUPLEX-LESS?!?!) TV match. Benoit is absolutely motherfucking awesome.

 

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

 

DEAN.

[Guest goodhelmet]

What makes it even more amazing is the fact that Benoit can still be a total badass despite the fact he hasn't used the Rolling Germans or the Swandive Headbutt or other high impact moves in his arsenal that helped me take notice of him the first time around.

 

As for Nidia... I'd do her... and Molly... at the same time. No doubt.

[Guest Kojack]

I do miss the swandive and rolling german's though. But still Benoit is king. Also I think Funaki worked!

[Guest DARRYLXWF]

I wonder how Benoit will be remembered in 20 years time?

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

Benoit actually used the Swandive last week on SD.

[Guest Incandenza]

I remember the swandive; didn't he do the rolling germans once, also? I'm not too sure about that one.

[Guest goodhelmet]

it's possible he did those moves last week ( i didn't see it) BUT in every match i've seen since his return, those moves have been nowhere to be found including last night's match.

[Guest Incandenza]

it's possible he did those moves last week ( i didn't see it) BUT in every match i've seen since his return, those moves have been nowhere to be found including last night's match.

Yeah, Cole was even making a big deal out of the swandive, noting Benoit had not performed it in over a year, AND that it was especially dangerous due to the state of Benoit's neck.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

He definitely did the Swandive in his singles match against Rock. It was the only time he's done it since his return that I recall.

 

Quoth CRZ:

Benoit stands over Rock - THUMB CROSSES THROAT! He's going up for the first swandive headbutt since his surgery - AND CONNECTS!! Commentators (rightly) make a big deal out of this.

8/15/02 Smackdown Report

[Guest ISportsFan]

He's done rolling Germans a couple times since returning, and he did the swandive once v. Rock.

 

Jason

[Guest DEAN RASMUSSEN]

As for Nidia... I'd do her... and Molly... at the same time. No doubt.

Hey, I was just going on about stuff. Take it to the bank that I'd disappoint both with my comical, carbunkly love if given a chance.

 

DEAN.

[Guest BigTim2002]

Yeah, Benoit is motherfucking great, but so is Eddy, and him winning, well, I'm gonna like it a lot, if it happens. Rocky will probably get his ass whooped at the PPV, so he can sell the ribs to make another MOO-VIE, but all's well that ends well. Fuck, having almost an hour dedicated to Benoit and Guerrero served the fucking purpose. Fucking great, and Dean, you fucking rule, but you knew that already.

[Guest DEAN RASMUSSEN]

Yeah, Benoit is motherfucking great, but so is Eddy, and him winning, well, I'm gonna like it a lot, if it happens. Rocky will probably get his ass whooped at the PPV, so he can sell the ribs to make another MOO-VIE, but all's well that ends well. Fuck, having almost an hour dedicated to Benoit and Guerrero served the fucking purpose.

It seems like they are pushing the hell out of Edge and a loss to Eddy would be bad- but the match last night wouldn't make sense unless Eddy wins. I suspect SHENANIGANS that will hopefully get Eddy the win but also intensify the feud. They need to feed Benoit and Eddy some tag teams to build them up even stronger before set up the next big feud for someone else. Their role is about as perfect as you could want- the great tag matches that set up the money matches, the ass-stompers who bring out the fighting spirit in the faces. It's everything I could possibly want because it DOES add up to a majority of the show focused on it's two best wrestlers. Heyman can be a genius sometimes.

 

DEAN.

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

Yeesh.. that's the third person to claim that Benoit has yet to do a certain thing when in fact he has.

 

First it was the thumb across the throat, next was the rolling germans, and now it's the rolling germans AND the headbutt.

 

Pay attention people!

[Guest goodhelmet]

ok, here's the deal. benoit may have done those things but if you watch his work from 2000-2001, there was at least a rolling germans or swandive in EVERY match. hey, i'll be the first one to admit i haven't seen every benoit match since he has been back. with that said, it really drives home how GGGRRREEAAATTT!!!! the motherfucker is that his two most famous signature high impact moves don't appear in every match, yet he still rules the fucking school.