Guest Frankie Williams Report post Posted April 16, 2003 The following is a preliminary report of tonight's Smackdown! tapings, done exclusively by rajahwwf.com. If anyone who attended wants to provide additional notes/results, please send it on in and we'll add it to this page. April 15, 2003 Norfolk, Virginia Report by: rajahwwf.com - As usual, I missed any dark matches and/or any Velocity tapings that may have occured. If anyone can send us the results to these, it would be much appreciated. - Michael Cole & Tazz come out for commentary after which the American national anthem is sung. Tony Chimmel then welcomes the audience and tells everyone to cheer. - Rey Mysterio & Tajiri vs. A-Train & The Big Show. Mysterio & Tajiri put up a decent fight for much of the match, but they are basically overpowered in the end as Show and A-Train pick up the pinfall victory. After the match, A-Train tries to beat up Tajiri some more but gets the mist in the face. Big Show takes exception and goes after Tajiri so Mysterio hits the 619 and knocks Big Show down. Big Show gets angry and embarassed. - Backstage, Brock Lesnar arrives. - Backstage, Big Show is still mad at what happened, mainly the fact that everyone was laughing at him. He tells A-Train that he is going to go to Stephanie McMahon's office right now to ask for a match against Rey Mysterio. - Brock Lesnar Interview. Cole conducts the interview and congratulates Lesnar for his Wrestlemania 19 victory over Kurt Angle. They show footage of the finish of the match. Cole asks Brock how he felt after the match and Lesnar says he was feeling the pain. He landed on his head and is thankful for being here today. Lesnar says that when he first lost his title, he thought he'd get it back easily. But Angle pulled every trick in the book to keep the title away from him. That's why he knew he had to bring it. Kurt Angle kicked out of the F-5 twice and Brock says he knew he had to do something out of the ordinary to bring the title home. Brock talks about the concussion he suffered but says if he had the option of doing it again, he would. Cole then asks him about Angle, the former champion. Brock says Kurt is probably sitting at home watching after neck surgery but at Wrestlemania, Kurt took him to another level. He has the utmost respect for Angle, but before he can say anything else, John Cena's music hits. Cena comes out and says that Lesnar is disrespecting everyone by lying. He is nothing but a big liar. Cena says he watched the Wrestlemania footage 400 times and he didn't get a concussion. To get a concussion, you need a brain first. But anyway, here's to say that Wrestlemania is over and he better focus on the new big thing. At Backlash, he'll find out that John Cena is bigger than Brock Lesnar, bigger than these people and bigger than that WWE title. Before he can finish his thought, Chris Benoit's music hits and out he comes. Benoit says Cena has no idea about respect. Before you even think of facing Lesnar at Backlash, you better worry about going through the Wolverine, the best damn technical wrestler in the world. Benoit says that no one, not him not you, is bigger than the WWE title - you have to respect it even if you don't respect the man wearing it. Lesnar jumps in and asks Benoit if this means he doesn't respect him. Benoit says he never said that, unless you're saying you don't respect me. Cena says you both better show me some respect right now. Lesnar says let's all respect whoever wins tonight but Cena then cheapshots Benoit. - Eddie Guerrero (w/ Chavo) vs. Jamie Noble (w/ Nidia). Before the match gets underway, Team Angle comes out. Benjamin mocks the Guerreros' accent and Haas says that the Guerreros' grandmother is the best housekeeper money can buy. This basically allows Noble to gain the advantage for much of the beginning of the match. Nidia tries to interfere on Noble's behalf, but it doesn't help as Eddie hits the Frog Splash for the pinfall victory. - After the match, Guerrero addresses Team Angle saying the rumor is that they go down on each other all the time. Chavo says from what he hears, they give new meaning to the term "You Suck". Team Angle swarms the ring and all four men go at it and it's revealed that these two teams will go at it for the tag team titles at Backlash. - Backstage, Nathan Jones catches up to Nunzio and roughs him up, saying he set him up with the police. Nunzio pleads innocence, but Jones will have none of it. - They announce that Undertaker has undergone elbow surgery and will return in a couple of weeks. - Backstage, Sable meets up with Torrie says she was impressed with her Playboy but it wasn't as good as the real thing, as she saw first hand last week. She asks Torrie to help her with her zipper and then asks Torrie if she'd mind if she changed in here with her. Torrie says she can change wherever she likes, but right now she has a match to worry about. Sable wonders: "was it something I said?" - It is announced that at Backlash, Sean O'Haire (with Roddy Piper in his corner) will take on Rikishi. - Piper's Pit. Piper talks a bit about useless nothing before getting footage to roll where he hit Jimmy Snuka with a coconut. He says that for 20 years he has been taking on all comers and he's back to take on the rest. Piper's Pit is making friends...Rikishi, one big tough kid and he asks for footage from last week where O'Haire and Piper laid him out. Piper introduces Sean O'Haire and says that he needed someone tough to watch his back and help him take on the world. O'Haire says he's out here for one reason - Piper is a legend and it's an honor for him to stand here in this ring with him. For 25 years, Piper's been on top of this business. His style and intensity is unparalleled. He wants to learn from the only mind that might be more evil than his. Snuka's music hits and the Superfly comes out. Snuka says there is a problem here - Piper. Then he mumbles some more but I can't understand what he's trying to say. Piper suggests that they bury the hatchet. Piper tries to cheapshot Snuka, but can't so O'Haire helps. This prompts Rikishi to come out but Piper and O'Haire beat him out too and leave. Rikishi grabs a mic and basically says he'll beat O'Haire at Backlash and he challenges Piper to a match next week, which Roddy accepts later in the show. - Torrie Wilson vs. Nidia (w/ Jamie Noble). Sable ends up being the referee for the match. Torrie stares at Sable when she enters the ring, allowing Nidia to blindside her for the early advantage. Torrie gets some help from Sable to hit a DDT for the win and then dropkicks Noble for good measure. - Matt Hardy (w/ Shannon Moore) vs. Brian Kendrick. This match is for the Cruiserweight title. Matt hits the Twist of Fate but Kendrick gets his foot to the ropes, so several seconds later, with Shannon Moore distracting, Matt hits it again and grabs the pinfall victory. - Backstage, the Full Blooded Italians talk about something, presumably about Nunzio's upcoming match against Nathan Jones. - Nunzio vs. Nathan Jones. Match doesn't even last one minute as the other FBI members interfere. They triple team Jones and slam the steel steps on his ankle/leg area before leaving. - John Cena vs. Chris Benoit. Great match, split in the middle by a commercial break as expected. Benoit hits the German suplexes and then climbs to the top for the flying headbutt but Cena moves out of the way. Near fall results, but Benoit snaps on the Crippler Crossface, but Cena fights his way to the ropes. Benoit goes for the Crippler again, Cena counters and goes for the Death Valley Driver, but Benoit counters. Cena then sits on Benoits chest and hooks his legs for the pinfall victory to earn the title shot against Brock Lesnar at Backlash. - End of show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mik at Cornell Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Actually sounds decent. O'Haire with Piper? Piper might be useful after all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wildpegasus Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Sounds like Benoit loses to Cena clean. The difference in how Benoit and Undertaker lose to Cena says an awful lot about who really puts new talent over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LJSexay Report post Posted April 16, 2003 haha... what happened to Kanyon coming back with Jackie Gayda? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RavishingRickRudo Report post Posted April 16, 2003 1) The womens title is on RAW - have womens wrestling on RAW. 2)Cruiserweights fighting cruiserweights = good. Cruiserweights fighting Hosses = Bad. 3)YES! They *are* going along with my idea to see how many times they can keep Jones out of action! C'mon pregnancy angle! 4)*looks at Benoit vs. Cena match* *looks for run ins* *Looks for false finishes* *Looks for injury sustained earlier on in the day* *Looks for crooked ref* *Looks for crooked timekeeper* *Looks for loaded boot* Taker - are you watching this? 5)Jesus Christ, when will the WWE learn that beating up Rikishi does NOT GET ANYONE HEAT?! 6)Eddie vs. Knoble is like a fuckin dream match, why did they have to fuck it up? Oh *slaps head* I forgot, they hate their fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RedJed Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Glad I read these since I think I would be underwhelmed with the show if I wouldn't have bothered. Cena over Benoit pisses me off........its too early to give that shot to Cena and Benoit has been fucked out of the title how many times now? I lose count. Pipers Pit sounds fun again this week though, at least. I figured Snuka would be brought in at some point, and it seems like we might not see Hogan v. Piper after all at Backlash hmmmm I have to throw the question out since there was no Hogan-Piper announcement this week.......is it possible that Hogan may be on the outs right now for real? WWE got rid of his website I just read........just makes me wonder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spaceman Spiff Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Rey/Tajiri vs. Show/A-Train = bad Eddy vs. Knoble = good Piper possibly wrestling next week = BAD O'Haire vs. Rikishi at Backlash = no line. If Rikishi goes over (like he's done w/ every new heel), it's bad. Torrie dropkicking Knoble = bad Hardy vs. Kendrick = good (hopefully a longer match the recap, LOL) FBI beatdown on Jones = good Cena vs. Benoit = good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 - Brock Lesnar Interview. Oh, Jesus God no! And a fucking O'Haire match? Against Rikishi? That makes the Baby Jesus cry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EternallyLazy Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Sounds like a pretty damn good show I'm not complaining about Cena going over Benoit, because I think it's too early into Brock's second title run, to push Benoit into a match with him. If Benoit faced Brock at Backlash, Brock would win... and we all want Benoit to win. If they hold off a Brock/Benoit match until SummerSlam where the outcome of the match wouldn't be so predictable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Looks like a good show, but keep the Brock interview short. And O'Haire is back in all his spectacular mediocrity. Angle for O'Haire. Somehow that isn't fair. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RedJed Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Sounds like a pretty damn good show I'm not complaining about Cena going over Benoit, because I think it's too early into Brock's second title run, to push Benoit into a match with him. If Benoit faced Brock at Backlash, Brock would win... and we all want Benoit to win. If they hold off a Brock/Benoit match until SummerSlam where the outcome of the match wouldn't be so predictable I'm just afraid they are going too long with the Benoit chase for the belt that it might not work WHEN he gets a title shot if its not soon. I think also, like I said, its a total slap in the face to get so close to a title shot at the last two ppvs and then getting fucked over both times. And this isn't even counting the numerous other times he's been shafted by a change of plans in booking before this, or just falling short of a title win over and over in years past. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 I think Angle's beating Brock, around Summerslam, personally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EternallyLazy Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Sounds like a pretty damn good show I'm not complaining about Cena going over Benoit, because I think it's too early into Brock's second title run, to push Benoit into a match with him. If Benoit faced Brock at Backlash, Brock would win... and we all want Benoit to win. If they hold off a Brock/Benoit match until SummerSlam where the outcome of the match wouldn't be so predictable I'm just afraid they are going too long with the Benoit chase for the belt that it might not work WHEN he gets a title shot if its not soon. I think also, like I said, its a total slap in the face to get so close to a title shot at the last two ppvs and then getting fucked over both times. And this isn't even counting the numerous other times he's been shafted by a change of plans in booking before this, or just falling short of a title win over and over in years past. Good point, but keeping him away from the title for so long may actually benefit him when (or if... let's be realistic) he gets it because they can build it up (like they did with Jericho beating Rock) as Benoit finally winning "the big one." And IF they go that route, it would be much more meaningful at a huge pay per view like SummerSlam or Mania. It'll probably never happen though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EternallyLazy Report post Posted April 16, 2003 I think Angle's beating Brock, around Summerslam, personally. That would be nice. Kind of off topic, but I was thinking about this earlier. I personally would like to see next year's Mania main event be a three-way between Benoit/Angle/Brock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Showstoppa Icon Report post Posted April 16, 2003 - Brock Lesnar Interview. Oh, Jesus God no! And a fucking O'Haire match? Against Rikishi? That makes the Baby Jesus cry. and everytime Torrie wrestles, God kills a kitten Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Uhh. Three way. :/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RavishingRickRudo Report post Posted April 16, 2003 The problem with Brock vs. Cena is do you think people would care about it? I mean, people probably wouldn't care about Brock vs. Benoit much more, but at least you'd get a good match out it. They could have worked it as 'Benoit tears a muscle in his arm while having Brock in the crossface' and have Benoit lose - THEN focus on the fact that no matter how close Benoit gets something always seems to happen that stops him from being champ. They could go back to WCW where he finally won it but left to the WWE. This muscle tear has him out for a few weeks, he comes back ready for another title shot, but something comes in his way, he fights them at another ppv, then moves on to Brock at Summerslam where the story is two-fold: Can Benoit win the big one? And "Can Brock get free from the crossface"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RedJed Report post Posted April 16, 2003 The problem with Brock vs. Cena is do you think people would care about it? I mean, people probably wouldn't care about Brock vs. Benoit much more, but at least you'd get a good match out it. They could have worked it as 'Benoit tears a muscle in his arm while having Brock in the crossface' and have Benoit lose - THEN focus on the fact that no matter how close Benoit gets something always seems to happen that stops him from being champ. They could go back to WCW where he finally won it but left to the WWE. This muscle tear has him out for a few weeks, he comes back ready for another title shot, but something comes in his way, he fights them at another ppv, then moves on to Brock at Summerslam where the story is two-fold: Can Benoit win the big one? And "Can Brock get free from the crossface"? Good point. Yeah Cena v. Brock, like I said, is just too early to rush a ppv main event match on. Austin didn't get a title shot a month or two into his Stone Cold monikor, so neither should Cena. I'm pretty convinced this Cena push so fast is going to hurt him more than help. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EternallyLazy Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Uhh. Three way. :/ Yeah yeah yeah... but damnit, I want to see Benoit in a Mania main event and I'm afraid that if it doesn't happen next year or MAYBE the year after, it won't happen. Benoit/Angle/Jericho was really really good, and that was back before Angle became God-like in the ring. I think a Benoit/Angle/Brock match would rock the body that rocked the party Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RedJed Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Benoit/Angle/Lesnar could work, may be the best triple threat match in WWE history if they let the three book the context of the match themselves. I will hope for this match at SummerSlam. I've seen plenty 3 ways in ROH for example that are great, it just comes down to the booking of it, and of course WHO you have in them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Oh, it will be really good. But it wouldn't be as good as Angle/Benoit, Angle/Lesnar or Lesnar/Benoit (Which should be good) and it's Mania. Not fond of a three way there. But hey, It could work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EternallyLazy Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Benoit/Angle/Lesnar could work, may be the best triple threat match in WWE history nonsense... NOTHING could top Angle/Taker/Rock, the OFFICIAL greatest threeway in WWE history Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mole Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Cena vs Brock works for me. Why would you want Benoit in a match you KNOW he won't win? Wait until this summer when he will get the title. I like Cena, so it is fine with me. It isn't like I'll be ordering the PPV anyways, so whatever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RavishingRickRudo Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Benoit losing a throw-away match could be used to build up a bigger confrontation. Benoit wanted the title before just so he could be champion, now he wants to prove he can beat Brock too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jobber of the Week Report post Posted April 16, 2003 - Brock Lesnar Interview. Oh, Jesus God no! That pretty much sums up my opinion right there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Cena vs Brock works for me. Why would you want Benoit in a match you KNOW he won't win? Wait until this summer when he will get the title. I like Cena, so it is fine with me. It isn't like I'll be ordering the PPV anyways, so whatever. I want Benoit in a match, period. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mulatto Heat Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Cena vs Brock works for me. Why would you want Benoit in a match you KNOW he won't win? Wait until this summer when he will get the title. I like Cena, so it is fine with me. It isn't like I'll be ordering the PPV anyways, so whatever. I agree 100% with this. Had Benoit won tonight I would have been in a bind as I would have felt obligated to buy the PPV (I do have some sense of loyalty even in my perennial disillusioned state ) but then again, had I bought it I would have felt obligated as well to sit through matches I don't want to see, from that *other* show. July is the first SD-exclusive PPV and so far I've heard no hypotheses on the main event. I have one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RavishingRickRudo Report post Posted April 16, 2003 It's kinda sad that they can't find a program for their hardest and best worker... As for the Lesnar promo, it seems like they are trying to make it look 'professional' - as in they are treating it like a real sport. I like that, and I think Brock can handle it. It reminds me a lot of the post-match japanese interviews. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RedJed Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Cena vs Brock works for me. Why would you want Benoit in a match you KNOW he won't win? Wait until this summer when he will get the title. I like Cena, so it is fine with me. It isn't like I'll be ordering the PPV anyways, so whatever. Hey I knew Angle wasnt goin to take Mania, yet I nearly jumped out of a window when I heard that match was still on for Mania. I could care less whether Benoit would win or lose the match, I just think he deserves more than constantly getting shafted like this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted April 16, 2003 Let Me Address the Show First... I could care less about the entire thing except these three facts... 1). Team Angle Vs Los Guerrenos for Backlash? I'm there... 2.) I am glad WWE had the intelligence to Use Roddy Piper for all he is worth...His Interviews and His ability to give a rub. They haven't put him in the Main Event just because he is a *name*...They are letting him do what he does best...Work the Mic and Give young Stars like SOH a good rub. We all know SOH can cut a Promo...and we know that he can't wrestle for shit (Sorry to say) so buy transfering Piper's Heat onto him is a Ingenious idea. Can You imagine SOH/PIPER when they are cut free? Last week i Requested a SOH Rant on Hogan that would go like this SOH: Hulk Hogan, The Immortal One? That's nothing but pretentious hype. Everyone knows that it was really Roddy Piper that created Wrestlemania and put this industry on the map. Hulk Hogan is absolute hypocrite. You THINK he loves his Hulkamanaics? He only loves himself and his money. I'm Not telling you anything you don't already Know"... Then he could do a rant on Obsession of Fans and rip the Maniacs to shreads... I also like the wink at the past...with Snuka... and Finally The Benoit/Cena/Lesnar interview...I liked what I read... Benoit looked with a Purpose...Cena come off the asshole he is...and Lesnar come off the Confident Champion... I understand some of you don't like that Cena went over Benoit here...But It works better this way... It seems to me that This Interview planted the seeds for the eventful Summer Program with Lesnar and Benoit... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
