WWE at Sheffield Arena (10/27/02)

Sheffield Arena

Sheffield, England

October 27, 2002

With the stars of Raw in Toledo, Ohio for a house show and American audiences catching Sunday Night Heat.....in Sheffield, England the starts of Smackdown were continuing their European tour. The feuds from Smackdown recently carried over to the European tour highlighted by the Rebellion ppv the night before. Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman defeated Edge last night and this night Brock teams with Matt Hardy against Booker T and Rikishi. Booker was on loan from Raw to face Matt in one on one matches but tonight its a tag match. Edge would be teaming with Rey Mysterio Jr to take on the tag champs Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a rematch from No Mercy. Tajiri gets another shot at Jamie Noble's cruiserweight title and we got another god awful Bra & Panties match with Dawn Marie and Torrie Wilson. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

Albert vs Funaki

Big man vs little man as the monster Albert takes on Funaki in the opening match. Somehow Funaki won with a roll-up.

Winner: Funaki by pinfall

Match 2

Ron Simmons, D'Von Dudley and Crash Holly vs Chuck Palumbo, Shannon Moore and Bill DeMott

Talk about just getting guys on the card. D'von and Simmons were tagging recently with D'Von starting to ditch the religious gimmick but the others had nothing in common. In fact, DeMott and Crash tagged together two nights earlier in Belfast. Palumbo's team won when DeMott rolled through a Crash crossbody and hooked the tights for the victory.

Winner: Palumbo, Moore and DeMott by pinfall

Match 3

Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Billy Kidman

Guess Eddie has the night off as Chavo faces Kidman in singles action. Kidman takes it with a bulldog.....what?

Winner: Kidman by pinfall

Match 4

Val Venis vs John Cena

As its been mentioned already in previous write-ups, what Cena did out of the ring turned out to be ten times more important than what he did in the ring, but I'll get to that in a second. Cena was still a generic heel but Val wasn't really doing anything noteworthy either. Venis was punching Cena in the corner who powerbombed him and put his feet on the ropes for the 3 count to win the match. Now I've already explained this but I'll do it again. On the bus during this tour, Cena was making everyone laugh with freestyle rapping. Stephanie McMahon thought it was so funny that she wanted him to do it on camera when they got back to the States. The rest is history.

Winner: Cena by pinfall

Match 5

Tajiri vs Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Once again we got Tajiri gunning for the Cruiserweight title and once again Noble takes it by rolling him up and hooking the tights.

Winner: Noble by pinfall (still Cruiserweight champion)

Match 6

Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr vs Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit for the WWE Tag Team Championship

In a rematch of their incredible No Mercy showdown, Edge and Mysterio get another crack at the champs. Unfortunately Los Guerreros ruin the party as Eddie (who was there apparently) and Chavo bumrush the ring. Rey was clocked with one of the tag belts and pinned by Benoit.

Winners: Benoit and Angle by pinfall (still WWE Tag Team Champions)

Match 7

Dawn Marie vs Torrie Wilson in a Bra & Panties match

Naturally after an exciting tag match featuring main eventers, we needed the classic cooldown match between two divas who can't really wrestle well. Bra & Panties matches were garbage as it is, but on a roster THIS stacked it was really egregious. You'd think with Raw having all the talent they did would loan someone like Jacqueline or Molly to Smackdown so the women's wrestling didn't totally suck. Torrie wins the match....yippie.

Winner: Torrie Wilson

Match 8

Booker T and Rikishi vs Matt Hardy and WWE Champion Brock Lesnar

Booker and Matt had been having singles matches on this European tour but for Sheffield they got Rikishi and Brock as partners. The Undertaker was originally advertised for this show so my guess is they scrapped Lesnar vs Taker and made this a tag match to keep Brock on the card. Rikishi won it by hitting Matt with the Rikishi driver.

Winners: Rikishi and Booker by pinfall

With the European tour coming to an end, at least something good came out of it. We got a damn good Rebellion ppv and the birth of the John Cena we know today. Smackdown was still far ahead of Raw in terms of great matches although the one dark spot was the god awful Divas matches on Smackdown. This card was damn good and its pretty much what we got at Rebellion with a few differences. As we return to the states, it'll be interesting to see how the Benoit and Angle story plays out with Los Guerreros lurking in the background. Tonight was also the night Sunday Night Heat aired in the US so I'll see you there.

WWE Velocity (10/26/02)

Pyramid Arena

Memphis, TN

Aired October 26, 2002

Commentators: Michael Cole & Tazz

This is going to be an interesting Velocity because later on tonight is the British pay-per-view Rebellion featuring the stars of Smackdown. This was shown an hour early for whatever reason. This was also taped before Smackdown despite not airing until this date. We got a main event of Nidia vs Torrie Wilson in a bikini match.....great. We also have Crash Holly vs Funaki, Albert vs Chuck Palumbo and a tag match with Reverand D-Von and Ron Simmons against Chase Sevens and Big Bully Douglas. Let's get to our dark matches first.

Dark Match 1

Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas vs Val Venis and Bill Demott

The future meets the past as Ohio Valley Wrestling stars Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin continue to get tryout matches, this one against the two veterans Venis and Demott. Shelton Benjamin was a track and wrestling star at the University of Minnesota and actually mentored Brock Lesnar when Lesnar joined the wrestling team. Benjamin and Lesnar were a tag team in OVW but Lesnar got the call first. They stuck Charlie with Shelton and they just clicked. Venis pinned Haas with the Money Shot but the good news was WWE brass liked what they saw from Shelton & Charlie.

Winners: Demott and Venis by pinfall

Dark Match 2

Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Redd Dogg

Another tryout match only with Redd Dogg. Dogg had worked the Kansas show the day before and here is taking on Jerry. Lawler won the match with his signature fist drop but WWE brass liked what they saw from Dogg, he'd be getting the call eventually.

Winner: Jerry Lawler

Now let's get to the show.

Match 1 (3rd overall)

Crash Holly vs Funaki

Ironically these two would be meeting at the Rebellion pay-per-view but this was obviously taped in advance. They lock up to start and Funaki starts with an arm-ringer but Crash reverses it. Funaki and Crash trade headlock takeovers and Funaki wants a handshake. Crash shakes it then stops everything to pull a Japanese headband out. He mocks Funaki with mock karate moves and Funaki punches him in the face. Funaki dropkicks Crash and chases him outside. Funaki beats him back into the ring then kicks Crash in the gut. Crash hits a stun gun on Funaki then ditches the headband. Crash slams Funaki but eats a sunset flip for a two. Crash nails Funaki through the ropes to the outside as Crash goes outside to retrieve him. Back inside Crash covers for a two then kicks Funaki in the back after applying a surf-board. Crash lands a forearm to the back but misses a charge in the corner. Funaki lands a bulldog then a drop toe hold. Funaki hits a dropkick to the face and covers for 1...2...nope. Funaki goes upstairs and hits a crossbody, but Crash rolls through for 1.....2..nope. Crash kicks away at the back of Funaki then blocks a victory roll for 1...2...., no Funaki rolls through into a victory roll for 1...2...3 that's it. Crash goes nuts in the ring as Funaki slides out the winner. Tazz says Funaki isn't just Smackdown's number one announcer but also has great skills. Good opener even if it was short.

Time of match: 4:19

Winner: Funaki by pinfall

Cole and Tazz hype up the bikini match as we go to commercial.

Match 2 (4th overall)

Albert vs Chuck Palumbo

Time for a hoss fight as Palumbo comes out with short hair now that Billy Gunn is on the shelf with a separated shoulder. As Albert makes his entrance, Cole and Tazz plug the Jackass movie coming out. Cole jokes he should dress as Albert for Halloween and Tazz says Albert eats meals bigger than Cole. They lock up to start and they roll into the corner. Palumbo ducks under a punch and unloads with right hands of his own. Albert whips him into a corner and hits two consecutive avalanches. Albert hits a big splash to the back, rolls him over and covers for 1. Albert clotheslines Palumbo and taunts the crowd. Palumbo rallies with right hands but Albert rams his head in the buckle and fights back with strikes. Albert manhandles Palumbo and chases referee Brian Hebner away. Tazz "While he shaves his back, he should shave his chest too." Albert slingshots Palumbo under the second rope and covers for 1.....2...nope. Albert locks in a chinlock as Cole asks Tazz about Brock Lesnar vs Undertaker in Hell in A Cell last Sunday. Who the hell told them to talk about THAT in the middle of the hoss fight? Cole says up next they'll be taking a look at Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle, that's better. Palumbo fights out of it with right hands then sends Albert into the corner. Albert counters with a bicycle kicks and covers for a deuce then drags Palumbo into the corner. Albert hits a Vader bomb and covers for 1..2...,Palumbo grabs the bottom rope. Albert misses a charge and Palumbo goes back to the right hands. Palumbo hits a belly to belly suplex and a superkick. He covers for 1.....2...nope, Albert grabs the rope this time. Palumbo fires away with right hands and goes for the Razor Punch but Albert pulls Hebner in the way. Hebner moves and Albert gets a thumb to the eye before hotshotting Palumbo off the top turnbuckle. Palumbo staggers into the Baldo Bomb and he covers for 1...2.....3 to win the match. That was a solid effort by Albert but holy crap does Palumbo know how to do anything else but punch? I know he can do better but that was terrible strategy. Still, not much you can expect out of a hoss fight but at least it was entertaining.

Time of match: 5:05

Winner: Albert by pinfall

Up next is the recap portion with highlight's of Smackdown. We get the love/hate relationship between Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle as in they love to hate each other. Cole and Tazz also hype up the Bikini Match later....yippie. We're shown highlights of the number 1 contender match for the tag straps where Edge & Mysterio defeated Los Guerreros in a damn good match to become the top contenders for Benoit & Angle. Speaking of which, we segue into them not getting along on Smackdown, fighting over the trophy and facing each other in the main event. After the highlights we go to commercial hyping up the Undertaker/Lesnar confrontation and the damn bikini conest. Back from commercial we get a 90 second video package of the post Hell In a Cell video between Taker and Lesnar, so much for the Smackdown confrontation. What was the point of that? Onto the next match.

Match 3 (5th overall)

Reverand D-Von and Ron Simmons vs Chase Stevens and "Big" Bully Douglas

No idea why Faarooq went back to being Ron Simmons for no rhyme or reason but that's okay. Who are the job guys? "The Natural" Chase Stevens was trained by Tracy Smothers after being a former Golden Gloves boxing champion. He made his TNA debut earlier this year and now he's on WWE television. Bully Douglas was a local guy who was 6'6 300. Simmons starts with Bully as Tazz reminisces of the APA with Bradshaw. Cole calls Douglas a "Will Sasso lookalike" and Simmons stuns him with a shoulderblock. Douglas walks into a big boot but counters with a jawbreaker. Stevens tags in with right hands but misses a dropkick. Simmons goes for the Dominator but Stevens slides out into forearms to the back. Simmons kicks him in the ribs and tags in D'Von. D'Von continues the onslaught with right hands in the corner as referee Jimmy Korderas tells him to get out of the corner. D'von chops Stevens in the corner and delivers a back elbow smash. D'Von knocks Douglas off the apron and tags in Simmons. Ron slams Stevens and delivers a falling headbutt. He covers but stops the count himself at two twice. D'von tags in and knocks Douglas off again before slapping Stevens. Stevens tries to rallies with right hands and a crossbody for 1...2...nope. D'Von damn near takes Chase's head off with a lariat and hits a powerslam. D'Von tags in Simmons who covers for 1...2..he stops it again. Simmons hits a spinebuster and tags in D'Von for the flying headbutt. Simmons nails Douglas as D'Von covers for 1..2....3 that's it. Total squash by D'Von and Simmons and these two did work together well, but something was missing clearly. D'Von delivers last rites as Simmons stomps the poor guy for good measure.

Time of match: 4:04

Winners: D'Von and Simmons

As we got to commercial we get another hype clip for the Bikini match. We come back to a Smackdown Your Vote ad highlighted by Chuck Palumbo saying "vote to end discrimination". We are then shown highlights of Smackdown of Big Show being traded there although no one knows who went to Raw in return. Then we get the Undertaker/Brock confrontation where Lesnar and Taker basically respect each other. We go to commercial with one last hype video for Nidia vs Torrie Wilson. When we come back from commercial we get highlights of the latest Tough Enough where "Jill" quit the first day. I know its just a reality show but good lord what a waste of time. FINALLY let's get to the main event.

Match 4 (6th overall)

Torrie Wilson vs Nidia in a Bikini Match

So this is not a bikini contest, only that they're going to wrestle in bikinis. The Divas era was notorious for this kind of stuff. Nidia has on a polka dot bikini but Torrie has a golden one. Nidia starts with an arm-ringer before switching to a headlock takwndown. Torrie counters with a headscissors and Nidia slaps her. Torrie slingshots Nidia into the ringpost then rolls her up for a two count. Torrie cradles Nidia for a two count then clotheslines Nidia down twice. Torrie hits an inverted neckbreaker but Nidia gets the upperhand with knees to the ribs. Nidia hits a snap suplex and covers for a two count. Nidia whips Torrie into the corner and hits a shoulderblock before snapmaring Torrie down. Nidia stomps between the legs but Torrie drop toe holds to the bottom rope. Torrie slaps her but runs into a lariat. Nidia covers for 1....2...nope. Nidia gets kicked in the head and chopped by Torrie before Wilson kicks her in the corner. Nidia whips Torrie into the other corner but Torrie rolls over Nidia and rolling prawns her for 1..2.....3 that's it. Torrie wins it as Cole & Tazz sign off, telling us to join us for Smackdown this Thursday. Wasn't the worst match I've seen but definitely "divas" style. Torrie had only been in the business for 3 years and Nidia about a year, can't really judge too harsh for the inexperience.

Time of match: 3:03

Winner: Torrie Wilson by pinfall

Pretty standard Velocity which once again ends with a divas match hyped up all night shades of the debut episode. At least if if you watched this through to the end you got caught up on some of Smackdown's events. Brock Lesnar is still your WWE champ with Big Show hot on his trail and Benoit can't get along with Angle. As for the matches on this show, not much to whine about. Palumbo needs to do more than just punch but that's about it. Like I mentioned earlier, Rebellion was that night so I'll see you there.

WWE at Odyssey Arena (10/25/02)

Odyssey Arena

Belfast, Ireland

October 25, 2002

The stars of Raw were in Topeka, Kansas but the stars of Smackdown were still in Europe, stopping off in Belfast for this one. Literally went from Helsinki, Finland to Belfast, Ireland in one day. Vince McMahon was insane for that. But what was the card for this Irish extravaganza? With The Undertaker out, Edge stepped up to challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. In the complete opposite in terms of awesome, Dawn Marie faced Torrie Wilson in a Bra & Panties match. We got a cruiserweight tag team match with the champion Jamie Noble teaming with Tajiri to face the high flying Rey Mysterio Jr and Billy Kidman. Sho Funaki teams with Shannon Moore to face Crash Holly and Bill Demott. Booker T comes in from Raw to face Matt Hardy in a Raw vs Smackdown match. John Cena teams with Albert to face Val Venis and Chuck Palumbo. Rikishi also faces D'Von Dudley who's got Ron Simmons in his corner, but wait! Rikishi has hometown hero Fit Finlay from WCW in his corner. Finally Los Guerreros get a WWE Tag Title shot against Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle. Lot of talent on this card, let's get to it.

Match 1

WWE Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble and Tajiri vs Rey Mysterio Jr and Billy Kidman

Kind of an odd pairing as Tajiri had turned face but with competition in the Cruiserweight division at an all-time high, Tajiri alligns himself with Noble to face some of the greatest cruiserweights in history Kidman and Mysterio. Mysterio got the pin on Noble to establish himself as a serious threat to Noble's title.

Winners: Kidman and Mysterio by pinfall

Match 2

Funaki and Shannon Moore vs Crash Holly and Bill Demott

Another odd pairing because Holly and Demott have nothing to do with each other.....and neither does Funaki and Moore. Guess they were pairing all these teams together to get everyone on the card. Moore rolled up Crash for the victory.

Winners: Funaki and Moore by pinfall

Match 3

Matt Hardy vs Booker T

Its Raw vs Smackdown as Booker comes in to Ireland to face V1. Booker takes it with an axe-kick.

Winner: Booker T by pinfall

Match 4

Val Venis and Chuck Palumbo vs John Cena and Albert

This was supposed to be Billy Gunn and Chuck but Billy was out with an injury. Val Venis took his place against the makeshift team of Cena and Albert. This was still generic heel Cena although this European trip changed his career, which I'll get to in a second. Cena thwarted the Money Shot and Venis walked into the Baldo Bomb to give the heels the victory. Now the story goes, Cena was making everyone laugh on the bus during this European tour by freestyle rapping and Stephanie McMahon wanted him to do it on camera when they got home. Thus, the Doctor of Thuganomics was born.

Winners: Cena and Albert by pinfall

Match 5

D'Von Dudley (with Ron Simmons) vs Rikishi (with Fit Finlay)

Rikishi felt he needed backup against D'Von and Ron and turned to Irish legend Fit Finlay. Fit at this point was 44 years old but was still active as a trainer. Rikishi defeated D'Von with his Rikishi Driver.

Winner: Rikishi by pinfall

Match 6

Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Jr) vs Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle for the WWE Tag Team Championship

The Guerreros have been lurking in the shadows during this whole Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle feud just looking for their moment to strike against the two men who hate each others guts. Still, even though they are rivals, Benoit and Angle are deadly as a team. Eddie had the El Paso Lasso on Kurt and he reversed it into the Ankle Lock for the submission victory.

Winners: Benoit and Angle by submission (still Tag Team Champions)

Match 7

Dawn Marie vs Torrie Wilson in a Bra & Panties Match

From the cream to the crap as we go from some of the best wrestlers in history to two of the worst, which isn't even their fault Because Dawn and Torrie were better valets than wrestlers, they had to work matches like this to cover up their inefficiencies in the ring. Torrie Wilson was the winner as she stripped Dawn to win the match.

Winner: Torrie Wilson

Match 8

Edge vs Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) for the WWE Championship

This was supposed to be The Undertaker taking on Brock but with him out in the storyline injured (real reason was he was out on paternity leave), Edge takes his place in Ireland. Edge gave it his best shot but Brock won with the F5. These guys would have a rematch tomorrow night at Rebellion.

Winner: Lesnar by pinfall (Still WWE Champion)

Smackdown might have had some dumb storylines like Al Wilson/Dawn Marie but there was no denying the in-ring action was second to none. Between the cruiserweights, the tag team division and Lesnar in the main events, Smackdown was definitely number 1 at this point. Like I said, this would have been an ordinary European tour if it wasn't for the birth of the John Cena we know today. The Doctor would be on TV soon enough and eventually Fit Finlay would put the tights back on as well. For now, the crew heads to merry old London for the Rebellion PPV tomorrow night. However, that wouldn't be the only show tomorrow night as the stars of Raw would be in Wichita, Kansas at the Wichita Coliseum for a house show. Also tomorrow night would be Velocity, I'll see y'all in Wichita tomorrow.

WWE at Hartwall Arena (10/24/02)

Hartwall Arena

Helsinki, Finland

October 24, 2002

With the WWE just two days away from Rebellion, the stars of Smackdown ventured to Helsinki, Finland for a special house show. We got a stacked card with a main event of WWE Champion Brock Lesnar taking on Booker T on loan from Raw. We also got the WWE Tag Team Championship on the line as Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle take on Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr and Cruiserweight champion Jamie Noble puts the strap on the line against Tajiri. Los Guerreros are scheduled to take on Billy and Chuck and we have other prelim matches. Let's get to the action.

Match 1

John Cena vs Billy Kidman

Here's a paradox......Smackdown was airing in the United States on this night although it was taped on Tuesday. Cena faced Kidman on that night and he faces him here as well. Apparently Kidman took it with the shooting star press. Tune in to Smackdown to see how things played out in the United States.

Winner: Kidman by pinfall

Match 2

Funaki and Shannon Moore vs Albert and Crash Holly

Talk about a motley mix of guys. Shannon Moore was finally getting his due on Smackdown and he and Funaki make a good high flying team. Funaki got the win for his team with an inside cradle on Crash.

Winners: Funaki and Moore by pinfall

Match 3

Reverend D'Von (with Ron Simmons) vs Bill Demott

D'Von had been slowly going away from the evil preacher gimmick and had been teaming with Ron recently. Taking on the grumpy Demott does sound like an interesting matchup. D'Von got the win in this one.

Winner: Dudley by pinfall

Match 4

Tajiri vs Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Noble puts the title on the line against Tajiri and pins him to retain the title.

Winner: Noble by pinfall (still Cruiserweight Champion)

Match 5

Booker T vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

Originally this was going to be The Undertaker taking on Lesnar in a rematch from No Mercy but Taker had been written off TV after an attack from Big Show. Taking his place was the electrifying Booker T from Raw. Ironically this Saturday it was supposed to be Taker vs Lesnar in London but Taker would have to be replaced then as well. Lesnar got the win to keep the title.

Winner: Lesnar by pinfall (still WWE Champion)

Match 6

Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo) vs Chuck Palumbo and Val Venis

If you're wondering why the hell Palumbo would team with Val, this was advertised as Billy & Chuck but Billy Gunn hurt his shoulder and would be out a while. They stuck Val in this as a replacement and he submitted to The Lasso From El Paso to give the victory to the Guerreros.

Winners: Eddie and Chavo by submission

Match 7

Matt Hardy vs Rikishi in a Kiss My Ass match

For some reason, they decided to have a Kiss My Ass match in Finland which I doubt was a common occurrence over there. Naturally Rikishi won and hit Hardy with the stinkface after.

Winner: Rikishi by pinfall

Match 8

Dawn Marie vs Torrie Wilson in a Bra & Panties match

These two had been feuding over the ridiculous Al Wilson storyline and because of their lack of wrestling ability, they're going to try to strip each other in this match. Naturally Torrie Wilson wins it.

Winner: Torrie Wilson

Match 9

Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr vs Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit for the WWE Tag Team Championship

Our main event is pretty much a rematch from No Mercy which nobody is going to complain about because that was one of the best matches of the year. At the end of the match, Angle waffled Mysterio Jr with one of the title belts allowing Benoit to pick up the pin. Angle and Benoit hate each other but they're still a devastating tag team when they're on the same page. Edge and Mysterio chase off the champs to send the fans home happy at least.

Winners: Angle and Benoit by pinfall (still Tag Team Champions)

That was a star studded show for sure to show the fans in Finland. A lot of the feuds on Smackdown were front and center although not having Taker on the card was a bit of a let down. Still, Booker T vs Brock would have been fun to watch. Smackdown couldn't miss at this time and it sounds like a good show from top to bottom....sans the Torrie/Dawn match. Next up on the timeline is tonight's Smackdown even though it was taped. I'll see you there.

WWE at Tucson Convention Center (10/7/02)

Tucson Convention Center

Tucson, Arizona

October 7, 2002

On the same night as Monday Night Raw, the stars of Smackdown were in Tucson for a house show running the same card they had been for a few weeks. Brock Lesnar defends the WWE Championship against Edge. Rikishi takes on Kurt Angle in a Kiss My Ass match while Billy and Chuck take on Reverend D'Von and Faarooq. Exactly the same card they've been presenting on the circuit. Let's get right to it.

Match 1

Funaki vs Matt Hardy

Opening things up is a cruiserweight contest between SMACKDOWN NUMBA WUN ANNOUNCA Funaki and Matt Hardy. They traded victories on the circuit and this time Funaki gets the duke.

Winner: Funaki

Match 2

Bull Buchanan and Shelton Benjamin vs Crash Holly and Bill Demott

The same match that's been presented for a week now with Shelton getting looked at. Holly and Demott won the match.

Winners: Holly and Demott

Match 3

Albert vs John Cena

The rematch from Velocity and on the house show circuit. Cena wins again.

Winner: Cena

Match 4

Tajiri and Chavo Guerrero Jr vs Billy Kidman and Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight tag team action once again has Tajiri tagging with Chavo instead of Eddie Guerrero. Kidman and Moore get the win.

Winner: Kidman and Moore by pinfall

Match 5

Edge vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

This match had been on the houses with The Undertaker not available either due to his wife having a baby or the storyline hand injury. Edge has been gaining steam with back to back awesome matches on Smackdown but he takes the fall here. Lesnar retains.

Winner: Lesnar (still WWE Champion)

Match 6

Rey Mysterio Jr vs Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

As mentioned several times in the past, Mysterio had been getting big wins over Chris Benoit on television but had been doing the job for Noble on the houses. Sure enough, Noble retains again.

Winners: Noble (Still Cruiserweight champion)

Match 7

Val Venis vs Chris Benoit

Benoit had lost twice to Rey Mysterio on television two weeks in a row. He was working the house shows with Val for god knows what reason other than to establish him as a mean looking fella. Benoit wins it.

Winner: Benoit

Match 8

Reverend D'Von and Faarooq vs Billy and Chuck

As usual, this match had been on the houses the past week or so. Billy and Chuck win this time.

Winners: Billy and Chuck

Match 9

Kurt Angle vs Rikishi in a Kiss My Ass match

This match has been going through the circuit with some twists and turns along the way. Rikishi wins and gives Angle the stinkface.

Winner: Rikishi

This was the same card that had been going about the past week or so and it did look like a good one. We're heading toward No Mercy without two big guns on the houses in Eddie and Undertaker. At least they're making the best of it by plugging in Tajiri with Chavo and Edge in the main events with Brock. Smackdown was on fire on television and hopefully the houses were just as good. The next show is tonight's Monday Night Raw in Las Vegas. Raw Roulette....god help us.

WWE at San Angelo Coliseum (10/6/02)

San Angelo Coliseum

San Angelo, Texas

October 6, 2002

The stars of Smackdown headed to Texas in the town of San Angelo for a Sunday house show. The card is the exact same as the others shows leading up to this one so there isn't much variety. Too bad these weren't even recorded with a fan cam because they could have been fun to watch. Let's get to the first match.

Match 1

Funaki vs Matt Hardy

This match had been opening the past few houses only there's one difference. Funaki wins this one with a roll-up.

Winner: Funaki by pinfall

Match 2

John Cena vs Albert

A rematch from last night's Velocity only this time, Albert wins it with the bicycle kick.

Winner: Albert by pinfall

Match 3

Shelton Benjamin and Bull Buchanan vs Bill Demott and Crash Holly

Another similar match to yesterday sees Benjamin roll up Crash for the 1-2-3.

Winners: Shelton and Buchanan by pinfall

Match 4

Billy Kidman and Shannon Moore vs Chavo Guerrero Jr and Tajiri

Wonder where Eddie Guerrero was, for some reason they had Chavo teaming with Tajiri on the circuit. Chavo pinned Moore after the Gory Special, Chavo's grandfather's move.

Winners: Chavo & Tajiri by pinfall

Match 5

Edge vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

For some reason Lesnar/Edge went on fifth on every show on the circuit rather than the final match despite Brock being the champion. Brock wins it after Chavo interfered.

Winner: Lesnar by pinfall (Still WWE Champion)

Match 6

Rey Mysterio Jr vs Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Like mentioned yesterday, on TV Mysterio was beating Chris Benoit on a weekly basis but losing to Noble on the houses. Noble wins it with the Flair pin.

Winner: Noble by pinfall (still Cruiserweight champion)

Match 7

Val Venis vs Chris Benoit

Just like yesterday, Val Venis gets fed to the rabid wolverine once again. Chris Benoit wins it with the Crippler Crossface.

Winner: Benoit by submission

Match 8

Reverend D'Von and Faarooq vs Billy and Chuck

The tag match had been on the circuit and this time, Faarooq pins Palumbo with the spinebuster.

Winners: D'von and Faarooq by pinfall

Match 9

Rikishi vs Kurt Angle in a Kiss My Ass Match.

Rikishi got the pin but they had a new ending this time. D'Von and Faarooq came out to save Angle but Billy and Chuck chased them off so Rikishi could hit the stinkface on Angle.

Winner: Rikishi by pinfall

Same show, slightly different results. They were running the same matches and endings on the circuit and its a shame these cards were never recorded. Seeing Billy and Chuck assist Rikishi would have been funny as hell. Eddie Guerrero and The Undertaker were once again absent, oh well. While this show was going on in San Angelo, the stars of Raw were in Reno, Nevada for their house show. I'll see you there.

WWE at Kansas City Municipal Auditorium (10/5/02)

 

Muncipal Auditorium

Kansas City, Missouri

October 5, 2002

After another great Smackdown, the stars of the brand made their way to Kansas City for a house show at the Municipal Auditorium. Once again there will be no Undertaker or Eddie Guerrero but the Smackdown Six (sans Eddie) are here and this should still be a solid show. So let's get right to it.

Match 1

Funaki vs Matt Hardy

Fresh off his "victory" over The Undertaker, Matt takes on SMACKDOWN NUMBA ONE ANNOUNCA. Matt wins this one.

Winner: Hardy by pinfall

Match 2

Shelton Benjamin and Bull Buchanan vs Crash Holly and Bill Demott

Benjamin was getting a lot of work on the house show circuit to prepare him for his TV debut whenever that maybe. Bill Demott was a trainer on Tough Enough at this point but still worked time to time. Demott got the pin to win for his team.

Winners: Demott and Holly by pinfall

Match 3

Albert vs John Cena

Funny how at this time both John Cena and Randy Orton were typical smiling babyfaces. That's the carryover from Pat Patterson still thinking it was 1980 every now and then. Cena gets the pin with a sunset flip.

Winner: Cena by pinfall

Match 4

Chavo Guerrero Jr and Tajiri vs Billy Kidman and Shannon Moore

Cruiserweight tag team action here with 3/4 WCW and 1/4 ECW to delight the crowd. Kidman wins it with the shooting star press.

Winners: Kidman and Moore by pinfall

Match 5

Edge vs Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship

Edge had been working with Brock on the house show circuit and that continues here. Apparently Chavo Guerrero of all people interfered to cost Edge the match.

Winner: Lesnar by pinfall (still WWE Champion)

Match 6

Rey Mysterio Jr vs Jamie Noble for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship

Funny how was Rey was piling up victories on TV but had been putting over Noble on the houses. No surprise here as Noble takes it to keep the strap.

Winner: Noble by pinfall

Match 7

Val Venis vs Chris Benoit

Guess they had to do something to keep Benoit on the card so they fed him Val Venis here. Benoit won with the Crippler Crossface.

Winner: Benoit by submission

Match 8

Reverend D'Von and Faarooq vs Billy and Chuck

The rematch from Smackdown only with a different result. Palumbo got the pin to win it for his team.

Winners: Billy and Chuck by pinfall

Match 9

Kurt Angle vs Rikishi in a Kiss My Ass Match

Surprisingly Rikishi did NOT get the win here as he had been on the houses. Angle pinned him with a roll up. More than likely Rikishi hit the stink face on Angle anyway.

Winner: Angle by pinfall

Once again the card looks solid but you'd have to be there live to appreciate it. Smackdown was number one at this point and The Smackdown Six was a large part of it. You could put them anywhere on the card and they'd still deliver the goods. Too bad this card has been lost to time. While this show was going on, the stars of Raw were in Sacramento at the Arco Arena for their own house show. I'll see you there.