By B.J. Bethel, Torch Team Contributor

WWE Smackdown review
Taped November 5th, 2002
Aired November 7th, 2002
From Manchester, N.H.

For you "old school WWF" guys out there, make sure you head over to http://www.thewrestlingguys.com where they just uploaded a 47 minute long interview with "The Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino. Vince (Jr. and Sr.), Zbyszko, Buddy Rodgers, you name it they talked about it.

Big Show-Lesnar replay montage started things off, included is Big Show's "press slam" of the 'Taker onto some production equipment. And to think, I'm missed Dave "Seminole Killah" Ragone's Louisville Cardinals taking on Gino "This Buds for You" Guidugli's Cincy Bearcats. Come on Burgan! You know you want to complain about that one, too!

1st Quarter Hour

(1) Billy Kidman & Torrie Wilson defeated Jamie Noble & Nidia when Kidman scored the pinfall over Noble with a Shooting Star Press. Noble and Kidman traded counters out of a wrist lock before Kidman hit a 'rana. Kidman nailed Noble in the chest with a kick from the middle rope for two. Noble fired back quick with a suplex for two. Nidia tagged herself in, much to Noble's chagrin, and went after Kidman. Kidman tagged in Torrie. Nidia spent most her time selling for Torrie, who used a neckbreaker and a clothesline to score a two count. Noble clotheslined Torrie when the ref had his back turned but he couldn't take advantage, and Torrie made the tag when he missed a shot at Kidman in the corner. Kidman took advantage with a combo fireman's carry/neck-breaker over his knee. He missed a bulldog off the ropes and Noble made him pay with a DDT for two. Kidman came back, but Nidia interfered, bringing in Torrie. Nidia and Torrie rolled themselves out of the ring, allowing Kidman to hit his tornado bulldog on Noble, setting him up for the SSP for the three count. 

Big Show entered the building and talked tough to a backstage worker. "Tell Brock Lesnar, I'm here." Hey, maybe they have a date planned or something.

After the break, Al Wilson ran into Torrie backstage after the match. He told her that he was going to "do something for himself" tonight and that he loved her.

Funaki interviewed John Cena, who is still rapping after last week. Rikishi showed up and gave him a rap of his own.

They replayed the smooch heard around the world, with Stephanie reviewing the tape. Chavo and Eddie walked up behind her. She turned the tape off when she noticed them. Eddie said he beat Angle so they should be getting the tag title shot. Steph said she's making a "big announcement" at the UPN Tuesday special next week. Wow, they didn't waste time trying to plug it. Since Eddie wanted a title match so much, she gave him a shot at Lesnar.

2nd Quarter Hour

(2) Rikishi defeated John Cena with a middle rope butt splash for the three count. Cena used his "martial arts skills" to take advantage at the st art, but couldn't take a shoulder block. Cena then proclaimed that this "was his house." He then tried to punch Rikishi in the ass and hurt his hand. Well, at least it didn't get stuck. Cena used some heel tactics to get Rikishi off his feet and managed to get a two count with a missile drop kick. Rikishi turned the tide with a Samoan drop and a butt splash in the corner. Rikishi then hit him with a standing spine buster and gave him the Ass of Death butt splash off the middle rope for the three count. Rikishi danced with his Justin Timberlake hat afterwards as Cole proclaimed that "this is what Smackdown is all about."

Shannon Moore and Matt Hardy are backstage wearing new "V1" t-shirts. Apparently Matt has taken Shannon under his wing and starts berating Moore for drinking coffee. Hardy announced that he was headed to Lesnar's locker room.

3rd Quarter Hour

Al and Dawn Marie are backstage. They talk about "the question" and Dawn suggested that it might be wise if he didn't ask it in the ring. Al insisted and off they went.

Matt Hardy ran into Paul Heyman backstage. Matt said he was going to soften Big Show up for Lesnar, just like he did Undertaker. Heyman tried telling Lesnar to wait until Survivor Series to mess with Big Show.

They introduced Al Wilson to the ring without music. Tazz said it was going to be "really, really good or really, really bad." The crowd couldn't give less of a rats ass about this if they tried. Dawn came out, Al got down on one knee, and they cut to a guy in the crowd laughing and turning his head in embarrassment. Hey dude, you should see what they do on Raw to try to add some romantic spice to the show. Al said he would "kill himself" as Tazz laughed and begged her to say no because it would be "great TV." Dawn as the canned booing poured in. She finally said "yes." Cole felt bad for Torrie, Tazz felt bad for the viewers.

4th Quarter Hour

As Big Show made his way to the ring, they aired footage of Mark Lloyd trying to get a comment from Torrie Wilson about her dad. She grabbed his mic and threw it to the ground.

(3) The Big Show defeated Matt Hardy with a chokeslam to score the pinfall. Hardy tried a uranage early on, but a Big Show clothesline took him off his feet. Hardy rolled out onto the apron and ate ringpost when Show threw him into it. Heyman and Lesnar were shown watching the match from backstage. Big Show hit Hardy with a side back-breaker as someone in the crowd held up a "We Want Shane-O-Mac" sign. Hardy dodged Big Show in the corner, and gave him a boot, but he tried going up top and Show caught him with a hand around the throat, setting him up for the chokeslam.

Show took the mic after the match. He said he was the "next big thing" long before Lesnar ever was.

(I'm channel flipping during the commercial and Boston is beating L.A. by nine with 10 to go in the 3rd.)

(4) Rey Misterio & Edge defeated Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle in a 2/3 falls match. Angle and Benoit argued about who was starting the match. Angle ended up starting first against Rey. Angle took him right to the mat with a waistlock. Rey used his quickness to get out and take down Angle with an armdrag. Angle chased Rey around the ring, getting duped into flying out of the ring between the ropes as Benoit hung his head in embarrassment. Angle then mockingly clapped for Rey. Angle came back with a clothesline, but Rey got up quick and hit a huracanrana and tagged Edge, which Angle didn't like one bit. Angle tagged out to Benoit in response. Benoit wasn't happy with Angle for tagging out. Benoit got tagged with a shoulder block, two arm drags before being sent to the corner and pummeled. Edge locked on a side headlock. He got sent into the ropes and Angle grabbed his hair, but Angle knocked him off the apron. This was enough to let Benoit attack Edge and hit him with a back suplex and tag out to Angle. Angle stomped Edge, and knocked Rey off the apron, before choking Edge along the bottom rope. Suplex by Angle got a two count. Angle tagged to Benoit, who gave Edge a kick to the gut and a couple chops in the corner. Benoit charged Edge but ended up eating boot. Edge then fought out of a waist lock to hit his Implant DDT, leaving both men down. Edge tagged first, letting Rey hit a springboard leg drop on Benoit for a two count. He then gave Benoit a drop toe hold onto the bottom turnbuckle. Angle got tossed and Edge assisted in a top rope huracanrana on Benoit for a two count, when Angle pulled Rey out. Rey then hit his modified Thesz Press on Benoit (while he was on Edge's shoulders) for the first pinfall.

Angle immediately attacked Rey and tried to nail his Angle Slam but missing. Back suplex by Angle got a two count. He then tagged Benoit, who hit Rey with a gut-buster. Benoit whipped Rey into the corner and then gave him a couple knees to the stomach. Benoit then went up to the middle rope. It looked like he was going for the Malenko super gut-buster, but Rey fought out, leaving both of them down on the mat. Both men made the tag at the same time, with Edge taking Angle down with two clotheslines and a back drop. He then threw Benoit out of the ring and onto the cameraman, who fell to the floor. Edge went for the spear on Angle, but Angle dodged him and Benoit tagged him with a title belt. Angle then locked on the ankle lock submission for the second fall.

(Three minutes to go in the 3rd, Lakers up by four as Kobe just nailed a three.)

5th Quarter Hour

Back from the break. Benoit tripped up Rey from the outside of the ring, allowing Angle to work him over in the corner. Angle then tossed Rey outside and distracted Edge and the ref as Benoit took him apart on the outside. Angle made a cover on Rey for a two count. Rey then hit a spinning heel kick. Rey made the tag to Edge, who stomped Angle in the corner and laid some hard chops on him, but Angle caught him with an over-head belly-to-belly and made the tag. Benoit hit a back drop on Edge and a side back-breaker for two. Benoit then locked on a half crab on Edge. Edge kicked him off and Benoit quickly tagged Angle. Angle then ran interference on Rey and hit Edge with a short-arm clothesline for two. Benoit back in, and he started working over Edge's ribs. Edge hit Benoit with an elbow as he charged him in the corner. Edge tried to climb up the ropes, but Benoit stopped him and hit him with a back suplex with one foot on the middle rope and the other on the top, leaving both men down on the mat. Both men tagged at the same time, but Rey took advantage with a dropkick. Angle then missed a corner charge and hit the post shoulder first. Rey hit the bronco-buster, but Benoit came in and hit him with a German suplex. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Rey slipped out and ran him into Benoit, who sent him out of the ring. Rey went for the 619, but Angle ducked out of it. A really cool set of counters led to Rey rolling up Angle for the three with a 'rana cradle. Angle and Benoit complained that Angle had the bottom rope. They were still arguing with the ref as they went to break.

6th Quarter Hour

The ref restarted the match. Rey dropkicked both heels off a springboard as Benoit and Angle argued in the ring. Benoit had enough of that, and hit Rey with a back suplex, following that with his patented snap suplex for two. Benoit tagged in Angle. Benoit then hit Misterio with a chop and a gut wrench suplex for two. Angle was then tagged, and he hit his own gut wrench for a two count. Edge broke up the count. Rey then turned a wheel barrel into a DDT, putting both men down on the mat. Misterio made the tag to Angle, who hit a top rope clothesline on Angle and a flap jack on benoit. Edge then hit his sit down chin-lock on Angle for two, but Angle quickly applied the ankle lock on him in return. Edge rolled out of the move, allowing Rey to hit the 619 on Angle around the ring post. Edge hit the spear and made the cover, but Benoit went up top and tried to head butt Edge. Edge moved and he hit Angle, allowing Edge to go back for the pin to win the tag titles.

7th Quarter Hour

Lloyd interviewed Big Show backstage. Lloyd asked him who was going to win Guerrero/Lesnar tonight. Big Show said he was going to win it.

The Guerreros ran into Lesnar backstage. Eddie told Heyman that Brock couldn't beat Big Show at Survivor Series and then said he didn't think he could beat anyone. The door flew open and Lesnar chased them off. Heyman then ranted at Brock. Heyman told Lesnar he could wrestle Guerrero without him at ringside.

Commercial: Oh my God. Friday 3!! There is a God!!!

Commercial: If Steiner ends up on Smackdown and has to do the "feigns respect and fear to Stephanie McMahon" thing that everyone else has to do, how high would that rank on Bill Simmons' Unintentional Comedy Scale?

Back from the break, and they showed Lesnar attacking a TV while watching Big Show in the ring.

8th Quarter Hour

(5) Brock Lesnar defeated Eddie Guerrero with the F 5 to score the pinfall. Eddie tried baiting Lesnar outside the ring, allowing Chavo to sneak up from him behind, but it didn't help him too much. In the ring, and Brock worked Eddie over in the corner. Brock then worked Eddie over with knees in the other corner. Lesnar then caught Eddie over his shoulder and gave him Snake Eyes in the corner. Brock looked like he was going for the bear hug, but just tossed Eddie onto the mat instead. Brock then put Eddie into an over the shoulder torture rack. Chavo distracted Lesnar from the apron, allowing Eddie to nail Lesnar with a low blow. Eddie then went nuts hitting him with punches as Brock pushed him off. Brock couldn't push off a dropkick to the face, however. Eddie then kicked him in the kidneys and the gut as he laid on the mat and then went to work on his knee. Eddie then locked on the El Paso Lasso, but Lesnar kicked him off. Chavo then distracted Brock again, allowing Eddie to take out his knee. Lesnar made it back to his feet and hit Eddie with a clothesline and an over-head belly-to-belly. Lesnar continued to limp as Brock went back to working on Eddie's mid-section. Lesnar missed a corner charge and went shoulder first into the ring post when Chavo pulled Eddie out of the way. Chavo went up top to help out Eddie and Lesnar pushed Eddie into him on the corner. Lesnar managed to catch Eddie with the F 5 anyway, and scored the pinfall. Lesnar is really going to have to learn something else to do in the meat of his matches other then work someone over in the corner with his shoulder.

After the match, Big Show attacked Lesnar and dropped him from the ramp onto some production equipment, just like he did 'Taker.

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