WWE Smackdown review
Taped Dec. 17th, 2002
Aired Dec. 19th, 2002
Aired on UPN

Pre-Intro, we view highlights of Show-Lesnar and Kurt Angle defeating Show at Armageddon last week.

1st Quarter Hour

Kurt Angle entered the ring to a big pop and was all smiles. Angle then said he wanted to thank a man who kept his promise, and brought out Brock Lesnar. This was probably the best babyface promo Kurt Angle has ever given, at least up to this point. Lesnar then entered the ring. Angle told Lesnar that he isn't sure if he could have beat Show without Lesnar's help. Angle then said he wanted to thank him, and Lesnar tapped the belt over Angle's shoulder. Angle called his future match against Lesnar the "most anticipated in WWE history." Angle then said he would give him the title shot, anytime and any place, the crowd then stood up as Brock grabbed the mic. Lesnar then said he wanted the match tonight, to a huge pop. Angle then said he couldn't do it tonight, because he already had a non-title against Benoit, but since he promised the first title shot to Lesnar, he could get it next week on Smackdown. The fans weren't too happy and quickly turned on Angle with a slow growing "you suck" chant. Angle wanted to shake hands with Lesnar on it and he eventually did.

Commercial: Bill and Al go rib-crazy on the T.E. cast. Well, as long as they don't tape anyone's butt cheeks together.

2nd Quarter Hour

Big Show was throwing a temper tantrum backstage as Heyman cowered in the corner. Heyman then told Show he would get the first shot. Show then grabbed Heyman by his face with a bloody hand and told him he's been breaking promises. Heyman said he should know, he always has a contingency plan and he now has the greatest one of them all.

Chavo cut a promo against Billy Kidman, calling him a cheater.

1(1) Eddie Guerrero defeated Billy Kidman with a Crucifix Power Bomb for the three count. (Distractions from Chavo. Chavo also pulled Kidman out of the ring after the SSP) Eddie jumped Kidman fast, but Kidman fired back with a monkey flip. Eddie would have none of that, and quickly hit Billy with a back suplex before resorting to firsts and boots on Kidman. Eddie delivered a tilt-a-whirl back breaker and went for the Frog Splash early, but Kidman moved as Eddie rolled through it. Kidman caught him with an enzuigiri. Kidman followed with a series of blows, a body drop and a sit out spinebuster. Kidman tried going up top but Chavo deflected his attention. Kidman then used Chavo's face to springboard off of as he delivered a Tornado Bulldog on Eddie. Kidman hit the SSP, but Chavo pulled him out of the ring, which the ref didn't see. Eddie quickly hit Kidman with a Crucifix power bomb for the three count. Chavo pummeled Kidman afterwards. Way too short. I take it none of these morons who keep putting Kidman in five minute matches have never watched Starrcade '98, but since Eddie was fighting food poisoning tonight it's understandable. The guys move-set is built around selling a beating for ten to fifteen minutes before firing back and getting the win. Think Ricky Morton. If WCW couldn't have screwed that up, there is no excuse why WWE keeps doing it.

Stephanie and Matt Hardy talked backstage. Hardy has a blackened eye and Steph wondered if he could compete. Hardy said he had a match against Brock Lesnar and nothing would keep him from it. Well, unless Vince suddenly decides he wanted Albert to wrestle in it instead (see Newsletter).

3rd Quarter Hour

Cena and B-2 posed on the way to the ring as Cena rapped. I'll forgive it this week as Cena managed to throw in "Four Horsemen" somewhere in there. I take it WWE hasn't learned anything from their fiasco with Ron "K Kwik" Killings.

(2) John Cena defeated Chuck Palumbo when he grabbed the tights for a pinfall (Usual outside heel interference from B-2. Cena grabbed the tights on the three count) Palumbo landed a strange one arm slam on Cena, followed by an over-head belly to belly. Cena tossed Palumbo to the floor, setting him up for B-2. Cena got a two count after Bull rolled him back in. Cena gave Palumbo a hard whip into the corner, followed by a double axe handle off the ropes for another two count. Cena then locked on a full nelson on the mat, but Palumbo stood out of it and powered out, hitting Cena with a back suplex. Palumbo clotheslined Cena and body dropped him. Palumbo hit another belly to belly and the weakest set of discus punches I've ever seen before going up top. Palumbo nailed the high cross body, but Cena rolled through and got the three count with a hand full of tights. Palumbo decked Cena and was about to turn his frustrations to the ref, but B-2 hit him with the chain. Rikishi ran in and took out Bull with a chair and was about to give Cena the Ass of Doom, but Buchanan pulled him out of the ring.

4th Quarter Hour

A recap of the Dawn/Torrie/Al saga. They also show some of the stuff that UPN banned from airing last week. Somewhere, Simon Diamond and Billy Kidman are fighting over who gets seconds. They then showed an interview with Torrie from her momma's in Idaho. She said that she isn't ashamed of herself because she's willing to do what it takes to help the person she loves. She called Dawn Marie a wench and said she is ashamed of her Dad. As far as her being a "sexual predator," Torrie said she's the first to admit that she's really "sexual" and if Dawn thinks she's a predator, she hasn't seen anything yet. Torrie is still on the big screen when Dawn and Al hit the ring. Dawn called Torrie a jealous nymphomaniac who doesn't have anyone to love her. Dawn went to talk about her late night sexual encounters and her sacred relationship with Al, who was appearing to get teary eyed. Dawn went on blathering some more and Torrie then took off her mic and threw it down, and said they both deserved it each other.

Commercial: WWE Anthology. They should just re-name everything from 2000 on as the Triple H years.

5th Quarter Hour

(3) Brock Lesnar defeated Shannon Moore with an F 5 for the pinfall (Clean). Hardy entered the ring with Shannon Moore, who was sporting a V1 Matt Hardy t-shirt. Apparently lost the rest of his vision on the way to the ring, so he has allowed original Mattitude follower to take his place, which was news to the original Mattitude. He wasn't too happy, either. Lesnar gave Shannon an over-head belly-to-belly out of the ring and gave him an F 5 with a double spin for the quick pinfall. Matt went into the ring to berate Shannon, so Brock went back into the ring and hit Hardy with an F 5.

They showed footage of Kurt watching Lesnar on TV. Steph told him to cut the crap and set the record straight. Angle played stupid. Steph then threatened to go the ring and do it herself, which changed Angle's mind.

Angle came to the ring again. He said he would fight Lesnar and Benoit in the same night if he could. He then rambled on about the responsibilities it takes to be a WWE superstar and how he started to put together a management team. He then brought out Paul Heyman, who said they were "in on it all along." Heyman then said he would love another opportunity to screw Heyman one more time. Heyman then said that Angle would defend against anyone, but Lesnar. An angry Big Show then came to the ring and cornered Heyman. Angle acted like he was going to sneak up on Show for a belt shot, but Show let him know he was there. Heyman then said that Show was still his favorite client and Angle knows it. Heyman then said he wanted Angle to defend the title against Show next week instead of Angle, which upset Angle. Heyman then said as long as one them two are champion and Lesnar is on the outside, they make the rules and decide who has the shots.

Commentary: Paul Heyman's strong mic presence was needed for Brock, there was no doubt about that. His visibility as a former color guy as well as one of the leaders of the Invasion was a boost to Lesnar who was an unknown at the time with limited mic skills. God knows Show needed something if he was going to main event as champ, so it made since Heyman would jump over to him, especially since McMahon wanted to turn Lesnar face. Heyman cornering himself with Angle, the new champ, serves absolutely no purpose other then to make sure that Paul Heyman maintains his spot as the central figure in the main event storyline, despite the fact it makes hardly any sense whatsoever. Angle doesn't need Heyman, Heyman needs Angle. Between Dawn/Al/Torrie, the sudden push of the super heavies and Heyman sticking himself with Angle, it's amazing this show hasn't fallen into the 2's within the last month and it's really amazing the show has maintained it's quality level this long considering the egos who are pulling the trigger.

6th Quarter Hour

They showed footage of Demott offering to partner up with Crash against Noble and Nunzio.

(4) Bill Demott & Crash Holly defeated Jamie Noble & Nunzio when Demott pinned Noble with a moonsault. (Clean) Demott took Nunzio down immediately and beat him on the back. Nunzio struggled to get up and was beaten down once again. Demott slammed Nunzio in the corner. Noble made the tag and immediately gave Noble snake eyes out of a press slam. Demott then made Noble tag Nunzio, where the beating continued. Demott then beat on Noble some more and power bombed him. Demott ignored Crash, who wanted a tag, and hit Noble with the moonsault for the three count. A squash of epic proportions. Crash went over and talked trash to Nunzio and Noble when Demott took him out with a punch and then hit him with a moonsault.

Ernest Miller was backstage and interviewed Edge. Ernest said he had to call his mama. Edge told "the Cat" that A-Train had some debts to pay and it was happening tonight.

7th Quarter Hour

(5) Edge defeated A-Train with a spear for the three count. (Clean) Train was all over Edge to start, before missing a splash off the ropes. Edge slipped out of a press slam, but Albert charged his knee and clipped it with his shoulder. Train then went to work in the knee. Edge tried the comeback, but Train caught him with side slam and went to a half crab. I'll give the big guy this, he can actually work a little bit. Edge finally caught A-Train with an enzuigiri and a forearm off the ropes. Face plant on A-train, which led to Edge hobbling towards the ropes, only to get caught up top. Edge pushed him off and hit a missile drop kick for a two count. Edge got another two count. Edge set him up for the spear, but Albert caught him with a boot to the ribs, and then a Mafia kick for a two count. Albert then went back to the half crab. Edge got out and countered with a drop kick and speared Albert for the three count and the shocking win. Best match of the night.

Josh Matthews was outside Brock's locker room giving a recap of Angle's action when Lesnar walked out. Lesnar asked him if he wanted to know his "state of mind." Brock, calmly, said that was a good question and walked off.

8th Quarter Hour

(6) Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle by DQ when Big Show interfered. Angle took Benoit to the mat, but Benoit quickly countered with a hammer lock/side head lock series. Arm drags by Benoit, followed by the beating and chops in the corner as Heyman held the title outside with a look of concern/constipation on his face. Benoit chopped Angle some more in the corner and hit a snap suplex for a two count. Angle finally turned the tide with a reverse Irish whip and hitting Benoit off the ropes with an over-head belly to belly. Angle took advantage. stomping Benoit in the head. Angle is also wearing a knee brace, but from the way he's moving, you wouldn't know he needs it. I wonder how many hoss and trooper comments Ross will throw out for Triple H for his quad this week in the Ross Report while ignoring Angle. Angle locked on a side head lock with a body scissors. Benoit fought out of it and got to his feet, but Angle caught him with a knee off the ropes for a two count. Benoit tried battling back again, but Angle hit him with a German suplex as the crowd booed. Angle went for the Angle Slam, but Benoit reversed it into an arm drag. Both men were down, but Benoit took the advantage when both got up, nailing some clotheslines and two rolling German suplexes before Angle reversed it into an Ankle Lock. Benoit then hit Angle with four more German suplexes, releasing on the last one, sending Angle to the floor. Benoit hit Angle with a hard chop on the outside before following him back into the ring and hitting three more German suplexes. This guy has food poisoning ladies and gentlemen. Benoit went up top and connected on the head butt and locked on the CCF, but Big Show ran in and chokeslammed Benoit. Lesnar ran down and hit belly-to-bellies on Show and Angle before lifting Heyman for the F-5. Angle took out Lesnar's knee and started beating on him in the ring. Angle then hit him with an Angle Slam which Show followed up with a chokeslam. Heyman made sure to yell over Angle that he would never see the title again as Angle told him he was champ. Heyman raised the title, but Angle grabbed it from him and made him hold his arm up as the show went off the air.

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