WWE Smackdown review
September 26, 2002
Taped Tuesday, September 24
Report by Willie Littlejohn, Torch Team Contributor

Well, another week, another edition of Smackdown to review. As usual, as long as we remember that the WWE just be simple as ABC (Action, Believable Storylines, Character Development) maybe the fans will come back. Now on with the show:

This week's show opens with the Bischoff-McMahon HLA recap at Unforgiven (Honestly, how many more times must we look at Rikishi's Backside. It kind of makes me sick). Fireworks explode and the show is off and running from San Diego, California. The first match is underway...and speak of the devil...

(1) Rikishi pinned Chavo Guerrero.: Before the match, Edge vs. Eddie Guerrero in a no DQ match is announced. At the 2:30 mark, Chavo has Rikishi's down in the corner and actually attempts his own stink-face by pulling down his pants and showing his backside, but Rikishi stops him. Match ends at the 4:40 mark as Rikishi (who stopped Chavo's attempt to use the camera like last week) with a super kick and Rump shaker for the three count.

After the match, someone, once again, left a hat at the top of the Smackdown stage as Rikishi danced (for the 5 or 6 fans that care). (Man, I do miss Chavo selling Amway on Nitro).

Backstage, Torrie preps herself for a bikini contest. Good, as the start of the show is not what I had in mind.

In mid-ring, Tazz intros the Bikini Contest between Nidia and Torrie and announced wrestling's newest manly man couple of Billy and Chuck, your judges, who joined Cole at the table. Torrie enters first, in pink high heels, followed by Nidia, in sneakers, both women in pink robes. Nidia disrobes first, and while looking good in a black bikini, danced like she had the rhythm of Bubba Ray Dudley for her 30 seconds and also dropped the gum out of her mouth and put it back in. Chuck and Billy gave her votes of 6 and 9 ˆ Ha, Ha. Torrie, looking better in a pink bikini, bumped and grinded her way to 10's from B&C. Jamie Noble and Tajiri come out as Noble is upset at the decision and challenges B&C to an impromptu tag team match.

(2) Billy & Chuck beat Jamie Noble & Tajiri. Torrie chants as she is in the corner of B&C late in the non-exciting tag match. Before it ends, I will bet the losing streak of Tajiri will continue. Cole mentions contracts are now frozen and acknowledges Bischoff signing away the Hurricane and Randy Orton before the rule is completed. Tazz wishes them both luck working for Eric Bischoff. Match ends with B&C giving Tajiri the Code Red (Doomsday Device) at the 6:21 mark.

After the match, Nidia spits her gum at Torrie and throws her in the ring. With Billy holding her arms, Torrie saves the segment by spanking Nidia.

Rewind segment replays Undertaking throwing Brock Lesnar through the Unforgiven sign.

Funaki, with mic in hand, cautiously knocks on Brock's door for an interview. Brock comes out and Funaki has trouble spitting out the question why Brock has not given UT a rematch. Brock, speaking more than he has in a month, tells Funaki he will answer his question in the ring.

Kurt Angle visits Stephanie McMahon, on the phone reviewing contracts. Angle congrats Stephanie for fooling Bischoff and asks for a rematch with Chris Benoit. Stephanie announces she has other ideas for the match and Rey Misterio enters the room. Steph announces a triple threat between Mysterio, Angle and Benoit. Angle tells Rey he plans to get the 1-2-3, but not before Rey says he will hit Angle with the 6-1-9. Funaki is shown next, coming to the ring with a dented chair (from Unforgiven) and then a commercial break.

Back from commercial, Funaki claims he is the #1 announcer and introduces Brock, who comes to the ring with Paul Heyman. Funaki shows Brock the chair UT hit him with last Sunday. Brock looks at the chair angrily and slams the chair down and backs Funaki in a corner. Funaki throws three right hands at Brock before Brock destroys him in the ring with a series of power moves and finishes him with an F-5. The announcers played it up as Brock taking his frustrations out on Funaki. (Yeah, I am a fan of Brock, but I was not impressed he beat up a relative jobber, who cares).

Dawn Marie approaches Torrie and sarcastically congratulates her on her bikini contest win earlier and challenges her to a similar contest. Edge is shown backstage walking to the ring...

(3) Edge beat Eddie Guerrero in a no DQ match. Too bad this rivalry could not have been for something other than Eddie's jealous of Edge. Give these two a best of seven series for a title would make the rivalry really interesting. Eddie goes for the first pin attempt with his foot on the ropes at 1:30. Match starts to slow down as Eddie has Edge in a chin lock at 3:30 mark. Superplex by Eddie to Edge gets a two count at 4:50. Edge clotheslines Eddie over the top rope at 6:00 and then goes under the ring for a ladder. Edge charges at Eddie with the ladder but he ducks and Edge takes out the ref in a great looking bump. Eddie hits Edge with a chair to the back but misses his frog splash at 7:45. Then, in classic old school style, they cut to a commercial. (If it makes you mad they went to a commercial, it might be a good thing, it shows you are interested). They come back from commercial with Eddie stomping Edge in the corner and we have our second ref appear. Guerrero applies a sleeper at 11:30. Edge fights out a climbs the top rope, but Eddie hits a top rope huracanrana for a two count. At 14:30, Edge slides the ladder in the ring, but Eddie dropkicks the ladder into his chest. Eddie goes out and drags a second ladder in the ring. At 15:30, Eddie places Edge between the two ladders and flips over the top rope onto Edge. At 16:45, Eddie sets up the ladder in the ring and climbs to the top. Edge meets him at the top, but Eddie flips over the top an executes a sit out power bomb from the top on Edge for an unbelievable two count as the crowd cheered. Edge backdrops Eddie into a ladder in the corner at 18:15. At 19:30, Edge has Eddie at the top of the ladder and hits the Edge-ecution for the 1-2-3. Eddie is shown bleeding from the forehead.

After the match, the crowd gives Eddie a standing ovation for his effort. Great action, better than the PPV match. Once again, if they were fighting for a title, it would have been better. Wonder if Steph can steal the I-C title? Raw is not really using it.

Mark Lloyd congratulates Benoit on his win last Sunday and asks him about tonight. Benoit praises Angle's ability, but claims he will beat him tonight. He adds while Rey was born in San Diego, Benoit was born to hurt.

Matt Hardy and Shannon Moore are watching a tape of him vs. the Hurricane. Matt claims he made Hurricane jump to Raw and made the Undertaker run in their last two encounters. Shannon says it was Brock's influence, while Matt not only denies it, claims he will prove it tonight vs. the Taker. As he walks to the ring, Brock appears from around the corner.

Highlights are shown of the Wrestlemania XIX press conference in Seattle on March 30th at Safeco Field. Appearing at the conference were Torrie Wilson, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Eric Bischoff, Stephanie McMahon, Edge, Booker T, Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Trish Stratus, Brock Lesnar, Rob Van Dam, Godfather, Kane and Vince himself. Funniest moment was the fans chanting „What‰ as Angle tried to speak and he put his head down in laughter.

UT wins a total squash with the Last ride at 1:45, yes 1:45 over the man with Mattitude! I like the new gimmick, but too bad it was wasted tonight.

Winner: Undertaker (Again. Maybe the planets will align and Tajiri will win a match the same night the Undertaker loses one. Guess I get a better chance of a Vikings vs. Ravens Super Bowl this season).

After the match, Brock lays out the Taker with two belt shot and busts him open as Heyman screams Dead Man Bleeding. Nice line Paul, liked that one. During the break, they show a bloodied Undertaker slumped in a corner refusing medical attention.

(5) Rey Mysterio beat Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit in a triple threat match. Angle is the best on the mic and claims the San Diego crowd better be afraid that he might call the INS and the Rey's 6-1-9 will be replaced by 9-1-1. Probably the best 3 workers on the Smackdown Brand (sans Edge and Eddie G). Great back and forth action as the early part sees Angle hurt on the outside leaving Rey and Benoit. At 3:00, Benoit tosses out Rey and Angle re-enters as they now exchange offensive moves. Angle hits Benoit with the Angle Slam at 5:30 and Rey dropkicks him from behind and covers Benoit for a near fall. Angle throws Rey over his head at 6:30 and Rey lands on Benoit. At 7:00, Angle is choking Benoit on the second rope and Rey hits them both with the 6-1-9. Benoit applies the cross face to Angle at 7:30, to be broken up by a Rey springboard leg drop for a near fall on Benoit at 8:15. Match ends when Angle is tossed from the ring and Rey hits a sloppy West Coast Pop on Benoit for the win at 8:42.

Show ends with both Angle and Benoit staring at disbelief over what has happened.

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