Credit: Jerry Pilarz and WrestlingObserver.com
Dark match: Rene Dupree b Trevor Rhodes with something resembling a cobra clutch. Ugh.
Velocity:
Orlando Jordan pinned Bob Holly with the feet on the ropes
Chavo b Funaki
A fan starts yelling at Tony Chimel that he’s gay. Tony responds with “That’s not what your sister said last night. Sit down.” Nice. Way to mind the youngsters in the crowd.
Danny Basham b Nunzio when they did the switch and Doug got the pin. Before the match started the Bashams cut an anti-ECW promo. Spike Dudley did a run in to no avail. Dudley got thrown sky-high to the floor and landed real bad – crossed arms from the ref – looked legit.
MNM b Scotty 2 Hotty & Shannon Moore
Quick note: Nearly 40% of the crowd was there to see John Cena, including a whole lot of kids. Lots of Moms and Dads having to deal with kids not being able to see whe they came to see.
Smackdown:
Show opens with Teddy Long in the ring. He announces that John Cena will not be there since, of course, he’s been drafted to RAW. He then announces that there will be no descision made regarding a Smackdown champ until after the draft is completed. Cue JBL. JBL cuts one of his signature two week promos demanding that Teddy make him the champ. Long refuses and introduces the Smackdown draft pick – Chris Benoit. Benoit come out to a huge pop and runs down JBL for being a quitter and a whiner for demanding a championship he doesn’t deserve. JBL sasy he respects Benoit for everything he’s done…except ECW. Benoit demands that Teddy make the match for later, which of course is made. Benoit and JBL tussle and JBL gets a german. Benoit goes for a quick crossface but JBL slides out of the ring. Interesting thing happens next…they start Benoit’s music for a few seconds and then it stops and the arena goes dark. Lights and song comes back on about 20 seconds late! r, Benoit was clearly pissed since he was obviously going to soak up the moment, stormed to the back looking pretty upset.
Carlito b Charlie Haas. Carlito seconded by Matt Morgan, Haas by Holly. Hass took a sick bump to the neck doing a dive to the outside.
Backstage – Heidenreich wants Benoit to be his friend. Heidenreich walks off and in comes Eddie Guerrero. They talk about WMXX but talk eventually turns to Rey Rey. Benoit says he can’t respect a guy who treats his friends like that.
Kurt Angle cuts a “demented Kurt” promo about his obsession with Sharmell.
Paul London NC Akio. Match started but Eddie comes out, grabs a mic and throws PL and Akio out of the ring. Eddie cuts promo about nobody respecting him, blah, blah, blah. Typical heel promo, great delivery.
Booker T b Kurt Angle. Angle comes out and faces off with Tazz…telling Tazz that he demands an answer about Tazz joining the anti-ECW brigade. Tazz does nothing.
Pretty good match between Booker and Angle. Finish saw the obligatory ref bump. Angle grabs a chair and hits Booker in the ankle. Angle comes back and goes to hit Booker in the head but Booker ducks, the chair slingshots off the ropes and Angle hits himself in the forehead with the chair. Scissors kick and 1-2-3.
After Booker leaves, Angle sits in the ring for several minutes. He then comes down to the announce table and says he’s going to sit next to Tazz until Tazz gives hom an answer. Tazz stares Angle down and says nothing. Angle goes to leave but turns around and hits Tazz with the mic. Tazz falls under the table and Angle hits him again with the chair. Tazz juiced. Big drama with Tazz being led to the back.
Heidenreich squashed Corey Fox. (Who?!?!?!?) Still perplexed on what this had to do with…anything.
Chris Benoit NC JBL. Announcment made that filling in for Tazz to help announce the main event is Paul Heyman. Heyman comes out with the Dudleys, Tommy Dreamer, Sandman and Rhyno. JBL calls out the Cabinet, Matt Morgan and Carlito. Match was pretty good. Ending saw Benoit attempting the sharpshooter several times but he had to keep breaking it to knock one of the Bashams off the apron. Benoit then hit the diving headbutt and went for the crossface, but Kurt Angle ran in and interfered, and the brawl was on. Balls Mahoney and Axl Rotten appeared out of nowhere, along with a bloody and bandaged Tazz. Several beat-downs ensue with the ECW guys cleaning house. Crowd absolutely bonkers. More ECW posing and chants ended the show.
A good time. Not alot of wrestling, but the ECW presence felt like you were seeing something important.
Matches
Carlito b Charlie Haas
Paul London NC Akio
Booker T b Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit NC JBL
