Vengeance 2003

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

Vengeance

July 27, 2003

Pepsi Center

Denver, Colorado

News & Notes: Vince wanted Piper to apologize for not unmasking Mr. America at Judgment Day. McMahon even slapped Piper, and they almost fought, but O’Haire accepted the blame for the failure. Then McMahon told Mr. America to do a lie detector test. Plus, Vince had Gowen arrested to draw Mr. America’s attention and make him lose to O’Haire. However, Mr. America passed the polygraph, much to Vince’s dismay. Afterward, Mr. America made Vince take the test. He accused McMahon of being a pervert who fantasizes about Torrie Wilson and Mae Young. Worse yet, Mr. America and Gowen had Vince’s limo towed for parking in a handicap spot. Later, Mr. America arm-wrestled Vince, but Sable flashed America to help Vince win. Finally, America teamed with Angle and Brock against Big Show, Haas, and Benjamin. Vince carried Gowen to the stage to distract America and cost him a victory.

Things only escalated for Mr. America. After the show ended, he pulled up his mask, but Vince kept the cameras rolling. McMahon used the footage to fire Mr. America the following week. (They did this to explain Hogan’s absence. In reality, Hogan left WWE because of creative differences and a contract dispute.) In other news, Ultimo Dragon debuted in WWE. He defeated Shannon Moore in his first appearance, and Mysterio shook his hand. Elsewhere, on Velocity, Spanky formed an unlikely team with Funaki. They feuded with the FBI because Spanky disguised himself as a pizza delivery man and gave the FBI a laxative-laced pizza.

The PPV: Angle, Lesnar, Stephanie, and Gowen talk about their dreams and determination. They worked hard for these opportunities. Achieving their success meant risking their lives and doing whatever they had to do. They pushed harder, ignored the pain, and focused on their goals to prove they were right and justify their efforts. Now, they want to show they are the champion and the real deal. They need to make a difference and fulfill their calling. However, Vince McMahon promises to maintain control. He is the dream-killer, the reaper of souls, and the puppet master on a stage of fools. Only he can see the grand design. So, he wants them to take their bleeding heart and freak gimp friend somewhere else. This is Vince’s house, not a charity, key club, or old age home. He pulls the strings and will take you out if you get in his way.

Next, fireworks explode while Michael Cole welcomes everybody to the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. This is Smackdown’s first exclusive PPV! Tazz claims the mile-high city exploded. Then Cole and Tazz discuss the card during Eddie Guerrero’s entrance. Eddie drives a low rider into the arena and makes it bounce. Guerrero vs. Benoit for the returning US Title is the opening contest. Mike Chioda explains the rules after holding up the new belt. He asks them to shake hands, but Eddie walks away and mocks Benoit for his recent blindness.

U.S. Title Tournament Finals: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit

Storyline: Stephanie resurrected the US Title to counteract the Intercontinental Title on RAW. She created a tournament to crown a new champion. Benoit defeated Rhyno and Matt Hardy to reach this point, while Eddie beat Ultimo Dragon and Billy Gunn. Meanwhile, both competitors experienced drama in the weeks leading up to this event. Eddie and Tajiri kept their tag titles through Eddie’s trickery. He framed their opponents for using weapons to get them disqualified. Alas, they dropped the belts after Tajiri got knocked onto Eddie’s low rider. The damage to his car made Eddie snap. He smashed Tajiri through the windshield while the EMTs helped Tajiri. Then Eddie told Benoit he was sick of playing second fiddle to him. Eddie squirted car wax into Benoit’s eyes and attacked him. As for Benoit, miscommunications with Rhyno strained their friendship. Rhyno cost Benoit wins accidentally.

The Match: They do chain wrestling, hurricanranas, and arm drags until both men regroup. Next, Eddie bails again after getting a rope break during a Crossface. So, Benoit performs a dive and focuses on Guerrero’s shoulder. When Eddie fights back, he scores a Frankensteiner and a Saito suplex. However, Benoit answers with a backdrop, German suplexes, a back superplex, and another Crossface. A backbreaker follows, but Eddie responds with the Three Amigos and a superplex. Unfortunately, he misses the Frog Splash. It clips Benoit’s shoulder, but Benoit powerbombs Eddie.

Benoit hesitates to release a third Crossface, so the ref admonishes him. Eddie seizes the opening and shoves Benoit into Chioda. Now, he decks Benoit with the belt and nails a Frog Splash, but it only earns two! Since that tactic failed, Eddie smacks the referee with the championship and tries to frame Benoit, but Chioda won’t wake up. Mike also doesn’t see Eddie tapping when Benoit locks in the Crossface. Afterward, Benoit avoids a cheap shot and lands a German suplex. He climbs for the flying headbutt, so Eddie pulls Chioda into the move. While Mike is down, Rhyno arrives, but he gores Benoit and spits on him! Eddie shrugs and ends it with a Frog Splash.

Thoughts: This was great. They started slowly, but this built to a nice finish. Benoit and Guerrero almost lost the crowd early on, but they hooked and pulled them in. This bout told an interesting story and took the fans on a ride.

Winner: Eddie Guerrero (New Champion) (21:54)

Backstage, Vince smells some roses before Stephanie enters the room. Stephanie gives him an attitude, so Vince tells her to cut it out. This has been a rough week for their family. Steph says, “You’re telling me!” Vince says they have matches tonight, but Stephanie reminds him he booked them. Then Vince talks about Linda’s condition. Kane brutalized her on RAW. (More on that in my next review.) His words anger Stephanie. She asks how he can talk about Linda. Steph remembered what he said last week. Vince said he hoped Sable incapacitated Stephanie like her mother. When Vince hears this, he claims he will go to RAW and confront Kane, but Steph doesn’t believe him. Vince also says he brought Stephanie flowers. They aren’t the big bouquet. Those are for Sable. Vince hands Steph small dried flowers instead. He says they are in honor of Linda’s condition.

Now, it’s time for Jamie Noble vs. Billy Gunn. If Jamie wins, he gets to sleep with Torrie Wilson on Smackdown. Billy Gunn is using his “Ass Man” theme again. He brings Torrie, so Cole and Tazz argue about her striped pants. Cole doesn’t know the difference between zebra stripes and pinstripes. Meanwhile, Nidia doesn’t accompany Noble, but Jamie carries a briefcase. He says he filled it with oils and sex toys. Gunn kicks the case into Jamie’s face and opens the lid. The contents make Tazz laugh.

Indecent Proposal Match: Jamie Noble vs. Billy Gunn (w/ Torrie Wilson)

Storyline: Torrie feuded with Nidia and Noble after Nidia cheated to beat her. First, Torrie asked Rikishi for help. Then Billy Gunn returned. Torrie showed interest in him when she did the ring announcing for his encounter with A-Train. She let Gunn spank her. Later, Hebner caught Billy and Torrie fooling around. A fight between Noble and Gunn resulted from the pairing, and Gunn won. Meanwhile, Noble’s aunt died and left him $827,000. Noble and Nidia celebrated with a dinner at Applebee’s and a mink coat for Nidia. Jamie even offered $10,000 to sleep with Torrie. Gunn attacked him, and Torrie rejected the offer. So Noble upped the amount to $25,000, which angered Nidia. Noble and Gunn also cost each other victories. Finally, Noble claimed he was better in bed than Gunn, so Torrie granted Jamie a rematch with Billy. If Noble wins, she’ll sleep with him.

The Match: Gunn nails a tilt-a-whirl slam and a wheelbarrow slam, but he misses a Stinger Splash. Plus, Gunn’s knee buckles when he catches Noble on a slingshot crossbody, so Jamie capitalizes. He attacks the leg and locks Billy in holds as Nidia arrives. While this happens, Gunn responds with the One and Only, which buys him time to recover. He performs a hip toss neckbreaker and seeks a Fameasser. Gunn uses a cutter when it fails. Now, Gunn climbs the turnbuckles and takes a super DDT from Noble. Jamie covers, but Nidia places Gunn’s foot on the ropes. Noble confronts Nidia, so Torrie tries to slap him. Jamie kisses Torrie, earning him slaps from both women. The distraction allows Gunn to bring Noble inside for the Gunslinger, but Noble lands on his feet. He shoves Gunn into Torrie and rolls him up with a handful of tights for three.

Thoughts: This was okay, but forgettable. They told their intended story, but it wasn’t interesting. The crowd didn’t care. They were dead for this.

Winner: Jamie Noble (4:59)

Torrie and Billy look shocked, and Torrie mutters, “Holy shit.” Meanwhile, Noble celebrates while Nidia cries and storms to the back. Cole says Noble looks like he won the lottery. Tazz and Cole can’t believe Torrie has to have sex with Noble on Thursday. Cole wants to be a fly on the wall wherever they go.

Elsewhere, Smackdown’s #1 announcer, Funaki, interviews the APA. They are drinking whiskey. Funaki says the APA invited many superstars to fight them, but he wants their thoughts on what happened this past Thursday. The Brooklyn Brawler attacked Faarooq and Bradshaw with a chair because they told him to do something impactful. Funaki shows footage of this incident and asks for the APA’s comments. Instead of answering, the APA hands Funaki an invitation to the brawl. Funaki asks what he should wear, so Bradshaw tells him to come as a Japanese reporter who sometimes wrestles. He also says Thursday was a dry run. The Easter Bunny hops into view as Bradshaw speaks, so Bradshaw says this will be fun.

The interview leads to the entrances for the Bar Room Invitational. Some superstars are already there drinking. Spanky dances on the bar. Brother Love, the Easter Bunny (Aaron Stevens), Doink (Nick Dinsmore), Sean O’Haire, and Matt Hardy join the group. (Matt fact: Matt hates bar fights.) Lastly, the APA appears and explains the rules. There are none. The last man drinking wins. Bradshaw offers a toast with the explanation out of the way. He says, “Some like beer, and some like grass. If you’re drinking at this bar, we’ll kick your ass!” Unfortunately, Brother Love swipes the mic. He makes a dirty altar boy joke and prays. Love says they are there to love their fellow man and turn beer into blood. So, he asks for forgiveness for what he’s about to do. Once he says this, Love blasts Los Conquistadores with a stool.

Participants: Bradshaw, Faarooq, The Brooklyn Brawler, Brother Love, Kanyon, Palumbo, Stamboli, Nunzio, Conquistador Uno, Conquistador Dos, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Doink the Clown, The Easter Bunny, Funaki, John Hennigan, Matt Cappotelli, Matt Hardy, Shannon Moore, Orlando Jordan, Sean O’Haire, & Spanky.

The APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl

Storyline: The APA returned to help the Undertaker feud with the FBI. Faarooq and Bradshaw continued fighting them after Taker refocused on Cena. They cost each other a chance at the tag titles. Then, the APA issued open invitations to a Bar Room Brawl. They convinced people to come through threats of violence and promises of revenge. Bradshaw even told them the Easter Bunny would compete because they hated that guy. Plus, they visited the troops, and Bradshaw wanted to invite Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile, this contest includes newcomers. First, we have the Basham brothers. They hired Linda Miles as their manager, but she became a dominatrix named Shaniqua. Orlando Jordan is the other fresh face. He earned victories over Kanyon and Nunzio, but he struggled against A-Train. Lastly, Los Conquistadores reappeared. This time, Rob Conway and Nick Dinsmore were under the masks. (Johnny Jeter takes Dinsmore’s place in this bout.)

The Match: The Bashams toss Spanky onto a table while Faarooq wields a barrel. He isn’t the only one with a weapon. Brawler uses a crowbar, Palumbo swings a chair, and someone sprays an extinguisher. Then Brawler throws Doink through a window while O’Haire snaps pool cues on the APA’s heads. Sean follows with a spin kick to Nunzio and flips over the bar. He lands, but Moore dives onto O’Haire with a somersault plancha. However, Brother Love smashes Moore into a mirror and clocks O’Haire with a vase.

Next, Bradshaw rams the Easter Bunny through the remains of the mirror and trades bar tray strikes with Brawler. As they fight, Matt Hardy puts the Bashams on a table. He has to hit the Drop Shot and a splash to break the stubborn plunder. Back at the bar, a drunk Funaki falls off his stool. Finally, the APA catches Brother Love trying to clock them with a bottle. Love offers the beer as a peace offering, but Bradshaw breaks it over his head. The ref declares Bradshaw the winner despite Faarooq standing beside him.

Thoughts: This was good, silly fun. They kept it short and filled it with enough spots and gags to keep it entertaining. I enjoyed this, but I have one gripe. Why did Bradshaw win? Faarooq was still upright, so how did he get eliminated? Cole claims Faarooq got knocked out, but I never saw it.

Winner: Bradshaw (4:33)

Backstage, Jamie Noble looks at a wrinkled copy of Torrie Wilson’s Playboy. He invites a crew member to glance at it. Then Jamie says he carried the magazine in his love case for four months. This Thursday on Smackdown, he gets to do more than look. He can touch and feel anything he wants! When the tech guy hears this, he asks about Nidia. Jamie says, “What about Nidia?” He thinks she’ll get over it.

WWE Tag Team Title Match: The World’s Greatest Tag Team (c) vs. Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio

Storyline: Haas and Benjamin overcame Eddie’s cheating. They regained their championship after the low rider incident. Then, they ended their partnership with Kurt Angle. They called in sick the night of Kurt’s return. Haas and Benjamin said they grew tired of living in Kurt’s shadow because he was a loser. They didn’t break their necks battling Lesnar as Kurt did. Furthermore, Kurt hasn’t been there for them in the past few months. So, they renamed themselves the World’s Greatest Tag Team and joined Big Show’s war against Angle and Lesnar. Meanwhile, Mysterio earned a Cruiserweight Title shot by beating Crash and Shannon. Rey hurt himself but still faced Matt Hardy and won the gold! Afterward, a returning Kidman congratulated Rey. He said he wanted to reunite their old tag team. So, they paired up to defeat the APA, the FBI, and the Bashams in a #1 contender’s contest.

The Match: They trade headscissors and do chain wrestling until Kidman holds Haas for Rey’s springboard leg drop. Undaunted, Haas turns another headscissors into a powerslam, and Benjamin gorilla presses Rey. Shelton grounds Mysterio with a chinlock, but Rey escapes. Next, Shelton rolls through a hurricanrana, so Rey dropkicks him and makes the first hot tag. Now, Kidman cleans house with dropkicks, a backdrop, and a BK Bomb on Haas. Billy evades a tandem back splash, but Benjamin trips Rey before a 619. The exchange leads to fighting on the floor, and Kidman performs a springboard SSP on Haas and Benjamin. Back inside, it only earns two.

Haas and Benjamin regain control when Shelton runs Kidman into the post behind the ref’s back. He also slams Kidman onto Haas’ knee, and they work on Billy’s back. The use bow and arrow stretches and a standing surfboard around the ropes. Unfortunately, the ref misses Rey’s tag, so the onslaught continues with a double suplex. Shelton even powerbombs Kidman, but Billy reverses a second one into a facebuster. The counter enables Rey’s tag. Rey hits a springboard somersault senton, a springboard sunset flip, and a wheelbarrow into a DDT. Plus, he nails a 619 and a springboard senton while avoiding interference. After evading more attacks, Kidman vaults Rey into a Frankensteiner on Haas. A close kick out causes a wild fight. Finally, Rey seeks a victory roll, but Haas holds him in place. Shelton flies off the top rope to perform a modified Doomsday Device for the three.

Thoughts: This was outstanding. The action had a nice ebb and flow, fluctuating seamlessly between high spots and sound tag team wrestling. Better yet, they got the crowd with the nearfall from the vaulting Frankensteiner. The sequence received one of the best reactions on the show.

Winners: The World’s Greatest Tag Team (15:01)

No Countout Catfight: Sable vs. Stephanie McMahon

Storyline: Vince felt Smackdown grew out of control. He blamed Stephanie for Mr. America and Zach Gowen. So Vince appointed Sable as Stephanie’s assistant. Then Sable snooped through Stephanie’s computer. Sable also pretended to seduce Gowen, only to humiliate him. Worse yet, Sable openly had an affair with Vince. Stephanie snapped. She accused Vince of pimping her out to businessmen when she was younger. As a result, Vince made Steph team with Gowen against the Big Show. Later, Sable whacked Steph with a clipboard during Zach’s contract signing, so Steph tackled Sable over a couch. The following week, Vince put Sable in a skybox for her protection and gave Steph Midol as a peace offering. However, Steph sneaked into the box as a waitress and brawled with Sable. Finally, Steph yelled at Vince for cavorting with Sable in a limo instead of taking care of Linda.

The Match: Steph chases Sable down the aisle and into the stands. She keeps dragging Sable back when she runs. When Steph enters the ring, Sable throws a low dropkick and drives Steph into the corner. Next, Sable yanks her away from the ropes. She even slaps Stephanie while taunting her and fending off her rally attempts. Eventually, Steph nails a back elbow and tackles Sable. Now, Steph grabs a chair, but Brian Hebner takes it. Nevertheless, Steph uses strikes and a rolling neck snap while smacking Sable’s face against the mat. Plus, Steph rips Sable’s top. Sable tries to retreat, but Steph stops her. When Brian Hebner sees Sable’s ripped top, he offers her his shirt. Unfortunately, the distraction allows A-Train to interfere. He ambushes Stephanie with an avalanche attack and escapes into the crowd. Sable covers Steph for the victory.

Thoughts: This wasn’t great, but I didn’t hate it. They presented exactly what they advertised and kept it short. This was fine for what it was. On a side note, A-Train’s interference amused me. I’ve never seen him move so fast.

Winner: Sable (6:32)

Afterward, Stephanie holds her ribs in pain and tells the officials she’s hurt. They help her to the back.

Cena vs. the Undertaker is next. John arrives first and tells the fans they can’t see him while waving his hand in front of his face. Something tells me this new catchphrase will stick. Then Cena does his usual rap. He says he leads the new school. Cena will take out the evil and leave him resting in pieces. He’ll eat Taker alive, and they’ll find his bones in his feces. (He had to mispronounce it to make the words rhyme.) Cena also tells Taker to suck his tailpipe before comparing himself to Darth Vader. Finally, Cena has a message for people who think Taker will beat him. He calls them dumb motherfuckers, but John stops short of saying the word. When Taker appears, he parks at the top of the ramp and walks to the ring while staring at Cena.

The Undertaker vs. John Cena

Storyline: Cena called himself Smackdown’s most respected veteran and issued an open challenge. Orlando Jordan answered, but Cena pinned him with a handful of tights. When Cena attacked Jordan, Taker ran him off and showed Jordan respect. Then Taker told Orlando to challenge Cena, so Cena confronted Taker. He wanted to know where Taker had been since he gave Cena the same respect last year. John told Taker to stay out of his business. However, that didn’t happen. Taker distracted Cena and cost him his US Title tournament match. Cena responded by tapping into his dark side. He went to a graveyard and pissed on a grave and did a rap in the middle of a flaming pentagram. Cena even had a rap battle with Angle before helping Big Show beat up Kurt. Plus, Cena offered Steph money to rip off Sable’s top, which Steph did during a brawl.

The Match: Cena sticks and moves, but Taker knocks him outside. Taker rams Cena into the barricade and the timekeeper’s table. Now, Cena spits water in Taker’s face, but Taker sends him into the wall again and nails the apron leg drop. Back inside, Taker locks Cena in a keylock before hitting Old School and a chokeslam. When Taker covers Cena, he pulls him up and attempts the Last Ride, but Cena escapes. John scores a DDT and loosens a turnbuckle pad. Taker rallies, but Cena lures him into the exposed buckle.

With Taker hurt, Cena keeps knocking him off the apron and onto the barrier. The attack makes Taker bleed from the mouth, so Cena focuses on his ribs. Taker tries to rally. He hits a clothesline and counters a slam into Takin’ Care of Business, but Cena secures a rope break. After Cena lands a spinebuster, they evade each other’s finishers. Despite this, Taker does a big boot and leg drop. They earn two, and Cena grabs his chain. He decks Taker in the ribs and plants him with the FU. Cena also gets two, so he grows frustrated and strikes Taker. John takes him to the turnbuckles for corner punches, but he stops to taunt the crowd. The lapse in judgment allows Taker to drop Cena with a Last Ride for the victory.

Thoughts: This was good. It wasn’t a technical marvel or flashy, but they told a nice story. The action was simple, yet effective. Taker gave Cena enough to look fine in defeat. I enjoyed this.

Winner: The Undertaker (16:06)

Now, it’s time for Vince McMahon vs. Zach Gowen. Brian Hebner explains the rules to them before Zach removes his prosthetic leg. This surprises Vince. Gowen will wrestle on one leg.

Mr. McMahon vs. Zach Gowen

Storyline: Stephanie interviewed Gowen. He said he lost his leg to cancer, but he turned down a chance to meet Hogan as a Make-a-Wish kid because he knew he would survive. Vince mocked him for this and offered Zach an opportunity to win a contract in an arm-wrestling contest. However, Vince kicked Zach’s prosthetic leg out from under him to win. Next, Vince wanted Zach to grovel and join the Kiss My Ass Club to secure a job. So, Gowen gave Vince a low blow and left. Then Vince made Steph and Gowen face Big Show in a No Holds Barred contest to earn his spot on the roster. This time, Angle and Lesnar helped Zach and Stephanie succeed. Afterward, Vince interrupted Zach’s contract signing to challenge him. Finally, Zach teamed with Angle and Lesnar against Show, Haas, and Benjamin, but Vince attacked Zach’s good leg with a chair.

The Match: Vince brings Zach to the canvas for mat wrestling. He does slaps, slams, and a hip toss while taunting Gowen. Kicks to the ribs and choking follow, but Zach sends Vince outside and kicks him through the ropes. Now, Zach lands an Asai moonsault and leg drops Vince as he enters the ring. He adds a springboard leg drop, but this gives Vince an idea. McMahon targets Zach’s leg. He wears Gowen’s knee down on the post and uses a legbar and half crab.

When Gowen rallies, he scores a dropkick and crotches Vince on the post. Zach returns the favor on Vince’s knee and performs a flying bulldog, which only grazes Vince’s head. Nevertheless, Gowen hits a diving dropkick and a moonsault. Unfortunately, Vince gets a foot on the ropes during the pin. McMahon regroups and grabs a chair. The ref tries to stop him, but Vince shoves him aside. With Brian Hebner out of the way, Vince takes a knee for no reason. Gowen dropkicks the chair into Vince’s head, busting Vince open badly. After another chair shot, Zach misses a moonsault. So Vince covers Zach for the three.

Thoughts: This was okay, but not great. It had fine storytelling, yet it contained shaky moments. Vince couldn’t get into position for that chair spot naturally. He made it awkward. Also, I think they might have gone home early because of the severity of Vince’s cut. That was a weak finish.

Winner: Mr. McMahon (14:22)

Backstage, Josh Matthews runs down a hallway and stops Eddie Guerrero as he is leaving. Josh congratulates Eddie on winning the US Title, but he asks if Rhyno’s actions tainted Eddie’s victory. Eddie can’t believe this question. He says a victory is a victory. What happened to Benoit was Benoit’s fault. Josh asks what he means. So Eddie says, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” That’s why Eddie doesn’t have or want any friends. All he needs is the title on his shoulder. He can’t go wrong with that. Eddie says the gold will stay where it is.

Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title: Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar (c) vs. The Big Show

Storyline: Angle revealed Lesnar was the only superstar who visited him in the hospital. They became friends, but they developed a rivalry. Kurt and Brock drank milk together and had a push-up contest. However, Kurt tricked Brock into doing 300 push-ups before declaring Brock the winner and walking off. Unfortunately, the Big Show was having none of this camaraderie. He wanted a championship match. Show faced Brock, but they broke the ring with a superplex and made it collapse! And Haas and Benjamin attacked Lesnar to cause a DQ when they had a rematch. Later, Vince made Brock and Kurt wrestle Big Show, Haas, and Benjamin in handicap fights. Brock and Kurt couldn’t interfere. Vince would take away the title shot or the gold if they did. Kurt won, but Lesnar lost. Finally, Brock and Kurt argued after a miscommunication, so Show gave them a double chokeslam.

The Match: Brock and Kurt attack Big Show, but he fends them off and chokeslams Brock. After Kurt breaks up the pin, they battle back and forth until Angle scores the anklelock. Show shoves him and nails a big boot and leg drop. This time, Brock interrupts the cover. Lesnar can’t hit the F5 but Show secures the Final Cut. The problem is that Angle appears with trash can lids. Show eats multiple shots. He reverses a double suplex, yet Brock and Kurt give him a double chokeslam. When Brock seeks a victory, Angle pulls him back, causing an argument. So, Lesnar gives Angle and Big Show F5s, but Angle yanks the ref out of the ring. Now, Brock and Kurt brawl around ringside, leaving Kurt bloody.

Lesnar and Show fight on the top rope. Kurt intervenes, allowing Lesnar to drop Show with a running powerbomb! As Brock pins him, Kurt whacks Lesnar and Show with a chair. He busts Brock open. Undeterred, Big Show takes Kurt to the Spanish announcer’s table, but Angle rallies. He counters a chokeslam into an Angle Slam on the desk. This leaves Brock and Kurt to scuffle. Angle avoids an F5, sends Brock into the steps, and performs German suplexes. Brock answers with a spinebuster and a rear naked choke, but Show returns for a double chokeslam. He attempts to beat both men, but only gets two. Brock responds with a low blow on Big Show. Afterward, Brock misses a corner charge, and Kurt grabs an anklelock. He has to let go because Show attacks, but Kurt lands Angle Slams on Show and Brock. Kurt covers Lesnar for the three.

Thoughts: This was nice. They had an abrupt ending, but in a good way. The sequence was strong enough to be believable, but it also caught you off-guard. Plus, Angle was the right choice. The fans cheered him throughout this bout. They were booing Lesnar.

Winner: Kurt Angle (New Champion) (17:38)

The Good:

• The main event

• Benoit vs. Guerrero

• Rey & Kidman vs. World’s Greatest Tag Team

• Taker vs. Cena

• The Bar Room Brawl

The Bad:

• Noble vs. Gunn

• Sable vs. Steph

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Kurt Angle. This was his night, and he did great in the main event.

Final Thoughts:

This was an amazing PPV. WWE needed this after a few stinkers in a row. Smackdown once again showed why it was the better show. Yes, they still had questionable storylines, but they didn’t ruin this event. Even the bad stuff wasn’t terrible.

Thank you for reading. My next review is SummerSlam 2003. Look for it next Sunday!