WWE SmackDown! - 07/03/03
Taped 07/01/03
Rochester, NY

• This show is a LOT easier to recap if you don't actually tape it, let me tell you.
  • Results are a compendium of many sources (as a way out of crediting anyway)

• Vince promises to talk later!
• Rey Mysterio Jr. (c) vs Nunzio (w/FBI) in a Cruiserweight Title Match, 2nd Defense
  • the rest of the FBI interfere. APA come out to counter act them, so there's still an issue there.
  • Rey beats Nunzio with dropping the dime (slingshot legdrop) in 6:49
  • Billy Kidman congratulated Rey in what seemed to be an insincere manner.
    • Looks like that'll be an issue pre-Rey and Ultimo.

• Brock Lesnar (c) vs Kurt Angle is announced for Vengeance.
• Brock and Kurt compare title reigns, hit on a woman, and generally act buddy buddy
• the Basham Brothers (w/Shaniqua) vs Chris Benoit & Rhyno
  • Best of three - Basham's got the win on SmackDown, Benoit and Rhyno on Velocity.
  • No one notes any tension between Benoit and Rhyno, so that may be over.
  • Rhyno Gores Doug, Benoit Crossfaces Danny for the win (5:14)
  • Post match, Shaniqua and Benoit exchange meaningful glances.
    • Reports differ how much Benoit goes along with it.
    • Might be something there. Benoit is into pain, after all.
• Stephanie complains to Vince about facing Big Show in the handicap match main event
  • Of note, Stephanie says that even Brock can't beat Big Show

• Sable assures Stephanie that if Steph is hurt, Sable will take care of things
  • As the new SmackDown GM
• Jamie Noble and Nidia take a limo ride
  • Jamie gives Nidia a genuine fake fur coat.
• Undertaker talks to Orlando Johnson
  • Getting beat every week will get him respect, apparently
  • But getting punked out after the match won't
  • Orlando should challenge Cena to a rematch, according to Taker.
  • Cena butts in to say Orlando really shouldn't, and Taker should mind his own business.

• John Cena vs Billy Gunn (w/Torrie Wilson) in a US Title Tournament Match
  • He raps. I guess I'll check later if John-Cena.net got it.
  • Cena is winning...
  • Undertaker bikes out. Cena watches him drive around.
  • Inside cradle, Gunn wins. (5:53)
  • I guess THEORETICALLY, feuding with Taker is better than winning a worthless title
    • Reality has some major reservations, tho'
• Kurt and Brock fool around more backstage
  • They're having a friendly push up competition.
  • Like the match will presumably be.
  • (until they learn to hate again)
  • Anyway, Brock is first.

• Brock is at 300, but tired.
  • He'll stop at 301.
  • Kurt's turn.
  • Kurt wisely backs out of the contest. He's a winner.
• Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin vs Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri (C) for the WWE Tag Team Championship, 4th defense
  • The tag team name I'm not a fan of may have become official here.
  • Eddie and Tajiri are back to bringing in a lowrider.
    • Maybe they just couldn't fit one into MSG.
  • C&S control going into the break...

• Late, Tajiri gets the Tarantula on Haas.
• Eddie misses the Frog Splash on Shelton.
• Shelton superkicks Tajiri off the apron and into the lowrider.
• C&S win with a double team maneuver on Eddie. (15:35)
• C&S become the 6th WWE (SmackDown!) Champions, their second reign.
• Show threatens Zach backstage.

• Eddie hangs around in the ring after the match.
  • Initially, it's worry about Tajiri, who's still down after hitting the lowrider.
  • But Eddie's more worried about the car.
  • Well, it probably is a rental.
• Mr. America recap package
• Eddie is still around.
  • He's mad at Tajiri for messing up the car.
  • So he'll beat Tajiri with the car.
  • I guess he figured he wasn't getting his deposit back anyway.
  • Tajiri gets thrown thru the windshield.
  • They're done as a team. On to a feud.
    • That leaves Rhyno/Benoit and APA as potential challengers.
    • Though one might guess Brock and Angle could team up before then.

• Tajiri is stretchered out.
• Orlando Jordan (already in the ring) vs A-Train
  • Jordan manages to kick out of the Derailer.
  • But he fails pray to the Train Wreck. (4:23)
• Show promises to Stephanie that he'll definetely try to kill her.
  • Vince shows up to remind Show that Stephanie is his daughter.
  • huh?

• Vince comes to the ring with Sable.
  • He shows after-SmackDown footage of Mr. America pulling off his mask to reveal himself as Hulk Hogan.
  • "You're fired!"
  • Main event will be no holds barred.
  • Big Show added to the Vengeance main event.
  • Vince sticks around with Sable to watch the main event.

• Big Show vs Stephanie and Zach Gowen
  • Zach manages the one leg dropkick early, but it's pretty much all Show.
  • Zach is taken out, and Show, with Vince's help and approval, teases a chokeslam on Stephanie.
  • Kurt Angle makes the save, anklelock on Show.
  • Vince chairs Angle.
  • Brock Lesnar makes the save, and goes for a F5 on Vince.
  • Show breaks that up.
  • Show goes for a chair shot, but Zach dropkicks it back at him.
  • Angle Slam on Show.
  • F5 on Show.
  • Zach dropkicks Vince out of the ring, then hits a top rope moonsault for the win. (4:45)
  • Zach's got his contract.