WWE SmackDown! - 08/21/03
Taped: 08/19/03
Location: Detroit, MI

• Clips from Brock's turn in the cage two weeks ago
• WWE Champion Kurt Angle's fireworks take the place of SmackDown's normal ones.
  • Kurt isn't happy, because he told Brock he was going to do anything to win the title and now Brock is mad about it.
  • Kurt says he doesn't need some big plot to get revenge - he's going to do it himself, and he's going to do it by beating the crap out of Brock.
  • He wants to a fight now. Versus Brock. Versus Vince. Versus both at the same time, if that's what it takes
  • And he's not leaving till he gets a fight.
  • Vince is out.
  • Vince doens't care what Angle wants. It's not about what he wants.
  • Vince doesn't care what the people want. It's not about what they want.
  • It's about what Vince wants.
  • Vince wants no fight between Angle and Brock, or Angle and Vince.
  • Angle dares Vince to come tell him that to his face.
  • Vince starts to go down, then changes his mind.
  • He's going to save Angle's career, because if Angle touches him or Brock - or goes anywhere near them before SummerSlam - then he's suspended, stripped of the title, and fired.
  • But since Angle wants a match, he can get a tuneup match for SummerSlam.
  • Big Show.
    • Tazz: "That's a big tune."
  • Angle explains he didn't want a match - he wants a fight! And he's not leaving till he gets one.
  • Angle decides he wants to fight the Big Show, and wants to do it right now.
  • Vince takes off as Angle brawls with Show at ringside - low blow, and a belt shot!
  • Referees have to pull Angle off - we look back to see they're doing it under Vince's direction.
  • It takes all of them to pull Kurt off, and drag them to the back.

• In the GM office, Vince and Show replan.
  • Show turns over the desk in anger.
  • Vince yells - it's gonna be a falls count anywhere street fight in the main event.
  • The GM set looks more fake than usual - it seems like they have no ceiling.
• WWE Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio (San Diego, CA, 175 pounds, w/Billy Kidman) vs Matt Hardy (Version One, Cameron, NC, 227 pounds, w/Shannon Moore) in a non-title match
  • Matt Facts: Matt has never lost his cellphone. Matt's pants are cooler than Rey's.
  • Cole says - SummerSlam: Matt Hardy vs Zach Gowen
    • Cole says Matt thinks Zach is getting a free ride, national publicity, and all that goes with it, because he has one leg.
    • Cole's case is Matt is jealous.
  • Circle. Double wristlock lockup. Matt immediately goes for a kick, shoulder knockdown, cover with the wristlocks one two no.
  • Again, one two no.
  • Mysterio kips up, Matt with a back heel trip, Mysterio pulls Hardy down with him, and uses his momentum to hope to the middle rope, into a headscissors.
  • Matt misses a clothesline, Rey with a kick, snap mare, Rey with a flipping neck snap but he lets go, off the ropes, dropkick to the face, one tow no.
  • Shannon on the apron to annoy - Kidman pulls him off and punches him down.
  • Brian Hebner catches that, misses Matt using a thumb to the eye. Matt punches.
  • Whip, Rey with the 619 without the kick, Matt charges and gets tripped to the floor.
  • Rey gets running - springboard into a somersault plancha!
  • Rey throws Matt in, and goes for the West Coast Pop, but Matt decks him on the way up.
  • Matt gets to stomping.
  • Matt distracts the referee, and Shannon tries to hit Rey with a chair shot, but Rey rolls away and Shannon hurts his hands on impact.
  • Shannon drops the chair, Kidman is over to grab it and threatens to hit Shannon.
  • But Brian Hebner is paying attention now - he tells Kidman he heard a chair shot, and now he's got in his hand - so Kidman is ejected the ring.
  • Kidman argues about it but it looks like he's losing this one.
  • Break. (2:30)

• Back with Matt forearming Rey
• Whip, head down too soon, Rey kicks it.
• Whip, reversed, Rey grabs the top rope and jumps into a headscissors.
• Matt blocks it by pushing him off, and another forearm.
• Matt runs Rey into the post from the apron, shoulder first. Neat.
• Choke.
• Armbar, hammerlock slam. Elbow drop.
• Forearm. Lift on the shoulder - Rey slips off and pushes Matt into the corner.
• Matt turns around, and takes a wheel kick.
• Rey with a whip, no Matt reverses into a Side Effect. Matt with a bit of posturing before covering, one two no.
• Matt is surprised.
• Back to a hammerlock.
• "HARDY SUCKS!"
• Rey tries to elbow out, snap mare is blocked and Matt gets him back on his shoulder.
• Matt tries to toss him off into some move, but Rey reverses to a big DDT.
  • Or maybe Matt was tossing Rey so he could do a spinning DDT.
  • Replay shows Matt did the spin for Rey. Nice of him.
• Both men slow up. Punching form their knees.
• Getting up as they punch. Matt is the one who goes to kicks - Rey bounces off the ropes and back with a headscissors.
• Rey with a corner whip, Rey charges, Matt tosses him, Rey lands on the apron.
• Rey with a forearm, springboard Thesz Press one two no.
• Corner whip, reversed, Rey kips up, Mat slips under for a Side Effect - Rey blocking by grabbing the top rope and trying to get free with back elbows.
• Matt tries to lift Rey into the Side Effect, but Rey bounces on the second rope to turn himself around.
• Matt goes with it - face first sidewalk slam one two no!
  • Cole decides it's a reverse Side Effect, which is close enough.
• Matt grabs Rey and puts him on the top rope, facing out.
• Matt going up with him. Back Superplex?
• Rey fights him off, and Matt goes down.
• Rey all the way up - moonsault bodyblock one two NO!
• Shannon is telling Matt he's got 'em.
• Punch exchange - Matt wins it. Off the ropes, and tripped onto the middle rope.
• Shannon charges in, but he gets a drop toe hold onto the middle rope too.
• Rey off the ropes to 619 Shannon, but Matt surprises him with a clothesline.
• Hebner gets Shannon off the ropes and out of the ring.
• Matt waits for Rey to get up, ready to finish him off.
• Zach Gowen has shown up at ringside, which can't be a good thing.
• Kick, Twist of - pushed off, and Zach breaks a cane over Matt's back as he goes off the ropes.
• Matt falls on the middle rope. Rey loads up, 619.
• Rey waits, then hits it, West Coast Pop, one two three (7:43)
  • Matt lands right on his head pre rollup - it turns out he suffered a concussion on the move.
  • He's lucky it wasn't worse. That looked ugly
• Zach celebrates at the top of the ramp.

• Moments Ago, Zach interfered.
• Backstage, Vince and Brock talks
  • Vince explains about Brock about Angle's match.
  • Vince and Brock decide he should have a match too.
  • But who?
  • Zach Gowen.
  • It is his hometown.
  • The GM walls aren't even totally connected! This is shabby construction.
  • Brock promises to break Zach's real leg.
• Tazz and Cole talk about it.
  • Cole is talking in his serious voice.
  • Cole sets us up for a look back at Stephanie vs A-Train (2:18)
  • Stephanie is suffering from internal injuries.
  • Tazz says A-Train is Vince's hired Gunn.
• Jamie Noble, Billy Gunn, Nidia and Torrie walk

• Cole interviews Helena Gowen, Zach's Mom
  • The family's all here to watch Zach tonight.
  • She doesn't like to see him beat up. She didn't want to come here to see it tonight.
  • She doesn't understand why Brock would want to beat up Zach.
• Billy Gunn (265 pounds, w/Torrie Wilson) and Jamie Noble (Hanover, WV, 200 pounds, w/Nidia) vs the Basham Brothers (Columbus, OH, 495 pounds, w/Shaniqua)
  • This is the result of all the fight last week in particular.
  • Brawl breaks out to start.
  • Tazz sings "Jamie's got a Gunn" He only knows that line.
  • Billy's verbally abusive towards the ref when he's warned about the closed fist.
    • Faces are still angry about last week.
  • Billy gets stuck in the ring from the start of the match, controlling earlier but having the tide turned with a double team.
  • The director is so into this match, we nearly miss the hot tag looking at Shaniqua.
  • Jamie hits a top rope elbow on Danny, but Danny kicks out.
  • Paydirt! Well, the facelock part anyway. Not called and broken up.
  • Shaniqua pulls Jamie out on a jacknife pin, taking him hard to the floor.
  • Torrie and Nidia go after Shaniqua but end up taking a double clothesline.
    • She's an amazon now.
  • Gunn hits the Fameasser on Danny, but Doug smacks him with the Magic Stick.
  • Thing is, Billy isn't legal.
  • So Doug pushes Billy out, rolls Danny out, and fakes to be out in the ring.
  • Jamie, just recovered outside the ring, comes back in and grabs Doug
  • Doug small package one two three (4:18)
  • Danny was the legal man, but the referee didn't notice.
• Zach Gowen is getting ready
  • Wait, Brock interrupts this to threaten Zach with imminent death
  • Zach will have no leg to stand on.

• Recap of Spanky being killed last week
• Brock Lesnar (Minneapolis, MN, 295 pounds) vs Zach Gowen (southwest Detroit, 159 points)
  • Spanky's return is TBD.
  • Brock does not hop anymore. He just stands, waiting.
  • He still does jump to the apron for the fireworks.
  • Lots of shots of Zach's mom.
  • Brock takes his time stalling before the match. Just staring and walking.
  • Ah, he's going out to stare down Zach's mom and little brother.
  • He wants a handshake? She says no.
  • Brock says that's okay
  • Zach levels him with a out of control pescado, but Brock quickly takes over and kills him.
  • Brock tosses the prosthetic leg around.
  • Brock stops to taunt Mom some more.
  • Zach decks him with his fake leg. More shots with the leg, but again it only takes one Brock knee to stop that.
  • Zach's run back first into the post.
  • Zach thrown in the ring.
  • Match officially starts.
  • Brock beats up Zach well and good. Chained powerbomb.
  • Brock throws Zach out.
  • Brock goes for a chair.
  • Mom tells Zach to get up, but that's not going to happen here.
  • Brock kills Zach with a chair to the head. There's the bell (DQ 2:01)
  • Smile for Mom.
  • Brock headbutts Zach's forehead wound to make it better.
  • Fireman's carry lift - smile for Mom - F5 into the post.
  • Steel chair shot into the leg. And again. And again.
  • All the referees are down to stop it but Brock scares them away.
  • Brock picks up Zach again - and another F5 into the post.
  • As medical personal arrive on the scene, Mom jumps the rail and checks on her son.
  • Brock goes in the ring.
  • Medical personal work on Zach - he's bleeding so much they show the work on him without color.
    • Or the camera isn't working.
    • One is obviously blurry.
  • Cole hopes Angle breaks Brock's bones at SummerSlam
  • As they cart Zach to the back, Brock runs up and knocks him off the ramp.
  • I think the blurring effect is post production, because they keep switching to a normal view when they show Brock alone.
  • Brock takes the stretcher pad for himself, so he can wipe some (more) blood on himself.

• Replays.
  • Now the color treatment is obviously post production, because these were color shots the first time around.
  • Same thing with the blurriness.
  • Cole says he's paid to be unbiased.
    • Yea, he was very unbiased when he was saying Matt is jealous of Zach
  • This is serious because Tazz is action serious.
  • Cole is very very angry.
  • They gab about Brock for a while.
• SummerSlam video package.
• John Cena is out
  • "yo yo you chill kill the beat
    We just saw Brock Lesnar break Zach Gowen's good leg
    So I guess should cut his losses and learn to walk on wooden peg
    It ain't no secret, everyone knew he was going to be smoked like a joint
    forget his handicap, Zach sucks because he's from Detroit
    The only time you people look good is at night during a black out
    This ain't Joe Louis Arena, it's the world's biggest crack house
    and please read between the lines, because I'm giving you the middle finger
    Detroit has more white trash than Jerry Springer
    The best part about this city is that I'm leaving her tomorrow
    Ah aha ah, you people think that I suck? [yeah]
  • Wow, what a non-ending
  • This apparently part of a match that I forget about - but after this break.

• John Cena and A-Train (Boston, MA, 350 pounds) vs Orlando Jordan (Miami, FL, 240 pounds) and the Undertaker (Houston, TX, 305 pounds)
  • Hey, it's Team Boston.
  • Back to last week and A-Train's nefarious deeds of evil. Or something.
  • Hot tag to Undertaker leads to Dragon Sleeper on Cena
    • Tazz forgets it's TCoB
  • A-Train brings in a chair to break it up, but Orlando stops him in time.
  • A-Train manages to give Orlando the Derailer anyway.
  • Undertaker waits for A-Train to turn around - chokeslam.
  • Cena with a spinebuster on Undertaker - for tow.
  • Cena tries for a chairshot on Undertaker, but gets a kick tot he gut instead.
  • Last Ride?
  • A-Train with a chain punch to the midsection while Hebner is ditching the chair.
  • Cena falls on top for the win (4:34)
  • Even Cena's a little surprised he got that win.
  • I don't think he saw the chain punch either.
• Tonight: Kurt Angle vs Big Show in a Falls Count Anywhere Match

• Sable stands around for no reason
  • Oh, she's waiting for A-Train.
  • That's not a good reason, but it's a reason.
  • Sable's going to personally thank A-Train.
  • EWWW.
  • Oh, it's a hotel key.
  • Still. My point stands
• US Champion Eddie Guerrero & Rhyno (530 pounds) vs Tajiri (Japan, 206 pounds) and Chris Benoit (Edmonton, AB, 229 pounds)
  • Eddie lets Rhyno ride in his lowrider. How nice of him.
  • Wow, that think can lean quite a bit.
  • Rhyno gets a good pop.
    • I wonder if they did the group entrance to avoid reminding people he's home? Because many still did.
  • Benoit is sad he didn't get in the ride.
  • He wants a handshake from Eddie before the match.
  • Eddie tells Rhyno he's go tit, but he doesn't want a handshake.
  • Eddie just gets annoyed and kicks. Benoit catches it, dragon screw leg whip.
  • Eddie begs off to Brian Hebner's knee after chops. He uses him as a distraction for a kick to the knee.
  • Tag to Rhyno, how works him over.
  • Cole with the noteworthy update that Zach went to the hospital.
  • Benoit gets the Crossface on Rhyno at 1:50, but Rhyno's close to the ropes and Eddie breaks it up.
  • Eddie back in.
  • Tazz and Cole's new line is Benoit has lost his brain, having been screwed so much.
    • Not in those words.
  • Tazz: "You think Tajiri speaks Canadian?"
  • Eddie hits the three suplexes, then stares around so Tazz can shout "vato" many times.
  • Eddie goes up, but he took too long.
  • Benoit punches, quickly up to help - top rope superplex.
  • They've been working on Benoit's back all match, so he's pretty hurt too. They both need tags.
  • Eddie is going the wrong way.
  • Now he falls backwards to Rhyno.
  • But Tajiri is in too.
  • Tajiri hits his kicks and the handspring.
  • Reverse thrust for Eddie.
  • Tarantula for Rhyno.
  • WHile Hebner is watching that, Benoit hits the Swandive headbutt to Eddie.
  • Benoit up as Rhyno is stumbling out of the Tarantula.
  • Benoit grabs a waistlock - Tajiri may or may not see him, but he goes for a high kick as well.
  • Rhyno ducks, and Benoit takes it. Tajiri is shocked.
  • GORE. One two three. (5:03)
  • Rhyno doesn't want his arm raised - he wants to go after Benoit.
  • He gets in nothing - Benoit with the Crossface.
  • Eddie breaks that up with a belt to the back of Benoit's head.
  • Rhyno up as Eddie talks trash.
  • Rhyno tells Eddie good job.
  • Eddie says thanks.
  • Eddie waits till Rhyno turns around and belts him too.
  • Eddie yells at Rhyno for being dumb (I guess) and starts to leave.
  • He pauses for Eddie chants. Then he notices Tajiri getting up, so he gets a belt to the back too.
  • Play his music.

• WWE Champion Kurt Angle (Pittsburgh, PA, 237 pounds) vs Big Show (500 pounds) in a Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight
  • I guess it's a heel making the match, so they couldn't just call it a Detroit Street Fight.
  • Angle comes to the ring (no fireworks the second time), drops the belt, and walks back to the entrance.
  • He wants to meet Show in the aisle, you see. Big Show still doesn't see it coming.
  • They do ring the bell as Angle is punching Show back to the ring.
  • This is a ticked off Angle, you see.
  • They bring a table in to the ring, folded, and brawl some more.
  • Show slams Angle onto the table.
  • Show legdrops him while Angle is still on the table one two no.
  • Show just beating Angle around the ring.
  • Show sets Angle in the corner, and leans the table on Angle.
    • The legs are on Angle's side.
  • Show's plan is to run into the table at a high rate of speed. I can't see how that plan could fail.
  • Oh wow Angle the table into him, didn't see that coming at all.
  • Angle kick, Angle Slam.
  • Slow to cover one two t-NO.
  • Angle with punches.
  • Show pushes him down.
  • Angle with pushes. Off the ropes, into a boot. Angle knocked out of the ring.
  • Show sets up the table. He's no Dudley.
  • Angle goes for a chair, since he's out there anyway.
  • Chair to Show's back.
  • Angle wants for Show to turn around - Show punches the chair!
  • Show goes for the Alley-Oop into the table, but it's been so long since he's done one, no one has a clue what he's up to.
    • Much less, the announces
  • Angle tries to punch out of it, tries to drop out of it, but Show is holding him there.
  • Angle is able to grab the chair - chair shot to Show's head.
  • One two no.
  • Angle with a chair smash to knock Show out of the ring.
  • Announcers are acting like this match might finish without the table breaking. Silly announcers.
  • Show pulls out Angle and headbutts. Slam.
  • Show pulls the ring steps in position so he can chokeslam Angle through the table, like he did Brock.
    • Hey, are Show and Brock friends now?
  • Angle with a testicular claw. Show manages to punch out of it.
    • You think more people would wear cups.
  • Show goes for that chokeslam, but Angle battles off.
  • Then he tries a crossbody.
  • Show catches it, but Angle slips off the back and shoves Show into the post.
  • Angle with the chair - but his chair shot is cut off by a goozle.
  • Show grabs the chair and throws it down.
  • Chokeslam reversed into a bodyscissors into the anklelock.
  • Show tries to use the steps to get back to his feet, but he's still in a lot of pain.
  • Angle pulls him off the steps.
  • Show kicks him away.
  • Angle manages to give him a bulldog on the steps.
  • Show ends up laid out on the announce table.
  • Angle grabs another chair.
  • He goes up the ring steps.
  • Chair senton/legdrop on Show. The table does not break, and they slide off.
  • One two no.
  • Big Show brought back in. Angle too.
    • Tazz is off mic - he had to let go of his headset so Angle could slip under to cover.
    • You can hear him trying to fix it and everything trying to reset the table.
  • Now Angle sets up that table.
  • Show with a goozle - lift, but Angle slips out.
  • Ducks the clothesline, Show stands around as a goof for the brief moment it takes for Angle to put on the Angle slam.
  • One two three. (9:44)
  • The story is "Angle stuck it to Vince and won the fight, but will he have enough for SummerSlam?"
  • Here's Brock out on the stage to stare.
    • Tazz is trying to talk again but Cole is in full hype mode and not letting him get a word in.
  • Last hype, and we're out.