WWE SmackDown! - 12/25/03
Taped 12/20/03 (I think)
Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq
- This show was taped in front of troops in Iraq
- They're using a special font not designed for readability, but I believe
it's Spc. Marilynn Anderson who sings the national anthem.
- Lots of people saluting the flags.
- So much that you wonder what the dealio is with those who aren't -
perhaps people from other countries?
- Your announcers are Cole and Tazz, though we don't see them to start.
- They have a bit of voiceover tone to their calls.
- The "arena" isn't really more than a clear area, with a ring set
up and a basic entrance (from a nearby building) leading to it.
- surrounded by "thousands" of soldiers from "the 5th
Core of the Army."
- It seems about afternoon. Shadows are starting to get long.
- First out is Vince McMahon
- He's here to say thank you many times over.
- There's more signs in the crowd than I'd expect. Not a lot, but people
grabbed brown cardboard and made do.
- Lots of people taping this for their own use, too.
- Since they can't be home, Vince is bringing a bit of home to the WWE.
- Vince wants to talk about one more thing, but he's interrupted by Santa
Claus
- He does not use the Xanta Claus music.
- He has a bag.
- Vince, and Cole and Tazz, make fun of Santa's gut. Vince does it a
lot.
- Vince figures Santa is here to give Vince a Christmas present.
- Santa shakes his head no.
- Vince decides that what's in the bag must be for others - the troops.
- Vince tells Santa to go hand it out.
- Santa, escorted by security, hands whatever is out, but the people are
so tightly packed that we can't see that it's shirt that Santa is
throwing out till he starts chucking them higher in the air.
- So this is how they're getting rid of the XFL stuff!
- Actually, it looks like there's a fair deal of those generic
SmackDown blue shirts among other black shirts that we don't see
long enough to identify. Probably left over PPV shirts. Better than
destroying them.
- Santa starts to leave, his shirts given out, but Vince tells him to
come back.
- Santa forget something, Vince said.
- Vince has a bone to pick with him.
- Vince wants to know where his Christmas present is? Is it hidden in
Santa's fat gut?
- Santa shakes his head no. No present for Vince.
- Vince doesn't like it. And also how Santa never stopped at his house
as a kid.
- Vince tells Santa to get out of the ring.
- Santa wants to shake his head, but Vince leaves him hanging.
- Santa waves to the fans.
- VINCE FOREARMS SANTA CLAUS! SANTA CLAUS DOWN! SANTA CLAUS DOWN!
- Vince says that's what happens when you disrespect Vince.
- Unfortunately, behind him, Santa takes off his hat, wig and fake gut
to reveal that it's really Stone Cold Steve Austin
- Double bird, kick wham Stunner
- Cole says "Stone Cold is from RAW, this is SmackDown! - this
really is *WWE* in Baghdad."
- Cole says Stone Cold is what the armed forced are all about it
- Replay of the Stunner.
- Austin explains his day of busy drinking, and offers to go do some
more.
- Austin thanks the troops on behalf of the WWE.
- Austin gets everyone to do middle fingers as a message to Saddam.
- Earlier this week, the wrestlers were briefed on what to do if there's
sniper fire
- Hey! There's Austin and Vince standing next to each other! How could
Vince not have known that Austin was here? Or Cole or Tazz for that
matter. Anyway
- Of everyone, Brian Hebner has the biggest "what the heck have I
got myself into?" look when they start talking about what to do
- Earlier: the Armed Forces set up the ring and the ring area and get to
talk to the camera a lot.
- They set up the video room.
- It looks like they set this all up in a big parking lot
- The guys who set up got front row seats - they seem to be out of
uniform
- Self Proclaimed World's Greatest Tag Team (489 pounds) vs APA (576
pouns)
- Shelton and Charlie have no shot at winning this one.
- Bradshaw is wearing a helmet and flak jacket, as Cole and Tazz make
fun of Faarooq for wearing constantly
- Tazz says Bradshaw helped put this together a lot.
- Korderas is your ref.
- Faarooq goes to a second rope shoulderblock early.
- He's pumped, but no where near as much as Bradshaw, when he gets
tagged in.
- Shelton managed to tag out on an eye poke, but Charlie is just as
creamed.
- Bradshaw pulls out the Torture Rack, but lets go to boot Shelton.
- Haas manages to slip of the Dominator, and takes control with help
form Shelton.
- Crowd loud chanting APA as Shelton and Haas pull of a double suplex.
- Beatdown ends with Faarooq getting a backdrop on Charlie.
- This ring looks smaller than usual. Maybe it's a visual thing, or
maybe it's an old WCW one?
- Hot tag to Bradshaw, and he runs everyone over.
- Shelton takes a double shoulderblock to the floor, and Haas gets a 2nd
Rope Last Call.
- It should be done, but Haas is thrown so far over, Shelton has time to
slip it before Bradshaw gets to Haas.
- SUPERKICK.
- But Faarooq is back in, slam on Shelton.
- Haas knocks Faarooq out of the ring, but he's got a stupid look in his
eye.
- Yep, whip, corner charge misses, Clothesline form Hell.
- Salute, cover one two three. (4:39)
- Steve Austin gives Chris Benoit a pep speech
- He wants a really good match from Benoit, basically.
- I think he came to the right man.
- Even in Iraq, the camera man checks out Rikishi's back side first and
only.
- Throughout the show, we get words from various soldiers, talking about
their life here and what they miss at home.
- We also get the traditional "Hi, I am [rank name], and I want to
say hi to family members at home"
- Torrie gets ready for the Santa's Little Helper competition
- Rikishi (350 pounds) vs Rhyno (Detroit, 275 pounds)
- Throughout the show, Cole is thanking the various people who helped
make this happen.
- Cole also talks about how each individual has been touched by
being here
- Rhyno's entrance is drowned out by helicopters who are on security
detail
- Your ref is Brian Hebner
- Cole says they brought 34 people to Iraq - 18 superstars and 16
production people. They list out the production people, who did the work
of 150 people who would normally work a SD! event
- John Gaburick (aka Big), producer
- Kasama Bhasathita, producer
- Robert Cincunia, producer
- Tim Walbert, director
- Jason Robinson, set design
- Marc Lanciaux, audio
- Abhishek Sehgal, audio
- David Taylor, audio
- Martin Miller, cameraman
- Sean Sellman, cameraman
- Christ Tafuri, cameraman
- Luis Vasquez, cameraman
- Martin Pingree, engineer
- Gary Davis, publicity
- Craig Amrbosio, photographer
- John Laurinaitis, wrestling operations
- Rhyno runs into a thrust kick, and Rikishi drags him into position for
the Rump Shaker,
- Rhyno gets his knees up.
- Rikishi retreats to the opposite corner, Rhyno charges, Rikishi moves
and Rhyno goes into the corner.
- Rikishi gabs him on the rebound for a Samoan Drop, and that's it. (2:28)
- Rhyno makes of recovering on the bottom turnbuckle of a corner.
Stinkface.
- Hebner convinces Rikishi to dance, as long as Hebner brings in some
female soldiers/fans.
- One comes with a M-16. Nice.
- They do this much better than you'd think for people who'd just get
picked of the crowd.
- The highlight of the next vignette is a commanding officer saying that
they were more excited for this than for when Bush came.
- Wrestlers go on helicopters.
- Actually, this is trip to Ballard, Iraq.
- Camp Anaconda, 80 miles north of Baghdad.
- Someone knows all the words to the theme from the Big Show.
- John Cena (as Rick Barry) is out - but not for a match yet?
- Cena's wearing the City GS uniforms.
- Cena's here to rap. Though he seems to nearly forget his line at one
point. French joke, check.
- Austin goes to get Eddie pumped up
- But Eddie is ALWAYS hyper. So Austin doesn't have much work to
do.
- They wouldn't let Eddie bring a low rider.
- Austin tells Eddie that Benoit said he was going to gimmick
infringement, which gets Eddie more fired up.
- Eddie Guerrero (El Paso, TX, 228 pounds) vs Chris Benoit (Edmonton, AB,
229 pounds)
- We get a look from an army sniper's viewpoint.
- Korderas is your ref.
- Eddie gets the crowd to chant for Benoit.
- Eddie gets a flak jacket to protect himself after chops from Benoit.
- Korderas tells him to take it off, but Eddie puts his fingers over his
ears.
- Eventually, Eddie takes it off and throws it at Benoit to get a hold
of him.
- Abrupt fade into a commercial. (3:55)
- This is a good match, and like everyone else on this show, they're
really trying, but there are moments where things are unusually slowed
down.
- It's probably from the environment. If the sun is up, it's gotta be
hot
- Benoit pulls out a shoulderbreaker that has everyone thinking that it's
gonna be a Tombstone.
- Swandive misses. Frog Splash misses.
- Eddie reveres a powerbomb into a sunset flip and uses the ropes to get
the pin in (8:31)
- It's a screwy finish, but it makes you wonder.
- Eddie heads in the ring - but only after he's put on a flak jacket and
helmet.
- Korderas questions Eddie if he used the ropes. Eddie tells Benoit and
Korderas he didn't.
- Eddie wants a handshake. Eh no.
- USA chant instead. Wait, it's Benoit! Try a CA NA DA one.
- They hug. Okay.
- Earlier tonight, Vince went kick wham stunner
- Another WWE in Iraq vignette.
- Charlie's wearing a Russ Haas Memorial Tag Team Tournament shirt in
one shot.
- John Cena has a EXCITEBIKE T-Shirt. I need that.
- This is the longest one so far. Talking about what they've seen and
thanking everyone.
- Sable gets ready for the Santa's Little Helper competition
- WWE superstars go target
- Torrie's done this before.
- Eddie has fun with the machine gun.
- Santa's Little Helper contest
- Chimel does the hosting duties, which clinches that Cole and Tazz
aren't here
- They probably shouldn't be pretending they're wearing camouflage.
- The outfits aren't greatly different, especially Sable and Torrie's.
Dawn's wearing more of a robe.
- Ah, they're wearing bikini's underneath. Dawn and Torrie (going second
and third) take off their outfits to show off undernath, but Sable only
hints at it.
- Torrie wins - it helps that she's only in the bikini when the voting
happens.
- Sable and Dawn attack, but Torrie manages to get the best of them.
- Ah, now Sable's outfit is pulled off. She's wearing a one piece.
- The WWE travels to the Green Zone.
- Austin is wearing that XFL jersey.
- US Champion the Big Show (500 pounds) vs John Cena (West Newberry, MA,
248 pounds) in a non-title match
- Brian Hebner is your ref.
- Cena, jerseyless, rushes the ring.
- Bell's a bit late.
- Choke slam :10 in, but near the ropes - Cena rebounds out of the ring.
- Cena beats the ten count in, but even a momentary advantage turns
Show's way.
- Cole's telling us a lot about what soldiers told him, but that seems
kinda untruthful.
- Tazz suggests the Hog Log should be renamed into the Yule Log for
today.
- Show accidentally boots Hebner, which oddly gets one of the bigger
pops of the day.
- Side slam for Cena, but Show doesn't know what to do with no ref.
- Ah, he's got Cena' chain. Chain punch is ducked, low blow kick, chain
punch of his own.
- Cena gets Hebner over, then covers one two NO!
- Goozle, but Cena slips out of the chokeslam.
- Kick, fireman's carry lift, FU on Bog Show! One two three (4:13)
- Stone Cold Steve Austin is coming out?
- Er, yep. Austin is still wearing the Santa Claus boots!
- Cena motions that Austin can't see him.
- Austin wants this confirmed. Yep.
- Austin thinks it over. Can't see him? Can't see him.
- Double middle finger, kick wham Stunner.
- Show is getting to his feet. He's posing.
- Kick wham stunner - Show is still standing but woozy
- kick wham stunner!
- No one left to stunner, so it's time for some beer.
- Austin asks for the Santa's Little Helpers to return.
- They do. Now their all friends.
- Austin calls everyone down.
- Oh no, Benoit and Rhyno are waking near each other!
- This is a kayfabe breaking movement and I'm supposed to be ignoring
those things but I get my amusement where I can.
- Vince wants to know what happened to Show, but Austin says he'll be
okay.
- Vince is tentative getting in the ring.
- Austin promises not to stun him.
- Show wants a piece of Austin, but he's a bit punch drunk.
- KICK WHAM STUNNER FOR SHOW
- Austin says thanks for everything.
- Beer for everyone.
- You know, Bradshaw's hair is getting dark again.
- A Song of Creed's That I'm Blocking Out backs a video package look back at
the whole trip.
- And then there's stuff like the statue going down and the Saddam
footage out of nowhere.