SmackDown - 01/30/03 (taped 01/28/03, Green Bay, WI)

• Rey Mysterio Jr. vs A-Train
  • Obviously, this is a rematch of their match from 12/05/02 that put Rey on the shelf.
  • A-Train's shoulder backbreaker is the Train Wreck.
  • Rey's pre-match attack goes moderately well, and the battle outside for about :10 before the official bell.
  • A-Train turns it around by catching a quebrada.
  • A-Train's added "clubbing blows while opponent is on the mat" to hi animal act.
  • Retroactively, A-Train had a great fight against the Undertaker last week.
  • Rey tricks A-Train to go out and beats him coming in.
  • Reverse into a Derailer gets a 2 count, so I guess that's now only a trademark.
  • Rey again goes out to stall (after the slingshot into the middle rope) and take back control, but A-Train brings him in this time.
  • A-Train pulls out an elevated full nelson, similar to the elevated chicken wing Jazz has been using.
  • 619 is met with a bicycle kick, and then the Train Wreck. (3:32)
  • Match was reverse of what you'd expect
    • Rey was in control (or battling back) most of the time, with A-Trian getting in a sudden spot every so often.
    • Nothing bad, but forgettable
  • Announcers push Rey as giving up lots of weight here, and this not being over. 
• Josh talks to Paul backstage
  • Big Show is not here tonight.
• Tag Team Champion Eddie Guerrero (w/Chavo Guerrero) vs John Cena (w/Redd Dogg)
  • Guerreros have Cheat 2 Win shirts, nice looking.
  • The Redd Dogg name switch that didn't make TV seems to be off for now. 
  • Eddie seems have his wrists taped more than usual. 
  • Guerreros the faces, though they still cheated. 
    • Eddie got the punch comeback, with Cole saying "Oscar De La Hoya".
    • Nice sized Eddie chant twice. Maybe it's the green and yellow tights.
  • Cena looks as good as he has, but not really bringing the pre-match charisma to the match. 
  • Each second interfered twice, with Chavo's shove to Cena being the deciding factor.
  • Frog Splash (5:53)
  • It seemed like they could end this story right here - wasn't clear if this was it or not.
• Paul talks to the Show on the phone and forms a plan.
  • He introduces himself to Brian Kendrich ("trained by Shawn Michaels" dropped)
  • Brian says he'd do anything to make it in this business.
  • Paul has a job for him - but we don't see.
• Stephanie and Vince talk
  • Vince isn't happy about Hogan.
• Shannon Moore (w/Matt Hardy) vs WWE Crusierweight Champion Billy Kidman - non-title match
  • Shannon is coming out to Matt's entrance now. Or at least when Matt is there.
  • Facts: Matt thinks Shannon has an Iota of Mattitude, and he was the longest surviving SmackDown superstar in the Rumble.
  • Matt's still berating Shannon on the way to the ring.
  • Incoming stories:
    • Shannon is trying to prove himself to Matt
    • Kidman really has nothing to do
    • maybe this is carry over from last week's Velocity (Kidman/Matt)?
  • Tazz starts singing Highway To Hell - as a tease to Vince's upcoming surprise? Or complete randomness.
  • Typical Kidman match without the left arm sell (the back comes into play a bit) 
    • Shannon does a good job of fleshing out his move set.
  • Kidman does hit a nice dropkick, though.
  • Shannon kicks out of the Short Powerbomb.
  • Top rope superplex is pushed off, Matt is kicked away, and Kidman hits the SSP (5:51)
  • Matt punks out Kidman post match - Twist of Fate. Seems like there's something there.
  • Matt doesn't attack Shannon, but tells him to leave forcefully.
  • For a guy who "can't get over as a heel", there's a huge "Hardy sucks!" chant when Matt decides to come back for more.
  • Second Twist of Fate. Double VERSION ONE.
• Vince McMahon's big announcement: (in ring)
  • Vince talks up Hulkamania under the guise of bashing it. More transparent than usual.
  • It's the "Vince created Hulkamania" bit.
  • Vince announces Hogan vs the Rock for No Way Out
  • Vince gives us the Rock via Satellite. 
  • Definite mixed reaction for the Rock. He's got NO HAIR. He really shouldn't be calling Hogan bald looking like that.
  • Rock teases a turn and pulls back.
  • Crowd still chants along.
  • Rock is oddly looking slight to the right of the camera through out the piece
  • Rock mocks Hogan a bit.
  • Well it's in Montreal, I think we all know the finish.
  • Anyway, he accepts.
  • Cole doesn't drop that Hogan isn't here till the next segment.
• Rikishi vs Bill DeMott
  • Rubber match, based on the last two matches. We get clips of both of those.
  • DeMott's arm is still taped. Arm didn't seem as debilitating this week.
  • Rikishi opts not to do the Stinkface, because this is business.
  • DeMott blocks a DDT and extremely obviously grabs the ropes while pinning to get a three count (3:56)
  • Last week was better, and the horribly pathetic finish hurts it. 
    • His body might have blocked the refs view but we were never given that angle.
  • Post match, Undertaker's music plays, and he nearly runs over DeMott on the way to the ring. 
    • Any impact of the win (not that there really was much) is shuffled out.
  • We transition into
• Undertaker in-ring interview
  • Taker calls out Big Show again
  • This stretches through a break
  • Taker talks and talks about a new philosophy of "Shut up and Fight."
  • He talks some more.
  • Show's music plays - but it's just Heyman.
  • Heyman has a personal message for Show
  • He sends down Brian, in Usher's outfit, on a girl's bike with bells and tassles.
    • The bells keep ringing when Brian has stopped riding, so I guess they're over the sound system.
    • Brian (who's wearing a wireless mic) delivers - a singing apology from the Show
    • Brian does not a have a future on Broadway, I think.
  • Undertaker promises to kill Show anyway.
  • Brian asks for a tip, Taker gives him credit for guts, and gives him a $100.
  • Taker ask him to sing one more time. Last Ride. Taker takes back his tip.
  • Not even a hint about the mask angle, in case you were wondering.
• Kurt Angle gives his charges a pep speech
  • They answer back with Kurt Angle praise.
  • Group hug.
• No Brock - his speech from last week is given the video package treatment
• Team Angle (w/Captain Kurt Angle) vs Edge and Chris Benoit for a WWE tag team title shot next week (#1 Contenders)
  • New matching workout clothes.
  • Angle joins on commentary
  • TA dominate on Benoit early.
  • Guerreros are seen watching on a monitor backstage.
  • Cole actually asks if Team Angle deserve to be in this spot.
  • Benoit rallies back on a Snake Eyes.
  • Hot tag to Edge - Angle take a spear off the apron in the chaos. 
  • Edge knocks Haas out of the ring, Shelton knocks Edge out, Benoit drops Shelton with a German then hits a missile tope on Haas.
  • Edge gets a near fall on a delayed cover after a missile dropkick, and we go to break
  • Benoit is in control on Shelton as we return. 
  • Edge pulls out a reverse cross armbreaker, working the arm to open up Shelton for the Crossface. 
  • Shelton manages to tag out to Haas, but Edge takes over on him. 
  • Tag to Benoit, who also works over the left arm. 
  • Hammerlock Northern Lights Suplex for two. More shoulder work and a tag to Edge.
  • Haas gets a short comeback but Edge takes back over. 
  • Story is that even Edge is out mat wrestling Team Angle. 
  • Haas gets a mini-comeback on Benoit, but Benoit hooks on the Crossface - Haas gets to the ropes before it's locked in.
  • Edge back in, and Haas manages to reverse a charge out of the corner into the overhead belly to belly
  • Haas opts not to tag in, and Edge rallies out of the corner, till Shelton trips him from the floor.
  • Shelton gets the tag in and works on the left knee of Edge
  • Long leg hold by Shelton, though Edge and him mange to keep it heated. 
  • Haas tags in for a turn. Edge hits a hard slap to get out of the hold, then kicks Haas away.
  • Edge tries to make to his corner but takes a drop toe hold. Shelton back in. 
  • Both Shelton and Haas use angled figure fours as Angle tells them to break the leg.
  • Edge grabs the ropes to get out from a Shelton's, but Haas is right back in.
  • Noticeably, the work on the shoulders by the faces from earl have warn off.
  • Angle gets in a couple cheap shots from the outside.
  • Shelton pulls out a normal figure four. 
  • Benoit breaks it up with a dropkick, but Haas is in to pick up for Shelton with the same hold.
  • Edge manages to turn it over and get to the ropes. Haas pulls him up by the leg and gets kicked.
  • Edge crawls for the tag - Haas makes his first and Shelton pulls Edge back by the leg.
  • Edge tries the enziguri again but it's ducked - a roll manages to knock Shelton into the corner, and the tag to Benoit is made.
  • Back elbows, kick snap suplexes (Haas dropped on to Shelton for a 2). 
  • Angle grabs Benoit's feet to slow hi momentum. Haas and Shelton use the GDI elevated sit for a 2 count.
  • Haas hits a nice sliding dropkick to keep Edge at bay.
  • The superkick/German suplex combo on Benoit goes bad, and Shelton takes the German train.
  • Benita goes for a swandive headbutt, Angle goes to the apron, Edge with a dropkick to the shins to take him down and the swandive hits - for 2.
  • Haas is thrown out and the Crossface is on Shelton, but Haas breaks it up.
  • Benoit shoves Haas into a spear,
  • Angle cracks Benoit with the belt, and Shelton covers for 3. (3:27 before the break, 11:28 after it, 14:55 total)
  • Edge was out on the mat after the spear. Team Angle celebrates meeting the Guerreros next week.
  • Guerreros seem confident..
  • Really good match, though Team Angle still are learning.