WWE Smackdown Results 10-23-03
Submitted by Justin "Locura" Pratt on Friday, October 24, 2003 at 4:57 AM EST



WWE SmackDown!
Date: 10/23/2003
Venue: The Pepsi Arena
Location: Albany, New York

Tonight, we see the fallout from No Mercy. Will Undertaker get his revenge on Brock Lesnar and Vince McMahon? Who's gonna run SmackDown now that Stephanie McMahon is gone?

A video of the Vince/Steph feud is shown will photos from their match at No Mercy.

And now, welcome to SmackDown! Your hosts are Michael Cole and Tazz.

No opening pyrotechnics as Vince McMahon makes his way out with Sable. He introduces himself as still the WWE Chairman, and he's proud to stand here to say he beat the snot out of Steph. He says the crowd can boo all they want. He knows that when he croaks, he's going to hell in a handbasket, but he's not dead. He's very much alive, and tonight he's gonna celebrate beating his daughter and shoving his wife. He said he didn't spoil the child and he certainly didn't spare the rod. He accomplished two things: Steph is unemployed, and Brock Lesnar is still the champion. He says Lesnar is a pro wrestler, not a barbarian. He shouldn't have been placed in a Biker Chain Match. Vince goes over No Mercy, where he caused the lights to dim, he sent out the FBI to interfere, and how he personally cost the Undertaker his match. He says Taker has to learn the hard way: don't cross the boss, no grief to the head chief, and do have sex with who signs the checks. (he looked at Sable when he said that last one, but he probably thinks otherwise) Vince says he thought long and hard about the vacant General Manager spot, but it's not getting filled by Sable. He says the new GM is a person who tried to put him out of business, a man you want to strangle. He is a ingenius, manipulative, and creative man. So out comes… Paul Heyman! He enters the ring and shakes hand with Sable and Vince. Heyman gets the mic and thanks Vince. He vows that things are gonna change, but then out comes The Undertaker! Vince flees the ring and exits through the crowd and Taker sets his sights on Heyman. Heyman stops him, saying he wants to help Taker out. He says Vince won't give Taker what he wants, but Heyman now has the power. He knows Taker wants revenge, so he sets up tonight's main event as Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar… and The Big Show! If Taker wins, he could have whatever match he wants. Any time, any place, any opponent, any type of match, no matter what. He has faith in Taker's abilities. Taker takes the mic and says he knows Heyman doesn't do favors. He calls Heyman a huge pile of crap standing in his yard. He tells Heyman his plan is gonna blow up in his face. He will win and get his revenge. He says Heyman has no idea how sick, twisted and maniacal he can be. Taker leaves the ring as Heyman smiles and laughs.
It was a surprise to see Heyman returning, and I'm interested to see where his role as GM leads. Vince's spot in the segment didn't make me too sick, and overall the segment was decent enough.
Segment Rating: 2.5/5

Match #1:John Cena & A-Train vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit
Cena is first out, grabbing a mic and congratulating Angle. He acts sincere, saying he'll shake Angle's hand and thank him, but then he cuts a hateful, profane rap against him. The rest of the participants come down for their match. Train and Angle start with Angle quickly taking Train down and applying a side headlock. Train gets up and hits a shoulder knockdown, then pounds Angle in the corner. He drags Angle to his corner and tags Cena in. Angle punches Cena, but Cena hits Angle with the ol' Michinoku Driver. That gets a 2-count. Train in, slamming Angle for 2. He hits a backbreaker, but his 2nd rope splash hits nothing but canvas. Angle takes advantage with a German Suplex. Both men down. Cena and Benoit get tagged in. Benoit chops at Cena then hits a shoulder takedown. German Suplex to A-Train then a backdrop. Benoit tries something on Cena but he counters it only for that to be countered into a Sharpshooter! Train breaks up the submission hold. Benoit with an inziguri to Train and gets the tag to Angle, who immediately plants Train with the Angle Slam! Cena attempt the FU on Angle, but he reverses it into the Ankle Lock! Train boots Angle down, then tosses Benoit out of the ring. Train goes out to stomp down on Benoit. Cena has a chain around his wrist, but the ref sees and takes it away. Train in the ring with a chair, but Benoit takes it and swings at Train…but hits Angle! Benoit throws Train out off the ring, and an irate Angle starts attacking Benoit! Benoit gets Angle into the crossface, and Angle taps! Referees rush down to separate both men. Angle breaks free and attacks Benoit. He gets Benoit in the Ankle Lock, but Benoit quickly gets free and exits the ring. This good yet unspectacular match ends in a no contest.
Winner: No Contest
Match Rating: 5/10

Cole and Tazz discuss Tajiri's attack on Nidia last week with the black mist. They say that Nidia still does not have full vision. We then see a video from Jamie Noble via web cam from his house. He says Nidia loves computers and stuff they got from the money received from Noble's aunt's passing, but that stuff isn't important anymore. He says he's been by her side ever since last Thursday. The doctors say that her sight is impaired, and if it doesn't get any better they may opt for surgery. Noble thanks everybody for their cards and get well wishes, then promises to get revenge on Tajiri.

In the back, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin discuss the hiring of Paul Heyman, and Paul walks in on them. He says that as an agent, they were the World's Greatest Tag Team. As a GM, they're the World's Greatest Liars. He says they never once called him when Lesnar took him out. He says he's a vengeful, vindictive man, so he cancels their tag match much to their dismay. The Basham Brothers and Shaniqua walk in, and Heyman introduces them as the new challengers for the tag belts. The Bashams say Haas and Benjamin don't have to call them the World's Greatest Tag Team, but at the end of the night, they will call them the champions. Heyman then tells Haas and Benjamin that he has reformed one of the most entertaining tag teams of all time, and they're facing them next. Haas and Benjamin are visibly upset.

Vince and Sable are in the skybox. They say hi to the "little people."

A tribute video to Stu Hart is shown, who passed away this past week. Cole and Tazz give their best wishes.

Match #2:The World's Greatest Tag Team vs. Mystery Team
And the mystery opponents are… the returning Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty! Turn it up! Good to see Scotty again after being for so long due to neck surgery. Scotty and Haas lockup. Haas locks the arm but Scotty reverses it into a headlock. Scotty with a shoulder knockdown, then jumps in celebration. He dances for a while before hitting Haas with two hip toss, then gives one to Benjamin. Scotty with a slam to Haas, followed by more dancing in the form of a moonwalk. However, Benjamin trips him from behind and Haas knocks him out of the ring. Outside, Benjamin drives Scotty's back into the ring apron. He throws Scotty back in for Haas to take advantage. Slam gets 2. Benjamin in, and he rams Scotty into the corner. Bodyslam gets 2. Scotty's down in a headlock, but he elbows out. Benjamin keeps him down with a knee-to-gut takedown. Haas in so the duo can perform their leapfrog doubleteam move. Haas works on Scotty some more in the corner before tagging Benjamin back in. "Welcome back," he tells Scotty before decking him. Benjamin charges, but Scotty with an elbow followed by a neckbreaker. Both men down. Rikishi finally gets the tag and HE'S ON FIRE! He hits a double clothesline then a superkick to Haas. Rikishi misses his running ass-to-gut charge to corner and Benjamin immediately hits his own superkick, just gets 2. Scotty hits Benjamin with a bulldog then signals for the Worm! Haas breaks it up before it can get started. Haas gets planted by Rikishi, then Scotty bulldogs Benjamin again followed by the W-O-R-M! Rikishi with the ass charge to Haas, and Haas falls down in the corner setting himself for… the Stink Face! Benjamin attempts a rollup on Rikishi, but Rikishi simply sits down on him. That's enough for 3. Rikishi and Scotty looked a tad bit rusty in their return match, but the match was entertaining and a bit nostalgic.
Winners: Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty
Match Rating: 6/10

Rikishi and Scotty celebrate in the ring as they don bucket hats and bust a move Too Cool style. Up at the skybox, Vince and Sable are dancing along with them. Their mood changes when Undertaker barges in and grabs Vince by his shirt collar, telling him to shut up. Taker says it isn't about the title, it's about him. He says Vince must think he's a big man, beating up his daughter and throwing his wife around, but he's not a big man. He's a pathetic, gutless coward. If he was such a big man, he wouldn't have to pay that slut Sable to sleep with him, he says. Taker gives Vince some advice: stay up here and pray that he wins the match tonight. If not, he'll come back up and there won't be any talking.

In the back, Eddie Guerrero is getting ointment on his cuts he got from the attack last week by the Big Show. His Tag Team Championship partner Chavo Guerrero is nearby, demanding that Eddie sucks up his loss from No Mercy and forget about the U.S. Title. He wants Eddie to focus on the Tag Team Title match. He needs Eddie here; he needs fire. Do it for la familia! Eddie gets fired up and they head out for their match.

Match #3: Los Guerreros vs. The Bashams Brothers (w/ Shaniqua) for the WWE Tag Team Championship
Los Guerreros roll out in a black cadillac with a white top. Eddie starts the match against Doug. Doug starts the offense, but Eddie immediately turns on the juice and throws fists of fury to Doug. Chavo gets a tag. Eddie snapmares Doug into a Chavo dropkick for 2. Chavo with kidney shots to Doug in the corner. Chavo distracts Danny and the ref, allowing Eddie to choke Doug with the tag rope. Eddie gets the tag. Chavo hits a slam on Doug into the Helo by Eddie. Eddie with a still uppercut, then uses elbows to keep Doug down. Chavo in with a right hand, but Doug fights back and finally tags in Danny. They isolate Chavo in their corner, but Chavo elbows out and tags in Eddie. Shaniqua grabs Eddie's leg and allows Danny to knock him out of the ring. Eddie gets back up and takes a boot to the face from Shaniqua. Eddie back in, and Danny covers for 2. He shoulders Eddie's cut, then distracts the ref so Doug can choke him with the tag rope. Doug is in and hits a snap suplex for 2. A snapmare into a legdrop gets another 2. Doug applies a chinlock. Eddie gets up, but Doug pushes him into his corner and tags Danny in. They doubleteam Eddie, and a pin attempt is broken up by Chavo. Danny knocks Chavo off the apron. Doug hits Eddie with bodyslam into a splash eblow for 2. Eddie makes a comeback, fighting off both Bashams. He backdrops one, then hits both of them with the armdrag/head-scissors combo! Chavo gets the tag, and HE'S ON FIRE!! He unleashes an arsenal on both Bashams, including a backdrop, dropkick, and a swinging DDT on Doug with gets 2. The Bashams doubleteam Chavo, and Eddie takes Danny to the outside. Chavo suplexs Doug for 2, then gets up and leaps over the ropes to cross body Danny on the outside. Eddie hits Doug with the Vertical Suplex Trifecta. Eddie goes up for the Frog Splash, but Shaniqua distracts Eddie. Eddie boots her down, but it was enough for the Bashams to pull another switch. The unsuspecting Eddie tries the Frog Splash, but rolls through when Danny, who replaced Doug moves out of the way. Danny, hiding Shaniqua's nightstick the whole time, clobbers Eddie in the head with it! 1-2-3! A fast-paced match with great offense from Los Guerreros.
Winners: The Basham Brothers (new Tag Team Champions)
Match Rating: 6.5/10

At the top of the ramp, Josh Mathews interviews the winning trio. The Bashams are excited for their victory, and Shaniqua promises to take men to go celebrate.

During the break, Chavo is pissed off as Eddie looks devastated. Chavo tells Eddie to get focused.

Match #4:Tajiri vs. Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen and the Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri start with a lockup. Zach with a takedown into a rollup for 2. They both keep their distance for a while before Tajiri gives a hard kick to Zach's left arm. Zach responds with a dropkick then and armbar. Tajiri gets up and rakes Zach's eyes. Zach tries a tornado DDT, but Tajiri reverses it into a slam. Tajiri stomps on Zach, keeping him grounded. Zach tries to fight his way to his feet, but Tajiri keeps him down. Tajiri hits a vertical suplex. Tajiri misses a knee drop and Zach takes out Tajiri's legs. Zach misses a dropkick, which allows Tajiri to stomp on him some more. A Tajiri suplex gets reversed into a Zach rollup for 2. Tajiri has Zach in a fireman's carry but Zach rolls through for a 2-count. Zach hits a bottom-rope leaping leg lariat. Zach goes to the top rope, and Tajiri goes up to meet him. Zach pushes Tajiri down, but Tajiri rolls away from a moonsault. Tajiri with a loud kick to the face. Cover gets 3. A quick match with a quick ending. There was nothing wrong with this match, but nothing great either.
Winner: Tajiri
Match Rating: 5/10

In the locker room, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar is telling United States Champion The Big Show to be on top of his game tonight. Broak says he doesn't want to defend his title against the Undertaker. Show tells Brock to worry about being on top of his game, otherwise he'll have bigger problems. As nice as the U.S. Title looks, Show says, the WWE title looks even nicer.

We then see a video featuring a match from 9/12/2002 involving Brock Lesnar and Hardcore Holly. They show the powerbomb Lesnar gave Holly, which saw Holly landing fully on his next. In the video, Hardcore Holly says the Lesnar broke his neck with that move. Holly promises to come back and end Brock's career.

A tribute video is shown for Michael Hegstrand, aka Road Warrior Hawk, who also passed away this past week.

Match #5, the Main Event: The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar & The Big Show
Taker starts off against Show. Show drives Taker to the corner, driving his shoulder into Taker's gut. He hits a headbutt, then hits more shoulders to the gut in Lesnar's corner. Taker punches them both, and flees the ring before Lesnar can charge him. Taker grabs a chair and chases them out of the ring. As both men regroup, Taker throws the chair out of the ring and waits for them to come back in. Lesnar gets tagged in, ducking a Taker punch and driving his shoulder into Taker's gut in one corner, then in another corner. Oh my, how many more shoulders than Taker's gut take!?!? Anyways, Lesnar starts a massive offensive onslaught, involving a knee to the midsection, right hand, elbow to the face, a belly-to-belly suplex, then more knees to the gut. Taker with right hands, but Lesnar with another midsection kick. He hits a vertical suplex for a 2-count. Show is in, clubbing Taker in the back. He hits him with two headbutts, the second knocking Taker down. He whips Taker to the corner, but he boots Show away. He hits a clothesline, but Show is still standing. He does again. Again, still standing. Taker ducks two Show clothesline and hits his own flying clothesline, taking Show down. Cover gets 2. Taker gets up and hits the flying clothesline on an approaching Lesnar, but walks right into the Showstopper Chokeslam by Show! 1-2-NO! Lesnar orders Show to go up top, and Tazz anticipate a spike piledriver. Taker fights off Lesnar, then grabs Show's throat and hits a top rope Chokeslam! 1-2-3! Pretty fast for a main… waitaminute. Paul Heyman comes out and apologizes for screwing up. He forgot to mention that the match is 2/3 falls, so the match continues. After a commercial break, Taker is punching away on Lesnar while Heyman sits in an office chair on the ramp. Taker hits a boot to the face then a legdrop for 2. He throws Lesnar out of the ring, then goes outside to continue the assault. Show rushes by and clothesline Taker down. He hits another headbutt and pushes Taker back in the ring. Headbutt #5, then clothesline Taker out. Taker walks around the ring dazed. Show misses a clothesline, and Taker punches him over the barricade. He catches Lesnar with elbows and multiple head shots, then throws Lesnar over the barricade. He then rolls back into the ring as the referee counts out both Show and Lesnar! Taker's music blares, but Heyman cuts it off again. He says he's sorry, but he did it again. He forgot to mention that there's no count-outs. Show comes up to Taker from behind and whacks him with a steel chair. The ref calls for the DQ victory for Taker, and AGAIN Heyman stops the music. Hey, it's his first day on job, he says. He apologizes to Vince, then says there are no disqualifications. Three wins for Taker, all three taken away by Heyman. Outside, Show delivers a straight punch to Taker's gut. Taker grabs his biker chain and wraps it around his fist, but Show didn't see it. Show throws Taker back into the ring where Lesnar awaits. Lesnar lifts him up for the F5, but Taker clobbers him in the head with the chain! Show is on the apron, and he gets clobbered as well. Taker into the cover, 1-2-3! Taker wins for the unofficial 4th time, and Heyman doesn't know what to do. Vince is mad as Taker raises his arms in victory, so I guess this really is the end of the match. Lots of drama in this match, all surrounding the Undertaker. All signs pointed to a screwjob, but Taker still won it by making Heyman choke on his own medicine. The match itself was chock full of repetition with a couple nice spots and shenanigans from both sides.
Winner: The Undertaker
Match Rating: 6.5/10

From the skybox, Vince is pointing and shouting at Taker. Taker gets on his bike, but Show pulls him off of it and stomps on him. He pushes Taker into the ring, where Lesnar joins in on the stomping. Show wraps the chain around his hand as Lesnar chokes Taker with his boots. Shows punches Taker several times in the side of the head with the chain. Show lifts Taker and hits a chokeslam followed by a legdrop. Show picks Taker up and throws him out of the ring to Lesnar. He lifts Taker up and F5s him into the ring post. On the mic, Vince tells Taker to stay there so he can come down and congratulate him. He kisses Sable before he goes.

After a commercial break, Vince comes down from the crowd, taunting Taker along the way. Taker crawls up the ramp while Vince calls him a bitch. Vince wants to personally congratulate him on his victory. He asks Taker if the price he just paid was worth the title shot. Vince answers with a NO. As long as Vince is alive and breathing, he'll never be the champion. He says he knows Taker wants Brock, so he asks when it's gonna be and what kinda match it'll be. Writhing in pain, Taker utters out that his match will be at Survivor Series, and it'll be a Buried Alive Match! Vince proclaims that Brock will bury him six feet under. Taker gets up and snatches the mic from Vince. He says Vince got it all wrong. Brock isn't his opponent. Vince is! Vince is in shock as SmackDown! comes to a close.

Final Thought: As expected, tonight's show revolved entirely around Vince McMahon. Although I don't really have a problem with his character, I know that his dominance on the TV screen is doing nothing but hurt SmackDown. Every single match tonight got a good rating, but nothing really stood out. However, the returning of Paul Heyman and Scotty 2 Hotty was a surprise, and I'm interested to see the directions of both characters. Overall, this was a mediocre show.

I would also like to extend my best wishes to the families of Stu Hart and Michael Hegstrand.

As always, I appreciate your feedback. See you next week!

~ Justin Pratt
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