WWE SmackDown! Results: 1/8/2003
Submitted by Justin "Locura" Pratt on Friday, January 9, 2004 at 1:18 AM EST



WWE SmackDown!
Date: 1/8/2003
Venue: Von Braun Civic Center
Location: Huntsville, Alabama

Recap of last week’s show, which saw the possible end of the famed Los Guerreros tag team by Chavo slapping Eddie and Kurt Angle keeping Eddie from attacking his nephew.

And now, welcome to SmackDown! Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.

Tonight, Hardcore Holly meets The Big Show in a Street Fight! The WWE tag titles are also on the line.

My Olympic Hero, Kurt Angle, makes his way down to the ring. Kurt grabs the mic, but plays to the crowd a little bit as they start a “USA!” chant. Angle says they rule, WHOO! He says last week was supposed to be a perfect beginning for the new year. He returned, and vowed to win the Royal Rumble for the troops. But he had a bitter taste in his mouth because he’ll be damned if he’ll let one of the greatest tag teams of all time self-destruct. He calls out Chavo so they can settle this thing between him and Eddie, right here and right now. Chavo Guerrero obliges, coming down to his own music. Angle told him he knows he said it was Eddie’s fault, but he asks Chavo if he thinks he crossed the line by slapping Eddie. He asks if he can do the right thing and put this behind him. Angle says Chavo should publicly apologize. Chavo takes the mic and repeats Angle’s question. What for? For trying to hold his family together? For loving his uncle? He says he showed Eddie tough love. It’s not tough because it’s easy! Chavo says he will not apologize. In fact, if Eddie was here now, he’d slap him in the face even harder. That fires up an “Eddie!” chant. “Just like I’m thinking about slapping you!” he says, pointing to Angle. Angle stares at Chavo and takes the mic back, saying he didn’t call him out for a fight, but an opportunity. Then, out comes Eddie Guerrero! Pissed off, he rushes the ring to try and attack Chavo, but he flees the ring as Angle holds him back. Angle tries to restore calm, and asks for him to listen. He says that’s Eddie’s nephew, and he is Chavo’s uncle. You’re supposed to love each other! He tells Chavo to get in here right now and face Eddie eye-to-eye. Angle again tries to keep the calm. He calls them the greatest family in the history of this sport. Neither of them want this. He wants to ask them one question: who’s gonna be the better man and extend their hand out right now and make amends? Chavo extends first, and Eddie looks on in reluctance. Angle asks Eddie to shake his hand; to do the right thing. Eddie lowers his hand and turns away. Angle asks Eddie to look inside himself, and look at Chavo. Who is the one person that cared enough to pick him up when he was down? Chavo was! He asks Eddie again to do the right thing. Don’t break your family tradition. Eddie goes back towards Chavo… and shakes his hand. Angle is overjoyed, raising both Guerrero’s arms. Eddie keeps his eyes fixed on Chavo as he exits the ring.

We see a recap of Hardcore Holly pummeling Big Show with a steel chair last week.

Josh Mathews interviews The Big Show, asking him why in the world he’d want a street fight against Hardcore Holly. Show tells Josh he just doesn’t get it. Show says last week Holly split his head open, and that’s why he went to Heyman and ask him to make his match a street fight. That way, he can use anything he wants to. He vows that tonight, Holly is gonna get taken out.

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 1 ~

A video package shows Rikishi recording his song on the WWE Originals album.

Chris Benoit comes out for our opening bout. Before Benoit’s opponent could be announced, Paul Heyman comes out to say that Benoit must be proud of pulling one over on him last week. He got himself into the Royal Rumble, but as the #1 entrant. Tonight, we’ll have a “mini-Royal Rumble”. It’ll be Benoit against all three FBI members, as they all come out one-by-one, two minutes apart, to try and eliminate Benoit.
Match #1: Chris Benoit vs. The FBI in a mini-Royal Rumble match
Johnny Stamboli is Benoit’s first opponent. Benoit starts off quick against Stamboli, taking him down then hitting a snap suplex. Hard chops alternate with punches and kicks in the corner. After an irish whip, Benoit tries to force Stamboli over the top rope, but fails as Stamboli fights back and unleashes his own offensive strike. He then tries to put Benoit over, but he also fails. Stamboli goes back on the attack, but Benoit kicks him away. Benoit slides under Stamboli, then locks him in the Sharpshooter! Stamboli taps, but it’s a non-submission match. The timer sounds, as Chuck Palumbo enters the fray. Benoit greets him with a German Suplex. Stamboli gets back up to deck Benoit and try to put him over the top rope. He fails again, suplexing him and hanging him on the top rope, but he doesn’t go over. Palumbo whips Benoit, causing him to baseball slide Stamboli while he’s on the apron, eliminating him! Palumbo with a back suplex on Benoit. Palumbo places Benoit on the top rope, but that does nothing. Palumbo gets him in a fireman’s carry, but Benoit latches on the Crossface and Palumbo taps. Same result, as the time sounds and out comes Nunzio. He comes face to face with Benoit, as he tries to run away. Benoit catches him, then fights off both remaining FBI members. Didn’t last long, though, as both men try to put Benoit over the top rope. Palumbo snake eyed Benoit on the top turnbuckle. Benoit launches Palumbo over the top rope, but hangs out! As Nunzio tried to help him up, Benoit tosses HIM over! Heyman looks irate. Benoit reverses a Palumbo move into a head scissors. Palumbo comes back with a fireman’s carry into a samoan drop. He tries the Superkick, but it misses, as Benoit grabs and sends him sailing over the top rope, making Benoit the winner of the match! Heyman applauds Benoit as he walks to the back. Benoit celebrates in the ring. This match certainly was interesting… and entertaining!
Winner: Chris Benoit
Match Rating: 6/10

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 2 ~

Match #2: Rikishi & Scotty 2 Hotty vs. The Basham Brothers (w/ Shaniqua) for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Shaniqua is up on the ramp, holding the titles as Doug & Danny Basham jump Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty from behind. They level both men, with Shaniqua even superkicking Scotty. They hit Rikishi with a russian leg sweep/clothesline combo. Both Bashams also hit their opponents over the head with the tag belts. The Bashams are pleased, but out comes Kurt Angle! Angle says hell officially froze over. He left Heyman’s office, and they came up with an agreement: if you advertise a match, they should HAVE IT. They came up with a suitable replacement: Los Guerreros! And that’s next!

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 3 ~

The REAL Match #2: Los Guerreros vs. The Basham Brothers (w/ Shaniqua) for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Back from the break, the Bashams are arguing with each other as Los Guerreros ride down to the ring. Eddie starts off against Danny Basham. Lockup, Danny with a headlock, then a shoulderblock. After taunting, they lock up again. Eddie reverses a wristlock into a headlock, then takes him down. Chavo tags in and flatten Danny with boots to the chest. Danny eats an uppercut, then a body slam. He tags Eddie and kicks Danny, and Eddie covers for two. Chavo gets tagged, and Los Guerreros hit a double elbow. Cover for 2. Chavo with a smack package rollup for 2. Danny makes the tag to Doug, who takes a Chavo dropkick. Chavo distracts the ref as Eddie chokes Doug with the tag rope. They fake the tag as Eddie comes in to stomp the hell out of Doug. Eddie is now distracting the ref as Chavo chokes Doug with the tag rope! Eddie makes the tag as Doug punches Chavo in the corner. Eddie taps Doug’s shoulder, he turns around and gets taken down. Doug runs into an elbow from Eddie, then takes a back suplex. Danny pulls Doug out of the ring before Eddie could attempt the Frog Splash. Eddie and Chavo drag Doug back into the ring. Doug elbows Eddie down, but misses an elbow drop. Shaniqua distracts the ref now, allowing Danny to send Eddie falling over the top rope. Chavo rushes to Eddie’s aid as we cut to commercial.

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 4 ~

We come back to see the Bashams regain control of the match. Doug hits a body slam on Eddie, then a springboard into a back elbow for 2. Doug applies the Half Boston Crab as the “Eddie!” chants roar. Eddie grabs the second rope, breaking the hold. However, Doug holds on and drags Eddie to his corner, allowing Danny to tag in. Danny also locks in a Half Boston Crab. Doug with a hard shot to Eddie’s back as the ref was distracted by Shaniqua. Doug keeps stomping Eddie’s hand as he tried to grab the bottom rope. The hold is broken up, and the Bashams hit a double slingshot suplex. Eddie punches away at Doug, but as Doug falls he drop toe holds Eddie down, then prevents him from tagging Chavo. Both Bashams are putting a beating on Eddie now. Eddie countered Danny into a head scissors, but Eddie is kept isolated from Chavo. Danny gets a cover on Eddie for 2. Body slam by Danny. Now the crowd his chanting “Chavo!” Eddie rolls up Danny but doesn’t get the pin. Shaniqua chokes Eddie in the ropes as the Basham keep the ref from seeing. Danny’s waistlock attempt gets reversed as Eddie back suplexes him. Doug manages to get the tag, hitting a hard powerbomb on Eddie. Cover for a near fall, as Chavo flew in and broke up the pin. Danny’s in, applying a bow ‘n’ arrow. Eddie battles out, dropkicking Danny. Chavo gets the tag… HE’S ON FIRE!! Dropkick! Faceplant! Cover on Doug, but Danny breaks it up. Chavo snake eyed Danny, then goes up top. He tries to cross body Doug, but he moves and Danny takes it instead! 1-2-NO! Danny hits a spinning back suplex as both Bashams work on Chavo. Eddie trips and pull Danny out of the ring. Los Guerreros with a double dropkick on Doug! The crowd is eating this up! They both hit a plancha on a Basham brother! Back into the ring, Doug reverses Chavo into a rollup, as Shaniqua grabs Doug’s hands for leverage and gets the 3 count! Wow, that came out of nowhere. Fantastic match, but far too abrupt of an ending.
Winners: The Basham Brothers
Match Rating: 7.5/10

Both Bashams stomp the hell out of Eddie, as Chavo grabs a steel chair… but then unfolds it and sits down to watch as the Bashams nail a double chokeslam! Chavo is fuming as the Bashams both apply a Boston Crab on Eddie. Chavo looks furious as Eddie screams in pain, tapping to the submission. The Bashams do not let up, as Eddie slips into near unconsciousness, then let go of the move. As the Bashams leave, Eddie is suffering in the ring. Chavo looks like a crazed lunatic, coming into the ring and standing behind his uncle as he struggles to his feet. Eddie stumbles backwards as Chavo stands above him. Chavo helps him up… then decks him down to the mat! Eddie looks shocked and heartbroken, as Chavo sits on Eddie and repeatedly punches him harder and faster. Eddie is bleeding profusely above the eye. Eddie tries to shove Chavo away, but he slams his uncle’s head down on the mat. Chavo goes to leave the ring, then looks at his uncle’s blood on his own hand. Chavo goes back to the ring and hits a straight kick to a fallen Eddie. Chavo gets inside the lowrider as EMTs attend to Eddie. Chavo backs up the ramp on the lowrider, as Cole cries “Why, Chavo, Why!?”

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 5 ~

Recap of what just happened earlier.

During the break, Chavo leaves the arena in the lowrider.

Match #3: A-Train vs. John Cena
A-Train is in the ring as Cole and Tazz express their surprise and feelings over the Los Guerreros breakup. John Cena comes down to bust a rap. (Cena’s the franchise, we’re kickin’ ass up in the dirty south, he’s gonna FU “Chewbacca”, he’ll get kicked off his campus quicker than coach Tice, he’ll bust him up quicker than Britney Spears’ marriage) Train knocks Cena down to start the match. Train goes on the offense first, but Cena comes back and tries the FU, but Train fights out and clotheslines Cena down. Cena tries to block several Train punches. Train shoves his boot into Cena’s face. Train with an impressive suplex for 2. Train applies a Camel Clutch-like submission, but Cena makes it to the ropes. Train shoves Cena’s throat into the 2nd rope. Cena battles back with right hands and a spinning back suplex. Cena goes up top and hits an elbow on the back of Train’s neck. Cena kicks Train’s midsection, then gives him the FU for the victory. It was a short, alright match.
Winner: John Cena
Match Rating: 4/10

Eddie is bleeding backstage as a doctor tends to his wounds. Angle comes in, saying he feels responsible for what happened. He can’t believe what happened, and he never should have stuck his noise into his family’s business. Eddie’s starts sobbing, as Angle says he never should have stopped him from tearing Chavo apart. Angle says he’s sorry. As he leaves, Eddie’s body quivers as he fights off tears.

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 6 ~

The 832nd Ordinance Battlion is in attendance for tonight’s show.

Recap of Rey Mysterio’s title victory last week over Tajiri.

Match #4: Rey Mysterio vs. Akio (w/ Sakoda) in a non-title match
Rey Mysterio drop toe holds Akio down to start the match. He has Akio in a headlock, which he shoves Rey out of then shoves him hard into the corner. Akio with several stomps. Rey slides, Akio cartwheels, then Rey with a wheelbarrow faceplant of some sort. That gets 2. Akio reverses a head scissors into a powerbomb on the top turnbuckle. Akio chokes Rey, then applies a standing rear headlock, then a kneeling one. Rey reverses like a madman, but Sakoda trips Rey and Akio dropkicks him. Rey in the Tree of Woe eats a boot to the throat. Baseball slide misses as Akio’s nether regions meets the ring post. Both men are down, but Rey is easily the first one up. Rey punches away at Akio, then a springboard crossbody for 2. Rey with a very unique slam move for 2. (almost looked like a head scissors, but he slammed Akio’s head down). Akio nailed a sweet looking spin kick as Rey came off the top. Sakoda and Akio end up both tripped into the ropes, allowing Rey to hit a double 619! Rey comes back with the West Coast Pop on Akio to score the pinfall! Rey retreats up the ramp as Sakoda rushes the ring. Extremely fast-paced match between two outstanding cruiserweights. Excellent.
Winner: Rey Mysterio
Match Rating: 6.5/10

From a WWE studio, Billy Gunn thanks his fans for the overwhelming response to last week’s highlight package. Over the next three weeks, he’ll bring him his top three best moments. #3 Billy Gunn best moment: The Smoking Gunns defeating Bret Hart and the 1-2-3 Kid to win the tag titles for the first time. It’s then announced that he’ll return at the Royal Rumble.

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 7 ~

Josh Mathews interviews Hardcore Holly. If it’s a street fight Show wants, that’s what he’s gonna get. You don’t play somebody else’s game, and a street fight is right up his alley. Show’s gonna find out what an Alabama ass whuppin’ is all about.

The blind Nidia is leaving Noble a message, wondering where he is. Heyman walks in and introduces himself to Nidia. Heyman says he can’t find Noble, and Nidia insists he’ll be here. Heyman says if Noble doesn’t show up in time, he’ll have to find a suitable replacement for his match with Tajiri. And that replacement… is you!

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 8 ~

Wrestlemania Recall: Lawrence Taylor defeating Bam Bam Bigalow in 1995.

Match #5: Tajiri vs. Jamie Noble (or Nidia) in a #1 Contender’s Match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Tajiri waits for Noble to come out… but no one comes out. Instead, it’s Heyman leading Nidia down to the ring. Nidia, blindfolded and carrying a walking stick, looks scared. Heyman is assuring her it’ll be fine. He pulls her to the center of the ring, telling her if she doesn’t go through with this match Noble is fired. He then snatched her cane. Tajiri throws Nidia down, stalking her. He picks her up and slams her. Snapmare, then tosses her around by her hair. Tajiri just laughs and stratches his head. Russian leg sweep for the 3 count. This was, in all aspects, NOTHING. I don’t think it was an effective way to push a feud or a storyline.
Winner: Tajiri
Match Rating: 0.5/10

Afterwards, Tajiri looks to nail her with the Buzzsaw kick, but Rey Mysterio makes the save, chasing Tajiri out of the ring. Rey helps Nidia leave the ring. Wow, her implants certainly are visible now. Jamie Noble finally rushes down to ringside, separating Nidia from Rey. He consoles her… then decks Rey! Noble goes back to Nidia’s side, acting as nothing happened as Rey is holding his head on the floor.

~ COMMERCIAL BREAK 9 ~

Making his return to SmackDown, WWE ChampionBrock Lesnar walks down the ramp and joins Cole and Tazz at ringside. Brock says he wants a front row seat to watch Holly get his ass beat by the Big Show.

Match #6, The Main Event The Big Show vs. Hardcore Holly in a Street Fight
The Big Show tosses several hardcore weapons into the ring during his entrance. He stands at the end of the ramp with a steel chair, waiting for his opponent. Holly makes his way down the ramp as they meet halfway. Holly kicks Show repeatedly as they fight to the ring, where Show slaps him. Show throws him into the ring, where he headbutts Holly several times. Holly brandishes a broom and whacks Show with it. It breaks, but Holly still hits him with it. Show throws Holly to the outside. Show misses a right hand, and Holly fights back. Holly whacks Show’s back with a chair, then pounces on Lesnar, beating the crap out of him! Show grabs Holly and drives his back into the ring post, then hits Holly over the head with a chair. Show throws another trash can of junk in the ring, but Holly cracks Show in the head with a street sign. That didn’t do much, as Show keeps control of the match. Show takes a trash can, but Holly trips him and he falls face first into it. He then hits Show in the head with a trash can three times, taking the big man down. Cover for 2. Holly applies the Full Nelson, but Show easily fights away, driving Holly into the turnbuckle. Another headbutt takes Holly down. Show pulls down the strap and goes for the Chokeslam, but Holly spray something in Show’s eye. Holly shoves a chair into Show’s gut, then whacks him in the back with it. Holly wraps the chair around Show’s neck and strangles him with it! Show has no choice but to tap out, as Holly gets the submission victory. This hardcore match wasn’t too terribly exciting, but I can’t complain about anything.
Winner: Hardcore Holly
Match Rating: 5/10

Lesnar and Holly lock eyes. Holly, with a chair, runs after Lensar, but the champion flees through the crowd. Holly stands on the announce table raising the chair up high as SmackDown! comes to an end.

Final Thought: It’s been leading up for a long time now, and now we finally see the separation of Los Guerreros. I liked the way the breakup turned out, and Angle getting involved could lead him into a feud with one of the Guerreros. I’d look forward to seeing that. It’s too bad one of the best tag teams on SmackDown had to separate, but both men are terrific singles competitors and they can do just fine on their own. Besides, their final match together as a tag match was another spectacular one. I also enjoyed the opening mini-Rumble match with Benoit, as it has made me root even harder for the guy to come out on top at the big PPV. Not counting that whole Tajiri/Nidia flop, this show was good all-around.

Has the WWE finally decided to can Ernest Miller’s awful character? God, I hope so. It’s the second week in a row without him on TV.

Thoughts? Questions? Feedback? Drop me a line! I’ll see you all next week!

~ Justin Pratt
Talk into the microphone
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