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Smackdown: Bradshaw does Dallas
By
DALE PLUMMER -- SLAM! Wrestling
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DALE PLUMMER -- SLAM! Wrestling
I know it's April Fool's Day, but I didn't expect
my local UPN affiliate to play a prank on me. Instead
of Smackdown! at 8 o'clock, I got Philadelphia Flyers
hockey. I hate the Flyers. Well, at least I got to see
Survivor and CSI live, tonight. In two hours we'll
see if WWE has any tricks in store for us.
New General Manager Kurt Angle kicks things off
from Columbus, Ohio with an announcement. He's looking
for someone special that can help him build and bigger
and better Smackdown! He's looking for a great
American. Angle proceeds to unveil a huge trophy that
he calls 'The Great American Reward'. Unfortunately
Eddie Guerrero doesn't qualify. Now before things get
ugly, let me explain. The winner of this trophy will
receive a shot at the number one contender's spot for
Eddie's title. The nominees will be decided in a
series of matches, tonight. The first one starting
now!
Match #1 - Big Show vs. Rikishi - 'The Great
American Reward' nomination match
In my notes I write, "Big Show wins, since Rikishi
is carrying the tag team strap," even before the match
begins. Rikishi blocks a punch from Show to start the
match, and proving my theory wrong, for now. Show
retaliates with fist of his own, and kicks the big man
when he's down. Rikishi recovers and knocks the giant
down with two super kicks. With Show seated in the
corner, Rikishi backs it up into the face of the
giant. Big Show pushes him away, and Rikishi runs
right into a choke slam. Show covers and scores the
pin. I love it when I'm right. Big Show is the first
nominee for 'The Great American Reward'.
Winner via pinfall: Big Show
A stretch limo with steer horns on the front pulls
into the garage. Hold on, my phone is ringing. It's
the '80s; they want Dallas back. Bradshaw steps out
of the car and berates his driver before heading to
work.
Footage from the premiere of Walking Tall is
shown. Personally, I'm going to see Hellboy tonight.
Match #2 - Rey Mysterio and Spike Dudley vs.
Chavo Guerrero Senior and Junior
Hey, Chavo has new music. Rey Mysterio starts off
with an arm drag, and then drops Junior into the
middle turnbuckle face first. Mysterio tags in Spike.
Guerrero Senior jumps in to help, but gets drop kicked
by Spike. Both Guerreros are down in opposite
corners, and each receive a Bronco Buster at the same
time. Rey Mysterio climbs the turnbuckle, only to get
knocked off, and then hung in the tree of woe by
Senior. Junior takes advantage, but not for long.
Mysterio rolls through a sunset flip and hits Junior
with a low drop kick to the face. Chavo is then
flipped into the corner. Mysterio tags in Spike on the
turnbuckle, and Spike lands feet first on Junior's
chest from the top. Senior breaks a pinfall, after an
Inverted Atomic Drop on Junior from Spike. Chavo
Senior gets knocked into the ropes, but Junior breaks
up the 619, clothes lining Mysterio to the outside.
Spike hits the Dudley Dog on Junior, by using his dad
for leverage. Spike covers and scores the pin.
Winner via pinfall: Rey Mysterio and Spike
Dudley
After the match, Bradshaw hits the ring. He
decimates the faces as they celebrate their win. Way
to beat up on cruiserweights!
Match #3 - RVD vs. Charlie Haas - 'The Great
American Reward' nomination match
Hey, this match looks awfully familiar. It should,
it happened last week, and RVD won. Haas tries to use
amateur wrestling tactics to start, but RVD won't have
it. Haas ducks an enzugiri, but RVD is able to pull
off a corkscrew head scissors by spinning on his head.
A frustrated Haas grabs a chair on the outside, but is
scolded by the ref, and leaves it on the floor. RVD
hits monkey flip, but Haas fights back, slamming RVD
into the ring post. Haas then goes to work on the knee
of RVD. Haas follows up with a single leg Boston crab.
RVD grabs the ropes to break the hold, and takes Haas
down with a leg sweep. RVD nails Rolling Thunder. Haas
kicks out after a two count. He dodges a corner
charge, but is taken down with another leg sweep from
RVD. Haas Haas dodges the 5-Star frog splash. Haas in
the back dropped to the outside. RVD leaps over the
top rope, only to have Haas block his move with a
chair. Both men are down outside the ring, and are
counted out. Kurt Angle hits the stage, telling is on
Smackdown! there are winners and losers. Angle refers
back to his amateur background and based on points,
Charlie Haas wins the match and the nomination.
Winner via GM decision: Charlie Haas
We see Bradshaw making an impact on last week's
show.
Booker T is talking with Angle in his office.
Booker whines and cries about getting no respect, so
Angle does him a favor. Booking him in a match with
Hardcore Holly for the Greatest America nomination.
Match #4 - Booker T vs. Hardcore Holly - 'The
Great American Reward' nomination match
Holly takes to Booker right away. A reverse kick
puts Holly down, but not for long as he responds with
a back suplex. Holly goes to work with an armbar, and
then reverses an Irish Whip into a hip toss. Booker
recovers and counters with a sidewalk slam. Booker
then drops a knee to Holly's head. Booker proceeds to
choke Holly in the corner with his foot. Holly fights
back with knife-edge chops. After another arm bar,
Booker T is dropped onto the ropes. Booker responds
with a super kick, but instead of breaking out the
spin-a-ronni, he goes for the pin. Holly kicks out,
and Booker slaps on a sleeper. Holly reverses with a
back suplex, and the ducks a clothesline. A scoop slam
puts Booker down for two. Holly then runs into the
Bookend, but once again kicks out of the pin. Booker
fights out of suplex, and the rolls up Holly with a
schoolboy. Booker grabs the tights of Holy to insure
the win.
Winner via pin fall: Booker T
Match #5 - The Dudley Boyz vs. Akio and Sakoda
I guess this is what passes as a squash these days.
The Dudleys take care of the Japanese mafia with a 3-d
on Akio.
Winner via pinfall: The Dudley Boyz
D-von and Bubba check up on Spike, who is nursing
his injuries in the locker room. Teddy Long stops by
to offer his services and leaves his card.
A Monday Night Raw recap is shown. Um ... Brand split,
anyone?
Eddie Guerrero pulls up next to Bradshaw's limo.
He chats with the driver and then walks away.
Match #6 - John Cena vs. Nunzio and Johnny
'The Bull' Stamboli - Handicap 'The Great American
Reward' nomination match
Rene Dupree and his dog join Cole and Tazz at the
announce postion. Cena raps and gets his verbal jabs
in at the other nominees. Nunzio is pretty much a
non-factor in this match, as Cena is able to handle
the Bull. After hitting the throwback, Cena drops the
five-knuckle shuffle. This is all he needs to set up
Stamboli for the F-U. Cena immediately gets in
Dupree's face after the match.
Winner via pinfall: John Cena
Backstage, Angle tells a production assistant to
get Eddie Guerrero to the ring. Angle has a major
announcement for him.
Angle tells the crowd he is impressed with the
Smackdown! roster, and he is glad that he traded HHH.
The winner of the 'Great American Award' will be
announced next week, and we will choose the winner.
You can vote on WWE.com. If Cena doesn't win, it has
to be rigged. Eddie pulls out to the ring in his low
rider. He snatches the mic from Angle, and tells him
to do something if he's got a problem. Angle says he
won't fight, but he has someone that he would like
Eddie to meet. Bradshaw's limo pulls out, and Bradshaw
emerges from the sunroof. Bradshaw promotes himself.
Hold my phone is ringing again, it's Patrick Duffy,
and he wants J.R. Ewing back. Bradshaw says last week
was business; it wasn't personal. Eddie tells him now
it is personal, and goes after Bradshaw in the limo.
The Texan retreats, but Eddie steals his hat. The
champ has ringside fans fill the hat with beer, water,
soda, and whatever else they have, as Bradshaw goes
ballistic. Bradshaw is livid, and tells Eddie he will
pay.
Visit the SLAM! Wrestling store!
Pre-order the new autobiography:
Ric Flair: To Be the Man
Dale Plummer is still a rookie on the SLAM!
Wrestling staff. Dale will be rooting extra hard
against the Flyers this year for causing him to stay
up late to write this report.
