Smackdown!

Detroit, Michigan
August 21, 2003

Kurt Angle came out to start off the show. Angle spoke about Brock Lesnar and how he isn't the person he thought he was. Angle told us he didn't need Vince McMahon (a pathetic, jacked-up 58 year old billionaire, or whatever he called him) to do his dirty work. Angle said he was looking for a fight with Lesnar or McMahon, or even both at the same time. Vince McMahon walked out and said it wasn't about what Angle or the fans want, it's about what he wants. Angle mouthed off to Vince, calling him an SOB and Vince started to march down to the ring but held back and told Angle if he even thought about fighting with Lesnar or himself, he'd be suspended. Vince told Angle since he was looking for a fight so bad, he could have a little tune-up match against the Big Show who then walked out to give the menacing stare. Angle again said he wasn't there for a match, but for a fight and with that he went after Show and the two went at it on the ramp. Angle got the best of him after clocking him with the title belt, various ref's and security guards came out to break it up.

After the break, Show and Vince are seen backstage where Show was going apeshit after just having his ass handed to him by Angle. Vince told him to save it and made the match with Angle a no holds barred street fight.

Rey Mysterio (with Billy Kidman) defeated Matt Hardy (with Shannon Moore). Good match here between two of the best workers on the roster. Moore jumped in with the outside interference as usual and when Kidman got involved to try and even the odds, the referee booted his ass to the back. Later on, Zach Gowen showed up and cracked Hardy with his walking stick. Rey then nailed the 619, followed up by the West Coast Pop for the win.

Backstage after the break, Vince told Brock Lesnar he feels that he should have a tune-up match as well, against an opponent just as menacing as the Big Show. So, Vince booked Lesnar against Zach Gowen and Lesnar vowed to break Gowen's one good leg.

After a few video packages and a break, Michael Cole was at ringside talking with Colleena Gowen, Zach's mother. She told us it's very hard for her to watch her son get thrown around the ring like he does and like any mother, she worries about him getting hurt. She wasn't pleased with the fact that Zach was being forced into a match with Lesnar either.

The Basham Brothers (with Shaniqua) defeated Billy Gunn (with Torrie Wilson) & Jamie Noble (with Nidia). The Basham's have been on TV for a couple months now and I still don't know who's who, but that's probably because I haven't been paying close attention to SmackDown! for quite awhile now. Anyway, late in the match, everyone gets involved, including the women and people are getting knocked on their asses everywhere. Shaniqua was able to help the Basham's secure the win.

Zach Gowen defeated Brock Lesnar via DQ. Never much of a match to begin with but Gowen technically got the win. Lesnar went to the outside and taunted Zach's mom and Zach came off the top with a splash but that was about all he got in, offensively. Lesnar went to work and tossed the kid around like a ragdoll and then plastered him upside the head with a chair which caused the DQ. Gowen bled as Lesnar seemed to enjoy beating the piss out of him in front of his mom. Lesnar introduced Gowen into the ringpost twice with two F5's. Finally, referees and trainers ran out as Colleena (once again, Zach's mom) jumped the barricade to tend to her son. Gowen was wheeled out on a stretcher but Lesnar wasn't done yet as he went up to the stage and dumped Gowen to the floor. Gowen must've looked pretty bad because my UPN station blurred the picture anytime the cameras were on Gowen.

John Cena made his way out after the break and rapped on Gowen as well as Detroit to get some heat on himself.

John Cena & A-Train defeated Undertaker & Orlando Jordan. Nothing much to mention in this match. Finish came when Undertaker had Cena up for the Last Ride but A-Train delivered a big boot which knocked Taker down and had Cena coming down on top of him for the win.

After the break, Sable caught up with A-Train backstage and personally thanked him for his actions on Stephanie McMahon by inviting him back to her hotel room.

Eddie Guerrero & Rhyno defeated Chris Benoit & Tajiri. Decent yet short match. Rhyno scored the pin after hitting a gore on Tajiri. After the match, Benoit slapped the Crossface on Rhyno, but that was broken up when Guerrero clocked Benoit with the US title belt. Guerrero then punked out Rhyno and finally Tajiri.

Kurt Angle defeated Big Show in a street fight. Good match with Show dominating for a good part of the match (as usual with these types of matches) and Angle making the big comeback. Some cool hardcore spots as well with Angle countering a powerbomb attempt by hanging upside down from Show's shoulders, grabbing a chair and the hammering him with it. Finish came when Angle countered a chokeslam into an Angle Slam through a table for the win. After the match, Lesnar walked out and made the belt around the waist motions as he and Angle stared each other down.