Smackdown!
Greensboro, North Carolina
May 22, 2003
Dead Man returns; Mr. America’s
identity on the verge of exposure!
SmackDown! was reelin’ and rockin’ at the historic Greensboro Coliseum this
week, as fans witnessed the return of a legend and the triumph of WWE’s black
hearted chairman!
After weeks away from the ring thanks to a vicious assault from the Full Blooded
Italians, Undertaker burst back on to the scene without missing a beat! Right
out of the gate, his unfortunate victims were none other than the FBI, who were
laying a Brooklyn-style beat-down on WWE Champion Brock Lesnar when the Dead Man
stormed to the ring and made the save.
Does this mean that Brock and the ‘Taker, formerly bitter enemies, are now on
the same page? Or was ‘Taker simply looking for some good old-fashioned revenge?
Hopefully, the answer will soon be made clear.
A count-out victory for Sean O’Haire over Mr. America means that the
star-spangled Superstar will be forced to take a lie detector test next week on
SmackDown!, as per Vince McMahon’s pre-match stipulation. Mr. McMahon, still
insisting that Mr. America is actually Hulk Hogan, will have the chance to prove
it to the world next week!
It was Mr. America’s good nature that caused his downfall, as the count out
occurred when he was outside the ring trying to prevent Zach Gowen, his young
handicapped supporter, from being arrested at the behest of McMahon for his
“assault” on the chairman last Sunday at Judgment Day.
Also on the show, Rey Mysterio earned a shot at Cruiserweight Champion Matt
Hardy when he defeated both of Matt’s disciples, Shannon Moore and Crash, in a
Handicap Match. The master of Mattitude was less than pleased, and put a hurting
on both his followers after the bout. And Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri successfully
defended their newly won WWE Tag Team Championship against Team Angle thanks to
Eddie’s “lying, cheating and stealing” tactics.
The program also featured an in-depth interview with the inspirational Zach
Gowen, conducted by SmackDown! General Manager Stephanie McMahon, in which Gowen
declared his dream of one day becoming a wrestler, despite only having one leg.
Sable took exception to Tazz’s choice of Torrie Wilson as the bikini contest
winner last Sunday at Judgment Day, and expressed her anger by pouring water all
over the announcer’s head! And finally, the announcement has been officially
made: Kurt Angle will make his anticipated return to SmackDown! in two weeks!
Match results
Eddie Guerrero & Tajiri successfully defended the WWE Tag Team Championship
against Team Angle when Guerrero slipped a steel chair to Charlie Haas, causing
referee Mike Chioda to disqualify Haas and Shelton Benjamin after 12 minutes and
50 seconds.
John Cena pinned Spanky following an F-U (Death Valley Driver) in 3:20.
In a non-title match, Chris Benoit defeated Cruiserweight Champion Matt Hardy by
submission with the Crippler Crossface at 8:07.
In a handicap elimination match, Rey Mysterio earned a shot at the Cruiserweight
Championship by defeating Shannon Moore & Crash. Mysterio pinned Moore with the
West Coast Pop after 5:01, and pinned Crash after a powerbomb at 5:21.
In a non-title match, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defeated Johnny Stamboli by
disqualification due to outside interference from Chuck Palumbo and Nunzio at
4:21.
Sean O’Haire defeated Mr. America by count-out in 7:01