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WWE SMACKDOWN
FEBRUARY 26, 2004
TAPED IN KANSAS CITY, MO.

-The show opened with a close-up of Kurt Angle as he addressed the viewers regarding turning on Eddie Guerrero last week. He said he would explain himself later and asked viewers, "Are you ready for the truth?" Very good teaser from a very serious Angle.

-After the opening montage, Michael Cole and Tazz introduced the show. Cole said they'd have full details later on the major interpromotional match-ups announced by Vince McMahon on Raw earlier in the week.

1 -- REY MYSTERIO vs. JAMIE NOBLE vs. NUNZIO vs. KIDMAN

The first wrestler to score a pinfall or submission would advance to WrestleMania. Noble knocked Kidman over the top rope with a clotheseline at 0:45 and followed to the floor, too. They cut backstage to Eddie Guerrero, who barged into Paul Heyman's back room where he was meeting with Tajiri, Sakoda, and Akio. Dawn Marie was there, too, of course. A fuming Guerrero said he is going to make Angle pay. He asked Heyman if he was part of the plot against him since he made Angle special referee last week. Heyman told Guerrero that he needs to conduct himself as a Champion. He told Guerrero that he answers to him (Heyman), he doesn't answer to him (Guerrero). Heyman turned back to Tajiri and his men and began to make a promise to them, but then they cut back to the match at 3:00. Rey gave Nunzio a head scissors takedown at ringside. Noble dove onto Rey right afterward. Kidman then flew off the top rope onto Noble at ringside. All four cruiserweights were on the floor. Kidman threw Noble back into the ring and gave Nunzio an enzuigiri. Kidman and Nunzio punched each other on the top rope. Meanwhile, Rey went after Noble. They gave each other simultaneous clotheslines as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, they went into a series of nearfalls. Rey moonsaulted Kidman for a near fall which Noble broke up. Rey hit a bulldog on Noble and went for a cover which Kidman broke up. Rey gave Kidman a DDT, but Noble broke up the pin attempt. Rey hit a 619, then was about to finish off Noble when Heyman interrupted and cancelled the match at about 16:00. Heyman walked out with Tajiri, Akio, and Sakoda. He said it was brought to his attention that there was no Japanese representation in the match. He said he negotiated an out of court settlement. He said at WrestleMania, Chavo Guerrero will not defend the title against Rey or anybody else. He said instead, Chavo would defend the title against any cruiserweight who decides to enter the first ever Cruiserweight Open. Rey screamed, "What?" Heyman said the man who won that match would be Cruiserweight Champion. As Akio and Sakoda charged into the ring, Rey flew right past them onto Tajiri. Cole said Rey was about to win the match and he should be facing Chavo at WM20, but Heyman screwed Rey.

WINNER: No decision in 16:00.

STAR RATING: (**1/2) -- Impossible to give a firm rating due to two extended interruptions and the non-finish, but the content that was shown was above-average.

-A video feature aired on last week's Eddie vs. Chavo match with the Angle heel turn.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- SCOTTY 2 HOTTY & RIKISHI vs. FAAROOQ & BRADSHAW

The APA gave Scotty strange looks when he did his comedy bits early. Rikishi tagged in at 2:00 and overpowered Bradshaw right away. At 4:30, the Bashams came out to yell at Rikishi, slowing down his momentum. Bradshaw then gave Rikishi a Clothesline from Hell. Rikishi did a flip bump and got pinned. Cole said the APA win would help put them in title contention.

WINNERS: Bradshaw & Faarooq at 4:44.

STAR RATING: * -- Decent face vs. face tag match-up.

[Commercial Break]

-A recap aired of the Raw announcement of Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg with Steve Austin as special referee.

-Josh Matthews interviewed Brock about his actions on Raw. Brock said if it weren't for Austin giving Goldberg that ticket to the PPV, he'd still be the WWE Champion. He said the only thing he's concerned with at WrestleMania is revenge. He said if Austin sticks his nose in where it doesn't below, he'll discover the true meaning of "off the hook pain." The inclusion of Austin in Goldberg vs. Brock really does add to the match and what they're able to do to promote it, especially considering Goldberg isn't going to be around between now and WM20.

[Commercial Break]

-Eddie Guerrero came out to address the crowd, doing his best Rock-inspired soaking up of the crowd cheers. Would Eddie Guerrero be having this moment, this spotlight, and this opportunity had there not been a brand split? Highly unlikely. Guerrero said he is taking his title reign just like he did drug and alcohol rehab - one day at a time. He then called out Angle. When Angle didn't show up, he went after Angle backstage. He saw Angle and shoved Heyman into Dawn Marie to get past him. Dawn went down crying. Heyman screamed, "What did you do!? What did you do! Great going champ!" He ordered security to get him out of the arena.

[Commercial Break]

-They replayed Eddie knocking Heyman into Dawn.

3 -- BILLY GUNN vs. BROCK LESNAR

Gunn walked to the ring like a jobber in the '80s. He slapped a few hands, but otherwise had a blank, prideless look on his face. After a flurry attack by Gunn that didn't affect Lesnar, Lesnar gave Gunn a bit overhead belly-to-belly. Lesnar charged the corner, but Gunn moved. He followed with an armbar and worked over Brock's shoulder. Cole said Gunn has done just about everything possible in WWE. Yeah, short of having even one memorable four star singles match. Lesnar eventually came back with a spinebuster at 4:00. Lesnar then settled into a mat hole, his bodywrap. It was about as boring as a resthold can get because Gunn seemed to be doing nothing but resting rather than struggling to get out. Gunn slowly climbed to his feet and threw some elbows to escape. Lesnar fired back with a quick released German suplex. Seeing these two stand toe-to-toe shows exactly how overrated Lesnar's size is and how underrated Gunn's size is. I bet most WWE fans, if asked, would say Lesnar was at least an inch or two taller than Gunn, but he's actually considerably shorter. Lesnar went back to bearhug that was pretty loose looking, something Tazz even had to point out for credibility sake. Gunn escaped and threw two clotheslines and a bulldog for a two count. Gunn dove at Lesnar in the corner, but Lesnar moved and then he gave Gunn his F5 out of nowhere for the win. Cole asked, "Will this be the fate of Goldberg at WrestleMania?"

WINNER: Lesnar at 8:19.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- There's just something about Gunn's style that just seems mundane. He just can't get into a "real fight" mode. He belonged in the 1992 WWF era, not the 2004 WWE era.

[Commercial Break]

-Cole and Tazz talked about McMahon's big WM20 announcements. Tazz referred to Brock vs. Goldberg as the first interpromotional match since the "brand split." I was surprised to hear it referred to as the brand split on WWE TV, since that's what all of us call it (because that's what it was, basically), but WWE (in the famous corporate drawl of Linda McMahon) referred to it always as a "brand extension" to try to avoid a negative connotation of the idea of splitting the roster in half.

-Sable and Torrie Wilson came out and talked about Stacy Keibler and Jackie Gayda complaining about them getting in Playboy. They thanked the fans for the opportunity and said Stacy and Jackie didn't have any grounds to complain. When I say "they," I mean Sable, since she does all the talking. John Cena then came out to his music. Cena said he saw their Playboy spread and it gave new meaning to the term "Beef Jerky." Rey Mysterio's music then played and he came out and revealed himself to be Cena's partner against Chavo Guerrero Jr. & Big Show.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- CHAVO GUERRERO & BIG SHOW vs. REY MYSTERIO & JOHN CENA

Chavo worked with Rey for a couple minutes with good action. Cena hot-tagged in. Big Show interfered to slow Cena's momentum. Show stood over Cena with a big smile when Chavo tagged him in as they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Rey got a hot-tag at 11:00 and got the crowd really into the match. He dove onto Show, but Show kicked out with authority and then tagged in Chavo at 12:30. Chavo went to a series of three unreleased vertical suplexes. Cole pointed out that was Eddie's signature series. Chavo missed a frog splash. When Show entered the ring, Cena aggressively went after him, knocking him to the floor. Show whipped Cena into the ring barrier. Show charged at him, but flew over the barrier into the crowd. In the ring, Rey hit the 619. Chavo took a nice bump and Rey scored the pin. Chavo Sr. attacked Rey afterward. Cena made the save. Show blindsided Cena and then chokeslammed Rey and Cena. Show let out a barbaric yelp (trademark "Dead Poets Society") and left the ring as his music blared. Cole said where Show goes, carnage follows, and then plugged the Show vs. Cena U.S. Title match at WM20.

WINNERS: Rey & Cena at 14:20.

STAR RATING: **3/4 -- Good tag match.

-They went to the clip that opened the show of Angle plugged his explanation for his turn.

[Commercial Break]

-Kurt Angle walked to the ring. He said: "Here's the truth. I attacked Eddie Guerrero because it was the right thing to do." Fans bombarded Angle with the "What?" chants. He said he didn't attack Guerrero for himself, he attacked him for the fans. He added: "I attacked Eddie Guerrero for America." He called Guerrero a "former drug addict. He tells children it's cool to lie, cheat, and steal." That prompted a big "Eddie, Eddie" chant. Angle said it's not cool. He said America needs to go back to a time when there were principles. WWE couldn't have forecast the suspension of Howard Stern, but the timing of Angle's comments are perfectly fit with current events. He said it's just a matter of time before he falls off the wagon again because that's what all drug addicts do. He said the WWE Title is too important to be in the hands of a drug addict. The fans chanted "asshole, asshole." He said it will be his mission to make the world a much better place by getting rid of the Eddie Guerrero types. He said eventually the fans will thank him for being the hero that he is. As Angle's music played, Eddie Guerrero charged the ring from through the crowd. Angle quickly fled and Heyman and security cut off Guerrero. Heyman insisted Guerrero get arrested. "How dare you? How dare you?" Heyman screamed. He said he would not tolerate him assaulting a woman and Angle on "Paul Heyman's Smackdown... You make me sick as a champion." He said he'd spend the night in jail. Angle taunted Guerrero from about 50 feet down the aisle. Angle followed Guerrero as he was taken to a police car, taunting him all along. "You're nothing! That championship is mine at WrestleMania. You're going to jail! That's where you deserve to be. You're no champion. You spend the night in jail and you think about me. You're an embarrassment to the title and I'll be proud to take it from you!"

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