“Smackdown!”
(March 13th 2003 thru WrestleMania XIX)
Writing Began: March 7th, 2003
Writing Finished: March 12th, 2003
iEvents Going on at the Time:i
Previous Episode of “Smackdown!”:
Rhyno and Chris Benoit defeated WWE Tag-Team Champions The World’s Greatest Tag-Team in a non-title match. Brock Lesnar defeated Paul Heyman in a cage match. It was announced that Kurt Angle would defend the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar on the next edition of “Smackdown!”
Other Notes:
News of Kurt Angle’s neck-injury had just come out, with the rumors suggesting everything from Angle just needing time off to have some “minor” surgery done to Angle’s neck being in such bad shape that he was risking death by doing even the least strenuous activities. Also, Sean O’Haire (playing his “Devil’s Advocate” role) was trying to help Brian “Spanky” Kendrick get a job after being defeated by Kurt Angle on the February 27th, 2003 edition of “Smackdown!”.
3-13-03 "Smackdown"
They continue hyping the hell out of the Angle/Brock match (including little “flashback/rewind” segments detailing the history between the two) through out the night.
During the show, include backstage vignettes of Brock prepping for the match, as well as Heyman and Angle strategizing. About thirty minutes into the show, have Angle mention that he’s hesitant to face Brock, using a bunch of great “chickenshit heel”-esque excuses as to why he doesn’t want to face him, but without actually making him out to be scared of Brock; Angle says something along the lines of: “I mean, I’m not SCARED of Brock – I’m a freakin’ Olympic Gold-Medalist – but what if, umm… what if that little cheater has Benoit or Rhyno run-out and cost me the title?” Heyman tries to put his mind as ease, telling him that “as always, I have a contingency plan; we WILL hold on to that title.” Angle wants to know what it is, but Heyman says it’s so great, that he doesn’t want to spoil it just yet. Heyman tells him he just has to make it through the night, beat Brock really quickly “like I know you can”, and then head off to Wrestlemania.
Also at this time, we see O’Haire and Spanky plotting something. They speak in very vague terms, with Spanky going “You think I should do WHAT?”, with O’Haire doing his “I’m not telling you…” line.
We’re not an hour into the show. All of a sudden, there’s a huge commotion, and we cut to the backstage area, where Angle is getting decimated by Kendrick; Spanky is yelling at the top of his lung about how “You kep me from getting a job!”, and is using all manner of assorted weaponry on Angle. Some random (face) midcarders and jobbers pull him off of Angle and calm him down. The commentators speculate about whether or not the main-event will go on as planned.
90 Minutes in: Angle, furious and in obvious pain, is backstage with Heyman, Team Angle, and Stephanie; everyone is trying to talk him out of the match, but Kurt is adamant about going on. They try to comfort him, but little things like Charlie putting his hand on the back of Angle’s neck causes him to wince noticeably. One of the backstage reports asks Brock what he thinks of Angle deciding to go through with the match, to which Brock replies, “Hey, if he wants to compete, far be it from me to deny him the opportunity.”
9:45: Brock comes out as he normally does, but Angle has a hard time just making it to the ring, to the point where his entrance-music has to cue up several times before he even comes out. He’s moving very gingerly, and is obviously in tremendous amounts of pain. Brock starts off just kinda toying with Angle, slapping the back of his neck, which Angle would sell like he just got shot. Team Angle come down to ring-side, but are quickly banished to the back by officials; Kendrick also tries to make his way back out, but officials are holding him back. The match itself is purposely over-booked with a lot of outside-the-ring goings-ons, not only to protect Angle from any further injuries, but also to match-up with the STORYLINE injuries he endured earlier in the night. After a very short, “gentle” match, Brock wins the title.
Now that the match is over, Team Angle runs down to beat-down Brock; Heyman follows behind them. After a suitable beat-down on Brock, they help Kurt to his feet. Kurt is now not only in a lot of pain, but also visibly very upset. Heyman tries to console him, but Angle keeps saying that “You said that everything would be ok”, and asks “what happened to your contingency plan?” Heyman then gets much more serious, and explains “Kurt, you haven’t really ben yourself lately.” Angle looks confused. “I mean, Kurt, not only did you lose your title to Brock Lesnar, but that little punk Brian Kendrick kicked your ass.” Angle looks ashamed. “Kurt, believe me, it pains me to do this, but…”
At this point, Haas and Benjamin begin beating down Kurt, who was already in a ton of pain to begin with. When Brock (who is still lying there) attempts to get up off the mat, Team Angle beat him down again, and then go back to working on Angle.
Eventually, Chris Benoit and Rhyno, both armed with chairs, run down and clear the ring; as Heyman, Shelton, and Charlie are making their way back up the ramp, Benoit rears back and cracks Rhyno with the chair. After a slight pause, Team Angle and Heyman climb back into the ring, and continue beating on Brock, Angle, and Rhyno. Most of the focus is on Angle, only turning to bash Rhyno or Brock when they attempt to get up; it’s important that the beating Angle gets is much more severe, because you want to establish that Angle is actually going to need time off to recover from the attack, while you’re just trying to build heat with the other two.
Heyman grabs a mic, and, with Benoit, Shelton, and Charlie surrounding him, proclaims “Now THAT’S… a contingency plan!”
Fade out on the four men standing tall amongst the carnage, with the announcers playing it up like they’re calling JFK’s assassination.
3-20-03 "Smackdown"
The show opens with a video-package of the previous week’s events.
As the show starts, Benoit, Heyman, Team Angle (decked out in Red and White tights adorned with maple leaves), Spanky, and O’Haire come down to the ring for a promo. Heyman gets on the mic: “WHY?” Why? Why, Benoit? Why? Why Charlie? Why Shelton? Why? I’ll tell you why. Kurt Angle… oh, he’s the greatest ever. That’s all you ever hear, Kurt Angle is the greatest ever. Lemme tell you something, the ‘greatest ever’ wouldn’t have lost to that nobody Brock Lesnar – hey, there’s a REASON I dropped HIM as a client. The ‘greatest ever’ wouldn’t have sat on the side-lines while the guys he was SUPPOSED TO BE COACHING were out doing his dirty-work. The ‘greatest ever’ wouldn’t have gotten his ass kicked by a guy who DOESN’T EVEN WORK FOR THE COMPANY!” Paul turns to Kendrick, “Good job, kid.” Kendrick accepts the congrats. Paul: “…we’re done with you.” Team Angle beats down Kendrick, while O’Haire just kinda backs away with his hands in the air, as if to say “Hey, I’m not getting involved.” Kendrick rolls out of the ring, while O’Haire shakes hands with Heyman, then follows Kendrick out of the ring and helps him to the back.
Paul continues: “You want to know who a REAL ‘greatest ever’ is? It’s THIS MAN! THIS is a man who does his OWN work. THIS is a man who has beaten the very best in the industry. And THIS is a man who has beaten Kurt Angle, not just once, but on SEVERAL OCCASIONS!” But you still wanna know ‘why’?” WHY, Benoit, did you do what you did last week?”
Benoit takes the mic: “Why, Paul? WHY? You wanna know why? It’s cuz I’m so sick and tired of being over-looked! I hear about how great Kurt Angle is, I hear about how great Brock Lesnar is, and I hear about how those two are gonna put on the greatest match ever at Wrestlemania. BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? I’M the pre-eminent technical-wrestler by which all others are judged by, and I’M the one that has beaten Kurt Angle so many times. How many times has Kurt Angle had to resort to cheating to beat me? WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?! Kurt Angle has to cheat to beat me, and Brock Lesnar takes pride in beating a manager, and you’re gonna tell me THOSE TWO are better than I am? HOW DARE YOU say I’m not on their level! How DARE you?? So why did I do what I did? Cuz I finally found some people that APPRECIATE ME! Paul Heyman knew who the TRUE ‘greatest ever’ was: ME! That’s why he dumped those two, and took me on as a client. Charlie and Shelton knew who the TRUE ‘greatest ever’ was: ME! That’s why they wanted ME to teach them, cuz they know I’m someone worth learning from! So why did I do what I did? Because I was SICK and TIRED of not being appreciated! How many times have I been thiiis close to winning the title, only to get screwed out of it? Brock, I’m comin’ after you, cuz everything is finally coming together for ol’ Chris Benoit; he’s finally getting a little respect, and it’s about damn time.” Benoit’s music cues, and we go to commercial.
45 minutes into the show: Brock Lesnar comes out, and cuts a very short, simple promo. “Benoit, get your ass out here NOW!” Benoit’s music hits, and he comes out, flanked by Heyman and “Team Benoit”. They make their way into the ring, but before anything can happen, Stephanie’s music hits. Steph comes out and announces that, due to the events of last week, Angle will be forced to sit out with injuries, and that Brock will need a new opponent at WM. She also says that, while she was originally going to suspend Benit for his actions, seeing as how they need a new main-event, and how badly Brock wants to get his hands on Benoit, the NEW WM main-event will be Brock/Benoit, for Brock’s title. HOWEVER, they will be forbidden to lay a finger on each other until their match, and that extends to Charlie, Shelton, and Heyman; if that rule is violated, then they will be replaced in the WM title-match. Steph then leaves, with the rest still standing in the ring. Benoit then starts taunting Brock, doing the old grade-school “I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you” bit. Brock, with his own mic, then responds, “I might not be able to… but these guys can!” Rhyno and Kendrick, armed with chairs, storm the ring, and get a few licks in on all three, but nothing serious. Go to commercial.
Stephanie revises the “zero contact” rule to now apply to Rhyno and Kendrick, too.
Later, “Team Benoit” – sporting spiffy new white and red track-suits – has a non-title match against the FBI, only for Rhyno and Kendrick to distract them, leading to a fluke win for the FBI.
Brock has a non-title match that night, but Benoit appears on the Tron, going through Brock’s things in the locker-room and stumbling upon his NCAA ring; the distraction leads to Brock getting counted-out.
3-27-03 "Smackdown"
Team Benoit distract Rhino and Kendrick (who is now an “honorary” part of the roster), and Brock one-ups Benoit.
WRESTLEMANIA XIX
WWE Title: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Chris Benoit
Smackdown Tag Titles: The World’s Greatest Tag-Team (c) vs. Rhyno and Kendrick
Rhyno-Kendrick - Rhyno-Kendrick win the tag titles.
Brock/Benoit - The match plays out cleanly; no runs-ins, no low-blows, etc. At the end, Brock and Benoit trade finishers back and forth, with both kicking at two, including Benoit kicking out of an F-5. Seeing as Benoit has taken everything he threw at him, Brock debuts the Shooting-Star; just as he hits it, and the conclusion seems foregone, Heyman jumps on the apron, distracting the ref. Brock goes after Paul, beating him up for a bit, which allows Benoit time to recover; with the ref distracted, Benoit catches Brock in the neck (to go with the running “neck injury” motif), which Brock sells the hell out of. Benoit quickly locks him into the Crossface, and, after fighting valiantly, Brock eventually taps out.
