FIT Challenge Slag People
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OCTOBER 9, 2003 - SmackDown!
The last edition of SmackDown! before No Mercy kicks off with a triple-threat tag team match that should help determine these teams' placement in the rankings for a shot at the Dangerous Alliance's WWE Tag Team Titles. It's the former champion Basham Brothers against another set of former champions the World's Greatest Tag Team against the Full-Blooded Italians. Doug Basham and Chuck Palumbo start the match. A series of quick tags between the FBI keeps Doug isolated. Punch, kick, neckbreaker, spear, clothesline in the corner. Doug is being pounded. He manages to tag in Danny, who hits a big knee on Palumbo. Chuck tags in Charlie Haas. Haas nails Danny with a kick, so he tags in Johnny Stamboli. Haas spears him and tags Shelton Benjamin into the match. Shelton hits a shoulder slam, and The Bull tags in Danny Basham. Danny hits a piledriver for two, but Shelton kicks out and tags Haas back in. Big DDT, followed by Haastruction, and WGTT pick up the big win!
Two former stars of the Attitude Era looking to reclaim their former glory go one-on-one next as Rikishi takes on Billy Gunn. Billy takes advantage early, but Rikishi fires back with a series of punches and a big kick. Billy impresses the crowd with a powerslam, but can only get two. Rikishi again kicks out after a spinebuster. Billy hits some kicks, but Rikishi hits a big suplex and clothesline to set up for the Rikishi Driver.
The Backstage Bullies look to rebound from a controversial loss to the Dangerous Alliance last week, as they team with Edge to take on Tajiri, Akio, and Sakoda from Kyo Dai. Akio and Hardcore Holly start the match. Akio controls the start of the match and tags in Sakoda. A couple of big suplexes from the largest member of Tajiri's mafia, then a tag to get Akio back in. Big double backdrop on Holly, then a suplex from Akio. Akio charges into the corner, but eats a boot. Holly tags in Edge. Edge hits a big shoulder tackle, then a slam. Tag to Bradshaw, who unloads on Akio with a headbutt and a bodyslam. Akio manages to tag in Tajiri, who unleashes a series of kicks. Holly takes Tajiri down, and the Buzzsaw looks hurt! Holly pulls him up for a powerbomb, but Tajiri punches him in the face and lands atop him for the three count! What? The replay shows that when Tajiri was seemingly writhing on the mat, he was actually wrapping a chain around his fist!
After the match, as Holly is being helped to his feet, he requests a microphone and calls out Tajiri for a match at No Mercy! That... is going to be stiff.
Up next it's our first semifinal match to determine a #1 contender for Billy Kidman's Cruiserweight Title. Shannon Moore takes on Chavo Guerrero next. Chavo starts off with strikes, a dropkick, a DDT, and a legsweep. Shannon fights back with a neckbreaker and a rana. In the end, Moore fails to capitalize on a big dropkick, and Chavo capitalizes with a brainbuster. He's going to No Mercy!
Our other semifinal match pits Rey Mysterio against the debuting Carlito! We've been hearing big things about this second-generation star. They trade kicks to start, then Carlito hits a face jam. Rey blocks a suplex attempt, then hits one of his own. More fast-paced action leads to Rey hitting the West Coast Pop for the victory. Afterwards, Rey extends his hand to the youngster, who takes it... and takes him down with a cheap shot! Carlito locks on an inverted Figure-Four! He gets up and leaves Rey lying.
Stephanie McMahon makes it official. At No Mercy, it's Rey Mysterio vs. Chavo Guerrero for a shot at Billy Kidman's Cruiserweight Title!
The Dangerous Alliance (A-Train and Matt Morgan) come to the ring for the first time as WWE Tag Team Champions as they take on Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero in a non-title match. Benoit and Morgan start the match, and the giant Morgan leads off with some hard right hands. Tag to A-Train, and they hit a double clothesline. A-Train lands another big punch on Benoit, but Benoit slips out of his grasp and hits a powerbomb! Two count only, and a tag to Guerrero. Eddie dropkicks Train down and heads to the top rope. Frogsplash only gets knees, and Morgan tags back in. Morgan brawls with Eddie, who tags in Benoit. Morgan hits a big suplex. The referee is still trying to get Eddie out of the ring, when Rhyno appears out of nowhere! Gore! Gore! GOOOOOOOOOOORE! Morgan covers Benoit and gets the three. Afterwards, though, Benoit and Eddie get some revenge and fight off the champions, clearing the ring.
Up next, it's John Cena hoping to continue his momentum heading into his big showdown with Sean O'Haire at No Mercy against Chris Kanyon. Kanyon gets in a surprising amount of offense against Cena throughout the match, but Cena winds up laying him out with an FU. Before he can go for the cover, though, O'Haire hits the ring and lands the Prophecy! The referee sees it and calls for the bell. O'Haire and Kanyon try to beat Cena down, but the enraged Doctor of Thuganomics winds up taking both men out!
It's an Unforgiven rematch as Undertaker takes on Big Show. Show picked up a surprising clean victory over the American Bad Ass, and UT is looking for revenge. Like their Unforgiven match, this one wasn't all that impressive technically. Lots of brawling. The ending is different this time, though, as Show's Dangerous Alliance stablemate Billy Kidman takes Undertaker out with a Shooting Star Press to allow Show to pick up the win. However, like in our last match, the double team only angers the babyface, as UT takes both his rival and his diminuitive partner down.
Our main event is another rematch from Unforgiven. That night, Kurt Angle picked up a DQ victory after Big Show interfered, allowing Brock Lesnar to retain the WWE Title. These two pull out all the stops as soon as the bell rings. Chop from Angle, jawbreaker and a forearm from Lesnar. Big time spinebuster from the Next Big Thing only gets two. Angle fights back with an elbow and a lariat. Angle picks Lesnar up for a huge delayed brainbuster! Only gets two, though. Lesnar hits a big spear, but misses an elbow drop. While he's down, Angle clamps on the Angle Lock! Lesnar is in the middle of the ring! He tries to roll out of it, but Angle holds on. Lesnar tries to kick him away, but Angle holds on! Perhaps realizing that by continuing the match, he's possibly jeopardizing his future as WWE Champion, Lesnar taps out! Angle gets up to celebrate, but Lesnar is quickly back on his feet and lands a thunderous F5!
The card for No Mercy has been set. The WWE Title is on the line in a fatal fourway pitting the champion Brock Lesnar against the United States Champion Big Show, Undertaker, and the man who now holds a clean submission victory over the champion Kurt Angle! Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero do battle to determine the top contender for Billy Kidman's Cruiserweight Title! John Cena will once again try to take out his rival Sean O'Haire! Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno - and is Rhyno now involved with the Dangerous Alliance? Hardcore Holly vs. Tajiri! You don't want to miss No Mercy this Sunday on pay-per-view!
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