411’s WWE Vengeance Report 07.28.03

411’s WWE Vengeance Report 07.27.03
Live From Denver, CO
Exclusive 411 Report by Chris Pankonin

-Opening Videos & Pyro

-We’re kicking right off the bat with the U.S. Title Tournament Finals!

Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero

Prior to the match, the referee does a boxing-like rule rundown, demanding no hair pulling or closed fists. The U.S. Title actually looks a little cooler than it did in all the graphics, but still different. After a little dancing around Benoit and Guerrero do a test of strength, with Benoit getting the initial advantage. Eddie cries, but breaks free with a few low kicks to the groin. Eddie takes the early advantage, working over the chest with a long series of chops. Eddie goes for a legscissors, but Benoit reverses and both men exchange rollup pin attempts for two counts. After more scrapping, Benoit bails to the outside to regroup. After a brief breather, both men go to the mat attack again, with Eddie taking advantage applying several different headlocks. Benoit tries a reverse flip to break out, but Eddie goes right back to work applying yet another headlock. Benoit eventually breaks up and both men nearly attempt tombstone piledrivers, with Benoit getting the eventual advantage and hitting a shoulderbreaker. Benoit then goes right after Eddie with the Crossface! Eddie escapes and dives to the outside, and Benoit goes right on the attack flying between the ropes and directly onto Eddie. Benoit is firmly in control as he throws Guerrero back into the ring and hits a couple of body slams. With Eddie prone, Benoit locks in a half nelson. Benoit voluntarily breaks the hold and hits several chops on Guerrero. Eddie gets whipped into the corner, Benoit charges, but Eddie blocks with an elbow! Eddie quickly hits a headscissors off the corner turnbuckle, covers and gets a two count. Crowd loudly chants for Benoit, as Eddie glares at the Denver crowd. WWE is having technical problems, with the camera fading in and out, including one shot of the arena outside. The coverage recovers with Eddie applying an armbar to Benoit. Eddie breaks the hold and both men exchange chops, with Eddie poking Benoit in the eye, knocking the Wolverine to the ground temporarily. Benoit seems to virtually “Hulk Up” attacking Eddie quickly with a series of chops, eventually ending in an attempt at the German Suplex, but Eddie blocks. Benoit continues to chop, and shoves Eddie into the turnbuckle. Benoit climbs and hits a German Suplex off the top rope! Both men are out as the referee and crowd do the ten count, which reaches seven before Benoit drapes an arm over Guerrero for a two count. Both Eddie and Benoit slowly climb to their feet, with Benoit up first, hitting two German suplexes in a row. Eddie blocks the third, but Benoit powers Eddie into the Crossface! The crowd comes to life as Eddie manages to get his left foot on one of the ropes, forcing Benoit to break the hold. Benoit goes for a cover and gets a two count. Benoit attempts a suplex, but Eddie blocks and hits a suplex of his own, but not just one, but three, with the final being a top rope superplex! The move takes the air out of both men, but Eddie is the first up, and goes to the top rope. The crowd comes alive once again as Eddie attempts the Frog Splash, but Benoit rolls out of the way. Following the miss Benoit hits a powerbomb, yes a powerbomb! Cover by Benoit but only a two count. Benoit applies the Crossface again, but Eddie quickly gets to the ropes, but Benoit refuses to break the hold. Benoit eventually breaks the hold, but argues with the referee, allowing Guerrero to shove Benoit into the referee, knocking both men down and allowing Eddie to get to the outside and grab the U.S. Belt, which he pastes over Benoit’s head. Eddie goes upstairs again and connects with the Frog Splash! The referee slowly rolls over, 1-2-kickout by Benoit! Eddie is in disbelief, and goes back to the outside of the ring, grabs the belt, and pastes the referee behind his back with the belt, tossing the evidence on the top of Benoit as Eddie plays dead. Eddie continues to play dead, but the referee won’t come to, so Eddie shakes him, but no response! While Eddie tries to recover the referee, Benoit recovers and hits the Crossface, Eddie taps but no referee! Benoit hits another German, and signals for the headbutt. The referee slowly comes to and tries to get rid of the belt, but Benoit is in mid-flight and lands on the referee. Here comes Rhyno, he sets up for the gore and hits Benoit! Rhyno spits on Benoit and exits as Eddie looks confused, yet happy. Eddie hits the Frog Splash as the referee comes to, covers and becomes the New/First United States Champion of the WWE era in a fantastic match!

Winner: Eddie Guerrero

-Backstage, Vince is backstage smelling a large array of roses on a desk. Stephanie enters and Vince points out that even he stops to smell the roses sometimes. Vince goes on to say that he will confront Kane about what he did to Linda tomorrow night on RAW. Vince tells Stephanie he got her some flowers, but not the ones he was smelling, those were for Sable. Vince gives Stephanie a smaller, dried arrangement and leaves Steph to prepare for her match.

Billy Gunn vs. Jamie Noble

Jamie enters with a briefcase, apparently full of love oils and other toys for their big night Thursday on Smackdown. This apparently pisses Gunn off, who attacks Noble on the entrance ramp. The action quickly goes into the ring, but back to the outside, Gunn lands awkwardly on his knee, which Noble quickly goes to the attack on, applying a leg submission. Billy eventually powers out and connects with a “One & Only” out of nowhere to finally even up the matchup. The match does not stay even long, as Billy hits a modified suplex, followed by a Famouser attempt, which Noble dodges. Billy goes upstairs, but Noble is quick over to knock Billy into the turnbuckle pole. Noble goes upstairs and hits a top rope DDT! Noble covers, but Nidia puts Gunn’s foot on the ropes! Noble is shocked as he goes to the outside to confront Nidia, Torrie comes over to see what is going on, attempts to slap Noble, but Noble blocks it and plants a big kiss on Torrie! Noble gets back into the ring, exchanges some fists with Gunn, but Noble gets a rollup, grabs the tights and gets a three count! Noble Wins! Torrie is in shock as Noble bounces around as if he’s won the lottery. Nidia marches backstage in disgust as Billy consoles Torrie.

Winner: Jamie Noble

-Funaki is backstage with the APA, who offers him an invite to the invitational.

APA Invitational

The invitees are the FBI, Matt Hardy, Shannon Moore, Orlando Jones, Spanky, Easter Bunny, Doink, Brother Love, Basham Brothers, Sean O’Haire, The Conquistadors, Matt and John from Tough Enough 3, Kanyon, Brooklyn Brawler, and of course, the APA. I’m not even going to attempt to play-by-play this. The last man drinking wins the match, testing limits and liver! “Some like beer and some like grass, understand in this bar we’re going to kick your ass!” says Bradshaw. Brother Love tries to start a prayer, rips on the APA, and hits a cheap chair shot on one of the Conquistadors to start the brawl. Sean O’ Haire hits a cheap shot on the Easter Bunny, the bastard! Funaki, the Bashams, and Hardy mostly stand around as O’Haire uses a pool cue to take out most of the others. The APA regroup and clean house, with the last other standing being Brother Love. Its pretty simple from now on, as the ref calls for the bell, with Bradshaw picking up the official victory for the APA.

Winner: Bradshaw

-Noble is backstage, sniffing Torrie’s Playboy, and bragging to some guy about finally getting the real deal this Thursday.

Kidman/Mysterio vs. The World’s Greatest Tag Team

Pretty even match to start as neither Benjamin or Mysterio get a noticeable advantage before tagging to their respective partners. Kidman gets the best of Haas, with Mysterio hitting an off the rope legdrop to give Kidman/Rey the first advantage of the match. The advantage doesn’t last long, with Haas making a tag to Benjamin. Shelton goes up against Mysterio, and takes the advantage by overpowering the Cruiserweight Champ. Benjamin goes for a powerbomb, but Rey counters into a hurricanrana, allowing a hot tag to Kidman, who cleans house, finishing with a “BK Bomb” on Haas for a two count. Kidman gets Haas in position for the 619, but Shelton blocks. After a little brawling both WGTT members are on the outside and dazed, allowing Kidman to hit a SHOOTING STAR OFF THE ROPES! Awesome, awesome move with a loud “Holy Shit” chant from the Denver crowd as Michael Cole quite possibly might have wet his pants with excitement. The move takes just as much out of Kidman as anyone else. Haas and Benjamin recover first and really work over Kidman inside the ring, exchanging tags, with both working over Kidman’s back. Kidman finally counters a Benjamin attack with a facebuster, allowing a dazed Kidman to make a hot tag to Mysterio, who cleans house on both Haas and Benjamin. Mysterio hits a springboard into a sunset flip for a two count, and immediately follows with a springboard into a DDT for a two count! Haas goes after Kidman, but Mysterio dropkicks him from behind, knocking him into the ropes, perfectly set up for the 619, which connects! Mysterio goes for the West Coast Pop, lands half of it, goes for the cover, but the referee is distracted, allowing Benjamin to make the save. Haas attacks Mysterio, but Mysterio counters with a chinbreaker, which knocks Haas into the ropes. Kidman gets inside and Mysterio gets flipped by Kidman into a hurricanrana, sweeeet double team move! Mysterio covers and gets a 2 15/16 count as the crowd explodes! The crowd actually chants “bullshit” after the long two count as Mysterio stays on the offense, but gets caught into an electric chair, Benjamin flips off the top rope, like a modified doomsday device, Benjamin covers and gets the pinfall, although Cole points out Shelton wasn’t the legal man, regardless, The World’s Greatest Tag Team retains in another awesome match. Tazz later points out in the replay that Shelton was in fact the legal man after a blind tag.

Winner: The World’s Greatest Tag Team

-Damn, that match was TOUGH to do PBP on, very fast paced!

Sable vs. Stephanie McMahon

Stephanie is quick to the attack, as this “no count out” match quickly spills out into the crowd. After a little outside brawling, the match moves back to the ring with Sable getting the advantage, hitting a..drag..sort of move..for a two count. Sable breaks out her old gyratin’ moves over Sable’s prone body, she walks over to the referee but Steph lands a schoolgirl for a two count. Sable becomes more pissed, slapping and shaking Stephanie in the corner. After a Sable pounding, she runs into a Stephanie elbow, finally giving the GM her first advantage of the…match. Steph does the hairtoss and covers for a two count. Sable bails to the outside, but Steph is right on the attack and goes for a chair! Referee Brian Hebner steals the chair from Steph, but it doesn’t stop the attack as Steph continues to pound Sable with fists. Sable goes for a kick, but Steph blocks it, hangs on to the leg and hits the 437th slap of the contest. Steph continues on the attack, rubbing Sable’s face into the mat. Steph corners Sable in the turnbuckle and continues to pound away at Sable, who tries to escape but loses her top in the process! Sable tries to cover herself, but I think the shirt is in trouble! Hebner takes off his shirt to cover Sable, and in the process A-Train runs in and slams Stephanie! A-Train bails through the crowd as a covered Sable crawls over to Steph and covers for the win.

Winner: Sable

-Video package of Cena/Taker

John Cena vs. The Undertaker

Cena starts the match with a cheap slap to the face of Taker, which obviously pisses the Dead Man off. Folowing the slap, Taker quickly puts a beatdown on Cena, which spills to the outside as the Dead Man slam’s Cena’s face off the guardrail several times. Cena grabs a sip of water that is sitting near ringside and spits it in Taker’s face, temporarily blinding Taker enough for Cena to get some cheap shots in, which don’t last long as Taker quickly regains control by slamming Cena into the turnbuckle pole. Taker gets in the ring to break the count, but goes right back outside and back to work on Cena. Taker throws Cena into the ring and drapes him along the edge, allowing Taker to hit a legdrop to the outside, choking Cena. Taker taunts Cena and continues to boot and elbow a prone Cena directly in the face. Taker slowly makes a cover and gets a two count, which doesn’t deter the Dead Man any as he continues to beat down Cena with no resistance whatsoever. Taker flings Cena to the outside, back in and hits the Old School, continuing to squash Cena as he goes for the Chokeslam, which connects. Taker slowly covers, but breaks his cover, apparently hes not finished squashing the best thing going on Smackdown. Taker goes for the last ride, but Cena breaks out and counters with a DDT! Both men are down, but Cena is the first up as he takes off a turnbuckle pad to a loud “Cena Sucks” chant. Once the pad is removed Cena goes back on the attack with several kicks to a downed Undertaker. Cena does some taunting and walking around, allowing Taker to recover and even up the match. Taker does the charging clothesline, knocking Cena down, Taker goes for another but Cena dodges and Taker runs into the exposed turnbuckle! Cena quickly goes to the attack and hits a chop block, knocking the Dead Man to the outside. Cena slowly goes after Taker, but gets greeted by a couple of fists when he finally gets there! Cena continues his attack, ramming Taker into the guard barricade and throwing him back into the ring. Taker is bleeding internally as Cena works over the midsection of a prone Undertaker. Cena rams Taker into the corner and rams his shoulder into Taker’s midsection several times as Taker continues to bleed internally. Cena goes against the ropes and Taker misses with a boot but lands with a clothesline evening the match as both are down. Cena continues to work over the ribs, but Taker counters and locks in the Dragon Sleeper, but Cena was near the ropes forcing Taker to break the hold. Cena hits a spinebuster out of nowhere and covers for a two count. Cena stays on the attack, continuing to work over the midsection, cover and another two count. Cena and Taker exchange fists with Taker getting the best of the series, whipping Cena in the ropes, Taker misses with a clothesline as Cena ducks, but not the second one, connecting with Cena, followed by a cover and a two count. Taker signals for the Tombstone, but Cena dodges out and gets Taker in position for the FU but Taker blocks out, knocks Cena down and connects with a leg drop. Taker covers and gets another two count. Cena backs into a corner and Taker continues to work him over, using a choke hold as the referee tries to force him to remove the hold, which he eventually does. The referee is distracted as Cena uses a chain to Taker’s gut! Cena regains control as he sizes up the downed Taker. Cena sets up for the FU and he connects! Cena covers and Taker kicks out at two! Cena is frustrated as he hammers down on Undertaker with fists, shoves him into the corner and continues to hammer Taker with fists. Cena stops to do the bullhorns but Taker pulls him out into a last ride! Taker covers and gets the win. Another good, brawl of a match.

Winner: The Undertaker

-Video Package of Zack Gowen

Zack Gowen vs. Mr. McMahon

Zack takes off his leg before the match starts. Cole points out that Gowen is weighing in at 159 lbs. Gowen goes on the attack, but McMahon counters with a go behind takedown. McMahon hits a hiptoss and a body slam to continue the attack on Gowen as McMahon says he’s enjoying the hell out of this. Gowen dodges out of another McMahon attack, but runs right into a clothesline. McMahon chokes Gowen in the corner as the crowd loudly chants “Asshole”. Gowen tries to elbow out, but McMahon continues to pound gowen in the corner. Gowen hits a couple of elbows and as McMahon goes for a clothesline he misses and Gowen flips him over the top rope! Gowen does a picture perfect Asai Moonsault to the outside onto McMahon! Gowen bounces from the first to the second rope and then jumps over onto McMahon with a legdrop. McMahon finally stops the attack by simply grabbing Zack’s leg. McMahon locks in a leg submission hold as Gowen tries to elbow and punch out. McMahon drops his knee several times into the leg of Gowen. McMahon continues to taunt and work over Zack’s leg for several minutes, including a half boston crab, which Gowen manages to break by getting into the ropes. Gowen finally gets into the match, dodging another McMahon attack and landing a dropkick! McMahon is downed as Gowen hits some fists, goes to the outside and drags both of Vince’s legs into the turnbuckle pole, right into the ever-famous “grapefruits!” Gowen continues to work over Vince’s knee in the pole. The referees count continues to count Zack out, making it to 9 before Zack breaks the count and continues to work over one leg of Vince. Gowen jumps to the top rope and connects with a bulldog. Gowen goes upstairs again, this time to the middle rope and lands a missle dropkick. Gowen hobbles over to ANOTHER turnbuckle and connects with a moonsault! Gowen covers and McMahon gets his foot on the rope after a two count. Vince rakes Zack’s eyes and goes to the outside and grabs a steel chair. McMahon slowly stalks Gowen with the chair, but the referee tries to take it away. McMahon shoves the ref out of the ring and in the process Gowen dropkicks the chair into McMahon’s face. With the referee still outside, Gowen pastes McMahon with a chair. Gowen goes upstairs to try and hit the moonsault, but he misses, allowing McMahon to roll over and get the pinfall.

Winner: Mr. McMahon

-Once Gowen gets to his feet, the Denver crowd gives him a standing ovation.

-Josh Matthews catches up with Eddie backstage, and asks him if his U.S. Title victory was tainted. Eddie says who needs enemies when you have friends like that? Eddie says that is the reason he has no friends, and that the U.S. Title is there to stay with him.

-Angle/Lesnar/Show Video Package

Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Big Show
No DQ WWE Championship Match

All three stare down to start, but Lesnar and Angle quickly team up to try and take down The Big Show, but Show flings Angle out of the ring and immediately hits a choke slam on Lesnar! Show covers and gets a two count before Angle sprints into the ring to break up the count. Angle tries to attempt a German Suplex, but obviously fails as Show elbows Angle in the head, knocking our Olympic Hero back a good six feet. Angle continues to try and bring down Show, and eventually gets the best of him, applying the Ankle Lock, but Show breaks the hold after only a few seconds, dodging out and immediately hitting Angle with a boot and leg drop for a two count. Lesnar finally returns to the ring and begins to try and work over The Big Show. Lesnar jumps to the second rope and hits a flying forearm to finally knock Show to the mat. Lesnar goes for the F-5 but Show elbows him right down and hits the Final Cut, but only gets a two count. Angle returns to the ring with a couple of trash can lid as he throws one to Lesnar as the two of them take turns batting show over the head with the lid. Angle and Lesnar try to continue their double team with a double suplex, but Show overpowers and hits a double suplex on Lesnar and Angle! Show goes for a double chokeslam, but Lesnar and Angle block and hit a double chokeslam on Show! Lesnar covers, but Angle pulls him off after a two count. Lesnar and Angle stare down and now the two of them go at it, Lesnar sets up and hits Angle with the F-5 out of nowhere! Angle rolls out of the ring as Lesnar now sizes up The Big Show. Lesnar gets him up and connects with an F-5 to show! Lesnar crawls over and covers and Angle pulls the referee out of the ring after a 2 count. Lesnar is pissed as he goes to the outside and begins to hammer on Angle, whipping him into the steps. Lesnar continues the attack, throwing him into the turnbuckle pole before resuming his attention to The Big Show. Lesnar runs into him off the ropes several times, but Show doesn’t budge and eventually nails Brock with a big clothesline. Show covers but gets only a two count. Kurt Angle is busted open on the outside as Big Show continues to dominate Lesnar with a series of headbutts and chops in the corner. Show lifts Lesnar to the top rope as Lesnar tries to fist out. Cole and Tazz point out the last time they were up there the ring collapsed. Angle distracts Show, allowing Lesnar to regroup as he hits a running powerbomb off the ropes on Show! Crowd chants Holy Shit for the second time tonight as Lesnar goes for the cover, after two Angle comes in and pastes Lesnar with a chair shot. Lesnar gets up and Angle hits him again directly over the head with another fierce chair shot. Lesnar gets knocked to the outside as Angle now begins chasing Show, and pasting him now a couple of times with a chair shot. Show goes to the outside and Angle tries for another shot, but Show lifts his boot, ramming Angle’s own chair into his face! Show preps the Spanish Announce table as he attempts to Chokeslam Angle through the table, but Angle dodges and hits the Angle Slam on Show right through the table! Both guys are out cold as Cole points out the match isn’t falls count anywhere, they’re going to have to win the match in the ring. Angle is the first up as both he and Lesnar climb back into the ring. Both Lesnar and Angle are bloodied as they slowly crawl towards each other, both rise to their feet and neither are walking steady. Angle is the first to attack with a barrage of fists, but Lesnar quickly fires back. Lesnar gets Angle up in the fireman’s carry for an F-5, but Angle grabs the rope for leverage and Brock flings Angle to the outside. Lesnar continues his attack outside of the ring as Angle recovers enough to flip Lesnar into the steps. Angle continues to shove Lesnar’s face into the steps before throwing Brock back into the ring. Brock attempts a punch, but misses and Angle locks in the German suplex, hitting one and holding on, Lesnar tries to power out but Angle hits another, flipping Lesnar a full 360 degrees! Angle covers and gets a two count. Angle puts down the straps as he sizes Lesnar up, kick to the gut and attempts an Angle slam, but Lesnar counters and lands a spinebuster! Lesnar covers and gets a very long two count. Lesnar locks in a gut-wrench submission, the same move he used to beat Hulk Hogan late last year points out our favorite color man Tazz. The referee checks the arm and gets the arm to drop twice, but before the third Show has climbed back into the ring and breaks the hold, and covers BOTH Lesnar and Angle! Show is back in business as he yells and signals for the chokeslam. Show hits the chokeslam on both Lesnar AND Angle! Show covers Lesnar but gets only a two count, so show immediately tries to cover Angle, but Lesnar breaks the hold. Angle and Lesnar get show out of the way and continue to work over each other. Lesnar tries to charge Angle in the corner but Angle dodges and Lesnar rams his shoulder into the post and Angle grabs the ankle for the ankle lock! Lesnar breaks out with the help of Show, but Angle immediately hits the Angle Slam out of nowhere! Angle covers Brock and gets the pinfall, NEW WWE CHAMPION!! Angle celebrates as he regains the title he lost at Wrestlemania.

Winner: Kurt Angle

-Hands down the BEST Pay-Per-View of 2003, order the replay if you missed it!