Welcome back to 2002 and SmackDown! After one of the worst RAW’s I’ve ever watched, this weeks SmackDown can’t be any worse. Right? So far, in my Ruthless Aggression journey, SmackDown has been miles ahead of the red brand and with the return of The Rock this week I’m not expecting any different. With Vengeance fast approaching we now know that The Undertaker will defend his championship against Kurt Angle and The Rock in a match that could be incredible.

The show starts off with Michael Cole and Taz welcoming us to the show announcing our main event: The Undertaker and John Cena versus Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho. We’re beginning tonight’s show in Atlantic City with Edge and Hulk Hogan defending their newly won tag team championships against the former champions Billy and Chuck.

WWE World Tag Team Championships
Edge & Hulk Hogan (c) v Billy & Chuck

Summary: A rematch from last week, not sure they needed to do it straight away but that’s my newly dubbed RA (Ruthless Aggression) logic for you. Edge and Chuck start; punches to Edge’s midsection are countered by a forearm and a spinning kick by the champ. Billy runs into a Hogan right hand after trying to interfere. Chuck works on Edge in the corner with shoulders and kicks before stomping the champion down. Right hands from Edge before a suplex from Chuck that gets a two count.

Billy is in now as Chuck lands punches on Edge behind the refs back, a bodyslam and a elbow drop get another two count for the challengers before Edge is tossed out of the ring receiving a cheapshot from the challengers manager Rico. Another two count before Chuck locks in a chin lock, Edge’s fightback is halted before a big DDT allows Edge to make the tag to Hogan who unloads with right hands and the big boot on both men before Rico stops the leg drop, eating a spear for his troubles. Hogan kicks out of Billy Gunn’s Famouser as Hogan Hulks up. Right hands, Big boot, spear to Chuck and a leg drop on Billy gets the three count and the win.

Winners and STILL World Tag Team Champions Edge & Hulk Hogan

Stitch’s Rating: 5.5/10. Very much the same kind of match as last week, Edge gets beaten down makes the tag and Hogan saves the day. Not bad but not a fan of Hogan matches in general (in any era) this will only do so much for me so seeing the same match last week brings this down. However this was a match above five minutes which RAW didn’t do till the main event so I’ll take my wins where I can get them with that in mind I’m bumping my rating to 5.5.

Backstage Taker is waiting for The Rock, Cena arrives to thank the champ for being his partner tonight. Taker doesn’t give a damn about Cena or the tag match he just wants The Rock. Cena sulks away after Taker threatens to kick his ass too. After a Torrie Wilson photoshoot we’re back with Undertaker who is being told by Finlay and other backstage producers to leave the parking lot. A car arrives but it’s not the Rock its Jericho and Angle who end up brawling after Jericho calls Taker the UnderTaller. McMahon breaks it up and finally gets Taker to leave the parking lot.

Undertaker marches into the locker room before giving John Cena a bollocking for not helping him with Angle and Jericho, he asks if Cena has his back whilst doing some more shouty man shenanigans.

WWE Women’s Championship
Molly Holly (c) v Torrie Wilson

Summary: This match comes from Molly Holly crashing Torrie Wilson’s photoshoot. Torrie unloads quickly with bodyslams and kicks, Molly struggles for momentum until a drop toe hold on the rope drops the challenger. A swinging neckbreaker from Torrie gets a two count before a suplex from Molly also gets a two count. Molly hits a powerbomb before locking in a Indian Deathlock getting the shoulders down for a three count.

Winner and STILL Women’s Champion Molly Holly

Stitch’s Rating: N/A. A squash match that was okay as far as squash matches go but nothing really else to say. Another title defence for Molly who’s doing some good stuff with a ridiculous gimmick here.

Backstage the Rock arrives to a huge pop.

Batista & Reverend D-Von v Randy Orton & Mike Henry

Summary: We’re back to our weekly edition of Randy Orton finding a partner to try and beat D-von and Batista, can Orton finally get a win? No, no chance.

Orton and D-von start with Batista distracting Orton allowing D-von to take control; Orton gets some shots in with a right hand and dropkicks before Batista hangs him on the ropes. Batista tags in and continues his weekly beating of Orton with punches and a huge body slam. Batista goes for an elbow drop but misses, a kick to Batista’s face connects once but not twice. Orton is able to make a tag after Batista goes flying into the ring post. D-von and Henry are in now, the later hits a splash in the corner before throwing D-von into a Randy Orton cross body which I have to say was pretty awesome. Henry takes down both Batista and D-von before getting planted by Batista with a Samoan drop. A spinebuster to Henry gets Batista another win.

Winners Batista & Reverend D-von

Stitch’s Rating: 6. Whilst we’ve seen these tag matches every week this was okay, Henry provided a different dynamic and Batista continues to look great in the matches. The matches are doing what they are aiming to in building Batista and Orton whilst giving us something watchable. The Crossbody spot from Orton was also incredible.

Backstage Edge is talking with Hogan as they plan to go gambling, Hogan does his spiel before Rock enters behind him. Rock interrupts Hogan mocking the Rock and the Rock goes off in typical Rock way about cuckoo land. It’s usual Rock awesomeness. He congratulates them for their win before promising to take care of business. The Rock mimics Hogans bragging behind him before leaving to greet us.

The Rock arrives to a mental pop, even for the Rock, he hits all his catchphrases before welcoming himself back to his show. Rocky chants ensue as he gets down to business. The Rock tells Taker to continue running his mouth as he will take his title; he calls out The Undertaker telling him to just bring it but Kurt Angle arrives instead. Angle tells The Rock that he shouldn’t worry about Taker, he should worry about him, he brags about being on a roll detailing everyone he beat recently (which is Taker and Hogan) before telling Rock he will take great pleasure in making The Rock’s candy ass tap too.

The Rock takes some time to figure out what’s different about Angle since he last saw him, he questions who Angle is, mocking Angle for everything from his attire to his cologne. Rock asks what the A stands for on his attire with the crowd replying Asshole. The Rock sings somebody got a haircut before likening Angle to Dr Evil. Angle calls Rock yesterdays news before saying SmackDown is Angle’s show. He says Rock thinks he’s great for winning teen choice awards but Angle claims teens queue round the block for his autograph which is hilarious. When asked how much Rock thinks Angle’s autograph costs Rock responds with his best Dr Evil impression of ‘one million dollars’ which is just perfect.

Angle calls Rock a child and challenges the Rock to a one on one match next week on SmackDown which Rock accepts. Rock and Angle start brawling with Rock making Angle tap with the ankle lock before Taker arrives and choke slams both men. This promo was brilliant as you would expect, Angle and Rock at their best here.

Rikishi v Test

Summary: Before the match we recap the Anti Americans interrupting Lillian Garcia singing America the Beautiful for July 4th. Test will take on Rikishi after costing him a match with Lance Storm last week. Storm and Christian are on commentary.

Rikishi goes straight for Test early on throwing the Canadian into the steel steps, back in the ring Test hits a huge clothesline as Christian and Storm rant about America on commentary. Rikishi hits a belly to belly suplex before Storm and Christian get involved. A huge slam gets a two count before the super kick floors Test, a samoan drop finishes Test.

Winner Rikishi

Stitch’s Rating: N/A. Another squash in a silly story where Rikishi is just kind of there, barely went two minutes but at least Rikishi won this time.

The Anti Americans beat down Rikishi till Edge and then eventually Hulk Hogan make the save for what I assume will be a tag match next week.

Backstage Chris Jericho interrupts Vince McMahon and Stacy Keibler. Vince convinces Jericho to step out of his match at Vengeance so Hogan and Edge can defend their titles agaimst Test and Christian, Jericho agrees and Vince says he will make it up to him. Hope we get this match at some point because they could do something brilliant.

We recap the NWO’s threat to Triple H before Michael Cole and Taz confirm Kevin Nash tore his Quadricep muscle. We’ll see where we go with the NWO on RAW.

Billy Kidman & The Hurricane v Jamie Noble & Tajiri

Summary: Welcome to Cruiserweight Corner!! This follows a segment where Jamie Noble and Nidia were out in Atlantic city with Tajiri providing some comic relief. The story is that Nidia used to date Hurricane but she turned on him for Noble.

Noble starts with a punch to Hurricane who isn’t even legal, before Kidman sends Noble flying into a powerbomb from Hurricane who tags in following up with a kick. Tajiri breaks the pin up before Noble hits a pump handle slam. Tajiri hits a low kick to Hurricanes face before getting kicked out of the air by the former Cruiserweight champ. Kidman hits a backbreaker on Noble but Tajiri breaks it up once more. Noble then takes out his own partner with a Tope before Hurricane takes out both Tajiri and Noble with a dive. Nidia crotches Kidman on the top rope but he still manages to hit a top rope spinebuster for the win.

Winners The Hurricane and Billy Kidman

Stitch’s Rating: N/A. A quick Cruiserweight match that gave Kidman a win over the champ if nothing else. It was okay, not a bad squash with them finding some time for some nice spots. Didn’t hate this one and at least there was bit of a story in there.

The Rock is furious backstage, he’s questioned why he is still here and he mocks Mark Lloyd, the interviewer, for a bit before pushing him out of frame. The Rock says after what happened earlier he won’t be going anywhere, he promises to keep a close eye on the main event whilst promising to win at Vengeance.

Rey Mysterio is still coming but this week we have a date!! Rey Mysterio will arrive on Smackdown in two weeks! Booyaka!

Chris Jericho & Kurt Angle v John Cena & The Undertaker

Summary: Taker starts with Jericho, he goes straight for Angle but this allows Jericho to get in a cheap shot and begin hammering down on the champ. This goes well until Taker hits him with a big clothesline. Cena is tagged in but gets double teamed by the heels, running into Jericho’s elbow, Angle goes for a spear but goes flying into the ring post before Jericho gets hit with a DDT. Jericho responds with a jumping dropkick off the top rope for the two count as Cena gets worked on by the heels. Angle’s in and hits a suplex, Cena gets caught in another suplex as Jericho tags back in. A kick to the neck from Jericho keeps Cena away from Taker as Taker looks angry on the apron.

Taker starts cheerleading on the apron as Cena fights back against Angle, a sideslam opens a door for the rookie who finally makes the tag. Taker is in unloading on both Jericho and Angle with snake eyes. Jericho saves Angle from a chokeslam and Angle hits an Olympic slam. Jericho is legal and makes the pin but Taker kicks out at two!! Taker tags in Cena who clotheslines Angle out of the ring, a spinebuster gets Cena a two count before Jericho hits a bulldog. Taker blocks the lionsault with a right hand before Cena rolls up Jericho for the win!

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. An enjoyable main event which shockingly went just over six minutes probably due to the Rock promos throughout the night. The match was enjoyable in the time they had and Cena beating Jericho was a huge decision to make booking wise. I didn’t hate this and it was definitely better than the RAW main event.

After the match Jericho attacks Cena, he throws Cena out of the ring but turns into a big kick from Taker. Angle hits the champ with an Angle Slam before trying an Angle lock but Taker reverses eventually getting in a Guillotine choke. The Rock arrives landing a Rock Bottom on Taker before being attacked by Angle, but Rocky fires back with right hands before handing out a Rock Bottom to Kurt. Rock stands tall to end the show.

Final Rating: 6/10. A solid show that focused around the Vengeance main event and The Rocks return. All these promos were brilliant with the highlight being The Rock and Angles verbal joust early on. Angry Taker was also awesome just running around being angry and the matches tonight were fine enough to compliment the main attractions which was Taker, Angle and Rock. A good but not great show that provided a enjoyable watch and builds well to Vengeance.