THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA
ARTICLE # 63
DECEMBER 24, 2002
Best of 2002 Part 2: Smackdown Excellence
Early in the brand extension, it became obvious that Smackdown would consistently blow Raw out of the water in terms of match quality. However, as the year approached, Smackdown really hit its stride and exceeded many expectations as a crew of great workers set new standards for excellence on WWE TV. Edge, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero, among others, produced great match after great match to the point that they were producing at least one great match almost every week on TV and at least one great match on every PPV. I considered only reviewing their "very" best matches from 2002, but came to the realization that I had to review nearly every excellent match they had (that I've seen) in 2002, if only to show just how many such matches there were.
5/28/02 (5/30/02 TV) Cage Match: Edge vs Kurt Angle
Angle applied a waistlock but Edge responded with elbows. Angle grabbed Edge's leg and Edge went for an enzuguiri but missed. Angle missed an elbowsmash but Edge missed a clothesline. Angle applied a headlock but Edge countered with a waistlock takedown. Angle applied a hammerlock on the mat but Edge slammed Angle once they reached their feet. Edge gave Angle a drop toehold. Angle landed some punches and elbowed Edge. Angle tried to ram Edge into the cage but Edge countered with an elbow and some punches. Edge gave Angle a leg lariat and tossed him into the cage. Edge missed a spear and crashed head first into the cage. Angle stomped Edge and rammed him into the corner. Angle punched and stomped Edge in the corner and suplexed him for a near fall. Angle applied a front facelock on the mat. Edge escaped with a couple punches. Edge missed a clothesline but caught Angle and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Edge climbed to the top rope, Angle went after him but Edge kicked him away. Edge gave Angle a top rope clothesline for a near fall. Angle fought back and gave Edge three consecutive German suplexes for a near fall. Angle reached for the door but Edge stopped him. Angle stomped Edge and rammed him into the cage three times. Angle landed some punches to Edge's bleeding forehead. Angle pulled Edge back by his hair and punched him again. Edge caught Angle off guard and catapulted him into the cage. Edge gave Angle an Edge-o-matic (inverted X factor) for a near fall. Edge landed a couple punches and backdropped Angle. Edge clotheslined Angle and gave him a half nelson face first slam for a near fall. Edge went for a cross bodyblock but took out the ref when Angle ducked. Angle German suplexed Edge and climbed the cage in the corner but Edge caught up to him. Edge gave Angle a back superplex, but actually flipped him and Angle landed front first on the mat in a spectacular spot. Edge climbed the cage but Angle grabbed his leg to stop him. Angle gave Edge a low blow and some punches, then gave him a great top rope Angle slam. Angle climbed out of the cage but Hulk Hogan came out and rammed him into the cage three times. Hogan threw Angle back into the cage through the door. Angle gained a dramatic near fall after a commercial break. During the break, Edge had speared Angle for a great near fall. Angle missed a spear and crashed head first into the turnbuckles. Edge gave Angle his own Angle slam for a heated near fall. Angle tripped Edge and applied an ankle lock. Edge did a great counter where he rolled out of it and in the process pushed Angle into the cage. Edge applied his own ankle lock but Angle rolled out of it and kicked him away. Angle stopped Edge from approaching the door to escape and in the process Edge became entangled by his leg in the middle rope. Angle stomped Edge. Angle climbed over the cage but Edge caught him at the last second and twice rammed his head into the cage. In one of the neater crotch spots you'll ever see, Angle staggered, fell and crotched himself on the top of the cage door. Edge pulled Angle back into the cage and tossed him off the top rope to the mat. Edge then hit a top rope spear for the pin. About 14:30 aired on TV, and some was edited out of the broadcast. Too bad they edited out some great material, I guess they hadn't yet perfected their technique of editing matches for TV. The previous night Rob Van Dam and Eddy Guerrero produced the Raw TV match of the year in an outstanding and memorable ladder match. Seeing this match three days later, it seemed pretty clear this was the better match. Sounds like this was almost as great as their April and May PPV efforts, but I haven't yet seen them. Still, this was a sensational match, one of the best TV matches of the year and an early indication of the great run of in-ring work the Smackdown division would churn out in the coming months. At this time, Smackdown TV shows were regularly "good", but hadn't yet established their core group of great talent, nor allowed long matches on a weekly basis. This match showed that Angle and Edge were the go-to guys in this roster and they set the tone for the series of great matches they would contribute to in the second half of 2002. Except for a few brief slow spots, great action from bell to bell. They busted out big moves rather early, maybe too early for some tastes, before they would move into the main storyline of the match, which was Edge's bleeding. Therefore, it made sense to do several big moves and near falls early before they became too "tired". Angle's work attacking the wound was strong as was Edge's selling. Very good mix of climb-and-fall escape attempts and near falls. Fans really got into the near falls in the second half and there were some great last-instant pin escapes. Hogan's interference took away from the match a tad, but not too much because they worked several more minutes leading to the finish. The finish itself was spectacular, so sharp in fact that Edge injured his shoulder doing the top rope spear. Outstanding match in that IMO it holds up well on repeated viewings. Oh yeah, this was also the best cage match of the year, counting the many variations the WWE employed. ****1/4
7/23/02 (7/25/02 TV) Cage Match: Edge vs Chris Jericho
Jericho was on offense once they began footage following a commercial. "During the break" Jericho grabbed a chair at ringside but the ref tried to take it away from him, and Edge knocked the cage door into Jericho with a baseball slide kick. Back to "live" action: Edge gave Jericho a flapjack slam and some punches. Jericho reached for the door but Edge pulled him back in. Jericho elbowed and punched Edge. Jericho rammed Edge into the corner and kicked him. Jericho whipped Edge into the opposite corner but Edge came back with a clothesline. Edge chopped Jericho twice. He whipped Jericho into the corner but Jericho alertly jumped to the top rope and tried to climb out of the cage. Edge caught up to him but Jericho kicked him to the mat. Edge then pulled Jericho off the top rope to the mat by his tights. Edge stomped, punched and chopped Jericho. Jericho telegraphed a backdrop and Edge kicked him hard, and Jericho ended up with his arms tied up in the ropes ala Andre the Giant. Edge gave Jericho a spear but missed a second and Jericho shoved him into the cage. Jericho rammed Edge into the cage twice and punched him. Edge began to bleed as Jericho kicked his head in the corner. Jericho grinded Edge's head into the cage and choked him. Jericho pounded on Edge in the ropes and gained a near fall. Jericho chopped Edge twice but Edge fought back with chops of his own. Jericho whipped Edge into the corner but ran into a boot. Edge missed a clothesline and Jericho gave him a sleeper slam for a near fall. Jericho tied up Edge in the ropes by his arms and landed some punches. Jericho missed a spear when Edge freed himself and Jericho crashed into the cage. Edge clotheslined Jericho twice and gave him a flying forearm. Edge gave Jericho a half nelson slam for a near fall but missed a dropkick. Jericho went for a lionsault but crashed onto Edge's knees. Edge gave Jericho an Edge-o-matic for a near fall. Edge climbed the cage but Jericho caught up to him with punches. Edge countered a superplex but punches and gave Jericho a great top rope front suplex for a near fall. Edge kicked Jericho and went for his Edgecution but Jericho countered and took down Edge. Jericho went for the walls of Jericho, Edge countered, but Jericho then catapulted him into the cage. Jericho nearly escaped through the door before Edge grabbed his leg and pulled him back in. Jericho grabbed a chair and hit Edge in the head with it for a near fall. Jericho missed a chairshot and Edge speared him for a near fall. Edge climbed the cage but Jericho caught up to him and gave him a great top rope bulldog. Jericho climbed the cage but Edge caught him at the last second and pulled him back in by his hair. Edge then gave Jericho an electric chair superplex. Edge climbed the cage as Jericho reached for the door, but Edge touched the floor first to win the match. About 13:10 aired on TV. If this match took place today, it would seem like "just another excellent match", but when it happened it was really something special because of how rare great TV matches were. This was a grudge match stemming from Jericho attacking Edge and his injured shoulder in a previous angle. As a grudge match this was as great as one could ask for in a TV match, with both men working to their potential. Of course Jericho didn't have as strong a chemistry with Edge in the ring, nor was/is Jericho a Kurt Angle-caliber worker. Like the Edge-Angle cage match, this had an ideal mix of climb-and-fall spots and near falls. Where this match falls short is that it had fewer dramatic spots or great near falls. The pacing was just as smart and effective, just with less spectacular work. Probably the weakest match in this article, which speaks volumes. ****
9/22/02 (WWE Unforgiven): Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit
Their lockup at the start was intense and both men fell out of the ring. Angle took down Benoit and dominated a great quick, intense mat sequence. Benoit maneuvered around and went for his crippler crossface but Angle reached the ropes. Angle took Benoit down by his leg and applied a waistlock, flipping Benoit over a couple times with the hold to maintain the advantage. Angle went for an ankle lock but Benoit reached the ropes. Benoit applied a top wristlock but Angle countered with a hammerlock. Benoit snapmared Angle but Angle maintained the hammerlock in a neat spot. They traded armringers and Angle applied a headlock. Angle tackled Benoit and they had a criss cross. Benoit grabbed Angle's arm but Angle countered with a fireman's carry. Benoit then sunset flipped Angle for a near fall. They had a Guerrero-Malenko caliber series of rollups. Benoit bridged up and went for a backslide but Angle countered. Benoit caught Angle and applied a crippler crossface but Angle quickly reached the ropes again and rolled out of the ring. Angle applied a front facelock but Benoit countered with an armbar in going for a crossface. Angle countered and threw Benoit out of the ring. Angle pounded Benoit at ringside and dropped him neck first across the barricade. Angle stomped Benoit and gave him a backbreaker for a near fall. Angle taunted Benoit and applied a rear bearhug and bodyscissors. Benoit tried to counter and pulled Angle's legs apart. Benoit kicked Angle but Angle caught him with a kneelift. Angle rammed Benoit into the corner, punched and kicked him. Angle gave Benoit some shoulderblocks in the corner. Angle whipped Benoit into the corner but missed a spear and crashed shoulder first into the ringpost. Benoit punched Angle and rammed him into the ringpost in the opposite corner. Benoit back suplexed Angle for a near fall and punched his shoulder. Benoit gave Angle a short clothesline and a few kneelifts. Benoit countered a belly to belly suplex with knees to the gut. Angle kneed Benoit and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle missed a clothesline and Benoit gave him two German suplexes. Angle countered a third with elbows and gave Benoit two German suplexes of his own. Benoit countered a third with elbows. Benoit German suplexed Angle but Angle responded with three more German suplexes. Angle kicked Benoit and went for an Angle slam but Benoit countered and flipped Angle over on his face with a spectacular released German suplex. Benoit went to the top rope but Angle gave him a great running belly to belly superplex (a spot invented by former All Japan Women star worker Kyoko Inoue in the early 90s) for a near fall. Benoit took Angle down and rolled him up for a near fall. Angle rolled around and applied an ankle lock on Benoit. Benoit rolled through and kicked Angle away. Benoit went for a slam but Angle countered going for a tombstone. Benoit turned the hold over and gave Angle a shoulderbreaker. Benoit hit a top rope headbutt for a near fall. Benoit applied the crippler crossface on Angle as heat really mounted. Angle countered and somehow applied an ankle lock while still in the crossface. Angle's ankle lock won out but Benoit countered and reapplied the crossface. Angle escaped and reapplied the ankle lock, and pulled Benoit away from the ropes. Benoit reached the ropes but Angle pulled him away from the ropes and applied his own crippler crossface. Angle pushed the rope away from Benoit with his foot. Benoit escaped the hold, turned Angle over and pinned him with his feet on the ropes at 13:57. A really cheap finish to such a classic match that it didn't hurt. Absolutely perfect work from these two for 14 minutes. Everything, from the mat exchanges to the submission counters and the suplexes and near falls were so sharp and intense. Great psychology of using each other's submission holds. One highlight was just how quickly and seamlessly they traded their big submission holds late in the match. Work-wise, this match established two facts. One, Angle was still the number one worker in the WWE, if not wrestling in general. Second and most importantly, it proved that Benoit was once again 100 percent and as sharp as ever in his work. The Benoit of early 2001 and returned, and combined with a Kurt Angle at the top of his game, produced one of the best matches of the year. ****1/2
9/24/02 (9/26/02 TV) No DQ Match: Edge vs Eddy Guerrero
Guerrero landed some punches and elbows early and stomped Edge. Guerrero applied a headlock, Edge shoved him off and Guerrero tackled Edge. They had a criss cross and Edge monkey flipped Guerrero. Edge landed a couple elbows and pulled on Guerrero's wrist and arm in the ropes. Edge gave Guerrero an armringer into a hammerlock. Guerrero backed Edge into a corner and gave him some shoulders to the gut. Guerrero punched Edge and pulled his neck down across the middle rope. Guerrero gained a near fall with his feet on the ropes. Edge backdropped Guerrero and dropkicked him. Edge slammed Guerrero and elbowsmashed him for a near fall. Edge applied an armbar. Guerrero gave Edge a couple knees to the gut and an enzuguiri. Guerrero stomped Edge and landed some punches. Guerrero suplexed Edge for a near fall and applied a chinlock. Edge elbowed Guerrero but Guerrero responded with a forearm. Edge powerslammed Guerrero but Guerrero caught him on the top rope with a punch. Guerrero gave Edge a top rope superplex for a near fall. Guerrero punched and elbowed Edge repeatedly. Edge caught Guerrero, lifted him on his shoulders and dropped him neck first across the top rope. Edge clotheslined Guerrero out of the ring and grabbed a ladder from underneath the ring. Edge accidentally rammed the edge of the ladder into the ref (who took a great bump) when Guerrero moved. Guerrero hit Edge with a chairshot to his back and gave him a second chairshot in the ring. Guerrero missed a frog splash. After a commercial Guerrero repeatedly stomped Edge in the corner. Guerrero applied a sleeper. They showed a clip from "during the break" where Edge hit a spear and gained a delayed, dramatic near fall as a second ref came out to make the count. Edge missed a clothesline but caught Guerrero and gave him a half nelson slam for a near fall. Guerrero caught Edge on the top rope and gave him a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Guerrero attacked Edge's right arm with elbows and punched Edge. Guerrero grabbed Edge's wrist, jumped to the top rope and went for a huracanrana but Edge countered with a powerbomb. Edge grabbed a ladder but Guerrero dropkicked the ladder into him. Guerrero brought a second ladder into the ring and landed some punches, then knocked Edge onto a ladder with a European uppercut. Guerrero sandwiched Edge between the two ladders and gave him a slingshot somersault senton in an insane spot for a near fall. Guerrero set up a ladder in the corner and climbed it but Edge caught up to him and they traded punches on the ladder. Guerrero repeatedly rammed Edge's head into the top of the ladder. In the most memorable spot of the match, Guerrero then sunset flipped Edge off the top of the ladder to the mat for a great near fall. Edge propped the ladder against the corner and charged but Edge backdropped him into the ladder and Guerrero took a spectacular bump. Edge climbed the ladder but Guerrero punched him. They traded blows on the ladder. Edge then gave Guerrero an Edgecution off the ladder for the pin. About 16:40 aired on TV, and it was a fantastic match. These two had produced many good-very good matches on TV and PPV in previous months, but this was the first time they reached their potential. All kinds of great spots, and Guerrero's bumping style seems perfectly suited for a ladder match setting. The ladder spots involving Guerrero were spectacular, in large part because they were so sharp in their execution, with the sunset flip spot taking the cake. Well-paced match, with a mixture of great intensity and some slower paced work early before they went to the chair and ladder spots. Great use of the second ref concept to create drama towards the middle, and fans were into the match from then on. Fans gave both men a standing ovation after the match, especially Guerrero. It was a nice touch that they kept the cameras rolling to show Guerrero slowly getting up to a standing ovation as his music played. Better than Guerrero's ladder match vs Van Dam, and on a similar level to the Edge-Angle cage match that began this article. ****1/4
10/1/02 (10/3/02 TV): Edge vs Kurt Angle
Angle applied a waistlock but Edge countered and took him down. Angle countered into a hammerlock but Edge grabbed his leg. Angle kicked Edge off but Edge armdragged him and applied an armbar. They traded armringers and Angle applied a headlock. Angle tackled Edge and they had a criss cross. Edge hiptossed and dropkicked Angle. He armdragged Angle and applied an armbar. Edge legdropped Angle's arm and applied a hammerlock. Angle took Edge down but Edge maintained the armbar. Angle fought back with a kneelift and pounded Edge. Edge elbowed Angle, armdragged him and applied an armbar. Angle backed Edge into a corner and repeatedly kicked and punched him. Edge chopped Angle and repeatedly kicked him in the corner. Angle missed a clothesline and Edge spin kicked him for a near fall. Edge whipped Angle into the corner but Angle dumped him to the apron. Edge brought Angle's arm down across the top rope. Edge punched Angle at ringside and threw him back into the ring. Edge rammed Angle shoulder first into the ringpost. Edge punched Angle on the apron and applied another armbar. Angle landed some punches and gave Edge an Angle slam over the top rope to the floor. Angle dropped Edge neck first across the barricade. Back in the ring Angle punted Edge's gut hard and suplexed him for a near fall. Angle gave Edge a forearm and stomped him in the corner. Edge landed some punches and a chop. Angle whipped Edge into the corner but ran into a boot. Angle caught Edge and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Angle snapmared Edge and applied a chinlock, and locked Edge in a bodyscissors for added leverage. Edge elbowed Angle but ran into a knee to the gut. Angle kicked Edge hard and stomped him before gaining a near fall. Angle applied an abdominal stretch but Edge countered with a hiptoss. Edge countered a kneelift and rolled up Angle for a near fall. Angle back suplexed Edge for a near fall and applied a rear bearhug of sorts. Edge punched Angle but missed a clothesline. Edge caught Angle and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle won an exchange of punches but missed a clothesline and Edge gave him a flying forearm and a couple clotheslines. Edge backdropped Angle and gave him a half nelson slam for a near fall. Angle fought back with a kneelift but Edge flipped out of a back suplex attempt. Angle missed a clothesline and Edge superkicked him. Edge went for a spear but Angle gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex, and in the process took out the ref. Edge countered an Angle slam, kicked Angle and gave him an Edgecution but the ref couldn't count the pin. Angle kicked Edge low and gave him an Angle slam for a near fall as a second ref came in to make the count. Angle applied an ankle lock but Edge reached the ropes. Edge brought Angle's neck down across the top rope. Angle went for a running belly to belly superplex but Edge shoved him to the mat. Angle punched Edge and gave him a top rope superplex for an apparent pin at 15:32 but the second ref raised Edge's arm. Edge had locked Angle in a small package and both men's shoulders were down. The refs got into a fight but then senior ref Mike Ciota ordered the match to continue. After a commercial Angle attacked Edge with punches. During the break Angle had given Edge an overhead belly to belly suplex on the floor. Angle tied up Edge in the ropes and speared him twice. Angle missed a third and Edge shoved him out of the ring. Edge knocked Angle off the apron and into the barricade with a spear. Edge hit a plancha and a top rope dropkick for a heated near fall. Edge kicked Angle but Angle countered an Edgecution. Edge gave Angle an Edge-o-matic for a near fall. Angle caught Edge and launched him with a great released German suplex. Angle gave Edge a trifecta of German suplexes as Chris Benoit came out. Angle German suplexed Edge again but Edge countered a fifth and rolled up Angle for a near fall. Angle clotheslined Edge but ran into a boot. Angle charged but Edge jumped up and sunset flipped him. Angle rolled through and applied an ankle lock but Edge rolled out of it and sent Angle through the ropes to the floor. Angle went to hit Edge with a chair but Benoit grabbed the chair. Benoit let go and the chair bounced off the ropes into Angle's face hard enough to daze him. Edge then speared Angle and pinned him. About 21:00 total of action aired. Another outstanding match. Not quite as well-paced or as technically sound as their other matches, but still with great work. Great near falls late. I don't know if I would have done the ref angle as late in the match as they did, but at least the restart was long enough to carry value on its own. Some of the early work was very solid, but some of the holds, while a nice touch in a WWE ring, took away from the intensity a bit and didn�t fit into the style of the rest of the match. They seemed to save their best work for the restart, which was a good thing. If this was the weakest of the major Edge-Angle singles matches of 2002, then theirs must be a viable candidate for feud of the year honors. ****
10/20/02 (WWE No Mercy) WWE Tag Team Title: Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs Edge & Rey Mysterio
Okay, I'm finally using the WWE spelling for Rey. Angle armdragged Mysterio. Angle took down Mysterio with a waistlock and slapped him around on the mat. Angle picked up Mysterio and just threw him over his shoulder towards the corner and Edge. Angle wanted Edge to tag in but Mysterio held his ground. Angle applied a waistlock but Mysterio escaped by stepping on his foot. Mysterio gave Angle a fireman's carry takedown and a dropkick to his left leg. Mysterio hit a power legdrop. Angle whipped Mysterio into the corner but ran into a boot. Mysterio gave Angle a second rope victory roll and a drop toehold, then slapped him around on the mat. Angle went after Mysterio but Mysterio left the ring and tagged Edge. Edge took down Angle with a waistlock but Angle countered with a hammerlock. Angle applied a headlock and tackled Edge. They had a criss cross and Edge hiptossed, armdragged and dropkicked Angle. Benoit applied a waistlock but Edge took him down. Benoit applied a headscissors but Edge escaped. Edge escaped a headlock but Benoit took him down. Edge applied an armbar on Benoit. Benoit backed Edge into a corner and gave him some knees and punches. Benoit headlocked Edge and took him down to the mat with the hold. Benoit tackled Edge and they had a criss cross. Benoit ran into a kneelift and Edge gave him a gutbuster for a near fall. Edge gave Benoit a couple kneedrops and a backbreaker for a near fall. Edge stomped Benoit, gave him a shoulderblock in the corner and chopped him. Benoit responded with a series of chops but Edge caught him and gave him a flapjack slam for a near fall. Edge rammed Benoit into the corner. Benoit whipped Edge across the ring and Angle kicked Edge from the apron. Benoit stomped Edge and gave him a forearm. Benoit missed a clothesline and Edge knocked Angle off the apron with a spear in a neat sequence. Edge countered a German suplex with elbows. Edge rolled up Benoit for a near fall, Benoit pushed Edge off and into the ropes and Angle pulled his neck down across the top rope. Benoit clotheslined Edge and elbowsmashed him. Benoit gave Edge a neckbreaker. Angle kicked Edge hard in the gut and stomped him. Angle choked Edge near the ropes and punched him. Edge landed some punches but ran into a kneelift from Angle, who then gained a near fall. Angle applied a chinlock and bodyscissors on Edge. Edge backed Angle into a corner and punched him. Angle whipped Edge into the opposite corner but ran into a boot. Angle caught Edge and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Benoit kicked Edge and rammed him into the corner. Benoit chopped and punched Edge then whipped him hard into the opposite corner. Benoit gave Edge a couple kneelifts and a forearm. Benoit whipped Edge into the corner and gave him three consecutive German suplexes. Benoit knocked Mysterio off the apron but Edge caught him on the top rope with a punch. Edge gave Benoit some punches and a top rope superplex. Mysterio finally tagged in, knocked Angle off the apron and gave Benoit a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Benoit whipped Mysterio into the corner but Mysterio gave him a drop toehold head first into the second turnbuckle. Mysterio gave Benoit a dropkick to his face in the corner and dropkicked Angle out of the ring. Mysterio gave Benoit a couple kneelifts and some punches, then hung him over the middle rope. Mysterio then knocked Benoit for a loop with a top rope legdrop for a heated near fall. Angle made the save and traded blows with Edge. Edge kinda clotheslined Angle out of the ring but Angle pulled Edge with him. Benoit missed a clothesline but caught Mysterio in a wheelbarrow. Mysterio went for a bulldog but Benoit countered by shoving him hard to the mat. Benoit applied a crippler crossface on Mysterio in the middle of the ring but Edge intervened. Angle pulled Edge out of the ring but Edge rammed him into the ringpost. Mysterio dropkicked Benoit, who fell down onto the second rope. Mysterio went for a 619 but Benoit caught him. Edge then hit a top rope dropkick causing Mysterio to fall on top of Benoit for a near fall. Mysterio went to the top rope but Angle ran up and gave him a spectacular belly to belly superplex. Angle knocked Edge off the apron and Benoit gained a near fall on Mysterio. Benoit whipped Mysterio hard into the heels' corner. Benoit and Angle pounded Mysterio's back. Angle stomped Mysterio and gave him a backbreaker for a near fall. Angle punched Mysterio and suplexed him for a near fall. Angle applied a front facelock on Mysterio on the mat. Angle picked up Mysterio but Mysterio did a great counter into a northern lights suplex on Angle. Mysterio punched Angle but Angle caught him and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Angle rammed Mysterio into the corner and tagged Benoit. Both heels kicked Mysterio. Benoit backdropped Mysterio for a near fall and back suplexed him for another near fall. Benoit kicked Mysterio and landed a couple stiff chops. Benoit punched Mysterio and whipped him into the corner but ran into a double boot. Mysterio gave Benoit a headscissors takedown in the corner and Benoit crashed shoulder first into the ringpost. Edge tagged in and clotheslined Angle twice. Edge elbowed Benoit and backdropped Angle. He gave Benoit a half nelson slam and Angle an Edge-o-matic for a near fall. Edge and Mysterio whipped Benoit into the corner. Edge speared Benoit in the corner and Mysterio added a bronco buster. Edge whipped Angle into the corner and speared him, then placed him on the top rope. Edge launched a running Mysterio onto Angle's shoulders and Mysterio gave him a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. Benoit hit Angle with a top rope headbutt when Edge moved. Mysterio dropkicked Benoit out of the ring and Edge gained a heated near fall on Angle. Angle caught Edge off guard and gave him a released German suplex. Angle went to spear Edge but Edge launched Mysterio with an overhead belly to belly suplex, and in the process Mysterio gave Angle a kick to the face in a creative spot. Edge went for a spear but Benoit took him down from behind and applied a crippler crossface. Edge reached for the rope but Benoit pushed the rope away with his foot. Mysterio broke the hold with a 619 on Benoit in a really neat spot. Angle gave Mysterio an Angle slam and applied an ankle lock on Edge. Edge rolled over and kicked Angle off, then rolled him up for a dramatic near fall. Edge speared Angle for another heated near fall. Benoit intervened but Mysterio gave him a baseball slide kick. Mysterio did a Toyota roll onto Edge, who lifted him like a powerbomb. Edge then turned, flipped Mysterio over the top rope and Mysterio hit a moonsault on Benoit at ringside in another great double team spot. Edge kicked Angle but Angle countered an Edgecution and applied an ankle lock. Edge reached for the ropes but Angle pulled him away. Edge rolled out of the hold and applied his own ankle lock on Angle. Angle countered and reapplied his ankle lock on Edge. After a struggle Edge tapped out at 22:05 and Benoit and Angle won the title. If you consider Bret Hart-Steve Austin from Wrestlemania 13 a gimmick match (it was a no-DQ submission match), this might be the greatest non-gimmick match in WWE history, and at the very least the greatest tag team match in WWE history. They started strong, yet restrained, in that they busted out lots of great work without using their big spots. These big spots slowly crept into the match, and about 13 minutes in this was looking like a **** match. Mysterio made the hot tag and the match kicked into overdrive, with lots of great spots and some strong near falls. After a bit of a slowdown Edge made a hot tag, and then it was off to the races. The last few minutes saw some absolutely breathtaking near falls, counters and especially double team spots from Edge and Mysterio. At first when I saw Edge and Mysterio would team up I thought "different styles, not much potential chemistry". Thankfully, they blew by expectations to bits and gelled so well that for the closing stretch they almost looked like the Midnight Express of the new millennium. Angle and Benoit also had great chemistry, but it was the more understated type. In other words, not so much their double team moves, because they did very few, but more a cohesive blend of styles that complemented each other with just enough difference to separate them. Edge and Benoit's styles were ideal for the middle heel beatdown portion, with Angle and Mysterio shining in doing the spectacular spots (although Edge and Benoit also contributed in this department significantly). One of the most flawless and technically sound matches in WWE history because it was structured so well. They took the right amount of time to get started, used the right amount of highspots early while saving themselves for the home stretch, the heel beatdown of Edge lasted the right amount of time, the comeback led by Mysterio was effective, as was the comeback by Edge, and the closing stretch was just long enough to make the match truly memorable. Perhaps the aspect that put this match over the top so to speak was that they could have gone into the closing stretch when Mysterio made the hot tag, but instead they fooled everyone with another brief but effective beatdown before Edge's hot tag and before truly kicking it into overdrive. All four were at the top of their game, and produced the crown jewel of the litany of great Smackdown matches in 2002. Ki-Dragon is still my pick for U.S. match of the year, but this ties for second with the breathtaking 8/7/02 NWA TNA 3-way reviewed in my previous article. ****3/4
11/5/02 (11/7/02 TV) WWE Tag Team Title Best of 3 Falls: Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle (c) vs Edge & Rey Mysterio
Angle took down Mysterio with a waistlock but Mysterio countered with a hammerlock and a headlock. Angle shoved Mysterio into the corner but ran into a boot. Mysterio slid underneath Angle's legs and kicked him. He gave Angle a drop toehold and applied a headlock. Angle tried to counter but Mysterio armdragged him. Angle chased Mysterio around the ring but Mysterio ducked down and Angle fell out of the ring to the floor. Benoit was funny on the apron looking disgusted at Angle. Angle kicked Mysterio and gave him a short clothesline. Mysterio ducked a clothesline and gave Angle a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Edge headlocked and tackled Benoit. Edge armdragged Benoit twice and dropkicked him. Edge punched Benoit and rammed him into the corner. He pounded Benoit with punches and chops. Edge applied a headlock but Benoit escaped and landed some punches. Benoit telegraphed a backdrop and Edge kicked him. Edge knocked Angle off the apron but Benoit hit him from behind. Benoit shoved Edge hard into the corner and back suplexed him. Angle stomped Edge and knocked Mysterio off the apron. Angle choked Edge in the ropes and suplexed him for a near fall. Benoit kicked Edge and landed a couple chops. Edge gave Benoit an Edgecution. Mysterio tagged in and hit a springboard top rope legdrop on Benoit for a near fall. Mysterio punched Benoit and gave him a drop toehold head first into the second turnbuckle. Edge kicked Angle and whipped him into Benoit, then gave them a spear in the corner. Mysterio dropkicked Angle out of the ring and Edge placed Benoit on the top rope. Edge launched Mysterio into a top rope huracanrana on Benoit. Benoit rolled through but Mysterio rolled with him and gained a near fall but Angle pulled Mysterio out of the ring. Edge clotheslined Angle out of the ring. Edge lifted Benoit in a powerbomb and Mysterio added a springboard Thesz press in a cool double team move for the pin to win the first fall after about 6:00. Angle immediately attacked Mysterio and went for an Angle slam but Mysterio did a great counter into an armdrag. Mysterio ducked a clothesline but Angle caught him and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Angle back suplexed Mysterio for a near fall. Benoit kicked Mysterio and gave him a gutbuster. Benoit whipped Mysterio hard into the corner and gave him some knees to the gut. Benoit lifted Mysterio and looked to be going for the Malenko-esque second rope gutbuster but Mysterio countered with some knees to the head and gave Benoit a top rope bulldog. Edge clotheslined Angle and kicked Benoit off the apron. Edge clotheslined and backdropped Angle. Benoit charged but Edge threw him out of the ring. Edge gave Angle an overhead belly to belly suplex but missed a spear and Benoit hit him with a title belt from ringside. Angle applied an ankle lock on Edge as Benoit knocked Mysterio off the top rope to the floor. Edge tapped out and Angle won the second fall after about 9:28 of action. Angle and Benoit argued with each other in between falls. After a commercial the third fall was in progress. Benoit tripped Mysterio on a criss cross and Angle kicked him for a near fall. Angle pummeled Mysterio in the corner and kicked him repeatedly. Angle threw Mysterio out of the ring and Benoit attacked him at ringside. Angle gained a near fall on Mysterio. Mysterio countered a suplex with his own northern lights suplex and gave Angle a spin kick. Edge gave Angle repeated kicks in the corner and chopped him. Edge pummeled Angle. Angle whipped Edge into the corner but ran into a boot. Angle caught Edge and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Benoit backdropped Edge and gave him a backbreaker for a near fall. Benoit applied a half crab on Edge with his knee on Edge's upper back. Edge kicked Benoit away. Edge went to tag Mysterio but Angle knocked Mysterio down before a tag could be made. Angle stomped Edge and gave him a short clothesline for a near fall. Benoit kicked Edge and gave him a couple kneelifts. Benoit kicked Edge and punched him. He whipped Edge into the corner but ran into an elbow. Benoit caught Edge on the top rope and gave him a top rope back superplex. Mysterio ducked a clothesline and dropkicked Angle. Mysterio punched Angle, Angle whipped him into the corner and charged, but Mysterio moved and Angle crashed shoulder first into the ringpost. Mysterio gave Angle a bronco buster but Benoit caught him from behind and gave him a great released German suplex. Benoit knocked Edge off the apron. Mysterio countered an Angle slam and shoved Angle into Benoit, who fell out of the ring. Mysterio gave Angle a drop toehold onto the second rope but missed a 619. Angle threw Mysterio overhead onto the top rope but Mysterio jumped back on his shoulders. Angle blocked a Misteriorana but Mysterio countered a powerbomb with a sunset flip for an apparent pin to win the titles after about 16:00 of on-air action. Angle argued his hand was on the bottom rope, which was the case, and a fourth fall was ordered. As Angle and Benoit argued, Mysterio took them both out like a 7-10 split with a springboard top rope dropkick. Benoit whipped Mysterio hard into the corner and back suplexed him. Benoit snap suplexed Mysterio for a near fall. The champs slammed Mysterio by his legs on the mat. Angle stomped Mysterio, whipped him into the corner and pounded him. Angle snapmared Mysterio and Benoit added a sharp dropkick to the face. Benoit chopped Mysterio and gut wrench suplexed him for a near fall. Angle kicked Mysterio and gained a near fall. Angle applied a bearhug of sorts on Mysterio. Mysterio landed some punches and gave Angle a great DDT out of a wheelbarrow position. Edge gave Angle a top rope clothesline and Benoit a flapjack slam. Edge spin kicked Angle and clotheslined Benoit out of the ring. Edge gave Angle an Edge-o-matic for a near fall but Angle caught him and applied an ankle lock. Edge countered and sent Angle head first into the second turnbuckle. Mysterio then hit a 619 on Angle around the ringpost in a neat twist to the move. Benoit shoved Mysterio into the barricade. Edge speared Angle for a near fall. Benoit hit Angle with a top rope headbutt when Edge moved. Mysterio dropkicked Benoit out of the ring and Edge pinned Angle about 4:40 into the fourth fall to win the title. I think the 3 fall (actually 4) breakdown hurt the flow of the match a bit, because the pacing and structure of this match wasn't nearly as strong as their No Mercy classic. This had far fewer dramatic near falls than their previous match, and none of the four seemed to bust out all their signature moves. Also, while Edge and Mysterio chipped in a few double team spots, they didn't have nearly the same chemistry this time around. Each fall could stand alone as an individual TV match, and except for the fourth fall storyline, there wasn't much connection story-wise between falls. The main strength of this match as usual was the great up and down action, and all four looked sharp as usual. This would have been better off being a one fall match, with which they could better play off their No Mercy match in terms of moves and false finishes. Watch this match before their classic PPV match, because their PPV match blew this away. That said, this was still an excellent match and one of the better TV matches of the year. ****
11/12/02 (11/14/02 TV): Eddy Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio
Mysterio armdragged Guerrero early. Guerrero applied a hammerlock and snapmared Mysterio, then applied a chinlock on the mat. Guerrero applied a headlock and tackled Mysterio. They did a criss cross and Mysterio backdropped Guerrero. Mysterio dropkicked Guerrero, armdragged him and applied an armbar. Guerrero countered and elbowed Mysterio. Guerrero gave Mysterio a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall and applied an armbar. Guerrero gave Mysterio an armringer and elbowed his repeatedly. Guerrero repeatedly kicked Mysterio in the corner and punched him. Guerrero stomped Mysterio and elbowed his arm. Mysterio landed some punches, jumped off the second rope and gave Guerrero a cool headscissors takedown. Guerrero armdragged Mysterio and applied an armbar. Guerrero applied a hammerlock but Mysterio snapmared him. Mysterio monkey flipped Guerrero across the ring with Guerrero taking his usual great bump. Mysterio went for a 619 but hit the ref when Guerrero pulled him into harm's way. Mysterio landed some punches but Chavo Guerrero attacked Mysterio from behind. Chavo gave Mysterio his neat Gori special face first slam but Edge ran out and attacked Chavo. Guerrero gave Mysterio a sharp powerbomb for a near fall but Edge then speared Guerrero (Eddy). Chavo knocked Edge out of the ring and they traded blows at ringside. Edge whipped Chavo into the barricade and pounded him. A bunch of refs came out to restrain Chavo and Edge. After a commercial Mysterio gave Guerrero a slingshot moonsault for a near fall. Guerrero gave Mysterio a kneelift but Mysterio fought back with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Mysterio gave Guerrero a bronco buster but favored his knee a bit. Guerrero shoved Mysterio off the top rope to the floor. Guerrero hit a tope on Mysterio and back suplexed him. Mysterio caught Guerrero on the top rope and gave him a top rope superplex for a delayed near fall. Guerrero missed a clothesline but kicked Mysterio. Mysterio countered a powerbomb with an armdrag and landed a couple elbows. Guerrero clotheslined Mysterio for a near fall and applied an armbar. Guerrero gave Mysterio a series of forearms and elbows. Mysterio countered a back superplex and elbowed Guerrero to the mat. Mysterio hit a moonsault bodyblock for a near fall. Mysterio landed some punches but Guerrero gave him a kneelift. Mysterio did an in-ring quebrada into a spinning armdrag in a great spot and Guerrero slid out of the ring. Mysterio gave Guerrero a baseball slide kick and then hit a great somersault tope atomico over the top rope onto a prone Guerrero on the floor. Mysterio went for a springboard splash but crashed onto Guerrero's knees and Guerrero rolled him up for a near fall. Guerrero vertical suplexed Mysterio and went for a top rope splash but missed, but rolled onto his feet. Guerrero charged but Mysterio threw him overhead and into the corner. Mysterio spin kicked Guerrero and hit a 619. Mysterio gave Guerrero a top rope sunset flip but Guerrero rolled through and applied an El Paso lasso (sharpshooter-like hold). Guerrero grabbed the ropes for leverage and Mysterio tapped out after 12:02 of on-air action. If you've recently seen their amazing Halloween Havoc 1997 classic, you might not enjoy this match too much. However, both men proved they remain top workers despite adjustments in their environment and styles. Mysterio was his usual great, spectacular self, and actually had one of his better nights in terms of highspots since joining WWE. Guerrero was sharp as usual in his offense, and worked well as expected with Mysterio. Cheap finish, but this was still an excellent match and Mysterio's best singles match in the WWE to date. ****
12/3/02 (12/5/02 TV): Edge vs Kurt Angle vs Eddy Guerrero vs Chris Benoit
The winner of this match would get a WWE title shot against Big Show at Armageddon. Guerrero stomped Angle after a commercial. Guerrero attacked Edge's leg, which was trapped in the ropes. Guerrero and Edge traded blows. They showed a clip from "during the break" when Angle and Benoit attacked Edge. Back to "live" action: Edge backdropped Guerrero and gave Benoit a flapjack slam. Edge backdropped Angle but Guerrero dropkicked his leg for a near fall. Benoit kicked and pounced on Edge's injured leg twice. Angle stomped Edge's leg as did Benoit. Guerrero rolled up Angle for a near fall but Angle then clotheslined him. Angle punched Guerrero as Benoit slammed Edge's leg down on the mat. Angle landed some punches but Guerrero backdropped him over the top rope. Benoit clotheslined Guerrero out of the ring and chopped Edge. Benoit legdropped Edge's leg but Edge whipped him into the corner and gave him a half nelson slam for a near fall. Guerrero attacked Edge and threw him out of the ring. Guerrero kicked Benoit and suplexed him over the top rope to the floor. Angle punched Guerrero and rammed him into the corner, then suplexed him for a near fall. Angle rammed Guerrero into the corner and landed more punches. Guerrero raked Angle's eyes and punched him. He kicked Angle and pummeled him. Guerrero suplexed Angle for a near fall. Angle caught Guerrero and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle kicked Guerrero but Guerrero countered an Angle slam with an armdrag. Guerrero kicked Angle and back suplexed him, then hit a frog splash for a near fall. Benoit attacked Guerrero from behind and gave him a released German suplex. Benoit gave Guerrero a top rope headbutt for a near fall. Edge kicked Benoit and gave him an Edgecution for a near fall. Edge threw Angle out of the ring but Guerrero hit him from behind and knocked him out of the ring as well. Benoit gave Guerrero two German suplexes and Edge speared Guerrero. Benoit threw Edge out of the ring and applied a crippler crossface on Guerrero for a submission at 5:23 into the footage. Angle gave Benoit three consecutive German suplexes but Edge then gave Angle a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Benoit clipped Edge's injured leg from behind but Angle clotheslined him. Edge countered an Angle slam with an Edge-o-matic for a near fall. Benoit applied a crippler crossface on Edge but Angle attacked Benoit and applied an ankle lock on him. Benoit kicked Angle off and knocked him into the ref. Guerrero came in and hit Benoit from behind with a tag team title belt. Edge speared Guerrero and speared Benoit for the second elimination 7:08 into the footage. Angle immediately applied an ankle lock on Edge. Edge reached for the ropes but Angle pulled him back to the middle of the ring. Edge rolled out of the hold and sent Angle through the ropes to the floor. Angle dragged Edge out of the ring and rammed him into the ring steps. Angle gave Edge a short clothesline for a near fall and a suplex for another near fall. Angle stomped Edge and choked him in the ropes. Edge fought back with a series of chops and punches on Angle in the corner. Angle whipped Edge into the opposite corner but ran into a boot. Angle caught Edge and gave him an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle applied a chinlock on Edge. Edge elbowed Angle but missed a clothesline. He caught Angle and gave him his own overhead belly to belly suplex. Edge won an exchange of punches and gave Angle a couple clotheslines. Edge backdropped Angle, ducked a clothesline and gave him an Edge-o-matic for a near fall. Angle fought back and gave Edge two German suplexes. Edge countered a third with a rollup for a near fall. Angle missed a clothesline and Edge speared him for a near fall. Edge kicked Angle but Angle countered an Edgecution. Edge countered an Angle slam, kicked Angle and gave him an Edgecution for a great near fall. Edge went to the top rope, Angle leaped up but Edge pushed him to the mat. Edge hit a top rope dropkick for a heated near fall. Edge went for a spear but ran into a kick from Angle, who then gave him an Angle slam for a near fall. Angle applied an ankle lock but Edge rolled out of it and rolled Angle up for a dramatic near fall. Angle kicked Edge's leg from under him and applied another ankle lock. Edge rolled out of it but Angle quickly reapplied the ankle lock. Edge reached the ropes and gave Angle an enzuguiri. Edge gave Angle his own Angle slam for a dramatic near fall. Angle caught Edge on the top rope and gave him a great top rope Angle slam for the pin. About 18:30 aired. This was the best TV match of the year. They wasted no time getting to the big spots, and even the first few minutes contained some very good near falls. Benoit and Guerrero knew they only had a few minutes to leave their mark, and they worked their butts off when they were in the match. Great move in giving Angle and Edge so much time at the end to work towards the finish. A couple slow spots, but for the most part the final 12 minutes were **** material on their own standing. In particular, the last 6 or so minutes was one of the best segments of work of the year, with great counters, back and forth action and great near falls and false finishes. Fans were rabid for some of the near falls. Also, the leg injury storyline was sold and executed to near perfection by Edge. His selling was really strong and while he did use the bad leg for some key moves, it wasn't like he went for long periods of time without selling the damage. One probably expected the match to end much sooner than it did given the relative brevity of the first two eliminations, so the length of the final segment was a nice swerve. Angle is still a million bucks in the ring and Edge is still his best opponent. One can say that Edge is perhaps the weakest of the crew of workers that made Smackdown so great in 2002, but he had too many performances like this one for the quality of his matches to be a coincidence or a result of great opponents. Angle might have been the top worker of 2002, with Benoit, Mysterio and even Guerrero sharing comeback of the year honors, but it was Edge who was the in-ring WWE breakout star of the year. ****1/2
Next Article: Best of 2002 Part 3
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