FIT Challenge Slag People
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SEPTEMBER 18, 2003 - SmackDown!
The show opens with Rhyno hoping to continue his winning streak against Shannon Moore. And, well... he did. Shannon got in a couple of moves, but ate a Gore for the loss. Afterwards, the Manbeast continued to pummel Moore.
Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo, and Johnny Stamboli of the FBI take on three of the Cruiserweight division's top talents in six-man action next against Jamie Noble, Paul London, and Ultimo Dragon. The cruisers put up a good fight, but the teamwork and continuity of the FBI proved to be too much, and Nunzio got Paul London to tap out to the Sicilian Crab.
Sean O'Haire hopes to continue his momentum toward his match with John Cena at Unforgiven as he takes on Rikishi. Rikishi controls much of the match, but leaves himself open after missing a big punch, and O'Haire capitalizes with the Prophecy for the three-count.
Rey Mysterio and Tajiri have been going back and forth over the last two weeks, and now both have brought a tag team partner. It's Mysterio and Kidman against Tajiri and Akio. Tremendous high-flying moves from all four competitors. Flying axehandles, springboard dropkicks, super Frankensteiners, slingshot sentons, the sky was the limit for these four. In the end, Kidman takes Tajiri down and lands the Shooting Star Press for the victory!
Backstage, Hardcore Holly is warming up, and he's approached by Bradshaw. Bradshaw tells him that since Shaniqua and the Bashams injured Farooq last week, he needs a new partner, and Holly's the only man on the roster who likes to hurt people in quite the same way that Bradshaw does. Thus, the Backstage Bullies are born!
The Bullies make their debut against the Bashams, and Bradshaw wants revenge. The Bashams certainly didn't look like champions, as Bradshaw and Holly controlled the match from the opening bell, finishing off Danny with the Initiation Rites! Can this brand-new team unseat the champions with the belts on the line?
Six-man tag team action is next, pitting Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, and Edge against Chavo Guerrero and the World's Greatest Tag Team! Both teams put on a display of athleticism, and the match went back-and-forth several times. Eddie manages to pick up the victory, hitting his frogsplash on his nephew Chavo. Eddie seems to have the momentum heading into Unforgiven!
And now it's time for the finals of our #1 contender tournament as Kurt Angle takes on Big Show! Angle has beaten Hardcore Holly and Chris Benoit to get here, while Big Show holds victories over Eddie Guerrero and Undertaker. Both men have knocked off top-tier talent, and both have their sights set on Brock Lesnar and Unforgiven. Angle shows off some impressive stength, managing to both slam and t-bone suplex the 500-pound Big Show! Show fights back and nearly score the pin after a massive clothesline. However, in the end, the Olympic Hero manages to clamp on an Ankle Lock and get a rare tap-out victory over the Big Show! Afterwards, Undertaker hits the ring and lays Show out. Clearly, the Deadman hasn't forgotten Big Show cheating to beat him last week.
Backstage, Stephanie McMahon makes the match official. At Unforgiven, it's Kurt Angle versus Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title!
Back in the ring, Undertaker has the microphone. He says only three words. "Big," "Show," and "Unforgiven." And... uh... I guess that's how he makes matches?
Our main event tonight pits the WWE Champion Lesnar against up-and-comer John Cena. Both men get in a couple of near-falls after trading piledrivers, but Lesnar winds up in the driver's seat. He whips Cena off the ropes, but Cena runs into a chair held up by Sean O'Haire! The referee doesn't see it, but he does see Lesnar roll Cena up for a three-count. O'Haire enters the ring with the chair now, and hands it to Lesnar to use on Cena. Instead, Lesnar turns it on O'Haire. Lesnar has made it clear - he doesn't need any help!
Just one more SmackDown! to go before Unforgiven, and the SmackDown! side of the card is set. Angle/Lesnar, UT/Show, Cena/O'Haire, and Eddie/Chavo all look to be tremendous matches. Next week, Kurt Angle and Undertaker will team up against the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and United States Champion Big Show! Also, Cena and Eddie will trade opponents, as Cena takes on Chavo Guerrero and Eddie Guerrero takes on Sean O'Haire. Plus, two title matches have been signed - the Basham Brothers defend the WWE Tag Team Titles against the newly-formed Backstage Bullies, and Tajiri will defend the Cruiserweight Title in a triple-threat match against Rey Mysterio and the man who pinned him this week Billy Kidman! Also, Rhyno hopes to continue his winning ways against his biggest challenge yet - Edge! How will next week's SmackDown! change the face of Unforgiven? Only one way to find out - tune in next week!
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