WWE Velocity review
April 26, 2003
Taped last Tuesday
Report by Robert Igoe (PWTorch.com)Opens with a promo of Matt Hardy trying to talk up Shannon Moore as mentor to Moore-on #1 Crash, who is still struggling to read Hardy's book of wisdom, though he admits the pictures are nice.
Opening credits
Brian Kendrick pinned Shannon Moore (with Crash)
Kendrick: Came out with lots of energy and enthusiasm, which is exactly why you put guys like Kendrick in the opening match. A lot of nice moves, including an Enzuigiri that was so good it got an instant replay in-match. Got the pin when he hit a springboard neckbreaker using the ropes for momentum and simultaneously knocking Crash off the ring apron.
Moore: Typical solid Shannon Moore match, though he didn't try many high flying maneuvers and was more involved with Crash, though not in any significant way.
Match: Solid enough, but really didn't advance the story line with Crash in any major way.
Highlight: Kendrick's new move, Dr. Teeth, a spinning jaw jacker that he could develop into a good finisher. But get a new name for it, please!
Sable invitational was next. Scary divorce down the street? Brilliant, Mojo! So, not even a distant memory of Dawn Marie seducing and killing Torrie's dad? On second thought, why ruin a good thing?
A Mr. America promo. This better be good.
Cruiserweight champion Matt Hardy (w/Moore and Crash) pinned Funaki to retain his title
Hardy: Took over late with the Reality Check after mostly bickering with his minions, who provided a lot of interference from the outside, mostly when Funaki would oblige them by running straight at them without looking. You'd think wrestlers would wise up to that by now. Took over with side slam, Side Effect and Twist of Fate for the pin.
Funaki: Got back into match with the reverse DDT, leading to a bulldog and Enzuigiri, but was distracted from outside, leading to his downfall.
Match: A bit sloppy at times, but with four people trying to play a part, that's not unusual. It did help move the Crash and Moore plot along, however.
Highlight: Hardy flipped Funaki over the ropes, but Funaki turned it into a plancha on Moore and Crash.
Jamie Noble (w/Nidia) beat Sean Evans by submission
Noble: Let's see...Nunzio is his cousin. Doesn't that mean that he's also a member of the FBI and that...ah, forget it. Took over with a back suplex and a lot of brawling, but some good neckbreaker variations.
Evans: Shocker! Good to see this guy again and looking good. At one point, he caught Noble in the air and his a catapult, then caught him with a backslide before Nidia grabbed his ankle. Rolled out of one of Noble's standing neckbreakers and hit one of his own, then followed soon after with an Enzuigiri.
Match: Outstanding.
Highlight: Noble hit a DDT, but then rolled through it and turned it into a choke-out move that finished Evans.
Sable, Dawn Marie, Rhyno and Rey Mysterio are shown on a visit to the USS Vella Gulf. Probably see more of that on Confidential in upcoming weeks.
Recap of Lesnar/Cena
Eddie Guerrero pinned Charlie Haas
Haas: Plenty of suplexes to soften up Eddie's back, as well as a bow and arrow, camel clutch and powerslam. Nice focused effort that helped tell a story.
Guerrero: Faked handshake to sucker in Haas for an eye gouge, which was the extend of the cheating in the bout, which saw him spend most of the match selling a back injury, at one point letting go of his own sharpshooter because of the pain. Escaped Haas of Pain and then took over with a headscissors, a hat trick suplex and the frog splash for the win.
Match: Great bout for the night before the tag team match at Backlash.
Highlight: Both men came out alone and it stayed that way even after the match.