Friday, March 27, 2020

Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Smackdown Review - July 11th, 2002

WWE Smackdown
July 11th, 2002
Atlantic City, New Jersey




TONIGHT: Kurt Angle & Chris Jericho vs. The Undertaker & John Cena

1) Edge & Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo (w/ Rico) - WWE Tag Team Title Match

Rematch from last week and it's virtually the same match. Crowd is hot as shit for Hogan. Best part of this for me was Edge spearing Rico off the apron. Hogan hits the legdrop for the win to retain the titles.

Match rating - **1/4

The Undertaker is waiting in the parking lot for The Rock. John Cena tries to thank him for teaming with him later on and Taker basically doesn't give a f*ck.


Molly Holly interrupts Torrie Wilson's photo shoot on the beach and gives her a speech about how to be a real champion.

Angle & Jericho pull up. Taker thinks it's The Rock and opens the limo door. Jericho suggests changing his name to Undertapper bc he tapped last week. Taker says "why don't you tap this" and jabs Jericho. Nice pull apart with Vince yelling and shit.

Backstage, Taker yells at Cena for not having his back when Angle & Jericho pulled up. 

2) Torrie Wilson vs. Molly Holly - Women's Title Match 

Don't remember much of this. Molly retains.

3) Rev Devon Dudley & Batista vs. Randy Orton & Mark Henry 

These Dudley & Batista/Orton matches continue. Mark Henry & Batista interactions here ruled. That's about it though. Routine shit at this point. 

Backstage The Rock catches Hulk Hogan talking about his match with him at Mania with Edge. 

Kurt Angle and The Rock in the ring. Good, good shit as expected. The Rock wanted Taker but got Angle. He is on fire and Angle is in prime. The Rock lays out Angle when all is said and done. They will face one on one next week, just days before their triple threat title match. 

4) Rikishi vs. Test 

This basically just sets up the Americans vs. Anti Americans match for Vengeance. Test, Storm & Christian attack Rikishi. Edge & Hogan make the save. Edge & Hogan vs. Storm & Christian for the tag titles in 10 days. 

Jamie Noble is living the high life at a Chinese buffet this week. Nidia, Tajiri and Noble all share spit and spaghetti. 

5) Jamie Noble & Tajiri (w/ Nidia) vs. Billy Kidman & The Hurricane 

Filler. Fun dives and a crazy sit out powerbomb off the top rope from Kidman to Noble for the win despite Nidia's interference. 

6) Kurt Angle & Chris Jericho vs. John Cena & The Undertaker

Fine main event. I loved the dynamic here with Taker not really caring to team with Cena. Cena looked good in this and the finish with Taker punching Jericho mid lionsault and Cena capitalizing with a roll up for the win was cool. 

Match rating - **1/4 

Post match, Jericho attacks Cena. Taker attacks Jericho. Angle attacks Taker. Taker gets the upper hand. Down comes The Rock. Angle & Rock trade. Everyone's laid out with Rock Bottom's. Lots of hype headed towards the PPV that is 10 days away. 

This show was okay. Lots of filler. But everything involving the Taker/Angle/Rock match was solid. 

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