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All Good With Aaron Wood's VERY UnReal Time Smackdown Review For Episode 1

By Aaron Wood
Sep 30, 2009 - 7:39 PM


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When Smackdown celebrated it's 400th show, thanks to the unique way WorldWrestlingInsanity is funded, I went out and found a free copy of Smackdown's pilot episode on Dailymotion.  Now, if I was a lazy and boring writer...in other words, if I was Canadian Bulldog, I would just repost that article from 2 years ago and pretend it was new, but no.  Because I'm awesome, I went out and stumbled on a copy of Smackdown's "debut" episode from August 26th 1999, so I'll be doing that one instead!

That said, if you want to read that pilot episode review, you can click the link below and check it out there!

Aaron Wood's Recap of The First Smackdown - The Pilot's Coming In For Landing

Also, it wouldn't be a Smackdown review these days without a "theme" to it, and since this is the "Decade Of Smackdown" week, what better than Smackdown, and more precisely the absolute myriad of "opening credits" it has had over the year.  Indeed, I have THIRTEEN different ones on tap, so some will be here and some will be in the Friday show.  And hell, I know there will be more, although those will be the same songs but with different guys depending on the roster.  These all have different songs or variations thereof.

So, what was Smackdown like when it began 10 years and roughly one month ago?  Let's find out!


Original Opening (1999-2001)

Smackdown #1 (Aired August 26th 1999)
We kick off the show with a nice and chunky-ass recap of the events of the previous few weeks, with HHH becoming the No.1 Contender to Austin's title at Summerslam, only for Mankind to end up winning the title by pinning Austin, and then the events on RAW the next night that saw Shane first book and then help HHH to win the title, his first title.

The Game (and the Rock & Sock Connection) Begins...
The pyro goes off and lo and behold, it's Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler who are at the announce desk.  Even I had forgotten this and assumed it was Cole & Lawler, but no, today's colour analyst was doing the Play By Play ten years ago.  And we kick off with our brand new champion, HHH and Chyna for a gab session.  The more things change...amirite?

HHH said he would normally have 2 words for us, but he had four.  That said, he ended up saying "I am the World Wrestling Federation Champion".  Call me crazy, but I count seven...  We see The Rock watching this innumeracy, as HHH called out all the corporate dweebs who said he wouldn't be able to get it done, but on Monday, he did it.  And like it or not, he's the WW F]E Champion.  He was what he said he was.  The Game.  It wasn't Stone Cold.  Not Mankind, because after the crippled Austin at Summerslam, he came back the next night and beat Foley.  So line them up, and he'll now them down.  Doesn't matter if it's the People's Ass...

The crowd chanted for The Rock and they received as Dwayne came out to the stage.  The Rock noted he had finally come back to Kansas City.  How dare the jabroni in the ring come on to The Rock's show, Smackdown, and run your yapper about how you're champion and "The Game", because if you are, go back to the drawing board because your game sucks.  But how's this for an idea?  Tonight, how about The Rock beats your Gamey ass and becomes WW FE Champion.  And there were 2 things HHH could do.  Nothing and like it.  HHH said if Rock wanted to play, he had to be in HHH's league, and he was nowhere near.  So run your ass to the back and get lost.

The Rock said HHH had left him with three choices.  GO in the back, take off his expensive shirt and start the promo all over again.  Or, if HHH liked wearing his title, he could take it, put a little High-C on it and stick it up his candy ass.  HHH said Rocky couldn't hold his jock.  Rock told him to shut his mouth, before saying Rock's third choice was that he could down the ramp, which he was doing, have HHH listen to the people chanting Rock's name, and then he figured he's take his shoe off, turn it sideways and stick THAT up his ass!

At this point, Shawn Michaels made his way out, at this point as Commissioner.  From WWE Commissioner to God-fearing short-order chef in 10 years...  HBK told The Rock that if he wanted to do this, let's make it official, and there was only one guy who could do that, and that was him, so if the people wanted it, they would receive.  Tonight, it would be The Rock vs. HHH...with Shawn Michaels as referee!  HBK's music hit, but Shane McMahon appeared from out of nowhere in the ring.  He said that HBK did have the stroke to make that match, but as Owner of the company, he was appointing himself the "second" guest referee to keep an eye on Michaels.  Michaels had a little problem with that, since Shane was already busy.  As HBK could book any wrestler in any match at any time, and coming off a 4-styar match at Summerslam, Shane was a Superstar.  So, Shane O'Mac was gonna be busy taking on a man he screwed over on Monday night.  Cue Mankind as this segment just won't end.  Mankind said he was excited at all the talk of screwing and stroking, so why put off today what we can do tomorrow (which confused the hell out of both JR, Lawler, the entire crowd and the population of the entire Earth) so why not take off his $3 shirt, loosen up his free tie, walk down the People's aisle and listen as the dozens and dozens of Mankind's fans chant his name.

The Rock decided that charging the ring was a good idea, and a brawl erupted, drawing out the Mean Street Posse.  However, Rock & Sock got the upperhand and Pete Gas & Joey Abs took Rock Bottoms as HHH and Shane escaped up the aisle.

We went to JR & Jerry as they talked about their main events as well as some other matches.  Undertaker & Big Show against the Millionaire and the "Damn!" guy and Kane & Wacky Partner Take 1.  And not just that, the in-ring debut of some guy named Chris Jericho!  And not only that, but Test was also awaiting an answer from Stephanie McMahon to his marriage proposal!

We cut to see Jeff Jarrett walk the halls with Debra and The Kat while we see Mr. Ass walking by himself.  Can't help but feel some poetic justice in that...

Billy Gunn def. Jeff Jarrett in an "And to think, of the 2 wrestlers and the ref in the ring, only Earl Hebner can get on TNA TV these days..." non-title match
As Jarrett and his bitches came out, we cut back to Monday as Chyna jumped head of Billy Gunn in contendership to the IC Title, only for her to get the EL KABONG~! from Jarrett, who then took the guitar shot himself from Gunn.  This one got started before they could even end Gunn's music as Jeff got the upper hand early.  However, Gunn leapfrogged Jarrett and hit a dropkick, followed by a powerslam for a 2 count.  Debra got on the apron, but Gunn was barely distracted.  However, Jarrett did block the corner charge and he hit a Tornado DDT out of the corner.  Gunn block a shot and hit some of his own, but Double J ducked a crossbody, sending Mr. Ass out.  Jarrett sent his future employee into the ringpost, before going back in.  Mounted punches in the corner were countered with some Snake Eyes.  Chyna made her way out as Gunn missed a corner charge. The Kat had the guitar in hand to pass to Jeff, but Chyna took it and hit Debra hard with it (although she was aiming for The Kat), which distracted Jeff long enough for Gunn to get the schoolboy for the three count!

----------
5.5/10 - What there was of it was alright, but it was pretty much alright at best and there wasn't much of it.
----------

After the match, Chyna and Gunn had words, leading Chyna to give Gunn a nutshot.

We cut backstage to see Al Snow with Lillian Garcia, which is notable, as she had only made her debut on RAW three days prior!  Al Snow had a message for Big Bossman, because Bossman had kidnapped, or should that be, dognapped Pepper.  Yep, this angle.  Snow practically begged Bossman to give him back.

We then cut to see Howard Finkel shining Chris Jericho's boots as we hit the ads.


2001 (Pre-"Invasion".  Last version to use the original song.)

We came back to see Test pacing around backstage, waiting for Stephanie.

The Undertaker & Big Show def. The Acolytes and Kane & X-Pac in a "To be fair to Taker, Big Show did (and kinda still does) need the motivation..." match to retain the Tag Team Titles
Kane & X-Pac made their entrance, which unlike the Smackdown pilot show, was them coming out together, with the joint music and pyro.  Next came the Acolytes, as we saw what brought the three duos together.  First was Kane & Pac winning the belts from the Acolytes, only for Big Show & Taker to win them from them at Summerslam, and then on RAW, we saw the six of them brawling.  Finally came the champions, with Paul Bearer.  However, as the bell rang, Undertaker decided to take up a seat at the announce desk for some commentary.  He said it was some hard love, making Big Show go it alone, saying Big Show had to earn Undertaker's knowledge.  He started off well enough until Kane hit a big DDT on him, for a 2 count that Bradshaw broke up.

It broke down into a 5-way brawl.  Kane & Bradshaw dumped Show out, which drew Taker up to yell at Show, giving him a slap before returning to the mic.  Big Show got back in the ring and smacked Faarooq and then get X-Pac up for a powerbomb.  However, Bradshaw clipped a leg out, putting Big Show on his knee and he then booted Pac off of Show's shoulders.  The Acolytes went to work on Show, and whipped him off the ropes, although he hit a double clothesline.  However, Pac had tagged Kane, who hit the flying clothesline before chokeslamming both Acolytes.  Big Show broke up the pin on Faarooq.  X-Pac came in, but the Acolytes pulled Kane out, leaving Pac with Big Show and from there it was pretty academic, Big Show hitting a chokeslam for the win.

----------
5/10 - The angle of Taker sitting it out to teach Big Show a lesson aside, this match was a mess.  It was largely just a multi-man brawl and a "match" never really developed.  Any time it seemed to want to get going properly, it just broke down, and again, it didn't last long, which made it come over worse.
----------

Test was still sweating Stephanie's arrival.  She showed up, and wanted to now, and she confirmed she had an answer, but walked off, so Test was still left hanging.


2001 ("Invasion" Period, using Marilyn Manson’s "The Beautiful People")

Bossman made his way out to the ring, as the announcers talked about him taking Pepper.  Bossman said Al Snow had been looking for him and at his size, he wasn't hard to find, so get out here.  Snow came out and Bossman said the dog was safe, for now, but if he bit Bossman again, he'd be sent to hell.  If he wanted to see the dog again, Snow should get his Hardcore Title, and he'd get the dog.  The dog for a title shot.  And if Snow didn't show up, he'd take the dog to a cold, hard place and show him what  hard time was like.

The Big Bossman def. Al Snow in a "A little Pepper, sir?" match to win the Hardcore Title
We came back from break to see Al in the ring, as Bossman came out with the dog, with his night-stick up against it's throat.  Bossman handed the dog off to Jerry Lawler before hitting the ring.  Al got punches in early, before ducking out the ring after a reversed whip.  Al went after the dog, but Bossman cut him off.  Out the other side of the ring, Al blocked a ladder shot, and rammed Bossman's head into the steel steps.  Snow got hold of a cookie sheet and whacked Bossman with it.  He picked the ladder up and went up top, but Bossman knocked him off the top to the floor.  However, when Bossman went to jab Snow with the ladder, Snow shoved it back at him.  Snow went for Pepper again, but Bossman whacked Snow with the night-stick and picked up the three count on the floor!

----------
5.5/10 - Again, very short, but in some ways, given that it's really more about the ongoing angle over Pepper, as Wrestlecraptastic as it is, so it was more an extension of that than an actual match.  But once again, if this went any more than 5 minutes, I'm a monkey's uncle.
----------

With Al Snow out, Bossman picked up the dog and left with Pepper once again.

We cut backstage to see Kane & X-Pac having an argument.  We then saw Chris Jericho in the back, walking along, saying to himself that it was down to him to save this show.  We then cut back to ringside as Snow awoke to find that Pepper was now gone.

We came back from break to see HHH & The Rock do...well, not much.

We then cut to Al Snow frantically looking for Pepper.

And speaking of Dog(g)'s...

Road Dogg def. Chris Jericho by DQ in a "When you bring a table into a normal match, well that's just bound to happen, isn't it?" match
Road Dogg made his way out doing his usual schtick, interspersed with clips of Howard Finkel getting in BG's face after being "inspired to be a "warrior" by Jericho, and a clip of Jericho hitting Road Dogg with a double powerbomb.  Remember when he used to do that?  Yeah, didn't last long, did it?  Jericho followed, for which, as mentioned earlier, Jericho's in-ring debut.  It's funny.  If you asked me about my over-riding memory about this first show, it would be that Chris Jericho put Road Dogg through a table.  I've always remembered that for some reason.  Anyway, they traded side headlocks and knock downs early before Jericho was monkey flipped and then clotheslined over the top rope.

Jericho reversed a whip on the floor though, and Dogg was sent into the steel steps.  Back in the ring, Jericho went up top, but the D-O-Double-G crotched him and hit a superplex.  Howard Finkel appeared to give Jericho some water, which he then splashed in Road Dogg's face, allowing him to take control.  Jericho hit a double underhook backbreaker, before heading out for a table.  He set it up, and looked to suplex Dogg through it, but he blocked it and hit a DDT.  Of course, even though the table is illegal, the ref did nothing to remove it or really stop Jericho from using it.  Dogg came back with his shake, rattle & roll before hitting a splash in the middle of the ropes and the shaky knee drop for a 2 count.  However, caught Road Dogg with a kick and hit the double powerbomb again, once on the mat and second time through the table for the DQ.

----------
6/10 - Another case of decent while it last (although this was the best of the bunch thus far) but short.  That said, the presence of the table was rather TNA-riffic.  Today, the ref would try to stop the table getting in the first place and/or get rid of it as soon as they could.  I prefer the modern day on that basis...
----------

Y2J then locked in the Walls Of Jericho (although they didn't know what to call it at that point, beyond a Boston Crab) before a bunch of referees and officials tried to prise him off.  Once they did, he laughed and blew a kiss to the audience.


2002 (Post Brand Extension.  Last use of "The Beautiful People")

We came back to see a replay of what had just happened before cutting to Jericho & Finkel backstage.  Jericho said it was too easy for him to be dominant in this ridiculous company before looking at a medium-sized CRT television (how times have changed...), showing ring announcer Tony Chimmel.  Jericho shouted at Howard asking why Chimmel was there and Finkel was here.  Jericho sent him out...

I'd wager Fink's a better worker than Warrior ever was.  At least he didn't blow up while running down to the ring!
TONY THE CHIM~! introduced the next match, only for The Ultimate Warrior's music to hit and Howard Finkel pounding his little legs down to the ring (Warrior's music for a "Warrior", you see).  Howard did a bunch of Warrior poses before getting in Chimmel's face, demanding his job back.  He shoved Chimmel down on his ass and picked up the mic, but Chimmel shoved him back and started choking him on the mat.  Jericho's face here backstage was priceless.

Chimmel stomped Finkel out of the ring, drawing Jericho back out.  He checked on Howard as Ken Shamrock came out for his match.  Shamrock and Jericho bumped shoulders on the ramp, to which Jericho sent Howard after Shamrock.  Shamrock grabbed Finkel by the finger, but this allowed Jericho to run round and come from behind with a chair.  Jericho & Finkel high-tailed it, with Shamrock sprinting after them soon after.

The announcers pondered Jericho & Finkel's doom before the sweet, innocent, and if I may say, slightly dumpy, Stephanie McMahon made her way out.

The beginning of the end for Test's career...
She got in the ring and called out "Andrew", forcing JR to affirm she was referring to Test, as the late-Andrew Martin came out.  Stephanie said Test asked her a question on Monday and she wanted to think and for it to be right, and she now had an answer.  Test said if everyone was to be right, he wanted to do it right.  He got down on one knee and proposed again, and she emphatically said yes.  They made out for a moment before Test was jumped by the Mean Street Posse and Shane.  The Posse laid in a beating as Shane held his sister back.  However, Mankind wasn't far behind them with a chair.  Mankind laid out the Posse with chairshots.  He got on a mic and told Shane to leave the couple alone.  It was his second time out there, and it would be his last time tonight, as their match was going to begin now.   Shane headed up the ramp.  Mankind said since Shane was a big bully, he would sweeten the pot.  He was going to leave the chair that now had the Posse's head prints on it on the mat, and he was going to give Shane-O one shot, so make it a good one.

Shane McMahon def. Mankind in a "I would guess this prepared Foley for over-booked brawls in TNA..." match
Shane smacked Foley in the back with relish, but as he celebrated, Mankind popped right back up.  Foley whipped Shane off the ropes and hit a back elbow.  He put in a shot with the microphone before clotheslining Shane out of the ring.  This gave Foley time to clear the Posse before heading out as Shane tried to escape behind the announcers.  Foley pulled Shane along the guardrail a bit before suplexing Shane over it to ringside again.  Back in the ring, Foley hit a Side Russian, but the Posse conspired to pull Mankind out the ring.  However, Test had recovered and he took out the Posse, soon to be joined by Patterson and Brisco.  Stephanie even got in on the act, choking Pete.  Meanwhile, Shane hit the Flying elbow, but there was no count in the confusion.  Mankind came back with the double-arm DDT and got out Socko.  He locked on the Mandible Claw, but Chyna ran out to distract the ref as HHH hit Foley in the legs with a chair, allowing Shane to get the three count.

----------
5.5/10 - Another short, but this time wildly over-booked, brawl here.  But to give it it's due, there was at least a logical progression to it since it followed on from Stephanie accepting Test's proposal, and almost everyone out there were already there anyway.  Just HHH, Chyna and the Stooges (who didn't get involved in the actual match, just went after the Posse) came out.  As I say, it was over-booked, and I can understand why.
----------

Shane was helped up the ramp by HHH & Chyna.

We immediately cut backstage to see Jericho & Finkel trying to escape.  However, while Jericho got in the car, he left Howard high and dry.  When Shamrock grabbed Howard, it became apparent that Howard had pooped himself, so Shamrock tossed him down.

We then immediately cut to see Michael Cole walking beside Tori, asking her something I couldn't quite hear.  However, what she did was, while with her back to the camera, she took off the evening gown she was wearing, leaving her with nothing but a thong and her shoes, that is to say that she had her tattiebojangles out.

So Michael Cole appeared on the first show after all...as did Austin...
We came back from break, as JR & Lawler shilled the sponsors before talking about HHH's attack on Austin's leg the previous Sunday at Summerslam, severely injuring his knee. This sent us to an interview with Austin by Michael Cole.  Austin said he had an injured knee already and the chair attack made things worse, but he would recover and there'd be hell to pay when he got back.  Cole said HHH said that Austin wouldn't be the same again.  Austin called bull and it was down to him to decide how good he was.  And he'd show HHH first hand what condition his knee was in when he came back and got his first title shot.  Cole asked if Austin was to blame for HHH's mean streak.  Austin said if he stole a page of his book, that's fine, but HHH hadn't written the whole book, and when he came back, HHH was in for an asskicking.


Early-mid 2003 (First usage of "I Want It All")

Tori def. Ivory in a "How and Why did Tori win a match she wanted to start where she would automatically lose???" Evening Gown match
ClubWWI's very own Ivory made her way out, as we headed back to Summerslam again as Ivory ripped off some of Tori's clothes.  Tori's music played, but we cut backstage to see a bunch of officials trying to stop her from getting to the ring.  Tony Garea eventually forced her to put on his dress shirt.

Has to be said, this is a bigger logic gap than even Vince Russo could come up with even if he tried his hardest.  Tori wants revenge on Ivory for stripping her to her bra, so an Evening Gown match is signed.  That's fine.  All good so far.  However, if Tori wanted revenge on Ivory for stripping her to her underwear, why in the hell did she wanted to wrestle without any clothes on at all?  Surely she would want more clothing to make it harder for Ivory to strip her?  And not only that, but when the point of the match is to strip your opponent of their main clothing, what's the point in coming out with none of it on?  All matters of showing boobies on network television aside, would that not just force the ref to call for the opening bell and then immediately the closing bell as well since it would be an automatic win for Ivory?  Her actions just made no sense at all.

Anyway, she came out with the dress shirt on, and got into the ring and into an immediate catfight, with Tori getting the upperhand.  Tori gave Ivory a couple of hairmares, before ripping at Ivory's gown.  That sailed, so she took Ivory into the corner.  However, Ivory switched and went for the shirt, but it didn't come off.  Tori speared Ivory down and finished ripping off her evening gown for the win.

----------
2/10 - Very short and almost nothing to it, and the booking before it made it worse.  I mean, first of all, if Tori wanted to get naked, why didn't she either take off her shirt herself on her way down and why did she stop Ivory ripping the shirt when she gave it a go.  Putting the whole thing together, I don't get what the story with Tori was at all.  It made more sense when she was a secret ninja...
----------

Tori continued to pound on Ivory until Luna ran out and held Tori back.

We cut backstage to Lillian, who was with HHH & Chyna.  Lillian was asking her question when Chyna grabbed the mic and said she didn't know who Lillian was or where she came form, but she had to show HHH respect.  HHH said he wanted to give Lil' Lil an education.  The Rock wanted to play The Game, he could step up and bring everything, but it wouldn't do him any good.  And HBK could ref all he wanted, but he had to remember to call it down the line and stay out of his way lest he cripple the Heartbreak Kid.

We cut to see The Rock and HBK walking the halls.


Mid-2003 - Mid-2004 (Second/Final usage of "I Want It All")

We came back to see Al Snow still looking everywhere for Bossman and Pepper.  We then immediately cut to see Steph and Test leaving, only for some guys, which as best I could tell were Michael Cole, Jimmy Korderas and Earl Hebner, run up to congratulate them.  We left them mid-hug to see HBK come out to the ring.  And boy, you think some of Shawn's attire today makes him look a bit fruity???  Shirt with a knot in it and hotpants here, buddy!

HHH def. The Rock in a "Yeah, like HBK wasn't gonna do that..." match to retain the WWE Title
HHH was the first of the combatants out.  It's odd seeing him in the chain mail these days.  Then again, it's even more weird that it's not Motorhead doing the theme.  HHH and HBK had words as HHH handed the belt over.  The keynote speaker from this week's "Decade Of Smackdown" show followed.  The Rock looked for an Early Rock Bottom, but HHH blocked and looked for a Pedigree, but that was blocked too.  Rock had a whip reversed and he kicked HHH, but Hunter came back with a clothesline.  HHH laid in blows in the corner before setting Rock up in the ropes, allowing Chyna to get a shot in.  Rock whipped HHH off the ropes and then side-stepped him coming back, sending him over the top.  HHH & Rock fought up to the stage, where HHH looked for a suplex, but Rocky countered into one of his own.  They went over to one of the twin TitanTrons at the side, where Rock hit a Side Russian legsweep as HBK tried to persuade them to take it back to the ring, with Rock obliging.  However, back at ringside, HHH caught Rock with a kick and sent him into the steps before rolling him back in the ring.  Rock ducked a shot and clotheslined HHH out the ring on the other side.

Hunter's head was rammed into the announce desk, but Chyna gave Rock a nutshot, prompting Michaels to eject Chyna.  HHH gave chase, wondering what the hell was going on.   HHH went back to the ring, but he was caught with a DDT.  Rock made a cover, but HBK was delayed with Chyna to make a proper count, only being able to make a one count when he ran back to the ring.  As Chyna finally disappeared, Shane McMahon ran down to the ring.  Insert your own joke here.  HBK allowed him to stay, but told him to watch himself.  HHH buried the shoulder into Rock's gut in the corner, before whipping Rock hard a couple of times into opposite corners.  HHH hit a suplex and followed with the knee drop.  Michaels made a pretty slow count, indeed only making a one count, on the pinfall.  HHH put on a chinlock, prompting HBK to check on Rock's consciousness, but the arm only dropped twice.  Rock stungunned HHH on the top rope, but Shane distracted HBK long enough not to make a three count.

The Rock gave HHH a swinging neckbreaker before punching Shane off the apron.  Rock hit the Rock Bottom and then set for the People's Elbow.  However, as he ran back in, BAM!  Sweet Chin Music to The Rock.  HHH recovered first to hit the Pedigree and HBK counted three (although it wasn't a fast count) for the win!

----------
7/10 - Pretty good match here, and one that actually got some time.  You could see the finish coming a mile away, but they had to do something since HHH only just won the title, but with Austin out and the likes of Big Show & Taker otherwise engaged, The Rock couldn't take a clean loss, so this was the best way to book their way out of it.
----------

HHH, HBK & Shane celebrated in the ring as Chyna headed back out.  Chyna hugged HBK before the all high-fived and left as the premiere show ended.

OVERALL - 5.5/10 -  It has to be said, a lot of people get all misty-eyed at the thought of the Attitude Era.  A lot of people get annoyed by TNA and it's inherent sh**iness.  And yet, there is, even at this post-Russo/WWE part of the Attitude Era, a lot to compare with both shows, and not in a good way.  The matches, especially in the early part of the show were a cross between not good and really quite short.  And then, it was more about the over-riding angle than the matches.  That in itself is fine, but it was much more akin to TNA's "Let’s throw s**t at the wall and see what sticks" philosophy more than anything.  The editing as well was terrible.  To be fair. unlike TNA's editing which is horrible up and down the show, the matches here were filmed well enough, but it was the stuff in-between that was the issue.  We jumped here, there and everywhere, barely staying anywhere for more than a few seconds before going somewhere else.  I mean, the section in the middle of the show was a clear example.  We saw Bossman and Pepper barely halfway up the ramp before we Kane & X-Pac in an argument we could barely hear anyway for only literally a few seconds tops, before we saw Jericho for just a few seconds.  To be fair they went to break, but the stuff after it was just as frenetic before Road Dogg came out.  Indeed, just earlier than that, during Al Snow's promo with Lillian, he was in the middle of finishing his last syllable when we cut to Howard Finkel shining Jericho's shoes.  And again, we only saw that for a few seconds before we moved on.

I honestly can't say I didn't enjoy this show on some level though, although I think it has aged a lot and doesn't necessarily hold up today, principally because of the rather schizophrenic nature of the booking and presentation.  But there was a nice flow to parts of it, especially in the second half, the Evening Gown match aside.  But as I alluded to earlier, the differences between the presentation and in-ring philosophy today and then are very marked, and I have to be honest, I prefer the modern age.

Now don't forget to keep checking worldwrestlinginsanity.com and ClubWWI.com for more on the Decade Of Smackdown week!


You can find him either on Facebook, MySpace(myspace.com/aaron24wood), or  on Twitter(twitter.com/aaron24wood).  And don't forget to check out the ClubWWI Twitter feed while you're there.  Or if you're into gaming, Aaron's Playstation Network screen name is, you guessed it, aaron24wood as well!

Aaron Wood
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Aaron's UnReal Time Smackdown Review: If You Didn't Like Last Week's Main Event, Then I'm Afraid I Have Some Bad News For You...
Aaron (And Special Guest)'s UnReal Time Smackdown Review: Rey Gets His Rematch And Thus What He Asked For
Aaron's UnReal Time Smackdown Review: Batista Beats Taker To The Chairshot
Aaron Wood's R(eal Time)AW Coverage: Giving Thanks For Three Hours With A...Sorry, THE Body

Alphabetical Listing of Guests You Can Hear on...

A

Sivi Afi
Aaron Aguliera
Skandar Akbar
Brent Albright
Ole Anderson
Road Warrior Animal
Tony "T.L. Hopper" Anthony

B

Buff Bagwell
Doug Basham
Paul Bearer
Giant Bernard
Big Daddy V
Eric Bischoff
Steve Blackman
Brian Blair
Tully Blanchard
Nick Bockwinkel
"The Boogeyman" Marty Wright
Bad News Brown
D-Lo Brown
"Jumping" Jim Brunzell
Mike "Simon Dean" Bucci
Bull Buchanan

C

Lance Cade
Christian
John Cena Sr.
Chaz "Headbanger Mosh"
Bryan "Adam Bomb" Clark
Rob Conway
Jim Cornette

Justin Credible

D

D-Ray 3000
Scott D'Amore
Christopher Daniels
Shawn Daivari
Dangerous Danny Davis
Dawn Marie
Damian Demento
Colin Delaney
Brother Devon
Demolition Ax
Demolition Smash
Bill DeMott
Ted DiBiase
J.J. Dillon
Nick "Eugene" Dinsmore
Disco Inferno
Spike Dudley

Hacksaw Jim Duggan
Kenny Dykstra

E

Bobby Eaton
Paul Ellering

Armando Estrada

F

Manny Fernandez
Francine
Mr. Fuji
Dory Funk Jr.
Terry Funk

G

Greg Gagne
Ronnie Garvin
Jackie Gayda
Robert Gibson
Glacier
Sylvain Grenier
Tod Gordon
Zach Gowen
Juventud Guerrera

H

Chalie Haas
Chris Harris
Bruce Hart
Jimmy Hart
Diva Search's Jessica Hatch
Dave Hebner
Earl Hebner
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Jon Heidenreich
Christy Hemme
Hillbilly Jim
Molly Holly
The Honky Tonk Man
Tim Horner
Scotty 2 Hotty
Sam Houston

Mr. Hughes


I

The Iron Sheik
Ivory

J

B.G. James
Jazz
Ahmed Johnson
Judge Jeff Jones
Orlando Jordan

K


Kamala
Kid Kash
Kevin Kelly
Pat "Simon Diamond" Kenney
Ron Killings
Cpl. Kirschner
Kizarny
Kevin Kleinrock
Brian Knobbs
Ivan Koloff

Nikita Koloff


L

Bobby Lashley
Bruno "Harvey Wippleman" Lauer
Jerry "The King" Lawler
"The Total Package" Lex Luger
Buschwhacker Luke

M

Rodney Mack
Magnum T.A.
Balls Mahoney
Dutch Mantell
Rick Martel
Clarence Mason
"Masterpiece" Chris Masters
Robbie McAllister
Rory McAllister
Matt Morgan
Ernest Miller
Missing Link
Father James Mitchell
Mo From Men on a Mission
Sean Mooney
Ricky Morton

Trevor Murdoch

N

Kevin Nash
Nidia

Nunzio

O

One Man Gang
Sonny Onoo
Paul "Mr. Wonderful" Orndorff
Oscar From Men on a Mission
Fred "Typhoon/Tugboat/Shockmaster" Ottman
Pierre-Carl Ouellet

Outback Jack

P

Diamond Dallas Page
Ken Patera
Nick Patrick
Thunderbolt Patterson
Jim Powers
Tom Prichard
Ivan Putski

R

Harley Race
Baron Von Raschke
"The Yeti" Ron Reis
Rhino
Dustin Rhodes
Tommy Rich
Rikishi
Paul Roma
"Super Hero in Training" Rosie
Jacques Rougeau
Terri Runnels

Lance Russell


S

Samoa Joe
Bruno Sammartino
Samu
Tito Santana
Dan "The Beast" Severn
Ron Simmons
Elix Skipper
Slick
Tracey Smothers
Al Snow
Sim "Deuce" Snuka
Dennis Stamp
George "The Animal" Steele
Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner
Idol Stevens
The Stro
AJ Styles
Dave "Evad" Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan

T

Dave Taylor
Sylvester Terkay
ECW's Tiffany
Too Cold Scorpio

V

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Jimmy Valiant
Johnny Valiant
Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Sid Vicious
Vito
Nikolai Volkoff


W

 

Y
David Young
Mae Young


Z

Larry Zybszko

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