WWF/E SmackDown! - Fourth of July 2002

Another neat show this week.

- Congratulations Lance, Christian and Test. That was probably the biggest crowd heat any three of you have ever gotten. It does my heart very well to see ol' Stoneface get such a big reaction - even though it means cheap "dis the country" heat. Though you had to figure they show up with Lillian singing "America the Beatiful" and all - Fourth of July or not. Signs: "Deport Lance Storm", "America Junior" with the Canadian Maple Leafs surrounding it (that one was cool). I'm wondering how long it'll be until we see the 3 Canadians in red and white. Oh, yeah - the match with Rikishi was OK.

- Batista is still scary looking. I still like D-Von's music though they haven't been doing anything with him lately. Poor Val - now he's playing second fiddle to Randy Orton. Tazz: "I want D-Von to do [the hangman's neckbreaker] to me so I can get some height!" Heh. Cole's constant referring to Batista as "ManMountain" has already got me annoyed with the nickname.

- John Cena likes to slap people, doesn't he? Though Jericho selling it like a Tyson left hook was a bit much in addition to slurring his words after the break. I'm assuming being from Boston is the reason why Cena was wearing the Celtics colors tonight. Note: This was Vince McMahon's one and ONLY appearance tonight. Thank you.

- Angle was putting himself over as an American hero and I was surprised to see the Three Canadians not interrupt here.

- An AGD segment starring Palumbo's ass, some hot dogs, and of course, your standard homosexual innuendo with Rico and the bare hot dog. Though, I admit the weiner falling apart in Rico's hand and Billy Gunn saying "you broke my weiner" was a little funny.

- Edge wins tag title #8. Hogan wins tag title #1. I do believe this is the first title Hogan has won that wasn't a World title. The match - well, there sure was a lot of red in that ring. Hogan coming down to Real American was cool but Edge smiling and giggling like a little child while he was coming down was a bit much though. Cole's constant "Edge's lifelong dream of teaming with his idol, Hulk Hogan" was well... being Michael Cole. Also, I couldn't help but notice the irony of Edge holding on to and waving the US flag there - someone PLEASE get a screencap of that. The match was pretty cool and the double legdrop finish was neat as well - but I wish Edge would break out the inverted sharpshooter of his or dust off the Downward Spiral and use that again. I give this reign two weeks tops since they'll either job it back or the Canadians will get it. "SuperTeams" usually have short reigns. Another Cole Stupidity: Apparently Palumbo's superkick is simply "a boot to the chin" to Cole.

- Jericho (who hates smarks) vs. Cena (in his Boston Celtic trunks) was a bit sloppy but it was pretty good <smark>for what it was</smark>. Jericho's sleeper drop is apparently called the "Flashback" now. OK - that's what... 4 finishers now? The Walls, the Breakdown, the Lionsault and this? I see Cena trying to use the Venis-Bomb also.

- Rey's coming. Mask or no mask, I can't wait.

- Tazz bringing up Cole's first ever interview with HHH and Shawn and Cole shrugging him off = hilarious. Still bitter about the wedgie, Cole?

- The bra and panties stuff = eh. FFWD material either way. Though those cartwheels Stacy was doing off the ropes were kinda cool.

- Jamie and Nidia's new trailer segment = cool. I wish Noble didn't have to FORCE his trailer trash redneck accent. "Look baby, running water!!!" HA!

- Recapping the match between UT and Jeff Hardy. I know I wasn't the only one rooting for the freak. UT's subsequent interview with Marc Loyd was OK. And I still think that Unified World Title is too small.

- Rock's back next week and thank God.

- Another heel vs. heel(?) title match. Angle with his ugly "SuperAngle" singlet but KILLER bald head v. UT and his dinky World Title. The match dragged in the beginning but it got a lot cooler as it went on. That leglock chokehold Angle put on UT was neat - but I guess the "draw" finish says that Angle will be placed in the Unified World Title match at Vengeance. UT tapped while Kurt was pinned. BTW, was it me or did the crowd "magically" change during the end of this match?

Overall, a pretty good show but it doesn't touch last week's by a long shot.