[2000-03-23-WWF-Smackdown] Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit

[Loss]

Another match we'll see repeatedly over the next few years. Jericho does commentary here and is a bit distracting from the match, which isn't much. I think he was trying to channel The Rock here in rattling through his catchphrases and insulting Michael Cole. The segment I think is designed for him to get some of his heat back from Monday, as he lays both guys out with belt shots, then does a Walls of Jericho to both guys. This is a good hype segment for their WM match.

[soup23]

This continued to keep the feud going but the match was pretty disjointed with constant interference and interaction between all three. I am still looking forward to the Mania match which doesn't have much hype behind it but all three of these guys are in the top handful of US workers at the current time. *3/4

[GSR]

Our ‘Olympic Hero’ is most disappointed after being informed earlier today that he will have to put up both of his titles in a ‘two fall, triple threat’ match at Wrestlemania. He believes it’s a conspiracy, and tonight will give Chris Benoit a taste of what’s in store for him then. Chris Jericho is out after the wrestlers and slowly makes his way to join Michael Cole and ‘the King’. Angle is keeping an eye on him, but ends up being blindsided by Benoit at the bell. Bodyslam, followed by a baseball slide dropkick which sends Angle rolling out of the ring. He whips Kurt chest first into the turnbuckles and grabs him around the waist, however a pair of back elbows for the break. Release overhead belly to belly, and Angle just unloads on Benoit in the corner with rapid fire punches. A regulation suplex for two, at which point the cameras cut backstage to show Bob Backlund watching the match on a monitor. Angle whips ‘the Crippler’ into the turnbuckles, however when he charges at him, Benoit get the boot up. Rolling German suplexes, after the final one though Kurt is able to get a foot over the rope to break the pin. Benoit’s chops are absolutely vicious here. Accidental clash of heads with ‘the Crippler’ coming out on the worse end. Angle collects one of his title belts and is about to wallop Benoit with it, when Y2J leaves the commentary desk, grabs the other one and nails Kurt with it for the DQ. He clobbers ‘the Crippler’ with the belt for good measure and then puts Angle in ‘the Walls’. The referees and Tony Garea have no luck in getting him to break the hold, and when he finally does so himself, he then goes and puts it on Benoit.

 

And so the build for Wrestlemania continues. Really not enjoying Jericho’s mic work and he was at it again here on commentary with his ‘Kirk Angel’, calling Benoit ‘Mr Robotnik’ and going on about his monotone voice, and even referring to Michael Cole as ‘Mitchell Cole’; its lowest common denominator stuff for me. I thought Angle was much better on Raw than Jericho was here. Benoit’s chops are brutal at one point during this. Thought we may get Backlund making the save, but he was never seen again after that one shot of him watching on the monitor backstage. After Angle left his opponents laying on Monday, it was Jericho’s turn tonight as they continue to try and make them all look equal going into Mania.