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Vengeance (2003)
Encyclopedia
Vengeance was a professional wrestling
pay-per-view
(PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE), which took place on July 27, 2003 at the Pepsi Center
in Denver, Colorado. It was the third annual Vengeance
event and starred wrestlers from the SmackDown brand
.
Eight professional wrestling matches
were scheduled on the event's card
. The main event was a No Disqualification Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship
, in which Kurt Angle
defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar
and The Big Show to win the championship. Two featured bouts were scheduled on the undercard. In a standard match, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon
defeated Zach Gowen
. The other was a standard match in which The Undertaker defeated John Cena
.
Vengeance had an attendance of approximately 9,500 and received about 322,000 pay-per-view buys. This event helped WWE increase its pay-per-view revenue by $6.2 million from the previous year.
with outcomes predetermined by WWE script writers. The matches featured wrestlers portraying their characters in planned storylines that took place before, during and after the event. All wrestlers were from the SmackDown brand - a storyline division
in which WWE assigned its employees.
Before the event began and aired live
on pay-per-view
, an episode of Sunday Night Heat
, one of the secondary television programs for WWE, was taped live. The only scheduled match was a standard match between Último Dragón and Kanyon
, which Dragon won after a standing shiranui on Kanyon.
between Eddie Guerrero
and Chris Benoit
. The match was contested evenly between both men, with both of them performing a variety of offensive maneuvers. Guerrero eventually gained the upper hand when Rhyno
interfered in the match while the referee was kayfabe
unconscious, performing a spear, a variation of a take down to Benoit. Following this, Guerrero performed a body splash from the top turnbuckle onto Benoit, a move called a frog splash. Guerrero then covered Benoit for a pin, becoming the new WWE United States Champion
.
The following bout was a standard match between Billy Gunn
, escorted by Torrie Wilson
, and Jamie Noble
. The stipulation on this match was that if Noble won, he would be allowed to sleep with
Torrie. During the match, Noble performed a DDT
from the top turnbuckle on Gunn and attempted a cover, but Nidia
interfered and placed Gunn's foot on the rope, causing the pin to be broken. This angered Noble, who confronted Nidia. Torrie attempted to slap him, but he instead kissed her. Following this, Nidia and Torrie both slapped Noble. Noble returned to the inside of the ring, only to be tripped by Torrie. While he was confronting her, Gunn attempted to lift Noble, spin him 180°, and slam him onto his back, a move known as a spinning side slam or Gunnslinger, but Noble pushed him into Torrie. Noble then performed a roll-up on Gunn, pinning him.
The third contest was a Bar Room Brawl hosted by the Acolytes Protection Agency
(Bradshaw
and Faarooq
). In the match, the last man who was still capable of standing won. In addition to the APA, it featured Shannon Moore
, Doink the Clown
, Brother Love
, Nunzio
, Matt Hardy
, Kanyon
, Danny Basham, Doug Basham
, the Easter Bunny
, Sean O'Haire
, John Hennigan, Orlando Jordan
, Funaki
, Los Conquistadores (Rob Conway and Johnny Jeter
), the Brooklyn Brawler
, Johnny Stamboli
, Chuck Palumbo
, Matt Cappotelli
, and Spanky
. During the match, Spanky was put through a table
, Sean O'Haire used a pool cue as a weapon, and Brother Love threw Shannon Moore through a mirror
. After knocking down Brother Love, Bradshaw remained the last man standing and won the match.
The next match was a tag team
match
for the WWE Tag Team Championship
, where the champions, the World's Greatest Tag Team
(Shelton Benjamin
and Charlie Haas
) defended their titles against the team of Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman. Throughout the match, both teams performed many offensive maneuvers, though the World's Greatest Tag Team gained the advantage with a combination of a powerbomb
by Haas and a diving lariat from the top turnbuckle by Benjamin. This was followed by a cover for a pin, and the World's Greatest Tag Team retained their championship.
and Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie attacked Sable while she was on the way to the ring, while Sable utilized kicks to take the advantage. Stephanie beat on Sable on the outside before attempting to hit her with a steel chair, but the referee stopped her. The match concluded when Stephanie tore away at Sable's top, and while Sable was attempting to get referee Brian Hebner to help her, Albert (Matt Bloom) attacked Stephanie. Hebner then gave Sable his shirt to cover her, and she made the cover on Stephanie for a pinfall.
The first featured contest was a standard match between The Undertaker and John Cena
. The Undertaker controlled the match in the beginning, but Cena took advantage by drinking water and spraying it in the Undertaker's face. The Undertaker regained control and lifted Cena by the throat and slammed him to the mat
(a move called a chokeslam), which was followed by an attempt to elevate Cena into the air and slam him down onto the mat, called by the Undertaker a Last Ride. Cena reversed the move into a DDT
, however. The Undertaker was thrown into an exposed turnbuckle and Cena attacked his midsection, which caused him to bleed from the mouth, selling internal injuries, or making them appear realistic. The Undertaker later attempted to lift Cena upside down and kneel to drop his head to the mat (dubbed by the Undertaker a Tombstone Piledriver), but was unable to due to the (kayfabe) injuries he had received. Cena punched him with a chain wrapped around his fist and lifted the Undertaker onto his back and threw him off onto the mat, which Cena calls an FU. Cena then covered the Undertaker, but he kicked out of the attempt. Cena then scaled the turnbuckle to attack the Undertaker in the corner, and the Undertaker performed a Last Ride on him, followed by a cover for a pinfall.
The second featured bout was a standard match between WWE Chairman Vince McMahon
and Zach Gowen
. McMahon controlled much of the match, attacking Gowen's leg primarily, as Gowen only has one leg. However, Gowen retaliated with such offensive maneuvers as one-legged dropkick
s and springboard backflips. Late in the match, McMahon held a steel chair with the intent of hitting Gowen with it. Gowen, however, jumped, spun 360°, and kicked the chair into McMahon's face, causing him to bleed. Gowen then attempted a backflip off the top turnbuckle with a 360° twist, but missed and hit the mat. McMahon then covered Gowen for a pinfall, but after the match, the crowd gave Gowen a standing ovation for his performance.
The main event was a No Disqualification Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship
in which WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defended his title against Kurt Angle
and the Big Show. The match began with Angle and Lesnar facing off against each other, before both of them attacked the Big Show. The Big Show threw Angle to the outside of the ring and performed a chokeslam on Lesnar. He covered Lesnar but did not score a pinfall. The Big Show controlled the early portions of the match before Lesnar struck the Big Show with his shoulder and attempted to lift the Big Show onto his shoulders and threw him in a spinning motion, which Lesnar calls an F-5. The Big Show countered the move, however. Angle returned to the ring with garbage can lids and both he and Lesnar attacked the Big Show with them. The Big Show attempted to perform a chokeslam on both men at the same time, but Angle and Lesnar worked together to perform a chokeslam on the Big Show. Later in the match, Angle began to bleed. Lesnar was placed on the top turnbuckle by the Big Show, who also climbed up to punch Lesnar, but Angle distracted the Big Show and Lesnar went down to the mat, with the Big Show still above him. This allowed Lesnar to perform a powerbomb
on the Big Show, which was followed by a cover by Lesnar. Angle broke the cover by hitting Lesnar with a chair to the back, following with a chair shot to the head, causing Lesnar to bleed as well. Angle and the Big Show proceeded to fight on the outside of the ring, and Angle slammed the Big Show down by lifting and spinning him 90°, sending him through the Spanish announcers' table. Afterward, Lesnar and Angle fought each other back on the inside of the ring, and Lesnar threw Angle to the outside again. The Big Show returned to the ring and performed two chokeslams simultaneously on Angle and Lesnar, and he covered both men but failed to score a pinfall. Angle then placed Lesnar in an ankle lock, but the Big Show broke the hold. Angle performed his Olympic Slam on the Big Show again, and then hit Lesnar with the same maneuver, covering him for a pinfall and winning the WWE Championship.
s professional wrestling section rated the entire event a 8.5 out of 10 stars. The No Disqualification Triple Threat main event match was rated a 10 out of 10 stars. The event was released on DVD
on August 26, 2003 by Sony Music Entertainment
.
The tournament was held between June 19 and July 27, 2003. The tournament brackets were:
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
(PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE), which took place on July 27, 2003 at the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
in Denver, Colorado. It was the third annual Vengeance
WWE Vengeance
Vengeance is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by professional wrestling promotion WWE. The inaugural event took place on December 9, 2001 and replaced WWE Armageddon for that year due to the possible insensitivity of the latter's name with respect to the September 11 attacks....
event and starred wrestlers from the SmackDown brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
.
Eight professional wrestling matches
Mock combat
Mock combat involves the execution of combative actions without intent to harm. Participants can engage in such sparring for ritual, training, recreational or performance reasons...
were scheduled on the event's card
Card (sports)
In sports, a card comprises a listing of the matches taking place in a title-match combat-sport event. Organizers divide overall cards into a main-event match and the undercard, which encompasses the rest of the matches. One can also further subdivide the undercard into midcard and lower card,...
. The main event was a No Disqualification Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
, in which Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog...
and The Big Show to win the championship. Two featured bouts were scheduled on the undercard. In a standard match, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
defeated Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. The other was a standard match in which The Undertaker defeated John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
.
Vengeance had an attendance of approximately 9,500 and received about 322,000 pay-per-view buys. This event helped WWE increase its pay-per-view revenue by $6.2 million from the previous year.
Background
The event featured nine professional wrestling matchesMock combat
Mock combat involves the execution of combative actions without intent to harm. Participants can engage in such sparring for ritual, training, recreational or performance reasons...
with outcomes predetermined by WWE script writers. The matches featured wrestlers portraying their characters in planned storylines that took place before, during and after the event. All wrestlers were from the SmackDown brand - a storyline division
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
in which WWE assigned its employees.
Event
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Commentator | Michael Cole Michael Cole Michael Sean Coulthard , better known by his ring name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator, currently signed to WWE on both its Rawand SmackDown brands. Coulthard is a former news journalist.... |
| Tazz Tazz Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz... |
|
| Interviewer | Josh Mathews |
| Ring announcer | Tony Chimel Tony Chimel Anthony "Tony" Chimel is an American professional wrestling ring announcer, currently employed by WWE working as the ring announcer for SmackDown brand.-WWE :... |
| Referee | Brian Hebner |
| Jimmy Korderas | |
| Nick Patrick Nick Hamilton Joseph Nicholas "Nick" Patrick Hamilton Jr. , better known by his ring name Nick Patrick, is a professional wrestling referee. He is a former referee for World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment... |
|
| Mike Sparks |
Before the event began and aired live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
on pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, an episode of Sunday Night Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
, one of the secondary television programs for WWE, was taped live. The only scheduled match was a standard match between Último Dragón and Kanyon
Chris Kanyon
Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby...
, which Dragon won after a standing shiranui on Kanyon.
Preliminary matches
After Sunday Night Heat, the pay-per-view event began with a standard match for the vacant WWE United States ChampionshipWWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
between Eddie Guerrero
Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions...
and Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
. The match was contested evenly between both men, with both of them performing a variety of offensive maneuvers. Guerrero eventually gained the upper hand when Rhyno
Terry Gerin
Terrance "Terry" Gerin is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name Rhino . He is best known for his career in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
interfered in the match while the referee was kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
unconscious, performing a spear, a variation of a take down to Benoit. Following this, Guerrero performed a body splash from the top turnbuckle onto Benoit, a move called a frog splash. Guerrero then covered Benoit for a pin, becoming the new WWE United States Champion
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
.
Monty Sopp
Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James...
, escorted by Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson
Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
, and Jamie Noble
Jamie Noble
James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...
. The stipulation on this match was that if Noble won, he would be allowed to sleep with
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
Torrie. During the match, Noble performed a DDT
DDT (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
from the top turnbuckle on Gunn and attempted a cover, but Nidia
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
interfered and placed Gunn's foot on the rope, causing the pin to be broken. This angered Noble, who confronted Nidia. Torrie attempted to slap him, but he instead kissed her. Following this, Nidia and Torrie both slapped Noble. Noble returned to the inside of the ring, only to be tripped by Torrie. While he was confronting her, Gunn attempted to lift Noble, spin him 180°, and slam him onto his back, a move known as a spinning side slam or Gunnslinger, but Noble pushed him into Torrie. Noble then performed a roll-up on Gunn, pinning him.
The third contest was a Bar Room Brawl hosted by the Acolytes Protection Agency
Acolytes Protection Agency
The Acolytes Protection Agency , was a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Bradshaw and Faarooq. They wrestled for the American promotion World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment between October 1998 and March 2004....
(Bradshaw
John Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
and Faarooq
Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
). In the match, the last man who was still capable of standing won. In addition to the APA, it featured Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore is an American professional wrestler, who is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling between 1999 and 2001 and with World Wrestling Entertainment for several years in the 2000s.Moore befriended Matt and Jeff Hardy...
, Doink the Clown
Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler...
, Brother Love
Bruce Prichard
Bruce Prichard is a professional wrestling personality, best known as a manager and producer for World Wrestling Entertainment , where he portrayed Brother Love, the original manager of The Undertaker...
, Nunzio
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
, Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, Kanyon
Chris Kanyon
Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby...
, Danny Basham, Doug Basham
Doug Basham
This article is about the wrestler, for the talk show host see Doug Basham Lyle Douglas "Doug" Basham, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, He is best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between 2002 and 2007, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name...
, the Easter Bunny
Aaron Stevens (wrestler)
Aaron Haddad is an American professional wrestler. He is contracted to WWE, and appears in Florida Championship Wrestling , a WWE developmental territory, as Damien Sandow. He is the current FCW 15 Champion...
, Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
, John Hennigan, Orlando Jordan
Orlando Jordan
Orlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion....
, Funaki
Shoichi Funaki
is a Japanese/American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Hardcore Champion.-Early years :...
, Los Conquistadores (Rob Conway and Johnny Jeter
Johnny Jeter
John "Johnny" Jeter is an American professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Spirit Squad member Johnny on the Raw brand in 2006....
), the Brooklyn Brawler
Steve Lombardi
Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler...
, Johnny Stamboli
John Hugger
John Hugger is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Johnny the Bull, World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli...
, Chuck Palumbo
Chuck Palumbo
Charles "Chuck" Palumbo is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution . Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment...
, Matt Cappotelli
Matt Cappotelli
Matthew Lee "Matt" Cappotelli is an American professional wrestler, last working in Ohio Valley Wrestling, which was the primary developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment until February 7, 2008...
, and Spanky
Brian Kendrick
Brian David Kendrick is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under his real name. Before joining TNA he spent several years wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled under his name, as Spanky, and finally as "The" Brian Kendrick...
. During the match, Spanky was put through a table
Folding table
A folding table is a table with legs that fold up against the table top. This is intended to make storage more convenient and to make the table more portable.-Description:Folding tables are produced in many sizes, configurations, and designs...
, Sean O'Haire used a pool cue as a weapon, and Brother Love threw Shannon Moore through a mirror
Mirror
A mirror is an object that reflects light or sound in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to its contact with the mirror. Some mirrors also filter out some wavelengths, while preserving other wavelengths in the reflection...
. After knocking down Brother Love, Bradshaw remained the last man standing and won the match.
The next match was a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
match
Professional wrestling tag team match types
Much like singles matches, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, hardcore tag team matches are commonplace...
for the WWE Tag Team Championship
WWE Tag Team Championship
The WWE Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship in WWE. It was established as a second title for tag teams in WWE in 2002 to complement the original World Tag Team Championship...
, where the champions, the World's Greatest Tag Team
The World's Greatest Tag Team
The World's Greatest Tag Team is the professional wrestling tag team of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, who currently perform as Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. Originally formed in World Wrestling Entertainment , they started out captained by Kurt Angle, during which time they were known as...
(Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton James Benjamin is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment. Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Benjamin has acted...
and Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
) defended their titles against the team of Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman. Throughout the match, both teams performed many offensive maneuvers, though the World's Greatest Tag Team gained the advantage with a combination of a powerbomb
Powerbomb
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
by Haas and a diving lariat from the top turnbuckle by Benjamin. This was followed by a cover for a pin, and the World's Greatest Tag Team retained their championship.
Main event matches
The fifth contest was a no countout match between SableRena Mero
Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment....
and Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie attacked Sable while she was on the way to the ring, while Sable utilized kicks to take the advantage. Stephanie beat on Sable on the outside before attempting to hit her with a steel chair, but the referee stopped her. The match concluded when Stephanie tore away at Sable's top, and while Sable was attempting to get referee Brian Hebner to help her, Albert (Matt Bloom) attacked Stephanie. Hebner then gave Sable his shirt to cover her, and she made the cover on Stephanie for a pinfall.
The first featured contest was a standard match between The Undertaker and John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
. The Undertaker controlled the match in the beginning, but Cena took advantage by drinking water and spraying it in the Undertaker's face. The Undertaker regained control and lifted Cena by the throat and slammed him to the mat
Chokeslam
A chokeslam refers to a type of body slam in professional wrestling in which the wrestler grasps their opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks powerful on camera...
(a move called a chokeslam), which was followed by an attempt to elevate Cena into the air and slam him down onto the mat, called by the Undertaker a Last Ride. Cena reversed the move into a DDT
DDT (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
, however. The Undertaker was thrown into an exposed turnbuckle and Cena attacked his midsection, which caused him to bleed from the mouth, selling internal injuries, or making them appear realistic. The Undertaker later attempted to lift Cena upside down and kneel to drop his head to the mat (dubbed by the Undertaker a Tombstone Piledriver), but was unable to due to the (kayfabe) injuries he had received. Cena punched him with a chain wrapped around his fist and lifted the Undertaker onto his back and threw him off onto the mat, which Cena calls an FU. Cena then covered the Undertaker, but he kicked out of the attempt. Cena then scaled the turnbuckle to attack the Undertaker in the corner, and the Undertaker performed a Last Ride on him, followed by a cover for a pinfall.
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
and Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. McMahon controlled much of the match, attacking Gowen's leg primarily, as Gowen only has one leg. However, Gowen retaliated with such offensive maneuvers as one-legged dropkick
Dropkick
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
s and springboard backflips. Late in the match, McMahon held a steel chair with the intent of hitting Gowen with it. Gowen, however, jumped, spun 360°, and kicked the chair into McMahon's face, causing him to bleed. Gowen then attempted a backflip off the top turnbuckle with a 360° twist, but missed and hit the mat. McMahon then covered Gowen for a pinfall, but after the match, the crowd gave Gowen a standing ovation for his performance.
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
in which WWE Champion Brock Lesnar defended his title against Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
and the Big Show. The match began with Angle and Lesnar facing off against each other, before both of them attacked the Big Show. The Big Show threw Angle to the outside of the ring and performed a chokeslam on Lesnar. He covered Lesnar but did not score a pinfall. The Big Show controlled the early portions of the match before Lesnar struck the Big Show with his shoulder and attempted to lift the Big Show onto his shoulders and threw him in a spinning motion, which Lesnar calls an F-5. The Big Show countered the move, however. Angle returned to the ring with garbage can lids and both he and Lesnar attacked the Big Show with them. The Big Show attempted to perform a chokeslam on both men at the same time, but Angle and Lesnar worked together to perform a chokeslam on the Big Show. Later in the match, Angle began to bleed. Lesnar was placed on the top turnbuckle by the Big Show, who also climbed up to punch Lesnar, but Angle distracted the Big Show and Lesnar went down to the mat, with the Big Show still above him. This allowed Lesnar to perform a powerbomb
Powerbomb
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
on the Big Show, which was followed by a cover by Lesnar. Angle broke the cover by hitting Lesnar with a chair to the back, following with a chair shot to the head, causing Lesnar to bleed as well. Angle and the Big Show proceeded to fight on the outside of the ring, and Angle slammed the Big Show down by lifting and spinning him 90°, sending him through the Spanish announcers' table. Afterward, Lesnar and Angle fought each other back on the inside of the ring, and Lesnar threw Angle to the outside again. The Big Show returned to the ring and performed two chokeslams simultaneously on Angle and Lesnar, and he covered both men but failed to score a pinfall. Angle then placed Lesnar in an ankle lock, but the Big Show broke the hold. Angle performed his Olympic Slam on the Big Show again, and then hit Lesnar with the same maneuver, covering him for a pinfall and winning the WWE Championship.
Reception
The Pepsi Center has a maximum capacity of 19,000, but that was reduced for Vengeance 2003. The event had an attendance of 9,500. The event resulted in 322,000 pay-per-view buys. The promotion's pay-per-view revenue was $24.7 million. Canadian Online ExplorerCanadian Online Explorer
Canadian Online Explorer is a bilingual online news and information site from Canada.A subsidiary of Quebecor Media, Canoe.ca is a leading local and national interactive media provider of news, entertainment and services, helping to inform and connect Canadians...
s professional wrestling section rated the entire event a 8.5 out of 10 stars. The No Disqualification Triple Threat main event match was rated a 10 out of 10 stars. The event was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
on August 26, 2003 by Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
.
Results
| # | Results | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Último Dragón defeated Chris Kanyon Chris Kanyon Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby... |
Singles match | 04:04 | |
| 1 | Eddie Guerrero Eddie Guerrero Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions... defeated Chris Benoit Chris Benoit Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide... |
Singles match for the vacant WWE United States Championship WWE United States Championship The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand.... . |
22:13 |
| 2 | Jamie Noble Jamie Noble James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition... (with Nidia Nidia Guenard Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment... ) defeated Billy Gunn Monty Sopp Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James... (with Torrie Wilson Torrie Wilson Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness... ) |
Singles match | 05:00 |
| 3 | Bradshaw John Layfield John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News... defeated Shannon Moore Shannon Moore Shannon Moore is an American professional wrestler, who is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling between 1999 and 2001 and with World Wrestling Entertainment for several years in the 2000s.Moore befriended Matt and Jeff Hardy... , Doink the Clown Nick Dinsmore Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler... , Faarooq Ron Simmons Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,... , Brother Love Bruce Prichard Bruce Prichard is a professional wrestling personality, best known as a manager and producer for World Wrestling Entertainment , where he portrayed Brother Love, the original manager of The Undertaker... , Nunzio James Maritato James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While... , Matt Hardy Matt Hardy Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .... , Chris Kanyon Chris Kanyon Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby... , Danny Basham, Doug Basham Doug Basham This article is about the wrestler, for the talk show host see Doug Basham Lyle Douglas "Doug" Basham, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, He is best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between 2002 and 2007, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name... , The Easter Bunny Aaron Stevens (wrestler) Aaron Haddad is an American professional wrestler. He is contracted to WWE, and appears in Florida Championship Wrestling , a WWE developmental territory, as Damien Sandow. He is the current FCW 15 Champion... , Sean O'Haire Sean O'Haire Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:... , John Hennigan, Orlando Jordan Orlando Jordan Orlando Jordan is an American professional wrestler, most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jordan is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time United States Champion.... , Funaki Shoichi Funaki is a Japanese/American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Hardcore Champion.-Early years :... , Los Conquistadores (Rob Conway and Johnny Jeter Johnny Jeter John "Johnny" Jeter is an American professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Spirit Squad member Johnny on the Raw brand in 2006.... ), The Brooklyn Brawler Steve Lombardi Steve Lombardi is an Italian American professional wrestler, and road agent. He is also known by his ring name Brooklyn Brawler... , Johnny Stamboli John Hugger John Hugger is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Johnny the Bull, World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli... , Chuck Palumbo Chuck Palumbo Charles "Chuck" Palumbo is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution . Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment... , Matt Cappotelli Matt Cappotelli Matthew Lee "Matt" Cappotelli is an American professional wrestler, last working in Ohio Valley Wrestling, which was the primary developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment until February 7, 2008... , and Spanky Brian Kendrick Brian David Kendrick is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under his real name. Before joining TNA he spent several years wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled under his name, as Spanky, and finally as "The" Brian Kendrick... |
APA Acolytes Protection Agency The Acolytes Protection Agency , was a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Bradshaw and Faarooq. They wrestled for the American promotion World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment between October 1998 and March 2004.... Invitational Bar Room Brawl |
04:33 |
| 4 | The World's Greatest Tag Team The World's Greatest Tag Team The World's Greatest Tag Team is the professional wrestling tag team of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, who currently perform as Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team. Originally formed in World Wrestling Entertainment , they started out captained by Kurt Angle, during which time they were known as... (Shelton Benjamin Shelton Benjamin Shelton James Benjamin is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment. Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Benjamin has acted... and Charlie Haas Charlie Haas Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin... ) (c) defeated Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman |
Tag team Tag team Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name... match for the WWE Tag Team Championship WWE Tag Team Championship The WWE Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship in WWE. It was established as a second title for tag teams in WWE in 2002 to complement the original World Tag Team Championship... |
14:53 |
| 5 | Sable Rena Mero Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment.... defeated Stephanie McMahon |
No Countout match | 06:25 |
| 6 | The Undertaker defeated John Cena John Cena John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand.... |
Singles match | 16:01 |
| 7 | Vince McMahon Vince McMahon Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE... (with Sable Rena Mero Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment.... ) defeated Zach Gowen Zach Gowen Zach Gowen is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .... |
Singles match | 14:02 |
| 8 | Kurt Angle Kurt Angle Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion... defeated Brock Lesnar Brock Lesnar Brock Edward Lesnar is an American mixed martial artist, actor and a former professional and amateur wrestler. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and is ranked the No.5 Heavyweight in the world by Sherdog... (c) and The Big Show |
No Disqualification Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship WWE Championship The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963... |
17:29 |
The tournament was held between June 19 and July 27, 2003. The tournament brackets were: