Reported by Keith Vinciguerra of WrestleView.com
» On Sunday, March 23, 2003 at 12:03 AM EST

You are in for a real treat this weekend. Your regular Heat recapper is unable to perform his duties on Sunday, so I’ll be recapping both shows. I don’t watch Heat as much as Velocity, so it will be interesting to compare the two B shows. Without further ado, it’s show time ....

VELOCITY RECAP

Nunzio w/FBI vs. Tajiri
Before the match starts, the ref sends Johnny the Bull and Chuck Palumbo back to the dressing room. The two wrestlers start off with some grappling, exchanging headlocks and armbars. Tajiri drops Nunzio with a shoulderblock and then Nunzio spins him around and drops him head first into the mat. Irish whip into the corner, but Tajiri floats over the back and nails a spinning heel kick. He tries a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Nunzio reverses it midair into an armbar. They both try back suplexes but get countered, and then Tajiri hits his springboard elbow for a two count. After another exchange, Nunzio executes the Sicilian Slice and goes to work on Tajiri’s arm with armbars and a second rope legdrop to the arm. Nunzio attempts the Arriva Derci but gets crotched in the corner and stuck in the Tree of Woe. The Japanese Buzzsaw hits his sliding kick to the head then pummels his opponent with chops and kicks. Tarantula by Tajiri and an attempted finishing kick, but Nunzio ducks it, grabs his arm and hits the Arriva Derci for the win.

Winner by pinfall: Nunzio

Flashback to Smackdown
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar from two weeks ago is shown. Then we see Angle on the mic yelling at Brock for injuring his brother. Out comes Stephanie McMahon and she says that if Angle gets outside help or tries to get DQ’d, then he will forfeit the belt to Brock. Finally, Kurt beats on Brock until the refs stop him.

Wrestlemania Hype
The highlight of the week is Hulk Hogan beating Sgt. Slaughter for the title. The announcers run down the match list for the big show and then we see Hogan on Regis & Kelly.

Matt Hardy vs. Nova
Matt backs Nova into the corner, pushes him, then celebrates. Nova tries a few grappling maneuvers but Version 1.0 counters by pulling the hair. Shannon Moore interferes throughout the match to keep the newcomer (2nd time on Velocity I think) from gaining the advantage. Ricochet by Matt gets a two count. Nova finally takes over when he eludes a charging Hardy in the corner. He nails a running chop, an ensuguri and a bulldog type knee to the face that the crowd didn’t understand. Then he goes after Matt in the corner, but Hardy nails a Side Effect off the top rope. Twist of Fate and it’s all over.

Winner by pinfall: Matt Hardy

Flashback to Smackdown
Mean Gene and Hulk Hogan are in the ring for the official match signing. McMahon attacks from behind and pummels Hogan with nasty chair shots and then signs the contract.

A-Train w/Big Show vs. Funaki
Funaki gets in a punch or two before A-Train hits his shoulderbreaker for the win.

Winner by pinfall: A-Train

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VELOCITY REVIEW

Nunzio w/FBI vs. Tajiri

Great opening match. We saw lots of counters and momentum shifts. Nice to see Nunzio get a win without help from his buddies. Not sure where Tajiri is headed but I wouldn’t mind seeing his matches on Velocity every week.

Angle vs. Lesnar

This is the way to build up a feud: let the guys beat on each other for a few weeks. We don’t need wives being stalked or fake mistresses appearing. Is there anyone who isn’t looking forward to this match?

Matt Hardy vs. Nova

Matt Hardy on Velocity? No complaints here. Again, Nova looks nothing like what I thought he would. The match was decent. Nova got in some interesting offense so it wasn’t a straight squash.

Ass Train vs. Funaki

What a “giant” waste of 30 seconds. I can’t believe that travesty was the main event of the show this week. I’m almost embarrassed to review matches like that. Albert vs. Funaki happened four times in fives weeks on Velocity a few months ago and this revival was worse than any of those bouts. I truly cannot express in words how annoying this was.

Overall, Velocity was fine up until the last “match”. Nunzio vs. Tajiri and Matt Hardy vs. Nova were solid, but there were too many flashbacks. This would have been fine if they delivered a great main event, but instead we got a giant copout of a match. Truly disappointing.

See you tomorrow for Heat!!