August 4, 2003 Observer Newsletter: WWE Vengeance review, All Japan in trouble, more

The first Smackdown brand-only PPV in the U.S. (there have been Smackdown only brand PPV shows in the U.K.) on 7/27 at the Pepsi Arena in Denver, was largely considered an in-ring success, with every match that on paper looked good delivering.

The show drew approximately 9,500 paid (far more than that were actually in the building, although much of the upper deck was blocked off) and a house in the $475,000 range for a show headlined by Kurt Angle capturing what could be called his fourth or fifth-ever so-called world title (depending if you consider a six-day run as WCW champion when WWE recognized the title in 2001) in a three-way over Brock Lesnar and Big Show. The only surprise in the finish was that he pinned Lesnar. In most cases, it’s better for the title for the champion to get pinned, but they have pinned Lesnar, who had been booked as something special, so many times of late that I didn’t expect it to happen.

Current subscribers click here to continue reading.