Retro Ups & Downs: WWE Vengeance 2003 Review - First Smackdown PPV

[@jasonwhite4617]

Fun Fact about the Bar Room Brawl: The Easter Bunny was played by the future Damion Sandow and Doink was played by the future Eugene.

[@jonesyjones74]

The things us wrestling nerds know, love it

[@prayerdoeswork1018]

Wow what thats crazy Now im mind blown

[@LiftandCoa]

Oh god damn i successfully repressed the memory of eugene

[@DementedDistraction]

I was at this show, and I remember Taker's bike breaking down on top of the entrance ramp. He was just sitting there for the longest time and we were all wondering why, and then we could see white smoke rising from the engine as he fussed with it a couple more times. There was audible laughing from the crowd, and then Undertaker eventually was fed up and just walked down to the ring as two stagehands pushed his bike backstage. The APA bar room brawl was a surprise to everyone, as it wasn't advertised at all prior to the show, so when people filtered into the arena everyone was commenting and wondering what the old timey bar set was for. It was confusing because indeed, there were no rules established beforehand, so aside from the big spots the crowd wasn't really into it and didn't know how to react. WWE also decided to run the same Zac Gowen pre-tape promo about 4,700 times during that PPV, they were literally running it on repeat for about a half hour before the show. They ran it so many times it actually turned the crowd against Zac and he was booed heavily when he came out, and Vince was cheered during the match - this reaction was edited out of the DVD and Network releases. The main event was funny, because Big Show went through the table and just laid there for what seemed like forever, and all the while people were taunting him while he played dead, but watching Angle and Lesnar go at each other was great fun.

[@MelodicQuest]

"And you know who showed up? Doink The Clown!" I've heard Simon tease it so much I honestly couldn't believe him.

[@timrenken9213]

Thank you, Simon, for doing this show. Vengeance 2003 is the only wrestling event I have ever gone to! I am looking to change that very soon.

[@devondavis5119]

John and undertaker match at vengeance was absolutely banger back then

[@angelochase3873]

I remember this PPV as it child. It was my only live event I ever went to for WWE and I’ve never forgotten it and I never will. Great show

[@zacbowen4770]

Man this is one of my favorite ppv's from my childhood Chris Benoit vs Eddie Guerrero is always gonna be amazing Brock Lesnar vs Kurt Angle is amazing and yes I am one of those guys miss the raunchyness of WWE angles like that indeccent proposal match or the clothes ripping in the divas division back then it made TV unpredictable and it was great I wish we would go and get something kinda like this every once in a while

[@spikelovecraft8812]

Big Show vs Brock vs Kurt is definitely one of the biggest matches of my childhood. It felt so important at the time. One of my Top 5 favorite ppvs of all time.

[@Shtave3]

Omg the nostolgia! Thos was my virst wwe ppv that I got on VHS tape! I watched this almost everyday after school playing with my figures. 😂

[@derekfogel7682]

Biker taker was awesome!! My favorite version of him

[@pikapal91746]

Mid to late 2003 Smackdown is so nostalgic for me. Right when I first got into WWE.

[@Teddy42O]

Biker Taker is underrated!!🔥🔥🔥 him, Jericho & Cena were only wrestlers that could match Rock on the mic 🎤 😂

[@jeffro9252]

Cena? Really?

[@DracoDre]

@@jeffro9252cena in 03 on the mic was him wym 😂

[@peldoria]

Undertaker couldn't ever entertain on the mic

[@AcoylteKraven82]

“Underrated” or overrated?!? Because calling him underrated then fire him makes no sense!?! Now if you meant to to put he was “overrated” (maybe autocorrect mess you up or something!?! Trust me, I know all about that one) and to fire him then that goes to together. Even if I don’t agree that any version of the Undertaker should be fired…….

[@TheRealAhoy]

Taker is 7.5/10 on the mic. Not spectacular, but competent performing highly.

[@frankhoward6645]

Great review Simon you're the best my suggestion for the next retro ups and downs is Survivor Series 09

[@Tochallengethesun2003]

Judgement day 2002 Eddie Guerrero vs RVD and Brock lesnar getting jumped by the Hardy’s

[@peldoria]

I remember being 15 and feeling it was ironic that a Canadian and a Mexican were fighting for the first WWE United States Championship

[@nolankuffner3573]

Eddie Guerrero isn't Mexican though. He's very much American. Until he graduated high school, and by his own admission, he spent less than 6 months total in Mexico. He's 100% Texan.

[@peldoria]

@@nolankuffner3573 ok well I didn't know that. His gimmick never really portrayed that

[@andrewpickett722]

I've always wanted a retro ups and downs for royal rumble 1998!!!! Gave up hope when retro vanished, but my hope is renewed!!

[@dannyaraya8017]

more wcw! i need Simon to question his entire existence & be on the verge of a nervous breakdown

[@KJLDk1y2l3e4]

Raw after wrestlemania 29! For the raucous crowd and ziggler cash in

[@imtheroth]

Please do this one!

[@kevinmeeks5169]

YES!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!

[@shudson1367]

Random note: cena and taker went one on one in 2004/2005 when cena was u.s. champ, and it was really good!!

[@lexcorp8462]

For people who aren't familiar with ultimo dragon, he was awesome!! Back in the day there was the jade cup. Witch was made up of the cruiserweight championship of like 8 different promotions. I'm sure you can find pics of ultimo dragon and sunny Ohno holding up all the belts.

[@TheUncleWulf]

Please make a Retro Ups & Downs from the Royal Rumble 2003. Thank you!

[@jpmasters3827]

The fact that wwe used to dedicate so much into the stages and presentation of the show and segment such as the bar set up plus every ppv felt and looked difference cause of this wwe should go back to this. Also one of the best Vince work as heel

[@patrickmcgavin2245]

For some reason WWE rewrote their history. Because when John Cena and undertaker had a match on raw either in a tag match with Shawn and Batista. Or a one on one match on Raw. WWE said undertaker and Cena never had a wrestling match.

[@PrinceIsot]

When they write those scripts sometimes they forget. There are thousands of hours of content lol that is funny tho because they do that a lot

[@ananyaraizada7657]

Because Vince wants everyone to forget that American badass ever existed. He only wants Taker to be remembered as deadman.

[@92blim]

my favourite john cena shenanigans are where he would wrap his chain around his fist and punch his opponent with it. *thumbsup

[@ShabeRaven]

This PPV is the reason I don't go to live shows anymore. I was literally at this show and I have absolutely 0 memory of it. I had actually forgotten about it so much that when I was playing the showcase mode in 2K23 and the match with Cena and Undertaker came up and it was mentioned it was in Denver at the Pepsi Center in 2003 I literally had to stop and look it up and spend about 10 minutes trying to figure out if I had actually gone. I then started thinking about it more and realized of like the 5 or 6 live event I ever went to I remember maybe 3 things out of all of them.

[@dylanogg347]

Vengeance (2003) is a great show, and the Ups & Downs do not reflect the overall quality. Plus it has a dope theme song in Staind's seminal classic "Price to Pay".

[@thedarkemperor9292]

In the Vince McMahon v. Zach Gowan match, apparently ol' Vinny Mac got BUSTED OPEN HARD WAY, from stories I've heard. I would not be surprised if it was hard way. That kick to the chair sounded like gunshot.

[@edvinrosenqvist524]

Please do UNFORGIVEN 2004 next time. Chris Jericho vs Christian in a laddermatch, HBK vs Kane in a no DQ match and Randy Orton vs HHH.

[@lostartofwhining]

My dad taped this for my brother and i since he was in denver and we hsd no cable. It has lots of fond memories, id say 45 .5 outta 5 stars and an extra .5 for being the first PPV ever in Colorado

[@dylanogg347]

In context, Gunn and Noble sounds like a disaster, but their match is pretty solid. And the story ended on a much better note than you'd expect.

[@kamtheimmaculateone1999]

Royal rumble 1992 or summerslam 92, DO IT

[@prayerdoeswork1018]

If we go back to the basics of story telling for Cena vs Taker Cena WAS meant to lose that match I remember watching the lead up and everything as a fan back then and John had done so much to disrespect Undertaker that I'm sorry but HE DESERVED TO LOSE I was invested and completely satisfied with Undertaker beating John Cena The good guy beat the bad guy John learned a lesson in RESPECT that night

[@camerondalton1495]

Pretty much.

[@MeirNissim-c1t]

RAW after Wrestlemania 29 Dolph Ziggler cashes the Money in the Bank briefcase to win the World Heavyweight Championship

[@WRESTLINGWRITESITSELF]

Love This Show!! 🙌

[@robertbarlow4990]

We should rename the thing where you throw a weapon to the other guy and fall down the Guerrero Flop in honour of Eddie

[@michaeldennistooley4271]

They've never had a better exclusive raw or smackdown pay-per-view than vengeance 2003.

[@rongiefaustino8867]

Doctor of Thuganomics was the best thing on WWE TV back then

[@Dr_1212]

Keep Rolling Rolling Rolling Rolling

[@dylanogg347]

You got your first fact wrong Simon. Rebellion (2002) is the first SmackDown! Exclusive Pay-Per-View. And Brand Exclusive Pay-Per-Views rock! They allow for more stories and matches.

[@kingsinferno5009]

This is the only PPV to ever take place in Denver… we need a Denver PLE soon!

[@bookerreid8929]

Every time Simon says the word “sports”… It does something to me. As if there was a hiccup in the matrix.

[@tamzidmohsinkhan3333]

I miss the old ppv where it featured only one brand show seperately

[@shreyashmishra16]

The first ever Undertaker vs John Cena in WWE!!!

[@KB_5280]

I was at this event! The only PPV I ever attended

[@striker15338]

This and unforgiven 2006 might be the best b show ppvs of all time imo

[@humyers8633]

Vinnie Mac- GAH DAMNIT ZAK WE'RE GOING HOME

[@noahogbu6021]

It was actually WWE Rebellion 2002

[@Vinceras]

Kinda ironic how they just had a video the other day talking about how Kidman couldn't do the Shooting Star Press properly half the time so they banned it.

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

It's a move that you can't really control once you do it off the top rope. And besides, there are worst moves/botches out there

[@Vinceras]

@@criminalmindsgirl2936 Hey, don't come at me...they pushed the content. Literally like a day or two before this video. I just found it funny.

[@calvinkevick9152]

Survivor series 2003. Please Simon. Please please please

[@TheJHouse21]

Bash at the beach 1994 please

[@JeffsToyReviews]

Next SummerSlam 2006

[@70siddharth]

If the same downs would have happened in aew its a up

[@charlesbloor2869]

Retro ups and downs needs a Rey Mysterio counter

[@jakemassa2359]

I think the vince chairshot was a botch. It looked like he held it the wrong way. Hence the terrible finish.

[@davidreed7849]

Jamie noble the heel doing bad things Down Is Villains doing villain shit bad now?

[@jsmizz4]

I nominate January 4th 2010 Impact

[@Scooty_Scooty]

IWC smarks love Benoit and his finisher the child killer crossface.

[@camerondalton1495]

Why you gotta be like that?

[@Tompeteux]

SIMON MILLER DOO DOO ALERT!🚨 13:41 💩 DOUBLE DOO DOO!! 15:29 💩💩

[@bizerk5583]

smack down November 11 1999 (Arnold Schwarzenegger guest star)

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

The crowd was behind Kidman and Rey. They should've won. WWE always tend to screw up something good.

[@markcahill9255]

If your living in 2003 nobody is complaining about Sable getting sexy 😂

[@kennyhall9117]

Simon is the best, Simon number one 👏👏

[@joshperkins5974]

It’s really annoying listening to sensitive people complain about wrestling especially things that happen 20 years ago. So here’s what I’m gonna do instead of complaining about it anymore I’m just not gonna watch. Something you sensitive people should look into

[@BrittneyStarling]

Finally!

[@catisreckless4647]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion/viewpoints. But Simon, I think you really need to drop the whole Benoit thing. He was a sick man, who lost his mind due to the sport he loved. Acting like he was just some psycho who got off on murdering his family is not only untrue, but it's an insult to his (and his family's) memory. I never met the man of course, but I'm still positive that sane Benoit would never, EVER condone what happened that day. People really need to stop acting like he was Hitler or something.

[@nolankuffner3573]

Nancy had sought police support and there's legal evidence of her having filed a police report and a restraining order at one point. I've known multiple people with CTE. They never killed anyone, let alone their own child and their wife. In YOUR OPINION, Simon should 'drop it'. After saying people are entitled to their own opinions. It's a shitty soapbox and your apparent hero is still a piece of shit 🤷

[@dragonchaserkev]

If Vince had bought UFC he would have ruined it sadly.

[@CyclopsWasRight616]

giving the Cena / Undertaker match both an Up and a Down makes no sense.

[@marvelsProtege]

🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️ 🤦‍♂️ You have to let a man have sex even if you don't want to 😑🙄 I don't know what to say

[@camerondalton1495]

It's fine. They have a segment on Smackdown where Billy, Torrie, Noble, and India have foursome. So it has a funny ending.

[@pilothouseking]

I wish you would separate yourself from this channel. You are great, those other two fellows aren’t.

[@skeltonpitts7121]

Simon said dodo

[@alexmikedis9609]

benoit still the goat

[@riotd.r.8363]

As problematic as the Indecent Proposal match was, it oddly has a happy ending on Smackdown... weird.

[@annamarieadobas1063]

SmackDown > Raw

[@BillSerad]

Simon with all these woke takes and pretending to be offended by everything 🙄

[@zachuphoff7739]

Or maybe he'd rather enjoy wrestling and doesn't want a story line involving use a woman as an object.

[@Undademedina]

I think it's a bit telling that you have such a negative knee jerk reaction to someone saying "this rape storyline is kinda gross" in a personal opinion review show

[@Jonathannovak1]

shut up

[@BillSerad]

​@Daniela_Unda who cares? It's a show about fictional characters and she obviously agreed to the storyline. No different than shows like game of thrones

[@camerondalton1495]

To be fair, it doesn't end in rape. They have a funny foursome to conclude the story so it is not that bad.

[@mjdub1013]

Maybe Simon shouldn't do any more retro ups an downs before the pg Era. He seems a little to sensitive and woke.

[@markphillips8668]

Yeah

[@markphillips8668]

Yeah

[@jeremiahhamilton2422]

Y'all even know what "woke" means?

[@HorrorGirlNat]

What was "woke" about what he was saying? Don't be so sensitive snowflake.

[@Jonathannovak1]

shut up bro

[@TickleMonster414]

You definitely should do the smack down with Brock vs Kurt 60 min iron man match