SHOT OF NOSTALGIA #7.5: THE SMACKDOWN SIX ERA | EDDIE ASCENDING | FEB–JUL 2003 | U.S. TITLE REBORN | CHAVO TURNS

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era rolls on with your host Acefield Retro, and this week we are stepping into one of the most important stretches of the entire project. Episode 5, titled Eddie Ascending, covers February through July 2003. This is the moment when SmackDown did more than outperform Raw in the ring. It found its emotional core. WrestleMania XIX proves that the blue brand is the company’s true in-ring backbone. The United States Championship returns and gives the midcard real purpose. Eddie Guerrero moves out of the tag ranks and becomes the heart of WWE.

We begin at No Way Out 2003. Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit are placed in a 2 on 3 handicap match after Edge’s sudden neck injury forces him off television. The entire structure of SmackDown changes overnight, but from that uncertainty comes a turning point. Lesnar and Benoit fight from underneath, Team Angle grows into something special, and the rivalry between Lesnar and Kurt Angle begins to intensify just weeks before WrestleMania.

From there we head into WrestleMania XIX, a main event that almost collapses before it happens. Kurt Angle is wrestling with a severe neck injury that should have kept him out entirely. Brock Lesnar nearly lands on his head attempting the Shooting Star Press. Somehow the match still becomes one of the most dramatic finishes of the era. Brock leaves as champion. Angle proves again that he is superhuman. Despite injuries and constant reshuffling, SmackDown stands tall as WWE’s true wrestling showcase.

After WrestleMania, the story shifts to Eddie Guerrero. The booking becomes chaotic, but Eddie thrives when things get messy. His partnership with Tajiri looks random at first, but it quickly becomes inspired. We take a closer look at their Tag Team Championship run, including a complete watch along of the June 26, 2003 Madison Square Garden match against Roddy Piper and Sean O’Haire. The match captures everything special about this period. Nostalgia, comedy, wild character energy, and athleticism all blend together. Holding the titles gives Eddie the opportunity to show every piece of who he is. The humor, the intensity, the timing, and the emotion are all there.

The second half of the episode focuses on the return of the United States Championship. Stephanie McMahon brings the title back to SmackDown, instantly giving the midcard a new sense of identity. The tournament becomes a showcase for Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. Their Vengeance 2003 final is a 20 minute battle filled with technique, grit, creative shortcuts, and a major surprise from Rhyno. Eddie wins the championship with the Frog Splash, and the title immediately feels meaningful again because Eddie makes everything he touches feel important.

We also explore the early signs of tension between Eddie and Chavo. Chavo’s frustrations build quietly as Eddie’s star begins to rise even higher. These small moments begin the emotional story that eventually leads to Chavo’s turn later in 2003. It is layered and human and exactly the kind of storytelling that defined this era.

Alongside the on screen events, we take a wider look at the company through the Wrestling Observer newsletters. Paul Heyman is quietly removed from creative. The injury list grows longer every week. WWE struggles to commit to a consistent style. Evolution never forms the way it was intended. Goldberg arrives and immediately loses momentum. Nostalgia and shock television fill airtime, while SmackDown continues to stand out through strong wrestling and grounded, character driven stories. Eddie’s rise, the renewed importance of the United States Championship, and the remarkable depth of the midcard give the brand stability during a turbulent period.

By the time we reach the summer of 2003, SmackDown is no longer simply the house that the SmackDown Six built. It becomes the place where Eddie Guerrero’s redemption arc turns into the emotional heartbeat of the entire Ruthless Aggression era. Fans begin to see him not only as a great performer but as someone who could eventually lead the company.

Shot of Nostalgia: The SmackDown Six Era Episode 5, Eddie Ascending, premieres Friday, December 5, 2025, wherever you listen. Like, subscribe, and leave a review to support the project. You can visit TurnbuckleTavern dot com for merchandise, archives, and the full network schedule, and you can join Patreon dot com slash The Turnbuckle Tavern for $2.99 a month to help keep these deep dives going.

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