by Anthony Cali
Instead of returning home for their usual rest days, SmackDown! Superstars boarded a plane after last week’s show and headed to Europe for a four-day tour of Italy and Germany, but despite the lengthy trip, the gorgeous country of Italy felt like home for several of WWE’s Superstars.
“I couldn’t believe the reaction we received,” says Rico on the set of a top-secret SmackDown! Magazine photo shoot. “It was unbelievable. Since it had never been acknowledged on TV that I’m Italian-American, I was really surprised at the amount of fans who knew.”
Many fans brought pro-Rico signs to support the Sicilian Superstar, and during his match, there were loud “Ri-cola” chants heard throughout the arenas. It even got so frantic, that at one point it seemed like the ring was about to explode, and it almost did.
In Pesaro, the top rope collapsed during the Rico and Haas battle against the Dudley Boyz. The unfortunate malfunction nearly caused the contest to be stopped, but the Superstars smartly worked around it, and finished their bout.
John Cena, another Italian-American whose heritage is hardly recognized, was also met with nationalistic pride. Many fans shouted out “you can’ta seeya me,” while holding up their country’s flag with pride. As usual, Cena kept the fans on the edge of their seats with his witty banter and outstanding ring work.
Not surprisingly, the Full-Blooded Italians, Nunzio and Johnny “the Bull” Stamboli, also received some of the loudest ovations of the night. During all three of their matches, fans chanted “F-B-I,” “Johnny-da-Bull” and “Nun-z-io,” while holding up signs painted like the Italian flag, with each color of the flag containing one of the groups three letters.
The Italians almost completed a clean sweep in their journey through the homeland. In Milan, Nunzio and Stamboli defeated Chavo Guerrero & Chavo Classic, and Cena got a victory over Rene Dupree, while Haas and Rico beat Hardcore Holly and Billy Gunn. Then the next night in Pesaro, Haas and Rico upended the Dudleys, Cena beat Luther Reigns, and Johnny “the Bull” made his paisans proud when he overcame the “Reflection of Perfection” Mark Jindrak –his stable mate, Nunzio, wasn’t as lucky in Milan, as he and Spike Dudley wound up with the short end of the purse when they lost to Chavo and Chavo Classic.
“I had such a blast,” continues Rico. “These Italian fans are some of the best fans out there, and I can’t wait to go back.
Credit: WWE
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