WWE Backlash 2000
Our opening package quickly recaps the McMahon turmoil as well as what they've done to Rock leading up to this PPV, emphasizing the idea of trust and of course reminding us of Shane's role as referee.
We're live from the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. J.R. and the King welcome us to the show, but before we get to any action, Debra makes her way out for... ring announcing? Well, alright. She's apparently making her return, from what I can tell she stayed off TV while Austin was recovering from surgery, so I guess that explains this. With that out of the way, it's time for the first of six title matches.
WWF Tag Team Championship: Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/ Tori) vs Edge & Christian (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Oof, Debra is... not great at this. Thankfully it's only for one match. Roadie gets the mic and does his shtick before the champs come out.
Edge and X-Pac start things out, X-Pac gets the offense early with some chain wrestling, then some quick back and forth before Edge hits a spinning heel kick, sending X-Pac out to the outside, who regroups with Roadie before getting back in the ring. Roadie tags in now, with a cheap shot to the midsection, sending Edge off the ropes, who ducks a back elbow and takes down Roadie with a tilt-a-whirl headscissor. Christian tags in now, they whip Roadie into the corner as Edge sets himself up, Christian launching off his back into a splash on Roadie, cover and a near fall, then another cover and another near fall.
Roadie gets in a thumb to the eye and a kick to the midsection and tags in X-Pac, rights back and forth before Christian's sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a powerslam. X-Pac sent into the corner and Christian goes up for the 10 punch, but Edge inadvertently distracts the referee, allowing Roadie to hang Christian shoulder first across the top rope, X-Pac sending him down with a clothesline. Christian tossed out and X-Pac distracts the ref so Roadie can send him into the steps. Back in the ring, Roadie tags in for a cover and a near fall.
Roadie a front facelock now as Christian tries to fight to his corner, but X-Pac distracts the ref as Christian makes the tag, so it doesn't count. Edge distracts the ref as a result for double teaming in DX's corner and even Tori gets some in, and X-Pac hits the Bronco Buster. Roadie now with a snapmare, followed by harsh kicks to the back, cover and a two count, followed by a side headlock.
Christian fights back up with some rights, off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, blocks a back body drop only for Roadie to duck a clothesline for some Shake, Rattle and Roll. then a knee drop, cover but Edge breaks it up. Christian back up and sends Roadie off the ropes and they both go for a crossbody, taking each other out.
X-Pac rushes in prematurely as they go for tags to attack Christian, which distracts the ref, so Edge goes up top and nails Roadie with a headbutt, before knocking Pac to the outside. Christian drapes an arm over Roadie but he kicks out. X-Pac in now and they go for a double back suplex, but Christian flips out for a double reverse DDT. Christian makes the hot tag and lays in with rights aand clotheslines, Pac reverses a whip off the ropes and goes for a hurricanrana, but Edge counters with a sitout powerbomb for Roadie to break up. Roadie goes to hit the pumphandle slam, but Christian grabs him for an Unprettier, only to be pushed into a spinning heel kick from X-Pac. Edge meanwhile hits Roadie with the spear. Tori gets a handful of Edge's hair on the apron and Pac goes to nail him, but nails Tori instead. Edge tries to capitalize with a roll up but Pac kicks out.
On the outside, Christian goes to nail the reverse DDT on Tori but Roadie flies off the apron only to miss him, while Pac hits the X-Factor on Edge. He goes for the cover as the ref slides out while Roadie and Tori argue, Christian grabs the ring bell and nails Pac in the head with it. Christian makes the cover and Edge holds off Roadie, champions retain in 9:24. Nice opening match.
The champs leave the ring and...Jeez, X-Pac's been busted open pretty bad from the bell shot and we go to replays. Then we see a limo pulling into the arena and out comes Rock, then onto our next match.
Light Heavyweight Championship: Scotty 2 Hotty vs Dean Malenko (c)
Dean immediately goes for a cheap shot but Scotty ducks, backing Dean into the corner with some rights, before sending him off the ropes into a back elbow. Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop and a clothesline, cover and a 2 count. Dean pulls back as Scotty goes to send him off the ropes again and goes for a powerbomb but Scotty slips out into an arm drag and a dropkick, cover and another 2. More rights in the corner, but Dean, reverses a whip across the ring, Scotty leaps up and over and gets the arms around the waist, but Dean slips around into a headlock, but Scotty nails the back suplex and a kip up, followed by a nice moonwalk. Dean takes advantage though and attacks from behind in the corner, but Scotty reverses a whip across the ring and leaps to the second rope, only for Dean to catch him in an atomic drop, then dropped himself with a right by Scotty. Dean sent across the ring and Scotty goes for his bulldog to set up the Worm, but Dean knocks him down with a clothesline as he turns around.
I've just noticed how stained the mat is, Jesus X-Pac really got cut open the hard way. Scotty rolls to the apron and Dean nails some rights before sending Scotty into the turnbuckle. To the outside, Dean rams him back first into the apron before tossing him back in. Scotty in the corner fighting back kicks with rights, then puts Dean in the corner for some rights until the ref has to separate them, Dean taking advantage with a dropkick to the knees. Dean now starts to work the knee with elbows and twisting, the ref counts a few pins as Scotty's shoulders lay on the mat but he kicks out. Dean pulls Scotty to the corner to slam his knee into the ring post a few times, rolling back in to restart the count. More work on the knee as he slips back in the ring but Scotty fights back up, tries for an enziguri but Dean ducks and drops another elbow to the knee. Knee drop into the knee and even a knee bar, more pins as Scotty falls to the mat a few times, Dean uses the rope momentarily until the ref catches him and forces him to release the hold. More boots to the knee before Scotty gets flipped inside out as he holds himself up by the ropes, then a shin breaker, but Scotty nails the enziguri as Dean holds on.
Scotty with some rights now, but Dean reverses a whip into the corner before he works the knee some more, driving the point of Scotty's knee into the mat, then a baseball slide into the knee. In the corner, Dean drapes his knee over the middle rope and kicks away before the ref frees him, then goes for the figure 4, or maybe a spinning toe hold, but Scotty kicks him into the corner for a roll up and a near fall, only for Dean to knock him down with a clothesline. More shots to the knee before sending Scotty off the ropes, Scotty catches him with a kick but he tackles Scotty, sending them both through the ropes to the outside.
Dean tries to get back in but Scotty yanks him down and face first into the apron. Scotty tries to go up top but Dean cuts him off and nails the superplex. Back to their feet after a few moments, Scotty ducks a clothesline and goes for the backslide for a near fall. Dean immediately back up and goes for the cloverleaf, but Scotty gets him in an inside cradle for another near fall. Scotty whipped chest first into the corner before nailing a back suplex. Dean goes for the powerbomb again but Scotty slips out, comes off the ropes and nails his bulldog and nails the Worm. Dean though leads Scotty face first into the turnbuckle, then rolls him up with feet on the ropes but the ref catches him. Suplex attempt by Malenko, followed by back and forth reversals before Dean nails a tigerbomb for a cover and a near fall.
Scotty whipped into the corner but gets the boots up as Dean follows, only to be caught with a powerslam, cover and another near fall. Scotty pulls back as he's sent off the ropes, but Dean hooks him by the neck as they go toward the ropes, hanging Scotty up as he drops to the apron. Dean goes up top now, but Scotty cuts him off and goes for a superplex, but Dean turns it into a DDT as they leap off, god damn. Dean makes the cover and retains the title in 12:56. This one felt like it went a bit too long, but it wasn't a terrible match. Kinda felt like Scotty stopped selling the knee after a while and never really played into anything, though.
Dean leaves with his title as we immediately go to replays and he heads to the back. Then we go to the back, where Vince, Steph and HHH are meeting with Patterson and Briscoe. Vince wants to make sure his Stooges are really back with them and assure him they are. Shane walks in carrying his ref shirt, and Vince tells them it's all hands on deck tonight, no matter what.
Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan vs The APA
Boss Man and Buchanan waste no time attacking APA on the outside as they come out to start this match, with Bradshaw and Bull starting things out as they get in the ring. Bull face first in the corner with some rights and knees, then a DDT by Bradshaw, who goes up top with a shoulder block, cover and a 2 count. Bull sent off the ropes who does a nice flip over Bradshaw as he goes for a back drop, Bull nailing a clothesline as he turns around. Bull taunts the crowd a bit allowing Bradshaw to hit a spear, then a swinging neckbreaker.
Farooq tagged in now with some rights to the midsection, then Bull face first in the adjacent corner, whipped across the ring before leaping off the second rope into a clothesline. Boss Man tags in for some rights of his own and a side headlock, but Farooq hits a back suplex Farooq follows with a shoulder and a clothesline, cover and a 2 count before being tossed out. Bradshaw sends him face first into the steps as the ref deals with Bull and Boss Man is tossed back in. Bradshaw tags in, but gets reversed off the ropes, clubbing Boss Man in the back as he goes for the back drop before throwing him out again. Farooq now throws Boss Man into the barricade before rolling him in, Bradshaw the cover but Boss Man gets his foot on the rope. Farooq tags in before whipping Boss Man into the corner, Farooq goes for the splash but hits the turnbuckle as Boss Man comes off the ropes with a forearm.
Bull in now with a scoop slam and an elbow off the ropes, followed by rights in the corner, and Boss Man tags back in with some rights, then Bull in with some stomps. Farooq tries to tag but the ref misses it as he deals with Boss Man, Bradshaw does get some shots in but he gets sent back to the apron. Bull with more rights in the corner before sending Farooq off the ropes into a clothesline, cover but Bradshaw breaks it up. Rear chinlock by Bull now, Farooq fights out, but Bull knocks him back down, off the ropes and caught in a spinebuster.
Farooq makes the tag and Bradshaw sends Bull off the ropes into a back elbow. Bull reverses a whip off the ropes but Bradshaw ducks a clothesline into a shoulder block. Boss Man in but Farooq knocks him to the outside. Bradshaw nails a DDT and goes up top but Boss Man cuts him off from the outside. Bull up top now and nails a superplex, cover and a near fall. Boss Man goes back after Farooq and they fight at ringside, while Bull whips Bradshaw into the corner, but misses a splash, as Bradshaw comes off the ropes for the Clothesline from Hell and a cover, but Boss Man breaks it up in time. Farooq tosses him back out but Boss Man clocks him with the nightstick as he follows. Bradshaw with stomps in the corner and the referee separates them. Boss Man clocks him with the nightstick as Bull goes up top and nails the leg drop on a bent over Bradshaw for the win in 7:42. Not a terrible match.
They make their leave and we immediately cut to the locker room, where Matt walks up to Jeff. He says that even though they're brothers, it's going to be a war tonight and might have to go up against each other, that they'll work together as long as they can but if it comes down to just the two of them, he's not holding anything back. Jeff says he nearly broke his jaw last week and not to expect him to hold back either, that it's not the first time they've fought, then walk off.
Then we cut to Crash who's shining his title and in comes Hardcore, who says even though they're cousins he's going to enjoy beating Crash's ass all over the arena tonight. Crash asks why he has to be like that, and even though he knows it's every man for himself, they should work together as a team, get rid of everyone in the ring, and if it comes down to the two of them, may the best man win. He holds out his hand to shake, but Hardcore just smacks him in the head, walking off and mutters how he's lucky there's no ref around.
Hardcore Championship: Crash Holly (c) vs Hardcore Holly vs Tazz vs Perry Saturn vs Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Crash comes out with a shopping card filled with road signs, a water jug, trash can and probably lids, and whatever else is in there, as we get a replay from Smackdown, when Crash regained his championship. Crash decides to leave the ring and back up toward the ramp only for Perry to nail him from behind and bring him back to start this match.
Pumphandle suplex by Perry on Crash, a cover but Hardcore immediately breaks it up, then drops Crash with a powerbomb, a cover but Matt breaks it up. Matt with an elbow drop, cover and Perry breaks it up, Jeff covers and Tazz breaks it up. Northern Lights with a bridge by Tazz but Saturn breaks it up. Crash is rolled out to the outside who runs to the entrance and everyone follows. He tries to climb up the hooks of the entrance structure and Matt follows, they fight on the side and Crash eventually drops down. Matt launches off and lands on all 5, taking them down to the floor. Hardcore sends him face first into the steel hook while Perry tries to drop Crash ribs first on another with a front suplex, but ends up breaking it and not even catching all of it, Crash falling to the floor. Matt and Perry at it now with rights, while Jeff swings on one of the hooks to take down Perry with a hurricanrana. Matt pulls Crash back to the ring and Jeff follows as the others fight by the entrance. Jeff trips up Crash as Matt goes up top, Jeff with a leg drop between the legs and a regular one from Matt.
Tazz out of nowhere to nail Matt with a trash can lid to the head and Jeff tries to cover but immediately gets hit in the back with the lid. Tazz and Matt with rights back and forth now and Jeff joins in, sends Tazz in the corner with Poetry in Motion, while Hardcore nails Crash on the apron with a 2x4. Jeff gets a chair as Matt slides out, Matt gets nailed by Saturn with the lid as Jeff charges at Tazz only to be dropped by a clothesline. Saturn slips in with the 2x4 and nails Tazz in the face, then actually goes for an ab stretch on Crash. Matt nails Hardcore with the lid on the outside while Tazz kicks Saturn in the face to break up the hold. Tazz makes the cover on Crash but Saturn breaks it up.
Matt sends Hardcore face first into the steps while Saturn hits a back suplex on Crash, tries to roll him up but Tazz immediately cuts him off. He sends Crash off the ropes into a vicious clothesline, Matt makes the cover and Tazz breaks it up. Matt takes Tazz to the corner with rights as Hardcore comes in and nails Crash with a street sign, goes for the cover but Saturn breaks it up. Spinning heel kick by Saturn, a cover and Hardcore breaks it up. Hardcore stomps away while Tazz and Matt go to the outside with Hardcore. Matt nails Tazz with some lid shots while Matt hits Crash with a scoop slam, goes for the cover but Hardcore pulls him off, then Jeff tries for the cover but Hardcore breaks it up. Hardcore with a suplex on Crash to the floor, cover and it's broken up by Tazz. He holds Crash up for Saturn who nails a right off the apron, Matt covers and it's broken up. Hardcore covers as Saturn whips Matt into the apron and it's broken up.
Hardcore is sent into the steps as Crash and Tazz slip into the ring, Crash reverses a whip off the ropes and nails a dropkick, drapes an arm over but Tazz kicks out. Saturn and Jeff back in now, Crash sent off the ropes by Saturn and Crash gets the sunset flip, but Tazz boots him in the side of the head. Jeff comes in with some cable to wrap around Crash's neck, then he and Hardcore stomp away. Hardcore nails him in the head with the cable, Saturn makes the cover and it's broken up. Tazz nails Jeff with a road sign, then Matt. Hardcore covers Crash but Saturn breaks it up then he covers but it's broken up. Tazz with rights on Saturn in the corner while Hardcore chokes Crash on the second rope, but Saturn delivers a German to Hardcore and goes to cover Crash but Tazz breaks it up.
Tazz stomps at Crash int he corner and hits a suplex, cover and Hardcore breaks it up. Matt grabs two cookie sheets and tosses one to Jeff, the latter hits Hardcore and Matt nails Tazz, then Saturn who's on the outside. Jeff nails Crash with a cookie sheet-aided leg drop, covers but Matt shoves him off, then covers and Hardcore breaks it up. Tazz now with the cable around Matt's throat while Jeff slams Crash down in the corner, and nails the springboard moonsault, covers and Hardcore breaks it up again, then Saturn with a slingshot splash from the apron for a cover, Tazz and Hardcore break it up.
Tazz chokes Jeff with the cable as Hardcore lifts Crash up top and nails the superplex, covers and Tazz breaks it up. Saturn now with a brainbuster, cover and Tazz breaks it up again, only to be tossed out. Hardcore brings in a chair and nails a Falcon Arrow, covers but Matt breaks it up. Jeff pulls a ladder out much to the delight of the crowd, and the Hardyz ram it into Hardcore, then Tazz and Saturn. Matt sets up the ladder in the corner and they whip Hardcore into it, before Matt clotheslines him to the outside. Jeff sets it up properly near the corner while Matt hits the Twist of Fate, Jeff climbs to the top and nails the Swanton Bomb. Matt tries to steal the cover like he did on Monday but Jeff pulls him off, nails a right and makes the cover, but Matt breaks it up. They argue briefly before Tazz drops them both with clotheslines. Tazz gets Crash in the Tazzmission but Saturn comes in and bends a stop sign over Tazz's head as Crash drops to his knees. Saturn covers Crash but Hardcore pulls him out under the ropes. Jeff and Matt go up top and Hardcore and Saturn try to stop them, only to be kicked off the apron, both flying off with crossbodies. Crash comes to in all the chaos while Tazz is still knocked out from the stop sign, makes the cover and retains in 12:21. Jeez, these multi-man hardcore matches are hard to cover with everything going on, but it was fun to watch, your typical hardcore title match.
Crash makes his escape while everyone recovers, barely crawling up the aisle with title in hand, much to the disbelief of J.R. and Lawler.
Lilian seemed to be having audio issues as she's announcing the winner, and I thought it was a one-off problem, but then we cut to Coach who's backstage with Shane, and there's no audio right away, but we finally hear Coach asking about tonight's main event, bringing up how Shane has a conflict of interest. Shane says he appreciates the opportunity Vince has given him, that he has that much trust and confidence of his reffing ability, and that's what he plans on doing. He says he's going to be impartial, that there'll be two thoroughbreds in there for the WWF Title, and he truly feels he's the right man for the job, then excuses himself to get ready.
Coming up next, it's Big Show vs Angle, and we get a video package of Show's antics since Mania, along with Kurt's unfortunate run ins with him, ever since their tag title match. So how does Show top himself tonight?
The Big Show vs Kurt Angle
Pre-Show Notes & Thoughts: Kurt as always comes out with mic in hand and says it's fitting for him to be in Washington. He says our Olympic hero and the nation's capital have a lot in common, for example, like George Washington, he cannot tell a lie, and calls Big Show a giant waste of talent. Then he compares himself to Lincoln, saying he's honest almost to a fault, that if Big Show had his three Is, maybe he wouldn't be such a big disappointment. Then he compares himself to Marion Barry... well, actually the opposite of Marion Barry, and says they should be ashamed of themselves for re-electing him, it's true. He says that's what's wrong with America today, that they're liars, cheaters, using the president for an example, but says that's where he comes in, where their Olympic hero steps in, that he might be the only hero they have left. All of a sudden, that familiar "Real American" opening beat starts up and out comes Show, bald cap, beard and all, dressed up like Hulk Hogan, with a yellow "Showster" shirt and trunks and all, much to the delight of this crowd. He has the Hogan mannerisms down pretty good too and even rips the shirt off. Show gets the mic now and does the "Well you know something dude" thing before calling on Angle, saying he walks around talking a lot of trash about what he's going to do and how he's a real hero, but tells him (brother) that he's been to the top of the mountain, walked through the valley of the shadow of death (dude), and has the largest pythons in the world (brother). Then does the '"Whatcha gonna do when the Showster goes wild on you?" shtick before handing the mic back to ringside, and Kurt attacks from behind to start the match. Show tried his best, and the crowd seemed to love all of this, but that was way too corny for my taste.
Show is already hulking up as Kurt hammers away, while J.R. audibly calls it the old no sells by Show, who lays in with rights, sends Kurt off the ropes into a big boot and a leg drop, a cover but Kurt gets the shoulder up. Kurt sent off the ropes again, but ducks a clothesline and takes Show out at the knee. Kurt now working the knee with some elbows, then over the bottom rope. We get a Hogan chant as Kurt goes for the spinning toe hold, but Show shoves him off, and J.R quips that they're chanting Hogan more than they have in years. Show gets pissed and rips off the bald cap and takes off the weight belt before tossing Angle into the corner for some vicious chops and elbows. Kurt whipped across the ring for some more elbows, then Show goes to whip him again, only to pull Kurt back into a clothesline. Show nails the chokeslam and gets the win in 2:38. Eh, it was what it was, and despite the opening corniness, I actually liked the brief Hogan-isms to start the match.
Show gets his regular music as Lilian announces the Showster as the winner, and Show leaves the ring to the back.
Coming up next, the Dudleyz take on T&A, and we get a video package recapping this feud, starting with Trish's table porn, and some footage of Bubba powerbombing Terri, Mae and Lita through tables. Plus we see Trish's lip lock with Bubba and their repeated attempts to put her through a table, and of course Bubba was sent through one on the go home show. Before the match, we go to the back where Cole is with T&A, asking Trish how she really feels about Bubba. She calls Bubba a passionate man while she runs a finger over Cole's chest, a man who's not afraid to express his true emotions and she likes that. She says most men just bottle up their frustration and tension around her, while she runs her hands over him and adjusts his shirt, and says one day they just explode. She says that Bubba's special though, different, and in a few moments he's going to find out exactly how she feels. Then we cut to Bubba in a trance watching this somewhere else backstage as D-Von comes up behind to tell him it's time. He tells Bubba he's had enough of this, that he can't believe he insists on letting the bleach-blonde bimbo get in their business. He does his best to talk some sense into Bubba before they walk off.
We see Billy Corgan front row enjoying the show before we get to the match.
The Dudley Boyz vs T&A (w/ Trish Stratus)
Dudleyz waste no time as T&A enter the ring, but Bubba slips out and starts chasing Trish around ringside, only for Test to nail a clothesline coming around the corner. Albert with kicks to the midsection in the corner on D-Von before sending him face first in the opposite corner. More boots before sending D-Von off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and lands some rights. He tries to whip Albert off the ropes but he hangs on, until D-Von gets in some boots, only to be reversed anyways, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own, makes the cover for a two count.
Bubba tags in and lands some rights and stomps against the ropes before sending him off the ropes, but ducks a clothesline only to run into another. Bubba follows with some elbows, then a cover and a shoulder up. Albert back up with rights into the corner until Bubba rakes the eyes. Rights and chops in the corner and D-Vont tags in for a double team suplex. Test distracts the referee inadvertently, while Bubba holds up Albert's legs, D-Von goes up top and nails his diving headbutt. D-Von with the cover and a near fall. Albert reverses a whip off the ropes, D-Von ducks a clothesline but runs right into a bicycle kick. Test tags in while Albert whips D-Von into the corner, then Test into him and then follows with a boot, cover and a near fall.
D-Von face first in the corner before being sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a shoulder block, cover and a 2 count. Test reverses a whip off the ropes and Albert goes for a right from the apron, but D-Von hangs him up on the top rope, while Test follows with a gutwrench powerbomb. More rights by Test into the corner with boots to the chest before tagging in Albert, they send D-Von off the ropes into a double team flip slam(?), don't know what else you'd call that. Albert makes the cover for a near fall.
D-Von fights back with and goes to send Albert off the ropes, Test gets the blind tag as Albert reverses and catches him with a powerslam, then presses Test up then down onto D-Von for a cover but Bubba breaks it up. D-Von sent off the ropes into a back elbow by Test as they chant for tables, D-Von sent off the ropes again, ducks a clothesline and nails a swinging neckbreaker. D-Von makes the hot tag, and for the third time now, we have the "partner distracts referee so hot tag isn't seen" spot of the night, even J.R. points it out, so T&A double team D-Von while the ref sends Bubba back to the apron. Albert stomps away before sending D-Von off the ropes into a shoulder block, then a right for Bubba, then catapults D-Von throat first into the middle rope, cover and Bubba breaks it up.
Test tags in and sends D-Von off the ropes into a clothesline, cover and a kick out. Albert tagged in as D-Von goes face first in the corner, D-Von whipped into the corner and D-Von gets the boot up, gets the sunset flip but Albert kicks out. Albert nails a sitout powerbomb for another near fall. D-Von rolls to the corner and Albert goes to the middle rope, Bubba argues with him which allows D-Von to recover and nail a superplex. D-Von finally makes the hot tag and Test is in, into a back elbow from Bubba and some clotheslines. Albert sent into the corner for a splash, then a Samoan drop on Test, cover but Albert breaks it up. D-Von back up and goes after Albert, tossing him over the ropes to the outside. They nail a back suplex/neckbreaker, Bubba hooks the leg but Test kicks out, Albert coming in and tossing D-Von to the outside.
Albert ducks a clothesline and nails the Baldo Bomb, as Test goes up top and goes for the elbow, but Bubba moves out of the way, then hooks the leg but Test kicks out. D-Von tosses Albert back out of the ring and they call for 3D, but as they go to hit it, Trish is on the apron to distract Bubba. Test drops D-Von and nails Bubba with the big boot as he turns around for the win in 11:10. Alright we're back on track with this show.
Their celebration is cut short as Bubba comes to with the Bubba Cutter on Test, then a 3D on Albert. Trish tries to escape but Bubba gets hold of her hair, sending D-Von to get a table as Trish tries desperately to escape. She lip locks Bubba again, and feigns his trance as she prances a bit, before getting hold of her hair and dragging her to the corner, where D-Von lifts her to Bubba's shoulders for a powerbomb through the table. Bubba gets the biggest grin on his face before D-Von snaps him out and we get a few replays of the crash. The Dudleyz music hits and they head to the back as officials rush out to help Trish, while Bubba calls her a bitch from the aisle. We get a replay of the desperate lip lock and another of the powerbomb as doctor's get her set on the backboard to the stretcher. Another replay of the powerbomb before Trish gets wheeled to the back and into a waiting ambulance. We hear some music or something nearby and we pan over to a car, and inside are Eddie and Chyna, who have just come back from their prom. One of the referees who were tending to Trish informs him he's late for his match, and says if he doesn't go out there now he'll have to forfeit his title. Eddie drives his way into the arena as his music hits for his match.
European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) vs Essa Rios (w/ Lita)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Damn Eddie's got a nice ride, riding right down the aisle, and I guess Eddie's going to wrestle in his tux pants, shoes and bow tie. Chyna helps him out of his tux and pulls his elbow pads and title from the trunk, before we get a video package, from the start of Chyna and Eddie's relationship the Smackdown after Mania, to Eddie passing his GED, to picking out their outfits for prom. Then we get a recap of Eddie and Essa's issues, which of course started with Lita's screw ups and costing Eddie matches, plus Lita being put through a table.
Eddie wastes no time with a dropkick into the ropes, then clubs away at the back and neck, Essa sent off the ropes into another dropkick. Sent off the ropes again into a tilt-a-whirl attempt, but Essa slips free and lands a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Essa face first into the corner, followed by a side suplex from Eddie. Eddie tossing Essa over his shoulder to the mat before he works the shoulder, Essa fights back up with rights, then tosses Eddie over his shoulder followed by an elbow. Eddie sent off the ropes into an arm drag and slips out to the outside. Essa goes for a slingshot crossbody but Eddie sidesteps and Essa hits the floor. Esssa thrown into the side of the steps before they go back in the ring, taking his time to pick Essa up into a scoop slam, then a slingshot senton from the apron. Essa face first in the corner before being tossed out, Chyna with a forearm while Eddie distracts the ref and tosses Essa back in the ring. Essa reverses a whip off the ropes and connects with a dropkick before going to the top rope and nails a missile dropkick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Essa with the rear chinlock until Eddie gets out with a jawbreaker, stomping away before going for a powerbomb, but Essa slips free with an arm drag, sends Eddie off the ropes, leapfrogs and rolls back, lifting Eddie up and over with his feet, but Eddie flies to far and ends up hitting the ropes, landing on the back of his head. Ouch. Essa goes for a clothesline but Eddie sends him through the ropes to the floor. Chyna with another forearm while the ref is occupied with Eddie, who nails a slingshot crossbody onto Essa. Essa face first off the apron, Eddie calls for a powerbomb while Lita goes up top, but Chyna comes around the other side and shoves Lita off, who goes face first into the announce table, Essa throwing Eddie up and over before he can connect with the powerbomb. Essa up to the apron now with a springboard moonsault, landing on Eddie and knees first on the announce table.
Back in the ring, Essa up top with a dropkick to the back sending Eddie to the outside, Essa follows flipping over the ring post onto Eddie on the outside. Back in the ring, Essa back up top while the ref checks on Eddie, Chyna crotching Essa on the top rope while she has the chance. Eddie join Essa up top now and hits the superplex. Essa makes the cover with an arm over but Eddie kicks out. Back up, Essa goes for a back suplex but Eddie slips out and nails the brainbuster. Eddie up top now but Essa is back up and hits the arm drag. Essa back up top now and goes for the moonsault but Eddie gets the knees up. Eddie with... something like a spinning Razor's Edge into a neckbreaker? Nonetheless, Eddie makes the cover and retains in 8:44. Can't complain here, solid match.
Chyna joins Eddie in the ring to celebrate but Essa nails Eddie from behind with a dropkick, taking down Chyna in the process. Lita slides in and rips off Chyna's dress, stripping her to her bra and panties. Lita makes a quick escape with her dress in hand and Essa follows. Eddie tries to cover her up with his belt but she brushes him off, while Eddie enjoys the view. Chyna shows herself off while Chyna hands him the title and make their way out.
To the back, Coach is with HHH and Steph, who says HHH is relaxed for someone who's about to defend his title against Rock, who will have Austin in his corner. HHH asks why he wouldn't be confident, then asks Coach if he's ever seen Trips in the ring. He says he calls himself the Game, that everybody calls him the Game, that it's not just some slogan or a cheap catchphrase. He says he is the Game because he is the WWF Champion, and because he is that damn good, and tonight one more time, just like he always does, he'll prove to the world, and more importantly to Rock, that he is that damn good. Coach then turns to Vince, who mentions that Steph alluded to some kind of surprise for tonight. Vince brings up the fact that Austin hasn't arrived yet, which he says everyone is a little surprised by, and that his sources say Austin may have encountered car troubles, and won't even make it tonight.
Then we go to Cole who's with Benoit ahead of his title match up next, bringing up how Jericho has no problem telling anyone who will listen that he should be IC Champion. Benoit says that yeah, he does have no problem telling everyone how good he is, but reminds us that it's he who is champion, not Jericho. He says Jericho likes to compare the Crippler to a robot, but the difference between him and a robot is he has emotions, and he's going to thoroughly enjoy expressing his emotions all over Jericho, and all the Jerichoholics. He serves a warning to Jericho, that he's looking at the happiest man on Earth right now, because he knows exactly what he's going to do to Jericho, and will take a lot of pleasure in doing it.
Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Jericho comes out with mic in hand and welcomes us to D.C. is Jericho, and calls on Chris "Ben-oyt", saying he seems awfully insulted that Jericho referred to him as Mr. Roboto, but tells him not to feel bad, because D.C. is full of expressionless, emotionless, deprogrammed drones, called politicians. He calls him Senator Roboto, and says that tonight, he's going to veto his IC Title reign, and do what every Jerichoholic has dreamed of doing, which is beat the living hell out of a politician. He goes to continue but Benoit's music cuts him off and out he comes.
Lock up to start as Jericho gets shoved into the corner, fighting their way to the adjacent corner before they tumble to the outside. They slap each other before the ref splits them apart, then back in the ring some quick chain wrestling before a stare down. Benoit with the jackknife cover until Jericho flips into a sunset pin, then Benoit pushes back for a roll up of his own, then another sunset from Jericho and Benoit kicks out. Chops back and forth until Benoit rakes the eyes, rights in the corner before whipping Jericho across the ring, Benoit follows but hits the corner chest first. Jericho follows with a drop toe hold and hammers away with rights. Knee to the side of the head and a boot by Jericho, then Benoit reverses a whip into the corner, Jericho hitting chest first and Benoit catches him with a German off the rebound, then follows with another, then goes for a third but Jericho hangs onto the ropes. Benoit clubs the back a couple times and tries again but Jericho still hangs on, then lifts Jericho over the ropes to the outside.
Benoit goes for a suicide dive but Jericho moves, and Benoit hits the floor practically on the top of his head. Fuck me, that is hard to watch in present day with what we know now. Jericho up first and Jericho moves the steps, now with right and chop, then goes to whip Benoit into the steps, only to be reversed, but Jericho leaps up and over them, only to have them dropkicked into his ribs as he tries to launch over them. Back in the ring, Benoit hooks the legs for a near fall. Jericho sent off the ropes into a knee to the ribs, then a gutbuster by Benoit. Boot to the head before whipping Jericho chest first into the corner, following with kicks and stomps. Jericho fights out with rights and forearms, sends Benoit off the ropes for a dropkick, but Benoit hangs on while Jericho connects with air. Jericho catapulted face first into the top turnbuckle followed by a chop and a front suplex onto the top rope. More kicks to the ribs by Benoit then a snap suplex, cover and a near fall.
Jericho sent off the ropes into another knee to the ribs, but Jericho fights back up with rights, sent off the ropes again and caught in an ab stretch this time. Jericho fights out with rights, comes off the ropes, ducks a clotheslines and hits a back elbow, then follows with a Lionsault, but Jericho can't capitalize because of the ribs. Jericho just barely makes the cover before the 10 but Benoit kicks out. Benoit rakes the eyes, more chops in the corner before more kicks and stomps to the ribs. Jericho reverses a whip across the ring but Benoit gets the boots up, then nailed with a spinning heel kick from Jericho. Jericho with more rights until Benoit ducks and chops him back into the corner, Jericho reverses another whip across the ring and comes off the ropes with a bulldog, makes the cover but Benoit gets the shoulder up.
Jericho stomping away before chopping against the ropes, Benoit reverses a whip off them but Jericho slips around for a roll up and another near fall. Benoit goes for a suplex but Jericho blocks it, getting a front suplex of his own, draping Benoit ribs first on the top rope, then tries to follow with his springboard dropkick out of the corner but Benoit swats him away. Benoit up top now and springs up maybe for a moonsault, but Jericho cuts him off, joining him up top for a back suplex, but Benoit turns mid air and lands on top of Jericho, makes the cover but Jericho gets the shoulder up. Benoit sends Jericho off the ropes and goes for a backslide but Jericho blocks it, spins around and hits Benoit with the powerbomb, then a second, makes the cover but Benoit kicks out and turns it into the Crossface, but Jericho gets his foot on the rope in time, forcing the break.
enoit pulls him back to the middle and tries again, but Jericho elbows out and rolls through, getting Benoit in the Walls, but he gets to the ropes to force a break. Benoit reverses a whip off the ropes and Jericho goes for the flying forearm, but Benoit moves and he nails the referee instead. Benoit rolls out and gets his title from ringside and nails Jericho in the face with it. Benoit wakes the referee, makes the cover but Jericho manages to kick out. Benoit gets the belt in place and suplexes Jericho onto it before he goes up top, but Jericho rolls out of the way, Benoit hitting the title face first and... The referee calls for the bell in 15:07? Huh? What's the ruling here?
Well it's been ruled in Benoit's favor in disqualification, and Benoit retains his championship. Did Jericho intentionally move the title for Benoit to hit? Or was it the forearm that knocked the ref out? Benoit's nose has been busted and Jericho puts the referee in the Walls as officials rush down to pull Jericho off, but Jericho just keeps going, finally releasing the hold. His music hits as we go to replays and... Oh, yeah, Jericho grabbed the title and held it up for Benoit to nail with the headbutt, so yeah Benoit winning by DQ makes sense here. Jericho leaves the ring and makes his way to the back.
Up next, the main event. HHH vs Rock for the title. We get out video package, where this all started at Mania when Vince turned on Rock to help HHH retain his title, and he guarantees that Rock will never be champ again. Then of course Rock would earn his title shot in a cage match before he gets busted wide open. Then what follows is plenty more screwing by the McMahons and Shane announced as referee. Linda of course announces Austin for Rock's corner to even the odds, and then there's the mind games from Smackdown, culminating in Austin blowing up the DX Express, to bring us to this point.
Before we get to the match, we go to Cole who's standing by with Rock, who brings up Austin's absence. Rock skips past his usual shtick and says Austin could be in D.C., or Texas, or two minutes away from the building, he doesn't know, but he says he does know, can count on, what Cole can count on, that everyone can count on, is that he guaran-damn-tees, the promise he's made to the people, that tonight he's walking out WWF Champion. He tells HHH it doesn't matter who he has to go through, how many McMahons, he will go through them and HHH, he's making history, if you smell what the Rock is cooking.
WWF Championship: The Rock (w/ Stone Cold Steve Austin?) vs Triple H (c) (w/ Vince McMahon & Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley); Special Guest Referee: Shane McMahon
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Shane is out first of course as our referee for this match, then champion with wife and father-in-law by his side. Vince takes the mic, a program in hand, and says many bought it, and points to the fine print on the inside that says "Card subject to change," so he regrets to inform them that Austin won't be there tonight. Rock of course comes out by himself to loud Rocky chants and an ovation.
Several moments of staring down as the crowd chants "We want Austin" before they start trading rights, but HHH gets the advantage with rights in the corner. Rock fights back with rights before HHH throws him back in the corner, but Rock with more rights. HHH tries to reverse a whip off the ropes but Rock pulls him back into a back elbow. HHH sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and goes for the Pedigree but Rock gets out with a back drop. Kicks to the midsection in the corner and Shane pulls him off early, allowing HHH to nail the neckbreaker.
Back on their feet, HHH with a side headlock but Rock immediately nails the back suplex. More rights by Rock, off the ropes but sent over the ropes to the outside, back first into the announce table. HHH sends him face first into the steps, before dropping him face first on the announce table. Vince throws him face first into the ring post before tossing him back in the ring, HHH with the cover and Shane makes... a fair count? Does he not know how the screwy referee thing works? Rock kicks out anyways. Rock face first in the corner and HHH stomps away, then trading rights until HHH gets a knee in to the ribs, Rock sent off the ropes, ducks a couple clotheslines but gets hit with a high knee, cover and a quick count by Shane for a near fall.
Suplex by HHH, followed by a knee drop out of the corner, cover and a near fall, then twice more. Rights in the corner by HHH, then some by Rock, HHH reverses a whip off the ropes and catches Rock in a sleeper hold. Rock starts to fade as HHH transitions to a reverse chinlock on the mat, Shane raises the arm but Rock comes to, until HHH gets his feet on the ropes and cinches it in tighter. Shane raises his arm again but Rock manages to fight up and out with rights, comes off the ropes but HHH immediately nails a clothesline. cover and a near fall. More rights in the corner by HHHH, then goes for the 10 punch, but Rock pulls out and drops HHH face first into the turnbuckle.
Rock with more rights, HHH reverses a whip off the ropes, Rock ducks a clothesline and they take each other out with a clothesline. Shane gets the 10 count going but Rock is up first, only for Vince to nail him with the title while Shane is over by HHH. HHH makes the cover but Rock kicks out. HHH with more rights in the corner, but Rock turns it around with rapid rights, but gets whipped across the ring, only to nail HHH with a clothesline. HHH whipped hard into the corner and tumbles over the ropes to the outside, clutching his arm. Rock with a vicious clothesline before dropping HHH onto the announce table, then back to the ring.
Rock sends HHH off the ropes who connects with the facebuster, but Rock nails the DDT, hooks the leg but Shane refuses to even count this time. Rock gets pissed and nails Shane, knocking him to the outside, and HHH clotheslines Rock to the outside. Rock whipped shoulder first into the steps before he takes apart the announce table, pulling HHH on top of it with some rapid fire rights. HHH goes for the Pedigree but Rock nails the low blow. He goes for the Rock Bottom, but Shane climbs on top to try and stop it, only to be pulled in for a double Rock Bottom through the table. God damn this still looks awesome. Vince's face says it all.
It takes several moments for anybody to move, but Rock is up first, tossing HHH back in the ring. Shane is still out and Vince nails Rock from behind, taunting Rock who turns around pissed off. He gets his hands on Vince in the corner until HHH nails low blow and then the Pedigree, but Vince realizes there's still no referee. He calls for another referee, and out come Patterson and Briscoe in ref shirts. HHH makes the cover, Patterson makes the count but Rock kicks out in time. Brisco in now and he joins Pat in stomping away at Rock, Patterson with some rights too. They pick Rock up as HHH lays in with more shots, Rock helpless to defend himself. Vince gets a chair from someone at ringside who then cracks Austin in the head with it as HHH holds him up. HHH lets his ego get the better of him and picks Rock up ready for a Pedigree...
God damn that pop when the glass shatters, and out comes Austin with chair in hand. HHH first with a chair to the back, then to the heads of Patterson and Brisco, then Shane who's returned to the ring, then Vince. HHH back with a chair of his own only to get a chair to the head himself, and out goes Austin, leaving everyone laying. Now Linda has made her way out with Hebner by her side and Steph tries to get in her way, only to be shoved down.
HHH gets the chair and goes to nail Rock, only to be caught with a spinebuster, and hit with the People's Elbow. Linda sends in Hebner as Rock hooks the leg to win the championship in 19:23. Ya know, this match admittedly had a great ending, and then there's that Rock Bottom through the table, but it felt like this match had way too much interference and shenanigans, but maybe that's just me. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Vince and co finally come to as Rock celebrates with his new championship. Austin's music hits once again amidst the celebrating and out comes Austin in his truck, with the DX Express towed behind it. He joins Rock in the ring and calls for some beers, offering one to Rock and they share a drink together toasting the title. Rock poses one last time as Austin takes his leave and the show fades out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's hard to complain about this show. It had solid action practically top to bottom, and aside from some minor issues and nitpicks, I enjoyed watching this. That said, with a runtime of 2:46:33, there was a total 1:39:25 of wrestling.
We're live from the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. J.R. and the King welcome us to the show, but before we get to any action, Debra makes her way out for... ring announcing? Well, alright. She's apparently making her return, from what I can tell she stayed off TV while Austin was recovering from surgery, so I guess that explains this. With that out of the way, it's time for the first of six title matches.
WWF Tag Team Championship: Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/ Tori) vs Edge & Christian (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Oof, Debra is... not great at this. Thankfully it's only for one match. Roadie gets the mic and does his shtick before the champs come out.
Edge and X-Pac start things out, X-Pac gets the offense early with some chain wrestling, then some quick back and forth before Edge hits a spinning heel kick, sending X-Pac out to the outside, who regroups with Roadie before getting back in the ring. Roadie tags in now, with a cheap shot to the midsection, sending Edge off the ropes, who ducks a back elbow and takes down Roadie with a tilt-a-whirl headscissor. Christian tags in now, they whip Roadie into the corner as Edge sets himself up, Christian launching off his back into a splash on Roadie, cover and a near fall, then another cover and another near fall.
Roadie gets in a thumb to the eye and a kick to the midsection and tags in X-Pac, rights back and forth before Christian's sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a powerslam. X-Pac sent into the corner and Christian goes up for the 10 punch, but Edge inadvertently distracts the referee, allowing Roadie to hang Christian shoulder first across the top rope, X-Pac sending him down with a clothesline. Christian tossed out and X-Pac distracts the ref so Roadie can send him into the steps. Back in the ring, Roadie tags in for a cover and a near fall.
Roadie a front facelock now as Christian tries to fight to his corner, but X-Pac distracts the ref as Christian makes the tag, so it doesn't count. Edge distracts the ref as a result for double teaming in DX's corner and even Tori gets some in, and X-Pac hits the Bronco Buster. Roadie now with a snapmare, followed by harsh kicks to the back, cover and a two count, followed by a side headlock.
Christian fights back up with some rights, off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, blocks a back body drop only for Roadie to duck a clothesline for some Shake, Rattle and Roll. then a knee drop, cover but Edge breaks it up. Christian back up and sends Roadie off the ropes and they both go for a crossbody, taking each other out.
X-Pac rushes in prematurely as they go for tags to attack Christian, which distracts the ref, so Edge goes up top and nails Roadie with a headbutt, before knocking Pac to the outside. Christian drapes an arm over Roadie but he kicks out. X-Pac in now and they go for a double back suplex, but Christian flips out for a double reverse DDT. Christian makes the hot tag and lays in with rights aand clotheslines, Pac reverses a whip off the ropes and goes for a hurricanrana, but Edge counters with a sitout powerbomb for Roadie to break up. Roadie goes to hit the pumphandle slam, but Christian grabs him for an Unprettier, only to be pushed into a spinning heel kick from X-Pac. Edge meanwhile hits Roadie with the spear. Tori gets a handful of Edge's hair on the apron and Pac goes to nail him, but nails Tori instead. Edge tries to capitalize with a roll up but Pac kicks out.
On the outside, Christian goes to nail the reverse DDT on Tori but Roadie flies off the apron only to miss him, while Pac hits the X-Factor on Edge. He goes for the cover as the ref slides out while Roadie and Tori argue, Christian grabs the ring bell and nails Pac in the head with it. Christian makes the cover and Edge holds off Roadie, champions retain in 9:24. Nice opening match.
The champs leave the ring and...Jeez, X-Pac's been busted open pretty bad from the bell shot and we go to replays. Then we see a limo pulling into the arena and out comes Rock, then onto our next match.
Light Heavyweight Championship: Scotty 2 Hotty vs Dean Malenko (c)
Dean immediately goes for a cheap shot but Scotty ducks, backing Dean into the corner with some rights, before sending him off the ropes into a back elbow. Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop and a clothesline, cover and a 2 count. Dean pulls back as Scotty goes to send him off the ropes again and goes for a powerbomb but Scotty slips out into an arm drag and a dropkick, cover and another 2. More rights in the corner, but Dean, reverses a whip across the ring, Scotty leaps up and over and gets the arms around the waist, but Dean slips around into a headlock, but Scotty nails the back suplex and a kip up, followed by a nice moonwalk. Dean takes advantage though and attacks from behind in the corner, but Scotty reverses a whip across the ring and leaps to the second rope, only for Dean to catch him in an atomic drop, then dropped himself with a right by Scotty. Dean sent across the ring and Scotty goes for his bulldog to set up the Worm, but Dean knocks him down with a clothesline as he turns around.
I've just noticed how stained the mat is, Jesus X-Pac really got cut open the hard way. Scotty rolls to the apron and Dean nails some rights before sending Scotty into the turnbuckle. To the outside, Dean rams him back first into the apron before tossing him back in. Scotty in the corner fighting back kicks with rights, then puts Dean in the corner for some rights until the ref has to separate them, Dean taking advantage with a dropkick to the knees. Dean now starts to work the knee with elbows and twisting, the ref counts a few pins as Scotty's shoulders lay on the mat but he kicks out. Dean pulls Scotty to the corner to slam his knee into the ring post a few times, rolling back in to restart the count. More work on the knee as he slips back in the ring but Scotty fights back up, tries for an enziguri but Dean ducks and drops another elbow to the knee. Knee drop into the knee and even a knee bar, more pins as Scotty falls to the mat a few times, Dean uses the rope momentarily until the ref catches him and forces him to release the hold. More boots to the knee before Scotty gets flipped inside out as he holds himself up by the ropes, then a shin breaker, but Scotty nails the enziguri as Dean holds on.
Scotty with some rights now, but Dean reverses a whip into the corner before he works the knee some more, driving the point of Scotty's knee into the mat, then a baseball slide into the knee. In the corner, Dean drapes his knee over the middle rope and kicks away before the ref frees him, then goes for the figure 4, or maybe a spinning toe hold, but Scotty kicks him into the corner for a roll up and a near fall, only for Dean to knock him down with a clothesline. More shots to the knee before sending Scotty off the ropes, Scotty catches him with a kick but he tackles Scotty, sending them both through the ropes to the outside.
Dean tries to get back in but Scotty yanks him down and face first into the apron. Scotty tries to go up top but Dean cuts him off and nails the superplex. Back to their feet after a few moments, Scotty ducks a clothesline and goes for the backslide for a near fall. Dean immediately back up and goes for the cloverleaf, but Scotty gets him in an inside cradle for another near fall. Scotty whipped chest first into the corner before nailing a back suplex. Dean goes for the powerbomb again but Scotty slips out, comes off the ropes and nails his bulldog and nails the Worm. Dean though leads Scotty face first into the turnbuckle, then rolls him up with feet on the ropes but the ref catches him. Suplex attempt by Malenko, followed by back and forth reversals before Dean nails a tigerbomb for a cover and a near fall.
Scotty whipped into the corner but gets the boots up as Dean follows, only to be caught with a powerslam, cover and another near fall. Scotty pulls back as he's sent off the ropes, but Dean hooks him by the neck as they go toward the ropes, hanging Scotty up as he drops to the apron. Dean goes up top now, but Scotty cuts him off and goes for a superplex, but Dean turns it into a DDT as they leap off, god damn. Dean makes the cover and retains the title in 12:56. This one felt like it went a bit too long, but it wasn't a terrible match. Kinda felt like Scotty stopped selling the knee after a while and never really played into anything, though.
Dean leaves with his title as we immediately go to replays and he heads to the back. Then we go to the back, where Vince, Steph and HHH are meeting with Patterson and Briscoe. Vince wants to make sure his Stooges are really back with them and assure him they are. Shane walks in carrying his ref shirt, and Vince tells them it's all hands on deck tonight, no matter what.
Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan vs The APA
Boss Man and Buchanan waste no time attacking APA on the outside as they come out to start this match, with Bradshaw and Bull starting things out as they get in the ring. Bull face first in the corner with some rights and knees, then a DDT by Bradshaw, who goes up top with a shoulder block, cover and a 2 count. Bull sent off the ropes who does a nice flip over Bradshaw as he goes for a back drop, Bull nailing a clothesline as he turns around. Bull taunts the crowd a bit allowing Bradshaw to hit a spear, then a swinging neckbreaker.
Farooq tagged in now with some rights to the midsection, then Bull face first in the adjacent corner, whipped across the ring before leaping off the second rope into a clothesline. Boss Man tags in for some rights of his own and a side headlock, but Farooq hits a back suplex Farooq follows with a shoulder and a clothesline, cover and a 2 count before being tossed out. Bradshaw sends him face first into the steps as the ref deals with Bull and Boss Man is tossed back in. Bradshaw tags in, but gets reversed off the ropes, clubbing Boss Man in the back as he goes for the back drop before throwing him out again. Farooq now throws Boss Man into the barricade before rolling him in, Bradshaw the cover but Boss Man gets his foot on the rope. Farooq tags in before whipping Boss Man into the corner, Farooq goes for the splash but hits the turnbuckle as Boss Man comes off the ropes with a forearm.
Bull in now with a scoop slam and an elbow off the ropes, followed by rights in the corner, and Boss Man tags back in with some rights, then Bull in with some stomps. Farooq tries to tag but the ref misses it as he deals with Boss Man, Bradshaw does get some shots in but he gets sent back to the apron. Bull with more rights in the corner before sending Farooq off the ropes into a clothesline, cover but Bradshaw breaks it up. Rear chinlock by Bull now, Farooq fights out, but Bull knocks him back down, off the ropes and caught in a spinebuster.
Farooq makes the tag and Bradshaw sends Bull off the ropes into a back elbow. Bull reverses a whip off the ropes but Bradshaw ducks a clothesline into a shoulder block. Boss Man in but Farooq knocks him to the outside. Bradshaw nails a DDT and goes up top but Boss Man cuts him off from the outside. Bull up top now and nails a superplex, cover and a near fall. Boss Man goes back after Farooq and they fight at ringside, while Bull whips Bradshaw into the corner, but misses a splash, as Bradshaw comes off the ropes for the Clothesline from Hell and a cover, but Boss Man breaks it up in time. Farooq tosses him back out but Boss Man clocks him with the nightstick as he follows. Bradshaw with stomps in the corner and the referee separates them. Boss Man clocks him with the nightstick as Bull goes up top and nails the leg drop on a bent over Bradshaw for the win in 7:42. Not a terrible match.
They make their leave and we immediately cut to the locker room, where Matt walks up to Jeff. He says that even though they're brothers, it's going to be a war tonight and might have to go up against each other, that they'll work together as long as they can but if it comes down to just the two of them, he's not holding anything back. Jeff says he nearly broke his jaw last week and not to expect him to hold back either, that it's not the first time they've fought, then walk off.
Then we cut to Crash who's shining his title and in comes Hardcore, who says even though they're cousins he's going to enjoy beating Crash's ass all over the arena tonight. Crash asks why he has to be like that, and even though he knows it's every man for himself, they should work together as a team, get rid of everyone in the ring, and if it comes down to the two of them, may the best man win. He holds out his hand to shake, but Hardcore just smacks him in the head, walking off and mutters how he's lucky there's no ref around.
Hardcore Championship: Crash Holly (c) vs Hardcore Holly vs Tazz vs Perry Saturn vs Jeff Hardy vs Matt Hardy
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Crash comes out with a shopping card filled with road signs, a water jug, trash can and probably lids, and whatever else is in there, as we get a replay from Smackdown, when Crash regained his championship. Crash decides to leave the ring and back up toward the ramp only for Perry to nail him from behind and bring him back to start this match.
Pumphandle suplex by Perry on Crash, a cover but Hardcore immediately breaks it up, then drops Crash with a powerbomb, a cover but Matt breaks it up. Matt with an elbow drop, cover and Perry breaks it up, Jeff covers and Tazz breaks it up. Northern Lights with a bridge by Tazz but Saturn breaks it up. Crash is rolled out to the outside who runs to the entrance and everyone follows. He tries to climb up the hooks of the entrance structure and Matt follows, they fight on the side and Crash eventually drops down. Matt launches off and lands on all 5, taking them down to the floor. Hardcore sends him face first into the steel hook while Perry tries to drop Crash ribs first on another with a front suplex, but ends up breaking it and not even catching all of it, Crash falling to the floor. Matt and Perry at it now with rights, while Jeff swings on one of the hooks to take down Perry with a hurricanrana. Matt pulls Crash back to the ring and Jeff follows as the others fight by the entrance. Jeff trips up Crash as Matt goes up top, Jeff with a leg drop between the legs and a regular one from Matt.
Tazz out of nowhere to nail Matt with a trash can lid to the head and Jeff tries to cover but immediately gets hit in the back with the lid. Tazz and Matt with rights back and forth now and Jeff joins in, sends Tazz in the corner with Poetry in Motion, while Hardcore nails Crash on the apron with a 2x4. Jeff gets a chair as Matt slides out, Matt gets nailed by Saturn with the lid as Jeff charges at Tazz only to be dropped by a clothesline. Saturn slips in with the 2x4 and nails Tazz in the face, then actually goes for an ab stretch on Crash. Matt nails Hardcore with the lid on the outside while Tazz kicks Saturn in the face to break up the hold. Tazz makes the cover on Crash but Saturn breaks it up.
Matt sends Hardcore face first into the steps while Saturn hits a back suplex on Crash, tries to roll him up but Tazz immediately cuts him off. He sends Crash off the ropes into a vicious clothesline, Matt makes the cover and Tazz breaks it up. Matt takes Tazz to the corner with rights as Hardcore comes in and nails Crash with a street sign, goes for the cover but Saturn breaks it up. Spinning heel kick by Saturn, a cover and Hardcore breaks it up. Hardcore stomps away while Tazz and Matt go to the outside with Hardcore. Matt nails Tazz with some lid shots while Matt hits Crash with a scoop slam, goes for the cover but Hardcore pulls him off, then Jeff tries for the cover but Hardcore breaks it up. Hardcore with a suplex on Crash to the floor, cover and it's broken up by Tazz. He holds Crash up for Saturn who nails a right off the apron, Matt covers and it's broken up. Hardcore covers as Saturn whips Matt into the apron and it's broken up.
Hardcore is sent into the steps as Crash and Tazz slip into the ring, Crash reverses a whip off the ropes and nails a dropkick, drapes an arm over but Tazz kicks out. Saturn and Jeff back in now, Crash sent off the ropes by Saturn and Crash gets the sunset flip, but Tazz boots him in the side of the head. Jeff comes in with some cable to wrap around Crash's neck, then he and Hardcore stomp away. Hardcore nails him in the head with the cable, Saturn makes the cover and it's broken up. Tazz nails Jeff with a road sign, then Matt. Hardcore covers Crash but Saturn breaks it up then he covers but it's broken up. Tazz with rights on Saturn in the corner while Hardcore chokes Crash on the second rope, but Saturn delivers a German to Hardcore and goes to cover Crash but Tazz breaks it up.
Tazz stomps at Crash int he corner and hits a suplex, cover and Hardcore breaks it up. Matt grabs two cookie sheets and tosses one to Jeff, the latter hits Hardcore and Matt nails Tazz, then Saturn who's on the outside. Jeff nails Crash with a cookie sheet-aided leg drop, covers but Matt shoves him off, then covers and Hardcore breaks it up. Tazz now with the cable around Matt's throat while Jeff slams Crash down in the corner, and nails the springboard moonsault, covers and Hardcore breaks it up again, then Saturn with a slingshot splash from the apron for a cover, Tazz and Hardcore break it up.
Tazz chokes Jeff with the cable as Hardcore lifts Crash up top and nails the superplex, covers and Tazz breaks it up. Saturn now with a brainbuster, cover and Tazz breaks it up again, only to be tossed out. Hardcore brings in a chair and nails a Falcon Arrow, covers but Matt breaks it up. Jeff pulls a ladder out much to the delight of the crowd, and the Hardyz ram it into Hardcore, then Tazz and Saturn. Matt sets up the ladder in the corner and they whip Hardcore into it, before Matt clotheslines him to the outside. Jeff sets it up properly near the corner while Matt hits the Twist of Fate, Jeff climbs to the top and nails the Swanton Bomb. Matt tries to steal the cover like he did on Monday but Jeff pulls him off, nails a right and makes the cover, but Matt breaks it up. They argue briefly before Tazz drops them both with clotheslines. Tazz gets Crash in the Tazzmission but Saturn comes in and bends a stop sign over Tazz's head as Crash drops to his knees. Saturn covers Crash but Hardcore pulls him out under the ropes. Jeff and Matt go up top and Hardcore and Saturn try to stop them, only to be kicked off the apron, both flying off with crossbodies. Crash comes to in all the chaos while Tazz is still knocked out from the stop sign, makes the cover and retains in 12:21. Jeez, these multi-man hardcore matches are hard to cover with everything going on, but it was fun to watch, your typical hardcore title match.
Crash makes his escape while everyone recovers, barely crawling up the aisle with title in hand, much to the disbelief of J.R. and Lawler.
Lilian seemed to be having audio issues as she's announcing the winner, and I thought it was a one-off problem, but then we cut to Coach who's backstage with Shane, and there's no audio right away, but we finally hear Coach asking about tonight's main event, bringing up how Shane has a conflict of interest. Shane says he appreciates the opportunity Vince has given him, that he has that much trust and confidence of his reffing ability, and that's what he plans on doing. He says he's going to be impartial, that there'll be two thoroughbreds in there for the WWF Title, and he truly feels he's the right man for the job, then excuses himself to get ready.
Coming up next, it's Big Show vs Angle, and we get a video package of Show's antics since Mania, along with Kurt's unfortunate run ins with him, ever since their tag title match. So how does Show top himself tonight?
The Big Show vs Kurt Angle
Pre-Show Notes & Thoughts: Kurt as always comes out with mic in hand and says it's fitting for him to be in Washington. He says our Olympic hero and the nation's capital have a lot in common, for example, like George Washington, he cannot tell a lie, and calls Big Show a giant waste of talent. Then he compares himself to Lincoln, saying he's honest almost to a fault, that if Big Show had his three Is, maybe he wouldn't be such a big disappointment. Then he compares himself to Marion Barry... well, actually the opposite of Marion Barry, and says they should be ashamed of themselves for re-electing him, it's true. He says that's what's wrong with America today, that they're liars, cheaters, using the president for an example, but says that's where he comes in, where their Olympic hero steps in, that he might be the only hero they have left. All of a sudden, that familiar "Real American" opening beat starts up and out comes Show, bald cap, beard and all, dressed up like Hulk Hogan, with a yellow "Showster" shirt and trunks and all, much to the delight of this crowd. He has the Hogan mannerisms down pretty good too and even rips the shirt off. Show gets the mic now and does the "Well you know something dude" thing before calling on Angle, saying he walks around talking a lot of trash about what he's going to do and how he's a real hero, but tells him (brother) that he's been to the top of the mountain, walked through the valley of the shadow of death (dude), and has the largest pythons in the world (brother). Then does the '"Whatcha gonna do when the Showster goes wild on you?" shtick before handing the mic back to ringside, and Kurt attacks from behind to start the match. Show tried his best, and the crowd seemed to love all of this, but that was way too corny for my taste.
Show is already hulking up as Kurt hammers away, while J.R. audibly calls it the old no sells by Show, who lays in with rights, sends Kurt off the ropes into a big boot and a leg drop, a cover but Kurt gets the shoulder up. Kurt sent off the ropes again, but ducks a clothesline and takes Show out at the knee. Kurt now working the knee with some elbows, then over the bottom rope. We get a Hogan chant as Kurt goes for the spinning toe hold, but Show shoves him off, and J.R quips that they're chanting Hogan more than they have in years. Show gets pissed and rips off the bald cap and takes off the weight belt before tossing Angle into the corner for some vicious chops and elbows. Kurt whipped across the ring for some more elbows, then Show goes to whip him again, only to pull Kurt back into a clothesline. Show nails the chokeslam and gets the win in 2:38. Eh, it was what it was, and despite the opening corniness, I actually liked the brief Hogan-isms to start the match.
Show gets his regular music as Lilian announces the Showster as the winner, and Show leaves the ring to the back.
Coming up next, the Dudleyz take on T&A, and we get a video package recapping this feud, starting with Trish's table porn, and some footage of Bubba powerbombing Terri, Mae and Lita through tables. Plus we see Trish's lip lock with Bubba and their repeated attempts to put her through a table, and of course Bubba was sent through one on the go home show. Before the match, we go to the back where Cole is with T&A, asking Trish how she really feels about Bubba. She calls Bubba a passionate man while she runs a finger over Cole's chest, a man who's not afraid to express his true emotions and she likes that. She says most men just bottle up their frustration and tension around her, while she runs her hands over him and adjusts his shirt, and says one day they just explode. She says that Bubba's special though, different, and in a few moments he's going to find out exactly how she feels. Then we cut to Bubba in a trance watching this somewhere else backstage as D-Von comes up behind to tell him it's time. He tells Bubba he's had enough of this, that he can't believe he insists on letting the bleach-blonde bimbo get in their business. He does his best to talk some sense into Bubba before they walk off.
We see Billy Corgan front row enjoying the show before we get to the match.
The Dudley Boyz vs T&A (w/ Trish Stratus)
Dudleyz waste no time as T&A enter the ring, but Bubba slips out and starts chasing Trish around ringside, only for Test to nail a clothesline coming around the corner. Albert with kicks to the midsection in the corner on D-Von before sending him face first in the opposite corner. More boots before sending D-Von off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and lands some rights. He tries to whip Albert off the ropes but he hangs on, until D-Von gets in some boots, only to be reversed anyways, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own, makes the cover for a two count.
Bubba tags in and lands some rights and stomps against the ropes before sending him off the ropes, but ducks a clothesline only to run into another. Bubba follows with some elbows, then a cover and a shoulder up. Albert back up with rights into the corner until Bubba rakes the eyes. Rights and chops in the corner and D-Vont tags in for a double team suplex. Test distracts the referee inadvertently, while Bubba holds up Albert's legs, D-Von goes up top and nails his diving headbutt. D-Von with the cover and a near fall. Albert reverses a whip off the ropes, D-Von ducks a clothesline but runs right into a bicycle kick. Test tags in while Albert whips D-Von into the corner, then Test into him and then follows with a boot, cover and a near fall.
D-Von face first in the corner before being sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a shoulder block, cover and a 2 count. Test reverses a whip off the ropes and Albert goes for a right from the apron, but D-Von hangs him up on the top rope, while Test follows with a gutwrench powerbomb. More rights by Test into the corner with boots to the chest before tagging in Albert, they send D-Von off the ropes into a double team flip slam(?), don't know what else you'd call that. Albert makes the cover for a near fall.
D-Von fights back with and goes to send Albert off the ropes, Test gets the blind tag as Albert reverses and catches him with a powerslam, then presses Test up then down onto D-Von for a cover but Bubba breaks it up. D-Von sent off the ropes into a back elbow by Test as they chant for tables, D-Von sent off the ropes again, ducks a clothesline and nails a swinging neckbreaker. D-Von makes the hot tag, and for the third time now, we have the "partner distracts referee so hot tag isn't seen" spot of the night, even J.R. points it out, so T&A double team D-Von while the ref sends Bubba back to the apron. Albert stomps away before sending D-Von off the ropes into a shoulder block, then a right for Bubba, then catapults D-Von throat first into the middle rope, cover and Bubba breaks it up.
Test tags in and sends D-Von off the ropes into a clothesline, cover and a kick out. Albert tagged in as D-Von goes face first in the corner, D-Von whipped into the corner and D-Von gets the boot up, gets the sunset flip but Albert kicks out. Albert nails a sitout powerbomb for another near fall. D-Von rolls to the corner and Albert goes to the middle rope, Bubba argues with him which allows D-Von to recover and nail a superplex. D-Von finally makes the hot tag and Test is in, into a back elbow from Bubba and some clotheslines. Albert sent into the corner for a splash, then a Samoan drop on Test, cover but Albert breaks it up. D-Von back up and goes after Albert, tossing him over the ropes to the outside. They nail a back suplex/neckbreaker, Bubba hooks the leg but Test kicks out, Albert coming in and tossing D-Von to the outside.
Albert ducks a clothesline and nails the Baldo Bomb, as Test goes up top and goes for the elbow, but Bubba moves out of the way, then hooks the leg but Test kicks out. D-Von tosses Albert back out of the ring and they call for 3D, but as they go to hit it, Trish is on the apron to distract Bubba. Test drops D-Von and nails Bubba with the big boot as he turns around for the win in 11:10. Alright we're back on track with this show.
Their celebration is cut short as Bubba comes to with the Bubba Cutter on Test, then a 3D on Albert. Trish tries to escape but Bubba gets hold of her hair, sending D-Von to get a table as Trish tries desperately to escape. She lip locks Bubba again, and feigns his trance as she prances a bit, before getting hold of her hair and dragging her to the corner, where D-Von lifts her to Bubba's shoulders for a powerbomb through the table. Bubba gets the biggest grin on his face before D-Von snaps him out and we get a few replays of the crash. The Dudleyz music hits and they head to the back as officials rush out to help Trish, while Bubba calls her a bitch from the aisle. We get a replay of the desperate lip lock and another of the powerbomb as doctor's get her set on the backboard to the stretcher. Another replay of the powerbomb before Trish gets wheeled to the back and into a waiting ambulance. We hear some music or something nearby and we pan over to a car, and inside are Eddie and Chyna, who have just come back from their prom. One of the referees who were tending to Trish informs him he's late for his match, and says if he doesn't go out there now he'll have to forfeit his title. Eddie drives his way into the arena as his music hits for his match.
European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) vs Essa Rios (w/ Lita)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Damn Eddie's got a nice ride, riding right down the aisle, and I guess Eddie's going to wrestle in his tux pants, shoes and bow tie. Chyna helps him out of his tux and pulls his elbow pads and title from the trunk, before we get a video package, from the start of Chyna and Eddie's relationship the Smackdown after Mania, to Eddie passing his GED, to picking out their outfits for prom. Then we get a recap of Eddie and Essa's issues, which of course started with Lita's screw ups and costing Eddie matches, plus Lita being put through a table.
Eddie wastes no time with a dropkick into the ropes, then clubs away at the back and neck, Essa sent off the ropes into another dropkick. Sent off the ropes again into a tilt-a-whirl attempt, but Essa slips free and lands a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Essa face first into the corner, followed by a side suplex from Eddie. Eddie tossing Essa over his shoulder to the mat before he works the shoulder, Essa fights back up with rights, then tosses Eddie over his shoulder followed by an elbow. Eddie sent off the ropes into an arm drag and slips out to the outside. Essa goes for a slingshot crossbody but Eddie sidesteps and Essa hits the floor. Esssa thrown into the side of the steps before they go back in the ring, taking his time to pick Essa up into a scoop slam, then a slingshot senton from the apron. Essa face first in the corner before being tossed out, Chyna with a forearm while Eddie distracts the ref and tosses Essa back in the ring. Essa reverses a whip off the ropes and connects with a dropkick before going to the top rope and nails a missile dropkick, hooks the leg for a near fall.
Essa with the rear chinlock until Eddie gets out with a jawbreaker, stomping away before going for a powerbomb, but Essa slips free with an arm drag, sends Eddie off the ropes, leapfrogs and rolls back, lifting Eddie up and over with his feet, but Eddie flies to far and ends up hitting the ropes, landing on the back of his head. Ouch. Essa goes for a clothesline but Eddie sends him through the ropes to the floor. Chyna with another forearm while the ref is occupied with Eddie, who nails a slingshot crossbody onto Essa. Essa face first off the apron, Eddie calls for a powerbomb while Lita goes up top, but Chyna comes around the other side and shoves Lita off, who goes face first into the announce table, Essa throwing Eddie up and over before he can connect with the powerbomb. Essa up to the apron now with a springboard moonsault, landing on Eddie and knees first on the announce table.
Back in the ring, Essa up top with a dropkick to the back sending Eddie to the outside, Essa follows flipping over the ring post onto Eddie on the outside. Back in the ring, Essa back up top while the ref checks on Eddie, Chyna crotching Essa on the top rope while she has the chance. Eddie join Essa up top now and hits the superplex. Essa makes the cover with an arm over but Eddie kicks out. Back up, Essa goes for a back suplex but Eddie slips out and nails the brainbuster. Eddie up top now but Essa is back up and hits the arm drag. Essa back up top now and goes for the moonsault but Eddie gets the knees up. Eddie with... something like a spinning Razor's Edge into a neckbreaker? Nonetheless, Eddie makes the cover and retains in 8:44. Can't complain here, solid match.
Chyna joins Eddie in the ring to celebrate but Essa nails Eddie from behind with a dropkick, taking down Chyna in the process. Lita slides in and rips off Chyna's dress, stripping her to her bra and panties. Lita makes a quick escape with her dress in hand and Essa follows. Eddie tries to cover her up with his belt but she brushes him off, while Eddie enjoys the view. Chyna shows herself off while Chyna hands him the title and make their way out.
To the back, Coach is with HHH and Steph, who says HHH is relaxed for someone who's about to defend his title against Rock, who will have Austin in his corner. HHH asks why he wouldn't be confident, then asks Coach if he's ever seen Trips in the ring. He says he calls himself the Game, that everybody calls him the Game, that it's not just some slogan or a cheap catchphrase. He says he is the Game because he is the WWF Champion, and because he is that damn good, and tonight one more time, just like he always does, he'll prove to the world, and more importantly to Rock, that he is that damn good. Coach then turns to Vince, who mentions that Steph alluded to some kind of surprise for tonight. Vince brings up the fact that Austin hasn't arrived yet, which he says everyone is a little surprised by, and that his sources say Austin may have encountered car troubles, and won't even make it tonight.
Then we go to Cole who's with Benoit ahead of his title match up next, bringing up how Jericho has no problem telling anyone who will listen that he should be IC Champion. Benoit says that yeah, he does have no problem telling everyone how good he is, but reminds us that it's he who is champion, not Jericho. He says Jericho likes to compare the Crippler to a robot, but the difference between him and a robot is he has emotions, and he's going to thoroughly enjoy expressing his emotions all over Jericho, and all the Jerichoholics. He serves a warning to Jericho, that he's looking at the happiest man on Earth right now, because he knows exactly what he's going to do to Jericho, and will take a lot of pleasure in doing it.
Intercontinental Championship: Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Jericho comes out with mic in hand and welcomes us to D.C. is Jericho, and calls on Chris "Ben-oyt", saying he seems awfully insulted that Jericho referred to him as Mr. Roboto, but tells him not to feel bad, because D.C. is full of expressionless, emotionless, deprogrammed drones, called politicians. He calls him Senator Roboto, and says that tonight, he's going to veto his IC Title reign, and do what every Jerichoholic has dreamed of doing, which is beat the living hell out of a politician. He goes to continue but Benoit's music cuts him off and out he comes.
Lock up to start as Jericho gets shoved into the corner, fighting their way to the adjacent corner before they tumble to the outside. They slap each other before the ref splits them apart, then back in the ring some quick chain wrestling before a stare down. Benoit with the jackknife cover until Jericho flips into a sunset pin, then Benoit pushes back for a roll up of his own, then another sunset from Jericho and Benoit kicks out. Chops back and forth until Benoit rakes the eyes, rights in the corner before whipping Jericho across the ring, Benoit follows but hits the corner chest first. Jericho follows with a drop toe hold and hammers away with rights. Knee to the side of the head and a boot by Jericho, then Benoit reverses a whip into the corner, Jericho hitting chest first and Benoit catches him with a German off the rebound, then follows with another, then goes for a third but Jericho hangs onto the ropes. Benoit clubs the back a couple times and tries again but Jericho still hangs on, then lifts Jericho over the ropes to the outside.
Benoit goes for a suicide dive but Jericho moves, and Benoit hits the floor practically on the top of his head. Fuck me, that is hard to watch in present day with what we know now. Jericho up first and Jericho moves the steps, now with right and chop, then goes to whip Benoit into the steps, only to be reversed, but Jericho leaps up and over them, only to have them dropkicked into his ribs as he tries to launch over them. Back in the ring, Benoit hooks the legs for a near fall. Jericho sent off the ropes into a knee to the ribs, then a gutbuster by Benoit. Boot to the head before whipping Jericho chest first into the corner, following with kicks and stomps. Jericho fights out with rights and forearms, sends Benoit off the ropes for a dropkick, but Benoit hangs on while Jericho connects with air. Jericho catapulted face first into the top turnbuckle followed by a chop and a front suplex onto the top rope. More kicks to the ribs by Benoit then a snap suplex, cover and a near fall.
Jericho sent off the ropes into another knee to the ribs, but Jericho fights back up with rights, sent off the ropes again and caught in an ab stretch this time. Jericho fights out with rights, comes off the ropes, ducks a clotheslines and hits a back elbow, then follows with a Lionsault, but Jericho can't capitalize because of the ribs. Jericho just barely makes the cover before the 10 but Benoit kicks out. Benoit rakes the eyes, more chops in the corner before more kicks and stomps to the ribs. Jericho reverses a whip across the ring but Benoit gets the boots up, then nailed with a spinning heel kick from Jericho. Jericho with more rights until Benoit ducks and chops him back into the corner, Jericho reverses another whip across the ring and comes off the ropes with a bulldog, makes the cover but Benoit gets the shoulder up.
Jericho stomping away before chopping against the ropes, Benoit reverses a whip off them but Jericho slips around for a roll up and another near fall. Benoit goes for a suplex but Jericho blocks it, getting a front suplex of his own, draping Benoit ribs first on the top rope, then tries to follow with his springboard dropkick out of the corner but Benoit swats him away. Benoit up top now and springs up maybe for a moonsault, but Jericho cuts him off, joining him up top for a back suplex, but Benoit turns mid air and lands on top of Jericho, makes the cover but Jericho gets the shoulder up. Benoit sends Jericho off the ropes and goes for a backslide but Jericho blocks it, spins around and hits Benoit with the powerbomb, then a second, makes the cover but Benoit kicks out and turns it into the Crossface, but Jericho gets his foot on the rope in time, forcing the break.
enoit pulls him back to the middle and tries again, but Jericho elbows out and rolls through, getting Benoit in the Walls, but he gets to the ropes to force a break. Benoit reverses a whip off the ropes and Jericho goes for the flying forearm, but Benoit moves and he nails the referee instead. Benoit rolls out and gets his title from ringside and nails Jericho in the face with it. Benoit wakes the referee, makes the cover but Jericho manages to kick out. Benoit gets the belt in place and suplexes Jericho onto it before he goes up top, but Jericho rolls out of the way, Benoit hitting the title face first and... The referee calls for the bell in 15:07? Huh? What's the ruling here?
Well it's been ruled in Benoit's favor in disqualification, and Benoit retains his championship. Did Jericho intentionally move the title for Benoit to hit? Or was it the forearm that knocked the ref out? Benoit's nose has been busted and Jericho puts the referee in the Walls as officials rush down to pull Jericho off, but Jericho just keeps going, finally releasing the hold. His music hits as we go to replays and... Oh, yeah, Jericho grabbed the title and held it up for Benoit to nail with the headbutt, so yeah Benoit winning by DQ makes sense here. Jericho leaves the ring and makes his way to the back.
Up next, the main event. HHH vs Rock for the title. We get out video package, where this all started at Mania when Vince turned on Rock to help HHH retain his title, and he guarantees that Rock will never be champ again. Then of course Rock would earn his title shot in a cage match before he gets busted wide open. Then what follows is plenty more screwing by the McMahons and Shane announced as referee. Linda of course announces Austin for Rock's corner to even the odds, and then there's the mind games from Smackdown, culminating in Austin blowing up the DX Express, to bring us to this point.
Before we get to the match, we go to Cole who's standing by with Rock, who brings up Austin's absence. Rock skips past his usual shtick and says Austin could be in D.C., or Texas, or two minutes away from the building, he doesn't know, but he says he does know, can count on, what Cole can count on, that everyone can count on, is that he guaran-damn-tees, the promise he's made to the people, that tonight he's walking out WWF Champion. He tells HHH it doesn't matter who he has to go through, how many McMahons, he will go through them and HHH, he's making history, if you smell what the Rock is cooking.
WWF Championship: The Rock (w/ Stone Cold Steve Austin?) vs Triple H (c) (w/ Vince McMahon & Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley); Special Guest Referee: Shane McMahon
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Shane is out first of course as our referee for this match, then champion with wife and father-in-law by his side. Vince takes the mic, a program in hand, and says many bought it, and points to the fine print on the inside that says "Card subject to change," so he regrets to inform them that Austin won't be there tonight. Rock of course comes out by himself to loud Rocky chants and an ovation.
Several moments of staring down as the crowd chants "We want Austin" before they start trading rights, but HHH gets the advantage with rights in the corner. Rock fights back with rights before HHH throws him back in the corner, but Rock with more rights. HHH tries to reverse a whip off the ropes but Rock pulls him back into a back elbow. HHH sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and goes for the Pedigree but Rock gets out with a back drop. Kicks to the midsection in the corner and Shane pulls him off early, allowing HHH to nail the neckbreaker.
Back on their feet, HHH with a side headlock but Rock immediately nails the back suplex. More rights by Rock, off the ropes but sent over the ropes to the outside, back first into the announce table. HHH sends him face first into the steps, before dropping him face first on the announce table. Vince throws him face first into the ring post before tossing him back in the ring, HHH with the cover and Shane makes... a fair count? Does he not know how the screwy referee thing works? Rock kicks out anyways. Rock face first in the corner and HHH stomps away, then trading rights until HHH gets a knee in to the ribs, Rock sent off the ropes, ducks a couple clotheslines but gets hit with a high knee, cover and a quick count by Shane for a near fall.
Suplex by HHH, followed by a knee drop out of the corner, cover and a near fall, then twice more. Rights in the corner by HHH, then some by Rock, HHH reverses a whip off the ropes and catches Rock in a sleeper hold. Rock starts to fade as HHH transitions to a reverse chinlock on the mat, Shane raises the arm but Rock comes to, until HHH gets his feet on the ropes and cinches it in tighter. Shane raises his arm again but Rock manages to fight up and out with rights, comes off the ropes but HHH immediately nails a clothesline. cover and a near fall. More rights in the corner by HHHH, then goes for the 10 punch, but Rock pulls out and drops HHH face first into the turnbuckle.
Rock with more rights, HHH reverses a whip off the ropes, Rock ducks a clothesline and they take each other out with a clothesline. Shane gets the 10 count going but Rock is up first, only for Vince to nail him with the title while Shane is over by HHH. HHH makes the cover but Rock kicks out. HHH with more rights in the corner, but Rock turns it around with rapid rights, but gets whipped across the ring, only to nail HHH with a clothesline. HHH whipped hard into the corner and tumbles over the ropes to the outside, clutching his arm. Rock with a vicious clothesline before dropping HHH onto the announce table, then back to the ring.
Rock sends HHH off the ropes who connects with the facebuster, but Rock nails the DDT, hooks the leg but Shane refuses to even count this time. Rock gets pissed and nails Shane, knocking him to the outside, and HHH clotheslines Rock to the outside. Rock whipped shoulder first into the steps before he takes apart the announce table, pulling HHH on top of it with some rapid fire rights. HHH goes for the Pedigree but Rock nails the low blow. He goes for the Rock Bottom, but Shane climbs on top to try and stop it, only to be pulled in for a double Rock Bottom through the table. God damn this still looks awesome. Vince's face says it all.
God damn that pop when the glass shatters, and out comes Austin with chair in hand. HHH first with a chair to the back, then to the heads of Patterson and Brisco, then Shane who's returned to the ring, then Vince. HHH back with a chair of his own only to get a chair to the head himself, and out goes Austin, leaving everyone laying. Now Linda has made her way out with Hebner by her side and Steph tries to get in her way, only to be shoved down.
HHH gets the chair and goes to nail Rock, only to be caught with a spinebuster, and hit with the People's Elbow. Linda sends in Hebner as Rock hooks the leg to win the championship in 19:23. Ya know, this match admittedly had a great ending, and then there's that Rock Bottom through the table, but it felt like this match had way too much interference and shenanigans, but maybe that's just me. I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Vince and co finally come to as Rock celebrates with his new championship. Austin's music hits once again amidst the celebrating and out comes Austin in his truck, with the DX Express towed behind it. He joins Rock in the ring and calls for some beers, offering one to Rock and they share a drink together toasting the title. Rock poses one last time as Austin takes his leave and the show fades out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's hard to complain about this show. It had solid action practically top to bottom, and aside from some minor issues and nitpicks, I enjoyed watching this. That said, with a runtime of 2:46:33, there was a total 1:39:25 of wrestling.
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