WWF Week 5 - Main Event Set for Judgement Day
RAW
Wasting little time as we go straight to Raw's intro and pyro, live from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. J.R. and the King welcome us to the show, and right away, we have a title match.
So E&C come out accompanied by the APA as Lilian introduces them, Christian grabbing the mic as they enter the ring. He says being the fighting champions that they are, they're out there to issue another open challenge, which is why they've hired the APA in case another team gets any funny ideas and try and cost them the titles. There's a loud asshole chant starting, while Edge takes the mic, saying they realize that Long Island doesn't have the best looking people in the nation, so to appease their appetite for beautiful faces, instead of the usual 5 seconds, they'll now pose for 6 seconds for those with the benefit of flash photography. After their posing, Edge says that if the APA can stay sober long enough to fulfill their obligations, to let the open challenge commence.
As the champs look on ready for challengers, Bradshaw picks up the mic that Edge put down and takes offense to his remark about staying sober and says they aren't sober at that moment, but out of the kindness of their heart, they're gonna give E&C a 100% refund. Farooq explains that that way, they won't have any remorse when they kick their asses. They land right hands and the bell is rung for this match.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The APA vs Edge & Christian (c)
Edge clotheslined to the outside by Bradshaw, Christian sent off the ropes into a powerslam by Farooq, cover and a two count. Christian face first into Bradshaw's boot before he tags in, they sent Christian off the ropes into a double shoulder block. Christian sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, goes for a crossbody but gets caught into a fallaway slam. Christian sent off the ropes again but Edge tags himself in as he is, Christian hangs on and slips out of the ring, while Edge goes up top to hit a missile dropkick. Bradshaw sent off the ropes, club to the back as Edge goes for a back body drop, sending him into the corner for rights and knees. Edge sent off the ropes into a shoulder block.
Farooq back in now with right hands, Edge sent off the ropes but catches him with a DDT. Bradshaw back in with rights and a back body drop, cover but Christian breaks it up. Edge sent off the ropes but catches Bradshaw with a swinging neckbreaker before tagging in Christian. Double team suplex then double headbutts, cover and a near fall. Bradshaw reverses a whip into the corner but Christian gets the boots up, comes off the middle rope but gets nailed with a clothesline.
Edge and Farooq in now, the latter with right hands. Christian sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline from Bradshaw but walks right into a spinebuster from Farooq, sending him out of the ring. Edge goes to the middle rope but gets caught for a double team spinebuster. Christian comes back in with the ring bell as Farooq hammers away at Edge, but he drops it and kicks him instead. He goes after Farooq and Bradshaw grabs the bell to nail Edge, referee... well tries to call for the bell, but you know, so E&C retain via DQ in 3:32.
Bell to the head of Christian, ref escapes and Bradshaw throws the bell out at him. As E&C celebrate, Bull and Boss Man rush the ring to attack APA, Bradshaw taken out with the nightstick while Bull drops the leg on Farooq. More nightstick shots on Bradshaw, then choking Farooq as Bull hits the top rope leg drop on Bradshaw.
As they leave, we get footage from the chaos that ended Smackdown last week, then we see the Regime in the back, on their way to the ring next.
Back from break, HHH's music hits and out he comes along with the McMahon-Helmsley Regime, as the nameplate graphic says. Patterson is out noticeably with a referee shirt, while J.R. tells us Hebner is still recovering from Smackdown. HHH gets the mic to start to apologize to everyone for the actions of Earl Hebner, and he knows everyone is aware of the tragedy that's befallen him, the vicious beating he got and all that. He says when something in the WWF like that happens, it's flooded with phone calls and letters and cards, and Hebner just hasn't been able to respond to their well-wishes, like a true WWF superstar should, while a loud Rocky chant breaks out. He's out here to explain that it's not Earl's fault, that it's difficult to phone someone back when your jaw is wired shut and you can't speak. He says it's hard to return a letter or a card when your eyes are swollen shut that you can't read the paper in front of you, and even if you could, your broken fingers can't even hold the pen to write back. He says the worst part is that it could have been avoided if Hebner had just kept his nose out of their business, but he had to get involved, be the big hero, the big star, and got what he deserved. He makes a PSA to everyone else in the WWF, to show them what happens when you cross the Regime, before telling Kevin Dunn to roll the footage, which is of course the beatdown from Smackdown. He goes on to say that if they cross them, get in his path of doing the one thing that's inevitable, which is becoming WWF Champion, that's what happens.
Which brings him to Rock now, he says Judgement Day is coming, and all truths will be told then. He says everyone will know the truth, when he and Rock face off for the title one on one, for the one thing that anybody worth a crap in the business wants more than anything, the WWF Title, but this time, there won't be Austin, there won't be Linda, and there won't be piece of crap Hebner sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. This time though, he wants to up the ante, separate the men from the boys, find out who is the general in that ring, go the one place that very few will ever dream of going, that all the guys in the back are scared to death to try and do, proposing a 60-Minute Ironman Match. He tells Rock he has to look inside and ask himself if he can hang, because HHH knows he can, if he can go one hour with the Game, put it all on the line and hope to God his lungs don't explode before the end, if he can accept the fact that truth will be told, that when he lays on the mat, gasping for air after getting his ass kicked by the best in the business, he will look into HHH's eyes and know once and for all that Rock can't hang with him, because he has no equal, that he will know that he is the Game, that he is the WWF Champion, that he is that damn good.
Vince takes the mic now and starts to speak about the night's show, but he's interrupted by Jericho, the new IC Champion. He welcomes us to Raw is Jericho, and tells "Vance" that before he chastises him for his actions on Smackdown, he wants to apologize. Vince gets all smug, as Jericho wants to apologize for being impulsive, for following his heart, for coming down to the ring and punching him in his face. He says it was instinct, it's what he's all about, and says it's similar to the way to the way Shane is referred to every week by all the Jerichoholics as a word that rhymes with wussy, or similar to the way that Stephanie is a filthy, dirty, disgusting, skanky, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash bag ho. He says Steph can't help it, it's what she does, than moves onto Vince. He says Vince is the head of one of the biggest empires in the world, he created the entire phenomenon as sports entertainment, he's a multi-billionaire, but that he only did it to make up for a very small penis. He says it's OK though, that it's not his fault.
Vince says there's nothing stopping them from going and kicking his ass, but as they go to leave, out come the Dudleyz, Rikishi and Big Show to even the odds, so the Regime retreat. Vince then says that Jericho is once again misinformed, because everyone knows he has a set of grapefruits, and that grapefruits grow on trees and every tree has a trunk. He says by the end of the night, Jericho will be wishing he were dangling by the end of his trunk, then a loud asshole chant breaks out. He says Jericho will defend the IC Title one on one against Kurt Angle, and guarantees that he won't leave the arena with the title.
Shane takes the mic and asks what Show is even doing out there, bringing up what Show did on Smackdown and headbutting Shane. He says Show asked him a hard question, he gave him a hard answer, and asks if he expected him to feel sorry for him, but he isn't sorry, because everyone knows Show is acting like a fool with all the different characters, while a "Shane's a pussy chant" breaks out. He says that one way or another, he and Show are gonna settle it tonight.
Vince back on the mic and says for the Dudleyz, there's going to be a Table Match tonight, with the Dudleyz against... Gerld Brisco? Then to Rikishi, and since he gave Patterson a Stinkface, they're gonna get a match tonight. He reminds them that there's a fine line between insanity and genius, and that everyone in the arena will once again know of his superior mental acumen tonight to close out the segment.
Back from the break, it's time for another title match.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Kurt Angle vs Chris Jericho (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Kurt is out with mic in hand and says he's honored that the Regime have picked our Olympic Hero to take the IC Title from Y2J, and on a personal note, he's privileged to defend Stephanie's honor, because she possesses something that no one in Long Island could ever possess, which is class. It's true, it's true. He tells Jericho that when he insults Stephanie, he insults everything that is good and pure about society today, and that is true. This must be the start of the love triangle with HHH.
Lock up to start and quick back and forth with Jericho getting the upperhand with a back elbow. Kurt sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but takes some shots into the corner. Kurt rakes the eyes and turns it around for some rights and boots, but gets whipped across the ring, but launches Jericho face first into the top turnbuckle. He wastes time posing and celebrating prematurely, so gets back body dropped to the outside as he turns his attention back to Jericho. He climbs to the apron but Jericho takes him down with a springboard dropkick out of the corner, then goes for a baseball slide, Angle sidesteps but is sent shoulder first into the steps. Back in the ring, Jericho goes up top but Kurt cuts him off and nails a belly to belly suplex, makes the cover but Jericho kicks out.
Jericho face first in the corner, followed by rights and choking with the boot by Kurt, followed by a suplex, cover and a near fall. Side headlock now by Kurt, Jericho fights back up and out with elbows, of the ropes, ducks a clothesline, stops a back body drop to deliver a double-underhook backbreaker, cover and a near fall. Kurt pulls Jericho back off a whip off the ropes into a Northern Lights suplex, another cover and a kick out. Jericho face first in the corner, but sends Kurt across the ring, Kurt gets a boot up and runs right into a spinning heel kick. Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a flying forearm, then a bulldog, cover and a near fall.
Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes and connects with a belly to belly overhead for another near fall. Elbows to the head and a back suplex on Jericho, then goes for an Olympic Slam but Jericho slips out applies the Walls, forcing Kurt to tap out in 5:36. Damn good match.
Not much time for celebrating as we cut to Shane in the back and in rushes Show, grabbing Shane by the collar, set off by Shane's words earlier. Shane tries to calm him down and says that it wasn't what he meant, so Show lets go. Shane explains that all he was trying to do was piss Show off, bring out the guy that he knows, the Big Show, the guy he took to Mania. He says that tonight he has the chance to become champion again, the IC Title, saying it's not just because Jericho retained or his remarks, saying that Show can become someone again. Shane likes what he hears as his phone rings, and out walks Show into commercial.
Eddie Guerrero (WWF European Champion) (w/ Chyna) vs The Godfather
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Godfather does his usual shtick as he comes out, but he turns to Chyna complimenting on how pretty she is, then says that when Lita stripped her at Backlash and had nothing on but bra and panties, she was smokin'. She impressed him so much that he has an offer for her, to get rid of all the hos by his side, apologizing to them and saying that business is business, if Chyna with her fine, fine body come join the Ho Train. Chyna takes the mic, making sure that everything he said was true, but says she doesn't give a crap, telling him to take the hos to the back and take the roses with him, throwing them in his face.
Godfather makes his way toward her as the bell is rung and Eddie dropkicks him from behind, sending him the corner for rights, tries to send him off the ropes but Godfather blocks it before hip tossing Eddie across the ring. Eddie sent off the ropes into a big boot,more rights then Eddie face first in the corner. Eddie sent across the ring for boots to the midsection, then choked across the top rope, followed by a pair of scoop slams. Eddie sent off the ropes into a back body drop. Eddie calls for a time out and tries to crawl to Chyna but Godfather pulls him back. Chyna gets on the apron and distracts the referee, but it allows Godfather to nail a low blow in the process.
Eddie retreats to the corner and Godfather hits the Ho Train, while Chyna climbs onto the apron on the other side. Meanwhile D'Lo has slid in from behind as Godfather knocks Chyna down, she climbs back up to distract the referee and D'Lo hits the Lo Down. Eddie goes up top and nails a missile dropkick for the win in 2:25.
Eddie and Chyna head to the back, then we see the Dudleyz on their way with a table, which is up next.
Back from break, Dudleyz come out for their match and they set up the table immediately in front of the ring by the ramp, and Brisco comes out to Real American with mic in hand. He says that before he single-handedly kicks their asses by himself, he introduces them to his partners, T&A.
Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz vs Gerald Brisco, Test & Albert
Dudleyz meet them in the aisle and start going at it, Test dropped onto the apron. D-Von picks up Gerald and tries to put him through the table but Test makes the save, tossing D-Von into the ring. Gerald takes it to Bubba while D-Von is double teamed by T&A in the ring with a big boot. For some reason this is a tag in/tag out kind of match with Test and D-Von starting it out properly, D-Von sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails rights, comes off the ropes and walks into a sidewalk slam. Brisco tags in, but D-Von blocks a right hand, Bubba tags in and walks right into a drop toe hold and an elbow from Brisco, then a leg drop coming off the ropes. I was not expecting Brisco to actually wrestle.
Bubba reverses a whip off the ropes and catches Brisco for a scoop slam before knocking T&A off the apron. D-Von goes up for the diving headbutt between the legs, while J.R. explains this isn't elimination style. D-Von sent off the ropes and Test trips him up, Brisco hitting a perfect double underhook suplex. Test tags in now with rights, D-Von sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Rights and stomps in the corner by D-Von now before tagging in Albert. More right hands, D-Von sent across the ring, but gets the boot up, to the second rope for a flying clothesline. Bubba and Test in now with some strikes, a Samoan drop on Test and a Bubba Cutter on Albert. Hip toss on Brisco as he runs in and a clothesline before tossing him out to the floor.
Bubba goes and grabs the table, sliding it in the ring but Albert is on the attack, Test whips D-Von into the corner and nails a big boot before setting up the table. Bubba sends Albert into the steps, Test goes for a gutwrench but slips out, sends Test off the ropes while Bubba slides in, delivering the 3D through the table for the win in 4:36. That was a fun match, I enjoyed it.
Briso comes in and Bubba gets his hands on him, but DX rush down to help instead. Roadie drops D-Von with a pumphandle slam while Tori slaps Bubba, which only angers him so he grabs her by the hair. X-Pac with the low blow and an X-Factor instead, while Brisco takes out another table from under the ring. He and X-Pac sets it up near the corner before setting Bubba on top of it, Brisco goes up top and splashes him through the table. Real American hits once more and mocks Hogan as they celebrate. We get a replay of the splash through the table as he and DX escape, while Bubba looks on pissed.
We see Jericho heading to the ring, then Show and Shane for their match next.
Back from break, we have another return vignette for Taker, before we go to our next match.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: The Big Show (w/ Shane McMahon) vs Chris Jericho (c)
Jericho right away with forearms and chops, only to be sent off the ropes, pulled back into a clotheslined, then kicked to the outside. Headbutt by Show, then a club to the back before going tossing Jericho back in. Shane distracts Show inadvertently as he tries to motivate him, allowing Jericho to hit a baseball slide, then tries a slingshot crossbody but Show catches him, pressing him over the ropes back into the ring.
Show with chops in the corner, Jericho sent across the ring but Show misses a splash, Jericho up top takes him down with a missile dropkick, then a Lionsault, cover but Show powers out. Jericho off the ropes but caught in a military press by Show. All of a sudden, someone in the back decides to fuck with Shane, because they play some footage from earlier that we didn't see, when Shane took the phone call after negotiating with Show and sending him out of the room. Gist of it is that he tells whoever he's talking to about what just happened and has Show wrapped around his finger, completely brainwashed, had his brain lobotomized, dry cleaned, and shrink-wrapped for their protection, saying he owns Show. So Show sees all this and gets pissed off, leaving the ring and chases Shane off to the back, which means Jericho retains via countout in 3:20.
After a bit of recuperating by Jericho in the ring, we catch up with Show chasing Shane down the hallway to the parking lot, Shane getting into a waiting limosine and driving off. Then we go to Vince and Steph, and Vince jokes that it's the first time Shane's ever driven himself anywhere in his adult life. Steph is upset though because Jericho is still champion, and Vince did guarantee that he'd no longer be champion. Vince agrees, and says Jericho will have yet another defense against Chris Benoit before going into commercial.
Too Cool vs Bull Buchanan & The Big Boss Man
Bull and Scotty start it out with a lock up, but Scotty is pushed into the corner for rights and lefts, then Scotty with some rights, launched up and over to the apron, then hangs Bull up before a top rope crossbody for a two count. Sexay in now, off the ropes and takes Bull down then a double elbow drop. Eye rake on Sexay and Boss Man in, Sexay with rights, sent off the ropes, blocks a hit toss and nails a neck breaker, then of the ropes into a big boot. Bull in now with a clothesline off the middle rope, then an ax kick, cover but Scotty breaks it up. Scoop slam by Bull, then to the middle rope but Sexay gets his feet up.
Hot tag to Scotty and Boss Man in, rights on both and dropkicks. Scotty comes off the ropes for a crossbody but Boss Man catches him, until Sexay dropkicks the back of Scotty knocking them down for a cover but Boss Man kicks out. Double DDT on Bull, then Sexya takes himself and Boss Man to the outside, Scotty sent into the corner, Bull misses a splash and Scotty nails the bulldog before hitting The Worm. Boss Man comes back in though and nails him from behind and we get some double teaming until the ref sends Bull to the apron, while Boss Man sends Scotty off the ropes for a spinning side slam. He makes the cover but the ref is still busy with Bull in the corner, Sexay goes up top and nails the Hip Hop Drop to the back of the neck of Boss Man, rolls Scotty on top before knocking Bull off the apron, and Too Cool get the win in 4:01. It was an OK match.
Bull and Boss Man are on the attack now until APA come out and chase them to the back. Scotty and Sexay come to and do their usual dance routine. Then to the locker room, Dean is with Saturn and they're arguing I guess over what happened last week, and Dean says they're even now, but it's only pissing off Saturn more. Benoit gets between them sporting a black eye, tells them to put this on the back burner, that it stops now. Then Eddie comes in and asks what's wrong with them with all the fighting, and that he knows what the real problem is. I think he hints that Dean is sexually frustrated but his last thoughts are mumbled, then says Saturn is just as talented as the three of them and tells him Dean might give him a title shot if he's nice enough. They all leave as Eddie looks at his title before commercial.
Dean Malenko (WWF Light Heavyweight Champion) & Perry Saturn vs The Hardy Boyz
As Hardyz pose in the corners during their entrance, Perry and Dean attack from behind to get this match started, Perry on Jeff and Dean on Matt in opposite corners. Dean whips Matt, while Jeff reverses a whip from Saturn, Matt taking him down with a forearm, then ducks a clothesline from Dean into a right hand from Jeff. They send Saturn over the ropes with a double clothesline before Matt sends Dean off the ropes, only to be caught with a scoop slam. He and Jeff to up top with a splash and leg drop combo, Jeff makes the cover, but Saturn yanks the ref out of the ring. He gets back in the ring, but Hardyz whip him into the corner and go for Poetry in Motion, but Saturn catches Jeff and slams him down to the mat. high low on Jeff, cover by Dean and a near fall.
Saturn tags in, Jeff sent off the ropes into double elbows, then Saturn with a gutwrench before sending Jeff chest first into the corner, setting him up top. Jeff pushes him off before nailing Whisper in the Wind. Tags made and made with rights, Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop, then Saturn sent to the outside. Jeff runs across the barricade to clothesline Saturn to the floor while Matt takes down Dean, followed by a middle rope elbow. Matt goes for a Twist of Fate as Jeff goes up top, but Saturn shoves him off while Dean turns it into a neck breaker. Saturn goes for a suplex or something while Dean locks Matt in the cloverleaf but Jeff slips out and ends up stumbling into Dean, breaking up the hold, then Saturn accidentally nails him with a side kick. Jeff goes up top and nails the Swanton Bomb before knocking Saturn out of the ring, Matt makes the cover and the Hardyz win in 3:24. This felt like a bit of a mess, and maybe it's just because it was so short and they tried to do a bunch of things in it.
Hardyz celebrate their way to the back while Saturn and Dean start to shove each other. Eddie and Chyna come down to try and calm them down, but Saturn clocks Eddie and Dean clocks Chyna. Now Saturn and Malenko go back at it while referees come out to separate them, and Eddie goes to get in it...
And we cut to Rikishi's squatting ass in the back, then Pat who's worried in the back. Gerald tells him that Vince asked him to stay out of the way and not interfere before wishing him luck into commercial.
Back from break for our match, Rikishi comes out like normal, but Patterson comes out to Real American much like Brisco did, and as J.R. points out, he's from Montreal which makes this all the more strange. Before the match can start though, Vince comes out with a mic alongside Brisco, and says that even though Patterson didn't ask for help, he introduces him to his tag partners.
Rikishi vs Pat Patterson, Road Dogg & X-Pac
Patterson clubs Rikishi from behind as DX is still on route to the ring, which distracts Rikishi only a moment, catching Roadie and Pac with rights as they come in. Pat retreats to the apron and Kish does the noggin knocker and double clothesline, then whips them into the corner before delivering a hip attack. He drops Roadie with a right but X-Pac ducks and drops Kish with a spinning heel kick, while Roadie comes off the ropes with a flying forearm. X-Pac off the ropes with a leg drop, Roadie with his knee drop before Patterson tags in. He goes up top, but Kish crotches him following a right hand to the face, dropping him in the corner. Rights and side kick for X-Pac and Roadie, then Patterson sent across the ring followed by a hip attack to set up for a Stinkface, but X-Pac drops him with another spinning heel kick before he can. Pattersone rolls out while Roadie and X-Pac double team while Pat grabs a chair, nailing Kish in the head for the DQ in 1:43.
X-Pac with a low blow before they sit Kish up in the corner, then Pat takes off his shirt, drops his shorts, leaving him in his underwear which has a brown streak down the middle and gives Kish a Stinkface. Real American hits as DX and Patterson celebrate, Pat mocks Hogan briefly until Too Cool rush down and chase them off. They have to give us a replay because... reasons as they retreat to the back.
Then we get the Undertaker return vignette once more either into or before commercial, I can't tell, but either way, we go back to the arena where Lilian is ready to introduce the main event, but she's cut off by HHH's music and out he comes in a ref shirt. He has a mic and introduces himself as the self-appointed, special, troubleshooting referee that will be on the outside, the next WWF Champion, The Game, HHH.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (c); Special Enforcer: Triple H
Jericho immediately with a drop toe hold and chops in the corner, Benoit sent across the ring and gets the boots up, ducks a spinning heel kick. Chops on Jericho, sends him across the ring but Jericho nails a flying forearm followed by mounted rights. Benoit reverses a whip off the ropes, Jericho ducks an elbow and hits one of his own, then goes for the Lionsault early but lands on his feet as Benoit rolls away, but caught with a spinning heel kick sending him out of the ring. Jericho goes for the springboard dropkick out of the corner as Benoit gets on the apron but he's too slow, Benoit shoving him off and into the barricade.
Jericho thrown shoulder first into the steps, followed by a suplex on the floor by Benoit. Back in the ring, Jericho sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then boots to the head followed by a back suplex, cover and a near fall. Back breaker now by Benoit, cover and a two count. Snapmare and an ab stretch now on Jericho, he fights back up and gets in forerarms, Benoit sent off the ropes but hangs on Jericho goes for a dropkick, then catapults Jericho into the corner. More chops by Benoit followed by boots to the midsection until the ref pulls him off and Benoit shoves him back. HHH in the ring to chastise Benoit for shoving the referee and Benoit shoves him now. HHH drops the referee with a right hand as he tries to separate them and HHH throws him out of the ring. Jericho nails Benoit with a missile dropkick off the distraction, covers, HHH actually makes a fast count maybe by accident and Benoit kicks out, then a roll up and another kick out. Benoit with a Northern Lights with the bridge and a kick out.
Jericho sent off the ropes but pulls back, but Benoit ducks a clothesline and delivers two German suplexes, but Jericho blocks and elbows his way out of a third into a victory roll, then into the Walls. Benoit tries to get to the ropes and we see Steph make her way down the ramp behind Jericho, which gets HHH's attention. Benoit starts tapping, so Jericho kicks HHH in the back while he's talking to Steph, then clubs Jericho in the back of the head when he turns around, right into the Crossface. HHH calls for the bell even though Jericho never gave up and I guess Benoit regains his title via screwjob in 7:07.
HHH hands Benoit the title while the rest of the regime walk down to beat down Jericho alongside HHH, capped off by a Pedigree and slaps by Steph, then some shots by Shane. Vince comes in with a chair while HHH delivers some right hands, then they all hold him up for Vince to crack him over the head, until Big Show and Dudleyz come out to make the save, along with Too Cool. Vince and co. retreat as Jericho's music hits and... there's a beach ball in the ring for some reason to play out the show.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Alright I fairly enjoyed this show. Two good title matches that kept Jericho protected in the end, even though there was a dull one in between, decent tag title match. We have a main event pretty much set for the PPV, we have Radicalz slowly breaking up, and Brisco actually wrestling which was the most surprising thing of this show. Could have done without the Show/Jericho match or the brown streak Stinkface but oh well. That said, with a runtime of 1:33:08, there was a total 35:44 of wrestling.
Smackdown
We go right to the opening video and pyro for the live, from the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut. Lawler and Cole welcome us to the show as we get to our first match of the night.
So the Dudleyz make their way out to the ring but before their opponents come out, Brisco comes out with a mic, directing our attention to the Ovaltron to show what he did to Bubba single-handedly on Raw. Then he goes on to tell us why he did that, saying he's a great wrestling champion and a great fighter for women's rights, and he will carry the torch for all the women in the WWF, then introduces Dudleyz opponents for tonight, T&A with the returning Trish.
But before this can start, Shane comes out now with a mic and says he's overwhelmed by Gerald's sentiments, and shares his sensitivity towards women's rights, then reminding us that one of the repeated, innocent victims that the Dudleyz have bombarded through tables could easily have been his sister Steph, so he stands by the hero Gerald Brisco.
The Dudley Boyz vs T&A (w/ Trish Stratus, Gerald Brisco & Shane McMahon)
Test and D-Von start, D-Von sent off the ropes into a big boot, then reverses a whip off the ropes only to be caught with a swinging neckbreaker by Test. D-Von once again sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, sends Test off the ropes and they trade clotheslines and ducks until D-Von nails a shoulder tackle. Bubba tags in with right hands and elbows in the corner, Test reverses a whip across the ring but Bubba gets the boot up followed by a clothesline. Test sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Bubba sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets caught with a full nelson slam. Albert in now, Bubba sent off the ropes into a shoulder block. Rights in the corner, Bubba sent across the ring but catches Albert with a clothesline. Bubba nails Test with a right which causes him to try and come in which distracts the referee, so D-Von can go up top for the flying headbutt between Albert's legs. D-Von sent off the ropes and Brisco grabs him by the leg, so D-Von chases after him around the ring into a clothesline by Albert. Test in now sends D-Von face first in the corner for rapid fire rights, then D-Von sent across the ring but gets the boot up, followed by a sunset flip from the middle rope for a two count.
Test catches him with a sidewalk slam before going up top but D-Von avoids the elbow. Bubba tags in now along with Albert, Bubba with a couple clotheslines and a Samoan drop, cover, Test goes to break it up with an elbow but Bubba moves out of the way, so Albert gets hit instead. Test reverses a whip off the ropes, Bubba ducks a clothesline and nails the Bubba Cutter before knocking Brisco off the apron. Then he grabs Trish as she climbs the apron, Albert tries to attack from behind but Bubba moves, knocking Trish off and into Brisco, sending them both to the floor. Dudleyz hit the inverted 3D, Bubba makes the cover but Shane yanks the ref out of the ring. D-Von leaves the ring to after Shane while Test nails the top rope elbow to the back of Bubba, Albert rolls over and drapes his arm on Bubba for the win in 5:06. Not a bad opening match.
Not much time for celebrating though as Big Show rushes down right after Shane, grabbing him by the throat but Test gets him from behind. Test off the ropes only to be caught for a chokeslam as Shane runs off and Show follows close behind into commercial.
Back from break we get a replay of Show going after Shane, then we catch up with him in the back throwing chairs around and looking for Shane. Then the Smack of the Night is HHH screwing Jericho out of the IC Title on Raw, which leads us into our next match.
The Godfather vs Chris Benoit (WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Benoit doesn't even let Godfather get through his whole shtick as he comes out and is right on the attack, driving Godfather into the corner with boots to the midsection, stomping away. Godfather reverses a whip off the ropes, but Benoit rolls under a boot, only to catch right hands. Benoit whipped into the corner but Godfather misses a splash, elbows his way out of a German suplex but caught with a Northern Lights with a bridge for a two count. Benoit off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a two count. Benoit hip tossed across the ring, then sent off the ropes into a boot, then a scoop slam by Godfather before tossing Benoit out to the floor.
Benoit whipped shoulder first into the steps before being tossed back in the ring, following up with a back suplex. Godfather goes up top for a Vader Bomb but Benoit rolls out of the way, immediately putting him in the Crossface for the submission victory in 2:30.
So Cole spent most of the match wondering how Benoit could live with himself winning the title back the way he did, and Lawler told him to ask Benoit himself if he wants to know so bad, so that's exactly what he does here after the bell is rung. Benoit threatens to put Cole in the Crossface if he asks another dumb question. Then he admits that he never saw Jericho tap or hear him submit, but he does guarantee all the Jerichoholics that he did, that Jericho had no choice, that once he locked it in and felt his body go numb from the paralyzing pain it inflicts, he had only one hope that someone would break the hold, which is what HHH did. He says he's not there to pass judgement, but he is there to offer Jericho an opportunity at the IC Title at Judgement Day in a Submission Match, then he leaves into commercial.
Back from break Jericho and Benoit are fighting in the parking lot and referees are already on the scene trying to separate them with little luck.
Then to the arena and out come the McMahon-Helmsley Regime... or I guess it's back to the Faction now. Patterson is up first with the mic and says he's a lot in his career, but tonight he's a very proud man, and instead of wasting his time telling us why, he rolls the footage of giving Rikishi the Stinkface on Raw, then says that tonight he's been given permission to book a match, so he announces Too Cool and Rikishi vs Triple H, Road Dogg and X-Pac in an elimination tag for tonight. Alright not bad Pat.
So Shane takes the mic now and says he's seen Show in the back asking everyone which way Shane went and goes on to mock Show, then announces that Show will be in a Tables Match with the Dudleyz tonight.
HHH takes the mic now and calls that really good crap, then says that people were surprised that Rock didn't show up for Raw, which is a fair point, but he wasn't, then a loud "asshole" chant starts before he continues. He tells us why, he says that word leaked out about his challenge and Rock was scared to come to the show, and that Rock could have used a better excuse than going to Morocco to make some stupid movie, The Mummy 2. Still, he says the fact is Rock is scared, but this coming Monday they will go face to face and Rock will have to answer his challenge, and if Rock does say yes then 10 days from then it will be his Judgement Day, because the truth will be told, that as great a shape, as physically conditioned as Rock is, he will never be in the shape of HHH, never be as conditioned an athlete as he is, and as electrifying as he is, he will never be as good as he is. He says as great as Rock thinks he is, he will never be The Game, because he's not in the shape he's in, nor does he have the heart that he has, and he will show the world once and for all that he is that damn good and that he will be the WWF Champion at Judgement Day.
Vince takes the mic now and starts to speak and barely gets anything out before an "asshole" chant breaks out, much to Vince's glee. He understands that some of the fans think that the Faction on Monday wasn't fair to Jericho, that since they made him compete in three matches defending his title until he lost it that it just wasn't fair. Vince says that's just too damn bad, because if they think that wasn't fair, they're probably the same kind of people who wait in line, wait forever like sheep all lined up, then see someone like Vince very aggressively cut in front of the line and point out it's not fair, or maybe like the parking lot, where you're waiting patiently for a parking space and suddenly it appears and you make your move, and then someone zips in, cuts you off and takes it, and you say it's not fair. Or maybe on the few occasions when you look into a full length mirror, and the women look and disgust looking at the cellulite and say that's not fair. Then he says the men won't even look at the mirror, but on the occasion they might get a quick glimpse and say "That can't be me, with the potbelly and the small penis, that's not fair." Then he tells the crowd to look at themselves and the people around them, and compare themselves to the people in the ring and say "That's not fair!" Then he brings up the monay, scrimp and save and work half to death, and still can't afford what you really want, it's not fair. It's not fair that some are rich and they're not. He says they have to face the facts that most of them are born with inferior DNA and say it's not fair, but feel sorry for themselves, wallow in self-pity, and then have to face the facts that life is not fair, and might as well own up to the philosophy that is, "Life sucks, and then you die." Vince's music hits to finally end this segment. Christ this did not need to go this long.
Cut to Chyna and Eddie in the back doing rock-paper-scissors, then Eddie pulls a quarter behind her ear and tosses it so high he loses it. So Chyna just says she'll take Dean and Eddie will take Perry tonight and they agree into commercial.
Back from break, we see footage from Raw where things between Dean and Perry broke down, then Eddie and Chyna involving themselves, which brings us to our next match.
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Chyna (w/ WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero) vs Dean Malenko (c)
Eddie comes out once the bell has rung as Dean extends his hand and Chyna nearly takes the bait as Dean goes for a kick to the midsection, but Chyna catches and hits a clothesline after spinning him around. Chyna with rights, Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop, Chyna off the ropes, blocks a hip toss and hits a neck breaker, cover and a two count. Chyna with a handspring elbow in the corner, then goes for a powerbomb but Dean flips her back, then she tries for a sunset flip but he stops her with a right hand.
More rights and stomps by Dean now, boots in the corner then choking with his boot, followed by a back breaker, torquing her back across his knee before finally releasing her. Chyna face first in the corner, reverses a whip across the ring, Dean goes up and over but as Eddie climbs on the apron to distract the ref, Chyna nails a low blow as Dean lands back on the mat, followed by a DDT. Rights by Chyna now backs Dean into the corner for some boots, then sends him across the ring, goes for another handspring elbow but Dean pulls the referee into the way, then they take each other out with a double clothesline.
Meanwhile Saturn has appeared to attack Eddie and sends him face first into the steps. Saturn comes in now and goes to drop Dean, but lets him go, instead hitting Chyna with a brainbuster. Dean makes the cover as Perry leaves and retains in 3:17.
We go to replays as Dean leaves and Chyna recovers in the ring.
Then we cut to a local pub where Boss Man and Bull walk in looking for beers. They pick a fight with a couple guys for seats at the bar before ordering a couple of beers.
Then we get footage from earlier in the day, where E&C are getting drinks from the vending machines and get approached by a couple of kids, where the younger one is asking Edge for an autograph and they happily sign the magazine for them, but want $5 before they hand it back, and the kid just stands there with mouth agape in shock. He hands it over anyways, and the older one is there for a picture, so they call over Kevin Kelly to take it, but they want $10 for that, so he hands it over and leaves. Kevin asks what they're doing and they say that the people in New Haven are simple and have no clue what's going on, the easiest money they've ever made. He leaves in disbelief and they walk off into commercial.
After the break, the tag champs come out for a 6-man tag. First the 5-second pose, then Edge says that they realize the fans really like them, but the fans also respect them and rightfully so, but on a sad note, they can't seem to garner the same respect from the rest of the locker room. Christian agrees, and says its so not funny the way the guys in the back look at them, with such envy and anger and rage, but he's happy to say there's one man who shows them the respect he thinks they deserve, and takes great honor in introducing that man, Kurt Angle.
Angle comes out with mic in hand and says it's true, it's true
that he does respect them, that he used to think the only good thing to come out of Canada was maple syrup and Michael J. Fox but he was wrong and isn't wrong often. He says we need to realize that E&C are role models for all of us, the tag team champions of the world, and what better men to team up with him, to avenge his loss to Jericho on Monday, and when they do, they will make this twisted world right once again, and that is true.
Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian (WWF Tag Team Champions) vs Chris Jericho & The Hardy Boyz
Edge and Matt start it out with some quick back and forth, ending up with Edge dropped chest first on the top rope into a back suplex. Jeff in now, Edge sent into the corner for Poetry in Motion, then Jericho comes in with a bulldog immediately after. Edge face first in the corner, but reverses a whip off the ropes, Jeff catches him with a dropkick as he shoves himself off of Edge. Jeff off the ropes goes for a wheelbarrow but gets planted with a facebuster instead. Christian in now stomping away, followed by two quick suplexes and a front one. Kurt in with a suplex of his own, then Edge in with a scoop slam, then to the middle rope but caught midair with a dropkick.
Jericho and Christian get tagged in and Jericho starts to clean house. Chops on Christian, sent off the ropes but catches him with a powerbomb, then a second. Edge clubs him from behind though and tosses him to the outside. Now Matt clocks Edge with a right hand before the ref gets on him and Benoit runs down to drop Jericho with a clothesline while the ref is distracted. Jericho gets tossed back in, Edge spears Jericho, Christian makes the cover but Jericho kicks out and immediately tags in Matt.
Kurt in too and Jericho leaves the match going right after Benoit, going at it on the stage until referees come down to break it up. Meanwhile Matt is calling for the Twist of Fate but Kurt delivers a Northern Lights with a bridge. Meanwhile Jeff delivers a Swanton on Kurt mid pin attempt. Matt goes for the Twist of Fate, but while the ref is sending Jeff back to the apron, Christian sneaks in with the ring bell and nails Matt in the face with it. Kurt falls on top and gets the win for his team in 3:53.
Benoit and Jericho are still fighting and Kurt rushes in to join the attack on Jericho, now a double team on him until they eventually go to the back and Jericho recovers into break.
Back from commercial we catch up with Angle and the tag champs who are celebrating in the hallway, then back to the arena for... Huh?
WWF Hardcore Championship: The British Bulldog (c) vs Hardcore Holly
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: I didn't even know Bulldog was still employed, I figured he was gone. Turns out he returned and won the Hardcore Title that past weekend at the UK PPV Insurrextion, handily beating Crash for the title. That's the only mention of this PPV so I assume nothing else of note happened there.
Quick back and forth to start and Bulldog ends up tossed to the outside. Hardcore finds a drink tray under the ring and sends it into Bulldog's head, spilling water on the ground and slipping in it in the process. Bulldog into the steps, but then sends Holly into the ring post. Hardcore gets tossed back in the ring while Bulldog pulls out a broom, but gets kicked in the midsection before he can use it, then Hardcore breaks the broom over his back. Now using the broken stick and slamming it into Bulldog's back. Now he pulls out a toolbox and just clobbers Bulldog in the head with it, which sends tools flying, and Bulldog grabs... something to get back on the offensive before slamming the box into Hardcore now.
Hardcore retreats to the outside and pulls out an extinguisher and sprays Bulldog before tossing him back in. We see Crash making his way down with a trash can lid and a second referee while Hardcore nails a dropkick as he sends Bulldog off the ropes. Hardcore leaves the ring and gets hit in the back of the head with the lid as he goes for a chair. Crash slides in the ring and nails Bulldog with the lid, covers and wins back the title in 2:30. The Houdini of Hardcore strikes again.
Crash makes a quick escape with his title as Hardcore and Bulldog come to. Hardcore takes a chair in the ring and nails Bulldog with the Falcon Arrow on the chair, then flips him off before leaving to the back.
We go to Kevin Kelly who's standing by with Patterson, who asked for this time to remind everybody of Monday night, when Rikishi was so depressed and so down when Patterson made him hit skid row, and he holds up his underwear as he says this much to Kevin's disgust.
We catch back up with Bull and Boss Man at the bar and a guy walks up to the bar wanting a round of drinks and mentions the Acolytes. Bull says that next time they see them they'll be whooping their asses. The guy points out he saw these two running from the Acolytes on Monday, which pisses them off and start going after him, before another guy gets in between and we go to commercial.
Back from break, the Slam of the Week is the Tables Match and aftermath from Monday, which segways to our next match.
Handicap Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz vs The Big Show
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Dudleyz come out with a table in hand and set it up at ringside as they make their way out first. They give us a replay of what happened on Monday when Shane talked shit about Show on the phone.
Dudleyz get the upperhand immediately, send Show off the ropes and go for a double clothesline but Show just breaks through, then goes for a double chokeslam but gets cut off by boots to the midsection, then a double team suplex. Both off the ropes with elbows, stomps and rights, as Shane comes out on the stage. Headbutt to Bubba, then goes to chokeslam D-Von over the ropes through the table at ringside but Bubba clubs him from behind before he can. They try to send Show off the ropes but he stops short, then steps back, pulls them into each other and drops them with clotheslines. More headbutts by Show, D-Von sent to the corner, then Bubba into him and both hit with a splash. D-Von press slammed, then Bubba nailed with a chokeslam.
Show grabs the table and slides it into the ring before setting it up near the corner. Headbutt on Bubba before setting him up on it, then he goes to the middle rope, but D-Von cuts nails a low blow, before using the middle rope to deliver a 3D through the table for the win in 2:44.
Shane runs down to the ring and hides by ringside as the Dudleyz leave, then slides into the ring. He starts talking some trash and starts to attack Show, while the Dudleyz notice it on the Ovaltron and rush back down. They pull out a new table while Shane's distracted, but X-Pac and Road Dogg run down. X-Pac with the X-Factor on Bubba then the Bronco Buster on D-Von, more attacks keeping them down. Tori slaps Bubba then D-Von then they leave pleased with themselves into commercial.
Back from break we get replays from the finish and post-match attack. Then we go to APA in their office, Farooq walks in with a monitor and shows Bradshaw the footage of Bull and Bos Man, asking him if he wants a drink. Bradshaw finishes his beer and they head out.
WWF European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) vs Perry Saturn (w/ WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get a replay of what happened earlier in the night when Perry interfered in Chyna's match.
Eddie gives Perry no time to react as he lays into him in the corner to start the match with rapid boots. Perry with a thumb to the eye, but Eddie ducks a clothesline, shoves Perry chest first into the corner followed by a back suplex. Slingshot senton from the apron then more boots and rights by Eddie, Perry sent across the ring, but catches Eddie as he charges and sends him face first into the top turnbuckle, then a vicious clothesline.
Rights in the corner by Perry, stomps to the ribs, then slammed to the mat. Perry goes to the middle rope for a Vader Bomb but Eddie gets the knees up, misses a clothesline and walks into a flapjack. Rights by Eddie, then drop toe hold into the middle rope, Perry sent off the ropes into a drop kick. Perry sent into the corner, then gets boot up, goes to the top rope but Eddie cuts him off and nails a hurricanrana, cover and a near fall.
Eddie sent off the ropes into a pop up powerbomb, then Perry goes up top with a nice flying elbow, cover but Eddie kicks out. Dean gets on the apron and distracts the ref, then Chyna's on the apron, Perry goes for a brainbuster but Eddie slips out, then leads Perry to Chyna who smashes him in the head with her roses. Eddie makes the cover and retains in 3:16.
So turns out Chyna was hiding a lead pipe in those flowers, so that was clever, unbeknownst to Eddie as we go to replays. They head to the back very happy into commercial.
Back from the break, we catch back up with the APA who arrive at the bar and spot Bull and Boss Man. Bull tries to say that all that stuff is water under the bridge and they've been drinking all night, but Boss Man has a better idea to buy them a drink, and they smash beer bottles over their heads and a fight breaks out. A TV gets thrown by Farooq, then Bradshaw smashes a bottle over someone's head, someone else gets thrown through the bathroom door. Bull slams his head into the jukebox, stool to the ribs and beer case to the head of Boss Man from Farooq. Bradshaw smashes Bull through an exit door. Broom and cue stick broken over the back of Boss Man, then beer case thrown into him. APA have won this fight and they leave.
Then we cut to Rikishi's ass, then to Rikishi and Too Cool, then the Faction on their way to the ring for the match up next.
Back from break, we get another replay of the brown stain Stinkface before our main event.
Six-Man Tag Team Elimination Match: D-Generation X (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley & Tori) vs Too Cool & Rikishi
Sexay and Roadie start the match with some dancing, but Sexay doesn't take to kindly to Roadie's mocking and drops him with some right hands, then a bulldog attempt out of the corner but Roadie delivers a back suplex. Sexay sent into the corner but Roadie is met with a side kick to the face, then Sexay with a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Scotty in now, both off the ropes sending Roadie to the mat, then a double elbow. Kish in now, off the ropes with a leg drop, then Roadie dragged to the corner for a Banzai Drop but gets back up, only for Sexay to drop him with a right hand as Kish drops back to his feet.
Scotty back in with an arm wringer but Roadie gets free with a right, then sends Scotty face first into the DX corner before X-Pac tags in. Quick back and forth until Scotty goes for a roll up from the ropes but Pac hangs on then dropped with a right hand. Pac sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a spinning heel kick. Scotty face first in the corner, sent across the ring but hits an elbow, then whips X-Pac across the ring, Scotty off the ropes with his bulldog to set up for The Worm, but Roadie cuts it off. Scotty reverses a whip into the corner and drops Roadie with his bulldog now to set up the Worm, HHH tries to stop it but Sexay comes in with a side kick sending him out of the ring, and Scotty hits it this time, cover but HHH pulls him out of the ring before the 3.
Kish with rights on HHH against the barricade, while Roadie hits Scotty with the pumphandle slam. The ref is busy trying to separate HHH and Kish so he misses the pin, Sexay goes up top and nails Roadie with the Hip Hop Drop. Scotty rolls over, but Pac comes in and nails Sexay with the spinning heel kick and Scotty walks into an X-Factor. Roadie makes the cover and Scotty is eliminated. HHH sends Kish into the steps as Sexay deals rights on Roadie and X-Pac in the ring, then goes for a noggin knocker, but while the ref s tending to Scotty, HHH nails a low blow followed by a Pedigree, cover and Sexay is eliminated.
Kish gets back in now and DX surround him. Roadie makes the first move but is dropped with a right hand, then Pac and more for all three. Samoan drop on Roadie, then a popup cutter on X-Pac. Roadie pulls himself up in the corner and Pac is whipped into him, then HHH into them, Rikishi goes for the splash but HHH pulls the ref in the way. HHH with right hands, Kish reverses a whip off the ropes, then HHH goes for a Pedigree but Kish slips free with a back body drop. He goes for the Rikishi Driver on HHH but X-Pac kicks him in the midsection. Now all three stomping away, Kish face first in the corner, stomped down to the mat, X-Pac hits the Bronco Buster. Suddenly the Dudleyz rush down while the ref is still out. 3D on Roadie while Kish knocks HHH out of the ring, then a 3D on X-Pac. They pull Pac and Roadie over to the corner, Kish sits on them both for a double pin, ref comes to and Roadie and X-Pac are both eliminated.
HHH comes to and realizes his situation, trying to talk his way out, then tries a cheap shot but Kish blocks and drops him with a right hand. HHH sent off the ropes but hits a facebuster. Kish stumbles into the corner and HHH stomps and chokes. Patterson comes down with his underwear now and rubs it in Kish's face, before HHH goes back to attack and more rubs in Kish's face. HHH runs into a clothesline though before Kish pulls Pat in before delivering a headbutt, then uses them for a Mandible Claw on HHH into a side kick. Steph slides in as he stuffs them in HHH's face again, getting in Kish's face. Patterson clubs Kish from behind and accidentally sandwiches Steph in the corner, dropping her down in position for a Stinkface. Pat gets right hands into the corner, and a headbutt, then a Stinkface. Then he sees Steph on the other side knocked out but HHH comes to, delivers the Pedigree and wins the match in 11:18. It was a good match. Had the crowd on the edge wanting to see Steph get a Stinkface and suckered them right in, and everyone looks good coming out of this.
Steph comes to holding her chest as HHH checks on her and helps her to her feet for an embrace, and the show ends not long after.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Not a lot to say about this show. Had mostly good action, good main event, I don't think I had any real complaints. It is kinda weird seeing Bulldog brought back for a hometown pop then lose his title less than a week later, and I doubt we'll see him again but what can you do. That said, with a run time of 1:27:52, there was a total 34:34 of wrestling on this show.
Wasting little time as we go straight to Raw's intro and pyro, live from the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. J.R. and the King welcome us to the show, and right away, we have a title match.
So E&C come out accompanied by the APA as Lilian introduces them, Christian grabbing the mic as they enter the ring. He says being the fighting champions that they are, they're out there to issue another open challenge, which is why they've hired the APA in case another team gets any funny ideas and try and cost them the titles. There's a loud asshole chant starting, while Edge takes the mic, saying they realize that Long Island doesn't have the best looking people in the nation, so to appease their appetite for beautiful faces, instead of the usual 5 seconds, they'll now pose for 6 seconds for those with the benefit of flash photography. After their posing, Edge says that if the APA can stay sober long enough to fulfill their obligations, to let the open challenge commence.
As the champs look on ready for challengers, Bradshaw picks up the mic that Edge put down and takes offense to his remark about staying sober and says they aren't sober at that moment, but out of the kindness of their heart, they're gonna give E&C a 100% refund. Farooq explains that that way, they won't have any remorse when they kick their asses. They land right hands and the bell is rung for this match.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The APA vs Edge & Christian (c)
Edge clotheslined to the outside by Bradshaw, Christian sent off the ropes into a powerslam by Farooq, cover and a two count. Christian face first into Bradshaw's boot before he tags in, they sent Christian off the ropes into a double shoulder block. Christian sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, goes for a crossbody but gets caught into a fallaway slam. Christian sent off the ropes again but Edge tags himself in as he is, Christian hangs on and slips out of the ring, while Edge goes up top to hit a missile dropkick. Bradshaw sent off the ropes, club to the back as Edge goes for a back body drop, sending him into the corner for rights and knees. Edge sent off the ropes into a shoulder block.
Farooq back in now with right hands, Edge sent off the ropes but catches him with a DDT. Bradshaw back in with rights and a back body drop, cover but Christian breaks it up. Edge sent off the ropes but catches Bradshaw with a swinging neckbreaker before tagging in Christian. Double team suplex then double headbutts, cover and a near fall. Bradshaw reverses a whip into the corner but Christian gets the boots up, comes off the middle rope but gets nailed with a clothesline.
Edge and Farooq in now, the latter with right hands. Christian sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline from Bradshaw but walks right into a spinebuster from Farooq, sending him out of the ring. Edge goes to the middle rope but gets caught for a double team spinebuster. Christian comes back in with the ring bell as Farooq hammers away at Edge, but he drops it and kicks him instead. He goes after Farooq and Bradshaw grabs the bell to nail Edge, referee... well tries to call for the bell, but you know, so E&C retain via DQ in 3:32.
Bell to the head of Christian, ref escapes and Bradshaw throws the bell out at him. As E&C celebrate, Bull and Boss Man rush the ring to attack APA, Bradshaw taken out with the nightstick while Bull drops the leg on Farooq. More nightstick shots on Bradshaw, then choking Farooq as Bull hits the top rope leg drop on Bradshaw.
As they leave, we get footage from the chaos that ended Smackdown last week, then we see the Regime in the back, on their way to the ring next.
Back from break, HHH's music hits and out he comes along with the McMahon-Helmsley Regime, as the nameplate graphic says. Patterson is out noticeably with a referee shirt, while J.R. tells us Hebner is still recovering from Smackdown. HHH gets the mic to start to apologize to everyone for the actions of Earl Hebner, and he knows everyone is aware of the tragedy that's befallen him, the vicious beating he got and all that. He says when something in the WWF like that happens, it's flooded with phone calls and letters and cards, and Hebner just hasn't been able to respond to their well-wishes, like a true WWF superstar should, while a loud Rocky chant breaks out. He's out here to explain that it's not Earl's fault, that it's difficult to phone someone back when your jaw is wired shut and you can't speak. He says it's hard to return a letter or a card when your eyes are swollen shut that you can't read the paper in front of you, and even if you could, your broken fingers can't even hold the pen to write back. He says the worst part is that it could have been avoided if Hebner had just kept his nose out of their business, but he had to get involved, be the big hero, the big star, and got what he deserved. He makes a PSA to everyone else in the WWF, to show them what happens when you cross the Regime, before telling Kevin Dunn to roll the footage, which is of course the beatdown from Smackdown. He goes on to say that if they cross them, get in his path of doing the one thing that's inevitable, which is becoming WWF Champion, that's what happens.
Which brings him to Rock now, he says Judgement Day is coming, and all truths will be told then. He says everyone will know the truth, when he and Rock face off for the title one on one, for the one thing that anybody worth a crap in the business wants more than anything, the WWF Title, but this time, there won't be Austin, there won't be Linda, and there won't be piece of crap Hebner sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. This time though, he wants to up the ante, separate the men from the boys, find out who is the general in that ring, go the one place that very few will ever dream of going, that all the guys in the back are scared to death to try and do, proposing a 60-Minute Ironman Match. He tells Rock he has to look inside and ask himself if he can hang, because HHH knows he can, if he can go one hour with the Game, put it all on the line and hope to God his lungs don't explode before the end, if he can accept the fact that truth will be told, that when he lays on the mat, gasping for air after getting his ass kicked by the best in the business, he will look into HHH's eyes and know once and for all that Rock can't hang with him, because he has no equal, that he will know that he is the Game, that he is the WWF Champion, that he is that damn good.
Vince takes the mic now and starts to speak about the night's show, but he's interrupted by Jericho, the new IC Champion. He welcomes us to Raw is Jericho, and tells "Vance" that before he chastises him for his actions on Smackdown, he wants to apologize. Vince gets all smug, as Jericho wants to apologize for being impulsive, for following his heart, for coming down to the ring and punching him in his face. He says it was instinct, it's what he's all about, and says it's similar to the way to the way Shane is referred to every week by all the Jerichoholics as a word that rhymes with wussy, or similar to the way that Stephanie is a filthy, dirty, disgusting, skanky, brutal, bottom-feeding, trash bag ho. He says Steph can't help it, it's what she does, than moves onto Vince. He says Vince is the head of one of the biggest empires in the world, he created the entire phenomenon as sports entertainment, he's a multi-billionaire, but that he only did it to make up for a very small penis. He says it's OK though, that it's not his fault.
Vince says there's nothing stopping them from going and kicking his ass, but as they go to leave, out come the Dudleyz, Rikishi and Big Show to even the odds, so the Regime retreat. Vince then says that Jericho is once again misinformed, because everyone knows he has a set of grapefruits, and that grapefruits grow on trees and every tree has a trunk. He says by the end of the night, Jericho will be wishing he were dangling by the end of his trunk, then a loud asshole chant breaks out. He says Jericho will defend the IC Title one on one against Kurt Angle, and guarantees that he won't leave the arena with the title.
Shane takes the mic and asks what Show is even doing out there, bringing up what Show did on Smackdown and headbutting Shane. He says Show asked him a hard question, he gave him a hard answer, and asks if he expected him to feel sorry for him, but he isn't sorry, because everyone knows Show is acting like a fool with all the different characters, while a "Shane's a pussy chant" breaks out. He says that one way or another, he and Show are gonna settle it tonight.
Vince back on the mic and says for the Dudleyz, there's going to be a Table Match tonight, with the Dudleyz against... Gerld Brisco? Then to Rikishi, and since he gave Patterson a Stinkface, they're gonna get a match tonight. He reminds them that there's a fine line between insanity and genius, and that everyone in the arena will once again know of his superior mental acumen tonight to close out the segment.
Back from the break, it's time for another title match.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Kurt Angle vs Chris Jericho (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Kurt is out with mic in hand and says he's honored that the Regime have picked our Olympic Hero to take the IC Title from Y2J, and on a personal note, he's privileged to defend Stephanie's honor, because she possesses something that no one in Long Island could ever possess, which is class. It's true, it's true. He tells Jericho that when he insults Stephanie, he insults everything that is good and pure about society today, and that is true. This must be the start of the love triangle with HHH.
Lock up to start and quick back and forth with Jericho getting the upperhand with a back elbow. Kurt sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but takes some shots into the corner. Kurt rakes the eyes and turns it around for some rights and boots, but gets whipped across the ring, but launches Jericho face first into the top turnbuckle. He wastes time posing and celebrating prematurely, so gets back body dropped to the outside as he turns his attention back to Jericho. He climbs to the apron but Jericho takes him down with a springboard dropkick out of the corner, then goes for a baseball slide, Angle sidesteps but is sent shoulder first into the steps. Back in the ring, Jericho goes up top but Kurt cuts him off and nails a belly to belly suplex, makes the cover but Jericho kicks out.
Jericho face first in the corner, followed by rights and choking with the boot by Kurt, followed by a suplex, cover and a near fall. Side headlock now by Kurt, Jericho fights back up and out with elbows, of the ropes, ducks a clothesline, stops a back body drop to deliver a double-underhook backbreaker, cover and a near fall. Kurt pulls Jericho back off a whip off the ropes into a Northern Lights suplex, another cover and a kick out. Jericho face first in the corner, but sends Kurt across the ring, Kurt gets a boot up and runs right into a spinning heel kick. Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a flying forearm, then a bulldog, cover and a near fall.
Kurt reverses a whip off the ropes and connects with a belly to belly overhead for another near fall. Elbows to the head and a back suplex on Jericho, then goes for an Olympic Slam but Jericho slips out applies the Walls, forcing Kurt to tap out in 5:36. Damn good match.
Not much time for celebrating as we cut to Shane in the back and in rushes Show, grabbing Shane by the collar, set off by Shane's words earlier. Shane tries to calm him down and says that it wasn't what he meant, so Show lets go. Shane explains that all he was trying to do was piss Show off, bring out the guy that he knows, the Big Show, the guy he took to Mania. He says that tonight he has the chance to become champion again, the IC Title, saying it's not just because Jericho retained or his remarks, saying that Show can become someone again. Shane likes what he hears as his phone rings, and out walks Show into commercial.
Eddie Guerrero (WWF European Champion) (w/ Chyna) vs The Godfather
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Godfather does his usual shtick as he comes out, but he turns to Chyna complimenting on how pretty she is, then says that when Lita stripped her at Backlash and had nothing on but bra and panties, she was smokin'. She impressed him so much that he has an offer for her, to get rid of all the hos by his side, apologizing to them and saying that business is business, if Chyna with her fine, fine body come join the Ho Train. Chyna takes the mic, making sure that everything he said was true, but says she doesn't give a crap, telling him to take the hos to the back and take the roses with him, throwing them in his face.
Godfather makes his way toward her as the bell is rung and Eddie dropkicks him from behind, sending him the corner for rights, tries to send him off the ropes but Godfather blocks it before hip tossing Eddie across the ring. Eddie sent off the ropes into a big boot,more rights then Eddie face first in the corner. Eddie sent across the ring for boots to the midsection, then choked across the top rope, followed by a pair of scoop slams. Eddie sent off the ropes into a back body drop. Eddie calls for a time out and tries to crawl to Chyna but Godfather pulls him back. Chyna gets on the apron and distracts the referee, but it allows Godfather to nail a low blow in the process.
Eddie retreats to the corner and Godfather hits the Ho Train, while Chyna climbs onto the apron on the other side. Meanwhile D'Lo has slid in from behind as Godfather knocks Chyna down, she climbs back up to distract the referee and D'Lo hits the Lo Down. Eddie goes up top and nails a missile dropkick for the win in 2:25.
Eddie and Chyna head to the back, then we see the Dudleyz on their way with a table, which is up next.
Back from break, Dudleyz come out for their match and they set up the table immediately in front of the ring by the ramp, and Brisco comes out to Real American with mic in hand. He says that before he single-handedly kicks their asses by himself, he introduces them to his partners, T&A.
Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz vs Gerald Brisco, Test & Albert
Dudleyz meet them in the aisle and start going at it, Test dropped onto the apron. D-Von picks up Gerald and tries to put him through the table but Test makes the save, tossing D-Von into the ring. Gerald takes it to Bubba while D-Von is double teamed by T&A in the ring with a big boot. For some reason this is a tag in/tag out kind of match with Test and D-Von starting it out properly, D-Von sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails rights, comes off the ropes and walks into a sidewalk slam. Brisco tags in, but D-Von blocks a right hand, Bubba tags in and walks right into a drop toe hold and an elbow from Brisco, then a leg drop coming off the ropes. I was not expecting Brisco to actually wrestle.
Bubba reverses a whip off the ropes and catches Brisco for a scoop slam before knocking T&A off the apron. D-Von goes up for the diving headbutt between the legs, while J.R. explains this isn't elimination style. D-Von sent off the ropes and Test trips him up, Brisco hitting a perfect double underhook suplex. Test tags in now with rights, D-Von sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Rights and stomps in the corner by D-Von now before tagging in Albert. More right hands, D-Von sent across the ring, but gets the boot up, to the second rope for a flying clothesline. Bubba and Test in now with some strikes, a Samoan drop on Test and a Bubba Cutter on Albert. Hip toss on Brisco as he runs in and a clothesline before tossing him out to the floor.
Bubba goes and grabs the table, sliding it in the ring but Albert is on the attack, Test whips D-Von into the corner and nails a big boot before setting up the table. Bubba sends Albert into the steps, Test goes for a gutwrench but slips out, sends Test off the ropes while Bubba slides in, delivering the 3D through the table for the win in 4:36. That was a fun match, I enjoyed it.
Briso comes in and Bubba gets his hands on him, but DX rush down to help instead. Roadie drops D-Von with a pumphandle slam while Tori slaps Bubba, which only angers him so he grabs her by the hair. X-Pac with the low blow and an X-Factor instead, while Brisco takes out another table from under the ring. He and X-Pac sets it up near the corner before setting Bubba on top of it, Brisco goes up top and splashes him through the table. Real American hits once more and mocks Hogan as they celebrate. We get a replay of the splash through the table as he and DX escape, while Bubba looks on pissed.
We see Jericho heading to the ring, then Show and Shane for their match next.
Back from break, we have another return vignette for Taker, before we go to our next match.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: The Big Show (w/ Shane McMahon) vs Chris Jericho (c)
Jericho right away with forearms and chops, only to be sent off the ropes, pulled back into a clotheslined, then kicked to the outside. Headbutt by Show, then a club to the back before going tossing Jericho back in. Shane distracts Show inadvertently as he tries to motivate him, allowing Jericho to hit a baseball slide, then tries a slingshot crossbody but Show catches him, pressing him over the ropes back into the ring.
Show with chops in the corner, Jericho sent across the ring but Show misses a splash, Jericho up top takes him down with a missile dropkick, then a Lionsault, cover but Show powers out. Jericho off the ropes but caught in a military press by Show. All of a sudden, someone in the back decides to fuck with Shane, because they play some footage from earlier that we didn't see, when Shane took the phone call after negotiating with Show and sending him out of the room. Gist of it is that he tells whoever he's talking to about what just happened and has Show wrapped around his finger, completely brainwashed, had his brain lobotomized, dry cleaned, and shrink-wrapped for their protection, saying he owns Show. So Show sees all this and gets pissed off, leaving the ring and chases Shane off to the back, which means Jericho retains via countout in 3:20.
After a bit of recuperating by Jericho in the ring, we catch up with Show chasing Shane down the hallway to the parking lot, Shane getting into a waiting limosine and driving off. Then we go to Vince and Steph, and Vince jokes that it's the first time Shane's ever driven himself anywhere in his adult life. Steph is upset though because Jericho is still champion, and Vince did guarantee that he'd no longer be champion. Vince agrees, and says Jericho will have yet another defense against Chris Benoit before going into commercial.
Too Cool vs Bull Buchanan & The Big Boss Man
Bull and Scotty start it out with a lock up, but Scotty is pushed into the corner for rights and lefts, then Scotty with some rights, launched up and over to the apron, then hangs Bull up before a top rope crossbody for a two count. Sexay in now, off the ropes and takes Bull down then a double elbow drop. Eye rake on Sexay and Boss Man in, Sexay with rights, sent off the ropes, blocks a hit toss and nails a neck breaker, then of the ropes into a big boot. Bull in now with a clothesline off the middle rope, then an ax kick, cover but Scotty breaks it up. Scoop slam by Bull, then to the middle rope but Sexay gets his feet up.
Hot tag to Scotty and Boss Man in, rights on both and dropkicks. Scotty comes off the ropes for a crossbody but Boss Man catches him, until Sexay dropkicks the back of Scotty knocking them down for a cover but Boss Man kicks out. Double DDT on Bull, then Sexya takes himself and Boss Man to the outside, Scotty sent into the corner, Bull misses a splash and Scotty nails the bulldog before hitting The Worm. Boss Man comes back in though and nails him from behind and we get some double teaming until the ref sends Bull to the apron, while Boss Man sends Scotty off the ropes for a spinning side slam. He makes the cover but the ref is still busy with Bull in the corner, Sexay goes up top and nails the Hip Hop Drop to the back of the neck of Boss Man, rolls Scotty on top before knocking Bull off the apron, and Too Cool get the win in 4:01. It was an OK match.
Bull and Boss Man are on the attack now until APA come out and chase them to the back. Scotty and Sexay come to and do their usual dance routine. Then to the locker room, Dean is with Saturn and they're arguing I guess over what happened last week, and Dean says they're even now, but it's only pissing off Saturn more. Benoit gets between them sporting a black eye, tells them to put this on the back burner, that it stops now. Then Eddie comes in and asks what's wrong with them with all the fighting, and that he knows what the real problem is. I think he hints that Dean is sexually frustrated but his last thoughts are mumbled, then says Saturn is just as talented as the three of them and tells him Dean might give him a title shot if he's nice enough. They all leave as Eddie looks at his title before commercial.
Dean Malenko (WWF Light Heavyweight Champion) & Perry Saturn vs The Hardy Boyz
As Hardyz pose in the corners during their entrance, Perry and Dean attack from behind to get this match started, Perry on Jeff and Dean on Matt in opposite corners. Dean whips Matt, while Jeff reverses a whip from Saturn, Matt taking him down with a forearm, then ducks a clothesline from Dean into a right hand from Jeff. They send Saturn over the ropes with a double clothesline before Matt sends Dean off the ropes, only to be caught with a scoop slam. He and Jeff to up top with a splash and leg drop combo, Jeff makes the cover, but Saturn yanks the ref out of the ring. He gets back in the ring, but Hardyz whip him into the corner and go for Poetry in Motion, but Saturn catches Jeff and slams him down to the mat. high low on Jeff, cover by Dean and a near fall.
Saturn tags in, Jeff sent off the ropes into double elbows, then Saturn with a gutwrench before sending Jeff chest first into the corner, setting him up top. Jeff pushes him off before nailing Whisper in the Wind. Tags made and made with rights, Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop, then Saturn sent to the outside. Jeff runs across the barricade to clothesline Saturn to the floor while Matt takes down Dean, followed by a middle rope elbow. Matt goes for a Twist of Fate as Jeff goes up top, but Saturn shoves him off while Dean turns it into a neck breaker. Saturn goes for a suplex or something while Dean locks Matt in the cloverleaf but Jeff slips out and ends up stumbling into Dean, breaking up the hold, then Saturn accidentally nails him with a side kick. Jeff goes up top and nails the Swanton Bomb before knocking Saturn out of the ring, Matt makes the cover and the Hardyz win in 3:24. This felt like a bit of a mess, and maybe it's just because it was so short and they tried to do a bunch of things in it.
Hardyz celebrate their way to the back while Saturn and Dean start to shove each other. Eddie and Chyna come down to try and calm them down, but Saturn clocks Eddie and Dean clocks Chyna. Now Saturn and Malenko go back at it while referees come out to separate them, and Eddie goes to get in it...
And we cut to Rikishi's squatting ass in the back, then Pat who's worried in the back. Gerald tells him that Vince asked him to stay out of the way and not interfere before wishing him luck into commercial.
Back from break for our match, Rikishi comes out like normal, but Patterson comes out to Real American much like Brisco did, and as J.R. points out, he's from Montreal which makes this all the more strange. Before the match can start though, Vince comes out with a mic alongside Brisco, and says that even though Patterson didn't ask for help, he introduces him to his tag partners.
Rikishi vs Pat Patterson, Road Dogg & X-Pac
Patterson clubs Rikishi from behind as DX is still on route to the ring, which distracts Rikishi only a moment, catching Roadie and Pac with rights as they come in. Pat retreats to the apron and Kish does the noggin knocker and double clothesline, then whips them into the corner before delivering a hip attack. He drops Roadie with a right but X-Pac ducks and drops Kish with a spinning heel kick, while Roadie comes off the ropes with a flying forearm. X-Pac off the ropes with a leg drop, Roadie with his knee drop before Patterson tags in. He goes up top, but Kish crotches him following a right hand to the face, dropping him in the corner. Rights and side kick for X-Pac and Roadie, then Patterson sent across the ring followed by a hip attack to set up for a Stinkface, but X-Pac drops him with another spinning heel kick before he can. Pattersone rolls out while Roadie and X-Pac double team while Pat grabs a chair, nailing Kish in the head for the DQ in 1:43.
X-Pac with a low blow before they sit Kish up in the corner, then Pat takes off his shirt, drops his shorts, leaving him in his underwear which has a brown streak down the middle and gives Kish a Stinkface. Real American hits as DX and Patterson celebrate, Pat mocks Hogan briefly until Too Cool rush down and chase them off. They have to give us a replay because... reasons as they retreat to the back.
Then we get the Undertaker return vignette once more either into or before commercial, I can't tell, but either way, we go back to the arena where Lilian is ready to introduce the main event, but she's cut off by HHH's music and out he comes in a ref shirt. He has a mic and introduces himself as the self-appointed, special, troubleshooting referee that will be on the outside, the next WWF Champion, The Game, HHH.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (c); Special Enforcer: Triple H
Jericho immediately with a drop toe hold and chops in the corner, Benoit sent across the ring and gets the boots up, ducks a spinning heel kick. Chops on Jericho, sends him across the ring but Jericho nails a flying forearm followed by mounted rights. Benoit reverses a whip off the ropes, Jericho ducks an elbow and hits one of his own, then goes for the Lionsault early but lands on his feet as Benoit rolls away, but caught with a spinning heel kick sending him out of the ring. Jericho goes for the springboard dropkick out of the corner as Benoit gets on the apron but he's too slow, Benoit shoving him off and into the barricade.
Jericho thrown shoulder first into the steps, followed by a suplex on the floor by Benoit. Back in the ring, Jericho sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then boots to the head followed by a back suplex, cover and a near fall. Back breaker now by Benoit, cover and a two count. Snapmare and an ab stretch now on Jericho, he fights back up and gets in forerarms, Benoit sent off the ropes but hangs on Jericho goes for a dropkick, then catapults Jericho into the corner. More chops by Benoit followed by boots to the midsection until the ref pulls him off and Benoit shoves him back. HHH in the ring to chastise Benoit for shoving the referee and Benoit shoves him now. HHH drops the referee with a right hand as he tries to separate them and HHH throws him out of the ring. Jericho nails Benoit with a missile dropkick off the distraction, covers, HHH actually makes a fast count maybe by accident and Benoit kicks out, then a roll up and another kick out. Benoit with a Northern Lights with the bridge and a kick out.
Jericho sent off the ropes but pulls back, but Benoit ducks a clothesline and delivers two German suplexes, but Jericho blocks and elbows his way out of a third into a victory roll, then into the Walls. Benoit tries to get to the ropes and we see Steph make her way down the ramp behind Jericho, which gets HHH's attention. Benoit starts tapping, so Jericho kicks HHH in the back while he's talking to Steph, then clubs Jericho in the back of the head when he turns around, right into the Crossface. HHH calls for the bell even though Jericho never gave up and I guess Benoit regains his title via screwjob in 7:07.
HHH hands Benoit the title while the rest of the regime walk down to beat down Jericho alongside HHH, capped off by a Pedigree and slaps by Steph, then some shots by Shane. Vince comes in with a chair while HHH delivers some right hands, then they all hold him up for Vince to crack him over the head, until Big Show and Dudleyz come out to make the save, along with Too Cool. Vince and co. retreat as Jericho's music hits and... there's a beach ball in the ring for some reason to play out the show.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Alright I fairly enjoyed this show. Two good title matches that kept Jericho protected in the end, even though there was a dull one in between, decent tag title match. We have a main event pretty much set for the PPV, we have Radicalz slowly breaking up, and Brisco actually wrestling which was the most surprising thing of this show. Could have done without the Show/Jericho match or the brown streak Stinkface but oh well. That said, with a runtime of 1:33:08, there was a total 35:44 of wrestling.
Smackdown
We go right to the opening video and pyro for the live, from the New Haven Coliseum in New Haven, Connecticut. Lawler and Cole welcome us to the show as we get to our first match of the night.
So the Dudleyz make their way out to the ring but before their opponents come out, Brisco comes out with a mic, directing our attention to the Ovaltron to show what he did to Bubba single-handedly on Raw. Then he goes on to tell us why he did that, saying he's a great wrestling champion and a great fighter for women's rights, and he will carry the torch for all the women in the WWF, then introduces Dudleyz opponents for tonight, T&A with the returning Trish.
But before this can start, Shane comes out now with a mic and says he's overwhelmed by Gerald's sentiments, and shares his sensitivity towards women's rights, then reminding us that one of the repeated, innocent victims that the Dudleyz have bombarded through tables could easily have been his sister Steph, so he stands by the hero Gerald Brisco.
The Dudley Boyz vs T&A (w/ Trish Stratus, Gerald Brisco & Shane McMahon)
Test and D-Von start, D-Von sent off the ropes into a big boot, then reverses a whip off the ropes only to be caught with a swinging neckbreaker by Test. D-Von once again sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, sends Test off the ropes and they trade clotheslines and ducks until D-Von nails a shoulder tackle. Bubba tags in with right hands and elbows in the corner, Test reverses a whip across the ring but Bubba gets the boot up followed by a clothesline. Test sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own. Bubba sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but gets caught with a full nelson slam. Albert in now, Bubba sent off the ropes into a shoulder block. Rights in the corner, Bubba sent across the ring but catches Albert with a clothesline. Bubba nails Test with a right which causes him to try and come in which distracts the referee, so D-Von can go up top for the flying headbutt between Albert's legs. D-Von sent off the ropes and Brisco grabs him by the leg, so D-Von chases after him around the ring into a clothesline by Albert. Test in now sends D-Von face first in the corner for rapid fire rights, then D-Von sent across the ring but gets the boot up, followed by a sunset flip from the middle rope for a two count.
Test catches him with a sidewalk slam before going up top but D-Von avoids the elbow. Bubba tags in now along with Albert, Bubba with a couple clotheslines and a Samoan drop, cover, Test goes to break it up with an elbow but Bubba moves out of the way, so Albert gets hit instead. Test reverses a whip off the ropes, Bubba ducks a clothesline and nails the Bubba Cutter before knocking Brisco off the apron. Then he grabs Trish as she climbs the apron, Albert tries to attack from behind but Bubba moves, knocking Trish off and into Brisco, sending them both to the floor. Dudleyz hit the inverted 3D, Bubba makes the cover but Shane yanks the ref out of the ring. D-Von leaves the ring to after Shane while Test nails the top rope elbow to the back of Bubba, Albert rolls over and drapes his arm on Bubba for the win in 5:06. Not a bad opening match.
Not much time for celebrating though as Big Show rushes down right after Shane, grabbing him by the throat but Test gets him from behind. Test off the ropes only to be caught for a chokeslam as Shane runs off and Show follows close behind into commercial.
Back from break we get a replay of Show going after Shane, then we catch up with him in the back throwing chairs around and looking for Shane. Then the Smack of the Night is HHH screwing Jericho out of the IC Title on Raw, which leads us into our next match.
The Godfather vs Chris Benoit (WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Benoit doesn't even let Godfather get through his whole shtick as he comes out and is right on the attack, driving Godfather into the corner with boots to the midsection, stomping away. Godfather reverses a whip off the ropes, but Benoit rolls under a boot, only to catch right hands. Benoit whipped into the corner but Godfather misses a splash, elbows his way out of a German suplex but caught with a Northern Lights with a bridge for a two count. Benoit off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a two count. Benoit hip tossed across the ring, then sent off the ropes into a boot, then a scoop slam by Godfather before tossing Benoit out to the floor.
Benoit whipped shoulder first into the steps before being tossed back in the ring, following up with a back suplex. Godfather goes up top for a Vader Bomb but Benoit rolls out of the way, immediately putting him in the Crossface for the submission victory in 2:30.
So Cole spent most of the match wondering how Benoit could live with himself winning the title back the way he did, and Lawler told him to ask Benoit himself if he wants to know so bad, so that's exactly what he does here after the bell is rung. Benoit threatens to put Cole in the Crossface if he asks another dumb question. Then he admits that he never saw Jericho tap or hear him submit, but he does guarantee all the Jerichoholics that he did, that Jericho had no choice, that once he locked it in and felt his body go numb from the paralyzing pain it inflicts, he had only one hope that someone would break the hold, which is what HHH did. He says he's not there to pass judgement, but he is there to offer Jericho an opportunity at the IC Title at Judgement Day in a Submission Match, then he leaves into commercial.
Back from break Jericho and Benoit are fighting in the parking lot and referees are already on the scene trying to separate them with little luck.
Then to the arena and out come the McMahon-Helmsley Regime... or I guess it's back to the Faction now. Patterson is up first with the mic and says he's a lot in his career, but tonight he's a very proud man, and instead of wasting his time telling us why, he rolls the footage of giving Rikishi the Stinkface on Raw, then says that tonight he's been given permission to book a match, so he announces Too Cool and Rikishi vs Triple H, Road Dogg and X-Pac in an elimination tag for tonight. Alright not bad Pat.
So Shane takes the mic now and says he's seen Show in the back asking everyone which way Shane went and goes on to mock Show, then announces that Show will be in a Tables Match with the Dudleyz tonight.
HHH takes the mic now and calls that really good crap, then says that people were surprised that Rock didn't show up for Raw, which is a fair point, but he wasn't, then a loud "asshole" chant starts before he continues. He tells us why, he says that word leaked out about his challenge and Rock was scared to come to the show, and that Rock could have used a better excuse than going to Morocco to make some stupid movie, The Mummy 2. Still, he says the fact is Rock is scared, but this coming Monday they will go face to face and Rock will have to answer his challenge, and if Rock does say yes then 10 days from then it will be his Judgement Day, because the truth will be told, that as great a shape, as physically conditioned as Rock is, he will never be in the shape of HHH, never be as conditioned an athlete as he is, and as electrifying as he is, he will never be as good as he is. He says as great as Rock thinks he is, he will never be The Game, because he's not in the shape he's in, nor does he have the heart that he has, and he will show the world once and for all that he is that damn good and that he will be the WWF Champion at Judgement Day.
Vince takes the mic now and starts to speak and barely gets anything out before an "asshole" chant breaks out, much to Vince's glee. He understands that some of the fans think that the Faction on Monday wasn't fair to Jericho, that since they made him compete in three matches defending his title until he lost it that it just wasn't fair. Vince says that's just too damn bad, because if they think that wasn't fair, they're probably the same kind of people who wait in line, wait forever like sheep all lined up, then see someone like Vince very aggressively cut in front of the line and point out it's not fair, or maybe like the parking lot, where you're waiting patiently for a parking space and suddenly it appears and you make your move, and then someone zips in, cuts you off and takes it, and you say it's not fair. Or maybe on the few occasions when you look into a full length mirror, and the women look and disgust looking at the cellulite and say that's not fair. Then he says the men won't even look at the mirror, but on the occasion they might get a quick glimpse and say "That can't be me, with the potbelly and the small penis, that's not fair." Then he tells the crowd to look at themselves and the people around them, and compare themselves to the people in the ring and say "That's not fair!" Then he brings up the monay, scrimp and save and work half to death, and still can't afford what you really want, it's not fair. It's not fair that some are rich and they're not. He says they have to face the facts that most of them are born with inferior DNA and say it's not fair, but feel sorry for themselves, wallow in self-pity, and then have to face the facts that life is not fair, and might as well own up to the philosophy that is, "Life sucks, and then you die." Vince's music hits to finally end this segment. Christ this did not need to go this long.
Cut to Chyna and Eddie in the back doing rock-paper-scissors, then Eddie pulls a quarter behind her ear and tosses it so high he loses it. So Chyna just says she'll take Dean and Eddie will take Perry tonight and they agree into commercial.
Back from break, we see footage from Raw where things between Dean and Perry broke down, then Eddie and Chyna involving themselves, which brings us to our next match.
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Chyna (w/ WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero) vs Dean Malenko (c)
Eddie comes out once the bell has rung as Dean extends his hand and Chyna nearly takes the bait as Dean goes for a kick to the midsection, but Chyna catches and hits a clothesline after spinning him around. Chyna with rights, Dean sent off the ropes into a back body drop, Chyna off the ropes, blocks a hip toss and hits a neck breaker, cover and a two count. Chyna with a handspring elbow in the corner, then goes for a powerbomb but Dean flips her back, then she tries for a sunset flip but he stops her with a right hand.
More rights and stomps by Dean now, boots in the corner then choking with his boot, followed by a back breaker, torquing her back across his knee before finally releasing her. Chyna face first in the corner, reverses a whip across the ring, Dean goes up and over but as Eddie climbs on the apron to distract the ref, Chyna nails a low blow as Dean lands back on the mat, followed by a DDT. Rights by Chyna now backs Dean into the corner for some boots, then sends him across the ring, goes for another handspring elbow but Dean pulls the referee into the way, then they take each other out with a double clothesline.
Meanwhile Saturn has appeared to attack Eddie and sends him face first into the steps. Saturn comes in now and goes to drop Dean, but lets him go, instead hitting Chyna with a brainbuster. Dean makes the cover as Perry leaves and retains in 3:17.
We go to replays as Dean leaves and Chyna recovers in the ring.
Then we cut to a local pub where Boss Man and Bull walk in looking for beers. They pick a fight with a couple guys for seats at the bar before ordering a couple of beers.
Then we get footage from earlier in the day, where E&C are getting drinks from the vending machines and get approached by a couple of kids, where the younger one is asking Edge for an autograph and they happily sign the magazine for them, but want $5 before they hand it back, and the kid just stands there with mouth agape in shock. He hands it over anyways, and the older one is there for a picture, so they call over Kevin Kelly to take it, but they want $10 for that, so he hands it over and leaves. Kevin asks what they're doing and they say that the people in New Haven are simple and have no clue what's going on, the easiest money they've ever made. He leaves in disbelief and they walk off into commercial.
After the break, the tag champs come out for a 6-man tag. First the 5-second pose, then Edge says that they realize the fans really like them, but the fans also respect them and rightfully so, but on a sad note, they can't seem to garner the same respect from the rest of the locker room. Christian agrees, and says its so not funny the way the guys in the back look at them, with such envy and anger and rage, but he's happy to say there's one man who shows them the respect he thinks they deserve, and takes great honor in introducing that man, Kurt Angle.
Angle comes out with mic in hand and says it's true, it's true
that he does respect them, that he used to think the only good thing to come out of Canada was maple syrup and Michael J. Fox but he was wrong and isn't wrong often. He says we need to realize that E&C are role models for all of us, the tag team champions of the world, and what better men to team up with him, to avenge his loss to Jericho on Monday, and when they do, they will make this twisted world right once again, and that is true.
Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian (WWF Tag Team Champions) vs Chris Jericho & The Hardy Boyz
Edge and Matt start it out with some quick back and forth, ending up with Edge dropped chest first on the top rope into a back suplex. Jeff in now, Edge sent into the corner for Poetry in Motion, then Jericho comes in with a bulldog immediately after. Edge face first in the corner, but reverses a whip off the ropes, Jeff catches him with a dropkick as he shoves himself off of Edge. Jeff off the ropes goes for a wheelbarrow but gets planted with a facebuster instead. Christian in now stomping away, followed by two quick suplexes and a front one. Kurt in with a suplex of his own, then Edge in with a scoop slam, then to the middle rope but caught midair with a dropkick.
Jericho and Christian get tagged in and Jericho starts to clean house. Chops on Christian, sent off the ropes but catches him with a powerbomb, then a second. Edge clubs him from behind though and tosses him to the outside. Now Matt clocks Edge with a right hand before the ref gets on him and Benoit runs down to drop Jericho with a clothesline while the ref is distracted. Jericho gets tossed back in, Edge spears Jericho, Christian makes the cover but Jericho kicks out and immediately tags in Matt.
Kurt in too and Jericho leaves the match going right after Benoit, going at it on the stage until referees come down to break it up. Meanwhile Matt is calling for the Twist of Fate but Kurt delivers a Northern Lights with a bridge. Meanwhile Jeff delivers a Swanton on Kurt mid pin attempt. Matt goes for the Twist of Fate, but while the ref is sending Jeff back to the apron, Christian sneaks in with the ring bell and nails Matt in the face with it. Kurt falls on top and gets the win for his team in 3:53.
Benoit and Jericho are still fighting and Kurt rushes in to join the attack on Jericho, now a double team on him until they eventually go to the back and Jericho recovers into break.
Back from commercial we catch up with Angle and the tag champs who are celebrating in the hallway, then back to the arena for... Huh?
WWF Hardcore Championship: The British Bulldog (c) vs Hardcore Holly
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: I didn't even know Bulldog was still employed, I figured he was gone. Turns out he returned and won the Hardcore Title that past weekend at the UK PPV Insurrextion, handily beating Crash for the title. That's the only mention of this PPV so I assume nothing else of note happened there.
Quick back and forth to start and Bulldog ends up tossed to the outside. Hardcore finds a drink tray under the ring and sends it into Bulldog's head, spilling water on the ground and slipping in it in the process. Bulldog into the steps, but then sends Holly into the ring post. Hardcore gets tossed back in the ring while Bulldog pulls out a broom, but gets kicked in the midsection before he can use it, then Hardcore breaks the broom over his back. Now using the broken stick and slamming it into Bulldog's back. Now he pulls out a toolbox and just clobbers Bulldog in the head with it, which sends tools flying, and Bulldog grabs... something to get back on the offensive before slamming the box into Hardcore now.
Hardcore retreats to the outside and pulls out an extinguisher and sprays Bulldog before tossing him back in. We see Crash making his way down with a trash can lid and a second referee while Hardcore nails a dropkick as he sends Bulldog off the ropes. Hardcore leaves the ring and gets hit in the back of the head with the lid as he goes for a chair. Crash slides in the ring and nails Bulldog with the lid, covers and wins back the title in 2:30. The Houdini of Hardcore strikes again.
Crash makes a quick escape with his title as Hardcore and Bulldog come to. Hardcore takes a chair in the ring and nails Bulldog with the Falcon Arrow on the chair, then flips him off before leaving to the back.
We go to Kevin Kelly who's standing by with Patterson, who asked for this time to remind everybody of Monday night, when Rikishi was so depressed and so down when Patterson made him hit skid row, and he holds up his underwear as he says this much to Kevin's disgust.
We catch back up with Bull and Boss Man at the bar and a guy walks up to the bar wanting a round of drinks and mentions the Acolytes. Bull says that next time they see them they'll be whooping their asses. The guy points out he saw these two running from the Acolytes on Monday, which pisses them off and start going after him, before another guy gets in between and we go to commercial.
Back from break, the Slam of the Week is the Tables Match and aftermath from Monday, which segways to our next match.
Handicap Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz vs The Big Show
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Dudleyz come out with a table in hand and set it up at ringside as they make their way out first. They give us a replay of what happened on Monday when Shane talked shit about Show on the phone.
Dudleyz get the upperhand immediately, send Show off the ropes and go for a double clothesline but Show just breaks through, then goes for a double chokeslam but gets cut off by boots to the midsection, then a double team suplex. Both off the ropes with elbows, stomps and rights, as Shane comes out on the stage. Headbutt to Bubba, then goes to chokeslam D-Von over the ropes through the table at ringside but Bubba clubs him from behind before he can. They try to send Show off the ropes but he stops short, then steps back, pulls them into each other and drops them with clotheslines. More headbutts by Show, D-Von sent to the corner, then Bubba into him and both hit with a splash. D-Von press slammed, then Bubba nailed with a chokeslam.
Show grabs the table and slides it into the ring before setting it up near the corner. Headbutt on Bubba before setting him up on it, then he goes to the middle rope, but D-Von cuts nails a low blow, before using the middle rope to deliver a 3D through the table for the win in 2:44.
Shane runs down to the ring and hides by ringside as the Dudleyz leave, then slides into the ring. He starts talking some trash and starts to attack Show, while the Dudleyz notice it on the Ovaltron and rush back down. They pull out a new table while Shane's distracted, but X-Pac and Road Dogg run down. X-Pac with the X-Factor on Bubba then the Bronco Buster on D-Von, more attacks keeping them down. Tori slaps Bubba then D-Von then they leave pleased with themselves into commercial.
Back from break we get replays from the finish and post-match attack. Then we go to APA in their office, Farooq walks in with a monitor and shows Bradshaw the footage of Bull and Bos Man, asking him if he wants a drink. Bradshaw finishes his beer and they head out.
WWF European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) vs Perry Saturn (w/ WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get a replay of what happened earlier in the night when Perry interfered in Chyna's match.
Eddie gives Perry no time to react as he lays into him in the corner to start the match with rapid boots. Perry with a thumb to the eye, but Eddie ducks a clothesline, shoves Perry chest first into the corner followed by a back suplex. Slingshot senton from the apron then more boots and rights by Eddie, Perry sent across the ring, but catches Eddie as he charges and sends him face first into the top turnbuckle, then a vicious clothesline.
Rights in the corner by Perry, stomps to the ribs, then slammed to the mat. Perry goes to the middle rope for a Vader Bomb but Eddie gets the knees up, misses a clothesline and walks into a flapjack. Rights by Eddie, then drop toe hold into the middle rope, Perry sent off the ropes into a drop kick. Perry sent into the corner, then gets boot up, goes to the top rope but Eddie cuts him off and nails a hurricanrana, cover and a near fall.
Eddie sent off the ropes into a pop up powerbomb, then Perry goes up top with a nice flying elbow, cover but Eddie kicks out. Dean gets on the apron and distracts the ref, then Chyna's on the apron, Perry goes for a brainbuster but Eddie slips out, then leads Perry to Chyna who smashes him in the head with her roses. Eddie makes the cover and retains in 3:16.
So turns out Chyna was hiding a lead pipe in those flowers, so that was clever, unbeknownst to Eddie as we go to replays. They head to the back very happy into commercial.
Back from the break, we catch back up with the APA who arrive at the bar and spot Bull and Boss Man. Bull tries to say that all that stuff is water under the bridge and they've been drinking all night, but Boss Man has a better idea to buy them a drink, and they smash beer bottles over their heads and a fight breaks out. A TV gets thrown by Farooq, then Bradshaw smashes a bottle over someone's head, someone else gets thrown through the bathroom door. Bull slams his head into the jukebox, stool to the ribs and beer case to the head of Boss Man from Farooq. Bradshaw smashes Bull through an exit door. Broom and cue stick broken over the back of Boss Man, then beer case thrown into him. APA have won this fight and they leave.
Then we cut to Rikishi's ass, then to Rikishi and Too Cool, then the Faction on their way to the ring for the match up next.
Back from break, we get another replay of the brown stain Stinkface before our main event.
Six-Man Tag Team Elimination Match: D-Generation X (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley & Tori) vs Too Cool & Rikishi
Sexay and Roadie start the match with some dancing, but Sexay doesn't take to kindly to Roadie's mocking and drops him with some right hands, then a bulldog attempt out of the corner but Roadie delivers a back suplex. Sexay sent into the corner but Roadie is met with a side kick to the face, then Sexay with a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Scotty in now, both off the ropes sending Roadie to the mat, then a double elbow. Kish in now, off the ropes with a leg drop, then Roadie dragged to the corner for a Banzai Drop but gets back up, only for Sexay to drop him with a right hand as Kish drops back to his feet.
Scotty back in with an arm wringer but Roadie gets free with a right, then sends Scotty face first into the DX corner before X-Pac tags in. Quick back and forth until Scotty goes for a roll up from the ropes but Pac hangs on then dropped with a right hand. Pac sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and nails a spinning heel kick. Scotty face first in the corner, sent across the ring but hits an elbow, then whips X-Pac across the ring, Scotty off the ropes with his bulldog to set up for The Worm, but Roadie cuts it off. Scotty reverses a whip into the corner and drops Roadie with his bulldog now to set up the Worm, HHH tries to stop it but Sexay comes in with a side kick sending him out of the ring, and Scotty hits it this time, cover but HHH pulls him out of the ring before the 3.
Kish with rights on HHH against the barricade, while Roadie hits Scotty with the pumphandle slam. The ref is busy trying to separate HHH and Kish so he misses the pin, Sexay goes up top and nails Roadie with the Hip Hop Drop. Scotty rolls over, but Pac comes in and nails Sexay with the spinning heel kick and Scotty walks into an X-Factor. Roadie makes the cover and Scotty is eliminated. HHH sends Kish into the steps as Sexay deals rights on Roadie and X-Pac in the ring, then goes for a noggin knocker, but while the ref s tending to Scotty, HHH nails a low blow followed by a Pedigree, cover and Sexay is eliminated.
Kish gets back in now and DX surround him. Roadie makes the first move but is dropped with a right hand, then Pac and more for all three. Samoan drop on Roadie, then a popup cutter on X-Pac. Roadie pulls himself up in the corner and Pac is whipped into him, then HHH into them, Rikishi goes for the splash but HHH pulls the ref in the way. HHH with right hands, Kish reverses a whip off the ropes, then HHH goes for a Pedigree but Kish slips free with a back body drop. He goes for the Rikishi Driver on HHH but X-Pac kicks him in the midsection. Now all three stomping away, Kish face first in the corner, stomped down to the mat, X-Pac hits the Bronco Buster. Suddenly the Dudleyz rush down while the ref is still out. 3D on Roadie while Kish knocks HHH out of the ring, then a 3D on X-Pac. They pull Pac and Roadie over to the corner, Kish sits on them both for a double pin, ref comes to and Roadie and X-Pac are both eliminated.
HHH comes to and realizes his situation, trying to talk his way out, then tries a cheap shot but Kish blocks and drops him with a right hand. HHH sent off the ropes but hits a facebuster. Kish stumbles into the corner and HHH stomps and chokes. Patterson comes down with his underwear now and rubs it in Kish's face, before HHH goes back to attack and more rubs in Kish's face. HHH runs into a clothesline though before Kish pulls Pat in before delivering a headbutt, then uses them for a Mandible Claw on HHH into a side kick. Steph slides in as he stuffs them in HHH's face again, getting in Kish's face. Patterson clubs Kish from behind and accidentally sandwiches Steph in the corner, dropping her down in position for a Stinkface. Pat gets right hands into the corner, and a headbutt, then a Stinkface. Then he sees Steph on the other side knocked out but HHH comes to, delivers the Pedigree and wins the match in 11:18. It was a good match. Had the crowd on the edge wanting to see Steph get a Stinkface and suckered them right in, and everyone looks good coming out of this.
Steph comes to holding her chest as HHH checks on her and helps her to her feet for an embrace, and the show ends not long after.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Not a lot to say about this show. Had mostly good action, good main event, I don't think I had any real complaints. It is kinda weird seeing Bulldog brought back for a hometown pop then lose his title less than a week later, and I doubt we'll see him again but what can you do. That said, with a run time of 1:27:52, there was a total 34:34 of wrestling on this show.
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