WWF Week of June 5, 2000 - From Three to Zero

RAW
We get a recap of what happened on Smackdown, with the McMahon's booking three #1 contenders. Then we cut to Vince and the Stooges arriving and up walks Cole, who asks how HHH feels now that he has to face three #1 contenders. Vince says he doesn't care how HHH feels, pointing out that had it not been for his ego they might not be in this mess. He says if people would start listening to him they won't have these kind of problems. Vince is carrying a bag and wonders why he's doing that instead of Pat or Gerald, so Gerald takes it because, as Pat puts it, it's his job as they continue on their way. 

Then it's to the opening video and pyro, where they're live from the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. J.R. welcomes us to the show and out comes HHH and Steph to start the show. Asshole chant immediately once his music cuts out and he tells them to keep it shut. He says that never before in WWF history has the WWF Title meant so much to so many, been so hotly contested. He gets cut off by a loud Rocky chant, then he says you can't blame everyone for wanting a shot, it means you beat the very best that there is, and that's a hell of a claim, he says that's what it's all about to be the best, and having the belt means that you are the undisputed best that there is. He proves his point by reminding us that there are three #1 contenders at that moment, in Kane, The Undertaker, and The Rock. three of the very best ever in the WWF, and the common thread is they all have a dream, (slut chant) to stand in the ring and lay claim to beating The Game, and becoming WWF Champion. He says the competition might be fierce, but he thrives on that, the hotter it gets the more he says he loves it, competition turns him on. 
He says what turns him off though, and that's egos, big, huge, inflated egos, nothing bothers him more. He's heard a few times from several people that he himself has a big ego, but realistically he says he should, and should have the biggest ego on the planet as good as he is. The fact of the matter is though he doesn't, and says the claim to the biggest ego on the planet is reserved for just one man, someone who likes to tell you how big his grapefruits are, and just happens to be the chairman of the WWF and Steph's dad. He says the problem is her old man's ego is so big it's becoming a problem now, and he's beginning to think where they were three or four months ago, the way they were thinking about taking over maybe wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Of course this brings out Vince now and HHH says hello and calls him dad, to which he snatches the mic from HHH. Asshole chant starts up and Vince asks him if he hears what they're calling him. He says he believes in the law of the jungle, literally, that one day the bigger, stronger, smarter will eat the weaker, less fortunate, and that's the law of nature. He says that if they're thinking maybe it's their time, that's wrong. He says he comes out and puts himself over to how good he is and admits he is pretty damn good, but the best thing he thinks HHH has ever done for his career is enter the WWF, under his tutelage and guidance, and marrying his daughter. He tells HHH not to get ahead of himself, his time may come, it may not, but reminds him that he made him, and he can break him.
HHH snatches the mic back and wants Vince to remember, while calling him Dr. Frankenstein, that he might have made the monster, but the monster can take over anytime he wants, and it was only a short time ago, December at Armageddon, when he was kicking Vince's ass all over the arena. Vince tries to take the mic but HHH pie faces him, then says he's not done. Vince though has heard enough and takes his jacket off, then HHH does the same. Vince shoves him and they seem ready to go but out comes Shane and gets between them trying to play peacemaker.
He grabs the mic and says their egos are out of control and tells them to relax. We get a Shane's a pussy chant before he can say much else, then says their egos are so big that if weren't for the two of them, there would only be one #1 contender. He asks HHH if his ego really is so out of check that, with everyone wanting a shot at his title and coming out and making his own matches saying it's not smart. Then he turns to Vince and agrees with HHH about Vince's ego, and asks if Vince really thinks, at 54, that he can take on the WWF Champion in a fist fight, and suggests that maybe he should be the one running the company. HHH doesn't like the sound of that and tries to get at Shane but Vince pulls him back, and reminds them that he's the giant killer and suggests maybe he kill their giant egos and now wants to fight them both. So he takes his jacket off and lays it over and walks right into two right hands from Vince and HHH. Vince gets in some kicks while he's down, then Steph slaps Vince and HHH, and then Shane when he gets to his feet. 
Well now here's Rock to escalate things further. He says that he doesn't see a family feud, or the owner of a multi-million dollar company, or a WWF Champion, he sees three of the biggest, steaming, stinking, smoldering pieces of monkey crap being slapped around by a walking $2 slut. He says he realizes that there are two other #1 contenders, but the fact is that he's #1 contender as well. and he wants his title shot tonight. He says they've left him with two options, one being he can go in the back, relax and wait until HHH is ready to face him, and option 2 seems to be for Rock to go down there now and whoop their candy asses all over Rochester.
Before he can even get in the ring though, Kane's pyro hits and out he comes with a mic. He tells Rock that he's got it all wrong, saying that he is the #1 contender, and he wants his title shot tonight. He starts to walk down but now Taker walks out. He says in all his years there he doesn't think he's ever so many assholes gathered in one place. He says with allies like his family he doesn't need any enemies and he doesn't give a damn about his issues with Vince, and he wants his shot tonight too, and doesn't care if all 4 of them get it on at one time.
Vince asks them what they'd think if they all got a shot tonight, which of course pisses off HHH, so he announces that tonight there's going to be a triple threat to determine who is the undisputed #1 contender, and whoever wins will face HHH for the title tonight. Vince's music hits  as it goes to commercial.

We get a replay of the McMahons imploding before we get to the first match.

Too Cool (WWF Tag Team Champions) & Rikishi vs T&A & Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get a replay from Heat the night before where Val beat Al Snow to qualify for King of the Ring.
Scotty and Test start the match and Scotty is thrown into the corner for some rights, then sent off the ropes, through the legs and with rights of his own, only to be sent into the corner but gets his feet up and delivers a clothesline. Sexay with the tag, both off the ropes and slams Test down, followed by a double elbow. Test pops back up with a right to Sexay though and makes the tag to Albert, who tries to send Sexay face first into the corner but just ends up pulling his hat off, now Sexay with boots in the corner and rights. Albert sends him across the ring but gets caught with a kick, Sexay to the middle rope for a missile dropkick, cover and a kick out.
Sexay lifted in a gorilla press but he slips free, ducks a clothesline but gets one to the back of the head. Val gets the tag but misses an elbow, and Sexay tags in Kish who delivers some rights and a Samoan drop. T&A run into a double clothesline as Val gets up in the corner Kish to slam into. Kish goes for the Stinkface but Albert nails him from behind, then sends him into a boot from Test. Double teaming in the corner on Kish while the ref is distracted, Albert sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, sort of botches a sunset flip but Kish falls on him so it kinda works out, then stands and drops down on his chest again, then a second time. 
Val and Sexay tag in, scoop slam on Val, dropkicks for T&A. Scotty comes in to help whip Test off the ropes into a double clothesline. They duck a double clothesline from Albert and hit a double DDT. Sexay with a sioutout powerbomb on Val, cover and Test breaks it up. Scotty off the ropes with a bulldog on Test to set up for The Worm. Sexay goes up top for the Hip Hop Drop, Scotty covers but the ref is trying to restore order on the outside. Trish tries to get in the ring and use her boot but Sexay catches her and nails Test with the boot instead. Sexay covers but the ref is still busy and Val hits Sexay with one of the tag belts, covers and gets the win in 4:47. It was an alright match with an overbooked finish.

Kish comes back in and sends T&A and Val into the corner and slams into all three. Scotty and Sexay with superkicks on both T&A while Val drops down, setting him up for a Stinkface. Trish though comes in and gets between them, shoves Kish and slaps him. He threatens to hit her which makes her trip back and hit the back of her head on the bottom turnbuckle, leaving her in position for a Stinkface. T&A pull her out and they and Val leave as we go to the replays, then we get some dancing. Up next, Benoit vs Road Dogg. 

Before that though, we see Vince and the faction backstage and his jacket's all soiled and basically this only serves to tell us the opening segment was all a ruse, praising each other for their acting and such. Suddenly behind them we see Crash running down a hallway beyond an open door, with chair in hand, and Brisco closes it and makes him run right into it. Crash runs off.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Road Dogg (w/ X-Pac & Tori) vs Chris Benoit (WWF Intercontinental Champion)
Right away Roadie distracts the ref to allow X-Pac to trip up Benoit, and now Roadie's on the attack. Rights by Roadie, now by Benoit, but Roadie reverses a whip off the ropes, Benoit ducks a clothesline and nails X-Pac with a baseball slide. Roadie with an ax handle off the apron then clubs to the back before returning to the ring. Benoit back on the attack, Roadie sent off the ropes, ducks an elbow, Roadie goes for his Shake, Rattle and Roll but Benoit ducks the last shot. Chops, Roadie sent off the ropes into chops. Snap suplex by Benoit, then he goes up top but Tori climbs the apron, so X-Pac can crotch Benoit. Out come the Dudleyz now, Bubba climbs the apron but Roadie knocks him off, and D-Von whips X-Pac into the barricade. Benoit hits a German on Roadie with a bridge off the distraction for the win in 1:43.

Benoit rolls out as Dudleyz set their sights on Tori, who's checking on Road Dogg. Bubba's got her by the hair while D-Von sends Roadie to the outside. D-Von gets a table and sets it up outside, Bubba lifts her up for the powerbomb inside the ring but X-Pac comes in to make the save with a low blow. They make their escape to the back which pisses off Bubba as they look on.

Cole is doing an interview with Brisco, who has Patterson by his side, and standing in front of a black curtain and asks that now that he's a champion again and Pat isn't how it's affecting their relationship. He says Pat's been very supportive and if there's one guy he knows he can trust it's him. We see Crash creeping up behind the curtain, waits for his moment and crashes through, but he nails Patterson instead and Brisco runs off into commercial.

Kevin Kelly is standing by with Kane, and says that Kane must have mixed emotions going into the triple threat, since the three of them have established a common ground already, neither is his enemy and one happens to be his brother. Kane says that there are no allies in this match, and when it comes to the WWF Title he doesn't have a brother.

Crash makes his way out now and gets a mic. He tells Brisco to get his big, fat, rear end out there, challenging him to a match. Patterson comes out with a mic and calls Crash a little squirt, and makes the introduction, calling him the best Hardcore Champion of all time.

WWF Hardcore Championship: Gerald Brisco (c) vs Crash Holly
I guess we have a match, but there's yet to be a referee out there and a bell hasn't rung. Crash sends Brisco face first into the ring apron, covers, but again there's no referee and Brisco kicks out. Finally we have a referee and Brisco thumbs the eye before trying to escape through the crowd, but gets sent face first into the ring post instead. Brisco is tossed in the ring and Crash pulls out some weapons, including a fire extinguisher, baking sheet, trash can and lid and some signs plus some kind of stick. Brisco has grabbed the extinguisher in the meantime as Crash slides in and gets spreayed in the face. Stick broken over Crash's back and Brisco celebrates prematurely, which allows Crash to hit him in the head with the lid as he turns around. Crash slides back out and grabs a chair, wedging it into the corner, Brisco face first in the opposite corner for some rights.
Patterson comes back out and gets knocked down with a right, then Crash stomps away. Brisco tries to charge but Crash sidesteps and he goes face first into the chair wedged. Patterson had brought out those dirty underwear from a month or so back and Crash picks them up to rub into Brisco's face, putting it over his head and face. Brisco face first in the corner again, Crash grabs a stop sign and charges, but Brisco gets his feet up, knocking the sign back into his face. Brisco covers, Patterson piles on top and Brisco retains in 2:21. It was fine for what it was, could have done without bringing back the dirty underwear though.
.
Brisco and Patterson leave with arms raised.

Cole is backstage with Taker, moments from the triple threat, and he tells Taker what Kane had to say earlier in his interview, and he just says that Kane is right before walking away. Rock is seen heading to the ring for his match up next.

First though, out comes HHH and he joins commentary for this match.

The Rock vs Kane vs The Undertaker
Winner gets a shot at the WWF Championship later in the show.
Rock and Taker start trading shots, then Kane clubs Rock from behind and they start double teaming him in the corner. Rock held up by Kane until he breaks free with a low blow on him, then delivers rights on Taker in the corner. His whipped across the ring gets reversed though and Taker goes for Snake Eyes but Rock slips free and delivers a Rock Bottom. Rock now with right hands for Kane, but gets pulled into a chokeslam. Kane covers but Taker pulls him off. Kane shoves him away and now Taker is on the attack, clotheslining Kane to the outside.
Now Rock back on the attack with rights on Taker, sending him to the outside too. Kane sends Taker face first off the apron, then the steps, Kane face first off the announce table thanks to Rock, then tries to send him into the barricade but Kane blocks and Rock goes face first into it instead. HHH leaps from commentary with a sucker punch on Taker and sends him face first into the table repeatedly, then rights to the back of the head. HHH rejoins commentary as Kane is whipped into the steps by Rock. Taker on Rock with right hands then sends him face first into the steps, then rolls him back in the ring. Taker with a vicious right on HHH, and as Taker goes to climb into the ring HHH smacks him in the back with a chair, then as Kane goes to grab him he gets smacked in the head with the chair. Kane turns around into a Rock Bottom for the win in 3:44. It was fun and chaotic albeit short.

Rock comes in and nails Rock in the head with the chair now before posing with the belt, then leaves the ring and heads to the back. Taker looks on pissed as does Kane as Rock comes to into commercial.

Big Show in a Chef Boyardee commercial, then replays of the closing moments of the match, plus the post-match chair shot before we get to another match.

The Godfather & Dean Malenko (WWF Light Heavyweight Champion) vs Eddie Guerrero (WWF European Champion) & Chyna
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see Chyna beating Godfather on Heat with help from Eddie to qualify for King of the Ring.
Eddie jumps on Godfather right away to start in the corner, but then gets sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then a boot. Back splex on Eddie, then a spinning leg drop. Eddie up in the corner and Godfather sets up for the Ho Train, but Chyna yanks him down by the hair, but turns around to drop Eddiw with a clothesline. Dean gets the tag, Eddie sent off the ropes for a popup, then Eddie tries to counter with a victory roll but Dean counters that with a wheelbarrow slam. Eddie sent off the ropes into a popup, but Eddie counters successfully with a headscissor take down. Chyna gets the tag but gets caught, Dean goes for a double underhook suplex, then Chyna counters to go for a DDT, only to be tripped up. Dean nearly gets her in the Cloverleaf but Eddie runs in, but caught with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Dean turns around into a clothesline, then forearms and boots into the corner. Dean whipped across the ring for a handspring elbow. 
Eddie gets the tag, slingshot senton into Dean, then knocks Godfather off the apron which allows Dean to knock Eddie down. Eddie sent off the ropes but catches Dean with a kick, off the ropes, they trade hip toss blocks until Dean tosses Eddie over the ropes to the floor. The hos surround Eddie and distract and Chyna obviously gets mad, Dean tries to suplex him back in but he slips free, then Dean slips around with a waistlock until Eddie elbows free, off the ropes, Dean goes for another tilt-a-whirl but Eddie counters with an inside cradle for the win in 2:54. I really liked that end counter.

Chyna and Eddie make up and celebrate as Godfather and Dean leave into commercial.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Hardcore Holly vs Farooq
Holly right on the attack as Farooq slides in to start the match, and we get a replay of Benoit qualifying earlier right as the bell rings. Holly sent face first into the corner once the replay ends, Farooq with rights then another drops him to the mat. Holly sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a dropkick. Farooq pulls back on a whip off the ropes into a one-handed spinebuster, cover and a kick out. Holly sent hard into the corner, Farooq stomping and clubbing the back before whipping him into the opposite corner, then a powerslam off the rebound, cover and a kick out. Holly tossed out of the ring to the floor.
Farooq goes to suplex Holly back in but he counters with a roll up and a near fall, only to be knocked down with a clothesline, cover and a kick out. Farooq goes for a scoop slam but Holly counters with an inside cradle and another near fall, then dropped with a right hand. Holly sent to the outside again and Farooq whips him into the barricade, then the steps. Back in the ring, Farooq goes for the Dominator but Holly slips free and hits the Falcon Arrow for the win in 3:04. Well that match was... weirdly paced.

Farooq looks on in disbelief as Holly leaves to the back. 

Then we see Kurt and E&C walking backstage. Kurt says he knows they're upset that the midget cost them the tag titles, but says if they defeat Jericho and the Dudleyz, he's got good word, on excellent authority, no doubt about it, that they will have defended the honor of Steph. Of course E&C were thinking he was talking about a tag title shot as he builds this up. Christian with the "And?" and Kurt points out she'll be in a pretty good mood and will probably give them another tag title shot, which makes them happy. Then Kurt randomly brags about beating Bradshaw last week before they walk away into commercial.

We see a replay of Too Cool winning the belts last week with Joe C.'s help, before we go to our next match. ECK make their way out first. Christian has the mic and calls the attention of the citizens of Rochester. He says the city is so known for three things: home of the best chili dog in upstate New York three years in a row, home of the Rochester... well he doesn't know of any teams that play there or what sport they play but he's sure they're pretty good, and most importantly the home of Kodak Film. 
Kurt takes the mic and finds it very ironic that the Kodak Moment originated in a town with such unattractive people (it's true, it's true). Edge takes the mic and says that for the benefit of those with flash photography, or in this town's case, those with the benefit of teeth, they will give them a true Kodak Moment, for five seconds only.

Edge, Christian & Kurt Angle vs Chris Jericho & The Dudley Boyz
Jericho and Edge start the match, tease a lock up but Edge strikes first, Jericho sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and delivers some chops. Edge reverses a whip off the ropes and hit with a forearm. Christian comes in but he's caught by Jericho with a bulldog, then a corner springboard dropkick takes Kurt off the apron. Jericho goes for the Walls on Christian but Edge cuts him off before he can roll him over. Chops and rights by Edge who's still the legal man until he tags in Kurt, who lays into Jericho, sends him off the ropes into a clothesline, cover and a kick out.
Christian tags in, Jericho sent off the ropes into a powerslam, cover and a kick out. Edge tags back in, scoop slam by Christian, then double running headbutts, cover and a kick out. Jericho fights back with rights, sends Edge off the ropes, goes for a dropkick but Edge hangs on, before catapulting Jericho into the corner. Kurt tags in with rights, Jericho sent off the ropes, catches Kurt with a kick and delivers a double underhook backbreaker. Jericho tries to make the tag but Kurt grabs hold of his leg. Jericho sent into the corner but gets the boots up, then to the middle rope for a missile dropkick.
Bubba gets the tag and starts cleaning house. Bubba Bomb on Christian, Bubba Cutter on Edge, DDT on Angle, cover, but Christian breaks it up. Jericho pulls Angle out as D-Von comes in, call for the 3D, but as Christian is sent off the ropes Edge trips him up and pulls him to the outside. As D-Von goes after them, Angle sneaks in from behind to deliver the Angle Slam on Bubba for the win in 4:09. Another good match.

Dudleyz and Jericho come back in, E&C are sent out of the ring, and as Jericho puts Angle in the Walls, the Dudleyz slide out to grab a table. Jericho releases the Walls as they set up the table and put Angle through it with the 3D. We get a replay of the 3D before commercial.

Another replay of the 3D, then another match.

The Hardy Boyz vs Bull Buchanan & The Big Boss Man
Jeff and Boss Man start the match Boss Man gets a cheap shot in, Jeff sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and slides out of the ring, makes Boss Man chase him around and back in and Matt tags himself in as they lead Boss Man into the corner. Boss Man whipped across the ring for Poetry in Motion, but Bull takes out Matt with a clothesline as the ref sends Jeff back to the apron. Matt sent off the ropes into a big boot. Boss Man tags back in, Matt sent off the ropes into a double elbow, cover and a kick out.
Boss Man with shots in the corner and Lita's watching this match from backstage, as Matt gets whipped hard across the ring. Bull back in, bacbreaker on Matt, then comes off the ropes but misses a leg drop. Matt tags Jeff back in, who goes up top for a crossbody. Drop toe hold on Boss Man, Jeff with corner punches on Bull while Matt deals with Boss Man. Jeff gets tossed out to the floor though and Matt goes for a Twist of Fate, but he's shoved into Bull, then sidesteps and shoves Boss Man into him. Matt knocks Boss Man to the outside as Jeff goes up top and hits the Swanton on Bull for the win in 2:38.

Hardys leave up the ramp, while Bull and Boss Man get into an argument back in the ring. Boss Man nails Bull in the back of the head with the nightstick before leaving.

We see HHH talking to the Faction backstage, he says no screw ups tonight, he doesn't want anyone out there, and Vince says they tried that before, but HHH says he wants to prove to the world one more time that he is The Game and beat Rock on his own, then he leaves into commercial.

Cole is standing by with HHH, with Steph by his side and he brings up how HHH asked his family not to get involved in his match on Smackdown last week, and was defeated by Kane, and asks if HHH meant what he said to the Faction before the break. He says he doesn't say anything he doesn't mean, that there's no need for the Faction to be out there, and he's going to prove to the world that he is that damn good.. He says he's going to beat Rock by himself. Cole says that's very brave of him considering there's a special guest referee... which confuses HHH as much as it does me. Oh it's Hebner again. He holds his anger back and says it won't make any difference, it won't matter, because all Hebner's gonna have to do is count 3, and that even Hebner can do that.
They start to walk away but Cole wants a quick word with Steph first. He says HHH might be the fightingest champion in WWF history, and she agrees, which brings him to his point that she has yet to defend her Women's Title since winning it. She asks who he is to tell her when and to him she should defend her title against. Besides, she says HHH is going to defend against the #1 contender, but she doesn't have a #1 contender. Cole thinks there are some viable contenders though, which brings in Ivory and Jacqueline who take exception to Steph's claim. They start yelling at Steph over each other, so Steph announces that on Smackdown, there'll be a Battle Royal, and she'll defend the title against the winner that same night. Then she walks off.

Rock is waiting backstage for his match up next.

WWF Championship: The Rock vs Triple H (c) (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)
Rock tosses HHH into the ring mid-entrance and starts laying in with rights, then whipped into the corner and hits a clothesline on the rebound. HHH whipped into the corner and goes inside out to the outside.More rights, HHH face first off the steps, then the announce table, then the ring post. Rock takes apart the announce table and tries to climb on top with HHH but he fights back, then leaps up, but he's caught, Rock Bottom attempt but he fights his way out, only to be back dropped onto and over the table anyways. HHH face first off the table again, then again, then a low blow which I guess Hebner didn't see. HHH whipped into the barricade, but ducks a clothesline and hits a neckbreaker. Rock whipped into the steps shoulder first, then a forearm off the apron by HHH. Back in the ring, boots and choking in the corner until Hebner pulls HHH off by the hair. Rock comes out with rights now, HHH reverses a whip off the ropes, Rock ducks a clothesline but runs into a high knee and another clothesline, HHH cover for a two count.
Mounted rights on Rock, then a suplex an a knee drop out of the corner, cover and another two, another cover and another and two more kick outs. HHH with more rights, then he goes up top until Rock pops up to throw him off. HHH reverses a whip but caught with a swinging neckbreaker. HHH sent off the ropes into a Samoan drop, cover and a near fall. HHH sent off the ropes but hits a facebuster off the knee. HHH gets angry at Hebner and shoves him, then Hebner shoves back, which sends HHH into a roll up but he kicks out, then follows with a clothesline.
Well now out come the Faction and Shane is first on the apron, and Hebner shoves him down. Trading shots now, Rock drops HHH. X-Pac, Road Dogg, Shane knocked off the apron by Rock, then a spinebuster on HHH. People's Elbow, cover but X-Pac pulls Hebner's leg. Hebner kicks him in the face, then he argues with Road Dogg, and HHH whips Rock into both of them. Rock with a DDT on HHH, then the Faction rush into the ring. Now out comes Taker and Kane and lays everyone out. Shane jumps on Taker's back as he goes to chokeslam X-Pac and Rock had taken a chair HHH had grabbed, and of course Shane jumps off just in time for Rock to nail Taker in the back instead, so he gets chokeslammed. Taker and Kane continue laying out the rest of the Faction, but meanwhile, HHH has crawled and draped an arm over Rock, Hebner comes to, makes the count and the champ retains in 9:31. Pretty good main event.

Taker gets back in the ring and knocks HHH out of the ring with a right and Kane joins him as Rock comes to, with the Faction making their exit and the show fades out.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
I can't really find anything to complain about on this show. I mean there were some pretty mediocre parts, and some of the action was just OK, but there was a fun opening segment, a good main event, some of the undercard was good, so this show was good. With a run time of 1:36:58, there was a total 34:51 of wrestling on this show.

Smackdown
They're broadcasting from the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York for this episode of Smackdown as we get right to the opening video and pyro. Cole and Lawler welcome us to the show before getting to the first match of the night. Jericho is out first and says he's facing Test in the opening round of the King of the Ring tournament tonight, and even though Test may not become the King of the Ring, he says that in his book, Test is already the Jerkle of the Squared Circle.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Chris Jericho vs Test (w/ Trish Stratus)
I guess Test didn't take too kindly to that as he rushes down to the ring and shoves Jericho down right away off a lock up. Jericho sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and delivers some chops before sending Test off the ropes into a spinning heel kick. Test rolls out to the apron only to be knocked off with a springboard dropkick out of the corner. Test with a cheap shot from the outside, but Jericho's back on the attack, then sent off the ropes but he hangs on, before running right into a big boot. Jericho face first in the corner then some rights from Test drops him down. Jericho fights back, then pulled into a half nelson slam, covers and a kick out.
Jericho sent off the ropes into an elbow, then choked over the middle rope. Now trading shots after the break but Jericho goes face first in the corner, whipped across the ring but gets Test with an elbow. More rights by Jericho, Test sent across the ring, then off the ropes but catches Jericho with a gutwrench powerbomb for a cover and another kick out. Jericho sent into the corner and gets the boots up, to the middle rope for a missile dropkick. More rights by Jericho, then Test, Jericho sent off the ropes but hits a forearm, cover and shoulder up. Test reverses a whip, Jericho ducks a clothesline and hits an elbow. Jericho goes for the Lionsault but Trish nails him in the head with her boot. Test covers but Jericho kicks out.
Jericho sent off the ropes but slips around Test for a roll up, but Trish has the ref distracted on the apron. Test tries for a pumphandle slam but Jericho slips free and shoves Test into Trish. Bulldog and Lionsault gets the win in 4:15. Good match to start the show.

Trish looks on frustrated as Jericho leaves the ring and we get a replay. We see Rock walking backstage and... I guess they're crew members or fans who say hey, and Rock just keeps walking without a word into commercial.

We get a weird ad where a catfight/wrestling match breaks out at a pageant, and it just seems to be an ad for WWF? How odd. Back to the arena, DX's music hits and out comes the Faction. Ballons and confetti drop from the sky but Vince is conspicuously absent from the festivities, which commentary don't seem to have an answer for why. Meanwhile Kane is watching this all backstage in the locker room.
HHH has the mic first and gloats about how DX know how to celebrate. He says when something good happens to him I just wants to share it with his family, friends, associates, and hold a big party, and tonight he says he wants to have it in front of the fans. He tells the fans not to worry and that it's not what we're thinking, he still despises each and every one of them, he doesn't want to have the party with them so they can share in the celebration, he wants to have it in front of them so he can ram it down their stinkin' throats. He says this celebration stems from Monday on Raw, because at the beginning of that night they had an unprecedented three #1 contenders for his WWF Championship, and by the end of that night they had no #1 contenders for his title, because as the night went on they got rid of Kane, Taker and in the grand finale, right in the center of the ring, he defeated Rock 1-2-3, proving once again to the world that he is that damn good, The Game, and the undisputed WWF Champion.
He says that this is a celebration, but it's also a way for him to say thank you, to his family and friends. We get a Rocky chant, and he tells them to shut up as he's trying to celebrate. He starts with Gerald and Pat, because as Stooges go, they're the best. Then to X-Pac and Road Dogg, saying a guy couldn't ask for two better friends to travel up and down the road with, kicking butts and taking names, they always have his back and he's forever thankful for that. Now Shane, straight from the heart, when it comes to brothers, he says he is without a doubt the king of brothers, he's always got his back, he is indeed the giant killer, and thanks him to. Tori, he says when he's got two friends like Roadie and X-Pac someone's gotta keep them in line, and she does a hell of a job of keeping them straight and making them watch his back and thanks her too. Of course, then there's Steph and we get a slut chant. He says they say behind every great man there's an even greater woman standing next to him, and as great as he is, he says we can only imagine what that makes her, and calls her the best. He calls for a group hug.
Finally Rock makes his way out and a loud Rocky chant starts. He says he hates to break up their little party, but he wants to throw a little party of his own in Buffalo, but this one will be a little different. He says he's not gonna serve up balloons and streamers and cake and give hugs and all that crap, he's going to serve one thing, payback. He tells HHH he can keep his WWF Title tonight, because it's not about himself taking the title from him, it's himself giving HHH the ass kicking of a lifetime. He says it doesn't matter what type of match it is, it could be Rock and HHH in a No DQ Match, it could be Rock and DX in a Handicap Match, it could be Rock and Steph in a Stick 50 Balloons Right Up Your Ass Match, because the fact is that he's going to get payback and he's going to get it tonight.
Another Rocky start chants as HHH goes to talk, then tells "Mr. Party Pooper" to listen up, and says he's got a lot of anger inside him, but it's a little misguided. He says Rock's problem is not with the Faction, and if he's looking for payback he's staring in the wrong direction, and Rock could go down and take a beating, or take a look at the footage HHH had prepared, reminding Rock of how Taker cost him the title at Judgement Day, and then how Taker cost him the title again on Monday. HHH questions what the odds are of lightning striking twice in the exact same place.
Speak of the Devil, out comes Taker on his bike and down to the ring, through the thousands of balloons, and Kane is still watching backstage. Taker looks out at Rock as he parks the bike and takes off his jacket and glasses and headband, and starts to head up the ramp but quickly turns around into the ring. Taker starts laying everyone out with right hands until HHH gets him from behind and the numbers pile up. Rock just looks on from the stage and Taker fights his way free for a moment, and Kane's still watching in the back. Rock finally makes his way down and starts laying everyone out with rights and Taker's back in it now. Shane tries to bring in a chair but he's knocked down by Taker. Shane gets thrown out and X-Pac gets the chair but gets it booted back in his face. Taker takes the chair as X-Pac gets up right behind Rock, Taker swings, X-Pac moves and he nails Rock in the head as he turns around. Chair to the back of HHH, then he goes for X-Pac but he escapes in time. Faction retreat as Taker's music hits, and he gets back on his bike to drive them to the back into commercial. Went a bit long but it worked for what it was trying to accomplish.

We get replays of what happened before the break. Rock is backstage looking around and finds Taker's locker room, but finds Kane instead. Rock asks where Taker is but Kane gives no answer and they stare each other down. Kane tells him if he's so anxious to get his brains scrambled again, he doesn't have to find Taker, he'll do it for him. Then they start throwing blows and fight out into the hallway until referees rush in to break them up. 

WWF Tag Team Championship: Too Cool (c) vs The Godfather & Dean Malenko (WWF Light Heavyweight Champion)
Champs get distracted by the hos which allow the challengers to slide in and attack from behind. Godfather sends Scotty off the ropes but he hangs on, then sends Godfather up and over to the outside. Scotty gets Dean from behind as he works Sexay in the corner. Dean sent off the ropes into a double flapjack, he rolls out and we get a moonwalk and some dancing. Godfather comes in and nails Scotty with the Ho Train, then Sexay nails him with a side kick to the face. Double clothesline from the champs, but miss double elbows. and Godfather hits a double clothesline of his own. Scotty sent off the ropes into a back drop. Dean gets the tag, comes off the ropes, Scotty ducks a clothesline, gets his hip toss blocked, tries to counter but gets dropped with a clothesline. Dean with right hands now, then a suplex, cover and a kick out.
Scotty sent off the ropes and Dean follows him to deliver a knee to the midsection before he can even bounce off the opposite ropes. Godfather gets the tag, they send Scotty off the ropes into a double elbow, then Dean knocks Sexay off the apron. Godfather covers but Sexay interrupts the count. Godfather stomping away now, then a back suplex, cover and a kick out. Dean tags in, Scotty sent off the ropes but gets Dean with a sunset flip that's nearly botched for a kick out, only to be taken down with a clothesline. Dean with knees to the head, kick to the ring. Scotty whipped into the corner and Dean follows immediately with a clothesline, then tries for a suplex but Scotty slips behind for an inverted suplex.
Sexay gets the tag and delivers some clotheslines, Dean sent off the ropes into a back drop. Dean sent into the corner but gets a boot up, only to be caught with a powerslam, Sexay covers but Godfather breaks it up. Scotty comes in as Godfather works Sexay in the corner, Dean whipped into the adjacent one for a bulldog by Scotty, setting up for The Worm. Godfather clubs him from behind sends him out of the ring right in front of the hos, who check on him, so Godfather goes out to them. Scotty gets tossed back in and the ref deals with Godfather, as Sexay goes up top, Scotty hits Dean with a back suplex to set Sexay up for the Hip Hop Drop for the win in 4:59. Another good match.

Too Cool dance and celebrate, then we catch back up with the Faction. Shane says that everything that's happened is fantastic, saying it's like Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and Fourth of July wrapped into one with Kane, Rock and Taker at each other's throats and says it's perfect. HHH says this would be a great night to pick them apart. Roadie's up for it, and talks X-Pac into it and come up with the idea of a 6-man for night and it goes to commercial.

We get an ad where someone in a suit is reading a newspaper at a bus stop... well it's supposed to be a bus stop from the sign, but their surroundings are all orange, and a blind guy walks into said sign. The guy in the suit leads the blind guy into unseen traffic and we hear a horn go off, and the suit guy just chuckles. It's an ad for WWF.com, I don't get it. 

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit (c) vs Jeff Hardy
Lock up to start and Jeff is shoved into the corer, then gets chopped and booted repeatedly, dropping him to the mat. More rights and boots, Jeff whipped across the ring but catches himself for Whisper in the Wind. Jeff is sent up and over, then yanks Benoit down by the hair before leaping over for a split-legged moonsault, cover and a kick out. Scoop slam on Benoit, then Jeff goes up top but misses a 450 Splash. Jeff sent off the ropes into a knee to the ribs. More boots by Benoit, then Jeff off the ropes again into another knee. Jeff sent into the corner and flips upside down, before being yanked down by the hair in a tree of woe. More boots into the ribs of Jeff until the ref pulls him off and Jeff drops to the mat. Jeff dropped ribs first on the top rope then knocked down with a right and a boot.
Benoit with more boots back in the ring, Jeff sent into the corner ribs first, cover and a kick out. Jeff sent off the ropes but catches him with a head scissor take down, only to be thrown back into the corner. Benoit goes for a powerbomb and then nearly botch a roll up counter for a near fall, and Jeff gets chopped back down. Jeff sent off the ropes but slips under, then Benoit off the ropes and tries to baseball slide Jeff in the knees but he flips back into the ring and hits a spinning heel kick which sends Benoit to the outside, and he hits a tope. Back in the ring, Jeff goes up top once more and hits the Swanton, drapes an arm over but Benoit gets his foot on the rope.
Jeff tries to send Benoit off the ropes but he pulls back, then Jeff slips around for a waist lock, but then Benoit turns it into the crossface and Jeff taps immediately in 5:34. More good action.

Benoit poses with his title as Jeff pulls himself back up and Benoit offers his hand and Jeff shakes it, only to be nailed in the side of the head with the belt. Benoit leaves with his title into commercial.

The Burn of the Week is the Dudleyz putting Angle through a table on Raw. Now Kurt makes his way out along with E&C. Kurt gets a mic and wants to talk about is sportsmanship. He says when you lose, the right thing to do is offer a congratulatory handshake to the victor or vow to do better next time. What you don't do he says is put Olympic heroes through tables. He says there are thousands of children distraught and will probably fail their finals this week, after watching what the Dudley Boyz did to their Olympic hero on Monday, not to mention the former tag champions lost those titles after his good friend Christian was hit in the genitals by a midget, and he says enough's enough. He says it all boils down to the fact that the world is full of sore losers, it's true, it's true.
Christian takes the mic and says it's fitting that they're in the capital city of sore losers, he's talking Super Bowls, Stanley Cup finals, OJ, and says it doesn't get any more depressing then right there. Edge takes the mic and says that even though they're sore losers, tonight they will unveil a very special new pose. So for the benefit of those with flash photography, they call this If You Had To Hit That Field Goal You Wouldn't Be National Jokes, May Have Actually Won a Super Bowl Instead of Losing Four in a Row But You Didn't So Too Bad, for 5 seconds Only. 

Edge, Christian & Kurt Angle vs The Dudley Boyz
D-Von and Kurt start this one, with Kurt delivering a boot to the midsection right away then rights. D-Von sent off the ropes into a clothesline. Edge tags in with more rights, then D-Von with some, whips Edge into the corner but he gets his boots up, then goes to the middle rope, goes for a crossbody but D-Von clubs him down. Bubba and Christian get the tag, Bubba with rights, then back drops on Angle and a Samoan drop on Edge. Scoop slam on Angle, then D-Von up top but Christian cut him down. Edge tosses Bubba out as he and Christian go after D-Von for a stacked superplex. Christian covers but the ref is dealing with Bubba and Angle. Now he deals with Edge and Angle, Edge goes to spear Bubba but he nails Angle instead. Bubba slides in just as D-Von sends Christian off the ropes to deliver 3D for the win in 1:40.

Dudleyz pose in victory and head to the back as we get the replay. Then we see Coach standing by with Steph, outside the women's locker room, asking her about the battle royal tonight, but she chastises him for not addressing her by her full name. He apologizes and tries again, and she's all confident, but he points out that she doesn't even know who's in the match. Steph agrees and says she issued an open challenge for the battle royal, but asks who would really want to face her, a woman of such power, and force, and says she'd personally be scared, but wants to find out so they enter the locker room. We find Lita, Jacqueline and the Kat in there who are upset at Steph and Coach just walking in. Steph says the battle royal is in a couple minutes and says Kat should be dressed, who's wrapped up in a towel and she runs into the showers. Coach apologizes as they leave into commercial.

Kane is standing around in Taker's locker room still as the man himself walks in. Kane asks what he wants and Taker says he doesn't want anything from Kane except an explanation, he's heard Kane's been sitting back there watching TV all night, even while DX is kicking his ass. Kane says he enjoyed watching that, but assures him he'll cover him in the tag match later before walking off.

Now out comes Steph and Tori, who appears to be wearing a ref shirt. Steph talks to Chimmel who announces Tori as the special guest ref for this match. Steph joins commentary. 

#1 Contender's Battle Royal for the WWF Women's Championship: The Kat, Terri, Ivory, Jacqueline, Lita
Special Guest Referee: Tori
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Jacqueline and Terri come out to the same theme for some reason, and Lita comes out to Essa's music still for some reason. It's also explained that eliminations occur by both being thrown from the ring or by pinfall. 
Jacqueline and Ivory gang up on Lita, send her off the ropes into a double hip toss, then there's a fight to cover her. They shove each other, Terri scoop slams Kat, then throws her out of the ring for an elimination, then Lita tosses out Terri for an elimination. Jacqueline clubs her from behind, then sends Lita off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and clotheslines Ivory, before Jacqueline drops her with one. Forearms by Jacqueline, then tries to throw Lita out but she hangs on before clubbing her from behind. Jacqueline sent into the corner for kicks to the midsection, then whips Lita across the ring, but gets caught with a headscissor, which sends her rolling out of the ring and eliminated. Ivory with clubs to the back and a scoop slam, then to the middle rope but misses a splash. Lita with clubs to the back and a snap suplex before she goes up top for the moonsault, cover and wins in 2:44. 

Lita gets her arm raised and Ivory leaves and Lita points at Steph. Tori clubs her from behind as Steph leaves commentary. Tori with the alley-oop on Tori before Steph climbs into the ring and calls for the bell.

WWF Women's Championship: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (c) vs Lita 
Special Guest Referee: Tori
Steph covers, Tori counts, she retains in 12 seconds.

Steph poses in victory as Lita rolls out into commercial.

We get replays, then Kevin Kelly is standing by with Lita who asks how she feels, and rightfully so she says that's a stupid question. She says she's worked her whole life for this, she defeated everybody there to get her legitimate title shot to get it taken away from behind and says it's ridiculous. She says it's some big game to Steph but says it's far from over and walks off. 

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Eddie Guerrero (WWF European Champion) (w/ Chyna) vs Matt Hardy
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We get a replay of what happened between Benoit and Jeff earlier in the night.
Quick back and forth to start the match, reversing each other's holds. Matt gets a hammerlock applied and Eddie tries to roll free but he hangs on, then tries to slip behind but Matt hangs on. Eddie elbows free and hits a shoulder block, then off the ropes into an overhead throw and a tilt-a-whirl side slam. Eddie sent off the ropes in and sent up and back down. Matt goes for the Twist of Fate early but Eddie counters with a backslide for a two count. Eddie with uppercuts, Matt reverses a whip off the ropes and tries for a popup, but Eddie counters with a hurricanrana, hooks the legs, then a series of reversals and several pin attempts and kick outs, then a hangman's neckbreaker by Eddie. Eddie goes up top but Matt cuts him off and delivers a superplex. Matt takes a few seconds to roll over and make a cover but Eddie kicks out.
Matt goes for something but Eddie counters with a Northern Lights suplex, then goes up top a second time but misses a senton, then sent up and over face first into the corner. Eddie hits Matt with an elbow before going to the middle rope for another hurricanrana, hooks the leg and gets the win in 4:09. Another good match.

Eddie and Chyna leave celebrating as Matt argues a bit with the ref. Then we see Val doing push-ups in the locker room with Trish, who says she's washed her face a thousand times and it's still not clean, and asks what kind of man would put would put her face in his ass. She says she could have died in there and asks what if she got stuck. She gets more pissed that Val is saying nothing and splashes some water on him, so he gets up. She continues and says she was humiliated in front of millions of people and her family, and says Kish has to pay. Val finally speaks to make one thing clear, that the only thing they have in common is that they both want gold around his waist, so he promises to make Rikishi pay tonight, and make him realize he made the biggest mistake of his life, and all she has to do is hold up her end of the bargain. That match is next.

The WWF Rewind is Trish getting a Stinkface on Raw, before the aforementioned match.

Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus) vs Rikishi
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Val comes out with a new song this week.
Val gets on Kish right away in the corner with rights, then sends him off the ropes into a clothesline. Val off the ropes with another clothesline, cover and a kick out. Kish reverses a whip into the corner and hits a Samoan drop, then some rights of his own. Val sent into the corner for another clothes, then into the opposite corner and Kish slams ass first into him to drop him. Kish gets ready for a Stinkface but Trish gets in the ring and throws powder in his eyes and that's a DQ in 1:25.

Val with another clothesline now that Kish is blinded, then some more rights knocks Kish out of the ring. Val follows with more rights and Kish face first off the steps. Val picks them and bounces them off Kish's face. Kish is busted open and Val throws the ref into the crowd as Val sends Kish back in the ring. More rights and Kish starts fighting back and referees have rushed the ring to pull them apart. Val grabs the ring bell and nails Kish in the head, then a second time as he poses over Kish. Then he finally leaves as we get replays. Now Kish starts to follow him and starts retaliating up the ramp to the stage with rights. Val's face slammed repeatedly into the stage. He grabs hold of Trish as the ref tries to get control, then knocks Val down again, then a leg drop. Val staggers toward the side and gets side kicked off the stage to the floor, then Kish leaps off with a splash onto Val. Kish's music hits as the refs check on Val into commercial.

We see Val being stretchered out during the break, then a replay of Kish's kick and splash. Commentary talk about it and wonder if Val will be able to continue in the tournament, while they recap the qualifying matches for the week with clips. They also announce two more qualifying matches for Heat, with D-Von taking on Saturn, and Bubba taking on Boss Man.

We catch Benoit on his way out of the arena and up walks Kevin Kelly and asks him to explain his actions with Jeff earlier. Benoit asks why he has to explain himself, saying he did it because he wanted to. Then walks off.

Taker, Kane and Rock are on their way to the ring for the main event up next.

We get an ad for a Rock VHS/DVD, then the Slam of the Week is HHH interfering in the Triple Threat on Raw before the main event.

X-Pac, Road Dogg & Triple H (WWF Champion) (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, Tori, Shane McMahon, WWF Hardcore Champion Gerald Brisco & Pat Patterson) vs The Rock, Kane & The Undertaker
Kane already starts attacking DX as he enters the ring and the match starts before Rock or Taker even come out. Kane starts to lay them out and Taker soon makes his own way out to help even out the odds, but numbers quickly catch up to him too. Then Rock makes his way out and goes right after HHH, clearing the ring  in no time. HHH sent into the steps by Rock then the barricade. Taker and Road Dogg in the ring to properly start this match as Roadie goes face first into the corner, then whips him across the ring but Roadie gets a boot up, but gets nailed with a boot himself. Roadie thrown into the corner again for rapid strikes, then an elbow to the side of the head.
Taker tags in Kane who drops Roadie with right hands and X-Pac tags in, Roadie sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, then caught by the throat, then X-Pac off the top and caught by the throat as well, then HHH runs into a boot. Pac and Roadie fight free and try for a double suplex, but Kane counters with one of his own. Press slam on Pac and Rock tags himself in. Spinebuster on Roadie, then Pac, then knocks HHH off the apron. DDT on Roadie, cover and a kick out. Roadie reverses a whip and HHH pulls the rope down so Rock falls out, then he and Pac with the double team. Rock face first into the steps before being tossed back in the ring, Roadie covers for a kick out.
Roadie with a rear chinlock and Rock fights back up and out, off the ropes but HHH clubs him in the back of the head. HHH tags in now with rights and boots and stomps in the corner until he's pulled off by Hebner. Now trading rights back and forth, HHH sent off the ropes but hits a facebuster and a clothesline, cover and a shoulder up. X-Pac tags in with kicks and rights, Rock fights back with rights though, but sent off the ropes into a spinning heel kick, cover and a kick out. Roadie tags in with rights in the corner, Rock sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but turns around into some Shake Rattle and Roll. Rock blocks the last shot though and fights back with rights, Roadie sent off the ropes and pulled back into a belly to belly slam by Rock.
Rock manages a tag to Taker and HHH tags in, laid out with a clothesline then a right. HHH sent off the ropes into a big boot, then rights on Roadie and Pac. Kane comes in and sends Roadie out as Taker hits a big back drop on X-Pac. Taker goes for a Tombstone, but then HHH cuts him off, goes for the Pedigree but gets back dropped. X-Pac caught for a chokeslam as Rock takes HHH out of the ring, cover and the win in 8:44. Not how I was expecting that to go but it was a good match.

Rock heads up the ramp as Kane sends Roadie off the steps, with Rock and Kane looking across at each other, and Kane joins Rock on the ramp. HHH and the Faction attack Taker from behind and Rock and Kane rush back down. Shane has a chair ready, Rock takes and nails Kane as he aims for Shane. HHH gets knocked out of the ring by Taker, and Rock blatantly hits Taker in the face with the chair I suppose as payback for Raw. Rock's music hits as the Faction retreat pleased with the result and Rock follows with chair in hand. Rock looks down at Taker and Kane as the show fades out.

OVERALL THOUGHTS
Another solid show with very little to complain about. I mean the Women's Title is a mess, and to my memory, this thing with Steph and Lita continues on at least another two months, but I suppose we'll see what happens. Loving this main event angle between the Faction and the three contenders. King of the Ring is shaping up to be a good PPV so far. That said, with a run time of 1:33:20, there was a total 33:42 of wrestling on this show.