WWF Week of July 3, 2000

RAW

Show starts as we see HHH and Steph walking backstage. Something is clearly on HHH's mind and they finally stop so Steph can ask him what's wrong, and says she didn't have to let Jericho kiss her. Steph points out her forced her and it was the most disgusting things that's ever happened to her. He sees Foley down the hallway and he wants his shot at the WWF Title and Jericho's ass. Foley does give him a match with PPV, but will save it for the PPV, but as far as a title shot he reminds him he gave him a chance last week. He does give him a shot at the IC Title though. HHH says as far as he's concerned, Rikishi is Jericho tonight. Then they part ways.

We're live from the TD Waterhouse Center in Orlando, Florida for this episode of Raw. J.R. welcomes us to the show as always, and we find out that along with the IC Title, Taker and Kane will get a shot at the tag titles tonight, before our first match of the night.

WWF European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (c) (w/ Chyna) vs Chris Benoit

Pre-Match: How does Benoit keep getting these title shots? He's lost every match since he's lost the IC Title to Rikishi.

Quick back and forth to get things started until Eddie nearly spikes Benoit with a headscissor. Benoit pulls back on a whip to send Eddie ribs first onto the top rope. More rights and boots by Benoit, then sent off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Eddie with a suplex and a cover for two. Benoit counters a suplex with a front one onto the top rope and sends Eddie to the outside. Eddie face first off the apron before getting rolled back in, Eddie sent off the ropes into a knee to the ribs. Benoit with a boot to the head, then Eddie sent into the corner into a military press, then covers for two.

Gutbuster by Benoit, then a right drops Eddie as he tries to fight back. Eddie sent off the ropes, popped up, hits a hurricanrana into a pin for two, then a clothesline immediately by Benoit, covering for two. Eddie sent off the ropes, counters a hip toss with a roll up for two. Eddie chopped into the corner, then sent across the ring but gets Benoit with an elbow, before going to the middle rope for.... some kind of take down, it gets kind of botched. Benoit driven into the corner for rights and boots, then some chops. Eddie goes for a tornado DDT but he's shoved off and popped up face first into the top turnbuckle. Benoit grabs the title belt but Chyna slips in to take it and nail Benoit with the title. Benoit wins via DQ, but Eddie retains in 4:18. It was pretty good for how short it was.

Eddie dropkicks Benoit as he turns back around, and in the process he knocks down Chyna. Eddie checks on Chyna which allows Benoit to nail him with the title. Benoit sets his sights on Chyna and pulls her into the cross face, referee calling for more referees to pull him off and finally he releases, before leaving as his music hits with a big smile on his face. Then commercial.

Replays of what just happened as we see doctors checking on Chyna in the back. Then out comes Foley. He says he's got the greatest job in the world, as he runs down what's happened during his first week as commissioner: the Faction is splitting up, WWF stock is going through the roof, plus a new WWF Champion... well that's not his doing. He says though that sometimes he has to make decisions that he knows won't be popular, and decides to ban the Worm. Oh he's kidding. He does have an important decision to make about the #1 contender though, saying that Angle and HHH screwed up his plans last week. He gets a cheap pop and says the possibilities are wide open tonight.

Then Rock makes his way out. Mick holds out his hand, and after all the history the two of them have been through, all the Cage Matches, Ladder Matches, "I Quit" Matches, Last Man Standing Matches, Rock welcomes him back before shaking hands. Foley congratulates him on being a 5x champion, and says that puts him up with the elite list of WWF Champions, before asking how that makes him feel. Foley gets one up on Rock with the "It doesn't matter how it makes you feel," which makes Rock laugh and smile as Mick does a victory lap with a Foley chant. You gotta love it. Rock reminds Mick that he told him never to use his catchphrases again, but he wants to get down to business, and instead of wasting time deliberating, he wants Foley to just make a #1 contender.

Well of all people out comes Shane who can barely walk after damn near getting killed at the PPV. He knows we're wondering how someone who suffered knee and rib injuries at the PPV could be standing before everyone, but he says he's never been a normal man. In college, he says he was both a scholar and an athlete, graduated valedictorian of his class, and captain of both his debate and water polo teams. We get a loud "Shane's a pussy" chant as he tries to talk, as he talks about his power hungry mother, ego-maniacal father embarrassing themselves in public, plus his brother-in-law lose his title without being pinned himself, and witnessed millions of fans calling his sister a slut. Now he has to watch the balance of power slip through his fingers, and has shifted to a slob that they have to call commissioner. He's tired of it all and is taking a stand tonight and is declaring his own Independance Day, and thinks he should be the one to take the WWF into the next millennium, and decide who should be the #1 contender.

Foley says he had a hard time hearing Shane with all the people chanting, and thinks Shane wants to be #1 contender., much to Shane's protests. Foley asks if Rock heard the same as he did, and Rock agrees with Foley as Shane continues to protest. Foley admits to putting the tape of Shane's dive through the table on freeze frame and slow motion and looked carefully, and as he sailed through the air, Foley saw testicular fortitude in Shane. Another cheap pop and names Shane the #1 contender, and makes Shane vs Rock for the title tonight. Rock says that just like his own forefather George Washington, he cannot tell a lie, he's going to kick Shane's ass all over Orlando. Shane heads to the back as Rock's music hits.

Up next, Rikishi defends the IC Title.

Replay of HHH going through the table on Smackdown before we get to the match.

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Rikishi (c) vs Triple H (w/ WWF Women's Champio Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)

Steph distracts Kish with some trash talk which allows Trips to get in a cheap shot, dropping Kish down in the corner with vicious rights and boots. Kish reverses a whip across the ring and hits a back drop, then some rights. Trips sent into the corner but gets a knee up, followed by a clothesline. Rights to Kish, then sent off the ropes into a high knee, Trips covers for two. Kish face first into the corner, Trips ramming his shoulder into the ribs followed by more rights before tossing him to the outside. 

Kish fights back with rights, then HHH face first off the apron, while a "Stephanie swallows" chant breaks out. Back in the ring, Trips sent off the ropes, but catches Rikishi for a Pedigree attempt, but can't lock his fingers and gets back dropped. Kish tries to drop down onto his chest but Trips moves out of the way. Kish turned inside out with a clothesline, then a knee drop out of the corner before a cover for two by Trips. Mounted rights, then Kish reverses a whip off the ropes, only to be caught with a DDT. Kish pops right back to his feet and hits a superkick, followed by a Samoan drop, then clotheslines Trips to the floor. Rights are traded back and forht, then Kish face first off the barricade, then more rights traded until Kish rolls back in the ring. It looks like a countout win for Kish, but commentary inform us it was a double countout in 4:33. Well that was anti-climactic.

Jericho runs down and sends Trips into the steps and he rolls back in, Kish slamming his ass into Trips' back and setting him in position for the Stinkface. Steph looks on in distress as Jericho heads to the back, and Kish's music hits, smiling ear to ear. Out comes Too Cool to celebrate, then commercial.

Replay of what happened to HHH after the match. HHH charges into Foley's office, which seems to be the electrical room this week, and to appeae him, Foley agrees to put Jericho in a handicap match tonight against DX, with the provision that HHH doesn't interfere, and if he does his match with Jericho at the PPV is off. HHH agrees to his terms and leaves with Steph.

Jeff Hardy (w/ Lita) vs Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus)

Some back and forth until Jeff is dropped throat first on the top rope, but sends Val over the ropes to the floor before hitting a plancha. Jeff is whipped toward the steps but he leaps off them onto the barricade to run along it and hit a clothesline. Val launches him up and sends him face first off the steps after Jeff breaks the count, before suplexing Jeff into the ring from the apron, then covers for two. Jeff face first into the corner, then some rights by Val dropping Jeff for boots. Jeff sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then an elbow and knee drop followed by mounted rights. Val covers for two.

Val with some kind of arm submission on Jeff, Jeff counters into a roll up for two, forcing Val to break the hold. Val with a butterfly suplex, then covers again for a near fall. Jeff starts to fight back and tries to fight back an eye rake until getting kneed in the ribs. Jeff with more rights and off the ropes into a sleeper, then Val shoved off for a sleeper by Jeff, then counter with a Blue Thunder Bomb into a cover for two. Scoop slam by Val who goes to the middle rope and misses an elbow. Jeff with a springboard moonsault and a cover but Val gets his foot on the rope. 

Val sent into the corner but gets Jeff with am elbow. Jeff with an inverted Twist of Fate before he goes up top  and hits the Swanton. Trish distracts the ref and Lita takes her down, and as the ref goes out to deal with them, Tazz appears out of nowhere to put Jeff in the Tazzmission. Tazz drops Jeff as Val goes up top with the Money Shot for the win in 5:58. It was a fairly alright match.

Val leaves with Trish.

We go to WWF New York and Terri arrives, as does Rudy Giulliani.

We see DX walking backstage, their match with Jericho up next.

Patterson walks into Foley's office to try and talk Foley into calling off Shane's match later. Foley debates it but his decision is final, and he slams his gavel into Patterson's hand to make it final.

Jericho and DX come out, then Foley makes his way out, and it seems while HHH as busy trying to bully him, Foley didn't make himself entirely clear earlier. He did promise a handicap match, but it's not 2-on-1, it's 3-on-2. DX double team Jericho as his partners make their way down to the ring.

X-Pac & Road Dogg vs Chris Jericho & The Acolytes

Roadie sent off the ropes into a big boot by Bradshaw, then X-Pac tossed to the outside. X-Pac face first off the steps and Bradshaw with a right to Roadie before tossing him in the ring. X-Pac in to to a right and Jericho and X-Pac trades shots before some quick back and forth, Jericho with a spinning heel kick. Bradshaw tags in, Pac sent off the ropes into a shoulder block. Knees in the corner by Bradshaw, then whipped across the ring but gets a boot up, to the middle rope and caught midair off a crossbody. Roadie tries to make the save but gets a boot to the face, while Bradshaw hits a fallaway slam. Farooq in with body shots as Bradshaw holds up Roadie, then goes for the Dominator but Roadie slips free. Farooq drops him with a clothesline, but turns around into a heel kick from X-Pac.

Boots in the corner by Roadie, then shots by X-Pac before he tags in. Farooq face first into the corner, then reverses a whip across the ring and catches Pac with a powerslam. Jericho tags in and sends Pac off the ropes, caught with a shot to the back of the head by Roadie, who holds him up for Pac but gets knocked off the apron instead. Jericho sent off the ropes and hits a forearm, then the bulldog, covers for two. Pac sent into the corner but Jericho hits the corner, then Pac goes for the X-Factor but he's tripped up, before he gets put in the Walls. Roadie breaks it up but eats a Clothesline from Hell. Pac calls for the Bronco Buster but he turns around to eat a spinebuster by Farooq. Jericho hits the Lionsault for the win in 3:56. Bit of a mess but it was fun.

HHH tears his dressing room apart then leaves, and Jericho and the Acolytes make their exit.

Up next, the tag titles are on the line.

We see HHH storming out of the arena and into a limo along with Steph, and they leave the arena.

Edge and Christian make their way out and we see what the champs did to Kane on Smackdown with help from Tazz. Christian says that Foley has so scraped the bowels of sucktitude by making them defend their titles tonight. Since they're from Canada, and though they don't believe in Independence Day, they want to wish everyone a happy 4th of July, especially to Kane and Taker. So, for the benefit of those with flash photography, they call this new pose "Kane. We're Sorry We Bashed You in the Head with Chairs on Smackdown, and Undertaker You're a Pretty Cool Guy Too," and want this to symbolize the ending of the match.

WWF Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian (c) vs Kane & The Undertaker

Taker wastes no time going after Edge, cornering him with rights and lefts. Edge sent across the ring but gets a boot up, then sends Taker into the corner for rights. Edge with mounted rights in the corner only to be shoved off, but Taker misses an elbow drop. Edge with a swinging neckbeaker and a cover for two. Taker back up and hits a clothesline, then covers for two. Taker reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a tilt-a-whirl powerslam into a cover but Christian breaks it up. Double teaming on Taker as Christian tags in, Taker reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a big boot. Kane in with a clothesline, Christian sent into the corner into a one-handed tilt-a-whirl slam. Back drop on Edge, big boot to Christian and clothesline to Edge. Kane gets Christian by the throat but Edge cuts him off, Kane sent off the ropes and his a double clothesline. Taker tags in and goes for the chokeslam on Christian, but in comes Angle with his scepter to the back of Taker's knee for the DQ. Kane and Taker win, champs retain in 2:25. What is with all the non-finishes on this show?

Taker and Kane still deliver a chokeslam and Last Ride to the champions though after the match as Angle heads to the back, Taker's music hits. Replays after several moments of posing, and Taker rides off to the back into commercial.

XL press conference, and the  GM for the Orlando franchise is sitting front row, as we go to replays of the end of that last match. Cole is backstage with the man himself wanting answers, and Kurt says he was just helping out his friends, and if Taker's offended he didn't mean to do that and gives his deepest, most sincere apologies. Angle leaves to hide presumably.

Out comes Malenko and we see he laid out a challenge on Heat for his Light Heavyweight Title, and Jacqueline accepted the challenge. Malenko: "I was talking about manhood, not somebody from the hood." Ouch. Jacqueline put up a decent fight but tapped out to the Cloverleaf. Malenko gets a mic and says that that was probably the lowest point of his career, and wants Jackie to know that he doesn't wrestle against women, he wrestles with women. To redeem himself, he issues another open challenge for his title.

WWF Light Heavyweight Championship: Crash Holly vs Dean Malenko (c)

Malenko right away with boots, then Crash sent off the ropes into a knee to the ribs. Malenko with more boots, then rights and boots in the corner. Crash reverses a whip across the ring and delivers boots of his own, then some rights, and Malenko reverses a whip and take each other out with a neckbreaker. Crash with a sunset flip attempt but Malenko drops for a pin attempt, then Crash pushes him off for a roll up only for Malenko to roll through, attempt a Cloverleaf but Crash counters with an inside cradle for two. 

Malenko into the corner gets a boot up, then Crash with a powerslam for a near fall. Crash up top for a dropkick but his legs are caught, and Malenko goes for the Cloverleaf again but Crash grabs hold of the bottom rope. Malenko goes for a powerbomb but Crash counters with a hurricanrana into a roll up for a near fall. Malenko sent off the ropes and catches Crash off another hurricanrana attempt, powerbombs him and folds him up to retain in 2:03.

Out comes Jackie and Ivory now, Jackie and Ivory get some shots in, Dean sent off the ropes into a double team suplex. More shots until Malenko's ladies pull him out and they head to the back.

Cut to Foley who's singing in his office and in walks Brisco to try and do what Patterson couldn't do, though he tries the other way around, putting Shane over as a wounded animal and all that, and makes Foley do a spit take. 

Angle is on his way out to the ring as we go to commercial.

The WWF Rewind is Angle braking Hardcore Holly's arm on Smackdown. 

Then Angle makes his way out with crown and scepter. He has a mic and calls out to all the NBA free agents, telling them not to come to Orlando, because whether it's the arena or the fans, the place stinks, it's true, it's true. Speaking of stinks, he moves onto Holly, and says he had no intention of breaking his arm the week before, but after a few days to think on it he's glad he did. Holly disrespected him and his crown, and he will not be disrespected, Holly had it coming. This leads him to tonight and calls out to Foley, who, in all his infinite wisdom, has ruled Angle out of the #1 contender's spot, and Foley had better have a worthy, suitable opponent for him tonight, because he won't be disrespected again.

Well out comes the Brooklyn Brawler of all people, which sets Angle off because Brawler is not a worthy, suitable opponent, saying he hasn't won since the Carter administration. This brings back out Foley and he agrees with Angle, but clarifies that Brawler isn't his opponent, he's his tag partner tonight, because he'll need a lot of help against his opponents for tonight.

Kurt Angle (King of the Ring) & The Brooklyn Brawler vs The Dudley Boyz

Angle and D-Von start things off with a bit of back and forth until D-Von hits a shoulder tackle. Angle sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow and Taker's watching backstage. Angle hits a belly to belly overhead before tagging in Brawler. D-Von sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then off the ropes again and D-Von hits a forearm. Bubba tags in, Brawler sent off the ropes into a double clothesline, then Bubba off the ropes with a pair of elbows, then a third into a cover for two. Bubba drops him with a right until Brawler rakes the eyes and Angle tags himself in, right into a powerslam by Bubba and a cover for a kick out.

Bubba with chops in the corner, then Angle reverses a whip across the ring, goes for a monkey flip but he's shoved off. Angle back up with rights into the corner, Bubba sent off the ropes, misses a clothesline and Angle hits a German suplex. Brawler back in with boots to the midsection, Bubba whipped across the ring but gets a boot up and hits a clothesline, then Angle knocked off the apron. D-Von with the diving headbutt between the legs as Bubba holds them up, before they call for Angle, even pushing Brawler toward him, but Angle backs off the apron as Brawlet tries to tag. Brawler attacks from behind but he's hit with the 3D for the win, as Angle heads to the back in 3:51.

Dudleyz set up a table in the ring near the corner, Bubba to the middle rope and drives Brawler through the table with a powerbomb. Dudleyz music hits again as they celebrate into commercial.

Replay of Kurt'sz desertion in the tag match, plus the post-match table spot, onto our next match.

The Godfather vs Test (w/ Trish Stratus)

Pre-Match: We see footage from Heat of a 6-person elimination tag between T&A and Trish, and Lita and the Hardys, that left Lita alone with Test, and she eats a big boot for the loss.

Rights by Test, then GF and Test goes face first in the corner. More shots to Test and choked in the corner, before getting whipped across the ring but catches GF with  an elbow and a big boot. GF sent off the ropes into a clothesline and out coms Richards to that familiar RTC music to put censor sacks on the hos at ringside. GF with a big boot on Test and a clothesline. Back suplex by GF, then sent to the outside. GF tries to get his hands on Richards and it allows Test to hang him up on the top rope, Test up top with the elbow for the win in 1:51.

Godfather goes out to his hos to remove the sacks and Steven has disappeared.

Foley finds Shane somewhere getting ready, and Shane runs down his injuries, a hyper-extended knee, his ribs, etc. But Foley has no sympathy as he's been through a hell of a lot worse, in particular one time he got 37 stitches in his arm and still continued the match, or his ear that was ripped off and the match continued. Then he leaves into commercial.

Replay of Richards' censorship and costing Godfather his match. Kevin Kelly is backstage with Mr. Censorship himself. Richards says there's an acceptable and in-acceptable way of presenting yourself, and wearing a thong and push-up bras instead of slacks and a blouse is just unacceptable. He realizes the country was founded on freedom, but asks when it goes too far. He offers a hypothetical scenario of riding donkeys naked, shooting off illegal bottle rockets while sipping tequila. He's here to tell everyone he's not going to let that happen, and the madness stops today. Then he leaves.

Blackman is backstage and up walks Al, Blackman jumpy. Al's here to congratulate him and thinks they should go their separate ways, and Blackman couldn't agree more.Al wrote a poem though, but as he's reading it, Kaientai come running down the hallway with a referee. Blackman lays them out with a kendo stick, then the Posse try and get lad out too. Al's completely oblivious as he keeps reading until Blackman finishes up and he sees the carnage left behind. Blackman walks off much to Al's protests. OK that actually kind of made me laugh.

Back to WWF New York with Terri for something called Fleet Week.

Shane's on his way to the ring, that match next.

First though, Cole is backstage with Rock, and he asks if Rock will show Shane sympathy tonight. Rock asks if Shane showed any sympathy in all the handicap matches, all the BS matches, time after time when Rock was left laying in a pool of his own blood, but says he will show Shane sympathy, because he feels sorry for him, sorry to know that Shane will leave Orlando with Rock's boot turned sideways and shoved right up his candy ass. Then he leaves.

WWF Championship: Shane McMahon vs The Rock (c)

Pre-Match: We see the footage of Shane almost dying at the last PPV in the form of a very brief video package for some reason. Shane gets a mic and runs down his injuries again, and knows Rock wouldn't want to take advantage of that. He also claims he'd walk out champion if he were 100%. He says they shouldn't be fighting, but instead be allies. He says Vince has lost it, he's history, Linda is embroiled with power, she's gone,  Steph and HHH have blown it, but he and Rock, Rock could be champion forever. They could build the strongest force WWF has ever known. Shane holds out his hand, but Rock just drops him with a right hand instead.

Shane back on his feet and pulled into a spinebuster, set for the People's Elbow, but Benoit comes in from behind and nails him with a chair for the DQ in 11 seconds.

More chair shots to the back and boots by Benoit, then the crossface as Shane directs traffic. Shane gets some shots in, ten lays out several referees who try to put an end to this, even taking the chair to clear them out. Benoit hasn't let the hold go and Slaughter tries to get in but Benoit takes him down before reapplying the crossface. Shane with chair shots to the arm and a shot to Slaughter and Rock has passed out, and out comes Foley now. Benoit and Shane retreating. That went on a good two minutes before Foley came out, Rock writhing on the mat as referees tend to him, Shane and Benoit retreating up the ramp smiling all the way and the show fades out.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Well, got some mostly good action for most of this show, but most of it was also capped off with non-finishes. Al and Blackman had one funny segment out of a hundred. Nice ending segment to build up the WWF Title match at the PPV. Nothing really overly bad on this show. With a run time of 1:36:37, there was a total 29:06 of wrestling on this show.

Smackdown

Broadcasting from the National Car Rental Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for this episode of Smackdown as Cole welcomes us to the show before we get to the first match of the night right away. 

We see a replay of Angle costing Taker and Kane the tag titles on Raw as Kurt comes out and takes the mic from Chimmel. Though he doesn't do this often, he wants to make a few apologies tonight. First, to the fans in Fort Lauderdale, for having to live ignorant, miserable lives, by not showing the proper respect to their newly crowned King. Second, to the many old people of Florida, because he realizes they'll all die real soon and won't have the opportunity to see their Olympic hero win the WWF Title. Lastly, to Taker and Kane, for costing them the tag titles on Monday, his intentions being to help his friends E&C, and knows Taker will have more than enough integrity to forgive him, and that is true. 

Jericho's out with a mic of his own as we see HHH going through a table the week before, plus making him eat a Stinkface on Raw. Since "Kirk Angel" wants to talk about apologies, Jericho has some of his own. First to the Jerichoholics to another of Angle's boring, long-winded speeches. Second to Steph... or not, but calls her a dirty disgusting yada yada. Lastly, to HHH, for puting him through a table the week before, he really enjoyed it and hope, and hopes he picked the splinters out of his ass because he can't wait to do it again.

Kurt Angle (King of the Ring) vs Chris Jericho

Steph makes her way out just as the match starts, then we get some quick back and forth, Jericho with a missile dropkick and a cover for two. Jericho pulled back on an Irish whip and sent throat first on the top rope, then Angle with rights in the corner and a suplex, floats over to a cover for two. Trading shots not until Jericho is tossed harshly out of the ring. Jericho face first off the announce table, then back in the ring. Jericho sent off the ropes into a clothesline and a cover for a kick out. Side headlock by Angle with a leg grapevine, Jericho fights his way back up, elbows to the ribs, off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and clips the knee. Angle though back on the attack and Jericho sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a double-underhook backbreaker, before a cover for two, then a clothesline by Angle and a cover for two.

Angle with rights in the corner, then gets sent across the ring but gets a boot up, only to run into a spinning heel kick. Jericho with rights now, sent off the ropes himself, ducks a clothesline and hits a forearm. Angle reverses a whip off the ropes, tries to leapfrog but he's caught midair with a powerslam into a pin, but he kicks out. Angle sent into the corner and Jericho goes for his bulldog, Angle goes for a clothesline but misses, and Jericho hits the bulldog on the second try. Jericho covers but Steph is on the apron to distract the ref. Jericho nearly gets his hands on her, and Angle tries to get him with the scepter, only to be caught. Jericho tries for the Walls, but Steph grabs the scepter to nail a low blow while the ref's back is turned. Angle Slam for the win in 5:26. Good match to start the show.

Steph heads to the back right away as Angle celebrates and we get the replay of the low blow, before Angle leaves into commercial.

Another replay of the finish to the mat, then we catch up with Angle backstage celebrating. For some reason, Taker's bike is right beside the catering table where Kurt has found himself, and he starts making a mess of everything, getting all sorts of food and drink on the bike. Angle realizes what he's done and runs off. Commentary talk about it a bit then we go back to Angle who takes a cab and gets the hell out of there.

Foley is out now, and says he had a tremendous time on Monday for about 1h45, but then things went downhill. He takes partial responsibility, but Shane and Benoit also share some of that blame, and he's dying for either to go down and explain themselves to him.Well right on cue, out comes Benoit with a mic. Mick makes Benoit aware that Chyna spent three hours before Raw with his 6-year-old daughter, doing her hair, putting on makeup, playing with dolls, and Mick genuinely likes Chyna not because she's the 9th Wonder of the World, but because she's a good person, a funny person and his friend. Then Mick sends us to footage of what Benoit did to Chyna on Raw and Mick says Benoit makes him sick. Then he sends us to footage of what he did to Rock in the main event. He says he sees one of the best damn wrestlers he's ever seen in his life in front of him, but he doesn't see an ounce of remorse, compassion or a sense of humor. 

Benoit finally gets a chance to speak as the tells him he sucks, and Benoit says he has no remorse, compassion, and doesn't need a sense of humor, and doesn't have to explain himself to Foley or anyone. He calls himself the greatest technical wrestler in the world and the history of the WWF. The only thing on his mind is WWF gold and he'll go through anyone or anything that gets in his way, and wants Foley to put him in a title match with the man who calls himself the People's Champion, who calls himself the WWF Champion, who calls himself the Rock tonight if Foley wants to know why, and says his actions will speak louder than words. Foley agrees to think about Benoit's request.

Out come the tag champions, and Christian says they are so very proud of Benoit, and Edge says he totally reeked of awesomeness on Raw and on top of being a former IC Champion and the greatest technical wrestler ever, he is a fellow Canadian. Christian says it fills their hearts with maple leaf pride to see a fellow Canadian that kicks as much ass as Benoit, plus the Crossface rules. Christian turns to Mick to gloat about retaining their titles on Raw, and Edge says it's only fitting that Benoit be WWF Champion.

Mick likes Canada too, but points out where they are for a cheap pop, and he says the champs have opened his eyes, and realizes that the three of them need to spend a bit more time together, and can tell Rock deserves a piece of Benoit. He announces a 6-man tag match, pitting the three Canadians against Rock, Eddie and Chyna. Benoit seems rather intrigued as Foley's music hits and he leaves.

Steph is seen waiting around backstage into commercial.

More waiting by Stephanie and a limo arrives, out stepping Trips. No ones cleaned up Angle's mess from earlier, and she gloats about embarrassing Jericho earlier, but his jealousy pops up again, more so when she brings up Angle.Trips goes off to look for Foley.

The Dudley Boyz vs D'Lo Brown & Chaz

Pre-Match: So for some reason, Mosh of the Headbangers is now Chaz, and is teaming with D'Lo. Apparently they used to be a tag team before too? Cole mentions something about how they believe the fans have turned their backs on them, so that's something.

D-Von starts with D'Lo, D'Lo sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow. Bubba tags in, D'Lo sent off the ropes into a sidewalk slam, Rights in the corner by Bubba to the body, then D'Lo sent off the ropes again and caught with a back suplex. Bubba off the ropes misses a splash. Chaz tags in with rights in the corner, Bubba whipped across the ring and hits Chaw with an elbow, then a scoop slam, to the middle rope with a senton for a cover, and Chaz grabs the bottom rope for a break.

D-Von back in, Chaz reveres a whip off the ropes, leapfrogs, and feigns an injury on the landing. As the ref checks on Chaz, D'Lo trips up D-Von and crotches him into the ring post. Chaz stomping away before tossing D-Von to the outside. D'Lo lays in before tossing him back in, and Chaz with a springboard takes D-Von to the floor, then D'Lo dives over the ropes into D-Von. D'Lo with more boots and rights, D-Von sent off the ropes, counters a knee with a roll up for two. Jumping side kick by D'Lo before going up top and misses the Lo Down, D-Von covers for two.

Bubba tags in and so does Chaz, who's sent off the ropes into a back body drop. Chaz sent into the corner, then a Bubba Bomb on D'Lo. D'Von with the diving headbutt betwwen the legs of D'Lo, then Bubba calls for a table. D-Von sets it up at ringside, then Bubba goes for a powerbomb but Chaz rolls through and they take each other out with clotheslines, as do D-Von and D'Lo at ringside.

Steven Richards now makes his way out to take the table away to the back. Dudleyz go to put Chaz through the table but Bubba realizes the table's gone. D-Von sent off the ropes, D'Lo with a flapjack and Chaz with a leg drop coming off the ropes, D'Lo with a crossbody onto Bubba to the floor as Chaz covers, but D-Von kicks out. D'Lo sent off the ropes, then Bubba slides in to deliver 3D to Chaz, and D-Von covers for the win in 6:48. This was a disjointed mess to say the least.

Dudleyz are still confused about the table as we see what Richards did on the replay, then the 3D to finish the match. Kevin Kelly is right there backstage to catch up with Richards, who asks him if he has a death wish. Richards says that along with censoring vulgarity and indecent women, he'll censor actions he deems gratuitously violent, like putting people through tables, and says there's no need for a table in a wrestling match. He says he will censor it because the viewing audience doesn't know what's good for them, but he does. Then he leaves into commercial.

Foley's office tonight seems to be a storage cage backstage, and in barges HHH, wanting Jericho tonight, and points out since Steph is still a McMahon they'll make the match themselves if not. Mick says that with Vince away to play the genetic jackhammer, Linda has bestowed her authority upon him, and he makes the matches not them. HHH suggests he just beat Foley's ass to get the match, and Foley says each punch will cost him five grand, which doesn't deter him at all as he just tells Steph to get his wallet. OK that made laugh a bit. Foley says though when he gets up it won't be Trips' wallet it will be his pride, and although he wants HHH on the show, and his match with Jericho, because both are that damn good, he doesn't need HHH, and says if he throws one punch he'll make damn sure his days of main eventing are over. He says he'll book Trips in every sideshow, circus, gymnasium in the country and no one will know who he is. Foley says he'll give him Jericho on Monday, if he can win a Handicap Elimination Match tonight, and if not he has to wait until the PPV. HHH finally relents and Foley kicks them out.

Ivory & Jacqueline vs Dean Malenko (WWF Light Heavyweight Champion)

The ladies don't waste any time getting the jump on Malenko before he even steps through the ropes, Malenko sent off the ropes, only to forearm Ivory across the back and throw Jackie down to her back. Jackie is tossed to the floor and Malenko and Ivory start some chain wrestling until Dean stomps away. Ivory sent into the corner and picks her up seemingly for an Alabama Slam, or something, Ivory rolls over for a sunset flip, with help from a crossbody by Jackie for a cover for two. Ivory tossed to the floor and Jackie jumps on his back only to be tossed down. Thumb to the eye by Dean, only to be sent off the ropes and his foot is caught by Ivory, and Jackie joins her to trip him and pull him out. Double team suplex onto the floor  to Dean before tossing him back in the ring. Dean sent of the ropes, ducks a double clothesline and hits one of his own. Double DDT is countered as they trip him up and split his legs apart, then double elbows. Dean sent into the corner, Jackie whipped into him and ducks under his arm as he nails Ivory with a right, then a sidewalk slam for Jackie. Ivory sent off the ropes and sent to the apron with a back elbow. He goes to suplex her back in as Crash runs down to trip him up, Ivory lands on top, Crash holds him down as Jackie piles on and the ladies get the win in 2:49.

Dean starts beating on Crash before the ladies nail him with his belt, then lays it on him before leaving.

Val and Trish are seen walking backstage, he goes for the IC Title next.

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Rikishi (c) vs Val Venis (w/ Trish Stratus)

Rikishi immediately with right hands on Val, then Val whipped hard into the corner before tossing him to the floor. Val back first into the steps and Kish tries to use a chair but the ref takes it away, then they return to the ring.Val catches him with a DDT before he goes up top, only to be crotched and tossed back to the mat. Kish with a scoop slam and a leg drop for a pin and two.Val sent toward the corner and inadvertently sandwiches the referee, before walking into a Samoan drop, Kish covers but the ref is out. She calls down for T&A and Kish tries to hold them off but he's quickly taken out by Albert, before Test hits his top rope elbow. Val crawls over for the cover but Kish powers out, in the process throwing Val on top of the referee. Too Cool come out to neutralize T&A as Val is sent off the ropes, tries for a sunset flip but Kish drops onto his chest, but the ref is out again. Val slammed in the corner as Taz comes in and grabs a camera from the cameraman, smashing it over Rikishi's head. Val hits the Money Shot to win the title in 4:27. Well that was certainly a bit overbooked.

Val is helped out of the ring by Trish, as Kish starts to move before the replays. We even get a shot from the camera's view though we don't really see anything. Then commercial.

More replays, and wee Val and T&A celebrating with champagne in the locker room.

WWF Hardcore Championship: Big Boss Man vs Steve Blackman (c)

Boss Man meets him on the ramp with nightstick shots, only to be clipped in the back of the knee. Boss Man tries to use a kendo stick that Blackman brought but it's caught and snapped in half. He grabs another stick from his bag and Boss Man quickly rolls out, using a fire extinguisher to blind Blackman. Boss Man covers for two. Boss Man with a trash can lid to the head,only to get it kicked back in his face on the second try. Boss Man sent off the ropes and gets the lid to the ribs, then the back of his head as he drops to his knees, then Blackman covers for two. Low blow by Boss Man with Blackman's stick, then the back of the head before jabbing it into his throat. Boss Man grabs a trash can but misses a shot, before being sent face first into it, then swung up into his face before a cover for two by Blackman. Boss Man gets a can shot in, then another sends Blackman to the floor. Boss Man uses the can to drive Blackman over the barricade into the floor before he grabs his nightstick. Al Snow appears out of nowhere in the crowd to nail Boss Man in the head with some kind of box or case. Kendo stick to the head of Boss Man and Blackman retains in 3:41.

Replays and Blackman heads to the back.

Taker is led over to his bike and one of the guys from catering stooges Kurt. Then commercial.

Kane & The Undertaker vs T&A (w/ Trish Stratus)

Trading shots between the four to start until Taker corners Test, then whips him across the ring for a clothesline, then an elbow drop and a cover for one. Test sent off the ropes and hits a clothesline and covers for two. Taker reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a sidewalk slam, then covers but Albert breaks it up. Taker knocks him to the floor but walks right into a big boot by Test who covers for a near fall. Taker and Test trade shots until Taker's sent off the ropes and hits a DDT into a cover and a kick out.

Kane tags in as does Albert, Kane with rights, Albert reverses a whip off the ropes but gets caught with right, Kane off the ropes into a bicycle kick by Albert. Suplex by Albert and a cover for two. Kane cornered for shoulders to the ribs and rights, then whipped across the ring and Kane with a clothesline of his own. Albert reverses a whip off the ropes and Test pulls down the top rope, only for Kane to land on his feet and knock him on his ass. Albert with a handful of hair pulls Kane to the apron. but gets hung up on the top rope. Kane goes up top  but he's crotched by Test before he can jump. Albert with a splash in the corner and a big boot by Test, but Taker takes him to the floor.

Albert with rights on Kane, then Kane with some, Albert sent into the corner for a clothesline, then into the corner chest first and a back suplex by Kane. Albert sent off the ropes into double big boot with Taker, and Kane gets the chokeslam for the win in 4:30. Not a bad match.

Taker with a Last Ride for Test, then they set their eyes on Trish. Kane gets her by the throat and goes for a chokeslam, but Val runs in and nails him in the back of the head with the IC Title. He and T&A escape to the back into commercial.

Handicap Elimination Match: Triple H (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon) vs Kai En Tai & The Brooklyn Brawler

All three enter the ring at once to try and surround Trips and corner him for triple teaming. Trips sends Funaki off the ropes but he's caught with a headscissor, and Brawler hits a swinging neckbreaker into a cover for two. Taka with a missile dropkick from the top rope, then covers for two. Trips sent off the ropes but he takes out Kaientai before getting clotheslined out by Brawler. Taka goes for a springboard moonsault onto HHH but ends up taking out Funaki instead. Brawler with chops back in the ring, HHH sent off the ropes and hits a facebuster, then covers but Taka breaks it up with a dropkick to the face. Taka gets some shots in before getting tossed to the floor, then walks into boots from Funaki in the corner. He goes for a tornado DDT but gets shoved off and hit with a Pedigree, and Funaki's out. Taka misses a crossbody and gets a Pedigree of his own, and Taka's out. Brawler gets his shots in, then HHH gets his in in the corner. HHH has to be pulled off by Hebner, and Hebner's shoved down. HHH goes for the Pedigree and out runs Jericho with the bulldog and the Lionsault, Brawler covers and gets the win in 3:22. 

HHH attacks his opponents as they celebrate, tossing them out of the ring one by one.Brawlet goes face first into the ring post, then Funaki off the announce table, and Taker into the ring steps. Funaki thrown over the announce table. Brawler's tossed back in the ring and he's been busted open, HHH opening him up with vicious shots to the head. Pedigree to Brawler before he and Steph leaves.

Cut to Jericho in the parking garage and he calls for someone to open the gate. He's seen by HHH on the Ovaltron talking to the McMahon limo driver as Jericho tells him Trips is in no mood to party tonight, but he's in a great mood and convinces the driver that Trips has given him the limo for the night. HHH and Steph try to run to the back and catch them in time but they're too late. Then commercial.

Replay of costing Trips his match and Jericho taking the limo. Then we go to footage again of Benoit's attacks on Raw.

Then to Kevin Kelly who's with Eddie and Chyna, and asks if they're mentally prepared to face Benoit tonight. Eddie tells him not to take anything away from Chyna, because everyone knows she can hold her own, but there's a certain line you don't cross. He says that Benoit not only crossed the line, he jumped over it. Eddie says his friendship with Benoit is over, and the war has just begun. Chyna wonders if Benoit if ready to face them tonight, and remembers a time when the guys didn't take her so seriously, and ended up with an ice pack down their shorts, and if Benoit thinks things will go down like they did on Raw, he's dead wrong, because she's got an ice pack with his name written all over it. Then she implies Benoit has a tiny dick before she and Eddie leave.

Over to Coach who's with Rock now. Rock says he's finally come back home, then says while Benoit thought he stepped up to the plate, into the big leagues on Monday, he has no idea of the world he stepped into. He says when, not if, he gets a hold of Benoit tonight, he's not going to put him in an armbar, a candy bar, a monkey bar, a topless bar, or any bar, and while he claims to be the greatest technical wrestler in history, he says Benoit technically can get the job done, and technically his Crossface hurts like hell, but after it's all said and done tonight, technically Rock is just going to whup his candy ass all over Ft. Lauderdale. Then commercial.

Chris Benoit, Edge & Christian (WWF Tag Team Champions) vs Eddie Guerrero (WWF European Champion), Chyna & The Rock (WWF Champion)

Eddie starts and he's attacked from behind by Edge as he sets his eyes on Benoit on the apron. Backbreaker by Edge, then Eddie sent off the ropes but delivers a headscissor. Eddie goes for a suplex but he's clothelined by Benoit. Rock tries to get in which allows double teaming by Benoit and Edge. Eddie sent into the corner and Benoit goes for a military press, Eddie with a sunset flip, Benoit rolls through but gets caught with a dropkick. Benoit reverses a whip off the ropes and hits a back elbow, then a back breaker for a cover for two.Christian tags in, then Eddie with rights, only to be hit with an inverted DDT. Eddie sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline but caught with a powerslam and a cover for a kick out. Edge back in as Eddie tries to tag out but Edge holds him off and delivers a suplex, then covers for two. Benoit back in with a back suplex, then boots in the corner. Eddie tries to turn it around but he's chopped, Benoit sent into the corner but gets boots to the face, then Benoit covers for two. Eddie sent off the ropes, popped up but hits a hurricanrana. Rock and Christian tag in, rights to he and Edge, Samoan drop on Edge and a spinebuster on Christian. Rock calls for the People's Elbow but Chyna wants in. Rock knows Edge and Benoit off the apron before tagging in Chyna and delivers a clothesline to Edge, then a powerbomb to Christian and folds him up for the win in 4:34. Damn that was fun.

Rock keeps his eyes on Benoit and they talk some trash a bit, but then comes in Shane from behind. Rock chases after Shane, and the champs attack Eddie and Chyna from behind. Benoit puts Chyna into the crossface again and Rock chases Shane back to the ring, and he knocks Christian out of the ring, and a Rock Bottom on Edge, but Benoit releases Chyna and gets out of there before Rock can get his hands on him. Stare down to end the show as Rock's music hits.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

Well we got some pretty good action for the most part, some not so good, and a couple that weren't given much time. This HHH/Jericho feud is moving along nicely, we got a good main event, and things are heating up with Rock and Benoit toward the PPV. With a run time of 1:31:40, this show had a total 35:37 of wrestling.