WWF Unforgiven 2000
Our opening video package calls it a day of reckoning, recapping the two big matches of the night, being the lover's triangle and the WWF Title match, not to mention Austin's big return after 10 months away.
Live from the First Union Center in Philly for the 2000 edition of Unforgiven, welcomed by JR and the King as always. Kevin Kelly is seen awaiting the arrival of Stone Cold in the parking lot.
Dudley Boyz & Acolytes vs Right to Censor
Pre-Match: Richards cuts off Finkel to cut a promo. He says their actions tonight will speak louder than words so he's keeping this short. They're in his home town to fight the good fight and says they'll overcome the disgusting teams in the ring for our own good.
Goodfather and D-Von start the match off. Goodfather with a cheap shot to take early control, sending D-Von off the ropes, they each block a hip toss and Goodfather hits a clothesline, only to then miss an elbow coming off the ropes. Goodfather sent off the ropes into a spinning back elbow, then Bubba tags in. Rights in the corner from Bubba, then sent across the ring and avoids... whatever the Ho Train is called now, does that have an official rename? Anyways Bubba follows with a back suplex for two.
Bubba sent off the ropes into a back drop and Bull tags in with a clothesline before taking Bubba to the corner for rights and lefts. Bubba sent across the ring, gets a boot up and hits a clothesline. Bradshaw tags in, sent off the ropes, avoids a back drop and clubs him down, before hitting a spinning neckbreaker. Bull taken to the corner for rights, sent across the ring, only to leap off the middle rope with a clothesline. Val tags in, Bradshaw sent off the ropes into a back elbow and an elbow drop. Val flips off everyone on the apron as Bradshaw pops up immediately to deliver chops and rights. al whipped hard into the corner, then sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, tries a crossbody but gets caught with a fallaway slam.
Farooq tags in, Val sent off the ropes into a back elbow, then D-Von tags back in, sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a shoulder block. D-Von sent off the ropes kicked in the back by Richards, and hit with a Blue Thunder Bomb from Val. Goodfather back in with a back suplex for two. Val back in with a scoop slam, then misses an elbow drop out of the corner.
Bubba gets the hot tag, comes in with a clothesline and a back drop, followed by the Bubba Bomb. Sidewalk slam for Goodfather and a DDT for Bull. Bubba tries the Bubba Bomb on Richards but Val saves him. Bubba counters an Irish whip with a powerslam, covers and Goodfather saves it. Now everyone but Bubba and Val leave the ring, Bubba nnd D-Von deliver a Doomsday Device on Val, Bubba covers but Goodfather saves the match. Bubba sends Goodfather to the floor, Steven sneaks in with a superkick, Val covers for the win. (6:05) I was kinda enjoying that one but that finish was anticlimactic.
RTC continue the attack after the match until the Acolytes return to the ring to even things out. Dudleyz hit the What's Up on Richards, then Bubba calls for the tables. Bubba goes for a powerbomb through a table but the rest of RTC make the save. Bradshaw spinebusters Val, then there's a 4-on-1 on Steven. Acolytes get him with a double spinebuster, then Bradshaw nails him in the back with a nasty soccer kick. And finally Bubba gets to powerbomb Richards through the table from the middle rope.
Cut to Hunter and Steph who have been watching the show so far. She has a funny feeling about tonight and is concerned about his ribs. He says his ribs are fine and wants her to understand that everything is coming to an end tonight, he's going to do what he does best. He says whether Foley likes it or not he's going to destroy Angle and leave him laying a pile in the ring. He needs to know if she's fine with that, assuming she intends to be out there for the match. She says she's his wife and is behind him and apologizes for defending Kurt, admits she was wrong that Kurt was just her friend.
Kevin Kelly is still waiting.
Strap Match: Jerry "the King" Lawler vs Tazz
Pre-Match: Finkel explains that while they can win by touching all four corners, this match can also be won by pin or submission. Last time WWF had a strap match was Rock vs Hunter at last year's Fully Loaded.
Once Lawler has the strap on, Tazz immediately yanks him forward tot he mat and lays some boots in, then a right with the strap around his fist. Exploder suplex by Tazz before tossing Lawler to the floor. Tazz choking Lawler with the strap and taunts JR, paranoid that JR might smash something over his head again like he did at Summerslam. Tazz eventually gets Lawler go to jawjack with JR allowing Lawler to choke him. Tazz whipped across the back three times before returning to the ring. More choking by Lawler until Tazz nails a low blow.
Now Tazz starts whipping him before taking him to the corner for boots and a snapmare. More whips across the back and more choking by Tazz. Lawler mounts a comeback with lefts, then hits the piledriver. Tazz is back up immediately, Lawler hits another piledriver and Tazz is back up again for a third piledriver and he's up again, only to flop to the mat.
Lawler starts going for the turnbuckles but Tazz stops him after the third. Lawler tries to hang Tazz over his back and in the struggle the ref gets bumped. Lawler tries to get to the fourth corner not realizing the ref is down and suddenly Raven is here to a big pop. Evenflow DDT connects, Tazz gets the Tazzmission applied, ref comes to and Lawler is counted out for the win. (5:08) Yeah this wasn't great. Even the crowd couldn't care less after the first few whips with the strap. They didn't even pop when Tazz won.
Tazz refuses to release the hold, referees have to run out to pull him off. Lawler is eventually helped to the back.
Blackman is playing with some martial arts sticks.
Kelly is still waiting for Austin and Austin finally arrives. Kelly is all excited and asks how Austin feels, but he says he's not here to answer questions. He says he's here to ask the questions before throwing Kelly into a metal shutter and throwing some random pipes down onto him.
Michael Cole joins JR on commentary. Then for some reason we get a full replay of that last segment.
Hardcore Open Invitational for the WWF Hardcore Championship: Al Snow (WWF European Champion) vs Crash Holly vs Test (w/ Trish Stratus) vs Perry Saturn (w/ Terri) vs Funaki vs Steve Blackman (c)
Pre-Match: The rules of this match are much like that of the Hardcore Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 2000, or the Championship Scramble if you remember that. It has a 10 minute time limit, you become the interim champion by pinning the champion anywhere, whoever has the title after the 10 minutes expires is officially the Hardcore Champion. Al tonight is representing Italy. I think he's dressed like a mobster? And of course he's carrying a pizza box, even hands commentary a picture of Tony Danza. I forgot Blackman was from Pennsylvania, from Annville.
Crash tries to fight Blackman in the aisle only to eat a side kick. Blackman grabs the trash lid he was holding and nails Perry in the head mid-suicide dive. Test press slams Funaki from the ring onto Blackman on the floor. Test takes Blackman to the ring but takes a side kick and some rights. Test counters an Irish whip with a gutwrench powerbomb, covers but Al saves with a lid shot to the back of the head. JR mentions that Foley has put a pause ont he 24/7 rule for 24 hours from when the match ends, so whoever ends is safe until Raw the next night. Al covers, Crash breaks it by hitting him in the back of the head with a street sign. Crash covers Blackman and Saturn breaks it up.
Saturn with a flapjack on Crash, then a Northern Lights suplex on Blackman and Funaki breaks it up with a lid shot to the ribs. Blackman nails Funaki in the head with the lid before tossing him tot he floor, and Crash follows, we're only about 2 minutes into the match at this point. Crash is dropped ribs first on the barricade. Test with a clothesline to Al in the ring, then a superkick from Saturn to Test. Al goes to use Head but Terri grabs it from the apron. Trish for some reason gets on the apron as Terri tosses Head to Test, who swings for Al but nails Trish instead. Then Test grabs Head, swings for Saturn and hits Terri. Al has Head, ducks a big boot from Test who nails Saturn, who then walks into Head being swung by Al.
Blackman returns to the ring, sends Al off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, nails Blackman in the groin with Head as Crash goes up top. Crash is supposed to hit a hurricanrana on Al but he falls over and they fuck it up. Funaki up top hits a crossbody on Blackman for two. Crash and Funaki send Al to the floor with a double clothesline. Test misses a big boot and crotches himself on the top rope and Blackman gets whipped into him to knock him to the floor. Crash and Funaki send Blackman to the floor with a double dropkick.
Crash and Funaki high five in the ring but then Funaki nails a kick to the gut and a right before tossing Crash to the floor. Al pulls Funaki to the floor. Saturn comes off the top with a moonsault onto Crash and Al. Blackman and Test fight, Saturn and Funaki fight up the aisle. OK this timer is definitely gimmicked because we're somehow only at 7 minutes left, there's for sure been more than a minute of action since the last update.
Terri slaps Funaki. Test chokes Blackman against the barricade. Al jams a chair into Crash's ribs. Test is whipped into the barricade. Blackman grabs a trash can only for Test to appear out of nowhere and big boots it into his face. Crash nails Test repeatedly in the head with a trash lid from the ring, Crash covers Blackman to win the title. Crash runs off to the back, it looks like he thinks he's won, there's still 6 minutes left on the clock. Saturn and Funaki has fought to the back and as Crash is celebrating, Saturn returns, nails him with a trash can and covers to win the title.
Funaki tries to attack but gets kicked in the gut. Saturn hands the title to Terri to hold allowing Al to nail him in the head with a trash lid, running down the aisle, Al covers but it's only two. Blackman nails Al in the head with a trash lid now, as does Funaki. Blackman and Saturn fight over by the barricade. Al with a lid to the head of Test, Crash with a can to the head of Al. Blackman with a can to the head of Funaki, then Funaki slammed face first into it with 5 minutes left on the clock. Blackman with a can to the head of Test.
Saturn whips Blackman into the barricade and he double teams with Blackman. Everyone starts fighting through the crowd with 4 minutes left. Blackman and Saturn seem to be focused on each other, Al chokes Funaki. There's just a lot of walk and brawling between everyone, now we're at 3 minutes left. Everyone eventually returns to ringside, Saturn grabs a kendo stick. Blackman nails Al in the head with a trach an before joining Saturn in the ring with his escrima sticks. Test drops Crash on the barricade and Al nails Test in the head with his pizza box.
Blackman wails on Saturn with his sticks, then Al runs in to get wailed. Back suplex on Saturn from Blackman assisted by his sticks. Kendo stick to the head of Saturn, then the ribs and head of Al, then the ribs and Head of Crash, then the ribs and knees of Funaki, then the ribs and back of Test, 1:15 left on the clock. Another kendo stick shot to the head of Saturn, Blackman covers to win back the title with 1:01 left. Blackman leaves the ring with his title, everyone goes after Blackman to try and beat him for the title, it's 5-on-1, but no one covers him and eventually, time runs out and Blackman is officially the Hardcore Champion. I guess I was wrong, because this did go just over 10 minutes, the timer wasn't gimmicked. This was really fun until we got to the crowd brawling, and it just kinda got dull. But this continued push of Blackman as Hardcore Champion is oddly one of the best things they're doing right now.
Everyone just giving up on Blackman at least makes sense when we know Foley's put a pause on the 24/7 rule.
Angle is showing off his medals to Tony Garia and... some other guy backstage. Angle walks away and bumps into Austin. There's a long pause before Angle offers a handshake, saying it's an honor to meet him. Then Angle proceeds to explain the Olympics to him and compares it to Austin's comeback. He says it's too late for Austin to win a gold medal but offers him an honorary one. Angle puts it around his head and Austin even lowers it so he can. Angle mentions how Austin's isn't as big as his, but Austin also didn't earn it so it's only fair. Austin the whole time is straight faced, but eventually thanks Kurt and he'll store it up Kurt's ass before laying him out with some rights and some stomps, until Garia and officials take him away.
X-Pac vs Chris Jericho
X-Pac immediately retreats to the floor as Jericho rushes the ring, eventually returning to the ring after wasting some time. Then a shoving match on a lockup, followed some quick exchanges. ending with chops from Jericho. X-Pac sent to the corner, ducks a clothesline but eats some rights and more chops. X-Pac sent across the ring, avoids a splash and delivers a series of kicks, setting Jericho up for the Bronco Buster. Jericho pops up and hits a clothesline before he can connect, then gets sent off the ropes to hit a spinning heel kick. X-Pac retreats to the apron, Jericho goes for his triangle moonsault only to be shoved off the top into the barricade.
Somersault plancha by X-Pac connects on the floor before he throws Jericho over the announce table, then whips him into the timekeeper before returning to the ring. Jericho tries to return to the ring but eats a baseball slide. X-Pac is trying to win by countout but Jericho returns tot he ring eventually, tries to mount a comeback only to be sent off the ropes into a spinning heel kick for two. Then a chinlock. Jericho fights ou, then sends X-Pac to the corner, tries the bulldog but X-Pac jumps on his back with a sleeper. Jericho fights out again, sends X-Pac off the ropes into a sleeper, countering with a back suplex for a near fall.
Jericho choked in the corner multiple times, setting Jericho up for the Bronco Buster again, this time it connects. X-Pac celebrates prematurely allowing Jericho to plant him with a powerbomb. Jericho avoids a kick and hits a clothesline, then gets sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and hits a forearm for two. X-Pac taken to the corner to be stomped down, setting him up for Jericho to hit the Bronco Buster. X-Pac sent to the other corner and Jericho runs shoulder first into the ring post.
X-Pac leaves the ring and grabs nunchucks from under the ring. Jericho avoids a shot, rolls X-Pac up for two and the ref gets rid of the nunchucks. Jericho sent to the corner, floats, gets the go-behind, X-Pac nails a low blow out of the ref's view and hits an X-Factor but Jericho kicks out at 2.99. Jericho sent off the ropes, X-Pac tries a hurricanrana but Jericho counters into the Walls, only for X-Pac to retreat to the ropes. Jericho pulls him back to the center but is forced to break before the 5 count.
Jericho argues with the ref allowing X-Pac to hit a spin kick, makes the cover but it's another two count. Jericho sent off the ropes, hooks the ropes, hits a bulldog, tries the Lionsault but X-Pac gets the knees up. X-Pac to the middle rope, tries for maybe an X-Factor but gets caught in the Walls again for an immediate tap out. (9:06) Excellent match.
Jericho refuses to release the hold, eventually X-Pac escapes just before the referees come out to save him. Then X-Pac nails him in the back of the head with the nunchucks, then some more shots to the ribs.
Foley is in his office, which tonight appears to be... maybe the security office for the building? Anyways Angle is here to complain about Austin kicking his ass. He says he's not 100% after that but will still compete, saying he competed in the Olympics with a head cold and IBS. Foley doesn't care if he has diarrhea, diarrhea of the mouth or if Austin kicked his ass, he just wants to see him and Hunter tear each other apart, and after what Angle did on Smackdown he's making it a No DQ match.
Rock is getting ready and in walks Austin, who is oddly polite enough to knock first. There's a long stare down, they shake hands and Rock welcomes him back. Austin reminds him why he's here, and that it was Rock's rental car that ran him over, he figures Rock must know of anyone snooping in his locker room who could have grabbed his keys. Rock says it could have been anyone seeing as people are in and out. They're interrupted by Just Joe and says he heard stuff in the locker room that Austin might be interested in. Austin also heard something, that Joe is a sorry SOB and proceeds to beat the crap out of him and throw him out. Then takes his leave.
Steel Cage Match for the WWF Tag Team Championships: Hardy Boyz vs Edge & Christian (c)
Pre-Match: Win by pin or both members of a team escaping the cage.
Christian tries to send Jeff into the cage, as does Edge to Matt, Christian with an inverted DDT on Jeff and a cover for two, as Matt tries to send Edge into the cage. DDT by Matt on Edge while Christian lays into Jeff with rights until Matt saves. Christian sent off the roeps into elbows and a senton leg drop combo for two. Edge tripped up for Matt to leg drop from the middle rope. Christian hoisted up onto the shoulders of the Hardyz to get thrown into the cage, set up on top of the ropes for Poetry in Motion while pinned against the cage.
Hardyz attempt to escape but the champs are quick to cut them off. Christian is thrown to the mat, Edge knocks down Matt while Jeff makes it to the top. Jeff attempt to jump off onto Christian but Edge shoves him down onto the cage top, eventually hefalls off the side, tries to hang on but drops to the floor. Edge realizes they have Matt by himself now who crotches Edge on the top rope. Matt lays into Christian with rights before sending him into the cage. Twist of Fate and a cover is broken up by Edge.
Commentary don't seem to have a clue whether or not Jeff is allowed to re-enter the cage, but Jeff isn't trying to anyways. Christian is trying to escape but gets crotched by Matt for some reason. Edge gets catapulted into the back of Christian, Matt tries a rollup but gets two. Christian is trapped in a tree of woe while Edge is tied up in the ropes. Matt tries to escape and gets to the top, but Edge frees himself. He and Christian get on the top rope and superplex Matt. For some reason we get a standing 10-count while all three are down, Edge rolls over and gets an arm draped for two.
Matt is thrown into the cage face first like a lawn dart, Jeff finally tries to climb into the cage but gets booted off by Edge. Matt is thrown into the cage into Jeff as he tries to get in again. Matt sent off the ropes and double flapjacked face first into the cage. Jeff manages to climb up to the top but gets dropped with rights from Christian. Jeff throws the outside reg into the cage and takes his key, even grabs a chair that was sitting there for some reason. Jeff gets the door open and the chair in the ring but Christian closes the door into his face while Edge grabs the chair.
Christian leaves the ring to grab a second chair while Edge lays into Matt with rights. Matt got busted open at some point. Christian padlocks the door again with the lock inside the cage as Matt is sent into the cage again. Edge also makes sure to drop the key into his pants. Matt is stuck between the ropes and the cage allowing the champs to do Poetry in Motion, then gets his face ground into the cage. Champs grab the chairs and Matt avoids a Conchairto, before coming off the ropes with a double clothesline.
Matt tries to escape after everyone is down a while, Matt makes it to the top but the champs are there to stop him. Christian joins Matt on the outside of the wall, Edge is fighting from inside. Jeff pulls out a ladder and throws it into Christian's back, knocking him to the floor. Matt is pulled back into the cage by Edge while Jeff sets the ladder up, and Edge hits a bulldog from the top rope. Jeff slowly climbs the ladder, Edge tries to knock him off but Jeff is too far from the cage. Jeff manages to climb to the top and Edge tries to stop him, only for Matt to take him down with a back suplex. Jeff hits Whisper in the Wind on both Edge and Matt from the top of the cage.
While we get a replay of that Lita's run out as Christian is climbing the ladder, she nails a low blow, climbs the cage so she can deliver a hurricanrana to the floor. Edge grabs a chair and throws it into Jeff's face. Edge slowly starts to climb out now and makes it up top. Hardyz join him with the chairs in tow to nail Edge with a Conchairto, knocking him back to the mat. Hardyz drop to the floor to win the titles. (13:34) Excellent fucking match here.
Steph is by herself and in walks Austin, but he's not here for her, he wants Hunter. Apparently he's gone to talk to Foley but she says it's great to see him and looks fantastic. She even has a gift for him, it's the hat he was wearing the night he was run over. She says she was praying for him and was scared to death, and had the hat hoping he'd come back one day. Austin mocks her and reminds him that Shane apparently knows who did it and doesn't understand why he's wasting his time questioning everyone. She also reminds him she, Vince, Hunter and Shane are innocent. He says she can be sure of three things: death, taxes, and you don't trust anyone.
Back to Foley and Hunter's here in his gear and ribs taped up. Hunter says they never got along or have seen eye to eye, Foley reminisces about the wars they had, Hunter reminds him Foley lost most of those, but admits lately they've gotten along. He says tonight is all business and will do to Angle what he's done to Foley, he vows to destroy him, wants to retire him. He knows he and Foley hate each other and needs to know Foley will call it down the middle. Foley says he intended to get in the middle of things but now that he's made it No DQ he doesn't give a crap, his only job now is to call it down the middle, and maybe one day he and Hunter can laugh about it.
Lawler returns to commentary and Cole takes his leave.
Video package recapping Eddie and Chyna's relationship problems, not to mentioon how he's attacked Too Coola nnd Rikishi in recent weeks which is how we've gotten to tonight.
Eddie starts right rights until he's sent off the ropes into a clothesline, then gets tossed out to the floor. Eddie thrown into the steps then back into the ring. Eddie sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline, tries a sunset flip then misses an ass drop. Eddie decides to leave with Chyna but she's having none of it. She even shoves him back down the aisle to keep him from leaving, and then throws him back into the ring.
Eddie sent off the ropes into a back drop, then sent into the corner back and forth into a clothesline. Eddie drops into position for the Stinkface but Chyna pulls him out of the ring for the save. Chyna gets shoved into her, then Eddie goes to the top while Rikishi argues with her for a crossbody. Rikishi thrown into the steps before returning to the ring, Eddie goes up top and misses the frog splash after taking forever. Eddie crushed in the corner with Kish's ass, Eddie avoids a slam, tries an Irish whip only to be whipped into the ropes for a... I think a popup cutter? But I feel like Rikishi was going for a Samoan drop and they screwed it up, I don't know. Then he hits the Samoan drop.
Eddie pulled toward the corner to set up for the Banzai Drop which connects. Chyna comes in, interrupts the count and pleads with the ref, then just leaves. Rikishi leaves the ring to argue with her, even throwing her into the ring. She gets in his face and gets shoved down, and immediately eats a side kick... for the DQ? (6:05) It was an OK match but that finish made no sense, why did Rikishi get DQ'd for hitting someone not in the match? Chyna never made contact with him once.
Rikishi has had enough and drags her to the corner and crushes her with the Banzai Drop, telling her to kiss his ass. Eddie comes to once Rikishi leaves, grabs his title and checks on Chyna, helping her up and out to the back.
Taker is backstage with the Coach who asks how the rules of a Fatal Four-Way will affect his performance. Taker says Rock, Kane and Benoit are taking a ride tonight, one they're not going to like. He says he's set them up for humbling and himself to be champion. He says they forgot that the ring is his yard, he's the big dog that runs it, and they better hope tonight isn't their last ride.
Angle is talking to himself looking about ready to cry, he's upset about how his night's going. Trish comes in and offers herself up in case he needs someone to talk to as a friend. For some reason this gives Angle an idea and he sprints out.
Video package recapping the love triangle.
Special Guest Referee: Commissioner Foley
Pre-Match: Angle gets a mic and tells us tonight is Steph's birthday. He tries to lead the crowd in a sing-along but they aren't having it. Is that the idea he had?
Right away Angle nails Hunter in the ribs as they go in for the lockup. Then another shot to the ribs and another, taking Hunter to the corner. Angle pulled back on an Irish whip for rights, then sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Angle sent off the ropes, avoids a bac drop but gets back dropped out to the floor. Angle face first off the announce table, then thrown into the timekeeper's area taking out Fink, then face first off the steps.
Hunter takes apart the Spanish table allowing Angle to fight back with rights. Angle comes back with some of his own before getting sent into the guard rail, then Hunter is sent into it and into a clothesline. Back in the ring, Angle misses a clothesline and hunter takes him down for more rights. Angle taken to the corner for boots before he sends Hunter across the ring, gets the boot up, comes off the middle rope and caught with a belly to belly. Angle lays in some boots and more rights in the corner. Hunter tries to fight out but eats more rights, then sends him off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and a DDT by Hunter gets two.
Hunter argues with Foley, Angle shoves Hunter and Foley gets bumped in the corner, allowing Angle to follow with a German for two. Now Angle's arguing with Foley and they shove each other. Hunter comes back with rights, then Angle counters an Irish whip with a back suplex for two. Vertical suplex by Angle gets two. More rib shots by Angle in the corner, Hunter fights his way out, then sends Angle across the ring, misses a clothesline, they screw up timing but Hunter eventually hits a swinging neckbreaker.
Angle sent off the ropes, ducks a clothesline and runs into a high knee. Vertical suplex and a knee drop out of the corner from Hunter gets two. Hunter and Angle exchange Irish whip counters and eventually Hunter gets sent to the corner and flips over to the floor. Hunter face first off the announce table. then sends Angle into the steps. Hunter takes apart the other announce table now before suplexing Angle on the floor. Angle off the announce table now and a chair across his back. Hunter takes him on top of the table, we're reminded that Angle got a concussion like this as Hunter goes for the Pedigree. Angle escapes with a low blow and puts Hunter through the Spanish table with a belly to belly.
Back in the ring, Angle drives his shoulder into the ribs in the corner, then sends Hunter hard across the ring. Angle follows with elbows to the ribs, before sending him out of the ring with a baseball slide. More rib shots before returning to the ring, then some more in the ring. Another shoulder to the ribs in the corner, then tries again but Hunter side steps and Angle nails the ring post. Hunter tries to mount a comeback only to be cut off and set on the top rope for a belly to belly, but it only gets two.
Hunter sent off the ropes and caught in an abdominal stretch. Hunter almost passes out in the hold but eventually fights out and escape with a hip toss, only to collapse and Angle follows with more elbows to the ribs. Angle goes up top but misses the moonsault. Hunter with another comeback, sent off the ropes, hits the facebuster. Hunter manages a Pedigree, sort of, the bad ribs has him clutching his ribs with an arm and he can't hook both arms. Hunter calls Steph into the ring, and for some reason he tells her to choose between him and Angle, which makes absolutely no sense given everything that's happened in the last week. Steph nails Kurt with the low blow and Pedigree gets the win. (17:25) Alright this match was needlessly long with a lot of nothing for most of it. And the end of match drama made no sense, if you wanted Steph to nail Kurt with a low blow, you could have just have her do it when Angle's about to win. And none of this is mentioning what a shit payoff this is to the love triangle story, or the fact that Foley was a complete non-factor.
Steph is clapping and checks on her husband. Then Hunter gives her a rather forceful kiss and spits on Kurt before they both leave.
Too Cool are at WWF New York.
Shane McMahon comes out, who had said earlier on Heat that he had video proof of who ran down Austin. He says he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, that when Austin arrived he'd come back to Shane's locker room to find out who did it in private, he was hoping not to be in front of everyone, because he has to publicly call the culprit out. He says his investigation was impartial and objective and it's led him to the culprit, someone that we might not suspect, but they have a history of vehicular assault. Shane's video evidence is a clip from a year ago on Raw, when Steve Blackman ran over Ken Shamrock. Shane's calls Blackman cold-hearted and callous. Shane tries to leave but he's interrupted by Blackman, Shane leaves the ring and they trade words.
Cue Austin's big return. After Austin hits the corners like he always does we get a stare down with Austin and Blackman, Shane hides behind Austin. Blackman tries to get to Shane but Austin won't let him past and ultimately eats a Stunner. Shane rolls him out then grabs the cooler of beers from the timekeeper to share some beers. Of course Shane thinks Austin's fallen for this, but he eats a Stunner too and spits beer out on the way down. We get a few minutes of more beer drinking and Shane eats a couple more Stunners before Austin leaves. Honestly after that last shitty match this was some good fun.
Hype package for the main event.
Rock is backstage with Michael Cole, who asks if Rock's challengers will get what they want tonight, that being his title. A stupid question, as Rock himself points out, but because Cole couldn't know what any of them want. Maybe Kane wants matches to light his big red ass on fire. Maybe Benoit wants a pet wolverine to lick its left testicle. Maybe Taker wants to get on his bike, ride around the building a few times because it gives him that "funny feeling." He says that ultimately what they want and what they get are completely different, and vows to take their heads and shove them so far up their asses they'll cut holes in their nipples just to see.
Pre-Match: We have five referees in the ring just to keep everyone apart and keep order before the match starts.
Referees finally clear the ring and we have Rock and Kane going at it, plus Taker and Benoit on the other side of the ring fighting. Kane and Benoit have control briefly until Rock sends Kane off the ropes into an elbow. Rock and Taker stare down until Benoit and Kane attack from behind. Benoit takes Rock to the floor, Kane and Taker trade blows, Benoit and Rock fight into the crowd. Kane avoids a back drop and hits a clothesline while Rock knocks Benoit back to ringside. Kane off the top with a clothesline gets two.
Rock chokes Benoit with a cable, Taker sent off the ropes hits a clothesline for two. Benoit with some chops on Rock as Kane is sent off the ropes into a big boot for two, then another cover for two. Benoit returns to the ring and goes after Taker. Rock tries to pull Kane to the floor but he pulls Rock in while Benoit and Taker fight to the floor. Rock counters an Irish whip into a Samoan drop for two. Rock off the ropes runs into a powerslam for two.
Kane with rights in the corner while Benoit sends Taker face first off the ring post. Rock sent to the corner by Kane for a clothesline and Benoit gets press slammed face first on the barricade. Taker returns to ping pong Kane with rights. Kane sent off the ropes into back elbows, then a double clothesline sends Kane to the floor. Rock sends Taker to the corner, who catches Rock with an elbow and rights in the corner. Sidewalk slam by Taker gets two.
Taker goes for old school but Rock yanks him to the mat, then clotheslined to the floor. Kane comes in to clothesline Rock. Kane goes for the Tombstone but Rock escapes and shoves Kane into the ref, and Rock follows with a DDT. Rock covers but there's no ref. Taker slides in with a chair and nails Rock right in the head with it. Benoit gets his own chair and nails Taker in the head with it, makes the cover, Taker gets his leg on the rope, but the ref doesn't see it and... Benoit wins? (7:08)
Benoit quickly grabs the belt and tries to leave but Foley comes out to stop him. The other three follow Benoit up the aisle, and there's no official announcement but Foley calls for the bell and the bell rings so... Commentary are for some reason confused even though it was clear Taker had his leg on the rope.
WWF Title Match Continues
Benoit turns around scared shitless seeing everyone eyeing him and he's sent face first, then back first, and face first again into the entrance set. Kane now with rights on Rock, Taker takes Benoit down the aisle back to the ring. Taker with an elbow to Benoit in the ring, cover and Rock saves it. Rock tries to get in the ring but he's stopped by Kane. Taker and Benoit back in the ring, Benoit has control, then Kane joins in on the attack.
Rock takes Taker to the floor, driving the ring steps into his face. Kane is tossed to the floor by Kane, Rock returns to the ring. Benoit has control with chops against the ropes, then gets sent off the ropes and caught with an overhead belly to belly for two. Benoit counters an Irish whip to hit three Germans for two. Back suplex by Benoit, then goes up top and hits the flying headbutt, but it only gets two.
Rock gets the Crossface applied on Benoit but Taker breaks it up. Rock is clotheslined to the floor, then Kane returns with a chokeslam on Kane, covers but Benoit saves it. Rock gets a big boot, then a right to Benoit from Kane. Kane comes off the ropes but Rock gets him with the spinebuster. Benoit interrupts the People's Elbow with a clothesline. Rock comes back with rights and knocks Benoit to the floor. Taker gets Rock with the Last Ride, covers but Kane stops it.
Kane clotheslines Taker to the floor and Taker pulls him out. Benoit with a chair across both their backs, then returns to the ring with a Crossface on Rock. Taker eventually returns to make the save and chokeslams Benoit, covers and Kane pulls him back out of the ring. Kane and Taker trade big rights. Rock nails the Rock Bottom finally on Benoit, Taker tries to break up the pin but Kane stops him and Rock retains. (15:17) Honestly Kane and Taker kinda dragged this one down, if this had been just Rock and Benoit it would have been much better, but what can you do. That finish also felt really anticlimactic and really made no sense that Kane just let Rock win the match.
Comments
Post a Comment