World Wrestling Federation – Backlash 2000 – 30th April 2000
Plenty of people had opinions of the WWF’s creative direction up to, and after Wrestlemania 2000. Why hadn’t they booked HHH/Rock as the main event? Why did they put a heel over in Wrestlemania main event? Why on earth did Vince join HHH – it makes no sense?! The one thing everyone agrees on however is that, as a result of the controversially booked Mania conclusion, the WWF got to roll into Backlash as red hot as it had ever been. By holding off Rock/HHH for Wrestlemania, and holding off Rock’s big moment of redemption to this evening, WWF did huge business. That’s our scheduled main event of the evening, with The Rock finally challenging Triple H for the WWF Championship – with Shane McMahon as referee, and Steve Austin scheduled to make an appearance as a Ringside Enforcer. Elsewhere career-long rivals Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho do battle over the Intercontinental Championship, Dean Malenko defends the much-maligned Light Heavyweight Title against Scotty 2 Hotty (that match has gone on to become a bit of a cult classic), Eddie Guerrero defends the European Title against the challenge of Essa Rios (remember him?) and Kurt Angle battles the Big Show. JR and Jerry Lawler are in Washington DC.
Debra returns (she was married to Stone Cold so it’s not that surprising that she was in the building) to be a guest ring announcer for the opening match. She is easily the worst ring announcer you’ll ever hear in your life and she seems either so drunk or so confused she can’t even pronounce the most basic of words correctly. Thankfully the crowd are so hot they pretty much drown her out!
Edge & Christian vs X-Pac/Road Dogg – WWF Tag Title Match
By this point E&C were starting to establish their entertaining ‘five second pose’ persona and gimmick, but hadn’t quite taken in to a heelish level yet and as such are positioned as babyfaces against their challengers from D-Generation X this evening.
‘I think you do some mighty fine mic work’ – Road Dogg to Debra. He even manages to keep a straight face saying that. Edge starts with X-Pac, with Waltman showing genuine skill to out-wrestle the champion – not that the vocal crowd give him any credit for it. Edge & Christian rebound well, hitting the Poetry In Motion body avalanche on Dogg in the corner for 2. Christian tries to capture Pac in the corner for some mounted punches…only to be hung out to dry over the top rope by Road Dogg. The challengers, who JR proclaimed the favourites before the match due to the sheer volume of Tag Title reigns they’ve amassed between them, start using cheap tactics to isolate Christian. They inflict sufficient damage that Edge has to start diving into the ring breaking pinfall attempts to keep the match alive. X-Pac puts some illegal boots to Christian, and Edge has seen enough so climbs to the top rope to hit a DIVING HEADBUTT on Road Dogg! Double reverse DDT by Christian giving him enough time to finally make the hot tag to Edge. Road Dogg’s Pumphandle Driver is blocked…so is the Unprettier! SPEAR BY EDGE! X-Pac accidentally clobbers Tori, and as she, Road Dogg and Christian all scuffle on the floor they all miss Pac hitting the X-Factor on Edge! Christian sneaks in and blasts X-Pac with the ring bell! By any means necessary, Edge & Christian retain the titles at 09:22
Rating - *** - Looking at this in isolation this was nothing more than an extremely basic formula tag match. But the purpose of the first match on the card is to get the crowd going for the night of wrestling ahead. This crowd were so crazily into everything they were doing, the four wrestlers really didn’t need to do anything particularly exotic to achieve that curtain-jerking purpose. The finish was also a neat prelude to Edge & Christian’s descent into fully-blown arrogant heels over the coming months.
Debra slurs her words so badly in announcing Edge & Christian as the winners that she nearly falls over. Seriously, she found it so hard to speak that she nearly fell over. She’s THAT drunk…
A simple pieces of video showing The Rock arriving in a limo nearly blows the roof off. Is this the hottest crowd ever seen at a wrestling event???
Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty – WWF Light Heavyweight Title Match
Grand Masta Sexay was out for a few weeks with an injury, and whilst Scotty was still hot they decided to briefly make the Light Heavyweight Title mean something (Malenko won it in his first couple of weeks, and did next to nothing with it) by using his popularity in a mini-feud with Dean.
Even Dean Malenko (who’s WWF run was massively disappointing by his own high standards) gets nuclear heat as he enters the arena. He’s such a crafty veteran that he tries to catch Scotty off guard by cheap-shotting him before the bell. It doesn’t work, and they trade holds back and forth at 100mph through the opening minute. Scotty tries The Worm early only to be decked with a big lariat from the champion. Malenko realises his opponent is quicker than him so again shows his experience by attacking the leg. He wraps the knee around the ringpost a few times then switches to the ankle with a standing toehold. Scotty tries to escape…so Dean simply elbow drops the leg as he looks to get back to his feet. He starts using the ropes for additional leverage on a knee bar…then punts the legs out from under the challenger with such ferocity that S2H flips in the air and lands on the top of his head! Scotty can’t stand now, and is simply trying to crawl away from Malenko – so he grabs his legs and starts drilling them into the canvas for good measure. SPEAR THROUGH THE ROPES! Malenko is happy to win by count-out only for a limping Scotty to bash his face into the apron as he gets into the ring. Superplex nailed by the champion – and credit to Scotty, he’s still selling his leg even after that bump. Texas Cloverleaf COUNTERED into a small package for 2! Back suplex scores, even with S2H repeatedly punching him in the ace! TIGER DRIVER COUNTERED THE WORM! Malenko catches Scotty celebrating that, and tries to repeat on the finish to their match from the previous week’s Smackdown when he used the ropes to win…but this time the official spots it. TIGER DRIVER…gets 2! Powerslam scores next, and Dean is such a pro he even hooks up the injured leg in his pinfall! Malenko to the top, with S2H chasing up the ropes after him! Scotty attempts a suplex…BUT MALENKO COUNTERS TO A MID-AIR AVALANCHE DDT! He retains at 12:59
Rating - **** - The undoubted highlight of Malenko’s WWF run here. This was an outstanding virtuoso performance from the veteran here, rolling back the years and delivering the kind of first rate match he’d been producing in WCW, ECW, Japan and other indies for the past decade or more. I’m not saying this was a total carry job by Dean – but how many times have you seen Scotty go out there and work an outstanding technical wrestling match like that before? I’d wager not many. To give him credit, he had a go at selling the leg (although totally no sold it to hit The Worm – which annoyed he as he could easily have hopped around the ring on his good leg) and kept up with a sterling mat wrestler like Malenko. I don’t know how Dean’s career didn’t really take off from here. It has certainly made me want to go out and check out more of his work throughout his career. Anyone know where I can get a could Dean Malenko compilation tape/DVD?
In the McMahon-Helmsley locker room Vince tells Patterson and Brisco that they’ll need all hands on deck to ensure a successful evening. Shane McMahon arrives having just picked up his referee shirt…
Big Bossman/Bull Buchanan vs Acolytes
Faarooq and Bradshaw’s team have quite been rebranded as the APA as yet, and are still introduced as the Acolytes. I have no idea what they were feuding about, but since JR tells me it’s going to be a ‘slobberknocker’ I’ll start warming up my DUD rating…
Early advantage goes to the APA as Bradshaw wipes out Buchanan with a top rope shoulder tackle. Bull SOMERSAULTS over him showing incredible agility, but spins around into a swinging neckbreaker for 2. Washington really don’t like the Bossman, and seem delighted as Faarooq wipes him out with a back drop driver. The Acolytes pull no punches at all with the veteran, ripping him to pieces in the ring and right the way around ringside. He looks really messed up as he makes a crucial tag to Buchanan – who gives his team the advantage for the first time with a flurry of punches aimed at Faarooq’s midsection. Simmons retaliates with a spinebuster and makes the hot tag to Bradshaw – who lands another football tackle as he re-enters the ring. Bossman holds him down against the turnbuckles, handing Bull the chance to drop him with a big superplex for 2. Clothesline From Hell scores – and this time Bossman is diving in to break the count. Unseen by referee Teddy Long, he levels both Acolytes with the nightstick, allowing Buchanan to hit a TOP ROPE AXE KICK on Bradshaw to win at 07:40
Rating - * - It started well and had a terrific finishing spot, but the six minutes in the middle were extremely generic. I’m not trying to be disrespectful to these workers, because of their style they are actually solid workers – but putting them all in the ring right after a Dean Malenko match wasn’t the best thing for them. Buchanan looked a real prospect at this point though, with surprising agility to go with the obvious size that Vince gets erections for.
The Hardyz prepare for the Hardcore Title Match coming up, with an agreement reached that they’ll work together to get rid of everyone else – but won’t be holding back when it comes to fighting each other. Crash suggests a similar arrangement with Hardcore Holly and gets cuffed in the ear…
Crash Holly vs Tazz vs Matt Hardy vs Jeff Hardy vs Hardcore Holly vs Perry Saturn – WWF Hardcore Title Match
This is simply a six-man Hardcore Title Match, not a timed battle royal as we saw at Wrestlemania. Matt Hardy had beaten Crash for the championship, but after defending against Jeff on Smackdown he then lost back to Crash – who used the 24/7 rule to his advantage. The title can only change hands by pinning Crash here, so the odds are very much stacked against him.
Saturn tosses Crash across the ring with an exploder suplex…before the champion is stolen by his own cousin Hardcore for a big powerbomb. Crash tries to leave, then climbs up the set trying to escape the pack of wrestlers in hot pursuit. Matt Hardy TREE OF WOES him on the set! SUICIDE DIVE BY MATT! Not to be outdone, Jeff SWINGS OFF THE SET INTO A FLYING HEADSCISSORS! Poetry In Motion scores on Tazz for good measure! Perry weirdly tries to win it by submission and genuinely looks surprised when Tazz kicks him square in the face as he locks Crash in an abdominal stretch. Poor Crash is taking an absolute pounding here with five guys literally tripping over each other trying to assault him. Jeff has had enough of the high risk offence and instead opts to mercilessly choke the poor little champion with a reel of electrical cord. BAKING TRAY LEG DROP gets 2! SLINGSHOT ARABIAN PRESS…but this time Hardcore Holly saves it for his cousin. Unfortunately Crash can’t even get to his feet before Saturn is dropping him again with a brainbuster. FALCON ARROW ON A CHAIR by Hardcore! The Hardyz bring out a ladder, with Jeff scaling it…SWANTON BOMB OFF THE LADDER! That would be it, but Matt and Jeff start arguing about who gets to win the match. TAZMISSION! Saturn breaks it with a ‘STOP’ sign! STEREO SUICIDE DIVES TO THE FLOOR BY THE HARDYZ! CRASH PINS TAZZ! Somehow he retains at 12:19
Rating - *** - Absolute chaos, but the quality of wrestler in this match was noticeably higher than the Hardcore Battle Royal at Wrestlemania, meaning generally a lot of the spots were way more entertaining. The Hardyz were the obvious stars of the show, hitting spots nobody else in the field could execute in their wildest dreams and innovating spectacular offence where guys like Bob Holly were content just to swing a few trash can lids then call it a night. I did feel rather sorry for Tazz by the end though. The former ECW Champion having to lie down and take the pin for the WWF’s comedy ‘Hardcore Champion’ to go over was a very chastening moment for the man who was hyped to the moon by Paul Heyman.
Even the sound guy is surprised Crash won – he starts playing the Hardyz music by mistake.
Shane McMahon tells Jonathan Coachman that he is going to be a fair and impartial referee, doing his best to look completely sincere whilst doing so.
Kurt Angle vs Big Show
The 1996 Olympic gold medallist was in a post-Wrestlemania funk after losing his Intercontinental and European Championships without being pinned – and was therefore delighted when HHH offered him the chance to challenge for the Tag Championships, and ecstatic when Big Show was lined up as his partner. But unfortunately, that coincided with Show’s decision to ‘go hollywood’. He was fed up of being a ‘big nasty bastard, and just wanted to have fun instead. He started dancing with Too Cool and Rikishi, impersonating other WWF superstars…and turned up to their title shot in full Scottish formalwear. Kurt was furious, slapped him in the face and started an escalating rivalry. Show is a fun-loving guy now, but has a short fuse and REALLY doesn’t like Kurt…
Big Show comes out dressed as Hulk Hogan, which is hilarious on many levels. One of which is him botching the shirt-ripping. His Hogan promo impression is completely faultless though. Kurt tries to jump him…and is met by the Showster ‘Hulking up. BIG BOOT! LEG DROP! FOR 2! JR and Lawler really condescendingly acting like the Leg Drop is the most devastating finisher of all time cracks me up too. ‘More people are chanting Hogan than have in years’ – JR. Big Show has had enough of humouring Kurt, and drills him through the canvas with the Chokeslam to win at 02:36
Rating - N/A - It wasn’t a match that one could rate in any way, but it was certainly a hilarious piece of entertainment. Big Show’s Hogan impersonation was entertaining, yet affectionately satirical. JR and Lawler on commentary were absolutely merciless, savagely laying into Hogan with some hysterical tongue-in-cheek comments. This was conveniently dusted under the rug a couple of years later when Hulk was brought back and we actually had to take an old man doing the Leg Drop seriously again…
Michael Cole interviews Trish Stratus, who has more flirtatious words for Bubba Ray Dudley – who watches from a monitor elsewhere in the arena. D-Von tries to get Bubba to focus…
Dudley Boyz vs T&A
The matches in this feud weren’t great, but to this day it remains one of Trish and the Dudley Boyz’ most famous angles during their WWF tenures. Bubba had developed a reputation for putting women through tables (Terri Runnels, Mae Young and Lita could all testify to that)…but developed a weird infatuation with Trish Stratus, which ended up costing his team multiple matches. After *THAT* lingerie/table promo sequence on an episode of Raw, he appeared powerless to resist her. He had repeated chances to put her through a table but she manufactured an escape route by kissing him and so forth. That even led to him going through a table himself at the hands of Albert. Does Trish Stratus actually like Bubba Ray? Can Bubba focus on the match for long enough to get the Dudleyz a much needed win as they plot a course back to the Tag Titles? Is this all a game engineered by Trish to put her team over an established duo like the Dudleyz? Will Test or Albert develop any kind of personality to stop Trish being the most over part of their gimmick by a country mile? Lets get some answers…
Bubba goes right after Trish, totally ignoring his opponents until Test smashes him with a lariat on the floor. Even when he starts actually wrestling the match, he floors Albert then goes back to screaming abuse at Trish on the outside. This match has been running less than two and a half minutes, and between them JR and King must have referred to the Dudleyz as ‘awesome’ about 58 times. Wassup Headbutt scores as the former Tag Champions continue to isolate the Prince. Test tags in and knocks D-Von up into the air with a big boot then scoops him up for the gutwrench powerbomb. Double team tilta-whirl flapjack gets T&A a 2-count, and already they’re showing far more fluidity and cohesion as a team than they demonstrated at Wrestlemania. They do a real number on D-Von Dudley, keeping him trapped in the ring for several minutes. Poor Albert is working so hard his white shirt is turning a revolting shade as he starts to sweat profusely and its him that lets D-Von slip out the back door into the hot tag to Ray. Back suplex/neckbreaker combo nailed on Test for 2…so Albert saves his partner with the Baldo Bomb. Test MISSES the Macho Elbow and nearly gets pinned there and then. The Dudleyz line up 3-D…but Trish stops Bubba dead in his tracks with a sexy little dance on the apron. He just stands there mesmerised as Test nails him with the Big Boot for the win at 11:09
Rating - ** - Like I said, this was quite a memorable little feud, but not really for the quality of the matches they produced. This wasn’t anything special, just a by the numbers, formulaic tag match to kill some time on a ppv undercard. That said, this was an important match for T&A – and I feel like they passed a stern test of their abilities in a match with tag team veterans like the Dudleyz. They are a thrown together duo, and at Wrestlemania they looked woefully out of sync and hopelessly incompatible as partners. Even in the four weeks since WM2000 they’ve clearly worked on their game and there were some visible improvements.
Bubba Ray doesn’t like that one bit, dropping Test with the Bubba Cutter. 3-D ON ALBERT! Trish tries to run…as Bubba sends D-Von to get a table! She tries the kiss tactic again…BUT IT DOESN’T WORK THIS TIME! AWESOMEBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE! The crowd goes wild!!
As Trish is stretchered to an ambulance, she is taken past a car containing the late-arriving Eddie Guerrero and Chyna. Eddie took her to prom…and has arrived for the show so late he literally has to go straight to the ring as he’s up next.
Eddie Guerrero vs Essa Rios – WWF European Title Match
The night after Wrestlemania Chyna turned on Chris Jericho, costing him the European Championship as she joined forces with her new squeeze ‘Latino Heat’. Eddie promptly celebrated by studying to get the qualifications he dropped out on in school…and duly passed hence taking Chyna to prom tonight. As well as the Euro Title being on the line this evening, there’s also a simmering rivalry between Chyna and Essa Rios’ female valet – Lita (she debuted from ECW, pre-Hardy Boyz, with Rios).
Eddie drives his car all the way to the ring, and decides he’ll be wrestling with his bowtie still in place. The staredown between Lita and Chyna before the bell is vicious. First blood goes to Rios who hits a tilta-whirl backbreaker. Guerrero retaliates with a back drop driver so we’re all even again. Botched rope-run by Essa…and it soon gets worse for him as the champion rams his head into the steps. He’s then decked by Chyna behind the referee’s back for good measure. It’s to his credit that he absorbs that before monkey flipping Guerrero into the ropes at real speed. Chyna hits the challenger with another forearm, knocking Rios loopy for long enough to allow Eddie to land a pescado. Lita tries to help Essa…so Chyna SHOVES her off the top rope all the way into the Spanish Announce Table. ASAI MOONSAULT TO THE FLOOR BY RIOS! He’s not done…SOMERSAULT PLANCHA OVER THE TURNBUCKLES NAILED! Back in the ring and Eddie seizes control again, dropping Essa with a brainbuster. ROPE RUN SUPER ARMDRAG from Essa! MOONSAULT GETS KNEES! Guerrero wins and retains the European Title with a Gory Neckbreaker at 08:42
Rating - *** - They started slow, and there was far too much Chyna for my liking…but when these two clicked into gear at around the halfway mark of the match this one was NUTS. Rios (who’d botched basically everything he’d done for four minutes) suddenly started hitting crazy spots all over the place, and you could visibly see Eddie raising his game to meet the skills of the youngster. It was far from an all-time classic, but talents like these two are why the WWF’s undercards started getting considerably better. Solid hands like Guerrero, Malenko or Benoit are the kind of talents Vince could just chuck onto the air, give them 10 minutes with anyone (like Essa in this case) and trust that it would be a decent use of his television/ppv time.
Essa doesn’t like losing…and knocks both Eddie and Chyna down on his way out. Lita wants some revenge too, and steals Chyna’s dress. Little did Lita know, in a decade’s time Chyna would be doing porno films, so making her stand in a bra/thong set on a wrestling show isn’t really a big deal…
In the back Triple H is still lounging on a sofa with Stephanie and hasn’t even started getting ready for the main event. He’s not nervous, whilst Vince chimes in gloating that Steve Austin still hasn’t arrived at the building. His ‘sources’ are telling him that Austin has had travel issues and won’t make it.
‘Inside, you’re looking at the happiest man on earth’ – Chris Benoit to Michael Cole. That’s not creepy at all…
Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho – WWF Intercontinental Title Match
This is a rivalry that stretches across several years, across promotions and across continents. These two Canadians have spent their careers warring with each other, and now bring their battles to WWF ppv for the first time. Benoit pinned Y2J to become IC Champion in the 2-fall Triple Threat at Wrestlemania. Jericho pinned the Crippler that night too to become European Champion – but he’d go on to lose that title the next night to Benoit’s colleague in The Radicalz, Eddie Guerrero.
A precedent for the match is set right away as they work a collar-and-elbow stretch with such intensity that they actually fall out of the ring and start slapping each other on the floor. Back in the ring and they start relentlessly countering back and forth. Chops echo through the arena next before Jericho ditches the pretty wrestling in favour of kneeing and punching the champion in the face. ROLLING GERMANS from Benoit! Y2J has seen that sequence enough times to know there are more coming so he grabs the ropes. BENOIT BACK SUPLEXES HIM TO THE FLOOR INSTEAD! TOPE SUICIDA MISSES! On the outside Y2J hurdles the steps, but as he turns to charge back at the Crippler, Benoit dropkicks the steps right into his legs and sternum. He’s on that apparent injury in a flash, landing a gutwrench gutbuster for 2 moments later. A suplex onto the top rope follows, leaving the challenger rolling on the mat and gasping in pain. Benoit is a machine, watching his opponent struggle to his feet before mercilessly hooking in an abdominal stretch. Jericho nails the Lionsault from nowhere…but hitting that move hurts himself as much as it does Benoit. Both commentators are so brain-dead they’ve completely missed the story of this match, with wiffle about British weather, Steve Austin and Liechtenstein taking priority. Jericho flies out of the corner with a bulldog, but again spends time on the deck clutching his midsection before being able to make the cover. He tries that springboard dropkick to the apron, only for Benoit to swat him away. He thinks about the Flying Wolverine, but in turn Y2J has that scouted and chases him up the ropes for a BACK SUPERPLEX! But Benoit spins in mid-air to ensure he crashes down on Jericho’s ribs! ROLLING POWERBOMBS…WITH RIB SELLING from Jericho! CRIPPLER CROSSFACE! Big pop from the crowd when Y2J makes the ropes on that. WALLS OF JERICHO! A combination of the injured sternum and the champ’s proximity to the ropes means there’s no title change right there. Referee Tim White is bumped, leading to an angry Benoit grabbing his title belt and nailing Jericho right between the eyes with it. Somehow Jericho kicks out. SNAP SUPLEX ON THE BELT! Benoit goes upstairs…FLYING WOVERINE, BUT JERICHO GETS THE BELT UP! The ref disqualifies Jericho at 15:06, with Benoit bleeding profusely from the nose and an audience furious we didn’t get to see a clean winner.
Rating - **** - Not that it’s a surprise, but this was a stunning match between these two. It’s not one of their most-talked about WWF encounters and the finish was incredibly confusing and disappointing – but regardless it absolutely oozed quality. Even if the commentators completely missed it, Benoit’s assault on the ribs was textbook and totally faultless. Equally Jericho sold it superbly. He sold it in everything he did, and every move he made. In the WWF you just don’t find many guys committed to that level of detail, making this one a refreshing change of pace. If you’ve read Jericho’s books, you’ll know what a tough time he had during his first year with the WWF – and it’s noticeable how much more comfortable and crisp everything he does is when he gets to work with a friend and colleague he knew he could trust in Benoit. In turn, Benoit knew he could really cut loose and didn’t have to pull any punches, or cool his stiff and physical style in the slightest. Two experienced pros, very familiar with each others work, tearing each other apart – what’s not to like?
Benoit’s nose has been smashed all over his face with that belt headbutt. Jericho is bitterly unhappy at the loss, and puts the referee in the Walls Of Jericho before storming off.
The Rock reiterates his guarantee that he’s leaving as WWF Champion tonight – whether Steve Austin makes it to the building or not. Short and sweet…
Triple H vs The Rock – WWF Title Match
Here it is, one of the most famous WWF Championship Matches of the modern era. HHH shockingly retained his title at Wrestlemania, fending off The Rock in the main event with the help of Vince McMahon – who was supposed to be in Rocky’s corner. Vince wanted to ‘make it right’ with the McMahon family, reconciled his differences with daughter Stephanie and son Shane, giving Hunter a corrupt and seemingly unbreakable grip on the title. The Rock wanted a title shot – but was only offered one if he could beat Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan in a Handicap Cage Match. Even when he did so, the McMahon-Helmsley Era were on hand to leave him a bloody mess at the end of the show. Vince and Stephanie were signed up to be in HHH’s corner for Backlash…and Shane booked to be the Guest Referee. With things seemingly spiralling out of control, WWF CEO Linda McMahon reared her head once again – evening the deck by putting Stone Cold (still recovering from neck surgery) in Rock’s corner. He showed up on Smackdown and blew up the D-X Express, lighting the touch paper for what should be an explosive championship match tonight. But with Austin now seemingly unable to be here, will The Rock be able to defeat HHH and the McMahon family single-handedly, or will the odds be too much for him to overcome just like a month ago at Wrestlemania?
This crowd is jumping even before the wrestlers enter the arena. So by the time Vince stokes the fires by pulling the old ‘card subject to change’ line and announcing that Stone Cold hasn’t made it, the ovation for The Rock’s entrance is mind-blowing. Despite an early Pedigree attempt, Rock is largely dominant in the opening minutes – punching HHH around the ring with gusto. Finally Shane tries to get in his way which distracts him for long enough to allow Triple H to drop him with a neckbreaker. HHH tosses Rock to the floor then stages a fake argument with Shane…as Vince rams Rock into the ringpost. Once the challenger is returned to the ring Helmsley goes to work, using classic wrestling knee strikes and suplexes to wear him down. Sleeper applied – with the ropes for additional leverage, not that Referee McMahon minds particularly. Somehow Rock battles back into the contest and collides with HHH in the centre of the ring causing both of them to go down. Just when it looks to have evened up Vince climbs onto the apron and nails Rocky with the title belt. SUPER-FAST count from Shane but still just 2 from that. Rock hits a DDT…but Shane refuses to count! ROCK PUNCHES SHANE OUT OF THE RING! The crowd loved that, but they are brought crashing to earth again moments later as Hunter flings The Rock into the steel steps. He sets up a Pedigree on the Spanish Announce Table…but Rock counters with a low blow! He grabs HHH, so Shane climbs onto the table to try to reason with him. DOUBLE ROCK BOTTOM THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! Vince McMahon has another pop at Rocky…and just as Rock gets his hands on Mr McMahon HHH recovers to hit him with a PEDIGREE! Out come Patterson and Brisco in referee shirts! ROCK STILL KICKS OUT! PATTERSON AND BRISCO STOMP HIM DOWN! It is a literal gang assault now, with HHH, Patterson, Brisco and Vince all taking turns getting their licks in on the stricken People’s Champion. Vince drops him with a steel chair shot, and that seems to be that. HHH is pulling Rock up for one more Pedigree…GLASS SHATTERS! STONE COLD! STONE COLD! CHAIR SHOT TO HHH! CHAIR SHOT TO PATTERSON! CHAIR SHOT TO BRISCO! CHAIR SHOT TO SHANE! CHAIR SHOT TO VINCE! Linda McMahon is out too, shoving Stephanie on her ass as she reinstates fired referee Earl Hebner! SPINEBUSTER! PEOPLE’S ELBOW! NEW CHAMPION AT 19:23!!!
Rating - **** - As a match this was probably a decent 3*, but as an entertainment spectacle and as a piece of pro-wrestling history this is an easy 5* - so I split the difference with my rating. The atmosphere for this was just so intense, even from before anyone came to the ring. The crowd popped huge just for the announcement that the main event was coming up. JR and Lawler (who were atrocious in the Benoit/Jericho match) were in top form, putting over the atmosphere and even enhancing it for the ppv audience with some superb commentary. And the drama was so simple, yet so very effective. Austin had been teased all night, but hadn’t showed up. They cranked up the tension all match, with obstacle after obstacle thrown in The Rock’s way. When Stone Cold finally arrived (god bless him, in his post-neck surgery state he was overweight, could barely move his head, barely swing a chair, then struggled to get off the canvas when he dropped Vince with a chair shot – but holy sh*t did he tear it up regardless), the ovation he received has to have been one of the biggest pops in WWF history. We got pay-off for Wrestlemania, pay-off for months of HHH and McMahon-Helmsley era dominance…even pay-off for Earl Hebner in all-time legendary moment. You can’t do justice to pro-wrestling moments like this with a rating in truth. This is must-see…
Steve Austin joins The Rock’s title celebrations, towing the burnt-out wreckage of the D-X Express. They toast the WWF Championship with a jubilant crowd as the show ends.
Tape Rating - **** - Easily one of the best ppv’s of the entire year. Royal Rumble is always talked about, No Way Out is well-liked and there are a few ppv’s later in the year which drew some attention too, but for all the disappointment of a sub-par Wrestlemania – this one delivered in absolute spades. Pay-off for months of great story-telling, vindication for the decision to pack the midcard with febetter wrestlers and an era-defining moment as the injured Steve Austin passed the torch to The Rock, helping him end Triple H’s dominating and critically-acclaimed run as WWF Champion. It was a card with something for everyone – with some solid tag wrestling, a hardcore match, a comedy match, Trish getting wood, strong junior heavyweight stuff, a lucha-libre inspired European Title clash, a technical masterclass from Benoit and Jericho – plus classic WWF ‘sports entertainment’ in the classic main event. I’ve not seen these shows for a long time so I honestly can’t remember if there was a better pay-per-view event in 2000. Royal Rumble was excellent, but massively over-hyped considering the average Rumble and patchy undercard. Wrestlemania wasn’t great this year. I remember really liking Fully Loaded and Summerslam – but any of the remaining shows this year will have to go a long way to better than this.
Top 3 Matches
3) Dean Malenko vs Scotty 2 Hotty (****)
2) Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho (****)
1) Triple H vs The Rock (****)