World Wrestling Federation – No Mercy 2000 – 22nd October 2000
Traditionally the fourth quarter of WWF’s 2000 is pointed to as a key period where they dropped the ball, let the air out of the incredibly buoyant balloon their hot streak through the first half of the year had created, and ultimately pushed the company towards the demise of the ‘Attitude Era’ and the creative slumps that would follow in 2001. To some extent I’d agree with that, but at this ppv, there is at least a clear effort to promote new talent. Chris Benoit faces Triple H, Kurt Angle challenges The Rock for the WWF Championship, whilst Steve Austin seeks vengeance on Rikishi, the man who was (unwisely in hindsight) chosen as the ‘wheelman’ in the vehicular assault suffered by the Rattlesnake at Survivor Series 1999. To be frank, outside of the three main events (plus Chris Jericho vs X-Pac), big chunks of the card appear to have been booked at the last second simply to flesh out the show. Nevertheless, we join Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler in Albany, NY.
SIDENOTE – I actually finished by WWF 2000 reviews some time ago, but a computer crash lost everything after Unforgiven 2000 (I hadn’t backed up since I moved house – foolish of me) so this will actually be the second time I’ve watched the last four ppv’s of the year in just a few weeks. Just a heads-up in case I seem a little jaded. Particularly since it means I have to sit through Rebellion 2000 again. That show was appalling…
Too Cool vs Lo Down – Dudleyz Table Invitational Gauntlet Match
Don’t have anything for a load of tag teams to do on ppv? Why not chuck them in a Gauntlet Table Match. Table bumps pop the crowd after all. The rules are simple, we have five teams to enter. Defeat is inflicted on the opposing team when one member is put through a table. If you’ve forgotten who Lo Down are, they were the team of D’Lo Brown and Chaz (Headbanger Mosh). They have no discernible gimmick other than wrestling in pyjama trousers, and I think this is before Tiger Singh had been put with them to at least give them a hint of an identity.
It’s a brawl to start, with neither team able to establish some dominance. Grand Masta delivers a missile dropkick to Brown, whilst Chaz ignores him for no apparent reason to set a table up. Why not save your partner there Mosh? Lo Down join forces to bash their opponents with a table, then Chaz suplexes Scotty, aiming him away from the table rather than towards it. Sky High nailed on Grand Masta…only for Brown to go upstairs and MISS the Lo Down! He crashes through a table, and on the other side of the ring Scotty shoves Chaz through a table to win at 03:54
Rating - DUD - An incoherent mess there, with both teams killing time pulling out aimless spots regardless of whether they made any sense or not. The finishing sequence, with D’Lo missing the Lo Down into a table was pretty cool, but it was nearly four minutes of utter dross before that.
Too Cool vs Tazz/Raven – Dudleyz Table Invitational Gauntlet Match
The ECW-alum look like they’d rather be ANYWHERE else than in this match. Raven debuted at Unforgiven, helping Tazz to defeat Jerry Lawler. Alas he was clearly signed on reputation, as it was immediately clear WWF’s creative had no idea what to do with him, and his run in the company drifted into complete mediocrity.
Too Cool don’t wait for their opponents to get into the ring, and dive at them with baseball slides. The arena fills with smoke from Tazz’s pyro…as the Human Suplex Machine himself retaliates with a Tazmission on Scotty. Sexay saves his partner…so is given a bulldog by Raven. Team ECW try to suplex Grand Masta through a table on the floor, and things take a turn for the ugly moments later when Sexay tries to sunset flip him through it…and winds up busting the table with his feet. The crowd laugh, but are brought back seconds later as Scotty goes UNDER A TABLE to hit The Worm on Raven! The ECW guys don’t like that, and suplex him through a table for the win 02:22 (06:16 total)
Rating - * - I gave this a solitary star for the Table Worm spot, which was pretty cool. I did like the intensity that Tazz and Raven brought, although you sense that was more from irritation that they were having to make Too Cool seem like credible opponents in a ‘no rules’ environment, rather than committing to their characters.
Tazz/Raven vs Dudley Boyz – Dudleyz Table Invitational Gauntlet Match
The hosts of the party finally come to join us. In ECW this would be a huge main event level match. Sadly here it will probably be nothing more than an afterthought. Surely Bubba Ray and D-Von can’t be eliminated from their own match can they?
It’s a total slugfest to begin with, until Bubba scoops Tazz up for a HUGE Bubba Bomb. Raven gets the Wassup Headbutt. Tazz plants Bubba Ray with an exploder suplex before they can go for a table though. It’s to no avail as D-Von leg drops him through a table at 02:07 (08:23 total).
Rating - * - To their credit, the four men moved around the ring with a lot of energy and really packed a lot into this 2-minute segment. It was evident that the Dudleyz wanted to let their opponents get at least SOME offence in before totally squashing them. Call it ECW loyalty maybe?
Dudley Boyz vs Bull Buchanan/Goodfather – Dudleyz Table Invitational Gauntlet Match
This is the final, and holy cow do Right To Censor get some heat with the Albany fans. They’ve previously criticised the Dudleyz for their immoral, table-using ways. Perhaps their presence here is a ‘beat them at their own game’ tactic by Steven Richards’ men.
Right To Censor use their size to overwhelm the Dudleyz, who of course have already contested one match so far. Bull inadvertently knocks the referee down, causing him to miss Bubba scooping Bull up for a POWERBOMB through a table. Goodfather whacks Bubba with a chair, dropping him into the wreckage of the table. He then drags Buchanan out, meaning the recovered ref things RTC have won at 02:20. Another ref appears to correct the error though, and the match is restarted. Goodfather misses the Ho Train, and is 3-D'd through a table at 02:47 (11:10 total).
Rating - * - This was the best of the falls in this match. I liked the (brief) story they told here, with RTC trying to use their size to overwhelm a (slightly) battle-weary Dudleyz team. The multiple table bumps and swerve finish, whilst overblown, at least contributed to making this fall even vaguely memorable or exciting. This whole match was rather pointless in truth. It was cheap and easy booking, but in my view short-sighted, as chucking out a load of totally forgettable table bumps in the first match surely desensitises the live crowd for at least the next few matches?
In their locker room Test & Albert perv on Trish Stratus’ breasts. Elsewhere Rikishi is waiting in the parking lot with a sledgehammer (nod, nod…wink, wink) for the arrival of Stone Cold.
It’s now supposed to be a 6-person intergender match, pitting T&A and Trish against the Acolytes and Lita. But it turns out T&A have taken out Faarooq and Bradshaw backstage (that started their brief run as the ‘T&A-PA’) – and they then head to the ring ominously targeting Lita. The Hardy Boyz run in to save her, but not before she takes a beating…
Edge & Christian convey their disappointment that illness prevented them from entering the Dudleyz Table Invitational. They’re feeling much better now, and will be routing Los Conquistadors on against the Hardyz later apparently
Rikishi is now outside the building, as Austin still hasn’t turned up at the building.
Chris Jericho vs X-Pac – Steel Cage Match
After his superb clash with HHH at Fully Loaded, Chris Jericho was hotter than ever. Many people point to him spending the rest of the year sidelined in feuds with X-Pac and Kane as an example of where WWF dropped the ball. Considering that Angle and Benoit still got pretty decent pushes after that show (they were all in that ‘class’ of up and coming main event guys), Y2J may have a right to feel aggrieved. That said, his feud with Waltman produced a solid match at Unforgiven, and ends tonight in a Steel Cage. Who will leave Albany with all the bragging rights? The only way to win this one is to escape the cage, which is a slight twist on standard Steel Cage rules.
The match starts on the outside, with Jericho sliding through the door into a dropkick. X-Pac rakes the eyes to get away from him, but then misses with a wild chair shot. He slams the door of the cage into Y2J’s head instead – and they do eventually enter the ring. Pac chokes his opponent in the corner – then delivers a terrific enzi kick as Jericho grabs his leg to stop him exiting the cage. He tries to climb the cage, only for a SPRINGBOARD DROPKICK TO THE LEGS to stop him! That allows Jericho to repeatedly hurl him into the iron mesh. He tries to escape, then re-enters with a beautiful missile dropkick when X-Pac gets back to his feet. Lionsault blocked with knees…and to his credit X-Pac sells his leg as he limps towards the door. Jericho lunges at the last to grab him, so his lawn-darted into the cage as punishment. BACK BODY DROP INTO THE CAGE BY JERICHO! Pac lands on his head! And amazingly is the first man up, flooring Y2J with a spinning heel kick. Bronco Buster scores, leaving Jericho down in the corner as Waltman goes for victory. He’s almost there, when Jericho grabs him for a TOP ROPE JACK-KNIFE POWERBOMB! X-Pac manages to crotch him on the top rope before he can climb out though. Pac goes for the door…and although he’s dragged back in he does manage to grab a steel chair, and uses it to level Jericho! He tries to climb out…SO JERICHO CROTCHES HIM ON THE CAGE! WALLS OF JERICHO ON TOP OF THE CAGE! X-PAC KICKS HIM OFF THE CAGE INTO THE RING! He thinks he has the match won, and steps down…only for Jericho to dropkick the cage and crotch him on the door! Jericho steps out to win it, with X-Pac still perched painfully above him at 10:39
Rating - *** - I really didn’t remember this match at all, but it was actually really good. The problem with this one is that it came after two other recent ppvs with Cage Matches, and lacked a ‘defining high spot’ that those had. I know it’s sad, but this was the era of the TLC Match, of Foley being thrown off the Cell etc. At Fully Loaded we had Rikishi’s crazy Samoan splash on Val Venis. At Unforgiven we had Jeff Hardy’s insane Whisper In The Wind off the top. At this point in time, without a super-death high spot, Jericho and X-Pac were fighting an uphill battle. For what it’s worth, in 10-minutes, there wasn’t much more they could do. I liked that both seemed to want victory more than to hurt each other. Their feud was all about proving who the better man was, so having an ‘escape only’ stipulation really forced them to focus on winning at all costs. Whether you like that in a ‘grudge match’ or not is your call. I also think some of the spots they did bust out here were awesome. I liked how they continually upped the ante with crotching each other. I thought some of the action atop the cage, and on the ropes, was particularly decent too. I guess in the end this can be considered a solid, albeit somewhat forgotten conclusion to a solid, albeit completely forgettable feud.
Steve Blackman is at WWF New York playing with his martial arts sticks.
Rikishi heads into Commissioner Foley’s office, still irritated at Austin’s no-show. Mick promises to award a forfeit win to the Samoan if Stone Cold doesn’t arrive for their match
Billy Gunn and Chyna voice their frustration to The Coach that Eddie Guerrero’s injury means he’s not wrestling tonight.
Steven Richards/Val Venis vs Billy Gunn/Chyna
This was originally supposed to be Billy challenging Guerrero for the Intercontinental Championship. However, Eddie suffered an injury on Raw forcing the cancellation of that – and prompting Foley to book this replacement on Sunday Night Heat. Right To Censor sided with Eddie (Chyna is a Playboy cover girl, Billy calls himself Mr. Ass...you can see why they don’t like them), and now they have to face the consequences for doing so. Gunn and Chyna are both in pursuit of Eddie, with Billy wanting his title and Chyna wanting revenge for his relationship misdemeanours.
Val starts with Gunn, with the two getting into a back and forth slugfest. Venis is eventually sent to the outside, where Chyna whips him into the steps. Richards is tagged…and he runs straight into a press slam from Mr Ass. Tie-mares by Chyna next, before she forcibly motorboats Val! Steven puts Billy’s surgically repaired shoulder into the turnbuckles, with Venis on hand to follow it immediately with an armbar DDT. They do a number on the shoulder, and when he uses it to drop Richards with a DDT he stays down clutching it in obvious pain. Chyna gets the hot tag, rocking Val with the handspring elbow as Billy eliminates Stevie with the Fame Asser. Bull Buchanan and Goodfather attempt a run-in, causing a ruckus on the floor. With the ref distracted, Eddie Guerrero sneaks into the ring and KO’s Chyna with one of her loaded flower bouquets. Val wins at 07:17
Rating - ** - This wasn’t actually a bad match. The targeting of Billy’s shoulder was a nice piece of psychology, and Chyna was kept massively over both by the match itself and the finish. My problem is the positioning of Billy Gunn as a midcard babyface. He’s always been pretty over as a midcard tag guy, but he just isn’t over enough to warrant this push into the IC Title picture. The crowd was DEAD during the heat segment on him. And this was a 2000 crowd, with Right To Censor, a super-over heel act, in the ring with him.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley makes a final plea for her husband to allow her at ringside during his match tonight. HHH says no, so she gives him a Benoit compilation tape. She thinks he’ll get interesting insights into the Crossface on there. With that, she leaves to help her ‘business partner’ Kurt Angle prepare for his title match.
Steve Austin vs Rikishi – No Holds Barred Match
So Stone Cold made his full-time return to the WWF last month at Unforgiven, and immediately went on a manhunt for the man behind the wheel when he was run over at Survivor Series last year. He was on the warpath, destroying countless superstars as he looked to weed out the culprit. Even Commissioner Foley wasn’t exempt, as he suspended Austin for interrupting matches – and then fell victim to a Stone Cold Stunner himself. Finally Rikishi came forward – confessing to the crime, stating he felt no guilt, and announcing that he did it for ‘da Rock’ and ‘da People’. In Austin’s absence The Rock became the top babyface in the promotion so he felt vindicated for his actions. Things came to a head the week before this ppv, when the Samoan tried to run Austin down again (I believe in the same building as Survivor Series ’99). The big question tonight is whether Stone Cold is even here. He is yet to arrive in the building, and Rikishi makes his way to the ring expecting to be awarded a forfeit win.
Rikishi’s floral poncho doesn’t exactly scream evil heel (traditional Samoan garment or not). He calls Foley out to award him the match…but as Mick gets there Stone Cold’s music hits. He arrives at the arena in a pick-up truck that Rikishi had previously destroyed – and drives straight to the ring! Austin dishes out a wicked beating and pummels his foe all around ringside. They head into the crowd where Rikishi actually manages to get a few shots in…before Austin starts beating on him again with a leather belt. He grabs a rope from under the ring and tries to choke him out with it. Rikishi strikes back with a superkick on the floor, but again his offence is totally no sold and Stone Cold makes him bleed with repeated chair shots. The Samoan barely avoids a couple of sledgehammer shots, so instead Austin loads him in the back of the pick-up truck with another chair swing. He cracks open a beer…and drives off with his opponent in the back of his truck (almost ripping the set down as he goes). He takes him to the parking lot, leaving him bloody and battered against a wall…then returns to his truck. He wants to murder Rikishi! A cop drives in front of his truck…so Austin starts ramming the cop car instead? I guess that’s a no contest due to attempted vehicular homicide at 09:21. Austin is arrested and taken away by the police…
Rating - DUD - They tried to make a ‘new star’ by having Rikishi be the guy who ran Austin over, but it just didn’t work. The fans didn’t buy into Rikishi as a top line heel, and any chance he had of getting over was effectively buried with this ludicrous excuse for a ‘match’. Rikishi managed about three offensive moves in ten minutes, all of which were no sold. He was beaten all over the arena, all the way outside into one of the most retarded finishes the WWF has ever booked (amazingly, they’d descend even further into vehicular stupidity at Survivor Series the following month). Rikishi’s push was effectively buried in one night here. Call it a match, call it an angle, call it whatever you want. It flat-out sucked however you interpret it.
After Austin is taken away by the cops we see EMT’s attending to both Rikishi and the ‘police officer’ that Austin rammed in his truck
William Regal vs Naked Mideon – WWF European Title Match
How do you follow a match which ended in attempted murder? William Regal, one of the finest technical wrestlers of his generation, of course! Great as he is, tonight he slums it with Mideon, who by this point was completely irrelevant – and realised it so signed on for this dumb ass gimmick in a desperate attempt to stay over and keep his job. Answers on a postcard as to how he earned a European Title shot. Tonight Mideon has to wear clothes though, at Regal and Commissioner Foley’s request.
Watching Mideon trying to hang with Regal on the mat isn’t a comfortable experience. He barely gets waist-high on a dropkick attempt, and is punished by having his shoulder bashed into the ringpost. He gets dumped out of the ring quite unceremoniously…and sadly his only response is to peel his shirt off. Regal drops him again with a double underhook suplex for 2. The crowd is bored and begins booing this, as Regal vents his frustration at being in the ring with this joke with a succession of clubbing overhand chops. The pants are off…and Mideon stands before him in a thong. He has one ball hanging out, and looks a total state. His only offence is to plant a kiss on Regal’s lips. Seriously guy, who desperate are you? Regal can’t apply the Regal Stretch because it’s too gross, so hits the Regal Cutter instead. He retains at a LONG 06:11
Rating - * - I’ve awarded a generous star for Regal’s desperate attempt to bring some psychology to this, having worked the shoulder for a couple of minutes before the finish. I also liked him selling Mideon’s only obvious weapon (nudity) by refusing to put him in the Regal Stretch. It was genuinely quite a sad experience watching Mideon in this. The guy must have some kind of family. Imagine getting home and saying to your family ‘today I was on national ppv with my balls hanging out’. The worst part is, this awful gimmick did nothing for him in the long-term, and he inevitably wound up getting released in the future anyway. I hope the extra paydays were worth it.
We kill some time by repeating the Kurt Angle/Rock ‘interview’ from Sunday Night Heat. Angle staged the whole thing, using multiple video clips of prior Rock interviews to make him sound like a fool. Rock himself is watching in his locker room and is not remotely impressed.
Kevin Kelly asks Los Conquistadors for their thoughts on their Tag Title Match up next. They answer in basic Spanish phrases…
Hardy Boyz vs Los Conquistadors – WWF Tag Title Match
After the Hardyz finally got their big victory over Edge & Christian last month at Unforgiven, Commissioner Foley ruled that they could no longer challenge for the belts whilst Matt and Jeff held them. To combat this E&C devised a genius scheme. The mysterious Conquistadors quickly reappeared, resembling Edge & Christian, doing Edge & Christian’s moves…but never being categorically proven to be the former Tag Champions. They earned #1 contendership, and now challenge the Hardyz tonight. Coincidentally, Edge & Christian pulled out of their scheduled match earlier this evening. They told Lillian Garcia earlier they are pulling for a Conquistador win.
The Conquistadors are announced as hailing from ‘Latin America’ and march straight to the Spanish Announce Table for a conversation with their Spanish-speaking brethren. Matt starts with Uno (Christian), who is throwing around some lucha libre somersaults…and walks into a clothesline. Matt goes straight for the mask, so Dos (Edge) tags in. Jeff tricks Los Conquistadors into a slight miscue, dropping Dos out of the ring…whilst in the ring Uno ‘robots’ straight into a mule kick from the younger Hardy. Poetry In Motion nailed, and followed by a drop toehold which puts Dos into Uno’s crotch. Los Conquistadors try some stereo ‘lucha’ offence, only to be dumped on their asses again. Jeff is still going after a mask, until Uno throws him ribs-first into the post. That allows the challengers to isolate Jeff, targeting most of their offence on that midsection. Dos goes upstairs looking to seal the deal, missing a corkscrew senton aimed at those ribs. Matt gets a hot tag, joining his brother to splat Uno into the deck with a double facebuster. RAIL-RUN LARIAT from Jeff! SPRINGBOARD PLANCHA BY UNO! SUICIDE DIVE BY MATT! Unfortunately for him Dos managed to shove Jeff into the path of that move. Uno drops Matt with the inverted DDT (Christian’s move)…only to have the pin broken with a Swanton Bomb. Twist Of Fate drops Dos! Matt pulls his mask off…to reveal another mask! UNPRETTIER by Uno! Los Conquistadors win the belts at 10:51
Rating - ** - At times this was exciting, at times it was very funny. But I can’t shake the feeling that this went on far too long. They could have accomplished the same thing in less time, and it definitely felt like they’d outstayed their welcome by the conclusion. The Conquistadors storyline for Edge & Christian was pretty entertaining, but it was only ever going to end in this somewhat gimmicky match. It was only ever going to be additional substance to the already-lengthy Edge & Christian vs Hardyz feud, and since this wasn’t the pay-off it dragged. My personal highlights were the Conquistadors working the ribs (Jeff didn’t bother selling it though), and the dive sequence. JR and Lawler’s commentary contributed to the humour too, so kudos to them as well.
Triple H is watching the Benoit tape his wife gave him. He smiles, having seemingly seen something useful. It’s time for his match…
Chris Benoit vs Triple H
This one started when Benoit decided to headbutt HHH’s wife, as she interfered in a match on behalf of Kurt Angle. Hunter was furious, and it led to a series of increasingly violent confrontations between the two (Benoit costing HHH a WWF Title shot in the process) – giving Foley no choice but to book them together on pay-per-view. Can Benoit threaten a multi-time former WWF Champion? And can ‘The Game’ last in a singles match against a world class technical wrestler like the Crippler?
HHH is vociferously backed by the fans as the bell rings. He tries to use his power – repeatedly mauling Benoit into the corner. He also comes with a gameplan, going right after Benoit’s left knee. The knee is rammed into the canvas, the post, the steps and the Wolverine seriously hobbled. Helmsley is out-wrestling Benoit right now, picking apart the leg and making it difficult for him to even stand. Repeated shinbreakers find the mark, followed by a drop toehold when the Crippler finally comes at him. He’s got submission holds too, bridging back into a MutaLock! Benoit goes for a back suplex, only for his knee to give out causing both of them to topple over the top rope! Out of sheer desperation he tosses HHH shoulder-first into the steps. Lawler points out the irony that Benoit is having to brawl on the outside because HHH has comprehensively out-worked him so far. Back in the ring he hits am armbar DDT, then tosses the shoulder into the ringpost. HAMMERLOCK BACK SUPLEX! Helmsley is injured, and apparently didn’t do enough damage to Benoit’s knee to stop him. A hammerlock northern lights suplex gets 2, HHH’s shoulder injury getting worsened by the second. FLAPJACK ON THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! And notice HHH landed shoulder-first again! Snap suplex (using the bad arm) gets another nearfall, as Benoit continues his masterclass in destroying a body part.
Cross armbreaker attempted, only for HHH to block it, so the Wolverine hauls him up for another hammerlock back suplex. FLYING WOLVERINE TO THE BAD ARM! Triple H goes for a small package – which Lawler points out is a desperation move. He hits an inverted suplex, again showing his desperation as he goes for a move he doesn’t normally use, and hurts his own arm to execute it. He goes to strikes, punching his opponent into the corner then using a knee strike which softens him up for a neckbreaker. They go upstairs, with Helmsley dragging Benoit off the top with a SUPERPLEX! Both men down! ROLLING GERMANS from Benoit! And he’s dropping HHH on his shoulder! REPEATED DRAGON SUPLEXES FOR 2! CRIPPLER CROSSFACE! Hunter shows what he learned from that tape, positioning his body in a manner which somewhat negates the hold! BENOIT POUNDS ON THE NECK AND SHOULDER! CROSSFACE LOCKED IN! Still Helmsley tries to counter, standing on his feet for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Stephanie jogs to the ring, slapping Benoit in the face to distract him! HHH tries the Pedigree, but he can’t hit it because of his shoulder! COUNTERED TO THE CROSSFACE! BLOCKED! PEDIGREE…BLOCKED TOO! With the ref preoccupied with Stephanie, HHH hits a low blow, followed by the Pedigree to win at 18:44
Rating - **** - An awesome forgotten gem of a match, exemplifying exactly why HHH was rightly considered one of the best workers on the planet at this point (before injuries, age and an obsession with body building ravaged him). This was a superb story-telling performance from both men. HHH came to make a statement, first using his superior power to back Benoit up, then trying to ‘prove him wrong’, and beat him at his own technical wrestling game. However, he was unsuccessful, and after Benoit used HHH tactics on the floor, he then proved himself to be the superior technical wrestler as he dissected the shoulder. The mysterious video tape came into play later on, as HHH repeatedly countered and negated the Crippler Crossface…but ultimately he needed the help of his wife to beat Benoit, such was the damage the Canadian had inflicted during the match. I really liked how HHH used unfamiliar moves, as it really played up how hurt he was, and how much impact Benoit’s attacks were having. A really cerebral match which I urge people to go back and check out if they’ve not seen it or don’t remember it.
SIDENOTE – I’m not saying HHH should have lost here, because he shouldn’t. BUT, on recent ppv’s he’s had high profile singles matches with three of the guys WWF had lined-up as future main event talents. They were all great matches, but HHH won ALL of them. Surely he should have jobbed to at least one of them? I don’t buy the mindset that he was such a monolithic presence that simply ‘having a good match’ with him constitutes giving all three of Jericho, Angle and Benoit the rub. If Kurt was to be the next champion, and in keeping with the ‘love triangle’ storyline, surely Angle should have been the guy to beat him? In 2000 the WWF undercard was absolutely brimming with rising stars, and it’s such a shame they couldn’t have their top guy put at least one of them over on ppv at least once during that period. Just my thoughts…
Stephanie swaggers back to the locker room, having made her point to her husband that she is an asset.
In the locker room a sweaty Edge & Christian congratulate Los Conquistadors on their title win, and look forward to challenging them tomorrow night on Raw. (Christopher Daniels was one of the fake Conquistadors bt-dub).
The Rock vs Kurt Angle – WWF Title Match
Angle won #1 contendership by defeating HHH, thanks to an assist by Chris Benoit – who tried to assault Stephanie. An enraged Hunter banned Stephanie from his corner, branding her a liability. Determined to prove her worth, Stephanie started interfering in Kurt’s matches, earning him wins (including a pinfall victory over The Rock). Angle recruited her as his permanent business partner and she will be in his corner tonight. Meanwhile, The Rock has barely had time to concentrate on this title defence at all. He comes in totally distracted by Rikishi’s revelation that he ran over Steve Austin, and that he did it for The Rock. Can he get his head in the game to fight off a dangerous challenger? Will Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley be a factor? Can Kurt complete the most remarkable rookie year in WWF history by leaving Albany as WWF Champion?
The Fink announces that this match has been made a No DQ Match. Stephanie immediately makes her presence felt, trying to climb into the ring and grabbing The Rock’s attention so Kurt can jump him. Angle cracks a steel chair over the challenger’s back, indicating that he’s holding nothing back in his quest to be champion. HHH is backstage watching on a monitor, and he watches as Rock sprints down the aisle to start throwing Angle THROUGH the No Mercy set! Angle retreats back to the ring where he is clearly in a better position to complete with The People’s Champion. It’s also where Stephanie can lend a hand – and she does so by choking him in the ropes. Rock hits back by pinning Kurt’s ankle against the steps then hitting it with a chair. Sharpshooter applied….but as Kurt taps out Stephanie is distracting referee Earl Hebner! Rock tries to chase her…and runs right into a belly to belly suplex from Angle. Kurt has been subtly focusing his offence on Rock’s neck all evening, and he looks to force a victory with a lengthy sleeper hold. Rock escapes and LAUNCHES him over the top rope at 10 minutes. As the fight rages on the floor Stephanie slides the championship belt into the ring, enabling Angle to level the champion with it for 2. Kurt’s eye appears to be bleeding as he gets caught on the top rope – and is hauled off with a superplex. He retaliates with a German suplex, putting Rock on his neck again. Moonsault misses though, leaving both competitors out cold on the mat. Rock is up first, hitting the floatover DDT for 2. Spinebuster scores…but as he lines up The People’s Elbow Stephanie enters the ring again! ROCK BOTTOM ON STEPHANIE! He’s not done either! He attempts The People’s Elbow on her, only for Angle to attack him from behind. Triple H runs in, irate at his wife getting injured. He beats Kurt out of the ring…then drops Rock with a Pedigree for hurting Stephanie! HHH carries his wife away, just as Kurt did at Summerslam! Angle is trying to distance himself now, as a bloody Rikishi saunters down the aisle. He attacks Angle, bringing him back into the ring! ROCK BOTTOM! But Rock is too hurt to cover. Rikishi gets into the ring, but inadvertently drops Rock with the running butt splash! He tries a superkick instead…and gets Rock again! ANGLE SLAM ON RIKISHI! ANGLE SLAM ON ROCK! KURT WINS! New champion at 21:43!
Rating - **** - This was a really fun WWF-style main event, fought in front of an absolutely fantastic crowd. If WWF had doubts about putting the belt on Kurt, they had to have been allayed as he went toe to toe with The Rock – with the crowd genuinely eating up everything they did. By the end they were SCREAMING every time Angle covered, buying every nearfall, and cheering like mad every time Rock made a comeback. They believed Kurt was a threat to Rock! Although the overbooking at the end was a tad frustrating, it’s impossible to deny it made sense and tied together a lot of storylines. Triple H’s appearance kept his feud with Kurt going, and the way he carried his wife away from Kurt, in much the same way that Angle carried her away from HHH at Summerslam was a powerful moment. Rikishi’s appearance too continued his angle where he played up trying to ‘help’ The Rock. He was the reason the champ was so distracted going in, and he wound up being the reason he lost the title. He also could have gained a measure of revenge for Kurt beating him in the King Of The Ring final. Rock and Kurt would go on to have a better wrestling match at No Way Out 2001, but for sheer enjoyable, sports-entertainment this was a top notch main event.
The show ends with Kurt celebrating in the aisle – the famous shot where he hugs the title belt and weeps with joy, whilst boogers stream out of his nose.
Tape Rating - ** - The two main events delivered and were really great (in fairness, Jericho/X-Pac was ok too). But the rest of the card stunk. It was mostly thrown together on Heat, featured nothing of any significance, and really doesn’t resemble value-for-money on a ppv presentation. You can’t ask people to pay for a show full of 5-10 minute filler matches you book an hour before it goes live, you simply can’t. In the end all people really remember from this show are Angle winning the title, Conquistadors winning the Tag belts, and maybe HHH/Benoit. That’s not a testament to how good those matches or moments were…it’s because the rest of the show is really terrible. Unless you really want to see Kurt’s title win, or the HHH/Benoit clinic you really don’t need to see this.
Top 3 Matches
3) Chris Jericho vs X-Pac (***)
2) The Rock vs Kurt Angle (****)
1) Triple H vs Chris Benoit (****)