Raw is War - September 25th, 2000

Stone Cold’s Investigation begins, and a WWF title main event

The show opens with Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rattlesnake is back and the crowd are so happy to see him. I mentioned it at Unforgiven but his new theme by the band Disturbed divides opinion. I think it’s awesome. My pal Craig hates it. Austin addresses the many changes the company has gone through in his absence. Vince McMahon is off being a genetic jackhammer and based on how Stephanie and Shane turned out he hopes he’s shooting blanks. Stephanie and Triple H are married and are on again and off again and in power and out of power and says it’s the worst marriage in the history of the business. Surprisingly third on his list is Mideon’s recent streaking and the pimples on his ass. The only thing that hasn’t changed is that he will whoop ass and raise middle fingers and end up saying that nothing is good enough for him until he finds the person that ran him over and gives them the worst day of their lives. That appears to be the end of the segment until Commissioner Foley interrupts. He expresses how happy that Stone Cold is back and says that he missed the biggest change - Mick Foley is running the show.

He offers his full support to Austin’s quest to find the man responsible for running him over but not to how he wants to do it. He suggests that Austin sit back and relax and let him find the man responsible for him with minimal chaos caused. Stone Cold isn’t happy with that. He doesn’t give a damn about authority figures and as much as he respects Mick Foley he doesn’t think his investigation is making enough progress. Austin asks how he knows it wasn’t Foley himself who did it - they’ve driven up and down the roads together and he knows Mick is a terrible driver. The two have words off-mic until interrupted by Chris Benoit of all people. He introduces himself to Stone Cold and addresses an even greater injustice. Last night at Unforgiven for the second time this year he was announced as the new WWF Champion only for Mick Foley to reverse the decision and restart the match. He wants payback for that. He demands a match with The Rock tonight for the WWF Championship. Mick actually concedes that Benoit was screwed and that it was him who did it. He agrees to Benoit’s request and gives him a title match tonight. He is then cut off by Kurt Angle! Angle agrees that Benoit got screwed but that pales next to the night he had at Unforgiven. He almost lost a friendship - he says almost because part of friendship is forgiveness - and requests his own rematch for tonight. Foley points out that Triple H’s ribs are still badly injured so his request is denied. Angle says that's fine, but wants to talk about another incident last night - Stone Cold beating him up! He gets in Austin’s face and says how dare he accuse either himself or his friend Chris Benoit of running him over. He seems more offended that Austin turned down his friendship and the toy gold medal he gave him. Austin silently seethes as the oblivious Olympian complains about Stone Cold attacking an American Hero and demands an apology. Austin teases it…before dropping both Angle and Benoit with a pair of Stone Cold Stunners! 

Backstage Stone Cold is on the hunt and enters The Undertaker’s locker room. Taker doesn’t even let him speak - he wasn’t there and it wasn’t him but promises if he knew anything he’d tell him. 

In the McMahon-Helmsley locker room, Stephanie still isn’t totally happy with her husband. She’s unhappy that he seems to have forgotten her birthday yesterday and also about the rough kiss he gave her. He says her presents are waiting at home and that the kiss was just to prove a point to Kurt Angle that she belongs to him. She doesn’t look too happy with that statement either, but she did pick Triple H.

Stone Cold interrogates Pat Patterson and Gerry Brisco. They lie about their whereabouts but he knows it wasn’t them because neither of them have the sack to have done it. They bicker between themselves after he leaves.

In Kurt’s locker room he looks through the Olympics coverage laughing about how he can beat all these athletes. Trish Stratus approaches and continues to flirt with Kurt and offer her friendship as he ignores her until seeing his toy gold medal disappear into her cleavage. Yeah that would have worked on me too.

Stone Cold goes to see Triple H and Stephanie. She flips out at Austin for what he did to Shane last night before The Game steps up and looks Steve right in his eyes and promises him that he did not run him over and he does not know who did. He says that if he wanted to take Austin out he’d look him in his eyes and do it man to man.

Just before the main event, Steven William Regal is in the ring to once again give us all a lesson on manners and civility. This week, he wants to talk to us about the joy of literature. He is going to read to us a little William Shakespear! All these Americans need to pipe down and let the man better them! He doesn’t get far into it before the glass shatters and Stone Cold Steve Austin marches to the ring. He slides in, drops Regal with a Stunner and leaves all without saying a word. 

When Chris Benoit enters for the main event, much to everyone’s surprise, he has Shane McMahon with him once again. He hasn’t been by his side since Blackman dropped him off the titantron at Summerslam. The Rock defends the WWF Championship. This match is as good as their one in the main event of Fully Loaded as these two men have very good chemistry together. Benoit continually keeps control of the match as Shane gets cheap shots and distracts The Rock. The referee is knocked down allowing Shane to get into the ring and try to help more directly. Benoit grabs a steel chair but The Rock ducks his swing and it’s Shane who gets a brutal chairshot to the head and he is out cold. The Rock and Benoit fight on the outside as Stephanie runs down to the ring to check on her brother. Her husband Triple H follows, still holding his ribs and struggling but wanting to protect his wife. He does at least help Steph roll Shane out of the ring and The Rock reverses an Irish whip sending Benoit into The Game. Triple H doesn’t like it and hangs Benoit up on the top rope sending him spinning into a Rock Bottom! The Rock retains the WWF title with a little accidental help from Triple H. As The Rock celebrates, Kurt Angle runs to the ring and knocks down The Rock so that he can attack Triple H. Angle and Benoit double team The Rock until Triple H tries to make the save but is helpless with his injured ribs. Angle hammers The Game’s busted up, taped up ribs until Stephanie stops him and slaps her “friend” to protect her husband. Benoit gets in Angle’s face, wanting him to focus on helping him beat up The Rock and Triple H and in frustration he drops Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley with a stiff headbutt! A messy, chaotic end to Raw! . 

Tag Team Ladder Mayhem

Edge and Christian go to see Commissioner Foley and protest that while they’re happy to get their rematch for the WWF Tag Team titles tonight, it’s in a brutal ladder match. That’s not the only gimmick match announced for this show as it was the first episode of Raw on TNN so they stacked it. Foley says that if Edge and Christian don’t win the titles tonight then this will be their last match with The Hardyz during this title reign. 

Matt and Jeff Hardy defend their newly won Tag Team titles against Edge and Christian in a ladder match. Edge and Christian bring a ladder to the ring and try to get the belts before the bell even rings but Matt and Jeff run down and stop it. All four men are limping and look sore from the steel cage match they had just 24 hours previous. It’s pretty cruel making them do two such dangerous gimmick matches back to back but I’m sure all four of them wanted to as they were young and hungry and desperate to prove themselves. This match is pretty slow and short given how banged up they are but the big spot is Edge diving off one ladder and spearing Jeff Hardy out of the air as he dangled from the Tag Team title belts. An absolutely insane spot which looked amazing. Edge seems to have the match won from there but Lita arrives and hits Edge with a chair, knocking him off the ladder. Christian drops her with a reverse DDT for her troubles which gets a lot of boos from the crowd. There’s an insanely dangerous looking spot as Matt Hardy gives Christian a back suplex off the ladder and both seem to catch their heads on the ropes on the way down. I gasped. I do wonder if WWF management felt guilty watching these four young guys struggle so much through this match in obvious pain and discomfort. There’s more moves off the ladders as everyone takes multiple stiff bumps. Edge and Christian set up a con-chair-to on Matt Hardy while sat atop three ladders but Jeff and Lita are there to tip the challengers off their ladders and Matt is able to grab the title belts and retain the Tag Team titles. An amazing effort from all four men, and Lita. As per Commissioner Foley earlier, this is the last time Edge and Christian are allowed to challenge The Hardyz. There’s another scary moment as when they reach the top of the ramp, Jeff Hardy clearly doesn’t know where he is or where he’s going and has to be led to the back by Matt. 

The Right to Censor try to Censor Chyna

Chyna makes her way down to the ring to reveal her Playboy cover and deliver a heartfelt, sincere speech about female body positivity and all the issues she’s struggled with both physically and mentally. It was lovely and thankfully the crowd were respectful and cheered in the right places. She gets to finish her speech and enjoy the moment before we get back to the storyline stuff as the Right to Censor interrupt. Val Venis does most of the talking about how she speaks with emotion and feeling rather than logic and reason and encourages everyone to boycott her magazine, which is just pornography.

Val’s heel promos hit a lot harder in 2024 looking back knowing that he is a fully insane conspiracy theorist and all around terrible human being. He is finally interrupted by Chyna’s fiance, the Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero who slips down to the ring at the side of the ramp. Eddie’s title belt looks really shiny and new here so I think they might have swapped it out for a new one. He seems to be fully back to being a babyface as he showers Chyna with praise and compliments before offering to defend her honour and put his IC title on the line against any member of RtC. Steven accepts on Val Venis’ behalf. Later in the show they revealed multiple pictures of Chyna’s Playboy spread (censored) with King gushing and being creepy about it. The fans booed as soon as they realised they were getting no actual nudity on Raw.

Eddie Guerrero (with Chyna) defends the Intercontinental title against Val Venis (wth Steven Richards). I did comment on Val’s physique previously but it is kind of funny that they’ve given him a gimmick where he wrestles fully clothed just as he got in the best shape of his entire career. Richards gets on the apron so Chyna rips his pants off revealing his underwear for a big laugh. The distraction allows Eddie to win with a roll up and retain his Intercontinental title. 

Other Happenings

• Kane faces Rikishi in the opening match. Kane meets Rikishi on the entrance ramp and he continues the new more serious mean streak he debuted at Unforgiven by taking it to Kane and grabbing the ring bell to use as a weapon. Kane fights back against that. They fight outside and shove down the referee to cause a disqualification. Rikishi gets the upper hand, grabbing a steel chair and hitting Kane across the back. Kane shrugs that off and rattles Rikishi back with the same. They trade big punches back and forth in the ring while referees and officials work to separate the two. 
• Bubba Ray Dudley faces Tazz. Before the match, Tazz goads Bubba over him needing his brother D-Von as backup so Bubba asks D-Von to leave and make this match truly one on one. Jerry Lawler’s feud with Tazz should be over but both King and JR spend the whole match trash talking Tazz. The referee goes down and Tazz goes out to confront Jerry, spraying water in his face. King gets up to give chase but he’s jumped from behind by the newly debuted Raven who spikes King with a DDT on the floor before getting in the ring and doing the same to Bubba Ray. That allows Tazz to get the pin fall victory but D-Von is too late in getting to the ring to catch either Raven or Bubba. 

• Chris Jericho faces X-Pac in a First Blood match. First man to bleed loses. X-Pac has changed up his ring gear and while he’s still in the DX Black and Green, it's no longer the DX logo and just has his own name. That’s better. Still has his old DX theme music though. Jericho wastes no time and runs up the ramp to attack Jericho as soon as he enters from the back. They brawl around the ring and Jericho botches as he tries his trademark springboard dropkick off the apron and misses…but X-Pac still sells it and falls off. They fight around the ring until X-Pac grabs a glass water bottle off the time keepers table and smashes it over Jericho’s head making him bleed and winning the match. X-Pac tries to keep the fight going and grabs his nunchucks but Jericho unarms him with a low blow and uses the nunchucks himself so that both men end up bleeding. In an awesome visual, a bloody Jericho locks X-Pac in the Walls of Jericho on top of the announce table as he bleeds and screams in pain himself. 

Smackdown! - September 28th, 2000

Detective Austin ruins a couple of title matches

Smackdown begins with a recap of Stone Cold’s investigation thus far, and highlights that Commissioner Foley doesn’t like his methods of promising swift, brutal judgement on everyone. “You’re guilty until proven innocent”. 

Commissioner Foley opens the show in the arena and repeats that same sentiment. He wants Austin to find the man responsible for running him over but he can’t allow him to run around beating up anyone and everyone he wants. He implores the Rattlesnake to wait for his own findings “or else”. He’s then interrupted by Chris Benoit, who failed to win the WWF title on Raw, crossed paths with Triple H and then headbutted Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. Benoit tells Foley that he’s an awful commissioner because he is unfair and his rulings make no sense before calling him a joke. He demands one more title match with The Rock, calling the one on Raw just as unfair as the ones at Fully Loaded and Unforgiven. He demands a fair, one on one match tonight “or else”. That then brings out Kurt Angle who sucks up to Mick paying him a bunch of compliments he clearly doesn’t mean. He demands his own match - a one on one match with Triple H. He briefly sucks up to his home town before turning on his own local sports teams - it all gets a cheer, it seems that the locals agree with him. He then turns his attention to Chris Benoit - he blew his title shot on Raw, and he physically attacked his friend Stephanie. He wants Benoit to be fined and suspended for his actions. Benoit calls Angle a clown, so Angle tells Benoit that HE is the best wrestler in the business. He’s right. Foley cuts through and says that since Angle wants a piece of Triple H and Benoit wants a piece of The Rock he’ll give them both what they want and make a tag team match - Angle and Benoit against Triple H and the WWF Champion The Rock!

Foley leaves, so then Angle attacks Benoit and the two tag team partners brawl and trade blows until referees fill the ring and split them up to loud “Angle” chants from his hometown fans. 

Stone Cold arrives at the arena, asking where to find X-Pac and Roaddogg. He finds them in the trainer's room together (and in their DX t-shirts, despite having split up at Summerslam, and X-Pac being a heel and Roaddogg being a babyface). They promise him that neither of them know anything about his being run over.

Steve Blackman defends the Hardcore Championship against Roaddogg. As Roaddogg enters and I was getting ready to mock him for still wearing the DX gear, as I keep doing, it suddenly dawned on me why he is - merch sales. I bet the DX stuff was still selling and making him money. Fair play. Roaddogg jumps Blackman during his entrance to start the match and they trade weapons shots. Blackman is still being called the greatest Hardcore Champion of all time by the commentators. Honestly? Having rewatched this whole period at this point I’d say Roaddogg is the greatest hardcore champion of all time if we base it purely on match quality. His run at the start of 1999 was pretty awesome. The fight went up through the crowd and into the backstage area and down a stairwell where the match was ruined by Stone Cold Steve Austin who blasts Roaddogg with a stiff chair shot allowing Blackman to retain the title. 

William Regal (he’s dropped the Steven) goes to see Commissioner Foley and protests that the “beer swilling brute” Steve Austin attacked him on Raw. He tells Foley that Austin doesn’t respect him and that maybe everyone is right to call him a joke. Mick says he’s going to go and get more involved.

He comes out to the top of the ramp and takes a seat there, promising to stop Austin from interfering in the next match personally. Al Snow heads out for a European title defence, this week he’s from France. His opponent is X-Pac, which is why Foley is out for this match - Roaddogg and X-Pac seem to be his targets tonight. Stone Cold’s music hits and Foley readies himself to stop him at the top of the ramp but the Rattlesnake comes through the crowd and drops X-Pac and Snow with a pair of Stone Cold Stunners. He drops the referee too for good measure! As Austin leaves, Foley stops him to try and talk but Stone Cold snubs him.

Unfriendly Tag Team Main Event

Lillian Garcia interviews Triple H to find out how he’s going to get along with The Rock. He says that he doesn’t like The Rock but they’ve battled all over the world and that there’s a mutual respect. He tells Rock to keep his ego in check and then nobody can stop them. 

Kevin Kelly interviews The Rock and asks him how he feels about teaming with Triple H where he says pretty much the same thing Triple H said earlier. 

Triple H goes to see The Rock backstage and they again basically say what they did in their separate interviews earlier. They seem pretty united, if unfriendly.

In the main event, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit are arguing the moment they get in the ring and when Triple H enters (with Stephanie by his side) he wastes no time rushing the ring and attacking them before his partner is out to help him. Even with taped ribs he holds his own pretty well but with The Rock there to make it two on two it settles down into a tag team match. Angle and Benoit isolate Triple H and work on his ribs and despite some close calls - like Angle shoving Benoit and him almost getting a Pedigree - it works well. The Rock and Angle fight on the outside and Triple H knocks Benoit out with the WWF title belt. He has the victory in hand but the referee is distracted so Angle hits Triple H with the title belt and reverses the cover. I was sure that was it but The Game kicked out. Both men tag and The Rock fights off both men, laying out Angle with a spinebuster and a People’s Elbow but Benoit breaks up that cover. Rock and Triple H have a funny game of one upmanship, slamming Angle and Benoit into the announce table. Stephanie stops The Rock from hitting her friend Kurt with a steel chair, and the distraction allows Angle to hit an Olympic Slam and win the match! She saved her friend, but technically cost her husband the match. Kurt Angle has pinned the WWF Champion to end Smackdown.

An ECW alumni in-ring debut

Tazz comes out and after announcing that he will be joining Michael Cole as the new permanent commentary team for Sunday Night Heat on MTV every week, formally introduces the man who has helped him out in his last two matches - Raven. Raven cuts his debut promo and he and Tazz address the fact that these two were not friends in ECW but now are because “they have things in common” which is a stretch. King cuts Raven’s promo off to call Tazz “retarded” and tell Raven he looks homeless. Raven has a cool look, but his promo is pretty terrible. He uses a lot of big words basically. “What about me? What about Raven?” He’s finally cut off by Chris Jericho who tells Tazz and “Raisen” to shut the hell up. He says that none of the brutal treatment X-Pac has given him lately is as bad as listening to Tazz and Raven’s promo. This is not a great official debut for Raven - it’s a total burial honestly. Jericho challenges them to a tag team match with Jerry Lawler as his partner and they accept and attack King two on one until Jericho sprints down and makes the rescue. That tag team match is set for later tonight. 

Chris Jericho and Jerry Lawler team up for the third or fourth time lately to face the team of Tazz and Raven. King and Tazz brawl off through the crowd as Jericho locks Raven in the Walls of Jericho. X-Pac runs to the ring and even though Jericho sees it coming that’s enough of a distraction to allow a Raven DDT and a victory over Y2J. X-Pac, Tazz and Raven try to keep the beat down going but The Dudley Boyz rescue King and Jericho from it going any further.

Other Happenings

• Lita defends the WWF Women’s Championship against Jacqueline. Lita debuts a new theme song here which is much better than her previous theme. Before the match, Lita introduces the new WWF Tag Team Champions Matt and Jeff Hardy who’ll be at ringside for her match. They’re both limping and sore after their Steel Cage match and Tag Team Ladder match on back to back nights. Jacqueline has Edge and Christian with her, and King explains that he’s heard that Edge and Christian petitioned for Jackie to get this title match wanting to cost Lita the women’s title in return for costing them the Tag Team titles. That is smart, since they’ve been told they aren’t allowed any more title shots while The Hardyz are champions. Despite Edge’s best efforts with a sneak attack, Lita retains the women’s title with a Twist of Fate. It’s a great site seeing Matt, Jeff and Lita pose together all as champions.

• Backstage, Trish Stratus goes to see Kane. Commissioner Foley has booked a six man tag team match for T&A and they need a partner so she wants Kane. She gets a little flirty only for Kane to tell her her “mammary glands” don’t impress him. He isn’t interested until learning the match is with Too Cool and Rikishi. He changes his mind and is keen to settle his score with Rikishi from Raw.
• Too Cool and Rikishi debut a brand new theme song when they enter for their six man tag with Test, Albert and Kane. Rikishi has the two former Goodfather Hoes Victoria and Mandy with him tonight - they haven’t been around for a couple of weeks. After Rikishi’s more serious, dramatic turn at Unforgiven and on Raw it’s reassuring to see him back with Too Cool and the ladies. He still doesn’t look happy though. The match falls apart when, after a lot of back and forth, Kane takes exception to Test tagging himself in so Kane plants his own partner with a chokeslam and leaves. Rikishi finishes off Test with a Banzai drop and it's all over. Rikishi victory dances with Too Cool, Victoria and Mandy after the match.  This is the last time Rikishi would be with Too Cool for this post match victory dance routine.

• Chyna (with Eddie Guerrero) faces Steven Richards (with Val Venis). Val brings a bathrobe in order to cover up and censor Chyna’s body. Chyna dominates Richards before getting him set up in the corner and then stripping to her underwear teasing a Stink Face on Richards. Val tries to stop her, Eddie cuts him off and then Chyna beats Steven with a DDT. Eddie seems to have had a total change of heart about Chyna showing off her body as he cheers her on here. 

Raw is War - October 2nd, 2000

Benoit crosses The Game, and a Number One Contender is crowned

Raw opens with the WWF Champion The Rock. He says some things in life get an instinctive reaction. If you see a fly you swat it. If you see a puppy you pet it. If you see Kurt Angle’s smug condescending face you smash it. And he tried to do that with a steel chair on Smackdown but he was stopped by Stephanie McMahon-Angle. Or Helmsley. That was a good line. He also made a little joke about a Democrat smoking crack which feels pointless to recap. He also makes fun of the way Kurt Angle celebrated his Olympic victory, crying with snot in his nose and “piss rolling down his leg” before demanding Angle come down to the ring as The Rock is going to give him a WWF title shot. Kurt Angle does come down and as they have a very specific back and forth about the recent Olympic games and getting some cheap heat Commissioner Foley comes down. JR and King discuss the recent story that is developing for Mick - Stone Cold keeps disrespecting him and its making other people do the same. He’s losing control, and is not in a great mood. Foley says that while The Rock might want Kurt tonight, he needs to ask him to let it slide because someone else wants to fight Kurt even more - that brings out Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. The fans even briefly chant “Triple H”. This whole story has turned him into a very natural babyface. Triple H jokingly calls out The Rock for mocking Angle’s Olympic victory before pivoting to make fun of it himself. He and Foley mock-cry at Kurt as he seethes. Triple H says he needs to end this feud with Kurt tonight because it’s distracting him from chasing the WWF title, as that’s his property. Mick Foley says that tonight it’ll be Triple H vs. Kurt Angle for the number one contendership for the WWF title. That brings out Chris Benoit who is furious and still wants his title shot. Based on how he’s acted previously with Jericho and Angle it seems odd that Triple H isn’t aggressively chasing down Benoit in retaliation for him headbutting his wife last week. Benoit demands his own title shot, once again. He still feels like Foley has screwed him multiple times. Before Mick can answer, Kane comes out now! The ring is filling up with main eventers. Has Mick Foley lost all his authority and respect? Kane also demands a title shot, threatening The Rock. That brings out Kane’s recent rival Rikishi! King continually jokes about how little respect Foley commands and says someone should play his music so he can go ask for a title shot. That was pretty good.

Rikishi doesn’t ask for a title shot - he just wants another fight with Kane. Mick ends all of the debate by booking a tag team match between Kane and Benoit against Rikishi and The Rock. Benoit, Kane and Angle quietly leave together but The Rock stops them to rattle off some more funny insults to end the segment. It was mostly funny as his insults are aimed at Benoit and Kane and even Kurt Angle looks pretty tickled by it standing behind them. 

Backstage, Stephanie and Triple H discuss tonight. The Game seems upset, but isn’t quite sure why. He has a bad feeling about tonight.

Chris Benoit and Kane take on Rikishi and the WWF Champion The Rock in our mid-way-through-the-show main event. This match is all action with no selling and them all trading big moves. Kane sits up to avoid a People’s Elbow and spikes The Rock with a chokeslam. The Rock makes the hot tag and with Kane in trouble, Benoit cracks his own partner in the back with a steel chair for no real reason which Rock follows with a Rock Bottom and then Rikishi sits on his chest to win the match for his team. Kane sits right back up and pursues Benoit leaving Rock and Rikishi to celebrate in the ring.

Ahead of the main event while Triple H warms up backstage, he asks his wife to stay backstage. He has this bad feeling that something awful is going to happen tonight so he asks her to do him a favour and stay in the back and out of harm’s way. She seems very upset about it and walks off..running into Chris Benoit. He sarcastically asks how her head is so she gives him a stiff slap! He laughs in her face. 

The main event is Triple H (without Stephanie) against Kurt Angle for the number one contendership. Triple H still has taped up ribs which Angle focuses on, but then Triple H dramatically removes the bandage and reveals that he’s no longer hurt and was just suckering Angle in. The match is back and forth and as Angle takes control, Stephanie ignores her husband's wishes and comes down to the ring to support him anyway. There’s a cool spot as Triple H lays Angle on the announce desk and drives him through it with an elbow drop off the security wall. Back in the ring, Angle swings with a punch but The Game ducks and the referee is punched out instead. Triple H follows up with a superplex and seems to have the match won but with no referee to count. Chris Benoit comes down to ringsid and grabs Stephanie by the hair which obviously brings Triple H out of the ring to defend her and he fights Benoit.  The distraction gives Angle the advantage as he takes Triple H back inside and takes aim with a steel chair. Stephanie stops him from using it and as Triple H sets up a Pedigree, Benoit pulls Steph off the apron. Triple H forgoes the Pedigree to get Benoit so clobbers The Game in the head with the chair and sends him back into an Olympic Slam for the Angle victory.

Kurt Angle is officially the number one contender, thanks to Chris Benoit. Triple H was right - Stephanie should have stayed in the back! After Angle leaves, Triple H shouts at Stephanie about exactly that - he told her to stay in the back! The fans chanted “Pedigree” which made me laugh. Triple H leaves in a rage as Stephanie cries in the ring. 

The Rattlesnake Continues to Strike, and RtC target Playboy

The Right to Censor goes to see Mick Foley and say that as employees they demand he do something about the man who is most responsible for the moral decay in the WWF - Stone Cold Steve Austin. They rub salt in the wound a little about his perceived lack of respect and Mick gets angry and kicks them out of his office.

Stone Cold Steve Austin has been shown arriving at the arena now and so, moments later, Commissioner Foley heads back down to the ring looking very serious. JR and King discuss Austin’s methods and temperament since returning and how his constant attacking of WWF Superstars is not the best way to go about it. Mick says that he has been conducting his own investigation and that in the history of crime and punishment nothing was ever solved by a Stone Cold Stunner. Mick told Austin on Smackdown that he had to stop attacking people “or else”. Austin would then go on to interfere in two title matches on Smackdown, followed by disrespecting Mick. Jerry Lawler has called Mick “Rodney Dangerfrield” (because he gets no respect) about 850 times during this single episode of Raw so far. Mick asks for Steve Austin to come down to the ring and talk about this with him. Austin is getting a good reaction from the crowds but I have to be honest - it’s definitely not as loud as it used to be. I think on balance it’s partly because of his new theme song, and partly because the rest of the roster is so popular now. He’s no longer a great white in a pond full of fish. He’s not the only great white anymore. Foley says that he is no Vince McMahon and while Steve always disrespected Vince he needs him to listen to him and do as he asks. He asks Stone Cold to promise not to interfere in any more matches. That actually gets a boo, so I think the fans are enjoying him raising hell. I know I am. Austin is deeply impressed by Mick’s investigation so far and after mocking him Mick proves him wrong by bringing out a prime suspect and his first real lead - Mr. Ass. This is the first time we’ve seen Billy Gunn since the Feb 28th episode of Raw is War and this is his official return. He then hands it over to Stone Cold to pick up the questioning there as he is confident he’s solved the case. Austin hasn’t taken his eyes off Mr. Ass.

Billy acknowledges why he’s the prime suspect - he was late in arriving at Survivor Series that night, and he was a member of DX at the time. But it was NOT him who ran over Stone Cold. He says the police have already confirmed that his flight really was delayed, but he adds that he saw the car that ran over Austin as they left! He says that the Brooklyn Brawler was driving him and can confirm his story - whoever was driving the car that ran over the Rattlesnake at Survivor Series had blonde hair. Austin says that he’s listened to Mr. Ass and he believes him but…he never really liked him anyway and drops him with a Stone Cold Stunner for the hell of it. Austin calls for a cold beer as he leaves and he has ticked off another big suspect BUT he does at least have a new clue. Later Austin goes to talk to the Brooklyn Brawler and confirms the details of Mr. Ass’ story. He can’t vouch for the blonde hair but does confirm the rest.

Earlier today outside the arena, The Right to Censor burned copies of Chyna’s issue of Playboy while a gathered crowd bood them. Val Venis and Steven Richards face Chyna and Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero. It is so nice seeing Chyna and Eddie being friends again. I guess the whole teased heel turn and anger from Eddie was just their way of promoting her Playboy cover? It seems to have been dropped though.

Eddie and Chyna seem to have victory in hand until Bull and Goodfather run down to join the right. It’s four on two…until Stone Cold arrives. He must not have liked what they said about him earlier as he runs to the ring and drops Bull, Godfather and Val with Stunners. Richards tries to escape but Chyna throws him back into the ring to get his own Stunner! Everyone is happy to see the RtC all get dropped…but when he gives a Stunner to Eddie Guerrero, it seems like he has once again gone too far. He does at least give a salute to Chyna with a beer which gives her a big smile. As Austin has a beer bash, Mick Foley returns. He seems embarrassed by the fact that he just will not respect the commissioner’s wishes. Mick says that he has to either fine or suspend Austin for his actions. Before he can say which, Austin boots him in the gut and drops him with a Stone Cold Stunner too! The Rattlesnake strikes and may have gone too far this time. Backstage afterwards, Austin has left the arena as Mick Foley throws around ladders and chairs and screams about “who does he think he is?”. Mick is PISSED. 

Other Happenings

• The Hardyz (with Lita) defend their Tag Team titles against Too Cool (with Victoria and Mandy, who seem to be regular fixtures!). This is an energetic babyface vs. babyface match with both teams getting very positive fractions. Scotty hits the Worm but Matt gets his foot on the ropes. Edge and Christian come down and try to cost The Hardyz the match - they aren’t allowed a title shot until Matt and Jeff lose them - but he misses his spear and hits Scotty instead, allowing Jeff to land a Swanton Bomb and The Hardyz to retain. 
• Mick Foley goes to see Edge and Christian and is angry at them for trying to cost The Hardyz their match. Mick gives them both a shot at the Hardcore title tonight since they’re so desperate to be a champion again.

• X-Pac teams with Tazz and Raven to take on Chris Jericho and The Dudley Boyz. This match highlights Jerry Lawler’s transition to being a good guy on commentary as he now not only roots against Tazz and Raven - his rivals - but against X-Pac for costing he and Jericho a tag team match and he cheers on Jericho his by now regular tag partner, and The Dudleyz in their feud with Tazz and Raven. It works as he’s significantly more likeable already. Jericho and The Dudleyz win a short match with a 3D and then Lionsault on Raven.
• WWF Women’s Champion Lita is interviewed about her scheduled title defence against Ivory later. Before she can speak she’s attacked from behind by Jacqulieine and the two have an intense brawl through the back where it gets really physical and leads to the parking lot. It’s pretty nasty! Lita throws a glass jar at her which smashes against one of the production trucks. Jackie gets the upper hand with a trash can and climbs up onto the front of this enormous 18 wheeler truck. Lita follows and throws Jackie off the hood into a pile of rubble. Lita tries to dive onto her with a moonsault but Jackie uses a fire extinguisher to blind her and she misses. Jackie continues the attack with a trash can lid until finally it’s broken up by referees. This was intense.

• Edge and Christian enter together for what is announced as being a triple threat match for the Hardcore title. They jump Steve Blackman two on one during his entrance to begin the match. The Lethal Weapon does a good job of fighting them both off for a bit until the odds overwhelm him. They get steel chairs and try a con-chair-to but Blackman rallies with kicks, driving them back into both men’s face and chest and retains by pinning Christian.

Smackdown! - October 5th, 2000

Commissioner Foley lays down the law

There’s an awesome video package at the start of the show recapping both how Kurt Angle became number one contender, and Steve Austin’s path of destruction which has put him at odds with Commissioner Foley. 

Mick Foley is shown pacing nervously backstage, awaiting the arrival of Stone Cold Steve Austin. In a later segment a limo arrived and he rushed to it hoping it would be Stone Cold but was disappointed to find Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley instead. 

Stone Cold Steve Austin is shown finally arriving at the arena and Commissioner Foley flips out in anger, marching off to confront the Rattlesnake. He heads down to the ring in the arena and has a small army of police officers with him. Mick says that he has an announcement to make and none of the people are going to like it and neither does he but he’s been forced into this by Stone Cold. That brings Austin out (and he gets a satisfyingly huge pop from the live crowd). The police officers have surrounded the ring and there is a lot of tension between Austin and Foley. Stone Cold just wants to know if he’s found the culprit yet. Mick tries to explain what's going on but Austin keeps cutting him off with “it's a yes or no question”. Foley is forced to say no, so Austin tells him to spit out what he has to say. Mick says that his only two stipulations for taking the commissioner job was that he would have fun, and that no one could lay a hand on him. He says that since Austin got back he is no longer having fun - he’s made his job suck - and he beat him up on national television. He says that Stone Cold doesn’t have to trust him but he has been on his side and he has refused to cooperate. Austin says that his idea of fun is finding the man who ran him over and torturing him like a dog. He says Mick is the toughest man he’s ever been in the ring with and he only got a Stunner for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and that’s as close as he’ll get to an apology. He says he eats, sleeps and drinks pure revenge. Mick tells Austin that he has no choice because he was planning to just fine him to save face but Stone Cold put his hands on him so he is suspended indefinitely until he finds the man that ran him over. Austin politely asks Mick to reconsider but when he refuses Austin drops him with another Stone Cold Stunner. Humorously, the police and security just stand and watch and do nothing, until escorting him from the arena. He was leaving anyway.

Kurt Angle gains the upper hand, and possibly a new manager

Triple H finds his wife sitting in their locker room and says he wanted her to stay at the hotel. It seems that he has decided he doesn’t want her at ringside with him anymore. She keeps getting hurt and he keeps having to protect her which is costing him matches. She’s very upset and blames Chris Benoit. Triple H says this is a business decision and not personal. She leaves, upset and then later as she's about to get back in her limo she stops and thinks about something. 

The new Number One Contender Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring and talks about his recent winning streak pinning The Rock last week, pinning Triple H on Raw and he will beat whoever the WWF Champion is at No Mercy too. His tag team partners are Edge and Christian, and they are facing Rikishi and Too Cool in a six man tag. They have Victoria and Mandy with them. I feel like I’ve seen this match a lot in 2000 but what no one knew at the time is that this is the last time Rikishi would team with Too Cool. Rikishi and Too Cool are on a roll and seem to have the match won…until Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley runs to the ring and shoves Grandmaster Sexay off the top rope leading to an Olympic Slam and another victory for Kurt Angle! Backstage, she goes to confront her husband and says that she is a McMahon and knows more about this business than anyone. She is an asset and should be at ringside and she helped Kurt win to prove that. Triple H still doesn’t want her around the ring in case she gets hurt. 

Stephanie is leaving the arena for real this time but before she gets into the car Kurt Angle catches up with her and says that Triple H is crazy for not wanting her help and that he values her as a McMahon and a business woman. He says that putting their friendship aside he wants her to accompany him to the ring on a permanent basis! She says she’ll think about it.

Chris Benoit heads down to the ring to once again complain about his position in the company. Kane is scheduled to challenge The Rock for the WWF title tonight (which doesn’t really make sense as Kurt Angle became the number one contender on Raw, but Kane did chokeslam The Rock and almost beat him on Raw in that tag team match so maybe fair enough?). He continues to complain about not getting a fair shot at the WWF title until he is interupted by his old rival Chris Jericho. Y2J points out that he too won the WWF title earlier this year only to have the decision reversed but he doesn’t whine about it. That leads into a match between the two. The match ends via disqualification as Triple H runs to the ring and tackles Chris Benoit. They fight and brawl and Benoit manages to hit Triple H in the head with a steel chair busting him open. He shrugs it off and the two keep fighting until referees split them up. Triple H hasn’t had a good night.

In the main event, Kane challenges The Rock for the WWF Championship. Kane cut a promo before the match with Lillian Garcia and Jerry Lawler again speculates about who is teaching Kane to speak, who is in his ear and feeding this recent personality change. That is an excellent question honestly but that angle doesn’t go anywhere. They fight to the outside early and The Rock gets a sneaky shot in with the ring bell behind the referee’s back. That’s not very babyface but it makes Kane look really strong because he basically no-sells it and is back on offence very quickly. The match continues and the referee goes down as they fight back to the outside. Kurt Angle runs down to the ring and hammers both of them with stiff steel chair shots, laying both men out. Kane recovers first and rolls Rock into the ring and stalks for a chokeslam…and hits it! The referee is too hurt to count and thanks to the delayed, slow count The Rock manages to kick out!

Kane should be the WWF Champion. The Rock rallies and hits a Rock Bottom but at that, Rikishi comes down to the ring and attacks Kane, getting The Rock disqualified. Kane technically wins and after he leaves, The Rock is angry at Rikishi for costing him the match. As the two bicker, Kane comes back to the ring and runs through them both planting Rikishi with a chokeslam. The Rock fights him off and closes Smackdown on top.

The Hardyz and Lita get some new challengers

In the opening match, WWF Women’s Champion Lita teams with WWF Tag Team Champions Matt and Jeff Hardy to face the team of Jacqueline and Low Down. Or maybe it’s Lo Down. This comes off the back of Jackie’s brutal attack of Lita on Raw which was so vicious it ended up cancelling Lita’s scheduled title defence against Ivory. Lo Down debuted on Raw a couple of months ago and have mostly been on Sunday Night Heat racking up the odd victory there. The Hardyz are very popular (especially with female fans) but I personally think Lita is more popular than both of them with men (obviously) and women too. She’s a badass. The match breaks down and Lita has the match won with a moonsault onto Jackie but D’Lo Brown slips into the ring and plants her with a Sky High which allows Jacquline to pin the women’s champion. The Hardyz go on the attack after the bell but with Jackie tripping Jeff off the top rope it allows Chaz to give him a superplex and D’Lo to follow up with a Frog Splash. A victory for the non-champions team in what seems like a huge upset and must put them all in line for title shots respectively. 

Other Happenings

• William Regal makes his way to ringside and joins commentary for the next match. He seemingly doesn’t know who Al Snow is but assumes that as the European champion he must be a fine fellow of upstanding moral character. Cue Al coming out dressed as Dracula as this week he is representing the nation of Translvania. The framed picture is Eddie Munster. Regal takes exception - obviously - but also points out that Translvania isn’t a county. It’s a city in Romania. In amazing timing as I write this my wife just booked a trip to Romania for my birthday this year. Literally minutes ago I was talking about visiting Dracula’s castle. A spooky coincidence.

His opponent and challenger is X-Pac and the two have a good match as William Regal expresses his disgust at Snow and the mockery he has made of the European championship. X-Pac throws Snow out of the ring and he accidentally runs into William Regal. Regal throws Snow back into the ring and as he argues with the referee, Billy Gunn - who returned on Raw - runs to the ring and drops X-Pac with a Fameasser allowing Snow to pin him and retain his European title. Retribution from Mr. Ass for what DX did to him back in February. 

• The Right to Censor team of Val Venis, Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather (with Steven Richards) take on Eddie Guerrero (with Chyna) and the APA. The match is short and ends when The Goodfather catches a diving Eddie and turns it into a big powerslam to win the match by pinning the Intercontinental Champion.

• Tazz and Raven enter separately and cut a pair of promos - Tazz playing up his new wannabe announce gimmick and Raven being self pitying which was never going to get him over. Their opponents are The Dudley Boyz and the fans chant loudly for tables from the word go. The match breaks down as Bubba tries to use a table, and then uses the ring bell which gives Tazz and Raven the victory via disqualification. Bubba powerbombs Raven through a table afterwards for good measure.

• Albert (with Trish Stratus) challenges Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Championship. The match is a fun brawl as these matches often are and when Trish gets on the apron and tries to use her sex appeal to distract Blackman he sprays her in the face with a fire extinguisher. Blackman retains the title with a jumping kendo stick shot off the top rope, cracking across Albert’s head. Maybe Blackman is the greatest Hardcore champion ever.

Raw is War - October 9th, 2000

Detective Foley cracks the case

Commissioner Mick Foley opens the show and acknowledges the boos he’s getting for laying down the law with the Rattlesnake. JR and King talk about how Foley has promised that he will end the investigation and tell us the culprit here tonight on Raw. He says that the fans can boo him and he loves being cheered but still thinks suspending Austin was the right thing to do. He then brings out a suspect - someone who was actually the subject of a great many internet rumours at the time and people were putting money on it actually being - Shawn Michaels. Many expected this to be the storyline that brought Michaels back to the WWF but it wasn’t in the cards. Mick asks HBK to explain himself and tell us where he was the night that Stone Cold was run over.

HBK says he appreciates the first class flights and 5 star hotel and dusting off his old theme music but he has done it all to accuse him of a serious crime. Shawn recounts his actions that day before firmly stating that he had nothing to do with it, because he has no motive. Mick Foley then fires up about the fact that Austin took the WWF title from HBK in his last match, and that no one respects or remembers HBK anymore. That’s his motive. The bitterness. Shawn says that the whole truth is that he was at home watching Survivor Series as shocked as the rest of us - he doesn’t like Austin, but he doesn’t hate him either. If it was him, he’d own up to it purely because he loves the spotlight and attention. Running the Rattlesnake over would make him number one, so he’s ashamed to say it but it wasn’t him. Shawn then says that he has an idea who it was - a man who loves the spotlight even more than him. Shawn Michaels points the finger of blame squarely at The Rock, and leaves Mick with that to think about. In hindsight? They probably should have revealed it was Michaels. If he’d been physically able to wrestle it might have been. 

Debra is looking for Commissioner Foley and finds him in the next segment. Mick asked to see her it seems. Foley asks how Steve is before pointing out that something positive came out of his being run over - his relationship and marriage to Debra. Wives hate the lives of a wrestler and so he’s suggesting that she ran him over so that her husband would have to stay home with her. She gets angry and emotional about it, having suffered watching him struggle. She says she’s glad her husband stunned him. Foley asks Debra not to leave the arena yet.

Linda McMahon is shown arriving in a long black limo in the parking lot, and then going for a private chat with Mick Foley. Mick has brought her here to interrogate her! He has a hotel receipt that shows she was in the same city as Survivor Series that night, and her motive would be the beatings Stone Cold has given her husband and her son. Linda says that it would be terrible business for her to have taken out the biggest star in the company. Mick asks who has benefitted the most financially in Austin’s absence - that would be The Rock. Maybe HBK is right?

Mick Foley discusses the Austin case with his good friend Al Snow, who is wearing a blonde wig ahead of representing Sweden tonight as European champion. That gives Mick the idea that the culprit may have been wearing a wig.

Backstage Mick continues his investigation, asking Crash Holly and Scotty 2 Hotty - as a pair of blondes - where they were. Scotty says that he was backstage with Grandmaster and Rikishi (who hadn’t debuted yet) waiting for The Rock to finish his match so they could go and party. 

In the main event, Kurt Angle teams with Kane against WWF Champion The Rock and Rikishi. The match breaks down with the heels dominating, but after Angle over steps his control, Kane chokeslams his own partner and leaves. A Rock Bottom and then a sit down banzai drop from Rikishi later and The Rock and Rikishi win. Their celebration is cut short by the arrival of Mick Foley. He had promised to reveal the culprit tonight and if he can’t, you’d assume he must resign. The fingers have been pointed at The Rock, and Jerry Lawler has been talking about how it was probably Mick Foley all night. Mick says that all the evidence points towards The Rock - it was his rental car, only his DNA was found inside it, he has benefited the most in Austin’s absence. It seems like it was The Rock! But Foley says that it wasn’t The Rock - it was Rikishi. That gets a silent, stunned reaction. Mick says that he was close enough to The Rock to steal his keys, the seat was moved to allow a very large man in the driver’s seat, and Scotty 2 Hotty mentioned earlier that Rikishi was there hanging out with them that night he put it together. Rikishi hadn’t debuted yet. He asks Rikishi to explain himself. Rikishi takes the mic and…confesses! It was Rikishi.

Rikishi’s reasoning and explanation goes down the racial route as he is The Rock’s real life cousin, and he says he ran over Austin because he’s sick of “the great white hope” dominating. He says the WWF has always held back “the Island boys” and lists off all of he and The Rock’s relatives. This is a very famous segment, as he says The Rock had nothing to do with it and it was all him. “I did it for The Rock and to tell the truth, I’d do it again”. The seriousness of the segment is killed by them playing Rikishi and Too Cool’s theme music as he leaves. The Rock looks angry, and Mick Foley looks disgusted. 

Strange Bedfellows

Backstage Triple H is getting ready for a tag team match. He is just as upset that Jericho is his partner as he is that one of his opponents is his buddy X-Pac. At least he gets to fight Benoit. Steph once again asks him to reconsider his decision to stop her from coming to ringside. He says that he isn’t changing his mind and it’s now too dangerous for her to be around the ring, and he’s glad she hasn’t taken Kurt up on his offer. 

X-Pac teams with Chris Benoit against their two rivals Chris Jericho and Triple H. There’s lots of layers to this tag team match as Jericho and Triple H hate each other, and Triple H and X-Pac are friends. But Triple H is a babyface these days so here we are. This is a good match but in the end the complicated feelings give us the finish as X-Pac accidentally knocks his buddy and opponent Triple H off the top rope allowing Benoit to pin The Game.

After this match, he runs backstage and demands a match with Chris Benoit from Commissioner Foley. Mick agrees to that at No Mercy. Triple H marches from there back to his locker room, where Stephanie once again points out that he’s lost more than he’s won without her at ringside.

Latino Cheat

Backstage Chyna (in a Playboy t-shirt) runs into Debra. She asks her about her honeymoon with Stone Cold, and Chyna is looking everywhere for Eddie.

Chyna, now dressed to compete, is sitting waiting for Eddie. She’s furious at him; she hasn’t been able to find him all day. He gets very angry and defensive and accuses her of not trusting him before heading to the ring for their tag team match. The opponents are Right to Censor’s Val Venis and The Goodfather (with Steven Richards). The match is quickly interrupted by GTV (remember that? If not, it’s black and white hidden camera footage aired by an anonymous source) and on the titantron we find out why Chyna couldn’t find Eddie all day - he was in the shower with Victoria and Mandy, Godfather’s former hoes that have been accompanying Rikishi and Too Cool lately.

Chyna looks utterly devastated, but RtC keeps the pressure up on Eddie as she sits and ringside. It’s weird honestly as the match keeps going for quite a long time as the heels beat up the cheating Eddie two on one. Val eventually pins Eddie to win the match. Richards gets in Chyna’s face and takes a forearm for his trouble so Val and Goodfather attack Chyna. The RtC are about to beat up poor Chyna three on one until Mr. Ass sprints to the ring and clears the ring, saving his former friend and heartbroken Chyna. Later, Chyna leaves the arena, tearfully throwing her engagement ring at Eddie before she gets in the car. He begs her forgiveness as she drives off before running into Billy Gunn who calls him a bastard. Mr. Ass tells Latino Heat off for what he’s done to his friend. Eddie retaliates by smashing a glass bottle over Billy’s head. 

Other Happenings

• The show opens with a recap of the two big stories; Triple H no longer wants his wife with him at ringside as she has become a liability, but her friend Kurt Angle has offered to let her manage him. Commissioner Foley has suspended Stone Cold for beating everyone up. You’ll note neither story is about the WWF Champion.
• Lita defends the WWF Women’s Championship against Jacqueline in a hardcore rules match. Jackie brutally attacked Lita last week, and then pinned her to win a six person tag on Smackdown. The two trade weapon shots as the fans chant “Lita”. This is a physical match with Lita getting cracked in the head with a hairdryer and thrown off a ladder. Jackie misses a crossbody off the ladder and then gets hit with a metal sheet to give Lita the victory.

• Raven has challenged Steve Blackman to a singles match tonight with regular rules with Blackman’s Hardcore title not on the line. Lillian Garcia is confused and announces this as a Hardcore title match anyway. JR and King are confused about Raven’s motives as you’d think he’d thrive in the Hardcore division. Raven’s WWF career isn’t off to a great start as he loses this short match clean as a whistle to a kick to the chest. Raven attacks Blackman after the bell, but the Hardcore champion grabs his martial arts sticks and gives Raven a beating.
• Edge and Christian make excuses for their whereabouts when Austin was run over to Mick, before leaving the arena because they have surfing lessons.
• The Hardy Boyz defend the Tag Team titles against Lo Down’s Chaz and D’Lo Brown. Chaz and Brown actually dominate and have the match won until Lita helps out Matt and Jeff. The finish comes when two men dressed in gold body suits and masks run down and shove Jeff off the top rope, trying to cost The Hardyz the titles. Jeff does manage to get the pin in a confusing finish where Lo Down was kept strong.

• Despite saying earlier that he’d be representing Sweden tonight, European Champion Al Snow is instead dressed as Danny Zucko, representing Greece. William Regal is on commentary and once again is disgusted by the way Al Snow is degrading Europe. He is outraged. Snow’s opponent is Test, along with Trish Stratus. Regal is very funny on commentary, patting himself on the back for saying thank you to a waitress earlier despite her being of such a low standing. Snow retains in a short match using Head as a weapon behind the referee’s back. Regal is furious about it at ringside, disgusted by Snow’s lack of sportsmanship.

Smackdown! - October 12th, 2000

Stone Cold hunts Rikishi

The show opens with the big revelation from Michael Cole. Stone Cold Steve Austin is here, and is waiting to confront the man who ran him over - Rikishi. The Rattlesnake is shown sitting in his pick up truck waiting in the parking lot. 

After an emotional video package recapping the events of Raw and the reveal that it was Rikishi who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin, Jim Ross has a sit down interview with WWF Champion The Rock. He isn’t wearing his sunglasses, and he speaks very naturally and out of character which is odd to see.

He takes particular exception to Rikishi’s claims that he did it to help The Rock’s career. The Rock was a three time WWF Champion before Stone Cold got taken out. He defends the WWF against Rikishi’s “great white hope” allegations which feels a bit gross but he does say that looking into Rikishi’s eyes he can tell that he means what he said and he really does believe that he did it in The Rock’s name. Rocky says that he has already spoken to Austin - he spoke to him on the phone for an hour after Raw and he’s spoken to him all through his injury (which is lovely and heart warming). He says that he’s torn because he’s known Rikishi his whole life but he has no issues with Stone Cold’s rage and has no problem with him taking his anger out on Rikishi. He does end by saying that he hopes Austin doesn’t do anything to Rikishi that he’ll regret for the rest of his life. They really do make you believe that Stone Cold might kill Rikishi.

Stone Cold, after being shown sitting in his truck multiple times throughout the show, he’s approached by a police officer. It seems everyone is worried about what he might do to Rikishi and as the officer explains this wouldn’t be manslaughter, it would be premedicated murder Austin raises the window right in his face! The Rattlesnake doesn’t want to hear it! 

Back out in the parking lot, JR goes to see Stone Cold and tries to talk him out of running over Rikishi too. 

Commissioner Mick Foley heads down to the ring. He’s happy to have been able to deliver the man who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin but the whole thing still makes him sick to his stomach. He confirms that Austin is no longer suspended before making a plea to the Rattlesnake to leave the parking lot and his bad intentions behind and come to the ring as Mick is the man who can deliver him Rikishi. Foley asks for a steel chair and says he’ll wait all night if he has to, sitting in the ring while the fans chant “Austin”. We see JR out in the parking lot talking to the man himself, asking him to listen to Mick and go to the ring and see what he has to say. He does and the fans erupt when that glass shatters. Austin doesn’t even pose on the corners, grabbing a mic and getting in Mick’s face. He is all business. Foley says that he has learned the hard way not to tell Stone Cold what to do but asks him not to run over Rikishi. He asks Austin to wait until No Mercy and fight Rikishi then. Austin asks why he shouldn’t run Rikishi over and back up and run over him over and over. Mick says that he’ll go to jail. Austin is disgusted by the idea of a mere wrestling match, so Mick says that it’ll be a no holds barred, anything goes match and that Stone Cold can do anything he wants to Rikishi and it’s all legal. Stone Cold accepts and says this might be called a match but it won’t be a match it’ll be one flat out Stone Cold ass whooping that is going to take brutality to a whole new level. Austin leaves and Stone Cold’s first match in 11 months is made. 

Backstage, Stone Cold Steve Austin goes looking for Too Cool. He finds them and questions them aggressively about how much they knew and when, and if they’ve been in touch with their buddy Rikishi since Monday. He doesn’t appreciate Grandmaster Sexay “talking jive” to him and lays him out with a pair of right hands.

Kurt plays Mind Games

Backstage, Kurt Angle approaches The Right to Censor and applauds their crusade and suggests one of them challenges The Rock for the WWF title tonight. He says that one of them winning the title would be a win for all of them as it would mean his WWF title match at No Mercy would be against one of them meaning a fair athletic contest and the people would be guaranteed a fine, upstanding WWF Champion. Later in the show its confirmed on commentary that Val Venis has been granted a WWF title match tonight. 

Before Kurt Angle’s match with Kane, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley comes to the ring and announces that as of now she will be permanently in Kurt’s corner. If her husband doesn’t want her managerial services then she’ll give them to someone who does. Kurt tries to hug her but she stops it and gives him a handshake instead. The match is physical with Kurt looking strong against Kane but the power of the big red machine is too much and he plans Kurt with a chokeslam before chasing after Stephanie for her various cheap shots during the match. As he’s distracted, Angle rolls up Kane to win the match thanks to his new manager. Kane in a fury plants two referees with a pair of ugly looking chokeslams after the match.

Ahead of his WWF Championship match tonight, Stephanie and Kurt give Val Venis a big pep talk. The story all night, talked about mostly on commentary, is whether The Rock’s head can possibly be in this match given everything he’s going through with Rikishi and Stone Cold this week.

With Val and Rock both in the ring, Kurt and Stephanie come out onto the stage and Kurt very heavily implies that Rock both knew about Rikishi running over Stone Cold but that he likely asked him to do it. Val jumps Rocky from behind to start the match. With Kurt and Stephanie watching on, Steven Richards helps Val get a lot of near falls thanks to a superkick behind the referee’s back and a shot with the WWF title belt. The Rock keeps kicking out and weathers the storm finishing Val with a People’s Elbow to retain the title. He isn’t even back on his feet before Kurt rushes the ring and attacks him. The Rock fights back, and grabs Stephanie for a Rock Bottom but Angle gives him a low blow to stop it and drills The Rock with not one, not two but three Olympic slams before holding him for Stephanie to lay into with slaps. The number one contender ends Smackdown on top.

The Hardyz are stalked by a golden menace

The opening match is The Dudley Boyz - carrying a table on their way to the ring - taking on Lo Down in a Tag Team Table match. The two teams start to brawl until the two men in gold body suits and masks that we saw interfere in The Hardyz tag title defence on Raw come to the ring and join commentary. Their names are Uno and Dos, and they squawk in random Spanish words and seemingly don’t speak any English. King says that this tag team is Los Conquistadors, who actually were a tag team back in the 80s. The Dudleyz win this match with a 3D through a table on Chaz but it mostly existed to introduce us to Los Conquistadors. 

Matt and Jeff Hardy (with Lita, who looks amazingly good on this episode of Smackdown) defend the WWF Tag Team titles against Tazz and Raven. Los Conquistadores run in and Dos lays out Matt with a reverse DDT almost costing The Hardyz the tag team titles again. Jeff hits a Swanton on Tazz and reverses the cover allowing them to retain the gold.

Other Happenings

• Ahead of a tag team match of Eddie Guerrero and X-Pac against Mr. Ass and Chris Jericho, Eddie jumps Billy backstage and beats him up, knocking him unconscious with a metal wrench.

• Billy is loaded onto a stretcher after a commercial break as everyone is concerned that his shoulder has been reinjured. Commissioner Foley gets angry at Eddie and tells him that since Jericho no longer has a partner it won’t be a tag team match, it’s now a triple threat with Eddie’s Intercontinental title on the line. That match is next. It’s a fun energetic match and the finish comes when after Jericho hits a Lionsault on Eddie, X-Pac gives him a low blow and an X-Factor. Eddie shoves Pac out of the ring and steals the cover on Jericho to retain his Intercontinental title. After Eddie leaves, X-Pac attacks Jericho and the two brawl once again until referees split them up.

• European Champion Al Snow is this week representing Hong Kong. His logic apparently being that it used to be a British colony. There’s probably a lot of politics involved in that. William Regal is on commentary again and remains disgusted by the antics of the European Champion. Regal wants a European as the champion of Europe (fair) and believes in sportsmanship and civility, two things that made him a heel in 2000. Snow’s opponent is Albert and Regal is very funny on commentary. He calls Trish “a buxom wench” just like he did on Raw, and says she has “nice bristles and a lovely bottle” which I’m sure is cockney rhyming slang but I’m not looking it up. Snow counters a powerbomb attempt into a sloppy roll up to retain his title. Albert tries to attack him after the match and gets hit in the face by Head for his troubles. As Snow celebrates it’s finally too much for William Regal to stand and he jumps the champion from behind, throwing him out of the ring. 

• Chris Benoit teams with his former Radical partner Perry Saturn (with Terri) to take on Triple H and his former DX mate Roaddogg. I keep mentioning it but officially DX is no more but it seems that Triple H, X-Pac and Roaddogg are all still friends and X-Pac and Roaddogg continue to dress in their DX gear. It’s all a bit odd. Roaddogg is isolated until he gets a hot tag to Triple H. The Game pins Perry Saturn with a Pedigree but his joy is short lived as Benoit locks him in the Crippler Crossface and rips at his arm and shoulder until referees split them up. Benoit has a big smile on his face as he leaves and backstage Stephanie once again pushes Triple H to let her come to ringside with him. He very firmly says no which is what led to her showing up alongside Kurt Angle later in the show as mentioned above.

Raw is War - October 16th, 2000

Rikishi tries to repeat history

This episode of Raw takes place at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit which just so happens to be the same arena where Stone Cold Steve Austin was run over last November at Survivor Series by, we now know, Rikishi.
Jonathan Coachman hosts a sit down interview with Rikishi, who shows no remorse for what he did. He says his life has been tremendous since he confessed to what he did - the fans are booing him, but his family love and respect him for taking a stand. Mick Foley has banned him from the arena tonight. Rikishi doubles down - he’s proud of what he’s done and he would do it again. He’s not banned to protect him from Austin, he’s banned to protect Austin from him. Rikishi is upset about The Rock. The Rock hurt his feelings, and he wants The Rock to see the good in what he’s done and that he did it for his career. He ends by saying that at No Mercy he’ll show that Stone Cold isn’t the man he says he is and slap him down like a dog.

Stone Cold Steve Austin is here and the crowd loses their minds as Michael Cole in the ring introduces him for an interview. Austin always looked perpetually pissed off but even more so since returning and being on the hunt for Rikishi. Cole asks a couple of stupid questions but Austin is both funny and intense as he promises to give Rikishi the single most important ass whooping of his life. He loses his voice as he grabs the mic and promises that Rikishi is a dead man - Stone Cold is the angriest man in America. He’s interrupted by Rikishi on the titantron who says he’s banned from the arena but he’s out in the parking lot and he’ll be there all night. Austin wastes no time and hops out of the ring before Rikishi is even done speaking and the cameras follow the Rattlesnake out to the parking lot to the very same spot where Rikishi ran him over the first time. This feels like a trap and that's exactly what it is as Rikishi tries to run Austin over again! Stone Cold manages to jump out of the way this time and Rikishi winds down the window long enough to taunt him before driving off. Rikishi just tried to run Austin over again! 

Angle Zeros in on the WWF Championship

Kurt Angle greets his new manager Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley in the parking lot and the number one contender for the WWF title carries her bag for her. 

Backstage, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley discuss her being in Kurt’s corner. He isn’t happy about it of course but she wants a career and keeps talking about how the WWF is her business. He continues to be very concerned about her safety. After the commercial break, she sits with her new client and promises Angle that she’s going to make him WWF Champion. Triple H walks in and makes Kurt promise to keep things professional and to take very good care of his wife. 

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley comes out onto the stage and gives a big welcome to the man who is guest hosting Sunday Night Heat on MTV before No Mercy and the next WWF Champion Kurt Angle. Kurt makes fun of Detroit and the pair of them grate on everyone’s nerves as they thank each other and pat themselves on the back. In terms of making the fans boo them this was very effective but it even got on my nerves and I love Kurt Angle. That leads to the main event of Kurt Angle along with Edge and Christian facing the team of WWF Champion The Rock and Tag Team Champions Matt and Jeff Hardy, with WWF Women’s Champion Lita. It’s a championship filled affair in the Raw main event! JR immediately gets all over Edge and Christian having already competed tonight as Conquistador Uno and Conquistador Dos. The action is fast and furious once the match starts and the big talking points are 1) is Rikishi right and would The Rock have reached the heights he has if he hadn’t ran over Austin? And 2) did The Rock actually know about it all along? Kurt Angle certainly thinks so and he’s going to host an “interview” with The Rock prior to No Mercy. That ends up being pretty funny and I’ll include the video capture in the PPV coverage. The heels control the match, until Lita hits a diving hurricanarana on Edge. She’s pulled out of the ring by Kurt Angle and then thrown into a ringpost by Stephanie for her troubles. The finish comes when after Rock gives Angle a Rock Bottom, Stephanie pulls on his boot.

He chases her, which runs him into a two on one attack by Edge and Christian. Stephanie hits Jeff Hardy with a tire iron (she is way more involved and proactive at ringside for Kurt than she ever was for Triple H) and that leads to an Olympic Slam and a victory for Angle, Edge and Christian. Kurt leaves quickly with Steph and Rock drops both Edge and Christian with a pair of Rock Bottoms to end Raw staring down with his No Mercy challenger.

No Mercy Mid-card

Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero opens up the show. He’s drowned out by loud “Eddie sucks” chants and says that the ladies all love him from Playmates to hoes to even Lillian Garcia and that Chyna didn’t kick him out of her life - he got sick of all her whining and crying and he kicked HER out of HIS life. He warns Mr. Ass  that he’ll find the same thing Chyna is going to find when she comes crawling to him for forgiveness - him kicking her up the ass. He’s going to show us all the real Eddie Guerrero going forward, and then calls out Commissioner Foley for making him defend his title against Chris Jericho tonight but Y2J’s music finally interrupts him. Early in the match, Jericho gives Eddie a monkey flip where he lands high and tight on the back of his head and shoulders but the real damage seems to have been from his legs hitting the ropes as he struggles to walk and can’t run the ropes. The action is awkward as they try to work out how to proceed until the referee just stops the match because Guerrero can’t continue.

Jericho is jumped from behind by X-Pac as JR confirms these two will meet at No Mercy in a Steel Cage match. Jericho is rescued by Mr. Ass who isn’t only feuding with Eddie because of the Chyna stuff but who still has a big grudge with X-Pac, Roaddogg and Triple H over the way they kicked him out of DX. Even on a replay I struggle to figure out where Eddie got hurt - he injured his leg and that’s what he sells going forward but it looked more like he landed on his head and knocked himself silly. Either way, it was legit. 

X-Pac comes down to the ring and challenges the “DX reject” Mr. Ass to a match. Billy Gunn does come out, but he’s jumped from behind by a limping Eddie Guerrero. X-Pac tries to keep the beating going on Mr. Ass but Chris Jericho is quick to run to the ring and attack X-Pac and the two brawl and try to use chairs as a dozen referees work hard to keep the two apart. After a commercial break, Mr. Ass goes back to see Commissioner Foley and demands a match with Eddie Guerrero which he’s granted at No Mercy, presumably for the Intercontinental title but no one says it.

Benoit softens up The Game

Triple H faces Kane. This match was born out of Kane’s attempt to chokeslam The Game’s wife on Smackdown. Triple H has gotten so popular lately and gets a big ovation when he comes out. Kane has been hovering around multiple feuds but doesn’t have anything booked for the PPV himself, while Triple H’s No Mercy opponent Chris Benoit comes down to the ring before the match starts to see it up close from the commentary desk. Angle and Stephanie are shown watching backstage and she wants to go and help her husband because Benoit is at ringside but Kurt stops her reminding her that Triple H has told him to keep her safe at all costs. Kane dominates but as they fight on the outside, Triple H jumps the announce desk and hammers Benoit with punches before giving Kane a Pedigree on the floor. Benoit cracks The Game with a steel chair in the back which ends the match via disqualification before he gives him a pair of German suplexes in the ring and then locks him in the Crippler Crossface, ripping and tearing at his shoulder and making Triple H symbolically tap out. 

Other Happenings

• Video package from last night on Sunday Night Heat as T&A played poker with the APA. They ran out of money and so wagered Trish Stratus stripping. This continued during the show as Trish was forced to get naked due to Test and Albert’s many losing hands until finally they attacked The Acolytes. That leads into a tag team match tonight between the two teams (while King squeals about finding a deck of cards and wanting to play poker again tonight). This match isn’t very good as they seem to disagree on who should lead it and they awkwardly power each other up into ugly looking power moves. Trish distracts Bradshaw with a kiss but it doesn’t pay off as he beats Albert with the Clothesline from Hell and the APA win.

• European Champion Al Snow is representing England this week, including doing his “What does everybody want?” shtick in an English accent on the walk to the ring. His framed photo is a hilarious picture of a startled looking William Regal, and that’s his opponent.

It seemed like they’d save this match for the PPV but William Regal makes his in ring debut/return tonight challenging for the European title, which he has been very vocal about needing more respect. The action is ok and the finish comes when Regal counters a moonsault getting his knees up before locking Al in an STF submission (which he calls the Regal stretch) and wrenches aggressively and angrily to get the victory before going right back to a fake, plastered on smile. JR makes a bunch of xenophobic comments about English people having bad teeth. William Regal is the new European Champion and I’m still not sure why they did this on Raw and not at the PPV. 

• The Dudley Boyz take on Los Conquistadors. The two masked men in all gold have taken the tag team scene by storm the last two weeks, it seems. JR addresses the fact that it’s very obviously Edge and Chistian under the masks trying to get around the fact that they aren’t allowed to challenge The Hardyz again. Los Conquistadores did show up during Edge and Christian’s match on Sunday Night Heat and were very obviously two different men in the costumes. While King talks about Uno and Dos’ Latin American heritage he is spectacularly racist, saying that Mexico doesn’t have an Olympic team because anyone down there who can run, jump or swim is already in the United States. The Attitude Era wasn’t all good. Los Conquistadores picked up the victory with a roll up while The Dudleyz were distracted trying to get a table.

• Roaddogg faces The Right to Censor’s Val Venis (with Steven Richards). The match is pretty dull until Naked Mideon streaks through the ring during the match, distracting everyone and punching Richards in the face. Val Venis uses a low blow and a small package to win the match.

Smackdown! - October 19th, 2000

Four Way Main Event

With cameras out in the parking lot awaiting the arrival of Stone Cold Steve Austin they instead catch the arrival of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. They travelled there together but their good mood is ruined after they get inside and find out Commissioner Foley has booked a fatal four way main event featuring Triple H, Benoit, The Rock and Kurt Angle. So Stephanie will be managing one of her husband’s opponents tonight. After the Hardcore title match, Triple H, Stephanie and Kurt go to see Mick and protest the match being made but he tells them he doesn’t care if they’re happy - he just wants to make the fans happy.

The Rock cuts a fired up backstage promo about tonight’s main event, and his match with Kurt Angle at No Mercy. He thanks him for keeping him focused by giving him someone to want to beat up during all of the recent troubles with Rikishi. He’s funny and does an impression of Kurt. I’m sure it makes it into the PPV video package.

There’s a pair of backstage segments with Stephanie talking to both Kurt and Triple H about the main event. She’s clear about being in Angle’s corner as his manager but if she has to pick between them she’ll do “the right thing” without specifying what that is. Stephanie has had a lot of attention and a lot of promo time in the last couple of weeks and I’ll have some thoughts on that during the PPV.

WWF Champion The Rock (in a non-title match) faces Kurt Angle (with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley), Triple H and Chris Benoit. Two PPV matches stuffed into one here, but I guess they couldn’t do it as a tag team match given that Benoit and Triple H’s feud started over Benoit headbutting Steph. He can’t go teaming up with Angle after that, not with her as his manager. They do conduct the match under tag rules which is a little unusual for a singles fatal four way I think. The match breaks down and Stephanie’s help backfires leading to Kurt pinning Triple H off an Angle slam. She looks very conflicted as Benoit locks her husband in the Crossface, and The Rock locks her client in a Sharpshooter.

She doesn’t know who to help, but the decision is made for her as Benoit releases the Crossface to attack The Rock instead. She tends to her husband and it's Chris Benoit who closes Smackdown on top. 

Rikishi Pushes the Rattlesnake

Stone Cold Steve Austin has arrived and has a sit down interview with Jim Ross. After a recap of what happened on Raw JR tries to do that interview in the locker room but he’s pacing on the spot full of rage. He won’t stand still long enough to be interviewed. Out in the parking lot, Rikishi uses a sledgehammer to destroy Austin’s pick up trick smashing the headlights and the windows and even pulls his cooler of beers out pouring them out on the floor. Austin is unaware that it’s happening as the camera cuts back and forth between the two scenes.

Eventually Johnathan Coachman busts in and tells them what’s happening and the Rattlesnake takes off running to get his hands on Rikishi. He has absolutely destroyed the truck putting dozens of huge dents in the bodywork and having smashed every window. By the time Stone Cold gets outside Rikishi is gone. A black car just like the one Rikishi has used twice as a weapon takes off speeding so Austin jumps in his totaled truck and takes off after it but it was a trick - Rikishi is still there and corners Jim Ross. He threatens him and shoves him down for all the things he’s said. He looks like he might hit JR with the sledgehammer but fortunately Mick Foley arrives to stop him. They don’t make anything of it here but who was driving that car in order to help out Rikishi, and does Rikishi have an accomplice ends up being the next big story beat. Foley tells Rikishi to leave as he checks on the fallen JR. 

Edge and Christian team with X-Pac against Chris Jericho and the Tag Team Champions Matt and Jeff Hardy. Before the match, Edge, Christian and X-Pac have an interview where they make fun of Stone Cold Steve Austin and sarcastically dedicate their match to JR. Just as the match begins Austin is shown arriving back at the arena (he runs over his own beer cooler which was still left on the ground) and after a period giving him long enough to have found out about Rikishi outsmarting him to escape, what he then did to JR and probably what Edge, Christian and X-Pac said about him, his music hits and he rampages to the ring during the six man tag. With all six men fighting in the ring, he hits each and every one of them with a brutal chairshot to the head. He hits the first referee to arrive too and then drops Sgt. Slaughter with a Stone Cold Stunner. The Rattlesnake’s fury has destroyed everyone in sight! 

Arriba! Vamos! Si Senor! 

Smackdown opens with a ring full of tag teams. Every team apart from Edge and Christian. Before the bell rings, Commissioner Foley heads down to the ring and after thanking a true friend - Jerry Lawler (which must be a joke as King had been bad mouthing Foley just seconds before on commentary) - says that the winner of this tag team battle royal will earn a Tag Team Championship match with The Hardyz at No Mercy.

The teams involved are The APA, T&A, The Dudley Boyz, Lo Down, Too Cool, The Right to Censor and Los Conquistadors. The APA and T&A eliminate each other and then continue to brawl after the match continuing their issues from Raw. It comes down to The Dudleyz and Los Conquistadors. Bubba eliminates Uno but the referees are distracted by Lo Down and Too Cool’s fight outside the ring and miss it. The Dudleyz are the rightful winners of the match but the referees haven’t seen it. The Dudleyz get the tables and are so distracted that the men in gold manage to dump Bubba out and earn a tag team title match at No Mercy. It would appear Edge and Christian have found a way around Mick Foley’s ruling. Later Kevin Kelly interviews Uno and Dos, who are clearly very different people in the costumes. They’re approached by a sweaty out of breath Edge and Christian who ask for a title match the next night on Raw after they win the tag team titles at No Mercy.

Other Happenings

• Tazz challenges Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Championship. It’s an entertaining little brawl won by Blackman with a diving kendo stick shot from the top rope. 
• Intercontinental Champion Eddie Gurrerro is in the ring. He’s supposed to defend the title against Mr. Ass at No Mercy but he’s on a crutch and has a bad leg. Eddie insinuates that Chyna and Billy are now together but that’s never been hinted at. The leg injury is legit but they’re obviously hoping he’ll be healed in time for the PPV. Eddie challenges Billy Gunn to come out but it’s Chyna instead. She looks gorgeous, but also very angry. She says that she is not crying over Eddie and prepares to beat him up but the Right to Censor interrupts, still disgusted by her posing in Playboy. After lecturing her on morality, Mr. Ass runs in to make the save but with it being five against two he and Chyna are easily beaten up - Eddie even holds Chyna down with his crutch across her throat for good measure.

• William Regal makes his first defence of his newly won European Championship in a triple threat against two former champions in Al Snow and Perry Saturn (with Terri). I’m still pretty confused why they didn’t save Regal’s title win for the PPV considering he defends it at No Mercy, but not against Al Snow. Al hits Perry with Head and goes for the cover but Regal quickly grabs his legs and locks him in the Regal Stretch to retain his title via submission.

• Trish Stratus challenges Lita for the WWF Women’s Championship. Trish is carrying a dictionary as she walks to the ring and gives a pretty rubbish pre match promo where she looks up “Champion” and “Lita” in the dictionary. T&A come down and try to help Trish win the title as Michael Cole explains that The Hardyz can’t rescue her as they’re still hurt from Austin’s steel chair assault earlier. Lita puts up a good fight but Test plants her with a powerbomb and then he and Albert hold Lita up for Trish to assault her until the APA run down to help out. Bradshaw and Faarooq send Test and Albert packing before checking on Lita.

• Raven faces Roaddogg. A nothing match which Roaddogg pretty easily wins with a pumphandle slam. Why did they even sign Raven?