Royal Rumble 2000Date: January 23, 2000Location: Madison Sq. Backyard, New York Metropolis, New YorkAttendance: 19,231Commentators: Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross
That is the primary of the 2 redos of the yr and also you picked a great one. What we’ve right here is without doubt one of the higher one two punches in WWF historical past, because it’s a double important occasion. After all there may be the Rumble, however we even have Cactus Jack vs. HHH for the WWF Title in a avenue battle, which ought to work out pretty effectively. Let’s get to it.
The opening video seems at a few of Cactus Jack’s most violent moments through the years, with HHH nonetheless pondering he is aware of what he’s entering into. Among the Japanese deathmatch stuff right here is slightly insane wanting and wasn’t one thing you’d see on WWF (or American) TV on the time (or in fashionable occasions both actually).
The set is admittedly cool, because it has the doorway reverse the onerous digital camera. There’s a taxi hanging over the aisle, which is painted like a avenue for the road battle. Keep in mind once they put in precise effort for these issues?
Kurt Angle vs. ???
Angle has solely been round for a few month and a half so he nonetheless has his ridiculously excessive confidence. He’s additionally nonetheless a bonehead, so this might get ugly in a rush. Angle mocks the New York Knicks for not with the ability to win a title and provide to be New York’s Champion tonight. As for his particular opponent tonight, Angle is aware of he should be fearful so come out right here and provides it your all.
Kurt Angle vs. Tazz
That is Tazz’s debut, although the WE WANT TAZZ chants throughout Angle’s speech might need given one thing away. Tazz slugs away on the bell and sends Angle excessive to take the battle to the ground. There’s the ECW chant, which should be over Angle’s one evening ECW look. Angle will get in a suplex within the aisle and takes him again inside for a operating shoulder.
There’s an overhead stomach to stomach from Angle however Tazz crotches him on prime. The tremendous Tazzplex will get two as Angle will get a foot on the rope. A bridging German suplex offers Angle two however the Angle Slam is countered into an overhead German suplex. Extra suplexes arrange the Tazmission and Angle is out at 3:15.
Score: C+. This is without doubt one of the extra memorable debuts and opening matches in firm historical past, as Tazz made a direct impression and handed Angle his first defeat. I didn’t know something about ECW however a buddy of mine who watched it had overvalued Tazz for months. This made the entire thing price it, as Tazz regarded like a killer and massacred Angle with out a lot bother. Of notice: Angle was nonetheless new at this type of wrestling and requested what he ought to do if Tazz, along with his shooter gimmick, tried to check Angle on the mat. Some WWF official replied with a easy: “You’re a gold medalist. I don’t suppose that will likely be an issue.”
Publish match Angle is out and has to do a stretcher job. Simply in case Tazz wasn’t spectacular sufficient.
The Hardys, with supervisor Terri Runnels (that didn’t final lengthy), are able to battle these newcomers the Dudleys in one thing referred to as a tag crew tables match. They aren’t letting Terri on the market with them although because it’s going to be harmful.
Dudley Boyz vs. Hardy Boyz
Tables match, with each members having to undergo a desk to win. Earlier than the match, Bubba Ray, nonetheless stuttering, can’t consider New Yorkers cheer for these fairly boy Hardys however they boo his new hero, JOHN ROCKER (who gave a SCATHING interview about New York round this time). It’s a brawl within the aisle to begin with the Dudleys getting the higher of issues and grabbing the primary desk.
That takes a bit too lengthy although, permitting Jeff to interrupt it up and hit a giant dive excessive onto Bubba. Matt and D-Von attempt to put the opposite via a desk inside as Jeff CRACKS Bubba within the head with at in a position. Jeff will get a operating begin on the barricade however Bubba throws a desk at his head for a fantastic wanting crash. Again in and the Hardys load up a double superplex via a desk however D-Von strikes the desk simply in time.
With that not working, let’s herald a ladder, as a result of that couldn’t go badly. A operating shot with the ladder sends Bubba exterior (although the ladder hits the bottom first), adopted by one other onerous chair shot to his head. Bubba is laid on a desk so the Hardys can dive (Jeff off the highest, Matt off a ladder) for the primary….uh, desk breaking. There’s a chair to D-Von’s head and the Hardys arrange the steps to bridge a desk off the apron. Matt’s prime rope legdrop solely hits desk although and Jeff’s dive goes via one other desk, leaving the Hardys laying.
Neither rely as these weren’t offensive strikes so let’s throw some steps inside. A desk is bridged over stated steps and a superbomb sends Matt via it, night us up at one desk every. Everybody heads exterior once more and the Dudleys arrange 4 tables beneath a balcony reverse the doorway.
Matt is piled on prime however Jeff is again with chair pictures to interrupt it up. Bubba is okay sufficient to take Jeff into the group and onto the balcony, the place Jeff BLASTS HIM with some chair pictures, sending him via the tables within the massive crash. Matt places D-Von on one other desk and the massive Swanton via D-Von offers the Hardys the win at 10:17.
Score: B. This was the form of onerous hitting battle that you’d anticipate from these two as they beat the dwelling daylights out of one another. They have been making an attempt to get seen and it labored very effectively, with this being not solely violent however memorably violent, with that chair to Jeff’s head and the end being nice.
Kurt Angle will get checked out by medics and regardless of barely with the ability to stand, he insists he’s nonetheless undefeated as a result of a choke is prohibited.
And now, the Miss Royal Rumble Swimsuit contest. Our judges are Sgt. Slaughter, Tony Garea, Fabulous Moolah, Johnny V (he’s misplaced his Luscious) and Freddie Blassie, with Jerry Lawler as Grasp of Ceremonies. Listed below are the contestants: Ivory, Terri, Jacqueline, BB (she wasn’t round lengthy), Luna Vachon and the Kat (Girls’s Champion, and the explanation that is occurring, as a consequence of displaying fairly a bit at Armageddon). Hold on although as Andy Richter, from Late Night time With Conan O’Brien, is a bonus visitor choose.
Ivory reluctantly disrobes, adopted by the remainder of them willingly doing so (save for Luna, whose gown doesn’t precisely cowl her within the first place). The Kat is about to win (as hers is product of bubble wrap) however right here is Mae Younger to enter as effectively, together with taking off her prime (with varied censoring included). Mark Henry comes out for the save. The older judges give it to Younger and Lawler loses his thoughts. This was the marketed nudity on the present, because the WWF will get to mess with its followers a bit, by no means to do that once more.
We go to WWF New York (The “web site based mostly leisure advanced, as a result of they made issues sound boring again then too.) the place the Coach (he’s new) thinks the followers are excited.
Chris Jericho and Chyna, the co-Intercontinental Champions, argue over who will get to put on the belt to the ring. Earl Hebner is available in to take the belt away, saying we are able to settle this on the market. Jericho: “Earl come on. Dave?”
Don’t do that at residence.
Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly
Solely Holly is difficult in a bizarre scenario. Jericho is after all approach over in New York and guarantees that his Jericholics will throw a victory get together that can make the Millennium Bash seem like his sister’s seventh party. Holly shoves Chyna down to begin and hammers on Jericho, incomes him alternating slaps from the champs. Chyna will get whipped over the nook and out to the ground as Lawler talks in regards to the horrors he simply noticed. Ross: “You’ve seen scary films, like Man On The Moon?”
With Chyna on the ground, Jericho tries for the Partitions on Holly however Chyna is available in for the save (which isn’t effectively acquired). Holly get despatched exterior for a change, with Chyna hitting a baseball slide. Jericho provides a giant dive to the ground however largely crashes, permitting Chyna to hit her DDT again inside.
Holly throws her exterior once more however she low bridges Jericho exterior as effectively (possibly not on function). With nothing else working, Holly grabs a chair, sending JR right into a panic. Chyna dropkicks it into his face anyway, organising a double cowl for 2 on Holly again inside. A low blow sends Jericho exterior, leaving Chyna to Pedigree Holly for 2.
Holly masses Chyna up in an electrical chair, permitting Jericho to hit a Doomsday crossbody for 2, with the kickout feeling a bit like a shock. Chyna breaks up a superplex try on Holly after which does it herself, solely to get small packaged for 2. Jericho comes again in, permitting Chyna to chair Holly down. Since stealing strikes is a factor, Chyna tries the Partitions on Holly however will get caught with the bulldog. The Lionsault finishes Chyna to offer Jericho the undisputed title at 7:31.
Score: C-. This wasn’t precisely nice and Holly didn’t precisely really feel like a menace to win the title. Fortunately they didn’t hassle making an attempt to do something loopy like maintaining the double champions factor. Jericho was an even bigger star and there was no motive to go away him there with Chyna when there have been different, higher stars for him to face. The match itself was just a little clunky and felt prefer it was able to wrap up about two minutes earlier, which isn’t a great factor.
The Rock thinks he can win the Royal Rumble, however he’ll need to discover a approach round Crash Holly and Headbanger Mosh. After all he isn’t fearful about Large Present and Michael Cole can have a tall glass of Shut Up Juice (that by no means received over). Rock goes to show he’s the good one and go to Wrestlemania, when you catchphrase.
We recap the New Age Outlaws vs. the Acolytes. The Outlaws are the loudmouthed champions and the Acolytes are able to destroy them (once more).
Tag Staff Titles: Acolytes vs. New Age Outlaws
The Outlaws are defending and get of their signature entrance. The Acolytes begin quick and hammer away till we settle all the way down to Faarooq powerslamming Dogg. Gunn breaks up the Dominator, permitting Dogg to hit the shaky punches. Bradshaw isn’t having the shaky knee drop although (Dogg favored to shake) so Gunn is available in and misses a Stinger Splash.
The Clothesline From Bradshaw will get no cowl so Faarooq comes again in for the spinebuster. Gunn pulls the referee out although and right here is X-Pac to kick Bradshaw within the face. Faarooq takes care of him however Gunn hits the Fameasser on Bradshaw to retain at 2:30. I’ve all the time thought that was rushed as these guys might go seven or eight minutes with out a lot bother.
We recap Cactus Jack vs. HHH for the WWF Title. HHH cheated to get the title again from Large Present earlier this month however now it’s time to defend towards the individual he took it from within the first place. Mankind had been complaining in regards to the McMahon-Helmsley Period so he was overwhelmed down and fired. The Rock hinted at a mass stroll out and received the firing overturned, but it surely was time for Mankind to face HHH in a avenue battle on the Royal Rumble. One other beatdown confirmed Mankind that he wasn’t prepared for that….however he knew somebody who was.
That meant the return of Cactus Jack, which was roughly the identical approach Jack debuted within the WWF again in 1997. It was even organising a Falls Depend Wherever match on the September 4 Monday evening Uncooked in Madison Sq. Backyard, the place Jack beat HHH in a traditional. HHH is aware of what he’s in for right here and the percentages are fully in Jack’s favor. It’s his match towards a person he has overwhelmed earlier than in his personal yard. HHH is in bother and he is aware of it, so it’s time to battle.
WWF Title: HHH vs. Cactus Jack
HHH is defending and this can be a avenue battle. As normal, I can’t consider how good My Time was as a theme music. Even the ever assured Stephanie McMahon kisses HHH goodbye and bails as a result of that is going to be violent. The slugout will get issues going with HHH hammering within the nook after which realizing that’s not the very best thought. Cactus (or Mankind in response to JR) reveals him the way it’s executed they usually head exterior for a swinging neckbreaker on the ground.
Again up and HHH manages a bell shot to the face, which simply appears to wake Jack up. HHH brings a chair inside and tells Jack to carry it…which Jack does, charging straight right into a chair to the top. Jack is correct again up with a clothesline, as a result of it was only one chair shot. The chair is positioned over HHH’s face and a center rope leg offers Jack two. They return to the ground with HHH sending him into the barricade, solely to get backdropped over stated barricade.
Naturally Jack is okay with taking the battle on the market (previous a man in a chef’s outfit) till they wind up within the aisle underneath the taxi. Jack masses up some picket pallets, with a suplex dropping HHH onto them. There’s a great garbage can shot to HHH’s head and a few whips ship him into the steel doorways. They’re doing a fantastic job of getting HHH get overwhelmed up as a result of the stuff within the streets is thus far out of his aspect.
HHH manages a suplex onto a garbage can (as a result of he can get out of bother with wrestling) however Jack sends him into the steps. The operating knee drives HHH’s head into the steps…and let’s get a barbed wire 2×4. HHH manages to take it away and hits Jack within the ribs and again a number of occasions, with the wire beginning to come off the highest. Jack comes again with a low blow and a stomach to again suplex because the referee fingers the two×4 to the Spanish commentator.
Again in and Jack’s suplex will get a VERY delayed two so he heads exterior to get the two×4 once more. Ignore that it isn’t the place the commentator put it and clearly not the identical one because the wire on this one is tightly wrapped once more, but it surely’s one of the best ways to swap out the actual one for the pretend one. The referee will get bumped and there’s the two×4 to HHH’s face to bust him open. One other shot to the face will get a delayed two and HHH’s calf is busted as effectively.
There’s a 3rd head shot, adopted by a well-known shot of Jack ripping the wire over HHH’s face. They head over to the announcers’ desk (HHH’s face is COVERED in blood) the place HHH reverses a piledriver right into a backdrop to ship Jack considerably via the desk. Again in and the Pedigree is countered right into a catapult into the put up and a faceplant into the barbed wire offers Jack two extra. There’s the Cactus Clothesline however HHH is ready to hiptoss him legs first into the steps. HHH sends him knees first into the steps once more, simply in case the primary one didn’t take.
Again in and one other chop block takes Jack down once more and let’s decide up the barbed wire to crack the knee. With nothing else working, HHH pulls out some handcuffs however Jack manages to wrap them round his hand to hit HHH within the head. HHH goes proper again to the knee although and Jack’s fingers are cuffed behind him, identical to final yr towards the Rock. The steps are introduced in however Jack drop toeholds HHH face first into them.
A low blow lets Jack chew his face, however HHH is correct again with one other shot to the face. Again up and HHH chairs him so onerous that the chair breaks they usually go up the aisle. There’s a chair shot to the top however Jack tells him to do it once more. Cue the Rock with a heck of a chair shot of his personal to HHH although and a cop unhooks Jack to even issues up (as a result of wrestling is bizarre about equal ranges of punishment).
They head again to ringside, the place a piledriver onto (not via) the desk, as in how Jack beat HHH in 1997, knocks HHH foolish. Jack sends him again inside and let’s have some thumbtacks. Stephanie comes again to attempt to cease it however HHH is okay sufficient to hit a backdrop onto the tacks for the nasty wanting crash. The Pedigree connects….for 2, and the collective gasp on the kickout remains to be nice. One other Pedigree onto the tacks FINALLY places Jack away to retain the title at 26:50.
Score: A+. If the dimensions went greater than this, it will achieve this right here, as a result of this is without doubt one of the greatest matches of all time. These two massacred one another, with HHH surviving as a substitute of profitable. This was brutal, violent, and a rollercoaster of feelings, as there have been occasions the place you can consider Jack might pull off the not possible.
What made this work was they laid within the violence from the bell and it felt like they hated one another. This was HHH’s official commencement to the following stage, as he now had his personal immediate traditional that confirmed he actually might battle at this stage as a substitute of simply escaping. On the very least, he can now beat Jack on this scenario, which he couldn’t do two and a half years earlier. Unimaginable match that completely holds up and it’s price about 5 viewings. I can’t suggest this one sufficient because it actually is an all time masterpiece.
Publish match HHH is taken out on a stretcher so Jack beats him up once more, together with one other barbed wire shot, as a result of we have to do that once more (certainly we do).
Commentary raves in regards to the match and for as soon as, it’s utterly deserved.
Again at WWF New York, Linda McMahon guarantees to cope with HHH the McMahon Means. She might all the time let him date after which marry Stephanie for actual.
Royal Rumble
90 second intervals and the Fink makes it very clear that BOTH FEET should contact, which sends us right into a clip of Shawn Michaels’ miracle end in 1995. D’Lo Brown is in at #1 and Grandmaster Sexay is in at #2, which anybody is aware of if they’ve performed No Mercy. Brown hammers away and hits the leg lariat earlier than practically dropping Grandmaster on his head in a Liger Bomb try. As an alternative Grandmaster escapes with a hurricanrana as commentary talks in regards to the avenue battle.
Mosh is in at #3 (full with inexperienced cones sticking off of his chest for his costume of alternative) to go after Brown however cue Kaientai to invade over not being entered. The 2 of them are overwhelmed down in a rush so Brown suplexes Grandmaster. Christian (with the AWESOME Blood Brother solo theme) is in at #4 with the reverse structure DDT to Mosh. The 4 pair off, with Christian charging into Grandmaster’s superkick.
It’s Rikishi in at #5 and there’s a good probability he’ll do away with somebody. There goes Mosh and Christian follows him slightly rapidly however Brown hits a operating neckbreaker on Rikishi. That retains Rikishi down for all of two seconds and the all the time superior Rikishi Driver knocks Brown foolish. Brown is out, leaving Rikishi and Grandmaster, the latter of whom backs out in a clever little bit of concern.
Scotty 2 Hotty is in at #6 although….and the sun shades come out. The large dance sequence is on, with the group seeming to eat it up. Scotty busts out the Worm however Rikishi knocks them each out. The whole lot is cool as a result of it’s all in regards to the title, so Rikishi dances some extra on his personal. That’s an all time sequence and one of the memorable Royal Rumble moments.
Steve Blackman is in at #7 and will get in a number of pictures on Rikishi earlier than being tossed out in lower than a minute. Viscera is in at #8 to pound on Rikishi and hit a stomach to stomach suplex. A operating splash within the nook crushed Rikishi however he avoids a second, organising a bunch of superkicks to do away with Viscera. Large Boss Man is in at #9 and takes his candy time getting in, as a result of he truly pays consideration. He stays on the ground till Take a look at is in at #10 and jumps Boss Man on the surface. All of them get in, the place Boss Man low blows Take a look at as he chokes Rikishi within the nook.
British Bulldog is in at #11 they usually pair off once more, with Take a look at kicking Boss Man within the face. Bulldog low blows Rikishi to interrupt up the Banzai Drop however can’t toss him out. As an alternative it’s Gangrel in at #12 however right here is Kaientai once more, incomes themselves one other quick ejection (together with Taka Michinoku being flipped ahead, sending his face into the ground). That takes up a lot time that it’s Edge in at #13 to go after Gangrel. The Banzai Drop crushes Boss Man as Lawler needs to see Taka (“That Chinese language man.”) get tossed out once more.
Bob Backlund is in at #14 to an enormous response however will get caught within the mistaken nook. He’s nice sufficient to keep away from Rikishi’s cost although and everybody will get collectively to toss Rikishi. Bulldog headbutts Backlund a number of occasions and it’s Chris Jericho in at #15 to toss Backlund. That’s nice with Bob, who goes into the group to proceed campaigning for Congress (significantly, he was a distinct form of man). Crash Holly is in at #16 and everybody pairs off once more as issues sluggish approach down.
Chyna is in at #17 and goes after Jericho, who sends her to the apron. That’s nice with Chyna, who manages to toss him out, solely to be eradicated by Boss Man. Faarooq is in at #18 however right here is the Imply Avenue Posse proper behind him. The distraction/beatdown lets Boss Man toss him in addition to they aren’t letting the ring get overly full. Street Dogg is in at #19 and goes after Take a look at, who hits him low to chop that off in a rush. Someway Crash stomps Boss Man within the nook as Al Snow is in at #20, giving us Boss Man, Take a look at, Bulldog, Gangrel, Edge, Crash, Dogg and Snow.
Street Dogg tosses Bulldog, permitting Lawler to make doggy fashion jokes. Val Venis is in at #21 however we have to pause for Funaki to run in once more, incomes a 3rd toss to the ground. Prince Albert is in at #22 as Edge is tossed out. Lawler talks about Albert and Mae Younger having/doubtlessly having varied piercings to fill in time as everyone seems to be weakly preventing close to the ropes. Hardcore Holly is in at #23 and a grand whole of nothing is going on. This match actually wants somebody to come back in and clear home….and the Rock is in at #24.
Boss Man is out however a bunch of individuals hammer Rock within the nook to sluggish him proper again down. Billy Gunn is in at #25 and he will get to beat Rock down as effectively. Rock breaks that up and tosses Crash as Street Dogg remains to be holding onto the underside rope, as he has executed a number of occasions tonight. Large Present, who has not been pleased with Rock as of late, is in at #26 and NOW we must be going someplace. Rock is on him earlier than he even will get his different leg excessive however Present knocks him away with out a lot bother. Take a look at and Gangrel are out in a rush and a gorilla press drops Holly (on the mat, with Lawler not getting the logic).
Bradshaw is in at #27 however the Imply Avenue Posse is available in once more, permitting the Outlaws to dump Bradshaw out. Faarooq comes again out to beat up the Posse within the aisle and issues decelerate once more. Kane is in at #28 and this needs to be the actual home cleansing proper? Venis is tossed however Rock cuts Kane off to sluggish issues proper again down. The Godfather, with girls, is in at #29 as Kane tosses Albert.
Funaki is available in once more and Snow tosses him out even quicker this time (yeah it was repetitive however this was a hilarious gag). Godfather lastly will get in and it’s X-Pac finishing the sector, giving us a ultimate group of Street Dogg, Al Snow, Holly, Rock, Gunn, Present, Kane, Godfather and X-Pac. Holly is out in a rush and Present removes Godfather. Rock tosses Snow and Gunn dumps Dogg, solely to get tossed by Kane.
We’re all the way down to Rock, Kane, Present and X-Pac, with Rock tossing X-Pac as Kane battle with the Outlaws within the aisle. X-Pac comes again in as a result of nobody noticed him exit and it’s Kane kicking Rock within the face. Kane and Present battle over a chokeslam till Kane hits an enziguri of all issues. A slam places Present down however X-Pac kicks Kane out.
The Bronco Buster hits Present, who tosses X-Pac out for his efforts. That leaves Rock vs. Present so let’s get proper to the spinebuster and Folks’s Elbow. Rock can’t get him out although and Present is again with a chokeslam. Present takes his candy time loading Rock up for the elimination although and Rock slips off his shoulder for the elimination and the win at 51:49.
Score: B+. This can be a match that was this near being an all timer and it simply doesn’t fairly make it. The opening is nice, with the Too Cool sequence being one of the memorable Rumble moments ever, however then it goes into a fairly deep freeze till Rock is available in. You would inform that there weren’t plenty of massive names within the center to make it work however the nice elements are superior, with Kaientai being in there to make it higher. It’s an excellent Rumble, although not fairly a traditional.
Publish match Rock says he’s going to Wrestlemania however Present comes again in and tosses him out. Rock yells loads to finish the present.
Total Score: A. The 2 important occasions eat up over half of the present and they’re each classics, with the tables match being a fantastic showcase as effectively. The one issues near unhealthy on here’s a completely watchable seven and a half minute Intercontinental Title match and a lower than three minute tag match. Throw in Tazz’s superior debut towards Angle and the environment of the entire thing and that is an unimaginable present which is effectively price your time.
Thomas Corridor has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 60,000 wrestling matches. He has additionally been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 6,000 full reveals coated. You will discover his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or try his- Amazon writer web page with 30 wrestling books.
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