WWE Royal Rumble 2000
We are roughly 24 hours away from this year's Royal Rumble event, and with my thoughts and predictions out of the way, I thought I would cover one of my favorite Rumble events. It's been a while since I've watched this show, I used to have the DVD version that I had gotten as a Christmas gift as a kid, and there's a lot to love about this show, so let's get to it, shall we?
We start with the opening video package, which highlights both Cactus Jack's and HHH's brutal history, with Cactus' death matches, HHH's do anything to win attitude, as well as their history together.
We're live from Madison Square Garden, J.R. and the King are on commentary as always. They hype up the WWF Title match before the undefeated Kurt Angle makes his way out, as J.R. says his opponent has yet to be announced.
He takes the mic from Fink and says he's proud to be at MSG, and say it deserves to have a true champion performing in it, saying they'd be waiting forever if they waited on Patrick Ewing or the Nicks. He says he's decided to be their champion, even if only for one night. He says his opponent must be nervous to face an undefeated American hero,tells him to take a deep breath and it'll be something to tell his grandkids some day. Big Tazz chant. He tells his opponent to remember his three I's and give it his all.
Kurt Angle vs Tazz
Big pop as Tazz's music hits. Crowd is fully behind the Brooklyn native tonight obviously. Kurt takes the advantage early with a suplex on the outside and a nice overhead belly to belly in the ring. Tazz takes him down with another suplex off the top and a pin attempt but Kurt gets his foot on the rope.
Kurt with an inside cradle and another near fall. German Suplex with a bridge and another near fall for Kurt. Kurt goes for the Angle Slam but Tazz escapes with another overhead Belly to Back suplex. Tazz with a couple more suplexes before applying the Tazzmission, and Angle passes out to give Tazz the win in 3:17. The match did its purpose nicely.
Commentary do speculate as to whether the Tazzmission is a choke hold, which would render it illegal, so they're protecting Kurt here, makes sense. Doctors come out with a stretcher for Kurt as Tazz makes a quick exit. An unconscious Kurt gets stretchered out as we cut to the back.
Michael Cole is with the Hardy Boyz and Terri ahead of their Tables Match. We see a replay of Bubba powerbombing Matt through Jeff through a table on Raw, then Jeff delivering a couple of leg drops through the Dudleyz through a pair of tables on Smackown. Terri says they're gonna go out there and tear the roof off, but Jeff says Terri won't be going out there for her safety. Matt says they're gonna put the Dudleyz through tables or die trying before walking off.
First Ever Tag Team Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: This is elimination style, so both members of a team have to be put through a table for the match to end. I remember loving this match because rather than having to go to the back after being put through a table, they'd just continue fighting in the match, making for an interesting match. Bubba gets a mic and calls the people of New York ass backwards, attacking them for cheering the "pretty boy" Hardys and booing John Rocker, who he claims is the greatest pitcher of all time and his new hero. I don't get it, but it does get him some heat. D-Von says if they were smart, they'd elect John as their mayor to clean up this miserable city. Bubba says as far as the Hardys are concerned, they might as well kiss their asses goodbye. Hardys come out and the Dudleyz waste no time as the match gets started on the outside.
J.R. makes a point of saying a person has to be put through a table offensively for it to count as an elimination. Bubba wastes no time getting a table in the ring and already tries to put Jeff through a table with a flapjack, but Matt flips the table over just in time.
Jeff and Bubba on the outside, Jeff with a nasty chair shot off the head, setting Bubba up on a table halfway set up, running along the barricade only for Bubba to smack the table into him. Bubba and Matt in the ring now, Matt set down on a table with Bubba on the second rope,but Matt cuts him off, Jeff coming in for a suplex off the top but D-Von moves the table in time.
Matt with a ladder now, taking out the Dudleyz with ease along with Jeff. Matt with a chair across Bubba's back on the outside. Bubba set up on a table outside and Matt sets up a ladder, and him and Jeff nail tandem leg drops to put Bubba through the table.
Matt with a chair over the head of D-Von now. Jeff sets up a table against the barricade, then another across the apron and some steps, Matt off the top and through one table, Jeff through the other table, and the match continues.
Dudleyz tossing in some steps and a table on top, one end on each, allowing Bubba to powerbomb Matt from the top through the table, making it one to one.
Back on the outside and in the crowd by another entrance way, Dudleyz stack up pairs of tables under the ledge of the entrance way. Matt hoisted on top but Jeff nails D-Von, only for Bubba to nail him too with a chair. Bubba and Jeff into the crowd and over the entrance to the balcony, Bubba calls for a powerbomb but Jeff nails a low blow, nailing a series of chair shots and he crashes through a pair of tables below. Matt resets one of the tables with D-Von on top, Jeff hits the Swanton and sends D-Von through the table, getting the win for the Hardys in 10:17. As you tell hard to keep up with the action, fantastic match between the two teams.
Matt practically has to drag Jeff in the ring as their hands are raised in victory, Dudleyz barely moving as we go to replays of the closing moments.
Cut to the back of doctors checking on Kurt, who has no idea what's going on. He insists he's still undefeated as he was choked out.
I'm gonna skip this next segment, the Miss Rumble 2000. Luna refuses to show off her swimsuit, Mae Young comes out, does some disgusting stuff and wins it. All you need to know. They brought Johnny Valiant, Freddie Blassie and Sgt. Slaughter in as judges, and the King (of course) was the MC for this. Moving on.
We see Coach in WWF New York surrounded by excited fans.
Then we see Chyna and Jericho arguing who should wear the IC Title to the ring for their match coming up next.
Triple Threat Match for the Undisputed Intercontinental Championship: Chyna vs Chris Jericho (co-champions) vs Hardcore Holly
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So commentary don't provide much background, but I believe Chyna and Jericho pinned each other simultaneously on an episode of Smackdown to become co-champions, and I think Holly is just here to eat the pin fall? This crowd is fully behind Jericho. Jericho's got a mic and welcomes them to Madison Square Jericho. He says after he becomes the true IC champion, the Jerichoholics will throw a party that will make the Times Square millennium celebration look like his sister's 7th birthday party, and that will never be forgotten again.
Pretty good match here. There's a good line by J.R., where King is comparing Mae Young's thing earlier to scary movies, and J.R. makes a comparison to Man on the Moon.
Chyna nails Holly with a chair while Jericho has the ref distracted. She goes for the Walls but Jericho nails bulldog into a Lionsault to become the undisputed IC champ in 7:18. Gave it enough time and they put on a good match. Also, I guess I was wrong about Holly's reason for being in here but whatever, he played his part well.
We go to replays before we cut to the back.
Michael Cole is with the Rick ahead of the Royal Rumble match still to come. Rock says he's concerned with... Crash Holly? and Headbanger Mosh? Cole asks if he should be more concerned about Big Show, and Rock tells him to shut up, and proceeds to cut a typical Rock promo as Cole walks off. Great stuff.
Up next, the tag titles are on the line. We get a video package, where the Acolytes won a Battle Royal to earn a title shot. Acolytes remind them that the last time they met, they broke the ring and busted Billy open. Then we get footage of several brawls between the two teams, and that's our buildup.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) vs The Acolytes
This match doesn't last long. X-Pac comes out while the ref is taken out, offering a distraction, allowing Gunn to hit the Fame Asser on Bradshaw to retain the titles in 2:35.
DX heads to the back while the Acolytes look on pissed as we go to replays.
Up next, it's our WWF Championship match. We get our video package showing HHH winning the title from Big Show, and Mankind saying the McMahon Helmsley era sucks. Mankind would lose a Pink Slip on a Pole Match, and we see Mick giving an interview about it. HHH talks to a fake Mankind, a fake Mankind seeing a doctor, and the WWF roster demanding Foley be reinstated on an episode of Raw. HHH gives Foley a shot at the title but beats the crap out of him, even a pedigree through the table, which would force him to change into his Cactus Jack persona on the following Smackdown, laying his own beatdown into HHH to set up this match.
Street Fight for the WWF Championship: Cactus Jack vs Triple H (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Steph is out with HHH at first, but decides to go to the back instead of sticking around, probably a good idea.
Back and forth right hands to start, more in the corner. Cactus gets the advantage early in the match, and quickly heads to the back. Cactus with a swinging neckbreaker outside, and a leg drop across the back of the neck as HHH tries to re-enter the ring.
HHH face first into the steps, then into the timekeeper's area, allowing him to nail Cactus with the ring bell. HHH back in the ring with chair, taunting Cactus to join him. HHH nails Cactus right in the face with the chair, before removing one of the turnbuckles, but Cactus is back up, right hands on HHH. He places the chair on HHH's face and nails a leg drop for a near fall.
Cactus with more right hands and stomps and they're back to the outside. HHH with a right hand of his own before being backdropped over the barricade to the concrete floor. Brawling their way through the crowd to the entrance, tossing HHH into some trash cans and bricks before laying out some wooden palettes, nailing HHH with a suplex onto them. Based on J.R.'s commentary I guess this is also falls count anywhere. Cactus with a trash can off the head before whipping HHH into the entrance doors a couple times, bouncing the back of his head and his face repeatedly into it.
HHH hits a back suplex through a trash can in desperation as Cactus pulls him back near the ring. Right hands before HHH goes face first into the steel steps, more right hands by Cactus. He goes for his running knee and sandwiches HHH's head into the steps.
HHH is rolled back in the ring while Cactus pulls out a barbed wire 2x4 from under the ring. Hebner tries to stop him from using it, allowing HHH to nail a low blow and take the 2x4 and nail Cactus in the gut and back multiple times. Cactus with a low blow of his own, then again with the 2x4 before Hebner gets rid of it, Cactus nails a double arm DDT. Hebner hands it over to the Spanish announce team for some reason as Cactus goes for the pin for a near fall.
Cactus looks around and threatens Hebner wanting the 2x4 and Hebner give sin. Foley nails I think Carlos at Spanish commentary and takes the 2x4, Hebner tries to stop him again and gets dropped by a charging HHH before being nailed in the face with the barbed wire, and again, busting him open, Cactus with another near fall. Another shot with the barbed wire as HHH gets up, raking it across the head as HHH lays on the apron.
On the outside again, Cactus taking advantage with right hands and over to the announce tables again, HHH a bloody mess. Cactus goes for a piledriver through the table, but HHH gets out of it with a back body drop, not quite breaking the table but basically rendering it useless. HHH has a gash in his leg from the barbed wire, which I remember being pretty masty from the DVD extras.
Back in the ring, right hands by HHH in the corner, then a Pedigree attempt but Cactus catapults him into the corner, before a bulldog back into the barbed wire, Cactus with another near fall. Cactus with a running clothesline sending them both back to the outside, but Cactus gets hip tossed leg first into the steps. Cactus whipped over the steps knee first again, tumbling over to the floor. HHH going after the knee now with a chop block.
Back in the ring, HHH back at the knee with a chop block. He grabs the 2x4 now and nails Cactus in the leg with it repeatedly. HHH stumbles out of the ring and takes a bag from Fink, revealing a pair of handcuffs, cuffing Cactus' hands behind his back, reminiscent of last year's Rumble in the I Quit match. Cactus fights out momentarily but HHH back at the knee to finally get the cuffs on. HHH lays in with some right hands before he's back to the outside, grabbing the steel steps Cactus had previously tumbled over. Cactus manages to get HHH with a drop toe hold, causing HHH to go face first into the steps. Cactus manages a low blow on a grounded HHH before biting at HHH's open wound, fighting as best he can with his hand cuffs. Doesn't last long though before HHH clotheslines him to the mat.
HHH with a chair now into the ribs, then across the back, repeatedly, breaking the top of the chair off of it, knocking Cactus out to the floor. HHH follows him out as he heads up the aisle to the entrance, getting a chair shot over the head. HHH talks some trash while Cactus eggs him to hit him again, but Rock comes out of nowhere and nails HHH with a chair, allowing for a police officer to come out and uncuff Cactus.
HHH crawling away back toward the ring and now Cactus with right hands around ringside, HHH off the Spanish announce table, and this time Cactus nails a piledriver, with a nasty bounce off of t, not giving away one bit, god damn. HHH barely able to stand as he's rolled back in the ring.
Cactus under the ring now with the familiar sack, and of course, emptying the contents onto the mat to reveal thousands of thumbtacks. Steph is out now trying to stop the brutality, looking on worried for her husband. Cactus gets back dropped onto the thumbtacks as he charges toward HHH, nailing a Pedigree. HHH goes for the pin but Cactus kicks out to a hell of a pop.
HHH nails a Pedigree into the tacks, retaining the WWF Title in 26:52. Holy shit, that was brutal.
HHH rolls out of the ring as a stretcher is brought out as we go to replays. HHH starts to get stretchered out but Cactus follows, rolling him back and launching him into the apron. Back in the ring, Cactus grabs the 2x4 and nails HHH one more time before laying it on top of the unconscious champion. Cactus' music hits as he stands tall, exiting the ring soon after.
Cut to commentary who's table is a bloody mess and dented in as HHH stumbles up the aisle. Commentary talk about the brutality they just witnessed as HHH is helped to the back.
Cut to the Coach again at WWF New York, talking about the brutal match, and he brings in Linda McMahon, asking her about the McMahon-Helmsley era. She says that she's the CEO, and that things are gonna be handled the McMahon way, even if he's WWF champion.
Back to commentary as the crew clean up the thumbtacks in preparation of our main event.
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Fink of course goes over the rules, superstars entering at intervals of 2 minutes or less. We get a replay of Shawn Michaels' "one foot" Rumble win from back in 1995. Entrant #1 is D'Lo Brown. Entrant #2 is the late Grand Master Sexay, representing Too Cool.
Not much for action to start things off, your typical Rumble fare. Sexay tosses D'Lo over but he hangs on.
Entrant #3 is Headbanger Mosh, with some weird foam nipple cones. I remember wondering what the hell those were when I was a kid. Kaientai run in, but they aren't in this Rumble at all, and this will be a running gag. D'Lo nails a Lo Down on Mosh, then Sexay bulldogs him into Mosh's ass. Looks like Mosh hurt his ankle.
Entrant #4 is Christian. Mosh tries to get D'Lo over but he hangs on, going after Christian while Mosh and Sexay go at it.
Entrant #5 is Rikishi, out to join his Too Cool partner. He nails Mosh with a kick and tosses him over. Belly to belly slam for Christian before tossing him over. D'Lo nails a running neckbreaker and a leg drop but Rikishi is back up, nailing a Rikishi Driver before tossing him out. Rikishi and Sexay are alone, who tries to talk Rikishi out of eliminating him.
Entrant #6 is the third member of Too Cool Scotty 2 Hotty, just in time to save Sexay. Time for a dance break and the New York crowd is loving it. Rikishi takes advantage though and tosses both his partners out after Scotty gets a worm in. Rikishi does some solo dancing before the countdown starts back up.
Entrant #7 is Steve Blackman. He gets some nice kicks in and does his best to stay in this but eventually he gets tosses out too after a Rikishi Driver.
Entrant #8 is Viscera. Jesus he looks fucking freaky. They size each other up before trading right hands. Viscera nails a belly to belly slam followed by a leg drop. Rikishi in the corner, Vis nails a running splash before getting in some kicks to the midsection. He goes for another running splash but Rikishi moves, nails a trio of side kicks, before tossing him out too.
Entrant #9 Big Boss Man. He does the smart thing though and doesn't enter the ring, biding his time and waiting out the whole 2 minutes, teasing entering multiple times.
Entrant #10 is Test, and we're a third of the way through. He goes right after Boss Man, who gets back dropped to the floor. Test chokes him with his shirt before they both end up in the ring. Not much else happens.
Entrant #11 is The British Bulldog, going right after Test and Rikishi. Test with a big boot on Boss Man and spit flies out, before trying to toss him over. Rikishi goes for a Banzai Drop on Bulldog but he nails a low blow, now trying to lift him over the top, Bossman trying the same with Test.
Entrant #12 is Gangrel. Test and Bossman go right after him and Kaientai are out again. Taka gets tosses out and I think his face bounces right off the floor.
Entrant #13 is Edge who goes after Bossman, Bulldog nearly tosses him out already though but gets a thumb to the eye and saves himself. Rikishi nails Boss Man with a Banzai Drop. only for Bulldog to nail him fro behind with a knee. Him and Gangrel try to eliminate Rikishi. They show a couple of replays of Taka being tossed out on his face.
Entrant #14 is... Bob Backlund? I think this is what you would call the inaugural surprise entrant for Rumble matches. I remember having no idea who the hell this guy was when I first saw this. Everyone teams up and finally eliminated Rikishi. Gangrel nearly eliminated Edge again but he hangs on.
Entrant #15 is Chris Jericho, the new crowned IC champion, and we're halfway through now. He nails Backlund with a dropkick and sends him over the ropes to the outside. Thanks for coming, Bob. He for some reason heads through the crowd instead of the entrance way, I guess to do some campaigning as commentary speculate.
Entrant #16 is Crash Holly. Bulldog and Edge try to eliminate him, and Edge even slaps his ass a bit, but he hangs on. Him and Bulldog on Edge now but he hangs on.
Entrant #17 is Chyna, entering her second Royal Rumble match. She goes right after Jericho obviously, and Jericho gets her over the ropes, only to pull him over and to the floor, and Boss Man knocks her off too.
Entrant #18 is Farooq of the Acolytes, and now the Mean Street Posse are out, who like Kaientai aren't in this match. Farooq gets tossed out and eliminated in the confusion.
Entrant #19 is Road Dogg, one half of the tag champs, fans chanting his usual entrance sans Road Dogg. Fans are chanting we want... something? Sounds like Dudleyz but I'm not sure. Boss Man tries to toss out Crash but he rolls back in.
Entrant #20 is Al Snow and we're 2/3 of the way through. Bulldog gets eliminated by Road Dogg to little fan fare.
Entrant #21 is Val Venis. Funaki is back and gets tossed out immediately. We get another replay of Taka landing on his face.
Entrant #22 is Prince Albert, while Edge gets eliminated by Al Snow. Apparently Edge and Val are future brother-in-laws according to J.R.
Entrant #23 is Hardcore Holly. Not much happens.
Entrant #24 is The Rock to a massive pop. King's been waiting eagerly for his entrance. He eliminated Boss Man immediately with some right hands. Val tries to get him over and Test joins in but Rock frees himself, before Hardcore gets some shots in and tries to eliminate him.
Entrant #25 is Billy Gunn of the Outlaws, who goes right after Rock in the corner. Rock nails a DDT on Crash and tosses him out, only to be nailed by Hardcore, who tries to eliminate Rock in the corner, but gets cut off by Albert.
Entrant #26 is The Big Show. Rock goes after him immediately, but then Show goes and eliminates Test and Gangrel, then back to Rock.
Lucky #27 is Bradshaw. The Posse are back out but don't last long, all three thrown out by Brawshaw, who then gets eliminated by the Outlaws. Farooq comes out and they start brawling with the Posse to the back.
Entrant #28 is Kane, accompanied by Tori. Val goes after him but quickly gets tossed out. Rock after Kane now.
Entrant #29 is The Godfather, accompanied by his hos. Kane eliminates Albert next. Funaki is back again and gets tosses out again. This gag hasn't gotten old. We get yet another replay of Taka landing on his face, this time in slow motion.
Entrant #30 is X-Pac as the hos head to the back. He goes right after Rock while Godfather tries to eliminate Big Show. Hardcore gets eliminated by I think Billy Gun.
Big Show tosses out Godfather out next, while Rock nails Snow with a Samoan Drop before eliminating him too. Road Dogg talks trash to Snow, and Billy eliminates his own partner. Kane eliminates him next. We're down to the final 4: Kane, Show, Rock and X-Pac. Kane gets pulled to the outside by Gunn and Dogg, X-Pac gets tossed over, but the referees don't catch it trying to break up Kane and DX.
Show whips Rock into Kane who nails a big boot. Show calls for a chokeslam on Kane but he breaks the grip before nailing a nice enziguri, then a body slam, before X-Pac eliminates Kane with a spinning heel kick. X-Pac with a Bronco Buster on Show, but he's up immediately, pressing X-Pac over his head and over the ropes to the floor.
Rock with a Double A Takedown on Show, then a People's Elbow. Rock tries to toss him over but Show stops it, nailing Rock with a chokeslam. Show hoists Rock up over his shoulder and goes to toss him out, but Rock grabs onto the top rope and Show goes tumbling over. Rock wins the Royal Rumble in 51:46.
Show heads to the back as Rock poses in the corner while his music plays. We go to replays of the closing moments. Rock asks for a mic, saying since he's won the Rumble, he can honestly say he's going to Wrestlemania. Show runs back out to cut him off and tosses Rock out of the ring. Crowd chants asshole as Rock's music hits, staring each other down as he heads to the back. We get more replays as Show heads to the back and we fade to black.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a solid show. It had it's fun, it's brutality, and I found myself enjoying most of it. It wasn't perfect though, with the Miss Rumble 2000 taking up time, which probably cut the tag title match short, another complaint.
From here, things would get a little messy. As it turns out, Rock's feet hit the floor first as he went over, meaning Show should have been the winner. They'd face off at No Way Out the following month with the Wrestlemania title shot on the line, which Show would win.We'd end up getting a Triple Threat for the title anyways on Raw anyways, which Triple H would win.
Meanwhile, HHH and Cactus would have another brutal match, this time in Hell in a Cell with Foley's career on the line, with HHH winning once again. Following the above mentioned Triple Threat, Linda would book a 4-Way for the title, adding Foley into the mix at Mania. We'd of course get the "McMahon in every corner" bullshit, HHH would win, and Vince and Shane would reunite with Steph and Trips for whatever reason. So really not much to look forward to here.
That being said though, this PPV is well worth the watch.
We start with the opening video package, which highlights both Cactus Jack's and HHH's brutal history, with Cactus' death matches, HHH's do anything to win attitude, as well as their history together.
We're live from Madison Square Garden, J.R. and the King are on commentary as always. They hype up the WWF Title match before the undefeated Kurt Angle makes his way out, as J.R. says his opponent has yet to be announced.
He takes the mic from Fink and says he's proud to be at MSG, and say it deserves to have a true champion performing in it, saying they'd be waiting forever if they waited on Patrick Ewing or the Nicks. He says he's decided to be their champion, even if only for one night. He says his opponent must be nervous to face an undefeated American hero,tells him to take a deep breath and it'll be something to tell his grandkids some day. Big Tazz chant. He tells his opponent to remember his three I's and give it his all.
Kurt Angle vs Tazz
Big pop as Tazz's music hits. Crowd is fully behind the Brooklyn native tonight obviously. Kurt takes the advantage early with a suplex on the outside and a nice overhead belly to belly in the ring. Tazz takes him down with another suplex off the top and a pin attempt but Kurt gets his foot on the rope.
Kurt with an inside cradle and another near fall. German Suplex with a bridge and another near fall for Kurt. Kurt goes for the Angle Slam but Tazz escapes with another overhead Belly to Back suplex. Tazz with a couple more suplexes before applying the Tazzmission, and Angle passes out to give Tazz the win in 3:17. The match did its purpose nicely.
Commentary do speculate as to whether the Tazzmission is a choke hold, which would render it illegal, so they're protecting Kurt here, makes sense. Doctors come out with a stretcher for Kurt as Tazz makes a quick exit. An unconscious Kurt gets stretchered out as we cut to the back.
Michael Cole is with the Hardy Boyz and Terri ahead of their Tables Match. We see a replay of Bubba powerbombing Matt through Jeff through a table on Raw, then Jeff delivering a couple of leg drops through the Dudleyz through a pair of tables on Smackown. Terri says they're gonna go out there and tear the roof off, but Jeff says Terri won't be going out there for her safety. Matt says they're gonna put the Dudleyz through tables or die trying before walking off.
First Ever Tag Team Tables Match: The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: This is elimination style, so both members of a team have to be put through a table for the match to end. I remember loving this match because rather than having to go to the back after being put through a table, they'd just continue fighting in the match, making for an interesting match. Bubba gets a mic and calls the people of New York ass backwards, attacking them for cheering the "pretty boy" Hardys and booing John Rocker, who he claims is the greatest pitcher of all time and his new hero. I don't get it, but it does get him some heat. D-Von says if they were smart, they'd elect John as their mayor to clean up this miserable city. Bubba says as far as the Hardys are concerned, they might as well kiss their asses goodbye. Hardys come out and the Dudleyz waste no time as the match gets started on the outside.
J.R. makes a point of saying a person has to be put through a table offensively for it to count as an elimination. Bubba wastes no time getting a table in the ring and already tries to put Jeff through a table with a flapjack, but Matt flips the table over just in time.
Jeff and Bubba on the outside, Jeff with a nasty chair shot off the head, setting Bubba up on a table halfway set up, running along the barricade only for Bubba to smack the table into him. Bubba and Matt in the ring now, Matt set down on a table with Bubba on the second rope,but Matt cuts him off, Jeff coming in for a suplex off the top but D-Von moves the table in time.
Matt with a ladder now, taking out the Dudleyz with ease along with Jeff. Matt with a chair across Bubba's back on the outside. Bubba set up on a table outside and Matt sets up a ladder, and him and Jeff nail tandem leg drops to put Bubba through the table.
Matt with a chair over the head of D-Von now. Jeff sets up a table against the barricade, then another across the apron and some steps, Matt off the top and through one table, Jeff through the other table, and the match continues.
Dudleyz tossing in some steps and a table on top, one end on each, allowing Bubba to powerbomb Matt from the top through the table, making it one to one.
Back on the outside and in the crowd by another entrance way, Dudleyz stack up pairs of tables under the ledge of the entrance way. Matt hoisted on top but Jeff nails D-Von, only for Bubba to nail him too with a chair. Bubba and Jeff into the crowd and over the entrance to the balcony, Bubba calls for a powerbomb but Jeff nails a low blow, nailing a series of chair shots and he crashes through a pair of tables below. Matt resets one of the tables with D-Von on top, Jeff hits the Swanton and sends D-Von through the table, getting the win for the Hardys in 10:17. As you tell hard to keep up with the action, fantastic match between the two teams.
Matt practically has to drag Jeff in the ring as their hands are raised in victory, Dudleyz barely moving as we go to replays of the closing moments.
Cut to the back of doctors checking on Kurt, who has no idea what's going on. He insists he's still undefeated as he was choked out.
I'm gonna skip this next segment, the Miss Rumble 2000. Luna refuses to show off her swimsuit, Mae Young comes out, does some disgusting stuff and wins it. All you need to know. They brought Johnny Valiant, Freddie Blassie and Sgt. Slaughter in as judges, and the King (of course) was the MC for this. Moving on.
We see Coach in WWF New York surrounded by excited fans.
Then we see Chyna and Jericho arguing who should wear the IC Title to the ring for their match coming up next.
Triple Threat Match for the Undisputed Intercontinental Championship: Chyna vs Chris Jericho (co-champions) vs Hardcore Holly
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: So commentary don't provide much background, but I believe Chyna and Jericho pinned each other simultaneously on an episode of Smackdown to become co-champions, and I think Holly is just here to eat the pin fall? This crowd is fully behind Jericho. Jericho's got a mic and welcomes them to Madison Square Jericho. He says after he becomes the true IC champion, the Jerichoholics will throw a party that will make the Times Square millennium celebration look like his sister's 7th birthday party, and that will never be forgotten again.
Pretty good match here. There's a good line by J.R., where King is comparing Mae Young's thing earlier to scary movies, and J.R. makes a comparison to Man on the Moon.
Chyna nails Holly with a chair while Jericho has the ref distracted. She goes for the Walls but Jericho nails bulldog into a Lionsault to become the undisputed IC champ in 7:18. Gave it enough time and they put on a good match. Also, I guess I was wrong about Holly's reason for being in here but whatever, he played his part well.
We go to replays before we cut to the back.
Michael Cole is with the Rick ahead of the Royal Rumble match still to come. Rock says he's concerned with... Crash Holly? and Headbanger Mosh? Cole asks if he should be more concerned about Big Show, and Rock tells him to shut up, and proceeds to cut a typical Rock promo as Cole walks off. Great stuff.
Up next, the tag titles are on the line. We get a video package, where the Acolytes won a Battle Royal to earn a title shot. Acolytes remind them that the last time they met, they broke the ring and busted Billy open. Then we get footage of several brawls between the two teams, and that's our buildup.
WWF Tag Team Championship: The New Age Outlaws (c) vs The Acolytes
This match doesn't last long. X-Pac comes out while the ref is taken out, offering a distraction, allowing Gunn to hit the Fame Asser on Bradshaw to retain the titles in 2:35.
DX heads to the back while the Acolytes look on pissed as we go to replays.
Up next, it's our WWF Championship match. We get our video package showing HHH winning the title from Big Show, and Mankind saying the McMahon Helmsley era sucks. Mankind would lose a Pink Slip on a Pole Match, and we see Mick giving an interview about it. HHH talks to a fake Mankind, a fake Mankind seeing a doctor, and the WWF roster demanding Foley be reinstated on an episode of Raw. HHH gives Foley a shot at the title but beats the crap out of him, even a pedigree through the table, which would force him to change into his Cactus Jack persona on the following Smackdown, laying his own beatdown into HHH to set up this match.
Street Fight for the WWF Championship: Cactus Jack vs Triple H (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Steph is out with HHH at first, but decides to go to the back instead of sticking around, probably a good idea.
Back and forth right hands to start, more in the corner. Cactus gets the advantage early in the match, and quickly heads to the back. Cactus with a swinging neckbreaker outside, and a leg drop across the back of the neck as HHH tries to re-enter the ring.
HHH face first into the steps, then into the timekeeper's area, allowing him to nail Cactus with the ring bell. HHH back in the ring with chair, taunting Cactus to join him. HHH nails Cactus right in the face with the chair, before removing one of the turnbuckles, but Cactus is back up, right hands on HHH. He places the chair on HHH's face and nails a leg drop for a near fall.
Cactus with more right hands and stomps and they're back to the outside. HHH with a right hand of his own before being backdropped over the barricade to the concrete floor. Brawling their way through the crowd to the entrance, tossing HHH into some trash cans and bricks before laying out some wooden palettes, nailing HHH with a suplex onto them. Based on J.R.'s commentary I guess this is also falls count anywhere. Cactus with a trash can off the head before whipping HHH into the entrance doors a couple times, bouncing the back of his head and his face repeatedly into it.
HHH hits a back suplex through a trash can in desperation as Cactus pulls him back near the ring. Right hands before HHH goes face first into the steel steps, more right hands by Cactus. He goes for his running knee and sandwiches HHH's head into the steps.
HHH is rolled back in the ring while Cactus pulls out a barbed wire 2x4 from under the ring. Hebner tries to stop him from using it, allowing HHH to nail a low blow and take the 2x4 and nail Cactus in the gut and back multiple times. Cactus with a low blow of his own, then again with the 2x4 before Hebner gets rid of it, Cactus nails a double arm DDT. Hebner hands it over to the Spanish announce team for some reason as Cactus goes for the pin for a near fall.
Cactus looks around and threatens Hebner wanting the 2x4 and Hebner give sin. Foley nails I think Carlos at Spanish commentary and takes the 2x4, Hebner tries to stop him again and gets dropped by a charging HHH before being nailed in the face with the barbed wire, and again, busting him open, Cactus with another near fall. Another shot with the barbed wire as HHH gets up, raking it across the head as HHH lays on the apron.
On the outside again, Cactus taking advantage with right hands and over to the announce tables again, HHH a bloody mess. Cactus goes for a piledriver through the table, but HHH gets out of it with a back body drop, not quite breaking the table but basically rendering it useless. HHH has a gash in his leg from the barbed wire, which I remember being pretty masty from the DVD extras.
Back in the ring, right hands by HHH in the corner, then a Pedigree attempt but Cactus catapults him into the corner, before a bulldog back into the barbed wire, Cactus with another near fall. Cactus with a running clothesline sending them both back to the outside, but Cactus gets hip tossed leg first into the steps. Cactus whipped over the steps knee first again, tumbling over to the floor. HHH going after the knee now with a chop block.
Back in the ring, HHH back at the knee with a chop block. He grabs the 2x4 now and nails Cactus in the leg with it repeatedly. HHH stumbles out of the ring and takes a bag from Fink, revealing a pair of handcuffs, cuffing Cactus' hands behind his back, reminiscent of last year's Rumble in the I Quit match. Cactus fights out momentarily but HHH back at the knee to finally get the cuffs on. HHH lays in with some right hands before he's back to the outside, grabbing the steel steps Cactus had previously tumbled over. Cactus manages to get HHH with a drop toe hold, causing HHH to go face first into the steps. Cactus manages a low blow on a grounded HHH before biting at HHH's open wound, fighting as best he can with his hand cuffs. Doesn't last long though before HHH clotheslines him to the mat.
HHH with a chair now into the ribs, then across the back, repeatedly, breaking the top of the chair off of it, knocking Cactus out to the floor. HHH follows him out as he heads up the aisle to the entrance, getting a chair shot over the head. HHH talks some trash while Cactus eggs him to hit him again, but Rock comes out of nowhere and nails HHH with a chair, allowing for a police officer to come out and uncuff Cactus.
HHH crawling away back toward the ring and now Cactus with right hands around ringside, HHH off the Spanish announce table, and this time Cactus nails a piledriver, with a nasty bounce off of t, not giving away one bit, god damn. HHH barely able to stand as he's rolled back in the ring.
Cactus under the ring now with the familiar sack, and of course, emptying the contents onto the mat to reveal thousands of thumbtacks. Steph is out now trying to stop the brutality, looking on worried for her husband. Cactus gets back dropped onto the thumbtacks as he charges toward HHH, nailing a Pedigree. HHH goes for the pin but Cactus kicks out to a hell of a pop.
HHH nails a Pedigree into the tacks, retaining the WWF Title in 26:52. Holy shit, that was brutal.
HHH rolls out of the ring as a stretcher is brought out as we go to replays. HHH starts to get stretchered out but Cactus follows, rolling him back and launching him into the apron. Back in the ring, Cactus grabs the 2x4 and nails HHH one more time before laying it on top of the unconscious champion. Cactus' music hits as he stands tall, exiting the ring soon after.
Cut to commentary who's table is a bloody mess and dented in as HHH stumbles up the aisle. Commentary talk about the brutality they just witnessed as HHH is helped to the back.
Cut to the Coach again at WWF New York, talking about the brutal match, and he brings in Linda McMahon, asking her about the McMahon-Helmsley era. She says that she's the CEO, and that things are gonna be handled the McMahon way, even if he's WWF champion.
Back to commentary as the crew clean up the thumbtacks in preparation of our main event.
30-Man Royal Rumble Match
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Fink of course goes over the rules, superstars entering at intervals of 2 minutes or less. We get a replay of Shawn Michaels' "one foot" Rumble win from back in 1995. Entrant #1 is D'Lo Brown. Entrant #2 is the late Grand Master Sexay, representing Too Cool.
Not much for action to start things off, your typical Rumble fare. Sexay tosses D'Lo over but he hangs on.
Entrant #3 is Headbanger Mosh, with some weird foam nipple cones. I remember wondering what the hell those were when I was a kid. Kaientai run in, but they aren't in this Rumble at all, and this will be a running gag. D'Lo nails a Lo Down on Mosh, then Sexay bulldogs him into Mosh's ass. Looks like Mosh hurt his ankle.
Entrant #4 is Christian. Mosh tries to get D'Lo over but he hangs on, going after Christian while Mosh and Sexay go at it.
Entrant #5 is Rikishi, out to join his Too Cool partner. He nails Mosh with a kick and tosses him over. Belly to belly slam for Christian before tossing him over. D'Lo nails a running neckbreaker and a leg drop but Rikishi is back up, nailing a Rikishi Driver before tossing him out. Rikishi and Sexay are alone, who tries to talk Rikishi out of eliminating him.
Entrant #6 is the third member of Too Cool Scotty 2 Hotty, just in time to save Sexay. Time for a dance break and the New York crowd is loving it. Rikishi takes advantage though and tosses both his partners out after Scotty gets a worm in. Rikishi does some solo dancing before the countdown starts back up.
Entrant #7 is Steve Blackman. He gets some nice kicks in and does his best to stay in this but eventually he gets tosses out too after a Rikishi Driver.
Entrant #8 is Viscera. Jesus he looks fucking freaky. They size each other up before trading right hands. Viscera nails a belly to belly slam followed by a leg drop. Rikishi in the corner, Vis nails a running splash before getting in some kicks to the midsection. He goes for another running splash but Rikishi moves, nails a trio of side kicks, before tossing him out too.
Entrant #9 Big Boss Man. He does the smart thing though and doesn't enter the ring, biding his time and waiting out the whole 2 minutes, teasing entering multiple times.
Entrant #10 is Test, and we're a third of the way through. He goes right after Boss Man, who gets back dropped to the floor. Test chokes him with his shirt before they both end up in the ring. Not much else happens.
Entrant #11 is The British Bulldog, going right after Test and Rikishi. Test with a big boot on Boss Man and spit flies out, before trying to toss him over. Rikishi goes for a Banzai Drop on Bulldog but he nails a low blow, now trying to lift him over the top, Bossman trying the same with Test.
Entrant #12 is Gangrel. Test and Bossman go right after him and Kaientai are out again. Taka gets tosses out and I think his face bounces right off the floor.
Entrant #13 is Edge who goes after Bossman, Bulldog nearly tosses him out already though but gets a thumb to the eye and saves himself. Rikishi nails Boss Man with a Banzai Drop. only for Bulldog to nail him fro behind with a knee. Him and Gangrel try to eliminate Rikishi. They show a couple of replays of Taka being tossed out on his face.
Entrant #14 is... Bob Backlund? I think this is what you would call the inaugural surprise entrant for Rumble matches. I remember having no idea who the hell this guy was when I first saw this. Everyone teams up and finally eliminated Rikishi. Gangrel nearly eliminated Edge again but he hangs on.
Entrant #15 is Chris Jericho, the new crowned IC champion, and we're halfway through now. He nails Backlund with a dropkick and sends him over the ropes to the outside. Thanks for coming, Bob. He for some reason heads through the crowd instead of the entrance way, I guess to do some campaigning as commentary speculate.
Entrant #16 is Crash Holly. Bulldog and Edge try to eliminate him, and Edge even slaps his ass a bit, but he hangs on. Him and Bulldog on Edge now but he hangs on.
Entrant #17 is Chyna, entering her second Royal Rumble match. She goes right after Jericho obviously, and Jericho gets her over the ropes, only to pull him over and to the floor, and Boss Man knocks her off too.
Entrant #18 is Farooq of the Acolytes, and now the Mean Street Posse are out, who like Kaientai aren't in this match. Farooq gets tossed out and eliminated in the confusion.
Entrant #19 is Road Dogg, one half of the tag champs, fans chanting his usual entrance sans Road Dogg. Fans are chanting we want... something? Sounds like Dudleyz but I'm not sure. Boss Man tries to toss out Crash but he rolls back in.
Entrant #20 is Al Snow and we're 2/3 of the way through. Bulldog gets eliminated by Road Dogg to little fan fare.
Entrant #21 is Val Venis. Funaki is back and gets tossed out immediately. We get another replay of Taka landing on his face.
Entrant #22 is Prince Albert, while Edge gets eliminated by Al Snow. Apparently Edge and Val are future brother-in-laws according to J.R.
Entrant #23 is Hardcore Holly. Not much happens.
Entrant #24 is The Rock to a massive pop. King's been waiting eagerly for his entrance. He eliminated Boss Man immediately with some right hands. Val tries to get him over and Test joins in but Rock frees himself, before Hardcore gets some shots in and tries to eliminate him.
Entrant #25 is Billy Gunn of the Outlaws, who goes right after Rock in the corner. Rock nails a DDT on Crash and tosses him out, only to be nailed by Hardcore, who tries to eliminate Rock in the corner, but gets cut off by Albert.
Entrant #26 is The Big Show. Rock goes after him immediately, but then Show goes and eliminates Test and Gangrel, then back to Rock.
Lucky #27 is Bradshaw. The Posse are back out but don't last long, all three thrown out by Brawshaw, who then gets eliminated by the Outlaws. Farooq comes out and they start brawling with the Posse to the back.
Entrant #28 is Kane, accompanied by Tori. Val goes after him but quickly gets tossed out. Rock after Kane now.
Entrant #29 is The Godfather, accompanied by his hos. Kane eliminates Albert next. Funaki is back again and gets tosses out again. This gag hasn't gotten old. We get yet another replay of Taka landing on his face, this time in slow motion.
Entrant #30 is X-Pac as the hos head to the back. He goes right after Rock while Godfather tries to eliminate Big Show. Hardcore gets eliminated by I think Billy Gun.
Big Show tosses out Godfather out next, while Rock nails Snow with a Samoan Drop before eliminating him too. Road Dogg talks trash to Snow, and Billy eliminates his own partner. Kane eliminates him next. We're down to the final 4: Kane, Show, Rock and X-Pac. Kane gets pulled to the outside by Gunn and Dogg, X-Pac gets tossed over, but the referees don't catch it trying to break up Kane and DX.
Show whips Rock into Kane who nails a big boot. Show calls for a chokeslam on Kane but he breaks the grip before nailing a nice enziguri, then a body slam, before X-Pac eliminates Kane with a spinning heel kick. X-Pac with a Bronco Buster on Show, but he's up immediately, pressing X-Pac over his head and over the ropes to the floor.
Rock with a Double A Takedown on Show, then a People's Elbow. Rock tries to toss him over but Show stops it, nailing Rock with a chokeslam. Show hoists Rock up over his shoulder and goes to toss him out, but Rock grabs onto the top rope and Show goes tumbling over. Rock wins the Royal Rumble in 51:46.
Show heads to the back as Rock poses in the corner while his music plays. We go to replays of the closing moments. Rock asks for a mic, saying since he's won the Rumble, he can honestly say he's going to Wrestlemania. Show runs back out to cut him off and tosses Rock out of the ring. Crowd chants asshole as Rock's music hits, staring each other down as he heads to the back. We get more replays as Show heads to the back and we fade to black.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was a solid show. It had it's fun, it's brutality, and I found myself enjoying most of it. It wasn't perfect though, with the Miss Rumble 2000 taking up time, which probably cut the tag title match short, another complaint.
From here, things would get a little messy. As it turns out, Rock's feet hit the floor first as he went over, meaning Show should have been the winner. They'd face off at No Way Out the following month with the Wrestlemania title shot on the line, which Show would win.We'd end up getting a Triple Threat for the title anyways on Raw anyways, which Triple H would win.
Meanwhile, HHH and Cactus would have another brutal match, this time in Hell in a Cell with Foley's career on the line, with HHH winning once again. Following the above mentioned Triple Threat, Linda would book a 4-Way for the title, adding Foley into the mix at Mania. We'd of course get the "McMahon in every corner" bullshit, HHH would win, and Vince and Shane would reunite with Steph and Trips for whatever reason. So really not much to look forward to here.
That being said though, this PPV is well worth the watch.
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