WWE Wrestlemania 2000
We're just over 2 weeks away from this year's Wrestlemania, and in typical fashion, I'll cover a few classic Manias from years past. Since I couldn't decide I put shows 1-29 on a wheel and spun and, well since Lady Luck seems to know I'm a masochist, chose this for me, so let's get to it.
The show starts with J.R. welcoming us to the show before Howard introduces Lilian to sing the national anthem. I forgot what a beautiful singing voice she has. Then we get our opening video package, highlighting great moments from past shows, before hyping tonight's main event for the WWF Championship.
We're live from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. Good ol' J.R. and the King are on commentary for tonight's show. Onto our first match.
The Godfather & D'Lo Brown vs Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: D'Lo and Godfather get led out by Ice T, rapping Pimpin Ain't Easy off the Aggression CD, to get the crowd going, decked out in Godfather-esque attire. Godfather does his thing to hype the crowd some more before Boss Man and Buchanan come out.
D'Lo and Godfather take control of Buchanan early on with some nice double team offense until GF misses an elbow drop. Bull tags out and Boss Man with blows to the midsection in the corner. GF fights back with a clothesline and some right hands and a side kick, then a near fall.
D'Lo tags in, but Boss Man gets him in his corner to tag in Bull. D'Lo with the 10 punch in the corner, whips Bull into the opposite corner who hops to the top rope, spinning around for a clothesline. Scoop slam on D'Lo before D'Lo lands some right hands. Boss Man with a blind tag and D'Lo hung on the middle rope with a drop toe hold. Right hands from the outside and a pin attempt but GF breaks it up.
Double team offense into a scissor kick by Buchanan into a near fall. D'Lo tossed to the outside, Boss Man drops him chest first onto the barricade. GF in to get some right hands in on Bull until D'Lo is tossed back in. D'Lo whipped hard into the corner and back to Boss Man who gets tagged in. Double elbow into a near fall. GF argues with the ref while Bull and Boss Man get more offense in and Bull applies a bear hug.
D'Lo fights out and goes off the ropes but eats an elbow. Boss Man back in and send D'Lo off the ropes into ax handles. D'Lo off the ropes for a cross body but Boss Man catches him for a back breaker and a near fall. Bull tagged in and up top with an ax handle. Back breaker on D'Lo before going back up top but GF shakes the ropes and crotches Bull, D'Lo goes up top and nails a hurricanrana.
D'Lo finally gets the hot tag and GF gets Boss Man in the corner to nail the Ho Train. D'Lo tagged in now but Bull pushes him off the top rope. D'Lo nails a drop kick on Boss Man who bounces off the ropes, he goes off the ropes now but Boss Man catches him for the spinning side slam. Bull has taken out GF at ringside as he goes up top and nails a damn nice leg drop to get the win in 9:06. Pretty good opener.
The hos try to get away from Boss Man and Bull as the go after them, before we cut to HHH and Steph, talking about how they're putting on the greatest Mania of all time while holding the WWF and Women's Titles.
Back to commentary, J.R. wondering why HHH is so relaxed considering what he has to deal with, before we go to footage from earlier. The referees are explaining to Crash and his challengers how tonight's Battle Royal works. If you're familiar with the Championship Scramble, that's basically what this is, except no DQ, no count outs, falls count anywhere.
Hardcore Battle Royal for the Hardcore Championship: Tazz, Viscera, The Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas, Joe Abs & Rodney), Hardcore Holly, Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Funaki), The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher), The Acolytes (Farooq & Bradshaw), Crash Holly (c)
Pre-Match Notes: So Crash is currently the Hardcore Champion. If he is pinned at some point, then the person who pinned him becomes the interim Hardcore Champion, at which he can lose the title if pinned, and so on. Once the 15 min are up, whoever is the interim champion will be crowned the official Hardcore Champion.
Tazz goes right after Crash while everyone brawls around ringside. Tazz nails a Tazplex and pins Crash to become the interim champion 24 seconds in. Tazz kicks Crash out and he goes out and goes after Viscera who slams Taz back first into the ring post and to the floor, pinning him to now become the interim champion 58 seconds in.
Hardcore nails Crash with something while Viscera starts using Kaientai's flag. It's a mess of assorted weapons at ringside. Everyone goes after Viscera and Crash has been busted open, probably from Hardcore's early shot. Acolytes gets taken out by Viscera with a cookie sheet, while a Headbanger nails Hardcore with a tennis racket. Bradshaw with a trash can over a couple Posse members. Viscera hoists Crash up and starts choking him. Farooq face first off the steps, then a trash can off the back by Viscera.
Bradshaw taking out everyone with a cookie sheet, until Tazz takes him out with one. Hardcore with a trash can lid off Viscera's head for a near fall. Mosh with a pin attempt and a near fall. Mosh after Viscera with more until Kaientai go after him. Pete Gas is busted open now too.
In the ring, Viscera cleaning house with a baking sheet before going up top, but Acolytes throw him off to the mat. Farooq gets a 2x4 and nails him in the back of the head while Bradshaw comes off the top with the shoulder block. Kaientai get thrown on top first as everyone joins in to make the 3 count and Funaki is announced as the interim champion. Taka lays him out and goes right after him and they head to the back, everyone chasing after.
Funaki gets thrown into some stray guard rails and Rodney pins him to become the champion. Abs knocks him down with a gutwrench suplex and pins him to become the champion. Headbangers go after him and Thrasher throws him into a gate and pins him to become the champion. Mosh with a pipe to the ribs and Thrasher stumbles through, everyone getting their shots in as they wander back out to the arena. Gas nails him with an extinguisher and pins him to become the champion, and he's a bloody mess. Tazz takes Gas back to ringside into the ring post. Right hands against the apron and a suplex and a pin and Tazz becomes the champion again, with 4 and a half minutes to go.
Hardcore sends him into the steps and a pin attempt but Tazz kicks out. Right hands back and forth until Hardcore knocks him down, choking him with his boot. Mosh with a cookie sheet over the head and a pin attempt but Tazz needlessly turns it into a roll up. I guess that was more instinct more than anything since he's the interim champ right now.
Hardcore tosses Tazz back in the ring and Crash joins in. Tazz with a takedown but Hardcore stomps away. Crash after Hardcore now in the corner with a lid to the head. Taz with a lid to Crash's head now. Tazz pins Crash now for some reason and Crash kicks out. Crash with a pin attempt but Hardcore breaks it up and begins to choke Crash now. Two minutes left to go.
Tazz with a suplex on Crash, Hardcore sends him off the ropes into a slam, Crash with some pin attempts but Tazz kicks out, and rolls him over for a pin attempt and a near fall. Hardcore with a dropkick and Tazz kicks out. A minute left.
Northern lights on Hardcore and Crash slips in with a baking sheet to the head and Crash becomes the champion, celebrating prematurely. Tazz locks in the Tazzmission and Crash tries to hang on, Hardcore meanwhile steals J.R.'s candy jar from the announce desk and smashes it over Tazz and Crash's heads. Hardcore covers Crash and the ref goes to make the count and... doesn't finish it? Maybe the pin happened too early? The time runs out either way, and Hardcore is announced as the new and official Hardcore Champion in 15 minutes. It's a decently fun match to watch, if you enjoyed the chaotic/goofy hardcore matches from this era, but it's a nightmare to try and detail in words.
Crash tries to leave with the title until a referee takes it back to Hardcore. Even commentary is confused as Hardcore celebrates with the title and we get a replay of the closing moments. Then we go to footage of Axxess. Then another replay of the controversy of the hardcore battle royal.
Cut to the back where Al Snow is talking to... someone in a bathroom stall, saying they'll be part of the greatest entrance in Mania history as Blackman comes in, asking him what he's up to, telling him not to do something stupid tonight of all nights. Al says he won't, and to Blackman's confusion, Al's mystery guest flushes the toilet. Al tries to pass it off as faulty plumbing before Blackman warns him again and walks off.
Then the camera cuts to a close up of Trish's chest as we see T&A headed to the ring for our next match.
"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman & Al Snow vs T&A (Test & Albert) (w/ Trish Stratus)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Al of course out with Head and a Head Cheese sign, the official(?) team name for them. Al takes the mic from Fink, telling Steve Mania's a special day and has a special surprise for him. Al mentions something about a guy playing Let's Go Head Cheese with his ass cheeks, don't know what that is, and introduces him to Chester McCheeserton, which is a guy dressed as a wedge of cheese as holes cut out for ass cheeks. Ah. I get it. Why? They lead the crowd into a let's go head cheese chant before T&A come out.
Audio issues with J.R.'s headset from the start although it doesn't last long. It's an alright match although the crowd isn't really into it. Chester doesn't do a whole lot of anything, he does go after Trish at one point.
Snow and Albert go a back breaker/leg drop combo but Albert breaks up a pin attempt. Snow gets tossed to the outside, Test gets thrown onto Blackman off a press slam but Snow pulls Test out. Chester goes back after Trish and Blackman gets press slammed again off the distraction, Test nails the elbow off the top for the win in 7:01.
Snow gets a mic as T&A leave and apologizes about Chester, saying it was a stupid idea and helps Chester into the ring. Al says he's sorry again and that he's right and says it's time to cut the cheese and they proceed to beat up Chester.
We see Mae Young and Kat in the back as she gets ready, half naked and some visual gags. Oh goodie.
Next, the Dudleys with Cole ahead of their title defense. D-Von says he's afraid of ladders and heights, but despite that, they'll retain tonight. Bubba says the Dudleyz will take Mania to a new level, and the ladder match to a new level of violence. He says that when they walk out with the titles, and that the Hardys and E&C will realize thou shalt not screw with the Dudleyz.
Triangle Ladder Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see footage from Heat of E&C and the Hardyz going at it in a short preview of tonight's match.
What is there to say about this match? It still holds up as one of the all time great matches in wrestling history, and this is only four months prior to the inaugural TLC Match. Still hurts to watch Jeff land ass first on the floor off that Swanton. This match also makes me miss the Wile E. Coyote cam so much. In what is easily the best match on this show, E&C of course win this one after setting a table up as a platform atop two ladders, sending Matt through a table below and taking down the belts to become the new champs in 22:25.
We go to replays as Bubba looks on from ringside and E&C celebrate atop the ladders. They leave through the crowd with their new titles before we go to the back.
Kevin Kelly is with Linda and Foley ahead of tonight's main event. Linda's happy that Mick finally gets to fulfill a life long dream tonight, while Mick puts over the ladder match, that nobody's holding back tonight. He says its the biggest show in this year, biggest year in WWF history and the biggest match in WWF history and of his career. He wants people talking about this match for the next 10 years, saying fairy tales can come true and they will come true for him tonight in his final match.
Back to commentary as J.R. puts over the brutality and the sacrifice the teams went through in the ladder match along with Lawler, and we get another replay of the closing moments of the match.
Now from the best match to the worst "match" of the show.
Catfight: Terri (w/ Fabulous Moolah) vs The Kat (w/ Mae Young), Val Venis as Special Guest Referee
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Fink explains that the first to send their opponent out of the ring wins the match. How catty. Val is out first and does his thing, saying he and Wrestlemania are the single largest extravaganza of all time, will get your blood pumping, and while Mania only comes once a year, he comes every single night. Honestly the best part of this whole thing. Terri is out as a she-devil and Kat is out as... well a barely dressed woman. I have no idea why Moolah and Young are out here either, talk about out of place.
Fans chant for puppies and Mae lip locks Val, most interesting parts of this thing. Moolah drags Kat out as Val is distracted to give Terri the win in 2:25. At least it was short.
Mar attacks Moolah and Terri, and Moolah even gives Moolah some semblance of a Bronco Buster, while Kat rips away Terri's pants to reveal her thong clad ass. Terri and Moolah retreat as we go to the back.
Radicalz are preparing for their match up next. Dean says tonight will be the final chapter for Too Cool and break the legs of the dancing fools. Eddie is smitten with Chyna, and Saturn talks about how important this match is. Eddie says Chyna can't take his latino heat before we cut to another locker room. Chyna is with Too Cool and she calls Eddie disgusting. Sexay says they'll get him and it's time to kick it before they head to the ring.
The Radicalz (Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero & Perry Saturn) vs Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty & Grand Master Sexay) & Chyna
Eddie tosses his shirt Chyna's way before he and Scotty start things out, Eddie distracted by Chyna before they get things started with some quick back and forth action. Chyna's tagged but Eddie tags in Malenko before they can go at it. Sexay tagged in and a double suplex on Malenko and a little bit of dancing.
Dean tags Eddie back in and Sexay nails a back suplex before going up top, Dean distracts the ref and Saturn shoves Sexay to the mat allowing Eddie to take advantage. Saturn tagged in now and puts on Sexay's do rag to mock him before Dean is tagged in, then Eddie who nails a suplex and tosses out the do rag. Sexay off the ropes who knocks Eddie down with a kick. Scotty tagged in who gets launched up and dropped across the top rope.
Back suplex and a slingshot onto Scotty from the apron, trying to impress Chyna some more, Sexay inadvertently distracts the ref allowing Eddie to send Chyna face first into the turnbuckle from the apron. Scotty distracts the ref now and Sexay suplexes Eddie from the ring to the floor. Dean and Saturn in now with Sexay and Scotty nails a bulldog, Dean and Saturn on the mat head to head, and Scotty nails a double Worm. Eddie back in but Scotty knocks him down. Eddie uses the ref for protection allowing his team mates to take out Scotty, Chyna tries to go after Eddie but the referee holds her back.
Scotty sent back in by Sexay with Eddie who tags in Saturn who nails a straight kick, goes up top and nails an elbow, then tags in Eddie who goes up top, but Scotty crotches him on the top turnbuckle and nails a superplex. Scotty gets the hot tag and Eddie tries his best to get away as his team mates come to his aid. They eat a couple of scoop slams and some hand spring elbows in the corner before nailing a double low blow as the ref's back is turned. Eddie runs in and nails her from behind while Too Cool and the other Radicalz go at it at ringside. Eddie goes for a powerbomb but Chyna slips out and nails one of her own. Right hands, Eddie off the ropes and a testicular claw by Chyna into a press slam, sending Eddig to the mat into a sleeper hold drop, allowing her to get the pin and the victory in 9:39. Certainly a step up from the last match and pretty decent one at that.
Too Cool and Chyna make a quick exit, and I guess we get no dance celebration. J.R. mention some contest winners who were flown in on a private jet to come to Wrestlemania.
Cut to the back with Shane and Big Show. Shane tries to tell us Show is gonna be the next champion, saying Vince is out and the McMahon-Helmsley era is passe, and their era is now. Show says Rock will be unplugged, Mick will be retired for good and it's game over for HHH.
We go to footage from Heat where Bob Backlund was responsible for Kurt having to defend both his titles tonight, before Kurt puts him in the chickenwing. Then we go to Kurt who's talking to some guy named Tommy, looks like in the security office, saying as the Euro-continental Champion, and his first Mania, after he retains his titles he asks if Tommy could round up some of his security, since he'll be celebrating in the crowd a little and offers to sign some autographs for his kids in return. We don't get an answer as we head into the title match.
Two-Fall Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental & European Championship: Kurt Angle (c) vs Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: I like this concept of a match. First fall will be for the Intercontinental Championship, and the match will continue until a second fall for the European Championship. Nice pop for Jericho as he makes his way out. Jericho takes the mic from Fink and welcomes the crowd to Wrestlemania is Jericho, and says he's been waiting his whole life for this moment, and knows the Jerichoholics have been waiting their whole lives. He can't guarantee he'll walk out with two titles, or even one title, but he can guarantee he'll walk out the true ayatollah of rock and rolla, and Kirk Angel and Mr. Roboto will walk out with bumps and bruises and a t-shirt that says "I visited Anaheim, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and a Y2J beating that I will never, ever forget again". Great promo. Benoit wastes no time going after Kurt before he even enters the ring and the bell is rung.
First Fall
Angle gets rolled into the ring and Jericho quickly takes contro. Angle tries to fight back but gets knocked down. Benoit now after Jericho but gets knocked out of the ring. Angle onto he offensive but sent off the ropes into a dropkick. Jericho knocks Benoit and Angle off the apron to the floor with a springboard dropkick, follows up with a baseball slide to Benoit.
Outside now, Jericho gets flapjacked onto the steel steps. Back in the ring, Angle with a belly to belly and a near fall on Jericho. Benoit now with offense and a near fall on Angle. Chops in the corner traded by Benoit and Jericho, then a double underhook backbreaker on Angle. Jericho up top but gets shoved off and lands face first on the announce table. Benoit with a snap suplex and a near fall.
Back suplex by Benoit and another near fall. Chops and right hands in the corner until Jericho nails a dropkick from behind and sent into the corner, catching Angle with a kick to the midsection and a dropkick off the middle rope. Pin and Benoit breaks it up, then a backbreaker and Kurt breaks up a pin. Suplex by Angle on Benoit and a near fall. Back on Jericho in the corner with right hands, Kurt sent off the ropes into a bulldog and a cover but Kurt kicks out. Benoit and Jericho now with chops and right hands and headbutts then Kurt with a back suplex on Benoit and a pin, but Jericho comes off the second rope to break it up.
Angle rolls out and Jericho with a modified camel clutch on Benoit until Kurt comes in, only to be knocked back down, following with a standing suplex and Benoit tries to capitalize with a pin but Jericho breaks it up.Kurt with right hands on Jericho and sends him in the corner, then a belly to belly and a near fall. Benoit now on Angle, Benoit with a roll up on Chris but Angle breaks it up with a dropkick to the head. Angle catches Jericho in the crossface chickenwing in the middle of the ring,but Benoit comes in to break it up, tossing Angle out of the ring and throwing him into the crowd. Benoit goes to the top rope and nails a diving headbutt and pins Jericho to win the IC Title in 7:55.
Second Fall
Kurt comes to and realizes what happened as Benoit tries to get another pin immediately but Kurt breaks it up, suplex on Benoit and a near fall. Scoop slam on on Benoit as Kurt goes up top but Jericho crotches him on the top rope and climbs up with him, but Benoit crotches him and joins them, nailing a back suplex on Jericho. Angle recovers and climbs up and goes for a moonsault but Benoit rolls out of the way.
Kurt drags himself over to pin Benoit but he kicks out, then Jericho on Kurt and he kicks out. Jericho locks in the Walls but Benoit breaks it up. Jericho sent off the ropes and Benoit with a knee to the midsection. Stomps in the corner before Angle with right hands on Benoit and a scoop slam. Back on Jericho, spinning heel kick on Benoit and Jericho with a powerbomb on Kurt and a second one. Benoit in now and nails three Germans with a bridge, but Angle breaks it up.
Benoit with a nelson suplex, and despite the shulders not being down still makes the count, but Angle kicks out. Jericho takes out the ref and Benoit locks in the crossface and Jericho taps. Benoit screams at the ref and Jericho gets Benoit in the Walls, but Angle nails Jericho with a title belt. Ref comes to as Kurt goes for the pin but Benoit pulls Jericho out of the ring in time.
Benoit and Jericho trading right hands now, and Angle gets a back suplex. Benoit back up top now and misses a diving headbutt, Jericho comes in and nails the Lionsault and wins the European Championship in 13:48 total match time.
Angle looks on distraught and argues with the ref as he goes to hand Jericho and Benoit their respective titles.
We go to the back where Cole is with Vince ahead of tonight's title match, asking Vince if he'll be a factor tonight. Vince says that the Rock is very confident whether Vince is there or not. Vince disagrees that the McMahons were dysfunctional, and guarantees to make it right.
Cut to Triple H reacting to what Vince just said with Steph by his side, saying it's not about right and wrong, it's about who's the best, and he's gonna prove to the world tonight just like he always has, show the world that he is The Game, show the world who the man is, show them who the WWF Champion is, he will not be beaten.
We've got one more match before the main event.
X-Pac & Road Dogg (w/ Tori) vs Kane & Rikishi (w/ Paul Bearer)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: DX coming out with their Run-DMC theme off the Aggression CD. I kinda like it over the original. Road Dogg does the usual DX shtick and get the crowd hyped before Kish and Kane make their entrance. Rikishi with his first Wrestlemania appearance tonight. Paul tells Tori she can go to hell and she slaps him across the face. He goes stalking after her as DX goes after Rikishi and Kane exits the ring to start the match.
Kane wastes no time getting his hands on Tori and X-Pac follows suit, attacking from behind, Rikisho with a splash n the corner on Dogg and a Stinkface. Tori gets in the ring to escape Kane and retreats to the corner, almost getting a Stinkface but DX pulls her out and they try to leave. Kane and Rikishi go in pursuit as they head back to the ring.
Rikishi takes a spinning heel kick from X-Pac and takes him tot he corner with more kicks to set up and nail a Bronco Buster. Road Dogg tagged in with his Shake, Rattle and Roll, followed by a flying forearm and a knee drop for a pin, but Kish kicks out. Pac tagged in now with some kicks and chops to the chest, off the ropes but Kish catches him with what looks like a cutter after launching Pac into the air.
Kish rolls through and tags Kane in and clears house, nailing a big boot on Dogg and a back body drop on Pac. Dogg sent to the outside before whipping Pac in the corner and a clothesline. Kish goes to the corner and tries for a Stinkface but Pac quickly exits, while Dogg eats a side kick from Kish. Bearer rolls Tori back in the ring and Kane catches her, throwing her into the corner and Kish gets her with a Stinkface. Kane gets Pac up and nails the Tombstone to get the win in 4:16. It didn't feel like that short a match, and it was kind of fun.
Bearer looks on pleased as Too Cool come out to celebrate as well as the San Diego chicken. Commentary and Kane thinks it's Pete Rose as Sexay pulls out the glasses for Rikishi, setting up Too Cool and the Chicken to dance, sans Kane and Bearer. Kane surprisinngly lets them get through their dance before grabbing the chicken by the throat in the corner, but Pete Rose slips in from behind with a bat. Kish catches him in the act and Rose eats a chokeslam from Kane. Sexay and Scotty drag Pete into the corner, and although unconscious, eats a Stinkface too. Kane and Bearer leave with bat in hand, until Kane decides to re-enter and set off his fire as Pete lays on the mat.
We cut to the back where Kevin Kelly is with Rock, moments away from the main event. Rock says 12 months ago, after interviews, run ins, back stab, win, loss, everything thrown at him and thrown back, chokeslam, mandible claw, pedigree, if he can do it again, he can say he's finally come back to Wrestlemania. It's not about the lights, cameras, glitz, glamour, Stephanie and HHH's marriage, the McMahon family saga (even though that's exactly what this is), Foley's final match (which it isn't), sure as hell not about the Big Show, it's about the WWF Championship. He says if he has an ounce of sweat to spill, blood to drop, then tonight he's gonna do what he does best, go out there and layeth the smacketh down on their candy asses. He says he will do it for the millions (and millions) of The Rock's fans, do whatever it takes because the People's Champ says tonight is the night before he walks off.
We cut back tot he arena where commentary hype up the main event some more, we see Michael Clarke Duncan, Martin Short Dustin Diamodn in the crowd, apparently French Stewart is there and Terry Holt.
Time for our main event.
Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for the WWF Championship: Mick Foley (w/ Linda McMahon) vs The Big Show (w/ Shane McMahon) vs The Rock (w/ Vince McMahon) vs Triple H (c) (w/ Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Mick gets a nice pop from the crowd, Show's is obviously lukewarm, but this crowd is fully behind Rock. No countouts, no DQ, eliminations by pinfall only.
Foley goes right after HHH and Rock after Show in opposite corners, trading right hands and knees. Foley hammers away at HHH before nailing a running knee to the face. Show choking Rock in the corner before nailing HHH and Foley with a clothesline. Headbutt for HHH and a forearm to the Rock. Scoop slam for Foley, then throws HHH across the ring. Rock off the ropes into a press slam from Show before throwing him to his back. HHH off the ropes into a press slam and down to the mat.
Headbutt for Foley before choking Rock in the corner with his knee, but Foley from behind climbs on Show's back, before Show drops backwards. Rock now with right hands on show and goes off the ropes, caught into a side walk slam. HHH comes off the top and goes for a chokeslam but Foley nails a low blow. Foley and HHH with right hands on Show and now Rock joins in, a clothesline from all three finally taking Show off his feet. All three stomping away before Foley lays in some right hands on HHH before they tumble over the ropes to the outside.
Rock sent into the corner into a boot from Show, while Foley drives a chair into the ribs of HHH. Rock gets tripped up by Shane and Foley nails Show in the back of the head with the chair, Rock nails a Rock Bottom and Show is already eliminated in 4:50.
Triple Threat
Rock, Foley and HHH stare off in the ring while Show gets pissed at Vince, calling him a son of a bitch. Steph waves bye to Shane as officials send him and Show to the back. Foley tries to form an alliance with Foley seeing his odds but Foley refuses. HHH tries to form an alliance with Rock, and although he agrees at first, he nails HHH from behind as he goes for Mick. Rock and Mick stomping away at HHH, right hands back and forth from Rock and Mick, HHH sent off the ropes into a double clothesline. HHH sent outside by Mick and Rock follows them out near the announce tables. HHH fights back but Foley comes from behind an knocks him down, Rock with more shots as Mick holds HHH up. Mick reverses an irish whip to send HHH into a clothesline from Rock, Mick tosses Rock the ringbell and Foley holds up HHH but he moves out of the way, nailing Mick in the head. HHH nails a clothesline and throws Rock into the steps.
HHH drops Rock chest first onto the barricade while Mick pulls Barbie from the timekeepers area, HHH looking on scared shitless. Mick swings and misses in the corner allowing HHH to nail a low blow. He takes Barbie and nails Mick in the gut but Rock comes in with some right hands. Rock gets sent to the outside and Mick nails a double arm DDT. Mick pulls out Socko and gets HHH with the Mandible Claw, Rock comes in with the title belt, Mick pushes HHH his way and nails HHH in the face with it. Rock calls for the People's Elbow, but Mick now with the Claw on Rock, but HHH cuts it off with a double low blow.
Eventually the three get back up and HHH goes after Rock. Vince slides chair into the ring as Rock nails a clothesline on HHH, then Mick with one on Rock and a pin attempt but Rock kicks out. Mick with right hands now in the corner, before being whipped into the opposite one, ducks a clothesline and nails a double arm DDT. Mick goes for the pin but Rock kicks out again. Mick grabs the chair and charges at Rock but he kicks it back in his face, Mick off the ropes into a DDT but HHH breaks it up for... some reason. Clothesline on Rock, now Foley calls for an alliance with HHH and they both go after Rock now. Rock off the ropes into a running knee by Mick and a near fall.
Double suplex on Rock, then a running knee by HHH and another near fall. Rock sent to the outside as HHH and Mick follow back over to the announce tables. Mick holds up Rock and HHH lays in with some right hands. Mick goes to whip Rock but Mick gets sent tumbling knee first into the steel steps. Micks got the steps now and nails Rock in the head with them. Linda and Steph argue on the other side of the ring. HHH sets Rock on top of the announce table while Mick climbs to the second rope, launches himself off but he pretty much misses Rock entirely, bouncing off the edge. HHH launches off the other table with an elbow onto Rock, then breaks the other table as he climbs back on top. HHH off the barricade and onto Rock, collapsing the table underneath them.
Back in the ring, HHH nails Mick with the Pedigree, goes for the pin but Mick kicks out. HHH shoves Hebner before taking the chair, nailing Mick in the side of the head. HHH nails a Pedigree onto the chair and gets the three, eliminating Mick in 19:40. We're down to two.
One on One
Mick gets a standing ovation as he goes to leave holding his ribs, to a loud Foley chant, Linda by his side. Foley stops halfway and heads back, grabbing Barbie from ringside and enters the ring, nailing HHH right in the face with it for one more pop before finally leaving. Rock crawls in barely moving and hooks the leg, but HHH kicks out.
Right hands by the Rock before sending HHH to the outside, Duncan meanwhile yelling at HHH to stay down, telling Rock to "finish that sucka". OK I really liked that. Rock takes HHH up the aisle near the entrance, nails a suplex on the floor with a loud thud. HHH gets whipped into the entrance set into a clothesline. Rock pulls HHH through the crowd as they trade some right hands, HHH getting back dropped over the barricade to the floor.
Back to the announce tables and HHH's head bounced off the timekeeper's table. Rock with the steel steps, but HHH nails them with a chair, Rock knocked down with the steps, HHH nailing them repeatedly with the chair. HHH nails a piledriver on the bottom half of the steps, dragging a limp Rock back into the ring. HHH hooks the leg but Rock kicks out.
Right hands back and forth, HHH off the ropes then Rock who catches him for a Rock Bottom, he slips out and goes for a Pedigree, but he gets back dropped over the ropes to the outside. Rock back out now with a right hand and sends HHH over the barricade again, dragging HHH through the crowd again. Right hands by Rock and HHH as they stumble back, Rock being knocked back over the barricade.
Rock whips HHH into the barricade, catching him with a spinebuster on the floor. They stay down awhile before heading back to the announce table, where Rock suplexes HHH from the floor through the announce table. Rock goes back after HHH but gets caught with a drop toe hold into the steps, HHH rolling him back in the ring. Vince nails a right hand on HHH and throws HHH into the ring post. Shane runs back out and nails Vince from behind, ramming Vince's head into a monitor on the floor. Shane picks up a monitor and nails Vince in the head with it. Shane talks some trash to Hebner, but Vince is back up, nailing Shane with some right hands around ringside. Shane nails a low blow now, grabs the chair from earlier and nails Vince in the head. Duncan yelling at Shane and Shane threatens him, meanwhile Vince has been busted open, helped to the back by Patterson and Brisco and officials.
HHH and Rock back up now and Rock hammers with right hands in the corner. Rock whipped off the ropes and catches HHH with a DDT for a near fall. HHH off the rope into a tilt-a-whirl powerslam and a near fall, Rock damn near dropped HHH on his head I think. HHH off the ropes again but catches Rock with a facebuster, grabs Barbie and nails Rock in the face.
Shane in the ring now, HHH goes for a Pedigree but Rock trips him up, While Shane argues with Hebner, HHH gets catapulted into Shane in the corner, Rock nails a Rock Bottom but can't capitalize with a pin. Shane is back up now and grabs the chair again, meanwhile Vince runs back down with a low blow on Shane and a slap, knocking Shane out of the ring. Vince grabs the chair now as Rock and HHH start to get up and nails Rock instead. HHH crawls on top, but Rock kicks out.
Vince grabs the chair and nails Rock in the head again, HHH crawls on top and hooks the leg to retain the championship in 36:25. That match was actually alright up until the last 10 minutes or so.
Stephanie slides in with the championship as J.R. is pissed. Fans start littering the ring with trash as Vince rolls Rock out of the ring and he and Steph hug it out. Rock is helped to the back by officials while Shane climbs back in, Vince tries to talk sense into Shane, while Rock comes to and runs back in. Rock Bottom for Shane, right hands and a Rock Bottom for Vince. Steph checks on Vince as him and Rock trade words. Steph yells at Rock some before slapping him in the face and gets a Rock Bottom of her own, and even a People's Elbow for the final nail in the coffin. Rock's music hits as the fans pop and Hebner checks on Steph and officials check on the McMahons. Rock heads back up the aisle, while commentary talk about the confusion of what just happened. J.R. plays us out, before we get a recap package of tonight's show to end it. With a run time of 3:21:23, there was 2:00:05 of bell to bell action on this show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This show wasn't that bad. I mean yes it had it's low points, like the catfight, and the end to the main event, but even the main event was good for the first 30 minutes or so. The Hardcore Battle Royal was a mess to cover but as I said, if you like the hardcore title matches from this time, you'll probably enjoy this match. Undercard for the most part, while not that special was still fun for most of it, and of course that fantastic ladder match stole the show.
As far as I can tell nothing was given as an explanation for the assbackwards end to the main event. I watched the opening promo from Raw, Vince and family (sans Linda) hugged it out and shook hands and he refused to give an answer. He did go on a rant about how they're all fake just like Rock, so maybe that's it. No articles or anything seem to have an answer either. Rock would go on to Backlash to win the title with help from Stone Cold, lose it the next month back to HHH in an Ironman Match thanks to inadvertent help from Taker, and win it again at King of the Ring in a 6-man tag.
The show starts with J.R. welcoming us to the show before Howard introduces Lilian to sing the national anthem. I forgot what a beautiful singing voice she has. Then we get our opening video package, highlighting great moments from past shows, before hyping tonight's main event for the WWF Championship.
We're live from the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. Good ol' J.R. and the King are on commentary for tonight's show. Onto our first match.
The Godfather & D'Lo Brown vs Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: D'Lo and Godfather get led out by Ice T, rapping Pimpin Ain't Easy off the Aggression CD, to get the crowd going, decked out in Godfather-esque attire. Godfather does his thing to hype the crowd some more before Boss Man and Buchanan come out.
D'Lo and Godfather take control of Buchanan early on with some nice double team offense until GF misses an elbow drop. Bull tags out and Boss Man with blows to the midsection in the corner. GF fights back with a clothesline and some right hands and a side kick, then a near fall.
D'Lo tags in, but Boss Man gets him in his corner to tag in Bull. D'Lo with the 10 punch in the corner, whips Bull into the opposite corner who hops to the top rope, spinning around for a clothesline. Scoop slam on D'Lo before D'Lo lands some right hands. Boss Man with a blind tag and D'Lo hung on the middle rope with a drop toe hold. Right hands from the outside and a pin attempt but GF breaks it up.
Double team offense into a scissor kick by Buchanan into a near fall. D'Lo tossed to the outside, Boss Man drops him chest first onto the barricade. GF in to get some right hands in on Bull until D'Lo is tossed back in. D'Lo whipped hard into the corner and back to Boss Man who gets tagged in. Double elbow into a near fall. GF argues with the ref while Bull and Boss Man get more offense in and Bull applies a bear hug.
D'Lo fights out and goes off the ropes but eats an elbow. Boss Man back in and send D'Lo off the ropes into ax handles. D'Lo off the ropes for a cross body but Boss Man catches him for a back breaker and a near fall. Bull tagged in and up top with an ax handle. Back breaker on D'Lo before going back up top but GF shakes the ropes and crotches Bull, D'Lo goes up top and nails a hurricanrana.
D'Lo finally gets the hot tag and GF gets Boss Man in the corner to nail the Ho Train. D'Lo tagged in now but Bull pushes him off the top rope. D'Lo nails a drop kick on Boss Man who bounces off the ropes, he goes off the ropes now but Boss Man catches him for the spinning side slam. Bull has taken out GF at ringside as he goes up top and nails a damn nice leg drop to get the win in 9:06. Pretty good opener.
The hos try to get away from Boss Man and Bull as the go after them, before we cut to HHH and Steph, talking about how they're putting on the greatest Mania of all time while holding the WWF and Women's Titles.
Back to commentary, J.R. wondering why HHH is so relaxed considering what he has to deal with, before we go to footage from earlier. The referees are explaining to Crash and his challengers how tonight's Battle Royal works. If you're familiar with the Championship Scramble, that's basically what this is, except no DQ, no count outs, falls count anywhere.
Hardcore Battle Royal for the Hardcore Championship: Tazz, Viscera, The Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas, Joe Abs & Rodney), Hardcore Holly, Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Funaki), The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher), The Acolytes (Farooq & Bradshaw), Crash Holly (c)
Pre-Match Notes: So Crash is currently the Hardcore Champion. If he is pinned at some point, then the person who pinned him becomes the interim Hardcore Champion, at which he can lose the title if pinned, and so on. Once the 15 min are up, whoever is the interim champion will be crowned the official Hardcore Champion.
Tazz goes right after Crash while everyone brawls around ringside. Tazz nails a Tazplex and pins Crash to become the interim champion 24 seconds in. Tazz kicks Crash out and he goes out and goes after Viscera who slams Taz back first into the ring post and to the floor, pinning him to now become the interim champion 58 seconds in.
Hardcore nails Crash with something while Viscera starts using Kaientai's flag. It's a mess of assorted weapons at ringside. Everyone goes after Viscera and Crash has been busted open, probably from Hardcore's early shot. Acolytes gets taken out by Viscera with a cookie sheet, while a Headbanger nails Hardcore with a tennis racket. Bradshaw with a trash can over a couple Posse members. Viscera hoists Crash up and starts choking him. Farooq face first off the steps, then a trash can off the back by Viscera.
Bradshaw taking out everyone with a cookie sheet, until Tazz takes him out with one. Hardcore with a trash can lid off Viscera's head for a near fall. Mosh with a pin attempt and a near fall. Mosh after Viscera with more until Kaientai go after him. Pete Gas is busted open now too.
In the ring, Viscera cleaning house with a baking sheet before going up top, but Acolytes throw him off to the mat. Farooq gets a 2x4 and nails him in the back of the head while Bradshaw comes off the top with the shoulder block. Kaientai get thrown on top first as everyone joins in to make the 3 count and Funaki is announced as the interim champion. Taka lays him out and goes right after him and they head to the back, everyone chasing after.
Funaki gets thrown into some stray guard rails and Rodney pins him to become the champion. Abs knocks him down with a gutwrench suplex and pins him to become the champion. Headbangers go after him and Thrasher throws him into a gate and pins him to become the champion. Mosh with a pipe to the ribs and Thrasher stumbles through, everyone getting their shots in as they wander back out to the arena. Gas nails him with an extinguisher and pins him to become the champion, and he's a bloody mess. Tazz takes Gas back to ringside into the ring post. Right hands against the apron and a suplex and a pin and Tazz becomes the champion again, with 4 and a half minutes to go.
Hardcore sends him into the steps and a pin attempt but Tazz kicks out. Right hands back and forth until Hardcore knocks him down, choking him with his boot. Mosh with a cookie sheet over the head and a pin attempt but Tazz needlessly turns it into a roll up. I guess that was more instinct more than anything since he's the interim champ right now.
Hardcore tosses Tazz back in the ring and Crash joins in. Tazz with a takedown but Hardcore stomps away. Crash after Hardcore now in the corner with a lid to the head. Taz with a lid to Crash's head now. Tazz pins Crash now for some reason and Crash kicks out. Crash with a pin attempt but Hardcore breaks it up and begins to choke Crash now. Two minutes left to go.
Tazz with a suplex on Crash, Hardcore sends him off the ropes into a slam, Crash with some pin attempts but Tazz kicks out, and rolls him over for a pin attempt and a near fall. Hardcore with a dropkick and Tazz kicks out. A minute left.
Northern lights on Hardcore and Crash slips in with a baking sheet to the head and Crash becomes the champion, celebrating prematurely. Tazz locks in the Tazzmission and Crash tries to hang on, Hardcore meanwhile steals J.R.'s candy jar from the announce desk and smashes it over Tazz and Crash's heads. Hardcore covers Crash and the ref goes to make the count and... doesn't finish it? Maybe the pin happened too early? The time runs out either way, and Hardcore is announced as the new and official Hardcore Champion in 15 minutes. It's a decently fun match to watch, if you enjoyed the chaotic/goofy hardcore matches from this era, but it's a nightmare to try and detail in words.
Crash tries to leave with the title until a referee takes it back to Hardcore. Even commentary is confused as Hardcore celebrates with the title and we get a replay of the closing moments. Then we go to footage of Axxess. Then another replay of the controversy of the hardcore battle royal.
Cut to the back where Al Snow is talking to... someone in a bathroom stall, saying they'll be part of the greatest entrance in Mania history as Blackman comes in, asking him what he's up to, telling him not to do something stupid tonight of all nights. Al says he won't, and to Blackman's confusion, Al's mystery guest flushes the toilet. Al tries to pass it off as faulty plumbing before Blackman warns him again and walks off.
Then the camera cuts to a close up of Trish's chest as we see T&A headed to the ring for our next match.
"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman & Al Snow vs T&A (Test & Albert) (w/ Trish Stratus)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Al of course out with Head and a Head Cheese sign, the official(?) team name for them. Al takes the mic from Fink, telling Steve Mania's a special day and has a special surprise for him. Al mentions something about a guy playing Let's Go Head Cheese with his ass cheeks, don't know what that is, and introduces him to Chester McCheeserton, which is a guy dressed as a wedge of cheese as holes cut out for ass cheeks. Ah. I get it. Why? They lead the crowd into a let's go head cheese chant before T&A come out.
Audio issues with J.R.'s headset from the start although it doesn't last long. It's an alright match although the crowd isn't really into it. Chester doesn't do a whole lot of anything, he does go after Trish at one point.
Snow and Albert go a back breaker/leg drop combo but Albert breaks up a pin attempt. Snow gets tossed to the outside, Test gets thrown onto Blackman off a press slam but Snow pulls Test out. Chester goes back after Trish and Blackman gets press slammed again off the distraction, Test nails the elbow off the top for the win in 7:01.
Snow gets a mic as T&A leave and apologizes about Chester, saying it was a stupid idea and helps Chester into the ring. Al says he's sorry again and that he's right and says it's time to cut the cheese and they proceed to beat up Chester.
We see Mae Young and Kat in the back as she gets ready, half naked and some visual gags. Oh goodie.
Next, the Dudleys with Cole ahead of their title defense. D-Von says he's afraid of ladders and heights, but despite that, they'll retain tonight. Bubba says the Dudleyz will take Mania to a new level, and the ladder match to a new level of violence. He says that when they walk out with the titles, and that the Hardys and E&C will realize thou shalt not screw with the Dudleyz.
Triangle Ladder Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship: Edge & Christian vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz (c)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: We see footage from Heat of E&C and the Hardyz going at it in a short preview of tonight's match.
What is there to say about this match? It still holds up as one of the all time great matches in wrestling history, and this is only four months prior to the inaugural TLC Match. Still hurts to watch Jeff land ass first on the floor off that Swanton. This match also makes me miss the Wile E. Coyote cam so much. In what is easily the best match on this show, E&C of course win this one after setting a table up as a platform atop two ladders, sending Matt through a table below and taking down the belts to become the new champs in 22:25.
We go to replays as Bubba looks on from ringside and E&C celebrate atop the ladders. They leave through the crowd with their new titles before we go to the back.
Kevin Kelly is with Linda and Foley ahead of tonight's main event. Linda's happy that Mick finally gets to fulfill a life long dream tonight, while Mick puts over the ladder match, that nobody's holding back tonight. He says its the biggest show in this year, biggest year in WWF history and the biggest match in WWF history and of his career. He wants people talking about this match for the next 10 years, saying fairy tales can come true and they will come true for him tonight in his final match.
Back to commentary as J.R. puts over the brutality and the sacrifice the teams went through in the ladder match along with Lawler, and we get another replay of the closing moments of the match.
Now from the best match to the worst "match" of the show.
Catfight: Terri (w/ Fabulous Moolah) vs The Kat (w/ Mae Young), Val Venis as Special Guest Referee
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Fink explains that the first to send their opponent out of the ring wins the match. How catty. Val is out first and does his thing, saying he and Wrestlemania are the single largest extravaganza of all time, will get your blood pumping, and while Mania only comes once a year, he comes every single night. Honestly the best part of this whole thing. Terri is out as a she-devil and Kat is out as... well a barely dressed woman. I have no idea why Moolah and Young are out here either, talk about out of place.
Fans chant for puppies and Mae lip locks Val, most interesting parts of this thing. Moolah drags Kat out as Val is distracted to give Terri the win in 2:25. At least it was short.
Mar attacks Moolah and Terri, and Moolah even gives Moolah some semblance of a Bronco Buster, while Kat rips away Terri's pants to reveal her thong clad ass. Terri and Moolah retreat as we go to the back.
Radicalz are preparing for their match up next. Dean says tonight will be the final chapter for Too Cool and break the legs of the dancing fools. Eddie is smitten with Chyna, and Saturn talks about how important this match is. Eddie says Chyna can't take his latino heat before we cut to another locker room. Chyna is with Too Cool and she calls Eddie disgusting. Sexay says they'll get him and it's time to kick it before they head to the ring.
The Radicalz (Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero & Perry Saturn) vs Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty & Grand Master Sexay) & Chyna
Eddie tosses his shirt Chyna's way before he and Scotty start things out, Eddie distracted by Chyna before they get things started with some quick back and forth action. Chyna's tagged but Eddie tags in Malenko before they can go at it. Sexay tagged in and a double suplex on Malenko and a little bit of dancing.
Dean tags Eddie back in and Sexay nails a back suplex before going up top, Dean distracts the ref and Saturn shoves Sexay to the mat allowing Eddie to take advantage. Saturn tagged in now and puts on Sexay's do rag to mock him before Dean is tagged in, then Eddie who nails a suplex and tosses out the do rag. Sexay off the ropes who knocks Eddie down with a kick. Scotty tagged in who gets launched up and dropped across the top rope.
Back suplex and a slingshot onto Scotty from the apron, trying to impress Chyna some more, Sexay inadvertently distracts the ref allowing Eddie to send Chyna face first into the turnbuckle from the apron. Scotty distracts the ref now and Sexay suplexes Eddie from the ring to the floor. Dean and Saturn in now with Sexay and Scotty nails a bulldog, Dean and Saturn on the mat head to head, and Scotty nails a double Worm. Eddie back in but Scotty knocks him down. Eddie uses the ref for protection allowing his team mates to take out Scotty, Chyna tries to go after Eddie but the referee holds her back.
Scotty sent back in by Sexay with Eddie who tags in Saturn who nails a straight kick, goes up top and nails an elbow, then tags in Eddie who goes up top, but Scotty crotches him on the top turnbuckle and nails a superplex. Scotty gets the hot tag and Eddie tries his best to get away as his team mates come to his aid. They eat a couple of scoop slams and some hand spring elbows in the corner before nailing a double low blow as the ref's back is turned. Eddie runs in and nails her from behind while Too Cool and the other Radicalz go at it at ringside. Eddie goes for a powerbomb but Chyna slips out and nails one of her own. Right hands, Eddie off the ropes and a testicular claw by Chyna into a press slam, sending Eddig to the mat into a sleeper hold drop, allowing her to get the pin and the victory in 9:39. Certainly a step up from the last match and pretty decent one at that.
Too Cool and Chyna make a quick exit, and I guess we get no dance celebration. J.R. mention some contest winners who were flown in on a private jet to come to Wrestlemania.
Cut to the back with Shane and Big Show. Shane tries to tell us Show is gonna be the next champion, saying Vince is out and the McMahon-Helmsley era is passe, and their era is now. Show says Rock will be unplugged, Mick will be retired for good and it's game over for HHH.
We go to footage from Heat where Bob Backlund was responsible for Kurt having to defend both his titles tonight, before Kurt puts him in the chickenwing. Then we go to Kurt who's talking to some guy named Tommy, looks like in the security office, saying as the Euro-continental Champion, and his first Mania, after he retains his titles he asks if Tommy could round up some of his security, since he'll be celebrating in the crowd a little and offers to sign some autographs for his kids in return. We don't get an answer as we head into the title match.
Two-Fall Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental & European Championship: Kurt Angle (c) vs Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: I like this concept of a match. First fall will be for the Intercontinental Championship, and the match will continue until a second fall for the European Championship. Nice pop for Jericho as he makes his way out. Jericho takes the mic from Fink and welcomes the crowd to Wrestlemania is Jericho, and says he's been waiting his whole life for this moment, and knows the Jerichoholics have been waiting their whole lives. He can't guarantee he'll walk out with two titles, or even one title, but he can guarantee he'll walk out the true ayatollah of rock and rolla, and Kirk Angel and Mr. Roboto will walk out with bumps and bruises and a t-shirt that says "I visited Anaheim, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and a Y2J beating that I will never, ever forget again". Great promo. Benoit wastes no time going after Kurt before he even enters the ring and the bell is rung.
First Fall
Angle gets rolled into the ring and Jericho quickly takes contro. Angle tries to fight back but gets knocked down. Benoit now after Jericho but gets knocked out of the ring. Angle onto he offensive but sent off the ropes into a dropkick. Jericho knocks Benoit and Angle off the apron to the floor with a springboard dropkick, follows up with a baseball slide to Benoit.
Outside now, Jericho gets flapjacked onto the steel steps. Back in the ring, Angle with a belly to belly and a near fall on Jericho. Benoit now with offense and a near fall on Angle. Chops in the corner traded by Benoit and Jericho, then a double underhook backbreaker on Angle. Jericho up top but gets shoved off and lands face first on the announce table. Benoit with a snap suplex and a near fall.
Back suplex by Benoit and another near fall. Chops and right hands in the corner until Jericho nails a dropkick from behind and sent into the corner, catching Angle with a kick to the midsection and a dropkick off the middle rope. Pin and Benoit breaks it up, then a backbreaker and Kurt breaks up a pin. Suplex by Angle on Benoit and a near fall. Back on Jericho in the corner with right hands, Kurt sent off the ropes into a bulldog and a cover but Kurt kicks out. Benoit and Jericho now with chops and right hands and headbutts then Kurt with a back suplex on Benoit and a pin, but Jericho comes off the second rope to break it up.
Angle rolls out and Jericho with a modified camel clutch on Benoit until Kurt comes in, only to be knocked back down, following with a standing suplex and Benoit tries to capitalize with a pin but Jericho breaks it up.Kurt with right hands on Jericho and sends him in the corner, then a belly to belly and a near fall. Benoit now on Angle, Benoit with a roll up on Chris but Angle breaks it up with a dropkick to the head. Angle catches Jericho in the crossface chickenwing in the middle of the ring,but Benoit comes in to break it up, tossing Angle out of the ring and throwing him into the crowd. Benoit goes to the top rope and nails a diving headbutt and pins Jericho to win the IC Title in 7:55.
Second Fall
Kurt comes to and realizes what happened as Benoit tries to get another pin immediately but Kurt breaks it up, suplex on Benoit and a near fall. Scoop slam on on Benoit as Kurt goes up top but Jericho crotches him on the top rope and climbs up with him, but Benoit crotches him and joins them, nailing a back suplex on Jericho. Angle recovers and climbs up and goes for a moonsault but Benoit rolls out of the way.
Kurt drags himself over to pin Benoit but he kicks out, then Jericho on Kurt and he kicks out. Jericho locks in the Walls but Benoit breaks it up. Jericho sent off the ropes and Benoit with a knee to the midsection. Stomps in the corner before Angle with right hands on Benoit and a scoop slam. Back on Jericho, spinning heel kick on Benoit and Jericho with a powerbomb on Kurt and a second one. Benoit in now and nails three Germans with a bridge, but Angle breaks it up.
Benoit with a nelson suplex, and despite the shulders not being down still makes the count, but Angle kicks out. Jericho takes out the ref and Benoit locks in the crossface and Jericho taps. Benoit screams at the ref and Jericho gets Benoit in the Walls, but Angle nails Jericho with a title belt. Ref comes to as Kurt goes for the pin but Benoit pulls Jericho out of the ring in time.
Benoit and Jericho trading right hands now, and Angle gets a back suplex. Benoit back up top now and misses a diving headbutt, Jericho comes in and nails the Lionsault and wins the European Championship in 13:48 total match time.
Angle looks on distraught and argues with the ref as he goes to hand Jericho and Benoit their respective titles.
We go to the back where Cole is with Vince ahead of tonight's title match, asking Vince if he'll be a factor tonight. Vince says that the Rock is very confident whether Vince is there or not. Vince disagrees that the McMahons were dysfunctional, and guarantees to make it right.
Cut to Triple H reacting to what Vince just said with Steph by his side, saying it's not about right and wrong, it's about who's the best, and he's gonna prove to the world tonight just like he always has, show the world that he is The Game, show the world who the man is, show them who the WWF Champion is, he will not be beaten.
We've got one more match before the main event.
X-Pac & Road Dogg (w/ Tori) vs Kane & Rikishi (w/ Paul Bearer)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: DX coming out with their Run-DMC theme off the Aggression CD. I kinda like it over the original. Road Dogg does the usual DX shtick and get the crowd hyped before Kish and Kane make their entrance. Rikishi with his first Wrestlemania appearance tonight. Paul tells Tori she can go to hell and she slaps him across the face. He goes stalking after her as DX goes after Rikishi and Kane exits the ring to start the match.
Kane wastes no time getting his hands on Tori and X-Pac follows suit, attacking from behind, Rikisho with a splash n the corner on Dogg and a Stinkface. Tori gets in the ring to escape Kane and retreats to the corner, almost getting a Stinkface but DX pulls her out and they try to leave. Kane and Rikishi go in pursuit as they head back to the ring.
Rikishi takes a spinning heel kick from X-Pac and takes him tot he corner with more kicks to set up and nail a Bronco Buster. Road Dogg tagged in with his Shake, Rattle and Roll, followed by a flying forearm and a knee drop for a pin, but Kish kicks out. Pac tagged in now with some kicks and chops to the chest, off the ropes but Kish catches him with what looks like a cutter after launching Pac into the air.
Kish rolls through and tags Kane in and clears house, nailing a big boot on Dogg and a back body drop on Pac. Dogg sent to the outside before whipping Pac in the corner and a clothesline. Kish goes to the corner and tries for a Stinkface but Pac quickly exits, while Dogg eats a side kick from Kish. Bearer rolls Tori back in the ring and Kane catches her, throwing her into the corner and Kish gets her with a Stinkface. Kane gets Pac up and nails the Tombstone to get the win in 4:16. It didn't feel like that short a match, and it was kind of fun.
Bearer looks on pleased as Too Cool come out to celebrate as well as the San Diego chicken. Commentary and Kane thinks it's Pete Rose as Sexay pulls out the glasses for Rikishi, setting up Too Cool and the Chicken to dance, sans Kane and Bearer. Kane surprisinngly lets them get through their dance before grabbing the chicken by the throat in the corner, but Pete Rose slips in from behind with a bat. Kish catches him in the act and Rose eats a chokeslam from Kane. Sexay and Scotty drag Pete into the corner, and although unconscious, eats a Stinkface too. Kane and Bearer leave with bat in hand, until Kane decides to re-enter and set off his fire as Pete lays on the mat.
We cut to the back where Kevin Kelly is with Rock, moments away from the main event. Rock says 12 months ago, after interviews, run ins, back stab, win, loss, everything thrown at him and thrown back, chokeslam, mandible claw, pedigree, if he can do it again, he can say he's finally come back to Wrestlemania. It's not about the lights, cameras, glitz, glamour, Stephanie and HHH's marriage, the McMahon family saga (even though that's exactly what this is), Foley's final match (which it isn't), sure as hell not about the Big Show, it's about the WWF Championship. He says if he has an ounce of sweat to spill, blood to drop, then tonight he's gonna do what he does best, go out there and layeth the smacketh down on their candy asses. He says he will do it for the millions (and millions) of The Rock's fans, do whatever it takes because the People's Champ says tonight is the night before he walks off.
We cut back tot he arena where commentary hype up the main event some more, we see Michael Clarke Duncan, Martin Short Dustin Diamodn in the crowd, apparently French Stewart is there and Terry Holt.
Time for our main event.
Fatal Four Way Elimination Match for the WWF Championship: Mick Foley (w/ Linda McMahon) vs The Big Show (w/ Shane McMahon) vs The Rock (w/ Vince McMahon) vs Triple H (c) (w/ Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)
Pre-Match Notes & Thoughts: Mick gets a nice pop from the crowd, Show's is obviously lukewarm, but this crowd is fully behind Rock. No countouts, no DQ, eliminations by pinfall only.
Foley goes right after HHH and Rock after Show in opposite corners, trading right hands and knees. Foley hammers away at HHH before nailing a running knee to the face. Show choking Rock in the corner before nailing HHH and Foley with a clothesline. Headbutt for HHH and a forearm to the Rock. Scoop slam for Foley, then throws HHH across the ring. Rock off the ropes into a press slam from Show before throwing him to his back. HHH off the ropes into a press slam and down to the mat.
Headbutt for Foley before choking Rock in the corner with his knee, but Foley from behind climbs on Show's back, before Show drops backwards. Rock now with right hands on show and goes off the ropes, caught into a side walk slam. HHH comes off the top and goes for a chokeslam but Foley nails a low blow. Foley and HHH with right hands on Show and now Rock joins in, a clothesline from all three finally taking Show off his feet. All three stomping away before Foley lays in some right hands on HHH before they tumble over the ropes to the outside.
Rock sent into the corner into a boot from Show, while Foley drives a chair into the ribs of HHH. Rock gets tripped up by Shane and Foley nails Show in the back of the head with the chair, Rock nails a Rock Bottom and Show is already eliminated in 4:50.
Triple Threat
Rock, Foley and HHH stare off in the ring while Show gets pissed at Vince, calling him a son of a bitch. Steph waves bye to Shane as officials send him and Show to the back. Foley tries to form an alliance with Foley seeing his odds but Foley refuses. HHH tries to form an alliance with Rock, and although he agrees at first, he nails HHH from behind as he goes for Mick. Rock and Mick stomping away at HHH, right hands back and forth from Rock and Mick, HHH sent off the ropes into a double clothesline. HHH sent outside by Mick and Rock follows them out near the announce tables. HHH fights back but Foley comes from behind an knocks him down, Rock with more shots as Mick holds HHH up. Mick reverses an irish whip to send HHH into a clothesline from Rock, Mick tosses Rock the ringbell and Foley holds up HHH but he moves out of the way, nailing Mick in the head. HHH nails a clothesline and throws Rock into the steps.
HHH drops Rock chest first onto the barricade while Mick pulls Barbie from the timekeepers area, HHH looking on scared shitless. Mick swings and misses in the corner allowing HHH to nail a low blow. He takes Barbie and nails Mick in the gut but Rock comes in with some right hands. Rock gets sent to the outside and Mick nails a double arm DDT. Mick pulls out Socko and gets HHH with the Mandible Claw, Rock comes in with the title belt, Mick pushes HHH his way and nails HHH in the face with it. Rock calls for the People's Elbow, but Mick now with the Claw on Rock, but HHH cuts it off with a double low blow.
Eventually the three get back up and HHH goes after Rock. Vince slides chair into the ring as Rock nails a clothesline on HHH, then Mick with one on Rock and a pin attempt but Rock kicks out. Mick with right hands now in the corner, before being whipped into the opposite one, ducks a clothesline and nails a double arm DDT. Mick goes for the pin but Rock kicks out again. Mick grabs the chair and charges at Rock but he kicks it back in his face, Mick off the ropes into a DDT but HHH breaks it up for... some reason. Clothesline on Rock, now Foley calls for an alliance with HHH and they both go after Rock now. Rock off the ropes into a running knee by Mick and a near fall.
Double suplex on Rock, then a running knee by HHH and another near fall. Rock sent to the outside as HHH and Mick follow back over to the announce tables. Mick holds up Rock and HHH lays in with some right hands. Mick goes to whip Rock but Mick gets sent tumbling knee first into the steel steps. Micks got the steps now and nails Rock in the head with them. Linda and Steph argue on the other side of the ring. HHH sets Rock on top of the announce table while Mick climbs to the second rope, launches himself off but he pretty much misses Rock entirely, bouncing off the edge. HHH launches off the other table with an elbow onto Rock, then breaks the other table as he climbs back on top. HHH off the barricade and onto Rock, collapsing the table underneath them.
Back in the ring, HHH nails Mick with the Pedigree, goes for the pin but Mick kicks out. HHH shoves Hebner before taking the chair, nailing Mick in the side of the head. HHH nails a Pedigree onto the chair and gets the three, eliminating Mick in 19:40. We're down to two.
One on One
Mick gets a standing ovation as he goes to leave holding his ribs, to a loud Foley chant, Linda by his side. Foley stops halfway and heads back, grabbing Barbie from ringside and enters the ring, nailing HHH right in the face with it for one more pop before finally leaving. Rock crawls in barely moving and hooks the leg, but HHH kicks out.
Right hands by the Rock before sending HHH to the outside, Duncan meanwhile yelling at HHH to stay down, telling Rock to "finish that sucka". OK I really liked that. Rock takes HHH up the aisle near the entrance, nails a suplex on the floor with a loud thud. HHH gets whipped into the entrance set into a clothesline. Rock pulls HHH through the crowd as they trade some right hands, HHH getting back dropped over the barricade to the floor.
Back to the announce tables and HHH's head bounced off the timekeeper's table. Rock with the steel steps, but HHH nails them with a chair, Rock knocked down with the steps, HHH nailing them repeatedly with the chair. HHH nails a piledriver on the bottom half of the steps, dragging a limp Rock back into the ring. HHH hooks the leg but Rock kicks out.
Right hands back and forth, HHH off the ropes then Rock who catches him for a Rock Bottom, he slips out and goes for a Pedigree, but he gets back dropped over the ropes to the outside. Rock back out now with a right hand and sends HHH over the barricade again, dragging HHH through the crowd again. Right hands by Rock and HHH as they stumble back, Rock being knocked back over the barricade.
Rock whips HHH into the barricade, catching him with a spinebuster on the floor. They stay down awhile before heading back to the announce table, where Rock suplexes HHH from the floor through the announce table. Rock goes back after HHH but gets caught with a drop toe hold into the steps, HHH rolling him back in the ring. Vince nails a right hand on HHH and throws HHH into the ring post. Shane runs back out and nails Vince from behind, ramming Vince's head into a monitor on the floor. Shane picks up a monitor and nails Vince in the head with it. Shane talks some trash to Hebner, but Vince is back up, nailing Shane with some right hands around ringside. Shane nails a low blow now, grabs the chair from earlier and nails Vince in the head. Duncan yelling at Shane and Shane threatens him, meanwhile Vince has been busted open, helped to the back by Patterson and Brisco and officials.
HHH and Rock back up now and Rock hammers with right hands in the corner. Rock whipped off the ropes and catches HHH with a DDT for a near fall. HHH off the rope into a tilt-a-whirl powerslam and a near fall, Rock damn near dropped HHH on his head I think. HHH off the ropes again but catches Rock with a facebuster, grabs Barbie and nails Rock in the face.
Shane in the ring now, HHH goes for a Pedigree but Rock trips him up, While Shane argues with Hebner, HHH gets catapulted into Shane in the corner, Rock nails a Rock Bottom but can't capitalize with a pin. Shane is back up now and grabs the chair again, meanwhile Vince runs back down with a low blow on Shane and a slap, knocking Shane out of the ring. Vince grabs the chair now as Rock and HHH start to get up and nails Rock instead. HHH crawls on top, but Rock kicks out.
Vince grabs the chair and nails Rock in the head again, HHH crawls on top and hooks the leg to retain the championship in 36:25. That match was actually alright up until the last 10 minutes or so.
Stephanie slides in with the championship as J.R. is pissed. Fans start littering the ring with trash as Vince rolls Rock out of the ring and he and Steph hug it out. Rock is helped to the back by officials while Shane climbs back in, Vince tries to talk sense into Shane, while Rock comes to and runs back in. Rock Bottom for Shane, right hands and a Rock Bottom for Vince. Steph checks on Vince as him and Rock trade words. Steph yells at Rock some before slapping him in the face and gets a Rock Bottom of her own, and even a People's Elbow for the final nail in the coffin. Rock's music hits as the fans pop and Hebner checks on Steph and officials check on the McMahons. Rock heads back up the aisle, while commentary talk about the confusion of what just happened. J.R. plays us out, before we get a recap package of tonight's show to end it. With a run time of 3:21:23, there was 2:00:05 of bell to bell action on this show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This show wasn't that bad. I mean yes it had it's low points, like the catfight, and the end to the main event, but even the main event was good for the first 30 minutes or so. The Hardcore Battle Royal was a mess to cover but as I said, if you like the hardcore title matches from this time, you'll probably enjoy this match. Undercard for the most part, while not that special was still fun for most of it, and of course that fantastic ladder match stole the show.
As far as I can tell nothing was given as an explanation for the assbackwards end to the main event. I watched the opening promo from Raw, Vince and family (sans Linda) hugged it out and shook hands and he refused to give an answer. He did go on a rant about how they're all fake just like Rock, so maybe that's it. No articles or anything seem to have an answer either. Rock would go on to Backlash to win the title with help from Stone Cold, lose it the next month back to HHH in an Ironman Match thanks to inadvertent help from Taker, and win it again at King of the Ring in a 6-man tag.
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