WWF RAW 2/7/2000

Written by Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, February 7th, 2000
Live from the Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX

List of WWF Champions at the time:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H (1/03/2000)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho (1/23/2000)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: The New Age Outlaws (11/08/1999)
WWF European Champion: Val Venis (12/12/1999)
WWF Hardcore Champion: Test (1/17/2000)
WWF Women’s Champion: Jacqueline (2/03/2000)

~ Raw comes on the air with clips of the Radicals’ failed attempts to get in the WWF on Smackdown. After the intro Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler.

~ Things kick off with X-Pac coming out with Tori as JR mentions Kane has reportedly been re-institutionalized following Tori’s betrayal. X-Pac climbs in the ring but before he does anything the Radicals hop the barricade and head in themselves. X-Pac bails out and grabs a chair when Perry Saturn grabs a mic and assures him they’re not looking for trouble then talks on how they showed up a week ago looking to make noise and get a contract to wrestle in the WWF. Dean Malenko takes the mic and says they had their chance on Smackdown but weren’t good enough and blew it. Eddie Guerrero takes the mic and thanks the WWF fans for their support and the privilege of performing for them. Incidentally Eddie’s arm is in a sling after dislocating his elbow in his match last Thursday on Smackdown. Chris Benoit then takes the mic and brings Cactus Jack out to thank him for making their WWF moment possible. Cactus comes out and exchanges hugs when The Helmselys come out to the stage with Stephanie getting on the mic expressing her disdain for this moment. Stephanie then asks Cactus what it is going to take to make him go away. Stephanie reminds Cactus he failed to beat Triple H at the Royal Rumble then brought in his friends who also failed before asking if he’s now going to bring in the Dallas Cowboys, or the 82nd Airborne, or the Russian army. Triple H takes the mic and tells Cactus he makes him sick and that his patience with this whole situation is wearing thin, especially since he’s still getting in his face after he and his friends couldn’t get it done against him. Triple H decides to finish their feud by offering Cactus one last shot at his WWF Championship at No Way Out, even letting Cactus decide the type of match he wants, provided it doesn’t involve sharp, metallic objects. Cactus quickly takes the match but tells Triple H that his terms leave him with only one choice: Hell in a Cell! Triple H agrees to the match but on one condition: Cactus must put his career on the line, meaning if Cactus loses he must retire from wrestling and that goes for all of Mick Foley’s personas. Cactus says he’s been 3-time WWF Champion, 8-time Tag Team Champion, and the first Hardcore Champion, but one thing has eluded him in his long career: he’s never main-evented Wrestlemania. Cactus agrees but adds when he wins the title, he goes on to Wrestlemania with no title defenses before then. Triple H accepts that addition as he walks down the ramp saying Cactus has about 20 days left in his career.

Triple H then climbs into the ring and addresses the Radicals, saying they have a decision to make. Triple H tells them to either leave or show their appreciation … to the man that gave them their contracts. Cactus then turns … right into a right hand from Benoit! The Radicals have turned heel on Cactus and the crowd is rabid! The Radicals and Triple H beat Cactus down with X-Pac adding in a Bronco Buster, and Malenko and Saturn both suplex Cactus while Benoit climbs to the top rope and hits the swan dive head butt. Triple H tells Cactus it’s the beginning of the end before nailing him with the mic and hitting a Pedigree. The whole gang then raises their arms and Cactus is left laying in the ring as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of the Radicals turning against Cactus Jack and beating him down. We then find the whole lot of them backstage celebrating, with Triple H saying this is only the start. Triple H says tonight he and X-Pac will team with them against Cactus and any four partners he can get but if Cactus can’t find anyone, he’s on his own.

WWF World Tag Team Titles: The New Age Outlaws © vs. Edge & Christian
The Outlaws come out first and do their spiel once again ignoring they’re supposed to be heels. Just as the match begins the Dudley Boyz stroll out and join the announcers for commentary yet would spend the entire match getting into JR’s face about the way he’s been talking about them. Billy Gunn locks up with Christian to start and forces him into a corner then pounds on him. Billy whips Christian and goes for a cross body but Christian ducks it then trips Billy with a drop toehold. Christian then hits a pair of arm drags followed by a hip toss and Billy throws a tantrum at being shown up. We then get a shot of Bubba Ray continuing to talk down at JR then cut back just as Christian is hitting his springboard plancha over the ropes on Road Dogg on the floor. Edge rolls Billy back in the ring and Christian goes for a whip but Billy reverses him into a corner and hits a press slam. Road Dogg tags in and taunts Edge but turns right into a dropkick. Edge tags in and both men whip Road Dogg into a corner and Christian drops to the mat just like the Hardys while Edge launches off him into a cross body on Road Dogg. Edge hits a spinning heel kick for a two count then goes for a whip but Road Dogg reverses it and Billy pulls Edge out to the floor. Edge manages to deck Billy but Road Dogg nails him with a baseball slide and Billy rams him into the steps. Billy throws Edge back in and Road Dogg kicks him in the back then stomps him down in a corner and draws Christian in to distract the referee for a double-team. Billy takes over and hits a jackhammer for a two count then whips Edge into a corner and splashes him. The Outlaws go for a double suplex but Edge flips out of it and hits a double neck breaker on both men. Edge crawls to his corner and makes the hot tag to Christian. Christian takes it to both Outlaws and slams Billy to the mat then throws Road Dogg down as well and whips Billy into a backdrop. Christian clotheslines him over the ropes to the floor when Road Dogg hits the juke ‘n jive punches but Christian ducks the big right and hits a Slop Drop. Billy breaks up the pin so Edge spears him. Christian goes for his own spear on Road Dogg but misses and runs his shoulder into the ring post. Road Dogg hammers Christian and distracts the referee while Bubba goes out and snaps Christian on the rope. Road Dogg follows up with the pump handle slam and that gets the three to retain. (6:12) Good match though the Dudley’s interacting with JR does detract from it a little. Bubba climbs on the announce table to give JR the business while D’Von tells him they’ve just testified. Edge then goes out to the floor looking to get a piece of Bubba but D’Von helps his half-brother escape. ***

~ Backstage Mark Henry is talking with Mae Young, asking her to stay in the back during his match. Henry also tells Mae to take care of their bun in the oven before he leaves. Ugh, don’t remind me.

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Reunion Arena and find the Dallas Stars and Mavericks in the crowd.

Kurt Angle vs. Mark Henry
Angle comes out with a mic says tonight he’s not going to offer his services to be the fan’s hero. Angle says the only thing he has in common with Henry is they were Olympians, only he won a gold medal in his career yet all Henry’s done is get an elderly woman pregnant. Angle also feels such an act of sin may be acceptable here in Dallas but it’s not acceptable to him. Both men lockup to start and Angle manages to take Henry down by the legs and goes into a front face lock but Henry gets to his feet and throws Angle to the mat. Henry scoops Angle onto his shoulder and hits a running power slam for a two count then slams Angle to the mat and leg drops him for another two. Angle tries to take Henry down again but can’t get him up and Henry power bombs him for a near fall. Henry clotheslines Angle then charges at him but tumbles to the floor after Angle pulls down the top rope. Angle goes out and backdrops Henry onto the floor then looks over to see Mae Young coming down the ramp. Angle climbs back in the ring when Mae goes in and wails on him from behind, causing a DQ. (2:12) Mae continues to attack Angle when he turns and plants Mae with his reverse fireman’s carry slam. Angle then walks off and Henry rushes in to tend to his friend as Barbara Bush and the EMTs come out. As bad a Mark Henry match as you might expect. DUD

~ The Rock is shown arriving at the building as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Angle slamming Mae Young to the mat with the reverse fireman’s carry. We also get footage of Mae getting stretchered out of the arena to the back with Mark Henry walking beside her. We then cut to the back to find Mark Henry and the Fabulous Moolah trying to revive Mae on the stretcher but Mae acts delirious and does something (I’m not saying what) that causes an interesting reaction from the EMT.

~ Elsewhere Crash and Hardcore Holly are walking with Crash having doubts on facing the Acolytes tonight. Hardcore feels a good hardcore win will put them back on top of the tag team ranks but Crash isn’t convinced. Crash suggests the Acolytes aren’t the only ones who can offer protection and Hardcore suggests he’s an idiot.

The Acolytes vs. Crash & Hardcore Holly – Hardcore Rules Match
The Hollys charge into the ring but the Acolytes take control, with Bradshaw whipping Crash into a boot. Faarooq clotheslines Hardcore over the ropes while Bradshaw and Crash go at it nearby on the floor. Bradshaw rams Crash into the barricade and tosses him over it with Hardcore and Faarooq right behind and the two teams fight their way through the crowd to the back and end up at the concessions stand. Bradshaw throws Crash over the counter while Faarooq hits Hardcore with a popcorn machine. We then see Bradshaw taking a quick drink of beer while Faarooq drinks right from the tap. Hardcore cracks a bottle on Faarooq’s head tees off on him while Bradshaw rams Crash into a cash register drops a rack of cotton candy on his back. Hardcore hits Faarooq with a plastic trashcan but Bradshaw rams him into a counter in turn. Bradshaw rolls Hardcore onto the counter then goes up and sets him up for a pile driver onto it. Suddenly Viscera appears with a 2×4 … but slips on a puddle of beer and falls down to the floor. As a result Bradshaw has to pretend not to notice and delay a pile driver he should have done by now. Nonetheless Viscera manages to get back to his feet and breaks the 2×4 on Bradshaw’s back. Bradshaw falls off the counter and crashes through a table and Hardcore covers him for the pin. (2:39) Watchable match despite the flub. However I can’t explain why Viscera’s helping the Hollys all of a sudden after feuding with them the past week. *½

~ JR announces next week’s edition of Raw will be shown at a special time of 11pm Eastern. No doubt because of that stupid dog show USA shows every year.

WWF Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho © vs. Viscera
Jericho comes out first to the stage and gets on the mic to do his usual intro before saying he’s a little intimidated wrestling the love child of Mr. T and Fat Albert then tells “Viscera the Hutt” that he pities the fool who messes with him as he heads into the ring. JR mentions Chyna is not here tonight since she’s off filming an episode of 3rd Rock from the Sun. Both men exchange punches to start but Viscera whips Jericho hard into the ropes and head butts him. Viscera whips Jericho into a backdrop then whips him into a corner and charges but eats an elbow. Jericho hops to the middle rope and connects with a missile dropkick then tees off on Viscera. Jericho comes off the rope but runs right into a spinning heel kick and rolls out to the floor. Viscera goes out after Jericho and rams him into the ring steps before rolling him back in the ring. Jericho attacks Viscera as he climbs onto the apron and knocks him back off with springboard heel kick. Jericho goes for a baseball slide but Viscera sidesteps him then slams Jericho onto the floor. Viscera whips Jericho into a barricade then rolls him back in but misses an elbow drop. Jericho comes off the ropes but runs right into a Samoan Drop that only gets a two count somehow. Viscera whips Jericho into a corner and charges but Jericho sidesteps him and hits the bulldog. Jericho connects with the Lionsault but the Hollys come in and pound on Jericho causing a DQ. (3:02) Jericho tried his hardest to make this match watchable. The Hollys and Viscera then triple-team Jericho when the Acolytes run in for the save and Jericho manages to clear out the Hollys while the Acolytes hit a double suplex on Viscera. *½

~ Backstage we find Michael Cole about to speak to the Radicals as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of the Radicals turning on Cactus Jack and hooking up with Triple H earlier. Michael Cole then interviews them about what they did, saying the fans thought they were sincere. Dean Malenko insists they were sincere about appreciating the chance to perform in front of the WWF fans. Cole mentions the turn and Eddie Guerrero claims Cactus was foolish to think they’d put friendship before business. Chris Benoit says they had to ally themselves with the people who have all the stroke and that’s the Helmsleys. Benoit adds anyone in their position would have done the same thing since it’s all about the almighty dollar. Malenko adds they got themselves into this situation and sometimes desperate people do desperate things. Perry Saturn says if Cactus can’t find any friends, he might be more desperate then them. This actually makes sense when you think about it.

~ Elsewhere Kevin Kelly is standing outside The Rock’s door waiting to be humiliated by him later on.

~ Still elsewhere Luna is ranting to Gangrel about the chair shot she took form Jacqueline on Smackdown. Gangrel tries to calm her down by saying she can win the Women’s title if she sticks to the game plan but Luna says game players don’t win and she wants revenge then continues to rant as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get various clips of Vince McMahon announcing the formation of the XFL football league which he says will be about smash-mouth football for football fans. Yep.

WWF Women’s Title: Jacqueline © vs. Luna Vachon (w/Gangrel)
Since this is Jackie’s hometown I think we can safely guess who’s getting the win here. Luna takes Jackie down to start and the two ladies roll out to the floor and goes at it there. The referee tries to separate the ladies but ends up sandwiched and taken down with them. Luna throws Jackie in the ring and whips her but Jackie throws her down to the mat and rolls her up for a two count. Luna hits a jawbreaker followed by a fireman’s carry then climbs up the ropes but misses a big splash and Jackie hits a bridge suplex for the three. (1:15) Too short to be anything good. After the match Luna nails Jackie from behind and Gangrel drills her with the Impaler. DUD

~ Kevin Kelly is still waiting to interview The Rock as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a clip montage of Tazz in action before showing him in the mean streets of Brooklyn.

~ Kevin Kelly interviews The Rock backstage but as usual Rock cuts him off before doing his “Finally…” bit. Rock gets into a discussion with Kevin about pie then models his latest shirt by draping it over Kevin’s head. Rock talks about facing The Big Show at No Way Out, promising to defeat him and move on to Wrestlemania while saying he also doesn’t care who he faces for the title, whether it be Triple H or Cactus Jack. Rock then says tonight’s main event will not be 5-on-1 but will be 5-on-2, with himself as Cactus’ partner. Rock makes fun of Triple H’s partners before telling them what to do with their contracts and ending with the usual.

~ Elsewhere backstage we find D’Lo Brown admiring the Godfather’s women as they head out to the ring.

The Dudley Boyz vs. The Godfather & D’Lo Brown (w/the ladies)
Godfather tries to do his intro but gets interrupted by the Dudleys’ entrance as they charge in the ring. Bubba Ray tosses D’Lo over the ropes as D’Von whips Godfather but Godfather reverses it and hits a boot. Godfather whips D’Von into a backdrop and follows up with a clothesline then tags D’Lo in. Godfather whips D’Von into a scoop slam followed by a splash from D’Lo then adds in a leg drop. D’Lo whips D’Von but D’von comes back with a forearm. D’Von slams D’Lo to the mat then hops to the middle rope but misses a leg drop. Godfather tags in and slams D’Von then pops Bubba off the apron. Godfather whips D’Von into a corner and hits the Ho Train as his ladies hop on the apron to cheer him on. Godfather sets D’Von up for a Death Valley Driver but Bubba breaks it up with a chop block to the knee. Godfather tags in D’Lo while holding his knee and rolling out to the floor where his women tend to him. D’Lo whips D’Von into a clothesline and Bubba comes in but D’Lo slams him and hits the shaky leg drop. D’Lo goes for a whip; D’Von reverses but D’Lo ducks a right hand and hits the Sky High power bomb. D’Lo climbs to the top and connects with the Lo Down on D’Von then covers but Bubba pulls him off before the three. D’Lo goes for a whip but Bubba reverses it and the Dudleys hit the 3D to end this one. (2:51) The Godfather is still out on the floor getting checked out by Barbara Bush and the EMTs when Bubba pulls out a table and sets it up at ringside then tells D’Von to place D’Lo on it. Instead D’Von grabs B.B. and brings her over to Bubba who takes her onto the announce table. Bubba sets up for a power bomb through the table when the Hardys and Edge & Christian come out. Edge pulls B.B. to safety and Christian nails Bubba with a chair while the Hardys chase them away. The Dudleys depart with Bubba bragging about being *this close* to putting B.B. through the table. **

~ We then get a look at the Stone Cold funny car which Jerry Toliver drove to win at Pamona yesterday. See, this only takes a few seconds unlike those long “This Week in WCW Motorsports” segments no one cares about.

~ Back from break Michael Cole is about to interview Cactus Jack on the main event. After showing the Radicals turning on him yet again Cole asks Cactus about tonight and No Way Out. Cactus says he wasn’t supposed to be a WWF superstar, that he was told that he was too small, too ugly, etc., but in the 15 years since then he’s been proving people wrong so don’t count him out in 20 days. Cactus says he was fully prepared to go it alone against Triple H’s team and didn’t ask for The Rock’s help but Rock is volunteering his services and he’s not stupid to turn his assistance down. Cactus says he will get through tonight before he wins at No Way Out to go on to Wrestlemania.

~ Triple H and his gang are shown heading to the ring for the main event as we go to commercial.

Triple H, X-Pac, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn (w/Stephanie, Tori & Eddie Guerrero) vs. The Rock, Cactus Jack, Too Cool and Rikishi
After the DX’ers come out first, the Radicals get some generic rock music for their entrance and do their posing in the ring while Stephanie again joins the announcers for commentary. Rock and Cactus rush the ring by themselves when Rikishi and Too Cool come out to join their team. The two sides spill out and fight all over the arena with Rock suplexing Triple H on the ramp and the crowd noise is deafening! Cactus clotheslines Benoit over the barricade while Rikishi hits a belly-to-belly suplex on X-Pac. Eventually its Grandmaster Sexay and X-Pac going at it in the ring with everyone else heading out to the apron. Sexay goes for a whip; X-Pac reverses but Sexay slides under him and hits a neck breaker. Sexay hops to the middle rope but misses a knee drop and Saturn tags in but runs into a power slam. Sexay tags in Scotty 2 Hotty and both men whip Saturn into a double elbow followed by a double elbow drop. Scotty whips Saturn into a corner then comes off the ropes with the bulldog and hits the Worm. Scotty goes for a whip but Saturn reverses and Malenko nails him from the apron so Scotty decks him. Scotty turns into a belly-to-belly suplex from Saturn then Malenko tags in and whips Scotty into a heel kick. Malenko whips Scotty into a corner and hits a clothesline then goes for a suplex but Scotty floats over and hits a reverse suplex. Rikishi tags in when Malenko whips him into a corner and hits a clothesline but it has no effect and Rikishi comes out with his own clothesline. Rikishi whips Malenko but lowers the head and Malenko attempts a Sunset Flip but can’t get Rikishi over. Rikishi signals for the splash but Malenko backs away and Benoit tags in but runs into a Samoan Drop. Rikishi whips Benoit who ducks a clothesline and attempts a German suplex but can’t get Rikishi up. Benoit clubs Rikish in the back of the head and this time does manage to hit the German Suplex! Benoit goes for a whip but Rikishi reverses him into a corner and hits a belly-to-belly suplex followed by the running butt splash in the corner. Cactus tags in and beats Benoit down then pops Triple H off the apron and goes out after him. Cactus throws Triple H on the announce table and Saturn and X-Pac pull Cactus off and roll him back in the ring when Triple H tags in and stomps Cactus down in a corner. Cactus comes back with a right hand so X-Pac tags in and goes for a whip but Cactus reverses and hits a neck breaker before tagging in The Rock.

Rock hits the Smackdown on X-Pac when Malenko and Benoit come in but they each eat spine busters. Rock hits the Rock Bottom on X-Pac but Triple H breaks up the pin and sets Rock up for a Pedigree when Rikishi comes in and super kicks Triple H. Saturn also comes in with his own super kick on Rock. X-Pac sets Rock up for a Bronco Buster but Rock cuts him off with a clothesline. Sexay tags in and climbs to the top rope then connects with the Tennessee Jam on X-Pac and busts a move. However Benoit trips Sexay from the floor and X-Pac follows up with a spin kick. Triple H tags in and whips Sexay into a high knee then tags in Saturn who hits a clothesline. Saturn tags in Benoit and whips Sexay into a double elbow then both men mock Too Cool. Benoit hits a suplex for a two count then tags in Triple H who draws in Rock to distract Earl Hebner as Sexay suffers a 5-on-1 beat down. Triple H hits a suplex before Saturn tags in and hits a leg drop then chops Sexay in a corner. Saturn tags Malenko in and whips Sexay into a double dropkick. Benoit tags in and he and Malenko whip Sexay into a backdrop but Sexay counters with a double DDT. Sexay crawls over and makes the hot tag to Cactus and Cactus beats Benoit down in a corner. Cactus readies for the running knee but Hebner stops him saying he didn’t see the tag. That doesn’t stop all 10 men from pouring into the ring and fighting around the arena again. During the fracas Triple H nails Sexay with the Pedigree while Benoit climbs to the top rope and connects with the diving head butt on Sexay and a three count later it’s over. (10:09) Awesome main event with wall-to-wall action and the crowd was into it all the way. I just wish it was a bit longer. ****½

Despite the bell ringing all 10 men continue to go at it in the ring with Cactus beating on Triple H. Just then The New Age Outlaws run out brandishing lead pipes and begin laying out all the faces. Suddenly the lights go out and … Paul Bearer comes out to the stage, followed by the returning Kane! Bearer and Kane make their way to the ring where Triple H’s group waits for them to come in. Triple H’s crew attacks Kane one at a time for some reason but Kane easily takes them out. Kane choke slams Saturn then choke slams Billy Gunn before setting off his pyro. Triple H and his army retreat while Rock’s team stands tall as Raw goes off the air.

Conclusion: Pretty good show despite a few flaws. There were a few good angles built toward No Way Out including Cactus Jack’s last shot at his dream, and the Radicals heel turn was pulled off nicely. Some may think it’s a little too soon to turn them but it ended up working out better in the long run. The show does sport a couple of low points and the match quality does dip in the middle part of the card but the main even more than made up with it with awesome action and a hot ending. Too bad we’ll never see that 10-man tag on DVD for obvious reasons, so try you’re hardest to track it down anyway you can.