WWF RAW 3/6/2000

written by Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, March 6th, 2000
Live from Springfield, MA

List of WWF Champions at the time:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H (1/03/2000)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Kurt Angle (2/27/2000)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Dudley Boyz (2/27/2000)
WWF European Champion: Kurt Angle (2/10/2000)
WWF Hardcore Champion: Crash Holly (2/24/2000)
WWF Women’s Champion: Jacqueline (2/03/2000)
WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Essa Rios (2/13/2000)

~ Raw comes on the air with highlights of the brewing McMahon civil war between Shane and Stephanie. After the intro Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler.

~ Things kick off with Shane McMahon and The Big Show coming out to the ring for our opening promo segment. Shane takes the mic and brings up Show hitting Triple H with chair on Smackdown before showing footage of said chair shot on the TitanTron. Shane claims he doesn’t know if it was an accident or not but says what wasn’t an accident was Triple H shoving him down to the mat and shows clips of that as well. Shane reminds us how he made sure The Rock couldn’t dominate the WWF just as Steve Austin did but claims that was just business. Shane says his issues with Triple H are personal and a family matter, accusing him of forcing his father into leaving the WWF and brainwashing Stephanie into marrying him. Shane says he’s looking forward to Wrestlemania and seeing Show choke slam Triple H to win the championship and decides to soften Triple H up by booking him in a non-title match against Rikishi tonight. Almost on cue the Helmsleys make their way to the ring for a response and Triple H stands face-to-face with Show. Triple H takes the mic and tells Shane he’s crushed by the things he said about him since they’re brothers-in-law. Triple H then tells Big Show he’s not in his league and ironically the biggest show there is will be a long humiliating night for him. Stephanie takes the mic and says if Triple H has to wrestle tonight then so does Show in the first match against Kane. Stephanie then addresses what Shane said about her then slaps him in the face. Shane glares back at his sister as the Helmsleys depart the ring. Weird how The Rock didn’t show in during that segment and wasn’t even mentioned, almost as if he’s not in the build toward the ‘Mania main event anymore.

~ We then cut to footage of the Mean Street Posse again trying to pin Crash Holly for the Hardcore Title earlier today. This time we find the Posse in their hotel dragging referee Tim White out of bed and heading toward Crash’s room pretending to be room service. The Posse knock on Crash’s door and once Crash opens it they barge in and wail on him. Joey Abs tries to pin Crash on the bed but Rodney pulls him and then Pete Gas off and goes for the cover himself. Joey and Pete pull Rodney off and the Posse each try for a cover on Crash but gets interrupted by the other two. Eventually the Posse start fighting each other again while Crash grabs his belt and escapes in his Days Inn pajamas. The Posse realize Crash has eluded them again and chase after him but Pete decides to help himself to Crash’s food. Now, the 24/7 segments were fun for the first few months but quickly got overdone and annoying toward the end.

~ Back form break we get a replay of Stephanie slapping the taste out of Shane’s mouth.

The Big Show (w/Shane McMahon) vs. Kane (w/Paul Bearer)
Kane wastes no time working over Show and goes for a whip, Show reverses it but Kane hits an enzuigiri. Kane goes for the ropes and falls over them when Shane pulls down the tope rope but lands on his feet and starts stalking Shane. Show goes out and nails Kane from behind then throws him into the steps and rolls him back into the ring as we see the Helmsleys watching the match from backstage. Show pounds on Kane in a corner then whips him into the other corner and follows up with a head butt. However Kane just shrugs off Show’s shots but Show throws Kane into a corner and hits a sidewalk slam. Show goes for an elbow drop but misses it when Kane sits up and Kane fights back again. Kane goes for a whip and Show reverses it but Kane hits a DDT then climbs to the top rope and connects with the flying clothesline. Kane charges at Show but runs right into a spine buster and Show grabs him by the throat when Kane also grabs Show by the throat. Show is able to fight Kane off with knees and another head butt. Suddenly The Rock runs in the ring and plants Show with a Rock Bottom but that causes Kane to get DQ’ed. (3:29) Rock then heads back up the ramp and watches as Kane manages to choke slam Show. That actually wasn’t a bad match until Rock reminded us he’s still lurking around in the main storyline. *½

~ Backstage Mark Henry is trying to convince Mae Young to stay in the back while he deals with the Dudleys. Mae insists she will go out with Henry to be in his corner and that’s final as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get another APA vignette showing the Acolytes driving somewhere while parodying Pulp Fiction.

Mark Henry (w/Mae Young) vs. D’Von Dudley (w/Bubba Ray Dudley)
Henry pounds on D’Von as he slides in but Bubba distracts Henry allowing D’Von to nail him from behind. D’Von whips Henry and connects with the jumping elbow then works him over in a corner. D’Von goes for a whip but Henry counters and drops D’Von onto the turnbuckles. Bubba comes in but Henry throws him into a corner and splashes him. Henry then invites Mae to come in the ring and hit Bubba with a Bronco Buster. D’Von goes for a whip but Henry reverses and hits a power slam that gets the pin. (1:17) Total squash and a bad one at that. Henry and Mae celebrate the win until Bubba shoves Mae down and the Dudleys take Henry out with a 3D. Mae tries to tend to Henry but Bubba grabs her by the hair and sends D’Von out to bring a table in the ring. D’Von sets it up as Bubba climbs to the top rope and Bubba ends up super bombing Mae Young through the table! Bubba has the weird look and D’Von administers the last rites as the referees come out to tend to Mae. Pretty good bump from Mae that almost makes up for the previous two minutes but not quite. DUD

~ Back from break we get a replay of the Dudleys making Mae Young the latest victim of the tables.

Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Tori) vs. Too Cool
Road Dogg does his rhyming spiel on the mic and lets X-Pac finish by giving us the two words. I think Road Dogg is still trying to adjust to life without Billy Gunn. X-Pac locks up with Scotty 2 Hotty to start and applies a headlock but Scotty shoves him off into the ropes and X-Pac hits a shoulder block. X-Pac comes off the ropes and Scotty leapfrogs over him but X-Pac hits a hip toss. Scotty kicks X-Pac away and moonwalks to his corner to tag in Grandmaster Sexay who hits an Atomic Drop and busts a move. Sexay comes off the ropes knocking X-Pac over before whipping him and hitting a hip toss. X-Pac rolls out to the floor as Road Dogg comes in but Sexay hip tosses him as well and applies an arm wringer. Sexay whips Road Dogg into a clothesline then climbs to the middle rope and connects with a missile dropkick. Scotty tags in and helps Sexay whip Road Dogg into a double elbow then hits a double elbow drop. Scotty goes for a whip, Road Dogg reverses it but lowers the head and Scotty kicks him in the face. Scotty comes off the ropes but Road Dogg tosses him over the ropes and X-Pac whips him into the ring steps. X-Pac follows up with a spin kick and chops Sexay before throwing him back in the ring and heading in himself. The DX’ers whip Scotty but both lower their heads and Scotty manages to ram both of them into the mat. Sexay tags in and takes it to both DX’ers then whips Road Dogg into a corner and turns to super kick X-Pac. Road Dogg comes out of the corner and runs right into a power slam but X-Pac breaks up the pin. Scotty dumps X-Pac through the ropes then whips Road Dogg into a corner and follows up with the bulldog. Scotty goes for the Worm when X-Pac tries to interrupt but Scotty ducks a spin kick and drops him with a right. Sexay drills Road Dogg with his Stroke-like move and this time Scotty is able to hop around and hit the Worm. Too Cool plants X-Pac with a flapjack and Scotty works over Road Dogg before they end up fighting outside. Sexay climbs to the top rope readying for the Hip Hop Drop but Tori causes Sexay to straddle the turnbuckle. Sexay slumps to the mat and X-Pac looks for a Bronco Buster when the pyro suddenly goes off and Kane once again makes his way out looking for X-Pac. X-Pac tries to attack Kane as he climbs in the ring but Kane decks him back, resulting in a DQ for DX. (4:24) Match was going fine until the run-in. Road Dogg comes back in the ring and tries to come to X-Pac’s aid but gets choke slammed for his troubles. However X-Pac and Tori once again elude Kane and flee up the ramp to the back with Kane right behind them. Scotty and Sexay then clear Road Dogg out of the ring and celebrate despite losing the match. **

~ As we go to commercial JR announces Chris Jericho gets his Intercontinental Title rematch against Kurt Angle next!

~ Back from break Kurt Angle makes his way out to the ring but first decides to get on the mic and mention how he’s an Olympic hero, a European champion and now he’s an Intercontinental icon. Angle says he looks at the fans and realizes his success could disappear and he could end up a nobody like them or worse, a long-haired, potty-mouthed, has-been former champion such a Chris Jericho who he feels has no moral values whatsoever. Jericho makes his way out to the stage to offer a rebuttal and starts with the usual greeting on the mic. Jericho admits Angle does have the IC title, as well as bad breath and BO, then says he’d rather look like he does now than a 30-year-old Olympic geek who still lives with his mother. Jericho tells “Mrs. Angel” to put down her double-whiskey sour and watch her son get a Y2J beating he’ll never forget.

WWF Intercontinental Title: Kurt Angle © vs. Chris Jericho
Both men lockup to start and Jericho applies a headlock when Angle shoves him off into the ropes but Jericho hits a shoulder block. Jericho comes off the ropes and Angle leaps up but Jericho chops him back down. Jericho whips Angle who slides under him but Jericho hits a double-under hook backbreaker for a two count. Jericho knees Angle in the chest and goes for a whip but Angle reverses it and hot shots Jericho on the ropes. Angle follows up with a clothesline then beats on Jericho in a corner but Jericho rakes the face and chops back. Jericho goes for a whip but Angle counters into something like a release Northern Light suplex for a two count. Angle works Jericho over and chokes him with his boot then goes for a whip but Jericho reverses him into a corner. Jericho charges at Angle but eats a boot. Angle comes out but Jericho catches him with a spinning heel kick then comes off the ropes with a bulldog that gets a two count. Jericho goes for a whip but Angle reverses it and Jericho goes for a flying forearm but Angle ducks it and Jericho ends up taking out the referee. Angle whips Jericho looking for a dropkick but Jericho fakes him out then connects with the Lionsault. Jericho covers Angle but the referee is still out cold and can’t make the count. Jericho tries to revive the referee while Angle grabs his IC title belt and readies a swing but Jericho cuts him off and puts him in the Walls of Jericho. The referee recovers as Angle tries to inch over to the ropes but Jericho pulls him back over to the center. Angle looks ready to tap out when in the ring comes …. Bob Backlund?! Backlund pulls Jericho off Angle and puts him in the cross face chicken wing causing a DQ for Jericho. (4:10) Not as great as their pay-per-view encounter but still a good match. Too bad this marks our third DQ finish of the evening. Anyway Jericho is flailing his arm around as several referees try in vain to get Backlund to release the hold. Eventually Backlund lets go of Jericho then turns to Angle who raises his hand and embraces him. Too bad Angle and Backlund’s partnership only lasted a few weeks, they actually complemented each other pretty well. **½

~ We then see Rikishi preparing for his match backstage as we go to commercial.

Triple H © (w/Stephanie McMahon) vs. Rikishi Phatu – Non-Title Match
Triple H attacks Rikishi as he climbs in the ring and goes for a whip and Rikishi reverses it but lowers the head. Triple H goes for the Pedigree right away but Rikishi counters with a backdrop. Triple H tries to turn it into a Sunset flip when Rikishi looks for the sit-down splash so Triple H backs away. Rikishi hits a clothesline as we see Shane McMahon and The Big Show watching the match from backstage. Rikishi whips Triple H into a corner and clotheslines him down into position then gives him the stink face! Stephanie then hops on the apron and distracts Earl Hebner allowing Triple H to kick Rikishi below the belt and come off the ropes with a clothesline. Triple H lays the boots to Rikishi then pulls him out to the floor and rams him into the steps. Triple H throws Rikishi into the ring post before rolling him back in the ring and stomping him down in a corner. Triple H chokes Rikishi but Rikishi starts fighting back and whips him when Triple H hits the face buster for a two count. Triple H kicks at Rikishi’s bad ankle and wraps it around the rope and both men exchange punches but Triple H kicks at the bad ankle to regain the advantage. Triple H goes for a whip but Rikishi reverses it and hits a Samoan Drop. Rikishi whips Triple H into a corner and hits the running butt splash then follows up with a super kick. Rikishi starts climbing up the ropes looking for the Banzai Drop when Stephanie slides a chair into the ring and Triple H whacks him in the back with it for yet another DQ. (5:07) Yep, our fourth DQ of the night. Did they forget how to book actual finishes or something? Anyway The Rock charges into the ring and hits Triple H with the Smackdown followed by a Rock Bottom. Rock then moves Triple H into position while Rikishi climbs the ropes and does hit the Banzai Drop. After Rock departs Too Cool comes out to the ring and commence with the post-match dance with Rikishi. Not as good as the match these two had on Smackdown in January but Triple H actually took a stink face and a Banzai Drop. I bet you wouldn’t see that in 2002-2006. **

~ We then get a promo announcing The Rock will host Saturday Night Live on March 18th.

~ Back form break we get a replay of The Rock causing Triple H to suffer a Banzai Drop earlier. We then find Shane and Big Show about to console Triple H but Shane says they’re going to convince him instead.

~ Elsewhere backstage Al Snow is talking to a floor director about somehow making Steve Blackman’s entrance better and suggests there should be an army of midgets carrying platters of cheese. Snow tells the director to make it happen but after he departs Blackman appears and threatens the director’s safety should he see one cheese-bearing midget. Snow comes back and Blackman acts like everything’s all happy before giving the director one more warning.

Matt Hardy (w/Jeff Hardy) vs. Steve Blackman (w/Al Snow)
Both men lockup to start and Blackman forces Matt into a corner then whips him into the opposite corner. Blackman forces Matt to his knees and rams him into the mat then whips him but Matt kicks the face. Matt whips Blackman, Blackman slides under him but misses a spin kick and Matt hits a swinging neck breaker. Matt hops to the middle rope and goes for a tornado DDT and Blackman counters it but Matt lands on his feet and hits another neck breaker. Matt climbs to the middle rope and connects with the guillotine leg drop for a two count. Matt knocks Blackman through the ropes then climbs to the top rope and connects with a flying clothesline. Blackman pulls Matt into the barricade then drops him onto the ring steps before throwing him back in the ring and covering for a two count. Blackman whips Matt into a tilt-o-whirl slam as the crowd chants “Head Cheese” and Blackman takes exception with the crowd for that before laying the boots to Matt and chopping him in the throat. Blackman follows up with a backbreaker then climbs to the middle rope and goes for a head butt but misses. Matt hits a Russian leg sweep followed by an Atomic Drop then comes off the ropes and hits a clothesline. Matt hits a DDT for a two count then goes for the Twist of Fate but Blackman counters into a bridge suplex for his own near fall. Matt hits a back suplex that him gets a two count then sets Blackman on top rope. Snow tries to interfere with Head when Jeff pulls him off to the floor but Snow responds by clotheslining Jeff. Matt goes up for a superplex but Blackman shoves him down to the mat and hits a flying pump kick for the pin. (4:45) Solid though slightly dull. Still better that what we’ve been getting in this show so far. **

~ Backstage Shane and Big Show are trying to convince the Helmsleys that they need to take care of The Rock and Shane suggests they book Rock in a cage match against Chris Benoit tonight since he’s already beaten Rock once. Triple H says he doesn’t want Rock beaten, he wants him crippled, and Stephanie agrees to allow the match. Stephanie then asks Shane and Show to stay out of their business and Shane ask the same in return.

Edge & Christian vs. Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn (w/Eddie Guerrero)
Once again Terri Runnels comes out to be in E&C’s corner while joining the announcers for commentary. Saturn knocks Christian through the ropes to start and Edge hammers away on him until Malenko nails him from behind. The Radicals whip Edge and Saturn hits a drop toehold holding Edge down for a dropkick from Malenko. Saturn takes over and chops Edge in a corner then goes for a whip but Edge reverses him into the other corner. Saturn lifts himself up with the ropes but Edge sets him on his shoulders and drops him face-first onto the mat. Edge tags in Christian and both men whip Saturn into a double hip toss. Saturn tries to recover in a corner when Edge drops to the mat and Christian hits the flying cross body. Christian follows up with a front suplex but Saturn drops Christian on the top rope then tags Malenko in. Christian nails Malenko with a spinning heel kick then tags Edge in and both men whip Malenko into a double flapjack. Saturn turns the tide by chop blocking Edge in the knee then plants Edge with an exploder suplex. Saturn wraps Edge’s knee around the rope and works it over. Saturn goes out to the floor looking to wraps Edge’s legs around the ring post but Edge kicks Saturn away. Saturn comes back in and hits another chop block to the knee then applies a leg grapevine but Edge manages to grab the ropes. Saturn pulls Edge over to his corner and tags Malenko in and both men slam Edge’s knees into the mat. Malenko hammers the bad knee with knee drops and applies a spinning toehold then continues assaulting the knee. Malenko whips Edge into a corner and ducks a boot then dropkicks the knee but Edge comes back with an enzuigiri. Malenko tags in Saturn while Edge makes the hot tag to Christian and Christian takes it to both men with clotheslines. Christian slams Saturn to the mat and whips Malenko into a backdrop. Christian hits Saturn with a neck breaker but Malenko breaks up the count while Terri decides to get involved. Edge goes for a whip but Malenko reverses him into a corner and dumps him over the ropes with then head scissors. Terri tries to help Edge up but Malenko shoves Edge into Terri knocking her down and Terri’s holding her ankle. Malenko and Saturn then hit Christian with a Total Elimination-like move in the ring and Saturn scores the pin, handing the #1 contenders another loss. (5:14) Terri then walks away revealing she was faking the injury and Edge is frustrated at falling for this. Edge then heads into the ring where Christian demands to know why he let him get pinned once again. Other than the stuff with Terri, good match. **½

~ We then get a recap of the Mean Street Posse trashing a Days Inn trying to pin Crash Holly for the Hardcore Title. Next we find Viscera about the challenge Crash for the belt as we go to commercial.

WWF Hardcore Title: Crash Holly © vs. Viscera
Crash starts off by whacking Viscera with a chair but Viscera no-sells it and clotheslines it back into Crash’s face. Viscera tosses Crash through the ropes and chops him on the floor before throwing him into the ring steps. Viscera throws Crash over the barricade and fights him with him through the crowd ending up in the back. Viscera grabs a mop and nails Crash with the handle then grabs another mop and breaks it over Crash’s back. Viscera then grabs a broom and dustpan and nails Crash with it before throwing him into a folding screen. Viscera rams Crash into a door and slides him across a table into a trash can then shoves him into a wall. The two end up in a room where the Acolytes have set up their office and Viscera hits Crash with their door then slams him onto a table. Viscera swings a chair but Crash gets off the table and kicks him below the belt. Crash then whacks Viscera from behind with a chair causing him to stumble onto the Acolytes’ poker table. Bradshaw doesn’t appreciate their game getting interrupted and lets Viscera know it while Faarooq breaks a 2×4 over Viscera’s head allowing Crash to cover Viscera for the three count. (2:51) Crash celebrates then win until Bradshaw lays him out with the Clothesline from Hades for the fun of it. The Acolytes then argue on who had the better hand before the interruption as we go to commercial. *

~ Back form break we get a replay of Bubba Ray Dudley super bombing Mae Young through a table earlier tonight. JR announces Mae has been taken to a nearby hospital and is currently undergoing some tests.

~ Backstage Michael Cole interviews The Rock about facing Chris Benoit in the cage match later tonight. Rock starts with the usual then says he was reacquainting Triple H and The Big Show with the Rock Bottom. Rock asks the McMahon siblings if they really think they solved all their problems by putting him in a steel cage, claiming he loves the cage. Rock says unlike Shane and Stephanie he has no hidden agenda and everyone can see it. Rock promises to shove his boot somewhere and finishes with the usual stuff.

~ Elsewhere Mark Henry charges into the Dudley’s dressing room looking for revenge but ends up getting laid out by them. Well that was productive.

~ The Wrestlemania 2000 countdown shows we’re just 4 weeks away. Just 4 weeks, people.

The Rock vs. Chris Benoit – Steel Cage Match
This match can only be won by escaping over the top and touching the floor. Benoit comes out with the other Radicals but asks them to head back while he does this alone. But let me tell you someone messed up putting the cage together because it looks very flimsy. In fact when Benoit shakes the sides it nearly falls apart. Both men go right at it exchanging shots and Rock quickly gets the advantage and rams Benoit into a corner. Benoit comes back with chops and pounds on Rock then goes for a whip but Rock reverses him into a corner. Rock charges but eats an elbow and Benoit comes out of the corner but runs right into a clothesline. Rock starts climbing the cage but Benoit stops him and hits a snap suplex then starts climbing up himself until Rock pulls him off the cage and whips him into an elbow. Rock works Benoit over and goes for another whip but Benoit reverses it and hits a knee to the chest just as Shane and the Big Show make their way to ringside. Benoit stomps Rock down in a corner and hits a pair of head butts but Rock backdrops Benoit into the cage. Rock lays the boots to Benoit and starts climbing up but Benoit stops Rock and straddles him on the ropes. Benoit dropkicks Rock into the cage but part of it is hanging off the apron and Rock’s leg is sticking through.

The Helmsleys now make their way out as Benoit climbs up the cage but Rock pulls him off with a suplex and stomps him down in a corner. Rock chokes Benoit on the middle rope and goes for a whip but Benoit reverses it and clotheslines Rock down. Benoit follows up with a back suplex and starts climbing the cage but Rock quickly goes up after him and causes him to straddle the ropes. Rock beats on Benoit as Triple H as words with him and whips Benoit but Benoit comes back again and chops Rock down causing him to get tangled in the ropes. Benoit gives Rock more punishment then starts climbing out of the cage but Rock frees himself and throws Benoit off the ropes to the mat. Rock goes for a whip but Benoit reverses him into a corner and hits a back suplex followed by an elbow drop. Benoit charges at Rock but Rock tosses him over his head into the cage then throws him into the cage again. And the way this cage is shaking makes it look like it’s ready to fly apart. Benoit whips Rock into the cage then climbs to the top rope and connects with the diving head butt. Benoit tries to climb up the cage but Rock pulls him back down to the mat and plants him with the spine buster. Rock hammers away on Benoit in a corner but misses the Smackdown and Benoit comes back with a German suplex. Benoit holds on for a second German and goes for a third but Rock fights out of it and hits the Rock Bottom. Both men are down but Rock is up first and starts climbing the cage but Benoit gets up and stops his escape. Both men climb to the top rope and Rock rams Benoit into the cage but Benoit comes back and does the same. Rock falls to the mat as Benoit tries to climb but Rock hits a low blow and power bombs Benoit off the ropes. Rock starts climbing the cage and nearly reaches the top but Triple H climbs up the other side to block his exit. Rock punches Triple H off the cage right into Show’s arms and Rock is able to climb down for the win. (10:53) Good but not great cage match, and I’m sure the shoddy construction didn’t help. Rock doesn’t get time to celebrate as Shane, Show and Triple H triple-team him before throwing back in the cage. Shane and Show go in to continue working over Rock while Triple H brings a chair into the cage. Triple H and Show double-team Rock and throw him into the cage wall. Show grabs Rock by the throat as Triple H grabs the chair and swings it at Rock but Rock escapes it and Triple H ends up nailing Show. Rock throws Triple H into the wall then turns toward Shane who quickly scampers over the wall to safety. Rock departs while Triple H and Show exchange looks as Raw goes off the air. **½

Conclusion: An improvement over the previous episode but still kind of a ‘feh’ show that had little lasting impact. The first part had four out of five matches ending in DQ’s, with the other being the Mark Henry squash. The show then got better in the second hour but there was nothing earth-shattering and very little was done in the build to Wrestlemania, especially with the slow burn between Triple H and The Big Show. So not the worst episode but there’s nothing much to really see here.