WWF RAW 4/17/2000

written by Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, April 17th, 2000
Live from the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, PA

List of WWF Champions at the time:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H (1/03/2000)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Chris Benoit (4/02/2000)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian (4/02/2000)
WWF European Champion: Eddie Guerrero (4/03/2000)
WWF Hardcore Champion: Crash Holly (4/13/2000)
WWF Women’s Champion: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (3/30/2000)
WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (3/13/2000)

~ Raw comes on the air and goes right to the intro with Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcoming us. JR announces Chris Jericho will take on Triple H in the first match tonight, which just happens to be right now!

Triple H © (w/Stephanie & Shane) vs. Chris Jericho – Non-Title Match
Yeah, I know. Triple H jerking the curtain? Jericho comes out to the ring when we cut backstage and find Triple H getting ready for this confrontation as Shane looks on. Triple H tells Stephanie he remembers everything Jericho said about her on Smackdown and promises to show everyone how a real husband defends his wife’s honor as he heads out to the ring. Back in the ring Jericho gets on the mic and does his usual intro then talks about how he’s in hot water again. Jericho brings up how he was punished last Thursday after calling Stephanie a brutal bottom-feeding trash bag and offers to apologize for slandering the “bottom feeing trash bags” by comparing them to Stephanie. Triple H storms out to the ring but Jericho quickly bails out to the floor and decides he’s not done talking yet. Jericho tells Triple H if he wants to really impress Stephanie he should put his WWF Championship on the line! Jericho continues to goad Triple H who gets so incensed at Jericho that he actually agrees to put the title up! Jericho then says he’s invested in an insurance policy before bringing the Acolytes out to ringside! The crowd is excited that Jericho may take the title as we go right into….

WWF World Heavyweight Title: Triple H © (w/Stephanie & Shane) vs. Chris Jericho (w/The Acolytes)
Jericho comes in the ring with a flying forearm to start the match and gets in the first shots then works Triple H over in a corner. Jericho goes for a whip and Triple H reverses him into the other corner but Jericho ducks a clothesline and trips Triple H with a drop toe hold. Jericho clotheslines Triple H and unloads on him then goes for a whip but Triple H reverses it and hits a knee. Triple H charges but gets back dropped over the ropes and Shane tries to help Triple H up on the floor but the Acolytes walk over convincing Shane to stay back. Jericho goes for a baseball slide but Triple H dodges it and pops him before throwing him back in the ring. Triple H climbs onto the apron but Jericho nails him with the springboard dropkick. Jericho tries to suplex Triple H back in but Triple H blocks it and snaps Jericho on the top rope. Triple H goes in the ring and nails Jericho with a high knee then stomps him down in a corner and chokes him as referee Mike Chioda tries to order a break. Triple H goes out to the floor and drapes Jericho over the apron before elbowing him in the chest and hitting an elbow drop from the steps. Triple H brings Jericho over to the announce table but Jericho blocks a shot and rams Triple H into the announce table. Jericho then charges at Triple H but runs into a boot (after Triple H taps his knee). Triple H whips Jericho into the steps then poses before throwing him in the ring and hitting a delayed suplex. Triple H follows up with a knee drop for a two count then unloads on Jericho who’s bleeding from the mouth. Jericho then starts fighting back and whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H drills him with a DDT. Triple H then climbs to the top rope but Jericho goes up and hits an arm drag off the top and across the ring! Jericho chops Triple H and whips him into an elbow then goes for another whip. Triple H reverses Jericho into a corner but eats a boot and Jericho hops to the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick but that only gets two as the crowd though Jericho had the title won there. Jericho whips Triple H, Triple H ducks a clothesline and sets him up for a Pedigree but Jericho counters it. Jericho then goes for the Walls of Jericho but can’t turn Triple H over so he catapults him right into the referee. Jericho comes off the ropes and hits the bulldog then climbs to the top rope but Shane shoves him off it. The Acolytes chase Shane away from ringside to the back as Stephanie slides the title belt in the ring. Both men get to their feet and Triple H goes for the belt but Jericho cuts him off then grabs the belt himself and clocks Triple H in the face with it. Jericho covers Triple H but the referee is still knocked out and Earl Hebner runs in to make the count but only gets two. Jericho is frustrated at this and whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H hits the face buster. Triple H then notices Hebner in the ring and exchanges words with him before shoving him and Hebner shoves back but Triple H is not amused and responds by shoving Hebner down. However that allows Jericho to come back and hit a spinning heel kick! Jericho hits the Lionsault and covers Triple H as Hebner quickly counts 1.2.3!!! Jericho wins the title!!!! (8:39) Triple H is shocked and tries to chase after Hebner but the Acolytes stand in his way as Hebner escapes. Triple H then goes after Jericho in the ring but Jericho bails with the belt to join the Acolytes at ringside. Triple H and Stephanie are furious in the ring at what just went down. Good match with a shocking ending and a hot crowd made this an awesome opening segment overall, though it’s surprising the WWF would hotshot a world title change like this. Or did they? ****

~ Back from break we get a replay of Chris Jericho upsetting Triple H to win the WWF championship. We then find Triple H and Shane storming into the referee’s locker-room looking for Mike Chioda and Earl Hebner. Once Triple H and Shane quickly find them they drag them back out to the ring with Shane putting Hebner in a full nelson. Triple H grabs a mic and accuses Hebner of cheating him out of the WWF Championship after being put on probation then points out Chioda was the assigned official for the match. Triple H asks Chidoa to watch the finish of the match and after showing the footage of Hebner’s count on the TitanTron Triple H asks Chioda for his unbiased opinion on it. Chioda tells Hebner he agrees with Triple H that it was indeed a fast count and that he did cheat him out of the title and Triple H allows Chioda to leave. Triple H then turns toward Hebner and points out the official referee said it was a fast count then orders Hebner to reverse the decision, that he’s WWF Champion and that the title change never happened. Triple H threatens to beat up Hebner if he doesn’t comply with his demand but Hebner responds by screaming “NO!” Triple H and Shane start to advance on Hebner when Hebner starts begging off, as if he’s reconsidering his decision. Hebner agrees to reverse the decision if Triple H assures him no one will harm him as long as he’s a WWF official. Triple H agrees to the deal and Hebner ends up reversing the decision, thus Jericho’s first world title win is voided. Triple H then orders Hebner to go to the back and get his title belt back from Chris Jericho then turns to the fans and emphasizes that no matter what may they think they saw, he never lost the WWF title because the match never took place. Hebner walks up the ramp when Jericho comes out to the stage wearing the WWF Championship around his waist. Jericho asks if he has to give up the belt because the match never happened, that no one saw him pin Triple H, then asks if that means Stephanie hasn’t actually been with all the boys in the back? Nevertheless Jericho surrenders the title belt to Hebner without incident and Hebner brings the belt back in the ring ready to hand it over. Triple H instead demands Hebner put the title belt around his waist which he does. Triple H then tells Hebner he’s going to be honoring his end of their deal ….by firing him! Triple H and Shane proceed to beat up Hebner and Triple H lays him out with a Pedigree for the exclamation point. The other referees swarm in to keep Hebner from suffering any more damage and Triple H walks off with the belt. So much for Jericho’s first world title win. At least when Sting beat Diamond Dallas Page on Nitro the previous year he got to hold that belt for two hours before losing it back.

~ Back from break we find Eddie Guerrero whacking his brain trying to study for his GED test which is tomorrow. Chyna comes in to tell Eddie they have a match next and put away the books but Eddie’s too worried about the test. Chyna finally gets Eddie’s attention by slamming his hand in his book and emphasizing they have a match now. Chyna then walks off with Eddie mumbling behind her as they head to the ring.

~ We then get a replay of Triple H firing Earl Hebner after he erased Chris Jericho’s WWF Championship win.

~ Outside a limousine pulls up and Linda McMahon comes out as Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe greet her. Usually Linda only shows up for big moments so something big must be happening tonight.

The Hardy Boyz vs. Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna) & Essa Rios (w/Lita)
Eddie and Rios attack the Hardy’s to start and dump Matt over the ropes then stomp Jeff down in a corner. Eddie whips Jeff into a corner then tosses Rios over his head and Rios follows up with a dropkick on Jeff. Rios then chokes Jeff with his boot in the corner while Eddie goes out and adds in a headlock from the floor. Rios hits a clothesline and snap mares Jeff to the mat then follows up with a dropkick to the back of the head. Eddie tags in and whips Jeff into a flying heel kick then follows that with a back suplex that gets a two count. Eddie throws Jeff through the ropes then distracts the referee while Chyna gets in a forearm shot on the floor. Eddie pulls Jeff through the ropes back in then tags Rios and both men whip Jeff into a dropkick from Rios. Rios hits a fireman’s carry into a slam then tags in Eddie who slings himself over the ropes into a hilo on Jeff. Eddie goes for a whip but Jeff reverses and hits a tilt-o-whirl slam then follows that up with a dropkick. Jeff makes the tag to Matt who dodges a dropkick from Eddie and Rios comes in but eats a clothesline. Matt hits a backdrop on Eddie and slams Rios to the mat then the Hardy’s whip Eddie and drop him to the mat. Rios charges at the Hardy’s but gets dumped over the ropes and Jeff slings himself over the ropes into a plancha on him. Matt slams Eddie to the mat while Jeff climbs to the top rope for the Swanton Bomb but Chyna throws him off onto the ropes. Matt works Eddie over and goes for a whip, Eddie reverses him into a corner but Matt lifts himself over him. Matt ducks a clothesline when Rios climbs to the top rope and nails Matt with a moonsault. Eddie then whips Rios into a corner and Rios sails over the ropes and hits a somersault senton on Jeff on the floor! Eddie slams Matt while Lita climbs to the top rope and goes for a moonsault on Matt but nails Eddie by mistake. Matt kicks Lita out of the ring then drills Eddie with the Twist of Fate and that’s all for this one. (4:44) Very fun match here with some cool spots. The Hardy’s depart and Rios tries to tend to Eddie but Chyna comes in and yells at Rios for Lita’s screw-up then lays him with a power bomb. Chyna and Eddie stomp away at Rios before they leave the ring. ***

~ Backstage we find Linda McMahon typing on her laptop when Shane McMahon knocks and comes into the office. Shane asks Linda what she’s doing here in Penn State thinking she was off in Europe with Vince on a business trip and Linda says she came back to the States tonight because she has an important announcement which concerns The Rock. Shane wants to know what it is but all Linda says is it’ll be better for him to hear it when everyone else does later. Naturally the announcers are buzzing about what this special announcement could be as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Triple H is all worked up about Linda’s surprise as Stephanie and Shane try to calm him down. Triple H refuses to calm down demanding to know why Linda is here and what it is she has to say about The Rock. Stephanie sends Shane to get more information from Linda and Shane eventually leaves after some reluctance.

WWF Hardcore Title: Crash Holly © vs. Perry Saturn vs. Tazz
Interesting moment here as Tazz comes out wearing the ECW Heavyweight Championship belt and is announced as such while JR explains Tazz won the belt “on his day off” last Thursday in Indianapolis (by beating Mike Awesome). Saturn makes his way out to the ring but Crash nails him from behind with a cookie sheet during his entrance. Crash runs in the ring swinging the cookie sheet but Tazz ducks it and starts getting in his shots. Saturn suddenly comes in and clotheslines both men then scoops Crash up and rams him into the turnbuckles. Saturn then charges at Tazz but runs into an arm drag and Tazz turns toward Crash and climbs up for a superplex but Saturn nails Tazz from behind with the cookie sheet. Saturn goes to whip him but Tazz hits a backdrop and Crash leaps off the middle rope but Tazz catches him with a clothesline. Saturn breaks up the pin and hits Tazz with a flapjack when Crash jumps on Saturn’s back but Saturn shrugs him off and hits a bridge suplex. Tazz breaks up the cover with the cookie sheet then waffles both men with it but Crash nails Tazz from behind. Crash whips Tazz and trips him into the ropes with a drop toehold then whips Saturn and hits a Frankensteiner. Tazz breaks up that cover and goes for a Russian leg sweep on Crash but Saturn leg sweeps him at the same time. Tazz then clotheslines Crash while Saturn hits a leg sweep at the same time, almost like a Total Elimination. Crash rolls out to the floor when Hardcore Holly makes his way out with his own referee and pounds on Crash while Tazz and Saturn are still going at it in the ring and apparently we have two title matches going on. Hardcore drops Crash on the barricade while Tazz whips Saturn in the ring and both men clothesline each other. Hardcore covers Crash for a two count on the floor and goes for a whip but Crash reverses him into the post. Crash goes over and grabs a pitcher of Kool-Aid from the announce table … but breaks it before he can use it. In the ring Saturn goes for a whip but Tazz reverses it and hits a spine buster then slaps on the Tazzmission. However Crash nails Tazz from behind with the cookie sheet while Hardcore drills Saturn with the Hollycaust. Crash dropkicks Hardcore away and covers Saturn himself to get the pin, surviving another hardcore battle. (3:24) That actually wasn’t too bad. Crash grabs his belt and takes off to the back while the rest are left in the ring disappointed. **

~ Backstage Shane barges in on Linda again and tries to get more information on her big announcement about The Rock but all Linda says is that it concerns Backlash. Linda then says it’s about time she reveals it right now and heads out with Shane right behind her as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get footage of Kurt Angle preaching abstinence to the Penn State students earlier today.

~ In the arena Linda McMahon is in the ring ready to make her big announcement as the Helmsleys watch backstage. Linda starts off by saying she’s going to address an unfair situation, especially after what’s already happened tonight. Linda talks about The Rock having the deck stacked against him in his WWF Championship match at Backlash since Vince McMahon has decided to be in Triple H’s corner along with Stephanie to help him out. Thus Linda has decided to put someone in the Rock’s corner to even the odds even though Rock hasn’t asked for help. Linda says it’s not going to be Mick Foley since his return at Wrestlemania was one night only and he’s happily retired. Linda then announces The Rock’s corner man at Backlash is going to be ….…. STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN! The crowd pops loudly for this announcement and JR is going nuts as you’d expect. However the Helmsleys and Shane aren’t as thrilled and the three of them march out to the ring. Stephanie snatches the mic from Linda and cries her meddling is unfair then mentions what happened the last time Linda got involved in their affairs. Stephanie gives Linda a chance to reconsider but Linda refuses so Stephanie decides to slap her mother again. Stephanie rears back but this time Linda blocks it and slaps Stephanie down! Linda immediately recoils in horror at what she’s just done while Stephanie has a look of shock on her face as well. Triple H grabs Linda and sets her up for a Pedigree but Shane’s not letting this happen and stops him with a clothesline! Linda manages to escape the ring while and Shane and Triple H start to go at it while Stephanie stands between them trying to calm her husband and brother down. However they still try to get at each other so Stephanie slaps both of them in the face! Just as the McMahon-Helmsely Regime seems ready to collapse The Rock comes out to the stage to get on the mic. Rock says when he woke up this morning he was feeling great but Linda’s announcement just made his great day better. Rock mentions he and Austin have had their differences in the past but they both absolutely hate Triple H. Rock promises to leave Backlash as the new WWF Champion and finishes with the usual catchphrases while Triple H and Stephanie are left seething as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Linda’s announcement about Steve Austin and Triple H and Shane’s subsequent scuffle. Backstage Michael Cole interviews Triple H and the rest of DX about the night he’s been having. Triple H disagrees with that, “reminding” Cole that his title match with Chris Jericho earlier “never happened” and that nobody beats him. Triple H adds he’s not done with Jericho yet tonight and proceeds to announce a six-man tag for tonight’s main event with himself, Road Dogg and X-Pac against Jericho and the Acolytes. Triple H then promises to take care of business DX style before telling Cole to hit the bricks.

The Dudley Boyz vs. Al Snow & Steve Blackman
As the Dudley’s make their way out JR announces they have a match with Test and Albert at Backlash. The Dudley’s attack Snow and Blackman on the ramp but they come back and Snow throws D’Von in the ring. Bubba and Blackman duke it out on the floor while in the ring D’Von whips Snow but Snow slides under him and hits an enzuigiri and D’Von rolls out to the floor but Snow connects with an Asai moonsault on D’Von. Bubba throws Blackman in the ring for their turn and goes for a whip but Blackman reverses him into a corner. Blackman goes for a monkey flip and Bubba shoves him off but Blackman hammers away on him with kicks and caps off with a spin kick. Bubba rolls out to the floor but Blackman goes out to continue his assault and goes for a whip but Bubba reverses him into the ring steps. D’Von brings Snow back in the ring and the Dudley’s nail Snow with the 3D. D’Von goes for the cover when Trish Stratus brings out Test and Albert. Trish hops on the apron to distract the referee while Test climbs to the top and hits the elbow drop on D’Von. Test then rolls Snow onto D’Von and heads out all while the referee turns around and watches him do it! Looks like referee Chad Patton messed up by turning back to the action too soon and as a result has to pretend he didn’t see the interference as he counts the pin for Snow and Blackman. (1:31) T&A then head in the ring and start working over the Dudley’s with Test clotheslining D’Von over the ropes. Bubba is able to turn it around by back dropping Albert over the ropes then grabs Trish by the hair and calls for a table from D’Von. D’Von slides a table in the ring but before anything happens Trish kisses Bubba! Bubba seems mesmerized by the kiss allowing Trish to make her escape with Test and Albert. DUD

~ We then get more footage of Kurt Angle’s abstinence campaign from earlier today as he interrupts a kissing couple. Angle gives the young couple some words of wisdom then hands them both a lollipop before departing.

~ Back from break we find Lavar Arrington, #1 pick in the 2000 Draft for the Washington Redskins, in the crowd.

WWF Light Heavyweight Title: Dean Malenko © vs. Scotty 2 Hotty
These two fought the previous night on Heat but Malenko pulled Scotty’s tights to win that encounter so here’s the rematch. Both men lockup to start and Scotty applies a headlock and Malenko shoves him off into the ropes but Scotty hits a shoulder block. Scotty comes off the ropes and slides under Malenko before hitting a clothesline. Scotty whips Malenko and hits a jumping elbow then whips him again into a corner and goes for the bulldog but Malenko clotheslines Scotty instead. Malenko kicks at Scotty’s ribs then hits a back suplex to get a two count. Malenko beats Scotty down in a corner and head butts him then hits a vertical suplex and continues his assault. I should mention JR is totally ignoring the match while buzzing about Austin’s return. Malenko stomps Scotty’s hand and hits a knee lift then whips Scotty into an elbow. Malenko snap mares Scotty to the mat and elbows him in the neck then whips him into a corner and clotheslines him. Malenko goes for a whip when Scotty reverses Malenko into a corner but eats a boot. Malenko runs into a power slam that Scotty gets a two count and Scotty whips Malenko into a backdrop. Scotty whips Malenko into a corner and this time hits the bulldog then follows up with the Worm. Scotty goes for a whip but Malenko counters it and hits a Tiger bomb. Malenko puts Scotty in the Texas Cloverleaf but Scotty manages to inch over and grab the bottom rope for the break and Malenko argues with the referee. Malenko goes for a whip; Scotty reverses him into a corner and charges but gets back dropped over the ropes. Scotty lands on his feet on the apron and pops Malenko and climbs to the top rope. Malenko cuts Scotty off then goes up and hits a superplex but Scotty somehow hooks the legs and gets the 1..2..3 for the title!! (4:41) Scotty wins the belt his partner was never able to get and celebrates his first WWF gold with a little break dancing. Pretty good match crammed into five minutes but these two would do far better down the line. ***

~ We then get another clip of Kurt Angle’s abstinence campaign on the Penn State campus from earlier today, this time showing Angle preaching to the students while holding a sign that reads ‘IT FEELS GREAT WHEN YOU WAIT’. However the Big Show comes along handing out condoms and everyone flocks to him while Angle shakes his head.

WWF Intercontinental Title: Chris Benoit © vs. The Big Show
Show makes his way out and is in his serious mood for this match, no funny costumes or characters this time. Benoit starts off with some chops but they have no effect and Show throws him into a corner and hits a giant chop on him. Show press slams Benoit but misses an elbow drop and Benoit tries to come back but Show just shrugs off his shots and head butts Benoit. Show pounds on Benoit then elbows Benoit in the head and throws him through the ropes. Show goes out to the floor and whips Benoit into the ring steps then scoops Benoit onto his shoulders but Benoit slips out and shoves Show into the ring post. Benoit hits some kicks but once again Show no-sells them and head butts Benoit before press slamming him over the ropes back in. Show goes in and clubs Benoit in the back then pops him with a big right hand and whips him into a big boot. Show grabs Benoit by the throat but before Show can hit the choke slam Benoit kicks him below the belt, intentionally getting himself DQ’ed. (2:19) Kurt Angle then comes in while Show is down and stomps Show repeatedly below the belt as well. Not sure what the point of this was. DUD

WWF World Tag Team Titles: Edge & Christian © vs. The Big Bossman & Bull Buchanan
Bossman and Buchanan have been in main events over the past week and here they are getting a title shot. Christian locks up with Buchanan to start and Buchanan forces Christian into a corner and works him over then whips him into the other corner. Christian lifts himself up with the ropes and Buchanan catches him on the shoulders but Christian slips out of it and shoves Buchanan into the corner. Christian comes off the ropes and hits a clothesline then tags in Edge. E&C whip Buchanan into a corner then Christian drops down while Edge hits the flying cross body. Edge tees off on Buchanan then tags Christian back in and Christian goes for a whip but Buchanan reverses it and Bossman kicks Christian from the apron. Buchanan follows up with an axe kick then drapes Christian on the middle rope before tagging Bossman in and the two both slide out to the floor and nail Christian with a double uppercut. Bossman heads back in and slams Christian to the mat then draws Edge in to distract the referee while he tosses Christian through the ropes and Buchanan drops him on the barricade. Buchanan throws Christian back in the ring and Bossman covers him for two and Christian starts fighting back and comes off the ropes but runs right into a boot. Bossman chokes Christian while talking trash at him then tags Buchanan to take over. Buchanan drops Christian with a right hand then runs the ropes and leaps off for a flying forearm but Edge breaks up the pin. Buchanan brings Christian to his corner and pounds him before tagging Bossman in and Bossman throws Christian across the ring. Bossman whips Christian into a corner and charges but eats an elbow. Christian hops to the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick then crawls over and makes the hot tag to Edge. Edge comes off the ropes with a spinning heel kick on Bossman then turns and hits Buchanan with a backdrop. Christian comes in and he and Edge whip Bossman into a double dropkick and Edge follows up with a spear. Edge covers Bossman but Buchanan climbs to the top rope and hits a guillotine leg drop on Edge to break up the pin. Buchanan rakes Christian’s face and throws him through the ropes then he and Bossman double-team Edge. The referee tries to break it up but Bossman shoves him away and that causes him to call for the DQ. (4:41) This show has really hit a lull as the crowd was totally silent for this match. Bossman and Buchanan continue their assault when Kane comes out with Paul Bearer and a cast on his hand that woke the crowd up. Kane dispatches Bossman with an uppercut then choke slams Buchanan before setting off his pyro. DUD

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Bryce Jordan Center.

~ Backstage Michael Cole interviews Chris Jericho and the Acolytes about the six-man main event but suggests Bradshaw and Faarooq may have accepted some money on the side from the DX Regime. Bradshaw takes offense to that, saying they’d take money from anybody but they’re standing with Jericho tonight while Faarooq adds they’d be man enough to tell Jericho if the Helmsleys paid them off. Bradshaw then threatens to beat Cole up for free before they head out. Cole has really been getting the business tonight.

~ We then get a replay of Kane returning and getting revenge on Bossman and Bull Buchanan for his broken hand.

~ Elsewhere Road Dogg and X-Pac are standing with Tori when Edge and Christian walk by and exchange words. E&C then start walking away when Road Dogg and X-Pac jump them from behind and beat them down. The DX’ers tell E&C to shine the belts up for them and depart as we go to commercial. Seems like they’re backtracking on that heel turn for Edge & Christian, doesn’t it.

Chris Jericho & The Acolytes vs. Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Stephanie, Shane & Tori)
Triple H starts off with Bradshaw and exchanges words before getting in the first shots. Triple H then goes for a whip but Bradshaw reverses it and connects with a boot. Jericho asks to be tagged in and once Bradshaw obliges Jericho charges at Triple H but runs right into a Pedigree attempt. However Bradshaw bails Jericho out with a lariat on Triple H and the Acolytes chase Road Dogg and X-Pac out to the floor. Jericho puts Triple H in the Walls of Jericho but before Triple H can submit X-Pac makes it back in the ring and nails Jericho with a spin kick for the save. Road Dogg follows up with the shake, rattle ‘n knee drop on Jericho and the DX’ers work him over in a corner. Triple H tags in and stomps Jericho down in the corner then whips him but Jericho comes back with a forearm. Farrooq and X-Pac both tag in but Faarooq clotheslines X-Pac then catches Road Dogg with a power slam. Bradshaw comes in and whips X-Pac and X-Pac goes for a cross body off the ropes but Bradshaw catches him then boots Road Dogg before hitting X-Pac with the fall away slam. Jericho gets in a shot on Road Dogg but X-Pac nails Faarooq with a spin kick and stomps away on him while Road Dogg hammers him from the floor. Triple H pulls Faarooq out to the floor and drops him onto the ring steps before X-Pac rolls him back in. Road Dogg tees off on Faarooq when Faarooq fights back and whips him but Road Dogg floats over Faarooq and hits the juke ‘n jive punches. Road Dogg readies for the big right but Faarooq stops that with a spine buster. Faarooq manages to tag in Bradshaw but the referee misses it and orders Bradshaw back out to the corner. While the referee is occupied with this DX triple-teams Faarooq in their corner and X-Pac kicks him down. Road Dogg tags in and puts Faarooq in a face lock to keep him from tagging out as Faarooq tries to budge him. Triple H tags in when Faarooq starts to fight back and whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H nails him with the face buster. Bradshaw breaks up the pin and X-Pac comes in without a tag and chokes Faarooq and Road Dogg and X-Pac takes turns getting in their shots. X-Pac goes for a whip but Faarooq reverses him into a corner and X-Pac runs into a cool-looking backbreaker. Both men start crawling to their corners and X-Pac tags in Triple H while Faarooq makes the hot tag to Jericho. Jericho takes it to all three DX’ers and drills Triple H with the bulldog then hits the Lionsault and covers him but X-Pac makes the save. X-Pac nails Jericho with the X-Factor but Bradshaw knocks X-Pac through the ropes while Faarooq does the same to Road Dogg. The Acolytes go out and fight the DX’ers up the ramp to the stage when Edge and Christian come out looking to get a piece of the DX’ers and all six guys disappear backstage. That leaves Triple H and Jericho down in the ring and Triple H drapes an arm over Jericho but only gets two. Triple H then sees the Acolytes coming back out when Jericho rolls him up from behind but that only gets two. Suddenly The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan make their way down and attack the Acolytes from behind. Jericho goes for a whip but Triple H reverses him into a corner and hits the Pedigree and that’s it. (7:36) Good main event but everyone knew Jericho wasn’t going to beat Triple H twice in one night. Triple H poses with Stephanie and Shane and they shake hands and hug, having made up at least for tonight. And for some reason The Rock never shows up for the happy ending as Raw goes off the air. ***

Conclusion: Very good episode this time and a nice rebound for the WWF from the week before while WCW had already burned off the buzz they got from their ‘reset’. You could tell by this time that they were positioning Chris Jericho to be the #2 baby face behind The Rock as he got to beat Triple H and hold the WWF Title, even if only for 15 minutes. The rest of the show had some nice in-ring action for the most part such as the Light Heavyweight Title match and the Hardy’s vs. Eddie/Rios tag as well as some big moments including the announcement of Steve Austin’s return. The show does lose steam in the last half-hour with some ‘meh’ matches but still a great, eventful episode of Raw. Too bad Chris Jericho would have to wait 18 more months for a real world title reign.