WWF Smackdown 5/11/2000

written by Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, May 11th, 2000
Taped (5/9) from the Coliseum in New Haven, CT

List of WWF Champions at the time:
WWF World Heavyweight Champion: The Rock (4/30/2000)
WWF Intercontinental Champion: Chris Benoit (5/08/2000)
WWF World Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian (4/02/2000)
WWF European Champion: Eddie Guerrero (4/03/2000)
WWF Hardcore Champion: The British Bulldog (5/06/2000)
WWF Women’s Champion: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (3/30/2000)
WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)

~ Smackdown comes on the air and goes right to the intro with Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcoming us.

~ Things kick off with the Dudley Boyz making their way to the ring for our opening match. But first Gerald Briscoe comes out to Hulk Hogan’s theme and gets on the mic saying he has something to show everyone. Briscoe points to the OvalTron as footage of him splashing Bubba Ray Dudley through a table on Raw are shown and claims he did it single-handedly because he’s a great wrestling champion and an advocate for women’s rights. Briscoe then brings out Test & Albert as well as Trish Stratus, making her return after a long recovery from being put through a table at Backlash. As the four of them head down the ramp Shane McMahon then decides to appear and offer his thoughts on the mic, saying he shares Briscoe’s sentiments about women’s rights after all the ladies the Dudley’s have put through tables. Shane claims his sister Stephanie could have been a victim herself so he stands by his hero Briscoe and the two hug. Whatever.

The Dudley Boyz vs. T & A (w/Trish Stratus)
So yeah, this is the fourth time in three weeks these two teams have done battle. Test pounds on D’Von to start and whips him into a boot. Test goes for another whip when D’Von reverses it and goes for a hip toss but Test counters with a neck breaker. Test whips D’Von again but D’Von counters it and whips Test then leapfrogs over him before connecting with a shoulder block. Bubba tags in and elbows Test in the head then goes for a whip, Test reverses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot and Bubba comes out with a clothesline. Bubba whips Test but Test comes back with his own clothesline when whips Bubba and hits the Full Nelson slam. Albert tags in and whips Bubba into a body block then whips him into a corner and charges for the Avalanche but Bubba cuts him down. Bubba draws Test in then sets Albert up while D’Von climb to the top rope and hits the head butt to the groin. D’Von takes over without a tag and goes for a whip but Albert reverses it and Briscoe grabs D’Von’s ankle from the floor. D’Von decides to chase after Briscoe on the floor but Briscoe leads him right into a clothesline from Albert who then rolls him back in. Test takes over without a tag and beats D’Von down in a corner then whips D’von into the other corner and charges at him but eats a boot. D’Von climbs to the middle rope and gets a Sunset Flip for a two count then comes off the ropes but runs into a sidewalk slam. Test climbs to the top rope and goes for the flying elbow but misses and Bubba and Albert both get the tag. Bubba nails Albert with a pair of clotheslines then hits a Samoan Drop and covers him. Test tries to break it up with an elbow drop but ends up nailing Albert by mistake. Bubba goes to whip Test when Test reverses it but Bubba comes back with his version of the Diamond Cutter. Briscoe hops on the apron and Bubba pops him off when Trish comes over but Bubba grabs her by the hair. Albert charges but Bubba sidesteps and sends him into Trish, knocking her off the apron into Briscoe’s arms. The Dudley’s nail Albert with a modified 3D and Bubba covers him but Shane pulls the referee out of the ring. D’Von goes after Shane on the floor while Test climbs to the top rope and hits Bubba with the flying elbow drop. Albert then drapes an arm over Bubba as the referee heads back in to count the three. (6:06) Not a bad match but it is starting to get repetitive seeing this match, especially since the Dudley’s have yet to get a pin fall over them. Suddenly The Big Show comes charging down the ramp and Shane tries to flee in the ring but Show catches him. Show then goes in and grabs Shane by the throat but Test nails Show from behind to break up the choke slam. Test comes off the ropes but runs right into a choke slam while Shane is able to slip out of the ring. *

~ Back form break we get a replay of Big Show nearly destroying Shane with Test taking the bullet for him. We then find Show rampaging through the back trying to find Shane while throwing various objects around.

WWF Intercontinental Title: Chris Benoit © vs. The Godfather
Now this is a switch, two matches taking place without a McMahon-Helmsley talking segment in between them. Godfather makes his way out first and gets on the mic to do his usual spiel but gets cut off by Benoit’s entrance. Benoit goes right to work on Godfather and goes for a whip, Godfather reverses it but Benoit rolls under a boot. Godfather starts fighting back then whips Benoit into a corner and charges at him but Benoit sidesteps him and hits a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Benoit comes off the ropes but runs into a power slam for a near fall. Godfather throws Benoit across the ring and whips him into a boot then slams him to the mat. Godfather tosses Benoit through the ropes then goes out and throws Benoit into the steps before tossing him back in the ring. Godfather hits a back suplex then climbs the ropes looking for the Vader splash even though Benoit’s halfway across the ring. Not surprisingly Godfather misses and Benoit quickly slaps on the Cross face forcing Godfather to give it up. (2:30) A little too much offense from Godfather for my tastes, they should have just let Benoit go out and dismantle him. It’s not like he had any heat to protect. ½
After the match Michael Cole heads in the ring to interview Benoit about the way he regained the IC Title, bringing up how Chris Jericho never tapped out on Raw. Benoit threatens to put Cole in the Cross face (oh, please do it, Chris!) then admits Jericho didn’t tap out or say “I Quit” in their match. However Benoit claims Jericho was unable to because once the Cross face was locked in; Jericho’s body went numb from the paralyzing pain it inflicts. Benoit adds Jericho had only one hope so Triple H did the only merciful thing he could by calling the match off. Benoit then decides to offer Jericho one more opportunity for his Intercontinental Title at Judgment Day, only it will be a submission match.

~ Back from break we find Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho duking it out in the parking lot while a swarm of referees appear but can’t seem to keep these two from tearing at each other. I guess this means Jericho accepts the challenge.

~ Out in the arena Triple H leads the McMahon-Helmsley Regime out to the ring as we finally get to our promo segment. Pat Patterson gets the mic first and talks about being proud of what he did on Raw as he unfortunately shows footage of it. Patterson then says he has permission to book a match for tonight and decides to have a six-man elimination match pitting Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac against Rikishi and Too Cool. Shane then takes the mic and makes fun of The Big Show searching around for him asking “which way did he go”. Shane tells Show he’s right here and decides to book himself a match for tonight by putting Show in a handicap tables match against the Dudley Boyz, even though they already wrestled. Triple H takes his turn on the mic and claims a lot of people were surprised that The Rock didn’t show up on Monday but he wasn’t. Triple H claims Rock knew that he was going to challenge him to an Iron Man match and was too scared to answer it, even coming up with a flimsy excuse about going to Morocco to film some scenes for The Mummy 2. Triple H says Rock may be scared but the two will go face-to-face on Raw and he will have to answer the challenge. Triple H says Rock may be in great shape and electrifying but he will never be as conditioned an athlete as him that the world will see how truly good he is as he regains the WWF Championship at Judgment Day. Vince then takes the mic and talks about how the McMahon-Helmsley Regime didn’t act fairly to Chris Jericho on Raw. Vince explains that life is simply not fair and even go through a long list of examples to help demonstrate his point. Vince finishes his long tirade by urging the fans to own up to the philosophy that life sucks and then you die! That interview went just 10 minutes but the half that saw Vince talking of it didn’t even seem to have a point.

~ Backstage Eddie Guerrero and Chyna are playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who gets to face whom tonight but the two keep throwing ‘rock’. Chyna suggests they flip a coin but when Eddie tosses it in the air it just disappears. Chyna then decides to just take on Dean Malenko while Eddie faces off with Perry Saturn and the two head out.

~ The Judgment Day promo with the creepy girls is shown but ends with the phrase ‘his judgment day is coming’. Hmm, I wonder…

~ Back from break we get clips of Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn’s issues on Raw leading to the Radicals’ split.

WWF Light Heavyweight Title: Dean Malenko © vs. Chyna
In a funny moment Lawler compares Chyna to Yoko Ono for breaking up the Beatles and Cole thinks he’s referring to Yokozuna. Chyna and Malenko exchange words to start while Eddie Guerrero makes his way out to ringside to get involved. Malenko offers a hand and when Chyna moves in to shake it Malenko goes for a kick but Chyna blocks it and spins him around into a clothesline. Chyna whips Malenko into a backdrop then comes off the ropes and Malenko goes for a hip toss but Chyna counters with a neck breaker for two. Chyna hits the handspring elbow in a corner then goes for a power bomb and Malenko counters with a backdrop. Chyna tries to go into a Sunset Flip but Malenko counters that with a right hand and stomps Chyna down in a corner before choking her with his boot. Malenko follows up with a backbreaker then bends Chyna over his knee but doesn’t get the submission from her. Malenko goes for a whip, Chyna reverses him into a corner and Malenko lifts himself up and over with the ropes but lands on a mule kick below the belt. Chyna drills Malenko with a DDT then whips him into a corner and goes for the handspring elbow again but this time Malenko pulls the referee in the way to take the hit. The referee is out as Malenko comes out of the corner but he and Chyna clothesline each other. Eddie decides to get involved but Perry Saturn makes his way out to ringside and flapjacks Eddie onto the steps. Saturn goes in and grabs Malenko … but then let’s go of him and drills Chyna with a brain buster. Saturn heads back out of the ring and Malenko covers Chyna and gets the pin to retain. (3:16) I could have sworn that Malenko and Saturn were feuding by this time. Malenko did his best to carry Chyna but it was still a fairly boring match. *

~ We then cut to a local tavern called Pauli G’s and find The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan paying a visit there and bullying a pair of bar patrons off their seats so they can sit in their place. Gee, I wonder who else is going to show up.

~ We then get footage of Edge and Christian earlier today talking about a nearby soda machine containing Edge cola. Christian asks why they don’t have ‘Christian Cola’ and Edge suggests it’s on its way. A young fan comes up asking for an autograph and E&C are happy to comply … before they charge five dollars for it. Another fan asks for a picture with them and E&C agree to that. They ask Kevin Kelly to snap the photo for them while they pose with the fan but just before Kevin hits the button E&C step in front of the guy, blocking him out. The two then demand 10 dollars for the photo and the fan coughs it up even though he’s not even shown in the picture. Kevin asks the champs what they’re doing and Edge and Christian claims they’re just trying to get close to their fans. Christian then calls the people of New Haven simple and Edge adds it’s the easiest money the two ever made. Funny stuff as E&C have really embraced their new heel roles.

~ Back from break Edge & Christian make their way to the ring for the next match but first decides to get on the mic. Edge says they know what the fans all came to see so he and Christian decide to get the 5-second pose out of the way. After that Edge says he and Christian know the fans respect them, unlike the other guys in the back who look at them with envy. Christian then says there is one guy that shows them the respect they deserve and brings out … Kurt Angle. Angle takes the mic saying he does respect Edge and Christian and that he used to think maple syrup and Michael J Fox were the only good things that came out of Canada. Angle calls E&C role models for everyone and that he has no better partners to help him avenge his loss on Raw. Angle adds once he and his buds get their revenge the three of them will make this twisted world right once again. And thus Team ECK is born.

The Hardy Boyz & Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian
Seems like a slight step back for Jericho, going from being the focus of Raw to a mid-card six-man tag. Matt Hardy and Edge lockup to start and Matt goes into a headlock, Edge shoves him off into the ropes but Matt hits a shoulder block. Matt comes off the ropes and kicks Edge’s face but Edge comes back with a right. Edge comes off the ropes and Matt hot shots him on the top rope then hits a back suplex before tagging Jeff in. The Hardy’s whip Edge into a corner and Matt drops to the mat allowing Jeff to connect with Poetry in Motion. Jericho comes in and bulldogs Edge then Jeff goes for a whip, Edge reverses it but Jeff dropkicks him away. Jeff comes off the ropes but Edge hits a front face plant then tags in Christian who takes over. Christian hits a snap suplex but holds on for a second snap suplex then holds on again and hits a gourd buster. Angle tags in and hits his suplex before tagging Edge back in and Edge slams Jeff to the mat. Edge climbs to the top rope and leaps off but Jeff catches him with a dropkick in midair then crawls to his corner and tags in Jericho. Christian also gets the tag but Jericho takes it to him and Edge with forearms then pops Angle off the apron. Jericho chips Christian and goes for a whip, Christian reverses it but Jericho comes back and hits a power bomb. Jericho holds on for a second power bomb but Edge nails Jericho from behind then tosses him through the ropes. Chris Benoit suddenly comes out and clotheslines Jericho on the floor before tossing him back in the ring and Edge follows up with a spear on Jericho. Christian covers Jericho but only gets two and Jericho tags in Matt while Angle also gets the tag but Matt nails Angle with a clothesline. Jericho goes after Benoit and attacks him on the stage and a bunch of referees try to break up the fight. In the ring Matt sets Angle up for the Twist of Fate when Angle counters it into a Northern Lights Suplex but Jeff climbs to the top rope and breaks it up with a Swanton Bomb. The referee gets Jeff out while Matt goes for the Twist of Fate again but Christian nails Matt with the ring bell and Edge grabs Jeff’s ankle from the floor to prevent the save while Angle covers Matt and gets the three. (3:42) Angle then heads up the ramp and helps Benoit with a double-team on Jericho before the referees pull them off. Fun six-man tag for what it was, and effective in establishing Angle’s partnership with Edge and Christian which would lead to many memorable moments down the road. **½

~ Back from break we find Angle celebrating the win along with Edge & Christian by throwing water all over the backstage area, showing this association is far from over.

WWF Hardcore Title: The British Bulldog © vs. Hardcore Holly
So the WWF is finally acknowledging the Bulldog’s title win six days after the fact and they even show footage from the UK Insurrection show of his victory over Crash Holly. Both men lockup to start, Hardcore applies a headlock; Bulldog shoves him away but eats a shoulder block. Hardcore tosses Bulldog through the ropes then goes out and nails Bulldog with a tray of Gatorade bottles. Hardcore throws Bulldog into the ring steps and goes for a whip but Bulldog reverses him into the ring post and tosses him back in the ring. Bulldog brings a broom in the ring but Hardcore breaks it over Bulldog’s back then works him over with the broken broom handle. Hardcore brings a toolbox in and nails Bulldog with it but Bulldog grabs a tool from the box and jabs Hardcore in the chest and head. Bulldog hits Hardcore with the box itself and follows him out to the floor when Hardcore grabs a fire extinguisher and sprays Bulldog with CO2. Hardcore rolls Bulldog back in the ring and whips him into a dropkick but here comes Crash Holly down the ramp with another referee. Hardcore to the floor when Crash whacks him with a trash can lid. Crash goes in and nails Bulldog with it then covers him to regain the title thanks to the 24/7 rule. Again. (2:30) This thing with the 24/7 rule was getting old at this point. Crash takes off with the title (his seventh) while Hardcore brings a chair in the ring and drills Bulldog with a Hollycaust into the chair. This was the end for The British Bulldog, as he would have a few more appearances on Heat before departing the WWF for good. DUD

~ Backstage Kevin Kelly interviews Pat Patterson who brags about what he did to Rikishi on Raw. Moving right along…

~ We cut back to Pauli G’s and find The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan sitting at the bar enjoying their drinks. Someone wants the TV changed to Smackdown so he can see the Acolytes and Buchanan gloat about beating them up. The guy mentions him and Bossman running from the Acolytes on Monday and the two of them don’t appreciate that and look ready to go at it with him when the bouncer jumps in and diffuses the situation.

The Big Show vs. The Dudley Boyz – Handicap Tables Match
The Dudley’s come out with a table in hand and set it up on the floor as Cole mentions their alliance with Show but I guess business is business. Show starts off with head butts and punches to Bubba but D’Von interrupts and the Dudley’s double-team Show then whip him looking for a double clothesline. However Show breaks it and grabs both men by the necks but before he can hit the choke slam the Dudley’s kick him below the belt and follow up with a double suplex. The Dudley’s continue double-teaming Show when Shane McMahon makes his way out to the stage to observe. Show head butts Bubba away and attempts to choke slam D’Von but Bubba nails Show from behind for the save. The Dudley’s go for another whip but Show slings them into each other and clotheslines both Dudley’s down. Show takes it to the Dudley’s and whips D’Von into a corner then whips Bubba into D’Von and hits a butt bump. Show press slams D’Von and choke slams Bubba then brings the table in the ring and sets it back up in a corner. Show head butts Bubba onto the table then climbs to the second rope but D’Von cuts Show off with a low blow and the Dudley’s pull Show off the ropes with a 3D through the table for the win. (2:44) The Dudley’s then depart the ring after which Shane heads in and trash talks Show before getting a piece of him but Bubba and D’Von watch this go down on the OvalTron. So they head back to slide a second table in the ring but before they can set it up Road Dogg and X-Pac jump them from behind and beat them down. The DX’ers roll the Dudley’s back in the ring before X-Pac goes in and takes Bubba out with the X-Factor then hits the Bronco Buster on D’Von. The DX’ers then hold them for a slap from Tori and Shane joins them for pose in the ring before leaving the Dudley’s and Show laying as we go to commercial. DUD

~ Back from break we get a replay of the Dudley’s destroying Big Show and getting beaten down in return.

~ Backstage Bradshaw is playing cards in the Acolyte’s office when Faarooq talks about not believing what’s on TV as he brings in a portable monitor that shows The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan at Pauli G’s. Bradshaw chuckles at what he’s watching while Faarooq asks his partner if he feels like a drink and they head out.

WWF European Title: Eddie Guerrero © (w/Chyna) vs. Perry Saturn (w/Dean Malenko)
Cole says Saturn is hoping to finally win gold in the WWF. I though he briefly held the Hardcore Title a month ago. Anyway Eddie goes right to work on Saturn and kicks him down in a corner but Saturn comes back by jabbing the eye. Saturn misses a right hand and Eddie shoves him into the turnbuckles and follows up with a back suplex. Eddie goes out to the apron and slings himself over the ropes into a hilo on Saturn then whips him into a corner. Eddie charges but Saturn tosses him over his head onto the turnbuckles then clotheslines him. Saturn unloads on Eddie and slams him then climbs the ropes looking for the Vader splash but Eddie gets the knees up to block it. Saturn plants Eddie with a flapjack and Eddie fights back but Saturn trips him into the ropes with a drop toehold. Saturn goes for a whip but Eddie reverses it and connects with a jumping elbow. Eddie whips Saturn into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Saturn hops to the top rope but Eddie goes up and hits a huricanrana for two. Eddie goes for a whip, Saturn reverses it and Eddie goes for another hurricanrana but Saturn catches him into a power bomb. Saturn then climbs to the top rope and connects with the flying elbow drop on Eddie but only gets a two count. Malenko and Chyna both hop on the apron and the referee argues with Malenko while Chyna has her roses in hand. Saturn goes for a brain buster but Eddie floats over and drives him into Chyna who whacks him with the roses. Saturn is out and Eddie covers him when the referee turns around to count the three. (3:16) Good solid action, though I’m sure a few more minutes would have helped. Eddie and Chyna celebrate the title defense as we see a little metal wand hidden among the roses. **½

~ Back from break we get a shot of Jerry Toliver of the WWF Racing Team in the crowd tonight.

~ We then cut back to Pauli G’s just as the Acolytes arrive and spot The Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan at the bar. Bradshaw and Faarooq get their rivals’ attention and Buchanan responds by suggesting they all let bygones be bygones before he and Bossman suddenly break some beer bottles over Bradshaw and Faarooq’s heads and the fight is on. Faarooq and Bossman fight behind the bar with Faarooq throwing a box at Bossman. Bradshaw breaks a bottle on Buchanan then throws some guy out of his way into the restroom but Buchanan comes back and rams him into the jukebox. Faarooq beats Bossman down with a bar stool and a case of bottles while Bradshaw spears Buchanan through a door. The Acolytes then break a pool cue and a broom over their backs and leave them laying on the floor, finally settling their issue, I guess.

~ Back at the arena Rikishi and Too Cool are shown getting pumped for the main event before they head to the ring. We also see Triple H leading the Regime (with Pat Patterson still showing his dirty laundry) as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get another replay of what Pat Patterson did to Rikishi on Raw even though we’re trying to forget. Quit reminding us, guys!

Rikishi & Too Cool vs. Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Stephanie & Tori) – Elimination Match
Grandmaster Sexay starts off with Road Dogg and bust a move prompting Road Dogg to dance a little himself but Sexay isn’t amused and goes to work. Sexay goes for a running bulldog but Road Dogg counters it with a suplex then whips Sexay into a corner and charges but eats a super kick. Sexay climbs to the middle rope and hits a missile dropkick then tags Scotty 2 Hotty in and the Too Cool guys throw Road Dogg to the mat. Rikishi tags in and hits a leg drop then drags Road Dogg to a corner and climbs up looking for the Banzai Drop but Road Dogg avoids it. Sexay gets in a shot on Road Dogg before Rikishi tags Scotty in the takeover on him. Scotty applies an arm wringer but Road Dogg jabs his eyes then brings him to the DX corner and tags X-Pac in. X-Pac wrenches Scotty’s arm when Scotty goes for a whip, X-Pac reverses it but Scotty hits a shoulder block. Scotty comes off the ropes and X-Pac leapfrogs over him when Scotty stops then goes for an O’Connor roll but X-Pac grabs the ropes to prevent it. Scotty moonwalks across the ring and pops X-Pac with a right hand then whips him but X-Pac comes back with the spin kick then whips him into a corner but eats an elbow Scotty whips X-Pac into a corner and comes off the ropes with the bulldog then readies himself for the Worm but Road Dogg comes in to prevent it. Road Dogg goes for a whip but Scotty reverses it and hits the bulldog on him. Triple H then comes in but Sexay cuts him off with a super kick while Scotty is able to hit the Worm this time on Road Dogg. Scotty covers Road Dogg but Triple H pulls Scotty off him out to the floor prompting Rikishi to go after Triple H. In the ring and Sexay works over X-Pac in a corner while Road Dogg plants Scotty with the pump-handle slam. Road Dogg covers Scotty but the referee is too occupied with the brawl on the floor to see it and count the pin while Sexay quickly climbs to the top rope and connects with the Hip Hop Drop on Road Dogg to break up the cover. Sexay covers Road Dogg but X-Pac comes back in and spin kicks Scotty then drills him with the X-Factor. Road Dogg covers Scotty again and this time the referee sees it and counts the three for the first elimination. (4:06) Triple H throws Rikishi into the steps while Sexay tries to fight off both Road Dogg and X-Pac in the ring. Sexay looks to knock the DX’ers heads together but Triple H makes it back in the ring and low blows Sexay then drills him with the Pedigree and there’s the three to make the match 3-on-1 now. (4:31)
Rikishi is now on his own against Triple H, Road Dogg and X-Pac and they dare him to come in and face them. Rikishi takes it to all three men at first with right hands and plants Road Dogg with a Samoan Drop then turns and hits his version of the Diamond Cutter on X-Pac. Rikishi whips X-Pac into Road Dogg in a corner then whips Triple H into the DX’ers and goes for the running butt splash but Triple H pulls the referee in his place and he takes the hit along with the DX’ers. Triple H goes for a whip and Rikishi reverses it but lowers the head and Triple H sets him up for the Pedigree but Rikishi counters it with a backdrop. Rikishi scoops Triple H up for the pile driver but X-Pac kicks him low for the save. The DX trio triple-team Rikishi before Triple H kicks him down in a corner and X-Pac hits the Bronco Buster. Suddenly the Dudley’s charge in the ring and plant Road Dogg with the 3D then nail X-Pac with a 3D as well. Rikishi starts fighting back against Triple H and knocks him through the ropes then goes out knocks Triple H over the announce table. Rikishi heads in the ring and sits on both Road Dogg and X-Pac as the referee finally revives and counts a pin on both DX’ers and just like that we’re all square at 1-on-1. (7:29) It’s down to just Rikishi and Triple H while the Dudley’s depart the ring having accomplished their mission. Rikishi gets in a shot then whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H comes back with the face buster. Triple H stomps Rikishi down and chokes him with his boot as Pat Patterson comes out with the dirty drawers. Triple H shoves Rikishi to the apron then distracts the referee while Patterson rubs his drawers in Rikishi’s face. Triple H charges at him but Riksihi clotheslines him down then brings Patterson in the ring and head butts him. Rikishi then grabs Patterson’s dirty laundry and rubs it in Triple H’s face before following up with a super kick. Stephanie comes in and gets in Rikishi’s face when Patterson nails Rikishi from behind with a double sledge but that causes Rikishi to squash Stephanie in a corner. Rikishi turns his attention toward Patterson and head butts him down in another corner and gives him the stink face. Rikishi moves in to do the same to Stephanie but Triple H is back up and stops him then hits the Pedigree to get the final elimination. (11:18) Fine main event but a little rushed plus way too much involvement from Patterson. Crowd came alive for the last few minutes, though. Stephanie breathes a sigh of relief at her close call and the Helmsleys celebrate as the show fades to black. **

Conclusion: Not a bad show but it just seemed like a placeholder until The Rock got back from filming The Mummy Returns. None of the matches really stood out, thought there was some slight build toward the Judgment Day card. Plus for the third straight show the DX triumphed in the end, sending the crowd home unhappy once again, and none of the guys from Raw save for the Dudley’s made a dent against them. The only real lasting development was Angle joining forces with Edge & Christian and that would result in some good stuff. Thumbs in the middle this time around.
written by Adam King