WWF Smackdown 6/29/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, June 29th, 2000

Taped (6/27) from the Civic Center in Hartford, CT

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: The Rock (6/25/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Rikishi (6/22/2000)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian (6/25/2000)
●  WWF European Champion: Eddie Guerrero (4/03/2000)
●  WWF Hardcore Champion: Crash Holly (6/25/2000)
●  WWF Women’s Champion: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (3/30/2000)
●  WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)

~ Smackdown comes on the air with highlights of the events from King of the Ring and Raw. We then find the Helmsleys walking into Commissioner Mick Foley’s “office”, which is set up in a boiler room. Triple H tells Foley that he never lost the title yet he’s not WWF Champion and wants something done about it. Foley tries to bring up something happening in 1997 but Triple H doesn’t feel like reminiscing and demands a title shot. Foley reminds Triple H he had his chance on Monday but Triple H claims Chris Jericho screwed him out of the match then gets in Foley’s face demanding a match with Jericho. Foley tells him he will not be intimidated but nonetheless he’ll think about it and do the right thing and Triple H says he better.

~ We then go to the intro with Michael Cole welcoming us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler.

• Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna) & Rikishi vs. Chris Benoit & Val Venis

This resulted from their individual matches on Raw plus Rikishi and Val still supposedly have their issues so here we are. Both sides go right at it to start and quickly pair off with Eddie against Val and Rikishi battling Benoit and superkicking him. Eddie decks Val with a European uppercut before heading out while Rikishi whips Val into a powerslam. Rikishi tags Eddie and Eddie slings himself over the ropes into a hilo on Val. Eddie goes for a whip but Val reverses and hits an elbow followed by an elbowdrop. Benoit tags in but Eddie hits him with a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker. Eddie goes for a whip but Benoit reverses it and Val nails him from behind. Eddie pops Val off the apron then drops Benoit on the ropes and follows up with a back suplex for a two count. Eddie goes for a whip but Benoit reverses and Eddie tumbles out to the floor after Val pulls down the top rope. Val works Eddie over on the floor before tossing him back in and Benoit hits a back suplex for a two count. Val tags in and whips Eddie into a corner and clotheslines him then does the same thing in the other corner. Val then plants Eddie with a Blue Thunderbomb and gets a near fall before tagging Benoit in to take over on him. Benoit goes for a suplex when Eddie floats over him into a rollup but Benoit kicks Eddie off into a shot from Val. Val tags in and throws Eddie into a corner but Eddie comes back with an elbow and follows up with a dropkick. Val drops Eddie on the top rope with a Hot Shot and whips him but lowers the head and Eddie kicks the face and gets in his shots. Eddie then locks knockles with Val and runs up the ropes to the top when Benoit comes in so So Eddie takes both of them out with a combo armdrag/headscissors then rolls to his corner and makes the hot tag to Rikishi. Rikishi takes it to both men with clotheslines then superkicks Val and plants Benoit with a Samoan Drop. Benoit gets to his feet in a corner when Rikishi whips Val into him then squashes both men with the running butt splash. Rikishi clotheslines Val but Benoit clotheslines him so Eddie comes in and hits Benoit with his own clothesline. Test and Albert suddenly run out and Chyna tries to fight them both off on the floor but ends up double-teamed. All four men continue to go at it in the ring when Too Cool charge in and the referee decides that’s it for this one. (4:34) Was a pretty nice match until the schmozz broke out. Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay clear Benoit and Val from the ring while Eddie goes to help out Chyna. Eddie and Chyna take care of T&A and all five faces stand tall in the ring together while the heels retreat. Rikishi and Too Cool then pull out the shades and invite Eddie and Chyna to join in the post-match dance. **

~ We then get footage of Kurt Angle meeting with Kaientai earlier today asking them to address him as “King Kurt” and they try to grasp this as Angle explains he’s the equivalent of an emperor or a head ninja. Hardcore Holly then comes into the room and gets in Angle’s face saying Taka and Funaki aren’t stupid, they’re Japanese. Angle takes exception to Hardcore’s intrusion and Hardcore leaves, but not before he kick’s Angle’s crown off a chair. Angle is shocked by what Hardcore did when Hardcore turns back and offers to kick more than Angle’s crown tonight. Hardcore then departs the room while Angle is left stunned and crying “He kicked my crown” as we go to commercial.

• Kurt Angle vs. Hardcore Holly

Angle first gets on the mic saying he didn’t insult Hardcore’s lack of hair or his protruding buck teeth yet Hardcore mocked him by kicking his crown when it’s hard to find a crown repair shop in this town. Angle calls Hardcore no different from any of the peasnats who want out of Hartford before they kill themselves. Hardcore makes his way to the ring and goes right to work on Angle then whips him and connects with an elbow. Hardcore hits a clothesline and Angle tries to bail out to the floor but Hardcore cuts him off and ties Angle in the ropes then gives him some words before hammering away with punches and kicks. Angle frees himself from the ropes and rolls out to the floor but Hardcore goes out to continue his assault and rams Angle into the barricade. Hardcore goes for a whip but Angle reverses him face-first into the ringpost then rolls him back in and kicks him in the ribs. Angle works Hardcore over in a corner with punches and chops when Hardcore reverses positions for his own chops. Hardcore goes for a whip, Angle reverses him into the other corner and charges but eats a boot. Hardcore comes out but runs into a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Angle hits a vertical suplex that gets another two count then appplies a chinlock but Hardcore fights out of it. Hardcore comes off the ropes with a crossbody for a two count but Angle comes back with a knee to the chest. Angle tees off on Hardcore and slams him then climbs to the top rope but Hardcore throws him off to the mat. Hardcore follows up with a back suplex and both men are down but get back to their feet before the 10 count. Hardcore whips Angle and connects with the dropkick then drapes him on the top rope and kicks the chest. Hardcore follows up with a jackhammer for two then goes for a whip but Angle reverses and takes him down. Angle whips Hardcore and Hardcore goes for a huricanrana but Angle counters it with a powerbomb for a near fall. Angle goes for a whip, Hardcore reverses and Angle floats over him into a waistlock when Hardcore switches into his own waistlock but Angle hits a mule kick below the belt. Angle slams Hardcore to the mat then climbs to the top rope and connects with the moonsault but drives his knees into Hardcore’s arm, legitimatelly breaking it! Angle covers Hardcore but only gets a two count then goes for the Olympic Slam but Hardcore fights out of it. Hardcore tries to fight on despite his broken arm when Angle whips Hardcore into a corner and comes off the ropes but Hardcore clotheslines him down for a near fall. Angle begs Hardcore off in a corner when Hardcore moves in but the referee orders him back for some reason. That allows Angle to hit another low blow and Angle finishes Hardcore with the Olympic Slam for the victory. (7:23) Pretty good match and kudos to Hardcore for gutting out his legit injury to finish it, something he would do again against Rob Van Dam in 2006. ***

~ Backstage Triple H is pacing around while telling Stephanie about how he’s going to make Chris Jericho pay tonight. Stephanie tries to calm Triple H down by saying Mick Foley is intimidated and will give them the match they want but Triple H says he can’t stand the waiting. So Stephanie suggests he go outside and grab a breath of fresh air.

~ Elsewhere Edge & Christian pay Mick Foley a visit and Edge tells him he and Christian know the Acolytes have a title shot tonight but they’re still sore from Raw so they don’t feel like defending their tag team titles. Foley laughs about the beating E&C took on Monday but decides to cut them a break and postpone thier title defense. E&C are happy about that and high-five each other … until Foley suggests they each wrestle in a singles match instead. Foley then decides to book Christian against Kane and Edge against the Undertaker and that changes their mood. E&C then leave disappointed while Foley says they’re so going to get beaten down then sings with his Frank Sinatra photo.

~ Back from break Stephanie struts to the ring because we apparenlty went too long without a McMahon-Helmsley promo. Steghanie gets on the mic and says she wants to set the record straight in the town she was born in. Stephanie says Triple H did not lose the WWF Championship at King of the Ring, but it was her father who did that, plus the six-man tag match only took place as a result of her father and mother’s unhealthy relationship. Stephanie claims that unlike her parents, she and Triple H have a healthy virile relationship and they stand by each other. Stephanie says Chris Jericho cost Triple H the #1 contendership on Raw so they demanded a match with him tonight then orders Mick Foley to come out and give her an answer, warning that she doesn’t like to be kept waiting. Naturally Foley makes his to the ring and gets on the mic to respond, talking about what Stephanie said about Hartford. Foley says Hartford has a special meaning for him since it’s also the very city where Triple H forced him into retirement. Foley says back then he was a beaten man but four months later he now welds the power to mess up Triple H’s career. Foley points out had Triple H not beaten him he’d still be an active wrestler and not the WWF Commissioner today and therefore wouldn’t have made a match that cost Triple H his #1 contendership, so in effect Triple H brought it on himself. Bet he didn’t think of that. Foley assures Stephanie that he’s not out to make the WWF his playground and wants to put on a great show right here in Hartford. Foley decides to put Triple H in the ring against Jericho tonight … only it’s going to be part of a six-man tag team match with Triple H teaming with Road Dogg and X-Pac against Jericho and his partners, the Dudley Boyz. Stephanie tries to digest this news as Foley heads out to slap hands with some of the fans on his way to the back.

~ Backstage Chris Jericho is shown arriving at the building as we go to commercial.

~ Backstage Triple H and Stephanie are meeting with Road Dogg and X-Pac and try to plan their strategy for tonight. The DX’ers claim the Dudleys are still reeling from everything they did to them so the match should be no problem.

~ Out in the arena the Godfather makes his way to the ring with his ladies for the next match and gets on the mic to do his usual speil but gets cut off by Bull Buchanan’s entrance theme. Godfather is determined to get through his intro and tries again but gets cut off again, this time by a wailing siren. We then see a ‘NO’ symbol flash on the OvalTron as Stevie Richards comes out to the stage dressed in a suit and tie and Godfather demands to know what is going on. Richards gets on the mic and says his name is Steven Richards now and that he’s doing the same thing he did on Monday night when he saved the viewers from seeing Terri nude. Richards claims the producers won’t censor vile and unnacceptable material so he’s taking that responsiblity for himself. Richards then warns Godfather to stop parading scantily-clad women around or he’ll be forced to censor his activities. So after the Parent’s Television Council constantly attacked the WWF, Vince does what he does best: he creates a gimmick to make fun of it. Anyway Godfather isn’t beliving this and starts after Richards when Buchanan nails him from behind to remind him they still have a match.

• The Godfather (w/the ladies) vs. Bull Buchanan

Buchanan goes after Godfather on the floor and goes for a whip, Godfather reverses but Buchanan stops himself then pulls himself up and over Godfather with the ropes and connects with a dropkick. Buchanan tosses Godfather in the ring and works him over but Godfather reverses poisition and gets his shots. Godfather whips Buchanan into a corner but Buchanan runs up the turnbuckles and springs off for a clothesline. Buchanan whips Godfather and hits a boot then whips him into a corner and charges but eats a boot of his own. Godfather connects with a clothesline then whips Buchanan into a shoulderblock and whips him again hitting a backdrop. Godfather follows up with a legdrop then whips Buchanan into a corner when Buchanan hops to the middle rope and leaps off but Godfather belts him in the chest. Godfather sets Buchanan up for the Ho Train in a corner and moves in when Buchanan leapfrogs over him. Godfather backdrops Buchanan over the ropes and pops him off the apron but Buchanan shoves one of the Godfather’s ladies down to the floor. Godfather brings Buchanan back in the ring when another of his ladies alerts him to what just happened but that allows Buchanan to connect with an Axe Kick that gets the pin. (2:19) Nothing as you’d expect and the crowd was dead for it. DUD

~ Kane is shown heading to the ring along with a very nervous Christian as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Kurt Angle’s moonsault on Hardcore Holly in their match earlier. Cole reports Hardcore has been taken to a medical facility and that his arm was broken by that very move.

• Kane vs. Christian (w/Edge)

So you’re thinking this is going to be a squash just like on Raw, right? Edge tries to distract Kane so Christian can attack him from behind but his blows are having no effect on him and Kane throws Christian to the mat and pummels him in a corner. Christian slips out and gets in his shots but Kane just shrugs off his blows before stopping it with a headbutt. Kane whipping Christian hard into a corner and chokes him on the middle rope then uppercuts him. Kane whips Christian again and Christian slides under him then desparately tries to get in some offense and comes off the ropes but runs right into a press slam. Kane hits a tilt-o-whirl slam then goes for the ropes but tumbles over when Edge pulls down the top rope. However Kane lands on his feet and grabs Edge when Christian springs himself over the ropes hitting a plancha on Kane. Christian tees off on Kane then heads back in the ring and distracts the referee while Edge works Kane over. Edge rams Kane into the apron but Kane no-sells it when Christian heads back out and nails Kane from behind and trips him into the steps with a drop toehold. Christian heads back in but Kane snaps his neck on the rope. Kane climbs to the top rope when Christian tries to stop the clothesline but Kane fights him down to the mat and hits the flying clothesline anyway. Kane pounds away on Christian in a corner then whips him and grabs him with a double choke before tossing him into the referee in a corner. Kane goes for a clothesline in the corner and Christian escapes it but the referee ends up taking the hit instead. Kane boots Christian when Edge comes in and goes for a spear but Kane cuts him down with a clothesline. Christian goes for the Unprettier when Kane moves Christian onto his shoulders but Christian fights out of it. Kane then grabs Christian by the throat when Edge comes in with a chair but Kane grabs him in a choke as well. Before Kane can hit a double chokeslam Tazz suddenly runs in with his own chair and whacks Kane in the back with it. Tazz then departs while Edge and Christian each take a chair and nail Kane in the head with a double chairshot! That would be the debut of the ConChairto, if you were wondering. Edge heads out and Christian covers Kane while the referee counts the three for the upset! (4:45) Well that was a surprise, although it took quite a bit of help to get it done. E&C then deaprt victorious leaving Kane and everyone else wondering why Tazz attacked him with the chair since they have nothing to do with each other. **

~ Back from break we get a replay of Tazz’s random run in and Christian getting the pin over Kane. Lillian Garcia then interviews E&C and congradluates Christian who says good things do happen to good people. Christian then says if he can beat Kane then Edge can definitnely defeat the Undertaker and Edge seems to believe it.

~ We then get footage of The Rock and Wyclef Jean appearing on MTV’s Total Request Live yesterday to promote their new music video “It Doesn’t Matter” and we even get to see it. We even find Wyclef Jean sitting in the crowd tonight.

~ Backstage the Dudleys talk about finishing what they started when Chris Jericho walks up to talk about the match.

~ We then see The Undertaker making his way out to the ring for his match as we go to commercial.

• The Undertaker vs. Edge (w/Christian)

Taker works Edge over right away and tosses him over the ropes then goes out and decks him and Christian. Taker throws Edge back in the ring when Christian tries to keep Taker out but Taker easily fights him off then heads in. Edge tries to get in some kicks but Taker quickly regains control and pummels him. Taker whips Edge and grabs him by the throat when Christian sides a chair in the ring then tries to come in. Taker releases Edge and decks Christian off the apron but Edge grabs the chair and whacks Taker in the back. Edge tees off on Taker in a corner and sets the chair up then launches off it but lands in a choke from Taker. Edge is able to fight out of it then grabs a chair and readies a swing but Taker cuts that off with a big boot. Taker grabs Edge one more time and hits the chokeslam and that’s it for this one. (1:47) So Christian got to pin Kane yet Taker squashes Edge. Not cool. DUD

Christian comes in and chopblocks Taker in the knee allowing he and Edge to double-team Taker in a corner. Suddenly Kane makes his out for the save and he and Taker quickly make short work of the tag team champs. Kane then chokeslams Christian while Taker takes Edge out by debuting his new elevated powerbomb and E&C are out.

~ Backstage Al Snow is walking and talking to himself when Commissioner Mick Foley greets him in the snack bar and Snow isn’t happy to see him. Foley says he wants to let bygones be bygones and even offers Snow a title shot tonight. Snow gets excited about facing The Rock which causes Foley to erupt in laughter while spitting out his Pepsi all over. Foley tells Snow he’s actually giving him a shot at Crash’s Hardcore Title and asks him to do that Head thing again.

~ Back from break we get various footage of the WWF winning its court case with the USA Network on Tuesday. We then get clips of Linda McMahon appearing on a news program explaining how their upcoming deal with Viacom shakes out. Linda first announces that Raw Is War will move to TNN as will Livewire and Sueprstars. Linda also says Smackdown will remain on UPN for three more years while Sunday Night Heat will move to MTV. Linda mentions the Viacom deal will run for five years and hints at the possiblity for more shows to come. Of course how the deal with Viacom eventually ended is another story altogether.

• WWF Hardcore Title: Crash Holly © vs. Al Snow (w/Head)

Snow comes out first to his old theme dressed in his old tights but hides under the ring. Crash then heads out and looks for his plunder under the ring when Snow surprises him and gets in the first shots. Snow slams Crash onto the ramp then tosses him in the ring before pulling various weapons from under the ring. Snow grabs a chair when Crash dropkicks it in his face but Snow comes back and chokes Crash with a cable. Crash waffles Snow with a trash can lid then leaps off the steps and hits a huricanrana. Snow nails Crash in the back with a trash can for a two count on the floor before tossing him back in the ring. Snow whacks Crash with a handicap sign then chases after Crash when he tries to flee into the crowd. Snow tosses Crash back over the barricade then grabs a popcorn tray from a vendor and hammers Crash with it. Snow throws Crash back and some weapons in the ring then jabs him with a broom and breaks it on his back before working him over with the handle. Snow whips Crash while swinging a chair but Crash ducks the shot and DDT’s onto the chair for a two count. Snow nails Crash with a trash can lid then whips him into a corner and hits a bodyblock. Snow then grabs his infamous bowling bag and pulls out a bowling shirt which he slips on then rolls the bowling ball and it hits Crash between the legs. Crash tries to walk out of the match while still reeling but Snow cuts him off and brings him back in the ring. Snow then tosses the steps in and grabs them when Crash whacks them with a chair and they fall onto Snow. Snow is down as Crash again tries to leave the ring but then realizes he forgot his belt and heads back to get it as we see Steve Blackman coming down the ramp with his nunchucks and another referee. Blackman beats Crash down with the nunchucks then covers him as his referee counts 1..2..3 for the win! (5:41) Blackman finally has a championship thanks to the 24/7 rule and takes it while Crash and Snow are both out. Okay stuff but Blackman winning the belt would do wonders for his WWF run. *½

~ Back from break we get a replay of Steve Blackman taking out Crash to win the Hardcore Title. We then find the Mean Street Posse and referee Mike Sparks lying in wait for Blackman to walk by backstage. Once Blackman reaches his car the Posse swarm him but Blackman is able to fight all three of them off with ease. Blackman then asks the referee if he wants some too and the referee backs away while Blackman departs for the night.

~ We then get a speical video package detailing the rocky relationship between Vince and Linda McMahon. Just in case we missed having Vince on television already, I suppose.

~ Backstage Chris Jericho gets the Dudleys fired up by having them imagine putting Stephanie McMahon through a table and that gets them excited as they head out for the main event as we go to commercial.

• Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Stephanie) vs. Chris Jericho & The Dudley Boyz

Everyone files out but Road Dogg & X-Pac have to hold Triple H back when Jericho makes his entrance and Road Dogg tries to clam him down by offering to start for their team against D’Von who gets in the first shots and goes for a whip, Road Dogg reverses but D’Von comes back with a hiptoss. D’Von whips Road Dogg into a corner and hits a spinning elbow then tags Bubba and whips him into an elbow from him. Bubba hits a suplex followed by an elbowdrop for a two count then whips Road Dogg into his corner and the Dudleys and Jericho triple-team Road Dogg before D’Von tags in to take over on him. D’Von goes for a whip but Road Dogg reverses it and X-Pac kicks D’Von from behind allowing Road Dogg to hit a boot to take control. Road Dogg works D’Von over in his corner then distracts the referee while Triple H and X-Pac get in their shots. Triple H tags in and stomps D’Von down in the corner then taunts Jericho before tagging X-Pac in to take over. X-Pac wrenches D’Von’s arm when D’Von goes for a whip but X-Pac reverses it and hits a spinning heel kick. X-Pac taunts the crowd then tags Road Dogg in and whips D’Von who comes back by clotheslining both men. Bubba gets the tag and takes it to the DX’ers with clotheslines then plants Road Dogg with the full nelson bomb. X-Pac goes for a whip but Bubba reverses and nails him with a sidewalk slam then pops Triple H off the apron. Earl Hebner tries to hold Triple H back when Bubba slams Road Dogg to the match and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the headbutt to the groin. The Dudleys do the same thing to X-Pac and Triple H charges at Jericho but eats a right hand while Bubba sends D’Von out to set a table up at ringside.

D’Von gets the table ready when Triple H decks him prompting Jericho to go out after him while Bubba and X-Pac fight it out in the ring. Bubba goes for a whip but X-Pac reverses it and hits the spinkick and Road Dogg follows up with a clothesline. Road Dogg takes over on Bubba without a tag and shoulderblocks him in his corner before tagging Triple H who draws Jericho in to distract Hebner for a DX double-team. Triple H whips Bubba into the high knee for two and X-Pac tags in and knocks Bubba down in the corner then follows up with a Bronco Buster. Road Dogg tags in and snapmares Bubba to the mat then kicks the back and applies a chinlock. Bubba fights out of it and whips Road Dogg but Road Dogg comes back with the juke ‘n jive punches and even hits the big right. Road Dogg follows up with the shane, rattle ‘n kneedrop and covers Bubba but D’Von pulls him off for the save. Triple H tags in when Bubba tries to fight back and whips him but Triple H stops that rally with a neckbreaker. Jericho breaks up the pin so Triple H draws him in to distract Hebner for another DX double-team on Bubba. Triple H whips Bubba and slaps on a sleeper and Bubba starts to fade as Hebner moves in to check the arm. Bubba’s arm drops once, twice, but Bubba keeps up the thrid time and shoves Triple H off. Bubba slaps on his own sleeper and Triple H shoves him off but Bubba comes back with his Diamond Cutter and makes the hot tag to Jericho. Road Dogg also gets the tag but Jericho takes it to the DX’ers then whips Road Dogg and hits the bulldog. X-Pac goes for a whip but Jericho reverses it and connects with a flying forearm. Jericho tries to whip X-Pac when X-Pac stops himself and goes for a clothesline but misses Jericho and knocks Triple H through the ropes. Jericho takes X-Pac down and puts him in the Walls of Jericho but Triple H makes it back in to break it up. Triple H tosses Jericho over the ropes but the Dudleys come in and plant Triple H with the double neckbreaker. D’Von whips Triple H and the Dudleys move in for a 3D but X-Pac trips Bubba and pulls him out to the floor. D’Von moves in but Triple H nails him with the Pedigree and grabs the pin for his team. (10:05) Good main event though it’s DX going over yet again. ***

Triple H and Stephanie celebrate another DX victory when Bubba comes in and nails Triple H from behind. Stephanie slaps Bubba but Bubba grab her and sets her up for a powerbomb through the table still at ringside but X-Pac saves her with a low blow. Jericho comes in and tosses X-Pac over the ropes as well. Triple H clotheslines Bubba from tbe apron but Jericho hits the springboard dropkick which sends Triple H falling through the table. Stephanie tends to her fallen husband and Jericho glares down at the both of them as the show goes off the air.

Conclusion: Good episode, definitely a step up from Raw as we begin the road to Fully Loaded. We started with two nice matches including Hardcore Holly’s gusty performance, then the match quality dipped a bit before the great main event. Also most of the segments served their purpose with some funny stuff from Angle and Foley plus more building blocks were set for the next few months, especially with Chris Jericho beginning his feud with Triple H. Of course you’ll notice The Rock was mysteriously absent, probably taking a break while the bookers try to decide who should challenge him next. And of course there’s the first news of the WWF’s “upcoming” departure to the Viacom networks (at least for the five years it lasted). Overall a solid two hours of the blue show.