WWF RAW 7/31/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, July 31th, 2000

Live from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: The Rock (6/25/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Val Venis (7/06/2000)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian (6/25/2000)
●  WWF European Champion: Perry Saturn (7/23/2000)
●  WWF Hardcore Champion: Steve Blackman (6/29/2000)
●  WWF Women’s Champion: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley (3/30/2000)
●  WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)

~ Raw comes on the air with a graphic mentioning the passing of Gordon Solie (1929-2000) who passed away the Friday before this show.

~ We then go into a highlights package of Triple H and Stephanie’s growing issues from Smackdown. We next see a limo pulling up in the parking garage and Triple H climbing out, but he’s noticeably by himself. After that we go into the intro with Jim Ross welcoming us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler.

~ Things kick off with Road Dogg & X-Pac making their way out to the ring for our opening tag team match. But first we get footage of Steve Blackman speaking with someone earlier today, griping that Mick Foley must be joking. Blackman says he doesn’t need a partner to take on the DX’ers and especially doesn’t want who Foley has chosen. The camera then pans around to reveal Al Snow, who’s signing Peaches & Herb’s “United and It Feels So Good”. Looks like their on-again off-again partnership is on again.

• Road Dogg & X-Pac vs. Al Snow & Steve Blackman – Hardcore Rules Match

This is a hardcore match but Blackman’s Hardcore Title is not on the line. The DX’ers are waiting for their opponents when Snow and Blackman nail them with baking sheets from behind. Blackman covers X-Pac while Snow covers Road Dogg and the referee counts both pinfalls but only gets two. Snow works both DX’ers over with a road sign while Blackman heads out to fetch more weapons from under the ring. Blackman and Snow set Road Dogg up for a suplex onto a trash can but X-Pac tosses powder into their faces to prevent it. X-Pac stomps Blackman out to the floor and kicks Snow down then Road Dogg gets in a shot with the sign. X-Pac then clotheslines Snow with a chain but Blackman comes back in and hammers the DX’ers with trash lids. Blackman whacks Road Dogg in the head with the lid then whips X-Pac but X-Pac dropkicks Blackman away. Snow nails Road Dogg with a lid on the floor but Road Dogg kicks it out of his hand and cracks Snow with it. Road Dogg then goes for a suplex but Snow fights it then hits Road Dogg with his own suplex onto the floor. Snow suplexes Road Dogg on the barricade when X-Pac climbs to the top rope and hits Snow with a axehandle. Blackman brigns X-Pac back in the ring and beats him down then turns and hits Road Dogg with an armdrag. Blackman breaks out the nunchucks but X-Pac nails him with the spinkick then gets in his own shots with the lid. X-Pac grabs Blackman’s bag of weapons when Blackman low blows Road Dogg and connects with a trash can. Blackman hits X-Pac with the can then whips Road Dogg into a corner while Snow hits X-Pac with the chucks. Snow pulls out his bowling ball then turns to Road Dogg and rolls it at him, nailing him right between the legs. Blackman sets a chair up and Snow tries to launch off it for something but X-Pac hits him with the trash can. X-Pac rams the can into Blackman’s head then gets ahold of a kendo stick but Blackman rolls under a swing. Blackman then grabs his fighting sticks and X-Pac swings his stick … only it flies out of his hands into the crowd. And security guy Jim Dotson has to go and retreive the stick for X-Pac while the crowd yuks it up. Once that’s taken care of, X-Pac takes some swings but Blackman blocks his shots and nails him in his knee. Blackman works X-Pac over with the sticks then hits the stick-assisted slam and covers but Road Dogg saves it. Snow makes it back in and nails Road Dogg with a sledge while Blackman sets X-Pac up for a slam on the chair. Snow then grabs the trash lid and takes a swing at Road Dogg but misses him and nails Blackman by accident. Snow decks Road Dogg through the ropes but X-Pac drills Blackman with an X-Factor on the chair for the pin. (6:14) I guess this is X-Pac getting his win back. A garbage match but a pretty entertaining one. **

~ We then cut back to the parking garage to find another limo pulling up and Stephane McMahon climbing out of it. JR feels that business is about to pick up with the Helmselys arriving separately as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Triple H makes his way to the ring by himself for his promo but has a bouquet of roses in his hand. Triple H gets on the mic and says he rarely makes mistakes and that his pride keeps him from owning up to them, but he did make a major mistake. Triple H says he knows Stephanie’s in the back and tries to explain things, claiming there’s never been anything between himself and Trish Stratus while calling Stephanie the love of his life. Triple H says Stephanie had every right to get mad at him then because he didn’t take her feelings into consideration while Stephanie didn’t give him a chance to explain things so he got angry and said stuff he didn’t really mean. Triple H says the last few days have been very hard for him then asks Stephanie to come out and accept his apology. Almost on cue Stephanie comes out to give her answer on the mic as JR says they’ve spoken very little since Thursday. Stephanie tells Triple H she was hurt very much by the scene and asks how he would feel if it was her and Kurt Angle. Stephanie claims Triple H had become so obsessed with Chris Jericho that he ignored her yet paid attention to Trish. Triple H asks Stephanie to remember how their relationship is built on trust while claiming he would never lie to her. Triple H admits he’s been too focused on Jericho but he did it to defend Stephanie from the things he said about her. Triple H mention all the pain he’s suffered in the ring but it doesn’t even compare to the pain of Stephanie leaving him. Triple H apologizes for saying and doing stuff he shouldn’t have said and done before telling Stephanie he loves her. Triple H then gives Stephanie the roses and Stephanie accepts his apology then the two embrace as the crowd boos.

However this tender momnet comes to a halt when Commissioner Mick Foley comes out shedding crocodile tears and gets on the mic saying he can’t stop crying because he’s so disgusted at the hideous scene that just took place. Foley says he’s not cold-hearted and can even sympathize with Stephanie’s pain after she caught Triple H red-handed. Foley even replays the incident on the TitanTron and makes fun of it while Triple H is seething at him from the ring. Foley says Triple H’s personal life is his own business since he finds watching paint dry more intersting than them but when his marital spats starts interfering with business, then it becomes Foley’s business. Foley reminds Triple H he was booked to team with Trish that day and fines him $5000 for walking out of that match then threatens to fire him if he walks out on a scheduled match again. Foley then gives Triple H a chance to redeem himself by booking the Helmsleys as a husband/wife tag team against The Rock and Lita tonight here in Atlanta, feeling that way we’ll see if love does indeed conquer all. And that’s another 16 minutes out of the way.

~ We then get footage from earlier today of the Godfather’s former women holding a rally outside the building protesting Steven Richards and his crew.

• WWF World Tag Team Titles: Edge & Christian © vs. The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita)

Christian gets on the mic first and greets the fans in “Hotlanta” and talks about this being the home of the Braves, who may possibly be the best team of the past decade after winning numerous pennants. Edge takes the over mic and claims what the Braves are best known for is being the Yankees’ whipping boys before E&C do their 5-second pose where Christian (in a Braves shirt) cowers before Edge in a Yankees jersey. Christian starts off with Jeff Hardy and applies a headlock and Jeff shoves him away but eats a shoulderblock. Christian comes off the ropes and Jeff leapfrogs over him when Chrsitian gets a wasitlock but Jeff switches it. Christian slings Jeff off his back and through the ropes but misses a baseball slide as Jeff makes it back in. Jeff hits a dropkick through the ropes then slings himself over the ropes and nails Christian with a crossbody. Jeff brings Christian back in the ring then tags Matt and the Hardys whips Christian and hit a double elbow. The Hardys follow up with their combo move for a two count and Christian decks Matt with a right then tags Edge in. Edge whips Matt into a corner and charges but eats a boot and Matt hops to the middle rope when Edge goes up after him. Matt shoves Edge to the mat and connects with the guillotine legdrop for a near fall. Matt sets Edge up for the Twist of Fate when Christian tries to clothesline him from the apron but Matt ducks it and decks Christian. Edge knocks Matt through the ropes and Christian gets in a clothesline on the floor. Edge brings Matt back in and gets in his shots before tagging Christian and whips Matt into a double flapjack. Christian draws Jeff in to distract the referee while Edge helps with a double-team then takes over without a tag. Edge whips Matt and Matt comes back with a forearm but staggers himself and ends up drops through the ropes. Matt tries to shake it off when Christian goes out and goes for a whip but Matt revereses him into the apron. Christian tosses Matt over his head but Matt springs off the ropes with a handstand and DDTs him onto the floor. Matt rolls back in the ring and Edge sets him up for a piledriver but Matt counters it with a Russian legsweep. Jeff gets the tag and nails Edge with a forearm then dropkicks him and hits Christian with his double legdrop. The Hardys whips Edge into a corner and Matt drops to the mat while Jeff connects with the Poetry in Motion. Matt tosses Christian through the ropes where Lita leaps off the apron and hits Christian with a huricanrana. Matt lays Edge out with the Twist of Fate and Jeff climbs to the top rope and connects with the Swanton Bomb. Jeff covers Edge but Christian pulls the referee out and decks him intentionally drawing a DQ to save the titles. (4:35) Good match until the cheap ending. **½

Christian then backdrops Matt over the ropes when Jeff attacks Christian and unloads on him with right hands. However Jeff doesn’t see Edge bringing a pair of chairs in and Edge whacks Jeff from behind with one of them. Edge and Christian each take a chair and keep Lita out before they nail Jeff with a double chairshot to the head! Jeff is down and out as E&C head out still the champs.

~ Backstage we find Shane and his crew watching the match replay from bacstake and cringing at the double chairshot. Shane puts E&C over for having intensity which is their focus and Kurt Angle reminds them that’s one of his three I’s. Mick Foley then comes in and tells Shane that his boys will need intensity tonight because they will all be in action when Show faces Kane one-on-one while Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit will team up against the Dudley Boyz.

~ Back from break we get more footage of the Godfather’s women continuing to spread their message.

~ Backstage Triple H is talking with Stephanie about their match, promising not to let Lita do anything to her. The Helmsleys start getting lovey-dovey but are interupted by a knock at their door which turns out to be Trish Stratus. Trish tries to set the record straight but Stephanie assures her that she and Triple H have talked it over and it’s all okay and the two even shake on it. Trish departs while Triple H smiles, thinking everything has been smoothed over, until Stephanie calls her plastic and conving while accuses her of making eyes at Triple H. Stephanie then accuses Triple H of looking at Trish as well and Triple H just stands there in stunned silence.

~ Next we get a replay of the tag team title match as well as Jeff Hardy suffering a double chairshot to the head. We then cut to the back and find Jeff getting checked out by the EMTs while Matt and Lita look on in frustration.

~ Elsehwere Johnathan Coachman interviews Edge & Christian on why they would treat their former friends like that. Edge calls the incident “chair-alicious” and says Jeff has always had a multicolored head, only now it’s a little bit flatter. Christian starts to add his thoughts when Matt Hardy flies in and tries to attack both tag team champions by himself but quickly gets double-teamed before the officials can break it up.

• The Dudley Boyz vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit (w/Shane McMahon)

Last week Shane’s superfirends took out The Undertaker who JR says is at home nursing his wounded knee, and on Thursday Benoit put Jericho out of action indefinitely with the help of a garage door. Once the Dudleys make thier way out all four men go at it to start as the referee tries to get the match in order. The referee manages to get Bubba Ray to his cortner but that allows Benoit and Angle to double-team D’Von. Eventually Angle heads to the corner while Benoit whips D’Von but D’Von comes back with the jumping elbow. Bubba tags in and helps D’Von whip Benoit into a double shoulderblock then follows up with an elbowdrop. Benoit quickly fights back and tags Angle in but Angle runs right into a powerslam that gets Bubba a two count. Bubba chops Angle in a corner and goes for a whip, Angle reverses but Bubba clubs him then hits a powerbomb. Bubba draws Benoit in then sets Angle up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. Shane tries to come in and the referee keeps him out but that allows Benoit to get in free shots on both Dudleys. Angle lays the boots to D’Von and works him over in a corner then hits him with a snap suplex for a two count. Benoit tags in and slams D’Von to the mat then goes for a suplex but D’Von falls on top of him for a near fall. Benoit whips D’Von but lowers the head and D’Von kicks the face then comes off the ropes but eats an elbow. Benoit hammers away on D’Von with chops in a corner then whips him into the opposite corner but eats a boot. D’Von comes out of the corner when Benoit slaps on the Crossface but Bubba breaks it up with a dropkick. Angle knocks Bubba over the ropes while Benoit goes for a suplex but D’Von counters it with a Curtain Call. Both men are down as they crawl vor their corners and Benoit tags Angle while D’Von makes the tag to Bubba. Bubba connects with a clothesline on Angle then whips him and hits a backdrop and follows that up with a DDT. Benoit comes in but Bubba plants him with the Full Nelson bomb. Bubba sets Angle on his shoulders when D’Von climbs to the top rope and connects with the Dudleyville Device but Benoit breaks up the pin. D’Von tees off on Benoit in a corner while Bubba whips Angle for … something that looks like a botched spot. My guess is it was supposed to be Bubba’s Diamond Cutter but they just both fell over. Bubba tries the Cutter again and hits it then covers Angle but the referee is too busy with D’Von to see the pin. Meanwhile Shane climbs to the top rope and connects with a flying elbowdrop on Bubba to make the save. D’Von heads out after Benoit on the floor while Shane rolls Angle on top of Bubba … but only gets a two count. Angle unloads on Bubba in a corner and goes for a whip but Bubba reverses him into the opposite corner. Bubba goes for a splash but Angle pulls the referee in the way and the referee ends up getting knocked out. Benoit makes it back in and hits Bubba with a German suplex then holds on and hits a second German suplex. Benoit goes for a third German but Bubba fights out then whips Benoit and he and D’Von hit him with the 3D. The refeee is still out of it so Bubba sends D’Von out for a table and D’Von pulls one out from under the ring. However The Big Show runs out and knocks D’Von over before going in and planting Bubba with a chokeslam. Show departs and Shane rolls Benoit on top of Bubba then revives the referee who counts the pin for the victory. (7:21) Pretty good match even though it broke down a little in the end. Shane and his pals celebrate their ill-gotten win while helping Benoit up the ramp. ***

~ Backstage Triple H assures Stephanie things will be fine in their match when Stephanie asks to see some moves. Triple H complies and demonstrates a front facelock to counter Lita’s takedown and they practice it on each other. Stephanie then asks her husband to see the move he was showing Trish and Triple H hesitates but Stephanie insists. So Triple H puts Stephanie in a hammerlock and is about to teach the counter when he mentions she’s taller than Trish. Stephanie takes it the wrong way and accuses Triple H of prefering Trish’s petite size but Triple H calms her down. The Helmsleys then go back to the move and Triple H tells Stephanie how to escape but calls her “Trish”. Whoops! Stephanie then snaps at him and storms out of the room with her gear leaving Triple H to try and chase after her.

~ Back form break we find the Godfather’s former women continuing their protest rally among the fans in the crowd.

~ But first we get a replay of the Helmsleys’ issues going from bad to worse because of Triple H’s slip of the toungue. We then find Stephanie about to jump into her limo while Triple H tries in vain to convince her not to walk out on him. Stephanie basically tells Triple H the same thing he told Road Dogg on Smackdown then departs without her husband.

~ Out in the arena Steven Richards, Bull Buchanan and the Goodfather head to the ring as we see the ho’s at ringside. Goodfather gets the mic first and asks the fans to give Richards a chance and understand what they’re doing for them. Richards takes the mic and says this country fought hard for the right to bear arms, free speech and freedom of religion. Richards then says he and his crew will fight the good fight for what they believe in and that’s the Right To Censorship. At this point the ladies hop the rail and walk around with their signs as Richards says the Right To Censorship is for those that have gone too far and uses the ladies at ringside as an example. Richards has the security crew escourt the laides out and tells them to wear some decent clothes as they are led out. While this is going on we get a brief glimpse of a fan who runs in the ring and is most likely taken down off-camera. Richards then says he’s here to clean up the scantily-clad women, gratuitous volence, and other unacceptable behavior. Richards goes on to say if the World Wrestling Federation won’t clean up it’s act, then the Right To Censorship will. Richards also says he and his followers will do everything in their power to stop the filth, all for the fans’ own good. Richards then calls out anyone who has a problem with their mission to do something when The Acolytes come out. Bradshaw gets on the mic and tells the “self-serving self-righteous hypocrites” that they forgot to mention a few rights. Bradshaw says everyone has the right to drink a lot of beer and the right to consort with wild, half-naked women. Bradshaw says he and Faarooq also have the right to kick their censorin’ a***s as they charge in the ring and it’s on.

• The Acolytes vs. Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather (w/Steven Richards)

Both sides go right to work and pair off with Faarooq against Buchanan and Bradshaw against Goodfather. Goodfather whips Bradshaw looking for a boot but Bradshaw fakes him out then backdrops him over the ropes. Faarooq whips Buchanan into a corner but Buchanan runs up the turnbuckles and springs off for his clothesline. Goodfather pulls Bradshaw out to the floor and goes for a whip but Bradshaw reverses him into the ringsteps. Bradshaw heads back in and clubs awat at Buchanan then he and Faarooq whip him into a double spinebuster. Bradshaw heads out while Faarooq hops to the middle rope for a flying shouldertackle but Buchanan dodges it. Goodfather tags in and helps Buchanan whip Faarooq into a double suplex but Bradshaw comes in with a lariat. Bradshaw whips Buchanan into a boot when Richards hops on the apron so Bradshaw takes a swing at him. Goodfather knocks Bradshaw through the ropes then he and Richards go out and double-team him on the floor. Buchanan flips up to the top rope and leaps off but Faarooq catches him in a sloppy powerslam that gets three. (1:27) However Goodfather nails Faarooq from behind and stomps him while Buchanan hits Bradshaw with a DDT. The Acolytes are down as Richards then shakes hands with his men, even through they still lost the match. DUD

~ We then cut to Michael Cole who’s reporting in from the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Cole says Linda McMahon is also here to talk to the politicans about the WWF fans electing the next U.S. President then promises details on how the viewers can register to vote and become empowered to decide the election.

~ Back from break a promo tells the politicans how 14 million eleigible voters watch WWF television every week. The promo also says in November these 14 million people will pick the next president, so who will they vote for?

• Rikishi vs. Tazz

After Tazz cost him the IC Title on two occasions and attacked his pasls, Rikishi is anxious to finally get his revenge tonight. Rikishi goes out to meet Tazz in the aisle and throws him into the steps then rams him into the steps as well. Rikishi tosses Tazz in the ring and drops him with a right hand then whips him into a corner and clotheslines him. Tazz slumps to the mat and Rikishi moves in for a Stinkface but Tazz counters it with a shot below the belt. Tazz comes out with a clothesline and lays the boots to Rikishi then hammers away at him all around the ring. Tazz chokes Rikishi and continues teeing off on Rikishi and Rikishi starts fighting back but Tazz jabs the eyes. Tazz comes off the ropes going for a Sunset Flip but can’t get Riksihi over and Rikishi hits the sitdown splash. Rikishi hits a belly-to-belly suplex followed by the running butt splash in a corner and this time gets the Stinkface. The referee repremands Rikishi while Tazz undoes a turnbuckle pad then comes back with his shots on Rikishi. Tazz rams Rikishi into the exposed metah bolts and hits a Northern Lights Tazplex but only gets a two count. Tazz then slaps on the Tazmission but Rikishi lifts him up and hits the Samoan Drop that gets him the three! (3:34) Pretty convincing win so I’d say this feud is over. The Too Cool guys appear and the trio commence with the post-match dance while Tazz … just walks away. At this point Tazz’s WWF run was close to being a bust and it would take a miracle to salvage it. *

~ Backstage Triple H meets with Commissioner Mick Foley who has his office set up in the showers this week. Foley apologizes for Stephanie storming off but Triple H says it’s not his fault while acting surprisingly nice to him. Triple H then asks Foley to cancel the scheduled match with The Rock and Lita since Stephanie has left the building but Foley refuses that idea, noting the huge crowd out there. Triple H then offers to take them both on in a handicap match but Foley shoots that idea down as well since Triple H’s elbow is still hurt and assigns him a new partner, Trish Stratus. Triple H is not happy about dealing with Trish again and storms off as Foley warns him to watch those hot tags.

~ Back from break we get Michael Cole’s next report from the Republican National Convention. Cole talks about the WWF’s non-partisan campaign to get the viewers more involved in the November elections, saying fans can register to vote at live events or at WWF New York and urges them to make their voices heard. Back in the arena JR and Lawler announce the Rock will be on hand to open the Wednesday session of the convention. The announces then claim the WWF isn’t backing either canidate and will be at the Democratic Convention as well.

• Eddie Guerrero & Chyna vs. Val Venis & Perry Saturn (w/Terri Runnels)

Eddie still has his issues with Saturn who also cost Chyna her Intercontinential Title match against Val last night on Heat. Val and Eddie start us off by feeling each other out then exchaning shots with Val getting the brief advantage. Eddie comes back with knees to the chest then goes for a whip, Val reverses but Eddie hits a huricanrana. Saturn comes in with a forearm on Eddie and Val follows it up with a Blue Thunderbomb that gets a near fall. Val whips Eddie into a corner but eats an elbow and Eddie hops up to the middle rope and hits a tornado DDT. Both men crawl to their corners and Val tags Saturn but Eddie tags in Chyna who greets Saturn with forearms. Chyna follows up with a pair of clotheslines then whips Saturn into a flapjack and whips him again, hitting a powerslam. Chyna catches Val coming in then goes to whip Saturn but Saturn reverses her into a clothesline from Val. Val takes over without a tag and stomps away on Chyna then tags Saturn back in and Saturn hits a backbreaker. Saturn holds Chyna over his knee trying to get a submission but Eddie comes in and breaks it up for the save. The referee gets Eddie out while Val comes in and helps Saturn hit a double backbreaker on Chyna for two. Saturn whips Chyna and lowers the head when Chyna kicks the face. Chyna goes for the ropes when Val grabs her and holds her while Saturn goes for a forearm but Chyna escapes and Saturn takes out his partner instead. Chyna slaps a sleeperhold on Saturn then drives him into the mat before going over and making the tag to Eddie. Eddie pounds on Saturn and dropkicks Val off the ropes then plants Saturn with a Northern Lights Suplex but Val makes the save. Chyna comes in and Val works her over when Chyna clotheslines him over the ropes. Chyna goes after Val when Saturn whips Eddie but Eddie comes back with a Frankensteiner that gets the three. (3:32) Okay match but seemed a little rushed. Eddie and Chyna walk off victorious when Terri grabs the European belt and hides behind Saturn in the ring. **

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Georgia Dome as the announcers talk more about the GOP convention. We then cut back there where Michael Cole interviews Linda McMahon who talks about the various events of the day. Linda says she’s been talking about the WWF fans expressing their freedom with the signs they bring to their shows and feels those same fans are going to use that same passion in November when they elect the next United States President. Linda then tells the fans they have to register to make thier voice known and encourages them to Smackdown their vote.

~ We cut to WWF New York and find Dean Malenko watching the show while enjoying the company of a pair of ladies and being glad to be in a place where they won’t get censored tonight.

~ Back at the building Triple H is preparing for his match in his lockeroom when someone knocks on the door. Triple H rushes over to open the door thinking Stephanie came back but is disappointed to find Trish Stratus instead. Trish asks to learn some more wrestling moves but Triple H kicks her out, feeling she’s caused enough problems.

~ The Big Show and Kane are shown making their way to the ring for the next match as we go to commercial.

• Kane vs. The Big Show (w/Shane McMahon)

There’s about 15 minutes of TV time left and we still have this and the main event. Kane makes his firey entrance when Big Show jumps him on the ramp and the two duke it out at ringside. Kane manages to whip Show into the steps when Shane nails him from behind but Kane easily shoves him away. Kane tosses Shane in the ring and grabs him for a chokeslam but lets go when Kurt Angle runs in for the save. Kane boots Kurt Angle down when Chris Benoit also comes out but he heats a chokeslam. Show is back up and nails Kane from behind and Kane starts getting overwhelmed by Show, Shane and Angle. Now the Dudleys come out brandishing chairs and they manange to chase Shane and his posse out of the ring. Shane and pals retreat while Kane stands tall with the Dudleys so basically this match never gets started. They really need to work on timing issues because there’s no reason for this lazy booking.

~ Triple H and Trish Stratus are shown making their way to the ring but Triple H is trying to keep his distance from her. The Rock and Lita are also shown heading out for the main event in another hallway as we go to commercial.

• The Rock & Lita vs. Triple H & Trish Stratus – Intergender Tag Match

Trish comes out with Triple H who’s still trying to get her to understand that he wants nothing to do with her. Rock and Lita enter separately next but they don’t seem to be showing much teamwork on their side as well. Triple H then has some words with Trish when Rock brings him in the ring the hard way and goes right to work. Rock hammers Triple H in a corner and looks for the Smackdown but Triple H blocks it and gets in his shots. Triple H whips Rock but lowers the head and Rock hits a neckbreaker then connects with several right hands. Triple H rolls out to the floor when Trish tags herself in ready to face Rock but Rock decides to tag Lita instead. Lita takes Trish down and tees off on her then rams her repeatedly into the mat before hitting a snap suplex. Lita comes off the ropes with a clothesline then goes for the ropes again but Triple H grabs her by the hair. Rock comes in and gets Triple H to release Lita with a right hand then Lita sets Trish up for a powerbomb. However Triple H clotheslines Lita to save Trish and Trish kicks Lita in the ribs then hits a running bulldog. Triple H tags in and pops Rock off the apron then sets Lita up for a Pedigree but Rock is able to make the save. Lita reaches out to make the tag but Triple H pulls her away from the corner then tags Trish in to take over. Trish whips Lita but Lita comes back with a forearm and both ladies start crawling for their respective corners with Trish tagging Triple H while Lita makes the tag to Rock. Rock hits several right hands followed by a DDT for a near fall. Triple H comes back with a neckbreaker and stomps Rock down in a corner then gets in Earl Hebner’s face. Rock starts fighting back and goes for a whip but Triple H reverses it and hits the high knee for a two count. Both men exchange shots when Rock gets the advantage and whips Triple H but Triple H hits the facebuster. Triple H comes off the ropes but Rock plants him with the spinebuster. Rock readies for the People’s Elbow when Trish climbs on his back and claws his face then follows up with a slap. Triple H goes for the Pedigree but Rock takes him down by the legs and catapults him into Trish in a corner. Rock tees off on Triple H and knocks him over the ropes with the Smackdown then hits Trish with a spinebuster. Rock then tags in Lita who climbs to the top rope and connects with a moonsault on Trish that gets the three. (6:07) Decent enough main event and kept the ladies’ participation minimal since Trish was still pretty green. **½

Lita heads out to celebrate on the floor while Triple H chews out the fallen Trish for costing them the match. Suddenly Rock brings a chair in and whacks Triple H from behind … and Triple H falls on Trish in a provocative position. Yep, that’s the punchline to this show. Rock has a laugh and JR hopes wherever Stephanie is she isn’t watching this as the show fades to black.

Conclusion: Better episode than the previous week with some good in-ring action for the most part, but that the same time there was hardly any angle advancement for SummerSlam, like they still haven’t decided on what to do for the pay-per-view and are just killing time. In fact the only real focus of this two hours was the Triple H/Stephanie story, which did have some funny moments and a (shall we say) “memorable” image to cap things off. But if you’re not into that angle then there isn’t much here to recommend, though it’s not a total wash.