WWF RAW 8/21/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, August 21st, 2000

Live from the Cajundome in Lafayette, LA

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 highlights of Triple H and Kurt Angle joining forces against The Rock on Smackdown. After the intro Jim Ross welcomes us to the show … but Jerry “The King” Lawler is nowhere to be found. Hmmm.

~ Things kick off with The Rock making his way to the ring because we have a pay-per-view in just six days to sell. Rock gets on the mic and starts off with the usual then talks about the state Louisiana being in the shape of a boot which gets him talking about taking his boot and doing something to not only Triple H but Kurt Angle as well. Rock says Triple H and Angle aren’t united since they’re both out to take his title and win Stephanie’s hand on Sunday. Rock says he wants payback tonight but Commissioner Mick Foley comes out to the ring to try and talk some sense into him. Foley says as a former WWF Champion he knows all about being so consumed with hated that nothing else matters then warns Rock that getting so angry so close to SummerSlam means challenges can be issued and titles can be lost. Foley says he may be a popular guy here in Lafayette but has made the unpopular decision to give Rock the night off.

Just then Kurt Angle and Shane McMahon come out to the stage with Angle about to give his perspective on the mic. Angle says his integrity was tested when Foley tried to get him to turn his back on his friends and it almost worked, but then he picked loyalty over selfishness and came back to bash Rock with a chair, helping Triple H pin him. Angle says Rock lost the match while he gained a friend and proceeds to bring Triple H and Stephanie out to the stage. Triple H takes the mic and tells Angle that he showed him a lot of integrity on Thursday and that he’s proud of him. Triple H says now that his family issues are behind him he can get back to doing what he does best, beating up Rock. Triple H reminds Rock about pinning him on Smackdown then tries goading him into a title match tonight and Rock tries to answer the challenge but Foley cuts him off and informs Triple H that he already Rock gave the night off. Foley says since Triple H and Angle are such good buddies they won’t mind taking on the Acolytes in a tag team match. Foley then reminds Shane and Stephanie of the two championship matches he booked them in tonight on Smackdown. Shane says he though Foley wasn’t serious about facing Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Title but Foley stands pat. Stephanie says she has no problem defending her Women’s Title against Lita because she’ll pin her for the third time. Foley figures that match might just get out of hand so he’s decided to appoint a special referee to keep law and order … The Rock. The fearsome foursome are not happy as Foley finally wraps it up after 15 minutes while Rock contines to has some heated words with Triple H and friends.

~ Backstage Tazz arrives at the building and asks some guy for his lockerroom then accuses him of having an attitude and roughs him up. Tazz walks away when suddenly stacks of boxes filled with assorted junk fall on top of him. We then see Jerry Lawler was hiding behind the boxes on a storage shelf as he comes out and goes to work on Tazz. The referees appear to pull Lawler off Tazz who’s down on the floor as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Jerry Lawler joins Jim Ross at the announce desk as a replay is shown of him ambushing Tazz. Lawler calls it a sample of what Tazz can expect on Sunday. JR also mentions Foley asked Tazz to leave the building, even though Lawler was the one who ambushed him.

• The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boyz

This obviously stems from the botched teamwork between Jeff Hardy and D’Von Dudley on Smackdown. Edge & Christian then come out and join the commentary to complete the hard sell for Sunday’s TLC match. D’von works over Matt Hardy to start and whips him but Matt comes back with his shots and a discus punch. Matt comes off the ropes with a clothesline then whips D’Von but D’Von nails him with a flying shouldertackle. D’Von whips Matt into a corner and follows up with a spinning elbow then tags Bubba in to take over on him. Bubba applies an armwringer but Matt jabs the eyes to escape it. Jeff tags in then climbs to the top rope and connects with a crossbody on Bubba for a two count. Meanwhile Lawler asks if E&C are going to do a run-in and Edge says they’re going to do a swerve instead and Christian tries to explain before deciding they’ll just run in. Jeff whips Bubba into a corner and goes for a monkey flip but Bubba shoves him away into the other corner. Bubba goes for a splash but Jeff sidesteps it then springs off the ropes but Bubba catches him in a back suplex. Bubba chops Jeff then whips him into a corner but Jeff runs up the buckles and hits a corkscrew moonsault. Matt gets the tag and whips Bubba into his corner then charges but eats a boot. Bubba draws Jeff in then slams Matt and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits him with the “Wassup” headbutt. The Dudleys head out for a table on the floor but Jeff leaps over the ropes and hits a plancha on both of them. Jeff tosses D’Von back in and whips him into a corner then Matt drops down and Jeff hits the Poetry in Motion for a two count. Matt whips D’Von but both men hit each other with a facejam into the mat. Jeff and Bubba both tag and Jeff dropkicks Bubba then goes for a whip but Bubba counters with a powerslam. Bubba sets Jeff up for the Full Nelson bomb and Jeff slips out of it but Bubba gets the move on the second try. Bubba covers Jeff but Matt saves it and all four men are going at it when Bubba backdrops Matt over the ropes. Bubba goes out and gets in Edge’s face at the commentary table but that allows Matt to nail him from behind. Matt then has his words with Edge when Bubba blindsides him but ends up taking out the cameraman. Edge then goes for a spear and misses Bubba but takes Matt down with it. Jeff has D’Von down and goes for the Swanton Bomb but Bubba pulls D’Von out of the way. The Dudleys whip Jeff and hit the 3D when Christian hops on the apron but D’Von knocks him off to the floor then goes out after him. The referee orders D’von back while Edge heads in and clocks Bubba with a chair then heads out while Jeff drapes an arm over Bubba to score a tainted pin for his team. (4:37) E&C then head up the ramp showing off their belts while D’Von is furious at being cheated out of the victory. Decent enough match but you could tell both teams were saving it for Sunday. **

~ Backstage Val Venis and Trish Stratus was walking somewhere when Trish asks why they are teaming up tonight. Val explains their opponents in Sunday’s mixed tag match have a lot of experience while Trish doesn’t. Val feels that will make the match 2-on-1 so he wants Trish to get some experience tonight to make sure it’s 2-on-2.

~ Back from break Triple H and Stephanie are meeting with Kurt Angle and Shane and stressing they must show unity tonight. Triple H wants them to especially focus on the Acolytes but Shane feels his Hardcore Title match is more important. Stephanie reminds the others she’s the only title-holder in the family and thus her title defense should take priority. Triple H tries to stress they need to stick together then everyone splits off to plan strategy for their own matches.

• Val Venis & Trish Stratus vs. Crash Holly & Ivory – Intergender Match

Like Val suggested earlier this is merely a tuneup for Sunday. We find Eddie Guerrero and Chyna watching the match from the back with Chyna itching to get some of Trish. In a humerous moment Crash then comes out with Ivory’s scarf while Ivory is carrying Crash’s scale then they switch back. Val starts off with Crash and whips him hard into a corner then scoops him up but Crash floats over him and slams him. Crash follows up with a clothesline then goes for a whip but Val reverses it for something. We cut backstage to find Chyna anxious to go after Trish but Eddie pleads with her to wait until SummerSlam. Back in the ring Trish gets the tag and hits Crash with a running bulldog but Crash powers out of the cover so Trish quickly scampers to her corner to tag Val back in. Crash trips Val with a drop toehold and goes for a whip but Val reverses it and connects with an elbow then hits an elbowdrop and a kneedrop for a two count. Val whips Crash but lowers the head and Crash kicks the face then both men end up clotheslining each other. Both men crawl toward their corners and Crash tags in Ivory who then brings Trish in the ring the hard way. Crash comes in to get in a shot on Val then the referee gets him back out while Ivory slams Trish to the mat. However Val plants Ivory with the Blue Thunderbomb and Trish is able to cover Ivory for the pin. (2:34) Did it’s job in hyping Sunday’s mixed tag match but nobody had any real heat in this one. *

Backstage Eddie rambles on how he and Chyna will beat the two of them easily on Sunday, not noticing Chyna sneak off. Out in the arena Val and Trish celebrate their win when Chyna makes her way in the ring looking for Trish. Val tries to intercept Chyna but Chyna pounds on him with forearms before clotheslining him over the ropes. Trish then finds herself alone and tries to flee but Chyna cuts off her escape. Chyna then sets Trish up for a powerbomb but Val makes it back in and saves Trish with a clothesline from behind. Val clotheslines Chyna down and gets in some stomps when Eddie runs down the ramp and chases Val and Trish from the ring.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Chyna nearly powerbombing Trish Stratus until Val Venis foiled it. We then find Chyna and Eddie running into Mick Foley office and Chyna again demands he give her a match with Trish tonight. Foley says it’s no can do but Chyna insists she get her hands on Trish while Eddie wants a piece of Val Venis as well. Foley decides to placate the both of them by putting Val’s Intercontinential Title on the line in the mixed tag match, explaining that whichever one of them scores the pinfall on either Val or Trish will win the IC Title. Chyna seems satisfied with that while Eddie is left realizing this match may create more problems than it solves.

• Kane vs. Rikishi

On Heat last night they announced the Undertaker will get Kane one-on-one at SummerSlam so I guess this match is to build up Kane’s heel-ness or something. Both men exchange shots to start and Rikishi gets the advantage then goes for a whip but lowers the head and Kane hits an uppercut followed by a clothesline. Kane works Rikishi over in a corner and goes for a whip when Rikishi reverses him into the other corner but eats a boot. Kane comes out but runs into a Smaoan Drop and both men roll out to the floor when Rikishi goes for a whip but Kane reverses him into the ringsteps. Kane rolls Rikishi back in the ring then brings in a chair and whacks Rikishi with it getting himself DQ’ed. (1:13) Well that was a whole lot of nothing. NR

Rikishi manages to get back to his feet so Kane hits him with the chair again when Rikishi gets up a second time so Kane whacks Riksihi again. Too Cool comes out for the save only to get jumped by the Right To Censor. Scotty and Sexay fight the RTC’ers off then head in the ring but they both eat chair shots from Kane as well. Kane then sets off his pryo and heads out while Steven Richards leads his men in the ring to pick the bones. Bull Buchanan and Goodfather hold Scotty up for Richards to hit a Stevenkick then does the same to Sexay. Buchanan then climbs to the top rope and nails Rikishi with the guillotine legdrop for good measure. Weird how we pretty much spilled over into another storyline right there.

~ The Acolytes are shown heading to the ring as are Triple H and Kurt Angle as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break JR announces Raw will air at a special time for the next two weeks because of U.S. Open tennis.

• Triple H & Kurt Angle vs. The Acolytes

Everyone files out as we get a shot of The Rock watching this from the back with Mick Foley eventually joining him. All four men go at it to start but the Acolytes take control when Bradshaw clotheslines Triple H over the ropes. The Acolytes whip Angle and hit a double shoulderblock before Bradshaw leaves Faarooq to take care of him. Faarooq whips Angle and hits a spinebuster and Angle scurries over to tag Triple H as he climbs on the apron. Bradshaw also gets the tag and Triple H begs him off then gets in his shots but Bradshaw quickly fires back. Bradshaw whips Triple H and catches him with a fallaway slam and Triple H crawls over to tag Angle back in. Angle comes off the ropes but runs into a boot and Bradshaw hits him with a pair of elbowdrops for a two count. Faarooq tags in and goes for a whip, Angle reverses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Faarooq hops to the middle rope and leaps off but Angle catches him in a belly-to-belly suplex as Triple H gives Angle the thumbs up. Faarooq hits Angle with a backbreaker then tags Bradshaw in and Bradshaw decks Triple H off the apron then helps Faarooq plant Angle with a double neckbreaker. Bradshaw covers Angle but Triple H saves it then he and Angle whip Bradshaw but both men eat clotheslines. Bradshaw takes it to both men then whips Angle looking for another fallaway slam but Triple H kicks his knee. Bradshaw drops Triple H with a right hand when Angle chopblocks his knee then works it over with a leglock. Triple H tags in to take over and goes for a spinning toehold but Bradshaw kicks him away into the turnbuckles. Bradshaw whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H nails him with the facebuster and gets a near fall. Bradshaw starts fighting back but Triple H kicks his hurt knee to stop that rally. Triple H whips Bradshaw into a corner but Bradshaw comes back with a shouldertackle and both men start crawling toward their corners. Angle and Faarooq both get the tag and Faarooq takes it to both men then whips Triple H into a shouderblock. Faarooq plants Angle with a powerslam but Triple H barely breaks up the pin so Bradshaw pops him under the ropes. Bradshaw goes after Triple H on the floor and goes for a whip but Triple H reverses him into the ringsteps while Faarooq suplexes Angle for a two count. Faarooq goes for the Dominator but Triple H makes it in and interupts Faarooq then lays him out with the Pedigree and grabs the pin, even though he wasn’t the legal man. (5:36) Solid enough match for the most part. **½

Angle and Triple H celebrate the win together before Triple H heads out while Angle poses in the ring. However Bradshaw interupts Angle with the Clothesline from Hades then he and Faarooq whip Angle and hit the double spinebuster as Triple H looks on. Triple H starts to head in to save his ‘friend’ but once The Acolytes look his way Triple H backs away while watching Angle suffer the double powerbomb. Maybe the alliance isn’t as strong as we thought.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Triple H and Kurt Angle’s win, as well as Triple H leaving Angle to the wolves. We then find Triple H conversing with Stephanie about her title defense when Angle barges in fuming at his “partner” for walking away while he got beaten down, especically after he came back for him on Smackdown. Triple H chastises Angle for going back to being “selfish old Kurt” when they need to focus on Stephanie’s big match then asks Angle to please show some unity as a team player but Angle doesn’t seem to appreciate it.

~ Out in the arena Steven Richards and the Right To Censor head out to the ring to once again remind us of their ‘righteous’ mission. Richards takes the mic and says that how they get results is irrelevant as well as whether the fans approve or not because he and his crew will fight against anyone who offends morality. Richards then accuses Riksihi of having an offensive appearence and sending a bad message by rubbing his rear into people’s faces then warns the WWF to stop the innappropriate behavior or else the Right To Censor will stop it themselves. Commissioner Mick Foley then comes back out to the stage and gets on the mic to respond to Richards’ comments and talks about enjoying a big bowl of shrimp etouffee, which he feels is hard to make because “shrimpin’ ain’t easy”. Foley tells Richards and friends they are entitled to their beliefs but when they come out they make the WWF less fun. Foley decides to make the WWF fun again by booking Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather at SummerSlam against Too Cool … and Rikishi. Foley realizes that will make it 3-on-2 so to make sure both sides are even he adds Richards to the match as well. Foley says that way Richards can show how deep his convictions lie when he’s down in a corner taking the Stinkface. So chalk up another match for the pay-per-view.

~ Backstage Shane is quietly meeting with Pete Gas and Rodney (they’re still around?) on how they each used to be the Hardcore Champion and suggests they should win the title back by taking out the current champion which happens to be Steve Blackman. Shane sends them into the lockerrooom after Blackman but Blackman easily dispatches them with his nunchucks. Blackman then turns and chases after Shane while telling him he’ll need more than that as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we find Kurt Angle about to leave the building when Stephanie runs up asking where he’s going. Angle says he knows he’s not wanted after Triple H left him high and dry but Stephanie tells him she wants him here. Stephanie begs Angle to stay and be her friend because needs his support for her match and Angle relents for her.

• WWF European Title: Perry Saturn © vs. Chris Jericho

Interesting how in the past two weeks we’ve seen Jericho cost Chris Benoit the WWF Title, Benoit cost Jericho the Intercontinential Title and Jericho cost Benoit the Hardcore title. Are we going to see Benoit’s turn up again in this title bout? Saturn makes his way out next to deafening silence but comes out alone as JR wonders where Terri Runnels might have run off to. JR also reminds us of the RadioWWF broadcast this Saturday. Both men lockup to start and Jericho gets the advantage but Saturn stops that and works him over in a corner. Saturn whips Jericho into the opposite corner but Jericho comes back with a clothesline followed by a chop. Jericho whips Saturn and goes for a leadpfrog but Saturn catches him and plants him with a twisting flapjack. Saturn whips Jericho but Jericho nails him with a flying forearm then comes off the ropes and hits the bulldog. Jericho chops away on Saturn and whips him into an elbow then goes for the Lionsault but Saturn is back up and pulls Jericho off the ropes with a bridge suplex for two. Saturn rams Jericho upside-down into the turnbuckles and Jericho flips up to the top rope as Saturn goes up but Jericho fights him off to the mat and hits a flying elbow. Jericho goes to cover Saturn but sure enough here comes Chris Benoit and they duke it out to end this one. (1:56) Nothing match as the run-in was expected plus Saturn had no heat as the titleholder. DUD

Jericho and Benoit continue exchanging shots as the referee calls for help in trying to separate these two guys. However Jericho and Benoit continue to get at each other until the referees manage to finally pull them apart. The referees get Benoit out to the floor when Jerihco leaps over the ropes and takes out the pile with a plancha. Jericho and Benoit are still going at it as we find this post-match brawl is lasting longer than the match itself.

~ Backstage we find Trish Stratus getting a drink from a cooler when Shane walks up saying he’s always wanted to ask Trish something but wants to do it in private so they walk off to talk business.

~ Back from break we find Triple H demonstrating a Full Nelson on Stephanie but Kurt Angle scoffs at his technique. Triple H reminds Angle that he’s a four-time WWF Champion so he might know how to put on a proper Full Nelson. Angle responds by mentioning his Olympic gold medals but Triple H points out it’s in amateur wrestling, not pro level. Stephanie steps in and asks Triple H to let Angle show her some moves, just to make him feel like part of the team. Triple H hesitates but allows Angle to proceed, though he warns Angle that he’ll be standing right behind the door. Angle claims he’s going to show Stephanie some real Olympic-style moves that work while Triple H walks off.

~ Elsewhere Steve Blackman is making his way to the ring to face Shane when Test suddenly jumps him from behind. Test then beats Blackman into the arena with a referee nearby so I guess we have a 24/7 Hardore Title defense.

• WWF Hardcore Title: Steve Blackman © vs. Test

The two fight their way past the tech area and through the crowd when Blackman whips Test into the barricade. Test backdrops Blackman over the barrier to ringside then pulls out a trash can lid and nails Blackman with it. Test throws Blackman in the ring then tosses a trash lid at Blackman (who catches it) and boots it into his face. Test sets a trash can on Blackman’s chest the climbs to the top rope looking to hit the flying elbowdrop on it but Blackman is up and throws the can at Test causing him to straddle the buckles and fall to the mat. Blackman grabs a lid and whips Test then bashes his knee with it before whacking him in the back and head. Blackman covers Test when Albert runs in to break up the pin then gets in his shots on Blackman in a corner. Test helps Albert whip Blackman into the other corner then whips Albert into the Avalanche on Blackman. Albert rams Blackman into a lid shot from Test then chokes him down. Test brings in a fire extinguisher and gets it ready but Blackman kicks the hose away causing Test to spray Albert with the CO2. Blackman hops to the middle rope and nails Test with a dropkick then goes out and grabs his fighting sticks. Blackman works Test over with the sticks when Albert comes up and grabs Blackman for the chokebomb but Blackman escapes it with the sticks and works Albert over. Now Edge & Chrristian come out to join the fun and Christian takes Blackman down with a spinning heelkick. E&C double-team him then stop for a high-five allowing Blackman to take Edge out with a foot sweep before he fights Christian off with his stick. Suddenly Shane (Blackman’s actual opponent) runs in and cracks Blackman in the head with a kendo stick. Blackman is down as Shane quickly covers him and gets the 1..2..3 to win the Hardcore title! (4:35) Shane needed help from four people but got the duke and celebrates as E&C hoist him onto their shoulders. For some reason this was actually fun to watch, though Shane would have a Ron Garvin-like title reign. *½

~ Back from break we get a replay of Shane upsetting Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Title after four guys helped him. We then find Shane celebrating with Edge & Christian backstage when Mick Foley comes in to off his congradulations before telling Shane that Blackman deserves a Hardcore title rematch so he’s decided to book it for SummerSlam. Shane freaks out and lays on the ground begging someone to pin him so he doesn’t have to face Blackman again and Edge and Christian volunteer so they can get more gold. E&C do rock-paper-scissors to decide who pins Shane when Foley suggests they both cover Shane so they can become co-champions while he counts the fall himself. Edge and Christian cover Shane and Foley drops down to count 1…2…but then stops counting before hitting three and says he never liked the 24/7 rule anyway so he’s decided to waive it until after SummerSlam. Foley then decides to give E&C more action tonight by booking them in an impromtu tag title defense against DX. Foley also tells E&C even if they lose the titles they’re still going to be in the Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. E&C are not happy at this news while Shane begs Foley to please let someone pin him for the Hardcore Title.

~ We then get footage of The Kat visiting WWF New York earlier tonight which might have some sort of relevance, especially after Terri suffered a Rikishi Stinkface on Smackdown thanks to Kat.

~ Backstage Kurt Angle has Stephanie in a front facelock and explains it hurts because it’s a submission hold. Angle then tells Stephanie how great a night it’s been for them and how she’ll cap it off with a victory over Lita. Angle then shows Stephanie a waistlock when Triple H barges in feeling they’ve been alone in the room long enough. Angle insistes he only showed Stephanie three moves but Triple H feels he’s taking his sweet time with his lessons. Triple H then leaves the room with Stephanie and Angle is left behind flabergasted as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get clips of Terri Runnels attacking Kat at WWF NY and giving her a stinkface during the break. JR mentions Kat and Terri will face off in a “Stinkface” match at SummerSlam. Swell.

• WWF World Tag Team Titles: Edge & Christian © vs. Road Dogg & X-Pac

E&C make their way to the ring first as JR mentions Mick Foley has asked Shane to leave the building. The DX’ers come out next with Road Dogg doing his rhyming on the mic while X-Pac acts like he’s bored. JR then announces Mick Foley has just now booked X-Pac and Road Dogg to face each other at SummerSlam and they probably don’t even know it yet. X-Pac starts off with Edge and applies a headlock then goes into an hammerlock but Edge counters out of it and gets his own headlock. X-Pac shoves him into the ropes but Edge comes back with a shoulderblock. Edge comes off the ropes but runs into a spinning heelkick and X-Pac poses allowing Edge to tag in Christian. Christian nails X-Pac from behind and whips him but X-Pac is able to connect with a somersault clothesline. Road Dogg tags in and straddles Christian on the middle rope then follows up with a boot for a two count. Road Dogg goes for a whip but Christian reverses it and Edge trips him then pulls him out to the floor. Road Dogg decks Edge when Christian hits him with a baseball slide before Edge tosses him back in the ring. Edge lays the boots to Road Dogg then tags Christian in to take over and Christian applies a front facelock. Road Dogg fights out of it and comes off the ropes when both men go for crossbodys and collide in mid-air. Both men get to their feet and Road Dogg hits the juke ‘n’ jive punches then catches Edge with the big right before decking Christian with a right hand. Road Dogg hits Christian with the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop but Edge breaks up the pin then eats a spinkick from X-Pac. Road Dogg sets Christian up for the pump-handle slam but X-Pac stops him and takes Christian wanting to hit the X-Factor and Road Dogg stops him and the two start arguing again. X-Pac shoves Road Dogg back and Road Dogg turns to handle Christian while Edge nails X-Pac with a spear. E&C double-team Road Dogg when the Dudleys run down the ramp with a table that they set up at ringside. The Dudleys then charge in the ring and chase Edge and Christian out to the floor as this match is over. (3:47) Match was okay but quickly became irrelevant plus everyone knew the DX’ers weren’t getting the belts. **

The Dudleys follow after E&C into the crowd leaving Road Dogg and X-Pac in the ring to argue some more. Road Dogg starts to head out of the ring but X-Pac stops him on the apron to argue. Road Dogg shoves him so X-Pac headbutts Road Dogg back and ends up knocking him off the apron through the table the Dudleys left. X-Pac acts shocked at what he did to his DX buddy but the announcers are wonder if it was really an accident.

~ Lita is shown heading to the ring for her shot at the Women’s title (which is the main event?) as we go to commercial.

• WWF Women’s Title: Stephanie McMahon-Helmlsey © (w/HHH & Angle) vs. Lita

Yes, believe it or not a women’s title match is main eventing Raw. Then again it does involve Stephanie so it’s not that big of a surprise. In any case Lita gets her third shot at Stephanie’s title after being cheated out of the belt in two previous meetings but may be at a disadvantage after Stephanie brutally assaulted her last night on Heat. Once everyone is out Rock makes his entrance as the special referee and has words with Triple H and Angle. Lita takes Stephanie down to start and wails on her … with some really bad-looking punches. Lita throws Stephanie in a corner and forearms her in the face before throwing her across the ring. Lita charges at Stephanie and eats a boot and Stpehanie looks for guidance when Lita hits her with a hiptoss. Lita follows up with a Frankensteiner and Rock makes a two count for her when Angle hops on the apron. Rock heads over to keep Angle from coming in the ring but doesn’t see Triple H tripping Lita from the floor. The Hardys then come out to ringisde and jump Triple H prompting Angle to head over and make it 2-on-2. In the ring Lita charges at Stephanie in a corner but Stephanie dodges her and gets in some kicks and forearms. Stephanie whips Lita into the other corner and hits a monkey flip (!) followed by a DDT (!!) but only gets two. Stephanie argues with Rock about the count but Rock tells her to talk to the hand and insists it was only two. Stephanie slaps Lita repeatedly and whips her but Lita comes back with a headscissors. Lita goes for a whip, Stephanie reverses it but Lita clotheslines her down then follows it up with a tornado bulldog for a near fall. Lita hits a snap suplex then climbs to the top rope looking for the monnsault but Angle shoves her off. The Hardys then pounce on Angle but Triple H comes to his aid and Matt and Jeff end up getting taken out. Angle tries to hand Stephanie her Women’s title belt but Rock sees it and brings Angle in the ring the hard way then works him over in a corner, capping off with the Smackdown. Triple H comes in and blindsides Rock then sets him up for the Pedigree while Angle swings the belt at Rock but misses him and nails Triple H. Angle is shocked at his accidental (?) shot when Rock comes up him and takes him out with the Rock Bottom. Stephanie tries to hit Rock with the belt but Rock plants her with the spinebuster then tells Lita to finish this. Lita climbs to the top and hits the moonsault on Stephanie and Rock counts 1..2..3 to give Lita the title! (5:06) Lita wins her first Women’s title and Stephanie’s five-month reign has finally ended. Not the most tightly wrestled match and pretty overbooked but still an entertaining main event, plus the crowd was rotting for Lita all the way. The Hardys come in to congradulate the new titleholder and hoist her on their shoulders while Stephanie, Triple H and Angle are all out in the ring as we fade to black for this week. **½

Conclusion: Total hype show that did its job in polishing up the final SummerSlam build. The in-ring action was irrelevant for the most past but all the matches on the pay-per-view did get touched on and the segments were mostly effective. The main event was a nicely done surprise and featured a great ending with Lita finally getting her big moment. So overall an entertaining show that would have been a fine way to go into the pay-per-view but we still have one show left which I bet everyone remembers.