WWF Smackdown 8/17/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, August 17th, 2000

Taped (8/15) from the Centrum in Worcester, MA

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)

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

~ Things kick off with Shane McMahon leading Stephanie, Triple H and Kurt Angle to the ring for the opening promo. Shane takes the mic first and says when you think of the word “McMahon” you think power, success and ruthlesness. Shane says “McMahon” is also synonimous with family and he’s blessed to have not just one family but several families since Stephanie represents his natual family, Triple H his extended family and Angle his professional family. Shane says his family had to tread some rough waters but unlike other families they were able to pull it all together. Shane even shows clips on the OvalTron of Triple H and Angle double-teaming The Rock on Raw to prove his point then freezes his pose with Triple H and Angle after that saying it’ll be on the McMahon Christmas card for 2000. Stephanie takes over and talks on beaming with pride at her brother raising the arms of her husband and her friend. Stephanie then says she would really be happy if Angle and Triple H shook hands and the two of them seem hesitant. Angle takes the mic and says he’s sorry for mentioning how Triple H didn’t really accomplish anything early in his career and offers a hand. Triple H takes the mic and apologizes for calling Angle an Olympic twerp among other things. Triple H then mentions he’s a four-time WWF Champion while Angle has never even came close to winning the title but assures Angle it’s not his fault since not eveyone can be as good at him and Angle is taken aback. Triple H then says he wants to make his wife happy so he shakes Angle’s hand and all four have a big group hug.

So naturally Commissioner Mick Foley makes his way out to the stage in another attempt to stir the pot back up. Foley mentions what Shane said about Christmas then talks about his holiday memories while plugging his next book. Foley says he has his own Christmas card photo and shows Angle and Stephanie’s meeting in the parking lot on Raw as well as Triple H’s subsequent reaction and comments about it. Triple H and Angle are not happy again as Foley says The Rock isn’t in a cheerful mood after Monday and has demanded any shot at all four of them tonight. Foley says he’s not going to book a handicap match, nor is he going to put the WWF title up so close to SummerSlam. Foley says The Rock will have a match tonight but can’t decide if Triple H, Angle, Shane or Stephanie will face him so he tells the quartet to decide among themselves who will be Rock’s opponent tonight and have a nice day. So we spent 13 minutes to build tonight’s main event and we’re still left to speculate who Rock’s opponent will be.

~ Backstage Terri is admiring herself in front or a mirror then The Kat comes in, showing this issue will never end. Long story short Terri and Kat trade barbs while talking about their mixed-tag match they have scheduled for later. Kat promises that when she and her partner win they’re going to rub it in her face. Gee, I wonder what that means? Terri spits her gum at Kat and they start pulling each other’s hair until Terri shoves Kat down to the floor.

~ Back from break we find Triple H and Kurt Angle arguing with Shane on which of them should face The Rock tonight. Angle pleads his case pointing out his Olympic gold medals while Triple H mentions he beats Rock week after week. Eventually Shane suggests that he and Stephanie head out of the room to decide this issue and they depart.

• Rikishi & The Kat vs. Perry Saturn & Terri Runnels – Intergender Match

Oh, so this is what Kat met by ‘rub it in Terri’s face’. Terri pulls Kat down by the hair to start us off and chokes away at her then slaps her in the face. Terri slams Kat then goes for a whip but Kat slowly reverses her into a corner and hits a sloppy moneky flip. Kat knocks Terri down for a two count then tags Rikishi in so Terri scurries over to make the tag to Saturn. Rikishi decks Saturn and whips him into a corner but Saturn hops over the ropes and connects with a forearm. Saturn climbs to the top rope and leaps off when Rikishi catches him in a chokehold. Saturn slips out of it and manages to hit a Northen Lights suplex then comes off the ropes but runs into a Samoan Drop for two. Kat asks Rikishi for a tag and gets it then runs into a choke from Saturn but escapes with a kick below the belt. Terri comes back in and she and Kat catfight back and forth until Saturn interupts it with a clothesline on Kat. Rikishi backdrops Saturn over the ropes and goes out after him but Terri covers the KO’ed Kat and gets the three. (2:03) It is what it is. DUD

Terri celebrates while Rikishi is still duking it out with Saturn on the floor and whips him into the steps. Rikishi tosses Saturn back in then hits the butt splash in a corner and Saturn slumps to the mat in position. Rikishi moves in for the Stinkface on Saturn when Terri gets his attention to stop it then starts begging him off while Saturn tries a sneak attack. Rikishi superkicks Saturn back in the corner so Terri leaps on Rikishi with a sleeper. Rikishi backs Terri in a corner to get her off and Saturn again charges but Rikishi takes him out with the sitdown piledriver. Rikishi starts to leave but Kat begs him to give Terri the Stinkface so Rikishi goes ahead and backs his rear up.

~ Backstage Kurt Angle tells Triple H how he’s an American hero but Triple H is tired of hearing about the Olympics. Shane comes back in the room and tries to convince his two pals not to let Mick Foley drive a wedge between them. Shane says he’s talked with Stephanie and has decided to take on The Rock himself and Triple H and Angle balk at it. Shane explains he’s doing this to keep the family harmony but Triple H and Angle don’t agree and storm off.

• WWF Intercontinential Title: Val Venis © (w/Trish Stratus) vs. Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna)

Yes, rather that build this match for SummerSlam they’re just going to give Eddie his shot at Val now. Eddie gets in the first shots and works Val over in a corner then whips him hard into the opposite corner. Eddie dropkicks Val in the head and Val rolls out to the floor but Eddie goes out and whips him into the steps. Eddie goes for a whip but Val counters and drops him on the barricade then stomps him down on the floor. Chyna comes over but Val decks her then tosses Eddie back in the ring and hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Val elbows Eddie in the neck when Eddie tries to fight back but Val rakes the face to stop that. Val whips Eddie but lowers head and Eddie kicks the face then hits an elbow followed by several rights and a clothesline. Eddie goes for a whip and Val reverses it but Eddie comes back with a Frankensteiner and tees off on him. Eddie goes for another whip and Val reverses that but Eddie fakes him out then dumps him over the ropes. Eddie pulls Val on the apron when Val snaps his neck on the ropes but Chyna powerbombs Val onto the floor! Chyna rolls Val back in the ring and urges Eddie to cover him and Eddie drapes an arm … but only gets two. Trish heads over to the announcet table and grabs a pitcher of tea smashes it into the back of Chyna’s head! Eddie sees this happening when Vall rolls him up from behind and gets the three to retain. (3:34) Trish helps Val from the ring while Eddie and the referee tend to Chyna who’s down among the broken glass. Okay match but Val had so little heat by this time that they should have just let Eddie win the title here. The spot with the glass looked vicious, though. **

~ Backstage Shane is pondering his match with The Rock when Stephanie comes in and tells him about a plan she has. Stephaine tells Shane that he shouldn’t face Rock and neither should Triple H or Kurt Angle; it should be her vs. Rock. Shane is totally shocked and refuses to go ahead with it even as Stephanie tries to sell it as “champion vs. champion”.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Chyna suffering a glass pitcher to the head thanks to Trish Stratus. We then cut to Mick Foley’s office in the back when Chyna comes in complaing about what Trish did to her out there and refuses to let her get away with it. Chyna demands a match with Trish tonight but Foley fears she’ll tear her apart and instead offers a tag match at SummerSlam that has her teaming with Eddie Guerrero against Trish and Val Venis. Chyna sees satisfied by that match then walks off while promising that Trish is dead meat in 10 days.

• The Acolytes & Crash Holly vs. The Big Bossman & Kaientai

I guess this is related the bar fight on Monday, and I think Bossman and Crash were also having issues on Heat or something. Bossman gets on the mic and chastises the Acolytes for being bullies which he despites the most in the world then promises he and his Oriental buddies are going to show what they do to bullies as they hit the ring. Faarooq pounds away on Taka Mickinoku to start and whips him but Taka slides under him and tags in Funkai. Taka then goes for a crucifix on Faarooq and Fuanki dropkicks him over for it but it doesn’t get a one count. Faarooq clotheslines Taka down while Funkai leaps off the top rope but Faarooq catches him into a powerslam. Crash asks for a tag and gets it then wails on Funaki and goes for a whip but Funak reverses him into a corner. Funaki charges at him but eats a boot and Crahs comes out but Funaki hits a back suplex. Bossman tags in and whips Crash into a boot and covers him but the Acolytes make the save and pound away on Bossman. Bradshaw and Faarooq whip Bossman into a doubel shoulderblock and follow it up with a double neckbreaker. The referee gets the Acolytes out while Crash dropkicks Bossman into his corner where Taka tags himself in. Taka works Crash over with chops while Bossman decides he’s had enough of this and walks out of the match. Funaki alerts Taka that their partner has deserted them as Taka whips Crash and trips him with a drop toehold. Funaki puts Crash in a camel clutch while Taka dropkicks Crash’s face then drills him with the Michinoku Driver. Taka covers Crash but Faarooq breaks up the pin and he and Bradshaw proceed to beat down the smaller guys. Bradshaw powerbombs Funaki while Faarooq whips Taka and hits the spinebuster followed by the Dominator. Bradshaw then press slams Crash onto Taka and he grabs the pin for his team. (2:35) Yeah, whatever. *

~ Backstage Shane, Triple H and Kurt Angle try to tell Stephanie they’re not going to let her take on the Rock when Shane says the three of them decided that Triple H will be the one who faces Rock. Angle takes exception to that but Shane assures him it’s nothing personal, it’s just that he had the last shot at Rock and now it’s Triple H’s turn. Angle disagrees, feeling this is all about Shane questioning his integrity on Monday for being friends with his sister. Angle feels Triple H and Shane can’t accept his friendship with Stephanie so he’s not going to accept this decision and storms out of the room. And Triple H seems rather pleased with this turn of events as we go to commercial.

• WWF Hardcore Title: Steve Blackman © vs. Chris Benoit (w/Shane McMahon)

Chris Jericho comes out to join the commentary since Benoit runied his shot at a title on Raw while Cole mentions wwf.com announced Mick Foley has made the Benoit/Jericho SummerSlam match 2 out of 3 falls. Benoit gets in the first shots and goes for a whip and Blackman ducks a clohtesline but misses a roundhouse and Benoit hits a clothesline. Benoit goes for a whip but Blackman reverses him into a corner and dropkicks him. Blackman brings some trash can lids in the ring and whacks Benoit in the knee, the back and the head with it. Blackman whips Benoit and drops him to the mat, hitting him with the lid along the way for a two count. Benoit start fighting back and throws Blackman shoulder-first into the ringpost. Benoit brings a leather strap in and slips it around Blakcman’s neck then yanks him into the corner by it. Benoit ties Blackman in a Tree of Woe then goes out and bends Blackman over the buckles with the strap but Blackman escapes with a handstand. Benoit pulls Blackman out of the ring and flings him over the ropes with the strap then pulls him into a right hand. Benoit starts to go after Blackman in the crowd but Blackman superkicks him back over the barrier to ringside. Blackman takes the strap off his neck and tries to head in the ring but Benoit wards him off with a kendo stick. Benoit then goes after Blackman with the stick but Blackman kicks him away then grabs of his fighting sticks. Blackman waits for Benoit in the ring when Shane gets his attention but Blackman catches Benoit sneaking up and works him over with the sticks. Blackman sets up for the stick-assisted suplex but Benoit fights out of it and hits a German suplex and holds on for a second German followed by a third German. Benoit grabs one of the small sticks and takes a swing but Blackman ducks it and connects with a crescent kick. Blackman goes out for a kendo stick but Shane brains him from behind with his own stick and Blackman is out. Shane rolls Blackman back in the ring and Benoit slaps on a STF when Jericho decides to get involved. Jericho brings a chair in the ring and clocks Benoit then drapes Blackman’s arm on Benoit for the pin. (4:53) This is now two titles Jericho has screwed Benoit out of. Entertaining enough match and Blackman has been getting some good wins to stabilize the title. Jericho turns and chases Shane out of the ring while Benoit puts Blackman in the Crossface and the referees try in vain to get him to release it. **½

~ Backstage Kurt Angle looks like he’s leaving the arena when Stephanie runs up to him asking where he’s going. Angle says he doesn’t fit among Stephanie’s family after Triple H and Shane both think he doesn’t have any integrity. Stephanie pleads with Angle to stay but Angle says he knows when he’s not wanted and leaves as Stephanie pouts.

• Edge & Christian © vs. D’Von Dudley (w/Bubba Ray Dudley) & Jeff Hardy (w/Matt Hardy & Lita) – Non-Title Match

So we have one-half of the Hardys and one-half of the Dudleys teaming against the champs since their respective partners suffered vicious chair attacks on Raw. Christian gets on the mic and offers to expand Worcester’s limited vocabulary with the word ‘heinosity’. Edge says that’s what they call their TLC match at SummerSlam which he feels is Totally Lacking Coolness. Jeff goes right after Edge to start us off and gets in the first shots then whips him but Edge kicks the face. Edge comes off the ropes looking for a crossbody but Jeff ducks it then turns and catches Christian coming in. D’Von helps Jeff whip Christian into a corner then drops to the mat himself allowing Jeff to hit Poetry in Motion. Jeff returns the favor by setting Edge up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. Bubba then tells D’Von to get a table but that allows Christian to come up hit Jeff with a low blow from behind. Edge takes over and slams Jeff then climbs to the middle rope and leaps off but Jeff dropkicks him in mid-air. D’Von gets the tag and takes it to E&C then whips Edge into a backdrop and whips Christian into a corner. D’Von nails Christian with a flying forearm then plants Edge with a Curatin Call and covers but Christian saves it. Edge spears D’Von and covers him as Jeff climbs to the top rope and goes for the Swanton Bomb for the save but misses Edge and nails D’Von instead. Christian disposes of Jeff as Edge covers D’Von to grab the pin. (2:00) Well that was a rush job if I’ve ever seen one. *½

E&C depart with the win while Jeff tries to apologize to D’Von for the miscue but D’Von shoves him in response and the two stand nose-to-nose. Lita tries to play peacemaker but Bubba starts glaring at her funny. Of course Matt doesn’t appreciate the way Bubba is looking at his friend and both sides start throwing punches. The referees come in to try and separate the two sides as Edge & Christian enjoy the carnage from the ramp, seeing their opponents now have issues with each other.

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the building followed a shot of Kane waiting for The Undertaker to arrive.

~ Out in the arena Steven Richards leads the Right To Censor out to the ring to address the fans. I bet nobody realized the RTC is being protrayed as an evil force even though they’re exercising the same constitutional rights that everyone else has such as free speech and the right to protest, only with more violence to make them evil. Bull Buchanan takes the mic first and talks on how he has to bar his two little daughters from seeing him on television for their own good since he works for a company that promotes filth and violence as entertainment. Buchanan says he and his comrades are doing this so his girls can say how their daddy made the world a better place. The Goodfather takes over and asks the fans why they can’t see the Right To Censor have their best interests in mind. Goodfather pleads with the fans to listen to their message and see how they just want everyone to live the right way. Richards takes his turn and brings up how they’ve been criticized for their treatment toward the women in the WWF. Richards mentions what they did to Lita and Victoria but asks not to be judged by their actions but their convictions. Richards says they have hope in their hearts and spirits as they fight against violence, filty and scantily-clad women. Richards says the RTC will stop at nothing to obatin their dream of a world with clean family entertainment on TV. Richards says the women aren’t the only ones who need to change their ways as he shows a clip of Rikishi’s rear end. Richards finishes by warning Rikishi to cover his backside of he’ll be censored and it will be for the fans’ own good.

~ Backstage we find Kane still waiting for The Undertaker but starting to get impatient as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Road Dogg is preparing for the next match when X-Pac comes up and seems to be snickering. Road Dogg asks X-Pac why he’s been laughing since Monday and X-Pac makes fun of the stinkface he received. Road Dogg doesn’t find it funny then reminds X-Pac of their chance to take out Too Cool as they head out.

~ Elsehwere Kane has finally had enough waiting for Undertaker and starts tearing apart anything in the vicinity.

~ We now get various news clips of The Rock and Chyna visiting the Democratic National Convention yesterday.

~ Out in the arena Cole and Lawler kill some time by running down the SummerSlam card thus far:
– The Rock vs. Triple H vs. Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship
– Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho, Best 2 out of 3 Falls
– Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. The Dudley Boys in a TLC match for the Tag Team Titles
– Jerry Lawler vs. Tazz
– Eddie Guerrero & Chyna vs. Trish Stratus & Val Venis

Cole and Lawler then talk about Tazz threatening Jim Ross on Raw and how Lawler came to his rescue. Suddenly Tazz appears from out of nowhere and chokes Lawler out with the Tazzmission. The referees come out to pull Tazz off and Tazz leaves Lawler laying on the floor while giving him some parting words.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Tazz’s sneak attack as Cole mentions Lawler has been taken backstage.

• Too Cool vs. Road Dogg & X-Pac

Both DX’ers suffered stinkfaces from Rikishi so they’re going to take it out on Rikishi’s buddies. With Lawler backstage recovering from the Tazzmission it looks like Cole is calling this match by himself. The DX’ers jump Scotty 2 Hotty and Sexay during their dancing to start and all four men pair off in the corners. The DX’ers go to whip them into each other but Sexay ducks Scotty who hits a crossbody on Road Dogg. Sexay powerslams X-Pac then he and Scotty bust a move before whipping Road Dogg into X-Pac in a corner. Sexay superkicks Road Dogg while Scotty hits X-Pac with the bulldog and follows up with the Worm already. Sexay climbs to the top rope but Road Dogg throws Scotty into the ropes causing Sexay to straddle the buckles. Road Dogg sets Scotty up for the pump-handle slam but X-Pac pulls Scotty away wanting to hit the X-Factor and the DX’ers engage in a tug-of-war with Scotty on who gets to finish him before they toss him through the ropes. Road Dogg and X-Pac get in a shoving match but before they come to blows Kane makes his way to the ring. Road Dogg charges at Kane but runs into a choke and Kane boots X-Pac down before hitting the chokeslam. Kane turns and chokeslams X-Pac as well and that’s the match. (1:23) I guess the DX split is going to have to wait another night. Kane grabs a mic and says he chokeslamed Undertaker because he accepts what he’s always been … a monster! And that’s all we get. Not much of an explanation for a sudden heel turn, but whatever. NR

We then see The Undertaker arriving at the building on the OvalTron and Kane waits to confront him in the ring. Once Taker comes down the ramp a bunch of referees try to keep him out of the ring but Taker walks past them. Taker then gets in Kane’s face and gives him the business which causes Kane to lower his head and turn to leave. However Taker won’t let Kane leave that way and still demands answers, even shoving Kane in the face to get them. Kane refuses to explain his actions and starts to leave but once Taker gets in close Kane drops him with a right hand. Kane kicks Taker through the ropes and works him over on the floor with rights then rams him into the announce table. Kane then grabs a chair and clobbers Taker in the face with it then dares him to get up as we see Taker is busted open. Taker tries to get to his feet but Kane nails him with the chair again then leaves him laying with some parting words.

~ Back from break Jerry Lawler rejoins the announce table as we get a replay of the Undertaker/Kane confrontation.

~ Triple H then makes his way to the ring with the McMahon siblings and waits for the Rock to join them as Cole mentions Triple H appearing on Conan O’Brien tonight. However Mick Foley comes out to the stage instead and gets on the mic saying he has some big announcements. Foley says he made this a non-title match but decrees that this is also going to be a ‘non-McMahon-at-ringside’ match. Foley mentions Shane and Stephanie wanting a championship match and says they will both get their wish on Raw Monday, when Stephanie defends her Women’s Title against Lita while Shane will face Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Title. Shane and Stephanie are not happy with this as Foley orders them to leave the ring so he can escourt them to the back.

• The Rock © vs. Triple H – Non-Title Match

So just like that, Rock and Triple H are fighting again, and since this is non-title and they have a pay-per-view main event to sell can you already guess who wins? Once Rock finally makes his entrance he and Triple H stand face-to-face before Rock gets in the first shots. Triple H fights back and goes for a whip but Rock coutners it with an elbow. Rock goes for his own whip and reverses but lowers the head and Rock hits a neckbreaker then pops him through the ropes with a right. Rock then goes out and rams Triple H into the announce table repeatedly before tossing him back in the ring. Triple H hits his own neckbreaker but Rock comes back with a right. Rock whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H kicks the face. Triple H charges at Rock who grabs him in a Rock Bottom position but Triple H fights out and hits a back suplex. Triple H stomps Rock down in a corner then chokes him with his boot and pummels him. Triple H plants Rock with a suplex and follows up with then running kneedrop to the face that gets a two count. Rock starts fighting back and whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster for a near fall. Rock comes off then ropes when Triple H slaps on a sleeper but Rock counters it with a belly-to-belly suplex. Both men get to their feet and Rock gets the advantage then wails away on Triple H, missing the Smackdown but getting it on the second try then. Rock whips Triple H and hits an overhead belly-to-belly throw for a two count. Triple H comes back with the high knee then climbs to the top rope but Rock throws him off the top to the mat. Rock follows up with a DDT for a near fall then goes for a whip but Triple H reverses Rock into the referee who tumbles out to the floor. Triple H goes for a whip but Rock counters and hits the spinebuster then readies for the People’s Elbow when Kurt Angle runs in with a chair. Rock greets Angle with a right hand and works him over in a corner. Rock grabs Angle for a Rock Bottom but Triple H interupts it with a low blow and Angle grabs the chair and clocks Rock in the head with it. Triple H tells Angle to bring the referee back in then hits Rock with the Pedigree and the referee counts 1..2..3! (7:25) Yes, Triple H has pinned the WWF Champion. **½

Angle smiles at his handiwork as the announcers speculate he may have just proved his integrity tonight. Triple H meets Angle on the ramp and the two shake hands then raise each other’s arms to seal their alliance. It looks like Rock’s WWF Title reign may be in serious jeopardy come SummerSlam as the show fades to black.

Conclusion: This was one of those ‘just there’ shows to continue the build toward SummerSlam. While there was some good angle advancement, the booking of the matches was a little wonky since most of them were used to progress the storylines and not much else. Not to mention we got a Rock/Triple H match out of the blue that saw Triple H pin Rock just to continue his thing with Angle. And then there’s the six-man tag and mixed tag that were just wastes of our time. So thumbs in the middle leaning down for this one.