WWF Smackdown 9/7/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF Smackdown
Thursday, September 7th, 2000

Taped (9/5) from Freedom Hall in Louisville, KY

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: The Rock (6/25/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Eddie Guerrero (9/04/2000)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: Edge & Christian (6/25/2000)
●  WWF European Champion: Al Snow (8/31/2000)
●  WWF Hardcore Champion: Steve Blackman (8/27/2000)
●  WWF Women’s Champion: Lita (8/21/2000)
●  WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)

~ Smackdown comes on the air and goes right to the intro with Michael Cole welcoming us and running down the card. Chris Benoit does battle with Rikishi, Eddie Guerrero defends the Intercontinential Title against Road Dogg, Triple H takes on Test & Albert in a handicap match while the Dudley Boyz face the Acolytes in a bar room brawl. And of course we have that special message from Stone Cold Steve Austin about his future and his return to the WWF.

~ We then find Cole is alone at the announce table after Jerry “The King” Lawler suffered an injury atfer Tazz choked him out with a leather strap on Raw. Suddenly Lawler’s music starts playing but it turns out to be Tazz who’s carrying a crown and waving at the fans. Tazz joins Cole on commentary and talks about Lawler wanting to be a thug lately so he’s out to show him that anyone can do his job. So for you history buffs this is the first show Cole and Tazz have done the announcing together.

• Chris Jericho vs. X-Pac

Yep, it’s this match again. Will this be the night Jericho finally gets a clean win over X-Pac? Also X-Pac is still wearing his DX colors even though D Generation-X is no more. Both men lockup and Jerihco gets a waistlock, X-Pac switches it but Jericho slings him through the ropes. X-Pac climbs back in and Jericho applies a headlock when X-Pac shoves him away but eats a shoulderblock. Jericho comes off the ropes and X-Pac leapfrogs him but Jericho chops him down and applies an armwringer. Jericho whips X-Pac who blocks a hiptoss and goes through his moves but Jericho stops it with a clothesline. Jericho hits a spinning heelkick and X-Pac rolls out to the apron when Jericho hits the springboard dropkick. Jericho goes for a baseball slide but misses it and X-Pac whips him into the barricade. Jericho hits an elbow but X-Pac comes back with a spinkick then rolls back in the ring and pounds on Jericho when he comes back in. Jericho fights back and goes for a whip, X-Pac reverses and slaps on a sleeper. Jericho fights out of it and shoves X-Pac off then slaps on his own sleeper but X-Pac counters with a suplex. Both men are up and Jericho gets in his shots but X-Pac kicks him down in a corner and hits the Bronco Buster. X-Pac then takes a moment to pose when Jericho grabs him and powerbombs him. Jericho starts fighting back again and goes for a whip, X-Pac reverses but Jericho comes back with a flying forearm followed by the bulldog. Jericho goes for a enzuigiri, X-Pac ducks it and goes for a X-Factor but Jericho counters with a powerbomb. Jericho then goes for the Lionsault but X-Pac is able to get his knees up to block it. X-Pac goes for a cover when Jericho bridges out of it and goes for a backslide but X-Pac counters it with a mule kick below the belt. X-Pac then gets his own backslide with his feet on the ropes and gets the three, beating Jericho yet again. (5:03) I dont know what they keep doing this match since it always ends the same way, with Jericho jobbing to X-Pac. **

~ Backstage we find Kurt Angle visiting Commissioner Mick Foley who asks him to come in through a turnstyle. Angle complains about the triple threat match on Raw and not being Intercontinential Champion after he was the one who taking Chyna out. Foley says he’s read what Angle’s saying subliminally and interprets it as him wanting a match with the Undertaker so he decides to grant Angle’s “request” tonight. Angle protest but Foley bangs his gavel to seal the deal.

~ Back from break Edge & Christian make their way to the ring all smiles about their big win over The Rock on Monday. Edge gets on the mic first and says he and Christian aren’t ones to brag about beating The Rock and The Undertaker so in lieu of a new pose he offers to teach America about the great city of Louisville, which is in Kentucky. Christian interupts and mentions another city in Kentucky, Lexington, where he covered The Rock and got the three and even proceeds to show footage of it on the OvalTron. Edge desires to get back to his lesson and next mentions how the Louisville fans first used soap in 1996 which prompts Christian to mention thier “clean win”. Christian then asks to see the footage again and E&C show it over and over, in slow motion and from different angles. Eventually The Rock comes out to the stage to offer a rebuttal on the mic, deciding this joke has gone long enough. Rock starts with the usual before admiting Christian did pin him on Monday but mentions he didn’t do it by himself so he demands a match against both Edge and Christian tonight. E&C respond by saying that’s not going to happen and Christian feels Rock may be still a little woozy from their duoble chairshot, which he refers to as the “ConChairto” for the first time, while Edge mentions their “undefeated against Rock in Kentucky streak”. Edge says he and Christian reek of awesomenessand Rock chuckles at their new catchpharease before saying what E&C really reek off is something that gets bleeped. Edge and Christian then tell Rock they’ll give him his handicap match … if he puts his WWF Championship on the line, and Rock says he has no problem with that. Rock responds to their history lesson by looking into his invisible crystal ball and sees himself beating the tag champs up all over Louisville, if you smell and you know the rest. And this only took 10 minutes and got to the point fairly quickly, unlike the first quarter of Raw.

~ Backstage we find the Helmsleys watching this on a monitor with Stephanie accusing Rock of copying Triple H’s idea since Triple H is fighting for her honor against both Test and Albert tonight. Stephanie then tells Triple H that Rock will never be half the man he is and the Helmsleys embrace.

~ Back from break we go over to the Have a Nice Day Cafe which Cole speculates is the site of the bar room brawl. Inside we find the Acolytes are already inside enjoying some drinks while waiting for their opponents to show up. Faarooq feels he and Bradshaw will be too drunk when the Dudleys arrive but Bradshaw assures him they’ll be here.

• Chris Benoit vs. Rikishi

I don’t get why we’re getting this match again, either. Tazz says he respects Benoit because he opened his eyes when he slammed the car door on his arm. Interesting that the writers actually remembered that. Benoit goes right to work on Rikishi and works him over in a corner when Rikishi shoves him away. Benoit gets back on Rikishi who again shoves him away then gets in his shots and whips him into a clothesline. Rikishi slams Benoit to the mat and follows up with the big legdrop then hits Benoit with a clothesline in a corner. Benoit slumps down to the mat and Rikishi moves in for the stinkface already but Benoit bails out to the floor. Rikishi goes after Benoit and goes for a whip but Benoit counters and rams him shoulder-first into the steps. Benoit rolls Rikishi back in and suplexes him then climbs to the top rope and connects with the diving headbutt but only gets two. Benoit whips Rikishi into a corner and hits a Northern Lights Suplex for another two count. Benoit climbs to the top rope again but Rikishi cuts him off and Benoit tumbles back to the mat. Rikishi plants Benoit with a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall then whips Benoit but lowers the head and Benoit goes for a Sunset Flip but can’t get Rikishi over. Rikishi sits down on Benoit but only gets a two count so he hits Benoit with a Samona Drop for another near fall. Rikishi squashes Benoit with the running butt splash when Bull Buchanan suddenly runs out but Rikishi decks him on the apron then nails Benoit with a superkick. Riksihi then climbs the ropes looking for the Banzai Drop but stops to keep The Goodfather from also coming in. However Benoit recovers and nails Rikishi from behind then hits him with a bridge suplex that gets the pin. (4:28) There were some nice moves in this one but didn’t really do it for me. The run-ins didn’t help, either. **

Benoit heads out with his arms raised while Buchanan and Goodfather swarm in and double-team Rikishi. Too Cool run out and knock Benoit out of their way as they head in the ring to make the save for their buddy. Scotty and Sexay take on the RTC’ers when Benoit goes in and blindsides each of them to turn the tide back. Benoit then heads back out leaving Buchanan and Goodfather to get in their licks before they depart as well.

~ Cole now talks about Eddie Guerrero’s relationship with Chyna deteriorating after he won the Intercontinential Title on Raw with Cole suggesting Eddie pinning Chyna may not have been an accident.

~ That’s followed by footage of a heated conversation Eddie and Chyna had earlier today about what happened. Chyna wants an explantion, accusing Eddie of lying about his affection for her, and Eddie doesn’t understand until Chyna mentions how he smiled as she hugged him on Raw. Eddie claims he was just happy she forgave him but Chyna tearfully tells him she wanted to build her future with him only to find he mainly wanted to build his career. Chyna accuses Eddie of stepping on her to get to the top and not loving her, only loving the belt around his waist. Eddie snaps back at Chyna for talking to him that way after he gave up his friends, his family and wants just for her. Eddie tells Chyna the belt doesn’t mean anything to him and throws it against then wall while saying she can have it. Eddie then yells at Chyna for not ever mentioning him on all the television shows and magazines that she appeared in. Chyna is reduced to tears as Eddie asks if she’s going to back him up when he fights her good friend Road Dogg later. Eddie finally tells Chyna if she’s not going to be there for him then to take her lack of trust and get out of his life. Eddie then storms out a door while Chyna is left in a sobbing heap in a corner as we go to commercial. I have to admit that was actually a good segment with some great work from Eddie there.

~ Back from break Cole announces a match between Too Cool and Right To Censor has been signed for later tonight. We also get a replay of Eddie Guerrero bringing Chyna to tears over her lack of trust.

~ We then check back at the Have a Nice Day Cafe where the Acolytes still anxiously await the Dudleys to show up. It isn’t long before Bubba and D’Von come through the doors with a table in hand which they set up near the bar. The Dudleys then stand nose-to-nose with the Acolytes before smashing glasses on their faces and it’s on.

• The Dudley Boyz vs. The Acolytes – Bar Room Brawl

Bubba knocks Bradshaw over the bar before he and D’Von double-team Faarooq who’s down on the floor when Bradshaw comes back and breaks a bottle on D’Von’s head. Bradshaw pulls D’Von over the bar and wails away on him but D’Von grabs own bottle and nails Bradshaw in the face. Bubba beats on Faarooq with a wooden bar stool when Faarooq grabs a chair and nails Bubba with it but Bubba comes back and smashes a glass on Faarooq’s head. Bubba has a broken bottle but Bradshaw throws D’Von through a wall then breaks a chair over Bubba’s back. Faarooq then drives Bubba through a table with the Dominator and the Acolytes are the ones left standing. (~1:00) Some drunk guy comes up to congradulate Faarooq only to get knocked out by the Acolytes for his trouble. Bradshaw then says the beer is on him since he knocked out the bartender and works the tap for everyone. Can’t really rate this since it wasn’t a real match. NR

~ Back at the arena Cole and Tazz converse when Jerry Lawler appears in the crowd and chokes Tazz out with his own leather strap. Lawler then works Tazz over until a swarm of officials arrive to separate the two as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Lawler has reclaimed his seat at the announce desk as we get a replay of his revenge on Tazz.

• Triple H (w/Stephanie) vs. T & A (w/Trish Stratus) – Handicap Match

I don’t get why this match is taking place since Triple H already beat Test convincingly on Raw. Now if Test had beaten Triple H with Albert’s help then this bout would make more sense. Especially since they’re trying to establish Triple H’s facedom. Test is starting things off for his team when Albert distracts Triple H allowing Test to get in the first shots and stomp him down in a corner. Test goes for a whip but Triple H reverses it and connects with an elbow then gets in his shots. Triple H goes for a whip, Test reverses him into a corner but Triple H hits a neckbreaker. Albert tags himself in and Triple H wails on him with rights then goes for a whip but Albert won’t budge. Albert throws Triple H into a corner and hammers away on him as we see Kurt Angle watching in the back. Albert whips Triple H and grabs him by the throat for the chokebomb but Triple H gouges the eyes to escape it. Triple H comes off the ropes but Albert plants him with a sitdown press slam then tags Test to take over on him. Test stomps Triple H down in a corner and Triple H fights back but Test stops that with the Full Nelson slam. Test brings Triple H to his corner then distracts the referee while Albert gets in his damage from the apron. Triple H tries to fight out of the corner but Albert pulls him down by the hair and Test chokes him with his boot. Albert tags in and whips Triple H but Triple H comes back with a DDT and covers when Test makes the save. Test helps Albert whip Triple H into a corner then whips Albert into an Avalanche but Triple H sidesteps it and connects with a clothesline on Test. Albert charges at him but Triple H nails him with the high knee then pounds Test down in a corner and chokes him with his boot. Albert hits a chop to the throat then whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H hits him with the facebuster. Triple H is up first and goes for the ropes but Trish trips him from the floor. So Triple H grabs Trish by the hair but Albert squashes Triple H with an Avalanche from behind then rams him into the big boot from Test. Test and Albert double-team Triple H while Trish distracts the referee so Stephanie pulls her off the apron and slaps her in the face. Test goes out and grabs Stephanie by the hair while giving her the business then sets her up for a powerbomb on the floor when Kurt Angle comes out and throws Test into the steps. Angle then checks on Stephanie when Albert pulls him onto the apron but Angle snaps his neck on the ropes. Albert staggers backward into Triple H who drills him with Pedigree and that gets him the three. (5:31) Well they tried to make it look like Triple H needed Angle’s help to beat two men. Stephanie celebrates her husband’s win while Angle lets her know that he was happy to come out to her aid. Stephanie then tells Triple H about how Angle helped them out but Triple H doesn’t seem too happy about it. **

~ Backstage Road Dogg tries to console Chyna who’s still worked up about her confrontation with Eddie earlier. Chyna wants Road Dogg to understand that she does need to be more supportive of Eddie by being in his corner. Eddie then walks up and isn’t happy at what he sees as Road Dogg tries to explain that they’re just long-time friends but Eddie tells Road Dogg to mind his own business. Eddie then asks Chyna if she’s going to be in his corner or her friend’s and Chyna promises to be in his corner. The couple then head out while Eddie threatens to take care of Road Dogg in the ring.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Kurt Angle coming to Stephanie’s aid earlier as Cole asks what Angle’s deal is. We then find Stephanie beaming to Triple H about Angle helping them out and hopefully proving that he’s their friend. Triple H doesn’t see it that way, feeling he had the match under control and didn’t need nor will ever need Angle’s help. Stephanie asks where Triple H was when Test nearly powerbombed her and Triple H orders her not to even go there.

• WWF Intercontinential Title: Eddie Guerrero © (w/Chyna) vs. Road Dogg

Road Dogg does his intro on the mic then says his family fights for one another, including his “sister” Chyna. Once everyone is out Road Dogg holds the ropes open for Chyna to exit the ring but that allows Eddie to attack him from behind. Eddie lays the boots to Road Dogg and works him over on the mat then caps off with an European uppercut. Eddie whips Road Dogg but Road Dogg comes back with an elbow then follows it up with a clothesline and an elbowdrop. Road Dogg goes for a whip, Eddie reverses it and Road Dogg hits the juke ‘n jive punches but Eddie dropkicks Road Dogg’s knee before he can connect with the big right. Eddie attacks the knee then goes out to the apron and slings himself into a hilo on the knee. Eddie tosses Road Dogg through the ropes and distracts the referee expecting Chyna to do something to Road Dogg on the floor but Chyna does nothing. So Eddie goes out to the apron and hits an axehandle then glares ar Chyna as he throws Road Dogg back in. Eddie ramps Road Dogg’s knee into the mat then slaps on a leg lace and wrenches the knee. Eddie goes for a whip, Road Dogg reverses it and slaps on a sleeper but Eddie counters with a back suplex. Road Dogg fights back and whips Eddie and hits a backdrop then sets him up for the pump-handle slam but Eddie fights out of it. Road Dogg comes back with the juke ‘n’ jive punches and this time hits the big right. Road Dogg then goes for the ropes for the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop when Chyna grabs his ankle from the floor. Road Dogg is shocked at Chyna who tries to get him to understand her position. Road Dogg catches Eddie with an elbow and rolls him in a package but Chyna moves the pile with Eddie on top and he gets the three to retain. (4:31) Solid enough match and the angle is pretty cool, with Eddie manipluating Chyna into protecting his title reign. **½

Chyna tries to apologize to Road Dogg who isn’t happy when Eddie waffles him from behind with the IC belt and stomps away at him. Chyna tries to pull Eddie off but Eddie nails Road Dogg with the belt again and works him over some more as Chyna again begs him to stop. Eddie shoves Chyna back then eventually gets done with his beatdown and heads to the back with Chyna slowly following behind him.

~ Back form break we get an exterior shot of Freedom Hall as Cole and Lawler talk about what he just saw.

• Too Cool vs. Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather

I’m sure you haven’t forgotten how that match was setup earlier. Steven Richards is noticeably absent tonight, most likely out brainwashing Val Venis somewhere. All four men go at it to start until the referee eventually gets Buchanan and Scotty 2 Hotty out to the corners while Goodfather whips Grandmaster Sexay and hits an elbow Goodfather comes off the ropes for an elbowdrop but misses. Sexay goes for a whip, Godfather reverses him into a corner but Sexay springs off the ropes into a crossbody. Sexay goes for another whip but Goodfather counters with a clothesline then tags Buchanan to take over on him. Buchanan whips Sexay but Sexay slides under him then tags Scotty and the Too Cool guys throw him to the mat and hit the double elbowdrop. However Scotty does some strutting allowing Buchanan to recover. Buchanan whips Scotty into a corner and Scotty lifts himself up with the ropes when Buchanan catches him on the shoulder. Scotty slips out and goes for a whip, Buchanan reverses it but Scotty slides under him just as Sexay did earlier and hits a neckbreaker. Scotty goes for a whip but Buchanan reverses it and Goodfather kicks him from behind. Buchanan hits a suplex and follows up with a legdrop that gets him a near fall then tags Goodfather back in. The RTC’ers whip Scotty and connect with a double elbow and Goodfather slams him. Goodfather climbs up the ropes and goes for the Vader splash but Scotty avoids it then crawls over and makes the hot tag to Sexay. Sexay takes it to Goodfather then whips him and hits an enzuigiri before nailing Buchanan with a dropkick. Scotty and Sexay clothesline Goodfather over the ropes then turn and whip Buchanan but lower their heads. Buchanan kicks Scotty’s face then whips Sexay into a corner and goes for a splash but Sexay sidesteps it and Scotty hits the bulldog. Scotty goes for the Worm but Goodfather intercepts him with a Death Valley Driver. Goodfather covers Scotty but Sexay climbs to the top rope and breaks up the pin with the Hip Hop Drop. Sexay then covers Goodfather but Buchanan saves it with the axe kick. The referee tries to get Buchanan out as
Goodfather goes for the cover again when Rikishi suddenly runs in and nails Goodfather with the big ledrop. Rikishi heads out as Sexay rolls on top of Goodfather and the referee counts the three for Too Cool. (4:04) Pretty much a trainwreck but the crowd was still into the Too Cool guys as always. Rikishi goes in the ring along with Mandy and Victoria and all five commence with the post-match dance. *

~ We then check back at the bar and find the Dudleys and Acolytes have apparently patched up their differences and express some mutual admiration. The Kaientai guys suddenly appear wanting to join in on their party by buying a round of sake but Bubba and D’Von each break a bottle over their heads in response.

~ Back from break Cole hypes the Smackdown Your Vote campagin, saying 50,000 new voters have been registered. Cole and Lawler also reminds us of the Smackdown Challenge to Al Gore and George Bush as we await a response.

• The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle

Let’s see how long it takes Taker to destroy Angle this time around. Both men lockup to start when Taker shoves Angle down so they lockup again and we get the same result. Angle grabs Taker with a waistlock but Taker fights out of it then whips Angle into a corner and clotheslines him. Taker follows up with a powerslam for a two count as we see Triple H enjoying this match from his lockerroom. Taker decks Angle with a right hand then grabs his arm and walks the top rope before clubbing him in the back. Taker comes off the ropes but Angle trips him with a drop toehold, finally gettting some offense in this match. Angle gets another waistlock and Taker fights out of it again but Angle drills him with a DDT for a near fall. Angle gets in his shots then comes off the ropes but runs into a boot and Taker hits an elbowdrop for a two. Taker whips Angle and scoops him up but Angle slips out and hits a German suplex followed by a clothesline. Angle continues getting in his shots on Taker then drapes him over the apron and elbows him in the chest twice. Angle goes back in the ring and works Taker over in a corner with punches and kicks as Stephanie watches the match with Triple H backstage, silently rooting Angle on. Taker starts fighting back and whips Angle but lowers the head and Angle kicks the face. Angle whips Taker but Taker comes back with a flying clothesline. Taker then sets Angle up for the Last Ride but Chris Benoit runs in and breaks it up to end this one. (3:50) At least Taker didn’t totally squash Angle this time around. *

Angle and Benoit proceed to double-team Taker who tries to fight back but keeps getting overwhelmed by them. Suddenly Triple H charges in the ring and goes right after Angle, not necesarily to help Taker but to get a piece of his rival. Triple H pops Angle through the ropes with a right then goes out to continue assaulting Angle up the ramp to the back. Meanwhile Taker comes back against Benoit and whips him into a boot then finishes him off with the Last Ride. Taker leaves Benoit laying and rides out on his motorcycle as Cole hypes Steve Austin’s special message next.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Triple H getting him some of Kurt Angle and helping Undertaker out as a result. Backstage Stephanie confronts Triple H about going out and assaulting Angle after he helped them out earlier tonight. Triple H says he did what he wanted and would do it again because he doesn’t believe a word that Kurt Angle says. Stephanie feels Angle let his actions speak louder than his words after the way he saved her from Test’s powerbomb. Stephanie then asks Triple H who will be there the next time she’s in harm’s away while he’s off doing something else. Stephanie says maybe when it happens she’ll just get hurt and that’ll make her husband happy.

~ We then go to a pre-recorded message from Stone Cold Steve Austin who’s speaking from his home in Texas. Austin starts off with his back to the camers before turning around to remind everyone who forgot who he is in the nine months he’s been gone. Austin mentionsUnforgiven and how he doesn’t forgive or forget then warns whoever ran him down with the car back at Survivor Series to step forward before the pay-per-view. Austin says if that person makes him wait he’s going to be at Unforgiven and interrogate everyone until he finds him. Austin also says that person better hope God has mercy on him because he won’t then gives us the bottom line.

~ Backstage Edge and Christian are talking about going for the Intercontiential title after they win the WWF title when they come across a soda machine with RC Edge Cola. Rock suddenly whacks Edge from behind with a chair and stomps Christian down then turns and rams Edge into the soda machince and the tag champs are left laying.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Rock ambushing Edge & Christian, perhaps tilting the odds in his favor.

• WWF World Heavyweight Title: The Rock © vs. Edge & Christian – Handicap Match

Rock makes his way out first followed by Christian who comes out alone as Edge is nowhere to be found. This would suggest Rock is facing Christian in a one-on-one title match, which would make sense since Christian was the one who pinned Rock on Raw. Instead Christian gets on the mic and asks Rock if he thinks he’s so clever taking Edge out with a chair backstage because he went to Commissioner Foley and got a new partner to make sure this is a handicap match. Not surprisingly that partner turns out to be Kane so instead of Rock vs. Christian we now have…

• WWF World Heavyweight Title: The Rock © vs. Christian & Kane – Handicap Match

I still think this should be Christian getting a one-on-one shot at the title since this idea usually doesn’t end well. Rock goes right to work on Kane then goes for a whip but Kane counters it with a short-arm clothesline. Kane works Rock over in a corner and Rock tries to fight back but Kane stops that with a knee to the chest. Kane whips Rock into a corner and charges but eats a boot and Rock plants him with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Rock comes off the ropes but runs into a boot as Christian seems content to just watch the action from the floor. Kane clubs Rock and chokes him in a corner and Rock tries to rally when Kane grabs him in a chokehold. Rock fights out of it and comes off the ropes then grabs Kane for a Rock Bottom but Kane elbows Rock away. Kane uppercuts Rock over the ropes then goes out and pops Rock over the barricade as Christian looks on. Kane goes after Rock in the crowd and whips him into the barrier before popping him back over to ringside. Rock grabs the ringbell and cracks Kane in the head with it but Christian comes over and clotheslines Rock. Christian gets in his shots before tossing Rock back in the ring then goes in himself to continue his assault. Christian chokes Rock on the mat when Rock fights back and goes for a whip but Christian hits a heel kick. Kane starts to recover from the bellshot when Christian goes for a whip but Rock reverses him into a corner. Rock eats an elbow and Christian hops to the top rope then leaps off but Rock catches him into a DDT for a two count. Rock tees off on Christian then whips him into an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Kane climbs on the apron but Rock greets him with right hands then knocks him back off with the Smackdown. Rock turns back into a right hand from Christian who then whips him but Rock comes back with the spinebuster. Rock then looks to hit the People’s Elbow but Kane catches him by the throat and plants him with the chokeslam. Kane covers Rock and Hebner counts 1..2..but Christian breaks it up and Kane is not happy with his partner. Christian then kicks Kane below the belt and Kane is reeling while Christian hits Rock with a Slop Drop. Christian covers Rock looking to win the title but Kane pulls Christian off and tosses him through the ropes. Christian pulls Kane out to the floor but Kane beats him down then starts clearing off the announce table as Edge suddenly runs out. But instead of going after Rock in the ring Edge heads over to get a piece of Kane and the two of them duke it out while Hebner tries to break it up. Christian brings his tag title belt in the ring and readies a swing but Rock catches him into a Rock Bottom then covers and gets the three to retain. (6:25) That’s why I told you to go at this solo, Christian. Fun little match although it was mostly Rock vs. Kane again with Christian not having much involvement, despite being one of the scheduled participants. **½

Rock doesn’t get to celebrate as Kane goes in and attacks Rock, having lost his second chance at the title. Kane knocks Rock over the ropes then goes out after him and chokeslams Rock through the announce table. Kane sets of his pyro and lets Rock know he’s still in his sights as Smackdown goes off the air.

Conclusion: I honestly don’t know how to describe this edition of Smackdown other than to say it was just there. There were no real stand-out matches on the show and in fact three of them were ones we already saw many times but for the most part the in-ring action was used to set up the angles for Unforgiven which had yet to have a match announced for it. I imagine the WWF was starting to see the wrestling boom cooling off and couldn’t decide on how to keep the momentum going for the pay-per-view, plus having Austin announcing he was going to be at the supercard seemed like a little bit of desparation, at least in my opinion. Eddie Guerrero’s awesome acting was the lone highlight of a rather forgettable episode.