WWF Smackdown 10/12/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, October 12th, 2000

Taped (10/10) from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA

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: The Hardy Boyz (9/24/2000)
●  WWF European Champion: Al Snow (8/31/2000)
●  WWF Hardcore Champion: Steve Blackman (9/24/2000)
●  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 to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler. We then get a shot os Steve Austin sitting in his pickup truck outside with a stern look on his face as Cole says Austin has been there since early this morning, no doubt waiting for Rikishi to arrive. Also tonight Triple H & Road Dogg will take on Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn and Kurt Angle will battle Kane one-on-one.

• The Dudleyz Boyz vs. Lo Down – Tables Match

Don’t know how this match came about but I imagine Chaz and D’Lo Brown were just happy to be on Raw and Smackdown this week. The Dudleys bring a table with them to the ring when Chaz and D’Lo try to attack them but the Dudleys raise the table up and hit them with it. Suddenly the two men in gold outfits from Raw come out to join the announcers’ table and identify themselves as “Uno” and “Dos” and are apparently The Conquistadors from the 80s. Cole tries to talk to them but they answer every question with “Si Senor”. However they still look like another tag team. Meanwhile Chaz and D’Lo each pair off with a Dudley and go to whip them into each other but the Dudleys counter and D’Von hits a backdrop on Chaz while Bubba slams D’Lo to the mat. Bubba whips Chaz into a corner and charges but eats a boot and Chaz comes out with a clothesline. Chaz goes for a whip but Bubba reverses and hits a sidewalk slam then knocks D’Lo off the apron. Bubba sets Chaz up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and connects with the “Wassup” headbutt. D’Lo comes in but Bubba slams him down and sets him up and D’Von hits the “Wassup” on him as well. The Dudleys slide a pair of tables in the ring and set one of them up in the center. The Dudleys set D’Lo up for a double-suplex through the table but Chaz pulls it away then throws D’Von through the ropes. Bubba whips Chaz into a corner and charges but eats an elbow and Chaz hits a tornado DDT onto the other table. Chaz and D’Lo both lay the boots to Bubba then jab him with the table. Chaz holds Bubba down in a corner and D’Lo dropkicks him below the belt before the two set the table up. Bubba nails Chaz and lays him across the table then hops to the middle rope but D’Lo distracts him, allowing Chaz to get off the table. Chaz cuts off Bubba then goes up and attempts a hurricanrana but D’Von moves the table out of the way. D’Lo tags in and hammers Bubba in a corner but Bubba starts fighting back and goes for a whip. D’Lo reverses but lowers the head and Bubba the face then hits the full nelson bomb. Bubba and tags in D’Von while D’Lo tags in Chaz and D’Von whips Chaz and hits the Curtain Call. D’Lo comes in but D’von hits a forearm. Bubba sets Chaz on his shoulders while D’Von climbs up to the top and hits the Dudleyville Device. D’Von gets the table ready but D’Lo throws Bubba through the ropes then plants D’Von with the Sky High. D’Lo lays D’Von across the table then climbs to the top rope and readies for the Lo Down but Bubba shoves his legs causing him to straddle the turnbuckle. D’Lo staggers to the mat and the Dudleys hit the 3D through the table for the win.(6:10) Entertaining enough match but the stuff with the Conquistadors slightly detracted from it. **

~ Cole and Lalwer now talk about Chyna and Eddie Guerrero’s breakup on Raw and Billy Gunn getting involved. After showing clips of it Cole and Lawler announce Billy will team with Chris Jericho tonight against Eddie and X-Pac. Cole also announces Jim Ross will have a sit-down interview with The Rock next. We also get another shot of Steve Austin sitting in his truck as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we’re shown a montage of the Steve Ausitn hit-and-run mystery, culminating in Rikishi’s confession on Raw. We now get a sit-down interview Jim Ross had with the Rock earlier today about that subject. JR asks Rock for his thoughts on what Rikishi said and Rock says he doesn’t know what to think. Rock also doesn’t know what’s more confusing: Rikishi running Steve Austin over, or Rikishi doing it for him which makes him feel sick to his stomach. Rock points out he was already a multi-time WWF Champion before Survivor Series and feels Rikishi’s comments negated everything he already accomplished. Rock calls Rikishi a guy who he thought he knew his whole life and now he scares him. JR brings up Rikishi calling the WWF the “great white hope” and Rock calls it b.s because he received the same oppertunity as everyone else and Rikishi playing the race card was ridiculous. Rock mentions he was in the ring with Rikishi who he feels honestly believes he did the right thing. Rock says Rikishi cast a doubt in everyone’s mind that he couldn’t have done it on his own and feels he could have accomplished everything he’s done in the WWF with Austin still around. JR mentions Austin coming back tonight and his rage against Rikishi and Rock says he knows he and Austin are cool but he’s torn between emotions. Rock says he’s known Rikishi his whole life so Rikishi is going to get what he deserves coming to him. Rock also warns Austin not to do anything to Rikishi that he is going to regret for the rest of his life.

~ After the interview Cole and Lawler add their thoughts about the conversation. Lawler mentions what the Rock said about doing just as well with Austin in the picture and feels there’s only room for one at the top while wondering what would have really happened.

~ X-Pac is shown making his way to the ring for the tag team match with is next. Elsewhere Billy Gunn is walking when Eddie Guerrero attacks him and throws him into a steel door then hits him with a tire iron. Eddie leaves Billy laying as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get footage of Billy getting stretchered out during the break with Mick Foley looking on. As Billy is loaded into an ambulance Eddie taunts him from nearby until Foley barks at Eddie in return. Foley then decides to rebook the match into a triple threat and tells Eddie it’s now going to be him, Chris Jericho and X-Pac for his Intercontinential Title. Eddie protests but Foley saying his match is now and orders him to the ring.

• WWF Intercontinential Title: Eddie Guerrero © vs. X-Pac vs. Chris Jericho

All three men start off by staring down each other when X-Pac takes a swing at Jericho but misses and Jericho drops him with a right hand. Jericho whips X-Pac and hits an elbow but Eddie breaks up the cover. Eddie goes for a whip and Jericho reverses but Eddie hits a shoulderblock. Eddie comes off the ropes but Jericho leapfrogs over him and hits a moneky flip. Jericho knocks down X-Pac then hits a spinning heel kick on Eddie and Eddie rolls out to the apron when Jericho knocks him off to the floor with the springboard dropkick. Jericho slings X-Pac through the ropes and hits a baseball slide on Eddie but X-Pac nails him with a spinkick. X-Pac and Eddie to double-team Jericho before throwing him back in the ring and both men stomp him down in a corner. X-Pac hits a Bronco Buster as Eddie applauds him but Jericho fights out of the corner and whips Eddie into an elbow. Jericho goes to whip Eddie who reverses it but Jericho takes him down and goes for the Walls of Jericho on Eddie. X-Pac breaks it up and hits a chop then helps Eddie whip Jericho into a double clothesline. X-Pac celebrates when Eddie nails him from behind, ending their brief alliance. Eddie whips Jericho into a corner and charges but Jericho tosses him onto the top turnbuckle and clotheslines X-Pac. Jericho hammers away on both men then whips X-Pac, X-Pac reverses but Jericho hits a flying forearm. Eddie goes for a whip but Jericho reverses him into a corner and comes off the ropes with the bulldog. Jericho clotheslines X-Pac over the ropes then whips Eddie and hits a powerbomb. Jericho connects with the Lionsault on Eddie but X-Pac lowblows Jericho before he can make the cover and hits the X-Factor. X-Pac covers Jericho but Eddie dropkicks him out of the ring then covers Jericho himself to steal the three count. (3:50) Fun, fast-paced match but over way too quickly. Eddie takes his IC belt and departs all smiles while Jericho and X-Pac are still going at it until the referees separate them. **½

~ Backstage Austin is still sitting in his pickup truck when several cops pull up to try and talk sense to him. One cop warns Austin it’ll be murder if he runs over Rikishi, which could mean 25 years to life but Austin doesn’t want to hear it and rolls up the window in the cop’s face. The cop then walks off and Austin continues to wait as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break B-Real from Cypress Hill is shown in the crowd as Cole and Lawler mention Cypress Hill will perform on Sunday Night Heat this week. The announcers also mention Mick Foley will be the guest host as well.

~ Backstage the Right to Censor members are conversing when Kurt Angle walks up and tells them he admires their work. Steven Richards accepts the complement when Angle then says they need some gold to boost their efforts, specifically WWF World Championship gold. Angle mentions The Rock is in a vunerable state so he feels one of them should challenge him to a title match and if they win they’re all winners. Val Venis doesn’t understand so Angle reminds them he’s the #1 Contender to the WWF Championship at No Mercy and if his match is against one of them, it would be a good clean athletic contest which will guarantee the fans an upstanding citizen to look up to as champion. Richards actually agrees with what Angle is selling and Angle wishes them good luck.

• WWF European Title: Al Snow © (w/Head) vs. Albert (w/Trish Stratus)

Once again William Regal joins the announcers for commentary to complain about Snow being European Champion. Today Snow is representing Hong Kong as he comes out dressed as a Chinaman and throws fortune cookies to the crowd while presenting a picture of Hong Kong Phooey to Jerry Lawler. Regal is appaled since Hong Kong is not even in Europe, but Cole mentions it was once a British colony. Snow starts off with a headlock but Albert shoves him into the ropes and hits a bodyblock. Snow taunts Albert to go at him then ducks a clothesline and connects with a superkick. Snow goes for a whip but Albert reverses and shoulderblocks him through the ropes. Albert goes out after Snow and clubs him in the back then rams him into the barrcade. Albert goes for a whip but Snow reverses and whips Albert into the barricade before rolling him back in the ring. Albert lands a shot to the throat and both men exchange punches when Snow gets the advantage until Albert jabs him in the eye. Albert whips Snow and Snow slides to stop himself but eats a clothesline. Albert slingshots Snow into the middle rope then whips him but Snow dropkicks him in the knee. Snow kicks at Albert’s knee and hits a clothesline then hammers Albert in a corner. Snow goes for a whip, Albert reverses him into the opposite corner and chagres but Snow sidesteps him then goes out to the floor and pulls Albert into the ringpost by the legs. Snow grabs Head and swings at Albert but misses then swings at Trish and also misses. Albert plants Snow with a butterfly suplex but only gets a two count. Albert goes for a powerbomb but Snow counters with a Frankensteiner that gets the three. (3:24) After the match Albert grabs Head and swings it at Snow but Snow ducks then hits an enzuigiri. Snow then grabs Head and finally nails Albert with it, sending him over the ropes. Suddenly Regal charges in the ring and attacks Snow from behind then tosses him over the ropes to get their feud rolling. *½

~ Backstage Jim Ross now tries to talk Austin out of his truck. Austin rolls his window down as JR tries to reason with him but Austin just glares at him and JR backs away.

~ Triple H and Road Dogg are shown heading to the ring for their tag match as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Cole announces Mick Foley has granted Val Venis a title shot against The Rock tonight.

• Triple H & Road Dogg vs. Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn (w/Terri Runnels)

All four men pair off to start with Triple H going right for Benoit and Road Dogg taking on Saturn and clotheslining him over the ropes. Triple H stomps Benoit down in a corner and both DX’ers whip him into a double elbow. Triple H unloads on Benoit when Benoit fights back and goes for a whip but Triple H reverses and hits the high knee. Triple H tags in Raod Dogg while holding Benoit down on the middle rope and Road Dogg straddles him then follows up with the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop for a two count. Road Dogg whips Benoit hard into the corner and boots him in the back of the head for a near fall. Benoit comes back and hits a suplex then tags in Saturn who comes in with a clothesline. Saturn lays the boots to Road Dogg and whips him but lowers the head and Road Dogg kicks the face then comes off the ropes with a flying forearm. Road Dogg goes for a whip but Saturn counters into an exploder suplex. Benoit tags in and whips Road Dogg into an elbow for a near fall then hits a backbreaker for another two count. Benoit applies a standing armbar as Road Dogg tries to reach for a tag but Benoit pops him then knocks Triple H off the apron. Benoit applies the Crossface on Road Dogg but Triple H breaks it up and hits a DDT then heads back to the corner. Saturn tags in and drops an elbow on Road Dogg to keep him from making the tag then slams him. Saturn climbs to the top rope and Saturn goes for a moonsault but misses and Road Dogg manages to crawl over and tag in Triple H. Triple H clotheslines Saturn then knocks Benoit off the apron. Triple H goes for a whip, Saturn reverses him into a corner but Triple H comes out with a neckbreaker. Triple H goes for another whip, Saturn reverses but lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster. Triple H covers Saturn but Benoit makes the save and Road Dogg knocks Benoit out of the ring. Triple H and Road Dogg both whip Saturn and both do the juke ‘n jive punches then Benoit runs in but gets thrown back over the ropes. Road Dogg goes out after Benoit while Triple H sets Saturn up for the Pedigree but Terri comes in and tries to break it up. Triple H just shrugs it off and scares Terri from the ring but Saturn nails him from behild while Benoit whacks Road Dogg with a chair on the floor. Saturn goes for a whip but Triple H reverses and slings Saturn into Benoit, knocking him off the apron. Triple H quickly hits the Pedigree on Saturn and gets the three count for the win. (5:48) Good tag match, and I guess they figured Triple H needed the win but at least Saturn took the pin keeping Benoit from giving him his win back. **½

Triple H celebrates but Benoit cuts it short by putting him in the Crossface. The referee can’t get Benoit to let go of the hold so more referees come in and Benoit releases the hold but then puts the Crossface back on again. Road Dogg comes back in for the save and Benoit rolls out to the floor then walks back up the ramp, grinning and laughing at his No Mercy opponent.

~ Backstage Mick Foley is walking somewhere while Austin is still waiting in the truck as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of the tag match and Benoit’s post-match attack. In the back Triple H is holding his shoulder in pain as Stephanie looks on and tells her husband it wouldn’t have happened if she were out there in his corner. Stephanie tells Triple H they’re a team and asks him if he’ll have her at ringside again but Triple H still says no and Stephanie storms off in frustration.

~ Out in the arena Mick Foley makes his way to the ring and gets on the mic to eneusre we have our long talking segment. Foley says he followed through on Raw in finding the man who ran over Steve Austin but instead of feeling good about it he feels a little bit sick because it’s probably not over, it’s just beginning. Foley proceeds to lift Austin’s suspension then adds he knows Austin’s out in the parking garage with some pretty bad intentions running through that mind. Foley asks Austin to come out to the ring claiming he’s the man that can deliver Rikishi to him. Foley says he’s got all night if need be and will sit in the ring until Austin comes down then asks for a chair and takes a seat waiting for Austin to appear.

We then cut to the garage as JR tries again to talk some sense to Austin, asking him to give Foley the benefit of the doubt. Eventually Austin does climb out of the truck and makes his way to the the ring, locking his eyes on Foley and throwing his chair away. Foley thanks Austin for coming out and talks about the bad intentions he has in his mind. Foley admies he made the mistake of trying to tell him what to do, and now he understands not to do that but then asks Austin not to run down Rikishi. Foley says Rikish isn’t dumb enough to show up knowing Austin after him then warns Austin if he does it, it’s no longer a wrestling matter because he will go to jail. Foley asks Austin to wait utill No Mercy where he’ll deliver Rikishi to him in a match but Austin interrupts asking why wait until then when he can run Rikishi over like a speed bump now. Foley says the fans in Los Angeles, California will not get what they want because Austin will go to jail. Foley again asks Austin to wait until the pay-per-view but Austin doesn’t approve getting a ‘match’ with the guy who ran him over and put him out for 10 months. That is until Foley makes it No Holds Barred meaning anything Austin does to Rikishi is all legal. Satisifed, Austin accepts the match promising a Stone Cold beating that’ll raise brutality to a new level. Austin finishes by asking Foley what the pay-per-view is called and when Foley answers No Mercy and Austin says exactly before walking off.

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

Matt Hardy and Raven exchange slaps to start and eventually Matt takes Raven down and gets in the first shots. Matt whips Raven but lowers the head and Raven kicks the face then comes off the ropes with a discus punch. Raven unloads on Matt while Tazz holds him by the hair but Matt fights out of the corner and hits an inverted neckbreaker on Raven. Matt covers Raven but Tazz breaks up the pin prompting Jeff to come in. While Matt and Tazz square off Jeff tries to whip Raven and Raven reverses but Jeff slides to the floor. Raven slides out after Jeff but Jeff goes back in and hits a dropkick through the ropes. Tazz goes for a whip but Matt reverses and Jeff throws him through the ropes as well. Matt drops to the mat and Jeff launches over the top rope into a Poetry in Motion on both men. Jeff throws Tazz back in the ring and Matt covers him but only gets a two count. Jeff tags in and both Hardys whip Tazz into a corner then Matt drops to the mat again. Jeff goes for another Poetry in Motion and Tazz ducks it but Jeff lands on his feet on the top rope and backflips to the mat. Tazz comes back with a belly-to-belly Tazplex then Raven comes in for a double-team and the two whip Jeff in and out of their corner. Raven takes over without a tag goes for a whip, Jeff reverses Raven into a corner and chagres but eats a boot. Raven charges again but Jeff leapfrogs over him and Raven runs into the turnbuckles before Jeff rolls him up for a near fall. Raven goes for a whip but Jeff counters and drives Raven into the corner. Raven grabs Jeff’s leg but Jeff kicks him away and tags in Matt. Tazz also gets the tag but runs into a right hand. Matt slams Tazz and goes for a whip, Tazz revereses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Matt hops to the second rope and connects with a flying clothesline then Raven comes in but runs into a dropkick from Jeff. Jeff takes down Tazz and both Hardys hit a double-legdrop combo. Matt sets Tazz up for a Twist fo Fate and Raven tries to prevent it but gets backdropped. Jeff hits a crossbody on Raven that takes both over the ropes while Matt hits Tazz with the Twist of Fate. Suddenly The Conquistadors run out to the ring again and one of them distracts the referee while the other drills Matt with a Slop Drop … just like Christian’s. Probably just a coincedence.The Conquistadors flee while Tazz crawls over and covers Matt but only gets two! Raven rams Jeff into the ringsteps while Tazz applies the Tazzmission on Matt and takes him down to the mat. However Jeff climbs to the top rope and hits the Swanton Bomb on Tazz and Matt rolls on top of him for the cover the three to retain. (4:17) Chaotic but fun match.**½

~ The Rock is shown pacing around his lockerroom, no doubt pondering his title defense later.

~ Kane is shown walking to the ring for his match as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Stephanie McMahon heads to the ring to no music and grabs a mic to introduces the man who’s corner she will permanently be in: Kurt Angle! Angle comes out as Stephanie proudly proclaims him the next WWF Champion and Angle goes for a hug but Stephanie backs away so they just shake hands.

• Kurt Angle (w/Stephanie McMahon) vs. Kane

As Kane comes out Angle quickly bails out to the floor but Kane chases him around the ring then stops him from going back in and beats him down him to start the match. Kane rams Angle into the ringsteps then chases Stephanie up the ramp as Angle flees into the crowd. Kane chases Angle down and scoops him onto his shoulder then drops him over the barricade. Kane press slams Angle over the ropes in the ring then goes in and picks Angle up by the throat for a chokebomb. Kane whips Angle into a corner and charges but eats an elbow. Angle whips Kane into a corner and Kane staggers back into a German suplex. Angle dropkicks Kane under the ropes then goes out and rams Kane into the steps. Angle heads back in and distracts the ref while Stephanie throws water into Kane’s face. Angle pulls Kane onto the apron and Kane counters by snapping Angle’s neck on the top rope. Kane goes back in the ring and whips Angle when Angle grabs him with a waistlock and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Kane sits right up and Angle lands several right hands but they have no effect. Kane hammers Angle with a series of uppercuts then whips him into a bit boot.. Kane whips Angle again but lowers the head and Angle the face. Angle comes off the ropes but Kane scoops him onto his shoulders for a powerslam. Kane climbs to the tope rope and connects with a flying clothesline then follows up with the chokeslam. Stephanie hops on the apron so Kane chases her through the ring. Kane grabs Stephanie by the hair when Angle rolls Kane up from behind and holds the ropes to get the cheap pin. (4:25) Angle was totally dominated and needed Stephanie to bail him out. Not the way to make your #1 contender look strong, guys.*

Kane is not happy about the result and grabs the referee by the throat when a second referee comes out to warn him not to do it. Kane chokeslams the referee anyway then chokeslams the other referee as well while Angle and Stephanie celebrate on the stage, their partnership already paying dividends.

~ Backstage Steve Austin is walking when he comes across Funaki and asks where Too Cool’s lockerroom is. Funaki points the way and Austin heads in that direction as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Staples Center and find Jerry O’Connell in the crowd tonight.

~ Backstage Austin barges into Too Cool’s lockerroom and asks them where Rikishi is. Scotty 2 Hotty tells him they don’t know and they haven’t seen Rikishi since Monday. Scotty adds that Rikishi never told him about the hit-and-run in the 10 months since the incident. Grandmaster Sexay adds Rikishi stays out of his game so he stays out of Rikishi’s and Austin decks Sexay with a right hand for the heck of it and storms off.

~ Elsewhere The Rock is shown pacing around the back getting ready for his title match.

~ Still elsewhere Val Venis is doing push ups when Stephanie and Angle come by. Stephanie tells Val it’s his night and he has to defeat the People’s Champ to have the ear of the People. Stephanie adds the Rock is vunerable right now and tells Val he has something the Rock will never have. Stephanie says he has right on his side, and right will always defeat wrong and Angle says it’s true as we go to commercial.

• WWF World Heavyweight Title: The Rock © vs. Val Venis (w/Steven Richards)

Wow, Val Venis in the main event. Who could have imagined that. Remember that feud Rock had with Val back in late 1999? Yea, me neither. Before the match begins Kurt Angle comes back out on the stage with Stephanie and a mic says they find it interesting Rikishi claimed Rock had nothing to do with running over Austin. Angle says if they can find OJ innocent in L.A. maybe Rock can find some gullible people to believe him. Rock goes out and heads up the ramp toward Angle when Val tries to attack from behind but Rock catches him. Rock hammers Val back to ringside and goes for a whip but Val reverses him into a clothesline from Richards. Val throws Rock back in the ring and beats him down in a corner before choking him with his boot.Val distracts the referee allowing Richards to choke Rock from the floor but Rock explodes out of the corner with a clothesline. Rock follows up with a back suplex for a two count then lays the boots to Val and goes for a whip but Val reverses and Richards trips Rock from the floor. Rock pulls Richards up to the apron when Val charges him but Rock sidesteps and Val clotheslines Richards off the apron. Rock goes for a whip but Val reverses and Rock tumbles to the floor after Richards pulls the top rope. Richards clotheslines Rock over the barricade into the crowd and Val goes out after him but Rock greets him with several right hands. Rock knocks Val back over the barricade to ringside but Val comes back and rams Rock into the announce table. Val chops Rock before throwing him back in the ring and hitting a vertical suplex for a two count. Val applies a headlock, Rock manages to fight out of it and comes off the ropes but runs into an elbow. Val follows up with an elbowdrop and a running kneedrop but only gets a near fall. Val applies another headlock and Rock begins to fade as the checks the arm and it drops once, twice, and Rock keeps it up the third time. Rock fights out of the hold, Val rakes the eyes and comes off the ropes but runs into a Samoan Drop. Rock works Val over in a corner and caps off with the Smackdown and Val charges out but runs right into a DDT for a two count. Rock goes for a whip but Val reverses it and both men clothesline each other. Both men are down as Richards grabs the WWF Championship belt and kicks it in the ring. Val grabs the belt and takes a swing but Rock catches him into a Rock Bottom. Rock covers Val but Richards distractes the referee from making the count and only geta a two count. Rock takes a swing at Richards but misses and Val clocks Rock with the title belt then covers for the upset … but only gets two!! Val climbs to the top rope and hits a crossbody but Rock rolls through for a near fall. Richards runs in but Rock takes him out with a Rock Bottom then plants Val with a spinebuster and drops the People’s Elbow to put Val away. (7:03) Solid main event although Rock may have tried a little too hard to make Val look like a credible threat. But then again it plays into Rock’s “vunerable state” so no real harm is done. **

Angle immediately rushes the ring and clotheslines Rock down then works him over as Stephanie comes in. Rock fights back and drops Angle with a right hand then grabs Stephanie for a Rock Bottom but Angle saves her with a low blow and plants Rock with an Olympic Slam. Angle hits Rock with another Olympic Slam then holds Rock up for a slap from Stephanie before he elbowdrops Rock below the belt. Angle and Stephanie leave Rock laying and raise their arms in victory, having sent their message as Smackdown goes off the air.

Conclusion: Solid edition of Smackdown to keep the No Mercy build going. Again we only had one long talking segment in the middle of the show and most of the matches were decent enough with the Snow/Albert and Kane/Angle matches the exceptions. The various angles for the supercard were also progressed nicely though some of the booking was a little head-scratching, such as Angle looking weak in his match and Val Venis being in the main event against The Rock. Still a decent way to kill two hours.