Written by: Adam King
WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, October 19th, 2000
Taped (10/17) from the Gund Arena in Cleveland, OH
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: William Regal (10/16/2000)
● 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 with clips of Steve Austin & Rikishi’s latest confrontation onRaw. After the intro Michael Cole and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us and remind us we’re just three days away from No Mercy. Tonight Jim Ross sits down with Steve Austin for a special interview, Lita defends the Women’s Title against Trish Stratus, and The Rock, Triple H, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit compete in a four-corners match. Natually Lawler asks where Stpehanie is going to be during that match.
~ Things kick off with Commissioner Mick Foley coming to the ring, where a group of tag teams have already gathered. Foley grabs a mic and says the last couple of weeks have been difficult and a lot of guys have lost faith in him but there’s one guy who’s been a true friend through all this and thanks Lawler who seems taken aback by this. Foley says he’s now ready to put on a show here in Cleveland and it’s going to start with a tag team battle royal. Foley explains when one member of the team is thrown out, both members of the team are eliminated and the winners will face The Hardy Boyz for the Tag Team Titles at No Mercy. Foley tells everyone to have a nice day as he leaves the ring and we get underway.
- Tag Team #1 Contender’s Battle Royal
Our tag teams include The Dudleys, Los Conquistadors, Too Cool, Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather, The Acolytes, T & A and Lo Down. Lawler mentions Edge & Christian aren’t in this match because they’re still barred from tag title shots against the Hardys. Gee, guys, are you sure they’re not in the ring in another way(wink, wink)? The Acolytes try to eliminate one of the Conquistadors but are unsuccessful while Albert and D’Lo Brown work Buchanan over in the corner. Scotty 2 Hotty and Faarooq try to get D’Von Dudley over the ropes but can’t get him out. Bradshaw manages to get one of the Conquistadors over the ropes but he lands on the apron and rolls back in. Bradshaw and Test go at it until Bradshaw backdrops Test over the ropes for the first elimination. Test pulls Faarooq out from under the ropes and he and Albert start beating him down on the floor. Bradshaw steps over the top and goes out to help Faarooq but gets his team eliminated. The Acolytes and T&A continue going at it until they’re separated by referees. D’Lo throws Scotty over the ropes but both Acolytes catch him and throw him back in the ring. Grandmaster Sexay knocks Goodfather over the ropes and eliminates both RTC members. We then get a shot of …. Tiger Ali Singh sitting in the audience. Just in canse anybody cared, you know? Sexay hits a crossbody on Chaz that sends both of them over the ropes and both their teams are gone. D’Lo stares at what Sexay when Scotty bulldogs him from behind.Scotty goes for the Worm but one of the Conquistadors interupts him and throws him over the ropes. That just leaves the Dudleyz and Conquistadors competing for the title shot while Too Cool and Lo Down brawl on the outside. One of the Conquistadors (“Uno”) goes to whip Bubba but Bubba reverses and throws him over the ropes. Uno gets hung on the ropes but Bubba pushes him off the ropes for the win. Only the referees are too busy breaking up the brawl on the floor to see it. Dos whips D’Von into a corner but and charges but D’Von sidesteps him and Bubba slams him to the mat. Bubba sets Dos up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. Bubba sends D’Von out for a table when Uno comes up from behind and dumps Bubba over the ropes. Bubba’s hand gets caught but Uno frees him and he drops to the flooor for the final elimination. (5:03) So that sets up the Hardys vs. Los Conquistadors for the belts this Sunday. The Conquistadors scurry away while Bubba is furious screaming that he and D’Von won the match. **
~ We get a shot of the parking lot as we await the arrival of Steve Austin. However a limo does arrive and Triple H and Stephanie climb out together. Cole wonders if Triple H knows about the four corners match later tonight as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break the Helmsleys are complaining to Earl Hebner about the main event but Hebner tells them if they have a problem with it, go talk to Commissioner Foley. Stephanie tells Hebner thanks for nothing as she and Triple H storm off.
~ A replay of the closing moments of the tag team battle royal is shown. Backstage Kevin Kelly interviews Los Conquistadors about their victory and their title shot. Before the gold guys can say anything Edge and Christian run up but look winded for some reason. E&C congradulate them and wish them luck at No Mercy then say it’ll be a honor to face them in their first tag title defense once they win the belts. Hmmm….
- WWF Hardcore Title: Steve Blackman © vs. Tazz
Tazz goes to meet Blackman in the aisle and ducks a bicycle kick before hitting a clothesline. Tazz grabs a trash can lid and clocks Blackman with it then goes for a whip but Blackman reverses him into the barricade. Blackman crotches Tazz on the barricade and whacks him with the lid and the two brawl through the crowd to the tech area. Tazz rams Blackman into an anvil case then drags him to the backstage area. Funaki appears and tries to pin Blackman but Tazz pulls him off and tosses him into a metal door. Just Joe walks by and Tazz throws him into a kick by Blackman. The two brawl back through the crowd and Blackman rams Tazz into a trunk. They reach the ramp when Tazz gets the advantage and throws Blackman back in the ring. Tazz brings a chair in and goes for a whip but Blackman trips Tazz onto the chair with a drop toehold. Blackman grabs his fighting sticks and works Tazz over with them, nailing him in the head then hitting a stick-assisted suplex but only gets a two count. Blackman goes for a whip but Tazz counters with a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Tazz brings a kendo Stick in the ring then takes a swing and misses but applies the Tazzmission with the Kendo Stick. Blackman manages to grab a trash can lid and bashes Tazz in the head repeatedly to break the hold. Tazz goes for a suplex but Blackman counters with a low blow. Blackman grabs the kendo stick then climbs to the top rope and leaps off, nailing Tazz in the head with the stick for the pin. (4:17) Okay stuff but Blackman’s act was starting to wear thin a little since he always seems to fight the same guys. *½
~ Backstage the Helmsleys find Mick Foley in his office (a boiler room) and complain about the Four Corners match, with Triple H dayins he doesn’t need this with his match against Benoit just 3 days away. Kurt Angle comes into complain as well but Triple H tells him to shut up. Stephanie says the match doesn’t prove anything and demands Foley change the match. Angle tries to complain again and Stephanie tells him to shut up too. Foley says his job isn’t to make them happy since Rock and Benoit don’t like it either, Foley says his job is to make the WWF fans happy so the match stands. The three of them storm off as Foley tells them “Have a nice day.”
~ We’re shown the parking lot again still waiting the arrival of Steve Austin as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break Eddie Guerrero heads to the ring on crutches due to the injured hamstring he suffered on Raw. Eddie grabs a mic and says he knows Chyna is in the back tonight probabaly wimpering to all her friends about how much she misses her Latino Heat. Eddie also says Chyna wants him back but says that’s not going to happen so she can go with her newfound lover, “Mr. Goldielocks” Billy Gunn. Eddie asks Chyna many times does he have to beat Billy up before she realizes blonds have no fun, they’re just stupid. Eddie then calls out Billy to face him, saying he’s got only one leg so he’ll have the advantage. However Chyna comes out and Eddie seems disapointed and Chyna takes the mic and asks Eddie if he’s surprised to see her. Chyna says she hasn’t been crying in the back but instead has been thinking about all the things she would love to say to him about their relationship. However Chyna decides she’d rather show him and slaps him in the face. Chyna looks ready to go when the Right To Censor comes out. Steven Richards gets on the mic and tells Chyna the RTC felt she never fully understood the severity of her actions when she posed for Playboy because every action has a reaction. The RTC members surround Chyna in the ring as Richards tells her she didn’t take their warnings seriously to censor the magazine so they’re forced to take action not only against the publication, but against her. Chyna pops Val Venis but Richard lays her out with Stevenkick and Billy Gunn comes out and tries to fight all four of them but gets overwhelmend quickly. Eddie holds down Chyna by her throat with his crutch while Buchanan and Goodfather whip Billy into a doublekick and Val follows up with a Blue Thunderbomb. Eddie and the RTC leave while Billy covers up Chyna’s body to keep her from any more harm. I believe this was to set up a backup plan for the pay-per-view in case Eddie can’t go on Sunday.
~ Steve Austin is shown finally arriving in his pickup truck as we go to commercial.
- WWF European Title: William Regal © vs. Al Snow vs. Perry Saturn (w/Terri)
Sorry, guys, but this match unfortunatley got cut off my tape. It picks up just as Snow grabs Head and clocks Saturn with it. Snow covers Saturn but Regal pulls him off and locks in the Regal Stretch and Snow is forced to tap out again. (3:28) Probably would have been a nice match too.
~ Steve Austin is shown pacing around with Jim Ross ready to interview him as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we’re shown a recap of the Austin hit-and-run saga before we go to Jim Ross in the back. JR tells Austin he knows he’s in a foul mood but has some tough questions for him. JR mentions Rikishi really believes he did the right thing and that his family is proud of him but Austin says no one has a legitamate excuse to run him down like a dog. However we cut to the parking lot and find Rikishi eying Austin’s truck before he starts smashing out the headlights with the sledgehammer. Rikishi also takes out the windows then pulls out a cooler and pours the beer out. Back with JR and Austin with JR saying Rikishi is dangerous and feels he’s a visionary to his people but Austin says he envisions there will be No Mercy for Rikishi this Sunday. Meanwhile Rikishi is shown still smashing the truck with Austn and JR unaware of it. JR tells Austin a lot of the guys are concerned about what’s gonna happen to him with no holds barred. Finally Johnathan Coachman barges in and tells Austin that Rikishi is destroying his truck and the two of them dash out while Rikishi is continuing to dismantle the truck.
By the time Austin and JR reach the parking lot Rikishi has fled the scene, but as they survey the damage a car behind Austin’s truck takes off. Austin jumps into his truck and drives after the car despite JR’s pleas that it’s going to be a trap. After Austin speeds off, JR turns around … and finds Rikishi stading behind him! Rikishi asks JR where his buddy is before he shoves him right into a truck. JR is down on the ground and Rikishi stands over him readying his sledgehammer but Mick Foley arrives just in time and screams at Rikishi to put down the sledgehammer if he wants Austin on Sunday. Rikishi tells JR to remember no holds barred then drops the sledgehammer and walks off leaving Foley to check on JR as we go to commercial. That was actually a cool segment to try and establish Rikishi’s heeldom.
~ Back from break we get a replay of the preceding events which of course leaves the question of who drove the decoy car.
- Road Dogg vs. Raven
For once Road Dogg doesn’t do his intro on the mic. Both men lockup to start and Road Dogg applies a headlock, Raven shoves him away but eats a shoulderlock. Road Dogg whips Raven but lowers the head and Raven kicks the face but Road Dogg boots him into the ropes. Road Dogg straddles Raven and follows up with the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop but Raven pulls him through the ropes. Raven goes out and hits a Russian legsweep into the barricade then throws Road Dogg back in the ring. Raven whips Road Dogg into a corner and hits a running bulldog then whips him again and hits a discus punch. Raven applies an inverted chinlock but the referee calls it a choke and orders a break. Raven whips Road Dogg into a corner and shouderblocks him then hits a clothesline. Raven whips Road Dogg yet again but lowers the head and Road Dogg goes for a Sunset Flip but can’t get Raven. However Road Dogg manages to go into the Pump Handle Slam and that gets the pin. (2:56) Feh match plus why did Road Dogg have to go over when he’s not involved in anything while Raven needed the win more to establish himself. *
~ Backstage Kurt Angle tells Stephanie he’s concerned about having her at ringside for the four corners match since he doesn’t trust The Rock or Chris Benoit who he claims have no integrity. Angle is also concerned about Stephanie choosing between himself and Triple H but Stephanie tells him she made a business decision to be in his corner and if it comes to that, she promises to do the right thing and Angle seems relieved. But once Stephanie leaves Angle still seems concerned as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get a replay of Rikishi outsmarting Steve Austin earlier as Cole finally addresses the question of who could have been Rikishi’s accomplice.
~ Backstage Lillian Garcia interviews Edge, Christian and X-Pac about a six-man tag match later. Edge chuckles about what Rikishi did to Austin and Jim Ross earlier with Christian applauding him while X-Pac says he hadn’t seen a redneck drive that fast since Dukes of Hazard left the air. Edge dedicates their match to JR sayign they’ll use the money from it to get him some new underpants.
- Chris Jericho & The Hardy Boyz vs. X-Pac, Edge & Christian
The Hardys and Jericho come out separately while the heels enter as a unit. Before the match begins we cut to the parking lot to find Austin returning and I don’t think I like where this is going to lead. Anyway in the ring X-Pac nails Jericho from behind and Jericho chases him away allowing Edge to nail him from behind. Edge whips Jericho but Jericho comes off the ropes with a forearm then hits a chop. Jericho whips Edge into a corner then comes off the ropes looking for the bulldog but Edge ducks it. Edge goes for an enzuigiri but Jericho ducks that and hits the bulldog for a two count. Jericho tags Matt in and slams Edge to the mat while Matt climbs to the middle rope and hits the guillotine legdrop for a near fall. Edge clubs Matt in the back before Christian tags in and takes over on him. Christian whips Matt but Matt ducks a clothesline and hits a series of rights and a discus punch. Matt goes for a whip, Christian reverses him into a corner and charges but eats an elbow and Matt comes out with a clothesline. Jeff tags in and the Hardys whip Christian into a corner then Matt drops to the mat and Jeff connects with the Poetry in Motion followed by one from Jericho. X-Pac comes in and low blows Jeff while the referee orders Matt and Jericho back to the coriner. Edge tags in and hammers Jeff in a corner then hits a standing dropkick. X-Pac tags in when Jeff fights back and comes off the ropes but runs into a spinning heelkick for a two count. X-Pac kicks Jeff down in his corner then hits the Bronco Buster. Edge tags in and slams Jeff then climbs to the middle rope and mocks Matt before leaping off but Edge leaps off but Jeff gets his feet up to block him and both men are down. Edge tags in Christian and Christian cuts off Jeff before he can tag out. Christian lays the boots to Jeff before choking him on the mat then draws Matt in to distract the referee for a triple-team. X-Pac tags in and hammers Jeff before tagging Edge back in and Jeff tries to fight back but Edge rakes the eyes. Edge whips Jeff into a corner but However Jeff runs up the turnbuckles and connects with the corkscrew moonsault. Jeff tries to reach his corner when X-Pac tags in and tries to stop him but Jeff fights him off and makes the hot tag to Jericho. Jericho clotheslines X-Pac twice then knocks E&C’s heads together. Jericho goes for a whip, X-Pac reverses but Jericho connects with a spinning heelkick. Christian comes in and Jericho pops him but X-Pac nails him from behind. X-Pac whips Jericho and leapfrogs him but Jericho catches him into a powerbomb and holds on for a second powerbomb. Jericho goes for the Lionsault but X-Pac gets the knees up the block it. Edge tries to bring a chair in the ring but the Hardys cut him off and all six men are going at it. But wouldn’t you know it Steve Austin runs in the ring then grabs the chair and lays out all six men with it and that’s the match. (~5:42) The referee yells at Austin about it but Austin decks him with a right hand and Sgt. Slaughter comes out but Austin takes him out with a Stunner. Austin then surveys his damage before heading up the ramp. Seriously, Austin ruined what was becoming a good match just to sell his match with Rikishi on Sunday. That’s just wrong. NR
~ Back from break we get a replay of Austin returning to the arena and taking out everyone he sees.
~ Backstage Kevin Kelly interviews The Rock on his upcoming title defense and Rock starts off with the usual “Finally” bit then says he’s had a lot on his mind the past two weeks.Rock says after he found out Rikishi rans down Ausitn he’s been angry and cofnused but there’s been one man to help him snap out of it, and that’s Kurt Angle. Rock says after all of Angle’s trash-talking and sneak attacks he’s now focused on Angle instead of Rikishi. Rock mentions he’s gone through many opponents over the past two months, including Kane and Chris Benoit, and now he now has to face a man who (in a mocking tone) talks about drinking milk. Rock tells Angle they’re going to have a title match at No Mercy where many moves will be used before describing what he’s going to do to Angle with his boot. Rock also mentions his gaining Stephanie’s services asking if it makes him special. Rock reminds Angle he’s not facing the Olympians or Romanians, he’s facing The Rock and wants him to just bring it this Sunday, if ya smell and so on.
~ Trish Stratus and Lita are both shown heading to the ring for their match as we go to commercial.
- WWF Women’s Title: Lita © vs. Trish Stratus
Trish comes out first with a dictionary in hand and gets on the mic to read of the off the defintion of a champion. Trish feels she has all the qualities it lists then pretends to look up ‘Lita’ in the dictionary and makes fun of her. Lita rushes the ring and takes down Trish then tees off on her and hits a clothesline. Lita whips Trish and hits a sidewalk slam then climbs to the top rope looking for a moonsault already. However T&A come out to ringside and Test distracts the referee while Albert shoves Lita off the ropes to the mat. Trish then crawls over and covers Lita but only gets a two count. Trish whips Lita but Lita comes back with the headscissors. Albert then goes in and charges at Lita in a corner but Lita dodges him out. Test then comes in and holds Lita for Trish but Lita escapes with a kick below the belt then knocks Trish down. Lita climbs to the top rope and goes for huricanrana but Test catches her into a powerbomb and finally the referee calls for the bell. (1:30) Well that was a waste of time. DUD
Teat and Albert hold Lita while Trish gets in several slaps to the face. However the Acolytes run out for the save and clear the ring of T&A since they still have some bad blood or something. Bradshaw and Faarooq help Lita up on the floor while Trish celebrates with her men even through she didn’t win the belt.
~ Backstage Triple H is telling Stephanie he does not want her at ringside for the match but Stephanie says she made a business decision and will be in Kurt Angle’s corner. Triple H stews about it then warns Stephanie to remember who she’s going home with tonight. Stephanie tells her husband if it comes between him and Angle she’ll do the right thing and Triple H smiles but also looks concerned as we go to commercial.
- The Rock © vs. Triple H vs. Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle (w/Stepahnie) – Non-Title Four Corners Match
A coin toss was held to determine who starts and Rock and Benoit won so they are in the ring first. Rock gets in the first shots and goes for a whip but Benoit reverses and hits a forearm followed by a back suplex. Benoit works Rock over with chops and kicks when Angle asks to tag in but Benoit glances on him and continues pounding on Rock. Benoit goes for a whip but Rock counters into a DDT. Rock then drags Benoit over to the corner and dares Angle to tag in but Angle backs away. Triple H does asks to tag in so Rock obliges and Triple H takes over on Benoit. Triple H stomps Benoit down in a corner before choking him with his boot then whips him and hits a high knee. Triple H tees off on Benoit and hits a snap suplex then comes off the ropes with a kneedrop for a two count. Triple H drops Benoit with a right hand but Benoit comes back with a hot shot on the ropes. Angle slaps Benoit’s back to tag himself in and comes in with a clothesline then lays the boots to Triple H as Stephanie looks on with a concerned look. Angle works over Triple H in a corner but Triple H reverses and gets in his own shots. Triple H goes for a whip, Angle reverses him into a corner but Triple H comes out with a neckbreaker. Rock asks Triple H for a tag and Triple H doesn’t hesitate so Rock hammers Angle in a corner and hits the Smackdown. Rock follows up with a Samoan Drop but only gets a two count. Rock goes for a whip but Angle counters into a belly-to-belly suplex then slaps Triple H to tag him in against Rock.
Triple H heistates then sets Rock up for a Pedigree but Angle interupts with a clothesline. Rock sets Triple H up for a Rock Bottom but Angle nails him from behind as well. Angle heads out to the apron and tells Rock and Triple H to go at it but instead they both bring Angle in the ring and go back and forth on him. Benoit comes in but runs into a double right and he and Angle roll out to the floor. Triple H goes out and rams Benoit into the barricade while Rock goes out and rams Angle into the ringsteps. Triple H does the same to Benoit and Rock and Triple H then take turns ramming their respective pay-per-view opponents into the steps. Rock eventually throws Angle back in the ring and hits the Rock Bottom then covers but Triple H breaks up the pin. Triple H hits Benoit with the Peidgree but Rock breaks up that pin as well and the two of them start going at it. Triple H gets the advantage when Rock starts fighting back and whips him but lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster. Triple H clotheslines Rock over the ropes when Benoit low blows him from behind. Benoit lays the boots to Triple H and hits a chop then punches him into the Olympic Slam from Angle. Angle celebrates when Benoit throws him over the ropes then climbs to the top rope and hits the diving headbutt on Triple H. Benoit covers Triple H when Rock pulls him out of the ring and throws him into the ringpost. Rock then goes in the ring and drops the People’s Elbow on the fallen Triple H. Rock covers Triple H but Stephanie pulls him off from the floor. Rock goes out and chases Stephanie around the ring but runs into a clothesline from Benoit. Angle crawls back in the ring, covers Triple H and gets the three as Stephanie looks on stunned! (9:04) Not the most tight match but still a fun main event. I just wish Angle would have done a little more to look stronger in getting the pin. **½
Angle celebreates his win as Cole and Lawler mention Stephanie did nothing to stop the count. Suddenly Benoit runs in and puts Triple H in the Crossface as Angle just stands there and watches. Stephanie asks Angle to help Triple H when Rock stalks her around the ring and Angle tries a sneak attack but Rock catches him then throws him in the ring and puts him in the Sharpshooter. Triple H and Angle are both tapping out while Stephanie comes in but can’t decide which man to help. A swarm of referees try to break things up and eventually pull Benoit off Triple H so Benoit turns right around and puts Rock in the Crossface. The referees try to get Benoit off Rock while Stephanie tends to Triple H. Benoit then walks off while Rock, Triple H and Angle are all down as we fade to black.
Conclusion: Total go-home show that was mostly focused on polishing up the No Mercy build with quite a bit of talking and not a whole lot of in-ring action other than the fun main event. We did get some interesting stuff like the cool Rikishi segment and Stephanie’s interactions with Triple H and Angle that again shows the bookers are trying to get you to care about the main storylines, though where the angles ultimately ended up is another thing. So an okay show to take us into the pay-per-view and at least it was better than the pre-Unforgiven episode.