WWF Smackdown 10/26/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, October 26th, 2000

Taped (10/24) from the Nassau Colliseum in Uniondale, NY

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Kurt Angle (10/22/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Eddie Guerrero (9/04/2000)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Hardy Boyz (10/23/2000)
●  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 and goes right to the intro with Michael Cole welcoming us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler. Tonight Kurt Angle defends the WWF Championship again but doesn’t say who the challenger is, plus the Hardys defend the Tag Team Titles against the Dudleys.

~ Things kick off with Steve Austin coming to the ring and I guess we’re back to having long opening talkathons. Austin gets on the mic and claims he’s out here to clear up the misunderstandings on his intent with Rikishi at No Mercy. Austin says after a spirited contest, he offered Rikishi a ride to the parking lot in his truck and once outside he got him out of his truck but Rikishi fell and couldn’t get up. Austin adds when he backed up and the truck shot forward the cops through he was trying to run over Rikishi. Austin says he told the authorities he wouldn’t do that and doesn’t hold grudges. Austin then claims when he broadsided the police car he ‘accidentally’ hit the gas instead of the brake and refused to press charges against the police officer for getting in his way. Austin says he was charged with littering for dumping Rikishi to the curb then thanks Commissioner Mick Foley for his help and understanding. Austin says he’s promised to not lay a hand on Rikishi unless provoked, while Foley has promised him a steel cage match with him this Monday on Raw. Austin does promise to destroy Rikishi should he provoke him tonight and gives us the bottom line to wrap up. At least Austin knows how to keep opening promos short unlike ohter wrestlers.

~ However we find Rikishi watching Austin on the monitor and thinks about provoking him as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Rikishi is in his lockeroom when Too Cool walk up and ask Rikishi to let his issue with Austin drop, saying they’re worried about his safety. Rikishi scoffs at them, saying he’s not afraid of Austin while reminding them he brought them into the business. Rikishi tells his mates to stay out of his business and shoves them out of his way.

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

Yes, it’s yet another meeting between these two teams. Last week the Dudleys got cheated out of the #1 contenders’ battle royal by Edge & Christian and Cole explains that’s why the Hardys are giving them a tag title shot tonight. Matt Hardy locks up with D’Von Dudley start and goes into a waistlock but D’von reverses into a rollup for a two count. Matt hits a legsweep for his own two count then goes for a whip, D’Von reverses but Matt counters a hiptoss into a backslide for two. Bubba Ray tags in and slams Matt to the mat then hits a pair of elbowdrops for a near fall. Matt whips Bubba into his corner but Bubba gets in a shot on Jeff on the apron. Matt trips Bubba with a drop toehold and tags in Jeff, who climbs to the top rope and connects with a dropkick. Bubba rolls out to the floor then Matt drops to the mat and Jeff launches off him over the ropes for the Potery in Motion on Bubba. Jeff rolls Bubba back in the ring and goes for a whip but Bubba reverses it and hits a backdrop. Bubba clotheslines Jeff before tagging in D’Von and D’Von slams Jeff then hits a legdrop for a two count. Bubba tags back in hits a chop then goes for a whip but Jeff reverses him into the opposite corner. Jeff charges but eats a boot and Bubba slams him then hops to the middle rope and connects with a senton. Bubbs covers Jeff but Matt breaks up the pin and gets in a shoving match with Bubba before getting ordered out by the referee.

Bubba drops Jeff with a right hand and climbs to the middle rope again but Matt gets Bubba’s attention, allowing Jeff to punch him below the belt. Jeff goes up and hits a huricanrana but only gets a two count. Both men crawl to their corners and Bubba tags in D’Von while Jeff tags in Matt who lands several shots and a clothesline for a two count. Matt whips D’Von but D’Von comes back with a flying forearm for a two count. D’Von whips Matt into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Matt hops to the middle rope and D’Von cuts him off but Matt shvoes him to the mat and connects with the guillotine legdrop. Bubba breaks up the pin and the referee tries to get him out of the ring while D’Von hits the Curtain Call. D’Von covers Matt but the referee is busy arguing with Bubba to notice the pin while Jeff climbs to the top rope and makes the save with the Swanton Bomb. Matt manages to drape an arm over D’Von but only gets a two count. Jeff and Bubba both tag in but Bubba comes in with a pair of clotheslines. Matt comes in but Bubba takes him out with the full nelson bomb then plants Jeff with the sidewalk slam. Matt saves it when before D’Von comes in and all four men are going at it when D’Von tosses Matt through the ropes. The referee tries to keep Matt out of the ring when Bubba slams Jeff and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. Matt comes in but Bubba slams him to the mat and D’Von hits the “Wassup” on him as well. The Dudleys then head out to the floor to bring some tables ino the ring. However Edge & Christian run out brandishing chairs and waffle both Dudleys with them and sadly that causes the DQ to cheat the Dudleys out of the belts. (7:08) E&C go in and take out the Hardys with the chairs as well and both their rivals are left laying. Fine match for what it was though they’re now pressing for ways to keep this matchup fresh. The lame ending didn’t help matters any either. **½

~ Backstage Lillian Garcia interviews Kurt Angle and Stephanie and Angle complains that he has to defend the title again after he already retained it on Raw. Stephanie feels there’s no fairness and that Mick Foley should be impeached as they walk off. Lillian then turns around … and finds Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko standing there. Benoit asks Lillian what his name is but when she answers Benoit cuts her off and points out how she announced the winner of his match with Road Dogg as Chris ‘Jericho’. Lillian apologizes for her mistake and promises it won’t happen again then asks if she can make it right. Benoit suggets that Lillian go out to ringside for their tag match against Triple H and Road Dogg so when they win, Lillian can announce their names as the winners correctly. Wow, nice way to use Lillian’s announcing gaffe right there.

~ Back from the break the Right to Censor make their way to the ring along with new member Ivory. Steven Richards gets on the mic and says the WWF is out to desensitize all the fans by force-feeding them a diet of corruption, greed, vulgarity and scantily-clad women. Richards claims the WWF does this to keep the fans hungry for their next plate of immorality and his crew understand their reactions because the truth hurts. Ivory takes the mic and tells the fans what they’re embracing is sinking them further because they lose a little piece of themselves with every bit of immorality. Ivory proclaims the RTC will fight the good fight despite the WWF making heroes out of egotism, icons out of vulgarity, and exploiting its female talent to garnish ratings. Ivory says men like The Rock continue to disgrace and offend women, especially his remarks about pie, and she’s disgusted by the WWF for not putting a stop to his unacceptable comments. Wouldn’t you know it, Rock actually comes out to the stage with a mic for a rebuttal. The Rock questions RTC’s right to tell people what to say or do or hear then asks Ivory about pie. Ivory is furious and fires back at Rock saying women are not like that. Suddenly Chyna comes out to the stage and takes the mic telling Ivory she and the women in attendance don’t appreciate her comments. Ivory cuts her off claiming she understands about being angry at being exploited more than any woman in the WWF. Now Billy Gunn comes out to the stage eating a pie and telling Rock he likes pie. Richards gets annoyed and tells the three of them they’ve tried to help them see the error of their ways but if they won’t take their advisement verbally, then maybe they would rather be physical. Thus Richards challenges them to come to the ring later tonight and see how deep their convictions are and the three good guys accept the challenge with Rock finishing with the usual. At least this segment only lasted 10 minutes. Didn’t Rock and Billy hate each other not too long ago?

~ Backstage we find Rikishi having a heated argument with Too Cool as Mick Foley and a referee try to separate them and Foley tries to put an end to this by booking Rikishi in a handicap match tonight. Rikishi notes a lack of gratitude from “them two idiots” just like the lack of gratitude from The Rock and once he’s finished with them he’s going to call out Austin and beat him up as well.

• Triple H & Road Dogg vs. Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko

Hey, Malenko finally gets to compete on the main shows again. Lillian Garcia is handling the ring announcing at Benoit’s request. Road Dogg and Malenko feel each other out to start but instead of locking up Malenko tags in Benoit so Road Dogg tags in Triple H. Triple H doesn’t hesitiate to lockup with Benoit and forces him into a corner. Benoit reverses and gets in some shots but Triple H reverses back and works him over. Triple goes for a whip, Benoit reverses him into a corner but Triple H comes back with a neckbreaker. Triple H whips Benoit and hits the high knee for a two count then goes for a whip but Benoit reverses him hard into a corner and hits a suplex. Malenko tags in and tees off on Triple H then whips him into a corner and hits a clothesline. Malenko whips Triple H back the other way and charges but eats an elbow. Triple H sets Malenko up for the Pedigree but stops to catch Benoit with a right hand. Malenko nails Triple H from behind and whips him into a heel kick for a two count. Malenko whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster. Road Dogg tags in and comes in with a clothesline then whips Malenko and hits a backdrop. Road Dogg goes for another whip but Malenko counters with a knee to the chest then decks Triple H off the apron. Malenko and Benoit both whip Road Dogg but Road Dogg ducks a double clothesline and all four men are going at it. Triple H pops Benoit through the ropes and goes out after him but Benoit rams Triple H into the announcers’ table then into the ringsteps. In the ring Road Dogg hits the juke ‘n jive punches but Maklenko takes him down before the big right. Malenko goes for the Texas Cloverleaf but Road Dogg counters into a roll-up and Benoit breaks it up. Triple H pulls Benoit back out the the floor and rams him into the table before throwing him into the steps. In the ring Road Dogg suplexes Malenko and hits the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop. Road Dogg sets up for the pump-handle when Perry Saturn hops on the apron and nails him from behind. Malenko applies the Texas Cloverleaf and Road Dogg is forced to submit. (4:13) Fun match that could have used a few more minutes. This time Lillian does announce the right Chris as the winner. Malenko refuses to release the hold until Triple H comes back in to break it up. Saturn comes back in but Triple H punches him through the ropes then clotheslines Malenko over as well. Because there’s nothing like stealing heat back after a loss, right? **½

~ Backstage Kurt Angle is talking with Stephanie saying there’s no justice in the world. Stephanie gives Angle a pep talk, telling him he can overcome adversity and become the best WWF Champion ever and Angle takes her words to heart as they head out to the ring.

~ Back from break we find Test, Albert and Trish Stratus in the Acolytes’ office moving around furniture. Crash barges in and tells them the Acolytes asked him to watch over things in their absence then demands a match. Test and Albert laugh at Crash’s challenge andAlbert wants to hug him but Crash instead knocks down Albert’s Diet Pepsi and storms off.

~ Out in the arena Kurt Angle comes out for his title defense and gets on the mic saying life isn’t fair and feels the Long Island fans are bitter because Billy Joel and the Islanders haven’t been good since 1983. Angle says he’s not happy about defending his title tonight but says his opponent is a legend whi is truly deserving. On that note Angle introduces his opponent … The Brooklyn Brawler. However instead of the Brawler, Mick Foley comes out to the ramp. Foley gets on the mic and calls Angle a clever young man for going for a New York motif but they’re not in Brooklyn, but his hometown of Long Island. Foley voids Angle’s opponent and presents him with a more sutiable challenger and on that note out comes …

• WWF World Heavywieght Title: Kurt Angle © (w/Stephanie) vs. Chris Jericho

The crowd is behind Jericho but you get the feeling that someone else might be getting involved (other than Stephanie). Both men lockup to start and Angle forces Jericho into a corner where they exchange shoves when Stephanie grabs Jericho by the ankle allowing Angle to stomp him down. Angle whips Jericho into the opposite corner but Jericho comes out with a clothesline. Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses but Jericho comes back with chops. Jericho whips Angle and hits a spinning heelkick then follows up with the springboard dropkick knocking Angle over the ropes. Jericho goes out and rams Angle into the announcers’ table then into the ringsteps. Jericho goes to bring Angle back in but Angle snaps his neck on the top rope. Angle goes in and Jericho ducks a clothesline but runs into a belly-to-belly suplex. Angle lays the boots to Jericho and hits a suplex for a two count. Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses him into a corner but eats a boot. Jericho hops to the middle rope and leaps off but Angle catches him into another belly-to-belly suplex for a two count. Angle whips Jericho and hits an elbow then whips him again but this time lowers the head and Jericho kicks the face. Jericho comes off the ropes but runs into an elbow. Angle climbs to the top rope but Jericho cuts him off with a dropkick then goes up and hits a Frankensteiner but only gets a two count. Jericho hits a clothesline but misses a second, Angle goes for a whip but Jericho rolls him up for a near fall. Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses but Jericho hits a forearm. Jericho whips Angle into a corner and looks for the bulldog off the ropes but Angle ducks it. Angle goes for the Olympic Slam but Jericho lands on his feet and this time hits the bulldog. Jericho goes for the Lionsault but Stephanie decks him from the floor and Angle covers him but only gets a two count. Angle goes for a whip, Jericho counters into a waistlock, Angle counters into a suplex but Jericho rolls through it into the Walls of Jericho! Angle tries to hold on when sure enough Kane suddenly comes running to the ring. Just before Angle can submit, Kane climbs to the top rope and nails Jericho with a flying clothesline, drawing a DQ and screwing Jericho out of a title for the second time this week. (5:41) Good match but you could almost sense the run-in coming, plus Angle has yet to get a defininte win in his title defenses. Kane grabs Jericho by the throat and chokeslams him while Angle and Stephanie make their escape and even Cole is lamenting how this can all be over a spilled cup of coffee.***

~ Austin is shown pacing around the building waiting for Rikishi to provoke him as we go to commercial.

• Crash Holly vs. Albert (w/Trish Stratus) – Hardcore Match

Albert attacks Crash in the aisle to start and whips him into the apron before rolling him in the ring. Albert starts throwing various weapons in the ring and starts to climb in but Crash crotches him on the top rope. Crash grabs a leather strap and whips Albert with it then hops on his back and tries to choke him out. Albert shrugs Crash off him and nails him with a trash can as we get a quick shot of Steve Blackman watching the match from the back. Albert whips Crash back and forth between the ropes and hits a bodyblock then slingshots him into the middle rope then goes. Albert tosses the ringsteps in the ring when Crash starts to fight back and dropkicks Albert’s knee. Crash hits Albert’s knee repeatedly with the trash can lid and clocks him in the head. Crash goes for a whip when Albert reverses him into a corner and presses him up but Crash floats over and dropkicks the bad knee. Crash breaks a broomstick over Albert’s back then does a Blackman imitation until Albert grabs him and throws him into a corner. Albert goes for the Avalanche but eats a boot and Crash hops to the middle rope and hits a tornado DDT for a two count. Crash whacks Albert with the lid, causing him to slump down in a corner, then sets the steps in-between Albert’s legs and hits the steps with a stop sign repeatedly. Crash brings in a fire extinguisher and sprays CO2 at Albert but Albert shields himself with the steps. Albert clocks Crash with the lid then hits a butterfly suplex and that’s it for Crash. (4:37) Albert limps away while Crash is left laying in the ring after his valiant effort. Garbage match yet strangely entertaining. **

~ Rikishi is shown pacing around his lockerroom as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Johnathan Coachman interviews Rikishi about Steve Austin’s “misunderstanding” explanation. Rikishi calls Austin a liar and promises to beat him in the cage match on Raw. As for tonight Rikishi says he’s going to beat down Too Cool like dogs then call out Austin so he can bloody and bury him and that won’t be a misunderstanding.

~ The Rock is shown heading to the ring as are Billy Gunn and Chyna as we go to commercial.

• The Rock, B.A. Billy Gunn & Chyna vs. The Right To Censor (w/Ivory) – 4-on-3 Handicap Match

So here we have Rock hanging out with a bunch of midcarders. Feel the star power! Rock starts off with Val Venis when The Goodfather gets Rock’s attention allowing Val to get in the first shots. Val whips Rock and hits an elbow followed by an elbowdrop and a kneedrop for a two count. Val goes for a whip but Rock reverses it and hits his own elbow. Rock sets Val up for a Rock Bottom but Bull Buchanan breaks it up and the entire RTC pour in the ring and stomp Rock down while the referee holds Billy and Chyna back. The rest of the RTC go back to the corner while Val suplexes Rock for a two count. Val goes for a whip, Rock reverses but lowers the head and Val kicks the face. Val comes off the ropes but runs right into a Samoan Drop for a two count. Chyna tags in and lands several shots then comes off the ropes but Val trips her with a drop toehold. Chyna hits a clothesline and follows up with a running neckbreaker for a two count. Val rakes Chyna’s face and tags in Steven Richards and Richards kicks Chyna down in a corner and chokes her while telling her to look into his eyes. Richards goes for a whip but Chyna reverses him into a corner and connects with the handspring elbow. Billy tags in and comes in with a bulldog then throws Richards across the ring. Goodfather tags in and Billy goes for a whip, Goodfather reverses and Billy fakes him out but Goodfather hits a crescent kick. Goodfather lays the boots to Billy then tags Buchanan in the two whip Billy into a tilt-o-whirl slam for a two count. Val tags back in and beats Billy down then goes for a whip but Billy reverses and hits a facejam. Both men crawl to their corners and Val tags in Buchanan while Billy tags in Rock. Rock whips Buchanan into the ropes and hits a spinebuster then Val comes in but Rock knocks him over the ropes with the Smackdown. Rock knocks Goodfather and Richards off the apron and plants Buchanan with a Rock Bottom. Rock covers Buchanan but the rest of the RTC break it up and eveyone’s going at it. Chyna and Billy clear the RTC out of the ring and go at it with them on the floor. Rock counters a kick with a Dragon legwhip and applies the Sharpshooter forcing Buchanan to tap out. (5:30) Okay stuff and the effort was there. But I’m sure there are better ways of getting Rock on the card. **

~ Austin is shown still pacing around in the back as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break footage is shown from the WWF’s special event at Wall Street yesterday to mark the WWF’s entry on the New York Stock Exchange.

• Raven vs. Al Snow (w/Head)

Tazz comes out with Raven then joins the commentary table and immediately gets into it with Lawler. Both men lock up to start and Raven forces Snow into a corner then goes for a whip but Snow counters with a suplex. Snow hits a superkick then comes off the ropes with a forearm than knocks Raven through the ropes. Snow hits a dropkick through the ropes then goes out and bulldogs Raven into the barricade. Snow hops onto the barricade but Raven causes him to straddle it then drives him into it with a Russian legsweep. Raven tosses Snow in the ring and covers him for a near fall then grabs at his face. Raven comes off the ropes with a discus punch then snapmares Snow to the mat and applies an over-the-shoulder chinlock. Raven whips Snow into a corner and hits a clothesline followed by a running bulldog for a two count. Snow starts to fight back and connects with a spinkick then whips Raven into a drop toehold. Snow goes out and slings himself over the top rope into a legdrop. Snow slams Raven then climbs to the top rope but misses a guillotine legdrop. Raven sets up for a snapmare but Snow counters with a backslide for a near fall. Raven goes for a whip but Snow counters into a Dragon sleeper when Tazz throws down his headset and starts to goad Lawler. Snow goes out and punks Tazz then climbs back in the ring but Raven greets him with the Evenflow DDT that gets the three count. (3:16) Tazz goes in and starts double-teaming Snow with Raven when Lawler eventually heads in for the save. Lawler tosses Tazz through the ropes while Snow does the same to Raven and those two stand tall. *½

~ Too Cool and Rikishi are shown heading to the ring as we go to commercial.

• Rikishi vs. Too Cool – Handicap Match

So this is our main event. I guess that’s what happens when you use all your main eventers on the undercard. We get a shot of Steve Austin watching the match from the back, waiting for Rikishi to provoke him. Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay rush the ring and double-team Rikishi to start the match and dropkick him through the ropes. Both guys go out after him but Rikishi decks both men with right hands then rams Scotty into the ringsteps. Rikishi rams Sexay into the announce table then grabs a chair but the referee takes it away. Rikishi throws Scotty in the ring and beats him down then whips him but lowers the head. Scotty goes for a Sunset Flip but can’t get Rikishi over and Rikishi goes for the sitdown splash but misses. Sexay comes in and goes for a whip, Rikishi reverses him into a corner but eats a boot. Scotty hits a superkick then he and Sexay hit a series of elbowdrops. Sexay climbs to the top rope and hits the Hip Hop Drop but Rikishi powers out of the cover. Scotty hits the bulldog and goes for the Worm but Rikishi is up and stops him with a superkick. Rikishi drags Scotty into position then climbs up and hits the Banzai Drop for the academic pin. (2:04) A squash as you might expect. Sexay comes back in but Rikishi takes him out with a Samoan Drop then moves him into position and hits the Banzai Drop on him as well. DUD

Rikisih then grabs the mic and proceeds to dare Austin to face him in the ring and Austin decides that’s all the provication he needs and starts to head out. However when Austin opens the door a gloved hand nails him in the head with a wrench, knocking him cold. Rikishi taunts Austin who’s busted open but still tries to make his way to the ring and soon Austin’s music starts playing. Rikishi heads up the ramp and behind the curtain to head Austin off then comes back out with Austin hammering him with rights. However Rikishi takes control and beats Austin down the ramp then throws him in the ring. Austin fights back again and goes for a Stunner but Rikishi shoves him off and superkicks him. Rikishi then climbs the ropes and hits the Banzai Drop! Rikishi stands over the fallen Austin, having indeed bloodied and buried him as Smackdown goes off the air.

Conclusion: Unusual show that was mainly used as a placeholder while the WWF tries to decide on how to proceed on to Survivor Series. The wrestling was fine for the most part though both title matches ended in lame DQs, plus everything took a back seat to the Austin/Rikishi feud that was rapidly losing steam, even with Rikishi getting a beating over Austin at the end. Many of the other top guys were mainly used to advance angles, some not even involving them (Rock/RTC), and their world champion still has yet to look like ‘the guy’ after failing to get a successful title defense yet again. As I mentioned big changes were happening in the booking philosophy and it’s not going to get much better, folks.