Written by: Adam King
WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, November 6th, 2000
Live from the Compaq Center in Houston, TX
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: Ivory (11/02/2000)
● WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)
~ Raw comes on the air with highlights of the past week’s events, after which Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along along with Jerry “The King” Lawler. Tonight the Hardys defend the tag team titles against The Right to Censor while Val Venis challenges The Undertaker. Plus Steve Austin and The Rock will team up to battle Kurt Angle and Rikishi and naturally the announcers wonder how Rock and Austin can co-exist after what happened onSmackdown.
~ Things kick off with … Vince McMahon coming out to the ring! I guess Vince figured an appearence by himself will bring in the viewers. Vince gets on the mic and talks about Election Day being tomorrow and everyone wondering who the various WWF wrestlers are going to vote for. Vince stresses what matters is who the fans are going to vote for but know they’re wondering why they should care. Vince feels the reason is the fans have become disenfranchised from the political process, that they have felt the political pundits don’t care about them for a long time. Vince suggests maybe the fans don’t have a reason to vote tomorrow so he decides to give them a reason. Vince claims the canidates have their voters already lined up but those groups have cancelled each other out and as a result it’ll be the fans who will elect the next leader, so they need them. Vince admits the fans may not like either man and may have to choose the lesser of two evils but continues to exhort the fans to vote.
Once he finishes Steve Austin comes out and the fans are going nuts to see these two together in the ring again. Vince welcomes Austin back and offers a handshake but Austin ignores it and grabs the mic from him. Austin says he isn’t out to talk politics, he’s out to beat people up tonight and warns the Rock not to double-cross him. Austin then says he was listening to Vince in the back and got to thinking about a mastermind looking to take him out. Austin says Rikishi may be a tough guy and did drive the car that ran him down but isn’t the smartest guy in the world. Austin feels someone must have put Rikishi up to it and who could have done it but the WWF’s master manipulator? Austin continues to accuse Vince when Kurt Angle and Stephanie come out because this segment’s not long enough. Angle gets on the mic and chastises Austin for talking to Vince in that tone then suggests maybe George W. Bush hit Austin after a few cold ones, not McMahon. Angle says Austin may think he’s in his element and says that’s fine with him because as WWF Champion and an Olympic gold medalist he’s renouncing his ties to Texas. Angle adds if the Texas fans want to cheer a ‘loser’ like Austin on, let them. Austin starts to advance on Angle when Stephanie steps between them and asks Austin who he thinks he is. Austin tells Stephanie she might want to take two steps back before she finds out. Austin contines his verbal assault on the McMahons when Angle attacks Austin from behind but Austin comes back and takes out Angle with a Stunner. Man, Angle never seems to be able to get one on Austin, does he? The McMahons bid a hasty retreat before Austin departs leaving Angle laying in the ring. 15 minutes that accomplished very little other than making Angle look weak yet again.
~ The Undertaker is shown riding through the backstage area on his motorcycle toward the ring, nearly running over several people along the way as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get a replay of the Austin/McMahons confrontation and Angle’s failed sneak attack. We then find Vince McMahon with Stephanie and Angle near his limo saying he has a feeling that something momentous will occur tonight and insists Stephanie leave with him. Stephanie refuses at first but Angle assures her he’ll be fine as they climb into the limo. After the limo departs Angle says it will be a memorable night … especially for Triple H. And that’s actually the end to the ‘Stephanie as Angle’s manager’ storyline.
- The Undertaker vs. Val Venis
JR mentions the Right to Censor requested this match from Commissioner Mick Foley after Taker took Steven Richards out on Smackdown. JR also mentions Foley said if the RTC interferes they lose their Tag Team Title match later tonight. Taker works Val over to start then whips him into a corner and Val staggers out into a sidewalk slam. Taker comes off the ropes with a pair of elbowdrops for a two count. Taker whips Val but lowers the head and Val kicks the face and hits a neckbreaker for a two count. Val gets in some shots but Taker fights back and drops him with a right hand. Taker goes for a whip but Val reverses into an elbow and follows up with an elbowdrop and kneedrop. Val tees off on Taker then climbs to the top rope but Taker cuts him off with uppercut and throws him to the mat. Taker grabs Val by the throat and Val fights out of the chokeslam then comes off the ropes but runs right into a clothesline for a near fall. Taker scoops Val up for a Tombstone but Val slips out and rams him into a turnbuckle. Val goes for a whip but Taker reverses him hard into a corner then whips him and hits a boot for a near fall. Taker whips Val into a corner and charges at him but eats a boot. Val gets in some shots but Taker pulls him through the ropes then goes out and rams Val into the ringsteps. Taker rolls Val back in the ring and whips him but misses a clothesline. Val sets him up for a suplex but can’t get him up while Taker fights out of it and hits the Last Ride for the win. (5:08) Like Val really had a chance against Undertaker. Slow and sluggish match there as Taker didn’t seem to be in top form there. DUD
~ Backstage Triple H walks over to Mick Foley’s office, which is behind a chainlink fence and the two first share a laugh over the booger Kurt Angle had in his nose the night he won the title. Triple H then talks about the beatdown Chris Benoit and the Radicalz gave him onSmackdown and demands a match with all four of them. Foley says he can’t book a 4-on-1 match but tells Triple H he will give him the match if he can find three tag team partners. Triple H says he may know some interested people just as Steve Austin walks up. Austin asks Foley why he has to team up with The Rock tonight feeling he’s the accomplise but Foley feels Rock is innocent and wanted to give the two a chance to smooth things over between them. Austin asks if he’s supposed to trust Rock and Triple H warns Austin “Don’t Trust Anybody” before walking off. Austin warns Foley if the Rock double-crosses him not only will the Rock’s rear be on the line, so will Foley’s.
~ A camera is stationed in the parking lot waiting for The Rock’s arrivial as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get a recap of the Chris Jericho/Kane feud before Michael Cole interviews Kane backstage on why he’s constantly attacking Jericho. Kane says he showed the world who and what he was but they wouldn’t accept anyone different. Kane says the world locks people like him in the closet so they don’t have to look at him while cheering and idolizing pretty people like Jericho. Kane says the more people cheer for Jericho the more he hates him and wants to end him. Kane finises by saying if the world won’t accept the freak, he’ll give them the monster. Cole then asks why he’s challenging Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Title. Kane explains that once he becomes Hardcore Champion he’ll challenge Jericho to a title match, so when he tears Jericho apart and disfigures him, it’ll all be legal. All that from a spilled cup of coffee. You know Kane could just challenge Jericho to a hardcore match without the title but whatever.
~ Elsewhere backstage Triple H talks to Road Dogg about teaming up with him against the Radicalz and Road Dogg agrees to be his partner. However Road Dogg says he has doubts about the next guy Triple H wants to ask, that he hasn’t even spoken to him since he’s been back and Triple H admits the same. The two of them head out to speak with this person anyway as we go to commercial.
~ Back from commercial Billy Gunn and Chyna are talking when Triple H and Road Dogg come in and Billy is not happy to see him. Triple H calms Billy down saying they have made mistakes in the past but now they have something bigger in front of them: the Radicalz. Triple H tells Billy and Chyna that they all want a piece of the four of them so he suggests they get back together for one night only and take care of business. Billy and Chyna jump at the chance to get a piece of Eddie Guerrero so they accept. The four of them clasp hands and it looks like D-Generation X is back together for one night only. Even though Triple H and Road Dogg brutally kicked Billy out of the group not to long ago.
- T & A (w/Trish Stratus) vs. Too Cool
Test and Albert attack Too Cool during their pre-match dancing to start the match and Test throws Scotty 2 Hotty through the ropes then goes out and works him over on the floor. Albert whips Grandmaster Sexay into a corner and chagres but Sexay sidesteps him then Sexay hops to the middle rope and hits a tornado DDT. Scotty climbs to the top rope and goes for a crossbody but Albert catches him into a powerslam. Albert slingshots Scotty into the middle rope then tags in Test who beats Scotty down in a corner. Test goes for a whip when Scotty reverses him hard into the opposite corner then comes off the ropes looking for the bulldog but runs into a big boot for a two count. Test slams Scotty to the mat then climbs to the middle rope and leaps off but Scotty gets his foot up to block him. Scotty manages to tag in Sexay and Sexay whips Test and hits an enzuigiri. Albert tries to come in but Scotty staddles him on the top rope before Scotty knocks Albert off the ropes. Scotty goes out after Albert while Test whips Sexay into a corner and charges but eats an elbow. Sexay hops to the middle rope and busts a move before connecting with a missile dropkick. Trish hops onto the apron and gets Sexay’s attention while dropping her boot in the ring and Sexay grabs Trish by the hair. However Test whacks Sexay from behind with the boot then asks the referee to come back in as he covers Sexay but only gets a two count. Scotty comes in and Test sets him up for a powerbomb but Scotty floats over him and hits the bulldog. Scotty follows up with the Worm as Sexay climbs to the top rope and connects with the Hip Hop Drop. Sexay covers Test but Trish distracts the referee from making the count. Albert throws Scotty through the ropes then hits the chokebomb on Sexay and Test crawls over and grabs the pin. (3:52) Very chaotic match there. *
T & A conntinue their assault when Crash Holly runs out along with … some woman wearing similar tights. Test charges at Crash but falls out to the floor after Crash pulls down the top rope. Scotty and Sexay dropkick Albert through the ropes while the woman goes in and takes Trish down. The woman goes for a whip, Trish reverses her into a corner but the woman flips over the rope to the apron and snaps Trish’s neck on the top rope. The woman then springs off the ropes into a crossbody before tossing Trish through the ropes and she and Crash stand tall in the ring. Who is this woman, you ask? Maybe we’ll find out on Smackdown, though some may recognize her as Mona from WCW.
~ The Radicalz and the reunited DX’ers are both shown heading to the ring as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we see The Rock still hasn’t arrived in the parking lot as we find Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens sitting in the crowd.
- D-Generation X vs. The Radicalz (w/Terri Runnels)
The DX’ers all come out as a unit and even use their old theme music. Billy Gunn and Eddie Guerrero start off for their respective units with Eddie getting in the first shots then going for a whip but Billy reverses it and hits a tilt-o-whirl slam. Chyna tags in and Eddie backs into her before she hammers him with forearms. Chyna goes for a whip, Eddie reverses but Chyna hits a neckbreaker. Eddie scampers to his corner and tags in Dean Malenko but Malenko runs into a drop toehold. Road Dogg tags in and hits the juke ‘n jive punches before whipping Malenko into a backdrop. Saturn distracts the referee while Malenko stomps Road Dogg through the ropes and Chris Benoit gets in a shot on the floor before throwing Road Dogg back in the ring. Benoit tags in and hits a backbreaker for a two count then goes for a whip but Road Dogg reverses him into a corner and nails him from behind. Benoit goes for a back suplex but Road Dogg counters and falls on top for a near fall. Road Dogg goes into a wiastlock but Benoit counters into a front facelock. Road Dogg inches to his corner and tags in Triple H but the referee was distracted and misses it. Saturn tags in and lays the boots to Road Dogg then whips him but lowers the head. Road Dogg kicks the face but Saturn comes back with a Northen Lights suplex for a near fall. Saturn whips Road Dogg but both men hit each other with crossbodies. Both men crawl to their corners and Saturn tags in Malenko while Road Dogg makes the tag to Billy. Billy takes it to all four men and hits a jackhammer on Malenko then readies for the Rocker Dropper when Eddie nails him from the apron. Billy decks Eddie when Malenko goes to whip him but Billy counters into the Rocker Dropper. Benoit breaks up the pin and everyone pours in and starts going at it while Billy somehow tags in Triple H. Triple H sets Malenko up for a Peidrgee but Eddie interupts him so Triple H decks Eddie then hits the Pedigree on Malneko and covers for the three. (5:11) Fun match there but the Radicalz should have won to really establish themselves as the new big force in the WWF.**½
The DX’ers celebrate when Kurt Angle runs out and clotheslines Triple H then helps the Radicalz beat down the DX’ers and leave then laying in the ring. You’d think this would lead to some sort of match at Survivor Series but let’s see what happens next.
~ Backstage a limo pulls up and The Rock finally arrives at the building (an hour late, mind you) as we go to commercial.
- WWF World Tag Team Titles: The Hardy Boyz © (w/Lita)vs. Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather (w/Steven Richards & Ivory)
Ivory beat Lita for the Women’s title on Smackdown with help from Edge & Christian and the RTC’ers attacked the Hardys on Heat so here we are. The Hardys rush the ring and all four men go at it to start when Matt Hardy comes off the ropes with a clothesline on Goodfather. both men roll out to the floor while Buchanan whips Jeff into a corner. Jeff lifts himself up, Buchanan catches him by the legs and tosses him over the ropes but Jeff lands on his feet on the apron and hits a shoulderblock. Ivory pulls Jeff off the apron and Jeff chases her into a spear from Lita. Lita tees off on Ivory when the referee pulls her off and sends both ladies to the back. In the ring Matt tags in and the Hardys whip Buchanan into a double suplex for a two count. Matt goes for a whip, Buchanan reverses and trips Matt into the ropes then distracts the referee while Goodfather chokes Matt on the middle rope. Buchanan slides out of the ring and pops Matt with a right hand then tags in Goodfather and both men whip Matt into a double kick and throw him to the mat for a near fall. Goodfather clubs Matt in the back and whips him into a shoulderblock then hits a back suplex for a two count. Goodfather rams Matt into Buchanan’s boot before tagging him in and Buchanan follows up with a neckbreaker. Buchanan hits a short-arm clothesline then Goodfather tags back in to take over. Goodfather whips Matt but lowers the head. Matt kicks him in the face and comes off the ropes but runs into a boot. Goodfather sets Matt on the top rope and goes up but Matt fights him off then connects with a guillotine leg drop.
Jeff gets the tag and dropkicks Goodfather then gets in a shot on Buchanan on the apron. Jeff takes Goodfather down by the legs and hits a double legdrop to the chest. Buchanan comes in but Matt cuts him off and all four men are going at it. Buchanan works Jeff over in a corner while Goodfather scoops Matt up but Matt floats over him. Matt goes for a Twist of Fate but Goodfather drives him into the referee, knocking him through the ropes. Matt backdrops Goodfather over the ropes then climbs to the top rope and hits a pescado on Goodfather on the floor. In the ring Jeff knocks Buchanan down then climbs to the top and connects with the Swanton Bomb. Jeff covers Buchanan but the referee is down on the floor and can’t count when Edge and Christian run out to the ring. Jeff throws Edge through the ropes but Christian sets Jeff up for an Unprettier when Matt comes in and throws him over the ropes as well. Matt drops to the mat and Jeff hits the Poetry in Motion on Buchanan. Goodfather comes in but the Hardys whip him into a corner and Matt drops to the mat again. Jeff goes for the Poetry in Motion but Richards nails him in mid-air with one of the tag belts. Jeff is down as Goodfather covers him and the referee counts the three to give the RTC’ers the titles. (5:20)Yes, the Hardys actually jobbed the titles to Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather, possibly the worst tag team at the time. Richards shakes the hands of the new Tag Team Champs as Edge and Christian smile from the stage. The Hardys tried their hardest to drag a good match out of their opponents but could only do so much. Plus they didn’t deserve to lose the titles just two weeks after regaining them, especially to a couple of slugs like Buchanan and Goodfather just because Vince wants to add fuel to his personal campaign against the PTC. *
~ Backstage Kurt Angle comes across Tony Garea and Teddy Long and asks them where the Rock might be. The two of them point the way to Rock’s lockerroom and Angle heads in that direction, then goes inside and waffles Rock with his title belt! Angle lays the boots to Rock as the officials come in to pull him off and Rock struggels to recover from that surprise beating as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get a replay of the Right to Censor winning the Tag Team Titles. Backstage Edge and Christian celebrate once again being eligible for tag team title shots with the Hardys’ loss. Christian pulls out his kazoo plays Chris Benoit’s theme while Edge sings some lyrics before Mick Foley butts in with his own ending. Foley reminds E&C he gave them the night off but they interfered in the Hardys’ match instead. Foley decides since they didn’t take his advice he’s putting him in a table match with the Dudley Boyz.
- WWF Hardcore Title: Steve Blackman © vs. Kane
Now let’s see if Chris Jericho costs Kane a title this time around. Blackman comes out after Kane and dares Kane to meet him in the ramp so Kane goes out after him and exchanges shots. Kane gets the advantage and drops Blackman onto the barricade then pops him into the crowd with an uppercut. Blackman rams Kane into the barricade and leaps off it with a pump kick. Blackman rolls Kane in the ring and brings in some trash can lids but Kane attacks him as he climbs in. Kane whips Blackman and hits a clothesline then grabs one of the lids but Blackman trips him into the ropes. Blackman grabs another lid and whacks Kane in the knee and back with it then sets up for a head shot but Kane counters with a back suplex. Kane grabs a lid and whips Blackman but misses a shot after Blackman rolls under him. Blackman goes for a roundhouse kick but Kane blocks it and waffles him with the lid. Kane whips Blackman into a corner and Blackman stumbles into a sidewalk slam. Kane climbs to the top rope but Blackman bumps the ropes causing Kane to straddle the top rope. Blackman whacks Kane with the lid and Kane falls to the mat as Blackman brings his fighting sticks in the ring and works Kane over with them. Blackman goes for the stick-assisted suplex but Kane fights out of it. Kane whips whips Blackman but Blackman slides under him and hits a shot below the belt. Blackman goes out and grabs a trash can then climbs to the top rope when Kane sits up. Kane grabs him Blackman by the throat but Blackman whacks Kane with the can to break the hold then leaps off but runs right into a boot. Kane whips Blackman and hits a running powerslam then goes out and brings the ringsteps in the ring. Kane picks the steps up when sure enough Chris Jericho comes in and whacks Kane with a chair causing the steps to fall on top of him. Jericho then nails the steps with the chair a second time and Blackman covers for the three. (4:50) It was at least different from the usual Blackman match. *½
~ Back from break The Rock is walking through the halls searching for Kurt Angle but finds Steve Austin instead. Rock tells Austin he demonsrated on Smackdown that he handles any business with him face-to-face and Austin responds he did the same thing when he gave him the Stunner. Austin says whoever Rikishi’s accomplise is will receive one serious beating and Rock agrees but still insists he had nothing to do with taking him out. The two of them come to an uneasy understanding before Rock departs.
- Jerry “The King” Lawler vs. Raven
Tazz comes out with Raven and takes Lawler’s seat next to JR at the commentary table. Both men lockup to start and Raven forces Lawler into a corner but misses a right hand and Lawler gets in the first shots. Lawler drops Raven with a right hand then hops to the middle rope and connects with the fistdrop for a two count. Raven stomps Lawler down in a corner then whips him into the opposite corner and hits a clothesline followed by a running bulldog for a near fall. Lawler starts fighting back and drops Raven with a series of right hands then follows up with a dropkick. Lawler sets Raven up for a piledriver but Tazz goes in and nails Lawler from behind for the DQ. (1:33) Tazz and Raven double-team Lawler when Al Snow runs out with a pair of mannequin heads. Snow nails Tazz with one Head while he tosses another head (wearing a crown) to Lawler and the two of them whack Tazz and Raven with the heads and clear them from the ring. The thing is despite the build we never do get that Lawler/Snow vs. Tazz/Raven match. DUD
~ The Dudleys are shown walking to the ring and picking up a table along the way while Edge & Christian are also shown heading out as we go to commercial.
~ Backstage the Right to Censor have gathered to celebrate their big win with Steven Richards congradulating Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather on adding the tag titles to their midst. Richards tells his followers they’re now one step closer to obtaining their goal and also assures Val Venis that his time will come soon. Richards says they’re united by their convictions and that no one can stop them.
- The Dudley Boyz vs. Edge & Christian – Tables Match
The Dudleys bring a table to ringside when Edge and Christian go out to meet them. Bubba Ray pounds on Edge on the floor while D’Von and Christian go at it in the ring until D’Von gets dumped over the ropes. Bubba goes in and hammers Christian then whips him and hits a backdrop. Bubba whips Christian into a corner and charges but Christian sidesteps him then drops to the mat and Edge launches off him into a crossbody to Bubba’s back. E&C then mock the Dudleys with Edge telling Christian to get the tables and Christian dances around until Bubba throws him over the ropes. Bubba plants Edge with a sidewalk slam and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and connects with the “Wassup” headbutt. The Dudleys go out and bring out a table but E&C knock in into their faces with baseball slides. E&C slide the table in the ring before Edge throws Bubba back in then whips him but Bubba comes back with the Full Nelson bomb. Bubba lays Edge on the table then climbs to the middle rope but Christian cuts Bubba off with a shot below the belt. Christian and Edge set Bubba up for a double superplex through the table but the Hardys come out and move the table out of the way. Matt and Jeff beat E&C down and Lita clibs to the top rope and hits a huricanrana on Christian. The Dudleys then drive Christian through the table with a 3D and that’s all, folks.(3:31) Okay but nothing we haven’t seen before. The Hardys lay Edge on the table on the floor and Jeff drives him through it with a Swanton Bomb, scoring some revenge for getting screwed out of the titles. *½
~ Backstage Johnathan Coachman interviews Rikishi, who’s wearing a faceguard after suffering a broken nose but refuses to comment on his injury. Rikishi claims Steve Austin will be all alone in a handicap match against Kurt Angle and himself because The Rock is behind the whole plan and will not help Austin. Rikishi says tonight the truth comes out, whether anyone likes it or not.
~ Back from break we cut to WWF New York and find Lt. Commissioner Debra sampling the food there.
~ Backstage Michael Cole interviews Kurt Angle on his mean streak lately. Angle says he had the most successful rookie year ever and will not be anyone’s whipping boy. Angle mentions he showed both Triple H and The Rock what he’s capable of doing earlier and promises the same will happen to Austin tonight.
~ Steve Austin is shown heading to the ring for our main event. The Rock is also walking to the ring when he’s suddenly run down by an equipment dolly and knocked into the concrete wall. The camera pans around to find who did it but that person has run off. Rock is down on the floor when someone discovers him and gets help as we go to commercial.
~ Back from break we get a replay of The Rock getting taken out by someone. We then get footage of Rock getting checked out by Mick Foley and the EMTs. Rock struggles to get to his feet but ends up falling back into the dolly so Foley tells Rock he can’t let him wrestle tonight and calls for a stretcher. So much for finding out if Rock and Austin can co-exist.
- Stone Cold Steve Austin & The Rock vs. Kurt Angle & Rikishi
We get a quick shot of Foley sending an ambulance on his way promising to get to the bottom of this so it looks like Austin’s on his own. Incidentally we’re already at two to the hour so this is going to be either a short match or a long overrun. Austin pulls Angle out of the ring and tess off on him on the floor then rams him into the announce table. Austin catches Rikishi trying to sneak up from behind and throws him into the steps. Angle throws Austin in the ring but Ausitn attacks him as he climbs in and whips him into an elbow. Austin whips Angle against and hits the Lou Thesz press but Rikishi is also in and decks Austin with a right hand. Rikishi and Angle whip Austin but Austin comes back by clohteslining both men. Austin grabs Angle’s legs and stomps him in the chest then does the same to Rikishi. Austin goes for the Stunner on Angle but Angle shoves him into a superkick from Rikishi. Angle lays the boots to Austin and Rikishi follows up with the running legdrop. Angle and Rikishi double-team Austin in a corner then whip him into the opposite corner and Rikishi goes for the running butt splash but Austin sidesteps it and clotheslines him down. Austin hammers Angle in a corner and stomps Rikishi out of the ring. Angle grabs Austin with a waistlock but Austin counters with a mule kick below the belt then grabs Angle’s legs and stomps him in the chest again. Geez, you’d think the world champion and a guy Rikishi’s size wouldn’t get dominated by one man like this. Austin whips Angle but both men clothesline each other and are both down. Meanwhile Rikishi pulls out a sledgehammer from under the ring and brings it in but Austin cuts him off. Austin stomps Rikishi down in a corner when Angle nails him from behind and finally Angle and Rikishi take control of this. Angle and Rikishi double-team Austin and at this point you can tell the fans are looking for a run-in.
Angle and Rikishi have Austin down when sure enough out comes … Triple H? Triple H goes right after Angle and throws him over the ropes while Austin stomps Rikishi down in a corner and knocks him through the ropes as well. Austin turns around when … Triple H nails him in the head with the sledgehammer! Huh?! Triple H then slips on a black glove and unloads on Austin’s open wound. Earl Hebner tries to get him to stop but Triple H drops him with a right hand as well. Triple H then sets Austin in a corner as Rikishi goes up and hits the Banzai Drop to finish him off. Finally Triple H grabs a mic and tells Austin that his search is over and now he knows. Triple H and Rikishi exchange a high ten and Austin is left laying as Raw goes off the air.
Conclusion: Well there it is, folks, the day the year 2000 officially went into the dumpster. By now Vince was panicking at the falling ratings and with the writers unable to decide on a direction to go it seemed like this show was booked as it was happening. They built up the angle of Rock and Austin co-existing through most of the show only to take Rock out before the main event. One minute Triple H is leading a reunited DX against the Radicalz and the next he’s revealing that he’s the mastermind behind Austin’s hit-and-run, erasing months of trying to make him a babyface. Then again maybe it’s something they should have done right from the start. The rest of the show was filled with subpar matches and nonsensical booking such as giving the RTC guys the tag titles, plus the show ended with Triple H and Rikishi posing while Angle (the world champion, remember) became an afterthought. Not to mention theSurvivor Series was only two weeks any and they have yet to make any matches for it. So overall this edition of Raw gets a definite thumbs down.