WWF Smackdown 11/30/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, November 30th, 2000

Taped (11/28) from the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Kurt Angle (10/22/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Billy Gunn (11/23/2000)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather (11/06/2000)
●  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)

~ Smackdown comes on the air with footage of Commissioner Mick Foley talking to Rikishi earlier today promising him a shot at the WWF Championship and Rikishi approves. However we get another clip from earlier today, this one of Foley talking to Triple H and granting him a title shot. Then we see a clips of Foley giving The Undertaker a title shot…then The Rock…then Steve Austin. So five people have been promised title shots, hopefully we get some clarification on the show.

~ After the intro Michael Cole welcomes us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler and naturally the announcers are wondering how Foley can promise title shots to five different men. We then cut to the back and find Foley playing Connect Four with himself when Kurt Angle barges in demanding to know why there are five #1 contenders. Foley just tells Angle that he’ll find out soon enough.

• The Hardy Boys & Lita vs. Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn & Eddie Guerrero (w/Terri Runnels)

These three along with Chris Benoit did quite a job on the Hardys and Lita so here’s their shot at payback. The Hardys go out and meet Eddie and Saturn on the floor leaing Malenko and Lita face-to-face in the ring. Malenko has words for Lita who goes to slap him but Malenko grabs her arms. Saturn then comes in and throws Lita to the mat but Malenko doesn’t seem to appreciate it when Matt comes in with a clothesline on both men. Jeff tags in and whips Malenko into a corner then charges but eats a boot. Malenko comes out with a clothesline and slams Jeff then tags Eddie and slings him over the ropes into a hilo on Jeff. Eddie works Jeff over in a corner then whips him into the opposite corner and Eddie taunts the fans before charing at Jeff. However Jeff tosses Eddie over his head onto the turnbuckles then comes off the ropes and hits a sloppy headscissrs. Jeff tags in Matt then takes Eddie down by the legs and the Hardys hit their combo legdrop. Matt covers Eddie but Malenko breaks up the pin and Matt pops him then knocks Saturn under the ropes. Lita gets Malenko’s attention on the apron and draws him in before snapping his neck on the top rope and the Hardys follow up with a double wheelbarrow suplex. Eddie comes in but the Hardys hold him up while Lita climbs ot the top rope and hits a crossbody. Saturn comes in and Matt hammers him in a corner when Terri grabs his hair allowing Saturn to chopblock the knee. Saturn drapes Matt’s leg over then middle rope then sits down on it. Saturn sets Matt on the top rope and goes for a superplex but Matt shifts his weight and falls on top of Saturn. Both men crawl to their corners and Saturn tags in Malenko while Matt makes the tag to Jeff. Jeff dropkicks Malenko then whips him and hits a backdrop. Eddie comes in when Jeff locks wrists with him then runs up the turnbuckles and hits an armdrag. Malenko breaks up the pin and whips Jeff into a corner but Jeff runs up the tunbuckles and connects with the Whisper in the Wind. Lita asks to tag in so Jeff obliges and Lita climbs to the top rope and hits a huricanrana on Malenko. Saturn comes in but Jeff whips him into a corner and drops to the mat like Matt does while Lita launches off him into a Frankensteiner on Saturn. Matt hits the Twist of Fate on Malenko while outside Jeff runs along the barricade and leaps at Saturn who catches him in a bear hug. Matt then dives through the ropes into a pescado on both guys. In the ring Lita climbs to the top rope and connects with a moonsault on Malenko. Lita covers Malenko but Terri distracts the referee from making the count while Eddie climbs to the top rope and hits the Frogsplash right on Lita’s head. Eddie then drapes Malenko’s arm over Lita and the referee counts the three. (5:05) It wasn’t 100% clean but the Radicalz finally win a match. Not the tightest match but still a fun opener that got the crowd going. The Radicalz head out with Eddie and Saturn celebrating while Malenko seems concerned about Lita. **½

~ Backstage we find Foley leaving his office and heading somewhere as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Mick Foley makes his way out to the ring to take some time on the mic. Foley says after all the chaos on Raw, his eyes are open wider to some things he should have seen. Foley says Kurt Angle may be a conniving, double-talking, sinvelling liar but he is right about the WWF, that we have seen a man dropped 40 feet off a forklift and their WWF Champion chokeslammed off the stage. Foley then mentions the #1 Contender’s match onRaw that ended in a disqualification and says he’s considered a rematch but feels that would end in a schmozz as well. Foley says he’s decided to solve the screwjobs by naming FIVE #1 contendors and first brings The Rock out to the ring. Once Rock arrives Foley tells him how three people ran-in during his match on Monday. However Rock takes the mic from Foley and starts off the with usual bit then says he was the #1 contender when he woke up this morning and should have been when he goes to sleep. Rock then brings up how Foley names four other guys #1 contenders as well but it doesn’t matter, the only thing that matters is he has his title shot at Armageddon. Foley mentions there was another person who was cheated out of the title before bringing out The Undertaker. Taker takes the mic from Foley and says he doesn’t have any idea what he’s talking about but as long as it involves him getting a shot at Angle he’s down with it. Next Foley brings out Steve Austin who takes the mic and asks Foley to bottom-line this whole thing. So Foley decides to bring out Triple H and Rikishi, both of whom stay on the stage. Foley says all five men have had their lives intertwined for a long time now and he’s sick of it so he’s figured out a way to have a WWF Championship match to end this whole thing. Foley then announces all five will challenge Angle for the title atArmageddon … in the Hell in a Cell!

We get reaction shots from all five guys when Kurt Angle finally comes out to the stage and has a stunned look on his face as he gets on a mic asking Foley if he’s lost his mind. Angle says he’s defended his title with class and honor and is not a cheater, unlike the Minnesota Timberwolves. Angle calls the match barbaric but Foley says everyone has left him no other alternative and that there will be one WWF champion in the match. Foley warns the six men not to get physically involved with one another unless it’s in a sanctioned match or they lose their title shot. Foley especially tells Angle if he starts anything, he’ll be stripped of the WWF Championship. Triple H gets on the mic and says that’s fine with him since he retired Foley in that very same match. Triple H then brings Stephanie McMahon out and announces today is their one-year anniversary and they’re going to celebrate so the others don’t have to worry about him. Triple H invites the other five men to their celebration, especially Austin since he missed the wedding. Stephanie then scoffs at everyone who said they wouldn’t last before sharing a kiss with Triple H. Well that took longer than it had to (18 minutes in fact).

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Target Center as Cole and Lawler buzz about the main event made for Armageddon.

~ Backstage Stephanie delights in how Triple H decorated their dressing room and even thanks him for getting all her favorite roses. Triple H then turns to Harvey Whippleman and tells him he’s expecting a ‘special’ guest tonight so he asks him to stand outside his door and inform him of any surprises. Whippleman heads out while the Helmsleys share an embrace and I think it’s obvious who the “special guest” might be.

• WWF World Tag Team Titles: Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather © (w/Steven Richards & Ivory) vs. Road Dogg & K-Kwik

Road Dogg & K-Kwik earned this title match with a win over the other two RTC guys on Raw. Road Dogg & K-Kwik come out with their pre-match rap which thankfully gets interupted by the RTC’s entrance so they respond by attack the RTC’ers at they come in the ring. Road Dogg knocks Buchanan under the ropes while Goodfather works over K-Kwik in a corner but misses a right hand and K-Kwik gets in some shots. K-Kwik goes for a whip, Goddfather reverses him into a corner and charges but K-Kwik sidesteps him then climbs to the top rope and connects with a missile dropkick for a two count. K-Kwik goes for the ropes but Richards trips him from the floor. The referee sees it and goes out to eject Richards from ringside but doesn’t see the RTC’ers double-team K-Kwik. Buchanan comes in without a tag and whips K-Kwik into a corner then charges but K-Kwik sidesteps him. Road Dogg tags in and hits the juke ‘n jive punches on Buchanan then nails Goodfather with the big right. Road Dogg clotheslines Buchanan and hits the shake, rattle ‘n kneedrop then covers but Goodfather breaks up the pin. Buchanan runs up the turnbuckles and connects with a flying clothesline. Buchanan whips Road Dogg into a corner and charges but eats a boot and both men clothesline each other. K-Kwik tags in and busts some moves before dropping Buchanan with a discus punch. K-Kwik pops Goodfather off the apron then goes for a whip, Buchanan reverses but K-Kwik hits a spinning elbow. Goodfather again makes the save prompting Road Dogg come in and clothesline him over the ropes. Buchanan goes to powerbomb K-Kwik but Road Dogg pulls his partner down then plants Buchanan with the pump-handle slam. Ivory hops onto the ropes so Road Dogg brings her in the hard way then turns toward Goodfather on the apron. K-Kwik climbs to the top rope and connects with the Firebird splash on Buchanan. K-Kwik covers and the referee counts 1..2..but Ivory clocks K-Kwik with her Women’s title belt. Yet for some reason that doesn’t result in a DQ. Buchanan then drapes an arm over K-Kwik and that gets the three for the pin. (3:39) Pretty much a feh match. K-Kwik tried but it’s hard to carry three guys to a decent match. *½

~ Backstage Kurt Angle meets with Mick Foley trying to reason with him. Angle says he knows Foley’s become famous for Hell in a Cell matches but doesn’t understand why since he’s been decimated and beaten in every one he’s been in. Angle suggests the other five guys battle in the Cell with the winner facing him in a clean title match. Foley tells Angle he’s thought about the pain and agony of the Cell and his compaining and whining so he stands by his decision and sends Angle on his way despite his protests.

~ Back from break we find the Helmsleys enjoying their anniversay dinner as Triple H gives Stephanie a present. But as Stephanie opens it Harvey Whippleman comes in, spooking Triple H while says he has the champagne Triple H ordered. Triple H snatches the bucket from Whippleman then reminds him his only job is to alert him of any surprises and sends him back out.

~ Out in the arena we find William Regal making his way to the ring for some reason. Regal gets on the mic and mentions how he loves being the WWF’s goodwill ambassador but feels the competiton for his European Title has become unimpressive just like Minneapolis. Regal throws out an open challenge to anyone in the back for his European Title and out comes…

• WWF European Title: William Regal © vs. Scotty 2 Hotty

Both men lockup to start and Regal applies a headlock. Scotty shoves him into the ropes but Regal hits a shoulderblock. Regal comes off the ropes but Scotty leapfrogs over him and hits a hiptoss. Scotty goes for an O’Connor roll but Regal holds onto the ropes and Scotty starts dancing as we get a quick shot of Grandmaster Sexay watching the match from the back. Scotty gets in some shots then whips Regal into the ropes looking for a dropkick but Regal blocks it and catapults Scotty through the ropes. Regal goes out and throws Scotty into the ringpost before throwing him back in. Regal drapes Scotty over the apron and clubs him in the chest then heads back in and both men start exchanging punches. Scotty gets the advantage and goes for a whip, Regal reverses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Scotty comes off the ropes with the bulldog then connects with the Worm. Scotty covers Regal but Regal gets his foot on the bottom rope so Scotty rolls Regal up for another two count. Scotty goes for a whip but Regal counters with a forearm then hits the inverted neckbreaker for the three. (2:07) Just there. *½

~ Backstage we check in on the Helmsleys’ anniversary dinner and find
Stephanie admiring the platinum bracelet Triple H gave her. Triple H puts it on her wrist when Harvey Whippleman comes in saying a ticked-off man is outside wanting to come in. Triple H figures it must be Steve Austin so he has Whippleman bring him in. Triple H grabs a glass and readies it but stops when it turns out to be Chris Benoit. Benoit offers Triple H his services tonight as an anniversary gift saying he can beat Austin up for him and Triple H thanks him but tells Benoit he needs to worry about Billy Gunn and Chris Jericho. Triple H also says he has a feeling that Austin will come to them.

~ Elsewhere Austin is watching this exchange on a monitor and smirks then walks off somewhere as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Cole and Lawler plug Sunday Night Heat this week and announce The Rock will be the guest host.

• “The One” Billy Gunn & Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit & Kane

Benoit took out Jericho and Billy on Raw and I guess Jericho and Kane still have their issues so here we are. Jericho comes out after Billy and gets on the mic comparing Kane and Benoit to C3PO and R2D2, saying C3PO has the qualities of an android while Kane is a hemmroid. Jericho and Billy runs the ring and all four men go at it to start when Kane hammers Jericho with uppercuts while Billy and Benoit spill out to the floor. Kane beats Jericho down in a corner and follows up with a short-arm clothesline then chokes him. Kane whips Jericho into the opposite corner and goes for a back suplex but Jericho flips out of it and dropkicks Kane from behind. Jericho comes off the ropes with the bulldog then tess off on Kane and rams him into Billy’s boot. Billy tags in and unloads on Kane but Kane throws him into a corner and uppercuts him. Benoit tags in and works Billy over then goes for a whip but Billy reverses him into a corner and hits a press slam. Billy whips Benoit and hits a knee then tags in Jericho who comes in with a clothesline. Jericho pops Kane on the apron then chops Benoit. Jericho goes for a whip but Benoit reverses and Jericho tumbles out to the floor after Kane pulls down the top rope. Benoit draws Billy in to distract the referee while Kane drops Jericho onto the announce table and throws him into the ringsteps. Kane throws Jericho back in the ring and Benoit covers him for a two count. Benoit goes for a whip, Jericho reverses him into a corner and charges but eats an elbow. Benoit charges out but runs right into a heel kick and Jericho manages to tag in Billy. Billy hits a pair of forearms then whips Benoit and hits a tilt-o-whirl slam for a two count. Benoit goes for a whip and Billy counters into the cobra cluitch slam. Kane breaks up the pin when Jericho climbs to the top rope and connects with a missile dropkick on Kane. Jericho and Billy both clothesline Kane over the ropes but Jericho goes out as well. Billy readies for the Rocker Dropper when Kane hops on the apron and grabs him by the throat. Jericho pulls Kane off the apron but Billy walks right into the Crossface. Jericho tries to make the save but Kane pulls him out of the ring and Billy is forced to tap. (4:02)Well Benoit got a submission from the Intercontinential Champ. Benoit grins down at his defeated foe while Jericho and Kane are still brawling to the back. Decent enough match though Billy’s pops were starting to die off by this time and thus his push wouldn’t last much longer. **

~ Backstage Stephanie is taking a drink of champagne when Kurt Angle barges into the dressing room as Harvey Whippleman claims Angle walked past him. Stephanie doesn’t seem to mind as Angle asks her where Triple H is and Stephanie says he’s in the bathroom. Angle tells Stephanie he was kidding when he said he didn’t her anymore on Raw and that he needs Stephanie to be in his corner for the six-man Hell in a Cell at Armageddon. Stephanie tells Angle he’s done fine on his own and that she needs to take care of Triple H now and Angle says he understands. Angle gives Stephanie a hug but they seperate when Triple H walks in and Stpehanie claims Angle was just on his way out. Angle wishes Stephanie a happy anniversary before departing but Triple H gives his wife a disbelieving look as we go to commercial. So the whole Triple H/Angle/Stephanie triangle isn’t dead after all?

~ Back from break we find Tiger Ali-Singh and Lo Down (both wearing orange turbans) talking in Mick Foley’s office, wanting something done about Steve Blackman desecrating his turban on Raw. Debra then walks in and Tiger demands she find Foley to handle this situation proplerly but Debra instead books the three of them against Steve Blackman and The Dudley Boyz in a table match. Tiger and the others complain but Debra bangs the gavel saying that’s final.

~ Elsewhere Tazz interviews Crash and Molly Holly on facing Val Venis & Ivory this Sunday onHeat. Crash says when he and Molly take on The Right To Censor it’s going to be better than great while Molly says they love exercise and that their opponents will give them a tough fight. Tazz then calls the two of them goofy and says they just may be another victim but Molly demands Tazz apologize to Crash or else they’ll take it out on the RTC. The Hollys walk off in a huff and Tazz just chuckles at them. Okay then. Crash and Molly would win that match, BTW.

~ Out in the arena Cole and Lawler recap Triple H costing Steve Austin the WWF Championship last Monday. After that Johnathan Coachman interviews Austin backstage about facing Triple H at Armageddon and Austin calls Triple H’s recovery a miracle. No argument here. Austin says Triple H is harder to kill than a Texas cockroach and while Triple H has a second chance at life he gets a second chance to whip his carcass. Austin adds six men will fight for the WWF Championship which should be the goal of everyone in the WWF. Austin says the six of them will battle in the Hell in a Cell which isn’t a bad place to be. Coach then brings up Triple H’s repeated attemps to goad Austin into a fight but Austin cuts him off saying no one tells him what to do and orders Coach to say “Yes sir”.

~ Back in the Helmsleys’ dressing room Triple H and Stephanie watch the interview on a monitor referring to Austin as their special guest and feeling he’ll be joining them soon enough. The two of them head off to finish dinner as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Tiger Ali-Singh leads Lo Down out to the ring for the next match. However we suddenly cut back to check on the Helmsleys’ anniversary dinner backstage. Stephanie thanks Triple H for a wonderful dinner when Trish Stratus barges in wishing the two of them happy anniversay. Test comes in as well and thanks Stephanie for doing him the biggest favor of his life by not marrying him last year while calling her Triple H’s puppet. Stephanie claims she did herself a favor before Test and Trish walk off but Stephanie slaps Triple H for checking out Trish.

• The Dudley Boyz & Steve Blackman vs. Tiger Ali-Singh & Lo Down – Tables Match

Blackman is already out when The Dudleys come out to join him and set a table up at ringside. I should mention Chaz and D’Lo Brown are wrestling this match in their orange turbans. Chaz exchange punches with Blackman to start and whips him, hitting an elbow. Tiger asks to tag in and Chaz obliges but Blackman quickly kicks him down. Chaz tags back in but runs right into an arm drag then D’Von tags in and slams Chaz. D’Von follows up with an elbowdrop and covers Chaz but the referee reminds him there’s no pins in a tables match. Bubba Ray tags in and chops Chaz in a corner slams him to the mat. Bubba hops to the middle rope when D’Lo gets his attention while Chaz punches Bubba below the belt then throws him off the to mat. Chaz lays the boots to him then tags D’Lo in and both men whip Bubba into a double flapjack. D’Lo whips Bubba but both men clothesline each other and both men crawl to their corners with D’Lo tagging in Chaz while Bubba making the tag to Blackman. Blackman superkicks Chaz then whips him and hits a flying shouldertackle. D’Lo comes in but Blackman takes him out with a belly-to-belly suplex. Tiger comes in but Blackman scares him and Tiger backs down in a corner. However this allows Lo Down to attack Blackman from behind and beat him down when the Dudleys come in and clear then from the ring. Tiger hammers away at Bubba and goes for a whip but Bubba counters and slams him. Bubba then sets Tiger up while D’Von climbs to the top and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. Bubba sends D’Von to fetch the table and D’Von slides one in the ring which Bubba sets up. Bubba knocks Chaz off the apron and goes out after him on the floor. In the ring Blackman has D’Lo set when Tiger hops on the apron and gets his attention so Blackman scares Tiger off the apron. However D’Lo grabs Bladckman and drops him through a table with the Sky High for the upset! (3:54) Pretty pedistrian match there, plus they never really followed up on Lo Down’s surprise win. *½

~ Backstage Triple H and Stephanie are still enjoying their dinner and Stephanie gives him a present. Harvey Whippleman comes in telling Triple H one of his Armageddon opponents is outside the door and Triple H starts to ready himself for Austin but it only turns out to be Rikishi. Rikishi tells Triple H it’s every man for himself at the pay-per-view and Triple H says he respects that then suggests they first take out the other four leaving just the two of them for the title. Rikishi seems down with that idea and walks off as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we find Steve Austin on the move somewhere.

~ Elsewhere Lillian Garcia interviews Kurt Angle, Edge and Christian on facing The Rock and The Undertaker, two of Angle’s opponents in the Cell. Edge calls Foley a toolshed who’s jealous that Angle’s the champion while he’s a retired nobody while Christian adds Angle beat Rock at No Mercy and Taker at Survivor Series despite Foley’s excuses. Edge says the three of them are going to take out two of Angle’s opponents and Angle says that sounds great.

~ Again elsewhere Hardcore Holly is clearing someone’s stuff out of a locker when Raven comes in asking what he’s doing. Hardcore says he’s taking his spot back and threatens to beat Raven up if he has a problem with it. Hardcore tells Raven he may have a hardcore history but his name just happens to be Hardcore then challenges him to a match later and Raven accepts.

~ Back at the Helmsley’s anniversary party Triple H is admiring Stephanie’s latest present when Harvey Whippleman comes in again saying the special anniversary cake Triple H ordered is on its way. Triple H says he didn’t order a cake but then realizes it could be from the ‘special guest’ so he tells Whippleman to bring the cake in then grabs a champagne bottle as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Triple H is still standing by the door with the bottle in hand as Harvey Whippleman comes in and tells Triple H the guy with the cake is here. Triple H tells Whippleman to bring the guy in and in comes … some bald guy who isn’t Austin. Stephanie then says she had the top of ther wedding cake flown in and Triple H dimisses the guy. This sure is a lot of non-wrestling segments strung together.

~ Out in the arena Cole and Lawler wonder when Steve Austin is finally going to bust in on Triple H. They then hype the six-man Cell at Armageddon which already has a graphic made for it and has a swank version of “Sweet Home Alabama”. That sure was fast, especially for a match only announced 90 minutes ago.

• Hardcore Holly vs. Raven – Hardcore Match

Hardcore makes his way out first when Raven attacks him on the stage and hammers away him with a mic. Raven then talks about being the bird of prey that feeds on Hardcore’s carcass when Hardcore interupts with a shot below the belt. Hardcore tees off on Raven near the OvalTron then Raven goes downstairs and climbs into a shopping cart but Hardcore shoves him into a wall. The two fight their way backstage into the janitor’s closet where Hardcore dunks Raven in a sink. Funaki and Essa Rios look on as Hardcore hammers Raven into the restroom then grabs a pair of trash can lids and whacks Raven with both of them. Hardcore also takes out some guy who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Raven comes out of the bathroom but Hardcore throws him across a table into a coffeepot. Raven stumbles into The Mean Street Posse (they’re still around?) and Rodney holds Raven for Hardcore but Hardocre pops Rodney instead. Pete Gas takes exception but Hardcore drops him as well and attacks Just Joe. Raven nails Hardcore from behind and the two fight down the stairs and go out the doors to outside the buidling. Raven rams Hardcore into a guardrail then whips him into a garage door repeatedly. Raven grabs a broomstick and works Hardcore over with it bfore breaking it over his back. Raven throws Hardcore into a SUV which Lawler recognizes is his rental car. Raven pulls an extension cord out of the SUV and chokes Hardcore with it then leads him across the street. Hardcore fights back but Raven rams him into a road sign and into a car at the stop light. Hardcore whips Raven into a bus stop then rips a stop sign off a pole and whacks Raven with it and that gets the pin. (3:56) Not exactly Hardcore’s battle with Al Snow at the Misissippi River. DUD

~ Kurt Angle is shown leading Edge and Chrsitian to the ring. The Undertaker then knocks on Rock’s door and tells him it’s time to roll as we go to commerical.

~ Back from break the Helmsleys are sharing a toast when Harvey Whippleman comes in again telling him his special guest is on his way and will be here any minute. Triple H calms Whippleman down and sends him back outside to alert him when he arrives and he and Stephanie toast their special guest.

• The Rock & The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian – 3-on-2 Handicap Match

I’d go into what happened on Raw between these guys but it’d take too long so let’s just get to the match. Taker starts off with Christian and pounds away on him then whips him into a corner and hits a powerslam. Taker catches Edge with a boot then comes off the ropes with an elbowdrop on Christian and gets a two count. Taker grabs Christian’s arm then walks the top rope and clubs Christian in the back. Rock tags in and hammers Christian then whips him and hits an elbow. Rock goes for a whip but Christian reverses it and hits a spinning heel kick. Angle tags in goes for a whip but Rock reverses and hits a belly-to-belly throw for a two count. Rock works over Angle’s arm then tags Taker back in and Angle quickly tags in Edge. Taker whips Edge into a corner and hits a clothesline then does the same in the other corner. Taker grabs Edge by the throat when Christian comes in and Taker grabs him as well but Angle comes up from behind and hits a German suplex on Taker. E&C lay the boots to Taker and Taker rolls out to the floor but Angle rams him into the annouince table and into the barricade before throwing him back in. Edge clubs Taker in the back then tags in Angle to take over. Taker shoves Angle away but Angle ducks a right hand and hits a back suplex for a near fall. Edge tags in and gets in some shots before tagging Christian in and the two of them whip Taker into a double elbow. Christian covers but Taker powers out of it so Christian works Taker over in a corner and chokes him. Taker throws Christian into the corner and gets in his shots but Edge grabs Taker’s hair from the apron allowing Christian to regain the advanatge. Christian goes up to hit the count-along punches but Taker grabs him and drops him to the mat. Both men crawl to their corners but Edge tags in and knocks Rock off the apron to prevent a tag. Edge whips Taker but lowers the head and Taker hits a DDT and both men crawl to their corners again. Christian tags in while Taker makes the hot tag to Rock and Rock Rock unloads on Christian. Rock goes for a whip, Christian counters but Rock comes back with a DDT. Edge comes in but runs right into a spinebuster. Rock pops Angle off the apron then plants Christian with a Rock Bottom anc covers but Angle saves it. Taker coems in so Angle bails out to the floor but Taker chases him down. Taker grabs Angle by the throat looking to chokeslam him through the announce table but Edge whacks him in the back with a chair. Earl Hebner goes out and yells at Edge while Angle goes in and plants Rock with an Olymic Slam. Angle pulls Christian onto Rock and Hebner goes back into count .. but only gets two. Both men crawl to their corners yet again and Christian tags in Angle and Rock tags in Taker. Taker hammers Angle then whips him and hits the chokeslam. Taker follows up with the Last Ride and gets the pin on the WWF Champion. (8:18) Geez, where was Edge & Christian to make the save? Decent enough main event though it’s sad that Angle eats the pinfall again despite having a one man advantage on his side. **

~ Backstage Triple H is still lying in wait for his ‘special guest’ to arrive as he tells Stephanie this could get ugly so he asks her to hide in the bathroom and Stephanie follows the advice. Triple H turns off the lights and waits for his moment then opens the door and we start hearing sounds of a scuffle taking place. Outside we find Harvey Whippleman listening to the carnage when a hand taps his shoulder, a hand belonging to Austin! Austin listens in to the carnage and chuckles before opening the door and swtiching the lights back on. Austin wishes a stunned Triple H a happy anniversay then heads out as Triple H looks down at the person he’s been pummeling and finds … Vince McMahon! Stephanie tends to the bloodied Vince and Triple H yells at Austin as the show comes to a close.

Conclusion: Not a bad show, certainly better than that jumbled mess that preceded it. The program started with a fun opener but then nosedived with the long interview segment and never really recovered, even with the good main event. Plus Vince McMahon doesn’t make a cameo like that without it leading to something down the line. Mainly this episode leaves you feeling the writers were still just coasting at this time. With 10 days before Armageddon we finally get a main event announced but they decided to just throw the six main guys together in one match for the heck of it. That still leaves an undercard to be put together with very little build, though you do get a few ideas from what happened here. So let’s go thumbs in the middle leaning down for this edition of the blue show.