WWF RAW 12/4/2000

Written by: Adam King

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, December 4th, 2000

Live from the Continential Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ

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: Crash Holly (12/02/2000)
●  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 from Smackdown including Vince McMahon’s cameo. After the intro Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Jerry “The King” Lawler.

• The Undertaker vs. Rikishi

I guess you could call this a pay-per-view preview since we have two of the six men in Sunday’s Hell in a Cell. Taker pounds away on Rikishi to start and whips him into a corner then charges at him but eats an elbow. Rikish comes out but eats a clothesline then Taker whips him back into a corner and this time hits the clothesline. Both men exchange shots and Taker heatbutts Rikishi but looks like he hurt himself. Taker hits another headbutt but Rikishi shruges it off and headbutts him down then gets in his shots in a corner. Rikishi whips Taker hard into the opposite corner and goes for the running butt splash but Taker sidesteps him and hits a clothesline. Taker grabs Rikishi’s arm and climbs to the top rope when Kurt Angle comes out to ringside, gets Taker’s attention and allowing Rikishi to throw Taker off the rope to the mat. Rikishi hits a belly-to-belly suplex for a two count then goes for a whip but Taker reverses and hits a boot followed by an elbowdrop for a near fall. Taker then goes out and attacks Angle on the floor before heading back in. Taker goes for a whip but Rikishi reverses and hits a Samoan Drop for a two count. Rikishi whips Taker but lowers the head and Taker hits a DDT. Taker grabs Rikishi by the throat when Angle hops onto the apron with a chair in hand so Taker decks Angle but turns around right into a superkick. Rikishi follows up with the giant legdrop but only gets two so Rikishi connects with another superkick. Rikishi drags Taker into position then climbs the ropes and hits the Banzai Drop on Taker which gets the 1..2..3!(5:15) No seriously, Rikishi actually pins Taker somewhat cleanly and in a match that was better than expected. I guess the bookers realized Rikishi needed some heat going into the Cell since he wasn’t ‘up there’ with his opponents. **

Angle goes in and lays the boots to Taker then hits him with his gold medals in his fist. Taker takes a swing at Angle but Rikishi clotheslines him down and Angle continues his assault. The crowd is cheering for someone to come out but nobody does as Angle and Rikishi stand tall.

~ JR and Lawler announce Vince McMahon will be on the show tonight to deliver a “State of the WWF” address. We then cut to the Commissioners’ office … but Mick Foley and Debra are nowhere to be found for some reason.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Rikishi upsetting Undertaker and Angle beating him down. Backstage Michael Cole interviews Debra about Angle’s latest interference while asking where Mick Foley is. Debra says Foley is stuck in traffic after a book signing but will arrive soon then dismisses Cole to try and reach Foley over the phone.

• WWF World Tag Team Titles: Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather © (w/The RTC) vs. The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita)

The Hardys actually faced the RTC’ers for the belts at the UK Rebellion show (more on it later) but Val cost them the match so here’s their second shot. Goodfather and Buchanan jump the Hardys from behind to start the match and whips both of them but Matt and Jeff slide out to the floor then head back in and dropkick the champs through the ropes. Matt slings himself over the ropes with a plancha on Buchanan and Jeff does the same to Goodfather. Matt throws Buchanan back in and the Hardys hit a double-suplex for a two count. Matt goes for a whip but Buchanan trips Matt through the ropes then distracts the referee while Goodfather throws Matt into the ringpost. We get a quick shot of Dean Malenko watching the match from the back, keeping his eyes on Lita. Back in the ring Buchanan clothesines Matt then tags in Goodfather and sets Matt up for a boot to the head. Goodfather wrenches Matt’s arm then whips him but lowers the head and Matt kicks the face then follows up with a DDT. Matt manages to tag in Jeff and Jeff comes off the ropes with a dropkick then wails on Goodfather in a corner when Buchanan comes up and nails Jeff from behind. The RTC’ers whip Jeff into a corner and go for a double clothesline but Jeff runs under it then runs up the turnbuckles and connects with the Whisper in the Wind on both men. The Hardys whip Goodfather into a corner then whips Buchanan into Goodfathe and drops to the while and Jeff launches off him for the Poetry in Motion on the RTC’ers. Suddenly we see the Dudleys coming down the ramp … but are wearing white shirts and ties?! The Hardys (as well as the fans) wonder what’s up when the RTC’ers attack them from behind. Buchanan whips Matt but Matt fakes him out and backdrops him over the ropes. Goodfather scoops Jeff onto his shoulder but Matt pulls him down and hits the Twist of Fate! Jeff climbs to the top rope and connects with the Swanton Bomb. Jeff covers Goodfather for the belts but the Dudleys hop on the apron and distract the referee from making the count. Buchanan nails Jeff with a vicious axe kick and Goodfather covers him to retain the belts. (3:41) The Dudleys then walk away while Goodfather and Buchanan seem puzzled by their assistance. Not the worst match but the Dudleys interference confused everyone. Did they really join the RTC or is it a swerve? And why did they screw the Hardys out of the titles? Maybe we’ll find out on Smackdown. *½

~ Backstage Debra is reading a magazine when Road Dogg & K-Kwik come up to her complaining about the Hardys getting a title shot when they were jobbed out of the belts on Smackdown. Road Dogg insistes they had the RTC beaten but referee Terry Long let Ivory interfere and that cost them. Debra tells them Long has been repremanded and promises them a title rematch and Road Dogg & K-Kwik cleebrate. However Edge & Christian suddenly come in and take exception to that ruling, pointing out how they have yet to get their shot at the RTC despite being three-time champions. That is true, why haven’t E&C gotten their shot at the RTC? Anyway Road Dogg tells “Percy Sledge & Sister Christian” they’ll be happy to beat them up and the two sides start arguing with E&C making fun of their shirts. Debra eventually decides to book the two teams together in a match saying the result will relate to the tag team titles. Debra departs to meet Mick Foley and the two teams continue to bicker as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we find Debra standing in the parking lot waiting for the Commissioner to arrive.

~ Next we get a replay of the Dudleys costing the Hardys the tag team titles earlier. Backstage the Hardys are cursing about the Dudleys getting involved when Dean Malenko comes in bearing flowers for Lita. Malenko then asks Lita for one chance and one date with her and Lita asks to think about it before clubbing Malenko with the flowers before the Hardys send him on his way.

~ Elsehwere Triple H is coversing with Rikishi and congradulating him on his win over The Undertaker. Triple H brings up the Hell in a Cell and acknowledges that they both want to be WWF Champion but feels they have to play this smartly since it’s six men in such a dangerous match. So Triple H suggests to Rikishi they form an alliance to dominate the other guys since The Rock, Steve Austin and The Undertaker won’t work together with such huge egos. Rikishi then asks Triple H if everything is cool with Vince McMahon after last Thrusday and Triple H says his incident with Vince was a misunderstanding and feels Vince will be fine. Riksihi then deicdes he’s on board with Triple H and they clasp hands to seal the deal.

• Chris Benoit vs. Hardcore Holly

Last night on Heat Benoit had a confrontation with Billy Gunn that led to an Intercontinential Title match being signed for Armageddon. Benoit comes out first and gets on the mic making fun of Billy’s nickname, calling him “The One” he will beat for the IC title and “The One” who won’t prove him wrong. Benoit then address Hardcore’s nickname when Hardcore comes out to the stage with his own mic, calling Benoit a weapon and promising to show him what he thinks of the best technical moron. Both men exchange punches to start and Benoit gets the advantage and hits a snap suplex followed by a backbreaker for a two count and a back suplex for another near fall. Benoit chops away at Hardcore and goes for a whip but Hardcore counters with a short-arm clothesline and Benoit is out of it. JR attributes it to the metal plate set in Hardcore’s formerly-broken arm as Hardcore covers him but Benoit barely gets his toe on the rope. Hardcore unloads on Benoit then drapes him on the middle rope and kicks him in the chest. Hardcore whips Benoit and hits a clothesline for a near fall then hits a vertical suplex for another two count. Hardcore clubs Benoit with his left arm them whips Benoit into a dropkick but still doesn’t get the three. Benoit tries to slap on the Crossface but Hardcore keeps slipping out of it. Benoit eventually locks in the Crossface on Hardcore’s other arm and Hardcore taps out. (2:32) Decent stuff for a two-minute bout but Benoit may have let Hardcore get in a little too much offense. Benoit hesitates before releasing the hold but is still feeling from the loaded clothesline. **

~ Out in the garage Debra is still waiting for Mick Foley as a limo pulls up so she walks over to greet it. But instead of Foley, Vince McMahon comes out of it and the two exchange greetings as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a look at Giants Stadium which will house the XFL’s New York Hitmen. It even has a giant inflatable XFL football. We also find Hitmen coach Rusty Tillman and his coaching staff in the crowd.

~ Backstage Debra is still waiting when Mick Foley finally arrives in his rental car. Foley says he had a long line for his book signing plus the traffic was bad. Debra gets Foley caught up on tonight’s happening and emphasizes that Vince is here.

~ Elsewhere Triple H and Rikishi are in their lockerroom when Vince McMahon bursts in and asks Rikishi to give him a minute with Triple H. Rikishi quickly departs while Vince tells Triple H that Stephanie is not here because he doesn’t want her to get in between them. Vince demands Triple H explain his actions last Thursday asking why he doesn’t just take his head off. Triple H tells Vince he tried to contact him all weekend but Vince wouldn’t answer his calls. Triple H says what happened was a mistake and that he thought Vince was Steve Austin, and that Vince knows better that anyone how much Austin can get under your skin. Vince tells Triple H he remembers what happened at last year’s Armageddon and departs but Triple H mutters that he remembers too and promises to make it up to Vince.

~ Still elsewhere Kevin Kelly interviews The Rock on the Hell in a Cell match this Sunday. Rock starts with the usual and mentions this will be his first time in the Cell, calling it the most dangerous and brutal match he’s ever been in. Rock says no matter what anyone calls it, he’s going to lay the Smackdown and get back his WWF Title. Rock then starts doing some funny impresssions of the other five men in the Cell. Rock does a wimpy wide-eyes voice for Angle saying he’s going to drink milk and eat cookies, a deep voice for Rikishi, rolling his eyes back for Undertaker, a grunting voice for Triple H and wearing a Stone Cold cap for Steve Austin. Very funny segment that I can’t really do justice on my own, hopefully someone has a YouTube clip of it.

~ Yet again elsewhere the Undertaker is shown angrily leaving Mick Foley’s office as Foley promises to make it up to him on Smackdown. Foley then tells Debra that Kurt Angle should not get away with constantly interfering in matches and decides to make Angle defend his title tonight … against Chris Jericho!

~ Back from break we get clips of The Rock guest hosting Sunday Night Heat, just in case you didn’t watch MTV that night.

~ Backstage Dean Malenko knocks on Lita’s door again and asks for another chance and Lita is ready to slam the door when Malenko offers her a shot at his Light Heavyweight title tonight. Malenko says if Lita wins, she gets becomes the champion and he moves on to other things but if he wins, Lita has to go on a date with him on Smackdown. Malenko even offers Lita some chocolates and Lita accepts the match before dumping the chocolates on him and slamming the door but Malenko claims Lita digs him.

• Edge & Christian vs. Road Dogg & K-Kwik

Before the match Christian gets on the mic and talks about Road Dogg & K-Kwik rapping then decide to do their own little rap in response. E&C bust out their own funny rhymes followed by the 5-second pose when Road Dogg & K-Kwik run in the ring without doing their rapping and all four men go at it to start. Road Dogg works Edge in a corner then goes for a whip, Edge reverses but Road Dogg blocks a hiptoss and drops him with a right hand. K-Kwik tags in and goes for a whip, Edge reverses him into a corner but K-Kwik lifts himself up and backflips across the ring then comes off the ropes with a forearm. Christian comes in behind the referee’s back and hits a Slop Drop on K-Kwik. Edge tees off on K-Kwik then tags Christian in to take over and Christian chokes K-Kwik on the mat. Edge tags in and gets in a shot before tagging back out and E&C whip K-Kwik but K-Kwik dropkicks both men away. Road Dogg tags in and takes it to beoth men then slams Edge. Christian goes for a spear but Road Dogg sidesteps and Christian takes out Edge. Road Dogg hits the juke ‘n jive punches on Christian but nails Edge with the big right then K-Kwik clotheslines Edge over the ropes. Christian sets Road Dogg up for a Slop Drop but Road Dogg counters into a bear hug and holds Christian for a high side kick. Road Dogg covers Christian but the referee is too busy getting K-Kwik out of the ring. Edge then comes in and hits the Edge-o-matic on Road Dogg and Christian grabs the pin. (2:43) Just couldn’t get into this match and neither did the crowd as they were just dead for it. Plus they they never said if this match was to decide the #1 contendors to the tag titles so what does this win really mean? *

~ Backstage Kurt Angle pays a visit to Triple H and Rikishi in their lockerroom and suggests the three of them team up in the Cell, just like the Three Musketeers. Angle adds if it came down to the three of them it could be a triple threat. Triple H seems interested when
Angle suggests their alliance should begin tonight by making sure he doesn’t lose to Chris Jericho. Triple H tells Angle they’ll think about it and Angle happily walks away after which Triple H grins.

~ Chris Jericho is shown heading to the ring. We also see Vince McMahon approaching Steve Austin’s lockerroom as we go to commercial.

~ Backstage we find Vince and Austin stading face-to-face with Vince offering a handshake that gets declined. Vince tells Austin he doesn’t care about him personally but does care professionally and doesn’t like him or the others in the Hell in a Cell, calling it a bad investment. Vince says he wants to protect his investment and warns Austin his first Cell match could be his last. Sounds like Vince doesn’t want to risk losing his top stars in a potential career-ending match.

• WWF World Heavyweight Title: Kurt Angle © vs. Chris Jericho

Angle comes out first and gets on the mic saying New Jersey isn’t associated with winners while complaining about not having time to prepare for this match but gets interupted by Jericho’s intro. Jericho rushes the ring and starts off by coming off the ropes with a flying forearm. Jericho hammers away on Angle then goes for a whip, Angle reverses but Jericho hits a spinning heel kick. Jericho follows up with a springboard dropkick that sends Angle through the ropes then goes out and drops Angle onto the barricade before throwing him back in the ring. Jericho gets on the apron and Angle gets in some shots but Jericho snaps his neck on the rope. Jericho goes for a clothesline but Angle comes back with a belly-to-belly suplex. Angle beats Jericho down in a corner and chokes him then follows up with a suplex for a two count. Angle drops Jericho with a right hand and applies a chinlock, Jericho fights out of it and comes off the ropes rolling Angle up for a two count. Angle hits a back suplex for a near fall then whips Jericho and hits an elbow for another two ocunt. Jericho starts to fight back and goes for a whip, Angle reverses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Jericho hops to the middle rope and leaps off but Angle catches him into a belly-to-belly suplex for two. Angle rolls Jericho in a La Magistral but that only gets a two count. Angle applies a chinlock but Jericho counters the hold with a jawbreaker then kicks him down in a corner, Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses Jericho into the opposite corner and catches the boot but Jericho responds with an enzuigiri. Angle goes for a German suplex but Jericho reverses it into a rollup for a near fall. Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses but lowers the head and Jericho kicks the face then comes off the ropes with a clothesline. Jericho hops to the middle rope and connects with a missile dropkick that gets a two count. Jericho goes for a whip, Angle reverses and Jericho goes for a flying forearm but Angle ducks it and Jericho accidentally wipes out Earl Hebner. Jericho comes off the ropes with the bulldog then follows up with the Lionsault! Jericho covers Angle but Hebner is still out so referee Teddy Long runs in to count … but only gets two! Jericho whips Angle into a corner and charges but Angle sidesteps and Jericho runs into the ringpost. Angle goes for the Olympic Slam but Jericho lands on his feet and puts Angle in the Walls of Jericho. Long asks Angle if he wants to submit when he’s pulled out of the ring by Kane. Jericho goes over and pops Kane off the apron, causing him to fall on top of Long. However Angle hits a low blow followed by the Olymic Slam and Hebner revives to count the three. (6:53) Good match but you knew Angle wasn’t losing the title this close to the pay-per-view. At the same time Angle once again needed a run-in to bail him out instead of looking strong with a clean win. ***

After Angle leaves Kane goes in and chokeslams Jericho before setting off his pyro. Gee, I wonder if they’re going to fight again at the pay-per-view.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Kane costing Jericho his title match against Angle. Backstage Triple H and Rikishi are conversing when Angle barges in asking what happened to them. Rikishi tells Angle they were about to head out but saw Kane and figured he’d be just fine while Triple H adds that Stephanie was right when she says Angle doesn’t need any help at ringside. Angle starts to storm off but Triple H stops him saying his alliance idea is a good one then invites him to sit down and talk it over with them.

• WWF Intercontinential Title: “The One” Billy Gunn © (w/Chyna) vs. Val Venis (w/Ivory)

Val gets in the first shots and goes for a whip but Billy reverses him hard into a corner and hits a suplex for a two count. Billy tees off on Val who starts fighting back and comes off the ropes but runs into a clothesline for a near fall. Billy whips Val into a corner and charges but Val sideseps him and hits an armbar takedown. Val wrenches Billy’s arm and hits a legdrop then applies a keylock and Billy tries to hold on as he inches toward the ropes and gets his foot on the bottom rope. Val goes out and wraps Billy’s arm around the ring rinpost twice and Ivory gets in a shot. Val wraps Billy’s arm around the top rope and beats him down in the corner but Billy comes out with a shoulderblock. Billy starts fighting back then whips Val into a backdrop and hits a pair of clotheslines. Billy whips Val into the powerslam for a two count then hits the Rocker Dropper but Ivory puts Val’s foot on the bottom rope. The referee keeps Chyna from coming in, not seeing Ivory pass Val her Women’s title belt to Val who waffles Billy with it. However Chyna comes in wth a clothesline on Val causing a DQ. (4:26) Ugh, a terrible match that the crowd did not care for. Billy’s pops were dying at this point which meant the end of his push was near. DUD

Anyway Chyna lays the boots to Val when Ivory nails her from behind but Chyna no-sells it and turns around to see Ivory with a scared look on her face. Ivory tries to escape but Chyna grabs her by the hair and scoops her up then hits a running powerslam. Ivory crawls out to the floor but Chyna goes out after her and scoops her up again but this time Val makes the save. Val clotheslines Chyna over the announce table then heads back in the and DDT’s Billy before stomping aweay at him. Ivory chokes Chyna on the floor and flails away at her as the referees pull her off.

~ Backstage Vince McMahon visits with The Rock’s in his lockerroom and calls him the most intelligent of the WWF wrestlers. Vince asks to plead to Rock’s intelligence, telling him he does not have to compete in the Hell in a Cell because he has the most to lose and has his whole career ahead of him. Vince asks Rock to decline Foley’s match but Rock condescendingly thanks Vince for his concern and generosity and Vince storms off.

~ Lita is shown heading to the ring while we see Dean Malenko spraying himself with cologne as we go to commercial.

• WWF Light Heavyweight Title: Dean Malenko © vs. Lita

Yes, we’re actually getting Malenko defending his oft-forgotten title on Raw. Malenko has some new James Bond-like entrance music and doesn’t take his eyes off Lita as he hits the ring. Both of them lockup to start and Malenko throws Lita down to the mat then goes over to help her up but Lita rolls him up for a two count. Both of them lockup agian and Malenko applies a headlock, Lita goes into a hammerlock and Malenko counters into a Fireman’s carry but Lita kips up and flips Malenko down into an armbar. Malenko whips Lita but Lita hits the headscissors and we have a standoff. Lita grabs Malenko with a waistlock but Malenko elbows her away right in the jaw. Malenkop stomps Lita down in a corner and chokes her with his boot then whips her but lowers the head. Lita goes for a Sunset Flip but Malenko rolls through it into a pin but only gets a two count. Malenko goes for a powerbomb but Lita counters with an armdrag. Lita dropkicks Malenko under the ropes then dives through them with a pescado. Lita rolls Malenko back in the ring and shoulderblocks Malenko through the ropes then slings herself into a Sunset Flip. Malenko holds onto the ropes but the referee sees it and kicks the arm allowing Lita to get him over for a two. Lita goes for a whip but Malenko reverses her hard into a corner then sets her on the top rope. Malenko goes up but Lita fights him off to the mat then connects with a moonsault … but only gets a two count! Lita argues the count when Malenko comes up and knees her in the chest then whips her into a corner. Malenko sets Lita on the top rope again, Lita kicks him away and goes for a tornado DDT but Malenko throws her over the ropes. However Lita lands on her feet then climbs back to the top rope and goes for a huricanrana but Malenko catches her into a powerbomb! Malenko then puts Lita in the Texas Cloverleaf and Lita and forced to give it up. (3:49) Lita loses so she and Malenko have a date on Smackdown. Surprisingly decent match there, showing what an underappreciated worker Malenko is. Malenko then helps Lita up but Lita slaps him and walks away. **

~ Backstage Vince McMahon comes across the Undertaker’s motorcycle as some guy works on it then takes a seat on the bike and sends the guy to tell Taker he’s looking for him.

~ Back from break JR and Lawler talk about the Rebellion show last Saturday in Sheffeld, England and show footage of the event, especially Crash Holly beating William Regal for the European Title.

~ Backstage Vince is still checking out Undertaker’s motorcycle when Taker walks up and tells Vince to get off his ride. Vince claims he’s here to help Taker out and points out he knows what Hell in a Cell is about because he’s been there before. Vince suggests Taker give a message to Mick Foley saying he wants to drop out of the match but
Taker suggests Vince give his own message before he spits tobbaco juice on Vince’s suit jacket.

• WWF European Title: Crash Holly © (w/Molly Holly) vs. William Regal

As mentioned earlier Crash upset Regal for the belt in England so here’s the rematch. Regal gets on the mic and says he stands in the ring a man besmirched in his home country after he was embarassed in front of his family last Saturday by losing the European Title. Regal blames Molly for costing him the title and demands she and Crash come out to the ring. Regal attacks Crash as he rushes the ring and whips him into a corner then hits an elbow. Crash throws Regal into the corner and tees off on him then whips him and hits a clothesline for a two count. Regal comes back with a forearm and throws Crash through the ropes then goes out and throws him into the ringpost. Regal beats on Crash then rolls him onto the apron and rams his head into it. Regal goes in and hits an elbowdrop and follows up with a back suplex for a near fall. Crash whips Regal and goes for an elbow but Regal kicks him in the shoulder. Regal goes for a whip but Crash reverses and this time hits the elbow followed by a huricanrana for a near fall. Crash slams Regal then climbs to the top rope and conencts with a missile dropkick but only gets two. Crash goes for a whip but Regal reverses and slams Crash to the mat then slaps on the Regal Stretch and gets the tapout from Crash to regain the title after just two days. (2:23) So why did Regal job the title to Crash in the first place, especially in his home country? Pretty easy win for Regal and the crowd was dead for this match as well.DUD

Regal refuses to let go of the hold and finally does when Molly climbs to the top rope. Molly hits a flying crossbody on Regal but Regal rolls through it and plants Molly with a back suplex. Regal then puts Molly in the Regal Stretch and Molly is tapping out like crazy when Hardcore Holly runs is and breaks it up. Hoardcore throws Regal through the ropes and Regal grabs his title and walks off while Crash tends to Molly.

~ Back from break we cut to WWF New York and find T&A and Trish Stratus peddling their T&APA shirts.

~ We get a replay of Regal regaining the European Title from Crash and the subsequent action. We then find Molly getting checked out by the EMTs backstage with Hardcore kicking stuff nearby.

~ Elsewhere Michael Cole interviews Mick Foley on things getting out of control and Foley says things will come to a head at Armageddon with two more additions to the card. Foley books Regal to defend his European Title against Hardcore Holly while Kane and Chris Jericho will fight again, in a Last Man Standing match. Foley then hypes the six-man Hell in a Cell when Vince McMahon walks by saying don’t be so sure it’ll take place. Vince heads out to deliver the “State of the WWF” address and departs while Foley says he can’t wait for it. And it’s looking like Vince’s fifteen-minute address is going to take up the remainder of the show. Would that mena that Crash and Regal were actually the main event for this episode?

~ Back from break Vince McMahon heads out to the ring for our main even interview segment. Vince gets on the mic and talks about the state of the WWF during his absence, starting with his wife Linda McMahon’s decision to appoint Foley as Commissioner. Vince says he disagreed with it then and is convinced it’s the wrong decision now but he and Linda have attended counseling and have learned to agree to disagree. Vince says he can forgive Linda’s poor judgment but can’t forgive Foley’s lack of judgement, calling him demented for putting the WWF’s six top superstars in the Hell in a Cell. Foley then comes out and gets on the mic telling Vince he’s one to talk about being sick and demented after he kidnapped his own daughter, knocked out his son and booked himself in WWF Title matches, not to mention the Gerald Brisco/Pat Patterson evening gown match. Foley says calling him demented for putting them in the Cell is a compliment to him since the two Cell matches he was in made his career and also ended it. Foley says as long as he is Commissioner, the match will take place atArmageddon. Foley also says when he saw him beaten and bloodied on Smackdown he was laughing his rear off. Vince says he doesn’t blame Triple H or Steve Austin for that incident, he blames Foley.

However before Vince can go much further Steve Austin suddenly comes out to the ring. Austin gets on the mic and thanks Vince for his concern before laying him out with a Stunner. Austin leaves the ring and starts heading back up the ramp when The Rock makes his way out and the two share a look. Rock then heads in the ring and lays Vince out with a Rock Bottom. Rock heads up the ramp when The Undertaker comes out and shares a look with him on his way to the ring. Taker goes in and takes Vince out with the Last Ride then heads back to the lockeroom as well. Foley then looks down as what’s left of Vince and tells him he’s had a pretty bad day then pulls out Mr. Socko and tells Vince to have a nice day and departs.

However we suddenly cut to the back and find Taker attacking Kurt Angle when Triple H and Rikishi appear and the three of them beat Taker down. Taker gets thrown into some pipes as the camera pans over to find Rock and Austin also laid out and bleeding nearby. Triple H, Angle and Rikishi depart leaving their opponents unable to get up as the show fades to black.

Conclusion: Up and down show that tried its best to sell Armageddon which was just six days away. There were some good matches (Angle/Jericho) mixed in with some not-so-good ones and the crowd started off hot but quickly became pretty much comatose for much of the show (especially the parts with Road Dogg and Billy Gunn involved). The booking continued to be suspect especially with the heel dominance; all the matches were won by the bad guys and even when it looked like we’d get a “send them home happy” ending we suddenly see the top faces getting beaten down. You’ll also notice they tried to keep the build toward the Cell going but only half the participants (Taker, Rikishi and Angle) actually wrestled while Austin, Rock and Triple H only appeared in backstage segments and the former two didn’t get in the ring until the end. Plus Vince just couldn’t stay away from the spotlight and felt his prescene would certainly bring the ratings back up (and it wouldn’t be the last time he’d have that thought). Still there was enough good on the show to keep it from failing so I’d call this edition thumbs slightly up.