WWF Smackdown 2/8/2001

Written by: Adam King

WWF SMACKDOWN
Thursday, February 8th, 2001

Taped (2/6) from the Colliseum in Charleson, SC

List of WWF Champions at the time:
●  WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Kurt Angle (10/22/2000)
●  WWF Intercontinental Champion: Chris Jericho (1/21/2001)
●  WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Dudley Boyz (1/21/2001)
●  WWF European Champion: Test (1/22/2001)
●  WWF Hardcore Champion: Raven (2/04/2001)
●  WWF Women’s Champion: Ivory (11/02/2000)
●  WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Dean Malenko (4/27/2000)

~ Smackdown comes on the air and goes right to the inrto with Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcoming us and buzzing about the Steve Austin/Triple H feud, asking if they can last the last 2½ weeks before No Way Out.

~ Things kick off with Vince McMahon making his way to the ring where a tumbler has been set up for some reason. Vince gets on the mic and chastises the fans for booing him before he even said anything and mentions Southern hospitality. Vince talks about how he’s all about fairness in the WWF but there was an incident on Raw that was anything but fair. Vince shows a clip of The Big Show attacking The Rock during the tag team main event, pointing out how it wasn’t fair. Vince asks the fans if they think Rock should be facing Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship at No Way Out and says maybe Rock will get the title shot but then again maybe Big Show should be the one going for the belt. Vince decides to settle this issue by booking Rock against Show tonight with the winner to get a title shot at the pay-per-view.

Vince then talks about another incident taking place during the tag match that nearly resulted in double career suicide as he shows Triple H and Steve Austin nearly coming to blows with Triple H taking a swing but missing. Vince calls it fortunate Austin ducked since both men would have been punished due to their No Way Out contract and does offer take some of the blame since he brought them too close in a tag team combination. Vince says both men are looking forward to settling the score at No Way Out and have suggested some stipulations for the match so to decide the issue Austin and Triple H will each have someone represent them in a match tonight. Vince says if Triple H’s man beats Austin’s man then Triple H gets to name the stipulation for the pay-per-view and likewise should Austin’s representitive win then Austin gets to name the terms. Vince says the two names will be drawn from the tumbler then asks for any objective volunteers to do the honors and before long William Regal makes his way out with Trish Stratus looking to fill that role. Regal offers to help Vince out with this undertaking then mentions how he hasn’t got a lot of sleep lately. Vince tells Regal he appreciates his participation then turns the tumbler and lets Trish pull out a couple of orbs. Vince cracks open the first orb and announces that representing Steve Austin will be … “The One” Billy Gunn. Vince opens the other orb and says representing Triple H will be Chris Jericho, and that the match will be non-title. Vince thanks Regal and Trish for their help when Regal gives Trish a quick kiss which surprises both her and Vince. Regal and Trish head out but Trish seems reluctant to give her arm to Regal as they walk back up the ramp.

~ Backstage we find the Helmselys watching things on a monitor and both offering their reactions. Triple H is not happy with Chris Jericho representing him, feeling he’ll most assuredly screw him out of the match. Stephanie on the other hand is more disbeliving about the way Regal and Trish are acting as we go to commercial.

• The Hardy Boyz (w/Lita) vs. Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn (w/Terri Runnels)

The participants file out to the ring when once again Dean Malenko makes his way out to the stage. Not surprisingly the Hardys are distracted allowing Benoit and Saturn to punk them out to get things started. Saturn tosses Matt through the ropes then helps Benoit double-team Jeff and whip him into a double elbow. Benoit heads out to the corner when Jeff comes back with a jawbreaker on Saturn. Jeff goes for a whip, Saturn reverses it but Jeff chopblocks the knee then slides out to the floor while Matt clotheslines Saturn. Matt unloads with rights on Saturn then comes off the ropes and hits a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Matt goes for a whip, Saturn reverses but eats a boot and Matt hops to the middle rope and hits the guillotine. Matt covers Saturn but Benoit saves it so Matt decks Benoit but Saturn plants him with an exploder suplex. Benoit tags in but runs into an armdrag then Matt whips him into a corner and nails him with a gutwrench suplex. Matt goes for the ropes when Terri grabs his ankle and Matt ducks a clothesline from Saturn but Benoit nails him. Benoit follows up with a snap suplex that gets a two count as Malenko continues to look on from ringside. Benoit tags Saturn and holds Matt on his knee while Saturn climbs to the top and hits a flying kneedrop. Saturn covers Matt but Jeff barely makes the save so Saturn rams Matt upside down into the turnbuckles. Saturn whips Matt and hits a superkick then tags Benoit in and Benoit whips Matt and hits an Atomic Drop. Benoit slams Matt then climbs to the top rope and connects with the diving headbutt but hurts himself as well.

Saturn tags in and headbutts Matt then sets him on the top rope and goes for a superplex but Matt fights him off and hits a moonsault. Matt crawls toward his corner when Benoit tags in and cuts Matt off from making his tag but Matt elbows him away and makes the hot tag to Jeff. Jeff hits a dropkick followed by an inverted bulldog and Saturn comes in but Jeff takes him out with a headscissors. Jeff nails Benoit with a spinning heelkick then takes Saturn down and hits the double legdrop but Benoit nails him from behind. Benoit whips Jeff into a corner but Jeff runs up the turnbuckles and hits the Whipser in the Wind. The Hardys turn and plant Saturn with a double flapjack. Both guys whip Benoit into his partner in a corner and Matt drops down into position as Jeff goes for Poetry in Motion when Benoit ducks it but Saturn takes the hit. Matt takes Benoit out with the Twist of Fate then clotheslines both Saturn and himself over the ropes while Jeff climbs to the top rope and hits the Swanton Bomb on Benoit. Terri tries to come in and distracts the referee so Lita pulls Terri out when Malenko grabs her. Matt nails Malenko but Saturn knocks Matt into the barrier. Jeff dives off the barrier with a clothesline on Saturn but Malenko throws him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Malenko tosses Jeff back in the ring where Benoit slaps on the Crossface and Jeff is forced to give it up.(6:20) Nothing special but still the usual good match from these guys. The Radicalz celebrate their ill-gotten win on the ramp while Lita and Matt tend to Jeff in the ring. **½

~ Backstage the Helmsleys are walking somewhere when they head off in different directions as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Coliseum as Cole hypes the Rock/Big Show #1 contender’s match.

~ Backstage Trish Stratus warns William Regal to never kiss her in public again when Stephanie barges in the room so Regal stands in front of Trish who excuses herself from the room. Stephanie tells Regal that he isn’t fooling anyone, accusing him of covering for Vince’s relationship with Trish when everyone sees through it, especially her. Regal is appaled at being called a charlitan and talks about the love and passion he and Trish have for each other. Stephanie doesn’t buy it and warns Regal that he may want Vince as a ally but he doesn’t want her as an enemy. Regal then tells Stephanie that they have a few things to discuss and they take a seat to start talking.

~ Elsewhere Vince is walking when he bumps into Al Snow who thanks him for putting him in that match on Monday. Snow still wants to talk about the way Mick Foley got treated but Vince says he doesn’t want to discuss Foley ever then asks Snow why he’s not heading to the ring since he has a match next. This is apparently news to Snow as Vince tells him that his opponent is already making his way out then sends him on to the lockerroom to get dressed. Vince then heads toward his office just as Stephanie comes out the door and greets him before heading off somewhere.

~ Still elsewhere we find Billy Gunn getting ready for the representitves match when Triple H comes in to talk to him, offering a hand of friendship which isn’t accepted. Triple H talks about how they were once a great team then asks Billy to lay down for Chris Jericho so he can get his stipulations for his match with Steve Austin. Billy scoffs at his request, saying he knows how things work around here and starting tonight he’s out for himself. Triple H says Billy can’t blame him for asking so he heads out while patting Billy on the back and wishing him luck. Billy makes the mistake of thinking that’s it when Triple H comes back and nails him in the head with a fire extinguisher! Triple H then tells the fallen Billy he should have known that it’s better to be with him then against him and departs.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Triple H asking Billy to throw the match before taking him out himself. We then see the EMTs tending to Billy who complains about his head and apparenlty his status for the match looks unlikely.

~ In the arena Al Snow is in the ring for his match and it looks like he didn’t have time to change into his gear. Snow waits for his opponent hoping Vince was just ribbing him but someone does come out and unfortunately its…

• Al Snow vs. Rikishi (w/Haku)

Snow gets in one shot when Rikishi hits a thrust shot to the throat. Rikishi whips Snow when Snow comes abck with a forearm then desperately wails on Rikishi who hits another throat shot then plants him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rikishi follows it up with the massive legdrop then goes for a whip but Snow slides under him and hits a DDT. Snow comes off the ropes but Rikishi superkicks him down then hits the sitdown splash and this one is over. (1:25) After the bell Snow tries to get up but Rikishi brings in Haku who grabs Snow with the Tongan Death Grip. Rikishi pulls Haku off and they depart while the commentators beg Snow not to mention “Mick Foley” again. NR

~ Backstage Johnathan Coachman interviews Vince McMahon who brags about Mick Foley’s friend getting squashed. Coach asks Vince what will happen to the representitives match with Billy Gunn apparently getting taken out earlier and Vince says he doesn’t know yet. Vince alsy says how he doesn’t like Triple H disrespecting him so he books him against Chris Jericho instead.

~ Edge & Christian are shown heading to the ring for the next match along with the Dudleys as we go to commercial.

• WWF World Tag Team Titles: The Dudley Boyz © vs. Edge & Christian

So after weeks of waiting E&C finally get their tag title rematch after losing the belts at theRoyal Rumble. But I wonder if two other guys are going to get involved. Once everyone is out the Dudleys lay the belts on the mat in front of E&C then dare them the cross the line. All four men duke it out to start but the Dudleys get the advantage then whip E&C and knock them both down. E&C bail out to the floor but Bubba brings Christian back in the hard way then whips him and hits a backdrop. Bubba slams Christian by the hair for a two count then tags D’Von and D’Von whips Christian into a clothesline. D’Von whips Christian when Edge makes a blind tag and Christian goes for a crossbody but D’Von ducks it and Edge takes the hit instead. D’Von clotheslines both E&C then whips Edge into a corner and clotheslines him. D’Von decks Christian then hits Edge with the count-along punches but Christian snaps his neck on the top rope. Edge comes out with a heelkick then hammers away on D’Von and hits a dropkick but only gets a two count. Christian tags in and whips D’Von then hits him with a Russian legsweep and covers him but Bubba saves it. Edge comes in without a tag and whips D’Von into a corner then eats a boot but comes back with a heelkick. Christian tags in and sets D’Von on the top rope before tagging Edge back in. Christian climbs onto Edge’s shoulders as they set up for the stackplex but D’Von fights them off then clotheslines Christian, knocking both guys over. D’Von makes the tag to Bubba and Bubba pummels Edge then whips him and plants him with a sidewalk slam. Bubba hiptosses Christian and hot shots Edge on the top rope then plants Christian with the Bubbabomb. Bubba slams Edge and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and connects with the Wassup headbutt. Bubba is about to send D’Von out for a table when Christian charges at them and runs into a double flapjack. D’Von whips Bubba into an Avalanche on Christian in a corner but turns as Edge nails him with the spear. D’Von nails Edge with a neckbreaker when Christian comes off the ropes and both men clothesline each other. Edge is to his feet first and climbs to the top rope but Bubba cuts him off then goes up and hits a superplex. Christian is up and drills Bubba with the Unprettier but D’Von clotheslines Christian and himself over the ropes. Edge and Bubba are down in the ring while D’Von and Christian are on the floor … when sure enough Kane’s pyro goes off as The Undertaker and Kane make their way down the ramp. Edge drapes an arm over Bubba and the referee counts the 1..2..but Taker goes in the ring and pulls Edge off then chokeslams him and gets a DQ’ed called, getting revenge for E&C spoiling their chance at the belts on Raw. (7:03) Well that almost ruined what was another good match between these two teams. **½

The Dudleys don’t appreciate Taker’s interference and get in his face so Taker spits tobacco at them. The Dudleys double-team Taker in response when Kane joins the fray and all four men pair off and duke it out. Eventually Taker chokeslams Bubba and Kane does the same to D’Von and the brothers stand tall in the ring. Interesting how these guys keep dominating the top two tag teams of the division, isnt it?

~ Back from break Edge & Christian complain to Vince about The Undertaker and Kane interfering in the match. Vince offers to make it up to E&C by having them host Heat this week before facing Undertaker & Kane on Raw and E&C aren’t thrilled until Vince mentions the winner of Monday’s match will get a Tag Team title shot at No Way Out. E&C now seem pretty happy with that idea and head out while Vince wishes them luck.

• WWF Hardcore Title: Raven © vs. Hardcore Holly (w/Molly Holly)

The Hardcore title actually changed hands a few times on some of the house shows since Raven’s last TV defense, with Crash Holly and K-Kwik winning the belt several times only for Raven to regain the title each time. Raven brings out his cart of plunder then sprays Hardcore with a fire extinguisher before he can climb in the ring. Raven swings a chair at Hardcore but Hardcore backs off and Raven bounces it off the top rope into his face. Raven is down as Hardcore heads in the ring and goes for a quick cover but only gets two. Hardcore goes for a whip, Raven reverses it and goes for a bulldog but Hardcore clotheslines him down then drapes him on the top rope and kicks the chest. Raven grabs a trash can but Hardcore dropkicks it into his face for a two count. Raven comes back with a trash lid then whacks him with an ironing board and chokes him with a toy dinosaur. Raven sets a chair up and trips Hardcore face-first into it with a drop toehold. Raven then makes a pass at Molly as we see the ninja woman sneaking out to ringside with a 2×4 but Molly nails her with a clothesline off the steps. Hardcore works Raven over with a pair of trash lids then hits the Hollycaust and gets three for his fourth Hardcore title! (2:27) Hardcore celebrates while Molly works the ninja over on the floor then starts to pull her mask off but Raven pulls Molly off her. Hardcore nails Raven with a baseball slide then tosses him back in the ring and pounds away on him. However the ninja grabs a trash lid and whacks Molly in the head with it then climbs in the ring and nails Hardcore from behind with a 2×4. Raven then covers Hardcore as the referee counts another three and regains the title after 45 seconds. (3:13) Well it’s Hardcore’s own fault for continuing the match. The ninja then readies to hit Molly with another 2×4 but Raven decides that’s enough and the two head out. DUD

~ Backstage we find The Acolytes playing strip poker with Jacqueline and The Kat who mentions their match is next. Faarooq wants to play a few more hands first so they continue on with Bradshaw losing and taking off his shirt. Bradshaw wants to keep going but they decide to head out for their match as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a recap of The Right To Censor stopping The Kat from starting Right To Nudity on Raw and kissing Steve Richards. We then get an interview Kevin Kelly had with Richards earier tonight about his act of sexuality withy Kat. Richards feels Kevin is twisting the truth and admits he makes mistakes like everyone else and won’t make them again. Richards says Kat violated him and what she is promoting is the most perverse thing the RTC has ever encountered. Richards says we come into the world innocent yet people like Kat are running around taking their clothes off. Richards says the RTC’s convictions run deep and they’ll make sure the Right To Nudity never comes to pass, promising a side of the RTC never seen before and saying nothing will stop them from protecting the innocence of the world.

• The Right To Censor vs. The Acolytes, Jacqueline & The Kat – Intergender Match

Four of the five RTC’ers are competing while Val Venis is nowhere to be found. Faarooq starts off with Bull Buchanan and gets in the first shots then whips him into a corner but eats a boot. Buchanan comes out with a clothesline then tags Goodfather in and sets Faarooq up for a boot from his partner. Goodfather whips Faarooq into a corner but eats an elbow then Bradshaw tags in and helps with a double team then whips Goodfather into a double shoulderblock. Bradshaw follows it up with an elbowdrop and goes for a gutwrench when Steve Richards comes in with a Stevenkick but Bradshaw brushes it away. Richards heads back out while Goodfather nails Bradshaw with a clothesline then woks him over in a corner. Goodfather goes for a whip but Bradshaw reverses him into a corner and hits a clohtesline and a back suplex. Bradshaw and Goodfather exchange shots when Goodfather hits a shoulderblock while Ivory makes a blind tag. Ivory demands Bradshaw tag Kat in but Bradshaw decides to tag Jackie instead and Ivory isn’t happy with that. Jackie gets in her shots and goes for a whip but Ivory reverses it and Richards trips her from the floor. Ivory lays the boots to Jackie and whips her into a corner but eats a boot and Jackie hits her with an armdrag. Jackie follows it up with a hiptoss and a suplex that gets her a two count. Jackie sets Ivory up for a piledriver when Richards tries to break it up but Jackie ducks while Richards eats the Clothesline from Hades from Bradshaw. The corners empty and everyone dukes it out before the men spill out to the floor, leaving the ladies in the ring. Kat gets the tag and drills Ivory with a sloppy DDT then sets her in a corner and hits her with the Bronco Buster. The referee orders Kat back when Ivory rolls her up while putting her feet on the ropes for the cheap pin. (4:01) About what you’d expect. *

~ The Helmsleys are shown heading to the ring for the next match along with Chris Jericho as we go to commercial.

~ Back form break we get the same XFL highlights package we already saw on Raw, just in case you missed it. Cole and Lawler then plug this weekend’s games with Lawler talking about getting to work with Matt Vasgersian while Jim Ross gets the task of working with Jessie Ventura and feels they won’t see eye-to-eye.

• Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon) vs. Chris Jericho © – Non-Title Match

So instead of the prepresentitives match we get another chance for Jericho to job to Triple H. Jericho gets on the mic and chastises Triple H for not having confidence in him for the representitives match and he may not be Triple H’s representitive so he’ll settle for being his personal butt-kicker. Jericho also mentions this match came as a result of a lottery and that leads into some jokes about Stephanie, as usual. Triple H goes right to work on Jericho and whips him but Jericho comes back with a flying forearm. Jericho gets in his offense and stomps Triple H down in a conrer then whips him into a corner but eats a boot. Jericho takes Triple H down by the legs and goes for the Walls of Jericho already, Triple H fights out of it and tries to set Jericho up for the Pedigree in response but Jericho backdrops him over the ropes then knocks him off the apron with a springboard shoulderblock. Jericho goes for a whip on the floor which Triple H reverses but Jericho springboards off the steps and hits a forearm. Jericho tosses Triple H back in the ring then climbs to the top rope and goes for a missle dropkick but Triple H swats it away. Triple H hits a clothesline and stomps Jericho down in a corner then chokes him and plants him with a vertical suplex for a two count. Triple H chokes Jericho on the middle rope then distracts the referee while Stephanie gets in a choke as well. Stephanie goes for a slap when Jericho blocks it and grabs her by the hair but Triple H nails him from behind while Stephanie tumbles to the floor. Triple H whips Jericho but lowers the head and Jericho kicks the face. Jericho whips Triple H but he lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster followed by the high knee for two. Triple H hops to the middle rope but Jericho cuts him off with a dropkick then goes up and hits a Frankensteiner. Jericho goes for a whip, Triple H reverses but Jericho hits a spinning heelkick followed by a pair of clotheslines. Jericho hits a chop and goes for a whip, Triple H reverses it but Jericho comes back with a rollup for a near fall. Jericho goes for a whip, Triple H reverses into a corner but eats an elbow and Jericho climbs to the top rope and connects with a flying elbow but only gets two. Triple H comes back with a hangman’s neckbreaker then goes for a whip but Jericho reverses and hits the bulldog. Eddie Guerrero makes his way out but Jericho decks him on the apron. Jericho then goes for the Lionsault but Triple H blocks it with the knees then hits the Pedigree and it’s over. (6:18)Another good match from these guys even with the predictable result since we just can’t seem to get a Jericho win over Triple H at anytime. **½

The Helmsleys celebrate while Eddie climbs in the ring stands over Jericho while giving him the business. However Steve Austin comes out to the ring with a beer in each hand as Cole reminds us of zero tolerance. Austin offers Triple H a beer but Triple H refuses while Eddie says he’d happily accept a beer and gets ignored. Eddie gets in Austin’s face saying he’d like a beer and Austin offers him one … then lays him out with a Stunner. Austin then insists that Triple H share a beer and they stand nose-to-nose when Jericho takes Triple H down and puts him in the Walls of Jericho. Triple H is tapping out while Austin trash talks him before placing a beer can in his face then stomps it, spraying beer in Triple H’s face. Austin gives Triple H a beer bath then heads out having gotten another one over on Triple H who has yet to get one back on Austin in this feud.

~ Back from break Vince is talking on the phone to some XFL guy and of course plugs this Sunday’s game on UPN. Johnathan Coachman comes in and Vince tells him he has decided on how to settle the stipulation for No Way Out. Vince announces there will be another representitives match on Raw, only this time he’s picking both reps himself and representing Steve Austin on Monday will be Rikishi while representing Triple H will be The Rock! Vince says the results will remain that whoever’s representitive wins, they’ll get to name the terms for the match.

~ Elsewhere Kurt Angle is searching for something when Essa Rios walks up so he asks him if he’s see his new t-shirt. Rios mumbles some Spanish when Angle claims he smells alcohol and accuses Rios of selling his shirt for tequila money. Rios denies it but Angle says he understands so he asks him to go to the souvenir stand and buy a new shirt for him, even offering to let Rios keep the change to buy tacos. Rios slaps the money away and challenges Angle to a match then storms off while Angle just shakes his head feeling that proves he’s been drinking.

~ Again elsewhere Kevin Kelly interviews The Rock on facing Big Show for the WWF Title shot at the pay-per-view. Rock says Show has changed since returning to the WWF and he’s become an unrelenting, unstoppable monster but what hasn’t changed is that no one messes with The Rock. Rock mentions Show taking him out on Raw and says Show gets him one-on-one for a chance to face Kurt Angle at No Way Out but it’s not going to happen. Rock proclaims there’s no way he isn’t moving on to face Angle for the title before moving on to Wrestlemania. Rock also says there’s no way Show isn’t stopping him from beating him up, if ya smell and you know how it goes.

~ The Big Show is shown heading to the ring for that very main event as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Kurt Angle makes his way out and joins the announcers to provide commentary for the main event while Cole announces match between Angle and Essa Rios has just been signed for Sunday Night Heat. Yep, the world champion is wrestling on Heatagainst a guy most everyone had forgotten about around this time.

• The Rock vs. The Big Show – #1 Contender’s Match

As mentioned earlier the winner gets Angle for the WWF Championship at No Way Out. Both guys file out as Cole mentions Rock will be at tomorrow’s Enforcers/Xtreme XFL game for a ratings boost. Rock glares out at Angle who glares back and Show does the same just before Rock goes right to work on him. Rock goes for a whip, Show reverses it and Rock gets in some rights but Show plants him with a powerslam. Show goes for an elbowdrop but misses and Rock stomps him under the ropes then goes after him on the floor. Rock rams Show into the steps and goes for a whip but Show sends him into the barrier then drops him onto it. Show toses Rock back in the ring and grabs Rock in a bear hug and Rock tries to fight it but begins to fade. Earl Hebner checks Rock’s arm and it drops once, twice, but Rock keeps it up on three and breaks the hold. Rock fights back when Show hits him with the Final Cut then covers but Rock gets his foot on the bottom rope. Show whips Rock into a corner and hits a giant chop then whips him into the other corner but misses an elbow. Rock starts to fight back and hits a clothesine but Show doesn’t go down so Rock hits another clothesline. Show is staggering but is still on his feet so Rock tries hitting a flying clothesline and that knocks him down. Rock sets Show up for the Rock Bottom but Show shoves Rock away which sends him tumbling over the ropes. Show goes out and rams Rock into the steps then clears off the announce table when Angle calls him some names but Show doesn’t like that and attacks Angle. Show tosses Angle over the barrier into the crowd then turns back when Rock rallies again and hits the Smackdown but Show stays on his feet. Rock tries the Smackdown twice more and the third knocks Show off his feet and through the announce table. Rock is also down and both men get back up when Show grabs Rock and presses him over the ropes in the ring. Show makes his way back in when Rock comes back with a shot below the belt then follows it up with a DDT. Rock readies himself to deliver the People’s Elbow and nails it then covers Show … but only gets a two count! Rock is shocked the People’s Elbow failed when Show makes it up first and grabs him then hits the chokeslam. Show covers Rock but Hebner got knocked out by Rock’s leg during the move and can’t make the count. Show tries to revive Hebner when Angle comes in with a chair in hand and whacks Show in the head with it. Show is reeling as Angle gets another chair shot to bring him down then takes a swing at Rock but misses. Rock decks Angle then plants Show with a Rock Bottom on the chair and gets the three for the title shot.(9:22) Decent enough match although the outcome was a little predictable. After all we need to start building the other half of the Wrestlemania main event. **

Rock gets his arm raised while Show is not happy at Angle costing him the match and chokeslams him. Show then chokeslams Rock for good measure and the other pay-per-view main even is left laying. But hey, Rock gets his title shot and that’s all that matters as we fade to black.

Conclusion: Decent episode this time around though it felt like a slight step down from last week. Like Raw it seemed the bookers were more focused on building the pay-per-view instead of the XFL and as a result we finally got our other main event set while some of the other angles were also progressed nicely. The matches were solid for the most part but many of them had somewhat predicatble outcomes which did lessen the drama. We had a long talking segment to set up a match that didn’t even take place (not that we’d want to see Billy Gunn try to wrestle Jericho) and led to another match for Raw. And there was some other iffy things like the Angle/Rios issue and Taker/Kane lording over the tag divison. Still a nice episode to check out if you have two hours to spare. Thumbs slightly up.