WWF Heat 7/23/2000

Written by: Bob Colling

World Wrestling Federation presents Heat
Date: 7/23/2000
From: Long Island, NY

Matches:
1.) Taka Michinoku defeated Essa Rios
2.) WWF Hardcore Champion Steve Blackman defeated Funaki to retain the title
3.) WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Crash Holly to retain the title
4.) Dudley Boys defeated D’Lo Brown & Chaz

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) This is the pre-show to Fully Loaded taking place on the same day. WWF World Champion The Rock is seen arriving to the building to start off.

2.) Taka shoulder blocks Rios to start the match followed by a dropkick to send Rios to the floor. Taka springboards off the top rope to take Rios out with a crossbody on the floor. Rios takes Taka over with a head scissors and a backbreaker. Rios backdrops Taka to keep control in his favor. Taka drop toe holds Rios into the turnbuckle face first. Taka works over Rios with strikes, but Rios comes back with a head scissors. Rios misses a top rope moonsault, but lands on his feet. Taka avoids a leg sweep and wins the match following the Michinoku Driver. (*1/2. Well, I wish this was given much more time and allowed them to produce a quality match. I’m alarmed that Rios isn’t going to be getting the proper amount of time to shine.)

3.) Earlier in the evening, Chris Benoit and Shane McMahon arrived to the building.

4.) Michael Cole interviewed Kurt Angle upon Angle’s arrival. Angle has an enormous wrench with him and Angle says he doesn’t have any regrets about what he’s done to the Undertaker. Angle says he’d do it again if he had to.

5.) Backstage, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are walking where Stephanie claims that Triple H has an attitude. HHH thinks it has to do with the Last Man Standing match he has later tonight against Chris Jericho.

6.) Funaki beats on Blackman with a strap a few times, but Blackman hits an overhead suplex to gain control of the match. Blackman grabs a trash can lid and works over Funaki with strikes. Blackman whacks Funaki with the lid several times, but Funaki kicks out at two. Blackman tosses a trash can into the ring and swings Funaki face first into the ring steps. Funaki head scissors Blackman face first into the trash can in the corner. Funaki whacks Blackman over the head with a trash can lid. Funaki drops Blackman to the mat after a few strikes. Funaki grabs the trash can and dropkicks the can into Blackman for a two count. Funaki grabs a kendo stick, but Blackman goes under the ring and grabs his sticks. Funaki doesn’t know what to do. Funaki tries to use it as a sword and promptly gets destroyed with a suplex for a two count. Blackman wins the match following a kendo stick to the head. (*1/2. I was surprised this went as long as it did. Blackman being a dominate hardcore champion fits him very well.)

7.) Backstage, Coach talks to the APA asking if they are worried about their title match tonight. Faarooq says he’d kick Coach’s ass if they weren’t already wrestling. Bradshaw thinks Coach should ask Christian and Edge if they are ready for what they’re going to do to them.

8.) Malenko and Crash trade headlocks on the mat to start the contest. Malenko shoulder blocks Crash, but runs into a dropkick and bails to the floor. Malenko is comforted by his women and returns to the match to eye rake Holly. Crash arm drags Malenko, but Malenko drops Crash throat first over the top rope. Malenko kicks Crash over the back a few times. Malenko scoop slams Holly for a two count. Malenko hits a vertical suplex for a two count. Holly stops Malenko with a jawbreaker and a few right hands. Holly knee lifts Malenko, but Dean stops Crash with a low blow and nearly wins with a rollup. Malenko charges, but Holly nearly wins with a snap powerslam for a near fall. Malenko plants Crash with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Malenko tries for a suplex, but Holly counters. Malenko hits a modified fisherman suplex to win the match. (**. A relatively quick match, but a decent enough one. Malenko thrives as the Light Heavyweight Champion.)

9.) Backstage, Michael Cole asks Triple H if he’s ever been in a Last Man Standing match, which HHH says he’s never been in. The same can be said for Chris Jericho. Road Dogg and X-Pac enter the scene. HHH appreciates Road Dogg and X-Pac offering help. However, HHH declines the offer and has something to prove tonight. Harvey Wippleman brings flowers into the room and HHH asks what the flowers are about. Stephanie knows HHH did it and HHH lets out a little smirk.

10.) Backstage, Lillian Garcia is with Mick Foley who doesn’t know what will happen at Fully Loaded. Harvey Wippleman has more flowers for Stephanie McMahon.

11.) Brown and Chaz start off by attacking the Dudley Boys before the bell. D-Von is double teamed while Bubba was sent to the floor. Chaz splashes D-Von and follows up with right hands. D-Von is stomped on in the corner by both men. Brown sends D-Von into the corner and is met with a clothesline. Bubba enters and shoulder blocks Brown followed by more strikes in the corner. Bubba overhand chops Brown a few times in the corner along with jabs. Brown stops Bubba with a strike but Bubba plants Brown with a powerbomb. Bubba holds Brown’s legs to allow the What’s Up to take place. The same happens to Chaz moments later. Chaz and Brown regroup outside the ring and say they’ve had enough.

Dudley Boys run after them on the aisle way and Bubba hits a snap suplex on Chaz. D-Von sends Brown into the ring steps. Brown low blows D-Von allowing Chaz to hit a DDT. Brown slams D-Von and delivers a leg drop. D-Von plants Chaz with a lifting reverse DDT. Bubba gets tagged in and cleans house with clotheslines, hip toss and backdrop. Bubba hits the Bubba Bomb on Brown and a cutter on Chaz. Bubba puts Brown on his shoulders and D-Von hits a top rope clothesline for a two count on Brown. Chaz and Bubba go to the floor where Bubba sends Chaz into the ring steps. Brown is met with a 3D and that leads to the three count. After the match, Chaz prevents the Dudley’s from using a table by hitting them with the ring bell. (*1/2. This kinda went the way I expected it to go. The action was decent, but nothing memorable. I liked the aftermath to give Chaz and D’Lo some heat afterward.)

12.) Backstage, Coach is with Chris Jericho. Jericho says that Stephanie doesn’t exist tonight because it’s about him and Triple H. Jericho says it’s about him and Triple H beating each other up for three months. Tonight is the end of the game and he’s confident he’ll be the last man standing.

13.) Backstage, Michael Cole is with WWF World Champion The Rock. Rock says the time has come after everything Chris Benoit and Shane McMahon have done to him. Rock tells Benoit to just bring it after all the attacks. Rock says he’s going to kick Benoit’s ass in Dallas, Texas.

Final Thoughts:
Nothing too major of a lead in show for Fully Loaded. The action was decent and they aired the right promos to hype the PPV. A rather standard and effective show.

Thanks for reading.