World Wrestling Federation presents Heat
Date: 3/4/2001
From:
Matches:
1.) WWF Lightweight Champion Dean Malenko defeated Funaki to retain the title
2.) Justin Credible defeated Grandmaster Sexay
3.) WWF European Champion Test defeated Raven to retain the title
4.) WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho defeated Perry Saturn to retain the title
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, George meets with K-Kwik. George is the hype man for the show and is excited to meet Kwik and puts over his music. George was trying to act cool, but came across like a goof.
2.) K-Kwik is the special guest and is on the WWF New York stage speaking to the crowd. Kwik tells the fans a little bit about himself and says that he loves entertaining the crowd. Kwik wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than here. Kwik brings out George, who entertains the crowd when Kwik is not. George comes out and calls Kwik his homie. George wants Kwik to rap about the WWF. Kwik proceeds to do just that and George dances a little bit next to Kwik.
3.) Backstage, George thanks Kwik for trying to help him become cool. Kwik says that George needs a new name for hip hop. Kwik says the name should reflect what George likes. George wants to use names that are already being used.
4.) Prior to the first match, Taka cuts a promo saying that Funaki will wrestle the title away from Malenko tonight. Funaki says indeed, as per usual.
5.) Malenko and Funaki trade hammerlocks until Funaki delivers a kick, but Malenko takes Funaki down to the mat. Malenko clubs on Funaki from behind. Malenko shoulder blocks Funaki for a one count. Malenko nails Funaki with a short arm clothesline to gain the advantage. Malenko stomps on Funaki in the corner and chokes Funaki. Malenko knee lifts Funaki and delivers a strike to the lower back. Malenko chokes Funaki over the bottom rope. Malenko hits a rolling fireman’s carry, but Funaki almost wins with a rollup. Funaki takes Malenko over with a snap suplex for a two count. Funaki hammers away on Malenko, but Funaki kicks Malenko and sends Malenko to the floor by countering an abdominal stretch. Funaki heads to the top rope as Malenko returns to the ring and hits a flying crossbody, but Malenko rolls through for a two count. Malenko hits a double under hook powerbomb and locks in the Texas Cloverleaf for the win. (*1/2. A disappointing match as they really didn’t do anything with high risk. It was a fine work rate match, but I was hoping for some bigger moves.) After the match, Taka cuts a promo saying they will get what belongs to them.
6.) Backstage, K-Kwik gives George the name “The Germ”, which George likes. After a commercial, George is rapping in the mirror. Kwik says they have to work on his image. George has to get new gear and kicks, but doesn’t know what that means.
7.) This is Justin Credible’s singles debut in the WWF.
8.) Credible kicks Sexay in the midsection and misses a clothesline. Sexay slides through and slams Credible followed by a dropkick. Sexay rams Credible into the corner face first. Sexay sends Credible into the corner and slides to the floor where X-Pac causes a distraction. Sexay avoids Credible and rams Credible groin first into the ring post. Sexay heads to the top rope and hits a flying crossbody for a two count. Credible ducks a clothesline to superkick Sexay. Credible pulls Sexay up and rams Sexay into the corner followed by stomps. Credible pulls Sexay out of the corner with a sit out powerbomb for a two count. Credible chokes Sexay over the middle rope to maintain control of the match. Credible stomps on Sexay’s face followed by a scoop slam. Credible heads to the top rope and tries for an axe handle, but Sexay got his feet up to block it. Sexay kicks Credible on the side of the head for a near fall. Sexay plants Credible with a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Sexay clotheslines Credible and gets tripped by X-Pac. Sexay grabs Pac, but misses a strike. Scotty 2 Hotty pulls Pac off and Sexay clotheslines Credible. Sexay goes to the top rope and axe handles Pac off the apron. Credible plants Sexay with a jumping DDT, which he’s named That’s Incredible to replace the tombstone, for the win. (*1/2. I’m not sure it’s a great sign if you need significant amount of help in you singles debut to defeat Sexay. Credible already got stripped of his tombstone for a lesser jumping DDT. I think there’s potential in a Pac/Credible tag team on the heel side.)
9.) Backstage, George reveals his new look and it’s as embarrassing as you’d imagine. K-Kwik isn’t not impressed by the various outfits Germ tries on.
10.) Test works over Raven in the corner with right hands and a powerslam for the early advantage. Raven kicks Test and looks for a DDT, but Test dropped to his knees to avoid it. Raven blocks a big boot, but Test hits a discus clothesline and a scoop slam. Test heads to the top rope and is crotched by Raven. Raven clotheslines Test in the corner followed by a running bulldog for a near fall. Raven sends Test chest first into the corner and delivers a clothesline for a near fall. Raven keeps control with a neck vice on the mat. They begin to trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Test nails Raven with a leaping elbow strike. Raven kicks Test and Test connects with a full nelson slam for a two count. Test tries for a pump handle slam, but Raven wiggles free and almost hits the DDT. Raven boots Test in the corner, but runs into a big boot from Test leading to the three count. (*1/2. Just going through the motions it felt like between these two. I’d rather Raven be wrestling in hardcore matches. I’ve been programmed that way at this point in the WWF.)
11.) Backstage, K-Kwik is dancing with George and explains to George how he got his name. George says he can’t understand half the things that Kwik tells him.
12.) Saturn is sent into the ropes and shoulder blocks Jericho to start the match. Jericho shoulder blocks Saturn followed by chops. Saturn responds with right hands and knee lifts in the corner. Jericho nails Saturn with a spinning heel kick and a hip toss. Jericho hits a springboard dropkick to send Saturn to the floor. Jericho misses a baseball slide and chops Saturn a few times on the floor. Jericho is dropped chest first over the railing and apron by Saturn. Saturn tries to use a chair, but the referee takes it away. Saturn settles for sending Jericho shoulder first into the ring steps. Saturn goes to the top rope hitting a flying clothesline for a two count. Saturn drives Jericho down to the mat with a neckbreaker. Saturn misses a clothesline and is kicked by Jericho on the side of the head. Jericho drops Saturn with strikes. Jericho hits a flying forearm strike off the ropes. Jericho back elbows Saturn and gets a rollup for a near fall. Saturn knee lifts Jericho and hits a swinging suplex for a near fall. Jericho boots Saturn in the corner. Jericho hits a missile dropkick, but Terri is distracting the referee on the apron. Saturn kicks Jericho, but Jericho sends Saturn into Terri. Jericho hits a bulldog and a springboard moonsault for the win. (*1/2. It’s a strong main event to have on Heat, but they didn’t do nearly as much as you’d see from these two in the past. Saturn didn’t really get any shine as this was just a put Jericho over kind of match.)
13.) Backstage, K-Kwik is with George and is giving him a pep talk for his rapping debut.
14.) George and K-Kwik did some rapping on the stage and eventually some fans are brought onto the stage. That ends the show.
Final Thoughts:
We got a singles debut in Credible and three title defenses. Sure the action wasn’t great, but I still enjoyed the show. I liked that there were so many title matches and the in-ring debut of Credible. I’ll give it a mild thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.