JANUARY 6TH — ORLANDO, FL — TD WATERHOUSE CENTRE
STEPHANIE AND TRIPLE H GIVE DX SOME TOUGH LOVE:
CONTEXT: Backstage, Stephanie McMahon stands in front of DX and talks about the big night Triple H had when he won the WWF World Championship. Stephanie can’t believe Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and X-Pac couldn’t beat The Rock to fire him. Stephanie thinks they can all strive to do better. Stephanie has a warrant for Mick Foley’s arrest should he trespass tonight. Stephanie tells Road Dogg they haven’t figured out what they’re doing with him yet. Pac learns that he’s wrestling Big Show tonight, and he’s pissed. HHH tells Pac to kick Big Show’s ass just like he did to win the title. Billy Gunn will wrestle the Acolytes on his own in a handicap match. Billy is not happy about this announcement either. HHH says he’s sacrificing tonight for the betterment of the group. HHH is entering in a random drawing to wrestle tonight. It could even be a DX member. HHH is proud to be in DX and proud to be married to Stephanie.
Bob’s Take: I like the idea of making the other DX members prove themselves since they didn’t get the job done on RAW. I don’t envision any of them actually winning their matches and I’m sure HHH will have a rigged random draw for the main event. This came across as if eventually Road Dogg, Billy Gunn and X-Pac will end DX because of the Stephanie. 1 for 1
MATCH #1: BIG SHOW VS. X-PAC
FINISH: Show shoves the referee in the corner while choking X-Pac and is disqualified. After the match, Show chokeslams the referee and punches a chair into Pac’s face. Several officials try to get involved, but one scream scares them all from the ring.
Bob’s Take: Not much of a match, but they are trying to get it across that Show has snapped since losing the title, which would probably be a good direction to go in. Technically Pac won the match, but I can’t imagine Stephanie will care. A pissed off Big Show will be better than the lame version he had been previously. 2 for 2
CHRIS JERICHO & CHYNA CAN’T GET ALONE AS CO-CHAMPS
CONTEXT: Jericho and Chyna are arguing about not wanting to be partners or co-champions. They are also seen walking where Jericho says he’s going to do all the work and doesn’t want Chyna to even tag into the match.
Bob’s Take: I’m not sure if the point of this angle is for me to dislike both Jericho and Chyna, but they are equally annoying with their complaining about the situation they are in. 2 for 3
MATCH #2: CO-WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS CHRIS JERICHO & CHYNA VS. CRASH & HARDCORE HOLLY
FINISH: Hardcore Holly pins Jericho following the Falcon Arrow. Late in the match, Chyna had decked Jericho with a clothesline on the floor leading to the finish.
Bob’s Take: Jericho told Chyna not to bother tagging in, and early into the match Jericho tried to tag out. That seems to make little sense to me. Judging by the reactions, Chyna seems to be more well-liked than Jericho. There wasn’t much to this action wise and was another segment to advance the issues between Chyna and Jericho. 2 for 4
‘MANKIND’ SCARING KIDS
CONTEXT: ‘Mankind’ is at Universal Studios bothering families and scaring children. He wants the people to have bad days.
Bob’s Take: The initial fake Mankind segments on RAW were mildly entertaining, but I’m not sure if dragging it out onto secondary programs is the right move. 2 for 5
STEPHANIE CAUSING SOME ISSUES BETWEEN DX MEMBERS
CONTEXT: Stephanie and HHH hope Foley come to the arena to get arrested. Tori enters the scene and says all the bathrooms are occupied and asks to use Stephanie’s personal bathroom. Stephanie allows her. After a commercial, Stephanie tells Road Dogg that HHH is in the bathroom and Dogg opens the door only to reveal that Tori is in there and Tori screams. Dogg is pissed, but Stephanie claims to have forgotten.
Bob’s Take: Well, Tori isn’t going to let that slide. I’m sure this means Kane is going to destroy Road Dogg tonight. 3 for 6
MATCH #3: THE ACOLYTES VS. WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPION BILLY GUNN — HANDICAP MATCH
FINISH: Late in the match, Road Dogg runs into the ring and chop blocks Bradshaw causing a disqualification. Faarooq destroys Dogg with a spinebuster and both teams brawl on the floor.
Bob’s Take: There is a tendency to root for the guy that has the disadvantage and at first that was the case here for me. However, Billy is the heel and I have to remind myself that I’d want the Acolytes to kick his ass. Yet another match that serves very little purpose and not designed to focus on the in-ring. 3 for 7
KANE IS LIVID AND WANTS ROAD DOGG
CONTEXT: Kane confronts HHH and Stephanie demanding a match with the pervert Road Dogg, which HHH has no idea what he’s talking about. Stephanie gives him the match.
Bob’s Take: This isn’t going to be good for Road Dogg. 4 for 8
ROAD DOGG LEARNS HIS FATE AND IS NONE TOO HAPPY
CONTEXT: Road Dogg is exhausted after the run-in and learns that HHH will have to fire Billy Gunn if he gets involved. Dogg is pissed about this and knows that Stephanie told Kane what happened earlier. Stephanie doesn’t know what Dogg is talking about.
Bob’s Take: Is part of this angle so that Stephanie can have HHH all to herself? I’m not sure I understand why Stephanie would want to aggravate HHH pals. 4 for 9
MATCH #4: KANE VS. WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPION ROAD DOGG
FINISH: Late in the match, X-Pac comes out and seems to want to touch Tori’s chest causing a distraction for Kane. Kane finishes Dogg off with the tombstone piledriver to win the match.
Bob’s Take: A mostly one-sided match and exactly what you’d expect from Kane. Tori absolutely appears to be wanting X-Pac judging by the looks they’re giving each other. Kane being betrayed by someone close to him again seems to be a trend and just a matter of time for Tori to do the same. 5 for 10
TRIPLE H IS DETERMINED TO END KURT ANGLE’S UNDEFEATED STREAK
CONTEXT: HHH tells Stephanie that Kurt Angle is not going to be undefeated anymore because he’s wrestling the Rock tonight. Stephanie isn’t thrilled about this news.
Bob’s Take: I never was aware of how the Stephanie/Angle relationship was kind of teased so early into 2000. I like HHH being jealous of Angle and wanting to cut him off quickly as he could be seen as a threat. 6 for 11
‘MANKIND’ CONTINUES HIS FUN AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
CONTEXT: ‘Mankind’ talks about not being afraid and being fearless when describing some things he’s done in his career. ‘Mankind’ proceeds to freak out when a shark jumps out of the water on the Jaws ride.
Bob’s Take: Yeah, I get it. We’re just beating a joke into the ground a bit now. 6 for 12
THE ROCK PROMO, INTERRUPTED BY KURT ANGLE
CONTEXT: Rock talks about how everyone was thrown at him on RAW and he overcame the odds because he’s great. Rock declares himself the People’s Champion. Rock is doing this promo while standing on the middle rope. Rock asks if we see it, taste it or smell it. Rock does his catchphrase. Kurt Angle joins the segment and asks for silence to speak. Angle notes he’s an Olympic champion and an American hero. Angle notes he’s done battle in the Olympic Games and been a winner. Angle reminds us that he’s undefeated in the WWF. Angle says he’s a man of the three I’s which are intensity, integrity and intelligence. Thus, Angle believes he should be the People’s Champion. Angle can’t believe the fans would want someone like Rock as their People’s Champion. Rock is none too happy with Angle running his mouth. Rock says Angle has annoyed him. Rock admits that Angle is an American hero. Rock wants Angle to turn his medals sideways and stick them up his ass.
Bob’s Take: Angle may be new to the company, but he’s very good at being a heel and his mic work is a lot better than expected. He’s getting some great heel reactions from the crowd. Naturally, the Rock did a great job of insulting Angle and the fans seemed amped for the match that didn’t have much going into it. 7 for 13
MATCH #5: THE ROCK VS. KURT ANGLE
FINISH: Late in the match, Steve Blackman runs down with a kendo stick, but Rock takes care of Blackman and uses the kendo stick on Angle delivering a shot to Angle’s midsection causing a disqualification. After the match, Rock plants Blackman with a Rock Bottom. Angle celebrates the DQ win causing Rock to deliver the People’s Elbow.
Bob’s Take: Angle looked as if he belonged in the ring with someone at the level of Rock and his in-ring ability is far better than most wrestlers already. I enjoyed the match, but Angle was never going to lose his undefeated streak at this point and a DQ finish was always going to be the finish here one way or another. 8 for 14
TRIPLE H UNHAPPY, STEPHANIE RELIEVED
CONTEXT: Stephanie is thrilled to let HHH know that Kurt Angle is still undefeated. HHH is not happy and is pissed that Rock screwed it up.
Bob’s Take: I am interested in why Stephanie would possibly care so much about Angle being undefeated. 9 for 15
MATCH #6: JEFF HARDY, CHRISTIAN, & EDGE VS. AL SNOW & DUDLEY BOYS
FINISH: Edge pins D-Von Dudley following the Downward Spiral. After the match, Al Snow nails the Dudley Boys with Head.
Bob’s Take: I didn’t find myself caring too much for the match. It sure seems as if the fans are not caring about Al Snow being insane compared to when he was a comedy character. WWF is a bit thin on the undercard and switching Snow into a heel who is untrustworthy is a good thought in theory, but the best part of the Snow character was the fans being able to scream ‘Head!’ and get a good laugh out of it. Without that there’s really nothing much to Snow. 9 for 16
‘MANKIND’ AT UNIVERSAL — CONTINUED
CONTEXT: ‘Mankind’ wants to go on a rollercoaster to make himself feel good. However, one of the workers denies him access. ‘Mankind’ ends up running away.
Bob’s Take: That wasn’t good. 9 for 17
MATCH #7: WWF HARDCORE CHAMPION BIG BOSSMAN VS. TEST — NON-TITLE
FINISH: During the bout, Prince Albert comes out and attacks Test on the floor. Test pins Bossman after Albert nailed Bossman with a big boot
Bob’s Take: I feel bad for Test having gone from being seemingly on the verge of a breakout with the angle involving Stephanie and HHH, but now he’s working lower end feuds with Bossman and Albert. There was nothing going on here for entertainment. 9 for 18
STEPHANIE AND TRIPLE H DISCUSS THE MAIN EVENT
CONTEXT: HHH considers Test winning to be an upset. HHH tells Stephanie he’s not going to get upset about his match because he’s better than everyone else and he’s that damn good.
Bob’s Take: It feels as if they are ignoring the fact that HHH stole Test’s girlfriend judging by the dialogue here. I’d think that HHH would have more of a snarking comment. Perhaps Test is seen as such of a non-threat that HHH doesn’t even care about him anymore. 9 for 19
‘MANKIND’ AT UNIVERSAL — CONTINUED
CONTEXT: ‘Mankind’ is running around and wants to go on the Back To The Future ride and go back to when he won the WWF World Championship or when he had sex in 1982.
Bob’s Take: This was a little funnier, but it’s losing it’s appeal at a rapid rate. 10 for 20
TRIPLE WANTS TO GIVE THE MEAN STREAT POSSE A WIN
CONTEXT: HHH wants to reward the Posse and award them their first tag team win due to what they did to the Acolytes.
Bob’s Take: I guess HHH is a kind man. 10 for 21
MATCH #8: THE MEAN STREET POSSE (JOEY, RODNEY & PETE) VS. KAIENTAI (TAKA & FUNAKI) — HANDICAP MATCH
FINISH: Taka missile dropkicks Rodney leading to Funaki to rollup Rodney for the win.
Bob’s Take: The Posse were far more impressive in this match than I ever expected them to be. At one point they hit the backdrop into a powerbomb, which is always a great move to see. Posse may be a bit handcuffed with a poor gimmick, but there’s absolutely potential for them to be good workers with more time in the ring. 11 for 22
TRIPLE H DISAPPOINTED IN THE POSSE
CONTEXT: HHH tells Stephanie that he was trying to be a nice guy and the Posse still messed it up. Stephanie wonders who will have a chance against HHH and they leave the room to find out.
Bob’s Take: There’s nothing to this segment and continues to be overexposure for the heels. 11 for 23
TRIPLE H FINDS OUT WHO HE’S WRESTLING IN THE MAIN EVENT:
CONTEXT: Stephanie stands in front of the entire locker room and addresses them about having a chance to wrestle her husband, Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Stephanie talks about the random drawing and how one name will be drawn to fight for the championship. Stephanie puts over her husband and she’s honored to be married to him. Helmsley enters the room and says he’s proud to be their champion and sees this as a way to be a leader and role model. HHH believes any of them could replace him when he eventually retires. Stephanie picks out a random name from the tumbler and it’s revealed as being… Andre The Giant. HHH says this is legit and to stop joking around. HHH quips that he’d kick Andre’s ass if he was here. They pick another name and it’s revealed as being… Fabulous Moolah. HHH again says this is a legit drawing and wants a more serious contender. HHH grabs Howard Finkel to draw the name. Fink ends up knocking over the tumbler and all the balls fall on the ground. Funk picks a ball and it is revealed as being… Rikishi Phatu! HHH is not thrilled about this.
Bob’s Take: I enjoyed the segment and it’s a big moment for Rikishi to establish himself out of the midcard quickly during this run in the WWF. I like the choice to put Rikishi in this spot. 12 for 24
‘MANKIND’ AT UNIVERSAL — FINAL SEGMENT
CONTEXT: The real Mankind appears and confronts the fake Mankind. Mankind pummels the fake Mankind for talking about his family. The fake Mankind is beaten down by Foley for several moments being tossed around into various objects.
Bob’s Take: Finally Foley gets some revenge and I hope that’s the end of the fake Mankind angle. 13 for 25
MAIN EVENT: WWF WORLD CHAMPION TRIPLE H VS. RIKISHI PHATU
FINISH: Late in the match, HHH whacks Rikishi over the head with a steel chair, but Rikishi kicked out. HHH nails Rikishi with the WWF World Championship to cause the disqualification. After the match, HHH whacks Rikishi over the back with another chair shot.
Bob’s Take: At one point in the match, HHH kicked out of the Bonzai Drop, which is something I haven’t seen happen in.. well, I don’t even know if I’ve ever seen someone kick out of a Bonzai Drop. HHH needs to get the credit he deserves for giving a lot of offense to Rikishi and managing to create legit drama and interest in a title defense against an opponent who isn’t in the main event picture. HHH has great talent where he’s not going to look weak while elevating other talent. Rikishi’s offense looked good and I enjoyed the match. 14 for 26
The show highlighted the weakness that the WWF has with their undercard. Currently, the main event picture is strong and there’s plenty of interest in HHH, Rock, Foley, and a few other acts such as Angle, and Kane. However, aside from the handful of names there’s a clear lack of interest in a lot of the characters right now.
It feels as if the WWF knows that HHH and Stephanie are a strong act, but they are relying a lot on having them on the shows a lot at this point. They need to try and limit the cuts to the backstage where there’s nothing of importance provided and it’s only overexposing the couple. They’re heavily focusing on the main angle, but they need to develop a couple of compelling secondary angles to make the shows feel less repetitive.
TV Rating: 5.8
Thanks for reading.