World Wrestling Federation presents Heat
Date: 5/20/2001
From: Sacramento, CA
Matches:
1.) Raven defeated Val Venis
2.) The Hollys (Hardcore & Crash) defeated Kaientai (Taka Michinoku & Funaki)
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) It is the same night as Judgment Day 2001, thus there’s going to be a heavy promotion for the PPV.
2.) Backstage, Coach interviews William Regal. Regal says it is none of his business what is going on between Steve Austin and the Undertaker. Regal says that Rikishi has offended him and his career will be in serious jeopardy. Coach tries to talk about HHH and Kane, but Regal kicks him out.
3.) Backstage, Lilian Garcia interviews Vince McMahon upon his arrival. Vince says it’s none of her business where he has been in recent weeks. Vince asks what a chain match is for Triple H to be involved in tonight. Vince is deeply concerned for HHH and Steve Austin tonight and that’s why he’s here. Vince walks off.
4.) Backstage, Lilian Garcia interviewed Chris Jericho earlier in the day. Jericho says everyone wants to know who his partner is for the tag match tonight. Jericho tells Garcia that he and his partner want to make sure Edge and Christian don’t get a chance to become 8-time Tag Team Champions.
5.) Backstage, Kevin Kelly interviewed Eddie Guerrero earlier in the day. Kelly asks who Guerrero was clapping for on Smackdown. Guerrero notes that he and Chyna have history, but it could have been for Lita, too. Guerrero asks Kelly who he was applauding and walks off.
6.) Backstage, Lilian Garcia interviews Chris Benoit regarding his match with Kurt Angle at Judgment Day. Benoit says the reason he took the medals was because everyone knows they mean everything to Kurt. Benoit says if Angle wants them back he knows where to find them and puts them down his trunks again.
7.) Val Venis didn’t get an entrance, which is usually not a good sign for long-term employment. He’s still sporting the RTC attire.
8.) Venis backs Raven into a corner, but misses a right hand. Raven drop toe holds Venis after a right hand. Raven decks Venis with a right hand and arm drags Venis. Raven shoulder blocks Venis, but Venis responds with strikes until Raven clotheslines Venis to the floor. Venis pulls Raven to the floor and delivers a strike to the back. Raven sends Venis into the ring steps shoulder first. Raven rolls Venis into the ring and is sent chest first into the corner. Raven gets an inside cradle for a two count. Venis delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Venis drives Raven down with another neckbreaker. Venis drops Raven with a third neckbreaker for a near fall. Venis chokes Raven in the ropes, but the referee forces a break. Venis delivers a back suplex for a two count. Raven pummels Venis in the corner and delivers a clothesline followed by a knee lift. Raven kicks Venis followed by a clothesline for a near fall. Venis stops Raven with a jawbreaker and signals for a piledriver. Raven blocks it and Venis delivers a few strikes. Raven backdrops Venis, but Venis hangs on for a two count. Raven splashes Venis in the corner followed by a bulldog out of the corner to win the match. (*1/2. This must be it for Venis to be losing to the running bulldog. Raven usually wins with the DDT. So, that’s kind of weird. It’s a decent match for Heat.) After the match, Venis looks at his hands and doesn’t seem thrilled about being in RTC.
9.) Taka and Hardcore start the match with Taka hitting a hip toss. Hardcore responds with a clothesline and tags in Crash. Crash comes off the top with a strike and a scoop slam. Taka dumps Crash through the ropes to the floor. Taka hits a springboard moonsault to the floor. Funaki tags into the match and strikes Crash a few times. Hardcore knocks Funaki down from the apron and tags into the match. Hardcore stomps Funaki several times in the corner. Hardcore chokes Funaki in the corner. Funaki boots Hardcore, but runs into a powerslam for a near fall. Hardcore drives Funaki down to the mat with a vertical suplex. Funaki kicks Crash, but runs into a clothesline and Crash plays to the crowd. Crash puts a sleeper on Funaki to keep control of the match. Crash misses a clothesline and Funaki hits a back suplex. Taka and Hardcore tag into the match with Taka hitting a series of spin kicks to both Crash and Hardcore. Funaki puts a chin lock on Hardcore for Taka to deliver a dropkick. Hardcore dropkicks Taka as Crash hits a DDT on Funaki. Hardcore plants Taka with the Alabama Slam to win the match. (**. I kind of like Hardcore being the bully guy of a tag team. That seems to be a really good role for him. I thought it was a solid tag match to give some last minute excitement for the PPV.)
Final Thoughts:
A solid Heat episode to provide the last hour of hype before the PPV starts. They touched on the important angles and getting two matches instead of usually one was a nice surprise, too.
Thanks for reading.