World Wrestling Federation presents Heat
Date: 6/3/2001
From:
Matches:
1.) Billy Gunn defeated Val Venis
2.) Test defeated Big Show
3.) Steve Blackman defeated Perry Saturn
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Earlier today, Kurt Angle arrived to WWF New York and says he hopes the fans don’t touch him.
2.) Val Venis is at least given an entrance this week unlike his match a couple of weeks ago.
3.) Venis backs Gunn into a corner and delivers a few strikes for the early advantage. Gunn blocks being sent into the corner and pummels Venis with stomps in the corner and plays to the crowd. Gunn drop toe holds Venis to the mat and keeps arm control. Gunn clubs Venis over the shoulder several times. Venis responds with several strikes. Gunn ducks a clothesline and clotheslines Venis over the top to the floor. Venis drives Gunn into the railing chest first and a chop. Gunn sends Venis into the ring steps shoulder first. Gunn stomps Venis several times before returning to the ring. Venis delivers a few stomps to Gunn and connects with a neckbreaker. Venis taunts the crowd and pulls Gunn to his feet to deliver another neckbreaker. Venis clubs Gunn over the chest a few times over the apron. Venis continues by choking Gunn in the corner and an overhand strike to the back of the neck. Venis hits a side Russian leg sweep and keeps a submission on Gunn, but doesn’t get a submission. Gunn backdrops Venis to avoid a piledriver, but Venis responds with a clothesline for a near fall. Gunn jabs Venis a few times, but runs into a big boot. Gunn hits a tilt a whirl slam for a two count. Venis stops Gunn with a boot and a fisherman suplex for a near fall. Gunn manages to drive Venis down with the One and Only cobra clutch slam for the win. (**. That wasn’t too bad of a match since they were given some decent time for a Heat match. Venis is in a bad spot with a dead gimmick and no direction to go in. Going back to the porn star gimmick right now wouldn’t make much sense. Gunn is finding a groove in this babyface singles role and I enjoy his work.)
4.) Backstage, Kurt Angle is getting a massage while admiring a picture of himself. Angle brags about being inducted into a Hall of Fame. Kurt notes that Shane McMahon and Spike Ddudley have never accomplished anything and reminds the woman massaging him that he won a gold medal with a broken neck.
5.) Kurt Angle makes his way out to the stage at WWF New York to address the crowd. Angle says he was thrilled to come to NYC because it gave him a chance to show the fans what a true champion looks like. Angle knows that the crowd is use to their teams buying their championships. Angle throws shade at the Rangers, Mets and Knicks for failing to win titles. Angle brags about earning his gold medal. Angle says he gave the fans someone they could lookup to with his medal, college education and not having a criminal record. Angle tells everyone what he accomplished in his first year in the WWF. Angle also brags about being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Angle suggests he’ll write a book about his career that he’s sure everyone will read. Angle talks about Shane McMahon and says that Shane sucks and it’s true.
6.) Test avoids Show’s sneak attack in the corner, but Show gets control with a knee lift and chop in the corner. Show sends Test into the corner, but Test delivers a clothesline and several right hands. Test continues with strikes in the corner, but Show sends Test into the corner and hits a hip toss out of the corner. Show tosses Test over the top to the floor. Test kicks Show in the midsection and delivers a few strikes. Show sends Test into the railing and ring post back first to gain control of the match. Show press slams Test from the floor over the top rope back into the ring. Show axe handles Test over the back and delivers a back ram several times. Show locks in a bearhug, but Test doesn’t submit. Test ducks a clothesline and sends Show into the corner chest first. Test comes off the ropes with a couple of clotheslines, but Show doesn’t budge. Test elbows Show in the corner and climbs to the top hitting a flying elbow strike. Test signals for the big boot in the corner. Show blocks the boot and kicks Test in the midsection. Show tries for a powerbomb, but Test fights free and knocks Show to the mat. Test leaps off the top hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Show misses a right hand and Test connects with a big boot for the clean win. (**. That’s a big win for Test. The action wasn’t too bad either.)
7.) Backstage, Kurt Angle continues to brag about his ring and picture he got from the Hall of Fame to a waitress.
8.) Kurt Angle is interviewed by Michael Cole and Tazz on the stage at WWF New York. Cole mentions that Angle won the KOTR last year, but Angle is more concerned about his picture and puts it on the podium. Angle acknowledges that the KOTR last year jump started his career. Angle isn’t there to talk about Shane McMahon and is there to talk about his accomplishments. There is footage shown from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony. Angle considers the KOTR win, WWF World Title win and the ceremony three of the best nights of his life. The Germ went around on the street and asked people who their favorite Olympic hero is and none of them say Kurt Angle. Angle considers them all to be stupid for not saying him.
9.) Saturn works over Blackman with a few strikes, but Blackman delivers a kick to the head. Blackman hammers away on Saturn in the corner and knocks Malenko off the apron. Blackman misses a dropkick as Saturn holds the ropes and elbow drops Blackman. Saturn dumps Blackman to the apron, but Blackman head scissors Saturn to the floor. Blackman grabs a steel chair and goes to the apron, but the referee takes the chair. Saturn rolls Blackman into the ring to continue the match. Blackman punches Saturn a few times followed by a clothesline and a kick. Blackman continues to work over Saturn with strikes, but Terri causes a distraction. Saturn nails Blackman with a kick causing Trish Stratus to chase Terri. Malenko gets involved and Saturn hits a northern lights suplex for a two count. Blackman sends Saturn into Malenko and hits a pump kick for the win. (*1/2. I sure wish that Saturn would be used better than he’s been used. Blackman and Trish partnership seems to be a bit weird.)
10.) Kurt Angle returns to the stage and says that if Shane McMahon accepts his challenge then he’ll get hurt and he’ll own him at King of the Ring.
Final Thoughts:
An average episode of Heat this week with a couple of decent matches and Kurt Angle appearing on the show is a big appearance.
Thanks for reading.