World Wrestling Federation presents Heat
Date: 7/1/2001
From:
Matches:
1.) Justin Credible defeated K-Kwik
2.) Hardcore Holly defeated Test by disqualification
3.) Rhyno defeated Raven
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, APA is playing a poker game and they are talking about WCW and insulting the company for going out of business. Bradshaw can’t believe WCW matches are on WWF television. Faarooq says there won’t be any issue if they stay in their lane.
2.) Michael Cole and Tazz talk about the WCW Invasion and they will have more about it later on in the show.
3.) Credible knee lifts Kwik and takes Kwik down to the mat to slap the back of his head before going to the ropes to avoid Kwik. Credible kicks Kwik and delivers a few strikes to keep control of the match. Kwik head scissors Credible followed by a hip toss and a few right hands in the corner. Credible is sent upside down into the corner and Kwik clotheslines Credible to the floor. Kwik dives over the ropes to take Credible out on the floor. Credible sends Kwik groin first into the ring post. Credible rams Kwik into the corner and continues with stomps in the corner and right hands. Credible hits a powerbomb out of the corner for a two count. Credible elbows Kwik to the mat and gets a near fall. Credible keeps Kwik on the mat with a sleeper, but doesn’t get a submission. Kwik gets to his feet and elbows Credible, but is yanked down to the mat. Kwik drops Credible over the top turnbuckle and delivers a kick to send Credible crotched onto the ropes. Kwik shakes the ropes and hits an atomic drop. Kwik decks Credible with a strike and hits a heel kick for a two count. Kwik tries for a suplex, but Credible counters and tries for a backdrop, but Kwik almost wins with a rollup. Kwik does a cartwheel, but is met with a superkick and Credible wins the match. (**. Kwik was good here despite the defeat. Credible may have won the match, but Kwik worked better and showcased more of his skillset than Credible did.)
4.) Michael Cole and Tazz interview the APA on the stage at WWF New York. Cole asks them what they think about WCW invading. Bradshaw proved they can draw ratings while WCW can draw unemployment. Bradshaw says they shouldn’t try to build a company off their backs. Faarooq says there are going to be some nice houses on the market if anyone is interested. Bradshaw says they built this company and anyone trying to come in to invade it will get their asses whooped. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again. Cole mentions WCW matches taking place tomorrow night on RAW. Faarooq suggests that the WCW matches may not happen on their watch. Bradshaw says they refuse to allow WCW to piggyback off their name because they couldn’t do it on their own. Faarooq isn’t going to carry a man on his back in regard to the invasion. Bradshaw just wants the WCW guys to step up and be men instead of doing it with sneak attacks. Cole asks if they’d join Shane McMahon if he asked. Bradshaw notes he declined WCW twice before because he wants to be in the WWF. Faarooq isn’t going to let anyone steal food out of his families mouths.
5.) We see footage of Chris Benoit visiting a doctor in San Antonio to have neck surgery on Thursday. The injury happened at King of the Ring after he hit a back suplex off the middle rope on Chris Jericho. The operation took three hours and the doctor explains what they did to fix Benoit’s neck. Benoit will be in a hard collar for a month and gradually improve over the next three to four months. The doctor believes it will be a year before Benoit can return.
6.) Holly backs Test into a corner and delivers several strikes. Holly clotheslines Test coming out of the corner. Holly rams Test into the corner, but Test fights back with right hands. Test hits a swinging neckbreaker and rams Holly into the corner followed by more right hands and stomps. Test drives Holly down to the mat with a side slam for a near fall. Holly drops Test throat first over the top rope and continues with stomps on the mat. Holly chokes Test in the corner to maintain the advantage. Test punches Holly a few times and hits a back suplex. Test clotheslines Holly in the corner and hits a gut wrench powerbomb for a near fall. Test tries for a pump handle, but Holly breaks free and hits a dropkick for a two count. Holly clotheslines Test over the top to the floor. Holly continues to pummel Test with strikes. Test sends Holly into the railing back first before rolling back into the ring. Holly grabs the ring bell and misses a strike. Test nails Holly with the ring bell. The referee calls for the bell, but Test has the bell. Holly wins the match by disqualification. (*1/2. That was a cheap finish, but the action was decent before the DQ.)
7.) Backstage, APA continue to talk about the invasion of WCW and they wonder who let the WCW guys into MSG.
8.) Tazz cuts a promo on WWF World Champion Steve Austin regarding the attack on Smackdown. Tazz promises that Austin will see him real soon and Austin will see what he’s all about. Tazz promises to whoop Austin’s ass.
9.) Raven controls Rhyno with a headlock to start the match and hits a shoulder block. Rhyno kicks Raven and runs the ropes to shoulder block Raven. Raven drop toe holds Rhyno into the ropes and tries for a DDT, but Rhyno bails to the floor. Raven knee lifts Rhyno off the apron to the floor. Raven hits a side Russian leg sweep into the railing. Raven continues with forearm strikes in the corner. Rhyno hits a shoulder ram in the corner and Raven falls to the floor. Rhyno rams Raven into the apron before returning to the ring. Rhyno strikes Raven several times, but Raven avoids a slam and catapults Rhyno chest first into the corner. Rhyno staggers out of the corner, and misses a strike. Raven sends Rhyno chest first into the corner and delivers a clothesline followed by a knee strike. Raven tries for a bulldog, but Rhyno sends Raven into the corner. Rhyno misses a GORE attempt hitting the corner instead. Raven tries for a DDT, but Rhyno counters. Raven clotheslines Rhyno in the corner followed by a bulldog for a near fall. Rhyno eye rakes Raven and hits the GORE for the clean win. (**. For it not being a hardcore match it wasn’t too bad. I’ve been a fan of Rhyno and feel like he could be a huge asset as the Invasion angle begins.)
10.) APA come back out to the stage at WWF New York. Bradshaw tells WCW to come get some because this is their house. Bradshaw just wants them to be men about it and stop with the sneak attacks. At that moment, the APA are jumped from behind! Faarooq is tossed into the stage and it’s Sean O’Haire who laid out Faarooq. The other guy is Chuck Palumbo! The WCW Tag Team Champions laid out APA and they run out of the restaurant to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
A couple of decent matches and a strong closing to the show made this an easy watch. Tazz cutting a classic Tazz style promo on Steve Austin was not expected, but proves that Tazz can absolutely talk a good fight. I think his creditability in WWF has passed him by, however.
Thanks for reading.