From The Network- WWF Backlash 2000

WWF Backlash 2000
4-30-00
Washington, DC

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

WWF Tag Team Championships- Edge and Christian © vs. DX (X-Pac and Road Dogg) w/Tori
Debra is the guest ring announcer since her husband Steve Austin is in the house. Edge and X-Pac start. X-Pac outclasses Edge to start but Edge catches X-Pac with a spinning heel kick, forcing him to bail. Tag to Road Dogg and Edge hits a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Clothesline by Edge and he tags Christian. He leaps off Edge’s back into an Avalanche in the corner for 2. Dogg pokes the eye of Christian and he tags X-Pac. They slug it out and Christian hits a powerslam. Punches in the corner by Christian but Dogg snaps Christian’s neck off the ropes to end that. Clothesline by X-Pac and he dumps Christian to the floor. Dogg sends Christian into the steps and back in, Dogg covers for 2. Front face lock by Dogg and Christian tags Edge but the ref didn’t see it. DX stomp away on Christian in the corner and X-Pac gives Christian the Bronco Buster. Kicks to the back by Dogg and he goes to the rear chinlock. Christian fights out and Dogg hits some Shake, Rattle, and Jive for 2 as Edge saves. Both men attempt crossbodys and crash to the mat. Edge goes up and hits a diving head butt to Dogg, allowing Christian to cover for 2!!! Tag to X-Pac and DX go for a double back suplex but Christian counters into a double reverse DDT!!! Tag to Edge and he cleans house. Edge blocks a hurricanrana attempt by X-Pac into a sit out powerbomb for 2 as Dogg saves!!! Christian goes for the Unpritter but X-Pac breaks with a spin kick. Spear by Edge to Dogg and X-Pac charges but misses and nails Tori!!! O’Connor roll by Edge gets 2 and Christian nails X-Pac with the ring bell for 3!!!
Winners and Still WWF Tag Team Champions- Edge and Christian ***1/4 (Edge and Christian were just starting to turn heel but DX was despised by the fans so they made for great underdog baby faces here. Good formulaic tag match and the crowd was molten hot toward the finish, a great sign for the show.)

WWF Light Heavyweight Championship- Dean Malenko © vs. Scotty 2 Hotty
Fun fact, this is the first ever match I watched and turned me into a fan. Let’s see how it holds up years later. Rights by Scotty and he hits a back elbow. Backdrop by Scotty and he hits a clothesline for 2. Scotty counters a powerbomb attempt into an arm drag for 2. Back suplex by Scotty and he does the moonwalk, allowing Malenko to attack from behind. Scotty knocks Malenko down and goes for the bulldog but Malenko blocks with a clothesline. They go to the floor and Malenko rams Scotty into the apron. Back in, Scotty hammers away in the corner but Malenko comes back with a dropkick to the leg. Malenko works over the leg of Scotty and wraps it against the post a few times. Back in, Scotty misses the enzuigiri and Malenko hits a knee drop to the leg of Scotty. Grape Vine by Malenko and he uses the ropes for leverage, which the ref catches so he forces the break. Malenko sweeps out the leg of Scotty and hits a knee breaker. Enzuigiri by Scotty and both men are down. Malenko sends Scotty hard into the corner and he drives Scotty’s knee into the mat. Basement dropkick to the leg by Malenko and he works over the leg in the corner. Scotty blocks the Figure-4 attempt and Scotty rolls him up for 2. Malenko knocks Scotty down and he tackles Scotty, driving both men to the floor. Back in, Scotty goes up but Malenko stops him and follows up. Superplex by Malenko and Scotty comes back with a backslide for 2. Malenko goes for the Texas Cloverleaf but Scotty counters into a small package for 2. Back suplex by Malenko and Scotty escapes a powerbomb attempt. Bulldog by Scotty and he hits the W.O.R.M~!!!! Roll-up by Malenko with his feet on the ropes gets 2 as the ref catches Malenko in the act. They trade counters and Malenko hits the Tiger Driver for 2. Powerslam by Malenko gets 2. Malenko snaps Scotty’s neck off the ropes and he goes up. Scotty follows up and goes for the superplex but Malenko COUNTERS INTO A SUPER DDT FOR 3!!!!
Winner and Still WWF Light Heavyweight Champion- Dean Malenko ***1/2 ( Really good match with Malenko relentless on the leg of Scotty and using his technical prowess to outmatch Scotty. Scotty forgetting to sell the leg is the major setback of this match but my god was that finish sick.)

Vince McMahon gives Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco the marching orders.

Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan vs. The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw)
They brawl on the floor to start and back in, Bradshaw hits a DDT on Bull. Bradshaw goes up and hits a flying shoulder block for 2. Clothesline by Bull but Bradshaw comes back with a spear. Swinging neckbreaker by Bradshaw and Faarooq tags in. Sloppy springboard forearm by Bull and Boss Man tags in. Back suplex by Faarooq and he hits a clothesline for 2. He dumps Boss Man to the floor and Bradshaw works him over. Back in, Bradshaw tags in and dumps Boss Man to the floor again. Faarooq works him over and back in, Bradshaw gets 2 as Boss Man gets his foot on the ropes. Tag to Faarooq and he charges in the corner but misses. Boss Man knocks him down and Bull tags in. Slam by Bull and he works Faarooq over in the corner. Bradshaw tags in but the ref didn’t see it, so Boss Man and Bull double team Faarooq in the corner. Clothesline by Bull gets 2 as Bradshaw saves. Chin lock by Bull but Faarooq comes back with a spine buster. Tag to Bradshaw and he hits a back elbow. Flying shoulder block by Bradshaw and he hits a DDT. He goes up but Bull stops him and follows up. Superplex by Bull gets 2. Clothesline from Hell by Bradshaw gets 2 as Boss Man saves. Boss Man nails Faarooq and Bradshaw with the nightstick. Bull goes up and hits the Scissors Kick off the top for 3.
Winners- Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan ** ( Very rugged, stiff match that the crowd wasn’t all that invested in. )

The Hardy Boyz tell each other that they won’t hold anything back if they have to fight each other tonight.

Crash Holly tries to convince Hardcore Holly to work as a team tonight but Hardcore slaps him.

WWF Hardcore Championship- Crash Holly © vs. Tazz vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Perry Saturn
You can only win the title by pinning Crash but Crash can pin anyone. T-Bone suplex by Saturn to Crash gets 1 as Hardcore saves. Powerbomb by Hardcore gets 2 as Matt saves. Northern lights suplex by Tazz gets 2 as Saturn saves. Crash tries to run away but everyone catches him. Crash climbs the hook structure and Matt follows. They slug it out and Matt knocks Crash off the structure. Matt with a crossbody off the structure onto everyone!!! Saturn gord busters Crash through the structure!!! Jeff swings from the hook into a hurricanrana onto Saturn!!! Back in, The Hardy Boyz hit a double leg drop combo on Crash. Tazz nails them with a trash can lid but the Hardy Boyz come back with Poetry in Motion. Standing surfboard by Saturn to Crash but Tazz breaks it up. Back suplex by Saturn to Crash and Tazz hits a clothesline. Hardcore hits Crash with a street sign for 2 as Saturn saves. Spin kick by Saturn gets 2 as Hardcore saves. Hardcore suplexes Crash on the floor and everyone gets a shot in on Crash. Back in, Crash hits a dropkick on Tazz for 2. Sunset flip by Crash to Saturn gets 2 as Tazz saves. Hardcore chokes Crash in the ropes but Saturn catches him with a German suplex. Suplex by Tazz to Crash and Jeff leg drops a cookie sheet onto Crash for 2 as Matt saves. Jeff hits the Arabian Press for 2 as Hardcore saves. Slingshot splash by Saturn gets 2 as Tazz saves. Hardcore puts Crash on top and follows up. Superplex by Hardcore gets 2 as Tazz saves. Brainbuster by Saturn gets 2 as Tazz saves. Falcon Arrow onto the chair by Hardcore gets 2 as Matt saves. The Hardy Boyz clothesline everyone with a ladder and they toss Hardcore into the ladder. Twist of Fate by Matt to Crash and Jeff climbs the ladder. Swanton Bomb off the ladder by Jeff and Matt covers for 2 as Jeff breaks!!! Tazz clotheslines both Hardys and he grabs the Tazzmiddion on Crash. Saturn nails Tazz with a street sign to break and he covers Crash for 2. Matt and Jeff dive onto Hardcore and Saturn on the floor and in the ring, Crash covers Tazz for 3!!!
Winner and Still WWF Hardcore Champion- Crash Holly ** ( I wasn’t a fan of this match. It was pretty much worked as a five on one handicap match against Crash and with all the chaos they had no idea what they wanted to do at times, creating awkward spots throughout. )

Shane McMahon declares he will call the main event right down the middle.

Video package for Angle/Show airs.

Kurt Angle vs. Big Show
Big Show comes out dressed as Hulk Hogan to Real American. Show cuts an awesome, Hogan like promo and Angle attacks but Show is HULKING UP~!!!! Rights by Show and he hits a big boot. Leg drop by Show gets 2. Angle clips the leg of Show and he begins working it over. Show works Angle over in the corner to come back and he hits a short arm clothesline. Chokeslam by Show gets 3.
Winner- Big Show * ( A squash for Show but his Hogan act was great and the crowd was loving it, so this whole thing was incredibly entertaining. )

Video package for Dudley Boyz/T&A airs.

Trish Stratus says men bottle up their frustration and explode but Bubba Ray Dudley is different. Bubba is shown watching her and D-Von tries to get him focused.

Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) vs. T&A (Test and Albert) w/Trish Stratus
Trish’s outfit…….my god. T&A attack to start and Bubba chases Trish on the floor, walking into a clothesline from Test. In the ring, Albert stomps away on D-Von but D-Von fights back with rights. Clothesline by D-Von gets 2 and Bubba tags in. He rakes the face of Albert and hits a clothesline. Elbow drops by Bubba gets 2. Bubba rakes the eyes of Albert and he chops away in the corner. Tag to D-Von and they hit a double suplex. WHAT’S UP~!!!!! D-Von covers for 2 and Albert comes back with a bicycle kick. Tag to Test and Albert hits the Avalanche to D-Von. Big boot by Test gets 2. Flying shoulder block by D-Von gets 1. Albert distracts D-Von, allowing Test to hit the gutwrench powerbomb. Rights by Test and he stomps away in the corner. Tag to Albert and T&A hit a double inverted tilt-a-whirl slam for 2. Tag to Test and Albert power slams D-Von. He presses Test onto D-Von for 2 and he hits a back elbow. Swinging neckbreaker by D-Von and Bubba tags in but the ref didn’t see it. Albert stomps away on D-Von and he rakes the face. Shoulder block by Albert and he sling shots D-Von in the ropes for 2 as Bubba saves. Tag to Test and he hits a clothesline for 2. Tag to Albert and he charges in the corner but eats boot. Second rope sunset flip by D-Von gets 2 and Albert comes back with a sit-out powerbomb for 2. Albert goes up but Bubba distracts him, allowing D-Von to follow up with a superplex. Tag to Bubba and he cleans house. Samoan Drop to Test gets 2 as Albert saves. Back suplex/neckbreaker combo by the Dudley Boyz gets 2. Baldo Bomb by Albert and Test goes up. Flying elbow drop misses and Bubba covers for 2. The Dudley Boyz go for 3D but Trish distracts Bubba, allowing Test to hit a big boot for 3!!!
Winners- T&A **1/2 ( Decent match but the crowd didn’t care that much for it and just wanted to see the Dudley Boyz break out the tables. )

After the match, Bubba lays out Test with an Ace Crusher and they hit 3D on Albert. Bubba grabs Trish and D-Von sets a table up in the ring. Trish makes out with Bubba and she starts to walk away but Bubba stops her!!! SUPER POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE ON TRISH!!!! Trish is taken out of the building on a stretcher and Eddie Guerrero and Chyna arrive from the prom. The ref tells Eddie he is late for his match and if he doesn’t go out to the ring he will forfeit the title. Eddie decides to drive into the arena.

Video package for Guerrero/Rios airs.

WWF European Championship- Eddie Guerrero © w/Chyna vs. Essa Rios w/Lita
Dropkick by Eddie and he hits a back elbow. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Rios and Eddie comes back with a Saito suplex. Rios takes Eddie down and hits an elbow drop. Arm drag by Rios and Eddie bails. He goes for a slingshot pescado but Eddie swats him away. Eddie sends Rios into the steps and back in hits a slam. Hilo by Eddie and he dumps Rios to the floor. Chyna gets a cheap shot in and back in, Rios hits a dropkick. Rios goes up and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Cravat by Rios but Eddie breaks with a jawbreaker. Tilt-a-whirl arm drag by Rios and he hits a monkey flip. Rios charges but Eddie dumps him to the floor again. Chyna gets another cheap shot in and Eddie hits a slingshot pescado to the floor. Lita goes up but Chyna shoves her to the floor!!! Rios backdrops Eddie out of a powerbomb attempt on the floor and he hits a springboard Asai moonsault to the floor. Back in, Rios goes up and hits a missile dropkick to the back knocking Eddie to the floor. Summersault plancha to the floor by Rios and back in, he goes up. Chyna crotches him and Eddie follows up. Superplex by Eddie and both men are down. Brainbuster by Eddie and he goes up. Rios runs up and arm drags Eddie off the top. Rios goes up for the moonsault but eats knees. Airplane spin neckbreaker by Eddie gets 3. After the match, Rios dropkicks Eddie and Chyna and Lita rips off Chyna’s dress.
Winner and Still WWF European Champion- Eddie Guerrero ***1/4 ( Good match with some good lucha based action, even though Rios was off at times. Eddie’s gimmick was beginning to get over big time at this point. )

Triple H promises to prove to the Rock he is that damn good and Vince McMahon addresses the fact that Stone Cold Steve Austin isn’t here yet. He says Austin may have had transportation issues and may not make it tonight.

Chris Benoit warns Chris Jericho he is in a great mood knowing what he is going to do to him tonight.

WWF Intercontinental Championship- Chris Benoit © vs. Chris Jericho
Before the match, Jericho compares Benoit to the soulless, emotionless politicians in DC. They have an intense lock up that takes them to the floor and they slap each other. Back in, they engage in chain wrestling and then trade roll-up attempts for some near falls. They trade chops and Benoit rakes the eyes to end that. Drop toe hold by Jericho and he hammers Benoit on the mat. Rolling German suplexes by Benoit but Jericho blocks the third. Benoit back suplexes Jericho to the floor and he goes for a suicide dive but Jericho moves out of the way!!! Benoit dropkicks the steps into the leg of Jericho. Back in, Benoit hits a knee to the gut and a gut buster. Benoit stomps away in the corner but Jericho fights back with rights. He misses a dropkick and Benoit catapults Jericho into the corner. Benoit gord busters Jericho into the ropes and hits a snap suplex for 2. Knee to the gut by Benoit and he grabs an abdominal stretch. Jericho fights out and hits a back elbow on Benoit. Lionsault by Jericho gets 2. Chops by Benoit and he stomps away in the corner. Spinning heel kick by Jericho and he hits some rights. Benoit fights back with chops and Jericho catches Benoit with a bulldog for 2. Jericho stomps away and throws some chops. Roll-up by Jericho gets 2 and he gord busters Benoit into the ropes. Springboard dropkick misses and Benoit goes up. Jericho crotches him and follows up. Back suplex by Jericho but Benoit blocks it in midair!!! Benoit covers for 2. Benoit goes for the backslide but Jericho blocks and hits the double powerbomb for 2. Benoit catches Jericho in the Crippler Crossface but Jericho gets his foot on the ropes to break. Benoit pulls him to the center of the ring and rolls Benoit into the Walls of Jericho. Benoit makes the ropes to break!!! Jericho goes for the flying forearm but misses Benoit and nails the ref. Benoit grabs the belt and nails Jericho with it. Benoit covers for 2!!! Benoit suplexes Jericho onto the belt and Benoit goes up. He goes for the Diving Head Butt but Jericho blocks with the belt!!! The ref calls for the bell and DQs Jericho!!! Jericho puts the ref in the Walls of Jericho after the match.
Winner by DQ and Still WWF Intercontinental Champion- Chris Benoit ***3/4 ( Crappy finish to what was an excellent match. Just great counter wrestling combined with hard hitting striking. It’s your typical great Benoit/Jericho match. )

Video package for Triple H/Rock airs.

The Rock promises to walk out tonight as the WWF Champion with or without Stone Cold in his corner.

WWF Championship- Triple H © w/Stephanie and Vince McMahon vs. The Rock
Shane McMahon is the guest ref. Vince McMahon prior to the match declares that Stone Cold will not be here tonight. They slug it out and HHH ends that with a knee to the gut. Rights by Rock and he knocks HHH down a few times. Back elbow by Rock and HHH goes for the Pedigree but Rock backdrops out. Rock stomps away in the corner and Shane pulls him away, allowing HHH to hit a neck breaker. Back suplex by Rock and HHH dumps Rock to the floor. HHH dumps Rock onto the announce table and Vince sends Rock into the post. Back in, HHH covers for 2. HHH stomps away in the corner and Rock fights back with rights. Knee to the gut by HHH and he hits a high knee for 2. HHH hammers Rock on the mat and hits a suplex. Knee drop by HHH gets 2 and Rock fights back with rights. Sleeper by HHH and Rock’s arm only goes down twice. HHH uses the ropes for added leverage but Rock fights out, so HHH hits a clothesline for 2. HHH works Rock over in the corner and he hits some punches in the corner. Rock snake eyes HHH to break and he hits some rights. They clothesline each other and both men are down. Vince nails Rock with the belt and HHH covers for 2 off a fast count. Rights in the corner by HHH but Rock comes back with rights of his own. Clothesline by Rock and he sends HHH to the floor. Rock follows out and he clotheslines HHH. He drops HHH shoulder first onto the announce table and back in, HHH hits the face buster. DDT by Rock and he covers but Shane refuses to count!!! Rock knocks Shane to the floor and HHH clotheslines Rock to the floor. HHH sends Rock into the steps and Shane takes the announce table apart. HHH hammers away on Rock and goes for the Pedigree through the announce table but Rock goes low to block. Rock goes for the Rock Bottom but Shane tries to tell him not to. ROCK GRABS SHANE AND HITS A DOUBLE ROCK BOTTOM THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE!!!!! Back in, Vince nails Rock from behind so Rock goes after him. HHH goes low and he hits the Pedigree. Vince calls out Patterson and Brisco who are dressed as refs. HHH covers Rock for 2!!! Patterson and Brisco work over Rock and they hold Rock up for HHH to attack. Vince nails Rock with a chair and HHH goes for the Pedigree but STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN COMES OUT!!!! THE PLACE EXPLODES!!!! Austin cleans house with a chair, giving SHANE THE MOTHER OF ALL CHAIR SHOTS!!!! Austin lays everyone out before leaving. LINDA MCMAHON AND EARL HEBNER COME OUT!!!! Linda shoves Stephanie and in the ring, HHH charges with a chair. Rock catches him with the spinebuster to block and Rock hits the People’s Elbow. Linda sends Hebner in the ring and Rock covers for 3!!!! The place is going nuts!!!!!
Winner and NEW WWF Champion- The Rock ****1/2 ( This match, along with Austin/Dude Love from Over the Edge 1998 is the guide to perfect overbooking. Rock has to face every insurmountable odd in the book but somehow came out on top. They culminated weeks’ worth of stories in this match and Austin’s return and Rock’s win produces the loudest pops you will ever hear. )

After the match, Stone Cold comes out in his pickup truck towing the destroyed DX Express. Austin and Rock share some beers to end the show.

The 411: This is highly regarded as one of the best shows the WWF ever put on during arguably it's greatest year. For me, like Spring Stampede 1999, I don't think it holds up to that standard over a decade later. Not to say it wasn't a damn good show, it most certainly was. Certain matches just don't hold up but that main event does and is still one of my favorite matches to watch. This is certainly worth watching particularly for the main event and to see one of the most molten hot crowds in the company's history.

Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]