Madison Square Garden, New York, NY; January 23, 2000
Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler
I actually own the WWF DVD version of this; I believe this was the first WWF DVD I ever got. So no burry, no WWE music dub-overs and no “I’m gonna win the WW*bleep* title at WrestleMania!” My brother also was at this show… lucky bastard!
Tazz vs. Kurt Angle: Tazz was a mystery opponent and is making his WWF debut; Kurt is only a month or so into his WWF career so he was riding the undefeated streak at this point. Kurt runs down the New York Knicks to get boos; the Knicks were JUST entering their doldrums so this still got heat. Tazz gets a huge reaction, being from Brooklyn and all. Tazz attacks at the bell and FLINGS him over the top off of a backdrop. In the aisle, Angle reverses a vertical suplex on the floor. Kurt belly-to-belly suplexes Tazz and goes to the top; Tazz crotches him on the top rope. A super Tazzplex gets a three… wait Kurt’s leg is on the rope. Kurt uses the distraction to inside cradle Tazz for two. Pinning German suplex gets two for Kurt. Tazz counters the Olympic Slam into a release 360 German suplex. Tazz hits a Tazzplex then a T-bone suplex into the Tazzmission. “You come out here all full of piss and vinegah; I’m gonna choke you out and then I’m gonna beat the shit out of you!” Angle passes out and Tazz wins ending Kurt’s undefeated streak. Post-match Kurt gets stretchered out. 5/10 Excellent debut for Tazz; made him look unbeatable.
In the back the Hardy Boyz tell their manager Terri Runnels to stay in the back because the tables match is too dangerous. Elsewhere, Tazz comments about suplexing his way through the WWF.
Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz tag team tables match: They each traded table spots on Raw and SmackDown the week prior to the Rumble to set this up. Bubba Ray Dudley, still with the stutter (and Southern accent), acknowledges his new hero Atlanta Braves relief pitcher, John Rocker. They all brawl at the bell. Bubba Bomb on Jeff Hardy as Matt Hardy and D-Von Dudley battle in the corner. Bubba goes for the table first. Bubba tries to backdrop Jeff through it but Matt BARELY gets it out of the way and delivers a jumping DDT on Bubba. Bubba heads to the floor that allows Jeff to somersault plancha onto him. Matt avoids a powerbomb through the table and Jeff tries to take out Bubba with a chair. D-Von reverses a suplex saving him from a table; Jeff cracks Bubba with a chair. Jeff tries to “run the rail” but Bubba tosses a table at him. Back in the ring the Hardyz double superplex Bubba but D-Von moves the table saving him. Matt retrieves a ladder and they take out the Dudleyz with it. Matt uses a chair again on Bubba twice. Matt sets him up on a table on the floor and tries to go up a ladder but D-Von meets him there. He knocks him off and Matt and Jeff put Bubba through a table with a legdrop/splash combo. The camera perspective they use is awesome because you had no idea Jeff was involved until he came flying into the picture. Now they have to put D-Von Dudley trough a table; Matt cracks him with a chair. Bubba stumbles around on the floor as the Hardyz set up a table bridge with the ring steps and ring apron. Matt MISSES a legdrop and goes through the table. Jeff tries to suicide dive onto D-Von but he MISSES and flies through another table. The match is not over because neither Dudley offensively put Matt or Jeff through the table. Bubba, who has recovered, hits Matt with a chair. Bubba tosses the steps into the ring. They open up a table on the ring steps and super powerbomb Matt Hardy through it. The Dudleyz clobber Matt and Jeff with a chair and set up a table pyramid in the aisle. They set Matt up on it and Bubba drags Jeff onto the balcony and preps to powerbomb him onto Matt through the table; Jeff counters with a low blow and chairshots him down through the table pyramid. The Hardyz realize that D-Von is the one who they have to get through the table so Matt quickly sets up D-Von on a table and Jeff Swanton Bombs him from the balcony to get the Hardy Boys the win. 7.5/10 Deadly match that along with the Hardyz/Edge & Christian ladder match from No Mercy ’99 were the precursors to the TLC matches.
Kurt Angle in the back, still half-conscious from the Tazzmission says if it was a choke (which is illegal) he is still undefeated.
Ivory vs. Terri Runnels vs. Jacqueline vs. “B.B.” Barbara Bush vs. Luna Vachon vs. The Kat Miss Rumble 2000 Swimsuit Competition: Sgt. Slaughter, Tony Garea, The Fabulous Moolah, Johnny Valliant and “Classy” Freddie Blassie are judges for the contest. Jerry Lawler is the emcee and introduces Andy Richter, from Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as an additional judge. Ivory is up first and is reluctant, yet she is wearing a teal thong. Terri is in a flesh colored skimpy outfit and hangs on the ropes. Jacqueline and imitates riding a cowboy… er, horse. B.B. shakes her ass. Luna refuses and threatens Lawler. Kat is up last in bubble wrap. Lawler is his classic over-the-top self here. Oh, no Mae Young shows up and strips naked; Mark Henry shows up and covers her up, thank God. The judges declare the winner as Mae Young. 1/10 Vince McMahon is demented.
Meanwhile, The Coach makes his WWF debut from WWF New York, the WWF themed restaurant, which opened a few days prior.
In the back Chris Jericho and Chyna fight over which of the co-Intercontinental champions will bring the belt to ringside. Dave Hebner settles it by taking it to the ring for them. Jericho’s “C’mon Earl… Dave?” is hilarious. Elsewhere, Kurt Angle declares himself still undefeated.
WWF Intercontinental Championship Chris Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly triple threat: I forgot who they beat but Jericho and Chyna double pinned someone for the title thus the co-champions; this is to “unify” the title. I also have forgotten how Holly fits into all of this. Jericho calls it MSG, Madison Square Jericho. Awesome. Holly pie faces Chyna so Jericho hiptosses him. All three trades slaps on each other. Chyna mimics Triple H going over the top rope; well, he DID help train her. Holly and Jericho run the ropes and Hardcore Holly hits his beautiful dropkick on Y2J. Jericho hits a flying forearm and the chop the hell out of each other. Jericho counters a Holly hurracanrana into the Walls of Jericho; Chyna returns to make the save. Holly tries to steal a pinfall so Chyna sends him over the top. Jericho tries to run the ropes but Holly grabs his leg; Jericho frees himself just as Chyna baseball slides into Holly. Y2J springboards off the turnbuckle onto Holly on the floor. Chyna sends him into the ring steps; back in the ring Chyna hits the handspring elbow and a DDT on Jericho but Holly halts the count. Chyna to the floor but she low bridges Jericho as she is coming back in to the ring. Holly knocks her back to the floor and he grabs a chair. Jericho and Chyna team up to dropkick the chair into Holly’s face. Chyna ascends the buckle as is Jericho; they both hit double top-rope splashes for two. Thank God. They trade blows and Chyna backflips out of a backdrop suplex and low blows Jericho. Chyna Pedigrees Holly but he kicks out so she ascends the buckles and winds up on Holly’s shoulders; Jericho comes off the other turnbuckle with a Doomsday cross body for ALMOST three. Holly boots Jericho in the face and he goes up. Jericho meets him on top and Chyna double crotches them both on the top rope. Jericho falls to the floor while Holly gets superplexed by Chyna but Holly floats over into a cradle first, for two. Chyna grabs a chair and clobbers Holly while the referee is busy with Jericho. Chyna tries to mock Jericho by applying a Boston Crab but he one-handed bulldogs her out of it and Lionsaults onto her for three and becomes the undisputed IC Champion. Thank God, again. 5.5/10 Classic triple threat with the correct ending. Co-IC champions was pretty stupid.
The Rock cuts his classic Royal Rumble promo where he mentions if he can get past Crash Holly and Headbanger Mosh he might have a shot of winning the Rumble, completely disregarding the Big Show; then the Rock guaran-damn-tees winning the Rumble. Exclusive footage of Chris Jericho in the back saying he is the champion and shuts up all the conspirators against him.
Recap of the Acolytes rolling through all of the other tag teams to get their title shot.
WWF Tag Team Championship New Age Outlaws vs. Acolytes: DX were heels here but Road Dogg still does his stick before the match allowing everyone to chant along which kills the Acolytes babyface heat before the match even starts. The Acolytes attack afore the bell; Billy Gunn hits a nice dropkick on Bradshaw but he catches the high cross body attempt, boots Road Dogg, and fall-away slams Billy Gunn. Faarooq misses a charge but powerslams Road Dogg; Billy Gunn breaks up the Dominator but Faarooq double clotheslines both Outlaws. Road Dogg hits the Shake, Rattle and Roll but Bradshaw cuts off the shaky knee drop from the apron. Bradshaw tags in and Billy misses a Stinger splash; Bradshaw turns him inside-out with the Clothesline from Hell. Faarooq spinebusters Road Dogg but Billy pulls referee Tim White to the floor. Bradshaw wipes them both out with a shoulderblock. The Acolytes hit a double powerbomb but X-Pac shows up and kicks Bradshaw in the face; Faarooq spinebusters him. Mr. Ass slides back in and lands the Fameasser on Bradshaw for three. 2.5/10 Well that was… quick. Word has it they were running short here; hence the abrupt ending. Yeah, rush through a well-built match and make the (previously) unstoppable Acolytes look like chumps for losing in three minutes, just so we can see Mae Young’s droopy boobies.
In the locker room, Road Dogg admits they got their asses kicked but they are still the champions.
The storyline involving Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley abusing Mankind and forcing him to turn into Cactus Jack to get even, in one of the best promos of the year.
WWF Heavyweight Championship Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. Cactus Jack street fight: HHH sends Steph into the back for her safety (or so she will not be a liability). Cactus and HHH brawl in the outset but Cactus punches away in the corner. To the floor, Cactus neckbreakers HHH on the concrete. Foley sends HHH all around the ringside area with shots but Triple H finds the ring bell to clock Cactus with it. Triple H flings a chair in the ring and invites Cactus into the ring. Cactus charges and Triple H paintbrushes him with it; Jack gets up and clotheslines Triple H. Jack props the chair on HHH’s face and legdrops onto it. Back on the floor Triple H gets the advantage but Cactus backdrops him into the ringside area. They brawl in the crowd. They wind up in the entranceway where Foley tosses Helmsley into a pile of bricks. Cactus sets up a couple of wooden pallets and suplexes HHH onto them. Jack uses a trashcan and sends him into the steel doors in the entranceway a few times. Triple H gets a breather by backdrop suplexing him onto a trashcan. Jack comes back and beats him down next to the steel steps then he running knees into HHH’s face into them. Cactus retrieves the barbed wire 2×4 from under the ring; HHH saves himself with a low blow. Triple H beats Cactus with the barbed wire and stumbles around a bit. Cactus manages to low blow HHH with the 2×4 after he dropped it; double-arm DDT. Referee Earl Hebner takes the 2×4 and puts under the Spanish announce table, meanwhile Jack covers HHH for two. Jack wanders around looking for his 2×4 and threatens Hebner, so he tells him where it is. Jack beats up Hugo Savinovich and Carlos Cabrera at the announce table to get it. Hebner tries to reason with Cactus to no avail; Triple H charges but Jack sidesteps and Triple H takes out the referee. Cactus nails HHH in the forehead with the barbed wire and drops a barbed wire-assisted elbow. HHH is busted open; Jack nails him a few more times with the barbed wire and rakes it across his forehead. On the floor Jack continues the onslaught and tosses him into the announce table. Cactus tries to piledrive him through it but HHH backdrops out, onto the same table, breaking it and sending them both to the floor. Back in the ring, HHH hobbles from a nasty gash in his leg, hardway from the pallet earlier. Jack counters a Pedigree and bulldogs HHH onto the barbed wire 2×4 for two. Cactus clothesline by Cactus Jack; Triple H counters the running knee by HIPTOSSING Jack into the steps, he then LAUNCHES Jack over the steps. HHH chop blocks Jack as he is on his way back into the ring; Triple H uses the barbed wire on Cactus’ injured leg. Triple H, a bloody mess, retrieves handcuffs from the timekeeper’s table, just like the ’99 Rumble (full review, click here); Cactus, however, prevents him from locking them and uses the handcuffs against HHH. Triple H kicks the leg and handcuffs Jack’s hands behind him. HHH beats a helpless Cactus and brings the steel steps into the ring. He tries to hit Jack in the face but Cactus drop-toe holds him and Triple H falls face first onto the steps. Jack drops himself into HHH’s crotch and bites him in the face. Triple H recovers and nails Jack with a lariat; HHH uses a chair (and breaks it over Cactus Jack’s back). In the aisle HHH hits Cactus in the head; Jack asks for more but the Rock comes out of nowhere and clobbers the HHH with a chair. A member of the NYPD unlocks the handcuffs. Jack is free and HHH is in deep poop now. Jack heads to the Spanish announce table and PILEDRIVES Triple H; the table one-ups Cactus Jack by not breaking. Death. Foley grabs a huge bag of thumbtacks. Shiny. Stephanie returns to try to reason with Cactus. They brawl perilously close to the tacks and HHH backdrops Cactus into them. Triple H Pedigrees him… for TWO! HHH is disbelieving; asking Hebner if he kicked out. Cactus wanders into a second Pedigree ONTO THE THUMBTACKS for three. Post-match they stretcher HHH out but Jack retrieves him and wheels him into the ring apron. Cactus Jack gives HHH a parting shot with the barbed wire 2×4. 9.5/10 What a brutal insane match; this was one hell of a title defense probably the best title match in Rumble history (at least up to this point).
From WWF New York, Linda McMahon does not want to speak on the McMahon-Helmsley Regime but promises things will be handled the “McMahon way”. Back in the arena ring crew members sweep the ring clear of all the thumbtacks. One guy is using a shovel upside-down; they don’t have more than one broom at MSG? They show highlights of Shawn Michaels winning from the 1995 Royal Rumble (full review, click here) just so I can pimp other reviews from my website.
The Royal Rumble: #1 D’Lo Brown and #2 Grandmaster Sexay starts us off this year; Jerry Lawler is a tad bit upset, Jim Ross gets a good shot on him saying “he [Grandmaster] got a bad break at birth”. D’Lo interrupts the dancing and brawls away. Nice dropkick on D’Lo by Grandmaster; D’Lo comes back with a leg lariat. D’Lo goes for the running powerbomb but Sexay Frankensteiners him to counter. Slam and a second-rope missile dropkick by the Grandmaster and D’Lo goes over the top but not out. Here is #3 Headbanger Mosh with huge cone on his chest and attacks Sexay. Kaientai storm the ring but are quickly dispensed with. Taka Michinoku and Sho Funaki were taken out of the Rumble earlier on Sunday Night Heat, so they’re mad. The battle continues D’Lo hits an avalanche and Mosh moshpits behind him then clotheslines D’Lo. Sky High by D’Lo but Grandmaster comes back and nails D’Lo. #4 Christian post-Brood but pre-heel Edge and Christian; which would make him a babyface, I believe. Christian drops Mosh into a reverse DDT then works over Grandmaster. Sexay back suplexes Christian and everyone brawls on the ropes. Here comes #5 Rikishi Phatu right after he debuted on television; he superkicks Mosh and ELIMINATES him. Rikishi traps Christian in a belly-to-belly suplex and then ELIMINATES him. D’Lo manages a spinning neckbreaker followed by a leg drop but Rikishi pops right back up and drops D’Lo into the Rikishi Driver and ELIMINATES him. He heads for Grandmaster; Sexay asks to dance, luckily #6 Scotty 2 Hotty runs down (with shades) to dance with them. The crowd goes nuts. After they are done dancing Rikishi ELIMINATES both of Too Cool; they smooth it over and Rikishi dances until #7 “Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman comes out. He bicycle kick and knocks Rikishi down. Blackman runs the ropes but runs right into another Rikishi Driver and he ELIMINATES Blackman. #8 Viscera arrives to frighten the crowd. They go nose-to-nose and brawl. Viscera manages a huge belly-to-belly and then a legdrop. Impressive. Viscera continues to dominate with an avalanche. Rikishi avoids a second avalanche and keeps superkicking Big Vis who will not go down; he decides to shoulderblock him which stuns him against the ropes allowing Rikishi to ELIMINATE him.
Here’s #9 Big Bossman to kill the crowd; Bossman refuses to get into the ring and elects to stall until #10 Test shows up and brawls with him on the floor; Test finally flings him into the ring. Rikishi is awaiting him and head-butts him. Test traps Rikishi in the corner with his boot so Bossman punches him in the balls. Rikishi returns the favor and low blows the Bossman; everyone writhes in the ring holding their testes for a little while. The three of them triple threat until #11 British Bulldog, in his “jeans” phase, Bulldog attacks Rikishi. Test clobbers Bossman with a big boot. Test almost tosses Bossman. Rikishi goes for a Banzai Drop on the Bulldog but Davy Boy punches him in the gonads. Testicles are taking a pounding tonight. Everyone pairs off in separate corners until #12 Gangrel comes down; I forgot he was still in the WWF at this point. Kaientai shows up again; Taka injures himself on a nasty over-the-top faceplant on the floor. Test continues to choke Gangrel in the corner. Rikishi reverse avalanches both Test and Gangrel in the corner. #13 Edge comes out; he attacks former mentor Gangrel. Bulldog almost manages Edge over the top. Rikishi finally lands a Banzai Drop on the Bossman. Lawler asks to see Taka land on his face over and over. Now, #14 Mr. Bob Backlund, trying to get the #1 contender’s spot for Congress, arrives getting a huge ovation. Everyone in the ring gangs up on Rikishi to ELIMINATE him. Crowd is not happy on that one. Everyone brawls on the ropes as per the usual. Edge and Gangrel brawl on the ropes. Here comes #15 Chris Jericho he attacks Edge for getting hurt on their super-tag team storyline, nine years from then. Backlund almost gets Gangrel out but Jericho dropkicks Backlund over the top, ELIMINATING him. Bob leaves through the crowd collecting Connecticut votes. Here is #16 Crash Holly and the Rock is trembling somewhere. Edge and Bulldog get him upside down on the top rope; Edge spanks him. Bulldog and Crash almost eliminate Edge; a flick on the balls (those are the most painful) frees him. Ring is starting to fill up as we add #17 Chyna to the group. She goes right for Jericho; Jericho gets her on the apron but she suplexes him to the floor ELIMINATING him. Bossman then knocks Chyna off the apron ELIMINATING her. They argue all the way to the back. #18 Faarooq comes out but the Mean Street Posse run in and attack him; like Kaientai the Posse were removed from the Rumble earlier. The Posse gets extracted from the ring; in the confusion Bossman is able to ELIMINATE a dazed Faarooq. Everyone hangs on for a while and #19 Road Dogg runs down as the fans chant his “oh, you didn’t know…” stick. Bossman boots Edge. Road Dogg goes for Test but he low blows him. Shocking. Road Dogg comes back at Test. Crash, still hanging around, works over Bossman in the corner.
#20 Al Snow during his short lived “head-less” heel push, I think it lasted about a month. Road Dogg ELIMINATES the British Bulldog. Edge choke-boots Al Snow in the corner he then high crossbodys the Bossman. #21 Val Venis comes in and attacks Test. Funaki, alone (Taka is on his way to the hospital) runs down again and gets tossed again. That allows another replay on Taka’s earlier elimination to the amusement of Jerry Lawler. Road Dogg employs his usual Rumble strategy of holding onto the bottom rope via death grip. Edge and Val get Al Snow over the top but not out; #22 Prince Albert shouts his way down. Edge charges at Al Snow and Val Venis and gets backdropped (ELIMINATED) out. Albert works over Bossman and then Baldo Bombs Crash Holly. Val Venis has Al Snow over the top again as #23 Hardcore Holly comes down. Now the superheavyweight Holly cousins are in there together; he beats down Test in the corner. Al Snow almost tosses Crash as the Bossman is stomping on Road Dogg in the corner. #24 The Rock finally arrives to wake the Garden up. Rocky goes for and ELIMINATES the Bossman. Al Snow attacks him from behind; Val catches up to the Rock, along with Test try to toss the Rock. Hardcore Holly then tries to toss the Rock. Test powerbombs Crash. #25 Billy “Mr. Ass” Gunn heads out and works on the Rock for “killing” his third (stalled) singles push. Crash works on the Rock, idiot; one DDT later and Crash Holly is ELIMINATED. I guess the Rock is winning because he got by Crash Holly and Headbanger Mosh. Al Snow works over the Rock; Prince Albert takes his place. Here is #26 Big Show the only “credible” threat to the Rock. Show comes in and immediately ELIMINATES Test and then ELIMINATES Gangrel. Show begins to dominate everyone in the ring with head-butts. Big Show press-slams Holly and knocks down future tag partner Prince Albert. Here is #27 Bradshaw, the Mean Street Posse reappears; Bradshaw dispatches them quickly but that allows Road Dogg and Billy Gunn to ELIMINATE him from behind. Faarooq resurfaces to help Bradshaw destroy the Posse in the aisle. Al Snow works over the Rock; Albert uses wrist tape to choke Val Venis. Bid Show swats away a Road Dogg dropkick. #28 Kane comes down with “first girlfriend” Tori and ELIMINATES Val Venis via choke toss. The Rock attacks Kane. Everyone battles as the Rock upends Holly with a clothesline. Big Show press-slams Mr. Ass as #29 Godfather comes down. Kane ELIMINATES Prince Albert and Funaki comes back again and Al Snow tosses him this time. Kane flings Al Snow across the ring. The final entrant is #30 X-Pac because Triple H basically gave him the number. Al Snow ELIMINATES former J.O.B. Squad stablemate Hardcore Holly. Big Show ELIMIATES the Godfather; Rock spinebusters Al Snow and ELIMINATES him putting the final stamp on their brief rivalry. Billy Gunn ELIMINATES the Road Dogg from behind. Every man for himself! Kane then uppercuts Billy Gunn over the top, ELIMINATING him. The final four for the 2000 Royal Rumble are; Kane, Big Show, X-Pac and the Rock. The Outlaws drag Kane to the floor (under the bottom rope) and beat him up. The Rock avoids a spin kick and tosses X-Pac. The referees are busy so X-Pac sneaks back in à la Steve Austin from the ’97 Rumble (full review, click here). Rock works over Big Show; Kane finally dispatches the Outlaws and rolls back in. Kane and X-Pac brawl; history there as X-Pac and Kane were a team but when DX reformed, Kane got kicked to the curb. Show whips Rock into a Kane boot. Kane goozles Show as X-Pac spin kicks Rock. Show goozles Kane and Kane counters into the slow enziguri. Show does not go down so Kane bodyslams him. Impressive. X-Pac sneaks up on Kane and spin kicks him out, ELIMINATING him. X-Pac Bronco Busters Big Show but that pisses him off so he press-slams X-Pac out, ELIMINATING him. It is down to Rock and Show (duh). Rock spinebusters the Big Show and drops the People’s Elbow to a huge ovation. Big Show comes back with a Showstopper chokeslam. Big Show Oklahomas the Rock and when he goes to throw him over Rock momentums him out and holds the top rope ELIMINATING the Big Show. The Rock wins the 2000 Royal Rumble. Post-match the Rock grabs the microphone and says “finally, the Rock is goin’ to WrestleMania”. The Big Show returns and tosses the Rock over the top and spoils his celebration. 4.5/10 Entertaining yet obvious Royal Rumble. Rock would actually touch both feet on the floor first setting up the No Way Out PPV and one part of the fatal four-way at WrestleMania 2000 (full review, click here).
Post-Rumble, in the back, the Rock hits all of his catchphrases discussing the Big Show and going to WrestleMania. He says, “the Rock says this…” about thirty times.
OVERALL 7.5/10 Good show the WWF Title match was a classic the Rumble was entertaining as the People’s Choice won and everything else (except the tag title match) was entertaining. The Miss Rumble thing was okay until the end but at the sacrifice of the tag title match; those girls have nice asses and all but I watch wrestling for wrestling action. Jericho won his first “official” title in the WWF on this show and was off and running. Tazz’s debut was great despite him becoming more famous for the term “rocketbustah”. Fun good show that I wish I went to.
