TJR Retro: WWF Smackdown 01/20/00 Review

This was the last edition of Smackdown heading into the 2000 Royal Rumble, so this show was used to set up all of the matches on the card.

Check out our WWF in 2000 content here. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport if you’re not doing so already and let’s get started.

WWF Smackdown #22
January 20, 2000 (Taped January 18)
From the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island

This show earned a TV-PG and “V” for Violence. Sorry S for “Sexual Content” but you didn’t make the cut this week.

The show began with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg and X-Pac in the office. Triple H said that they since they did such a great job on Monday Night on Raw, the Outlaws get the name off. Triple H put X-Pac in a match with Test with the winner getting #30 in the Royal Rumble. Triple H said no Cactus Jack since he’s got a family illness. Stephanie said they’ll make this a night to remember.

The Smackdown intro video aired followed by a huge pyro display in the arena. The announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.

Let’s Hear from Big Show

The Big Show made his entrance in a jacket, jeans, his t-shirt and a winter hat. The announcers talked about Show’s issues with The Rock after Rock called him a jabroni.

The fans chanted “Rocky” before Show could say anything. Show said that he should probably come out there and apologize for not being what the people want. He said he should apologize for not being something that he can’t be and for being something he never will be. Fans chanted “asshole” at him. Show said he’ll never be The Rock. Show said that the people boo him, yet he shook their hands in restaurants and kissed their babies. Show said the reason why nobody likes him is because all of us can never be 7’2” and 500 pounds. Shouldn’t we be happy about not being 500 pounds? I’m just saying. Show said that it drives us nuts that we can’t be a dominant force like him while all we can do is boo because it’s not us. Fans chanted “Rocky” again. Show said Rock isn’t going to win the Rumble because he has to get past him. Show said nobody will eliminate him from the Royal Rumble. Show said that he’s going to win the Rumble, go to WrestleMania and get back his WWF Title. Show said that he hates Rocky. He wanted Rock to come out there, so he mocked a Rock catchphrase and here comes The Rock.

The Rock appeared on the stage in his street clothes that included an expensive shirt and chain. Huge ovation for Rock. Show said that The Rock can have the “damn people” that cheer for Rock.

Rock started with his “finally” bit to suck up to Providence. Rock talked about how Big Show is one of the biggest athletes in the world, then he says things like “why you are you booing me?” and Rock did it in a funny voice, so the fans chanted “Rocky” for that. Rock said that there’s a lesson to be learned because when you insult The Rock, you also insult the people. Rock said he has two choices that include taking off his $500 shirt and sit in the back to wait until Sunday to eliminate Show from the Royal Rumble. Rock noted that the second choice here on The Rock’s show Smackdown, The Rock figured he would just walk down the People’s Ramp just like this (he walked down the ramp), stop in the middle just like this, inhale the electricity from the millions of Rock’s fans, keep walking just like this and go into the ring all over Providence. There was an interruption and it was Kane with Tori.

Analysis: That was a fun promo from Rock as usual as he worked in his catchphrases and got the crowd into it like nobody else can.

Kane was on the ramp with Tori in a short black dress. Tori said that egos are certainly running amok here on Smackdown. Tori said that those two guys think they are the only ones capable of winning this year’s Royal Rumble. She said there are 28 others that think they are capable of winning, she said there can be only one winner and he is the big red machine, Kane. That led to Kane and Tori walking further down the ramp.

Analysis: Tori didn’t get to talk that much. It was not a strength of hers, but she did a decent job here with some small dialogue.

Triple H entered along with wife Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. They were in charge and Hunter was the WWF Champion as well. Fans chanted “Asshole” at Hunter, so he paused. Hunter said that those three guys are going into the Royal Rumble with the sole purpose of winning so you can get the chance to step into the ring at WrestleMania with The Game, so that they can get a shot at the WWF Championship. Hunter said he’s got news for them, fans chanted “Cactus Jack” at him and Hunter paused. Hunter said that he’ll go to WrestleMania as the WWF Champion and he’ll leave WrestleMania as the WWF Champion (he was right about that!).

Hunter said that they all seem so eager to fight, Steph and him can accommodate them. Hunter said in that very ring the three of them will compete in the first ever triple threat, Stephanie had an idea, so he said over the top rope, fans chanted “slut” at her and Hunter thought on his feet saying “don’t talk about Tori like that.” Hunter said it’s a lumberjack, so what that means is a battle royal with the lumberjacks being the guys that are also in the Royal Rumble match. Hunter said the winner of this doesn’t get a first class ticket to WrestleMania to face him.

Rock said it doesn’t matter what kind of match it is, then Big Show attacked Rock with a punch and Kane got into it with Show as they exchanged punches. Rock grabbed a steel chair from ringside. Rock hit Kane in the back with the chair and Rock hit Show in the head with the chair although Show got his left arm to block it. Rock left standing tall as the big men were out on the floor.

Analysis: It was a standard opening segment where they set up a big match for later. It is normal for WWE to only push three main guys as threats to win the Rumble, so that’s what this was here with Rock, Show and Kane as part of the segment. I thought it was fine. It accomplished what it needed to do to get people ready for the main event. It took about 18 minutes, so that’s a few minutes too long.

(Commercial)

There was a clip of the Acolytes in the Friendly Tap bar three months earlier and they got into a bar fight where they beat up two dudes. The bar is owned by Tim White, who was a referee at the time.

X-Pac vs. Test

Pre-match notes: X-Pac was the heel that was part of DX while Test was the Hardcore Champion that was a face that won that title on Raw. This is not for the Hardcore Title.

The winner of the match gets to be #30 in the Royal Rumble match.

Test shoved X-Pac down to start the match. X-Pac got in some kicks, Test with a back elbow and a clothesline that sent X-Pac out of the ring. X-Pac spit in Test’s face, so Test ran after him and X-Pac whipped him into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Test got back into it with punches and a spinning sidewalk slam for two. X-Pac with a boot to the face, so Test hit him with a boot to the face of his own. Test with a body slam. Test went up top, but Road Dogg distracted the ref and Gunn tripped up Test on the top rope. X-Pac hit the X-Factor for the pinfall win at 2:09.

Winner by pinfall: X-Pac

Analysis: * It was the most obvious booking you would expect in a match like that. Cheap win for X-Pac to give him a win. Test lost a lot of matches as a face.

X-Pac celebrated with his New Age Outlaws buddies and that led to a commercial.

(Commercial)

The DX group and Stephanie were in the office. Hunter said that X-Pac being #30 at WrestleMania that makes X-Pac the favorite and X-Pac claimed that him winning the WWF Title would be huge box office. No, it would not.

Al Snow with Head was walking with Steve Blackman. Snow said that they will be a perfect team because Blackman doesn’t have a personality or charisma. Blackman wasn’t happy with it.

Analysis: It was the start of the team that would become known as Head Cheese.

Kurt Angle entered with the British Bulldog for a tag team match. Angle said that he will face an unnamed opponent at the Royal Rumble to try to break Angle’s undefeated streak. Angle said that this country would be completely devastated if the streak ended. The fans booed. Angle said in the Olympic Games he didn’t know the names of all his opponents, but he won Olympic Gold. Angle reminded us of the three I’s, he insulted Providence and told them to stick to the three I’s to pull Providence out of its depression.

Steve Blackman made his entrance first followed by Al Snow, who had the mannequin Head with him. They plugged Radio WWF on Westwood One. That was not a successful venture.

Kurt Angle and Davey Boy Smith vs. Steve Blackman and Al Snow

Pre-match notes: All four guys were heels.

Angle hit a belly to belly suplex on Blackman. Smith tagged in with a back elbow, Snow saved Blackman from a Powerslam and Blackman hit Smith with a pump kick to the chest. Blackman went up top and hit a kick on Smith for the pinfall win at 1:12.

Winners by pinfall: Steve Blackman and Al Snow

Post match, Angle was mad at Smith for losing while Snow was happy with Blackman about their win.

Analysis: 1/2* That was so rushed. There wasn’t much to the match as they went straight to the finish way too quickly. The story is that Angle lost due to his partner, but Angle was still undefeated in singles.

A video aired about the promo from Raw where the women in the Royal Rumble swimsuit competition. They even showed the Mae Young puppy tease.

The Hardy Boyz with Terri were shown walking backstage for a match up next.

(Commercial)

A clip aired of the Dudleys destroying the Hardys on the previous Raw by hitting a Powerbomb on Jeff through Matt on the table.

Matt Hardy (w/Jeff Hardy and Terri) vs. D-Von Dudley (w/Bubba Ray Dudley)

Pre-match notes: The Hardys were the faces and the Dudleys were the heels. It was announced that the Hardys would face the Dudleys in the first ever Tag Team Tables match at the Royal Rumble.

Matt with a neckbreaker on D-Von. Matt to the middle rope and he hit an elbow drop for two. D-Von came back with a neckbreaker off the middle rope. Hardy knocked D-Von down and hit a moonsault off the top for two. Matt with a Twist of Fate, Bubba pulled Matt out of the ring and Bubba whipped Matt into the steel steps for the DQ finish at 1:42.

Winner by disqualification: Matt Hardy

Analysis: * A quick match with a cheap ending that was predictable with Bubba out there at ringside. This was more about building to the post match angle.

Post match, Bubba launched Jeff into the air and sent him crashing into the barricade. Bubba crushed Matt and Jeff with stiff chair shots to the head. Bubba punched referee Jimmy Korderas. D-Von grabbed Matt and they walked up the ramp with Bubba Ray setting up a table beside the stage. Bubba set up two tables beside eachother by the stage. Bubba got a hold of Matt on the stage. Terri pleaded with the Dudleys not to do it. Jeff showed up with a steel chair to the back of Bubba and chair to the head of D-Von. Jeff hit Bubba with a chair to the head leading to Bubba going back first through the two tables. Jeff Hardy put D-Von on another table where Bubba was and Matt hit a leg drop off the stage onto D-Von through the table. The crowd loved it. The Hardys left while Bubba was shown down on the ground with some blood on his head.

Analysis: That was an awesome post match angle that got people excited about this match at the Royal Rumble. It was all about the Hardys getting revenge on the Dudleys after the Dudleys got the advantage over them on Raw. You would think this would mean a Dudleys win at the Royal Rumble. Nope. That wasn’t the case. Did I just spoil a show that is 18 years old? I guess so. Anyway, I thought this was well done.

The New Age Outlaws showed up at the Friendly Tap bar owned by Tim White. There were some drunk guys in the bar that were excited to see them and shouted their catchphrases.

(Commercial)

Replays aired of the Hardys putting the Dudleys through the tables that were by the stage. Bubba was shown with a bloody head.

Hardcore Holly and Crash Holly argued about competition while Hardcore complained about having to team with Jericho and Chyna. They pushed eachother repeatedly with Crash bumping into Viscera, who happened to walk by. Crash challenged Viscera to a match, which Viscera accepted.

Rikishi and Too Cool entered. Chyna made her entrance with The Kat, Hardcore Holly was up next and Chris Jericho was up last with a quick promo ripping on everybody in the ring including Rikishi in a “diaper” according to Jericho.

Rikishi Phatu and Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay) vs. Chyna (w/The Kat), Hardcore Holly and Chris Jericho

Pre-match notes: Rikishi and Too Cool were faces. Chyna was a face, Holly was a tweener that was more of a face and Jericho was a heel. The IC Title match at the Royal Rumble was Jericho vs. Chyna vs. Hardcore Holly.

There was a dropkick by Hardcore Holly on Sexay and then Sexay hit a face first reverse Russian legsweep. Jericho tagged in with a forearm to Sexay, but Sexay came back with a bulldog off the second rope. Scotty tagged in and hit the W-O-R-M leading to the chop. Jericho came back with a running forearm and a backbreaker. Jericho with a body slam. Jericho went for the Lionsault, but Scotty got his knees up to break. Rikishi tagged in with a Samoan Drop on Jericho and a Samoan Drop on Holly too. Jericho went after Rikishi, so all six wrestlers battled in the ring. Chyna hit Sexay with a low blow punch while Holly hit a back drop on Scotty to send him over the top to the floor. The three teammates all stomped away on Rikishi, so the referee called for the DQ finish at 2:32.

Winners by disqualification: Rikishi Phatu and Too Cool

Analysis: *1/2 It was another wild match with a lot of craziness where everybody got their shit a bit and then it broke down from there since the Jericho team could not get along.

Post match, Hardcore clotheslined Chyna. Rikishi hit superkicks on Jericho and Holly. Rikishi hit a belly to belly suplex on Chyna. Jericho had a steel chair, it looked like he could save Chyna, but he hit Holly in the head with the chair instead. Rikishi hit a Banzai Drop on Chyna. Jericho left with the IC Title.

Analysis: That was a post match angle to show that Jericho had no interest in working with Chyna even though he could have saved her. Holly took a nasty chair shot from Jericho. Rikishi was made to look strong going into the Rumble where he had a big role in that match.

The New Age Outlaws were in the bar with the patrons talking about how The Acolytes beat them the last time they were there. Road Dogg said that they can take care of the Acolytes. The bartender said that the Acolytes are very tough and they beat up all of them in the bar, so Gunn asked him what he meant. Gunn grabbed the bartender and tossed him out of the bar. Dogg noted that he thinks he cut his thumb on a beer bottle. The Acolytes were shown watching that on a monitor. Bradshaw said that Faarooq looks thirsty, so they said they should go for a couple of drinks.

Analysis: It set up the bar fight that WWE loved to do any time they were in Providence in this era. Poor Tim White’s bar.

(Commercial)

Big Boss Man made his entrance. Prince Albert did a promo saying that Boss Man was his mentor that taught him a lot about the business. Albert said that Boss Man taught him that there’s no such thing as cheating unless you get caught. Albert said that the student will teach Boss Man how to take an ass kicking.

Big Boss Man vs. Prince Albert

Pre-match notes: They were both heels. Boss Man was the mentor of Albert, they had a falling out and now they had to settle it.

Albert took control with a shoulder tackle. Boss Man bailed to the floor, he pulled Albert out of the ring and Albert kicked Boss Man into the announce table. Albert drove Boss Man back first into the ring post. Boss Man got back into it with punches, a clothesline and Boss Man yelled at some fans. Albert whipped Boss Man into the turnbuckle followed by a splash. The announcers talked about Triple H vs. Cactus Jack. Albert with a slingshot that sent Boss Man throat first into the middle ropes. Both guys shoved the referee as they fought on the floor. It went 2:03.

Match Result: Double disqualification

Analysis: 1/2* Boring match from the moment it began. I didn’t really care much about this story. It went nowhere.

The fight continued with Boss Man giving Albert a back body drop over the barricade into the crowd. Boss Man hit Albert with a chair to the back. The fight was broken up by referees.

Analysis: The brawl was boring just like the match.

(Commercial)

A replay aired of the opening segment leading to a Rock brawl with Big Show and Kane.

The Rock was interviewed by Lilian Garcia in the backstage area. Rock said that they had a statuesque retard who you can’t understand and then, on the other hand, you had Kane. That was funny. Rock said they do not have what The Rock has like the Rock Bottom, the People’s Eyebrow and the People’s Elbow. Rock said that they will never have all of Rock’s fans chanting his name, which led to the “Rocky” chants. Rock ended it with “if you smell what The Rock is cooking.”

Analysis: That was about as basic as it gets for The Rock in terms of a promo. It was still very good, but not as funny as he does all the time.

Viscera made his entrance as the “mood is about the change” video aired with the orange and black. That was for the debut of Tazz. Crash Holly made his entrance.

Viscera vs. Crash Holly

Pre-match notes: Both guys were heels although Crash was cheered a bit because he had an interesting underdog gimmick.

Viscera easily tossed Crash over the top to the floor in a preview of the Royal Rumble. Crash tried a running attack, but he ran into Viscera’s chest and Viscera hit a spinning heel kick. The announcers talked about how tough it will be to eliminate Viscera. Running splash in the corner missed for Viscera and Crash with a dropkick. Crash with a DDT off the ropes for that looked pretty good for a two count. Crash up top with a missile dropkick. Crash up top again, Viscera caught him and hit a Samoan Drop. Viscera missed a running splash. Crash jumped on Viscera’s back and Viscera hit a Powerbomb. Viscera hit a splash for the pinfall win at 2:37.

Winner by pinfall: Viscera

Analysis: * The result was no surprise with Viscera getting the easy win. It was their way of trying to make people think Viscera was a threat to win the Rumble because he’s a big guy. I was a bit surprised that it went more than two minutes. At least Crash got in some offense.

The update on Steve Austin was that his surgery went well earlier in the week and he would be back later in the year.

Edge was shown getting ready backstage.

(Commercial)

There was a plug for Halftime Heat on January 30 at Super Bowl halftime.

Edge vs. Gangrel (w/Luna)

Pre-match notes: Edge was the face while Gangrel was a heel that was married to Luna. It was announced that Edge was a judge in the Royal Rumble swimsuit competition.

Gangrel opened up on Edge with punches. Edge came back with a back body drop followed by a kick to the face. Edge went for a neckbreaker, Gangrel fought out of it and Edge hit a side Russian legsweep for a two count. Edge wanted a Spear on Gangrel, but Gangrel left the ring. Edge jumped over the top to take out Gangrel on the floor. Luna went up to Edge and she told him to do something. Edge said no. The other women from the Royal Rumble swimsuit competition like Ivory, Jackie, BB, The Kat, Terri and even Mae Young tried to sweet talk Edge. Young even jumped on Edge and was comically kissing Edge. While that was going on, the referee counted Edge and it reached ten, so Gangrel won by countout at 2:13.

Winner by countout: Gangrel

Analysis: -* Awful. I’m going negative star for that. I guess it was done to promote the women’s swimsuit contest, but it wasn’t even successful in terms of making people care about that. Bad storyline for Edge to be a part of.

Post match, the women went up to Edge to try to get his attention. They replayed Mae kissing Edge.

Bradshaw and Faarooq showed up to the Friendly Tap bar. As they entered, everybody else in the bar left although the New Age Outlaws were visible in the background.

(Commercial)

The lumberjacks were shown walking towards the ring.

Back to the bar, Bradshaw and Faarooq realized the New Age Outlaws were still in the bar. There were a few other guys in the bar with them. The fight started with Farooq tossing some guys into some arcade games that were there. Bradshaw beat up another guy. The New Age Outlaws left the bar to avoid the attack. JBL threw a bar stool at a Boston Red Sox logo and that was it.

Analysis: It was a segment done to set up the New Age Outlaws vs. Acolytes at the Royal Rumble. At least it’s different than a typical pro wrestling segment to build to a match.

Kane made his entrance for the main event with the lovely Tori. Big Show was up next. The Rock was last and he got a thunderous ovation as usual.

Triple Threat Over The Top Rope Lumberjack Match: The Rock vs. Kane vs. Big Show

Pre-match notes: The Rock was a face, Kane was a face and Big Show was a heel.

It turned into a slugfest early with Kane connecting with punches on both guys. Rock hit a DDT on Kane. Rock with a sequence of punches that rocked Show by the ropes. Show came back with a leaping double clothesline on both guys. Kane with an enziguri kick on Show and Rock slammed Show face first into the mat. Kane with a boot to the face of Rock. Show got back into it with a powerslam on Kane. Show nearly tossed Rock out, but Rock held on and Rock hit two clotheslines on Show while Kane went up top with a clothesline on Rock. Kane wanted a Tombstone on Rock, but Rock countered with a Russian legsweep. Show went over to Rock, blocked a Rock Bottom attempt and Show tossed Rock over the top to the floor. That was an impressive bump by Rock. Show hit a Chokeslam on Kane. Rock went back in and hit a Rock Bottom on Show. Kane with a clothesline that sent Rock over the top to the floor to eliminate Rock twice. Show charged at Kane and Kane hit a back body drop on Show to eliminate him.

Winner: Kane

Analysis: **1/4 It was an entertaining battle royal style match with Rock getting eliminated twice, which paints the idea that maybe he wasn’t one of the favorites going into the Rumble since he was eliminated so easily. The bump Rock took on the first elimination was impressive. Kane dumping out Big Show the way he did was also a smart bump. It made sense to have Kane win since he wasn’t going to win the Royal Rumble, but by giving him this victory you knew the announcers could talk about Kane being a big threat to win since he did so well in this match.

Post match, Big Boss Man attack Kane from behind with the nightstick. Everybody else went into the ring as Kane was sent out of the ring, so there was no more Rock, Show or Kane in the picture. The fans chanted “Rocky” as everybody brawled in the ring with the show going to break.

Analysis: It was yet another reminder of how popular The Rock was since he wasn’t even in the ring at that point, yet people were chanting his name.

(Commercial)

Triple H and Stephanie were backstage with X-Pac saying they would see X-Pac at the Rumble where X-Pac is #30 in the Rumble. X-Pac was shown leaving the arena.

A replay aired of Kane winning the battle royal.

There were more than ten minutes of show left, so it’s time for a Triple H promo with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. Triple H had the WWF Championship with him. He faces Cactus Jack for the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble.

Let’s Hear from Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley

Triple H said that when thinks about the Royal Rumble, he thinks about Rumbles in the past. He brought up last year’s Rumble as fans chanted “Asshole” at him. He said that last year at the Royal Rumble, two best friends beat the hell out of eachother and he showed a clip of The Rock hitting Mankind (Mick Foley) with about a dozen unprotected chair shots while Mankind was handcuffed. They weren’t “best friends” in the storyline at the time. Triple H said that in the front row sat Mick Foley’s wife and two small children. Hunter said that Dewey and Nicole (actually it’s Noelle) were crying their eyes out. Now Dewey works for WWE. Anyway, Hunter said that while the kids were crying their eyes out while Foley was bloodied by his best friend, they cried because they realized that their father was a loser and a failure. The fans booed that. Hunter warned Cactus Jack to not bring his children to New York City and Madison Square Garden. Hunter suggested that Jack not let his kids watch the Royal Rumble at all. Hunter yelled about how he will take it to a level that even Jack has never been to before. Hunter said that he will bloody him worse than he has been beaten in his life. Hunter said the kids were there in the front row crying then he knows that he will love every second of it and he will revel in every drop of blood coming from your head. Hunter said that every tear that drops from their little eyes, he will love it.

Cactus Jack made his entrance even though Triple H said he wasn’t there earlier in the show. Heels lie!

Jack stood on the ramp for a promo. Jack said that his son is 7 and his daughter is 6. Jack mentioned that his kids suffered enough last year, so they will not be at the Royal Rumble and they will not be watching at home on television. Jack said that they do not have to worry about what will happen to him, but he’s talking about what he is going to do to Triple H. Jack said he didn’t want their innocent eyes to realize how violent their dad can be and look at the bloodshed that will surely take place. Jack said that he didn’t want his kids to realize that their dear sweet dad was loving it. Jack put over Hunter as being The Game and the best in the business right now. Jack said that he’s going to show up in Madison Square Garden with a few surprises while saying he’s not talking about a garbage can, a street sign or a chair. Jack said he was talking about sharp, metallic objects. Jack spoke about how MSG was the building he hitchhiked to as a kid and dreamed of wrestling there. Meanwhile, I was distracted by this fan holding up the “Fat Dave is a Virgin” sign that is right there in the middle of the screen. I’ll post it for you.

Jack said that his children won’t be on hand or glued to the TV set, but they are watching Smackdown right now. Jack said he didn’t want to deprive them of a little bit of action. Jack said that he’s going to give the world, a six-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy just a little taste of what to expect in a Street Fight at Madison Square Garden.

Jack and Hunter brawled outside the ring with Jack sending Hunter face first into the steel steps. Jack with repeated punches to the head. Jack went for a chair shot, Hunter moved and Jack prevented Hunter from leaving. Hunter sent Jack face first into the announce table followed by a stiff chair shot to the back. They cleared off the announce table. The monitors were not cleared off. Jack hit a low blow punch. Jack hit a pulling piledriver onto the announce table, which did not break. Stephanie was stunned at ringside. Jack picked up a steel chair and hit Jack in the head with it. Hunter got a hand up to block it, but Hunter was bleeding from the mouth. Stephanie checked on her husband. Jack celebrated his successful attack and that ended the show.

Analysis: It was a very good promo segment from Triple H and Jack. Hunter showed a lot of confidence, he promised a violent match and then when Jack showed up, he promised the same thing. Both men let us know that there was going to be a lot of violence and blood along with a fight all over the arena. The brawl they had only lasted a couple of minutes, but I think it was a nice way of teasing what was going to happen at the Royal Rumble. Jack got the upper hand here, which would suggest that Triple H would go over at the Royal Rumble. It was smart to end it with Jack getting the upper hand as the challenger wanting to prove himself.

This episode had a run time of 1:33:16 on WWE Network.

Three Stars of the Show

1. The Rock
2. Triple H
3. Cactus Jack

The Scoreboard

This episode gets a 4 out of 10.

It was a bad show for the most part. I thought the Hardys segment was really good, the main event triple threat match was fine in terms of getting people for the Rumble and it was another good segment from Triple H and Jack to get people excited about their match.

Look at the match times for the eight matches on this show: 2:09, 1:12, 1:42, 2:32, 2:03, 2:37, 2:13 and 4:09. Three matches ended in disqualification while another ended in a countout. It felt like the matches were an afterthought because there was always something else going on right after the matches. The format did change a bit as the year went on, but early in 2000 they still had too many short matches.

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That’s all for now. The next WWF 2000 review will be the Royal Rumble 2000 review this weekend and then the January 24, 2000 episode of Raw goes up on Monday.

Please let me know what you think of these reviews and feel free to offer any suggestions too. Thanks for reading.

John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com

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