WWE Judgment Day 2000 Review

It’s time for WWE Judgment Day featuring a WWE Title match that saw The Rock defending the gold against Triple H in a 60-Minute Iron Man Match with Shawn Michaels as the referee. There was also a huge surprise return in the main event of this show as well.

Judgment Day did pretty well in terms of PPV buyrates with 420,000 buys. That’s the most for any Judgment Day show ever. The number looks bad compared to the previous month’s Backlash, which did an impressive 675,000 buys, but that was also boosted by Steve Austin making an appearance and fans thinking The Rock would finally beat Triple H for the WWE Title, which he did thanks to Austin.

The original poster for the show featured Kane even though he wasn’t even in a match. They released those posters months in advance. Here’s the VHS/DVD cover.

WWE Judgment Day 2000
May 21, 2000
Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky

This show has a TV-14 rating and a “V” for Violence on WWE Network.

The opening video package highlighted things that happened in one hour like a heart beating 7,320 times in an hour, for example. It was a way to hype up The Rock vs. Triple H for one hour in the Iron Man Match main event. Good stuff.

The pyro went off in the arena and the crowd was very loud in Louisville. There were signs everywhere, as usual. Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler were the announcers.

There was a shot of Vince McMahon and the McMahon-Helmsley Faction in the locker room with Vince giving everybody a pep talk. Gerald Brisco had the Hardcore Title around his waist. Vince made Brisco get them coffee. Vince hyped everybody up.

There was a shot of Brisco getting attacked by the Headbangers in a hallway with a referee chasing them because Brisco is the Hardcore Champion that was defending he title 24/7 per Hardcore Title rules. Brisco managed to get away.

Shawn Michaels was shown walking backstage with a referee shirt because he’s the referee for the main event.

Kurt Angle started off with a promo saying that ever since he’s been teaming up with Edge & Christian he’s been getting more attention from teenage girls. Word on the street is Angle is “all that.” Angle had a word for the teenage girls that he said was like a nursery rhyme: “Don’t be like the people here shacking up with different guys, be clean, be pure, be abstinent and follow my three I’s.” The fans booed.

Edge and Christian made their entrance as the WWE Tag Team Champions. They had bags with them and they entered the ring with tag team partner Kurt Angle.

Christian said it’s great to be back there in the Bluegrass State and especially in front of all their great fans in Louisville (he said it wrong on purpose “Louis-ville” to piss off the crowd), which led to boos. Christian said before they issue a wicked beating, they have a special treat for all of us. Edge said for the benefit of those with flash photography, here is their brand new pose. He said it is called the Jug Band. Edge had a banjo and they made fun of the Kentucky heritage. Edge had a hilarious face that I’ll include below.

Analysis: That was funny. I enjoyed Edge, Christian and Angle together quite a bit.

The trio of Rikishi, Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty made their entrance to a huge pop. The crowd loved these guys.

Kurt Angle, Edge and Christian vs. Rikishi and Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay)

Pre-match notes: Angle, Edge and Christian were heels. E&C were the Tag Team Champions as well. Rikishi and Too Cool were the faces.

The Too Cool group hit corner splashes on the three heels and Rikishi wanted to splash Angle, but Kurt was saved by his buddies. Sexay sent Edge to the turnbuckle followed by a missile dropkick. Scotty tagged in with a double team head whip into the mat followed by a double elbow drop. Scotty ran over Christian with a shoulder tackle and a suplex followed by the Scotty moonwalk that drew a good pop. They did a spot where Edge tried to get involved, so Sexay crotched him on the top rope and sent him into the turnbuckle. Too Cool with a double clothesline on Christian and a drop toe hold send Edge into Christian’s groin. The fans chanted “Rikishi” for the big man. Sexay did his dancing routine and his pants fell down to show his underwear and Scotty laughed at it. Rikishi tagged in against Christian with punches by the big man and he brought Angle into the ring. Angle’s sunset flip attempt didn’t work, but he managed to avoid Rikishi’s splash attempt. Rikishi tagged Scott in and Scotty hit the bulldog on Christian to tease The Worm attempt, but Angle hit a clothesline to knock down Scotty. Angle and Scotty exchanged punches. This crowd was loud as they chanted “Angle sucks.” Angle hit a suplex on Scotty for a two count. The crowd was standing and cheering, which was awesome to see. Scotty hit a stun gun that sent Christian into the top rope and that led to Scotty making the hot tag to Rikishi against Edge. Rikishi cleaned house with punches, a headbutt to Edge, he whipped all three heels against the turnbuckle and Rikishi hit a running splash on the three heels. Rikishi did the Stinkface to Angle, which led to a massive pop from the crowd. Edge sent Sexay out of the ring. Christian and Angle hit a double DDT on Rikishi, but Rikishi no sold it (Samoans have hard heads), clothesline on Christian and Angle, which led to Edge hitting a Spear on Rikishi. Scotty hit the bulldog on Edge. The fans went crazy as Scotty did the W-O-R-M on Edge with a chop to the chest. Sexay with a superkick on Angle and Scotty with a chop on Angle. Christian went into the ring with the ring bell and he hit Rikishi with it. The ref didn’t count because Christian was brawling with Scotty in the ring. Sexay jumped off the top with a leg drop on Edge’s head. Rikishi rolled over to cover Edge, referee Teddy Long counted two, Angle hit Rikishi in the back and Long kept counting to three…so that was it. Rikishi’s team wins at 9:46.

Winners by pinfall: Rikishi and Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay)

Analysis: *** That was a pretty good match with a hot crowd although the finish seemed off a bit. I’m not sure who was at fault there. When watching it back a couple of times, I think Angle probably should have been there a half second earlier or maybe Long should have counted slower. Anyway, it was still an entertaining match that the crowd loved it and they were really into it. It made sense for Rikishi and Too Cool to win as the face team in the opening match.

Post match, Rikishi and Too Cool did their dancing celebration that they loved to do.

Shawn Michaels was interviewed backstage by Michael Cole. Michaels was asked by Cole if he’s going to favor Triple H and if he doesn’t like The Rock because he’s jealous of his success. Michaels had a good line about if it’s on the internet then it’s got to be true. Michaels said that was enough of this interview and left.

They showed a clip of Eddie Guerrero and Chyna arriving at the arena earlier today. Dean Malenko walked up to them telling Chyna to stay out of their business. Perry Saturn told Malenko he’s going to be the guy to win the match.

The entrances took place for the European Championship triple threat match with champion Eddie Guerrero up first with Chyna, then Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko.

European Championship: Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna) vs. Perry Saturn vs. Dean Malenko

Pre-match notes: Eddie was the face champion although he still did heelish things. Saturn and Malenko were heels. Malenko was the Light Heavyweight Champion, but that title wasn’t on the line. They were all members of the Radicals.

Saturn and Malenko double teamed Guerrero to start the match. Malenko held Guerrero over his leg as Saturn went up top and hit a knee drop to the chest of Guerrero. Saturn with an elbow on Guerrero and Saturn hit Malenko with a clothesline. Malenko with a jumping side kick to the face. Saturn with a slam on Malenko followed by a Gorilla Press Slam on Guerrero. Eddie came back with a low blow kick on both guys that the ref didn’t see. Guerrero with a jumping side kick on Saturn and a hurricanrana off the top on Malenko. Guerrero with a hurricanrana on Saturn too. Malenko with a spinning slam on Guerrero got a two count as Saturn broke up the pin. Guerrero hit a Tornado DDT out of the corner for a two count on Saturn. Malenko with a sitout Powerbomb on Guerrero for a two count. Malenko with a clothesline on Saturn. They battled by the turnbuckle, Saturn sent Guerrero into the ropes and hit a belly to belly suplex. Malenko was on the top, which was rare for him and he slammed Saturn down. Guerrero went after Malenko with Dean hitting a Gutbuster knee to the ribs. Saturn kicked Malenko out of the ring. Saturn up top and he hit a Frog Splash for a two count with Malenko breaking it up. Saturn slapped the Texas Cloverleaf on Malenko, but Guerrero came back with a brainbuster on Saturn. Malenko slapped the Rings of Saturn on Saturn and Guerrero broke that up with a low dropkick. They were stealing finishers although the announcers didn’t pick up on it that well. Guerrero sent Saturn over the top to the floor. Malenko with a belly to back suplex on Guerrero. Malenko up top and he hit an ugly splash on Saturn. Dean did not do top rope moves often. They did a spot where there was a double belly to back suplex at the same time. Saturn rolled to the floor where Chyna hit him with a bouquet of flowers, which are the loaded flowers that had a lead pipe in them. Guerrero tried a sunset flip on Malenko, Chyna was on the apron, Malenko blocked the flower attack and Dean bumped into the flowers that were in the ring. Eddie did the La Magistral cradle on Malenko for the pinfall win at 7:59.

Winner by pinfall: Eddie Guerrero

Analysis: ***1/4 It was a fast-paced triple threat match that was very good although the crowd wasn’t into it that much. That’s probably because Eddie was barely a face while the other two heels didn’t have much personality. Anyway, the work was still awesome and finish was okay. These days in WWE, a triple threat match is a no DQ, but they didn’t specify that here.

Post match, Eddie and Chyna revealed the lead pipe was in the flowers again. JR: “Mamacita (Chyna) has done it again.”

They showed highlights from Smackdown with Gerald Brisco beating a sleeping Crash Holly to win the Hardcore Title.

Brisco was shown in the bathroom and when he saw his own reflection in a mirror, he was startled by it. He punched the mirror like a dumbass.

There was a video package for Big Show vs. Shane McMahon, which showed their split leading to this match.

Shane McMahon entered first alone with Show’s “Big Nasty Bastard” written on the front of his shirt and “Which Way Did He Go?” on the back. Big Show got a nice pop from the crowd as he walked down to the ring looking confident.

No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere Match: Shane McMahon vs. Big Show

Pre-match notes: Shane was the heel and Big Show was the face.

Shane jumped over the top onto Show, but Show caught him and drove Shane back first into the ring post. Show gave Shane a body slam on the bottom half of the steel steps. Show gave Shane a Gorilla Press Slam over the top rope back into the ring. Show with a clothesline followed by a kick to the head. Big Boss Man went into the ring and hit Show in the back of the leg with the nightstick. Show came back with two headbutts. Show gave Boss Man a Powerbomb. Test and Albert joined the fun with steel chairs in their hands. Show knocked the chairs out of their hands with punches. Trish even went into the ring and she hit a low blow punch to Show. Show picked up Trish and tossed her over the top rope onto Test and Albert on the floor. Cool spot. Show ran over Test and Albert with clothesline. Shane crawled on the floor over to the entrance. Show launched Shane back first into part of the steel set. Shane kicked Show in the face while Show had a piece of steel grating in his hands. Test and Albert got back into it with punches for Show. Shane rolled an anvil case into Show to knock him down. Show came back with headbutts for Shane, Test and Albert. Show whipped Albert and Test into the steel set. Shane tried to climb up to get away from Show, but Bull Buchanan hit Show in the back with a nightstick.

Buchanan attacked Show repeatedly with the nightstick to put him down. Shane shoved over a speaker box (that’s what JR called it) onto Show’s legs, which were around a lot of cables to make it softer over there. Buchanan sat on top of the speaker box while Shane got a cinderblock. Shane hit Show in the head with a cinderblock and Shane covered Show for the pinfall win at 7:12.

Winner by pinfall: Shane McMahon

Analysis: **1/4 It was an entertaining brawl where they made the most of their time. Shane bumped his ass off to make Show look like a badass, but in the end, the cheating Shane got the win. I had mentioned in the weeks leading up to this that WWE management was clearly high on Buchanan and wanted to push him, so it was no surprise that he was the difference maker to help Shane win this match. Show did the job, but he was also attacked by four guys in addition to Shane, so he was protected in defeat.

Post match, Show was helped to the back by producers and referees while Show was favoring his left knee. Show was shown being helped into the ambulance.

Analysis: He had a torn meniscus that needed surgery, so that’s why they did the knee injury angle. Show came back after about two months.

Gerald Brisco walked into the Officials dressing room where Chad Patton and Jack Doan were seated there. Brisco asked if he could just hang out back there with them. Brisco looked like he fell asleep, so the referees looked like they were going to attack him. Brisco woke up to yell at them for trying to attack him, so Brisco left the room.

Triple H and Shawn Michaels were shown sitting on chairs backstage talking about life. Hunter asked Shawn if he was really going to wear those shorts, Shawn said yeah he loves those shorts and Hunter told Shawn he looked like he was smuggling bananas in those shorts. Good line.

A video package aired about Chris Benoit defending the Intercontinental Title against Chris Jericho in a Submission Match.

Chris Jericho entered first to a big pop. Chris Benoit was booed as he walked out there with the Intercontinental Championship.

Submission Match for the Intercontinental Championship: Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho

Pre-match notes: Benoit was the heel IC Champion and Jericho was the face challenger that was also the former champion.

Jericho was aggressive early with a bulldog followed by hard chops against the turnbuckle. Jericho took down Benoit going for an armbar, but Benoit got out of it and they battled over a Tombstone attempt with Benoit hitting a shoulderbreaker with Jericho’s shoulder going into Benoit’s knee. Benoit went up top and hit a headbutt on Jericho. They battled over a couple of submissions, Jericho with an elbow to send Benoit to the apron and Jericho hit a springboard dropkick on Benoit on the apron. Val Venis was shown watching backstage because he faces the winner on Raw. They left the ring where Benoit whipped Jericho into the steel steps. Jericho drove Benoit knee first into the steel steps. Benoit’s left knee had a brace on it. Back in the ring, Jericho with a backbreaker and he went for a cover because he is probably used to doing that. No pins in this match. Jericho and Benoit had a chop fest. Jericho charged, Benoit moved and Jericho went shoulder first into the steel ring post. Benoit tried to expose the metal bolt on the top turnbuckle. Benoit whipped Jericho’s shoulder into the exposed steel two times and Benoit slapped on an armbar, which Jericho got out of with an arm drag. Snap suplex by Benoit. Body slam and a knee drop by Benoit followed by a lefty clothesline. Benoit with an armbar leading to Jericho getting to the ropes while Hardcore Holly was shown watching on a TV backstage.

Jericho with a flapjack followed by a move where he slammed Benoit’s left knee into the mat. Jericho with a leg whip takedown. Jericho took the knee brace off Benoit’s left leg. Jericho used the brace to attack the left knee of Benoit. Jericho with a forearm to the head using the knee brace as a weapon. Benoit kicked Jericho in the head, but Jericho came back with a dropkick to the knee. Jericho connected with a Lionsault. Jericho gave Benoit the Walls of Jericho against the ring ropes. That was very unique and it drew a big pop from the crowd as referee Tim White asked if Benoit gave up. Benoit came back kicks to the head to break free. Benoit got back into it with two German Suplexes. Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho, so Benoit got a hold of the knee brace and hit Jericho in the head with it. That led to Benoit slapping on the Crippler Crossface on the left arm/shoulder of Jericho. Jericho tried to fight it, but Benoit pulled back on the Crossface and Jericho passed out in the hold, so referee Tim White called for the bell at 13:27.

Winner by submission: Chris Benoit

Analysis: **** That was a very good submission match. They are not easy to do, but it was easy to watch this one and they kept going for their submission finishers in order to build up to the finish. Benoit worked over the arm the entire match, which set up the ending of the match well. Jericho also worked on the knee as well. Good wrestling psychology like that helps make a match more enjoyable. The use of the knee brace was smart too because Jericho used it as a weapon and it also led to Benoit getting the advantage after he hit Jericho in the head with it.

After the match, Benoit held onto the hold for about 10 seconds more until another referee ran out to make him break it up. Benoit celebrated with the IC Title while Jericho was out in the ring. The announcers kept making the point that Jericho didn’t tap out, he passed out.

Jericho got back to his feet and they played his music with the fans cheering him for his effort.

A commercial aired for King of the Ring 2000 on June 25th.

They showed an earlier tonight clip with the Headbangers attacking Gerald Brisco while Brisco had a tray of coffee.

Brisco was interviewed by Cole backstage. Two servers with trays of drinks showed up behind Brisco and they got referee Jimmy Korderas. Brisco said he’s been a nervous wreck. Brisco went after the vendors, he punched and kicked them and left.

The Rock was shown backstage with Shawn Michaels with Rock telling Michaels he better call the Iron Man Match right down the middle. Rock said if Michaels doesn’t call it down the middle, it’ll be between Rock and Michaels and it won’t take 60 minutes. Michaels did not look impressed.

The Degeneration X group of Road Dogg, X-Pac and Tori made their entrance. Road Dogg did his babyface intro full of catchphrases even though DX were the heels. They replayed the spot where Tori gave Bubba a splash through a table on Raw. The Dudley Boyz got a nice pop from the crowd as they set up a table in the aisle.

Tag Team Tables Match: Degeneration X (Road Dogg & X-Pac) w/Tori vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley)

Pre-match notes: DX were the heels and the Dudleys were the face. The first team to put both opponents through tables are the winners of the match. There were several tables up against the barricade.

There are tags in this match as D-Von started with Dogg with a flying back elbow. D-Von came back with a shoulder tackle on X-Pac. Bubba tagged in, X-Pac decked him with a spin kick to the face and Bubba prevented X-Pac from getting a table. Bubba with a boot to the face followed by a clothesline off the middle ropes. D-Von hit the headbutt to the groin of X-Pac and Dogg while the referee was distracted both times. If the referee wasn’t distracted, would there be a DQ? Probably not. The DX guys tried to leave, so the Dudleys chased after them and brought them back to ringside. Back in the ring, X-Pac and Dogg double teamed D-Von against the ropes. X-Pac with the Bronco Buster on D-Von. They did the spot where Bubba got the hot tag, but the referee didn’t see it, which pissed off the fans. A spin kick connected for X-Pac. D-Von with a double clothesline on X-Pac and Dogg at the same time. Bubba was on fire with a Full Nelson Slam on Dogg, a Samoan Drop on X-Pac and the Dudleys brought tables in the ring. The Dudleys set up tables against the turnbuckle. Dogg whipped D-Von into the steel steps. Dogg picked up D-Von and gave him a Pumphandle Slam through a table.

Bubba worked over Dogg with punches. X-Pac stomped away on D-Von even though he was already put through a table. X-Pac teased putting D-Von through another table. Bubba pulled down X-Pac by the hair. Bubba grabbed X-Pac, who jumped into his arms as if he was going for a hurricanrana that was never going to happen and gave him a Powerbomb through a table.

That meant that Bubba or Dogg needed to go through a table to end the match. Dogg and Bubba exchanged punches, referee Mike Chioda tried to break it up for some reason and Bubba and Dogg and put referee Mike Chioda through a table with a double hip toss, which barely broke the table. Brisco went down to the ring. The Dudleys put Dogg through the table with a 3D, but the referee never saw it. Brisco pulled Dogg out of the ring. Tori went into the ring, she tried to attack Bubba, but Bubba grabbed her. The Dudleys set up Tori for a table spot, but Brisco punched Bubba to save Tori. X-Pac hit an X-Factor off the top on Bubba to put him through the table. Brisco woke up referee Mike Chioda, who saw Bubba through the table and that gave the win to DX at 10:55. The crowd booed the DX win.

Winners: Degeneration X

Analysis: **1/2 It was okay for a gimmick match. It wasn’t as good as the Dudleys/Hardys Tables match at Royal Rumble 2000 earlier in the year. I think it would have been better if they didn’t have tags and did more of a Tornado Rules Tables Match. After the tables were brought into the ring, the tag team rules were forgotten anyway, so why have tags in the first place? The referee missing the first table spot was a way to screw over the Dudleys to set up a rematch at King of the Ring one month later. It also allowed them to continue to tease Bubba putting Tori through a table.

Degeneration X celebrated the win. JR: “The Dudleys just got screwed.” Yep.

Post match, Gerald Brisco went into the ring and did some crotch chops to the fallen Bubba. D-Von attacked Brisco from behind. The Dudleys set up a table in the ring and they gave Brisco a 3D through the table. JR said if you think this issue between the Dudleys and DX is over then you’re wrong, which again told the viewer it’s going to continue.

Analysis: That was a simple way to make the fans happy after the Dudleys were screwed.

There was a video with the three girls in white dresses singing a song. The announcers wondered what that was and what it meant when the girls said, “his judgment day is coming.”

The video package aired for the 60-Minute Iron Man Match between The Rock and Triple H for the WWE Title with Shawn Michaels as the referee. Great video hyping up a big match.

Shawn Michaels entered first as the referee of the match with the fans giving him a big ovation.

Triple H was up next looking like he was in the best shape in his career. Later in the decade, I thought he was too bulky at times. I think this was his best look and his best year. Hunter was also very tanned. He was joined by Women’s Champion Stephanie McMahon-Hemsley, Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon.

Triple H did a promo telling Vince, Shane and Stephanie he wanted them to go to the back. Hunter said he’s going to make history on a whole lot of levels and he’ll do it himself. Vince questioned him about it and Hunter said he’s sure because he wants to do it in front of the people by himself.

The Rock entered with the WWE Championship in his hands and he got a massive pop as usual. Rock did his posing in the ring. The crowd was really into this.

Analysis: I was excited about this match when it happened because a 60-Minute match was so rare. I remember thinking Rock was likely going to retain because he just won the title three weeks earlier at Backlash.

WWE Championship Match in a 60-Minute Iron Man Match: The Rock vs. Triple H (Shawn Michaels is the Special Referee)

Pre-match notes: The Rock was the babyface WWE Champion while Triple H was the heel that was the former champion.

Rock and Hunter went nose-to-nose trash talking as the match began with the crowd screaming for them. They spent about one minute just doing basic locking up. Rock grabbed a headlock, Hunter grabbed a wrist lock and Rock went back to that side headlock. Rock with two shoulder tackles, then a rollup for two and Hunter bailed to the floor. Hunter took about one minute to get back into the ring. It’s not like there was a strict count. Rock punched Hunter leading to Hunter bailing to the floor again. After Rock grabbed another headlock, Hunter got some momentum with a clothesline. Hunter slapped on an armbar to kill about one minute followed by an armbar takedown. Another armbar by Hunter. Rock came back with punches, Hunter with a kick to the face and Rock hit a Rock Bottom for the pinfall at 10:42.

Rock 1-Triple H 0

There was no rest period, so Rock went after Hunter outside the ring with Michaels there to admonish them. They went brawling up the aisle to the entrance with Rock whipping Hunter into the steel grating. Hunter sent Rock face first onto the barricade. Hunter continued to follow them out of the ring. Hunter missed a knee attack when Rock moved, so Hunter’s knee hit the barricade. Back in the ring, Rock with a suplex for a two count. Rock whipped Hunter’s left knee into the ring post two times. Rock sent Hunter’s left knee into the steel steps. Rock with a clothesline. Rock slapped on the Figure Four Leglock on Triple H. Good move after Rock worked over the knee for a few minutes. Hunter was in the move for over a minute when he finally turned it over and then they went tumbling into the ropes. They left the ring with Hunter hitting a clothesline. Hunter dumped Rock over the barricade with about 40 minutes to go. They went brawling into the crowd with Michaels joining them. Hunter hit a back body drop on Rock to send them back to ringside. Back in the ring, Hunter hit a suplex followed by an elbow drop. They battled on the mat with Hunter forcing Rock’s shoulders down for several nearfalls. Hunter sent Rock out of the ring and when Hunter went after him, Rock whipped Hunter knee first into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Rock drove his right leg into the back of Hunter’s left knee. Rock wrenched on the left knee of Hunter. Rock with a kneebreaker. Rock went for a Figure Four Leglock again, but Hunter kicked him into the ring post and when Rock bounced off of that, Hunter hit a Pedigree for the pinfall at 25:27.

Rock 1-Triple H 1

Hunter followed up with a choke. Rock whipped Hunter into the ropes and Hunter grabbed an inside cradle for a pinfall at 26:28

Triple H 2-Rock 1

When Rock got back up, he connected with some punches, but Hunter pulled Rock out of the ring. They went up the aisle again with Michaels following them. Rock whipped Hunter into the steel that was part of the set and he connected with a clothesline. Hunter hit a suplex on the floor.

They were both down for about one minute. Rock stumbled towards the ring first. When Hunter caught up, Rock gave him a belly to back suplex on the floor. They passed the 30-minute mark at this point. They were still battling on the floor with Rock hitting a back body drop on the floor. Michaels didn’t count both of them out because there was no reason to do a double countout since it would have no effect on the score as Lawler said. Hunter with a facebuster to the knee and Hunter hit a piledriver for the pinfall at 32:34. Lawler put over the piledriver as a great move since that was his finisher.

Triple H 3-Rock 1

Hunter was still in control until Rock came back with a clothesline. Hunter knocked him down again with a back elbow to the face. Hunter went up top, so Rock gave him an arm drag off the top to bring him to the middle of the ring. Rock worked over Hunter with punches. Rock with La Magistral cradle for a two count. Hunter came back with the high knee to the face for a two count. Hunter slapped on the sleeper hold. That lasted about two minutes although it more like a weak chinlock by the end of it. Hunter tried to cheat using the ropes, so Hunter kicked him off. Hunter argued with Michaels, so Rock got back up and hit a belly to belly side suplex. Rock went for the floatover DDT, he slipped a bit and then hit a regular DDT for the pinfall at 40:35.

Triple H 3-Rock 2

Rock brought Hunter out of the ring and sent him into the ring bell. Hunter sent Rock into the table as well. Hunter grabbed a chair and tried to hit Rock with it, but Michaels took the chair away. Rock whipped Hunter shoulder first into the steel steps. Rock hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Rock sent Hunter in the ring, Hunter with a kick to the ribs and Hunter had the chair. Hunter hit Rock in the head with the chair on purpose, so Michaels called for the DQ at 43:44.

Triple H 3-Rock 3

Moments later, Hunter rolled up Rock with his feet on the ropes (Michaels never saw it), Shawn counted the pin and Hunter got the pinfall at 44:07.

Triple H 4-Rock 3

Rock was bleeding from the forehead after doing a blade job due to the chair shot. It was not a lot of blood. Lawler put over Triple H for being brilliant with the DQ leading to a pin. Hunter slapped on the sleeper hold again. After about one minute, Hunter took Rock to the ground and Rock managed to fight back with punches. Hunter went to the sleeper again, he took Rock down to the mat and Rock’s hand went up and down three times to give Hunter that fall by submission at 47:27.

Triple H 5-Rock 3

Michaels grabbed Hunter by the hair to make him break the sleeper hold. Hunter shoved him, so Shawn shoved back. They shoved eachother a few times. Rock fired up with punches followed by a whip into the corner with Rock bumping over the top to the floor. Hunter took out a camera guy when he bumped to the floor. There were ten minutes left. Hunter went up top, Rock tripped him up to crotch him on the top rope and Rock hit a superplex with Rock on the middle ropes while Hunter was on the top. That drew a big pop leading to a slow two count because the guys were exhausted.

Rock with punches followed by a clothesline that sent Hunter over the top to the floor. Rock followed Hunter on the floor and gave Hunter a catapult into the steel ring post. Hunter whipped Rock shoulder first into the steel steps. Hunter cleared off the English announce table. Hunter brought Rock over to the table. Hunter teased a Rock Bottom through the table, but Rock countered with a Pedigree through the table! The crowd was screaming as Hunter’s head hit the table. The table did not break. Rock crawled back in the ring and Michaels counted Hunter out of the ring, so Hunter was counted out. Hunter came up bleeding too. That countout fall was at 56:06.

Triple H 5-Rock 4

That was the cue for Vince, Shane and Stephanie to walk down to ringside. After a brief break, Michaels counted Triple H out again, but Hunter got back in before the ten count. Back in the ring, Rock hit a clothesline on Hunter and a DDT. Rock punched Shane and Vince when they were on the apron. Rock with a spinebuster on Hunter. Rock with a People’s Elbow to a huge ovation from the crowd and Rock covered for the pinfall at 58:02.

Triple H 5-Rock 5

Shane McMahon pulled Michaels out of the ring, so Michaels punched him and Michaels punched Vince too. Road Dogg and X-Pac were in the ring. Rock punched Dogg. Michaels was on the apron, so Rock was whipped into Shawn to cause Shawn to bump into the barricade. Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Triple H even though X-Pac was right there watching it. The heels worked together to attack Rock with stomps.

That led to a video playing featuring those three little girls singing their nursery rhymes. They said somebody came back from the dead: “He’s here!” While that was going on, Shane hit Rock with a chair to the head. Meanwhile, in the aisle, The Undertaker was back on a motorcycle. New look for him.

Undertaker entered with the crowd going crazy. Hunter hit Rock with a Pedigree on the chairs. Undertaker kicked the DX guys down, he gave Shane a Chokeslam and the fans were on their feet screaming! It was a wild scene. Undertaker decked Vince with one punch. Undertaker with a Chokeslam to X-Pac and punch to Road Dogg. Stephanie went in the ring, Taker grabbed her by the throat, Hunter saved his wife and Undertaker gave Hunter a Chokeslam just as Michaels got back on the apron to see it. That was with about two seconds left.

Michaels got back in the ring, Undertaker hit Hunter with a Tombstone and while that was happening, the buzzer went off in what should have been the end of the match. Keep in mind that they said no overtimes on TV leading up to this. Michaels called for the bell after the 60 minute mark, so it was officially ended at 60:08. Anyway, that’s a disqualification fall for Hunter and against Rock, so Hunter won the WWE Title because of Undertaker.

Triple H 6-Rock 5

Winner by a score of 6 to 5 and New WWE Champion: Triple H

Analysis: ****1/2 I really liked this match a lot. It’s not easy going for an hour with 11 falls in a match, but I was very entertained by it. The finish was messed up, which is what people are going to remember the most. The timing was off with it, so that hurts the match a bit. I just liked the way falls were done with a mix of pinfalls, submissions, countout and disqualifications. I liked the story of Triple H intentionally getting disqualified to weaken Rock, which led to more falls from Hunter. It was also cool to see how Rock came back and the crowd came alive as he tried getting the win as the babyface champion. As for The Undertaker’s return, I had no idea it was coming and I was reading about the WWE on the internet at the time. I remember that was he was set to return soon, but seeing him here was a surprise. My favorite Iron Man Match in WWE history is probably Angle/Lesnar from Smackdown in September 2003, but this one and Michaels/Hart at WrestleMania 12 are great too. They are all different kinds of matches as well.

The bell rang repeatedly as Undertaker left. Michaels went over to ring announcer Howard Finkel to explain what happened.

The official announcement: “As a result of a disqualification due to outside interference, the winner of the fall Triple H and the winner of the match and NEW World Wrestling Federation Champion…Triple H.” Michaels put the title on Hunter and he left.

Rock was pissed off. Michaels went up the aisle with Undertaker walking after him.

Triple H left his buddies and the WWE Title was in their hands. Vince did some maniacal laughing as the show went off the air.

Analysis: It was another cheap ending to a Triple H WWE Title match just like WrestleMania (Hunter won) and Backlash (Rock won).

Judgment Day 2000 had a run time of 2:46:25 on WWE Network.

Five Stars of the Show

1. The Rock

2. Triple H

3. Chris Jericho

Final Thoughts

I rate this show an 8.5 out of 10.

This was a great show with awesome matches all night long. The main event is outstanding, I liked Jericho/Benoit a lot, the opener was a lot of fun, the Euro Title three-way was good and even the two other matches that had the lowest star ratings were still very entertaining to me. Judgment Day 2000 holds up very well.

I thought Triple H and Rock did an outstanding job in the main event going 60 minutes long in an Ironman match that had 11 total falls. It’s not easy doing a 60-minute match, but it was very entertaining the whole way. What most people are going to remember is that the ending was botched a bit because The Undertaker’s appearance led to them going past 60 minutes, but I think that can be forgiven due to all the chaos at ringside. What I didn’t like is that there was another WWE Title change at this PPV just like the one before it and the one after it. That was too many. Other than that, this was a tremendous Ironman match by Hunter, Rock and everybody else that was involved.

The story of the night was another strong showing by the heel McMahon-Helmsley Faction because Hunter, Shane and DX all won their matches. None of the wins were clean, but they were all wins, so the dominant heel stable continued their winning ways.

Many years ago, on another website I don’t want to put over today, I wrote a ranking of the 20 best WWF/E PPVs ever. This one made that list as did Backlash 2000 three weeks earlier, which I reviewed here and Royal Rumble 2000 in January. Those were the three best PPVs in WWE in 2000.

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That’s all for me. Check out the full list of my WWE PPV Review archive right here. Thanks for reading.

John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com