TJR Retro: WWF Raw Deal 02/21/00 Review
This was the last episode of Raw before the February 2000 PPV called No Way Out. As I’ve mentioned in the past, the matches they were building up to were the WWF Championship match with Triple H defending the title against Cactus Jack, who was putting his career on the line. The other big match was The Rock vs. Big Show while the New Age Outlaws were set to defend the Tag Team Titles against The Dudleys, which was interesting since they were both heel teams.
It was a huge Raw because it was in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front of 30,000+ fans.
Check out our WWF TV in 2000 archives in case you missed anything from earlier in the year. Let’s get to it.
WWF Raw #352
February 14, 2000
From the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia
This show has a TV-14 and the dreaded “S” for Sexual Content on WWE Network. No “V” for Violence this week, kids.
A replay aired from the previous Smackdown showing everything involving the DX Express where DX targeted their face enemies in matches while taking them away on a bus. It ended with The Rock hitting Big Show with a 2×4 wood to the head.
The DX Express was shown driving up to the stadium in Atlanta. The Degeneration X group of Triple H, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, X-Pac and Tori walked out. Hunter told the driver to not go anywhere because you never know when a WWE superstar will take a ride in the DX Express.
The awesome Raw intro video aired. The pyro went off in the stadium with a massive crowd at the Georgia Dome. The commentary team was Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler as usual. JR announced 28,614 people in the crowd. I’m shocked they didn’t announce something over 30,000 people.
Let’s Hear From Degeneration X
The Degeneration X group Triple H, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, X-Pac and Tori entered the ring to the DX song for the usual promo that usually begins these shows.
Stephanie McMahon started with a promo as the fans booed her while some chanted “slut” at her as well. When she said “please listen” they booed her, so she told them to shut up. Stephanie ripped on Kane, Paul Bearer and Cactus Jack being left alone due to the DX Express. Hunter called the fans “toothless morons.” The Rock’s music interrupted leading to Rock standing at the top of the stage for a promo.
The fans greeted Rock with huge “Rocky” chants as he began the promo in the typical way doing his “Finally The Rock has come back to Atlanta” bit to huge cheers. Rock said they seemed to have developed a pattern where Triple H runs his mouth, grab a microphone and say this…that led to a classic Rock impression of Triple H. Rock: “Tonight…uh…I am the Game…uh…and in this very ring…uh…I’m going to be talking…uh…and saying absolutely nothing…uh.” The fans were cheering loudly. Rock is so great. Rock told them that they ABSOLUTELY suck. Rock said it will be a special night, but it won’t be a DX night because the thought of another DX night makes Rock want to spew the people’s vomit all over their candy asses.
Hunter commented Rock on the “pajama top” rock shirt he was wearing that had Rock’s logo on it. Hunter did a fake laugh about Rock’s comedy. Hunter said that if he says it’s a DX night then it will be and tonight will be that. Hunter noted that since it’s four of them against just The Rock…but here comes Cactus Jack.
Cactus Jack entered to a thunderous ovation. Jack said that they left him stranded in the middle of the road last Thursday night, but not stranded for very long. Jack said that he’s been hitchhiking around this country since he was 17 years old and unlike Hunter, America does not hate his guts. Jack said that a driver named “Big Earl” picked him up and told him a couple of stories about what he will do to Triple H at Hell in a Cell at No Way Out. Jack said that he’s going to head up to the top of Hell in a Cell and he told Big Earl what Hunter’s face would be like when he comes down on Hunter. Jack said that they picked up two more figures to pick up a couple of more passengers…it’s Kane and Paul Bearer.
Kane walked out with Paul Bearer to join Rock and Jack at the bottom of the ramp.
Cactus Jack said that a big six man tag team match sounds like a lot of fun, but then he suggested that they give the people of Atlanta taste of what they can see later.
The trio of Jack, Kane and Rock went into the ring to brawl with DX. Big Show ran out there with a steel chair and hit Kane in the head with the chair. Show hit Rock with the chair as well with Rock using his hand to block it. Hunter finished off Jack with a Pedigree in the ring. Hunter posed over Jack with the WWF Title in his hands. Hunter posed with the title leading to a break.
Analysis: That was a typical very good opening promo with Rock bringing the comedy, Cactus Jack bringing the intensity and a brawl to set up a big six man tag team match for later.
(Commercial)
Chyna entered first for a tag team match. Chris Jericho, the Intercontinental Champion, did a pre-match promo spouting his usual catchphrases with the fan chanting along with him. JR said “over 30,000 fans on hand” even though he gave a smaller number about 20 minutes earlier. People in wrestling lie? Shocking! Jericho didn’t say much in the promo. It was just catchphrases.
Kurt Angle, the European Champion, was out there with the British Bulldog as his partner. Angle said that nothing good has happened in Atlanta since he won the gold medal at the Olympics in 1996. Angle complained about the fans liking foul mouthed hooligans like Chris Jericho. Angle commented on hitting Chyna with the European Title on Smackdown last week. Angle claimed that Chyna would try to sell his belt for even more plastic surgery.
Analysis: Angle promos were so great from this era.
Kurt Angle and “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith vs. Chris Jericho and Chyna
Pre-match notes: Angle and Smith were the heels while Jericho and Chyna were the faces.
Jericho with an armdrag followed by a backbreaker on Bulldog early on. Chyna tagged in with punches on Smith and then she hit him with a low blow that the referee didn’t see. Bulldog with a back body drop on Jericho, who was the now the legal man, that sent Jericho over the top to the floor. Angle missed a corner charge, Jericho with a bulldog and Jericho hit a Lionsault for two with Bulldog breaking up the pin. Chyna hit a handspring elbow on Angle against the turnbuckle. Jericho shoved Bulldog into the turnbuckle and Jericho slapped on the Walls of Jericho on Bulldog, who was not the legal man. Angle hit Chyna with a clothesline. Angle back in the ring with the IC Title while the referee was looking at Chyna and Angle hit the Olympic Slam (I think it was the first time JR called it that) on Jericho for the pinfall win at 2:48.
Winners by pinfall: Kurt Angle and “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith
Analysis: *1/2 A solid match even though it was short. I thought the finish was creative even though the ref being distracted by Chyna when she was just standing on the apron was pretty silly. She wasn’t legal, so she was in the right spot. I know it was done to set up the Angle belt shot, but I thought they could have booked it better.
The Too Cool boys Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty checked on their buddy Rikishi in the trainer’s room. Rikishi was getting his ankle taped up and told them not to worry about him.
(Commercial)
A replay aired of Angle cheating to pin Jericho.
The team of Al Snow and Steve Blackman had a strategy session before their match. Snow said that Too Cool is so over because they can dance, so Snow gave Blackman some glasses with yellow shade like cheese – remember the Head Cheese name. Snow suggested a new theme song, did a bad dance and Blackman was not thrilled about it.
Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) vs. Al Snow and Steve Blackman
Pre-match notes: Too Cool were the faces while Snow and Blackman were heels that were becoming faces.
Too Cool was in control early as Scotty hit a bulldog on Snow followed the WORM into a chop to the face. Blackman kicked Sexay, then Snow held Sexay and Blackman hit another kick on Sexay. Snow with an atomic drop on Sexay and Blackman in with a double team suplex. The Radicals group was shown watching backstage since they face Too Cool and Rikishi at No Way Out. Blackman with a backbreaker leading to “Headcheese” chants from the crowd that led to Blackman getting mad about it. Sexay with a drop toe hold that sent Blackman into the turnbuckle. Scotty back in against Blackman as Sexay hit a cross body to take Snow out of the ring. Blackman hit a tilt-a-whirl slam. Snow sent Sexay into the steps. Snow wanted Blackman to do the moonwalk, so Blackman did it to a mild pop. Scotty capitalized with a rollup into a bridging pin (so it was not the ROLLUP OF DEATH~!) for the pinfall win at 3:11.
Winners by pinfall: Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty)
Analysis: ** Fun match for the time given. It was smart for Too Cool to get the win since they were in the PPV match at No Way Out while Snow and Blackman were still having some issues as a duo.
The Godfather and D-Lo Brown were backstage checking out the girls because they are out next.
(Commercial)
The Godfather and D-Lo Brown entered to a big ovation. They had about a dozen ho’s with them with Lawler getting excited about it. Godfather did his pre-match promo where he determined that there were a lot of pimps in the house. Who knew?
The Godfather and D-Lo Brown vs. Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko
Pre-match notes: Godfather and Brown were the faces while Malenko and Saturn were the heels.
Brown hit Saturn with a face first slam into the mat followed by a back body drop and a dropkick. Saturn came back with an overhead suplex. Malenko tagged in, he got a sunset flip for two and Godfather tagged in. Godfather with a slam, Brown with a splash and Godfather with a leg drop. Godfather with the running splash attempt on Malenko against the turnbuckle, but Saturn tackled Godfather to stop him. Malenko with a jumping kick to the face of Godfather. Malenko with two boots to the face and Godfather hit a powerslam. Brown got the tag with a running kick to Malenko’s face and Brown hit a spinebuster on Saturn. Brown with a body slam and leg drop on Malenko for two. Malenko tripped up Brown, he went for a Texas Cloverleaf, Godfather kicked Malenko out of the ring and Saturn jumped off the top rope with an elbow drop onto Brown for the pinfall win at 3:40. Saturn was not the legal man, but the referee counted it anyway.
Winners by pinfall: Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko
Analysis: *1/2 The match was okay, but the finish was bad with the referee losing track of things and allowing the wrong guy to make the pin. That happened too often in this era while WWE is a lot better at stopping it in today’s wrestling. Saturn and Malenko won since they had a PPV match while Godfather and Brown did not.
The New Age Outlaws and Dudley Boyz were shown backstage talking because they were in tag team action next. Billy Gunn told them that they will lead and Bubba Ray Dudley told them to try to keep up with them.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of the DX Express bus in the parking lot.
The four tag teams made their entrances for the eight man tag team match.
Edge & Christian and The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn)
Pre-match notes: Edge and Christian and The Hardys were the faces that were set to have a tag team match at No Way Out. The Dudleys and Outlaws were both heel teams. They were in a Tag Team Title match at No Way Out.
Billy Gunn attacked Christian with a microphone to the head before he could do the “suck it” with the crowd. Cheap attack. Gunn with a belly to back suplex on Christian. Dogg went into the ring to try an attack, but Christian hit a reverse DDT on Gunn and hit a dropkick on Dogg. Matt and Christian hit a double team hip toss on D-Von for a two count. Matt with a neckbreaker on D-Von for two. Jeff hit a leaping foot attack on D-Von and then the Hardys hit a double team suplex on Bubba. Jeff with a punch on D-Von, Jeff up top, D-Von distracted the referee and Dogg tossed Jeff off the top to the floor. Bubba launched Jeff into the barricade. That led to Jeff becoming the face in peril with Dogg hitting a knee drop on Jeff in the ring. Gunn slapped on a chinlock on Jeff followed by an elbow to the face. Jeff ran the ropes, Gunn tossed him out of the ring under the bottom rope leading to a hard landing by Jeff right by a cameraman. Bubba with a hard chop to Jeff’s chest followed by a back body drop. D-Von went up top and connected with a headbutt to the groin of Jeff with the ref not seeing it. Jeff tried an attack off the middle rope, but D-Von decked Jeff with a clothesline. Bubba tagged in with a stiff Powerbomb on Jeff. The Outlaws were in there with Jeff, but they had no success because Jeff hit a jumping DDT that spiked Bubba and Dogg at the same time. Edge tagged in with a Spear on Dogg and a Spear on Gunn leading to a two count as Bubba made the save. That led to a brawl with everybody getting involved. Gunn hit a Jackhammer slam on Edge as Matt hit a moonsault on both Dudleys on the floor. Christian went for a cross body block, but D-Von moved and Christian hit Matt by accident. D-Von pulled Dogg out of the ring. Gunn hit a Fameasser on Edge. Bubba into the ring and he hit Gunn in the head with a chair. Dogg tripped up Bubba. Jeff up top and he hit a Senton (later known as Swanton) Bomb on Gunn. Jeff covered even though he wasn’t legal, but referee Earl Hebner still counted. As Hebner counted, Hardy was pulled off of Gunn by Christian and as you can see in the picture below, Hebner still hit his hand to the mat for a third time even though there was nobody pinning Gunn at that moment. Edge ended up going to Gunn to cover him since Edge was legal, but the bell had already rang by that point.
Winners by pinfall: Edge & Christian and The Hardy Boyz
The match was over as Hebner said something to the ring announcer and timekeeper. All four teams argued with eachother since they were in matches at No Way Out.
Analysis: **3/4 That was a really good tag team match that was longer than a typical match on Raw in this era. The finish was bad, though, so I can’t go three stars for it even though the work in the match was nearly at that level. I’m glad they got nearly ten minutes in order to let everybody get in the ring and tell an entertaining story. I don’t know who screwed up the finish, but my guess is that it was Hebner for counting Jeff’s cover and not even noticing that Jeff was removed from the ring. Hebner should have waited to let Edge make the cover.
Replays were shown of the finish. The Outlaws held up their titles as the show went to break.
(Commercial)
The APA made their entrance with a clip from Smackdown showing Mae Young wanting them to save Mark Henry, so that’s what the APA did because Mae paid them. The Holly cousins entered with Viscera as their partner.
The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) and Mark Henry vs. Hardcore Holly, Crash Holly and Viscera
Pre-match notes: The Acolytes and Henry were the faces while the Hollys and Viscera were heels.
It turned into a brawl immediately with the Acolytes hitting a double team shoulder tackle on Viscera. Viscera came back with a clothesline and belly to belly suplex on Bradshaw. Crash tagged in with Bradshaw hitting a fallaway slam on him. Hardcore tagged in against Faarooq with Faarooq hitting a powerslam for two. Hardcore with a dropkick, Faarooq popped right up and hit a clothesline to knock him down. Henry tagged in, Crash hit a cheap punch to the back of the head and Hardcore hit a clothesline. Viscera back in with knees to the ribs of Henry followed by a corner splash by Viscera on Henry. A splash by Viscera missed as Henry moved out of the way. Bradshaw tagged in against Crash with a boot to the face. Bradshaw hit a belly to back suplex off the top on Crash leading to a delayed cover for two with Hardcore breaking up the pin. The Acolytes hit a double team Powerbomb on Crash and Faarooq covered Crash even though Bradshaw was the legal man in the match. It went 3:17.
Winners by pinfall: The Acolytes (Bradshaw and Faarooq) and Mark Henry
Analysis: 1/2* Bad match that was boring for most of it and the finish was sloppy with the wrong guy making the pin. The crowd was dead for this. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but it was just a bad match.
Post match, the Acolytes left. Mae Young went down to the ring to kick Crash. Hardcore decked the “pregnant” Mae with a clothesline leading to huge boos. Viscera followed up with a running splash on Mae leading to the crowd booing that. The referee called for help. Henry got back in the ring as EMTs went into the ring to check on Mae.
Analysis: It got some heat for the heels since they attacked an elderly pregnant woman. Yes, it’s weird to write a sentence like that lol.
(Commercial)
Replays aired of the Viscera splash on Mae from before the break.
There was a clip of Mae getting taken on a stretcher and put in an ambulance. Mae Young and Mark Henry went with her in the ambulance although it didn’t actually leave.
Chris Benoit vs. Test
Pre-match notes: Benoit was the heel and Test was the face. They gave up on Test as a face soon after this, but he was still a face at this point.
Test was aggressive with punches as the match began. Benoit whipped down Test with a dragon screw leg whip. Test came back with a Powerbomb for a two count. JR noted that Test had a nose and back injury. Benoit came back with two German suplexes, Test blocked a third and hit an atomic drop followed by a boot to the face. Eddie Guerrero went down to ringside with his left arm in a sling and a wrench in his hand. Test picked up Benoit, Eddie pulled Benoit down and Eddie hit Test with a wrench to the back. The ref was there and didn’t see it apparently. Benoit hit a belly to back suplex. Benoit up top and he hit a top rope headbutt for the pinfall win at 2:30.
Winner by pinfall: Chris Benoit
Analysis: * It was another match on this show where the referee was booked to be an idiot because he didn’t do anything even with interference right in front of him. Anyway, it was just a quick match. There wasn’t much to it.
The Rock, Cactus Jack and Kane with Paul Bearer were shown talking in the locker room.
(Commercial)
Rikishi made his way down to the ring with a crutch under his left arm and his left leg taped up after he was attacked by the Radicals on Smackdown last Thursday.
Eddie Guerrero walked out with his left arm in a sling along with a wrench. Eddie wondered what happened to Rikishi’s leg and then mocked his weight. Eddie that since it is a no disqualification match and Rikishi’s dream is to be on Dance Fever, Eddie will show him a new step.
No Disqualification Match: Rikishi Phatu vs. Eddie Guerrero
The bell rang, Rikishi hit Eddie with his steel crutch and Rikishi hit a Banzai Drop. Rikishi was moving around fine, so it showed he wasn’t hurt that much.
Winner by pinfall: Rikishi Phatu
Analysis: No point in rating it because it was an angle more than a match.
The trio of Benoit, Saturn and Malenko went down to the ring to attack Rikishi. The Too Cool team of Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty made the save with crutches. Rikishi cleared house with crutches. Rikishi hit a Rikishi Driver on Saturn as well as the Too Cool music hit. Rikishi and Too Cool did their dance routine to end it.
Analysis: It was a good angle to further things in the rivalry between Too Cool and the Radicals leading to a six-man tag at No Way Out six days away.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of the DX Express in the parking lot.
Cactus Jack was interviewed in the locker room by Michael Cole. Jack said that what concerns him and what obsesses him is the look on Triple H’s face…he made Cole lay down. Jack stood up with his hand in the air while asking Cole if it’s fun to be there. Jack said that he can’t get the thought out of his mind of dropping an elbow off the cell onto Triple H. Jack said that he had to win or he’ll never wrestle again…well, that’s not true. Jack said that the one thing he’s never done is headline WrestleMania, so at Hell in a Cell it’s going to be one of the things he does.
Analysis: Great intensity from Jack as usual.
Tazz and Big Boss Man were shown separately getting ready for their match.
(Commercial)
The DX guys and Big Show were at the DX Express bus teasing something would happen.
Tazz vs. Big Boss Man
Pre-match notes: Tazz was the face that was only in the WWF for about one month at this point while Boss Man was the heel.
Tazz worked over Boss Man with forearm strikes to the face. Boss Man tried to throw the steel steps at Tazz, but Tazz moved and the steps missed. Back in the ring, Boss Man with a splash against the turnbuckle. Tazz came back with a running clothesline, a double axe to the head and Tazz slapped on the Tazzmission submission. Boss Man grabbed his nightstick and he hit Tazz in the head with it, so the ref called for the DQ at 1:26.
Winner by disqualification: Tazz
Pre-match notes: 3/4* A quick match, which isn’t a bad thing because the action was bad.
Post match, Prince Albert ran down to the ring to save Boss Man. Albert put Tazz on his shoulders and hit a neckbreaker to give the heels the advantage. They celebrated.
Analysis: That match and post match felt so rushed.
The DX Express was shown in the parking lot again.
(Commercial)
Big Show was the first man to be introduced for the main event. He was booed. The team of WWF Champion Triple H with Stephanie McMahon and X-Pac with Tori made their entrance for the main event. The ladies were looking good.
Kane was up first for the face side with his daddy Paul Bearer with him. Cactus Jack was up next to a pretty good pop. The Rock was last and he got a thunderous ovation as always.
Big Show, Triple H and X-Pac (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Tori) vs. The Rock, Kane and Cactus Jack
Pre-match notes: I don’t think I need to tell you for this one, but the heels were Show, Triple H and X-Pac while Rock, Kane and Jack were the faces.
Rock hit Show with a clothesline that sent him out of the ring. Jack and Hunter fought outside the ring with Jack sending Hunter’s face into the announce table. Rock sent Show’s face into the announce table. Rock crushed Show with the ring bell to the head. Kane hit a double clothesline on X-Pac and Hunter in the ring, which led to the match settling down to a regular tag team match. Kane with a running clothesline on Hunter, but Hunter came back with an elbow to the face. Kane hit a sidewalk slam on Hunter followed by punches for X-Pac and Show. Rock tagged in against Hunter wit the crowd going crazy. Rock with a running clothesline on Hunter. Hunter with a kick to the gut, Rock fought back and hit a catapult that sent Hunter face first into the top turnbuckle followed by a Russian legsweep by Rock for two. Jack unloaded on Hunter with punches followed by a bite to the forehead. Hunter broke free and tagged in X-Pac leading to Jack hitting a clothesline. Jack with a baseball slide dropkick that sent X-Pac out of the ring. Jack whipped X-Pac into Hunter, so Show made the save for his partners with a headbutt. Back in the ring, Hunter stomped away on Jack, he punched and choked him as well. Show worked over Jack with punches and chops. Jack came back with a punch to the head, Show had Cactus on his back and Show turned it into a sidewalk slam. Show missed an elbow drop because Jack moved. Rock tagged in and he took down Show after three clothesline. Hunter and X-Pac each bumped over the top to the floor after Rock punches. Rock with a spinebuster. Rock tossed off the elbow pad and set up for the People’s Elbow, but Triple H pulled down the top rope. Hunter sent Rock into the steel steps. Crafty heel move right there. Hunter tagged in leading to a suplex for a two count. Hunter up top, so Rock pulled him down by grabbing the arm. Jack got the hot tag with punches on Hunter, plus a punch for X_Pac and Jack hit a low blow on Show that the ref saw and did nothing about it. Jack hit a double arm DDT on Hunter for a two count with X-Pac making the save. Jack sent X-Pac into the steel steps. Jack brought a fire extinguisher into the ring. Show punched Jack to knock the extinguisher out of the ring. Kane jumped off the top with a clothesline for Big Show. Kane tossed X-Pac out of the ring and they went brawling to the back. Rock punched Show out of the ring, so they left up the ramp. Stephanie distracted the referee, so Hunter hit Jack in the face with a fire extinguisher leading to a pinfall win at 9:01. The main camera missed it, so they replayed the finish.
Winners by pinfall: Big Show, Triple H and X-Pac
Analysis: ***1/2 That was a very entertaining main event match full of action. Even though it was under ten minutes, they told an incredible story with multiple guys working as the face in peril and building up the hot tags very well. It also was effective in terms of setting up three of the big matches at No Way Out. I thought the finish could have been booked better, but otherwise it was well done with Hunter scoring the cheap win due to the dreaded fire extinguisher shot to Jack’s head.
The action continued outside the ring as Rock attacked Show and Kane attacked X-Pac over by the side of the ramp. There were storage boxes around them. Jack got back into the fight by helping his fellow faces. Jack hit Hunter in the head with a trash can. Stephanie hit Jack in the head with a trash can lid, Jack no sold it and stared her down as Hunter saved Stephanie. The DX group ran away and went over to their DX Express bus. Jack ended up getting some cart with a long pole at the end of it and sent it right into the front glass of the DX Express bus as you can see below.
The driver was in the bus with Hunter and Stephanie as the driver backed out of there and drove away with Jack at them.
Analysis: It was a typical ending for a Raw in that era with a chaotic situation ending the broadcast. The bad part about it is that the camera completely forgot about the other guys that were fighting in the arena and left the focus on Hunter’s rivalry with Jack. I understand why they did it since that’s the No Way Out main event, but it makes the other guys fight seem like it didn’t matter at all.
This episode had a run time of 1:35:02 on WWE Network.
Three Stars of the Show
- Triple H
- The Rock
- Cactus Jack
The Scoreboard
This Raw episode gets a 6 out of 10.
What stood out about this show is six of the nine matches were tag team matches. It felt repetitive seeing that many tags on the same show. Thankfully the main event was really good and saved this show from going off the rails too much.
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I’ll be back on Thursday with the Smackdown review for the same week.
Thanks for reading. My contact info is below. Go Los Angeles Rams.
John Canton
Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter @johnreport