TJR Retro: WWF Smackdown 02/17/00 Review (The DX Express Arrives)
The WWF was on the road to No Way Out 2000 with the key matches at that show being Triple H vs. Cactus Jack for the WWF Title, The Rock vs. Big Show and the New Age Outlaws defending the WWF Tag Team Titles against The Dudley Boyz. No Way Out was Feb. 27, 2000 so I have another week of Raw and SD after this one and then that PPV review will go up on Sunday, October 28. Maybe the Saturday if I have it ready.
Check out our WWF in 2000 archives for my reviews of all the other shows from earlier in the year. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport if you’re not doing so already and let’s get started.
(Normally these reviews will go up on Thursdays, but there might be some weeks where it’s a Friday posting. Raw will continue to be every Monday.)
WWF Smackdown #27
February 17, 2000 (Taped February 15)
From Selland Arena in Fresno, California
This show earned a TV-PG and “V” for Violence. Smackdown rarely gets the dreaded “S” for Sexual Content.
The show began with a video recapping the matches that took place on Raw, which I wrote about here. There was a lot of craziness, but the good guys stood tall to end the night.
The Smackdown intro video aired. Pyro went off in the arena and it was a packed house as usual. The announcers are Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
Smackdown began with a bus driving into the parking lot that said “DX Express” on the front of it. The DX group of X-Pac, Tori in a neckbrace, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Triple H walked out of the bus as they entered the building. The announcers were shown doing their generic “what a night it’s going to be” comments.
Let’s Hear From Degeneration X
The entire DX group walked out to the ring for the usual show opening promo.
Billy Gunn said that at No Way Out, the New Age Outlaws will put the Tag Team Titles on the line against the Dudley Boyz. Gunn said it will take a lot more than putting people through tables to beat them. Dogg said that they were putting people through tables before they brought up the Dudleys from the minor leagues. Good line. Dogg said that the Dudleys have a snowball’s chance in hell of beating the Dudleys.
X-Pac said that thanks to Hunter, his good friend, he’s got Kane in a No Holds Barred match. X-Pac wasn’t happy about it. X-Pac said that regardless of whatever kind of match they have, he will not get retribution for X-Pac taking Tori from Kane. X-Pac to Hunter: “Thanks a lot, buddy.” That was a sarcastic thanks.
Triple H talked about facing Cactus Jack at No Way Out. Hunter said his match with Cactus Jack at the Royal Rumble was one of the greatest fights of all time. I agree. Hunter said that hell will start for Jack at No Way Out and continue from there on out. Hunter said that real hell for Jack will be every day after that when he’s too crippled to walk straight, too hurt to play with his children and his brain too scrambled to know where you live. Hunter said there will be no fans, no morons to tell him that it’s okay. Hunter said that Foley can talk about his dream to go on to WrestleMania as the main event, but Hunter has a dream too and that’s to be in the WWF without Jack in it. Stephanie clapped for that. Hunter told him to savor the last bit of time that he has as a WWF superstar because his days are numbered. Hunter said that he’ll put an end to Jack’s career once and for all.
Hunter apologized to X-Pac about what happened on Raw and that his plan went awry because of The Rock and Cactus Jack. Hunter said that they are brothers until the end. Hunter said that tonight he’ll take care of his problems because he will go one on one with Kane. X-Pac said that doesn’t do much for him and X-Pac suggested that Hunter put the WWF Title on the line. Hunter said okay if that will impress X-Pac to show him the kind of guy that Hunter is, so Hunter will put the WWF Title on the line against Kane. Hunter said he was impressed, so he said he’ll take care of his problem and kick Cactus Jack’s ass right in the middle of the ring. Hunter called out Kevin Dunn to run the footage from Raw.
The clip aired from Raw when Jack ran down to the ring and knocked down Tori with a shoulder tackle.
Hunter said that it gets him hot (angry) when he sees Jack run down the ramp and knock down somebody that’s innocent like Tori. Hunter suggested that X-Pac face Cactus Jack in a Falls Count Anywhere, Hardcore match. They agreed to it.
Hunter turned to the New Age Outlaws and told them to defend the Tag Team Titles against the formidable tag team of The Rock, which led to “Rock” chants and his partner that he doesn’t along with…Big Show. Hunter ended it saying that when he’s done with Kane he’ll feel like he was hit by a bus.
Analysis: It was the typical opening promo where they set up matches for later in the evening. The idea is that that they were trying to one-up eachother and take on challenges. By announcing two title matches, it gives fans something to look forward to.
Mark Henry and Mae Young were backstage hugging. Hardcore and Crash Holly said that this must stop. Hardcore mentioned the edible panties make them sick and Mark said that they’ll make you sick if you have too much of them. Hardcore called Mae “trailer park trash” leading to a fight with the Hollys jumping Henry with punches and they knocked Young down.
(Commercial)
A graphic was shown to remind us WrestleMania 2000 was seven weeks away.
Kane made his entrance with his daddy Paul Bearer. Good pop for Kane. He was really gaining a lot of momentum as a face. Triple H was up next with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley for this WWF Title defense.
WWF Championship: Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. Kane (w/Paul Bearer)
Pre-match notes: Triple H was the heel WWF Champion and Kane was the face challenger.
It started with punches by Hunter, Kane came back with a clothesline and sent Hunter into the turnbuckle. Kane dumped Hunter out of the ring. Kane sent Hunter into the announce table followed by a choke. The referee Tim White was out of the ring with them instead of counting them out. Kane slammed Hunter off the announce table onto the floor. Back in the ring, Hunter hit a DDT and Kane sat up. A fan had a “Tori Sucks It” sign in the crowd. I’ll just leave that alone. Kane with a sidewalk slam. Kane went up top and he connected with the top rope clothesline that he did in every match. The crowd was hot for this. The New Age Outlaws and X-Pac went into the ring with X-Pac hitting a low blow leading to a disqualification. It went 3:19.
Winner by disqualification: Kane
Analysis: *1/2 The match was fine, but it seemed obvious that there was going to be no decisive result due to the guys in the match. The DQ finish was predictable.
Post match, all of DX attacked Kane. X-Pac went to Paul Bearer and beat on him with punches as they went to the backstage area with the other DX guys joining X-Pac. Kane followed everybody to the back. They exited the arena and went up to the DX Express bus. Kane showed up to save Bearer, but he couldn’t do it. Kane and Bearer were put in the luggage compartment of the bus and they told their driver to get out of there. DX celebrated the attack.
Analysis: It’s not a surprise that the DX Express bus was used since it was shown at the start of the show.
(Commercial)
A replay aired of Kane and Paul Bearer getting taken away in the bus.
Kurt Angle, the WWF Champion, made his entrance to boos. A clip aired from Raw when Chyna hit Angle with a DDT on the floor leading to their match on Smackdown.
Angle said it is to his understanding that late Monday night, millions of children went to bed crying their eyes out due to the cowardly attack that Angle suffered at the hands of Chyna. Angle claimed that parents called him claiming that their kids had bad dreams of Chyna attacking them. Angle called out his fans in Luxembourg, Denmark and Belgium to let them know that he is okay. Angle said that when he defeats Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title at No Way Out, he’ll represent the United States again as the IC Champion.
Analysis: These Angle promos were always great. His delivery was perfect.
Chyna made her entrance with the bazooka that she shot out to pump up the crowd. Good pop for her “don’t treat me like a woman” song.
Kurt Angle vs. Chyna
This is not for Angle’s European Title.
Angle took down Chyna with two arm drags as fans chanted in support of Chyna. Angle slapped on a headlock, Chyna with a hammer lock and Angle got to the ropes to break the hold. Angle charged and Chyna hit a back body drop that sent Angle to the floor. Chyna whipped Angle into the steel ring post followed by Chyna sending Angle face first into the barricade. Chyna whipped Angle into the steel steps. It’s another match where the referee wasn’t counting them out on the floor. Angle grabbed the European Title and hit Chyna in the head, which led to the DQ at 2:11.
Winner by disqualification: Chyna
Analysis: * A quick match with Chyna in control for most of it and then Angle did the cheap heel thing to get out of being pinned. That’s two straight matches with DQ finishes. It feels repetitive when you do them back to back like that.
Post match, Chris Jericho ran out to save Chyna and he worked over Angle with punches. Angle came back with an Olympic Slam on Jericho. While Angle celebrated that, Chyna hit a low blow punch to Angle to send him out of the ring. Jericho’s music played to end it.
Analysis: It was a solid build to Jericho vs. Angle as a good match at No Way Out.
Mark Henry and Mae Young were backstage at the Acolytes Protection Agency, which featured a set that had a door. Henry asked them to protect Mae Young while reminding them that she is pregnant. Young stayed wit the APA while Henry left. APA agreed to it because Henry paid them.
(Commercial)
The announcers talked about some TV show called “I Dare You” that was on UPN that didn’t have a long life.
The DX Express bus was shown driving up to the arena again.
Back in the APA office, Mae Young said that she wanted to play with them and she took out money from her shirt. Bradshaw said that they will explain the rules later. Faarooq grabbed a chair for her.
Tazz vs. Gangrel
Analysis: Tazz was the face that was in his first month in WWE while Gangrel was a heel. No more Luna with Gangrel because she was released.
Tazz with a back body drop to start the match. Gangrel with a clothesline. Tazz with a hard slap to the face followed by a Northern Lights suplex for two. Tazz with a hard clothesline, drop toe hold and forearms to the face by Tazz. Tazz hit an overhead suplex for a two count. Gangrel went for an elbow, Tazz locked in the Tazzmission and Gangrel tapped out quickly at 1:38.
Winner by submission: Tazz
Analysis: * Easy win for Tazz to give him some positive momentum. Gangrel didn’t get to do much here.
Cactus Jack was interviewed backstage by Lilian Garcia. Jack said that he’s going to win the WWF Title and go on to WrestleMania. Jack admitted that the truth does hurt and he does hurt when he gets up in the morning while his brains are scrambled or he forgets where he lives. Jack said that he’ll guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hell in a Cell will be the damndest thing you’ll ever see. Jack said that the will one more time get to the top of Hell in a Cell, but he won’t fall through a table, it will be Triple H’s body. Jack said he’ll guarantee that Triple H will suffer. Jack said that he’s not planning for X-Pac, so what he’ll do is rely on his instincts, which are to kick X-Pac’s teeth all over different parts of Fresno and he ended it with the “bang bang” salute.
X-Pac and Tori were shown backstage walking to the ring.
(Commercial)
The APA offices were shown with Mae Young winning a hand with a full house of 3s and 2s. The APA were shocked by it.
Cactus Jack made his entrance for the Falls Count Anywhere to a big ovation. X-Pac was out next with Tori with the fans booing them. X-Pac told her to stay backstage for the match.
Falls Count Anywhere Hardcore Match: Cactus Jack vs. X-Pac (w/Tori)
Pre-match notes: Jack was the face and X-Pac was the heel.
Jack unloaded on X-Pac with a barrage of punches followed by the running knee to the face. Jack slammed X-Pac head into the mat repeatedly. Jack hit the Cactus clothesline that sent both guys over the top to the floor. X-Pac whipped Jack into the steel steps. Chair to the back by X-Pac, but Jack no sold it and tossed X-Pac over the announce table. Jack grabbed a chair and hit X-Pac in the head with it. Jack covered for two on the floor. The fans chanted “Foley” for Jack. Back in the ring, X-Pac connected with a spin kick to the face. X-Pac went for the Bronco Buster against the turnbuckle, Jack moved and X-Pac hit the turnbuckle. Jack sent X-Pac into the ring post groin first. X-Pac stumbled his way backstage and Jack went after him. They went up steps, there was a door and X-Pac hit Jack with a table to the head. Fans in the lobby cheered them as X-Pac threw a chair at Jack’s face. It led to all of DX attacking Jack with punches. Hunter whipped Jack into the DX Express bus. Hunter and Jack started fighting in the bus. That didn’t last long as they went back out of the bus. Hunter put Jack into the baggage compartment of the bus and Hunter told the driver to get out of there. Let’s say the whole thing was about six minutes.
Match Result: No Contest?
Analysis: ** The action in the match was good with Jack dominating most of it, but then the match disintegrated from there as they went backstage. Jack had a similar fate to what happened to Kane earlier in the night, so it was a way to continue the story of DX having a dominant night.
(Commercial)
A replay aired of Cactus Jack getting put in the baggage compartment of the DX Express bus.
Too Cool made their entrance for a tag team match. They are teaming up with Rikishi at No Way Out against the Radicals trio of Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko. That led to Saturn and Malenko teaming up for this match. A clip aired of Eddie Guerrero attacking Rikishi with a wrench on Raw.
Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) vs. The Radicals (Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko)
Pre-match notes: Too Cool were the faces while The Radicals were heels.
Saturn worked over Scotty with knee lifts. Back elbow to the head by Saturn, Scotty with a headscissors takedown and a dropkick by Scotty on Malenko, who got into the ring. Saturn with a running clothesline that decked Scotty. Malenko tagged in leading to a reverse suplex from Scotty. Lawler mentioned Benoit having a new baby, which sadly we know how that turned out. Sexay tagged in with a body slam followed by a missile dropkick for two as Saturn broke up the pin. Malenko back up with a forearm to the face followed by a jumping knee to the face. Saturn with a suplex on Sexay. Sexay whipped Saturn into Malenko leading to the comedy spot with Malenko headbutting Saturn in the groin by accident. Sexay with a DDT on Malenko. Scotty tagged in, he got a rollup for two and Saturn broke up the pin. Double team dropkick took out Malenko, superkick by Sexay on Saturn and Scotty hit the bulldog on Malenko. The crowd went wild for the WORM into a chop by Scotty on Malenko. The pop for that move was huge. Double team clothesline sent Saturn out of the ring. Eddie Guerrero, with a sling on his left arm, ran into the ring and he hit Scotty in the head with a wrench while the ref was looking at Sexay and Saturn. The match went 5:01.
Winners by pinfall: The Radicals (Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko)
Analysis: **1/2 That was a really exciting tag team match with a lot of crisp teamwork from both sides and the crowd was into it. The ending was cheap due to Eddie’s interference, which is fine because it puts over how smart the Radicals were by having the numbers advantage in this match.
Post match, the Radicals knocked down Saturn and Guerrero hit Sexay with the wrench as well.
Rikishi slowly made the save as he favored his left leg, which made him limp to the ring. Rikishi sent Saturn into the steel steps. In the ring, Rikishi dropped Malenko with a Samoan Drop. Guerrero got back in with a wrench or some sort of object in his hand. Saturn put a chair around Rikishi’s injured left ankle. Saturn and Malenko slammed the steel steps onto the ankle of Rikishi leading to Rikishi writhing in pain. The referees showed up to break it up. The Radicals mocked the dance of Too Cool and left. Rikishi was put on a stretcher.
Analysis: It was a good heel attack with Rikishi selling it well.
(Commercial)
A replay aired of the steel steps attack to the ankle of Rikishi.
Rikishi was shown on a stretcher and he was put into an ambulance while his Too Col buddies were with him.
Eddie Guerrero was back in the ring. He was announced as the winner of a match against Rikishi due to Rikishi being taken away on a stretcher. Malenko and Saturn went into the ring to celebrate with Eddie. They put Guerrero on their shoulders as he celebrated.
Analysis: Cheesy heel celebrations are always good.
The APA boys were in the office playing cards with Mae. She asked for a cigar, which she smoked and Bradshaw told her you’re not supposed to inhale. She didn’t care.
The Rock was interviewed by Kevin Kelly backstage. The crowd was doing loud “Rocky” chants, so he paused to soak it in. He talked about things going together like salt and pepper, bacon and eggs, Big Show and his goofy yell (Rock did a great imitation) and The Rock and WrestleMania. Rock said that he realizes that wrestling Big Show at No Way Out will be one of the toughest challenges of The Rock’s career. Rock said that he’s going to beat Big Show’s candy ass from pillar to post…one, two, three. Rock paused for the crowd again. Rock said that he is going to WrestleMania to become the next WWF Champion. Rock said as for tonight, he does not want or need Big Show as a partner. Rock said that he’s already got a partner that Big Show can and will never have…the people. That led to the fans cheering again. Rock said that if Big Show comes close to The Rock he’s going to give him the biggest smackdown his candy ass has ever seen.
Analysis: It was another outstanding Rock promo with the crowd going crazy for everything he said. I mention it every week. He was incredible. The most surprising thing was that he didn’t mock Kevin Kelly during the promo.
(Commercial)
A clip aired from Raw showing Essa Rios beating Crash Holly with an assist from Lita.
The DX Express was shown arriving back at the arena.
It was back to the APA with Mae and their card game. Mae asked for a beer, Faarooq said no because she’s pregnant and she said she can have one, so Bradshaw gave her a beer. Bradshaw commented that he hates her while Mae poured her beer in a cup.
Edge and Christian made their entrance. They face The Hardy Boyz at No Way Out. Big Boss Man and Prince Albert were the opponents. They split up as a team a few weeks earlier, but it didn’t help either guy, so they are back to being a team.
Edge and Christian vs. Big Boss Man and Prince Albert
Pre-match notes: Edge and Christian were the faces while Boss Man and Albert were the heels.
The fans chanted “shave your back” at Albert, who ran over Christian with a running shoulder tackle. Edge and Christian each hit dropkicks on Albert followed by a double team dropkick on Boss Man. Albert with a double clothesline. Boss Man worked over Edge with punches. Edge missed a corner charge when Boss Man moved and Edge went shoulder first into the turnbuckle. Albert with a catapult that sent Edge throat first into the middle ropes. Edge got some momentum back when he hit Boss Man with a spin kick to the head. Christian got the hot tag against Albert with Christian hitting a kick to the head, Albert missed a corner charge and Christian hit a reverse DDT off the middle ropes. Edge hit a Spear on Boss Man. Albert kicked out of Christian’s pin at two. Christian went for a sunset flip, Boss Man held Albert’s head and Edge hit a missile dropkick into a pin for Christian for the win at 4:10.
Winners by pinfall: Edge and Christian
Analysis: ** It was a decent tag team match to put over Edge and Christian since they were rising up the ranks of the tag team division while Boss Man and Albert were not really title contenders. The finish was well done.
Post match, Boss Man kicked Christian and Albert hit a spinning slam into a neckbreaker on Edge and he did it to Christian too. Boss Man hit Edge in the head with the nightstick. Boss Man hit Christian in the ribs to the nightstick. Referees showed up to break it up.
Analysis: A cheap attack by the sore losers likely to set up another match.
The APA and Mae were continuing their card game with Young getting a straight flush to win a big pot. The APA said that Mae drank their beer, smoked their cigars and took their money, so what does she want? Mae gave them the money back and told them to come with her. Bradshaw put the money in his pocket and they left.
(Commercial)
No Disqualification Handicap Match: Mark Henry vs. Hardcore and Crash Holly
Pre-match notes: Henry was the face and the Hollys were the heels.
The Hollys attacked Henry early with punches and kicks. Hardcore with a dropkick on Henry as the Hollys were in full control. Henry with a double clothesline. Henry with a clothesline on Hardcore and a Gorilla Press Slam on Crash. Mae showed up and told the APA go into the ring. Bradshaw with a clothesline on Hardcore. Double team Powerbomb by the APA on Hardcore. Faarooq with a spinebuster on Crash. Bradshaw with a Powerbomb on Crash. Henry covered Crash to win at 1:34.
Winner by pinfall: Mark Henry
Post match, Mae celebrated with Mark while the APA left after a job well done.
Analysis: 1/2* It continued the story of the night with Mae paying APA to watch Mark’s back.
The Rock and Big Show were shown getting ready for the main event separately.
(Commercial)
A clip aired showing the Dudley Boyz will face the New Age Outlaws for the WWF Tag Team Titles at No Way Out.
The New Age Outlaws made their entrance with the crowd chanting along with the promo as usual. They are the WWF Tag Team Champions with two words for ya…suck it. The crowd sure liked chanting along with them.
The Rock entered to a huge ovation like he gets every time he’s out there.
WWF Tag Team Championships: The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) vs. The Rock and Big Show
Pre-match notes: The Rock was a face and the three other guys were heels.
Rock started the match before Big Show got out there. Rock hit a DDT on Gunn for a two count. Gunn took control with punches and Dogg tagged in with a kick to the ribs. Rock came back with a swinging neckbreaker on Dogg and Gunn went back in with a clothesline that got a two count for Dogg. The heels remained in control with Dogg hitting his punch combo followed by a knee drop for two. Rock came back with a belly to back suplex on Dogg and a Samoan Drop on Gunn. Rock with a double clothesline, spinebuster by Rock on Dogg and Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Gunn and covered him even though Dogg was legal. The count was interrupted by Big Show’s entrance because Rock got off Gunn. Big Show and Rock started brawling while they were on the ramp, so I guess we can just call this a no contest at 4:10.
Match Result: No Contest
Analysis: ** It was entertaining for what was really a handicap match with The Rock almost getting the win. I notice after watching these shows again that they didn’t care about who the legal man was a lot of time. The crowd was loud for all of this.
Big Show and the Outlaws worked together on Rock and whipped him into the ring post. Show picked up Rock on his shoulder and they walked back out to the parking lot. Rock tried to fight back as he whipped Road Dogg into the side of the bus. The rest of Degeneration X showed up along with Big Show. Rock tried to fight back, but Big Show showed up with some punches. Big Show managed to grab Rock by the arms and then the heels put Rock into the baggage compartment of the bus.
The DX group went into the bus while Show stood there yelling at The Rock telling him there was No Way Out. However, when Show was waving goodbye, The Rock showed up from behind with a 2×4 piece of wood and hit Show in the back of the head with it! The magic of television, my friends! Rock stomped on Big Show as the show ended like that.
Analysis: It was a happy ending to the show when it seemed like Rock was going to be taken away on the bus. I guess you could say he got out the other side when the camera was on the others, but it doesn’t really matter.
As for the DX Express, we’ll see it again in the future in a much more memorable way.
This episode had a run time of 1:32:56 on WWE Network.
Three Stars of the Show
- The Rock
- Kurt Angle
- Triple H
The Scoreboard
This episode gets a 5 out of 10.
This just felt like an average show with the theme being about the DX Express bus and the heels trying to take out their adversaries. It was a good night for the heels right up until the end of the night when The Rock got revenge on Big Show.
Match results didn’t seem to matter this week since there were two disqualifications, two no contests and then Eddie’s “win” over Rikishi didn’t really happen.
The build to the No Way Out matches were pretty good. I think the lineup for that show is great and I haven’t watched it probably in 18 years, so it will be fun to get to that next week.
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That’s all for now. The next WWF 2000 review will be Raw from February 21, 2000.
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
Twitter @johnreport