TJR Retro: WWF Smackdown 02/24/00 Review
This was the last edition of Smackdown going into the No Way Out 2000 PPV. Here are some of the big matches that we would see at No Way Out: Triple H vs. Cactus Jack for the WWF Title. The Rock vs. Big Show, New Age Outlaws defending the WWF Tag Team Titles against The Dudley Boyz, Kane vs. X-Pac, Chris Jericho vs. Kurt Angle for the Intercontinental Title and more. That review is coming up this weekend.
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.
WWF Smackdown #28
February 24, 2000 (Taped February 22)
From Nashville Arena in Nashville, Tennessee
This arena was really called Nashville Arena? No sponsorship and no unique name? That’s odd. A different world, my friends, and I don’t mean the sitcom. This show earned a TV-PG and “V” for Violence. Smackdown rarely gets the dreaded “S” for Sexual Content.
The first few minutes showed highlights from Monday’s Raw featuring a great six man tag team match with Triple H beating Cactus Jack for his team and then Jack attacked Triple H in the DX Express bus. Read about that Raw in our WWF in 2000 archives.
The Smackdown intro video aired and when that ended, a huge pyro display went off in the arena. The announce team for Smackdown is Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
I wonder if Mayo knows?
Test made his entrance as the Hardcore Champion. You can tell they dubbed in fake cheers because the fans were dead quiet for Test most weeks.
Hardcore and Crash Holly were in the locker room arguing about how Crash has the title match with Crash telling Hardcore that he’s hardcore. Crash Holly made his entrance.
Hardcore Championship: Test vs. Crash Holly
Pre-match notes: Test is the face Hardcore Champion and Crash was a heel that thought he was tougher than he really was.
Test with a back body drop on Crash as fans chanted “Elroy” at Crash. Test tossed Crash over the barricade, so they went brawling into the crowd with Test dumping a trash pail on Crash’s head and then Test hit the pail with a chair. They went back to ringside. Crash grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it into Test’s eyes. Crash hit a hurricanrana off the apron that put Test out on the floor. Hardcore Holly was on the stage watching the match. Crash had a kendo stick and he hit Test in the groin with it. Crash ran off the steel steps and Test blocked his attack with a chair to the face. Test teased delivering a powerbomb through two chairs in the ring, but Crash avoided it and Test hit a big boot. Crash escaped a slam attempt leading to a low blow punch from Crash. Slingshot cross body over the top to the floor from Crash to take out Test on the floor. Hardcore went down to ringside with a chair. Hardcore swung the chair, Crash ducked and Hardcore hit Test in the head leading (he was aiming for cousin Crash) and Crash covered Test to win the title at 3:58.
Winner by pinfall and new Hardcore Champion: Crash Holly
Analysis: ** That was an entertaining match that began the very fun Hardcore Title reign of Crash Holly. Test wasn’t doing anything as the champion, so it made sense to do the title change especially since they came up with the 24/7 rule.
Post match, Hardcore raised Crash’s hand, so maybe Hardcore did help him win. Crash celebrated with the title.
The DX Express bus was shown in the parking lot. There was a shot of the DX guys and the Radicals hanging out in the bus. Hunter and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley stood up while the others were seated in the bus. Hunter announced matches: Billy Gunn vs. Bubba Ray Dudley, Saturn and Malenko are in a tag team match, Chris Benoit will face Kane and the trio of Triple H, X-Pac and Road Dogg will face Too Cool and Rikishi. Hunter said that Cactus Jack is his, so nobody touches him, except for Hunter.
The Rock was shown in his locker room. Big Show was shown walking backstage because he’s up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear from Big Show
Big Show made his entrance in a tank top and jeans. Fans chanted “Rocky” as Show stood in the ring waiting for them to stop.
Show said that he doesn’t understand why there are constant boos for him while noting that two months ago, they all cheered him. Show asked if he’s changed that much in two months. Show said that he supported The Rock, but then Rock insulted him and called him a jabroni, which show claimed was an insult that hurt his feelings. Show said it doesn’t make him a bad guy. Show spoke about how he never got his rematch for the WWF Title and wondered if that made him a bad guy. Show mentioned that he won the Royal Rumble, but due to incompetent referees, it doesn’t make him a bad guy. Show called up the footage from the Royal Rumble that showed The Rock’s two feet hit the ground first at the Rumble. Show asked them to show the footage again in case we missed it. You can see Rock’s feet hit first. Show wanted to show it again one more time in slow motion. Show said that the fans would rather cheer loud for a loser rather than the actual winner, Big Show. He said that he can’t understand how they can do this. Show whined about it some more.
Kurt Angle, the European Champion, showed up for the interruption with Angle going down to the ring with Show.
Angle shook Show’s hand saying that he heard what he was saying. Angle turned to the fans saying “shame on you” at them while pointing out that there’s finally somebody else out here that shows integrity. Angle noted that some of us do care about the rules and what’s right and wrong. Angle spoke about how in 1992 he was training for the Olympic Games and…here’s Chris Jericho with the interruption.
Chris Jericho, the Intercontinental Champion, was with Chyna welcoming us to Nashville is Jericho. Jericho claimed that Angle (who he called “Kirk Angel”) had no neck and said that Show had no testicles. Jericho’s “I” is that “I wish that you would shut the hell up.” The fans cheered that. Jericho said that at No Way Out this Sunday, he’ll give Angle a Y2J beating that he’ll never, ever forget again.
Angle said that this is what he is talking about while saying that maybe they should have their match tonight. Angle said that maybe they should have a tag team match with Angle teaming up with Big Show.
The Rock showed up to a thunderous ovation as he stood on the ramp for a promo. Fans greeted him with “Rocky” chants while Show covered his ears. Rock did his “finally The Rock has come back to Nashville” bit to fire up the crowd.
Rock said that tag team wrestling isn’t really in his repertoire, but tonight he’ll team with Jericho to make that Olympic goof shut his mouth. Rock said that the only reason Rock is teaming with Jericho is to get his hands on Big Show. Rock said that Show is absolutely right that Rock’s feet touched the ground first, Rock does call him a jabroni and he’s right that these people boo Show’s candy ass, which led to more ‘Rocky” chants. Rock claimed he has video footage of the one thing that Show thinks he does best. It was a clip of Rock mocking the Big Show “chokeslam” yell, so Rock cued it up two more times. Show said that people don’t respect show because he whines and complains, so he imitated Show and told Show to shut his mouth. Rock said that Show is the biggest threat in Rock’s career, but the only thing he should worry about is how he’s going to stop the Brahma Bull from kicking his ass and going to WrestleMania…if you smell you know the rest.
Analysis: It was a way to set up the main event for later in the night. That’s typical of WWE promos back then and today. The bit with Rock imitating the Show chokeslam yell was funny especially because they showed it three times just like Show’s promo earlier. Well done. Plus, it’s a fresh matchup in the main event.
(Commercial)
There were members of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans at ringside including the late, great Steve McNair.
A video package aired hyping up Triple H vs. Cactus Jack in a Hell in a Cell match at No Way Out 2000 to put over how violent a HIAC match is.
Kane ended with daddy Paul Bearer to cheers. Chris Benoit was joined by Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero with his left arm in a sling.
Kane (w/Paul Bearer) vs. Chris Benoit (w/Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero)
Pre-match notes: Kane was the face and Benoit was the heel. Kane was set to face X-Pac at No Way Out while Benoit was in a tag match at No Way out.
The Radicals foursome started the match stomping on Kane outside the ring, so referee Jimmy Korderas sent the three Radical guys to the back. Kane with a front suplex leading to Benoit landing on his stomach. Benoit with a dropkick to the knee followed by an enziguri kick to the head. Benoit up top and he hit a falling headbutt off the top onto Kane. Kane sat up, he wanted a Chokeslam, Benoit kicked the leg and Kane hit a spinning slam. Kane with a clothesline, uppercut punch and a boot to the face. Kane up top and he connected with a top rope clothesline where Kane got a lot of height. Kane with a clothesline that sent Benoit over the top to the floor. The lovely Tori walked out to distract Kane at ringside. Tori tapped Bearer on the shoulder and slapped him in the face. Bearer grabbed Tori by the hair, meanwhile the ref was counting Kane and Benoit out of the ring, so it was a double countout at 2:16.
Match Result: Double Countout
Analysis: * Good action while it lasted, but it was a short match with a non-finish. There wasn’t much to get excited about here.
Kane followed X-Pac up the ramp as she slowly backed up the ramp. X-Pac showed up with a flamethrower style object in his hands and shot fire out of it right into Kane’s face. It looked a bit cheesy because X-Pac stood there for about three seconds and Kane just stood there taking it instead of trying to block it. Kane was down on the mat selling while Bearer screamed for help. That led to EMTs and others from the back checking on Kane.
Analysis: Great angle. It was obvious what was coming as Tori was backing up the ramp, but I doubt anybody watching it live would have thought a flamethrower was going to be used. That made this very personal feud seem even more intense, so I think it was great idea to do a spot like that.
(Commercial)
A commercial aired for Rock vs. Big Show at No Way Out 2000 with a WWF Title shot at WrestleMania on the line.
A replay aired of X-Pac shooting the fire in Kane’s face.
Edge & Christian and The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) vs. Al Snow & Steve Blackman and Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko
Pre-match notes: Edge and Christian and the Hardys were all faces. They have a tag team match at No Way Out. Snow and Blackman were heels that were becoming faces. Saturn and Malenko were heels that were in a six-man tag at No Way Out.
Christian started with Blackman with a Russian legsweep for two. Snow grabbed Christian, so Blackman kicked Christian and fans were chanting “Headcheese” at Blackman as Snow hit a suplex on Christian. Malenko hit a suplex on Christian for two. Saturn tagged in with a clothesline on Christian. Rollup by Christian on Saturn for two followed by a double clothesline spot that put both guys down. Jeff got the tag with a corkscrew cross body block on Saturn. That led to a brawl with everybody getting into it. Jeff with a back body drop on Saturn over the top rope, a suplex by Jeff on Malenko and Jeff hit a somersault dive over the top on Saturn to take him out. Snow shoved Matt off the top onto Edge on the floor. Saturn and Malenko double teamed Benoit with Malenko hitting a jumping kick into a Tiger Suplex by Saturn for the pinfall win at 3:10.
Winners by pinfall: Al Snow & Steve Blackman and Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko
Analysis: ** It was an entertaining match for as long as it lasted, but it felt rushed since half the guys on the face team didn’t even get to legally tag into the match.
Post match, The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian got into an argument about what happened in the match. Those teams had a match at No Way Out. Matt slapped Edge in the face, so that led to all four guys brawling all over the ring with referees showing up to break it up.
Analysis: It was a good way to promote their No Way Out tag team match. The heel turn of Edge and Christian was coming soon.
(Commercial)
A replay aired of Edge and Christian getting into a fight with the Hardys.
Rikishi Phatu and Too Cool made their entrance with Rikishi having his left ankle taped up to sell the injury he had over the last week. The Degeneration X trio of Triple H, Road Dogg and X-Pac made their entrance with Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Tori joining them.
Rikishi, Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Triple H, X-Pac and Road Dogg (w/Tori and Stephanie McMahon)
Pre-match notes: Rikishi and Too Cool were the faces while the DX group were the heels.
The match started with Sexay hitting a face first slam on Dogg followed by a missile dropkick for two. Sexay missed an elbow drop when Dogg moved, so Triple H tagged in as The Radicals were shown watching on a TV in the back. Sexay hit a clothesline off the middle ropes. That led to Scotty tagging in leading to X-Pac going into the ring with a spin kick. Dogg back in with punches, but Scotty hit a jumping back elbow. Rikishi tagged in with a running back splash on Dogg, a punch to Hunter and a kick to X-Pac. Triple H managed to get back in with a chop block to the left leg of Rikishi, which was taped up. Hunter worked over the leg of Rikishi with elbow drops as Dogg tagged back in with a knee drop to the left leg. X-Pac tagged in with kicks, Rikishi no sold them and Rikishi launched X-Pac into the air leading to a Diamond Cutter. Sexay back in with punches for the three heels, dropkicks for Hunter and Dogg followed by a powerslam on X-Pac. Scotty tagged in with the bulldog out of the corner leading to the W-O-R-M into a chop to the head by Scotty with Dogg breaking up a pin attempt. Rikishi with a belly to belly suplex on Rikishi. Triple H grabbed a steel chair and he hit Rikishi in the back with it while the ref was on the other side of the ring. Double elbow by Too Cool to Dogg. Triple H hit the left leg of Rikishi with a steel chair. Scotty went after Hunter outside of the ring. Sexay went up top for a leg drop, Dogg moved and X-Pac hit the X-Factor facebuster on Sexay for the pinfall win. The match went 6:01. I’m pretty sure the legal man was Scotty, but the refs didn’t seem to care about that.
Winners by pinfall: Triple H, X-Pac and Road Dogg
Analysis: **3/4 It was a pretty good match aside from the referee completely ignoring who the legal man was. I noticed that happened a lot in Earl Hebner matches. He just didn’t care. X-Pac getting the win showed that WWE wanted to get X-Pac over a lot on this show since he attacked Kane with the fire earlier and then got the win in this match.
After the match, Dogg hit a pumphandle slam to Scotty. Hunter hit Rikishi in the left leg with the steel chair again. The Radicals were shown watching and laughing at Rikishi getting beat up.
Analysis: This match and post match angle really put over DX strong. I don’t know that they needed it, but that’s what happened.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of Rikishi and Too Cool in the trainer’s room with the trainer asking what happened. Hey trainer, way to watch the show!
The Godfather and D-Lo Brown vs. Big Boss Man and Prince Albert
Pre-match notes: Godfather and Brown were the faces with the ho’s at ringside while Boss Man and Albert were the heels. Both teams lost a lot of matches in this era.
Brown wit ha dropkick on Boss Man early. Boss Man came back with a spinebuster. Albert tagged in with a slingshot into the bottom rope. Brown went for a moonsault off the middle rope, Albert moved and Brown came back with a DDT. Godfather tagged in with a boot to the face of Albert. Godfather with a corner clothesline on Boss Man and Brown hit a top rope clothesline on Boss Man. The referee made Brown leave the ring, so Tazz ran out to the ring and tripped up Boss Man. Tazz sent Boss Man into the steel steps. Tazz gouged Albert’s eyes and punched him. The ref was busy in the ring. Godfather hit a Pimp Drop on Albert for the pinfall win at 2:44.
Winners by pinfall: The Godfather and D-Lo Brown
Analysis: *1/4 A rare win for Godfather and Brown. It was a quick match with Tazz getting his revenge on Boss Man and Albert after he had a match with Boss Man on Raw. This was below a midcard storyline. I’d call it a low card feud.
Cactus Jack was shown backstage because he’s up next.
(Commercial)
Let’s Hear From Cactus Jack
Jim Ross was in the ring and he called out Cactus Jack for an interview to talk about No Way Out. Jack had on his “Wanted” shirt and a blue jean jacket instead of the usual flannel.
Cactus Jack talked about 3 WWF World Championships, 8 WWF Tag Team Championships, Hardcore Champion the first time, the king of the Japanese Death Match and he wrote a number one best seller. He said that he even has his own ravioli commercial. He said that Mick Foley has done everything he set his sights on. He told a story about how he saw Vince McMahon back when he was running things (remember in storyline, Vince was out) and said he thought it was time to wrap up his in-ring career due to poor in-ring performance. Jack said he was making people laugh and the Rock N Sock Connection was pretty damn good, but the truth is what he wanted wasn’t about making people laugh. He said he thought about being Cactus Jack. He talked about the Thrilla in Manilla boxing fight with Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. He said that in November he had a chance to see that tape of the fight with both men giving it all, but the match ended with Frazier sitting on a stool unable to complete that final round. Jack said that he didn’t want to end his career sitting on a stool.
Jack talked about the Royal Rumble where they tore the house apart and it was Mick Foley the way he was meant to be seen. Jack said that it was the greatest match of his life and he lost to a better man because Triple H was just a bit better. Jack challenged Triple H to a Hell in a Cell match because he loved Hell in a Cell and he pointed out that in the last time he was in Hell in a Cell, he got his ass kicked. He talked about all of the injuries he had in the match: Two teeth knocked out, knocked out cold for the first time, dislocated shoulder, dislocated jaw, 14 stitches below my lips, kidney damage that wouldn’t make him feel the same for ten weeks and every damn last injury was legit. Jack called it the worst beating of his life and the greatest day of his career. JR left the ring by this point.
Jack said that after all that was done, he got up and he finished the match on his own two feet. Jack said that the two greatest thing he had in his life were his name and his word. Jack: “If I couldn’t defeat Triple in a Hell in a Cell it’ll be the last damn time I ever set foot in the ring as an active wrestler.” That ended up being false a few weeks later. Jack said that he’ll be fully prepared for that to be his very last match. Jack said “thanks a lot” to anybody that believed in him while talking about moments in his career like winning the WWF Title in Worcester and to those of you that bought his book (it was great). Jack said that he’ll guarantee that he’ll go down swinging or he won’t go down at all. Jack said that win, lose or draw, he will climb up the top of the cage and he’ll fly off onto Triple H. Jack said for the Mankind fans, have a nice day. For the Cactus Jack fans, bang bang and the Jack music played to end it. The fans gave Jack big ovation as he posed in the ring.
Analysis: This promo was amazing. It’s a reminder of why I always say that Mick Foley is one of the best talkers in wrestling history. He covered a lot in that promo with a great story about the Frazier/Ali fight and how unlike Frazier, he’s not going to go out sitting on a stool. I thought it was excellent and one of the best promos of Mick’s career.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley was on the ramp as Jack stood at the bottom of the ramp by the ring. Stephanie said that Jack is a dreamer and a passionate man while Stephanie said that she’s passionate with dreams. Stephanie complained about how a lunatic like Jack drove a battering ram through her bus. She claimed that he caused over $5,000 worth of damage, which drew cheers and she added that she paid well over $350,000 for that bus. Heels lie. Jack went into the ring. Stephanie said that Jack will be the one that pays when Triple H ends Jack’s career inside Hell in a Cell on Sunday. Stephanie said that she had a warrant for Jack’s arrest, so he’ll start paying now.
There were four dudes dressed like cops (usually they are indy wrestlers) and they went up to Jack at ringside. He put his hands out as the cops put handcuffs on Jack and he was taken away by the cops. Triple H showed up on the ramp and had a final staredown with Jack ahead of their match with Jack having a smirk on his face. Hunter and Stephanie left.
Analysis: It was a way to get a lot of heat on Stephanie and Hunter for arresting Jack on what could have been his last night as an active wrestler on WWF TV.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of Jack with the cops in some holding cell. Jack said the holding area looks like a damn cage and he questioned being put in there for vandalizing a bus. The cop said sorry about this and put Jack in the holding cell cage.
A replay aired of X-Pac shooting the fire in Kane’s eyes.
There was an update on the situation from Jonathon Coachman saying that Kane had second degree burns and vision problems while noting that the mask on Kane’s face may have saved him from serious injury.
Triple H and Stephanie showed up to talk to the keys. They gave Hunter the keys and left.
(Commercial)
There was a shot of Jack in the holding cell with Stephanie and Hunter teasing him with pizza.
Billy Gunn made his entrance to the “Ass Man” song that he used as a singles wrestler. He is one half of the Tag Team Champions with Road Dogg. Bubba Ray Dudley entered with D-Von Dudley.
Billy Gunn vs. Bubba Ray Dudley (w/D-Von Dudley)
Pre-match notes: Both guys were heels. The tag team title match at No Way Out is the New Age Outlaws defending against the Dudley Boyz.
Bubba with a clothesline early on. Gunn came back with two body slams and a clothesline. D-Von in the ring, so Gunn whipped D-Von into Bubba and Bubba accidentally headbutted D-Von in the groin. D-Von didn’t touch Gunn, so no DQ as Gunn hit a headlock on Bubba. Gunn went for a Fameasser, but Bubba caught him and hit a sitout Powerbomb. Bubba to the middle rope, he jumped off with a splash, Gunn moved and Bubba hit the mat hard. Gunn with a corner splash on Bubba. Gunn with a Jackhammer slam on Bubba. Gunn ran the ropes, so D-Von pulled the rope down and Gunn bumped over the top to the floor leading to the DQ because the referee saw it at 2:06.
Winner by disqualification: Billy Gunn
Analysis: * A quick match to tell the story of the Dudleys cheating to try to get the advantage on Gunn. The logical thing to ask is why wasn’t Road Dogg out there to begin with? No explanation nwas given for that.
Post match, D-Von whipped Gunn into the steel steps. The Dudleys brought a table into the ring with D-Von hitting a reverse suplex. Road Dogg ran out for the save and Bubba stood on the table in the ring. Dogg punched Bubba in the groin and knocked D-Von out of the ring. Gunn ran the ropes and hit a Fameasser on Bubba while he was standing on the table and that put Bubba through the table. Very impressive athleticism shown by Gunn there. The fans cheered that even though the DX guys were usually heels.
Analysis: It gave the New Age Outlaws the advantage going into the match at No Way Out. That made the match result at No Way Out obvious, but I won’t spoil it here.
There was a shot of Chris Jericho backstage walking with Chyna. The Rock was shown walking in another part of the arena because their tag team match is next.
(Commercial)
The WWF Smack of the Night sponsored by “Got Milk?” was Stephanie getting Cactus Jack arrested earlier in the show.
The scene went back to Triple H, Stephanie and Cactus Jack in the cage. Hunter knocked down some walls that appeared to be there, but they were fake. The cage had chains on it that were connected to the DX Express bus leading to Triple H telling Jack he’s going to drag him all the way to No Way Out in Hartford. Jack was freaking out about it.
Kurt Angle was up first for the main event. He’s the European Champion that rarely had to defend that title. Big Show was up next to boos from the crowd.
Chris Jericho was up next at the Intercontinental Champion. The crowd response was likely good, but for whatever reason WWE chose to pipe in a reaction because you could tell it was fake noise. The Rock got a massive ovation as usual and it was not fake noise.
Big Show and Kurt Angle vs. The Rock and Chris Jericho (w/Chyna)
Pre-match notes: Big Show and Angle were the heels while Rock and Jericho were the faces. Show faced Rock at No Way Out while Angle faced Jericho.
Angle attacked Jericho to start the match. Jericho came back with a clothesline, chops to the chest and a backbreaker got a two for Angle. Rock tagged in and Angle hit a belly to belly suplex on him. Show tagged in right into a spinebuster from Rock. Angle in the ring, ref was distracted and Rock punched Show in the groin. Show with a Gorilla Press Slam on Jericho after he tossed him up in the air leading to Jericho bumping onto his chest. Show and Angle double teamed Jericho without the referee seeing it. Angle with a clothesline to Jericho, but Jericho came back with a forearm to the head. Show with a cheap shot, so Rock came in with a clothesline on Angle. Jericho hit a running bulldog out of the corner on Angle. Rock tagged in against Angle with Rock connecting with punches followed by a spinebuster. Big Show knocked Rock down before he could do a People’s Elbow. Jericho up top and he hit a missile dropkick on Show. Show picked up Jericho and hit a Chokeslam on him. Chyna went into the ring and hit Big Show in the back leading to the DQ finish at 4:11.
Winners by disqualification: Big Show and Kurt Angle
Analysis: ** It was fine for the time given, but a main event match only getting about four minutes is too short. I’m not surprised by a DQ ending because going into this match I could see why it would be hard for the company to book any of them to lose this match.
Post match, Rock saved Chyna from a Big Show attack as Rock hit a Rock Bottom on Show to a huge ovation. Jericho grabbed Show and applied the Walls of Jericho on him, which looked impressive.
Referees showed up to break it up. Chyna grabbed Angle to prevent him from going back in the ring. Rock went up the ramp, so Show went after him. They went brawling to the back. Jericho and Angle went into the ring with Chyna hitting a DDT on Angle. Jericho slapped on the Walls of Jericho on Angle.
Analysis: That gave Jericho the advantage on Angle going into their IC Title match at No Way Out.
To the backstage area, Rock and Show were shown continuing their fight. Big Show won that fight because he tossed Rock through a glass window that happened to be there. Triple H and Stephanie were on the other sign giving a thumbs up, which was pretty funny.
Analysis: They use sugar glass to make that look and sound the right way like real glass.
Triple H and Stephanie were shown walking onto their DX Express with Cactus Jack in the cage and he was getting dragged along by the chains connected to the bus. The bus drove away as it turned left and Jack was holding on. That was the end of Smackdown this week.
Analysis: It was an over the top way to get people more excited about Triple H vs. Cactus Jack. I think it worked pretty well.
This episode had a run time of 1:32:57 on WWE Network.
Three Stars of the Show
- Cactus Jack – That promo was amazing.
- Triple H
- The Rock
The Scoreboard
This episode gets a 5.5 out of 10.
It’s a tough show to rate because I liked it in terms of storyline advancement, but the in-ring action was below average. I went with a 5.5 out of 10 because the angles were good. I just wish the matches were better.
There were seven matches and four of them were tag team matches, so it made me lose interest a bit in the last tag team match. I get why did so many tags to get more people on the show, but when there are so many in one broadcast it gets to be too much.
The build for No Way Out matches was solid. I thought the X-Pac/Kane angle was great in terms of getting heat (see what I did there?) on X-Pac for the fire attack on Kane.
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That’s all for now. The next WWF 2000 review will be No Way Out from February 27, 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