GSR

The Rock heads to the ring first, not knowing who this mystery opponent selected by ‘the Faction’ is, all while Triple H and Stephanie watch on from a monitor backstage. The surprise opponent turns out to be Kurt Angle and Jerry Lawler is a bit disappointed in himself that he didn’t guess, what with Kurt being the man who helped Stephanie retain the Women’s title this week on Raw. Rock cuts off Angle as he’s in the middle of his pre-match promo, gesturing for him to “bring it”. He’s only too happy to, informing us that he’s been bringing it since 1982! Kurt’s not fairing too well, when the camera cuts to Steph and HHH with Stephanie thinking that they should go down there and help him out. Triple H has no interest whatsoever in helping him, but Steph thinks it’s only right after Kurt helped her, so sets off on her own as Michael Cole talks about how she gets a little wide eyed whenever Kurt is in action. Scoop powerslam from the Rock for a two, and the crowd starts booing indicating that someone is on their way. Turns out HHH has decided to accompany his wife after all. As Rock is whipped into the ropes Steph grabs his ankle and the distraction allows Angle to catch him with a belly to belly. Triple H gets in some licks behind Earl Hebner’s back and Kurt with a two count following a belly to back. Rock side steps a charging Angle and launches him over the top rope and to the outside. Hebner is losing all control as HHH and Steph take it in turns to keep him pre-occupied while the other interferes in the match. Kurt ram’s Rock’s head into the ring post before rolling him back into the ring where Rock lays him out with a desperation ‘Rock Bottom’. Powerslam and Angle kicks out. ‘The Game’ is up on the apron and Rock hurls Kurt into him, sending Triple H careering into the ringside barricade. DDT, when out runs Shane McMahon and Bull Buchanan, although Rock sees them coming and drops the pair of them. Spinebuster, ‘People’s Elbow’ and HHH is in to break up the pin just in time, in doing so though he gives Rock the DQ win. Angle, Shane, Triple H and Bull quadruple team the Rock until Kane makes the save, but that brings out Chris Benoit to help ‘the Faction’. Just as it looks like Rock and Kane are holding their own, a pipe carrying Road Dogg and X-Pac turn the tables back in the heels favour. HHH pedigrees Rock then Kane as ‘the Faction’ celebrate.

Conversely, and it's been several years since I watched it, but from memory I'm sure Leilani Kai was quite negative about Moolah in her interview with RF. Is she another who's changed her turne?

Someone has bought some yellow roses for Stephanie. She immediately tells Hunter that she knows nothing about them, doesn’t know why they are here or who sent then. He thinks it might be another Chris Jericho angle and reads the card “the yellow roses of Texas pale in comparison to your beauty and grace”. Seemingly peeved with the words he hands the card to Steph, but it’s a swerve as the card is signed by him and he’s the one who sent them to her. Hunter the old romantic! Stephanie and he embrace as the cameras leave them to it. We rejoin them later in the show and Triple H’s mood has changed because Commissioner Foley has put him in a mixed tag match “with that albatross” Trish Stratus. He says she has no business being in a wrestling ring and should be in a bar somewhere doing wet T-shirt contests. She knows nothing about wrestling “you, her, all these other women it’s the same thing, you know nothing about...” Uh oh! Steph takes exception his sexist remarks and storms off out of the room slamming the door as she leaves. ‘The Game’ is on his own mulling over his earlier words when there is a knock at the door, it’s Trish Stratus and not wearing much in the way of clothing. She realises that Triple H isn’t thrilled about having her as his partner, but wonders if he can show her a few basic holds so they can make the best of it. Trish has got the hammerlock sorted so they move on to the escape. HHH explains that the best way to do that is to reach down between her legs, grab his leg and sweep it so that he drops to the ground. Just as Trish is practising what he explained, in walks Stephanie catching the pair of them in a rather suspect looking position! She’s not waiting around for an explanation; thinking he’s up to no good she throws the roses at him before storming back out of there in tears. This was hilarious! During a subsequent commercial break we find out that an irate Triple H has left the arena “to hell with Mick Foley, to hell with this match and to hell with my wife!” Trish is then shown in the Commissioner’s office using her feminine charms to try and get the match cancelled now that HHH is no longer here. Foley accuses her of sexual harassment and claims that he was going to give her the night off, but now he’s assigning her a substitute partner instead, Chris Benoit. The match is finally upon us and an enziguiri by Jericho sends ‘the Crippler’ retreating to the outside. Lita with a clothesline on Trish and she too takes to the floor, however there’s no solace for her as Y2J whips Lita and she connects on a fairly average looking baseball slide dropkick. Benoit dumps Jericho over the top rope after a release front suplex then distracts the official so Shane can do some damage behind his back. Diving headbutt and Lita is in to break up the pin attempt. ‘The Crippler’ tosses her through the ropes to the outside, but he’s caught by a Jericho spinning heel kick. Flying forearm, facebuster yada, yada. ‘The Walls’ and this time Trish is the one saving her partner, grabbing Y2J by the hair so that he’s forced to let go of the hold. Bad move as Jericho puts her in ‘the Walls’. Great looking leaping rana off the top by Lita to Benoit which she follows with a pescado out onto Trish (Benoit had broken ‘the Walls’ prior to the rana). Jericho with a back elbow to ‘the Crippler’, Lionsault and he gets the clean pin on him. After the match Y2J is being interviewed by Kevin Kelly, making fun of Benoit, when he’s jumped by him. He does a number on Jericho trapping him under a steel gate and then cracking him over the head with a chair. Shane tells him that’s enough and Jericho is once more bleeding from the mouth by the time they’re done. I’m sure everyone has seen the skit with Triple H demonstrating some holds with Trish and Stephanie walking in on them, but it makes me laugh every time. The match itself was on the short side, but fun. No new ground when it comes to the men and they do a lot of their regular stuff. The women were only in for a handful of spots and neither looked terrible (Benoit took the rana fantastically and Jericho was not holding back when applying ‘the Walls’ to Trish).

Edge & Christian are around the table with Commissioner Mick as he makes fun of them for getting their asses kicked by the Acolytes. He didn’t know whether to book them against the Dudleys or the Hardyz tonight, so decided to book them against both in a three way, meaning they can lose the belts without getting pinned. Mick finds that idea especially amusing. The bout kicks off on the outside as the Hardyz and Dudleys both leave the ring to meet E&C on the ramp way as they’re making their entrance. Double shoulder charge by the Dudleys on Edge and then Bubba hot shots him across the top rope. Christian hooks his ankle from the floor as he runs the ropes and Bubba crashes face first into the mat. E&C with the quick tags before Christian tosses one of the tag belts to his partner. Ref Jimmy Korderas snatches it away from him and Bubba with a roll up for a two count. This is more like a regular tag as, bar the opening, the Hardy Boyz haven’t been involved since. D-Von with an inverted slam on Christian and Edge is forced to break up the pin. Bubba launches him over the top rope to the outside, ‘Doomsday Device’ on Christian and this time Matt is in there putting a stop to the count. The ‘Wassup’ headbutt is still not getting much response from the crowd despite Lawler joining in on comms with them. Double clothesline to the Hardyz and Bubba tells his brother to “get the tables!” No crowd participation here either, however they pop big for the prospect of some table breaking. The Dudleys prop the table on the ring apron but E&C dropkick it into them. Edge goes to spear Matt, he moves though and takes out Christian instead. ‘Twist of Fate’, ‘Swanton Bomb’ and at the count of two Bubba pulls Jeff from the ring. 3-D on Edge, but as Christian distracts the ref, Matt with a leg drop off the top to the back of D-Von’s head. Christian then throws Matt to the floor, Edge covers D-Von and E&C escape with their tag team straps. You don’t know how good it is to see Edge & Christian finally away from Kane and the Undertaker! Short match, although there was plenty going on and they crammed a lot into the time given.

‘Cheap Pop’ Mick says how he’s had the time of his life since becoming Commissioner, but on Monday while he was having the time of his life he wasn’t paying attention, and Raw turned into one of the most violent and brutal shows in WWF history. So he’s got a bit of a problem; as much as he likes being backstage and telling jokes with the ‘boys’, that’s not really why he was bought back to the WWF, he was bought back to be the Commissioner. When the Rock split Chris Benoit wide open Monday night he saw unbridled hatred in his eyes, which makes him a little concerned that at Fully Loaded he’ll be more interested in beating the crap out of him as opposed to gaining a victory. Foley believes that the WWF fans deserve more than a cheap DQ finish, more than a two minute main event, so he’s adding a further stipulation in that the title can change hands on a disqualification. Jerry Lawler likes the sound of that, but judging by the amount of boos that receives, he’s the only person in the building who does! Chris Jericho joins the Commissioner and while he thinks it’s tremendous that he wants to abolish all the brutality in the WWF, after he experienced what he experienced at the hands of Triple H, he doesn’t want the brutality to end just yet. He goes on to say how Mick Foley is the president of the “I just beat the living hell out of Triple H and left him laying within an inch of his life” club and he wants in! That’s why he asked for the ‘last man standing’ match at Fully Loaded, and although Foley granted it him, he can’t wait until then and wants “in” tonight. I should’ve known that more interruptions were on there way after how these opening segments had been going, now here comes Shane O’Mac and ‘the Crippler’. Shane congratulates Mick on the first intelligent he’s made as Commissioner in adding that special disqualification ruling to the World title match, as by doing so he has taken away the Rock’s only avenue of escape, because he knows he can’t beat Chris Benoit on his own. After instructing Foley to make a title match for tonight with the same disqualification ruling, so that ‘the Crippler’ can walk into Fully Loaded as the champion, Triple H and Stephanie join the party. As Y2J is distracted by their entrance, Benoit jumps him from behind and locks on the crossface. Foley manages to pull him off, but HHH with a pedigree behind the Commissioner’s back. Rock with the save running the two of them off and Mick sets a tag team match between the four for later in the show. A chaotic opening sees the teams pair off and fight around ringside. Triple H drops Y2J onto the announcer’s table and as Earl Hebner tries to get them in the ring, that gives Shane the opportunity to help his charge and gets some shots in on the Rock. More of those nasty sounding knife edge chops from ‘the Crippler’. ‘The Game’ launches Jericho over the table and he wipes out Michael Cole in the process. Stephanie then starts taunting Y2J as he favours those injured ribs. Rock counters the HHH backdrop with a spinning neckbreaker and tags in his partner. Jericho hammers away on Triple H until he manages to respond with a shot to that weakened mid-section. Repeated kicks to the ribs before he drops a knee across them. Release front suplex by ‘the Crippler’, dropping Y2J chest first over the top rope. Jericho ducks the clothesline and flattens Benoit with a back elbow. Lionsault but ‘the Crippler’ gets his knees up, doing even more damage to those ribs. The Earl Hebner ‘shove’ spot after he pulls HHH away from Y2J as he’s pounding on him in the corner. I hoped we’d seen the last of that one. Triple H has Jericho set for the pedigree and the Rock has had enough of standing on the apron and is in to help his partner. DDT to HHH, spinebuster to Benoit and as Hebner tries to get him out of the ring, Rock slugs him too! That’s the DQ and Michael Cole reiterates that if that happens at Fully Loaded it will cost him the title. ‘Rock Bottom’ on Benoit. HHH is about to nail ‘the Great One’ with a chair, when Jericho to the rescue with a double leg take down. Y2J puts him in ‘the Walls’ and a possessed, almost maniacal looking Rock has a snug, tight looking crossface on ‘the Crippler’. I thought the Raw go home was tremendous, but this was even better. This Benoit feud has really lit a fire under the Rock who has been outstanding in his aggressiveness, intensity and well literally everything these past couple of weeks. He’s also clearly been getting some pointers off ‘the Crippler’ in the back about how to apply an effective looking crossface!

‘Commissioner Mick’ is back after his promotional tour of Asia, although ‘the King’ says how he enjoyed it while he was gone! After getting the usual local cheap pop, he says that he’s reviewed the tape from last week’s Raw. He didn’t appreciate the way Triple H beat the crap out of Chris Jericho, and while Y2J isn’t here tonight, he has spoken to him and he wants their match at Fully Loaded to be a ‘last man standing’ match; a match that is so barbaric that the only way to win is to inflict a state of unconsciousness on your opponent. Mick sat back, visualized HHH in a state of unconsciousness at Fully Loaded and told him he’s got it! Foley is then interrupted by the Undertaker. He tells him that he doesn’t appreciate the disrespect that Kurt Angle has shown him recently and wants a match with him tonight. If he won’t make it, he’s’ going to go backstage, find him and hurt him bad. The Commissioner says that if he was trying to intimidate him it worked, when some pyro goes off and now Kane is on his way down the aisle to join the two of them. Kane threatens anarchy and chaos all over this building unless he gives his brother what he wants. I think he was going to anyway somehow! Kurt Angle appears on the big screen and is very apologetic for interrupting them, and also for hitting the Undertaker in the head with the sledgehammer. He insists that he had no intention of hitting him and was aiming for Triple H. While Foley respects Kurt’s accomplishments as an Olympic athlete, and no-one can understand more than him about wanting to hit HHH with a sledgehammer, he’s inclined to make a tag team match for tonight pitting Kane and the Undertaker against Kurt and his new found party buddy, Triple H. The ‘Brothers of Destruction’ are happy with that and make their exits, when the big screen goes split screen, and appearing on the other side to Kurt Angle is HHH. ‘The Game’ tells Commissioner Mick that he can book him in a ‘last man standing match’ at Fully Loaded, he can even book him in a handicap cage match against Kane & Taker tonight, but pleads with him not to make him team with that Olympic twerp. Kurt doesn’t take too kindly to being called a twerp and tells him that he doesn’t think he’s a twerp and he doesn’t think Triple H’s wife thinks he’s a twerp either “and that is true!” Hunter promises Angle that if he doesn’t hold up his end of the match, the same will happen to him as happened to Chris Jericho and he’ll end up a beaten and bloody mess. It’s not over as the interruptions keep a coming, with the Rock being the next to head to the ring. The Rock thinks that as Mick is giving people what they want, the People’s champion has got one request, “Benoit”. He knows that he’s already got him at Fully Loaded, but considering how he feels, he wants the WWF title match tonight. As Foley is about to reply, with Lawler thinking he’ll fold like a piece of paper, Shane McMahon, Chris Benoit, Edge and Christian appear at the top of the entrance. ‘The Crippler’ is happy that the Rock wants to put the belt on the line, but it doesn’t matter to him if it’s tonight or at Fully Loaded, he’ll make him submit and tap out to the crossface. Foley tells him that he puts the matches together here and no-one else. He proceeds to make some jokes at Edge & Christian’s expense, who claim that they’re not quite fit enough to defend their belts, before booking them in a six-man tag alongside Chris Benoit against the Rock and the Acolytes. Rock wants the fight now and meets ‘the Crippler’ on the ramp way. The two trade blows, eventually separated by a bunch of officials. Edge & Christian announce that they’re going to forfeit their five seconds tonight, they’re going to forfeit it to someone who reeks of awesomeness as much as they do. It’s forfeited to Chris Benoit and they call this pose “the next WWF champion”. Rock’s not waiting for the bell as he snatches ‘the Crippler’ on the arena floor and throws him in the ring to the Acolytes. While the APA double team Benoit, E&C do the same to the Rock as all six men are in the squared circle and with Tim White having little luck in keeping order. Eventually things calm down and we’re left with Rock and Christian as the two legal men. Tilt-a-whirl powerslam by the Rock and he’s over in the opposition corner drilling Edge and Benoit. Huge scoop powerslam from Faarooq for a two count. Double spinebuster and this time Edge is in to break up the cover. Bradshaw with a fallaway slam to Christian and an almighty powerbomb on Edge. As he’s about to give one to Christian, ‘the Crippler’ attacks him from behind. Faarooq tries to come and help his partner, but White prevents him from doing so, this allows the opposition to triple team Bradshaw though while he’s dealing with Faarooq. Edge whips Bradshaw into the turnbuckles, however as he rushes in he’s met with a football tackle. Hot tag to Faarooq who hits a spinebuster on Edge and again the pin attempt it broken up, this time by Benoit. Rock’s seen all he can take and bypasses the official to get his hands on ‘the Crippler’. A huge right sends him to the floor where he then rams his head into the commentary desk. Shane with the distraction and Benoit clocks ‘the Great One’ with a chair. A further chair shot to the back of Faarooq, ‘Downward Spiral’ and Edge with the win for his team. Following a commercial break, Rock is shown searching backstage looking for Benoit. He hears some noise coming from one of the dressing rooms and blindsides ‘the Crippler’ with a horrific chair shot to the back of the head. Edge, Christian and Shane O’Mac are also in the dressing room, and when they jump the Rock, Benoit decides to get out of there fast. Rock gets the better of the three of them and is back on the hunt for Benoit who hasn’t got far. Continuity error as he’s bleeding from the forehead even though Rock hit him in the back of the head! Rock launches ‘the Crippler’ into a locker and then a vending machine until Sgt. Slaughter and some officials look to placate the situation. Fat chance and just as Shane and Benoit are about to escape in a limo, Rock catches up with them and another nasty full force unprotected chair shot to the head. ‘Rock Bottom’ on the limo and finally Shane is able to get him in the car and the two get out of there.

Shane McMahon says that everyone seems to be wondering what the relationship between himself, the man leading the WWF into the next millennium, and Chris Benoit, the next World Wrestling Federation champion, is; they’re just friends. He’s always respected Chris Benoit but just recently has grown to admire everything that he stands for; he’s a man who is goal orientated, who is deadly focussed, cold hearted and who is absolutely ruthless. Shane recaps what happened on last week’s Raw and Smackdown calling Benoit an ‘equal opportunist’, as he was only too happy to put the crossface on Chyna, and then claims that the Rock is now ducking ‘the Crippler’. Benoit calls the Rock a coward, someone who hides behind a woman’s skirt and asks to prove him wrong. He’s not asking him to put the belt on the line tonight, but when he beats him, he wants him one on one in a title match at Fully Loaded where he will then become the WWF World champion. The Rock is out, says he has no problem in proving him wrong and accepts the challenge. Eddy Guerrero and Chyna try to ambush Benoit and Shane, and while Chyna gets a chair shot in on Shane O’Mac, ‘the Crippler’ ducks out of there in time. Match time and Shane and Benoit are outside of the ring on opposites sides, with Shane trying to catch the Rock’s eye so ‘the Crippler’ can get the early upper hand on him. That doesn’t work as Rock blocks Benoit’s right hand and tees off with some punches of his own. Scoop powerslam for two. Rock whips ‘the Crippler’ into the turnbuckles, but then runs into a back elbow and gets taken down with a belly to back suplex. Benoit goes to town on ‘the Great One’ and lands a Northern Lights suplex for a two count of his own. Jeez, he’s holding nothing back on those knife edge chops here! Rock blocks the third rolling German and counters with a belly to belly. After a spinebuster, Shane pulls Earl Hebner out of the ring, throws him into the ring post and tears off his own shirt to reveal a referee’s top underneath. Oh dear, looks like Shane has appointed himself the match ref. Rock looks at Shane like he wants to layeth the smack down on him, but Shane is pointing to his top and saying how he can’t put his hands on an official. He doesn’t care about that and chases off after him, however when Shane runs back into the ring he’s met by a ‘Crippler’ clothesline. Crossface, Rock fights the hold slowly inching his way ever closer to the ropes, he goes to grab them, but isn’t quite close enough and his hand comes straight down on the mat. Shane calls for the bell, citing that as a ‘tap’ and declares Benoit the winner. Job done, title match in the bag for Fully Loaded, the two head off back up the aisle when Earl Hebner awakes from his nap and disqualifies ‘the Crippler’ for outside interference, reversing the decision. That doesn’t sit too well and they return to the ring where Benoit gets a shot in on Hebner before Rock is back to his feet and he high tails it out of there. In the confusion Rock ‘Rock Bottoms’ one of the officials who had came out to try and restore some order. I’m sure this will lead to Rock wanting to put the World title on the line so he can get his hands on Benoit and Shane, but my main gripe in this, even if we hadn’t had Hebner reversing the decision, is how on earth was Shane expecting that Commissioner Foley would let the initial result stand? There’s not a hope in hell he’d have let him get away with attacking Hebner, installing himself as replacement referee and then view Rock’s ‘tap’ as a tap.

wanting to complain cause my views are different to yours and i dont make my lists up im doing a llst year my year in the 2000's the doing by decade list i make list every year like most people do Read my fucking post again. I wanted to complain about you BEFORE your comments in the rape culture thread, and my reasons for wanting to complain had nothing to do with your views. Idiot. Grimmas has got the right idea when it comes to you.

I never complained about him, after reading his posts in the rape culture thread and now turning up with another list that he makes up on the fly in the 2000 PWO2K forum I wish I had.

Derrick King is holding his own in the initial exchanges until Saturn picks him up off his feet and drives him backwards into the turnbuckles, where he then repeatedly shoulder barges him in the mid-section. Release Northern Lights suplex with Saturn hammerlocking DK’s own arm behind him so that he lands on it. Standing armbar submission that he gives up on, preferring to punish King some more. Belly to back suplex with Saturn again hammerlocking the arm. Judo throw into an armbar, and just like last time Saturn gives up on the submission. He misses the moonsault and DK starts to fire back. Flying headscissors followed by a flying clothesline, however he telegraphs the backdrop and Saturn throws him over the top to the outside with King taking a crazy face first bump all the way to the floor. After driving him into the ring steps Saturn rolls DK back into the ring and picks up a steel chair. The official gets in front of him, warning him not to use it, meanwhile inside Terri comes off the top (in her high heels!) with a crossbody to King. Saturn takes the ref’s advice deciding against the chair and hits the ‘Death Valley Driver’ for the win. After being one of the MVPs for Power Pro Wrestling in 2000, it’s cool to see DK in a WWF ring. To the surprise of no-one who’s watched any of his Memphis stuff he worked and bumped well, highlighted by that one crazy bump on his face where Saturn through him to the outside. I enjoyed Saturn’s targeting of his shoulder and out of the two Metal/Jakked matches we’ve watched, would take this over the Crash/Low Ki match from a couple of months ago.

Wow, not only does Low Ki get entrance music, but he’s introduced second, coming out after Crash. Kevin Kelly refers to Ki as “a newcomer to the World Wrestling Federation” which implies that he’s part of the company (which he isn’t), so he’s getting shown more respect and treated better than your normal run of the mill enhancement talent. Out of the present roster Crash is the ideal opponent for him as the size factor, which would be evident against virtually anyone else, is a non-issue here. Ki dropkicks Crash in the legs after he’s leapfrogged over him, then kicks his grounded opponent three times, twice in the sternum and once to the head. Handspring kick in the corner. Crash escapes the rear chinlock but a double clothesline sees both men go down. Ki was supposed to run up the turnbuckles and back flip over the charging Crash, however he loses his footing up there. Give him his due mind, between some quick thinking and a favourable change of camera angle they just about rescue it. Backbreaker, but Ki then misses the moonsault. Tornado bulldog off the turnbuckles by Crash and he gets the win. It’s strange that Ki got that entrance and introduction; maybe they were trying to play to his ego and show that they wanted him? He wasn’t squashed in the match either, probably getting in more offense than Crash does. It’s unfortunate that he slipped on that back flip as that’s the only real negative when it comes to him. This would be nowhere near the top of Ki’s matches for the year, but it’s interesting to see him in this environment in a fine, if unspectacular, TV bout.

Kurt Angle has requested a rematch with the Undertaker and he surmises that everyone is probably wondering why. The reason he has requested it is because the Undertaker didn’t beat Kurt Angle at Fully Loaded, he beat a man living in fear for his life. He’s still here though, still walking, still talking and is “a okay”! There’s an expression in the sports world “wait until next year”, but he says “nuts to that” and wait until right now instead! Despite his earlier bravado, when the time comes, Angle isn’t too keen to engage, keeping his distance and backing away. Taker eventually gets his hands on him and within the first 60 seconds hits the chokeslam. Just as he does though, over the guard rail hops Shane McMahon who’s being pursued by the Big Show. Shane jumps into the ring and gets decked by Taker who then grabs him around the neck. Show begs to let him be the one to chokeslam Shane and Taker is happy for him to do so, handing him over. He returns his attention to Angle, but the moment he turns his back Show, lets Shane go and drops Taker with a clothesline (nice to see Taker go down for someone). That’s why Kurt wanted the rematch then! The three of them triple team Taker, attacking his leg before Show chokeslams him, all while JR screams how it’s nothing but a conspiracy. The EMTs are there with the stretcher, but like Taker’s going to get wheeled out of there! As Michael Cole tries to get a word with the Undertaker backstage, he’s jumped once more by the three of them, culminating with Shane breaking a cinder block over his knee.

When Michael Cole asks Kurt his feelings on teaming with Triple H tonight, a man he obviously doesn’t like after he cost him a match against Kane on Smackdown, he says that he’s been all over the world, he’s seen many people and there are some that are just bad apples; HHH is a bad apple. Cole thinks that he had some justification for his actions though as he did catch Kurt hugging his wife. So Michael Cole equates a hug to being on a par with sleeping with someone! Angle tells him that all it was was a pre-match hug with his friend, he felt nothing and questions that you can’t hug friends anymore? Kurt then says how he and Cole aren’t even friends but he’ll give him a hug, after which he terminates the interview. Investigative journalist Michael Cole is at it again when he bumps into Stephanie, asking what her relationship with Kurt Angle is. She tells him that ‘relationship’ implies sexuality, and a woman of her principles would never share her favours with Kurt Angle or anyone else besides her husband Hunter. She’s loyal, faithful, a committed wife and is insulted by his insinuations! Triple H and Kurt have words in the dressing room, with ‘the Game’ admitting that he doesn’t like him, but if they stay out of each other’s way they can put their differences aside and get through this. Kurt tells him that’s a deal and wonders if he wants to shake on it, or just wants a hug! After what’s gone on recently, Taker’s looking to get his hands on Angle, however Kurt circles the ring keeping his distance from him. He doesn’t realise Kane is on the inside though and when he rolls in, that’s who he’s met by. Running lariat in the corner, he then puts Kurt over his shoulder and is about to tag his brother, when Angle slides down his back and is straight over to his own corner tagging Triple H, even though ‘the Game’ wasn’t looking or asking for it. Big side slam on Hunter and Kurt is in to break up the pin. Taker runs into an elbow, HHH drops him with a clothesline and now Angle wants in! Haha, Kurt hits him once then tags back out! Triple H with a neckbreaker on Kane. Some double team action on the ‘Big Red Machine’ while at the same time Angle is making sure to keep an eye on where the Undertaker is. Kane blocks the double suplex and responds with one of his own to both men. Big powerslam on HHH followed by a top rope clothesline. Angle is again in to break up the pin attempt, however this time the Undertaker is waiting for him when he does. Taker tosses him to the floor and over the commentary table as action continues in the ring. Kurt’s had enough of this and takes off to the back with Taker in pursuit. Triple H has Kane set for the pedigree when he spots Chris Jericho at the top of the entrance way being held back by a bunch of referees. Kane counters the pedigree with a backdrop and gets the win after a chokeslam. Jericho fights his way through the officials and starts pummelling HHH as the two roll around on the mat. After it looks like they’ve regained control, a couple of the refs help ‘the Game’ to the back, but all three get wiped out by a crazy Y2J dive over the top rope to the floor. The match wasn’t up to much, but it was funny watching Angle keep running away and trying to avoid getting into it with the Undertaker, unless he’s helpless that is! Excellent angle advancement in three separate storylines though with Kurt and Taker, Kurt and Triple H (this slow build is fantastic) and Triple H and Jericho. Y2J fighting his way through the officials to get his hands on ‘the Game’, their heated fight on the mat and then that suicide dive was a hell of a go home on the final Raw before Fully Loaded.

The Hardyz sprint to the ring and this one gets underway before Lillian Garcia has finished making her ring introductions. Bubba tries to throw Jeff to the outside, but he doesn’t go through the ropes cleanly, hitting the bottom one and getting kind of whiplashed. Leg drop off the middle by Matt to D-Von, followed by ‘Poetry in Motion’ for a two. Irish whip is reversed and D-Von with a flying back elbow before tagging in his brother. Bubba tears off Jeff’s t-shirt then stiffly slaps him in the chest. ‘Doomsday Device’ to Jeff and the ‘wassup’ headbutt to the groin of Matt. The Dudleys collect a couple of tables and Bubba sets his up on the outside. As he goes to help D-Von with his, Steven Richards, in ‘Right to Censor’ gear, runs out and steals the table disappearing to the back with it. They stop what they’re doing, stepping out of the ring, but Richards has already high tailed it out of there. Plancha off the top turnbuckle to the floor by Matt, Jeff then goes one better, hitting a plancha off the top rung of the ladder. He’s pretty lucky all being told as it looks like no-one was holding the ladder for him and he only just connects on everyone, coming up short on his intended target. As Lita checks on the Matt and Jeff she’s jumped by Trish Stratus who has got T&A with her. They put the boots to the Hardyz which leads to the ref calling for the bell, presumably disqualifying the Dudleys for the interference. T&A position a table and ladder in the ring, laying Lita across the table while Trish climbs the ladder. She’s about to splash her from the very top, however Lita’s up off the table and climbing the ladder herself. Lita goes for a superplex, but Trish shoves her backwards and she goes crashing backwards from the penultimate rung and through the table. The medics are out to check on her and she is wheeled out of there on a stretcher. Backstage they try to put a neck brace on Lita, when she goes all superwoman, gets off the stretcher and says “I’m going to get that bitch!” I think this might be the start of the Dudleys crowd interaction spots with Bubba yelling “wassup” before D-Von hits the diving headbutt, and then later telling D-Von to “get the tables”. Early days and the crowd didn’t join in with them, although it won’t be long before they do. We also have the start of the ‘Right to Censor’ faction with Steven Richards stealing a table in his attempt to prevent the Dudleys from using it. Awesome bump by Lita going through the table, and also Trish is braver then me climbing to the top of the ladder, even if she didn’t do the splash off it. Really wish Lita hadn’t blown it all off though by the way she got off the stretcher and walked away right at the end of the segment.

Triple H says that it’s no secret he and Mick Foley have never got on, now, even when he’s 10,000 miles away, he’s still trying to screw with him and tonight has booked him in a ‘no disqualification’ match against the Undertaker. He’s always been one step ahead of him though, it didn’t matter if he was Mankind, Dude Love or Cactus Jack, he always came out on top. Now, after he’s retired him, Mick Foley’s still trying to screw him over, but he remains one step ahead and proved that on Monday night. ‘The Game’ recaps what they did to Chris Jericho on Raw and explains how it was all an elaborate plot right from the start. He goes on to say that was only the beginning and if Chris Jericho makes it to Fully Loaded, he’ll finish what he started. In regards to his match with the Undertaker, he warns him that if you screw with him you end up in an ambulance, and backs that up with clips of it happening to Y2J on Raw. HHH tries to sneak attack the Undertaker but he sees him coming and gets in the first shots. A big clothesline, Taker drops an elbow and Triple H kicks out of the cover at two. ‘The Game’ ducks under a swinging arm, countering whatever Taker had planned with a neckbreaker. He doesn’t stay in control for long though, running into a big boot after Taker reversed an Irish whip. The ‘Last Ride’ is signalled for, but Triple H rolls under the bottom rope and takes off in the direction of the dressing room. Taker sets off after him and brings him back to ringside where he slams his head into the ring steps. As he chokes Hunter on the commentary table, Steph pulls him by the hair trying to get him to stop. Taker turns and snatches her around the throat, but before he’s able to lay a hand on her HHH is back to his feet. He decks ‘the Game’ and returns to stalking Steph. Again though Triple H comes to his wife’s protection, this time jabbing Taker in the ribs and then cracking him over the back with a steel chair. The two trade blows with Taker eventually getting the upper hand. Powerslam for a super close near fall. HHH counters the backdrop with a facebuster, goes for the pedigree but Taker counters that. Kurt Angle is out; he picks up the sledgehammer and swings it at Triple H as Taker has him up for the chokeslam. ‘The Game’ falls to the mat though and he connects with the Undertaker instead. Kurt’s face and reaction says it all as its clear the shot was meant for HHH. Hunter makes the cover, getting the three, and he’s helped out of there by Stephanie.

Kurt is pacing backstage, clearly not looking forward to this match, when out from another room walks Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley. He tells her that he’s glad to see her, before saying how it’s bad enough that Commissioner Foley books him in a match against the Undertaker at Fully Loaded, but tonight with Kane as well? They both agree that it’s unfair before Kurt asks her for a hug. Steph’s a bit taken back, though is more than happy to and seems to be enjoying it. Triple H exits from the same door as Stephanie and catches them. Kurt quickly pulls away and says how he’s got to be on his way and leaves for his match. When Hunter questions Steph about what he just saw, she tells him that she was just walking by when Angle grabbed and forced himself upon her. Oh Steph! Angle is concerned as he makes his entrance and keeps checking behind him in anticipation for HHH, so much so that even the pyro makes him jump! This is reminiscent of when Kane & Taker battled Edge & Christian with how dominant Kane is here. He blocks all of Kurt’s suplex attempts, does overhead military presses with him and hits a flying clothesline off the top. Kane goes for the chokeslam but Angle repeatedly kicks away at his leg to put a stop it. Shoulder tackle to the leg and still Kane won’t drop off his feet. Eventually he does and Kurt stomps away at his knee. He wraps Kane’s leg around the ring post when out from the back comes Triple H who jumps him and throws him into the ring steps. He tosses him back inside where Kane can finally land that chokeslam for the win.

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley has a proposition for Chris Jericho; she wants them to make up and invites him to join her in the ring, promising to make it worth his while. She knows that Y2J didn’t mean everything he said about her and when he kissed her at the ‘King of the Ring’, she liked it, and thinks that he liked it too. Jericho appears on the big screen and Steph talks about putting the past behind them and being friends. Y2J is ecstatic that she feels this way as for the past two weeks he’s thought about nothing but that wonderful kiss. He’s been pining for the day that he could do it again and now his dreams are coming true. Jericho tells her that he’s coming out to give her the biggest smooch she’s ever had and to just wait there for him. Stephanie puckers up, Y2J’s music plays, but when the lights come back on there is no sign of him; only X-Pac and Road Dogg waiting at the entrance as they were ready to jump him. Triple H joins the other members of D-X and Jericho is back on the big screen saying how that was the most pathetic attempt of an ambush he’s ever seen in his life. After making some more cracks about HHH and Steph, a match is set up between the two for Fully Loaded. D-X are in the back going over what just happened out there. X-Pac thinks it was a stupid idea anyway, which Triple H doesn’t take to kindly to what with it being his idea, and he says how he doesn’t see him or the Road Dogg coming up with anything. Pac tells him to calm down, but HHH is hot that Jericho keeps getting one over on them and shoves him backwards. Now Dogg is trying to play peacemaker. Despite his efforts though challenges are issued and the two decide to settle it in the ring later. Road Dogg tries to talk Triple H out of the match when they’re both in the bathroom but ‘the Game’ is having none of it “X-Pac’s getting his ass kicked!” He tells him that he’ll live to regret it and he’s not going to stick around to watch. After returning from a commercial break, Dogg is shown carrying his bags and making his way out of the building. Onto the match and Triple H and X-Pac again exchange words, HHH with a shove but this time Pac responds with a right, dropping ‘the Game’, before unloading with a bunch more punches. Flying clothesline, and as Pac looks to be asking “why?” HHH nails him with a right of his own. He tosses him to the outside and the two are now going at it on the floor. High knee by ‘the Game’ and Steph gives him a round of applause for that one. Pac reverses the Irish whip and catches Triple H with a spinning heel kick. Spinning kick to the chest and Hunter collapses in the corner. He avoids the bronco buster, but Pac then sidesteps HHH’s charge and, in the same motion, launches him over the top rope to the outside. Sensing an opportunity to get one over on ‘the Game’, Chris Jericho rushes to ringside and starts putting the boots to him. Y2J looks at Pac, almost hoping to gain some approval, but he points to the entrance and walking down the aisle is Road Dogg carrying a sledgehammer. The penny drops and he realises he’s been set up. D-X then destroy Jericho three-on-one (four if you count Steph). ‘X-Factor’, pedigree, sledgehammer shots to the ribs and the head, by the time they’re finished Y2J is busted open badly and bleeding from the mouth. He’s taken out of there on a stretcher and wheeled into an ambulance to go to hospital. Well they hooked me! This was an awesome angle and, just like Chris Jericho, I totally bought into the idea that D-X were falling apart at the seams. I’d like to think that they had planned this scenario down to the ‘T’, right from Y2J not buying Steph’s words at the beginning and then it went exactly as they’d hoped and without a hitch from there. Tremendous stuff.

Shodate has thankfully been canned, but Baker for a Hall of Fame? And Shodate's entire basis was that he trained all these guys who are seen as top talents. I'll give him Doug Williams and potentially Jodie Fleisch, but I'd be interested to here how much of a hand Baker had in actually training someone like Fleisch (I can't imagine Andre was teaching him springboard shooting stars and running up walls). Even the likes of Devitt and later Sabre Jr. who reportedly trained at Hammerlock, how much involvement did Andre have in training them? Fair point about Hammerlock's role in the evolution of British wrestling in the mid 90s, especially as it was probably the precursor for the FWA and the boom period that followed in the early to mid 2000s.

Tiger Jeet Singh can be described in a lot of ways but technique and execution among realism isn't some of the ones I've ever heard. histocal imptace also is taken ot account Bullshit. No Flair. No McMahon. this was based on people who think should be HOFs who are not at this time Then why did you include Muchnick, Onita, Shire, Sayama, Baba, Rikidozan, Santo, McManus, Thesz and countless others who are already in the WON Hall of Fame?

This is a wrestling forum to discuss wrestling, have you any idea how ridiculous you sound claiming you have 'nuclear heat' in places?

Commissioner Foley, who’s not at the arena tonight, has added a stipulation to the match that no-one can interfere in it, or even confront Chris Jericho backstage, for if they do, Triple H will lose his World title shot at Fully Loaded. As soon as the Road Dogg heard the explosion on Y2J’s entrance music he runs up the ramp and has already started attacking him by the time the lights in the arena come back on. The two fight down the aisle and into the ring as D-X watch the action on a monitor backstage. Jericho kicks Dogg through the ropes to the apron where he nails him with the springboard dropkick. Dogg takes a spill to the floor but he manages to turn the tide, dropping Y2J face first onto the ring steps. He works the heat section although it’s all rather basic and he doesn’t seem to be doing much. Flying forearm by Jericho, facebuster, you know the drill with him it’s the same every match. Y2J looks for ‘the Walls’ and the crowd immediately turn to the entrance way awaiting the run in. I’m guessing they haven’t been told about the ‘no interference’; still it’s not a good sign that they’ve been conditioned like this. Road Dogg is able to kick him off anyway. Stinging lefts to the jaw and then Dogg drops him with a right. Fuck, the Dogg with a moonsault, though like that was ever hitting its target! A pretty careless Lionsault with Jericho’s leg crashing into Road Dogg’s face and he gets the win. After a commercial break and angry Triple H shoves the Dogg, wondering how he could let that happen while X-Pac is forced to play peacemaker, getting between them and reminding them that they’re on the same side. ‘Foley’ adding the stipulation was a good touch as Stephanie has been all over Jericho’s matches recently, so it was nice to see him in a straight one on one encounter without her interference. This started out strong with Dogg jumping Y2J at the entrance, but struggled when he was working on top as he’s not the most exciting or diverse of workers, and as I said when running down the match, he’s just a very simple, basic worker. Things picked up towards the end, although in watching quite a lot of Jericho matches recently, the guys got a formula and he sticks to it. The Lionsault was careless and he should’ve made sure Dogg was positioned correctly as I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s sporting a black eye come Smackdown.

Commissioner Mick says that for one hour and fifty eight minutes on Monday night he had a tremendous time, but then things kinda went downhill from there. While he will take partial responsibility for some of the decisions he made, he won’t take it all, because there are two gentlemen who also deserve some blame, that being Shane McMahon and Chris Benoit. He wants to hear an explanation from either one, and when he questions “who’s got the guts?” Chris Benoit has got the guts. Mick’s not happy with what he did to Chyna and the Rock on Monday night, and wants Benoit to tell him why he did what he did. ‘The Crippler’ says that he has no remorse or compassion for what he did and doesn’t have to explain himself to anyone, least of all him. There’s only one thing on his mind at the moment, that’s WWF gold, and he’ll go through anyone who stands in his way to get it. He recommends that Foley puts him in a title match against the Rock tonight, but Mick’s not acquiescing so easily and will have a think about it. Edge & Christian join the two of them in the ring and immediately start sucking up to Benoit, and think with themselves as the WWF tag team champions, it’s only right their fellow Canadian is the WWF World champion. Foley says that they’ve opened his eyes so it’s only right that they spend a bit more quality time with ‘the Crippler’. The Rock deserves a piece of Chris Benoit after what happened to him, tonight then they’re going to have a six man contest, pitting Edge, Christian and Chris Benoit against the Rock, Eddy Guerrero and Chyna. E&C don’t seem too keen on the idea, but Benoit remains stone faced throughout. Rock is with ‘the Coach’ backstage and says how when Chris Benoit attacked him from behind with a steel chair on Monday night he thought he had stepped into the big leagues, but he had no idea of the world that he had stepped into. He claims that he’s the greatest technical wrestler in the WWF, well tonight the Rock is going to technically whip his candy ass all over Fort Lauderdale, Florida! Edge cheap shots Eddy from behind as he’s trying to goad ‘the Crippler’ to get in there with him. Headscissors take down by Eddy, he’s about to suplex Edge when Benoit is now doing the cheap shotting, dropping him with a lariat. A middle finger in the Rock’s direction brings him into the ring, however that’s just a ploy to distract the official, as while he’s trying to get Rock back out of there, Edge and Benoit double team Eddy behind his back. Reverse DDT by Christian who then hammers away on Eddy with right hands. Cracking scoop powerslam for two. Benoit with those brutal chops of his as Eddy desperately needs to try and make a tag. Huracanrana counter and he’s finally able to make it to the Rock. E&C bump and feed for him, Samoan drop to Edge and a spinebuster for Christian. He rips off the elbow pad and throws it into the crowd in preparation for ‘the People’s Elbow’, but Chyna is desperate for him to tag her. Rock runs the ropes, decks Edge on the apron, then Benoit and then gives her the tag she craved. Powerbomb on Christian and Chyna gets the pin for her team. After the match the Rock and ‘the Crippler’ continue to exchange words when Rock is attacked from behind by Shane McMahon. He takes off in pursuit of him, yet that leaves Eddy and Chyna all alone against the three of them and again Benoit puts her in the crossface. Rock and Shane’s chase sees them return to ringside where he Rock Bottom’s Edge, but before he’s able to get his hands on ‘the Crippler’ he’s out of there and on his way to the back with Shane O’Mac. The opening promo work with Commissioner Mick was tremendous. I thought that Foley was going to cut Benoit’s promo for him, but he was just biding his time, waiting for his moment and the way he did that really fitted in with his character. I wasn’t so keen on the arrival of Edge and Christian, and it all felt kinda flimsy the way it led to the announcement of the six-man. I get that they’re entertaining but all this comedy makes them less serious and threatening. That’s not helped when one of them does a clean job for Chyna in the match! As bad as the booking was, I understand them, to a degree, getting steamrollered by Kane and the Undertaker, but they should never be losing clean to her. The big take from this though is Rock vs Benoit and the fact that the pair didn’t touch (bar that one punch by Rock) makes you want it even more. Cleverly done and this is cementing ‘the Crippler’ right at the top of the WWF.

Rikishi was ready for the ‘Big Valbowski’, getting in the first shots on his foe. Whip to the turnbuckle with authority before throwing Val through the ropes to the floor where he hurls him into the ring steps. He picks up a steel chair but the ref grabs hold of it to prevent him from using it. Rikishi decides to roll him back into the ring, although that gives Val the opening he needs, booting the big man in the mid-section and then DDT’ing him to the mat. He heads upstairs, however is too slow and Rikishi with a right to the gut as Val takes a great bump in crotching himself. Press slam off the top half way across the ring. Teddy Long then gets squashed as he’s standing in the wrong place after an Irish whip is reversed. Samoan drop and as Rikishi makes the cover, Trish waves for the troops, Test & Albert. Test with a big elbow off the top however Rikishi kicks out of the pin, but in doing so he presses Val onto Long who gets bumped again! As T&A watch on from the ramp way they’re jumped by Too Cool and the two teams fight to the back. Rikishi counters the sunset flip with a sit down splash but still no Teddy Long. Now Tazz is out and he continues his attacking of the faces, this time stealing a video camera off one of the camera men and KO’ing Rikishi with it as he’s about to give Val the stinkface. ‘Money Shot’ and old man Teddy comes around as we have ourselves a new Intercontinental champion. Too Cool return to check on Rikishi while a champagne celebration is going on in Val’s dressing room. This was actually fairly heated, a stark contrast to Val’s recent match with Jeff Hardy, and I imagine is a result of when Val bloodied Rikishi up last month. Would like to hear an explanation from Tazz or some reasoning for his actions lately in the random attacks he’s been dishing out.

‘King Kurt’ is carrying his crown and sceptre out with him. He doesn’t do this often, but would like to apologize to the Undertaker and his brother for costing them the WWF tag team titles last Monday night. His intentions were only to help his good friends Edge & Christian, and he knows that the Undertaker has more than enough integrity to forgive him! Y2J has some apologies of his own he wishes to make; firstly to all the Jerichoholics for having to listen to another one of Kirk Angel’s (sic) long winded speeches! Secondly to Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, he quickly changes his mind though and decides that he doesn’t want to apologize to her, and finally he wants to apologize for putting Triple H through a table last Thursday on Smackdown, although he really quite enjoyed that and can’t wait to do it again! As soon as the bell rings out wanders Stephanie to ringside in order to keep a closer eye on proceedings. Angle backdrops Jericho over the top rope, but he lands on the apron, runs up the turnbuckles and levels Kurt with a missile dropkick. Another hot shot, this time as part of Angle’s repertoire! Snap suplex for a two. Kurt sends Y2J flying through the ropes to the outside and slams him into the announcer’s table. Loud “Y2J, Y2J” chant from the fans. Jericho ducks under a clothesline and hits that glorious double underhook backbreaker across his knee. Spinning heel kick. Angle goes for a leap frog, but Jericho catches him mid-air and powerslams him to the mat. Facebuster, and as Y2J makes the cover, Stephanie is up on the apron distracting Tim White. Jericho takes a swing at her, although she drops to the floor out of his reach just in time. Angle tries to get the jump on him, however Y2J sees him coming and gets in first with a boot to the stomach. ‘Walls of Jericho’ but Stephanie is at it again, this time using Kurt’s sceptre to low blow Jericho. Her work for the day done, she makes her way to the back as Angle gets the win after the ‘Olympic slam’. Following a commercial break Kurt is shown celebrating backstage, throwing food and drink from the crew’s buffet everywhere. We get a Mideon sighting who informs Kurt that he just got some of that drink over the Undertaker’s motorbike. Angle doesn’t bother to stick around to see Taker’s reaction, hopping straight into a taxi without even bothering to change out of his ring gear or collect his bags!

Chris Benoit looks all business tonight. A fast paced start and Eddy takes ‘the Crippler’ down with a huracanrana. The Irish whip is reversed and Benoit keeps hold of the arm, hotshotting Eddy onto the top rope. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Guerrero as the match is flowing one way and then the other. The direction changes again, this time after Benoit dumps Eddy across the top rope after a face first suplex. Can’t ever remember Benoit gorilla pressing anyone before, but he does so tonight, dropping Eddy chest first to the mat. Stomachbreaker as ‘the Crippler’ focuses his attack on the ribs. A couple of vicious chops but he then runs into an elbow. Eddy drives him back into the corner where he unloads and dishes out some nasty knife edge chops of his own. Benoit blocks the tornado DDT and snake eyes’ Eddy onto the top turnbuckle. He picks up the European title ready to slug him with it, when Chyna enters the ring, snatches it off him and levels Benoit with a right for the weak DQ. Eddy dropkicks ‘the Crippler’ and he goes flying backwards into Chyna, knocking her down. As Eddy checks on her, Benoit blasts him with the title belt and then puts Chyna in the crossface as a bunch of officials struggle to get him to break the hold. Despite the weak finish the work was strong (naturally), although it did have a feeling that it wasn’t really going anywhere. Post-match with Benoit snapping and putting Chyna in the crossface was great as she’s been protected to the point you rarely see her in a position like that. The crowd were almost hushed into silence when it happened. If possible, there seems to be an added focus and intensity to Benoit here than usual.