[2000-11-23-WWF-Smackdown] The Rock vs William Regal

[soup23]

The Regal vs Rock promo debate here was excellent and Regal compliments Rock’s comedy probably better than anyone else we have seen in 2000. Rock going into the British accent was especially great with Regal’s reaction facials. This leads up to a match tonight where Rock says he is going to besmirch Regal with a turkey. Match is fun with Regal showing a lot of offense and Rock being generous with him. Regal is willing to bump off of Rock’s new wrestling moves so you have him moving against the hiptoss and Regal also utilizes some nice cutoffs to keep the match hanging in the balance. Rikishi is out for a better look throughout the match. Rock ends up winning the Sharpshooter which you didn’t see much. Regal is waving to the crowd after the match and gets hit with a Rock Bottom. **1/4

 

[GSR]

William Regal would like to pass on greetings and well wishes to all of his friends in Fort Lauderdale!  As Thanksgiving is almost upon them, and with him being an ‘Ambassador of Goodwill’, he is here to tell them that Thanksgiving is everything that is wrong with their country.  Regal puts down the festivities, the overweight disgusting families gorging themselves on food that spend all day watching cartoons, when he is interrupted by the Rock.  An electric ovation for the ‘Great One’ here in his home state and for any that were unaware he informs them that “finally the Rock has come back...home”.  Rock has a slightly different opinion to Regal who doesn’t like him coming out here and besmirching his words.  The two go back and forth for a bit until Rock talks about all his fans who would give thanks if he were just to walk down this ramp, get in the ring and proceed to wallop his candy butt all over Fort Lauderdale.  When Regal wonders if that is a challenge, Rock tells him to bet his British bum it is!  There are some glorious facials from Regal throughout all of this.

Regal momentarily averts his gaze out to the crowd and ‘the Brahma Bull’ instantly takes advantage.  Rikishi walks out a matter of seconds into the match, standing at the top of the stage.  He does provide a distraction to Rock who has his eyes on him now as well as his opponent.  Rock side steps a charging Regal and gives him a helping hand through the ropes to the outside.  Regal reverses the whip on the floor sending Rock crashing into the ring post and then clotheslines him over the barricade and into the crowd.  They fight in amongst the fans before returning to ringside, Rock managing to avoid a swinging chair.  Back inside Rock blocks a left and starts to fire back until Regal ducks under a shot and forearms him across the back of the head.  Rock with a boot to the gut followed by a DDT.  Regal kicks out after a belly to belly suplex and then keeps hold of Rock’s arm on the Irish whip as he catches him with the Hangman’s Noose neckbreaker.  He uses the ropes for some additional leverage on the lateral press but this time its Rock doing the kicking out.  The end is nigh for our ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ though as Rock catches a kick, dragon screw leg whip and he locks on a ‘Sharpshooter’ for the submission.  Post-match Rock climbs the turnbuckles and stares a hole through Rikishi, gesturing at him to “just bring it”, but Rikishi says to save it for another day.  As Regal comically tries to explain that he’s still the European champion Rock gives him a ‘Rock Bottom’.