[2001-01-08-WWF-Raw] Matt & Jeff Hardy & Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn

[GSR]

A quick recap of what went down on Smackdown, including Lita slapping Dean Malenko across the face after he forced himself on her, which led to him DDT’ing her in response and costing her the match against Terri.  Jericho and the Hardyz meet the Radicalz on the floor as this one gets underway on the outside.  Matt throws Dean inside, focusing all his attention on him as Jerry Lawler speculates that he might have a crush on Lita and is in fact jealous of Malenko.  Saturn comes to his partner’s rescue but is quickly on the receiving end of some Hardy double teaming.  As the ref looks to get Matt out and onto the apron, Benoit is in, blindsiding Jeff from behind.  The Radicalz take it to Jeff, Benoit dumping him on his head with a belly to back suplex before a pair of neckbreakers.  Saturn puts him over his shoulder, as if for a backbreaker, but then runs him upside down into the turnbuckles.  Jeff fights off the attempted superplex and hits the ‘Swanton Bomb’.  That’s taken more out of him than his opponent and Saturn is able to tag out first.  As Jeff staggers around Benoit clubs him in the back, sending him careering into his own corner where he then makes the tag.  Interesting to note that with the exception of the opening few seconds where Matt was going after him, Malenko hasn’t been involved once since.  Jericho with a spinning heel kick to Benoit, a clothesline for Saturn, a shot for Malenko and when Terri climbs up onto the apron he launches her off it to the floor.  Saturn catches him with a release overhead belly to belly, but in typical Jerry Lawler fashion he’s now more concerned with Terri than the match.  As Benoit looks for the crossface, Jericho counters with a backslide for the win.  The Malenko/Lita storyline continues after the match as she pulls him down off the apron and he hits his head on it, leading to him grabbing a tray of hotdogs from an usher which he throws at her, covering her in mustard.

[soup23]

King claims that Matt has the hots for Lita.  JR agrees and says a lot of people that don’t have the hots for Lita are not married. Fun shot at King at Malenko. Radicalz start working over Hardy and each member is given some moments to highlight. Benoit is presented as the most proficient technician with a neckbreker and nearfall. Saturn actually looks motivated and game in this match as he gets shove off the turnbuckle and Jeff hits the swantom leading to the hot tag with Jericho.  Jericho and Benoit now battle it out. Terri is on the apron and Jericho sends her to the floor. Saturn belly to belly suplexes Jericho after that. Benoit tries to take advantage with a Crippler Crossface and a roll up by Jericho gets the pin.  Lita pulls Malenko off the apron and Malenko pulls a concession cart and dumps it on Lita. *3/4

After the match we see Lita taking a shower and Dean being a peeping Tom. Hardy’s attack Malenko and try to break his leg using a table.

[AstroBoy]

Good energetic trios with Benoit standing out as just so sharp and aggressive.  Jericho's hot tag is good and Saturn gets a few nice moments too.  Jericho gets the win and the postmatch is all about Malenko and Lita