[2001-01-08-WWF-Raw] The Rock & Jack Doan & Teddy Long vs RIkishi & Kane (Handicap)

[soup23]

Vince starts the show with a new year resolution for us all….. respecting authority.  A sign cuts to shut up you jackass and King yells WHAT at the sign saying that. We get footage seeing Rock hit the Rock Bottom on two referees from SmackDown and how he doesn’t respect authority. We learn that Rock is in a handicap match teaming with two referees to face Rikishi and Kane.

Stephanie is backstage with all the referees. She lets them know that they are under contract with WWF and therefore will do what she says. Teddy Long and Jack Doan get selected for duty.

 

Rock interview with Kevin Kelly. Funny moment as Pat Patterson comes out of the locker and realizes he has messed up so he retreats.  Rock does push the Rumble which is good. Calling Kevin Kelly a hermaphrodite is less so.

Kane walks by Long and Doan backstage and shoves them right before the match. Teddy starts the match with Rikishi and JR says Rikishi has had sushi bigger than Teddy. JR says its good he is wearing black pants. Teddy is given the stinkface.  Rock is able to tag in and that helps things. Rock dominates and even the referees get a few licks in. Rock runs into a chokeslam from Kane but he is able to kick out. Rikishi keeps working over Rock and goes for stinkface, but Rock gets a low blow and clothesline that Rikishi takes a great bump off of. Match gets thrown out when both just keep dominating Rock including a bevy of stomps and chair shots.  All three referees get wiped out. Taker runs down to help out and chokeslams Kane. This is set up as a preview of the Rumble. Pretty hollow fodder here and Rock was on a good run early in the year. *1/2

Backstage Vince tells Steph that Taker will learn respect too on SmackDown. Rikishi vs Kane vs Taker vs Rock. The winner is #30 in the Rumble.