WWF "Backlash 2000"
May 17, 2019 18:52:59 GMT -5
Fade is a CodyCryBaby, chronocross, and 2 more like this
Post by adamclark52 on May 17, 2019 18:52:59 GMT -5
WWF “Backlash”
April 30th, 2000
From the MCI Center in Washington, DC
Commentators: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler
Tonight: the Rock has Stone Cold Steve Austin in his corner as he faces Triple H for the WWF Championship. However the odds are still stacked against the Rock because Vince McMahon is in Triple Hs corner and Shane McMahon is the special referee. Is Stone Cold really on the Rocks side? Will he even be there?
Also, six titles are on the line.
De-bra comes out to act as special guest ring announcer for the first match. My oldest son thought she did a great job.
For the WWF Tag Team Championships
D Generation-X w/Tori vs. Edge & Christian (champions)
This was a really good match. X-Pac seemed a little out of it. He delivered the most “who gives a f***?” Bronco Buster I’ve ever seen. And the ending was pretty wonky. X-Pac bladed hard right at the end and there was blood all over the ring for the rest of the show. Seems like a lot of effort for zero reason.
Winners: Edge & Christian
The Rock arrives backstage.
For the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Dean Malenko (champion)
This was a good match but Dean Malenkos style didn’t really gel with the audience at the time. He’d have owned it in Ring of Honor five years later.
Winner: Dean Malenko
The McMahons are backstage with Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe. Vince tells them tonight it’s “all hands on deck”.
The Big Bossman & Bull Buchanan vs. the Acolytes
Referee: TEDDY LONG, PLAYA
The Acolytes were in the midst of their transition to the A.P.A. at this time. This was a decent “big man match”. Pretty stiff.
Winners: the Big Bossman & Bull Buchanan
The Hardy Boyz are backstage getting ready for their match.
Hardcore Holly and Crash are getting ready for their match.
For the WWF Hardcore Championship
Crash Holly (champion) vs. Tazz vs. Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Harvey vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Perry Saturn
I think this match had some “Crash must be pinned to get the belt” stipulation or something. You know what? This was really f***ing fun to watch. It did run a little too long though. The only sad thing about this was seeing Tazz reduced to it.
Winner: Crash Holly
Jonathan Coachman interviews Shane McMahon.
Kurt Angle vs. the Big Show
This was during some angle where the Big Show was joking around and cosplaying, so he came out dressed like Hulk Hogan and wrestled like Hulk Hogan. The shorts didn’t leave much to the imagination. His impersonation was spot-on but the match was not good.
Winner: the Big Show
Michael Cole interviews Trish Stratus and asks her how she really feels about Bubba Ray Dudley. Bubba is watching backstage on a monitor and he’s entranced by her.
Billy Corgan is in the front row.
The Dudley Boyz vs. T&A w/Trish Stratus
This was a fun match but nothing special.
Winners: T&A
Afterwards the Dudley Boyz are about to put Trish through a table but she starts making out with Bubba instead. He comes to his senses and does the right thing: he puts her through the table.
Eddie Guerrero and Chyna arrive.
For the WWF European Championship
Eddie Guerrero (champion) w/Chyna vs. Essa Rios w/Lita
Essa Rios had pay per view matches?! This was a good match that deserved more time.
Winner: Eddie Guerrero
Lita strips Chyna to her bra and panties but Chyna doesn’t seem phased.
Jonathan Coachman interviews Triple H and Vince McMahon.
Michael Cole interviews Chris Benoit.
For the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit (champion)
This was a really good match.
Winner: Chris Benoit via disqualification
Michael Cole interviews the Rock.
For the WWF Championship
Triple H (champion) w/Vince and Stephanie McMahon vs. the Rock
Special Referee: Shane McMahon
This was a good match but it was overshadowed by “where is Stone Cold?” He’d been gone almost eight months by this time and the audience was salivating for him. The ending was an overbooked mess but as was every ending of the time. Stone Cold did come out and laid everyone in Triple Hs corner out, before Linda McMahon came out with Earl Hebner to make things fair.
Winner: the Rock (new WWF Champion)
Stone Cold shares a beer with the Rock.
______________________________________________________________________
You know, I’m usually one of the first people that shits on the Attitude Era and its focus on tacky, over-booked storylines over in-ring competition. But I had a lot of f***ing fun watching this show and the ring work was mostly really good. I do look at 2000 in a much different light than late-1998 or 1999. The tacky shit was still there (Trish Stratus, Bubba Ray Dudley putting women through tables, the Kings commentary) but I see 2000 as the year where it started tapering off. Vince Russo was gone by this point.
Do I miss it? I do miss the overall electric excitement that shows had back then. I miss caring. But I don’t miss the style. I barely ever watch anything from this time so it was a nice change but it’s not something I plan on watching too often.
Watching a show before concussion protocol and wellness policies became a thing was kinda awkward but also entertaining. The guys all went all-out. Even Scotty 2 Hotty took a nasty DDT off the top rope. It’s unfortunate how most of these guys lives were ruined by this style of wrestling.
The only title not defended on this show: the Women’s Championship, which was held by Stephanie McMahon at the time.
I don’t know who “Falk” is, but according to a sign that was visible in the second row for the first few matches he is gay.
Overall it was a really good show. None of the matches were five-star classics but there weren’t any abominable duds either, except the Big Show verses Kurt Angle. The Stone Cold stuff was just a tease really. But the show didn’t even need him. It sort of changed my outlook on the era and brought back a lot of memories I’d forgotten.
Yeah, PG-13 was way better.
