I taped this match off of RAW, and it was pretty good, so I'll review it in this edition.

WWF RAW is WAR
March 13, 2000
Continental Airlines Arena
East Rutherford, New Jersey

• THE BACKSTORY: The buildup to this match began at the 2000 WWF Royal Rumble, when The Rock tossed out The Big Show, but tumbled out at about the same time. Rock was declared the winner, and therefore won a shot at the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 2000. However, Big Show got on WWF Champion Triple H's good side and convinced him to let him have a shot at Rock at February's No Way Out, w/ the WrestleMania title shot on the line. In the end, Shane McMahon made his return and shockingly bashed Rock across the head w/ a steel chair, allowing Big Show to win the match and gain the title shot. Shane had aligned himself with Big Show.

However, on the March 13 RAW, Rock confronted Big Show, Triple H, Shane McMahon, and H's "wife," Stephanie, saying that he wanted another shot, as Shane had interfered in the match. He said that he wanted to go one-on-one with Big Show later that night. If he won, he'd go on to WrestleMania and wrestle for the title, but if he lost, he'd retire at age 27 and never be seen again. Another stipulation demanded that everyone be barred from ringside, and if anyone interfered, Rock would automatically go to WrestleMania. Big Show accepted, and the match was made. However, it was agreed upon that Shane McMahon would be the special guest referee.

• THE MATCH: Big Show entered first, and then The Rock. Rock ducked a shot and sent Show out of the ring with several rights. Show quickly gains control on the outside w/ a headbutt. They head up the entrance ramp, where Shane picks Rock up on his shoulder, but Rock drops out and brings him down hard on the steel with a russian legsweep. He then spreads Show's legs and punches him in the nuts. He slams his head on the aprona nd then tosses him over the guardrail, where he continues hammering him. Show gains control and hammers him over the guardrail. Show slams Rock's head into the steel steps. He swings a steel chair, but Rock ducks and takes the chair. He goes to swing it, but Shane grabs it, distracting Rock and allowing Show to hit him from behind.

Rock reverses a whip, sending Show into the steel steps. Show lands on the announce table after being bashed w/ the ring bell. Rock hammers him a few times, and then spits some water into his face. Show reverses a whip and sends Rock into the guardrail, and follows it up by dropping Rock face-first on the announce table w/ a press slam. Back in, Show nails a punch, kick, elbow drop, headbutt, and another punch, sending Rock out of the ring. Show slams Rock's head on the announce table, and then scoop slams him onto it. He nails him w/ an elbow smash and some punches. Back in, Show gets 2 from Shane's fast count. Rock comes off the ropes and is hit with a big boot. Show drops a leg on Rock and gets 2 from another fast count.

Rock blocks a punch and fights back with rights. His whip's reversed and Show drops him w/ a sidewalk slam. He signals for the chokeslam, but Rock kicks him in the nuts and fires back w/ some rights. He goes for the whip, but Show reverses comes back, attempting to clothesline him out of the ring, but instead knocks Shane out. Rock sends Show into the ropes and catches him with the spinebuster, setting up for The People's Elbow. He sets up, runs off one rope, leaps over Show and comes off the other, and drops the elbow across Show's chest. He goes for the pinfall, but there's no referee, and Shane probably wouldn't count even if he was up.

"Blind" Earl Hebner runs down and slides into the ring, beginning the count. 1...2..Shane recovers and pulls him out of the ring, sending him down w/ two rights. He then grabs a chair, slides into the ring, and charges Rock (who's risen), knocking him out w/ his trademark leaping chairshot. Meanwhile, a limousine is shown entering backstage. Who gets out but Vincent K. McMahon himself?! Vince McMahon makes his return to WWF TV. He casually starts walking. Shane's shown in the ring w/ a dumbfounded look. Triple H and Stephanie, who are both calmly watching Rock get demolished in their lockerroom, get up and head toward wherever McMahon's coming.

McMahon is heading through several rooms in the Continental Airlines Arena. Shane's again showed in the ring w/ a dumbfounded look. The camera sneaks up behind him, and Triple H and Stephanie are shown coming toward him about 25 feet ahead. Both are shrugging their shoulders, as if to say, "What the hell?" McMahon calmly walks toward them. When he gets near enough, he bashes Trips with a right, sending hom down tot he concrete. He continues walking to the ring. His theme song hits, and McMahon heads toward the place where the superstars enter. Shane checks on Big Show, but looks up and sees his father coming down to the blistering tunes of "No Chance In Hell."

Vince has a stern look on his face, and not once takes his eyes off of Shane. Shane tries to calm down his father, but to no avail. Vince enters the ring and knocks down Shane with a right. He then takes the chair and bashes Shane down w/ it. He pulls the referee shirt off Shane's deadweight body and puts it on himself. Meanwhile, Rock and Big Show are both rising. Show goes to hammer Rock, but Rock catches him and slams him down onto the steel chair (actually, right next to it) w/ a Rock Bottom. McMahon counts the pinfall. 1...2...3 (9:16)!!!

• AFTERMATH: Jim Ross says it best: "The Rock is goin' to WrestleMania!" Lillian Garcia announces Rock as the winner. The Rock has defied the odds! McMahon rips off the referee shirt and throws it on the ground, leaving the ring. Rock gets up on the turnbuckle and celebrates as McMahon leaves. RAW goes off the air as Rock leaves, knowing he's on his way to WrestleMania.

• POST-MATCH THOUGHTS: Big Show would eventually wiggle his way into the WrestleMania main event that year, and the recently-retired Mick Foley would be brought back by Linda McMahon for one final appearance. This match was very good when one considers the pure wrestling talents of the two participants. The drama and suspense was great. The expected referee bump occurred, and Vince McMahon makes a shocking return, attacking his son, Shane, and counting The Big Show's shoulders down to the mat, allowing Rock to go to WrestleMania. There was some psychology, as Big Show's tenaciousness mended well w/ Rock's inevitable comebacks.

The suspense and possibility that Rock may have to retire after the match was always in the back of one's mind (although it was pretty obvious that he wouldn't lose, as the WWF would have a hard time existing w/ out him). The ending was average: Shane gets knocked out, only to recover and be attacked by his father. Rock then Rock Bottoms Show on (as J.R. said, but the two clearly missed the chair) a steel chair for the 1-2-3 win. This match occurred during the time that Big Show was a legitimate main event contender. Most knew that he wouldn't win the title at WrestleMania, but the possibility of him gaining the screwjob win tonight wasn't unheardof. However, on the otherhand, there wasn't much special about the match. Most of it was an out of the ring brawl. There were some nice exchanges in the ring, but once again, nothing too important.
RATING: *1/4