First, shameless plug to BW-3, which is where I'm reviewing the show from. There truly is nothing to give you perspective on the effectiveness of a match then watching the PPV in a bar/restaurant full of marks. Once again, the decline of the WWF is upon us, or so it seems to the rest of the Internet community. Taking over the title of "Show Most Looked Forward To So It Can Be Blasted" from Backlash, let's see if it sucked the fat one like everyone said it would. On to YOUR matchlist, soldier....
William Regal vs. RikishiLive from Sacremento, CA, and your hosts are JR and Paul Heyman.
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle Best 2 of 3 Falls
Rhyno vs. Test vs. Big Show Hardcore Title
Chyna vs. Lita Women's Title Match
HHH vs. Kane Chain Match for the IC Title
X-Factor vs. A.P.A. vs. Dudleys vs. Hardyz vs. Radicalz vs. Edge/Christian vs. Chris Jericho/ ???? Tag Team Turmoil for the Number 1 contender to the Tag Team Titles
Steve Austin vs. Undertaker WWF Title Match
William Regal vs. Rikishi
Regal comes out to talk first and says nothing terribly important. Rikishi takes control to start with rights and clotheslines, but Regal starts a trend for tonite and nails him in the nuts to counter. Big Regal sucks chant. Forearms, sunset flip attempt, but the fat ass sitdown to counter misses. Regal gives the WAVE OF DESTRUCTION. Euro uppercuts in the corner and lefts, and some jumping knees get 2. Corner whip, but Rikishi gets a clothesline and legdrop coming out. Running ass in the corner, and the follow-up Stinkface gets a HUGE pop, and Regal's expression is just priceless. Regal rolls outside but Rikishi put him in the stairs. Regal is bleeding now, but if there was a blade it was the best one ever because I looked at the tape just now and still didn't see it. Superkick by Rikishi, but a corner charge misses and Regal hits the BLOODY COMMONER BREAKER for the 3. ** This was basically a RAW match, but it was short and the fans got to pop for the Stinkface. Mission accomplished.
E & C discuss their tag turmoil match later, but Kurt asks them if they have any pointers since they have experience with this "ladder thing". EDGE--"Falling off sucks, don't do it." CHRISTIAN --"And if you do fall off, make sure you have your medals." Haha. 1 for 1
HHH is here, and Vince wants to know why the hell HHH and Austin provoked the Undertaker with the fake Sara accident, knowing that it would only motivate the Undertaker, since you shouldnt mess with the sanctity of marriage. HHH--Aren't you the guy that put your wife in a sanitarium?" VINCE--But it was MY wife, not someone else's." 2 for 2
Review of Benoit/Angle
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle
The first fall is pinfall only, the 2nd submission only, and the 3rd fall is a ladder match. And if you think that this match is gonna end in 2 falls I gotta a whole bunch of stuff to sell you.
Angle is out first with some trash talking, then Benoit is out to a HUGE pop. Angle jumps Benoit right away and pounds him in the corner. Benoit goes Bret-first in the corner, then Angle hits the triple Germans!!! Angle goes up top, but the swandive headbutt misses, and Benoit hits the Angle Slam for the 3!!! I like the quick fall there after Angle had been talking shit about how the match wouldnt even go to a third fall. Benoit goes directly to the Crossface as EVERYONE goes apeshit, but Angle makes the ropes. Benoit whips Angle into the barrier and the steps a few times, then the post. Chops, but Angle counters and crotches Benoit on the post. Kicks, and Angle slams Benoit's head into the tables. Angle goes for the Anglelock back inside, but Benoit QUICKLY makes the ropes. The psychology for the Anglelock by Benoit is excellent. Kicks by Angle, whip, but he eats foot on the charge. Benoit charges, but Angle gets a drop toe hold right into the Anglelock, countered to an anklelock by Benoit, then fights for the Crossface but Angle makes the ropes. Nice sequence there. Angle takes over again with punches and a snap suplex. Belly to belly by Angle, but Benoit counters a second attempt to the Crossface and Angle makes the ropes again. Crossarmbreaker by Benoit, but Angle gets the Anglelock again and Benoit makes the ropes. Kicks, chops, and punches by Angle, whip is reversed into a kitchen sink, but Angle rolls through into the Anglelock again. Stungun by Angle, then right into an STF-type submission. Benoit comes back and gets the REAL Liontamer (called a modified version of the Walls of Jericho....JR, you suck) to a HUGE pop. Figure 4 by Benoit to another huge pop, and Angle finally makes the ropes. Angle grabs his right leg, but Benoit gives him a kneebreaker on the left leg. Just when I thought that was a mistake by Chris, he goes to work on the left leg to redeem it. Another kneebreaker, leg submission, but Angle throws Benoit outside. Angle throws Benoit into the barrier and kicks the hell outta him. Back inside and Angle pounds away in the corner, but Benoit counters with a DDT. Whip by Benoit, reversed, and Angle gets the Angle Slam and Anglelock for the submission at about the 16 minute mark. Just gorgeous psychology there.
Angle kicks Benoit around and stays on him. Benoit comes back and beats some ass and puts Angle into the steps and post, then Angle returns the favor. There's a ladder already set up in the aisle, but Angle grabs one from under the ring and climbs before Benoit knocks him off. Outside, Benoit tosses Angle into the front row. Benoit climbing, but Angle slams him off and lays in the kicks. Snap suplex, Angle uses the ladder, but he tries to charge and take off Benoit's head only to be met with a back body drop that sends both Angle and the ladder to the outside. Benoit uses the ladder now, big swing misses, but the follow through connects. Inside, Benoit climbs, but Angle stops him with a ballshot. Angle sets up the ladder in the corner and slams Benoit into it. Whip reverse, and Benoit slingshots Angle into the ladder. Bret-first, corner whip towards the ladder, but Angle climbs to avoid running straight into it, to which Benoit says "Fuck you" and slams him down. German suplex, and Benoit wedges the ladder between the middle and top ropes in the corner, then whips Angle Bret-first into it. Angle somehow comes back with some punches and leans the ladder against the ropes, then snap suplexes Benoit onto it (!). Trying to follow up, but Benoit jumps off the apron which slingshots the ladder right in Angle's face (!!!). Ouch. Benoit traps Angle under the ladder as he climbs, but Angle manages to push it over. Shoulderthrusts in the corner by Angle, but Benoit fights back and gets the Crossface and Angle taps out. E & C are out and they drag Benoit outside. Benoit kicks their ass and tries to climb back inside, but Edge holds onto Benoit's foot, and Angle grabs the medals just before Benoit can push the ladder over for the win. ***** Everyone at the bar and at the arena was deeply involved in this match from start to finish, not to mention the simple fact that this match just totally kicked massive amounts of ass, with more asses waiting to be kicked the next day. And I want to state here that just because there happened to be interference, that does NOT automatically drop the match from ***** territory. It doesn't even automatically drop the match rating for any other match, it's all about the context of the match, so don't even try to argue with me about that point because I will win that argument.
Some doctor attends to Regal as the Undertaker barges in and demands that the title match tonite with Austin be no holds barred, and Regal agrees. 2 for 3
Jerry Lynn is at WWF New York. Lynn says that the LHW Title should be defended at the PPV, instead he has to sit at WWF New York and talk. Then he goes semi-shoot style and asks JR if his interview is good enough, is he a good enough champion, if he talks well enough, etc. JR, to Heyman----What do I have to do with it? HAHAHA!!!!! 3 for 4
Rhyno vs. Big Show vs. Test
Show jumps Test before Rhyno can even get there, then Rhyno comes out to a good pop. Test and Rhyno work together to deal with Show, but Show comes back with a double clothesline. Show clotheslines Rhyno out, but Test lowbridges Show to send him out. Both pound Show and whip him into the barrier, then Test turns and nails Rhyno. We head to the crowd to brawl, and then backstage for some more brawling. We get a few minutes of garbage brawling with everyone getting a few 2 counts. Chokeslam on Test is broken up by Rhyno, and they work together to throw Show onto some pallets. Test and Rhyno turn on each other and brawl to the ring. Test hits the post, and Rhyno searches for plundah. Test puts a trash can lid right back in Rhyno's face, but a home run swing by Test misses. DDT by Rhyno on the lid, and Show finally decides to wander back into the match. BIG chokeslam by Show on Rhyno, but Test hits the big boot right after for a 2 count. See, if Test was smart, he would have hit the big boot on Show, then pinned Rhyno who was out from the chokeslam. That's why he didnt get to marry Steph. Rhyno gores Show and a lid shot on Test gets 2. Test uses a fire extinguisher on Show and big boot on Rhyno but only gets 2 as he covers Show. Rhyno nails Test with the trash can, then tosses it to Show and gores him through the can (!) for the 3. **1/2, and it gets that rating because I liked the Raven/Show/Kane matchup at Wrestlemania more than this and that's the closest comparison to this match.
Regal debates with himself outside of Austin's dressing room about whether he should go in there and tell him the UT made the match no holds barred. 3 for 5
Lita prepares for her match with Chyna, and Eddy offers his assistance because nobody knows Chyna like he does. Lita declines. 3 for 6
Regal finally tells Austin about the change in rules tonite, but Austin doesn't care, and Regal says that he knew Austin wouldn't mind which is why he made the change. Haha. 4 for 7
Review of Chyna/Lita. Another case of the crack WWF production clip team making the review package more exciting than the buildup to the match actually was.
Chyna vs. Lita
Big pop for both Lita and Chyna. Chyna has some kind of stupid peacock looking headwear tonite as she walks to the ring, thank God she doesn't actually wrestle in it. An extremely lame Hug of Respect as the bell rings. Lockup, and Chyna throws Lita off, then offers a hand and helps her up. Another lockup into a side headlock by Lita. Gorilla press slam attempt by Chyna, but Lita counters to a rollup for 2. Lita offers a hand to help Chyna up and return the favor, but Chyna small packages Lita for 2 instead. Kicks and some nasty clotheslines by Chyna get 2, but Lita hits a tornado DDT and middle rope clothesline for 2. Corner whip by Chyna, but Lita floats over and works an armbar to a HUGE pop. This crowd is SOLIDLY behind Lita. Chyna throws Lita off a few times, but Lita goes right back to the armbar like before, and Chyna hits a swinging neckbreaker. Powerslam gets 2. Gorilla press slam, but Chyna picks Lita up at 2, only for Lita to quickly counter into a crossarmbreaker, countered to a headscissors by Chyna. What the hell, mat moves and counters from Chyna and Lita? HUGE Lita chant. Eddy walks out to observe the action as Lita finally makes the ropes. Hairtoss by Chyna. Powerbomb attempt, but Lita counters with a rana for 2. Twist of Fate, but Chyna counters into the powerbomb for the 3. *** So sue me, I liked it and thought it was a ton better than it had any right to be, and I also thought it was better than the Steph/Trish match that drew positive reviews a few months ago.
Kurt Angle celebrates getting his medals back and thanks E & C for their help. EDGE---"Finally, Operaton We Don't Have To Listen To Kurt Bitch About His Medals Anymore" is complete. Haha. 5 for 8
Review of Kane/HHH.
HHH vs. Kane
HHH jumps Kane before the chain can even be put on and goes to work on the arm, slamming Kane into the post and the steps. Chairshot on the arm. The chain gets attached now as HHH puts it on the injured left arm. Kane gets a brief comeback, but HHH walks up the aisle pulling the chain as hard as he can. HHH channels the spirit of Savage and hits a double axe for 2. We spend about the next 5 minutes with Kane and HHH trying to find various ways to use the chain, nothing terribly exciting. if there was anything interesting and innovative, trust me I would tell you, but there wasn't. Mostly just punches with the chain. We head outside as Kane slams HHH into the barrier, then into the crowd. HHH comes back, but Kane Flair-tosses HHH off the barrier onto the floor (!). I want to emphasize that because that's a great bump that will barely get mentioned in other recaps of the show. They just can't appreciate it. Back inside, HHH hits a chain-assisted facebuster and clothesline. Pedigree is blocked with a nutshot by Kane. Lots of ballshots tonite for some reason. Chain flying clothesline by Kane and the chokeslam, but Austin is out. Kane quickly tosses him, but HHH kicks a field goal on Kane's nuts. Austin back in with the chair, but he overshoots Kane and nails HHH, Kane tosses Austin again, then gets the pin on HHH for the title. *** A fairly entertaining brawl with a hot ending.
The Coach interviews Jericho. 5 for 9
Meanwhile, HHH is pissed and yells at Vince. 5 for 10
Tag Team Turmoil APA vs. Duds vs. E+C vs. Hardyz vs. Radical Jobberz vs. Heatless Factor vs. Jericho/ ???
Alright, stay with me here. There are two teams in the match at a time, and when one team gets pinned another team comes out. APA gets the unlucky assignment of starting first, followed by the Jobbers. APA kicks ass to start, but Saturn comes back with a gorgeous belly to belly. Double elbow, and Dean hits the leg lariat on Faarooq. Saturn back in with punches, but a KO double clothesline puts both down. Tags out and Saturn hits a T-bone on Bradshaw, but Faarooq hits the angry man slam for 3.
Dudleyz are out next, and APA kicks their ass to start as well. Double shoulderblock on D-Von, and a powerslam by Faarooq. Tables chant goes up almost immediately here. Shoulderblock by D-Von, tag to Buh Buh. Punches, but Bradshaw gets the tag, a double shoulderblock and elbow gets 1. Punches by Bradshaw, but Buh Buh comes back with a front slam for 2. Double SICILIAN ELBOWS for the Duds. Clothesline and (horrible) side russian leg sweep get 2 for D-Von. Whip sequence leads to Bradshaw hitting the fallaway slam and both are down. Back up, BIG boot by Bradshaw gets 2 before Buh Buh breaks it up. All 4 in to brawl now, superplex attempt by Bradshaw, but Buh Buh sneaks up from behind and the Duds hit the Doomsday Device and Wazzup Drop. D-VON!!!!! GET THE TABLES!!!!!! D-Von obliges, but the Hollys are out and put D-Von through the table on the outside, and Clothesline from Hell finishes off Buh Buh.
X-Factor out, and APA throws them around like they weigh 180 pounds. Wait.....they DO weigh about 180, my mistake. X-Pac gets the spin kick and punches. I swear, that damn spin kick is his whole offense anymore. Backbreaker by Faarooq, and Bradshaw comes in for a suplex and belly to back suplex for 2. Albert interferes, which allows Justin to take over with kicks and punches. Powerslam by Bradshaw, and tag Faarooq for a powerslam and mid-rope leg drop for 2. Justin gets the tag to X-Pac and the heels punch and choke Faarooq. Faarooq gets a powerslam off the whip reverse for 2. Tag to Bradshaw, and he catches X-Pac on the crossbody attempt, but Albert holds his foot as Bradshaw goes for the fallaway slam and X-Pac falls on top for 3.
Hardyz out and X-Factor gets whipped into each other. Double elbow, but X-Pac lowbridges Jeff and they crotch him on the post outside. Albert tosses Jeff back in and heel beatdown leads to the Bronco buster. Whip, but Jeff comes back with a double dropkick and Matt gets the hot tag. TEE-HEE legdrop, and the Hardyz hit Poetry in Motion. Swanton, but Albert drags Matt outside to prevent the cover. Jeff saves that with a plancha on Albert, but X-Factor gets the double superkick on Matt for the 3.
Jericho is out next, and he brings......Benoit!!!! Not really a surprise, but it still works for me. The Chrises take no bullshit and beat the living hell outta X-Factor to start, but Albert turns the tide when he catches Jericho on the plancha and posts him. Benoit is your face-in-peril as X-Factor controls with lots of punches and kicks. Sunset flip by Benoit gets 2, but X-Factor controls again, this time mixing in some elbows to vary their moveset. X-Pac gets his "martial arts kicks" in the corner, but the Broncobuster misses. Hot tag Jericho, and it's clotheslines and forearms for everyone. Missile dropkick, Justin accidently nails X-Pac, but Jericho's flying forearm takes out the ref. Albert throws Benoit around outside, and the double superkick gets......2. Spike piledriver attempt, but Benoit crotches Justin on top, and Jericho slingshots X-Pac into Justin. Albert in, but the Chrises double suplex him, then double suplex Justin ONTO Albert. Awesome. Double clothesline sends Albert outside, and the submissions get the simultaneous tapout from X-Factor. Crowd is totally jacked for the Chrises here.
Edge and Christian are out and the Chrises kick ass. Stalling vertical by Jericho on Edge as Benoit beats the holy hell (no pun intended) out of Christian on the outside. Whip reverse on the inside, and E +C hit a 3-D on Jericho on the ropes. Picture a stungun with Christian helping out. Nice. Heels control with lots of punches and kicks, and Edge gets a standing dropkick for 2. Crowd is superhot here. Chinlock, Jericho powers out, but Edge hits the kitchen sink. Tag Christian, and he hits the neckbreaker on the knee. Heel double teaming now. Edge misses a dropkick, but he gets the knees up on a Lionsault attempt for 2. E + C go for a corner splash out of the Poetry in Motion position, but it misses and Jericho hits the face plant. Hot tag Benoit, snap suplex on Christian, and pounding on Edge. Christian tries to help, but he hits Edge by mistake and Benoit hits a bridged German for 2. All 4 in now as E + C go for a superplex on Benoit, but Jericho breaks it up and Benoit hits a missile dropkick out of the Doomsday Device position (!). Edge breaks it up at 2. Corner charge by Jericho misses and E +C go for chairs, but the Chrises baseball slide the chairs right back in their faces. The Chrises go for the Conchairto, but Edge spears Jericho as Christian dodges. E+C go for the Conchairto on Benoit now, but Jericho trips up Edge, and Benoit puts the Crossface on Christian for the tapout and Number 1 Contenders to the Tag Titles. This was too weird for me to rate, as you really can't rate each match separately because they were just one part of a huge match, but rating the whole thing isn't really appropriate either because there were some superhot moments and some dull moments. I enjoyed it though, so it's safe to assume that the whole thing was probably somewhere between *** and ****.
Steve Austin vs. Undertaker
Vince comes out to color commentate, and an Asshole chant immediately goes up.....IN THE BAR!!!! Now that's a great heel right there. BIG pop for the Undertaker, solid boos for Austin. You can't say the WWF hasn't had SOME success with the heel turn, because they have. Give it a little more time.
We brawl right away as Undertaker attacks Austin at the entrance. Off the rails, the barriers, the tables, and the steps, choking with cable at ringside. All Undertaker here. Austin gets about two punches, but Undertaker doesn't play dat and kicks Austin around some more. Barrier walk by UT and Austin tries to run towards the entrance. UT chases him down and beats his ass some more. Inside finally, and UT controls some more. Swinging neckbreaker turns the tide for Austin, and he pounds UT in the corner. Austin slips out of a Tombstone (of course), but the Stunner is blocked as well, and a big boot gets 2. UT puts Austin into the post and the timekeepers table. UT stupidly goes after Vince and Austin jumps him from behind. Austin puts UT's knee into the post multiple times.........
***Right here I got into a pretty interesting conversation with a guy named Scott who asked what the hell I was doing while I was taking notes. We talked for about 5-10 minutes about the direction the WWF was heading, what he thought of the matches, the direction the UT's character has taken, etc. He loved the Angle/Benoit match, he thought the HHH/Kane match was alright but not great, the Tag Turmoil match had good points but dragged a little. He REALLY didnt like the women's match, not because it was shitty wrestling, but they were too chummy in the buildup for it, and they hugged after the match was over, shit like that. Can't say I blame him. He also echoed my thoughts on the current match, which were basically I saw this exact match multiple times in 1998 and 1999.......brawling, lots of punching, etc. The MATCH, not the fued, is just too formulaic. I think he summarized what most Internet personalities have felt but havent been able to properly express......the angle and fued is not the problem, but the payoff, ultimately, will be the same brawling match we've already seen before with no new twists and the same exact ending, and in the end it will be unfulfilling for most fans. Oh yeah, and if you care about what happened in the ring while I was talking with Scott, Austin just kicks the knee and works a leg bar for about 5-10 minutes, with UT hitting a chokeslam through the table to break the monotony. I have the tape and could go back and watch it right now, but trust me, that's all that happened during my whole talk with Scott. ***
Ahem.....Thesz press gets 2 for Austin, and multiple covers yield more 2 counts. Austin argues with Hebner but gets one of those damn pesky double leg cramps as UT tries to sneak up from behind. Choking in the ropes and Austin hits the RMRAS. SLEEPAHHHH by Austin but UT counters with a belly to back. Austin goes for the chair and connects, but just baits UT to get up. UT flips him the bird in response, and Austin hits the Stunner.....for only 2. Austin and Vince can't believe it. Now Austin hits his new finisher, the chairshot, but UT counters with a nutshot to break. Chokeslam, but UT doesn't cover and instead decides to nail Austin with about 8 chairshots. HHH runs out with the sledgehammer but walks right into a chairshot from UT. Cover by UT, but Vince breaks it up at 2. UT kicks Vince's ass in the corner as Austin comes from behind with a chair, but UT moves and Austin cracks Vince. D'oh!!!! Last Ride attempt, but HHH nails UT with the sledgehammer. Kane runs out, but Austin gets the 3 count before Kane can get there as HHH holds him off. *** Like I said, a little formulaic, but it was a good match with great crowd heat and a hot ending, even if there was alot of interference.
Final Thoughts--- Well.......it was a good PPV and better than I expected. Lots of stuff hovering around that *** territory, but the Angle/Benoit match was awesome. Of course, I might even see some negative reviews for THAT considering that everyone has built Benoit/Angle up so much that they'll STILL be disappointed in the match. Just like Backlash, this one was a good PPV that accomplished all of it's goals, but from a historical perspective it will probably only be remembered for the Benoit/Angle match. Recommended.