-Match 1 (WWF tag team title): New Age Outlaws (champions) vs Too
Cool (w/Rikishi Phatu; challengers)
At the start Mr. Ass taunted Rikishi, who superkicked him. The Hollys
ran in for the DQ ending. Rikishi was DDTd on a chair by Hardcore
Holly.
-A limo arrived backstage, and Stephanie McMahon got out. She was carrying papers. Footage aired from Smackdown! where she pledged to handle her marriage situation on her own and pleaded with her family to let her do so.
-After a commercial, they aired a recap of the previous match.
-Mankind came out. He showed footage on the titantron of Snow attacking The Rock at Smackdown!. Mankind then said Snow had two new friends in the New Age Outlaws or so it appeared. He asked Snow to come out and clear things up. Snow came out with a serious and pissed look on his face. He asked Mankind if fans gave a damn about him and said the fans would forget about him. Snow said he couldn't stand by and let Mankind turn himself into a joke. Mankind retorted by saying his team with Snow sucked and then proposed a match where he & The Rock face Snow and a partner of his choice. Snow accepted, and then said he was the one who threw Mankind's book in the trash a few weeks back. After he said that, a fight ensued.
-Stephanie and Vince were talking in the back. Stephanie tried to convince Vince that she could handle herself. Vince said if HHH is provoked by Stephanie, he will attack him.
-Match 2: Matt & Jeff Hardy (w/Terri) vs Kurt Angle & Steve Blackman
Angle was hilarious on the mic and made a cut at Worcester. An orange
symbol and a strange sound appeared on the titantron briefly. Angle
called Blackman a great "apprentice". Matt appeared to hurt himself
early in the match. In general, this was disappointing as the Hardys
were a step off on several moves. Angle pinned Jeff after Blackman hit
him with his stick.
-Backstage, Stephanie asked HHH to sign annulment papers. X-Pac taunted Stephanie. HHH asked her if they were getting in the shower. He then took the papers and taunted Stephanie, who walked out.
-Match 3: Val Venis vs D-Lo Brown
The winner of this match would face British Bulldog for the European
title at Armageddon. However, Bulldog and the Mean Street Posse ran in
and attacked both men.
-Backstage, Mae Young was getting some beer, and was hilarious as usual.
-Mankind & The Rock were conversing backstage.
-Backstage, HHH showed DX the annulment papers.
-Match 4: Godfather (w/5 ho's) vs Prince Albert
Godfather won the match after a corner splash and inside cradle. This
was not a bad match for these two.
-Backstage, HHH had the papers with him as well as flowers.
-After a commercial, HHH came out. He chided the fans for calling Stephanie a "slut" and a "whore". Addressing the annulment papers, he said he never saw them coming. He then blamed the fans for "killing their relationship" and then "cried". He called out Stephanie and said he would sign the papers. Stephanie came down to the ring. HHH gave her the flowers, and she tossed them into the crowd. HHH said he was turned on by Stephanie and then said he couldn't sign the papers. HHH proposed that if Vince could beat him at Armageddon, he would sign the papers, but if he won he would get a WWF title shot. Stephanie said the proposal could be arranged, but HHH didn't believe her and called out Vince. HHH warned him about the restraining order. Vince accepted the stipulations and said he'd have the papers at Smackdown! to make them official. HHH then "sealed the deal" by kissing Stephanie, enraging Vince immensely.
-After a commercial, the kiss was replayed.
-Backstage, the Stooges and Mankind were consoling Vince, and Mankind said he could give him pointers on his no-holds-barred match vs HHH.
-Match 5: Hardcore Holly (w/Crash Holly) vs Rikishi Phatu
This match was a result of the aftermath of the opener. Too Cool
provided color commentary at ringside. Rikishi flattened Hardcore in 20
seconds with the Bonzai splash. Rikishi danced again with Too Cool after
the match.
-Barbara Bush (B.B.) was shown backstage.
-More footage of Moolah and Young aired. They were "hyping" their appearence at the Billboard Music Awards, and Young couldn't wait to see Ricky Martin.
-After a commercial, Michael Cole brought out B.B. Ivory came out and talked about/made fun of her "enhancements". Jaquelyn came out and the same orange signal appeared on the titantron again. Miss Kitty came out with Chyna. Chyna told her she would be the fourth participant in the evening gown match at Armageddon along with the other three in the ring. Miss Kitty panicked, explainbing that she doesn't wear underwear.
-Viscera and Big Show were fighting backstage. Viscer splashed Show through a table.
-Match 6: Test & Kane (w/Tori) vs HHH & X-Pac
Tori entered the ring, and X-Pac grabbed her. He attempted to give her
the bronco buster but Kane countered with a wicked chokeslam in a really
neat spot. HHH pinned Test after a pedigree, ending a pretty good
match.
-They recapped the Viscera-Big Show altercation.
-In the locker room, Snow said he would put an end to the Rock and Sock connection.
-Match 7 (WWF title): Big Show (champion) vs Viscera (challenger)
Show won the match with a somewhat botched top rope dropkick. This match
wasn't as bad as you would think. Actually, amny of the crappier
performers in the WWF haven't embarassed themselves much lately, which is
a good sign. On the titantron, Big Bossman appeared with Show's mother
at her house. He had papers with him, and got her to admit that Show was
an illegitimate child. Show's "mother" did one of the worst
acting/sobbing efforts in history.
-They recapped the previous angle. Big Show was on the phone takling to his "mother", asking her if she realized what she did to him.
-Match 8: Mankind & The Rock vs Al Snow & ...Chris Jericho
Jericho was funny on the mic as usual. Chyna came out and struck Jericho
before the match leaving him weakened. Jericho was the best worker in
this match. The New Age Outlaws attacked Rock and Mankind. Snow hit
Mankind with Head and the match and show ended.
-Overall, a good show that built well and logically. I'm glad they placed more of an emphasis again on the wrestling towards the end. No great matches, but not bad work overall, especially since at least two of the matches could have been disasters. Jericho seems to be hitting his stride in the ring.
-Most unique signs in the crowd:
"Zik likes pancakes"
"I married Stephanie too"
"The people's 4th row"
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