-Before the opening match, backstage Al Snow proposed to Steve Blackman that his nickname could be "snowstorm", among other suggestions. He even gave Blackman a rain coat and umbrella!
-Match 1 (WWF Tag Team Title): New Age Outlaws (champions) vs Al Snow
& Steve Blackman (challengers)
As the match started, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddy Guerrero, and
Perry Saturn walked through the crowd and sat in the front row
(thunderous pop in the Bluewall). After Road Dogg took a cheap shot at
Benoit, the four newcomers attacked the Outlaws and laid them out with
each of their signature moves, climaxing with Benoit's diving headbutt on
Road Dogg. This was one of the best and most exciting angles I have ever
seen. The match apparently was a no-contest.
-Backstage, Cactus Jack was talking with Benoit and company and made several jokes, including that they can now compete in front of an actual crowd.
-Kurt Angle came out and imitated Rock, and declared himself as Pittsburg's hometown hero.
-Backstage, the Outlaws complained to HHH and Stephanie McMahon about the attack from Benoit & co. HHH said it was their problem. Big Show entered the room (sporting a haircut that's nearly as bad as his wrestling, imagine that) and claimed that he had proof that Rock's feet touched the floor at the Royal Rumble. He brought in Jim Dodd as a witness, but HHH didn't buy his story and said he needed video proof.
-Match 2: Christian (w/Edge) vs D-Von Dudley (w/Buh Buh Ray)
Christian won the match with an inverted DDT similar to the old curtain
call. Dudleys attacked Edge and Christian afterwards but the Hardys ran
in. Matt DDT'd D-Von through a table in the ring. Then, Jeff did a top
rope senton to the outside onto Buh Buh Ray through a table! Sign these
guys to a rematch!!!
-Cactus, Benoit, Malenko, Guerrero & Saturn were talking backstage when the Mean Street Posse came up to the newcomers and told them not to mess with MSP. In response, Benoit & co. attacked MSP.
-Match 3 (handicap match): Too Cool vs Big Show
Although this was a somewhat lame idea for a match, it wasn't as bad as
it could have been. Show pinned Scotty 2 Hotty after a chokeslam.
-Rock appeared on the titantron and made fun of Big Show's haircut in hilarious fashion. He then addressed Kurt Angle and their match.
-Match 4: Rock vs Kurt Angle
As Kurt was chiding the fans for booing him, Rock attacked him in a
hilarious and perfectly executed sequence. Kurt tried to leave but Tazz
threw him back in the ring. This was a very good match in terms of
psychology, as Kurt kicked out of Rock's basic signature moves and showed
that he would have to be defeated with something more. Rock won with the
people's elbow. After the match, Tazz clotheslined Rock and chased Kurt
to the back.
-Backstage, MSP asked the Acolytes for protecion from the newcomers and gave them money to do so. Bradshaw then came up with an idea for an "Acolytes protection agency" (another funny moment).
-Benoit and company mingled with others in the locker room. Godfather appeared that he was going to introduce them to his ho's.
-Match 5 (non-title): Chris Jericho (w/Chyna) vs X-Pac (w/Tori)
Chyna shot off a gun with pyrotechnics during her entrance. X-Pac won
with an X-factor. Some thought this was disappointing, but I thought
this was the best match of the show. They worked hard and were stiff
with each other. I was simply a different match than most might have
expected.
-Backstage, Bradshaw was talking up the Acolytes protection agency (APA) when the Dudleys came to them asking for protection from Hardys, Edge & Christian.
-"Match" 6 (Lumberjill match for WWF Women's title): The Kat
(champion) vs "Hervina" (challenger)
Most of the WWF women surrounded the fight area, which was a huge pool
full of snow. Hervina pinned Kat to win the title, and when Michael Cole
interviewed "her" afterwards, "she" was revealed as Harvey Wippleman, who
pushed Cole into the snow. The women then fought in the snow.
-Cactus Jack and co. were going to HHH and Stephanie's office.
-Footage from WWF New York aired.
-In HHH and Stephanie's office, HHH told the newcomers he wasn't happy with them, and said he'd "consider" giving them a chance in the WWF.
-Match 7 (handicap match): Hollys vs Viscera
Crash pinned Viscera with Hardcore's help. After the match, Viscera
splashed Crash.
-The Superbowl commercial rejected by ABC aired.
-Highlights of Jim Ross's interview with Steve Austin from Halftime Heat aired. Austin said he hoped to return in 3 or 4 months.
-Match 8: Matt Hardy (w/Jeff) vs Buh Buh Ray Dudley (w/D-Von)
Acolytes came out to protect the Dudleys. Matt hit Buh Buh Ray with a
chair for the DQ. Edge and Christian tried to run in but Acolytes
intercepted them. Buh Buh Ray powerbombed Jeff onto Matt and through
two tables (a thrid one didn't break) in a crazy spot.
-Cactus and co. were talking backstage when HHH and Stephanie ordered the newcomers to leave.
-Next, HHH was supposed to defend the WWF title vs Kane, but Kane never showed up. Cactus came out and criticized HHH for throwing Benoit & co. out of the building. Cactus and HHH then fought. HHH went to leave, but Benoit and company intercepted him and threw him back in the ring. They and Cactus ganged up on HHH to end a fantastic show.
-Overall, this was easily one of the 10 best RAW shows ever and maybe the best first hour in the 2 hour show's history. There were very few dull moments in the entire show, good wrestling, and many entertaining moments. This show epitomized the momentum WWF has and the potential for their future product is enormous.
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