From the Beginning

[Guest Brian]

Here I come with another show from the archives of the old board, this one featuring a return that, at the time, seemed like it would happen. Keep that in mind when reading.

 

A video airs re-capping Ric Flair’s RAW arrival. Vince is going to make an announcement tonight based on what happened on RAW.

 

JR and the King join us tonight for SmackDown.

 

Austin is on his way to the ring with Chris Jericho. Jericho says he joined WCW because he’s coming back to his roots. He says the WWF never respected him, it was always about the Rock. He’s tired of hearing about the Rock. Austin grabs the mic and says that he’s also hearing about the Rock. The Rock got lucky at Survivor Series, and Austin says lightning will not strike twice at Vengeance. What? He says the Rock only gets one chance, and that’s used. What? He says the Rock isn’t good enough to beat him a second time. And that’s the bottom line, because Stone Cold says so.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Backstage, Christian tells test that he shouldn’t stop after the three tonight against Edge. Test says just don’t get involved and he’ll be fine.

 

European Championship

Eddy Guerrero vs. Hardcore Holly

Hardcore kicks Eddy in the stomach to start things off. Eddy walks backwards trying to shake it off, but Hardcore runs and hits him with a shoulder block. He picks Eddy up and throws him into the ropes, but Eddy reverses. Clothesline for Eddy and then a body slam. 1-2-Hardcore easily kicks out. Eddy kicks him in the gut, and hits a tornado DDT for another 2. He goes for an irish whip, but Hardcore reverses and hits Eddy with a dropkick. Eddy gets up and charges at Hardcore, but Hardcore catches his legs, lifts him up, and falls backwards, hitting Eddy's neck on the ropes with a hotshot for 2. Hardcore hits a full nelson slam, then picks the champ right back up for a beautiful back suplex for 2. Hardcore is getting really frustrated and throws Eddy into the ropes, but Eddy runs back with a clothesline. Eddy with a German Suplex, but Hardcore rolls right through it and hits a picturesque dropkick, knocking Eddy into the corner. He runs into the corner, but Eddy raises his legs, hitting Hardcore in the face. He charges at him with a lariat, almost knocking Hardcore out of his boots. Eddy picks him up and hits a brainbuster and goes for the pin. 1-2-3 and Eddy retains at 7:15

 

Booker T runs into Test and says that it’s about time they both started getting respected around here, as Booker taps his US title.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Vince appears over the titantron, via teleprompter, and says that he’s been working on the legal aspects of his deal with Flair. He says he’s enlisted a hitman to take out Jericho at Vengeance, and tag with the Rock against Stone Cold and Jericho tonight.

 

Backstage, Mick announces that Monday on RAW, there will be a WCW battle royal to determine a number one contender to the European title. Similarly, there will also be a match on Smackdown for WWF, and the winners will progress to the pay per view to face Eddy Guerrero.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Backstage, Austin and Jericho talk strategy. Austin says there is no one in the WWF that Vince could get to take out both him and Jericho. Jericho agrees, and says Rock won’t make a difference.

 

Test vs. Edge

Edge starts things off with a snapmare on Test and follows that up with a bodyslam. He whips Test into the corner and runs into a big boot. Test with a kick to the stomach followed by a clothesline gets a 2 count. He throws Edge into the the Turnbuckle and hits an avalanche on Edge for another 2. He hits a bodyslam and drops the elbow, but Edge moves. Russian Leg Sweep gets two and then Edge goes behind and pulls out a german suplex. Test gets up, but Edge small packages him and the ref counts 1-2-kickout. He grabs Test in a side headlock, but Test pushes him off. Test kicks Edge in the stomach, hooks him up for a powerbomb and drills his head into the mat. Test throws Edge into the ropes and puts up his big boot, but Edge ducks and goes for the spear, but Test moves out of the way and sends Edge into the ropes again. He catches Edge in position for the Pumphandle Slam, but Edge falls out and hits the Edgecutioner for the win at 9:36. Christian runs down and clothesline Edge from behind. He hits the UnPrettier, then holds Edge up for the Big Boot by Test. They kick Edge a couple times and then leave together.

 

Angle enters Rock’s locker room and tells him that no person could possibly be as good as Kurt, so why doesn’t Rock just take him. Rock says needs to think before he says things, because Angle has to worry about Shamrock and Booker T tonight if he wants the US title back.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Light-Heavyweight Championship

Matt Hardy vs. X-Pac

X-Pac vs. Matt Hardy -

Jeff and Lita are at ringside with Matt. X-Pac starts things off with an arm drag followed by a dropkick for 2. He hits a frankensteiner and hits a bodyslam. He goes for a legdrop, but misses. Matt hits a suplex and gets 2. Small package gets another 2, as X-Pac goes for a clothesline. Matt ducks it and kicks X-Pac in the gut. He follows that up with a kick to the face, stunning X-Pac. He goes for the pin, but only gets 2. Hardy hits a Rocker Dropper and then throws X-Pac into the Turnbuckle. He runs into X-Pac's foot and is hit with a leg lariat. He gets up, but walks into another Leg Lariat. He ducks a third and hits a dropkick. He tries to throw X-Pac into the ropes, but X-Pac reverses by throwing Matt into the ropes, and is tripped by Jeff. X-Pac grabs him, X-Factor!! 1-2-3 at 6:26. Matt stares at Jeff as he makes his way up to the ramp, with Lita with Jeff.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Matt and Jeff argue n the back as Lita brings in Commissioner Foley to break it up. Foley says if they want a shot at each other, it’s going to have to wait. Foley needs then together to help take on WCW, but if they really want a fight, they can at least take the cruiserweight titles away from X-Pac at Vengeance.

 

Ric Flair is on his way out to the ring. He says that he’s been waiting to be on WWF TV for a long time, stylin’ and profilin’, like only the nature boy could. He wants to announce that Vince can throw whatever he wants at Chris Jericho, but it’s not going to change the fact that he’s WCW champ, and carries the legacy of the Flairs, Funks, Steamboats, and Stings. Flair puts over Jericho and his accomplishments, before Rock interrupts. Rock reminds Flair how Jericho won that title, with an illegal object. Rock says that tonight, he won’t need a partner to beat Jericho, as long as Jericho doesn’t use a chair.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

 

Rock talks to Vince on the phone, then slams it down after asking Vince who his mystery partner is.

 

United States Championship

Booker T © vs. Ken Shamrock vs. Kurt Angle

Booker hits a Drop toe hold on Angle and Shamrock follows that up with a snapmare. Booker and Shamrock hit a double suplex on Angle and Booker hits Angle with a hard right hand. Shamrock follows that up with a clothesline and Booker and Shamrock taunt Angle. Booker with a powerslam and he goes for the pin, but Shamrock breaks it up. Booker gets in his face, and Shamrock hits Booker with a Jaw Breaker. He hits a belly-to-belly on Angle, but Booker breaks it up, as the two WCW members are arguing over who gets the pin. Angle catches Shamrock by surprise with a release german suplex and then hits Booker with a clothesline. He sets Booker up on top and hits a superplex for 2 when Shamrock breaks the pin. Angle with a belly to belly suplex on Shamrock, and he goes for the pin, but Booker breaks it up. Booker with a Fallaway Slam on Angle and he goes for the pin, 1-2-kickout. Double DDT by Shamrock and Booker and Shamrock hooks Angle for a German Suplex as Booker hits Angle with a leg lariat. Shamrock gets a 2 count, but Booker breaks it up and they are back to arguing. Angle rolls Shamrock up from behind, but Booker breaks it. He nails Angle with the Book-End and Shamrock runs at Booker, but also gets hit with the Book-End. Booker covers Angle and gets the pin at 11:34. Booker rolls out of the ring and walks up the ramp. Angle slowly rolls out as Shamrock begins to move, and Angle thinks about rushing the ring but Shamrock gets all the way up.

 

A car is shown arriving backstage. JR says that could be the arrival of our man.

 

 

<Commercial Break>

 

Rock/Mystery Partner vs. Chris Jericho/Stone Cold

Rock rushes the ring and gets pounded by Jericho and Austin. The music hits, and it’s Triple H running down the ramp. Austin stops, stunned when he hears the music, and both him and Jericho clear the ring. Rock gets up and gives Triple H a stare-down, then heads to the corner as Austin gets into the ring. HHH starts it up with Austin, but Austin hits a knee-lift to start things off. He tags Jericho and Jericho hits a clothesline on HHH. He hits a DDT which gets two and then tags Austin. They whip HHH into the ropes and Jericho hits a drop toe hold as Austin follows it up with a leg drop to the back of the head for 2. Austin throws HHH into the corner and hits him with a flurry of punches to the stomach. HHH hits a kick to break it up and slaps on an armbar and tags the Rock. The Rock hits a powerslam and goes for the pin, but Jericho breaks it up. The Rock hits Austin with the spinebuster and goes for the pin, but Jericho breaks it up. He tags HHH and they send Austin into the ropes and hit a double shoulder block. Austin fight back with punches and tags in Jericho. HHH tags in the Rock and Jericho is Running Scared. Rock with a spinebuster and a Samoan drop as Jericho can't get a move in. He goes for the Rock Bottom, but Austin hits him from behind. HHH clothesline Austin to the outside and fights with him. Jericho hooks the Rock and hits the Breakdown for the pin at 14:28. Austin takes HHH out on the outside and Jericho and Austin lay waste to Rock and HHH. JR says that the WWF maybe nearing the end as we know it.