Raw is War - April 17, 2000

[cawthon777 0]

I recently aquired a tape of this and, while putting it on DVD, I was reminded as to just how good this episode - as well as this year - was for the WWF.

 

WWF @ State College, PA - Bryce Jordan Center - April 17, 2000

 

Raw is War - included Eddie Guerrero studying backstage in preperation for the GED; featured footage of Kurt Angle on the campus of Penn State University promoting abstinence; at one point, his demonstration was interrupted by the Big Show who handed out free condoms to students; included an in-ring announcement by Linda McMahon in which she said that someone should be in the Rock's corner at Backlash to make sure the odds are even and that person would be Stone Cold Steve Austin; moments later, Triple H, Stephanie & Shane McMahon came to the ring to confront Linda, with Linda blocking a slap from Stephanie and slapping Stephanie to the mat; while Linda apologized, Triple H set her up for the Pedigree only for Shane to knock Triple H to the mat; as Shane and Triple H were about to go at it, the Rock came out on the stage and said that he would be the WWF Champion at Backlash; Washington Redskins 1st Round Draft Pick Lavar Arrington was in attendance for the show:

 

Chris Jericho pinned WWF World Champion Triple H (w/ WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon) with a spin kick and the Lionsault at 8:38; prior to the bout, Jericho challenged Triple H to put the title on the line, as the match was originally a non-title contest, and then brought out the Acolytes to be in his corner; late in the bout, Shane McMahon, who was at ringside, crotched Jericho on the top rope after referee Mike Chioda had been knocked out, with the APA then chasing Shane to the back; Earl Hebner came down moments later to take over the officiating; after the commercial break, Chioda and Hebner were dragged back to the ring where Chioda was pressured into saying Hebner gave a fast count; Triple H then threatened Hebner to reverse the decision or else, with Hebner then saying he would only reverse the decision if Triple H and the McMahons agreed to never lay their hands on him again, as long as he was a WWF official; Triple H agreed, Jericho came out onto the stage, and reluctantly relinquished the title belt; Hebner returned to the ring, strapped it around Triple H's waist, and was then publicly fired and beaten down by Triple H and Shane, eventually sustaining the Pedigree before numerous officials swarmed the ring

 

Matt & Jeff Hardy defeated Essa Rios (w/ Lita) & WWF European Champion Eddie Guerrero (w/ Chyna) at 4:43 when Matt pinned Guerrero with the Twist of Fate after Lita accidentally hit a moonsault onto a standing Guerrero; after the bout, Chyna hit a powerbomb on Essa while Guerrero stomped him

 

WWF Hardcore Champion Crash Holly defeated Perry Saturn and ECW World Champion Tazz at 3:25 by pinning Saturn after dropkicking an interfering Hardcore Holly in the face seconds after Hardcore hit the Hollycaust on Saturn; after the bout, Lilian Garcia mistakenly announced Crash as the WWF Champion (Tazz' first appearance on WWF TV as ECW Champion)

 

Al Snow & Steve Blackman defeated the Dudley Boyz at 1:32 when Snow pinned D-Von after Test hit the flying elbow onto D-Von as Trish Stratus and Albert distracted the referee, moments after the Dudleyz hit the 3D on Snow; after the bout, Bubba Ray grabbed Trish by the hair but Trish kissed Bubba on the lips to distract him long enough so she could escape being put through a table

 

Scotty 2 Hotty pinned WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko to win the title at 4:42 with a cradle immediately after Malenko hit a superplex on the challenger

 

The Big Show defeated WWF IC Champion Chris Benoit via disqualification at 2:18 when Benoit kicked Show in the groin to escape the chokeslam; after the bout, Kurt Angle ran to the ring and repeatedly stomped and elbowed Show in the groin

 

WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian defeated the Big Bossman & Bull Buchanon via disqualification at 4:41 when, as the challengers were double teaming in the ring, Bossman shoved referee Teddy Long; after the bout, Kane came out, knocked Bossman from the ring, and hit a chokeslam on Buchanon; after the commercial break, Edge & Christian were jumped backstage and knocked out by X-Pac & the Road Dogg

 

WWF World Champion Triple H, the Road Dogg, & X-Pac (w/ Shane McMahon, WWF Women's Champion Stephanie McMahon, & Tori) defeated Chris Jericho & the Acolytes at 7:37 with a kick to the midsection and the Pedigree after Jericho hit the corner; late in the bout, the Acolytes battled with Road Dogg & X-Pac up the ramp, where Edge & Christian came down to help gang up on the DX members; moments later, the Acolytes returned ringside but were jumped from behind by the Big Bossman & Bull Buchanon

 

 

Just a really solid show from top to bottom. Y2J / HHH poppped the crowd within the first 15 minutes of the show and set the pace for the remainder. The Hardyz vs. Eddie & Rios was a nice little high flying encounter. Edge & Christian were cocky tweeners who were babyfaces against Road Dogg & X-Pac. Hilarious stuff from Angle. And the announced return of Stone Cold after being gone since Survivor Series.

 

A lot of elevated talent in those 2 hours.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

This Raw depresses me, if only because of badly Jericho had his legs cut off. That crowd went absolutely apeshit for his win over Triple H, but whatever good came of it was snuffed out when he lost clean later that night. Were Bradshaw or Farrooq really that important that they couldn't have been the ones to do the job ?

[Gary Floyd 0]

That moment in Raw is when I got tired of HHH. Champ or not afterwards, I don't think Jericho's career has fully recovered since then.

[Guest news_gimmick]

This Raw depresses me, if only because of badly Jericho had his legs cut off. That crowd went absolutely apeshit for his win over Triple H, but whatever good came of it was snuffed out when he lost clean later that night. Were Bradshaw or Farrooq really that important that they couldn't have been the ones to do the job ?

It does to me too, if only to see just how much the show has dropped off in it's unpredictability and entertainment value, as well as the lack of elevation within the roster. I remember thinking just how much Jericho was going to do as a future world champion at the time, and well...we know how well that has since turned out. Just seeing Jericho involved with a meaningless match like this week against Davairai furthers this.

[BUTT 0]

I was thinking about this Raw a few weeks ago, and it occured to me that a full five years later, both guys are in the exact same spots on the roster, with virtually no alterations in their characters. That's not to say that HHH should be lower on the card, or Jericho should be higher, regardless of my personal feelings, but the fact that both guys haven't changed at all, and that before WM when HHH was champ they could have done the exact same angle, made me realize just how stale WWE really is.

[iggymcfly 0]

Actually, HHH's character has changed a ton. Back in 2000, he was a conniving ingenious badass heel who would beat the fuck out of anyone who crossed him with a sledgehammer, and figure out how to fuck with somebody if they didn't present themself.

 

Now, he's just a typical egotist who can't stand to be separated from the title, and who wears suits because he's rich and important. He does nothing but sell and cheat in his matches, and the best "plan" he can come up with is to try to make Batista think that JBL's trying to run him over.

[Jericholic82 0]

Yea Jerichow as over, but they couldnt just give him the title, Backlash was coming real soon, w/ the heavily hyped HHH/Rock title match.

 

Geez I forgot they had a six man tag later, keep in mind its been 5 years, and even I forget sometimes.

 

I did tape the part after comemrical where Jericho came out wearing the blet and saved that part.

[Eclipse 0]

Ah, now THAT was a great RAW. I needs me that on DVD or something..

[landy1987 0]

I recently recieved basically this first 12 weeks of Raws/Smackdowns/Heats from 2000 and I agree this era I fell is truly amazing. So far I'm up to around No Way Out and pretty much everything is fantastic to watch. The Hardcore division, the Radicalz, DX / McMahon-Helmsley era, Cactus Jack, Rock vs Big Show feud etc

[Adam 0]

I recently downloaded the universally loved 10 Man Tag from back in February of 2000, I have no doubt that show was also awesome.

[Carnival 0]

It does to me too, if only to see just how much the show has dropped off in it's unpredictability and entertainment value, as well as the lack of elevation within the roster.

that says it all right there. perfect.

 

10-man tag. I barely remember it. I don't remember why everyone loves it so much. Maybe i need to watch it again, download it or something.

 

can someone tell me why this is so great?

[Guest news_gimmick]

Well it was universally loved because the match was fantastic. It was one of the first big time matches for the Radicals, and they delivered the goods that night. Combined with the amazing heat Rikishi and Too Cool had at the time, and you had yourself a hot main event with a hot crowd that helped contribute to it. I recommend you check it out again, most main events nowadays don't come close to it.

[cawthon777 0]

10-man tag. I barely remember it. I don't remember why everyone loves it so much. Maybe i need to watch it again, download it or something.

 

can someone tell me why this is so great?

Here's a download of it. Not sure how many are left so first come, first serve.

 

xxhttp://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3AFMSEHV6U36E3P4P0HBVZSGZI

 

Take the "x"s out.

[Carnival 0]

Thanks...i'm at work now, so i'll probably get shafted out of it when i get home.

[megaadvice 0]

Everything about that 10 man tag is perfection, MEGA, MEGA, MEGA hot crowd, not not at the end but all the way through the match.

 

Crowd go ape shit for Too Cool at the start, the Rock's hot tag half way through was INSANE, the heat for Trips and Cactus was off the charts, the chaos at the start of the match was great, the chaos was intergrated with some great wrestling, and just when you thought that was it KANE comes out and the crowd eat it up.

 

Basically this match represents all that was great about first 6 months of 2000 all roled into one 15 min match

[Eclipse 0]

Wow, I haven't seen that match since it first aired. I remember that match being awesome. It's awesome that cawthon upped it. AWESOME. MEMORIES OF THE GOOD TIMES!!!

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Who was elevated on that show exactly?

 

Scoty 2 Hotty? No. Too Cool was already a SUPERSTAR OVER team, receiving huge pops and praise at Royal Rumble, No Way Out, and WrestleMania. Besides, Scotty dropped the title back to Dean by the end of April, and went back to Too Cool, which was quickly beginning to get moldy.

 

Chris Jericho? If by "Making him look like one of the big face stars that wins the title at all odds....but...nah...lets make him look like a 'never-was' by the end of the show" he was "elevated". One of Raw's all-time markout moments was Jerich's "title win", but by the end of the same raw: Second Verse, Same as the First, JERICHO JOBS TO HHH.

 

Snow & Blackman? Dissolved as a team shortly after.

 

Benoit made to look weak.

 

Crash wins via interference.

[Guest news_gimmick]

As for the elevation I was talking about, I was referring to the elevation of these stars in the past 5 years. Jericho? He's actually gotten lower on the card since April 2000. He had his one botched world title reign and that was it. His potential was never fully reached. Everyone else on that show is in exactly the same spot, or lower. Only new comers like Batista and Cena are currently shuffled into the main event spot, and will no doubt be shuffled back down eventually too. Thats what I was getting at.

 

 

And up to that point, stars like Crash, Snow and Blackman, Benoit were at least being utilized, and involved in thought out angles. They weren't toiling around in meaningless, random matches like most of the midcard is today. In fact I'd bet that Al Snow and Blackman would be used similar to how Hurricane and Rosey are nowadays if they were around today. Thats where the entertainment value has dropped, at least there was creativity all over the show 5 years ago.

[Carnival 0]

I just DLed it.

 

The crowd is fuckin insane. Especially when Kane comes out.

 

Did anyone else notice Foley try to break up the finish. hahaha

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Quick ?: Is this version you downloaded pretty poor quality? (Best I've seen so far is pretty poor).

[Shooting Star 0]

Holy fucking shit that 10 man tag was fucking awesome!Great quality too ! why can't WWE be like this anymore?

[Eclipse 0]

For me, the video was a little choppy. Good quality, but it didn't run perfectly though.

[CBright7831 0]

I guess The Rock was off filming his part in The Mummy 2 or something.

[Carnival 0]

Ya this isn't the best quality video. But it's good enough.

 

Paul Bearer in the red jacket owns.

[cawthon777 0]

Benoit made to look weak.

Not really. Actually he was made to look like a badass by kicking Show in the groin and dropping him to the mat.

 

He wasn't going to beat Show with a pin or submission at that point in time so that finish was probably the most beneficial one they could do for Benoit at that point.

[Guest Edgehead]

WWF in 2000. The great memories that now come back to me. I liked Triple H then.

[Jericholic82 0]

I guess The Rock was off filming his part in The Mummy 2 or something.

rock didt film mummy 2 until afer backlash, thats why he was mssing from tv one week (in his absense hhh challenged him for the iron man and jericho was made the top face for two shows)

[cawthon777 0]

I guess The Rock was off filming his part in The Mummy 2 or something.

Rock was there.

 

included an in-ring announcement by Linda McMahon in which she said that someone should be in the Rock's corner at Backlash to make sure the odds are even and that person would be Stone Cold Steve Austin; moments later, Triple H, Stephanie & Shane McMahon came to the ring to confront Linda, with Linda blocking a slap from Stephanie and slapping Stephanie to the mat; while Linda apologized, Triple H set her up for the Pedigree only for Shane to knock Triple H to the mat; as Shane and Triple H were about to go at it, the Rock came out on the stage and said that he would be the WWF Champion at Backlash

[BUTT 0]

Yeah, that was the first Raw all year where Rock didn't wrestle. It was the week after Backlash (not the day after, but the next week) that he was off shooting The Mummy Returns. By the way, what did everyone think about that Raw? That was the one where Jericho wrestled three times in one night, losing the IC title to Benoit at the end. That was another one that everyone on the net at the time said was going to elevate Jericho, but it turned out not to do much for him in the long run.

[RHR 0]

I remember every Raw back then was fun to watch. Not so much these days, although, Christian is quickly become one of my all-time faves....

 

Who did Jericho wrestle in those three matches...I cannot remember...

 

also...EDGEHEAD....what are you doing with that avatar man? My cock is now just a penis...