WWF 2000

[FireDoughnut]

Preview

13th April 2000

Three more matches have been added to the card for this Thursday’s Smackdown after Vince McMahon’s huge announcement on RAW is WAR. The WWF Chairman grew quickly tired of the destruction that the busy tag team division was causing on WWF programming and announced an eight man tag match to take place on Smackdown!

The Hardy Boys will be teaming up with the Dudley Boys to face off with The A.P.A. and the WWF Tag Team Champions Edge & Christian. The man that records the victory will earn his tag team a shot at the Tag Team Gold at Backlash, but if Edge and Christian win the match, they won’t have to defend their newly won Gold until King of the Ring. Needless to say, tensions will be running rather high in the match as no-one will want to lose the pinfall or even let their team-mates get the fall.

Elsewhere, Shane McMahon and his sister have been arguing again.

Shane has booked Stephanie McMahon in another Women’s Championship defence but this time it’s Chyna. Chyna hasn’t been seen since Wrestlemania but it could be a nice start to the new season by picking the Women’s Gold. However in response, Stephanie has booked two matches putting both Shane and his client, The Big Show in handicap matches. Shane is set to take on Steven Regal and Kurt Angle while the WWF Hardcore Champion will team with Kane to take on the D-Generation X trio in a match that seems slightly even.

Elsewhere on Smackdown we are sure to here from Chris Jericho following his loss of the European Championship to Eddie Guerrero, and from Chris Benoit who has promised to make Jericho regret joining the WWF.

All this plus Albert, WWF Light-Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko and The Rock… only on this Thursday’s Smackdown!

Confirmed Matches

The Hardy Boys & The Dudley Boys (Jeff, Matt, Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs. Edge, Christian and The A.P.A. (Bradshaw & Farooq)

Women’s Championship: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley © vs. Chyna

The Big Show & Kane vs. D-Generation X (Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac)

Shane McMahon vs. Steven Regal & Kurt Angle

Edited January 10, 2007 by Flat_Doughnut

[Guest Charismatist]

How are you planning to have a 39 man WWF title match... might I ask?

[FireDoughnut]

How are you planning to have a 39 man WWF title match... might I ask?

41 actually.

Why did you bother to count? And have you read the diary? Between now and Backlash, every WWF wrestler has two lives. If they lose a match, they lose a life. So it won't be 41 people by the time Backlash rolls around.

EDIT: Btw, thank you to all the feedback recieved so far. It is nice to know I have readers.

Edited January 10, 2007 by Flat_Doughnut

[Guest EWR 4.2]

Read the rest of the Diary and you will find out that, that is not the plan.

My Thoughts:

Great Start and your frequency in posting is great but I dunno how long you intend to keep that up for. I also love the 5 signings, all top class wrestlers!

[FireDoughnut]

Thursday 13th April 2000

For the fourth show since Wrestlemania 16, Shane McMahon was the face that opened the show as he headed to the ring with The Big Show. The first-born McMahon looked quite confident as he took the microphone and informed everyone that he wouldn’t be competing tonight as first thought. Shane informed the fans that he was injured, and even had a note from the WWF doctors to prove it and instead, Kurt Angle would simply battle the man he was supposed to team with, Steven Regal.

Shane did confirm that the WWF Hardcore Champion was looking forward to joining forces with Kane in the main event, but even The Big Show’s enthusiasm wasn’t enough to defeat the combined forces of D-Generation X. At different times in the match it seemed as though the two seven foot giants would gain the victory but Triple H seemed on his game and supported by X-Pac and Road Dogg, the trio had enough to keep The Big Show down and record the win. Straight after the match, X-Pac got one over Kane as well as he slammed a steel chair down on his skull before calling Tori into the ring who then slapped the dazed Kane across the face.

In Stephanie’s title defence against Chyna, she once again came through with the help of D-X. HHH and X-Pac tormented Chyna as she tried to prise the Women’s Championship away from the McMahon heir and Chyna’s frustration got the better of her as she got herself disqualified, refusing to let go of a simple sleeper hold.

Kurt Angle finally got The Rock to recognise him as a threat on Smackdown after interrupting the Great One once again. The Rock was in the middle of the ring, talking the fans through just how badly he was going to “whoop” everyone in the Backlash main event when Kurt Angle got involved. Angle simply asked The Rock to watch him take on Steven Regal later in the night, and then if he didn’t rate him after that the Gold Medallist would understand. And in the subsequent match, The Rock showed up just in time to see Kurt Angle use the Rock Bottom to gain the victory over Steven Regal in what a technical master class. Angle stood in the corner and celebrated his victory as The Rock death-stared Angle from the stage, looking anything but happy.

Although one team that left Smackdown simply ecstatic were Matt and Jeff Hardy. In the massive eight man tag match booked by Vince McMahon, Jeff Hardy managed to not only get the pinfall and win the match for his foursome, but he guaranteed the Hardy Boys a shot at the WWF Tag Team Championships at Backlash on April 30th. And in a post-match interview, Matt and Jeff promised Kevin Kelly that they would become two-time Champions at Backlash. The victory came about as The Dudley Boys and the A.P.A. brawled on the outside of the ring, furthering the rivalry that has been brewing between the two teams as the two teams blamed each other for missing out on the title shot.

In the other tag team match on the card, WWF Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit tagged with the only Radical to not hold a WWF Belt, Perry Saturn as they took on Too Cool. Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay started brightly and as the more regular tag team held the early advantage but the number game paid off as Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero got involved in the match, helping Benoit to lock in his Crossface on Scotty. The Radicals celebrated their win by laying the boots into Too Cool before Rikishi stormed down the ramp, as a steel chair welding Chris Jericho hopped the guardrail. The Radicals were quickly gone from the ring as Jericho joined Too Cool and Rikishi as they danced for Chris Jericho, thanking him for rescuing them. Later in the show, Chris Jericho was with Michael Cole as he promised to get his hands on Chris Benoit one of these days, and when he does it will be a kind of pain never seen in any of the other millennia.

And in the opening match of the show, Val Venis dumped Albert out of the Backlash main event by pinning Mideon in a triple threat. The self-proclaimed “World’s Sexist Man” kept getting distracted during the match as he flirted with Trish Stratus but was still on the ball enough to hit Mideon with the Money Shot for the victory. Following the defeat, Albert was caught on camera destroying his locker room as Trish Stratus tried to calm him down.

Smackdown Results

Val Venis def. Mideon & Albert

The Dudley Boys & The Hardy Boys (Bubba Ray, D-Von, Jeff & Matt) def. Edge, Christian and The A.P.A. (Bradshaw & Farooq)

Women’s Championship

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley © def. Chyna by DQ

Chris Benoit & Perry Saturn def. Too Cool (Scott 2 Hotty & Grand Master Sexay)

Kurt Angle def. Steven Regal

D-Generation X (Triple H, Road Dogg & X-Pac) def. The Big Show & Kane

Show Rating: 74%

[FireDoughnut]

Smackdown News

-Smackdown got a rating of 5.09 and only marginally beat out Thunder which scored 5.08. The WWF officials are a little disappointed by this score, but many place the blame with The Rock being no where near the main event to keep viewers interested.

-The Hardy Boys are going to be given a manager in the coming weeks after a poor showing on their interview with Kevin Kelly. Many sources backstage were disappointed with the interview despite shooting it a number of times and while the boys work on their microphone skills for the future, the WWF are going to find them a mouthpiece.

-Management are still very high on The Radicals are there are no plans to break them up in any way. Initial thoughts gave the Radicals about six months from their early year debut but right now, there is talk that the foursome could still be together by next year’s Royal Rumble and even increase in numbers. Shannon Moore is the logical thought to join the group when he is finished in OVW, while there are rumblings that Chris Jericho may pull off the mother of all swerves to join them.

-Despite the rumblings that came out of RAW about Trish Stratus, many of the staff backstage were very impressed with Albert on Smackdown.

-Terri Runnels has requested her release from the WWF. She is expected to be obliged in the coming days.

[FireDoughnut]

WWF News

Due to some confusion surrounding the WWF Championship Tournament, WWF.com have clarified everyone's position on the website with the following list:

Eliminated

Albert

Crash Holly

Viscera

Rikishi

Faarooq

Bradshaw

Perry Saturn

Chris Jericho

The Big Show

Pete Gas

Tazz

X-Pac

Scotty 2 Hotty

Grand Master Sexay

1 Life Left

Dean Malenko

Chris Benoit

The Big Boss Man

Bull Buchanan

Jeff Hardy

Bubba Ray Dudley

D-Von Dudley

Mosh

Thrasher

Joey Abs

Sho Funaki

The Godfather

D'Lo Brown

Val Venis

Rodney

Matt Hardy

Road Dogg

Triple H

Mideon

Edge

Christian

Steven Regal

Kane

The Rock

2 Lives Left

Al Snow

British Bulldog

Eddie Guerrero

Essa Rios

Gangrel

Goldust

Kurt Angle

Steve Blackman

Stevie Richards

TAKA Michinoku

Current Card

Sunday 30th April 2006

WWF Championship Match

Dean Malenko vs. Chris Benoit vs. The Big Boss Man vs. Bull Buchanan vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Bubba Ray Dudley vs. D-Von Dudley vs. Mosh vs. Thrasher vs. Joey Abs vs. Sho Funaki vs. The Godfather vs. D'Lo Brown vs. Val Venis vs. Rodney vs. Matt Hardy vs. Road Dogg vs. Triple H vs. Mideon vs. Edge vs. Christian vs. Steven Regal vs. Kane vs. The Rock vs. Al Snow vs. British Bulldog vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Essa Rios vs. Gangrel vs. Goldust vs. Kurt Angle vs. Steve Blackman vs. Stevie Richards vs. TAKA Michinoku

WWF Tag Team Championships Match

Edge & Christian © vs. The Hardy Boys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy)

Card is Subject to Change

Edited January 11, 2007 by Flat_Doughnut

[C-MIL]

Congratulations on employing such an innovative concept. I should have expected no less after SWL.

A small suggestion, if I may, is that instead of updating the lists weekly, perhaps do it after every show? Hell, during King Of The Ring tournaments, which are nowhere near as complex as this, they had to flash graphics of brackets between every match. It's not impossible to follow without it, but it certainly would help I think.

I look forward to seeing how Backlash eventually ends up. Good luck.

[FireDoughnut]

Preview

Sunday 16th April 2000

The Hardy Boys have found two huge targets on their backs after the risk-taking duo became the #1 contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championships on Smackdown. The busy tag team division currently houses over ten teams and every single one believes they should be in the position that Matt and Jeff Hardy now find themselves, and they want to prove this by defeating the #1 contenders. And first up is the powerful team of The Big Boss Man and his rookie, Bull Buchanan.

And in the only other confirmed match for HeAT, Dean Malenko is set to defend his WWF Light-Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat against Essa Rios and TAKA Michinoku. Malenko will no doubt have the Radicals backing him up in his defence but with two men in the match, he may have his work cut out.

Tune in to Sunday Night HeAT for appearances by Val Venis, Al Snow, Steve Blackman and The Headbangers!

Confirmed Matches

The Hardy Boys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) vs. The Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan

WWF Light-Heavyweight Championship: Dean Malenko © vs. Essa Rios vs. TAKA Michinoku

[FireDoughnut]

Sunday 16th April 2000

Matt and Jeff Hardy have came through a ten team tag division to earn themselves a title shit at Backlash, but needless to say some of the teams weren’t happy. But as HeAT drew to a close The Hardy Boys had silenced at least one team by defeating The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan in tag team action in the Sunday Night HeAT main event with Matt landing the Twist of Fate on Bull. Earlier in the show, Matt and Jeff were warned by the Dudley Boys that they owe them the first title shot when they beat Edge & Christian at Backlash as they helped them out on Smackdown. The Hardy Boys promised to be fighting Champions but only against teams that deserved a shot.

And in a subsequent singles match, D-Von Dudley seemed to be all hot-air as he lost out to Val Venis after Bubba Ray’s failed attempts to get involved. Post-match however, Val was put through a table in the centre of the ring, via a Dudley Death Drop.

In the other tag match on HeAT, Albert was joined by Steven Regal as they took on Al Snow and Steve Blackman and it was the rookie team that took the victory. Albert’s power and strength was undeniable as he dominated both men but Steven Regal got the victory after tying Al Snow in a triangle hold. In a following interview, Trish Stratus sent out a warning to Eddie Guerrero that he is the next name on Albert’s “hit-list.”

Speaking of the WWF European Champion, Eddie Guerrero and the rest of the Radicals were in attendance to make sure that Dean Malenko came throw his Light-heavyweight Championship match with his belt intact, and needless to say, he did. Malenko took part in an exciting match with TAKA Michinoku and Essa Rios, who was without Lita but the numbers game saw Malenko threw as Guerrero, Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn all got involved to torment his opponents before Malenko applied the Texas Cloverleaf to Essa for he victory.

Lita’s disappearance was explained post-match as she was found backstage with Val Venis, enjoying a cup of coffee together.

HeAT Results

Val Venis def. D-Von Dudley

Albert & Steven Regal def. Al Snow & Steve Blackman

Light-heavyweight Championship

Dean Malenko © def. Essa Rios & TAKA Michinoku

The Hardy Boys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) def. The Big Boss Man & Bull Buchanan

Show Rating: 74%

Edited January 11, 2007 by Flat_Doughnut

[FireDoughnut]

HeAT News

-Sunday Night HeAT drew a 1.97 rating, while WCW’s Saturday Night show only scored a 1.22 rating the night before. Many sources within both companies blame the scores on the WWF’s apparent willingness to push HeAT more than usual with The Radicals and The Hardy Boys appearing on the show, following The Big Show and Edge & Christian turning up last week.

-Steven Regal got a lot of flack for his performance on HeAT. Reportedly, Al Snow and Steve Blackman were not happy with how stiff the Brit was working.

-The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan are expected to remain together for a long time. The duo worked the match with The Hardy Boys very well and WWF officials are said to be very high on the duo.

-The WWF have released The Blue Meanie, Barbara Bush and Terri Runnels from their contracts. Naturally, they wish them good luck with future endeavours.

-WWF.com updated the WWF Championship Double Elimination Free-For-All standings. The British Bulldog and Gangrel have been completely removed from the standings.

2 Lives Left

Eddie Guerrero

Goldust

Kurt Angle

Stevie Richards

1 Life Left

Dean Malenko

Chris Benoit

Jeff Hardy

Bubba Ray Dudley

Mosh

Thrasher

Joey Abs

Sho Funaki

The Godfather

D'Lo Brown

Val Venis

Rodney

Matt Hardy

Road Dogg

Triple H

Mideon

Edge

Christian

Steven Regal

Kane

The Rock

Essa Rios

TAKA Michinoku

Al Snow

Steve Blackman

Eliminated

Albert

Crash Holly

Viscera

Rikishi

Farooq

Bradshaw

Perry Saturn

Chris Jericho

The Big Show

Pete Gas

Tazz

X-Pac

Scotty 2 Hotty

Grand Master Sexay

The Big Boss Man

Bull Buchanan

D-Von Dudley

Edited January 11, 2007 by Flat_Doughnut

[FireDoughnut]

Preview

Monday 17th April 2000

With only two weeks until a brand new WWF Champion is crowned, everyone that is still in the Backlash main event are hoping to remain there but the already announced main event for RAW guarantee that at least two men will be removed from the match.

On Smackdown, Kurt Angle finally managed to get The Rock to take notice of him by using the Rock Bottom to finish off Steven Regal and on RAW is WAR, the two men will main event partnering the two teams set to clash swords at Backlash. Edge & Christian have been lazy Champions. They simply allowed the tag division to destroy itself, hoping that there would never be #1 contenders named but on Smackdown, Jeff Hardy pinned Christian guaranteeing that the four men will meet at Backlash and on RAW they have the chance to eliminate their opponents from the WWF Championship.

Triple H claims to be the man responsible for eliminating The Big Show, despite Steven Regal getting one of the victories but The Big Show has done nothing but HHH think this. On Smackdown, The Big Show and Kane were cheated out of a match victory by the under-hand D-Generation X and we can only imagine that the two behemoths will be looking for the trio when RAW is WAR comes round.

Elsewhere on RAW is WAR, Bradshaw will go one-on-one with Bubba Ray Dudley. Bradshaw and Farooq haven’t held the belts since August last year and were cruelly denied at the Royal Rumble this year, and were once again denied a shot on Smackdown by the Dudley Boys, and Bradshaw wants his revenge. Whereas The Dudley brothers were the Champions walking into Wrestlemania 16, so they hope to get the A.P.A. obstacle out of the way as quickly as possible so that they can focus on the gold soon enough.

In the only other match confirmed match for RAW is WAR, Albert is looking to exact some revenge on Mideon for losing the triple threat on Smackdown. The result meant Albert was eliminated from the Backlash main event, and while Trish Stratus warned Eddie Guerrero that he was next on Albert’s list, it’s obvious he wants to teach Mideon a lesson first.

All this plus The Radicals, Rikishi and Too Cool only on WWF’s RAW is WAR!

Confirmed Matches

Albert vs. Mideon

Bradshaw vs. Bubba Ray Dudley

The Rock & The Hardy Boys vs. Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian

[FireDoughnut]

Monday 17th April 2000

With two more weeks to Backlash, RAW is WAR saw the biggest number of names fall from the WWF Championship match than any show before it. Twelve men were eliminated from the match with seven of them coming at the hands of The Big Show.

Shane McMahon was ready and waiting in the centre of the ring as RAW is WAR opened. Shane responded to the abuse he has received in the past weeks at The Big Show’s early exit from the Backlash main event. Shane responded by saying that The Big Show was targeted by those jealous of his sheer power, and in the first match of this week’s RAW is WAR Shane promised The Big Show would showcase that power. The statement brought The Big Show to the ring, carrying his WWF Hardcore Championship. Shane then announced that The Big Show was laying an invitation to anyone in the back to come out and challenge him in a gauntlet for the Hardcore belt. One-by-one, Shane promised that The Big Show would go through as many challengers as arrived.

The Headbangers were the first to the ring, although both seemed cautious about who would enter first. Ultimately The Big Show grew bored and lifted both men into the ring from over the ropes and hit a double chokeslam on the tag team to eliminate them. Pete Gas was the next man out, but he walked straight into a vicious clothesline as did Joey Abs and Rodney. The Godfather was the next man, and he faired better than those before him, actually brawling with the Show and using a steel chair on him, that didn’t seem to phase the WWF’s Biggest Superstar. Although he did receive a chokeslam before D’Lo Brown tried to steal the belt by surprising The Big Show through the crowd. It didn’t work as he too suffered a Show-Time Chokeslam.

Finally, The Big Show’s show of strength brought D-Generation X to the stage. Road Dogg was the first man sent to the ring but he was no match for the Show. X-Pac flew to his rescue and the two men used the numbers game to take on The Big Show but failed miserably as they set him up for a double chair shot. The Hardcore Champion caught both men in matching chokeslams to end the gauntlet how it had started. As The Big Show stood tall, HHH and Stephanie McMahon did not look happy watching from the stage but quickly fled as Shane tried to beckon them to the ring.

Later in the show, Vince McMahon added a match to the Backlash card, despite Triple H still being in the Backlash main event. The WWF Chairman announced Shane McMahon & The Big Show vs. the Women’s Champion, Stephanie McMahon & Triple H

In the nights main event, The Rock was joined by The Hardy Boys to take on Kurt Angle, Edge and Christian in a huge six-man tag match. Early in the night, The Rock admitted he was insulted by Kurt Angle using the Rock Bottom. The Rock added that only the Great One can use such a devastating move, and then dared the Olympic Hero to try and use the People’s Elbow. In the match, Kurt Angle kept himself well away from The Rock in the early going until a much brawl erupted and Angle smashed a steel chair over The Rock’s head. Angle then found himself alone in the ring with The Rock on his back… and Kurt tried it. He ripped off his left elbow pad and threw it into the crowd but as he rebounded off the ropes Jeff Hardy dropkicked him in the back saving The Rock from his own move. Moments later, The Rock recovered to find a dazed Christian in the ring with him and planted the Tag Team Champion with his own Olympic Slam for the victory. The Rock, Matt and Jeff stood tall in the centre of the ring as RAW drew to a close, happy with their night’s work.

One man who left RAW is WAR very unhappy was Essa Rios. The small, Mexican wrestler watched on in disgust, from the end of the corridor as Val Venis continued his flirtation with Lita. The former Light-Heavyweight Champion looked very happy, and later in the show he cost Val Venis his match with Steven Regal, viciously beating him after the match. Essa spat on Venis before storming off and out of the arena.

Eddie Guerrero had a busy night on RAW as he demolished Albert before defending his European Championship without the help of The Radicals. Albert, accompanied by Trish Stratus was looking to exact his revenge on Mideon for costing him a chance at the WWF Championship at Backlash but despite winning the match, Albert did not leave the ring in a healthy condition. The master of the Frog Splash intervened in the match early on and bee-lined straight for Albert, smacking him with a stop sign before stomping him into the ground with the help of Mideon afterwards.

However his title defence against X-Pac did not go down as planned. The match started brightly but as The Radicals appeared from the entrance way to help their member they were stopped by Rikishi and Too Cool. The trio refused to let Benoit and company help out Eddie and it almost looked like that would cost Guerrero as X-Pac bent the rules in every way; except that Kane hopped over the guardrail and chased Tori around the ring. X-Pac was distracted enough to allow Eddie to roll him up for the victory as Kane chased Tori through the crowd.

In the last match on the card, Bradshaw pulled off a victory over Bubba Ray Dudley in a match that was heavily interrupted. Bradshaw hit his Clothesline from Hell for the victory but the massive brawl that went down after the match only managed to set-up the return match between Farooq and D-Von Dudley for next week’s RAW.

RAW is WAR Results

Hardcore Championship

The Big Show © def. Mosh, Thrasher, Joey Abs, Rodney, Pete Gas, The Godfather, D’Lo Brown, X-Pac & Road Dogg

Albert def. Mideon by disqualification

Bradshaw def. Bubba Ray Dudley

European Championship

Eddie Guerrero © def. X-Pac

Steven Regal def. Val Venis

The Rock, Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy def. Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian

Show Rating: 76%

[FireDoughnut]

RAW is WAR News

-RAW is WAR received a rating of 6.44 while Nitro slipped to 5.41. Backstage are said to have welcomed the figures as a sign that they are moving away from the WCW.

-Steven Regal has been sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to tweak his in-ring ability and his gimmick. He is expected to return around King of the Ring to take on Steve Blackman for the European Championship.

-Bubba Ray Dudley was unhappy with Bradshaw on RAW is WAR. The Acolyte was said to have worked very stiffly. Bradshaw defends himself by saying he wanted to “add to the match.”

-WWF.com updated the WWF Championship standings with the following men left in the running for the Backlash main event.

2 Lives Left

Eddie Guerrero

Goldust

Stevie Richards

1 Life Left

Dean Malenko

Chris Benoit

Jeff Hardy

Kurt Angle

Sho Funaki

Matt Hardy

Triple H

Kane

The Rock

Essa Rios

TAKA Michinoku

Al Snow

Steve Blackman

Current Card

Sunday 30th April 2006

WWF Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero vs. Goldust vs. Stevie Richards vs. Dean Malenko vs. Chris Benoit vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle vs. Sho Funaki vs. Matt Hardy vs. Triple H vs. Kane vs. The Rock vs. Essa Rios vs. TAKA Michinoku vs. Al Snow vs. Steve Blackman

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon vs. The Big Show & Shane McMahon

WWF Tag Team Championships Match

Edge & Christian © vs. The Hardy Boys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy)

Card is Subject to Change

[FireDoughnut]

Preview

Thursday 20th April 2000

There are ten days to go until Backlash and Smackdown promises to deliver some really interesting matches as things start to heat up.

Despite knowing that they will meet at Backlash as part of a tag team match, we are set to see The Big Show and Triple H clash one-on-one as Smackdown rolls into the MCI Center in Washington. The Big Show went through nine other men on RAW is WAR as he showcased the power that got his rivals worried about the Backlash main event but on Smackdown it will just be Triple H, facing him for the WWF Hardcore Championship.

And in the other match confirmed for Thursday, Scotty 2 Hotty’s reward for stopping The Radicals on RAW is WAR is a shot at Dean Malenko’s Light-Heavyweight Championship. Scotty 2 Hotty along with Grand Master Sexay and Rikishi stopped the rest of the Radicals from getting to the ring during Eddie Guerrero’s match with X-Pac and it is believed that Linda McMahon has rewarded him accordingly, while the other two will get their rewards in due course.

This Thursday, Chris Jericho will be in attendance after missing RAW is WAR. No-one is quite sure why ‘Y2J’ missed the show but we will surely find out his reasoning in Washington, and also his plan for Chris Benoit.

Kurt Angle has also promised to be in attendance after losing his first life on Monday night. WWF Tag Team Champion, Christian was pinned in a six man tag match by The Rock that also featured Edge and the Hardy Boys, and we are sure to hear his feelings whether we want to or not.

All this plus D-Generation X, WWF Women’s Champion Stephanie McMahon and The Rock only on this Thursday’s Smackdown!

Confirmed Matches

Hardcore Championship: The Big Show © vs. Triple H

Light-Heavyweight Championship: Dean Malenko © vs. Scotty 2 Hotty

[FireDoughnut]

Thursday 20th April 2000

Smackdown opened with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley entering the office of the WWF Chairman, Vince McMahon. Triple H questioned Vince on his decision to put his daughter in a tag team match at Backlash. Vince reminded HHH that Stephanie is the Women’s Champion and therefore should be able to hold her own in a match at the WWF Pay-Per-View, and as much as Triple H and Stephanie pleaded Vince was not changing his mind. Vince then reminded HHH that he had a title match to prepare for, which caused the former WWF Champion to leave the Chairman alone.

Stephanie did not look confident as they left the room, and the frustration between the two seemed evident as they headed out for the WWF Hardcore Championship match with The Big Show. The match was a bloody brawl around the ring and into the crowd that involved steel chairs, a stop sign and a sledgehammer but as The Big Show set Triple H up for a chokeslam on the stage, he was set upon by Tazz. The former ECW Champion suplexed the 500 pound superstar onto the cold steel of the stage and pinned him, running off with the WWF Hardcore belt.

Immediately after the match, Shane McMahon stormed to his father backstage complaining that Tazz had just stole the Hardcore belt. Vince shrugged and reminded Shane McMahon that the 24/7 rule was still intact; and therefore Tazz is the NEW Hardcore Champion. Shane McMahon did not look happy about the result and seemed to blame Triple H as he stormed away.

In the show’s main event, The Rock battled Chris Benoit after The Crippler helped Kurt Angle to bloody The Rock earlier in the show. The Rock was in the ring doing his usual thing with the crowd when Angle and Benoit stormed in from the crowd to bloody The Rock and in the subsequent match, The Rock was really out to prove a point and make sure he remained in the Backlash main event.

Benoit tried to keep The Rock tied up with a number of holds in the centre of the ring but The People’s Champion battled back only for Kurt Angle to hit the ring. Angle swung a steel chair at The Great One and MISSED!!! Thumping Benoit in the forehead allowed The Rock to pick up the pinfall and the victory before the ’Y2J’ countdown appeared on the TitanTron again except this time it was back up to ‘9 days.’

Chris Benoit wasn’t the only Radical to lose on Smackdown as Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero suffered defeats. Malenko went down in the Light-Heavyweight Championship match with Scotty 2 Hotty after Grand Master Sexay made sure that Perry Saturn couldn’t interfere. 2 Hotty hit the Worm for the pinfall, and picked up his first singles belt of the WWF. While Eddie lost out to Albert after he promising the monster a European Championship shot at Backlash. Albert was assisted by Trish Stratus in the victory and will now go to Backlash to take on Guerrero.

Val Venis got his revenge on Essa Rios on Smackdown after he attacked him on RAW is WAR by pinning him in the centre of the ring after Lita helped Val claim the victory. Venis and Lita were all smiles after the victory, standing over the fallen Mexican and shared a warm embrace. Although it didn’t end there as Essa attacked both later in the show, knocking Venis and Lita out with a steel chair backstage.

In the other match on Smackdown, The Dudley Boys disposed of Kai En Tai and Head Cheese in a dominating performance. Bubba Ray and D-Von were devastating as they sent out a message to The A.P.A. that they would not give in lightly to the two bigger men.

Smackdown Results

Light-Heavyweight Championship

Scotty 2 Hotty def. Dean Malenko ©

Val Venis def. Essa Rios

The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley) def. Kai En Tai (TAKA Michinoku & Funaki) and Al Snow & Steve Blackman

Hardcore Championship

Tazz def. The Big Show © & Triple H

Albert def. Eddie Guerrero

The Rock def. Chris Benoit

Show Rating: 78%

[FireDoughnut]

Smackdown News

-For the third week running Smackdown drew a 5.09 rating while Thunder slipped to a 5.07 rating. The WWF officials are perfectly happy for Smackdown to continue with this rating in the future.

-Everyone backstage is happy for The Radicals group to act as tweeners. Right now, Benoit is the heel in the feud with Chris Jericho while Edie Guerrero is the face in his feud with Albert. There are no plans to change this.

-Tazz was a last minute decision to win the Hardcore belt. It was expected that The Big Show would simply retain however Vince wants the belt to open the Backlash show in a gimmick match and that wouldn’t have been possible with the current Big Show - Triple H feud.

-Kurt Angle is not expected to win the WWF Championship at Backlash. WWF officials are set to hold on the inevitable Championship reign until there are enough faces on the roster to challenge Kurt. At the moment, The Rock is the only one at an adequate level to put over the heel Angle and repeated jobbing of The Rock would not be good for anyone.

-Three matches have been added to the Backlash card following Smackdown.

-WWF.com updated the WWF Championship standings with the following men left in the running for the Backlash main event. Stevie Richards and Goldust have been removed from the standings completely and both are listed as injured on the WWF website.

2 Lives Left

None

1 Life Left

Eddie Guerrero

Jeff Hardy

Kurt Angle

Matt Hardy

Kane

The Rock

Current Card

Sunday 30th April 2006

WWF Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle vs. Matt Hardy vs. Kane vs. The Rock

Triple H & Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley vs. The Big Show & Shane McMahon

WWF Intercontinental Championship Match

Chris Benoit © vs. Chris Jericho

WWF Tag Team Championships Match

Edge & Christian © vs. The Hardy Boys (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy)

WWF European Championship Match

Eddie Guerrero © vs. Albert w/Trish Stratus

Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty & Grand Master Sexay) vs. Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn

Card is Subject to Change

[FireDoughnut]

Sunday 23rd April 2000

The main event of Sunday Night HeAT saw Mexican superstar Essa Rios lose to his former manager, Lita in a high-flying affiar. Essa and Lita threw everything at each other and it was clear they knew each other very well; however the introduction of Val Venis to the side of the ring swung things in Lita’s favour as she delivered a moonsault off the top rope for the victory.

Earlier in the show, Lita told Essa Rios to stop attacking her and Val Venis. Lita told Essa that she still regarded him as a friend and offered him the chance to call off the main event but Essa refused and he ended up losing. Standing over the fallen Essa for the second show in a raw, Lita and Val Venis hugged once again, a sign that Lita that has changed clients.

In the return match of Smackdown, where Scotty 2 Hotty defeated Dean Malenko for the Light-Heavyweight Championship, Perry Saturn faced off with Grand Master Sexay and the result was reversed as Saturn locked in his Rings of Saturn for the submission victory, before celebrating in the centre of the ring with Dean Malenko. As the pair celebrated, the TitanTron flashed backstage to see an out-cold Scotty 2 Hotty lying on the hard concrete. The pictures only caused The Radicals to celebrate more.

Kurt Angle was on HeAT as the Gold Medallist appeared in a never-before-seen interview with Jim Ross. In it, Kurt admitted that despite only being in the WWF since December he knew he was ready to become the WWF Champion. Angle also admitted that the odds were stacked against him as the other competitors in the match were more experienced “WWF” workers, but winning a Gold Medal counted for something, and using his three I’s Kurt said he would give it his best shot.

In a hardcore brawl, Bull Buchanan defeated hardcore veteran Steve Blackman and Mosh of the Headbangers. Buchanan was a man on a mission as he stormed through both men with a flurry of punches and then matching Yakuza Kicks, with the kick on Mosh coming through a chair. The Big Boss Man applauded from the stage as Bull Buchanan stormed off; following the victory.

In the opening match of the show, The Acolyte Protection Agency squashed Pete Gas and Rodney of the Mean Street Posse. The result was a real show of strength by the A.P.A. as their rivalry with the Dudley Boys continued to intensify.

HeAT Results

A.P.A. (Bradshaw & Farooq) def. Mean Street Posse (Pete Gas & Rodney)

Bull Buchanan def. Mosh & Steve Blackman

Perry Saturn def. Grand Master Sexay

Lita def. Essa Rios

Show Rating: 64%

[FireDoughnut]

HeAT News

-Sunday Night HeAT got a 1.95 rating for the show, while WCW’s Saturday Night got a 1.22 rating for the 2nd week running.

-WCW ran their Spring Stampede Pay-Per-View on Sunday. Early indications are that it got a buy rate of just over 1.

-Rumblings backstage are that The Radicals are looking to work their pay-off feud before the fans get bored of them. Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn and Malenko are all liked backstage but the foursome don’t want their group to drag until people start resenting them. Benoit & Saturn versus Guerrero & Malenko are the initial feud plans however Vince McMahon doesn’t want the foursome to ever break-up so their may be some tension on whether it will actually happen.

-The Rock and Triple are expected to main event Judgment Day with The Rock picking up the WWF Championship at Backlash.

-Mick Foley will be backstage all week as the WWF finalise details of his handover to the new Champion on Sunday. It is expected that fans will be given a chance to select the moniker that Mick strides to the ring with. The poll will be on the website between Dude Love, Mankind, Cactus Jack and simply coming out as Mick Foley.

-Essa Rios and Val Venis have been complimented on their recent work. Their “HeAT” feud has got the fans interested with their brief appearances on RAW and then the match on Smackdown.

-Chris Jericho will be on-screen on RAW is WAR after a week break.

[FireDoughnut]

Preview

Monday 24th April 2000

Backlash is just six days away and Vince McMahon has announced one more challenge for the six men that are set to main event the Pay-Per-View on Sunday. On RAW and Smackdown, the six men will face their rivals in one-on-one contests and assuming that they win, they will go to Backlash. And if only one person wins their match, they will be crowned the WWF Champion at Backlash.

The six matches have been announced as well. Tonight on RAW is WAR, Kurt Angle will do battle with The Big Show, Jeff Hardy will go one-on-one with Edge while Eddie Guerrero will take on Rikishi. On Smackdown, Kane will take on X-Pac, Matt Hardy will face off with one half of the Tag Team Champions, Christian and The Rock will go take on Triple H. Every single match will be filled with tension as the eliminated superstars have a chance to crush the dreams of any of the six.

The other confirmed match for RAW is WAR will be a look into the latest match added to the Backlash card as D-Von Dudley takes on Farooq. The A.P.A. and the Dudley Boys have been destroying each other for weeks now and they will face off at Backlash, so both men will looking to take a nice advantage towards the Pay-Per-View.

Chris Jericho is set to return to our screens on RAW is WAR after missing a week. His ‘Y2J’ countdown re-appeared on Smackdown so hopefully he will explain why it said ‘9 days’ which obviously meant Backlash. Chris Benoit will be all ears; especially as the two are set to face off on Sunday.

All this plus WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, Too Cool and WWF Hardcore Champion Tazz… only on WWF’s RAW is WAR!

Confirmed Matches

Kurt Angle vs. The Big Show

Jeff Hardy vs. Edge

Eddie Guerrero vs. Rikishi

D-Von Dudley vs. Farooq