WWF RAW Is War Report - March 20, 2000
From the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL
With Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler
Report by Adam Gallegos
-- Vince McMahon announces that there will be a tag team tournament for the #1 contendership; winning teams will face off in a battle royal at the end of the night. Also, a huge announcement about a match tonight - one that rocks the foundation of the WWF - is forthcoming.
-- Road Dogg & X-Pac (w/Tori) vs. Matt & Jeff Hardy
Lots of high-flying action. Matt nails X-Pac with a vicious bodyslam. Road Dogg tags in, leading to Jeff coming in as well. Jesse gets thrown out of the ring, coming back in for Jeff to get a two-count. Matt hits Dogg with a top-rope legdrop. Jeff splashes X-Pac and kicks him down in the corner, then hits Dogg with a legsweep. The Hardy's are in total control when kane arrives; he goes right for X-Pac. Tori tries to stop Kane; in the midst of confusion, Matt hits the senton bomb on Dogg for the win. Tori gets a chokeslam from Kane, and the Hardy's are going to the battle royal.
WINNERS: Matt & Jeff Hardy by pinfall.
-- Triple H and Stephanie are arriving and heading for the ring.
-- Stephanie asks for attention; Triple H demands some "damn respect for his wife." Hunter says after WrestleMania, we will have no choice but to bow down and worship him. He guarantees victory over The Rock at WM. Triple H says that if there is a huge match tonight, he'd better be part of it. This cues The Big Show and Shane McMahon. Shane says the match should be HHH defending the title against Show. HHH says he'll defend, but not against Show. This cues Vince's music. Vince says HHH will infact defend the title, against Show and . . . The Rock. HHH agrees, BUT . . . this will be the last time this match happens, according to HHH. The crowd is psyched as the WrestleMania main event is tonight.
-- The Godfather vs. Big Bossman (w/Bull Buchanan)
Before the bell sounds, Bossman and Buchanan destroy Godfather.
WINNER: No contest.
-- Road Dogg and X-Pac complain to HHH about Kane. HHH says Kane will face Rikishi Phatu tonight.
-- Too Cool vs. Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko (w/Eddy Guerrero)
Back and forth match; Saturn takes control of Grand Master Sexay with a powerbomb, but Sexay counters with a flapjack from the top rope. Scotty Too Hotty tags in and gets his clock cleaned by Malenko. Saturn turns the tide but misses with a top rope splash. Sexay clotheslines Malenko and calls for the Worm, but Guerrero interferes and is greated with a big punch. Saturn and Guerrero argue, giving Sexay a chance to roll up Malenko for a spot in the battle royal.
WINNERS: Too Cool by pinfall.
-- Kane (w/Paul Bearer) vs. Rikishi Phatu
A sign in the crowd says "Rikishi: The New Mr. Ass." Rikishi dominates but Kane continues to sit up. Kane hits the chokeslam and signals for the tombstone until Road Dogg and X-Pac show up and destroy Kane. Rikishi rises to destroy DX, but Dogg and X-Pac beat Kane and Rikishi down and leave.
WINNER: Not sure, probably Kane by DQ.
-- Kevin Kelly interviews Chris Benoit, who says that Angle is an embarrasment, and that he will destroy Chris Jericho to get the #1 contendership. Michael Cole is waiting to interview The Rock.
-- Interview with The Rock: He tells Michael Cole to go suck a monkey's nipple. Another great interview with The Rock, who says, "Bring It."
-- Chris Benoit vs. Chis Jericho for the #1 Intercontinental title contendership.
Angle is about to speak, but is interrupted by Jericho's music and a huge crowd pop. Y2J talks smack to Benoit, calling him a "Radical jackass." Benoit attacks from behind and dominates. Great back and forth match with lots of action. Out of the ring, Benoit touches Angles belts, causing Angle to hit Benoit upside the head with a belt, enabling Jericho to get the win. Angle comes in and cleans both men's clocks.
WINNER: Chris Jericho by pinfall.
-- Angle and Bob Backlund are celebrating backstage, but get quiet when they run into some guy. Al Snow and Steve Blackmun are discussing the future of Head Cheese.
-- Crash & Hardcore Holly vs. Al Snow & Steve Blackmun
Snow takes control of Crash. Blackmun plants Crash with a tilt-a-whirl. The tide turns with Crash lating Snow with a clothesline and tagging in Hardcore. Snow is drpped with a double-flapjack, when Tazz' music hits. Tazz comes in and destroys Crash. Hardcore is at the mercy of Snow and Blackmun. Hardcore rolls up Snow but is stopped by Blackmun. Snow hits the top rope legdrop to get the win.
WINNERS: Steve Blackmun & Al Snow by pinfall. Snow & Blackmun are going to the battle royal.
-- Edge & Christian vs. The Acolytes
Bradshaw flattens Christian with a big boot and tags in Farooq. A big clothesline gets The Acolytes a two-count. The pace is fast and furious; Bradshaw nails Christian for another two-count. Mideon heads to ringside with a mop; he inadvertently nails Bradshaw with the mop giving Edge the pin. Mideon pays the price after the match. Edge and Christian are in the battle royal.
WINNERS: Edge & Christian by pinfall.
-- Val Venis vs. Test (w/Trish Stratus)
Venis and Test shake hands before the match, but tempers flare quickly. Test flattens Venis with a powerbomb, but Venis hits Test with chops. Test gos for the pumphandle slam, but Val reverses and knees Test in the chest. Stratus comes up on the apron and distraacts Val; Test rolls up Val with the tights. Prince Albert hits the ring and helps destroy Venis until Trish tells them to stop. Trish introduces Test and Albert - T & A.
WINNER: Test by pinfall.
-- We see some scenes of the great SNL with The Rock.
-- Tag team battle royal to determine ho faces The Dudleys at WrestleMania for the WWF World tag team title.
The Dudleys join us for commentary. Scotty hits the worm on Blackmun, but Snow throws him out, eliminating Too Cool. Snow is thrown out, leaving the Hards and Edge & Christian. Both team stear into each other; Jeff hits a senton bomb off the topand the Dudleys come in and 3D Edge and Matt Hardy. They bring a table in and powerbomb Jeff through Christian on the table.
WINNER: No idea. No contest, I guess.
-- Triple H (w/ Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. The Big Show (w/Shane McMahon) vs. The Rock (w/Vince McMahon) for the WWF World heavyweight championship.
The main event is now, and the crowd is very pumped up. Show and HHH double-team Rock to start. Vince lands a huge punch on Hunter. Rock gets a two-count on Show. Rock is on fire. Momentum turns and SHow and HHH double-team. For several minutes, The Rock is decimated by the double-teaming. Finally, Hunter and Show get fed up with each other and HHH attacks Show until Show dumps HHH on the mat. Rock attacks and clotheslines both men. He Samoan drops Hunter and gets a very close two-count. Show chokeslams Rock and gets a two-count of his own. Hunter hits Show with a facebuster and attacks him outside. Show chokeslams HHH on the ground. After more action, HHH hits the pedigree on Show for the pin. Linda McMahon comes out and announces that WM will have a four-way match with these three men and ...Mick Foley!
WINNER: HHH by pinfall.