Rocky wins the Rumble
A bloody Triple H defeats Cactus Jack
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
A sweet Royal Rumble victory for The Rock.
|
He said it best himself. Finally, The Rock is going to WrestleMania.
As many fans predicted, Rocky Maivia came out on top in the annual 30-Man
Royal Rumble to win a shot at the WWF World Heavyweight Title at
WrestleMania 2000. The Rock entered as number 24 and approximately 15
minutes following that, he used the Big Show's own momentum against him to
secure the coveted spot.
Kane, The Rock, The Big Show and X-Pac were the final four Rumble
competitors on a pay-per-view that as a whole, stands out as one of the
best booked events the WWF has put on in the last year or so. As Kane
slipped out and brawled with the New Age Outlaws outside the ring, the
officials did not see X-Pac get thrown out. The lightening-quick member of
D-Generation X, returned to the ring to eliminate Kane. X-Pac, himself was
given the boot just 20 seconds later.
The Rock and Big Show squared off. Rocky slammed The Big Shown down and hit
him with the People's Elbow to the delight of the Madison Square Garden
crowd. The Rock went to hurl The Big Show over the top rope but the mammoth
giant stopped him with a choke hold. Holding The Rock in the air, The Big
Show pointed to the crowd asking them which side of the ring he should
pitch him out on. As The Big Show ran toward the ropes with a dangling Rock
in tow, The People's Champ carried The Big Show over the ropes but grabbed
onto them pulling himself back onto the ring apron. The Rock was the last
man standing though an incensed Big Show clocked Rocky from behind with a
forearm shot while he was cutting a celebratory promo in the ring. Big Show
flung The Rock over the top rope saying "It's not over yet!".
Triple H wears the "crimson mask" but retains the WWF World Title.
|
The Rock's most likely opponent at WrestleMania - current WWF champ Triple
H - fought off a ruthless challenge by Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) to retain
the title in a no rules street fight match. Though still not as intense or
gory as similarly themed matches in Japan or the ECW promotion, chairs, a
2/4 wrapped in barbed wire, handcuffs and thumb tacks came into play.
His forehead cut open by the 2/4 wrapped in barbed wire, Triple H evened
the odds by handcuffing Cactus Jack. A stumbling champ beat Cactus
unmercifully with a steel chair as The Rock had done at last year's Rumble.
The two fought back to the entrance way which was decked out to resemble an
alley complete with graffiti, trash cans and bricks on the ground.
Absorbing a chair shot to the head, the demented Cactus Jack begged Triple
H to hit him again. That's when The Rock appeared flatting Triple H with a
chair of his own then disappeared. A "police officer" unlocked the cuffs
and Cactus piledrove Triple H on the Spanish announce table.
Foley's a human pin cushion.
|
Rolling Triple H back into the ring, Cactus reached under the ring and
pulled out a bag filled with thumb tacks which he scattered all over the
mat. A concerned Stephanie McMahon came to ringside. Cactus went for a
running clothesline. Triple H backdropped Cactus onto the thumb tacks and
Pedigreed him. Remarkably, Cactus Jack kicked out at two. Triple H did it
again but this time on the pile of thumb tacks. He got the three count and
the win.
Thumb tacks stuck in his face, forehead, arms and legs, Cactus Jack halted
the medical staff from taking Triple H away on a stretcher. He pushed it
into the ring. The stretcher tipped over and Triple H's head slammed into
the side of the ring. Cactus Jack picked up the 2/4 wrapped in barbed wire
and smashed Triple H in the head with it before he was wheeled out again.
The next WWF pay-per-view is No Way Out on February 27th.
WWF Royal Rumble 2000 Results
On Sunday Night Heat it is revealed that The Mean Street Posse and
Kaientai are out of the Rumble line-up. They aren't pleased about it. They
feel they've been discriminated against because they are rich and Japanese.
Where's Johnnie Cochrane when you need him, eh?
Kurt Angle Vs Tazz
The WWF really took their sweet time debuting the former ECW
Heavyweight Champion. They wanted to showcase him just right. That's funny
considering that Tazz basically gets his butt kicked in this match. He
really doesn't come off looking too great. Fans who don't know of Tazz's
history in ECW may be left wondering what all the hype was about. Angle is
all over the normally combustible Tazz. The fans chant ECW! ECW! Tazz
mounts a late comeback. A suplex clinic wears down Angle for Tazz's
submission move (the Kazahajima). Angle is out like a light. Tazz is
declared the winner. The announcers say the move might be illegal in the
WWF. Angle is given oxygen as he's transported to the back on a stretcher.
Winner: Tazz at 3 minutes and 18 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
The Dudley Boyz Vs The Hardy Boyz (Tag Team Table Match)
First off, this is not the FIRST tag team table match ever. The first
in the WWF sure. Not in other federations like ECW. Anyhow, Buh Buh
delivers a toned down in-ring promo without stuttering. That speech therapy
has done wonders, folks! Now if we could sign up Ahmed Johnson, we'd be
cooking. A ladder, steel chairs and of course...table upon table are
employed. Jeff Hardy does his running dive-of-the-ringside-barrier move.
Too bad Buh Buh shoved a table into his face. The Dudleys position a table
across the ring stairs in the center of the ring. Matt Hardy is powerbombed
through it. The Dudleys set up four tables near the entrance way that's
underneath a balcony. Buh Buh and Jeff fight up through the crowd to the
balcony. Jeff low blows Buh Buh. Poor Buh Buh falls off the balcony through
a table. Jeff does a Senton Bomb off the balcony onto a table and D-Von
below. Great planning and innovative spots.
Winners: The Hardy Boyz at 10 minutes and 18 seconds.
Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Angle is examined in a dressing room. He claims that since the match
was called, he didn't really lose so his undefeated streak is still intact.
Miss Rumble 2000 Competition
Ivory is right. Someone should put a stop to this juvenile, sexist
crap. Why is there never a male strip match or swim suit competition?
Hardly seems fair does it? Hmmmm. Hey, I love seeing a great looking women
as much as the next guy however it has its time and place. Pro Wrestling is
not the place, people. I wonder if the WWF has ever thought about the fact
that they are killing their future market because some parents won't let
their young kids grow up watching this kind of content? Hmmmm. Just when
you think the WWF can't stoop any lower as far as the way they depict women
goes, Mae Young bares her breasts on pay-per-view. The WWF attempted to
block out Young's body with a huge CENSORED graphic. It didn't work and now
thousands of people are temporally blinded throughout North America and The
United Kingdom. Sick. Sick. Sick. Sick. Oh, yeah. The judges (Sgt.
Slaughter, Johnny Valentine, Freddie Blassie, Moolah, Tony Garea and Andy
Richter from the Conan O'Brien show) give the win to Mae Young. How special.
Winner: Mae Young.
Match Rating: N/A.
Hardcore Holly (challenger) Vs Chris Jericho (champion) Vs Chyna
(champion) (Three Way - Intercontinental Championship Match)
Holly and Jericho take it easy on Chyna throwing off the believability
factor and ruining some key spots by softballing the delivery. Chyna spends
most of the match heaved in and out of the ring. Chyna locks The Walls Of
Jericho on Holly. Jericho bulldogs her from behind. A Lionsault and Jericho
is the undisputed Intercontinental Champion.
Winner: ...and still WWF Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho at
7 minutes and 31 seconds.
Match Rating: 4 / 10.
The New Age Outlaws (champions) Vs The Acolytes (challengers) (WWF
World Tag Team Title Match)
All that build up for a two minute bout? Give us a break. What gives?
Faarooq has the win at 1:57. X-Pac interferes pulling out the ref. Bradshaw
is tied up with X-Pac and Road Dogg. Mr. Ass hits the Fame-Asser on
Faarooq. Match? What match?
Winners: ...and still WWF World Tag Team Champions...The New Age
Outlaws at 2 minutes and 39 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Cactus Jack (challenger) Vs Triple H (champion) (WWF World Heavyweight
Title - Street Fight Match)
Winner: ...and still WWF World Heavyweight Champion...Triple H at 26
minutes and 55 seconds.
Match Rating: 9 / 10.
Royal Rumble Match
Highlights:
Kaientai and The Mean Street Posse jump in again and again and get
tossed out again and again. On his last tumble, Taka smacks his head on the
concrete floor. He's shipped off to the hospital.
Too Cool and Fatu end up alone in the ring. They do their dance number
until Fatu clotheslines them out. Fatu dominates the first half of the
Rumble. It takes six wrestlers to fling him out.
Bob Backlund, Chyna, Chris Jericho, The Acolytes are unexpected Rumble
surprises taking the places of Kaientai and The Mean Street Posse.
Road Dogg spents a large part of the Rumble lying on the mat with his
legs and arms wrapped around the ropes so he can't be kicked out easily.
Gunn is the one who threw out Road Dogg.
Chyna took out Jericho. A second later, Bossman knocks her out too.
| Royal Rumble Times |
|---|
| Name |
Time In |
Time Out |
| D'Lo Brown |
Start |
6:10 |
| Grand Master Sexay |
Start |
7:44 |
| Mosh |
1:32 |
5:18 |
| Christian |
3:14 |
5:33 |
| Rikishi Phatu |
4:53 |
21:30 |
| Scotty Too Hotty |
6:43 |
7:44 |
| Steve Blackman |
8:42 |
9:28 |
| Viscera |
10:15 |
11:58 |
| Big Bossman |
12:18 |
37:12 |
| Test |
14:02 |
40:40 |
| Bulldog |
15:30 |
30:54 |
| Gangrel |
17:15 |
40:57 |
| Edge |
18:59 |
33:57 |
| Bob Backlund |
20:49 |
23:06 |
| Chris Jericho |
22:38 |
26:39 |
| Crash Holly |
24:17 |
39:24 |
| Chyna |
25:52 |
26:41 |
| Faarooq |
27:32 |
27:56 |
| Road Dogg |
28:59 |
48:08 |
| Al Snow |
30:30 |
47:54 |
| Val Venis |
32:08 |
44:03 |
| Prince Albert |
33:49 |
45:16 |
| Hardcore Holly |
35:22 |
47:20 |
| The Rock |
36:52 |
Winner |
| Billy Gunn |
38:37 |
48:24 |
| The Big Show |
40:19 |
51:54 |
| Bradshaw |
41:44 |
42:19 |
| Kane |
43:28 |
50:07 |
| Godfather |
45:00 |
47:44 |
| X-Pac |
46:37 |
1. 48:44 2. 50:27 |
Winner: The Rock at 51 minutes and 54 seconds.
Match Rating: 10 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Overall Event Rating: 10 / 10.
