No Way Out for Cactus Jack?
Triple H ends Foley's career?
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
A bloody and battered Mick Foley wrestles his last match at No Way Out.
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Goodbye and God bless, Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love and Mick
Foley. Have a nice day...and a nice life for that matter.
If we are to believe the World Wrestling Federation, hardcore wrestling
icon - Mick Foley - wrestled his final match last night at the No Way Out
pay-per-view. With his entire career at stake, Foley (in his Cactus Jack
persona) lost a masterpiece of a Hell In The Cell bout against WWF World
Heavyweight Champion, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley. It was one of many startling
surprises that capped off another sound pay-per-view put on by WWF in
recent months. It took them awhile but the WWF is finally over the loss of
television writer Vince Russo. WrestleMania is around the corner in April
and they're pulling out all the stops building as much intrigue around the
event as possible.
The much publicized Rock, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley match at WrestleMania may
be scrubbed as The Big Show beat The Rock tonight in a bout where the top
contender's spot was up for grabs. Though The Big Show should share the joy
with Shane McMahon as it was his interference that paved the road to
victory. Could a rivalry be developing between Shane and his sister
Stephanie, Hunter-Hearst Helmsley's "wife"? Stay tuned, folks.
Mick Foley's ride into the sunset was a heart-stopping backdrop through the
top of the Hell In A Cell steel cage to the ring below. The ring gave way
leaving Foley literally planted in the mat. Ouch! That's gotta hurt.
Whomever you root for, you gotta respect both men. Foley and Triple H
bladed and took several very nasty bumps. They put on a hell of a show.
There's no two ways about it.
As a sign of respect, Triple H came to the ring first. Usually in title
matches the challenger enters first not the champion. Cactus Jack (alias
Mick Foley) noticed something wrong right from the get-go as he saw that
the door leading in and out of the steel cage was chained shut. It was the
handiwork of Stephanie McMahon who mocked Foley by hollering..."There's no
way out, Mick!" from outside the cage. Cactus and Triple H brawled outside
the ring to start things off. Cactus got the better of that exchange
slamming Triple H's head into the canvas and catching him with a flying
forearm to the head back in the ring. Resuming their brawl on the outside,
Triple was thrown into the steel ring stairs. Triple H blocked two attempts
by Foley to bounce his head off the cage.
As Cactus tried to climb back in the ring, the champ hit him with a running
knee lift, sending Cactus flying off the ring apron backwards into the steel
cage. Cactus then collided with the steel post and the ring stairs. Triple
H picked up the stairs and threw them at Cactus catching him in the
noggin. Laying the steps over Cactus' face, Helmsley hit them over and
over again using a steel chair. Helmsley continued the chair assault in the
ring. On his knees, Foley dared Triple H to strike him again. Foley caught
Triple H coming in, took control of the chair and drove it up into
Helmsley's crotch.
Triple H stares at the crowd from the top of the steel cage.
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A double-armed DDT got Foley a two count. A Russian leg sweep onto a steel
chair rendered the same result. Foley set-up the chair in a corner. Backing
Helmsley into the turnbuckle, Foley punched him until Helmsley was sitting
in the chair. Foley ran from the opposite corner looking to bury his knee
in Triple H's throat. Triple H's Ravenesque drop toe-hold had Cactus' head
smashing into the chair instead. The unorthodox move score Helmsley a two
count. A clothesline sent Cactus over the top rope to the floor. Helmsley
bounced Cactus' head off the cage three times. As he made an effort to
Pedigree Cactus on the steel steps, Cactus turned it into a slingshot
sending Triple H face-first into the cage. Helmsley came up bleeding while
Cactus munched on his forehead and ground it into the fence.
Using a trademark Cactus Jack maneuver, Foley put a chair under his arm and
dove off the second rope driving it into Triple H's face. Another hurling
of the ring stairs broke open a small hole in the cage. In a strange and
suicidal move, Cactus took it upon himself to dive through the opening to
make it larger. The steel sliced up Cactus' arm as he did so. Blood began
to pour down his arm. It would do so the rest of the bout. Triple H
followed Cactus outside. Cactus rammed Triple H's head into the announcers'
desk and piledrived him on top of it. The desk did not collapse. Pushing a
photographer out of the way, Cactus retrieved a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire.
Triple H wanted to dive over the ringside barrier to escape. Cactus grabbed
him by the shorts whacking him in the face.
Triple H climbed up to the top of the cage. Cactus gave chase tossing the
2x4 up so Helmsley could hit him in the head with it. Cactus fell off the
cage and through the announcer's table below. Cactus bled from a gash in his
forehead. Appreciating his bump, the fans chanted Foley's name. Breathing
fire and brimstone, Cactus somehow stood up and threw steel chair after
steel chair up to the top of the cage. None made it.
Cactus and Triple H fought on the roof of the Hell In A Cell. A double-arm
DDT subdued Triple H long enough for Cactus to light the barbed wire 2x4 on
fire. Cactus nailed Helmsley with a glancing blow. Cactus attempted to piledrive Hunter through the
cage.
Triple H backdropped Cactus through the cage roof. (
Video Clip, 1.8 MB). Cactus hit the mat
causing the ring to partially cave in around his body. Helmsley climbed
back in demanding the ref to rule if Cactus could continue. Again, the
human-bump machine, Cactus Jack staggered to his feet. Triple H Pedigreed
Cactus to put him away and bring the curtain on a one-of-a-kind wrestling
career.
Mick Foley after he fell through the roof of the steel cage.
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The crowd gave Foley a standing ovation as he refused medical treatment
walking to the entrance way under his own power. Cactus gave the
appreciative crowd chanting his name a thankful, teary-eyed glance as the
pay-per-view left the airwaves.
SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE: If this was indeed Mick Foley's
last match (with professional wrestling, you never know) SLAM! Wrestling
would like to thank Mick Foley for all the blood, sweat and tears he gave
so that we might be entertained. We're not worthy of your sacrifice, Mick.
There will never be another Mick Foley and professional wrestling won't
be the same without him.
The next WWF pay-per-view is WrestleMania 2000 on April
2nd.
WWF No Way Out Results
Kurt Angle (challenger) Vs Chris Jericho (champion) (WWF
Intercontinental Title Match)
Although Chyna is at Jericho's side, there's no British Bulldog to
watch Angle's back. Jericho clamps the Lion Tamer on Angle. Angle makes it
to the ropes and breaks the hold. I guess the Lion Tamer just ain't the
finisher it used to be or maybe it only works on Raw, Smackdown!, Heat and
not on pay-per-view. Thrown out of the ring, Angle swings one of the title
belts at Jericho. Chyna gets in the way and clobbered. Referee Hebner is
KO'd. Jericho goes for his Lionsault. Angle bonks Jericho in the face with
a title belt as he lands. Angle rolls up Jericho. Tim White takes over the
officiating duties and slaps the three count. Hebner and White argue.
Throughout the night Angle is shown celebrating backstage. Yes,
Jerichoholics, Lionheart is screwed again. Aren't you glad he came to the WWF?
Winner: ...and new WWF Intercontinental Champion... Kurt Angle at
10 minutes and 14 seconds.
Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.
The New Age Outlaws (champions) Vs The Dudley Boyz (challengers)
Buh Buh smashes a steel bar over Billy Gunn's arm and shoulder outside
the ring. The Dudleys skewer Road Dogg with the Dudley Death Drop capturing
WWF tag team gold. Gunn and Road Dogg exchange unpleasantries. Oh, no. Not
another DX versus DX feud. We've seen this a million times before. It was
called the nWo. Medics assess Gunn's injury in the locker room.
Winners: ...and new WWF World Tag Team Champions...The Dudley Boyz
at 5 minutes and 20 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Viscera Vs Mark Henry
Typical slow-paced and agonizing "Big Men" match. Booorring! The crowd
voices their displeasure. Mae Young does a run-in. The WWF's video goes
out. In a replay, Viscera pushes Mae Young to the ground. Mark Henry
befuddles the Glad Man with a shoulder tackle and a splash. Mae Young's
pregnancy...the stupidest WWF angle ever. Well, maybe not...but it's close.
Winner: Mark Henry at 3 minutes and 44 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
The Hardy Boys Vs Christian, Edge
Terri Runnels has purchased the services of the Acolytes on Heat. They
stand at ringside for the entire bout. Jeff Hardy climbs to the top rope at
14:34. Terri shoves him off! Matt questions Terri from inside the ring.
Terri slaps him in the face! Christian spikes Matt with a Kamikaze. Matt
yanks Terri by the hair to bring her back in the ring. The Acolytes beat
down The Hardys. Edge and Christian are interviewed about their victory.
Christian is upset at the tainted win. Edge could care less. A win is a win
in his book.
Winners: Edge and Christian at 15 minutes and 05 seconds.
Match Rating: 8 / 10.
Taz Vs The Big Boss Man
Prince Albert jumps in causing the DQ at 1:23. Boss Man and Albert
beat up Taz. Taz won't stay down. Boss Man breaks his nightstick over Taz's
head. Taz still fights on. Yes, Taz fans, The Human-Suplex Machine, a
former World Heavyweight Champion, is fighting mid-carders again. Aren't
you glad Taz came to the WWF?
Winner: Taz via DQ at 1 minute and 23 seconds.
Match Rating: 0 / 10.
Kane Vs X-Pac
For the most part, a Pier Six Brawl as X-Pac and Kane battle at the
entrance way which is surrounded by fencing. Kane is driven into the
fencing. Paul Bearer lays the smackdown on X-Pac punching and kicking him.
Wicked! Bearer chases Tori around the ring. At 10:18, Kane no-sells X-Pac's
X-Factor finishing move. X-Pac clobbers Bearer knocking him out cold. Kane
Tombstones Tori, again. Kane tries to take X-Pac's head off with the ring
stairs. X-Pac dropkicks them into his face then leans on them to notch the
pinfall.
Winner: X-Pac at 7 minutes and 50 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Too Cool Vs The Radicals
Butt splash by Fatu pins Malenko. Too Cool dances. The fans cheer.
Why? No one knows. Maybe Val Venis should take dance lessons. Then, he'd
get a push in the WWF.
Winners: Too Cool at 13 minutes and 30 seconds.
Match Rating: 7.5 / 10.
The Big Show Vs The Rock
The winner will go to WrestleMania to face the WWF Champion.
Big Show Chokeslams The Rock but there's no ref. Tim White was sent to
La La Land earlier on. White and Hebner fight ECW-style outside the ring.
Shane McMahon appears on the scene. The People's Champ Rock Bottoms Big
Slow on a steel chair. With The Rock in the process of doing the People's
Elbow, Shane McMahon smacks him with a steel chair! The Big Slow pins The
Rock. Big Show and Shane leave together.
Winner: The Big Show at 9 minutes and 33 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Kurt Angle heads to his car. Chyna and Jericho attack him from behind
and lock him in the trunk.
Cactus Jack (challenger) Vs Triple H (Hell In A Cell - WWF World
Heavyweight Title Match)
Winner: Triple H at 35 minutes.
Match Rating: 10 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Overall Event Rating: 10 / 10.
