Angle wins WWF gold
By JOHN POWELL -- SLAM!
Wrestling
Kurt Angle is the new WWF World Heavyweight Champion.
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At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Kurt Angle took home
wrestling gold for his country overcoming the murder of his coach and
mentor - Dave Schultz - and a pulled leg muscle. On podium he cried with
joy and waved the American flag proudly. Last night at the New Mercy
pay-per-view history repeated itself as the Pittsburgh native took
advantage of Rikishi's interference and won the WWF World Heavyweight Title
from The Rock. Angle's title win and the ferocious encounter between Triple
H and Chris Benoit that preceded it were the only bright spots on a
plodding card presented by the WWF.
With two more pay-per-views to close out 2000, No Mercy was unmistakably
the worst WWF pay-per-view so far this year. The live crowd noise sounded
as if it may have been canned or artificially boosted at times by the
technicians. The producers filled up satellite time by playing two
meaningless Raw Is War commercials (WWF fans are already aware of Raw
switching from USA to TNN), a load of unnecessary replays and an entire
Angle - Rock mock interview that was shown on Sunday Heat earlier in the
evening. Besides a tag team title victory by The Conquistadors (Edge,
Christian), the undercard offered no outstanding bouts or moments to speak
of.
The biggest let-down had to be the much-hyped Stone Cold - Rikishi match-up
which amounted to nothing more than a total massacre of Rikishi. The
parking lot arrest of Austin as he was about to
run over Rikishi (
Video clip - 1.4 MB) was
received by resounding boos from the live audience who voiced their
displeasure over the match's awkward and irksome finish.
Austin chokes out Rikishi with a bullrope.
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Even Angle's title win couldn't save the show. Tired of Stephanie McMahon
meddling in the match, The Rock gave her the Rock Bottom and was about to
drive a People' Elbow into her chest. Angle clotheslined The Rock from
behind halting the move. Enraged that his "wife" had been injured while
supporting Angle, Triple H flew into the ring pounding the Olympic champion
into mulch. Triple H also Pedigreed Rocky to make him pay for the hurt he
caused Stephanie. The damage done, Triple H carried Stephanie out of the
ring and back to the locker room.
When the coast was clear it was Rikishi's turn to disrupt the no
disqualification match. With dried blood covering his face and a bandage
wrapped around his head, Rikishi wanted to help his pal The Rock but his
actions did more harm than good. Angle pulled The Rock in front of him as
Rikishi went for a body splash and as the big man went for a side kick,
Angle ducked out of the way and Rikishi planted one on The Rock's jaw.
Angle Olympic Slammed Rikishi then The Rock to
steal the belt away from The
People's Champ (
Video clip - 1.7 MB).
The next WWF pay-per-view is Survivor Series on November
19th.
WWF No Mercy Results
Low Down Vs Too Cool Vs Raven - Tazz Vs The Dudley Boys Vs Right To Censor
(Tag-Team Elimination Table Match)
Why would anyone enter such a painful ordeal without a reward such as a
Number One contender's spot up for grabs doesn't make any sense. Too Cool
disposes of Low Down at 3:50. Raven and Tazz double-suplex Too Cool through
tables at 7:35 to give them the boot. The Dudleys put out Raven and Tazz at
10:29. Right To Censor enters next. Bull Buchanan is driven through a table
but the ref is out of it. The other members of Right To Censor attacked.
Buh Buh is laid out with a steel chair and is put in Buchanan's place lying
on top of a broken table. The official declares Right To Censor the
winners. Another ref gives the official the low down and the match is
restarted. The Dudleys triumph in short order.
Winners: The Dudley Boys at 14 minutes and 32 seconds.
Match Rating: 3 / 10.
The Acolytes are punked backstage by T and A so their match never
begins. Lita rushes up the rampway to come to their aid. She is met by
Albert and Test. Trish Status lays a beating on Lita as she backs away from
Test and Albert. Lita is triple-teamed in the ring until The Hardys arrive
on the scene and drive the baddies away.
Chris Jericho Vs X-Pac (Steel Cage Match)
Lots of crotching on the top rope and top of the cage in this one.
Great pacing by two accomplished and technically sound grapplers. Jericho's
Lion Tamer on the top of the cage was a cool photo-op. X-Pac climbs over
the cage balancing himself on the top of the cage door for support. Jericho
crotches X-Pac on it and leaves the victor.
Winner: Chris Jericho at 10 minutes and 39 seconds.
Match Rating: 6 / 10.
Rikishi complains to Foley that Austin hasn't arrived yet and wants the
Commissioner to declare him the winner by forfeit if the Rattlesnake
doesn't show up.
Right To Censor Vs Mr. Ass, Chyna
Godfather and Bull Buchanan do a run-in at 6:54 to assist Richards and
Venis. Eddie Guerrero hits Chyna across the back with a bouquet of roses.
She is pinned. Gunn unties the flowers to reveal a lead pipe concealed
inside them.
Winners: Right To Censor at 7 minutes and 27 seconds.
Match Rating: 2 / 10.
Stephanie gives Triple H a tape of Benoit putting on the Crippler
Crossface to give her "hubby" an edge with his upcoming bout. She asks to
accompany Triple H to the ring. He says no way and warns Stephanie that if
she is hurt representing Angle, he will destroy him.
Steve Austin Vs Rikishi
Stone Cold is arrested.
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In the ring, Rikishi calls Foley out to award the match to him. Foley
stalls and stalls. Finally he comes to the ring. Before he can utter a
word, Austin's music hits as he drives up the ring in his truck. It's all
Stone Cold. Rikishi offers little if no offence. Rikishi bleeds from his
forehead after a number of chair, tail gate and car door shots. A final
chair shot knocks Rikishi into the back of the truck. Austin drives Rikishi
outside to the parking lot positioning him against a brick wall. Austin
backs the truck up to get a run at Rikishi. Just as Stone Cold speeds ahead
a cop car appears. Austin crashes into once by accident and once on
purpose. Cop cars converge on the scene. Stone Cold is arrested as an
injured cop is loaded onto an ambulance.
Winner: No contest at 9 minutes and 98 seconds.
Match Rating: 3 / 10.
William Regal (champion) Vs Median (challenger) (WWF European Title
Match)
Is it time for Jakked already? It's a thrill to see Regal back but this
bout is a disaster and a waste of time. Regal refrains from using the Regal
Stretch (doesn't want to touch an almost naked Median) and beats him with a
modified neckbreaker instead.
Winner: and still WWF European Champion, William Regal at 6 minutes
and 10 seconds.
Match Rating: 1 / 10.
The Conquistadors (challengers) Vs The Hardy Boys (champions) (WWF World
Tag Team Title Match)
Edge and Christian do a wicked job of mimicking the original
Conquistadors. They even got their little shuffle step down pat. Them
conferring with the Spanish announce team before the match was priceless.
The Conquistadors angle is fresh, it's cool. I like it. Matt Hardy
attempts to pull off one of the Conquistadors masks. Darn. There is another
one on underneath. The other Conquistador buries him with the Downward Spiral.
Winners: ...and new WWF World Tag Team Champions...The Conquistadors
at 10 minutes and 50 seconds.
Match Rating: 5 / 10.
Triple H Vs Chris Benoit
Match Of The Year Candidate. I used to really hate Triple H. Over the
last year, I have gained a whole new respect for him based on his
remarkable work rate. Benoit and Triple H really go for broke beating and
pounding on each other until they are bloody and bruised. Against Hunter's
wishes (again) Stephanie comes to ringside to cheer her "husband" on, slap
and choke Benoit. Triple H withstands The Crippler Crossface two or three
times. Benoit slips out of the Pedigree twice. The third time, Triple H
crotch shots him first and then pulverizes the Crippler.
Winner: Triple H at 18 minutes and 43 seconds.
Match Rating: 9 / 10.
Edge and Christian party-hardy with The Conquistadors in the locker
room. They will face them tonight on Raw for the straps.
The Rock (champion) Vs Kurt Angle (challenger) (WWF World Heavyweight
Title Match)
Winner: ...and new WWF World Heavyweight Champion...Kurt Angle at 21
minutes and 38 seconds.
Match Rating: 7 / 10.
Total Event Time: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Overall Event Rating: 3 / 10.
