Eddie hears Chyna is going to be on the Playboy cover. The same Eddie who spent months praising his own security and confidence and pride in her. The reaction is immediate and completely inconsistent. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap the September 11, 2000 edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from Phoenix, Arizona, two weeks before Unforgiven.

Triple H draws Jericho as his surprise opponent and they run a fast, heated match before X-Pac runs in for the DQ. Triple H shoves him off and nobody explains anything. The DX dissolution continues, unaddressed. Later, in the Kurt Angle vs T&A match, Stephanie sneaks out despite Triple H's explicit instructions, and what follows is Tommy's unlikely standout of the night, a Looney Tunes sequence involving all three performers that works entirely because the execution is crisp and the performers are that good.

Tazz, after getting knocked out by a David Hasselhoff portrait, grabs the mic and says exactly what everyone has been thinking. He can't compete with Lawler's political power. Nobody wants him here. The outsider is tapping out. Tazz has become just another victim of the WWF. The hosts find it oddly engaging.

Please support the show, and join our brand new Patreon, featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

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Other major discussion points include:

- Lita wins the Women's Title from Ivory after Midian's streaking run-in provides the distraction, with the hosts noting she has no angle heading into Unforgiven despite being champion

- Hardy Boys become number one contenders after Edge's interference accidentally helps them beat the Dudleys, setting up Hardys vs Edge and Christian at Unforgiven

- Mick Foley announces a Fatal Four Way for Unforgiven with Rock defending against Undertaker, Benoit, and Kane, and the hosts question why Undertaker earned a shot after just getting pinned

- Val Venis appears completely fine after being abducted last week, hits the Acolytes with a chair, and joins Right to Censor with no conversion promo and no explanation

- Tommy opens the episode with stories from behind the scenes at the 2000 MTV VMAs, held that same week at Radio City Music Hall, including what it was like to work on a live production that made wrestling look organized by comparison

- Observer notes include William Regal's debut held for time, talks with Raven about joining the company, and K-Kwik ready to debut with a plan to pair him with Road Dogg

Chapters:

00:00 Cold Open

02:27 Tommy at the 2000 MTV VMAs

10:50 Back to the Show / RAW and SmackDown at the Same Venue

11:59 Perry Saturn's Travel Nightmare

12:33 Show Overview / JR Gives the Card

13:29 Foley's Opening Promo / The Austin Investigation

14:15 The Rock Comes Out

15:36 Benoit Claims #1 Contendership

16:09 WWF Name / World Wildlife Fund Lawsuit

20:52 Foley Books the Main Event

21:41 Hardys vs Dudleys / Edge and Christian on Commentary

23:44 Lita vs Ivory / Women's Title

25:22 Kurt Angle in Foley's Office

26:57 Eddie and Chyna: Earlier Today

30:52 Eddie and Chyna vs Too Cool

32:34 Eddie Attacks Too Cool / Rikishi / Chyna's Decision

35:21 Triple H Backstage

36:12 Triple H's Entrance / Chyna Reveals Playboy

40:25 Triple H vs Jericho

43:33 X-Pac DQ / DX Implosion

47:47 RTC vs Acolytes / Val Venis Joins Right to Censor

50:24 Al Snow vs Tazz

52:04 Tazz's "Tapping Out" Promo

53:54 SmackDown Your Vote / Bush and Gore

56:53 Kurt Angle vs T&A

1:01:53 Foley Books Triple H vs Angle at Unforgiven

1:02:23 Steve Blackman vs X-Pac / Jericho Interferes

1:04:20 Benoit and Kane Backstage

1:05:28 X-Pac Attacks Jericho Backstage

1:06:38 Rock and Undertaker Backstage

1:08:02 Main Event: Rock and Undertaker vs Benoit and Kane

1:10:05 Benoit Pins Undertaker / Fatal Four Way Announced

1:11:42 Observer Notes / Regal, Raven, K-Kwik

1:15:47 Creative Direction / The Road Ahead

1:16:34 Final Thoughts and Sign-Off

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Chyna confronts Eddie backstage and tells him he used her, stepped on her, and only loves the title around his waist. Eddie turns it around completely. His family. His friends. His personal wants. You were on Jay Leno three times. Third Rock from the Sun. Your magazine. Not one page. Are you going to be behind me when I face Road Dog, or is the door right there? Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap the September 7, 2000 edition of WWF SmackDown, live from Louisville, Kentucky.

With Jerry Lawler sidelined from Raw, Tazz joins Michael Cole on commentary in what Tommy and Rob call a preview of the future SmackDown announce team. He roots openly for heels, steals JR's catchphrases, and corrects Cole's move calls in character. Then Lawler returns mid-show, strap in hand, and chokes Tazz out in the middle of his Brooklyn catchphrase.

Steve Austin cuts a pre-tape from home, back to camera, nine months out of action. He doesn't forget and he doesn't forgive. It's a good thing the next pay-per-view is called Unforgiven. The promo doesn't fully hang together but Tommy and Rob say it doesn't need to. Austin coming back on screen is enough to make a rough episode feel like must-see TV.

Other major discussion points include:

• Triple H beats Test and Albert in a handicap match when Kurt Angle runs in uninvited, helps Triple H win, and does the you're-welcome look from the stage despite Triple H wanting nothing to do with him
• Rock pins Christian in the main event after Edge is taken out by Rock's own chair, with Foley inserting Kane as Christian's partner in a decision neither host can explain, and Kane chokeslams Rock through the announce table on his way out
• Benoit pins Rikishi after RTC distraction, and Tazz corrects Cole's move calls in character, including the moment Cole calls a Northern Lights suplex a Sherman suplex
• APA and Dudleys have a bloody, joyful barroom brawl at the Have a Nice Day Cafe, cap it with a handshake bit between Bubba and Farooq, and then Kaientai shows up wanting sake
• Too Cool lose to the Goodfather and Bull Buchanan and the worm is blocked for the second straight week
• Tommy opens the episode discussing WWE Studios, the XFL, the WWF record label, and what it looked like from the inside as WWF expanded into every possible business at once

Please support the show, and join our brand new Patreon, featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

New watch along added: Gorilla Monsoon Mixtape!

Previous watch alongs include RVD/Sabu vs. Hayabusa/Hakushi, Verne Gagne vs. Dick the Bruiser, Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

You also get these episodes one day early!

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

00:00 Intro

00:32 Tommy's Consulting Role

04:51 Too Much Soap Opera

08:56 Rob on 40 Years of Fandom

11:45 Show Overview / Tazz Replaces Lawler on Commentary

17:01 X-Pac vs Jericho

18:49 Kurt Angle in Foley's Office / Angle vs Undertaker Booked

19:34 Edge and Christian Promo / "Rocker Taker" / The Rock Comes Out

22:11 The Rock Sets Up a Handicap Match for the WWF Title

23:54 Backstage: Triple H and Stephanie

25:35 Acolytes at the Have a Nice Day Cafe

26:06 Benoit vs Rikishi / Tazz Corrects Cole's Move Calls

28:09 Eddie and Chyna Backstage: "Where Was I When You Were on Jay Leno?"

35:15 APA vs Dudleys Barroom Brawl / Lawler Returns and Chokes Tazz Mid-Catchphrase

35:44 Triple H vs Test and Albert

36:51 Angle Runs In / Saves Stephanie / Triple H Wins

39:26 Chyna Backstage with Road Dog / Triple H and Stephanie Argue About Angle

44:04 Eddie Guerrero vs Road Dog

47:33 Eddie Attacks Road Dog Post-Match

48:07 Too Cool vs Right to Censor

51:21 APA and Dudleys at the Bar / Kaientai Wants Sake

53:46 Kurt Angle vs Undertaker / Benoit Interferes

54:56 Triple H and Stephanie Backstage

55:44 Stone Cold Pre-Tape: "It's a Good Thing the Next PPV Is Called Unforgiven"

57:40 Rock Ambushes Edge / Main Event Set

58:31 Main Event: Rock vs Christian and Kane (WWF Title Handicap Match)

1:01:43 Final Thoughts / Patreon Plug

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Test steps out with Trish and asks Mick Foley to wait. November 28, 1999, the night Triple H took the money, the power, and Stephanie, Test sat back. The smile on his face when those cops came. He made the call. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap the September 4, 2000 Labor Day edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, airing at 11pm due to the US Open on USA Network.

Foley opens the show with a full investigation, narrowing the spousal abuse complaint down to 373 suspects, then bringing out Stephanie, Angle, Chyna, and Eddie one by one. The Test reveal lands as clever soap opera with real nostalgic stakes. Triple H then immediately Pedigrees both Test and Albert in the same night and leaves them on the mat.

In the IC title triple threat, Angle knocks Chyna out cold with the belt. Eddie dropkicks Angle out, turns around, and finds Mamacita laid out. He chooses her over Angle. They fall together in a heap, the referee counts three, and Eddie Guerrero is the new Intercontinental Champion. The camera pans to catch a devious grin on his face while Chyna cannot see it, a reveal Tommy and Rob say undercuts everything the pairing has built.

Other major discussion points include:

• Christian pins The Rock with a Conchairto to close the show while Kane joins JR on commentary and delivers emo monologues about being dragged from the gutter and pain becoming your friend
• The Dudleys beat the APA and Kaientai in a tables match, prompting Tommy to push for consistent rules: one member through the table ends the match, and anything requiring both should have its own name
• Right to Censor kidnaps Val Venus after his promo defending personal freedom, and Lawler's RC Cola live read accidentally plays over Road Dogg's entrance promo
• Tommy opens the episode comparing WWF's late-2000 slide to the current moment in WWE, using a JP Morgan stock analysis and a Fightful report about Netflix executive pressure on the 2025 creative team

Please support the show, and join our brand new Patreon, featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

New watch along added: Gorilla Monsoon Mixtape!

Previous watch alongs include RVD/Sabu vs. Hayabusa/Hakushi, Verne Gagne vs. Dick the Bruiser, Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

You also get these episodes one day early!

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

01:39 WWE 2025 vs. WWF 2000: Tommy's Exit, the TNN Move, and the Business Slide

03:44 JP Morgan Analysis / Netflix Execs Pressure WWE Creative

12:27 How to Watch on archive.org / Complete 2000 WWF Collection

15:27 Show Overview / Aired at 11pm on Labor Day

16:03 Opening Segment: Foley Investigates the Arrest / 373 Suspects

21:42 Test's Confession: "November 28, 1999"

29:24 Foley Books Triple H vs. Test / "I'm Not the Champion, But Okay"

32:45 Number One Contender's Match: Kane vs. Benoit / Rock on Commentary

37:17 Tables Match: Dudleys vs. APA / Rules Discussion

41:27 Eddie Begs Foley / Triple Threat IC Match Booked

42:27 SmackDown Your Vote / WWF Invites Bush and Gore to Debate

44:29 IC Title Triple Threat: Eddie Guerrero vs. Chyna vs. Kurt Angle

47:11 Test Hyped / Triple H and Stephanie Backstage

48:52 Eddie Explains to Chyna / Offers the Belt Back / The Devious Face

52:27 Triple H vs. Test (w/ Albert and Trish) / Angle Sneaks Up on Stephanie

57:26 Naked Mideon with Foley / The Implication

58:01 Val Venus vs. Right to Censor / "Stick It Where the Sun Don't Shine"

1:00:20 Crash and Malenko Backstage / Edge and Christian: "Genital Warts Rule"

1:02:46 Hardcore Title: Boss Man vs. Steve Blackman

1:04:40 Road Dogg and Val vs. Right to Censor / RC Cola Disaster / Val Kidnapped

1:07:15 Lawler and Jericho vs. Tazz and Mideon

1:09:25 King Rolls Up Tazz / Austin Statement Teased for SmackDown

1:11:00 Kane on Commentary / Emo Kane / "Pain Can Become Your Friend"

1:11:48 Main Event: Rock and Undertaker vs. Edge and Christian / Conchairto / Christian Pins Rock

1:14:52 Final Thoughts and Sign-Off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Triple H and Stephanie are finally reconciling backstage when there's a knock on the door. It's the police, responding to a spousal abuse complaint. Triple H gets put in the car. Mick Foley runs up asking what about his main event. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap the August 31, 2000 edition of WWF SmackDown, live from the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The show opens with Stephanie explaining her whereabouts since SummerSlam, but Angle immediately counters with footage of Chyna and Triple H's hug on Raw, then footage of Chyna tending to Triple H after their match. He accuses Triple H of domestic violence, Chyna comes to the ring to defend herself, and Angle gives her the Angle Slam. Tommy and Rob call it A+ soap opera from start to finish.

With Triple H in a police car, the main event becomes Eddie vs Angle one-on-one, Chyna in Eddie's corner and Stephanie forced into Angle's. Angle cheats to win using the IC title belt. Chyna beats up Angle post-match, turns to face Stephanie, who tries to talk her way out. Chyna grabs her by the hair and DDTs her to one of the loudest pops of the night.

Other major discussion points include:

• Edge and Christian mock Monday's mini Hardies in a promo
• Al Snow pins Saturn with a dragon sleeper submission to win the European Championship in a match involving Head, a stopped pinfall by Teddy Long, and a finish nobody saw coming
• Undertaker vs Benoit for the number one contendership ends by disqualification when Kane interferes
• Kaientai get caught laughing at the Dudleys' TLC losses, leading to the APA costing the Dudleys the match before the Dudleys table Funaki as a receipt
• Trish Stratus shows up to Val Venis demanding respect, Val tears into her, telegraphing his turn to Right to Censor
• Tommy covers Sunday Night Heat: Crash Holly, Dean Malenko, Kane's mask promo targeting The Rock, and what happened to T&A and the APA

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

New watch along added: RVD/Sabu vs. Hayabusa/Hakushi

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

2:51 Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, NC

5:18 Tommy's Story: Steiners at a WCW Clash of Champions in This Arena

7:32 Back to SmackDown / Storyline Momentum vs Raw

7:56 Recap Focuses on Raw, Not SummerSlam

8:15 Stephanie McMahon Opens the Show: The Alibi

9:36 Kurt Angle Interrupts Stephanie

12:54 Chyna Comes to the Ring

14:34 Angle Slam on Chyna / Eddie Runs Out / Segment Analysis

15:53 Triple H Arrives at the Arena / Stephanie Slaps Him

16:43 Road Dog Promo at Fort Bragg / vs Bull Buchanan

18:58 Chyna and Eddie Approach Foley

19:41 Edge and Christian Promo / Six-Person Tag vs Hardy Boyz and Lita

23:11 Backstage: Angle Approaches Stephanie About the Kiss

24:45 European Championship: Al Snow vs Saturn

27:42 Triple H and Stephanie Reconcile Backstage

29:04 Al Snow's Post-Match Promo: "Citizens of Europea"

30:49 Number One Contender Match: Undertaker vs Benoit / Kane and Rock Arrive

32:13 The DQ Finish Problem: "Only Pinfall or Submission" Goes Out the Window

35:55 Tazz Promo / Jericho Cuts Him Off

40:00 Tazz vs Chris Jericho / Lawler Interferes

41:05 What Went Wrong with Tazz in WWF / Tommy's Take on Vince's Blind Spot

44:06 Just Joe Tells Angle About the Loud Noises / Angle Calls the Cops

44:34 Kaientai Mock the Dudleys / Dudleys vs Kaientai / APA Interfere

46:16 Backstage: Kurt Finds Stephanie / Trish Confronts Val Venis

47:20 Rikishi vs Val Venis / Right to Censor Interference

47:54 Chyna and Eddie Backstage Before the Main Event

48:25 Triple H and Stephanie Make Up / Cops Arrive with Spousal Abuse Complaint

49:24 Foley Changes the Main Event / Stephanie Forced Into Angle's Corner

50:43 Main Event: Eddie Guerrero vs Kurt Angle

51:05 Angle Wins with the IC Belt / Chyna DDTs Stephanie Post-Match

54:21 Sunday Night Heat Rundown

56:21 Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chyna knocks on Triple H's door to check on him after SummerSlam. They share a platonic hug. Eddie Guerrero walks in, shoves Triple H, and says "That's my mama." Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap the August 28, 2000 edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from Greensboro, North Carolina, one night after SummerSlam 2000.

Triple H opened the show stranded in the parking garage, waiting for Stephanie who hasn't been seen since he accidentally hit her the night before. Kurt Angle comes to the ring and accuses him of domestic violence, then casually mentions his concussion is coming back to him. He remembers being in a hotel lobby after SummerSlam. He wasn't alone. Room A14. Wait, that was Stephanie's room. His memory is a little fuzzy.

After Angle goads Eddie into defending Chyna's honor, he ends up running into the match with a steel chair anyway. The annoucers openly wonder whose side Chyna is really on. Tommy and Rob did not see this coming and loved every second of it.

Other major discussion points include:

• Edge and Christian bring out miniature versions of all three TLC teams for their 36-second pose, complete with tiny ladders, tiny tables, and a fight between the mini Hardies and mini Dudleys
• Lita defends the Women's Championship against Jackie in the highest-rated quarter hour of the night, then eats an Edge spear post-match in what Tommy and Rob call a real test of whether her SummerSlam rub translated on its own
• Chyna retains the IC title when Val Venis abandons his Money Shot to yell at Trish Stratus, who had been watching at ringside the entire match
• JR grabs a trash can lid and clocks Tazz at ringside, letting Blackman retain the Hardcore title in a feud Tommy and Rob agree never justified itself
• The Rock keeps the WWF title over Kane, but the Undertaker rides in on his motorcycle and choke slams Kane first, teasing a three-way championship program
• Naked Midian debuts as a streaker in the Al Snow and Saturn mixed tag, wearing nothing but a fanny pack and a thong

00:00 Intro and Cold Open: Eddie Guerrero Shoves Triple H Over Chyna

00:33 Welcome to Tales from the Attitude Era

00:52 Why Raw Aired at 11pm: US Open Tennis and the USA Network Problem

1:07 Tommy's Backstage Story: Vince McMahon vs the Dog Show

5:01 Post-SummerSlam Booking Philosophy and the Late Start Show

6:06 The Chyna and Triple H Reunion: Kayfabe, Reality, and the Real-Life Timeline

8:15 Mick Foley Opens the Show in Greensboro / Four Title Matches Announced

10:31 Triple H Waits in the Parking Garage / X-Pac and Road Dog Weigh In

10:54 Opening Match: Y2J and the Acolytes vs Benoit and T&A

16:35 Kurt Angle Accuses Triple H of Abuse / Room A14 Revealed

18:40 Triple H Cheap Shots Angle / Chyna and Eddie Watch from Backstage

19:03 Intercontinental Championship: Chyna vs Val Venis

23:00 Michael Cole Interviews Angle: "I Remember Stephanie's Room"

23:42 Right to Censor Promo / Too Cool and Rikishi Dance Segment

26:53 Chyna Enters Triple H's Dressing Room

29:41 Eddie Guerrero Bursts In: "That's My Mama"

31:53 Edge and Christian's Mini TLC Teams Segment

36:24 Angle Talks Eddie Into Challenging Triple H

36:53 Hardcore Championship: Tazz vs Steve Blackman / JR with the Trash Can Lid

41:54 Just Joe Gets Kicked Out / Eddie Barges In and a Match Is Made

45:14 Women's Championship: Lita vs Jackie / Edge Spears Lita Post-Match

49:14 Kane Promo: No Voice Box, New Monster Heel Direction

53:28 Patreon Plug

55:38 Chyna and Eddie Backstage Before the Match

56:03 Eddie Guerrero vs Triple H

1:00:07 Frog Splash Miss / Pedigree Attempt / Angle Runs In with a Chair

1:01:04 Chyna Saves Both Men / The Love Quadrangle Is Born

1:03:05 Al Snow and Saturn vs Cat and Terry / Naked Midian Debuts

1:05:25 Dudleys at WWF New York / The Rock Promo with Kevin Kelly

1:06:47 WWF Championship: The Rock vs Kane / The Undertaker Rides In

1:09:24 Ratings Breakdown: 4.93 Rating and 11.5 Share

1:12:46 Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kurt Angle grabs the mic before the main event and announces he has an apology to make for kissing Stephanie McMahon. He's sorry he didn't do it sooner. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani recap SummerSlam 2000, live from Raleigh, North Carolina on August 27, 2000.

The love triangle runs through the whole show. Stephanie tells her makeup artist backstage that Kurt is a good kisser. Angle's pre-match promo drops the line "I gave your wife the kind of passion you could never give her." Then the Spanish announce table breaks early, Angle is immediately concussed, and the main event somehow has to keep going.

The match of the night is the first-ever Tables, Ladders and Chairs match between Edge and Christian, the Hardy Boyz, and the Dudley Boyz, which Tommy and Rob call a blueprint for an even better version at WrestleMania the following year. Earlier, Shane McMahon climbs 75 feet up the entrance scaffolding trying to escape Steve Blackman, takes a kendo stick to the back, and falls in one of the biggest bumps either host has ever seen.

Other major discussion points include:

- Chyna pins Trish Stratus to become two-time Intercontinental Champion in a mixed tag with a stipulation that creates more problems than it solves

- JR pays Tazz back by smashing the same candy jar Tazz used on Lawler weeks earlier over his head to help the King get the win, though Tommy and Rob agree Tazz deserved better from the whole feud

- Road Dogg and X-Pac finally collide but their slow-burn DX breakup never generated enough heat for the match to land

- Jericho and Benoit put on a solid two-out-of-three falls match in 13 minutes, though Tommy argues the stipulation demands more time and the feud deserved a cleaner finish

- The show opens with a Fellini-inspired David Sahadi short film that Tommy and Rob call one of the most interesting pay-per-view cold opens of the Attitude Era

- Kane and Undertaker brawl on the outside with the bell never ringing, in a match the hosts agree did nothing to elevate either man

---

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

New watch along added: Dick the Bruiser vs. Verne Gagne

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

---

00:00 Intro and Welcome to SummerSlam 2000 / Raleigh, NC / Gate Figures

05:27 Card Structure Discussion and the David Sahadi Opening Film

11:44 Meltzer and Keller Review SummerSlam

14:53 Right to Censor vs Too Cool & Rikishi

19:44 Heat Recap: The Kiss Aftermath / Kurt Angle Arrives

21:01 Road Dogg vs X-Pac / The DX Breakup Falls Flat

24:26 Chyna & Eddie Guerrero Backstage / Trish and Val's Tension

30:09 Intercontinental Championship: Chyna & Eddie vs Val Venis & Trish Stratus

37:33 Stephanie in the Makeup Chair: Kurt Is a Good Kisser

38:23 Jerry Lawler vs Tazz / JR's Candy Jar Revenge

47:18 Steve Blackman vs Shane McMahon (Hardcore Championship) / The Scaffold Fall

52:22 Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit (Two-Out-of-Three Falls)

57:08 The First-Ever TLC Match: Edge & Christian vs Hardy Boyz vs Dudley Boyz

1:03:19 Triple H Confronts Stephanie About the Kiss

1:04:03 Thong Stinkface Match: Cat vs Terry

1:08:39 Kane vs Undertaker (The Bell Never Rings)

1:11:50 WWF Championship Triple Threat: The Rock vs Triple H vs Kurt Angle

1:19:01 Overall Show Breakdown and Final Thoughts

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kurt Angle dismisses the EMTs from Stephanie McMahon's room, tells her he really cares for her, and kisses her to close the show. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 24, 2000 edition of WWF SmackDown, the final episode before SummerSlam 2000, live from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The whole episode builds around one question: will Stephanie pick Triple H or Kurt Angle as her mixed tag partner? The McMahon family love triangle is at full boil, and the final two minutes of the show are, as Tommy puts it, maybe the most melodramatic moment in WWE history.

Chris Jericho rolls out a Benoit photoshop promo that Tommy and Rob agree is well below the level of their blood feud, complete with Dr. Seuss rhymes. Benoit fires back with his own "picture." In the Tazz/Lawler saga, Tazz spray-paints Lawler's rental car, smashes the window, and finds J.R. in the passenger seat.

Other major discussion points include:

- Rikishi moons Right to Censor, wins his match against the Goodfather, and teases Stevie Richards with the stink face before Bull Buchanan pulls him out at the last second to save the heat for SummerSlam

- The six-person tag (Trish/Val/Test vs Chyna, Eddie Guerrero, and Steve Blackman) ends when Val's nunchuck attack on Blackman backfires and takes out Test instead

- Kurt Angle pitches himself as Stephanie's partner backstage, promising the match won't last more than three minutes. Triple H then storms out when Stephanie suggests Angle made good points about the hothead thing, proving the critique in real time

- Road Dogg and X-Pac lose a handicap match to Undertaker in what Tommy and Rob call the least heated angle heading into SummerSlam

- A full breakdown of the SummerSlam 2000 card

- The WWF's SmackDown Your Vote campaign, a partnership with MTV's Rock the Vote driven by the looming threat of censorship from the Parent Television Council

---

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

---

00:00 Intro

03:29 Stephanie Demands a Rematch

09:37 Backstage: Triple H Proves Angle Right About the Hothead Thing

10:29 Rikishi Moons Right to Censor

15:17 Eddie Guerrero & Chyna Backstage

21:47 Trish Stratus & Val Venis vs Chyna, Eddie Guerrero & Steve Blackman

27:32 Backstage: Kurt Angle Pitches Himself as Stephanie's Partner

29:26 Tazz Spray-Paints Lawler's Rental Car

34:47 Chris Jericho's Terrible Benoit Photoshops

39:12 Benoit Responds with His Own "Picture"

42:13 DX vs Undertaker (Handicap Match) / The Slow-Burn Breakup That Isn't Working

44:06 Triple H Storms Out on Stephanie / SmackDown Your Vote

46:34 Saturn vs Al Snow / The Thong Stinkface Match Is Set for SummerSlam

48:55 Jericho & Hardies vs Benoit & Edge & Christian

51:01 Triple H Confronts Angle Backstage / The Rock's Big Easy Promo

53:03 Main Event: The Rock & Lita vs Kurt Angle & Stephanie McMahon

55:33 Epilogue: Kurt Angle Kisses Stephanie McMahon to End the Show

56:34 Analysis: Is This the Best SummerSlam Go-Home Angle Ever?

1:02:29 The SummerSlam 2000 Card Is Set

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Lita wins the Women's Championship from Stephanie McMahon with The Rock as special guest referee in a main event! Tommy Blacha calls one of the greatest convoluted booked gaga matches of the Attitude Era. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 21, 2000 edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, six days before SummerSlam 2000.

The show opens with The Rock cutting a Louisiana-specific promo before Mick Foley gives him the night off and announces two title matches for the evening: Shane McMahon vs. Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Championship and Stephanie's Women's Championship defense against Lita, with The Rock serving as special guest referee. In the chaotic main event, Triple H and Kurt Angle accompany Stephanie to ringside with the Hardy Boys in Lita's corner. At the decisive moment, Angle accidentally nails Triple H with a belt while trying to interfere, The Rock delivers a Rock Bottom to Angle, and Lita hits a moonsault on Stephanie to win the Women's Championship.

Earlier in the night, Shane McMahon sneaks a kendo stick into the Hardcore title match and cracks Steve Blackman across the skull to steal the championship, only for Foley to immediately book him into a rematch at SummerSlam. In their tag match, Triple H pins Farooq for the win but conspicuously hangs back while Bradshaw drops Kurt Angle with a Clothesline from Hell, planting seeds of tension between the two allies heading into Sunday.

Other major discussion points include:

- Mick Foley adds a wrinkle to the IC title picture: if Eddie Guerrero or Chyna pins Val Venis or Trish Stratus in their tag match, they become the new Intercontinental Champion

- Kane destroys Rikishi with three vicious chair shots before Right to Censor prevents Too Cool from making the save

- Jerry Lawler hides behind a pile of equipment backstage and drops it on an unsuspecting Taz to get his revenge before sliding back out to commentary

- Tommy reads from both the Wrestling Observer and the Pro Wrestling Torch on why Big Show was sent home, covering conditioning concerns, attitude, and a herniated disc

- Kurt Angle tells Stephanie he's thinking of leaving the McMahon family; Stephanie begs him to stay in a scene Tommy credits to writer Brian Gewirtz

- Steve Austin has been medically cleared and is expected back imminently

---

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

---

00:00 Intro

03:25 The Observer and Torch Debate WWF's Booking Pace

05:49 The Rock's Louisiana Promo

09:47 Foley Gives The Rock the Night Off / SummerSlam Matches Announced

14:32 Jerry Lawler Ambushes Taz Backstage

15:22 The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz / Edge & Christian on Commentary

17:02 Val Venis & Trish Stratus vs Crash Holly & Ivory

20:15 Foley Puts the Intercontinental Title on the Line in the Tag Match

22:27 Kane Destroys Rikishi / Right to Censor Stops Too Cool

23:15 The Dirt Sheets: What Really Happened to Big Show

30:28 The Acolytes vs Kurt Angle & Triple H / Triple H Leaves Angle to the Wolves

33:06 Right to Censor Promo / Foley's Shrimp Etouffee Bit / RTC vs Too Cool & Rikishi Set

36:20 Shane's Mean Street Posse Scheme Backfires / Angle Threatens to Walk Out

38:13 Chris Jericho vs Perry Saturn / Benoit Runs Down / Angle's Olympic Wrestling Lesson

40:55 Steve Blackman vs Test (Hardcore 24/7) / Shane McMahon Wins the Hardcore Championship

43:05 Shane's Hardcore Title Problem / Foley Books SummerSlam Rematch / Edge & Christian vs DX Set

44:48 Edge & Christian vs DX for the Tag Team Championships

46:11 Main Event: Lita vs Stephanie McMahon for the Women's Championship / The Rock as Special Guest Referee

54:06 Was This the First Women's Main Event in Raw History?

58:18 Steve Austin Cleared to Wrestle / Expected Back Soon

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Mick Foley turns the McMahon family against itself with a Survivor-style vote to decide who faces The Rock. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 17, 2000 episode of WWF SmackDown, live from the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts, with SummerSlam just two weeks away.

Shane, Triple H, Stephanie, and Kurt Angle open the show by declaring themselves a united family, but Foley quickly detonates it by replaying the footage of Kurt kissing Stephanie's cheek from Raw. Rather than pick The Rock's opponent himself, Foley forces the McMahon camp to vote among themselves — with Shane volunteering first before the group ultimately settles on Triple H. Angle storms off in a fury, telling Stephanie he feels voted off the island.

Triple H gets the win in the main event only after Kurt Angle runs down with a chair and helps him double-team The Rock, giving The Rock his second pinfall loss in two shows heading into SummerSlam. Elsewhere, Trish Stratus grabs a water pitcher from the announcer's table and smashes it over Chyna's head during the Eddie Guerrero vs. Val Venis Intercontinental Championship match, setting up Trish and Val vs. Chyna and Eddie at SummerSlam.

Other major discussion points include:

- Rikishi gives Terri the Stink Face after The Cat recruits him as her partner in a mixed tag match against Perry Saturn and Terri, featuring a monkey flip in high heeled boots

- Edge and Christian redefine TLC as Totally Lacking Coolness and teach Worcester the word hanosity, before losing to Jeff Hardy and D-Von Dudley in a match that sows dissension between the Hardys and the Dudleys

- Chris Benoit defeats Steve Blackman in a Hardcore Championship match with Chris Jericho on commentary, leading to a candid discussion about how this footage ages given what Benoit would later do

- Tommy Blacha explains why Kane was plugged into the Undertaker feud after Big Show was sent to OVW because management grew unhappy with him

- Kane destroys X-Pac and Road Dogg, takes the mic, and announces he is a monster before brawling with Undertaker

- Big Bossman refers to Kaientai as his Chinese buddies and then oriental buddies as they try to correct him, with Crash Holly and the APA picking up the win

- A recap of Sunday Night Heat, including Dean Malenko retaining the Light Heavyweight Championship, a Jericho promo officially announcing his two-out-of-three falls match with Benoit at SummerSlam, Kurt Angle defeating Matt Hardy, and Stephanie McMahon attacking Lita to set up their Raw Women's Championship match

---

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

---

00:00 Intro

05:20 The McMahon Family Claims Unity

13:57 Terri and The Kat

17:15 Backstage: The McMahon Family Votes on Who Faces The Rock

18:09 Kat & Rikishi vs. Perry Saturn & Terri

22:07 Shane McMahon Volunteers to Face The Rock

22:31 Eddie Guerrero vs. Val Venis (Intercontinental Championship)

29:18 Stephanie Wants to Fight The Rock / SummerSlam Tag Match Set

30:14 APA & Crash Holly vs. Big Bossman & Kaientai

33:04 The Vote Is In: Triple H Chosen / Kurt Angle Walks Out

33:27 Chris Benoit vs. Steve Blackman (Hardcore Championship) / Jericho on Commentary

47:27 Kurt Angle Threatens to Quit the McMahon Family

48:43 Edge & Christian vs. Jeff Hardy & D-Von Dudley

50:17 Why Kane Got Plugged Into the Undertaker Feud

52:40 Right to Censor Targets Rikishi's Rear End

56:39 X-Pac & Road Dogg vs. Too Cool / Kane Declares "I Am a Monster"

58:39 Kane and Undertaker Brawl / Main Event: Triple H vs. The Rock

1:02:00 Heat Recap

Follow Tales from The Attitude Era on all social media

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani are back in Providence, Rhode Island to review the August 14, 2000 episode of Raw. With SummerSlam less than two weeks away, the WWF hits the accelerator on all major storylines, delivering a truly iconic moment that changed wrestling history forever.

Mick Foley interrupts a sit-in protest by Edge and Christian to drop a bombshell announcement: at SummerSlam, they will defend their tag team titles against The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz in the very first TLC match. "Tables, and ladders, and chairs, oh my!"

The soap opera drama surrounding the world title picture also reaches a fever pitch. Kurt Angle compares himself to Nancy Kerrigan, steals a kiss from Stephanie McMahon, and forces Triple H to briefly put aside his jealousy to team up in a massive main event against The Rock and The Dudley Boyz. Plus, Kane shocks the WWE fans by betraying The Undertaker, chokeslamming him through the ring, and stealing his motorcycle!

---

Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O'Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

---

Other highlights from the episode:

• Right to Censor defeats The Hardy Boyz and Lita in intergender action.
• The Acolytes get hired by Kaientai and end up destroying the Friendly Tap.
• Taz continues his vicious feud with Jerry Lawler after making quick work of Crash Holly.
• Tommy Blacha and Rob discuss the WWF courting voters at the DNC and RNC.

0:00 Intro, Jumping Bomb Angels, and Patreon

06:26 Kurt Angle Compares Himself to Nancy Kerrigan

13:08 Mick Foley Books the Six-Man Tag Team Main Event

15:13 Kaientai and The Acolytes Backstage

16:20 Eddie Guerrero & Steve Blackman vs. T&A

17:13 Kurt Angle Kisses Stephanie McMahon

18:47 The Chef Boyardee SummerSlam Commercial & Slim Jims

21:18 Triple H Confronts Stephanie McMahon

23:20 Right to Censor vs. The Hardy Boyz & Lita

27:19 The Acolytes and Kaientai at the Friendly Tap (Part 1)

30:41 Edge & Christian's Protest and Mick Foley Invents TLC!

38:46 Shane McMahon Gives Triple H a Pep Talk

39:14 The Undertaker vs. Chris Benoit & Kane's Betrayal

43:42 The WWF at the Democratic National Convention

46:27 The Acolytes and Kaientai Destroy the Friendly Tap

48:26 Jerry Lawler Attacks Taz

50:46 Just Joe Approaches Kurt Angle

51:19 X-Pac & Road Dogg vs. Rikishi

53:49 Linda McMahon's DNC Voter Announcement

54:01 Just Joe Approaches Triple H

54:33 The WWF TV Guide Covers

58:41 Chris Jericho vs. Val Venis

1:01:49 Vince McMahon Returns in a Limo

1:04:30 Main Event: The Rock & The Dudley Boyz vs. Triple H, Kurt Angle, & Shane McMahon

Follow Tales from The Attitude Era on all social media

http://youtube.com/@TFTAttitudeEra 

http://twitter.com/TFTAttitudeEra

http://instagram.com/TFTAttitudeEra

http://tiktok.com/@TFTAttitudeEra

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.