Retro Rowe: WWF Summerslam 2000

WWF SummerSlam 2000

by Samoa Rowe

August 27, 2000

-From Raleigh, NC. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

Right to Censor (The Goodfather, Bull Buchanan, and Steven Richards) vs. Rikishi and Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay) (with the Hos)

Tool Cool have adopted he hos (including the future Victoria) in light of the Godfather abandoning them. Scotty 2 Hotty has a hot start against Buchanan, who eats a Too Cool double suplex. GMS dumps Goodfather to ringside, where he shoves down the hos! HOW DARE HE DISRESPECT THE HOS! Right to Censor takes control and trap GMS in their corner for a short while. Rikishi gets a hot tag (three and a half minutes in) and cleans house on RTC. Rikishi and Too Cool pile RTC up for butt splashes in the corner, and the match breaks down. Scotty looks for the Worm on the Goodfather, but Richards ambushes with the Stevie Kick for the win at 5:11. Holy short match! Still, emotions were running high in this one, *¾.
Winners: Right to Censor

Retro Rowe: WWF Fully Loaded 2000

WWF Fully Loaded

by Samoa Rowe

July 23,2000

-Whoa, this WWF event is rated TV-MA! Granted, it’s been at least ten years since the last time I watched this show, I don’t remember it being that violent. It could be due to heavy Chris Benoit involvement.

-From Dallas, TX. Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross are on commentary.

Test, Albert, and Trish Stratus vs. Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, and Lita

Matt starts with Albert after a short clusterf*ck. Matt is unusually clumsy here, slipping on the turnbuckles and tumbling off the apron. Matt manages to catch Test with the flying leg drop. The Hardyz double team Test (and I start to wonder if Matt is drunk when he’s off again) and Jeff wipes Test out at ringside. Test catches Matt with a big boot and tags in Trish. Matt ducks a slap and Test gets knocked down, allowing a near pinfall on Trish. Lita tags (to a huge pop) but Trish escapes with a tag to Albert. The Hardyz save Lita from Albert with Poetry in Motion. The Hardy suplex Albert and then Trish assists in a triple suplex on Test and Trish. Albert recovers to press slam Jeff to ringside, and T&A cut the ring in half. Jeff takes quite a beating but manages to make the hot tag to Matt, who manages to hold it together with a burst of offense. Test pump handle slams Matt, but Jeff breaks the cover with a Swanton bomb. Matt DDT’s Albert while Lita hits Test with a tornado DDT. Lita wipes out Albert with a cross body on the floor and a hurricanrana on Test. Albert cheap shots Lita’s injured ribs, allowing a power bomb from Test. Trish demands a tag and makes a cover for 2. Running bulldog by Trish but Lita catches her on the top rope for a superplex. The Hardyz clear the ring of T&A so Lita can finish Trish with the Litasault at 13:10. Lita was the star of this match, it was hard not to root for her against the men. Well-booked opener here, **¾.
Winners: The Hardy Boyz and Lita

Retro Rowe: WWF Judgment Day 2000

WWF Backlash

May 21, 2000

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Louisville, KY. My hosts and your’s are Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler. This review is brought to you (but not endorsed or sponsored by) the WWE Network.

-It’s worth mentioning that this pay-per-view is being sponsored by Army Men for the Panasonic 3DO! I bet you all have fond memories of that particular home console.

-DX and the McMahons are having a private party in the back. Vince McMahon berates Hardcore Champion Gerald Brisco for being late and demands to know where Pat Patterson is. Vince sends Gerry off to get coffee and rallies the troops for their matches later. X-Pac and Road Dogg will beat the Dudleyz, Shane will defeat Big Show, and Triple H will reclaim the WWF title in the Iron Man match against The Rock.

-Gerald Brisco is ambushed by the Head Bangers (they were still a thing?) and gets chased away.

-Kurt Angle cuts a promo on his way to the ring. He’s coming to terms with his newfound status as a heartthrob to teenage girls. Angle is joined by Edge and Christian, wielding strange brown sacks. Christian intentionally mispronounces “Louisville” while annoying the fans with a disingenuous faux baby face promo. They set up a five second pose (for those with the benefit of flash photography) dressed up as a redneck jug band (complete with fake teeth and a banjo). This was pretty funny and still managed to generate heat.

Kurt Angle and WWF Tag Team Champions Edge and Christian vs. Too Cool (Rikishi, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Grandmaster Sexay)

Team ECK jump Too Cool from behind but the tables are quickly turned as they all get splashed in the corner before retreating. GMS starts with an enziguri on Edge and the hip hop missile drop-kick. Scotty and GMS double team Edge with elbow drops. Christian tags but Scotty catches him with a vertical suplex, followed by the moonwalk. GMS uses his body to shield Scotty from a hard Irish whip. Team ECK retreats again and GMS loses his pants while dancing. Rikishi tags and plows through Edge and Christian and pulls Angle into the ring but misses a butt drop. Rikishi avoids getting cut off from his partners and tags in Scotty, but Angle prevents the Worm with a hard clothesline. Scotty gets isolated instead and is properly beaten down before making the hot tag to Rikishi. Team ECK gets piled in the corner for a Rikishi splash. Angle takes the Stink Face but retaliates with a DDT. Rikishi bounces back with double clotheslines but Edge puts him down with a spear. Scotty finally delivers the Worm to Edge. Christian clocks Rikishi with the ring bell, but the ref misses it. GMS saves Rikishi with the Hip Hop Drop on Edge. Angle is late making the save and Rikishi pins Edge at 9:44. I don’t think that was supposed to be the finish, Angle’s timing looked off. Either way, the crowd is pleased with this strong, high-energy opener, **¾.
Winners: Rikishi and Too Cool

Retro Rowe: WWF Backlash 2000

WWF Backlash

April 30, 2000

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Washington D.C. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

-Debra makes her first appearance in months to serve as ring announcer for the opening contest. Jerry Lawler can barely contain his glee.

WWF Tag Team Championship:
Edge and Christian © vs. D-Generation X (Road Dogg and X-Pac, with Tori)

Even in 2000, Road Dogg was doing his fan-friendly promo routine despite being a heel. Speaking of dispositions, this is a heel vs. heel match up as Edge and Christian had been acting gradually more obnoxious since winning the Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania. Edge gets the better of X-Pac in the early going. Road Dogg doesn't fare much better, suffering a Christian cross-body off the back of Edge. Road Dogg thumbs the eyes of Christian to isolate him in DX territory. The DX beat down includes X-Pac's Bronco Buster, Road Dogg's dancing jabs, and some cheap shots from Tori. Edge interferes with an uncharacteristic diving head butt on Road Dogg. Christian reverses with a double DDT and makes the hot tag. The match quickly breaks down and X-Pac accidentally clocks Tori in the face among the chaos. With the referee distracted, Christian clocks X-Pac with the ring bell to allow the Edge pinfall at 9:21. The crowd loved that finish. Good opener, **½.
Winners and still WWF Tag Team Champions: Edge and Christian

Retro Rowe: WWF No Way Out 2000

WWF No Way Out

February 27, 2000

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Hartford, CT. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

-I had an extremely difficult time picking my first show to review on WWE Network, but this one just kept calling out to me.

Intercontinental Championship:
Chris Jericho © (with Chyna) vs. European Champion Kurt Angle

Angle cuts a short patronizing promo, promising to return to Hartford later on as the hero they all deserve. Jericho responds by calling “Kirk Angel” an ignoramus. The crowd is red hot for Jericho at the opening bell. They keep a fast pace, with Jericho dropping Angle over the ropes for the drop-kick off the top. Jericho misses a clothesline and hits the ring post, but he rebounds with a moonsault off the ring steps! Angle crotches Jericho on the top rope for a belly to belly superplex. Jericho rebounds with a double underhook backbreaker, but Angle retaliates with a German suplex for 2. Angle goes to work on the hurt arm, but Jericho surprises with a spin heel kick. Jericho makes a comeback, complete with a dead lift power bomb. Angle rolls into a cross arm breaker! Angle nails the Olympic Slam but is too slow to cover and gets 2. Jericho avoids a belt shot and applies the Walls! Angle escapes and tries another belt shot, but Jericho inadvertently knocks him into Chyna against the steps. Angle blocks the Lionsault with a title belt and wins the match at 10:11. They packed a lot of action into a short amount of time, the cheap finish works in the context of Angle’s ongoing story, **¾.
Winner and new Intercontinental Champion: Kurt Angle

EVOLVE 39

March 26, 2015

-From San Jose, CA. This is a part of the WWNLive Experience at Wrestlecon, which took place over Wrestlemania 31 weekend. Our host is Lenny Leonard.

-Before the opening contest, Drew Gulak asks for a chance to speak. He says that professional wrestling as a business that has lost sight that what really matters is winning matches. He wants to make wrestling real enough so you can feel it.

Timothy Thatcher vs. Drew Gulak

They kick things off with a technical wrestling clinic. Both guys are decked out in black tights, making this a true “no nonsense” affair. Leonard on commentary provides a nice backstory that this is the fourth encounter between these two on WWNLive programming, and Gulak has won every time. Gulak scores the first big power move with a German suplex. The crowd has been quiet, but attentive, making for a unique viewing experience. Thatcher escapes an arm breaker and applies a Fujiwar armbar, but a rope break stops a finish. Thatcher saves himself from an ankle lock and begins to sell frustration. A judo throw sets up another arm breaker for Thatcher. Gulak escapes and wraps himself into a Figure Seven ankle lock. Thatcher reverses, nails a judo throw, and stomps the wrist to set up a Kimura. Snap suplex by Thatcher gets a 1 count, so he goes back to the cross arm breaker. Gulak slaps the back to break, but Thatcher blocks a submission to muscle him up for a hard back bump. Dead lift suplex by Thatcher, followed by uppercuts, changes the tone of the contest. Gulak scores a flying forearm for 2. Thatcher reverses an ankle lock, but Gulak does the same. Gulak blocks the Kimura and rolls Thatcher into a crucifix pin for the win at 13:09. Just tremendous professional wrestling by two rising stars, ****.
Winner: Drew Gulak

EVOLVE 36

EVOLVE 36
January 9th 2015

-It’s become a New Year’s tradition for me to try to get back on board with the good folks at WWNLive. Here we go again.

-From Ybor City, FL. Our hosts are Lenny Leonard and someone who’s name I couldn’t catch over Johnny Gargano’s music.

-New Open the Freedom Gate Champion Johnny Gargano comes to the ring to talk. He recently reclaimed his coveted Freedom Gate title during WWNLive’s uber-successful tour of China. Gargano thanks the fans for their support throughout 2014 and helping them put on the best wrestling in the world. Gargano puts over the young, hungry locker room but states that he wants more fresh talent to join the WWNLive family. Therefore, members of the official roster will have the chance to endorse new wrestlers for opportunities. FIP Champion Rich Swann joins Gargano in the ring and reminisces about how they climbed to the top together as part of RONIN and as rivals. Since Gargano’s scheduled opponent is out, Swann endorses Shane Strickland as the replacement. Gargano is open to giving a title shot to the unproven challenger.

DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Championship:
Johnny Gargano © vs. Shane Strickland

They feel each other out with some chain wrestling and Gargano wins the exchange. Gargano gets the upper hand in a Roman-Greco knuckle lock and applies a crossface variation. Gargano throws some nice knife edge chops, which wakes Strickland up to maneuver into a drop-kick. They tease dives, but Strickland kicks Johnny in the face and lands a flying cross body for 2. Strickland repays the chops and nails a “brain kick.” Gargano catches Strickland on the turnbuckles and hits a backstabber. Gargano applies a modified cloverleaf and wrenches the fingers. Strickland looks shaken as he absorbs jabs and chops. They block suplexes and trade stiff shots until Shane rolls into an Ace Crusher! Gargano counters with a double stomp to the head, but Strickland SWERVES with a gut-buster for 2. Gargano avoids a moonsault on the floor and nails a suicide dive! Shane counters with a twisting slam for another 2 count. They trade more stiff offense until Strickland nails a DDT off the turnbuckles. Gargano gets his knees up on Strickland’s Red Arrow, but Shane still makes the cover. Strickland springboards into a super-kick and Gargano lawn darts him into the turnbuckles. The GargaNO Escape ends it at 14:25. Fun match with an appealing story, though a tad INDIE-RIFFIC, ***.
Winner and still DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Champion: Johnny Gargano