This Day In History - October 22nd

October 22nd

On this day in history in ....

1938 - Jack McLauchlan defeats Pete Tripodes in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to become the first Canadian Junior Heavyweight Title.

1956 - Ray Gunkel & Amazing Zuma defeat Gene Kelly (Gene Kiniski) & Len Crosby to win the NWA Texas Tag Team Title in Fort Worth, Texas

1957 - Kurt Von Himmler & Juan Oinada defeat Doug and Red Donovan to win the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title.

1962 - The Medics win their second NWA Southern Tag Team Title by defeating Lester Welch & Buddy Fuller in Memphis, Tennessee.

1965 - Danny McShain wins the NWA Louisiana Heavyweight Title from Bobby Fields in Lafayette, Louisiana, ending Fields' second reign.

1966 - George & Sandy Scott defeat Skull Murphy & Brute Bernard for the IWA (Australia) Tag Team Title in Melbourne, Australia.

1969 - Curtis Iaukea & Ripper Collins begin their fourth reign as NWA Hawaii Tag Team Champions when they defeat Kurt and Karl Von Steiger in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1976 - El Faraon defeats Perro Aguayo for the NWA World Middleweight Title in Mexico City, Mexico.

1976 - Gene & Ole Anderson win their fourth NWA Georgia Tag Team Title by defeating Tom Jones & Porkchop Cash in Atlanta, Georgia.

1976 - The Wrestling Pro wins his fourth NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title. by defeating Greg Peterson in Ozark, Alabama.

1979 - Ivan Putski & Tito Santana defeated Johnny & Jerry Valiant for the WWWF World Tag Team Title in New York, New York.

1981 - Don Kent & Bruno Bekkar defeat Jack and Jerry Brisco for the WWC North American Tag Team Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1984 - The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) defeat The Long Riders (Scott Irwin & Bill Irwin) in Fort Worth, Texas to win the NWA American Tag Team Title, ending the Riders' fourth reign.

1984 - The Fabulous Ones (Steve Keirn & Stan Lane) defeat Rick Rude and King Kong Bundy to win the AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning Keirn and Lane's eighth of 14 reigns as champions.

1985 - Mike Miller & Moondog Moretti defeat Steve Simpson & Joe Savoldi for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title in Fort Lewis, Washington.

1986 - Al Perez defeats Invader I for the WWC Puerto Rican Heavyweight Title in San Juan, Puerto Rico, ending Invader I's fourth reign and beginning his first.

1994 - Toshiaki Kawada defeats "Dr. Death" Steve Williams for the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.

1995 - WWF held their fourth In Your House Pay-per-view in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the Winnipeg Arena. Here are the results:
- In a dark match, Bob Holly defeated Rad Radford.
- Hunter Hearst Helmsley defeated Fatu.
- WWF World Tag Team Champions The Smoking Gunns defeated The 1-2-3 Kid & Razor Ramon when Billy pinned The Kid.
- Goldust, in his WWF debut, defeated Marty Janetty.
- Yokozuna vs. Mabel ended in a double disqualification.
- Shawn Michaels, who had been beaten up outside of a bar (legitimately) and was unable to wrestle, forfeited the WWF Intercontinental Title to Dean (Shane) Douglas.
- Razor Ramon defeated Dean Douglas to win the WWF Intercontinental Title.
- Davey Boy Smith defeated WWF World Heavyweight Champion Diesel via disqualification.
In matches held after the Pay-per-view had ended:
- Henry Godwinn defeated Sid Vicious.
- Bret Hart defeated Isaac Yankem.
- Owen Hart & Yokozuna defeated Savio Vega & Bam Bam Bigelow.

1995 - Christopher Daniels & Kevin Quinn defeat Huracan Castillo Jr. & Invader I to win the WWC World Tag Team Title in San Germán, Puerto Rico.

1999 - Yumiko Hotta defeats Kyoko Inoue to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Fukuoka, Japan, beginning her third reign.

2000 - WWF held their No Mercy Pay-per-view at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York, headlined by Kurt Angle defeating The Rock for the World Title. Tim Whitehead's original report on the show appears on Page 2.

2001 - Hayabusa, the top star of the FMW promotion in Japan, and one of the most popular performers in the country, was paralyzed following an injury during a match with Mammoth Sasaki at Korakuen Hall on Tokyo. Hayabusa was attempting a quebrada (Lionsault) and, after slipping off a loose middle rope and springboarding off the bottom rope, apparently undershot Sasaki, as well as his flip, landing on his head in the ring. He was taken to the hospital, and FMW later announced that he was conscious, but paralyzed from the neck down. In the years since the injury, Hayabusa has recovered to the point that he can stand, and even walk a few steps, but his in-ring career, obviously, is over.

2001 - Keiji Mutoh & Taiyo Kea defeat Genichiro Tenryu and Yoji Anjoh for the AJPW World Tag Team Title in Niigata, Japan.

2001 - WWE Raw saw three separate title changes. Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:

The 10/22 edition of Raw Is Driving The Final Nails Into The Alliance Coffin aired live from Kemper Arena in Kansas City. It was a bad show on several levels, especially following up on a PPV with such great workrate.

They opened with still photos of the No Mercy main event, where Steve Austin retained the WWF World Title over Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam, with run-ins from both Vince and Shane McMahon.

Vince & Linda came out. You read that right. The divorce is off, so that angle ended as insipidly as the HHH-Stephanie-Kurt Angle deal did last year. Vince said he hasn't been around much in recent months because he's been undergoing therapy, which he quickly clarified as meaning physical conditioning. He said he's in the best shape of his life. During his time away he watched his ungrateful kids on TV as they tried to destroy the greatest sports entertainment enterprise of all time. But now that he's back, he promised to take care of business. He started to kiss Linda, which he called a "jump start", when Shane & Stephanie arrived on the ramp top. Shane said it makes him sick watching two old people kiss. Stephanie said they're two old prunes who should just dry up and blow away, or retire to Florida with all the other old people. Vince said that he and Linda got where they are the old fashioned way, by earning their wealth through taking risks, while Shane & Steph had everything handed to them. Actually, Vince & Linda did take a lot of risks back in the eighties. Vince said he's had it with the Alliance invasion crap and challenged his brats to one match, winner take all, at Survivor Series, with the losing side closing up shop and the winner being sole survivor. Shane accepted the challenge wthout even knowing what the match would be or who would be in it. I don't know this for sure, but it sounds like a blow-off to kill the feud, which is dying anyway. Vince then suggested they could have a few WWF vs. Alliance matches tonight on RAW, which he said would be the beginning of the end for the Alliance. He brought up Austin's name but Shane said he's injured thanks to Vince's chairshot at the PPV (Austin took a legit 12 stitches and was off RAW due to the injury). Stephanie then brought up Chris Jericho, which made no particular sense coming from her. Vince said he would team Jericho with Rock and give them a shot at the Dudleys for the WWF Tag Titles. Shane said he'd kick Vince's ass right now and started down the ramp but William Regal ran out and they did the routine where he "held Shane back". Vince dared Shane to come in the ring, but Shane backed off and said he wouldn't beat Vince up in front of his mom. This was getting more insipid by the minute. Linda then took it to a whole new insipidity (is that a word?) level by wondering aloud where she and Vince had gone wrong in raising their kids, noting that Stephanie is a "maneater" and Shane is a "wuss". The segment then mercifully ended.

Lita & Trish Stratus beat Ivory & Mighty Molly in 4:20. Typical WWF catfight. Trish got doubled on to set up a hot tag, with Lita giving Ivory a twist of fate and moonsault for the pin.

Vince talked with RVD. He said the WWF is his life and invited RVD to jump to the WWF side. RVD said he isn't sure about all this taking sides stuff and is happy just being RVD. Vince warned him, doing the same "if you aren't with me, you're against me" routine that Austin did last week. RVD remained non-committal, so Vince ordered him to defend the Hardcore Title against Big Show.

Matt Hardy went to Lita's locker room but found Trish wrapped in a towel, getting ready to shower. He watched her as she walked off, obviously lusting in his heart. Lita walked in and Matt quickly claimed he had been thinking of her and led her out so that she wouldn't know he had been lusting after Trish.

Mick Foley went to Regal's office, knocking his tea set off the desk. Foley said that they, as the two rival commissioners, should plan out some matches and agree there should be no interference in them. Foley said he had already scheduled a Hurricane defense of the European Title against Bradshaw. He also challenged Regal to a game of Connect Four. Regal didn't like Foley's intrusion.

Angle congratulated Edge on regaining the IC Title at the PPV in the ladder match. He said it's hard to believe Edge and Christian are brothers since they're so different. He called Christian the world's ugliest pretty boy. Rhyno then charged out of nowhere and gored Edge into a garage door. Edge sold it like it nearly killed him. A zillion refs and road agents suddenly materialized to hold Angle and Rhyno apart.

As a result of the prior angle, Foley challenged Regal to set up a Rhyno defense of the U.S. Title against Angle. Regal accepted the challenge.

Tajiri beat Billy Kidman in 5:07 to capture the WCW Cruiserweight Title. The first of four (count 'em, four) title changes on this show, none of which made a dime's worth of difference since the titles in question are meaningless. Paul Heyman brought up that Torrie (who was out there with Tajiri) had an association with Kidman, with Jim Ross adding that they were once an "item". Heyman was funnier, though, when he went off on Big Show's weight and started talking about reading about it in the Ross Report. The match was short but they did work hard, with several near falls before Tajiri put Kidman away with two hard kicks to the head.

Diamond Dallas Page came out wearing a headset. He had that goofy smile. Too bad he didn't have Jennifer with him. He talked about losing being a good thing, not a bad thing, mentioning the Chiefs as an example. If losing really was a good thing, the Alliance would be as over with the fans as Ric Flair in the Carolinas during the eighties. He said that all the guys who lost their matches at No Mercy should realize that their defeat was really a good thing since it gives them a chance to change their strategy, diet, training, or whatever. Kane came out, and DDP said that was a good thing because Kane was a loser at the PPV. In fact, he said Kane's been a loser his whole life, due to having a face mangled in the (alleged) fire. He said Kane has a face that makes women vomit and kids scream, but that's a good thing because he gets to have fun wearing a mask like it's Halloween all the time. Kane drilled DDP through the mat with a chokeslam. JR said that was a good thing.

Kurt Angle beat Rhyno to capture the U.S. Title in 11:28. Not all that good for an Angle match. Rhyno hit a gore pretty early. Rhyno also did a botched neckbreaker that drew groans from the crowd. Angle hooked the ankle lock but Rhyno made the ropes. Angle did his suplexes, which looked good. He hit the Olympic Slam but was slow going for the pin and only got a two count. Rhyno rolled clear of a high Angle moonsault. JR said Angle's spent more time on the canvas in this match than Rembrandt. At first, I thought he said a ring rat. Rhyno hit a second gore and Angle fell through the ropes to the floor, which looked like it hurt. Back in the ring, Angle hooked the ankle lock out of nowhere for the submission. Shane & Stephanie, watching on the monitor, looked disturbed. Vince & Linda looked pleased watching their monitor.

Bradshaw beat Hurricane to capture the European Title in 3:08. Terrible match with some really botched up spots. Molly kept interfering and Bradshaw just brushed her off until finally giving her an over-the-head slam. Hurricane hit a lariat, which Bradshaw no-sold before giving Hurricane the lariat from hell for the pin.

Back in Regal's office, Foley was playing with the wooden knob paperweight that Regal always has on his desk, allowing Regal to say, "Keep your bloody paws off my knob!" Foley pulled out three candy bars (Mr. Goodbars, to be exact) and said they represent titles and noted that in title bouts thus far the WWF is 3-0 over the Alliance. As insult to the Alliance's injury, Foley also connected four in his game, but Regal dismissed that by saying Foley was "playing with himself". No, this was not a rerun of Beavis & Butthead.

Undertaker & Kane defeated Booker T & Test in 8:10. Pretty much what you'd expect, though there was one cool spot where Booker took one of the best spin bumps ever. The faces dominated until UT got tied up in the Alliance corner. Booker missed a scissor kick and Kane came in. They all four started brawling. Test had Kane up for a pump handle slam but UT kicked Test and Kane managed to position Test for a tombstone piledriver, pinning him afterward. Okay, that was kind of cool, and the sedate crowd did pop for it since the tombstone is banned most of the time and they hadn't seen it for a while.

Rob Van Dam beat Big Show in 4:44 to retain the Hardcore Title. Before the match, they ran into each other in a hallway and had a verbal confrontation. Show dominated at first just by tossing RVD around and brushing off his kicks. RVD legdropped Show on the crowd barrier. Show no-sold a shot from a garbage can and then knocked a chair into RVD's face. Show got the chair but RVD shot off a fire extinguisher and then gave the blinded Show a Van Daminator and five star frog splash for the pin. Backstage, Shane & Steph were happy their side finally won one.

Maven appeared at WWF New York and admitted being lucky to have beaten Tazz on Smackdown. He said he still has a lot to learn and thus is going to the WWF "farm system" (i.e., OVW & HWA). Tazz ran out and choked Maven out again.

Back in Regal's office, Foley suggested a Tazz vs. Al Snow match for Smackdown, which Regal agreed to. Foley bragged that the WWF had won every match so far except the RVD vs. Show match. Regal vowed that after Survivor Series there won't be a WWF anymore. Unless they change booking direction, he may be right.

Rock congratulated Chris Jericho for his WCW Title win. The interplay between these two was the best thing on the show. Rock told Jericho that at some point there will be a re-match, but for tonight they would put their rivalry aside and team together for the WWF. Rock pointedly asked Jericho if he's still with the WWF, and he said that of course he is. Jericho then said he had a present for Rock. It was the name plate off the WCW belt with Rock's name on it. Jericho held up the belt to show that his name plate was now there. Rock thanked him and said he also has a present for Jericho. He handed Jericho a chair, and told him he would need it when they have their re-match.

Rock & Chris Jericho beat The Dudleys in 7:47 to capture the WWF Tag Titles. An okay match but nothing out of the ordinary. Stacy was with the Dudleys and JR said that's like feeding strawberries to pigs. The Dudleys doubled on Jericho, allowing him to hot tag Rock for the expected pop. Rock destroyed both Dudleys and did the People's Elbow on D-Von but Bubba broke the pin up. Jericho accidentally missile kicked Rock, which was the inevitable tease spot. Rock did a comeback and pinned D-Von after a Rock Bottom. Rock handed Jericho one of the tag belts but was slow handing over the WCW Title. He eventually draped it over Jericho's shoulder but they teased some tension between them. Backstage, Shane & Stephanie looked sick at having lost four titles to the WWF on one show. Vince & Linda hugged and were about to kiss when suddenly Star Trek appeared on the screen due to a TNN glitch. They got back on track long enough to let the world see them kissing to end the show.

2003 - Total Nonstop Action Wrestling holds their weekly pay-per-view from the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee. The results:
- Low Ki defeated Christopher Daniels and Kid Kash.
- Shane Douglas and Michael Shane beat Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt.
- X (Sean Waltman) pinned Don Harris.
- America's Most Wanted defeated Simon Diamond & Johnny Swinger and David Young & Glenn Gilberti to earn a NWA World Tag Team Title match.
- Abyss and Kevin Northcutt defeated The Gathering (Raven, Julio Dinero and CM Punk) in a Handicap Match.
- Jeff Jarrett pinned A.J. Styles to win his second NWA World Heavyweight Title.

2005 - Shuji Kondo defeats Taka Michinoku for the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2005 - Scorpio defeats Muhammad Yone in Tokushima, Japan to win the NOAH Global Hardcore Crown Openweight Title.

2005 - Bad News Johnson & Drake Tungsten defeat Chris Escobar & Shane Falco to win the NWA North American Tag Team Title in Roanoke, Virginia.

2005 - Erik Rowland defeats Black Diamond to win his second NWA New South X Division Title in Greenville, Mississippi.

----

WWF No Mercy 2000

Here is Tim Whitehead's original report on the show:

WWF's No Mercy (10/22 from the Pepsi Arena in Albany, NY) was a basic thumb's up PPV, mainly due to solid key matches. Much of the lower card action was lackluster and had little heat, but as is often the case with the WWF, the top guys carried the show. There were also enough twists and turns

in the ongoing soap operas to spark fan interest, and the WWF World Title change capped off a strong, though not spectacular, show. Commentary from Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler was good.

THE DUDLEYS won an "invitational" table elimination match over TOO COOL & LOW DOWN & RIGHT TO CENSOR & TAZZ and RAVEN in 14:36. Edge & Christian were supposed to be in this match but claimed to be suffering from food poisoning (i.e., they were wrestling later as Los Conquistadors). This was fought under rules where two teams chosen by draw started off, then a new team entered when one was eliminated. The only way to win was to put an opposing team member through a table. Most of the match had no heat since the fans only wanted to see the Dudleys. Too Cool started off against Low Down. They brawled to no heat. Low Down were eliminated at 3:52 when Scotty Too Hotty put Chaz through a table and at the same moment D-Lo Brown accidentally put himself through a table while trying to splash Grandmaster Sexay. Tazz & Raven came in. Scotty did his worm spot under a table. Grandmaster accidentally broke a table on a moonsault spot. This "didn't count" as being eliminated, but it did prompt a "you f****ed up" chant. Tazz & Raven eliminated Too Cool at 7:41 by double suplexing Scotty through a table. The Dudleys arrived and got a pop. There was a lot of sloppy brawling, with Buh Buh Ray legdropping Tazz through a table at 10:31 for an elimination. Finally, Goodfather & Bull Buchanan came in representing RTC. Buh Buh put Bull through a table but the ref had been bumped and didn't see it. Goodfather hit Buh Buh with a hard chairshot and he fell onto the broken table. The ref revived and thought Buh Buh had been put through the table and gave RTC the win, but a second ref ran in and told the match ref what happened and the match was restarted. The Dudleys then 3D'ed Goodfather through a table for the win at 14:36. A mostly lackluster opener that ran too long.

Up next was supposed to be a Test & Albert & Trish Stratus vs. Acolytes & Lita match, but Bradshaw has broken ribs so they made it into an angle. Trish teased that her boobs might be exposed during the match. Anyway, Lita came to the ring and was waiting for the Acolytes, but Test & Albert attacked them backstage and left them laying after dropping some metal trunks on them. They then came to the ring and grabbed Lita, with Trish slapping her until the Hardy Boyz made the save.

Edge & Christian did an interview and claimed to be fully recovered from their illness. They said they didn't have food poisoning as previously believed but only a brief virus of some sort. They had thought their illness was caused by eating some tainted nuts, and did a bunch of double entendres using the word "nuts". Their recovery from illness was truly miraculous.

CHRIS JERICHO defeated X-PAC in 10:37 in a cage match. Jericho called the cage a "Y2Jail". When X-Pac arrived, Jericho hit him with a baseball slide through the door and they brawled outside the cage. X-Pac slammed the door on Jericho's head as they went inside. Jericho came back and dominated until X-Pac got his knees up on a lionsault attempt. X-Pac tried to climb out a couple of times but got dragged back in. X-Pac laid in some kicks and did the bronco. He then went for a pin but remembered that pinfalls don't count. X-Pac tried to leave again but Jericho powerbombed him from the top ropes. Jericho went up but got crotched on the cage top. X-Pac tried to crawl out the door. Jericho caught him in time but X-Pac was able to grab a chair which he used on Jericho. Instead of again going out the door, X-Pac climbed the cage. This didn't make sense but the commentators covered for it by claiming that X-Pac was incoherent due to the heat of battle. Jericho caught him and put the Walls hold on him on the cage top before X-Pac shoved Jericho off for a good bump to the mat below. X-Pac started down the outside of the cage but Jericho caused him to fall on the open door and crotch himself. Jericho then went through the door for the win. A good match but it lacked crowd heat.

The mandatory segment from WWF New York featured Steve Blackman showing off moves with his martial arts sticks.

Rikishi complained to Mick Foley that Steve Austin had not yet arrived (JR & Lawler had dwelled on this throughout the show). Foley said that if Austin no-showed, Rikishi would win by forfeit, but also warned him that Austin may be closer than he thinks.

VAL VENIS & STEVEN RICHARDS beat MR. ASS & CHYNA in 7:15. This match was a substitute for Ass vs. Eddie Guerrero, due to Guerrero's legit injury. Pretty much a standard brawl with no heat. Chyna hit her handspring elbow. The RTC team kept working on Ass' bad shoulder. Chyna had Val set up for a Pedigree, but with the ref distracted by Ass and Richards brawling on the floor. Guerrero limped in and walloped Chyna with the flower bouquet with a lead pipe hidden within. The ref returned to action as Val pinned Chyna.

Stephanie wanted to accompany Hunter Hearst Helmsley for his match against Chris Benoit. HHH said no as always. Steph still gave him a videotape she had made. It was of Benoit applying the crossface in assorted matches, and she told HHH he could learn a few things watching it.

They aired a good recap of the Austin - Rikishi angle.

STEVE AUSTIN vs. RIKISHI went to a no-contest in 10:04 in a No Holds Barred match. Rikishi came out and said Austin was a coward since he still wasn't there. Foley was about to award Rikishi the match via forfeit when Austin's shattered glass entrance music began playing and he drove into the arena in truck Rikishi had battered on Smackdown. Austin emerged from the truck and immediately went after Rikishi. Austin rammed Rikishi into the truck, threw him over the announcers' desk, and choked him with a cable. They brawled through the crowd. Rikishi threw a drink in Austin's face. Lawler said it better not be beer because that's like spinach to Popeye. Austin whipped the hell out of Rikishi with a belt. The match had decent heat but not as much as you might expect. Rikishi made a brief comeback but Austin got a chair and hit Rikishi with a series of sick chairshots which left him juicing a gusher. He also swung twice at Rikishi with a sledgehammer but hit the truck instead. Rikishi was nearly out of it from the chairshots. Austin threw him in back of the truck and drove him out to the parking lot. He dragged Rikishi from the truck and slammed him against a brick wall and pounded him into near unconsciousness. He then positioned the truck and was going to squash him against the wall with it as JR freaked out that Austin was going too far. A police car drove in front of Austin's truck to stop him from committing vehicular homicide and Austin rammed the car twice before a bunch of cops dragged him from the truck and arrested him. The cop driving the squad car was "injured" and was hauled off in an ambulance. Austin's truck was towed off, presumably as evidence. The brawl was good, and was kept relatively short since it was Austin's first match back, but the ending was a little on the bizarre side.

STEVEN WILLIAM REGAL defeated MIDEON in 6:09 to retain the European Title. No heat at all. The storyline was that, at Regal's request, Foley had forced Mideon to wear clothes during the match. But Mideon gradually disrobed down to his fake nude tights. It was pretty bad. Regal kept acting disgusted and backed off from applying a submission hold since he didn't want to touch Mideon. Regal finally won with his neckbreaker type move.

They re-aired Kurt Angle's "interview" with Rock from Heat. It was pretty funny. Angle had taken some clips from an old Rock interview and spliced them in to make it look like Rock was responding to his (Angle's) questions. It made it appear that Rock was afraid of Angle and that he admitted to being behind Rikishi's car assault on Austin last year.

LOS CONQUISTADORS (Edge & Christian) defeated THE HARDY BOYZ to capture the WWF World Tag Titles in 10:50. The match was disappointing since we've come to expect so much from these teams. With no spectacular moves, the crowd was dead. I guess the idea was that the mask gimmick would draw heat, but it didn't. Of course, we can't expect these guys to kill themselves on every PPV or their careers will be over very soon. It was funny in spots as the Conquistadors did some fake Lucha Libre mannerisms. Lawler kept talking about how sacred the masks are in Mexico. He should have told Eric Bischoff. Mostly it was standard tag wrestling with only a couple of planchas and one swanton. The end saw Matt unmask one Conquistador to reveal a second mask underneath. He was then nailed by the other Conquistador with a tomokaze type move for the pin.

HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY defeated CHRIS BENOIT in 18:41. Before the match, HHH was shown watching Stephanie's tape and he acted like he got some good ideas from it. The crowd treated HHH as a total babyface. They started off brawling. HHH destroyed Benoit for about five minutes, working over his knee. Both bumped out and Benoit posted HHH, taking command for several minutes. Benoit worked over HHH's bad left arm, scoring some two counts. Benoit hit his diving headbutt on HHH's arm. Crowd heat was modest at first but began to pick up. HHH made a big comeback and scored several near falls. Benoit hit the German suplexes and hooked the crossface but HHH escaped with a Samoan drop, an idea he presumably got watching Steph's tape. Stephanie then arrived uninvited. She slapped Benoit. HHH went for the Pedigree but Benoit blocked it. HHH then blocked a crossface. Steph distracted the ref and HHH took the opening to do a low blow and hit the Pedigree for the win. Good match! Of course, Stephanie proved her value here as a ringside tactician.

Edge & Christian congratulated Los Conquistadors on their tag title win (it was two other guys under the masks). They gave each Conquistador a Corona. Los Conquistadors will defend the tag belts against Edge & Christian on the 10/23 RAW (ahem).

KURT ANGLE defeated ROCK to capture the WWF World Title in 21:40. Before the match it was announced that Foley had made this a no-DQ match, with JR & Lawler wondering why he would do that. Stephanie immediately distracted Rock and Angle attacked. They went to the floor and Angle used a chair. They brawled up the aisle where Rock threw Angle through some barriers. They fought back to the ring, where Stephanie continued to interfere. Rock hit Angle in the knee with a chair and hooked the sharpshooter bur Steph distracted the ref and he didn't see Angle tapping out in pain. Rock went after Stephanie but that allowed Angle to blindside him. Steph was on a roll tonight. They returned to the floor and brawled around the announcers' desks, each taking bumps. Rock got posted. Stephanie gave the title belt to Angle and he used it on Rock but only scored two. Rock hit a tornado DDT for two. Angle missed a high moonsault. Rock nailed Angle with the spinebuster and was about to do the People's Elbow when Steph got in his face. Rock plastered her with a Rock Bottom and was going to hit the People's Elbow on her but Angle tackled him. This brought in HHH, who threw Angle from the ring and Pedigreed Rock. HHH carried Stephanie out. Angle and Rock went back at it to great heat and scored some twos. Rikishi then arrived, still covered with blood from his earlier brawl. He tried to help Rock but it backfired and he thrust kicked Rock in the face (actually the shoulder) and Angle won with the Olympic slam. Good strong main event! Rock, who was juicing, was furious afterward as Angle left triumphantly with the belt.


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