Dark Pegasus Video Review: Fully Loaded 2000

Posted by J.D. Dunn on 05.08.2008

Triple main events cap yet another great show in 2000.

Fully Loaded 2000
by J.D. Dunn

July 23, 2000

Live from Dallas, Texas.

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

Opening Match, Intergender Tag: Test, Albert & Trish Stratus vs. The Hardyz & Lita.
SWEET MERCIFUL GOLDFISH! Trish has decided to oil up tonight, virtually necessitating that I do the same as soon as I'm done here. TMI? Lita is hugely over at this point, as in "one of the most over people on the roster, man or woman." Matt does a cool leverage reversal of a knucklelock on Albert. The Hardyz doubleteam Test, but Jeff runs right into a sideslam. Matt tags in and gets slapped around by Trish. He rolls her up for two and tags in Lita. HUGE POP for that! Trish scurries out and tags Albert. Albert tries to corner Lita, but she bobs and weaves until the Hardyz make the save. They debut the triple suplex spot that is now a staple of X-Division clusterfucks. T&A gives Jeff a cheapshot, and he plays Ricky Morton. Test hits a bunch of power moves, all of which look cool, but that's really all he had, ya know? HOT TAG TO LITA! She hits Test with a Tornado DDT and wipes out Albert with a crossbody off the top. LITACANRANA ON TEST! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Albert cheapshots her, leading to a gutwrench powerbomb by Test. Trish tags in but only gets two. A bulldog gets two, but Lita fights out of trouble and superplexes Trish off the top! LITASAULT! ONE, TWO, THREE! The Hardyz and Lita pick up the win at 13:12 to end a highly entertaining opener. Granted, some of Lita's offense looked kind of ridiculous considering 300-pound Albert had to sell for her, but dammit, it was a feel good match. After the match, Trish whips Lita with a belt. Best Cinemax movie ever. ***1/2

In the back, Edge finds Commissioner Foley and says Christian has a severe case of food poisoning so they can't defend the titles tonight.

Undertaker arrives and tries to run down Kurt Angle with his motorbike.

Tazz vs. Al Snow.
Tazz is making his PPV return after being put out of action by Chris Benoit (in storyline terms). For whatever reason, he just randomly started attacking babyfaces even though he was a babyface when he left. Perhaps most disappointing is the fact that he didn't even bother getting revenge on Benoit. Snow hops in and stomps Tazz down. A sitout spinebuster gets two. Crowd gets bored. Snow hits a guillotine legdrop and a moonsault, but that was the finisher in the first match, so by the laws of physics it only gets two. Snow gets Head, but Tazz clips him from behind and starts clubbing. Snow fires off a few kicks but gets caught and suplexed. Snow rolls the shoulder to counter a Tazzmission, but Tazz reapplies it for the win at 5:22. The match wasn't that bad, but Tazz gave Snow way too much offense for a comeback match. *1/4

In the back, a doctor confirms that Christian is really sick and can't wrestle. I'm not sure why the doc would check his pupils to test for food poisoning, but then I'm not a doctor.

Elsewhere, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley receives flowers from a mystery man. Triple H reads the card and learns that they were sent by Kurt Angle.

European Title: Eddy Guerrero (w/Chyna) vs. Perry Saturn (w/Terri).
Chyna knocks Saturn down and goes after Terri. To the ring, Eddy hits a suplex and a slingshot senton. Saturn bails and gets clotheslined by Chyna. Eddy ranas Saturn off the top and works an armbar. Saturn falls to the floor again, and this time Chyna whips him into the steps. Eddy follows him out with a crossbody off the top. Back in, Eddy tries another rana, but Saturn counters to a powerbomb. Eddy comes back for a Tornado DDT to buy time. Saturn presses Eddy onto his face, but Eddy counters another try to a rana for two. An O'Connor Roll gets two more, but Saturn blocks another rana attempt to a powerbomb. That's twice they've used that spot. Speaking of recycled spots, Saturn tries a moonsault. This one misses, though. Eddy rolls through a missed frogsplash but gets planted on his face. Saturn goes up but gets dropkicked to the floor. Chyna tries to interfere yet again, so Saturn just decks her. Terri returns and runs defense for Saturn. Eddy hesitates and gets kicked in the juevos. That leads to an elbowdrop, and Saturn picks up the title at 8:10. Saturn looked a bit sluggish in there. **

In the back, Mick Foley walks in on Edge & Christian and finds out Christian was faking. We even get a bizarre, non-existent camera angle showing us how he did it.

In another part of the arena, Kurt Angle tries to ride Taker's bike. Well now that can't be a good idea. Taker chases him off.

WWF Tag Team Titles: Edge & Christian vs. The APA.
Bradshaw gets pissed because Edge & Christian ran down Dallas (including a bit on JFK). This may be the first great promo from Bradshaw, and it's kind of like watching Val Kilmer in Real Genius and then watching Val Kilmer in The Doors. You're aware it's the same person, but dammit, the characters are just so different. The APA destroys the champs early. Bradshaw powerbombs Edge and watches him squirm. He goes for another one, but Christian cuts him off with a missile dropkick. Bradshaw plays face-in-peril. Faarooq gets the hot tag and starts killing bitches dead with power moves. Spinebuster to Edge. Dominator to Christian. Edge grabs the tag title and nails Faarooq with it in full view of the ref for a DQ at 5:33. Edge & Christian retain in the loss. *

At WWF New York, Big Boss Man harasses a patron.

In the office, Steph realizes that the card doesn't say it's from Kurt Angle, it just says, "It's true. It's true." Hunter storms off to have a word with Kurt.

Kurt, ever the popular guy, is busy being stalked by the Undertaker. He uses his guile to sneak up and nail Taker with a wrench… in the conservatory.

Intercontinental Title: Val Venis vs. Rikishi (w/Trish Stratus).
Val immediately goes up but gets caught and pulled down. Val takes an early stinkface but goes low. Val goes up, and they slam each other's heads into the cage. Val goes over, but Rikishi grabs him and pulls him down. They fall to the canvas, and Rikishi goes for the door. Val catches up with him, though, and pulls him back to the center. Rikishi makes him pay for it with the Samoan Drop and avalanche. Banzai Drop, but Val's foot falls on the rope. Rikishi says, "Ah, what the hell," and goes for the door. Trish, of course, slams it into his head to cut him off. Lita runs down and whips Trish with a belt. As if that's not enough, she strips Trish down to her bra and continues to whip her all the way up the aisle. Val and Rikishi go up, but Rikishi knocks Val off into referee Teddy Long. Rikishi gets to the top but decides to walk to the center and hit a freaking BODYSPLASH OFF THE TOP! Rikishi crawls to the door, but Tazz pops up and nails him with a camera. Val rolls over and gets the win at 14:11. Okayish match, but everyone remembers the splash off the top. **3/4

Triple H traces the source of the flowers to Chris Jericho's locker room where he gets laid out by Y2J. Yep, this is Bizarro world.

Shane McMahon calls out the Rock and says he wants him one-on-one. Chris Benoit appears on the big screen and rips up some of the Rock's merchandise.

Kurt Angle vs. The Undertaker.
No Way Out 2006 this ain't. Taker rides down during Kurt's entrance and beats him all around the ring area. To the ring, Kurt eats a boot for two. Taker pulls him up and delivers a suplex. Kurt targets the leg to come back. Taker counters with punching and chokeslams Kurt. The Last Ride finishes at 7:35. I can see why they did this because it would set up Kurt's first challenger coming off his win, but Kurt looked awfully silly in this feud which didn't do him any favors during his lackluster first reign. Oh, and the match wasn't that great either. *1/2

Recap of the Jericho/HHH feud. Jericho kissed Stephanie, which drew the ire of HHH. They went about costing each other matches and doing beatdowns until we got where we are now.

Last Man Standing: Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) vs. Chris Jericho.
Jericho attacks and stomps a vicious mudhole. Jericho hits a springboard dropkick but eats a facebuster. Hunter chokes him out with wrist-tape, and they take it to the floor. Steph gets in a shot of her own. Back in, Hunter applies an abdominal stretch and uses the ropes. The ref makes him break, which is stupid because it's "No DQ." HHH and the ref get into a shoving match, allowing Jericho to come back with a spinning wheel kick. Hunter gets his knees up to block the Lionsault, though. Jericho makes it to his feet but runs into the sleeper. Jericho makes it up again, despite protestations from Jim Ross for him to stay down and save his career. Jericho gives him a DX crotch-chop, so Hunter gets pissed and Pedigrees him. Jericho just makes it up at nine. Hunter gives him a few chairshots. He sets up for the Pedigree on the chair and shoves the ref down when he objects. That allows Jericho to go low and NAIL Hunter with the chair. Hunter is a bloody mess already. They slug it out, and Jericho hits his flying forearm. He facebusters Hunter's head into the chair. Hunter goes over the top off the corner whip. He sets up for a Pedigree on the steps, but Jericho backdrops out of it. To the other side, they both grab monitors and WHACK each other, teasing a double KO. They both make it up, though, and Jericho locks in the meaningless Walls of Jericho. Hunter makes the ropes, but it doesn't matter because it's "No DQ." Finally, Steph has to run in and pull Jericho off by the hair. That leads to Jericho putting STEPH in the Walls and Hunter nailing him from behind. To the floor again, Hunter backdrop suplexes Jericho off the barrier THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! Hunter just does manage to stagger to his feet at 9.9999 before collapsing again, but that's enough to get him the win at 24:54. SICK match! Jericho doesn't look bad at all in the loss, and this is a case of both guys elevating each other with their hatred. And guess what! No need for silly overbooking with a bunch of run-ins. ****1/4

WWF Heavyweight Title: The Rock vs. Chris Benoit (w/Shane McMahon).
Shane and Benoit come out wearing Rock's torn gear, which is pretty funny. If Rock gets disqualified, he loses the title, which is a bit of a play on the finish to the Judgment Day match. Shane tries to sneak up on Rock, giving just enough of a distraction for Benoit to jump him from behind. Rock battles back and chases Shane. Funny spot as Shane tries to lead Rock into a Benoit attack but Rock just steamrolls over Benoit. Shane tries it again, and Rock catapults Benoit right into him. Benoit cools down on the outside and comes back to dominate the Rock with a gutbuster. HUGE "Benoit sucks!" chant. JR talks about how much contact there will be in the XFL. Yes, the ratings with the pavement. Benoit goes up, but Rock backdrop superplexes him. Shane tosses the title belt to Benoit and distracts the ref while Benoit smashes Rock in the face. It only gets two, as does a snap suplex. A backdrop suplex sets up the Sharpshooter. Rock makes the ropes and fights out of a second Sharpshooter attempt. Shane yanks down the ropes, sending Rock to the floor. Rock crotches Benoit on the post. Back in, Rock hits a Dragon Screw and locks in the figure-four. Wrong leg, but it's the Rock. Give him a break. Benoit makes the ropes. Shane takes a cheapshot at the Rock and clotheslines him into the audience. Back in, Rock hits a surprise DDT for two. Benoit continues to dismantle him, though. They slug it out, and Rock Alley Oops Benoit into the ropes! Never seen him do that before. ONE, TWO, THR-Benoit gets his foot on the rope. Benoit hits the Swandive Headbutt for a double KO spot. He finally rolls to a cover. ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Benoit runs into a spinebuster. People's Elbow, but Shane has the ref distracted. Hebner finally turns around. ONE, TWO, THR-NO! Benoit stomps a mudhole in the corner, but Rock EXPLODES with a clothesline. Benoit grabs a chair to distract the ref, and the Shane attacks *the ref* from behind. Rock chases Shane out of the ring with the chair and then puts Chris Benoit in the Crossface! The ref recovers and signals for the bell at 19:28. Everyone thinks Benoit submitted, but Hebner assumes the Rock attacked him from behind so he disqualifies him. Benoit is your new champion! Well, until Commissioner Mick Foley comes out to reverse the decision and restart the match. Rock fires away with rights but gets caught in the ROLLING GERMANS! ONE, TWO, THRE-NO! Benoit puts Rock in the Crossface. Rock inches to the ropes to break. Rock fights back and staggers Benoit enough to hit the Rock Bottom at 2:19 (24:54 total time). Not quite as good as the Last Man Standing match, but still damned good. I was surprised how well Benoit slid into that main event spot and was accepted as a lead heel. Only Triple H had more heel heat (of the regular performers). Popular rumor is that Benoit was just in there to teach the Rock how to work, but that seems a little unlikely given that Rock was already having good matches and Benoit hung around at the top of the card for a few more months before being saddled with The One Billy Gunn. ****

The 411: Another outstanding PPV, and a good recovery after a disappointing King of the Ring. You'll notice that all of the newer talent received the smackdown back in their place from the veterans, whether they were heels or faces.

Enthusiastic thumbs up.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]