WrestleMania 2000

Infobox Wrestling event
name=WrestleMania 2000


theme=California" (Jim Johnston)
promotion=World Wrestling Federation
date=April 2 2000
venue=Arrowhead Pond
city=Anaheim, California
attendance=18,034cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#2000|title=WrestleMania 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|accessdate=2008-02-23]
lastevent=No Way Out (2000)
nextevent=Backlash (2000)
event=WrestleMania
lastevent2=WrestleMania XV
nextevent2=WrestleMania X-Seven

WrestleMania 2000 was the sixteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It took place on April 2 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California.cite web|first=John|last=Powell|date=2000-04-02|url= http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/apr3_wrestlemania.html|title=WrestleMania 2000 a flop|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-03-16] This Wrestlemania has the distinction of the only Wrestlemania not to feature at least one standard one on one wrestling match.

The main event was a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWE Championship involving reigning champion Triple H, The Rock, Mick Foley, and Big Show, which Triple H won after last eliminating The Rock.cite web|date=2000-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/mainevent/|title=Triple H vs. Mick Foley vs. Big Show vs. The Rock for the WWE Championship|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-16] Main matches on the undercard included a Triangle Ladder match for the WWF Tag Team Championship involving Edge and Christian, The Hardy Boyz, and The Dudley Boyz, and a Two-Fall Triple Threat Match for the WWF Intercontinental and European Championships involving Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, and Chris Benoit.cite web|date=2000-04-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/results/|title=WrestleMania 2000 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-16] cite web|first=Scott|last=Keith|date=2002-07-19|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/32996/|title=The SmarK Retro Repost - WrestleMania 2000|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-03-16]

Background

The main feud heading into WrestleMania was between Triple H, The Rock, Mick Foley, and The Big Show, with the four feuding over the WWF Championship. At the Royal Rumble two months prior, The Rock won the Royal Rumble match to become the number one contender to the WWE Championship at WrestleMania by last eliminating The Big Show,cite web|date=2000-01-23|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811411/mainevent/|title=2000 Royal Rumble match|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-16] cite web|first=Scott|last=Keith|date=2002-07-19|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/32895/|title=Royal Rumble 2000 results|publisher=411mania.com|accessdate=2008-03-16] and Triple H defeated Cactus Jack (Mick Foley) in a Street fight to retain the WWF Championship.cite web|date=2000-01-23|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811411/results/|title=Royal Rumble 2000 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-16] cite web|date=2000-01-23|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/royalrumble00.html|title=Royal Rumble 2000|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-03-16] The proceeding month at No Way Out, The Big Show defeated The Rock to gain entry into the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania.cite web|first=John|last=Powell|date=2000-02-27|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/nowayout2000.html|title=No Way Out for Cactus Jack?; Triple H ends Foley's career?|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=SLAM! Sports|accessdate=2008-03-19] cite web|date=2000-02-27|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/results/|title=No Way Out 2000 results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-19] Also at the event, Triple H defeated Foley in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the WWE Championship.cite web|accessdate=2008-03-28|date=2000-02-27|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2000/mainevent/|title=Triple H vs. Cactus Jack - Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-03-19] cite web|date=2000-02-27|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/nowayout00.html|title=No Way Out 2000 results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-03-19] Per the pre-match stipulation, Foley had to retire from professional wrestling.

The second main feud heading into the event was between Edge and Christian versus The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff Hardy) versus The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) for the World Tag Team Championship in a Triangle Ladder match. On the January 17 edition of "Raw", Jeff Hardy was scheduled to face Bubba Ray Dudley in a match. The match saw Jeff pinning Bubba Ray after delivering a Swanton Bomb.cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/000117.htm|title=Raw is War results - January 17, 2000|accessdate=2008-03-30|date=2000-01-17|publisher=PWWEW.net] After the match, the Dudley's attacked the Hardy Boyz, in which they powerbombed Matt on top of a table. On the January 20 edition of "SmackDown!", Matt was placed in a match again D-Von Dudley. The win was given to Matt, after a disqualification took place.cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/000120.htm|title=WWE SmackDown! results - January 20, 2000|accessdate=2008-03-30|date=2000-01-20|publisher=PWWEW.net] Jeff and Bubba Ray made their way to the ring, in which both teams began brawling against one another. Bubba Ray prepared to powerbomb Matt into a table, that was set up by the Dudley's. Bubba Ray, however, was hit by Jeff with a chair, causing him to fall onto the tables. The Hardy's then set up a table of their own and put D-Von on it, and Matt proceeded to perform a legdrop on D-Von through the table. At the Royal Rumble, the Hardy's defeated the Dudley's in a Tag Team Tables match. [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/january/2000.htm|title=Royal Rumble 2000 Results|accessdate=2008-03-30|publisher=PWWEW.net] The following night after the Royal Rumble, the Dudley's showed respect towards the Hardy's in which they would help them defeat the New Age Outlaws for the World Tag Team Championship. In return, the Hardy's would have to grant the Dudley's a title shot at the Tag Team Championship.cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/tv/raw/000124.htm|title=RAW results - January 24, 2000|accessdate=2008-03-30|date=2000-01-24|publisher=PWWEW.net] During the tag title match, the Dudley's stopped the three count, after the Hardy's had the match in their favor and allowing the Outlaw's to retain the titles. After the match, the Dudley's then went onto perform the 3-D on them.

Event

Before the show, Lilian Garcia sang a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner".cite web|url=http://gerweck.net/wrestlemania00.htm|accessdate=2008-03-18|title=WWE WrestleMania 2000 Results|publisher=Gerweck.net] The first match that aired was a tag team match between the team of The Godfather and D'Lo Brown against the team of Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan.cite web|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/wm16.html|accessdate=2008-03-18|title=WWE WrestleMania 2000 Results|publisher=Hoff Co, Inc: CompleteWWE.com] The Godfather and Brown gained the early advantage over Buchanan and Bossman, as they were able to execute a leg drop and a splash combination.cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/wwf040200|accessdate=2008-03-18|title=WWF WrestleMania 2000 Results|author=Ultimo|publisher=The Other Arena] Buchanan and Bossman, yet, retaliated after Bossman delivered a Sidewalk slam and Buchanan delivered a Leg drop from the top turnbuckle into a pinfall and winning the match.cite web|url=http://www.warned.net/WWEWrestleMania16.html|accessdate=2008-03-18|title=WrestleMania 16 (2000) Results|publisher=Warned.net] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/march/xvi.htm|accessdate=2008-03-18|title=WWE WrestleMania 2000 Results|publisher=PWWEW.net]

The second match was a hardcore battle royal for the WWE Hardcore Championship involving defending champion Crash Holly. The rules of the match were that; the match would go on for fifteen minutes, the championship could exchange hands an unlimited amount of times during the time limit, and the final wrestler with the Hardcore Championship would win the match and remain the Hardcore Champion. The first championship exchange occurred after Tazz pinned Crash, which proceeded with Viscera pinning Tazz. The third championship exchange occurred after Funaki pinned Viscera, however, Funaki was then pinned by Rodney. The fifth championship exchange occurred after Joey Abs pinned Rodney, which proceeded with Abs being pinned by Thrasher. The seventh title exchange occurred after Pete Gas pinned Thrasher, though, Gas was then pinned by Tazz. The ninth title exchange occurred after Crash pinned Tazz, which proceeded with the final championship exchange, as Hardcore Holly pinned Crash, thus, Hardcore Holly won the Hardcore Championship.cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#2000|accessdate=2008-03-22|title=WWE WrestleMania 2000 Results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History]

The next match was a tag team match between the team of Al Snow and Steve Blackman against the team of T & A (Test and Albert). Back and forth action between the two teams towards the end of the match, where Albert delivered a Baldo Bomb on Snow, while Test delivered an Elbow drop from the top rope onto Blackman into a pinfall for the win. The fourth match was a World Tag Team Championship Triangle Ladder match involving The Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian, and champions The Dudley Boyz . Edge and Christian first gained the advantage after Edge climbed the top rope and speared Jeff, who was climbing a ladder. Edge and Christian were then given consecutive 3-D's by The Dudley Boyz. The Dudley Boyz then brought tables into the ring and onto ringside, where D-Von splashed Jeff through a table in the ring, while Bubba powerbombed Matt through another at ringside. The Hardy Boyz would then retaliate after Jeff delivered a Swanton bomb off a ladder onto Bubba, through a table. As Jeff did so, Matt climbed a ladder, along with Edge and Christian, who pushed Matt off the ladder through a table. The situation allowed Edge and Christian to reach and grab the championship belts that were hung from the rafters, thus gaining their first ever the Tag Team Championship.

The fifth match was a Catfight between The Kat and Terri with special guest referee, Val Venis; the winner of the match was determined by the diva who threw their opponent out onto ringside. The Kat threw Terri out onto ringside; Venis was however distracted by Mae Young, who was at ringside managing The Kat, and was unable to see the action. Terri was again thrown onto ringside by The Kat, though, the action was not seen by Venis as he was yet again distracted by Young. In retaliation, The Fabulous Moolah, who was at ringside managing Terri, pulled The Kat out onto ringside, which was seen by Venis, thus Terri won the match. Next was a Intergender Tag-Team match between the team of Too Cool (Grand Master Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) and Chyna against the team of The Radicalz (Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero). Both teams fought back and forth towards the end of the match, where Chyna was tagged into the match and delivered a press slam, powerbomb, and a reverse DDT and pinned Guerrero for the win.

The seventh match was a Two-fall Triple-Threat match for the Intercontinental Championship and European Championship, involving Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho. The first fall would be for the Intercontinental Championship, while the second fall was for the European Championship. In the beginning of the first fall, all three men exchanged pin attempts towards midway into the match where Benoit broke up a Chicken wing submission by Angle onto Jericho. The situation allowed Benoit to climb to the top turnbuckle and delivered a Diving headbutt on Jericho into a pinfall to win the Intercontinental Championship. During the second fall, Jericho and Benoit delivered a double powerbomb onto Angle, which proceeded into Benoit delivering three German suplexes onto Jericho. Afterwards, Benoit attempted to deliver another diving headbutt onto Angle, however, Angle moved out of the way, resulting in Benoit hitting the ringmat. This situation allowed Jericho to deliver a Lionsault into a pinfall to win the European Championship.

The final match on the undercard was the Tag-Team encounter between Kane and Rikishi against D-Generation X (X-Pac and Road Dogg). Shortly into the match Rikishi delivered a Diamond cutter onto X-Pac, which proceeded into Kane delivering a Tombstone piledriver into a pinfall for the win. The main event was a WWF Championship Fatal-Four Way Elimination Match involving The Big Show (with Shane McMahon), Mick Foley (with Linda McMahon), The Rock (with Vince McMahon), and the defending champion, Triple H (with Stephanie McMahon). In the beginning of the match, Show press slammed Triple H and Rock; however, all three competitors then attacked Show. The situation allowed The Rock to eliminate Show, after delivering a Rock Bottom into a pinfall. After the elimination, Foley delivered a double arm DDT on Triple H. Though, Triple H retaliated as he performed two consecutive Pedigrees, and hitting Foley with a steel chair into a pinfall, thus Foley was eliminated.. After Foley was eliminated, The Rock and Triple H brawled in and out of the ring with neither superstar gaining the advantage over one another. Although, Triple H gained the advantage when Vince hit The Rock with a steel chair two consecutive times. The attack with the steel chair allowed Triple H to pin The Rock to retain the WWF Championship. Following the match, the majority of attending fans were angered by the main event's outcome, as well as the absence of favorite superstars such as, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Undertaker, began chanting, "Ripoff!" and, "Refund!."

Aftermath

After the event, The Rock continued to feud with Triple H over the WWF Championship. The feud continued on the edition of "RAW is WAR" after WrestleMania, where The Rock pinned Triple H in a non-WWF Championship match.cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/raw040300|accessdate=2008-03-28|title=WWF RAW is WAR (April 3, 2000) Results|last=Zimmerman|first=Christopher|publisher=The Other Arena] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/000403.htm|accessdate=2008-03-28|title=WWF RAW is WAR (April 3, 2000) Results|publisher=PWWEW.net] The following week on "RAW is WAR", the feud intensified, where The Rock defeated D-Generation X in a Handicap Steel Cage match.cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/raw041000|title=WWF RAW is WAR (April 10, 2000) Results|accessdate=2008-03-28|last=Zimmerman|first=Christopher|publisher=The Other Arena] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/raw/000410.htm|title=WWF RAW is WAR (April 10, 2000) Results|publisher=PWWEW.net] However, after the match, Triple H, Shane and Vince McMahon attacked The Rock, which caused him to lose a great amount of blood. Later that week on "SmackDown!", it was announced that The Rock would face Triple H for the WWF Championship at Backlash.cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/smackdown041300|accessdate=2008-03-28|title=WWF SmackDown! (April 13, 2000) Results|publisher=The Other Arena] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/000413.htm|title=WWF SmackDown! (April 13, 2000) Results|publisher=PWWEW.net] On the April 20 2000 edition of "SmackDown!", the feud embarked even further, when Chris Jericho defeated The Rock in a Lumberjack match.cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/smackdown042000|accessdate=2008-03-24|title=WWF SmackDown! (April 20, 2000) Results|last=Zimmerman|first=Christopher|publisher=The Other Arena] cite web|url=http://pwwew.net/tv/smackdown/000420.htm|title=WWF SmackDown! (April 20, 2000) Results|publisher=PWWEW.net] During the match, Triple H interfered and hit The Rock with the WWF Championship belt, which allowed Jericho to pin The Rock. At Backlash, The Rock defeated Triple H to win the WWF Championship.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2000/|title=WWE Backlash (2000) Results|accessdate=2008-03-28|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] cite web|url=http://otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2000/wwf043000|accessdate=2008-03-28|title=WWF Backlash (2000) Results|author=Ultimo|publisher=The Other Arena]

The night after Wrestlemania on Raw Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Jericho to win the European Championship with help from Chyna who turned on Jericho.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/euro/358878|title=WWE European Championship history]

Results

Other on-screen talent

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/ The official website of WrestleMania 2000 (XVI)]
* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm16/factsstats/ WrestleMania 2000 (XVI) Facts/Stats]