Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani dive into the June 8, 2000, episode of SmackDown from Buffalo! The road to King of the Ring features a chaotic main event and one of the most dangerous splashes in WWE history.
We break down Rikishi’s legendary splash off the 10-foot stage onto Val Venis, a move that still makes our knees hurt just watching it. We also witness a historic character shift for Lita, who debuts her signature \"Whale Tail\" look while getting robbed of the WWF Women’s Championship by Stephanie McMahon and a fast-counting Tori. Meanwhile, The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane are forced to team up against the McMahon-Helmsley faction. Accidental chair shots and internal friction threaten to destroy the alliance before the pay-per-view.
Tommy Blacha also pulls back the curtain on:
- The real-world pressure of the Parents Television Council (PTC) and Steve Allen trying to pull WWE advertising.
- Why Mosh (Chaz) was being \"ignored\" by The Rock backstage and the abandoned disgruntled worker storyline.
- Early impressions of a young Kurt Angle in dark matches and how one specific promo video made his career.
- Behind-the-scenes reality of \"Sweeps Week\" and why the network pressure didn't apply to the Attitude Era juggernaut.
- Chris Benoit and Jeff Hardy in a technical \"work-rate\" masterclass.
- Crash Holly’s continued parking lot brawls with Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson over the Hardcore Championship.
- The night Tommy saw Brock Lesnar in developmental and the frustration of the \"need to know\" basis in the writers' room.
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0:00 - Intro
1:40 - The \"Number One Contender\" trope
8:06 - Match 1: Chris Jericho vs. Test (KOTR Qualifier)
9:10 - The Rock ignores Chaz / Disgruntled worker storylines
13:33 - Lost WWF beauty pageant commercials
15:53 - Steve Allen and the PTC censorship battles
18:40 - The McMahons & DX celebrate / No Vince tonight
20:47 - The Rock brings \"Payback Pie\" to Buffalo
22:50 - The \"American Badass\" music license rabbit hole
26:26 - Undertaker vs. The Regime
28:18 - Match 2: Too Cool vs. Godfather & Dean Malenko
29:13 - Match 3: Chris Benoit vs. Jeff Hardy (Intercontinental Championship)
31:13 - Match 4: Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz
33:50 - The \"Clean Pin\" vs. \"Clean Finish\" Smart Mark debate
35:15 - Stephanie McMahon barges into the women’s locker room
36:16 - Kane confronts Undertaker: \"I was enjoying it\"
38:32 - Women’s Battle Royal
40:10 - Tommy on training vs. \"Gaga\" in the women's division
43:27 - Tori screws Lita / Stephanie retains the title
46:01 - Match 5: Matt Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero (KOTR Qualifier)
47:45 - Val Venis & Trish Stratus promo
48:26 - Match 6: Val Venis vs. Rikishi
49:33 - RIKISHI SPLASH OFF THE STAGE!
53:25 - Main Event: Rock, Taker & Kane vs. Triple H & DX
54:41 - The MO of SmackDown: Feeling over Advancement
56:40 - Sunday Night Heat main event recap
57:07 - 2000 Headlines: Dwayne Johnson’s Hollywood breakout
1:01:03 - Dark Match talk: The Dups and a young Brock Lesnar
1:02:44 - The night Tommy saw Kurt Angle get over
1:08:23 - The frustration of the \"Need to Know\" basis in WWE
1:12:45 - Broken illusions: Why Tommy misses Kayfabe
1:15:26 - Final Thoughts & Outro
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