Smackdown!

Nassau Colisseum, Uniondale, New York
March 16, 2000

SmackDown! started off from the sold-out Nassau Coliseum with Shane McMahon and the Big Show. Shane clarified the stipulation from last Monday's Big Show vs. The Rock match. Shane said that by winning the match, The Rock qualified for the main event, but just because the Big Show lost, it didn't mean he lost his chance. Therefore, Shane declared that there would be a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania involving Triple H, The Rock and the Big Show. Upon hearing the announcement, Triple H and Stephanie appeared. Triple H objected to the fact that he could potentially lose the World Wrestling Federation Championship at WrestleMania without even being pinned. But Triple H promised he would "elevate his Game" and win the match anyway. When the tension really started to escalate among the foursome, Vince McMahon came out! Vince said watching his two children battle for power week after week was like "watching a bad soap opera." Vince declared that he would seize power of the Federation once again before "you two screw it up for good." He said that since Shane was going to be in the Big Show's corner at WrestleMania, and Stephanie would be in Triple H's, Vince would make it a "family affair" and stand in The Rock's corner. Shane responded by saying that The Rock would be in action on SmackDown! against Kane! Stephanie had another match in mind - the Big Show against Rikishi. Then Vince said he'd put Triple H in a match with a competitor that Stephanie has "a lot in common with" … the Godfather! Vince suggested that Stephanie might be taking a ride on the Ho Train!

The Tag Team Championship was on the line as the Dudley Boyz defended against the No. 1 contenders, Edge and Christian. Just after the referee was inadvertently knocked out Terri appeared, carrying a steel chair, which Buh Buh Ray promptly snatched. But the chair went flying when Christian dropkicked Buh Buh Ray from behind. In the meantime, D-Von recovered, and the Dudleys hit the 3D to retain the titles. Terri seemed to be celebrating after the match, much to the chagrin of Edge and Christian. When Terri started heading back to the locker room, the Hardy Boyz intercepted her and threw her back into the ring. Edge and Christian confronted her, but they walked away in peace. However, when Terri mocked them with her "she devil" sign, Edge was so angered that he turned around and speared her!

In a match ordered by Vince McMahon, the Godfather took on Triple H in a non-title match. The match got started after the Godfather said that Stephanie could be on the Ho Train -- but she'd make up the caboose. Midway through the match, Shane and the Big Show appeared. While the referee tried to separate Shane and Stephanie, Triple H and the Big Show tangled outside the ring. The Show picked up the "Game" and rammed his spine into the steel ringpost. The Godfather quickly pinned Triple H and scored a huge upset victory.

In a tag team match, the Acolytes took on Al Snow and Steve Blackman. The Acolytes new lackey, Mideon, jumped up on the ring apron, and Snow clobbered him with Head. But when Snow turned around, he was the victim of Bradshaw's Clothesline from Hell, and the Acolytes picked up the win.

Two mammoth superstars squared off next as the Big Show took on Rikishi Phatu. Triple H and Stephanie got a chance to return the favor from earlier in the night. Stephanie distracted the referee, and Triple H low blowed and Pedigreed the Show. Rikishi finished him off with a drop off the second rope. After the match, Triple H threw Shane into the ringpost, and Too Cool came out to dance with Rikishi!

Tazz and Chris Jericho teamed up for a match against Kurt Angle and Bob Backlund. Once he realized how tough his competitors were, Mr. Backlund tried to run away from the action, but Tazz chased after him and slapped on the Tazzmission. Back in the ring, Y2J had Angle in the Walls of Jericho. Suddenly, Chris Benoit came from the back and attacked Jericho. Chyna came to the aid of Y2J, but Eddy Guerrero attacked her. Benoit climbed to the top rope and delivered a flying headbutt to Angle.

Before SmackDown! went on the air, the Headbangers procured to services of referee Earl Hebner and headed to Fun Time U.S.A., an amusement park on Long Island. They found Crash Holly, and suddenly Crash was defending the Hardcore Title against both 'Bangers. One of the Headbangers could have easily won the title, but when Mosh tried to pin Crash, Thrasher pulled him off, and vice versa. After they three superstars wrestled in all sorts of attractions, Crash managed to run away so as to maintain the Hardcore Title.

Backstage, Kane wanted a piece of X-Pac - going so far as to attack announcer Jonathan Coachman, demanding to know the whereabouts of the degenerate. When the Big Red Machine finally found his target, he attacked him. However, Triple H smacked Kane in the back of the head with a two-by-four, and HHH and X-Pac locked the Big Red Machine in the back of a semi! In a subsequent interview with Lilian Garcia, Vince McMahon said that since Kane couldn't make his match against The Rock, X-Pac would have to take his place.

Dean Malenko, with Eddy Guerrero, defended his newly won Light Heavyweight Title against Grandmaster Sexay, accompanied by Scotty 2 Hotty. The refereed was distracted several times by both Guerrero and Scotty. On one of those occasions, Guerrero knocked Grandmaster Sexay off the top rope. Malenko quickly got the pin to retain the title. After the match, Too Cool took out their aggression on the Radicals. As Guerrero retreated to the locker room, Chyna came out and dropped him with a kick to the midsection and a DDT. The Ninth Wonder of the World celebrated with Too Cool.

After Edge and Christian faced the Dudley Boyz, it was time to name a new No. 1 contender for the Tag Team Championship. The Hardy Boyz met Chris Benoit and Perry Saturn to determine just that. However, the match ended inconclusively when all four superstars were counted out.

In the final contest of the evening, X-Pac, accompanied by Tori, took on The Rock. Just as the match got underway, Shane and the Big Show appeared. Moments later, they were followed by Stephanie and Triple H. X-Pac got hit with the Rock Bottom, but Big Show pulled the referee out of the ring. Triple H came from behind and clocked the People's Champion with his WWF Title. But The Rock still managed to kick out when X-Pac pinned him. Suddenly Kane appeared, freed from the semi, and went after X-Pac. The match ended in a disqualification. Kane and X-Pac battled through the crowd while Triple H and Big Show went after The Rock. HHH and the Show soon turned their attention to each other, and The Rock escaped to the locker room. Watching on a monitor backstage, Vince McMahon smiled as he watched Big Show and Triple H go at it.