| Date: May 6, 2000
| Venue: Earls Court | City: London
| Attendance: 17, 000

London Bridge Isn’t The Only Thing Falling Down! Presumably wrestlers will be too. This is the first ever Insurrextion PPV and it’s to be held in the capital city of England. Earls Court hosts 17, 000 fans who will see the top superstars of the WWF. No matches have been announced prior to this show but on Raw we found out the likes of The Radicalz and Too Cool and Rikishi will be here. Backlash may only have been last week but since then there has been a title change. Chris Benoit lost his Intercontinental title to Chris Jericho on Smackdown only a couple of days ago. I’ve really grown fond of these UK PPVs as you get different matches that you haven’t seen before and it tends to be the case that lower card talent get to showcase their skills on a bigger stage. So let’s go see what’s in store.

A video package kicks us off, telling us there will be a triple threat match for the WWF title. The Rock, Triple H and Shane McMahon. They love a triple threat on these UK PPVs. Jim Ross then welcomes us to Earls Court in London, he’s joined by Jerry Lawler. Too Cools music then hits and we are underway.

Too Cool (Scotty Too Hotty & Grand Master Sexay) vs. The Radicalz (Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn)

Interestingly Malenko and Saturn got involved in a brawl with each other last week on Smackdown, will they continue that tonight?  Every single PPV match Malenko has had has been against Scotty Too Hotty. He and Saturn attack Too Cool before the bell. Perry Saturn is looking for his first PPV win tonight, he’s lost his first three. Too Cool double team Saturn, dropping elbows on him. Scotty Too Hotty is the legal man and gets hit with an elbow from Saturn. Saturn tags the Light-Heavyweight champion Dean Malenko in and he hits a Russian leg sweep on Scotty. Malenko tags Saturn who hits a low blow on Scotty behind the referees back for the first near fall of the night. Scotty knocks Malenko into Saturn but Perry breaks up a cover by pulling out the referee. Malenko and Saturn get into a pushing match.

Scotty hits a sunset flip for a near fall but Malenko is up first and knocks Scotty down with a clothesline. Scotty manages to pop Dean on the top turnbuckle before hitting a superplex. That was the move that cost him the match against Malenko at Backlash last week. Both men make tags, bringing in Grand Master Sexay for the first time in this match. He hits powerslams, hiptosses and clotheslines on both Radicalz before coming off the middle rope and hitting them with clotheslines. All four men get in the ring  and Scotty knocks both men down before hitting them both with The Worm! Malenko and Saturn both head for the outside and Too Cool follow. Saturn and Malenko get the upper hand on Too Cool but Saturn accidentally hits Malenko with a clothesline! Grand Master comes off the top and hits the Hip Hop Drop on Saturn which is enough for the three! Too Cool kick off the night with a win! Saturn has lost 4 from 4 on PPV now. Malenko berates Saturn after the match and those two then get into it! This looks to be the end of The Radicalz!

Rating: 6/10

Mae Young is backstage with The Kat who are talking about tearing it up tonight. Oh dear.

Vince McMahon comes out on to the stage which makes me think this will be quite quick. McMahon says that if it wasn’t for his wife Linda and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin then Triple H would still be champion today. McMahon says he has a plan though and that plan is the triple threat match tonight. Vince guarantees a new WWF Champion tonight.

Bull Buchanan vs. Kane

There’s a bit of history with these two men as it was Bull Buchanan who hit Kane’s hand with a chair last month, shattering the bones. Kane still has support on his hand and he’s joined by Paul Bearer. I’ve been impressed with Bull Buchanan and his athleticism over the past few months. Him and Boss Man have recorded wins over The Acolytes and The Godfather and D-lo at Backlash and Wrestlemania. Kane goes right to work on Buchanan knocking him down with uppercuts. Kane then takes it to Bull in the entranceway before throwing him back into the ring. Buchanan manages a DDT but Kane gets right back up. He Irish whips Bull into the corner but Bull jumps onto the top rope and hits the big red machine with a clothesline. Buchanan then hits a legdrop for a near fall. Bull follows that up with right hands but Kane no-sells and hits rights of his own. Kane then hits a big boot but Bull hits a jawbreaker.

Buchanan comes off the middle rope but Kane catches him and nails him with a chokeslam which is enough for the three! Big win for Kane tonight who returns to PPV by beating the up and coming Bull Buchanan.

Rating: 4/10

Triple H is backstage with Stephanie McMahon. They’re not sure whether Vince McMahon is behind Helmsley or not!

Road Dogg vs. Bradshaw

It’s a first time one on one meeting between these two men. Bradshaw attacks Road Dogg before the bell but Tori distracts Bradshaw long enough for Road Dogg to jump him. The referee gets rid of Tori and whilst he doesn, Faarooq jumps Road Dogg! The referee, instead of disqualifying Bradshaw, ejects Faarooq from the ringside area. Bradshaw lays into Road Dogg into the ring, dropping an elbow and getting a two count. He hits an elbow for another near fall. Bradshaw is in full control and he hits some right hands to the ribs of the former tag team, Intercontinental and Hardcore champion. If X Pac isn’t here tonight, it’ll be the first PPV he’s missed since 1998. Bradshaw applies a torture rack but Road Dogg fights out and ends up getting caught with a big boot and an elbow. These two men were on opposite teams at the Royal Rumble PPV a few months ago when the Outlaws beat The Acolytes.

Bradshaw sets up for a powerbomb but Road Dogg back body drops him and then dropkicks the big Texan out of the ring. Bradshaw gets right back in and hits a spear. Road Dogg hits his trademark jabs but it takes a flying forearm to take the big man off his feet. Road Dogg follows it up with his knee drop for a two count. Road Dogg misses with a splash in the corner and Road Dogg bounces off the ropes and hits the Clothesline From Hell! Tori distracts Bradshaw and Road Dogg hits his pump handle slam for the upset tonight! Well, it’s a bit of an upset.

Rating: 4.5/10

Michael Cole is with Fabulous Moolah and Terri who is eating a banana.

The Kat vs. Terri Runnels – Arm wrestling contest

As with most arm wrestling contests, the heel (Terri) takes a long time to get ready for this. Eventually, Terri takes off her shorts revealing an all in one thong. The Kat then takes a long time to get started Eventually it does get underway and Mae Young covers Terri in water which costs her the match. Terri unties The Kats top after the match and The Kat happily exposes herself!

We get a shot of Rikishi and Showkishi (The Big Show) walking backstage. Crash Holly is hiding behind a wall. And then The Rock arrives.

The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) vs. Rikishi & The Big Show

The Dudleyz attack Big Show and Rikishi before the bell, as has happened in pretty much every match tonight. Big Show or Showkishi starts the match with D-Von. Big Show is dressed the same as Rikishi tonight and he hits a big clothesline in the corner before tagging in Rikishi. D-Von tags Bubba Ray who gets hit with a Samoan Drop. Rikishi takes down both Dudley Boyz, hitting them with a double noggin knocker. The double teaming eventually pays off and Bubba Ray takes control. There are a lot of tag teams in the WWF at the moment. D-Von is tagged in and hits a snapmare on Rikishi. A “We Want Tables” chant breaks out and Bubba Ray is tagged back in. The Dudley Boyz are looking for their second PPV victory tonight. Bubba Ray makes the mistake of trying a headbutt which Rikishi doesn’t sell.

Bubba Ray tags D-Von and they knock down Rikishi with a double shoulder block. They then hit then double team headbutt from the middle rope to the groin of Rikishi. D-Von drops an elbow for a two count. Rikishi has won his last two PPV matches, both tag team contests. He tags in The Big Show who hits clotheslines on both Dudley Boyz and a sidewalk slam to Bubba Ray. Show then Irish whips Bubba into D-Von before squashing both men in the corner. Show and Rikishi both then slap a stink face on both Dudleyz! Bubba Ray and Rikishi battle to the outside whilst Big Show lays into D-Von in the ring. Bubba Ray grabs a table from under the ring, setting it up outside the ring. Bubba Ray hits a clothesline off the second rope on Big Show and D-Von covers him for a two. Edge and Christian then comes out and Edge spears Bubba Ray as the referee is distracted by Christian. Big Show hits a chokeslam on Bubba Ray and it’s over! Rikishi and Big Show get the win! Too Cool then comes out and swap glasses with the Dudleyz. Too Cool, The Dudleyz, Big Show and Rikishi all have a big dance together!

Rating: 5.25/10

There’s a VT for Kurt Angle who has been visiting the UK and even met Kelly Brook.

Michael Cole is backstage with Chris Benoit who recently lost his Intercontinental title. Benoit wants payback on Jericho and says Angle is at the wrong place at the wrong time tonight.

Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit

Kurt Angle comes out with a mic and says that the kids in England need to learn American. Like every match tonight, this is a first time meeting on PPV between these two. It is in singles action anyway. Crash Holly then comes out! He’s the Hardcore champion and joins the commentators at ringside. Crash gets on the mic and says he wants to fight an Englishman. In the ring, Benoit takes Angle down with a clothesline for a two count. Benoit hits some headbutts and boots to Angle and then takes him down with a drop toe hold. Both men are former Intercontinental champions. Angle takes the advantage with an eye rake. Angle then lays into Benoit outside the ring. Benoit has a black eye. Angle throws him into the ring post as Crash moans about having no Englishmen to fight. Back in the ring and Kurt chokes Benoit with his boot. Angle hits a big belly to belly suplex for a near fall.

Kurt hits another suplex on Benoit for another near fall. Angle hits a clothesline and gets a couple of near falls. He then sends Benoit into the turnbuckle sternum first and Benoit repays the favour before hitting Kurt with three German suplexes for a two count. Lawler tells Ross not to mention the Germans in the UK. Angle goes for a clothesline but Benoit takes him down and locks on the Crippler Crossface! Angle gets out of it by grabbing the referees thumb and poking it in Benoits eye! Benoit hits another suplex and then goes to the top but Angle rolls out of the way of the diving headbutt! Angle rakes the eyes and then hits his Olympic slam for the win! Kurt Angle with a big win tonight after back to back PPV losses. Benoits eye does not look good. This match was though.

Rating: 7/10

Michael Cole is backstage asking Shane McMahon who his father favours tonight. Shane says it’s him and he’s looking forward to leaving London as WWF Champion.

A creepy Judgement Day promo is next.

Crash Holly (c) vs. The British Bulldog – Hardcore Title Match

Bulldogs music hits and he runs down to the ring to take on Crash for his Hardcore title! Crash tries to run but Bulldog catches him in the aisle and suplexes him. Bulldog got a big pop as he came out. Crash finds some weapons under the ring and he chokes Bulldog with a strap and hits him with a mop handle. Crash then sets up a chair in the ring but Bulldog drop toe holds him onto it. Bulldog hasn’t been on PPV since The Royal Rumble earlier this year and he hits Crash with the chair and the mop handle. He then hits the Running Powerslam and wins the Hardcore title! A title change in the UK is rare but tonight the Bulldog wins the Hardcore title for the second time.

Rating: 3.75/10

Edge and Christian are out signing autographs but they charge the kids $5! They then get a picture with a fan but stand in front of the fan.

Edge & Christian (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt & Jeff) – Tag Team Title Match

This is the 4th PPV meeting between these two teams, so far the Hardyz are up 2-1. Christian and Matt Hardy start the match but Christian keeps backing off. Christian pie-faces Matt but gets caught with a slap. Matt hits a shoulderblock but then gets caught with a dropkick. Christian applies an arm bar but Matt hits him with a slam. Matt then lays into Christian in the corner. Matt tags Jeff who is wearing a long-sleeved crop top. Christian tags Edge who hits a neckbreaker on Jeff. These two teams have a lot of chemistry. Jeff hits a headscissors on Edge All four men are in the ring and The Hardyz send Edge into Christian. Edge tags Christian who hits a chop on Matt. That fires Matt up and he hits a big right hand. Matt tags Jeff and they hit legdrops on Christian. Plenty of double teaming from the Hardy Boyz. It’s some double teaming from Edge and Christian that give the champions the advantage.

Edge tags Christian and both men hit falling headbutts. Christian then hits a powerslam on Jeff and a snapmare than he turns into a chinlock. Jeff gets out of it but Christian turns it into a reverse headlock. We get some classic heel tactics from Edge and Christian and it’s Edge in the ring now. He misses with a dropkick and we get a few pinfalls but it’s Edge with a clothesline to keep the advantage for the champions. Jeff eventually makes a tag but the referee doesn’t see it. Christian and Edge swap places and apparently that’s ok. Edge and Jeff hit cross bodies at the same time and both men go down. Christian comes in and stomps on Jeff Hardy and then Matt comes in and drops an elbow on Edge from the top. Edge tags Christian and Jeff tags Matt! Matt comes in and hits neckbreakers on both tag champs and gets a two count on Christian. Matt then heads to the top but Edge stops him in his tracks. The champs then hit a double superplex and all four men are in the ring. Jeff takes Edge out of the ring and then the Hardyz hit a double facebuster on Christian for a two.

Matt hits Twist Of Fate on Christian and then Jeff comes off the top with a Swanton Bomb! Edge then comes in with the ring bell and takes both Hardyz down! It’s a DQ win for the Hardy Boyz! That puts them up 3-1 in their PPV matches with Edge and Christian. The Dudley Boyz then show up and his 3D on Christian! The Dudleyz then set up a table in the ring and set Edge up for a powerbomb through it and Bubba Ray nails it! It’s a win for The Hardy Boyz tonight in any case, albeit by disqualification. Decent match as always between these two teams.

Rating: 7/10

There’s a VT showing Chyna turn her back on Chris Jericho and join with Eddie Guerrero.

Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Chris Jericho – European Title Match

Guerrero is out first and he says he doesn’t want to represent those people as European champion. They don’t deserve him. A coin toss will decide whose title will be on the line tonight. Jericho comes out on the mic and says he wishes both jackasses would bloody well piss off. The coin toss is made, much like it did at No Mercy UK last year. Guerrero loses the coin toss and it’s the European title on the line. Jericho monkey flips Guerrero and sends him over the ropes in the early going. Guerrero heads to the back but Chyna pushes him back to the ring! Back in the ring and Guerrero hits a powerslam. Jericho gets back into it with a clothesline and he gets a 2 count. Jericho hits some chops and a suplex. He then applies a sleeper. Guerrero gets out of it but Jericho knocks him out of the ring with a spinning heel kick. Jericho then chases Guerrero but Chyna knocks down her former friend with a clothesline.

Guerrero goes to the top but Jericho meeting him up there and hits him with a superplex. Both men stay down for an 8 count but it’s Jericho who breaks the count. Both men get up and Eddie hits a European uppercut and then a hurricanrana from the top for a two. Eddie has an abdominal stretch locked on and we then get numerous pinfalls. Guerrero then locks on a traditional abdominal stretch. Jericho gets out of it but gets hit with a snapmare. Jericho hits a flapjack. Since No Way Out, Jericho has lost the Intercontinental title, won the European title, lost it to Guerrero, then won the Intercontinental title from Benoit. And he could win the European title back tonight. Guerrero goes back to a modified abdominal stretch. Jericho then reverses the hold before dropping Guerrero on his face. Jericho hits a bulldog and gets a two count. He then hits a flying forearm and once again gets a two. Jericho hurricanrana’s Guerrero outside of the ring and both men look hurt. Jericho gets back in the ring and Chyna slides in and hits him with a DDT! Guerrero slides in and gets a 2 count.

Jericho hits his double powerbombs and then his springboard moonsault! Chyna throws Guerrero the European belt before Jericho dropkicks her off the apron. Guerrero then nails Jericho with the belt and pins Jericho for the win! Guerrero retains his European title tonight with a big win over Chris Jericho! Decent match.

Rating: 7.25/10

Triple H and Shane McMahon are backstage arguing over who should win the WWF Championship tonight.

Video package then for The Rock winning the WWF title from Triple H at Backlash. There’s some dramatic music, almost like Disney music. They use soundbites from the three men in the main event, completely out of context.

The Rock is backstage giving one of his great promos.

The Rock (c) vs. Triple H vs. Shane McMahon – WWF Title Match

The main event tonight is a triple threat WWF title match between three men who haven’t been in a triple threat together before. It’s Shane’s first PPV match since Summerslam last year when he lost to Test. Vince McMahon comes out with Shane, showing his allegiance to his son. Triple H and Shane McMahon seem close before the bell until Triple H tells Shane to take a back seat. Vince tells Triple H to get him, him being The Rock, and finally it gets underway. The Rock manages to fight off both men to start with but eventually two men in one too many. The Rock comes back with right hands. This is The Rocks 14th PPV in a row, more than anyone else right now. He currently holds the record with 21 PPVs in a row. He takes down both men and then puts Jerry Lawlers crown on Shane before slapping him with a right hand. Triple H then drops The Rock on the security railing. This is the fourth title match tonight. The Hardcore title was the only one to change hands. Triple H and Shane roll The Rock back in the ring but The Rock hits Shane with a clothesline before Triple H takes down Rocky with a neckbreaker.

Helmsley stomps away on The Rock in the corner before choking him with his boot. Triple H hits The Rock with big right hands as Shane watches on. Shane then hits some jabs of his own before he hurts his hand. Triple H then does the Shane McMahon shuffle and hits some jabs. The Rock takes both men down with clothesline and then hits a Dusty Rhodesesque bionic elbow to both men. Triple H hits a facebuster on Rocky and Shane takes him down with a (weak) clothesline. Triple H applies a sleeper to The Rock as Shane rests. The Rock then locks a sleeper on Shane whilst still in a sleeper himself! Shane uses a jawbreaker to break up the whole thing. The Rock lays into Triple H with right hands but gets caught with a high knee and a clothesline. Triple H pins The Rock and Shane breaks it up! Helmsley shoves him and then Shane hits a clothesline and tries for a moonsault but Triple H rolls out the way and Shane lands on his feet. The Rock takes both men down and covers Shane but Stephanie gets up on the apron to distract the referee.

Shane attempts a Pedigree on The Rock but The Rock fights out of it and slingshots Shane into the corner, sandwiching the referee. He then throws Triple H into them for good measure. Vince trips The Rock and Triple H grabs the Women’s title off Stephanie. He nails The Rock with it but the referee is down. Vince calls down another referee and out comes Gerald Briscoe who can only count to 2 as The Rock kicks out. Shane grabs a chair but in a predictable spot, The Rock ducks and Shane hits Triple H with it! Vince McMahon then gets in the ring and attacks The Rock from behind. Vince grabs the chair but The Rock stops him in his tracks. Triple H hits Rocky with a low blow and then a Pedigree! He covers The Rock who kicks out at 2! Triple H hits Gerald Briscoe, knocking him down. He then hits another Pedigree on The Rock. Now if he didn’t knock out Briscoe then it’d be over. Vince puts the referee shirt on but out comes Earl Hebner! Vince counts but Earl drags him out! Vince goes to hit Earl but Hebner ducks and McMahon punches the ringpost.

Triple H goes to the top but Shane accidentally crotches him up there. Vince chases Earl around the ring and into it where The Rock catches Vince with a Rock Bottom! He then knocks Triple H out the ring and hits a People’s Elbow on Shane! He covers Shane and Earl Hebner counts the three! The Rock wins and retains his WWF title in London! Good main event here to send the fans home happy.

Rating: 7.25/10

 

And tht was a fun Insurrection 2000. A night that kicked off with the Radicalz falling to Too Cool. It was a decent match to start the night and not only continued the rivalry that began when the Radiaclz debuted but the main prupose of this match was to continue the break up of The Radicalz. Benoit and Guerrero seem to have gone their own way in recent weeks leaving Saturn and Malenko but as seen in this match, their relationship is as good as over. I wouldn’t be suprised to see a match between the two at Judgement Day. The next match was an example of one you wouldn’t usually see on pay per view. Kane beat Bull Buchanan in a match with a bit of history. Kane hasn’t been on TV much recently so it was nice to see him come out and get the victory. Buchanan looks like a hell of an athlete and has a good career in front of him but tonight it’s Kane that gets revenge for what Bull and Boss Man did to his hand.

The third match was Road Dogg vs. Bradshaw but I think at some point this was probably down to be Road Dogg and X Pac vs. The Acolytes but with X Pac having a death in the family, he wasn’t there and so a singles match was made. Road Dogg won this one with a little help from Tori which was probably the right way to go. The Acolytes do seem really over but can’t get a win for love nor money. Road Dogg is a staple in the WWE and is as over as anyone so he picks up the win, his first PPV win since Royal Rumble where he and Billy Gunn beat Bradshaw and Faarooq. We then had the arm wrestling match between The Kat and Terri. It was what it was. Kat got her breasts out again, great stuff. Then was the tag team match between The Dudley Boyz and Rikishi and Showkishi. Amazing that up to and inclusing this PPV, The Dudley Boyz have only won one match on PPV. And that was when they beat The New Age Outlaws for the tag team titles at No Way Out. Edge and Christian cost the Dudleyz the match here which makes me think that those two teams are on a collision course. This match could have gone either way really but I would have liked to have seen The Dudley Boyz win.

Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit are two men with great chemistry. This is the first time these two men have met in singles action on PPV and they didn’t disappoint. Benoit looked a state with his black eye and that took the focus of the match and the ending. Kurt got a win after losing at Wrestlemania and Backlash so I like that result. I’m sure these two men will have more matches down the road. Crash Holly and The British Bulldog then had a brief encounter. I liked this, it used Bulldog in the UK where he got a decent pop. Bulldog won the title but the belt is worth nothing these days and is used for hilarious scenarios with Crash Holly. I’m sure Crash will win it back at some point but as a one night only deal, I liked this. Edge and Christian were then disqualified in their match against The Hardy Boyz. Edge and Christian have recently heel turned and have been using the bell a lot recently. This match was no different and after the match, The Dudley Boyz put Edge through a table. Those two teams are definitely due another match down the line. As for the two teams in this match, they have a lot of chemistry and I could never get bored of seeing them wrestle.

Speaking of chemistry, Jericho and Guerrero put on a good match before the main event. The decision was made that the European title would be defended which was the right call, I mean, they are in Europe. Guerrero won by cheating which I don’t mind. These two men as well as Angle and Benoit have loads of good matches in them in the various combinations. Jericho has actually fought and lost to all three in PPV matches. The Rock then successfully defended his WWF title against Triple H and Shane McMahon. Shane took the fall as you would expect in what was a bit of a handicap match. They like these multi-man main evented in the UK and they seem to work. This was a very entertaining match in which The Rock retained. Would the WWF title ever change hands on a UK event? It remains to be seen.

Overall Rating: 57.7/100 (ranked 40th out of 109)

Match Of The Night: The Rock/Triple H/Shane & Guerrero/Jericho
Worst Match Of The Night: Crash Holly vs. The British Bulldog
Surprise Of The Night: A title change in the UK!
Worst Booking Of The Night: None
Superstar Of The Night: The Rock
Insurrextion 2000 Will Be Remembered For: Nothing really! A title change in the UK?