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APR. 30 IN HISTORY: Rock beats Hunter for WWF Title at Backlash 2000, plus Benoit vs. Jericho

Apr 30, 2014 - 12:53:40 AM
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This Day In Wrestling History - April 30

Date: April 30, 2000 (14 years ago)

Feature: The Rock beat Triple H in the Backlash PPV main event to capture the WWF Title. The complicated finish included "Stone Cold" Steve Austin returning to WWE TV while recovering from neck surgery.

Torch Back-Issue: PWTorch Newsletter #601.

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WWF Backlash PPV Report
April 30, 2000
Washington D.C.
Report by Wade Keller, PWTorch editor


- Full PPV Report available HERE for VIP Members.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the program.

(1) Edge & Christian beat Road Dogg & X-Pac to retain the WWF Tag Team Titles at 9:18. Solid action with good psychology and crowd heat. (**3/4)

They showed Rock arriving at the arena.

(2) Dean Malenko beat Scotty Too Hotty at 13:12 to retain the WWF Lt. Hvt. Title. Good match. (**3/4)

Backstage Vince McMahon asked Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco if they are really back with them. He told them "all hands on the deck" which laid the groundwork for their involvement in the main event later.

(3) Big Bossman & Bull Buchanan defeated APA when Buchanan pinned Bradshaw at 7:38. At 5:00 Buchanan applied a chinlock on Faarooq. Faarooq escaped and crawled to make a hot-tag. Minutes later, Bossman hit Bradshaw with a nightstick, then Buchanan nailed his legdrop off the ropes for the win. (*)

Backstage Matt and Jeff Hardy told each other that if it comes down to them, they'll fight each other... Crash Holly was shining up his belt. Hardcore stepped in and had an entertaining exchange with Crash over the same subject. Hardcore slapped Crash. Great timing, funny segment.

(4) Crash Holly pinned Tazz at 12:18 to retain the Hardcore Title in a match with Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Saturn, Hardcore Holly. (**3/4)

(5) Big Show pinned Kurt Angle at 2:35. The match seemed designed to get over the chokeslam as being worse than the legdrop, but why squash a hot character like Angle in the process? (*3/4)

Trish Stratus teased Michael Cole during an interview... Elsewhere in the back Buh Buh saw Trish on the monitor and was mesmerized. D-Von chewed out Buh Buh for not having his head in the game.

They showed the Smashing Pumpkins in the front row. When Lawler said he was a big fan, Ross sarcastically said, "You're so hip." That was mocking Mike Tenay, by the way.

(6) Test & Prince Albert beat The Dudleys when Test pinned Buh Buh at 11:06. (**)

As Trish was loaded into an ambulance, Eddie Guerrero and Chyna showed up in their '57 Chevy. They were all dressed up because they were returning from Eddie's GED prom. A ref told Eddie he was late for his match. Eddie drove to the ring to avoid being stripped of his title. Ross ridiculed the Latino Heat gimmick by saying it has set back relations ten years.

(7) Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna) pinned Essa Rios (w/Lita) at 8:38 to retain the European Title. (***1/2)

Cole interviewed Chris Benoit who got through his interview with only one or two syntax errors. During Benoit interviews, rather than listen to what he says, you just sit on the edge of your seat dreading him losing his place in the middle of a sentence.

(8) Chris Benoit beat Chris Jericho at 15:03 so Benoit retained the IC Title. Very good match. (****1/4)

Backstage Rock said he didn't care if Austin would be there or not.

Triple H, Vince McMahon, and Stephanie came to the ring. McMahon announced that as stated in the program the card is subject to change, and Austin would not be there as planned. The crowd chanted, "Austin, Austin."

(9) The Rock pinned Triple H (w/Vince McMahon) at 19:22 to capture the WWF Title. At 9:30 Vince hit Rock in the head with the title belt. Triple H scored a two count. A minute later Rock made a full-fledged comeback and whipped Triple H into the corner. Triple H bumped over the top rope to the floor. Triple H sold an elbow injury. At 11:45 Rock hit a DDT on Triple H and made a cover, but Shane refused to count. Rock got up and punched Shane who took a nice bump over the top rope. Triple H then blindsided Rock, knocking him to the floor. Triple H whipped Rock into the ringside stairs. Triple H set up a Pedigree on the announcing table, but Rock low-blowed to block it. Rock set up the Rock Bottom, but Shane jumped on the table to block it. Rock grabbed Shane at the same time as Triple H and gave both a Rock Bottomed through the table. Stephanie and Vince reacted with concern at ringside. When the action returned to the ring, Vince entered the ring and hit Rock from behind. Rock turned around and began attacking Vince. Triple H then attacked Rock from behind. He gave him the Pedigree. Vince yelled to the back for another ref to come to the ring. Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco came out in ref shirts running to the ring as fast as they could. When Patterson got his count to two, Rock kicked out. The Stooges attacked Rock. Vince grabbed a chair and hit Rock as Triple H held him. How refreshing to see the intended target actually get struck by the chair for once. Just as it appeared the odds were overwhelmingly against Rock, Austin's music played and he came to the ring with a chair. Austin stiffed everybody with chairs. Austin then left, passing Linda McMahon and Dave Hebner on his way. As Stephanie got in Linda's face, Linda knocked her to the ground. Rock hit the People's Elbow and covered Triple H. Linda ordered Hebner into the ring, and Hebner counted to three. Rock celebrated with the belt as the show went off the air. Austin's music started again. The Stone Cold pick-up towed the blown up DX Express to the ring. Austin got out and entered the ring. He offered Rock a beer. Rock accepted, then Austin toasted the WWF Title belt by tapping it with a beer. They each gulped down some beer, then Austin left so Rock could have the spotlight alone to end the show. A usual distraction-filled WWF main event. (***1/2)

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]


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