WWF Hardcore (DVD):
- Remember when the WWF had something for their midcarders and JTTS' to do other than jobbing their asses off to their select few main eventers and people that are being pushed. Of course you don't, because you probably gave up once everything that was used for the guys who feuded over the Hardcore Title and they were basically appearing on Jakked, Metal, Heat, and every other Recap Show exclusively.
While some people would call the Hardcore Title a "piece of shit joke", at least it had purpose to use everyone to their potential when they were nothing more than dead in the water. Without the Hardcore Title, we wouldn't have seen much of Crash Holly after the Fall of 1999, or Raven would've been fired much sooner than January 2003. While most matches were garbage, some of them really stood out compared to some of the crap on TV at the time.
Anyway, enough with the long winded introduction, it's onto the action... or lack there of. You make the decision, faithful three readers!
Main Feature:
- The host of the tape and/or DVD is Tazz, recently off a run as... well, nothing. He was pretty much buried after his debut, spent some time in the Hardcore Division, then floundered around the midcard, teaming on and off again with the recently (at the time) debuting Raven. By this time, he was mainly doing commentary on Smackdown! and Heat, with an occasional match. Quick note on the opening montage... I'm amazed the WWF didn't go through the trouble of editing out the 4 0.5 second clips of Road Dogg throughout it.
- Various WWF Superstars talk about what they think is Hardcore. Bradshaw, Matt Hardy, Buh-Buh Ray Dudley, and Hardcore Holly give very bland definitions of Hardcore. Christian reads Hardcore straight from the dictionary (and accidentally reads "Hardcopy"), and Jeff Hardy for some reason talks about his farmer daddy. Tazz afterwards mocks Howard Finkel for being included on the tape.
- Mick Foley Chapter. We get clips of him beating people up and getting beat up by The Rock (specifcally from Royal Rumble '99). When you get owned by Mideon on a DVD, you're willing to do anything. Foley also takes a cheap shot at Snow when talking about his great hardcore matches. Clips are shown of his match with The Undertaker at SummerSlam '96, the 1st ever Boiler Room Brawl, a.k.a Foley's Unloved Child. Clips follow of the Cactus Jack/HHH matches from Royal Rumble '00 and No Way Out, as well as Foley vs. Terry Funk from a May 1998 Raw, which is now available on the Mick Foley: Greatest Hits & Misses DVD. Another cool clip is the infamous "awarding" of the Hardcore Title, including Mankind calling McMahon "dad" (with awesome facial expression from Vinny Mac.)
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Mankind © vs. Ken Shamrock (IC Champ):
From the November 9th, 1998 episode of Raw, and the first match of Mankind as the Hardcore Champion, but remember, it's Non-Title. Creative edit before the match is Tazz talking about Road Dogg's run from the Winter of 1999. Mankind is sporting a tuxedo for the match, as well as being clean shaved. Out comes Vince McMahon on the entrance ramp, but he nas no music. Shamrock attacks before the bell with rights and follows with a back elbow and stomping. Irish whip, and Shamrock with a side leg kick (I hate saying that). Knees to the face, as Jim Ross talks about Survivor Series' 98. Mankind hits Shamrock with his designer loafers, then chokes him down with his jacket as we see Boss Man WALKING... on the ramp. Stomping in the corner by Mankind, and he sets Shamrock in the tree of woe for a running sledge to the face. The action spills outside, where Shamrock small packages Mankind for a two count. Shamrock with a clothesline, and now Mankind gets to taaste his shoes. Mankind takes a seat... literally, and Shamrock smashes him in the face with the Hardcore belt as 6 people chant for Socko. Mankind gets more to eat, this time to announcers table. Mankind back drops Shamrock onto the table and hammers away with rights. Back in the ring we go and Shamrock back drops Mankind onto a steel chair. CORRECTION: Jim Ross says this IS for the Hardcore Title, so I'll edit the match description. Shamrock clotheslines Mankind over the top rope as I type that. Irish whip is reversed and Shamrock gets up close and personal with the steel chairs for a two count. Mankind dumps him into the crowd, but they don't last long in there. Shamrock takes over and chokes Mankind with a camera cable or something of that nature. Mankind escapes with the Mandible Claw, but Shamrock belly-to-belly suplexes Mankind face-first onto the ring steps. Nice spot, Shammy. Irish whip sends Mankind into the ring apron, and he connects with another suplex on the floor. Shamrock "snaps", but Mankind kicks him in the Shamrocks and blasts him with a steel chair. Mankind with a DDT onto the chair, but that's only good enough for a two count. A chair shot misses several times as they go up the ramp to where the Stooges, McMahon, and Bossman are. Shamrock with a back suplex to counter a bulldog for a two count. Mankind counters a chair shot with a back drop/firemans carry thingy. Shamrock tries for it again and hits a Home Run. Bossman with a nightstick shot while no one is looking, and Mankind rolls over onto Shamrock (unaware of the help) and retains the title at 8:12. **1/4 A Little slow at times, but a fun garbage brawl regardless. Considering the time frame, giving this match 8 minutes made it seem out of place, compared to the 6 other matches on the show that totaled in under 3 minutes each.
- Various WWF Superstars discuss who is Hardcore, including the WWF Timekeeper. We see more clips of Mick Foley beating people up, and Al Snow beating up himself. Blackman and Hardcore Holly are also well represented. Highlights from the Wrestlemania 2000 Ladder Match follows. Crash gets his due too.
- We are shown most of a Ivory vs. Tori womens match with Hardcore Rules from the September 6th, 1999 Raw, but I hate womens wrestling, and this is basically "Woman 1 uses Item A, Woman 2 uses said Item too" for 5 minutes. Notable people in the lockerroom crowd is Prince Albert, Darren Drozdov (pre-crippled) and Viscera. We also see Jacqueline in the shower, which further proves the uglier you are, the more naked you get on TV.
- Tazz (briefly) talks about Hardcore Holly now, calling him, shockingly, Hardcore (like himself), which leads us into the next match on the DVD Feature...
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match (Vacant):
Al Snow vs. "Hardcore" Bob Holly:
From the St. Valentines Day Massacre. Originally scheduled to be Road Dogg vs. Al Snow IIRC, but Road Dogg was "injured" the night before on Raw Saturday Night, so he's stripped of the belt and the winner here is the NEW Hardcore Champion. For those who don't remember, Bob Holly was in "Shoot Mode" because of the Sparky Plugg character, and was still a member of the JOB Squad (how hilarious... or not), which was lead by king JTTS Al Snow. We are clipped to Holly hitting Snow with a chair in the crowd. Snow takes over, but Holly slams him down onto a steel step and puts out the fire in his eyes. Holly smacks a stuntman glass over Snow's face, so Snow returns the extinguisher favor. They fight backstage, where Holly hits him with a wet floor sign and throws him against a garbage can. Snow fights back with a choke then gives a one liner before hitting him with a telephone. Snow throws a garbage can into Holly's face a few times, and Holly comes back by smashing several tiles over Snow's head. Snow picks up some kind of cooler and throws it onto Snow. Snow breaks several mops and broom handles over Holly's back and covers for a two count. Holly gets sent into a production truck and they battle even further outside. Snow with kidney punches, but they're no sold and Holly throws him into a No Parking sign. Holly smacks it over his back a few times for a two count. They head across the street, with Snow controling with kicks to the midsection. Holly throws Snow into a fence then slams him across a police barricade. Snow fights back by throwing Holly into a fence and chokes him with "barbed" wire. They wander around more and Holly slams a stop sign over Snow's head and Snow returns by breaking a stick over Holly. Holly throws Snow into some kind of cement wall, but Snow no sells like a Champion. Stomping and choking from Snow, and he dumps Holly into the Mississippi River and follows with a cross body press. Holly rams Snow rather weakly into a tire and they brawl back up from the River. Snow throws a boot at Holly and drops him with a thrust to the throat. While Snow undoes a bunch of wrapped fence, Holly bashes Snow with a giant stick that hits the cameraman too. Holly dumps Snow into a bunch of branches and plays with the fence too. More brawling from both men with Holly taking over with questionably low kicks, then wraps Snow in the fence for a cover and the three count at (a clipped) 9:19. *3/4 Started off fine, but the last half really died down thanks to it being the two of them wandering around the outside, randomly hitting each other, and having no real pace. Still, senseless brawling can be fun.
- More Talking from various WWF Superstars talking about their worst injuries. Foley of course mentions his torn ear in Germany (but doesn't mention who he wrestled, Vader) and having 300+ stitches. Clip of Edge having his teeth busted thanks to a table spot. Clip of Bob Holly busting open Crash at Wrestlemania 2000. Hardcore Holly talks extensively about his broken arm in a match with Kurt Angle, and we get plenty of highlights. We then see the Livewire package of Hardcore Holly's visit to the doctor to have his arm put in a cast. The doctor, Malcom Gottlich (DORK~!), is a "Hardcore Surgeon." Insert Joke Here. Chris Jericho then mentions his infamous injury where he broke his arm the day before SMW Night of the Legends.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Crash Holly © vs. Hardcore Holly vs. Tazz vs. Perry Saturn vs. The Hardy Boyz:
Confusing little match, and taken from Backlash 2000. Originally in this place was Al Snow vs. Big Bossman from SummerSlam '99, but that had too many shots of the Road Dogg in it, so we get this instead, and thus jump from February 1999 to April 2000 in the process. All of these people were fighting for the Hardcore Title... except the Hardys until the week of the show, where Matt pinned Crash on Raw out of nowhere, but lost it back to him on the next episode of Smackdown. Remember, to win you either have to pin Crash, or Crash pins someone else. Saturn takes out Crash in the entrance area and nails a T-Bone Suplex in the ring for a two count, broken up by Hardcore. Hardcore with a powerbomb, and now Matt breaks the cover. Matt with an elbow drop with the same result. Saturn stomps on Matt as Tazz breaks up Jeff pinning Crash. Tazz with a Northern Lights Suplex for another broken up two count. Crash runs away to the entrance area and starts climbing up 1 of the pieces of the set. After he gets down, Matt jumps off onto everyone standing below it. The camera obviously is a bad angle, because that's what happens when someone does a big bump. Saturn suplexes Crash through one piece of the structure, and Matt usues one to do a (sloppy) hurricanrana on Saturn. Matt brings Crash back to the ring, and the Hardys do the double team leg drop spot. Tazz smashes a trashcan lid over both of their heads. Irish whip to the corner, and we get Poetry in Motion. Outside, Hardcore uses a 2x4 on Crash, and Jeff does something before being clotheslined by Tazz. Saturn with a modified abdominal stretch, which is broken up by a Tazz boot. Outside the ring Matt hits Hardcore over the head with the trashcan lid. Saturn with a back suplex on Crash, and Tazz drops him with a NASTY clothesline. Hardcore in with a road sign, and he obviously cracks it over Crash's head. Spinning heel kick by Saturn to Crash gets a two count. Hell breaks loose outside the ring with various people trying for the covers. Inside the ring Crash with a dropkick to Tazz for his first two count of the match. Crash sunset flips Saturn for another two count. Jeff chokes Crash with some kind of extension cord and Hardcore uses it to whip him. Tazz creams JEff with a road sign, then whiffs on Matt who sells the shot anyway. Saturn drops Hardcore with a german suplex while he was working over Crash, then covers for a two count. Snap suplex by Tazz, but Saturn yanks out the referee. Matt drills Tazz and Saturn with cooking sheets, and Jeff drops a leg with one on Crash for a cover. More pinning attempts occur as I slowly lose my patience with this match. Saturn with a nasty looking brain buster for a two count. Hardcore grabs a chair and nails the Falcon Arrow (previously dubbed the "Hollycaust"), but Matt breaks the pin. A Ladder comes into play for no real reason to clean house of anyone not named Hardy or Crash. Jeff climbs up the ladder and connects with the senton bomb on Crash for a Matt two count, so Jeff punches his brother in the face for his own cover. Tazz clotheslines both men out of the ring and applies the Tazzmission to Crash. Saturn breaks with a stop sign over the head of Tazz. Hardcore pulls Saturn outside, and the Hardys with simultanious dives off the top rope on both men. In the meantime, Crash covers Tazz with one arm and that's good enough to retain the Hardcore Championship at 12:21. ** A little bit of a clusterfuck, but it was still entertaining enough with some nice spots and stiff blows to keep it on my good list. This I thought was when I started thinking the end was near for Crash's reign, as he soon dropped to the title for a lengthy period of time, and only winning it for a few seconds at a time before the title was desolved.
- We get a fairly long highlight video of the Cactus Jack/Triple H Street Fight from Royal Rumble 2000. While not for the Hardcore Title, it was one of the best Hardcore style matches in the WWF, and is one of my personal favorite matches of all time. As much as WWF can suck, you gotta give them credit for these awesome videos (which clocks in at over 8 minutes long). Well placed clips and audio comments can make or break a video.
- Montage (or former video package for a PPV) of the Hardcore Title's 24/7 period from March-April 2000. Clips feature Crash's defenses against the MSP in Hotel Rooms, the Circus (with MSP dressed as clowns) and the Airport, his defense against the Head Bangers at Funtime USA, nearly losing to Jack Doan on Heat, losing to Ivory after being suckered into a vulnerable position during a massage. See Crash Run. Run, Crash, Run.
- Most Hardcore Memories. We get a lengthy recap of the TLC Match from SummerSlam 2000, featuring E&C, The Hardys and The Dudleys. Jericho's Last Man Standing Matches against Triple H (Fully Loaded 2000) and Kane (Armageddon 2000). Cactus Jack/Terry Funk from February 1998 with the Dumpster Incident. Undertaker/Mankind HIAC Match from King of the Ring 1998. Also get old school with Snukas splash on Muraco from the top of a cage, and the infamous Patterson/Slaughter street fight from 1981.
- Crappy montage of the Acolytes/APA/Whatever beating the snot out of Indy Wrestlers in bars and generally stiffing everyone with their finishing moves, ranging from the Mean Street Posse to some of the uppercarders like Kane and... well, not many other people. Just basically the MSP and JTTS' like Kaientai.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Shane McMahon © vs. Steve Blackman:
From SummerSlam 2000, during one of the downtimes of the Hardcore Title's history... the Blackman era. He eventually developed some kind of a personality, but by then the title was taken off him for good in favor of guys like Raven and Rhyno. Shane stole the title from Blackman earlier in the week, so Foley (still acting as commissioner) removed the 24/7 concept of the title, which was right when Shane tried to get Edge to pin him so he could get out of defending the title against Blackman. Clipped to Blackman jerking Shane off the top rope via leather strap around his neck, then applies a modified half-boston crab with it. Test and Albert run in to lay a stomping on Blackman. Albert with the Baldo Bomb and they whip Blackman into a trash can. Albert with an avalanche, and Test KO's Blackman with a road sign. Test comes off the top with an elbow drop to a trashcan lid placed on Blackman's chest. McMahon pounds away on Blackman, but gets kicked in the face. Albert drops him with a clothesline to keep McMahon (technically) in control. Shane with the jumping weapon blow to the face spot which always makes a nice visual. The action spills up the aisle, with McMahon leading Blackman with the leather strap. After a bunch of nothing, Blackman takes out T & A with a kendo stick/singapore cane, then starts chasing McMahon up the side of the SummerSlam set. If you don't know what happens next, you suck. Blackman canes Shane a few times, until he lets go and drops what looks to be 35-40 feet (not close to the 75 feet JR says) onto a well placed set which no doubt consists of heavy padding. Yes, this was the debut of Shane's "Holy Shit" bumps that look more and more worked each time. Blackman follows with an elbow drop (that misses), but he still covers for three at 5:39 of what's shown. * Not much was shown, and what was wasn't very good, but it still wasn't as bad as some matches I've seen featuring the Hardcore Championship. The full match is a bit better, though.
- Tazz wraps things up and walks away as we are treated to the same montage to open the tape to close the tape. I guess when you pick from the bottom of the barrel with a match between McMahon/Blackman, I guess you can get away with something like that.
Final Thoughts Part I of II: The main feature of the DVD sure isn't much, but it does contain some good footage of the best spots and bumps from big matches around the time. However as a whole, the lazyness and all around shoddy history of the Hardcore Title jumping around like a mexican bean pisses me off, so this part gets Thumbs Down Recommendation. Be back soon with Part II: The Extra Features (a.k.a Extra Hard)
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- Part 2 of the Hardcore Review... THE BONUS FEATURES! Again, the Road Dogg era seems to be clipped out since he was released before the release of the DVD version, so we get lots more crappy Blackman matches instead. ENJOY!
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Bob "Hardcore" Holly © vs. Bart Gunn:
The New Midnight Express Explodes! From the February 22nd, 1999 episode of Raw Is War. Holly had just won the Hardcore Title at St. Valentine's Day Massacre in a match for the vacant belt against Al Snow. Gunn had been MIA since winning the Brawl For All, doing tours in All-Japan for the most part. They talk smack before the match, but some shoving leads to the two exchanging blows. The action quickly spills outside, where Holly smashes a glass jar filled with Kool-Aid over Gunn's face. Holly with a chair and he cleans Gunn's clock with it, then another shot across the back. Gunn fights back and smashes a glass over Holly in retaliation for earlier. Gunn bashes Holly over the head with the ring bell and clotheslines him into the crowd. Gunn slams Holly across the security wall. They walk around a bit, and Holly extinguishes Gunn then slams a box filled with water into his face. Holly whips Gunn into the steel steps, but a suplex is blocked and Gunn takes Holly over with one of his own on the steel ramp for a two count. Gunn follows with a DDT on the ramp, but doesn't bother to try for a cover. Instead, he leads Holly back to ringside and whips him into the steps. Gunn with the extinguisher, and he returns the favor from earlier in the match. Holly fights back and slams Gunn on the ramp. Holly leads Gunn back up the ramp and rams him into a steel support structure. Gunn battles back with boots to the head then smashes a WATERMELON over Holly's head. That's the most unusual weapon I've seen. Gunn follows that up by snapping a metal rod over Holly's back. Holly with a low blow to kill Gunn's momentum, then grabs a crate of bananas to smash over his head. Okay, that replaces the Watermelon for most unusual weapon of the match. Holly finds a garbage can and does what you expect with it. For those that can't guess, he bangs Gunn across the head. Gunn recovers and uses the trash lid, then tries force-feeding Holly a banana. Gunn with a bag of flour to smack Holly with... what is this, in the Kitchen with WWE? Out of nowhere, a man in a Kabuki outfit attacks Bart Gunn and throws him off the stage onto a well-placed table. Holly casually walks down the steps of the ramp and covers Gunn for the three count and to retain the Hardcore title at 8:19. **1/4 Fun little garbage match, but there were too many dead spots, and this could've done with a little time trimming. The mysterious attacker was, depending on the day of the week, either Al Snow or Steve "Dr. Death" Williams. Williams because the angle J.R. did a few weeks ago claiming Williams was under the mask, and Snow because he was doing everything he could so Holly kept the belt until he won it from him.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Test © vs. Crash Holly:
From the February 24th, 2000 episode of Smackdown, before Test turned heel to team up with Prince Albert and after he had any hope in hell of kissing the main event scene again. Before the match we go backstage and see Hardcore and Crash arguing over Crash getting a title shot, so Crash does what any Elroy Jetson impersonator would do... shove Hardcore. That'll show him, Crash! Test boots Crash before the bell. Irish whip, and he takes Crash over with a back body drop. Irish whip again, but Crash runs to the outside. Test follows and throws Crash over the security wall. Test dumps a garbage bin over Crash and smacks it with a steel chair. Back to ringside, and Crash crawls around on his knees before producing a fire extinguisher from underneath the ring. Test gets whipped into the steel post, and Crash comes off the apron with a hurricanrana on the outside. Crash finds more goodies as we see Hardcore Holly watching from the top of the ramp. Back to the action, and Crash covers Test for a two count. Crash smashes the maple leafs of Test with a kendo stick. Crash tries a diving move off the ring steps, but jumps right into a chair shot. Test sets up two chairs in the ring (See: Cactus/Funk from Rumble '98), but Crash escapes, and a comedy style whip to the ropes (jumping over the chairs) leads to Crash jumping in a big boot. Crash low blows Test during a pump-handle slam attempt, and dumps him outside. Crash follows with a plancha, but no cover. Hardcore comes down with a steel chair, and smacks Test with it, and Crash covers for his first of many many many many Hardcore Titles at 3:57. ** Decent enough match, but too many of the spots looked a bit too contrived. Still kinda cool though, and wow, remember when Crash was only a one-time Hardcore Champion?
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Crash Holly © vs. Tazz:
From the following week's Smackdown (March 2nd, for those of us who suck with counting up the dates). Tazz wasn't completely buried at this point for being too small and not working WWF Style, so maybe he'll actually win. Crash tries a rushing attack, but Tazz beats him down and tosses Crash into the crowd. This might've been the battle of the two shortest wrestlers that weren't midgets. About 8 fans try an "ECW" chant, but it doesn't pick up. Tazz tosses Crash into a door, and we cut backstage with Tazz ramming Crash into random walls. Prince Albert charges in, but misses an avalanche. Tazz beats him up with a wrench, then takes out Bossman with it too. Tazz locks Albert in a freezer unit then smashes a jar over Bossman's head. Crash returns to extinguish Tazz's fire, and smashes a 2x4 over his head, and that's good enough for the three count at 1:54. 1/4* Not much of a match. Afterwards, Crash announces that he will defend the Hardcore Championship 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Later in the broadcast, The Mean Street Posse (Rodney, Joey Abs, Pete Gas) sneak up and attacks Crash as he's packing up his car to leave the arena. The only problem with this is that the Posse keep breaking up each others pins to argue with each other until Crash manages to avoid them long enough to speed away in his car.
- From an episode of Smackdown, the Mean Street Posse (or more specifically Rodney, but Pete Gas gives a wink to Joey that he's not going along with the plan... right in front of Rodney) bring referee Teddy Long to ambush Crash Holly while he's doing laundry at, you guessed it, the coin-op-laundry place. Crash cuts Rodney off with a face-full of detergent and a broom smashed over his back. Rodney comes back by smacking him across the head with a bottle of Cheer. The Posse struggle trying to beat up Crash until he grabs his clothes and belt and runs the fuck off. HIGH-Larious!
- Our next title defense comes from the Airport! The Posse are at it again and attack him near the luggage conveyer thing. Pete Gas bashes Crash with his luggage and covers for the three count! The Winner and NEW Hardcore Champion, Pete Gas! The celebration is short lived, as Crash bashes him back with his scale, and covers for the second three count. The Winner and NEW Hardcore Champion, Crash Holly! In the meantime, Albert and the Posse brawl while Crash makes his escape.
- And now the all-time best comedy segment with the Hardcore Title... FUNTIME U.S.A.! The Head Bangers are the next would-be challengers for Crash's belt. Some guy rats out the location of Crash somewhere near the lazer-tag area. Mosh plots to chase Crash down to the ground level where Thrasher is staking out. Mosh pounds away on Crash and slams him, but there's no referee to count. Crash throws him into one of the games and throws some balls at him. Down the Super-Slide, with Mosh AND the camera man in hot pursuit! One of the most hilarious visuals ever. Thrasher smacks Crash with a garbage can on his way down, but Mosh breaks the cover. The Bangers whoop Crash like the proverbial government mule. Thrasher tries smashing Crash's head with a mallet on the strongman thing, but that misses. Crash runs into some kind of maze thing with a ball pit. Crash uses Guerilla warfare to ambush the Bangers. He swings from a rope into Mosh and takes him over with a hurricanrana, then make his escape from the maze and out the door to retain the title. AWESOME!
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Crash Holly © vs. Hardcore Holly:
From the March 27th, 2000 episode of Raw Is War. We get a replay from Smackdown "Last Week" where Hardcore promised Crash that no one would run-in on their match. Then during a match with Snow and Blackman, Hardcore beat up Crash and tried winning the Hardcore Title, but to no avail. Crash rushes the ring to attack, but Hardcore quickly puts him down with a dropkick. Tazz runs in 20 seconds into the match and T-Bone suplexes Hardcore. Tazzmission to Crash, but Hardcore breaks it. The Head Bangers attack Crash on the outside with a 2x4, and it's a giant clusterfuck. Here comes Viscera now to beat up on poor little Crash. Crash runs into thr crowd while the five challengers fight with each other. Backstage, The Posse are on Crash again, but fight with each other sooner rather than later. Crash comes across Kaientai now, but he blows them off when they don't respond in English. They attack, with Funaki wearing a referee's shirt and TAKA beating Crash with his flag. Crash hides behind a garbage can while everyone wanders around looking for him. During the confusion, Crash runs back inside the arena and locks them all out, and I guess retains the title at around 2:10, even though there was no final bell. 3/4* Funny match, even though about 15 seconds of it was between the official participants. Gotta love the Crash Holly era of the Hardcore Title.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Matt Hardy © vs. Jeff Hardy:
From the April 27th, 2000 episode of Smackdown. On the previous episode of Raw, Matt and Jeff double teamed on Crash, but Matt made the cover to win the championship. Matt offers Jeff a pre-match weapon in the form of a baking sheet, then blasts him a few times with a trash can lid. Matt places the cooking sheet in between the turnbuckles, but ultimately gets whipped into his own set up. Jeff takes over Matt with a suplex, then comes off the top rope with a broom across the chest for a two count. Here comes Perry Saturn to look around doing nothing. Jeff tosses a fire extinguisher into the ring. Matt comes back by beating Jeff with the lid again, then dumps him into a garbage can. Matt basement dropkicks the garbage can, then crushes it around Jeff's head with a moonsault! That only gets a two count. The action spills outside, where both Hardy brothers find ladders to bring into the ring. Jeff ditches his and dropkicks the other into the chest of Matt. Here comes Tazz now to look on. Jeff with a front slam on Matt, then heads to the top rope and does a leap frog leg drop over the ladder! That only gets a two count as well. Jeff climbs up the ladder now, but Matt climbs the opposite side. Jeff knocks him off, so Matt extinguishes his fire before he can do anything. Matt then throws a trash can into Jeff, knocking him off the ladder and onto Saturn and Tazz. Matt with a cross body from the top to the outside, but misses just about everyone. Crash runs in now, smashes a trash can over Matt's head, and covers to win the Hardcore Championship at 4:33. **1/2 Entertaining garbage match, and about 5 times better than whatever these two tried to accomplish at Vengeance 2002 (you know, the match that got them taken off T.V. for three months).
- Backstage from the May 18th, 2000 episode of Smackdown. Crash had paid the APA to protect him for an hour while he sleeps, but his hour is up, so he's left by himself. Here's Gerald Brisco to try and win the belt. Another funny segment, as Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler do commentary while whispering so they don't disturb Brisco's scheme. After Brisco gets the three count, the bumbling referee knocks over a chair, waking Crash up. Crash chases Brisco through the backstage area and to ringside. Brisco hammers away on Crash with soup-bone lefts, but Crash no-sells and stomps a Jetson sized mudhole in his ass. Crash brings a garbage can and broomstick from under the ring, but Brisco tries running. Brisco is introduced to the ring post and Crash breaks the broom over Brisco's back. Out comes Pat Patterson to cause a distraction. Brisco nails Crash with the trash can, then signals for Patterson to give him the skid-mark stink face. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Thank God he washed his underpants this time. Crash low blows Patterson and jams the broken broomstick in his ass. In the meantime, Brisco escaped with the belt.
- Moments ago on the War Zone during the Hardcore vs. Crash Holly King of the Ring Tournament Match, Patterson and Brisco caused Hardcore the match by DQ, and Brisco stole the Hardcore Title from Crash... again. Backstage, Patterson, Brisco and referee Mike Chioda celebrate with some champagne. Patterson pours it over Brisco's face, blinding him, then smashes the bottle over his head. Patterson covers and wins the Hardcore Championship! Rumours that the show was held in Rio de Janero is unsubstantiated. This all lead to the infamous Evening Gown Match. Between PATTERSON AND BRISCO at King of the Ring.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Steve Blackman © vs. Big Bossman:
From the September 4th, 2000 episode of Raw Is War, and this was from the Steve Blackman era, which featured zero stand-out matches. I thought Bossman was out in OVW or whatever around this time, but I guess I fucked up my history. Blackman avoids a nightstick attack before the bell and hangs up Bossman across the top rope. Irish whip to the corner is reversed, but Blackman fails at a monkey flip. Blackman recovers in time though to dropkick Bossman out of the ring. Bossman goes under the ring and produces a kendo stick. Bossman whiffs three times like hgis name was Adam Dunn. Blackman busts out his sticks, and IT'S PARTY TIME! Blackman blocks the kendo stick and smacks Bossman around with his smaller sticks about 600 times in a span of 7 seconds for a two count. Bossman rakes the eyes and goes outside to unleash the mighty powers of a fire extinguisher! Bossman dumps Blackman into the crowd, and works him over with a leather strap. The action spills backstage (naturally). Bossman throws Blackman through some food. Malenko smashes Bossman with a trash can and Crash Holly throws coffee in his face, allowing Blackman to cover for the three count at 3:03. Afterwards, Blackman bashes Crash and Malenko with a trash lid, even though they weren't going after him. What a dick head. 1/2* Again, nothing special to see here, but somewhat fun.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Steve Blackman © vs. Edge vs. Christian:
From the October 2nd, 2000 episode of Raw Is War. Since E&C lost a match that ruled they will never get another tag title shot while the Hardy Boyz are champions, Commissioner Foley books them in a Hardcore Title match. WWE should've marketed the Christian over-sized glasses longer than they did. Those things are awesome I tells ya, awesome! E&C attack before the bell on the outside. Blackman dumps Edge into the crowd, but Christian bops him with a trash can lid. Into the ring, and Blackman makes Christian hit himself with it, then nails Christian a few times himself. Edge returns to the match and quickly gets bitched up as well. Blackman with a series of knees to the face of Christian, followed by a bulldog headlock. Blackman sets up a garbage can in between the ropes. After a series of blocks, Christian dropkicks Blackman into the can face-first (rather weakly, I might add). The three men play hot potato with a garbage can until Edge nails Blackman with it for a two count. E&C put Blackman in the tree of woe, and Christian baseball slides a garbage can into Blackman's face. Con-Chair-To time! Blackman superkick's one chair into Edge's face, then Christian whips Blackman into Edge while he's done in the corner. Blackman no sells being hit with weapons, and a bicycle kicks a chair into Christians face and covers for the three count at 3:16. 1/4* Cool finish, but the rest of the match was a great definition of a cluster-fuck.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Steve Blackman © vs. Tazz:
More Blackman means more boring crap I don't want to sit through. From the October 19th, 2000 episode of Smackdown. By this point, Tazz WAS buried because he was too short and didn't work WWE Style, and it's only about 6 months later. Amazing how quickly things like that turn out. Tazz avoids Blackman's little kick thing and clotheslines him down. Tazz smashes Blackman over the head with a trash lid, but gets whipped into the security wall. Blackman drops Tazz across the wall and returns the favor with the trash can lid. They go through the crowd hugging and occasionally punching each other until they head backstage after a brief stint in the technical crew station. Funaki comes out of nowhere to try and cover, but Tazz beats him up and throws him into a steel window thing. Just Joe walks in to laugh at Funaki, so Blackman and Tazz kick his ass, putting the match aside for about 10 seconds. They head back to ringside, with Blackman in control. Tazz fights back and rams him on the floor face-first. Tazz brings a steel chair into the ring, and karma strikes as Blackman drop toe holds Tazz onto it. Blackman brings in his special sticks, and it's Party Time! Tazz takes a beating with the sticks, of course. Blackman with an assisted back suplex with the sticks for a two count. Irish whip is countered with a north lights suplex by Tazz for a two count. Tazz heads back outside and brings in a kendo stick. Blackman ducks a swing, but gets caught with the Tazzmission. Blackman escapes with a series of trash lid shots. Tazz tries a German suplex, but Blackman low blows out of it, and comes off the top rope with a kendo stick across the top of Tazz's head. That's enough for the three count at 4:16. * Perfectly acceptable garbage match, although I could've done without the pointless appearance of Funaki. However, the pointless attack on Just Joe makes up for that.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Steve Blackman © vs. Tiger Ali-Singh:
From the November 30th, 2000 episode of Raw Is War. Tiger Ali Singh has to be the most un-over wrestler in wrestling history, and pairing him up with D'Lo Brown and Chaz pretty much killed their careers too. It was bad enough Chaz's most popular gimmicks were being Headbanger Mosh, Beaver Cleavage, and a wife beater, but did he have to be a towel wearing sand monkey too? Amazingly, Singh gets ZERO reaction for his entrance. I'm talking Batista's first match on Raw versus Justin Credible in November 2002 no reaction. Singh tries backing out of the match, but Blackman shows no mercy and chases him around the ring. Blackman out-smarts the towel head and cuts him off with a spinning heel kick. Into the ring they go, and Blackman stomps a Curry-Mudhole in his ass. Singh tries fighting back, but Blackman sweeps the leg from under him. Blackman crotches Singh on the ring post, and puts him down with a side kick to the midsection. Blackman brings in a pair of trash can lids, and you can guess what he does with them. Blackman does a bit of an offensive streak using them, then busts out his special bag of sticks. It's Party Time! Blackman continues whooping ass and takes Singh over with a back suplex. Blackman removes the turban... THAT EVIL BASTARD! Blackman heads up to the top rope, and finishes Singh off the same way he did Tazz in the last match, and that's all she wrote at 3:32. DUD Nothing more than a squash match. Blackman celebrates afterwards by wearing the turban of Singh.
- Non-Title Hardcore Rules Match:
The Undertaker vs. Raven:
From the December 14th, 2000 episode of Smackdown. Foley is punishing Raven by smashing a cinder block over Al Snow's head on Raw a week or so earlier. Raven is also the reigning Hardcore Champion, but don't quote me on that since Raven's entrance isn't shown. Raven tries attacking before the bell, but Undertaker boots him down and smashes him across the face with a trash lid. Irish whip to the corner, and Undertaker with a charging clothesline. Undertaker nails Raven with a garbage can, sending Raven out of the ring. Raven busts out a tool box and beats on the Undertaker with a wrench. Undertaker sells for about 3 seconds, then goes back to squashing Raven, and slamming him into all of the ring steps. Undertaker rams Raven back-first into the ring post, then throws him into the time keepers table. Undertaker picks up the ring steps and slams them across the top of the head of Raven. RAVEN BLADES! RAVEN BLADES! Undertaker undoes the furniture on the announcers table, then hits a home run with a chair by using Raven's head as a baseball. Undertaker sets up Raven for the Last Ride, and powerbombs him through the announcers table. Raven is D-E-A-D at 3:02. 1/2* Another squash match in a series of them, and thank God from now on almost all of the matches are competitive. And for the Hardcore Title.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Big Show © vs. The Rock vs. Kurt Angle:
From the February 26th, 2001 episode of Raw Is War. Big Show had won the title the night before on No Way Out from Raven, and the Rock defeated Angle for the World Title. Pointless match here if you ask me, especially since Big Show was pretty much buried in the mid-card (and lower) for being out of shape despite being sent down to OVW to lose weight. Rock and Angle stare each other down until Big Show nails them both with clotheslines. Rocky comes back with roundhouse rights on Show until Angle sneaks up from behind with a back suplex. Show with a big headbutt on Angle, followed by slaps across the chest. Irish whip, and Angle does his "punch Show a lot" sequence, but Show no-sells. Angle with a series of clotheslines until the Rock puts him down with one of his own, and then the same by Show to the Rock. Big Show rams the Rock onto the announcers table. Rock avoids being used as a battering ram, and sends Big Show into the ring post instead. Angle goes after the Rock again and they head back into the ring. Rock fights back with rights and takes Angle over with a dragon screw leg whip. Rock applies the sharpshooter, but Big Show returns to break it up. Show tries a chokeslam on the Rock, but gets kicked in the nuts. Rock and Angle then team up for about three seconds and take Show over with a suplex. Rock and Angle go outside while Blackman runs in to smack Show with a kendo stick for a two count. Here comes Hardcore Holly, and he beats on Show with two trash lids in consecutive form for another two count. Albert makes his appearance and connects with his bicycle kick for another two count. Perry Saturn comes in to hammer away on Albert in the corner, and here comes the One Billy Gunn with a baseball bat. He breaks that over Show, and they spill outside now. Big Show heads to the ramp area, and catches ESSA RIOS trying a cross body from the top of the ramp. Crash Holly tries the same, and again without success. Billy Gunn bashes Show with a steel chair and Holly unleashes a fire extinguisher. Everyone brawls with each other backstage. Show cleans house of everyone until he pins Essa Rios against the wall for the three count at 7:25. * Another total cluster fuck, but at least it was somewhat entertaining with the original opponents and with some of the run-ins.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Raven © vs. Kane vs. The Big Show:
From WrestleMania X-Seven, and it's copy and paste time! This is going to be a fun match to cover. No real back story for this match either, although Show and Raven had been fighting for the Hardcore Title at the times, but decided to add in Kane since he had nothing better to do. I wonder if Raven ever used that Frankenstein doll as an actual weapon. Raven attacks with a sign, but gets thrown into the corner and hammered on as Big Show finally makes his entrance. No wonder he was called the Big Slow around this time. Kane with a press slam of Raven onto the Big Show outside the ring, and then comes off the top rope to the outside with a flying clothesline to Show, allowing Raven to cover for two. The action spills in the crowd, and the camera man loses them until they get to an exit. Backstage they go, with Raven bashing Kane with a road sign several times. Kane slams Raven into the wall, breaking it a bit in the process. Big Show with a slam on Kane, dropping him across some wooden crates. Raven gets thrown somewhere, and the Show locks the chain link fence, to keep Kane out, but Kane rips it open anyway and smashes a broom across Big Show. Kane with a 2x4 across the back of Show, then Raven chokes Kane with a lawn hose, but Kane powers out and bashes Raven through the fence. Kane chokes Raven with the hose and throws him through a glass window! Big Show slams Kane into a door, and tackles him through it! Big Show makes big noises, but Kane chokes him, and the two take each other through a wall! (the walls are obviously fake though) Raven comes out of nowhere and slams a crappy table on the Big Show. Raven then performs Grand Theft Auto, but Big Show hitches a ride and they crash. Kane now steals a cart, with the referee with him, and RUNS OVER RAVENS LEG (almost) in the funniest moment of the match... and maybe the night. The threesome brawl randomly, although Raven avoids most of it, and I notice he's got several cuts on his arms from the window spot. Show slams Raven onto a table filled with snapple, but Kane comes from behind with some clubbering, and slams Show into a salad. Raven gets slammed into a sign with unreadable notes, and they come out of the entrance again. Show with a headbutt to Raven, and Kane hammers away on Show like he owes him money. Show with a short-arm clothesline, and he press Raven above his head, but Kane sits up and boots both men off the stage through a tank like area! Kane with an elbow drop off the stage, and he covers Big Show for the Hardcore Title at 9:19. *** Yes, it was nothing but a garbage brawl, but God damn, was this match entertaining. I'm surprised they made the title seem important here, having two potential Main Eventers fighting over it at Wrestlemania third from the bottom of the card.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Rhyno © vs. Raven:
From Backlash 2001, and one of only two reasons to even see that show. Rhyno had only one the belt about a week earlier on Smackdown from Kane thanks to either Austin & Triple H or Edge & Christian, I forgot which. I know Kane and Undertaker won the tag titles later that same night from E&C, so huzzah. I'm not too sure, but I think Raven was booked as a face around this time (briefly), but don't quote me on that. Raven has his shopping cart of goodies, including a kitchen sink and a FRANKENSTEIN'S MONSTER DOLL (not Frankenstein period). Rhyno charges at the bell, but Raven drop toe holds him onto a stop sign for a two count. Irish whip across the corner, and Raven charges with a trash can lid for another two count. Rhyno reverses a whip to the corner and drives a shoulder into the midsection of Raven. Rhyno returns the trash can bashing and hammers away. Raven tries something with a trash can, but Rhyno ends up kicking it back in his face. The action spills outside, and Rhyno rearranges the ring steps. Rhyno sets Raven up on a folding chair, and this should be interesting... he charges up the steps for a diving tackle, but Raven moves, and Rhyno crashes through the chair. Raven then runs up the steps and connects with a flying clothesline for a two count. Back into the ring, and Raven hammers away with jabs, sending Rhyno out of the ring again. Raven throws Rhyno into the security wall (nice "Thump" noise), then tosses plunder into the ring. Rhyno rams Raven into the ring post and smacks him good with a trash can lid. Rhyno grabs some kind of seating sign, and smashes that over Raven's head next, for a two count. Rhyno bashes Raven again with it, and again only gets a two count. Back into the ring, and Rhyno throws the shopping cart into the ring, but not before hitting Raven in the face with it in the process. Rhyno hammers away on Raven a bit. Irish whip is reversed, and it's the drop toe hold onto a shopping cartt by Raven! Raven smacks Rhyno around with a handicap sign a few times, then hits a grand slam with a speed limit. Irish whip to the corner, and Raven follows in with a clothesline and running bulldog for a two count. Rhyno rakes the eyes to hold off Raven, then scoops up the shopping cart for much damage. Raven is prepared though, and smacks Rhyno in the face with a trash can, causing the cart to land on top of Rhyno. That only gets a two count. Raven sets up the shopping cart for more assault, and rams it into Rhyno in the corner, then leaves it. Irish whip to the corner, but Rhyno counters the follow-up clothesline with a shot with the handicap sign. Rhyno with trash can shots, and he sets up for the Gore. He charges, but Raven side steps it, and Rhyno crashes through the fucking shopping cart! HOLY SHIT! Raven follows up by bashing the cart with the kitchen sink while Rhyno is still sandwiched between it. That only gets a two count, as well. Rhyno nails the gore out of nowhere while Raven picks up the sink again, and that's good enough for Rhyno to retain at 8:12. ***3/4 Easily the best Hardcore Title Match ever, in my opinion. They managed to incoorperate new spots to what was long thought to be a dried up and dead style (in WWF terms that is), and managed to make a somewhat dead crowd get really into the final moments as if it were Rock/Austin from WrestleMania X-Seven.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Rhyno © vs. Big Show vs. Test:
And we go from the greatest WWF Hardcore Title Match to this. From Judgment Day 2001, and the storyline is centered around the two challengers more than Rhyno. At Backlash, Test helped Shane McMahon defeat Big Show in a sucky Last Man Standing Match, so here's the fall out from that. Test and Show brawl before Rhyno makes his entrance. Rhyno and Test double team Show in the corner, but he comes back to clothesline them both. Rhyno is clotheslined out of the ring, but he misses charging Test, and falls over the top rope in the process. More double teaming on the Big Show, and he gets whipped into the security wall. Test and Rhyno exchange blows until Test gets back dropped into the crowd by Show. They walk around in the crowd for a while, and this is the exact opposite of the previous match. Show continues to control this match until Test chokes him down with a red velvet rope. Are they in a bank or something? Rhyno runs over Show with a cart of trunks, but breaks up Test's cover. This is just dragging, and Show is no-selling like he's never no-sold before. Show tries pinning Rhyno against the wall like he did Essa Rios in a match earlier on the DVD, but Test breaks that up. BORING. Rhyno and Test punch and throw each other into things for a little while longer, doing nothing of note. They head back to ringside, and we've lost the Big Show. Rhyno goes under the ring for some good stuff, and produces a trash can and lids. Back into the ring, and Test punches a trash lid back into Rhyno's face. Irish whip, and Rhyno comes back with a DDT on the same weapon for a two count. Rhyno bashes Test with the trash lid until Big Show returns to the match... finally. Show with the showstopper on Rhyno, and Test boots Big Show for a two count. Rhyno nails Big Show with the GORE GORE GORE, and Test nails Rhyno with the trash lid for a two count. Test brings in a fire extinguisher, but gets caught in the goozle by Show. He escapes and bonks Show with it for a two count. More stuff happens that I don't care about until Rhyno fores the Big Show while he's holding a trash can, and retains the title at 9:13. 1/2* Painfully boring match with not much of note going on, but I liked the finish, so I boosted the rating above the DUD I intended to give it.
- WWF Hardcore Championship Match:
Rhyno © vs. Big Show:
The final match on the DVD, and it's from the following night's episode of Raw (May 21st, 2001). That episode of Raw is more famous for Triple H managing to tear his quad by doing pretty much nothing. Rhyno brings out some weapons from under the ring before the match, so I'm guessing they're short on time. Show comes out to hammer away, but Rhyno fights him off. Show reverses an Irish whip and clotheslines Rhyno out of his grease. Show with a suplex on the ramp, and that reminds me of fond memories of Raw for X-Box... oh wait, wrong game. I'm really burned out on all these hardcore matches, so sorry for slacking here. Show smashes Rhyno against the security wall a few times and clubs away on his chest. Show misses a charge against the ring post, allowing Rhyno to get in some shots with a handicap sign. Back into the ring, and for some reason Show is selling the arm still. Damn him selling instead of his usual no-selling. Rhyno hammers away with more signs and wraps the arm of Show around the middle rope. Show tries a chokeslam, but Rhyno pounds on the injured arm and smacks him around with a trash lid. Rhyno goes for the gore, but he runs head first into a chair. Rhyno tries the same finish as last night (as in Judgment Day last night), but Show tosses the can back at Rhyno and boots it into his face. Showstopper onto the trash can, and Big Show wins the Hardcore Title at 4:57. 3/4* Big Show actually sold the arm for most of the match, but for the most part it was nothing more than boring plunder shots again.
DVD Extra Features Final Thoughts: I'll just quickly say this DVD is a thumbs up, mainly because it features a few pretty good matches, and a wide variety from episodes of Raw and Smackdown as well as the common PPV's. However, some of the choices were really awful, like almost everything with Steve Blackman, as well as all of the Big Show crap. However Part II, the Crash Holly era is represented well here, so that makes up for some of the negatives. This DVD also is a great example of why I'm not the biggest fan of ECW: You can only watch someone get hit with (random weapon) so many times before it gets really boring, so that's another downside to this DVD. Watch it a little at a time, or you're going to be looking at the clock more often hoping for matches to end.