Layin' da SmackDown! - SmackDown recap for August 26, 1999

Triple H and Chyna show up to start tonight's show. Triple H says he would normally have two words for everybody, but tonight, he has four. The Rock is seen watching from backstage as Triple H says that he proved every corporate head honcho who held him back and said he wouldn't do it wrong, having proven to be what he said he was: the game. He says "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Mankind are not the game, especially since he beat Mankind last Monday. He says they can line them up and he can take them down, whether they be "The People's Ass" The Rock or anybody else. The Rock shows up, and confronts Triple H for coming to "The People's Show" and calling himself The Game, and tells Triple H that if he is "The Game," then he needs to head back to the drawing board because his game absolutely sucks. The Rock then announces that he will beat Triple H's monkey ass and become WWF Champion, and that there are two things Triple H can do about it: absolutely nothing and like it. Triple H tells The Rock that if he wants to play in his game, he has to be in his league, and says The Rock is nowhere near his league. He tells The Rock to go back to the back and get lost. The Rock says there is a lack of communication, leaving him with three options: walking to the back, taking off his $800 shirt and starting his promo all over again; take the WWF Championship, put some Icy Hot on it and stick it straight up Triple H's candy ass. Triple H says that The Rock isn't even in his league, he can't even hold his jock. The Rock tells Triple H to shut up before mentioning his third choice: heading down to the ring, hear the fans chant his name, take one of his $600 shoes off, turn it sideways and stick it straight up Triple H's candy ass. Suddenly, WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up and tells The Rock to hold, saying that they might as well make it official if they're going to do this, and if the people want it, they will receive. The Rock vs. Triple H for the WWF Championship is made official for tonight, and to make sure there are no shenanigans, he makes himself the special guest referee for the match. All of a sudden, WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up from out of the crowd, and says that if Shawn wants to make the match, that is fine; however, he will use his powers to make himself second special guest referee to keep his eyes on Shawn. Shawn tells Shane that will be a bit difficult, as Shane will be a tad busy tonight. Since he can book any WWF wrestler in any match at any time, and since Shane is coming off a fine performance at SummerSlam, Shane is an official competitor. He then says Shane won't be referee, since he has booked him in a match with someone that he screwed out of the title tonight: Mankind, who shows up. Mankind says all the talk about "stroking and screwing" has gotten him excited, and says he will unbutton his $3 "Salvation Army special," loosen up his tie that was given to him free by the WWF, begin walking down The People's Aisle, and listen while the dozens - and dozens - of his fans all chant his name. The Rock then says "piss on this talk," then says he is going to lay the smack down on Triple H's ass, and he and The Rock fight Triple H and Shane. The Mean Street Posse (Rodney, Pete Gas, Joey Abs) get into the ring, but The Rock and Mankind take them all down immediately.

Billy Gunn beats Jeff Jarrett. During the match, Chyna shows up, and Miss Kitty tries to hand Jarrett a guitar only for Chyna to grab it. Chyna swings at Miss Kitty, but ends up hitting Debra and distracting Jarrett, allowing Billy Gunn to get the win. After the match, Billy Gunn tries to moon Chyna up close to tell her to kiss his ass only to get hit with a low blow.

Lilian Garcia interviews Al Snow, who tells The Big Boss Man that Pepper is a very small dog and very confused, and pleads with him not to hurt Pepper. Whatever Boss Man wants, he will do. He says he is not a begging man, but he begs Boss Man to bring Pepper back safely.

Ring announcer Howard Finkel is seen shining Chris Jericho's boots backstage.

Test is seen backstage waiting for WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon and the answer to his marriage proposal made earlier this week on Raw.

It is announced that this Monday night, a special presentation of Raw will air at 11 PM Easten, 10 PM Central and 9 PM Pacific.

The team of Big Show and The Undertaker beats the team of X-Pac and Kane and The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) in a Triple Threat Tag Team Match. When the match begins, The Undertaker guests on commentary, saying that Big Show will have to go it alone in this match in order to prove himself, attain his knowledge and realize that he is a killer; until he realizes he is a killer, he is leaving him to defend himself. He also says that he is a tag team champion because he wants to be, and that the tag titles are the first step in a major plan that he will reveal only when Big Show is ready. At one point, The Undertaker has to fire Big Show up by slapping him in the face at ringside.

Test meets with WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon backstage at last. When he asks her if she has an answer to his marriage proposal, she simply says "yep," then walks off.

The Big Boss Man shows up. He says Al Snow is looking for him and that he's not that hard to find. He calls Snow out, saying everybody knows he has something of his. Snow shows up, and Boss Man tells him to come no further. Boss Man says Pepper is safe for now, but he is not a patient man, but if Pepper bites him one more time, he will send Pepper straight to Hell. He tells Snow that if he wants Pepper back, all he has to do bring the WWF Hardcore Championship out to the ring. When he does, he will bring out Pepper. He tells Snow that he will get Pepper back - win, lose or draw - while he gets his shot at the Hardcore. He also tells Snow not to let anything happen between now and the time he returns with the Hardcore title, or else he will take Pepper into a cold, dark place and show him what hard times is all about.

The Big Boss Man beats Al Snow to become the WWF Hardcore Champion when it becomes obvious that Snow is more concerned with Pepper's safety than anything else. After the match, Boss Man goes back on his word and takes Pepper away.

Backstage, X-Pac wants Kane to stay away from, saying that he is the weak link in the team.

Al Snow finds out that Pepper is not at the commentary table where The Big Boss Man left him, and runs frantically to the back.

Al Snow angrily looks for The Big Boss Man backstage, desperately wanting Pepper back.

Before the next match, "Road Dogg" Chris Jericho says that in prison, he could not even trade him for a pack of cigarettes. Tonight, he wants to whip his ass.

"Road Dogg" Jesse James beats Chris Jericho - in what is the latter's very first televised match in the WWF - by disqualification. At one point in the match, ring announcer Howard Finkel shows up and tries to refresh Jericho with a can of Hansen's Energy Drink, but the drink gets splashed into Road Dogg's eyes when he gets too close. Finkel then runs away. Shortly after this, Jericho introduces a table into the match, and Jericho eventually power bombs Road Dogg into it, ending the match just before Jericho puts him in the Lion Tamer. Referees and officials have to rush in to pull Jericho off Road Dogg.

Chris Jericho boasts about his win and asks ring announcer Howard Finkel if he sees why he is the most dominant man in the WWF, then the two of them walk to a nearby monitor. After seeing ring announcer Tony Chimel on the monitor, Jericho tells Finkel that Tony Chimel has done nothing to deserve being a ring announcer. He commands Finkel to run to the ring and prove to him that he is the best, a warrior and a true Jerichoholic.

Ring announcer Howard Finkel shows up to The Ultimate Warrior's theme song, and confronts ring annoucer Tony Chimel, saying that he is the best at what he does and wants his job back right now. He then shoves Chimel to the mat, and when The Fink tries to do his job, Chimel strikes back while Chris Jericho watches from backstage. Jericho then shows up and checks on Finkel, then Chimel gets back to his job. "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock bumps into Jericho on the way, then Jericho sends Finkel after him. Shamrock grabs and twists Finkel's finger when Finkel chides him, then Jericho hits Shamorck from behind with a steel chair, then spits on him before fleeing with Finkel. Shamrock runs to the back to chase after both men.

Shortly after this, WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon shows up. She asks Test to come to the ring, calling her "Andrew" in the process. Test shows up. She tells Test she wanted to wait until everything was right, and now that they are alone in the ring, she has an answer to his marriage proposal. Test says that if she wants it to be right, to let him make it right, then gets down on one ring and produces an engagement ring. Test pops the question, and Stephanie says yes. They both kiss in the ring, then WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up with The Mean Street Posse (Rodney, Pete Gas, Joey Abs), holding her back as the Posse takes the boots to Test. Mankind runs in with a steel chair, taking the Posse out, then grabs a microphone and tells Shane to leave this alone. He says this is his second time out in the ring and he is not going down the aisle again, as they are going to have their match right now. He says that since Shane is such a big man with a steel chair that he will sweeten the deal by leaving the chair he smashed into the Posse's heads with in the ring if he finds the testicular fortitude to get in the ring, and gives him one shot. He then says he will be "hanging with the Posse" while Shane is thinking about it. Almost immediately after Mankind turns his back, Shane runs into the back and smacks the chair into Mankind's back, but Mankind gets up, fights back and then hits him with the microphone before clotheslining him out of the ring. Mankind then clears the ring, and a referee is in the ring. Shortly after this, Test gets back up, and Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco take out The Posse, and even Stephanie gets involved by getting on top of Pete Gas and trying to put him in a sleeper hold. Test then runs into the crowd to chase after Pete Gas, who he has whipped with a belt. Mankind then gets Mr. Socko ready, and has Shane in the Mandible Claw when Chyna and Triple H show up. Chyna distracts referee Earl Hebner so Triple H can smack a steel chair into Mankind's back. Shane McMahon beats Mankind.

Chris Jericho and ring announcer Howard Finkel are seen trying to flee from "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock. Jericho takes off without The Fink, and after Shamrock realizes Jericho is gone, he grabs Finkel and tells him to never put his hands on him again. He then smells something, and realizes that Finkel has crapped his pants. (This may remind some viewers of No Holds Barred.)

We see footage from earlier this week where Michael Cole interviews "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, who has recently suffered a torn ligament and tendon damage to his now bandaged-up knee due to Triple H's assault on him with a steel chair at SummerSlam. Austin says he knew he was hurt, but he had to get in the ring. He says that he will be fine after some rehab, and says Triple H has some hell to pay when he gets back. As for Triple H saying he will never be the same again, Austin calls bullcrap on that and says only he will decide if he is the same and if he is 100%. When they get in the ring again, it will be for the WWF Championship, and Triple H will see just how better his knee is. He has no problem with Triple H taking a play from his playbook as he knows he has influenced a few people in the locker room, and says it takes "a mean son-of-a-bitch" to win the WWF Championship. He then says Triple H hasn't read the whole book, and he will beat his ass when ty get back in the ring again.

Tori beats Ivory in an Evening Gown Match, and Luna Vachon has to rush into the ring to keep Tori from getting her hands on Ivory again.

Lilian Garcia interviews Triple H and Chyna. Chyna tells Lilian that she doesn't know who she is or where she comes from, and tells her to show Triple H some respect. Triple H says that if The Rock wants to play the game, he can step up to the plate all he wants and bring all he has, because it will not do him any good. He says that the WWF Championship is staying with him. As far as WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels goes, he can referee all he wants, but he had better remember to call it down the line and stay out of his way, or else he will make sure Shawn never walks again.

Al Snow looks for Pepper in the production truck.

Michael Cole, referee Jimmy Korderas and referee Earl Hebner congratulate Test and WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon on the engagement.

Triple H retains the WWF Championship against The Rock. During the match, Shawn ejects Chyna from the match after hitting The Rock with a low blow at ringside. Triple H confronts Shawn as he escorts Chyna to the back briefly, then runs back into the ring and into a DDT from The Rock. WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up and confronts Shawn briefly, then watches the match from ringside until The Rock goes for a pinfall, and distracts Shawn again. Shane tries it once again after a neckbreaker from The Rock to Triple H only to be knocked off the apron. The Rock then hits the Rock Bottom on Triple H, but when he goes for The People's Elbow, he suddenly gets hit with a superkick by Shawn Michaels, who then proceeds to spit on The Rock and give Triple H the win, turning heel in the process. Chyna shows back up after the match, and hugs Shawn, proving that it was all a set-up.