Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 24, 2000

RAW

Triple H and WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley show up to start tonight's show. Stephanie talks about how last night, Triple H once again proved to the world that he is The Game when he defeated Cactus Jack at his own game: a brutal, bloody, barbaric Street Fight. As the fans continue to call Stephanie a slut, she says that the WWF Championship should never have been defended in a demeaning manner, but with Triple H being the true fighting champion that he is, sunk to Cactus Jack's lowest low and rose to the occasion and remain the WWF Champion. Triple H takes the microphone and tells Cactus Jack he is not here to put him over, but admits he is the most sadistic freak he has ever stepped into the ring with in his life. He brought it all to Madison Square Garden, and every trick he had, he brought it to Royal Rumble, and while he may have left it all in Madison Square Garden, he left a piece of his leg and pints of his blood in New York City, but not the WWF Championship. As sadistic as Cactus Jack was, he was that much more sadistic. Last night, he went to a level he had never been to in his life, and he liked it. He stayed the man, The Game and the WWF Champion. However, he could not help but notice that as he rolled out of the hospital that Cactus Jack was rolling in and that he was going to be there a lot longer than he was, and says Cactus Jack will not be here tonight. At WrestleMania 2000 on April 2nd, he will face The Rock with the WWF Championship on the line. He tells The Rock he has ten weeks, and tells him to get in the best possible shape he can be as he will be at the top of his game, and they will battle in Anaheim, California and he will walk out the man. Suddenly, Big Show shows up and stares Triple H down in the ring before reminding him that he never gave him a rematch for the WWF Championship, as he knows that if he were Triple H, he wouldn't give him a rematch, either. He then tells Triple H he does not like him, then says everybody knows what happens to people he does not like. He then says he is here because a crime has been committed, and that he was robbed of a Royal Rumble victory. He says he is a nice guy and he does not lie, but last night at Royal Rumble, he went over the top with The Rock on his shoulders, and The Rock's feet touched the floor first. He then asks Triple H a favor: if he can prove to him, Stephanie and the fans beyond a shadow of a doubt pure proof on film that The Rock's feet hit the floor first, that he gets a one-on-one match with The Rock, with the winner going on to WrestleMania to face Triple H, where he plans to get his rematch. Triple H tells Big Show to show him the proof, and it is all his. The Rock then shows up, and stops at the stage. He tells Triple H that his days as WWF Champion are numbered, and at WrestleMania, he is just going to kick his monkey ass. As for Big Show, whom he immediately proceeds to mock, it does not matter if his feet touched the floor first or where they touched, as there is no instant replay and the only thing that matters is that he has won the Royal Rumble Match, he is going on to WrestleMania, and he stands before everyone as The People's Champion. Triple H tells Big Show that they have a common problem in The Rock, and proposes that they team up against The Rock and a partner of his choosing, assuming The Rock can "find one of those jabronis" and get them to tag with him. If he cannot find a partner, they will have a 2-on-1 handicap match. The Rock says if there is someone who wants to tag with him, that is fine, but he does not need a tag team partner, and they will both smell what The Rock is cookin'.

The Hollys (Hardcore and Crash Holly) stand in front of the women's locker room. Crash tells Hardcore he doesn't have the guts to go into the women's locker room, but he does it anyway. When he goes in, Chyna gets out as everyone else is screaming, and Chyna tells Hardcore Holly that if he is that desperate, then he will learn respect for her and the rest of the women in the locker room. Hardcore Holly says that he is the big shot, and if it wasn't for him, she would be the Intercontinental Champion by now. Hardcore Holly then punches Chyna in the face, but he is attacked from behind by Chris Jericho. Referees and officials have to restore order. Crash laughs at Hardcore Holly, and he too gets decked by Hardcore.

Backstage, Al Snow tells "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman that they are a perfect pair and that they need to take it to the next level with a team name. He puts Blackman in a cape and a black wig in an attempt to dress him like Dracula, saying he has "the personality of a dead guy." Blackman does not like the idea, and Snow proposes the idea of Blackman carrying a small wheel of cheese to the ring, as they will go by the name of "Head Cheese." Blackman thinks the idea is ridiculous, and Snow pulls out a Hungry Hungro Hippos box, proposing the name "Head Games." Blackman walks away frustrated.

Edge and Christian vs. Al Snow and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman ends when Edge is injured followed byu a a combination backbreaker-leg drop from Snow and Blackman during the match. Val Venis shows up to check on his future brother-in-law, as does B.B. B.B. gives him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before Edge is helped to the back. During the match, the crowd chants "Head Cheese," much to the displeasure of Blackman.

Crash Holly is reluctant to follow Hardcore Holly to the ring, saying he will find a new tag team partner. Hardcore Holly tells Crash to do what he has to do while he does what he has to do.

Chris Jericho retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Hardcore Holly. During the match, Chyna shows up, and when she tries to grab Hardcore Holly by the leg, he beats her up before grabbing a steel chair to hit her with it. Jericho takes the steel chair away and attacks him before sending him back into the ring, bringing the steel chair with him. Jericho gets tied up in the ropes, and as the referee is pre-occupied, Chyna hits Hardcore Holly with a Pedigree into the steel chair, allowing Jericho to get the win. After the match, Chyna raises Jericho's hand and gives him the Intercontinental title.

Michael Cole interviews Terri Runnels and The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy). Jeff says last night was brutal, but now it is time to forget about the pain and think about the titles. Matt says they are all about defying the odds, as they did it last night and they will do it tonight. Suddenly, The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) show up, saying The Hardys kept them up all night last night by beating them at their own game and taking them to the extreme before shaking their hands in a show of proper respect. They also make it known that if the Hardys win the tag team titles, they get the first shot. Jeff says they've got it. They also tell The Hardys not to hesitate to call them if they need a hand.

The World Wrestling Federation reminds viewers to keep the action in the ring, not at home or at school.

Crash's tag team partner is revealed to be Viscera.

Crash Holly and Viscera beat Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty).

At WWF New York in Times Square in New York City, Jonathan Coachman is surrounded by fans as he advertises the venue.

Kane beats X-Pac by disqualification. During the match, Tori gets in the ring to avoid a brawl between Kane and X-Pac at ringside, and X-Pac gets in the ring and forces himself on her. Kane checks on a screaming Tori, then X-Pac brings a steel chair into the ring and smacks Kane in the back with it while Tori is still in his arms.

Backstage, WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley tells Triple H not to compete tonight when Tori and Kane barge in, demanding to know where X-Pac is. They are told that X-Pac is gone and has already left.

WAR ZONE

The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy) vs. The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) for the WWF Tag Team Championships ends in a no-contest. Not long after the match begins, The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) show up and set up a table at ringside before watching the match. When The Hardy Boyz have the match won, Buh Buh Ray drags referee Mike Chioda out of the ring before they hit The Hardy Boyz with the Dudley Death Drop. They then bring the table into the ring, and Terri Runnels gets into the ring to plead with the Dudleys. It doesn't work, and D-Von threatens to punch her in the face. Buh Buh Ray asks D-Von why he would want to do that when they can put her through a table. Buh Buh Ray puts Terri through the table with a a sit-out powerbomb from the top rope. Referees and officials rush into the ring to check on Terri.

Terri Runnels is fitted with a neck brace and placed on a stretcher. Kurt Angle shows up and says things like what happened to Terri is really bad and should not happen, but goes on to say that what is worse is that he was choked out by Taz last night. He says that it is not really his fault and that he is some sort of street thug who was not raised correctly and therefore lacks integrity. As he speaks, Terri Runnels is rushed to the ambulance. He is here to clear the air and to say that no apologies are necessary, and his undefeated streak is still intact (despite being beaten last night). Unfortunately for Angle, Taz (whose name is now spelled with two Z's) comes back. Angle insists that the Tazmission is an illegal hold, but Taz rushes up to Angle and puts him in it again. Tazz ends up choking Angle out, and referees and officials have to pull Tazz off Angle.

This week's TV Guide features four collectible covers of The Rock, Triple H, Mankind and Chyna.

Michael Cole interviews The Rock, who says that his tag team partner tonight is himself, and he will beat Big Show and Triple H on his own.

The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) beat D'Lo Brown and The Godfather.

Back at WWF New York in Times Square in New York City, Jonathan Coachman reports on fan reactions on tonight's show.

Jerry "The King" Lawler introduces the contestants of the Miss Royal Rumble 2000 swimsuit competition: The Kat, Jacqueline, B.B., Ivory, Luna Vachon and Mae Young. Mae Young is crowned the winner of the contest, and is given the crown and a bouquet of flowers. Lawler jokes that the flowers are not wilted like the "puppies" she showed to everyone last night, but Mae Young counters by saying her puppies are real. This leads to everyone else accusing each other of having a boob job, which leads to a brawl that referees and officials have to break up as clothes get ripped off. Mae Young then says the people want to see her "puppies" again. Everyone in the ring tries to stop her from disrobing, and when she shows her breasts, "Sexual Chocolate" Mark Henry has to run in and cover Mae Young up again.

Triple H and Big Show talk backstage about how nobody wants to tag with The Rock, and propose that they destroy The Rock together and put an end to him once and for all.

We see footage from earlier today of Droz in a wheelchair. This is his first appearance on WWF programming since being injured. (Despite the hopes that Droz will be back, Droz is bound to a wheelchair for life and is forced to retire.)

Test vs. The Big Boss Man ends as soon as it begins when Boss Man is attacked with a nightstick by Stevie Richards, who is mimicking Test. Stevie Richards offer to shake his hand, but Test hits him with a pump handle power slam followed by a top rope elbow drop.

Michael Cole reports that Terri Runnels is in a local medical facility. Her injuries and condition are not yet known, but updates will be forthcoming.

Before the next match, Rikishi Phatu shows up to team with The Rock.

The Rock and Rikishi Phatu beat Triple H and Big Show by disqualification after The New Age Outlaws ("Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn) run in and attack Rikishi. After the match, Tripel H punches out Earl Hebner before Cactus Jack runs to the ring. The Rock fights back against Triple H and Big Show, and Cactus Jack evens the odds with a 2x4.