Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 17, 2000

RAW

Before the next match, Triple H tells WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley that he remembers what Chris Jericho called him last week, and says that what X-Pac and "Road Dogg" Jesse James did to Jericho will be nothing compared to what he does to him. He tells her that he will show her how a real husband avenges the honor of his wife. Meanwhile, in the ring, Jericho says it seems that he is in hot water yet again, as he was punished last week for calling Stephanie a "bargain basement slut" and "the filthiest, dirtiest, most disgustingly skankiest, brutal bottom-feeding trash bag ho" he has ever seen in his life. He has now come to the ring to apologize to all the bargain basement sluts and the filthy, disgusting, dirty, skanky brutal bottom-feeding trash bag hos for even comparing them to "the slimeball pig" that is Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and for offending anybody with the exception of Stephanie. When Triple H shows up, he chases Jericho out of the ring. Jericho says it valiant and touching that Triple H has come down for Stephanie's honor, but tells him that if he thinks she is special and if he really wants to impress her, then he would put the WWF Championship on the line. Triple H accepts the challenge, and Jericho says that since this is officially a WWF Championship match, he hopes that Triple H doesn't mind if he invests in an insurance policy in the form of The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw), who show up.

Chris Jericho beats Triple H to become the WWF Champion! During the match, Jericho inadvertently catapults Triple H into referee Mike Chioda, but as he goes up top, WWF co-owner Shane McMahon trips Jericho off. The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) chase Shane to the back, then WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley tosses the WWF Championship into the ring. Triple H goes for it, but Jericho kicks Triple H in the face and grabs it first. Senior referee Earl Hebner runs into the ring to referee the rest of the match, and when Triple H notices him, he gets into an argument that quickly gets physical. Triple H shoves Hebner to the mat, then Jericho hits a spinning heel kick followed by an Asai moonsault. Jericho wins the WWF Championship after a fast count from Hebner, and Triple H tries to chase after Hebner after the match only to be stopped by The Acolytes, who tell Triple H that he just lost the title. Stephanie and Triple H are absolutely livid.

In the locker room, Triple H confronts senior referee Earl Hebner, saying he screwed him, and yanks him out of the locker room before bringing him back into the ring. WWF co-owner Shane McMahon also brings referee Mike Chioda into the ring while WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley follows. Triple H grabs the microphone and tells Hebner that he has screwed him and "jobbed him out." He then asks Mike Chioda to put the footage of Chris Jericho's victory on the TitanTron to see the fast count, then asks for his unbiased opinion. Chioda rules Hebner's pinfall count a fast count, and tells Hebner that he screwed Triple H. Triple H allows Chioda to leave, then confronts Hebner again. Shane holds Hebner back while Triple H demands that Hebner reverse the decision, therefore handing the WWF Championship back to him and striking the match between Triple H and Jericho from the record books. Hebner screams "No!" Triple H and Shane threaten to attack Hebner, but Hebner tells Triple H he will reverse the decision on one term: nobody touches him again as long as he is a WWF referee, especially Shane, Stephanie or Triple H. Triple H says he has a deal, and when Triple H asks him if he will reverse the decision, he says that he will Triple H then tells Hebner to go to the back and get the WWF Championship back from around the waist of "that sawed-off midget" Chris Jericho and hand it back to him in the middle of the ring right now. Triple H then tells the fans that they did not see a thing, and that everybody knows that Chris Jericho is not even in his league. CHris Jericho shows up with a microphone in his hand and tells Triple H to shut up, then says that if nobody can believe the match never happened, then nobody can believe that Stephanie has slept with half of the guys in the locker room. He then relinquishes the WWF Championship back to Hebner, who then hands the title back to Triple H. Triple H demands that Hebner put the title back around his waist where it belongs. Hebner places the WWF Championship around his waist, then Triple H tells Hebner that he is a man of his word and that he, Stephanie, Shane or even WWF Chairman Vince McMahon for as long as he is a WWF referee. He then tells Hebner he is fired, and strikes him in the face with the microphone before hitting him with the Pedigree. THe rest of the referees and a few officials then show up before things get worse.

Backstage, Eddie Guerrero is studying for his GED when Chyna shows up and tells him he has a match right now.

WWF co-owner Linda McMahon shows up and is welcomed by Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson.

The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff Hardy) beat Essa Rios and Eddie Guerrero after Lita inadvertently flattens Eddie Guerrero with a top rope moonsault. After the match, Chyna hits Essa Rios with a powerbomb and Eddie takes the boots to him.

Backstage, WWF co-owner Linda McMahon is met by WWF co-owner Shane McMahon. Linda tells Shane that she is here tonight to make a very special announcement concerning The Rock, which she is keeping under wraps until she gets in the ring.

Backstage, Triple H refuses to calm down as he wants to know what the announcement concerning The Rock is as well as why WWF co-owner Linda McMahon is here. Triple H and WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley demand that Shane find out more, considering that he has a way with Linda.

Crash Holly retains the WWF Hardcore Championship against Tazz (who is seen wearing the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on the way to the ring) and Perry Saturn despite Hardcore Holly showing up with his own referee to fight Crash Holly for the title at ringside. Crash ends up retaining when Crash breaks a Tazzmission with a basking sheet and Hardcore Holly hits Saturn with a Michinoku Driver before getting drop kicked by Crash.

WWF co-owner Shane McMahon asks WWF co-owner Linda McMahon to reveal more about the special announcement concerning The Rock. Linda says that it involves Backlash, and that she should head to the ring to make the announcement right now.

In footage from earlier today, Kurt Angle is seen at Penn State University encouraging students to seek the joys of celibacy and to join him in "Olympic Heroes For Abstinence," as the best sex is no sex.

WWF co-owner Linda McMahon is in the ring. She says she is here tonight to address a situation that she deems to be very unfair. She believed it before, and after seeing some footage from Backlash, she believes it even more now. She says that at Backlash, The Rock is scheduled to and will compete against Triple H for the WWF Championship. As she makes her announcement, Triple H and WWF co-owners Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley are watching from backstage on a television monitor. Linda says that from what she can see, the deck is already stacked against The Rock, as it has been announced that WWF Chairman Vince McMahon will be in Triple H"s corner, and that Stephanie will position herself somewhere at ringside to "aid and abet" Triple H like she has many times before. She says that The Rock is outnumbered, and while The Rock has not asked for her help or anyone else's, but after watching tonight and watching what happened at WrestleMania, he has decided to put someone in his corner to even the odds. She confirms that it is not Mick Foley, as he was a one time and one night only and is very happily retired at home. However, there will be a very special individual in The Rock's corner who will have The Rock's back in two weeks at Backlash, and that person is none other than "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Backstage, Triple H and Stephanie are livid. Linda and ring announcer Lillian Garcia are talking in the ring when Stephanie, Shane and Triple H show up. Stephanie tells Linda that "unfair: is Linda hopping on a plane thinking she can come into the ring and making decisions she knows nothing about. She says that the last time they were in the ring together, the McMahon-Helmsley had no problem slapping people around. She then says the McMahon-Helmsley regime is all about opportunity, and she gives Linda the opportunity to change her mind. Linda says "No." Stephanie then says she has no plans to change her mind about what she is about to do, and says this will hurt her more than it hurts Linda. Stephanie goes to slap Linda, but Linda deflects it and slaps her back. An enraged Stephanie then sics Triple H on a shocked Linda, but Shane clotheslines Triple H to stop her from hitting Linda with a Pedigree. Linda high-tails it out of the ring as Stephanie slaps both Triple H and Shane to keep them from going at each other's throats. Suddenly, The Rock shows up and says that before Triple H and Shane go at it like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and have to be refereed by "that prostitute-in-training" Stephanie, he says he was feeling great as he was facing Triple H for the WWF Championship at Backlash, and that it was a great situation. He then says that after Linda's announcement, a great situation just got better with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in his corner to even the odds. The Rock admits he and Austin have not always seen eye-to-eye, but they have always agreed that Triple H is "the biggest asshole walking God's green earth." He then says that at two weeks in Backlash, he will walk in, whip Triple H's monkey ass, and walk out WWF Champion, and there is no other way.

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Triple H, who insists he did not lose the WWF Championship tonight and that nobody beats him. As far as Chris Jericho goes, he is not done with him, as he can bring The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) to the ring so he, X-Pac and "Road Dogg" Jesse James can take care of business D-Generation X style in a six-man tag team match.

WAR ZONE

Al Snow and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman beat The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) after Trish Stratus distracts the referee, allowing Test to hit D-Von Dudley with a top rope elbow drop and put Al Snow on top of D-Von for the win while Albert holds Buh Buh Ray back ringside, even though he puts Snow on top of D-Von in full view of the referee (revealing that Trish Stratus and the referee botched on the distraction). After the match, Test and Albert brawl with The Dudleys, but D-Von back body drops Albert out of the ring and grabs Trish Stratus by the hair. He calls for D-Von to get a table, but Trish buys himself some time by kissing Buh Buh Ray on the lips. Buh Buh Ray goes into a trance, and Trish escapes.

In footage from Penn State University from earlier today, Kurt Angle walks in on two kissing university students, saying he knows where this is going and if they are going to suck on anything, they should suck on a lollipop, which Angle supplies.

Lavar Arrington, first-round draft pick for the Washington Redskins football team, is seen in the front row.

Scotty 2 Hotty beats Dean Malenko to become the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion after countering a superplex into an inside cradle.

In footage from earlier today at Penn State University, Kurt Angle tells a group of students about the joys of celibacy. All of a sudden, Big Show shows up passing out condoms, which gets everyone's attention. Kurt Angle asks a student what is wrong with America's youth, to which the student replies "It's true! It's true!"

Big Show beats Chris Benoit by disqualification after Benoit kicks him in the groin, and Chris Benoit retains the WWF Intercontinental Championship. After the match, Kurt Angle runs into the ring and attacks Big Show, attacking his groin in revenge for what he did at Penn State University.

Edge and Christian retain the WWF Tag Team Championships against The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan after Boss Man shoves referee Teddy Long as he and Buchanan take the boots to Edge. After the match, Kane and Paul Bearer show up, and Kane quickly gets the upper hand against Boss Man and Buchanan.

In the locker room, Michael Cole interviews Chris Jericho and The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw). Bradshaw, upon hearing Michael Cole question whether The Acolytes were mentioned under the premise that Triple H could have sneaked them a few dollars, says that while they will take money from anybody, they are standing with Jericho tonight. Faarooq says that if Triple H did pay them off, they would be man enough to tell Cole that. Bradshaw tells Cole "You're about to get your ass whupped for free, you little bitch!" The Acolytes leave, then Jericho tells Cole "I guess you got your answer there, eh, Mitchell?"

Backstage, Edge and Christian run into X-Pac and "Road Dogg" Jesse James, who tell them to keep the WWF Tag Team Champ[ionships shined up for them. After Edge and Christian pass by following a short war of words, X-Pac and Road Dogg attack tehm from behind.

D-Generation X (Triple H, X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James) beat Chris Jericho and The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw). During the match, The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) brawl their way up the ramp with X-Pac and Road Dogg, who are attacked by Edge and Christian on the way to the back. The Acolytes then come back without X-Pac and Road Dogg, distracting Triple H, but The Acolytes are soon attacked by The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan. Triple H then hits the Pedigree for the win.