WWE Network Recommended Viewing: Fully Loaded 2000
Five hundred pound splashes from places 500 pound splashes do not belong. Steel cages. Last man standing. J.R. on commentary. What more can you ask for from a WW(F)E event? Are you not quite sold yet on Fully Loaded 2000 yet? Let me implore you some more.
With no Pay-Per-View on the weekend the entertainment value for a wrestling fan is pretty slim. How much can one do in their mothers basement with no event to complain about, watch, and then complain about the results. Good thing the WWE Network exists to give us hindsight to do just that and review the events that shaped our fandom as wrestling fans.
This was a fun event because there was so much to enjoy and something for everyone on the card.
Match Card:
Hardy Boyz & Lita vs. Test, Albert & Trish
Tazz vs. Al Snow
Perry Saturn (w/Terri) vs. Eddie Guerrero (w/Chyna) — WWF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Acolyte Protection Agency (A.P.A.) vs. Edge & Christian — WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Val Venis (w/Trish) vs. Rikishi — WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle
Triple H vs. Chris Jericho — LAST MAN STANDING
The Rock vs. Chris Benoit (w/Shane McMahon) — WWF CHAMPIONSHIP
While I tip-toe around spoilers from an event that is literally 14 years old the card is what made this such a fun event to go back and live through again. Having J.R. on commentary and Jerry Lawler before he mentally checked out was a nice touch, but there were three things that stood out to me re-watching Fully Loaded.
One, there was a great opening tag-team match not centered around the Tag-Team Titles. The division was so strong that at this time they could have the Hardy’s take on Edge and Christian, mix in the hottest women’s (NOT diva’s) storyline and get a dynamic match.
This match featured three future WWE or World Champions and the two women that defined their division before it became a lost art again.
Secondly, look at those main event non-title matches. Of course there are title matches for the Intercontinental, European, and WWF Championships respectively, but then there are great matches that keep the title contenders busy for a month or longer and are actually intriguing.
Triple H vs. Chris Jericho here was and still is my favorite PPV match ever. Great ring work, brawling, storyline, ring psychology, high spots, and two guys focused on stealing the show. And they did just that. The ending spot (or overall sequence) was amazing with utilizing Stephanie McMahon and the announcers table in a Last Man Standing Match. Worth the price of the WWE Network all by itself.
Lastly, watching this PPV it is starting to become evident the philosophy of Triple H with today’s product.
Former Rebel, Current Authority
Back in 2000 he was on top, but not winning the WWF Championship because other stars were hotter and the authoritative heel navigating the main events was liquid metal hot at the time. Shane McMahon and Stephanie were on TV every few minutes it seemed, they had great heat, and the show was wrapped around them.
Looking at this event and then fast forwarding to today it is clear that this time period (1999-2002) is a major influence in current storylines.
Purposeful tag-team rivalries, value added main event caliber matches without titles on the line, growing niche divisions, and thickening up the mid-card. All-in-all Fully Loaded 2000 was a great event in my eyes, worth the two and a half hours, and maybe a sign of things to come. Then again, 2000 was an especially great year for the WWF as a whole with the product.
Same time next week, folks.