IWF Royal Rumble (2000)

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Royal Rumble (2000)
Promotional poster featuring Triple K, Cactus Jack, and various IWF Superstars
Tagline(s)	"No Chance in Hell"
Theme song(s)	No Chance in Hell" by The Chris Warren Band
Imformation
Promotion	International Wrestling Federation
Date	January 23, 2000
Attendance	19,231
Venue	Madison Square Garden
City	New York, New York
Pay-per-view chronology
Armageddon (1999)	Royal Rumble (2000)	No Way Out (2000)
Royal Rumble chronology
Royal Rumble (1999)	Royal Rumble (2000)	Royal Rumble (2001)

• For the video game released in 2000, see IWF Royal Rumble (2000 video game).

Royal Rumble (2000) was the thirteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the International Wrestling Federation (IWF). It took place on January 23, 2000 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

The main event was the Royal Rumble match, which The Rock won by last eliminating The Big Marc to win the match. Featured matches on the undercard included a street fight match between Triple K and Cactus Jack for the IWF Championship, a Triple Threat match for the IWF Intercontinental Championship, and The New Age Outlaws versus The Acolytes for the IWF Tag Team Championship.

This Royal Rumble was the first IWF pay-per-view event to air on terrestrial television in the United Kingdom, as Channel 4 had acquired the rights to broadcast International Wrestling Federation programming that year.

Background

The main feud going into the event was between Triple K and Mick Foley. The McMahon-Kelmsley Faction began in late 1999, where Triple K and Brittany McMahon-Kelmsley had control over the IWF, and scheduling unreasonable matches for the wrestlers. Foley objected to this, and the faction attacked several times before finally firing him. On the January 3 edition of Raw is War, Triple K won the IWF Championship, and mocked Foley with an impersonator. On the January 10 edition of Raw is War, The Rock brought every superstar to the ring, demanding that Foley be reinstated or the entire roster would walk out. Foley was reinstated, and he requested a Street Fight for the IWF Championship at Royal Rumble. Foley and Triple K fought in a 4-on-4 tag team match later that night. Triple K pinned Foley after using the ring bell, and delivering two Pedigrees. After the match, Foley took off his mask, and attacked Triple K. On the January 13 edition of SmackDown!, Foley returned to his Cactus Jack persona (with a more violent and psychotic character) by taking off his Mankind attire to reveal his Cactus Jack attire.

Buildup towards the Royal Rumble match began on January 10, when The Rock announced his participation in the match. The following week, The Big Show announced that he will win the match, and The Rock guaranteed he will win. Later that night, The Rock and The Big Show faced the New Age Outlaws. At the end, Big Show attacked The Rock, and The Rock hit him with a steel chair, and a People's Elbow. On the January 20 edition of SmackDown!, The Big Show confronted The Rock. Kane and Tori came out, and Tori claimed that Kane was the favorite. The three fought, and were scheduled for a Triple Threat Over-the-Top-Rope Lumberjack match later. In the match, The Big Show eliminated The Rock with a chokeslam, and Kane eliminated The Big Show with a back body drop to win, sparking a fight involving all the competitors and lumberjacks.

Another feud going into the event was between Khris Jericho, Amber and Hardcore Murnion over the IWF Intercontinental Championship. On the December 30 edition of SmackDown!, a title match between Amber and Jericho ended in a double pinfall. On the January 3 edition of Raw is War, both were declared co-champions. Afterwards, Murnion challenged Amber for the title, and Jericho helped her retain. Jericho and Amber were forced to work together, and this created tension between them. The title situation would be solved in a Triple Threat match between Jericho, Amber and Murnion.

Event

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, a live edition of Sunday Night Heat was held featuring several matches. The first match of the pre-show was a standard wrestling match in which Khristian defeated Steve Blackmail. In the second match, The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) and The Big Bossman defeated Prince Albert, Luke "The Godfather" Maleski and D'La Hooper in a Six-man tag team match. The main event was another singles match in which Edge defeated Al Know by disqualification.

The first match of the event was between Matt Borske and an unannounced opponent. Before the match, Borske spoke to the audience, putting down the New York Knicks, and his opponent. Tazz then made his IWF debut as Borske's opponent. Tazz gained the early advantage, performing a back body drop, sending Borske outside the ring. Borske gained the advantage after performing a vertical suplex outside the ring. After performing a belly to belly suplex, Borske climbed the turnbuckles, but Tazz hit the ropes. Borske fell onto the top turnbuckle, and Tazz performed a belly to belly suplex off the turnbuckles. Borske regained the advantage after a small package, and a bridging German suplex. Tazz then countered an Olympic slam attempt into a German suplex. After a T-Bone suplex, and a Head and arm suplex, Tazz applied the Tazzmission. Borske passed out to the hold and Tazz won the match, ending Borske's undefeated streak.

The second match was the first-ever Tag Team Tables match, between the Hooper Boyz (Matt and Josh) and the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Harlan and Scott). Before the match, the Dudley Boyz insulted the fans, expressing their dislike for the booing of John Rocker. The Hooper Boyz gained the advantage with a double superplex to Bubba Harlan, and the use of a ladder. After using the chair, Matt placed Bubba Harlan on a table outside the ring. Matt then hit a diving leg drop as Josh hit a diving splash (known as the Event Omega) to send Bubba Harlan through the table. The Hardy Boyz then placed Scott on a table outside the ring. Matt performed a diving leg drop through the table, but Scott avoided it. Josh then performed a suicide senton, but missed, sending himself into a table. The Hooper Boyz were not defeated as they sent themselves through the tables. Bubba Harlan sent Matt through a table in the ring with a superbomb. The Dudley Boyz then beat down the Hooper Boyz, and stacked tables in the entrance way under a balcony in the seating area. Bubba Harlan dragged Josh to the balcony, but Josh performed a low blow, and used a chair on Bubba Harlan. Matt moved as Bubba Harlan fell through the tables. Matt then placed Scott onto a table, and Josh sent him through it with a Swanton Bomb from the balcony for the Hooper Boyz to win the match.

Next was the Miss Rumble 2000 swimsuit contest. The contestants consisted of Ivory, Terri, Jacqueline Weikart, Barbara Bush, Luna and The Kat, while the judges consisted of IWF alumni, and comedian Andy Richter. After the contestants showed their swimsuits, and as the judges were deciding, Mae Young appeared, and announced her participation in the contest. After showing her swimsuit, she flashed her breasts. The video was censored before Steven Larson appeared, and covered her up. The judges then unanimously decided Young as the winner.

The third match was a Triple Threat match for the IWF Intercontinental Championship between Hardcore Murnion, and co-champions Khris Jericho and Amber. Before the match, Jericho declared his plans for a celebration after winning the match. The match went back and forth before Murnion sent Amber outside the ring. Jericho then fought with Murnion, applying the Walls of Jericho. Amber returned to the ring, and attacked Jericho. Jericho performed a springboard splash to Murnion outside the ring. Back in the ring, Amber performed a handspring back elbow, and a DDT to Jericho. Amber attempted a pin, but Murnion returned and threw her out of the ring. All three were outside the ring, and Murnion attempted to use a chair, but Amber performed a dropkick to the chair into Murnion's face. In the ring, Amber performed a diving splash onto Murnion, and Jericho performed a diving splash onto both of them. Amber countered a belly to back suplex, and performed a low blow to Jericho. Amber then performed a Pedigree to Murnion. Jericho performed a diving crossbody to Amber, who was on Murnion's shoulders. Amber performed a superplex to Murnion, hit him with a chair, and applied the Walls of Jericho. Jericho then performed a one-handed bulldog, and a Lionsault to Amber, to pin her for the victory. Jericho gained sole possession of the title as a result.

Aftermath

Results

Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations

A new entrant came out approximately every 90 seconds.

References

External links

• Official website