WWF Themes from the Early 2000's

Ever since reviewing Fully Loaded 2000, I've been pretty addicted to the WWF in the early 2000. Most recently watching the excellent SummerSlam from the same year. Which was most famous for hosting the first ever TLC match. But the card also contains a good three-way main event for the WWF Championship between The Rock, Kurt Angle and Triple H. And a hardcore title bout involving Shane McMahon which is always fun and involves an insane bump by Shane O'Mac.

Watching events like this allows me to relive some of the great moments that got me into wrestling. Everything just seems "right", from the energetic crowds to the gimmicky characters. One thing that shouldn't be overlooked is the theme music. They typify the era and sum up the characters perfectly. Here's five of the best:

Triple H - "My Time"
I mentioned this theme when I reviewed Fully Loaded. It reminds me of the original Smackdown game on PlayStation. Say what you like about Triple H but he's had some epic theme tunes. This is just one of many. What stands out in this era is the opening. All the songs have that cool opening. Coupled with some intriguing lyrics "Yo Jimmy, hit me with that Triple H", this is a classic.

Chris Jericho - "Break the Walls Down"

When Chris Jericho arrived in the WWF he did exactly what his entrance music said, he broke the walls down. The countdown added to his arrival and gimmick. The video is a little plain with shots of nightlife and such but the music added to Jericho's rock n' roll character.

 

Chris Benoit - "Shooter"

A theme that had no lyrics but it didn't need too. It was what Benoit was all about. He wasn't going to go toe-to-toe on the mic with The Rock like Jericho. He was all about the wrestling. It was fitting that his entrance theme just focused on the music. His theme was later re-done by Our Lady Peace and entitled "Whatever" with lyrics which remains one of my favourite wrestling tunes. 

 

The Undertaker - "Rollin"

The Undertaker's gimmick change from deadman to biker was a huge shift for the longest serving roster member. Who would have guessed it would have worked so well? 'Taker didn't debut under his new gimmick with this theme. But when he did, everybody loved it. All thanks to Limp Bizkit.

 

Maven - "Tattoo"

An odd one but an awesome one. Possibly my favourite tune. It sums up Maven's underdog character perfectly. It was written by Mercy Drive, the dudes behind another of my favourite wrestling tunes, Randy Orton's "Burn My Light". I was a Maven mark and I have to attribute a lot of that to his theme music.

 

Do you agree with my choices? Do you prefer a bit of Too Cool? What would be your picks?@marcusandberg





Rebooked: The Rock versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan

The Build-Up

It all started at No Way Out where Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall known as the NWO returned to the WWE. Their main targets soon became clear in the two of the company’s top faces, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.

The NWO started by attacking The Rock backstage and costing Steve Austin the WWF Undisputed Championship. Austin and The Rock met up the following week and became united under their hate of the NWO (although they faced off at WrestleMania only a year before). They brawled with the NWO from the ring into a parking lot until the NWO took the numbers advantage. After smashing The Rock though a windscreen the NWO ran off. The following week Stone Cold entered the arena alone and was beaten down by all three members of the NWO. His scheduled match with Kevin Nash never officially started.

The Rock returned the next week and called out the former “Hulkster” to come out alone. Hogan answered his challenge and came to the ring by himself. The two had an intense conversation. The Rock talked about how dream matches are usually just dreams but they can make this dream a reality. Hogan declined a match between the two until The Rock slapped him in the face and mocked his manhood. Hall and Nash came from the crowd and attacked The Rock until the crowd were treated to the sound of glass shattering as Stone Cold came out. Austin was able to throw all three NWO members from the ring and then proceeded to share a beer with the “Great One.”

The next week a double contract signing was held for WrestleMania X8. The Rock would challenge Hollywood Hulk Hogan while Steve Austin would face Scott Hall. After all four men signed it erupted into a brawl where Austin fought both Nash and Hall into the crowd while the “People’s Champion” and Hogan fought in the ring. Hall, Nash and Austin then disappeared while referee’s and officials pulled Rock and Hogan apart.

On the Raw before the big event the NWO were informed that they would be in a handicap match against The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the Main Event. The match was back and forth with the NWO’s Hogan and Hall refusing to face their WrestleMania opponents. The Rock eventually got in the ring with Hogan but Hogan caused a DQ after a blatant low blow. Leaving a final image before WrestleMania of the NWO spray painting their stables initials on their opponent’s backs.

The Show

OTHER MATCHES

After 9 matches which included Rob Van Dam being crowned the new Intercontinental Champion, Kurt Angle toppling Kane and the Undertaker coming up top over Ric Flair it was time for the match billed as “Icon vs. Icon” Just two matches before Stone Cold Steve Austin opened up his trademark can of whoop a** on Hogan’s fellow NWO stable mate, Scott Hall.

NWO WORRIED?

Both Hall and Kevin Nash were distressed about the loss wondering if it will effect Hogan in his match with The Rock later tonight. We see Hogan’s views in a short segment after the Tag Team Title match.

Hall: (Pacing back and forth) Hey yo, could you believe what just happened out there tonight?

Nash: Just calm down look Hogan’s got it covered. He’ll beat Rocky tonight then we’ll get our revenge on Austin, yeah?

Hogan walks onto the set in full wrestling attire and his black and white feather bowers. We hear a load roar from the crowd in the sold out SkyDome.

Hogan: What’s the matter brother?

Nash: Nothing Hulk. You just concentrate on your match.

Hogan: Oh I’m ready brother. I’m ready to rip this jabroni a new a** hole.

Hall: Well you better be. Rocky gonna bring his A-game.

Hogan: And I’m gonna to bring the same because tonight is the night the world watches it’s “People Champion” crumbles before the might of the N...W...O!

“A year ago we would have thought this match could have never occurred but there’s only one place, only one stage for this match, Wrestlemania X8. The Rock versus Hollywood Hulk Hogan.”

Jim Ross- WWE Commentator

HOGAN RETURNS

The immortal riffs of the NWO Music plays as the SkyDome turns black and white. Hogan struts out onto the stage playing his air guitar load and proud. He continues his strut down the ramp and into the ring where the screen returns to normal. The commentators make note that this is Hogan’s tenth Wrestlemania and his first in 9 years. As the music stops a loud “Hogan, Hogan” chant is heard. Hogan smiles, then turns away.

THE PEOPLE’S ENTRANCE

“If you smell what the Rock is cooking…” The timeless words to The Rock’s entrance theme cuts Hogan’s nostalgic chants from the audience. As The Rock emerges from the entrance the crowd cheer even louder. “The Great One” pauses on the stage and looks around into the audience before beginning his journey on marching down to the ring. The Rock leaps up onto the steel steps and walks across to the ring ropes before striking his signature pose on the top turnbuckle.

THE STAREDOWN

The Rock jumps down and the music cuts and the crowd are heard in their deafening cheers for both competitors. Hogan removes his sunglasses and walks up to The Rock. They meet face to face in the centre of the ring. After a few moments of staring at each other they turn to the crowd, split on their chosen Icon. They then back up towards their respective turnbuckles as the ring bell sounds.

The Match

The two icons lock up in the middle of the ring. After seconds of struggling Hogan gets the advantage and backs The Rock up into the ropes. The referee makes a 4 count and Hogan releases. They centre back up in the ring then lock up once more. After more struggling to gain the advantage The Rock comes out on top and forces Hogan into the ropes. The referee once again makes the count and The Rock releases. Hogan then pushes The Rock back into the centre of the ring. For a third time they lock up. They struggle back and forth with both men nearing the ropes until Hogan hits a big scoop slam sending The Rock to the floor sending the Hogan fans into a frenzy.

The Rock quickly gets back onto his feet but now holding his back. They lock up again but only briefly as Hogan irish whips Rock into the ropes. On the rebound Hogan lifts his arm out in a clothesline knocking The Rock down for a second time. The Rock gets back up but this time slower. Hogan grabs Rock around the head and gives him a clubbing blow to the back. After a third hit Rock goes down and Hogan taunts to the crowd. Hogan reaches down to pick up his opponent but Rock pushes away. Rock follows up with a few fists sending Hulk back into the ropes.

Rock grabs Hogan and sends him into ropes and as he comes back he hits a clothesline to knock Hogan off his feet. The Rock then takes his turn to taunt the crowd as Hogan slowly reaches his feet. Rock goes for an early Rock Bottom but Hogan counters with some elbows to the head. Hogan then sends Rock into the turnbuckle. Rock is able to give an elbow back to Hogan who quickly reacts with a back rake. The referee warns Hogan who follows in on the “The Great One”.

The Rock stumbles into the centre of the ring where Hogan attacks from behind in an Atomic Drop. Rock goes down and Hogan follows with two consecutive elbow drops. The third is only stopped as Hogan whips his shoe over The Rock’s face. Hogan taunts the crowd once more who are cheering loudly for him. This allows Rocky to get to his feet and deliver 3 quick blows to Hogan’s ribs. The Rock tries for a Samoan Drop on Hogan who is able to slip out from the move and hit a back suplex. Both men get to their feet around the same time.

They struggle over the advantage until The Rock pulls out a front suplex which keeps Hogan down. The Rock tries for a 3-count but only gets a two. Strangely The Rock exits the ring onto the apron and starts ascending the turnbuckle. The Rock waits on the top rope until Hogan gets to his feet. The Rock dives off in a diving crossbody but fails to connect as Hogan moves out of the way. Hogan tries for the win after an unusual top rope move from The Rock but only gets a two count. Back on their feet Hogan gets ready to lift The Rock in military press slam but the Rock jumps out from behind hitting a Russian leg sweep for his own close count.

With Hollywood down The Rock looks around to the millions (and millions) of The Rock fans in the arena and watching around the world and prepares for the Peoples Elbow. He kicks the arm in, removes the elbow pad then throws it before setting off into the ropes. Hogan is able to get to his feet in time and hit a big shoulder block to counter. With The Rock down Hogan locks in a sleeper hold. The Rock nearly falls unconscious to the hold but is revived before the referee’s count of three. The Rock gets to his feet and gives three elbows to Hogan’s mid section.

He is able escape the hold and run into the ropes but as he comes back Hogan hits the big boot. Hogan quickly covers but gets another two count. Back on their feet the two opponents both delivers punches until The Rock ducks Hogan’s fist and grabs his legs. Yanking them in the air he sends Hogan onto his back. The Rock crosses the legs and turns him over for the Sharpshooter. Hogan screams in agony but is able to eventually reach the ropes.

The Rock makes the break then gets the weakened Hogan to his feet against the ropes. Rock sends him into the ropes and delivers a spinebuster. The Rock looks like he is going for a pin but instead pulls his opponent to his feet. The Rock then hits his signature move the Rock Bottom and quickly hooks the leg. But the Hulkster kicks out again.

The Rock signals for one more and lifts the battered body of Hogan to his feet but Hogan starts to shake his head. The Rock starts to punch away to no effect as Hogan shakes his head and then his fists. The Rock tries for his trademark palm strike but Hogan is Hulking up! Hogan starts his punches on the Rock then sends him into the ropes for a big boot. Hogan then signals to the crowd for the Leg Drop and is able to hit it. Hogan goes for the cover but the “People’s Champion” is able to get a shoulder up before the count of three to continue this historic match.

The Rock then rolls to the outside to recover as Hogan sits in the ring in disbelief. Hogan then follows The Rock to the outside but is met by the Rock smashing his face into the announce table. The Rock throws Hogan back into the ring and signals for a second People’s Elbow. Once again he kicks the arm then removes the second elbow pad and throws it into the crowd. On the way back from the ropes Hogan is able to trip the Rock up.

Both men stay down until the count of 9 from the official. Once back on their feet they come face to face once more. Both exhausted after hitting their big moves and still unable to get the 3-count. The stare down is broken up by Hogan’s right hand hitting The Rock’s face. The Rock delivers one back and they continue to trade blows until Hogan catches The Rock in his own Rock Bottom!

Hogan gets back up and mocks the Rock by trying for the Peoples Elbow. He kicks in the arm, removes an imaginary elbow pad and throws it into the crowd. Hogan comes back off the ropes but is met by a Rock Bottom. With sweat dripping off his brow and his heart racing The Rock kicks in the arm, removes the... realises he has no elbow pad left and just raises his arm to the “Just bring it” pose. Then runs into the ropes and returns with an elbow to Hogan’s chest. The crowd wait in disbelief for the count. 1..2..3

THE AFTERMATH

The Rock stumbles to his feet with help from the referee then gets his hand raised to the sell out crowd. Hogan very slowly gets to his feet with sweat pouring off him clutching both his back and his midsection. The Rock comes down off the turnbuckle and returns face to face with Hogan. As it looks like they’re going to start fighting again Hogan extends his hand in a handshake. The Rock looks around as if he’s asking the crowd should he shake his hand after what he has done. The Rock then shakes the hand and a smile grows on both men’s faces.

This is until Scott Hall and Kevin Nash walk down to the ring. They enter the ring and walk over to Hogan. You can see that they are upset with him and are asking him why he shook his hand. Hogan doesn’t respond and Hall pushes Hogan. Hogan then straightens up and punches Hall and Nash. Hall gets back up but the Rock grabs him so that Hogan can strike Hall. Hogan lines up the punch but as he goes to connect with a punch on Hall, The Rock moves and delivers a kick between the legs of Hogan before delivering yet another Rock Bottom.

The Rock’s smile returns as Nash pulls out a spray can and hands it over to The Rock. In the middle of the ring The Rock spray paints “NWO” on Hogan’s back. Hall, Nash and Rock stand over Hogan’s body as the camera zooms in on the back on Hogan.

Random Review: Fully Loaded 2000

The event opens with a cool hype video. The tagline is “The Crap Shoot”. I understand the gambling link but that’s an awful tagline. The video focuses on four men: Rock, ‘Taker, HHH, Angle, Jericho and Benoit. I thought it was some six-way challenge bout. Instead the titan-tron hypes up a “Triple Main Event” and one of them is a Last Man Standing too. Sounds good.

 

We open with the Hardy Boys and Lita versus Trish Stratus, Test and Albert in a six-person inter-gender bout. The video package beforehand focuses on divas, which is odd. But considering the crowd are chanting for Lita the entire match, it’s the right call.  The Hardy’s are the epitome of tag team wrestling and hit their usual tag combos. There’s some cool spots from Lita too, who picks up the win with the Moonsault. Excellent opener, you couldn’t have asked for a better match to warm the crowd up. Trish attacks Lita post match and whips her (not like that).

Backstage, Edge tells Commissioner Mick Foley that his tag partner, Christian is too ill to compete. Foley doesn’t believe Edge. Interesting, wonder where they’re going with this. Also happening backstage, the Undertaker arrives on his motorbike (in his awesome American Badass gimmick). He spots Angle and chases him down the corridor on the bike. Angle then manages to evade him. Damn cool segment.

Next up is Tazz versus Al Snow. It’s a surprisingly good match. Surprising to Jerry Lawler on commentary too, who runs down Snow as a nobody. There’s some innovative moves and moves you don’t usually see in this short contest. Snow even busts out a moonsault or should that be a snowsault? Tazz gets the win and looks good in the process, shame this push wouldn’t last.
 

Backstage again with E&C. Foley comes in while Christian is puking. Is Edge going to have a replacement partner? Triple H and Stephanie are watching the screen from their room. There’s loads of flowers but they’re not from HHH. The note inside the flowers says “it’s true, it’s damn true,” but I have a feeling it’s not from Angle.
 

It’s time for “Latino Heat” and the European Championship match. Eddie is up against the odd looking Perry Saturn. His selling matches his look. Odd. Chyna is out with Eddie while Terri came out with Perry but got scared by Chyna and ran away. Eddie keeps hitting hurricanrana’s, why does he keep hitting them? Chyna gets involved and late in the match Saturn hits her with a clothesline and she falls through the Spanish Announce table. This allows Terri to run out and hit the low blow for the win. New Champ!

Backstage again for the latest in the series of segments with Edge, Christian and Mick Foley. The Commissioner find out Christian has been lying and orders them to defend the belts tonight. Meanwhile, The Undertaker is interviewed by Michael Cole but gets distracted when he sees Angle riding his bike. ‘Taker then gives chase. I don’t want to link this up to modern day but the way ‘Taker is perceived here is how Roman Reigns should be. Says what he needs to say, gets the business done and looks like a total badass.

Edge and Christian are now out to defend the Tag Team titles. They get cheap heat by running down the crowd before the Acolytes come down. Bradshaw defends the homecrowd, it’s strange to think this guy would go onto become a World Champion and then a great commentator. Bradshaw and Faarooq brawl with E&C before the champions use heel tactics to take control. Those simple promos at the start have made the fans care about this match. Sadly it ends in an intentional DQ from Edge and Christian, the two teams brawl to the back, I assume this feud will continue.

More segments. 1) There’s a strange Big Boss Man promo where he checks someone’s ID in Times Square. Oh, and he’s dressed as a member of the Shield. 2) Triple H is backstage with Stephanie. The Game decides he is going after Kurt for sending all these flowers to his wife. 3) The Undertaker gives chase to Kurt but the Olympic Gold Medalist outsmarts him with an attack with a wrench from behind. Angle focuses on the injured knee of ‘Taker.

There’s been a steel cage hanging above the ring all night. I assumed it was for one of the three main event matches. But it’s for the Intercontinental title match between Rikishi and champion Val Venis. Teddy Long is out referee playa, better watch he doesn’t make this a tag match. I forget that Venis was so high up the card in these days. I don’t know what gimmick he has here. He comes out with Trish. They do the usual, I-throw-you-into-the-cage spot before ’Kishi sells a clothesline like a cruiserweight. Impressive. Val gets busted open and ‘Kishi begins to leave but Trish smashes the door in his face! Lita then comes running out to another huge pop, he starts whipping Trish to the back. Teddy Long then takes a bump as ‘Kishi begins to leave over the top. But he gets to the top and decides he wants to dive instead. Kishi nerviously moves to the middle of the cage, looks the camera dead in the eye then hits a huge splash from the top of the cage. SUPERFLY KISHI! I did not expect that. Both men stay down until 'Kishi begins to exit through the door. But Tazz appears and hits ‘Kishi with a camera allowing Val to exit and retain. Surprisingly good cage match.
 
Backstage we get shown footage of Kurt attacking the Undertaker again. Then live footage of ‘Taker wiping off a 30 days without accident sign, ha. Then we cut to Triple H who finds who has been sending flowers. He enters a room and there are some sounds before Chris Jericho emerges and HHH is left on the floor. Simple stuff but all these short segments add extra heat to the feuds.

Shane O’Mac is out in wrestling gear but he’s not wrestling, damn. He has the Rock’s “Just Bring It” shirt on. It's about time we see a promo hyping up the title match, everything else has been built up. He calls out “The People’s Champion” who soon appears. The Rock says it’s a set-up, says Benoit is hiding and jokes that he is up Shane’s candy ass. Benoit appears on the screen backstage, cuts a short promo and rips up rocks clothes. Oh, this feud just got personal.

Onto the first of the triple main events, we are shown an Angle versus ‘Taker hype video. Angle looks great in this. At first he didn't want to fight ‘Taker. He even tried making up for damaging ‘Taker’s bike by buying him a scooter. Angle is so scared that 'Taker will get payback that he is frightened by his own pyro. Lawler comments it’s the “American Badass versus the great American hero.”

Onto the match, ‘Taker interrupts Angle’s entrance and gets the match going early. There’s a brief fight in crowd before the match officially begins. The Undertaker is in full control, even breaking up his own pin counts. On the outside, Angle turns the tide by using the wrench on the injured knee. Kurt gets “The Deadman” back in the ring and focuses on knee with submissions. ‘Taker fights back and hits a Chokeslam followed by a Last Ride. For the pretty easy win.

Backstage, The Rock is back in his locker room looking at his ripped clothing. Nobody messes with the Rock’s silk shirts dammit!

 

Next up is our second main event, hopefully it’s better than the last one. Triple H faces Chris Jericho in a Last Man Standing match. It’s only the second LMS match in WWE history. Loving the old school music. “Yo Jimmy, hit me with that Triple H.” (I now have to resist the urge not to dig out my old Playstation and play old Smackdown games). HHH controls the match and I’m immediately thinking this is going to be one-sided like the last bout. There’s a referee bump and Stephanie gets in the ring but takes the Walls of Jericho. Triple H gets busted open bad from a chairshot, as if someone poured a red paint tub over his head which allows Jericho to get in offence and look good. Someone needs to tell the referee the rules of a Last Man Standing bout, he really doesn't know what he's doing. They fight to the outside where they both nearly KO each other with the announce table monitors. Y2J tries to put HHH through the table. But “The Game” fights back and hits a back body drop off the time-keepers table through the announce table. The referee begins the count and it looks like it will be a double count out but Triple H gets to his feet on 10 then falls. Referee awards the match to Triple H. Damn good match, maybe not as good as a Last Man Standing match should be, but maybe that’s me comparing it to today’s standards.

And into the third and final main event, here we go. The Rock versus Chris Benoit hype video is shown, there’s an awkward statement by JR about how ruthless Benoit is but I think there’s one of them in any of his matches. I think this might be my first Benoit match I’ve watched since he died. Because of how heated this match is (they keep attacking each other with chairs), Foley made a stip that if The Rock loses by DQ he will lose the belt. Why didn’t he just make this the Last Man Standing bout? That would have made more sense.

Onto the match, Benoit wears a ripped Rock shirt and has Shane O’Mac at ringside. The crowd loves The Rock, he gets the biggest pop of the night and that continues into the match as Rocky goes right on the offence. There’s lots of Shane interference and distractions but he’s sloppy early on. It’s like Rock and Benoit are waiting for him. After one Shane interference, Rock ends up being clotheslined into the crowd. The Rock fights back using a fans drink to hit the challenger. But Benoit begins to control working over Rocky until the champ comes back with a Powerbomb but instead up dumping him back down he lifts him over into a kind of powerbomb/hotshot. Odd, dunno if that was a botch or just a very odd move. Rock hits the People’s Elbow but Shane delays the pin allowing the Benoit to recover in time to kick out. Shane continues to get involved, hitting Hebner with a chair from behind. The referee then sees Rock with the chair as he dumps it out of the ring. Rocky locks in the Crossface and the referee rings the bell. Wait. The referee thinks the Rock hit him with the chair so as per the stipulation, Benoit wins the title on DQ!

Shane hits The Rock with a jumping chair shot that leaves the former champ blooded. Shane and Benoit celebrate up the ramp, this can’t end like this! Here comes Mick Foley who is super over with the crowd. He helps his old Rock-n-Sock buddy by restarting the match since neither he or the audience saw a DQ. Rocky stumbles to his feet with blood dripping off his nose and motions to Just Bring It. Such an awesome visual. Benoit comes marching down to the ring and locks in the Crippler Crossface on The Rock. He looks like he might tap, then he looks like he might pass out. But he manages to get out of it and hit the Rock Bottom outta nowhere to retain.

 

Verdict: Overall, it’s a very good show. There’s not a single bad match on the entire card which is rare sight. I loved the segments throughout the night. They made me care about the tag title match and the main events. The only let down was Undertaker versus Angle as it lacked that “Main Event“ feel. One reason for this is because they wasn’t given enough time but it was WWF's fault building it up as one of the 'Triple Main Events'. In conclusion, it's definitely a card to take time out to watch. Even though there are a few big names missing (Big Show, Kane and the literal poster-boy Stone Cold), this show really typifies the era.