Unforgiven 2000

Unforgiven 2000 was the third Unforgiven professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The event took place on September 24, 2000 at the First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWF Championship. The Rock defended the title against Chris Benoit, The Undertaker and Kane. Benoit originally won the match by pinning Undertaker but since Undertaker's foot was on the rope and the referee did not notice it, the match was restarted and Rock pinned Benoit after a Rock Bottom to retain the title.
The undercard featured Triple H versus Kurt Angle in a No Disqualification match, Eddie Guerrero versus Rikishi for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Edge and Christian versus Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) in a Steel Cage match for the WWF Tag Team Championship, Chris Jericho versus X-Pac, a 10-Minute Hardcore Battle Royal for the WWF Hardcore Championship, Tazz versus Jerry Lawler in a Strap Match and Right to Censor (Steven Richards, Val Venis, Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather) versus The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match.
==Background==
Unforgiven featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that were played out on Raw is War and SmackDown—World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain or a hero as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
The main rivalry heading into the event was between The Rock, Chris Benoit, The Undertaker and Kane over Rock's WWF Championship. On August 28, 2000 edition of Raw is War, Undertaker cost Kane, a title opportunity against Rock. On August 31 edition of SmackDown, Undertaker and Benoit wrestled in a #1 contender's match which Undertaker won by disqualification after being attacked by Kane. However, due to earning the victory by disqualification, Undertaker was not made the #1 contender. This led to a #1 contender's match between Benoit and Kane on September 4 edition of Raw is War. Benoit was disqualified again for hitting Kane with a chair and the position of the #1 contender remained vacant. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Benoit and Kane defeated Rock and Undertaker in a tag team match. After the match, the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley announced that Rock would defend the title against Benoit, Undertaker and Kane in a Fatal Four-Way match at Unforgiven.
Another predominant rivalry heading into the event was between Triple H and Kurt Angle. At SummerSlam, The Rock defeated Triple H and Angle in a Triple Threat match to retain the WWF Championship after Angle received a concussion at the hands of Triple H. Angle had started taking a liking to Triple H's on-screen wife, Stephanie McMahon which made Triple H, jealous of Angle. On August 28 edition of Raw is War, Angle interfered in a match between Eddie Guerrero and Triple H by attacking both men with a chair. Guerrero's valet and Triple H's former on-screen girlfriend, the WWF Intercontinental Champion Chyna checked on both men and hugged Triple H. On August 31 edition of SmackDown, Angle showed McMahon, a video of Triple H and Chyna hugging each other to create differences between Triple H and McMahon. Later that night, Triple H was arrested by police officers before his scheduled match against Guerrero and Angle. On September 4 edition of Raw is War, Test was revealed to have complained to the officers to have Triple H arrested. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Angle interfered in Triple H's match with Chris Jericho and distracted Triple H, causing Triple H to leave the ring and chase Angle. Later that night, Angle attacked both Triple H and McMahon after his Handicap match against T&A (Test and Albert). As a result, the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley announced that Triple H and Angle would wrestle at Unforgiven.
At SummerSlam, Edge and Christian defeated Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) and The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) in the first-ever Tables, Ladders and Chairs match to retain the WWF Tag Team Championship. The following night on Raw is War, Edge and Christian mocked Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz by bringing out four midgets portraying Hardyz and Dudleyz. This caused Hardyz to come out and attack Edge and Christian. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Hardy Boyz defeated Dudley Boyz in a #1 contender's match for the Tag Team Championship. On September 14 edition of SmackDown, the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley announced that Edge and Christian would defend the titles against Hardy Boyz in a Steel Cage match at Unforgiven.
At SummerSlam, Chyna and Eddie Guerrero defeated the WWF Intercontinental Champion Val Venis and Trish Stratus in a mixed tag team match by pinning Venis for his WWF Intercontinental Championship. The next night on Raw is War, Chyna and Guerrero involved themselves in a rivalry between Triple H and Kurt Angle as Guerrero and Triple H had a match, in which Angle interfered and attacked both men. After the match, Chyna and Triple H hugged. Angle tried to create differences between Chyna and Guerrero, leading to a title match between Chyna and Angle on September 4 edition of Raw is War. However, Guerrero wanted to second Chyna but the WWF Commissioner inserted him into the Intercontinental Championship match, making it a Triple Threat match. Angle knocked out Chyna and Guerrero accidentally pinned her as he attempted to revive her. After the match, Chyna and Guerrero argued and Guerrero tried to return the belt to her but she refused and they hugged. It was followed by a vicious smile by Guerrero, creating a doubt that Guerrero was plotting this to win the title. He would follow by sneak attacks on Chyna's allies, Road Dogg and Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty and Grand Master Sexay). Following Guerrero's assault on Too Cool on September 11 edition of Raw is War, Too Cool's ally Rikishi came to rescue the team but was attacked by Chyna. On September 14 edition of SmackDown, Guerrero cost the team of Rikishi and Scotty, a tag team match against Right to Censor (Val Venis and Steven Richards) by attacking Rikishi. This would lead to an Intercontinental Championship match between Guerrero and Rikishi at Unforgiven.
At SummerSlam, Jerry Lawler defeated Tazz in a standard wrestling match. The following night on Raw is War, Tazz had a scheduled WWF Hardcore Championship match against Steve Blackman. Tazz began attacking Lawler, causing Lawler and Jim Ross to interfere in the match and cost Tazz, the title opportunity against Blackman. On August 31 edition of SmackDown, Lawler cost Tazz, a match against Chris Jericho. On September 4 edition of Raw is War, Lawler and Jericho defeated Tazz and Mideon in a tag team match when Lawler pinned Tazz. After the match, Tazz attacked Lawler with a leather strap. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Lawler cost Tazz, a WWF European Championship match against Al Snow and after the match, Tazz decided to quit WWF. However, on September 14 edition of SmackDown, the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley convinced Tazz to stay in WWF and announced that Tazz would wrestle Lawler in a Strap match at Unforgiven.
On September 7 edition of SmackDown, X-Pac defeated Chris Jericho in a standard wrestling match. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, X-Pac interfered in Jericho's match against Triple H by attacking Jericho and causing Triple H to get disqualified. Later that night, Jericho cost X-Pac, a WWF Hardcore Championship match against Steve Blackman. On September 18 edition of Raw is War, Jericho ruined the returning Steven Regal's ceremony and X-Pac attacked Jericho from behind. This would lead to a match between Jericho and X-Pac at Unforgiven.
At SummerSlam, Right to Censor (Steven Richards, Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather) defeated Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty, Grand Master Sexay and Rikishi) in a six-man tag team match. On August 31, 2000 edition of SmackDown, RTC helped Val Venis in defeating Rikishi. On September 11 edition of Raw is War, Goodfather and Buchanan defeated Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw) in a tag team match. After the match, Venis attacked APA and joined RTC. On September 18 edition of Raw is War, Goodfather and Buchanan defeated Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) in a tag team match through the same way. After the match, RTC began attacking Dudley Boyz until APA came out to rescue Dudley Boyz. This would lead to an eight-man tag team match between the team of APA and Dudley Boyz against Right to Censor at Unforgiven.
On September 21 edition of SmackDown, Steve Blackman defended the WWF Hardcore Championship against the WWF European Champion Al Snow. During the match, Funaki, Test, Perry Saturn and Crash Holly interfered and attacked Blackman to take advantage of the 24/7 rule. Blackman pinned Funaki to retain the title. This set up a title defense for Blackman against Funaki, Test, Saturn, Holly and Snow in a Hardcore Battle Royal for the Hardcore Championship at Unforgiven.
==Event==
===Preliminary matches===
The first match on the card was an eight-man tag team match pitting Right to Censor (Steven Richards, Val Venis, Bull Buchanan, and The Goodfather) against the team of Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and Acolytes Protection Agency (Faarooq and Bradshaw). Richards did not tag into the match but interfered in the match on several occasions. On one occasion, Dudley Boyz hit Venis with a Doomsday Device, which they called Dudleyville Device and attempted to pin Venis, but Goodfather interfered and broke up the pinfall attempt. Richards interfered in the match and hit Bubba Ray with a Steven Kick, allowing Venis to pin Bubba Ray for the victory. However, after the match, the Dudley Boyz and Acolytes Protection Agency attacked Richards and slammed him through a table.
The second match was a Strap match between Tazz and Jerry Lawler. The first person to pin his opponent, make his opponent tap out or touch all the four corners of the ring would be declared the winner. Lawler attacked Tazz, executing a Piledriver on Tazz three times. Lawler dragged Tazz around the ring to touch the ring corners. He touched the three corners but as Lawler was about to touch the fourth corner, the referee was knocked out. Lawler began choking Tazz until Raven debuted in the WWF and interfered in the match by hitting Lawler with his finisher, a DDT. Tazz took advantage and applied a Half Nelson Choke, which he called Tazzmission on Lawler. Lawler tapped out to Tazz, giving Tazz the victory. After the match, Stone Cold Steve Austin returned to WWF after a nine-month absence. He was last seen at Survivor Series, where he was run down by a car. He entered the arena and began questioning everyone to check out that who was the culprit that ran him down. Interviewer Kevin Kelly tried to interview Austin but Austin tossed Kelly into the wall.
Next was a Hardcore Battle Royal for the WWF Hardcore Championship. Steve Blackman defended the title against Test, Perry Saturn, Crash Holly, the WWF European Champion Al Snow and Funaki. The rules stated that the title would change hands throughout the match when a champion was pinned. The champion at the end of the time limit of the match–10 minutes, would be declared the final Hardcore Champion at Unforgiven. All the wrestlers attacked Blackman in attempt to pin him. Holly successfully pinned Blackman to win the Hardcore Championship. He tried to escape with the title but was hit with a trashcan lid by Saturn, who pinned him for the title. Shortly after, Blackman grabbed his kendo stick and attacked all the other competitors of the match with it. The champion Saturn was one of them and Blackman pinned Saturn to win the Hardcore Championship and tried to escape to the locker room. All the wrestlers chased after him and began attacking him until the time limit expired. As a result, Blackman was declared the final champion for Unforgiven. After the match, Kurt Angle ran down into Stone Cold Steve Austin in a backstage segment. Angle introduced himself to Austin and offered him an "honorary medal" but was attacked by Austin.
The fourth match was a standard wrestling match between Chris Jericho and X-Pac. The match went back and forth when Jericho hit X-Pac's signature move the Bronco Buster on X-Pac and then applied his own finishing submission maneuver, an Elevated Boston Crab, which he calls Walls of Jericho. X-Pac tapped out to the hold but after the match, he attacked Jericho with a pair of nunchakus. After the match, Kurt Angle complained to the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley over Stone Cold Steve Austin's attack on him. This angered Foley and Foley made Angle's match with Triple H, a No Disqualification match. Later on, Austin approached The Rock in his locker room and the two exchanged words with each other until Joe interfered in their talk and was attacked by Austin.
Next was a Steel Cage match for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Edge and Christian defended the title against The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff). To win, both members of a team had to escape the cage. As the match started, the two teams attacked each other until Jeff fell out of the cage. Matt was left alone and needed to escape the cage or pin anyone of Edge and Christian to win the match. Edge and Christian took advantage of the situation and double-teamed Matt. Jeff tried to re-enter the cage but Christian knocked him out of the cage. Jeff knocked out the official outside the ring and took the key of the cage door and entered the cage but as he tried to enter the ring, Edge and Christian smashed his head with the cage. Edge took the key of the cage and dropped it under his tights. Matt started bleeding until Edge and Christian tried to hit Matt a Double chair shot but Matt avoided and hit a Double clothesline on Edge and Christian. Matt tried to take advantage by attempting to escape the cage. However, he was pulled back into the ring by Edge and Christian. Jeff grabbed a ladder and threw it on Christian, who was knocked off with the cage outside the ring. Jeff jumped onto the top of the cage through the ladder and delivered a High-Angle Senton Bomb, which he calls Swanton Bomb on both Edge and Matt from the top of the cage. Christian tried to climb the ladder but Hardy Boyz' valet Lita delivered a Hurricanrana on Christian from the top of the ladder. Edge recovered and tried to escape the steel cage but Hardy Boyz hit him a Con-chair-to on the top of the cage, knocking him down on the mat. Hardy Boyz escaped the cage to win the Tag Team Championship.
===Main event matches===
After the WWF Tag Team Championship match, Stone Cold Steve Austin continued his search of the culprit and entered Stephanie McMahon's locker room. McMahon offered him the hat that he wore during the incident in which he was run down by a car. McMahon tried to convince Austin that neither she nor Triple H was the culprit. Austin refused to believe and left the locker room. In the next backstage segment, Triple H confronted the WWF Commissioner Mick Foley. Foley announced that he would be the special guest referee for Triple H's match with Kurt Angle, later in the night.
The sixth match featured Eddie Guerrero defending the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Rikishi. Guerrero tried to escape to the locker room but his valet Chyna prevented him from escaping and threw him back into the ring. Rikishi began beating on Guerrero and had nearly finished him after keeping him in the position of Stink Face. However, as Rikishi attempted to hit the move, Chyna pulled Guerrero out of the ring. Rikishi confronted Chyna and Guerrero took advantage by splashing Rikishi from the top rope. Rikishi hit Guerrero with a Seated Senton, which he called Banzai Drop and had pinned Guerrero until Chyna interfered on Guerrero's behalf, causing Rikishi to attack Chyna. As a result, Rikishi was disqualified but he continued to attack Chyna by hitting her a Savate Kick and a Banzai Drop from the second rope.
The final match on the undercard was a No Disqualification match between Triple H and Kurt Angle. Mick Foley served as the special guest referee. Before the match began, Angle announced that it was Stephanie McMahon's birthday and led the people into singing a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You". McMahon came out with Triple H to manage her. Angle began attacking Triple H's injured ribs and focused on them. Triple H attempted to hit a Double Underhook Facebuster, which he calls Pedigree on Angle on the main announce table. However, Angle reversed it and hit a Belly to Belly Suplex on Triple H on the Spanish announce table. Foley offered Triple H to quit the match but Triple H opted to continue the match. Angle continued to injure Triple H's ribs. After Angle missed a Moonsault from the top rope, Triple H tried to hit a Pedigree until McMahon entered the ring and low blowed Angle, allowing Triple H to hit Angle a Pedigree for the victory. After the match, Shane McMahon returned to WWF after being injured at SummerSlam and tried to blame Steve Blackman for being the attacker of Stone Cold Steve Austin. However, Blackman came out to prove his innocence but before he could speak, Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and hit Blackman a Sitout Three-Quarter Facelock Jawbreaker, which he calls Stone Cold Stunner. Austin and McMahon began celebrating and drinking beers until Austin hit McMahon, a Stone Cold Stunner.
The main event was a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWF Championship. The Rock defended the title against Chris Benoit, Kane and The Undertaker. As the match began, Rock battled Kane and Benoit fought with Undertaker. After taking down Kane and Benoit, Rock and Undertaker battled each other until they were attacked by Kane and Benoit. Benoit and Rock battled to the outside until Kane made the first pinfall attempt of the match on Undertaker after hitting him a Flying Clothesline but got a near-fall. The match went back and forth until Benoit hit Undertaker with a chair and pinned him to win the match and became the new WWF Champion. However, Undertaker's foot was on the bottom rope and the official was groggy, so he counted the fall. The WWF Commissioner Mick Foley reversed the decision and restarted the match. Benoit was attacked by all the three competitors on numerous occasions until all the four competitors continued to attack each other. Benoit attacked Kane and Undertaker outside the ring with a chair and returned to the ring to apply his submission maneuver, a Crossface, which he called Crippler Crossface on Rock. Benoit had nearly defeated Rock until Undertaker entered the ring and began stomping Benoit. Undertaker followed by chokeslamming Benoit but before he could make a pinfall, Kane pulled him outside the ring and battled with Undertaker. Rock took advantage and hit Benoit, a Lifting Side Slam, which he called Rock Bottom to win the match and retain the WWF Championship.
==Aftermath==
The following night, on September 25 edition of Raw is War, The Rock and Triple H exchanged rivals with Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle as Triple H and Stephanie McMahon came out to check on a knocked out Shane McMahon during a WWF Championship match between Rock and Benoit. Benoit attacked Triple H while Angle started attacking on Triple H until Rock tried to rescue Triple H but failed as Benoit and Angle attacked both men. On October 2 edition of Raw is War, Angle defeated Triple H to become the #1 contender for the WWF title and eventually defeated Rock at No Mercy for his first WWF Championship. Since Triple H was defeated due to interference by Benoit, the two wrestled in a match at No Mercy, which Triple H won.
Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) continued their rivalry with Edge and Christian over the WWF Tag Team Championship, leading to the controversial Los Conquistadores storyline. Los Conquistadores attacked Hardy Boyz on numerous occasions and became the #1 contenders for the tag titles by winning a tag team battle royal on October 19 edition of SmackDown. At No Mercy, Los Conquistadores defeated Hardy Boyz for the Tag Team Championship. The following night on Raw is War, Los Conquistadores defeated Edge and Christian to retain the titles but unmasked themselves after the match to reveal Hardy Boyz. Hardy Boyz revealed that Edge and Christian were wearing the golden costumes and masks the entire time but in some segments gave it to their hired goons which featured Edge and Christian talking to Los Conquistadores.
==Results==
;
;
*Right to Censor (Steven Richards, Val Venis, Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather) defeated The APA (Bradshaw & Faarooq) & The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (6:05)
*Tazz defeated Jerry Lawler in a Strap match (5:05)
*Steve Blackman won a Hardcore Battle Royal (10:00). Also in the match were: Crash, Sho Funaki, Perry Saturn, Al Snow, and Test. All winners won the WWF Hardcore Championship.
**Crash pinned Blackman (3:54)
**Perry Saturn pinned Crash (4:06)
**Blackman pinned Saturn (9:01)
*Chris Jericho defeated X-Pac (9:03)
*The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) defeated Edge & Christian (c) in a Steel Cage match to win the WWF Tag Team Championship (13:33)
*Eddie Guerrero (c) defeated Rikishi by DQ to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship (6:03)
*Triple H defeated Kurt Angle in a No Disqualification Match. Mick Foley was the special referee.
*The Rock (c) defeated The Undertaker and Kane and Chris Benoit in a Fatal Four Way Match to retain the WWF Championship (16:03)
==Other on-screen talent==
;Commentators
*Jim Ross
*Jerry "The King" Lawler
*Michael Cole
*Carlos Cabrera
*Hugo Savinovich
;Interviewers
*Kevin Kelly
*Michael Cole	
;Ring announcer
*Howard Finkel
;Referees
*Teddy Long
*Chad Patton
*Earl Hebner
*Mike Sparks
*Jimmy Korderas
*Mike Chioda
*Jack Doan
*Tim White
==See also==
*List of WWE pay-per-view events
*WWE Event History
*Unforgiven
==DVD release==
* Unforgiven 2000 on DVD
==External links==
* Unforgiven 2000 Official Website
* Unforgiven 2000 at CAGEMATCH.net
* Unforgiven 2000 at Online World of Wrestling
* on WWE Network
Category:Unforgiven
Category:2000 pay-per-view events
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view events
Category:Events with No Disqualification matches
Category:Events with Steel Cage matches
Category:Events with Strap matches
Category:Events with Guest Referees