The Rock vs. Triple H & The Behind the Scenes of a Timing Disaster - WWF RAW Review 6/5/2000

This week on Tales from the Attitude Era, former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani recap the June 5, 2000, episode of RAW is WAR from the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York. The night begins with massive dissension in the McMahon-Helmsley faction as Triple H, Vince McMahon, and Shane McMahon engage in a family shoving match that results in everyone—including Stephanie McMahon—getting slapped.

A major talking point this week is how that "laborious" opening segment threw off the timing for the entire broadcast. Tommy Blacha provides unique insight into the backstage stress that occurs when segments run long, forcing the creative team and performers to truncate every single undercard match to fit the remaining time.

We also address the "bamboozle" regarding The Undertaker’s entrance music. While the network versions feature a generic theme, original recordings prove he was using Kid Rock’s "American Badass" from day one. Tommy Blacha shares a hilarious story about Kevin Dunn blasting the track on a private jet until everyone was sick of it.

Other highlights from this episode include:

The Rock, The Undertaker, and Kane battling in a high-stakes Triple Threat match for a title shot.

Rikishi delivering a devastating Stink Face to Trish Stratus.
Too Cool defending their WWF Tag Team Championship against The Hardy Boyz.
Crash Holly continuing his relentless quest to reclaim the Hardcore Championship.
The Rock and Triple H closing the show with a pay-per-view quality television main event for the WWF Championship.

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0:00 - Intro
1:35 - WWF legal battles & the move to Spike TV
3:55 - Rochester, NY: The "glitch" in the graphic
5:55 - The Undertaker’s real entrance music revealed
8:20 - Vince McMahon, Brisco, & Patterson arrive
10:50 - Opening Segment: Triple H vs. Vince vs. Shane dissension
11:25 - Deep Dive: How the long opening segment ruined the show’s timing
16:55 - The Rock interrupts / The family slap-fest
18:55 - Kane & The Undertaker demand title shots
21:00 - Why WWF gave away main events on free TV
25:40 - Match 1: Too Cool & Rikishi vs. Val Venis, Test & Albert
30:40 - Trish Stratus takes a Stink Face!
32:45 - Crash Holly’s backstage parking lot fail
33:25 - Match 2: Chris Benoit vs. Road Dogg (The impact of time cuts)
35:45 - Kane interview: "I don't have a brother"
36:45 - Gerald Brisco vs. Crash Holly (Hardcore Championship)
39:15 - Triple Threat Match: The Rock vs. Kane vs. The Undertaker
41:25 - Triple H interferes / The Rock earns the title shot
42:02 - Match 3: Eddie Guerrero vs. Dean Malenko (Truncated stories)
45:43 - KOTR Qualifier: Hardcore Holly vs. Faarooq
47:15 - 6-Man Tag: Dudley Boyz & Chris Jericho vs. Angle, Edge & Christian
50:10 - The Hardy Boyz vs. Boss Man & Bull Buchanan
52:15 - Stephanie McMahon announces a Women’s Battle Royal
56:40 - Main Event: Triple H vs. The Rock (WWF Championship)
1:02:25 - Final Thoughts: Burnout & the cycle of wrestling writing
1:12:45 - Inside Baseball: The reality of Kayfabe today
1:15:20 - Outro

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Tommy Blacha made his name in Hollywood as a writer on Conan O'Brien, co-creator of Metalocalypse on Adult Swim, and a writer on shows like The Eric Andre Show and Da Ali G Show. But, a little-known fact about Tommy's career is that he was the head writer of WWE (WWF at the time)) during their most successful period, starting in 1999, taking over for Vince Russo, who left for the competition. This podcast, Tales from the Attitude Era will be a retrospective of Tommy's time in the head writer position and the roller coaster ride that is pro wrestling, co-hosted by Rob Pasbani.

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