Rikishi’s INSANE Stage Splash & Lita’s Signature Look! - WWE SmackDown 6/8/00 Review

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani dive into the June 8, 2000, episode of SmackDown from Buffalo! The road to King of the Ring features a chaotic main event and one of the most dangerous splashes in WWE history.

We break down Rikishi’s legendary splash off the 10-foot stage onto Val Venis, a move that still makes our knees hurt just watching it. We also witness a historic character shift for Lita, who debuts her signature "Whale Tail" look while getting robbed of the WWF Women’s Championship by Stephanie McMahon and a fast-counting Tori. Meanwhile, The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane are forced to team up against the McMahon-Helmsley faction. Accidental chair shots and internal friction threaten to destroy the alliance before the pay-per-view.

Tommy Blacha also pulls back the curtain on:
The real-world pressure of the Parents Television Council (PTC) and Steve Allen trying to pull WWE advertising.
Why Mosh (Chaz) was being "ignored" by The Rock backstage and the abandoned disgruntled worker storyline.
Early impressions of a young Kurt Angle in dark matches and how one specific promo video made his career.
Behind-the-scenes reality of "Sweeps Week" and why the network pressure didn't apply to the Attitude Era juggernaut.
Chris Benoit and Jeff Hardy in a technical "work-rate" masterclass.
Crash Holly’s continued parking lot brawls with Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson over the Hardcore Championship.
The night Tommy saw Brock Lesnar in developmental and the frustration of the "need to know" basis in the writers' room.

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0:00 - Intro
1:40 - The "Number One Contender" trope
8:06 - Match 1: Chris Jericho vs. Test (KOTR Qualifier)
9:10 - The Rock ignores Chaz / Disgruntled worker storylines
13:33 - Lost WWF beauty pageant commercials
15:53 - Steve Allen and the PTC censorship battles
18:40 - The McMahons & DX celebrate / No Vince tonight
20:47 - The Rock brings "Payback Pie" to Buffalo
22:50 - The "American Badass" music license rabbit hole
26:26 - Undertaker vs. The Regime
28:18 - Match 2: Too Cool vs. Godfather & Dean Malenko
29:13 - Match 3: Chris Benoit vs. Jeff Hardy (Intercontinental Championship)
31:13 - Match 4: Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz
33:50 - The "Clean Pin" vs. "Clean Finish" Smart Mark debate
35:15 - Stephanie McMahon barges into the women’s locker room
36:16 - Kane confronts Undertaker: "I was enjoying it"
38:32 - Women’s Battle Royal
40:10 - Tommy on training vs. "Gaga" in the women's division
43:27 - Tori screws Lita / Stephanie retains the title
46:01 - Match 5: Matt Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero (KOTR Qualifier)
47:45 - Val Venis & Trish Stratus promo
48:26 - Match 6: Val Venis vs. Rikishi
49:33 - RIKISHI SPLASH OFF THE STAGE!
53:25 - Main Event: Rock, Taker & Kane vs. Triple H & DX
54:41 - The MO of SmackDown: Feeling over Advancement
56:40 - Sunday Night Heat main event recap
57:07 - 2000 Headlines: Dwayne Johnson’s Hollywood breakout
1:01:03 - Dark Match talk: The Dups and a young Brock Lesnar
1:02:44 - The night Tommy saw Kurt Angle get over
1:08:23 - The frustration of the "Need to Know" basis in WWE
1:12:45 - Broken illusions: Why Tommy misses Kayfabe
1:15:26 - Final Thoughts & Outro

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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Tales from the Attitude Era is in no way affiliated with WWE, TKO Holdings Group or any of its subsidiaries. This podcast is purely for entertainment purposes..

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