As we covered here on WWE Network News, a new section has come to the service! This section is titled “Collections” and is essentially a playlist feature. A playlist feature is one thing that I have been pushing for extremely hard on this site and I think could be a complete game changer and enhance their business, especially if they add a few more tweaks.
Unlike the Black History Month collection which attempted to cover over 30 years of wrestling history, this collection will be much more focused. While not as focused as Brock Lesnar’s, which covered about half a year, this one will cover from October 17th, 1999 to Wrestlemania 17 on Apri 1st, 2001. Needless to say, it focuses on the adventures of The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge and Christian when they took things to the extreme. So how will these matches be over fifteen years later? Let’s take a look:
Terri Invitational Ladder Match
The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) vs. Edge and Christian
This ladder match took place at the No Mercy event on October 17th, 1999. This is kind of weird to watch in retrospect. On one hand, it is a crazy and fun car crash that is certainly a memorable spectacle that would be entertaining to fans even now. And that’s awesome that it can still be very entertaining.
Of course, the issue that comes along with the match is the lack of psychology. I think tag matches often work better in car crash environments because at least a guy can sell while someone else is being focused on, but for sticklers, a match like this can be infuriating. Then of course there is another issue: Jerry Lawler will not stop talking about Terri. I get it. He’s pervert heel Lawler and she’s a hot woman. But man, time and place. When guys are diving off ladders and getting smashed by them, it isn’t the time to talk about Teri’s curves.
I think some people watching this now might not have a complete understanding of the circumstances, but at this point the Hardys and Edge and Christian were virtually unproven commodities. They were mildly over, sometimes fairly over, but they weren’t the stars we’d all learn to love. This match made them stars. The innovative offense, the risk they put their bodies through, the surprise from the audience, all of this made this so much more special than just a usual tag team ladder match you’d see now, which isn’t a shot at matches now, which could very well be better. It’s just important to remember how innovative this was for the time period and how critical it was in making the four men stars.
Jeff Hardy wins in a chaotic manner, which is both fitting for who he is and for the match, by ripping down the bag and falling off the ladder. Is a match like this perfect? Absolutely not. Are car crashes for everyone? Nope. But if you enjoy them, this is for you.
Winners: The Hardys
Edge vs. Jeff Hardy vs. D-Von Dudley
This is a bit back down to earth from the prior match. Instead of some huge stipulation, we have a triple threat match from RAW 351 on February 14, 2000. While the last video clocked in at over twenty minutes, this one is an easier watch at just over six.
This was okay. I had some issues with it but it was certainly fun. Looking at the issues, and it is relatively minor but stood out to me, Edge delayed breaking up a count very awkwardly at one point which definitely was business exposing. Nothing major, but it certainly takes you out of the moment. A lot of that has to do with production as well, though. And speaking of production, in the last video JR mixed up Edge and Christian a few times. Nothing major and he generally corrected himself. But boy did it happen here as well with the Hardys. And this time, both members of commentary couldn’t keep their names straight. Imagine how they’d be with Blake and Murphy? Yikes!
One thing I liked about the story here is the twist on the usual triple threat format we know so well. Most triple threat matches will feature two heels who work together to beat down the babyface then turn on each other, while here it was the babyfaces who were seeking revenge on the heel. It worked. The match was just okay due to being short with some issues, but ultimately it is worth watching.
Winner: D-Von Dudley
Tag Team Battle Royal
A tag team battle royal? These aren’t done nearly enough. This one in particular took place on RAW 356 on March 20th, 2000. The teams involved include Edge and Christian, the Hardyz, Al Snow and Steve Blackman, and Too Cool. I think only four teams is a little small for a match like this, but then again in the Attitude Era things moved so quickly, more teams would just mean eliminations would happen even faster.
And they happened fast here, make no mistake about it. Within a minute of the match beginning both the team of Al Snow and Steve Blackman along with the team of Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty were eliminated. This left the two obvious potential winners going toe to toe. But this wouldn’t last long either, as you would expect with a five minute video. Before winners could be decided, the Dudleys would run in and leave both teams beaten down and a member of each smashed through a table.
This worked. It was short and ultimately not nearly as fun as it could be, but that is par for the course during this time period. With that being said, the Dudleys looked like tough but still somehow cowardly heels and it sets up for a big Wrestlemania match. Works for me. I think another benefit to the WWE Network is seeing some concepts or ideas not used often. Perhaps WWE could re-use one like this?
Winners: No contest
Wrestlemania 2000: Ladder Match
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy)
Obviously, this took place at Wrestlemania 2000. Wrestlemania 16 was held on April 2nd, 2000 and this would be the first eve three team ladder match in company history. This is often recognized as the unofficial first TLC match due to the nature of the match. And boy was this fun.
I did like the WWE Network including the Dudley Boyz’ pre-match promo. Bubba has been such a great promo guy for twenty years now. And D-Von is actually pretty underappreciated nowadays. People forget how much talking he did for the Dudleys during their early ECW run before Bubba really found himself as a scumbag bully heel. Meanwhile the Hardyz were quite over by this point as a huge babyface tag act and Edge and Christian sort of danced between the lines.
JR did more of his annoying commentary. I know he is an amazing play by play guy, but this is the third match where he mixed up the competitors. How did he always get a pass for this? It is so irritating. If Cole did this, the internet would slaughter him. Just terribly annoying.
Much like the prior ladder match in this collection, this was something that won’t be for everybody. The car crash action doesn’t lead to much of a story. But it was just so fun. Car crash wrestling doesn’t always hold up, but with the bumps these three teams take, this match certainly does. Oh and there’s a bump here that never gets talked about, but Jeff Hardy and Christian (incorrectly called the Hardys by Jim Ross…) get pushed off of the ladder and fall out of the ring. Ridiculous. With a bunch of other nasty bumps and table and ladder spots, this match is extremely memorable and worth watching. Along with Jeff’s Swanton outside the ring through a table, Edge and Christian’s celebration on the table on top of the ladders is one of the better visuals in wrestling.
Winners: Edge and Christian
Wrestlemania 2000 Fallout
After a near 30 minute video, this collection comes back down with a 5 minute video from RAW 358, the night after Wrestlemania 2000 on April 3rd. I think part of the fun of the WWE Network collection series are segments like this. They aren’t major or must see, but after a match like the one that just occurred, it can be really nice to see the angle or follow up that occurred. Not to get too off track here, but I think the WWE Network could really capitalize on doing full feuds in the future and use more of the segments and moments that make them stand out.
I liked this a lot. Edge and Christian came out and were quite disingenuous. They would eventually jump the Hardys, but the Dudleys would come down and seemingly have a babyface edge to them now and all three teams would brawl. Edge and Christian would eventually scurry out while staff would separate the Dudleys and the Hardys. Good, effective segment.
Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)
This match took place on RAW 375 on July 31st of 2000. By this point, Edge and Christian were completely into their ridiculous heel characters and personas and the charisma they had were off the charts. Meanwhile the Hardyz continued to be extremely over, although once they got over that pretty much stayed the case for their entire careers.
The promo to start things off was quite good. While Edge and Christian would both be more refined and just downright better talkers later in their career, you could definitely see why they became so great here. The heat was so cheap but it was also hilarious and perfect for their characters.
I actually really dug this. The match itself was just a fun sprint with both teams going at it and the Hardys looking like a million bucks, but we also had fun Lita interference that was over like rover, and Edge and Christian would get themselves disqualified right when it seems like they were about to lose. Most importantly, Edge and Christian would show why they’re the chair-men of the WWE, beating the Hardys down viciously. So the Dudleys have the tables, the Hardys have the ladders, and Edge and Christian use chairs? What could this mean?
Winners: The Hardyz
Summerslam 2000: TLC I
Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)
Is there a more perfect match to end part one of this WWE Network collecton review with than the first ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match? I don’t think so. To my surprise, it is much shorter than the other ladder matches we’ve watched thus far, only lasting around fifteen minutes. Of course, as we all know, a lot is packed into those fifteen or so minutes.
The first TLC took place on August 27, 2000 at the Summerslam event. With a big Wrestlemania match behind them, it just makes sense to have this huge match at the second biggest event of the year and the biggest event of the summer. And ultimately, it is the most memorable part of the entire event.
This match once again is all about the viewer’s taste. If you like violence and crazy spots without a lot of storytelling, you will love this. If you can turn your brain off, you will love this. These matches don’t have a ton of story, but the action is absolutely incredible. A lot of nasty bumps, innovation, and bad landings make this very much like a car crash. And I absolutely enjoy watching them. To show how much action this match has, a 3D through a table took place minutes in. If they did that much, that fast, imagine what else occurs?
The highlights of this match includes Jeff doing another sick Swanton outside the ring and Bubba Ray going through four (well, more like three) tables. Matt also took a nasty bump from in the ring to the tables on the floor. Just too many brutal bumps that more than hold up in 2016. And the finish? A work of art knowing what is still to come at Wrestlemania 17. Jeff Hardy hangs when the ladder is pulled out from underneath him only for Edge and Christian to smash him with the ladder and he falls to the mat. This would be iconic, if it wouldn’t be topped soon. But that is for part 2 of this WWE Network collection review.
Winners: Edge and Christian
Closing Thoughts
Wow. This action is shocking even 16 years later. A lot of wrestling evolves, but these big spots are still huge to this day. Naturally, this collection lives and dies on your interest in car crash wrestling. If you like it, love it, or even have a small interest in it, then this is definitely for you. Otherwise, avoid it like the plague.
One flaw this series has thus far is that pretty much everything in the collection is already available on the WWE Network. Well, I don’t know if I’d use the word flaw, but it dampens the appeal a bit knowing that the WWE Network has the content already. With that being said, I think playlists and compilations are still important for fans who may not be interested in seeking out things or sitting through longer shows.
As always stick to WWE Network News for the latest WWE Network news, rumors, reviews, polls, and more!