Lita Wins the Women’s Championship w/ The Rock as Referee – WWE RAW 8/21/00 Review

Lita wins the Women’s Championship from Stephanie McMahon with The Rock as special guest referee in a main event! Tommy Blacha calls one of the greatest convoluted booked gaga matches of the Attitude Era. Tommy Blacha and Rob Pasbani break down the August 21, 2000 edition of WWF Monday Night Raw, live from the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, six days before SummerSlam 2000.

The show opens with The Rock cutting a Louisiana-specific promo before Mick Foley gives him the night off and announces two title matches for the evening: Shane McMahon vs. Steve Blackman for the Hardcore Championship and Stephanie’s Women’s Championship defense against Lita, with The Rock serving as special guest referee. In the chaotic main event, Triple H and Kurt Angle accompany Stephanie to ringside with the Hardy Boys in Lita’s corner. At the decisive moment, Angle accidentally nails Triple H with a belt while trying to interfere, The Rock delivers a Rock Bottom to Angle, and Lita hits a moonsault on Stephanie to win the Women’s Championship.

Earlier in the night, Shane McMahon sneaks a kendo stick into the Hardcore title match and cracks Steve Blackman across the skull to steal the championship, only for Foley to immediately book him into a rematch at SummerSlam. In their tag match, Triple H pins Farooq for the win but conspicuously hangs back while Bradshaw drops Kurt Angle with a Clothesline from Hell, planting seeds of tension between the two allies heading into Sunday.

Other major discussion points include:

– Mick Foley adds a wrinkle to the IC title picture: if Eddie Guerrero or Chyna pins Val Venis or Trish Stratus in their tag match, they become the new Intercontinental Champion

– Kane destroys Rikishi with three vicious chair shots before Right to Censor prevents Too Cool from making the save

– Jerry Lawler hides behind a pile of equipment backstage and drops it on an unsuspecting Taz to get his revenge before sliding back out to commentary

– Tommy reads from both the Wrestling Observer and the Pro Wrestling Torch on why Big Show was sent home, covering conditioning concerns, attitude, and a herniated disc

– Kurt Angle tells Stephanie he’s thinking of leaving the McMahon family; Stephanie begs him to stay in a scene Tommy credits to writer Brian Gewirtz

– Steve Austin has been medically cleared and is expected back imminently

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Just announced!

Rob and Tommy announce the launch of their brand new Patreon featuring watch-alongs for classic matches.

The first watch along includes Rock vs Hogan and Buddy Rogers vs. Pat O’Connor.

Please subscribe at https://patreon.com/talesfromtheattitudeera

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00:00 Intro

03:25 The Observer and Torch Debate WWF’s Booking Pace

05:49 The Rock’s Louisiana Promo

09:47 Foley Gives The Rock the Night Off / SummerSlam Matches Announced

14:32 Jerry Lawler Ambushes Taz Backstage

15:22 The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz / Edge & Christian on Commentary

17:02 Val Venis & Trish Stratus vs Crash Holly & Ivory

20:15 Foley Puts the Intercontinental Title on the Line in the Tag Match

22:27 Kane Destroys Rikishi / Right to Censor Stops Too Cool

23:15 The Dirt Sheets: What Really Happened to Big Show

30:28 The Acolytes vs Kurt Angle & Triple H / Triple H Leaves Angle to the Wolves

33:06 Right to Censor Promo / Foley’s Shrimp Etouffee Bit / RTC vs Too Cool & Rikishi Set

36:20 Shane’s Mean Street Posse Scheme Backfires / Angle Threatens to Walk Out

38:13 Chris Jericho vs Perry Saturn / Benoit Runs Down / Angle’s Olympic Wrestling Lesson

40:55 Steve Blackman vs Test (Hardcore 24/7) / Shane McMahon Wins the Hardcore Championship

43:05 Shane’s Hardcore Title Problem / Foley Books SummerSlam Rematch / Edge & Christian vs DX Set

44:48 Edge & Christian vs DX for the Tag Team Championships

46:11 Main Event: Lita vs Stephanie McMahon for the Women’s Championship / The Rock as Special Guest Referee

54:06 Was This the First Women’s Main Event in Raw History?

58:18 Steve Austin Cleared to Wrestle / Expected Back Soon