Backlash (2000)

Backlash was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) promotion. It took place on April 30, 2000, at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the second event under the Backlash chronology. Nine professional wrestling matches were scheduled on the event's card.
The main event was a singles match for the WWF Championship with Shane McMahon as special guest referee, in which The Rock (aided by Stone Cold Steve Austin) defeated Triple H to win the championship. Featured matches on the undercard included Chris Benoit defeating Chris Jericho by disqualification to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship and a six-man Hardcore match for the WWF Hardcore Championship, which Crash Holly won to retain the championship.
Production.
Background.
In 1999, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) held a pay-per-view entitled Backlash as a post-WrestleMania XV event. The first show was originally titled Backlash: In Your House, but the promotion dropped the "In Your House" name (previously a series of shows for the promotion) to establish monthly pay-per-views, in which Backlash was the first. The WWF brought back Backlash as the post-WrestleMania 2000 pay-per-view, thus establishing Backlash as an annual event for the promotion, as well as the annual post-WrestleMania event.
Storylines.
The event featured nine professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either villains or fan favorites as they followed a series of events which built tension, culminating in a wrestling match or series of matches.
After Vince McMahon betrayed The Rock at WrestleMania, Vince joined forces with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, Shane McMahon, and D-Generation X to fully complete the formation of the heel faction, the McMahon-Helmsley Faction. The Faction's new objectives revolved around keeping Triple H as WWF Champion, though they also helped Stephanie win the Women's Championship, through dirty tactics of interfering in matches, and ambushing dissenters at inopportune times. On the first episode of "Raw Is War" after WrestleMania, The Rock won the right to face Triple H for the WWF Championship at Backlash, but the Faction made stipulations to the title match that would give Triple H a full advantage: Vince and Stephanie would be allowed to be ringside for the match, and Shane was named the referee for the match.
In addition to The Rock, another noted figure who opposed the Faction was referee Earl Hebner, who started to feud with Triple H, culminating on the April 17 episode of "Raw is War", where Triple H defended his WWF Title against Chris Jericho. During the match, Hebner came to relieve the original referee, who had gotten knocked out, which caused Triple H to argue with Hebner. The distraction allowed Jericho to take advantage and pin Triple H to win the title, though Hebner visibly called a fast pinfall. The Faction then brought Hebner and the original referee Mike Chioda to the ring, where Chioda admitted that Hebner made an unfair pinfall. Triple H then had Hebner fired, and reversed the decision, allowing Triple H to regain the title. Later that night, WWF CEO Linda McMahon, the only member of the McMahon family to not be a member of The Faction, arrived, and announced that she declared The Rock to be "outnumbered" at Backlash, and decided that she would allow one WWF wrestler to be in The Rock's corner at Backlash: Stone Cold Steve Austin, who had not been seen in the WWF since the previous year's Survivor Series. On the final episode of "SmackDown!" prior to Backlash, Austin made his first WWF appearance in 6 months, where he dropped a concrete barrier from a crane onto the "DX Express" bus, causing it to explode.
Event.
Preliminary matches.
The event opened with Edge and Christian defending the WWF Tag Team Championship against D-Generation X (X-Pac and Road Dogg). X-Pac performed an X Factor on Edge but the referee was distracted, allowing Christian to attack X-Pac with the ring bell. Christian pinned X-Pac to retain the title.
Next, Dean Malenko defended the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship against Scotty 2 Hotty. Scotty attempted a Superplex on Malenko, who countered into a Super DDT on Scotty to retain the title.
After that, The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) faced The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan. Boss Man attacked Bradshaw with a nightstick and Buchanan performed a Scissors Kick on Bradshaw to win the match.
Later, Crash Holly defended the WWF Hardcore Championship against Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Hardcore Holly, Perry Saturn, and Tazz. Tazz applied the Tazzmission on Hardcore Holly but Saturn hit Tazz with a Stop sign to break the hold. After Matt and Jeff dove onto Saturn and Hardcore Holly, Crash pinned Tazz to retain the title.
Next, The Big Show, impersonating Hulk Hogan, faced Kurt Angle. Big Show performed a Chokeslam on Angle to win the match.
After that, The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) faced T & A (Test and Albert). Trish Stratus distracted Bubba, allowing Test to perform a Big Boot on Bubba to win the match. After the match, Bubba put Trish through a table.
Later, Eddie Guerrero defended the WWF European Championship against Essa Rios. Guerrero performed a Spinning Crucifix Toss dropped into a Neckbreaker on Rios to retain the title.
In the eight match, Chris Benoit defended the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho. Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface on Jericho but Jericho countered the hold into the Walls of Jericho, with Benoit touching the ropes to force Jericho to break the hold. After the referee was incapacitated, Benoit hit Jericho with the title belt for a near-fall. Benoit attempted a Diving Headbutt on Jericho but Jericho countered by attacking Benoit with the title belt, meaning Benoit won by disqualification and retained the title. Upset by the decision, Jericho put referee Tim White in the Walls of Jericho after the match.
Main event.
In the main event, Triple H defended the WWF Championship against The Rock with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee. Vince McMahon hit Rock with the title belt and Triple H pinned Rock for a near-fall. After Shane refused to count out Triple H, Rock performed a Rock Bottom through an announce table on Triple H and Shane. Triple H performed a Pedigree on Rock whilst Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco appeared to officiate the match. Triple H pinned Rock for a near-fall. Vince hit Rock with a chair and told Patterson and Brisco to make a fast count. Stone Cold Steve Austin appeared and hit Triple H, Patterson, Brisco, Shane and Vince with a chair. Linda McMahon appeared with Earl Hebner and Hebner officiated the match. Rock performed a Spinebuster and a People's Elbow on Triple H to win the title.
After the match, as the Rock celebrated, Austin returned to the ring, driving his truck and towing the burned-out wreck of the "DX Express" bus behind it, and joined the Rock in celebration with a couple of beers.
Aftermath.
The ongoing feud between The Rock and the McMahon-Helmsley Faction would continue for the next couple months. On "Raw Is War" the Monday after Backlash, Vince made The Rock defend his WWF Championship against Shane in a cage match, which The Rock was successful in defending the title. Triple H would end up getting a rematch at Judgment Day, an Iron Man Match, with Triple H's old friend, Shawn Michaels, as the guest referee. Triple H would get the deciding victory in the final seconds when The Undertaker interfered, attacking Triple H, which Michaels called as a victory by disqualification for Triple H, giving Triple H back the WWF Championship. The Undertaker, now in a new biker gimmick, joined The Rock in a feud with The Faction, with Kane joining in as well, which culminated in a 3-on-3 tag team match at King of the Ring against Triple H, Vince, and Shane, where The Rock won the WWF Championship again by pinning Vince.
Meanwhile, Austin would not appear on WWF television again until September (building into Unforgiven), when he would start to investigate who ran him over at the Survivor Series the year before.