DX & The Radicalz v Rock, Cactus & Too Cool

The Rock, Cactus Jack, Rikishi & Too Cool v HHH, X-Pac, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko & Saturn (RAW, 2/7/00)

Probably one of my ten favourite matches ever. This is really one of those things where everything comes together, with a rabid crowd that care about everyone involved, every participant getting to look good, it all being booked well, just the whole shebang. Too Cool and Rikishi were as hot as they'd ever be and everything they did in this ruled. Scotty does the Worm and Stephanie throws a rager on commentary about "this stupid move!" Grandmaster SEXAY puts on his goggles and hits the top rope legdrop, then Eddie trips him from the floor and when he turns around again X-Pac wheel kicks the goggles clean off his face. By the end of his heat segment he's lost his goggles, durag, wifebeater and gold chains. Truly the mark of a serious beating. Rikishi looks like he was on his way to being damn near Rock levels of overness and he has a couple amazing little exchanges, one with Benoit where he takes a German suplex on his neck, and then later he comes roaring into camera shot to thrust kick Helmsley's head off, in the process saving Rock from being Pedigreed. Rock is godlike volcanic levels of hot at this point; right up there with peak Hogan, Austin, Grandmaster Sexay and anybody else you want to bring up. Benoit and Saturn unleash the double SNOT ROCKET! X-Pac goes for the Bronco Buster and Rock clotheslines him out his boots! Rikishi with the greatest Samoan Drop ever seen! Eleven million other things! I also loved Cactus coming in and making a beeline right for Helmsley on the apron, which incites a mini riot on the floor just to ramp up the heat a little more. Only thing they whiffed on was the timing of the finish, but it's like, you know, who gives a shit? Imagine Eddie had been fit to wrestle? Holy fuck I think I need to step out the room for a minute.