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

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