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!