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Rock victorious at Backlash

John Powell

 

Question: What do Vince McMahon and the producers of the Friday The 13 horror movie series have in common? Answer: They’ve run with the same exact storyline for years and made a killing off of it.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Vince McMahon turns on his biggest star throwing his support behind the opposing heel. McMahon fixes the main event match so that a member of his family will officiate the contest and that he himself has a legitimate reason for being at ringside so he can run interference. Through all the fast counts, distractions and cheating, our hero defies the odds beating McMahon and his legion of stooges at their own game.

Whether it starred Steve Austin, Mick Foley or The Rock, what I have just described is the program the WWF has run as its centerpiece angle for what seems like an eternity. The voices may have changed but the song still remains the same. It is bad enough when you recycle what has worked for the other federations. What’s even worse is when you start repeating yourself because the creative well has run dry.

Fans balked at another tiresome round of nWo angles in WCW. Why they support another uninspired McMahon-screws-someone storyline confounds me. Yet, here we are again. Vince McMahon tipped the scales against The Rock at the Backlash pay-per-view from the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. His son Shane is the special guest referee. Having put his stamp of approval on the WWF World Heavyweight Champion – Triple H – McMahon himself is in the champ’s corner with daughter Stephanie. The Rock’s former adversary, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is watching his back…or is he? That’s was the set-up of the Backlash main event which despite the injection of Austin as an unknown factor, still unfolded in a very predictably dull manner.

Though they never explained what exactly happened to delay Austin or why he finally made it to the arena, Vince McMahon asked the crowd in attendance to check the fine print in their programs. Especially the part about the card being “subject to change”. With Triple H awaiting the arrival of The Rock in the ring, McMahon announced that Steve Austin wouldn’t be appearing at BackLash.

Setting a new record by referring to himself eleven times during his pre-match promo, The Rock stared down Triple H from his perch on the top turnbuckle. A slugfest broke out (the favorite move of the night being the European Haymaker Punch) and Triple H backed The Rock into a corner so he could stomp him. The Rock did the same to the champ hitting him with a back elbow to the jaw. An over-enthusiastic Triple H attempted a Pedigree. The Rock back dropped out of it laying the boots to Triple H in the corner. Showing his bias, Shane McMahon physically forced The People’s Champ to stop his attack.

Triple H re-aligns The Rock’s vertebrae by applying a neckbreaker then threw him over the top rope. On the outside, The Rock’s had an up-close and personal encounter with the steel ringsteps as Triple H slid back into the ring so he and Shane could mock argue and hug. Vince McMahon posted The Rock. More slugfests. More stomping. Triple H suplexed The Rock and dropped a running Ric Flair knee drop on him for a quick two count. Another slugfest erupts. Time for a rest hold after working a mere six minutes. Triple H puts a headlock on The Rock for what seems like forever. Rocky European Haymaker Punches him in the gut to break the hold. Triple H clotheslines him and gets another two count. Vince McMahon yells at Shane to “count faster”.

Both men double-clothesline each other granting McMahon the opportunity to smash The People’s Champion in the head with the WWF World Heavyweight Title belt. Another two count for The Game. The Rock Irish whips the champ. The momentum sends Triple H over the top rope. He lands on the floor hurting his arm. The Rock inflicts further punishment by ramming his arm into the announce table. A DDT in the ring and Rocky makes the cover. His hands on his hips, Shane refuses to make the count. The Rock European Haymaker Punches Shane over the top rope. The sole creative spot in the match has Shane and Triple H Rock Bottomed through the Spanish announce table at the same time. Pretty cool, that.

Back in the ring, McMahon goes for another sneak attack. The Rock gives chase. Triple H low-blows him from behind. McMahon calls in Brisco and Patterson (Yes, they are on Mister Mac-Man’s side…once again. Yawn.) who come down decked out in referee attire. Everyone beats on The Rock. With Triple H holding him, McMahon chair shots The Rock in the head. The sound of breaking glass. It’s Stone Cold…Stone Cold…Stone Cold! Austin brains everyone who isn’t The People’s Champ with a steel chair…then leaves.

With the recently “fired” official Hebner at her side, Linda McMahon walks out. Stephanie gets in her mom’s face. Linda shoves Stephanie to the ground. Meanwhile, The Rock punishes Triple H with an innocent-looking elbow drop (called the People’s Elbow). Linda orders Hebner to slap the three count. He does. The Rock is the new WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Austin returns driving a tow truck. Attached to it is the scrap heap once known as the DX Bus. Austin and The Rock drink some beer.

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