Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match. William Regal is out first and grabs a microphone. He shits on Alabama hitting the double for local heat and insulting an opponent. He says being animal-lovers is fine but “Animal Loving” is illegal and should be stopped. He is interrupted by Hardcore Holly’s entrance, who gets a huge pop as The Fink announces him as the Hometown guy.
WILLIAM REGAL © VS.
HARDCORE HOLLY (WWF European
Championship)
WWF Armageddeon 2000 (10th December 2000)
Hardcore Holly starts the match with a kick to Regal’s gut and some right hands. Regal is sent off the ropes into a back elbow and takes a breather on the outside whilst the referee keeps Hardcore Holly away from the ropes force-field. William Regal trips Holy from the floor and drags him outside. Hardcore Holly bounces Regal’s head off the apron but is sent into the ring post as the irish whip is reversed. William Regal sends Holly into the ring but is caught with a back suplex. Hardcore Holly is slow to cover, as his head bounced off the floor after being sent into the ring post. Regal is able to kick out at 2. Hardcore Holly goes to the top rope and his jaw is magnetic towards Regal’s boot. William Regal hits a European uppercut, which I used to call an uppercut until the UK left the Union. Holly is perched on the top turnbuckle by Regal, who climbs up to meet him and hits a shakey superplex from the top rope. William Regal persists with a cover, but Hardcore Holly keeps kicking out, so Regal puts on a Bow and Arrow lock.
Hardcore Holly doesn’t give
up before Regal releases the hold, then reverses an irish whip sending Regal
into the ropes. A butterfly suplex is countered by Hardcore Holly, who just powers
Regal over his head and back. He gets enough to cover but William Regal kicks
out. William Regal blocks a clothesline but is knocked down by the second one.
Hardcore Holly sends Regal off the ropes into a dropkick (top 10 in the
business) and slams him near the corner. I thought it would be a Falcon Arrow,
but no. Hardcore Holly hits the Alabama Jam from the top rope and covers Regal,
but he kicks out at 2. William Regal is sent off the ropes but counters a hurricanrana
with a powerbomb, he locks in the STF, but Hardcore Holly’s in the ropes so he
has to break before 5. Regal brings Hardcore Holly to his feet, looking for a
Ripcord but Hardcore Holly turns through and hits the champion with the
surgical plate in his elbow! The referee checks on William Regal as Raven
enters through the crowd and hits the Evenflow DDT on Hardcore Holly, William
Regal crawls over and covers for the win.
WINNER: WILLIAM REGAL
(STILL WWF European Champion)
A nothing match where the hometown hero was screwed out of
a championship. I don’t remember the link between Raven and William Regal so
that part also seemed random to me. It was going nicely until the finish and it
was arguably the best reaction Hardcore Holly ever got for a match. [*½] 2.5/10.
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