10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE No Way Out 2000

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Steve Austin's Rikishi Feud Was Already Booked

Stone Cold Steve Austin Rikishi
WWE

Steve Austin wasn't involved in events at No Way Out 2000, but the WWF were making plans for his eventual return. Amazingly, Jim Ross said on 'Grilling Jr' that Austin's next big feud was already mapped out as early as February, and the creative team knew who was going to be framed for running Austin over at Survivor Series 1999 by then.

Rikishi didn't do it "for The Rock", he did it because that had been the plan all along.

The big Samoan had been identified as the ideal candidate to turn heel and receive a big push. Austin, however, wasn't too keen on working with Rikishi and didn't think the rivalry would be as good as those penning TV did. The WWF pressed on nonetheless, and they prepared 'Kish by having him score a pin over The Radicalz at No Way Out.

This was all part of a multi-layered plan to build Rikishi up as a babyface fans could believe in. Then, when the time was right, he'd be outed as a cold, callous beast who tried to maim or even kill 'Stone Cold'. For the record, Austin was correct about the resultant feud.

What do you remember about No Way Out 2000? For more like this, check out 9 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (13 March) and Ranking The Last 10 WWE Intercontinental Champions From Worst To Best!

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.