10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE SmackDown From 2000

8. Tazz’s “Burial” Wasn’t Quite That

Mick Foley Triple H SmackDown 2000
WWE Network

There's this idea that Triple H buried Tazz on the 20 April 2000 edition of SmackDown and made the entire ECW promotion look weak. That's...not actually true. Anyone who says that blatantly hasn't watched the match in a while. It wasn't the complete squash you're probably envisioning.

Hunter sold a ton for Tazz in a fairly short match, and Michael Cole did a wonderful job of putting over the ex-ECW full-timer's toughness. Plus, Triple H had to cheat to win with a low blow after Tommy Dreamer had accidentally hit his fellow extremist with a steel chair. In short, the WWF bent over backwards to protect Tazz.

People never mention that today.

This 'Champion vs. Champion' bout (neither the WWF nor ECW straps were on the line) is remembered as a crippling blow to Tazz's credibility. Go back to revisit it, and you'll see 'The Game' sell Tazz's strikes and moves like he's running into a brick wall.

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.