SummerSlam classic: Shane McMahon vs Steve Blackman (SummerSlam 2000)

Just before the immortal momentSometimes in professional wrestling, you have these moments. These moments aren’t just any kind of moment. They define things. They define matches, wrestlers, shows, even eras. Some matches are made up by a single moment. One single event that makes all else seem inferior. This match is an example of that. It’s no secret that Shane McMahon has a history of death-defying stunts, and this match was an example of just that. In the hype of SummerSlam, let’s celebrate a match that had everyone’s mouths hanging open, and made Shane McMahon a star. This article looks back at three aspects of this match: the build-up, the match itself and the aftermath. 

#1 The build-up

A dominant champion

The Hardcore Championship is one which is retired, but held a legacy of its own. In 2000, post-WrestleMania, Steve Blackman won the Hardcore Champion, which had a twenty-four hour defense system in which the champion must defend within twenty-four hours. This often resulted in segments featuring backstage assaults and sneak pinfalls for anyone to randomly win the title, resulting in some famous ones such as Molly Holly pinning The Hurricane. This would make for some entertaining television, and you could never be sure who would be the Harcore Champion by the end of the night. 

When Steve Blackman won the championship, it appeared impossible to run a sneak attack on him, as he was always alert and quick to take out anyone. Eventually, he would lose it, to none other than the boss’ son, Shane McMahon, with help from Test, Albert, Mick Foley, Christian and Edge. 

The rematch would be booked for SummerSlam that year, and the stage was set (quite literally) for a Hardcore match.  

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