The year 2000 was a turning point for many businesses and forms of entertainment. A new millennium starting created the platform to try new things and attempt to rebrand. WWE had a tough task starting a new year with Steve Austin out following neck surgery. However, the company still managed to thrive with an influx of other main eventers and new young stars stepping up.Forgotten writer Chris Kreski helped replace Vince Russo to make up for a lot of the flaws that came during Russo’s time running the show. Vince McMahon was still in charge, but WWE had more attention to detail with captivating storylines and classic matches. 2000 may very well be the best year in WWE history based on the overall results and entertainment value.
Incredible Main Event Scene
The loss of a star like Steve Austin in his prime should have harmed WWE a lot more than it did. Hulk Hogan and John Cena phasing out of WWE showed how the star power can suffer without the face of the franchise. WWE however used 2000 as a year to give new stars the ball to run within a bigger role for the names deserving of the main event scene.
The Rock had his best year becoming the top face with incredible feuds against Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and many others. Triple H took a huge step forward as the most successful heel after marrying Stephanie McMahon in storyline to add more importance. The classic PPV matches of Triple H saw him having stellar programs with Rock, Mick Foley before his retirement, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and others.
WWE’s biggest boost was the rotating list of names who could deliver when the company needed them for a month or two. The Undertaker and Kane had main event matches whenever it was time for them to work with bigger names, even though neither won the WWE Championship that year. Jericho, Angle, and Benoit all took the next step to becoming main event-worthy talents after getting over in the mid-card picture.
Incredible Card Depth
A huge reason for 2000 being such a great year for WWE was having arguably their greatest tag team division. Edge and Christian had their best overall year finding their ideal characters as comedic heels. The Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz became major assets for the company when rounding out the tag division to become draws.
WWE introducing the TLC match allowed them to see the tag division becoming as important as the main event scene on a few events. The use of tables, ladders, and chairs created a spectacle for one of the all-time great match stipulations. Duos like the New Age Outlaws, Too Cool, and the APA added absurd depth in a way WWE has never seen again.
The mid-card picture featured a great depth of talent with the part-time main eventers like Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Kurt Angle. Other names like Eddie Guerrero, Rikishi, and Chyna became noteworthy stars that drew money for WWE. Even though the women’s division wasn’t treated with as much importance, Trish Stratus and Lita showed the first signs of progress when the audience showed strong interest.
Great Storylines
The best thing about WWE in 2000 was that they found a way to deliver great storyline after great storyline after a few years of sloppy writing. Mick Foley getting ready to retire saw him putting over Triple H in one of the best feuds and storylines of the time. Triple H moving into a program with Rock gave the fans a face character to rebel against the McMahon Helmsley Regime.
Another great storyline featuring Triple H and Stephanie saw Kurt Angle getting involved for WWE’s best love triangle. Other smaller things like Lita joining the Hardy Boyz to form Team Xtreme or Rikishi aligning with Too Cool showed how one subtle move can create huge success. Chyna and Eddie Guerrero having their complex relationship showed both talents in a new light to enhance their future legendary careers.
The Undertaker showing a new side as American Badass had fans fascinated. Steve Austin even returned towards the end of the year to add the missing piece to the already stacked roster with a storyline about who ran him over with a car the previous year. WWE found a way to deliver both short-term and long-term angles that fans cared about. 2000 was unlike any other year with entertainment that still holds up as WWE’s best year ever.