"No Chance In Hell" played as Vince McMahon made his way to the ring. He surveyed the damage of Batista's fall. The flames were put out by firemen and The Animal was airlifted to Western Medical Center to be treated for (kayfabe) second and third-degree burns, plus a myriad of other injuries. It was time to announce the host of WrestleMania X-Seven next year to the public. On hand was New Orleans Brass general manager Dan Belisle, Minnesota Timberwolves CEO Glen Taylor, Houston Astros CEO Drayton McLane, Jr., and Denver Broncos CEO Pat Bowlen. Although the host city had been named several weeks ago, the other three finalist cities were invited to WrestleMania for representation. Vinny Mac announced after months of bidding, visiting more than 15 cities, and a drawn-out voting process, Houston would play host to the 17th edition of WrestleMania. WWE WAS COMING TO THE ASTRODOME ON APRIL 1, 2001! McMahon raised up McLane's hand as he talked about the joy it was to have WrestleMania come to the Lone Star State. Not only would this be the first WrestleMania held in Texas, it would be the first WrestleMania held in the Southwest region. It was now time for the World Heavyweight Championship match. After the video package, Van Dam came out wearing new attire. His singlet showed a teenager doing the Van Daminator to a bully in a subway car. It's actually a part of WWE's small fight against bullying. In kayfabe, Cole referred to Big Show as the bully in RVD's life. Tazz was back in his WrestleMania best. Tazz said that Van Dam feels as confident and fearless as he's ever been, having spoken to him earlier on at the red carpet show. Speaking of Big Show, the 441-pound giant came out wearing a new blue-and-black singlet, which actually covered his other shoulder for the first time in years. There was also a lot of pyro and explosions as the largest athlete to ever walk the face of the Earth raised up his meaty paw. Tazz said he has rarely ever seen more soulless eyes than Big Show's right now. Cole said he is shocked at how Show could not at least congratulate RVD on winning the Big Gold Belt, and this loss inside the Chamber is eating away at him. SmackDown! Senior Referee Earl Hebner raised up the gold as we were underway here tonight in Anaheim.
Van Dam played the cat-and-mouse game early on, hoping to anger Show enough to the point where his rage costs him the match. Tazz said the key to the match for the World Heavyweight Champion is to keep the giant grounded at all possible times. The last thing RVD wants is to have the challenger get the advantage. Cole said that Big Show is most likely jealous of Van Dam. Not only does the Battle Creek native have the World Heavyweight Championship, he also has a great relationship with the WWE Universe. For the 441-pounder, his first world championship reign ended in an unsatisfactory way. Big Show earned the World Title. He beat Triple H at Armageddon in a hard-fought match for it. Then, inside the Elimination Chamber, and the odds heavily against him, the World's Largest Athlete couldn't get the job done. The catch-me-if-you-can game ended with a vicious headbutt, and now Show was in control. He took RVD to the corner and wailed on him with devastating blows. An excruciating left hand, followed by a deadly right hand, then it repeated and repeated. Cole told the viewers watching WrestleMania on PPV that Van Dam is experiencing first-hand what Big Show's fists are capable of. Tazz said the World Heavyweight Champion has to stay away from the right hand. The same right hand used for the WMD, and the same right hand used to knock out Van Dam in recent weeks. The seven-footer threw RVD halfway across the ring, and landed a Spear. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! Tazz said he has no idea how Van Dam could have survived a takedown from The World's Largest Athlete. Big Show hit the Chokeslam on RVD, but that only got a two-count. Enraged, the giant took the World Heavyweight Champion to the outside, where he repeatedly chopped him on the barricade. A note about this match is that this is where the crowd finally became dead. They had been hot all night long (extremely uncommon for a SoCal crowd) but the past three headline matches really took away their energy. "Big Show, you have until ten! Let's go, back in the ring!," Hebner told the challenger. Believing Show had gotten carried away, Hebner was forced to stop the count. The 441-pounder waved Hebner off and went for a headbutt, but Van Dam escaped and kneed the giant in the stomach. RVD went back in the ring at eight, and Show followed him. The World Heavyweight Champion unleashed a flurry of kicks on Show's skull, resulting in a roundhouse that sounded like a firecracker when first heard. "Did you hear the impact of RVD's boot on Big Show's cranium?!" Cole excitedly said. Tazz agreed, stating that he knows the seven-footer did not expect so much ferocity out of Van Dam. The SmackDown! Elimination Chamber winner soon locked Big Show in the Van Crushinator. The giant was flopping around as Cole said RVD could have this won in seconds. Tazz said that in order to escape the Van Crushinator, Show has to remember that one Friday night. The one where Van Dam made him bleed through his nose with that deadly hold. The Tampa native remembered and used his strength to slam Van Dam back-first. What's worse is that RVD ended up feeling the full effect of the giant's frame.
The 441-pounder went for the WMD, and connected. However, the World Heavyweight Champion rolled out of the ring when it struck. Refusing to walk out of Anaheim without the Big Gold Belt, Show gripped Van Dam's skull and put him on the top turnbuckle. The giant then hit a Chokeslam off it, and locked in the Colossal Clutch (cobra clutch backbreaker). Hebner realized RVD was out cold and dropped his hand once. Fifteen seconds passed, and the hand was dropped again. "Big Show could be the new World Heavyweight Champion!," Cole said, trying to contain himself. Fifteen seconds later, and Hebner was about to drop RVD's hand a third and final time.
But Van Dam made a fist. He was still in this match, and the crowd had woken up enough to react thunderously to it. Hebner forced Show to let go, and it was back to the drawing board. The World's Largest Athlete hit another Spear, but it was another two-count. Show went for another Chokeslam, but RVD escaped and dropkicked him in the knee. This left knee was the one Big Show had been favoring for a while. Van Dam hit the Van Daminator, and went for the cover. ONE! TWO! KICKOUT! The giant was not going out like that. In response, once Show got up enough to stand on his knees, RVD hit another Van Daminator that legitimately knocked a tooth out of his opponent. One Five-Star Frog Splash later, and the cover was made. ONE! TWO! THREE! In many ways, this was the most hard-hitting of all headline matches so far. Rob Van Dam survived virtually everything Big Show had to offer. Chokeslams, spears, Colossal Clutches, chops, headbutts, fists, even the WMD. But at the end of the day, the World Heavyweight Championship remained with the Van Assassinators. Road agents came to help an unresponsive giant out of the ring. Final result: Rob Van Dam def. the Big Show to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (Five-Star Frog Splash)
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Singles Match
WWE Championship
d-John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels-WrestleMania 2000 Main Event