# Rikishi’s INSANE Stage Splash & Lita’s Signature Look! - WWE SmackDown 6/8/00 Review

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tales-from-the-attitude-era-6910544/rikishi-s-insane-stage-splash-lita-s-signature-look-wwe-smackdown-6-8-00-review
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tales-from-the-attitude-era-6910544/rikishi-s-insane-stage-splash-lita-s-signature-look-wwe-smackdown-6-8-00-review.md
Podcast: [Tales from the Attitude Era](https://stenobird.com/podcast/tales-from-the-attitude-era-6910544)
Published: 2026-01-12T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/tales-from-the-attitude-era/episodes/rikishis-insane-stage-splash-litas-signature-look-wwe-smackd
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6643cc1845c59a00122f52c0/e/6963cce488da0c07c141c3d1/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tales-from-the-attitude-era-6910544/episodes/rikishi-s-insane-stage-splash-lita-s-signature-look-wwe-smackdown-6-8-00-review
Duration seconds: 4175

## Resource

Former WWF writer Tommy Blacha and co-host Rob Pasbani dive into the June 8, 2000, episode of SmackDown from Buffalo! The road to King of the Ring features a chaotic main event and one of the most dangerous splashes in WWE history. We break down Rikishi’s legendary splash off the 10-foot stage onto Val Venis, a move that still makes our knees hurt just watching it. We also witness a historic character shift for Lita, who debuts her signature "Whale Tail" look while getting robbed of the WWF Women’s Championship by Stephanie McMahon and a fast-counting Tori. Meanwhile, The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane are forced to team up against the McMahon-Helmsley faction. Accidental chair shots and internal friction threaten to destroy the alliance before the pay-per-view. Tommy Blacha also pulls back the curtain on: - The real-world pressure of the Parents Television Council (PTC) and Steve Allen trying to pull WWE advertising. - Why Mosh (Chaz) was being "ignored" by The Rock backstage and the abandoned disgruntled worker storyline. - Early impressions of a young Kurt Angle in dark matches and how one specific promo video made his career. - Behind-the-scenes reality of "Sweeps Week" and why the network pressure didn't apply to the Attitude Era juggernaut. - Chris Benoit and Jeff Hardy in a technical "work-rate" masterclass. - Crash Holly’s continued parking lot brawls with Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson over the Hardcore Championship. - The night Tommy saw Brock Lesnar in developmental and the frustration of the "need to know" basis in the writers' room. Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell! 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - The "Number One Contender" trope 8:06 - Match 1: Chris Jericho vs. Test (KOTR Qualifier) 9:10 - The Rock ignores Chaz / Disgruntled worker storyli…

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## Transcript

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