Austin Stuns Foley Before He Can Finish the Ultimatum - WWF RAW 10/2/00 Review

Tales from the Attitude Era reviews WWF RAW from October 2, 2000, a show the hosts characterize as a "variety hour" with minimal wrestling content (less than 30 minutes in two hours). The episode opens with a tribute to Dennis Dunn, whose preservation of the WWF tape library enabled the WWE Network, followed by promos from The Rock (including a Marion Barry joke that lands in DC), Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Mick Foley. The central storyline is the ongoing investigation into who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin. Billy Gunn is brought in as the prime suspect but clears himself with a flight delay alibi while dropping the first real clue: the perpetrator had blond hair. Foley announces he's solved the case and immediately leaves, only to have Austin stun him before he can finish announcing a suspension—a moment Rob appreciates but Tommy predicts will disappoint fans. The show features several notable segments: Raven taking a pin in his second week as Jericho and the Dudleys defeat his team; a backstage brawl between Lita and Jacqueline that escalates to a fire extinguisher attack off a truck; Edge and Christian losing a hardcore title shot to Steve Blackman; a tag match where Benoit chairs Kane to cost them the win; and a Triple H vs. Kurt Angle main event that ends with Benoit interference, Stephanie accidentally handing Angle the match, and Triple H turning his back on a crying Stephanie. The hosts discuss booking decisions, potential factions, and how wrestlers can take losses without losing credibility. They note that TNN ratings held steady from week one (treated as impressive given typical drop-off) and that Rob is beginning to lose patience with Mick Foley as commissioner. The episode also covers SmackDown Your Vote reaching 110,000 registered voters and The Rock's Capitol Hill rally appearance. The hosts use detailed chapter marks to guide listeners through the 67-minute discussion.

Verdict: Sharp, knowledgeable analysis of a thin wrestling show with good banter and clear opinions, though the underlying material limits how much value listeners can extract.

Sports rubric

• Analysis depth 4/5 20%

  Hosts move beyond recaps to discuss booking logic, character heat, and storytelling decisions (e.g., how to take a loss without losing credibility, why Benoit-Kane doesn't go anywhere), showing informed wrestling analysis.

• Insider knowledge 3/5 20%

  Hosts demonstrate knowledge of the era and can contextualize decisions within WCW competition and broader storylines, but no direct access or expert credentials are evident from the notes.

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  Hosts have clear opinions and banter (Tommy's skepticism vs. Rob's appreciation of moments), with humor about the show's structure, but the material itself is analytical rather than high-energy entertainment.

• Substance 4/5 15%

  Dense coverage of multiple segments with specific booking critiques, storyline analysis, and context about ratings and the Austin investigation; minimal filler evident from chapter structure.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Title promises a review of the specific RAW episode with focus on Austin stunning Foley before the ultimatum; episode delivers exactly that plus comprehensive coverage of the full show.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  67 minutes for a single episode review with detailed chapter marks suggests reasonable pacing, but the show itself had minimal wrestling content, which may create padding despite hosts' efforts to analyze it.

How we score Sports

Worth it if you're invested in Attitude Era history, enjoy wrestling booking discussion, or want hosts who aren't afraid to criticize creative decisions.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.