As we close the door on the first year of the new millennium, the WWF looks back on a 12-month stretch that redefined the industry. From the brutal corridors of Hell in a Cell to the shocking emergence of the McMahon family as in-ring competitors, the year 2000 was a rollercoaster of violence, drama, and pure “Hulkamania.”
Here are your winners for the 2000 WWF Year-End Awards.
[[ FIGHT OF THE YEAR ]]
WINNER: The Undertaker vs. Mick Foley II While their 1998 encounter set the bar, the 2000 rivalry between the Deadman and the Hardcore Legend reached a psychological fever pitch that transcended the sport. This wasn’t just a match; it was a testament to human endurance. Foley’s willingness to sacrifice his physical well-being against the relentless “Lord of Darkness” created a tapestry of carnage that fans will be talking about for the next fifty years. It was the definitive “Fight of the Year”—a brutal, beautiful masterpiece of storytelling.
[[ KO OF THE YEAR ]]
WINNER: Shane McMahon KOs Ken Shamrock In the most shocking physical moment of the year, the “Boy Wonder” proved that the McMahon bloodline carries a mean streak. Facing the “World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ken Shamrock, Shane McMahon wasn’t expected to survive, let alone win. But in a flash of brilliance (and perhaps a bit of luck), Shane connected with a strike that sent the UFC pioneer into the shadow realm. Seeing a corporate executive lay out a legitimate fighting machine was the knockout heard ’round the world.
[[ UPSET OF THE YEAR ]]
WINNER: Shane McMahon def. Kurt Angle 2000 was truly the year of Shane-O-Mac. Earlier in the year, the Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle seemed untouchable. He had the technique, the pedigree, and the three “I”s (Intensity, Integrity, Intelligence). But he didn’t account for the sheer unpredictability of a McMahon with nothing to lose. Shane’s victory over Angle sent shockwaves through the P4P rankings and proved that on any given night in the WWF, “The Olympic Hero” can still be humbled by a “Street Fighter.”
[[ FIGHTER OF THE YEAR ]]
WINNER: Hulk Hogan
There was no debate. Hulk Hogan’s 2000 campaign wasn’t just a successful run; it was a scorched-earth policy across the entire division. Hogan finishes the year as the undisputed #1 Pound-for-Pound fighter, boasting a resume that reads like a “Who’s Who” of combat sports history.
The Road of the Immortal (2000 Record):
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Nov 26: Defeated Ted DiBiase (Pinfall) to retain the USA belt.
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Nov 26: Defeated Kurt Angle (Pinfall) in a legendary Title double-header.
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Sept 17: Defeated the Living Legend Bruno Sammartino (Pinfall).
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Aug 27: Defeated Andre the Giant (Pinfall) in a historic first ever World Cup and the Giant’s first defeat.
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April 1: Defeated the 500lb Yokozuna.
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Early 2000: Defeated the Iron Sheik to settle a decades-long grudge.
With six major victories against former World Champions and Hall of Famers, Hogan has cemented his status as the “G.O.A.T.” of the millennium’s first year.