WWF/E 2002: A Ruthless Reset

[BookerMan]

2/7/02
from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California

*PYRO*

*Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show*

SmackDown hits the air with immediate excitement, as before Cole and Lawler can even run down the card Triple H’s music hits and the Staples Center audience rises to its feet. The Game is wearing the same leather vest over denim jacket that he had on when he returned to the WWF earlier this year at MSG as he does his full entrance and steps between the ropes.
​

HHH: Now don’t let me overstay my welcome, but I just wanted to clear a few things up since I spent a little more time fighting than talking on Monday night.

The Game smirks to himself while he waits for the crowd’s cheering to subside before continuing.
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HHH: This last week or so, I haven’t been sure how to feel. That’s because when I step through these ropes at No Way Out for my first singles match since my injury, nobody’s sure what’s gonna happen. Yes, I won the Royal Rumble, but throwing Kurt Angle over the top rope is an entirely different animal than keeping him down for a three count. No matter what I think of the guy - and don’t get me wrong, he’s a dorky little kiss-ass - he didn’t win an Olympic Gold medal on accident.

The crowd boos while Triple H reluctantly gives props to his No Way Out opponent.
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HHH: And everybody knows I’ve got this big ol’ target on my left leg, and I guess it’s just hard not to feel some measure of self-doubt.

The fans give HHH some reassuring cheers while he looks down at the mat intensely.
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HHH: BUT THEN I REMEMBERED JUST WHO THE HELL I AM!

Predictably, the Staples Center explodes.
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HHH: Even if my leg isn’t 100%, and trust me, it isn’t, that doesn’t stop me from being THE GAME. That doesn’t stop me from being the Cerebral Assassin. That doesn’t stop me from being the sickest, most sadistic, most dominant son of a bitch in this business!

The Game has now removed his jacket, staring down the barrel of the camera and pointing at it as he addresses Kurt Angle directly.
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HHH: Kurt Angle, you might have every advantage in the book next Sunday night, but there is NOTHING you can put me through that I didn’t already overcome and then some when I was scratching and clawing my way through rehab to come back here and do what I do best. So when you’re walking down the aisle at No Way Out, I just want you to remember exactly what YOU’RE getting yourself into! You’re gonna have to fight the very best in this business! And there is no force of nature, act of God, or help from Vince that could save your ass on the 17th.

HHH spikes the microphone into the mat and fires up the crowd, while Cole and Lawler express surprise that Kurt Angle didn’t interrupt Triple H’s comments to open the show. While The Game poses for the audience, we head backstage to find Booker T and The Godfather at a catering table with plenty of gorgeous women surrounding them.
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Booker: Aw hell, I see you brought LA’s finest to the arena with you tonight!

Godfather laughs and daps up Booker, turning to admire some of his “employees” for himself.
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Godfather: ‘Finest’ is right, Book! You know I had to, it’s only so often we get to enjoy this weather and these ladies.

The two laugh once again while Booker grabs a fruit off the catering table and snacks on it, noticing a few of Godfather’s women eyeing him up.
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Godfather: Y’know, I usually cut some of the boys a discount, but the way it looks… all you’re gonna have to do is wait for them to clock out!

Booker exchanges eye contact with a couple of them when they’re interrupted by the clumsy arrival of Shawn Stasiak, who pushes Booker out of the way and steps in front of him.
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Shawn: A discounted rate?! Where do I sign up!?

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Godfather: Listen, I got a strenuous screening process for their clients, and I can already tell I might have to charge your bum ass double!

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Shawn: Double!? What do you mean!?

Stasiak actually brings his fist back as if he’s going to swing on The Godfather, but Booker stops his punch and steps face-to-face with him.
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Booker: I think you oughta get up outta these ladies’ faces before they have to see your sucka ass get put through a table.

Nervously, Stasiak obliges and darts out of the room, leaving Booker and Godfather to shake their heads and laugh at him as SmackDown goes to its first break.

SmackDown returns with our first match of the night, as William Regal looks downright disgusted with the LA crowd as the Intercontinental Champion walks to the ring. Rikishi is out next, the longtime fan favorite getting a warm reception as he steps between the ropes for non-title action. Right before the bell is called for, though, Goldust’s music hits and The Bizarre One heads to ringside. Rather than joining commentary, he has a ringside crew member set up a director’s chair and sits cross-legged in it, only fitting being that we’re in LA tonight.

William Regal vs Rikishi
Regal spends much of this match on the back foot, the much larger Rikishi scoring consistently with impactful moves that just barely fail to keep the tough Regal down. When a savate kick sends Regal spilling to the floor, he takes the opportunity to regroup as the ref begins his ten count. Goldust takes this chance to rise from his chair and stand face-to-face with Regal, looking at him stoically while Regal threatens to show him the power of the punch. Before he can, though, Rikishi joins them on the outside and tosses his opponent back into the ring. Rikishi manages to squash Regal in the corner and looks to add the ultimate insult to injury with the Stinkface, the look of abject horror on Regal’s face absolutely priceless as Rikishi’s eclipse-like ass approaches him. Out of desperation, Regal manages to slide underneath his opponent and out of the situation, standing up with referee Charles Robinson standing mere centimeters behind him. With this positioning, Regal slickly removes the brass knuckles from his trunks, clobbers an approaching Rikishi with them, and slides them back into the front of his trunks all before the referee can walk around and catch him in the act. Regal falls on top of Rikishi for the three count.

Winner: William Regal (7:31)

Having just barely pulled one out by cheating, Regal shamelessly accepts the arm raise from Charles Robinson and waves to the crowd who is feverishly booing him. Goldust exits his chair on the outside and takes his time walking up the steps, once again standing in front of Regal as the referee helps Rikishi leave the ring. Goldust raises his fist, pointing at his knuckles as if he’s as aware as everyone else is of Regal’s cheating tactics. Then, in a surprise move, Goldust REACHES INTO THE FRONT OF REGAL’S TRUNKS AND RETRIEVES THE BRASS KNUCKLES!

The crowd gasps then laughs as Goldust dangles the knucks in front of Regal’s face like a trophy, Regal stomping around the ring completely beside himself. The Intercontinental Champion attempts to retrieve them and receives a kick below the belt for his troubles, with Goldust leaving him writhing on the canvas in equal parts pain and rage as he exits up the ramp with the brass knucks on his hand.

As the ring is cleared, a video begins playing hyping up Jazz. The vignette contains clips of her dominant stretch of late, showing off the way she’s manhandled the likes of Jacqueline and Lita, and what happened to Trish Stratus when she was trapped in the Crossface Chickenwing. Audio accompanying the clips features commentators talking about just how dangerous Jazz is, and making note of the fact that she routinely wrestled men in ECW. The video ends with footage of Jazz with Trish trapped in the Crossface Chickenwing, screaming as she wrenches the Womens Champion back and forth in excruciating pain.

We return to the arena where Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler are openly afraid for what might happen to Trish when she goes to battle with Jazz at No Way Out. Backstage, we see Vince McMahon and Ric Flair in their office, looking as contentious as ever.
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Flair: I’ll give him some credit, I’m surprised Kurt let Triple H finish what he had to say earlier.

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Vince: I’m not! Kurt is a man of upstanding character and integrity. Besides that, I gave him the night off.

Flair looks surprised, clearly not consulted about this decision.​

Flair: Night off for what?!

Vince: To rest up for the big match next Sunday! Triple H was out for seven months, he had plenty of time to rest.

Flair rolls his eyes and brushes off Vince’s absurd comment, but it’s soon followed by another one.
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Vince: Oh, by the way, Spike Dudley left us a message. He personally requested a match with Chris Jericho tonight.

Fearing he already knows the answer, Flair decides to ask a grinning Vince the question anyway.
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Flair: And…?

Vince: And I made it happen! I love to see that type of initiative in a WWF superstar.

Vince’s demonic smile grows even larger as Flair sighs, knowing that Spike’s heart being bigger than his brain may cost him tonight.

Next we see the entrance of Val Venis, back in action after a loss to Kane a few weeks back. It’s unclear if he’ll have an easier time tonight, though, because Rhyno makes his way to the ring as his opponent! The Man Beast looks as deranged as a human being possibly can as he enters the ring and looks ready to charge at any moment as he waits for the bell to sound.

Val Venis vs Rhyno
Val looks to maybe be a bit rusty, as his size advantage does him no good thanks to the tenacity and energy of the Man Beast. Rhyno brings the attack to Val, pressuring him right from the word “go”. Val, being the veteran, heads to the outside to slow down the pace. No stranger to fighting beyond the ring, Rhyno follows him to the floor and charges for the Gore, but he’s shoved into the ring steps! This puts Val on the advantage for a few minutes, but he misses his attempt at the Money Shot and falls victim to the Gore shortly afterwards.

Winner: Rhyno (5:46)

Per usual, the Man Beast does not stick around long to cherish his victory. He simply storms backstage while Cole mentions that Rhyno is one of very few superstars that managed not to be persuaded by Raven as SmackDown heads to break.

Backstage, we see The Undertaker leaning up against a cinderblock wall, a wad of tobacco clearly tucked in his lip. The camera zooms out to show The Deadman standing outside an unmarked door, spitting his tobacco onto the floor of the hallway. In the distance, we see Mike Chioda, who officiated that last match, walking towards both Undertaker and the camera. He stops at the door Taker is standing next to and twists the handle, before Undertaker stops him.
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Undertaker: Whoa, Mike, hold up just a second. You heard anything from my brother?

Chioda: Kane? No, nothing.

Chioda tries to end this conversation as soon as he can and enter the room, but Undertaker stops him again.
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Undertaker: Well if he does try to grab one of you guys so he can cash in on the 24/7 rule for my Hardcore Title, how about you let me know first?

Chioda is visibly terrified, but isn’t really in a position to explain the absurdity of Undertaker’s request to The Deadman.
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Chioda: Will do, you got it… but we haven’t had anyone try to use that 24/7 rule since you won the title. And to be honest, you called for the referee on RAW, not Kane.

A sadistic smile slithers across Taker’s face before he spits another missile of tobacco onto the floor.
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Undertaker: I guess you’re right. You have yourself a good night.

Taker slaps Chioda on the shoulder, which physically jolts his entire body, and lets him finally enter the referee’s locker room.

In the interview area, we see Rob Van Dam standing with Jonathan Coachman. Despite the post-match attack he suffered one week ago, his smile is as beaming and his spirits appear to be as “high” as ever.
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Coach: Rob Van Dam in just a few moments you and a partner will go up against the newly formed Minnesota Destruction Crew of X-Pac and Jerry Lynn, giving you a chance for revenge after what happened last week. I have two questions: first, who is your partner? And secondly, how do you plan for a tag team that you’ve never seen in action together before?

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RVD: To be honest Coach I could’ve seen them in action last week, but I think I forgot after the top of my head hit the mat with that piledriver. But if they want to team up because they can’t beat me that’s whatever, it’s cool. I just hope they know that losing to RVD doesn’t make them bad, it just makes them like everybody else! But I guess they want to show everybody that they’re overlooked or whatever, and hey, maybe they are. They’re two of the best wrestlers I’ve ever been in the ring with, but since they want their first match as a team to be against the Whole Damn Show, they’re probably not gonna like the outcome.

Coach looks at RVD before reiterating one of his questions.
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Coach: That’s great, but… you still didn’t tell us who your partner is.

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RVD: Oh, that’s right! Sorry, it was the piledriver… and maybe something else. But anyway, since the “Minnesota Destruction Crew” is making such a big deal out of teaming up for the first time, I decided to team up with somebody I’ve never teamed up with before either: Billy Kidman.

Kidman steps into frame, standing next to RVD with a smile and looking ready for possibly his biggest match in the WWF so far.
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RVD: So hey, if you guys think you’re up for it, then we’re gonna have fun hitting the Five-Star or the Shooting Star Press on you two! But just know what everybody else already knows: NOBODY gets higher than Rob Van Dam.

Van Dam and Kidman head off towards the ring, while Jerry Lynn and X-Pac make their way down the aisle. They’re met with much more heat than they were last time they were on TV, with the two of them antagonizing the crowd with every step. They’re wearing matching black and white gear, Lynn with long tights and X-Pac with short trunks and a bandana. Out next is Billy Kidman, who stops at the bottom of the ramp and waits for RVD. The crowd erupts for Van Dam, who goes through his whole entrance and stands across from his opponents to start the match.

Minnesota Destruction Crew vs Rob Van Dam and Billy Kidman
Yet again, Van Dam outclasses X-Pac at the start, frustrating him to the point that he tags in Lynn. The action is more back-and-forth now, with RVD getting the advantage and tagging in Kidman who keeps it up. Jerry Lynn seems to be caught off-guard by Kidman’s speed and technique, constantly whiffing attacks on him and eating high-impact moves. A little underhanded teamwork gets the advantage back for the MDC though, with X-Pac catching Kidman running the ropes with a hard kick to the spine. From there, the MDC isolates and dominates. They employ tandem backbreakers and show off some impressive chemistry for their first match as a team since they were teenagers. The crowd rallies behind Kidman, desperate to see RVD enter the match. Their wish comes true when Kidman counters a double backdrop with a huge double DDT, spiking both opponents on their heads and crawling to the corner for the hot tag!

RVD is incendiary when he comes in, catching X-Pac and Jerry Lynn with an impressive array of kicks. He even drapes X-Pac over the barricade and leaps from the apron, landing a devastating kick across the back of his neck. He’s cut off by Lynn when he returns to the ring, but the Cradle Piledriver is blocked and he manages to counter with a backdrop followed by Rolling Thunder for a nearfall. RVD drags Lynn to the center of the ring and climbs to the top, landing the Five-Star Frog Splash!

1…

2…

X-PAC BREAKS UP THE PIN!

Just in the nick of time, X-Pac saves his partner from certain doom and drags him towards their corner before getting on the apron and accepting a weak tag from Lynn, who is hurting. X-Pac tries his hand at wrestling RVD once more, but again ends up taking a kick to the jaw. With X-Pac down near Van Dam and Kidman’s corner, RVD sees Kidman eager to ascend to the top and tags him in, egged on by the crowd. Kidman positions himself for the Shooting Star Press, but a charging Jerry Lynn shoves RVD hard into the corner and sends Kidman down crotch-first! Lynn tosses RVD to the floor and quickly grabs Kidman, looking back to make sure X-Pac is in position as he launches Kidman off the top rope like a lawn dart, straight into the waiting arms of X-Pac who catches his opponent out of the air with the X-Factor! The crowd gasps as Kidman is driven into the canvas face-first with incredible impact, and Jerry Lynn lands a hard kick to RVD on the floor to prevent him from breaking up the ensuing pin.

Winners: Minnesota Destruction Crew (12:20)

Commentary seems shocked, not necessarily that the MDC won their debut match as a team but by the crispness of their teamwork and the absolute viciousness of that finishing move. Lynn and X-Pac gloat with their shared victory over Rob Van Dam, who checks on a badly hurting Kidman before SmackDown goes back to break.

SmackDown returns to air with The Undertaker once again standing outside the referee’s locker room, and this time Crash Holly can be seen approaching in the distance. As he gets to the door, he’s stopped by The Deadman.
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Undertaker: Hey Crash, what exactly do you think you’re doing?! Grabbing a ref so you can try and win my title?

Undertaker laughs at the idea, simply teasing Crash who doesn’t find the humor in Taker’s suggestion.
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Crash: And what if I was?

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Undertaker: What if you were!? If you tried to take the Hardcore Title, I’d put your ass through the ring, boy!

Taker’s laugh is now guttural, bellowing through the hallways of the Staples Center as Crash gets more and more frustration etched across his face.
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Crash: Well I wouldn’t worry about what I’m doing anyway, you should be concerned with your brother right behind you.

Undertaker’s attitude shifts on a dime, quickly turning around to see absolutely nobody stranding behind him. Crash takes this chance to bolt, clearly shaking The Deadman up with his lie.
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Undertaker: You little…

Taker gives chase down the hallway, but the Houdini of Hardcore’s head start gives him quite the advantage here as we head back to the arena. First, Maven makes his entrance accompanied by Al Snow. After last week’s talk about changing course from his feud with The Undertaker, it appears Maven has taken his mentor’s advice to heart as he readies to jump back into non-hardcore action here. Out next is Lance Storm, back on the horse already after being pinned by The Rock on Monday night. Storm is accompanied by Christian, and the two of them seem to have no interest in trading barbs with the crowd as they hit the ring in a more business-like manner than we’re used to.

Maven w/ Al Snow vs Lance Storm w/ Christian
Storm and Maven have some good, athletic exchanges of offense at the start, with Storm being impressed by Maven’s athleticism but still managing to stymie him at times due to his superior ring knowledge. Despite Al Snow’s teaching from the outside, Storm maintains the advantage for the most part, working over the left leg and lower back of Maven to set up the Canadian Maple Leaf. Maven does begin a furious comeback near the end of the match, landing a few dropkicks of incredible height, but Storm smothers his momentum with a Superkick after Christian causes a distraction on the outside. Storm covers but surprisingly only gets a two count, and his jaw drops in disbelief. Showing his veteran prowess, he doesn’t dwell on it for too long, as he simply drags Maven to the center of the ring and grabs hold of his leg, trying to turn him over to finish the match with the Canadian Maple Leaf. Much to his surprise, though, Maven is able to resist being turned over and locks Lance Storm up with an inside cradle for a shocking three count!

Winner: Maven (6:17)

Maven darts out of the ring, avoiding an oncoming Christian, who’s in a full blown fit of rage now. Maven and Snow celebrate, with Snow whispering something to his protegee before Maven smiles at Christian and makes a title belt motion around his waist. Christian looks down at his European Championship and then glares at Maven in disgust, yelling something back at him while the show heads backstage once more.

In the back, the Dudley Boyz and Stacy Keibler are standing in the interview area with Jonathan Coachman, their tag titles in the forefront around their necks as Stacy stands between them.
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Coach: On RAW you said you’d send a message to the tag team division tonight, so I’ve just gotta know what that message is.

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Bubba: The message to the WWF tag team division is real simple, and it’s one that they should’ve learned from the second the Dudley Boyz stepped foot in this place! We ain’t no fluke, we ain’t no joke, and not a single one of these teams have what it takes to stop us! But we wanna give them a chance.

D-Von takes over now, removing the title from around his neck and flaunting it for the camera.​

D-Von: You’re damn right! If you think what my brother Bubba and I did to Spike and Tazz was barbaric, just wait until you see what happens when one of these teams that don’t know nothing about how we do it in Dudleyville steps to us! And that’s why we’re issuing an open challenge for our titles at No Way Out!

Bubba: You all heard the man! If any of you teams back there feel brave enough, you know exactly where to come find us. But just understand that when you walk into the ring with the Dudley Boyz, you need to understand just a couple of commandments…

D-Von: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL, THOU SHALT NOT KILL, AN-

The loud, heaving promo of the Dudley Boyz comes to a halt when Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon walk into frame, both dressed in jeans and a vest with no undershirt, Kanyon wearing a backwards baseball cap. They step up to the Dudleys, seemingly unintimidated by the tag team champions.
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DDP: Don’t let us stop you. Go ahead, finish up what you were sayin’.

D-Von is dripping either water or sweat off his body as he steps towards DDP and yells his most important commandment.
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D-Von: THOU SHALT NOT MESS… WITH THE DUDLEY BOYZ.

DDP and Kanyon shoot unimpressed glances at each other, then back at the Dudleys.
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Kanyon: Well maybe a couple sinners like us oughta find out why that is. See ya’ at No Way Out.

DDP and Kanyon walk away, and while Stacy looks offended at their interjection the Dudleys have looks of excitement on their faces while SmackDown heads to one more break.

The show returns with a backstage argument already underway between The Hurricane and Mighty Molly, and Torrie Wilson and Tajiri. Torrie does the talking for her side, as Tajiri nods vigorously next to her while the superheroes stand their ground.
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Hurricane: So what Citizen Torrie, I hit you with the Eye of the Hurricane last week. We taught you a valuable lesson about minding your own business!

Molly: Exactly! Maybe next time you’ll stick to the outside of the ring, where you belong.

Torrie rolls her eyes as Hurricane and Molly strike superhero poses, Tajiri clearly just along for the ride on this entire thing.
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Torrie: You know what, fine. I was in the match, I was fair game. Does that make you two feel more heroic?

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Hurricane: Nothing could make us feel more heroic than we already do, Citizen Torrie. We always do what’s right.

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Torrie: Oh yeah? Then will you step in the ring for a match with Tajiri on RAW?

Hurricane looks equal parts offended and nervous about the question, looking Tajiri up and down as the Japanese Buzzsaw appears to be eager for The Hurricane’s answer.
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Molly: The Hurricane is more than happy to accept your challenge, and he’ll be even happier to rid the Cruiserweight Championship of the evil that possesses it.

Jolted by his sidekick’s confidence, The Hurricane sticks out his chin and nods, before he and Molly “fly” away once again. Before the camera cuts away from Tajiri and Torrie, Crash Holly comes barrelling down the hallway past them, followed by The Undertaker a few steps later. Taker stops at Tajiri and Torrie, asking if they saw where Crash went. Not even waiting for Torrie to reply and with Tajiri not a native English speaker, Undertaker simply pushes past them and enters the door they were standing in front of.

When he closes the door, you can instantly hear a commotion beginning which causes Torrie to grab Tajiri by the hand and run off. The door flies open and Undertaker launches towards the wall on the other side of the hallway, and KANE steps out of the room! The Big Red Machine stands over his brother silently, not even bringing a referee with him to target the Hardcore Title, focusing on a physical response to The Deadman rather than the belt tonight.

Finally we re-enter the arena for our main event, with Chris Jericho coming to the ring first. Michael Cole mentions how courageous it is for Spike Dudley to personally request a match with the Undisputed Champion after the week he had last week, first losing the Tag Team Titles to his half-brothers in a valiant effort on RAW and suffering assaults from both Jericho and Kurt Angle on SmackDown. Lawler of course calls Spike stupid as he labors down the ramp, looking incredibly injured as the bell is called for regardless.

Chris Jericho vs Spike Dudley
Spike is far from his usual evasive self in this match, his injuries simply too much for him to overcome. Jericho essentially wipes the floor with his smaller opponent, wrestling more viciously than he has in a long time. He grinds Spike’s face into the mat, lays in his strikes and taunts Spike while slapping him around. Jericho hits the Breakdown and rolls him over for a pin, but lifts Spike by the hair when he reaches a two count. The crowd boos and the referee admonishes him, but Jericho decides to instead finish the match with the Liontamer, driving his knee into the back of Spike’s head while he taps out desperately.

Winner: Chris Jericho (4:14)

Tim White finally manages to peel Jericho off his beaten opponent, but Y2J appears far from done. He rolls out of the ring to grab a chair, but as he’s climbing the steps to get back in, the glass shatters! Stone Cold steams out to the ring, brawling with Jericho at ringside and taking the chair from him. Austin swings the chair and Y2J narrowly avoids it, but Austin continues his chase. The Rattlesnake chases Jericho into the ring, where he’s cut off and actually beaten up a bit by the Undisputed Champion. Jericho is much less timid and a lot more aggressive than he has been in months, eventually laying in shots on Stone Cold with the steel chair.

Jericho seems to be more consumed by his ego with each shot of the chair, knowing he not only fended off an attack from Stone Cold Steve Austin but is actively winning the brawl. He lays in right hands, trying to bust Austin wide open when Ric Flair makes his way to the ring, grabbing Jericho around the waist and trying to peel him away. This draws Vince McMahon out, and he involves himself in a shouting match with Flair. As the co-owners argue, Jericho blindsides Flair with the WWF Championship belt! Y2J starts putting the boots to Ric Flair, when Triple H’s music plays, and The Game starts down the ramp!

Before he can even make it halfway, though, he’s jumped from behind by Kurt Angle! Angle, who was supposed to be out of the building tonight, plants Triple H on the ramp with the Angle Slam! Angle stands over his No Way Out opponent and gloats, while Jericho holds up both his belts as Austin and Flair have been taken out in the ring. Michael Cole does his best Jim Ross impression, throwing an absolute conniption fit as SmackDown goes off the air with Jericho, Angle and Vince standing tall.

CONFIRMED FOR NO WAY OUT

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler vs DDP and Kanyon

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane​

 

[DTP]

WWF RAW - February 4, 2002:

The opening promo recapped things from this past week well, and I did like the continued attempt to legitimize Kurt Angle as a top-tier competitor with less of a comedic edge. As I've mentioned previously, there's totally room for that in wrestling, but where the Road to WrestleMania X8 is concerned, I think he really needed to drive home the importance of going to WrestleMania. The Ric Flair and Vince McMahon stuff was cute and I feel there's a lot more where this came from, but the purpose was to set up the clear Triple H and Angle match for what I presume to be No Way Out.

Oh man, Steven Richards got shafted here. It's in line with what he was doing at the time, dicking around after the Kronik fiasco in the undercard. Booker T with the win in under a minute really helps him, probably moreso than the entire stuff with Steve Austin kicking his ass week-in and week-out, in various locations. I think we could have had some sort of angle after the match to add more interest, otherwise I maybe wouldn't have placed this in the first match slot.

I hate to say it, but I think I'm actually looking forward to what happens with the WWF Tag Team Championship picture after this business with Taz and Spike Dudley & The Dudley Boyz.

Jazz crushing Lita was the obvious choice, setting up the WWF Women's Championship match at No Way Out. I think it's a foregone conclusion Jazz would be best suited to win the title there, unless you really plan on making Trish Stratus a superheroine face of the division. I am glad Lita got enough offense here. One curious note is the time they got here - six minutes was pretty unheard of for the women's division during this time.

I dug the X-Pac and Jerry Lynn pairing, but the name does leave a lot to be desired. I'm not sure I really buy them as a Destruction Crew, but I'm willing to let it play out.

Edge going over the Big Bossman made sense, although it went pretty long for a Bossman match at this stage of the game.

I really liked the comedy here with Goldust psyching out William Regal. Coming after kissing Vince McMahon's ass they really tried amping up the diabolical heel aspect of Regal's villainous character. I do like the contrast in characters they have going here, though. The Goldust promo was really well written...I wonder who was more uncomfortable, Regal or Terri.

The WWF Co-Owners angle set up No Way Out, and I am pretty fond of Ric Flair and Vince McMahon getting added into Triple H and Kurt Angle's corner, so long as it doesn't intrude too much with the actual match. I totally expect a brawl with Flair and McMahon. I just wonder what the next logical step might be for this angle beyond the pay-per-view...it feels very premature for a Shane McMahon return, after all.

The Undertaker's promo worked fine, albeit I'm not enthused about seeing him work an angle with Kane in 2002. We're so far gone from the initial Brothers of Destruction arc, and the dynamic is different with 'Taker as the heel, but I'm of the belief if it's just a deal for No Way Out, then fair enough. Where we go towards WrestleMania is the more curious question.

Chris Jericho really needed a strong promo to counteract Steve Austin's impending challenge come No Way Out. I'm wondering how things go there, as it's too soon for Austin to claim the WWF Undisputed Championship. With no hint or sign of an nWo presence coming in, perhaps that is the idea for a big surprise angle at the pay-per-view.

Mr. Perfect and Hardcore Holly...I won't lie, it felt like it belonged on Sunday Night Heat. It kept Holly strong, down to the cheating finish, but with no real angle it felt like it was there to fill time.

The Rock's promo was really nice, and would have been even greater if we got Steve Austin come into frame for a duelling catchphrases segment. After the wars they had throughout 2001, that would have really driven things home how top-notch this tag team main event can be. It fed directly into the match with Christian and Lance Storm, and obviously the right men won here. If Christian and Storm are to be built up to be taken seriously, they definitely could do without taken frequent losses to the top stars. Jericho costing Austin here for the finish would have been incredibly spicy, for instance.

RAW was good, but I feel there are still lacking parts in places. More undercard angles would greatly drive interest up, I think.

WWF SmackDown! - February 7, 2002:

Triple H kicking off the show to talk was a fine choice, responding to the match set up for No Way Out. I think we could have gotten a little more juicy by having Vince McMahon come out, or something to that effect. Nonetheless, it was simple and straight-forward.

Nice use of The Godfather to set up Shawn Stasiak being the geek to oppose Booker T's fun with the Hos.

William Regal picked up a good win against the typically well-protected Rikishi. With the expected match coming with Goldust, I think it was important he had it. I loved the post-match, that said. Goldust and the brass knuckles just writes itself, and it keeps that hidden weapon element involved, in a risque way to establish what kind of freak Goldust can be.

I think we see a lot of Vince McMahon and Ric Flair talking, but not a whole lot else. I think we could afford to get a little more adventurous with things, unless the idea is to accelerate this rivalry progressively towards WrestleMania. It feels like disagreements and irritability from being in this situation, rather than outright hostility that comes from having to share responsibilities as Co-Owner. Spike Dudley is having a heck of a few weeks, I like the use of him - but where does this leave Tazz?

Rhyno going over Val Venis worked effectively, and again I feel like we could have done with an angle during or afterwards to really progress the program with Raven. They had a great match at Backlash 2001, so I suspect the eventual match will be nothing short of great. I wouldn't mind seeing Rhyno back with the WWF Hardcore Championship soon, if not beyond that.

The Undertaker bullying Mike Chioda was a cute segment to set up the show-long angle with Kane.

I'm actually kind of here for a Rob Van Dam and Billy Kidman unit. Obviously with how popular he was, RVD is primed for a singles push, but with Kidman I always felt he was a workrate guy (who I loved) - but outside of that, he never had a lot going for him. Unsurprising win to further implement X-Pac and Jerry Lynn as a team, and I can only hope Kidman soars soon if a Cruiserweight division comes to light.

The Undertaker stuff with Crash was a hell of a lot of fun. With the WWF Hardcore Championship, you have so much creative freedom involving situations, locations, weapons and relationships between characters. It's been utilized well thus far and explains why 'Taker hasn't been seen being ambushed with the 24/7 rule that often.

See, after what I said on RAW, a loss to Maven for Lance Storm now tells me they are not being built up whatsoever, haha. Given Al Snow tried and failed to beat Christian for the WWF European Championship back at Survivor Series, I'm suspecting a title shot is up Maven's alley. It's totally too soon for Maven to win gold, but it would help drive Christian's character further towards the temper tantrum manchild we've come to know him by.

I like DDP and Chris Kanyon getting back together, even if they are most presumably here to set up the Dudley Boyz getting a win. I think we could have used more character definition to establish DDP and Kanyon as an experienced unit. I like the attempts to build new teams for the 2002 division, though, considering what we remember when it comes to the post-Attitude Era tag scene. So far DDP and Kanyon have been guys, but they need to be more if they are pay-per-view challengers.

I always did like The Hurricane and Mighty Molly stuff. This was fun use of Torrie Wilson to set up something with Tajiri. I think for the purpose of livening up the WWF Cruiserweight Championship picture, Hurricane should win on RAW.

Kane getting The Undertaker in the end really drove home that angle. I will say, considering my scepticism of this program, this has been a very good use of both guys.

I'm not shocked or surprised by Chris Jericho defeating Spike Dudley, and rightfully so. That said, I don't believe this was a worthy main event in the least. I think we needed a bit more than what we got here. I mean really it was all about the post-match, and rightly so. A lot going on, with storylines crossing paths. It felt like a great go-home show angle, even though we're still ten days out. How we follow this up on the actual go-home week will be interesting. Can this be topped?

Pretty good week of television. I liked the flow of SmackDown! more, as it felt like there was more life and dimension. Week by week, this is settling in very nicely.

 

[BookerMan]

2/10/02
from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California

*PYRO*

*Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow welcome us to the show*

Heat hits the airwaves with a recap of the past week of WWF programming, focusing mostly on the feuds between Steve Austin and Chris Jericho over the Undisputed Title, as well as the converging issues with Triple H and Ric Flair against Kurt Angle and Vince McMahon. Commentary also makes note of the fact that tomorrow night on RAW, Triple H and Stone Cold will team together for the first time since The Game was injured last year, to take on Jericho and Angle!

Off the heels of that massive main event announcement for tomorrow night, Raven starts to make his way to the ring. Seemingly having lost some of his manipulative mojo so to speak, Raven sits in the corner and sulks per usual. Out next is Hardcore Holly, and the hard-nosed competitor is greeted well by the Staples Center audience. Holly stands unimpressed with his hands on his hips in the center of the ring as he stares at Raven and waits for him to rise to his feet to get the match underway.

Raven vs Hardcore Holly
Raven spends the majority of the match on the back foot thanks to the aggressive nature and heavy handedness of Hardcore Holly. Holly turns Raven’s chest red with hard chops, the impact echoing through the arena as Raven spills to the outside to try and slow his opponent’s momentum. Using a couple underhanded tricks, Raven does manage to get a little offense in, but his attempt to finish the match with the Raven Effect is blocked, and Holly lands a nasty Alabama Slam for the win.

Winner: Hardcore Holly (6:33)

Holly leaves the ring with his arms raised, fans receiving high-fives at ringside while he returns to the back. In the ring, Raven is recovering from the whiplash of his head hitting the canvas and he looks completely beside himself. He rolls to the outside and stammers to the timekeeper’s area where he apprehends a microphone for himself.
​

Raven: Go figure, everybody’s laughing at Raven again.

The crowd isn’t necessarily laughing at him, but they sure do seem amused with his recent run of tough results both in and out of the ring.
​

Raven: This isn’t new behavior for the savage, remorseless monsters of society like you people here in LA. Rhyno, do you hear them? The same way they ridicule me after putting my body on the line in front of them, they make fun of you for the way you look and the way you behave. If you won’t join forces with me because you don’t need my help to dominate the WWF roster, I understand…

The crowd is now booing, Raven unable to let go of his desire to have Rhyno on his side.
​

Raven: …but just think about the mental anguish we could put all these mindless bullies through if we were beating their favorite wrestlers every single night. Please Rhyno, just think about it.

After pleading somewhat pathetically, Raven drops the mic and stumbles back up the ramp, Coach and Al Snow offering some unfavorable opinions on Raven’s clear desperation.

The show then fades to a commercial for No Way Out, live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin one week from tonight on Pay-Per-View!

After the break, we’re shown a recap of Booker T and The Godfather’s awkward run-in with Shawn Stasiak that took place on this past week’s SmackDown, in which Stasiak interjected himself in their conversation and was threatened by Booker. This recap is followed by the entrance of, unsurprisingly, Shawn Stasiak, whose spaced-out eyes lead him to the ring where he’s booed thoroughly. Out next is The Godfather, accompanied by his usual band of women as he dances down the aisle to the delight of the crowd in LA.

Godfather enters the ring and has his ladies remove his jacket and chains, then grabs a microphone as if he’s about to extend his usual pre-match offer of his women’s services to Stasiak, but before even speaking a word he shakes his head, indicating Stasiak isn’t even worth the offer.

Shawn Stasiak vs The Godfather
When Godfather turns his back to hand the microphone back to Lilian Garcia at ringside, Stasiak jumps him to get the action underway. The athletically impressive Stasiak does manage to keep his offense rolling for a minute or two, but the veteran takes the advantage back with a huge thrust kick that lands flush. Godfather looks to hit the Ho Train and put the match away, but Stasiak is alert enough to move out of the way and send Godfather chest-first into the turnbuckle. It’s at this moment that Mark Jindrak charges to ringside, distracting the referee long enough for Stasiak to land a low blow and hit the Perfect Plant for a surprising three count!

Winner: Shawn Stasiak (5:49)

Stasiak himself looks like he can’t believe he won, as indicated by his excited celebration with Jindrak on the outside, the two of them completely ignoring the group of women congregated at ringside as they traverse back up the ramp. Godfather gathers himself with the help of his associates, clearly disappointed in his loss as Heat goes to break.

Backstage, we see William Regal dressed in a suit, the Intercontinental Title folded neatly at his hip and held in his right hand. Regal addresses the camera directly, looking friendly at first.
​

Regal: Hello to you all, hope you’re having a wonderful evening. This past Thursday night on SmackDown, the number one contender for my Intercontinental Championship, Goldust, committed a hideous transgression against yours truly.

Regal shudders as he recalls the events of SmackDown to the audience.
​

Regal: That miserable toerag reached into my wrestling trunks for no apparent reason, and as the holder of one of the most prestigious championships in all of sports entertainment, I simply can not let such an action stand unresponded to. In a week’s time, Goldust, you will feel the wrath of a punch so powerful that your gold paint will be splattered all over the canvas like a bloody Jackson Pollock painting!

Regal now looks completely deranged, staring down at his tightly clenched fist as the video fades out and we head back to the arena to see the APA making their entrance. Already in the ring, we see the local talent tag team of Los Cubanitos: Rocky Romero and Ricky Reyes. Bradshaw and Faarooq stand across the ring from their much smaller opponents, with Bradshaw deciding to begin the match with Romero as the bell rings.

APA vs Los Cubanitos
As expected, Los Cubanitos don’t put up much of a fight here. Bradshaw throws both his opponents around with relative ease, having his fun before tagging in Faarooq and letting him get some work in. Faarooq ragdolls Reyes, leading him to tag in Romero, whose fate isn’t any better. Finally, Faarooq hoists Rocky up for the Dominator, and Reyes’ attempt to intervene is cut off with a decapitating Clothesline from Hell. Faarooq slams Romero to the mat and covers for the easy win.

Winners: APA (3:20)

The Acolytes leave as fast as they came, slapping hands at ringside before heading back through the curtain and sending Heat back to its last break.

Heat returns with exclusive post-SmackDown footage of Stone Cold Steve Austin backstage, as he pushes a doctor away who was trying to place an ice pack on his back after he was assaulted with a steel chair by Chris Jericho.
​

Stone Cold: Get this damn camera out of my face! What is it, ya’ want a few comments? Ya’ wanna know how I feel after Chris Jericho beat me with a damn chair? I feel like crap! That little sum’bitch got one over on me tonight, but I guess ya’ can’t win ‘em all. But Chris Jericho, Vince McMahon, whoever needs to hear it - you ain’t gonna win ‘em all either. Because at No Way Out, if you think anybody other than Stone Cold Steve Austin is leaving with the Undisputed Title, you two are even dumber than you look!

Austin is fired up, now standing and yelling directly into the camera towards Jericho.
​

Stone Cold: You can bring a chair, you can bring your little friends, you can bring every trick you got in the book for all I give a damn! Because once the two of us are locked inside a steel cage, there ain’t gonna be no escaping from ol’ Stone Cold. AND THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE, CAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO.

Austin steams past the camera, his impassioned words resonating as the video fades out and we head to the arena for our main event. First out is Tommy Dreamer, who carries a trash can full of weapons to the ring for what is announced as a hardcore match. He unsheaths a kendo stick from the trash can and sets it to his side when fire erupts from the stage and Kane comes out! Commentary refers to this match as “practice” for Kane’s upcoming Hardcore Title match with The Undertaker at No Way Out, as The Big Red Machine saunters to the ring. Wisely, Dreamer charges him with the kendo stick as he steps over the ropes and the match gets underway.

Hardcore Match
Tommy Dreamer vs Kane
Kane barely reacts to the kendo stick shots, eventually disarming Dreamer and tossing the weapon to the side. Tommy runs back to his trash can to grab another kendo stick, but he ends up falling victim to a big boot and thrown into the corner where Kane lays in punches. Kane now starts to play with the weapons, cracking a kendo stick over Dreamer’s spine. Tommy does show his perseverance and proficiency with plunder, managing to rattle Kane with a cookie sheet over the head before attempting to take him down with some kendo stick shots to the legs. However, Kane wraps his hand around Dreamer’s throat from his knees, standing up and raising Tommy high above his head with only one arm. Dreamer manages to work his way free using the kendo stick, cracking Kane in the head and releasing his grip. Finally fed up, Kane disarms Dreamer once again and lands a sidewalk slam to take him to the mat. Kane then empties the trash can and cracks Dreamer over the head with it, a thunderous shot that may be enough to end the match on its own. Instead, though, Kane scoops up his downed opponent and chokeslams him onto the trash can, flattening the metal out! The Big Red Machine covers Dreamer and picks up the win.

Winner: Kane (5:11)

Being that his entrance was cut off, Kane shoots fire from the turnbuckles now, Heat going off the air with the Big Red Machine standing tall.

CONFIRMED FOR NO WAY OUT

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler vs DDP and Kanyon

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane​

 

[Stojy]

Usually Raven losing a throw away match like this on Heat to Holly would make me sad, but I’m happy you’re giving him an angle to work with as he continues to chase an alliance with Rhyno. Promo here was solid enough. Makes sense to me that the former ECW guys will get together, but looking forward to seeing how you make that happen. Good stuff so far.

Godfather refusing to offer the ho’s to Stasiak is pretty on brand for when he’d face anybody he really didn’t like. I’m supporting of putting Stasiak and Jindrak together, playing off their WCW days so again, this felt like a nice logical step in the right direction.

Regal’s promo was solid enough on his issues with Goldust. The idea of a feud getting hotter because one man put his hand down another man’s tights feels very of the times here. Does feel a bit weird to see these two involved in a serious angle with each other, and I’m not sure I’m completely into this feud, but this promo as a stand alone was fine.

APA squash was surely brutal and fun. The right team certainly went over here.

Heat just feels that much bigger when there’s an appearance from one of the stars. Austin’s promo here was fine. Should be fun to see him gunning for revenge tomorrow night on Raw.

Kane destroying Tommy in a Hardcore match is harmless fun, and the logical booking of Kane having a ‘warm up’ Hardcore match is enough for it to make sense. Fun ending to the show.

I mean this was Heat, so it was never going to set the world on fire, but even here, some promising character work/angles getting time or at least in the works. It has been awhile since you’ve posted this so really hoping we see Raw sometime soon.

 

[jdswain111]

I love Trish as a babyface I always think that young boys and girls are watching your show and girls want to be the next Trish the female John Cena don’t give up I want her to win and still be champion



Stacy keibler and Torrie Wilson are so cute and superstars I do like my babyfaces are know Torrie is one and I think Stacy will be one soon great job with them you got there personality's down so well.

 

[BookerMan]

2/11/02
from the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas

*PYRO*

*Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show*

RAW hits the air for the go-home episode before No Way Out with a rabid crowd in Arkansas of all places, the camera panning around to show off the various signs and the excited fans before “Also Sprach Zarathustra” rings out through the speakers and Ric Flair arrives. He’s gracious to the fans as he heads down the aisle but he doesn’t seem to be in as good a mood as usual. The Nature Boy ascends the steel steps and enters the ring, unbuttoning his jacket and grabbing a microphone from Lilian Garcia. Flair waits for the cheering to subside a bit before beginning.
​

Flair: Thank you very much, I’ll try not to be out here too long. There were just a few things I wanted to get sorted out before we get into the action tonight, starting with what happened on SmackDown. I’m sure you all saw it, but just in case, let’s take a look.

On the Titantron, footage shows Ric Flair intervening in the brawl between Stone Cold and Chris Jericho, trying to pull Y2J off his vicious assault on the challenger for the Undisputed Title and getting a title belt upside his head for his troubles.
​

Flair: Now this isn’t my first time in a WWF ring, I know how things go around here. If somebody gets into this ring and puts their hands on a WWF superstar, they’re putting themselves in harm’s way. But, Chris Jericho, let me tell you this… when you put your hands - even better - when you hit The Nature Boy with a WEAPON, you’re putting YOURSELF in harm’s way!

Naitch’s face is beginning to turn red, his mannerisms becoming more unhinged as he looks straight down the barrel of the camera.
​

Flair: So the next time the two of us are in this ring together, Chris Jericho, don’t expect me to keep it professional! If you want me to step in here as a competitor, then that’s exactly what you’re gonna g-

Flair’s rant is cut off by Kurt Angle’s music blaring over the speakers, the Olympic Hero making quick time on his way to the ring and standing in front of Flair with a microphone in his hand.
​

Flair: Now just what in the hell do you want?

Angle: Whoa! Take it easy, Ric. I’m just as mad at Chris Jericho as you are!

Flair: Oh yeah, why’s that?

Flair is clearly not buying Angle’s schtick here.
​

Angle: I’m mad because he cracked you with that title belt before I got the chance to!

Kurt laughs uproariously while the crowd boos in annoyance, Flair clearly unimpressed by his antics.
​

Angle: I mean, I could only imagine how good it felt for him to finally take a swing at you after the crap you’ve been pulling around here for the last two months!

Flair: It’s funny you’d say that, Kurt, because I think I might have some “crap” that you’re gonna want to hear. Since Vince got to book your last match against Spike Dudley, I think I’ll go ahead and book your next match. It’s gonna take place tonight.

Angle seems to not care, a clear expression of confusion on his face.
​

Angle: So what? Your big announcement was that I have a match tonight? You sure showed me!

Flair: I wasn’t finished. Tonight, you’ll be in a tag team match, in our main event. It’s going to be the team of Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho… taking on the team of Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin! WOOOO!

Flair woos directly in Angle’s face before dropping the mic and leaving the ring, letting Angle marinate in the blockbuster announcement he just made for later tonight. JR and King point out that Austin and HHH will be teaming for the first time since Triple H’s quad injury, and that they are former WWF Tag Team Champions. Commentary then tosses it backstage, where they say Jonathan Coachman is standing by.
​

Coach: Well what an explosive night it has been already with the announcement of our mega main event, but it’s only going to get more explosive as I’m joined now by Booker T.

The crowd goes rabid as Booker steps into frame and he pats Coach on the back, towering above him.
​

Coach: Booker we’ve seen over the last few weeks that you’ve made quick work of your opponents in the ring and seemingly turned over a new leaf outside of it, now I have to ask what everybody’s wondering: what’s next for Booker T?

Booker: It’s hard to say for sure, but I got a couple big ideas y’know Coach? I’ve had my share of fun whooping suckas like Steven Richards the past couple weeks, but it’s time for Booker T to move on to bigger and better things… maybe put some championship gold back around my waist.

Booker’s eyes shift from the microphone up towards someone out of frame, as Edge steps in and stands in front of him. There doesn’t appear to be any hostility between them, as Booker reaches out and they shake hands.
​

Edge: Sorry to interrupt, I really am, it’s the Canadian in me. But I just overheard your interview and I just had to come by and say… I’ve been thinking the same thing lately, so I guess I just came by to wish you luck.

Booker: Alright, I can dig that. Good luck to you too.

They shake hands once again, before Booker looks to wrap up the interview.
​

Booker: NOW CAN YOU DIG THAT, S–

Edge: Whoa Book, hold on! I’m no sucker.

Booker laughs, Edge feigning offense at Booker’s catchphrase. Booker turns his eyesight away from Edge and towards Coach to finish the phrase, deciding to call the interviewer a sucka rather than his potential competitor.

Back in the arena, The Hurricane and Mighty Molly make their entrance for tonight’s Cruiserweight Championship bout. It’s noted on commentary that Hurricane earned this opportunity when he and Molly defeated Tajiri and Torrie Wilson in mixed tag action just over a week ago on SmackDown, with JR calling Hurricane’s attack on Torrie “tasteless”. Out next is the champion, accompanied as always by Torrie which of course sends The King into a frenzy. Tajiri enters the ring enthusiastically and hands the Cruiserweight Title off to the referee to get the action underway.

Cruiserweight Championship Match
The Hurricane w/ Mighty Molly vs Tajiri w/ Torrie Wilson
There’s a feeling out process at the start of the match, with Tajiri winning each sequence with the use of his devastating kicks. Hurricane shows off some superior mat prowess in response, grounding the champion for some time. They continue back-and-forth, with Hurricane taking the action to the outside where he slams Tajiri’s face off the ring apron and walks to the other side of the ring, receiving admonishment from official Tim White. This allows Mighty Molly to attempt to get a shot in on Tajiri, but Torrie is able to direct Tim White’s attention that way and catch her in the act! White emphatically ejects Molly from ringside, ordering her back to the locker room which sends both her and Hurricane into a fit. Hurricane pleads his case for a bit too long and lets Tajiri start back on offense for a bit, but he counters a handspring back elbow with a dropkick to slow the pace down and send RAW to its first break.

The show returns with Hurricane in control, holding a chin lock on his opponent before Tajiri starts to work his way back to his feet with the encouragement of the crowd guiding him. The Japanese Buzzsaw fights out of the hold and shoots Hurricane into the ropes, catching him coming back with a thunderous kick to the chest that drops the challenger. After another flurry of strikes, Tajiri manages to lock in the Tarantula in the corner for the four seconds he’s allowed before being disqualified. With Hurricane in agony in the corner, Tajiri charges at him, but Hurricane counters with a low dropkick that sends Tajiri straight into an exposed turnbuckle! The crowd gasps as Tajiri hits face-first into the steel, while Hurricane retrieves his cape and heads to the top rope, signaling the end of the match is near. As Tim White works to replace the exposed turnbuckle, Hurricane stands up and waits for Tajiri to stumble into position. Torrie Wilson, however, climbs on the apron and grabs the cape for just long enough to become a distraction, causing Hurricane to try and free himself when Tajiri sprays the green mist straight into his face! Hurricane falls off the top rope and into the ring, stumbling straight into a devastating Buzzsaw Kick to the head to allow Tajiri to retain his championship.

Winner: Tajiri (8:25)

Tajiri and Torrie celebrate, jumping up and down with the title raised high while Mighty Molly runs down the ramp to try and get the mist out of her superhero’s eyes. Molly scowls out at Tajiri and Torrie’s celebration as RAW returns backstage.

In the back, we see Stone Cold opening a door and entering a room where Triple H is sitting on a couch. HHH seems surprised as Austin walks in and makes himself at home, throwing his gym bag onto the floor and standing in front of The Game, who stands up and postures himself, almost as if he’s ready to fight.
​

HHH: So what exactly are you doing in my dressing room?

The Rattlesnake looks a bit smug, the history between the two of them evident as he smirks at HHH before answering.
​

Stone Cold: Well hell son, I just figured that since we’re teaming tonight we oughta get ready together and come up with a gameplan. It’ll be just like old times.

Austin’s smile clearly brings back memories of the Two-Man Power Trip, the dominant tag team of 2001 whose run came to a halt when Triple H tore his quad last year.
​

HHH: Yeah well my memories of those old times aren’t exactly fond. But if we have to get along tonight to kick the crap out of Angle and Jericho, then so be it.

Stone Cold: So be it, that’s right.

Some of the tension between them dissipates, Austin settling into the room as he sits down on one of the couches and begins lacing his boots. The silence deafening while the shot fades away from the room.

In the arena, “Rollin” begins to play and The Undertaker bikes his way to the ring before tossing the Hardcore Title into the squared circle and sliding underneath the bottom rope himself. Taker grabs a microphone and paces around the ring a bit before beginning to speak.
​

Undertaker: So just last Thursday on SmackDown, my own baby brother decided to embarrass me. He tricked me, had me running laps around the Staples Center just so he could sucker me in and toss my ass into a brick wall.

The crowd cheers as they recount Undertaker getting a semblance of justice for his actions over the past couple months.
​

Undertaker: Brothers fight, especially in our family - and if I’d seen it coming I’d have had no problem fighting back. And I know we got a hardcore match scheduled for No Way Out, but the beautiful thing about this Hardcore Title of mine is that it has a 24/7 rule, so if Kane really wanted to, he could come out here right now, bring a referee with him, and make a run for this title!

Arkansas erupts at the implication, now anxiously awaiting the Big Red Machine’s arrival.
​

Undertaker: And that’s exactly what I want! I want my baby brother to go find himself a referee, grab him by the wrist and walk your big ass down to my yard so you can get the payback that’s owed to you!

It doesn’t take long for Kane’s lighting, pyro and music to hit, followed by Mike Chioda hurriedly scuffling down the ramp, looking behind him as if he was sent out by Kane, who saunters a few steps behind him. Chioda slides in the ring before Kane steps over the top rope, standing face-to-face with his older brother as Chioda stands between them.

With a Hardcore Title match clearly in the cards here, Chioda tries to grab the title belt out of Undertaker’s left hand so he can hand it off to ringside and get the match underway. However, Undertaker looks at him with a mix of anger and confusion on his face, and pulls the title away. Chioda reaches for it once more, clearly pleading his case that he just wants to get the match underway when Undertaker clocks him with a right hand! Immediately afterwards, The Deadman leaves the ring as Kane takes a couple steps towards him, looking at his younger brother in the ring while laughing. ​

Undertaker: How about this: I’ll see your big ass at No Way Out, and not a second sooner!

Taker laughs hysterically once more, dropping the microphone and taking off, seeming less stable than normal after his brother got the best of him on Thursday night. JR accuses Undertaker of catching “a case of the limber tail” as RAW heads to commercial.

RAW comes back from the break with Maven’s entrance, as JR hypes up his upset win over Lance Storm that he pulled off on SmackDown. This brings us to the reveal that Christian and Lance Storm are joining JR and King on commentary for this match, and they have pure disgust in their voices every time they so much as mention Maven. Out next is Perry Saturn, the veteran looking to teach this inexperienced rookie a thing or two.

Maven vs Perry Saturn
Saturn’s experience does prove valuable at the start, but Maven’s youth and athleticism carries him through the early offensive onslaught from Saturn. He’s able to get momentum back on his side with a huge dropkick that starches Saturn, then he heads to the top for an attempt at a diving crossbody. However, when he ascends the ropes he’s distracted by jawing back-and-forth with Christian and Storm, allowing Saturn to take back over. Saturn launches Maven off the top with a massive overhead belly-to-belly suplex, that Maven miraculously kicks out of! Saturn looks to put the match away with the Rings of Saturn, but Maven is able to fight off the hold before it can be locked in and after a short sequence of counters, he lands the Halo DDT for another win!

Winner: Maven (5:57)

Maven briefly celebrates his win, pumping his fists for the crowd before his attention turns to the visibly disappointed Christian and Storm at ringside. Maven uses his hands to outline a belt around his waist, to which Christian says “You want a shot?! You got it!” into the commentary headset. Maven nods while smiling wide, and when the camera pans back to Christian it becomes clear that he instantly regrets accepting the challenge.

Backstage, we see Terri Runnels standing between the Hardy Boyz with Lita at Matt’s side, nobody addressing the elephant in the room that Terri once turned on the Hardyz when she was supposed to be managing them.
​

Terri: I’m here right now with the recently reunited Hardy Boyz, but it seems like since you guys came back together, you’ve struggled to find success as a tag team. How can you rediscover the magic that made you one of the top tag teams in WWF history?

Matt: Well that’s where you’ve got it wrong, Terri. It wasn’t magic. What put the Hardy Boyz on top of the tag team division in the first place was our fearlessness and our willingness to do anything it took to become WWF Tag Team Champions. Now a couple things might have changed in the past year or so, but I’m still not afraid of anything. You, Jeff? Lita?

Both Jeff and Lita shake their heads no, which brings a smile to Matt’s face.
​

Matt: That’s what I thought. What all of you are about to see from this era of Team Xtreme is exactly what you’ve always seen: we’re gonna lay it all on the line for our fans, we’re gonna fight like our lives depend on it, and we’re gonna bring home tag team gold. Thanks, Terri.

There’s fire in Matt’s eyes as the Hardyz walk off, sending RAW back to break.

RAW comes back on air with Goldust standing in a dim, golden-lit room, staring at the brass knuckles he stole from William Regal as he twirls them in his hand. The Bizarre One holds them close enough to the camera that you can see he’s plated them with gold foil.
​

Goldust: Looking for these, Willy? I love a bit of jewelry myself, but they looked like they just needed an… upgrade. After all, everybody knows that gold is better.

Goldust holds the knucks close to his face, observing them with great focus before shifting his eyes up towards the camera.
​

Goldust: I know you want them back though, don’t you? Well I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse… after No Way Out, I’ll trade them back to you for that gorgeous hunk of gold around your waist, and every time you look at these gold knuckles, you’ll NEVER forget the name of… GOLDUST.

Goldust bites at the camera as the shot fades out, clutching the knucks close to his chest.

Back in the arena, The Rock’s music hits and the audience erupts! The Great One stomps to the ring as the cheers only grow, stopping to grab a microphone before standing in the center of the ring and letting the “Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!” chants subside before he starts to speak.
​

Rock: FINALLY… The Rock, HAS COME BACK… to Arkansas.

More intense cheering as The People’s Champ looks around at the crowd.
​

Rock: What The Rock came out here to do - other than see all of the millions (AND MILLIONS) of The Rock’s fans in Jonesboro tonight - is to have a chat with somebody that The Rock has needed to talk to for a long, long time… Vince McMahon.

A low “ooooh” roars out of the crowd, as The Great One directly calls Vince out to the ring.

“No Chance in Hell” starts playing shortly thereafter, the co-chairman obliging The Rock’s request as he looks a bit cautious on his walk down to the ring. He stands across from The Rock at a safe distance before beginning to talk.
​

Vince: You wanted me out here, I’m out here. What’s this about?

Rock: The Rock is happy to tell you what it’s about, Vince. See at the Royal Rumble The Rock lost his WWF Title shot thanks to Christian and Lance Storm, and over the past few weeks The Rock has laid the smack down on both those jabronis time and time again! But… The Rock doesn’t seem to be in line to get the rematch with Chris Jericho that he rightfully deserves.

Vince smirks, quickly seeing where this is headed.
​

Vince: Well to be quite frank, Rock, you said it yourself: you lost to Chris Jericho. Whether it was fair or not has nothing to do with it, you lost, and now you’re going to the back of the line.

Rock: And let’s say The Rock fights back to the front of the line, and after Stone Cold whips Chris Jericho’s candy ass at No Way Out and becomes the NEW Undisputed Champion… The Rock still won’t get his title shot, will he?

Vince: Triple H won the Royal Rumble and earned the main event at WrestleMania, so no you will not.

The Rock raises his trademark eyebrow at Vince, who responds as if he knows full well that The Rock is asking rhetorical questions.
​

Rock: That’s about what The Rock expected. But there is just one more question for you Vince… if The Rock isn’t getting a shot at the Undisputed Title… what exactly will he be doing at WrestleMania?

Vince smirks once more, letting himself get overconfident as he says something he probably shouldn’t.
​

Vince: Well maybe The Rock just won’t have anything to do at WrestleMania!

Vince laughs now, openly mocking The Great One which turns predictably sour for him when he’s planted with The Rock Bottom! The People’s Champ yells at the downed co-chairman before posing on the ropes while the crowd goes into an absolute frenzy as RAW returns backstage once more.

Jazz is walking backstage, the hallways clearing for her as various extras in the background look deeply intimidated by her presence. She walks by an open door and sees Terri Runnels sitting alone. Jazz approaches and tells her she wants her seat, getting Terri to stand up before simply shoving the chair she was sitting in to the ground, proving that she’s nothing more than a bully. Right when it looks like Jazz may elevate the encounter to physicality, Trish Stratus charges in from out of nowhere and starts a brawl!

The Women’s Champion proves she has no fear of her challenger for this Sunday, officials rushing in to separate the brawl as RAW heads to its final commercial break.

The show comes back with a recap video of the Minnesota Destruction Crew’s debut tag match last week on SmackDown, in which they cleanly defeated Rob Van Dam and Billy Kidman with a devastating finisher on Kidman.

The video recap fades out to reveal Rob Van Dam standing next to Kevin Kelly in the interview area.
​

Kelly: RVD it was only four nights ago that you came up just short to the newly christened Minnesota Destruction Crew even though you’ve beaten them both individually. Will you and Billy Kidman be giving it another shot?

RVD: Well Kevin, you know and all these people at home know that Rob Van Dam is down for whatever. If Jerry Lynn and X-Pac wanna take another shot at me, then that’s cool. I know I’ll be ready, and I know Billy Kidman will be ready to give you two exactly what you’re asking for. You two know where to find me, but I’m not sure you want to be reminded why they call me the Whole Damn Show. Thanks, Kevin.

RVD walks away with the challenge for a rematch having been laid down, before RAW returns to the arena for our main event.

First out to the ring is the Undisputed Champion, as arrogant as ever as he shows off both belts to the crowd before waiting for his partner. Next out is Kurt Angle, steaming his way down the ramp notably without Vince McMahon after he was laid out by The Rock moments ago. Next out is Stone Cold, who charges straight into the ring and begins a brawl with both opponents, with Triple H now making his way out, skipping his entrance in favor of charging into the brawl himself.

Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle vs Triple H and Stone Cold
The brawl at the start carries on for a few minutes, the bell only officially ringing when Triple H and Jericho find themselves in the ring together. Unsurprisingly, Y2J and Angle find some success slowing down the pace and attacking Triple H’s injured leg, wearing him down and keeping him isolated from the Texas Rattlesnake. HHH tries to fight back but Jericho and Angle prove themselves to be too savvy time and time again, constantly cutting HHH off from a tag and knocking Austin off the apron to get him angry. Finally one of them errs, as Jericho is caught with a spinebuster and The Game is able to tag out. Austin charges in just as Angle is tagged, taking down both opponents and opening up the proverbial can of whoop ass.

As Austin stomps away at Jericho in the corner, Angle manages to land a German Suplex and regain control for his team, now working on the neck of this Sunday’s challenger for the Undisputed Title. It’s Austin who needs to make a tag now, Angle and Jericho displaying their knack for technical wrestling and superior teamwork despite their limited tag experience. With Austin isolated in their corner, Jericho charges with a forearm, but The Rattlesnake moves and he clobbers his own partner! Austin takes advantage by making the tag to Triple H, who comes in like a house of fire despite a small limp developing. The Game takes control for a bit, eventually tagging Austin back in while they’re on the offensive and finding himself on the outside brawling with Kurt Angle. Kurt does manage to ram HHH into the steel steps with his bad leg taking the brunt of the impact, though, and then slithers back into the ring just as Austin clotheslines Jericho to the floor! Angle is caught charging in, and Austin attempts to lock him in the Walls of Jericho!

Kurt struggles to avoid being turned over, the hold now synched in deep as Austin turns The Olympic Hero over and sinks down, a sign of ultimate disrespect to Jericho. Angle looks to be in immense pain when suddenly Jericho charges into the ring and CLOCKS AUSTIN IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH THE WWF TITLE BELT!

Winners via DQ: Stone Cold and Triple H (10:14)

Jericho continues putting the boots to Austin, joined eventually by Angle as referees try unsuccessfully to peel the vengeful champion and Royal Rumble runner-up off Stone Cold. Ric Flair even comes down to the ring, but he puts the brakes on when Jericho threatens to hit him with the WWF Title again like he did on SmackDown. As Flair stands on the apron trying to deescalate the situation, he’s hit with a blindside shot from Kurt Angle! Angle manages to then pull Flair into the ring and put the boots to him, Jericho commencing with the same treatment on Austin when Triple H hobbles back into the ring, this time wielding a sledgehammer to fend Y2J and Angle off.

Kurt and Jericho see this as the right time to retreat, getting out of dodge with the upper hand on their enemies for the second time in a row as RAW goes off the air with uproarious boos from the crowd in Arkansas.

CONFIRMED FOR NO WAY OUT

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler vs DDP and Kanyon

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Christian (c) vs Maven​

 

[Stojy]

Opening with Flair was fine for the most part. Makes sense that he’d want a piece of Jericho after getting hit with the title. I didn’t necessarily expect the interruption from Angle, but thought him coming out to say he’s mad at Jericho for hitting Flair first was pretty awesome. Flair coming back and making a pretty big tag match for tonight works. A solid start to the show for sure.

The Booker/Edge segment was very random and unexpected. Waiting to see where this leads as assuming it will go somewhere. If Edge and Booker feud, please don’t make it about a shampoo endorsement.

Tajiri and Hurricane having a Cruiserweight title match here works, especially after the mixed tag last week. I thought you should have handled the beginning of this match differently though. It was referred to in the pre match about Hurricane’s attack on Torrie, so I’d expect Tajiri to come out hot and furious. So, the whole ‘feeling out’ process to begin this one didn’t fit the story for me. Outside of that, this was fine, and I was glad Torrie, and to a lesser extent, Molly played a big part in this because it worked with what went down on Smackdown. Solid stuff and a nice title defence for Tajiri.

Really like the Austin/Triple H interaction here. Short and sharp, but the return of the Two Man Power Trip, even if unofficially, deserves some hype for sure. Good stuff.

Undertaker/Kane isn’t something overly exciting by this point (in my opinion), and whilst this segment worked in theory, not sure if the execution was off. When you wrote Kane and ‘Taker were face to face, I assumed that meant they were within striking distance, so weird that ‘Taker was able to hit Chioda and leave without any repercussions. With that being said, heel work 101 to cower away from a fight to a later date.

Maven getting the win over Perry Saturn is the right call here considering he’ll go into a program with Christian over the Euro Title. Win over Saturn, win over Storm, unspectacular but works fine.

Hardyz reset interview of sorts was good, and glad you had Matt do all the talking here as well. Whilst it wasn’t addressed in terms of dialogue, as a reader, I like that you mentioned Hardyz history with Terri too.

Goldust promo time was good, and I love the idea of the golden covered brass knuckles. More movie quotes in Goldust promos though please.

I really enjoyed The Rock and Vince McMahon promo here. Rock wanting to get a title shot again works for his character, but it’s clear that’s not happening. Rock asking Vince what he’ll be doing at Mania maybe sounded a little subservient which probably doesn’t fit the chemistry here. Vince saying nothing and then getting a Rock Bottom is awesome though. The idea of Rock hunting for something to do is really cool, and something you definitely need to play on in the coming weeks. Should lead to a HUGE match with somebody.

RVD promo didn’t really feel in character. The message was solid if uneventful, but no thumb taunts, no Rob…Van…Dam, and the awkward “Thanks, Kevin” at the end all felt like things that were either missing or didn’t work.

Main event was fine. Would have maybe liked some more tension/excitement mentioned throughout regarding Austin and Triple H teaming together. Was good stuff though here, with the DQ ending and aftermath adding more heat to Jericho/Austin and the eventual Angle/Flair match up that it feels like you’re building. Nice work.

A solid return show. Can’t wait to get past NWO and the road to Mania heat up. Jericho/Triple H and Angle/Flair seem likely. Still got some big names like Rock and ‘Taker and I’m still not sure what’s happening there which is a good thing.

 

[BookerMan]

2/14/02
from the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas

*PYRO*

*Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show*

The WWF’s final show before No Way Out kicks off with the familiar sounds of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and co-owner Ric Flair strutting to the ring to the adulation of the Arkansas crowd, sporting a small cut on his forehead. Coming off back-to-back events in which he was struck by competitors first in the form of Chris Jericho last week on SmackDown and then Kurt Angle just this past Monday on RAW, the audience and commentary alike are anxious to see which version of The Nature Boy is coming to the ring. Flair enters the ring, politely takes a microphone from Tony Chimel and begins to talk.
​

Flair: I got a lot to say tonight, so I might as well get it out of the way before any action gets started. First and foremost: Vince McMahon isn’t here tonight.

Raucous cheers from the crowd while Flair fails to conceal his wry smile.
​

Flair: He’s at home in Greenwich resting his back after that Rock Bottom he took on Monday, which means I have full control of SmackDown tonight.

More cheering.
​

Flair: But.. before he told me he was taking the night off, I had to listen to him tell me why he was going to fire The Rock for assaulting a WWF co-owner…

The cheers turn to boos as Flair holds up a finger, telling the crowd to wait for him to finish his sentence.
​

Flair: …but I gave him the exact same reasons to fire Kurt Angle, and we came to a compromise! Tonight, The Rock and Kurt Angle are going one-on-one! And Kurt, don’t bother busting into my office to complain like you do with Vince every week, you ain’t getting out of this one.

The crowd’s enthusiasm for the match announcement is matched by their enthusiasm for Flair’s dig at Angle.
​

Flair: And on Sunday night, Kurt, when I’m in Triple H’s corner for your match, don’t think Vince can help you then either. You’re supposed to be an Olympic Gold Medalist, the greatest athlete we have in the WWF! Well I wanna see it! I want you to prove it tonight, and prove it again at No Way Out. WOO!

Naitch leaves the fans with those strong words for the Olympic Hero, dropping the mic and styling for the crowd on his way out of the ring.

Backstage, Jonathan Coachman is standing by with Booker T, who receives a pretty hearty ovation when he’s shown on camera.
​

Coach: Alright guys, I’m standing here with Booker T who made it clear on Monday that his eyes are on championship gold here in the WWF. I just thought I’d follow up and ask: which title in particular are you gunning for?

Booker: To be honest with ya’ Coach, there ain’t a title in this company that I wouldn’t like to get my hands on, I ain’t picky. But the first opportunity I get is gonna be the one I take advantage of.

Coach: Well if that’s the case, I’m not sure if you heard, but there’s going to be a number one contender’s battle royal for the Intercontinental Championship this upcoming Monday on RAW.

Booker looks at Coach with a mix of intrigue and confusion on his face, clearly uninformed that this match is taking place.
​

Booker: Sounds like just the opportunity I been waiting for. If I gotta go out there and throw a dozen suckas over the top rope to handle my business, then that’s what it’s gonna be. NOW CAN YOU DIG THAT, SUCKAAAAAAA?!

Booker exits frame having declared his entry into Monday’s battle royal, which commentary now makes note of. Cole also mentions that in addition to The Rock vs Kurt Angle in our main event tonight, Maven and Al Snow will be teaming up to take on Christian and Lance Storm in a preview of sorts of the European Championship match signed for No Way Out last week.

The show gets its first in-ring action of the night as William Regal makes his way to the ring with the Intercontinental Championship around his waist, waving disingenuously to a crowd that loathes him per usual. Out next is his tag team partner, Jazz, who doesn’t receive a warmer welcome. Goldust comes out next, brandishing the gold-plated brass knuckles that he stole from Regal just a week ago. Finally, Womens Champion Trish Stratus makes her way to the ring and the crowd truly comes alive, tossing her cowboy hat to the fans before the bell rings to kick off our mixed tag match.

William Regal and Jazz vs Goldust and Trish Stratus
The men begin the action with Goldust getting the upper hand in each exchange due to Regal’s continued lack of focus in his attempts to retrieve his knucks that Goldust has placed inside his bodysuit. The IC Champion looks so outclassed mentally that he makes the tag to Jazz, Goldust obliging Trish’s requests for a tag as both men let the women take over the action. Trish shows no fear, but repeatedly she’s overpowered and thrown about the ring by her challenger for this Sunday as SmackDown heads to its first break.

Despite Jazz’s clear dominance, Trish does manage to get a tag made to Goldust, who Jazz doesn’t back down one inch from. Right before either of them can swing, though, Regal leans over the ropes and blind tags himself in, thinking he can catch The Bizarre One off guard. This proves fruitless, as Regal catches a stiff uppercut that takes him down. Jazz looks to intervene, hooking Goldust’s arms and hoping to get him up for the Crossface Chickenwing, but Trish stops her! Jazz and Trish brawl relentlessly to the outside, so much so that the referee leans out of the ring to tell them to stop, allowing Goldust to clock Regal with the gold knuckles and knock him out cold! Goldust grabs the official’s attention and grabs a cover for the win!

Winners: Goldust and Trish Stratus (7:37)

Goldust sneaks the weapon back into his gear and celebrates over the unconscious Intercontinental Champion who remains motionless for a comical amount of time. Trish and Jazz are now being pulled apart by officials near the stage, the two of them proving just how personal and intense their rivalry has become. Regal is finally awoken and rolled out of the ring as SmackDown shifts its attention to the back.

We see a couple shots from earlier tonight of The Rock and Kurt Angle arriving to the arena, followed by a shot of Billy Kidman standing in the interview area with Kevin Kelly, the two of them standing in front of a monitor repeating the brutal finisher X-Pac and Jerry Lynn hit Kidman with last week on SmackDown.
​

Kevin: Sorry to make you watch this again, Billy, but Rob Van Dam said that the two of you would be ready for a rematch with the Minnesota Destruction Crew any time they want it. After the vicious move they hit you with last week, do you share RVD’s sentiment?

Kidman: I do, because I’ve learned in my short time in the WWF that everything is about desire. And if X-Pac and Jerry Lynn think I’m afraid of them just because they beat me once, they don’t know the first thing about Billy Kidman. So what I’m going to show them is-

The interview is abruptly ended by the presence of the Minnesota Destruction Crew, Lynn and X-Pac suddenly jumping Kidman from behind. They put the boots to him, then scoop him up and toss him down the hall as the camera follows. Kidman tries to get a couple shots in but he’s quickly overwhelmed, and the MDC shows their mean streak by slamming him through a table! X-Pac remarks “You’re not afraid? Well you should be!” at Kidman’s downed body as they walk away from the scene, but not before sharing a forearm bump with each other in admiration of their handy work.

Back in the arena, Cole uses the uncalled for assault on Billy Kidman to mention that Rob Van Dam will be live from WWF New York during No Way Out, and he will surely be asked about what just transpired.

A promotional video for No Way Out featuring Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” plays, hyping the event that’s only three nights away on PPV!

SmackDown returns with some in-ring action and the entrances of Billy and Chuck, the two egomaniacal partners joining Hugh Morrus and Chavo Guerrero (already in the ring) as one half of an 8-man tag match. Billy and Chuck show little interest in their partners, instead adjusting each others’ gear while the APA begin their entrance. The Acolytes don’t take much time to stomp down the aisle and enter the ring despite the numbers advantage, knowing they’re in no danger of being jumped. Next out are the Hardy Boyz, completing this formidable team.

Billy, Chuck, Hugh Morrus and Chavo Guerrero vs APA and Hardy Boyz w/ Lita
Billy and Chuck show some impressive tandem offense on Jeff Hardy early in the match, grounding him and proving themselves to make quite the pair when they focus on the issue at hand. It’s not long before the APA find themselves in the match, though, and things turn sour for the crowd’s antagonists from that point forward. The beating all four men receive from the APA is considerable, with Bradshaw pounding the chest of Chuck before finally, Billy and Chuck decide they’ve had enough. Chuck tags Hugh Morrus in, and instantly both bleach blondes hightail it up the ramp, happy to watch from a distance as Chavo Guerrero is nearly decapitated with the Clothesline from Hell. Rather than cover, though, Bradshaw makes the tag to Matt Hardy, who in turn tags Jeff Hardy, and Bradshaw ramps the crowd up as the Hardyz finish the match with a Twist of Fate - Swanton Bomb combination.

Winners: APA and Hardy Boyz (5:10)

There’s no handshake between the winning side but the mutual respect is obvious as the Hardyz give a small nod to their partners before celebrating the win with the crowd.

Backstage, a camera is pointed at a blank wall, almost looking like a mistake until The Hurricane and Mighty Molly “fly” in from opposite sides of the frame. The camera follows over their shoulders as they discuss something between themselves.
​

Hurricane: Goodness gracious, Mighty Molly! What have we here?! It appears the nefarious Torrie Wilson is in catering, eating all by her lonesome!

The camera zooms in through a door that is just barely cracked open, and sure enough Torrie is assembling a plate of food for herself.
​

Molly: That means now is the perfect time to bring her to justice for her unsavory actions from RAW!

Hurricane: I like the way you think! Quick, let’s apprehend this ne’er-do-well!

In a flash, WWF’s resident superheroes barge through the door unceremoniously and grab Torrie, each of them taking one arm as they shuffle her out of catering and down a hallway despite her protestations and struggling.

SmackDown returns to the airwaves with the entrance of Crash Holly, the diminutive superstar marching to the ring as always. Tony Chimel announces that our next contest is scheduled for one fall, and the “super heavyweight” poses for the crowd after getting into the ring.

Suddenly, though, the mood shifts in the arena when “Rollin” starts to play. Crash Holly’s eyes frantically darting around the arena combined with commentary’s complete confusion makes it clear that The Undertaker is NOT Crash’s scheduled opponent for tonight. The Deadman bikes to the ring, making a lap as Crash cowers and looks for a way out. Finally, though, Taker parks his bike before dismounting it and lumbering towards the ring with the Hardcore Title held at his side. Not forgetting the way Crash messed with him a week ago, Undertaker steps over the top rope and stands in front of Crash, who has a look of pure dismay on his face.

Taker throws the first punch, immediately jumping all over Crash and battering him in the corner with his proverbial soup bones. Even the referee doesn’t dare to interject, helpless as Taker tosses Crash around the ring like a ragdoll. Finally, Taker scoops Crash up and plants him with the Last Ride, looking down at him and shaking his head as he stands with his hands on his hips. The Deadman saunters to the ropes and calls for a microphone, which he is quickly given out of fear.
​

Undertaker: What Crash Holly just found out, is what my brother Kane knows damn well and has been taught his entire life! When you mess with the big dog in his own yard, there are consequences. Now while Crash had to learn his lesson tonight, my brother will have to find out once again at No Way Out.

Crash begins to stir on the ground, and Undertaker throws a stomp to keep him right where he is.
​

Undertaker: As a matter of fact, I think Crash still has a little bit left to learn.

Taker scoops Crash up and slings him over his shoulder, clearly looking to plant him with the Tombstone when fire erupts from the stage and Kane starts his walk to the ring! Taker wastes no time in dropping Crash’s limp body to the mat and getting out of dodge, retreating up the ramp as soon as Kane steps onto the apron. Kane stares out stoically at his brother, one last confrontation avoided by Undertaker before their inevitable clash this Sunday.

Backstage, we see Jonathan Coachman approaching Kurt Angle, asking him for an interview that a visibly annoyed Kurt accepts.
​

Coach: Kurt, I was just hoping to get your thoughts on not only your match tonight against The Rock or your match this Sunday against Triple H, but Ric Flair’s personal comments earlier tonight regarding your pedigree as an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Angle: You wanna know what I really think about what Ric Flair said about me, Coach? I think he’s right. I AM an Olympic Gold Medalist. I AM the greatest athlete this industry has ever seen, and I AM about to prove it tonight. The only thing that makes me sick, is having to hear it from a guy that spent 30 years priding himself on being “the dirtiest player in the game”. Who is he to get up on his soapbox and lecture ME about the way I wrestle. And just for the record, nobody in WWF history has had more success than me this quickly into their career, including Ric Flair! It's true!

Coach’s face shows a degree of agreeance while Kurt’s shows pure disgust, but Coach decides to ask one more question regardless.
​

Coach: So do you think you have anything to prove to Ric Flair tonight or this Sunday?

Kurt’s eyes shoot daggers through Coach as he answers.
​

Angle: I don’t have a damn thing to prove to anybody! But if he wants to see me prove that The Rock and Triple H aren’t even close to my level, he’s gonna love the rest of this week. Now get the hell out of here! I have a match to get ready for!

Coach and his cameraman quickly shuffle out of the room, only to see The Hurricane and Mighty Molly, with an unwilling Torrie Wilson in tow, steam past them. They storm past the camera and open a door, dragging Torrie into the room and closing the door behind them. When the door shuts, the camera reveals a sign on the front that says “The Dudley Boyz”.

Back in the arena as SmackDown returns, Maven and Al Snow make their entrance to a relatively warm reception, mostly for Maven. This Sunday’s challenger for the European Championship and his mentor come to the ring ready to keep Maven’s hot streak intact, knowing they have a tall mountain to climb in the form of Lance Storm and Christian, who make their way to the ring next.

Maven and Al Snow vs Christian and Lance Storm
Snow and Maven get off to a hot start, the youthful exuberance and momentum of the Tough Enough winner proving to be too much for Storm and Christian early. The tides do turn when Al Snow gets tagged in, though, as Storm shows off his technical prowess to start breaking Snow down. Christian and Storm display excellent tag team chemistry, repeatedly teaming up to keep Snow at bay in their corner and wear him down, trying not to let Maven get back in the match. This plan fails, however, when Snow avoids a double team and knocks both opponents’ heads into each other! Snow makes it to the corner and tags Maven in, and he tears through the competition with impressive dropkicks. Christian catches a break when Storm illegally interjects, catching Maven by surprise with a huge superkick. As Storm is admonished by the referee, Al Snow tries to return the favor by entering the ring and hitting the Snow Plow, but Christian is able to counter out of it and dump Snow to the floor. With all the distractions now cleared, Christian hooks Maven for the Unprettier, but Maven spins out of it and hooks Christian in a backslide that gets a shocking three count!

Winners: Maven and Al Snow (7:18)

Christian is completely beside himself as Maven excitedly celebrates his pinfall victory over the European Champion, the very same man he’ll be challenging for that title in just three nights. Snow and Maven embrace and celebrate with one another, while Storm is trying to stop Christian from having a full-blown temper tantrum.

As Storm and Christian make their way to the back, we see an odd group burst through the curtain and down the ramp. The Dudley Boyz are carrying a table to the ring, and trailing them are Stacy Keibler, The Hurricane, Mighty Molly and an unwilling Torrie Wilson. The Dudleys scurry into the ring and set up the table near one of the corners, Bubba sitting on the top rope as Stacy hands him a microphone and The Hurricane and Molly keep control of Torrie.
​

Bubba: What we are about to show all of you whine-asses in Arkansas tonight, is exactly why the Dudley Boyz are the most dominant WWF Tag Team Champions of all time! We don’t care what you people think is right and wrong, we do what the hell we want to do, when the hell we want to do it, and there ain’t a single person that can stop us!

Bubba passes the mic to D-Von, while The Hurricane and Mighty Molly load Torrie up onto Bubba’s shoulders, a powerbomb through the table looking inevitable.
​

D-Von: OH MY BROTHA, TESTI–

D-Von is interrupted by the sudden presence of Tajiri, who has climbed onto the apron and is trying to wrestle Torrie away from Bubba. D-Von and The Hurricane charge him, knocking him off the apron but buying enough time that now DDP and Kanyon have made it to the ring and are into the brawl as well! Kanyon manages to pull Torrie off Bubba’s shoulders as DDP exchanges blows with D-Von, helping Torrie out of the ring and to safety while Tajiri gets the upper hand on The Hurricane with some brutal kicks. While the brawl devolves, Kanyon manages to grab Bubba’s legs and launch him off the middle rope, into the waiting arms of DDP with the Diamond Cutter, a modified 3-D STRAIGHT THROUGH THE TABLE!

DDP and Kanyon rule the ring, taunting to the crowd as D-Von and Stacy drag Bubba’s motionless body out of the ring and regroup. After being driven through a table with a modified version of their own finishing move, you know something’s gotta give at No Way Out.

In the meantime, Tajiri has chased The Hurricane and Molly away through the crowd, staying to comfort Torrie rather than pursue her “heroic” captors.

Backstage, we see Lance Storm still trying to talk Christian off the ledge, the European Champion nearly pulling his hair out before he finally lets loose. He slams his fists on a production case backstage, stomping his feet as Storm rolls his eyes. Christian is yelling complete nonsense, complaining about everything from the officiating to saying that his shoulders weren’t down despite the fact that they clearly were. Finally, his tantrum comes to a close and he’s left taking heaving breaths when Edge enters the frame with a smirk on his face.
​

Edge: Guess you haven’t changed all that much, huh bro?

The crowd laughs at Christian, who’s left fuming as his brother and former tag team partner leaves the frame.

The show comes back to air with the entrance of the Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho. Y2J takes less time to jaw with the fans than he usually does, pausing as he poses on the apron to admire each of his championship belts knowing that they could be gone come Sunday. The Undisputed Champion enters the ring and is handed a microphone, pacing around the ring before beginning to speak.​

Y2J: I’m sick and tired of never getting the respect I deserve around here! I don’t get it from you idiots in the crowd, I don’t get it from idiots like Michael Cole on commentary, and I don’t get it from idiots like Ric Flair in the front office!

Long, sustained boos.
​

Y2J: And it doesn’t seem to matter what I do, either. I become the first Undisputed Champion, and nothing changes. I beat The Rock at the Royal Rumble, and nothing changes. I leave Stone Cold laying two times in the past week, and nothing changes! All I hear is that I’m afraid of Stone Cold, that I’m going to lose my title when we meet inside a steel cage at No Way Out, and I’m sick and tired of it! You people really think that I am afraid of Stone Cold Steve Austin?! I beat him AND The Rock on the same night!

The crowd boos, even though it’s the truth.
​

Y2J: In fact, I think Stone Cold should be afraid to step inside a steel cage with ME! I’m the first ever Undisputed Champion for a reason, and it’s gonna be a loooong time before there’s a second! Not even Stone Co-

GLASS SHATTERS

The Texas Rattlesnake doesn’t appear to be scared of Jericho or in a talking mood, sprinting down the ramp towards Y2J who bails out of the ring as soon as Austin rolls in. Stone Cold angrily grabs Jericho’s discarded microphone and yells down at his No Way Out opponent as he stands halfway up the ramp.
​

Austin: You yellow bastard, you better enjoy the last chance you get to run your mouth about being the champion! There ain’t gonna be no runnin’ this Sunday! When I get you inside that cage, I’m gonna hit you with one stunner! (WHAT?) Two stunners! (WHAT?) Three stunners! (WHAT?)

The crowd is now in a frenzy, and an incensed Jericho pleads with them to shut up.
​

Austin: What you need to get through that thick head of yours is that when you get in the ring with Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Way Out, it ain’t like getting in the ring with me at Vengeance, or last Monday on RAW. You ain’t gonna have no friends, you ain’t gonna have no partner, you ain’t gonna have no weapons! It’s you, me, and a 15-foot tall steel cage, and you’re gonna get your ass whipped!

“AUSTIN! AUSTIN! AUSTIN!” chants fill the room, Jericho wearing his concern on his face.
​

Austin: And that’s the bottom line, because STONE COLD SAID SO!

Jericho stomps off in a huff, Austin sticking around for a beer or two while SmackDown heads to its last break.

When the show returns, it’s time for our main event, made official earlier tonight by Ric Flair. The Rock comes out first, picking up on the electricity left in the arena from Stone Cold just moments ago. The Great One poses for the fans as usual, standing atop the middle rope when Kurt Angle’s music hits and the Olympic Gold Medalist receives ravenous boos from the crowd. Kurt pays them no mind, instead laser-focused on tonight’s opponent as he gets into the ring, hands his medals to the official and the match gets underway.

The Rock vs Kurt Angle
Kurt appears hell-bent on showing just how skilled he is in the early moments of the match, controlling The Brahma Bull on the mat and keeping him grounded with some excellent amateur techniques. Kurt doesn’t let up, either, wearing The Great One down with various holes and low-impact throws before finally landing a German suplex. Naturally, The Rock is able to slug his way back into the match with some massive right hands, which Angle feels the need to nip in the bud by picking his ankle and going for the Ankle Lock early! Rock rolls forward, launching Kurt into the ropes as both competitors regroup. The match from there is back-and-forth, with Angle in control for most of the action thanks to his focused mat attack, but The Rock landing more devastating moves when he does hit something. The damage inflicted by The Great One builds up throughout the match, and it looks like The Rock has Kurt set up for the Rock Bottom, but Angle fights out of it with a few elbows. He sends The Rock into the ropes, but The People’s Champ rebounds with a flying clothesline!

Unfortunately for The Rock, Kurt not only bails out of the way, but grabbed referee Tim White by his shirt and pulls him into the line of fire! Angle capitalized on the misfire instantly, drilling The Rock with the Angle Slam! With the official down, however, Kurt doesn’t go for the cover. Instead, he hurries to the outside and lifts the ring skirt, clearly looking for something. When he emerges, there’s a devious look on his face and he’s wielding a SLEDGEHAMMER, clearly a message to Triple H! With The Game’s signature weapon in his hand, Kurt rolls back into the ring and measures The Rock as he starts to stir. Just then, Triple H himself sprints down the ramp, sliding into the ring and taking Kurt down, igniting an exchange of blows on the ground! HHH, the fresher man, wins this exchange to the point that he gets Kurt into the corner and rains blows down upon him, which Tim White sees as he comes back to and disqualifies The Rock!

Winner via DQ: Kurt Angle (8:33)

Triple H pays no mind to the announcement of the match being over, instead continuing to batter Angle in the corner. He goes to pick up the sledgehammer himself, but The Rock gets in his face to confront him about causing him to lose via DQ! As HHH and The Rock shout at each other and it looks like the situation might come to blows, Kurt Angle swoops in with a devastating chop block to Triple H’s bad leg! The Game hits the mat in agony while Kurt rolls to the floor, openly mocking HHH over his injury as Michael Cole plugs No Way Out one last time and SmackDown fades off the air.

CONFIRMED FOR NO WAY OUT

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler vs DDP and Kanyon

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Christian (c) vs Maven​

 

[DTP]

WWF RAW - February 11, 2002:

I'm glad to see this has continued to pick up momentum in the last couple of weeks. I think it should do you a lot of good getting past No Way Out, in order to allow you to deviate from the current projection the company is in. As noted in previous feedback, this was quite a peculiar time in wrestling history. They had the stars power - perhaps too much - but they weren't thinking for the future, but rather what got them mainstream traction in the past. The InVasion really hurt them, as did the obvious buyout of WCW and implosion of ECW. Really there's no wonder why they had as many hard resets as they did between post-Survivor Series, the Draft, and then Steve Austin's departure. Could be very useful to see how you can build the next group of guys up for the summer ahead.
It always did bother me that Steve Austin and Triple H's team never got any follow-up due to the quadriceps tear HHH underwent. Basic opening promo to have some Kurt Angle and Ric Flair interplay - I wouldn't mind seeing a program between those two at some point. It sets up the biggest main event you've done in the project's history thus far.

I'm glad the WWF Cruiserweight Championship is being reintegrated into television. Tajiri was a very good champion. I can only imagine it's a matter of time until Rey Mysterio Jr comes in,but it would be cool to see you think outside the box about this division going forward. Hurricane Helms would become a fun babyface to have around, too.

The Undertaker and Kane having another match is kind of meh to me, but it does make sense considering the closeness of the Brothers of Destruction throughout 2001. I just don't think it's needed, as by this point we've seen them feud every year at some point or other since 1997. It served its' purpose for No Way Out, though.

A match like Maven and Perry Saturn would not exactly draw viewers in. While Maven has the program with Christian coming up for the WWF European Championship, I feel it would have been better designated to SmackDown or Sunday Night Heat.

I'm enjoying these little segments with Goldust and William Regal. It's a fun midcard feud with a lot of contrast in personas, especially since Regal went all hard-nosed villain just a few months back. Goldust should do well given he returned at the Royal Rumble, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Regal win to set him up for better things. He was really underutilized and should have been higher up the card in 2002.

The Rock's segment with Vince McMahon was interesting, if nothing else than a placeholder until we get past No Way Out. If you deviate from Hollywood Hulk Hogan's return, I have to question what you actually will have in store for him. Goldberg, or Sting perhaps? It would be in jest of their characters being associated with Vince, mind you.

The main event was what it needed to be in terms of finding an out in a match with so much star power. It got time and attached two of the top stories you have right now.

Very short show with only three matches. The writing was good, and it accomplished hitting some of the points for build ahead of the pay-per-view. I get that you are primarily focused on No Way Out, but it somewhat felt like you were holding out a lot of the roster at your disposal. This is where it's good to establish secondary feuds to play out on television, particularly for those not involved in crucial programs. With WrestleMania X8 next month, it wouldn't have hurt too much to give your unused players some more airtime on RAW, which didn't really feel like a two-hour show.

 

[BookerMan]

2/17/02
from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

After the opening video and panning shots of the outside of the arena as well as the fans filing into the Bradley Center, we’re greeted by Michael Cole and Al Snow to kick off this pre-PPV Sunday Night Heat. Cole runs down the night’s match card, bringing a little extra focus on the showdown between Triple H and Kurt Angle, with Vince McMahon in Angle’s corner and Ric Flair standing beside The Game. A video package plays to promote the match, then Cole asks Al to make a prediction, to which he says that Kurt Angle will win due to Triple H’s surgically repaired quad.

After a bit more speculation and conjecture on the upcoming card for No Way Out, Cole tosses us backstage where Booker T is standing by with Terri.
​

Terri: Booker T, tonight you’ve got a big tag team match here on Heat before No Way Out gets underway, but we understand after what you said last week that you’ve got your eyes on championship gold.

Booker: Yeah you damn right I do! As much as all these fans in Milwaukee tonight are gonna love watchin’ me and The Godfather whoop some suckas and do the spinaroonie, I think what they really wanna see is this FIVE TIME, FIVE TIME, FIVE TIME, FIVE TIME, FIVE TIME… WCW Champion put some gold back around his waist.

The crowd is in the palm of Booker’s hand, cheering loudly for the longtime WCW star.
​

Terri: Well it’s funny you say that because we all found out on SmackDown that not only is there going to be a number one contender’s battle royal on RAW tomorrow night, but you’re going to enter yourself into it!

Booker nods along with this statement, raising an eyebrow to Terri before cracking a grin and rubbing his hands together in excitement.
​

Booker: That’s right, and after I take care of business tonight, I’m gon’ do what I gotta do tomorrow. NOW CAN YOU DIG THAT…. SUCKAAAAAAAA!

Booker T walks out of frame while Cole and Snow speculate on tomorrow’s battle royal, Al Snow even mentioning that he’d be throwing his name into that match as Heat heads off to its first break.

Heat returns with commentary mentioning that Rob Van Dam is stationed at WWF New York for the evening, showing live footage of RVD amongst a packed house of ravenous fans, sitting at a table with a comically large sandwich before him. Cole mentions that they’ll speak to RVD during the PPV before returning to the card rundown, focusing now on the WWF Tag Team Title match that sees the Dudley Boyz defending against DDP and Kanyon. After a hype package plays focused on the recent success of DDP and Kanyon and their actions from this past Thursday’s SmackDown where they rescued Torrie Wilson from a plunge through a table and planted Bubba Ray Dudley with their own version of the 3-D! This footage fades out to show DDP and Kanyon backstage, standing with Kevin Kelly.
​

Kelly: I’m here now with the men who will challenge for the WWF Tag Team Titles tonight at No Way Out: DDP and Kanyon. The two of you have taken the tag division by storm in recent weeks, and as we all just saw you got the upper hand on the Dudley Boyz only three nights ago. Can you keep this momentum up tonight and capture the Tag Team Titles?

DDP looks equal amounts smug and incredulous at the question posed to him.
​

DDP: Can we keep up our momentum?! Kevin, we’ve been doing this for years! The Dudleys may run the tag division everywhere they go, but they ain’t been in the same place as DDP and Kanyon until now.

Kanyon: That’s right, if Bubba thinks that table he went through on SmackDown hurt, just wait until he wakes up tomorrow morning and realizes he ain’t a champion no more.

DDP: You heard what he said? What we’re about to show the world is that we may not be brothers like Bubba and D-Von, we may not have Stacy Keibler at ringside, we may not bend the rules - wink wink - to our advantage, but what we are is a well oiled machine, and your next Tag Team Champions. BANG.

Both DDP and Kanyon flash their diamonds into the camera before walking off, sending us back to the arena where Cole and Snow do a bit more advertisement for the PPV. It’s at this point that Cole asks Al Snow about a match for tonight that he has personal investment in, that being the European Championship match between the champion Christian and Al Snow’s protegee Maven.

Cole points out that only three nights ago on SmackDown, Maven and Snow managed a shocking tag team victory over Christian and Lance Storm, and he asks Snow if he feels like Maven is ready to rise to the occasion tonight and capture his first championship in the WWF. Snow begins by saying if he wasn’t confident in Maven he would’ve bucked his commentary duties for the evening and been in the back trying to prepare him. Now that he’s pinned Christian once, Snow says he has the utmost confidence in his student. It’s at this point, though, that a steaming angry Christian and Lance Storm barge into the commentary booth and hijack Cole’s headset. Christian holds the headset to his mouth in order to talk to Snow so the audience at home can hear it.
​

Christian: I couldn’t sit back there and listen to you spout this crap anymore. You have the utmost confidence in that rookie because he got one lucky pin on SmackDown? You’ve been around the business long enough to know better. Maven doesn’t have a shot tonight, no rookie has a shot against a champion of my caliber.

As tensions rise, Snow stands his ground and doesn’t back down despite Christian and Storm’s best attempts to seem intimidating.​

Snow: Then I guess we’ll agree to disagree because not only do I not think Maven pinning you was a fluke, and I know Maven pinning you (poking Storm’s chest) wasn’t a fluke, but I think he’s going to do it again tonight. So you should worry less about what I’m saying on commentary, and more about getting ready for your match.

Christian suppresses a temper tantrum and composes himself, raising the European Title above his head while he degrades Snow once more.
​

Christian: Oh yeah? He’s gonna take this from me tonight? I think it’s really pathetic that a guy like you has stooped to the level that you’re living vicariously through your student instead of winning something for yourself. But that’s alright, you know why? Because tonight, after I show Maven something he’s never seen before, his big break will end just like all of yours did: in failure.

Snow rolls his eyes as Christian and Storm walk off, roughly shoving the headset back into Cole’s chest. Cole manages to put it on his head messily, then tosses the show to a backstage interview with Jazz.

In the interview area, we see a visibly nervous Jonathan Coachman standing next to Jazz, who looks straight past him as she stands with her arms folded, staring blankly ahead.
​

Coach: Jazz, tonight you get another shot at the WWF Women’s Title, and it seems that over the last month nobody in the women’s division has even come close to stopping you.

Jazz darts her eyes to Coach in an annoyed fashion, then looks forward yet again.
​

Jazz: That’s because none of them CAN stop me. Trish’s little fragile ass was lucky to leave the Royal Rumble with that belt, and I know she’s back there shaking in her boots thinking about having to face me again. The only thing I can tell you about tonight is that there won’t be no lucky win for Trish Stratus. When she gets in that ring with me we both know this is gonna be her last night as Women’s Champion.

Jazz brushes past Coach and out of the frame as Heat returns to break.

Heat returns to the airwaves with more previews of the night’s PPV matches, including the main event steel cage match for the Undisputed Championship between Chris Jericho and Stone Cold Steve Austin. We see both competitors arriving at the arena in Milwaukee, Austin stepping out of his truck in his jean shorts and camo hooded jacket, Jericho walking into the arena with a solemn look on his face in an over-the-top checkerboard patterned outfit. A video package plays recapping recent events between the champion and challenger, starting with Jericho capturing the Undisputed Title at Vengeance and ending with Y2J’s whiny, misguided confidence from the previous edition of SmackDown. When the shot returns to the arena, both Michael Cole and Al Snow agree that inside a steel cage, Austin has the advantage.

Cole tosses us backstage one last time to show comments gathered from Vince McMahon earlier in the night as he was arriving at the Bradley Center.

We see Vince exiting a limo with Kurt Angle in tow, leaving the door open behind him for his driver to get. He and Kurt talk inaudibly with smiles on their faces as they’re approached by Kevin Kelly, who asks for a quick word.
​

Kelly: Mr. McMahon, the two of you seem awfully confident ahead of Kurt’s match with Triple H tonight.

Vince glances at Kurt, rolls his eyes, and then turns back to Kevin and responds.
​

Vince: Well yes, Kevin, I would say we’re headed into No Way Out with a great deal of confidence. That’s because time and time again Kurt Angle has proven himself to be the greatest athlete this company has ever seen, and there’s nobody else I’d rather have in my corner. When I was defending my company from outside forces of evil just three months ago at the Survivor Series, it was Kurt Angle that came to my - and all of your rescues. And now that Ric Flair is well on his way to attempting the same hostile takeover of the WWF that my children attempted, it’s time once again for our Olympic Hero to make the save.

Kelly looks hesitant to ask his follow up, but does regardless.
​

Kelly: Not to be rude, Mr. McMahon, but I’m not sure this situation is the same as it was with The Alliance.

Vince cocks his head to the side, looking down at Kevin as if to indicate he shouldn’t have said that.
​

Vince: Then how about this, Kevin: I would strongly suggest that Triple H and Ric Flair have no idea just exactly what it is they’re getting themselves into tonight. Does that answer work better for you?

Kevin nods his head and backs off from any further questions, Angle scoffing at him as he follows his boss and walks out of frame.

Back in the arena, Heat’s lone match for the evening kicks off with the entrance of Booker T which brings the crowd to its feet. Booker gets the audience, still filing in as the show’s start rapidly approaches, fired up before The Godfather enters alongside several of Milwaukee’s finest ladies. Their opponents, Stasiak and Jindrak, come out next while Booker and Godfather mingle with the girls in the ring. A short video plays during their entrance to remind us of their encounter on SmackDown ten nights prior.

Booker T and The Godfather vs Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak
The match is pretty formulaic, with Booker T beginning like a house of fire only to tag in The Godfather to keep up the momentum. However, Godfather gets his momentum cut off by the young cocky upstarts who isolate him for a few minutes and take control. Jindrak hits an impressive standing dropkick on the veteran, then begins posing and flirting with Godfather’s ladies on the outside who couldn’t possibly look less interested. Jindrak returns to the offensive, tagging Stasiak back in who puts the boots to Godfather in the corner.

Stasiak, as he is wont to do, makes a mistake when he charges into the corner for a splash and The Godfather moves. However, Jindrak alertly runs around the ring and pulls Booker T off the apron to prevent the tag, keeping Godfather isolated. This doesn’t work in Stasiak and Jindrak’s favor though, as Godfather successfully fights them both off and allows Booker T to get back on the apron and receive a tag. The crowd erupts, sounding just about full as Booker charges into the ring and batters his opponents. Neither of them offer much of a challenge, as Booker flattens Jindrak with a Harlem Sidekick that sends him to the floor. Stasiak tries to mount some offense, but it doesn’t take long before he’s hit with the Scissors Kick! Jindrak tries to intervene, but the second he gets in the ring he’s squashed into the corner with the HOE TRAIN from The Godfather! This allows Booker to calmly collect the pin and the victory for his team.

Winners: Booker T and The Godfather (6:49)

Booker and Godfather celebrate the win with the ladies at ringside as they help them get between the ropes. The girls dance around both winners as the shot fades back up to commentary, where Snow and Cole offer one final rundown of the card.

They tell everyone at home exactly how to order the PPV and as a countdown appears in the bottom right corner of the screen, Cole lets Heat fade off the air.

NO WAY OUT PREDICTIONS CONTEST

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Dudley Boyz (c) w/ Stacy Keibler vs DDP and Kanyon

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Christian (c) vs Maven

BONUS QUESTION
Which match will open the show at No Way Out?​

 

[BookerMan]

NO WAY OUT 2002
from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Road to WrestleMania is littered with speed bumps, able to make or break the momentum of the various superstars that seek to travel it. Tonight, the wills of these superstars will be put to the ultimate test. For these men and women, there will be no escape from their opponents, their fears, or their destiny. Tonight, there will be… No Way Out.

*PYRO*

*Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show as Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” plays throughout the arena.*

The crowd’s excitement is channeled into ravenous boos right away as the Intercontinental Champion, William Regal, makes his way down the aisle. His disdain for the people of Milwaukee is written all over his face, a bitter scowl as he brushes past the outstretched hands of the fans while commentary mentions that tomorrow night on RAW, the number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship will be crowned in a battle royal. Out next is Goldust, The Bizarre One strolling to the ring in widescreen format adorned in his glamorous robe and platinum blonde wig. The challenger disrobes after stepping between the ropes and tosses the wig to the crowd, only to be inspected for foreign objects by referee Teddy Long.

Long, of course, feels the “golden” knuckles inside Goldust’s bodysuit that he stole from Regal and repainted weeks ago, but he’s unwilling to reach in and grab it thanks to where it’s located. After a bit of taunting, Goldust digs into his bodysuit and produces the knucks, only to be jumped by Regal to get the match underway.

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal (c) vs Goldust

The fans let Regal hear exactly how they feel about him as he puts the boots to Goldust in the corner, sending the knucks flying to the floor. Regal lays in the stiff shots, rubbing the sole of his boot into Goldust’s face and scuffing some of his paint off already before he’s pulled off by the referee. Goldust saunters back to the center of the ring and falls victim to a butterfly backbreaker for a quick two count. Regal takes control of the match, driving knees into the lower back of his opponent. The former WWF Commissioner stretches the rules to his advantage, sneaking around the ref’s vision to use the ropes for leverage to aid his submission hold before he’s eventually found out and ordered to relinquish the hold.

Goldust manages to fight back into the match just a bit, but the cunning Intercontinental Champion is quick to recapture the momentum and return The Bizarre One to the mat with a headlock takeover. Regal continues to bicker with Long while driving punches into the head of his compromised challenger, digging his knuckles into Goldust’s forehead and trying to keep him pressed firmly to the canvas. After a two count that causes Goldust to expend some energy to roll a shoulder off the mat, the crowd starts to get behind the challenger. With their rhythmic clapping guiding him, Goldust works his way back to his feet and releases the tension on his head with a couple hard elbows to Regal’s abdomen, then shoots him off into the ropes. Regal halts his momentum by grabbing onto the top rope, but Goldust follows him with a clothesline that sends him to the floor!

Goldust fires up, getting the crowd behind him as Regal tries to regroup on the floor. The champion instructs the official to hold Goldust back as he wipes his feet on the apron and reenters the ring, only to be pounced on by Goldust much like he did at the beginning of the match! The momentum briefly lies with the golden challenger, getting a quick nearfall with a snap suplex and retreating the former Real Man’s Man to the corner. As Goldust ascends to the middle rope, he begins to rain punches down on Regal, with the crowd counting along with every fist thrown. As he reaches nine, Goldust takes a moment to taunt to the crowd which proves to be costly when Regal lifts his legs and drops the bottom out from underneath The Bizarre One, slamming him face-first into the top turnbuckle! The fans gasp at this sudden and brutal move from the champion, who wastes no time covering Goldust for a two count. Frustrated but knowing the balance of the match is back in his favor, Regal shows his ring generalship by focusing the attack straight back on the damaged spine of Goldust, driving a forearm right into his lower back and covering for another nearfall.

The champion is now showing a bit more urgency to put his opponent away, placing Goldust stomach-first in the corner and firing off hard forearms into his lower back repeatedly. As soon as Regal’s pulled away by the official, he rolls to the outside, seemingly looking around for something on the floor. He finds the “golden” knuckles lying near the steps and quickly places them in his trunks while the referee asks Goldust if he wants to continue. While everyone in the arena and watching at home besides Goldust and Tim White are aware that Regal has procured the knucks, he returns to the ring and charges at Goldust in the corner, but Goldust moves! This results in Teddy Long being squashed by the Intercontinental Champion, which may have been Regal’s plan all along as he’s quick to place the knucks on his hand and rear back, but Goldust counters with a devastating right hand of his own!

Regal is sent into the ropes and bounces back, getting caught with a picture-perfect powerslam from The Bizarre One! The crowd is now fully in Goldust’s corner, powering him to a burst of adrenaline that sees him shouting out at the audience while Regal slyly sneaks the knucks back into his trunks, unbeknownst to his opponent. Goldust hammers Regal with a clothesline as he returns to his feet, then looks to send him across the ring with an Irish whip that’s countered by the champion. However, when Regal ducks his head to attempt a backdrop, he’s starched with Goldust’s signature drop down uppercut! Regal is sent stooging around the ring now, walking straight into the CURTAIN CALL from Goldust! A recovering Tim White counts a bit slower than usual, but counts nonetheless.

1…

2…

KICKOUT!

By the skin of his teeth, Regal is able to survive the Curtain Call from The Bizarre One. Goldust rises to his feet once again and fires up the crowd before lifting his opponent and hooking him for an attempt at the Final Cut, but Regal wisely blocks himself from being lifted and drives Goldust spine-first into the turnbuckle. With both men worn down, Regal tries to throw some more of his devastating right hands to Goldust, but he’s countered and thrown into the corner himself! Goldust connects with a vicious uppercut, then seemingly has an idea. The crowd rises in anticipation as he spreads Regal’s legs over the second rope, leaving him completely vulnerable for SHATTERED DREAMS! As Goldust builds the energy of the audience and begins his charge from the opposite turnbuckle towards his helpless opponent, Teddy Long steps between him and Regal, stopping him in his tracks! He warns Goldust that if he kicks him he’ll be disqualified, but Goldust points to the reaction of the crowd, who are all now booing, as justification for his actions. While White has two hands on Goldust’s chest pushing him away from the corner, Regal manages to free his legs and quickly brandishes the knucks from his trunks, clobbering Goldust in the jaw and hiding them back where they came from before Long can even turn around. Regal slithers into the cover.

1…

2…

3.

Winner: William Regal (12:33)

Milwaukee rains boos down upon the reigning Intercontinental Champion as a smug grin populates across his face. Retrieving the belt from the official and getting out of dodge as quickly as possible, Regal waves to the fans on his way out, clutching the Intercontinental Championship to his side.

A WWF Shopzone promo plays, advertising new merchandise for superstars like Triple H, The Rock, and Trish Stratus!

We return from the ad with Jerry Lawler reading the newest Shopzone magazine at the announce desk, his eyes of course glued to the page displaying Trish Stratus’ newest offerings. Miraculously, Jim Ross is able to get him to put down the magazine as he says we’re now going to hear from Rob Van Dam at WWF New York, and a split-screen look is shown. Van Dam is on stage at the Times Square establishment, the crowd rabid behind him.
​

JR: Rob, good to see you tonight, hope you’re having a great time with all those fans in New York City. I suppose first I’ll ask about some recent developments: you were scheduled to team with Billy Kidman against the newly formed Minnesota Destruction Crew tomorrow night on RAW, but after X-Pac and Jerry Lynn attacked Kidman on SmackDown, we’ve been told he won’t be able to compete. Do you have a replacement partner in mind for tomorrow night?

​

RVD: First of all JR, of course I’m having a great time with all these amazing RVD fans in New York!

Van Dam looks out to the crowd who cheer uproariously as he nods at them, even the news of Kidman being unfit to compete unable to remove the smile from his face.
​

RVD: And as for what’s going to happen tomorrow night, it doesn’t really matter to me whether I find a replacement partner or not. If X-Pac and Jerry Lynn are so afraid of a rematch that they’re willing to jump Kidman from behind, then that’s whatever I guess. But they’re not getting out of that match with me on RAW. I don’t care if it’s two on one or if somebody wants to team with me, I’m cool either way.

JR: Well that’s very courageous of you Rob, but I’m hoping you’re not biting off a bit more than you can chew there. Be that as it may, with your first WrestleMania since joining the WWF right around the corner, is there anything specific you’re hoping to do in Toronto next month?

RVD: To be honest with you JR, I’m just going where the wind takes me. But I promise you and all these fans that I’ll make my mark at my first WrestleMania on March 17th.

​

King: Yeah, if you even make it there after what X-Pac and Jerry Lynn do to you on RAW tomorrow!

RVD rolls his eyes at Lawler’s interjection, then laughs it off.
​

RVD: Alright, whatever King. If you haven’t figured it out yet, there’s a reason they call me Mr. Monday Night. What you’re gonna see tomorrow night and again at WrestleMania is proof that I’m the Whole Damn Show.

The crowd in NYC does Van Dam’s thumb taunt along with him as he finishes the interview, leaving JR and King to offer their differing opinions on Van Dam’s assertion that he’ll fight X-Pac and Jerry Lynn 2-on-1 tomorrow night if he has to. JR shows some cautious optimism, while Lawler asserts that he’ll be cleaned off the mat with a spatula when that match is over. JR is also quick to plug the fact that tomorrow night on RAW, he'll have a special sit-down interview with The Rock regarding his plans for WrestleMania X-8! Their disagreement is cut short by a loud blast of pyro as the arena falls red, signaling the arrival of Kane!

The Big Red Machine lumbers to the ring, stepping over the top rope effortlessly and producing fire from the corners while JR prepares us for the monumental battle between brothers about to take place. Next out is the Hardcore Champion, The Undertaker, set to defend his title against someone he considers his equal for the first time since winning it. Taker drives his bike to ringside and parks it in the aisle after taking a lap around the ring, not showing any trepidation as he steps to the center of the ring and stands chest-to-chest with his brother. Mike Chioda calls for the bell to get the action started.

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Undertaker (c) vs Kane

The match gets underway with an air of anticipation in the arena as the two brothers haven’t gotten all that physical with each other yet since this feud reignited after the Royal Rumble. Undertaker looks a bit hesitant to get too close to his brother, circling around him with his hands up as Kane stands nonchalantly and waits for The Deadman to do something. Quickly, Undertaker’s first attack is countered by Kane who throws Taker into the corner and connects with a hard right hand. Undertaker turns the tides and throws his signature soup bones in response, but Kane takes the body shots with ease and sends Undertaker scrambling out of the ring with another devastating uppercut.

After winning the opening strike exchange, Kane follows his brother to the outside and stop him as he attempts to retrieve a steel chair from ringside. The Big Red Machine uses the environment to his advantage, slamming Undertaker face-first off the announce table and the ring apron before returning him to the squared circle and grabbing a chair himself to bring back into the ring with him. This allows Undertaker time to recover, though, and he takes the advantage back for himself with some hard strikes and starts to wear Kane down with haymakers in the corner. The pace slows as Undertaker grinds his boot into the masked face of his younger brother, then drills the side of his knee into Kane’s head. The Milwaukee crowd voices their displeasure with Undertaker, but he continues the match at his own speed, using the top of the chair and pressing it into Kane’s throat as he’s trapped in the corner still.

Taker jaws with the crowd as he presses the advantage, bringing Kane to the center of the ring and slamming the chair over his spine. A cover gets him a quick one count, Undertaker showing no surprise on his face as he knows it would take more to finish his brother. Kane tries to work back into the match but finds himself outclassed by his veteran brother, his overwhelming power alone just not enough to regain the momentum. He finds his opportunity, however, when Undertaker is shot off into the ropes after trying to grind Kane down with a headlock, and eats a massive boot to the face! Kane starts to bring the crowd to its feet with a sequence of powerful clotheslines, and as Undertaker attempts to put the match back in his favor by grabbing the chair yet again, it’s punched back into his face by The Big Red Machine! The sound of steel on skull rattles throughout the Bradley Center, sending Undertaker to the mat as Kane starts to ascend the ropes. The crowd hums with excitement as Kane measures his brother while he regains his vertical base, and flies off the top rope with a diving clothesline! Kane covers but barely gets two, Taker kicking out authoritatively and rolling towards the ropes to seek respite. Not looking to grant his brother a break, Kane follows Taker and gets hung up on the top rope, giving The Deadman a second to breathe and think.

Undertaker scavenges underneath the ring for a second and comes back up with a chain, wrapping it around his fist and rolling back into the ring only to be met with another boot from Kane, who recaptures the momentum. After a few more huge strikes that send Taker from corner to corner, unable to find the refuge he seeks, Kane wraps his gloved hand around Undertaker’s throat and the crowd rises, knowing Kane is looking to put this match away with a Chokeslam! Undertaker proves his cunning, though, when he kicks Kane directly between the legs with a dastardly low blow! Kane crumbles to the ground as Undertaker laughs like a madman, both at his fallen brother and at the booing audience. Undertaker struggles to get Kane back to his feet but does so, and places him between his legs, looking to hit the Last Ride, but Kane powers out with a backdrop, rattling the ring when Undertaker’s spine hits the canvas!

Kane shows his refusal to quit and the crowd is right back on his side as Undertaker once again retreats to the floor, but this time he’s followed by Kane who throws Undertaker shoulder-first into the barricade. Kane then grabs a table from beneath the ring and sets it up near the entranceway, dragging his brother towards the table and looking to haul him over his shoulder. Undertaker escapes, though, and runs his brother into the steel steps, dislodging them from the ringpost with a thunderous sound. Taker wastes little time, realizing how fleeting this advantage could be and lifts the steps over his head, ramming them into Kane’s face as soon as he makes it back to his feet. Kane is sent crawling towards the barricade, attempting to use it to lift himself back up when Undertaker connects with more of his massive punches, dropping him back to his knees. With Kane backed against the barricade, Undertaker wraps his hand around his brother’s throat, returning the favor from earlier with a chokeslam attempt, but Kane goozles his brother right back!

It’s a struggle for position as the two of them shuffle towards the barricade, approaching the crowd when…

THEY’RE SUDDENLY ATTACKED FROM OUT OF THE CROWD!

Three men appear from behind the corner of the barricade and begin raining down shots on both brothers, one of them even pulling Kane into the crowd and putting the boots to him. The element of surprise allows them to overwhelm and overpower Kane and Undertaker, with both combatants in our Hardcore Title match being decimated. Undertaker is rammed face-first into the ringpost as two of the men climb over the barricade and shove him into it, leaving blood trickling down his forehead. Kane is starting to fight back against the third - much larger - man, but now it becomes a three-on-one assault and Kane is dragged back over the barricade and stomped to a pulp. It’s at this point that the three men throw Kane back into the ring and stand over him, making their undeniable presence known. Swarming Kane and peppering him with boots to the face and chest are…

...Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan…

the New World Order.

Winner: No Contest (8:14)

A group of WWF officials are now running towards the ring as JR is absolutely beside himself, screaming his disbelief as he sees the nWo obliterating one of WWF’s biggest stars. Hall and Nash easily fight off the approaching referees and security as Hogan lays a chair down and drops his trademark leg across the throat of Kane, leaving him convulsing on the mat. Undertaker starts to stir, so Hall and Nash head to the outside and grab the chain that Taker brought into the ring earlier and wrap it around his neck, choking out a man that many have considered the heart and soul of the WWF for years and causing the blood that was once trickling from his forehead to begin streaming steadily. Their actions are so disturbing that the crowd boos this attack on The Undertaker, a man they reviled only moments ago. A couple misguided fools, namely Crash Holly and Justin Credible, charge the ring in an attempt to capitalize on the 24/7 rule with The Undertaker incapacitated, but the nWo calmly disposes of them as well. Hall plants Credible with the OUTSIDER'S EDGE on the floor, and Nash hoists Crash all the way up onto his shoulders and drives him through the table that Undertaker and Kane set up earlier with the JACKKNIFE POWERBOMB!

All three men get back in the ring now, still battering security and standing tall when Vince McMahon, Ric Flair and a group of at least ten police officers charge down the ramp as fast as any of them have ever moved. Vince is pointing at the three invaders, steam nearly coming out of his ears as he’s red in the face screaming instructions to the officers. As soon as the cops - armed with stun batons, ironically enough - enter the ring, the nWo surrenders without incident. Hall, Nash and Hogan are handcuffed, the three of them taunting and laughing at the irate McMahon and the despondent Flair as they’re escorted up the aisle. Despite the cuffs on their wrists, Hall finds enough time to kick Undertaker’s bike over on the way out while the WWF’s co-owners follow behind them. The camera stays on this the entire way, hearing Vince shout his hatred for the nWo as JR and King offer their shocked reactions.

As all three men are loaded into cop cars, with Hall and Nash in one car and Hogan in another, Vince steps to the car in the back and tells them to get the hell out of his arena, nearly popping blood vessels as Kevin Nash sticks his head out of the window with a hearty laugh. As the cars drive away into the Milwaukee evening, Vince is left to stew in his own anger while Flair stands next to him with his hands on his hips and his head down and nodding back and forth. Vince’s scowl is now turned towards Flair.
​

Vince: Think this is funny, huh?! You got a couple of your friends from WCW to come over and ruin my damn company like they did over there, huh!?

Flair takes immediate offense to this accusation, grabbing Vince by the collar and matching his energy.
​

Flair: You dumb son of a bitch! You think I’d have anything to do with those bastards showing up!? I don’t want them here any more than you do!

Flair shakes his head and releases Vince’s collar, storming off and leaving Mr. McMahon to snarl at the entire situation that just transpired.

It’s the showcase of the immortals, the grandaddy of ‘em all, and it’s live from the SkyDome in Toronto! WrestleMania X-8, live on PPV March 17th!

No Way Out returns from the brief WrestleMania promo with a shot of a completely gobsmacked JR and Jerry Lawler, unable to put into words what they just saw. Both men condemn the actions of the nWo and apologize to the viewers, informing them that Undertaker and Kane both left under their own power but Crash Holly and Justin Credible received medical attention. Finally, JR claims he’s received word that it’s time to move on with the show, and the Dudley Boyz start making their way to the ring for tonight’s Tag Team Title match. Flanked by Stacy Keibler, Bubba Ray and D-Von storm to the ring as if it’s business as usual, holding up the belts as they look ready as ever for their upcoming defense.

Next out are the challengers, the experienced team of Kanyon and DDP posturing for the crowd on their way to the ring, not showing any reaction to the events that just unfolded moments ago involving a group they’ve had their fair share of battles with. Both men do their diamond poses for the crowd before deciding that Kanyon will begin the match with Bubba Ray, then the action gets underway.

WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Dudley Boyz w/ Stacy Keibler (c) vs DDP and Kanyon

Kanyon outclasses Bubba Ray from the get go, using his innovative offense to keep Bubba from starting any type of attack of his own. The imposing Kanyon lands a massive shoulder block and covers for a one count that ultimately proves to frustrate Bubba so much that he tags out to his half-brother, allowing D-Von a chance to mix it up with the Innovator of Offense. This goes no better for the Dudleys, as Kanyon sends a charging D-Von crashing to the canvas with a series of back elbows and then looks for the Flatliner, but D-Von wiggles himself free and scrambles back to his corner to regroup. They lock up again with Kanyon grabbing the side headlock once more, but D-Von manages to back him into the corner of the Dudleys, where Bubba Ray lands a cheap shot from the apron and tags himself in, taking control of the action.

Bubba keeps the former Mortis grounded, laying in stiff strikes while employing quick tags with D-Von to maintain control. The Dudleys land a double vertical suplex for a nearfall, then D-Von quickly cinches in a chinlock to stop his opponent from crawling towards his corner. With DDP reaching and trying to rally the fans behind his partner in the early going, the crowd starts to get behind Kanyon as he fights back to a vertical base and escapes the hold with a couple blows to the gut, but as he makes his way towards the corner he’s yanked down by the hair! The crowd boos D-Von as he makes a tag of his own, and Bubba wastes little time entering the ring and dropping an elbow across the chest of his downed opponent for another two count. With the Dudleys verbally taunting DDP, he’s getting visibly restless on the apron. Imploring Kanyon to make it to the corner, DDP is nearly leaning over the top rope with his arm outstretched when Kanyon connects with a swinging neckbreaker to Bubba, possibly finding the opening he needs!

Both men crawl towards their respective corners, with Bubba making the tag first. D-Von charges in and grabs Kanyon by the ankle, pulling him back towards the center of the ring, but the giant New Jerseyan impressively leaps and clobbers D-Von with an enziguri! Kanyon wastes no time now, lunging off the mat into the tag! DDP steps between the ropes like a man possessed, wiping out both opponents with massive right hands as they try to cut off his momentum. He whips D-Von off the ropes and catches him coming back in with a back body drop, then scoops up a charging Bubba and impressively slams him to the mat. As the referee gets the illegal Bubba out of the ring, DDP brings D-Von back to the challengers’ corner and lets Kanyon hotshot him on the top rope! DDP catches his opponent on the rebound and looks for the Diamond Cutter, but D-Von is able to avoid disaster and push Page away, only to be drilled by a short-arm lariat.

The pace slows down a step as DDP works over the champion a bit more, wearing him down much to the dismay of Bubba Ray on the apron and Stacy on the outside. DDP and Kanyon display their tag team prowess by tagging in and out and landing some tandem offense, including an innovative back suplex/neckbreaker combination that nets them a close two count. This advantage doesn’t last nearly as long as the Dudleys’ did, though, because D-Von manages to rake the eye of the Master of the Diamond Cutter unbeknownst to the referee, and then charges in with a devastating diving european uppercut to take DDP down and capture the momentum back. D-Von wisely tags Bubba back in, and the bruising Dudley puts the boots to DDP immediately. Bubba overpowers his competition as usual, driving DDP’s shoulders and neck into the mat hard with an impressive back suplex. He then brings him to the corner and seats him on the top rope, seemingly looking for a superplex, but DDP is able to hold onto the rope to save himself from certain doom.

As both men jockey for position on the top, DDP manages to make his way down from the peril of the top rope to the relative safety of the apron, still laying in punches on Bubba. D-Von charges at DDP from the apron and runs into a back elbow for his trouble, but this interaction invites Kanyon to storm across the ring and grab D-Von and yank him over the top rope into a brawl! Kanyon and D-Von fight in one corner while DDP and Bubba fight in the other corner, and the official struggles to keep control of the match. He does successfully separate the illegal men, Kanyon and D-Von, and get them back to their corners, but the brawl has the crowd buzzing just as DDP plants Bubba with a DDT and quickly tags in Kanyon! They each grab hold of the champion and set him up for what looks to be a double Diamond Cutter, but D-Von comes in once again, this time to save his partner and stop the move from happening. Referee Chad Patton has had it, and he gets in D-Von’s face, threatening to disqualify him for his repeated interference. D-Von brushes him off, though, and actually grabs Kanyon as if he’s going to hit the Diamond Cutter on him! This is a costly error, though, as Kanyon shoves D-Von off him, straight into a DIAMOND CUTTER from DDP!

The fans erupt, knowing D-Von is incapacitated, and Bubba Ray knows it too. He kneels on one knee, looking up at his challengers who are ready to put the match away while the referee helps roll D-Von out of the ring. At this moment, a desperate Stacy Keibler jumps onto the apron and grabs hold of DDP, which captures the attention of Kanyon. Bubba strikes quickly, ramming Kanyon into DDP, which in turn causes him to collide heads with Stacy and send her off the apron, landing hard on the floor. The crowd gasps, but Bubba pays this no mind and immediately hooks Kanyon for the BUBBA BOMB, which he connects with!

1…

2…

3.

Winners: The Dudley Boyz (7:50)

Bubba grabs both belts and scurries out of the ring before anyone can process what happened. DDP is shaking off the cobwebs from his head-to-head collision with Stacy, who is lying nearly motionless on the floor. Kanyon is in equal parts pain and confusion, slapping the mat in disappointment over how he let his guard down. Bubba revives a dazed D-Von and hands him his belt, then puts the other around his neck before scooping Stacy’s body up and carrying her to the back while JR opines negatively about “Those Damn Dudleys”. Lawler, of course, offers to nurse Stacy back to health.

Fading backstage, we see the APA seated at a card table joined by various other superstars and officials, a pile of cards and crushed beer cans in front of them as Bradshaw takes a healthy swig of another beer. From off camera we hear a comical WHOOSH sound, and suddenly The Hurricane and Mighty Molly swoop into frame! Bradshaw and Faarooq seem to be as amused as they are annoyed by the presence of the WWF’s resident superhero.
​

Bradshaw: Hey man you can’t just fly on in here, we got a door right there! Doesn’t anybody knock anymore?

The camera pans to the standalone wooden door of the APA’s “office”, then back to The Hurricane who looks at the door and then back at the Acolytes.
​

Hurricane: My sincerest apologies, Citizen Bradshaw! I simply had a proposal to make from one upholder of justice to another.

Faarooq takes a draw of his cigar as he and Bradshaw glance at each other and then back to The Hurricane inquisitively.
​

Faarooq: We’re listening.

Hurricane: Excellent! You see, I know the dastardly Tajiri is somewhere around here tonight, and I’d like to enlist your help to apprehend and bring him to justice!

Bradshaw laughs heartily before taking another swig of his drink and tossing the empty can over his shoulder.
​

Bradshaw: Hell, I think we could find him and wrangle him for ya. What’s your price?

The Hurricane looks perplexed, his hand raising from its pose on his hip to scratching his head.
​

Hurricane: Now, I thought you two were as noble in your pursuits as myself and Mighty Molly, but come to find out this is only about money to you?! WASSUP WIT DAT?!

Faarooq stands up and slams the table, startling Hurricane and Molly.
​

Faarooq: IF YOU AIN’T GOT NO DAMN MONEY, GET THE HELL OUTTA OUR OFFICE!

Bradshaw stands up and places a hand on Faarooq’s chest, laughing and trying to calm him down.
​

Bradshaw: What my partner’s trying to say is: if you don’t get your ass outta here, you’re gonna need somebody else to protect you from us!

Hurricane doesn’t need to be told twice, and with another exaggerated WHOOSH he and Molly exit stage left. The camera goes back to the APA as they settle back in at the table, an empty seat next to Faarooq being approached and filled by Tajiri, who’s wiping his hands on his pants as if he just used the restroom. A hilarious amount of empty beer cans piled in front of his seat, Tajiri sits back down as Bradshaw hands him a deck of cards.
​

Bradshaw: About damn time you came back, it’s your deal! Oh by the way, I think somebody’s looking for you or something.

Faarooq puffs his cigar once more and the crowd chuckles as the shot fades to the interview area, where Jonathan Coachman stands by with Trish Stratus, dressed in a purple one-piece singlet and pants along with a black trench coat and cowboy hat.
​

Coach: In just a few moments Trish, you’ll put the Womens Championship on the line against Jazz much like you did a month ago at the Royal Rumble. While you came out victorious in that match, it appears Jazz is more focused and perhaps more dangerous than ever heading into tonight’s rematch.

Trish: There’s no doubt Jazz is more dangerous than she’s ever been these last few weeks. We saw what she did to Lita, we saw what she did to Jacqueline, and I personally felt what she did to me. I don’t expect to come out of this match without any bruises, but the only thing that matters to me is keeping this championship exactly where it belongs.

Trish looks solemn but determined in her response before Coach offers a follow up.
​

Coach: Well that brings me to my last question: do you think you can beat Jazz tonight?

Trish pauses for a long moment, then looks up and replies.
​

Trish: I’ve done it once, I can do it again.

Trish leaves the interview area and heads for the ring, leaving Coach with a “we’ll see about that” look on his face.

In the arena, Jazz makes her entrance first as the challenger for the Womens Championship. Wearing a simple black two-piece wrestling outfit, the crowd and commentators alike are in awe of her imposing presence despite her diminutive stature, her aura alone carrying a sense of dread for Trish’s fans. JR and King recap the past month of action for Jazz, pointing out how she laid waste to Jacqueline and made quick work of Lita en route to this rematch for the championship.

Out next is the champion who receives a warm and loud reaction from the Bradley Center, throwing her cowboy hat into the audience as she reaches halfway down the aisle. She removes her coat before entering the ring as well, a look of determination etched on her face as she rolls into the ring, hands her title off to referee Jimmy Korderas and charges at Jazz as soon as the bell rings.

WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus (c) vs Jazz

Trish jumpstarts the action, laying in punches and trying to overwhelm her challenger in the corner. Korderas pulls her away, but Trish knows she can’t let Jazz breathe for even a second, the Toronto native getting right back to work and keeping her opponent cornered. Trish lays in some stomps until she’s finally forced into a real break with the referee threatening disqualification. Trish decides to take Jazz out of the corner and whip her off the ropes, but she’s countered and flattened with a shoulder block from the challenger. The champion doesn’t stay down for long, though, and fires another flurry of punches at Jazz, who comes out of them relatively unscathed. Trish is shocked at the nonchalance of her opponent, who reacts as if Trish’s strikes don’t even hurt. Jazz invites her to lay more shots in, absorbing a couple hard forearms as she advances forwards towards the champion. Finally, Jazz blocks one and grabs Trish, throwing her halfway across the ring with an overhead suplex!

The audience gasps as Stratus goes flying, landing hard on her back. But again knowing she can’t give Jazz much of an advantage, she scrambles back to her feet and charges at her opponent once more. More wild and ineffective punches push Jazz to the ropes near the entrance ramp, but Jazz simply shoves Trish back to the center. She charges again, this time hooking Jazz in a bulldog position, then bouncing off the ropes, looking for STRATUSFACTION! With little to no effort, Jazz shoves Trish off, sending her halfway across the ring yet again! Trish looks at Jazz with her mouth agape, unable to believe how easily her finishing move was brushed off. Jazz smiles and flexes at Trish, then runs at her and clobbers her with a lariat. The challenger looks at her downed opponent and taunts her, laying in some boots before picking her up and connecting with another overhead suplex, and then another. Trish barely manages to get back to her feet and throws some extremely weak strikes to Jazz’s chest, which she laughs off before going behind Trish and landing a humongous German suplex! With her work all but finished, Jazz picks up the blonde champion and, much to the chagrin of the fans in Milwaukee, locks in the standing chickenwing that she calls the BITCH CLAMP! With nowhere to go and her feet elevated off the canvas, the referee calls for the bell as Trish verbally gives up.

New Womens Champion: Jazz (4:39)

The fans are shocked at Jazz’s dominating victory as she taunts with the belt, ascending to the second rope to show off her trophy to the crowd. Jim Ross can’t believe it either, nor can Jerry Lawler, who’s so surprised he can’t even make a quip about healing Trish himself. Stratus is fighting back tears on the canvas as Jazz taunts her from the aisle, holding up and flaunting her new hardware before the shot fades out with the arena still in shock.

Bodies have been bruised… necks broken… careers, ended in an instant. Yes, this is entertainment, but the hazards are real. No matter who you are, whatever you do: please, don’t try this at home.

Back in the interview area, we see Michael Cole standing next to Maven, who looks nervous as he bounces back and forth in eager anticipation of his upcoming title match.
​

Cole: Maven we are just moments away from the biggest opportunity of your career thus far: a European Championship match against Christian. Earlier tonight on Heat I shared the commentary table with your mentor, Al Snow, who told me he has the utmost confidence in you tonight. Are you feeling any pressure to capture your first championship here tonight?

Maven: Of course I’m feeling pressure, and knowing what Al said isn’t helping, by the way.

Maven cracks a quick smile at his own joke, as does Cole.
​

Maven: I never want to let anybody down. Not the fans, who I know want to see me put that loudmouth crybaby Christian in his place. Not Al, who believes in me and got me to this point in the first place. And certainly not myself. But at the end of the day, I know I have what it takes. I didn’t win Tough Enough by mistake. I didn’t eliminate The Undertaker from the Royal Rumble by mistake. And tonight when I capture the European Championship, everybody’s gonna realize that.

Cole wishes him the best of luck before Maven’s music begins to blare out in the arena and he heads off for the curtain. Moments later, Maven appears in the arena to a warm reception, the rookie looking to make waves in his first PPV singles match. Dressed in black short tights with his logo across the back and a pair of black kneepads and boots, the challenger ascends to the second rope and fires up the crowd who are hoping to see somebody they’re rooting for pick up a win for the first time tonight.

Second out is the champion, Christian, flanked as always by Lance Storm. Christian antagonizes the crowd his entire walk to the ring, golden pyro pouring down behind him. Storm is all business while Christian, donning brown tights with gold logos and an orange mesh muscle shirt, proves his arrogance is alive and well. Storm is warned to stay back by official Charles Robinson, who then shows the belt to the crowd, hands it to the timekeeper and calls for the bell.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Christian (c) w/ Lance Storm vs Maven

The match starts with Christian hesitating to lock up with his younger and more athletic challenger, constantly backing down and arguing with the official after retreating to the ropes. When Maven finally gets Christian to engage him, he tries to sneakily connect with a right hand to the body during a test of strength, but Maven is prepared and moves out of the way, grabbing a headlock. Christian shoves Maven across the ring and off the ropes, going for a back elbow but that’s ducked easily, and the rookie drops Christian with an exhilarating dropkick, getting high enough off the canvas that the crowd gives a roar of approval. Christian powders to the floor to regroup, consulting Lance Storm when an impatient Maven approaches the ropes and leaps over with what’s come to be known to some as a “house show dive”!

The savvy Storm sees it coming and shoves Christian out of the way, taking the impact himself! Christian uses this opportunity to the fullest, attacking Maven from behind as he gets back up. The champion rolls his challenger back into the ring and hammers him with right hands and desperately covers for a one count. Christian focuses his attack on Maven’s head and neck area, seemingly setting up to win with the Unprettier later. He drives his knee into Maven’s neck as he’s placed kneeling face-first into the second turnbuckle, then sneaks in a vicious stomp to the back of the head when he’s pulled off the hold by Robinson. Storm gets back to his feet on the outside and slaps the apron, rooting on his partner who continues to put Maven to work, trapping him in a chinlock. The fans will Maven back to his feet, but as soon as it looks like he might break out of the hold, Christian slams him back to the mat by simply grabbing the back of his head and pulling back. Christian goes for a cover and rubs his forearm into Maven’s face, knowing his opponent would kick out but hoping to expend some of his youthful energy.

Christian lays in a couple hard chops to Maven’s chest, turning it a faint shade of red before attempting to whip him across the ring, only to be countered and sent for the ride himself. However, Maven shows his inexperience when he bends over to attempt a back body drop and falls victim to a swinging neckbreaker! Christian covers again, showing how badly he wants to get this match over with, but once more Maven kicks out. Again Christian looks to wear down his challenger, hooking in a variation of a dragon sleeper, keeping heavy pressure applied to Maven’s neck. Storm shouts instructions from the floor as the fans in Milwaukee once again rally behind the challenger, and Maven shows some fire as he starts to rise to his feet. Impressively, Maven is able to stand up and wiggle out of the hold despite the uncomfortable position, managing to turn around and attempt a jackknife pin that gets a quick two count. With both men now scrambling to their feet, Maven employs his quickness to drop Christian with another dropkick and then a cross body off the top! The champion ends up stacked high on his shoulders, and the ensuing cover nearly marks the end of his reign but he manages to kick out. Maven stays on the advantage, taking Al Snow’s training to heart as he tries to go for his Halo DDT but Christian scatters into the ropes to make sure he can’t attempt it. The crowd boos before Christian is apprehended by Maven and hit with an impressive vertical suplex, not quite the same level of devastation but some solid offense for Maven nonetheless. Trying anything to slow the rookie’s momentum, Lance Storm sneakily ascends the steps and unties the top turnbuckle pad but doesn’t remove it, remaining undetected by the official.

As Maven tries to continue his offensive onslaught, Christian drops to his knees and scoots back towards the aforementioned corner, begging off as Maven walks him down. When he reaches the corner, Charles Robinson does his duty as a ref and steps between them to give Christian the break he’s entitled to. In one swift motion, Christian reaches back and removes the turnbuckle pad, then as Maven brushes past Robinson, he grabs the front of Maven’s trunks and pulls him face-first into the exposed turnbuckle! The champion doesn’t hesitate, immediately rolling Maven into a school boy and grabs his tights for extra leverage!

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KICKOUT!

The crowd is pleasantly surprised as Maven shoots his shoulder up just in time, expecting that to be more than he could handle. Christian has to be talked out of a tantrum by Storm, who works to calm his partner down and get him focused on the task at hand. Christian gathers himself with a deep breath and approaches his challenger once more, but remarkably Maven blasts him with a right hand! Shaking off the cobwebs, Maven fires off some haymakers, backing Christian to the ropes. The Tough Enough winner attempts to whip Christian across the ring, but the more experienced champion keeps hold of Maven’s arm and gets behind him, quickly dropping the bottom out with a Reverse DDT! Christian covers again!

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KICKOUT!

The crowd reacts a little more this time, a select few even chanting Maven’s name as Christian is now on the verge of pulling his blonde hair out. Storm tries to talk him off the proverbial ledge once more, but this time an enraged Christian grabs Maven again and hooks him for the UNPRETTIER… but Maven frees his arms and shoves Christian face-first into the turnbuckle he exposed earlier! A dazed champion stumbles out of the corner as Maven positions himself behind him, and leaps off the second rope with the HALO DDT! The challenger covers with the leg hooked!

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3..NO! LANCE STORM PULLS THE REFEREE OUT OF THE RING!

Before the count can be finished, Storm yanks Robinson to the floor and starts arguing with him. After only a few seconds of this, Al Snow charges down the aisle and hammers Storm with right hands! Snow defends his protegee as he starts working his way back up the ramp, throwing hands back and forth with Storm the whole way as Robinson tries his hardest to separate them or get them to the back. In the ring, Maven watches their brawl, his hands on his head in obvious frustration before he turns around and gets waylaid out of nowhere! A boot to the face absolutely demolishes him, and the assailant is quick to roll out of the ring and hide himself from the official’s view as Christian crawls into the cover and Charles Robinson returns to the ring!

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3!

Winner: Christian (10:53)

The fans rain boos upon both Christian and the man that saved his bacon that now stands as imposingly as ever on the outside, his blonde hair stringing in front of his face: it’s TEST. A skeptical Charles Robinson hands the European Title to a downed Christian who slowly rolls off Maven, a small bit of blood sneaking out of a knot on his forehead where he made contact with the exposed turnbuckle. Test quickly pulls Christian out of the ring and helps him to the back, the champion on wobbly legs while an oblivious Al Snow sprints past them to the ring to tend to the devastated Maven, JR absolutely sick to his stomach as he tells us in a moment of unprofessionalism that he was enjoying Test not being around.

Backstage, Michael Cole stands by with the man that’s still the Intercontinental Champion after tonight’s opener: William Regal. Regal, now wearing a gray t-shirt with a WWF logo on it and a towel over his shoulder, kisses his knuckles as Cole begins the interview.
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Cole: William Regal you fended off the challenge of Goldust earlier tonight by any means necessary, but tomorrow your attention will need to be turned towards the number one contender’s battle royal on RAW, where you’ll find out who your next challenger will be.

Regal: Personally I’m quite excited to find out who it’ll be, aren’t you? Think about the possibilities, it could be anybody! Perhaps Doink the Clown or The Missing Link will show up since I already had to beat one miserable ghoul tonight.

Regal’s expression shifts from whimsy to disgust as Edge enters and stands across from the IC Champ.
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Edge: You’re right, maybe Doink the Clown will show up. But I know for sure that I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss a chance to put that title back around my waist, sunshine.

Regal shakes with rage as Edge pats him on the shoulder and walks off, adding a third man to the confirmed list of entrants for tomorrow night.

Elsewhere in the back, Christian, Lance Storm and Test are celebrating Christian’s narrow victory. Test is supporting Christian, who can hardly stand and is clearly still loopy, when Kevin Kelly approaches them with a microphone.
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Kelly: Guys, if I could just get a word. Test, we haven’t seen you since the Royal Rumble, where have you been?

Test: Where haven’t I been?! I was in Cabo, I was in Fiji, I was everywhere BUT the WWF. And the beauty of it is, I don’t have to show up to work. What are they gonna do, fire me? I have immunity for nine more months! But, I figured with WrestleMania in my hometown just a month away it was only right for me to drop by tonight and lend a hand to my friend… and lend a boot to that rookie Maven.

Kelly: And Christian, now that you’ve beaten M–

Kelly’s attempt at a question for Christian, who’s clearly in no condition to give any answers, is interrupted by the presence of the Undisputed Champion Chris Jericho. Jericho brushes Kelly aside and shouts “beat it, junior” before turning his attention to his fellow Canadians.
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Y2J: Christian, congratulations! I knew you’d take care of that greenhorn. And Test, great to have you back!

Test: Thanks. You uhh… still need us tonight?

Jericho looks down at the title belts that he holds in either hand, then looks back up and replies.
​

Y2J: Nah, you guys go ahead and start the celebration early. Hit the town! I’ll catch up after I kick Stone Cold’s ass all by myself!

Jericho heads off, still looking at his title belts while Test appears visibly suspicious of his misplaced confidence. Nevertheless, Test helps Christian sit down and offers a thought.
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Test: You guys hear that? We’re going out once Christian here gets cleaned up. I know a great place: it’s called anywhere but Milwaukee.

Test gives a corny laugh at his own joke before the shot fades back to the commentary desk, where JR and The King prepare us for our semi main event. They tell us they’re going to recap how we got here as a video begins to play, showing HHH’s journey back from his debilitating quad injury and the road bumps Kurt Angle and Vince McMahon have thrown in his path. Of equal importance in the video is the relationship between WWF’s co-owners, Vince McMahon and Ric Flair, who’ve been at odds with each other ever since Flair showed up. The video ends with a shot of Kurt Angle standing over HHH after jumping him two weeks ago on SmackDown.

Back in the arena, “The Game” blares out over the speakers and Triple H starts to make his way to the ring. With his left leg heavily wrapped in white bandages up to the quad and down to the knee beneath his kneepad, The Game stands at the top of the entranceway with a water bottle to his side. He dumps it over his head and makes his way down the ramp, Ric Flair trailing behind him and clapping for the man he’ll be managing tonight. HHH takes a drink from what remains of the water when he reaches the ringside area, then tosses the bottle to the audience. He gingerly ascends the apron and does his signature water spit, much to the delight of the crowd as flash bulbs go off around him.

Out second is the Olympic Hero Kurt Angle, flanked by Vince McMahon. Kurt is dressed in an American flag singlet per usual, Vince in a suit but looking somewhat disheveled following the events of earlier this evening. Angle is all business as he enters the ring and jumps around on one leg for the crowd, even mocking HHH’s taped leg before removing the gold medals from around his neck, kissing them and handing them off to referee Tim White. Vince and Flair bicker at each other from across the ring, standing in the respective corners of their representatives for the night.

Triple H w/ Ric Flair vs Kurt Angle w/ Vince McMahon

From the instant the bell rings, Kurt starts stalking his prey in an amateur wrestling stance, slowly creeping in on The Game as they circle each other. HHH tries his hardest to protect his leg from the approaching Olympic Gold Medalist, but eventually a shot lands and Kurt takes control of the heavily wrapped left leg of The Game. Triple H hops back to the corner to go for a break, but Kurt sneaks in an elbow across the quadriceps that leaves HHH in stinging pain. While Kurt’s admonished by Tim White, The Game limps around the ring and tries to shake the numbness and pain out of his leg. Angle looks smug as he begins to circle with his opponent again, Vince rooting him on from the floor. Kurt shoots for the leg again, this time grabbing it cleanly and taking The Game to the mat. Again Angle drops an elbow along his quad again, this time pinning it to the mat and looking to wear down the injured leg with a submission hold.

Kurt shows his amateur acumen as he keeps HHH confined to the mat, using a multitude of holds and strikes to wear down the surgically repaired leg of the Royal Rumble winner. Angle watches and stalks The Game as he uses the ropes to rise to his feet, only to take him back down with a hard kick to the back of the leg. Commentary makes note of how dire this situation is for Triple H, mentioning that he’s hopping around injured just a couple minutes into the match. As Vince’s voice booms out words of encouragement to Kurt, he takes his attack up north with some hard right hands and back elbows on HHH in the corner. Angle begins to get confident, talking trash towards Ric Flair who looks annoyed on the floor, allowing HHH an opening to land a right hand that sends Kurt reeling. The Olympic Hero doesn’t allow The Game to build on this momentum though, as he dives back in with a chop block that sends HHH somersaulting to the canvas!

Holding his quad and writhing in pain, HHH is helpless as Kurt goes right back to work on the leg, as surgical as he was before. Angle maintains his overconfident demeanor while punishing Triple H’s injury, wrenching back on his submission holds with some extra effort. Even the crowd rallying heavily behind The Game isn’t enough to help him fight out of Angle’s control, as he crawls to the ropes and pulls himself onto the apron just to finally get a bit of a break. Angle approaches and makes a mistake, as he’s sent over the top rope and to the floor with a back body drop! Kurt takes a hard spill on his lower back, allowing Triple H to get back in the ring and start shaking out his leg again, still hobbling around when Angle finally returns to the ring, jawing at Flair his entire ascent back up the steel steps. Angle goes for the leg again after stepping between the ropes, but this time HHH gets his leg out of the way and finally gets a little offense in on the Gold Medalist. Angle gets frustrated after eating a devastating right hand and charges, which allows Triple H to shuffle off to the side and ram Angle shoulder-first into the metal ringpost, right between the second and third turnbuckle!

Despite his injury, HHH recognizes the need to capitalize on this opportunity and yanks Angle back to the center of the ring, applying heavy offense as he fights through the pain. He manages to hoist Kurt up and deliver a backbreaker, dropping his lower back across the right knee and quickly covering for a brief two count. Triple H tries to stay on the attack, laboring whenever he moves thanks to the dead weight that is his left leg. He’s able to connect with some powerful blows to Kurt’s head, although they would likely be more powerful if he could fully step into them. With Angle backed into the corner, he whips him across the ring with a powerful hammer throw that sees Kurt’s back collide with the turnbuckles before he splats stomach-down on the mat. Hunter tries to send Angle into the ropes again, perhaps trying to catch him with the spinebuster, but Kurt wisely dives for the leg once more and cuts off HHH’s offense.

Back on the advantage, Kurt looks out at Ric Flair, pointing at him and accosting him as he controls The Game’s leg and lets out a loud and disrespectful “WOO!” before locking in the FIGURE FOUR LEG LOCK! The crowd gasps and boos as Flair shoots daggers at Angle, who seems to enjoy humiliating The Nature Boy even more than he likes hurting HHH. Kurt isn’t even paying attention to his opponent as Tim White continually asks Triple H if he’s going to give up, but Angle’s eyes are locked on Flair as he yells at him that he’s doing the Figure Four better than he ever could. His lack of focus proves costly though, because Triple H suddenly manages to turn over to his stomach, reversing the pressure on the hold! Angle yells out in pain, bringing a smile to Flair’s face for the first time in the match as Kurt is forced to crawl to the ropes and grab on for dear life. Both men struggle to their feet but HHH throws the first punch, however Angle ducks it and goes behind, lifting Triple H and throwing him on the back of his head with a German suplex! Kurt maintains control of the waist, turning and lifting HHH for another one! Triple H is even harder to lift the third time, but the Olympic Gold Medalist gets it done and holds the bridge for a pin attempt, but Triple H gets the shoulder up at two!

Rather than get frustrated, Kurt gets back to his feet and pulls down the straps on his singlet, telling Ric Flair and the entire crowd that the end is near for this match. He ascends the turnbuckles, his back facing the ring before he leaps off gracefully with a moonsault… but Triple H rolls out of the way! Angle takes the impact on his face and stomach, writhing in pain as HHH uses the ropes to get back to his feet again. The Game throws huge punches and lariats as Kurt is sent back down to the canvas no matter how many times he gets back up. An enraged Angle tries to charge once more, but this time he’s caught and planted with the DOUBLE-A SPINEBUSTER for a nearfall! Looking to finish the match, Hunter hooks Kurt’s arms for the Pedigree, but Angle wiggles an arm free and corrals the left leg yet again, this time turning HHH over and trapping him in the ANKLE LOCK!

Kurt is red in the face screaming at Triple H to tap out, wrenching on the ankle and pulling him back towards the center of the ring. HHH crawls on his forearms to try and reach the ropes, Vince imploring him to tap as he crawls towards him. As Angle exerts his full energy in trying to get The Game to give up, Triple H raises his hand, shaking it as though he’s deciding whether or not he can stand the pain for another instant. As his hand comes back down, he takes one last lunge forward and grasps the bottom rope! Angle relinquishes the hold after a four count and the frustration is evident on his face. In a rage, Kurt circles the ring while Triple H struggles mightily to return to his feet. Angle makes a pit stop to scream at Flair, telling him that the match is all but over. The Olympic Hero comes up behind the recovering HHH and hooks him for the Angle Slam, but Triple H has the wherewithal to slide down Angle’s back, escaping certain doom! When Kurt turns around he throws a lariat, but HHH ducks and Tim White is laid out!

Angle turns back around and takes a boot to the stomach, then Triple H connects with THE PEDIGREE! He collapses into the cover, which lasts a lot longer than three seconds, but the referee is completely incapacitated. Triple H tries to awaken him, but Vince McMahon enters the ring and attacks The Game with a clubbing blow to the back. This angers HHH more than hurts him, and even on one leg he backs Vince down to the corner. Vince cowers as the number one contender for the Undisputed Title rears back to throw a punch, but he’s swooped up out of nowhere and planted with the ANGLE SLAM! Kurt covers HHH while Vince is able to get the ref back to consciousness, and he counts slowly!

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2…

…

KICKOUT!

The crowd, Kurt Angle, Vince McMahon, and even Ric Flair can’t believe it as Triple H shoots his shoulder off the mat! Kurt appears to be on the verge of tears, shouting at White for the understandably slow count before standing up and putting the boots to the referee! Ric Flair ascends the steps and stands on the apron, admonishing Kurt for this heinous attack on a helpless official. Vince circles around the ring and pulls Flair off the apron, looking to throw a punch at his business partner, but the savvy Nature Boy blocks the right hand and sends Vince to the floor with one of his own! The fans erupt, but it’s short lived as Naitch is caught off guard by a clubbing blow to the back from Angle! Now on the floor, Kurt goes under the ring and retrieves a weapon synonymous with Triple H: the sledgehammer.

There’s an audible anticipatory sound from the fans in Milwaukee as Kurt slides into the ring and measures Triple H, who’s attempting to stand once again on wobbly legs. Just as Kurt starts to approach with his weapon, he’s dropped from behind when Ric Flair nails him with a low blow! The Dirtiest Player in the Game takes the sledgehammer from Angle, who crumbles to his knees, and signals for a new referee to come to the ring. Just as official Chad Patton runs down the aisle and slides into the ring, Triple H hooks Kurt’s arms and drills him with THE PEDIGREE for the second time! He struggles to turn Kurt’s dead weight onto his back, but manages to do so and drape one arm over him for the cover.

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3!

Winner: Triple H (20:19)

Triple H looks like he’s been in a car crash and JR says as much on commentary. Lawler, on the other hand, is incensed at Ric Flair’s interjection in the match and the manner in which Angle lost. Vince and Kurt are sent packing with their tails tucked between their legs, while HHH does his best to pose for the cheering crowd in his current state. JR mentions that Triple H can now focus on getting himself healthy and ready for the main event of WrestleMania X-8 in a month’s time.

It’s the showcase of the immortals, the grandaddy of ‘em all, and it’s live from the SkyDome in Toronto! WrestleMania X-8, live on PPV March 17th!

At commentary, JR gives one last update before the main event on the conditions of The Undertaker and Kane after the events of earlier tonight, careful not to specifically mention Hall, Nash, Hogan or the nWo by name. They say that Undertaker and Kane both refused medical attention, but that Taker left the building shortly after the match ended.

Backstage, we see Vince McMahon and Kurt Angle licking their wounds in the hallway, Angle holding his head while Vince rubs his jaw from where Naitch leveled him with a right hand.
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Angle: I can’t believe this crap! I’m so sick and tired of Ric Flair getting involved in my business! You know, you really oughta do something about this once and for all, who cares what the board thinks?!

Vince looks to the ceiling and takes a deep breath, stopping both himself and Kurt in their tracks.
​

Vince: Quite frankly, Kurt… I have bigger fish to fry right now. If you want something done about Ric Flair, you’ll have to deal with it yourself.

Vince shakes his head and walks off, leaving Kurt confused and alone in the hallway.

A video package featuring Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” plays to hype the main event, focusing on Jericho’s reliance on outside interference to keep his Undisputed Championship reign intact. It shows the interference from Vince that led to him winning the titles at the first place at Vengeance, and then the interference from Christian and Lance Storm that allowed him to retain against The Rock at Royal Rumble. This plays into Austin choosing a steel cage stipulation in order to keep the match fair, and once the video ends and we return to ringside, Lawler mentions that Jericho told Christian, Storm and Test to leave the building earlier, which JR is wary of. Lawler calls him a conspiracy theorist before Howard Finkel starts to explain the rules.

Fink tells us that the match can only be won by pinfall, submission, or escaping the cage. The cage ominously lowers for several moments before the Bradley Center comes unglued as the glass shatters, and the Texas Rattlesnake stomps his way down the aisle, barking at any and everyone as he’s dressed in his usual black trunks, boots and kneepads and his “DTA” vest. Austin steps through the cage door and has some endearing middle fingers for the fans on all four corners, while JR mentions that Stone Cold is as determined now as he’s ever seen him.

Out second is the champion, Chris Jericho, wearing red tights with white designs down the side. Y2J poses at the top of the entranceway with both belts extended at his sides, then turns around to face the booing audience, the steel cage, and his dangerous challenger. Jericho walks to the ring a bit more timidly than usual, not taking nearly as much time to exchange words with members of the audience as he forgoes his typical posing and posturing to simply step into the cage, kiss both title belts and hand them to senior referee Earl Hebner. Hebner shows both belts to the crowd, instructs Charles Robinson on the outside to lock the cage door, and calls for the bell to get the main event underway.

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP STEEL CAGE MATCH
Chris Jericho (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

As soon as the bell sounds, Austin bullrushes Jericho and stomps the proverbial mudhole in him in the corner, then proceeds to walk it dry. The crowd roars as Jericho cowers, Austin grabbing on to the chain link cage to get even more power behind his boots than usual. Stone Cold finally backs off and lets Y2J reach his feet, just so he can grab him by the back of the head and ram him face-first into the steel cage! Jericho leaps and splats against the metal, bouncing back down to the canvas and rolling across the ring. Austin salutes him with a couple trademark middle fingers before dropping down and throwing some right hands, with the champion on the ropes just seconds into the match.

Y2J manages to get his wits about him and slow down the barrage by landing a spinning heel kick that takes Austin down for a couple seconds, but Jericho is already scurrying up the cage when the Rattlesnake gets to his feet. Stone Cold easily captures Jericho’s leg and pulls him back in, but Jericho finds the mark with a couple loud chops and a dropkick, then climbs again! Stone Cold is way too fast, and cuts Jericho off yet again before he can even get his feet off the ropes. The two exchange strikes for a few moments, with Austin’s heavy hands giving him the advantage until Jericho sneaks a thumb to the eye and lands a springboard dropkick. Y2J tries to hold onto the advantage but Austin refuses to stay down, the Rattlesnake warding off all Jericho’s attempts to land big damage. Even so, Jericho does stay in the driver’s seat, and even takes Austin down and looks to turn him over into the Walls of Jericho! Stone Cold won’t allow himself to be turned onto his stomach, though, so Y2J shows his wrestling IQ by simply catapulting Austin face-first into the steel cage instead!

Austin slumps to the mat, blood starting to leak out of his bald head as Jericho projects some confidence for the first time in the match. The champion rains down punches on his grounded and bleeding opponent, targeting the wound as Stone Cold begins to wear the crimson mask. Jericho grinds his boot into the cut, then stomps down on it as his challenger is now leaking properly. Jericho brings Austin to the cage and drags his face along the chain link, yelling at him to give up which obviously isn’t going to happen. The Bionic Redneck is now the one reeling, as Y2J lands a bulldog and the LIONSAULT, impressively unimpeded by the cage! Jericho covers!

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KICKOUT!

With some time to spare, Austin powers the shoulder up and rolls over, blood beginning to stain the canvas as Jericho stomps him once more and then scoops him up. Y2J tries to hoist his challenger up for a back suplex of some sort, but Stone Cold fires back with elbows to the head, then gets sent off the ropes. He comes back with a full head of steam though, and finds paydirt with the LOU THESZ PRESS! Much to the delight of the audience, Austin fires off with weighty right hands that Jericho tries his hardest to squirm out from underneath to no avail. Austin gets up and finds a second wind, dropping his forearm across the face of the champion with a couple one-fingered salutes on the way down. Jericho scrambles to the corner and finds some more stomps to the chest there, then gets to his feet only to be taken back down with a hip toss, then rammed into the cage with authority! Stone Cold controls Jericho by the head, rifling his face into the steel over and over again like a man possessed, when Christian, Lance Storm and Test come sprinting out from the back! The fans boo loudly, catching the Rattlesnake’s attention while Storm and Christian start to try and ascend the cage. Test runs around to the timekeeper’s area, hoping to acquire a chair while Austin throws kicks at the climbing fingers of Christian and Storm to keep them from getting into the cage. With his attention diverted, Test manages to shotput the chair over the cage, allowing Jericho to pick it up and slam it down over the Rattlesnake’s head! Back into the cover goes the champion!

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KICKOUT!

Jericho is more disappointed than surprised when Austin rolls out of this one, slamming his hands on the mat but quickly realizing that time is of the essence, he heads over to the wall of the cage and starts to climb once more. As his hands get near the top, he manages to pull one leg over to the other side, only to have his hair grabbed and his face rattled off the top of the cage by the pursuing Austin. Stone Cold is doing everything in his power to stop Jericho from escaping, but as he hangs on to Jericho’s arms, Lance Storm has displayed his athletic prowess by climbing the outside of the structure and has one arm wrapped around Jericho’s legs, trying his damndest to pull the champion to safety. Austin reaches over and lands a couple hard right hands to Storm who can’t protect himself, and the former WCW Canadian Champion falls off the cage, down onto Test and Christian below him! Jericho is now totally compromised, his legs dangling off the outside of the cage, when Austin hooks him and yanks him back into the ring with a gigantic superplex!

The ring rattles on impact, the crowd going nuts as both men are now down, the wound on Austin’s forehead still pouring. As both competitors try to recover, Test has made his way to the door and tossed outside referee Charles Robinson to the ground, taking his key and managing to unlock the door to the cage. Test swings the door open and tries to will a crawling Jericho to escape, but as Y2J makes it to the door and uses the ropes to help himself up with Test reaching into the cage to try and pull his friend to victory, Austin suddenly appears behind Jericho and clatters Test with the steel chair! Test stumbles off the steps and down to the floor, while Stone Cold reaches over Jericho and pulls the door shut, right on his head! Jericho collapses backwards, the door swinging back open as Austin measures his opponent for what would appear to be a Stunner. Out of desperation, Christian clumsily charges into the cage and falls victim to a STONE COLD STUNNER of his own, and he’s quickly launched back out of the solid steel structure by the Rattlesnake!

Not looking for a cheap and easy escape out of the door, Austin slams the door shut and tells Charles Robinson to lock it once again, but as soon as he turns around he’s caught off guard by a desperate, diving chair shot to the face from Jericho! Stone Cold is down and in a bad way, and with the door once again locked and all his help laid out, Jericho decides to try and end it by locking in the WALLS OF JERICHO, which he successfully does! Austin screams in pain, dark red blood falling down his face and covering it, somewhat reminiscent of WrestleMania 13’s iconic shot as the Rattlesnake tries his hardest to find a way out. He reaches the ropes but there are no rope breaks inside a steel cage, so he tries to use them to climb and relieve some pressure, but Jericho walks him back to the center of the ring. Unable to bear the pain much longer as Jericho sits even further down on his lower back, Austin attempts to use what technical acumen he has and roll through Jericho’s legs, sustaining unfathomable pain to his surgically repaired neck as he does so. It is successful, though, and he manages to wiggle a leg free and land a succession of kicks, with a hard kick to Jericho’s jaw seeing him release the submission! Y2J staggers back into the ropes and just starts to climb again, all out of ideas on how to beat the Rattlesnake.

A bit disoriented, Austin once again approaches Jericho as he stands on the top rope and grabs his foot, not allowing him to start his climb. Jericho tries to shoo him away with some kicks that don’t do much, but he does end up catching Stone Cold square, and Austin releases his foot. Jericho then turns around and, facing his challenger straight on, leaps from the top rope with a double axe handle. However, Austin catches him coming in with a boot to the gut, and follows it instantly with the STONE COLD STUNNER! The roof blows off the Bradley Center as Austin lays his back across Jericho and hooks the leg!

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3!

New Undisputed Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin (14:43)

With his opponent vanquished and the titles captured, Austin lays on his back bleeding for several moments before raising a middle finger as the cage starts to go back up to the rafters. Jericho manages to meekly roll out of the ring and return to the back with his fellow Canadians, the Rattlesnake now getting to his feet. He raises both belts, then slings them over each of his shoulders and calls for a few “Steveweisers” to be thrown to him. Despite the blood on his face, Austin stands on top of the second rope, toasts to himself and downs a couple beers as No Way Out fades to black.

CONFIRMED FOR WRESTLEMANIA X-8

UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs Triple H​

 

[Qui-Gon Bren]

First time viewer here. Was looking around for new threads to read, and yours stood out because I'm absolutely in love with this time period for nostalgic reasons. Also, long form written shows are my jam!

NO WAY OUT

Right out of the gate, I gotta say, the yellow font killed me lol. My eyes just had a hard time adjusting to the yellow paragraphs on the light background and I had to keep highlighting sections to read them. But I can appreciate wanting to stick with a theme for the PPV.

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
I enjoyed the dynamic of Goldust vs Regal. The Bizarre One really is uniquely equipped to offset Regal, whether it be unorthodox tactics or flexible morality. The location of the Golden Knucks at the start popped me, absolutely something Goldust would do. The brass knuckles were a staple of Regal's presentation at the time, and I'm sure it can be frustrating having to craft matches around the weapon, but I thought you did so very well here. As things got set up in the corner for the Shattered Dreams, I could feel the ending coming from a mile away and that's not a bad thing. Effective set up and effective execution on the finish. Regal lives to cheat another day, and I'm excited to see who challenges him next and if he makes it to Mania with the IC Title.

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP
I admit that Undertaker vs Kane doesn't really move me, it's a pairing we've seen done to death. BUT, this iteration of Big Evil heel Taker vs 2002 Kane is at least a fresh perspective. The stipulation also helped by allowing a more chaotic and violent encounter instead of being trapped in the confines of a standard match for the 100th time. The scene of both men having the other goozled by the throat, struggling for control so deep into this match only to be jumped by nWo, was cinematic! I'm very opinionated on this era of WWF/E. Something I think you got right that was botched irl, is introducing nWo as INVADERS rather than hired guns. The chaos of the assault was great. It felt unplanned and dangerous. Having Vince, Flair, commentary, and even lower card guys running in to all sell it as not part of the show was a fantastic touch. It already makes nWo feel like a greater threat than they ever did irl. My only concern is this version of Undertaker being turned back to the light side of things before he's able to hit his stride as a heel.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Boy did you make Maven look like a million bucks here. Overcoming the numbers disadvantage early, having Christian on the ropes, believable near falls. When it comes to using a cheating heel win as a vehicle to get a rising babyface over, I have no notes. Initially I thought that Christian should have handled the rookie with more ease as the more experienced and way more skilled competitor. But 2002 temper tantrum Christian who's so reliant on interference is just getting over by the skin of his teeth is actually the perfect type of opponent to give Maven a boost. The finish with Test actually made me groan, because you had me rooting for Maven lol. But I'm happy Christian's title reign is continuing. The title has a higher ceiling with him and the Un-Americans than it does on rookie Maven. Hoping Christian has a little bit better spot at Mania than he did irl.

SEMI-MAIN
The involvement of Vince and Flair gave this match up a unique flavor to separate it from the irl No Way Out match. Triple H's victory was never really in doubt for me, but he and Angle are an elite pairing. Good strong win for the challenger ahead of Mania. I'm glad you didn't have Triple H use the sledgehammer to win. The brief conversation between Vince and Kurt afterward gives me an idea of where the Olympic Gold Medalist is heading next, and I dig it.

MAIN EVENT
Alright Booker, this cage match fuckin ruled! I had a lot of fun reading this match because your spots and big moments were very easy to visualize, and it was very much structured like a main event match from this time frame. The stipulation is fitting for who Jericho was as a champion and how he kept retaining those titles. I was shocked before the match when Y2J told the Un-Americans that he didn't need their help, but of course they showed up! That's when the match really kicked into high gear. I think you did a killer job incorporating group interference without completely nullifying the purpose of the Steel Cage. It could be tricky to logically layout how 3 superstars wouldn't overwhelm the refs or Austin and get into that ring and beat down the Rattlesnake 4 on 1 with Jericho. The way you had the Un-Americans get involved was creative, and I can really picture these moments coming across great on TV. Storm falling off the top of the cage to the outside I know would have made me GASP with fear lol. A really awesome way to do something "dangerous" safely. I can also imagine the perfect camera angle where Test is trying to help Jericho out of the cage door where we can't see Austin until that steel chair comes swinging through the doorway to eliminate Test, and everyone at home pops huge! Even Christian finally breaking the threshold of the cage... only to immediately get Stunned was excellent. You staggered each man's individual elimination in a way that felt natural. It gave each Un-American a "moment", and made Austin look unbelievably bad ass taking out this faction in a totally believable way. The swings in momentum in the closing stretch hit the spot. The Walls of Jericho struggle was good for creating doubt... and then finally the "RKO outta nowhere" style Stone Cold Stunner! I've only been back in the mix of reading and writing in a Be The Booker forum for a few months, and this might be my favorite match I've read. Now, Stone Cold Steve Austin is the Undisputed WWF Champion. It's 23 years too late... but we FINALLY got the RIGHT result to end this pay-per-view. Like with the nWo, I'm very happy to see you take a different route for the Undisputed Championship going into WrestleMania. Stone Cold as champion vs Triple H as returning challenger was big money left on the table irl. With their shared history just a year prior as hated rivals turned dominating heel partners... this matchup is brimming with story potential. Are we seeing the true version of either man? Is someone going to turn? Is Austin a transitional champion or will he thwart The Game's storybook return? This ONE match being announced for WrestleMania X8 is enough to keep me coming back to this thread. The match graphic with Austin and Triple H and the WrestleMania X8 logo got me HYPED! I hope you're able to reach that show and deliver the main event you envision.

Overall, awesome pay-per-view. Your writing style is an easy read, and gives the type of detail I personally enjoy, as visualizing matches and moments really helps me get into a Be The Booker project and become invested. I know that writing out full shows isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely mine. No Way Out as a "B" PPV effectively did the job of building my excitement for WrestleMania.

 

[BookerMan]

First time viewer here. Was looking around for new threads to read, and yours stood out because I'm absolutely in love with this time period for nostalgic reasons. Also, long form written shows are my jam!

NO WAY OUT

Right out of the gate, I gotta say, the yellow font killed me lol. My eyes just had a hard time adjusting to the yellow paragraphs on the light background and I had to keep highlighting sections to read them. But I can appreciate wanting to stick with a theme for the PPV.

INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
I enjoyed the dynamic of Goldust vs Regal. The Bizarre One really is uniquely equipped to offset Regal, whether it be unorthodox tactics or flexible morality. The location of the Golden Knucks at the start popped me, absolutely something Goldust would do. The brass knuckles were a staple of Regal's presentation at the time, and I'm sure it can be frustrating having to craft matches around the weapon, but I thought you did so very well here. As things got set up in the corner for the Shattered Dreams, I could feel the ending coming from a mile away and that's not a bad thing. Effective set up and effective execution on the finish. Regal lives to cheat another day, and I'm excited to see who challenges him next and if he makes it to Mania with the IC Title.

HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP
I admit that Undertaker vs Kane doesn't really move me, it's a pairing we've seen done to death. BUT, this iteration of Big Evil heel Taker vs 2002 Kane is at least a fresh perspective. The stipulation also helped by allowing a more chaotic and violent encounter instead of being trapped in the confines of a standard match for the 100th time. The scene of both men having the other goozled by the throat, struggling for control so deep into this match only to be jumped by nWo, was cinematic! I'm very opinionated on this era of WWF/E. Something I think you got right that was botched irl, is introducing nWo as INVADERS rather than hired guns. The chaos of the assault was great. It felt unplanned and dangerous. Having Vince, Flair, commentary, and even lower card guys running in to all sell it as not part of the show was a fantastic touch. It already makes nWo feel like a greater threat than they ever did irl. My only concern is this version of Undertaker being turned back to the light side of things before he's able to hit his stride as a heel.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Boy did you make Maven look like a million bucks here. Overcoming the numbers disadvantage early, having Christian on the ropes, believable near falls. When it comes to using a cheating heel win as a vehicle to get a rising babyface over, I have no notes. Initially I thought that Christian should have handled the rookie with more ease as the more experienced and way more skilled competitor. But 2002 temper tantrum Christian who's so reliant on interference is just getting over by the skin of his teeth is actually the perfect type of opponent to give Maven a boost. The finish with Test actually made me groan, because you had me rooting for Maven lol. But I'm happy Christian's title reign is continuing. The title has a higher ceiling with him and the Un-Americans than it does on rookie Maven. Hoping Christian has a little bit better spot at Mania than he did irl.

SEMI-MAIN
The involvement of Vince and Flair gave this match up a unique flavor to separate it from the irl No Way Out match. Triple H's victory was never really in doubt for me, but he and Angle are an elite pairing. Good strong win for the challenger ahead of Mania. I'm glad you didn't have Triple H use the sledgehammer to win. The brief conversation between Vince and Kurt afterward gives me an idea of where the Olympic Gold Medalist is heading next, and I dig it.

MAIN EVENT
Alright Booker, this cage match fuckin ruled! I had a lot of fun reading this match because your spots and big moments were very easy to visualize, and it was very much structured like a main event match from this time frame. The stipulation is fitting for who Jericho was as a champion and how he kept retaining those titles. I was shocked before the match when Y2J told the Un-Americans that he didn't need their help, but of course they showed up! That's when the match really kicked into high gear. I think you did a killer job incorporating group interference without completely nullifying the purpose of the Steel Cage. It could be tricky to logically layout how 3 superstars wouldn't overwhelm the refs or Austin and get into that ring and beat down the Rattlesnake 4 on 1 with Jericho. The way you had the Un-Americans get involved was creative, and I can really picture these moments coming across great on TV. Storm falling off the top of the cage to the outside I know would have made me GASP with fear lol. A really awesome way to do something "dangerous" safely. I can also imagine the perfect camera angle where Test is trying to help Jericho out of the cage door where we can't see Austin until that steel chair comes swinging through the doorway to eliminate Test, and everyone at home pops huge! Even Christian finally breaking the threshold of the cage... only to immediately get Stunned was excellent. You staggered each man's individual elimination in a way that felt natural. It gave each Un-American a "moment", and made Austin look unbelievably bad ass taking out this faction in a totally believable way. The swings in momentum in the closing stretch hit the spot. The Walls of Jericho struggle was good for creating doubt... and then finally the "RKO outta nowhere" style Stone Cold Stunner! I've only been back in the mix of reading and writing in a Be The Booker forum for a few months, and this might be my favorite match I've read. Now, Stone Cold Steve Austin is the Undisputed WWF Champion. It's 23 years too late... but we FINALLY got the RIGHT result to end this pay-per-view. Like with the nWo, I'm very happy to see you take a different route for the Undisputed Championship going into WrestleMania. Stone Cold as champion vs Triple H as returning challenger was big money left on the table irl. With their shared history just a year prior as hated rivals turned dominating heel partners... this matchup is brimming with story potential. Are we seeing the true version of either man? Is someone going to turn? Is Austin a transitional champion or will he thwart The Game's storybook return? This ONE match being announced for WrestleMania X8 is enough to keep me coming back to this thread. The match graphic with Austin and Triple H and the WrestleMania X8 logo got me HYPED! I hope you're able to reach that show and deliver the main event you envision.

Overall, awesome pay-per-view. Your writing style is an easy read, and gives the type of detail I personally enjoy, as visualizing matches and moments really helps me get into a Be The Booker project and become invested. I know that writing out full shows isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely mine. No Way Out as a "B" PPV effectively did the job of building my excitement for WrestleMania.

Thank you for the review! Glad you enjoyed the show, and I will refrain from yellow text moving forward lol