DaveKOTW
-
Posts
485 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Store
Posts posted by DaveKOTW
-
-
UNSTOPPABLE?
Smackdown - March 14, 2002
The Final Smackdown before the WWF Roster Split emerged from Charlotte, North Carolina and was filled with high expectation as fans packed into the arena to see their favourite WWF Superstars. Smackdown kicked off with the man who, at WrestleMania, took Vince McMahon to hell back, the Co-Owner of the World Wrestling Federation Jerry Lawler to a huge response from the fans. Lawler thanked the fans for the support and said that he felt honoured to have such a great response from all the fans here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry Lawler said that while he, like Charlotte’s own Ric Flair, likes nothing more than to have a good time, the reason that he is here right now is for business purposes only. Lawler reminds the fans that in just four days time, the WWF is undergo a change like it never has before when the WWF roster is split into two distinctive brands; one is RAW and the other is Smackdown. Lawler said that the rules concerning the roster split are very simple – each co-owner has a brand; Lawler said that he will take the helm of Monday Night RAW while Vince McMahon will take the helm of Smackdown! The crowd were not happy that Vince McMahon will be running things on Smackdown and booed heavily when Lawler mentioned that he was on RAW. Nevertheless Jerry Lawler continued to explain the rules behind the draft – He said that on RAW next Monday Night, RAW and Smackdown would each get 10 picks from the roster and each pick will be made alternatively. Lawler explained to the fans that as he won at WrestleMania, this would also mean that he would get to make the first pick from the WWF roster and he guaranteed that his choice would turn people’s heads. Lawler continued to explain that after each brand had made their 10 picks; the remainder of the WWF roster would then be randomly drawn into Raw and Smackdown meaning that anyone who is teamed together, with the exception of the WWF Tag Champions, could find themselves split up. The King said that he felt whatever happened this coming Monday, RAW was going to be groundbreaking and on a fool would miss it. Lawler reminded that wrestlers in the back that as this roster split was going to open up more opportunities than they could ever dream of, each and every Superstar on display tonight put on their very best performance because this match could dictate the future of your career here in the WWF. The WWF Roster Split is Live on WWF Raw, next week on TNN!
We return from a commercial break with Donovan Clark and Randy Orton who earlier in the week, made impressive in ring debuts on Raw by getting a pin fall victory on the high flying Hardy Boyz. Michael Cole praised the talent of these two young superstars as being amazingly gifted wrestlers who have the potential to make it big here in the WWF as long as they keep their egos in check and Tazz agrees 100%. Tonight, Clark and Orton took on the team of Val Venis and Hardcore Holly, two veterans of the WWF who certainly know how to get things done in the ring. Randy Orton and Holly kicked things off at the start of the match and Orton immediately tried to mock Holly with his fast pace and his sound amateur wrestling knowledge. Hardcore Holly quickly took a huge exception to this and as soon as he got his opportunity, hit Orton with some really stiff shots much to the delight of the fans. Clark and Orton used the tag well and smartly isolated Hardcore Holly from his opponent for much of the match after they identified Holly’s right leg as a particularly weak spot following a hard chop block to the back of the knee by Clark. Orton seemed to be particular vicious against Holly obviously taking exception to Holly’s stiff shots earlier in the match wrapping Holly’s leg several times around one of the ring posts much to the dismay of Holly’s partner. Holly desperately needed to make the tag out but Orton and Clark held him back until Holly managed to free himself with a boot and brought Val Venis into the match, Venis taking the fight right to his opponents. Venis hit Donovan Clark with a Spinebuster setting him for the Money Shot but much like what happened to Matt Hardy earlier in the week, Orton attacked Val while he was on the top turnbuckle sending him back down to the mat allowing Donovan Clark to get an advantage and hit Val Venis with the Swinging Reverse DDT for the win. Clark and Orton are now 2-0 here in the WWF!
We cut backstage to Diamond Dallas Page who is yelling at one of the clothes designers for apparently taking too long with his new tights – Page felt that the backstage staff here in the WWF had a bias to Jerry Lawler and it made him angry. Chris Jericho walked in on the commotion and told DDP that it didn’t might what his ring attire was because he’d still suck as a Wrestler but then again, Page would know all about sucking since he was Vince McMahon’s personal bitch. DDP told Jericho that was rich coming from a guy whose single greatest achievement was holding the WCW Title for a 15 long days. Jericho laughed at Page’s insult and commented that since it was such a “disgrace” losing to someone like The Rock, he wondered what it would have been like to a lose the WCW title to someone like…David Arquette! The crowd laughed that one up I’ll tell ya! Page said that Jericho was a funny guy…real funny – so much so that it would be a shame if someone kicked his pretty little head in and a scuffle commenced. Road Agents quickly came to the scene to pull both wrestlers apart. Page was bleeding from the lip and the crowd were cheering like crazy back in the arena. As Page was being pulled backwards, Page challenged Jericho to a match later tonight and Jericho accepted instantly. That is going to be a slobberknocker!
Up Next was Raven who was scheduled to face RVD later that night and it looked like he had something to say. Raven told the crowd that people had been asking all this week about why he attacked Mr Perfect last Monday Night on Raw and Raven said it was now time to set the record straight. Raven said that it was obviously to anyone that knew him know that he doesn’t exactly play with a full deck of cards and Raven said that was down to his past – his childhood even. Raven said back in those days, people used to look at him like he was a freak; like he was trash and the only reasons he was treated like that was because he was different….because he didn’t want to be a jock. Raven said that he was beaten up, berated, abused and it left him scarred and depressed wanting nothing more than to end it all there and then simply because of guys like that. Raven said that Mr Perfect is no different from any of the guys that he knew back in those days; a man consumed by his own ego that he fails to realise that he is not perfect and Raven promises to make him see this reality. Raven swears that when this is all said and done and Mr Perfect is lying in a pool of his own blood wondering where it all went wrong, the last person who will see is him. Strong words from Raven! His Match vs. RVD is next!
Following a short commercial break we returned to the ring as Rob Van Dam made his way to the ring, to a standing ovation from the crowd, for his match with Raven. Michael Cole reminds us that RVD was involved in the Fatal Four Way Hardcore Match at WrestleMania 4 nights ago and Van Dam still looks like he’s carrying some sort of minor injury from his match. Nevertheless, Rob Van Dam dominated Raven in the early goings of the match who had found it difficult to counter any of Van Dam’s unique style of attack. The match didn’t take long to get taken to the outside and Van Dam tried decided to bump up the risk. Unfortunately for Van Dam, his risk moves didn’t pay as he failed to connect with a diving leg drop from the top turnbuckle to the outside Raven getting out of harms way just in the nick of time. Raven took RVD back to the ring and tried to wear him down with a sleeper hold but the fans got behind right Mr Thursday Night which gave him a second wind. Van Dam mounted a huge offensive hitting using his quick feet well before hitting Raven with the Rolling Thunder. Unfortunately for Van Dam, tonight wasn’t going to be his night as Raven got the knees up with RVD attempted the 5 Star Frog Splash before planting him with The Raven Effect. What a message Raven has sent to Mr Perfect here tonight!
The show then cut to the announce table and Michael Cole announced that coming up after the break is the handicap match requested by Shawn Michaels against The Dudley Boyz, the team that he faced just four nights ago at WrestleMania. However, next up for the fans was a Triple H injury update and Michael Cole couldn’t emphasise enough how much of a blow this was for the WWF. Tazz said that he couldn’t believe Triple H was out again for another 8 months after only just returning to action following a horrendous quad injury and both me and Michael Cole hope that he returns to action as soon as possible Get well soon Triple H!
The Triple H Injury Update Featured Stephanie McMahon, Triple H and his surgeon. Triple H mentioned that the injury he sustained is essentially the same injury that put Chris Benoit out of action in June 2001 and that his surgery was to repair a ruptured disc that had fractured into his spinal column. His surgeon said that the Game would effectively not be able to return to a WWF ring for at least 8 months but he is sure that with Triple H’s motivation that when he returns to the ring, he’ll be back to his best. Both Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were very emotional and The Game said that being out of action again with another long term injury was such a huge disappointment and he still feels in a state of shock. Triple H however said that he guaranteed that the Game is Not Over and fans can rest assured that when he returns, he will still be that damn good!
After the commercial break we headed back to the ring for the highly anticipated handicap match between the WWF Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boyz and the Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels. HBK came to the ring in full Heart Break Kid get up coming down to his “Sexy Boy” theme tune rather than doing the DX entrance and Michael Cole informed the fans that this was Shawn Michaels first ever match here on Smackdown. Michaels started the match off at an electric pace trying to take the match to both of the Dudley Boyz but the numbers game quickly turned in the favour of the Dudleyz who with good team work were able to slow down their eager challenger. Bubba Ray seemed the man most eager to make a last impression really delivering stiff moves to HBK and nearly got the win with the Bubba bomb midway through the match. The Dudleyz tagged smartly together keeping the match tight and would without a doubt feel aggrieved by the end result. While double teaming Michaels, Bubba sent the Heart Break Kid into the ropes and had every intention of hitting the 3D but Michaels held onto the ropes before planting Bubba with the Sweet Chin Music and clearing D-Von from the ring with a clothesline. With a roar from the crowd, HBK went up to the top rope and planted Bubba Ray with his trademark diving elbow drop for the win. HBK has done it and the crowd got to their feet and applauded the effort of the Showstopper!
We then cut backstage to The Rock who was standing with Jonathan Coachman. The Rock said that last week on Raw was nothing short of a travesty; he said that he had, out of the goodness of his own heart, given The Undertaker and that big red retard Kane a chance to have a shot at the WWF Championship and then, to show his gratitude, The Undertaker attacks him while on commentary. The Rock said that his actions last week on Raw were strictly acts of self defence and he got further punished by Kane because of it. The Rock moaned that if that wasn’t enough, The Rock had been further punished by being put in a Non-Title Match against Kane right here on Smackdown by Jerry Lawler. The Rock said that he hopes come the Roster Split on Monday Night, The Rock just gets placed on the better brand…Vince’s brand. Do you smell What the Rock is cooking?
Further backstage, we are shown Chris Jericho and Diamond Dallas Page both making their way to the ring. Diamond Dallas Page vs. Chris Jericho is NEXT!
When the show returned from the commercial break, we went straight to the ring for the Jericho/DDP match. As the two Superstars came to the ring, Michael Cole and Tazz discussed Chris Jericho’s return to action at WrestleMania and the impact that his interference has had on the company. Tazz likened Jericho’s return to the WWF on par to the Alliance invasion last year as being totally off the hook and confessed that he could not wait for this match up tonight. Jericho and Page did not disappoint anyone in the arena tonight as both men delivered an all out performance in front of this sold out arena here in Charlotte North Carolina. Jericho had kicked the match off with a huge burst of enthusiasm taking the fight to DDP mixing up some decent aerial moves with some loud back hand chops. But DDP was no rookie in the ring and he slowly began to turn the tie nearly taking the win with a huge belly to back mat slam. Page was hated here in Charlotte, North Carolina and he teased the fans well calling Jericho before hitting moves and there was about 4 occasions where the fans actually thought Jericho may not be able to come back. Page’s cocky streak finally got the better of him and despite hitting Jericho with the diamond cutter, refused to take the win on that pin and decided to go for a second, this time Jericho countering the move sending Page flying into the ropes before rolling up DDP into the Walls of Jericho, DDP tapping after his attempt to reach the bottom rope failed. The crowd were wild for Jericho here tonight and Jericho looked delighted to be back on the good side of the fans really working the crowd after the bell went. Welcome home Chris! Welcome home!
We are next informed that “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry is returning to the World Wrestling Federation soon and “Somebody’s Gonna Get It!”
We cut back to the ring and Michael Cole informs it’s time for the Main Event between Kane and The Rock. Kane and Paul Heyman came to the ring first and Kane looked ready to compete when…
….”Rollin” by Limp Bizkit blasted out of the PA system and the crowd roar as The Undertaker made his way to the ring. The Dead Man looked to be a in a foul mood as hoe grabbed hold of a mic and pulled no punches in letting Kane and Heyman know how he felt. The Undertaker said that while he is aware that both Kane and The Rock obviously have some unfinished business, he has some unfinished business of his own and whether Kane liked it or not, The Undertaker was taking his place in the match tonight. Kane looked like he was going to advance on Taker but Heyman halted any further action from taking place and accepted The Undertaker’s demands much to the surprise to both the crowd and the announce team. It’s going to be The Undertaker vs. The Rock after the break!
When we returned from the final commercial break to find Paul Heyman and Kane lingering on the outside of the ring while The Undertaker waited patiently for The Rock to make his entrance - when the WWF Champ finally did arrive, the crowd did not treat him kindly. The Rock did not look happy about facing The Undertaker here tonight and when the bell rang, he kept breaking out of the opening grapple complaining that his arms were sweaty or that the grapple wasn’t locked in fairly. The Undertaker finally snapped and pounced on the WWF Champ beating the living daylights out the him in the opening quarter of them match with one hell of a load of right hands. While The Undertaker was looking impressive it was obvious to the onlooker that The Undertaker looked more intent on hurting the WWF Champion rather than beating him walking a fine line in particular when The Undertaker took The Rock to the outside using the steel steps especially well. When The Undertaker brought The Rock back to the ring, the WWF Champion desperately tried to find a way out of the Dead Man’s clutches fighting with all the fists he could must but The Undertaker was unable to take down, Taker instead levelling The Rock with a big boot to the face. The Rock’s day looked to have gone from bad to worse when The Undertaker hit him with the chokeslam but The Rock somehow managed to get the shoulder up much to the surprise of the WWF fans. The Undertaker didn’t take long to collect his thoughts and tried to end the match with the Last Ride but The Rock smartly countered the Last Ride, just like he did at WrestleMania, reversing the move into a big DDT buying The Rock some valuable time. Heyman and Kane continued to chat amongst themselves on the outside while both men tried to get back to their feet and Michael Cole and Tazz wondered why these two still men still remained at ringside. The announcers’ questions would be answered not long after The Rock hit The Undertaker with a huge Spinebuster. The Rock, cocky as ever, went for the People’s Elbow but The Undertaker sat up midway through the manoeuvre and planted The Rock with a second chokeslam. Taker immediately got back to a vertical base and this time connected with the Last Ride but Taker wasn’t able to take the win as Heyman pulled the referee out of the ring. Just when Taker thought things couldn’t get worse, Kane came up from behind and clobbered him from behind with a huge clothesline before planting Taker with a vicious chokeslam. The show ended just like it did on Monday with Kane and Heyman standing tall in the middle of the ring while both the WWF Champion and the Former Number One Contender lay flat on their backs. Can anyone stop the Big Red Monster Kane?
QUICK RESULTS
Donovan Clark and Randy Orton def. Val Venis and Hardcore Holly
Raven def. Rob Van Dam
Shawn Michaels def. the Dudley Boyz
Chris Jericho def. Diamond Dallas Page
The Rock vs. The Undertaker ended in a draw via DQ
-
WALKING ON EGG SHELLS
Smackdown Preview - March 14, 2002
Tonight the World Wrestling Federation rolls into Charlotte, North Carolina just four days removed from WrestleMania.
Smackdown! will open tonight with Co-Owner Jerry The King Lawler making a special announcement to all of the WWF Fans and WWF Superstars regarding the WWF Roster Split that is expected to commence next Monday Night on RAW. You can be sure with the Roster split closing in, everyone in the back will definately be interested in what Lawler has to say here tonight.
For the WWF Champion The Rock, the draft will not be the only thing on his mind as The WWF Champion has become a marked man since he defeated The Undertaker at Wrestlemania four nights ago. Earlier this week on RAW, The Undertaker demanded that the WWF Champion but his title on the line one more time but Taker was not the only man interested in the WWF Gold. Kane, the man who destroyed Stone Cold at WrestleMania in a brutal Last Man Standing Match, also has his eyes firmly fixed on the WWF title. To resolve this conflict, a Number One Contenders Match was made to determine who would challenge The Rock for the WWF Title but the match did not resolve any problems as The Rock got involved in the Match Up, attacking The Undertaker from behind before being chokeslammed to hell by the Big Red Machine Kane. Tonight, The Rock will take on Kane in a Non-Title Match in the Smackdown Main Event and you can be damn sure The Undertaker will be keeping a close eye on these events.
Shawn Michaels will also be in action tonight as he takes on the Dudley Boyz in a handicap match by his own request. Earlier in the week, Shawn Michaels made it perfectly clear that while DX may be over, The Heart Break Kid is still alive and well and that he ain't going anywhere for a hell of a long time. Folks this is one match that you should simply not miss!
Smackdown will also host a match between Rob Van Dam and Raven, who last Monday Night, ran in on the WrestleMania Mania Intercontinental Title Rematch between Shawn Stasiak and Mr Perfect costing Perfect the title. Will Raven explain his actions on Smackdown? Tune in to find out!
-
THE NUMBER ONE CONTENDER
RAW - March 11, 2002
WWF RAW promised to be a spectacular night of Sports Entertainment and it certainly looked like fulfilling its promise as the man who ended the Undertaker’s undefeated streak, the WWF Champion, The Rock made his way to the ring and he certainly looked proud of himself. The Rock grabbed hold of a mic and reminded the fans (in case they forgot) that FINALLY The Rock had come back to the Air Canada Centre here in Toronto. Despite an enormous amount of boos from the crowd The Rock said that at WrestleMania, he proved to the world that he was, without a shadow of a doubt, the very best this business had to offer. The Rock reminded the fans that prior to their match last night, The Undertaker had went nine years, nine long years without a loss at WrestleMania and that last night, The Rock simply brushed the Deadman aside like the bitch that he….
“Rollin” by Limp Bizkit blasted out of the PA system to the delight of the fans and The Undertaker made his down to the ring interrupting the WWF Champion’s ego-fest. The Undertaker quickly grabbed hold of a mic before getting into the ring going toe to toe with the man that beat him less than 24 hours ago. The Undertaker told The Rock that no matter what happened last night at WrestleMania, one thing still remains true and that is that when The Rock comes down that ramp and gets into this ring, The Rock is stepping into The Undertaker’s yard. The Deadman reminded The Rock that he’s been around in this business for a long time and during his tether with this company, he’s been told a lot of things. Taker said that some people call him brave while others call him foolish but The Undertaker said that he’s never backed down from anyone and right now, he wants another shot at that WWF Championship and the crowd go wild. The Rock was evidently unhappy about The Undertaker’s challenge for the title but just as he was about to respond to the Dead man’s challenge, he was interrupted again by…..
….Paul Heyman and Kane who also wanted to have their say! JR reminds the fans that last night at WrestleMania, Kane defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin in a brutal Last Man Standing Match. Heyman and Kane quickly made their way down to the ring joining The Undertaker and The Rock in the ring, neither man particularly happy to see the Big Red Monster in the ring with them. The Rock asked Heyman if he and Kane had got lost because neither he nor The Undertaker has any good on them. The Rock then tried to recommend Heyman a fast food joint in town but Heyman quickly cut in and halted any further insult. Heyman said that the reason he had come down to the ring was to make sure that his hearing wasn’t deceiving him because he could have sworn he just heard The Undertaker demand a rematch for the WWF Championship. Heyman demanded an explanation from The Rock because he believed that if ANYONE was to be the number on contender, then it would be the man who, at WrestleMania, demolished the legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Big Red Monster Kane!
The Rock stood in front of both challengers and looked at back and forth at both competitors as if trying to sum up which of the two would be the better opponent. After some deliberation The Rock slowly moved his mic back with both of his challengers looking ready to go there and then. The Rock said that he admires guts and that both The Undertaker and Kane have shown a lot of guts coming to the ring to challenge him. The Rock also said that The Rock, as the People’s Champion, knows what fans want and The Rock vs. The Undertaker II or The Rock vs. Kane would certainly be big money matches and that he would have no problem fighting either one of them….just not tonight. However….The Rock did have a solution. The Rock said that since both The Undertaker and Kane were desperate to have matches and he was unable to compete because of minor “injuries”, The Rock said that tonight, The Undertaker and Kane can go one on one against each other and whoever wins the match will be granted a shot at his WWF Title. A furious Undertaker grabbed old of The Rock by the throat to a huge pop from the crowd and went for the chokeslam but Kane attacked him from behind causing Taker to release The Rock! As the WWF Champ escaped the ring to the outside, Kane grabbed hold of The Undertaker by the throat and connected with the chokeslam. JR believed that The Rock just dodged a bullet and was lucky to escape that unscathed while Foley felt that whoever The Rock who defend the title against, he would be in serious trouble!
We returned from a short commercial break with the New WWF European Champion William Regal who was making his way to the ring for his first title defence against the “Innovator of Violence” Tommy Dreamer. Jim Ross and Mick Foley both commented on Dreamer’s ECW history, his broken neck and both felt that Dreamer looked in excellent shape here tonight on his return to the squared circle. Dreamer looked like he had a point to prove right through this match up and took it to Regal in the early goings nearly scoring the pin fall following his Dreamer Cutter. Dreamer kept on top of the European Champion and looked to finish him off with the Spicoli Driver but Regal countered and took Dreamer down with a forearm to the back of the head. Regal unleashed his arsenal of suplexes on the Innovator of Violence trying to wear the ECW alumnus down but Dreamer refused to give up kicking out of pin fall attempts on at least three occasions. Regal got frustrated and seemed to feel that it was the referee’s fault that the match wasn’t over. Regal went to the outside and grabbed hold of his title belt and looked like he was going to use it on Dreamer but the referee snatched it away in attempt to keep the match clean. Regal however still had the brass knucks and with the referee out of the way, Regal knocked the lights out of his opponent and stole the win to retain his European Title! Can anyone stop Regal with those brass knucks?
We cut off backstage to see The Hardy Boyz talking about not being part of a WrestleMania in the Men’s Locker Room when two men come into shot with their luggage cutting short their conversation. Matt asks the two guys who they are and the taller of the two quickly identifies the Hardy Boyz. He says his name is Randy Orton and the man standing next to him is Donovan Clark and in case the Hardyz hadn’t heard of them and they were wondering, Clark and Orton are the Future of Tag Team Wrestling. Matt and Jeff however were less then impressed and Matt challenged them to a match later tonight to see if their talent was as remarkable as their egos - Orton accepted. Oh it’s On People!
Further backstage, a dejected Vince McMahon looks at himself in the mirror while DDP, Ron Waterman and X-Pac talk between themselves. Vince said that he couldn’t believe the World Wrestling Federation, his Father’s creation, the company that he has put his life into threatens to be destroyed, split in two by the egomaniacal Jerry Lawler. Vince turns to his henchmen and asks them where they were last night! Vince said he told them to watch his back…that’s what he pays them for! All three try to defend themselves but Vince cuts them off. Vince said that the only way he’s going to deal with this situation is by trying to talk sense into Lawler and that he’s going to go do that now! Vince McMahon is on his way to the ring?
We returned from a commercial break to find Vince McMahon in the middle of the ring, mic in hand. Vince said that last night at WrestleMania…a travesty occurred. Vince said that last night the future of the WWF was stolen and it was stolen by a man that threatens to destroy everything that he has created and that man is Jerry The King Lawler. Vince said that he appreciates now that there isn’t much he can do but before The King makes any rash decisions, he would like him to come out to the ring and a conversation with him face to face.
The King’s music blasts out of the PA system and Jerry Lawler comes out to a huge pop from the fans here in Toronto Canada. Lawler grabs hold of a mic and gets right to the point and wanted to know just exactly what Vince had to say to him? Vince said that last night, the two of them put on one hell of a match and that Vince said that despite all of their differences, while Vince said that he may night like Lawler, Vince said that he did respect him, although the crowd didn’t quite believe it. Vince said that he also knows that Jerry Lawler is a smart man; a man that wouldn’t make rash decisions Vince said that splitting the WWF roster would be a very rash decision. Lawler seemed to ponder Vince’s comments for a second but just as he was about to respond, Vince pulled a check book from out of his pocket. Vince told Lawler that with this in mind, Vince said that that Jerry, as a man who loves the business, should make the right decision and that would be to sell his share of the business back over to Vince and he told Lawler to simply name his price.
Lawler was infuriated by Vince McMahon’s nerves and he let him know straight out. Lawler said that having known Vince for a hell of a long time, he thought he’d never be surprised by Vince’s nerve but Vince had once again out done himself. Lawler said that prior to Vince’s antics, Lawler said that he admittedly questioned his decision to have a roster split but seeing Vince’s actions for what they really are, Lawler promised that Vince had “No Chance in Hell” of changing his mind and the crowd went wild! Vince has blown it! Vince pleaded with Lawler to change his mind and even got on his knees begging him but Lawler didn’t give a damn! Lawler pushed Vince to the ground. Lawler said that remains now is to introduce to you the man who helped Jerry Lawler win that match at WrestleMania and one of the main players in the WWF Draft that will take place next week on RAW, Y2J CHRIS JERICHO! The crowd went ballistic as Jericho’s pyros exploded in the area and Jericho appeared at the top of the ramp way posing for the crowd. Lawler left the ring and met up with Jericho at the top of the ramp way leaving a sickened Vince McMahon still on his knees staring at the two men that have “damaged” his company. It looks like the brand split is taking place Next Monday Night on RAW! What a huge night that will be!
We return from a commercial break to Matt and Jeff Hardy who were standing in the ring. Randy Orton and Donovan Clark came out to the ring to some generic WWF music and looked surprisingly arrogant considering the fact that they are making their WWF debut. Clark and Matt Hardy started off the match and neither man was able to take advantage. Clark tagged in Orton and Orton went to work on Matt scoring a beautiful standing drop kick in the process. Orton brought Clark back into the ring and the two men double teamed mat and so nearly won the match following a double suplex but Jeff broke up the pin just in time. Jeff took Orton out of the game sending him to the outside of the ring with a big clothesline and followed up with the suicide dive leaving Clark and Matt alone in the ring. Clark brought Orton back to his feet and looked for a Fisherman’s Suplex but Matt countered and connected with the Twist of Fate. Matt went up top to finish the match off with a diving leg drop but Orton, who had already taken care of Jeff with the steel steps took care of Matt dropping him neck first onto the ropes. Clark finished the job hitting Matt with a Swinging Reverse DDT to pick up win Clark and Orton shocking everyone by picking up a huge win in their debut match!
We cut backstage to see Shawn Michaels who is talking with Jonathan Coachman. Michaels said that he was a little ticked off because of everything that went down last night at WrestleMania. Michaels said that for a long time, he had been wondering! Could he return to Wrestling? Would the Show Stopper ever Grace the Squared Circle again? HBK said that for a long time, he felt the answer to that question was no BUT then, after all the doubt, all the waiting, his friend, Triple H, came to him and he said “Shawn, it’s time to pick yourself up again and get back into that ring” and last night he did. But things don’t often work out as planned and just when HBK thought DX was back for its second run, Triple H gets taken out of the game with a bad neck injury and looks like he’s going to be out for a heck of a long time and it looks like DX is regrettably over, cut down its prime. So does this mean HBK is going to step back into retirement? HELL NO! HBK said that as far he was concerned, he was going nowhere and he wants a match, this Thursday on Smackdown against both of the Dudley Boyz in a handicap match. Is Michaels Crazy?
After a commercial break, we are treated to our first WrestleMania Rematch between the WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Stasiak and Mr Perfect. JR said that last night at Mania, Mr Perfect put up one hell of a fight against the Intercontinental Champion and was unlucky to lose the match, an opinion echoed by Mick Foley. Foley believed however that Stasiak was one sly customer who evidently had a lot of in ring smarts and used them to perfection at Mania. Both men exchanged hard shots and suplexes not uncommon in this match with both men trying to improve on their Mania Match Up. Stasiak set up Perfect for the reverse DDT but Perfect countered the move only to get hit with his very own Perfect-Plex, Stasiak nearly taking the three with that move! Stasiak set Mr Perfect for the Death Valley Driver to end the match right there and then but Perfect managed to counter the move accidentally sending Stasiak into the referee in the process. Mr Perfect planted a disorientated Stasiak with the Perfect-Plex but there was no referee! Perfect broke the pin attempt and went to the aid of referee consequently not spotting RAVEN come through the crowd. Raven slid into the ring and planted Mr Perfect with the Raven Effect before ditching the ring allowing Stasiak to make the cover and pick up the three! Why the hell is Raven here?
Up next was more singles action pitting Hugh Morrus, accompanied by the WWF Women’s Champion Daffney Unger against Bradshaw. Hugh Morrus had played a huge role last night in Daffney Unger’s Title Match against Trish Stratus his attack effectively costing Trish the Women’s Title. As Bradshaw and Morrus got under way, JR was quick to mention that Hugh Morrus sickened him for his actions last night at WrestleMania and he didn’t know how any man could lay their hands on a woman. Mick agreed with JR but told him to look at it from Hugh’s point of view…after all, you can be sure he hasn’t got his hands on many women in his life time…look at Daffney! Morrus and Bradshaw exchanged fierce punches in this match up with Morrus and Bradshaw both showing their large arsenal of slams in the process. Morrus went up top looking looking for a double axehandle shot but Bradshaw saw the danger and forced him to land in a precarious position. Bradshaw then planted Morrus with a huge fallaway slam from the top rope taking complete control of the match in the process. Bradshaw signalled for the clothesline from hell causing Daffney Unger to climb onto the apron in an attempt to cause a distraction. But as soon as Daffney shouted at the referee,Trish Stratus came to the rescue taking Unger off the apron and scuffle commenced on the outside. Morrus tried to take advantage of the distraction and failed to connect with the clothesline but Bradshaw didn’t connecting with the clothesline from hell and taking the match thanks to an unlikely assist from the former Women’s Champion. It looks like Trish and Daffney is far from over!
We cut backstage to see Kane and Heyman making their way to the ring as is The Undertaker. Kane vs. The Undertaker is NEXT!
When we returned from the final commercial break of the night, it was time for the Main Event Match and this bout is for a shot at the WWF title. Before the competitors came down to the ring, the announce team was joined by none other than the WWF Champion The Rock who looked much less jovial then earlier in the night, his mood obviously affected by the challenges for his title. Nevertheless, as Kane and The Undertaker made their entrances, JR and Mick Foley speculated on which of these too behemoths would win the match and take on The Rock, the Champ insisting he didn’t care who it was! JR assured us that this match would indeed be a slobberknocker! Neither competitor needed to be pushed to kick this match off and both men exchanged stiff hard shots in the early goings each punch easily knocking out a lesser man. Control was exchanged often with The Undertaker one moment beating Kane senseless in the corner of the ring to a minute later Kane dropping The Undertaker to the ground with a big a boot to the face. As the match grew on, Kane started to take a more dominant role planting The Undertaker with a sidewalk slam before connecting with his trademark flying clothesline, Heyman literally dancing on the outside at the dominance from the Big Red Monster. Kane went for the chokeslam but The Undertaker quickly countered and sent Kane and himself to the outside where the two of them continued to trade punches. When the two competitors came over to the announce table area, The WWF Champ became very vocal mouthing off to both competitors but neither paid much attention and continued to focus at the job in hand. The Rock however was destined to play a role in this match and did so after Kane countered an Irish Whip attempt by The Undertaker sending The Dead Man up and over the announce table right into the announces and the Champ knocking him down. The Undertaker and Kane took the match back to the ring where they continued the fight exchanging more blows to the head. After about 5 shots each, Kane’s looked to have finally done enough damage with The Undertaker swaying but Kane missed the clothesline follow up and The Undertaker somehow managed to connect with a chokeslam, Heyman squealing like a pig. In the background there was some commotion and within the blink of an eye, The Rock appeared in the ring attacking The Undertaker from behind with a steel chair causing the match to end by disqualification but The Rock didn’t care – he looked smug. But The Rock’s smile was soon wiped of his face as he realised what stood behind him. The Rock slowly turned around praying it wasn’t who he thought it was but it was and by God Kane was mad and he chokeslammed The Rock straight to hell! Kane stood tall in the ring staring down at the lifeless bodies of The Rock and The Undertaker setting off his pyros as the show came to a close. Who is the Number #1 Contender?
QUICK RESULTS
William Regal def. Tommy Dreamer to retain the WWF European Championship
Randy Orton and Donovan Clark def. The Hardy Boyz
Shawn Stasiak def. Mr Perfect to retain the WWF Intercontinental Championship
Bradshaw def. Hugh Morrus
The Undertaker def. Kane by DQ
-
A NEW ERA?
RAW Preview - March 11, 2002
Tonight, RAW rolls into the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, one night after the Showcase of the Immortals, WrestleMania and it promises to be a spectacular night of Sports Entertainment.
RAW will kick off tonight with WWF Champion The Rock who will certainly have plenty to say following his historic victory against The Undertaker in the WrestleMania Main Event. Will The Undertaker make an appearance and how will the Deadman react to his 9 year undefeated streak coming to an end at WrestleMania 18.
Another man who promises to show his face tonight is none other than Co-Owner Jerry Lawler who last night at WrestleMania, was victorious in the Battle of the Bosses match against Vince McMahon via an unlikely assist from Y2J Chris Jericho who shocked the wrestling world when he appeared through the crowd and hit Vince McMahon with the Lionsault. Lawler winning at WrestleMania will undoubtedly cause heads turn as he now plans to split the WWF into two brands, RAW and Smackdown with each show having their own roster. When will this draft begin and which brand will Lawler assign himself to?
Tonight, RAW hosts the first WrestleMania rematch and it's between Shawn Stasiak and Mr Perfect for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Last night, Mr Perfect was cheated out of the Intercontinental Title when Stasiak used the ropes as leverage to pin Perfect and retain the title. Shawn Stasiak has without a doubt been playing with fire over the past few months and one has to wonder if Stasiak's luck will run out tonight?
The newly crowed WWF European Champion William Regal will also be in action tonight as Regal takes on the returning Tommy Dreamer for the European Title. Regal cheated his way into winning the European Title last night at WrestleMania by attacking Rikishi with the brass knucks while the referee was down before pretending that he made his opponent pass out with the STF. Can Dreamer make a huge upset tonight on will Regal use the same underhanded tactics that helped him win the title to retain it tonight?
Find out this and more on Raw, Monday night at 9/8 CT on TNN
-
OFF-AIR NOTES FROM WRESTLEMANIA 18
The backstage feeling of WrestleMania was that this years product, while successful, was not as good as some of the previous years and was thought to be a little bit of a disappointment. The highest rated match of the night was in fact the Last Man Standing Match between Kane and Stone Cold and both Superstars were reported satisifed with the outcome. Many were concerned previously that if Stone Cold be booked to lose, he would not take it well considering it was at WrestleMania but Austin seems to have little to no problems with the outcome. It is currently unknown if Stone Cold will return to the WWF ring immediately after WrestleMania or whether he will spend some time away to sell the beating he took from Kane.
Two matches that certainly brought up questions last night was the Intercontinental Championship Match between Shawn Stasiak and Mr Perfect and the Main Event between The Rock and The Undertaker. Many didn't understand why the Intercontinental Championship Match between Shawn Stasiak and Mr Perfect opened the show and while some thought that there was the possibility that Perfect was going to win the match, sources backstage said that the reason the match opened was because of the WWF do not feel that Perfect's attitude backstage is one worthy to be a champion. A more shocking reverlation however comes from the Main Event Match between The Rock and The Undertaker. Many fans and Superstars in the company believed that with the way the booking was going, The Undertaker was a dead certainty to become the WWF Champion although this never actually materialised. A reliable source within the WWF has recently leaked information that there have been increasingly strained ties between the top guys in the World Wrestling Federation and The Undertaker ever since The Undertaker refused to put Test over at No Way Out and the WrestleMania Result was thought to reflect this. The Undertaker is now thought to be in even more trouble after he no sold many moves in the Main Event match ruining a possibly decently Match. More to follow as we get news...
-
WWF WrestleMania X8Live From Toronto, Ontario, Canada
March 10th, 2002
WrestleMania X8 kicks off with the world renowned Harlem Boys Choir who perform "America the Beautiful" for the crowd. We then go into a video packstage looking back at previous WrestleMania moments - The Undertaker said he's favorite WrestleMania moment was when he captured the WWF Championship at WrestleMania 13 while The Rock said his favorite WrestleMania moment will be when he hits the Rockbottom on The Undertaker to retain the WWF Championship at WrestleMania tonight. Either way, WrestleMania X8 is where it is all happening so buckle your seat belts folks! Here we are at WRESTLEMANIA!
We head back to the arena to a huge array of fireworks as we are joined by Jim Ross and Tazz for a huge night of wrestling and JR and Tazz are glad that we could join them.
Match #1 WWF Intercontinental Championship Match
Shawn Stasiak © vs. Mr Perfect
Shawn Stasiak is the first wrestler to step foot into the Toronto arena for WrestleMania X8 and a large amount of heat from the crowd. Stasiak works the crowd raising his title in the ring before handing it over to the referee who looks suprisingly more nervous than Stasiak. Mr Perfect comes out to a huge respose from the crowd and even gets some new added pyros for his entrance - this is without a doubt the biggest match Mr Perfect has had since he returned to the WWF in January. Perfect and Stasiak lock in the middle of the ring and Stasiak sends Perfect to the corner of the ring. Stasiak tries to lash out with some back hand chops but Perfect turns it around and gives him exactly the same except these ones are perfect. Mr Perfect heads up top and takes Stasiak down with a double axehandle but only gets the two on the cover. Mr Perfect grabs Stasiak and sends him into the ropes before hitting him with a running knee lift. Perfect tries to hit Stasiak with a belly to back suplex but Stasiak counters with elbows and hits Perfect with a big vertical suplex with a bridge and Perfect kicks out.
Stasiak grabs hold of Perfect and attempts to go for the Death Valley Driver but Mr Perfect counters the move and sends Stasiak over the top rope with a clothesline. Perfect follows Stasiak to the outside and both men trade some hard punches before Stasiak breaks up the brawl with a knee to the gut. Stasiak whips Mr Perfect hard into the step steps the impact capable of shattering both his knee caps. Stasiak shows little mercy towards Perfect with a boot to the face. Stasiak sends Perfect back into the ring and goes for the cover but Mr Perfect gets the shoulder up. Stasiak in shock, tries the cover again but Mr Perfect kicks out on the one and Stasiak batters Perfect with forearms. Stasiak decides to take it to the top rope and hits Perfect with the drop kick but it's not good enough to take the three and Stasiak looks like he's about to cry.
Stasiak grabs hold of Perfect by the legs and locks him in the figure four submission move. Stasiak grabs hold of the ropes for additional support and the crowd hammer Stasiak for it. Perfect turns the move around and Stasiak's face turns from smug to intense as the pain writhes through his body and Stasiak quickly hobbles over to the ropes to break up the hold. Perfect hobbles to his feet and takes Stasiak down with some hard chops before hitting him with a DDT. Perfect drops to the mat and goes for the cover but Stasiak kicks out just before the three. Perfect grabs hold of Stasiak and hits him with some more hard shots before sending him with a hard whip into the turnbuckle. Stasiak comes back and gets hit with a huge drop kick. Mr Perfect hits the rolling snap on Stasiak. Mr Perfect heads up top and goes for a missile drop kick on Stasiak but Stasiak dodges the attack and hits Mr Perfect with the Perfect-Plex but Mr Perfect kicks out of the bridge. Stasiak gets back to his feet and tries to hit Perfect with a belly to back suplex but Perfect counters and gets behind Stasiak, but Stasiak uses his elbows to break out and goes for the roll up and using the bottom ropes for leverage, gets the three and retains the Intercontinental Title.
Winner - Shawn Stasiak - Still WWF Interconinental Champion
Vince McMahon and Diamond Dallas Page came out of their limosine in the parking lot and Vince McMahon hypes his match later tonight with Jerry Lawler. Page asked Vince if he felt he was ready for the match tonight and Vince said that he felt as if he was in the best shape of his life. Vince said that tonight, the King of Memphis, Jerry Lawler, was going to be sent packing by the "King of the WWF" Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
Back in the arena, Howard Finkel announces that the next match is the Fatal Four Way Match for the WWF Hardcore Title which is scheduled for One Fall. The Fink kindly reminds us that in this match, anything goes.
Match #2 WWF Hardcore Championship Fatal Four Way Match
Key © vs. Edge vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam
Edge was the first man to make his way to the ring to a huge pop from the WWF crowd who are out in force tonight to support their native Canadian. Edge soaks in the support from the crowd climbing up the turnbuckle and pointing to the crowd and the crowd ate it up. Angle on the other hand, being an Olympic Gold Medallist winner for the United States, was far less popular and got the biggest heat so far for any wrestler. As soon as Angle got to ringside, he immediately made a b-line for Edge but he didn't take it any further despite pleas from Edge. Van Dam was next out and he also got a good crowd response, Van Dam's pyro's deafening in the arena. Finally Key came out to the ring with his Manager Charles Wright but Wright's part in the night was short after the referee demanded that he leave ring side. Key was not happy with the referee's decision but before he got chance to really complain, the brawling commenced and the match was under way.
Key paired up with Edge and Rob Van Dam paired with Kurt Angle at the start of the match, both pairings quickly taking the fight to the outside of the ring. Key takes advantage of the objects around him bouncing Edge's head into anything he could find. Key hits Edge with a flapjack driving Edge's face into the mat before getting on top of him and filling his face full of right hands. Angle hits Rob Van Dam with a german suplex on the other side of the ring. Angle whips Rob Van Dam into the steel steps with huge force Van Dam having no chance to but to connect with the steps and Van Dam looked in pain. Angle brought Van Dam back to the ring and made the cover but Van Dam kicked out on 1. Angle grabs hold of Van Dam and whips him into the corner but Van Dam jumps up top before planting Angle with a drop kick. Key returns to the ring and plants Rob Van Dam with a full nelson slam before making the cover but Angle breaks up the count on the two. Key and Angle get back to their feet and trade punches. Key takes advantage with a kick to the gut before chucking Angle outside of the ring on to Edge both men landing hard. Key gets hit with a drop kick from Van Dam who then gets out of the ring and goes underneath it. Van Dam brings out a ladder! RVD lifts that ladder and places it on the apron but Key baseball slides the ladder into the face of Mr PPV.
Key follows RVD out of the ring and grabs hold of the ladder before using it as a battle ram into the head of Rob Van Dam. Key throws the ladder on top of RVD before climbing onto the apron and signalling to the fans. Key hits a diving leg drop off the apron onto the ladder with Van Dam under it!! Key looks in just as much pain as Van Dam! As Key gets back to his feet, Key gets planted with a stiff clothesline from Angle who appeared out of no where. Angle smashes Key's head against the announce table before going over to the time keeper and grabbing hold of the bell and smashes that right into the face of Key. Key is busted open. Angle quickly sends Key back into the ring and hooks the leg but Key kicks out on the two and Angle isn't happy - he thought he had the match won! Angle gets back to his feet and gets hit with a drop kick from Edge who goes for a cover on Angle and just get the 2. Edge gets back up and goes into the corner and connects with the Spear on Kurt and the crowd go wild. Edge hooks the leg of the Olympic Gold Medallist.......1............2........thr.......Key breaks up the count. Edge and Key both get back to their feet and trade some more punches but Key takes advantage and plants Edge with a big backbreaker. Van Dam slides back into the ring with a chair in hand and takes out both Edge and Key. Van Dam turns around and sees Angle proping himself up the corner and hits Angle with the Van Terminator. RVD covers Angle but Key manages to pull him off the Olympic Gold Medallist.
Key plants RVD with a powerbomb before being jumped from behind by Edge. Key and Edge square off once more and trade a bunch more punches. Edge takes advantage with a kick to the midsection but Key reverses a whip attempt and takes Edge down with a huge clothesline but he only can get the 2. Key takes Edge to one of the corners and beats him down with first fits and then throws the boot in for good measure. Key knows that he is the man leading this battle and he taunts the crowd full of arrogance here tonight. Key goes back for Angle and tries to send him back down but Angle blocks his punches and these two brawl. Angle pulls of a huge triplet of german suplexes on Key and Key looks god dead and burried. Angle gets back to his feet and gets hit with a Spear by Edge. Edge tries to go for the cover but Rob Van Dam lands a leg drop on the pin and breaks it up before it even reaches the two. Van Dam quickly takes Edge out of the picture throwing him to the outside before laying some boots to the moving Angle. Van Dam screws up and misses the buckle on his way up top but eventually gets to the top but so is Angle who burst into life and brings Rob Van Dam with a huge arm drag of the top rope. Angle jumps up and down in the middle of the ring to make his point and hits RVD with a huge Angle Slam and makes the cover but somehow Rob Van Dam kicks out just before the three. Angle holds his hands on his head in disbelief as this match still goes on.
Angle shouts at the referee while dropping his straps and quickly locks in the Angle lock. Angle is furious. Rob Van Dam looks in serious trouble and he crawls across the floor in need of the bottom rope. Van Dam makes it to one of the ropes but Angle cruelly pulls him back and the crowd are red hot. Van Dam looks like he may tap. Key hits Angle with the steel chair that Van Dam brought into the ring earlier and Angle collapses like a tonne of bricks, Key inevitably saving Van Dam from having to tap out just as he was about to. Key throws the chair to the ground and grabs hold of Van Dam. What is Key going to do? Key takes RVD and plants him with the Face Eraser right onto the steel chair, Key quickly making the cover and getting the 1,2,3 for the Win. Key retains the WWF Hardcore Championship.
Winner - Key - still WWF Hardcore Champion
We go backstage once more and we see Jerry Lawler chatting away with Stone Cold Steve Austin. Lawler still looks in a bad condition following the beating he recieved on Smackdown on Thursday but he will fight tonight - that is for certain. While we don't hear what is going on, Austin and Lawler do seem to be having a very heated conversation.
We then go to Michael Cole who is somewhere else backstage with the WWF Womens Champion, Trish who is moments away from defending her title belt against the number one contender, Daffney Unger. Cole asks Trish how she feels about defending her WWF Womens title on the grandest stage of them all in her homeland and Trish says sthat she is real excited. Trish said that it's one thing being Womens Champion, but there is another thing being at WrestleMania and even more so when its in your home town. But, with all that in mind, Trish said that her priority tonight is to retain this title and she knows she's up against possibly her biggest challenge yet but she knows deep in her heart of hearts, she can do this. Trish makes one finally rally for the crowd thanking them for their support and she gets a big pop. Trish vs. Daffney is next!
Match #3 WWF Womens Championship
Trish Stratus © vs. Daffney Unger
Daffney Unger makes his way to the ring to a chorus of boos from the Canadian audience here tonight, the crowd really backing their Canadian counterpart here tonight. Daffney looked very focused as she made her way to the ring and she signalled to the crowd her intent and that was to win the Womens Title here tonight. Trish finally came out to a huge pop from the crowd - one can sure that the WWF fans are certainly getting their stratusfaction tonight and they are not scared of showing it here in Toronto. Daffney and Trish go toe to toe as soon as Trish enters the ring and the referee has to snatch the title out of the hands of the Womens Champion. Both women trade words before Daffney makes the first move with a huge kick to the gut getting a big response from the crowd; the fans don't like their home town girl getting kicked like that. Daffney started the match off with some big fists to Trish but her whip failed her, Trish coming back with a big clothesline getting the crowd going. Trish sent Daffney into the corner of the ring and went for the follow up but Daffney sent her backward with a boot before throwing Trish with force into the turnbuckle. Daffney went beserk in the corner kicking and punching Trish with hard blows, so much so that the referee had to pull her back but Daffney went back for more only for Trish to counter and do the same to her.
Trish pulled Daffney out of the corner and hit her with some huge back hand chops, then hitting her with a DDT and getting a 2 from the cover. Trish quickly got back up to her feet and folowed up with a bulldog on Daffney but that also wasn't good enough for the pin either. Trish got Daffney back up to her feet and went for another whip into the corner but Daffney countered sending Trish into the turnbuckle before hitting her with a huge hurricanranna. Daffney quickly grabbed Trish back to her feet sending her straight into the ropes and planted her with with a tilt o' whirl backbreaker that should have got the pin but Trish somehow managed to kick out from. Daffney got back to her feet and stomped down on Trish, Daffney looking in total control here. Daffney turned Trish so she faced chest up before climbing up top and taunted the crowd and the crowd gave her a mouthful in return. Daffney tried for the moonsault but Trish smartly got the knees causing Unger to crash land causing her substantial pain and giving Trish some rest time.
The crowd got behind their home town girl and she started to show signs of life around the 6 count, Daffney quickly followed suit. Both women traded hard chops but Trish had the harder shot and landed Daffney with an atomic drop. Trish followed up with a Spinebuster on Unger. Trish raised her hand to the crowd grabbing hold of Daffney and went for the Stratusfaction but Unger smartly countered the move throwing Trish to the floor before planting her with a drop kick Trish accidently taking the referee down with her. Daffney tried to follow up with a clothesline but Trish ducked before hitting Daffney with a neckbreaker. Trish quickly followed with a bulldog and hooked the leg of Unger but there was no ref. Trish had the match won! Trish lifts Daffney back up to her feet and points for the crowd but as she goes for the Stratusfaction, Hugh Morrus appears out of nowhere cracking Trish across the temple with a huge fist sending Trish down. Daffney quickly takes advantage and plants Trish with the Jumping DDT before hooking the leg and taking the three to become the new womens champion.
Winner - Daffney Unger - New WWF Womens Champion
After the match ended, Daffney hardly showed any sign of emotion as she raised her WWF Women’s Championship. JR said that Daffney looked like a woman who felt she deserved to be where she now is and quite frankly, in his opinion, she doesn’t but that didn’t change the fact! Daffney has the WWF Womens Title! Hugh Morrus finally got in the picture and raised Daffney’s arm once more before we head backstage.
We head backstage to see Torrie Wilson chatting with Marc Mero ahead of the WWF Cruiserweight Championship Invitational Match. Torrie tells Mero how proud she is of him to be hosting an Invitational Match for his Cruiserweight Championship and Mero acts all smug. Mero tells Torrie that he appreciates her compliments but at the end of the day, this match was no big deal. Mero says that compared to him, all of the Cruiserweight division in the WWF are simply mediocre and that he won’t even need to break a sweat tonight to retain his belt. Torrie wishes Mero luck. The Cruiserweight Match is next!
Match #4 WWF Cruiserweight Championship Invitational Match
Stage 1: Kazhurio vs. TAKA Michinoku
The match kicked off with two wrestlers who were no strangers to one another as together they formed two thirds of the new Japanese super stable which was around during the latter days of Heat. TAKA was not happy that he had been drawn against his own team mate and he ordered Kaz to get to the ground and allow him to cover but Kaz was not happy. The two men began to have a heated argument which resulted in a huge slap by TAKA which knocked Kaz backward. While the crowd expected Kaz to hit back, Kaz was suprisingly apologetic and got down to the ground allowing TAKA the cover and TAKA was pleased - however what happened next was not what he had planed for. TAKA hooked the leg and made a cocky pin on Kazuhiro but Kaz didn't allow it, kicking out aggressively. Both men quickly got back to their feet and Kaz took it straight to TAKA with some huge back hand chops. Kaz drove TAKA into the ropes and took him down with a hurricanrana with a pin attempt but TAKA kicked out on the two and took Kaz down with a stiff clothesline.
TAKA sent Kaz into the corner and hit him with some hard chops of his own marking up the chest of his former team mate. TAKA then tried to whip Kaz into the adjacent corner but Kaz pulled him around and dropped him with a huge standing drop kick. Kaz quickly went for the cover but TAKA kicked out again on the two. Kaz grabbed hold of TAKA and locked up around his waist but TAKA fought out with big elbows before getting behind Kaz and took him down with a waist lock take down. TAKA and Kaz got back to their feet and TAKA sent Kaz back to the mat with a couple of arm drags before kicking him in the gut and planting Kaz with a huge brainbuster. TAKA thought he had the three but Kaz somehow got the shoulder up.
TAKA grabbed hold of Kaz and sent him to the corner and beat him with some huge right hand shots. TAKA lifted Kaz onto the top rope and looked to go for the Superplex but Kaz tried to fight him off with some hard shots of his own. Kaz sent TAKA flying off the turnbuckle to the ground and tried to steady himself on the top rope but TAKA was quick and hit the ropes causing Kaz to lose balance and ruin his day. TAKA got back to his feet and through some more hard shots at Kaz before grabbing hold of his head and hitting Kaz with a huge DDT off the turnbuckle. TAKA had little left to do, hooking the leg and getting the three to take him through to the next match.
**Kazuhiro is eliminated**Stage 2: TAKA Michinoku vs. Crash Holly
As soon as the bell rung to announce Kazhuiro's elimination, Crash Holly's music blast through the PA system and the former WWF Cruiserweight Champion made his way to the ring. Crash wasted little time atacking TAKA with some big right hands before sending him into the ropes and planting him with a drop kick. Crash hit TAKA quickly after with a snapmare before following up with a second drop kick to the back with a pin attempt but TAKA got the shoulder up. Crash however continued on the aggressive and hit TAKA with a huge backbreaker that nearly took the win. But the match continued and so did Crash's mean streak. Crash hit TAKA with a bulldog manouver before attempting to go for the atomic drop but TAKA countered throwing him off the top and to the outside.
TAKA hit a suicide plancha onto Crash onto the outside that got a huge response from the crowd but he didn't take long to bring him back to the ring. TAKA stomped away on Crash and taunted the crowd showing his dominance in the match before grabbing hold of Crash and lifted him back to his feet. One kick to the gut later, Crash was airbourne and as TAKA went for the powerbomb, Crash cleverly countered and hit TAKA with a big DDT that nearly took the three. Crash was in shock. He thought he had the three. Crash beat TAKA down to the ground once more before pulling him closer to the corner and going up top. Crash went for a diving splash off of the top but TAKA got the knees up and drover the wind out of the 400lb cruiserweight before taking his head off a side kick that did enough to get the pinfall. TAKA has survived again!
*Crash Holly is eliminated*Stage 3 : TAKA Michinoku vs. The Hurricane
This match kicked off while Crash had to be escorted out of the arena, Crash incredibly suprised by the outcome of the last match. Hurricane and TAKA locked up in the ring and The Hurricane quickly took the strength advantage over TAKA knocking him down with a shoulder tackle. The Hurricane got back up and planted TAKA with a russian legsweep and was unlucky not to get the three count. TAKA fought back once more with some huge right hands before planting The Hurricane with a double knee to the face that sent The Hurricane realing before scoring a beautifully excuted belly to belly suplex on the Super Hero. TAKA tried to take the three there and then but The Hurricane got the shoulder up.
TAKA hit the Hurricane with a snap suplex before heading up to the top rope. The cocky TAKA planted The Hurricane with a huge drop kick before going for the cover once more but once again, only got the two. TAKA decided to put The Hurricane in the head lock to slow the match down but the crowd got firmly behind him and sprung to life to give him support. The Hurricane slowly got back to his feet and slowly began to budge giving way some some elbows and fists before the Hurricane burst to live with a belly to belly suplex. TAKA got up in shock and got taken down with some clotheslines before The Hurricane drove TAKA's head into the mat with a DDT.
The Hurricane got back to his feet and pointed up to the crowd as TAKA tried to get back to his senses but it was no use - The Hurricane was ready and waiting and hit TAKA with the flying neckbreaker. The Hurricane quickly got back to his feet and got the crowd behind him once more before hitting TAKA with the Shining Wizard, The Hurricane dropping to his knees and hooking the leg of TAKA and getting the 1,2,3 for win, eliminating TAKA from the Invitational.
*TAKA Michinoku has been eliminated*Stage 4: The Hurricane vs ?
After the three count, to say that TAKA was distraught was nothing short of an understatement. TAKA got out of the ring and pleeded with the second official but he was having none of it and TAKA began to yell something in Japanese at him. Meanwhile, The Hurricane waited in the ring when suddenly the lights dimmed....
Wait is that...
No....
It can't be...
It's...It's GILLBERG!
Gillberg came down the ramp way to a huge pop from the crowd, as the smoke, sparklers and all awaited the greatest legend of them all as he made his way down to the ring for his biggest test yet. Gillberg wasted little time going straight to the announce table to pick up a mic and the head into the ring. Gillberg, growling only like a poodle can, yanked out his tongue to the crowd before asking the Hurricane a huge. "You want to know who's Next?" "YOU'RE NEXT ARRRRGH!". The Hurricane however had different plans grabbing hold of Gillberg by the throat and hitting him with a huuuge chokeslam before making the cover and taking the three, the crowd ecstatic. The Hurricane has just eliminated his second man of the Invitational.
*Gillberg is eliminated*Stage 5: The Hurricane vs. Jerry Lynn
In an invitational full of suprises, Jerry Lynn made his return to the WWF as part of the Cruiserweight Invitational, taking many of the WWF fans by suprise. The match kicked off with both The Hurricane and Lynn shaking hands in the middle of the ring, a move which the fans applauded before the fight with kicked off with an elbow tie up. Lynn over powered The Hurricane and took him to the ground with a waist drag before locking him in with an armbar submission torquing the arm till The Hurricane reached the ropes. Lynn pulled The Hurricane back and planted him with a huge face buster before saluting the crowd.
Lynn sent The Hurricane into the corner of the ring before crashing into him with a corner splash, Lynn following up with a sit out facebuster but was unable to captialise with the pin. The Hurricane began to come to life and tried to fight out of the head lock he was put in for the second time in this tournament but Lynn this stopped with a knee to the gut before he got planted with a standing drop kick that once again nearly got Lynn the win.
Lynn took The Hurricane to the corner and threw some right fists at him. The Hurricane tooke 3 or 4 before reversing the corner move and this time The Hurricane unleashing on Lynn. The Hurricane took control with the match sending Lynn into the ropes before taking him down with a cross body that Lynn just about kicked out of. The Hurricane knew he was only a millisecond away from there and you can tell that The Hurricane wants it. The Hurricane landed Lynn with a leg drop before heading up to the top rope. Everyone knew what was on The Hurricane's mind here but so did Lynn and Lynn halted Hurricane's attack. Both men began to trade punches but Lynn managed to take control. Lynn climbed up the turnbuckle hit The Hurricane with a huge Superplex taking the wind out of both of the competitors in this match up.
After some substantial time, Lynn crawled over the body of The Hurricane and went for the cover but The Hurricane managed to get the shoulder up. How the hell did he do that? Maybe he really is a Super Hero? Despite the pressure that was now against the Hurricane after the kick out, Lynn kept his nerves bringing The Hurricane back to a vertical base to kick him hrad in the gut and planted The Hurricane with a Spinning Powerbomb for the three eliminating the Hurricane from the tournament.
*The Hurricane is eliminated*Stage 6: Jerry Lynn vs. Marc Mero
Lynn got back to his feet and had his arm raised as Marc Mero made his entrance to the ring. JR said that if he wasn't mistaken, this would indeed be the last contestant in the Cruiserweight Invitational and Marc Mero looked like he was ready for war. Mero and Lynn locked up as soon as Mero entered the ring and Mero was sent into the corner. Lynn tried to take the offensive from there but Mero cleverly halted his approach with a thumb to the eye before taking Lynn down with a huge shot to the back of the head. Mero got Lynn back up and planted him with a huge backbreaker before making the cover but Lynn got the shoulder up.
Mero hit Lynn with a huge vertical suplex before going for another cover but Lynn was again kicked out again and Mero began to get annoyed slamming the floor. Mero pulled Lynn up to a vertical base and began to slap Lynn around talking smack before Lynn burst to live with a huge clothesline that nearly took Mero's head off, before Lynn drove Mero's head into the ring post. Mero came out and got hit with a huge German Suplex witha bridge and the crowd thought Lynn had it but Mero somehow kicked out and the match had to go on.
Lynn missed a clothesline and Mero countered with a neckbreaker. Mero went to the outside of the ring and hit a perfectly timed springboard leg drop onto the neck of Lynn but he couldn't get the three. Pancake Slam on Lynn. Mero signalled that the end was near and lifted Lynn up for the TKO but Lynn cleverly countered the move and went for a roll up, is this it.....1..........2..............Lynn has the tights.....3......Jerry Lynn has stolen this match from Marc Mero! The crowd go wild! Jerry Lynn has become the new WWF Cruiserweight Champion! The referee grabs hold of the title belt and hands it to Lynn who raises it to the crowd the crowd shocked at the outcome of this match up!
Winner - Jerry Lynn - and new WWF Cruiserweight Champion
Jerry Lynn climbed up the turnbuckle and raised the title to crowd once more celebrating his victory when none other than Al Snow comes out at the entrance way. Al Snow announces that he has a message from the bosses backstage and he says that there has been some sort of miscalculation because there is in fact, one more competitor in this match up and his name is……BRIAN MOORE!
WWF Cruiserweight Championship Match
Jerry Lynn © vs. Brian Moore
This match will forever live in the memory of many WWF fans but not for the right reasons. As Brian Moore made his elaborate entrance to the ring, once again professing that the crowd "don't know what it is like to be him", Marc Mero jumped the newly crowned WWF Cruiserweight Champion with a steel chair knocking him clean out. If that wasn't enough though, Mero then hit Lynn with the TKO, taking sick pleasure in destroying Jerry Lynn's success.
Brian Moore didn't have much left to do, quickly hitting Lynn with a Canadian Backbreaker before hooking the leg of the newly crowned WWF Cruiserweight Champion to win the title.
Winner - Brian Moore - and new WWF Cruiserweight Champion
After the match, Moore quickly grabbed hold of the Cruiserweight Championship and acted like he’d just been in a 60 Minute Iron Man Match. Mero on the other hand backs away from the ring staring down at Jerry Lynn as he regains consciousness and Mero looks real proud of himself.
We go straight backstage once more to see The Undertaker arriving in the arena with his suitcase ready for his WWF Championship Match later in the night! Will The Undertaker be able to go 10-0 and capture the WWF Championship for the third time in his career?
Match #5 WWF European Championship Match
Rikishi © vs. William Regal
William Regal makes his way to the ring to a small amount of Heat from the crowd not that Regal minded. He was fired up tonight and ready to go in this big European Championship Match Up. After some deliberation, Rikishi made his entrance to a huge response from the crowd, the Phat man proving that he still has his fans here. But can he defeat William Regal?
Regal and Rikishi start off with an elbow tie up but Rikishi dominates Regal in terms of power and sends him straight to the corner. Rikishi beats down at Regal in the corner before sending him into the ropes looking for an early back body drop but Regal quickly grabs the ropes and pulls himself to the outside. Regal tells the crowd he's had enough and begins to the march up the ramp way but Rikishi cuts him off attacking from behind before bringing him back to ring side. Both men brawl on the outside and Regal takes advantage with a knee to the midsection, only to have Rikishi counter his Irish whip attempt sending Regal knee first into the steel steps. Rikishi broke up the count before bringing Regal back to the ring. Rikishi hit Regal with a leg drop and went for a cover but Regal kicked out.
Rikishi takes Regal back into the corner and beats him down with some right hand chops lightening up that pectoral region before dropping him down with a big clothesline. Rikishi picks up Regal and headbutts him busting Regal open. Rikishi pulls off a huge belly to belly suplex on Regal nearly pulls out the victory but Regal instinctively clutches on to the bottom rope. Rikishi doesn't like the fact Regal has ring prowess and gives him a face buster for his trouble. Rikishi gives Regal no time to rest bringing him back to his feet and then back into the ropes but Regal smartly uses the ropes for the second time in the match this time kicking Rikishi in the ace as he went for the back body drop before hitting him with a swinging DDT. Regal made the cover but only got the 2.
Regal quickly tries to lock Rikishi in the STF but Rikishi moves around and makes it difficult and Regal resorts to a beat down. Rikishi gets back to his feet and Regal tries to take Rikishi back to the ground with a German Suplex but Rikishi is too heavy and he knocks Regal backwards with his rear. Regal gets back up but Rikishi kicks him in the gut before whipping him hard into the corner and then came the splash. Ouch! That's gotta hurt William. Regal's day wasn't going to get better as he slumped into the corner. Regal better close his eyes and mouth because here comes THE STINKFACE! Regal gets back to his feet looking like he's about to choke when he gets hit with Rikshi's Savate Kick. Rikishi gets down quickly and hooks the leg but somehow Regal gets the shoulder up.
Rikishi can't believe it and complains to the referee but the ref says there is nothing he can do. Meanwhile, Regal has his hand in his tights. He's just pulled out the brass knucks. Rikishi goes back over to Regal who grabs hold of Rikishi's clothing as to try and keep himself up but smartly pushes Rikishi back into the referee taking him out before taking Rikishi out with the knucks. Rikishi is out cold. Regal gets back on top of Rikishi and locks in the STF chucking the knucks out of the ring so the referee can't see. The referee gets back to his feet and notices the unconscious Rikishi in the submission move and thinks he's passed out as a result of the hold and quickly calls for the bell. It can't be! Regal has just stole this one!
Winner - William Regal - and New WWF European Champion
As soon as the match ends, Regal shifts out of the ring to grab hold of his title belt as Rikishi looks on in shock. Rikishi was just shafted out of the WWF European Title by Regal!
The Coach interviewed The Rock in the backstage area. He asked him about WrestleMania and the huge number of fans in the audience. The Rock went off about how the fans are stupid if they boo him because they all know that he had justified reasons for doing what he did on RAW. The Rock said that The Undertaker repeatedly turned his back on him and left him out to dry and The Rock couldn’t stand for it anymore. The Coach asks The Rock if he has any fear going into this match up knowing that The Undertaker is looking to go 10-0 in this match tonight and The Rock said Taker’s goal’s are inconsequential and that The only things that matter is that The Rock is the better than the Deadman and when it’s all said and done, The Rock will still be WWF Champion.
Non-Title Match
The British Bulldog vs. Test
The crowd were suprisingly high on this match despite the rumours that the two of them had an overinflated card place and Bulldog and Test both got good crowd responses, even though Bulldog's were cheers and Test's were boos. The match began with both wrestlers locked up in the middle of the ring both trying to out power the others, the announcers making the point that both of these wrestlers have a real desire to win this match and neither man would let the other through easily. After the first tie up failed, both men made a second attempt, this time Test looking to be making more of a force than Bulldog but there was once again no movement and this frustrated Test immensely. The two locked horns once more and there STILL was no movement, at least until Test threw the first boot in.
When the tie up finally split, both men began to brawl but Test was the man who was on the advantage and he drove Bulldog into the corner. Test choked Bulldog with his big boot in the corner before coming away posing only to get clotheslined down by Bulldog seconds later. Bulldog came out with some big clothelsines and then sent Test back into the corner but Test sensed the danger and quickly dodged Bulldog's corner splash. Test immediately got behind Bulldog and chucked him into the corner throwing hard right hands at the man from Manchester England before back body dropping him to the ground, Test finally looking the man in control. Test planted Bulldog with a sidewalk slam and went for the cover but Bulldog got the shoulder up on the two. The match continued.
Test grabbed hold of Bulldog and threw him to the outside before following up. Test showed no respect for the WWF legend throwing him hard into the barricade before dropping him hard on top of it. Test had to break up the count before going back to his opponent who was the introduced to the ring post, the sound of skull on metal clanging hard through the arena. Test brought Bulldog back to the ring and arrogantly made the foot on chest pin on Bulldog thinking it was through but Bulldog kicked on the two with ease to Test's suprise. Test slammed Bulldog to the mat before climbing up top and took a chip out of 2001 hit the diving elbow drop right into the heart of his opponent. Test went for another cover but Bulldog kicked out again. What more does he have to do?
Test stomped down on his opponent to keep him horizontal before grabbing hold of the Bulldog's leg and locking in the sharpshooter on him - a move Bulldog will know only too well . Bulldog managed to get to the bottom of the ropes without too much pain but Test wouldn't let go of the hold and he had to be forced off by the referee. Test was once more showing that vicious streak that he showed against The Undertaker oh so many times over the past few months and he wasn't going to stop tonight. Test had a go at the referee before going back to Bulldog who was now trying to get back to a vertical base and sent some more right hands his way keeping him down but Bulldog kept trying to get back up.
A concerned Test through some more punches in but nothing worked and he resorted to an irish whip. Bulldog came back with a clothesline. Then another. He wanted another and got one. Test got sent into the ropes and hit with a bodyslam. My God! Bulldog is back in this. Bulldog went straight for Test's leg and he locked in the sharpshooter on Test! Test looked in serious pain and quickly scambled for the bottom ropes. Bulldog is on fire! Bulldog hit Test with a facebuster and then went for the cover but Test got the shoulder up. The crowd were hoping for the victory there. Bulldog grabbed hold of Test and attempted to whip Test into the turnbuckle but Test countered and sent Bulldog in followed by a huge avalanche Splash. Bulldog wandered into no man's lam and got hit with a rear sit out mat slam for his trouble. Test hooked the leg but Bulldog kicked out again on the 2.
Test got back to his feet and stomped his leg and went for the big boot on Bulldog but he got out of the way and Test crashed into the ring post. That's going to do nothing for your hamstring whatsoever! Bulldog came back and went for a belly to belly suplex but Test fought out with some fists. Test bounced off the ropes to go for a clothesline but Bulldog responds with a kick to the gut and hits Test with the Powerslam! The crowd go wild as Bulldog makes the cover after the finisher but Test somehow finds the bottom rope with his boot. Bulldog can't believe it. Bulldog grabs hold of Test and violently kicks him in the gut for a second time before lifting him onto his shoulder. Bulldog attempts the Powerslam but Test slides off the back of Bulldog's shoulder and this time he kicks Bulldog in the gut and hits Bulldog with the pumphandle slam. Test however didn't go for the pin and waited for Bulldog to rise to hit him with the big boot this time the cover making the three.
Winner – Test
Test left the ring as soon as the bell rang and celebrated on the ramp way, Test doing very well to score a victory against a man like The British Bulldog.
Backstage, Vince McMahon had a meeting with his three "henchmen", Ron Waterman, X-Pac and of course Diamond Dallas Page. Vince told his guys that he's got the call he's been waiting for and that his match with Jerry Lawler is now officially a No-DQ match. Waterman told Vince that this was excellent news and that they could strategise but Vince wouldn't hear anything of it. In fact, Vince wanted all of his cronies to remain backstage. Despite by the protests of both Waterman and X-Pac, Vince said that tonight he is going to show the world just how fake Lawler really is and take back what is rightfully is and he guarandamteed it.
Next up were P.O.D who performed the WrestleMania X8 theme song: Now that’s a tune!
WWF Tag Team Championship Match
The Dudley Boyz vs. DX
This is the first of the four WrestleMania Main Events and the crowd are anxious in their seats for the return of DX to the squared circle. But before the fans could see DX return to Toronto, first came the Dudley Boyz who get tremendous heat from the crowd. Bubba Ray and D-Von shove the titles in the fans faces Bubba yelling that it's going down here tonight. Finally, the crowd hear the words they have been waiting for..."ARE YOU READY?" as DX's music blasts out of the PA system to a huge pop from the crowd. Triple H and HBK looked right back in the thick of things as they made their way down to ringside high fiving many of the crowd on their way.
When DX got to the ring, The Dudley Boyz wasted not time grabbing hold of some mics and getting the faces of them. The Dudleyz had only one intention tonight and that was to punk out DX big time but DX snatched the mics out of the hands of the half brothers to ask the crowd if they were REAAAADY? DX tried to get through their speil but The Dudleyz had other intentions clobberin' Shawn Michaels just as he was about to sign off. A four man brawl kicked off in the middle of the ring, Bubba and Triple H and D-Von and HBK all exchanging blows. Triple H cleared Bubba from the ring with a huge clothesline and followed him to the outside of the ring with HBK and D-Von continued to brawl. D-Von took the power advantage over Shawn and whipped him into the ropes but Shawn was full of fire and took D-Von down with a diving clothesline. Meanwhile on the outside, Triple H sends Bubba hard into the steel steps. It looks like DX are dominating in the early goings.
HBK got back to his feet and drove D-Von into his corner with right hand shots before tagging in The Game. Triple H rushed into the ring and delivered some more devistating shots before whipping him into the ropes and hitting him with a high knee which got the 2 from the cover. Triple H grabs hold of D-Von and throws him into DXs corners and beats away some more with some vicious pounding shots to the ribs. HBK tags back in and they go straight for the double team on D-Von with a double clothesline. HBK gets back up and throws D-Von into the corner again and he gets the back hand chop treatment. D-Von is getting slapped around like a government mule folks! D-Von finally ends the beat down with the thumb to the eye and quickly brings in Bubba, D-Von evidently suffering from the chops.
Bubba comes in and immediately takes control with some elbows to the head of HBK before sending him into the ropes and dropping him with a clothesline. Bubba delivers multiple right hands to HBK before bringing him back to the Dudleyz corner and choking him out irrating Triple H who tried to stop the unfair attack only to be halted by the referee. Bubba hit HBK with the scoop slam before tagging D-Von in who dived off the top rope with a leg drop. D-Von covered but HBK kicked out on the two. D-Von was unlucky there! D-Von hits HBK with a standing drop kick before putting him in a headlock and slowing down the pace. HBK struggled for some time in the hold but with the help of Triple H and the fans, he slowly began to get back to his feet. After a scrap, HBK was free but D-Von halted any moment with a spinning elbow that knocked HBK down like a tonne of bricks.
Bubba got back into the ring and immediately continued the beat down on HBK. 2 or three right hands went in before he dropped Michaels properly with a big elbow. Bubba smarlty used the ropes to his advantage planting Shawn with a big elbow drop that got him the two from the pin attempt, Michaels very lucky to kick out there. Bubba made the tag back out to D-Von and the Tag Team Champs went for the double team on Michaels but Michaels somehow find the strength to counter the double back drop, kicking Bubba in the face before hitting D-Von with a sitout facebuster! An in pain Michaels desperately crawled to his corner, the fans on their feet. Can he make the tag? YES HE CAN! Triple H runs into the ring and he takes down Bubba with a clothesline, then D-Von, then Bubba again. Triple H hits D-Von with a big back body drop and then takes Bubba out of the ring with a clothesline. Triple H raises his arms to the crowd like a man posessed.
Triple H waits for D-Von to get back up to a vertical base and kicks him in the gut going immediately for the Pedigree but D-Von conunters the move sending him over the his back before using the ropes to drop Triple H with a running drop kick. D-Von knocks Shawn Michaels off of the apron and then looks for his brother but he is not to be seen. D-Von sets Triple H up for a DDT but Triple H counters the move before going for a second pedigree and this time it connects! Triple H makes the cover......1.............2......................Bubba breaks up the count. Bubba despite protests from the referee hits Triple H with the Bubba Bomb and immediately pulls D-Von over. The referee once more makes the count but Triple H somehow manages to get the shoulder up just before the three. How the hell did Triple H do that?
Bubba slams the apron hard. He's furious. He was certain it should have been a three. Bubba climbed off and went over to the announce tables grabbing hold of a steel chair with evil intentions but HBK stopped anything happening hitting Sweet Chin Music onto the chair into the face of Bubba and the crowd went crazy. D-Von climbs up top but Triple H stops him hitting the ropes D-Von losing balance. Triple H climbs up the turnbuckle and hits D-Von with a huge Superplex and Shawn Michaels is already celebrating. But something isn't right. Triple H looks awkward. What's going on. D-Von puts his arm over Triple H! Shawn look around!.........1....................2...Shawn look!.........3.......The Dudley Boyz retain the titles! How the hell has this happened? HBK turns around as the Dudley Boyz music hits in absolute shock! He thought Triple H had this match won!
Winners - The Dudley Boyz – still WWF Tag Team Champions
After The Dudleyz left the ring, Shawn Michaels joined Triple H who was still lying flat in the centre of the ring and looked in a huge amount of pain. EMTs eventually rushed to the scene to come to his aid and Triple H got stretchered out of the arena, neck brace and all and the crowd gave both men a round of applause as the left, showing their respect for two men who obviously gave their all tonight
Last Man Standing Match
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kane (w/Paul Heyman)
After 2 months of mind games, this feud finally reached fever pitch with this Last Man Standing Match. Kane and Paul Heyman made their way to the ring first to some good heat from the crowd, Heyman prophicising on the way down that this is indeed the end for Stone Cold. But the Rattlesnake had different plans and as the Glass Shattered and the crowd erupted in the arena, Stone Cold came throw the crowd with a steel chair attacking Kane from behind with a thunderous shot that kicked the match off, Austin immediately driving Kane to the outside of the ring. Despite 5 chair shots from the Rattlesnake, Kane landed on both feet on the outside and stared right back at Austin, although he seemed hesitant to get back in the ring. Heyman told Kane to "sick" Austin and you could tell he wanted to and Austin wanted him to try.
Austin grinned an evil grin and dropped the chair. He just wanted Kane back in the ring and he knew he'd done what was intended. Kane was scared and Austin knew it. Kane got back in the ring cautiously and two man finally strated exchanging right hands Austin and Kane going back and forth in the ring. Austin ducked a Kane shot and went for a Stunner but Kane countered the move and sent Kane over the top rope. Heyman tried to sneak attack Austin caught him and clobbered him good. Kane made it to the outside and halted Austin's attack throwing him hard against the ramp way both men starting to brawl up it to the entrance way. Kane hit Austin with a huge upper cut which sent him flying backwards but Kane couldn't lock in the chokeslam, Austin kicking him low and releasing himself just in the nick of time. Both men went through the curtains and the match continued referee in tow.
Backstage, both men use all the weapons at hand to their advantage. Austin counters a Kane whip into some sort of container and bounces Kane's head off the top. Austin then quickly sends him into some trash cans at the opposite side. Austin goes back for more but walks straight into an uppercut from Kane who this time takes control. Kane rams Austin's head into a wall before picking up one of the trash can lids and smashing it over Austin's skull. Kane isn't done there as in act of defiance against the surrounding people, Kane harpoons Stone Cold through a glass window Austin crashing onto some furniture in the room he is thrown through. JR notices that Austin broke a table in there. Tazz hopes the bill won't be too big. Kane demands the referee makes the count and the referee begins the 10 count, Austin starting to get back to his feet on the 5 not much to Kane's liking at all who proceeds to pull Austin back through the door way and into the corridor. Kane dragging Austin forward.
Kane grabs hold of a lead pipe and swings it at Austin's head but Austin ducks the shot before tackling Kane to the ground and begins to beat Kane down with big right hands. Austin asks Kane as he heads over towards to the coffee area if Kane is thirsty because Austin wants to know if he wants a cup of coffee! A whole jug of black coffee is poured over Kane, the monster yelling in pain as the coffee scolds his body. Kane tries to shake it off but fails to notice Austin climbing a dumpster of sorts, Austin diving off with a double axehandle to Kane. Kane gets back to his feet and Austin hits Kane with the Stone Cold Stunner and the crowd go wild as the referee begins to make the 10 count. Kane sits up after the 3.
Austin walks off in search of another weapon while Kane follows him - it looks like Austin is heading to the technical area. Austin grabs hold of a chair and folds it up but Heyman jumps out of nowhere and begins to choke Austin with some sort of tV cable. Where the hell Heyman came from I don't know! Austin tries to get Heyman off him but Kane quickly catches up and takes Austin's head off with a big clothesline. Kane grabs hold of Austin and and flings him into some technical equipment that caused the lights to flash off and on in the area and Heyman praises Kane. Austin locks in a hell of a lot of trouble as Kane lifts him onto his shoulders and powerbombs the Rattlesnake through a table next to some speaker equipment, Austin cutting his back open in the process. The crowd look on stunned!
Austin is barely moving as Kane raises his arms the crowd outraged by what they are seeing. Heyman is screaming at Austin “I TOLD YOU!” screams Heyman, “I TOLD YOU AUSTIN!”…. The referee began to make the count and Heyman was already raising Kane’s arm around the 7. But as the 8 came in, Austin began to shuffle back up and Heyman couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Heyman told Kane to get right back on it straight away and Kane went for it but Austin tried to fight him away with fists – nevertheless Kane kept coming. Austin managed to get back to a vertical case but Kane drove a knee into Austin and Austin dropped. Austin tried to make his way back ring ward but Kane was right behind him, Heyman spitting orders. The crowd cheer as Austin climbs back to ring side and once more Kane and Austin begin to brawl on the outside Kane taking quick advantage with his superior punching. Kane gets countered on an Irish whip and Kane goes flying into the ring post Austin quickly following up with a chop block, Austin resulting afterwards to beating Kane on the ground with fists.
Austin grabs hold of the steel steps and rams them into the head of Kane before dropping the steps onto the torso of Kane. Austin climbs on to the apron and dives off double stomping on top of the steel steps crushing the ribs of Kane. Austin grabs hold of Kane and rolls him into the ring and follows him in. Austin begs Kane to get back to his feet and Kane does what he’s told. Austin hits the Stunner on Kane and Kane bounces over the ring like a rag doll. The referee starts counting. This has got to be it! The referee makes the count, Kane looks out of it now and Heyman looks distraught – he is begging Kane to get up but the count is already at 6. KANE LIVES! Kane sits up. Stone Cold can’t believe it. Austin is battered and bloody at yet the most lives. Austin kicks Kane in the chest and knocks him back down but Kane sits up again. Austin is holding his head.
Austin turns his attention to the ring post and quickly unbuckles one of the covers; Kane is getting back to his feet. Kane eventually makes his way over to Austin cover now off and Kane gets for a shot but Austin blocks it and both men begin to brawl. Austin gets knocked to his knees by a huge right hand. Austin then hits Kane with a low blow. It doesn’t matter how tough you are, how powerful you are! A Low blow is a low blow! Austin gets back to his feet and kicks Kane in the gut. Austin goes for a Stunner but Kane cleverly counters and sends Austin back first into the ring post he unbuckled. Austin is writhing in pain but Kane isn’t finished! Kane has hold of Austin by the neck! CHOKESLAM ON THE RATTLESNAKE. Kane just drove Austin right into the centre of the ring.
Kane demands that the referee count and the referee does so, Kane watching Austin as he wriggles on the ground. Heyman watches on cautiously but Austin still shows some sign of life. Austin get back on all at the 8 and Austin is trying to grab hold of something to get himself up, he’s even using Kane’s tights. Kane grabs hold of Kane with both hands by the head. What is Kane thinking of doing next? Kane lifts Austin up and he goes for the Tombstone on Austin! My God! Don’t do it Kane! Kane connects with the Tombstone Piledriver. Austin isn’t moving and JR is shrieking with concern! Austin could have just broken his neck again. Kane stands over the lifeless Austin as the referee counts the 10 count and Heyman is utterly ecstatic. Kane raises the arm of the Big Red Monster who just defeated the Rattlesnake at WrestleMania!
Winner – Kane
Kane stood in the middle of the ring unemotional after the match while Heyman yapped on like a man possessed telling The Rattlesnake that it was over and that he was through. For the second time in the night, EMTs rushed to the ring to check on Stone Cold who looked lifeless. Stone Cold however, being a man’s man, refused to accept any help from the EMTs and despite a serious limp, chose to walk out of the arena rather than be carried the fans cheering him along the way. Stone Cold gave the crowd the middle finger salute, a dejected and emotional JR hoping that this isn’t the end for the Rattlesnake!
Battle of the Bosses – No DQ Match
Vince McMahon vs. Jerry Lawler
Vince McMahon came to the ring on his own as were the orders he barked to his men backstage, Vince looking surprisingly confident despite the jeers from the crowd. The announcers commented on Vince’s great physique for a man of his age and Tazz was certain that Vince’s physical care would certainly play an aspect in this match up. Jerry Lawler came out to a huge pop from the crowd as he came to the ring in his classic Memphis ring attire that he has wore for so many years. Vince and Lawler stood face to face locking eyes and the crowd were on the edge of their seats. Vince took a swing at Lawler but it did nothing but make Lawler made and Vince quickly departed from the ring like nobodies business. Lawler went in hot pursuit and quickly caught up with Vince on the outside with some hard shots before bringing him back to the ring. Lawler got down on his knees and began to choke out Vince and Lawler had to be pulled off Vince allowing Vince to get back to his feet. Lawler nevertheless got back to a vertical base also and backed him into a corner where he went back to choking him, this time Vince managed to break free with an eye gouge before nailing Lawler with a clothesline. Vince smartly got Lawler and sent him to the corner before attacking him with some stiff shoulder blocks.
Vince took Lawler to the mat and decided to work on Lawler’s arm by driving his knee into the triceps. Vince stood cockily over his “partner” who was on his knees and slapped him across the face but Lawler blocked the second shot and got back to his feet immediately driving Vince back only for Vince to retake control with a shot to the midsection. Vince dragged Lawler across the floor to the apron and went to the outside attacking Lawler with an elbow shot to the head before choking him out from the outside Lawler quickly dropping to the outside. Vince got Lawler back to his feet and sent Lawler head first into the steel steps before flexing the crowd, the announcers once again going back to Vince’s physique…I wonder how much he paid them for the plugs? Lawler got back to his feet and got hit with another stiff clothesline from McMahon Lawler dropping hard to the mat. Vince went back to Lawler and talked down to him mentioning something about staying out of his business and tried to drive Vince’s head into the ring post but Lawler countered the move and Vince went head first into it. Lawler didn’t stop there though cracking Vince’s head over and over against the steel until Vince was seen to be busted open the crowd cheering at the sight of blood.
Lawler brought Vince back into the ring and went to work to work on Vince’s head pummelling it with huge right hands. Lawler went back to the outside of the ring and folded up a steel chair and nailed Vince with two hard shots to the back of his head Vince dropping down to the mat like he’d just been shot dead but amazing, Vince somehow managed to get his shoulder up when Lawler made the cover. Lawler went back for the chair and had sick intentions on his mind but Vince hit Lawler with a low blow dropping him to the ground.
Vince tried to get away from the match up but Lawler got right back on his tail and a brawl commenced once more on the outside. Lawler sent Vince into the barricade and then hit him with a clothesline before going under the ring and pulling out from underneath it a ladder which he then proceeded to use as a sort of battering ram against the skull of Vince, McMahon taking a huge bump there. Lawler through the ladder down on top of Vince and the ladder crashed hard on top of Vince. Vince pushed the ladder off of him as Lawler went back off to pull a table from under the ring and set it up but Vince couldn’t get away from the King of Memphis. Lawler got right back on top of him within seconds and beat him with some more shots before dragging him back to ring side and placing him on the table where he proceeded to beat him some more.
Lawler got back into the ring and went up to the top rope as the crowd got excited and the announcers begged him to reconsider – Lawler may wish he reconsidered in hindsight because Lawler attempted a flying leg drop to the outside but Vince got off the table and the King crashed landed with a lot of wood and Vince had a sick smile on his face. Vince dragged Lawler back to the ring and went for the cover but somehow the King managed to kick out! McMahon locked shocked. Both men were now bleeding profusely. Vince somehow managed to get to the outside and pulled out that lead pipe that his goons have so often used but was unable to use it effectively as Lawler hit him with the low blow seconds before he managed to strike and both men lay motionless for a while on the floor.
All of a sudden a man came through the crowd and he was wearing a ski mask. As he gets in the ring, he takes it off! MY GOD IT’S CHRIS JERICHO! WHAT THE HELL IS JERICHO DOING HERE! Jericho looks at Lawler and looks at Vince and grabs hold of the lead pipe as Lawler and Vince are both trying to get back to their feet. Jericho stares at Lawler and Lawler puts his hands up as if to beg Jericho not to do anything. Jericho raises the lead pipe back but then turns and hits Vince McMahon! What the hell is Jericho doing? Jericho throws the lead pipe to the outside saluting the fans before hitting the Lionsault on Vince McMahon. Chris Jericho has just screwed Vince McMahon! Why Jericho Why? Lawler looks on in shock. He can’t believe it. Lawler doesn’t take any time thinking about what he has to do next and quickly climbs up to the top rope. Lawler takes his strap down…here it comes! THE ROYAL FIST DROP! The crowd go wild! Lawler hooks the leg……….1…………….2…………………3 The King wins!
Winner - Jerry Lawler
After the match, a battered a bloodied Jerry Lawler rose to his feet to a huge reception from the WWF audience while Vince McMahon lay in shock on the mat still quite unsure what the hell just happened as the “King” chants ran wild! It looks like the WWF is going to be split into two and there isn’t a damn thing that Vince McMahon can do about it!
WWF Championship Match
The Rock © vs. The Undertaker
It’s time for the big one folks, it’s the Main Event of Main Events and this one it is for the WWF Championship. The WWF Champion was the first man to make his way to the ring and what a reception he gets from the crowd, the arena filled with “Rocky Sucks” chants. JR tells the audience that he can’t believe that The Rock turned on the fans like he did last Monday Night on RAW when he attacked The Undertaker. “It was sick folks! Sick”. The Rock was taking all of this in his stride however and he proudly raised his WWF Championship belt to the crowd despite the heat. Could this be the last time he holds that WWF Title? After The Rock’s entrance ends, the crowd is still loud in anticipation until “Rollin” by Limp Bizkit finally blasts through the arena and the American Badass makes his entrance and the crowd go wild. The Deadman makes a very slow approach to the ring and both he and The Rock never break their stare as Taker makes his way down. You can just tell that this match is going to be very intense.
When Taker finally enters the ring, both men square off in the ring and the referee reminds them both that this match is a WWF Championship Match that can only be won by pin fall or submission and it is scheduled for one fall. Finally the referee backs off and both men step closer in looking at each other as if both can see straight into the others soul. Then without warning both men go straight at it with fast paced blows and both men quickly take it to the outside. The Undertaker smashes The Rock’s head against both of the announcer tables before making good use of the barricade, The Rock seeming to hurt his back in the process. Taker is hardly a man for sympathy however and sent The Rock flying into the steel steps. The Rock quickly got back to his feet and made his way back into the ring but Taker followed and The Deadman followed taking The Rock down with a big right hand. The Undertaker hit The Rock with a big sidewalk slam in the middle of the ring and went for a cover but The Rock kicked out and the match continued.
Taker grabbed hold of The Rock and threw him into the corner like The Rock was nothing more than rag doll and unleashed a bundle of right hands into the midsection before backing off allowing The Rock to come out with a huge flying clothesline taking Taker off of his feet. The Undertaker got back to his feet and turned his back to The Rock and he took advantage with a chop block to the back of the knee taking The Undertaker down and back to the outside once more, The Rock then hitting The Undertaker with a second chop block to the same knee.
The Rock dragged The Undertaker over to the announce table and lifted him onto the table slamming The Deadman’s injured knee against the table again and again. The Undertaker looked to be in pain and The Rock used his possession well sending The Undertaker with force into the ring barricade. The Rock grabbed hold of Taker again and threw him into the ring where he went back to work on The Undertaker’s knee stomping away on the knee before hitting heading up to the second turnbuckle and doing a double footed stomp on the knee and Taker let out a scream. The Rock certainly wasn’t done there though dragging The Undertaker to the corner and continued to work on the leg wrapping it around a ring post.
The Rock locked The Undertaker in the Sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. The Undertaker managed to inch himself over to the ropes and grabbed the rope only for The Rock to return to the ring post and wrap the Deadman’s leg around it once more. The Rock mouthed off to the crowd calling The Undertaker a piece of trash and then proceeded to slap away at his face as he tried to get back to his feet. The Undertaker, less then impressed by this performance, grabbed hold of The Rock by the throat shocking The Rock and he had to resort to a thumb to the eye to break the hold. The Rock used the ropes to gain momentum but missed the clothesline attempt and then walked straight into the chokeslam from The Undertaker who then went for the pin, but The Rock managed to kick out on the 2.
The Undertaker grabbed hold of The Rock and dragged him to the corner beating him with some more power shots before going for Old School on the former People’s Champion getting a big pop from the ground before following up with a running DDT. The Undertaker made another pinfall attempt but The Rock kicked out again on the two. The Undertaker got back to his feet and threw some more blows at The Rock but had little effect on the Champ. The Undertaker next tried to go for a clothesline on the Rock but The Rock ducked the shot and took Taker down with a flying forearm. Taker got back to his feet as quickly as he could but The Rock was waiting and he took The Deadman down with a huge Rockbottom. The Rock hooked the leg of the Deadman confident he had the match sown up but The Undertaker somehow managed to kick out leaving The Rock stunned.
The Rock got out of the ring and went for his WWF Championship with the intention of using the belt as an illegal weapon but as soon as he got back in the ring, the referee pulled the belt off The Rock causing the distraction that The Undertaker needed and Taker delivered a huge big boot to the face of The Rock. The Undertaker raised his arm before grabbing The Rock and going for the Last Ride but The Rock managed to fight out with some huge shots turning the Powerbomb into a sweet looking DDT but is unable to capitalise with the cover until it’s too late and The Undertaker manages to kick out once more.
The Rock and Taker both try and get to their feet and trade some punches along the way. The Rock goes for his second Rockbottom of the match but The Undertaker counters with some elbows and tries to go for the chokeslam but The Rock counters with a shot to the midsection sending The Undertaker away before this time hitting another Rockbottom. The Rock smiles with delight as he drops to the floor grabbing the Deadman’s leg and making the cover but The Undertaker kicks out again!!!!!!!!
The Rock simply can’t believe it! What does he have to do to win this damn match? The Rock angrily gets back to his feet and looks down at The Undertaker kicking him in the head before throwing his arm band on top of him; you know what he’s going for! It’s time for the People’s Elbow! The Rock covers The Undertaker again once again hooking the leg and this time, The Deadman doesn’t kick out! The Rock has retained the WWF Championship!
Winner - The Rock – still WWF Champion
After the match up, The Rock grabbed hold of his WWF Championship belt and left the ring to celebrate on the ramp way as the crowd booed him while The Undertaker remained in the ring despondent. The Undertaker’s undefeated streak is over! No matter what though, The Undertaker had the respect of the WWF fans and they stood up and cheered on the Deadman as he made his way to the back. The show ended with The Undertaker doing the one arm salute to the fans JR proclaiming that The Undertaker is a true WWF legend and he wouldn’t be surprised if in 10 years time, The Undertaker was still around and still at the top of the tree.
WrestleMania ends with the show recap to the song “Alive” by P.O.D. before finally fading to black! Thanks for watching folks!
WWF WRESTLEMANIA X8 RESULTSWWF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Rock © def. The Undertaker
BATTLE OF THE BOSSES
Jerry Lawler def. Vince McMahon
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Kane def. Stone Cold
WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Dudley Boyz def. DX
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Shawn Stasiak © def. Mr Perfect
WWF HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Key © (w/Charles Wright) def. Edge vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam
Test def. The British Bulldog
WWF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
William Regal def. Rikishi
WWF WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Daffney Unger def. Trish Stratus
WWF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN INVITATIONAL
Brian Moore wins the WWF Cruiserweight Championship
-
THE WRESTLEMANIA X8 PREDICTION CONTEST
Here we go guys, for all you lot that continue to support my writing and read this diary, here is your chance to contribute for the biggest PPV of the year, WrestleMania X8 and possibly win a prize! I hope you are all looking forward to the show!
WWF CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHThe Rock © vs. The Undertaker
BATTLE OF THE BOSSES
Vince McMahon vs. Jerry Lawler
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kane (w/Paul Heyman)
WWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Dudley Boyz vs. DX
WWF INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Shawn Stasiak © vs. Mr Perfect
WWF HARDCORE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Key © (w/Charles Wright) vs. Edge vs. Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam
The British Bulldog vs. Test
WWF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Rikishi © vs. William Regal
WWF WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Trish Stratus © vs. Daffney Unger
WWF CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OPEN INVITATIONAL
The Debut of Brian Moore...
Okay guys so the rules are as follows; 1 point for each correct predictions on the 10 matches. Also below are 5 bonus questions that are worth an additional 1 point each;
1)Who will take the fall in the Fatal Four Way Match for the WWF Hardcore Championship?
2)How will Brian Moore feature at WrestleMania?
3)How many WWF titles will change hand at WrestleMania?
4)Which Match will open WrestleMania?
5)Who will the the WrestleMania MVP? (Remember this is determined by who came out on top during the highest rated segment of the show)
Finally, could all those who do make predictions to comply with the rules of the Diary Dome that states that you MUST give a reason for each match prediction. I will not count predictions that do not include reasons. Good luck!
-
WWF Smackdown!
The Final Stop!
March 7th, 20002
We are welcomed to WWF Smackdown by Michael Cole and Tazz who hype up WrestleMania which we are told is now only three days away.
The show kicks off with the WWF Champion, The Rock, coming to the ring to a large amount of heat from the crowd. The Rock tells the crowd to shut the hell up because “The Great One” has got something to say and they’ve got to here it but this only gets the crowd more irate. The Rock tells the crowd that he has been a patient man and over the past few weeks, has let the Undertaker get away with betrayal after betrayal. He says that The Undertaker expects and expects but when it’s his turn to do the giving, he disappears like he’s got no responsibility and no honour and The Rock says he’s sick of it. The Rock makes the point that for a man who claims that he’s been responsible for a decade of destruction, has only won the WWF Championship THREE times and he guarantees that this Sunday, he’s going to be personally responsible for destroying the dead man’s WrestleMania undefeated streak. The Rock sucks up the crowd reaction raising the WWF Title at all four corners before the show goes to its first break.
Tag Match: British Bulldog and Rikishi vs. Test and William Regal
Test kicks off the match with Rikishi. Test takes Rikishi down with a shoulder charge. Rikishi counters a whip from Test then hits him with a belly to belly suplex. Bulldog gets tagged in and Test quickly tags out to Regal. Regal and Bulldog lock up and Regal brings Bulldog to the mat with a waist lock take down. Regal hits Bulldog with a huge double underhook suplex but only gets the two count. Test wants back in and gets his wish. Test sends Bulldog to his corner and beats him with some right hands before choking him with his boot. Regal gets tagged back and nearly gets the win with an exploder suplex. Regal tries to lock in the STF but Bulldog gets to the ropes. Bulldog gets pulled back to the centre of the ring and Regal locks in a head lock. The crowd quickly get behind Bulldog. Bulldog gets back to a vertical base fighting out of the hold and hits Regal with a DDT. Both men need to make the tag and then do. Test and Rikishi both fly in and Rikishi takes Test down with multiple clotheslines. Rikishi then nearly gets the pin with a Samoan Drop but Test kicks out on the two. Rikishi sends Test to the corner and connects with corner splash. Regal gets back in the ring and tries to attack Rikishi but Bulldog cuts him off and sends him to the outside where they continue to trade blows and Rikishi follows the brawl. Test quickly takes advantage of the distraction and takes Rikishi’s head off with the big boot and takes the three as Bulldog sends Regal into the steel steps. Bulldog is stunned as Test escapes the ring and back up the ramp.
Winners - Test and William Regal
Chavo Guerrero Jr is backstage looking really hyped up about his match later on tonight. Paul Heyman walks in with Kane and congratulates Chavo on his big match and Chavo can barely hide his excitement. Chavo shakes the hand of Heyman before attempting to shake the hand of Kane who isn't so amenable towards him. Chavo says that he can't thank Heyman enough for giving him this opportunity but Heyman isn't as excited is Chavo. Heyman says that Chavo has got to realise that just having matches doesn't mean anything and in order to be successful, Chavo has to win. Chavo says he understands but Heyman isn't quite so sure. Heyman says Chavo comes from a long line of exception wrestlers and tonight is Chavo's big chance to put his name up there with the best of them. Heyman says that tonight, he wants to see Chavo Guerrero Jr hit the Gory Bomb on Stone Cold Steve Austin and that's the bottom line, cos' Paul Heyman said so.
Michael Cole announces that The Undertaker will be here later tonight and that he is sure The Deadman has got a lot to talk about.
Mr Perfect vs. Billy Kidman
Shawn Stasiak joined Michael and Tazz at the announce table for this match up. Kidman came out to the arena first to a small amount of heat from the fans despite insulting many of them on the way down. Mr Perfect on the other got a huge pop from the crowd. Kidman wasted no time landing the first punch on Mr Perfect and quickly tried to get on top of Perfect. Kidman landed a drop kick in the centre of the ring and got the 2. Kidman sent Mr Perfect into the corner but Perfect got the boot up and halted the attack. Perfect nearly stole the win with a swinging neckbreaker. Perfect went for a belly to back suplex but Kidman countered and went for the roll up but could only get the two. Kidman hit Perfect with a big bulldog. Stasiak gets to his feet and celebrates the move saying that Kidman is only second away from victory as Kidman goes up top. Kidman goes for the shooting star press but just like on RAW Kidman misses frustrating the IC Champion. Mr Perfect hits Kidman with a belly to back suplex. Rolling snap by Perfect. Perfect gets back to his feet and the crowd go wild. Perfect finishes Kidman off with the Perfect Plex with the bridge for the three and Perfect wins again.
Winner - Mr Perfect
After the match, Mr Perfect gets to his feet and begins to celebrate but Shawn Stasiak quickly ends the celebrations with a shot from behind with the Intercontinental Championship busting him open. Stasiak stands of Perfect raising his Intercontinental Title. Will Stasiak be able to defeat Mr Perfect at WrestleMania?
Stone Cold Steve Austin is backstage with former Tough Enough Contestant Josh Matthews. Matthews asks Stone Cold about his match up tonight against Chavo but Austin seems far more interested in Josh Matthews being there. Austin says that he never knew that Tough Enough losers got jobs because he knows some drinking buddies back in Texas that could do with a little extra beer money. Austin says that tonight, he's going to give a short display of exactly what he'll do to Kane at WrestleMania. Austin says that after this interview that he's going to drink a beer, a couple of beers, a few beers, no no a whole case of beers and some tequila. Maybe some Vodka, some brandy, some whisky and a bloody mary. What? He said a bloody mary. After that, Austin says he may sing a song or to before going out to that ring and beating the living hell out of Chavo Guerrero Jr and that's the bottom line, Cos Stone Cold said so.
We see Kane and Paul Heyman walking to the ring. Kane vs. Al Snow is next!
Kane vs. Al Snow
Al Snow makes his way to the ring first to a good cheer from the WWF crowd before Kane and Heyman enter the arena to a huge amount of heat. Snow tries to get on top of Kane as soon as he enters the ring but Kane quickly responds with a huge big boot to the face of Snow. Kane dominates Snow with some huge right hands before lifting Al into the military position and chucking him to the outside. Heyman orders Kane out of the ring and Kane does as he's told. Kane sends Al Snow into the steel steps. Kane then hits Snow with a big spinebuster on the ramp way. Kane rolls into the ring and breaks up the count before going straight back to Snow. Kane brings Snow back to the ring and goes climbs hitting the clothesline from hell on his opponent. Kane quickly gets back to his feet and hits the chokeslam on Al Snow got the three, Kane making easy work on the former WWF European Champion.
Winner - Kane
After the match, Heyman orders Kane to finish off Al Snow and Kane grabs a steel chain from under the ring. Despite huge protests from the announce team, Kane proceeded to use the chain first around his fist like a steel glove before choking him in the middle of the ring. Kane finished off the beating by laying the chain in the ring before chokeslamming Al Snow for a second time this time on top of the chain. Heyman grabbed hold of the microphone and told Stone Cold to take note of what just happened to Al because come Sunday, this is what will become of HIM.
Vince McMahon is watching the current goings on backstage with DDP and says that this is what happens when you put a hick from Memphis in charge of a Wrestling Promotion. “You get people like Al Snow on TV”. Vince and Page snigger at Al Snow’s big beat down. DDP asks where Lawler is as he hasn’t seen him and Vince says he has no idea. Vince suggests that they go and ask some other people and ventures through to another room where Jerry Lawler is seen lying on the ground unconscious, Ron Waterman and X-Pac standing over him. Vince McMahon exclaims “There he is!” and his company smile as Vince kneels down next to Lawler. Vince pulls Lawler’s head up so he’s looking at him and says that if he thought this was going to be a clean affair, then Lawler was seriously mistaken before slamming Lawler’s face back into the floor. Vince shakes the hands of his associates and the camera splits.
Daffney Unger is backstage with Hugh Morrus when Trish Stratus comes into shot. Trish tells Daffney that she hopes she’s brought her A game with her because at WrestleMania, she is going to prove to the world why she is the future of Women’s Wrestling in the WWF. Unger laughs off Trish’s comments and tells Morrus that Trish just proved her theory right…she does have balls. Unger and Morrus laugh it off but Trish doesn’t flinch at all. Unger tells Trish she can be sure she’s bring her top game because come WrestleMania, she’s winning that WWF Women’s Title and there is nothing anyone can do to stop her. Both women go toe to toe and look like they’re about to go at it when Daffney decides to back off. She says she’ll see Trish at WrestleMania.
Key (w/Charles Wright) and Kurt Angle vs. Edge and Rob Van Dam
While the wrestlers make their approach to the ring, Michael Cole and Tazz are still going on about Vince McMahon’s despicable behaviour with Jerry Lawler. Edge and Rob Van Dam come down to big crowd pops and Angle gets some strong heat from the crowd. Key also is getting a good crowd reaction here in Cleveland. After much dispute between Key and Angle, Angle and Edge start off the match and Angle quickly tries to dominate the match with his technical ability. Angle nails Edge with a huge belly to belly suplex but only gets a two on the cover. Angle tags in Key and he goes straight to work on the Canadian. Key hits a huge backbreaker on Edge but fails to get the three. Key tags in Angle who immediately catches Edge on the retreat and pulls him back from his corner. Angle drives Edge’s head into the mat with a huge german suplex. Angle goes for the pin again but only gets the two. Key gets back in again and works on the lower back. Key gets Edge in the bear hug. Van Dam desperately tries to get the crowd behind Edge, Van Dam looking for the tag. Edge begins to fight out of the bear hug. Edge gets some punches but Key rakes the eyes. Key bounces himself of the ropes to go for a clothesline but Edge plants Key with a huge standing drop kick and Edge tries to crawl over to his corner – Van Dam has his arm stretched right out. Angle comes into make the save grabbing hold of Edge’s leg but Edge fights out with an enziguiri and makes the hot tag. Van Dam flies in and takes down Angle, then Key, then Angle again. Van Dam drops Key with a spinning heel kick. Van Dam sends Angle out of the ring. Rolling Thunder on Key. Meanwhile outside, Angle gets hit with a spear by Edge. Van Dam gets to the top rope and you know what comes next…Five Star Frog Splash! Van Dam takes the win for Edge and him.
Winners - Rob Van Dam and Edge
After the match, Van Dam gets up and celebrates in the ring and Edge comes to join him. Angle was hot on the outside and grabbed hold of a chair but Edge and RVD spotted him and Angle hesitated despite pleas from both Van Dam and Edge to get into the ring. Angle angrily slammed the chair into the steel steps and held his hands on his head; he really wanted to get one over these two tonight.
The Undertaker arrives backstage and doesn’t look happy his face all patched up from the attack on RAW. DX appear out of nowhere and the crowd go wild. Triple H tells The Undertaker that he knows the three of them haven’t had the friendliest of relationships but he wants the Deadman to know that despite all of the problems between them in the past, he has their respect and they hope that at WrestleMania, he beats the living hell out of the People’s Chump. The Undertaker says that he appreciates their wishes and their respects but at WrestleMania, whether they hope it or not, he is going to make The Rock his personal bitch.
Next up is another Brian Moore promo. Brian Moore tells us that WrestleMania is the place where dreams are made and legacies begin. Brian Moore promises that at WrestleMania X8, the legacy of BM begins.
Chavo is making his way to the ring backstage which means one thing, Stone Cold vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr is next!
Stone Cold comes to the ring to a huge pop from the WWF crowd and does his usual in ring salute from all four corners of the ring. When Chavo Guerrero Jr makes his appearance, Chavo gets some heat from the audience but nothing of the same magnitude of Shawn Stasiak or The Rock. Chavo gets into the ring and stares in the eyes of the Rattlesnake who is ready to go but their match is halted by the appearance of Paul Heyman. Paul says that he has a special announcement to make regarding this match and that it comes directly from Vince McMahon. Heyman says that Vince felt that this match was rather unfairly balanced and so this 1-on-1 match has now become a Handicap Match. Heyman calls out Chavo’s partner for tonight and the WWF Cruiserweight Champion, Marc Mero who comes out to the ring to a largely indifferent crowd – it’s probably because he left Torrie Wilson out back.
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Marc Mero
The match kicks off with both Chavo and Mero trying to double team the Rattlesnake but Austin fights both men off with ease. Austin hits a spinebuster on Mero before planting Chavo with the Lou Thez press and let’s loose with a thousand more hits to the head. Mero gets tossed to the outside of the ring by Austin. Austin drags Chavo into the corner of the ring and begins to stomp a mud hole all over Chavo Snr’s baby boy before tossing the intruding Mero out of the other side of the ring. Austin plants Chavo with a huge vertical suplex before he goes for the pin but Mero pulls out the referee out of the ring and stops the count. Austin gets mad and goes in chase of Mero but Mero smartly takes him around the ring before getting back in and getting on top of him. Mero and Chavo grab hold of Austin and whip him into the ropes but Austin takes them both out with a double clothesline. Austin rakes the eyes of Mero before hitting Chavo with the Stunner who flies out of the ring. Mero gets sent into the turnbuckle but he gets the boot up and stops the Austin attack. Mero tries to hit the TKO on Austin but he counters the move and pushes Mero away before taking him down with the second stunner of the match and then getting the pin for the three counts to claim the win. Austin got back to his feet and celebrated with his usual beer celebration in the ring as Chavo Guerrero Jr made his way up the ramp looking extremely disappointed. Paul Heyman won’t be pleased with this outcome.
Winner - Stone Cold Steve Austin
Michael Cole and Tazz do a final run down of the WrestleMania card which now includes a Cruiserweight Invitational match for the WWF Cruiserweight Title, issued by Marc Mero. Big News People!
The Undertaker is seen leaving his locker room and is making his way to entrance to the arena. The Undertaker is next after the break.
The Undertaker makes his way to the ring to a huge response from the crowd and is showing no signs of nerves even though he is three days away from his 10th WrestleMania where he will take on The Rock for the WWF Championship. The Undertaker says that he’s been around a long time in this business and The Undertaker says he knows which guys have got the heart for the business and which guys are always looking out for their next commercial success. The Undertaker says that The Rock is just another example of the latter. Taker says that The Rock thinks he’s special and that he’s unique but to him, he’s just another wannabe Hulk Hogan. As for the WWF Championship goes, well The Undertaker feels that he’s never had to hold the WWF title to get himself over with the fans but they still know that this WWF ring is his the biggest dog in it and when The Rock steps into his yard at Mania, he’s going to get his ass handed to him. The Rock appears at the top of the ramp way flanked by the WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz and has a different opinion on the matter. The Rock says that he’s heard all the talk, heard all the promises but as far as The Rock is concerned, the talk is over, the threats are futile and all he wants now is for The Undertaker to Just Bring It! Taker agrees with The Rock and pleads with him to get into the ring and both he and The Dudley Boyz make their way down the ramp. The Rock tries to get on the apron but Taker swings for him and The Rock all of a sudden has a change of heart and tells The Dudley Boyz to do his dirty work.
The Dudley Boyz waste little time getting into the ring and immediately circle The Undertaker. The Dudleyz quickly jump the Deadman knock him down with hard shots. The Dudley Boyz whip him hard into the corner but Taker manages to get the boot up on the approach by Bubba before fighting both him and D-Von off with fists. The Undertaker plants D-Von with a big boot before hitting D-Von with a running DDT. Taker gets back to his feet and goes for the chokeslam on D-Von but The Rock slides into the ring undetected and plants The Undertaker with another chair shot just as he did on Monday Night RAW. The Rock tells The Dudleyz to do as they did on Monday and once again grab a table but just and they do as they’re told setting it up once more in exactly the same place. The Rock grabs hold of The Undertaker and mouths off at him but as he does, DX’s music blasts out of the PA system and Triple H and Shawn Michaels charge to the ring. The Rock smartly scatters but D-Von and Bubba stay for the fight and a four man brawl ensues in the ring. HBK and Triple H dominate the Dudley Boyz, HBK quickly firing of the Sweet Chin Music on Bubba Ray Dudley before Triple H plants D-Von with the Pedigree and the fans go wild. The Rock scrambles up the ramp way clutching on to his WWF Championship belt as Triple H and Shawn Michaels help The Undertaker back to his feet and Taker is writhing. The show ends with pictures of The Rock clutching on to his title while HBK, HHH and The Undertaker stand tall in the ring. Our Next stop is WrestleMania!
The ResultsTest and William Regal def. Rikishi and The British Bulldog
Mr. Perfect def. Billy Kidman
Kane def. Al Snow
Edge and Rob Van Dam def. Key and Kurt Angle
Stone Cold def. Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Marc Mero
-
WWF Smackdown! Preview
Why Rock Why?
March 7th, 20002
All roads point to Toronto on March 10, but to get there the WWF Superstars will have to survive this last major stop on the road. SmackDown will emanate from Cleveland this Thursday and many questions will look to be answered.
How will the Number One Contender for the WWF Championship, The Undertaker, react to the actions of from last Monday, when The Rock turned on The Deadman and handed the WWF Tag Team Titles to the Dudley Boyz and what will The Rock's explanation be?
Earlier this week on RAW, WWF Co-Owner Jerry Lawler threw down the gauntlet to Vince McMahon after he revealed that he had suggested to the board of directors to split the WWF roster into two brands due to the huge disagreements between the two owners and Vince McMahon was not happy. Vince knows now there is only one way to stop this nightmare...beat Jerry Lawler at WrestleMania. What can Vince do tonight to give him that big advantage running into WrestleMania?
Smackdown will host two huge match ups tonight involving Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kane will go head to head at WrestleMania in a Last Man Standing Match. Kane is scheduled to take on Al Snow while Stone Cold is scheduled to take on Chavo Guerrero Jr. Both superstars know that their matches tonight will be vital for the warm up to WrestleMania but as neither Superstar is able to lay their hands on their opponent, how will they attempt to get into the other guy's head?
Smackdown will also host a huge tag team match with the British Bulldog tagging with WWF European Champion Rikishi against Test and William Regal. One can be that Test will be looking out for revenge on both Rikishi and The Bulldog after Test got hit with the Stinkface earlier in the week on RAW.
WWF.com has also learned that Mr Perfect will be facing off against Billy Kidman for the second time this week after Kidman complained that the only reason Perfect was victorious was due to the fact that his partner ditched him. Will Perfect carry on his "perfect record" to WrestleMania or will Kidman prove himself right? Also in action tonight are the four competitors who WWF.com can exclusively announce will be facing each other at WrestleMania in a Fatal Way Hardcore Match for the WWF Hardcore Championship. Kurt Angle teams up with the Hardcore Champion Key against Edge and Mr Thursday Night, Rob Van Dam.
The CardKane vs. Al Snow
Stone Cold vs. Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Mr. Perfect vs. Billy Kidman
Test and William Regal vs. Rikishi and The British Bulldog
Key and Kurt Angle vs. Edge and Rob Van Dam
-
WWF RAW
Shock!
March 4th, 2002
Opening Segment
Jerry Lawler comes out to the ring to kick off the show. He said that ever since he became the Co Owner of the World Wrestling Federation, all he has ever wanted to do was make the WWF a better product; but Vince McMahon has repeatedly stopped him from doing that. Lawler said if that wasn’t enough, Vince then blames him when anything goes wrong within the company; Lawler said this has to stop; it’s going to stop. Lawler said that after last week’s embarrassment on Smackdown, he went to the board of directors and put forward a suggestion; one that would allow both Vince and himself to do their jobs without each other standing in each others way. Lawler said that what he has suggested that the World Wrestling Federation’s roster be split into two brands. RAW being one brand and Smackdown being the other and that the rosters would be decided by means of a draft, just like the NFL with each brand taking it’s turn to make a pick and that this split could very well shake the WWF by it’s very foundations.
Vince McMahon makes a quick entrance to the ring and he does not look happy. Vince said that Lawler is insane and that all he is trying to do is destroy the company that he and his father built and he is not going to stand for it. Vince said it is ludicrous to think that splitting a company like the WWF is going to achieve anything. Hell, Vince thinks that all that would achieve is that Lawler would destroy half of the company with his lack of management and the WWF would fall into a pity of obscurity, just like every other Federation Jerry Lawler has been part a part of has. Lawler tells Vince that he will make a deal with him; he says that if Vince McMahon beats him at WrestleMania, he will relinquish all of his shares he has in the WWF to Vince. However, if he wins, then Lawler will be able to make Vince McMahon look like the chump that he is on RAW the following Monday Night and that Vince will have to personally endorse the WWF draft. Vince agrees and the two men shake hands. As Vince leaves the ring, Lawler faces the crowd and begins to announce the new stipulations to the match up at WrestleMania when through the crowd appears Diamond Dallas Page who tries to hit Lawler once again with the diamond cutter but Lawler this time counters the move and DDP crashes against the mat. Lawler takes it straight to DDP before clearing him from the ring, Page holding his face as he regroups with McMahon on the outside, Lawler looking real fired up and ready to go with Mania only 6 days away.
--COMMERCIALS--When the show returns, Vince is mouthing off to Page backstage about how much of a nerve Jerry Lawler has when they walk past of bunch of wrestlers talking. Everyone goes quiet as they notice Vince and this makes his blood boil. Vince tells the crowd that no one makes a mockery out of Vincent Kennedy McMahon and later this week on Smackdown, he is going to give Lawler a demonstration of what is going to happen to him when Lawler takes on Diamond Dallas Page in a Steel Cage Match. Everyone looks stunned as Vince and Page angrily walk away. What a match for Smackdown.
Non-Title Tag Team Match: Mr Perfect and Al Snow vs. Shawn Stasiak and Billy Kidman
The match starts with Snow and Stasiak locking up in the centre of the ring, Stasiak taking early control with a full nelson slam on his opponent. Stasiak took Snow into his corner and that was where he had every intention of keeping him beating him down with some stiff kicks to the chest before tagging in his partner who did more of the same. Kidman continued to take it Snow, and nearly stole a pin after he planted Snow with a snapmare before following up with a dropkick to the back. Kidman tagged out to the Intercontinental Champion who brought Snow back into the centre and put him in a sleeper hold the crowd totally unexcited by the rest hold. However, the fans new Al Snow was one tough cookie and the former European Champion slowly found a second wind getting back to a vertical base before fighting out of the hold with some stuff elbow shots before going for the tag only for Kidman to drop him just before he made it. Kidman dragged Snow back into the centre of the ring and beat down once more on Snow, Mr Perfect now desperate to get into the match. Stasiak got back to his feet also and continued the assault the referee forcing Kidman out of the ring as Stasiak landed Snow with a powerslam that nearly got the win. Stasiak taunted Mr Perfect before tagging in Kidman once more who had to pull back straying Al Snow, beating him down to the mat again before going up top. Kidman went for the shooting star press but Snow got the knees up and both men needed to tag out. Snow and Kidman both crawled to their corners and Snow got the tag but Stasiak refused to tag in. Stasiak doesn’t want a piece of Mr Perfect. Perfect follows Stasiak as the Intercontinental Champion backs away up the ramp and Kidman tries to take a cheap shot. Perfect quickly counters the offence before beating Kidman down with some stiff back handed chops sending Kidman to the ground before following up with the rolling snap. The crowd went insane as Perfect dominated Kidman finishing him off with the Perfect-Plex for the 1, 2, 3. Mr Perfect and Shawn Stasiak locked eyes after the match as Stasiak backed away with his title.(Winners – Mr Perfect and Al Snow)
Backstage Segment
The Coach was backstage with The British Bulldog. The British Bulldog said that when he came back to the WWF in January, he was blown away by the talent that the company had to offer and that he had nothing but respect for these guys. He said that as WWF veteran, the majority of the WWF Superstars of this new generation gave him the same respect that he gave them but not Test. Bulldog said that despite Test’s talents, he is still just another youthful punk that has got more brawn than brain and come WrestleMania, Test’s going to get the ass kicking of a lifetime!
Backstage Segment
Meanwhile, Test is watching Bulldog’s interview backstage with a huge grin on his face when Paul Heyman walks in with the Monster Kane. Heyman tells Test not to be alarmed and that he just wanted to pass on his regards. Heyman said that what Test did last week to The British Bulldog was awesome and that tells Test that if he goes about things the right way, then he may one day become just as big a Superstar as Kane, who Heyman adds, at WrestleMania, is going to destroy Stone Cold Steve Austin. Test tells Heyman that if what he did to Bulldog impressed him, then what he’s going to do to Rikishi later tonight is going to blow his mind.
--COMMERCIALS--William Regal vs. Perry Saturn
We join the match up as Regal is making his way to the ring showing just exactly how much the WWF think of Perry Saturn right now. As Regal makes his entrance, JR announces that William Regal is set to face Rikishi for the WWF European Title at WrestleMania after Rikishi accepted his challenge earlier today. Regal and Saturn lock up and Regal quickly takes control with a kick to the gut before planting Saturn with an underhook suplex. Regal quickly plants Saturn with a second suplex before planting him with a running knee before going for a cover but he only gets the two. Regal goes for the STF on Saturn but Perry makes the ropes and the referee has to force Regal to break the hold. Regal works on the back of Saturn before lifting him back to his feet and plants him to the mat with a half nelson throw Regal again looking for the pin but he only gets the 2. Regal is not happy and yells at the referee for not counting fast enough. Regal attempts another cover but he gets the same result. Regal begins to choke Saturn and the referee begins the count Regal letting go just before the 3 before latching on again. The referee warns Regal a second time but Regal shoos away the referee before landing Saturn with a knee drop. Regal tries the pin again but gets another 2 count; Regal simply can’t believe it. Regal quickly heads off to the corner and begins to untie the turnbuckle. Regal has lost it! The referee tries to pull Regal away but Regal resists and the referee has to resort to force to get Regal away. While the referee is busy, Regal quickly slides his hand into his trunks about pulls out a metal object before clocking the unsuspecting Saturn with it. Regal quickly chucks the item out of the ring before hooking the leg of his opponent to steal the victory. Regal celebrates in the ring after the match despite the boos from the crowd. (Winner – William Regal)
Backstage Segment
Backstage, Rikishi is preparing for his match up while watching a replay of the Regal finish. Rikishi smiles and shakes his head calling Regal a joker before continuing to tape up his wrists for his match later on tonight.
Backstage Segment
Further backstage, The Coach is joined by WWF Women’s Champion, Trish Stratus. The Coach asks Trish whether she is beginning to feel the pressure as Women’s Champ as she approaches WrestleMania against arguably her toughest opponent for a long time. Trish said that while she admits, Daffney is definitely a Top Superstar, she isn’t invincible and come WrestleMania, she is going to have something in common with a lot of other divas that have tried to get in her way and that is that she is going to get some well deserved stratusfaction. JR reminds us that our next match is Daffney Unger vs. Torrie Wilson before we got to another commercial break.
--COMMERCIALS--Daffney Unger vs. Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson may have wished in hindsight that she sat this one out after the huge beating she received. As she arrived in the ring, Torrie did her usual routine waving to the crowd only to get viciously struck over the back with a huge clubbing blow from Daffney sending her face first into the mat as Daffney begun her beat down. Unger mounted Torrie who landed her with forearm shot after forearm shot before powerslamming her with force to the ground. Unger dragged Torrie’s lifeless carcass to the apron before hitting her with a guillotine leg drop before going to the outside and beating her down with some more shots. Unger screamed at the lifeless Torrie to get back to her feet, Daffney eventually putting her out of her misery with a huge jumping DDT, Unger making the cover to score an easy win. (Winner - Daffney Unger)
Backstage Segment
The Rock is backstage getting ready for his match tonight when The Undertaker makes his entrance dropping his suitcase next to the People’s Champ. The Undertaker tried to explain what happened last week on Smackdown but The Rock said he’s cool with it. The Rock tells Taker that they’ve got no hard feelings and that all they have to do tonight is go out at there and beat the holy hell out of Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley. The Undertaker looks on surprised as The Rock grabs hold of his Title belt and exits the locker room.
Non-Title Match: Test vs. WWF European Champion Rikishi
The two behemoths start the match off with a long lock up both men trying to overpower with their strength. Test gets an Irish whip countered and Rikishi goes for his savate kick early in the match but Test grabs hold of the ropes and avoids an early upset. The two men lock up again and Test drives Rikishi into the corner. Test unleashes some stiff right hands on Rikishi but the Kish quickly turns the tables and lands some of his own Test. Rikishi sends Test hard into the other corner before smacking his rear end and crashing into his opponent. Rikishi follows up with a huge belly to belly suplex on the Canadian but Test kicks out on the two. Rikishi brings Test back to his feet and sends him into the rope but Test counters and kicks Rikishi in the face who was expecting a back body drop before throwing some fists the way of the Samoan. Test sends Rikishi hard into the turnbuckle before landing him with a corner splash. Test climbs up top and plants Rikishi with a huge double axehandle and goes for the pin but Rikishi kicks out and the match continues. Test locks Rikishi in a sleeper hold and the crowd finally come to life to get behind the Phat man. Rikishi quickly picks up that second wind (and no, I don’t mean gas) and begins to fight out of the hold with fists and elbows. Test releases the hold and Rikishi knocks Test back with some punches. Rikishi takes Test down with a clothesline after clothesline before sending Test to the mat with a huge big back body drop. Rikishi gets Test back to his feet and sends him with huge force into a turnbuckle before landing Test with a huge corner avalanche. Rikishi is on fire! Oh no! Test slumps into the corner! Rikishi goes for the Stinkface but Test quickly escapes the ring and wants no further part of this match and begins to head up the ramp. Just as Test thought he was safe, appears the British Bulldog who appears through the crowd and attacks Test before dragging him down the ramp way. Bulldog is furious with Test and takes out his frustration by sending him hard into the ring post. Bulldog chucks Test back into the ring and tells Rikishi to do the Stinkface and Rikishi happily obliges, Test only able to muster a scream as Rikishi backs up into his face. Rikishi quickly puts Test out of his misery planting him with the savate Kick for the victory in this huge upset. Bulldog looks more than happy with himself. (Winner – Rikishi)
Backstage Segment
The Coach is backstage with Triple H and Shawn Michaels. The Coach asked HHH and HBK how they were feeling with less than a week before making their in ring return at WrestleMania. Triple H jumped in front of Shawn and quickly answered that DX are really hyped up about this match and that WrestleMania, whether it be The Rock and The Undertaker or The Dudley Boyz, DX were going to walk out of Toronto as the WWF Tag Team Champions. The Coach followed by asking whether DX have undergone any particular training schemes to get back into top shape for this big match and Triple H quickly jumps in to answer once more to the frustration of HBK. The Game tells the Coach that when you’re a top athlete like the Heart Break Kid or The Game, then you don’t need any special techniques because you know exactly what it takes to be at the top of the business at that for all the doubters that said that HBK and HHH were through, to tune in on March 10th to see one of the great come backs of all time. Shawn quickly barges in and tells the audience that if you’re not down with that, then they’ve got two words for us. SUCK IT! HBK tells Triple H that he wants something more to say next time as we cut away from the interview for another commercial break.
--COMMERICALS--Non-Title Match: Edge vs. Key (w/Charles Wright)
Key and Edge both exchange right hands at the start of the match. Key manoeuvres and goes for a belly to back suplex but Edge counters with hard elbows and whips Key into a turnbuckle. Edge follows Key but walks into a boot to the face before Key goes up top and plants Edge with a flying clothesline for the 2 count. Key and Edge both get back to their feet and Key sends Edge to the corner before hitting him with a running avalanche before following up with a big backbreaker but only gets the 2. Edge fights off Key with some right hands before but Key takes control once more with a huge chop. Key backs up and whips Edge into the ropes but Edge comes back with a lariat on Key, before taking Key down a second time with a clothesline. Edge goes up top and plants Key with a big missile drop kick for the 2. Wright becomes overly animated and words cross between him and Edge but Edge remains in firm control as he plants Key with a facebuster for another 2 count. Edge sets himself up in the corner and signals for the spear but Wright grabs hold of Edge’s leg and won’t let him move. Edge kicks Wright off of him but gets planted with a huge charge by Key that sends Edge flying into the corner. Key unleashes some huge body shots to Edge before whipping him into the adjacent turnbuckle, Key following up with big back body drop. Key goes for the Victimizer but Edge counters the move and hits Key with a reverse mat slam driving Key’s head into the canvas once again hooking the legs but only manages to get the 2 count once more. Edge goes up top but once again, Charles Wright gets involved and pulls on the leg of Edge and Key hits Edge with a superplex taking both Edge and himself out. After a moment, Key finally makes the cover on Edge but Edge somehow gets the shoulder up. Key looks stunned. Key struggled to get back to his feet as did Edge and both men traded punches. Key looked for a belly to belly suplex but Edge fought out of his grip and went for the Edgecution but Key managed to send him away. Key somehow managed to get the Face Eraser on Edge and decided to go up top. Key went for the senton splash but Edge moved and Key crashed into the mat. Key quickly got back to a vertical base only to get hit with a spear by Edge for the 1…2…3. A clearly delighted Edge celebrated on the ramp way while the Hardcore Champion lay on the mat in disbelief. Charles Wright did not look happy.(Winner – Edge)
--COMMERICALS--Contract Signing
When we return from the break, the ring was all set up wth tables and chairs for the highly anticipated contract signing between Stone Cold and Kane. Paul Heyman comes to the ring first and announces that the contract signing is up next and so gets straight down to business and calls out the man who he calls "The Future of the WWF", the Big Red Monster, Kane. Kane shakes the hand of his boss before sitting at the table and Heyman then called out the Rattlesnake who duely follows. Heyman stands between the two men and he begins to go through all of the rigmerol only for Stone Cold to tell him to Shut the hell up and get on with the damn contract signing. An embaressed Heyman passes the contract to Kane who quickly signs before sliding the paper back over to Stone Cold and asks him to do the same. Austin tells Heyman that's it about time before grabbing hold of a pen and beginning to scribble his signature. Heyman informs Austin as he is signing, one of the conditions of this contract is that neither of the two competitors can lay a hand on each other prior to their Wrestlemania Match but Austin doesn't care, who finishes off his signature and then hands Heyman the clipboard. Heyman announces that the Last Man Standing Match is set up for Mania and at in 6 days, Kane is officially going to end Stone Cold's career. Austin snatches the microphone from Heyman and begans to verbally beatdown Heyman. Austin asks Heyman if he think's he is special and Heyman is real full of himself and says that he thinks he is. Austin asks Heyman if he read the contract carefully and Heyman says he has and that he even drafted it up himself. Austin is pleased and says that he has one question for Heyman. Austin says that although he understands that he can't lay his hands on Kane till WrestleMania, Stone Cold wants to know if he can lay his hands on HIM? Heyman looks stunned and that's just what he gets, a big ol Stone Cold Stunner and the crowd go wild. Austin flips off Kane as he grabs hold of some cans of beer and celebrates in the ring and Kane can't lay a finger on him. What a sly move by the Rattlesnake!
Backstage Segment
The Rock is backstage with The Coach hyping up the Tag Team Title Main Event. The Rock said that in 6 days, he is going to be in for the fight of his life against one of the biggest cats in the yard, The Deadman, The Undertaker. The Rock puts The Undertaker over saying that he’s done it all. WWF Championships, Tag Team Championships, the man has had a decade of destruction and that The Rock personally can’t wait for WrestleMania. But as far as tonight goes, well, The Rock says that WrestleMania will have to be put on hold because tonight is about WWF Tag Team Title Gold. Gold with a huge history held by some of the greatest teams of all time and The Rock guarandamntees there is no way and The Rock means no way that any WWF title belt is going anywhere without The Rock having a say. Do you Smell what The Rock is cooking?
WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The Rock and The Undertaker © vs. The Dudley Boyz
The match kicks off in an explosive fashion with all four competitors brawling it out in the middle of the ring. The Rock pairs off with D-Von in the middle of the ring as The Undertaker and Bubba slip to the outside, Taker introducing Bubba very early on to the steel steps. The Rock throws right hand after right hand to D-Von before taking him down with a huge clothesline. The Rock hits D-Von with a huge Samoan drop but only gets the 2 count and so tags out to The Undertaker. The Undertaker sends D-Von into the corner of the ring and beats away at him with huge body shots before stepping back and crashing into him with a huge splash. D-Von wanders into no man's land and gets planted with a big running DDT by The Undertaker who gets the 2 after Bubba breaks up the count. The Undertaker throws D-Von back into his corner and tags The Rock in once who are who unleashes some more right hands on his opponent. D-Von gets whipped into the ropes before The Rock connects with a huge belly to belly suplex for the 2, Bubba once more breaking up the count. The Rock goes for Bubba but Bubba quickly gets out of the way and D-Von gets the attack from behind knocking The Rock into their corner. D-Von quickly tags out and the Dudleyz drop The Rock with a double suplex, Bubba getting a 2. Bubba hits The Rock with a scoop slam before tagging D-Von back in who connects with a diving leg drop on the WWF Champion but is unable to get the 3. D-Von tags out again and the Dudleyz double team The Rock once more taking him down with a double reverse elbow. Bubba goes up top and connects with a vicious elbow drop on the Champ and hooks the leg but The Rock kicks out on the 2 just as Taker was about to break up the count. Bubba insults The Undertaker and Taker tries to get in the match but this simply distracts the referee so that the Dudleys can double team The Rock. Smart move by the Dudley Boyz who hit The Rock with another double suplex before Bubba tags D-Von back in. D-Von sends The Rock into the turnbuckle and charges at The Rock but instead runs into a boot. The Rock and D-Von trade punches but D-Von cleverly uses the thumb to the eye and hits The Rock with a Russian Leg Sweep for the 2. D-Von tags out back to Bubba and Bubba locks in a sleeper on The Rock. The Undertaker acts as the cheerleader on the outside as The Rock tries to regain some momentum, Bubba tightening the hold as best as he can. The Rock starts to get a second wind and begins to fight out of the hold with fists and elbows. Finally The Rock breaks loose and sends Bubba down with a right hand followed by D-Von. Bubba gets hit with a back body drop. D-Von then gets hit with a big DDT. The Rock gets down for The Rock Bottom but The Undertaker blind tags himself in and the two competitors and The Rock isn't happy. The Rock and Taker get into a shoving contest and the victim in the end is the referee who gets knocked out by an elbow as The Undertaker pushes The Rock but neither of these men care. Bubba and D-Von quickly make themselves known once more D-Von taking The Rock to the outside while Bubba attacks The Undertaker from behind. Bubba goes for an irish whip but The Undertaker counters and Bubba gets a boot to the face for his troubles while D-Von gets sent stiffly into the steel steps. The Undertaker signals for the end and goes for the chokeslam when The Rock attacks The Undertaker from behind with a steel chair dropping Bubba in the process. The crowd can't believe what they're seeing as The Rock hits The Undertaker for a second time this time taking The Deadman of his feet, the crowd in absolute uproar. The Rock stands over The Undertaker, his eyes more soulless than ever as he rips off his arm pad and chucks it into the angered crowd before hitting The Undertaker with the stiffest People's Elbow you will ever see. The Rock tells Bubba to cover The Undertaker as The Rock drags the referee over and tells him to make the 1,2.3. The Dudley Boyz are the NEW WWF Tag Team Champions. (Winners and New WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz)
The WWF Champion is not done with The Undertaker yet as he barks more instructions to the Dudley Boyz who just lack week but him through a table and it looks like he wants the same for the Deadman tonight. D-Von and Bubba climb out of the ring and pull from under it a table as The Rock stands over The Undertaker holding aloft his WWF Title telling him that this is about as close as he’ll ever get to taking his title. The Dudley Boyz get back into the ring and set up the table as The Rock drags The Deadman back to his feet and looks him straight into the eyes before chucking him to the Dudleyz who 3D him through the table. The crowd are furious with The Rock. How could he turn his back on The Undertaker? Does the WWF Title mean THAT much to him? The show ends with The Rock climbing the turnbuckle and raising his title to the fans that no longer chant his name…
-
WRESTLING AROUND THE WORLDCOLE GET'S A NEW ROLE
WWF fans have come to know Michael Cole as the lead announcer for WWF Smackdown, a role which has held since the show's inception in 1999. As of this week, Cole has a new title to his resume: Managing Editor of WWF.com
Now, you may be wondering…how did an announcer find himself in such a position? “I’ve been here nearly 6 years, and when I started, I ran a division in live events called Slamjams. And of course, I’ve been doing SmackDown since its debut, so I’ve been around,” said Cole. “The WWF board of directors came to me and asked me if I’d like to be part of a new project to make WWF.com more interactive and on the edge; they thought I could contribute positively, and I think it will be a good fit.”
So what does Michael Cole promise for the future of WWF.com. Well Michael Cole has stressed that he and the board want growth. “I want WWF.com to be slick, entertaining and emotional, but above all, I want it to be a must-read website. When you wake up in the morning, I want WWF.com to be the first website you visit. I want to have headlines that grab your attention, stories that move you and things you never thought you’d see on WWF.com. Coming from my background, I hope to make an immediate impact.” The background Cole refers to is his impressive pre-WWE resume. A graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications, one of the most prestigious and highly regarded journalism programs in America, Cole spent nearly a decade working in news radio prior to coming to WWE.
“After I graduated from Newhouse, I worked for CBS News for almost a decade,” Cole told me during our chat. “Among other things, I’ve covered three presidential campaigns, the Branch Davidian standoff and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. I’ve been stationed everywhere, from New York to Mexico City to Sarajevo, and I know what it takes to succeed.” Cole believes that his influence will have a two-fold effect on the WWF.com team. “Firstly, I think I can help the creative team at .com become even more creative, so to speak. I live and breathe this business, and hopefully I can help the team better understand the emotion and passion. I’ll be at all televised events, so I can provide a unique perspective from the show. I'll also be a liaison between the boys and the .com team.”
All in all, Cole is very excited about his new role. Cole truely believes that he, together with the .com team, can make WWF.com the most exciting interactive experience any wrestling fan has ever had.
Credit - WWF.com
-
Preview:
Tag Team Title Main Event
March 4th, 2002
After last week's personal attack by Vince McMahon, Jerry Lawler has promised that the last RAW before Wrestlemania will be one the biggest of all time. RAW will be coming to you live from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit Michigan tonight, only on TNN.
With a huge RAW Main Event with the WWF Tag Team Titles on the line, it looks like the show is going to live up to Jerry Lawler's claims. The WWF Tag Team Champions (and WrestleMania Opponents), The Rock and The Undertaker will defend their Tag Team Titles against the former Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz in a Rematch from RAW a week ago. The question that remains on everybodies mind is whether The WWF Champion and The Undertaker can sustain their title reign with ties between the two being more strained than ever. How will The Rock react to last week's events in the main event of Smackdown? Will Degeneration X finally get involved with this tag team battle?
At WrestleMania, Stone Cold Steve Austin has agreed to go one on one with the Big Red Monster Kane, in a Last Man Standing Match, a match that Paul Heyman believes is beyond the Rattlesnake. Tonight, Stone Cold and the Monster Kane will put pen to paper to seal the deal on this highly anticipated match up. Will these two firey competitors be able to hold back their emotions with only a week to go?
Two wrestlers that have certainly been on the rise over the past few months are Test and The British Bulldog. Over the past few weeks, both of these fine athletes have been trying to out-do each other, taking on different opponents displaying exactly why they both are were they are. But last week on Smackdown, Test snapped following Bulldog's win over Billy Kidman viciously attacking the native of Manchester, England. But Test should have known that the British Bulldog is not one to forgive and forget and with Test having a big match up scheduled tonight against the 400lb Rikishi, one wonders how long it will be before the Bulldog shows his face.
Jerry Lawler has also promised to have his own say in tonight's show following the attack last week on Smackdown by Vince McMahon and his latest lackey, Diamond Dallas Page. Lawler promises that what he has to say tonight is going to shake the very foundations that the World Wrestling Federation was built on.
Tune in tonight at 9/8 CT to watch Monday Night RAW on TNN
-
WWF Smackdown!
Broadcast on the 28th of February 2002
WHAT CARNAGE!
1- With only 10 days to go before Wrestlemania an action packed night was guaranteed and an action packed night is what we received. As the pyros exploded around the arena, Michael Cole and Tazz introduced welcomed us to the show with breaking news of two big matches planned for later tonight booked by Vincent Kennedy McMahon himself with D-Von Dudley scheduled to go one on one with The Undertaker while Bubba Ray Dudley is scheduled to face of with The Rock in the Smackdown Main Event!
2 – WWF Hardcore Championship Match: Key © vs. Edge
We kick of the night with the WWF Hardcore Championship Match Up between the Champion Key and the challenger Edge. Key came out with his Agent Charles Wright by his side for that extra security but Edge didn't need back up; you could tell from the fire in his eyes that he was ready for tonight and these two competitors were anything but friends right now. The match started off with both men trading blows in the middle of the ring brawling back and forth, before Edge countered an Irish whip attempt taking Key down with a big drop kick. Edge quickly took control beating away at the Champion sending him into the turnbuckle before spearing him into the corner taking all the wind out of his opponent. Edge hit Key with a one handed bulldog before making a cover, Key having to kick out, Wright looking anything but calm as Edge took it to his client. Key tried to get back into the match with some body shots but Edge sent him back with a kick to the midsection before landing Key with a big DDT, Edge again unlucky to make the three. Edge got back to his feet and wanted to end the match right there and then signalling for the Spear but Wright quickly climbed onto the apron in attempt to cause a distraction. Edge quickly dealt with Wright but allowed Key back into the match, Key jumping Edge before sending him to the ground with a huge inverted mat slam. Key signals for the Victimizer but is quickly interupted by Kurt Angle who quickly darts to the ring and goes directly for the WWF Hardcore Champion. Angle and Key brawl in the middle of the ring and Kurt tries to lock in a belly to belly suplex, only for Key to counter and hit one of his own on the Olympic Gold Medallist. But Key foolishly forgot about Edge and within seconds of getting back to his feet got hit with the Spear, Edge grabbing the leg of Key only for him to get his shoulder up on the last second. Edge couldn't believe it! Edge got back to his feet and decided to go for another Spear but Edge ran out of luck, Key this time judging his move and getting out of the way just in time, Edge accidently hitting Angle instead. Key and Wright decided enough was enough and both decided to get the hell out of there. But both of them should have known better than to not watch where they were going, Rob Van Dam appearing through the entrance curtains and taking both men out with a steel chair. Looks like things are just heating up between these four!
Winner - No Contest
3 - After a short commercial break, we head back to the arena as WWF Co Owner Vince McMahon heads to the arena, the crowd getting right on the back of Vince. Vince cut a promo on Jerry Lawler telling the audience that he is sick and tired of this tirade. Vince said that Jerry Lawler is simply not up to the job, he never has been. Vince said that Jerry Lawler couldn't book a wrestling card if it smacked him in the face and that is why the Tag Team Championship Match at WrestleMania is so screwed up. But Vince wasn't done yet. Vince said that just like talent for booking, Jerry Lawler was also talentless in the ring. Vince in fact felt that Jerry Lawler was possibly one of the most overrated Wrestlers in Wrestling History. Vince said this is why Lawler was never able to make it in World Wrestling Federation and why he became a colour commentator. Vince promised that at WrestleMania, Vince was going to show Lawler up for the fraud that he really is. Jerry Lawler then entered the stage and got straight in the ring, getting right in the face of his so called "partner". Lawler was livid saying that Vince seems to be something of a medical marvel because it's not common for people to talk our of their arse. Lawler said that he could admit to the fact that he wasn't the greatest booker in the world but as far as wrestling goes, Vince's comments just show how narrowed minded Vince is. Lawler tells Vince to wake up and smell the coffee because the World Wrestling Federation isn't the only company that has ever existed and it will never be. Vince gets all hot under the collar and tells Lawler that he's nothing but an ingrate and that he makes him sick. Lawler tells Vince to go screw himself before turning his back but Vince grabs hold of Lawler's arm. Lawler turns around in a fit of fury and Vince immediately backs off, Lawler looking like he's about to blow a fuse vince holding his arms high. But just when Lawler thinks about turning again, Vince goes for a cheap shot and a brawl commences in the middle of the ring, Lawler quickly taking control, knocking Vince down with a forarm smash. Then out of nowhere, out pops DDP who quickly hits Lawler with the Diamond Cutter to huge boos from the crowd. Page came out of nowhere! Page helps up McMahon who quickly commences trash talk to the downed Lawler.
4 – Hugh Morrus (w/Daffney Unger) vs. Val Venis
After a short break, we return for our second match up of the night, as Hugh Morrus goes one on one with Val Venis. Daffney Unger once again accompanied Hugh Morrus to the ring, who has had a good run of form as of late and looks to continue it tonight. Venis and Morrus lock up in the middle of the ring and try to over power each other before Morrus takes control with a waist lock take down. Morrus took control of the match knocking the spit of Venis before nearly getting a pinfall following a big side walk slam but Val somehow managed to get the shoulder up and the match continued. Morrus continued to pile on the pressure planting Val with a scoop slam before crashing into him with a huge running knee to the face but failed to get the three count. Val simply was unable to gain any sort of momentum, Morrus locking him in a bearhug hold which Tazz assured us was painful, Thanks Tazz! Just when everything seemed dead, Val began to spring to life in the bearhug, his wriggling movement enough to cause Morrus to break the hold and the two began to trade punches in the middle of the ring. Val dropped Morrus with a clothesline, followed by a second before sending Morrus into the ropes landing a huge spinebuster and the crowd went ballistic. Val quickly followed up the move with a half nelson slam before taking to the top rope. Daffney quickly climbed onto the apron and grabbed ahold of Val's foot preventing from hitting the money shot, Val eventually kicking Unger off before being tripped by Morrus who then threw Val off the top with a huge arm drag. Morrus then went to the top rope himself landing the No Laugh Matter on Venis to pick up another win over the Porn Star, his second of the week. Morrus was ecstatic with his second win of the week and so was Unger but the celebrations weren't going to end there oh no! Daffney still had her important announcement to make and that was that she is laying a challenge to Trish Stratus for a One on One Match at Wrestlemania for the WWF Women's Title. Daffney told Trish that she had exactly 4 days to decide but Trish took a little less than 30 seconds to appear at the ramp way and accepted the challenge! What a match that is going to be at Wrestlemania!
Winner – Hugh Morrus
5 - After yet another commerical break we head backstage to Stone Cold Steve Austin who is with Jonathan Coachman. Stone Cold tells The Coach that it is sure as hell good to be back in the World Wrestling Federation and tonight, he can't wait to open up a can of whoop ass on Justin Credible. What? Justin Credible. Austin said that he's said it before and he'll say it again and that name sucks and that a more appropriate name would be Justin Fertile or Justin Competent. But Austin said that at the end of the day, tonight doesn't matter, what? he said tonight doesn't matter and that the only thing that matters is what is 10 days away at that Wrestlemania! Austin said he knows that Kane and Heyman are waiting for his response but it looks like they are too scared to look him in the eyes tonight and hear his answer so Austin said he's going to wait till they do. And that's the bottom line, cos Stone Cold said so.
6 – The Undertaker vs. D-Von Dudley
We then head back to the ring for our third match of the night as The Undertaker makes his way to the ring for his match against D-Von Dudley. The Undertaker gets a huge cheer from the crowd as he gets into the ring, Michael Cole commenting that it's going to be a tough call for fans at Wrestlemania because The Rock and Taker are both huge fan favorites. The same though couldn't be said for D-Von Dudley who recieved a huge amount of boos from the crowd, the crowd quickly shooting backstage to show Triple H and Shawn Michaels sitting down backstage to pay close attention to this match up. D-Von tries to lock up with The Deadman but Taker quickly shows who the stronger man is tossing D-Von to the ground. D-Von gets back to his feet and tries again but Taker does the same again causing D-Von to flee from the ring. Taker quickly takes chase and D-Von takes some huge punishment on the outside, Taker sending D-Von into the steel steps before throwing him onto the announce table. Taker rolls back into the ring to break the count before going right back to work on D-Von lining up some elbow shots to the temple of the D-Von, the referee having to get out of the ring and warn the two men to take it back to the ring. Taker grabs hold of the lifeless D-Von and throws him back in the ring before he gets jumped by Bubba Ray Dudley who came throw the crowd beating Taker with some hard shots to the back. Bubba sent The Undertaker back into the ring and D-Von and Bubba began to double team the Deadman before...CANNN YOU SMEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLL.. hit the PA system and The Rock sprinted to the ring. As soon as The Rock hit the ring, Bubba and D-Von quickly scattered leaving The Rock alone in the ring with Deadman who for some reason wasn't looking particularly pleased to see The WWF Champion. Both men however ended bearing each other and the two men gave a short salute to the crowd as we cut for another break.
Winner – No Contest
7 - When the show returned, Michael Cole and Tazz took us back to earlier in the day where some of the WWF Superstars were helping out in a Charitable event called "Music in School". One of the Superstars who was helping out was Shawn Stasiak who was busy hovering around a Grand Piano. Stasiak told an audience that playing a piano is kind of like Wrestling. You can be determined but in order to be great at something, you have to have the talent in the first place. Stasiak told us he would attempt to demonstrate and took seat at the piano where he proceeded to murder Frère Jacques causing many people watching on to boo. Stasiak got frustrated with the audience and told them that playing the piano was a difficult art and begged them to be patient when Mr Perfect came on the set to a huge cheer from the people watching. Mr Perfect asked Stasiak if he could have a go and a smug Stasiak told him to be his guest, expecting it be awful. Mr Perfect slowly sat down and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before playing a few off notes, Stasiak grinning with pride before Mr Perfect out of nowhere began to play the Moonlight Sonata out of nowhere! The crowd were cheering like crazy and Stasiak couldn't believe his ears. Mr Perfect got up after he finished and told the crowd that he isn't much of a musical expert but he felt THAT WAS PERFECT! Stasiak was having a hissy fit.
8 – Mr. Perfect vs. Taiyo
When the clip ended, we returned to the ring to join Taiyo who was making his way to the ring for his match up with Mr Perfect. The crowd weren't particularly into Taiyo who hasn't seemed to make much of an impact in the WWE since his arrival earlier in the year. Mr Perfect on the other hand got a huge cheer from the crowd as he made his entrance, Mr Perfect being somewhat of a fan favorite since he returned to action at the Royal Rumble last January. Perfect started the match off immediatly taking it to Taiyo with some huge back hand chops before nearly taking Taiyo's head off with a big clothesline. Mr Perfect continued to take it to Taiyo before Taiyo countered a fisherman's suplex attempt and responded with a belly to belly suplex, Taiyo managing a 2 from the count. Taiyo quickly tried to put Mr Perfect away again a second time landing him this time with a Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge but once again Mr Perfect managing to get out of it on the 2. Taiyo put Perfect in a sleeper hold in attempt to wear down his opponent and had Perfect battling to keep his consciousness, Perfect just managing to stay awake on the 2 count. Perfect however was one tough cookie and soon after began to fight out with fists and chops before he connected with an atomic drop followed by three consecutive clotheslines. Perfect connected with a drop kick, followed by a rolling snap on his opponent Taiyo looking in deep trouble and it wasn't going to get any better for him as Perfect soon after finished off with the Perfect-Plex getting the three and winning this tightly contested affair.
Winner – Mr Perfect
9 - After the break, we have another Brian Moore promo. Brian Moore tells us that the eve of war approaches and he can't wait to be there. He says that come Wrestlemania, people may not know what it's like to BE him but they will know what it is like to be BEAT by him. Nicely put BM!
10 – The British Bulldog vs. Billy Kidman
The fifth match of the night was a continuation of a game that had been going on between Test and British Bulldog for weeks now with the British Bulldog taking his turn to face off against an opponent tonight in the name of Billy Kidman. Bulldog has been a reverlation to the WWF since his return earlier in the year, proving to many of his doubters that he can still draw a crowd and tonight was no exception, the crowd heavily behind the man from Manchester. Billy Kidman on the other was also making a reputation for himself albeit for the wrong reasons, but Kidman was now a firm contender for the WWF European Championship. Bulldog dominated the match in the early goings chucking the Cruiserweight around the ring, even busting open his bottom lip. Bulldog nearly had the match wrapped up just after three minutes when he hit Kidman with a huge vertical suplex but Kidman got the shoulder up. Kidman managed to get back into the match using the ring apron to his advantage hanging Bulldog out to dry. Kidman that connected with a missile drop kick on Bulldog. Kidman continued the assault with a springboard leg drop but was unable to capitalise with the three count. Bulldog refused to stay down and eventually, Kidman got caught out, Kidman getting caught by Bulldog as he attempted a flying crossbody, Bulldog quickly turning it into the running powerslam for the win! But in what seemed no more than a flash, Bulldog's victorious night turned into a nightmare after he was clobbered with a huge chair shot from Test busting his head wide open. Test sent Kidman out of the ring before finishing the job on Bulldog landing him hard with the Big Boot to the face, Bulldog being knocked clean out with the shot. Test demanded that he be given the microphone and he stood over his enemy's body telling yelling IF ITS A MATCH AT WRESTLEMANIA YOU WANT! THEN IT'S A MATCH YOU'LL GET! Test throws the microphone to the ground before standing over his victim's lifeless body raising his arms. Test is sick!
Winner – The British Bulldog
11 - We quickly head backstage where we hear that there is a development. The Undertaker is seen to be looking for The Rock but The Rock is nowhere to be found. Al Snow asks him what's up and Taker says that he has to head back home as his wife is ill. Taker asks Al to pass on the message to The Rock and Al promises he will and Taker heads out of the arena. Does this mean that The Rock is going to have no back up tonight?
12 – Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Justin Credible
When the show returns from another commerical break, we head off for our sixth match up of the night pitching Justin Credible against the returning Stone Cold Steve Austin. Justin Credible is already in the ring when the show returns but we get to see Austin's entrance and what a reception he gets from the crowd. Stone Cold makes quick work of Justin Credible kicking the match off by firing some right hands off at his opponent before taking him down with the Lou Thez Press. Austin gets quickly back to his feet and gives the crowd multiple middle fingers before doing the same to Justin Credible before hitting him with the Stone Cold Stunner, Austin quickly hooking the leg of the ECW veteran and getting the 3 count. When Austin gets back to his feet and salutes the crowd as his music plays, only for it to be cut by an appearance from Paul Heyman and Kane who apparently are joining us live from WWF's the World in New York City. Heyman says its good to see Stone Cold back in the World Wrestling Federation and while Austin may think Heyman and Kane are avoiding them, Heyman says he is greatly mistaken. Heyman says the reason he and Kane arent there at Smackdown tonight is because they felt it would be wrong to interefere with the last appearances that Stone Cold Steve Austin would make in a World Wrestling Federation ring. Austin said that is a bunch of crap and Heyman and Kane know it but Heyman says that come Wrestlemania they'll see, that's if Austin will accept his challenge. Austin said to Heyman that despite what Heyman thinks, Stone Cold has a great deal of respect and so Stone Cold knows that he's going to be in for a hell of a match but Austin isn't a 100% sure. Stone Cold then turns to the crowd and asks them if they want to Stone Cold whoop Kane's ass in a Last Man Standing Match, give him a HELL YEAH! The crowd respond with a huge "Hell Yeah" and Austin therefore accepts Heyman's challenge. Kane vs. Stone Cold in a Last Man Standing Match at the Grandaddy of them all! WRESTLEMANIA!
Winner – Stone Cold
13 - Michael Cole said we are only moments away from the Main Event as the camera watched The Rock making his way through the corridors. Al Snow quickly pops ups from the side and tells The Rock that he has a message from The Undertaker but he says he can't remember exactly what it is but the bottom line...The Undertaker isn't here. The Rock doesn't look happy one bit. The Main Event is NEXT!
14 – The Rock vs. Bubba Ray Dudley
When the show returns, we head off for the MAIN EVENT and Bubba Ray Dudley comes out to the ring to a huge chorus of boos from the crowd with his half brother D-Von, Bubba looked extremely focused. Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley have been looking to exact some revenge ever since they lost the WWF Tag Team Champions on RAW earlier in the week and Bubba and D-Von surely know that now is there best opportunity considering The Deadman is absent. Michael Cole announces as the DX are seen once more taking their seats again that he has another huge announcement directly from Co Owner Vince McMahon and that is that next week on RAW, The Dudley Boyz are executing their WWF Tag Team Title Rematch clause and will take on The Rock and The Undertaker in the RAW Main Event. This will make tonight's match up even more important to the Dudley Boyz! The Rock finally makes his entrance to the ring to a huge pop from the audience, The Rock wasting little time charging to the ring and immediately unleashing right hands on both of the Dudley Boyz. The Rock clears D-Von from the ring before sending Bubba straight to the corner and throwing right hand after right hand before knocking Bubba flat on his ass, Bubba getting back to his feet quickly only to get knocked down with a huge clothesline. The Rock soon after hits the first big move of the match landing Bubba with a huge Samoan Drop on Bubba, The Rock trying to take the win there and then but Bubba got his shoulder up. The Rock locked Bubba in the sharpshooter and Bubba looked like he was going to tap only for D-Von to get on the apron and distract the referee. A furious Rock released the hold and swung for D-Von but D-Von dodged the attack and hit The Rock with a hangmans neckbreaker. Bubba quickly followed with the patented Bubba Bomb but Bubba was unable to take the win there and then. Bubba locked The Rock in the sleeper hold and tried to wear down his opponent and the crowd tried to get behind The WWF Champion, chanting his name and stomping the floor. The Rock somehow fed off this support and began the fight back using right hands followed by a side suplex on Bubba. Both men were out of steam and someone needed to take control. As both men tried to get back to a vertical base, the two of them began to trade punches but no one could take advantage. Bubba used the good ol' thumb to the eye to take advantage only to have his irish whip countered and get hit with a spinebuster! The furious WWF Champion threw off his elbow pad and went for the People's Elbow but D-Von flew into the ring with the WWF Championship and took The Rock's head off with the belt, the referee quickly calling for the bell. But The Dudley Boyz were not finished yet shortly after landing The Rock with the 3D to the anger of the WWF Fans. But Bubba still wasn't through and he wanted to make a statement. Bubba ordered D-Von to grab hold of a table and set it up will Bubba talked trash the WWF Champion choking him on the ground. Bubba then went up top and with the help of D-Von powerbombed the People's Champion through A TABLE! There is utter carnage in the ring as the Dudley Boyz stare over the decimalated WWF Champion. What the hell will happen on RAW?!!!
Winner – The Rock by DQ
MATCH RESULTSKey versus Edge ends in a No Contest
Hugh Morrus def. Val Venis
The Underaker and D-Von wrestle to a draw
Mr Perfect def. Taiyo
The British Bulldog def. Billy Kidman
Stone Cold Steve Austin def. Justin Credible
The Rock def. Bubba Ray Dudley
-
WWF Smackdown! Preview
Broadcast on the 28th of February 2002
NEW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS
After an unbelievable RAW where the WWF Champion, The Rock and The Undertaker overcame unbelievable odds to become WWF Tag Team Champions, who knows what to expect on this week's edition of Smackdown. One can be sure that with only 10 days to go before Wrestlemania, whatever precipitates tonight is certainly going to be memorable.
While the crowning of the New Tag Team Champions must have come as a relief to many WWF fans who were concerned about the stability of The Rock and The Undertaker's friendship, many must be wondering now just exactly what is going to go down at Wrestlemania. For one, Degeneration X were granted a WWF Tag Team Title Shot against the Champions but will Vince McMahon double book the men who were be in his Main Event? Can Jerry Lawler go back against his word and cancel DX's Wrestlemania Tag Team Title shot? Vince McMahon has already guaranteed WWF.com that we will have answers tonight on Smackdown.
Another title match that hangs in the balance is the Intercontinental Championship Match for Wrestlemania, the title which Shawn Stasiak currently holds. Earlier this week on RAW, Stasiak finally defeated his demons by halting the momentum of the stalker like Al Snow who had been gunning for that IC Gold for some weeks now. But Stasiak doesn't seem home free yet with another challenger, Mr Perfect seemingly on the horizon. Is Mr Perfect ready for a title shot? See how he fairs tonight on Smackdown when he takes on the Japanese Heavyweight, Taiyo in singles action.
The British Bulldog will also be seeing action tonight as he continues his pursuit of Test in hope for that Wrestlemania match has been looking for. Tonight, The British Bulldog goes one on one with the high flying Billy Kidman who has been on form over the past few weeks. Can The Bulldog maintain his momentum or will Kidman cause an upset tonight. One can be sure that with Kidman looking for that WWF European Title Rematch, he will desperately be searching for that win tonight.
The WWF Hardcore Champion Key returns to action tonight when he takes on the man who he attacked earlier in the week from behind, Edge for the Hardcore Championship. Earlier in the week, Key's manager, Charles Wright proclaimed that he and Key were bribed by Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle to do a job on Rob Van Dam following Angle's defeat at No Way Out, something that Angle categorically denies. Will Angle show his true colours tonight or will he seek to take revenge on the man who has done everything to tarnish the image of Americas Olympic Hero.
Daffney Unger's new interest, Hugh Morrus also finds himself on the Smackdown card taking on Val Venis for the second time this week. Morrus, earlier in the week, picked up a huge pinfall over the former Intercontinental Champion after significant intereference from Unger cost Venis the match up. But this match will not be the only thing on Unger's mind as she has told WWF.com that she has another announcement tonight involving WWF Womens Champion, Trish Stratus. One wonders what that will be about?
Finally, after a long absence, three days ago on RAW, the Rattlesnake finally returned to the squared circle saving his Boomer Sooner Buddy, Good Ol' JR from a near certain beating by the Big Red Machine Kane. With Stone Cold returning to action tonight against Justin Credible and Kane and Heyman scheduled to be in WWF's The World in New York City, who knows what will happen? The question on everyone's mind is will Stone Cold accept Kane's challenge for the Last Man Standing Match at Wrestlemania?
Stay Tuned to Find Out!
SCHEDULED MATCHESHugh Morrus w/ Daffney Unger vs. Val Venis
Mr Perfect vs. Taiyo
WWF Hardcore Title Match
Key © vs. Edge
The British Bulldog vs. Billy Kidman
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Justin Credible
-
Raw
Monday, 25th February 2002
HE'S BACK!
JR and Mick Foley welcome us to an huge night of RAW like on TNN; we are now only 13 days away from the most spectacular event on the wWF Calendar, Wrestlemania 18. In the Main Event tonight, the WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz will put their Tag Team Titles on the line against The WWF Champion The Rock and the man he will face in just 13 days, The Undertaker. Can The Rock and The Undertaker put their problems aside tonight or will everything explode here in the RAW Main Event? Also instore tonight is the final act of the Al Snow/Shawn Stasiak saga when the two men face each other tonight in a No DQ/No Count Out Match Up for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Also tonight, we have Kurt Angle vs. Edge, Test vs. Jeff Hardy and not to mention, the match that has been on JR's mind ever since Thursday Night, Kane vs. Good Ol' JR! Foley wanted to know whether he thought Stone Cold would return tonight but JR had no idea and said he hoped and prayed he would but with Stone Cold being Stone Cold, you never knew!
1 - Degeneration X made their way to the ring to a huge response from the Boston crowd as they kick off this huge night on RAW. Triple H and Shawn Michaels kicked things off in their usual fashion working the crowd before getting right down to business. Triple H kicked things off telling the crowd that he was feeling quite down in the mouth at present. Triple H said the reason for this however was that ever since him and Shawn Michaels made their returns to the WWF, Triple H said that he was expecting to beat the living hell out of two residents from Dudleyville and now it seems that he's gonna have to kick somebody elses ass! Shawn Michaels echoed this statement saying that it's hard to come to terms that after so much preparation and practice, the Dudley Boyz may never even get to hear their sweet chin music, Michaels acting up to the crowd again pretending to cry on Triple H's shoulder, Triple H mockingly comforting him. Triple H said that at the end of the day, whether its the Dudleyz or not, Degeneration X had one clear message to the WWF Tag Team Champions and that it doesn't matter who you are, or what you've done, when you step into the ring at WrestleMania with the Game and the Show Stopper, you're going to get beat within an inch of your life. Triple H said that come the end of Wrestlemania, Degeneration X will be the WWF Tag Team Champions and if you're not down with that, we've got two words for ya! SUCK IT! DX's made their exit to a huge applause from the crowd as we head off for our first commercial break of the night
2 - Test vs. Jeff Hardy
When the show returns, we rejoin the ring as one third of Team Xtreme, Jeff Hardy makes his way to the ring for the opening match of the night. The crowd are really behind Jeff tonight as he sprints off down the ramp sliding into the ring before saluting the 100's of screaming girls in the front rows. As soon as Jeff drops from the second turnbuckle, Test's music hits the ring and cheers turn into loud jeers proving that Test really has come a long way since the Invasion. Test makes his way down ignoring the insulting gestures by the crowd before stepping into the ring and making an immediately b-line for Jeff. Jeff however was never one to back down to a challenge and the two Superstars stepped toe to toe mouthing off to each other. Test was the first to explode and he went for the first shot but Jeff quickly retaliated and the match moved straight into a full out brawl. Hardy tries to take control of the match but Test is too strong and counters the whip manouver sending Jeff instead into the ropes before taking off his head with a huge clothesline. Test was quick to get Jeff back to his feet and took Jeff down with a huge side walk slam before going for an early cover, getting a two count. It looked like Jeff was going to be in for a long night!
Jeff spent much of the early goings of the match as the underdog desperately trying to find himself an avenue of opportunity but Test was on the top of his game and refused to give him any space to breathe. However after Test was unable to put Jeff away a full nelson slam, Test decided to try his luck and headed up to the top rope. However Jeff Hardy knew exactly what to expect when it come to high flying attacks and smartly moved out of the way leaving Test to crash land into the apron with his elbow drop attempt giving Jeff that window of opportunity he was looking for. Hardy got back to his feet before Test and began to chuck some right hands his way before connecting with his patented sitout jawbreaker sending Test staggering. Jeff grabbed hold of Test and tried to finish the match with the Twist of Fate but Test countered the move before hitting Jeff with a falling nelson slam taking all the energy out of Hardy. Test simply stepped back and waited for Jeff to get back to a vertical base before finishing the job, Big Boot and all to win the match and stay undefeated since No Way Out!
Winner - Test
3 - Brian Moore is walking down an un-named street; it's dusk and Moore is wearing all black. Moore says that every second of every single day, someone around the world is complaining about how bad their life is...but they don't know what it's like to be Brian Moore. He's coming to the WWF. Stay tuned to find out when!
4 - The Rock is getting ready for his Tag Team Title Match tonight in one of the locker rooms backstage when The Undertaker makes an appearance, to the delight of the WWF Fans. The Undertaker reminds The Rock that tonight, the two of them have the opportunity to do something very special and become the WWF Tag Team Champions once more. But The Undertaker wants to know, after all thats gone on over the past few weeks, whether he can still trust The Rock; after all, The Rock has been unreliable before, what's there to say he won't be again? The Rock is visibly annoyed by Taker's comments and asks him exactly why The Rock should trust The Undertaker. The Rock reminds The Undertaker that last week on Smackdown, The Rock had all the odds stacked up against him and The Undertaker didn't even care to make an appearance. Taker simply told The Rock to do his job and watch his back and everything would be just fine before turning around and walking off The Rock staring at the exiting Taker in disbelief! What cheek!
5 - Kurt Angle vs. Edge
The 2001 King Of The Ring Winner Edge's music hit as Edge appeared in the arena making his way down to the ring to a decent sized pop from the crowd. Edge is looking to get another victory over the man who he pinned last week on Smackdown, Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle. Edge climbed into ring and waved to the fans, as his music cut and Angle's music hit the arena. Angle appeared at the entrance in a new entrance attire, a red velvet hoody with the American Flag on the front. Kurt was not happy with the crowd's heated reaction to him, especially considering 6 months ago, Kurt Angle is a huge fan favorite. Angle told the fans repeatedly that he didn't suck before eventually climbing into the ring and staring off at Edge. The two competitors locked up in the middle of the ring but Angle quickly used his amateur wrestling knowledge to his advantage getting behind is opponent pushing Edge into the ropes only to get knocked back. Angle got back to his feet and charged as the Canadian but Edge stuck the boot in first and both men began to trade right hands, Edge's height giving him a significant advantage over the Olympic Gold Medallist. Edge sent Angle in the corner and began to chop away on Angle lighting up Angle's chest real bad. Edge then tried to capitalise with a spear to the corner but Angle smartly got out of the way sending Edge crashing right into the steal post. Angle quickly retrieved Edge and hit him with a huge German Release Suplex whiplashing Edge's head against the canvas before celebrating in the middle of the ring, Angle firmly in control as we head off to a commercial break.
When the show returns, we head straight back to the ring where Kurt Angle is currently working away on the arm and shoulder of Edge with a fujiwara armbar. Angle yelled at Edge to tap but there was no way he would do that as Edge struggled over to grab the bottom rope. Angle became livid and began to stomp away at the back of Edge keeping him grounded to the mat. Angle dragged Edge into the middle of the ring and locked in another arm bar one again going the same arm but Edge once again managed to get to the rope. Angle moved off and let Edge almost get back to his feet before locking his arms around the waist of Edge to go for another German but Edge fought using his elbows before getting behind Angle and going for a German Suplex of his own. Angle sprung back up and was floored by multiple clotheslines before Edge planted Angle with the Downward Spiral which so nearly ended the match.
Edge lifted Angle back to his feet and laid him out with some punches before sending him to the outside, the cameras following Angle crash to the ground on the outside. No one would have ever suspected that while the cameras were focused on Angle, out of no where appeared none other than WWF Hardcore Champion Key who took out Edge from behind with a huge chair shot, the bell ringing almost immediately. The fans were stunned as Key grabbed hold of the stunned Edge and planted Edge with the Wheelbarrow Facebuster onto the Steel Chair. Kurt Angle gets back to his feets and looks in absolute shock as Key and his associate Charles Wright stand in the ring over a destroyed Edge before going to a Wrestlemania commerical.
Winner - Edge
6 - When the show returns, Kurt Angle remains in the ring with a microphone as Edge is carried up the ramp in a stretcher, Key nowhere in sight. Kurt Angle tells the crowd that he had no idea what the hell was going on but he wants some answers and he wants them now. Charles Wright happily obliges appearing at the top of the ramp with a microphone of his own. Wright tells Angle that he's always appreciated how talented an actor he was but it is time to give the game up. Wright says that after all, only a man who has ambition like Angle could be devious enough to pay someone to take out his rival. "That's right" proclaims Wright. "It was Key who took out Rob Van Dam and it was because Kurt Angle paid him to do it". Angle calls Charles Wright crazy but Wright laughs it off. Wright tells Angle that its out of his control now and that the fans will know who to believe and there is nothing Angle can do about it. Angle stays distraught!
7 - Backstage, Shawn Stasiak is making his final preparations for his big match later tonight against Al Snow for the WWF Intercontinental Title. Stasiak is lifting some weights and telling onlookers that this is how real men do weights even though the actually kg's he's lifting don't exactly look impressive but no one says anything. Until Mr Perfect walks in of course. Perfect tells Stasiak that while he admires Stasiak's physique, if he wanted to have the "Perfect" body, he better try something a bit heavier. Stasiak tells him to give it his best start and Perfect decides to add a few Kgs to each side. Stasiak goes to lift the weights but he struggles and the people around him are stunned, Stasiak protesting that no one could lift this weight! It's too heavy! But Mr Perfect shows them all that Stasiak is wrong. Perfect winks at Stasiak leaving Stasiak very annoyed at what just happened.
8 - Hugh Morrus and Daffney Unger vs. Terri and Val Venis
When we headed back to the ring, Terri and Val were already ring side as Morrus and Unger made their approach for the next match up. Morrus and Val started the match up with an elbow tie up, Morrus having the neccesary strength to send Val to the ring and take the advantage. Morrus let loose with a bunch of right hands before dropping Val with a hip toss, before planting him seconds later with a short arm smash. Morrus kept on top of Venis and nearly scored an early pin fall with a belly to belly suplex but Val kept the game alive kicking out and so the match continued. Morrus continued to pile on the pressure before missing an elbow drop allowing Val to gain some momentum and pile on the pressure. Venis sent Morrus into the ropes before taking him down again and again with a series of clotheslines before dropping Morrus with a big back body drop, Morrus quickly taking to the outside. Unger got into the ring and sent Val forward with a shot to the back before attempting to end the match with a DDT but Val countered the move and sent Unger into the knee of Terri. Val then scored with a Sit Out Powerbomb but couldn't pin Daffney as she wasn't the legal competitor. Val then quickly found out exactly where the legal man was, Val getting slogged for six with a huge forearm smash, Val spinning in the air before Morrus climbed up top and finished the match with his No Laughing Matter Moonsault, crushing Val for the three. Morrus and Unger celebrated in the middle of the ring eating each other's face before Daffney noticed the weakling Terri checking her partner. Daffney acted the tough chick sending Terri into the corner telling her exactly what she was going to do with her, Morrus acting the big man behind when out of nowhere, Trish Stratus and Bradshaw appeared Trish and Bradshaw clearing house and saving the day. It looks like Trish has an ally!
Winner - Hugh Morrus and Daffney Unger
9 - Backstage, Kane and Heyman were talking about their match later on tonight. Heyman was building it up saying that tonight, the two of them were going to show Stone Cold Steve Austin to be the coward that he's always been. Tonight, Kane and Heyman are going to end the legacy that is JR! Strong Words by Heyman!
10 - A No DQ WWF Intercontinental Championship Match - Shawn Stasiak © vs. Al Snow
Al Snow made his way to the ring for what could be his very last IC title shot for a long time, and Snow was still looking worn down from the beat down he took last week on RAW but he was raring to go for the big match tonight. Stasiak looked a little less calm and collected as he entered the arena, Foley and JR commenting that Stasiak may even be suffering from a drop of the old inadequacy after Mr Perfect showed up him up earlier tonight. When the match kicked off however, Stasiak looked in top form taking it to Snow with some right hands before scoring with a Fisherman's Suplex. Snow got back to his feet and ran into a few clotheslines from Stasiak, Stasiak then dropping Snow with a big back body drop before dropping to the ground and hooking the leg of his opponent, Snow having to kick out very early on. Stasiak brought Snow back to his feet and sent him into the corner, but Snow was still sharp and got his leg up halting the follow up before hitting Stasiak with a huge drop kick, Snow this time going for a pin but he only got the 2. Snow grabbed hold of Stasiak and sent him over to corner of the ring and bounched his head off the top of the turnbuckle before placing Stasiak on top of it. Stasiak tried to fight back with some right hands but Snow managed to take enough of an advantage to climb up and connect with a huge superplex, Snow once more hooking the leg but was unable to get the three. Snow locked in the chin lock on Stasiak and the crowd begged Stasiak to pass out but Stasiak refused, no matter how much Snow torqued it. Stasiak somehow managed to get back to his feet and managed to break out kicking Snow in the gut and the two men began to trade punches in the middle of the ring. Stasiak raked the eyes of Snow before bouncing off the ropes and walking into a huge belly to belly suplex from Snow, Snow going for the pin once more but Stasiak once again got the shoulder up much to the dismay of the fans, Al Snow looking up at the ceiling holding his head. Snow left the ring and went under it pulling out some trash cans and tops before throwing them into the ring. Snow quickly introduced Stasiak to the trash can top smashing the top over the head of Stasiak busting the IC Champion open before going back to work on the cans. Snow lodged one of the cans in the corner of the ring before going right back to Stasiak everyone knowing exactly what was going to happen next. Snow beat down Stasiak with huge right hands before going for the whip into the can only for Stasiak to reverse it sending Snow into the corner instead Snow causing a huge collision with the can. Stasiak hobbled over to the corner and lifts up Snow bloody and all before ending this match once and for all with a huge Death Valley Driver on the challenger in the middle of the ring before hooking the leg and picking up the huge victory that he's been looking for. A bloodied Stasiak recieves his title belt as he slowly gets back to his feet but before he even gets to celebrates, his suprised by the arrival by none other than Mr Perfect who is seen at the top of the apron clapping on the IC Champion who can't help but be Suspicious! What is Perfect up to?
Winner - Shawn Stasiak
11 - As the ring is being cleared up, Mick Foley is hyping up the next match; Kane vs. Good Ol' JR when Vince McMahon makes an appearance at ring side, informing Foley and everyone watching that he is going to join us on commentary since JR is up next. Foley tells Vince that he thinks the forthcoming match up is sick and twisted and that he hopes to God that Stone Cold shows up but Vince doesn't share the same opinion. Vince says that as far as he is concerned, JR, like his good buddy Jerry Lawler, deserves everything that comes to them. That is why Vince has decided to challenge Jerry Lawler to a match at Wrestlemania because like JR tonight, Jerry Lawler is going to get battered and beaten and Vince McMahon is going to take back everything that should be his anyway! Kane vs. JR is next!
12 - Kane w/Paul Heyman vs. Jim Ross
Kane and Heyman make there way to the ring first, Kane looking as bloody thirsty as ever for this match up, Heyman firing up Kane every step of the way. JR on the other hand looks scared as hell as he makes his way down to the ring, JR wearing his good ol' sweat pants and t-shirt as he enters the ring, Heyman not helping with the constant abuse. A cocky Kane walks up toe to toe with the Oklahoman Legend and tells JR that he can have the first punch free Kane putting his hands behind his back but JR remains uncertain. Eventually JR lands the first punch but Kane doesn't budge and Kane begs him again. JR sends a second one but this time, Kane grabs hold of JR's hand and twists his wrist, JR squeeling like a pig before Kane throws JR head first into the corner. Kane fills JR full of right hands before landing the Red Neck with a sidewalk slam before going up top and JR struggles to get back to his feet. Kane lands the diving clothesline off the top taking JR down again, JR looking in deep trouble as the maniacal Heyman laughs on the outside. Kane pulls his arm back to finish the job when THE GLASS SHATTERS! MY GOD STONE COLD IS HERE! Stone Cold walks down the ramp in his black t-shirt and blue shorts, a chair in hand Kane quickly coming to the outside to meet him and gets planted with a steel chair shot what? and a steel chair shot? what? and another steel chair shot! Austin eventually drops Kane with the fifth shot before chasing Heyman who quickly escapes through the crowd, Austin still trying to swing for him. Austin goes right back over and he hits Kane with the Stunner! Austin goes back for the steel chair but by the time he grabs hold of it, Kane is trying to get back to his feet and hightailing it up the ramp. Austin eventually gives up the chase and comes back to the ring where he celebrates with some beers in the centre of the ring with a beaten JR! Stone Cold is back and Vince McMahon is not a happy man. But that doesn't matter because, Next up after the commerical break! THE MAIN EVENT!
13 - WWF Tag Team Championship Match: The Rock and The Undertaker vs. The Dudley Boyz ©
When the show returns, the Dudley Boyz are already making their way to the ring for the match up. The Dudleyz look confident despite the odds that they have against them tonight. As soon as they hit the ring, Taker's music hits and the Deadman is the next man to hit the ring. With less than 2 weeks till Wrestlemania, you can be sure the Undertaker will want to keep an eye on the WWF Champion The Rock tonight and The Rock's feelings surely were mutual. At least thats how it seemed when The Rock hit the ring to join his partner for the night. The Rock and D-Von started off the match, D-Von getting easily outmanouvered by the People's Champion, The Rock dropping D-Von with a simple shoulder charge. The Rock sent D-Von into the corner beat him down with some right hands, The Rock's attack eventually broken up by Bubba Ray Dudley who was quickly forced back to the outside. D-Von tried to use the intereference to his advantage and fought back with some right hands but The Rock was simply too smart for D-Von early on in this match, and D-Von was sent to the ground with big back body drop, D-Von decided to get out of the ring and tag his brother in. Bubba was far more aggressive than his counterpart, taking it to The Rock with stiff shots before sending him into the ropes and went for a body drop himself, only for The Rock to counter the move with a boot before sending Bubba face first into the mat. The Rock tagged in The Undertaker who came in and sent Bubba straight to work elbows before sending him hard into the other corner. Taker followed up with a splash, Bubba crashing hard against the back before Taker dropped Bubba with a running DDT, Taker making the first cover of the match only for D-Von to break up the count. An Unhappy Undertaker grabbed hold of Bubba and through him to the outside of the ring before sending a b-line to D-Von and tagging in The Rock who quickly followed Bubba to the outside.
The Rock gave Bubba a number of right hands and then tossed Bubba onto the announcer's table before clearing halting the interefering D-Von. The Rock rolled back into the ring to break the count before returning to Bubba slamming his head into the announcer's table. The Rock sent Bubba back into the ring before getting hismelf in, allowing Bubba to get back to a vertical base and the two began to brawl in the middle of the ring. Bubba sent The Rock into the ropes before dropping him with a reverse elbow drop before landing an elbow drop, Bubba getting a two from the pin attempt. Bubba slammed The Rock's head into the turnbuckle in his corner before tagging back in D-Von. D-Von quickly got into the ring and Bubba and D-Von together whipped The Rock into the ropes, The Rock responding with a double flying clothesline, getting a huge response from the crowd. The Rock slowly got back to his feet and tried to get over to the corner to tag his partner back in but D-Von managed to stop the attack and Bubba tagged hismelf back in. Bubba knocked The Rock down with a stiff clothesline before getting down to the ground and choking The People's Champion.
Bubba delivered a neckbreaker to The Rock. Bubba made the tag to D-Von before choking The Rock over the second rope eventually letting go so that D-Von could pick up where he left off. D-Von then gave The Rock a number of right hands and kicks to knock him down. As the referee yelled at D-Von, Bubba gave The Rock a cheap shot as he hung off the apron. D-Von knocked The Rock down with a hard clothesline before he made the tag to Bubba. Bubba got in the ring and the Dudleys took The Rock down with a double team flap jack. Bubba then gave The Rock an elbow to the top of the head as he sat on the mat and then he picked him up and whipped him into the corner. The Rock exploded out of the corner with a clothesline to knock Bubba down and the fans chanted for The Rock! Bubba hooked The Rock in a front face lock and then he gave him a suplex and then he pinned him for a two count. Bubba tagged D-Von into the ring and D-Von knocked The Rock down. The Rock however began to gain some second wind countering D-Von's irish whip before landing him with an over the head throw, Bubba quickly making the rescue attacking The Rock from behind to the frustration of the Undertaker.
D-Von made the tag to Bubba and he got in the ring and hit The Rock with a neckbreaker before making another cover but only for a two count. Bubba got The Rock back to his feet and whipped him off the ropes and then he caught him in a sleeper hold to wear him down. The referee was there to check on The Rock, and he got a two count with the arm, The Rock only just keeping conscious. The Rock slowly began to battle out of the sleeper hold, finally landing Bubba with a back suplex. Can The Rock make the tag? The Rock is crawling over the corner as is Bubba. Both men make the Tag!!!!
The Undertaker and D-Von go head to head brawling in the middle of the ring, Taker quickly taking control with a big boot to the face of D-Von. Bubba tries to jump The Undertaker but the Deadman easily sidesteps the Tag Champ and he walks into a fist from the WWF Champion. The Rock lays the Smackdown on Bubba taking him out of the ring while The Undertaker lands the sidewalk slam on D-Von. Taker is back to his feet! Could it possibly be? The Undertaker hits D-Von with a chokeslam! The Undertaker gets down to his knees and hooks the leg. Can it be? ONE...TWO....THREE! We have New Tag Team Champions! The show ends with The Undertaker and The Rock in the middle of the ring saluting the fans as they are handed their the WWF Tag Team Titles!
Winner and New WWF Tag Team Champions - The Rock and The Undertaker
-
Hmmm dude, what can I saay about your show
you definately had some odd choices of matches and I was shocked to see so many title changes on one show. I mean, I think it was four - nevertheless, you insisted that this is a new era of RAW and yeah, fine I guess I can dig that.
Chavo beating Benoit was an interesting choice. Personally I wasnt sure that Chavo was getting over but thats fine
Scotty winning the Cruiserweight Championship? In the words of The Hurricane.....WHATS UP WIT DAT? Maaaaaaaaaan the worm is back...i hope someone kills it proper this time!
Lol @ Khali and Hassan as tag team Champions. The thought of Khali tagging in and out of a match would be the funniest thing ever.......Hall and Nash returning...i smell NWO vs. DX...interesting......
Simond Diamond IC Champ......could have been saved for a PPV IMO but fair enough.
The Main Event was alright...got the job done I guess...who's gonna be the #1 Contender for Cena's title now!
Overall the show was definately interesting.......the roster changes were quite severe too so i'll see whre you're going with that!
I look forward to your next show! (All done now?
) -
Raw PreviewScheduled to be broadcast on Monday, 25th February 2002
A FRIEND'S PLEA?
For many last week, Smackdown was simply the latest twist in the tale as the WWF Superstars made their way to WrestleMania. Two such men who felt the brunt of the impact were the WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz, who have been finally paid the price for the hesitance over the past few weeks concerning a WWF Tag Team Title Match against Degeneration X at Wrestlemania. Degeneration X have without a doubt been relentless over the past few weeks, pushing and prodding, wherever the Dudley Boyz go but the Dudley Boyz refused to grant them their wish. Now, the Dudley Boyz may not even been in Wrestlemania as tonight on RAW, the face the WWF Champion, The Rock and his challenger, The Undertaker in a Tag Team Title Match in the RAW Main Event. Can The Dudley Boyz overcome their biggest challenge yet? Will The Rock and Undertaker be able to remain on the same page after the past week's shenanigans? You can be sure Degeneration X will be watching.
The WWF Tag Team Championships are not the only titles on the line tonight as tonight, the final Chapter in the Al Snow/Shawn Stasiak saga comes to end in one final match and this match is No DQ and No Count Out! Will Al Snow finally be able to overcome the Intercontinental Champion or will Stasiak once again retain his coverted IC Title?
Another man who will be feeling the brunt of last week's Smackdown is our Olympic Hero, Kurt Angle who has been the subject to much hate after he was alleged to have attacked Rob Van Dam over a week ago. Angle has maintained the his is innocent but no one believes him, especially the man who beat him last Smackdown, Edge. Angle wants revenge and tonight, he gets the chance. Will Angle be able to overcome the Canadian this time and more importantly, will the truth about Rob Van Dam's attack finally be realised?
Royal Rumble Runner Up Test is also set to be in action tonight, this time against Jeff Hardy. And while this match promises to be nothing less than a full blown Slobberknocker, Test has still refrained from giving the fans and one man exactly what they want...a match against The British Bulldog at Wrestlemania. With the Bulldog keeping a close eye on the matches and both men hoping the other slips up, maybe tonight will exactly what either one of the needs to finally get this grudge going!
But with all this is in mind, there is one thing that is surely on WWF fans minds everywhere and that is, the biggest match of the night between Kane and Oklahoma born and bred Good Ol' JR. Paul Heyman exclusively told WWF.com this afternoon that he really didn't want to have to take it this far; all Stone Cold had to do was turn up and face the music but Austin gave him no choice and whether Stone Cold likes it or not, one legend is going to be destroyed between now and Wrestlemania, whether it be Austin or whether it be the WWF's so called Number One Announcer. What did JR have to say to Heyman's comments?....JR told Heyman that he could go to be hell. Find Out if Stone Cold Returns TONIGHT on RAW!
Scheduled Matches
NO DQ/No Count Out Match for the WWF Intercontinental Title
Shawn Stasiak © vs. Al Snow
Test vs. Jeff Hardy
Kurt Angle vs. Edge
Hugh Morrus and Daffney Unger vs. Val Venis and Terri
Kane vs. Jim Ross
WWF Tag Team Title Match
The Dudley Boyz © vs. The Rock (WWF Champion) and The Undertaker
-
Okay so, I have been away for a while so I figured to catch up rather than read everything from scratch, I went threw Judgement day so here are my two cents.
Firstly, despite others not, I did actually enjoy the battle royal although i'm not sure in theory it was the best match to open the card. Throwing in Vis and Billy Gunn was a nice choice and you also seemed to other talent eg Richards and Tazz a deserved push. Test winning this means that he's going to have a lot of pressure on him to win it so he really needs to get at least as far as the Semi Finals but am not sure if he can win it.
Was intruiged to see the continuation of the LHW title feud here between Scotty and Malenko because I kind of remembering the title being on the downer at the time. The match itself wasn't bad but I do agree that Malenko could have looked stronger than he did, plus with GMS around, id have thought Too Cool would be been the main fous.
Big decision to make the Hardyz steam roll through everyone like they did. With Matt and Jeff winning like they did, it makes the rest of the Tag Team division weaker than it should be, especially with Summrslam and the immortal first TLC match just on the horizon. Wouldnt suprise me now to see The Hardyz in a big feud with bigger talents but you need to now give some of the tag teams in the division a bone.
Good 4-way match for the European Title. Val Venis was definately a good worker at the time and he certainly has not been given the due he should have been given. Only good can come out of this.
Benoit/Jericho: These two had a killer feud going on back in the day and was definately one of the reasons I loved that time. Benoit is cold hearted and Jericho, our teen hero, facing off. Great finish to the match with the crossface. I'd like to see the 2/3 fall submissions match or an ultimate submissions match to finish this off.
Triple H winning a title match opportunity - meh, it almost seems as if we're going to head right back where we have been through the whole year. I definately can echo people's feelings though when I say that thankfully, Big Show didnt win. I think the only really viable winner in this match up would have been Kane anyway as Angle wasn't ready to overcome odds so big. KOTR should be pretty solid with the Game up there.
Overall it was a good show with a lot of wrestlers involved. KOTR should be great and I am very intruiged to see who gets the nudge to the Main Event by winning the competition (would be shocked if it was Test) and the big main event. The question is...when do you end this phase and move into Summerslam build up?
KUTGW!
-
Interesting show man that definately had its ups and downs.
Cena/Joe/Batista B Show/Dinsmore/Booker:
The Main Event itself was entertaining enough although I can't help but feel that it is slightly stacked in the favour of the Faces. You're pushing Joe very quickly and he's looking good but be wary of an over push that will cause the fans to take a dislike for him. I enjoyed the finish.
Henry/Brown B Jeff Hardy:
Now that is a team you can bank on. I can't believe you released Henry because I actually would have liked to see more from these two. Brown has a lot of potential and it will be interesting to see how you use him in the future. I don't feel handicap matches are the ideal for him though
Siaki B Chris Benoit:
You really like Siaki don't you? Nevertheless, a good match and Siaki is getting nothing less than a baby Jesus push at the moment. Make sure you keep on the ball wih him if you want to push him as the worst thing you can do to someone who is coming up like him (thinking of Kennedy in mind) is then simply get bored and forget about him. Guerrero costing Benoit was agood end.
Helms B Skipper:
Nothing much to report really except for the fact it was a solid match. Wouldnt mind seeing a new champ soon though..
In addition to some interesting releases, i'm not sure if I'm happy seeing Vito return, refurbished or whatever. I'm not a big fan of his work man. Oh, and it would seem that you have a very unhealthy obsession for the Miz! YOU NEED A REALITY CHECK MAN! lol
Not a bad show overall, looking forward to Smackdown! Good Luck
-
WWF Smackdown!
Broadcast on the 21st of February 2002
Tazz and Cole welcome us to Smackdown, with us now only 17 days away from WrestleMania. Tonight promises to be a spectacular night of wrestling action including a WWF Championship Match Up in the Main Event between Diamond Dallas Page and The WWF Champion The Rock. The WWF Intercontinental Championship is also going to be on the line tonight as Shawn Stasiak is set to take on The Hurricane who last Monday on RAW, came so close to a major upset when he faced Test. But First....
1 - Diamond Dallas Page made his way to the ring, Page looking really pleased with himself despite the intense heat from the crowd following his arrival. DDP said that ever since he hit the Diamond Cutter on Jerry "The King" Lawler, the thought that was travelling through everybody's head was "Why?"..."What Possible Motive would DDP have for assaulting the Co-Owner of the World Wrestling Federation". DDP said the answer was simple. "Better the Devil you know". DDP said that while it might not be obvious to all the fans, everyone and anyone who is part of the WWF know that there is a divide right down the middle and eventually, the company is going to come to blows and when you're at his Age, it's not the sort of time to be backing the wrong guy. Page said that when you have to choose one person between a man like Vince McMahon that grabs his opposition by the throat and squeezes the life out of them and a hasbeen wrestler from Memphis, the choice isn't very difficult. That's why, from now on, DDP is going to be in Mr McMahon's corner through and through and why tonight, he's got the opportunity to be the WWF Champion. Page said that tonight, he going to take his chance to fulfil his dream of winning the WWF Championship and then Defending the Title at the Main Event of the Grand Daddy of them All! WrestleMania! Page signs off to the fans before heading out of the ring and back up the ramp as we go to a commercial break.
2 - The British Bulldog vs. Lance Storm
When the show returned the ring was empty and we were set for our first match of the night. The British Bulldog was the first man to hit the ring and got a good reception from the crowd. Lance Storm however recieved a very mute response from the crowd, many of the audience evidently not particularly bothered about his absence over the past weeks. As soon as Storm hit the bottom of the ramp, Storm immediately made a b-line for the Bulldog but Bulldog simply smiled back letting him get into the ring and do his thing. When the two men finally locked up, Bulldog took control with the evident strength advantage sending Storm into the corner and beating him a bunch of right hands before sending him hard into the adjacent turnbuckle. Bulldog stuck to his A-Game, the powerhouse attack, knowing full well he couldn't match Storm in terms of technical skill and so nearly got the pin after hitting Storm with a powerful fallaway slam. Storm however was no mean push over and soon began to focus his attention on an evident weak spot in Bulldog's game, his right knee, Storm managing to bring Bulldog down to his knees with a big chop block to the back. After a big assault on the leg of Bulldog, Storm went for the boston crab and got it locked but fortuantely for Bulldog, the bottom rope was close by to save the day. Storm however must have been given a few dollars by Test as he refused to let go of the hold until it was absolutely neccesary. Storm followed up with a couple of elbows to the back of Bulldog's head before dragging him into the centre of the ring and going for the cover but he only got the two. Storm got back to his feet and clubbed away at Bulldog before signalling for the Super Kick but Storm didn't connect, Bulldog dodging the attack, before going low and setting up the Running Powerslam. Storm however wasn't finished the sliding down the back of the Bulldog, pushing him away only to this time connect with the Superkick! Storm scrambled over his opponent to make the cover but to everyone's suprise including Storm, Bulldog somehow got the shoulder up. Storm once again went for the Boston Crab and Bulldog was reeling in pain! Bulldog looked like he was going to tap only to then roll up Storm out of nowhere and pull off a cheap win! Bulldog had hold of the tights! Bulldog quickly escaped the ring while a furious Storm complained to the referee. Bulldog has continued the pressure on Test to keep winning. Who will Test face next week on RAW?
Winner - The British Bulldog
3- Backstage, Kurt Angle is seen making a coffee when he is approached by none other than former Intercontinental Champion Edge. Edge tells Angle that there is no possible way that anybody can prove that he attacked Rob Van Dam a week ago on Smackdown. However, Edge said that bottom line, whether Angle did or didn't do it, the fact of the matter is that the people in the WWF know that Kurt is damn well happy about what happened to RVD and that nobody will ever fall for this hurt image crap. Angle told Edge that if he had a problem with him, then why not meet him in the ring because Kurt would have no problems taking a couple of seconds out of his date to beat the Living Crap out of him. Edge accepted Kurt's challenge and told him he'll see him in the ring later tonight. Should be good!
4- The Undertaker vs. Raven
After a short commercial break, we return to the ring for our second match up of the night. Raven made his way to the ring first, making a rare appearance on Smackdown to a mixed reaction from the fans. The Undertaker on the other hand once again recieved a huge pop from the audience, Taker knowing that a crowd following like this will surely help his chances of becoming the WWF Champion at Wrestlemania. Raven's facial expresssion as the Deadman entered was nothing but fear and Raven had every right to be scared as Taker was a huge Giant of a Man that only had one thing on his mind and that was Victory. Taker took to the match with enormous speed pounding away on Raven before dropping him to the ground with a huge boot to the face. Taker had that mad look in his eyes that you knew meant trouble and Raven certainly would have agreed as Taker pounded away in the corner with right hands before splashing him hard against the turnbuckle. Taker continued the fist assault on Raven and Raven couldn't find a comeback, Raven in desperate trouble. Taker went for the chokeslam on Raven but Raven managed to counter the move with a boot to the knee only to walk into his hand once more seconds later, this time Taker connecting with chokeslam. Taker is looking undefeatable at the moment!
Winner - The Undertaker
5 - Jerry Lawler was backstage in his office when his office door when the Dudley Boyz barged in demanding to know immediately what it was that Lawler wanted. Lawler thanked the WWF Tag Champions for coming and told them that he felt that they, as WWF Tag Team Champions, deserved the right to hear about Jerry Lawler's latest major announcement since it directly involved the WWF Tag Team Champions. Lawler said that as the Dudley Boyz are aware, at WrestleMania, Degeneration X will be making their return to the WWF squared circle and as it was at WrestleMania, Lawler felt that it would one hell of a good idea to have DX challenge for the WWF Tag Team Titles. But then Lawler remembered that a few weeks back, the Dudley Boyz said that they didn't want to face DX because DX didn't deserve a title shot but Lawler said that he whole heartedly disagreed with their decision. What Lawler wanted to know is whether the Dudley Boyz could be swayed in their decision. But The Dudley Boyz refused point blank. Both Bubba and D-Von felt that there was no way that they would be facing Degeneration X at WrestleMania. Lawler told them that was very unfortunate for them because whether the Dudley Boyz liked it or not, the WWF Tag Team Championship will be only the line at WrestleMania against DX, either with them or without them. But Lawler didn't want to strip them of the titles; he said he didn't have to. Because Next Week on RAW, the Dudley Boyz would defend their Tag Team Titles against The WWF Champion The Rock and THE UNDERTAKER! The Dudley Boyz were furious!
6 - Staying backstage, we now follow The Rock who wandered around backstage asking people if they'd seen The Undertaker. But it didn't matter who he asked, whether it was Steve Blackman, Crash Holly or even Sgt Slaughter, no one had seen sight of him. Except for Test that is. Test told The Rock that he'd seen Taker grabbing his bags and making it for the exit way immediately after his match had finished. Test felt that Taker didn't want to stick around, after all, why would he want to watch the back of someone who refused to watch his? Test smirked before walking off, The Rock looking deeply frustrated.
7 - Kurt Angle vs. Edge
When we returned to ring side, Edge was making his way down to the ring to a rapturous applause from the crowd. It was no secret that Edge had been shelved for the past few weeks were certainly glad to see him, Edge really working the crowd as soon as he got into the ring. Angle on the other had not been a fan favorite now for some time and the crowd really got on the back of the Olympic Hero as he made his entrance, Angle taking exception to the crowd as they yelled "You Suck". As soon as Angle got into the ring, Angle immediately made a b-line for Edge but Edge gave him as good as he got. When the two eventually locked up, Angle got behind his challenger and locked in sturdy waist lock, dragging Edge to the ground before getting on top of him. Angle showed off his mat abilities over Edge locking his arm behind his back before slapping Edge across the back of the head as if to say that i've got you numbered. However, Angle should learn to have better respect for his opponents as Edge was no stranger to mat wrestling and Edge repeated exactly what Angle did, but this time, taking Angle down afterwards with a clothesline and the match began to pick up pace. Edge clothesline down Angle again and again before sending him into the corner, only for Angle to dodge the corner attack before hitting a german suplex with a bridge Edge khaving to kick out in the early goings. Angle continued to pushing Edge in the early goings hitting Edge with a vertical suplex before landing his knee square into the side of Edge's head, Angle unlucky to not end the match right there and then. Edge struggled to get back to a vertical base and mount any sort of comeback, Angle taking the punches from Edge before getting right back behind him and taking him down with another huge German Suplex, Edge just managing to kick out with the nick of time. But Edge refused to lay down and die and once again began to mount an attack, this time fighting out of a sleeper hold with elbows and fists, before somewhow managing to pull off a drop kick followed by the Edge-o-matic. Edge could have gone for the pin but instead opted to go for the Sharpshooter, but Angle quickly countered the move and locked in the Angle Lock but Edge luckily reached the ropes just in the nick of time. Angle hammered Edge over the back and pulled him back into the centre of the ring to lock in the Angle Lock again before "ONE OF A KIND!" by Breaking Point blasted out of the PA system. What the hell? Rob Van Dam is here? Angle let go of the hold and walked over to the edge of the ring looking of Van Dam but there was no sign! Where was Van Dam? Does this mean Angle is guilty!? Within the blink of an eye, Edge grabbed hold of Angle and rolled up him up, Angle unable to do anything as Edge held the bottom rope undetected and stole the win before diving out of the ring celebrating! Angle was stunned!
Winner - Edge
8 - The WWF Champion, The Rock was backstage with The Coach and The Rock wasted no time getting down to business. The Rock said that tonight, despite whatever Diamond Dallas Page thinks, is going to be no different to any other night. The Rock said he is going to walk out there, go face to face with whichever goon Vince McMahon feels like putting him against and then he is going to take his boot, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways and stick it straight up all their candyasses. However, The Rock made it clear that his match against DDP for the WWF Championship was not the reason he requested this interview.....the reason he requested this interview was because of the way The Undertaker has been acting. The Rock said that everyone knows that earlier this week, on RAW, The Undertaker had a match in which his was jumped and beaten down and The Rock wasn't there. But what the people don't know is that the reason The Rock wasn't there was because The Rock's flight had been delayed! The Rock said that The Undertaker could even check it out if he wanted to. The Rock said the fact of the matter is that you could be damn sure, that if The Rock could have been able to make that match, then The Rock would have come out there and he would have stood side by side with the Deadman and he would have helped whoop every single man that got in their way. But The Rock is starting to wonder if The Undertaker has that same loyalty for him? After all, The Rock wouldn't walked out of the arena if he had known that his so called "friend" had a match later on the night, even if they had their disagreements unlike The Undertaker. The Rock said that the way things are going, it looks like he won't have to feel bad about whooping The Deadman's Ass at WrestleMania.......
9 - Further backstage, Shawn Stasiak was walking around with a big smile on his face, looking confident about his match which is up next against none other than The Hurricane. Stasiak cockily walked staff members backstage calling people as he walked past when he was suddenly stopped by Mr Perfect to a good sized pop from the crowd. Perfect looked Stasiak up and down with a grin on his face before looking directly at the Intercontinental Championship. "Good Times" grinned Mr Perfect but Stasiak wasn't impressed. Stasiak told Mr Perfect that he's happy that his title brings back Perfect's memories! After all, with Shawn Stasiak as current and self proclaimed "Greatest" WWF Intercontinental Champion of all time, Stasiak felt that it would be impossible for Grandads like Perfect to ever win it again! Stasiak then pushed past Mr Perfect and walked through the entrance, his music kicking in immediately.
10 - Shawn Stasiak (WWF Intercontinental Champion) vs. The Hurricane
After a short commercial break, we head straight back to the arena to see Stasiak waiting in the ring for his opponent. The Hurricane's music then hits the arena and the crowd cheer as the World Wrestling Federation's own Super Hero makes his way to the ring for this huge opportunity. As the Hurricane is half way down the ramp, Michael Cole tells the fans that next week on RAW, Jerry Lawler has booked a WWF Intercontinental Championship Match between Al Snow and Shawn Stasiak and if Stasiak gets either counted out or Disqualified, Stasiak will lose the Intercontinental Title. Tazz adds that Paul Heyman is set to make a huge announcement regarding Kane's next opponent on WWF.com after Smackdown and Heyman promises that it;s going to send tingles up the back of Stone Cold's spine. But back to the match, as soon as the bell rang, Hurricane charged on like he had a point to prove and took the game straight to the Intercontinental Chmapion, scoring a quick drop kick on the Champion. Hurricane's pace was unable to be matched by Stasiak and Stasiak nearly found himself in hot water when Hurricane slipped past a clothesline attempt before hitting Stasiak with a vicious side kick, Stasiak once again being forced to kick out of the cover. Hurricane took to the crowd like a duck to water and posed for them while Stasiak tried to get back to his feet, Stasiak unable to mount any sort of attack, Hurricane sending him to the outside of the ring. The Intercontinental Champion however has shown his resiliance in the past and showed it once more tonight, smartly judging the follow up suicide dive from the Hurricane, the Super Hero crashing hard into the mat on the outside allowing Stasiak to gain some valuable momentum. Stasiak lined Hurricane up against the apron and beat Hurricane down on the outside before sending back into the ring and going up top. Stasiak followed up with a huge double axehandle but Stasiak couldn't get the three on the cover. Stasiak held The Hurricane down in a sleeper hold in order to try and retain momentum but the crowd stuck right behind him rallying him on and The Hurricane began to find a second wind breaking free. Both men traded hard shots back and forth. Stasiak tried to finish the match off setting The Hurricane up for the Death Valley Driver but the Hurricane countered the move and followed up with a Russian Leg Sweep but once again failed to find the three count. The Hurricane got back to his feet and tried to finish the match going for the Shining Wizard but Stasiak managed to dodge the move before driving Hurricane's head into the mat with a DDT. Stasiak, lip busted open and all, had the look in his eyes that the fans saw last Monday Night on RAW lifting the Hurricane back to his feet before hitting the WWF's favorite Super Hero with the Death Valley Driver to pick up the win. Stasiak wasted no time collecting his IC title reminding the fans that is exactly who he is - the IC Champion. But will he be by the end of RAW? Michael Cole informs us that next up is the Main Event Match for the WWF Title between The WWF Champion The Rock and Vince's McMahon's newest associate, Diamond Dallas Page - After the commerical break!
Winner - Shawn Stasiak
11 - WWF Championship Match: The Rock © vs. Diamond Dallas Page
When the show returned we went straight back to ringside just as Vince McMahon appeared in the arena, making his way down to the announce table where he would be adding additional colour commentary to this match up in this eagerly anticipated Main Event. Vince McMahon said that tonight was going to the biggest night in DDP's life and that he would finally be able to wash away the stigma of WCW as the WWF Champion and Vince could hardly wait. DDP soon after made his entrance and the crowd really through the book at him. But Page was a confident son of a gun and was seemingly unaffected by the crowd response as he made his entrance. The Rock however recieved the biggest pop of the night as he made his entrance, flustering Vince McMahon to say the least. Vince said that The Rock was a traitor to the World Wrestling Federation and a Traitor to the fans by turning against the man that saved his career by destroying WCW but Michael Cole fails to see Vince's reasoning. Nevertheless, The Rock got into the ring and saluted his Millions and Millions of Fans, DDP unimpressed at The Rock's popularity with the crowd. The match kicked off in a brawl with both men throwing lefts and rights in but it was The Rock that took the advantage, countering DDP's shots and taking him to the ground with an almightly strike. Page was sent to the corner and The Rock cornered him sending in some right hands and the referee had to step in and pull The Rock way. DDP took the advantage and tried to mount an attack on The Rock but The Rock quickly showed DDP who was the boss ducking his clothesline before nearly taking DDP's head off with a clothesline of his own. The Rock followed up with a huge belly to belly suplex and went for the pin but DDP managed to get the shoulder up. The Rock takes DDP to the outside of the ring and bounces DDP's head off the ring barricade much to the delight of the WWF fans. DDP tries to get away from The Rock but The Rock keeps on his tail and takes him down with a shot to the back of the head but smartly getting back into the ring to break up the count. DDP however looks like he's had enough and begins to hightail up the ramp and The Rock begins chase leading to an almighty brawl on the ramp way. Page looked to have taken the advantage but failed with the discus clothesline, The Rock then using the Spienbuster on Page sending him crashing into the ramp surface. The Rock drags DDP back down the ramp way to the ring, attempting to send him into the steel steps but DDP counters the move and The Rock flies in hard crashing over the top, DDP this time breaking up the count. The referee warns the two competitors that they have to take it back in the ring and DDP chucks The Rock back into the ring before getting in himself. DDP takes control and beats down on the People's Champion and so nearly got the three after he hit The Rock with the Forward Russian Legsweep. DDP kept the pressure on The Rock by locking in a sleeper on the WWF Champion but The Rock had some fight left in him and began to out of the hold. DDP tried in vain to halt The Rock's momentum kicking the Champ in the gut before going for a clothesline but The Rock ducked the before before slamming DDP with a huge spinebuster in the middle of the ring. The Rock signalled for the People's Elbow but Vince's Cavalry arrived, Waterman and X-Pac both entering the ring but The Rock delt with both sending Waterman straight back out of the ring at the other side before hitting X-Pac with the Rock Bottom. The Rock then turned and got hit with the DIAMOND CUTTER by DDP! Vince McMahon celebrating the move. An opportunistic DDP stumbled to the ground and hooked the leg of the Rock but The Rock somehow managed to kick out on the two, the crowd shocked. DDP gets back up to his feet and yells at The Rock to get up wanting to finish it right here and The Rock is in serious trouble. As soon as The Rock is back to a vertical base, Page goes for the Diamond Cutter a second time but The Rock countered the move and turned back right into THE ROCK BOTTOM, The Rock not failing where Page did and getting the three. Waterman, X-Pac nor vince could do anything as The Rock stood tall in the ring. However, the night hand one last turn for The Rock, The Rock's celebrations taking an untimely end as The Undertaker's music hit the arena and The Deadman made an appearance at the entrance, staring down the man who he will face 17 days for the WWF Championship. It looks like The Undertaker hadn't left the building after all. The show ends with The Rock and The Undertaker staring each other down as the screen fades to black!
Winner - The Rock
-
WWF Smackdown! Preview
Broadcast on the 21st of February 2002
We are now just 17 days away from the biggest event in the WWF Calendar, Wrestlemania and what an exciting couple of weeks we are in for. Friendships become strained, alliances become broken as the dream about wrestling on the biggest stage of them all becomes a reality and the road begins to come to an end.
And with the Main Event of Wrestlemania being hyped as possibly one of the Greatest Main Event's in Wrestlemania's 18 year history, there is a lot of pressure on the two partcipants, the WWF Champion The Rock and his opponent, The Undertaker to perform. Prior to this week on RAW, many felt that The Rock and The Undertaker had a good relationship but after The Rock failed to come to the Undertaker's support, many feel that the cracks are starting to show! And with the The Rock putting his WWF Championship on the line tonight against DDP and Vince McMahon and his croanies surely waiting in the wings, will The Undertaker still have the back of the Brahma Bull or will he simply leave him to the wolves?
Another man who will be feeling the pressure of Wrestlemania right now is WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Stasiak. Over the past few shows, Shawn Stasiak has been locked in a vicious battle with former WWF European and Hardcore Champion Al Snow and while Stasiak has managed to retain his title, many have felt that Al Snow has got the better of him. But Stasiak is a man that will do whatever it takes to keep his beloved title as he showed earlier in the week on RAW when got himself disqualified by attacking Snow with his title belt. Will Stasiak be able to maintain this sly tactic of his or is his title reign coming to an end? Can he even make it to Wrestlemania? Watch Shawn Stasiak fight the Hurricane tonight in a None-Title Match to see how he fares.
Two other Wrestlers involved in an ongoing battle are The British Bulldog and Test who have been playing the game of oneupmanship over the past few weeks, Bulldog and Test displaying their dominance over whoever the face. Tonight, the British Bulldog is facing Test's friend Lance Storm but Bulldog doesn't want to face Test's friends, Bulldog wants to face Test and he knows damn well. Will Test finally get himself more involved in the Bulldog's affairs tonight on Smackdown or will he continue to play spectator in this battle of mind games.
Stay Tuned to Find Out!
SCHEDULED MATCHESThe Undertaker vs. Raven
Shawn Stasiak (WWF Intercontinental Champion) vs. The Hurricane
The British Bulldog vs. Lance Storm
WWF Championship Match
The Rock © vs. Diamond Dallas Page
-
Monday Night RAW
Monday, 18th February 2002
With all the hype surrounding this week's RAW, JR and Mick Foley quickly welcomed the WWF fans to Monday Night RAW and we are told we are in for one hell of a slobberknocker! We have an Intercontinental Championship Match between Shawn Stasiak and Al Snow that was ordered just a few days ago by Jerry Lawler, we've got Test facing the self proclaimed SuperHero, the Hurricane and as well as Kurt Angle and Kane both in action. JR is pumped and ready for action!
1 - The Undertaker vs. X-Pac
The show opened with The Undertaker's music hitting the arena, Taker appearing to a rapturous applause for the WWF fans as he made his way to the ring for the opening match of the night. Taker looked fired up and ready for this match up against an opponent he knows only too, who moments later made a cocky entrance to the arena, despite a huge amount of jeers from the crowd. X-Pac made his way to the ring only to be met by Taker on the outside, X-Pac unable to even get a punch in amongst the early battering from the Deadman. Taker knocked down Pac to his knees with huge right hands before sending him straight into the steel steps, X-Pac colliding, flesh on steel with a huge impact. Taker continued the outside onslaught sending X-Pac into the ring post, ignoring early warnings by the referee. The match was out of control. Taker eventually got X-Pac into the ring and continued the beat down placing each fist precisely on X-Pac's beaten body. Taker was treating Pac like a rag doll, throwing him from side to side, lucky to survive the pinfall attempt for a big boot to the face moments later. X-Pac tried to get himself back to his feet abut Taker wouldn't let him knocking him down to the ground with every attempt he made. Ron Waterman quickly made an appearance trying to halt further action from the Deadman but Taker met him with more right hands, sending off the apron, allowing X-Pac to get in a low blow while the referee wasn't looking. A bruised X-Pac got back to his feet using to attack Taker on both sides before sending Taker and striking him with a spinning heel kick, Taker falling into the ropes, holding himself up. X-Pac went back and attempted to whip Taker into the turnbuckle, Taker reversing the move X-Pac instead making contact but X-Pac anticipated Taker's responding sending him into the corner with a clever counter. X-Pac was cocky and he rightly should as he had posession over the man that would be main eventing Wrestlemania. Sadly for X-Pac, this posession didn't last as X-Pac missed a splash attempt, Taker moving out the way, X-Pac managing to avoid the turnbuckle but was not able to avoid Taker's hand, X-Pac viciously sent to the mat with the chokeslam from hell, Taker dropping for the pin and ending the match; another victory for the Deadman! It was Ron Waterman who had the last laugh of the night though quickly jumping Taker post pin fall with the lead pipe that he had so masterfully used during the previous months taking Taker to the ground with three hard shots busting the Deadman open. It looks like Vince McMahon has got what he wanted here on RAW as Waterman and X-Pac leave the arena proudly as referees check on the Undertaker bleeding in the ring as we head to a commercial break.
Winner - The Undertaker
2 - Test vs. The Hurricane
When the show returns, JR welcomes us back revisting the sickening attack by Ron Waterman just before the commercial break. Foley says that Ron Waterman and X-Pac continue to show us just exactly what kind of despicable human beings they are as The Hurricane makes his way to the ring. The Hurricane is a big hit with the WWF fans, with many of the young generation looking up to a man that has a bright future with the World Wrestling Federation as does his opponent, Test who came down the ring shortly afterward to a heat response from the crowd. Test has been fine form recently epitomised by his display against The Undertaker at No Way Out. However Test's hype didn't stop Hurricane from putting up one hell of a fight taking it right to Test from the get go attacking him with some stiff right shots before dropping Test with a big drop kick. Test was quickly sent to the ground, rolling outside to gain momentum as the crowd went stir crazy for the Hurricane. Test was furious slamming the apron from the outside as the Hurricane posed in the ring. Test tried to get back inside but Hurricane watched him like a hawk, taking Test's lack of decisiveness to his advantage by hitting a huge suicide dive to the outside. The crowd went nuts as Hurricane got back to his feet delivering a beat down on the stunned Test. Hurricane got back to his feet first and continued to deliver the fight, until Test managed to counter and Irish whip which sent Hurricane into the ring post before dropping Hurricane with a clothesline. Test sent the Hurricane back into the ring and went for the cover but was he was unable to capitalise. Test whipped the Hurricane hard into the turnbuckle, before missing with the follow up Splash, Hurricane quickly responding with some right hands knocking Test to the ground. Hurricane climbed up top and hit Test with the diving neckbreaker the crowd making the count along with the referee only, Hurricane so unlucky not to pick up the three. Hurricane got back to his feet and was going crazy. He wanted Test to get up, he was telling the crowd it was over! Test was up and here came Hurricane's move of choice...the...chokeslam? Everyone in the crowd was shocked, nevermind Test who quickly broke up the move with a huge elbow to the head before taking the Superhero down to the mat with a swinging neckbreaker. Test then stepped to the corner and and waited for Hurricane to get back to his feet before sticking the big boot in, turning the lights out of the Super hero to pick up the three. Test stood angered in the middle of the ring as a man only too familiar to him, the British Bulldog appeared at the entrance clapping the victor on. Will these two face at WrestleMania? By God this thing needs to be sorted!
Winner - Test
3 - HIS NAME...IS BRIAN MOORE! Moore complains that he's coming to prove a point to everyone in the WWF. Moore says that many Superstars complain about how bad they've got it and how bad their life is but nobody knows what it's like to be him. Coming Soon!
4 - Backstage, The Undertaker is getting treatment on his busted open head when The Rock walks in with his suitcase looking concerned by Taker looks angry. Taker was furious that The Rock wasn't there to back him against attacks like this which blatently were on the cards and that he's starting to think that The Rock might just be a little bit selfish. The Rock desperately tried to pleed his case but it was no good. Taker just wasn't listening and that was the end of that!
5 - Bradshaw vs. Hugh Morrus w/Daffney Unger
The fans were suprised to see Hugh Morrus take to the match in such an aggressive fashion, Morrus taking it to Bradshaw in the early goings with huge right hands before taking him down with a shoulder tackle. Morrus brought back to his feet before taking him down with a second tackle, Morrus then attempting a pin attempt but Bradshaw kicked out. Unger belted out instructions to Morrus as he mounted the Texans and beat him with huge fists before getting back to his feet and charging Bradshaw down with a knee to the head, Morrus again going for the cover and Bradshaw again having to kick out! Morrus tried to pile on the pressure but Bradshaw smartly countered a whip attempt sending Morrus into the ropes before splashing him into the corner. Bradshaw chopped away at the midsection of Morrus to the crowds delight before sending him into the adjacent turnbuckle, Morrus's head locking the turnbuckle falling back to the ground. Bradshaw quickly dragged Morrus into the middle of the ring and delivered an elbow drop combination before going for the cover, but Unger's screams evidently worked for Morrus, Morrus getting his shoulder up on the two. Bradshaw got back to his feet and kicked away at Morrus and Bradshaw was in firm control. However, the Native Texan's luck was about to change when he attempted the clothesline from hell, Unger grabbing hold of his foot from the outside, halting any further progression, allowing Morrus to stun Bradshaw with an elbow before sending him to the mat with a rolling cutter. Morrus then went for the kill, bringing Bradshaw into the centre of the ring before climbing up top for the No Laughing Matter, picking up a huge win here on RAW. Unger got into the ring and hugged her man as Bradshaw lay motionless on the floor as we head off to another commercial
Winner - Hugh Morrus
6 - As soon as we return from a break, we joined Vince McMahon backstage as he was reading his paper when he was interupted by none other than former WCW Champion, Diamond Dallas Page. An unimpressed Vince demanded to know what possible business a man like DDP, a man who a few months ago nearly put him out of business, had with him, Vince reminding Page that he was lucky to have a job. And Page agreed; In fact, Page told Vince that he was so grateful for this opportunity that he wanted to pay him back - Page just wanted Vince to trust him. DDP handed a scepitcal Vince McMahon a note and told him to call him on his cell phone if he liked the idea ASAP. What the hell does the note say?
7 - Kurt Angle vs. Steve Blackman
Kurt Angle came down to the ring first microphone in hand as he wanted to make it known that despite the rumours that have been spread, there is no proof and no validity in the claims that he was the one that attacked Rob Van Dam last week and said it was typical of these judgemental fans to put the blame of something so heinous and someone like him because the people are jealous of him. Steve Blackman seemed to take exception to this comment and told Angle that if he wanted to take out his frustrations, then why not take it out on him and Angle did just that, blind siding Blackman with the microphone while he was facing the other way. It didn't take Angle long to take the first big move in, clubbing Blackman from behind before unleashing a German Suplex on the Lethal Weapon, Blackman landing head first in the ring. Blackman escaped the ring rolling out but Angle quickly followed and began to beat down Blackman on the outside sending him hard into the steel steps and then the crowd barricade. Angle is so fired up, so much so that he doesn't even here the bell go as he throws Blackman once more into the steel steps.Angle eventually realises that the match is over when he puts Blackman back intot he ring, Angle adament that he'd done nothing wrong even though we all know the truth. Angle finished Blackman off by hitting Blackman with the Angle Slam leaving the Lethal Weapon down and out! We go to another commercial break!
Winner - Kurt Angle
8 - After the commercial break ended, we rejoin the show as Degeneration X make their way to the ring to the delight of the WWF fans. Degeneration X did not come alone, as both men were seen to be carrying duffel bags in one hand microphones in the other but that didn't stop Shawn Michaels from high fiving every single person in the front row as he approached the ring. Triple H started the night off asking the crowd if they were ready but we all know by now that if you're not down with that, THEN WE'VE GOT TWO WORDS FOR YA! Buy it! After all, Triple H informed us that there are these lovely Degeneration X T-Shirts Available, just out back! But that isn't why they were here. Triple H said that as the fans were aware, over the past few weeks, DX have been trying to antagonise the WWF Tag Team Champions but they've realised, that's not the way that you should treat Tag Team Champs! Hell, especially not ones with histories as grand as theres! Triple H said that with this in mind, him and Shawn got to thinking and wondered what the two of them could do that would possibly tell the Dudleyz that they "respected them!". HBK added that after a large amount of thinking, they realised - that is when the bags were opened. After a brief session of bag fumbling, out came the glasses and shirts and cushions and we were presented with Shawn and Hunter Dudley? Triple H perfectly played the role of Bubba telling the crowd that if they didn't chant his name, he was going to put each one of them through a table. "OH MY BROTHER! TESTIFY!" shouted HBK the crowd eating this up. The show went on with HBK and Triple H making references to "Big Easy Dudley" until the Dudley Boyz had heard enough and tried to jump DX. DX, however, were way too fast for the Dudley Boyz and D-Von ate the Sweet Chin Music while Bubba got pedigreed to hell. It looks like DX are in the heads of the Dudley Boyz finally. We are now only 20 days from Wrestlemania!
9 - After the Wrestlemania announcement, we are then informed of a Smackdown Major Announcement as this Thursday, The Rock is going to take on Diamond Dallas Page in the Main Event and it's for the WWF Title! Is that what DDP proposed to Vince? How the hell is that going to benefit him?
10 - Kane w/ Paul Heyman vs. Funaki
When we returned from the announcement, we quickly rejoined ringside where Kane was making his way to the ring with Paul Heyman to face none other than Funaki. The brave Japanese Superstar tried with all of his might to make waves in the early going but Funaki simply did not have the power to bring and Kane quickly chucked him aside treating him like a rag doll. Funaki got back to his feet only to be rushed into the corner where Kane threw punch after punch at him before choking him in the corner, Funaki gasping for air as the referee made the count. Next up for Funaki was the side walk slam but the Big Red Machine, Funaki already looking almost gone as his brittle body landed havily on the mat. Heyman was loving it on the outside, begging Kane on the outside to hurt Funaki and Kane obliged Gorilla Pressing the Cruiserweight before dropping him on his face with such force that many in the crowd had to cringe. Kane finally saw mercy for Funaki grabbing hold of him by the throat, chokeslamming him to hell for the three, Kane dominating his opponents once more!
Winner - Kane
11 - No Count Out WWF Intercontinental Championship Match: Shawn Stasiak © vs. Al Snow
After a recess, we returned to the ring for our Main Event as Al Snow made his way down to the ring to a huge response from the crowd. Al Snow interacted with the fans as he made his way down before climbing up high and saluting the fans who have been right behind him ever since he made the challenge for the IC title. As soon as Snow dropped from the turnbuckle, Stasiak's music fired up and Shawn slowly made his way down to the ring for this match up. Stasiak's hesistance lead for an angry Snow to quickly climb out of the ring and a brawl began half way up the ramp as the two men exchanged right hands. Snow pulled Stasiak to ring side and bounced the Mecca of Manhood's head on the apron before sending him back into the ring, Al Snow quickly following behind. Al Snow got back onto the top rope and took Stasiak down with a drop kick before going for the cover but Snow only managed to get a two count and the match continued. Nonetheless, Snow continued the offense hitting Stasiak with a German Suplex before landing a standing moonsault on the IC Champion, Snow once again only getting the two or two consecutive pin fall attempts. Snow and Stasiak both got to their feet and Snow tried to put away Stasiak with the Snow Plow but Stasiak countered the front case lock, pushing Snow away before sending him to the outside with a clothesline allowing Stasiak vital time to get his breath back. Stasiak got out of the ring and stalked Snow attacking him from behind with a huge shot to the back before bringing him back into the ring. Stasiak pounded away on Snow in the ring, eventually landing a Russian Legsweep on the challenger but Stasiak like Snow, only got a 2 on the pin fall attempt, much to the dismay of the challenger and the match had to continue.
Neither men could seem to put the other one away as the match went back and forth over and over again, Snow looking to have just about the edge over Stasiak after he connected with the Snow Bomb but Stasiak somehow managed to kick out in time, just showing exactly how much this title means to him. Al was running out of ideas fast and looked up to the top rope for guidance. Stasiak, however, was well prepared for Snow's Moonsault attacks, Stasiak smartly lifting up his knees driving them into the midsection of the former Hardcore Champion, Snow reeling in pain. Stasiak quickly got back to his feet and lifted Snow up onto his shoulders and in attempt to hit the Death Valley Driver but Snow countered the move and pushed Stasiak away, Snow then trying to get the roll up but Stasiak escaped on the two before dropping Snow with a DDT, Stasiak once more going for the pinfall but he couldn't put Snow away. Stasiak was livid! He'd had enough! Stasiak climbed out of the ring and grabbed hold of his Championship belt before making his way back up the ramp. The crowd were livid. Just as Stasiak was about to leave though, something came over him and Stasiak turned back belt in hand. But just when we thought Shawn was going to turn the corner and act like a man, Stasiak decided to prove everyone wrong nearly taking Al Snow's head off with the Intercontinental Title knocking him clean out! The referee had no choice but to call and end to the match as Stasiak mounted the challenger and beat him like a scoulded dog with right hand after right hand. Stasiak looked more aggressive than anyone had ever seen him shouting at Snow to go back to his feet, Stasiak in the end dragging the battered body of Snow back to his feet just to finish the job with the Death Valley Driver. "Stasiak is one day going to get what is coming to him!" shrieks JR as the show heads to another commerical break.
Winner - Al Snow by DQ (Shawn Stasiak retains the Title)
12 - After the last of the commercials, Jerry Lawler made his way to the ring to the delight of the WWF fans. Jerry Lawler has not been having the best of times lately with Vince McMahon very much ruling the roost despite having a major percentage of the shares. Lawler said that the reason he is out here is because he wishes to address the current conflicts that he is having with Vince McMahon and that something has got to be done. Lawler said that when he took 50% control of the company, he hoped that he and Vince would eventually learn to get along with each other. But it seems that Vince McMahon refuses to even value his opinion. Lawler said despite whatever personal or professional opinion Vince McMahon may have of him, to book WWF Championship Matches, like he did for this week on Smackdown was unacceptable! Diamond Dallas Page in the Main Event? A few weeks ago, he could even get on the now defunct HEAT! BUT WAIT! DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE IS IN THE RING! DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE IS STALKING THE KING! LOOK OUT! DDP HITS THE DIAMOND CUTTER ON THE CO-OWNER OF THE WWF! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? The show ends with DDP standing over the motionless King with a sick grin on his face....DAMN IT!
-
Raw Preview
Scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, 18th February 2002
One Week Removed From No Way Out
We are now one week removed from No Way Out and only three weeks away from the Granddady of them all..WrestleMania. As the tide grows nearer, friendships get strained and hatred gets stronger as everyone knows that this could be their only chance to make a name for themself.
Last week, Vince McMahon and his croanies tried their hardest to put a wrench in the current plans for The Rock to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania but both men have seemed to be watching each others back as The Undertaker came to The Rock's aid last week on Smackdown, when Ron Waterman and X-Pac seemed to have the better of the People's Champion. But will The Rock return the favour for the Deadman when he takes on X-Pac. Can their relationship remain strong or will it crumble before our eyes as WrestleMania gets ever closer.
Shawn Stasiak is one man who has his fair share of hatred right now after repeatedly screwing Al Snow out of the Intercontinental Championship with a cheap victory on RAW before getting himself counted out on Smackdown. One thing that is for certain is that Al Snow wants the Intercontinental Title and with their match tonight being A No Count Out Match Up, Stasiak may have his work cut out tonight!
Last week on Smackdown, Rob Van Dam was brutally attacked by an unknown assailant while purchasing a protein bar from a vending machine backstage. While Van Dam has been unable to shine any new light onto his possible attacker, many backstage have already decided that the attacker was none-other than Kurt Angle, the man who Van Dam faced at No Way Out and who has constantly bashed Van Dam over the past few weeks. We will hear from Kurt Angle tonight!
Another man who we are yet to hear from is Stone Cold Steve Austin who has been notably absent after he failed to put away Kane Last Monday Night on RAW. Paul Heyman and Kane have made it perfectly clear that they want Austin again and Heyman wants Austin to face Kane at WrestleMania. But with Heyman offering Austin no alternative but a Last Man Standing Match Up with Kane, will Austin accept? After all, many feel that anyone stepping into a match like that with someone like Kane would be nothing short of career suicide. Will Austin finally show his face a week after disappearing? Stay tuned to find out.
Also in action tonight - Test, The Hurricane, Hugh Morrus, Steve Blackman, Bradshaw and Funaki! WWF RAW..only on TNN
Scheduled Matches
No Count Out WWF Intercontinental Championship Match
Shawn Stasiak © vs. Al Snow
Hugh Morrus w/Daffney Unger vs. Bradshaw
Kurt Angle vs. Steve Blackman
Kane vs. Funaki
Test vs. The Hurricane
The Underaker X-Pac
-
WWF Smackdown
Thursday, 14th February
Tazz and Cole welcome us to Smackdown, four days removed from No Way Out. Tonight seems a variety of matches take place with the WWF Champion The Rock taking on Ron Waterman in the Smackdown Main Event. But wait, there's more! Tonight, ECW's Extreme Legend, Sabu will take on the WWF veteran Hardcore Holly in a Hardcore Match while the WWF Intercontinental Champion Shawn Stasiak takes on Al Snow in a rematch, just 3 nights after he cruely screwed the Veteran out of the Intercontinental Title on RAW. The Big Red Monster Kane will also see action tonight when he takes on former WCW Superstar and Defectee, Chuck Palumbo in standard match settings while future WWF Hall of Famer, The British Bulldog is set to go one on one with former the former Hardcore Champion Raven. But First.....
1 - Degeneration X make their way to the ring, Shawn Michaels and Triple H getting a huge response from the 17000 strong in the arena tonight. And if you're not down with that, we've got two words for ya! SUCK IT! Triple H starts off by telling us that sometimes you don't know what you've got till it's gone and that it's damn good to back in the WWF and back hearing all these fans chant his name and that he thinks the fans are glad to see him too. But Trips says that it's obvious that in the 8 or so months that he's been gone, the Game has changed. Things aren't the same as they used to be and that's why Shawn's here. Triple H reminded us that not so long ago, there was this group called Degeneration X that came about in the World Wrestling Federation and it reaked absolutely hell and Triple H says he wants more of the same and both him and Shawn have that passion to begin it's new era and that era is starting right here tonight! Michaels took over the mic and reminded the fans that last monday night on RAW, Degeneration X may have mentioned something about making their in ring return at this insignificant a little event, the fans may have heard of it....it's called WrestleMania but Shawn tells us that there may be a tiny problem with this idea and that is that they don't have any opponents! The Dudley Boyz music then hit the arena and Bubba and D-Von came to the entrance way looking very aggressive. The Dudleys got a lot of heat from the fans but Bubba wasn't about to be deterred and told the fans to shut it as he had something to say. Bubba told DX that over the past few days, he's been hearing a bunch of rumours that DX are after a match against the Dudley Boyz and Bubba wants to make himself crystal clear right here, right now. Bubba says that the Dudley Boyz are scared of nobody and will gladly take on anyone deserving at whatever time and place. But Bubba feels that being "legends" in the WWF isn't enough in his opinion to grant them a Tag Team Title Shot. Bubba reminds everyone, just in case they forgot, that the Dudley Boyz are the most succesful tag team in the history of the Wrestling business, and are former WCW and ECW Tag Team Champions as well as the current WWF Tag Team Champions and that the Dudley Boyz are so out of DX's league. Bubba point blankly refuses a match against DX at Wrestlemania and swears that is the end of it before leaving the arena to a host of boos, DX and the crowd completely unsatisified by their answer before we cut off to an early commerical.
2 - Hardcore Holly vs. Sabu - Hardcore Match
When we return from the commercials, we join Sabu making his way to his ring and Hardcore Holly looks up at the Deaf Defying Extremist, who is still carrying his scars from his Hardcore War at No way Out. Hardcore Holly wastes little time attacking Sabu jumping him from before driving him into the corner of the ring unleashing some huge clubbing blows to the ECW Alumnus. Holly uses his power and his speed to take it to Sabu in the early goings taking Sabu dropping Sabu down with a huge clothesline off the ropes before taking him down with a perfectly timed drop kick that almost got the three. Holly however decided to take it to the outside, a move that he would later live to regret as Sabu had just been let loose into his extreme playground. Sabu started off his huge offensive countering Holly's whip attempt on the outside sending Holly straight into the steel steps before taking him down once more with a forearm shot. Sabu grabbed a chair and threw it into the face of the blonde haired Veteran busting him open before chucking him back into the ring and climbing onto the apron and hitting Holly with a Springboard Leg drop, making a cheap cover but for only a quick two count. Sabu went to the outside and retrieved the dented chair before throwing it in the face of Holly the crowd hearing the echo of steel on skull clearly through the arena. Sabu continued the assault hitting Holly with the triple jump moonsault, Holly helpless to get out of the way before Sabu got right back to his feet and finished Holly off with the Arabian Facebuster, Sabu is back to winning ways.
Winner: Sabu
3 - Kevin Kelly was joined backstage with the WWF Hardcore Champion Key and his Agent, Charles Wright. Wright grabbed the microphone off of Kevin Kelly and removed him from his position, telling Kelly that he was not needed here and Kelly quickly departed off set, looking disgrunted. Wright said that once again, Sabu made an impressive performance in a World Wrestling ring and that it's evident that Sabu is really starting to get on in the business. However, despite all this being said, Wright feels that Sabu has been living proof of exactly what he has been saying and that no matter how good you think you are, no matter how many titles or fans you have; hell, it doesn't matter if your name is Rob Van Dam or Kurt Angle and that the only t hing that matters is that no one is better than Key.
4 - Intercontinental Title: Al Snow vs. Shawn Stasiak ©
After the way Al Snow had lost the match earlier this week on Monday, Al was desperate to put things right tonight and the crowd were right behind him as he made his way to the ring. The same could not be said for the nervous looking Stasiak as he slowly made his way to the ring, stopping on at least 2 occasions to look at his title belt like it might be the last time he'll ever hold it. On arrival to the ring, Stasiak and Snow crossed looks at each other, the crowd anticipating who would make the first move before a very neutral grapple kicked off the match. While Stasiak looked desperate to retain his title belt, it was Snow who took the advantage in the undergoing releasing the grapple with some shots to the midsection before flooring Stasiak with multiple clotheslines, Stasiak flustered by the early assault, resulting in a multitude of near pin falls from back slides and roll ups. The crowd clapped away as Snow locked Stasiak in the first rest move of the match, keeping Stasiak low with a headlock and Stasiak had to find a way out. Stasiak eventually got back to a vertical base, using right hands to get some air between him and his opponent but Snow fought back with his hard shots of his own, the crowd cheering for every move. Stasiak had to resort to an eye poke to take any sort of control locking his arms around the waist of Snow but Snow fought out with hard elbows, reversing the move before taking Stasiak down to the ground with a huge German Suplex. Snow said it was over and he went up top! The crowd went wild! Could we have a new Intercontinental Champion? Snow attempts a moonsault but Stasiak gets his knees up and Snow is severely winded allowing Stasiak to get back on the offensive. However, Stasiak nearly got made a fool of, Stasiak choosing to mock his opponent allowing Snow some ample breathing time and Snow nearly caught Stasiak with a roll up, Stasiak rolling straight out of the ring after the kick out, everyone including the announcers thinking Snow had done it! Stasiak had had enough and he was out of there, grabbing hold of his Intercontinental Title and heading through the crowd as the referee began the count out! This time, Al Snow wins but he's not going home with anything but his pride. Time for another commercial break.
Winner - Al Snow by Count Out
5 - When the show returns, we join the commentary team who inform us of an incident that happened during the break involving Rob Van Dam. Backstage, we join one of the cameramen who finds Rob Van Dam lying unconscious in a pool of his own blood as medics tend to him. Michael Cole and Tazz can't help but feel Kurt Angle had something to do with this sickening attack! Back in the arena, the pyros explode and we all know what that means...
6 - Chuck Palumbo vs. Kane w/Paul Heyman
Kane recieves big heat from the crowd as he and Heyman make their way to the ring, Heyman wasting no time to get on the mic informing the crowd that standing before you is a 300+ pound, 6ft 11 Monster who has a soul so black, that he strikes fear into even the bravest of men including one Stone Cold Steve Austin. Heyman tells the crowd that Kane does not know the meaning of stop and he does not simply dominate WWF Superstars but he DESTROYS WWF Superstars! And while Heyman's words were excessive, you could tell that they struck a chord with Palumbo, Palumbo's face filling with dread as the Monster stepped into the squared circle. One couldn't blame Chuck for being concerned though as Kane was in fine form sucking up a couple of early strikes from Palumbo before blocking one and then nearly cleanly taking Palumbo off his feet with a single upper cut, the second doing the job. Kane got right back on Palumbo and drove him into the ropes taking him down a huge side walk slam the ring shaking with the Power of the Monster. Kane simply dominated Palumbo, Kane simply playing with the former WCW Tag Team Champion as he courageously tried to stay in the match. However nothing was going to stop the Big Red Monster, Kane hitting Palumbo with a backbreaker before climbing up to the top rope and taking his head off with the flying clothesline from hell. Next Stop. Chokeslam City and Palumbo was well and truely buried. Another Victory for the Big Red Machine!
Winner - Kane
7 - After the match up, Paul Heyman got back into the ring and gloated about his prophecy and said that he guarantees that Kane is going places and that he will be with him all along the way. Heyman says that Austin knows this and that's why he's not here again. Austin can't beat Kane! But Heyman doesn't want to end it like that. Heyman said that everyone knows that Austin is on his way out and that Heyman wants to prove it and he wants to prove it at WrestleMania in a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Michael Cole and Tazz think that this sort of match would be suicide for Stone Cold but what will Stone Cold's response be?
8 - Backstage we catch up with The Coach who informs us that we are going to get an exclusive interview with none other than the Woman who looks most likely to face Trish Stratus for the Women's Title at Wrestlemania, Daffney Unger. The Coach arrives at her locker room and bangs on her door but there is no response. Coach confused, as he did give her prior notice, tries again but once again, there is no answer.The Coach looks around and shrugs."I, I, I don't know what could have gone on? I'm going to take a look inside" remarks The Coach although in hindsight, he may wish he hadn't. The door opens slowly to which he witnesses a sight. A sight more horrific than he could have possibly imagined. Coach backs off, his hand over his face, and there is yelling and shouting from two people. Followed by the Coach is Hugh Morrus! He puts his shirt back on calling The Coach "a pervert". His face is covered with black lipstick. Seconds later, steps out Daffney who looks furious. Daffney hells harshly that this was her "private time" and that the Coach should have just walked away! Morrus is in all sort of a state. Trish quickly enters the picture, her arms folded, a smirk on her face. Trish tells Daffney that this is what happens when you bully defenseless women..."you end up with a man who looks like the back end of a truck". It's all chaos backstage but it's time to return to the ring for our next match.
9 - The British Bulldog vs. Raven
We head back to the ring and Michael Cole announces that it's time for another match, Tazz still going on about the Daffney incident backstage. Hugh Morrus? What the hell is that about? Anyway, Raven comes down to the ring first and he looks fired up to be back on a main stream show after a fairly long absence, Raven proving to the WWF that he can still draw crowd heat. Bulldog, on the other hand, proved that he can still draw the crowds, getting a great pop from the locals as he makes his way down to the match, the delight on Bulldog's face underlining how happy he is to be back here in the WWF. Raven wasted no time at the start of he match breaking an early lock up with a kick to the gut and an eye rake to try and take control but Bulldog gets out of the early head lock attempt and takes Raven down with a shoulder tackle. Bulldog sticks to a very simple offensive with Raven taking him down with a back body drop before knocking him off his feet with a couple of huge forearm smashes showing Raven just who's boss. Bulldog attempted an early pinfall atempt on Raven with a vertical suplex but Raven managed to get the shoulder up on the two and the match continued. Bulldog continued to dominate the match making a steady attack on the weaker frame of Raven, Raven having to resort to any cheap move he could to break up the beat down by the man from Manchester, with eventually a thumb to the eye giving him all the room he needed to take Smith down with a one handed bulldog. Raven climbed up to the top rope to attempt a double handed axehandle but Bulldog was back up and Raven was sent back to the floor with a gorrilla press after being sent some tough right hands while up top. Next up was a suprise visit from Test who appeared on the entrance watching on as Bulldog lifted Raven up ready for the Running Powerslam, Test blatently trying to distract him but Bulldog smartly ignored him and finished the job, sending Raven to the mat with his trademark powerslam for the three. An agitated Test quickly made his way down the ramp and must have considered attacking Bulldog from behind as he celebrated but Bulldog quickly turned to face him as Test had one hand on the ropes and Test decided to back off. It looks like Bulldog still wants Test than Test wants Bulldog! Test clapped Smith as he made his way back up the ramp, Bulldog keeping his eyes fixed on the sly Canadian as he backed up the entrance until he finally left the arena. This one isn't over!
Winner - The British Bulldog
10 - The Rock was backstage with Jon Ian. The Rock said that last Monday, prior to The Rock and Undertaker's Main Event Match against X-Pac and Ron Waterman, everyone was talking. Can these two men get along? Will they be able to finish match on the same page? The Rock said that like always, The Rock showed all the doubters just what The Rock is about. The Rock said that he has no beef with the Undertaker. The Undertaker is a WWF Legend, WWF through and through, a man that can boast a decade of destruction and The Rock says he has great respect for him and that The Rock is sure that at WrestleMania, the two of them are going to put on one hell of a match which undoubtedly The Rock is going to win! But until that day, until that night, The Rock says he's happy to see everything remain calm and orderly, at least between him and Taker. As for Vince McMahon and his Merry Men! Well The Rock says that tonight, he's going to end this nonsense once and for all! The Rock vs. Ron Waterman is next!
11 - None Title Match: The Rock vs. Ron Waterman
The Rock was jumped on the ramp by Ron Waterman as The Rock made his way to the ring, Waterman looked a great deal more fired up than usual tonight. Waterman escorted The Rock to ring side before sending him into the ring post busting his head open before sending him knees first into the steel steps. The Rock somehow managed to lift himself back up but Waterman took him straight back down with a huge clothesline, The Rock looking in real trouble in the early goings of this match up. Waterman didn't want to get into a brawl with the People's Champion and quickly sent him into the ring to try and get the pin fall but The Rock but The Rock got the shoulder up! Waterman had to keep in top of The Rock beating him down with huge right hands before sending Rock into the corner of the ring, Rocky clattering hard with the the turnbuckle before walking straight into a back body drop, Waterman going for the pin once again but only getting the 2 count once more. As the match progressed, Waterman's ego began to get the better of him giving The Rock ample time to recover, while he taunted the audience. Waterman attempted to get The Rock off the ground but The Rock fought out of his clutches with right hands and the two men ended up exchanging blows, before The Rock ducked a clothesline attempt before hitting Waterman with a flying clothesline of his own. The Rock took control leading in with an atomic drop before continuing with a clothesline and some more right hands. Waterman was in a tight spot and nearly ended up in the Rockbottom, Waterman's elbow's saving him then. Waterman's day wasn't going to get any better for though as moments later, Waterman walked right into a spinebuster and you know what that means! IT'S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE'S ELBOW! The crowd went crazy as The Rock connected with his finisher, hooking the leg of his opponent for the three and ending the match! The Rock had done it again; not that he had any time to celebrate as just seconds after the bell rang, X-Pac hit the ring attacking The Rock from behind with a steel chair. X-Pac told Waterman to get up and the two men began a vicious assault on the WWF Champion both men sending the boot in. It was however what they intended to do next that caused The Undertaker to make an entrance, Waterman instructing X-Pac to wrap his chair around the neck of The Rock as Waterman climbed the turnbuckle, Taker's Gong going off almost the second Waterman reached the top. The Undertaker quickly charged to the ring and took on both men, taking X-Pac down with a boot to the face before chokeslamming Ron Waterman to hell. The Undertaker cleaned house and Vince McMahon's croanies quickly hightailed it as the Undertaker helped a grateful Rock back to his feet. RAW went off air as The Rock and Taker shook hands before Taker signalled to The Rock that he wants his title, The Rock surely knowing that he is going to be in for one hell of a fight come WrestleMania!
Winner - The Rock
)
Get The 'F' Back in
in The Dome Retro Room
Posted