Backlash '01

Legacy Review

Backlash '01

April 29, 2001 from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL

 

Commentary: Jim Ross and Paul Heyman

 

A new day has dawned in the world of professional wrestling. WWF has purchased WCW. The Attitude Era came to an unofficial close at the spectacular Wrestlemania X7, the culmination of one of the greatest three month stretches in WWF/E PPV history. Now comes what's next. WWF was still figuring out exactly how, and how much, they were going to use the WCW name and talent so it will still be a while before they start getting worked into everything.

 

The big news coming out of WM X7 was not just Austin winning the WWF Championship back, it was Austin turning heel and allying with eternal enemy Mr. McMahon in his desperation to win the title back. Since WM, Austin and another former adversary, Triple H, buried the attempted vehicular homicide hatchet and formed a Mega Powers style superteam known as The Two Man Power Trip. Trips' win over Austin at No Way Out in February played no small part in that, giving Austin some newfound respect for Trips. To fully cement the new unit as the men running the WWF, Trips has won the Intercontinental title since WM. Also of note, the Rock is now away filming his first movie, The Scorpion King. Rock in Hollywood? That'll never last.

 

X-Factor def The Dudley Boyz in 8:00- This is a six man match, with Spike Dudley joining his semi-cousin brothers whatever, against the unit of X-Pac, Justin Credible and Albert. X-Factor charge in on their entrance and we get the usual jump start brawl. Albert quickly gets isolated. The main Dudleyz double suplex him and Spike follows up with a double stomp off the top rope. The Dudleyz then press Spike down onto Pac and Credible on the floor. Things settle in with Credible getting knocked around all the Dudleyz and Spike trying for a couple of quick pins before Credible's size proves too much for him. Albert TOSSES Spike out of a Dudley Dog attempt! Credible hits a powerbomb for 2 while the Chicago crowd serenades Pac with a big "X-Pac sucks" chant. Spike dodges a Credible slide in the corner, sending Credible nuts first into the post, and tags out. D'Von tackles Pac but takes a shot in the back from Albert from the apron. Pac hits a swing kick, then distracts ref Teddy Long while the other two crotch D'Von on the post. Albert slingshots him into the ropes. Pac decides to kill the pace with a chinlock even though there's two other guys to tag out to if he wanted a rest. D'Von fights out but gets cut off with a leg lariat. Credible tries some jabs in the corner. D'Von jabs better. Side slam from Credible. Albert gets a delayed double underhook suplex. D'Von gets a double clothesline on Pac and Credible and tags out to Bubba Ray. Hot tag run from Bubba Ray. He hits a side suplex on Pac and covers. Albert tries to break the pin up but ends up splashing Pac. DONNYBROOK! Credible takes the Whazzup Drop. Get the tables! Albert cuts that off. An isolated Bubba Ray gets avalanched in the corner by Albert, then double superkicked by Pac and Credible, and Pac covers to get the pin. After the bell X-Factor try to beat the Dudleyz at their own game by putting Bubba Ray through the table. Instead, Spike and D'Von make the save and Pac takes a 3D through the table. Decent formula tag opener. **1/4

 

A limo arrives backstage and the Duchess of Queensbury emerges from it. WWF Commish William Regal comes out to greet her and makes sure her security knows to protect her from all the American plebs out there tonight. She'll be involved in his match tonight but I'll get into the details later. I don't know who came up with the "Duchess"'s costume, but it looks more pre-revolution French than anything English. After that we get a quick highlight from Heat of Jerry Lynn defeating Crash Holly for the Light Heavyweight title. Yes that was still around.

 

WWF Hardcore Championship: Rhyno (c) def Raven in 8:11- A battle of former ECW champions here, perfect for the hardcore division. Raven's turned face since WM and gets pretty good support in hardcore fan Chicago. His shopping cart of goods is more conventional than usual tonight, except for the big raven sitting on the end that I assume is more ornamental than practical. Rhyno charges at the bell but gets drop toe holded into Raven's signature stop sign. Quick cover for 2. Running trash can shot for 2. Rhyno hits a huge running corner shoulderblock and gets his own can shot in. He running kicks the can into Raven's face! That sends him down to the floor. Cover on the floor for 2. Rhyno takes a bit to reposition the stairs and puts Raven on a chair. He runs off the stairs, but Raven dodges and Rhyno crashes into the chair. Raven then hits a diving clothesline off the stairs for 2. They go back in the ring just so Raven can jab Rhyno back down to the floor. Rhyno pulls Raven into the post and gives him a trash can lid shot. Raven gets whacked with one of the barricade "keep off" signs. Rhyno lifts the shopping cart up, hits Raven with it, and tosses it into the ring! That's different. Raven gives Rhyno another drop toe hold into the cart. He goes to town on Rhyno with shots from a handicap parking sign and a no parking sign. STIFF shots too. Surprised Chicago of all places isn't chanting ECDub for that. Raven whips out some wrestling moves with a corner clothesline/bulldog combo for 2. He gets a can for another shot, but Rhyno has the cart ready too. Raven jabs the cart and it falls onto Rhyno! Cover for 2. Raven rolls the cart into Rhyno. Rhyno gets in a shot with the handicap sign for 2. Can shots on Raven. Rhyno sets up. Raven dodges and Rhyno's Gore sends him INTO the cart! Nicely done. Kitchen sink shot from Raven! Always need the kitchen sink in these matches. Classic. Cover. Rhyno kicks out! That would have been a very believable finish. GORE! Rhyno covers and gets the pin to retain! It started really good, then they had a hard time holding that momentum for a while, but the stretch run was also pretty good. ***

 

Small recap of Vince getting revenge on new WCW owner Shane for beating him at WM by putting him in a match with Big Show tonight. We then get the full clip from Smackdown of Shane reading "Shane and the Beanstalk". Guess someone was really proud of it. It's fine. Elsewhere, Austin arrives and accosts Kevin Kelley. I regret to inform you we're also in the period where Debra played Austin's wife on screen. I never understood why they did that. After that Coach corners the Duchess and tries to get her to spill the beans on what the actual rules are for the next match. Before she can answer Regal interrupts and tells him to bugger off.

 

Duchess of Queensbury Rules Match: William Regal def Chris Jericho in 12:34- The first of two WM rematches tonight. This feud was over the IC title before Trips needed it to give the Two Man Power Trip thing a boost. Duchess of Queensbury Rules is a riff on boxing's Marquess of Queensbury Rules, which largely still govern organized boxing to this day. Except in this case neither Regal or Her Grace have been forthcoming on what these rules actually are. After his entrance Regal brings the Duchess out. Jericho is over like Grover in Chicago. Lockup! Both guys take cheap shots on the corner break. Commentary makes it clear again that no one knows the rules while both guys go through a nice basic start sequence. Regal tries to momentum toss Jericho over the top but he lands on the apron, hops up the ropes and comes down with a double ax handle. A dropkick sends Regal out to the floor. After a bit of typical floor knockaround Regal sideswipes a Jericho missile dropkick attempt back in. Suplex from Regal for 2. High knees to Jericho's face. Wave! European uppercuts. After a corner whip reversal Regal gets a boot up and goes to the second rope. Jericho dropkicks him, climbs up, and hurricanranas him back down. Chops from Jericho. Flying forearm. Jericho counters a sleeper slam attempt and hits a bulldog. Lionsault! He covers, but the bell rings before a count even starts. Here comes the rules shenanigans. Fink announces the time limit for round 1 is over. While Jericho's protesting Regal rolls him up for 2. Jericho hits a clothesline. He comes off the second rope but Regal catches his legs and slingshots him into the ropes. German suplex with a WICKED 180 sell from Jericho! Regal Stretch! Jericho fights and gets a rope break. Another hard Euro uppercut. Jericho counters another German attempt with a roll into the Walls! Regal taps out! Bell rings, music plays. It's over. Wait, no it's not. Fink announces according to Her Grace you can't win by submission. Jericho's had enough and walks out toward the Duchess, then cuts off a Regal ambush attempt. Regal hits Jericho with the Duchess' scepter! Ref Tim White understandably calls for the bell. But, now the Duchess says there's no DQ. That's three false bells. Regal rolls Jericho back in and covers. Jericho kicks out! More Euro uppercuts. Back elbow from Regal. Double underhook suplex for 2. Jericho manages to get an enzuguri counter. Stand up slugfest. Jericho kicks Regal down in the corner. Corner clothesline. He goes for the Walls, but then remembers that he can't win by submission AND there's no DQ, so he stomps Regal's nuts instead! Baseball slide from Jericho and Regal ends up face first in the Duchess' lap! That's a protocol violation. Jericho takes out the security goons and rolls the Duchess into the ring. Walls on the Duchess! Regal comes in with a chairshot! More chairshots. Cover and Regal gets the pin. That was OK but a bit of a mess. They were never going to top Lance Storm and his Canadian rules with the constant rule shifting gimmick, and even outside that they weren't going nearly as good as their WM match. **1/2

 

30 Minute Ultimate Submission Match: Chris Benoit def Kurt Angle- The second WM rematch tonight. After a battle of submission holds build, Angle grabbed a handful of tights to get a roll up pin on Benoit at WM. That won't happen tonight. This is essentially a 30 minute Ironman match, the difference being the only way to get a fall is by submission. JR says there'll be a 30 second rest period between falls.

FIRST FALL- Lockup! Rough but clean corner break. The Chicago crowd is pretty hot for this one. Time for some mat wrestling. I'm not going to get deep into the technicalities or hold by hold of this opening sequence as it's all very realistic, amateur style, but very crisp and really good. Angle has to fight off a couple of crossface attempts and has a think on the floor after each one. Very nice little touch from him, shaking his arm off after each one. Their mat exchanges get so intense they fall to the floor while still grappling. Benoit gets the crossface on Angle on the floor! Angle taps! But it doesn't count because it's on the floor! Benoit is not happy about that. Angle teases coming in with a chair but ref Mike Chioda eventually convinces him to put it down. He really takes his time coming back in while holding his arm the whole time. While Benoit's focused on that Angle gets a takedown and wraps Benoit up in a legbar! Benoit taps! It's a quick 1-0 to Angle with 23:27 left.

SECOND FALL- They do hold to the rest period with bells to end and start it, but the clock continues to run during it. Benoit fires off some chops. Angle goes back to the knee. Chop block! Another one! He goes for a third. Benoit counters into a crossface try! Angle blocks that. Benoit flips Angle around into a cross armbreaker! Angle taps! Back to even with 21:54 left.

THIRD FALL- Benoit fires off chops after the bell, then runs Angle's shoulder into the post. Takedown into another armbreaker. Angle rolls over into the ropes. Shoulderbreaker from Benoit. Angle takes a couple of corner Bret bumps, then hangs onto the ropes. While trying to pull him off Benoit knocks Chioda down. Angle uses that opening to take the chair he placed earlier and whack Benoit with it! The ankle lock is on and Benoit taps! 2-1 Angle with 19:40 left.

FOURTH FALL- Angle dodges around Chioda to get some stomps in during the rest period. After the bell Angle works Benoit around into a crossface! Benoit taps again, to his own hold this time! 3-1 Angle with 18:55 left.

FIFTH FALL- Angle switches gears into some more high impact offense, starting to go into clock killing mode with a lead. Benoit grabs the rope off a whip then backdrops Angle over the top to the floor. Post shot for Angle and he backs up almost into the camera. Big chops from Benoit on the floor. Whip reversal and Benoit goes into the stairs. Angle hooks the ankle lock on the floor! Benoit taps but again it doesn't count. Guess they're even on floor falls now. Angle rolls Benoit back in as we hit halfway. Angle tries for an armbreaker again. Benoit tries to power Angle over but can't. Another push and he gets a rope break. Angle hooks on an abdominal stretch! Classic. Benoit reverses it. Angle hiptosses out of that, but Benoit uses that to get another armbreaker on! Angle gets to the ropes. Benoit ripcords Angle's arm and hooks on a Sharpshooter! Again Angle gets a rope break. Angle goes for a German. Benoit rolls around into a Liontamer style half crab, cranking Angle's back hard! Angle taps! Lead is down to 3-2 with 11:52 left.

SIXTH FALL- Angle rolls to the floor as soon as the rest period ends. After a chase Benoit eventually tracks him down on the floor. Angle still tries to play keepaway, then catches Benoit coming back in. 10 minutes left. Benoit gets some shots in. Angle goes to the desperation eye rake and tosses him out. Now Angle tries to keep Benoit outside. When Benoit gets back in Angle hits a suplex. Drop toe hold from Angle. He tries for the ankle lock but Benoit quickly grabs a rope. Angle suplexes Benoit on the floor. Benoit fires back with more chops and Angle goes to another eye rake. Back in the ring Benoit grabs a kick and gives Angle a dragon screw! He tries an ankle lock but Angle gets a rope break. Angle dodges a dropkick attempt and wraps up a kind of reverse bow and arrow. He transitions into a straight chinlock. In Japan that'd be a rear choke so that works here. Chioda goes to arm drops and Benoit stays up at 3 right as we hit 5 minutes left. Angle's pretty effectively played prevent defense so far. He keeps the chinlock on and wraps Benoit's leg up. Benoit tries to back elbow out but Angle won't release. Finally Benoit gets back to his feet and jawbreakers out. Running clothesline from Angle. Belly to belly suplex. A second. 3 minutes left as Angle is really parking the bus now. Benoit reverses a corner whip into another Angle Bret bump. ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLING GERMANS! He hits two. Angle tries to counter the third. Benoit ducks and gets a leg takedown. Angle counters that. Benoit counters the counter and gets the ankle lock on! Angle taps out to his own hold! It's tied 3-3 with 2:07 left.

SEVENTH FALL- Benoit goes back to the leg. Chop block. Angle hides in the ropes. One minute left. Another German from Benoit. Angle grabs the ropes and hits a low blow behind Chioda's back. Angle tries and tries to get the ankle lock on but Benoit keeps scrambling into the ropes. Back suplex from Angle. Ankle lock! But Benoit holds on the last 10 seconds and time expires! Benoit did tap but it was after time ran out. Angle thinks he's won. Fink announces it's a tie, but Chioda has rules the match will continue in sudden death overtime. Precedent set by the Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels Ironman match.

SUDDEN DEATH OT- Despite his frustration Angle gets right back on the attack. Another belly to belly. Angle lets the crowd distract him. Benoit uses that to push Angle into the corner. Angle counters on the mat and puts a mat cravat on. He tries to use the ropes but Chioda catches him. Benoit gets the crossface on! Middle of the ring! Angle taps! Benoit gets the OT win 4-3! Really good stuff, but not quite great. There's nothing wrong with the wrestling, both guys worked hard and effectively, but for some reason it didn't come together as well as their WM match did. I think part of the problem is structural, mainly having so many falls in only a 30 minute match, especially so many of them frontloaded. I think if they'd either done fewer falls and waited until after halfway to start having them, or had basically the same match but over 60 minutes, it would have come off a bit better. But not to worry, as these two were still just getting started with each other in a feud that will be going off and on for almost the next two years. ***3/4

 

Last Man Standing Match: Shane McMahon def The Big Show in 11:55- Shane comes out with his "Shane and the Beanstalk" book. Instead of getting in the ring he leads Show in a chase while slipping a chair inside the ring. He then goes under the ring. Show paws around trying to find him, but Shane comes out the other side with a kendo stick and whacks Show with it. He hits show with the book! Shane tries coming off the barricade with the kendo but Show catches him in a goozle. Shane tries to use the kendo to counter but instead Show uses it to pull him into a clothesline. He presses Shane back in the ring. Shane gets the chair he planted and goes to town on Show with it, including multiple headshots. While Show's down Shane goes under the ring again and pulls out a bag. He takes a mask out, puts it on, then gets the good old ether soaked rag. Shane hops on Show's back and tries to smother him with it. While watching Show sloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly go down I have a thought: what Shane, or any wrestler trying to use an ether rag, needs instead is some of that instant knockout gas every single villain in '60s Batman seemed to have. That'd put anyone down for a 10 count. Ref Jack Doan is also covering his face the smell is so powerful which is a nice touch. Finally Show works his way all the way down and Doan starts counting. Vince runs in, gets the chair, and nails Shane in the back with it. He takes the chair, the bag, and leaves. Show is up at 7. Shane is clearly down for good but Show pulls him back up and tosses him into the corner. Side suplex. Shane uses the ropes to pull himself up at 8. Show puts him on the second rope and tosses him off it. Diving clothesline. Another count and Show pulls Shane up at 8. Chokeslam. Again Show pulls Shane up at 8. He puts Shane in a torture rack. Now Test runs in. He kicks Show down and pounds away on him. Show tosses Test out and knocks him around on the floor. Test hits Show with another of the keep off signs. Show tosses Test into some of the stage scaffolding. Now Shane comes up and attacks show with yet another keep off sign. They go behind a curtain and Show comes out wielding a pipe. Shane goes into dodge mode trying to avoid it. He starts climbing up the stage scaffolding. Uh oh, we've seen this before. Show starts to climb after him. Test thankfully comes up to stop him. No way was Show getting far up that without causing some kind of massive balance issue. Test pounds Show down with another metal sign and sets him up for Shane. Shane is all the way at the TOP of the stage. Even higher than he was at Summerslam, at least eyeballing it. SHANE LEAPS OFF THE STAGE DOWN INTO SHOW! That was clearly wood he fell into too, not at all a soft landing. As the ref counts Test tries to maneuver the crane camera over, then tries to prop Shane up on it but Shane's not cooperating, so Test ends up just lifting Shane on his shoulder as Show is counted down. Messy finish, and pretty terrible run-in filled match that the only real goal of was to have Shane do a fall even higher than Summerslam. Thankfully this would be the end of that as they realized there's no way they could go any higher without serious risk of injury. 3/4*

 

Vince is in the back with Trips and Steph, which I have only two observations of. First, don't give Steph exposition. Second, Vince says the line "I only have one son now, and his name is Triple H". Oh how that line unintentionally resonates in wrestling history now.

 

Triple Threat Match for the WWF European Championship: Matt Hardy (c) def Christian and Eddie Guerrero in 6:37- Now that the series of classic Hardyz/Dudleyz/Edge & Christian extreme matches is pretty much done and they were all made stars in them the team members are starting to branch out into singles competition. Matt upset Guerrero for the European title on the SD before this show. But he wasn't the first Hardy to hold singles gold. That was Jeff, who got a one week cup of coffee with the IC title by upsetting Triple H on Raw before dropping it back the next week. The heels gang up on Matt to start out with and literally slide Matt out of the ring. Christian then jumps Guerrero from behind. Would have expected that to be the other way around. Powerslam from Christian for 2. Guerrero counters a pop up with a hurricanrana. Matt and Guerrero fight over who gets to superplex Christian. Guerrero then lifts Matt on his shoulders. Christian tries a doomsday device but Matt ducks and victory rolls Guerrero for 2. He hooks Guerrero up for a Twist of Fate but Christian cuts it off with a clothesline. Back suplex from Guerrero on Christian. He drop toe holds Christian and goes for a surfboard. Matt sunset flips Guerrero as a counter, but they roll too far and end up tangled in an ugly heap on the ropes. Guerrero goes out to the floor. Matt diving clothesline on Christian for 2. Guerrero pulls Matt out. Christian baseball slides both of them. Christian tries to backdrop Matt against the apron, but Matt uses the ropes to do a neat handstand bounce off and then DDTs Christian on the floor. Guerrero gives Matt a couple of brain busters back in and covers. Matt kicks out! Matt backdrops Guerrero and off comes the shirt. He goes up top. Guerrero fights up with him, but Christian grabs Matt's pants to block a hurricanrana. Christian goes up top but Matt drops him down onto Guerrero. Double clothesline on both from the top rope. Christian accidentally crossbodys Guerrero. Matt tosses Christian out and hits a legdrop off the second rope on Guerrero for 2. Edge runs in and spears Matt on the floor! Guerrero tosses Christian out and covers Matt for a LONG 2. Now Jeff Hardy runs in. As he and Edge fight Christian hits Guerrero with the Unprettier and covers. Jeff swanton bomb on Christian! Matt gives him a Twist of Fate and gets the pin to retain! Perfectly fine, no more, no less. **1/2

 

All Titles on the Line: The Two Man Power Trip (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) def WWF Tag Team Champions The Brothers of Destruction in 25:02- If either Taker or Kane get the win they'll win the title of whoever they got the decision on. HHH gets a definite pop in Chicago. Not huge, but undeniably there. Austin jaws with fans sitting on the aisle all the way down. He's got red on his knee braces tonight. That won't last. Kane is coming in with a heavily taped up hurt elbow thanks to HHH and Austin. JR mentions it might be elbow bursitis, which makes me laugh just because if I ever had a player injured in NCAA Football 12 it was almost always elbow bursitis. Everyone in that game had weak elbows. The heels stall on the floor before and after the bell trying to find an opening and take their sweet time about it. HHH gets in the ring and gets punched right back out. After a bit the BOD finally hop out and jump Austin and HHH in the aisle to kick off an extended floor brawl. Austin and Taker get in the ring, then swap out for Kane and HHH. Kane double hand chokes and drops both guys. After that we settle in with Kane and HHH in the ring. Corner clothesline from Kane. HHH hits the high knee and targets Kane's bad elbow for the first time. Clothesline from Kane and both sides tag. Austin quickly bails when he sees Taker and begs off in the corner. He's giving it all to try to make this heel thing work, I'll give him that. Taker uses that to stomp a mudhole in him. Austin gets an eye rake and some corner shots. Corner elbows from Taker and he whips Austin over and over from buckle to buckle. Austin gets on his knees and offers a handshake. Taker thinks about it, then offers a boot in Austin's face instead. Kane wants to tag in. Taker's very reluctant, because of the hurt elbow, not because they're about to start trying to kill each other again (yet), but does tag. Austin wrings Kane's bad arm and hits a short clothesline. Kane gets the message and tags back out. Taker takes control again and hits old school on both HHH and Austin. The TMPT try to walk again. Kane goes out and runs them over in the aisle. Back in HHH breaks up a Last Ride attempt on Austin and they trap Taker in their corner. The next few minutes the TMPT do a great job of keeping Taker isolated with the ring not just cut in half, but keeping Taker in their quadrant near their corner at all times. Eventually Taker tries to fight out but runs into HHH's facebuster. Off the ropes again Taker hits a leaping DDT. But he refuses to tag Kane. Austin tags in and hits a clothesline. Thesz Press and elbow drops. Taker counters the third one with a goozle! HHH runs into a big boot. Double goozle! Austin and HHH kick free. Taker comes off the ropes and all three clothesline each other. Kane uses that to tag himself in. Big boots on HHH and Austin. HHH gets 360 clotheslined to the floor. Side suplex on Austin. Clothesline off the top rope. HHH goes up top and gets slammed off Flair style. Goozle on Austin. HHH hits Kane's bad elbow to finally break his momentum. An armbar slam from Austin puts him down properly. Quick tags from TMPT as they work on Kane's elbow. HHH snaps it over the top rope and Austin gives it a chairshot on the floor. HHH hooks on an ARMBAR. Kane tries to swing back but HHH jerks his arm. Austin lays in some ground and pound. Kane reverses it but HHH comes in to make a save. Now it's Austin's turn for an ARMBAR. He gets free from a Kane scoop and pushes him arm first into the corner. HHH hooks on a top wristlock. Kane punches and HHH goes 360 over the top! He slowly crawls for a tag. HHH pulls Taker down off the apron, allowing Austin to continue punishing Kane. Side suplex from Austin. HHH comes off the top rope but Kane gets a boot up. Austin tags in and tries a sleeper on Kane. Kane side suplexes out but still can barely even start moving toward his corner for a tag. HHH tags in and works on Kane's knee a bit. That was a bit awkward. Pedigree! But HHH doesn't cover. Instead he tags Austin in, and he covers. Taker breaks it up. That didn't make much sense either. Taker chokeslams Austin! Steph gets on the apron and bugs the hell out of Hebner. Hebner shoves her back down to the floor! Kane covers Austin for 2. Enzuguri from Kane on HHH. Hebner also took a glancing blow in that exchange. Tag to Taker! He goes absolutely nuts in an extended hot tag run on both guys. A big boot knocks Austin out of the ring. Last Ride on HHH! But Hebner won't count! He was shaking off getting hit earlier and didn't see the tag! Taker gets pissed and knocks Hebner out of the ring. Austin gets Taker with a low blow. Stunner on Kane! Taker and Austin take their fight to the floor, and eventually all the way into the crowd. Meanwhile HHH has one of the tag belts. Kane kicks the belt into HHH's face! Steph gets in the ring. KANE BIG BOOTS STEPH! What a sell she did on that too. Perfection. Now Vince runs in (for the second time tonight) with HHH's trusty Mr. Sledgehammer. Kane goozles Vince. HHH gets the sledge and hits Kane in the arm with it. Another sledge shot to Kane's head for good measure. HHH might have gotten a pop on his entrance but he's getting booed out of Chicago now. Vince drags Hebner up, we get the slow count, and HHH gets the pin! The Two Man Power Trip now have all the major gold in the company. This is HHH's first tag title win, which gives him the Triple Crown of the classic top titles and makes him just the second WWF/E Grand Slam winner ever after Shawn Michaels. Like most matches tonight, this was solid but not much more. It had plenty of energy, but threatened to lose its place several times down the stretch. I'm also never, ever a fan of having singles titles up for grabs in tag matches. **3/4

 

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- We're now firmly on the downturn after one of WWF's hottest periods ever. It didn't help that there was no one to push them to be better now, which will be a recurring problem for the next 20+ years. Still, most everything tonight fell into the solid/decent range, both match and angle wise. It's hard to judge just how well the Two Man Power Trip angle really worked because it'd be cut short late the next month due to HHH's major quad injury.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B-