Royal Rumble '02

Legacy Review

Royal Rumble '02

January 20, 2002 from the Philips Arena in Atlanta, GA

 

Commentary: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

 

2001 was a hugely important year in WWF history. It saw the purchase of both WCW and ECW, the unofficial end of the Attitude Era at Wrestlemania 17 to culminate one of the greatest Rumble to WM seasons ever, the lackluster Invasion angle which completely buried the WCW name once and for all, and in December the crowning of the first ever Undisputed Champion. As the calendar turns, it would turn out that 2002 would be no less consequential, the first year of what would later become known as the Ruthless Aggression era.

 

There's two major stories heading into this year's Rumble. First, the return of Triple H to a massive hero's welcome back at the first Raw of the year at MSG, coming back from the devastating quad tear that almost ended his career the previous spring. I'm not sure if it was the original plan or not, but the reception he got meant he would be a face for really the first time in his career as his comeback got underway, and he was the overwhelming favorite to win the Rumble. Second, the continuing post-Invasion saga of Vince McMahon and Ric Flair being 50/50 co-owners of WWF. Their inability to get along or work together has escalated to the point where they're going to settle it the way you're supposed to in wrestling, in the ring, tonight.

 

The opening video is really cool, showcasing great and famous Rumble moments of the past in a museum like setting. And also that year Vince won it. Don't ask, it was Russo.

 

WWF Tag Team Championship: Spike Dudley & Tazz (c) def The Dudley Boyz (w/Stacy Keibler) in 5:06- Spike's ongoing war with his half/half and half/quarter/tenth/whatever it is brothers continues. He recently partnered up with the Dudleyz' former ECW and Alliance stablemate Tazz and with him finally wrested the tag titles away on Raw a couple of weeks prior. Incidentally, that's also the only non-Hardcore title Tazz won his entire WWF run. Spike's coming in with a neck brace on after taking a 3D in a parking lot on weekly TV. As usual with the Dudleyz it's a jump start as soon as everyone's in the ring. Bubba Ray is taking a page out of Jeff Hardy's recent playbook, wearing a cap and leaving it on for the first part of the match. The difference is Bubba Ray is wearing it backwards. The Dudleyz back suplex Tazz on the floor, and that also knocks the cap off. Spike gets isolated in the ring and also takes a double team back suplex. Bubba Ray targets Spike's hurt neck, hitting a neckbreaker, then taking Spike's neck brace off and hitting another. Suplex from Bubba Ray. D'Von tags in and keeps the focus on the neck. He hits a leaping neck snap, a nice shoutout to Mr. Perfect, who it had already been announced would be making his WWF return in the Rumble tonight. Bubba Ray continues hitting suplexes or possibly brain busters. Spike manages to slip out of one and hits the Dudley Dog! Both guys crawl for tags. Ref Jack Doan has a brain fart, first holding back D'Von, then he realizes, turns around and keeps Tazz from coming in after not seeing the tag. The Dudleyz hit Spike with a double flapjack. Spike avoids a D'Von headbutt off the top rope, then dodges and gets the Dudleyz to double clothesline each other. Tag to Tazz. Clotheslines and suplex tosses for everyone. Northern lights suplex on D'Von that Bubba Ray breaks up before 3. Spike hits a crossbody off the top rope on Bubba Ray. Tazz hits a kick to Bubba Ray's head that Bubba Ray does a crazy sell of. Another Dudley Dog on Bubba Ray. Stacy gets on the apron. Tazz ducks a slap from her and puts her in the Tazzmission! D'Von quickly saves her. Spike goes for another Dudley Dog but D'Von tosses him out to the floor. Tazzmission on D'Von! He quickly taps out! Fine for the time it got. After dominating the tag division most of the last year the Dudleyz were being slowly phased out, and would be one of the teams broken up in the first brand split draft after Wrestlemania. *3/4

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship: William Regal def Edge (c) in 9:45- Despite losing to Edge at Vengeance Regal's continued going after the title using the "power of the punch", as in brass knucks, so Edge has countered with a good old steel chair. Recently on Smackdown a one man conchairto broke Regal's nose, which commentary said required "multiple surgeries" to get Regal looking normal again. Ref Nick Patrick searches around the whole ring for knucks during entrances, then does an extensive check of Regal before the match. Even going so far as to put his hand down Regal's tights! Just another night in Blackpool for Regal I guess. And Patrick does find the knucks! While Regal's reeling from that Edge attacks. He hits a backdrop and stomps Regal down in the corner, then faceplants Regal right on his formerly broken nose. Regal responds with a quick running knee to Edge's head. Edge dodges a European uppercut and wraps up a backslide. Regal quickly escapes that and hits a forearm. Edge hits a ripcord enzuguri. Nice, that was a bit different. Regal does a sloppy German suplex that Edge does a full 180 on, then covers for 2. More knees for another 2. Regal hooks up a double underhook. Edge backdrops to try to get free, but Regal hangs on and maneuvers around to hit the powerbomb for 2. Another nice sequence. Running forearm from Regal. Another running knee sends Edge to the floor. Regal puts on a double underhook on the apron. Edge gets free and DDTs Regal on the apron! Hardest Part of the Ring TM. He drags Regal in and gets a 2 count with Regal getting a foot on the rope, but most of Edge's body was also under the ropes and Patrick admits he never should have counted anyway. They collide hard near the corner and both guys are down. Forearm exchange as they get back up. Edge hits a leg lariat and suplex for 2. Another Regal German. Edge clothesline for 2. Edge goes for the Edgecution. Regal counters and grinds Edge down into the Regal Stretch! Edge crawls and gets a rope break. He tries to counter into his own Stretch but can't do it as good and Regal gets an easy rope break. Edge dropkicks Regal in the back and rolls him up for 2. After a top rope fight Regal gets dropped down and Edge hits a spinning heel kick off the top rope. While Regal's down he gets his backup knucks out. After how extensive a search Patrick did I don't want to know where those were hidden. Edge goes for the spear, but Regal uses Patrick as a shield! While Patrick's down Regal hits the power of the knucks punch! Edge is out. Regal crawls over, covers, and gets the pin to take the IC title! After he leaves Edge is still out and every ref in the building comes in to check on him. Perfectly solid. **1/2

 

WWF Women's Championship: Trish Stratus (c) def Jazz in 3:43- History mostly remembers Trish and Lita and that's fair enough, but to me this more than any other was the feud that really solidified this era of the women's division as the best in the ring until the start of the modern women's era. Jacqueline is the guest ref for this for really no particular reason. Trish is coming in with a hurt hand after Jazz smashed it in the lid of an equipment trunk. Jazz jumps her as soon as she gets in the ring. Backdrop and big splash for 2. Trish forearms back and hits a sunset flip that leads to a run of cradle counters. Clothesline from Jazz and she hits a hot shot. Legdrop for 2. She finally starts working on Trish's hurt hand, though she seems to be going for the arm more than the hand. After cranking Trish's arm on the bottom rope Jazz takes issue with Jacqueline's count and they shove each other. Trish comes from behind and rolls Jazz up. Jazz counters into her own cradle. Jacqueline hesitates, then counts 2. Jawbreaker from Trish. Jazz goes after the hand/arm again. Trish counters into a springboard Stratusfaction! Jazz kicks out! DDT from Jazz for 2. Corner clolthesline. Trish gets a boot up in the corner. Another Stratusfaction! That gets a pin to retain! Bit of a sudden ending there but decent enough match. **

 

Street Fight: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair def Mr. McMahon in 14:55- I think it goes without saying that this is Flair's first match back with the WWF. Strangely, there's no stipulations or nothing on the line in this match. Both guys will still be 50/50 WWF owners no matter who wins. Flair's oldest and youngest kids, daughter Megan and son Reid, are ringside. Midring staredown before the bell. This was a match no one could have imagined during Flair's first WWF run because Vince was still years away from actually working matches. Lockup! Vince wins that and Flair goes a little nuts with his first bump. Vince cranks a headlock, hits a shoulderblock and poses. He mocks Flair's strut. Another lockup and Flair does his hammerlock workaround into a leg takedown. He pounds Vince down in the corner, then struts around himself looking very happy. He's been on record how bad late era WCW was for him and how much of a relief it was to be back with a properly run company. Vince hits a chop in the corner, a halfway decent one. Flair turns him around and shows him how to do chops right. Vince eye rakes and hits a clothesline. Flair comes out of the corner, milks the moment.....Flair Flop! There's definitely a bit of a pop for that. Corner whip and Flair Flip, but he can't get all the way over and lands in the ring. Ring rust. Vince knocks him down to the floor. Flair takes a shot with the famous "Keep Off" aisleway sign. Vince runs Flair into the barricade, then gets a trash can from under the ring and gives Flair a shot with that. Flair, as you knew he would, is busted open. Vince works the cut and runs Flair into the post and stairs. He gets Flair in front of his kids, takes Megan's camera, points the camera at him and Flair and takes the 2002 equivalent of a selfie, then tosses the camera back. Nice catch from Megan on that. Back in Vince stays in control and starts working on Flair's leg. Apron and post shots on the knee. Vince hooks on a figure four! After a couple of near falls Flair fights and reverses it! Vince releases and goes to the floor limping. He goes under the timekeeper's table and gets the lead pipe he's been using this whole feud. Flair cuts off a pipe shot with a low blow! More chops from Flair on the floor. He grabs a monitor from the Spanish announce table and nails Vince with it! Funny bit after where Flair looks in the monitor wanting to see himself, then the camera gets the other monitor in frame where we do see the replay. Now Vince is bleeding. Flair takes him over to his kids, bites Vince's cut and poses for pictures. Back in Vince begs off. Flair attacks the cut again and gets another sneaky style low blow. Then he picks the pipe up and nails Vince with it! The figure four is on! Vince taps out WITH BOTH HANDS! It's got a bit of the usual McMahon smoke and mirrors, but by and large Vince lets Flair lead a very Flair style match. It shows that Vince could be unselfish with people that he trusted. This would be the kickoff of Flair's new beginning in WWF, slowly getting his confidence back and having the proper final act of his THE greatest of all time career over the next 6 years. ***

 

In the back, Steph rescues Nick Patrick from having to explain what happened in the IC title match. Steph then cuts a promo supporting her returning husband Triple H, saying he's taking out everyone in the Rumble, listing them off then going into great detail about how hard Austin is going down. Unknown to her, Austin heard from his locker room and has snuck up behind her. When Steph realizes Austin "WHAT"s her until she runs off screaming! Freaking hilarious. Austin then conducts the crowd in a WHAT concerto. We're in the period that chant has absolutely taken over. More on that in a bit. 

 

Undisputed WWF Championship: Chris Jericho (c) def The Rock in 18:48- Running this back one more time before everyone moves on for Wrestlemania season. The difference in this match is it's the first one after Jericho's clear heel turn after winning the title at Vengeance. MASSIVE pop for the Rock. As I said before, at this point I think he's the undisputed #1 star in the company, surpassing Austin. Another prematch staredown with Jericho talking and Rock listening. Jericho puts his hand in Rock's face! Rock responds by putting his fist in Jericho's face. Unbelievably quick back elbow from Rock, then a Samaon drop for 2. That was video game turbo speed. Jericho bails to the floor. Rock goes out and chases him. Spear from Rock back in the ring! Jericho fights back with a flying forearm. Corner clothesline. Rock dodges and Jericho goes shoulder first into the post. Faceplant from Rock. Jericho gets a hot shot and chops Rock in the corner. Rock hits a back elbow but runs into a leg lariat for 2. Suplex from Jericho. Arrogant cover! Jericho goes over and takes a top turnbuckle pad off. Rock fights off a Walls attempt. Jericho kicks him back down and lays in some ground and pound. Missile dropkick for 2. Jericho works a chinlock and we get arm drops. Rock fights back up but runs into a back elbow. He manages to crotch Jericho on the top rope, hits some chops and superplexes Jericho. Snap belly to belly from Rock for 2. Jericho hits the misdirection bulldog. Lionsault! No cover. He goes for a second one and it hits! Rock kicks out! Full on temper tantrum from Jericho and he gets in a shoving match with Hebner. He tries coming off the second rope, but Rock catches him and hooks on the World's Shittiest Sharpshooter! Jericho's fellow Canadians Lance Storm and Christian run out. Storm distracts Hebner while Jericho clearly taps out. Rock fights Christian off in the ring. Jericho hits Rock with a Rock Bottom! Rock kicks out again! Senton from Jericho. He realizes where he and Rock are. Elbow pad off and Jericho goes for a People's Elbow. Rock kips up and momentum tosses Jericho over the top to the floor! Both announce tables get cleared off. Jericho pulls Rock up on the Spanish table for a Rock Bottom. Rock fights it off, and Rock Bottoms Jericho off the Spanish table through the English table! He drags Jericho back in and covers for a long 2. Rock coils behind Jericho looking to finish it. Jericho fights a Rock Bottom off. He fights Rock over into the Walls! Rock crawls and gets a rope break. Jericho tries the Walls again but Rock small packages him for 2. Speed run, Jericho ducks and Rock wipes out Hebner. Jericho gives Rock a shot with one of the belts. Nick Patrick runs in and counts. Rock kicks out! Jericho is beside himself. DDT from Rock. He covers but Patrick straight up refuses to count. Guess he's lapsed back into full evil after tiptoeing around it the whole Invasion. Rock Bottom on Patrick! Spinebuster on Jericho. The People's Elbow hits! Rock covers but Hebner's still out. Low blow from Jericho. He runs Rock into the exposed turnbuckle! There's a nice long payoff. That's still not enough, as Jericho stacks Rock up in the corner and puts his feet on the ropes for extra leverage. Hebner counts and Jericho gets the pin to retain! Like Kurt Angle the year before, the improbable weasel heel title reign continues. One last dose of Rock/Jericho goodness as they'd built up great chemistry over the past months, and the overbooking doesn't hurt too much now Jericho's a clear heel again. ****1/4

 

Back to the WHAT takeover. On the go home Raw Austin gave what just might be my favorite promo of all time, so I'm putting it here as a lead in to the Rumble. Austin goes over his pre-Rumble training, Rumble strategy, has words for Triple H throughout, and tops it off with an ode to the greatest fast food restaurant in the world. It's so good he breaks Cole multiple times.

 

 

Royal Rumble- I could listen to Howard Finkel run down the Rumble rules all day. They should seriously get old footage of him doing it every year.

1 & 2. Rikishi and Goldust- The Curse of Ted DiBiase hits Rikishi, drawing #1 after being #30 last year. Goldust is one of several wrestlers, or characters, making their already announced WWF return in this Rumble. Nowadays they'd all be unannounced surprises but that wasn't quite as much of a thing back then. I love JR's "Rikishi's weight is from Parts Unknown" line. After the bell Goldust circles Rikishi while the gold flakes continue to fall. Rikishi attacks and we're off. Goldust makes the error of trying a sunset flip and gets the hell out of town. Rikishi gets Goldust over the top a couple of times but he manages to land on the apron both times. There's a special countdown clock this year, doing away with the traditional clock graphic.

3. The Big Boss Man- For some reason Goldust decides to climb the top rope. Rikishi crotches him, then squashes Boss Man in the same corner. Boss Man gets Rikishi down in the corner and he and Goldust agree to team up to try to get the large ass out. They can't.

4. Bradshaw- You'd think Bradshaw would do better in Rumbles, he's a barroom brawl guy. Rikishi gets Boss Man down in the drop zone and it's stinkface time. Superkick and Rikishi eliminates Boss Man. JR: "He can take a shower and disinfect his face". Rikishi Samoan drop on Bradshaw.

5. Lance Storm- He and Goldust have a spunky back and forth, but completely whiff a hot shot that Storm sells anyway. Other than that bit of a slow start this year.

6. Al Snow- Bradshaw Clothesline from Hell on Storm! Good Texan on Canadian violence. Snow makes the seemingly mandatory attempt to lift Rikishi over the top rope in the corner. Goldust's gold flakes are still all over the ring.

7. Billy- No longer Billy Gunn or The One or Mr. Ass or anything else. It's just Billy, of Billy & Chuck, the soon to be new dominant tag team in the company. Billy goes speed but runs into a Bradshaw big boot. Snow and Storm both go over the top onto the apron and slug it out there. Back kick from Snow and Storm falls down eliminated. While Bradshaw's trying to get rid of Goldust Billy sneaks from behind and eliminates Bradshaw.

8. WWF Hardcore Champion The Undertaker- Now we're kicking things up a notch. Taker rides out on his bike, Rumble or no. Chokeslam on Billy. Shots from Taker on everyone else. He chokeslams Goldust over the top right to the floor. Taker tosses Snow out. Clothesline and Rikishi's gone. Taker tosses Billy out! Ring completely cleared.

9. Matt Hardy- Good symmetry here as both Hardyz had been feuding with Taker over the Hardcore title. Matt comes in firing, but runs into a goozle. Lita tries coming off the top rope and lands in a goozle! Low blow from Lita on Taker! Swinging neckbreaker from Matt and they both lay in stomps on Taker. Get the illegal woman out refs. Finally she does leave. Taker seems almost amused by Matt's attempts to get him over the top rope and easily turns the tables.

10. Jeff Hardy- Without even looking at the rundown I called this would be Jeff. During the countdown Taker tried to suplex Matt over the top rope. Jeff charges in and trips Taker down while he has Matt lifted up. The Hardyz stomp away on Taker. Lita loses her cool and joins them until the ref drags her out. The Hardyz hug to make sure everyone knows they're good again after their little feud at the end of last year. Taker has enough and double clotheslines them. Jeff is tossed over the top onto the apron. Taker lifts Matt up but Jeff breaks it up. Matt Twist of Fate on Taker! Jeff hits the Swanton Bomb! They go for Poetry in Motion. Taker catches Jeff and dumps him over the top and out! Fantastic. Matt gets planted with the Last Ride and Taker tosses him out. Taker's the last man standing again as we hit the next countdown. That whole Taker/Hardyz sequence was really good.

11. Maven- The first Tough Enough winner trying to get going for real. Come into Taker's yard, kid. He charges in....and runs right into a big boot. Taker lifts Maven up to dump him, but Lita's still there and gets on the apron. Taker drops Maven in the ring and shoves her off. The Hardyz attack Taker again! Seems like sore losers to me. Taker fights them off again. MAVEN DROPKICKS TAKER IN THE BACK AND ELIMINATES HIM! HOLY SHIT! One of the absolute most shocking Rumble eliminations there's ever been. MASSIVE POP from the crowd for that. Everyone is stunned, no one moreso than Taker. He slowly gets back in the ring, stalks Maven, pounds him down and tosses him through the ropes to the floor. Taker absolutely murders Maven with a chairshot to the head, pushes a cameraman down, and goes back in for more damage. The ref gaggle finally gets the courage, and numbers, to try to get him away. While that's happening the countown hits.

12. Scotty2Hotty- Taker dumps Maven back in the ring and sees Scotty. I don't like his chances. Taker knocks Scotty out in the aisle with one punch! Then he goes back in the ring, tosses bleeding Maven over the top and out, which does count as an elimination even though Taker's out, then dumps him over the barricade and pounds him up into the medium priced seats. They're going all the way into the concession area as the countdown hits again.

13. WWF European Champion Christian- The camera is still following in the back and Taker tosses Maven into a popcorn machine. I think they've made their point, let's get on with the rest of the match. Taker grabs a mouthful of popcorn and I think he's done. Meanwhile, Christian is standing in the ring by himself and loving it. Scotty is still in it but is laid out in the aisle. Finally Scotty drags himself back in and we're on again. Christian dodges a Worm setup and hits a reverse DDT.

14. Diamond Dallas Page- Entering his only career Rumble. He takes it to Christian while Scotty recovers. Diamond Cutter on Christian! Man, how much has DDP's bad WWF run killed him, that got almost no reaction. Scotty superkicks DDP through the ropes to the floor, then sees Christian in position. Cheap pop move time. The W O R M hits, then DDP comes from behind and dumps Scotty out!

15. Chuck- The former Chuck Palumbo, the other half of the platonic partners Billy & Chuck. DDP fights him off and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Chuck comes back with a jawbreaker. After some back and forth Christian helps Chuck out with DDP.

16. The Godfather- Another returnee in this year's Rumble. Rumble or no, he's got the Ho Train with him. A train with TWO cars. It is his big return. Hold up. THREE cars. Every escort service in Atlanta is making money tonight. I'm not joking here, I wish I was, DDP gets eliminated off camera while TV is completely focused on Godfather dancing with his hos. What a perfect summation of DDP's WWF run. I'm also not joking when I say when Godfather finally get in the ring the countdown starts up for the next entrant.

17. Albert- Too Cool's music played for Albert so I guess this is when he's with them still. He gives Godfather a bicycle kick and goes to eliminate him. Chuck and Christian instead come from behind and eliminate Albert. Godfather gets both of them in the corner and loads up the train. Both guys dodge, double clothesline and Godfather is eliminated.

18. Perry Saturn- Are Saturn's trunks....cow print? He always was a little strange. But to be a Ranger, God bless them and all our troops, you've got to have a screw loose. All three guys back and forth brawl while the crowd gets distracted by something else going on.

19. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin- Shit's getting serious now. Kind of an early number for Austin too. Vest off, in ring, whoop ass can open. Christian is out. Stunner on Saturn. Chuck is out. And Saturn is out. Another complete ring clear. As is tradition, Austin checks his wrist tape watch. He decides there's too much time left and he might get bored so he drags Christian back in, gives him a Stunner, and tosses him out again! That should count as an elimination for next year's Rumble. Chuck then gets pulled in to take a Stunner and get double tossed. Austin, like in '97, sits on the top rope and checks his "watch".

20. Val Venus- Another of the returnees. I don't like his chances to last. And not just because he's gotten older. Austin's all over him as soon as he's in. WHAT stomps in the corner. Venus eye pokes and gets some shots in. He's actually able to string some moves together. Austin's trying to kill the whole period. Thesz press during the countdown.

21. Test- Venus did last. Color me shocked. Test and Venus team up to keep Austin down. Austin slugs back and Test big boots Venus while aiming for Austin. Clothesline and Venus is gone. Stunner on Test and out he goes. Austin lays down in the ring and makes sure his watch is still working.

22. Triple H- Here we go. The two favorites and the two guys clearly positioned to fight this Rumble out. Being HHH's first match back from injury he very much takes his time on his entrance, milking it for all its worth. HHH finally gets in and they stare down. I know it's been more than 90 seconds or 2 minutes. Slugfest!

23. The Hurricane- Fantastic placement for this entry. Austin and HHH double clothesline each other. Hurricane runs in and wants a chokeslam. Goozle on HHH. Goozle on Austin. Austin and HHH look at each other, say "Can you believe this shit", and team up to toss Hurricane out! Fantastic. Then they go right back to slugging it out with each other. Big chop exchange in the corner. Austin hits a spinebuster, but HHH's knee catches him in the head.

24. Faarooq- He'll put up a bit more of a fight. Big spinebuster on Austin. HHH saves Austin. Stunner on Faarooq. Then HHH follows up with a clothesline and Faarooq is gone! Austin and HHH take turns trying to eliminate each other.

25. Mr. Perfect- Big nostalgia pop for Curt Hennig's return. He spent the second half of the '90s in WCW mostly looking like a physical shell of his former awesome self. Greatest Intercontinental champion of all time before Gunther in my opinion. He takes a minute to survey the situation then charges right into the middle of it. Again Austin and HHH team up to try to get rid of the guy getting in the way of them fighting each other.

26. Kurt Angle- With Taker gone Angle is the only real plausible chance for a non-HHH or Austin upset winner. He goes right after HHH while Austin and Perfect go at it and the crowd chants "You suck! WHAT?". I heard HHH say "Go" right before Angle suplexes him. Oh yeah, HHH is back. Austin again saves HHH and takes an Angle belly to belly suplex for his trouble.

27. The Big Show- Perfect quickly takes a chokeslam. Double goozle on HHH and Austin. They fight free and pound on Show. Show responds with clotheslines. Angle tries to German suplex Show! Not happening. Show presses Angle up but HHH kicks Show's knee before he can do anything. Chokeslam on HHH.

28. Kane- Show and Kane both in late, two guys that will never win but can both make a lot of noise. Kane had just set the record for most eliminations in a single Rumble the year before. He and Show slug it out while everyone else rests. Very modern setup, one that I don't care for. There should always be things happening all over the ring, even if it's at half effort to save energy as long as the focus isn't on them. Double goozle! Neither guys will give an inch. Finally Kane low blows Show. He lifts Show up and dumps him over the top to eliminate him! Phenomenal strength. Austin Stunner on Kane. Angle gets Kane up for an Angle Slam and dumps him out to eliminate him! Guess neither of those guys will make too much noise this year. The four guys still in go back to their previous pair offs.

29. Rob Van Dam- Nice pop for the only member of the Alliance that got anywhere with the WWF crowd during the Invasion. He goes right to the top rope. FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH on Angle! He fights off the other three guys with the educated feet. Rolling thunder on Austin. HHH Pedigree on RVD! But he can't follow up and everyone is down. The way HHH collapsed after that it was almost like he blew his quad out again. I suspect he's not fully back in ring shape yet. The other guys slowly get back to slugging it out again while RVD lays dead in the middle of ring. Perfect blocks an Angle suplex attempt and hits his own, sadly not a Perfectplex. Imagine how insanely great a peak Perfect/Angle match could have been.

30. Booker T- Unlike RVD, he was mostly buried during the Invasion, leading to the crowd to not give a damn about him at all. It'd get better eventually. As soon as he gets in he dumps RVD out! That'll get the crowd to turn against you hard. Booker then looks around and sees everyone's down so decides to give us a Spinaroonie. Austin Stunner! The ricochet sends Booker all the way out to the floor!

FINAL FOUR: Austin, HHH, Perfect, Angle- Angle tries to Angle Slam Austin but Austin slips free. Angle then fights off a Stunner. That sends Austin into HHH's waiting Pedigree arms. Austin fights that off and slingshots HHH into the corner, with HHH going crazy over the top with it. Angle Slam on HHH! While all this is going on Perfect is kneeling in the corner literally sucking wind. Sorry to say, he's just not up to it anymore as WWF would soon find out. He finally gets up and tries to swing some shots at Austin. Angle ROLLING GERMANS on Austin! Austin low blows out after three. Austin gets Perfect up on the ropes. Angle comes up and he and Perfect get Austin over the top but not out. Again Austin tries to get Perfect out. Angle comes from behind and eliminates Austin! That's narrowed the field. Austin drags Perfect out and the three of them slug it out on the floor. Damn those Goldust gold discs are still freaking everywhere. Angle and HHH go at it again in the ring, with Perfect slowly joining in. Austin comes in with a chair and waffles Angle and Perfect! And HHH for good measure! Damage done, Austin leaves. Everyone staggers back up. Perfect holds HHH for Angle. Angle charges. HHH ducks and Angle clotheslines Perfect. I'm pretty sure Perfect was supposed to be eliminated there but he couldn't get himself over the top rope and he falls back in the ring. He then attacks Angle. PERFECTPLEX ON ANGLE! Then he does the neck snap. OK, I might have been wrong about that earlier moment, but it was still ugly. HHH clotheslines Perfect out! It's down to two. Hey, remember when these two were in that soap opera love triangle with Steph a couple of years ago? Random thoughts. Angle puts the straps down and they charge in! HHH gets early control, but runs into a belly to belly. Angle tries to dump HHH out. He goes over but lands on the apron. HHH punches Angle back and gets back in. Clothesline and HHH chokes Angle. Angle backdrops HHH over the top! HHH grabs the top rope and just BARELY holds on to keep himself from being eliminated! Angle thinks he's won and celebrates. He turns around and sees HHH. Facebuster! Clothesline and HHH eliminates Angle to win the Rumble! The big comeback is fully on. HHH is going to Wrestlemania.

 

Solidly good Rumble. Not quite as good as the previous years' excellent one, but better than the other Attitude Era Rumbles (anything's better than the '99 Rumble). It started a bit slow, but got rolling good with the Taker/Hardyz stuff and mostly held the momentum from there. The way they did HHH and Austin flipping between beating on each other and teaming up on people keeping them from beating on each other was really well done. An interesting statistical note here: there was no real ironman this year (Austin was #1 in time at a bit under 27 minutes), but overall at just under 70 minutes this was the longest Rumble to date. ***1/2

 

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- Not much happening on the undercard here, but the top matches all delivered to one extent or another and a good Rumble match will always make it at least a decent overall Rumble show. HHH's return was a great shot in the arm to help recover from the Invasion not going as well as hoped, even if it meant Jericho getting an even worse first title run than Angle had the previous year. But the road to Wrestlemania will not be a straightforward one this year, as we'll see in February when another massive return turns the entire company upside down once again.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B