Backlash '02

Legacy Review

Backlash '02

April 21, 2002 from the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO

 

Commentary: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

 

We're one month out from Wrestlemania 18 (or X8 if you prefer) and that show stealing Rock/Hogan match, and since then one of the biggest changes in WWF/E history has taken place- the very first roster split/brand extension, whichever term you prefer. The first ever draft was held on Raw the week after WM with the roster divided up between Raw and Smackdown. On screen the "owners" of each brand were Vince for SD and Ric Flair for Raw, playing off them still being 50/50 owners of the whole WWF. This initial split is different from all those that have come sense because it was completely solid. Raw guys stayed on Raw, SD guys stayed on SD, never shall the twain meet except under very special circumstances, usually one interpromotional match on Big 4 PPVs. Another caveat of this initial split was the WWF Champion, the tag champs and the women's champ could appear on either show, for now. There'll be a lot of changes where the titles are concerned the next few months as they iron out how exactly to set things up for this new era. And if that wasn't enough change, little did anyone know at the time, this would also be the last regular PPV to take place under the WWF name.

 

WWF Cruiserweight Championship: Tajiri (w/Torrie Wilson) def Billy Kidman (c) in 9:04- First PPV Cruiserweight title defense since early in the Invasion, and the first since the WCW Cruiserweight and WWF Light Heavyweight titles were unified. Amazingly they're still using the WCW belt for now. Since we last saw him on PPV Tajiri has turned heel and has gone full Japanese Randy Savage on Torrie, forcing her to wear a kimono and generally act like a meek Japanese woman. Also notable, Kidman is wearing proper wrestling gear for once. Lockup! Stalemates and both guys shove. Kidman hits a clothesline. Speed run, fancy escapes and dodges, both guys get armdrags, then Tajiri suckers Kidman into the corner for a shot. Both guys exchange chops in the corner. Kidman hops on Tajiri's shoulders and tries for a hurricanrana but Tajiri blocks it into a slingshot. But Kidman counters that by hopping up to the second rope! Missile dropkick off the second rope for 2. Corner floatover and flying headscissors from Kidman. Tajiri rolls out to the floor off that then blames Torrie for everything going wrong. Kidman tries to take advantage but Tajiri pulls him off the apron and wheelbarrows him into the barricade. Man, those floor mats are SUPER shiny tonight. Guess they just got a fresh batch in. Basic slam back in from Tajiri followed by a kneedrop. He slides to the floor to give Kidman a nice kick right on the forehead. Kidman fights out of a chinlock and hits the pop up hurricanrana. Tajiri grabs him into a tiltawhirl backbreaker. He hooks Kidman up in the tree of woe. Baseball slide into Kidman's face! He cranks Kidman's back across the ring post. Stomps to Kidman's back followed by a backbreaker as Tajiri clearly has a target. Knee to the face from Kidman to counter out. Tajiri gets right back on the, er, back. Run into the corner and Tajiri goes for the tarantula, which still gets a pop from the crowd even though he's a heel now. Kidman manages to get free before it's fully on. Another kick from Tajiri, he slinghots off the ropes onto Kidman's back, and gets the tarantula on! Very nicely done. He sets up for the final decapitation kick. Kidman ducks it and they slug it out. Tajiri goes for the handspring back elbow but Kidman dropkicks him in the back! Cover for 2. Tajiri flips out of a suplex and hits a reverse enzuguri. Standing switches and Tajiri hits a German suplex with a bridge, then transfers into a Euro clutch for 2. Tajiri superkick! Kidman kicks out! Tajiri makes the tactical error of trying to powerbomb Kidman and Kidman does the faceplant counter for 2. People should have learned by now. Does no one watch tape? Kidman drags Tajiri into the drop zone and goes up top. Tajiri dodges the SSP! Head kick! Kidman kicks out again! The crowd's really behind Kidman now. Tajiri sets him up top. Kidman fights back and avalanche spinebusters Tajiri! That gets a 2 count. Now Kidman goes for a powerbomb. After Kidman gets him up Tajiri blows the red mist into his face! Tajiri falls on top and gets the pin to win the title back! Fantastic finish. Fantastic opener, not unlike peak WCW Cruiserweight division PPV openers. The Cruiserweight division will soon become a key part of the famous Paul Heyman booked Smackdown Six era. ***1/2

 

The APA reunite backstage as Faarooq wishes Bradshaw luck in his match tonight. Nearly all the longstanding tag teams (including the Dudleyz and Hardyz) were broken up in the draft as the tag division was completely reshuffled. 

 

Scott Hall (w/X-Pac) def Bradshaw (w/Faarooq) in 6:42- After Hogan's face turn and return to the red and yellow X-Pac was reunited with his old buddies as the new third NWO guy. Commentary says Nash isn't here because he's suspended. I can't remember if there's some real life story behind that but we all know Nash and Hall don't last long anyway so who cares. Pac is also wearing Kane's mask on their entrance. The NWO had recently attacked him to write him out due to injury and he wouldn't be back until August. Pac stays in the ring while Hall and Bradshaw circle. More APA music and here comes Faarooq to even the odds, brand split or no brand split. The NWO guys are furious they don't have their usual numbers advantage. The bell rings. Cautious start and Hall does the toothpick flip, greatly amusing himself. Bradshaw indicates his amusement by decking him. Which honestly seems like a very Bradshaw thing to do. It's all Bradshaw early on. He hits a DDT for 2. Hall rolls out for a think, but unfortunately for him right in front of Faarooq. Time for Faarooq to get some shots in. Lawler rightly points out that JR would be furious if Pac had done that to Bradshaw. Shoulderblock from Bradshaw back in. More clubbing blows and chops from Bradshaw. Suplex and floatover for 2. Hall does his wobblelegged selling off punches. Eye poke from Hall and he gets some shots in. Pac gets his shot in. Corner clothesline from Hall and he stomps Bradshaw down in the corner. Bradshaw pops out of the corner with another shoulder tackle. More punches put Hall back down. Back elbow and big boot from Bradshaw. Return corner clothesline from Bradshaw. Clothesline from Hell! They're near the ropes and Pac puts Hall's foot on the rope before 3. Faarooq chases Pac around the ring and runs him into the post. Hall uses the distraction to low blow Bradshaw, roll him up and get the pin. What you'd expect. Hall, once again, was just in no shape to be wrestling anymore, and Bradshaw was not a comfortable singles wrestler yet. 1/2*

 

WWF Women's Championship: Jazz (c) def Trish Stratus in 4:35- After Trish's entrance Molly Holly (no longer Mighty Molly) comes out. Trish beat Molly in a #1 contender's match on Raw to get here. Molly takes a mic, says Trish is nothing but a cheater, and lays her out! As they're fighting on the floor Jazz makes her way out. Molly whips Trish into the stairs. Jazz happily takes full advantage of the situation. Side suplex in the ring for 2. Trish manages to counter and hit Jazz with a hot shot. Jazz shrugs it off and hits a rolling slam. Trish rolls under and hits a clothesline. Again Jazz shrugs it off and hits some jabs. Trish slugs back with forearms. Jazz ducks a high kick, but can't avoid the second one and Trish covers for 2. Chops from Trish. She handstand hurricanranas Jazz off the top rope and hits more clotheslines. Neckbreaker for 2. Jazz counters a backdrop and plants Trish with a sit out powerbomb. Trish barely gets a weak shoulder up before 3. Jazz goes into heel punchy chokey stuff against the ropes. Trish dodges in the corner. Jazz crashes and Trish rolls her up for 2. She goes for the springboard bulldog but Jazz counters into a slam for 2. Dragon screw out of the corner from Jazz! Into a Boston crab on Trish! Trish tries for the ropes but Jazz drags her back and switches to an STF! Trish can't get to the ropes and taps! Death, taxes, Rollins beats Reigns and Jazz beats Trish almost every single time. Very nice stuff, by normal women's standards at the time. Like I've said before, Trish and Lita get the headlines, but Trish and Jazz was the feud that really made this era in the ring. **1/2

 

Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) def Jeff Hardy (w/Lita) in 5:32- The Next Big Thing has arrived. Lesnar, already with solid credentials as a former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, is the first of the famed OVW Class of 2002 to make his debut on the main show. In fact this isn't just his PPV debut, it's his first official televised WWF match ever, though he had been working main roster house shows since late '01. Heyman was brought back for the first time since the end of the Invasion to be Lesnar's manager, kicking off a lifelong on screen business partnership and real life friendship between the two. Lesnar's already taken Matt Hardy out during the buildup to this match, and Heyman's also taken some time to do some creepy stalking of Lita just because. Brock's got some weird triangle/pyramid design on the back of his trunks that won't last. Jeff, knowing he's in trouble, attacks Lesnar as soon as he gets in the ring. He lasts about 5 seconds before Lesnar pounds him down and slides him out to the floor. After Lesnar does his soon to be signature leap onto the apron Jeff kicks him off it, then tries a plancha. Nope. Lesnar easily plucks him out of the air. Jeff manages to counter and run Lesnar into the post. Back in Jeff hits a crossbody off the top for barely 1. Lesnar scoops Jeff up and RUNS him into the corner! Belly to belly suplex from Lesnar. He knows what he's doing. He stands over Jeff almost wanting him to put up more of a fight. Another belly to belly. TWO! Oh, we aren't there yet. He pulls Jeff up by his belt and gives him a series of huge backbreakers. Jeff tries to fight back out of the corner again. Lesnar reverses a whip and sends Jeff into the corner again. Jeff springs up top and hits Whisper in the Wind! Jawbreaker on Lesnar! The crotch legdrop hits and Jeff goes up top. Swanton Bomb! Lesnar kicks out! Desperate, Jeff goes out and gets a chair. Lesnar scoops him up again! F5! Which actually hadn't been named or become Lesnar's official finisher yet. Heyman shouts to not pin him yet, keep hurting him. Big delayed double powerbomb from Lesnar. After enjoying his work Lesnar picks Jeff up again, spins him around, and plants him with another powerbomb. Ref Teddy Long has enough and calls for the bell playa. Lita and a whole gaggle of refs come in to check on Jeff's carcass as Brock leaves happy. Amazing debut. Guys that looked generally like Brock were a dime a dozen in the '80s and into the '90s, and at the time Goldberg comparisons were inevitable, but actually watching him you knew this guy was a special, freak athlete. Jeff was also the perfect bouncy ball to make him look good out of the gate while keeping the crowd in it with good hope spots. In terms of an impactful monster debut, the best equivalent I can think of, that took place before this, is probably Vader's debut in WCW. Absolute, impressive destruction, and it was all up from here. The greatest rookie year in WWF history was underway. **

 

Kurt Angle def Edge in 13:24- This is the feud that was the unofficial kickoff of the Smackdown Six era, though the era wouldn't get going in full until the summer when Heyman became SD's head booker/writer. In the buildup to this show we got the legendary backstage segment where Edge "found" a bunch of pictures of him and Angle in his attic and when Angle holds them up to look at them they have "You suck" or some other insult written on the back of them. They'd already started, but that cemented the crowd chanting "you suck" to Angle's music forever. Circle and lockup. Angle grabs a headlock into a basic start while the crowd chants "Angle sucks". Angle tries to fake Edge out but runs into a couple of forearms. Back elbow from Angle in the corner but he runs into a dropkick. More dodges and Edge hits a flapjack, then clotheslines Angle 360 to the floor. Angle catches Edge with stomps coming back in. Spinning heel kick from Edge. Angle duck under and German suplex! He pounds Edge down in the corner and hits some chops. Edge turns around and hits his own chops. Angle belly to belly outta nowhere! Lesnar's here now, but this is Suplex City v1.0. Well, 1.5, the Steiners in their prime were 1.0. After a slugfest Angle hits a regular suplex for 2. He grounds Edge with a chinlock. After arm drops Edge fights back up. Another Angle duck under into ROLLING GERMANS. Or not, Edge fights out after the first one. Edge belly to belly! Edge hits a flying forearm and starts building momentum. Backdrop. Kick wham DDT for 2. Edge flips out of a back suplex attempt and faceplants Angle for a long 2. Edge goes up top, allowing Angle to do his classic run up the corner and snap superplex for 2. Ankle lock! Edge quickly fights out. After Edge tries to fight it off again it's ROLLING GERMANS for real time. The third gets a 2 count. Angle wants Edge to get back up. Angle Sl...no Edge slips free, goes around, and hits his own German with Angle flipping back on his head! Edge backdrops Angle over the top rope to the floor! Edge crossbody off the top to the floor! Back in Edge hits a missile dropkick for another long 2. Both guys trade counters and Angle hits the Angle Slam! Edge kicks out! THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Ankle lock! Edge tries to get to the ropes but Angle drags him back. Edge rolls around into a roll up for 2! Clothesline from a very frustrated Angle. He goes out and gets a chair. Edge ducks the swing and the chair bounces off the ropes into Angle's face! Edge covers but Angle kicks out! Eye rake from Angle. He goes for the chair again but Edge knees him in the face and Hebner the Younger takes the chair away. Edge sets up for the spear. Angle cuts it off with a kick! Angle Slam! Angle gets the pin! Clean as a sheet win. Phenomenal match. Edge's best match since he broke out into singles wrestling. After scuffling in the ring for a while this feud did a lot to help get him from middling midcarder with potential to a solid future main event path, while Angle is right on the cuspiest cusp of going from really damn good to otherwordly. ****1/4

 

The countdown hits and former Undisputed champion Chris Jericho makes his way out to the ring for some PPV promo time. I should point out that Steph isn't with him because as a stipulation to the rematch Jericho lost against Triple H for the title on the same Raw as the Draft she was (temporarily) banned from WWF. Jericho reminds us he was the top guy and bitches that now he doesn't even have a match tonight. Given how he was booked during his reign I'd take issue with "top guy" but whatever. He does some of his usual crowd running down, then complains that Hogan has a title shot tonight and not him. He concludes by saying if no one's going to bother with him he's leaving RIGHT NOW. Insert "Well, bye" GIF. Guess that was a way to get Jericho on the show and do a bit of rehab for him after a truly awful first title reign.

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship: Eddie Guerrero def Rob Van Dam (c) in 11:37- After being on the receiving end of a "You're messed up, go fix yourself" firing in mid '01 (and Guerrero worshipers should not kid themselves, that's exactly what it was), Guerrero made his big return to the WWF right after WM and immediately targeted new IC champ RVD. It takes Lawler all of two seconds to whip out the super annoying "LATINO HEEEEEEEEEET". Great. On paper this could be an incredible match. Guerrero attacks before the bell and we're off. He tries to flip over RVD's back but RVD waits for him to land and hits a side kick. Handspring monkey flip out of the corner from RVD and Guerrero, being Eddie, manages to go all the way to the other side of the ring selling it. RVD follows up with a spinning heel kick for 2. Stand up slugfest. Guerrero grabs a kick attempt and gives RVD a dragon screw. RVD reverses a corner whip and starts hitting the corner shoulderblocks. Guerrero tries to counter after the backflip but RVD was ready again, ducking under and grabbing a waistlock. Guerrero back elbows and backs RVD into the corner. Both guys trade shots in the corner and RVD hits another kick combo. Standing moonsault for 2. Another kick right to Guerrero's head for 2. Nifty suplex with an instant floatover from RVD for 2. He springs up top but Guerrero gets up and crotches him. Guerrero hooks up for a superplex. RVD willingly drops off the top rope down to the floor in order to drop Guerrero on the top rope! Very innovative counter. He goes back up and hits a diving kick off the top rope. Cartwheel moonsault for 2. Guerrero uses a suplex hookup to wrap up a small package for 2. Another suplex attempt from RVD and this time Guerrero counters in midair into a roll up for 2. Guerrero goes to the apron and RVD baseball slides him off. Moonsault off the apron from RVD that I'm not sure hit quite right as they both go down a bit weird. RVD sets Guerrero on the barricade and hits the spinning legdrop off the apron. Back in RVD goes for rolling thunder but Guerrero gets his knees up. Tiltawhirl backbreaker from Guerrero. Straight drop back suplex for 2. Drop toe hold from Guerrero and we're going surfing. He cranks RVD all the way back with a top facelock. RVD's so flexible he can stay in this hold longer than most guys. Eventually he fights free but Guerrero gets right back on his back. Gory Special! After a bit RVD gets free and uses his position to roll Guerrero up for 2. Guerrero comes back up with a clothesline. Leg lariat from Guerrero and he hits the slingshot senton for 2. He knucklelocks RVD and does the lucha corner run up and flying headscissors for 2. Brain buster from Guerrero, then a Saito suplex for 2. He sets RVD up and calls for the finish. RVD pops up and kicks Guerrero on the top rope. Top rope fight and Guerrero PLANTS RVD with a sunset bomb for 2! The crowd, which had been giving the long absent Guerrero nothing all match (his entrance was dead silence), finally gets into an "Eddie sucks" chant. RVD flips out of a powerbomb attempt and hits a misdirection kick. Guerrero rolls out and get the IC title belt. RVD kicks and grabs it away from him, but in the exchange ref Tim White goes down. Guerrero neckbreakers RVD onto the belt! He goes up top. Frog splash! Guerrero gets the pin to win the title! Very nice comeback win for Guerrero. You can argue jobbing RVD out, but this was just the start of a long feud that would end up being good for both guys. Very good match, but you know they've got a better one in them once they iron out some more chemistry. ***1/2

 

Commentary does their contractual promotion work for Rock's first movie, The Scorpion King, out now! Side thought, I'm assuming Rock isn't here tonight because he was out doing promo work for it. Not too much longer now and that will be the norm.

 

Undisputed WWF Championship #1 Contender's Match: The Undertaker def "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in 27:02- By my count this is the seventh one on one PPV match between these two (not counting multi-man matches). I'm not deep diving to crunch the numbers but I feel pretty confident in saying that was a record at the time. This would also be their final encounter. After wrestling each other at WM in an old school blood feud match, Raw owner Flair made Taker his #1 draft pick out of respect and they've continued to butt heads since. Austin also gave Flair a Stunner on Raw because that's what Austin did to authority figures. Because of all that, Flair has appointed himself the special guest ref for this match. Flair's wearing his red boots with his ref outfit. Makes him look like Red Shoes. The crowd is NUTS for this after entrances are done, which sadly won't last the whole match. Bell and it's an unusual cautious start in an Austin match. They go nose to nose in the middle of the rings while flashbubs pop from everywhere. More cautious and they finally lock up. Taker grabs a headlock and Austin tries to power out. Taker then runs Austin over with a shoulderblock and Austin rolls out to rethink things. Reset lockup and this time it's Austin with a headlock. Shoulderblock collision that wobbles Austin and doesn't bother Taker at all. Austin checks his wristape watch and decides to do some push ups. Mind games. Another lockup. Taker gets another shoulderblock, but then runs into an Austin clothesline. Now it's Taker that takes a moment to think. Austin reminds Taker he's #1 while he's doing that. Again both guys cautiously lean in...and Austin flips Taker off again! Taker's angry "FUCK!" reaction to that is pretty funny. More speed and Austin gets a hiptoss. Deep armdrag! Going back to the old Austin playbook. He drop toe holds Taker and starts working on Taker's arm. Eventually Taker backs Austin into the corner and gives him a punch on the nose. Austin switches in the corner and starts laying in the chops. Austin and Jericho both used a ton of chops in their No Way Out match, now with Flair in the ring Austin's shouting out again. Clothesline from Taker for 2. Flair's doing a very old school style count, barely putting his hand above the mat. Not showy at all like refs are normally trained. Taker cranks Austin's arm and hits old school. Austin Thesz press! Elbow drop follow up for 2. Austin clotheslines Taker 360 to the floor. Taker, as usual, lands on his feet and drags Austin out. The go back in and Austin 360 clotheslines Taker right back out! Taker does not land on his feet this time. This has been a very old school style match so far, but I suspect we'll be going Attitude Era brawl for a bit now. Coming back in Taker big boots Austin off the apron back to the floor. Austin does some crazy wobblelegged selling while Taker knocks him around ringside. Austin slugs back and Taker goes over the barricade into the crowd. Crowd brawl time! Well sort of, they never get away from the barricade. Now Austin knocks Taker around ringside and hits some more chops. Taker backdrops out of a piledriver attempt on the floor, then drops an elbow. Austin takes a shot on Taker's bike. I'm surprised Taker would want to risk denting it. Oh great. Hall and Pac are wandering out, Pac still wearing Kane's mask. Austin takes a hard stair shot and goes down. Flair tries to get Taker to back off so he can check on Austin but Taker is disinclined to acquiesce. Means no. Taker stays in control as the match goes into almost slo-mo, like they're waiting for something else to happen while the NWO guys stand at the bottom of the stage not doing anything yet. Taker hits the apron legdrop. Back in the ring Taker starts working on Austin's knee. He wraps up a couple of different leg scissors. Austin slowly gets over and gets a rope break. Austin fights back but Taker slugs him back down for 2. Guess we're forgetting about the knee, now Taker goes to a chinlock instead. The crowd also looks distracted by something. Off a whip Austin hooks on a sleeper. Taker back suplexes out for 2. Lawler says that count was slower than Flair's others and I think he has a point. Austin slugs back and goes for a Stunner. Taker pushes free and hits a clothesline for 2. The NWO guys are STILL standing around not doing anything by the way. Why did they come out so early? Flying clothesline from Taker for 2. Taker goes over and takes a top turnbuckle pad off. Austin reverses a whip and Taker takes the exposed buckle shot. Double clothesline. Both guys stagger back up and slug it out. Austin gets Taker down in the corner and stomps the mudhole. Taker scoops Austin for either a Tombstone or snake eyes onto the exposed buckle. Austin gets free and goes for a clothesline. In the exchange Flair gets knocked down and goes out like a light like a normal ref would. Surprised he didn't blade. Stunner! Cover but no ref. Low blow from Taker. Chokeslam! Flair's back up to count. Austin kicks out! Taker, like almost everyone else tonight, goes out and gets a chair. Flair takes it away and Austin hits a low blow. Big boot from Taker for 2. Austin spinebuster for 2. Double bird kick wham no Taker pushes out of another Stunner, and the push sends Austin right into Flair. Taker gets the chair again and waffles Austin with it. Cover and Flair staggers over. Austin just manages to kick out. Clothesline from Austin for 2. Taker gets the chair again. Austin ducks the swing and stomps another mudhole. Now he takes the chair. Flair tries to take it away and Taker big boots the chair into Austin's face! Flair counts a pin, but Austin's foot was clearly and obviously on the rope before Flair even started counting. That's what you get for getting untrained refs. Flair gets the hell out of town as soon as the match is over. Austin gives Taker a Stunner for the road to vent some frustration. That started extremely promisingly with very old school and good groundwork laying first 10 minutes, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but the wheels came off after that. And what the hell was the point of sending the NWO guys out there for more than half the match to just stand there and not do anything? **1/4

 

Coach catches Flair coming back through Gorilla and asks if he saw Austin's foot on the rope. Flair says no so Coach brings him to a monitor to watch the replay. Flair watches, disgustedly says "Shit." and walks off. Appropriate to the situation swearing, I have zero issue with that on a PPV.

 

WWF Tag Team Championship: Billy & Chuck (c) (w/Rico) def Al Snow & Maven in 5:56- I mentioned earlier almost all the longstanding tag teams getting broken up in the draft. That left the fairly new Billy & Chuck duo as the de facto top team while the rest of the division was rebuilt. Snow and Maven have the Tough Enough coach/student connection so at least their pairing isn't completely random. B&C jump start as the challengers get in the ring. Snow & Maven fight off a double team and clothesline both B&C to the floor. Maven appropriated one of their headbands in that exchange and he gives it to Snow to prance around in a bit. Chuck pulls Maven out to the floor and they work him over a bit down there, then more in the ring. Maven whips Chuck into his own partner Snow on the apron, then DDTs Chuck. Snow runs in angry at B&C and that allows them to get the kid down again. Enzuguri from Maven on Chuck. Tags on both sides and Snow runs wild. Rico gets on the apron to distract ref Nick Patrick, allowing B&C to double team again. Shake, Rattle and Roll style neckbreaker from Billy on Snow for 2. Chuck comes in and butterflys Snow's arms while the crowd chants "Rico's gay" at Rico. Just Rico? Belly to belly suplex from Chuck for 2. Snow tries to do his corner slide but coming back Billy pushes him face first into the other corner. Snow dodges a Stinger splash, then drop toe holds Chuck into Billy. Tag to Maven. Hot tag run #2. Billy uses a backdrop setup to hit the Fameasser. Snow pulls Maven out of the ring before he can be pinned. Superkick from Chuck on Snow. Rico comes in for a cheap shot but takes Chuck out instead. Snow spinebuster on Chuck. Crossbody off the top from Maven! Billy kicks out! Maven wants Billy to get up so he can finish it. Rico comes in again but Snow chases him off. Chuck superkick on Maven. Billy covers and gets the pin to retain. *1/2

 

The reaction Hogan got at WM kicked off a huge wave of Hogan nostalgia among WWF fans. WWF decided to ride the wave and got Hogan right back into the title picture, a move much criticized over the years but personally I've never really had an issue with it. People complain all the time about wrestling companies, especially Vince run ones, rarely giving them what they want and this clearly was something the fans wanted, if only for a short time. Also of note, the modified Winged Eagle and Big Gold Belts were retired after WM (temporarily in Big Gold's case), and the new Undisputed Champion belt has been introduced. To my mind a belt that's been sorely underrated over the years, and was killed off way too soon in favor of making Cena's crappy personal spinner belt the main one for far too long. 

 

Undisputed WWF Championship: Hollywood Hulk Hogan def Triple H (c) in 22:00- It's been nearly 9 years since Hogan was last WWF Champion, but of course he had many WCW World title reigns during that time. This match is the introduction of Hogan wearing long tights in red and yellow mode instead of trunks. Trips hasn't turned back heel just yet so this is a respectful face vs face match though HHH has been the default heel all through the build, which will continue tonight. Fantastic shot during HHH's entrance of Hogan staring him down over his shoulder while HHH does his apron pose. The title match graphic still has the two old belts, they need to update that. Short staredown and lockup. HHH wins the power fight! That surprised Hogan. Another lockup and HHH wins again. The crowd is still crazy behind Hogan, which sets HHH off more. This time Hogan wins the lockup to a big pop and poses. Cautious knucklelock into a test of strength. HHH starts to go down, then powers back up and puts Hogan down. Hogan fights back up, but HHH lets go, back elbows Hogan and puts on a top wristlock that grinds Hogan down again. HHH willingly working a full Hogan style match so far. Not that Hogan was capable of doing a full HHH style match, he wasn't. Hogan powers the wristlock over into a headlock on HHH. Shoulderblock from Hogan and another pose. Kind of amazing his bandana has stayed on this long. Lockup and slow clean corner break. Mostly clean as HHH slaps Hogan, then starts pounding him down in the corner. There goes the bandana. Corner whip reversal and backdrop from Hogan. He hits a couple of clotheslines and pounds HHH down in the corner. Mounted punches. HHH counters a backdrop, but then charges and Hogan backdrops him over the top to the floor! Hogan gives HHH some ringside knockaround. He suplexes HHH on the floor! HHH takes control back with a stair shot and keeps control back in the ring. He starts a Pedigree setup but Hogan counters, slingshots him into the corner, and rolls him up for 2. Corner clothesline from Hogan. Another. Running cutter from Hogan! That's a new one. And it gets a 2 count. HHH slips out of a scoop and chop blocks Hogan's braced knee. I think we're going to school, kids. Another chop block. Apron shot for the knee. And a post shot. Another chop block in the ring as the crowd has completely turned on HHH now. He continues to pick the knee apart. He goes for the figure four but Hogan pushes free. Yet another chop block. Another Hogan push free sends HHH face first into the corner. That sets off HHH, as he goes to ground and pound and chokes. Figure four! HHH cranks like crazy on it, then gets desperate and gets extra rope leverage. Hogan tries to reverse but HHH grabs the ropes again. No way Hebner didn't see that. Another try and this time Hogan gets the reversal and HHH lets go. Sleeper from HHH. Hogan goes down and we get arm drops. Hogan powers back up with some really weak back elbows and manages to get HHH up for a back suplex. He looks gassed. None of his WCW main events went this long. Comeback punches from Hogan. Running double ax handle. Big boot! The legdrop hits. But Chris Jericho is running out with a chair! He didn't leave the arena the lying liar! Hebner tries to cut him off and Jericho punches him out. Chairshot to Hogan! Jericho picks Hebner up and puts him back in the ring. HHH sees Jericho and is not happy. Facebuster on Jericho and he clotheslines Jericho 360 out. HHH punch on Hogan. No affect! Uh oh. Here comes the Hulk Up! Point! Three punches, big boot. HHH dodges the legdrop! Kick wham Pedigree! Hebner struggles up to count. Now Taker runs out and punches Hebner out! Hebner's going to need some ice after this match. Taker chairshot to HHH. The story is Taker wants Hogan for his title shot, not HHH. Hogan Hulks Up again on Taker! Hogan clotheslines Taker to the floor! The legdrop hits on HHH! Hogan gets the pin and is once again WWF Champion! Even today I still have to pinch myself a bit to make sure I'm seeing it right, Hogan being WWF Champ again at this late stage. It's Hogan's 6th title win, tying him back with Rock and Austin for the most ever at that point. HHH, bloody from the chairshot, gets up, acts like he wants to continue the fight, then offers a hand that Hogan takes. As a side note, losing the title means that HHH will now be on Smackdown. While I won't criticize the booking as much as others for the reasons I explained above, I will naturally criticize the match because it's objectively crap, even before all the crazy overbooking. As much Hogan nostalgia there was, it couldn't turn back time to de-age Hogan's body. 2000 HHH could probably have gotten more out of this, but 2002 HHH was still rounding back into form from the quad injury. They did at least mix up the usual Hogan finish formula though. *

 

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS-  I don't think it's quite as bad as its reputation, though I wouldn't call it overall good. The top matches disappoint, but there's no outright total disasters and good stuff to be found on the undercard. This was a weird time for WWF overall as they were working out exactly how the brand split was going to work in practice and not just in theory. And the next time on PPV they'll be dealing with yet another major change, though one forced on them this time- an entirely new company name.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: C+