King of the Ring '02

Legacy Review

King of the Ring '02

June 23, 2002 from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH

 

Commentary: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

 

Welcome to what would be the final King of the Ring PPV until it was revived in the TKO/Triple H era, and the last KOTR tournament at all until 2006. The tournament had been having diminishing returns for years. Though most (not all) winners still went on to be successful, the tournaments themselves had been underwhelming at best, and the overall PPV typically one of the weakest of the year. This year's version is again a 16 man format, with separate Raw and SD brackets for the first two rounds playing off the new brand split. Tonight will feature only the semifinals and finals, with the semifinals being the first cross-brand action of the tournament. And in one more new twist this year, the KOTR winner will get a guaranteed WWE Title shot at Summerslam.

 

Another major event coming into this PPV was the walkout of Steve Austin. Austin had been frustrated with his booking for a while, and had just been put into a program with Eddie Guerrero to fulfill his desire to work with someone good in the ring. Things came to a head when Austin was booked to lose to Brock Lesnar in a KOTR qualifying match on Raw. Austin refused, saying a throwaway match on Raw with no buildup hurt him and wouldn't benefit Lesnar as much as a properly built up match would. When he was told the match was still happening no matter how much he protested, Austin turned around and went back home. Both sides would entrench and let bad feelings fester. Things wouldn't be resolved and Austin wouldn't return until early 2003. Austin later admitted he handled the situation badly, but still felt he was right on the merits. To try to fill the void, the Rock came back a month earlier than he was originally scheduled from his latest Hollywood hiatus, showed up on Raw instead of SD which was his brand, and cut a famous promo where he buried Austin by name and said if there's anyone else in the company that doesn't want to be here "get the F out". He also announced he'll be at KOTR tonight in an unknown capacity, again earlier than he was originally scheduled. Though Rock also said he'll be here in WWE when he's 80 with the people's dentures and the people's walker, which we know now was a complete lie.

 

Semifinals: WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam (Raw) def Chris Jericho (SD) in 14:31- RVD won the IC title back from Eddie Guerrero on Raw in late May, wrapping up the excellent feud between the two. Jericho's growing the goatee he'll be sporting for a while in this era. Big "RVD" chant after the bell. Lockup! They do a nice basic hammerlock/arm wringer reversal sequence. Jericho gets a shoulderblock off a speed run, then coming back off the ropes RVD hits a back elbow. Armdrag tradeoff. Simultaneous dropkick attempt! Stalemate and a nice round of applause from the crowd for that sequence. RVD does the thumb point in Jericho's face. Jericho slaps him. RVD kicks Jericho in the face! From a standing position. Insane flexibility. Rolling monkey flip by RVD out of the corner and he hits a legdrop for 2. Jericho fires back with a flying forearm and does some ground and pound. Spinning heel kick from Jericho. RVD dodges the springboard dropkick and Jericho falls down to the floor. RVD somersault plancha! Coming back in RVD hits the one foot diving kick off the top rope, then springs back up top on the other side. Jericho kicks the ref into the ropes, crotching RVD. Double underhook superplex from Jericho and he stacks RVD up for 2. RVD gets a boot up in the corner and leg takedown cradles Jericho for 2. Clothesline from Jericho for 2. He goes over and takes a top turnbuckle pad off. The ref decides to try to put it back on himself, which makes him late catching an RVD small package and Jericho kicks out. Jericho dodges an RVD strike combo and hits a skull crushing finale for 2. He then gets desperate, taking off some of his wrist tape and choking RVD with it. RVD dodges against the ropes and Jericho crotches himself. Jericho turns it back around with a knee to the gut and he butterflys RVD's arms to ground him. RVD fights back up, then dodges in the corner and Jericho posts his shoulder. He builds up momentum with the educated feet. Springboard back kick for 2. Misdirection kick and handspring splash for 2. Both guys do some nice dodges and Jericho hits an enzuguri for 2. RVD counters the misdirection bulldog. Jericho ducks another kick attempt and PLANTS RVD with a German suplex right on his head! Another stack up for 2. RVD gives Jericho a sloppy hot shot. Split legged moonsault! That gets a 2 count. Jericho dodges the backflip shoulderblock and goes for the Walls! RVD reverses into a cradle for a long 2! RVD catches Jericho's legs and tries to slingshot him into the corner. Jericho lands on the second rope and dives, but right into an RVD kick. Jericho runs RVD into the exposed turnbuckle! He cradles RVD and gets extra rope leverage, but RVD still kicks out! Jericho hits the bulldog. RVD dodges the Lionsault and hits a high kick. He springs up top. Jericho dodges the five star! Lionsault! RVD kicks out! Jericho blocks an RVD hurricanrana attempt and gets the Walls on! But they're in the corner and RVD gets an easy rope break. Jericho drags RVD up the ropes in the corner by the hair. RVD punches free and Jericho falls crotch first on the top rope, then drops down into the drop zone. FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! RVD gets the pin and advances to the final! Very nice match, as you'd expect from these two. The first half they felt like they were feeling each other out for real as well as in the match's story, but they got going good in the second half. ***1/2

 

Lawler gets in the ring for a postmatch interview. RVD says he doesn't care if it's Brock, Test or Godzilla in the final. I don't think Godzilla's in the tournament, but there's no telling what RVD's drugs are making him see. Jericho attacks RVD from behind! He puts the Walls on for a bit before the ref gaggle makes him break it and leave. There's the mandatory extra hill RVD has to climb in the final. 

 

Semifinals: Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) (Raw) def Test (SD) in 8:12- Lesnar's got his real music back after testing out an alternate, more heelish version the last couple of PPVs. They go nose to nose before the bell, then lock up. A very rough, long lockup. Lesnar teases a clean corner break, then goes nuts with shoulderblocks. Back elbow and clotheslines from Test. Lesnar grabs the top rope to avoid Test's big boot of death and slides out to get some coaching from Heyman. Back in Test goes right back on offense, hitting some Kevin Nash like elbows in the corner, then stomping Lesnar down. More back elbows from Test, but he runs into a Lesnar spinebuster. Elbowdrops from Lesnar. Huge corner whip. Both guys duck clotheslines and Lesnar hits a back suplex for 2. He waffles Test with a hard forearm right across the jaw for another 2. Big backbreaker from Lesnar. Test fights back and hits an inverted atomic drop, but then runs into a Lesnar powerslam for 2. They fumble the hell out of a whip spot. Test tries to recover by hitting a back elbow. Side suplex from Test. Corner clotheslines. Full nelson slam from Test for 2. He hooks up for a pumphandle slam. Lesnar does a very nice escape into German suplex position. Test blocks it and hits a back elbow. Another go and this time the pumphandle powerslam hits for 2. Lesnar ducks the running big boot. Test counters out of a powerbomb. The big boot hits! Lesnar kicks out! The crowd bit pretty good on that one. Test sets up in the corner. Lesnar pushes ref Nick Patrick away and Heyman distracts Test. F5! Lesnar gets the pin! Some definitely sloppy spots and rough stretches, Lesnar was still learning, but they also got a couple of quality near falls in at the end despite the outcome never being in doubt. **1/4

 

In the back, Lance Storm and Christian lament that the all Canadian KOTR final didn't happen. Well they should have done better. Elsewhere in the arena, SD commentary team Michael Cole and Tazz are again acting as the hype team for the SD matches on the card, starting with the next one.

 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Jamie Noble (w/Nidia) def The Hurricane (c) in 11:58- Jamie Noble (BOY!) and Nidia made their WWE debut earlier in the month as the ultimate trailer park trash couple, and immediately targeted Hurricane and the CW title that was about to become a staple of Smackdown Six era SD. Nidia's wearing Hurricane's cape on their entrance. Three for three on lockups tonight, I'm all for that. Another rough one that the ref has to force a break on too. Noble counters a Hurricane waistlock into an arm wringer. Hurricane rolls onto his feet and punches Noble down. A quick Hurricane roll up leads into a really nice mat exchange. Noble hits a back elbow and pounds Hurricane in the corner. Big back elbow off the ropes from Hurricane. SHINING WIZARD! Nice to see even if it's only a transition move here in WWE. Hurricane goozle! Noble fights out but runs into a leg lariat for 2. Hurrcane gets Noble down into a kind of reverse triangle choke. Noble escapes into a headlock. Nidia tries to trip Hurricane but completely misses. Hurricane reacts to it anyway and goes out to chase her, running into a Noble clothesline. Noble rolls Hurricane back in for 2. He whips Hurricane around the corners, clearly targeting his back. I should be annoyed that JR and Lawler are spending the whole match joking about Nidia instead of calling the match, but much of it is legitimately funny thanks to JR leading the comedy more than Lawler so it's not as bad as it could be. Snap suplex from Noble for 2. Abdominal stretch! Hurricane escapes, but Noble ducks his clothesline swing and hits another shot to the back. Back suplex for 2. Flash small package from Hurricane for 2. Quick crossbody for 2. Noble gets Hurricane up and hits an electric chair for 2. He wraps Hurricane up with a crucifix like hold. Hurricane fights up again and armdrags free. Reverse DDT from Hurricane for 2. Hurricane hooks on a sleeper. Noble quickly jawbreakers free, then puts on his own sleeper. A very loosely applied one. After arm drops we get a stand up slugfest. They lose their place for a second, then Hurricane hits a neckbreaker. Blockbuster style neckbreaker off the second rope from Hurricane for 2. Noble counters a GTR attempt into a German suplex for 2. Hurricane goes again and hits the GTR for 2. Hurricane gets the cape! Nidia takes it away! Hurricane suplexes Noble over the top to the floor. Noble's leg hit the apron bad on the way down but he's fine. Hurricane crossbody off the top to the floor! Noble gets back in and hits a baseball slide. He drags Hurricane up the corner and teases superplexing him down to the floor. Hurricane fights free and they both precariously balance on the top rope. Hurricane avalanche swinging neckbreaker! Nidia distracts the ref when Hurricane covers. Hurricane runs Noble into Nidia! CHOKESLAM! Noble kicks out! Hurricane goes up top but Noble hits the ropes to knock him back down. Noble hits the powerbomb. Hurricane has a foot on the rope, but Nidia runs by and pushes it off, allowing Noble to get the pin and the title! Not too shabby. **3/4

 

Earlier tonight, we have proof Rock is here because he walked into the building. I assume it was the same building.

 

Another domino from Austin's walkout, Guerrero needed a new opponent. In stepped Raw owner Ric Flair, saying he had "one more run in him". This feud also saw the return of Chris Benoit after being out almost exactly one year due to a major neck injury. He's back on the side of his former Radicalz teammate Guerrero. Also, please please please don't let Terri Runnels do anymore backstage interviews. Damn good promo from Guerrero though, once he stops namedropping all his relatives. 

 

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair def Eddie Guerrero in 17:00- This is actually not a first time matchup, these guys had a couple of matches in WCW. Flair comes out to his '91-'92 WWF run music instead of his usual. Another rough lockup and we shockingly get a clean corner break from two well known dirty players. Both guys jockey for position into another lockup. Speed run and Guerrero hits a shoulderblock, then gives us a "WOOOOO" and struts a bit. More speed and Flair runs into a dropkick. He rolls out for a think while Guerrero struts a little more. Both guys look really fired up for this, even if Flair's more subtle about it. Another lockup into the corner. Guerrero sells the HELL out of a Flair chop! All the way into the air and now he rolls out to the floor while Flair gives us some classic Flair strutting. Back in Guerrero hits some forearms and gives Flair some chops in the corner. Flair turns around and hits response chops, some classic Flair short jabs to the nose in a headlock, then an even more classic Flair sneaky style low blow. Very nicely sold by Guerrero too. Flair pounds Guerrero some more in the corner and puts him down with another chop. Guerrero rolls out again, furious. He's very cautious about getting back in and Flair does try to block him. Eventually Flair says come on in and Guerrero does a fancy flip over the top rope back in. Bit of a reset. Flair goes for another lockup but Guerrero ducks under and drop toe holds him down into a front facelock. Flair uses the position to hook Guerrero up for a delayed suplex! Very nice. Guerrero ducks a chop and dopkicks Flair's knee, then goes to work on it. Spinning toe hold from Guerrero. Flair counters with a small package for 2. Chops from Guerrero and Flair does a half flop out of the corner. Guerrero then gets back on the knee. Really nice move where Guerrero drapes Flair's knee over the top rope, then slingshot splashes it. Figure four! Flair fights toward the ropes, almost gets pinned, tries to reverse it, then tries to lift Guerrero's leg up to break it. Nothing works, but then he manages to get a rope break. Crazy corner pound down from Guerrero. Snap mare into a Mr Perfect style running neck snap. Flair gets back up throwing chops. Guerrero eye pokes, then snap mares Flair again into a chinlock. Should have gone back to the knee. Another chop exchange in the corner. Flair backdrops Guerrero over the top rope to the floor! That was slightly telegraphed. Guerrero snaps Flair's throat over the top rope from the floor. Suplex from Guerrero and he goes up top. Flair dodges the frog splash! Clip on Guerrero's knee! Now we're going to school, kids. As Flair starts on the knee work Benoit makes his way out. Flair figure four! After a near fall Guerrero gets a rope break. Flair goes for another suplex, but Guerrero slips free and gets a roll up with tights for 2. Guerrero blocks a hiptoss into a backslide for 2. Flair grabs a headlock and they have an extremely difficult time getting into position for the bridge up spot, then can't pull it off right and smartly decide to scrap it. Guerrero hits a back elbow in the corner and goes up to the second rope. Flair tries to fight it but Guerrero hits the tornado DDT. Cover but Flair gets a foot on the rope. Guerrero's latino temper boils over and he starts gouging at Flair's eyes. The ref has to pull him off. But that allows Benoit to drag Flair out to the floor and put the crossface on! Ref Chad Patton sees and tosses Benoit out! They go all the way up the aisle arguing. That allows Bubba Ray Dudley to run in from the crowd and Bubba Bomb Guerrero! Not sure what that was about, I don't remember if anything was going on between them or not. Benoit chases Bubba Ray back out through the crowd. Flair crawls in, covers Guerrero, and gets the pin! This started great with a ton of energy and really good groundwork laying, but couldn't hold the momentum and had some rough spots toward the end. Plus all the interference. ***1/4

 

We get another one of the infamous "Get the F out" commercials. Meanwhile, at WWF New York The World, Christopher Nowinski makes an inauspicious PPV debut.

 

WWE Women's Championship: Molly Holly def Trish Stratus (c) in 5:05- Molly is still in her Right to Censor revival phase. She's even wearing the right colors. Trish storms into the ring and wants to go RIGHT NOW. Ref Jack Doan holds her back while she tosses her coat at Molly. Molly pushes Doan aside and shoves Trish down. Slam/elbow drop combo for 2. Trish gets a couple of forearms in but runs into a backdrop. Molly does the old hair slam for 2. Both women hit buckle shots. Molly gets an arm takedown into a Fujiwara armbar. After fighting a bit Trish counters into a cradle for 2. Molly stomps on the arm some more. Trish uses a whip reversal to get on Molly shoulders and do a victory roll for 2! Nicely done. Neckbreaker from Trish for 2. Molly bounces off the corner and Trish Gedo clutches her for 2. Drop toe hold from Molly and Trish goes right into the bottom rope. A basement dropkick sends Trish out to the floor. Molly runs her face first into the apron and hits a chop. A whip sends Trish over the barricade. Molly helps her back over. Trish manages to get a high kick that sends Molly off the apron. Molly gets stuck on the top rope and Trish hurricanranas her off. More forearms and chops from Trish. Diving clothesline and dropkick. Molly gets a jawbreaker. Another high kick from Trish. She goes for the Stratusfaction but Molly counters out. German suplex! Trish JUST kicks out! Another old school women's hair slam. Molly goes for a spinning legdrop off the top rope but Trish dodges. Roll up from Trish. Molly reverses, grabs a handful of pants, and gets the pin to win the title! Pretty damn clean win all things considered as much as commentary tries to say she cheated. Tights holding was pretty much accepted by this point. Solid match. I love JR and Lawler in casual bullshitting mode, but it'd be nice if they started to take these matches a bit more seriously as the women's division is so much better than it was in the Attitude Era. **

 

In contrast to Flair saying he had one more run in him, after losing the WWE Championship Hogan actually tried to retire. Only problem was, Vince wouldn't let him. That led into Hogan's next feud, but they're already laying the groundwork for the upcoming Hogan vs Vince match at WM 19.

 

Kurt Angle def Hollywood Hulk Hogan in 12:04- This is one of Hogan's best feuds from this return to WWF/E run, probably second only to his one with the Rock. After losing the hair vs hair match to Edge at Judgment Day Angle has taken to wearing a wig held on by amateur wrestling headgear to hide his baldness. It's fantastic. Missed opportunity by the crowd, going with the usual "You suck" chant to Angle's music instead of "You're bald". WWE crowds are still loving seeing Hogan again. Lockup that Hogan easily wins. Angle grabs a waistlock but can't get Hogan up for a German suplex. Hogan back elbows free and cranks a headlock. This would have been a great match for Hogan to pull out his Japan pure wrestling playbook, but sadly he doesn't. They do have a top wristlock fight for a bit. Big Hogan shoulderblock off the ropes and Angle rolls out to rethink things. So far both Angle's wig holding headgear and Hogan's bandanna have stayed in place. Angle takes over back in with some strikes and a clothesline. The bandanna is off! Angle wins that one. Hogan momentum tosses Angle over the top to the floor (with Angle clearly doing all the work). He knocks Angle around on the floor a bit before sliding him back in. Buckle shots for Angle and he wobblelegs into a big Hogan punch. Hogan goes for the headgear. Angle gives him a swift low blow to get free. He stomps away on Hogan in the corner. Chops from Angle. He cuts off a Hogan comeback with an eye rake and hits a back suplex. Another one for 2. Hogan blocks a regular suplex and hits his own. Scoop slam. Angle hooks on a sleeper. Hogan fades down and we go to arm drops. Hogan does his "no, no, no" point, fights back up and puts on his own sleeper. Quick back suplex counter from Angle. Angle Slam! Hogan just kicks out! THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! AND HOGAN'S HULKING UP! NO point, three punches, big boot. But instead of going for the legdrop Hogan gets Angle's headgear and wig off! Bald Angle is officially here! Angle grabs the ropes to avoid another big boot, then says "Screw you" and takes a walk. Hogan puts Angle's wig and headgear on! That gets Angle's attention. He comes back in with a chair. Hogan ducks and Angle chairshots himself off the ropes! Big boot! Angle dodges the legdrop! Into the ankle lock! A counter for every finisher, one of the best things about Angle. Hogan just barely touches a rope, but when he does Angle drags him back into the center. Hogan looks like he's going to go out, then gets one last burst of energy to push Angle off. Angle rolls through it and keeps the hold on! Again! That gets Hogan in the ropes for a break. Angle drags him back off and puts the ankle lock on again! HOGAN TAPS! HOGAN TAPS! I can't overstate how mind blowing that was. Hogan NEVER submitted to anyone. Angle made him. I think any of the last remaining, hardcore Angle doubters were finally silenced here. After the bell Angle puts the wig and headgear back on, but he'll soon embrace his new look. Angle carried Hogan as well as he could and there were definitely rough parts, but that end sequence was phenomenal. ***

 

Time for more comedy hijinks with Goldust and Booker T. This time Goldust tries to impersonate Rock, which draws the ire of the real Rock. Funny stuff all around. Rock says he's here to watch the WWE Title match.

 

King of the Ring Final: Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) def Rob Van Dam in 5:36- RVD doesn't sell any kind of injury from Jericho's postmatch beatdown, but that's RVD for you. Lockup and Lesnar easily powers RVD into the corner. RVD dodges and gets the first real shots in. Hammy kicks from RVD, a very sound strategery. RVD flips over a backdrop attempt and hits a superkick. He goes for a monkey flip in the corner, but that just lets Lesnar powerbomb him. Lesnar stomps away on RVD's back and runs him backwards into the corner a couple of times. Standing powerslam for 2. He hits the big backbreaker a couple of times. Bear hug. RVD does a great job selling it. He tries to fight out bug Lesnar lifts him up and runs him into the corner again. Corner shoulderblocks from Lesnar. RVD dodges a charge and Lesnar posts his shoulder. RVD tries a high kick. Lesnar blocks it and scoops him up again, but RVD gets free and goes to the hammy kicks again. Jumping back kicks that wobble Lesnar. The diving one leg kick off the top rope finally puts Lesnar down. Rolling thunder hits for 2. Spinning legdrop and RVD goes up top again. FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! Before he can cover Heyman grabs him and snaps him over the top rope! But RVD still falls on top of Lesnar, and Lesnar barely kicks out at 2! RVD baseball slides Heyman, knocking Heman's cap off and exposing more baldness tonight. RVD tries coming off the second rope but Lesnar catches him! F5! Lesnar gets the pin to win the crown, and the title shot at Summerslam! That's not a rocket ship that's been strapped to Lesnar, it's a freaking warp drive, and he's not stopping until he's out somewhere around Cardassia and Bajor. Decentish match, they didn't get enough time for anything more. **

 

In the back, Triple H walks into Shawn Michaels, who has joined his old Kliq buddies in the WWE NWO. And Big Show. All four NWO guys are there. Instead of a confrontation, Shawn and Trips hug. They all wish Trips luck and tell him if he wants some help to just "throw them up". The buildup for the big return of Shawn has begun. I also genuinely don't remember the WWE version of the NWO lasting nearly this long.

 

Undisputed WWE Championship: The Undertaker (c) def Triple H in 23:00- Heyman joins commentary since his client Brock Lesnar now has a title shot, though with another PPV between now and Summerslam there's no guarantee it'll be against either of these guys. Jawing after the bell leads to slugging. HHH hits a back elbow. Taker does his corner toss into a punch combo. HHH comes out of the corner with a straight choke that knocks Taker down, then he 360 clotheslines Taker to the floor. Taker pulls him out and we go into some of the usual ringside knockaround for a bit. Back in the ring Taker takes control again and lays in some more corner shots. HHH ducks a running big boot and Taker gets tied up in the corner. Mounted punches from HHH. Taker counters with a corner hot shot. Clothesline from Taker for 2. Heyman ribbing Lawler about his ex wives makes me laugh. HHH tries to come back but runs into a side suplex. Running elbow drop from Taker for 2. He hits the apron elbow and legdrop while Hebner has a fit about it. HHH gets a back elbow in the corner and starts to slug back. Taker kills it with a big boot for 2. He tosses HHH out again. HHH suplexes Taker on the floor. Back in Taker hits a clothesline and legdrop for 2. Taker puts HHH up top. HHH fights off a superplex, but doesn't come off the top rope himself. HHH doesn't do that. Instead he steps back down and backdrops Taker. Flying clothesline from Taker for 2. Taker gets desperate and takes a top turnbuckle pad off. HHH blocks a shot on it. Corner whip reversal and Taker hits a corner clothesline. Another reversal and Taker goes back first into the exposed buckle. Neckbreaker from HHH. HORRIBLE spinebuster from HHH for 2. Don't know what happened there but it wasn't pretty. Now HHH goes into the exposed buckle and Taker gives him snake eyes on it. HHH completely no sells it and hits the high knee for 2. Another sloppy looking move, this time a DDT from Taker for 2. Goozle! HHH kicks free and goes for the Pedigree. Taker counters and slingshots HHH into the corner. Unfortunately the same corner Hebner was in and he gets squashed. Then Taker hits Hebner for good measure. Double clothesline. Cue the run ins! The Rock's music hits and he makes his way out. Hebner tried to claim earlier that Lesnar took Rock out in the back. Clearly a Heyman whopper. Rock chases Heyman off commentary and takes the headset himself. He runs down Heyman and says he'd shake Brock's hand if Brock ever offered it. Meanwhile, the match is still at a dead stop, not that it was exactly going at breakneck speed before. Taker rolls out and gets a chair. HHH cuts off a chairshot. Facebuster. Another 360 clothesline sends Taker back out. Taker punches HHH down, then big boots Rock into the laps of Spanish commentary. Taker gets another chair. Rock takes it away and slugs away on Taker! Rock swings the chair, but Taker ducks and HHH takes the shot! Taker gives Rock a post shot. HHH is bleeding a little off the chairshot. Back in Taker calls for the finish. Last Ride! Nick Patrick comes in because Hebner's still dead. Taker covers but the delay gave HHH time to kick out. Taker punches Patrick out. Yeah, that's been done to death by now. Rock gets in the ring and unloads on Taker. Rock Bottom! Both guys are down and Rock leaves. HHH slowly comes to and gets an arm on Taker. Hebner even more slowly crawls over and we get the super slow Hebner count, allowing Taker to kick out. The crowd is still chanting for Rock, which lets you know how this match is going. Both guys are still taking forever to get themselves back up to their feet. Kick wham Pedigree! But HHH collapses and again takes forever to cover. Then there's no count because Hebner is still trying to recover. HHH drags Hebner into the ring. Low blow from Taker. He rolls HHH up, and after another Hebner slow count gets the pin. The opposite of the Hogan/Angle match, that end run after Rock left was almost physically painful to watch. Trying way too hard to make it epic when it wasn't. Rest of the match wasn't that great either. Like Insurrextion it's definitely on the low end of Taker/HHH matches. *1/2

 

After the bell Rock comes back in and gives Taker the People's Elbow, then HHH gives Rock a Pedigree as a receipt for the chairshot, then Taker chokeslams HHH. Even steven I guess.

 

OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- Disappointing main event aside that was a perfectly average show, which puts it toward the upper end of KOTR PPVs in this final edition of the original run.

OVERALL SHOW GRADE: C