Legacy Review
Vengeance '02
July 21, 2002 from the Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit, MI
Commentary: Michael Cole and Tazz (first half); Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler (second half)
We're now about four months into the first ever brand split, and they're still sorting out how exactly it's all going to work. Going into this show, changes have once again been made. The initial on screen catalyst for the split was 50/50 WWE co-owners Vince McMahon and Ric Flair not being able to get along. However, in June on Raw Flair lost a match to Vince to give Vince full control over the entire company again, relegating Flair back to being just a wrestler. But they still wanted each show to have its own identity, so in lieu of running everything himself Vince decided to appoint the first ever General Managers for each show, both of whom were introduced the week before this PPV. On the Raw side, in one of the biggest surprises in wrestling history, Vince shocked everyone by introducing none other than former WCW showrunner Eric Bischoff as the new Raw GM. Bischoff's official role in WWE would be entirely on screen only, no executive or creative power, but he would still have some unofficial input. For Smackdown, Stephanie McMahon returned to TV to be the brand's GM, and she would reposition as the babyface GM opposite Bischoff's heel. The first fight between the two started right away, a bidding war for free agent Triple H, who will be making his decision tonight. Also, behind the scenes around the same time Paul Heyman took over as the head writer/booker for Smackdown, officially kicking off the Smackdown Six era.
During Sunday Night Heat it was decided that after hanging out in the upper arena levels to hype up the SD matches the last couple of PPVs, SD commentary team Michael Cole and Tazz will get to commentate the first half of the show tonight, then JR and Lawler will take over the second half. Again, still trying to figure out how this brand split thing is going to work.
Elimination Tables Match: Bubba Ray Dudley & Spike Dudley def Eddie Guerrero & Chris Benoit in 15:01- This is Benoit's first PPV match after coming back from a year long neck injury. He gets a pretty decent pop too, especially since he and Guerrero are supposed to be the heels here. Quick start from Benoit after the bell on Spike. Spike manages to get a flash armdrag and quickly tags out to Bubba Ray. He runs into a Benoit drop toe hold/Guerrero basement dropkick combo. Clothesline and snap suplex from Benoit. Another basement dropkick from Guerrero to Bubba Ray's knee. Basic slam/elbow drop combo from Benoit. German suplex! The heels keep Bubba Ray trapped in their corner by any means necessary. Bubba Ray tries to chop back on Benoit but doesn't get anywhere, then gets double team choked in a neutral corner. He tries to wildly fight out of that but still gets put back down again. Benoit tells Guerrero to get a table. Spike runs in, launches off Bubba Ray's back, and dives onto Guerrero on the floor! Benoit goes out and whips Spike into the stairs. Back in another Bubba Ray comeback is cut off by a Guerrero trip from the floor. The way Benoit is going at it there's no doubt he's not altering his style at all after his major injury. Also, there's a woman dressed like Chyna ringside that I'm not completely sure isn't really Chyna. Guerrero gets another table from in front of her and sadly doesn't acknowledge her any. They set the table up in the ring, then set Bubba Ray up for a double superplex. Spike gets the table out of the way! They still superplex Bubba Ray, but at least it wasn't through a table. Spike goes nuts until Benoit puts him down with a wicked stiff blow right on the back of his neck. Gutbuster from Benoit on Spike. The heels prop the table up in the corner. They whip Spike toward the table, but Bubba Ray grabs him and drags him down to stop him! Great save. Spike grabs Guerrero by the leg, letting Bubba Ray finally get some offense in on Benoit. Guerrero tries his lucha style knucklelock armdrag off the top rope but Bubba Ray blocks it and slams him off the top. Bubba Ray slams Benoit, then Spike hits a double stomp off the top rope on him. Benoit then takes the Spike version of the Whazzup Drop. "Spike! Get the table!". There's one already in there. Benoit grabs Spike and puts the crossface on! Spike taps but it doesn't mean anything in this match. Bubba Ray saves Spike and Samoan drops Benoit, then resets the table in the ring. Benoit gets set up on the table. He dodges and Bubba Ray puts himself through the table! But he's not out, we're doing the "has to be an offensive move" rules. Spike gets a flying headscissors on Guerrero, then dodges and Benoit wipes himself and Guerrero out over the top rope to the floor. Guerrero shoulderblocks Spike coming back in, then sees the table on the floor. He tries to suplex Spike out of the ring into it but Spike lands on the apron. Spike Dudley Dogs Guerrero through the table! Guerrero is out! Benoit slides Spike back in the ring then gets another table out. Spike goes for the Dudley Dog but Benoit blocks it. Benoit presses Spike and drops him through another table on the floor! That's Spike gone. Benoit sets the table up in the ring, then waistlocks Bubba Ray to German him through it. Bubba Ray fights free. Bubba Bomb through the table! The Dudleyz win! Damn good stuff, very well laid out and Benoit and Guerrero definitely had some extra pep in their step being back together again. ***1/2
In the back, new Raw GM Bischoff and his very new hair dye chase down Triple H. Bischoff lays in the semi-hard sell, but is annoyed when he sees Trips is going into the Smackdown office to talk to Steph. Trips says Bischoff got to make his pitch last week, now he needs to hear what Steph has to say.
WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Jamie Noble (c) (w/Nidia) def Billy Kidman in 7:27- Now Heyman's in creative control of SD the CW title and division is going to become a staple of the brand, not unlike the classic WCW Cruiserweight division, though with not as quite high quality matches. Nice to see Kidman in proper wrestling gear, but I guess his old gear would have encroached on Noble's gimmick. Nice rough lockup. They tumble out of the ring still locked up, separate, slide in, then lock up again! Love it. They go into a crazy high octane flash cover/counter run. Noble gets frustrated and rolls out to regroup with Nidia. Back in Noble gets the first strikes in, but Kidman cuts him off with a flying headscissors. Noble tries to fight off the apron in the corner, but Kidman gives him a nice legdrop while he's draped on the ropes, knocking him back to the floor. Kidman tries a plancha but Noble blocks it, then he tosses Nidia into Kidman to distract him and hits an armbar slam on the floor. Nidia didn't mind. Noble runs Kidman's shoulder into the post. Northern lights suplex from Noble back in for 2. He goes back to Kidman's arm, cranking it back. Kidman tries one of his usual pop up moves but the shoulder is too hurt and he can't do it, then Noble posts his shoulder again. Back in Noble has a nice hammerlock takedown into what would later be KUSHIDA's hoverboard lock. Kidman manages to fight back with one arm and hit a hurricanrana, followed by a dropkick. Fireman's carry neckbreaker from Kidman for 2. After a couple of attempts by Kidman to fight it off Noble hits another armbar slam into a Fujiwara armbar. Kidman crawls over and gets a rope break. Noble then changes tacks and makes that supreme tactical error in any match against Kidman, he goes for a powerbomb. Kidman does his faceplant counter for a long 2. Enzuguri from Kidman. He drags Noble into the drop zone and goes up top. Noble fights up top with him. Avalanche spinebuster from Kidman! That gets another long 2. Kidman tries for a tornado DDT but Noble blocks it. Kidman uses that to snap Noble over the top rope and goes up top again. Noble dodges the SSP! Oklahoma roll from Noble for 2. Another series of rapid fire counters. Noble hits the double underhook powerbomb and that gets the pin! Cole: "I guess Noble and Nidia can eat at the buffet tonight". Their trailer park trash gimmick was so good. Another good, high octane match. I wish the hurt arm had played more into the finish because the psychology was sound with it up until then, but that's just not WWE's style. ***1/4
In the back, Heyman interrupts Angle's promo to introduce Angle to BROCK LESNAR. Angle's not intimidated one bit. Heyman miscalculated that this is Bald Angle now, he's not a weenie anymore. Angle's "I hate pompous people" is a great little kicker.
WWE European Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) def William Regal in 4:13- Hardy defeated Regal for the title on Raw a couple of weeks prior, this is Regal's rematch. It was also earlier this month that Hardy had his famous Ladder Match against Undertaker for the WWE Title, one of the greatest matches in Raw history, aided greatly by JR's "Climb the ladder, kid! Make yourself famous!" call. Hardy actually locks up, which gives the more experienced and traditional Regal an opening to get shots in. Hardy floats over Regal in the corner, but then poses when he lands, allowing Regal to slap the absolute stuffing out of him. Big shoulderblock from Regal and quick cover for 2. Hardy tries a sunset flip but Regal lifts him up and kneedrops the back of his neck for 2. Hardy dodges another kneedrop, hits a couple of kicks to the knee, and a jawbreaker for 2. It's only 2002 and Tazz is already out to lunch on commentary. This was not an AEW only thing. Hardy slingshots Regal over the top to the floor. After a couple of slightly rough counters Hardy hits a flying headscissors on the floor. He goes for the running barricade dive but Regal ducks and Hardy splats on the floor. Back in Hardy springs up top and hits Whisper in the Wind. He tries sliding under Regal. Regal grabs his foot, but Hardy uses that to hit a kick. Gut legdrop from Hardy and he goes up top. Swanton Bomb! But Regal gets his knees up! Half nelson suplex from Regal for 2. Backbreaker and PK kick to Hardy's back. Hardy counters something by cranking Regal's arm, which sends Regal face first into the mat, and he rolls Regal up for the pin to retain! Bit of a sudden finish. Pretty oil and water match and they didn't get enough time to work through it. *1/2
That would turn out to be the final proper defense of the European title. The next night on Raw they had a unification match to merge the European and Intercontinental titles, deactivating the European title, something they honestly could have done months if not years ago as it had become pretty useless, and kicking off the next round of title structure reshuffling due to the brand split that'll go on the next few months and eventually give us the first split world champions.
John Cena def Chris Jericho in 6:14- Another of the famous OVW Class of 2002 has arrived. Cena made his main roster debut on the June 27 episode of Smackdown, challenging Kurt Angle in what's become a legendary moment. His reason for the challenge? "RUTHLESS AGGRESSION!", playing off a recent speech by Vince to the roster, the motto that would later become the name for this entire era. Incidentally, Randy Orton has also made his main roster debut, before Cena actually, but it's still going to be a while before his first PPV appearance. This is a rematch from the last SD, where Jericho got intentionally DQ'd by low blowing Cena then went nuts on him with a chair. Cena's early entrance music is the most generic thing possible. We're a long way away before the Doctor of Thuganomics gets going, right now he's essentially still in the Prototype gimmick he was using in OVW, but not using that name on the main roster. Jericho tries to come at Cena with a chair in the aisle on his entrance but Cena fights him off. Cena gets the chair and nails Jericho with it! Long way away from squeaky clean babyface Cena too. They get in the ring and the bell rings to officially start the match, with Cena giving Jericho the full pillar to post beating. Jericho grabs the top rope and gets the hell out of town. No space given from Cena as he chases Jericho back into the ring, hits a back elbow and a hiptoss. Spinebuster from Cena for 2. Jericho gets Cena with a hot shot to turn things around. Back suplex from Jericho. He tries to take a top buckle pad off but ref Mike Chioda catches him. While Jericho backs up Cena rolls him up for 2. Leg lariat from Jericho. Jericho continues to pound Cena down while adding in some commentary to remind him it's happening. Jericho ducks a swing and hits a skull crushing finale. He goes up top but takes too much time and Cena joins him. Superplex from Cena for 2. Tiltawhirl slam for 2. Cena goes for something in the corner, but while he's in midair Jericho hits him with a missile dropkick off the second rope! Nice. Cena grabs Jericho's legs and tries to slingshot him but Jericho lands on the second rope, but then Jericho leaps off into a Cena belly to belly suplex for 2. Jericho dodges a Cena dropkick. He goes for the Lionsault but Cena dodges. Oklahoma roll from Cena for 2. Jericho reverse DDTs Cena and tries for a leverage pin but Cena still kicks out. Misdirection bulldog. Lionsault! But arrogant Jericho doesn't cover. He wants Cena to tap and goes for the Walls. Cena counters into a Paul Smackage and gets the upset pin! Jericho is FURIOUS and Cena gets the hell out of town. Cena certainly looked green, but they paired him up well as it was pretty much impossible to have a bad match with Jericho. And we all know Jericho has never had any issue with putting new guys over. Three words (well two words and a number): Fandango, Wrestlemania 29. **1/4
In the back, Bischoff and Coach are still waiting for Trips outside Steph's office. Steph's attorney shows up with legal documents. Bischoff tries to stop him but has no controlling legal authority to do so. After that, JR and King get their full entrance to take over commentary for the second half of the show. I like the little staredown Lawler and Tazz have, not forgetting their feud from a couple of years ago.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Rob Van Dam (c) def Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) by DQ in 9:39- Brock won a WWE Championship shot at Summerslam when he won King of the Ring, but needed something to do in the meantime. RVD was who he beat in the KOTR final, RVD was IC champ then and now, and beating a champion in a non-title match usually gets you a shot at that title, so here we are. This would be the only time in Lesnar's career he would challenge for anything as piffling as the IC title. Big pop for RVD in his home state. RVD goes to lock up. Lesnar isn't interested. Lesnar counters a whip attempt into a quick fireman's carry slam, then manhandles RVD into the corner. RVD uses a strike combo to push Lesnar back into the opposite corner, then he drop toe holds him into the middle turnbuckle and back kicks him out to the floor. Heyman has to calm a pissed off Lesnar down. "Stick to the game plan". Back in RVD starts working on Lesnar's knee. Nice high angle basement dropkick right into Lesnar's jaw. RVD then makes the mistake of grabbing a headlock. Lesnar easily tosses RVD across the ring to get out of it. RVD ducks a clothesline against the ropes and Lesnar tumbles over the top to the floor! That would be a great Rumble elimination. RVD goes for a plancha but Lesnar catches him. RVD manages to avoid getting posted and tries for an asai moonsault. Again Lesnar catches him and powerslams him on the floor! Might want to give up on trying that, Rob. Cover back in for 2. Lesnar deadlifts RVD up for a gutbuster. Another one. Belly to belly suplex. ONE! Wait, we're not doing that yet. RVD slips free off Lesnar's shoulders and hits a misdirection kick. RVD tries for a moonsault off the top rope but Lesnar dodges it. RVD then tries for his corner monkey flip but Lesnar powers him over the top out to the floor! I'm loving the counter game Lesnar's bringing tonight. He runs RVD's back into the apron and gives him a stair shot. Back in Lesnar hooks on a bear hug with Heyman shouting "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE!" from the floor. RVD tries to fight out so Lesnar backs him into the corner hard. Now Lesnar puts on an abdominal stretch, with some extra clubbing blows. RVD dodges in the corner again and gets some momentum with shoulderblocks and a diving back kick off the second rope. He basement dropkicks Lesnar to the apron then hits a slingshot dropkick. Flying kick off the top rope. Rolling thunder! Cover for 2. Superkick from RVD and he springs up top. Lesnar scoops him off into F5 position. RVD counters the F5 midmove into a DDT! Freaking fantastic. He goes up top again. FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH! But he's slower than usual to cover. Heyman pulls ref Lil' Naitch out of the ring at 2! Naitch calls for the bell, DQ'ing Lesnar. RVD baseball slides Heyman and then Naitch starts WAILING AWAY on Heyman! I love it! I think Naitch just signed his death warrant though, as Lesnar sees, goes out, and tosses him away. RVD senton off the top rope to Lensar on the floor! Another superkick back in puts Lesnar down in the corner. RVD gets a chair. We know what's coming. Heyman grabs RVD before he can get the Van Terminator off! Lesnar grabs RVD and fisherman suplexes him onto the chair. Then he F5s RVD onto the chair and end scene. Good stuff. They backed themselves into a corner booking this and pretty much had to do a finish like that, but since coming to WWE RVD's been doing nothing but ripping off good matches, and you can see Lesnar starting to put the pieces together already. This is also a rare case where the postmatch extracurriculars were as good as the match proper. ***1/4
Back to a very anxious Bischoff. Steph emerges from her office and stares Bischoff down. Bischoff says he can tell by the look on Steph's face that she didn't get Trips signed. Steph says "He signed" and walks away. Trips comes out and Bischoff is furious with him. Trips: "Listen you ass! Those papers I signed, they were my divorce papers!". Checking that box off. Trips says as far as business goes, he hasn't made up his mind yet.
No DQ: Booker T def The Big Show in 5:50- I believe this feud initially got going when both guys were involved with the WWE NWO, but the NWO was recently disbanded by Vince after he got full control back. A mercy killing really, they never mattered one little bit since coming to WWE. Fast start from Booker at the bell. Show catches him swinging a kick and slams him. He tosses Booker out of the corner across the ring. Great facial reaction from Booker after that. Booker tries to slug back but gets put back down with a headbutt. Booker manages to work around and hit an enzuguri. Show goes for a clothesline but only manages to rub the top of Booker's head. Booker still gives it a 360 sell. Show chop time. Cole's running across the arena to get back on commentary to shout "frying pan". Show then literally sets Booker against the ropes to 360 clothesline him to the floor. Booker gets a chair and tries to hit Show with it but Show punches it away. Post shot for Booker. Booker dodges and Show posts himself, then he gives Show a bunch of shots on it. Booker tries to chop but Show pushes him away. Booker then gets a TV cable and chokes Show with it. No DQ. They get behind the Spanish announce table and Spanish commentary rapidly vamanoses. Monitor shot for Show! Booker then gets up on the English announce table, runs, and scissor kicks Show through the Spanish announce table! Very nice, that was different. Back in Booker continue to lay in the punishment. He runs into a goozle and straight Greco Roman Nut Punts to get out. Scissors kick! Booker goes up top and hits the old Harlem Hangover! That gets the pin! After the bell Booker gives the crowd a spinaroonie for the road while commentary calls it a massive upset and the biggest win of Booker's WWE career. You're only ever going to get so much out of Show, but Booker looked great as he slowly crawls out of the very large hole he was ground into during his Invasion burial. **1/2
At WWF New York The World, Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie have an even faker debate "argument" than your standard daytime ESPN two morons scream at each other show.
PPV promo time as Triple H comes out to make his decision. Before Trips can say anything..."I'M BACK! And I'm better than ever!". Such perfect music for Bischoff in WWE. Bischoff apologizes for getting into Trips' personal business earlier, and says that's a plus for Raw because he can separate business and personal. Bischoff then offers Trips his Hollywood connections. That's the last thing WWE needs, another top guy going over there. Steph then makes her way out and tries to spin that her personal history with Trips is a positive because they know each other. She then hits Bischoff for saying Trips had "no talent and no charisma" and releasing him when he was in WCW. Trips seems to count that as a big point for Steph. Trips takes over the conversation and says he didn't really want to be in this position and now he's stuck between an arrogant prick and a cold hearted bitch. He says he thinks he's made his decision, and after faking out Bischoff he says he'd rather go with the devil he knows, seemingly choosing Smackdown. BUT WAIT! Trips' REAL life partner Shawn Michaels is here! Shawn says he promised he was going to bring Trips back to the Kliq boys with the NWO, but Vince says the NWO doesn't exist anymore. But that's neither here nor there. Shawn says he wants Trips to consider two things, friendship and fun. "Triple H, Shawn Michaels, back in the saddle again, making this guy's life a living hell!". The DX pitch. Trips: "Sorry Steph!". It's Raw. The band is back together. For now. This is all setup for Shawn's in ring return, which is now right around the corner. I can't wait.
WWE Tag Team Championship: The Unamericans def Edge & Hollywood Hulk Hogan (c) in 9:48- This was another fun angle from Hogan's good return to WWE run. On the 4th of July Smackdown, Edge teamed up with his childhood hero Hogan to defeat Billy & Chuck for the tag titles, the first and only time Hogan ever won tag titles in his career. Meanwhile, the Canadian Unamericans team of Christian and Lance Storm (plus Test) had been getting a big push on Raw. Storm's diatribe on the US starting a bunch of wars is questionable (the ones he mentions at least), but World War I? Come on. All we did was come in at the very end and push the two years long stalemated sides into a result. That's not instigation, that's cleanup. Hogan and Christian start. Hogan's lockup push sends Christian all the way out to the floor! Storm slaps Hogan's back, giving Christian an opening to attack. Double suplex on Hogan. Hogan pops back up and double clotheslines them. Classic double noggin knocker. Clothesline on Storm. Edge tags in and flapjacks Storm. Flying forearm. Edge goes for mounted punches but Christian pushes him down to the floor. Storm dropkicks Edge and tags out. Christian gives us some more brother on brother violence, back in the ring together for the first time since the end of their rather underwhelming breakup feud. Backbreaker from Christian for 2. Edge fights out of a chinlock but Christian hair pulls him into a neckbreaker for 2. Edge dodges an elbow off the second rope. Christian tries to hold him back from tagging so Edge enzuguris him, then faceplants Storm onto Christian! Tag to Hogan. Big boot on Storm. Christian ducks the big boot and hits a reverse DDT! Cover. HULK UP! Point! Heh, that sets off a Christian temper tantrum. Nice. Punches for Christian and Storm. Big boot for Christian. Legdrop! Storm pulls Hogan off before 3! Christian eye pokes Hogan and Storm snaps him over the top rope. Superkick from Storm to Hogan on the floor. Back in the heels keep Hogan in peril. Hogan fights off a double team and he and Storm double clothesline each other. Tag to Edge! Hot tag run. Edge backdrops both Unamericans. Corner spears for both guys. DDT on Storm for 2. DONNYBROOK! Hogan and Christian go to the floor. Storm leapfrogs and Edge spears the ref! Edge blocks a superkick and hits the Edgecution! Test is now out. He takes out Hogan. Big boot of death to Edge! Storm covers. Edge kicks out! Now Rikishi is out and he attacks Test. Edge spears Storm! But Christian distracts before he can cover. While the ref's distracted Chris Jericho comes in and hits Edge with a tag belt! Storm covers and gets the pin to win the titles! Another Canadian has joined the group. Solid if overbooked formula stuff, and I think everyone knew Hogan and Edge's title reign would be short lived. **1/4
Bischoff interrupts Angle's prematch walk to pitch Angle flipping to Raw. Angle's only focused on his match and won't talk right now. Cut to Steph, who says she's not worried because she's in contact with "everyone" on Raw and when the time is right she'll make her move and "rip the heart" out of Raw.
Triple Threat Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship: The Rock def Kurt Angle and The Undertaker (c) in 19:47- Taker's title reign was the latest in a run of lackluster ones this year, and with Lesnar looming Rock seemed like an obvious winner here, so what was originally a straight Taker vs Rock match had Angle thrown in to try to give it a bit of intrigue. Everyone picks a corner before the bell and everyone's extremely cautious to start. Rock and Taker start jawing at each other. Angle DEMANDS attention, so Taker and Rock team up to beat him down. Got what he asked for. Big 360 clothesline from Rock sending Angle to the floor. As soon as that's done Taker is all over Rock. Rock counters a backdrop, then Taker hits the flying clothesline. As Angle's trying to get back in the ring Taker runs into him and knocks him off the apron. Angle nearly falls into Taker's bike, which would be an instant death sentence. Rock then 360 clotheslines Taker out to the floor. Angle jumps right on Taker and whips him into the stairs. He gets on the apron and Rock belly to belly throws him over the top rope back into the ring. Angle ripcord German suplex! Corner stomps and chops from Angle. Rock turns it around and hits his own chops. Angle belly to belly suplex! Another. The original Suplex City, right here. Angle says one more, but Rock cuts it off with a DDT for 2. They go to the floor for some usual ringside knockaround, where Taker rejoins the fray. With both Angle and Rock down Taker makes a deliberate decision to go after Rock. Back in we get some typical slow heel Taker beatdown on Rock. A Rock comeback flurry is cut off with a side suplex for 2. Taker takes a second to punch Angle off the apron again. Rock goozle on Taker! Rock hits a chokeslam! Angle breaks the pin up. He pounds away on Rock against the ropes. Rock fires back with a clothesline. Rock ankle lock on Angle! Angle gets free and hits Rock with a Rock Bottom! Taker breaks that pin up with a legdrop. It's definitely trading moves, or move stealing, night. Taker slips out of an Angle Slam and hits his own Angle Slam! Case in point. Rock breaks up that pin. Big Taker back elbow on Rock. Rock kips back up and hits a clothesline, then momentum tosses Angle back out to the floor. I like how both guys keep getting rid of Angle whenever possible, like he's just in the way. Rock spinebuster! Someone's going to hit their own move for once tonight. People's Elbow! Angle pulls Rock out before he can cover and drops him on the announce table. Angle sneaks in and covers Taker for 2! That's most definitely the Intelligence in the Three I's. Now Angle beats Taker down in the corner. Taker comes out with this corner toss and rapid fire punches. Corner clothesline. Taker dodges and Angle posts his shoulder. Taker knocks Angle around ringside a bit more until Rock comes from behind and spits water in his face! Taker flops Rock onto the announce table, then goes back to punish Angle, who's now bleeding after a post shot. Apron legdrop from Taker. Old school hits, with a slight twist as Taker punches Angle right on the cut. Rock breaks up another pin and goes nuts on Taker. Taker counters a backdrop with a DDT for 2. He sets up for the chokeslam. Goozle. Angle comes in with a chair, but Taker cuts him off with a punch. Rock and Taker punch Angle back and forth between them. Taker fights off a Rock Bottom. Another goozle. Rock goes to the Greco Roman Nut Punt to cut that off. Chairshot from Angle to Taker! Angle Slam on Rock! Man, Rock even managed to sell that more than most people. Everyone's down. Angle slowly crawls over and covers Taker. Taker kicks out! Slow crawl to cover Rock. Rock kicks out! Angle wants Rock to get back up. Rock cuts him off with a dragon screw! World's Shittiest Sharpshooter! Angle teases tapping before Taker breaks it up. Last Ride on Rock! Angle pulls Taker off the cover with the ankle lock! And he's cranking the hell out of it. Taker flips Angle over to get free. Last Ri.....NO Angle counters with a triangle choke! This is what Angle did in their recent match on Smackdown to get inserted into this match. Taker powers Angle back up and powerbombs him, but Angle keeps the hold on! Hebner arm drops Taker. Before it can drop a third time Rock breaks the hold up. Rock coils. Angle fights off a Rock Bottom into an ankle lock! Rock rolls Angle around into a cradle for 2. Taker chokeslam on Angle! Rock Bottom on Taker! Taker JUST kicks out! I'm not sure he properly got his shoulder up there. Angle rolls Rock up with a handful of tights for 2. Big boot from Taker on Rock. Angle Slam on Taker! THE STRAPS ARE DOWN! Rock Bottom on Angle! Taker is literally a HALF SECOND too late on the pin breakup and Rock pins Angle to win the title! Great match, tremendous finish. Rock's 7th WWE Championship win, a new record to that point. When this took place it was generally considered the greatest triple threat match ever, and became the template for the match type for years. It's also the best WWE Title match so far this year, in what's been a rough year for main events so far. ****1/2
OVERALL SHOW THOUGHTS- A sneaky good B PPV here. Several good matches, nothing really bad, a great main event and even a rare good promo segment on PPV. The past year or so has been a rough creative stretch for WWE, but they were starting to slowly work out of it.
OVERALL SHOW GRADE: B+
