No Way Out 2001

(All screen captures are the property of World Wrestling Entertainment)

No Way Out

February 25, 2001

Thomas & Mack Center

Las Vegas, Nevada

News & Notes: I only have a few extra storylines to discuss. First, the Hardys had a brief feud with the APA after Royal Rumble, but the problems with Malenko continued. Dean tried to make Lita jealous, to no avail, so Dean had enough. He attacked Lita, which led to a match. Matt Hardy helped Lita win, and Matt and Lita kissed! Elsewhere, Al Snow led a campaign to get Foley rehired, but Vince and Regal punished him for this. Later, Snow went to Foley’s house only to find Mick was happy at home. However, Foley convinced Snow to pursue the commissioner’s job. Al handed out Al Snow for Commissioner buttons to the fans and the commentators. He also attacked Regal for revenge. And speaking of Regal, William lost his European title to Test. When William attempted to regain it, Al Snow cost him the win.

Now I have two more notes before I get into the PPV. The WWF showed some of the Tough Enough audition tapes. Most of them were amusing, and they featured an appearance by a young Justin Roberts. Meanwhile, the XFL began its season. Their first week garnered good ratings, but those numbers quickly dwindled once people saw it.

The opening video focuses on the two main events. The Rock says Angle has numbered days as champion, and that is true. Angle says he will keep his title if you smell what the champ is cooking! Meanwhile, Triple H and Austin hate each other more than anyone else. Vince barred any physical contact until the PPV, but this didn’t stop Austin from giving Stephanie the Stunner! This has to end before it ends someone’s career! Triple H and Steve Austin will endure three stages of hell, and there will truly be no way out! Two men will enter, but only one will leave. They will finish the game! Weider Sports Nutrition presents No Way Out. Once the package finishes, they play a blatant rip-off of “Machinehead” by Bush.

Jim Ross says they sold out the Thomas & Mack Center because the WWF is in town! Plus, WWF New York contains a standing-room-only crowd. Then JR introduces Lawler, and they discuss tonight’s card. JR says this night has a special feeling. Lawler thinks it’s the electricity in the air. While they speak, Raven’s music plays.

Raven arrives with a shopping cart full of weapons. This includes a Frankenstein’s monster toy. The Fink says Raven hails from the Bowery, which amuses Jerry Lawler. While Jerry laughs, JR says Big Show debuted at No Way Out in 1999. I guess he forgot it was the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. This brings us to Big Show’s entrance, but Raven’s female ninja attacks him. Big Show fends her off before starting the bout.

Hardcore Title Match: The Big Show vs. Raven (c)

Storyline: Big Show targeted the Rock after Royal Rumble. Both men attacked and cost each other victories. They, along with Jericho and Benoit, fought in a #1 contender match, but the Rock prevailed. Meanwhile, Raven lost and won the Hardcore title multiple times. He regained his gold with the help of a female ninja dressed in all black. Their antics put them on the wrong side of the Holly cousins, so Molly tried to take on the ninja herself. Later, Raven aided Angle in his issues with Essa Rios, and Rios chose Big Show as a partner. During the fight, Angle and Raven broke a 2×4 over Big Show’s head. It only angered Show, so Raven ran. The ninja helped him escape, but Big Show wouldn’t quit coming. Then Show earned this shot in a contest called Hardcore Chaos. Afterward, he gave Raven the Final Cut on a stop sign.

The Match: Show gives Raven stop sign shots and headbutts. Raven answers with a fire extinguisher blast, but a popcorn vendor interferes! Wait a second! That’s not a popcorn vendor. It’s Crash Holly in disguise! Crash does a tornado bulldog before Steve Blackman and Hardcore Holly join the fray. They attack Big Show with a Kendo stick and trash can lids. Unfazed, Show fends off everybody. However, Billy Gunn runs in and nails Raven with a Fameasser to win the championship! This doesn’t end the carnage. Blackman and Holly give Gunn the old Smoking Gunns Sidewinder, but Show throws them out of the ring. Raven uses the opportunity to pin Gunn and regain his belt. Now the female ninja returns, but Molly Holly thwarts her with a trash can lid. After this happens, Show shakes off Raven’s trash can strikes and chokeslams him on the can to end it.

Thoughts: This showed promise. What we got was fun and chaotic, but they rushed it. Why are they moving in fast forward? It’s only the opening bout. They must be conserving time for the bigger matches.

Winner: Big Show (New Champion) (4:20)

Billy Gunn keeps attacking, but Show dumps him outside and rams Billy into the post to end the onslaught. With Gunn down, Show collects his belt and leaves.

Next, they present an interview from earlier in the day. Kevin Kelly met Kurt Angle at his limo. He asked Angle how he felt about his match with the Rock. Angle said he felt fine, but he didn’t know how Rock felt after the beating he gave him on Smackdown. Kurt said holding this fight in Vegas was fitting. After all, they had the highest percentage of losers in the country! One more loser will join the list after tonight, and that’s the Brahma Bull. With this said, Kurt told the driver to fetch his bag.

Now Lilian interviews Benoit and Guerrero. She asks them how they will coexist in the Fatal 4-Way. Plus, how will they deal with X-Pac and Jericho? Eddie says the only things that matter are the Intercontinental title and his personal vendetta against Jericho. Chris put him out of action for two months. Tonight, Jericho goes out. And if X-Pac steps in the way, he will be right with him. When Eddie finishes talking, Benoit adds his thoughts. He says they understand it is every man for himself, but one of them will walk out with the gold. There is no proving them wrong!

Fatal 4-Way for the Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. X-Pac

Storyline: While Jericho and Benoit feuded with Show and Rock over the #1 contendership, Jericho defended his IC title. The problem was, Jericho’s past came back to haunt him. Both Eddie and X-Pac returned for revenge. Jericho put them out of action, and they wanted blood. However, X-Pac didn’t come back alone. He brought Justin Credible with him! They attacked Jericho during his championship defenses, and one of those was against Eddie. This caused issues between Eddie and X-Pac, so everyone was fighting. Later, Jericho refereed a bout between Pac and Guerrero, which ended in chaos thanks to Credible. To make matters worse, Benoit hadn’t forgotten Jericho. He ambushed him. They couldn’t stay out of each other’s business, so Vince made Jericho and Pac team against Benoit and Eddie. It resulted in another wild brawl. Benoit locked Jericho in a Crossface, but X-Pac and Credible laid everybody out.

The Match: While Benoit and X-Pac scuffle outside, Jericho and Eddie exchange strikes and knockdowns. This lasts until the Radicalz double-team Jericho and X-Pac. Then Jericho and X-Pac almost stop them with kicks, but Benoit turns an X-Factor attempt into a Crossface! Now Jericho breaks the hold and takes Benoit outside. While they are gone, Eddie shoves X-Pac down and nails the Frog Splash. Eddie covers, but Jericho breaks up the pin. Next, Benoit gains control, so Eddie interrupts his pins. This causes an argument between the Radicalz, and they fight.

Pac and Jericho use the opening to attack. Both men cover their opponents, so the ref does a double count. The commentators rightfully question this. Afterward, Benoit and Jericho trade enough suplexes to fill Suplex City. They also attempt their submissions. Jericho puts all three opponents in the Walls, which draws Justin Credible to the ring. He distracts the participants and joins X-Pac for a double superkick on Benoit. Back inside, Jericho lands a Lionsault on Eddie, X-Pac does an X-Factor to Jericho, and Benoit hooks a Crossface on X-Pac. When Eddie stops him, everybody is down. Benoit recovers first and hits the flying headbutt on Eddie, but X-Pac floors Benoit with a heel kick. Before he can capitalize, Jericho performs a rolling prawn hold on X-Pac for the three.

Thoughts: This was fun and exciting. They maintained a great pace and never let it drag. The action was frantic, but you could still easily follow it. Plus, I liked the story they told with Benoit and Eddie.

Winner: Chris Jericho (12:17)

They show Triple H taping his fists before we cut to Vince and Regal backstage. Vince stares at Regal, who looks uncomfortable. McMahon says this match between Stephanie and Trish was Regal’s idea. Stephanie is his precious daughter, and Trish is his—very good friend. Since Regal created this, Vince says William will know what to do. When the time is right, Regal will know exactly what to do! Regal agrees with this before Vince leaves, but he changes his tune once Vince is gone. He says he doesn’t know what the bloody hell to do.

A recap of the Stephanie/Trish feud follows the segment. Then they go to WWF New York. Busta Rhymes is there along with Test. JR says Test knows Trish and Stephanie well, so what are his thoughts? Test says he would normally like two women wrestling each other, but he hopes these two tear each other apart. Either way, they will learn who is the biggest trash bag ho in the WWF. (He’s stealing Jericho’s lines!) Lawler can’t believe Test said this.

Elsewhere, Regal approaches Trish, but she tells him she doesn’t have time for this. She has to go slap a bitch. Afterward, JR and Lawler urge fans to call their cable providers and request TNN so they can get RAW every Monday. They also air a commercial for WWF the Music, Volume 5.

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley vs. Trish Stratus

Storyline: Things between Stephanie and Trish escalated after Royal Rumble. It led to a mixed tag where Hunter gave Trish a Pedigree! While Trish recovered, Vince dealt with Linda. Vince halted the divorce so he could control 100% of their assets instead of letting Linda have half. He also told the doctors to double Linda’s medication. Then Vince and Trish taunted a catatonic Linda at her private sanitarium on Valentine’s Day. However, Vince still denied the affair. In fact, he had Regal claim he was dating Trish, not Vince. Stephanie didn’t buy it. She wanted to wrestle Trish, despite Vince and Hunter attempting to talk her out of it. However, Regal had an idea. He told Vince to let them fight on PPV for money! Later, Trish tricked Steph into an ambush at a farm show in the arena. Trish shoved Steph’s face into manure and dumped slop on her.

The Match: Stephanie tackles Trish and gives her short-arm clotheslines. She also tosses Trish around by the hair before they head outside. Now Steph does a clothesline off the barricade and tries to suplex Trish back inside. Before she can do it, Trish turns it into a hotshot. This opens the door for a bulldog, a DDT, and a hanging choke by Trish. Afterward, they head outside and brawl around the announce table. Stephanie grabs a pitcher of water and dumps it on Trish, but Trish fights back. When they return to the ring, Steph turns a hurricanrana into a powerbomb before trying to rip off Trish’s clothes.

Sensing trouble, Regal arrives while Steph and Trish knock each other down. Regal takes out the ref and pulls Trish on top of Stephanie, but he changes his mind. William puts Steph’s foot on the ropes during the pin. Since he can’t figure out what to do, William stomps the ref, so Trish yells at Regal and slaps him. He pretends to apologize, but he gives Trish a Regal Cutter and walks away. This allows Stephanie to cover Trish for the three.

Thoughts: It was fun and entertaining. This won’t win any awards for the wrestling, but they accomplished their goals and told a decent story. Plus, the fans loved it.

Winner: Stephanie (8:29)

After a WrestleMania commercial, we see Regal walking down a hallway. Vince stops William and asks what the hell is wrong with him. He thought Regal knew what he wanted! Regal tries to explain he wanted to help Stephanie, but Vince yells at him. He can’t believe this. Does Vince have to do everything himself? He almost challenges Regal to a match, but Vince has a better idea. Regal and Stephanie will face Vince and Trish on RAW tomorrow night! This announcement shocks the commentators.

Next, they recap the Triple H/Austin rivalry from the beginning before they show Hunter walking backstage. Elsewhere, Michael Cole approaches Austin for a word. He asks Steve if he’s ready to enter hell. Austin stares at him like this is the dumbest question ever. Instead of answering, Austin walks away while Cole pouts.

This leads to the entrances, and JR explains the rules. It’s 2 out of 3 falls. The first fall will be straight wrestling, the second is a Street Fight, and the third, if necessary, is inside of a cage.

Three Stages of Hell Match: Triple H vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin

Storyline: Vince tried to calm things between Hunter and Austin after Royal Rumble. He said everything would end at No Way Out, but the match contract banned any physical altercations until the PPV. If they fought, Vince would suspend Hunter for six months and take away Austin’s title shot at Mania. However, Hunter attacked Austin before signing the contract, knowing Austin couldn’t retaliate. Then they trolled and antagonized each other on a weekly basis. Austin even gave Stephanie a Stunner, but Hunter countered by giving JR the Pedigree. Meanwhile, representatives for Austin and Hunter fought to give them the right to choose a stipulation. They had to try it twice because Hunter beat up Billy Gunn backstage. Vince punished Hunter for this by making him wrestle Jericho. Afterward, Hunter earned the privilege when the Rock pinned Rikishi. He chose Three Stages of Hell to break Austin’s pride and his bones.

The Match: After a wild brawl and attempted finishers, Austin targets Hunter’s arm. Hunter answers by focusing on Austin’s neck with neckbreakers and knee drops. Then he goes after Austin’s knees. This leads to a Figure Four with leverage, but Austin reverses it. Once he’s free, Austin fires back and tries a Stunner. It fails, but he surprises a diving Hunter with a kick and finally hits the move for the first fall.

Now they head outside and fight on the ramp and the announce tables. Austin uses a monitor and numerous chair shots while Hunter keeps trying to escape into the crowd. When he can’t get away, they scuffle around the timekeeper’s table and find a barbed wire board! It backfires on Austin, and Hunter busts him open. Undeterred, Austin counters a Pedigree with a backdrop onto the Spanish table and enjoys a beer. More chair attacks follow before Hunter finds his sledgehammer under JR’s side of the desk. Lawler accuses him of putting it there for Austin. While JR denies this, Hunter earns the second fall with a hammer shot and a Pedigree.

When the cage lowers, they use a chair, the barbed wire board, and the cage wall until Hunter is also bleeding. Helmsley answers with a DDT on a chair, but Austin kicks out! Since this didn’t work, Hunter climbs. Austin meets him, and they tussle on the top rope until Hunter crotches Austin. With Austin hurt, Hunter scores a Pedigree. It only gets a two, so Hunter argues with Hebner. This allows Austin to recover and nail a Stunner, but even this gets a two! Both men become desperate and find weapons. Austin grabs the barbed wire board while Hunter takes the hammer. They deck each other at the same time, but Hunter falls onto Austin for the pin.

Thoughts: This was amazing. They paced it well, and they had great intensity. This was a long match, but it didn’t feel like it. Each fall lasted the perfect amount of time. Plus, I love the finish. Austin doesn’t look weak in defeat because Triple H got lucky when he landed on Steve. This also establishes Austin’s mindset heading into Mania. It plays well into what happens on that show.

Winner: Triple H (39:26)

The cage raises while both men lie on the mat in exhaustion. While they are there, some fan throws a beer can which nails Austin in the head! They also get a long shot of Triple H blading again and putting the blade away. No one told the truck to cut to a different angle. Once they reach their feet, Austin gives Hunter a Stunner and leaves. He stops to stare at Helmsley before heading through the curtain.

Meanwhile, the RTC prays backstage. Richards says he fights for all that is good and the right to censor. He fights the good fight alone, and he will win. With this said, they put their hands together. Elsewhere, we see the Kat half-naked from behind. She puts on a robe before leaving her locker room.

Afterward, they show a commercial for the WWF Shopzone! Plus, Foley is holding a contest. A fan will help him co-host an episode of the WWF Fanatic series. They will also receive a cash prize. Once the ads end, Tazz takes Lawler’s place at the commentary desk.

Steven Richards (w/ Ivory) vs. Jerry the King Lawler (w/ The Kat)

Storyline: Gunn told Chyna to rest and focus on promoting her book after what happened at the Rumble. While Chyna followed his advice, Ivory gloated. She called herself the 10^th Wonder of the World, but Ivory’s arrogance drew the ire of Jackie and Lita. However, they weren’t the only ones standing up to the RTC. The Kat wanted to start her own group called the Right to Nudity. She enlisted the APA’s help. They took her to a strip club, but the RTC attacked them. Richards kidnapped Kat and brought her back to the arena, so Lawler had enough. He confronted Richards. Then Steven offered a deal. Jerry could fight any member of the RTC. If Lawler won, Kat could strip. But if he lost, the Kat had to join the RTC. Lawler chose Richards as his opponent. Later, Richards ambushed Lawler and gave a DDT on a chair.

The Match: Steven calls Lawler a pervert, so Jerry decks him. Richards tries to regroup, but Lawler throws more punches and fist drops. This angers Richards so much he rips off his shirt. Now Lawler holds Steven for Kat’s slap, but Richards sends Jerry into the post. Back inside the ring, Richards looks for the Ho Train. It misses, and Lawler gives Steven 25 corner punches! Afterward, Ivory distracts the ref while Richards grabs a chair and the Women’s title to use as weapons. Both of them fail, and Lawler slams Ivory! The chaos distracts the ref, so the Kat attempts to hit Richards with the Women’s belt. Steven pulls Jerry into the shot and pins him for the three.

Thoughts: This was okay, but it felt like they had bad timing. Someone missed their cue because they did a few spots over again. My guess is the Kat was late. The awkwardness detracted from this, but they accomplished their goal in the end. However, don’t expect much of a follow-up. People backstage say the Kat is difficult to work with, so they fire her. Since the Kat is Lawler’s wife, Jerry quits the company out of protest. The WWF replaces him with a new color commentator, but he is a little extreme.

Winner: Steven Richards (5:32)

The rest of the RTC joins them and they place a sack over the Kat. Then Val Venis carries her to the back while the Kat yells for Jerry to help. He’s still down inside the ring, so her cries go unheard. Richards has an evil smile as he follows them up the ramp.

Now Cole interviews the Brothers of Destruction. He says they have a long history together, but they never held the tag titles as a team. Plus, they are in a Tables Match against the Dudleys and Edge & Christian. Taker interrupts Cole before he can say more. He asks Michael if he really thinks it’s about that. The match is about the gold, but they are about pain and suffering. Those four individuals in their yard will find out what this means. They should concern themselves with surviving, not the belts. The big dogs are running the yard, and Kane says they will put them through hell.

We get the entrances for that match after JR and Lawler plug Chyna’s book. Taker has new gear, and it looks terrible. He only uses it this once. Once Edge and Christian arrive, Taker and Kane meet them at the ramp. This places Edge and Christian between a rock and a hard place when the Dudleys join them. Tazz calls it one cool sandwich.

Triple Threat Tables Match for the Tag Team Titles: The Dudley Boyz (c) vs. The Undertaker & Kane vs. Edge & Christian

Storyline: Taker and Kane officially reunited to fend off the threat of Rikishi and Haku. They had a short feud, which culminated in a First Blood Match. Once they finished with them, Taker and Kane earned a tag title shot. The problem was, Edge & Christian also had a promised opportunity, and they wanted to control who they would face. First, they tried to help Kaientai win the belts to have easier competition. When that didn’t work, they ruined Taker and Kane’s shot to ensure it wouldn’t be them. This led to Edge & Christian vs. Taker & Kane in a #1 contender contest, which ended in a chaotic melee with the Dudleys. As a result, Vince booked this Triple Threat. Afterward, E&C tricked Taker and Kane into brawling with the Dudleys. They had someone tell Taker the Dudleys broke his bike. While they fought, E&C gave Kane a Conchairto.

The Match: Taker and Kane throw the Dudleys off the ramp before scuffling with Edge and Christian. They drag them around the ring and smack their heads into the announce table. This lasts until the Dudleys return and knock the brothers out with chair shots. Now E&C takes control. They put Bubba in a tree of woe and stand on his balls. Plus, they give D-Von a double flapjack. A Conchairto attempt follows, but D-Von avoids it, and the Dudleys give Edge the Wassup Drop. Christian responds with an Unprettier on Bubba, but the brothers return. They land powerslams and flying clotheslines on E&C. Another melee erupts once the Dudleys introduce the tables. This time, the brothers chokeslam everybody! They also look for powerbombs, but Rikishi and Haku interfere! While Taker and Kane deal with them, the Dudleys evade Edge’s spear and drop Christian on a table with a 3D.

Thoughts: This was fine. I enjoyed most of it, but it became a little repetitive. Nevertheless, it was good. They even eliminated Taker and Kane without making them look weak. We know what is coming at Mania, so Taker and Kane weren’t winning this.

Winners: The Dudley Boyz (12:04)

After another WrestleMania commercial, Cole interviews the Rock. He wants to talk about the beating Angle gave the Rock on Smackdown, but the Rock stops him. He tells Cole to listen. The Rock says what they hear is the tick-tock of the clock. The countdown and Angle’s reign as champion are over. With this said, the Rock walks away.

WWF Title Match: The Rock vs. Kurt Angle (c)

Storyline: Angle took exception to Triple H claiming Austin was the reason Angle won at the Rumble. This led to altercations with Hunter. Plus, Kurt got sucked into the Trish/Stephanie situation, which further soured his relationship with the McMahons. Vince made Kurt fight Kane as a punishment. Meanwhile, the Rock also wanted Kurt’s gold, but the Big Show and the Triple H/Austin drama ruined his shot. However, Rock defeated Big Show to get another chance. Afterward, Rock told Kurt the clock was ticking on his title reign. He even mocked Angle with an old embarrassing pizza commercial Kurt filmed. Angle countered by making fun of Rock’s pie song on WWF the Music, Volume 5. Finally, Angle got one last laugh. He pinned Rock during a six-man after an Olympic Slam on a table. With the Rock down, Kurt put him in an anklelock.

The Match: Rock avoids a belt shot before they exchange strikes and takedowns. Angle even hooks Rock in the anklelock, but the Rock reaches the ropes. Now they trade belly-to-belly suplexes before Rocky puts Angle in a Sharpshooter. Another rope break leads to a Samoan Drop and a superplex by the Rock. Angle almost gets a breather when he throws Rock outside, but Rock returns for a DDT. Before he can do anything more, the Big Show arrives and chokeslams everybody, including the ref! Show leaves once he does his damage, and Earl Hebner and Tim White come to help Chioda.

Angle covers Rocky, so Hebner stops helping long enough to count a two. Since Hebner goes back to Chioda, the Rock decks Angle with the belt. It’s not enough, and Angle grabs another anklelock. This time, he snaps and curses at the Rock, but Rocky reaches the ropes. Rock recovers to land a spinebuster and the People’s Elbow, which earns a two. Once Angle regroups, he rams Rock into an exposed turnbuckle and lands the Olympic Slam. When it doesn’t work, Angle can’t believe it. Kurt attacks again, but Rock sends him into the buckle and gives him the Rock Bottom. Rock covers, but Hebner stops his count for no apparent reason. This brings us a second Rock Bottom, and Rock glares at Hebner while he counts the three.

Thoughts: Outside of the botched finish, this was great. Angle showed an intense mean streak. They also had some nice near-falls, excluding the one at the end. The fans were loud. A brief fight in the stands couldn’t distract the audience for long. (You could see security escorting someone out during the bout.)

Winner: The Rock (New Champion) (16:53)

JR says the Rock is heading to WrestleMania as the WWF champion. While the Rock poses with the belt, Ross calls this a night of broken bones and bloodbaths. Meanwhile, Angle cries as he watches the Rock celebrate.

The Good:

• The main event

• Austin vs. Triple H

• Jericho vs. Benoit vs. X-Pac vs. Guerrero

• Trish vs. Stephanie

The Bad:

• Hebner’s botch

Observations & Extra Notes:

• We got the first instance of fans chanting you suck to the tune of Angle’s theme on the go-home Smackdown. It will become a staple in the future.

• They never referred to it as Three Stages of Hell during the build. The opening video was the first time they used the name.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Triple H and Austin. They put on a great performance, but I can’t pick one or the other. Both men deserve credit.

Final Thoughts:

This was another outstanding PPV. It wasn’t as close to flawless as the Rumble, but this was still great. Even the low points held promise. None of the bouts were bad. Plus, this set the stage for Mania quite well. If you haven’t seen Three Stages of Hell, I recommend it.

Thank you for reading. My next review will be WCW’s final PPV, Greed. However, it won’t be the last WCW review. I will also review the final Nitro in two weeks.