Judgment Day 2001

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

Judgment Day

May 20, 2001

ARCO Arena

Sacramento, California

News & Notes: I only have one extra storyline to discuss before we begin. Crash Holly caught Spike Dudley flirting with Molly Holly after Backlash. This caused trouble between the Hollys and the Dudleys. Crash and Hardcore told Molly not to trust a Dudley, but they didn’t stop her from spending more time with Spike. This led to Crash vs. Spike, which Spike won, so Hardcore yelled at his cousin for his failure. Later, Spike tried to prove himself to the Hollys by helping Crash defeat Rhyno, but his plan backfired. As a result, Hardcore faced Spike and beat him. Afterward, Crash stayed behind to gloat, so the Dudleys gave him a 3D.

Now I need to correct something I said last week. Eddie Guerrero hasn’t left yet. He doesn’t wrestle on this PPV, but he appears at this event.

The opening video features a crazy street preacher talking about Judgment Day to a small crowd of people. He tells them to heed his words while we see footage of the Undertaker and Steve Austin. The preacher says the truth will be lies and lies will be truth. He tells the people to witness the rage, hellfire, and brimstone! Taker wants payback. Austin’s ass belongs to him! Meanwhile, Triple H says Kane left him no choice but to finish the job, and Austin thinks nobody can stop him. Let the pain and suffering begin. The end is near! RC Cola presents WWF Judgment Day!

Then fireworks explode around the hourglass-themed set. JR welcomes everyone to the ARCO Arena in Sacramento. He says Judgment Day is upon the Game and Stone Cold, but are they ready? Heyman doesn’t think anybody could be ready for the test that awaits the Two-Man Power Trip. With that said, JR and Heyman discuss the card during William Regal’s entrance.

Regal greets his friends in Sacramento. He knows emotions are running high, but what he’s about to do isn’t about emotion. This is business. Regal will deliver on his promise to punish Rikishi for giving Stephanie a Stink Face. And Rikishi will suffer bloody permanent consequences if he puts his bum in Regal’s face!

William Regal vs. Rikishi

Storyline: Vince booked Rikishi as a mystery opponent for the Undertaker, but Taker beat Rikishi up with a chair to send a message to Austin. Then Foley appeared on RAW to promote his book. When Vince and Regal saw this, they tried to have Rikishi remove Mick from the building. Foley told Rikishi he didn’t have to be a pawn in McMahon’s game anymore. Rikishi hesitated, so Regal got in his face and Rikishi attacked him. Rikishi even attempted the Stink Face, but Regal escaped. Afterward, Regal made Rikishi fight Austin. Since Rikishi didn’t get Regal earlier, he gave Stephanie the Stink Face. Unfortunately, this angered Triple H. They had a match, and Hunter used a chair before hitting a Pedigree. Plus, Stephanie slapped Rikishi. Later, Regal ambushed Rikishi while Rikishi wrestled Angle, so Grandmaster Sexay told Regal to chill out. Regal responded by putting Sexay in the stretch.

The Match: Rikishi flusters Regal with strikes and almost does the Stink Face, but Regal throws a low blow. This allows Regal to use punches, kicks, and uppercuts. He also avoids Rikishi sitting on him after a sunset flip before scoring more kicks and knees. Next, Rikishi answers with a clothesline, a leg drop, and a corner squash, which enables him to give Regal a long Stink Face. It makes Regal regroup and dry heave while doing amazing facial expressions. When Rikishi follows, he busts Regal’s head open on the ring steps. Back inside, Rikishi hits a superkick, but he crashes into the post on a missed corner charge. With Rikishi dazed, Regal lands the Regal Cutter for the three.

Thoughts: The Stink Face and Regal’s reaction amused me greatly, but the action was a bit strike-heavy. It had little substance. They received the response they wanted from the crowd, but you’ll remember this more for the shenanigans than the wrestling.

Winner: William Regal (3:56)

Backstage, Edge and Christian discuss Tag Team Turmoil. They say the WWF will put them in the Hall of Fame if they win, but Edge worries about Jericho’s mystery partner. Christian tells him not to concern himself with that schmucksauce. As he says this, Kurt Angle appears. He talks about his 2 out of 3 Falls encounter with Benoit. Angle swears it won’t go to a third fall. But if it does, he wants pointers for a Ladder Match. Edge tells him not to fall off because it sucks. Then Christian adds to this. He says if Angle falls off, make sure he brings the medals with him. Once Angle gets this advice, he says his medals are coming home. He can’t wait to wear those babies!

Elsewhere, Triple H and Stephanie enter Vince’s dressing room. Steph shows off her new suit while Vince shakes Hunter’s hand. Vince also asks a question he waited all week to ask. Why did Triple H and Austin involve the Undertaker’s wife Sara? It will only rile up Taker and Kane, so Vince doesn’t get it. He questions the collective judgment of the Two-Man Power Trip. They messed with the sanctity of marriage! Triple H reminds Vince he put his own wife in a sanitarium, but Vince says he messed with his wife, not someone else’s.

Now it’s time for Angle vs. Benoit in a 2 out of 3 Falls contest for Angle’s gold medals. The first fall has normal rules, while the second ends by submissions only. And the third, if necessary, will be a Ladder Match. When Angle arrives, he cuts a promo. He tells the fans to shut up and says the medals are coming home. They will go from resting against Benoit’s genitals to around his neck, and he will show Benoit he’s the best technical wrestler. Kurt tells his medals to hold on because Daddy is coming for them! This annoys JR.

2 out of 3 Falls for Angle’s Gold Medals: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit

Storyline: Angle claimed Benoit cheated at Backlash. This led to a fight, and Benoit swiped Kurt’s gold medals. Then Benoit taunted Angle and cost Kurt a win over Hardcore Holly. Later, Benoit went to WWF New York and wanted to pay for his meal with the medals. An infuriated Kurt stole a car and drove to the restaurant, but Benoit returned to the arena. Benoit told Kurt he would have to face him at the PPV if he wanted the medals, so Kurt accepted the challenge. In the meantime, Benoit stuffed the medals down his tights for safekeeping. Kurt tried to retrieve them twice. The first time, Benoit tricked him with fake medals made of chocolate. The second time, Kurt dropped them when Benoit applied the Crossface. Meanwhile, Regal told Angle he could pick the stipulation. Kurt wanted a regular match, but Benoit called that boring. He suggested this instead.

The Match: Angle does Benoit’s rolling Germans and tries a flying headbutt, but he misses. With Kurt dazed, Benoit scores the Angle Slam for the three! Now they brawl around ringside before Benoit attempts multiple submission holds. Angle keeps getting rope breaks, and he lands some suplexes, but Benoit attacks Kurt’s leg. The onslaught continues until Kurt nails the Angle Slam and makes Benoit tap to the anklelock. While the ref hangs the medals, Angle knocks Benoit outside and grabs a small ladder, but Benoit gets the bigger one. They ram and whip each other into the ladder. Angle even suplexes Benoit onto it, so Benoit see-saws it into Kurt’s face! Next, Angle dumps Benoit off the ladder, but Chris puts him in the Crossface. This draws Edge and Christian to the ring to interfere. They attack and hold Benoit back while Kurt climbs and collects the medals.

Thoughts: This was quite good, but I still prefer the Backlash encounter. What held this one back was it dragged a little. But with that said, I still enjoyed it. Plus, the finish sets up what happens later, so it was a nice touch.

Winner: Kurt Angle (23:58)

The trainer stitches Regal’s head, so William says the guy is trying to disfigure him. While Regal and the trainer discuss possible plastic surgery, the Undertaker barges into Regal’s office and gets in the commissioner’s face. He accuses William of helping Austin make the prank call about Sara, but Regal denies this. Taker says he can prove it by giving him what he wants. He tells Regal to make his match with Austin No Holds Barred. Regal reminds him it’s for the championship, so Taker says he’s damn right. He won’t go to jail for what he will do to Austin! Regal doesn’t think Austin will take the news well, but he relents when Taker threatens to make Regal’s cut run down to his neck.

Meanwhile, they go to the Light Heavyweight champion Jerry Lynn at WWF New York. JR says Jerry would probably rather be on the PPV, and Lynn agrees. But first, he thanks everyone for the chance to address the fans in New York. However, common sense says he should defend the belt on the show. Apparently, no one in the WWF realizes this. Jerry says he worked his entire life to become the WWF Light Heavyweight champ, and he gets to talk! Lynn sarcastically asks JR if the promo was good enough for him. Then he says if he was there, he would bring new meaning to Judgment Day. (Lynn says the last part in his death metal voice.) If you don’t believe him, watch him!

Back in the arena, Kane bangs a chain on some pipes.

Triple Threat Match for the Hardcore Title: Rhyno (c) vs. The Big Show vs. Test

Storyline: Vince and Stephanie punished Test for helping Shane at Backlash. They booked Test vs. Triple H, but it was nothing more than a beating with a chair. Later, Test saved Rikishi from the Power Trip, so the Big Show intervened. When this happened, Test helped Rikishi give Big Show a Stink Face. Cole mocked Big Show for this, so Show threw Cole onto some security guards and challenged Test to a match. Afterward, Show attacked Test with the ring steps to cost Test a win. However, Test returned that favor when Show fought Bradshaw. Meanwhile, Rhyno helped Edge and Christian deal with the unlikely pairing of the Hardys and Eddie Guerrero. He also defended the Hardcore title against Bradshaw and Crash Holly. The wins earned Rhyno a spot in this bout, so they made it a Hardcore title contest.

The Match: Show and Test brawl before Rhyno appears. When he arrives, he and Test team up against Show until Show sends them into the crowd. Now the action spills backstage, where they fight with equipment cases. Big Show even smashes Rhyno into a wall and pins him against it for two! Nevertheless, Rhyno and Test knock Big Show onto a stack of pallets. With Show down, they head back to the ring. Rhyno grabs trash cans and lids, but Test punches one into Rhyno’s face! Unfazed, Rhyno answers with a DDT on the lid. As this happens, Big Show returns and chokeslams Rhyno, but Test nails Show with a big boot. Afterward, Test avoids a Gore, which Big Show eats. Plus, Test uses an extinguisher, but Rhyno sends Test outside. Finally, Rhyno tosses a can to Big Show and gores it into him for the win.

Thoughts: This was okay. After the fun Hardcore bouts at WrestleMania and Backlash, I expected more, so this disappointed me a little. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as wild. This was a fine but forgettable affair.

Winner: Rhyno (9:15)

Backstage, Regal hesitates outside Austin’s locker room. He asks a tech guy if Austin is in there. The man says yes, but Regal declines when he offers to get Austin for him. Regal says he can do it himself, yet he still can’t knock on the door.

Meanwhile, Lita warms up for her match while Matt gives her a pep talk. As they talk, Eddie Guerrero enters the room. He says no one knows Chyna better than him, so he can give Lita some pointers. Lita is sure he can, but she says she wants to do this by herself tonight. Eddie tells her to have it her way. Then Lita kisses Matt before he wishes her luck. Once Lita exits, Eddie swears he is only offering advice. Matt says he believes him.

Back in Austin’s room, Regal finally joins him. He says Taker threatened him into making the match No Holds Barred, but Austin is okay with this. He says it’s fine. Regal claims he knew Austin would say this. That’s why he agreed to the stipulation. With that said, Regal leaves, but JR wonders why Austin is so calm.

Women’s Title Match: Chyna (c) vs. Lita

Storyline: Regal taunted Trish with a chance to earn a Women’s title shot. They put her in a non-title encounter against Chyna, but Chyna destroyed her. Afterward, Chyna claimed the women’s division lacked competition, so she was going to spank the other women to amuse herself. When she said this, Lita challenged Chyna to a match. Once Chyna accepted, she watched Lita’s matches with great interest. Chyna even raised Lita’s arm in victory out of respect. However, Lita spanked Chyna when she turned around, and Chyna grinned. Next, Lita and Chyna teamed against Molly and Ivory, but Chyna refused to tag. She let Lita do all the work because she wanted Lita to prove herself. Chyna also told Lita not to trust the Hardys’ supposed new friend, Eddie Guerrero. Finally, Lita raised Chyna’s hand after Chyna beat Molly and Ivory. Guerrero appeared on the stage and applauded them.

The Match: They hug before Chyna shoves Lita down and helps her up. Then Lita counters a press slam into a sunset flip. She tries to help Chyna up, but Chyna turns it into an inside cradle. When Lita kicks out, Chyna scores clotheslines until Lita nails a tornado DDT and a diving clothesline. With Chyna dazed, Lita keeps going to an arm wringer, but Chyna pushes her to the mat again. Chyna follows with a neckbreaker, a powerslam, and a gorilla press, only to pull her up from a pin for more. This is a mistake because Lita grabs a cross armbreaker, but Chyna turns it into a headscissors. Meanwhile, Eddie Guerrero watches from the entrance. Once Lita breaks free, she reverses a powerbomb into a hurricanrana and attempts the Twist of Fate. Unfortunately, Chyna avoids it and ends the contest with a powerbomb.

Thoughts: This was good for a short fight. They gave Lita enough hope spots to seem like she could win, but it still ended up being a dominant victory for Chyna. Plus, the crowd reacted well to it, so I can’t say it didn’t work. The only problem is, this is Chyna’s last PPV appearance in the WWF. She leaves soon and the Women’s belt goes dormant for a few months.

Winner: Chyna (6:30)

Eddie shakes his head in disappointment and smirks at Lita, so Chyna glares at him until he leaves. Once he’s gone, Chyna lifts Lita up and raises her arm. JR calls it a nice touch and good sportsmanship.

Backstage, Angle seems happy about regaining his gold medals. Then Cole stops him for a word. He calls Kurt’s victory controversial, but he asks if Angle closed this chapter with his win. Angle says it isn’t closed. Tomorrow, once he sterilizes the medals, he’s going to reenact the Olympic medal ceremony! After saying this, Kurt sees Edge and Christian. He says he did it on his own, but he thanks them for coming out there to cheer him on. Edge and Christian accept his thanks, but they change their tune once he departs. Edge says they completed Operation Never Have to Hear Kurt Bitch About His Medals Again. Now they will focus on Operation Shut Down Y2J and Win Tag Team Turmoil.

Elsewhere, Vince meets with the Two-Man Power Trip. He says this is Judgment Day, but they need to be careful not to become the judged. They have a Chain Match for the Intercontinental title and a No Holds Barred contest for the WWF championship. The only way to succeed is to work together and do the right thing. Hunter and Austin say they have no problem with this. Triple H says you are looking at the judge, jury, and executioners.

Chain Match for the Intercontinental Title: Kane vs. Triple H (c) (w/ Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley)

Storyline: Stephanie wanted to make Kane pay for booting her in the face at Backlash, but Linda gave Kane the night off to heal. Then Kane intervened after Triple H beat up Test, so the Power Trip attacked Kane and Pillmanized his already injured arm. With Kane out of the way, Triple H successfully defended the Intercontinental title against Jeff Hardy. Hunter also got revenge on Rikishi for the Stink Face on Stephanie. However, Kane surprised him when he returned to save Taker from a beating. Since Kane wouldn’t stay down, Triple H challenged him to this Chain Match for the Intercontinental belt. Afterward, the Power Trip offered the Brothers of Destruction a chance at the tag titles, but Taker left to check on his wife. When Kane wanted to go with him, Regal forced Kane to fight the Power Trip alone. They beat him up with a chain.

The Match: Hunter jumps Kane before they hook him to the chain. He rams Kane’s hurt arm into everything and attaches the chain himself. Then he yanks and drags Kane around before grabbing a chair, but Kane pulls Triple H into the post. This busts Hunter open, so Kane targets the cut with the chain and the steps. He even wraps the chain around Hunter’s face and hangs him over the ropes. When Hunter keeps regrouping, they fight on the barricade, and Kane slams Triple H off it. Back inside, Kane avoids a Pedigree, drops onto Hunter’s crotch, and nails a flying chain clothesline. This draws Austin to the ring to interfere. Kane kicks Austin, but the distraction allows Hunter to score a low blow. While this happens, Austin grabs a chair and swings, only to hit Hunter by mistake! After dispatching Austin, Kane covers for the three.

Thoughts: This was great. I liked the intensity and some spots they did with the chain. Plus, they had a hot crowd. The only minor gripe is the finish was a little awkward. They tried to make Austin’s chair shot look like an accident, but Kane ducked too soon. It seemed like Austin did it on purpose. Besides that, I enjoyed this.

Winner: Kane (New Champion) (12:24)

Coach interviews Jericho. He says they are moments away from Tag Team Turmoil, and we still don’t know the identity of Jericho’s partner. Jericho mocks Coach for his question before calling him Cinderella. He tells Coach to put his boots on. Jericho will do the work while Coach bores the fans with his stupid questions. This is a joke, but Jericho has a real partner. He’s a real party animal, which is apropos because Edge and Christian love to celebrate. And if Jericho and his partner win, they will take Edge and Christian with them.

Meanwhile, Triple H yells at Vince about the end of his match. What happened to all for one and one for all? Triple H says he was out there spilling blood, but where was Vince? Vince says they still have to do this together, despite what happened. He promises to talk to Austin.

Tag Team Turmoil participants: The APA, Saturn & Malenko, The Dudley Boyz, X-Pac & Justin Credible, The Hardy Boyz, Chris Jericho & ???, and Edge & Christian.

Tag Team Turmoil #1 Contender Match

Storyline: The Hardy Boyz’ problems with Edge and Christian continued when Jeff helped Matt defeat Edge in a European title match. However, the Hardys received help from an unlikely source in Eddie Guerrero. Jeff and Lita didn’t trust Eddie, but Matt believed him after Guerrero took a Gore from Rhyno to save Lita. Unfortunately, their partnership caused issues with Saturn and Malenko. When forced to pick a side, Eddie attacked the Radicalz and chose Team Xtreme. Meanwhile, the Dudleys’ rivalry with X-Factor culminated in a six-man tables contest, which the Dudleys won. In other news, Jericho and Benoit defeated Edge & Christian, so E&C gave Jericho a Conchairto. Then Edge fought Jericho, and Edge used a chair for the victory. As a result, Jericho joined Tag Team Turmoil to get revenge, and he promised a mystery partner.

The Match: The APA and the Radicalz brawl until Faarooq pins Saturn after a spinebuster. Then the Dudleys arrive. They try to put the APA through a table, but the Holly cousins attack and drive D-Von through it while Bradshaw nails a Clothesline from Hell for the elimination. Now X-Factor joins the fray. Albert trips Bradshaw during a fallaway slam and holds his foot while X-Pac covers him. Next, we see the Hardys. Albert interferes again, so Jeff wipes him out with a somersault plancha. Nevertheless, Justin stops a Twist of Fate with a superkick on Matt and X-Factor advances. This leads to Jericho’s entrance. He reveals his partner to be—Benoit! They fend off more Albert shenanigans and make Justin and X-Pac submit to the Walls and the Crossface. Finally, Edge and Christian enter. Both teams cannot hit a Conchairto, but Benoit makes Christian tap to a Crossface.

Thoughts: This was a lot of fun. They paced it well and told a contained story with each section. Plus, the crowd enjoyed the action. I know it’s uncomfortable to praise Benoit, but competing twice in one night impressed me. It becomes even better when you couple it with what he does in the week after this PPV.

Winners: Jericho & Benoit (25:53)

Before the main event, they show an awkward commercial for Mick Foley’s second book. Mick tells a story about Chyna touching his genitals.

Then we get the entrances for Austin vs. Undertaker, but Vince McMahon comes out first! He joins the commentary team, so Heyman encourages Vince to smack JR. When Austin arrives, the Undertaker jumps him.

No Holds Barred Match for the WWF Title: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. The Undertaker

Storyline: When Vince tried to punish Kane, Linda intervened and gave Taker a WWF title shot. However, the Power Trip attacked him with a sledgehammer and a chair. Then Taker retaliated. He jumped Austin and put him through a window, which injured Austin’s eye. To make matters worse, Taker beat Austin up in the ambulance, so Debra slapped Taker. Next, Taker invaded Austin’s locker room and stole his gear. Austin sent Debra and Regal into the room to convince him to leave, but Taker doused both of them with tobacco juice. Later, the cops told Taker his wife Sara was in a car accident, but it was a prank call. This left Kane to fight the Power Trip alone. Austin denied any involvement and blamed it on Triple H, but it was a ruse. Austin called Sara and harassed her to distract Taker while Triple H ambushed him.

The Match: They brawl around ringside, and Taker does Old School off the barricade. He also taunts Vince and decks Austin with a fire extinguisher. Attempted finishers follow before Austin gains control and targets Taker’s leg. He uses the announce table, the steps, and the ring post to wear Taker down. Plus, Austin locks him in leg holds. Once Taker breaks free, he chokeslams Austin on the announce table and intimidates Vince. Taker focuses on McMahon, so Austin ambushes him and busts Taker open with a monitor.

Now Austin throws low blows and chokes Taker. He even grabs a sleeper hold, but Taker ends it with a back suplex. Undeterred, Austin attacks with a chair and scores a Stunner, but it only earns two! This causes an argument between Austin and Hebner, so Taker gets the chair. He returns the favor on Austin, but Triple H arrives with the hammer. Taker fends him off and clocks Austin with another chair shot, so Vince breaks up a pin. Afterward, Austin takes the chair back. When Austin swings it, he nails Vince by mistake, which allows Taker to attempt the Last Ride on Austin. This time, Hunter whacks Taker with the sledgehammer. Kane appears, but he’s too late to prevent Austin’s pin.

Thoughts: This was okay. It had some good moments, but it was slow. Then they had a flat finish. The camera almost missed the three count because they focused on Kane. Two PPVs in a row had a disappointing main event.

Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (23:06)

Triple H and Austin retreat as Kane enters the ring. Once they reach the aisle, Hunter tells someone to grab Austin’s belt, and the Power Trip raises their gold as they leave with Vince. JR calls Austin the luckiest son of a bitch in the country.

The Good:

• Angle vs. Benoit

• Kane vs. Triple H

• Tag Team Turmoil

The Bad:

• Another disappointing main event

Observations & Extra Notes:

• The WWF had some odd production botches during this period. The main event wasn’t the first time they almost missed the finish of a match in the months around this PPV.

Performer of the Night:

I don’t want to do this, but I have to give it to Benoit. He wrestled twice in one show, and neither were short contests.

Final Thoughts:

This was a decent show. It wasn’t a great PPV, but this was better than Backlash. The main event disappointed me, but it wasn’t a bad match. With that said, I have a soft spot for Judgment Day. I discovered a local sports bar showed wrestling PPVs when this aired, so I watched this with a group of friends. We had a fun time.

Thank you for reading. My next review is King of the Ring 2001. Look for it next Sunday!