Judgment Day 2002

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

Judgment Day

May 19, 2002

Gaylord Entertainment Center

Nashville, Tennessee

News & Notes: The WWF is no more. For years, the World Wildlife Fund contested the World Wrestling Federation’s use of the WWF initials, especially overseas. The scandals in the early 90s raised their first concerns. Then, the Attitude Era increased the World Wildlife Fund’s discomfort over the shared name. Vince had previously settled with them and promised to limit how many times they said WWF, but they largely ignored this agreement. Registering WWF.com as a trademark was one of the last straws. When the Wildlife Fund pressured them again, Vince rebranded the company as World Wrestling Entertainment. They started the infamous Get the F Out campaign, so welcome to the WWE era!

Now for a rundown of extra storylines. Goldust kept messing up, so he tried to salvage his burgeoning team with Booker through gifts and wacky costumes. This didn’t amuse Booker. Meanwhile, Tajiri continued feuding with Kidman and Hurricane. Torrie Wilson’s defiance eventually caused him to lose the gold to the Hurricane. Elsewhere, Randy Orton debuted and immediately pissed off Vince by hitting on Stacy. Vince punished him with matches against Hardcore Holly. In other news, people attempted to steal Reverend D-Von’s collection plate, so he hired Deacon Batista to protect it. Next, Molly Holly continued her wholesome campaign and gained Regal as an ally. Also, WWE released Scott Hall after the infamous Plane Ride from Hell. Flair fired him as the on-screen explanation. (How ironic!) And finally, Tommy Dreamer started doing disgusting stunts for attention. He shared his toothbrush with his dog, drank toilet water, and ate deodorant.

The PPV: The opening video mixes scenes of some gallows with clips from the Undertaker’s old return vignette. The narrator tells us the time of reckoning has come. Are you proud of what you have done? Do you like who you have become? As she asks these questions, they show footage from the main feuds. Triple H vows to take Jericho to Hell, and Austin wants to whip Flair’s little ass like never before. Then JR talks about Hell in a Cell. He calls it perverse and diabolical. But they aren’t the only ones who will suffer. Flair wants to make Austin bleed, and the Undertaker promises to destroy the legend of Hulk Hogan. Will they finish what they started and accomplish their goals, or will they fall short? The moment of truth has arrived. Judgment Day is upon us. God, have mercy on our souls!

Next, “Broken” by 12 Stones plays while JR welcomes everyone to the event. He says it is Sunday, May 19^th, 2002, and Judgment Day is here. (May 19^th!!) JR also greets the fans in New York. The WWE rebrand meant they had to change the name of WWF New York. They call it the World now. With that said, JR and King discuss the card during Eddie Guerrero’s entrance.

Intercontinental Title Match: Eddie Guerrero (c) vs. Rob Van Dam

Storyline: Eddie did commentary during RVD vs. Mr. Perfect. Then he attacked RVD afterward, but RVD fended him off. Meanwhile, RVD and Eddie had other things to deal with since Backlash. Eddie defended the Intercontinental title against Jeff Hardy and Tommy Dreamer. He even faced a returning D’Lo Brown because Eddie had to feud with anyone using a frog splash. While these matches happened, RVD scored a victory over Booker T after Goldust accidentally hit Booker. This led to RVD & Jeff Hardy vs. Eddie & Booker, and RVD pinned Eddie with the Five Star. Later, RVD scuffled with Eddie after Stasiak vs. Guerrero. When RVD got the better of Eddie, Guerrero dared him to return, but RVD taunted him instead.

The Match: They trade knockdowns and takedowns until it frustrates Eddie. Then RVD fakes out Eddie and nails a split-legged moonsault, a backdrop, and a twisting leg drop. This leads to a focus on Eddie’s lower back, and RVD uses some of Eddie’s moves against him. We see a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a surfboard stretch from RVD! He follows with a standing moonsault. Now Eddie takes control by begging off and throwing a cheap shot. He also does eye rakes and chokes him. RVD fires back with monkey flips, a hotshot, and Rolling Thunder, but Eddie powerbombs RVD off the top rope. Next, both men miss frog splashes before trading pin attempts. RVD gets two off a backslide, but Eddie responds with one of his own and puts his feet on the ropes for leverage and the win.

Thoughts: This was a great opener. I loved the pace and the story they told. RVD used Eddie’s moveset against him, which added a nice touch. Plus, the finish makes Eddie look like a crafty cheater, which will become his calling card soon enough.

Winner: Eddie Guerrero (10:17)

Backstage, Vince and Stacy Keibler meet with Reverend D-Von and Deacon Batista. D-Von calls Vince a prophet and says it is time to pray. He asks god to ensure Stacy’s safety and guarantee a victory over that Jezebel, Trish Stratus! While D-Von says this, Vince checks out Stacy’s ass since everyone has their eyes closed. Then Vince tells D-Von to wrap it up, so D-Von obeys. Once he finishes, Vince asks D-Von if he’s sure Bubba won’t show up tonight. D-Von says Bubba will have Hell to pay if he does.

After that, they present a Get the F Out ad. A woman trims a hedge into the shape of a WWF logo, but she lights it on fire to turn it into a WWE one.

Now it’s time for Stacy vs. Trish for the Women’s title. Stacy uses Kid Rock’s remake of “Legs” as her theme. Once she arrives, D-Von and Batista come to protect her, but Bubba Ray joins them to watch Trish’s back. Stacy complains to D-Von about this, so Trish jumps Stacy.

Women’s Title Match: Trish Stratus (c) (w/ Bubba Ray Dudley) vs. Stacy Keibler (w/ Reverend D-Von & Deacon Batista)

Storyline: Trish’s issues with Jazz and Molly continued after Backlash, but both Jazz and Molly had backup. Crash rejoined his cousin to help against Trish and Jazz paired with Steven Richards. Since people kept interfering in Trish’s business, she turned to Richards’ rival in the hardcore division, Bubba Ray. This led to Trish briefly winning the Hardcore championship during a chaotic melee between Bubba and Richards. However, Richards won it from her. Later, Trish and Bubba faced Jazz and Richards with the Women’s belt on the line. Another wild hardcore fight erupted while Trish pinned Jazz to win the gold! Afterward, Trish interrupted a failed swimsuit contest between Stacy and Torrie to show off her lingerie, which pissed off Stacy. She asked Vince for a title shot and got it. McMahon even told D-Von and Batista to protect her.

The Match: Stacy hits a heel kick and a backdrop, but Trish answers with knockdowns and a Boston Crab. When Stacy can’t reach the ropes, she turns the hold into a pin instead. Now Trish flips the cover for two and lands a neckbreaker and a Chick Kick. The latter sends Stacy to the floor. She falls at Bubba’s feet, so he laughs at her and gets slapped. This draws the ref outside to admonish Bubba, which allows Batista to slam Trish! Stacy capitalizes with a modified rear chinlock. She also stands on Trish’s back and pulls her hair. Nevertheless, Trish fires back with a pump kick and decks Batista to set up a trap. He climbs on the apron, so Trish sidesteps Stacy and she runs into Batista. The opening enables Trish to land a bulldog for the three.

Thoughts: This wasn’t bad for a short encounter. They added enough bells and whistles to keep it interesting. Plus, I’ll give Stacy credit. She did well for being green. Stacy has improved after her last outing. The only gripe is she went a little over-the-top with her selling, but it amused me, so I can’t complain.

Winner: Trish Stratus (2:54)

Bubba stops D-Von from attacking Trish, so D-Von offers a hug and a handshake. Bubba eventually accepts the latter, but Batista and D-Von attack him. Surprisingly, D-Von seems to express remorse for his actions. It’s a ruse. He tells Batista to get the table and gives Bubba his last rites. D-Von says sinning is wrong, and he has to show Bubba the light. After setting up the table, Batista tries a Batista Bomb, but Bubba backdrops him and goes after D-Von. Sensing trouble, Batista whacks Bubba with the collection box. Then they put Bubba through the table with a double flapjack.

Meanwhile, Flair and Anderson discuss strategy for Ric’s match before Vince enters the room. McMahon greets them and extends his hand, so Rick shakes it. Ric says Vince was right about Austin all along. He is a no-good son of a bitch. Austin did everything to disrupt RAW, and he challenged Ric’s power. However, unlike Vince, Flair says he will place the bit in Austin’s mouth and have him under control. This draws a laugh from Vince, so Flair and Anderson join in the laughter. Vince tells Ric good luck and hugs him before leaving. Once Vince is gone, Ric and Arn stop laughing and exchange a glance.

Now it’s time for Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman vs. the Hardy Boyz. JR sends well wishes to Lita during the entrances. She injured her neck while filming an episode of Dark Angel, so she had to get surgery. Also, Lesnar still doesn’t have his traditional theme, but they added the iconic and familiar sound to the intro of his generic rock. (What is that noise supposed to be? I’ve wondered this for years.)

Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman vs. The Hardy Boyz

Storyline: Brock Lesnar won more matches by ref stoppage. First, he faced an already injured Matt Hardy, giving him an F5 and a spinning powerbomb. Then Brock wrestled Shawn Stasiak twice because Stasiak wouldn’t learn his lesson. Later, Brock fought Matt and Jeff in a Handicap Match. However, the Hardys gained the advantage. They landed the Twist of Fate and the Swanton Bomb, so Heyman grabbed the referee to cause a DQ. Afterward, Heyman challenged the Hardys to wrestle Heyman and Brock at the PPV.

The Match: The Hardys try to fluster Brock with dives and a baseball slide, but he catches them and whips them into the corners. Then they go after Heyman, but Lesnar attacks while Paul leads a chase. Brock hits a belly-to-belly throw, a powerslam, and a backbreaker. He does this while fending off dropkicks, but Matt eventually scores a tornado DDT. Now Jeff tags and lands the Whisper in the Wind and a jawbreaker. With Brock dazed, the Hardys nail a Drop Shot and a leg drop to his crotch. They even do Poetry in Motion to Brock and Heyman, but Lesnar pulls Matt to the floor. Back inside, Lesnar fends off Jeff’s comeback and vaults him into Matt. The F5 follows, but Heyman demands a tag. He wants to pin Jeff. As Heyman enters the ring, he trips over the ropes but covers for the win.

Thoughts: This was what it needed to be. They kept it fun and gave the Hardys enough spots to look good. But they also let Lesnar do his thing. This was the right mix of both worlds.

Winners: Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman (4:47)

Marc Lloyd interviews Booker T in front of an unfortunate backdrop for this segment. (Someone didn’t think this one through.) He says Flair named Booker as the nWo’s newest member, and Booker embraced it, but what are his feelings? Booker says business is business. Flair is the boss, and he chose him because he knows a five-time WCW champion can get the job done. Then Booker almost says more, but something distracts him in the distance. He spots a beautiful woman and goes to hit on her. She wants an autograph but has a special place for Booker to sign. As she whispers in Booker’s ear, she hands him her hotel key card. Booker calls it the key to his heart and celebrates his good luck.

Handicap Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair & The Big Show

Storyline: Flair swore he didn’t see Austin’s foot on the ropes at Backlash, but Austin didn’t believe him. Then Flair booked Austin & Bradshaw vs. the nWo to appease Austin, but someone attacked Bradshaw. To make matters worse, Flair gave Austin Big Show instead, only for Big Show to betray Austin and join the nWo! Since the mistakes were piling up, Flair rebooked the tag encounter with himself as the ref, and he appeared to screw over the nWo. This led to Austin, Bradshaw, and Flair vs. the nWo, but the nWo made it look like Bradshaw had joined them. This was a ruse because Flair betrayed Austin and announced this handicap fight. Plus, Flair awarded himself an Undisputed title shot, but Bradshaw and Austin ruined it. As a result, Flair punished them with fights against the nWo, including a surprise nWo recruit, Booker T!

The Match: Austin tosses his vest at Big Show and fends off both men until he puts them in Figure Fours! He only breaks it because Show looks to elbow drop him. Then Austin wants to grab a chair twice, but Charles Robinson keeps stopping him. This earns Charles the old double bird. Charles even prevents Austin from getting a beer, which pisses Austin off. Next, Steve exchanges chops and knockdowns with Flair until he begs off. Unfortunately for Austin, Big Show stops him with a big boot and chops in the corner, and Flair throws a low blow and an eye poke.

Now Flair cuts off Austin’s comeback before Big Show nails a powerslam. This opens the door for Flair to attack Austin’s legs. He locks Steve in the Figure Four despite desperate pin attempts by Stone Cold. Austin reverses it, but Big Show drops an elbow on him. Afterward, Austin and Flair exchange more chops and pins. It culminates with Austin using another Figure Four, but Big Show ends it with a leg drop. Once Austin recovers, he scores Thesz Presses. One is from the middle rope! He also floors Big Show with a Stunner, so X-Pac interferes. It doesn’t work. Austin does Stunners to X-Pac and Flair for the victory.

Thoughts: This was okay, but it became repetitive. They reused too many spots and ideas. The only upside was the fans enjoyed it, so I can’t say they failed. However, Austin’s lack of enthusiasm affected his performance. He didn’t like his creative direction, and I don’t blame him. Austin will leave the company before the following PPV, but I’ll explain that in the King of the Ring review.

Winner: Stone Cold Steve Austin (15:36)

Next, Cole and Tazz discuss the upcoming Hair vs. Hair Match. Cole says Tazz is bald as a fashion statement, but most men don’t want to hear they are losing their hair. Tonight, that will happen to one man in Nashville. It’s Angle vs. Edge, and one of them will go bald. That said, they present a preview of what Angle and Edge might look like. Tazz says the outcome will embarrass the loser in front of this crowd. While he says this, they show the barber sitting on a platform with a chair and his tools.

Hair vs. Hair Match: Edge vs. Kurt Angle

Storyline: Angle promised to unveil a new t-shirt, but Edge embarrassed him. He swapped the shirt with one that said, “You Suck.” Then Angle failed to use a chair on Edge after a tag encounter. Later, Angle tried to redo the t-shirt presentation with Val Venis and Lance Storm. Only Storm agreed, and Venis helped Edge mock Angle again. As a result, Kurt challenged Edge to a Hair vs. Hair contest. Plus, Edge and Venis teamed against Angle and Storm, but Angle scored a pin on Val. Meanwhile, Angle confronted Hulk Hogan, so Edge came to Hogan’s aid. This brought us Edge and Hogan vs. Jericho and Angle. However, an angry Triple H attacked everyone with his sledgehammer. The attack resulted in a confrontation between Edge and Hunter, but Angle and Jericho jumped them. So Edge & Hunter wrestled Angle & Jericho, and Angle pinned Edge.

The Match: Angle tries to control the match with front facelocks, but Edge takes him outside for some brawling. He also ties Kurt in the ropes and spears him, but Angle backdrops Edge when he attempts it a second time. Now Angle subdues Edge with a belly-to-belly, a spinebuster, a DDT, and more mat holds. Once Edge escapes, he scores a belly-to-belly and the Edge-O-Matic. They aren’t enough, so Kurt uses more suplexes until Edge sends him to the floor for a plancha. Back in the ring, Edge blocks Angle’s run-up throw and nails a missile dropkick and a sit-out Edgecution.

Once Kurt recovers, he does the run-up throw off the top rope, but Edge answers with a second rope DDT. He looks for the spear afterward, but Edge hits the ref when Angle moves! With the referee down, Angle lands a release German and grabs a chair. Edge spears him before he can use it, but there is no official. Next, they evade each other’s finishers before Angle spears Edge! An Angle Slam follows, but it gets two, so Angle throws a fit and drops his straps. He hooks Edge in the anklelock, but Edge breaks it with an enziguri. When Kurt goes for more, Edge turns it into an inside cradle for the pin.

Thoughts: This started slowly, but they built to a great crescendo. It was another amazing outing for them. I still prefer the Backlash one, but this was fantastic nonetheless. The crowd reacted well to the finish.

Winner: Edge (15:30)

Angle looks distraught over the outcome, so he attacks Edge. Lawler says this is an immediate rematch, but JR finds this ridiculous. As JR and Lawler argue, Edge hits the Edgecution on Kurt and drags him to the barber’s station. Unfortunately, Angle fights free and runs backstage.

Meanwhile, Booker is at the hotel with the woman from earlier. He invites her to join him in bed. She tells him to make things romantic, so he turns off the lights. Now, she tells Booker where to kiss her. Booker asks what else she wants, but Goldust answers instead of the lady. He says he wants Booker to leave the nWo and come back to him. When Booker hears this, he turns on the lights and asks Goldust what the Hell he is doing there. Goldust apologizes for the deception, but Booker won’t return his phone calls. He knew Booker liked to get his mack down, so he set up this elaborate scheme. This is too much for Booker. He calls Goldust a freak and gets out of bed with his ass hanging out. As Booker leaves, Goldust says he regrets buying a nightgown for nothing.

Next, Cole and Tazz are back to discuss Hell in a Cell. Cole calls it the most ominous and dangerous structure, but he also says it’s simply a cell. (Make up your mind, Cole!) Then he says the cell will rip flesh at every turn, and it’s impossible to get out. You are a prisoner! Tazz talks about his intense cage matches but claims this is a different animal. He tells everyone to ask Mick Foley and Shawn Michaels about it. Finally, Cole says Vince booked this because he and Jericho want revenge on Triple H.

Hell in a Cell Match: Triple H vs. Chris Jericho

Storyline: A vengeful Triple H invaded RAW to go after Taker, and he demanded a rematch. Vince said Hunter had to beat Jericho to get it. However, Jericho prevailed when Taker distracted Triple H. Then Jericho got his title shot, and Vince promised to fire Triple H if he attacked Jericho. This didn’t stop Hunter from distracting Jericho to cost him the victory. Later, Vince threatened Hunter with hell to pay if he retaliated against him, so Triple H called his bluff. This resulted in Test, Christian, Hardcore Holly, D-Von, Storm, and Jericho ambushing Hunter. Once he was down, Jericho put Hunter in the Walls, and Vince booked this encounter. Vince even made a bloody Triple H fight D-Von after the beating, and D-Von succeeded. Next, the sledgehammer attack happened, which led to Hunter & Edge vs. Jericho & Angle. Hunter and Jericho brawled into the crowd while Angle won.

The Match: Hunter gains the early advantage with a high knee and a backdrop. Plus, Jericho cuts his shoulder when he hits the ring post on a missed charge. Then Triple H runs him into the wall to make the cut worse, but Jericho counters a piledriver on the steps with a catapult. Now Jericho bloodies Hunter with the cage wall, the ring steps, and a ladder. He rams the ladder into Hunter’s head and gives him a bulldog onto it. When Triple H recovers, he responds with the ring steps. Hunter chucks them at Jericho’s face! Back outside, Hunter lawn darts Jericho into the cage. Afterward, Hunter whips Jericho into Tim White, who crashes against the wall.

The officials cut the lock off the door to help Tim, so Jericho crawls outside to avoid Triple H’s sledgehammer shots. Hunter pursues him, but Jericho slams the door on him! This leads to fighting on the announce tables. Jericho tries to Pedigree Triple H, so Hunter turns it into a DDT on the table. With Jericho down, Hunter fetches a barbed wire board. This scares Jericho, who climbs to the roof to escape him. Hunter and Mike Chioda join him. Once Triple H arrives, Jericho steals the board and whacks him before putting Hunter in the Walls. Unfortunately for Jericho, Hunter escapes and throws a low blow. Hunter looks for a Pedigree and gets backdropped, but he clocks Jericho with the board. A Pedigree on the roof follows, which earns the three.

Thoughts: This had nice intensity and brutality but fell short of being great. Once they moved to the roof, the fans expected something more. The lack of big spots up there deflated them a little. The finish felt flat. Also, since when can you win on the roof? (On a side note, Tim White suffered a bad injury during this bout. He hurt his shoulder when he went into the wall.)

Winner: Triple H (24:31)

Backstage, Angle frantically looks for a place to hide. He finds the makeup area, so he blends in by donning a shower cap and draping some shiny cloth over his shoulders. Janet looks on with disapproval while Edge runs by in the background. Once Angle thinks he is gone, Kurt flees, but Edge spots him. He chases Angle down the hallway.

Then they air another Get the F Out commercial involving a couple having sex in a car.

Meanwhile, Maven is on a date with Torrie at the World. They share a huge margarita while Torrie talks about having to wear the geisha outfit. She says it made her feel stifled, but now she can wear whatever she wants or nothing at all. This statement makes Maven do a spit-take, so he apologizes. He says she looked great and free when she took off the geisha outfit. Torrie says she might be free again, and they toast to this idea.

Now it’s time for the tag title bout. Rikishi has a mystery partner, but no one knows their identity except Vince. Once Billy, Chuck, and Rico arrive, the Fink calls for Rikishi’s teammate, but no one appears. Then someone hands Fink a note that says the mystery man is—Rico! Rico pretends he wants to fight Billy, but Rikishi sends him to the apron.

Tag Team Title Match: Rikishi & Rico vs. Billy & Chuck (c)

Storyline: Billy and Chuck offered Tajiri a headband after Tajiri congratulated them on their win at Backlash. This led to Billy, Chuck, and Tajiri vs. Snow, Maven, and Kidman. Kidman’s team won after they pantsed Billy, Chuck, and Rico to expose their thongs. This made them run to the back. Afterward, everyone put on Billy and Chuck’s trunks to mock them. Next, Billy and Chuck faced Hurricane and Rikishi, and Rikishi gave Rico a Stink Face. As a result, Billy, Chuck, and Rico fought Rikishi, Snow, and Maven. Billy and Chuck saved Rico from another Stink Face before winning the contest. Unfortunately for them, Rico couldn’t defeat Rikishi, which annoyed Vince. He told Billy and Chuck they would wrestle Rikishi and a mystery partner at Judgment Day.

The Match: Rikishi no-sells Billy’s DDT, but he misses a corner splash. Now Billy and Chuck give him a double flapjack and double-team him. Rikishi avoids a dropkick after recovering, but Rico is too busy taunting the fans to tag. This allows Billy to nail a neckbreaker. Plus, Chuck gives Rikishi an overhead belly-to-belly! A Fameasser follows, but it isn’t enough. Next, Chuck stops short of running into Rico, leaving him open for a belly-to-belly by Rikishi. Rikishi continues with a Samoan Drop on Billy and sits on Chuck during a sunset flip attempt. When Billy breaks up the pin, Rikishi floors him with a press cutter. Sensing trouble, Chuck holds Rikishi for Rico’s heel kick, but he hits Chuck by mistake! Rikishi superkicks Rico out of the way and covers Chuck for the victory.

Thoughts: This wasn’t good. The crowd couldn’t care less about the storyline. They were quiet for most of this, and they’ve been great all night. Sadly, the tag division continued to disappoint. At least they put this in the cooldown spot.

Winners: Rikishi & Rico (New Champions) (3:50)

Lawler yells at an unconscious Rico to tell him he’s a champion now. As he says this, Rikishi lifts both belts, so Jerry tells him not to hog them. Then Rikishi goes to the top of the ramp and dons his hat for a victory dance with pyro. Billy and Chuck can’t believe this. They tell Rico it’s time to leave, but Rico picks up his title belt on the way out.

Meanwhile, Angle ambushes Edge backstage and drags him to the barber’s platform. He wants to shave Edge’s head despite his loss. Angle tells everyone they will get a haircut tonight. However, Edge fights back and puts Kurt in a sleeper hold. Once he passes out, Edge places him in the chair and grabs the clippers. He has to switch to larger ones because the smaller one takes too long. While Edge shaves Kurt’s head, the fans sing “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” to Angle’s hair. Then Edge applies some shaving cream to finish the job. He smacks Kurt with the mirror to wake him up, and Kurt freaks out. He calls Edge a son of a bitch, but Edge floors him when he tries to fight. While Kurt is down, Edge tells him the crowd will chant “You’re bald” from now on, which they do.

Next, it’s time for the main event. The Undertaker uses an early version of his “You’re Gonna Pay” theme without the lyrics, so he ditched the Limp Bizkit music. Taker is also wearing Hogan’s weight belt to the ring.

Undisputed Title Match: The Undertaker vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (c)

Storyline: Triple H invaded RAW to come after Taker, but they arrested Triple H for trespassing. Then Taker cost Triple H a shot at the title and helped Jericho attack Hunter, but Hogan saved him. Afterward, Taker claimed he ran Hogan out of the WWF in the 90s. This led to a confrontation, and Taker bloodied Hogan with his weight belt. Later, Hogan stole Taker’s bike and dared him to get it. It stalled on the ramp, but this didn’t prevent Hogan from bringing it backstage and running it over with a truck. As a result, Taker ambushed Hogan with a tire iron and tied him to his bike. He dragged Hogan around the arena. Finally, Vince called Hulkamania a cancer and said Taker would bury Hogan at Judgment Day. Hogan attacked Vince and gave him the leg drop when he heard this.

The Match: They whip each other with the weight belt before the opening bell, but Hebner eventually stops them. Now they brawl inside and outside until Hogan reverses Taker into the steps. This makes a fan lose his mind. When they return, Hogan crotches Taker on an Old School attempt and lands a superplex! Unfortunately for Hogan, Taker targets his braced knee. He uses the apron and the post to weaken it before locking Hogan in leg holds. Hogan almost rallies with an Axe Bomber and a big boot, but Taker blocks a leg drop and turns it into a half crab.

Once Hogan escapes, Taker misses a big boot. It doesn’t matter because he recovers to land the worst-looking chokeslam ever. Nevertheless, Hogan hulks up, but the big boot and leg drop only gets two! Meanwhile, Vince arrives as Taker nails a jumping DDT. With Hogan down, Taker grabs a chair and fends off Hebner’s efforts to stop him. The problem is the distraction allows Hogan to kick the chair into Taker’s face and land a leg drop. Sensing trouble, Vince distracts the ref. Hogan pulls Vince into the ring and gives him the leg drop, but Taker whacks Hogan with a chair. A better-looking chokeslam follows for the three.

Thoughts: This was poor for a main event. The action was awkward and slow. Plus, Hogan’s offense looked weak. Except for the weight belt shots, his attacks didn’t look like they could hurt a fly. It was more evident than usual in this bout. At least they kept it short and got where they needed to go.

Winner: The Undertaker (New Champion) (11:32)

Afterward, Taker intimidates Earl Hebner into buckling the belt around his waist and raising his arm, so JR calls him Satan. Then Taker almost leaves, but he comes back for more damage. He grabs a chair and jams it into Hogan’s throat. Shots to the ribs follow this, knocking Hogan to the floor.

The Good:

• Eddie vs. RVD

• Angle vs. Edge

• Kurt’s antics

• Jericho vs. Triple H

The Bad:

• Rikishi & Rico vs. Billy & Chuck

• The tag division somehow became worse

Observations & Extra Notes:

• Except for Triple H/Jericho, most of the build for this PPV felt weak.

• Triple H vs. Jericho at Mania needed the type of build they gave this Hell in a Cell Match.

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to Kurt Angle. He entertained the Hell out of me between the match and his antics.

Final Thoughts:

This was a good PPV brought down by a poor main event. It wasn’t bad, but it ultimately fell flat. The problem is, I’m basing that off the in-ring action. As far as creative, they were stumbling around this time, especially with Austin. And that bit them in the ass after this PPV.

Thank you for reading. My next review is King of the Ring 2002. Look for it next Sunday!