No Mercy 2002

WWE No Mercy 2002

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

No Mercy

October 20, 2002

Alltel Arena

North Little Rock, Arkansas

News & Notes: Vince put a freeze on people jumping from show to show after Unforgiven. There has to be an official trade for someone to move. However, Bischoff made a few last-minute deals. He brought Orton, Batista, and the Hurricane to RAW. Unfortunately, Orton suffered a shoulder injury, so he will be out for a few months. Orton encouraged the fans to email him with their well-wishes during his absence. In other news, Bischoff created a new concept when RAW was in Las Vegas. He introduced the RAW Roulette. It’s an updated version of the old Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal gimmick from WCW. The wheel of stipulations provided some amusing moments, such as Regal having to dress as a Vegas showgirl to fight Goldust. Elsewhere, Bubba Ray got his World Title shot against Triple H, but Flair helped Triple H win.

Then we have the continuing evolution of Matt Hardy. He upgraded his presentation to include Matt Facts during his entrance. Matt used this to brag about his two victories over the Undertaker. Meanwhile, Chris Nowinski feuded with Tommy Dreamer after Dreamer attacked him. They fought in Nowinski’s classroom, and Dreamer hit Nowinski in the face with a Kendo stick, breaking his jaw. Next, Bischoff added Lita to the Heat commentary team while she recovers from her neck surgery. The problem was that Bischoff called her useless and disrespectful, so he summoned 3-Minute Warning. Thankfully, Jeff Hardy rescued Lita. Speaking of 3-Minute Warning, some of their former victims sought revenge. The Big Show, D’Lo, and Jeff Hardy saved Patterson and Brisco from them and chased Rosey and Jamal into the crowd. Finally, John Cena turned heel. He blamed Kidman for their loss in the tag tourney and cheated to defeat him.

The Undertaker and Kane talk backstage - WWE No Mercy 2002

The PPV: We cold open with Taker staring at his cast silently. Kane enters the room and sits next to him before asking, “So, how was your week?” Taker stares at him instead of answering.

The opening video of WWE No Mercy 2002

Triple H accused Kane of murdering a woman named Katie Vick, so let the truth be told! Kane said it was an accident. His denial only fuels his anger, but his guilt poisons his soul. The mind games are over. After tonight, RAW will have one champion because it’s the Intercontinental champ versus the World champ, and the winner takes all. Who will show no mercy? Triple H says Kane might have taken the life of a sweet girl like Katie, but he won’t claim his title. Then we hear about the Undertaker and Lesnar. Heyman shouts Latin over footage of Brock. Are they in Taker’s head? Do the ghosts of Taker’s past haunt him? Is he worried about his unborn child? Taker might never be healthy after Lesnar unleashes his fury. He never walked through Hell with a sadistic animal like Lesnar. Heyman calls Brock the new phenom.

Now, fireworks explode as JR welcomes everyone to Little Rock. There are eight matches with six championships on the line. But there’s nothing more dangerous and ominous than Hell in a Cell. While JR and King discuss the card, Jericho and Christian arrive for the first contest.

Booker T and Goldust vs. Chris Jericho and Christian - WWE No Mercy 2002

World Tag Team Title Match: Chris Jericho & Christian (c) vs. Booker T & Goldust

Storyline: Booker and Goldust pissed off the wrong people. First, they angered Bischoff by mocking him for the HLA segment. Then they got on Jericho’s bad side by insulting Fozzy and calling Jericho a sucka. Bischoff punished them with matches against 3-Minute Warning and the Big Show. Meanwhile, the Un-Americans imploded after a few losses and arguments, so Christian sought a new partner to enter a TLC Match for the tag belts. He chose Jericho. They didn’t succeed, but Christian and Jericho received a rematch against Kane and the Hurricane. Jericho pinned the Hurricane with his feet on the ropes to win the championships. While these things happened, Jericho and Booker T kept brawling with each other. Jericho even jumped Booker in the women’s shower during Booker’s Falls Count Anywhere contest against the Big Show. Finally, Bischoff booked this to counter Stephanie’s new tag titles on Smackdown.

The Match: Jericho doesn’t want to face Booker, but Booker and Goldust take out their opponents with heel kicks, clotheslines, and Goldbutts. Then Booker catapults Jericho onto Christian. The flurry lasts until Christian gives Goldust a hotshot and takes control. Now they subdue Goldust with choking, a missile dropkick, and a Russian leg sweep. Christian also knocks Booker off the apron, preventing a tag. However, Booker returns after Goldust scores a powerslam and a neckbreaker.

Booker cleans house with a sidekick, a jumping forearm, a superkick, and a spinebuster. He misses another sidekick, but Goldust makes a blind tag, leading to a double clothesline and a double bulldog. Shattered Dreams on Christian follows before Goldust sends Jericho into Christian’s crotch. Afterward, Jericho puts Goldust in the Walls, only for Booker to break it with a scissors kick. Once Booker fends off Christian’s belt attack, he does the Spinaroonie, but Jericho attempts a springboard dropkick. The problem is that the rope breaks, sending Jericho crashing to the mat. Goldust capitalizes with a bulldog, so Christian places Jericho’s foot on the ropes. When Jericho recovers, he plants Goldust on the title with a bulldog and pins him after a moonsault.

Thoughts: This was a solid opener before the mishap, but I have to add extra points because of how well they handled the broken rope. Jericho was lucky. He almost landed on his head when the rope snapped. They played it off fine and had a hot finish, so I enjoyed this.

Winners: Chris Jericho & Christian (8:46)

Funaki interviews Al Wilson - WWE No Mercy 2002

Backstage, Smackdown’s #1 announcer Funaki has a special interview with Torrie’s dad, Al Wilson. He shows Al footage of Dawn Marie’s advances toward him. Funaki asks Al how this makes him feel, but Al hems and haws and doesn’t answer. Then Funaki presents a clip of Torrie catching Al in the shower with Dawn. Funaki wants to know why Al didn’t remove his clothes. Instead of explaining, Al says he didn’t have sexual relations with that woman. He leaves after saying this, so Funaki says Al must not understand English.

Dawn Marie vs. Torrie Wilson - WWE No Mercy 2002

Torrie Wilson vs. Dawn Marie

Storyline: Torrie became Smackdown’s queen of the bikini and lingerie contests after defeating Dawn Marie twice. This didn’t sit well with Dawn, so she attacked Torrie. Then Dawn got back at her unexpectedly. Torrie’s father, Al Wilson, came to Smackdown to visit her, and Dawn hit on him. She also gave him her hotel room key and asked him to meet her. When Al kept showing up each week, Torrie grew suspicious, but he denied any wrongdoing. Later, Al brought flowers to Smackdown. Torrie thought they were for her, but Jan, the makeup lady, informed her they were for Dawn. Upon hearing this, Torrie searched for her dad and caught him in the shower with Dawn Marie. Dawn stripped naked, but Al still wore clothes.

The Match: Dawn bails outside, but Torrie performs a baseball slide and rams her into the apron. Back inside, Torrie scores clotheslines and a sunset flip. Next, Dawn springboards onto the apron and nails a hotshot, but Torrie hits another baseball slide. This time, Dawn runs Torrie into the apron. Now Dawn focuses on Torrie’s back with stomps and a surfboard. She even lands an atomic headbutt, which Tazz doesn’t think would hurt a woman. After recovering, Torrie tackles Dawn and they roll over the ref. He grabs Dawn to stop her, so Dawn calls him disgusting. Once Dawn berates the ref, she trades knockdowns with Torrie, but Torrie fires back. Torrie does a suplex, a dropkick, a catapult, and a hotshot. They daze Dawn enough for Torrie to end it with a swinging neckbreaker.

Thoughts: Parts of this amused me, but it wasn’t very good. The swinging neckbreaker that ended it looked rough. Plus, they repeated spots too often. Unfortunately, they are just starting this feud. Things will get crazier from here.

Winner: Torrie Wilson (4:40)

Coach interviews RVD - WWE No Mercy 2002

Now, Coach interviews RVD about his upcoming match with Ric Flair. Ric cost RVD his chance at the World Title, so what are RVD’s thoughts? RVD says Flair is a sixteen-time champ. He’s the jet-flying, limousine-riding, wheeling, dealing son of a gun, but that’s not RVD’s style. RVD rents cars and rides in coach on airplanes. No offense meant to Coach. Rob says he is more of a chair-smashing, frog-splashing, risk-taking, yinning and yanging, Van Daminating dude named Rob Van Dam. While Van Dam says this, he struts and woos. This ends the interview, but Coach spots Heyman, Lesnar, and Tracy in the distance. He chases after them for a word, but Heyman blows him off. However, Tracy has something to say. She claims she told the truth about Taker, and she wants to see the scumbag get what he deserves in Hell in a Cell.

Ric Flair vs. RVD - WWE No Mercy 2002

Rob Van Dam vs. Ric Flair

Storyline: Flair said he joined Triple H because Hunter made him realize he lost his passion. He lit a fire under him, so Flair vowed to teach Triple H how to reach the next level, style, and profile. Then RVD sought revenge, so Hunter and Flair jumped him until Bubba Ray saved RVD. They teamed against Flair and Hunter, and RVD put Hunter through a table. Later, RVD requested a fight against Flair, so Ric tried to avoid it by aiding Bischoff. He agreed to help Eric recruit Batista to RAW. However, Eric still gave RVD his encounter, much to Flair’s chagrin. Meanwhile, RVD paired with Jeff Hardy to enter TLC. Plus, RVD faced Triple H in a Canadian Lumberjack contest, and Flair hit him with the belt. Before the bout, Hunter blocked half the lumberjacks in their locker room with a forklift, but Booker freed them.

The Match: RVD chases Flair outside and rams him into the post. Then RVD scores a diving kick, a barricade wheel kick, a flying kick, and a cartwheel moonsault. While Flair keeps begging off, RVD continues the attack. He whips Ric into a Flair Flip and nails a wheel kick and a springboard kick. The onslaught ends when Ric uses eye pokes, leading to a chop block. Now Flair focuses on the leg with more chop blocks and strikes. A back suplex precedes a Figure Four, but RVD reverses it. RVD also surprises Flair with pin attempts, throws him off the top rope, and lands Rolling Thunder. Flair gets a foot on the ropes during the pin, but RVD finishes him with a Five Star Frog Splash.

Thoughts: I wanted to love this, but it was bland. It had little substance. They provided fine action, but it didn’t thrill me. And this didn’t go very long.

Winner: RVD (7:59)

The Big Show yells at Eric Bischoff - WWE No Mercy 2002

Backstage, Big Show complains to Stephanie, but she tells him to talk to Bischoff. As she says this, Bischoff arrives and wants to know what the hell is going on. Why is Big Show talking to Stephanie? He says Big Show is RAW’s property, which makes him Eric’s property. Sensing trouble, Stephanie bows out of the conversation. Once she’s gone, Show says he hasn’t been on a PPV since July and hasn’t headlined one in god knows how long. He’s a former WCW and WWE champ, but Bischoff has him standing around with his thumb up his ass. Upon hearing this, Eric tells him to watch his tone and never speak to Stephanie. Period! Who the hell does Show think he is? Show answers this by slamming Bischoff against some carts. He says he’s an angry giant, so Bischoff better give him a main event, or he’ll snap his neck.

Afterward, they present a video about the history of the Intercontinental Title.

Jamie Noble vs. Tajiri - WWE No Mercy 2002

Cruiserweight Title Match: Jamie Noble (c) (w/ Nidia) vs. Tajiri

Storyline: Tajiri helped Noble battle Billy and Chuck after Noble got into a fight with them. Sadly, their team soon imploded. They planned to participate in the WWE Tag Title tournament, but security kicked Noble and Nidia out for fighting backstage. Therefore, Stephanie told Brock Lesnar to take Noble’s place as Tajiri’s partner. They lost to Edge and Rey Mysterio, and Brock angrily attacked everyone. Later, Noble and Nidia’s arguments led to a match between the two of them, with Tajiri as the referee. Noble rolled Nidia up for the win, but he thought Tajiri became too handsy with Nidia afterward. Jamie jumped Tajiri and gave him a Tiger Bomb. With Tajiri down, Noble and Nidia patched their differences and made out over Tajiri’s unconscious body.

The Match: Tajiri performs a baseball slide and an Asai moonsault before they trade snapmares and kicks to the back. Then Tajiri rolls through a sunset flip and kicks Noble in the head, but Noble turns a victory roll into a running electric chair drop. Jamie also counters Tajiri’s crucifix with a Samoan Drop and reverses his pin attempts. Plus, Noble mixes in seated surfboards among these moves, but Tajiri rallies. He knocks Noble off the top rope and scores a tornado DDT and a handspring elbow. A German suplex and a Tarantula follow before Tajiri nails a buzzsaw kick after two tries. Before Tajiri can cover, Nidia kisses the ref to distract him, allowing Noble to land a Tiger Bomb. When Jamie seeks another one, Tajiri looks for a victory roll. Unfortunately for Tajiri, Nidia trips them, and Noble lands on top for the three.

Thoughts: This started slowly, but they built to a nice finish. The problem was that they had little heat from the crowd, but the fans reacted to the bigger spots. So they didn’t lose them. Overall, I found this enjoyable.

Winner: Jamie Noble (8:15)

While Noble and Nidia celebrate, Tajiri grabs Nidia. It looks like he’s going to hit her, but he kisses her instead. Tazz says Tajiri isn’t a happy camper, but Cole calls him a horny one. Meanwhile, Nidia appears to like it, so Noble wants to show Tajiri how a real man does it. As Noble and Nidia make out, Tajiri kicks Noble in the head and leaves.

Chris Benoit talks to Eddie Guerrero backstage - WWE No Mercy 2002

Elsewhere, Benoit looks for Eddie Guerrero. He tells Eddie Chavo is getting his ass handed to him by Angle. Eddie seems skeptical, but he tells Benoit to lead him to Chavo. He hears a commotion in a locker room when he turns a corner, but Eddie senses a trap, so he asks Benoit if he thinks he’s stupid. He knows Angle is waiting to hit him with a chair. Besides, that’s not Chavo. Eddie says it sounds like a little girl’s voice. While Eddie says this, the door flies open, and someone tosses Chavo into the hallway. Angle emerges with a chair, which he throws on the floor. Then Benoit and Angle laugh at Eddie, who tries to charge at them, but security holds Eddie back.

Kane vs. Triple H - WWE No Mercy 2002

World & Intercontinental Title Unification Match: Triple H vs. Kane

Storyline: Kane received a tag championship opportunity. All he had to do was find a partner, so he chose the Hurricane. They won the belts in their first match as a team. Later, Kane defeated Jericho to win the Intercontinental belt, so he said this was the happiest he had ever been. Unfortunately, Bischoff announced he would merge the IC championship with the World title, which made Kane Triple H’s next opponent. Hunter tried to get under Kane’s skin by accusing him of murdering someone named Katie Vick. Kane explained it was a car accident because of bad weather and an animal on the road. However, Hunter claimed the reports said Kane was drunk, and they found his semen on Katie’s body. Triple H wondered if Kane had sex with her before or after she was dead. These accusations caused Kane to lose his cool and attack Hunter.

The Match: They brawl in and out of the ring while Kane yells at Hunter. Then Kane nails a powerslam after two tries, but Hunter answers with neckbreakers, a face crusher, and a spinebuster. He even hooks a sleeper hold, but Kane escapes for a flying clothesline. This draws out Ric Flair. His distraction allows Hunter to use a belt shot, which isn’t enough. Now Kane and Hurricane try to fend off Flair’s interference, but Hunter gives Hurricane a Pedigree on the floor. Fighting on the top rope follows before Kane raises his boot into Hunter’s face on a flying nothing.

Afterward, the ref goes down when Kane boots him accidentally, so Kane chokeslams Triple H on the Spanish announcer’s table. Sensing trouble, Flair introduces the sledgehammer. Triple H and Kane fight over it until Hunter uses it to block a Tombstone. Nevertheless, Kane lands a chokeslam, but Flair grabs the new ref when he arrives. Flair also dives at Kane, but Kane catches him for a chokeslam. The problem is that this enables Hunter to drive Kane into the corner and score a Pedigree for the three.

Thoughts: This was a mess. They overbooked the hell out of the finish, and it wasn’t great to begin with. The first half of the contest dragged. Then, it devolved into madness. Plus, this has the dark cloud of the Katie Vick nonsense hanging over it.

Winner: Triple H (16:13)

Stephanie talks to Tracy backstage - WWE No Mercy 2002

Stephanie invites Tracy into her office to speak woman-to-woman about relationships. After all, Steph just watched her ex-husband wrestle. Steph says she realizes why Tracy kept the secrets about Taker for so long. She thinks Tracy is in love with him, but Tracy denies this. She says she can’t stand him. Steph counters by saying you would have to care to feel so strongly. Then Tracy admits she’s only there because Heyman called her, so Steph asks if Heyman put her up to lying. Tracy confesses that’s the case. (She thinks she’s doing this confidentially because she apparently can’t see the camera out of the corner of her eye.) Tracy says she lied, but only because she wants Mark back. As she says this, Taker enters the room and calls her a lying bitch. He thanks Steph and tells her he owes her one.

Now it’s time to crown the first WWE Tag Team champions. This match includes two-thirds of the fabled Smackdown Six, but one is working hurt. Edge injured his neck during a No DQ contest against Eddie Guerrero when he landed on a ladder. He didn’t realize how bad the injury was at this point.

Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle - WWE No Mercy 2002

Finals of the WWE Tag Team Title Tournament: Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio

Storyline: Stephanie created new tag titles because the other ones became exclusive to RAW. She started a tournament to crown the first champs but wanted a team to legitimize the division. Since Benoit and Angle couldn’t coexist, she forced them to pair together for the tournament and threatened them with a yearlong suspension if they turned on each other. They defeated Cena & Kidman and Los Guerreros to reach this point. Meanwhile, Edge and Rey beat Lesnar & Tajiri and D-Von & Ron Simmons to earn their spot. All the while, both teams dealt with Los Guerreros. Eddie and Chavo stirred the pot between Benoit and Angle and lured them into traps backstage. They tried to frame Angle for the ambush, but Benoit didn’t buy it. The Guerreros also brawled with Edge and Rey because Eddie was still feuding with Edge.

The Match: Angle toys with Mysterio and wants him to tag Edge, but Rey fights Kurt. Rey gets the better of Angle, so Benoit and Edge take over and trade takedowns and pin attempts. This continues until Angle gives Edge cheap shots despite Edge spearing him off the apron. Now Benoit and Angle subdue Edge with suplexes until Edge lands a superplex. Then Rey returns to give Benoit headscissors and a springboard leg drop, but Benoit counters a bulldog into a Crossface. Edge stops him only to brawl with Angle, but Edge escapes to assist Rey with a missile dropkick. Sadly, Rey’s rally doesn’t last because Kurt surprises him with the run-up throw.

Next, Benoit and Angle keep Ray down with suplexes, throws, and backbreakers. When Angle seeks more, Rey sends him into the post with a headscissors and tags Edge. Edge cleans house with knockdowns, a backdrop, a face plant, and an Edge-O-Matic. Rey adds a Bronco Buster before Edge vaults him into a Frankensteiner on Kurt. As Rey covers, Benoit tries to break up the pin with a flying headbutt, but he hits Angle! Nevertheless, Angle scores a German on Edge, but Edge backdrops Rey onto Kurt. Rey even breaks up a Crossface on Edge with a 619, so Angle drops Rey with an Angle Slam and puts Edge in an anklelock. Once Edge escapes, he spears Angle while Rey and Benoit scuffle. Finally, Edge trades anklelocks with Angle, but Kurt gains the advantage and makes Edge tap.

Thoughts: This was amazing. They structured this perfectly and took the fans on a ride. Plus, I loved the finish. This was one of the few contests to get a good reaction on this show. They held the audience in the palms of their hands.

Winners: Chris Benoit & Kurt Angle (New Champions) (22:03)

The Undertaker wants a shot for the pain - WWE No Mercy 2002

Meanwhile, Taker is in the trainer’s room. He is wearing a cast covered in Heyman’s blood. Taker tells a trainer named Larry to give him a shot for the pain to make it through Hell in a Cell, but Larry says that’s unethical. Taker demands the shot. If Larry doesn’t oblige, he’ll do it himself. Larry gives him the shot after hesitating.

Victoria vs. Trish Stratus - WWE No Mercy 2002

Women’s Title Match: Trish Stratus (c) vs. Victoria

Storyline: Victoria showed a surprising rage toward Trish that no one could explain. She ambushed her before a tag encounter. Then she got a shot at the Women’s title, but they disqualified her for hitting Trish with a chair. When Coach wondered what her problem was, Victoria told him to ask Trish about the people she had hurt in the past. Later, Victoria jumped Trish again after a Bra & Panties Match. Eventually, she explained. Victoria said they were fitness models together. She accused Trish of ruining her chance at a WWE contract and claimed Trish slept her way to getting a job in the company. This led to Victoria & Molly vs. Trish & Jacqueline with Stacy Keibler as the ref. Stacy tried to screw Trish out of a victory, but she went down to a ref bump, and Trish’s team won.

The Match: They trade slaps, takedowns, and knockdowns until Victoria regroups. Then Trish yanks Victoria into the post, but Victoria returns the favor and drops Trish on the barricade. Now she sends Trish inside for a slingshot leg drop and monkey flips. After Trish blocks the second one, they fight on the top rope, and Trish does a handstand headscissors. Next, Victoria places Trish in a Canadian backbreaker, but Trish turns it into a bridging pin. Victoria answers with a slam and a spinning side slam before climbing. However, Trish pulls her into an electric chair drop. A Chick Kick and a Stratusfaction attempt follow. Victoria reverses the Stratusfaction, but Trish counters into a roll-up for the win.

Thoughts: This was decent, but short. I enjoyed the action they gave us, but it didn’t have the time to gain any momentum. They stuck this in the cooldown spot and used it as such, which is a disservice. WWE should have flipped the women’s matches and put Torrie vs. Dawn in this slot.

Winner: Trish Stratus (5:32)

As Trish celebrates, Victoria kicks her in the face. The ref tackles Victoria to stop her, so she tries to escape. Eventually, they get her out of the ring.

Rikishi is at the World - WWE No Mercy 2002

Meanwhile, Rikishi is in the World. Cole asks him about Hell in a Cell after they show a recap from Armageddon 2000. How did Hell in a Cell affect Rikishi’s life? Rikishi claims watching the replay sent a chill up his spine. It could have ended his career. Rikishi says he will never forget it because it was no joke. Then Cole asks for a prediction, so Rikishi picks the Undertaker. Hell in a Cell is his match. Rikishi only hopes what happened to him won’t happen to Brock.

This leads to the entrances for the main event. Falls will count anywhere in this Hell in a Cell.

Brock Lesnar vs. The Undertaker, Hell in a Cell - WWE No Mercy 2002

Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Title: Brock Lesnar (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. The Undertaker

Storyline: Lesnar went on a rampage after Unforgiven. He destroyed Funaki and bloodied Taker with the title belt. Then Brock helped Matt Hardy defeat the Undertaker twice and broke Taker’s hand with a propane tank. A furious Taker used his cast to bludgeon Matt Hardy, but he hurt himself. While Steph sent Taker to get x-rays, Heyman brought a mystery woman to Smackdown. Her name was Tracy, and she claimed she was having an affair with Taker. Taker initially denied knowing her but later admitted they dated seven years ago. However, he said he hadn’t seen her since. Taker sought revenge on Brock, and Heyman wanted Stephanie to ban Taker’s cast when he kept using it as a weapon. Stephanie considered doing it, so Taker lost his cool. Eventually, Steph allowed the cast, so Taker used it to bloody Brock and Heyman.

The Match: Lesnar drops Taker with a powerslam and lures him into a trap, but Taker answers with cast shots. Then he runs Lesnar into the wall and steps until Brock is bleeding and nails the apron leg drop. A panicked Heyman reaches through a hole in the wall to stop him, so Taker yanks Paul into the cage with his tie and leaves him bloody. Unfortunately, this allows Brock to attack. He takes Heyman’s belt and ties Taker’s arm to the cell before whacking it with a chair. Now Lesnar rips off the cast after a long effort, so Taker throws a low blow and does a rope-walk flying elbow. Taker even knocks Brock off the apron and performs a suicide dive! Afterward, Taker can’t lift the steps because of his hand, so Brock gets them. He uses the steps to bust Taker open badly.

Back inside, Brock hits a spinebuster, but Taker rallies. He stomps on Brock’s hand for payback and looks for Old School, but Brock arm drags Taker. With Taker down, Brock seeks an F5, so Taker falls behind him and scores a chokeslam. It only earns two, and Brock almost gives Taker the Last Ride. Once Taker escapes, he lands a jumping DDT and fends off Brock’s comeback to land the Last Ride. Brock grabs the ropes during the pin. Finally, Taker goes for the Tombstone, but Brock counters into an F5 for the three.

Thoughts: This was incredible. It contained nice brutality and storytelling. They didn’t need insane spots because the intensity was that good. Also, the action never spilled outside the cell, and they didn’t have to. The crowd reacted well to it.

Winner: Brock Lesnar (27:18)

Brock leaves the cell and collects his belt. Then he climbs to the roof and poses with it.

The Good:

  • The main event

  • Edge & Mysterio vs. Angle & Benoit

  • Noble vs. Tajiri

  • The opener

The Bad:

  • Dawn vs. Torrie

  • Triple H vs. Kane

Performer of the Night:

I’m giving it to everyone in the WWE Tag Title match. There’s a reason everyone remembers the Smackdown Six fondly. They did great in this bout.

Final Thoughts:

The show hit and missed, but the good far outweighed the bad. The main event and Edge & Rey vs. Angle & Benoit are worth the price of admission alone. If you can separate the Katie Vick nonsense from this PPV, it’s an enjoyable watch. It’s a shame that black cloud hangs over this.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for being patient while I took my break. I needed to clear my head after my dad died, but I’m back because I need the distraction. My next review is Survivor Series 2002. Look for it next Sunday.


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I write a blog where I chronologically review all pre-network PPVs from the WWF/WWE, WCW, & ECW.

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