World Wrestling Federation – Judgment Day 2001 – 20th May 2001
After critics panned the most-Mania Power Trip vs Brothers of Destruction feud, and the buyrates and TV ratings started heading into decline it was pretty clear by this point that WWF needed to refocus their main event scene. Tonight we close off the HHH/Austin vs Undertaker/Kane shenanigans in preparation for some fresh blood at the top of the card…and the looming spectre of a WCW invasion. Steve Austin defends the WWF Championship against Undertaker in a No Holds Barred Match that will headline the show, whilst The Game defends the IC Title in a Chain Match against Kane. This whole show is basically loaded with gimmick matches (a sure sign that Vince was worried about getting enough ppv buys) with an undercard containing Angle and Benoit in a Three Stages Of Hell Match, a Hardcore Title Match, a Tag Team Turmoil gauntlet match for #1 contendership to the Power Trip and more. Jim Ross and Paul Heyman are in Sacramento, CA.
SIDENOTE – A pre-show graphic on the screen reads ‘The End Is Hear’. Is that deliberate or did someone in the production team legitimately put an incredibly basic grammatical error on ppv?
William Regal vs Rikishi
We’re forgetting that Rikishi’s heel run ever happened now folks. He’s back to being a midcard babyface, complete with Too Cool's old entrance music, where he’d spend the rest of his WWF career. Regal is still Commissioner, and wants a piece of the Samoan tonight to punish him for giving Stephanie McMahon a Stinkface on television.
Should we feel sorry for Rikishi? He voluntarily launched himself off the Cell in December, and in terms of his career-trajectory is now back where he started before the heel turn. Regal hits him low to block the Stinkface. Standing butt splash misses too as the Commissioner uses his superior wrestling skill and intelligence to get the better of his larger opponent. Finally Rikishi hits a running ass attack and does get to deliver the Stinkface. Regal rolls out of the ring convulsing and threatening to vomit into the front row – selling it so hard that Rikishi almost breaks character and starts laughing. He drops him with the Regal Cutter to win at 03:56
Rating - * - Initially I gave this a DUD, but that seemed a little unfair. There was nothing inherently wrong with the wrestling here, it was just such a pointless match and a totally flat way to start a pay-per-view. Regal’s selling of the Stinkface was probably worth a star by itself.
Edge & Christian discuss winning the Tag Team Turmoil Match later, and going on to become 8-time Tag Champions regardless of who Chris Jericho’s mystery partner is. Kurt Angle wants some pointers on Ladder Matches ahead of his Three Stages Of Hell showdown with Chris Benoit next
Triple H and Stephanie arrive, greeted by Vince McMahon. The Chairman wants to know why they’ve been messing with Undertaker’s wife.
Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit – Three Stages Of Hell Match
Although this is being billed as a 2/3 Falls Match, since each fall has a different stipulation I’m giving it the 3SOH title. By this point we’ve seen Kurt and Chris trade wins at WrestleMania and Backlash (and Insurrextion), and their feud grew even more personal once Benoit stole Angle’s gold medals and started holding them hostage in his crotch. Tonight the winner will leave with the gold medals. Fall one is pinfalls only, fall two is a Submission Match and the third fall, if needed, will be a Ladder Match.
Kurt attacks Benoit whilst he reaches into his tights to hand the medals over, so the match officially starts with him stomping on the Canadian in the corner…then pulling him out into ROLLING GERMANS! He tries to add insult to injury, but misses the Flying Wolverine. Benoit hauls him up into an OLYMPIC SLAM! Benoit wins the first fall at 01:04! He then dives into the Crippler Crossface! Angle makes it to the ropes there but is escorted out of the ring where he has his shoulder seriously worked over. The Olympian starts to get desperate at 1-0 down, and reacts by crotching Benoit on the ringpost. Anklelock countered…both ways! Again Benoit aggressively tries to put him in the Crossface and very nearly succeeds. Angle goes to the eyes to give himself the advantage again – following that with an assortment of suplexes. But still he has to think on his feet to avoid another Crippler Crossface attempt. He starts targeting the leg, applying a SICK STF variant albeit a little too close to the ropes. Benoit counters – WALLS OF JERICHO! It doesn’t win him the match, but using Chris Jericho’s submission hold injures Kurt and puts him on the ground for him to steal another iconic move. He has Kurt screaming in pain as a result of a Figure 4 Leglock! Angle is hopping around the ring after enduring the torture of those holds…and he stumbles into a shinbreaker/dragon screw combo making his pain even worse.
Angle Slam out of nowhere…leaving both men down. Kurt is up first and grabs the Anklelock. Benoit taps, taking us to 1-1 at 13:26 – the ladders are now in play for the deciding fall. The two athletes go back outside and take it in turns bashing each other’s weary bodies into the unforgiving ringside elements. Angle pulls out the flimsiest ladder he can find…and it shakes with every rung he climbs until Benoit pounces to shove him off. He starts ramming a ladder into Benoit’s ribs…only for the Wolverine to duck and back drop him (ladder and all) back to the floor. The Crippler absolutely NAILS him with one of the ladders, but barely climbs halfway up to the medals before he feels Kurt’s forearm whacking him in the balls. He responds by catapulting Kurt into the ladder! Kurt RUNS up the ladder…only to have it dragged backwards so he crashes down onto his back. Moments later he’s back on his feet whipping Benoit chest-first into it! SUPLEX ON A LADDER! Benoit collapses out of the ring, landing on his feet to see-saw the same ladder back into Kurt’s face. Trapping Angle under the ladder, he looks to climb for the medals…and is a rung away before Kurt tips it to drop him over the top rope. Crippler Crossface has Kurt tapping…which means nothing of course. Edge & Christian run in to attack Benoit, distracting him so Angle can grab the medals at 23:58
Rating - *** - What a bogus and unsatisfying conclusion this was. This was, of course, an enjoyable contest but it was far and away one of their weakest matches together. The stipulations really over-complicated things. At WrestleMania they were superb in a straightforward pro-wrestling match, but since then their matches have got increasingly convoluted and progressively weaker. I enjoyed the Submission fall of this, and the brief opening fall certainly got us off with a bang…but it really seemed to lose steam in the third fall. Thankfully the feud wouldn’t end here, and would continue into June where it concluded in a memorable Steel Cage Match on Raw.
Undertaker storms into the Commissioner’s office as he receives medical attention. The Deadman accuses Regal of helping the Power Trip interact with his wife, and wants him to make it up by making the main event a No Holds Barred Match.
Jerry Lynn is at WWF New York and b*tches at JR for not being booked on the ppv. This was awesome although I have no idea what the point was
Rhyno vs Test vs Big Show – WWF Hardcore Title Match
Test and Show have been feuding since Test sided with Shane McMahon – and helped the WCW owner defeat Show last month at Backlash. The Man Beast is added to the mix tonight as defending Hardcore Champion, and won’t be intimidated by either of his sizeable opponents.
Test jumps Big Show during his entrance, so the match starts before the Hardcore Champion even comes out. Eventually Rhyno arrives on the scene, although he is soon dumped out again by Show. The guardrails move a couple of feet when Test whips Big Show into them…following it by JUMPING THE RAILS into a guillotine! All three fight through the crowd into the bowels of the arena. Test throttles the big man with a length of rope…getting him to his knees where Rhyno runs him over with a huge cart full of equipment crates. Incredibly Show barely stays down after that, getting back to his feet to throw Rhyno through a wall! The champ and Test join forces to knock him down a flight of steps onto a pile of wooden pallets. That incapacitates him…and his two opponents leave him there to fight all the way back to the ring. Rhyno DDT’s Test on a trash can lid for 2. Big Show emerges to Chokeslam the Hardcore Campion…only to stand their triumphantly for too long and eat the Big Boot from Test. GORE ON SHOW! Test sprays a fire extinguisher into his face taking Show out of commission. Rhyno tosses a trash can to Show…SPRINGBOARD GORE THROUGH THE TRASH CAN! Amazing finish! Rhyno retains at 09:13
Rating - ** - I’d forgotten how awesome Rhyno was at this point, before years of midcard mediocrity and main event disappointments in WWE and TNA had worn him down. This is the second month in a row he’s done some incredibly innovative things in a Hardcore Title environment which you thought had grown stale sometime ago. As a match this was pretty much on par with Raven/Kane/Show at WrestleMania. That one was slightly more entertaining, this one had a better finish.
William Regal is hesitant to enter Stone Cold’s locker room to deliver the news he’s now defending the WWF Championship in a No Holds’s Barred Match
Lita warms up with the Hardyz, ahead of her Women’s Title shot against Chyna. Eddie Guerrero slides into shot offering her advice, which she declines
Back to Regal, who is now in Austin’s locker room. Austin is remarkably calm about the added stipulations for his match.
Chyna vs Lita – WWF Women’s Title Match
I believe this wound up being Chyna’s final ppv appearance. She openly said on TV that she didn’t enjoy being in the women’s division as it didn’t provide her with any competition. Lita stepped up and challenged her – leading to a rather tense competitive (but friendly) rivalry building up to the ppv. Chyna easily won the title from Ivory at WrestleMania, and has swept aside all challengers with ease ever since. Is Lita the won to provide her with the competition she craves?
Chyna’s peacock-themed ring attire has to be seen to be believed. The two ladies hug before the bell indicating that this is still a friendly rivalry. Chyna easily tosses Lita aside, and smiles/smirks as she helps her up. Lita counters the champion’s signature press slam into a sunset flip for 2! She then tries to return the favour by helping her up…only for Chyna to counter to a small package! She really didn’t take kindly to Lita offering to help her and starts DESTROYING her with stiff strikes. The challenger had to absorb some serious punishment, but pops back into a swinging DDT. Evidently she didn’t take kindly to those strikes from Chyna – as she mounts her to repeatedly sock her in the face. Chyna shuts her down again with a swinging neckbreaker. Press slam nailed second time of asking, followed by a triumphant stare which suggests Chyna thinks it’s over. She covers Lita…but condescendingly pulls her shoulders up. CROSS ARMBREAKER ON CHYNA! Eddie Guerrero is in the aisle watching proceedings, as Chyna counters the armbreaker to a grounded headscissors. She looks for the same powerbomb that beat Ivory…only for Lita to counter with a rana. Twist Of Fate COUNTERED to the powerbomb this time. Chyna retains at 06:30
Rating - *** - This is a generous rating, particularly since some of the execution was a little shaky. However, I’m a sucker for a well-told story, and I really loved what they went for here. Chyna has dominated the division, and Lita’s popularity is such that she made for a great underdog. Chyna really nailed her character here – starting the match with smiles and obvious condescending confidence, but then being dragged into a fight by the tenacious challenger and ending it with an ‘I’m going to kill you, b*tch’ expression. It’s a real shame Chyna felt she was bigger than the women’s division and quit the company. With Lita and Trish in prominent positions, plus Molly Holly employed, Ivory still around and Victoria in development pending her debut there was plenty of talent for her to work with and present a halfway credible women’s division. She’d vacate the title a couple of weeks later – leaving the WWF wishing they’d booked Lita to win here
Kurt Angle tells Michael Cole he’s planning an ‘Olympic Medal Ceremony re-enactment’ tomorrow night on Raw. Edge & Christian pat themselves on the back for helping…
Triple H vs Kane – WWF Intercontinental Title Chain Match
This rivalry now stretches into a second month. Thanks to the Two Man Power Trip Kane has been nursing a seriously injured arm for several weeks, missing some ringtime in the process. After making his return to save his brother from a 2-on-1 beating, HHH challenged him to a Chain Match – with the objective of putting the Big Red Machine out of his business permanently.
Neither man has the chain attached to their wrists when HHH starts the match by nailing Kane in the head with it. He attacks the injured arm straight away, snapping it around the ringpost then hauling him out of the ring for a CHAIR SHOT TO THE ARM! With the Big Red Machine now down, Helmsley sets about attaching the chain to the wrist of his bad arm. Kane tries to flog the champion with the chain, but all it takes is for Hunter to jerk it and the monster drops to his knees in pain. Chain-wrapped axehandle smash to the arm gets 2, before HHH escorts his opponent back outside – placing the arm over the steps and whipping it with the chain again. He goes for a chair…but as he raises it above his head Kane snaps the chain, driving the chair into HHH’s head! He blades there, and bleeds heavily as Kane bashes his face into the steps. The challenger wraps the chain around the lacerated head, using it to draw more blood and weaken him. To Stephanie’s dismay, Kane starts hanging her husband in the ropes, then whips him straight across the kidneys. He sets up the diving lariat…only for Hunter to counter by using the chain to drag him arm-first off the top rope. Triple H uses the chain to drag Kane out of the ring and haul his arm into the guardrails…only for Kane to press slam him off them, putting them both down. ARM CAPTURE FACEBUSTER by Hunter, changing up his offence to suit the story of the match nicely. Kane headbutts his testicles to block the Pedigree – and climbs the ropes for a flying chain lariat! Chokeslam nailed! Stone Cold runs in to save the title for his tag partner, but he inadvertently levels Triple H with a chair! Kane wins the IC Title at 12:28
Rating - *** - It wasn’t the most exciting or intense of grudge matches, but this was actually a lot better than I remembered. Triple H’s assault on Kane’s arm was as entertaining as anything else on the whole show so far, and since that was the majority of the match it was hard not to enjoy it. Kane was fine although, as usual, an incredibly limited performer. The live audience was into him, and popped big for the finish.
Chris Jericho catches up with The Coach minutes before Tag Team Turmoil. Y2J doesn’t reveal the identity of his partner but does say they are going to take Edge & Christian out even if they don’t win.
Vince McMahon is in a corridor appealing for HHH to keep his cool and focus on helping Austin retain the WWF Championship later
Acolytes vs Dean Malenko/Perry Saturn – Tag Team Turmoil Match
We have seven teams in play, competing gauntlet style to be crowned #1 contender to the Tag Championship currently held by the Two Man Power Trip. Faarooq and Bradshaw have held the Tag Titles in the past, and they are big and bad enough to feel like they could threaten Austin and HHH if given the opportunity.
Saturn nearly snaps Faarooq’s head off tipping him over for a belly to belly suplex, giving The Radicalz the early advantage. Exploder suplex follows on Bradshaw, but he’d turned his back on Faarooq…who hits a spinebuster to eliminate his team at 01:31
Rating - DUD - The usual waste of Dean Malenko on a pay-per-view. I really don’t get how the Acolytes were still so over at this point. The APA gimmick had stopped being funny, their matches were always awful. I don’t see what they have going for them!
Acolytes vs Dudley Boyz – Tag Team Turmoil Match
These two would probably considered two of the favourites to win the whole thing. Bubba Ray and D-Von have met the APA before, and will have no problem engaging them in a fight with potential title shots on the line. Spike Dudley accompanies his half brothers to ringside
Faarooq starts the match hoisting D-Von into a powerslam, then distracts the ref whilst Bradshaw chokes him in the ropes. JR is throwing some nasty little comments in Paul Heyman’s direction for daring to mention that the Dudleyz were ECW Tag Champions. They try isolating Bradshaw, but that would involve JBL selling for more than two moves…so inevitably he gets bored and ignores D-Von’s offence to start stiffing him. Dudleyville Device on Bradshaw! Wassup Headbutt on Faarooq! Alas, the Dudleyz get preoccupied looking for tables. D-Von sets one up on the floor…only for Hardcore Holly to ALABAMASLAM HIM THROUGH IT! Bradshaw hits the Clothesline From Hell on Bubba Ray to win at 04:57 (05:28 total).
Rating - * - I wasn’t feeling this much, although that’s most likely because I really don’t enjoy watching the APA, and even less enjoy watching Hardcore Holly. Since they were the triumphant parties involved, obviously the ending left a sour taste in my mouth. The Alabamaslam table spot was really sick though. Thankfully the Dudleyz/Holly cousins feud wouldn't even make it to a single ppv.
Acolytes vs X-Pac/Justin Credible – Tag Team Turmoil Match
X-Factor enter the fray. They have Albert at their side, and will be looking to bring the first gold to their fledgling stable. Can they capitalise on a tiring APA team who have already defeated four other opponents to make it this far?
Bradshaw clearly doesn’t like X-Factor’s silly entrance theme, as he looks thoroughly pissed off whilst forearming Justin off the apron whilst it blares out. JR is still being an absolute cock to Heyman by the way. JBL gets a 2 with a back suplex in X-Pac…so Albert kicks him in the face on the outside. Naturally, Bradshaw sells that by instantly launching into a powerslam on Credible. Faarooq hits the ugliest guillotine leg drop you’ll ever see, and seconds later nearly drops Pac on his head when attempting a powerslam. I guess the Acolytes are gassed. They can go hit the showers now though, as Albert holds Bradshaw down, allowing X-Pac to win him at 03:44 (09:12 total).
Rating - DUD - The Acolytes were blowing by this point, and could barely execute a clean manoeuvre between them. Faarooq nearly messed up multiple spots, whilst Bradshaw very obviously had no interest in trying to help X-Factor look good.
X-Pac/Justin Credible vs Hardy Boyz – Tag Team Turmoil Match
The Hardyz have prior history with the Two Man Power Trip, so would love the chance to take their WWF Tag Championship away from them. X-Factor (plus two other teams) stand between them and the title shot.
The European Title is so insignificant Matt Hardy doesn’t even bring it to the ring with him. X-Factor crotch Jeff against the post, before Albert press slams him back into the ring. Bronco Buster adds insult to injury, prompting Matt to tag in. He knocks Justin out of the ring then crouches down for Poetry In Motion on Pac. Swanton Bomb scores…only for Albert to break the fall. SOMERSAULT PLANCHA by Jeff. Incredible Kick on Matt Hardy, eliminating the Hardyz in 03:11 (12:23 total).
Rating - * - There was some decent action and fun high spots packed into the brief time they got. I’m really questioning the booking of this one now though. The Dudleyz and the Hardyz (the two most over babyface teams) both get eliminated in their first match, whilst the Acolytes and X-Factor go multiple falls? That seems a little foolish to me…
X-Pac/Justin Credible vs Chris Jericho/Chris Benoit – Tag Team Turmoil Match
Y2J makes his entrance to the arena, and reveals his tag partner to be his long-time rival Chris Benoit. The Wolverine will obviously be suffering from some fatigue having already competed in a 2/3 Falls Match against Kurt Angle…but would dearly love to get into the ring with the Power Trip.
Jericho goes straight after X-Pac, which makes sense given their heated feud in 2000. He then tries an ill-advised tope suicida aimed at Albert…and is caught then PRESS SLAMMED into the rails! Inside the ring Pac and Credible start isolating the battle-weary Chris Benoit. Justin hits a sit-out powerbomb from the corner for 2, as Y2J crawls back onto the apron. Waltman takes Benoit into the corner, peppering his midsection with martial arts kicks. The Bronco Buster misses though, allowing Benoit to lunge into the hot tag to Jericho. He inadvertently clobbers referee Mike Chioda…taking him out and allowing Albert to destroy Benoit unimpeded. X Marks The Spot on Jericho…gets 2! Benoit saves his partner from a spike tombstone, then joins him for a double suplex on Albert! They suplex Credible on top of him! WALLS OF JERICHO ON X-PAC! CROSSFACE ON JUSTIN! We have simultaneous tap-outs, meaning the Canadian dream team advance to the finals at 05:18 (17:41 total time)
Rating - ** - A basic formula tag, but given how poor some of the falls in this Turmoil have been this one felt comparatively refreshing. All of these four are solid hands in the ring and could work something like this in their sleep. It benefited from having the added interest of Benoit pulling double duty – with X-Factor wisely making isolating him the focal point of the match
Chris Jericho/Chris Benoit vs Edge & Christian – Tag Team Turmoil Match
This is the final round, meaning the winners here get the Tag Title shot. Remember, Chris Jericho vowed earlier that even if he didn’t win, he’d make sure E&C weren’t going to get the championship match at any cost. He must realise a win is unlikely as Edge & Christian hold a massive tag experience advantage over them, and this is technically Benoit’s FIFTH match of the show!
There is a LOT of long blond hair flying around as these four guys flail away at each other. The 7-time former Tag Champions combine forces to hotshot Jericho over the top rope and set to work isolating and beating him down. Having recently given him a concussion with a Con-Chair-To, plenty of their offence is focused on his head and neck. Even when Jericho gets in position for a Lionsault he finds himself getting nothing but Edge’s knees. Poetry In Motion Stinger Splash misses though, opening a window of opportunity for a tag. Benoit in, sending Christian flying through the air with a German suplex. Edge-O-Matic floors him temporarily…but Y2J scoops Christian up with Benoit perched on the top rope. DOOMSDAY DROPKICK for 2! Edge comes to the aid of his brother – darting Jericho into the ringpost and dropping the Wolverine with a DDT. E&C look for steel chairs, but have them stolen. SPEAR ON JERICHO to save Christian from a Con-Chair-To! CROSSFACE ON CHRISTIAN! HE TAPS! Benoit and Jericho complete an unlikely victory at 07:11 (24:52 total).
Rating - *** - A generous 3* rating for that spirited final fall. Edge & Christian were well within their comfort zone, but I felt Benoit really deserved a decent rating to round off what was a thoroughly uninspiring gauntlet match. I’m not sure if they ever booked an actual Benoit/Jericho vs E&C match, which is a real shame as they really rocked it here. They saved the Turmoil match because before that it had been a perfect storm of boring and pointless in-ring action coupled with some dreadful booking.
SIDENOTE – Benoit and Jericho would go on to ‘cash in’ their title shot the following night on Raw. They would defeat Triple H and Steve Austin in the infamous ‘quad tear’ match.
Vince McMahon comes to the ring and joins commentary for the main event.
Steve Austin vs Undertaker – WWF Title No Holds Barred Match
The Rattlesnake’s desperate need to be the World Wrestling Federation Champion has seen him sink to unspeakable depths of depravity. He turned on the fans in his homestate of Texas at WrestleMania, and did the unthinkable by aligning himself with his mortal enemy Vince McMahon. He assaulted his long-time friend Jim Ross…and in the weeks leading up to this show he went too far in the Undertaker’s eyes when he placed a hoax call to the cops saying Taker’s wife Sara was in a car accident. The Deadman dearly wants to be WWF Champion again, and will be buoyed by the fact that he defeated both Austin and HHH at the same time in the main event of the recent Insurrextion show in the UK.
Undertaker is noticeably slimmer than he was in late-2000, and is still so pissed off about Austin involving his wife that he jumps him in the aisle. The No Holds Barred stipulations play into his favour, with him pulling out some electrical cable and using it to throttle the champion. Old School GUARDRAIL walk nailed as the beating continues. Austin hasn’t mounted any offence whatsoever, and eats a fire extinguisher to the face. He rolls into the ring, pouncing on Taker as he tries to give chase and levelling him with a swinging neckbreaker. Chair shot misses! Tombstone blocked! Stunner countered to a big boot! Undertaker allows himself to be distracted pursuing Vince…and Stone Cold jumps him from behind – drilling his legs into the ringpost. He opens up a serious leg injury, having a much easier time wrestling the Phenom when he’s flat on his back for long periods of time. Speaking of long periods of time – Austin kills what feels like 20-minutes working a grounded leglock. I get the psychology behind it, but they really went too long with two fully grown men basically lying down next to each other doing very little. A limping Undertaker strips back the announce table, and gestures to Mr McMahon before CHOKESLAMMING Austin through it! Vince prances around trying to distract Undertaker, and does for long enough to allow Stone Cold to recover then level the challenger with a TV monitor. That opens up Taker’s forehead, and he has a vacant look on his face as Steve runs through him with a clothesline on the floor. The Thesz Press follows, with right hands zoning in on the cut to open it up further – splattering Austin’s face with blood. Sleeper hold applied, squeezing the head and slowing the pace down AGAIN. When Undertaker escapes that Austin lies in wait to crack him in the head with a steel chair. STUNNER! Undertaker kicks out naturally…so Austin gets in the WrestleMania spirit by wearing him out with a chair as he did to The Rock. Taker kicks him in the balls and shakes off all the chair shots to hit a Chokeslam. Repeated chair shots to the Rattlesnake bring Triple H and the sledgehammer out…to no avail as Undertaker simply levels him with a chair too. Vince is in as well, taking punches in the corner…and inadvertently chaired by Austin! Last Ride BLOCKED with a sledgehammer shot by HHH. Austin retains at 23:04 – with HHH on the outside preventing Kane from running in to save
Rating - ** - I feel quite sorry for Austin here, because his heel performance was really good. The problem was the match was fought at a snail’s pace. These are two big stars, but even they need to do more than a bunch lengthy rest spots in a ppv main event. It was SO slow, and badly needed 5-10 minutes shaved off the time allocation. At this stage in his career Undertaker nowhere near capable of delivering ppv main events. He is slow, unathletic and makes no effort to sell ANYTHING. This is Austin, perhaps the biggest star pro-wrestling has ever produced…but Undertaker would absorb kicks to the balls, chair shots, TV screen shots and countless other offensive strikes, and be up looking completely fine, beating Austin up again seconds later. It was completely unrealistic, and his lazy, phoned in main event showing here dragged the hard-working Stone Cold down with him.
Tape Rating - ** - You know what the problem with this show is? The product was completely stale by this point. There’s actually plenty of decent wrestling on the ppv, albeit without one killer, stand-out memorable match. But almost NOTHING felt fresh. Undertaker/Austin had already been done to death by this point, and people didn’t need to see it again. HHH has been in main events since the end of 1999 – again, people are tired of it. It was the third ppv running they’ve promoted Angle/Benoit – and each time in increasingly obscure gimmick matches. Did the Acolytes really need to last as long as they did in the Tag Team Turmoil? They haven’t had a decent match in years! The only things that felt truly exciting on this show were the new ideas – Chyna in the women’s division and the Jericho/Benoit team. Backlash 2001 has a crap reputation as a ppv, but personally I thought this one was slightly worse. You can avoid unless you REALLY like Chris Benoit.
Top 3 Matches
3) Chris Jericho/Chris Benoit vs Edge & Christian (***)
2) Triple H vs Kane (***)
1) Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit (***)