WWF Backlash 2001

WWF BACKLASH
Sunday, April 29th, 2001

Live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL

List of WWF Champions at the time:
● WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin (4/01/2001)
● WWF Intercontinental Champion: Triple H (4/16/2001)
● WWF World Tag Team Champions: The Undertaker & Kane (4/19/2001)
● WWF European Champion: Matt Hardy (4/26/2001)
● WWF Hardcore Champion: Rhyno (4/19/2001)
● WWF Women’s Champion: Chyna (4/01/2001)
● WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Crash Holly (3/18/2001)

~ Backlash comes on the air with an intro video about the main event with all the titles on the line and about how he who holds the gold holds the power, or something like that. Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Paul Heyman, but before we get to the pay-per-view, here’s an interesting match from earlier on Sunday Night Heat:

• WWF LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Crash Holly © vs. Jerry Lynn

This is the beginning of Lynn’s “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” WWF run and Lynn comes out to a decent reaction from the Chicago crowd and cuts a quick promo on challenging Crash for the title. Lynn tries to attack Crash on the apron when Crash blocks it and flips in the ring but Lynn knocks him down and gets in the first shots. Lynn whips Crash and leapfrogs over him but Crash stops himself and hits a huricanrana. Lynn comes back with a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker for a two count and works him over as an “E-C-Dub” chant gets going. Crash fights back and goes for a whip, Lynn reverses but Crash hits a series of clotheslines and a dropkick for a near fall. Crash kicks at Lynn in a corner and whips him into the opposite corner then eats a boot but comes back with a powerslam for a near fall. Crash shoves Lynn into the ropes and forearms his back on the rebound then puts him in a modified bow-and-arrow. Lynn manages to flip out into a cover on Crash for a two count but Crash comes back with a sledge to the back. Both men exchange shots when Crash whips Lynn and clotheslines him down. Crash whips Lynn when Lynn gets him in a cricufix rollup for a near fall then both men go through a seires of rollup reversals. Crash gets Lynn in a cover when Lynn bridges up into a rollup then grabs the tights and gets the 1-2-3 and the title. (3:35) So Lynn wins the title in his debut, much like Christian did in 1998 and for the same title as well. Okay match that seemed a little abrupt, it’s just a shame Lynn never got a real run in the WWF and would essentially disappear within months. **

• The Dudley Boyz & Spike Dudley vs. X-Factor

Has any stable had any lamer theme than Uncle Craker? All six men go at it to start with Spike dropkicking Justin Credible through the ropes while D’Von Dudley tosses X-Pac over then helps Bubba Ray with a double suplex on Albert. Spike climbs to the top rope and connects with the double stomp on Albert but nearly slips on it.Bubba and D’Von then press Spike up and toss him over the ropes on X-Pac and Credible on the floor.Credible crawls onto the apron but the Dudleys sling him in the ring and each get a shot on him. Things finally settle down to Spike and Credible in the ring when Spike goes for a whip, Credible reverses it but Spike manages to get a crucifix pin for a near fall. Spike rolls Credible up for another two count but Credible comes back with a knee in the chest. Credible tags Ablert in and slanms Spike while Albert goes for a legdrop bus misses it. Spike goes for the Dudley Dawg but Albert tosses Spike off then tags Credible back in and Credible stomps Spike down in a corner and follows up with a London Bridge for a two count. Credible goes for a baseball slide but Spike dodges it and Credible straddles himself on the ringpost. D’Von and X-Pac each tag in and D’von hits some forearms then comes off the ropes wiht a shoulderblock. D’Von hiptosses Credible and pops Albert on the apron then goes to whip X-Pac but X-Pac reverses it, Albert nails D’von from behind and and X-Pac follows up with the spinkick. Albert tags in and throws D’Von out through the ropes then draws Bubba in to distract the referee while X-Pac and Credible crotch D’Von into the ringpost. Spike tripes to help D’Von back in the ring but Albert lays the boots to D’Von and slingshots him into the middle rope. X-Pac tags in and slams D’Von then follows up with a running legdrop but Bubba breaks up the pin. X-Pac applies a chinlock and D’Von manages to fight out of it but runs into a spinning heel kick. X-Pac chokes D’Von on the mat then whips him into his corner and hits a shoulderblock. Credible tags in and works D’Von over in a corner with jabs, D’Von starts to fight back and comes off the ropes but runs into a sidewalk slam. Albert tags in and whips him then hits a delayed butterfly suplex but Spike breaks up the pin. Credible tags in and X-Pac helps him whip D’Von but D’Von comes back with a clothesline on both men. D’Von crawls to this corner and makes the hot tag to Bubba and Bubba takes it to X-Pac and Credible, hitting Credible with the Bubbabomb. X-Pac goes for a whip but Bubba reverses it and hits a sidewalk slam. Bubba covers X-Pac as Albert goes for the save but Bubba moves and Albert splashes X-Pac by mistake. D’Von clotheslines Albert and himself over the ropes while Bubba chops Credible and whips him into a corner, causing him to nearly flip over the ropes. Credible flips back in and Bubba slams him and sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and connects with the “Wassup” headbutt. Bubba sends D’Von out for a table and D’Von pulls one out but Ablert nails him with the bicycle kick. Bubba hammers Credible in a corner when X-Pac comes up, Bubba throws him into the corner and charges but X-Pac sidestepsit . Albert comes in and hits Bubba with the Avalance while X-Pac and Credibe follow up with the double superkick and X-Pac covers for the pin. (7:59) Okay opener with nothing really bad and the crowd was into it. You’d think this would help establish X-Factor as a top heel stable but hold on. **½

Albert continues to work over Bubba after the bell while X-Pac and Credibe set the table up in the ring. Albert sets Bubba on the top rope but D’Von trips him from the floor and pulls him into the ringpost while Spike nails Credible with the Dudley Dawg. Spike ducks a spinkick from X-Pac then low blows him before the Dudleys drive X-Pac through the table with the 3D to get their heat back. So much for X-Pac’s crew actually benefitting from this win.

~ Backstage a limo pulls up and a pair of guys come out of it along some some woman dressed like royalty. Commssioner William Regal appears to greet this woman revealing that she’s the Duchess of Queensbury then asks about her trip and the Duchess says she will feel better once she leaves Chicago. Regal warns the two men that America is a barbaric place and instructs them to look after the Duchess.

~ Backstage Kurt Angle is polishing his medals when Lillian Garcian comes in looking to an interview, asking why he’s so calm this close to the ultimate submission match with Chris Benoit. Angle mentions Benoit hasn’t been saying he’s the best technical wrestler since his loss at Wrestlemania because he knows Angle owns him then promises the 30 minutes seem like an eternity to him.

• WWF HARDCORE TITLE: Rhyno © vs. Raven

So instead of getting a shot at the European Title, Raven gets to face Rhyno for this belt. Lets see how the two former ECW Champions work in the hardcore environment. Raven brings his shopping cart of plunder out with him to the ring and tosses some of it in the ring when Rhyno charges at him to start but Raven trips him into a stop sign and grabs a quick two count. Raven whips Rhyno into a corner then grabs a trash can and rams it into Rhyno’s face for a near fall. Raven goes for a whip but Rhyno reverses him into a corner and hits the running shoulderblock. Rhyno whacks Raven with a trash can then boots the can into Raven’s face knocking him through the ropes. Rhyno covers Raven on the floor for a two count then moves the ringstpes and rams Raven into them. Rhyno sets Raven in a chair then leaps off the steps but Raven moves and Rhyno imaples himself on the chair. Raven launches off the steps with a flying clothesline for a two count then throws Rhyno back in the ring and knocks him back out to the floor on the other side. Raven goes out and throws Rhyno into the barricade then goes over and tosses more weapons into the ring. Rhyno throws Raven into the ringpost then waffles him with a trash can lid followed by a KEEP OFF sign for a two count. Rhyno tosses Raven in the ring followed by his shopping cart then rams Raven into it. Rhyno goes for a whip but Raven reverses it and trips him into the shopping cart with a drop toehold. Raven grabs a handicap sign and works Rhyno over with it then goes for a whip, Rhyno reverses it but lowers the head and Raven kicks the face. Raven comes off the ropes with a road sign shot to the head then whips Rhyno into a corner and hits a clothesline followed by a running bulldog but only gets a near fall. Rhyno grabs the shopping cart but Raven jabs him with a trash can causing the cart to fall onto him. Raven sets the cart upright and rams it into Rhyno in a corner then whips him into the opposite corner. Raven comes off the ropes but Rhyno hits him with a sign for a two count then hits him with a trash can. Rhyno goes for the Gore but Raven dodges it and Rhyno rams himself into the shopping cart, trapping himself! Raven wails on Rhyno with a kitchen sink then pulls him out of the cart and covers but only gets a two count. Raven grabs the sink again for another shot but Rhyno cuts him off with the Gore and gets the three to retain. (8:10) Very good match there with some great action and cool spots and it really made Rhyno look like a force to be reckoned with in the hardcore division. ***½

~ JR and Heyman hype the Last Man Standing Match by showing Shane McMahon’s poem for The Big Show from Smackdown. Backstage Michael Cole interviews Shane (with the book) asking if it was wise to poke fun at Show like that but Shane can answer Stephanie McMahon runs into the scene showing concern for Shane’s well-being. Stephanie says Vince has been telling Show what to do to him and suggests Vince might call the match tonight off if Shane will just sincerely apologize to him. Shane doesn’t seem worried when Stephanie tells him his problem is he’s living in a fantasy world while Vince lives in the real world. Shane responds by saying this story will have a happy ending then departs.

~ Elsewhere backstage Steve Austin and Debra are arriving at the building when Kevin Kelly runs up for an interview, asking about the possiblity of losing the WWF Championship. Austin scoffs at that idea, saying as long as Triple H will do his part then everything will be dandy before storming off with Debra.

~ Still elsewhere Johnathan Coachman interviews the Duchess of Queensbury about the rules for her match and the Duchess is about to answer when William Regal chasitses Coach for bothering her and dismisses him. Regal then tells the Duchess not to look at anyone in the eye saying they’re all jealous of her looks.

• Chris Jericho vs. William Regal – ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ Rules Match

Despite Jericho already got his win over Regal at Wrestlemana, the bookers decided to keep the fued going instead of advancing him to bigger and better things. Plus the fact that they never said what the rules actually were should alert everyone to a lot of Russo-like overbooking. Regal comes out first and brings out the Duchess who takes her seat in a throne at ringsid before Jericho then comes out with a mic and cuts a promo showing the picture of Regal in the duchess outfit again before saying if Chicago is the Windy City then Queesnbury surely must be the Ugly City. Both men lockup to start and jockey for position in a corner before Regal connects with a forearm but Jericho gets in his own foream, Regal applies a headlock and Jericho coutners into his own headlock, Regal shoves Jericho off but Jericho hits a shoulderblock. Jericho comes off the ropes and blocks a hipotss and slaps on an armwringer, Regal counters into his own move but Jericho kips out of it and forearms him. Jericho chops Regal and goes for a whip but Regal reverses and tosses Jericho over the ropes. However Jericho lands on his feet on the apron the climbs to the top rope and hits a flying elbow followed by a dropkick. Regal rolls out to the floor but Jericho goes out after him and whips him into the barricade then drops him onto the barrier before throwing him back in the ring. Jericho climbs to the top rope again and goes for a missle dropkick but Regal swats him away and hits a suplex for a two count. Regal hits the kneelifts to the face and a pair of European uppercuts then applies a chinlock. Jericho fights out of it when Regal goes for a whip, Jericho reverses him into a corner and charges but eats a boot. Regal hops to the middle rope and waves to the fans allowing Jericho to cut him off with a dropkick before going up and hitting a huricanrana. Jericho chops Regal and goes for a whip, Regal reverses it but Jericho comes back with a flying forearm. Regal goes for teh inverted neckbreaker but Jericho blocks it and hits the bulldog. Jericho follows up with the Lionsault then goes for the cover when … the bell rings? The Duchess suddenly has Howard Finkel announce that the time limit for Round One has expired. Yep, everyone can see where this is going.

Jericho complains to the Duchess about this when Regal rolls him up from behind but only gets a two count. Jericho goes for a whip, Regal reverses it but lowers the head and Jericho kicks the face and clotheslines him. Jericho hops to the mddle rope and goes for a dropkick but Regal catches him by the legs into a catapult. Regal hits a semi-German suplex then slaps on the Regal Stretch but Jericho manages to grab the bottom rope. Regal lays the boots to Jericho and pops him with a European uppercut then whips him into a corner and Regal goes for a suplex but Jericho rolls through it into the Walls of Jericho. Regal starts tapping out. Unfortunately the Duchess announces that submissions are not allowed by the rules so the match countines. Jericho is angry at being screwed out of another victory so he goes out and starts to advance on the Duchess when Regal comes up form behind but Jericho catches him with a right hand and rams him into the announce table. Regal grabs the Duchess’s scepter and whacks Jericho in the face with it and the referee calls for the DQ. But guess what, the Duchess announces there’s no disqualifications so the match continues yet again. And the crowd is now totally silent because they know Jericho has no chance of winning. Jericho is down as Regal throws him back in the ring and covers him but only gets a two count. Regal hits a series of uppercuts and whips Jericho into an elbow then follows up with a Tigerbomb. Regal gets a pair of near falls and goes for a suplex but Jericho flips out of it and hits an enzuigiri. Both men exchange punches and Jericho gets the advantage then chops him and kicks him down in a corner. Jericho whips Regal into the other corner and clotheslines him then stomps him below the belt. Regal rolls out to the floor but Jericho hits a baseball slide then knocks him into the Duchess’ lap. Regal quickly backs away when Jericho clotheslines him from behind then tosses the Duchess in the ring and puts her in the Walls of Jericho. But Rgeal brings in a chair and whacks Jericho with it repeatedly then gets the pin to finally put this to bed. (12:11) Weak, overbooked match with an obvious ending. Plus it continued a feud that should have been over by then, meaning Jericho wasn’t going to get elevated like he should have anytime soon. At least not for another month. *½

~ Backstage Vince McMahon meets with The Big Show and asks him if he’s ready for his task tonight then tells him not hold back just because Shane is his son. Show says he’s going to destroy him and Vince says he likes that about him, with the two shaking hands and laughing maniacally.

• Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle – 30-minute ‘Ultimate Submission’ Match

This is your standard Ironman match except each fall can only be won by submission, whoever score the most submissions wins and there will be a 30-second rest period after every fall. Angle comes out first and gets on the mic talking about how Chicago has been low on winners ever since Michael Jordan quit in his prime and is full of fat sweaty pigs instead. Angle tells Benoit he may not be a pig but he’ll be suqealing like one in front of the crowd. Both men lockup to start and Benoit forces Angle into a corner then breaks before they lockup again. Angle forces Benoit into a corner then breaks it before taking Benoit down by the leg. Benoit counters it and both men go through a mat wrestling sequence before we have a stalemate. Angle takes Benoit down by both legs and goes for the Anklelock but Benoit rolls Angle into the ropes. Angle takes Benoit down a thrid time and again goes for the Anklelock but Benoit manages to trip him. Benoit then goes into the Crossface but Angle grabs the rope for the break and bails out to the floor. Benoit dares Angle to come back into the ring and Angle does and takes Benoit down but Benoit counters. Both men break and Angle takes Benit down yet again but Benoit counters and again goes for the Crossface. Angle grabs the ropes and bails out to the floor but Benoit goes out and both men head back into the ring. We’re almost five minutes into this match and so far not much has hapened. Angle grabs a waistlock but Benoit counters and takes Angle down them both men head out to the floor. Angle coutners into a waistlock and Benoit counters back but Angle back him into the apron to break it. Benoit manages to lock in the Crossface and Angle taps but submissions on the floor don’t count apparently. Benoit rolls back in the ring while Angle grabs a chair but thinks better of it and sets it back down. Angle climbs back in and claims his shoulder hurts so the referee tries to hold Benoit back. Benoit shoves the referee aside but Angle takes him down and locks in a legbar and Benoit taps out. (Angle 1 | Benoit 0 @ 6:34).

Once the rest period passes Angle goes to take Benoit down by the leg but Benoit is able to fight him off. Benoit chops Angle in a corner but Angle comes back by kicking Benoit in the knee then chopblocks it twice. Angle goes for a third chopblock and runs right into a Crossface attempt but Benoit can’t lock it in. Benoit then goes into a cross armbreaker and Angle taps out to even the score. (Angle 1 | Benoit 1 @ 8:03) Following the rest period Benoit chops Angle in a corner then throws him shoulder-first into the ringpost. Benoit gets a wristlock takedown and goes into the cross armbreaker but Angle is able to grab the rope. Benoit follows up with a shoulderbreaker then whips Angle into a corner and chokes him on the rope. The referee tries to break it up but Benoit tosses him aside while Angle grabs his chair from ringside and clocks Benoit with it. Angle then slaps on the Anklelock and Benoit taps to give Angle the lead. (Angle 2 | Benoit 1 @ 10:19) However Angle attacks Benoit during the rest period and once it’s done Angle locks in his own Crossface, forcing Benoit to tap out again and giving himself a two-fall lead. (Angle 3 | Benoit 1 @ 11:05)

Once the rest period passes Angle chokes Benoit on the middle rope then goes out and clubs him in the chest before coming back in and hitting a back suplex. Angle goes for the Anklelock again and Benoit quickly grabs the rope so Angle kicks Benoit out to the floor. Angle goes out and rams Benoit into the announce table twice before throwing him back in the ring. Angle pops Benoit and whips him but Benoit fakes him out then backdrops Angle over the ropes. Benoit goes out and throws Angle into the ringpost then chops him repeatedly and goes for a whip but Angle reverses Benoit into the steps. Angle applies the Anklelock but the referee won’t allow it so Angle argues with the referee before throwing Benoit back in the ring as we reach the 15-minute mark. Angle goes for the cross armbreaker but Benoit tries to fight it and gets his leg on the bottom rope. Angle applies an Abdominal Stretch and Benoit tries to hold on and reverses into his own Abdominal Stretch. Angle coutners with a hiptoss but Benoit rolls through it and goes into the cross armbreaker again. Angle manages to grab the bottom rope for the break then lays the boots to Benoit then pops him. Angle goes for a whip but Benoit takes him down by the legs and goes into the Sharpshooter. Angle tries to hold on as he grabs the bottom rope and Benoit hesitates before releasing the hold. Benoit goes for a whip and Angle tries to counter into a German suplex but Benoit rolls through it and puts Angle in a half-Boston Crab and Angle taps out to pull Benoit to within one. (Angle 3 | Benoit 2 @ 18:02)

The rest period passes when Angle rolls out to the floor to stall and reduce the time Benoit has to tie it. Benoit goes out after Angle and chases him back in the ring but Angle rolls back out to the floor. Benoit goes out again and this time is able to chase Angle down and whip him into the ringsteps. Benoit tosses Angle back into the ring and Angle rolls back out a third time and continues to stall. Benoit chases Angle back in the ring but Angle attacks him as we reach the 10-minute mark. Benoit starts fighting back but Angle rakes the face and tosses him out through the ropes. Benoit tries to climb back into the ring but Angle keeps him out by stomping on him on the apron. Angle brings Benoit back in and hits a suplex then grabs the leg but Benoit grabs the rope. Angle hammers Benoit in a corner then whips hm into the other corner and charges but eats a double boot. Benoit comes out but runs into a drop toehold and Angle looks for a submission when Benoit grabs the rope. Angle hits an elbowdrop and tosses Benoit out through the ropes then goes out and suplexes him onto the floor. Benoit starts coming back with chops but Angle rakes the face and whips Benoit into the barricade. Both men climb back in the ring and Angle goes for a kick but Benoit counters with a Dragon legwhip. Benoit then goes for a modifed STF but Angle grabs the ropes to ward him off. Benoit whips Angle looking for a dropkick but Angle fakes Benoit out then applies another submission hold and Benoit tries to fight out of it. Angle turns it into a chinlock and Benoit begins to the fade as the referee starts to check his arm. The arm drops once, twice, but Benoit keeps it up on the third time as we reach the 5-minute mark. Angle cinches in the hold and Benoit eventually counters with a jawbreaker with 4 minutes to go. Angle clotheslines Benoit and lays the boots to him then follows up with a belly-to-belly suplex. Angle hits a second belly-to-belly suplex with 3 minutes to go and goes for a whip but Benoit reverses and hits a German suplex. Benoit holds on for a second German and goes for a third German when Angle tries to fight it off but Benoit takes him down. Angle goes into the Anklelock but Benoit counters into his own Anklelock and Angle reaches for the ropes but can’t grab them so he taps out to even the score. (Angle 3 | Benoit 3 @ 27:50)

Two minutes left in the match and we’re all tied up as we go through the rest period. Benoit chopblocks Angle’s knee twice like Angle did earlier and Angle grabs the ropes with 1 minute left. Benoit hits a German suplex but Angle grabs the ropes to prevent the second German suplex and kicks Benoit below the belt. Angle slaps on the Anklelock but Benoit grabs the bottom rope. Angle pulls Benoit back to the center of the ring and reapplies the Anklelock with 30 seconds left but Benoit rolls to the other set of ropes for the break. Angle suplexes Benoit with 15 seconds left then slaps on the Anklelock again and Benoit tries to hold on as the remaining time ticks off. Benoit looks ready to tap but is able to go the distance as the time limit expires with both men tied. After the bell rings Benoit does slap the mat and Angle starts celebrating thinking he’s won the match. However Howard Finkel announces the referee is demainding the match go into sudden death overtime and Angle is not happy with this but does head into the ring and we go into the extra period.

Angle pounds Benoit down and lays the boots to him then follows up with a belly-to-belly suplex. Benoit drives Angle into a corner and takes him down but Angle counters into a submission hold. Angle grabs the rope for leverage but the referee sees it and demands a break. Angle refuses but Benoit rolls Angle into the Crossface and Angle is forced to tap for the final submission. (Benoit 4 | Angle 3 @ 31:31) This was a good match with some nice moves and counters, but was hampered by the stipulations and dragged in quite a few places. This probably would have worked better as a regular submission match. ***

~ Back from break we find The Undertaker and Kane having a heated discussion about the main event as Triple H and Stephanie watch them on a montior with Triple H feeling they’re coming up with an excuse becuase he and Austin will take the tag team titles and prove they’re the dominant team in the WWF. Stephanie says she tried to warn Shane about his match and Triple H feels Shane has always lived in a fairy tale.

• Shane McMahon vs. The Big Show – Last Man Standing Match

So here we have a rematch from the previous year’s Judgment Day show, only with the roles reversed. Shane comes out with his book and debuts the ‘Here Comes the Money’ theme he uses to this day then scampers under the apron. Show looks for Shane under the ring when Shane emerges with a kendo stick and works Show over with it then whacks him with his boot. Shane hops on the barricade with the kendo stick and leaps off for a shot but Show grabs Shane by the neck in mid-air. Shane fights Show off with the stick until Show grabs it and clotheslines him down then then press slams him over the ropes into the ring. Shane grabs a chair and hammers Show in the back and head with it then comes off the ropes with another chair shot. Show is down as the referee begins the count but Show is up at 5 as Shane brings a box into the ring. Shane opens the box and slips on a mask then soaks a rag with cholorform and covers Show’s face with it. Yeah, because it was so effective for Giant Gonzales against The Undertaker at Wrestlemania IX. Show tries to fight it but is eventually put down and the referee starts the count again. However Vince runs in and grabs the chair and whacks Shane in the back and head with it then leaves the ring with the box. The referee starts couting both men down and Show makes it to his feet first then picks Shane up and pummels him in a corner before hitting a sidewalk slam. The referee starts counting but Shane is able to pull himself up the ropes back to his feet at 9. Show hits a chop in a corner followed by knees to the chest then throws Shane across the ring. Show then connects with the Final Cut and Shane is down as the referee counts but for whatever reason Show picks Shane up before he reaches 10.Show chokeslams Shane and the referee counts but Show picks Shane up again, deciding he’s not done yet. Show puts Shane in a Torture Rack when Test suddenly runs in and nails Show with the big boot. Test tees off on Show and tries to help Shane but Show clubs Test from behind and throws him over the ropes. Show goes out to the floor forgetting about Shane and throws Test into the ringsteps then headbutts him. Both men make their way up the aisle to the stage where Test grabs a sign and whacks Show with it. Test goes for one more shot but Show grabs him and rams him into the set. Show throws Test on an anvil case and works him over when Shane comes up to the stage with a sign and hammers Show in the back with it. Show grabs a lead pipe and takes several swings at Shane with it but Shane responds by climbing up the set. Show starts climbing up after Shane but Test pulls him off and beats on him with another sign. Show grabs Test by the throat but Test kicks him below the belt and pounds Show down near the tech area. Shane looks down then leaps off the top of the set and connects with an elbowdrop on Show below! Test then brings a camera crane over and props Shane onto it while Show is counted down for the 10. (11:53) Nice ending to an otherwise uninteresting match. The action was disjointed and just never got going in this one. *

~ Backstage Vince is furious at the way the match went down as the Hemlselys try to calm him down, with Stephanie feeling that Triple H and Steve Austin becoming Tag Team Champions that might cheer him up. Vince then tells Triple H that from this day forward he only has one son and he’s looking at him.

~ We then cut to WWF New York and find Steve Blackman with JR getting his thoughts on the match, with Blackman talking about his battle with Shane at SummerSlam and puts over Shan’s guts for that move. Grandmaster Sexay then pops into the scene and takes the mic to mumble his unintelligible thoughs on the match.

• WWF EUROPEAN TITLE: Matt Hardy © vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Christian

So just three days after winning the belt on Smackdown Matt has his first title defense. And it’s still sad how the Hardys and E&C are relegated to fighting over a mid-card singles belt when both teams were in main-event storylines just several weeks prior. Interestingly enough all three men are out there alone, but let’s see how long that lasts, though. Matt takes it to both Eddie and Christian to start but the two of them soon double-team him and hit a double clothesline. Eddie and Christian throw Matt out under the ropes when Christian double-crosses Eddie with a shot from behind and drops him to the mat. Christian whips Eddie and hits a powerslam for a two count then whips him again but Eddie comes back with a Frankensteiner. Eddie sets Christian on the top rope and goes up after him but Matt gets back in and pulls Eddie off Christian. Matt goes up himself looking for a superplex when Eddie sets Matt on his shoulders and Christian leaps off but Matt ducks him while rolling Eddie up for a two count. Matt shoves Eddie into Christian then goes for the Twist of Fate when Christian cuts it off with a clothesline but Eddie suplexes Christain and all three men are down. Eddie is up first and whips Christian then hits a drop toehold and sets him up for a surfboard. Before Eddie can get it Matt comes off the ropes with a Sunset Flip on Eddie but he’s in the ropes. Matt flings Eddie through the ropes when Christian hammers Matt and whips him into a corner but eats a boot and Matt hits a cltohesline. Matt goes for a whip but Christian reverses it and Eddie pulls Matt out of the ring to duke it out on the floor. Christian connects with a baseball slide on both men and heads out as well. Christian goes to whip Matt but Matt reverses him into the apron. Matt charges at Christian who tosses him over his head but Matt rebounds off the ropes and DDT’s Christian onto the floor. Eddie gets back in the ring and suplexes Matt in then hits a brainbuster but only gets a two count. Eddie goes for a whip, Matt reverses it and hits a backdrop. Matt climbs to the top rope when Eddie cuts him off then goes up and looks for a huricarnana but Christian holds Matt on the rope and Eddie slips off. Christian goes up and goes for a superplex but Matt blocks it and slams Christian onto Eddie below. Matt then leaps off with a flying clothesline on Eddie and Christian. Christian goes for a crossboy on Matt but misses him and takes Eddie out with it instead. Matt throws Christian over the ropes then slams Eddie and clims to the middle rope, htting the guillotine legdrop for a near fall. Christian pulls Matt out to the floor and rams him into the apron then distracts the referee while Edge suddenly runs out and spears Matt. Edge tosses Matt back in the ring and Christian looks to cover him but Eddie shoves Christian out through the ropes. Eddie then covers Matt himself … but only gets a two count as Jeff Hardy comes out and nails Edge. Jeff throws Edge in the ring then comes off the ropes but Edge tosses him back out on the other side. Christian hits Eddie with the Unprettier and covers him but Jeff climbs to the top rope and makes the save with the Swanton Bomb. Jeff knocks Edge out of the ring while Matt drops Christian with the Twist and gets the pin to reatain. (6:52) Not a bad match but just sort of there, pretty much a match that belonged on TV instead of a supercard. Also didn’t like the multiple run-ins toward the finish either. **

• WWF WORLD & INTERCONTINENTAL TITLES vs. TAG TEAM TITLES: Stone Cold Steve Austin © & Triple H © (w/Stpehanie) vs. The Undertaker & Kane ©

All three titles are on the line and whoever suffers the pinfall first loses his title, whether it be the tag titles or one of the singles belts. Also Triple H comes out before Austin for once but then they’re followed by the tag champs. Once all four men are out Austin and Triple H quickly bail out to the floor and stall. Eventually Triple H heads in the ring but Taker nails him with a right hand and Triple H rolls back out to the floor and stalls some more. Taker and Kane finally decide to head out and go after them in the aisle then pair off as Kane brings Triple H to ringside and rams him into the steps. Taker beats Austin down the aisle and throws him in the ring then gets in a shot before Ausitn rolls back out. Triple H rams Kane into the announce table then heads in with Kane after him while Taker goes out and rams Austin into the table. In the ring Triple H goes for a whip, Kane reverses him into a corner and hits a double chokebomb then catches Austin coming in with a chokebomb as well. Triple H grabs Kane’s arm but Kane decks him then throws him into a corner and pummels him as Austin and Taker take their places in the corners. Kane whips Triple H into the opposite corner and hits a clothesline then goes for another whip but Triple H reverses it and hits a kneelift. Triple H starts working on Kane’s bad arm by wrapping it around the rope when Kane fights back and hits a clothesline. Austin and Taker both tag in … but Austin backs away from Taker into a corner and starts begging off. Yep, the problem with Austin’s heel turn right here as he’s forced to be a cowardly heel which is totally against his character. Anyway Taker doesn’t go for it and stomps away on Austin then boots Triple H. Austin rakes Taker’s face and works him over in a corner but Taker fights back. Austin now offers a hand of friendship to Taker who responds to that by booting Austin in the head. Geez, did they force Austin to be a total 80s heel or something? Kane gets in a shot on Austin before asking for a tag and Taker hesitates but does bring him in. Kane takes over on Austin and whips him but lowers the head and Austin kicks the face. Austin goes for the arm when Kane hits a clothesline then tags Taker back in but Ausitn tags Triple H who then hops down to the floor. So Taker turns his back to Triple H to lure him back in and Triple H bites as Taker catches him with a right hand. Taker goes for a whip, Triple H reverses him into a conrer but eats a boot then Taker grabs Triple H’s arm and walks the top rope and clubs him in the back. Taker catches Austin coming in with a slam then grabs his arm and walks the two rope before clubbing him as well. Taker clotheslines Triple H over the ropes while Austin rolls out ont the other side and the duo decide to walk out of the match but Kane goes out after them and cuts off their escape. Kane brings Austin back in the ring and Taker goes for the Last Ride but Triple H breaks it up and helps Austin double-team Taker. Austin chokes Taker with his boot and Taker rolls out to the floor but Ausitn gets in a cltohesline before Triple H rams Taker into the announce table. Triple H throws Taker back in the ring and Austin chokes him on the middle rope and hits the straddle. Ausitn hits a snapmare and an elbowdrop then tags Triple H in for a double-team. Taker fights back again and whips Triple H but lowers the head and Triple H hits the facebuster. Triple H goes for a whip but Taker comes back with a DDT. Both men starts crawling to their corners and Kane is ready but Taker refuses to tag him in because of his arm while Triple H makes the tag to Austin.

Austin clotheslines Taker then pops Kane on the apron and whips Taker, hitting an ugly Thesz Press. Austin tees off on Taker with the rights and follows up with the elbowdrop then hits a second elbowdrop. Austin goes for a third but Taker grabs him by the throat and Triple H comes in but Taker boots him. Taker grabs both Austin and Triple H by the throat but both men kick him low to prevent the double chokeslam. Austin and Triple H whip Taker but Taker clotheslines both of them when Kane decides to tag himself in. Kane whips Ausitn and hits a boot a boot then boots Triple H and clotheslines him over the ropes. Kane plants Austin with a sidewalk slam then climbs to the top rope and hits the flying clothesline. Triple H climbs up to the top rope as well but Kane throws him off the mat. Kane grabs Austin hy the neck but Triple H nails him in the bad arm for the save. Kane hammers Austin and goes for a whip, Austin reverses it and looks for the Stunner but Kane shoves him away and hits an elbow. Kane takes it to both opponend but Ausitn comes back with an armbar takedown on Kane’s bad arm and it looks like the head segment is on. Austin wraps the bad arm around the bottom rope then Triple H tags in and stomps Kane out to the arpon. Triple H then yanks on the bad arm on the top rope and draws Taker in to distract Earl Hebner while Austin grabs a chair and whicks Kane’s arm with it. Taker goes out and chases Austin away then grabs the chair but Hebner takes it away while Triple H rams Kane’s arm into the ringsteps. Triple H rolls Kane back in the ring and applies a modified armbar then bends the arm over his knee. Kane fights out of it but Triple H wrenches the arm and tags Austin back in and Austin lays the boots to him. Austin unloads on Kane but Kane reverses positions and gets in his shots until Triple comes in and stops that, allowing Austin to slap on a standing armbar. Kane fights out of it and whips Austin then scoops him onto his shoulder but Austin slips out and shoves Kane elbow-first into the turnbuckles. Austin chokes Kane on the middle rope and Triple H rams the arm into the apron whiel Hebner holds Taker back from coming to his aid. Triple H tags back in and applies a wristlock and Kane manages to power Triple H over the ropes but is down. Kane crawls to his corner to tag out but Triple H pulls Taker off the apron while Austtn pulls Kane back to the center to keep the heat segment going. Austin stomps Kane in the bad arm then grabs the legs and stomps Kane in the chest. Austin goes for a whip, Kane reverses it and gets a headlock but Austin counters it with a back suplex. Triple H tags in and climbs to the top rope then leaps off but Kane gets his foot up to block it. Austin tags back in and whips Kane then slaps on a sleeper but Kane counters with a one-arm back suplex as this heat segment has been going on for almost 10 minutes now. Triple H tags in and takes Kane down by the leg and elbowdrops the thigh then whips him into a corner and follows up with the Pedigree. But instead of covering Kane Triple H tags Austin in to pin him and Austin covers Kane but Taker breaks up the pin. Triple H comes in but Hebner tries to get him out while Taker chokeslams Austin. Stephanie hops on the apron and yells at Hebner and Hebner eventually shoves her off while Kane manages to cover Austin but only gets two. Kane goes for the corner when Triple H tags in and grabs the leg to stop it but Kane hits an enzuigiri. Kane makes the hot tag to Taker which Hebner misses after being knocked down.

Regardless Taker goes to work on his opponents and throws Austin into Triple H in a corner then works over both men in succession in another corner. Taker shoves Austin over the ropes then plants Triple H with the Last Ride. Taker covers Tripler H but Hebner tells him he’s not he legal man and won’t count the pin. Taker responds by grabbing Hebner by his shirt when Austin nails Taker from behind, knocking Hebner throught the ropes, then kicks Taker below the belt. Austin hits Kane with the Stunner but Taker tosses him through the ropes and goes after him on the floor, bralwing with him into the crowd. Meanwhile Stephanie slides one of the title belts to Triple H in the ring but Kane cuts him off with a boot. Kane grabs Triple H for a chokeslam but Stephanie comes in so Kane drops Triple H and catches Stephanie with a boot. Vince McMahon then runs into the ring brandishing a sledgehammer but Kane grabs him by the neck as well. However Vince passes the sledgehammer to Triple H who bashses Kane in the bad arm and head with it. Vince throws Hebner back in the ring and Triple H covers Kane for the pin to win the tag titles. (27:11) Criples, that was long and boring and there was hardly any real flow. They really needed to cut 10-15 minutes off it to make it watchable. And notice how it was Triple H who got the pinfall instead of the world champion, who just had to be the standard coawrdly heel. *½

Anyway Austin and Triple H now have the World, Intercontinental and Tag Titles in their hands and this makes Triple H only the 2nd Grand Slam winner in WWF history (other than Shawn Michaels, and eventually Chris Jericho). Austin and Triple H celebrate with all four title belts and Taker glares at them as we fade to black.

Conclusion: This pay-per-view wasn’t terrible but not really great, certainly a sharp drop from Wrestlemania X7, and it highlighted the problmes with the WWF’s monopoly. The undercard was mostly okay with some nice stuff here and there but the main event sinks it. And the sad part is Undertaker and Kane would continue to keep the top babyface spots for themselves even though the crowd was screaming for someone new to step forward and challenge the Two-Man Power Trip. But sadly alot of the top workers, people who were ready for the next step, were stuck in never-ending feuds with glass ceilings keeping them from ever progressing anywhere while the same main eventers hogged all the top spots. And the main event exposed a lot of the Austin heel turn, as Austin seemed neutered compared to his normal persona while Triple H was allowed to look the strongest. So overall it’s thumbs in the middle, leaning down.