Triple H/Shawn Michaels Summerslam 2002: Bad Booking’s 20,000th View Post

 

Well folks, this blog is one year old. It has done more than I ever could have dreamed.

Today, I’ll be capping a match that pretty much started my WWE fandom.

My first episode of RAW was the July 22nd, 2002 edition (as of this writing, Monday’s RAW will mark 11 years exactly I became a full-time fan). It was the night after Vengeance, where The Rock became Undisputed WWE Champion.

Also occurring at Vengeance was Triple H signing a contract with RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff after a friendly persuasion from Shawn Michaels.

Eric tried to stir some crap up with The Game and The Heartbreak Kid by making HBK Triple H’s “manager”, HBK quit, then came back, with the notion that the old band D-Generation X would surface.

Only that didn’t happen.

Triple H delivered the world’s worst Pedigree to his best friend.

 

Yes, one that looked worse than Marty Garner’s.

The week later, Triple H was explaining his actions while he got news that someone had their head rammed through a car window.

That man was Michaels.

A “whodunit” unfolded. It resulted with Triple H taking blame after the security camera cleared showed the malevolence of The Game. Triple H only admitted it because he wanted to prove to the world that Shawn was weak and was vulnerable.

On a satellite camera, with bandages and cuts all over, Shawn vowed to return for Summerslam to a MASSIVE POP.

So the road to Long Island was paved, and the two brawled their way to SummerSlam.

August 25th, 2002 was indeed a hot and humid day as I remember it in New York State.

A huge card of action surrounding this match ensued. Kurt Angle made Rey Mysterio tap in the best opener of all 2002. Edge defeated Eddie Guerrero in a decent match, ditto for Ric Flair on Chris Jericho. Lance Storm & Christian used devious means to retain their tag gold against Booker T & Goldust. RVD defeated Chris Benoit in a underrated classic to win the Intercontinental Championship. Undertaker defeated Test in a battle of big men. Lastly, Brock Lesnar became Undisputed WWE Champion after shockingly defeating The Rock clean as a sheet.

The match covered today was just before the Rock/Brock main event.

A match so epic it should have been the main event!

So here we go!

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The chapter from the Summerslam 2002 DVD kicks off with Jim Ross and Jerry “the King” Lawler discussing how Shawn’s been away for four years leading up to this encounter. Most people watching today (or at that point) may not have seen HBK perform either live or on the soon-to-be-developed YouTube.

As usual, the video package is A+. Anything less would be utter failure if WWE had a college with a course solely dedicated to video production. The main summary shows Shawn and Hunter as friends closer to brothers. However, that brotherhood was shattered by the evilness and the ego by a man who believes his time is here and now.

Shawn comes out first to an epic introduction. Shades of Undertaker’s King of the Ring 1998 entrance as pyro shoots off every time HBK takes a step. JR hopes that this match is not a decision Shawn will regret for the rest of his life.

Up next is Triple H, fresh off of bone chip removal in right arm. Ridiculously jacked, fitting of what the character had at the time. For some odd reason, HBK made his entrance, then the bell sounded for Howard to do ONLY HHH’S ENTRANCE! If this was Lillian Garcia, both men would have had botched intros!

As Motorhead blares, another thing blares: Shawn’s ego. Not afraid to stand off against his former best friend, he jumps over to the top rope in a corner and tells him figuratively to bring it!

Shawn throws first shirt and here we go!

The first few minutes are split between the two, with Shawn getting a little more offense in. Like the good ol’ days, Shawn does a crossbody over the top and onto The Game! Huge moment, and it shows HBK hasn’t missed a step in four years.

Want more proof? Hunter, after averting trash can lid disaster a first time, tries to grab Shawn by the hair back into the ring. Shawn then smacks the lid against Hunter’s head, and skins the cat back in! HOLY MOLY BATMAN!

Shawn makes Hunter eat more trash can, and follows it up with a shot from the top rope. Sensing superkick time, Shawn tunes up.

“Derp.”

Like the Cerebral Assassin he is, Hunter sidesteps the danger, and gives Shawn a backbreaker!

The next couple of minutes sees Trips completely bitch out Shawn. Focusing on the back, Triple H throws Shawn into turnbuckles like a little child. To add insult to injury, Hunter tells Shawn to “SUCK IT” then kicks him back down. The heat for this part was incredible!

Triple H zones in even further on the back, with multiple elbow drops on the area, maybe even hitting the plate surgically embedded in there. This gets a near-fall, and this prompts The Game to get a chair.

Hunter doesn’t give Shawn’s back one moment to rest. Like Jason Giambi, Hunter swings for the fences with the chair.

After almost getting pinned again, Shawn tries to fight his way out of this predicament, adding in a near-fall of his own! Hunter quickly resumes control with a face-buster.

Despite the objections of referee Earl Hebner, Hunter DDT’s Shawn onto a chair for a near-fall. Oh lookie, BLOOD!

Shawn’s been busted open, with just enough blood to look like a crayon was coloring outside the lines.

Hunter pretends he’s a daddy with a score to settle, so he takes off HBK’s own belt and whips him like a government mule! Creatively, Hunter wraps that belt around his fist so when he decks out Shawn, the buckle is striking the cut! BRUTAL!

Shawn attempts to get to a vertical base while Hunter is looking outside the ring area for something.

That something would turn out to be your friend and mine, MR. SLEDGIE!

Earl tries to stop it, but Shawn has the whereto to get out of trouble. Hunter quickly gets back his momentum into an abdominal stretch. Tsk tsk, we got a rest-hold!

Hunter grabs the rope for additional leverage, which makes Hebner seethe. I mean, Hebner gets into Hunter’s face, pushing him around showing whose boss!

“BIGGER DERP!”

The confrontation allows Shawn to try to get some groove back. Instead, Hunter positions Shawn for a superplex. Shawn may have pushed Triple H off, but Hunter pushes Hebner into the ropes, which in turn crotches Michaels.

Michaels loses some balance and winds up in the ‘tree of woe’ position. This allows Triple H, with the chair in hand, to get another free shot in on Michaels! Once again, that back shot is the equivalent of a Major Leaguer getting a home run deep into the stands!

Hunter sets up the chair middle of the ring, and delivers yet another backbreaker to Shawn! This time, the sitting portion of the chair is more mangled than a victim of Dr. Hannibal Lecter!

After another failed series of near-falls, Hunter stomps down the chair, and gives his old buddy a sidewalk slam on the steel apparatus! ANOTHER mini-series of near-falls ensues!

Hunter’s yelling at Shawn to STAY DOWN! Frustrated at his inability to put him away, Game puts the chair down again. Potential Pedigree coming up, but the only thing that happens is a low-blow from Shawn straight to Hunter’s Netherlands!

Once again, Shawn is trying to gain some momentum. Only Hunter’s got that chair again. Will it connect?

It did connect, but not in the way nature intended! Shawn managed to kick that chair back into Hunter’s face! What’s the result?

 

Ughhh…..

More crimson than red ink on a failed test!

Shawn is finally turning the tide! The elbow to the face followed by a kip-up ensues, and this crowd on Long Island is ESTATIC! After a back body drop, Shawn winds up the chair for some Sweet Skull Music! THAT HIT WITH A BULLET!

After getting whipped over the ropes, Hunter is now getting what is due to him. Some lid shots, some belt shots, it feels like a little bit of everything!

As Shawn is raping Triple H of his dignity (or whatever he may have had left), the crowd is chanting for TABLES! Keep in mind there are mini rivulets of blood all over the ringside area!

Michael Cole and Tazz make a go for it after Shawn whacks Triple H so hard in the head with the lid that Hunter goes flying! Hugo “kindly” lets Shawn take his boot for another dose of cranial carnage. I tell you what, Shawn’s racking up the fines in Wellness isn’t he?

“A heel for a heel!” Nice work King!

Hunter tries to get up only to get a nasty-looking Bulldog on the bottom half of the steel steps! GNARLY!

Okay, this just got real: Shawn pulls out the LADDER! We’ve had chairs, garbage cans, and belts up to this point, but now we’ve got the big time piece of metal that made HBK famous!

Triple H met the ladder in person as HBK rammed it into his head!

After shoving the ladder deep into the solar plexus of The Game, Shawn then successfully catapulted Hunter right into it! Since he was busted open, the only thing that’s being assassinated is Triple H’s blood supply! As this point, Gordon Solie would salute from the grave saying that this is indeed a crimson mask!

Lawler made a note on commentary that Hunter would never have imagined being massacred like he is against Shawn. See kids, this was when King made valid and astute comments on commentary!

After failing a near-fall, Shawn tried to get that ladder into the ring. He failed again as Hunter had the synapses to do a baseball slide.  As HBK lies hurt to the outside, Hunter’s face is telling a story, with little drops of blood going to the mat.

Hunter got some free shots in and tried to go upstairs. Shawn however met up with him and delivered a superplex! Shawn covered Hunter to a 2, and then met a high knee courtesy of Hunter channeling Harley Race.

With conclusion in his sights, Hunter gets the top half of the steel steps chucked away from earlier. It looks like a free shot, but instead, Shawn delivers a drop-toe-hold to Hunter on the steps! YIKES!

Both men get up and Shawn clotheslines Hunter right over the top, onto the ladder! Hunter’s left knee got jammed in the ladder while the right one caught a metal edge. I’m sure he’s thankful he got knee pads!

Finally, Shawn unveils the table from under the ring! While setting it up, he takes down Hunter with one punch. Although H would get right back up, he was then met with a fire extinguisher. Gee, he lands on the table.

HBK rolls back in the ring.

HBK climbs the top rope!

HBK LOOKS ARROGANT!

HBK TAKES FLIGHT!

TOUCHDOWN!

Jim Ross says something very true here. If this was a Falls Count Anywhere match, the bout would have ended right here! The crowd was LOUD, and the carnage was poetic justice. But no, the show must go on!

Shawn slowly gets the ladder in the ring, and Hunter just as slowly rolls into the ring himself. HBK sets that ladder up, and climbs up it!

Mouthing, “I love each and every one of you,” he elbows The Game from the top!

Instead of being down though, it gives Shawn a big jolt of adrenaline.

The crowd is calling for it, and the commentators are calling for it.

SWEET…CHIN…MUSIC!

Shawn tunes up the band (which I might add might be measured in sixteenth notes), gets sidestepped into a Pedigree, but Shawn counters out into a pinning predicament!

1

2

3!

BAH GAWD SHAWN HAS DONE IT! THE FANS HAVE THROWN THEIR ARMS UP! JIM ROSS IS NECK-FATTING LIKE CRAZY! LAWLER’S SPAZZING OUT LIKE A GIRL!

Howard announces Shawn as the victor as Shawn gives Earl a little kiss on the forehead.

There is a little bit of irony here: The picture of Shawn before WrestleMania XIV was an image taken after he said his match was for Earl. Hebner had a brain aneurysm just before the big show, and was laid up for a while. While Hebner should have ref’ed what could have been Shawn’s last match, he instead refs the first match Shawn would have from the comeback!

As HBK has his hand raised, he simultaneously gets another kiss: from a sledgehammer!

Hunter, with his face still caked in blood, goes into unholy evil mode with the sledge. Taking liberties, he delivers a parting blow to his fallen foe.

The scene of a still very-well-bloodied Hunter laughing after Shawn is put on a stretcher is some of the most horrifying imagery in WWE history.

It’s a Pyrrhic victory for Shawn, and a redemption spell for The Game.

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While they would fight again, and with bigger stakes in tow, this is the one match that truly defines their feud.

Shawn Michaels in his autobiography admitted this match should have been with Vince McMahon. The implication being that Shawn was going to avenge his injuries, and the injuries done to all of his friends (like Steve Austin, Triple H, Kevin Nash, amongst others). Vince would be the slave-driving boss while Shawn would be the savior.

Instead, Hunter wanted the match with Shawn, and the rest is history.

Shawn and Hunter would feud on-and-off for nearly four years. Ironically, they would reunite to take down the one man who originally should have faced Shawn in the first place. Also, the man who would be Hunter’s real-life father-in-law!

Instead of wrapping this up, think of it as a new beginning. Here’s to 20,000 more (actually, 40K as of this revision) views and another year of great things to come!

Revised: 7/21/13

Technorati Tags: wwe,summerslam,shawn michaels,triple h,non-sanctioned,2002,new york,long island,Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum,raw,smackdown,eric bischoff,stephanie mcmahon,attitude,d-generation x,security cam,youtube,amazon,blood,chair,ladder,belt,shoe,hugo savinovich,carlos carbrera,pyrrhic victory,kevin nash,steve austin,earl hebner,cross body,elbow,back,metal plate,stretcher,evil,pedigree,sweet chin music,superkick,backbreaker,face buster,high knee,harley race,bone chip,quadricep,jim ross,jerry lawler,revision,sizzlers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rock: The Epic Adventure of Dwayne Johnson

So I went to Twitter the other day and asked what I should do next for this blog.

As you can see, wwedvdnews gave me a challenge to make up content for the newest ‘Rock’ DVD coming out in February.

This sounds like a daunting task.

My response?

YOU’RE ON!

Coming out on February 21st, the newest Rock collection from WWE Home Video promises to be one for the ages. With input from the man himself, the collection apparently features promos, matches, but it’s not known at the point of writing whether a documentary is there or not.

Today, Bad Booking is about to become an armchair quarterback. Given this “dare” so to speak, I’m coming up with the content that should be on this new collaboration.

One difference noticed IMMEDIATELY is that this collection will be a 4-disc DVD/3-disc Blu-ray, like the Steve Austin one released not too long ago. Another difference is that the content, while more finite, will feature stuff never before seen on compilations (in addition to the repeat stuff).

Before starting, I will note that in a perfect world, I’d ask Vince McMahon if he’d make a charitable donation to the panda people so that nothing gets blurred/bleeped. Let’s not forget people that Rock’s prime was right smack in the ‘Attitude Era’, from 1998-2002. Although I’d get denied immediately, at least it shows initiative that I care about the content being presented without alterations.

Now then, let’s get to cracking!

Goes without saying, that DISC ONE IS A DOCUMENTARY! Shorter than Austin’s, but about as long as Bret Hart’s, which was about two hours itself.

Although I’m not exactly creative with chapter names, I can offer a preview of how this project will go.

- The first twenty or so minutes talk about Rock’s life before he got into the business himself. Unlike Steve Austin’s documentary, which glossed through his childhood/young adult year in about twenty-six seconds, Rock’s younger years are much more wrestling involved than his contemporary Rattlesnake. Starting with his grandfather ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia, then his father Rocky Johnson, and perhaps an exploit about Freddie Blassie, little Dwayne always had wrestling in his blood. That almost took a different turn when he was on that legendary Miami Hurricanes college football team from the early 1990s.

SACKED!

- WWE, 1996. It’s the debut of one Rocky Maivia from Madison Square Garden, as he takes part in the Survivor Series. The ‘Blue Chipper’ catches on strong early, even winning the Intercontinental Championship. However, doing things the traditional ‘babyface’ way led to resentment from the crowd, and thus the newly-named ‘Rock’ made a mold of his own.

-Nation of Domination. This is where the ‘y’ from Rocky was dropped, as well as “Maivia”. Starting as in inauspicious addition, success went to the young man’s head. Becoming even stronger with another run with of the IC belt, Rock would kick out Farooq (Ron Simmons), and become ‘Ruler’. This would lead to finally showing the charisma the guy always had, and the start of the catapult to the top. The feud with D-Generation X would also be featured, as well as Rocky’s incredible run at the 1998 Royal Rumble.

-Corporate Champion. For a small little while, The Rock became a fan favorite. However, at Survivor Series 1998, the joke turned onto his opponent Mankind, when it was revealed that Vince McMahon, who had despised Rock, was working with him all along. On top of the world, Rock finally became a heel that could go toe-to-toe with the best from ‘Rattlesnake’ country.

- Royal Rumble 1999. Yep, the ‘I Quit” match alone gets a chapter. If released on Blu-ray, there should be an interactive portion that allows you to skip to the match during the chapter. Like the Jake Roberts DVD, this mentions the movie ‘Beyond the Mat’. If you remember correctly, Mankind went into the match champion after winning the belt in an emotional match on RAW.  Mick Foley would of course be the main guy interviewed besides Rock, and would pretty much tell the same story he told in his second book, “Foley is Good”. Long story short, Johnson went a little too far. If you want to know why WWE bans chair shots to the head, watch this match. Instead of a few shots, Rock gets into double-digit category, while deepening a cut that was already there on Foley’s head. The chapter would also show Foley’s wife, Collette, protecting their children Dewey and Noelle from the carnage. Although the two patched things up, Rock and Foley had heat with each other for a little bit because Rock didn’t outright apologize to Foley, kind of like Owen Hart not apologizing to Steve Austin after Summerslam 1997.

- Wrestlemania XV: Although the match itself gets a chapter, it primarily revolves around Rock explaining how going into Wrestlemania WWE Champion feels like.

-The People’s Champion: Shortly after Backlash 1999, where Rock lost his title rematch to Austin, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment finally becomes the most loved man in the company (or almost by that point). Now laying the Smackdown to his bad guy adversaries, the fans immediately rallied behind him. This would also cover The Rock and Sock Connection days, with ‘This is Your Life’ prominently featured. Oh yeah, that’s easily a special feature. All 30 some-odd minutes of it!

- McMahon-Helmsley Regime: Although The Rock and Triple H were always at odds in the WWE, their most legendary segment of their rivalry took place in 2000. The power-hungry WWE Champion versus The Great One, it was a months-long epic confrontation that produced many hours of entertaining TV (with or without EVERY member of the McMahon family). This will cover it all from about December of 1999 to about June of 2000 where the feud pretty much died off after King of the Ring. This is a chapter that in practice would come off much better in visual presentation.

-WWE Champion: After The Rock won the WWE Championship in 2000, he began a successful series of mini-feuds and title defenses that endeared him to legendary status. Sadly Chris Benoit won’t be featured, because let’s face it, he is one of those “unmentionables”. However, Summerslam 2000, Unforgiven 2000, and the highly controversial No Mercy 2000 matches are covered. Somewhat lengthy chapter, but all tied together in theory.

-The Promos: Would you like a chapter of the Rock describing his promo style? Yes? Then that’s all this is, about seven minutes of clip glory.

-Rikishi: Short chapter on the rivalry with Rock’s “cousin”. Goes all the way up to Royal Rumble 2001, with Armageddon 2000’s Hell in the Cell match mentioned too.

-Wrestlemania X-Seven: After winning the WWE Championship from Kurt Angle the month before at No Way Out, Rock and Austin face off once again in a 70K Houston Astrodome on the grandest stage of all. An untraditional face vs. face match, the two went at it for thirty minutes straight. Of course until Vince showed up, and Austin turned heel. Also covering the cage rematch the next night, this would segue into Rock’s budding movie career getting a head-start.

-Movies: This chapter mentions the PR Rock did, including outside interviews and the two ‘Mummy’ movies. Again, much better described visually than verbally, WWE would do a GREAT job getting old footage together and presenting it in a complimentary matter.

-Invasion: This describes Rocky coming back in July of 2001, to take the WWE side of the war. All the way until Survivor Series 2001. Also mentioned would be Rock hitting on Lilian Garcia, and some of the funniest put-downs imaginable. This definitely would also feature that infamous promo on Booker T.

- Wrestlemania X-8: Skimming over the next few months, and the fact Jericho would once again gloat rightfully about his accomplishment,  here the doc mentions the match that transcends time. The build-up, the atmosphere of Toronto, getting booed as a babyface, everything. Epic ten minute chapter. For WWE, they can cheat using the Hogan footage from ‘Still Rules’.

-Summerslam 2002: Rock won the Undisputed Championship at Vengeance, and his next opponent would be “The Next Big Thing”. Long island, Summerslam, Brock Lesnar. Rock notes how the crowds are smart, and they knew he was going to lose the title. Instead of pandering to the crowd, he instead electrifies them, and makes Lesnar look like a million bucks. Seeing as Lesnar may or may not retire from UFC, some new interview footage would be awesome!

- Wrestlemania XIX: Third time is the charm for Rock. Rock quips about how usually when people return they get cheered. He returns and gets booed out of the building! Again, the visuals on this would be tremendous, and that’s why WWE is the best when it comes to documentaries.

- Wrestlemania XX: Comments on his handicap match with Mick Foley versus Batista, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton as Evolution. In my mind, highly underrated match that is a fine compliment to all of their careers. Rock would make his last actual wrestling performance there for a very long time.

- Movie Career: Rock and the movies. Simple. Talks about hits like ‘Fast and Furious’, while trashes bombs like ‘Doom’. The Wrestlemania 24 Hall of Fame is also mentioned, with new stories surely to be unearthed.

-The return/Survivor Series: For the first time in a long time, The Rock returns to WWE television. Cutting a promo on the company as a whole, but in particular the PG rules and John Cena, Rock’s personality wins over a new generation of fans. After screwing Cena (arguably) out of the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania 27, the two agree on a match to headline Wrestlemania 28. In the meantime, they tag up in MSG, 15 years nearly to the day Rock debuted, at Survivor Series. Add in Miz and R-Truth to the interview footage, and we got ourselves quite the little number going on.

-Legacy: Adding in comments from other superstars while contributing a music video, it’s that denouement chapter that summarizes everyone into one little beautiful visual package of pomp and pageantry. This is the point where people realize their money was not spent in vain, and that this was FINALLY the release they waited for.

So you want matches and promos? Since disc one on the DVD will be the documentary plus some other side stories, here is the content listing from disc two to disc four, with the Blu-ray exclusives!

Disc Two:

Intercontinental Championship, vs. Triple H, THURSDAY RAW THURSDAY, 2/14/97 (Alternate commentary with The Rock & Triple H.)

IC Championship, vs. Ken Shamrock, Royal Rumble 1998

2 out of 3 Falls, IC Championship, vs. Triple H, Fully Loaded 1998

Triple Threat Steel Cage, vs. Mankind vs. Ken Shamrock, Breakdown 1998

WWE Championship, vs. Mankind, Survivor Series 1998

“I Quit”, WWE Championship, vs. Mankind, Royal Rumble 1999

• Nation of Domination (8/18/97)

• No Way Out of Texas 1998 (2/15/98)

• Wrestlemania XIV (3/29/98)

• NOD vs. Chyna (8/24/98)

• Corporate Champion (11/16/98)

Disc 3:

w/ Steve Austin & Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon, Triple H, & The Undertaker, RAW (5/10/99)

WWE Championship, vs. Triple H, Backlash 2000 (Alternate commentary by Triple H, The Rock, and a unnamed special guest).

WWE Championship, vs. Kurt Angle, No Way Out 2001

No Disqualification, WWE Championship, vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Wrestlemania X-Seven (Alternate commentary by Steve Austin & The Rock.)

• Rock ditches The Corporation (4/26/99)

• “This Is Your Life” (9/27/99)

• Rock/Jericho promo on Booker T/Rhyno/Stephanie (8/13/2001)

• Angle. Rock. Pie (9/27/2001)

• Rock runs down his opponents for Armageddon (12/4/2000)

• Margaritaville (11/12/2001)

Disc 4:

Triple Threat, WWE Championship, vs. Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker, Vengeance 2002

vs. Steve Austin, Wrestlemania XIX (Alternate commentary by The Rock & Steve Austin)

with John Cena vs. Awesome Truth (The Miz & R-Truth), Survivor Series 2011

• “Anyone can be in the Royal Rumble!” (1/17/02)

• Rock challenges Hogan (2/18/2002)

• Summerslam 2002 training vignettes

• Rock Concert from Sacramento (3/24/03)

• Promo before Wrestlemania XX match

• Return promo from 2011 (2/14/11)

Blu-ray Exclusives

Royal Rumble Match, Royal Rumble 1998

with Mankind & Ken Shamrock vs. Undertaker & Kane, RAW (9/28/98)

vs. Hulk Hogan, Wrestlemania X-8 (new film edit, with different camera angles on top of the original commentary)

• Rock Concert from Toronto (2/24/03)

• Viva La Eddie (7/22/02)

• Making Wrestlemania 28 with John Cena (4/6/11)

• Why he's teaming with John Cena (10/31/11)

I know a lot of you are looking at the match/promo list and going, “WAH, THIS IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF REPEATS!”

Well shut your mouth and know your role and read the blogger spiel!

When it comes to some of the matches, lets face it: they are meant to encompass the career of The Rock, and not his opponents.

For example, the first Triple H/Rock match is to show how far they’ve come. The addition of commentary only adds to this point.

As for the Blu-ray, it contains both of Rock’s 1998 Royal Rumble matches. Both of these made the stock in Maivia rise that night. The IC match was not only good, but had one of the best reversals of fortune EVER, and if anyone doubts early heel Rock, then watch the end to this. 55 minutes in a Rumble directly afterwards is no slouch either, yet Rock pulls it off big time! Not to mention a foreshadowing brawl with Austin!

Summer of 1998 had two choices, whether it’d be Summerslam or Fully Loaded. I personally chose the FL match because while both have been on DVD before, I thought this match also showed why heel Rock was awesome, barely escaping with the title.

The Breakdown match is a truly underrated classic that quite frankly can be repeated and no one will mind. A match with three men inside a cage doesn’t seem all that intriguing until you have a hardcore bastard in Foley, the world’s most dangerous Shamrock, and then a electrifier in Rock. Three combustible men= A TON OF FUN!

There’s a rare match on BD I chose to include with the handicap war from RAW. This is on the out-of-print Best of RAW V1 & 2 set from 2001, and let me tell you, this is a TREAT! One of the only times ever where Undertaker is pinned clean as a sheet in the center of that ring.

Both Foley matches, Survivor Series 98 and Rumble 99, need no explanation. They are the second genesis of heel Rock, and better yet, make Rock look absolutely horrifically evil. Those chair shots at the Rumble, although it was an accident, made Rock a monster no one ever saw before.

That six-man tag from RAW in 1999 is the #1 all-time rated ANYTHING in the history of RAW. Sure it doesn’t match ratings done by a Saturday Night’s Main Event from the 1980’s, but let’s not fool ourselves. At the PEAK of the Monday Night War, a 9.3 rating is nothing to slouch at. I put it on here because it proves that Rock=ratings.

Backlash 2000 needs no introduction. This should have happened at Wrestlemania the month before, from the stips all the way to Austin making his presence felt. Perhaps one of the absolute best matches in Rock’s career, it had a hot crowd, and a hotter finish. I wish there was room to put Judgment Day 2000 on here as well, but three matches against “The Game” is certainly enough for anyone. On commentary yet again, the two explain how it was like to perform like they did in front of electric crowds every night. Plus a certain bald-headed man makes a cameo near the end!

Another solid unspoken for contest is No Way Out 2001 against Kurt Angle. Sure it may seem a little strange, but it was a straight-up no-stip match with a couple of surprises. One was Big Show destroying EVERYONE mid-match, and the other was Earl Hebner legitimately screwing up the finish. I love little flaws like that, even if it wasn’t caught on immediately (I only noticed about a year ago myself).

For the bajillionth time, we have Austin/Rock II from Wrestlemania X-Seven! YAY! OPEN UP THE CANS OF STEVEWEISERS! First time ever, Rock and Austin both get to finally settle down and talk about this match on the commentary track. Performing in the Astrodome, nearly seventy thousand fans, and everyone reacting to everything, Austin and Rock fondly look back at this, their best match together, knowing full well they got the absolute best out of one another. On the DVD, highlight this chapter, press left two times, and there’s an easter egg of Jim Ross sitting down with Rock and Austin just days before X-Seven! And you thought I couldn’t make old dogs learn new tricks!

Next up is probably the second-best Triple Threat match in WWE history, as Angle and Rock take on Bad Ass Undertaker for the Undisputed Championship at Vengeance 2002. Bad ass is right, as the only time this match was available on DVD was the special two-disc version of “JUST BRING IT”.

One more time, Austin and Rock sit down for Wrestlemania. This time its for XIX, famous for being the one Rock finally won while being Austin’s last competitive match. Austin tells Rock stories, like the near-heart attack, that make Rock completely dumbfounded on how well this match came out. Both point out JR did a great job on commentary post-match covering up the fact it was a mini-love fest, while verbally JR saying it was smack talk.

Hey, want to work the audience? Then what about this! “Schedule” Rock and Cena to do a recording of a commentary for their MSG match, but only Cena shows up, and Rock doesn’t! While the commentary sadly won’t be recorded, it’d be an easy way to grow anticipation of the release!

The promos really need little to no explanation. Literary thesis wasn’t a strong point of mine, and while there’s nothing hidden (besides Rock wanting to be pleasured by Gennifer Flowers), the promos are a huge part of what makes The Rock The Rock. No one else talks like him, exaggerates like him, but better yet, no one can do a great setup/pull-off like him. Even on RAW in 2011 he still “had it”. Hell, Rock can definitely be amongst the top five, maybe even top two, promo men in the history of the WWE.

IN CONCLUSION: Consider the dare done. I made a Rock set, WITH FOUR DVDS, and with some of the best promos to boot. The only hard part of it wasn’t the actual content, but what dates did the promos occur on. Time constraints suck too, but that’s half the fun! I hope you all have fun reading this, and hope when the actual content list from WWE gets released, you’re not all disappointed anticipating my version.

Of course follow me on Facebook & Twitter, and the tags on the bottom will reflect Twitter handles.

Twitter Tags: WWEDVDNews, TheRock, Marks4life, WWE, WWEUniverseFans, steveaustinBSR, JRsBBQ, WWEUniverse, WWEShop, HulkHogan, BlurayUnleashed, mashable, LilianGarcia

 

 

 

 

BBB’s WWE Column #4, Part One

Flickr Tags: wwe,wwf,wrestling,bbb,countdown,triple h,cactus jack,royal rumble,no way out,wrestlemania,summerslam,shawn michaels,chris jericho,fozzy,steve austin,chris benoit,goldberg,brock lesnar

Top Ten (or so) Best WWE PPV Matches of the 2000’s

The last list I did was as Undertaker would say, “famous.” It broke records big-time (salute to Peter Gabriel), and sparked a lot of debate about what was “right” and what was “wrong”. No matter the perceived result, I thought it was a helluva lot of fun.

So my feet’s in the acid again!

This time I skewing through the last decade, looking for the best of the best. Like the last countdown, it will be one match (or so if there is a common thread) per one year.

2000-2004 will be covered in part one, then 2005-2009 will be covered in part two!

Another thing to notice is that the matches featured here have been released on DVD one way or another, so all releases are listed after their write-ups.

With that in mind, let’s waste no time in counting down the great bouts of the new millennium!

2000: Cactus Jack vs. Triple H, Street Fight, WWE Championship, Royal Rumble

Kind of like the Shawn Michaels and Undertaker Hell in the Cell, and the Submission match from Wrestlemania 13, this match helped me get my start into the crazy/wacky world of the WWE.

The last match of the first edition of Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses, I was not aware at the time how brutal this match was going to be. Keep in mind I was 14 at the time, and this DVD was the very first one I ever pre-ordered for myself.

Enough about personal backstory, to the match we go!

This match was set-up after Triple H beat the living shit out of Mankind on RAW. During the beat-down however, something “weird” transformed. Bloody and mangled, Mankind fought back against “The Game”, doing the signature pistol right-hands and the knee against the ropes.

On the preceding Smackdown, Mankind came out and said that Mankind wasn’t in good shape to compete at the Rumble in the a Street Fight, but he named a substitute. The long-sleeves and tie were taken off to reveal a figure as ironic as Clark Kent revealing Superman: CACTUS JACK!

Triple H acted as if he saw a ghost, and the war was only just beginning.

After weeks of jaw-jacking and long-winded promos from both men, they were ready to settle the score. Held at Madison Square Garden, it was all too iconic a place for this brawl. Foley, as a younger man, hitchhiked his way to the Garden to see Jimmy Snuka fly off the steel cage onto Don Muraco.

Not a bad way to introduce yourself to MSG action!

At the beginning of the match, it appeared as if Stephanie McMahon was going to accompany her “husband” (they weren’t legit married until 2003), but instead gave him a kiss and went away. That should let you know this wouldn’t be for the weak of heart.

That it would not be.

After a wild and wholly start, the match really started to pick up after Cactus brought a barbed-wire block of wood into the ring! Although it’s been seen on WWE TV before, it never had the significance like it did right then and there. The expression on Jack’s eyes tell the story.

Jack attempted a swing, but struck out with a low-blow by Triple H. Trips had a couple of good shots with the bat before Cactus did the double-armed DDT. During the sequence, Earl Hebner was able to procure the bat next to Hugo Savinovich. To a chorus of boos, Cactus wonders where the bat went. He goes over to Hugo, knocks him the hell out, and retrieves the bat.

Earl is trying to hold Cactus back, but instead gets himself in harm’s way. As Triple H clotheslines the ref in the corner, he rebounds into a shot from Cactus with the damn barbed wire wood! Jim Ross is in absolute rage on commentary, and Triple H’s face is what Gordon Solie would say, “the proverbial crimson mask.” In addition to the suplex on the wood pallets earlier in the contest, H’s blood loss is at a premium now. A gash in both the calf and forehead!

It seemed as if Triple H was able to stop the rush of Cactus as he reversed a piledriver on the announce table. Back in the ring, Trips tried a Pedigree, but got catapulted into the ring post, then bulldogged into the barbed wire wood!

Certainly out, but not down for long, Triple H would use the bat again, but this time on the leg of Cactus! In a homage to the year before, Trips puts Cactus in handcuffs! After some stiff shots and a toe-hold on steel steps, Cactus leads Triple H up the graffiti-decorated aisle way. Who’s waiting for “The Game”?

THE ROCK! Rock got a sweet chairshot in on H, and that allows the NYPD representative to free Cactus from the cuffs.

Cactus punches Triple H back to the Spanish announcer table. Unlike the prior time on the WWE table, Cactus successfully executes the piledriver! Unlike the prior time as the table gave under the reversal, the desk DIDN’T GIVE! And you guys think that table no-sold for RKO’s!

Back in and out of the ring, Cactus gets a bag. A bag full of tricks! Spiny, pointy, and shiny ones. THUMBTACKS! The crowd pops once again, and Jim Ross does his neckfattingly best to cover the magnitude of this action. After a distraction from newly-arrived Stephers, Triple H comes to and nails a Pedigree. This only gets a 1-2, and the shockwave of disbelief ebbs through the arena. A second Pedigree, this time on THUMBTACKS, gets the full 1-2-3 as Triple H retains the title.

This is HORRIFIC to watch. Unlike most bumps, viewer discretion is certainly advised.

That was freaking brutal to watch, and to think, Cactus isn’t done yet. After Triple H is put on a stretcher, Cactus yanks it right back to crash it into the ring apron. After ANOTHER shot with the barbed wire wood, Cactus holds his head up high, winning a battle but losing the war.

There would be an epic rematch the month later at No Way Out, this time inside Hell in the Cell. After going through the top of the HIAC like a champ, Cactus is retired with another Pedigree. Or so we think...

Just to clear up anything about 2004, the match with Randy Orton WILL NOT make this list. The outlines are similar, but 2004 has some stiff competition that in my mind 2000 does not.

DVD’s: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses, Triple H - The Game, Triple H - That Damn Good, Royal Rumble 2000, Royal Rumble, The Complete Anthology

2001: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Triple H, Three Stages of Hell, No Way Out

The backstory of the match is simple: these two men HATE each other.

It’s not “passionate dislike” or “mutually strong disagreement”.

It’s fricken HATE.

It all started at Survivor Series 1999. Triple H paid off Rikishi to run over the Texas Rattlesnake. In storyline, it took Austin out of the WWE Championship match. In real life, it took Austin of the WWE for a while as he would take time off for some much-needed spinal fusion, a direct result of damage sustained in a botched piledriver from Summerslam 1997.

Fast forward to 2000 at THAT Survivor Series. Austin and Triple H had a match go to a no contest after Austin, driving a forklift, hoisted “The Game” (in an automobile) high up in the air and crashed him back down.

Fast forward once again to after Armageddon and that Hell in the Cell match. Austin took on Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship. Austin had the match in hand, until Triple H yanked the referee out and caused the DQ. A bloody beatdown of Austin ensued.

At the Royal Rumble, Triple H pursued Angle for the same piece of real estate. It seemed as if Triple H had the match taken care of, until Austin came in and gave Helmsley a good ol’ belt whackin’ upside the head. Stunned from the loss, Helmsley would later take his rage out on the Rattlesnake some more as Austin entered the Rumble. Bloody, beaten, shaken, and stirred, Austin came back into the Rumble to win it, therefore earning the Wrestlemania title shot.

This left Hunter in a lurch for ‘Mania, but no big deal. No Way Out was around the corner, and the two signed for a match. The big stipulation in the contract leading up was that if Austin touched Triple H, Austin was out of a title shot. If Triple H touched Austin, Hunter would be out for six months. In one of the more cunning displays of treachery, Hunter faked the signing and attacked Austin after the contract was declared “official”. No retaliation for you Mr. Austin!

So after Helmsley Pedigree’d Jim Ross and Austin Stunner’d Stephanie, it’s all purgatory from here. THREE STAGES OF HELL for two men needing one goal: to be the better man.

Triple H is Motorhead and Austin was definitely Disturbed as both men didn’t waste time with those right hands. The first fall, a wrestling match, felt more of a regulated street fight. After some seventeen-odd minutes, Austin got the Stunner and the pinfall as now the Bionic Redneck (hated that name but it fits in this time era) has that fall advantage.

Starting the second fall, which is indeed a “REAL” street fight, the two brawled onto the floor. After intercepting Helmsley on the stairway, Austin gave Triple H some chair tattoos all over the body.

After some more brawling, a barbed wire bat makes its way into the fray. As Foghorn Leghorn would never say, “Let’s bury the hatchet boy, right in your head!” Austin is (Jack Tunney spirit) THEREFORE busted open by the wood. For the first time all match, Triple H is single-handedly in control.

That is, until he tries a Pedigree and Austin back bodydrops him through El Amigo table. Some pretty elevation there for ze Game! Austin struggles for balance, but when he does, he bashes Dos Eqis over Helmsley’s head. Stay thirsty my friends!

Back in the ring, Austin walks right into a bell shot from The Game! Swinging neckbreaker on the chair follows for a few faux falls. Austin attempted a Million Dollar Dream, but Hunter got a suplex reversal, and that landed on the chair! Hunter fails at the Pedigree again and for the second time goes flying over the top! For his troubles, Hunter gets a chair shot right between the eyes for the renewal of a red badge of courage! To drive it home more, Trips gets the RING STEPS to the face!

Both men trade some bitch shots before Trips unleashes SLEDGIE! With some trouble, Trips gets that shot in before the Pedigree and the fall is DONE! Tied up 1-1 all, CAGE TIME! The music for the cage is freaking awesome, and I mark out every time I hear it!

Now unlike the last fall where a lot of stuff happens, the third fall was more of “survival”. For example, Austin punches back from trouble to start it off. Most of it is just slow moving punches, cage throws, and weapon shots. The final bump saw Triple H and Austin, with sledgie and 2x4 respectively, hit each other simultaneously. Both men get KTFO, but Triple H landed on top of Austin for the 1-2-3 for the end! It was 40 FREAKING MINUTES, and enjoyable for all of them! Austin left Triple H with a parting gift, a black-hearted Stunner!

It all must come to an end...sometime...

Two quick notes about the match. First, Austin was cussin’ up a storm against EVERYONE he saw. And second, if you’re able to see it, Triple H blades himself...AFTER THE BELL! That’s one for Botchamania!

After Wrestlemania and Austin’s heel turn, these two would form the Two Man Power Trip. At one point, the two men had almost every belt the company had at the time. It abruptly ended when Triple H went down with a torn quad during a tag team title match, and thus Austin was left to do his own dirty laundry for the next while. Although Triple H would return as a face in early 2002, it wouldn’t be long before he was a heel again, and a great match would soon follow.

DVDs: Stone Cold Steve Austin - What?, The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H - That Damn Good (The original pay per view sadly is only available on VHS in the United States. Europeans are lucky enough to have it in their Tagged Classics series.)

2002: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H, Unsanctioned, Summerslam

As alluded to in the prior year, Triple H went down with a quad injury that led to a tear-jerking return at MSG in January of 2002.

LOOK AT THAT POP!

For the next six months, Triple H would take on the world as a all-encompassing good guy. He even won the Undisputed WWE Championship from Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania X-8 in Toronto.

In late July however, the mood on The Game soured. His dear friend Shawn Michaels returned from four years of being away. Although on the surface he looked elated, inside Helmsley was steaming.

With the Pedigree heard around the world, a heel turn was in order. It also took Michaels getting his head mashed into a car window to solidify it. After a classic “Whodunnit”, Triple H admitted he did the deed, and Michaels proclaimed to be back in time for Summerslam.

After some harsh words and exchanges, the fight of unknowns was about to begin in Long Island.

Shawn had a pyro-filled entrance while Triple H just looked that damn despicable. Or at least that’s what Daffy Duck would say about the man.

In any respect, the first few minutes felt like a greatest hits package of HBK. A few punches, skinned the cat, and even rolled on outside to surprise his “buddy” with a clothesline. The gander seemed good for the goose eh?

Not until Triple H had the pendulum swing big time with a vicious backbreaker. Shawn had a metal plate down there with a surgery from 1999. That would be H’s modus operandi for the next couple of sequences as chair shots and abdominal stretches would be a call card. To add insult to injury, HBK was busted open with a DDT on the chair!

Slowly but surely, it seemed as if the bigger, stronger, and more “in shape” Game was able to be the victor. That was until Shawn was able to superkick a steel chair right into Triple H’s face! Immediately, Hunter bleeds like a hog while Shawn’s cut looks to be completely gone!

Now the ball is completely in Michaels’ court.

While giving Hunter a heel for a heel (aka Hugo’s boot, the same one Hunter used on Shawn previously), Shawn gave Hunter some worldly experiences of steel step eating and ladder abuse! All this while Triple H looks like he should have been a stunt double in “Carrie”! While Triple H would get momentary momentum surges, they’d always be “showstopped”.

After an outrageous splash through the table bump, Shawn goes to the top of the previously used ladder to give Hunter his patented elbow. Lawler is amazed when HBK gets up! Michaels goes to the corner with a toothy grit on his face, and tunes up the band! Triple H gets up, reverses the kick into a Pedigree attempt, but gets rolled up for a 1-2-3! HOLY SHIT! The crowd goes banana (channeling Pat Patterson from the first Mick Foley book), and Lawler’s like the little girl he assumedly touched.

For Michaels however, his celebration is short-lived as Hunter gets the sledgie, and whacks his former buddy twice in the damn spine. HBK does the stretcher job, while Hunter laughs his bloody face off up the ramp to a chorus of boos. Fantastic stuff.

Here’s what your best friend has for you. BANG!

DVDs: SummerSlam 2002, From the Vault - Shawn Michaels, Summerslam: The Complete Anthology

2003: Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho, Wrestlemania XIX

For the first time since 1996 on the last list, this upcoming match is not a bloodbath. As a matter of fact, the only blood in this match is a little crimson from the upper lip of Shawn near the end.

As a little side-note, Wrestlemania XIX was the first PPV event I saw as it happened. This match in particular was quite memorable, and watching it again after several years, holds up like a charm!

As we all know, Shawn Michaels is indeed “Mr. Wrestlemania”. Although he doesn’t have a win/loss record like Hulk Hogan or John Cena (it’s in reality closer to Tito Santana, his opponent from VIII), it always seems that the guy from San Antonio always steps up to the plate when the stage is set and the lights are on BRIGHT.

At Safeco Field in Seattle on this March night, at least the fans had one thing to cheer about rather than a sucky baseball team.

In the build-up, one thing was more pronounced more than anything else: respect. Respect that Chris Jericho had/lost for Shawn. They had a few run-ins, so the two men (notably Jericho) talked to Shawn face-to-face. It seems that in summary, Chris didn’t want to be the next Heartbreak Kid, but he wanted to be the first Chris Jericho. Round it out with a bloody beatdown and a sweet superkick on the ramp, both men look even heading into the dance.

The one thing IMMEDIATELY clear about Shawn coming to the ring his usual spectacular entrance is that HBK looks so joyous to be there. While I’m not the greatest at reading eyes, it is so wonderful to see a man beat his demons and come back with a gleaming glow of light. It complimented the scowl on Jericho’s face, who looked like he was going to HURL.

After that, the match begins. A collar-and-elbow tie-up followed by several holds/counter-holds are the name of the game. Jerry Lawler on commentary notes this is refreshing to watch actual wrestling.

It seemed as if it was anyone’s ball game for a while. Shawn had put Chris into a figure-four, and then Jericho used his power to throw Michaels into the ring post shoulder first. To add insult to quasi-injury, Y2J reversed a dropkick into the Walls. Although Shawn beats back the count, he can’t stop the run of Jericho.

After what seemed to be a while, Michaels was able to counter-act with a DDT in the center of the ring. Chris Jericho imitates Shawn with the kip-up, and then the original does it! A sequence of roll-ups occur interjected with a Walls of Jericho attempt a bridge-pin that led to a test of strength for HBK.

Jericho got the pendulum swinging back as a Lionsault connects for a 2. Shawn tried to do a hurricurana, but instead is slapped SUCCESSFULLY into them Walls.

Getting to the ropes, this would only begin the punishment for Shawn. Enduring a back-breaker, then the reverse elbow off the top, Jericho sets HIS band up. I’m gonna give this one the name of Sweet Chin Fozzy because IT CONNECTED NASTY!

Despite the replica, the count draws two yet again as Shawn would then try a replica of his own: THE WALLS! Or is it? Turned out to be the catapult into the post, and a near-fall!

Shawn then turned what should have been a superplex into a crossbody in mid-air! Michaels got the momentum back after HIS elbow, and then set-up the band. Like a bad joke, HBK got reversed right into the Walls, this time with more urgency from Jericho to make Shawn tap!

Michaels gets out of it once again, and Jericho bitches to the ref about it. Wasting time, Jericho gets a message. YOU GOT SUPERKICKED, BITCH! This only gets a two because of the slow crawl of Michaels.

Jericho gets up, only to be rolled up by complete surprise from Michaels, and gets his ass beat! Seattle pops for something other than rain, and Shawn comes out on top! Although Jericho puts his hand out, it was all a ruse as Michaels got some Sweet Nut Music from Jericho. For some foreshadowing, this will not be the last time these two show up on the list!

I attacked you and you attacked me, Sounds good enough!

DVDs: Wrestlemania XIX, WrestleMania - The Complete Anthology 1985-2005, Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels - My Journey

2004: Royal Rumble Match, Royal Rumble

On a cold and potentially snowy night in the Northeast, I sat down with some iced tea and Fig Newtons ready to watch one of the most epic battlefields of wrestling ever.

Although the majority of the event was somewhat mediocre leading up to this point in time, the major payoff would be the Rumble event. 30 men, either 90 seconds or 2 whole minutes in between each wrestler to come on down, and all for a shot at a world title!

Leading up to the match, all eyes were on Hardcore Holly Chris Benoit. He’d be the thorn of Paul Heyman’s side on Smackdown, and always defying motion. So much so that Heyman, after getting his own finger pulled by Benoit, put the Rabid Wolverine #1 in the match. Seems to be logical thinking by the evil Heyman, put him first so he CAN’T win.

An interview before the Rumble shows Goldberg ready to mash some heads, until Brock Lesnar comes in and disses Goldberg’s ambitions. After saying, “Hey Hardcore” (in reference to the fact Brock beat Holly earlier in a title defense), Lesnar became spooked than annoyed. You’ll see how this turns out later.

Most matches of this magnitude aren’t decided right off the bat. As the case here, it takes a while for the action to get going. Benoit and Randy Orton, number’s 1 and 2 respectively, are the figurative glue holding it together.

Kane enters at #12 and quickly takes over as the man to beat. In 2001, he eliminated 11 men by himself! This seems to be almost elementary until...

...GONG! #13 pops up as well as the crowd. The man behind the music is nowhere to be found, and as Kane is looking befuddled, Booker T eliminates the man. Pissed off, Kane finds Spike Dudley walking down the ramp. The Big Red Machine has that, “Are you kidding me,” look on his face. So Spike, meet steel. Massive chokeslam and Spike never enters the match.

By the time #18 enters, only Benoit and Orton are in the ring. So, who’s #18 you ask? Well, in one of the more entertaining Rumble segue-ways, Ernest “the Cat” Miller and Lamont come on down to dance. Wanting no part of it, the first two men to enter eliminate the duo hastily.

#21 should have been Test coming down. Instead, camera in the back shows him laid out. Sherriff Steve Austin, “concerned”, yells at a mysterious figure to come on down! That “figure” turns out to be MICK FOLEY.

Two trains of thought going on with him. First, Eric Bischoff made JR say if Foley didn’t come, Mick’s a coward. Well, JR said it way too soon. Second, Mick’s been the punching bag for Orton, ranging from June the prior year at MSG to the time he was “fired” as co-GM for losing the IC title match against the member of Evolution. And yes, loogies are illustrated!

Mick finds Orton, and both men are done immediately as Foley does his signature Cactus Clothesline. Foley looked to have had the upper hand until Orton got the steel steps, and Foley met them quite painfully. Trust me, this isn’t over by a far shot, as matches at Wrestlemania and Backlash were to come.

The beginning of the end features Goldberg entering at #30 (earned in a Battle Royal), and cleaning house. Multiple men eliminated, including Nunzio who was press-chucked over the top like a little bag of garbage. Looking impervious, Goldberg seemed to be on the fast track. That was until Brock Lesnar hit the F-5, which led to the elimination of the bald one by another baldie, Kurt Angle!

So Big Show, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, John Cena, and Rob Van Dam are amongst the last of the fray. Big Show, after fending off several multiple-men eradication attempts, eliminates everyone but Benoit with ease. Cena’s elimination looked quite bad, as he landed on his left leg and looked to have tweaked it. Funnily enough, that’s how Cena looks landing on his ass for the rest of his career!

Show and Wolverine are the final two. Benoit struggles to get the big red wood over the top. However, Benoit used the leverage game and Big Show goes over the stunning win from #1!

The fallout from this match was unbelievable. Triple H and Shawn Michaels fought in a Last Man Standing match on the PPV, and were ragged-looking to prove it. Austin, who was in the ring with both of them at the beginning of this particular RAW, introduced Benoit as the man who was next in line for the World title shot. That’s right, Benoit jumped ship!

Through March, Benoit had to go through obstacle after obstacle. At the end of Wrestlemania, Benoit defeated both Michaels and H to become World Champion.

The Rumble is one of those matches where it’s not a technical/brawling classic, but the story was so well done and the emotion was about spot-on. The little things, like Undertaker’s teased entrance and a “Testy” entrance for Foley were enough to make this match stand-out against all others for this year. One of those Rumble I could watch all day and never tire of, just like the 2005 one. Unfortunately for the 2005 edition, there were two men in that match who went on to do much better work.

A good little spurt until he went!

DVD’s: Royal Rumble 2004, Royal Rumble, The Complete Anthology

Don’t forget this is just the beginning. Part 2 is on it’s way!

(Flip to Disc 2)