Well, here we go for the most anticipated show of the millenium.....well the most anticipated show that everyone is just waiting to flush down the toilet as evidence that the WWF has absolutely no clue what the hell they are doing. Well, let's not mess around and get straight to YOUR matchlist......
The Dudleyz vs. X-FactorComing from Chicago Illinois, and you're with J.R. and Paul
Rhyno vs. Raven Hardcore Title Match
William Regal vs. Chris Jericho Duchess of Queensbury Rules Match
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit 30 Minute Ultimate Submission Match
Big Show vs. Shane Last Man Standing Match
Matt Hardy vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. Christian European Title Match
Steve Austin/HHH vs. Undertaker/Kane World Title, IC Title, and Tag Titles on the line
The Dudleyz vs. X-Factor
We start off with a brawl right away and Justin takes a double suplex and Spike gets tossed out and splashes X-Pac and Albert. Crucifix rollup for 2 by Spike, and schoolboy for the same. Albert in but a legdrop misses, but Albert blocks the Acid Drop to take control. Justin in and pulls Spike out of the corner for a sit-down powerbomb type thing for 2. Justin tries to baseball slide Spike in the corner but his nuts meet post instead. Tag to D-Von, cleaning house, until Albert gets a cheapshot allowing X-Pac to hit the spin kick. Justin and X-Pac combine to post D-Von outside, and Albert slingshots him against the middle rope. X-Pac in, slam, and the quick legdrops, but Buh Buh breaks it up. D-Von stuck in the heel corner, and I'm sure there's a joke in there involving two bald white guys beating up the black guy. Justin hits the Bossman slam. Albert in and gets D-Von vertical out of the tiger position, but just slams him. I wish he wouldn't do that spot and keep teasing that he's going to drop them straight down. D-Von finally gets a comeback with a double clothesline, and Buh Buh is in for the full nelson sitdown and side slam. Albert in, but he splashes X-Pac, and Justin does the Flair Flip. Wazzup Drop, and Justin does the best sell I've seen for that move. Duds calling for the tables, but Albert hits the big boot on D-Von. Avalanche attempt by Buh Buh misses X-Pac, but Albert is right there to avalanche Buh Buh, and X-Pac and Justin hit the double superkick for the win. **3/4 Postmatch, Spike hits the Acid Drop and X-Pac takes 3-D through the table to satisfy the fans' tablelust.
Meanwhile, Regal greets the Duchess of Queensbury as she arrives and Lillian tries to talk to Kurt.
Rhyno vs. Raven
Raven brings the plundah to ringside. Rhyno attacks immediately to start, but Raven drop toe holds right in the stop sign to set the tone for the match. Corner whip into a trash can for 2, and running shoulderblock in the corner by Rhyno. Rhyno gets a running start and kicks a trash fan right in Raven's face. Ouch. Raven into the stairs, and gets placed in a chair by Rhyno, but Rhyno only finds chair as he tries a flying clothesline. Raven hits the flying clothesline though and punches. Rhyno headfirst into the barrier, and some hard shots from the ringside "Keep Off" signs. Back inside and Rhyno hits Raven with the shopping cart, but Raven reverses a whip and drop toe holds Rhyno into the cart. Damn. Three sign shots and Raven with an ultra stiff kick, and another sign shot. These guys are just destroying each other and the crowd is totally jacked. Raven's splash in the corner-bulldog spot gets 2. Trash can usage, and Raven drives the cart into Rhyno. Rhyno goes Bret-first in the corner but nails Raven with a sign out of nowhere. More trash can usage and Rhyno goes for the Gore, but Raven dodges and Rhyno is trapped in the cart. Raven hits him with a kitchen sink (literally), goes for the pin......for only 2. Holy shit, the crowd almost had a heart attack there. Rhyno comes back with the Gore for the win. Great match. ****1/4 I think it says something about these guys when they didnt have to use a huge amount of stupid weapons and spots, they didn't even leave the ringside area, and pulled off a great match.
Clips of Shane's story on Smackdown and a Stone Cold interview attempt.
Coach tries to interview the Duchess about the match, but Regal interrupts and berates Coach for it and threatens to send him to Kansas City to call potato sack races. Haha
William Regal vs. Chris Jericho
Regal introduces the Duchess to Chicago, and Jericho gets a big pop for his entrance. We trade headlocks to start until Jericho gets a shoulderblock. Armbar reversals lead to chops and a forearm from the top by Jericho. Outside, and Regal is besmirched by the barrier. Jericho misses the missile dropkick inside, letting Regal get a suplex for 2. Another cover gets 2. Regal with knees and European uppercuts, and the FRIENDLY WAVE OF IMPENDING DAMNATION. Corner whip and Jericho eventually hits a top rope rana. Chops and flying forearm, but Regal stops that and tries the BLOODY COMMONER-BREAKER (Regal's arm wraparound neckbreaker), but Jericho blocks and gets the Lionsault.....but the Duchess announces that Round 1 is over. Haha.
Regal quickly gets a schoolboy as Jericho yells at the Duchess at ringside, but Jericho fires back. Missile dropkick is blocked, which allows Regal to get a slingshot and a NASTY German. Regal Stretch, but Jericho is too close to the ropes. European uppercuts, and Jericho goes Bret-first into the buckle. Regal tries the German again, but Jericho reverses into the Walls of Jericho.....but the Duchess announces that you can't win by submission.
Naturally, this prompts Jericho to go after the Duchess, leading to Regal hitting Jericho with the Duchess's sceptre for the DQ.....but there is no DQ under Queensbury Rules. Regal rolls Jericho back in, but only gets a 2 count. Euros, and the SICILIAN ELBOW!!!! Friendly wave and butterfly suplex get 2. Another cover gets 2. Jericho flips out of a belly to back attempt and hits the enziguiri, and both men are down. Jericho controls in the corner and goes for the Walls again, but thinks better of it and hits Regal in the pills. Regal falls outside and lands directly in the Duchess's lap. Jericho starts playin da fool and puts the Walls on the Duchess, but Regal comes from behind and cracks Jericho with 3 chairshots for the win. *** A solid match that furthers the storyline. I mean, honestly, everyone could see that finish coming from a mile away, but hopefully this will lead to an even better match at Judgment Day.....stay tuned.
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
Holy shit, here we go baby. Some lockups and nice mat sequences for a few minutes, and Angle bails. Benoit holds the ropes open for Angle, putting a smile on my face quickly. Back in, and Benoit almost gets the Crossface a couple times, and Angle bails again. Trading pattersons until they both fall outside, and Angle taps out to the Crossface, but it's not in the ring so it doesnt count. Back inside, and Angle stalls in the corner making the ref hold Benoit back, then jumps him and quickly hits a leg submission and Benoit taps out of nowhere. 1-0. HUGE chops by Benoit, but Angle goes right for the knees with chop blocks, but Benoit takes Angle down and hits a cross-armbreaker for the tapout. 1-1. I must say, I'm not really into Angle tapping out to a cross-armbreaker when in every other match that would never get a tapout. Anyway.....we start again and Benoit beats some ass. Angle hits the post, and Benoit right back to the cross-armbreaker, but Angle gets the ropes. Good psychology there. Shoulderbreaker, Bret-first, chops, Bret first again. Benoit tosses the ref away when the ref tries to hold him back, but that allows Angle to crack him with a chair and apply the Anglelock to go up 2-1. 20 second rest period ends, and Angle quickly puts on the Crossface to go up 3-1 at about the 18 minute mark.. I really like that psychology.
Angle choking in the ropes and hits a belly to back, then puts Benoit into the announce table. Back in, and Benoit back body drops Angle, then sends him to the post. More huge chops, but Angle reverses a whip and puts him in the stairs. Anglelock on the outside. Back inside, and we go right into the JCAFS, and Benoit gets to the ropes. Abdominal stretch, reversed by Benoit, Angle hiptosses out, but Benoit gets the cross-armbreaker. Nice sequence there. Benoit gets the Sharpshooter to a BIG pop, but Angle makes the ropes. Nice to see the fans havent forgotten how dominant the Sharpshooter was for over a decade, even though it hasnt actually got a submission for about 3 years. Angle tries a German, but Benoit reverses into the NASTIEST HALF CRAB EVER to close ground at 3-2 with about 12 minutes left. Rest period ends, and Angle immediately rolls outside for some heel stalling. We play duck, duck, goose as Benoit chases Angle around for awhile until Angle jumps him and takes control. Rights by Benoit, but Angle quickly tosses him outside and keeps Benoit at bay with kicks so he can't come in. Benoit finally gets back in only to take a suplex. Angle goes for the Anglelock again but Benoit gets the ropes. Outside now, and Angle suplexes Benoit on the floor. Benoit fires back with chops but Angle eye-rakes him and puts him into the barrier. Back inside Benoit almost gets the anklelock, but misses a dropkick. STF-type move by Angle as Benoit fights to get to the ropes, but Angle smartly blocks keeps himself in the way. Benoit finally powers up and hits a Stunner, but he's not Stone Cold so Angle comes back with a clothesline and a couple nice belly to belly suplexes. Benoit sends Angle Bret-first into the buckle and hits double Germans, but Angle fights the 3rd one leading to a very hot reversal sequence which results in the anklelock for Benoit to tie it at 3-3 with only about 1:40 left. I must say, watching a match at the bar with marks gives you so much perspective because there were literally people screaming for Benoit right there. BTW, BW-3 rules the world and I encourage everyone in the Morgantown area to check them out on the corner of Walnut and High Street.....cheap plug.
Back to the match as Benoit kicks some righteous ass and goes for the German, but Angle gets one of those pesky double-leg cramps. Anglelock, and Benoit quickly gets to the ropes. Angle drags him right back to the middle though and tries again, no-go. Belly to back, and the Anglelock again and everyone here at the bar is just SCREAMING in horror and telling Chris to hold on, and he does hold out for the last 15 seconds as the time limit expires and everyone breaths a sigh of relief. BUT WAIT.....the ref orders the match MUST have overtime, so Angle quickly runs in to take control again. Belly to belly leads to an incredibly hot mat sequence as Angle uses the ropes for some leverage, but Benoit somehow reverses into the Crossface for the tap out and MEGA-HUGE pop from everyone here. **** A very good match, but it was pretty obvious that they were looking ahead to the last 5 minutes.....good psychology, but just a little slow at times. What this match really needed, IMO, is a fast and furious sequence at about the 15-17 minute mark to keep the fans really jacked up. There were some nice sequences, but just a little something more there would have helped alot. But the last 5 minutes and overtime was just golden.
Backstage, UT and Kane talk, then HHH and Steph talk. Nothing of note is said.
Big Show vs. Shane
BS does his best Earthquake impression as he bounces off the ropes pre-match. Shane runs around to start and ducks under the ring, then crawls out the other side and nails BS with a couple hard shots with the cane. BS finally catches it and hits a short clothesline. Into the ring, but Shane crushes BS with chairshots. Those don't keep BS down, so Shane busts out the ether rag to put BS to sleep. Vince hit and runs Shane with a chair. BS is up at 7, and then just tosses Shane around like a little girl. Final Cut by BS and the chokeslam, but he picks Shane up at 8. Torture Rack by BS, but Test runs out and hits the big boot and pounds BS with punches. BS comes back and puts Test into the barrier and they brawl up the aisle. Shane finally recovers and hits BS with a sign, but BS picks up something.....a bat or lead pipe, I couldnt tell.....and gives chase. Shane climbs for dear life as Test brawls with BS. Test holds down BS on the nicely placed stage, and Shane comes off the top of the tower with an elbow drop, and Test manages to hold Shane up to get the win. **3/4 Some good stuff and some slow stuff, with the big finish by Shane. Maybe a little high, but so sue me I liked it. I'm not a Big Show fan, personally, but he takes a little too much flak. Not a great match, by any means, but solid and it got the job done and point across.
Matt vs. Eddie vs. Christian
Heels double team Matt to start and hit back elbows to send Matt outside. Christian jumps Eddy and a powerslam gets 2. Rana for Eddy, but Matt stops a superplex attempt and goes for it himself on Christian, and Eddy comes from behind and puts him in the electric chair position. Christian goes the Doomsday Device, but Matt gets a victory roll for 2. Twist of Fate but Eddy clotheslines Matt and all 3 guys are down. Eddy goes for a surfboard, but Matt gets a sunset flip. Christian tastes foot on the charge and Matt gets a rollup for 2. Eddy drags Matt outside and they trade rights, and Christian hits a baseball slide on Matt. Matt puts Christian into the apron and gets a DDT on the floor. Eddy gets a brainbuster to bring Matt inside, and another one only gets 2. Now, excuse me, but in what fucking dimension does two brainbusters only get a 2 count? Back body drop by Matt and he heads up top, but Eddy blocks. Rana attempt, but Christian holds on to Matt to stop. Christian goes the superplex on Matt, but Matt blocks and throws Christian right on top of Eddy. Double clothesline, and Matt tosses Christian outside. Slam and Smooth Criminal legdrop gets 2. Christian and Matt trade punches outside, and Edge flies in with a spear. Jeff is out and they fight as Christian hits the Unprettier on Eddy, but Jeff hits the Swanton to break, and Matt gets the Twist of Fate to retain. *** Lots of fast paced action here, nothing bad, but I must say it was an odd choice to put before the main event.
The Big Guys vs. HHH/SC
HHH and Austin stall almost endlessly to start as HHH complains he has something in his eye and Austin dutifully checks to see if he's ok. Brawling in the aisle to start and around the ring until we settle into Kane and HHH. Running knees and working the arm by HHH until Kane comes back with a big clothesline. UT and Austin in and Austin begs off, but no-go as UT beats some ass. Austin comes back. Kevin Nash offense in the corner by UT and some hard corner whips as Kane comes in. Rights by Kane, but he lowers his head off the whip and Austin kicks him in the face. Kane comes back with a clothesline anyway, and UT and HHH are in and UT cleans house. UT gets the ropewalk on both HHH and Austin, and the heels bail outside. Kane throws HHH into the rail and Austin inside though, and UT goes for the Last Ride, but HHH stops it. Choking and clothesline by Austin and HHH puts UT into the table. More choking and RMRAS, and HHH is back in with rights. Heel beating in the corner, but UT comes back with a DDT. UT won't tag because Kane's arm is hurt. Thesz press by Austin and multiple elbows. Kane finally takes the initiative and tags himself in. Big boot, side slam, flying clothesline, Flair toss, but HHH blocks a chokeslam attempt by hitting the arm. Trading rights, Kane blocks a Stunner and hits a back elbow. Kane controls both heels until Austin gets an armbar takedown. Austin and HHH trade tags to injure Kane's arm further, and this last about 5 minutes or so. It's ok, it's all armbars and such. We move to a sleeper by Austin, but Kane counters with a belly to back. HHH interferes, and Kane is in position for the Kaneziguiri, but he hops on one foot forever until HHH finally just kicks him in the knee. Pedigree, but for whatever reason HHH tags out to Austin and he only gets 2. UT chokeslams Austin, but no ref. Steph is on the apron, but Earl just pushes her off to a good pop. Kane finally gets 2 off the previous chokeslam. HHH catches the leg and he actually hits the Kaneziguiri, and UT gets the hot tag, but it looked like Earl missed. Cleaning house, clothesline and big boots for everyone. Last Ride on HHH, but Earl refuses to count because there was no tag. Austin jumps UT while he's arguing, Stunner on Kane, and Austin and UT brawl into the crowd. HHH with the title belt, but he only meets foot on the charge. Chokeslam attempt, but Kane CRUSHES her with a big boot that draws the largest pop of the night. Vince is out and caught immediately as he goes after Kane, but manages to get the sledgehammer to HHH, and another shot with the sledge gets the 3. ***1/4 A hot crowd, a pretty decent match, although anyone who really looked at this knew that the only ending was going to be Kane getting pinned.
Official Grade-- B. This is a weird show. I originally did this review a few nights after the PPV, but it's almost two years later and I still can't find a reason to significantly change any of the ratings. So we have everything over **, with two **** matches. Something about that says this show should be graded higher, but I just know it doesn't deserve it. Lots of good stuff, but nothing great, which is exactly what I said in my original review (helpfully preserved below...I was actually right on for once). Despite the **** Rhyno-Raven matchup, the only match that's gonna be remembered from the show is the Ultimate Submission Match. I just can't in good conscience go above a B.
These were my final thoughts after the original viewing two days after the PPV----Well, there's nothing really tremendous or negative to say about the show. It was a good solid show that builds up the storylines the WWF is pushing as important. Most of the matches are in the same area as far as ratings go, and nothing was below **. This is just one of those shows that accomplished it's goal right now, which is to build up storylines, but will have no true historical significance. This will not be a show 2-3 years from now when someone will look back and say "I've gotten find Backlash 2001." Just a solid show. So, if you missed the show you don't have to kill yourself, but if you get a chance to see it you won't be terribly disapointed.