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Post by BrIaNMeRcY on May 25, 2015 7:51:02 GMT -5
I didn't mind Hulk Hogan as WWE Champion. It was one of those thank you reigns. Vince McMahon wanted to show his appreciation for Hogan's service in the 1980's by giving him the championship. Much like how Bob Backlund was champion in 1994. The Undertaker's reign gave us a really awesome Ladder Match with Jeff Hardy as well as that amazing Triple Threat Match at Vengeance. SummerSlam 2002 was just too damn good. I'll probably revisit said event again. Yea, I guess you're right about Hogan. At least it was short. And I do love those two Undertaker matches, I just cannot stand the American Badass gimmick. We saw The Undertaker really evolving in 2002. He looked to be in much better shape, was beginning to have solid matches, and was slowly doing away with the ABA stuff. 'Taker got new entrance music at Judgment Day 2002, the night after on RAW (the version you her on the network version of Judgment Day 2002), and soon after "Dead Man" and "You're Gonna Pay" from Anthology. I always view The Undertaker in a transition from the Spring of 2002 to late 2003. While it happened after his reign, 'Taker made Brock Lesnar look legit at No Mercy 2002. That Hell In A Cell match, holy mother of ****. If the late Gordon Solie was calling that match, you would have heard the term crimson mask about a hundred times. |
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Post by Jaz on May 25, 2015 7:51:41 GMT -5
Don't forget about Mr. Perfect in the Royal Rumble.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 8:07:20 GMT -5
Just look at that  ing roster. Rock Cena Angle Benoit Guerrero Batista Triple H Austin Jericho Undertaker Lesnar Test Mysterio Christian DDP Storm Hurricane RVD The APA The Hardyz The Dudleyz Billy and Chuck Trish Lita Kane I'm missing some guys, but good god. |
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Post by marino13 on May 25, 2015 9:30:56 GMT -5
2002 did indeed have a super loaded roster. It's why the brand split actually made sense during the time. I went back and watched the PPVs from that year and only three or four aren't very good (Backlash, Judgment, Armageddon) but SummerSlam 2002 may be the single best non-WrestleMania PPV in history. Survivor Series 2002 is amazing too. Shawn Michaels returning, Jericho as Undisputed Champion, SummerSlam, the Angle/Rock/Undertaker Triple Threat match, Undertaker/Jeff Hardy Ladder match, the Smackdown Tag Team Titles, the rise of Brock Lesnar and more. The only things I disliked from the year was Hulk Hogan's run and most of Taker as Champion. Hogan defeating Triple H was my worse nightmare come true. I can't even tell you how many things I punched that night. But I did love heel ABA Taker. I think that was some of his best work. |
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Post by 5th Horsewoman on May 25, 2015 9:38:47 GMT -5
It's funny two of my favorite years didn't feature Austin very much.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 9:51:25 GMT -5
This should be in the Classics Board. . yes it should.....and by gum that's where its bound for. |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 10:00:33 GMT -5
2002 did indeed have a super loaded roster. It's why the brand split actually made sense during the time. I went back and watched the PPVs from that year and only three or four aren't very good (Backlash, Judgment, Armageddon) but SummerSlam 2002 may be the single best non-WrestleMania PPV in history. Survivor Series 2002 is amazing too. Shawn Michaels returning, Jericho as Undisputed Champion, SummerSlam, the Angle/Rock/Undertaker Triple Threat match, Undertaker/Jeff Hardy Ladder match, the Smackdown Tag Team Titles, the rise of Brock Lesnar and more. The only things I disliked from the year was Hulk Hogan's run and most of Taker as Champion. Hogan defeating Triple H was my worse nightmare come true. I can't even tell you how many things I punched that night. But I did love heel ABA Taker. I think that was some of his best work. I was surprised as hell when Hogan went over HHH. The horrific style of HHH's booking against Jericho alone made me think he was gonna beat Hogan. But then when he beat him I was "meh". HHH's face run in 2002 was just so forced and unnatural to me that I could never buy into it.....and the fans had already started to lose interest. |
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Post by Jonathan Karate on May 25, 2015 13:14:28 GMT -5
Hogan defeating Triple H was my worse nightmare come true. I can't even tell you how many things I punched that night. But I did love heel ABA Taker. I think that was some of his best work. I was surprised as hell when Hogan went over HHH. The horrific style of HHH's booking against Jericho alone made me think he was gonna beat Hogan. But then when he beat him I was "meh". HHH's face run in 2002 was just so forced and unnatural to me that I could never buy into it.....and the fans had already started to lose interest. He should have returned and been an Austin esque anti hero....the fans clearly wanted a face Triple H but the way he was handled after winning the rumble was just bad....everything from his return to the Rumble was great though. I LOVE that Raw before the Rumble with HHH, Angle, Show, Kane, etc getting into it. |
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2015 13:27:28 GMT -5
I was surprised as hell when Hogan went over HHH. The horrific style of HHH's booking against Jericho alone made me think he was gonna beat Hogan. But then when he beat him I was "meh". HHH's face run in 2002 was just so forced and unnatural to me that I could never buy into it.....and the fans had already started to lose interest. He should have returned and been an Austin esque anti hero....the fans clearly wanted a face Triple H but the way he was handled after winning the rumble was just bad....everything from his return to the Rumble was great though. I LOVE that Raw before the Rumble with HHH, Angle, Show, Kane, etc getting into it. And ya see that's exactly what HHH wanted. From the sideline's he vetoed his involvement in a nWo feud....instead leaving an unwilling Austin and wary Rock to battle them. But in fairness Undertaker wanted no part of that feud either. IMO it was all just SO pedestrian. HHH winning the Rumble.....zzzzzzzz HHH vs Steph......zzzzzzzz HHH steamrolling Jericho.....zzzzzzz Jericho was the 1st Undispuited champ yet he was allowed to be booked like a total gom while the real feud of HHH vs Steph took centre stage. Vince, HHH & Steph showed here what we would see for many years afterwards concerning his storylines......they either didn't care(most likely) or totally misread crowd sentiment towards him. |
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Post by Jonathan Karate on May 25, 2015 13:48:21 GMT -5
He should have returned and been an Austin esque anti hero....the fans clearly wanted a face Triple H but the way he was handled after winning the rumble was just bad....everything from his return to the Rumble was great though. I LOVE that Raw before the Rumble with HHH, Angle, Show, Kane, etc getting into it. And ya see that's exactly what HHH wanted. From the sideline's he vetoed his involvement in a nWo feud....instead leaving an unwilling Austin and wary Rock to battle them. But in fairness Undertaker wanted no part of that feud either. IMO it was all just SO pedestrian. HHH winning the Rumble.....zzzzzzzz HHH vs Steph......zzzzzzzz HHH steamrolling Jericho.....zzzzzzz Jericho was the 1st Undispuited champ yet he was allowed to be booked like a total gom while the real feud of HHH vs Steph took centre stage. Vince, HHH & Steph showed here what we would see for many years afterwards concerning his storylines......they either didn't care(most likely) or totally misread crowd sentiment towards him. Maybe they had his MSG return playing in their headphones the whole time...idk. The worst mania main event feud of all time in my opinion. Such a crapty way of booking his return and title win. Thing is, if Triple H joins Rock and Austin against the NWO then who does Jericho face at Mania? |
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Post by BrIaNMeRcY on May 25, 2015 14:09:25 GMT -5
Not sure if people here were actively following the dirtsheets at the end of 2001, you already knew the direction the WWF was headed for WrestleMania X8. When Chris Jericho became the Undisputed Champion, you automatically knew he was keeping the championship warm for Triple H. I have to agree with JokerFC, Triple H's run as a face felt so forced but when he went back to being a heel, Triple H picked up where he left off before his quad injury. I liked they teased Triple H & Shawn Michaels reuniting but man, the pay off was huge. We saw Michaels back in the ring and showed why he is one of the best. Triple H/Michaels at SummerSlam 2002 was built up so well that it was was a feel good moment for Michaels. Then after the match, the heat was back on Triple H. Whoever panned this match deserves praise. Looking back at Curt Hennig and Scott Hall's run in 2002, I really wised both men were at the top of their game. I am with @bashcrashwiley on Hennig, it is unacceptable the way he died a year later in 2003. 2002 started out okay. I felt after the Royal Rumble, things picked up when the nWo came to the WWF. When we saw The Rock and Hulk Hogan stand in the ring together, it was one of the most surreal moments in history. I am glad that RAW took place in Chicago. On a personal note, while 2002 was such a blur to me, I remember the moments that stick out the most. 2002 is often one of those overlooked years in wrestling. While it has nothing to do with the WWE, this was the year Ring of Honor held their first show. Looking now, look how many guys from ROH made their way to the WWE. Going back to the WWE, it was the year the OVW Four (Brock Lesnar, Batista, Randy Orton, and John Cena) made their debuts. Look on how successful those four men have been since 2002. I almost feel we should have a greater appreciation of 2002. A lot of what we see today originated in 2002. |
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Post by LA Times on May 25, 2015 18:11:04 GMT -5
One of the greatest years of wrestling for the WWE IMO. They bounced back from the botched Invasion angle and had a nice mix of past, present and future Superstars on the roster throughout the year.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2015 8:05:05 GMT -5
It was fantastic. I begged my mom to let me get SummerSlam. Begged her I say!
She said no.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2015 10:59:45 GMT -5
Mid 2002 through the end was just awesome I thought........
Summerslam 2002 and Survivor Series 2002 are my faves of those events. Survivors Series 2002 felt BIG. and boy was it.....
Dudley's reunite to earth shattering ovation after a brilliant tables match.
SD tag title match was absolutely brill.
Steiner's run was awful. But damn that debut and ovation were GREAT.
Trish vs Victoria was A1.
Lesnar vs Show delivered too despite obvious restrictions.
The 1st elimination chamber remains the best.......
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Post by Jonathan Karate on May 26, 2015 18:08:47 GMT -5
Mid 2002 through the end was just awesome I thought........ Summerslam 2002 and Survivor Series 2002 are my faves of those events. Survivors Series 2002 felt BIG. and boy was it..... Dudley's reunite to earth shattering ovation after a brilliant tables match. SD tag title match was absolutely brill. Steiner's run was awful. But damn that debut and ovation were GREAT. Trish vs Victoria was A1. Lesnar vs Show delivered too despite obvious restrictions. The 1st elimination chamber remains the best....... Im not sure if i like that Brock/Show match or the one from the 03 Rumble better. They worked SO well together thanks to Brock being a freak. |
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Post by greenjack1992 on May 26, 2015 18:19:53 GMT -5
2002 is my favourite year for wrestling.
The return of Hogan, Hall, Nash and HBK to WWE. The debut of BAAAAAROCK LLLLLLESSSSNARRRRR, Rey Mysterio, Scott Steiner and Eric Bischoff. The brand split. The first ever elimination chamber match.
It was just a dream year.
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RV F'N D
Main Eventer
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Post by RV F'N D on May 26, 2015 22:26:31 GMT -5
Love that year. So many great moments...such great talent. Watching Kurt Angle make Hulk Hogan tap at KotR was insane.
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Post by Todd Pettengill on May 27, 2015 0:39:11 GMT -5
2002 is one of the greatest years of wrestling in my opinion. One of my heroes returned in Shawn Michaels and Brock Lesnar rose to dominance. It was definitely a year of transition. Austin had left and Rock was slowing down while Triple H had officially become one of the greatest heels in the business. SmackDown was beginning to produce some of the best television in history as well.
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PVA
Main Eventer
Too hot to handle and too cold to hold
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Post by PVA on May 27, 2015 16:27:56 GMT -5
2002 had a great roster on paper but it was also the start of the hhh super push as Rock & Austin were less active.
I attended the 02 rumble which was good, wm was decent not great. Ss & survivor series things improved.
I'd say the overall product was better in 97, & 99/00
Nwa/wcw in 89 & 92 were better too.
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Post by cordless2016 on May 27, 2015 21:04:06 GMT -5
He should have returned and been an Austin esque anti hero....the fans clearly wanted a face Triple H but the way he was handled after winning the rumble was just bad....everything from his return to the Rumble was great though. I LOVE that Raw before the Rumble with HHH, Angle, Show, Kane, etc getting into it. And ya see that's exactly what HHH wanted. From the sideline's he vetoed his involvement in a nWo feud....instead leaving an unwilling Austin and wary Rock to battle them. But in fairness Undertaker wanted no part of that feud either. IMO it was all just SO pedestrian. HHH winning the Rumble.....zzzzzzzz HHH vs Steph......zzzzzzzz HHH steamrolling Jericho.....zzzzzzz Jericho was the 1st Undispuited champ yet he was allowed to be booked like a total gom while the real feud of HHH vs Steph took centre stage. Vince, HHH & Steph showed here what we would see for many years afterwards concerning his storylines......they either didn't care(most likely) or totally misread crowd sentiment towards him. Jericho's booking was so horrific that I felt at the time Jericho might retain to save some of his credibility (this was before HHH's massive ego-trip started). Man was I wrong... I'd have switched HHH/Jericho and Rock/Hogan's placement on the card. There are few matches that should ever go on after the WWE Title but Rock/Hogan was one of them. It truly had a once in a lifetime feeling. Also with HHH/Jericho going on last not only would the crowd have been more awake for it but they could have pulled a swerve and had Jericho retain without WM ending with a heel standing tall. Even with the terrible booking they could have saved what little credibility Jericho had by having him retain in some heel way. The following month book Jericho/HHH/Hogan in a triple threat and have Hogan go over. Hogan gets his feel-good title run while HHH, falling short again in a title match, has a reason to turn full heel again. |
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