Post by Liu Kangaroo on Dec 3, 2010 1:17:24 GMT -5
BACKSTORY
Throughout the 90's there were the 'Big Three' -- the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, and Extreme Championship Wrestling. During this time period there was a battle known as "The Monday Night Wars" which pitted the WWF's flagship show, RAW IS WAR, against WCW's Monday Night Nitro. In this war there were many shocks, betrayals, cheap shots, and the battle for ratings. At one point it seemed that WCW would win the war, but the WWF turned things around with their strategy known as "The Attitude Era". Soon thereafter, WCW dropped in ratings and the company was at an all-time low.
Meanwhile, ECW was doing strong with its alternative style to that of the WWF and WCW. The 'ECW style' was that of no gimmicks and no rules -- if you could wrestle and you wanted to prove yourself, then ECW was the place to do it at. ECW brought in many international stars from Japan to Mexico. Eventually many of the stars of ECW jumped ship to either WCW or the WWF for the bigger paycheck. In the year 2000 things began to dwindle for ECW when they were kicked from TNN in favor of the WWF. In January of 2001, ECW held its final pay-per-view and soon after the company went bankrupt. Soon after, former ECW stars began showing up on WWF television, including former ECW Heavyweight Champion, Justin Credible; the last ECW Heavyweight and Television Champion, Rhyno; former ECW Television Champion, Yoshihiro Tajiri; former ECW Television and Tag Team Champion, Jerry Lynn; and ECW Owner, Paul Heyman.
On March 26, 2001, history was made as Vince McMahon, owner of the WWF, announced that he had purchased WCW, effectively winning the Monday Night War. During the night many of WCW's stars were shown on WWF television in a special simulcast. During McMahon's speech about the fate of World Championship Wrestling, Vince's son, Shane McMahon, announced that he has purchased WCW and that he and WCW are going to kick the WWF's and Vince's ass! With those words, the war between the WWF and WCW is not dead. In fact, it's just getting started.
-- Chris Jericho retained the Intercontinental Championship against William Regal
-- Tazz and The APA defeated The Right To Censor
-- Kane defeated Raven and the Big Show to retain the Hardcore Title
-- Test defeated Eddie Guerrero to retain the European Championship
-- Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit
-- Chyna defeated Ivory to win the Women's Championship
-- Shane McMahon defeated Vince McMahon in a Street Fight
-- Edge and Christian defeated The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz in TLC2 to win the Tag Team Championship
-- The Iron Sheik won the 'Gimmick Battle Royal', last eliminating Hillbilly Jim
-- The Undertaker defeated Triple H
-- Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock to win the WWF Championship
Most notable moments of the night:
-- During the McMahon Street Fight, Linda McMahon stood from her chair to kick her husband, Vince McMahon, in the family jewels to assist her son, Shane, in winning the match.
-- In TLC2, Edge delivered a twenty-foot spear from the top of the ladder to Jeff Hardy, who was hanging in mid-air from the titles.
-- Raven ran over Kane with a golf cart.
-- Kurt Angle pulled on Chris Benoit's tights to win the match.
-- Triple H attempted to blast Undertaker with the sledgehammer, but Undertaker countered with a kick followed by the Last Ride.
-- During the main event championship match, Vince McMahon came to ringside to help his arch rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin, in defeating The Rock. After the match, Austin and McMahon shook hands to the shock of the audience. But then, Austin gave McMahon the one-finger salute and Stunned McMahon in the center of the ring!
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Build-up to BACKLASH
-- The night after WrestleMania, Vince McMahon claimed that Steve Austin asked McMahon for his help but then stabbed him in the back. McMahon went on to declare that this will be the last time he will ever set foot in a WWF ring and left the arena. As a result, Commissioner William Regal, Triple H, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, and the recovering Linda McMahon took partial control over the WWF.
-- Triple H, enraged over his father-in-law's departure, set his focus once again on his rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin. During the main event of RAW post-WrestleMania, Austin defended the WWF Championship in a rematch against The Rock inside of the steel cage. Triple H stormed the ring with a sledgehammer and took out both Stone Cold and The Rock. This set up a feud between the three resulting in Linda McMahon booking a triple threat match between the three at Backlash for the WWF Championship.
-- William Regal shifted his attention from Chris Jericho to the owner of WCW, Shane McMahon. Shane proclaimed that with Vince out of the way, it'll be that much easier for WCW to seize total control of the WWF. Regal booked Shane in many unfair matches leading up to Backlash where the two would face off in a No Holds Barred match.
-- Eddie Guerrero was appointed number one contender to the Intercontinental Championship by Commissioner Regal. Guerrero got the momentum on his side with many assaults against Jericho with help from Malenko and Saturn. However, Jericho recruited The APA to watch his back against The Radicalz. This led to a six man tag on RAW six days before Backlash, in which Jericho defeated Guerrero after the Lionsault. The following SmackDown, Guerrero nailed Jericho with a chair shot before delivering the frog splash to Jericho.
-- Edge and Christian began a feud with The Undertaker and Kane, which started when Kane defended the Hardcore Title against Rhyno. E&C interfered on Rhyno's behalf which led to Rhyno winning the championship and The Undertaker coming to the rescue of his brother.
-- The feud between Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle intensified when Benoit stole Angle's Olympic Gold Medals. Time and time again Angle tried to take back the medals but each time Benoit came out on top. Angle then challenged Benoit to an Ultimate Submission match at Backlash, to which Benoit gladly accepted. In the build to their match, Angle and Benoit locked each other in many submission holds to gain an advantage.
-- Rhyno wrecked havoc on the roster as he put the Hardcore title on the line anywhere at anytime. During a match between E&C versus The Dudley Boyz, Rhyno attacked little Spike Dudley, goring him into the ring steps. Spike wouldn't back down as he kept coming after Rhyno week after week.
-- Raven laid down a challenge against Test for the European Title. The two faced off in many tag matches in the build to their championship match, each time with Raven coming out on top.
-- The Hardy Boyz and The X-Factor went to war when after a tag match between the teams, Justin Credible and X-Pac hit the double superkick to a defenseless Lita. This sent Matt Hardy into a rage as he went after both of them, only for Albert to save his team mates. They proceeded to lay out the brothers, with Albert delivering the Baldo Bomb to Matt through Jeff who was laid out on the announcer's table. These two teams will face off in a Tornado Tag Team Rules match.
Sunday Night Heat: Jerry Lynn defeated Crash Holly to win the Light-Heavyweight Championship.
Sunday Night Heat: The Right To Censor (Val Venis and Bull Buchanan) defeated The Dudley Boyz.
Sunday Night Heat: The APA defeated Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn.
-- The Hardy Boyz defeated The X-Factor.
-- Kurt Angle defeated Chris Benoit in Ultimate Submission when Benoit passed out from the Ankle Lock.
-- Rhyno defeated Spike Dudley to retain the Hardcore Championship.
-- Raven defeated Test to become the European Champion.
-- Shane McMahon defeated William Regal in No Holds Barred.
-- The Undertaker and Kane defeated Edge and Christian to become the Tag Team Champions.
-- Eddie Guerrero defeated Chris Jericho to win the Intercontinental Championship.
-- Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated The Rock and Triple H to retain the WWF Championship.
Most notable moments of the night:
-- After the Hardy Boyz/X-Factor match, Justin Credible smacked Lita in the face with a Singapore cane.
-- Kurt Angle regained possession of his Olympic Gold Medals.
-- Rhyno demolished Spike Dudley by putting him through tables and throwing him around like a rag doll. Rhyno finally put Spike out of his misery with a devastating gore through a table.
-- Raven ducked under Test's big boot and followed up with the Raven Effect DDT to win his first WWF Title.
-- The final WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Booker T, interfered on the behalf of Shane McMahon by taking out Regal with the scissors kick which allowed McMahon to get the victory.
-- Edge and Christian desperately tried to retain their titles in many cheap tactics, including trying to get counted out and disqualified. Eventually, The Brothers of Destruction put E&C out with stereo chokeslams.
-- William Regal distracted the referee which allowed Eddie Guerrero to get a cheap shot on Jericho followed by a brainbuster and the frog splash to win the Intercontinental Championship.
-- During the triple threat grudge match, The Rock nailed Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley with the Rock Bottom followed by the People's Elbow. Stone Cold got the pinfall over The Rock with the Stunner after The Rock took out Triple H with the Rock Bottom. Austin celebrated the only way he knows how with a beer bash as Backlash goes off the air.
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Build-up to JUDGMENT DAY
-- Ever since Backlash, more and more former WCW wrestlers began showing up to WWF events, either to interfere in matches or help Shane in his battle against Commissioner Regal. The majority of the invaders were upper mid-carders and cruiserweights -- Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Shane Helms, Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio Jr., Bam Bam Bigelow, and several more. Due to the increase of the invading wrestlers, Commissioner Regal hired extra security, but still they were able to enter the building. Regal began suspecting that there was an "inside man" working with Shane and WCW. Test became the target of the suspicion, but Test denied over and over that he has nothing to do with the Invasion. Regal said that Test would get the chance to prove his word, because at Judgment Day he would face his buddy, Shane McMahon, in a No Disqualifications match.
-- The feud between Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit came to an end when Kurt Angle defeated Benoit in a Cage Match to become number one contender to the WWF Championship.
-- Austin and Angle went at war. Angle played mind games against Austin by targeting Debra. During a non-title match in which Debra was in Austin's corner against Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle came to ringside and started bad-mouthing Debra. Austin went after Angle, but Eddie got in to the fray and they began double teaming Austin. Debra tried to intervene, but ended up on the receiving end of an Angle Slam. Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit, who both have had problems with Eddie (and Commissioner Regal), came to the aid of Austin and Debra. Six days before Judgment Day, Austin teamed with Benoit and Jericho to face Angle, Guerrero, and Regal. Austin got the pinfall over Regal with the Stunner. After the match, Angle smacked Austin in the face with a chair, busting him open.
-- The Rock and Triple H went at it once more as a result of The Rock attacking Stephanie at Backlash. On an episode of RAW, Triple H nailed The Rock in the ribs with the sledgehammer when he was distracted by Stephanie. On the road to the pay per view, Triple H would target The Rock's ribs, each altercation leaving The Rock spitting up blood.
-- After winning the Intercontinental Championship, Eddie Guerrero would rub it everybody's face. During a Chris Benoit interview, Eddie stated that Benoit is jealous of him and he would never be as good as Guerrero is. Chris Jericho and William Regal started going at it because of Regal's interference at Backlash and soon enough these two feuds intersected, and Linda McMahon made a tag match at Judgment Day in which Guerrero would team with Regal and Benoit would team with Jericho, the stipulation being that whomever got the official victory would walk away with the Intercontinental Championship.
-- The night after Backlash, Edge and Christian evoked their rematch clause against Kane and The Undertaker, however they came up short. After complaining week after week, Linda McMahon granted the brothers another opportunity to regain the gold -- a tag team gauntlet which will take place at Judgment Day.
-- After their victory over E&C, The Brothers of Destruction were looking for some new competition and they got it in the form of Val Venis and Bull Buchanan of The Right To Censor. Venis and Buchanan won contendership after winning a four corners match on an episode of SmackDown. Steven Richards said that Undertaker's tattoos and violence were considered inappropriate and at Judgment Day he will permanently censored.
-- On an episode of RAW, Tazz became number one contender to the European Championship after winning a ten man battle royal. He and Raven faced off in several multi-person matches leading up to Judgment Day.
-- Rhyno dominated as Hardcore Champion, destroying anything and everything in his sight. Edge, Christian, and Angle put over Rhyno by saying he is the most intense and dominating force in the WWF today and that no one can stop him. But then the Big Show challenge Rhyno for the championship, stating that all it would take is one chokeslam to put the man-beast away.
-- Molly Holly and Lita faced off to determine who would challenge Chyna for the Women's Championship. After a double count-out, they both were named contenders and would compete in a triple threat match at Judgment Day.
Sunday Night Heat: Jerry Lynn defeated X-Pac and Spike Dudley to retain the Light-Heavyweight Championship.
Sunday Night Heat: Ivory defeated Jacqueline.
-- The Hardy Boyz won the Tag Team Turmoil.
-- Rhyno defeated The Big Show to retain the Hardcore Championship.
-- Raven versus Tazz for the European Championship went to a no contest.
-- The Undertaker and Kane defeated Val Venis and Bull Buchanan to retain the Tag Team Championship.
-- Chyna defeated Lita and Molly Holly to retain the Women's Championship.
-- Eddie Guerrero and William Regal defeated Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho. Eddie Guerrero remains the Intercontinental Champion.
-- Test defeated Shane McMahon in a No Disqualifications match.
-- The Rock defeated Triple H.
-- Steve Austin defeated Kurt Angle to retain the WWF Championship.
Most notable moments of the night:
-- After the Hardy Boyz won the Tag Team Turmoil, Shane McMahon announced that there was another team that should be in the match -- the final WCW Tag Team Champions, Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire. Palumbo and O'Haire tore apart the exhausted brothers and left them laying in the ring. The Hardyz are the official number one contenders.
-- The Raven/Tazz match lasted for roughly one minute. After the bell rang, Raven held up the European Championship, spit on it, and then dropped it before leaving the ring. Tazz looked at the title before leaving the ring as well.
-- After the Tag Title match, all members of Right To Censor were arguing with one another. It looks as if the end is near for the RTC.
-- Eddie got the pin over Benoit with the frog splash while Jericho and Regal were fighting on the outside.
-- Test and Shane fought each other non-stop. It looked as if Shane were going to win the match, but Test was victorious with the big boot.
-- Triple H singled out The Rock's ribs as one would expect him to do. The Rock reversed the Pedigree and nailed The Rock Bottom to win the match. After the match, Triple H assaulted The Rock with the sledgehammer. Referees tried to help The Rock to the back, but Rock would not let them.
-- Steve Austin defeated Kurt Angle after countering the Angle Slam and hitting the Stunner. It looked as if Angle were going to win the championship when he locked Austin in the ankle lock, but Debra distracted the referee. After the distraction, Angle trash talked Debra before Austin went after hm. Angle went for the Angle Slam but ended up getting the Stunner. After the match, Austin and Debra celebrated when a beaten and battered Shane McMahon limped out to the entrance way and began applauding Austin with a sarcastic grin on his face.
