Now that the year 2002 is over for WWE...

[Guest Downhome]

Let's leave out the bad for a moment, and not even mention them. Let's share what we LIKED about the year 2002 that happened in WWE. While there weren't too many moments, there WERE some, so come on, and "speak on this". Here are a few of mine...

 

1) Team Angle --- It's odd, but my favorite moment of 2002 happened right here at the end, the begining of Team Angle. Not only because of the great debut's for Shelton and Charlie, but because they now seem to be taking Kurt Angle seriously, after having him be nothing more than a joke for the most part of this year. It's great to see this angle going somewhere, and it IS my favorite angle in years. Every bit of it I love, from TBS to Benoit to Lesner to Angle to Heyman to Team Angle, it is simply awesome.

 

2) Hulk Hogan Vs. The Rock --- I don't know if I've ever marked out at anything in the history of Pro. Wrestling on TV as much as I did that match.

 

3) The nWo return --- While it ending up meaning nothing, their initial debut and the build up to Wrestlemania was awesome for me, and I marked out for most of it. Too bad they didn't seem to have any plans written out for them.

 

4) HBK's return --- Call me a mark, call me different, but I was quite pleased to see HBK return and to overcome what has kept him out of the ring for the past four years. While he isn't EXACTLY what he used to be, he has proven that he can still go, and that he can still take a hell of a bump.

 

5) Hulk Hogan taps out to Kurt Angle's Ankle Lock --- It was the first time that a face Hulk Hogan has ever submitted, and made for an awesome moment. Again though, it's too bad they didn't build on that for Kurt Angle.

 

6) Kurt Angle goes bald --- I feel this look makes him look more like a true champion, and fits him a lot better, I love it.

 

7) Chris Jericho's push --- He had a lengthy title reign and main evented a Wrestlemania. While not much has happened since, it was great to finally see him get SOMETHING for his hard work.

 

8) Cruiserweight Division --- I have loved that they are showing signs of making this division something at least, we have seen a lot of great action from it this year.

 

9) Many were given the ball --- From Brock Lesnar to Jericho to Angle to TBS to Benoit to even Edge, it is great to see them finally trying to build up the stars of the future.

 

10) BookDust --- One hell of a duo, which gave us some awesome moments this year.

 

11) The Smackdown Six --- Smackdown has given us great matches throughout the year, something we all needed after watching RAW earlier in the week sometimes.

 

12) Vince departed from TV --- He became stale, and they finally realized he needed to go for a while. He'll return, no doubt about it, but it's good to see them go "almost" a year without him on TV all the time.

 

13) Paul Heyman, Agent Extreme --- Brings back memories of the "old days" of managers, and I'm loving it.

 

14) Mattitude --- They seem to finally realize that Matt Hardy could become a star, and that he is SO much more than his brother in almost every way.

 

15) Eric Bishoff disrupts the "wedding" --- Call me crazy for adding this, but when the "pastor" said "or even three minutes", I went crazy, and then when he spoke in Bishoff's voice, I was shocked as hell, and when he took off the mask to show himself that he just WAS Bishoff, I realized that Bishoff could become a much bigger asset than I ever thought he could for WWE.

 

...that's it for now, but I'm sure there are more. So share the moments this year that you loved, your favorite moments.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

[Guest jester]

1. The Booker T and Goldust team. Love the backstage segments, especially the Croc Hunter one.

 

2. "Get to the point!" -A fan speaks for us all during the HBK "HHH must join the NWO" promo.

 

3. RVD. Still fun to watch, even with the burial.

 

4. Bischoff returns. One of the few genuinely shocking moments, and very effective.

 

5. Anything to do with Hogan and a motorcycle was hilarious.

 

6. Rey Mysterio arriving. This guy made the other stiffs look like they were standing still when he wrestled.

 

7. Kevin Nash's triumphant comeback.

 

8. Rock's speech after Austin left. Looking back, and seeing how Rock left too, it makes the speech look meaningless, but at the time it was exactly what they needed.

 

9. Jericho hosting Off the Record. I'm not sure if that was this year or a repeat, but he did a good job!

 

10. The released some pretty damn good wrestling games this year.

[Guest Downhome]

I forgot to mention Bishoff and Mysterio's debut, I suppose I meant to include them in the numbers having to do with them, Crusierweights and the wedding, oh well. They were two of my favorite moments also.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I'm just glad it's over with...what a bad year, worst since 1995

[Guest Downhome]

I'm just glad it's over with...what a bad year, worst since 1995

I agree 110%, it has really been rough. I just hope that the Team Angle situation can charge forward and bring on some great times again...

 

...just keep every McMahon away from this, please, oh God please.

[Guest Mole]

1) BookDust getting the belts, and being an awesome tag-team.

2) Bischoff coming back.

3) Triple-Juice coming back.(Hell I didn't know he was going to be a tool. I was hoping the old Triple-Juice was coming back)

4) Benoit returning

5) The Draft

6) Any match with the Smackdown 6

7) Rey coming back

8) HBK coming back

9) Booker T finnally getting his push

10) Steph getting kicked off TV

[Guest tpww7]

Hogan attempting to ride a motorcycle which stalls on him. Also Matt Hardy breaking away for a sort of singles push, and anything to do with the SD 6.

[Guest Downhome]

I can't believe that HHH coming back is one of your favorite moments, you should be demoted for that!

[Guest the pinjockey]

Chris Jericho "I am not a joke!"

 

Mark Henry and Maven top 10 picks

 

Jericho not wrestling at Backlash (unbelievably ridiculous)

 

BookDust segments

 

Hogan + motorcycles

 

The rest are matches as opposed to moments and my top ones are the usual suspects (SD6, Rock/Hogan for the crowd reaction, Jericho.Rock my fav.)

[Guest Choken One]

Actually, The hype and the return moment itself was pretty tight and then we saw what happened.

 

My best moment? Bischoff's return and BookDust.

[Guest Downhome]

Actually, The hype and the return moment itself was pretty tight and then we saw what happened.

 

My best moment? Bischoff's return and BookDust.

I was pissed at HHH's return right at the begining, because it meant that the much awaited feud between Chris Jericho and RVD over the World Championship would not happen after all.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Eh, I think 1999 was way worse, at least in terms of match quality. I had to dig really deep for a ****+ match during that year.

[Guest Choken One]

I agree but 1999 had a interesting storyline here and there...Here...There wasn't a decent angle until Late October with Beniot/Angle...

[Guest bob_barron]

Actually, The hype and the return moment itself was pretty tight and then we saw what happened.

 

My best moment? Bischoff's return and BookDust.

I was pissed at HHH's return right at the begining, because it meant that the much awaited feud between Chris Jericho and RVD over the World Championship would not happen after all.

Ummmmmm no.

 

Jericho v. RVD ended FOUR DAYS before Triple H returned.

 

You weren't there live for HHH's live like I was (and I believe molestomp was) It was a truly awesome and after I left I felt like I had seen a great RAW.

 

My favourite moment occured at the Royal Rumble when Regal won the I-C title.

 

Second would be AA interfering at X-8.

 

Third would be the evolution of BookDust.

 

Fourth would have to be seeing RVD v. Eddy in a ladder match while sitting like right at ringside

[Guest Downhome]

Actually, The hype and the return moment itself was pretty tight and then we saw what happened.

 

My best moment? Bischoff's return and BookDust.

I was pissed at HHH's return right at the begining, because it meant that the much awaited feud between Chris Jericho and RVD over the World Championship would not happen after all.

Ummmmmm no.

 

Jericho v. RVD ended FOUR DAYS before Triple H returned.

 

You weren't there live for HHH's live like I was (and I believe molestomp was) It was a truly awesome and after I left I felt like I had seen a great RAW.

What do you mean "ummmmmmm no"? HHH's return meant that RVD/Jericho would not take place, period. HHH just had to instantly be inserted into a posistion to start the year off on a horrible foot. I'm sure his live return was awesome, I would have cheered for him like hell also, but that means nothing in terms of what it meant.

[Guest Nater]

1. Brock gets belt.

2. Jericho gets belt.

3. Brock beats Hogan.

4. Eddie is (hehe) wrestling on SD! with Benoit and Angle. (every match is awesome)

5. Big Show is fat .. erm.. lost to Angle (who summarily gets belt)

6. Jericho is not a "Sucka"

7. Expectations of the Nash 'Desire' Promos

8. Couple months without UT

9. Chavo

10. HBK's return and some great matches.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

What do you mean "ummmmmmm no"? HHH's return meant that RVD/Jericho would not take place, period. HHH just had to instantly be inserted into a posistion to start the year off on a horrible foot. I'm sure his live return was awesome, I would have cheered for him like hell also, but that means nothing in terms of what it meant.

HH feuded with Angle for the first two months he was back. HHH vs. Angle was the main "feud" in the Royal Rumble match, and then they wrestled singles at No Way Out. Jericho and RVD could easily have feuded, but the WWF decided that having Jericho beat The Rock and Austin was a better way to build him up (probably a good choice).

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

As for the topic itself:

 

1. The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan

 

2. Eric Bischoff Returns

 

3. Austin and The Rock vs. The nWo

[Guest Insane Bump Machine]

"I am not a joke", 'nuff said. My favourite promo of the year, and maybe ever.

[Guest candie45]

-Rock/Hogan. ('twas there- saw myself on TV tonight!)

-SD6

-Hogan's motorcycle incident

-HBK's return... okay... so I initially marked when I heard the music. Everything was downhill from there.

-The first... um.. couple days of the year for Jericho? including RR match.

-Bischoff to WWE

-Bookdust skits

-Rey Rey

-Benoit's first return in Edmonton

-Steph getting kicked off TV

-Mattitude and the first few Matt facts

-Rock speech after Austin leaving

[Guest papacita]

My favorite moments...in no order:

 

1. HBK's return/SummerSlam match with HHH.

 

2. Jericho beating HHH to become #1 Contender to Hogan's Undisputed title (I knew there was no way in hell he was winning it, but it gave me hope that they were serious about pushing Jericho)

 

3. Croc-dust.

 

4. The Rock/Hogan promo and subsequent nWo beatdown. More the nWo beatdown than anything else, because I would've prefered Austin/Hogan to Rock/Hogan.

 

5. I marked the fuck out for the gay wedding too. It's kinda hard to believe that I hated Bischoff for all those years. That was classic.

 

6. Thinking...thinking...um...I kinda wanna say Tazz and Spike winning the tag titles, but...eh.

 

That's about it.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

1. Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin both looking like they have futures in the WWE.

 

2.The Smackdown 6

 

3. Watching Jericho, Booker T., RVD bust their asses every week on Raw despite their shabby treatment.

 

4.Kid Rock Video Tribute.

[Guest Insane Bump Machine]

I just watched Rock/Jericho from Royal Rumble again and it's just hilarious that Jericho wins with interference, a crooked referee, a beltshot, smashing the Rock's head into the exposed turnbuckle, a low blow and a pin with his feet on the ropes. That's just so much overkill that I laugh my ass off. CHEAT TO WIN~!

[Guest y2jailbait]

In a overlooked match, Billy Kidman and Tajiri had the best WWE Cruiser match in what seemed like ages.

 

The Development of Jamie Knoble made for an entertaining couple of months of cruiser action.

 

Eddy Guerrero Vs. The Rock on RAW: On Honestly though he had it, but a mark is what I was left, and a wrong one at that.

 

Ric Flair's one last run: An awesome chance to cash on Flair's legacy and it was turned into another notch on HHH's ever growing belt.

 

The Euro/Hardcore/US/National/Intercontinental becoming another notch on HHH belt when he defeated Kane at No Mercy. Absolutley Dissapointing to say the least.

 

RAW IS FOZZY!

 

Kane's Return: At least for 1 night, i loved the Kane character.

 

Billy & Chuck's Wedding: Great storyline, and i was really digging it there for awhile.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

--the nWo's initial beat-down of The Rock. Too bad the semi-into-the-ambulance marked the downfall of the group

 

--Helms & Moore teaming up again, and breaking out the 3-Count double team moves

 

--Chuck & Billy - I liked the team, and they actually put on decent matches once they got away from playing a comedy team (esp. against Helms/Moore and Tajiri/Knoble)

 

--Jamie Knoble - along w/ Mattitude, the most criminally under-used guy on SD. Such a shame, because his character was written & played extremely well when he came in, but then they forgot about him 2 months into his stay

 

--Mattitude

 

--any Flair or Jericho promo

 

--the SD tag teams (Eddy/Chavo, Benoit/Angle, Edge/Rey, and earlier - Helms/Moore, Chuck/Billy, Tajiri/Knoble)

 

--Jericho's late-2002 beard

 

--Brock

 

--the returns of Benoit & Eddy & Rey

[Guest bob_barron]

Actually, The hype and the return moment itself was pretty tight and then we saw what happened.

 

My best moment? Bischoff's return and BookDust.

I was pissed at HHH's return right at the begining, because it meant that the much awaited feud between Chris Jericho and RVD over the World Championship would not happen after all.

Ummmmmm no.

 

Jericho v. RVD ended FOUR DAYS before Triple H returned.

 

You weren't there live for HHH's live like I was (and I believe molestomp was) It was a truly awesome and after I left I felt like I had seen a great RAW.

What do you mean "ummmmmmm no"? HHH's return meant that RVD/Jericho would not take place, period. HHH just had to instantly be inserted into a posistion to start the year off on a horrible foot. I'm sure his live return was awesome, I would have cheered for him like hell also, but that means nothing in terms of what it meant.

But had Triple H not returned RVD v. Jericho wouldn't have happened anyway since Rock won the #1 contendership four days before HHH returned.

 

How was he starting the year off on a horrible foot?? Remember this was before we knew he' d suck ass. It was refreshing to see one of the WWF's top stars come back

[Guest Raven_Effect01]

-Team Angle forming

-Jericho gets close to beating HHH cleanly on Smackdown in a #1 contender's match for the WWE Undisputed title

-RVD's "You can spit some water" promo to HHH on Raw

-BookDust skits

-Hogan proves us wrong by putting Angle and Lesnar over

-Jericho's "I am not a joke" promo

-Jericho's "I am not a sucka" line

-Raven's Masterpiece on Heat

-Mattitude

-Helms and Moore teaming up again on Smackdown

-The hilariously bad Steiner vs. HHH Arm-Wrestling match and overall build-up to the match at the Royal Rumble: Steiner:"I say you're The Game with no balls" HHH:"You have to earn your shot at the title" What the hell was THAT?

-Los Guerreros, Benoit, Angle, Booker T, Jericho, and RVD trying to provide us with good effort no matter how bad the shows are or how held down they are

[Guest deadbeater]

The continuing improvement of the women's division and the women wrestlers themselves, despite some incidents and injuries that could have entirely derailed a lesser division.

 

BookDust is what they should be pushing on Raw as well.

 

The Smackdown 6.

 

Mattitude.

[Guest godthedog]

after #1, these aren't in any real order:

 

1) history of the wwf 'desire' video: anybody in a filmmaking class should watch that video package, cause THAT is how you make a motherfucking montage. technically and emotionally beautiful.

 

2) the repeated german suplex spot in angle/benoit, unforgiven.

 

3) the submission reversal spot in angle/benoit, unforgiven.

 

4) ric flair BEGGING vince mcmahon not to let the nwo into the company, screaming for vince to hit him.

 

5) ric flair's pseudo-retirement speech in virginia. so sincere and emotional that for a second i thought he really was retiring.

 

6) hulk hogan's crowd reaction anytime he was in canada.

 

7) goldust and booker t finally winning the tag titles at armageddon.

 

8) the rock's end-of-show speech at the end of austin-less raw.

 

9) hulk hogan taps out to the anklelock.

 

10) benoit & guerrero beat the piss out of edge & the rock for 2 straight weeks, and the rock taps out to the crippler crossface on smackdown (the follow-up match the next week almost made this list too).

 

11) chris benoit's return in edmonton.

 

12) seeing ric flair walk down the ramp again to wrestle at the rumble (not that important to most, but i was there in atlanta to see it).

[Guest Banky]

1. Eddie's return to become the wrestler of the year. How he rejuvinated his career to altogether top his 1997 year. Whether through vingettes, interviews, or wrestling - he transformed his personality.

 

2. The succesful one month the nWo had before Wrestlemania. They seemed important again for this short time. It didn't last as the Smackdown! after Wrestlemania XPac joined and Nash injured himself. Ultimately, both incidents lead to the speedy downfall of the once-prosperous stable.

 

3. The return of Mysterio. Even with time off, he showed he could hang with Benoit, Angle, and Guerrero. He is very over and will stay that way.

 

4. The succesful rise of Brock Lesnar. The title change at Summerslam couldn't have been done any better. Now he is the #1 face on Smackdown and everyone believes it. Will be a huge star.

 

5. The interaction between Angle, Benoit, and Guerrero. All 3 guys are doing extremely well, and gave everyone great matches with each other week after week.

 

6. The rejuvination of Goldust. His character has become as fresh as it was in 96. His comical stylings are the only exciting part of RAW. And he can wrestle too. I can hardly wait for him to turn on Booker. His creepy gimmick could work again.