The 2001 WWF PPV Collection

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Steve Austin vs. The Undertaker (WWF Championship; No Holds Barred): **1/2

This was twice as good as the Backlash main event.

 

Oh, and nothing wrong with Regal/Rikishi (well, as Rikishi matches go)

 

Your ratings are poo-poo, if you dont mind me saying.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

What about Austin vs. Angle at Summerslam 01?

 

That's my pick for Angle's best ever. Awesome storytelling in it.

Well, thats obviously the third of Angle's truly great matches. I just prefer the Rock match. With the Rock match, we all knew Rock was definitely going to win it and yet the match was still full of suspense. And although the Big Show run-in is screwy, the Austin-Angle match has a whole load of screwy stuff in it. Thats not to downplay that match, though. I guess when it comes down to it, I just have a special preference for Rock-Angle because it was the first time Angle looked genuinely threatening and because it has the mark-out moment of Angle screaming at Rock when he has him in the Anklelock.

[Guest JaKyL25]

What about Austin vs. Angle at Summerslam 01?

 

That's my pick for Angle's best ever. Awesome storytelling in it.

Well, thats obviously the third of Angle's truly great matches. I just prefer the Rock match. With the Rock match, we all knew Rock was definitely going to win it and yet the match was still full of suspense. And although the Big Show run-in is screwy, the Austin-Angle match has a whole load of screwy stuff in it. Thats not to downplay that match, though. I guess when it comes down to it, I just have a special preference for Rock-Angle because it was the first time Angle looked genuinely threatening and because it has the mark-out moment of Angle screaming at Rock when he has him in the Anklelock.

The difference is that in the Summerslam match, the screwy stuff is high drama, with the threat of Austin successfully getting DQed looming over Angle's head the whole time once that part of the match starts, and the match being extended as long as it is through a uniquely awesome turn of events. The screwy stuff ENHANCES the match here.

 

Rock vs. Angle's screwy stuff is basically BigShow-ex-machina. No real purpose for it, and nothing at all really came from it beyond a Raw match the next night.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Royal Rumble 2003, nuff said. 

 

Overrated.

 

Poor selling.

 

I disagree.

 

 

 

Anyway, I actually enjoyed the Kane/HHH Chain Match.

 

*also ducks a tomato*

 

Out of their matches over the years (WM XV, No Mercy 2002), I think the JD one was their best.

 

For 2001 so far, Austin winning the RR was easily predictable, the ladder match rocked. I was pissed Angle jobbed the title to the Rock at NWO. Austin winning WM again was predictable (awesome match though as was Undertaker/HHH). Backlash sucked. JD was okay. Austin/Undertaker was good and much better than their rematch the following year. And Benoit/Angle never disappoint.

[Guest undisputedjericho]

I'm back with two (TWOOOOOOOOOO) new ones for y'all.

 

King of the Ring; June 24; East Rutherford

Kurt Angle vs. Christian (King of the Ring Semi-Final): **1/2

Edge vs. Rhyno (King of the Ring Semi-Final): **

Spike Dudley & Kane vs. Dudley Boys (Tag Team Championship): *1/2

Kurt Angle vs. Edge (King of the Ring Final): ***

X-Pac vs. Jeff Hardy (Light Heavyweight Championship): *

Diamond Dallas Page vs. The Undertaker (Non-Sanctioned Confrontation): N/R

Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon (Street Fight): ****

Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (WWF Championship): ***3/4

Overall: Thumbs in the middle

 

Invasion; July 22; Cleveland

Edge & Christian vs. Lance Storm & Mike Awesome: **

Earl Hebner vs. Nick Patrick: DUD

Bradshaw & Faarooq vs. Sean O'Haire & Chuck Palumbo (Champions vs. Champions): 1/2*

X-Pac vs. Billy Kidman (Champion vs. Champion): *

Raven vs. William Regal: 1/2*

Big Show, Billy Gunn, & Albert (Intercontinental Champion) vs. Hugh Morrus, Shawn Stasiak, & Chris Kanyon: 1/2*

Tazz vs. Tajiri: **

Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy (WWF Hardcore Championship): **1/2

Torrie Wilson & Stacy Kiebler vs. Lita & Trish Stratus (Bra & Panties Match): 1/4*

Steve Austin (WWF Champion), Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, & Kane vs. Booker T (WCW & US Champion), Diamond Dallas Page, Rhyno & Dudley Boys (Inaugural Brawl 10 Man Tag Match): ***

Overall: Thumbs down

 

Niether has aged very well (Well, Invasion was shit, then, too). I was at the King of the Ring, as I probably already mentioned. The crowd was dead all night, and was completely silent after the finish of the title match, and didn't even react until Austin's song came on. I gave it the thumbs in the middle because the final two matches are definitly worth checking out. In the July edition just didn't live up to the hype. The main is decent enough, altough the legal man (DDP) leaves the match, and besides a decent RVD debut, the card is completely forgettable and a complete wash.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon (Street Fight): ****

Steve Austin vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (WWF Championship): ***3/4

 

Pah!. The Angle/Shane match may appear to be good because it involves a non-worker and lots of big spots but it ain't. The three way wasn't that good either.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

KOTR 2001 was pretty good. I liked everything about it except Austin winning the Triple Threat match, that was gay. Edge / Angle never disappoint and McMahon / Angle was MOTY.

 

Unfortunately, Invasion was the not dream interpromotional PPV fans wanted to see. The only thing good thing about it was RVD Vs. Jeff Hardy.

[Guest bob_barron]

While I disagree with some of your ratings- nothing for me to nitpick about this time around

[Guest undisputedjericho]

I forgot to add my beef with the King of the Ring. Let's set the scene. A week before the PPV, Vince told Austin that their partnership would be over if Austin didn't retain the title, and furthermore that Vince would not even be at the PPV itself. (Add here that early in the PPV, JR and Heyman discuss a "rumor" that if Benoit or Jericho win the title, they will join WCW the next night on Raw) So, at the KotR, Austin uses the phone in Regal's office to call Vince at home, and alerts him of the news. My question is: SHOULDN'T VINCE BE *AT LEAST* WATCHING THE EVENT THAT HAS THEIR FRIENDSHIP RIDING ON IT??? And, also, why wouldn't Jericho and/or Benoit just join WCW anyway, why would they "need" to have the title to do that?

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I think it would have worked out better if Benoit won since Jericho hated WCW so much.

[Guest undisputedjericho]

Benoit of course, had to get neck surgery and didn't return for another year, which is also why I think they went with the finish the way they did (Selling the fact that Benoit fucked his own neck up suplexing Jericho), except that niether Heyman nor JR mentioned it at all on the PPV, or on Raw the next night. But it confused the absolute fuck out of an already doornail dead crowd.

[Guest JaKyL25]

KOTR 2001 was pretty good. I liked everything about it except Austin winning the Triple Threat match, that was gay. Edge / Angle never disappoint and McMahon / Angle was MOTY.

*SPIT-TAKE* What the FUCK? Angle vs. Shane McMahon, a match that is MOST memorable for repeated sickeningly botched spots, is MOTY? In the same year as:

 

Benoit vs. Jericho--Ladder Match

Austin vs. HHH--3 Stages of Hell

Angle vs. Benoit (WrestleMania match)

Austin vs. Rock (WrestleMania Main Event)

Austin/HHH vs. Benoit/Jericho

Austin vs. Benoit (SmackDown!)

Angle vs. Austin (Summerslam, The REAL WWE match of the year IMO)

Rock vs. Jericho (No Mercy)

????????

 

You're crazy! I give the match **** or so, but come on, MATCH of the YEAR? There are way too many things wrong with it.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

Angle / McMahon was voted MOTY for 2001.

[Guest bravesfan]

Angle / McMahon was voted MOTY for 2001.

...by who?

 

WWF fans voted the MOTY to be Austin/HHH from NWO 2001.

 

The Observer went with Austin/Benoit, I believe.

 

Shane/Angle doesn't even touch the upper-echelon of matches in that year. ***1/2, and I'm being VERY GENEROUS.

[Guest Loss4Words]

The triple threat match is actually quite fantastic. I think it's well-constructed and I thought all three guys looked great. It didn't get over at all. Had the crowd popped at the right times, I'd be tempted to go between ****-****1/2, but the match fell flat because the build to the match was so screwy in terms of who to cheer and who to boo, and it ended up negatively affecting the match and the storytelling. As it is, I'd go ***1/4.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Angle / McMahon was voted MOTY for 2001.

No, it wasn't.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Angle / McMahon was voted MOTY for 2001.

By who? MarKzZzZzZ Magazine?

[Guest BionicRedneck]

If Angle/McMahon is **** then Benoit/Austin is ********************

[Guest ManKinnd]

Angle/Shane was a very intense and fun brawl. The pacing and build was just fine, as it slowly went from wrestling to hardcore. Everything once they got there was brutal, especially the famous glass panels. It had that chaotic feel, where you think anything can happen. Great match, not MOTY, but great match.

[Guest godthedog]

The triple threat match is actually quite fantastic. I think it's well-constructed and I thought all three guys looked great. It didn't get over at all. Had the crowd popped at the right times, I'd be tempted to go between ****-****1/2, but the match fell flat because the build to the match was so screwy in terms of who to cheer and who to boo, and it ended up negatively affecting the match and the storytelling. As it is, I'd go ***1/4.

that match was a mess. it had NO flow at all. jericho & benoit beat up austin for 5 minutes, jericho is out of the ring for some implausible reason for another 5 minutes as austin & benoit fight, jericho & benoit switch places. lather, rinse, repeat. some cute spots, but there was absolutely no buildup in the match at all.

[Guest slabinskia]

my top 10 matches for 2001

1.hhh vs austin nwo ***** (i don't care.i love this match)

2.austin-rock wm ****3/4

3.austin-angle summerslam ****3/4

4.austin-benoit smackdown ****1/2

5.tlc wm ****1/2

6.angle-benoit wm ****1/2

7.hhh/austin-benoit/y2j raw ****1/4 (maybe higher but i only saw it at the time)

8.benoit-jericho rumble ****1/4

9.angle-shane ****

10.rock-angle nwo ****

 

a great year.i thought 2000 was better though.

[Guest JaKyL25]

To throw out ANOTHER MotY award that Shane vs. Angle didn't win, the R.S.P.W. 2001 Match of the Year was Austin/HHH vs. Benoit/Jericho, wasn't it? Or was it Austin vs. HHH?

[LucharesuFan619 0]

He has the right to his own opinion. Stop fuckin' torturing him.

[Guest godthedog]

To throw out ANOTHER MotY award that Shane vs. Angle didn't win, the R.S.P.W. 2001 Match of the Year was Austin/HHH vs. Benoit/Jericho, wasn't it? Or was it Austin vs. HHH?

raw is quad.

 

He has the right to his own opinion. Stop fuckin' torturing him.

by this point, he KNOWS he'll likely get roasted. he doesn't seem to care, and keeps going. more power to him.

[Guest ISportsFan]

To throw out ANOTHER MotY award that Shane vs. Angle didn't win, the R.S.P.W. 2001 Match of the Year was Austin/HHH vs. Benoit/Jericho, wasn't it? Or was it Austin vs. HHH?

You're right, it was the 5/21/01 tag match.

 

Jason

[Guest undisputedjericho]

I'm back...

 

SummerSlam; August 19; San Jose

Edge vs. Lance Storm (Intercontinental Championship): **1/4

Test, D'Von, & Buh Buh Ray Dudley vs. Bradshaw, Faarooq, & Spike Dudley: *3/4

Tajiri [Light Heavyweight Champion] vs. X-Pac [Cruiserweight Champion] (Title vs. Title Match): ***1/4

Chris Jericho vs. Rhyno: **1/2

Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy (Hardcore Title; Ladder Match): ***1/2

The Undertaker & Kane [WCW Tag Team Champions] vs. Chris Kanyon [WCW US Champion] & Diamond Dallas Page [WWF Tag Team Champions] (Title vs. Title; Steel Cage): 1/4*

Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle (WWF Championship): ****1/2

Booker T vs. The Rock (WCW Championship): **

Overall: Thumbs up

 

Unforgiven coming soon.

[Guest Coffey]

Austin/Angle at SummerSlam 02 is definitely up there are far as Angle matches go. The match could've been so much better without all the BS at the end...

 

Of course, everyone knows about the RR match w/ Benoit as well.

[Guest undisputedjericho]

Here's the Unforgiven card, as I, a) bump this, b) get another post, c) waste time, and d) they aren't in order.

 

WWF Championship

Steve Austin © vs. Kurt Angle

 

WCW Championship

The Rock © vs. Booker T & Shane McMahon

 

WWF Intercontinental Championship

Edge © vs. Christian

 

WWF Hardcore Championship

Rob Van Dam © vs. Chris Jericho

 

WCW US Championship

Tajiri © vs. Rhyno

 

WWF Tag Team Championship - Elimination Match

Dudleys © vs. Big Show & Spike vs. Hardys vs. Lance Storm & The Hurricane

 

WCW Tag Team Championship

Undertaker & Kane © vs. Kronik

 

Perry Saturn vs. Raven

 

September 23rd in Pittsburgh.

[Guest CanadianChick]

Why'd you give Edge/Storm only **1/4? I thought it was a pretty good match. *** at least, IMO.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Edge vs. Lance Storm (Intercontinental Championship): **1/4

Tajiri [Light Heavyweight Champion] vs. X-Pac [Cruiserweight Champion] (Title vs. Title Match): ***1/4

I'd probably swap those around.