Guest Loss Report post Posted February 13, 2004 I originally posted this on SNKT a couple of weeks ago, and thought I'd bring it here. ---------------------- The Styx song "Too Much Time On My Hands" was apparently written about Loss4Words because even though heavy storms here all weekend made it virtually impossible to get online, I spent a lot of time thinking about wrestling and where it is and where it should be. I just couldn't really sign on to talk to others about this unfortunately. It was a great weekend to do this since all my loved ones (and a few merely tolerated ones) were out of town this weekend, doing things that people with money get to do. But I was thinking about when the product started to go downhill and how that could have been avoided without making anyone significant. Most would argue Wrestlemania X-7, but I'd go back before that and say that HHH retaining the title against Rock was when something started looking not quite right. Yeah, the Rock/HHH rematch at Backlash was a huge success, but it was also one show and it wasn't until early 2001 that they started doing monster numbers again. To set the stage at this point, you had Austin and Taker out, Foley retired, and the hierarchy looked mostly like this: Top Babyfaces: 1. The Rock 2. Chris Jericho 3. Rikishi Top Heels: 1. HHH 2. Chris Benoit 3. Kurt Angle Eddy Guerrero was probably the most over guy to not be anywhere near this scene besides The Big Show, who I didn't list just because he turned face just after Wrestlemania. So let's say Wrestlemania went off just as planned, in terms of what matches were booked on the show. But, instead of HHH retaining, Foley won the match and title. However, based on the pre-match stipulations, since Foley was retiring, he had to relinquish the belt and an 8-man tournament would take place at Backlash for the vacated title. So Backlash is set up and these are the brackets. HHH Rikishi Rock Eddy Benoit Show Jericho Angle The semi-finals are then this. HHH Rock Benoit Jericho HHH wins the semi-final match by DQ to further build the Rock's inevitable title win and also advance HHH to the finals of the tournament. Jericho gets a win over Benoit in the semi-final match but Benoit is a poor sport and attacks Jericho after the match. So the final match of the evening is now: HHH Jericho Jericho makes a strong showing, despite his injury, but HHH is too much for him to handle. HHH wins the tournament and regains the title. You then go into Judgment Day with these matches as the top two: HHH v Rock Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho Rock finally gets his win over HHH here and takes the title while Benoit defeats Jericho to set him up for the next PPV, King of the Ring. The main event at King of the Ring would then be Rock defending against Chris Benoit, going over in a close call where Benoit is protected in losing. However, with a title shot at Summerslam at stake, bracketing for KOTR shows it to be the most star-studded ever. By this time, the Undertaker is back also. So, for the second time on PPV in as many months, we're going to have a tournament. These are the brackets this time. HHH Kane Angle Rikishi Undertaker Big Show Jericho Val Venis Based on the results of the opening round matches, the next round consists of these matches. HHH Angle Undertaker Jericho HHH gets the win over Angle, but Stephanie curiously "checks" on Angle after the match to see if he's okay. This angers Hunter. Jericho gets a major upset over the Undertaker, but it's not totally decisive, as Jericho is not established enough yet for that to be believable. The finish is similar to that of Bret/Diesel at Survivor Series '95, as Jericho feigns being hurt more than he is, Undertaker hesitates and Jericho rolls him up for a quick win. Undertaker acts like he's going to attack Jericho after the match, but actually shakes his hand and raises it and now we have the final round of the tournament, which should look familiar at this point. HHH Jericho This time, Jericho applies what he learned about HHH before and pulls off the win. He's going to Summerslam and will face whoever the champion is at that time. HHH immediately flexes his political muscle the next night on RAW though and goes to Vince McMahon for a special favor. Jericho may have beaten him to earn a title shot at Summerslam, but HHH is going to get one before then. HHH will challenge The Rock in a "final showdown" of sorts at Fully Loaded with it understood that this will settle their feud once and for all and prove who the better man is. Benoit is upset that he came so close to winning the title and didn't, and is equally upset that Jericho already has another one in line. So again, Fully Loaded shows these to be the top two matches: HHH v Rock - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho This is intended to blow off both of these feuds before heading into Summerslam, where new programs will be on the horizon. HHH's heel run finally meets its denouement as Rock successfully defends the title in a brutal match. Jericho loses again to Benoit, though, and Jim Ross reluctantly wonders aloud if Jericho's one win over Benoit was a fluke. It's also worth mentioning that Angle would get a big upset on the Undertaker at this show, and Stephanie would celebrate with him, which would again upset HHH. HHH finally wants to resolve his issues with Angle, and we're left with these as the top three matches at Summerslam: Rock v Chris Jericho - WWF Title HHH v Kurt Angle Chris Benoit v Undertaker Undertaker *again* does a job as he puts over Benoit very strongly here, to a point where the announcers are starting to question if Taker has lost a step. Angle defeats HHH when Stephanie actually turns on her husband and sides with Kurt. And Jericho wins the WWF title in a clean, yet heated babyface match. Now, we go into Unforgiven and Austin is about to return. The title match here is a bit of a risk, but the undercard is so loaded and Austin is coming back that the show should probably still draw a strong buyrate. Undertaker gets upset and wants to show he still has it and ends up taking his frustration out on the Rock and turning heel. This gives us this lineup for Unforgiven: Chris Jericho v Chris Benoit - WWF Title HHH v Kurt Angle - Cage match Rock v Undertaker Undertaker decimates Rock and gets a big win, Angle again squeaks out a win over HHH when HHH can't bring himself to hit Stephanie when Angle throws her in harm's way, and Jericho finally proves that his one win over Benoit before wasn't a fluke when he defeats him convincingly and cleanly in the title match. Austin is back, though, and wants to know who ran him over last fall. HHH is the immediate suspect, but we end up finding out that the culprit was actually Chris Jericho. Jericho is now heel and the top of the card starts looking a little more aligned in terms of established faces and heels. No Mercy's top few matches are as follows: Chris Jericho v Undertaker - WWF Title (heel v heel, Austin banned from the building) HHH v Chris Benoit Rock v Kurt Angle On this show, Angle loses to Rock, HHH loses out to Chris Benoit as he's still bummed out over losing his wife and is very distracted and Austin finds a way to the building and goes to hit Jericho with a chair but ends up accidentally hitting the Undertaker instead, giving Jericho the win. Austin is cornering Jericho the following night on RAW to finally get his hands on him when Chris Benoit jumps Austin from behind. Benoit and Jericho, former enemies, are now allies. Now, we have the top two matches for Survivor Series: Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit v HHH & The Rock Steve Austin v Undertaker - #1 Contenders Match Kurt Angle v Kane Angle goes over Kane, Austin gets the win over the Undertaker to set up the next PPV and HHH and Rock go over in the main event when HHH pins Benoit. HHH is looking like he's finally starting to move on and is ready to enter the title picture again. But first, we have Armageddon, and Austin has earned a title shot. So Armageddon will now have these matches as the top matches: Chris Jericho v Steve Austin - WWF Title, Hell in the Cell Rock v Undertaker - #1 Contenders Match Kurt Angle v HHH HHH pins Angle, but Angle escapes before he can really do any damage, so while he has gained a small amount of revenge, the feud is nowhere near over. Undertaker again loses out in a bid for a title shot when Rock beats him and Austin, who finally has his nemesis alone in the Cell ... loses the match and Jericho retains yet again. This seems nutty, but will make more sense later on as we go into the Royal Rumble and beyond: Chris Jericho v Rock - WWF Title Royal Rumble match Jericho's heel title run finally comes to an end, as Rock takes the gold back. Austin then wins the Royal Rumble. Now, we go into No Way Out, with these as top matches: Rock v Kurt Angle - WWF Title HHH v Chris Jericho Steve Austin v Chris Benoit Austin defeats Benoit when Jericho's interference accidentally costs him the match, HHH pins Jericho under reverse circumstances and Rock successfully holds off Kurt Angle. Now, it's time for Wrestlemania and it's time for some brewing angles to be blown off. Benoit is tired of "helping" Jericho and not getting anything in return, HHH wants to finally settle the score with Angle and Rock and Austin finally have their big match. The Rock v Steve Austin - WWF Title HHH v Kurt Angle Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho Jericho steals a win from Benoit, HHH finally beats Angle and "wins" the feud and Austin's Wrestlemania journey is complete as he has now defeated the Rock. However, Jericho, who Austin has never defeated and who defeated Benoit at Wrestlemania, wants his shot at Backlash. Rock is out of the picture making movies, so it's time to move Taker back up. An angle is shot before Rock leaves of Angle "snapping" and "breaking" his ankle to set up a feud when they return. And we go into Backlash with the following top matches: Steve Austin v Chris Jericho - WWF Title HHH v Undertaker Chris Benoit v Kurt Angle Benoit and Angle do the ultimate submissions gimmick and Benoit manages to come out ahead. HHH defeats the Undertaker. And Austin finally beats Jericho and retains the title, blowing off that feud. Now, going into Judgment Day, we have these matches headlining: Steve Austin v HHH - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho Kurt Angle v Undertaker Angle is furious about HHH getting the shot instead of him and beats Undertaker fairly convincingly. Benoit finally gets his big blowoff win over Jericho. And HHH defeats Austin to win the WWF title. However, something happens the next night on RAW, as HHH tears his quad in a match with Kurt Angle and is sidelined for several months. The WWF title is vacated and will now be up for grabs in the King of the Ring tournament, which will include the following brackets: Steve Austin Undertaker Chris Jericho Jeff Hardy Chris Benoit William Regal Kurt Angle Rikishi Semi-finals: Steve Austin Chris Jericho Chris Benoit Kurt Angle Finals: Steve Austin Kurt Angle Benoit takes time off for neck surgery after this match, with Angle now looking like a killer having sidelined Rock, HHH and Benoit. And Angle wins the WWF title when Booker T shows up and helps Angle secure the win. Now, with WCW guys invading, the WWF guys are going to have to unite, and the odds are against them with three big guns on the sidelines. Matches at inVasion are as follows: Kurt Angle v Steve Austin - WWF Title Booker T v Undertaker Lance Storm v Chris Jericho Storm beats Jericho, Booker beats Taker and Angle successfully defends against Austin. So the WWF guys are looking down and out going into Summerslam. Taker, leader of the troops, pulls them together and suggests a different approach. Summerslam lineup: Kurt Angle v Big Show - WWF Title Undertaker & Kane v Booker T & Lance Storm Chris Jericho v Rob Van Dam RVD beats out Jericho, and Angle actually beats Show, but Undertaker and Kane do get a victory over Booker T and Lance Storm, the first WWF victory since the beginning of the inVasion. We go into Unforgiven with Taker feeling confident again, Rock returning, and this lineup: Kurt Angle v Undertaker - WWF Title Chris Jericho v Lance Storm Steve Austin v Rob Van Dam Booker T v Rock Rock beats Booker, RVD beats Austin in a major upset, Jericho avenges his previous loss to Storm and Angle again holds off his challenge. No Mercy's lineup: Kurt Angle v The Rock - WWF Title Steve Austin v Booker T Rob Van Dam v Chris Jericho What starts out as a good night for the WWF guys ends as a bad one as Jericho hands RVD his first loss and Austin pins Booker T, but Angle holds off the Rock. Now it's time for the Survivor Series. Kurt Angle v Chris Jericho - WWF Title Steve Austin v Booker T Rob Van Dam v The Rock Rock loses to RVD and Booker loses to Austin, and Jericho loses to Angle. Things aren't looking good for Team WWF. Time for Vengeance: Kurt Angle v The Rock - WWF Title Steve Austin v Rob Van Dam Chris Jericho v Booker T The WWF has a good night, as Jericho beats Booker and Austin avenges RVD, but Angle *still* has a stranglehold on the belt, as Rock comes close, but can't quite do it. Royal Rumble time, and HHH is back to save the day. Kurt Angle v HHH - WWF Title Royal Rumble match Austin again wins the Royal Rumble and Angle *again* finds a way to hold off HHH. That match is now set for Wrestlemania. However, Team WWF wants a match with Team WCW before then. It's time for No Way Out and War Games. Steve Austin, The Rock, Chris Jericho, HHH, Undertaker & Kane v Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, ???, ??? & ??? - War Games The event is hyped with three mystery partners who turn out to be the nWo and they lay a huge beating in on Team WWF, giving the WCW guys the win going into Mania. Kurt Angle v Steve Austin - WWF Title Hulk Hogan v The Rock Undertaker & Kane v Scott Hall & Kevin Nash Chris Jericho v Rob Van Dam HHH v Booker T HHH over Booker, RVD over Jericho, UT/Kane over Hall/Nash, Rock over Hogan and Austin finally brings the gold home when he defeats Angle. Everyone goes over but Jericho. This sets up Backlash, though, as Hogan still got the huge reception from the crowd, and the invitations start opening for Rob Van Dam to switch sides. Steve Austin v Kurt Angle v Hulk Hogan - WWF Title The Rock v Rob Van Dam HHH & Chris Jericho v Scott Hall & Kevin Nash Booker T issues an open challenge, which results in Chris Benoit returning to a huge ovation and defeating him. Goldust strangely comes to Booker's rescue after that match, setting up that tag team. Rob Van Dam defeats the Rock, and the Rock says "fuck this" and goes to Hollywood, much to the chagrin of his teammates. The tag match is a set up, with HHH turning on Jericho and joining Hall and Nash. And Austin retains the WWF title after a stunner on Angle at Backlash. After the main event, HHH, Hall and Nash attack Hogan and throw him out of the group because he didn't win the title. The next night on RAW, they throw Rob Van Dam off of their team since his "ego" is getting out of control. This makes Judgment Day look like this: Steve Austin v HHH - WWF Title Rob Van Dam & Chris Jericho v Scott Hall & Kevin Nash Chris Benoit v Kurt Angle Benoit beats Angle, RVD & Jericho beat Hall & Nash and HHH wins the WWF title by defeating Steve Austin. Austin, of course, did his walk out around this time, so we'll phase him out for now. Hall was fired and Nash was sidelined with an injury. So now, you have HHH as the top heel and Hogan, Jericho, Benoit, RVD and Angle as the top challengers. King of the Ring lineup: HHH v Hulk Hogan - WWF Title King of the Ring bracketing: Jericho Eddy Benoit Goldust Angle Booker T RVD Undertaker Semifinals: Eddy Benoit Angle RVD Finals: Benoit RVD RVD wins a competitive match and takes the tournament. And HHH retains against Hogan when Shawn Michaels returns and superkicks Hogan for the HHH win. Hogan is now out of the picture as we head into Vengeance: HHH & Shawn Michaels v Chris Benoit & Rob Van Dam Chris Jericho v Eddy Guerrero Kurt Angle v Rock Rock pins Angle, but his teammates are unimpressed. Eddy pins Jericho again and Shawn gets the win on Benoit in the tag match, setting up Summerslam. HHH v Rob Van Dam - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Shawn Michaels Chris Jericho v Eddy Guerrero Kurt Angle v Rock Rock loses his match to Angle when all the heels interfere and no one comes to help him. Rock gets on the mic after the match and says that they'll pay for this ... after he makes another movie, thus really turning the crowd against him. Jericho loses again to Eddy, Benoit pins Shawn and RVD wins the title from HHH. Now we're entering Unforgiven and a certain monster heel who has been making waves in the undercard is now creeping into main events: Rob Van Dam v HHH - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Eddy Guerrero Chris Jericho v Brock Lesnar Kurt Angle v Undertaker Angle, Lesnar, Benoit and RVD go over. No Mercy: Rob Van Dam v Chris Benoit - WWF Title HHH v Chris Jericho Undertaker v Brock Lesnar Eddy Guerrero v Kurt Angle Angle defeats Eddy, Lesnar defeats Taker, Jericho defeats HHH and RVD retains against Benoit. Survivor Series: Rob Van Dam v Brock Lesnar - WWF Title Chris Jericho v Eddy Guerrero Shawn Michaels & HHH v Kurt Angle & Undertaker Lesnar defeats RVD to take the title, Jericho finally defeats Eddy, and Shawn and HHH get the win over Angle & Taker when Shawn pins Angle. Armageddon: Brock Lesnar v Chris Jericho - WWF Title Rob Van Dam v Eddy Guerrero Shawn Michaels v Kurt Angle HHH v Undertaker HHH defeats Undertaker, Angle defeats Michaels, Eddy defeats RVD and Lesnar holds off Jericho. Royal Rumble: Brock Lesnar v Kurt Angle - WWF Title Rumble match Lesnar holds off Angle in the first of many matches between the two and Benoit wins the Royal Rumble. No Way Out: Brock Lesnar v Rob Van Dam - WWF Title Chris Benoit v HHH Chris Jericho v Kurt Angle Shawn Michaels v Eddy Guerrero Eddy gets a big win over Shawn, Jericho over Angle when Lesnar interferes, Benoit over HHH and RVD defeats Lesnar to win back the title when Angle pays Lesnar back for earlier in the evening. Wrestlemania XIX is here, and Booker is getting over and working his way up the card: Rob Van Dam v Chris Benoit - WWF Title Chris Jericho v Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle v Brock Lesnar HHH v Booker T Eddy Guerrero v Rey Misterio Jr. Eddy defeats Rey, HHH defeats Booker, but rematches are on the horizon, Angle defeats Lesnar, Jericho over Michaels and Benoit finally beats RVD and finally wins his first world title. Backlash: Chris Benoit v Brock Lesnar - WWF Title Rob Van Dam, Booker T & Chris Jericho v HHH, Shawn Michaels & Kevin Nash Kurt Angle v Eddy Guerrero - #1 Contenders Match Benoit successfully defends against Lesnar, the faces win the six-man when Booker pins HHH and Eddy wins the #1 Contenders match. Judgment Day: Chris Benoit v Eddy Guerrero - WWF Title HHH v Booker T - 2/3 falls Chris Jericho v Kevin Nash Brock Lesnar v Kane Lesnar defeats Kane, Jericho defeats Nash, Booker defeats HHH in a hard fought match and Benoit and Eddy go to a time-limit draw. On this PPV, RVD and Shawn Michaels would have an in-ring confrontation, but neither would have a match. Badd Blood: Chris Benoit v Eddy Guerrero - WWF Title, no time limit HHH & Kevin Nash v Booker T & Rob Van Dam Brock Lesnar v Chris Jericho - #1 Contenders Match for Summerslam Angle defeats Kane, Jericho gets the first win over Lesnar he has ever gotten, HHH & Nash win the tag match when Shawn interferes and superkicks RVD and Benoit defeats Eddy Guerrero. Vengeance: Chris Benoit v Kurt Angle - WWF Title HHH v Rob Van Dam Chris Jericho v Brock Lesnar - Grudge Match Booker T & Goldust v Los Guerreros Los Guerreros steal the win, Lesnar beats Jericho in the grudge match, injuring him going into Summerslam, RVD pins HHH and Benoit successfully defends against the returning Angle. Summerslam: Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho - WWF Title Rob Van Dam v Shawn Michaels HHH v Brock Lesnar Booker T & Goldust v Los Guerreros Kurt Angle v Big Show Angle defeats Show, Bookerdust wins the match and the feud, Lesnar mauls HHH and sidelines him (read: HHH goes to make his movie), Shawn pins RVD to set up a bigger match and Jericho wins the WWF title from Benoit. Unforgiven: Chris Jericho v Shawn Michaels - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Brock Lesnar Booker T v Kurt Angle Rob Van Dam v Matt Hardy Jericho retains against Michaels, who has Matt Hardy in his corner interfering like crazy, Lesnar defeats Benoit, Angle pins Booker and RVD pins Hardy. No Mercy: Chris Jericho v Rob Van Dam - WWF Title Chris Benoit v Kurt Angle Booker T & Goldust v Team Angle Brock Lesnar v Big Show Lesnar defeats Show, Bookerdust defeats Team Angle, Angle defeats Benoit and Jericho holds off RVD. They shake hands after the match and Shawn and Matt Hardy come out to attack both. Survivor Series: Chris Jericho v Brock Lesnar - WWF Title Shawn Michaels v Rob Van Dam - Ladder Match Booker T v Kurt Angle HHH v Eddy Guerrero HHH had been taunted by Eddy the entire time he was out injured, so this is HHH's revenge, and he pins Eddy. Booker pins Angle, ending their feud. Michaels pins RVD, ending their feud. Shawn is turned face after the match when protege Matt Hardy turns on him and calls him washed up. Lesnar defeats Jericho to win the title. HHH and Brock have to be held back from each other after the match. Armageddon: Brock Lesnar v Booker T - WWE Title Chris Jericho v Matt Hardy HHH v Kurt Angle - #1 Contenders Match Chris Benoit & Rob Van Dam v Los Guerreros Lesnar successfully defends the belt, Jericho loses to Matt Hardy in a major upset, HHH defeats Angle to get a title shot at the Royal Rumble and Benoit & RVD beat the Guerreros, leading to the split with them. Royal Rumble: Brock Lesnar v HHH - WWE Title Rumble match Eddy Guerrero v Chavo Guerrero Lesnar defeats HHH and Goldberg wins the Royal Rumble. You haven't seen him in these matches before now, as he's been squashing jobbers for months, so he hasn't been in the main events. Eddy beats Chavo. No Way Out: Brock Lesnar v HHH v Chris Benoit v Chris Jericho - WWE title, Fatal 4-way Goldberg v Kane Rob Van Dam v Matt Hardy Kurt Angle & Eddy Guerrero v Los Chavos Angle turns on Eddy to give Los Chavos the win, RVD pins Matt Hardy when HBK returns and lays him out, Goldberg beats Kane, and Lesnar holds off his challengers. Wrestlemania XX: Brock Lesnar v Goldberg - WWE Title Kurt Angle v Eddy Guerrero Shawn Michaels v Matt Hardy HHH v Booker T Chris Jericho v Kane Kane defeats Jericho, Booker pins HHH to avenge losing to him at the last two Manias, Shawn defeats Matt Hardy, Eddy defeats Angle and Goldberg wins the WWE title. That's where we'd be now if totally up to me. Who's to say it would be worse or better, but you of course! Let's hear it. I just skimmed over everything so feel free to ask any questions and if you have better ideas, let's hear 'em. The only thing I don't want to result from this is bashing without an alternate solution, which I think you're all fully capable of. The main point of this is to get a good thread going. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted February 14, 2004 I'm glad you've decided to start Fantasy Booking here again, Loss. I remember liking your old WCW stuff. I am curious as to who won the IC and tag titles, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
