Survivor Series 2002

Summer Slam is here.

Survivor Series 2002 MSG
(Dark – Flair/Leviathan d. Haas/Benjamin)

JR/Paul E/Taz is your announce team.

Angle and Brock enter at the top of the show to the big mixed reaction. Angle pauses, now recognizing the booing – which makes him hot.

“Thanks, you know what, thanks, There are days when my body is sore, when it’s hard to get out of bed, when just the thought of coming to the ring to defend these titles is a lot for me to cope with – but then I think that someplace, somewhere, there is a fan who has never seen Kurt Angle wrestle, and I wouldn’t want that fan to leave the arena, or turn off his television, having seen me give less than my best effort and thing, Well, that guy wasn’t so great – that’s the guy with the gold medals – that’s the guy who was undefeated?


So, every day I keep going. Why? Because I’m Kurt Angle.


And now, when I limp out of bed in the morning – I won’t be thinking about that fan – I’ll be thinking about you people – I’ll be thinking about the way you booed me tonight, and more importantly, the way you’ve treated my friend Brock Lesnar – and that will just fuel me even more. I can take it. I’m Kurt Angle. I’m the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, oh yeah. But for you to boo some kid, some kid just trying to make his way, some kid just learning the business, for you to boo Brock Lesnar just because he’s an amateur wrestler, just because he’s a physical specimen the likes of which this sport has never seen before, just because he won the Camp Angle Challenge, for you to turn on Brock Lesnar – it’s just wrong. It’s just wrong New York City – and I’m disappointed in you. I’m disappointed in you WWF fans. Kurt Angle is disappointed in you.


So, if you want to cheer for Chris Jericho tonight – if you want to chant Y2J…Y2J…you go right ahead – because tonight will end like every night has ended in the World Wrestling Federation since I stepped foot in the building – the guy getting his hand raised will be me. Why? Because I’m Kurt Angle. The greatest wrestler of all time.”

Angle, legitimately not understanding why the fans have turned on him, leaves, not noticing as Brock smirks at the crowd as they exit. Maybe Brock flips the crowd the finger.

1. Dudleys d. Hardys (DQ)
As has been set up, Jeff’s turned on the influence of the mystery manager – Matt’s reluctant but the Hardys lack of movement in the hierarchy of the company has caused him to go along with Matt and the svengali like manager, whose appearance is so shocking that we still don’t know his name.

Until we do. Lights out.

Lights on. In the ring…


Eric Bischoff.


Crowd is shocked – Heyman, on the announce, flips out completely. Bischoff comes to the ring with Singapore canes – he tosses them to Matt and Jeff – Jeff lays into both Dudleys, drawing the DQ – Jeff is reveling in being bad – he splatters the Dudleys – Bischoff yells at Matt to join in right now – and eventually Matt does. Matt takes no joy in laying in with the canes, but does anyway. Bischoff grabs Matt’s and Jeff’s arms and thrusts them victoriously in the air – Jeff is excited, Matt looks conflicted – Eric’s Eric – and Heyman is screaming from the announce.

Eric cuts promo – says he doesn’t blame the WWF for running his NWA out of business. Sure, the WWF is a goliath and used its size in an anticompetitive fashion to destroy its chief competition in the way that the robber barons used to back in the gilded age. Sure, if Congress had any balls they’d use antitrust legislation to bust this place up like they did Standard Oil. But he doesn’t blame the WWF.

Who he blames for ruining his life – are the fans.

They boo, of course. Which is the idea.
See – because the NWA had everything – we had stars and we had great wrestling and we had cruiserweight excitement and we had hot chicks and we broke stuff. We had ladder matches and tables matches – we had thumbtacks and set stuff on fire.

And no matter what we did – everytime the NWA tried to get a little foothold, tried to get some traction – everytime it looked like it was going to be Eric Bischoff who was king of wrestling --- some idiot fans would start this chant…

Bischoff looks at Heyman.

“I can’t remember what it was…”

ECW chant starts.

“Yeah, that’s it. E-C-W…the three worst letters in the English language. E-C-W. When fans who had paid money to come to an NWA show – and I want you people to understand my irritation here – when fans who had paid money to come to an NWA show, wanted to express how much they were enjoying that show – what did they chant?

ECW.

How the hell am I supposed to compete with the monster that is the World Wrestling Federation, when you people won’t stop your idiot, sheep like chanting. Morons. All of you people are morons.

And there’s the lead moron (pointing dead at Heyman) right there. Paul Heyman.”

Okay – you get the point. We’re gonna get Heyman/Bischoff stuff. For awhile.



2. Lance (w/Stacy) d. Edge (w/Trish and Christian)
Christian and Trish don’t make it to the end of the match, as Eric and the Hardys re-enter with the canes – the Hardys laying Christian out – and then Eric takes out Trish,. Edge’s distraction lets Lance get control. Earlier in the match, when Edge is holding the ropes on an attempted pinfall, Stacy pulls the ropes away – and at the finish, when Edge is reaching for the ropes when trying to break out of the half crab – Stacy pulls the ropes away again. Edge is forced to submit, Stacy and Lance hug and hug and hug and hug.

Lot of affection between those two.

3. Rey d. Regal
The matches get better and better, you gotta deliver for your base. Regal taunts Rey early, using his size and his genetically superior breeding, but Rey’s speed takes over, similar to Rey/Angle, ‘cept that Rey goes over at the end with the hurricanarana roll up. Little Rey!

4. No DQ: Chavo (w/Flair and Leviathan) d. Helms
This has to be crazy, as the Spree Killers explode. Their high flying in ring stuff is terrific, but this is a blood feud, and neither guy is really turning face, so they have to pummel each other in a bad, bad way. Spot-tastic. Finish comes when Leviathan runs in and Demon Bombs Helms through the Spanish announce. Evil Chavo cackles at the sight of his evil partner’s bloody and broken body. Leviathan drags Helms back into the ring for the fall. Flair puts Helms in the figure four postmatch as Chavo and Leviathan stomp away. There’s no mercy at all for Helms. Postmatch, Flair and Leviathan put up the four fingers, but when Chavo attempts to – he’s stopped by Leviathan. They go nose to nose…Flair steps in and tells Chavo that he’s almost a Horseman, he’s almost proved himself – but not quite yet.

5.Brock (w/Angle) d. HHH (countout)
Finish comes when Brock F5s HHH on the ramp. Which they’ll sell like a homicide. The back will flood out to help HHH – Brock will laugh his ass off as he climbs back in the ring and makes the referee count Hunter out, Brock counting to ten right along with him. I like Brock laughing as they load HHH on a stretcher, Brock counting to ten with the ref.

Angle, who had been with Brock the whole way, cheering for Brock, acting as Brock’s manager – is shocked at the maneuver – and we see Angle stand open mouthed as he sees the F5 to the ramp. Angle stares at the body of HHH – turns his head to stare at Brock, who again is counting aloud in the ring as the fans are shocked at the carnage. Angle is frozen in place, slack jawed, as he watches HHH writhe on the ramp, watches the back (Arn! Fit! Dean!) come down to aid Hunter. Angle snaps out of it – goes to help Hunter himself, he gets there just as Michaels, in his gear as he waits for the Ladder match, gets there. Michaels shoves Angle away hard as he gets to the ramp – Angle attempts to apologize to Michaels, attempts to say he’s not sure what happened – Michaels starts firing at Angle with right hands --- Angle returns the blows - Brock leaves the ring – charges and takes Michaels down, pummeling him with lefts and rights – Michaels and Brock fight feverishly, Angle in the middle – Angle firing at Michaels. The officials who aren’t tending to HHH split them up – Michaels is furious as he goes to tend to HHH who is stretchered away now. Angle stares hard at Brock, Brock’s demeanor changing, Brock whining “what did I do? What did I do?”



6. Unified Tags: Benoit/Guerrero (w/Flair/Leviathan/Chavo) d. Noble/Kidman
Another super match. Time to note now that Benoit and Eddy aren’t quite the same guys as they were when they left, they cut their hair, they’ve softened in the eyes a bit, owing to their age. We haven’t officially taken note of any of this yet, since they’ve really taken roles behind Flair as Horsemen. But as we see them here, we note that it’s largely a clean match – and they are impressed with the kids, particularly Benoit should be impressed with Noble, who really is doing a style like a mini-Benoit. I want as much Benoit/Noble as possible, where we see Benoit really appreciate Noble’s ringwork. Both Benoit and Eddy, in fact, seem a little irritated with the interference by the rest of the Horsemen. The Horsemen interfere – Benoit and Guerrero glare at them – there’s a spot where, say, with Noble knocked outside, Benoit makes sure to get to him before the Horsemen can, so he can throw him back into the ring.

They win clean, Benoit getting Kidman to submit. It’s a great match – afterward, the Horsemen and Chavo enter for the beatdown – Benoit intercepts. Benoit shakes his head – says no, come on – no – Leviathan gets in Benoit’s face – and it looks briefly like they’re gonna go – but Flair intercedes, Flair leads Benoit from the ring, talking to him – allowing Leviathan, Chavo, and eventually Eddy to do the postmatch beatdown of Noble and Kidman. Benoit turns around, conflicted, the fans wanting him to run back to the ring…but he doesn’t.

7. Worldwide Belts: Ladder Match: RVD (w/Paul E) d. HBK
A great night of wrestling. This will be a mixed crowd, it’s NY, so that’s ECW country – and MSG still does ECW chants – so, for a ladder match between Van Dam and Michaels in 2002 – with Paul E leading the chants – there will be a lot of Van Dam support. Add in that some folks dislike Michaels for his young Clique days – or maybe even for his opposition to Angle, who certainly has hardcore supporters – and I expect a lot of dueling HBK…RVD chants. Van Dam goes over clean here – grabbing the 3 belts --- hey, actually, that does make for a Souped Up ladder match –

I’m changing the stip….

It’s not enough to grab one belt, but you have to grab 2 of the 3…so, let’s say first Van Dam grabs the ECW TV, then Michaels grabs the NWA US, finally Van Dam climbs up to grab the IC and get the win. It’s a super duper ladder match. Probably kills Michaels in the process. Yeah, that’s good fun. A 2 of 3 Belt Ladder Match. I just invented a new match. Has anyone else done that match? Am I being silly?

Kinda rules the earth. I’m just sayin’.

Van Dam exhaustedly points to himself and Paul E has to help him to the back with his regained Worldwide belts. Michaels stays in the ring for the standing ovation from the crowd, Michaels, gone for four years with the back injury, regains and then loses the IC, and now has competed once again in a classic ladder match. Michaels, bleeding, waves to the crowd. JR puts him over – “who would have ever believed that the legendary triple crown winning HBK would have returned to the WWF and put it all on the line like this…he has won over this crowd…we have loved him..we have hated him…but for every single WWF fan, I say, thank you Shawn Michaels – God Bless you Shawn Michaels..”

And Shawn Michaels then is blasted from behind by an entering Lesnar.

Lesnar hits the ring, beating Michaels down – and F5s him on top of one of the fallen ladders. Lesnar’s ruined the moment and draws the huge heel pop. Lesnar laughs as the back now has to come to the ring to help Michaels.

8. Undisputed Heavyweight Championship: Angle d. Jericho
One of the great top to bottom nights in wrestling history ends with Angle’s winning clean over Jericho. Crowd is largely pro Jericho, he’s a Hart, his dad played for the Rangers, Angle has come very close to turning heel, Lesnar is clearly a heel, and Jericho is trying to win the Triple Crown now named after Owen Hart.

Deck is pretty well stacked. And that increases when Lesnar runs in again, Brock Lesnar one more time. Angle and Jericho were fighting on the outside – Jericho had used the steel steps to knock Angle out, Jericho dumped him in the ring, and the fans think he’s seized the opportunity, but Lesnar again runs in and clotheslines Jericho hard to the floor. Lesnar dumps Jericho back in and leaves before Angle comes to. And once again, Jericho and Angle are at even strength when each man comes

Kurt Angle kicks out of the Lionsalt, he breaks the Liontamer – and he ankle locks Jericho for the submission. Another great match and great win for Angle – he holds the three belts aloft, exhaustedly accepting the boos – for the first time, Angle is not filled with glory and confidence and pride after a win – here we see exhaustion, confusion, and some anger as some of the fans hurl objects at him – the crowd is wildly mixed, Angle is our Bruno after all, straight and true, but he’s been tainted by Brock and is growing resentful of what he perceives as terrible treatment by the fans. Disrespect really. But after what he saw tonight, there is, for the first time ever, a bit of doubt in his eyes as the show… well… not quite… ends,

As Angle’s on the buckle, Michaels comes hobbling, bleeding, ragged, running as best he can, down to the ring – and when Angle, who had the belts thrust in the air, turns around – Michaels lays him out with a superkick. Lays him flat.

The bloody Michaels grabs the WWF Title belt – and holds it high in the air over the body of Angle.

And that’s your show.

The Rumble is coming from Boston.



HBK opens RAW after Survivor Series. Michaels says he started in the WWF almost 15 years ago, he and Marty were tag champs back in the 1980s, for goodness sakes. 4 Intercontinental Championships, WWF Champion twice, a Triple Crown winner. No one has ever held more belts in the WWF than me.

But the one thing I’ve never been is Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.

So, Kurt Angle – at the Royal Rumble – I am calling you out!

Enter…Brock.

Lesnar says that Michaels is a little bitch who doesn’t deserve a shot at Kurt’s titles, he deserves to wind up in the hospital with his boyfriend Hunter.

Enter Jericho.

Jericho says that Lesnar won’t be able to beat up Michaels at the Rumble – because Brock Lesnar cost him the Triple Crown last night at Survivor Series – so, at the Rumble, Brock Lesnar will learn what Y2J is all about.

Michaels gets in Jericho’s face..says, “beat up, you think Lesnar would beat me up, do you Jericho? Since I’ve come back, I’ve been a little busy, you know, winning titles and having the best match on the card to spend much time with you – but make no mistake about it, make no mistake about it—I know you’re the one around here carrying on the Hart name, I see you in the pink and black, I know you’re from Stampede – and it doesn’t matter to me what the fans think of it – I will always – and I mean always – be Clique – and one day, Jericho, you and me….we’re gonna go….

….but right now…right now, let’s kick this frat boy’s ass….”

Jericho and Michaels attack Lesnar….they get the advantage, run in by Angle – Angle and Lesnar get the advantage, and knock Jericho and Michaels from the ring. Lesnar looks for Angle to give him a high five – but Angle refuses – Angle shakes his head at him and leaves the ring.

We’ll get a tag match for the main that night, Angle/Lesnar v. HBK/Y2J – Angle pins Jericho again – and all four men leave separately.

We are going to do both those matches at the Rumble. Angle/Michaels is on top. It’s two months of Shawn clips, of Shawn and Angle promos. A Rumble win and Angle will go to Mania as WWF Champ for 2 years – tying Bret Hart’s modern record.

So, in effect, Michaels is wrestling to protect Bret’s legacy. He’ll cut a conflicted promo on that. The base will enjoy the irony. And Jericho will cut a promo with Shawn before the Rumble, telling him to kick Angle’s ass. Shawn tells Jericho to kick Brock’s ass.

We’ll get Lance/Jericho against Brock/Angle stuff on the way to the Rumble. We’ll get a spot where Lesnar grabs Stacy – and before Jericho can react, Lance goes nuts, just loses his composure completely. Jericho begins to notice increasingly that Lance and Stacy’s relationship is deepening, but he assumes he’s imagining things. We’re not turning Lance, nor Stacy – the angle is they’re falling in love, despite neither one of them wanting to do this to Chris.

Soapy.

Lance is going to meet Regal at the PPV. It’s a solid enough matchup and Regal, who doesn’t get another PPV shot for awhile, is stuck in this role in the company.

We’ve got 3 Horsemen matches. We’ll do Chavo/Tajiri – Tajiri’s still a heel – but Chavo doesn’t care about good guys and bad guys – Chavo’s dying to be named an official Horsemen. Tajiri catches him on the wrong day, maybe Chavo thinks he was laughing at him because the Horsemen don’t accept him yet– and Chavo attacks. Chavo looking to prove himself to the Horsemen.

Time to do Flair/Leviathan against Spike and Stevie, which has been a TV feud. Except don’t look for Flair to step in the ring.

And the tag title, Benoit/Guerrero will defend against Benjamin and Haas. That will allow us to do a four man with Angle/Brock/Haas/Benjamin against the Horsemen on RAW, which would be doublefun. Ex cept – Angle and Benoit never hook up – and when they attempt to brawl postmatch – again the security swarms over both of them. They continue the storyline that Benoit and Guerrero are uneasy with the Horsemen’s heelish tactics. They also now move Haas and Benjamin into the storyline – selling their technical expertise as the main attraction to the team, they’re pure babyface – and recall from the Camp Angle reality show that they are particularly close given Charlie’s personal circumstance. We get dissent with Brock; Benjamin and Brock, recall, were teammates in college, and they tagged them together on Angle’s reality show before Russ died and Benjamin went with Charlie. Benjamin tries to talk to Brock, tell him he’s out of control – and Brock slaps him around. That leads Benjamin and Charlie to talk to Kurt – telling him he’s lost control of Brock, Kurt says he’s doing all he can – but he’s got Michaels to prep for – he’s helping them prep for Benoit/Guerrero – how many hours does he have to babysit you guys?

This pisses off Haas and Benjamin. They want some attention from Kurt. Kurt’s played favorites with Brock, he got to debut first, Kurt goes to the ring for all their matches – Brock’s an asshole and it makes them all look bad. So, we have training sessions for the title match, and Kurt keeps getting distracted while he’s trying to train them, you know, ‘cause Brock’s stuffed another junior into a locker.

Kurt promises he’ll be there for Team Angle when they meet the Horsemen at the
Rumble. Promises. Swears on his gold medals. Nothing to keep him away.

Two more. The IC is RVD/Rey. ‘Cause it’s all about the workrate, daddy. Workrate~ Heyman says Van Dam is the premiere high flyer in the world, Rey obviously disagrees. It’s a match based on spots. I enjoy spots. Spots~

And the opening tag, the match that Eric Bischoff fights for, TLC 4….the last dance. Hardys/Dudleys/E and C for the very last time. They show lots of clips, they all promo – it’s the end of the greatest long running tag feud in WWF history. They promise to give the WWF fans one to remember and say they will leave their bodies in the ring. We sell the match hard, all three teams promoing that this really is the end of the feud. And the winners will go to Mania. Each team says they want to be the team that wins the feud, each team promises to send the others out on stretchers. Each team says they will not leave the greatest tag team feud of all time without their hands being raised. The angle is that they’re gonna have six stretchers at ringside – ambulances, paramedics – Trish pumps up E and C – this is about the Clique – about their legacy as the dominant faction in wrestling history. Bischoff pumps up the Hardys, says this is their destiny – that he has gotten every team to sign a pledge that this is the last meeting among these teams – that the winners of the match will go to Mania (I don’t know what they’re putting above the ring to grab…a WWF symbol, or I’ll steal the briefcase idea, I don’t know, whatever’s good) Bischoff is constantlty working to tell the Hardys they’ve been screwed over, stuck in this feud, and they are one match away from vanquishing both teams. And the Dudleys turn to Heyman – actually, he comes to them – recall the Stevie thing, so they’ve been on opposite sides since entering the WWF – but Heyman says they need his services for this match, it’s too important – this is about the legacy of ECW, it’s about Eric Bischoff coming into the WWF and infecting it like a virus. Heyman hates Bischoff, hates everything he stands for – and the two of them can promo back and forth (and not for the last time, settle in on the Bischoff/Heyman thing)

It’s TLC 4 – once and for all.

It’s a big time Rumble from Boston. Angle defends against Shawn Michaels, RVD v. Rey, Eddy/Benoit defending against Team Angle, Jericho v. Brock, Lance v. Regal, Chavo v. Tajiri, Flair and Leviathan against Spike/Stevie. And the opening tag is TLC4 – Once and For all. The Royal Rumble 2003. Buy it.

Summer Slam 2002

XVIII is here.

Summer Slam 2002 Long Island
(Dark – Haas/Benjamin d. Chavo/Helms d. Noble/Kidman)

JR/Paul E/Taz on the announce.

1. E and C (w/Trish) d. Spike/Stevie
E and C leak awesomeemnity all over the ring in the opening tag. Opening tag!

There's a Hardys storyline that started on TV prior to the event; concerned about their lack of upward movement, Jeff tells Matt they need some guidance, and they begin cryptically discussing "a guy" who offered his services. They both start the arc as if it's ridiculous, but Jeff begins to come around. Matt resists hard, he thinks Jeff's lost his mind, that it's going to cost them their fans, that everyone in the company will hate them - that it would be cataclysmic if they brought in "that guy." Jeff says exactly - that's exactly the point - and here, during this match, we watch the Hardys watching on a monitor. They're not booked on the show, which has them both seething, and as they watch E and C get a win, the vignette ends with the apparent conclusion that, dispite Matt's discomfort, their situation is so dire that they have to make the desparate move of bringing in "that guy."

2. Booker d. Test
-Unnanounced, for the obvious Test related reason. I guess they turned Test from face jobber to heel jobber – and he puts over Booker – the face who only wrestles when he needs the money. In fact, they start to use Booker less in the ring – ‘cause the Summer Slam payday is so sweet. Book’s new catchphrase, “I GOT TO GET PAID!” runs wild with the disaffected youth. Don’t get between Book and his money, playa. When Book is winning, like now, he shows up in expensive suits, he throws money around backstage, maybe gives the fans some cash - when he hasn't worked in awhile, or when he loses, he wears stained sweats and pawns his stuff. Book's in ring ability really starts to slide here, and given the talent in the company, he just doesn't have a solid role. But he's funny and I think he adds to the show doing this gimmick.

3. Flair (w/Leviathan) d. Undertaker (w/PAUL and Kane)
A note, Batista isn't doing the Leviathan gimmick - he's doing the Batista gimmick, he's guy in suit learning the business from Flair, I just like the name Leviathan. Here, he gets over on the big men outside, Leviathan Demon Bombs Kane, Leviathan Demon Bombs PAUL, look at the raw animal power of the freaky monster Leviathan! And when Flair distracts the official, as Ric Flair will do, Batista hits the ring for the huge Demon Bomb on the Dead Man – Flair gets the pinfall. Flair and Leviathan roll over DMW -- Flair holds up one finger after the match…Leviathan holds up two. One finger….two fingers… One finger...two fingers...

4.HHH d. Dustin
And that does it for the Southern Man, Part II. I didn’t say it would be a glorious run. Pedigree. Hunter’s face push continues.

5.Brock (w/Angle) d. Rock
It's Brock time. They send the Rock on to Hollywood after this one, he’s gone until Mania. Okay, the kid is raw – and Rock’s a six year vet now, and that’s part of the story – Lesnar makes dumb mistakes, with Angle, as trainer, pointing them out at rignside – but overcomes them by the sheer force of his athleticism. Rock gets him in the sharpshooter – and Brock easily powers him away – and as the match goes on, Brock wears Rock down – and Brock grown in confidence, taunting the Rock – slapping him on the break, mocking him, “Come on Scorpion Queen – is that all you got?” Angle on the outside tries to keep Brock focused – but doesn’t notice as the crowd turns against Brock (hopefully) for his heelish tactics. Brock goes over hard – 3 consecutive F5s – and then he pins Rock by putting his boot on his chest.

The crowd boos, but Angle is very proud – hits the ring and hugs Lesnar – encouraging him, pumping him up – starting to replay the match in Lesnar’s ear as they walk back up the aisle. The people are unhappy, Lesnar has a cocky sneer, Angle doesn’t notice, reveling in the accomplishment of his protégée.

6. Unified Tags: Masked Men d. Jericho/Storm (w/Stacy)

Do you know who they are?

They get the fall on Lance, the fans are stunned - they've seen Hart Foundation 2K lose the belts to two guys in masks.

Do you know who they are?

Lance is bleeding after the match – and an eagle eyed viewer might note, although it’s not mentioned by the announce at the time, that Stacy is quite concerned with Lance’s well being. Quite concerned. I say…quite concerned.

After the match - as they stand alone in the ring, celebrating with the six belts - Flair and Leviathan make their way down the aisle.

Huh.

What the hell is going on here, the announce is baffled - maybe it's gonna go down, maybe Flair and Leviathan are gonna challenge the new tag champs right now - what's gonna....

Flair holds up one finger.

Leviathan holds up 2.

One of the masked men holds up 3.

The second holds up 4.

All four men now hold up the sign for the four horsemen - and the new tag champs unmask...

Do you know who they are?

JR: GOOD GOD, IT'S BENOIT AND GUERRERO! CHRIS BENOIT AND EDDY GUERRERO ARE BACK IN THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION!

Benoit and Guerrero. GOOD GOD GOOD GOD GOOD GOD GOOD GOD!!!!

On RAW the following night, the TitanTrust will rule that since Benoit and Guerrero are tag champs, and since they cleanly won those belts, they are readmitted into the WWF. One notes that both Arn and Dean ruled in favor of Storm/Jericho wrestling the masked men for the title. One wonders if it was a plot, but Arn and Dean aren't turning heel, it just slips some intrigue into the TitanTrust gimmick. At some point, they're gonna do the good figurehead/evil figurehead thing - but that's not this.


7. Worldwide: ECW Rules: HBK d. RVD (w/Paul E.)
Michaels, the only man in history to win 3 IC titles – wins his 4th. Michaels sells the back the whole match, when he first came back, he really sold every bump as if it were about to kill him. It’s Michaels’s first singles back, so there’s the drama of that, there’s the story of the young Van Dam looking to stake his claim on the old HBK territory as top, young cocky heel – since all Van Dam’s matches are No DQ – they garbage it up -- Van Dam leg drops Michaels through the announce table – match ends after Van Dam hits the Van Daminator (Paul E holds the chair in front of Michaels head, Van Dam comes off the buckle with the sidekick)

But as opposed to covering – Van Dam takes a ladder from Paul E – you know, ‘cause it’s a ladder and it’s Shawn Michaels, they set it up and Van Dam misses the frog splash from the top as Michaels rolls away at the last second. Michaels, bloody, crawls to the top of the ladder – takes the deep breath and hits the elbow drop for the win and the switch. Big pop for the returning HBK. Your new holder of all 3 Worldwide Titles.

8. Undisputed Heavyweight Championship: Angle d. Mysterio
A great match, they use Rey’s speed against Angle’s mat based offense, Angle’s frustrated by his inability to keep Rey in one place – they get Rey over by showing how, despite his size, he can use his quickness to hurt Angle. Rey has most of the crowd by mid match, both because his style is crowd pleasing, and because of Lesnar earlier in the night – Angle doesn’t seem to notice the reaction at all. By the 12 minute mark, Angle would clearly be behind on points, which Taz notes, and says that given Angle’s amateur head, he probably notes too –

Angle turns it around by brawling, as Taz notes, Angle leaves the mat and brawls, going to the closed fists, the boots – Angle takes Rey outside – pulls the mat up outside the ring and piledrives Rey, drawing blood from underneath the mask. More boos for the longtime champion. Angle, completely focused, locked in, still doesn’t notice. Angle wins with the ankle lock submission and holds all three belts in the air Angle screaming in exhaltation as he has vanquished another champion– Kurt Angle is the Undisuputed Heavyweight Champion of the World after an all time great match - and Brock, Haas, and Benjamin hit the ring to lift him in the air - the sneer remaining on Lesnar's face, as the show ends.

Survivor Series is coming from….Madison Square Garden.

I love me some MSG.

They take the tag teams from the summer and put them in a number one contenders tournament – as everyone in the company wants a piece of Benoit and Guerrero, recall they were last seen as anti-WWF heels, they tried to destroy the company, and now here they are holding the tag belts. The Horsemen attack all the tag teams (except the SpreeKillers) throughout the fall, attack them before and after matches, attack them in the back - each tag team has to put the Horsemen over somehow, every single week.


Opening the tournament: Team Angle: Benjamin and Haas, against Raven and Dreamer. With Angle in their corner, the pure babyface technical duo goes over. Their opponents are to be the winners of the returning Dudleys against the Hardys, but the Hardys no-show the match. The TitanTrust is obviously furious, the Dudleys get the walkover into the semifinals, and Matt and Jeff are called out on the carpet the next week. They appear, Jeff heeling up as Matt is clearly agitated by the whole thing - Jeff tells the Trust that they are under new management, that they've signed a deal with the most important wrestling figure of the 90s, and he tells them they're too good for some rinky dink tag tournament.

Matt takes the mic - he's still a face - he tells Jeff not to speak for him, that yeah, they've hired this guy and while he thinks it might kill their career, it's something his brother really feels strongly about - but he's never missed a date in his lifer and he hates that things have gotten to this point.

Dudleys enter - they say that the Hardys are pussies, they've always been pussies - and now they have some mysterious "man" telling them what to do - well, the Dudley Boys say that they don't want a walkover into the second round - they want their match - and they want it right now -

The match begins, Matt's the face in peril when Lita (hi, Lita!) makes her return to the Counterfactual, running down the aisle with a cell phone. She gets Jeff's attention - the call is apparently from "the man" who is their new manager - and Jeff yells at Matt to get out of the ring - that they're walking out.

Matt refuses - Jeff is torn - but decides to leave his brother to fend for himself. Matt fights valiantly, but eats the 3D.

The Dudleys will go onto lose to Team Angle in their semi - and postmatch, the Hardys will run in with chairs, Jeff encouraging Matt to do heelish things to the prone Dudleys - "dammit, hit him - hit him" with the chair as they lie unconscious. Matt can't bring himself to do it - pulling the full heel Jeff away. We'll see Hardys v. Dudleys at Survivor Series, and the build up is that "the man" will finally appear.

In the other half of the draw – the SpreeKillers take on Spike and Stevie – and after a superkick by Richards on Chavo – it looks like we have an upset – but Flair enters to distract the official – and Leviathan Demon Bombs Stevie and rolls Chavo atop.

The announce speculates, what does this mean – do the Horsemen want the Spree Killers to win so that Chavo will meet his Uncle Eddy? This is also a question that Helms wants answered from Chavo – and they do a spot where there’s dissension between the two, Helms wants to go wilding, go carve up some hoboes or take X and buy some freaks – but Chavo says he’s gotta go meet with Flair. “Ric Flair?” Helms says, “He ain’t down, he’s 100 years old.” Chavo shrugs, gotta do what you gotta do.

The interference in that match isn't isolated, it's Spike and Stevie who become the tag team that tries to stand up to the Horsemen, and that starts a Flair/Leviathan v. Spike/Stevie program that runs until the Rumble.

The Spree Killers meet the winners of Noble/Kidman, doing their babyface oil and water gimmick (Kidman’s going to the club after RAW, he's got Torrie Wilson at his side, they're doing a young, good looking, fast paced lifestyle thing. Noble’s going to shoot rats in the alley. 'Cause he's doing a Larry the Cable Guy thing.) against the PAUL~ and Kane version of DMW. The kids go over, we don’t care about size in the Counterfactual WWF! We job the monsters out!

So, Team Angle is on one side. SpreeKillers and Kidman/Noble on the other. We'll get back to the tournament in a moment.

Speaking of not caring about size – how about a Rey/Regal singles match? Regal does his Regal thing – Rey is little and Mexican – how much more insignificant could he be? The sun never sets on the British Empire, but when it came time to colonize Mexico, Queen Victoria said, no, thank you, we’ll never be able to bring this country up to code. So, two great wrestlers, Regal plays both the size and ethnic cards against the tiny babyface Mysterio.

With Angle, Benjamin, and Haas looking on – Noble and Kidman go over the Spree Killers – Flair and Leviathan entered to interfere, but were stopped by Spike and Stevie. Benoit and Guerrero then attempted to interfere – but they were stopped by Angle, Haas, and Benjamin – so, we had multiple brawls on the outside when Noble got the fall on Helms.

It’s the first time we see Angle/Benoit stuff in a year – so that’s sort of a hot thing. Security comes out of every crevice in the building when they start throwing hands at each other.

Also hot – the Hart Foundation – they’re going singles at MSG, which is why they didn’t enter the tournament. On the RAW after Summer Slam they did tag though – and lost, to E and C, in the continuation of our Clique/Hart thing. When Trish gives the Clique Kick (don't know why I didn't think of that name before) to Lance from the apron – that draws a very angry Stacy – and Trish kicking Stacy’s ass led Jericho to leave the apron, leaving Lance alone for the E and C doubleteam.

We’re gonna get Lance and Edge at Survivor Series. Jericho, who has a match of his own we’ll talk about later, insists, against their legit. protests, that Stacy second Lance and not he at Survivor Series. Jericho is obviously too worred about Stacy when she’s on the outside – and given the importance of his match, a big match, which we’ll talk about later, he would rather she was with Lance. And since E will have both C and Trish with him – Lance needs someone in his corner, as Jericho won’t be able to be there. You guys stay together, Jericho says, I know Storm ain’t much to look at Stace – but it’s just a couple of months of training, you’ll make it. I’ll miss you, Stacy says. I’ll miss you too, says Chris.

Awwwwww.

We’ll note, as we see Jericho spending more time by himself, training for his big match – that Stacy and Lance, spending more time together before Survivor Series, seem to be growing closer. Friendly. Playful. Concerned for each other.

Hmmmm.

Noble and Kidman go over Haas and Benjamin in the finals, to earn the right to go on and meet Benoit/Guerrero at Survivor Series. Both teams are wiped out postmatch by the Horsemen. Angle was not there to make the save for Haas and Benjamin, because, of course, he was cleaning up after another mess made by Brock.

I know it's getting complicated. Hang in there.

See, Brock’s in the back when he’s met by HHH. Helmsley, in his role as veteran, locker room leader, tells Brock that he "understands what it’s like to be a young guy, full of yourself, big and strong, wrestling on your first PPV – and it’s not like he has any love for the Rock himself – but what he did to the Rock, a guy respected by the boys, that went a little far – you didn’t need all 3 F5s, didn’t need to pin him with your boot on his chest – and I don’t know why Angle won’t tell you this – but I will…"

Brock says "thanks Hunter, I really appreciate that. Because instead of listening to my trainer, the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World – I can listen to you – a guy who’s never won anything. Ever. You aren’t even good enough to be a has been, Hunter. You’re a never was and you’re just jealous, because in one night, I did what you couldn’t do in 7 years – I made a name for myself in the WWF."

HHH gets in Brock’s face – Brock laughs at him – tells him what could he possibly do? Brock’s bigger, younger, and more important. Take a shot, Hunter. Come on, take a shot, you juiced up bitch...

Hearing the end of this conversation….Michaels.

When Hunter hesitates, perhaps out of that babyface generosity, or maybe out of fear, or out of a thought that Brock might be right – Michaels doesn’t – and Michaels spins Brock around and fires a right hand – Michaels and Hunter doubleteam Brock in the back – and that’s when Angle enters. Angle sees Michaels and Hunter doubleteaming Brock – so Angle is there – and it’s a full on brawl.

We do some tag stuff between these guys before Survivor Series – allowing for a tease of Angle/Michaels. The match we’re getting at MSG is Brock/HHH.

Michaels will be busy, as he rematches against RVD. And since it’s at MSG, 8 ½ years after WM X – we’re gonna get a ladder match. RVD says he’s the showstopper, the icon, the main event – and at MSG, at Survivor Series, he will regain the Worldwide Titles and show that Michaels’s day has ended. Paul E says one night almost ten years ago Shawn Michaels became a wrestling immortal at MSG in a ladder match – and RVD will do the same at Survivor Series. Michaels plays the sore, exhausted veteran, he gave all he had at Summer Slam, and when he climbed that ladder, he thought "it was the dumbest thing I've ever done – and believe me, no one has done more dumb things than the Heart Break Kid – but I didn’t come back to the WWF to be some fossil, some shell of my old self – and if I'm the Intercontinental Champion of the World – if I'm the Worldwide champion – then I'll be a fighting champion – and I'll go back to MSG at Survivor Series and show, one more time, why I am still the Showstopper."

Angle’s busy too – and that’s where Jericho comes in. Jericho promos on Angle’s change in attitude – they’ve been friends, not close friends, because Angle doesn’t have any close friends in the WWF – but they’ve had each other’s backs since Angle entered the WWF. But since Brock has started with the company – Angle’s got this blind spot – everyone can see it – the fans can see it – and maybe a year and a half as WWF Champion, maybe becoming Undisputed Champion, maybe being undefeated has gone to Angle’s head a little bit. Kurt Angle’s protecting that overgrown bully Lesnar, and Jericho wants to know why that is.

Angle gets hot – "if you want to take me on, Jericho, that’s fine. I’ve got 3 World Title Belts, I’ve beaten Davey Boy, Benoit, Van Dam, Hennig, Flair, Mysterio – I understand if you want to take your shot – but Brock’s just a kid trying to make his way around here – I know he’s an amateur wrestler, and I know there’s a lot of jealousy around here about amateur wrestlers, we didn’t start like you did, we weren’t trained in some basement in Calgary, we didn’t work for ten bucks in front of a bunch of drunks, and I know you’ve all got a complex about that – I know that when you see Kurt Angle – undefeated, Undisputed Champion of the World that drives you crazy. But Jericho, don’t load up all your crap on a good kid like Brock. Be a man. Come at me head up."

"Be a man? Be a man? I’m The Lionheart Chris Jericho. I was NWA Champion. I was trained by Stu Hart in the Dungeon. You might have won a gold medal with a broken neck, but every day of my life, I thought that old son of a bitch was gonna yank my head clean off my neck. And you’re right – I do want to be WWF Champion, I do want to be Undispupted Champion – and I want something else, Angle – I want the Triple Crown. No one has won the Triple Crown since Cactus Jack, no one has won the Triple Crown since it was renamed after my hero, my friend, Owen Hart – and there is nothing in my entire life that could be bigger than going to Madison Square Garden, going to where my dad played hockey for the New York Rangers – and taking that Triple Crown after I get undefeated Kurt Angle to tap out to the Liontamer. You know what – I am sick of seeing you with that belt – you know what – I am sick of hearing about how great amateur wrestling is. And you know what Kurt – even though this started because I wanted you to know that your boy Brock Lesnar is an asshole – this is going to end with me calling you an asshole, Champ."

Angle and Jericho go nose to nose.

So, that’s your title match.

One more match. Seriously? Another match? Isn’t this enough to buy the show? Haven't I given you enough?

We get lots of Horsemen promos on the run to Survivor Series, and a side angle after the Spree Killers lose is that Chavo, was in fact, going to throw the title match if they had won the tournament. Chavo confesses one week to a furious Helms. Another week, Chavo, in the ring, wearing a suit, says it was fun being a kid, screwing around, but now it’s time to put away childish things. It’s time for Chavo to be a Horseman.

Helms enters, the graffiti scrawled all over his body, SpreeKiller style, says Chavo’s sold out to the man – says he thought Chavo was down – but Chavo’s just a sell out bitch.

Horsemen enter, leave Helms for dead. But Eddy stops Chavo from putting up the four fingers. Eddy says if you want to be a Horsemen, you’ve got to prove yourself first sort of like a gang initiation, and at Survivor Series, Chavo will have to beat his old partner. The SpreeKillers explode!

So, at the big, big Survivor Series from the Mecca of Professional Wrestling, we’ve got Angle defending against Jericho, HBK and RVD in the ladder match for the Worldwide belts, Benoit/Guerrero defending against Noble and Kidman, Brock v. HHH, Rey v. Regal, Storm v. Edge, Chavo v. Helms, and a Dudleys/Hardy match where we will finally meet the Hardys mysterious manager who has gotten Jeff to turn heel. Top to bottom, bottom to top – the greatest Survivor Series in WWF history. And it’s at MSG. Call…your..cable...company!!! Survivor Series 2002