Here's the premise:
pwcom.proboards.com/thread/149/supercard-mashup-1997?page=1#post-2852

Time for what's probably one of, if not my favorite year's in pro wrestling history... 2002!

***2002 WWE's SuperCard MashUp: Sunday Night HeAT***

1.) Randy Orton vs. Bob Holly [4/25 SD!]
*A key feature of 2002 was the first OVW class making its way to the main roster. For as big of a player as Orton would go on to become, what better way to kick off the pre-show than for him to make his debut with an upset win over a fading grizzled vet!?

2.) Billy & Chuck vs. 3-Minute Warning (w/ Rico) [Unforgiven]
*Billy & Chuck's angle was a pretty big deal in 2002, so they need representation. I was a pretty big 3MW mark, dug Rico, and wished they'd been featured more prominently in 2002. The way the trajectories for all involved petered out toward the end of the year makes this match more suited for HeAT than the main card.

3.) Rikishi & John Cena vs. Reverend D-Von & Deacon Batista [8/22 SD!]
*Gotta get arguably the two biggest names from the 2002 OVW class some representation. Since Cena isn't rapping yet though, and since Batista isn't Evolution's Animal yet, they're better suited for HeAT here. Post-match includes Batista turning on D-Von so that he can go walk alone.

4.) CW Title: Billy Kidman (c) vs. Tajiri (w/ Torrie Wilson) [Backlash]
*Arguably the only year where WWE treated its CW division with a moderate amount of respect. Unfortunately, I'm not giving them enough respect to bump this from HeAT to the main card. The first PPV CW title match from 2002 was a pretty solid affair, and concluded with a title change. Decent way to close out the pre-show and roll us into the main card with some exciting momentum.

***2002 WWE's SuperCard MashUp!!!***

1.) Triple Threat Elimination Match for the WWE Tag Team Title: Edge & Rey Mysterio (c) vs. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Los Guerreros [Survivor Series]
*I struggle to think of a better way to kick off the main card than by featuring the entire SmackDown! Six in arguably the best tag match of the year, and quite possibly the best tag match of all time. Plus, with how stacked 2002's roster was, this is an easy way to pack in a bunch of crucial names in a totally acceptable way.

2.) No DQ Match: Booker T vs. Big Show [Vengeance]
*The weakest match of the main card, but at least Booker hits the Houston Hangover! It hurt leaving BookDust off this thing, so I had to get at least Booker on here somewhere. Big Show deserves representation for his successful rebranding later in the year.

3.) Hardcore Match for the Women's Title: Trish Stratus (c) vs. Victoria [Survivor Series]
*Like the CW division, the Women's division was really coming along and being featured seriously in 2002. Trish was the poster woman for the division, Victoria was a new bad ass heel, and it was an unexpected treat to see the ladies go hardcore.

4.) "Old Time Wrestling Match": Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Ric Flair [6/3 RAW]
*Austin's last match before taking his ball and going home was a fun stipulation match that gets two important names on the card. Possibly Austin's best 1-on-1 match from 2002.

5.) TLC Match for the World Tag Team Title: Kane sans partner Hurricane (c) vs. Chris Jericho & Christian, Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley, and Rob Van Dam & Jeff Hardy [10/7 RAW]
*A little taste of RAW Roulette for a feel of the times. Another fun multi-man match to get a bunch of important names on the card.

6.) Unsanctioned Street Fight: Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H [SummerSlam]
*Shawn's epic return to a WWE ring after four years away, and HHH's true return to proper form as a heel.

7.) Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Title: Brock Lesnar (c) (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. The Undertaker [No Mercy]
*'Taker just can't catch a break when it comes to HIACs in October. Similar premise as Orton/Holly, but a little better and a little more important. The Next Big Thing truly arrives by conquering the legendary phenom for the first time.

8.) The Rock vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan [WrestleMania]
*THE main event of 2002. Is there anything more that needs to be said?

2002 WWF was a weird place with a mish mash of rookies and veterans, WCW guys and once-popular Attitude Era wrestlers who no longer seemed to fit in. It was where one show was a good traditional pro wrestling show while the other was a bad sports entertainment show. Hell, it wasn't even (my beloved) WWF anymore! It was now called WWE. 

I like what 🤯 did. He even included a Heat episode! Here is the card I came up with a few days ago.... 

1. Billy & Chuck vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz vs. APA (Wrestlemania 3/17)

Part 'get everybody on the show' match, part rewarding my boys Billy & Chuck, part historic (in a bad way) as this marked the death of a WWF tag division which had been the strongest in over a decade for the last two years +. From insane actionfest ladder matches at the previous to 'Mania's to....this. Hardyz, Duds & APA would be split up like a month later. E&C had already split. This was the end of the era.
Alternate Choice: Jeff Hardy/Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley featuring D-Von vs. Three Minute Warning & Rico (Survivor Series 11/17- Table Match)

2. Victoria vs. Trish Stratus (Survivor Series 11/17- Women's Title Hardcore Match)

This match marked the first time in my 15 glorious years of WWF fandom that I cared about WWF women's wrestling. It doesn't age all that well (Victoria wins with...a basic suplex) but I thought it was something else at the time. 

3. Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Booker T & Goldust (Raw 12/23- Tag Title Match)

Great old school style face vs. heel tag match with one of the hottest crowds of the year. BookDust was consistently the best act on Raw and (spring) 2002 was the year Jericho finally won me over after years of dislike.

4. Rob Van Dam vs. Eddie Guerrero (Raw 5/27- IC Title Ladder Match)

Pretty famous match here.

5. Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall (Wrestlemania 3/17)

Austin didn't have a good 2002. This is here just to get him on the show. I thought about going with the much better Austin/Flair match PI listed but opted instead to free Flair up for... 
 
6. Ric Flair vs. Vince McMahon (Royal Rumble 1/20- Street Fight)

Big match Vince strikes again. Flair's first WWF match in almost nine years was a hoot. 

7. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio (No Mercy 10/20- Tag Title Match)

Chose this as my Smackdown Six representative for structural reasons even if I do prefer the Angle/Edge/Benoit/Eddie 4 Way from Smackdown 12/5. This still obviously rules though.

8. Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker (No Mercy 10/20- Hell In A Cell)

An easy choice, although the Brock hater in me, coupled with the fact that nobody got tossed off the Cell (what a buncha wimps!), caused me to underrate this for a long, long time.

9. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (Summerslam 8/25- Unsanctioned Street Fight)

Another easy choice due to HHH having a bad year and HBK only having like 4 matches. And also because this ruled.

10. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania 3/17)

I won't make the same mistake as WWF. This has to close the show.

*And for once I didn't bother coming up with a Heat card. Will work on it now and edit it in.

Pre-Show Heat

John Cena vs. Kidman (Smackdown 10/17) or Cena's First Rap (Smackdown 10/31)
Randy Orton vs. Hardcore Holly (Smackdown 4/25)- Orton's debut. Or you could throw an RNN Update here.
Kane vs. Three Minute Warning (Raw 12/9) or Batista vs. Kane (Raw 11/25)- As usual it's tough to find a spot for Kane.
Test vs. Tajiri (Smackdown 3/21)- Remember these two having a good match. Hopefully it's this one.
Tazz vs. Mr. Perfect (Raw 3/25)- Two of my all time favorites get on the show via this crappy match.
Big Show vs. William Regal (Smackdown 2/28)

This is the one essential Heat match as it features the hilarious finish of Regal hitting Show with the Power of the Punch. Show is knocked out but falls on top of Regal. Regal can't budge 500 pounds of dead weight so he's pinned.  :lol: Gold.

Oct 17, 2017 0:28:30 GMT Baker said:

2002 WWF was a weird place with a mish mash of rookies and veterans, WCW guys and once-popular Attitude Era wrestlers who no longer seemed to fit in. It was where one show was a good traditional pro wrestling show while the other was a bad sports entertainment show. Hell, it wasn't even (my beloved) WWF anymore! It was now called WWE. 

I like what 🤯 did. He even included a Heat episode! Here is the card I came up with a few days ago.... 

1. Billy & Chuck vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz vs. APA (Wrestlemania 3/17)

Part 'get everybody on the show' match, part rewarding my boys Billy & Chuck, part historic (in a bad way) as this marked the death of a WWF tag division which had been the strongest in over a decade for the last two years +. From insane actionfest ladder matches at the previous to 'Mania's to....this. Hardyz, Duds & APA would be split up like a month later. E&C had already split. This was the end of the era.
Alternate Choice: Jeff Hardy/Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley featuring D-Von vs. Three Minute Warning & Rico (Survivor Series 11/17- Table Match)

2. Victoria vs. Trish Stratus (Survivor Series 11/17- Women's Title Hardcore Match)

This match marked the first time in my 15 glorious years of WWF fandom that I cared about WWF women's wrestling. It doesn't age all that well (Victoria wins with...a basic suplex) but I thought it was something else at the time. 

3. Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Booker T & Goldust (Raw 12/23- Tag Title Match)

Great old school style face vs. heel tag match with one of the hottest crowds of the year. BookDust was consistently the best act on Raw and (spring) 2002 was the year Jericho finally won me over after years of dislike.

4. Rob Van Dam vs. Eddie Guerrero (Raw 5/27- IC Title Ladder Match)

Pretty famous match here.

5. Steve Austin vs. Scott Hall (Wrestlemania 3/17)

Austin didn't have a good 2002. This is here just to get him on the show. I thought about going with the much better Austin/Flair match PI listed but opted instead to free Flair up for... 
 
6. Ric Flair vs. Vince McMahon (Royal Rumble 1/20- Street Fight)

Big match Vince strikes again. Flair's first WWF match in almost nine years was a hoot. 

7. Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit vs. Edge & Rey Mysterio (No Mercy 10/20- Tag Title Match)

Chose this as my Smackdown Six representative for structural reasons even if I do prefer the Angle/Edge/Benoit/Eddie 4 Way from Smackdown 12/5. This still obviously rules though.

8. Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker (No Mercy 10/20- Hell In A Cell)

An easy choice, although the Brock hater in me, coupled with the fact that nobody got tossed off the Cell (what a buncha wimps!), caused me to underrate this for a long, long time.

9. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (Summerslam 8/25- Unsanctioned Street Fight)

Another easy choice due to HHH having a bad year and HBK only having like 4 matches. And also because this ruled.

10. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan (Wrestlemania 3/17)

I won't make the same mistake as WWF. This has to close the show.

*And for once I didn't bother coming up with a Heat card. Will work on it now and edit it in.

Equally commendable effort, sir!  I considered so many of these matches, so I'm very glad to see you carry this out and prove exactly that aside from the three knockout main events, there's really a lot of solid options for the undercard.

2002 ROH

Well, this was unexpected.

Storytime

I had followed the indies for years via the Apter Mags and internet. I knew the names of all the big indie darlings even if I hadn't seen most of them in action. I started going to local indie shows (MCW) in late 1998. They were a hoot at first (My man Tom Brandi! Christian York! ECW guys dogging it! Yes, even you, Sabu.) but the novelty soon wore off. Starved for an alternative once ECW closed down, I finally started springing for indie tapes (mainly ECWA shows with some APW & Corino compilations sprinkled in). Then I went to my first non-Maryland indie show (Delaware-based ECWA) in November 2001. Like those early MCW shows, ECWA shows were a blast. Daniels vs. Ki from my first live ECWA show was a mind blower. Next show had a killer Ki & American Dragon vs. SAT match. The show after that had a wild Ki & Dragon vs. SAT vs. J Team (think two Test clones) cage match and an awesome 80s WWF style face vs. heel cage match featuring my man Prince Nana against "The Hulk Hogan of Delaware" Cheetah Master. Plus I was seeing many of the other hot indie prospects on ECWA undercards and grainy, poorly filmed tapes. So I was all in on the indie scene when ROH started in February 2002.

I wanted to go to the first ever ROH show but missed it because it was my birthday and I had other plans. In fact, I missed out on the first 4 ROH shows because of reasons. Of course I did buy the tapes ASAP. And, hey, I was at the big ECWA Super 8 tournament the week after the first ROH show. 7 of the 8 competitors in that tournament went on to make some sort of name for themselves. You had AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Jamie Noble, Amazing Red, Xavier, Matt Stryker, Donovan Morgan, and....the other guy.

The whole concept of ROH was basically "Every show is like an ECWA Super 8 filled with all the best indie talent!" No longer would I have sit through awful Japanese Pool Boy segments to get to the Daniels or Ki match or whatever. Now every match was a potential Daniels or Low Ki-style match (Though to be fair, I would miss Cheetah Master. A running gag over on DVDVR and places like that back then was "So and so may be over but is he CHEETAH MASTER over?" The answer, of course, was usually "no.")

Anyway, the point of all this rambling is I was following ROH from the very beginning, bought most of the tapes in the early years, and went to 4 shows this year (Crowning A Champion, Unscripted, All Star Extravaganza & Final Battle), plus many more in the 3 years to follow. Without further ado...

1. Dick Togo & Ikuto Hidaka vs. Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke (Unscripted 9/21- Tag Team Tournament Match)

I think Togo & Hidaka were the first of many Japanese stars to appear in ROH. So this has some historical significance. Vaguely remember this being a fun match. Got to see my favorite member of Kaientai and 3 ECW alum. Losing here lead to the FBI breaking up.

2. Xavier vs. Amazing Red (Road To The Title 6/22- ROH Championship Tournament Match)

Get 'em on the show match. Both guys had better bouts against opponents tied up elsewhere. Yes, even the infamous Xavier had at least one good match in ROH (and many more elsewhere!).

3. Spanky vs. Jodie Fleisch (Road To The Title 6/22- ROH Championship Tournament Match)

Gets Spanky on the show. He was one of ROH's early stars and a few months later would become the first of many ROH stars to sign with WWE. Fleisch was an English flyer with some hype at the time who never amounted to much in the long run.

4. CM Punk vs. Colt Cabana (Final Battle 12/28- Winner Gets Plane Fare)

Move aside Vince Russo. I may have just found the lamest stipulation in wrestling history Soooo bush league. CM Punk surprisingly started his ROH career out 0-2. This was his first victory.

5. Carnage Crew vs. Da Hit Squad (Glory By Honor 10/5- Falls Count Anywhere)
DHS were the resident hoss team while the Crew were scummy ECW-style brawlers. Both teams kind of sucked but did bring something different to the table. You need the occasional brawl to break up the pure wrestling monotony.
*Went with DHS over the Natural Born Sinners as Carnage Crew opponents because while NBS member Homicide went on to become kind of a big deal, I could do without his forgotten partner, Boogalou.

6. Super Crazy vs. Eddie Guerrero (Era of Honor Begins 2/23- IWA Puerto Rico Intercontinental Title Match)

These two brought some star power to ROH's first show as Eddie was between WWF runs.

7. Mark Briscoe vs. Jay Briscoe (Honor Invades Boston- 8/24)

I've actually never seen this before but it was a hyped actionfest at the time. Gabe was a good booker but having the Briscoes feud so early on was a dumb move. Would have been much better to split them for a feud after a year or two of teaming. But, hey, it worked out alright in the end.

8. Christopher Daniels vs. Doug Williams (Glory By Honor 10/5)
These two had a minor classic with an ultra lame stipulation rivaling "Winner Gets Plane Fare." Turns out this isn't it, as that match took place in 2003. So this is kind of a waste of Daniels but at least Williams tried unlike other potential Daniels opponent Donovan Morgan.

9. Paul London vs. Michael Shane (Unscripted 9/21- Fight Without Honor)
Important. Best match on this show and maybe the wildest match I had ever seen live up to this point (and keep in mind I went to 8 ECW Arena shows!). This match made Paul London. He was ROH's first real homegrown star. I alluded to this in my opening rant but the early ROH stars (Ki, Dragon, Daniels, AJ) were already household names to the sort of folks who bought ROH shows. And their regular pre-ROH opponents (Spanky, Xavier, Homicide, Red, Morgan, Modest) were also known for being, well, opponents to the stars. London completely came out of nowhere to become maybe THE most popular guy in the company with this match. A mere 10 months later he'd be leaving for WWE. Shane would have been bland even in 2002 WWE so you can imagine how much he stood out as a bore in early ROH. But his blandness actually makes this match better as the crowd was just dying to see that nutty daredevil Paul London put down his dull nemesis. 

10. AJ Styles vs. "American Dragon" Bryan Danielson (All Star Extravaganza 11/9)
Another great match I saw live. A sign of things to come for these two. Had some great spots like fighting over this submission hold I don't know the name of and AJ setting up the Styles Clash in a most brutal fashion.

11. Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe (Glory By Honor 10/5- Fight Without Honor)
Man, this show has a killer top three matches. This was a total war. It was also Joe's first match with the company. He was now a made man. On the surface, it's stupid to have Ki going toe to toe with a guy who outweighs him by 100 pounds. But Ki had been built as the ultimate badass and is one of the few small guys (KENTA also comes to mind) who can make that work. It's also dumb on the surface to book a guy in a Fight Without Honor (ROH speak for No DQ/streetfight/brawl/etc.) in his very first match. But, again, it just worked. Also has a cool finish that could only work in a match of this sort.

*Solid show right there. 11 matches because I strive for authenticity and early ROH shows were notorious long and bloated. Trust me. I was there.

*Turns out I'm not done with this project after all. Still have my alternate 1997 ECW take to come and I've also finished 1989 NWA. I'm going to start an all purpose 80s (or maybe just pre-1992?) thread tomorrow since I doubt there will be many takers, including myself. (I also tried doing 1987 WWF but it was basically just a slightly shorter Wrestlemania III + like one match and maybe one segment).