Post by Baker on Oct 17, 2017 12:45:52 GMT
2001 marked the end of the golden age. WWF won the MNW when their two rivals went out of business in rapid succession. The Big 3 had become the Big 1. The long-awaited Invasion was a flop. WWF slowly absorbed all the WCW & ECW stars they wanted over the next few years instead of going all in on the Big 3 War everybody had dreamed about for years. Ratings were down. Booking was dumb. Most of the new fans wrestling had gained during the Attitude Era went away. I almost feel like this one year lead to an entire decade of meh but that probably has more to do with me getting old and grumpy. Anyway!...
It was also the Year of Austin from a match quality standpoint. Almost all the top tier matches this year involved Stone Cold.
Pre-Show Heat
Booker T vs. Big Show (Smackdown 9/13)- Get 'em on the show specialty. Booker in particular.
X-Pac vs. Tajiri (Summerslam 8/19- WWF Light Heavyweight Title/WCW Cruiserweight Title Unification Match)
Went with this over a Pac/Kidman match because I'd rather watch Tajiri. If it matters (and it doesn't) we also get an Albert appearance here. Plus a chance to hear the amazing X-Factor theme.
2001: WWE SuperCard MashUp
1. APA & Tazz vs. Goodfather/Val Venis/Bull Buchanan w/ Steven Richards (Wrestlemania 4/1)
Remember this being a fun babyface win with a hot crowd.
2. Test vs. Kane (No Mercy 10/21)
They had some surprisingly not-terrible matches. Hopefully this is one of them.
3. Rhyno vs. Raven (Backlash 4/29- Hardcore Title Match)
Best Hardcore Title match in years is also the best thing Raven did in the ring during this lousy WWF run.
4. Stephanie McMahon vs. Trish Stratus (No Way Out 2001)
No idea if this holds up but I thought it was a miracle match at the time. Also features a William Regal appearance.
5. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz (Wrestlemania 4/1- Tag Title TLC Match)
These wild hardcore actionfests always worked. This one also gets Spike Dudley & Lita on the show.
6. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (Raw 6/11- Steel Cage Match)
Suplexes and cage dives. Yes, please.
7. Undertaker vs. Rob Van Dam (Vengeance 12/9- Hardcore Title Match)
This seemingly forgotten gem is no less than the 2nd best match 'Taker had during his 99-01 in ring dark days.
8. Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon (Wrestlemania 4/1- Street Fight)
Perhaps the ultimate McMahon masterpiece. This was downright Raven & Richards vs. Pitbullsesque in the way it paid off a bunch of different, intertwined storylines.
9. Chris Jericho vs. The Rock (No Mercy 10/21- WCW Championship Match)
Good match. Jericho's first world title win even if it is the secondary world title.
10. Triple H vs. Steve Austin (No Way Out 2001- Three Stages of Hell Match)
Look, I know Austin/Rock is the "right" choice here. But I had to sacrifice my favorite match of the decade in 2000. I'm not sacrificing my 2nd favorite match of the 2000s a year later, too. And while Austin's heel turn is important, it's important in a bad way. It was bad for business, only lasted 7 months, and was just flat out dumb (even if it did lead to some quality entertainment on my television). Nor do I care about ending the show on two heel wins since it's not like there is any theoretical competition to worry about at this point. Anyway, this was an epic war with one of my all time favorite finishes.
*I've now covered 1993-2002 WWF and all the ECW & WCW SuperCards I feel comfortable doing. I've toyed around with 1989 NWA & 2002 ROH(!) but 2003 WWE is the only one I can promise from here on out.
It was also the Year of Austin from a match quality standpoint. Almost all the top tier matches this year involved Stone Cold.
Pre-Show Heat
Booker T vs. Big Show (Smackdown 9/13)- Get 'em on the show specialty. Booker in particular.
X-Pac vs. Tajiri (Summerslam 8/19- WWF Light Heavyweight Title/WCW Cruiserweight Title Unification Match)
Went with this over a Pac/Kidman match because I'd rather watch Tajiri. If it matters (and it doesn't) we also get an Albert appearance here. Plus a chance to hear the amazing X-Factor theme.
2001: WWE SuperCard MashUp
1. APA & Tazz vs. Goodfather/Val Venis/Bull Buchanan w/ Steven Richards (Wrestlemania 4/1)
Remember this being a fun babyface win with a hot crowd.
2. Test vs. Kane (No Mercy 10/21)
They had some surprisingly not-terrible matches. Hopefully this is one of them.
3. Rhyno vs. Raven (Backlash 4/29- Hardcore Title Match)
Best Hardcore Title match in years is also the best thing Raven did in the ring during this lousy WWF run.
4. Stephanie McMahon vs. Trish Stratus (No Way Out 2001)
No idea if this holds up but I thought it was a miracle match at the time. Also features a William Regal appearance.
5. Edge & Christian vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz (Wrestlemania 4/1- Tag Title TLC Match)
These wild hardcore actionfests always worked. This one also gets Spike Dudley & Lita on the show.
6. Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit (Raw 6/11- Steel Cage Match)
Suplexes and cage dives. Yes, please.
7. Undertaker vs. Rob Van Dam (Vengeance 12/9- Hardcore Title Match)
This seemingly forgotten gem is no less than the 2nd best match 'Taker had during his 99-01 in ring dark days.
8. Shane McMahon vs. Vince McMahon (Wrestlemania 4/1- Street Fight)
Perhaps the ultimate McMahon masterpiece. This was downright Raven & Richards vs. Pitbullsesque in the way it paid off a bunch of different, intertwined storylines.
9. Chris Jericho vs. The Rock (No Mercy 10/21- WCW Championship Match)
Good match. Jericho's first world title win even if it is the secondary world title.
10. Triple H vs. Steve Austin (No Way Out 2001- Three Stages of Hell Match)
Look, I know Austin/Rock is the "right" choice here. But I had to sacrifice my favorite match of the decade in 2000. I'm not sacrificing my 2nd favorite match of the 2000s a year later, too. And while Austin's heel turn is important, it's important in a bad way. It was bad for business, only lasted 7 months, and was just flat out dumb (even if it did lead to some quality entertainment on my television). Nor do I care about ending the show on two heel wins since it's not like there is any theoretical competition to worry about at this point. Anyway, this was an epic war with one of my all time favorite finishes.
*I've now covered 1993-2002 WWF and all the ECW & WCW SuperCards I feel comfortable doing. I've toyed around with 1989 NWA & 2002 ROH(!) but 2003 WWE is the only one I can promise from here on out.
