BACKLASH 2001
Allstate Arena
Chicago, Illinois
April 29, 2001
X-Factor vs. The Dudley Boyz
The Dudleys got the early advantage in the match, as the sold-out crowd at the
Allstate Arena in Chicago chanted for tables! The teams soon started using double-
and triple-team maneuvers to try and gain the advantage in the bout. Bubba Ray
and D-Von soon hit the "wassap!" on Justin, and then Bubba told his
brother to get the tables! But Albert nailed D-Von with a boot to the face before
he could nab any "wood." Back in the ring, X-Pac and Justin hit the
"X Marks The Spot" double-kick on Bubba Ray, and scored the win! After
the pin, Albert continued to assault Bubba, and X-Pac and Justin went outside
the ring and grabbed a table! But the Dudleys fought off X-Factor, and gave
X-Pac a 3-D through the table!
Raven vs. Rhyno (WWF Hardcore Champion)
March starts off with a drop toe hold by Raven. Rhyno punches raven in the ropes.
Rhyno knocks Raven out of the ring and gets a two count. Rhyno sits Raven in
a chair and runs at him but Raven moves at the last moment. Raven hits a clothesline
for a two count. Rhyno hits Raven in the head with a trash can lid and a sign
for a two count. Rhyno hits Raven in the face with a shopping cart then throws
it in the ring. Raven with a drop toe hold on Rhyno onto the shopping cart.
Raven nails Rhyno in the head with a sign. Raven hits a bulldog for a two count.
Raven hits Rhyno in the face with a trash can for a two count. Raven spears
Rhyno with the shopping cart. Rhyno hits Raven in the head with the sign for
a two count. Raven ducks a spear and Rhyno gets his head stuck in the shopping
cart. Raven nails the cart with Rhyno stuck in it for a two count. Rhyno spears
Raven for the pin.
Chris Jericho vs. Steven Regal
Duchess of Queensbury Match
Before the match, Regal said hello to all his friends in Chicago and brought
out the Duchess. The Duchess carried a scepter and sat down on a "throne"
of sorts. Jericho showed the funny Dutchess Regal picture again and said the
real one looked like a man. Both men locked up and had to be separated in the
corner. Regal locked on a wrist lock, which Jericho got out of by flipping himself
over. Jericho went up top and hit a clothesline. Jericho worked over Regal outside
before missing a missile dropkick back inside the ring. Regal hit several forearm
uppercuts and applied a headlock. Regal went up top and waved to the crowd,
and got himself caught in a hurricanrana. Jericho turned Regal's chest to a
bright red color with knife-edge chops. Jericho landed the lionsault and the
Duchess requested the bell be rung. According to the rules, round one had expired
just as Jericho had the match won… Regal rolled up Jericho very quickly to get
a two count. Regal applied the Regal Stretch. Jericho made it to the ropes to
break the hold. Jericho put Regal in the Walls of Jericho and Regal submitted.
However, the Duchess said you couldn't win by submission. The match continued
outside the ring and Regal nailed Jericho with the Duchess' scepter. The Duchess
said there are no disqualifications… Back in the ring, Regal ruled, keeping
Jericho off his feet. Jericho regained the advantage after an enziguri. He kicked
Regal in the nuts and dropkicked him right into the Dutchess' crotch! Jericho
threw the Duchess into the ring and put the Walls of Jericho on her. Regal interfered
with three chairshots. He covered Jericho and got the pin.
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle
Ultimate Submission Match
Kurt Angle came down to the ring first and ripped on Chicago and the fans as
he usually does. After his speech, Benoit’s music hit and he walked down to
the ring. They announced that there would be a 30-second rest period in between
each decision. They locked right up and Benoit backed Angle into the corner
and the ref split them up. Angle executed a single-leg takedown on Benoit and
then both wrestled up to their feet and paced around each other once again.
Angle got another single-leg takedown and wrestled to a vertical base once again.
Angle got another takedown and then Benoit reversed and locked in Angle. Benoit
managed to get Angle in the Crippler Crossface, but Angle was in the ropes and
he was forced to let go. Angle rolled out of the ring and Benoit was held back
by the referee. Angle got a huge waist takedown and then got up and took down
Benoit again. Benoit nearly got him in the Crossface again. They got to vertical
base again and then locked up another time. Angle got Benoit in a waist lock,
but Benoit reversed it and slammed him out of the waistlock. They went to the
outside and Benoit got him in the waistlock again and locked in the Crippler
Crossface. Angle tapped, but it did not count since it was on the outside. Benoit
got back in the ring and waited for Angle. Angle was holding his shoulder and
looked to be hurting. Angle ran at Benoit and got him in a leglock and turned
it into a submission leglock and Benoit quickly tapped out and they went into
their rest period. Angle started kicked the knees of Benoit and then chop blocked
him to the mat. He repeatedly hit the chop blocks on Benoit and on his third
attempt, he got locked in a submission hold. Angle almost broke free, but Benoit
locked him in an arm lock and Angle tapped. With around 21-minutes left in the
match, the score is tied 1-1.
Benoit tried to get Angle in the arm breaker once again, but Angle reached the
ropes and got free. Benoit hit a shoulder breaker on Angle and then whipped
him chest-first into the corner. Angle was lying on the ropes and Benoit tried
to pull him away. Benoit backed off and then came back and Angle reached down
and swung a chair back and nailed Benoit. Angle got Benoit in an ankle lock
and he tapped out to put Angle ahead 2-1. Angle came right over and got Benoit
in his own hold, the Crippler Crossface and Benoit tapped out. This put Angle
in the lead with a score of 3-1. Benoit got up and Angle tackled him into the
ropes. Angle laid Benoit across the ring apron and nailed him with elbows from
the outside. Angle back suplexed Benoit and went for the Ankle lock, but Benoit
reached the ropes. Benoit rolled out of the ring and Angle slammed him into
the announcers’ table. Angle rolled Benoit back into the ring and whipped him
into the ropes. Benoit held on and then elevated Angle over the top rope, onto
the outside. Angle was slammed into the ringpost and then Benoit followed up
with knife-edge chops and a shot to Angle’s shoulder. Angle reversed a whip
from Benoit and sent him into the steel ring steps. Angle locked Benoit in the
Ankle lock on the outside and the ref finally made him break the hold. Angle
picked up Benoit and rolled him back into the ring. Benoit was holding his knee
and Angle went for the arm-breaker again. He could not get the elbow hyper-extended
and Benoit finally got to the ropes and was let free. Angle then got Benoit
in the abdominal stretch in the middle of the ring, but Benoit did not tap.
Benoit broke free and got behind Angle. He whipped him over and tried to get
him in the arm-breaker, but Angle used the ropes and got out.
Benoit took down Angle and got him in the Sharpshooter. Angle did not submit.
Angle picked up Benoit for a suplex and Benoit rolled through and got Angle
in a leg lock. Angle tapped out and this made the score 3-2, with Angle still
in the lead. At this point, there was still 11-minutes left in the match. Angle
rolled out of the ring and paced around the ring to gain some energy. Benoit
followed him out and slammed him into the ring steps. Benoit got in the ring
and Angle started kicking him down. Angle threw Benoit to the outside after
a rake to the eyes and attacked him when he tried to get back in the ring. Benoit
finally got back in the ring and Angle suplexed him to the mat. Angle backed
Benoit into the corner and whipped him to the opposite side. Angle got Benoit
in the drop toehold and went for another Ankle lock, but Benoit was close to
the ropes and got free. Angle tossed Benoit out of the ring. He followed him
out and slammed him into the security rail. Angle then got back in the ring
and waited for Benoit to get back to his feet and into the ring. Benoit got
back in the ring and Angle tried to kick him in the gut, but Benoit hit a leg-lace
takedown and then went for a dropkick, but he missed and fell to the mat on
his back. Angle got Benoit in another leg submission hold and Benoit could do
nothing but throw elbows into the side of Kurt Angle. The ref lifted the arm
of Benoit twice and it did not fall the third time. Benoit tried to sit out,
but could not get up. Angle then moved into a reverse chinlock and Benoit finally
got to his feet. Benoit broke the hold with a jawbreaker and both men got up
slowly. Benoit ran at Angle and was kicked right down and then Angle followed
up with kicks to the mid-section. Angle belly-to-belly suplexed Benoit and then
picked him right up off the mat. Benoit reversed a whip by Angle and threw him
into the corner and finally gained an offense.
Angle and Benoit switched the momentum of the match several times and Benoit
finally got Angle in an Ankle lock. Angle tapped out and the score was tied
at 3. Angle was laying near the ropes as Benoit kicked away at him. Angle nailed
Benoit with a low blow when he got the advantage and he got Benoit in the Ankle
lock with 30-seconds left. Benoit got free and Angle suplexed him and got him
in the Ankle lock again. The time expired and Benoit tapped out after the bell
sounded. Angle walked out and thought he had won the match. The referee demanded
that the match continues into Sudden Death and the next submission would crown
a winner in the match. Angle ran back to the ring and started kicking away at
Benoit and then suplexed him to the mat hard. Benoit was fighting to hi feet
as an “Angle Sucks” chant started. Angle tried to get Benoit in the abdominal
stretch from the mat, but Benoit took shots at Angle faces and then locked in
the Crippler Crossface. Angle wasn’t far from the ropes, but he could not reach
them and was forced to tap out. Chris Benoit got his 4 fall and won the match
4-3.
The Big Show vs. Shane McMahon
Last Man Standing
The Big Show was a man on a mission in this bout, looking to destroy Shane McMahon
as Vince McMahon watched on from backstage. As the match began, Shane
grabbed a kendo stick and nailed the Big Show from all angles. Shane even assaulted
Show with the "Shane and the Beanstalk" book he read from last week
on SmackDown! The Big Show was able to hit Shane with one big punch, however,
and the Boy Wonder was down. Inside the ring, Shane recovered and repeatedly
crashed a steel chair against Big Show's head and back -- but the Show wouldn't
stay down for the 10-count! Shane then went under the ring and got an ether-soaked
rag, trying to force the Show into unconsciousness. As the crowd chanted "Shane-O-Mac,"
the Show collapsed onto the mat. But as the ref began to count the Show down,
Mr. McMahon ran to the ring and assaulted his son with a steel chair! As Mr.
McMahon left, both Shane and Show were down in the ring. Show got to his feet
at the count of 8, and then picked up Shane! The 7-footer brutalized the Boy
Wonder -- caring less about the ref's count and winning the match than about
brutalizing Shane in front of Vince. The Big Show hit Shane with the Final Cut,
and then told the ref to count. But when the ref got to 8, the Show again picked
up Shane! After slamming him down with a mighty chokeslam, the ref again began
to count. But again at 8, the Show picked Shane up! The Show locked Shane in
a backbreaker, but Test ran to the ring and kicked the Show in the face! Test
continued to attack the Show, but the Show recovered and knocked Test from the
ring. Outside the ring, the Big Show decimated Test -- but by doing so, he gave
the Boy Wonder time to recover. Show and Test battled to the top of the entranceway,
and Shane soon followed down the aisle. The Boy Wonder snuck up behind the Big
Show and hit him with a street sign. But the Big Show grabbed a lead pipe and
stalked Shane. Soon Shane started climbing up the superstructure
on the Backlash set. Amazingly, the Big Show followed him up the scaffolding!
Test snuck up behind the Show and knocked the Show out. Shane then delivered
an elbowdrop onto the Big Show from the top of the scaffold -- from nearly 50
feet in the air! The ref started to count, and Test propped Shane's body up
on the roving camera! The ref got to 10 -- and Shane McMahon was the Last Man
Standing!
Matt Hardy (WWF European Champion) vs. Christian
vs. Eddie Guerrero
The three competitors came to the ring and Christian and Eddie went to work
on Matt Hardy. They threw him out of the ring and then Christian attacked Eddie
from behind and nailed him with a suplex. He powerslammed Eddie and then got
a 2-count with the cover. Eddie then countered with a Huricanrana and then Matt
got back into the mix and took them both down. Christian then took down Matt
and was back suplexed by Eddie Guerrero and all three men were down. Matt was
whipped off the ropes and he hit a sunset flip on Christian. Matt clotheslined
Christian and went for the cover, but only got a 2-count. Christian whipped
Matt into the ropes and Eddie, who was on the outside, pulled him outside. Matt
shook off Eddie and went after Christian. He whipped Christian into the side
of the ring and then got back in the ring. In the ring, Eddie suplexed Matt
and almost got a three count. Eddie caught Matt as he went upstairs, but Matt
pushed him off. Christian tried to knock him off, but was unsuccessful and Matt
nailed them both from the top with a double flying clothesline. Matt hit a legdrop
on Eddie and could only get a 2-count.Matt rolled out of the ring and was in
the aisle and Edge ran down and Speared him. Edge rolled Matt into the ring
and he kicked out of being pinned and Jeff Hardy then came down and attacked
Edge. It was chaos in the ring and Matt Hardy finally got the pin and won the
match.
Triple H (WWF Intercontinental Champion) and
Steve Austin (WWF Heavyweight Champion) vs. Kane and the Undertaker (WWF Tag
Team Champions)
All Three Titles On the Line
Kane and Undertaker held a stand off, not allowing Triple H or Austin into the
ring. After ten minutes of ring introductions, a five-minute standoff was the
last thing this crowd needed. Triple H finally tried to get in and received
a punch. Austin and HHH decided to leave, and were attacked at the entrance
way. Kane ran HHH into the announce table while Undertaker sent Austin to the
mat. Despite an "injured" arm, Kane picked up both Austin and Helmsley
for modified choke slams. Austin and Undertaker tagged. Austin cowered down
to Undertaker, pleading with him not to hit him. 'Taker did anyway, but Austin
made it to his feet and hit a series of punches. Austin offered his hand in
friendship, but Undertaker kicked him in the face. UT old schooled Helmsley,
then Austin. Austin and Triple H attempted to leave again, only to be chased
down by Kane. 'Taker went for the Last Ride on Austin but Triple H interfered.
The heels took over with a barrage of kicks and punches to Undertaker. After
a prolonged beating of Undertaker, he finally came back with a DDT on HHH. However,
he refused to make a tag to Kane because of the condition of his arm. Austin
hit a Thesz press on 'Taker, but UT got up and hit a double clothesline on both
Triple H and Austin. Kane tagged himself in and went to work on Austin with
a sidewalk slam. Kane went up top and nailed a clothesline, and tossed Helmsley
off. The heels went back to Kane's injured arm to stop his advantage…Outside,
Austin cranked away at Kane's arm with a chair. HHH put Kane in a chicken wing
submission. Kane battled out but the heels still remained in control. Undertaker's
face had been bloodied at some point. HHH hit the Pedigree but didn't go for
the cover. Instead, he tagged Austin. With the referee's back turned, Undertaker
chokeslammed Austin. Stephanie distracted the referee, until the ref pushed her
to the floor. Kane covered Austin for the pin but it was too late. Finally,
after what seemed like an eternity of punishment, Kane tagged to Undertaker.
However, the referee took a bump and did not see the tag. Undertaker cleaned
house and gave HHH the Last Ride. The referee wouldn't count the pin because
UT wasn't the legal man. Austin ran in and stunned Kane. The ref went down once
again. Stephanie slipped HHH a title belt. Helmsley went to hit Kane with it
but Kane got a boot up. Austin and Undertaker battled out in the crowd. Stephanie
ran in and got a big boot from Kane. Vince ran down with a sledgehammer. Kane
grabbed Vince while HHH got the sledge and hit Kane twice. Vince slipped the
referee back in and Triple H wins.