WWE VENGEANCE 2002
Joe Louis Arena
Detroit, Michigan
July 21, 2002
Tag Team Table
Match
Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley vs. Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit
Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley started things off with a Tag Team
Table Match against Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. According to
the rules of the match, both opponents have to go through tables
in order to get the win. Benoit and Guerrero heated up early on
by taking turns hammering first Spike and then Bubba Ray. A
German suplex by Benoit to Bubba took the wind out of the Dudley
brother. Spike tried to help his brother, but the referee
restrained him while Benoit and Guerrero ganged up on him in the
corner. With Benoit stomping away on Bubba, Guerrero set up a
table outside. Spike dashed into the ring and somersaulted over
the top rope onto Guerrero on the outside! After recovering and
taking care of Spike, Guerrero slipped a table into the ring and
helped the Wolverine set it up. The tandem then set up for a
double superplex from the middle rope which would have put Bubba
through the table, but Spike knocked the table over right before
his brother came crashing down! Guerrero and Benoit propped
another table in the corner and tried to Irish Whip Spike through
it, but Bubba dashed in and blocked his brother. Bubba caught
fire and lifted both opponents into back body drops! Bubba
slammed Guerrero and Spike stomped on the Wolverine from off the
top rope. Bubba held Benoit at bay for Spike to soar into the
Wassup! headbutt! Shortly after, Benoit latched Spike in the
Crossface, but the match continued even after Spike tapped out.
Bubba came to his brother's rescue and managed to sprawl Benoit
on a table. Bubba leapt from the middle rope, but Benoit moved
and sent Bubba crashing through the wood! But because his
opponents didn't force him through the table, Bubba was allowed
to stay in the match. The first man was eliminated shortly after,
though, as Spike put Eddie through a table with a Dudley Dawg
from the ring apron to the outside! Benoit put Spike through a
table moments later to even the score. Within seconds, Bubba
nailed a Bubba Bomb that put Benoit through a table and gave the
Dudleys the win!
Backstage, Eric Bischoff said the preceding match was an example of why he was so excited about RAW. He said that he was there to sign Triple H, and spotted The Game walking. Bischoff ran over to him and asked why Triple H was heading into Stephanie's office. Triple H said he gave Bischoff the chance to make his pitch, now he'd like to hear from Stephanie. Triple H went into Stephanie's office, with Coach promising to stay there until he came back out.
Jamie Noble (WWE
Cruiserweight Champion) vs. Billy Kidman
Billy Kidman challenged Jamie Noble, who brought Nidia with him
to the ring, for the Cruiserweight Championship. Noble and Kidman
locked up and tumbled over the ring, but raced back inside and
grappled some more. When Kidman thwarted all Noble's moves, Noble
fled outside the ring where Nidia gave him some encouragement.
The fight spread outside the ring and Noble threw his girlfriend
into the challenger. Kidman tossed Nidia aside but was taken down
with a modified arm bar. Noble continued to attack Kidman's
injured arm back in the ring. Kidman's injured harm hampered his
offense, but he continued to battle hard. Noble tried to put
Kidman away with a powerbomb but the challenger countered into a
facebuster. Kidman went to finish things with a Shooting Star
Press, but Noble broke up the attempt. Kidman went for the
Shooting Star Press again, but this time Noble just rolled out of
harm's way. Noble flipped Kidman into a power bomb soon after and
got the pin to retain his WWE Cruiserweight Championship!
Backstage, Kurt Angle said there was no doubt he would win the WWE Undisputed Championship that night. Paul Heyman interrupted to introduce Angle to his opponent at SummerSlam: Brock Lesnar. Angle and Brock shook hands. Angle told Brock he'd love to face him at SummerSlam, but if Brock messed with him the way he screwed with Taker last week, he'd take him down. Brock got in Kurt's face and wished him luck.
William Regal vs.
Jeff Hardy (WWE European Champion)
William Regal took on Jeff Hardy next in an attempt to win back
the European Championship. Jeff catapulted Regal over the top
rope then took him down with a Hurricanrana off the ring apron.
Back in the ring, Jeff hit the Whisper in the wind to knock Regal
for a loop. Jeff went for the Swanton Bomb, but Regal got his
knees up to hit Jeff with a devastating shot. Jeff managed to
surprise Regal with a quick rollup though and got the pin to keep
the European Championship! Regal started bawling at seeing Hardy
celebrate on his way back up the ramp.
Ric Flair congratulated Jeff Hardy backstage as did Hollywood Hulk Hogan. When the European Champion left, Hogan told Flair that Jeff is unreal. Hogan also said that after he hit a boot and leg drop on his opponent, what if he climbed the rope and did his own Swanton Bomb! The Nature Boy laughed and illustrated that Hogan could never pull that off. Hogan and Flair went on to agree that Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon were poor choices to serve as general managers.
Chris Jericho vs.
John Cena
Chris Jericho had promised to end John Cena's career in their
match at Vengeance, which came up next. Jericho tried to teach
Cena a lesson as their match began by suplexing him to the mat.
Jericho continued to knock Cena around the ring until his
cockiness got the better of him. While on the top rope, Jericho
began to showboat and allowed Cena to grab him for a superplex!
Cena followed with a tilt-a-whirl slam but was taken down with a
nasty dropkick to the gut. The rookie recovered and hit a belly
to belly suplex but couldn't put Y2J away. Jericho launched into
the Lionsault but Cena dodged the move. Jericho nailed a bulldog
and then connected on the Lionsault, but did not go for the
cover. He goaded Cena to his feet so he could put on the Walls of
Jericho. Cena had other ideas, reversing the move into a pin
attempt and getting the 1-2-3! Jericho went berserk after the
match.
Bischoff and Coach waited outside Stephanie McMahon's office when her attorney tried to enter. Bischoff stopped him and told him to take a walk, but the lawyer said he was called there to deliver some documents. The lawyer entered and Bischoff looked very upset.
Good 'ol' JR and Jerry "The King" Lawler came out and took over the announce duties from Cole and Tazz. Meanwhile, Rob Van Dam was showed stretching out in his locker room while Brock Lesnar prepped for the Intercontinental Championship match by performing dips.
Rob Van Dam (WWE
Intercontinental Champion) vs. Brock Lesnar
The Next Big Thing and Mr. Pay-Per-View tangled with the
Intercontinental Championship on the line. Brock grabbed the
title from the ref and draped it over his shoulder momentarily
while glaring at RVD. Van Dam 's quickness gave Brock fits early
on. The big man rolled out of the ring and kicked the steel steps
out of frustration. Brock pulled himself together and began to
take charge. With Paul Heyman beaming at ringside, Brock slammed
RVD to the hard floor outside the ring. From there, Brock began
to overpower RVD, throwing him with ease over the top rope. RVD
landed painfully on his back, then had to suffer from having his
spine cracked against the steel ring steps. The fight returned to
the ring with Brock squeezing RVD around the ribs. RVD broke away
and soon after leveled Brock with a kick to the temple. RVD
followed with the Rolling Thunder but Brock managed to kick out
after a two-count. The fight looked like it might be over soon as
RVD went for a Five-Star Frog Splash. Brock, though, hoisted Van
Dam onto his shoulder and went for the F-5, but RVD whirled Brock
into a DDT and followed with the Frog Splash! He went for the
pin, but Heyman pulled the ref from the ring! The ref immediately
called for a disqualification and soon traded blows with Heyman!
After, RVD leapt onto Brock from the top rope and then threatened
to hit the Van Terminator! Heyman grabbed RVD's leg and Brock
picked up the champ and this time connected with the F-5 onto a
steel chair!
Bischoff continued his vigil outside Stephanie's office, and the SmackDown! GM finally emerged, stone faced. Bischoff gloated that she couldn't get Triple H signed, but Stephanie stared at him point-blank and said that The Game did sign. Triple H came out and got a tongue-lashing from Bischoff. Triple H said that the papers he had signed were divorce papers, but he had yet to decide on which brand to sign with.
Booker T vs. the
Big Show
Booker T faced the Big Show one-on-one next. Show withstood
Booker T's kicks and punches and slapped Booker into the corner.
After being thrown from the ring, Booker picked up a chair at
ringside, but Big Show punched it back into Booker's face. Booker
tried to get back into the game by choking Show with a camera
cable at ringside. Booker smashed a TV monitor from the Spanish
announcers' position into Show's skull, then delivered a scissors
kick that put both men through the table! Booker crawled back
into the ring and Big Show staggered in moments later. Show
grabbed Booker's throat but was met by a low blow and a kick to
the face. Booker climbed the top rope and nailed a somersaulting
leg drop to get the pin!
Torrie Wilson and Dawn Marie hosted live from The World. Torrie picked The Rock as the winner of the night's main event, but Dawn thought Undertaker would win.
Triple H entered the ring to a thunderous ovation as fans hoped to learn where The Game would end up competing. Before he could speak, Eric Bischoff stopped The Game to apologize for getting involved in his personal business. If Triple H signed with RAW, Bischoff promised his personal life would never come into play again. Bischoff said he's spent the past two years networking in Hollywood. He said everyone was looking for the next breakout WWE Superstar, and they were all talking about Triple H. Bischoff guaranteed that if Triple H signed with RAW, he'd be getting top opportunities coming his way. Stephanie McMahon stepped out to issue her own pitch. She said that because of her personal history with Triple H, the two of them know each other very well. She said the two of them were once unstoppable and they can be again. Bischoff cut her off and begged her to stop. Stephanie cited that Triple H once told her how Bischoff said Triple H had no talent and no charisma. Bischoff said he was young at the time and didn't know what he had, but he still has a lot more experience that Stephanie. The two continued to bicker back and forth, until Triple H stepped up with his microphone. The Game said it would be easy to say "screw you" to either one of them. Triple H went to shake Bischoff's hand, but pulled it away. He said he would rather go with the devil he knows, rather than the one he doesn't know. Before he could go any further, though, Shawn Michaels came out to shake things up. HBK said the last thing he wanted to do was cause any trouble. He didn't want to get involved, but he remembered pledging to bring Triple H to the nWo. HBK said there's nobody in the world that Triple H is better friends with. HBK told his friend to imagine the two back together again, making Bischoff's life a living hell. Triple H said that was a tempting offer. He then turned and hugged HBK, making official his switch to RAW! Triple H and HBK left, and Bischoff gloated over his victory. Bischoff said the difference between the two of them is that he's got testicles and she doesn't. Stephanie whacked Bischoff on the side of the head and left!
Rikishi told Marc Lloyd backstage that he was disappointed about Triple H's decision, but understood that he had to do what he had to do.
Goldust and Booker T were confronted by Terri, with Booker saying that if Triple H wanted to play games with him, he would get hurt. Goldust said Triple H may be The Game, but he and Booker T were the ones with the bigger joysticks.
Christian and Lance Storm entered the ring with Storm saying that he and Christian would become the Tag Team Champions. Hogan has a lot in common with America, Storm said, both are past their prime and living off of past glories.
Christian and
Lance Storm vs. Hollywood Hogan and Edge (WWE Tag Team
Champions)
The match started with loud "USA" chants and with Hogan
shoving Christian through the ropes and out of the ring. The
Canadians took over from there. But Edge scored a kick to
Christian's head and planted a facebuster on Storm to get the tag
to Hogan. Hogan began to Hulk up and soon caught Christian with a
big boot and a leg drop! Storm broke up the count and Christian
tossed Hogan from the ring where Storm superkicked the icon. Edge
tagged in soon after and dropped both opponents. He speared both
of them into the corner turnbuckles, but missed a spear on Strom
and hit the ref hard instead. Edge nailed a DDT, but the ref was
down and could not count. Test raced down and took down Hogan
then leveled Edge with a boot. Storm tried to get the pin, but
Edge kicked out after two. Rikishi sprinted in to fend off Test,
allowing Edge to recover and spear Storm. Christian distracted
the ref, though, and Y2J dashed in and clocked Edge with the Tag
Team Championship! Storm rolled over and got the pinfall to win
the title!
Bischoff found Angle backstage and said that he wanted the Olympic Hero on RAW. He didn't need an answer then, but urged Angle to think about it. Angle said he's flattered, but he has an Undisputed Championship to win. Marc Lloyd found Stephanie McMahon, who said she's not happy about Triple H going to RAW, but she pledged to win the war between her and Bischoff. Stephanie said she is in direct contact with every superstar on RAW, and when the time is right she will rip the heart out of the brand.
The Rock vs. Kurt
Angle vs. the Undertaker (WWE World Champion)
Three of WWE's most successful superstars lined up against each
other in a Triple Threat Match with the Undisputed Championship
hanging in the balance. Taker and The Rock got face to face with
Kurt Angle begging for some attention off to the side. He got
attention in the form of a beat down form the two other men. Soon
after, Taker spilled out of the ring and The Rock brawled with
Angle. Angle gave a series of suplexes that took down Rock, but
the Great One countered with a DDT that managed a two-count. The
fight continued outside the ring with Taker coming to life and
clotheslining Angle and repeatedly smacking The Rock. Taker and
Rock got into it back into the ring, and Taker dropped The Rock
with a sidewalk slam to get a two-count. Rock rebounded, grabbed
Taker by the throat and chokeslammed him! Angle broke up the pin
attempt that likely would have given The Rock the title. The Rock
retaliated by latching on the ankle lock to Kurt Angle. Angle
reversed the move and Rock Bottomed the People's Champion. Soon
after, The Rock disposed of Angle and hit the People's Elbow on
the Undertaker. Angle tried to take advantage by disabling the
Great One outside the ring and covering Taker, who kicked out
after a two count. Outside the ring, Rock took a big swig from a
nearby water bottle and spewed the liquid into Taker's face to
blind the champion. Taker didn't stay disabled for long, and
managed to overpower Rock and turn his attention to Angle. Taker
landed a guillotine leg drop onto Angle, laying on the ring
apron. The Rock picked himself up just in time to break up a pin
attempt on Kurt Angle. Taker nailed Rock with a DDT and set him
up for a chokeslam. Angle tried sneaking up with a steel chair,
but Taker caught on to that tomfoolery and smacked it out of his
hands. The referee got caught in the ensuing fire and didn't see
Angle knock Taker silly with a steel chair. Angle went to cover
Taker as The Rock lay prone, but the Dead Man somehow got his
shoulder up. Angle tried to pin Rock, but he too kicked out. The
Rock got up and landed Angle in the sharpshooter! Angle looked
like he was about to tap, but Taker kicked The Rock out of the
submission hold. Taker picked Rock up and crashed him with the
Last Ride. While the Dead Man covered him for the win, Angle
raced in and picked Taker up in the ankle lock! Taker went
delirious with pain, but managed to counter. He picked Angle up
for the last ride, but Angle put on a triangle choke! It looked
like Taker was about to pass out, but The Rock broke Angle's hold
only to find himself caught in the ankle lock. Rock got out of
the hold and watched Taker chokeslam Angle. Rocky hit the Rock
Bottom, but Taker refused to go down and kicked out. Angle
whirled Taker up into the Angle Slam but was Rock Bottomed by the
Great One and pinned!