Austin101's- WWF Judgment Day 2001 Review:
"Long live the Power Trip"
-Live on PPV Sunday, May The 20th, 2001 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. 13, 623 fans showed up for the event.
-The main feud heading into Judgment Day was between the Power Trip (Steve Austin and Triple H) with The Undertaker and Kane. Kane was targetting the Game's IC Title while Austin's WWF Title was being chased by The Undertaker.
-The broadcasters for this PPV were Jim Ross and Paul Heyman.
-This PPV featured about a segment with Jerry Lynn at WWF New York where he told us if he were at the event he'd show us the Real Meaning of (Deep Voice) JUUUUUUUUDGMENT DAAAAAAAAY.
-On Sunday Night Heat before the event two matches took place.
* Raven pinned Val Venis at 4:09.
*Hardcore Holly and Crash Holly defeated Kaientai at 3:46 as well.
Now, onto the PPV......
1) Opening Contest- William Regal vs Rikishi
Regal cut a funny promo before the match about how he would not get the Stink Face like Stephanie McMahon did a few weeks before, he then did which is what made it funny.
His expression when getting it made it even funnier. (After he got it anyway)
He walked around a bit then went to the offensive in the ring on Rikishi.
Regal pinned Rikishi after a Regal Cutter at 3:57.
Not terribly bad just very short.
* 1/4
2) Chris Benoit vs Kurt Angle in a Two out of Three falls match
Two months before this they competed in a four star match at Wrestlemania 17.
The month before this they competed in an AMAZING **** 1/2 submission match at Backlash 2001.
What would they do this time around in three seperate falls? Well 2 of 3, but everyone knows they always go to the third fall if a gimmick has been advertised for PPV.
They did so in this case as the third fall was a ladder match.
First fall was Pinfalls only.
Second Submissions only.
Third *if neccessary* and we knew it would be a ladder with Angle's gold medals hung up by the Ref, which Benoit stole from him weeaks earlier on TV.
Benoit got a nice ovation, Angle got his regular heat and was funny before the match began just as he was the whole night backstage with his "buddies" Edge and Christian.
Extremely solid technical wrestling with them outdoing each other on the mat as you'd expect for the first two falls. This was a good wrestling match between the two, there chemistry together was top notch here and a lot of underrated wrestling went down in this match, especially in the first two falls to be specific. This match as a whole is most often forgotten which I don't really understand but none the less it was entertaining to view.
Benoit pinned Angle after a Angle Slam at 1:02 for a quick shock fall. The fans popped.
Immediately after this he put Angle in the crossface and Heyman who is a huge Angle mark wanted him to reach the ropes, he couldn't have "HIS" Olympic Hero go down two falls this fast to ultimately lose the match. The next fall would not take place for another 11 minutes when Angle used his aresnal of offensive submission moves on Benoit, and finally made him tap with his Ankle Lock at 12:10.
It was all tied up at 1 and the final fall came in the ladder match.
They touched on Benoit's history with the ladder. Believe it or not Benoit has experience with the Ladder, the great WCW match in 99 with Jarrett, the Smackdown TLC Match, the Rumble match with Jericho, this one, MITB #1 maybe more? But this fall was Angle's first.
Lets just say these two made better use of the ladder fall then HHH and Shawn did at Armageddon 2002 when they had five minutes to work.
These two did a number of spots that were catchy to the eye with the ladder in this match including half of the ladder being placed on the middle rope, then Benoit springing it up catching Angle in the face, huge spot. A Holy shit type moment.
Only dissapointing thing was how it was won, Edge and Christian held onto Benoit on the outside of the ring while Angle climbed the ladder and got back his medals at 23:54 for the win.
Extremely underrated and enjoyable contest in the great series between the two.
**** 1/4
3) Rhyno (c) vs Test vs The Big Show in a Triple Threat match for the WWF Hardcore Championship
Usually Hardcore title matches on PPV's were entertaining in the attitude era and this one was, and was pretty violent. But I found myself being extremely bored in this match.
On more then one occasion but the three guys battled outside the ring, in it and went backstage and it got extremely physictal at times, which is why I wont give it to bad of a rating.
I just felt a lot of it rather blah....
Rhyno pinned Big Show after a Gore with a garbage can at 9:15 to retain the title.
* 3/4
4) Chyna (c) vs Lita for the WWF Women's Championship
Big "DREAM" Women's match here for some people.
Not for me, I could of cared less.
But this marked Chyna's last ever appearance in the WWF.
You may now see her these days doing feature films like "ONE NIGHT IN CHYNA"...I'd rather not. I have a tough enough time watching X-Pac as it is.
Decent wrestling here, funny spot when the crowd booes when both ladies (since both being babyface) decided to hug before the match and most males booed, I would have as well. Corny.
Chyna's TIT popped out during this match and the fans were all standing to take pics. JR tried to cover up and said "Fans really getting into this match now!" Yeah ok....
Chyna pinned Lita after a Powerbomb at 6:29 to retain the title. Since she didn't lose her last match the Ladies belt stayed vacant until Trish Stratus won her first title in November of 2001 at the Survivor Series.
* 1/2
5) Kane vs Triple H (c) (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) in a Chain match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
This was the first half of what was sort of the double main event of this PPV. There was a tag team turmoil inbetween the two matches with the Power Trip involved but they put this one just before the turmoil to give the crowd a break.
Triple H would be injured the following Night on Raw in the famous tag team match against Benoit and Jericho where he teamed with Steve Austin that is **** 3/4 in my mind.
The Game was at the top of his game at this point of his career so it really is a "What could have been" had it not been for that unfortunate injury.
This match is nothing special, a bit slow at times even but I'm not a huge fan of chain matches.
Decent psychology which is more then I can say for some of the other times these two have gotten in the ring. The styles don't exactly mix as good as one would think, although they HAVE done some good work together over time.
Austin made an appearance and tried to help The Game win.
In the end though, Kane pinned Triple H after Steve Austin accidentally hit Triple H with a steel chair when going for Kane at 12:29.
Very solid match here that got pretty violent. Crowd popped like crazy when Kane won. Kane celebrated with the gold big time.
Enjoyable.
** 3/4
6) Tag Team Turmoil Match For The #1 Contendership the following night- Y2J and his mystery partner Chris Benoit vs The APA vs Saturn and Malenko vs The Dudley Boyz vs X-Factor vs The Hardy Boyz vs Edge and Christian
LOVE Turmoil matches where they have single elimination falls like cruiserweight open's etc.
This was a GOOD one as well.
Edge and Christian who were the original favourites to win this match didn't come out till the last team was left who was Benoit and Jericho. In the end Benoit and Jericho defeated Edge and Christian when Benoit forced Christian to submit to the Crippler Crossface at 25:48. Huge pop.
A lot of solid tag wrestling here overall with the right guys coming out on top.
It would get better the following night when the Power Trip met Benoit/Jericho in the main event of Raw.
Now that Benoit had wrestled two matches here, three falls the night before. That's a total of 6 falls in 24 hours for Chris Benoit, one match **** 1/4, another ** 1/2, and the last one **** 3/4....should I keep going why he's the best of all time in the ring?
Pretty good.
** 1/2
7) Main Event- "The American Bad Ass" The Undertaker vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) in a NO DQ Match for the World Wrestling Federation Championship
These two have had a NUMBER of great matches. At least over ten anyway that I can think of that were BIG time matches (if you think about it as well you could think up at least 10 or should be able to if you know your wrestling history.)
I liked this one a lot but It's certainly not one of the best I've ever seen between these two.
A lot of great brawling here although Austin did bring out his technical style in 2001. When he had the chance to work a brawling type match he would, especially with another good slugger, a big man in The Undertaker. A lot of there brawls from earlier in the attitude era in 1998 and 1999 were big time brawling contests.
This one was never really slow at any time and was a long match so that has to say something. Very entertaining, Austin was very over a heel with a lot of Austin sucks chants. He of course had to sell his soul and his character to get this heat, but he still got it and worked very well with it. Although there were some SILENT "Austin, Austin, Austin" chants but you'd come to expect that.
There were times when it looked like Taker was going to become the new champ in this match...but in the end...
Austin pinned The Undertaker after Triple H hit Undertaker with a sledge hammer at 23:07 to retain the title. HHH saves Steve, but Steve costs HHH his title...haha....The funny thing about this fall is that it happened right during Kane's PYRO so the live crowd, or the crowd at home on tv for that matter could of had a hard time hearing the fall. All of the sudden Austin's disturbed theme hit and he was walking to the back with HHH and a pissed Taker and Kane were in the ring and the show went off the air.
Still a great match but they've definately done better have these two.
I might have been a little harsh on the rating though, but the finish did definately leave a bad taste in the mouth's of most.
*** 1/4
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Final Rating for WWF Judgment Day 2001 = 6/10
A pretty good event overall but nothing GREAT by any means. A lot of the matches were just kind of THERE and didn't flow to well while there are some things on the show you will enjoy such as the 2 out of 3 falls match. The Power Trip matches are also fun but for a PPV in 2001 it isn't exactly top notch. I'd get it if you found it cheap but you don't need to go out of your way to get it unless you really want this version of Austin/Taker, HHH/Kane or Angle/Benoit specifically.
Feedback appreciated as always if you want to discuss.....
Up Next From Austin101: "WWE Judgment Day 2003"
(Don't own Judgment Day 2002, plus I hear it's very expensive to get because it's SO RARE, goes for about 50 bucks on E-bay)
(stay tuned.....)
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