[WOOLCOCK]

Best of 2001:

1. Austin vs Angle Summerslam
2. Benoit vs Jericho Royal Rumble
3. Benoit vs Austin, Smackdown Edmonton
4. Benoit/Jericho vs Austin/HHH, Raw
5. TLC III, Smackdown


As for best TV match, Eddie vs Rey 6/23/05 will likely forever remain my answer. Rey/Orton 4/7/06 and Benoit/Finlay 5/5/06 would also be in the top 10. Benoit/Regal Velocity 2005 and Mysterio/Noble Velocity 2004 are personal favourites, but only Benoit/Regal of the two would have a shot at the top 10.

[Starbuck]

2001 without Trips .

Not enough love for Rock/Austin imo.

[Obfuscation]

Austin, Benoit, Jericho, Angle, & Undertaker just b/c Undertaker always has to be listed for the top 5 of 2001. (realistically I think I'd have to give RVD a big thumbs up too.)

Nothing beats Austin vs Angle from Summerslam for me. And I'm that guy that credits Benoit vs Jericho from Rumble with 5 stars too. AUSTIN VS ANGLE

Austin vs Rock is blah in comparison to the rest listed. I'll never understand the hard on for that match to the extend it gets. It's great for what it is, sure. As good as some of the other matches listed? Nah. **** - could have had some minutes trimmed from it. Drags in a minor area like most Attitude Era brawls do. I'm not big on that.

[WOOLCOCK]

Rock/Austin WM 17 gets weaker with every viewing for me. Not a fan of the brawling and I find the bulk of the match to be plodding and with nothing really to grab me. Austin is incredible in it, resorting to moves he hadn't used in years, growing more and more unhinged with every kickout and nearfall and that chilling emotionless facial expression with blood trickling down his leg after the Stunner kickout.

Still, Austin's performance aside I just don't think it measures up as well as some of the best 01 produced. The WM 19 match is far better imo.

Austin/Angle is outstanding. Arguably Austin's finest performance in his career year, channeling the balance between paranoid champion wary of Angle to blood thirsty maniac trying to kill Angle when he realises the fight he's in for. That's the Kurt Angle we should have seen on a more regular basis, great heroic babyface performance and the finish is perfect. Patrick taking the time to begin the count, then stop mid count realising Austin is done is such a suitably great heel trait.

[Big Z]

WM 19 Rock/Austin love . Definitely hold it above WM 17.

[Choke2Death]

I'll try a top 5 myself:

1. Rock/Austin (WM17) - ★★★★★
2. Austin/Benoit (SD) - ★★★★¾
3. Austin/Trips (NWO) - ★★★★½
4. TLC III (SD) - ★★★★½
5. Power Trip/Benoit & Jericho (Raw) - ★★★★½

So good that I couldn't even find a spot for Austin/Angle SS and Benoit/Jericho RR.

[Obfuscation]

Yeah, I fear watching Austin vs Rock again since I just don't have the strength to go through it again and realize it isn't even a four star match. Think I only put it in the high praise category as it is b/c of Austin's performance. He's great collectively, but the overall match is nothing we haven't seen before from that era. Just the atmosphere was nuts so that sucks people in.

WrestleMania 17 doesn't even deserve to be compared with 19. Austin & Rock were streets ahead with what they wanted to produce come 19. That's the legendary bout between the two.

[ATF]

As far as top 5 overall of 2001 is concerned:
1 - Austin/Rock
2 - Austin/HHH NWO
3 - Team WWF/Alliance SS
4 - Austin/Angle SSlam
5 - Austin/Benoit

[Starbuck]

17 > 19 for me. I love 17. ***** all the way.

[ATF]

Double post, sorry.