. Tag Team Championship: Tazz/Spike Dudley vs. Dudley Boyz
- The World Wrestling Federation's first amazing Pay-Per-View of 2002
exploded live from Atlanta Georgia as the Royal Rumble got underway! Jim
Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler called all the exciting action as the
Dudley Boyz tried to regain the Tag Team Championship from Spike Dudley
and Tazz. The Dudley Boyz' took the early advantage by using their size
and fury to dominate Spike. But Spike Dudley is one tough SOB. He dodged
Bubba Ray's suplex attempt and hit his brother with the Dudley Dog!
After a bit of Dudley Boyz underhandedness but Spike on his back, D-Von
attempted a flying headbutt from the top rope. But Spike rolled out of
harm's way and tagged in Tazz! The man from Red Hook evened the score
and got some help from his undersized partner. Spike delivered a second
Dudley Dog to Bubba Ray! That prompted Stacy to climb the ring apron and
distract the referee, but it didn't have the desired effect. Tazz soon
locked on the Tazzmission and forced D-Von to tap out! Spike and Tazz
left Atlanta with their Tag Team Championship in tact!
- WINNERS and STILL CHAMPIONS: Tazz and Spike Dudley by submission
. Lillian Garcia Interview: Edge.
- Backstage, Lilian Garcia caught up with Edge. The Intercontinental
Champion said that it was fine that William Regal wanted to play dirty.
He produced a steel chair and reminded everyone how he broke Regal's
nose on it with a Edgecution. If Regal wants to play dirty, Edge said
he's up for the challenge.
. Intercontinental Championship: Edge vs. William Regal
- However, Regal got off to a fast start in this match. Regal pounded on
Edge, but could only produce a two count for his efforts. Edge
rebounded, though, and hit Regal with a unique backdrop. A reciprocal
powerbomb from Regal could only put Edge's shoulders to the mat for two
seconds. Edge rolled out of the ring and planted Regal face first into
the ring apron. Each man lay thoroughly exhausted in the center of the
ring. They traded sharp blows after making their way to their feet.
Regal attempted to hit the Edgecution, but Regal turned the tables and
latched on the Regal Stretch! Edge refused to give in to the pain and
finally grasped the rope to break the hold. Once Regal let go, Edge gave
his opponent a taste of his own medicine by stretching Regal! Regal made
his way to the rope and the action continued. Regal tried to hit a
backdrop from the top rope, but Edge pushed him off. Edge followed with
a leap off the top rope that stunned winded both men. Edge then went to
spear Regal, but Regal pushed the ref into the way to absorb the blow!
One down, Regal grabbed brass knuckles and smacked them into Edge! The
Intercontinental Championship changed hands as Regal collected the three
count.
- WINNER and NEW CHAMPION: William Regal by pinfall
. Michael Cole Interview: William Regal.
- Cole asked Regal immediately after the match how he could accept the
championship. Regal said he was blessed with a powerful punch.
. Women's Championship: Trish Stratus vs. Jazz
- Jackie came to the ring next to serve as the special guest referee for
the match between Federation newcomer Jazz and Trish Stratus. This match
would take place with the Federation Women's Championship on the line.
Trish sported a cast on her left wrist, the result of a brutal attack by
Jazz last week. Jazz picked up right where she left off by brutally
beating the champion. A sunset flip turned into a Jazz pin attempt, but
Trish countered with a pin try of her own. in a remarkable display of
agility and quick thinking, each woman took turns rolling the other into
a pin. Soon after, Jazz and Jackie got into an argument and they
exchanged shoves. Jazz then rolled up Trish into a pin, but Jackie
delayed her count, allowing Trish time to recover and kick out. Soon
after Trish hit a bulldog and nearly got the win, but Jazz kicked out.
Trish displayed her own toughness by kicking out after a tough DDT from
Jazz. Moments later, another Trish bulldog allowed the champ to retain
her title!
- WINNER and STILL CHAMPION: Trish Stratus by pinfall
. Street Fight: Vince McMahon vs. Ric Flair
- The Federation co-owners took to the ring next for a Street Fight. A
jacked Vince McMahon flexed mightily after shoving Ric Flair to the mat.
Flair's technical prowess outshined Vince's muscles early on. He trapped
Vince in the corner and delivered a few searing chop shots to his
partner's chest. Vince responded by whipping Flair head over heels into
the corner and knocking him outside the ring. Vince smashed a street
sign over Flair's head repeatedly. With Flair seeing stars, Vince rooted
around beneath the ring where he found a garbage can to smack over his
partner's head. Vince didn't let up. He threw Flair's bloody face into
the ring post and then slammed him to the hard floor. Vince then grabbed
a camera from Flair's daughter, sitting at ringside, and began snapping
photos of himself with Flair's beaten, bloody face. Once back in the
ring, Vince threw on a leg lock. He then smashed the leg repeatedly into
the ring post. Vince then went to lock on Flair's own signature Figure
Four! Vince executed the move, but Flair refused to tap out. Flair
eventually was freed of the move, but Vince wouldn't let up. He went
outside the ring and found a lead pipe similar to the one he assaulted
Flair with last week. But when he reentered the ring, Flair pounded a
low blow onto Vince. The action spread outside the ring with Flair now
taking the upper hand. He sprawled Vince out on the ring barrier and
proceeded to clear the announce table. Vince tried a counteroffensive
but was crushed by a monitor that Flair threw at his head. Flair,
bleeding profusely from an earlier wound, threw Vince back into the ring
and laughed evilly as Vince begged for mercy. Flair reacted by punching
Vince in the head and delivering another low blow! Flair then picked up
the lead pipe and cracked it over Vince's skull! Flair followed up with
a Figure Four that made Vince scream in agony and made him tap out!
- WINNER: Ric Flair by submission
. Michael Cole Interview: Nick Patrick.
- Backstage, Michael Cole asked Nick Patrick about the match earlier in
the night when Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley interrupted. She said that the
beating Vince just took was nothing like what Triple H would do to the
29 other men in the Royal Rumble Match. She said she wished Debra would
be at ringside so Stephanie could destroy her. While she was talking
smack about Stone Cold, the Texas Rattlesnake snuck up on Stephanie and
asked her WHAT!? she was talking about. Stephanie soon fled in fear.
Austin said that he would throw every man over the top rope, including
Triple H.
. Undisputed Heavyweight Championship: Chris Jericho vs. The Rock
- The Undisputed World Wrestling Federation Championship was on the line
next, as Chris Jericho put his title on the line against The Rock. The
Rock stared down Jericho as the champion talked a whole lot of trash.
When the bell rang, The Rock went to attack Jericho, but Y2J held up a
stiff hand in a mocking gesture. The Rock's eyes widened as he attacked
Jericho, then chased him around the outside of the ring. Jericho
asserted himself and took control of the match by working The Rock into
the corner and delivering a series of blows. A body press soon after
only earned Jericho a two count. With The Rock laying in the ring,
Jericho removed the cover off a turnbuckle. He turned his attention back
to the Great One and tried to lock on the Walls of Jericho. Jericho then
unleashed a tough drop kick off the topo rope and followed with a chin
lock. The Rock moved to his feet and countered. He whipped Jericho onto
his back and produced a two count. Quicker than a hiccup, Jericho
rebounded and leveled Rock with a bulldog. Jericho soon became upset
with the referee and the two exchanged stiff shoves. Moments later, The
Rock surprised Jericho with a sharpshooter! The Undisputed Champion
screamed in pain and began tapping out! But the referee didn't see the
action because Christian and Lance Storm came down and offered a
distraction. The Rock disposed of the men but found himself falling
victim to his own Rock Bottom, delivered by Jericho. That wouldn't be
enough to defeat the People's Champion, though. The Rock tossed Y2J
threw the ropes and continued an assault outside the ring. Rock began
clearing off the Spanish announce table. He grabbed Jericho but was
caught off guard and smacked into the hard wooden table. Jericho then
mounted the announce table with The Rock in tow. He readied a Rock
Bottom but absorbed the move himself when The Rock countered. The action
spread back inside the ropes. The Rock went for a Rock Bottom but was
turned into the Walls of Jericho! The Rock's face turned red as he
howled in pain, but he reached the ropes to break the hold. The Rock
nearly took home a win when Jericho turned an inside cradle. Soon after,
The Rock sprang off the ropes and tried to launch his body into Jericho
but he met the referee instead. Jericho knocked The Rock down and
motioned for another referee. Nick Patrick came down and began counting,
but only got to two before The Rock kicked out! Patrick was definitely
on Jericho's side. The Rock rolled up Y2J in a pin, but Patrick refused
to count! The Rock responded with a Rock Bottom to the ref and then with
a People's Elbow to Jericho! But there was no referee to count the
ensuing pin attempt. The Rock, visibly frustrated, tried to revive Earl
Hebner. While he tried to, Jericho hit The Rock with a low blow then
pinned The Rock with his feet on the ropes for leverage. Jericho
retained his title as Undisputed Champion!
- WINNER and STILL CHAMPION: Chris Jericho by pinfall
. 30-Man Royal Rumble - Winner Recieves Title Shot at WrestleMania
* [Order of Appearance: Rikishi, Goldust, Big Bossman, Bradshaw, Lance
Storm, Al Snow, Billy Gunn, Undertaker, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Maven,
Scotty 2 Hotty, Christian, DDP, Chuck Palumbo, The Godfather, Albert,
Perry Saturn, Steve Austin, Val Venis, Test, Triple H, The Hurricane,
Faarooq, Mr. Perfect, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Rob Van Dam, Booker
T.]
* [Order of Elimination: Big Bossman, Lance Storm, Bradshaw, Goldust, Al
Snow, Rikishi, Billy Gunn, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Undertaker, Maven,
Scotty 2 Hotty, DDP, Albert, The Godfather, Christian, Chuck Palumbo,
Perry Saturn, Val Venis, Test, The Hurricane, Faarooq, Big Show, Kane,
Booker T. Rob Van Dam, Steve Austin, Mr. Perfect, Kurt Angle]
- The long-awaited Royal Rumble Match came up next. Riksihi entered the
ring as the first competitor. Goldust, a Federation favorite from years
back, entered as the second man in the ring. Goldust crawled around the
ring and stared at Riksihi. Rikishi got upset and attacked Goldust.
Rikishi tossed Goldust over the top rope on two seperate occasions, but
each time, Goldust held the top rope and avoided elimination. The final
moments of the Royal Rumble ticked down with Kurt Angle, Mr. Perfect and
Triple H in the ring. Angle tossed Mr. Perfect over the top rope, but he
hung on and stayed alive. Mr. Perfect delivered a Perfect Plex to Angle
but was eliminated by Triple H shortly after. Angle pushed Triple H over
the top rope with a great deal of effort, but The Game caught his
balance on the ring apron and stayed in the fight. Moments later, Angle
hoisted Triple H over the ropes again but The Game again pulled himself
back in contention. Angle, though, began celebrating. Triple H surprised
Angle and tossed the Olympic Hero over the ropes to win the 2001 Royal
Rumble!
- Royal Rumble Match Highlights: Matt Hardy appeared with Lita. The two
kissed before Matt entered the ring ... Maven, the WWF Tough Enough
winner, eliminated Undertaker ... Undertaker returned the favor and
demolished Maven, beating him throughout the arena and smashing his head
through a popcorn machine...The Godfather entered at number 16 with at
least a dozen hos at his side. The Godfather has apparantly gone leggit
in opening an escort sevice ... Chuck and Christian elminated The
Godfather ... RVD hit Angle with a Five-Star Frog Splash followed by the
Rolling Thunder to Austin ... Triple H hit a Pedigree on RVD.
- WINNER and QUALIFIER: Triple H by over-the-top victory
