DDP comes down to the ring, with entrance music and a video despite working for the competition. He pretty much verbally abuses Undertaker, saying that Taker shouldn't be upset considering the videos he aired on Raw and Smackdown was stuff rated PG and that his personal collection gets more than a thumbs up. Boner reference from The King of Bada Bing. He tells Taker that he won't be hard to find because not only is he going to be sitting in the very front row, but he'll be with the sign. It's the sign that says "Make Me Famous" and he challenges and begs Taker to "Make Meh Famous!" He hops over the barrier, slaps hands with the fans, accepts a bottle of water, and we're off. Bad idea starting a pay per view with a promo though. This shit ain't Raw.
- King of the Ring Semi-Finals
Kurt Angle vs. Christian
Christian owns so hard. This was when he had the mind boggling sunglasses that looked absolutely ridiculous, but was incredibly funny. Team RECK explodes in this first match and Christian immediately pounces on Kurt but gets taken down with a HUGE belly to belly. Angle takes it to Christian in the corner, but after some fighting, Christian finds a spinning neckbreaker and a two count. This could so be a main event level match. Angle keeps going for the Ankle Lock, but Christian wiggles free. Christian hits a couple of elbows, but gets locked and thrown in an overhead belly to belly. The crowd is pro-Angle, chanting for him. He takes Christian and chuks him over the top rope. Taking it to the streets, stomping away at him outside the ring and slamming him head first into the table. I love that in Angle's book, he addresses that his very first in ring match for the WWF (dark match) he took on Christian, and he told him jokes to make it more comfortable. Ring veteran. Yep. Christian gets dominated a lot more, as Angle hits a DDT and goes for a cover, but Christian kicks out. Heyman and JR plug Angle as the only man who has attempted to repeat the King of the Ring, as Angle drops Christian with a snap suplex. Cover gets a two count. Angle goes for a bodyslam, but Christian reverses it into a small package ala Steamboat/Savage at WrestleMania III. Kickout though. At this point, Christian FINALLY makes a comeback, dropping Angle with a spinning heel kick. Crowd pops nuts as Shane McMahon walks down the ramp with a WCW shirt on. Angle notices Shane as he gets to his feet, and starts yelling profanity at him in an un-olympic show of sportsmanship. He goes for his beautiful moonsault, but Christian rolls away. Cover gets a two. Christian's in control, takes it to Kurt and hits his reverse DDT into a neckbreaker, but Kurt kicks out. Angle goes for a german suplex, but Christian reverses it and goes for his own, but Angle drops down and locks on the Ankle lock, but Christian gets the ropes. Christian gets up, drops Kurt with the Unprettier, but Shane pulls Christian out of the ring as the ref counts to two. Christian gets up on the ring apron and screams in Shane's direction, and Angle gets up and hits Christian with an Angle slam from the outside to the ring, covers him and gets the win at 8:51. Good match for these two, and though the interferance was unneeded, it furthered a story for two feuds. **1/2 for this one, and Angle advances to the finals of the King of the Ring.
Kurt Angle def. Christian
As Austin is backstage with Debra, Coach comes in looking for an interview. Vince McMahon is on Austin's mind asking Coach if he's seen him, but Vince told Austin he wouldn't show up. Coach asks Austin if he heard the rumor. The rumor is if Benoit or Jericho wins the WWF Title tonight, they're going to WCW with the title. Austin stares on looking less than impressed. Austin had the best facial expressions as a heel. I miss them.
Video package is played for the DDP/Undertaker confrontation.
- King of the Ring Semi-Finals
Edge vs. Rhyno
Team RECK continues to explode. Rhyno spits a huge loogie at Edge, and this brawl is on. Rhyno and Edge wrestled a decent match.The Man-Beast caught Edge with a stiff elbow to stop the barrage, but soon, both men found themselves slugging it out outside the ring. Edge kept taking it to Rhyno, laying him out by pounding him repeatedly into the security barrier around the ring. Rhyno reversed the beating and shoved Edge into the walls. As Edge recovered, Rhyno entered the ring, where he untied one of the turnbuckles. When Edge got back into the ring, Rhyno threw him into that bare turnbuckle chest-first. Rhyno continued to go after Edge's injured ribs, and even locked Edge into the body scissors. After slamming Edge to the mat, he climbed to the top rope and nailed Edge with a huge splash, but Edge kicked out! Edge then laid out Rhyno in the ring, and began to climb the ropes, but Rhyno knocked him down! As Rhyno pounded on him, Edge revered it into an Irish whip, but Rhyno kicked out. As both men stood up, Rhyno went for the Gore at the same moment that Edge went for the Spear! They bounced off each other and lay in the ring in pain! That was actually a damn neat spot. Rhyno rolls over for the cover, but Edge kicks out. Rhyno goes for a slam, Edge rolls out of it. He gets up, goes for the Gore, Edge moves, locks it in and drops Rhyno with the Impaler for the win at 10:19. However, during the DDT, Edge pulls up Rhyno's tights, and we see the Manbeast's manthong. Ew. ** for a decent brawl, but I don't think these two mesh well.Edge moves on to the finals and will face Angle.
Edge def. Rhyno
As Chris Jericho prepared for his match, Tazz asked him about the rumors of him going to WCW. Jericho said that he was absolutely aware of the rumors, but he was absolutely not aware that everyone else knew of those rumors. Funny segment, with Jericho at his comedic best as always, but he said as far as the rumors are concerned, he's going to shut the hell up about it.
- WWF Tag Team Championship
The Dudley Boyz © vs. Spike Dudley & Kane
The Dudley Boyz put their newly won Tag Team Championship on the line against their brother Spike and someone Spike referred to as a "big surprise." And his partner was Kane! Spike didn't waste any time, and went right after his brothers. Spike took down Bubba Ray, but the older, and bigger, brother soon crawled away and tagged in D-Von. At that, Spike tagged in Kane. The Big Red Machine laid out D-Von, and took him to the corner where Spike tagged back in. Spike wanted revenge on D-Von for hitting him with a 3D, so he went after him with a fury! Soon, Bubba was tagged back in, and he locked on a sleeper hold, which Spike battled his way out of. Even though he escaped, Bubba nailed him with a powerbomb, flattening him on the mat. D-Von then joined in on the act, and tried to hit Spike with a headbutt, but the runt of the litter escaped and tagged in Kane. Kane took down both older Dudley brothers, and even got two near falls on Bubba. Kane then tagged Spike in, and threw him like a human javelin at both D-Von and Bubba! Spike went for the cover, but Bubba kicked out! Spike tried to pin Bubba after a Dudley Dogg, but D-Von pulled him away! D-Von and Bubba hit Spike with a 3D, allowing them to get the pin and retain their Championship! After the match, D-Von went to get the table, but Kane hit him with a powerbomb! Then, Kane tossed Bubba through the table! Medicore match which did nothing for the four people in the ring. At this point, Kane was the Intercontinental Champion. He should have been defending the title, not dealing with the lame ass Dudleyz. *1/4 for this one.
The Dudley Boyz def. Spike Dudley & Kane (Dudleyz Retain)
As Diamond Dallas Page sat at ringside, more footage aired of Page as he conducted his personal business! DDP demanded for Taker to come out to the ring immediately!
Cut to Billy Gunn as WWF New York, and he's pissed that he wasn't in the tournament and that he doesn't give a damn about who wins the tournament and the thinks that it's pathetic. This would lead to Edge calling him Billy Bitchcakes and promising that he wouldn't "Billy Gunn" the King of the Ring. Billy Gunn/Monty Sopp/Kip James/The Outlaw = Pwned at life.
- King of the Ring Finals
Edge vs. Kurt Angle
Edge took and his friend Kurt Angle in the King of the Ring final. Before the match, Kurt apologized for getting mad at Edge and that he didn't want anything to get in the way of their friendship. Kurt told his opponent that he had a Street Fight with Shane, and asked Edge to forfeit, saying it was the ring thing to do! Edge just looked at Kurt and flattened him with a stiff punch! King Kurt got pwned. This was the official end of Team RECK. Damn it all to hell! After trading punches, Kurt tossed Edge out of the ring with a belly-to-belly toss! Outside the ring, Angle continued to pound on Edge, going after the ribs he had injured in his previous match against Rhyno. After wearing down Edge, Kurt dragged him back into the ring. There, he applied a chokehold, and as the crowd rooted for him, Edge slowly began standing up. When he did, Edge started nailing Kurt with punches. He continued the barrage by whipping Angle off the ropes, but Kurt caught him with another suplex. Again, Kurt went after a reverse chinlock, cutting off Edge's air supply. Edge eventually escaped the hold again, but Kurt tossed him out of the ring again! There, Kurt started pounding on Edge, even dropping him on the security wall. Might I randomly add that JR and Heyman owned on commentary. The referee told them to get back in the ring. Back in the ring, Edge took down Angle with a hurricanrana. When Edge went for the pin, Angle kicked out. On their knees, both men slugged it out. Heyman was great Once they got back on their feet, Kurt locked on the ankle lock, but Edge reversed it! When Edge went for the pin, the referee was distracted when Christian ran out to ringside! Kurt again locked on the ankle lock, and Edge tapped, but the referee was distracted! Kurt went to grab the ref, and Shane McMahon ran to the ring and speared Angle! Edge got up and hit Kurt with the Impaler, getting the win and becoming the 2001 King of the Ring at 10:20! This wasn't as good as their future matches in 2002, but still a damn good match. ***
Edge def. Kurt Angle
In the back, Tazz asked Chris Benoit if there was any truth to the WCW rumors flying around. Benoit said that was a very good question. Coach asked Edge how it felt to be King of the Ring, when Christian came up, telling him that he only came to the ring to help him earlier. Edge said the era of awesomeness has begun.
- Light Heavyweight Championship
Jeff Hardy © vs. X-Pac
Jeff Hardy put the Championship on the line against X-Pac. The match began with both high-flyers pounding on each other, but soon, Jeff gained the advantage, locking on X-Pac's arm. X-Pac reversed the hold and tossed Jeff out of the ring. X-Pac flew at Jeff with a springboard, and then pushed him back into the ring. There, X-Pac nailed Jeff with a spinning heel kick, and started pounding on him on the corner. Went for a spear, Jeff lifted himself, the weakling fell on top of Pac. Huge botch. When he went to hit the bronco buster, Jeff rolled away! Utilizing the advantage, Jeff started pounding on X-Pac, even hitting him with a corkscrew! Jeff went back up top, but X-Pac caught him and rolled through, gaining a near-fall. X-Pac nailed Jeff with an X-Factor, and the ref counted to three! He then realized Jeff had his foot on the rope, so the match continued! Jeff climbed up to the top rope, hit X-Pac with a Swanton Bomb to retain his Championship at 6:10. * Horrible match.
Jeff Hardy def. X-Pac (Hardy retains)
In Commissioner Regal's office, Stone Cold called Vince McMahon and told him of the WCW/Benoit/Jericho rumors. Regal got on the phone and backed up Austin's claims. Stone Cold grabbed the phone and told Vince he needed him, and that he could make it in time from Greenwich. Austin then hung up after thanking Vince.
- DDP Confronts The Undertaker
More footage aired of Dallas Page as he conducted personal business, as DDP fumed. Page climbed over the security walls and entered the ring again. He demanded that Undertaker show his face immediately! After more goading, and more footage of Page was shown, and then it was revealed that it was Sara who had aired the footage! She told Page that it was time for him to become famous! The Undertaker made the long, slow walk to the ring, where DDP stood. When he got there, he stood outside the ring and put on fighting gloves. Page paced and waited. Taker stared at him and climbed the steps. He brawl began immediately with Taker pounding on DDP. With the brawl being just that, there was no referee, and no rules! After Undertaker cornered Page, DDP knocked the Dead Man down with a low blow. Taker recovered and began pounding on Page, when Sara walked down to the ring carrying a camcorder! She began taping the brawl! Undertaker continued to take Page apart as Sara watched on. The brutal beating went, and no fan was seated. Eventually, DDP grabbed a steel chair and started nailing Undertaker. The two men then flipped over the announce table and hammered on each other. As Sara taped, Undertaker told Page that he hoped he liked being famous. Taker booted him in the face and then he jumped the barricade and made a hasty exit from the building! Undertaker and Sara celebrated in the ring! Simply put, DDP got pwned.
-Street Fight
Kurt Angle vs. Shane McMahon
Match starts off with an Angle spear. Belly to back suplex by Angle. Angle with a knee to the gut. Shane with a dragon screw leg whip. Angle has a cut above his right eye from a right hand from Shane. Angle with a gutwrench suplex. Angle with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Angle with forearm shots to the face. Shane kicks Angle in the gut. Shane counters a wastelock and sends Angle out of the ring. Angle chases Shane around the ring. Shane comes off the security wall over the announce table with a clothesline on Angle. Shane hits Angle multiple times with a kendo stick. Shane posts Angle. Shane clotheslines Angle over the security wall. Shane drives Angle into the ring apron. Shane spears Angle into the ring steps. Back in the ring Shane hits an elbow drop. Shane puts weapons in the ring. Shane hits Angle in the back with a sign. Shane counters the enzeguri with an ankle lock. Angle breaks the hold with a kick to the face. Shane with a ddt followed up by the sharpshooter. Angle uses the kendo stick to free himself. Shane with a straight right hand for a two count. Shane hits Angle in the head and chest with a trash can. Shane lays the trash can on top of Angle. Shane goes up top and misses a shooting star press, hitting the corner of the trash can. Angle dumps Shane out of the ring. Angle kicks Shane up the entrance aisle. Shane counters a suplex and hits one of his own. Angle sends Shane into the side wall of the staging area. Angle overhead belly to belly suplexes Shane into the stage wall. Angle does it again, this time sending Shane through the glass. That looked fucking brutal, and it shows. Angle suplexes Shane up against a partition, but it doesn't break way again. Shane's body has got to be in serious amounts of pain. Angle throws Shane through the glass partition. Both men have cuts all over their bodies. Angle puts Shane on top of an anvil case and pushes him back to the ring. Back in the ring Angle gets a two count. Shane low blows Angle followed up by trash can lid shots. Shane hits the Angle Slam for a two count. Angle catapults Shane into the corner. Angle hits Shane in the back with a sheet of wood. Angle places the wood across the top ropes in the corner as a platform. Angle gives Shane the Angle Slam off the platform for the pin. Shane gets a standing ovation as he is helped to the back. Amazing, amazing match. ****1/2, and it earned every star in my book. Great match.
Kurt Angle def. Shane McMahon
Chris Jericho is shown walking to the ring. Chris Benoit is shown doing squats. Austin is shown in the back waiting for Vince. Officials tell Austin his match is up next. Austin heads toward the ring.
- WWF Championship
Stone Cold Steve Austin © vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho
The second stipulation for this match was that if Stone Cold Steve Austin loses the title, the Vince McMahon/Steve Austin alliance is over. Makes things interesting for Austin. Austin stalls to get in the ring hoping that Vince will arrive and looks goofy as hell. Benoit and Jericho run out and attack Austin. Benoit and Jericho double team Austin out in the crowd. Back in the ring Austin stomps on Benoit. Benoit and Jericho double chop Austin in the corner. Jericho pulls Benoit off a pin. Jericho accidently hits Benoit with a spinning heel kick. Jericho helps Benoit up and kicks him down in the corner. Austin and Jericho kick Benoit out of the ring. Benoit breaks up the walls of jericho on Austin. Benoit suplexes Jericho out of the ring. Benoit with a snap suplex on Austin. Austin throws Benoit out of the ring. Austin with a knee drop on Benoit for a two count. Austin runs Benoit into Jericho. Benoit counters the stunner and gives one of his own to Austin for a two count. Benoit hits Austin in the head with the belt, Jericho breaks the pin. Jericho and Benoit trade punches on the outside. Jericho posts Benoit. Austin escapes the walls of jericho by getting to the ropes. Jericho suplexes Austin for a two count. Austin hits Jericho with a spinebuster for a two count. Austin with a side russian leg sweep on Jericho for a two count. Austin brings Jericho to his knees with a sleeper. Jericho counters with a belly to back suplex. Austin and Jericho trade punches. Jericho with a flying forearm on Austin. Jericho missile dropkicks Benoit off the ring apron. Jericho with a bulldog on Austin followed up by the lionsault on Austin's knees. Austin with the Lou Thez press on Jericho. Benoit accidently hits Jericho in the head with a chair. Austin gives Benoit the stunner. Austin gets a two count on Jericho. Austin superplexes Jericho. Austin superplexes Jericho again, for a two count. Benoit gives Austin five german suplexes. Austin counters the sixth one with a mule kick. Jericho puts Austin in the walls of jericho at the same time Benoit puts Austin in the crossface. Austin taps out. The referee breaks the hold and says there can only be one champion. Benoit puts Jericho in the crossface. Jericho gets out and unsuccesfully looks for the walls of jericho. Benoit snap suplexes Jericho for a two count. Benoit baseball slides into a chair in Austin's face. Jericho suplexes Benoit out of the ring. Booker T shows up at ringside and attacks Austin. Booker T sidewalk slams Austin through the spanish announce table. Austin gets pwned and security shows up as Booker T leaves through the crowd. Jericho counters a third german suplex with the walls of jericho, Benoit makes it to the ropes. Jericho slams Benoit from the top. Jericho hits Benoit with a bulldog followed up by the lionsault for a two count. Jericho and Benoit fall out of the ring. Jericho hits Austin with the top of the announce table. Jericho puts Austin back in the ring. Jericho hits Austin with a top rope moonsault, Benoit breaks the count. Benoit hits Austin with a top rope swan dive, Jericho pulls the referee out. Benoit with a top rope belly to back suplex on Jericho and this is when he broke his neck, and you can tell he's in pain Austin rolls over on Benoit for the pin at 27:50. This match gets shit on a lot, and doesn't get a lot of praise. I thought it was really good, and I'm giving it ***1/2. They all had on their working boots for this one, and everything pretty much fell into place.
Stone Cold def. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit (Austin retains)
The Bottom Line: This show was underrated, and despite two matches being horrible, the rest of the show was really, really entertaining. Three matches broke three stars, and three broke the two star barrier. The rest was meh, but the show was enjoyable as the positives far outweighed the negatives. I remember ordering this pay per view back in 2001. I had just gotten into a fight with my mom and she told me I couldn't order it, but I did it anyway. The show cheered me up then, and it's still a good event to pop in the VCR and watch and enjoy. It's good, and for that, I'll give the event a ***1/2 rating. Above average, and definately recommended.