-Today we take a look at Vengeance 2001 from the WWF.
-Vengeance 2001 was shown on PPV on December 9, 2001 from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, CA. There were 11,800 in attendance and the show did 307,000 buys.
-Intro. Fred Blassie is shown looking at film of former champions as there will be one Undisputed Champion after tonight.
-Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to Vengeance. Lawler returned to commentary the night after the Survivor Series. Vince McMahon comes out to a chorus of boos. He addresses the crowd. He talks about Steve Austin, Ric Flair, and The Rock and what happened on Smackdown when McMahon's face was shoved into Rikishi's ass. He says he's hoping to get the last laugh. Ric Flair comes out. He says it's time for McMahon to shut up and for the show to start.
-Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert vs. Test and Christian: They brawl at ringside before the match starts. Christian and Scotty start. They trade blows. Test and Albert tagged in. Albert with the early advantage. Scotty tagged in. Test regains the advantage. Christian tagged in. They double team Scotty in the corner. Test with a boot to the face for a two count. Christian chops Scotty in the corner. Test with a corner clothesline. Scotty with a back elbow and a kick. Albert and Test come in, and Albert cleans house. He hits Christian with the Giant Swing for a two count. Albert goes for the Baldo Bomb, but Test pulls Albert out. All four in briefly. Scotty does the Worm on Test. Albert hits the Baldo Bomb on Christian to get the pin.
-Coach talks to William Regal. He says he's going to take Edge's Intercontinental championship. Intercontinental Championship Match. Edge vs. William Regal: They lock up and vie for position. They drive to the corner and break. Edge with a series of moves. It goes outside. Regal gets the advantage. He runs Edge into the barricade. Back in, they trade shots. Regal fights a sunset flip attempt. Edge with an inside cradle. Regal gets a series of two counts. The crowd boos Regal relentlessly. Back and forth. Edge with a clothesline. He gets a two count. Edge hurricanranas Regal from the top rope. Edge with a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. It goes outside and Edge goes for a Spear, but Regal moves and Edge hits the ring steps. While the referee checks on Edge, Regal gets brass knuckles from under the ring. He gets Edge back in, and gets some two counts. Double hit, and both men are down. Both up at 8. They trade near counts. Regal with a powerbomb for a two count. Regal stomps Edge. Regal puts the knuckles on, but as he turns around, he gets Speared by Edge and pinned.
-Ric Flair is shown. Kurt Angle comes in. Angle tells Flair that he will be the undisputed champion. Lita and Matt Hardy are shown. He tells her that he will prove himself tonight. She says she is going to call it right down the middle. A feature on the next match.
-Matt Hardy vs. Jeff Hardy: Lita is the special guest referee. She comes out first to a great ovation. Jeff is out next, and he gets a good reception. Matt out next, and he looks intense. The bell rings, and they stare at each other. They lock up. Jeff with a hammerlock. Matt gets out. Another lock up. They trade moves. Jeff with an arm drag and a hammerlock. Matt backs up and they drive to the ropes. Matt with a takedown. Matt gets Jeff in the corner and chops him. Jeff then chops Matt, and Matt pokes Jeff in the eyes. Back and forth. Matt with a sleeper. Matt misses a second rope leg drop. Jeff with a flying clothesline. Jeff gets a leg drop for a two count. Matt gets Jeff in the Tree of Woe. Lita gets Jeff out. Matt with a roll up for a two count. Matt goes to sunset flip Jeff onto the floor, but Jeff turns it into a hurricanrana to Matt on the floor. A double count is going. Jeff appears to jam his knee coming back in. Matt chop blocks the knee. He attacks the knee. Jeff with a side Russian Leg sweep. Back and forth. Matt with a single crab. Jeff gets to the ropes, and Matt breaks right before the 5 count. Matt kicked outside, and Jeff hit a baseball slide. Matt grabs Jeff's leg, and gets hit with a mule kick. They trade blows. Jeff with a side suplex. He goes up top, but gets caught and slammed off. They both go for the Twist of Fate, and Matt gets a two count. from a backslide. Matt stomps Jeff. Jeff runs Matt into a turnbuckle. They go up top, and Jeff pushes Matt off and hits the Swanton Bomb and gets the pin. Matt had his foot on the ropes.
-Trish Stratus knocks on The Rock's door. She tells him that she liked what he did to Vince McMahon and wishes him good luck. He says after he wins tonight, there will be plenty of time for her to smell what the Rock is cooking.
-WWF Tag Team Championship Match. The Dudley Boys Devon and Bubba Ray with Stacy Keibler vs. The Big Show and Kane: The Dudley's are out first. TBS is out next, and Kane gets a tremendous reaction when he comes out. Devon and Kane start, Devon attacks Kane. Kane comes back against both Dudley's. TBS tagged in. He gets a two count. Devon comes in, and he gets sidewalk slammed. TBS cleans house. Kane corner whips TBS into both Dudley Boys. Dudley's thrown outside, and Kane jumps on them from the top rope. Keibler gets in the ring, and TBS spanks her. It all doesn't age well folks, I don't know what else to tell you. Devon is in against Kane. Dudley's double team Kane to get him down. They get Kane in their corner. They hit a flapjack. Kane comes back. TBS tagged in. TBS goes to choke Devon, but gets clipped by Bubba. Kane breaks up a pin attempt. Kane and TBS argue because Kane inadvertently hits TBS. It happens again, and Keibler makes fun of TBS. The Dudley's remove a turnbuckle cover and do a 3D on TBS into the exposed steel to get the pin.
-Don't try this at home ad. Lita is shown in the back trying to explain herself to Matt Hardy, who packs his bag and leaves.
-A feature on what led to the next match. WWF Hardcore Championship Match. Rob Van Dam vs. The Undertaker: The Undertaker out first and gets a great ovation. Most of it is from the Song Rollin' and the Motorcycle. RVD also out to a great ovation. They go at it right away and exchange strikes. Undertaker with a big boot. RVD with a cannonball for a two count. A spinning heel kick gets another two count. It goes outside and Undertaker runs RVD into the ring steps. RVD comes back with a series of kicks. They fight out into the crowd. Undertaker grabs a flag from a fan and chokes RVD with it. RVD gets a springboard moonsault for a close count. Undertaker drops a section of barricade on RVD and steps on it. He beats RVD on an equipment case. He hits RVD with a steel chair. RVD comes back and hits Undertaker with a chair. RVD climbs up an entrance and hits a crossbody on Undertaker for a two count. They continue to fight. RVD gets a two count down by the Titantron. They fight out on the ramp with RVD getting some two counts. Undertaker comes back and runs RVD into the set. Undertaker goes for the Last Ride, but RVD grabs the set and kicks Undertaker. He throws and kicks Undertaker with a chair and gets Rolling Thunder for a two count. He misses another Van Daminator and Undertaker hits RVD with the chair. RVD avoids a tombstone. Undertaker avoids a Van Daminator and choke slams RVD off the stage and through a table to get the pin and become the new Hardcore Champion.
-Ric Flair and Chris Jericho are shown in the back. Jericho tells Flair that he doesn't think Jericho can win. Jericho says he doesn't care what others think, It's all about Chris Jericho. He says the next night on Raw, Flair is going to crown Jericho the Undisputed Champion.
-WWF Women's Championship match. Trish Stratus vs. Jacqueline: The bell rings and they lock up. Back and forth. Stratus with a shoulder block. Jackie with a backdrop as a we want puppies chant goes out. It was a different time, folks. Jackie beats Stratus down. She slams Stratus. Stratus comes back with a clothesline for a two count. Stratus with a takedown. Jackie comes back with a takedown of her own. They trade chops. Jackie gets a two count. Jackie with a kick to the head. A double count is going. Stratus wins with a backslide. They shake hands after the match.
-Flashback to what happened on Smackdown when Vince McMahon gets the Stinkface from Rikishi. JR and the King then talks to Rikishi at WWF New York. He says he's back and ready to back that ass up again.
-Flashback to what led up to the unification matches. WWF Championship Match. Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle: Angle out first to a decent ovation. Austin out to a great ovation. The bell rings, and they circle each other. Austin crowds Angle in the corner. They keep driving to the corner. Austin beats Angle down to the mat. Angle rolls out to regroup. He comes back and takes Austin down, and Austin rolls out. Austin with a back elbow. Austin with some shots to Angle. Austin with an arm wringer. Back and forth. Austin chokes Angle on the second rope. He beats on Angle's arm. Austin throws Angle out over the top rope. Austin comes out and continues the assault on Angle. Back in, Angle with an Irish whip and Austin comes back with a takedown. Austin goes back to beating Angle in the corner. Angle gets the ankle lock on. Austin finally gets to the bottom rope. Austin backdrops Angle out on the floor. Angle lures Austin in and wraps Austin's knee on the ring post. He chops Austin and puts the figure four on Austin on the ring post. Angle finally breaks, but puts the ankle lock on. He hits a belly to belly suplex. Austin comes back with chops. Angle with shots to Austin in the corner. Angle with a series of German suplexes. Angle gets a two count. Angle misses a moonsault when Austin moves. Austin with a Thesz press and a spinebuster for a close two count. Austin hits a series of German suplexes. Angle comes back with an Angle slam for a two count. Austin gets the Stunner to get the pin.
-Trish Stratus and Test are shown in the back. He comes in and says he wants to give her a congratulations kiss. She's in a towel. This ages poorly.
-World Heavyweight Championship Match. The Rock vs. Chris Jericho: Rock out first to a great ovation. Jericho out to a pretty good ovation. The bell rings, and they stare at each other. They circle each other and lock up. Rock with a side headlock. Rock with some arm drags. Rock with an arm bar. Into a wrist lock. They trade moves and counters. Rock runs Jericho into a corner. Jericho comes back with a spinning heel kick. Jericho with a dropkick. They run each other into the SAT. Jericho with a flying back elbow for a two count. Jericho with a suplex. He kicks the Rock. Jericho chops Rock. Rock comes back with a clothesline for a two count. Jericho with a cover for a two count. Another clothesline for a two count for Jericho. They trade moves. Rock with a Samoan Drop for a two count. Jericho gets a sleeper on. Rock starts to fade. The hand doesn't fall the third time. The Rock starts to come back, but Jericho hits a back elbow. Back and forth. Jericho hits a Lionsault for a two count. Jericho argues with referee Earl Hebner. Jericho goes up top, but Rock hits the ropes. Rock goes to superplex Jericho, but gets pushed off. Jericho with a crossbody, but the Rock rolls through and gets a two count. Jericho misses a corner splash when Rock moves and Jericho falls to the outside. They fight on the outside. Jericho takes the announce table apart. The Rock fights back and DDTs Jericho through the table. Rock throws Jericho into the ring. Jericho hits a face buster. He mocks Rock and goes for the People's Elbow. The Rock gets a Sharpshooter on. Jericho reverses it and pulls Rock to the center of the ring. The Rock reaches for the ropes. He gets there and rolls Jericho up for a two count. Rock hits the Rock Bottom, but Vince McMahon comes out to distract Hebner as Rock covers. Rock knocks McMahon off the apron and hits a spinebuster. He hits the People's Elbow. McMahon is in the ring. Jericho hits a low blow and a Rock Bottom to win the match and become the new Champion. Steve Austin's music hits as we get the Unified Championship Match.
-Steve Austin vs. Chris Jericho: Austin attacks Jericho immediately. Kurt Angle comes in and hits Austin with a chair. The Rock comes in and hits Jericho with a Rock Bottom. Rock then takes off after Angle. The bell finally rings, and a double count is going. Jericho covers for a two count. He stomps Austin. Back and forth. Jericho beats Austin down. He beats Austin in the corner. Austin comes back and tackles Jericho. He runs Jericho into a turnbuckle. He goes for the Stunner, and Jericho avoids it. It goes outside. Austin drops Jericho on the barricade. He runs Jericho into a ring post. Austin rips up the mat at ringside. Jericho runs Austin into the concrete floor. They fight on the SAT. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho, but Austin flips Jericho off by using his legs. Austin throws Jericho in the ring. Jericho moves on a corner charge, and Austin hits the post. Jericho chops Austin in the corner. Jericho catapulted into a corner for a two count. Jericho with an arm bar. He uses the ropes for leverage, but gets caught. Jericho goes up top, but gets caught. Back and forth. Jericho gets the Walls of Jericho on Austin. Austin reaches for the ropes. He finally gets there. Jericho goes for a flying forearm, but Austin ducks, and Hebner gets taken out. Jericho hits Austin with the Stunner. Vince McMahon comes down and waves down referee Nick Patrick. Ric Flair comes down and takes out Patrick. McMahon sucker punches Flair. He runs Flair into a ring post. Austin low blows Jericho. Austin attacks McMahon. Austin hits Jericho with a Thesz Press. He chops Jericho in a corner. Austin gets Jericho in the Walls of Jericho, and Jericho taps, but there is no referee. Booker T comes out and hits Austin with the World Title and takes off through the crowd. McMahon throws Hebner in. Hebner counts the pin, and Jericho is the Undisputed champion. Jericho is presented with both belts as McMahon looks on and laughs. They recap what just happened and sign off from Sacremento as McMahon raises Jericho's hand.
-Final Thoughts: A crazy show that nicely sets up 2002 for the company.