Royal Rumble (2002)

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Royal Rumble (2002)
Details
Promotion World Wrestling Federation
Date January 20, 2002[1]
Venue Philips Arena[1]
City Atlanta, Georgia[1]
Attendance 12,915[2]
Pay-per-view chronology
Vengeance (2001) Royal Rumble (2002) No Way Out (2002)
Royal Rumble chronology
Royal Rumble (2001) Royal Rumble (2002) Royal Rumble (2003)

Royal Rumble (2002) was the fifteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on January 20, 2002 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] The official theme song was "Cocky" by Kid Rock.[3] The tagline was "30 Men, One Match, One W1nner."[4]

The main event was the Royal Rumble match, which Triple H won after last eliminating Kurt Angle. The other matches were Chris Jericho versus The Rock for the Undisputed WWF Championship, Ric Flair versus Vince McMahon in a Street Fight, Edge versus William Regal for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, the team of Spike Dudley and Tazz versus the Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship, and Trish Stratus versus Jazz for the WWF Women's Championship.[5][6]

Contents

[edit] Report

[edit] Background

The main feud was between Chris Jericho and The Rock for Jericho's Undisputed WWF Championship. Their feud continued from Vengeance, when Jericho cheated to defeat both Steve Austin and The Rock to win the title.[7][8] The Rock earned a match for the Undisputed WWF Championship at Royal Rumble on the January 3 edition of SmackDown! by defeating Booker T.[9] On the January 10 edition of SmackDown!, The Rock and Rob Van Dam defeated Jericho and Test when The Rock made Jericho submit with the Sharpshooter.[10]

On the January 7 edition of RAW, buildup towards the Royal Rumble match started, with Austin saying he wants to enter. When the returning Triple H announced his participation in the match, Kurt Angle did the same, and taunted Triple H. Triple H hit Angle with a Pedigree.[11] During a match between Austin and Angle on the January 10 edition of SmackDown!, Kane, The Big Show, and Triple H all interfered. In the end, only Triple H remained standing, and The Undertaker stared him down from the top of the ramp.[10] On the January 14 edition of RAW, Triple H stated that he wants to win the Undisputed WWF Championship. Austin came out, and they fought until The Undertaker came out, and hit Triple H with a chair, allowing Austin to hit the Stone Cold Stunner. The Undertaker then hit Austin with the chair.[12] On the January 17 edition of SmackDown!, Austin and Triple H defeated Angle and Booker T. After the match, The Undertaker again came out, and stared them down.[13]

The feud between Edge and William Regal continued from Vengeance. On the December 10 edition of RAW, Edge mocked Regal, and Regal attacked him with brass knuckles.[14] On the December 13 edition of SmackDown!, William Regal and Kurt Angle faced Edge and Rikishi. After the match, Edge hit Regal with a steel chair and an Edgecution onto the chair, breaking his nose, and causing him to bleed.[15] On the January 7 edition of RAW, Regal interfered during Edge's match and hit him with brass knuckles.[11] Regal challenged Edge to a match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at Royal Rumble, and Edge accepted.[10] On the January 14 edition of RAW, Edge and Rob Van Dam faced William Regal and Test, where Regal pinned Edge after using the brass knuckles.[12] On the January 17 edition of SmackDown!, Regal came out during Edge's match with Test. Regal failed to interfere, and Edge hit him and referee Nick Patrick with a chair.[13]

[edit] Event

Other on-screen talent[16]
Role: Name:
Commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler
Jim Ross
Spanish commentator Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Referee Mike Chioda
Jack Doan
Brian Hebner
Earl Hebner
Jim Korderas
Theodore Long
Nick Patrick
Charles Robinson
Tim White
Interviewer Jonathan Coachman
Michael Cole
Lilian Garcia
WWF New York host Shawn Michaels
Ring announcer Howard Finkel

The first match was between Spike Dudley and Tazz, and the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) for the WWF Tag Team Championship. The Dudley Boyz dominated Spike in the beginning with Bubba Ray ripping off Spike's neck brace. Spike fought back by hitting Bubba Ray with a Dudley Dog but failed to capitalize. The Dudley Boyz then double-teamed Spike while the referee was preoccupied with Tazz. Tazz eventually came in, and both dominated. Stacy Keibler, who accompanied the Dudley Boyz, climbed on the apron, and distracted Tazz and Spike. Tazz and Spike are knocked out of the ring, but Tazz came back in, and applied the Tazzmission for the victory, and retained the title.[5][6]

The second match was between Edge and William Regal for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Before the match, the referee found brass knuckles in Regal's tights, and confiscated them. The match went back and forth before Regal knocked Edge out of the ring. Regal applied the Regal Stretch, but Edge reached the ropes to break the hold. Edge attempted a spear, but Regal pushed the referee to receive the move. Regal took out another pair of brass knuckles and hit Edge with them. The referee recovered to count the pinfall for Regal to win the match, and the title.[5][6]

The third match was between Trish Stratus and Jazz for the WWF Women's Championship with Jacqueline as Special Guest Referee. Jazz had the early advantage, focusing on Stratus' injured hand. Jazz then confronted Jacqueline, and they shoved each other. Stratus hit a bulldog, but Jazz countered with a roll-up, and hit a snap DDT. Stratus blocked an attack in the corner, and hit a bulldog to win the match, and retained the title.[5][6]

The fourth match was a Street Fight between Ric Flair and Vince McMahon. Flair gained the early advantage with punches and knife edge chops. McMahon knocked Flair out of the ring, attacked him with weapons, and sent him into the ringpost and steps. They return to the ring, and McMahon applied the figure four leglock, but Flair reversed it. McMahon reached the ropes, and went outside the ring. Flair hit a low blow, and hit McMahon with a television monitor, and a lead pipe. Finally, Flair applied the figure four leglock, and won the match by forcing McMahon to submit.[5][6]

The fifth match was between Chris Jericho and The Rock for the Undisputed WWF Championship. Jericho took control early in the match, and removed the padding off one of the turnbuckles. Jericho attempted the Walls of Jericho, but The Rock escaped. Jericho continued his control until The Rock delivered a superplex, and a snap overhead belly to belly suplex. Jericho came back with two Lionsaults. The Rock then countered a missile dropkick, and applied the Sharpshooter. Lance Storm and Christian came out, and distracted the referee as Jericho tapped out. This allowed Jericho to hit a Rock Bottom. He then attempted a People's Elbow, but The Rock avoided it, and threw Jericho out of the ring. The Rock sent Jericho into the ringsteps, and hit a Rock Bottom through the announce table. Back in the ring, Jericho countered a Rock Bottom and applied the Walls of Jericho, but The Rock reached the ropes. The Rock accidentally hit the referee, and Jericho took advantage by attacking The Rock with the title belt. Jericho signaled Nick Patrick (a heel referee) to come out, and referee. The Rock hit a DDT, but Patrick refused to count the pinfall. The Rock attacked Patrick, and hit a Rock Bottom, and a People's Elbow on Jericho. As The Rock tried to revive the original referee, Jericho hit a low blow, sending The Rock into the exposed turnbuckle. Jericho used a roll-up with both feet on the ropes to win, and retain the title.[5][6]

Chris Jericho, the Undisputed WWF Champion heading into Royal Rumble
Chris Jericho, the Undisputed WWF Champion heading into Royal Rumble

The main event was the Royal Rumble match. The Undertaker, the eighth entrant, dominated upon entering the match, and eliminated all four of the remaining participants. Matt Hardy entered next and Lita, who accompanied Matt, entered the ring to help. The next entrant was Jeff Hardy, and all three attack The Undertaker. The Undertaker eventually eliminated them both. The Hardys returned, and continued their attack, but were thrown out again. This distraction allowed Maven, the following entrant, to eliminate The Undertaker. The Undertaker returned, beat down Maven, and eliminated him. The Undertaker knocked Scott 2 Hotty during his entrance, and continued his attack on Maven into the crowd, and backstage. Steve Austin, the nineteenth entrant, dominated upon his entrance, and eliminated all three of the remaining participants. While he waited for the next entrant, he brought Christian and Chuck, whom he had eliminated, back in, and beat them down. Austin then eliminated the next two entrants, leaving him the only one not eliminated again. The Big Show, the twenty-seventh entrant, dominated upon entering until Kane entered next. Kane eliminated The Big Show, and Kane is eliminated by Austin and Kurt Angle, the twenty-sixth entrant.[5][6]

The final four remaining were Austin, Triple H, Angle and Mr. Perfect. Angle hit an Angle Slam on Triple H and three German suplexes on Austin. Austin hit a low blow on Angle, but Perfect and Angle double-teamed him. Angle eliminated Austin as he was trying to eliminate Perfect. Austin pulled Perfect outside and attacked him before Angle attacked Austin from behind. Back in the ring, Perfect and Angle attacked Triple H. Austin entered the ring and hit Perfect, Angle and Triple H with a steel chair before leaving. Angle hit Perfect with a clothesline by accident, and Perfect hit a Perfect-Plex on Angle. Triple H then eliminated Perfect with a clothesline, leaving only Angle and Triple H. It went back and forth before Angle sent Triple H over the top rope with a back body drop, but Triple H held on. Angle thought he had won, and celebrated. Triple H took advantage, and eliminated Angle with a clothesline after a facebuster knee smash. Triple H won the match.[5][6] This was the longest Royal Rumble match in history.[17]

[edit] Aftermath

Steve Austin started a feud with Chris Jericho after Royal Rumble
Steve Austin started a feud with Chris Jericho after Royal Rumble

Steve Austin won a tournament on the January 27 edition of RAW to earn a match for the Undisputed WWF Championship at No Way Out. A feud between Austin and Chris Jericho started with Jericho interfering in Austin's match by attacking him with his title belt.[18] The Rock began a feud with The Undertaker after The Rock angered him by mentioning his elimination in the Royal Rumble match. The Undertaker's interference led to The Rock losing in the tournament.[19] The Rock used a chair on The Undertaker to cost him the WWF Hardcore Championship, and The Undertaker delivered a Tombstone Piledriver on the hood of a car.[20] A match was made between the two at No Way Out.[18]

Kurt Angle started a feud with Triple H, unhappy about how he lost the Royal Rumble match, and attacked Triple H after a confrontation.[21] During Triple H's match, Angle interfered and attacked Triple H. Angle then had Vince McMahon make a match between the two at No Way Out for Triple H's title shot at WrestleMania X8.[22] Also, Triple H and his wife Stephanie McMahon were having problems, so she faked pregnancy and demanded that they renew their wedding vows. Triple H discovered the truth, and ended their marriage.[18] Stephanie McMahon then announced herself as the guest referee in the match at No Way Out.[23]

[edit] Results

Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.

[edit] Royal Rumble match entrances and eliminations

A new entrant came out approximately every 2 minutes.

Draw[25] Entrant[25] Order[25] Eliminated by[25] Time[25]
1 Rikishi 6 Undertaker 13:39
2 Goldust 4 Undertaker 13:00
3 The Big Boss Man 1 Rikishi 3:05
4 Bradshaw 3 Billy 7:17
5 Lance Storm 2 Snow 4:46
6 Al Snow 5 Undertaker 5:12
7 Billy 7 Undertaker 3:37
8 The Undertaker 10 Maven 7:40
9 Matt Hardy 9 Undertaker 4:16
10 Jeff Hardy 8 Undertaker 1:30
11 Maven 11 Undertaker[1] 3:34
12 Scotty 2 Hotty 12 Page 2:36
13 Christian 16 Austin 12:14
14 Diamond Dallas Page 13 Christian 5:15
15 Chuck 17 Austin 9:04
16 The Godfather 15 Christian & Chuck 2:48
17 Albert 14 Christian & Chuck 0:48
18 Perry Saturn 18 Austin 2:57
19 Steve Austin 27 Angle 26:46
20 Val Venis 19 Austin 2:58
21 Test 20 Austin 1:42
22 Triple H - WINNER 23:14
23 The Hurricane 21 Triple H & Austin 0:39
24 Faarooq 22 Triple H 0:36
25 Mr. Perfect 28 Triple H 15:18
26 Kurt Angle 29 Triple H 16:09
27 The Big Show 23 Kane 2:45
28 Kane 24 Angle 1:02
29 Rob Van Dam 25 Booker 2:12
30 Booker T 26 Austin 0:33

^  After Undertaker was eliminated, he went back in the ring, eliminated Maven, and assaulted him throughout the arena.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Royal Rumble 2002 Results. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
  2. ^ Wahlers, Dan (2004-01-21). Royal Rumble history part two. Wrestling Observer. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  3. ^ WWF Royal Rumble 2002. pWwew. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  4. ^ Royal Rumble (2001) (V). IMDb. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h 411's WWF Royal Rumble Report 1.20.02. 411mania (2002-01-21). Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Powell, John (2002-01-21). Rumble 2002 stumbles Triple H wins WrestleMania spot. SLAM! Sports. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  7. ^ Vengeance 2001 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.
  8. ^ Vengeance 2001 results. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  9. ^ Keith, Scott (2002-01-04). The SmarkDown Rant - January 3 / 2002. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  10. ^ a b c McCluskey, Sean (2008-03-25). 411's WWF Smackdown Report 1.10.02. 411mania.
  11. ^ a b 411's WWF Raw Report 1.7.02. 411mania (2002-01-07). Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  12. ^ a b Mahuad, Carlos (2002-01-14). 411's WWF Raw Report 14.01.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  13. ^ a b McCluskey, Sean (2002-01-17). 411's WWF Smackdown Report 1.17.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  14. ^ 411's WWF Raw Report 12.10.01. 411mania (2001-12-10). Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  15. ^ Keith, Scott (2001-12-13). The SmarKdown Rant - December 13 / 2001. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  16. ^ WWF Royal Rumble 2002. Hoffco, Inc.. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  17. ^ Royal Rumble Facts & Figures. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  18. ^ a b c 411's WWF Raw Report 2.11.02. 411mania (2002-02-11). Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  19. ^ McCluskey, Sean (2002-01-24). 411's WWF Smackdown Report 1.24.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  20. ^ McCluskey, Sean (2002-02-07). 411's WWF Smackdown Report 2.7.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  21. ^ Mahuad, Carlos (2002-01-20). 411's WWF Raw Report 20.01.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  22. ^ 411's WWF Raw Report 2.4.02. 411mania (2002-02-04). Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  23. ^ McCluskey, Sean (2002-02-14). 411's WWF Smackdown Report 2.14.02. 411mania. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Royal Rumble 2002 Results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
  25. ^ a b c d e Royal Rumble Entrance & Elimination Information. Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.

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