Heading into this column, I was reading a news article written by Dave Scherer. The item said that the December 30th edition of WWE RAW will be a “Best of 2002” edition. Mr. Scherer commented that the show should be called “Year In Review” instead. I’m sure many of you out there would agree as well. I also read Adam’s “Anti-Antagonist” column where he went over the events of 2002 in the WWE and I must say that I liked what he did. As worse as this year was in our minds, and as bad as things got at some points, that provided for a lot of memorable things. In front of me I have a long list of stuff, both good and bad. Well, it’s a hard job, but I’ll try to pick the top 10 in my opinion, and then at the end of the column I’ll also add what didn’t make it. I’d love to hear from you guys on that subject, so feel free to e-mail me with your thoughts.
Please Note: In this Top 10 “moments” column, everything from matches, to promos, to debuts, to returns, to off-TV events will be taken under consideration!
10. The nWo and Hulkamania rise back up
Vince McMahon had just gotten through the monster that was the Alliance ran by his children, and he already had a new challenge — Ric Flair, the new 50% owner of his company. McMahon felt that he needed to inject a lethal dose of poison into the veins of the “sickened by Flair” WWF (back then). That’s when the WWF signed Kevin Nash, Hulk Hogan, and Scott Hall — the nWo back into the company! That was definitely a historical event. The nWo was probably the most unfortunate biggest problem the WWE had. Hogan turned face and rejoined his Hulkamaniacs, while Hall was fired from the company shortly after just a month w/ the company. Kevin Nash got injured and things simply continued getting worse and worse. HBK was introduced to the group, but again a new injury to Nash and Austin walking out caused for the nWo to be finally killed by Vince McMahon. Though unsuccessful of a storyline, the fact that the nWo was in the WWF was huge and definitely historical. This group always runs you over and might die at times, but it rises back up from its ashes, so you never know what the future holds…
Speaking of rising from ashes, Hollywood Hulk Hogan made a return to wrestling in 2002, as he was a part of the nWo storyline and then back to his Hulkamania persona. Hogan defeated Triple H to once again capture the WWE Championship, and then after a short run, agreed to job to people like Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, and even paired up with Edge. A whole new level and a whole new side of Hogan was revealed in my opinion. I’m sure he’ll be back for at least one more match.
9. Intercontinental, European and Hardcore Championships unified
The old WWF used to refer to the WWF Championship as the most “coveted” price in the business. Well, for years before you get that you had to go through the one and only Intercontinental Championship. The belt that was loved by the fans and that after the Heavyweight Title, carries the most memorable moments in the history of the company. Think about Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania III. Or hell, even Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho in a ladder match at Royal Rumble 2001. Due to their situation, having the roster split (see moment #8) in mind, the WWE decided to get rid of their Intercontinetal Championship, and in the process, pretty much kill their mid-card and low-card divisions by getting rid of the European and Hardcore Championships as well. The hardcore belt I could somewhat understand, as they really did all that could be done with it. Just the things Crash Holly did with that belt are amazing and countless. The WWE was able to come up with somenew new for the Hardcore division every week, but that couldn’t last forever. However, the European Championship was also very important to the company. Lowcarders and even midcarders that won the belt knew that they’re getting ahead of the game by winning it, and it provided at least one match on the card for them. Guys like HBK and Triple H have held the European Championship and have brought it to great levels. Also, a very great example of how effective a little thing like a belt in a low-card division could be, is D’Lo Brown. He probably had one of the best runs as the European Champion and brought a lot to that division. Guys like Owen Hart and British Bulldog have also held the belt. The WWE got rid of all three belts, and I personally believe that they should have kept them, though they would have 2 heavyweight ones. Right now, all that we care about is the main events at shows, and the rest of the card just seems to be fixed in the last minute. Had there been belts to worry and think about, things might have been different. In an interesting note, Rob Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy to unify the European and IC Championships, and again Rob Van Dam defeated Tommy Dreamer to unify the IC and Hardcore championships. Let’s prey that one day we’ll be able to say that the IC belt had one last star to make in its time and his name was Rob… Van… Dam.
8. WWF Draft
If you ready any other “Year In Review” type of columns on-line this week, or you see them in the future, I’m sure that the WWF Draft will probably grab one of the top 3 spots. Well, not in my opinion. Yes, certainly, the WWF Draft was “the” storyline of the year, as it not only changed the way WWE handled business, but has quite frankly changed everything. If it wasn’t for the Draft, we wouldn’t have two separate shows, we wouldn’t have two separate champions, and things would be definitely different. However, in my opinion, the WWE still hasn’t managed to capitalize on their idea of a roster split. They’re finally now beginning to really get into it and do something. This storyline has been in the making for a long time, as the McMahons have planned it out for a while. But, again, to me it just didn’t work up until where we are. And there’s still tons to accomplish. Therefore yes, I do recognize the WWF Draft to be one of the most important three moments of the year, and probably one of the most important ones in history (hell it’s that big), but because of its lack to draw fans, and all the problems the WWE has been going through, I put it at #8. Another important thing to add is that many people throughout the nation are no longer able to view their favorite superstar, because they don’t have both UPN and TNN where they live. Another “minus” we had to deal with.
7. The Heart Break Kid is alive and well
Indeed he is. 1 year ago, rumors were running wild on the Internet about the return of Shawn Michaels. Will it happen? Will Shawn ever wrestle again? We didn’t really know much, but we knew something was planned. Michaels returned with a bang at SummerSlam and defeated Triple H in what would probably end up being one of the best matches of the year, if not the best one. Shawn Michaels put up an incredible fight and didn’t seem to even think about his back. He walked out with the victory, and Triple H walked out with the best match he’s had ever since returning from his quad injury. Definitely a great match. HBK went on to wrestle at Survivor Series and even capture the World Heavyweight Championship! Shawn “HBK” Michaels was the World Champion … and it’s 2002!!! Wow! HBK is indeed alive and well, and I don’t see him going anywhere soon. At least not until WrestleMania. That is of course if his back holds up, which it hopefully will. The return of Shawn Michaels was definitely a great moment for tons of fans and the brutal match he just put up with Triple H at Armageddon among the other two bouts he’s had on PPV prove that just like Jim Ross said in his Ross Report a year and a half ago… “There’s still plenty of gas left in the tank of the Heart Break Kid.”
6. The “Triple H Effect”
This moment could have been at #10, it could have been at #1, and it could have been off the list. No matter what we say, the year 2002 belongs to Triple H. (Just if you’re wondering, in my opinion, the two stars of 2002 should be Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle.) Especially after Austin’s walking, however, Triple H was never looked at the same way. And he never was the same man. The Cerebral Assassin no longer acts in the ring, but backstage. I personally believe that H is nothing like his old characters and his wrestling has gone down as of lately. It’s still at a high level, but his character is not even that interesting anymore. The fans continue to cheer for him and buy his merchandise though, so I guess I’m wrong. Triple H was the main event on all but about 8 RAW programs in the second half of 2002. That is scary, having in mind he was injured and had to miss 4 or 5 due to that. Roughly said, out of 27 shows (roughly) for the second half of the year, The Game has been the main event in 19 of them. Triple H was the champ, Triple H was the man. From returning at the Royal Rumble in January, to winning the Undisputed Belt from Jericho at WrestleMania, to beating Jericho again in Hell In A Cell at Judgment Day, to jobbing to only 2 people — Shawn Michaels and Hulk Hogan, Triple H proved that the egos and backstage games in this business aren’t dead. While he certainly has the ability to back it up in the ring, all the backstage talk and all the controversy surrounding The Game has been one that we haven’t had in a while, if not ever.
5. The Next Big Thing Brock LesnarWhile you could say it was the year of Triple H, you can also say that 2002 was the year of The Next Big Thing — Brock Lesnar! It all started on an episode of RAW airing from Canada when Brock Lesnar destroyed Al Snow and several other participants of a hardcore match. We were introduced to the F-5 for the first time. Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar then prove to the world that there’s a new force in wrestling! Brock feuded with the Hardyz for a while, but that didn’t go quite well. It really all began at the 2002 King of the Ring. After winning the competition by defeating RVD in the final, Brock proved that he’s not a fraud. He backed up everything he did in the ring. Eventually, Brock progressed to the main-event level the WWE needs him to be at. He feuded successfully with Rob Van Dam and then the big one came. The biggest one of them all. His match for the Undisputed Championship with The Rock at SummerSlam. Brock came out victorious and was now WWE Champion! Lesnar would go on to “end the legend of Hulk Hogan” (temporarily at least), defeat The Undertaker in his own game — Hell In A Cell — and then do something to The Big Show which we never thought could happen. In an amazing exposure of power and strength, Lesnar lifted the huge Big Show and F-5ed him without a problem … several times too! Let’s face it, though he might have lost the belt to Show in a rather immature decision by the bookers (or maybe The Triple H Effect was in power again?), one thing is for sure — in 2002 alone, Brock Lesnar did more than any rookie has ever done!!! He beat the biggest legend in the business, he won the WWE Championship from the most popular player around, and beat a living phenom in his own game. The year 2002 by no means goes to the one and only Brock Lesnar.
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin walks out on WWE / The Rock Returns
As WrestleMania X-8 came upon us, it was obvious to the die-hard fans that things weren’t the same. The WWF was changing and it wasn’t for the good either. The nWo had arrived and this allowed for some new things to be tried out, but with The Rock soon leaving again, Hogan turning face, Nash injured, and Hall about to be released, that went nowhere. Unfortunately, other talent also suffered injuries. Kane was put out of the game, for example. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the main player on RAW, but things weren’t clicking. Austin was rather stuck feuding with the likes of The Big Show and even Ric Flair. Backstage problems with bookers and Austin’s character occurred as well. Ever since the Alliance storyline has ended, Austin seemed to not be happy with his direction or the one of the company. He walked out the day after WrestleMania without informing anyone, but the happening didn’t make too much noise on-line. Obviously, the Austin/WWE situation was a gunpowder keg waiting to explode. According to Internet rumors, Austin was scheduled to face Lesnar and job to him on RAW one night. That was the spark that started it all, according to many. Austin walked out on the WWE again without telling anyone, and the company had to change their plans in the same day and go in a completely new direction, which you might even say is why we have what we have today. Without a shadow of a doubt, the walking of Steve Austin made it to all wrestling-related Internet sites and even allowed the media to be interested in the WWE once again. An event of such gratitude is no doubt big. The scandals that followed up with Austin and wife Debra made things even worse in a way. The person who made the WWF what it was and turned it into WWE was no longer there. A whole chapter had ended. Nonetheless, a new one began. I’m pretty sure that this new chapter will have a Rattlesnake feeling to it as well, at least in 2003. I truly believe Austin will be back. But until then, we have to face the facts and say that Steve Austin’s walking away from the WWE was probably the most shocking moment ever since Bret Hart’s screwjob and will be remembered forever!
The Rock made a surprising return shortly after Steve Austin’s “walking” and this night was also special. The Rock cut a very nice phe company. However, The Rock would go on to make another movie shortly after. Anyway, I still think that it was a really special moment to see Rock made a surprising early return to TV and do what he did.
3. Vince McMahon introduces Eric Bischoff as RAW’s G.M.
Have you heard these 2 sayings: “In this business… You never say never!” and “Anything can happen in the WWF(E)!” ??? Well, I’m sure you have. I’m also sure that you can remember many days when wrestling proved those sayings to be correct. In my book, the one day that will be remembered for proving these two correct would be July 15, 2002. Vince McMahon had just killed the nWo and stated that a new chapter in WWE history begins. He had appointed 2 General Managers, 1 for RAW and 1 for SmackDown!. He said that they’ll have full power and control over their shows and he counts on them to basically “turn this thing around.” Vince said it was time to “shake up RAW, shake up SmackDown!, and shake up the WWE!” The new GM of RAW? Eric Bischoff. Yes, “the” Eric Bischoff!!! When Jonathan Coachman was interviewing Booker T backstage the same night and Mr. Bischoff dropped by, the full arena went nuts, and probably millions at home did as well. That day changed everything. The hug between Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff changed everything. 10 years of competition, 10 years of war, 10 years of unforgettable battles, and 10 years of hatred had come to a hug. It’s as if wrestling was no longer the same. “You never say never!” in this business and by God, how right was this statement that night? I remember reading over the Superstars’ thoughts of Bischoff’s hiring over at WWE.com. I really loved what Paul Heyman said, and I think I’ll leave you with that quote… “What a fucking business, huh?”
2. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan — WrestleMania X-8
Well, if you talk about wars for years, why don’t we talk about the one war that meant a lot to wrestling fans. The nWo was back and shortly after, Hulkamania returned as well. When did it come back? At WrestleMania X-8. In probably what will be one of the most historical matches in wrestling history. The Rock faced Hollywood Hulk Hogan. The man who put wrestling on the map, the man who made wrestling what it is, and the man who made it all mean something — Hulk Hogan. Well, that very same Hulk Hogan was now facing the younger lion, so to speak, the one who came after Hogan and progressed alongside the business and managed to bring it to new heights. Just like the WWE was saying, it was just like what it would have been if Muhammad Ali went up against Mike Tyson. It’s something we never thought we’d see. Just 2 years ago, you would have never even thought of seeing Rock face Hogan. Well, he did. The match itself wasn’t all that and wasn’t the best one we’ve ever seen. Just the history behind it and just all the facts and statistics around it made it huge. Hogan is a legend that even when playing heel will be always loved for what he’s done. The Rock is also a legend of today and will turn into one eventually. The bottom line here is, the torch was passed. The true torch was passed. Shawn Michaels “passing the torch” to Triple H is b.s. in my book, but Hogan passing the torch to Rock is reality and exactly what wrestling has been in the past 20 years, since Hogan’s debut. No matter what you say and no matter how many good moments there have been, this was definitely the top moment of 2002. However, it’s at #2 for another reason, as you’ll find out below.
1. Get the F out
So then what the hell was the #1 moment of 2002? You’ll probably be very disappointed, I don’t know, but bear with me, and hopefully you’ll understand my reasoning. For the past 3 or 4 decades, wrestling has been around, things have changed. However, one company stayed. World Wide Wrestling Federation was its old name, but the name was shortened to simply World Wrestling Federation — WWF. We’ve known our company that way and as far as many people go, it will always be known that way. Those 3 initials were what made it special, and were stuck in our mind as a way to represent the greatness of these athletes. When you mentioned “WWF” to your friends or colleagues, or what-have-you, they might have laughed in your face. And then you had that feeling inside that told you “Yeah, sure you’re right, wrestling is stupid, WWF sucks,” and all that but deep deep deep inside you knew that they’re dead wrong. You knew that while they were some very stupid and controversial moments, the reason we watch wrestling was the passion, the physicality, and the ability to tell a story without words. All the moments throughout the years that a lot of people who are reading this will never forget, were always linked by three letter — WWF. When you hear “Stone Cold Steve Austin” or “The Rock” or “Triple H” or “Shawn Michaels” you don’t think WWE. No. You think WWF. Therefore, while Vince McMahon said that starting this year, a whole new era begins, and hopefully he was right, trust me, it should all start with the name change. The era of WWE has arrived. It’s been negative, but nonetheless, its importance for the business as a whole and not just for WWFE is huge. Maybe in 2 years, there will be no more wrestling. Maybe in two years, there will be people saying “Oh, WWE!” when you mention the name “Brock Lesnar” or “Randy Orton.” You never know. The fact remains, whatever happens from here on in the future, it’ll be WWE. A whole new beginning. A whole new chapter. And it all began in 2002.
Well, folks, there you have it. I must say myself there’s so many more moments I wanted to include. Here’s other moments that should have made it on here, with a sentence or two of thoughts and why they’re significant. Please have in mind that these are in no particular order:
– Jeff Hardy vs. Undertaker — Ladder Match (RAW) — Jeff Hardy has been one of the guys that was expected to make it to the top sooner or later. Undertaker was known for not giving the rub to younger guys and for not jobbing. This match definitely wasn’t all that good, but it brought something special to the scene, and Jeff and Taker had a great bout.
– Eddie Guerrero vs. Edge (SmackDown!) — Wow. That was a straight-wrestling contest but ended up having chairs and ladders in it. What a match that was! SmackDown! had become the better brand due to that one main event that offered more every week. Well, what a match that was! At the end, the crowd ended up cheering both guys and clapping in respect for Eddie Guerrero who was a top heel. A watery-eyed Eddie bowed for the crowd in a moment that brought old time ECW feelings to many. A great moment nonetheless.
– Mysterio debuts — The year 2002 saw many new stars arrive to WWE. Besides Brock Lesnar, the one who’s made it big is Rey Mysterio. The man changed a lot of things around and was w/o a shadow of a doubt the reason SmackDown! had become a top show!
– John Cena, Randy Orton, and Batista debut — Besides Mysterio and Lesnar, these three guys also debuted and managed to make some impact. They were a part of the era of Ruthless Aggression and we must say they’ve done a nice job and there’s plenty to come in the future.
– Chris Benoit returns — After a one-year absence, one of WWE’s top players finally made a surprising return to RAW (though drafted to SmackDown!) and was about to start a program with Austin, but Stone Cold left. He was then drafted to SmackDown! and the rest is history! Benoit is one of the top 3 guys on that show in my opinion.
– Eddie Guerrero returns — Another man who deserves a lot of credit for leaving some great memories this year is Eddie Guerrero. Battling addictions and tons of other problems, Eddie found savior in the one thing he does best — Wrestling! Eddie Guerrero should be given a lot of credit, as his name was constantly linked to great in-ring action in 2002.
– HLA — The most controversial segment the WWE has aired in years aired in 2003. The rest is history. Nonetheless, some people never looked at the WWE the same way.
– Billy and Chuck getting married — An earlier edition of the Prime Cut was entitled “20 Minutes of Entertainment” and talked about this segment. Visit the Archives (link at bottom) to find out more about it. That was in my opinion, the most entertaining segment of the year.
– RAW Roulette — The WWE was in the midst of many problems, but they presented a special Las Vegas edition of RAW entitled “RAW Roulette” where all the matches were made through the spin of a wheel. Nonetheless, in the times of crappy RAWs, the RAW Roulette was a great night with funny matches such as Triple H vs. D’Lo in a Blindfolds match, a great TLC main event, and a Cage Match between Booker T and Big Show. The night ended with Triple H introducing us all to the fate of Katie Vick.
– Katie Vick storyline — Another controversial storyline. I really don’t think I need to get into details.
– Ruthless Aggression — Vince McMahon introduced us to the era of Ruthless Aggression shortly after Austin’s walking-away from the company. I touched on this already, I’ll just add that shortly we might speak high of that era, ya never know.
– Triple H vs. Chris Jericho — Hell In A Cell (Judgment Day) — Great bout between the two! Triple H carried a decent match and though Jericho got screwed again, he put it all on the line. The two proved that you don’t need a crazy bump from the top of the cell to make a good match. Lesnar vs. Undertaker would further prove that later on.
– The Elimination Chamber debuts — The RAW brand was looking for that something new and they found it with the Elimination Chamber, the newly constructed structure that brought a whole new chapter to the game. It wasn’t all that special, but definitely interesting and it made us all await the Survivor Series PPV! The Elimination Chamber will be back soon, I’m sure.
Well, I’m sure there’s even more moments I didn’t get to talk about. Thanks for reading this long column, and make sure to e-mail me if you have anything to say — whether it is to add another moment, or talk about the top 10 though I’m sure most won’t agree with the one I have. Anyway, let me know what you think, and I’ll definitely get back at you with an e-mail! Happy Holidays everyone!
Eddie
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