Retro Rowe: WWE Vengeance 2002

WWE Vengeance

July 21, 2002

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Detroit, MI. Our hosts are Michael Cole, Tazz, Jerry Lawler, and Jim Ross.

Tables Match:
Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley vs. Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero

Benoit immediately goes to work punishing Spike. Bubba tags but gets doubled teamed by the Radicalz. Bubba knocks Eddie off the apron but gets caught in Benoit’s German suplex. The beating on Bubba continues until they feel ready to set up a table at ringside. Spike charges and dives over the ropes onto Guerrero. Benoit whips Spike into the ring steps for good measure. Bubba’s comeback is thwarted and the Radicalz bring a second table into the ring. Bubba takes a double superplex but Spike moved the table out of the way. The Radicalz lean a third table in a turnbuckle and whip Spike towards it, but Bubba tackles Spike to save him. Bubba finds his second wind and unleashes a series of power moves. Spike assists with a double stomp onto Benoit and the WASSUP diving head butt to the groin. Benoit makes Spike tap to the crossface but gets caught with a Samoan drop from Bubba. Bubba puts himself through the table when Benoit dodges his senton. Spike outmaneuvers the Radicalz to send them both crashing to ringside. Spike counters a suplex and puts Eddie through a table with a Dudley Dog off the ring apron! Benoit press slams Spike over the ropes and through a table! Benoit sets up a fresh table but Benoit puts him through it with the Bubba Bomb for the upset win at 14:55! The Dudleys had to scratch and claw for that victory. Surprisingly dramatic opening contest, ***¼.
Winners: Spike and Bubba Ray Dudley

Retro Rowe: WWE King of the Ring 2002

WWE King of the Ring

June 23, 2002

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Columbus, OH. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

KOTR Semifinal:
Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam

This match is kind of infamous for Jericho arguing with fans online about the quality. Jericho thought this was a ***** classic, the internet just kind of shrugged. The match begins competitively, at least until Jericho slaps RVD for being a show-off. RVD returns the favor with a kick to the face and they sprint through an exchange. RVD scores with a somersault plancha to the floor. Jericho blocks a Frog Splash by kicking the official into the ropes. Jericho nails a superplex to gain control. RVD struggles to make a comeback but manages to unload his bag of tricks. Jericho leaps over a leg sweep and delivers an enziguri. Jericho busts out a German suplex for a near fall. RVD comes back with a split legged moonsault. RVD has a reversal for most of Jericho’s move set. Jericho almost steals the pinfall with the ropes and nails a Bulldog. The Lionsault misses but so does the Five Star Frog Splash! The Lionsault connects but RVD kicks out. Jericho briefly applies the Walls and pulls RVD by the hair to the top rope. RVD shoves Jericho down for the Frog Splash for the win at 14:28. Great opener as they went into a higher gear in the final stretch, but not an all-time classic, ***½.
Winner: Rob Van Dam

Retro Rowe: WWE Judgment Day 2002

WWE Judgment Day

May 19, 2002

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Nashville, TN. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

-Believe it or not, this is the very first North America pay-per-view to be held under the World Wrestling Entertainment banner. Referring to the World Wrestling Federation as “WWE” was simply too weird for a lot of fans to handle at the time and many of them split. Yes, there were bigger problems at the time (mainly creative) but the name change aspect did play a role in the decline of the company during this era.

Intercontinental Championship:
Eddie Guerrero © vs. Rob Van Dam

This might be sad, but I honestly cannot remember who Eddie ended up losing the IC title to. I’m guessing it was to RVD in a random episode of Raw, but maybe it’ll happen here. They kick things off with a fast paced exchange, sparking a Guerrero temper tantrum. RVD continues to dominate (in entertaining fashion, even applying a surfboard stretch) until Eddie catches him off guard with a punch after hiding in the ropes. Eddie is completely vicious at this point, using nasty punches and stomps to make a statement. RVD turns it around with a monkey flip. RVD delivers Rolling Thunder but only gets a 2 count. Eddie sneaks in a roll-up but RVD answers with a heel kick. Eddie crotches Van Dam on the turnbuckles and nails a hard power bomb. Eddie’s Frog Splash misses, but so does RVD’s Five Star Frog Splash. They both regain their composure and the match restarts with them running the ropes and colliding in dual cross body attempts. RVD’s backslide counter almost ends it, but Eddie uses the ropes for a backslide of his own and pins RVD at 10:55. They went completely balls to the wall for a fabulous opener, ***½.
Winner and still Intercontinental Champion: Eddie Guerrero

Retro Rowe: WWF Backlash 2002

WWF Backlash

April 21, 2002

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Kansas City, MO. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

-It’s worth noting that this is the first WWF pay-per-view of the “Brand Extension” era, so the entire company is in the midst of a big transition. A lot of fresh faces were popping up, while some familiar stars were being put into unusual storylines.

Cruiserweight Championship:
Billy Kidman © vs. Tajiri (with Torrie Wilson)

Tajiri had been treating Torrie badly during this time and she’s forced to wear a kimono. Tajiri is showing a new mean streak and takes control in the early stages. This is a grounded contest, nothing like the high-flying contests that the WCW cruiserweight division was famous for. Kidman absorbs the Tarantula and finally begins mounting a comeback. Tajiri retaliates with a stiff kick to the head for a near fall. Kidman counters with a face buster for a 2 count. Kidman’s Shooting Star Press misses, which Tajiri capitalizes with a head kick for a severely close near fall. That false finish woke the crowd up. Kidman counters with a power bomb off the turnbuckles! Tajiri sprays red mist in Kidman’s eyes to steal the pinfall at 9:07. This needed a few more minutes to really get their story across, but they were able to win over the fans in attendance, **½.
Winner and new Cruiserweight Champion: Tajiri

Retro Rowe: WWF No Way Out 2002

WWF No Way Out

February 17, 2002

by Samoa Rowe

-Follow me on Twitter: @SamoaRowe

-From Milwaukee, WI. Our hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

-We kick things off with the re-debut of the New World Order consisting of Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. This was pretty surreal at the time, though it would have meant so very much more had they arrived about eight months earlier to save the WCW Invasion angle. Nash addresses the heat they have in the locker room, claiming that all they want to a clean slate. Hall says the n.W.o. are a bunch of marks who just want to work with the best WWF superstars. Hogan finally gets the mic and the crowd chants his name. He says they’re not here to kill the WWF, only to make it better. Hogan thanks Vince McMahon for this opportunity. This felt like a shoot, which I suppose is what they were aiming for.

Tag Team Turmoil:
Scotty 2 Hotty and The Hip-Hop Hippo Albert vs. Christian and Lance Storm

Storm locks up with Scotty, but finds himself overwhelmed. Albert tags and drops Storm with a press slam and delivers the giant swing to Christian. Albert is briefly isolated, but makes a lukewarm tag to Scotty. The match quickly breaks down and Storm saves Christian from The Worm. The Unprettier finishes Scotty at 2:55.

Jeff and Matt Hardy, accompanied by Lita, make their return after a short hiatus. The Hardy Boyz clean house. Matt’s leg drop is blocked by interference from Storm, shifting the momentum. Storm and Christian try to isolate Matt, but he quickly counters by dropping Christian on the ropes. Jeff gets what is supposed to be a hot tag and delivers some rapid fire offense. Matt saves Jeff from Storm’s Half Crab and a miscue results in Storm knocking out Christian with a kick. The Swanton Bomb finishes Storm at 6:11.

Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley, accompanied by Stacy, are the next team to square off with the Hardy Boyz. The fresh Dudley Boyz quickly gain the upper hand. Bubba counters a superplex but misses a splash off the top. D-Von and Matt get fresh tags, but Matt cleans house. Stacy saves Bubba from Matt’s Twist of Fate, but Lita pounces on her. Bubba attacks Lita and nails Matt with the Bubba Bomb. Lita sneaks in a Lita-carana. The match breaks down until Matt pins D-Von with a roll-up at 10:49. The Dudleyz are sore losers and deliver the 3-D on Jeff on the floor.

Billy and Chuck are the next team. With Jeff down and out, we’re left with Matt in a handicap match situation. Matt does a valiant job fighting off Billy and Chuck initially, but Billy’s Fame-asser ends it at 12:18.

Farooq and Bradshaw are the final team and initiate a brawl. Farooq nails a shoulder block on Chuck and tags in Bradshaw to continue dishing out punishment. Billy and Chuck successfully isolate Farooq for a while. Farooq counters with a Spinebuster on Billy and gets the hot tag to Bradshaw. Billy suffers the Clothesline from Hell and the A.P.A. win at 16:34. This was a typically frustrating Tag Team Turmoil match, as everything felt rushed and no one was in there long enough to gain anything from it, *½.
Winners: Farooq and Bradshaw

Rowe's Music Countdown - 12/12/15

Wave and Rome hangs on to #1 with the endearing single "Wandering Wolf." 

Retro Rowe: WWF Unforgiven 2000

WWE Unforgiven

by Samoa Rowe

September 24th 2000

-From Philadelphia, PA. Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler (with Michael Cole covering for Lawler for a while). The big story going into this show is the return of Stone Cold Steve Austin after missing almost a year of action. Austin is gunning for the man who ran him over.

The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and The APA (Faarooq and Bradshaw) vs. Right to Censor (Val Venis, Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather, and Steven Richards)

The Dudleyz take care of Goodfather in the early going, until the former pimp saves himself with a back drop counter. Buchanan tags but ends up on the receiving end of Bradshaw's swinging neck breaker. Buchanan counters with a springboard elbow. Venis tags but suffers a hard Irish whip from Bradshaw, followed by a fallaway slam. Venis counters D-Von's Irish whip and nails a powerbomb. RTC takes control by isolating D-Von for a short heat sequence. Bubba gets a hot tag and cleans house on RTC. The match quickly breaks down, and the Dudleyz hit the Doomsday Device on Val, but Goodfather saves the match. Richards catches Bubba with the Stevie Kick for the Venis pinfall at 6:02. Kind of a useless opener, with cheap heat vs. spinning wheels, *1/2.
Winners: Right to Censor