The Year in PPV- 2002, Part I

As I continue my journey through the PPV years in the WWE Network, there was one year that I was interested in checking out more than anything: 2002. Wrestling fans love to look at 2002 as one of the better years in the new millennium, as the ending of the Attitude Era and the beginning of the Aggression Era. Likewise, many fans also look down on the year 2002 as the year that the WWF became the WWE, and many claim that the company was never the same afterwards. I can't really argue on either side because I wasn't a fan at the time, so let's just focus on the importance of the year in terms of their shows.

One thing that cannot be ignored is the star power that is featured throughout this year, including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Kane, Rob Van Dam, Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Chris Benoit, Rey Mysterio, Brock Lesnar and so much more that they needed to be split amongst the two brands of RAW and SmackDown. So this year was a very important year in serving as the prototype of a new rivalry between shows (in an attempt to re-create the Monday Night Wars within the company). Like any other year, we would see surprising returns, rising superstars, epic confrontations and so much more, so what is it about 2002 that sticks out in fans minds?

Let's find out...


1. Royal Rumble

The midcard for this event is on the filler side of things, but the show kicks into high gear with its main event matches. The Street Fight between Ric Flair and Mr. McMahon is far from a technical masterpiece, but is a lot of fun and uses the hardcore gimmick to its advantage and makes up for the technical shortcomings of its two performers. The Undisputed Title is defended in a match that nearly steals the show thanks to the charisma and wrestling abilities of Chris Jericho and The Rock. It has its fair share of overbooking, but it is still a match that feels important and not an afterthought when it comes to the winner of the Royal Rumble match.

The Rumble match itself has moments of excitement thanks to the performances of its biggest players. Everyone remembers the segment with Maven and the Undertaker, the showdown between Triple H and Stone Cold Steve Austin, and the return of Mr. Perfect. All of which add moments of suspense to a Rumble match that has its fair share of underwhelming moments. Of course, it's a bit obvious who was going to win the match, but it does set the right kind of tone on the Road to WrestleMania.

Recommended


2. No Way Out

There are tons of matches throughout the night that continue to paint that picture that is the card for WrestleMania, and their developments are the brightest spots of the night. However, the matches are a bit underwhelming and have that feeling of being filler. It's really surprising to say that a card with The Rock vs. The Undertaker, Kurt Angle vs. Triple H, and Chris Jericho vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin is lackluster, but it is because each wrestler involved is only there to hold their spot until WrestleMania, with no glorious pay off or tease at a future feud, as all of these main event players would be facing someone else on the grandest stage of the year.

The biggest impact this show has on the Road to WrestleMania is the debut of the nWo. With Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan making their returns to the company, it was obvious that they would be stirring some form of controversy throughout the night, but it is still entertaining and somewhat surreal to see WCW's biggest source of income standing in a WWF ring.

Skip It


3. WrestleMania X8

This WrestleMania will always be remembered for one moment specifically: The Icon vs. Icon match between Hollywood Hulk Hogan and The Rock. I remember John Cena once said that if you were to mute the match, it would be one of the sloppiest matches you'll ever see. But it is the reactions from the crowd in Toronto's SkyDome that really defined the match as an all-time classic. Many have looked at the rest of the card as underwhelming when compared to this match that should have been the main event of the evening.

That being said, there is solid storytelling to be told in spades throughout the evening. While the main event between Triple H and Chris Jericho is not the greatest (admittedly, it is wrestled very well, but the crowd is drained following the Hogan/Rock match), the story of Triple H's return from injury and challenging Jericho for the Undisputed Championship is the type of cliched underdog story that could only work on a show like WrestleMania. There's also a very solid No Disqualification match between Undertaker and Ric Flair (which is very surprising given the shape that Flair looks out of), and a very good gem of a match between Kurt Angle and Kane. Add that to some solid undercard championship matches, and some rocking performances from Saliva and Drowning Pool, and this has all the makings of a memorable WrestleMania.

The only real dud matches on the card are a lackluster encounter between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Scott Hall, and a feud between Booker T and Edge over a Japanese shampoo commercial (WHAT?). Add some factors, such as Hogan/Rock not being the main event, the silent crowd reactions during the Triple H/Jericho match, some silly moments surrounding the Hardcore Championship throughout the night, and many fans have enough ammunition to disregard this PPV as a whole, but I will go on record to say that it is a very underrated show that should be watched for the amount of hype surrounding one of sports entertainment's greatest moments.

Highly Recommended


4. Backlash

Just like WrestleMania, Backlash feels like a show that is centered on ONE moment, with Hulk Hogan challenging Triple H for the Undisputed Championship, but there are many matches on the card that are more than able to hold their own. Rob Van Dam and Eddie Guerrero have a tremendous match for the Intercontinental Championship, and Kurt Angle and Edge have a strong matchup signifying the potential of Edge moving up the main event picture. This show can also be regarded as the PPV debut of Brock Lesnar, and the match of the night definitely goes to the war between Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin with Ric Flair as guest referee to determine the number one contender for the Undisputed Championship. But when it is time for the main event, it is up to Triple H and Hulk Hogan to deliver a quality main event to end the night on a high note.

Sadly, they are unable to do that. Hogan and Triple H don't have the greatest wrestling chemistry together, and can't rely on the crowd to cover that up with positive reactions (like Hogan could with The Rock at WrestleMania). Still, the match is more about the moment than anything else, and if the fans were able to go home happy, that should be all that matters I guess.

Mild Recommendation


5. Insurrextion

This PPV is just awful. There is nothing of redeeming value throughout this entire show. Every match on the card is a disappointment, and given some of the talent involved, is a shameful effort on the company's behalf. It's a show that took place in the U.K., but does that mean they are entitled to any lesser form of quality than shows in the U.S.? I don't think so. But this show plays like a drawn out episode of RAW (ironic, given that it is a RAW exclusive PPV). It's no wonder why these kinds of PPVs were phased out within the next year, because it was clear the British fans were treated to mediocre filler PPVs with little significance on wrestling history.

The only spot in history this show has is that it was the last PPV under the WWF name. Given the 18 year history of WWF PPVs, it's a shame that THIS was their last show under the name because this show is a terrible way to close out any kind of era in the company's history.

Skip It


Initial Thoughts: There's a lot of good stuff here, but also a lot of stuff that feels like the last bit of scraps from the Attitude Era. Each show has its fair share of epic encounters (except Insurrextion), but require sifting through some underwhelming moments to get there. This would be the final run of PPVs in terms of the company as the WWF, and many would argue the absolute end of the Attitude Era. With the attitude gone, it was time for the newly named WWE to find something different, and they found it in the form of ruthless aggression and the beginning of the Aggression Era.

Continued in Part II...


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The Year in PPV- 2007, Part III

Let's wrap up the year 2007...


11. Unforgiven

The poster should indicate what the main attraction was for this show, but the return of The Undertaker is not enough to save this PPV from its mediocre card. The Phenom returns in a very underwhelming main event match that ranges on squash match territory. The WWE Championship match between John Cena and Randy Orton was the definition of a personal feud, with Orton attacking Cena's father, but the storytelling and results of the match are very disappointing and brief, made even more disappointing that this was the match to signify Cena's year-long reign with the belt.

The World Heavyweight Championship match isn't much to talk about either, a triple threat match between The Great Khali, Rey Mysterio, and Batista. It's not exciting, but not overly offensive either. The show is harmless, but not worth the efforts considering much stronger shows throughout the year.

Skip It


12. No Mercy

After suffering a torn pectoral muscle, John Cena's year-long reign came to an end, leaving the world wondering who would be the next WWE Champion. The most important story on this night was the fate of the championship and the men who fought for it. After the belt was awarded to Randy Orton (Cena's scheduled opponent for the show), it would be defended a total of three times that evening. There was also a lot of buzz about the Punjabi Prison match between Batista and The Great Khali for the World Heavyweight Championship. Nowadays, it's a gimmick match that is completely laughable, but it's worth watching for the ridiculousness and shouldn't need to be taken seriously (picture a modern-day Kennel from Hell, except this gimmick got 2 matches out of it).

As expected, the Chicago crowd adds a boost of energy throughout the night, making this show feel like every moment is a part of history. While that may not be the case for every match in hindsight, it can definitely ring true for the story surrounding the WWE Championship, being the culmination of months of establishing Orton as a top heel, and using Triple H's return to add credibility and set the stage for bigger things down the road. RAW would have to rely on these factors, as well as a few surprises, to carry the show for the next few months while Cena would be out of action for the remainder of the year.

Recommended


13. Cyber Sunday

I love the gimmick of this show: that the fans have ultimate power in deciding what matches take place. They can determine the number one contender for a championship, the type of match they have, special referees for the match, etc. The show itself is a lot of fun, but there's something lacking in quality. The PPV serves as a filler show between No Mercy and Survivor Series, with its only outstanding feature being the fan participation gimmick.

I also wonder about the credibility of the voting process. Does the WWE really have a full match and outcome ready to go if the fans vote Mr. Kennedy or Jeff Hardy to face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship instead of Shawn Michaels? Or what would have happened if the fans voted JBL or Mick Foley to referee the World Heavyweight Championship match instead of Stone Cold Steve Austin? The voting results are VERY predictable, but maybe that has something to do with the demographic of the voters. Who knows what kind of PPV we would have gotten if the internet marks actually wanted to participate in the vote.

Skip It


14. Survivor Series

Survivor Series feels like a variety show, with every match offering something different for the fans. There are some "lesser" matches on the card, including a triple threat match for the ECW Championship, 10-Diva tag team match, and a debacle of a match between Hornswoggle and The Great Khali. The traditional Survivor Series elimination match offers an underdog story between a team of four (Triple H, Rey Mysterio, Kane, and Jeff Hardy) going against a team of five (Umaga, MVP, Mr. Kennedy, Finlay, and Big Daddy V) after Matt Hardy was taken out by MVP, leaving him unable to fight alongside Team Triple H.

The two world title main events offer great storytelling, starting with Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship. In a match where Michaels could not use Sweet Chin Music and Orton could not get himself disqualified, the two must rely on different wrestling styles to win the match, with Michaels implementing a more submission-based style and Orton (theoretically) trying to win the match clean. The World Heavyweight Championship was put on the line in a Hell in a Cell match between Batista and the Undertaker, in a bloody and physical match that would (theoretically) bring their intense rivalry to an end. The two main events add credibility to the show's name, along with the traditional elimination match, as the night feels like a night of survival.

Recommended


15. Armageddon

With the exception of ONE thing, this end is nothing but pure end of the year filler. That ONE thing is Chris Jericho, who after months of leaving cryptic messages airing on WWE programming, made his return to save us from Randy Orton and take the WWE Championship from him. Many of the feuds going into it are short term and only used for this show, leaving little to no impact on wrestling history, including a triple threat main event for the World Heavyweight Championship between Batista, Edge, and the Undertaker, a match that at the time could have been an all-star match between SmackDown's three biggest superstars.

One of the better stories told at Armageddon is in the match between Jeff Hardy and Triple H to determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. There's a great promo that Jeff makes before the match, and the match itself is a great method of developing a potential new face in the main event scene. Apart from that, this PPV is a pretty disappointing way to close out an otherwise impressive momentum of quality PPVs.

Skip It


Final Thoughts: I know not everyone will agree with me, but I will always consider 2007 to be a solid year of wrestling PPVs. While the year does end with a handful of underwhelming shows, each is filled with one or two quality matches featuring top talent. Is it the greatest year in wrestling history? No, absolutely not. But 2007 is the first year of wrestling I ever followed, so it holds a special nostalgic spot in my fandom, and also kept me interested enough to continue watching wrestling and pursue other years and eras of sports entertainment, creating the wrestling historian that is here today.


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The Year in PPV- 2007, Part II

Let's continue looking at 2007...


6. Judgment Day

Here's a surprisingly strong PPV in terms of match quality and the roster of superstars used. If there is a match on the card that lacks in actual wrestling quality, it makes up for in its storytelling, as is the case with a very quick match between Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels that was able to tell the story on a top rising heel for the Summer, as well as a way to get Michaels off TV for a while. Another match that has great storytelling is the WWE Championship match between John Cena and The Great Khali. The match itself is horrible, but the David vs. Goliath story is in full effect and was the first time in a while that majority of the fans were on Cena's side for a match.

While there are a lot of matches that are rematches from Backlash, there are some good forgotten gems, such as CM Punk vs. Elijah Burke, a 2 out of 3 falls match between Chris Benoit (in his last PPV match) and MVP, the beginnings of a fun feud between Edge and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship (after Edge won the belt from Undertaker, writing him off TV for a while so he could recover from injuries) and a solid tag match with The Hardys and Cade and Murdoch. It might not be regarded as one of the greatest PPVs of all time, but it is still a very solid show worth checking out.

Recommended


7. One Night Stand

As a frontrunner to the Extreme Rules PPVs, this edition of One Night Stand is relatively harmless. However, in comparison to the previous ECW: One Night Stand PPVs, this is a HUGE step down in quality. A lot of what occurs during the show are rematches from Judgment Day and add an "extreme" stipulation to the mix (if you can consider Lumberjack Matches or Pudding Fights to be extreme, then more power to you). It's a transitional PPV that doesn't stand out as something that worth watching. Although, give them credit that they made sure EVERY match on the card had a unique stipulation (a lot more than I can say for the Extreme Rules PPVs of recent years).

The only real redeeming match of the night is the ladder match between The Hardys and The World's Greatest Tag Team. Other than that, the rest of the show is forgettable and does not capture the nostalgic fun brought on by its predecessors.

Skip It


8. Vengeance: Night of Champions

Nothing can be said about this PPV without discussing the obvious aftermath that followed it involving Chris Benoit (you know WHO and WHAT I'm talking about). Because of that, any mention of the "Who blew up Mr. McMahon's limo?" storyline is abandoned, all commentary about Benoit is removed (keeping the crowd chants, however), and the PPV has a somber feeling attached to it with recent viewings.

To the show's credit, there are some great matches and moments on the show including a Last Chance match for Batista against Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship, and WWE Championship match between John Cena, Bobby Lashley, King Booker, Randy Orton and Mick Foley that is the definition of "fast and furious" action. The show also feels like an event that is actually letting the current champions work, while also paying respects to champions of the past (something that has really been forgotten in recent Night of Champions PPVs). The only recommendation I can give is if you are intrigued to see a show that is lost in time due to the tragic real-life aftermath of one of WWE's top performers.

On an added note, Benoit's scheduled match that night was against CM Punk to crown a new ECW Champion after the title was vacated. Talk about the potential for an instant classic that we never got to see.

Mild Recommendation


9. The Great American Bash

This is yet another solid PPV from the company, but not without its goofy moments. This PPV is often cited for a match that absolutely BURIED the Cruiserweight division, as well as having a mediocre World Heavyweight Championship match, with The Great Khali as champion (YES, you read that correctly), replacing an injured Edge. There are good overall matches on the undercard though, including a United States Championship match between MVP and Matt Hardy, and an Intercontinental Championship match between Umaga and Jeff Hardy. There's also a fun Texas Bullrope Match between Randy Orton and Dusty Rhodes that kept building Orton as a top heel, while also serving as nostalgic for fans of Rhodes and the original Great American Bash PPVs from back in the day (a young Cody Rhodes also makes his presence known at the match's conclusion).

But this entire PPV was built around one match, a dream match for the WWE Championship: John Cena vs. Bobby Lashley. Throughout the night, they were teasing the match like a big main event feel out of a boxing or MMA showdown. The match is the best possible match the two guys could perform, but is often forgotten due to Lashley's injury and departure from the company soon after. At the time, fans probably thought the match should have ended differently, with Lashley coming out on top. But in hindsight, the match result was important symbolism on who was going to stay loyal to the company for years to come, while also serving as a fitting swan song for Lashley.

Recommended


10. SummerSlam

This SummerSlam has some quality in the roster of superstars competing on the card, but does not have the greatest quality matches in SummerSlam history. There's a solid outing between John Cena and Randy Orton for the WWE Championship, which felt like the culmination of two of 2007's biggest stories: John Cena's lengthy World Title reign and Randy Orton's ascension as top heel by being a ruthless and sadistic Viper.

Other than that, SummerSlam will best be remembered as the night two superstars returned from injury. On the SmackDown side, Rey Mysterio returned to seek revenge on Chavo Guerrero for (storyline) injuring his knee. And on the RAW side, it was time for King Booker to play the game, as Triple H made his return in match to see who WWE's true King was. Both matches are good enough, but there seems to be a lack of surprise in both matches (obviously, they aren't going to have the returning superstars lose their matches right?). But the returns themselves are entertaining moments in SummerSlam history, and for that, the match quality is forgivable.

Mild Recommendation


Thoughts: 2007 continues a steady wave of momentum with many strong PPVs thanks to its mixture of match quality and talented superstars. With the returns of Rey Mysterio and Triple H, the injuries of The Undertaker and Edge, and many more important returns and injuries to come, this serves as a good midpoint for the year, as things are about to get BIGGER to close out the year.

Concluded in Part III...


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