Four Way Elimination Tag Team Title Match – The Hardy Boyz vs.
Hurricane/Lance Storm vs. Big Show/Spike Dudley vs. The Dudley Boyz (C)
First off, why were there two tag teams in this match who do not tag
regularly? And beyond that, aren’t the Big Show and Billy Gunn supposed
to be a team? What the hell? Why weren’t the Acolytes or another
established team put into this match instead? The Dudleys got the win,
which made me happy as far as the end result, but too much Big Show and
no Lita or Molly Holly ringside didn’t help anything for my opinion of
this match. Yuck.
Raven (w/Terri) vs. Saturn
Yeah, it’d help if either of these guys were over at all. Not the case,
and it showed. The Pittsburgh crowd was pretty dead all night, but
during this match they were even more quiet. Saturn wins it, and the
only reason he got any reaction was because everyone was thanking God
this match was over.
Intercontinental Title Match – Christian vs. Edge (C)
I was expecting this to be a really great match. I was wrong. Maybe it
was because they are so used to working with each other, but not against
each other. I’m not exactly sure what was missing from this match. The
buildup was there, but it just felt like an awkward match as I was
watching it, and the ending was awkward as well. Christian wins with a
low blow?! What the hell?! Low blow followed by a finishing move?
Okay, sure. But just a low blow? Uggh. I hope if there’s a rematch
that it lives up to the reputation that both of these guys have as solid
entertainers, because this did not.
WCW Tag Team Title Match – Kronik (w/ Steven Richards) vs.
Undertaker/Kane (C)
Oh my god. I haven’t seen so much no selling in one match in a long
time. Brian Adams is horrible, and the Undertaker is right there with
him. Two friends no selling each other’s moves, great. You know
something is wrong when Kane is doing the most selling in the match.
Actually, Kane was the only redeeming quality of this match, period.
Brian Clark I might be able to excuse if he wasn’t stuck with Adams,
which just makes him seem bad too. Leg drops, clotheslines, punches…and
no selling. Undertaker wins it with a chokeslam, because he’s too old
and crappy now to do the Last Ride to anyone bigger than 250lbs. Great,
I hope that doesn’t mean a rematch. Kane..I’m sorry you have to be
associated with these giant jackasses man.
WWF HardCore Match – Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam (C)
Normally anything RVD is involved with is pure gold, but this match was
disappointing. It seemed to me like there was many awkwardly worked
spots, like maybe the two guys weren’t quite sure what to do with each
other. The ending was nice however, with Stephanie distracting Y2J and
allowing RVD to hit the Vanterminator and the Five-Star Frog Splash for
the victory.
Handicap WCW Title Match – Shane McMahon & Booker T vs. The Rock (C)
Shane usually makes his mark on PPVs like this, with huge risk taking
moves, or just taking an absolute ass kicking like he did at KOTR.
However, this match was mostly right hands and clotheslines, as that
seems to be the only moves the Rock really knows anymore. Booker T was
made out to be weak, again, during this match, Rock beats two men,
retains the title, and it wasn’t even that good of a match.
WCW United States Title Match – Rhyno vs. Tajiri (C) (w/Torrie)
This match was pretty decent, but was placed after the WCW title match
and before the WWF title match and seemed very out of place. It was
also extremely short and seemed better suited for a RIW or Smackdown
format. Rhyno won it with the gore, Gore, GORE to become the new U.S.
Champion.
WWF Title Match – Kurt Angle vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (C)
Good match, very good match. They fought on the outside, on the stage,
in the ring, everywhere. It was a good main event. Angle was
super-over, and rightfully so, it being his hometown and all. The fans
in attendance finally woke up after the other matches to cheer their
hometown boy. One problem with this match – the ending. What the hell?
Austin gets trapped in the ankle lock and taps, that’s fine. But he
put up this big fight and got to where he could have reached the ropes,
and then tapped! Huh? I don’t get it. Angle should have pulled him
back to the center of the ring or something. Anyway, Angle is the new
WWF Champion, and that really shouldn’t
surprise anyone. After he won, his family and the entire WWF locker
room emptied to celebrate with him. Pretty cool moment, and an all in
all good main event.
With a couple of exceptions, Unforgiven was extremely lackluster. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come, because if it is, all I can do is hope for the speedy return of Triple H (not that I wasn’t hoping for that anyway). But that’s my piece for now, so until next time…
