Unforgiven (2001)
Encyclopedia
Unforgiven 2001 was the fourth Unforgiven
professional wrestling
pay-per-view
(PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Federation
(WWF). The event took place on September 23, 2001 at the Mellon Arena
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the first WWF pay-per-view held since the September 11 attacks on United States, as a result of this, a tribute to the victims was held in the event.
The main event was a standard wrestling match for the WWF Championship
. Alliance representative Stone Cold Steve Austin
defended the title against WWF representative Kurt Angle
. Angle defeated Austin to win the title by forcing him to tap out to the Ankle Lock.
Two predominant matches were The Rock versus Booker T
and Shane McMahon
in a Handicap match for the WCW Championship
, and Rob Van Dam
versus Chris Jericho
for the WWF Hardcore Championship
.
The undercard featured Tajiri
versus Rhino for the WCW United States Championship
, Brothers of Destruction
(The Undertaker and Kane
) versus KroniK
(Brian Adams
and Bryan Clark
) for the WCW Tag Team Championship
, Edge versus Christian for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
, Perry Saturn versus Raven and Dudley Boyz
(Bubba Ray and D-Von) versus Big Show
and Spike Dudley
, Lance Storm
and The Hurricane
and Hardy Boyz
(Matt
and Jeff
) in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship.
that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines
that were played out on Raw is War
and SmackDown—World Wrestling Federation
's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain
or a hero
as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
The predominant rivalry
heading into Unforgiven was between Stone Cold Steve Austin
and Kurt Angle
over the WWF Championship
. At SummerSlam
, Angle challenged Austin for the WWF Championship but at the end, Austin intentionally got disqualified in his title defense against Angle by attacking several referees
. As a result, Austin retained the title. The following night, on Raw is War
, Austin held an "appreciation night" on retaining the title against Angle and was appreciated by several members of The Alliance. However, Angle interrupted the appreciation night and ruined it by entering in a milk truck and spraying milk on all the Alliance members. On August 27 edition of Raw is War, Austin stole Angle's Olympic
gold medal
s after a tag team
match pitting Angle and Chris Jericho
against the WWF Hardcore Champion
Rob Van Dam
and Tazz
. Austin went on to throw Angle's medals into the Detroit River
. On September 3 edition of Raw is War, Angle threatened to throw Austin into a river in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
if he did not give him a WWF Championship rematch at Unforgiven. Austin agreed to defend the title against Angle in a rematch at Unforgiven. Angle then told Austin that he's still going in the water and proved his point by shoving Austin into the pool of water that was sitting on the street.
Another predominant rivalry heading into Unforgiven was between The Rock and the team of Booker T and Shane McMahon
over the WCW Championship. The Rock returned to the WWF on the July 30, 2001 edition of Raw, where he chose to align himself with the WWF instead of The Alliance for The Invasion. This action was shown by The Rock delivering a Rock Bottom and the people's elbow onto Shane McMahon
, The Alliance leader. At SummerSlam, Rock defeated Booker to win the WCW title. On August 27 edition of Raw is War, McMahon announced that Rock would defend the title against Rhyno later in the night but Rock challenged McMahon to a match, which McMahon initially accepted before escaping. Rock would retain the title against Rhyno. On August 30 edition of SmackDown, Booker and McMahon cost Rock and Chris Jericho, a tag team match against the WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam and Rhyno. On September 4 edition of SmackDown, McMahon announced that Rock would defend the title against Booker and himself in a Handicap match at Unforgiven. The following week on Raw Is War, The Rock won the Handicap match by defeating Shane's sister Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Test then on September 17, The Rock lost to Stephanie and Test in the same match due to interference by Shane McMahon and Booker T.
On three occasions, Chris Jericho and the WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam wrestled each other in several tag team matches with different partners. This eventually led to a title defense for RVD against Jericho at Unforgiven.
On September 3 edition of Raw is War, Steven Richards
attacked one half of the WCW
and WWF Tag Team Champions Brothers of Destruction
, The Undertaker during his match with Test. This led to a match between Undertaker and Richards on the next night on SmackDown. Before their match, Richards explained that he had attacked Undertaker because he considered Undertaker responsible for the disbanding of his faction Right to Censor
. As Undertaker and Richards' match started, former WCW Tag Team Champions KroniK
(Brian Adams
and Bryan Clark
) debuted in WWF and attacked Undertaker. The following week on Raw Is War, Richards interfered in The Undertaker's match against Booker T. Afterwords, as Undertaker was about to perform a Last Ride
on Richards, Adams and Clark took down Undertaker with the clothesline and finished him off with a double chokeslam through the announce table. On September 17 edition of Raw is War, KroniK cost Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane
), the WWF Tag Team Championship against Dudley Boyz
(Bubba Ray and D-Von). After the match, the on-screen
WCW Owner Shane McMahon
announced that Brothers of Destruction would defend the WCW Tag Team Championship against KroniK at Unforgiven.
After Edge won the 2001 King of the Ring tournament
, his tag team partner
Christian started growing jealous of him and insisted on carrying his King of the Ring trophy. Apart from winning the King of the Ring tournament, Edge found more success by defeating Lance Storm
for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
at SummerSlam
. On the other hand, Christian failed in his respective title opportunities against Matt Hardy
for the WWF European Championship
and The Rock for the WCW Championship. On September 3 edition of Raw is War, Christian turned on Edge by hitting him a One-man Con-chair-to after Edge successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Lance Storm. The following night on SmackDown, Christian announced that he attacked Edge because he wanted an Intercontinental Championship title shot and announced that he would wrestle Edge for the title at Unforgiven. On the September 10 edition of Raw Is War, the night before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Christian defeated Billy Gunn
by using his feet on the ropes for leverage. He followed it by nailing Gunn with a chair to the head and finishing him off with the One-man Con-chair-to. The following week, Christian was going to finish off the WCW United States Champion
Tajiri
with the same move until Edge returned and attacked him from behind, only to be restrained by the referees and enabling Christian to leave the ring and walk to the back.
On September 17 edition of Raw is War, Tajiri retained the WCW United States Championship
against Christian by getting disqualified but was attacked by Christian and his ribs were injured. As Tajiri was being accompanied to the backstage by his valet Torrie Wilson
, Rhyno attacked him by hitting him a Gore. As a result, the WCW Owner Shane McMahon announced that Tajiri would defend the United States Championship against Rhyno at Unforgiven.
On September 17 edition of Raw is War, Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Brothers of Destruction for the WWF Tag Team Championship. During this time, two new tag teams were formed, consisting of Big Show
and Spike Dudley
and the team of Lance Storm and the WWF European Champion The Hurricane
. Hardy Boyz were also in contention for the titles. On the September 20 edition of SmackDown!, The Hurricane and Lance Storm defeated Spike Dudley and The Big Show. After the match, the Dudley boyz attacked Spike & The Big Show and followed it by double suplexing The Big Show through a table
. Later that night, The Hardy Boyz defeated the WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz, in a non-title match when Spike Dudley interfered. Afterwords, the Dudleyz retaliated by performing a 3D on Matt Hardy through a table. As a result, a Four Corners Elimination match was made between the four teams for the Tag Team Championship at Unforgiven.
On June 21 edition of SmackDown, Perry Saturn discovered a mop
during a match against Test for the WWF Hardcore Championship. He carried the mop around with him for several months. He dismissed his valet, Terri Runnels
, and kept the mop, which he named Moppy, in his corner during matches. Runnels and Raven eventually stole Moppy and destroyed it in a wood chipper
, which led to a match at Unforgiven. On the last edition of SmackDown!, after Raven lost to Rob Van Dam in a Hardcore match
, Perry Saturn charged to the ring and attacked Raven until Terri caused a distracted, enabling Raven to perform a Raven Effect
on Saturn.
wrestled Tommy Dreamer
on a live edition of Sunday Night Heat
. Gunn hit Dreamer a Fameasser to win the match.
performed "America the Beautiful
" in the honor of the victims of the World Trade Center
attacks on September 11. The first match that took place was a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Dudley Boyz
(Bubba Ray and D-Von) defended the title against Big Show
and Spike Dudley
, Lance Storm
and the WWF European Champion
The Hurricane
and Hardy Boyz
(Matt
and Jeff
). Big Show dominated Dudley Boyz until Show and D-Von tagged out. Jeff and Hurricane entered the ring and battled each other. The tagging continued until Spike fought Storm when Storm accidentally attacked his partner Hurricane. Spike took advantage and hit Storm with the Dudley Dog and soon tagged in his partner Big Show. Big Show threw Spike on Dudley Boyz and Hardy Boyz and chokeslam
med Storm to eliminate Storm and Hurricane. Big Show tagged in Spike and Matt came in. Matt quickly hit Spike with a Twist of Fate to eliminate Big Show and Spike. The match was left between Dudley Boyz and Hardy Boyz. The two teams battled each other until Bubba Ray hit a Bubba Bomb allowing D-Von to pin Matt to win the match and retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.
The second match was between Perry Saturn and Raven. Raven dominated earlier part of the match and kept on tossing Saturn outside the ring to prevent him from returning to the ring. Raven tried to attack Saturn outside the ring but was attacked by Saturn instead. Saturn started dominating Raven until Raven tried to finish Saturn with a Raven Effect. However, Saturn reversed it into a Three Handled Moss Covered Family Credenza to win the match.
The third match featured Edge defending the WWF Intercontinental Championship
against Christian. As Edge entered the ring, Christian started attacking him. The two exchanged punches until Christian retreated to the ringside. Edge followed Christian outside the ring and the two battled each other on the rampway. The action returned to the ring where Christian dominated Edge for much of the match. Edge started using illegal moves on Christian until Christian hit Edge with his own finisher, an Impaler DDT. Christian got a near-fall and attempted to hit Edge with a One man Con chair to but Edge avoided the move and tried to hit a One Man Con chair to on Christian but the referee
snatched the chair from Edge. Christian took advantage and low blowed
Edge, followed by a successful pinfall attempt. As a result, Christian won the Intercontinental Championship.
The fourth match was a tag team
match for the WCW Tag Team Championship
. Brothers of Destruction
(The Undertaker and Kane
) defended the titles against KroniK
(Brian Adams
and Bryan Clark
). Undertaker and Kane started fighting KroniK outside the ring until Undertaker and Adams started the match as the legal competitors. All the four men were billed as superheavyweights and used their bigger moves on each other in the match. KroniK got control of the match when Undertaker tried to hit an Old School on Clark but Clark countered by low blowing Undertaker. KroniK double-teamed Undertaker for much of the match until Kane was tagged in. He tried to hit a Double Chokeslam on Adams and Clark but Adams and Clark countered by punching him. Undertaker entered to help Kane. Kane cleared the ring of Adams and Undertaker chokeslammed Clark to win the match and retain the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Next was Rob Van Dam
defending the WWF Hardcore Championship
against Chris Jericho
. Jericho and RVD started punching each other until RVD started getting momentum after gaining crowd support. He tossed Jericho outside the ring and tried to hit him a Spinning Heel Kick on the security barrier. However, Jericho avoided the move and RVD's feet were injured. Jericho grabbed a ladder from under the ring and attacked RVD with it. Jericho suplex
ed RVD on the ladder until RVD recovered and suplexed Jericho on the ladder. Both men were down until Jericho recovered and applied the Walls of Jericho
on RVD. RVD escaped the move and Jericho attempted to hit a Lionsault but RVD avoided the move. RVD took advantage and tried to hit a Five Star Frog Splash on Jericho but Jericho avoided the move. Jericho tried to hit RVD with the ladder but RVD knocked him down. The two battled on the ladder until RVD escaped the ring. Jericho tried to dive from the ladder
on RVD outside the ring but missed and hit the ring barrier. Jericho began dominating RVD by tossing him into the steel steps. Jericho started attacking RVD with the chair until the ECW
Owner Stephanie McMahon distracted Jericho. RVD took advantage and hit Jericho, a Van Daminator and a Five-Star Frog Splash to win the match and retain the Hardcore Championship.
The sixth match featured The Rock defending the WCW Championship
against Booker T
and Shane McMahon
in a Handicap match. Rock dominated Booker and McMahon in the earlier part of the match until Booker and McMahon started double-teaming Rock. At one point, McMahon tried to hit Rock with the WCW title but Rock avoided and Booker was hit with the belt instead. McMahon also hit Rock with the belt. McMahon attempted to hit a Leap of Faith on Rock but he rolled away. Booker was tagged in but Rock hit Booker and McMahon a Double Clothesline. Rock hit McMahon, a Rock Bottom and a Spinebuster on Booker. Test interfered in the match and prevented Rock from winning the match. Bradshaw
came out to prevent Test from interfering. Booker tried to pin Rock but Mike Chioda
and a WWF referee attacked the WCW referee Nick Patrick
, who was refereeing the match. Earl Hebner
replaced Patrick and took over as the official. Rock hit Booker a Rock Bottom to win the match and retain the WCW Championship.
In the final match on the undercard, Tajiri
defended the WCW United States Championship
against Rhyno. Rhyno started attacking Tajiri's injured ribs until Tajiri started to fight Rhyno. Tajiri's valet Torrie Wilson
checked on him until Rhyno hit Wilson with a Gore. Tajiri hit a Buzzsaw Kick
on Rhyno. Rhyno continued to beat on Tajiri and hit him a Gore to win the United States Championship.
The main event featured Stone Cold Steve Austin
defending the WWF Championship
against Kurt Angle
. As Austin was making his entrance, Angle started attacking him outside the ring. The action started in the ring where Angle continued to assault Austin. Austin tried to escape the ring on many occasions but Angle followed him outside the ring and attacked him and brought him inside the ring. However, Angle's injured neck eventually started getting hurt and Austin focused on further injuring his neck. Angle eventually hit Austin, three German Suplexes. However, in the third German suplex, Angle injured his neck as he had landed on his own neck. Austin took advantage and attacked Angle. Angle eventually hit Austin with his own finsher a Stone Cold Stunner
but got a near-fall. Austin proceeded by hitting Angle's own finisher, a Angle Slam but got a near-fall. Austin followed by hitting a Piledriver
on Angle but Angle kicked out of the pinfall attempt. Austin attempted to finish Angle by attempting a Stone Cold Stunner but Angle countered it into an Ankle Lock. Austin tapped out to the hold. As a result, Angle became the new WWF Champion. Following his title win, Angle celebrated with his family until the entire WWF roster came out to congratulate him on his title win.
to Kurt Angle
, Stone Cold Steve Austin
continued his pursuit for the title. On October 8 edition of Raw is War
, Austin defeated Angle to win the WWF Championship, with the help of the on-screen
WWF Commissioner William Regal. With this, Regal joined The Alliance and became Alliance Commissioner. Austin was also feud
ing with his Alliance teammate, the WWF Hardcore Champion
Rob Van Dam
over the leadership of Alliance. As a result, Mick Foley
made a Triple Threat match for the WWF title at No Mercy
, pitting Austin against RVD and Angle. At No Mercy, Austin pinned RVD after a Stone Cold Stunner
to retain the title.
After unsuccessfully challenging Rob Van Dam for the WWF Hardcore Championship at Unforgiven, Chris Jericho
continued his rivalry with RVD and Jericho's main eventer push
started. On October 11 edition of SmackDown, Jericho defeated RVD in a #1 contender's match for the WCW Championship
. At No Mercy, Jericho defeated The Rock to win the WCW Championship.
WWE Unforgiven
Unforgiven was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, which had been held in September since the 1999 edition. It originally started out as a In Your House pay-per-view event in April and featured the infamous Inferno match between The...
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
(PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). The event took place on September 23, 2001 at the Mellon Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was the first WWF pay-per-view held since the September 11 attacks on United States, as a result of this, a tribute to the victims was held in the event.
The main event was a standard wrestling match for the WWF Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
. Alliance representative Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
defended the title against WWF representative Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
. Angle defeated Austin to win the title by forcing him to tap out to the Ankle Lock.
Two predominant matches were The Rock versus Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
in a Handicap match for the WCW Championship
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation . It existed within WCW between 1991 and 2001. Following the acquisition of WCW by World Wrestling...
, and Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
versus Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
for the WWF Hardcore Championship
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
.
The undercard featured Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
versus Rhino for the WCW United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
, Brothers of Destruction
Brothers of Destruction
The Brothers of Destruction was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Kane, both currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown roster.-History:...
(The Undertaker and Kane
Kane (wrestler)
Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury....
) versus KroniK
KroniK
KroniK was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Brian Adams and Bryan Clark. Their name was based on the word "chronic", a slang term for marijuana.-World Championship Wrestling :...
(Brian Adams
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
and Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
) for the WCW Tag Team Championship
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
, Edge versus Christian for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
, Perry Saturn versus Raven and Dudley Boyz
Dudley Boyz
Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
(Bubba Ray and D-Von) versus Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
and Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
, Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
and The Hurricane
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
and Hardy Boyz
Hardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy...
(Matt
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Jeff
Jeff Hardy
Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion...
) in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship.
Background
Unforgiven featured professional wrestling matchesProfessional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines
Narrative thread
A narrative thread, or plot thread , refers to particular elements and techniques of writing to center the story in the action or experience of characters rather than to relate a matter in a dry 'All knowing' sort of narration...
that were played out on Raw is War
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
and SmackDown—World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's (WWF) television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
or a hero
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
The predominant rivalry
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
heading into Unforgiven was between Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
and Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
over the WWF Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
. At SummerSlam
SummerSlam (2001)
SummerSlam was the fourteenth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 19, 2001 at the Compaq Center in San Jose, California...
, Angle challenged Austin for the WWF Championship but at the end, Austin intentionally got disqualified in his title defense against Angle by attacking several referees
Referee (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring...
. As a result, Austin retained the title. The following night, on Raw is War
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, Austin held an "appreciation night" on retaining the title against Angle and was appreciated by several members of The Alliance. However, Angle interrupted the appreciation night and ruined it by entering in a milk truck and spraying milk on all the Alliance members. On August 27 edition of Raw is War, Austin stole Angle's Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s after a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
match pitting Angle and Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
against the WWF Hardcore Champion
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Tazz
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
. Austin went on to throw Angle's medals into the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
. On September 3 edition of Raw is War, Angle threatened to throw Austin into a river in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
if he did not give him a WWF Championship rematch at Unforgiven. Austin agreed to defend the title against Angle in a rematch at Unforgiven. Angle then told Austin that he's still going in the water and proved his point by shoving Austin into the pool of water that was sitting on the street.
Another predominant rivalry heading into Unforgiven was between The Rock and the team of Booker T and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
over the WCW Championship. The Rock returned to the WWF on the July 30, 2001 edition of Raw, where he chose to align himself with the WWF instead of The Alliance for The Invasion. This action was shown by The Rock delivering a Rock Bottom and the people's elbow onto Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
, The Alliance leader. At SummerSlam, Rock defeated Booker to win the WCW title. On August 27 edition of Raw is War, McMahon announced that Rock would defend the title against Rhyno later in the night but Rock challenged McMahon to a match, which McMahon initially accepted before escaping. Rock would retain the title against Rhyno. On August 30 edition of SmackDown, Booker and McMahon cost Rock and Chris Jericho, a tag team match against the WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam and Rhyno. On September 4 edition of SmackDown, McMahon announced that Rock would defend the title against Booker and himself in a Handicap match at Unforgiven. The following week on Raw Is War, The Rock won the Handicap match by defeating Shane's sister Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Test then on September 17, The Rock lost to Stephanie and Test in the same match due to interference by Shane McMahon and Booker T.
On three occasions, Chris Jericho and the WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam wrestled each other in several tag team matches with different partners. This eventually led to a title defense for RVD against Jericho at Unforgiven.
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
attacked one half of the WCW
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
and WWF Tag Team Champions Brothers of Destruction
Brothers of Destruction
The Brothers of Destruction was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Kane, both currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown roster.-History:...
, The Undertaker during his match with Test. This led to a match between Undertaker and Richards on the next night on SmackDown. Before their match, Richards explained that he had attacked Undertaker because he considered Undertaker responsible for the disbanding of his faction Right to Censor
Right to Censor
The Right to Censor was a professional wrestling faction in the World Wrestling Federation from mid-2000 to early 2001...
. As Undertaker and Richards' match started, former WCW Tag Team Champions KroniK
KroniK
KroniK was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Brian Adams and Bryan Clark. Their name was based on the word "chronic", a slang term for marijuana.-World Championship Wrestling :...
(Brian Adams
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
and Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
) debuted in WWF and attacked Undertaker. The following week on Raw Is War, Richards interfered in The Undertaker's match against Booker T. Afterwords, as Undertaker was about to perform a Last Ride
Powerbomb
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
on Richards, Adams and Clark took down Undertaker with the clothesline and finished him off with a double chokeslam through the announce table. On September 17 edition of Raw is War, KroniK cost Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane
Kane (wrestler)
Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury....
), the WWF Tag Team Championship against Dudley Boyz
Dudley Boyz
Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
(Bubba Ray and D-Von). After the match, the on-screen
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
WCW Owner Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
announced that Brothers of Destruction would defend the WCW Tag Team Championship against KroniK at Unforgiven.
After Edge won the 2001 King of the Ring tournament
King of the Ring (2001)
King of the Ring was the ninth annual King of the Ring professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Federation . It took place on June 24, 2001 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey....
, his tag team partner
Edge and Christian
Edge and Christian was a tag team made of real life best friends Edge and Christian , who performed in WWE and the Canadian independent circuit. They won the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven occasions...
Christian started growing jealous of him and insisted on carrying his King of the Ring trophy. Apart from winning the King of the Ring tournament, Edge found more success by defeating Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
for the WWF Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
at SummerSlam
SummerSlam (2001)
SummerSlam was the fourteenth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 19, 2001 at the Compaq Center in San Jose, California...
. On the other hand, Christian failed in his respective title opportunities against Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
for the WWF European Championship
WWE European Championship
The WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
and The Rock for the WCW Championship. On September 3 edition of Raw is War, Christian turned on Edge by hitting him a One-man Con-chair-to after Edge successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Lance Storm. The following night on SmackDown, Christian announced that he attacked Edge because he wanted an Intercontinental Championship title shot and announced that he would wrestle Edge for the title at Unforgiven. On the September 10 edition of Raw Is War, the night before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Christian defeated Billy Gunn
Monty Sopp
Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James...
by using his feet on the ropes for leverage. He followed it by nailing Gunn with a chair to the head and finishing him off with the One-man Con-chair-to. The following week, Christian was going to finish off the WCW United States Champion
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
with the same move until Edge returned and attacked him from behind, only to be restrained by the referees and enabling Christian to leave the ring and walk to the back.
On September 17 edition of Raw is War, Tajiri retained the WCW United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
against Christian by getting disqualified but was attacked by Christian and his ribs were injured. As Tajiri was being accompanied to the backstage by his valet Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson
Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
, Rhyno attacked him by hitting him a Gore. As a result, the WCW Owner Shane McMahon announced that Tajiri would defend the United States Championship against Rhyno at Unforgiven.
On September 17 edition of Raw is War, Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Brothers of Destruction for the WWF Tag Team Championship. During this time, two new tag teams were formed, consisting of Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
and Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
and the team of Lance Storm and the WWF European Champion The Hurricane
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
. Hardy Boyz were also in contention for the titles. On the September 20 edition of SmackDown!, The Hurricane and Lance Storm defeated Spike Dudley and The Big Show. After the match, the Dudley boyz attacked Spike & The Big Show and followed it by double suplexing The Big Show through a table
Table (furniture)
A table is a form of furniture with a flat and satisfactory horizontal upper surface used to support objects of interest, for storage, show, and/or manipulation...
. Later that night, The Hardy Boyz defeated the WWF Tag Team Champions, The Dudley Boyz, in a non-title match when Spike Dudley interfered. Afterwords, the Dudleyz retaliated by performing a 3D on Matt Hardy through a table. As a result, a Four Corners Elimination match was made between the four teams for the Tag Team Championship at Unforgiven.
On June 21 edition of SmackDown, Perry Saturn discovered a mop
Mop
A mop is a mass or bundle of coarse strings or yarn, etc., or a piece of cloth, sponge, or other absorbent material, attached to a pole or stick. It is used to soak up liquid, for cleaning floors and other surfaces, or to mop up dust, or for other cleaning purposes...
during a match against Test for the WWF Hardcore Championship. He carried the mop around with him for several months. He dismissed his valet, Terri Runnels
Terri Runnels
Terri Lynne Boatright Runnels is a former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling manager, television host and occasional wrestler....
, and kept the mop, which he named Moppy, in his corner during matches. Runnels and Raven eventually stole Moppy and destroyed it in a wood chipper
Woodchipper
A tree chipper or wood chipper is a machine used for reducing wood into smaller parts, such as wood chips or sawdust. They are often portable, being mounted on wheels on frames suitable for towing behind a truck or van. Power is generally provided by an internal combustion engine from to...
, which led to a match at Unforgiven. On the last edition of SmackDown!, after Raven lost to Rob Van Dam in a Hardcore match
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
, Perry Saturn charged to the ring and attacked Raven until Terri caused a distracted, enabling Raven to perform a Raven Effect
DDT (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
on Saturn.
Event
Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Billy GunnMonty Sopp
Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James...
wrestled Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
on a live edition of Sunday Night Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
. Gunn hit Dreamer a Fameasser to win the match.
Preliminary matches
As the event concluded, Jennifer HollidayJennifer Holliday
Jennifer-Yvette Holliday is an African-American singer and Tony Award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls, and later became a successful recording artist...
performed "America the Beautiful
America the Beautiful
"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward....
" in the honor of the victims of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
attacks on September 11. The first match that took place was a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Dudley Boyz
Dudley Boyz
Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
(Bubba Ray and D-Von) defended the title against Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
and Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
, Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
and the WWF European Champion
WWE European Championship
The WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
The Hurricane
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
and Hardy Boyz
Hardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy...
(Matt
Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
and Jeff
Jeff Hardy
Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion...
). Big Show dominated Dudley Boyz until Show and D-Von tagged out. Jeff and Hurricane entered the ring and battled each other. The tagging continued until Spike fought Storm when Storm accidentally attacked his partner Hurricane. Spike took advantage and hit Storm with the Dudley Dog and soon tagged in his partner Big Show. Big Show threw Spike on Dudley Boyz and Hardy Boyz and chokeslam
Chokeslam
A chokeslam refers to a type of body slam in professional wrestling in which the wrestler grasps their opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks powerful on camera...
med Storm to eliminate Storm and Hurricane. Big Show tagged in Spike and Matt came in. Matt quickly hit Spike with a Twist of Fate to eliminate Big Show and Spike. The match was left between Dudley Boyz and Hardy Boyz. The two teams battled each other until Bubba Ray hit a Bubba Bomb allowing D-Von to pin Matt to win the match and retain the WWF Tag Team Championship.
The second match was between Perry Saturn and Raven. Raven dominated earlier part of the match and kept on tossing Saturn outside the ring to prevent him from returning to the ring. Raven tried to attack Saturn outside the ring but was attacked by Saturn instead. Saturn started dominating Raven until Raven tried to finish Saturn with a Raven Effect. However, Saturn reversed it into a Three Handled Moss Covered Family Credenza to win the match.
The third match featured Edge defending the WWF Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
against Christian. As Edge entered the ring, Christian started attacking him. The two exchanged punches until Christian retreated to the ringside. Edge followed Christian outside the ring and the two battled each other on the rampway. The action returned to the ring where Christian dominated Edge for much of the match. Edge started using illegal moves on Christian until Christian hit Edge with his own finisher, an Impaler DDT. Christian got a near-fall and attempted to hit Edge with a One man Con chair to but Edge avoided the move and tried to hit a One Man Con chair to on Christian but the referee
Referee (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring...
snatched the chair from Edge. Christian took advantage and low blowed
Groin attack
A groin attack is an attempt to cause pain to the groin area of one's opponent. The technique can be quickly debilitating, due to the large number of sensitive nerve endings in the penis and testicles of males, as well as the highly innervated vulva of females. A sufficiently powerful blow may...
Edge, followed by a successful pinfall attempt. As a result, Christian won the Intercontinental Championship.
The fourth match was a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
match for the WCW Tag Team Championship
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
. Brothers of Destruction
Brothers of Destruction
The Brothers of Destruction was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Kane, both currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown roster.-History:...
(The Undertaker and Kane
Kane (wrestler)
Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury....
) defended the titles against KroniK
KroniK
KroniK was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Brian Adams and Bryan Clark. Their name was based on the word "chronic", a slang term for marijuana.-World Championship Wrestling :...
(Brian Adams
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
and Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
). Undertaker and Kane started fighting KroniK outside the ring until Undertaker and Adams started the match as the legal competitors. All the four men were billed as superheavyweights and used their bigger moves on each other in the match. KroniK got control of the match when Undertaker tried to hit an Old School on Clark but Clark countered by low blowing Undertaker. KroniK double-teamed Undertaker for much of the match until Kane was tagged in. He tried to hit a Double Chokeslam on Adams and Clark but Adams and Clark countered by punching him. Undertaker entered to help Kane. Kane cleared the ring of Adams and Undertaker chokeslammed Clark to win the match and retain the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Next was Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
defending the WWF Hardcore Championship
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
against Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
. Jericho and RVD started punching each other until RVD started getting momentum after gaining crowd support. He tossed Jericho outside the ring and tried to hit him a Spinning Heel Kick on the security barrier. However, Jericho avoided the move and RVD's feet were injured. Jericho grabbed a ladder from under the ring and attacked RVD with it. Jericho suplex
Suplex
A suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
ed RVD on the ladder until RVD recovered and suplexed Jericho on the ladder. Both men were down until Jericho recovered and applied the Walls of Jericho
Boston crab
The Boston crab is a professional wrestling hold that typically starts with the opponent lying supine on the mat, with the wrestler standing and facing them. It is a type of spinal lock where the wrestler hooks each of the opponent’s legs in one of his arms, and then turns the opponent face-down,...
on RVD. RVD escaped the move and Jericho attempted to hit a Lionsault but RVD avoided the move. RVD took advantage and tried to hit a Five Star Frog Splash on Jericho but Jericho avoided the move. Jericho tried to hit RVD with the ladder but RVD knocked him down. The two battled on the ladder until RVD escaped the ring. Jericho tried to dive from the ladder
Professional wrestling aerial techniques
Aerial techniques are maneuvers, using the ring and its posts and ropes as aids, used in professional wrestling to show off the speed and agility of a wrestler. These moves are mainly done by smaller, quicker wrestlers who are unable to do most of the power moves. There is a wide variety of aerial...
on RVD outside the ring but missed and hit the ring barrier. Jericho began dominating RVD by tossing him into the steel steps. Jericho started attacking RVD with the chair until the ECW
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
Owner Stephanie McMahon distracted Jericho. RVD took advantage and hit Jericho, a Van Daminator and a Five-Star Frog Splash to win the match and retain the Hardcore Championship.
Main event matches
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation . It existed within WCW between 1991 and 2001. Following the acquisition of WCW by World Wrestling...
against Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
and Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
in a Handicap match. Rock dominated Booker and McMahon in the earlier part of the match until Booker and McMahon started double-teaming Rock. At one point, McMahon tried to hit Rock with the WCW title but Rock avoided and Booker was hit with the belt instead. McMahon also hit Rock with the belt. McMahon attempted to hit a Leap of Faith on Rock but he rolled away. Booker was tagged in but Rock hit Booker and McMahon a Double Clothesline. Rock hit McMahon, a Rock Bottom and a Spinebuster on Booker. Test interfered in the match and prevented Rock from winning the match. Bradshaw
John Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
came out to prevent Test from interfering. Booker tried to pin Rock but Mike Chioda
Mike Chioda
Michael Joseph "Mike" Chioda, is a senior referee who is currently signed to WWE. While not refereeing, Chioda, as well as the other referees in WWE, help set up the arena before shows, constructing the ring and stage areas.-WWF:...
and a WWF referee attacked the WCW referee Nick Patrick
Nick Hamilton
Joseph Nicholas "Nick" Patrick Hamilton Jr. , better known by his ring name Nick Patrick, is a professional wrestling referee. He is a former referee for World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
, who was refereeing the match. Earl Hebner
Earl Hebner
Earl William Hebner is a professional wrestling referee currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and the twin brother of Dave Hebner...
replaced Patrick and took over as the official. Rock hit Booker a Rock Bottom to win the match and retain the WCW Championship.
In the final match on the undercard, Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
defended the WCW United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
against Rhyno. Rhyno started attacking Tajiri's injured ribs until Tajiri started to fight Rhyno. Tajiri's valet Torrie Wilson
Torrie Wilson
Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
checked on him until Rhyno hit Wilson with a Gore. Tajiri hit a Buzzsaw Kick
Roundhouse kick
A roundhouse kick is a kick in which the attacker swings his leg around in a semicircular motion, striking with the front of the leg or foot. This type of kick is utilized in many different martial arts and is popular in both non-contact and full-contact martial arts competitions...
on Rhyno. Rhyno continued to beat on Tajiri and hit him a Gore to win the United States Championship.
The main event featured Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
defending the WWF Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
against Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
. As Austin was making his entrance, Angle started attacking him outside the ring. The action started in the ring where Angle continued to assault Austin. Austin tried to escape the ring on many occasions but Angle followed him outside the ring and attacked him and brought him inside the ring. However, Angle's injured neck eventually started getting hurt and Austin focused on further injuring his neck. Angle eventually hit Austin, three German Suplexes. However, in the third German suplex, Angle injured his neck as he had landed on his own neck. Austin took advantage and attacked Angle. Angle eventually hit Austin with his own finsher a Stone Cold Stunner
Stunner (professional wrestling)
A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver, predominantly used by Stone Cold Steve Austin and named for his Stone Cold Stunner finisher...
but got a near-fall. Austin proceeded by hitting Angle's own finisher, a Angle Slam but got a near-fall. Austin followed by hitting a Piledriver
Piledriver (professional wrestling)
A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. The most common piledrivers are the basic belly-to-back, or Texas piledriver, and the...
on Angle but Angle kicked out of the pinfall attempt. Austin attempted to finish Angle by attempting a Stone Cold Stunner but Angle countered it into an Ankle Lock. Austin tapped out to the hold. As a result, Angle became the new WWF Champion. Following his title win, Angle celebrated with his family until the entire WWF roster came out to congratulate him on his title win.
Aftermath
After losing the WWF ChampionshipWWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
to Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
, Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
continued his pursuit for the title. On October 8 edition of Raw is War
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, Austin defeated Angle to win the WWF Championship, with the help of the on-screen
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
WWF Commissioner William Regal. With this, Regal joined The Alliance and became Alliance Commissioner. Austin was also feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
ing with his Alliance teammate, the WWF Hardcore Champion
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
over the leadership of Alliance. As a result, Mick Foley
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
made a Triple Threat match for the WWF title at No Mercy
No Mercy (2001)
No Mercy was the fourth No Mercy professional wrestling pay-per-view event. It took place on October 21, 2001 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri....
, pitting Austin against RVD and Angle. At No Mercy, Austin pinned RVD after a Stone Cold Stunner
Stunner (professional wrestling)
A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver, predominantly used by Stone Cold Steve Austin and named for his Stone Cold Stunner finisher...
to retain the title.
After unsuccessfully challenging Rob Van Dam for the WWF Hardcore Championship at Unforgiven, Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
continued his rivalry with RVD and Jericho's main eventer push
Push (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a push is an attempt by the booker to make the wrestler win more matches and become more popular or more reviled with the fans depending on whether they are a heel or a face...
started. On October 11 edition of SmackDown, Jericho defeated RVD in a #1 contender's match for the WCW Championship
WCW World Heavyweight Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation . It existed within WCW between 1991 and 2001. Following the acquisition of WCW by World Wrestling...
. At No Mercy, Jericho defeated The Rock to win the WCW Championship.
Results
| # | Matches | Stipulations | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Night Heat WWE HEAT WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment... |
Billy Gunn Monty Sopp Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James... defeated Tommy Dreamer Tommy Dreamer Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment... |
Singles match | 03:12 |
| 1 | The Dudley Boyz Dudley Boyz Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals... (Bubba Ray and D-Von) (c) defeated The Big Show Paul Wight Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand.... and Spike Dudley Matt Hyson Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time... , Lance Storm Lance Storm Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling... and The Hurricane Gregory Helms Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms... , and The Hardy Boyz Hardy Boyz The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy... (Matt Matt Hardy Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .... and Jeff Jeff Hardy Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion... ) |
Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWF Tag Team Championship | 14:21 |
| 2 | Perry Saturn defeated Raven (with Terri Runnels Terri Runnels Terri Lynne Boatright Runnels is a former World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation professional wrestling manager, television host and occasional wrestler.... ) |
Singles match | 05:07 |
| 3 | Christian defeated Edge (c) | Singles match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship WWE Intercontinental Championship The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand... |
11:53 |
| 4 | The Brothers of Destruction Brothers of Destruction The Brothers of Destruction was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Kane, both currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown roster.-History:... (The Undertaker and Kane Kane (wrestler) Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury.... ) (c) defeated KroniK KroniK KroniK was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Brian Adams and Bryan Clark. Their name was based on the word "chronic", a slang term for marijuana.-World Championship Wrestling :... (Brian Adams Brian Adams (wrestler) Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team... and Bryan Clark Bryan Clark Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:... ) (with Steven Richards Stevie Richards Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr... ) |
Tag team Tag team Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name... match for the WCW Tag Team Championship WCW World Tag Team Championship The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling... |
10:22 |
| 5 | Rob Van Dam Rob Van Dam Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .... (c) defeated Chris Jericho Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer... |
Singles match for the WWF Hardcore Championship WWE Hardcore Championship The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere... |
16:33 |
| 6 | The Rock (c) defeated Booker T Booker Huffman Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World... and Shane McMahon Shane McMahon Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda... |
Handicap match for the WCW Championship WCW World Heavyweight Championship The World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation . It existed within WCW between 1991 and 2001. Following the acquisition of WCW by World Wrestling... |
15:23 |
| 7 | Rhyno Terry Gerin Terrance "Terry" Gerin is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name Rhino . He is best known for his career in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling... defeated Tajiri Yoshihiro Tajiri , is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :... (c) (with Torrie Wilson Torrie Wilson Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness... ) |
Singles match for the WCW United States Championship WWE United States Championship The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand.... |
04:50 |
| 8 | Kurt Angle Kurt Angle Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion... defeated Steve Austin Stone Cold Steve Austin Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler... (c) |
Singles match for the WWF Championship WWE Championship The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963... |
23:12 |