Welcome to the sixth instalment of Tybo Talk 2002, this month we are talking King of the Ring.
With the ease of access to pretty much all of WWE’s back catalogue on the WWE Network I thought it would be cool to change it up a bit and do some classic reviews (with a twist). So, where better to start than, 2002. The plan is to review every PPV of 2002 while watching all Raw and Smackdown episodes in between.
Let’s get the stats out the way first, King of the Ring 2002 was held on June 23rd at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. In front of 14,198 fans. Although this was the tenth annual King of the Ring PPV, this was the last time we would see a PPV called King of the Ring. This was the only time we got to see a Raw vs Smackdown King of the Ring.
Now before I go any further, I’m not really going to explain the matches move for move. No one needs that, the PPV is on the WWE Network. This is going to be my thoughts on the booking and general thoughts about the matches and the event.
The opening vignette is all the previous Kings of the Ring, it’s almost a shame knowing this was the last PPV. The stage is a huge thrown/electric chair, looks impressive, to say the least.
King of the Ring (Semi-Finals) – Chris Jericho vs Rob Van Dam
Jericho is no stranger to winning two matches in one night as he will tell you being the first-ever Undisputed Champion, beating Austin and The Rock in one night. Usually, I would talk about the build of the rivalry for these matches but as this is a tournament there are no huge rivalries. This doesn’t mean that this is not a great match though, although it feels like both guys are holding back (as you would expect) the match goes on a lot longer than you expect. There is some great heel work from Jericho but in the end, its RVD who get through to the King of the Ring finals.
Winner – Rob Van Dam
Jericho does attack RVD after the match, this could be for numerous reasons, the beginnings of a rivalry, or to weaken him for the finals, or Jericho just being a heel.
Backstage – Paul Heyman is getting Lesnar pumped for his match, this is one promo that shows just how great Heyman is, and how much he gets Lesnar over.
King of the Ring (Semi-Finals) – Test vs Brock Lesnar
After months of hearing Lesnar come to the ring with ‘stock filler’ music, he finally starts using his iconic entrance music. The way you think of Lesnar now it’s hard to believe that Test would have a chance against him, but Test was a big, intense powerhouse who was beginning to get his own push around this time.
That being said, I don’t think I have ever known so much momentum being put behind anyone as they did with Lesnar. The most shocking thing about this match is Lesnar does not get a definitive win.
Backstage – Bubba gives Coach an interview where he basically says he is going to make an impact tonight.
Cruiserweight Championship – The Hurricane (c) vs Jamie Noble
The build to this match has gone on for months. Hurricane has been receiving letters that he later finds out that they are from his ex-girlfriend and Tough Enough winner Nidia. It was then that Jamie Noble debuted as Nidia’s new boyfriend. Noble beat down Hurricane a lot, he even unmasked Hurricane.
I personally used to love the cruiserweight division in the early 2000s, there were some great high risk, fast passed matches, and there is no denying that Noble is a great addition to the division. Although this match is slower than you would expect, the match is more about the dynamic between all three of these with heavy involvement from Nidia. Noble adds an intensity that you don’t usually see in the cruiserweight division.
Winner and New Champion – Jamie Noble
Ric Flair vs Eddie Guerrero
This match was clearly meant to be Guerrero vs Austin but Austin ‘took his ball and went home’ as they like to say. So, we have Flair vs Eddie, which is a dream match crossing eras. JR seems to mention that this is Flair’s last run more than once throughout the PPV so I wonder if Flair was meant to leave a lot sooner than he did?
Considering there is no real build to this match, and Flair is working as a face after being a heel for months, this match is hard-hitting and intense. Guerrero brings an intensity that very few do, although there is barely a rivalry you would believe that Guerrero hates Flair, and Flair can sell like very few can. After a great match, it’s a shame that it ends with Bubba Ray coming out to ‘make an impact’ Bubba Bombing Guerrero.
Winner – Ric Flair
Women’s Championship – Trish Stratus (C) vs Molly Holly
This is a continuation of Molly’s new gimmick of her being innocent and wholesome, a hard gimmick to work when you are in the middle of the Attitude Era and a large focus of the divas is ‘sex sells’. Molly and Trish recently had a match on Raw with a very ‘attitude era’ stipulation. If Molly won, she got a Women’s Championship match, If Trish won, Molly had to wear a thong… Molly won.
Trish has slowly become a great in-ring competitor she gets better and better every week, and she is easily the most over diva, and Molly is probably the best woman’s wrestler in the company at the time (along with Jazz and Ivory). This match was a far higher standard than last month’s match at Judgement Day between Trish and Stacy Keibler, honestly, it was awful. In the end, Molly grabs Trish’s tights.
Winner and New Champion – Molly Holly
Backstage – Kurt Angle is being interviewed and says that Hulk Hogan isn’t an American Hero, he only thinks he is because Vince told him he was. If Vince told Hogan he was a Zookeeper, Hogan would be a Zookeeper. It’s hard to argue with Angle’s logic, would Hogan be Hogan with a terrible Zookeeper gimmick?
Kurt Angle vs Hulk Hogan
A few weeks ago Hogan wanted to retire after losing the Undisputed Championship, Vince stopped him saying that he owns him. This all seemed set to tease a Vince vs Hogan match, but Angle attacked Hogan for Vince. This was back when Angle’s greatest weakness was that he wore a wig when Hogan removed it and showed Angle to be bald the match was made. This once again is a dream match, that crosses era’s, it’s just a shame that Hogan isn’t in his prime.
The idea that since Hogan took Angle’s wig off, Hogan is in his head. Honestly, this is played on a lot during the beginning of this match, too much in fact. That’s not taking anything away from this match, it’s a solid bout and Hogan does well to keep up with Angle. There is no doubt that Angle carries the match, but Hogan brings his ‘A’ game. The most shocking thing about this match is after a long (and I mean long) Ankle Lock, Hogan taps out. I have not seen every Hogan match, but I don’t remember a time when Hogan has ever tapped out in his career?
Winner – Kurt Angle
Backstage – We see a classic Rock promo with Booker T and Goldust. Goldust acting like the Rock is worth watching.
King of the Ring (Finals) – Brock Lesnar vs Rob Van Dam
I have really missed a good King of the Ring tournament; the concept is a solid one and I think it would be great to bring it back as a PPV. I am aware the whole thing became a bit of a joke but back in 2002, the winner would get an Undisputed Championship match at Summer Slam, which makes the whole thing mean something.
The Lesnar vs RVD finals was a clever move, in my opinion, the fans love for RVD gets Lesnar over as a much larger heel, and really shows the power and strength of Lesnar. It’s strange to see a smaller guy like RVD have a competitive match with the future ‘Beast’ Brock Lesnar, but RVD does not get buried in this match. Don’t get me wrong, Brock looks dominant, and it is probably the shortest match on the card.
Winner and 2002 King of the Ring – Brock Lesnar
Backstage – Triple H walks into NWO, as you would expect with Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash they are all hugs. This is possibly teasing a Triple H/NWO alliance that never happened?
Undisputed Championship – Undertaker (C) vs Triple H
Recently Undertaker had been giving ‘rookies’ title shots on Raw, one of them being Randy Orton on his third week on Raw. Undertaker obviously started bragging that there was no one left to beat, enter Triple H. Fast forward to Taker’s and Triple H’s contract signing and Triple H basically smashes everything to bits, tables, cameras, monitors, even breaks his sledgehammer causing ‘$50,000 worth of damage’.
During the match Paul Heyman is on commentary, again showing just how good he is. He actually says ‘Lesnar could end the 12-year legacy of The Undertaker’ if only he knew the future.
This match is two big guys who know how to have a solid match with almost anyone, its clearly second nature to them both. I have said it previously that I am not a huge fan of ‘The American Badass’ gimmick, I always thought Taker worked better as the Phenom but watching these back the gimmick is growing on me. An interesting fact is that at this point Triple H was the most decorated man in WWE (World, Intercontinental, European, Tag Team Championships, King of the Ring and Royal Rumble winner, and headlined Wrestlemania).
Although this match is a solid showing from both, the ending is not the best. The Rock has far too much involvement with chair shots and commentary and two knocked out referees, not forgetting the longest pantomimed pin I have ever seen, Undertaker low blows Triple H to get the win.
Winner – The Undertaker
The PPV ends with The Rock hitting a Rock Bottom on Undertaker, Triple H Pedigreeing The Rock, and Undertaker hitting a Chokeslam on Triple H.
Overall
King of the Ring 2002 is a strange one, it’s obvious that the show is missing Austin, and has a lack of strong rivalries. This can’t really be helped as the main matches are King of the Ring Tournament matches. I would love for the concept to return on a big stage as now would be a great time to do it.
It’s still shocking going back to watch these PPV’s, especially this one where WWE seem to already know that Lesner would be a huge star. This is still his rookie year and he is set to main event Summer Slam for the Undisputed Championship. You have to wonder is Vince knew in 2002 that he would be the mega star he is today.
The match of the night was the Undisputed Championship match, even though the finish was heavily influenced by The Rock and felt a little overkill. I do have to mention that the opening King of the Ring Semi-Finals match with Jericho vs RVD was also a great match, it is well worth checking out as a forgotten gem.
King of the Ring 2002 Ranking: 3.5
2002 PPV Ranking
- Wrestlemania X8 – 4.5
- Royal Rumble – 3.5
- King of the Ring 2002 – 3.5
- No Way Out – 3
- Judgement Day – 3
- Backlash – 2.5
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