Raw is War - October 22nd, 2001

The Beginning of the End

For the first time in months, the show opens with No Chance in Hell and the arrival of Vince McMahon. To the shock of everyone, he walks to the ring hand in hand with his wife Linda. They’re all smiles - it seems that the McMahon’s have patched up their marriage since we last saw them. Vince says that he’s been gone for 2.5 months but he has been busy - therapy, physical training and conditioning training and patching things up with his wife. He’s about to make out with her but thankfully Shane and Stephanie arrive to stop that.

After insulting his parents, Vince says that he’s had enough of this Alliance crap and he wants to propose the end of the Invasion - at Survivor Series, they have one match to decide who survives. WWF vs. Alliance. Shane agrees, so the end of the Invasion is in sight. Vince says that tonight will be the beginning of the end and he’s going to do his best to get all of the WWF Championships back from the Alliance. He wants to start with Austin but Shane says that Stone Cold isn’t here because thanks to Vince he has a concussion and needs stitches. Stephanie wants to get the WCW title from Chris Jericho but Vince cuts her off - Y2J will team up with The Rock tonight to try and get the WWF Tag Team titles back from The Dudley Boyz. There will be more to come. Shane heads down to the ring to attack his dad but Alliance Commissioner William Regal arrives to hold his new boss back. Shane says “not in front of mom” which is lovely of him. Linda asks Vince “where did we go wrong?”. Linda calls her daughter a man-eater and her son a wuss! 

Backstage, Mr. McMahon invites the WWF Hardcore Champion RVD into his office and asks him openly to join the WWF. RVD ponders it but says he’s happy where he is so “with all due respect” Vince books him to defend the Hardcore title against The Big Show. He wants all of the WWF titles back in the WWF fold by any means necessary. 

WWF Commissioner Mick Foley goes to see Alliance Commissioner William Regal. He tells us about two more matches tonight - Tajiri challenging Billy Kidman for the WCW Cruiserweight title and The Hurricane defending the WWF European title against Bradshaw. He makes himself at home in Regal’s office so they can sit and watch the matches together.

In the back as Kurt Angle congratulates Edge on regaining his Intercontinental title and they mock Christian, Edge is Gored out of nowhere by Rhyno right into the metal shutter! Kurt is held back by referees so that he can’t attack Rhyno for it. In the Commissioner’s office, Foley basically dares Regal to book Rhyno to defend the WCW US title against Kurt Angle, which he does! 

Billy Kidman defends the WCW Cruiserweight title against BIlly Kidman. Torrie Wilson, as always, looks lovely with Tajiri. Bit of trivia - her real life partner at the time? Billy Kidman. This is a good match and with a barrage of kicks to the head, Tajiri wins the title. 

Rhyno defends the WCW United States Championship against Kurt Angle. The Olympian is super focused after failing to regain the WWF title last night. Rhyno focuses his assault on Kurt’s neck given his recently documented neck issues. Kurt fights through it and even kicks out of a Gore to lock Rhyno in the ankle lock for a submission victory! That bags the second championship tonight for the WWF. 

In the third title match tonight, The Hurricane defends the WWF European Championship against the APA’s Bradshaw. They did debut the new Championship match graphics at No Mercy last night but this match still has the old ones. I’m interested to see if this is the last time we see those. Hurricane gives the big Texan the run around as Mighty Molly does her best to distract him and help her superhero mentor. It doesn’t help and one stiff Clothesline from Hell later, Bradshaw gives the WWF its third title victory tonight. 

In the Commissioner's office, Mick Foley runs salt in the wound with Regal. He says Hurricane can have a rematch if he wants. Regal says that there’s no way RVD will lose the hardcore title and there’s no way Rock and Jericho can co-exist against The Dudley Boyz. 

Ahead of their Hardcore title match, RVD and Big Show bump into each other. Show has a big smile and allows RVD to walk ahead of him. They both seem really confident. I guess RVD doesn’t fear anyone, no matter how big. 

Rob Van Dam defends the WWF Hardcore Championship against the 500lbs Big Show. This seems like it’ll be onsided but amazing RVD wins clean, kicking a steel chair back into Show’s head with a spinning heel kick (he calls that the VanDaminator) and follows with a Five Star Frog Splash. RVD gives the Alliance their only victory tonight so far and hanging onto his WWF Hardcore title. 

In the locker room as Chris Jericho gets ready to head to the ring for the main event. He’s interrupted by The Rock who congratulates Y2J on beating him for the WCW Championship last night. He says he will get a rematch but for tonight, they’re focused on the WWF Tag Team titles. They shake hands. Before The Rock leaves, Jericho gives him a gift - The Rock nameplate that was taken off the title belt to be replaced by the name Chris Jericho. The Rock says he has a gift for Y2J and hands him a steel chair. Something he’ll need for their rematch just like he needed it at No Mercy.

That leads into the main event - Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley (with Stacy Keibler) defend the WWF Tag Team titles against The Rock and new WCW Champion Chris Jericho. The Rock and Jericho show plenty of signs of the tension between them, staring down as they tag in and out and it costs them as Bubba and D-Von control the bulk of the match with their double teaming. Jericho goes for a missile dropkick to D-Von but he pulls The Rock in his way as a human shield and Y2J hits his own partner. The Dudleyz set up a 3D but Jericho tackles Bubba and The Rock hits a Rock Bottom on D-Von! The Rock and Jericho win the WWF Tag Team titles! There’s more tension after the bell as the referee hands all three title belts to The Rock, including the WCW title belt. The Rock tosses one of the tag belts to Jericho with no issues but savors holding the WCW title and makes Jericho ask for it before hanging it on Y2J’s shoulder. JR continues to call The Rock a class act for being as cool with Jericho taking his title as he is, but he’s totally ignoring how condescending Rocky is towards the new champion.

The show ends with them celebrating with their titles and the WWF having gained four championships from the Alliance. Backstage, Linda and Vince celebrate the great night for the WWF and close with a little make out session. A needlessly gross way to end Raw. 

Other Happenings

• In the opening match, Lita teams with Trish Stratus to face the Alliance team of Ivory and Mighty Molly. With a dual Twist of Fate and running Bulldog and a moonsault on Ivory, Trish and Lita get the WWF off to a good start tonight.
• Backstage Matt Hardy is looking for Lita and walks in on Trish Stratus mid-getting changed. She goes to get in the shower just as Lita walks in and just like with Stacy Keibler at No Mercy, Matt Hardy ends up looking like a creeper who’s hiding it from his girlfriend.
• For the first time since the night after Summerslam, DDP is live in the arena. Page is here with a message of positivity. He takes a shot at the local sports team and explains that losing last night at No Mercy wasn’t a bad thing, it’s a good thing. When you lose, you learn! He’s interrupted by someone who did lose at No Mercy - Kane! DDP says that Kane coming out isn’t a bad thing, it’s a good thing! He says Kane is a perfect example of his message - Kane has been a loser most of his life! Look at Kane’s face - he was badly burned but that’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing! It means Kane gets to wear a cool mask all the time! He’s just finding the silver lining for everyone! Kane gets sick of listening to him and plants the smiling Diamond Dallas Page with a chokeslam.

• At WWF New York the Tough Enough Winner Maven is there to talk about his first victory over Tazz on Smackdown. He’s attacked from behind by Tazz who puts him down with a Tazzmission. Back at the arena, Mick Foley and William Regal discuss who really deserves credit for the Tough Enough’s success and they agree to a match between Tazz and his fellow trainer on the show Al Snow on Smackdown. 

• The Undertaker and Kane have a rematch against their respective PPV opponents Booker T and Test. This is a big, physical match which isn’t bad. The finish is cool as Undertaker kicks Test in the face, reversing his over the shoulder powerslam attempt on Kane into a tombstone! We haven’t seen that move for a while. Kane gets his pin back from No Mercy and another WWF victory tonight.

Smackdown! - October 25th, 2001

Motivated Alliance

Smackdown openings with Shane and Stephanie McMahon leading the entire Alliance to the ring. Well most of it - Stone Cold Steve Austin isn’t there. Shane speaks first and takes major issue with his own mother calling him a wuss on Raw. Would a wuss risk everything in a single match at Survivor Series? He then says that after losing four different championships to the WWF on Raw, the Alliance badly needs some momentum. He says he believes in tough love and calls forward Billy Kidman and after reminding us all of his transgression - losing the WCW Cruiserweight title to Tajiri - slaps him in the face and has the troops beat him up. Chuck Palumbo steps forward and tells Shane that this isn’t right - you can’t treat people this way! Stephanie gets in his face and asks him who the hell he thinks he is? She fires Chuck Palumbo and screams at him until he leaves the ring while being backed up by the rest of the Alliance. The morale of this group is in the toilet! Shane then calls forward The Hurricane and tries to do the same as he did to Kidman but the superhero blocks his slap. Regal beats him up instead and he’s thrown out of the ring. Shane calls forward Rhyno who lost the WCW US title but Rhyno backs into the corner and looks ready for a fight!

Shane screams in his face that he’s pathetic and “suspends him indefinitely!” This is a cover to explain Rhyno’s absence from TV while he undergoes neck fusion surgery, just like Stone Cold had. Rhyno was gone from television for 16 months, returning in February 2003. His career never quite reached the heights it did in 2001 during his prolonged push so it was very bad timing for the guy. They end on The Dudley Boyz but Bubba and D-Von don’t take it laying down! They set up a table at ringside and prepare to fight the entire Alliance but WWF Champion and leader of the Alliance Stone Cold Steve Austin arrives just in time. He has a big bandage on the back of his head thanks to the Vince McMahon chair shot at No Mercy. He screams at everyone to leave the ring but the two owners Shane and Steph and Alliance Commissioner William Regal. He calls them all pathetic and continues to bark like a pissed off drill sargent. He says tonight is about taking back what is theirs starting with the WCW title. Everyone puts their hands up to volunteer so he says we’ll have an all Alliance battle royal with the winner getting a match with Y2J later. He asks Commissioner Regal to make it official. William has been sneering at Austin like he hates him since he came out, but he does agree to the pair of matches tonight and sanctions them officially. Austin was a hypocrite here which I guess is the point - he was hard on Shane and Steph for their tough love and for making Alliance fight Alliance but that’s something he’s done tons of times! 

After a commercial break, the Alliance battle royal is in full swing. The fans chant “RVD”. This is just a standard battle royal and there isn’t much to say but in a cool spot, Mike Awesome throws Tommy Dreamer out of the ring with a powerbomb sending him crashing through the table that The Dudleyz set up earlier.

The final three comes down to Rob Van Dam, Booker T and his tag team partner Test. After a short lived double team, Booker T eliminates Test from behind to win and earn a match at the WCW title tonight. Test looks annoyed initially but does soften and gives Booker a thumbs up and wishes him luck tonight. Booker T gives us all a celebratory Spinarooni and will try to become a 6 time WCW Champion tonight.

Backstage Vince and Linda McMahon talk about the Alliance and their renewed focus. Chris Jericho enters and after congratulating him on the WCW title win and the WWF Tag Team title win, make sure that he knows he MUST beat Booker tonight. Y2J seems quite conceited. Vince goes to see The Rock and Jericho sarcastically says to tell him that “the champ says hello”.

Vince McMahon does go to see The Rock and asks him to “reach into the Alliance’s chest and tear their heart out” by beating Rob Van Dam for the WWF Hardcore title tonight. The Rock agrees but makes sure to let Vince know that he “wipes a monkey’s ass with what Vince wants” and that he’s going to do it tonight for The People, not for him.

In the Alliance locker room, Stone Cold explains to Booker how disgusted he is with the Alliance. He missed one Raw and they lost all their titles! He tells Booker that he made him proud by winning the battle royal and he needs him to make the Rattlesnake proud by being a real son of a bitch, raise some hell and bring back the WCW Championship! 

Chris Jericho defends the WCW title against Booker T. This is another quality one on one match. Booker T is very driven and gets near fall after near fall which Y2J kicks out of but in a messy finish, Jericho reverses a move into a roll up to get a quick victory! The camera cut immediately to the crowd which makes me think there was a mistake there that was edited out. Either way, Jericho retains in a good match.

Vince and Linda are shown again watching tonight’s matches (and cheering on Al Snow). Sgt. Slaughter enters to let Vince know that Shane has a message for him - he wants his father to meet him in the parking lot for a street fight. Vince doesn’t need to be asked twice and takes his jacket off saying he’s been waiting for this since Wrestlemania (Which is funny now that he and Linda are friends again). It’s pretty obviously a trap but Vince goes anyway. Later out in the parking lot, Vince is marching around shouting out for Shane to face him. Cut back to Linda nervously pacing as she’s confronted by both her kids. Shane grabs his mother’s arm and screams at her to call him a wuss to his face. She slaps him and then looks shocked by her actions. Shane holds Linda’s arms behind her back and gets Stephanie to slap her back - Linda sells it like she’s been knocked unconscious which is a bit hilarious.

Shane says that his street fight with Vince won’t be tonight - it’ll be on Raw. During the next commercial break the McMahon children are shown running to the limo and escaping the arena as Vince gets back to check on his wife who is badly shaken. She shows off her (lack of) acting chops as she tells her husband what happened. Vince asks Slaughter to take Linda to the car and get her out of here as McMahon seeths, and then looks like he has an idea. 

Chris Jericho goes to see The Rock and there continues to be tension as the two sarcastically congratulate each other and wish each other luck. Jericho even mocks the Hardcore title, calling it “prestigious” as compared to the WCW title. The Rock says that Y2J knows a lot about hardcore and using steel chairs to win matches as he taps on the WCW title belt. 

In the main event, Rob Van Dam defends the WWF Hardcore title against one half of the new WWF Tag Team Champions The Rock. This is just more evidence that Rob Van Dam is probably the greatest Hardcore Champion of all time as he worked with Austin, Jericho, Rock, and Angle, defending and retaining the title regularly on TV and PPV against former and future WWF/WWE World Champions. This is a fun match and as the two fight up the ramp, RVD impresses with a spinning heel kick and then a cartwheel into a standing moonsault for a near fall. Back in the ring the two get creative with RVD dropkicking a chair into The Rock’s head in the corner and Rocky powerbombing the champion off the top rope through a trash can. Shane McMahon returns through the crowd and as The Rock has RVD in a sharpshooter, he pulls the referee out of the ring and knocks out The Rock with a steel chair. Van Dam comes off the top rop with a Five Star Frog Splash but by the time the referee recovers, The Rock kicks out! Vince McMahon comes to the ring and chases his son out of the arena though the crowd and The Rock gets back into the fight with a DDT. Test runs down to help his Alliance mate.

That brings out Chris Jericho to help The Rock - not because they’re friends but they’re both WWF and are Tag Champions. Booker T runs down to help out Test and in all the chaos and interference, Booker T stops a People’s Elbow on Van Dam with a trash can to the head and RVD retains his title with a roll up! Smackdown ends with RVD, Booker and Test on the ramp as reluctant allies Jericho and The Rock hold the ring. 

Other Happenings

• Trish Stratus faces Mighty Molly one on one. I’ve commented on it before but Trish is a lot better than she used to be already and she is smooth in the ring here and takes a couple of rough bumps including being slingshotted into the ropes. Trish avoids the Molly-go-round, kicks out of an illegal pin using the ropes for leverage and counters a back suplex into a bulldog headlock to pick up the victory. 
• In Commissioner Regal’s office, Mick Foley arrives for another Commissioner-Commissioner bonding session. Christian enters and begs William Regal for a match with Kurt Angle tonight for the WCW US title, which he grants. There’s a couple of these segments throughout the show where Foley tries to get an increasingly angry Regal to play Twister with him. 
• Backstage, Tazz bullies the female winner of Tough Enough Nidia until Al Snow arrives. He says Tazz bullied everyone on Tough Enough but he dares him to try and bully him tonight.
• Kurt Angle defends the WCW United States title against Christian. Christian took major issue with Angle and Edge mocking him on Raw and calling him ugly. He’s right, that is mean. This is a good match and Christian looks strong but Kurt rolls through into an ankle lock and by submission retains his US title. 
• Tazz vs. Al Anow. Snow has dropped almost all of his classic comedy good behaviour and Head and is now just a bland babyface. On Tough Enough he adopted this role of supportive teacher and father figure to the young trainees and they’re leaning into that as he defends “his kids” against the bully Tazz. Al Snow continues the WWF’s momentum tonight and avenges Nidia and Maven by picking up the win with a Northern Light’s suplex.
• Matt and Jeff Hardy defend the WCW Tag Team Championships against The Dudley Boyz. Paul Heyman says that Bubba and D-Von will get the Alliance back on track by becoming the first team to have been WWF, ECW and WCW Tag Team Champions. Stacy Keibler and Lita are both at ringside for this one too. This is a good match between the two and Stacy makes the difference as she gets on the apron and distracts Matt Hardy. He;s knocked out of the ring and Jeff Hardy is finished with a 3D from the top rope which looked a bit messy. The Dudley Boyz win the WCW tag team titles from their oldest rivals in the WWF.

Raw is War - October 29th, 2001

Deserter in the ranks causes mass paranoia

Raw opens with Mr. McMahon leading the entire WWF to the ring, headed by Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, The Rock and Chris Jericho. The entire roster is there though, I didn’t see anyone missing. Vince promises that at Survivor Series the Alliance will be wiped off the face of the Earth. He takes issue with Stephanie slapping her own mother on Smackdown (something she’s done before at Vince’s request, but we’ll ignore that). He says that the Alliance won’t survive the PPV but Shane won’t survive tonight and his street fight with Vince. He then tells us what the winner takes all, WWF vs. Alliance match at Survivor Series will be - a 5 on 5 Classic Survivor Series match and introduces us to the 5 members of Team WWF. Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho and The Rock. That’s a hell of a team!

Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley then comes out onto the stage. “The billion dollar princess with the trillion dollar body” so says Paul Heyman. She brags about what she and Shane did to LInda on Smackdown and then dedicates tonight’s McMahon vs. McMahon street fight to her mother. She then brings out “the gladiator” himself, Shane McMahon. I’ve been pretty defensive of the Invasion storyline and I’ll talk about it more in a separate article but it is starting to bug me that the final showdown between the WWF and WCW/ECW has become focused entirely on the McMahon family. Shane says that tonight on Raw, a member of the WWF WILL defect to the Alliance and ominously says that he’s looking at that person right now - the only people in the ring are Vince himself and the five men he’s just announced as Team WWF at Survivor Series. The segment ends as the six men in the ring all silently exchange nervous, suspicious glances. Does he mean them, or one of the talents around the ring? The entire WWF roster is assembled! 

Backstage, Shane, Steph and Stone Cold laugh about who is going to jump ship tonight. Austin says the WWF are too stupid to figure out who it will be and says that only he, Shane and Steph know who it’s going to be.

In the locker room, Stone Cold laughs at RVD’s misfortunes. He apparently hasn’t forgiven him for their issues last month. Tazz walks in and begs the Rattlesnake to tell him who is jumping ship. This is a funny segment as Austin pretends to listen to his watch - a new gimmick he’s adopted - and says its time for him to leave. Tazz keeps assuming Austin means Debra. He does leave and Stone Cold gets big laughs barking “what” in Debra’s face over and over when she asks who is jumping ship.

In the APA office paranoia is starting to set in as they discuss who is jumping ship. They’re playing poker with Perry Saturn who thinks they’re playing Go Fish. Referee Teddy Long walks in and says that Chris Jericho has called a big WWF team meeting and wants everyone to attend. Are they going to flush out the deserter? 

We get a glimpse of the WWF team meeting held by Chris Jericho. It’s pretty much everyone apart from the other main eventers. Y2J calls working for WCW and ECW the most miserable years of his career. He loves the WWF and issues an open challenge to the traitor to fight him like a man tonight. The Rock walks in and takes issue with Jericho being the one to rally the troops. Rocky punks out Jericho and says that he’s been winning big ones while Jericho was still in WCW losing to jabronis on Nitro. He seems to strongly imply he thinks Y2J is the defector and there’s a lot of tension as Jericho stares a hole in his tag team championship partner’s head. 

William Regal goes to see Stone Cold. He assumes he's been called to be told who the defector is but Austin says that Regal is being tasked with taking the WCW US title from Kurt Angle tonight. He then tells Regal to go and find Kurt Angle and tell him that Stone Cold wants a chat with him in private. That’s very suspicious.

As Undertaker and Kane discuss strategy ahead of their WCW tag team title match with The Dudleyz later, Chris Jericho barges in and demands to know why they weren't at the meeting. Undertaker gets in his face and makes it clear that Y2J’s attempts to be a locker room leader are unwelcome and are not respected. Jericho’s not having a good night tonight with all this disrespect. He ends by suggesting it’s actually Kane who he is suspicious of. He doesn’t say why but Y2J is making himself look really suspicious tonight.

Kurt Angle goes to see Mr. McMahon and after they discuss his title defence tonight against Regal, Kurt says he wants Vince’s advice ahead of his private meeting with Austin. He has no idea what the Rattlesnake has in store but he doesn’t trust him. Vince gives Kurt the 2x4 that he was going to use on Shane later to take with him just in case, and they two wish each other luck.

The Rock and WCW Champion Chris Jericho defend their WWF Tag Team titles against Booker T and Test. The challengers isolate Jericho and wear him down for a long time in their corner as the question becomes can Jericho and The Rock coexist with their obvious dislike of each other. I think Jericho has made himself look like the most likely suspect of jumping ship tonight personally. The Rock gets a hot tag and motors through Test and Booker but accidentally punches his own partner. The Rock sets up a People’s Elbow on Test but Jericho attacks his own partner in a fury. Test almost gets the win from it but Jericho breaks up the pin seemingly immediately regretting his actions. He gets back on the apron and asks for a tag and The Rock, who can’t believe the nerve of him, pulls him into the ring and spikes him with a Rock Bottom! Paul Heyman speculates this is The Rock joining the Alliance but he dives back in the ring and breaks up the pin. Jericho and The Rock want to kick each other’s asses but they also want to win the match and keep the tag titles! Jericho gts a Walls of Jericho on Test, The Rock drops Booker with a Rock Bottom and Test taps out. Despite all the friendly fire, Rock and Jericho retain the tag team titles and talk trash and get in each other’s faces after the match.

Kurt Angle goes to see Stone Cold and after a tense stand off between these two men who’ve spent the better part of the last three months trying to kill each other, Austin asks Angle to join the Alliance. They’re going to win at Survivor Series and put the WWF out of business so he should join the winning team. Kurt says that he thinks The Rock is the one jumping ship but Stone Cold won’t confirm. Angle says that he’ll never join the Alliance and Austin can go to hell! 

As a pissed off Rock makes his way backstage after his match and altercation with Jericho, Michael Cole stops him and asks him for his comments on Kurt Angle accusing HIM of jumping shop, The Rock asks where Kurt’s locker room is and goes to find the Olympian.

The Rock goes to see Kurt Angle and is furious at being implicated. He demands to know what Angle’s problem is and why he was even chatting to Stone Cold in the first place? The Rock tells Angle to NEVER question his loyalty and that he lives, breathes and will die WWF. He tells him that he should be worried about The Rock kicking his ass next and asks why it can’t be Kurt? There is a LOT of tension tonight. Is anyone actually jumping ship, or were all these arguments Shane’s plan all along? 

William Regal debuts a new theme song as he makes his entrance to challenge Kurt Angle for the WCW US Championship. I LOVE this theme and he used it for the rest of his career. It’s ominous and supervillain like.

This was a great match in my opinion. These two move so fast and wrestle with Regal showing off a much more vicious, strike based style as well. Really enjoyed it. Regal is taken down and with an ankle lock, Kurt Angle picks up another clean submission victory to retain his WCW US title. 

As Undertaker prepares for he and Kane’s match, Mr. McMahon in his own ring gear walks in and wishes Undertaker good luck. Taker doesn’t believe him and wants to know what his problem is and what he really wants. He and Kane accuse Vince of being suspicious of them and take offence at the idea. 

In the main event, a Wrestlemania X7 rematch - Vince McMahon vs. Shane McMahon in a street fight. It starts fast and physically and Vince wastes no time hitting Shane with a stop sign on the outside and throwing him into the ring steps. This is a fun fight with Shane trying a shooting star press and missing, crushing a trash can instead. Shane drives Vince through the announce table with his trademark diving elbow drop from the top rope but by the time he’s able to load his dad back into the ring, Vince has had time to recover and kicks out. Shane positions Vince in the corner and gets ready to finish him off the same way he did at Wrestlemania with a coast to coast dropkick but this time Vince manages to avoid it. With both McMahons down, Booker T and Test run down and attack Vince. That brings down Undertaker and Kane who fight them out of the ring. Kane and Test take each other out with big boots, Taker flattens Booker with a Last Ride, William Regal takes him out with a low blow. The Rock runs down and flattens the Commissioner with a Rock Bottom! Stone Cold runs down and gives The Rock a Stone Cold Stunner! (That’s the first time they’ve been on screen together since the night after Wrestlemania). Kurt Angle runs down with a steel char followed by Chris Jericho and…Kurt Angle hits Y2J with the chair! He hits The Rock and The Undertaker too. Kurt Angle has joined the Alliance. Austin gives Vince a stunner and puts Shane on top to officially win this match but the big news is that Kurt Angle has just joined the Alliance. If you thought the William Regal heel turn and defection didn’t make sense, I don’t know what to tell you about this one. I’ll get into it on another show. Raw ends with Kurt, Austin and Shane celebrating in the ring to a similar reaction from the crowd that Austin’s turn at Invasion got - stunned, confused silence. 

Other Happenings

• Edge defends the WWF Intercontinental title against Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam. This is a fast match as both men trade big moves and go for near fall after near fall. RVD rolls through into a charge in the corner but Edge spears him out of midair for a near fall. That was cool. Edge is popular but RVD gets a lot of chants here. Van Dam misses the Frog Splash and is spiked with an Impaler DDT for an Edge victory. That’s a huge clean win for Edge considering that RVD has pin fall victories over Jericho, Big Show, Angle, Austin and Rock all in the last 4 - 6 weeks. 

• In a mixed tag team match, The Hurricane and Mighty Molly face WCW Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri and Torrie Wilson. This is a short match and after a little mistiming, Hurricane actually clotheslines Torrie! While Tajiri is busy avenging his girlfriend, Molly rolls up Torrie and even grabs the tights for a cheap win for the two superheroes.
• Diamond Dallas Page comes down to the ring and with a big smile, explains that everyone in the locker room thinks that The Big Show is a freak but that’s not a bad thing - it’s a good thing. It means that he can jump to the Alliance where his real friends are. That brings Big Show down to the ring and spikes DDP with a massive chokeslam, all with a big smile on his face too.
• Stacy Keibler goes one on one with Lita. Lita is knocked to the outside and Matt Hardy runs down to check on his girlfriend. He helps her back into the ring and after Stacy slaps him, he throws his arm back to punch her in the face (uncool) and catches Lita with his elbow by mistake (double uncool!). Lita kicks out anyway and still wins the match but is extremely upset with Matt after the match. 
• Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley (with a sore, limping Stacy Keibler after her match with Lita earlier) defend the WCW Tag Team titles against Undertaker and Kane. Kane has the match won with a chokeslam on D-Von and has the win but Undertaker accidentally has the referee distracted. Bubba hits Kane with one of the WCW tag title belts. There’s more miscommunication as Undertaker walks on the top rope for his Old School arm wringer but Kane hits the ropes and knocks him off. A 3D on Kane wins it for the champions and the issues and arguments between members of the WWF roster continue. 

Smackdown! - November 1st, 2001

Austin and Angle Run the show

Kurt Angle explains why he jumped to the Alliance. He says that he’s still our American hero and Olympic hero but the main thing is that he’s a winner. He had a think about who is going to WIN at Survivor Series and after running down the other four members of Team WWF for being losers who haven’t achieved as much as him and ego maniacs, he says the biggest winner is Stone Cold Steve Austin. He doesn’t play fair, and they might not be friends but Austin always wins when it matters. He says his job is the most important thing to him and he’ll still have it after Stone Cold leads him and the Alliance to victory at Survivor Series. The camera pans out to reveal that Shane McMahon and Stone Cold are standing with him. Shane and Austin tell Kurt how proud they are of him for doing “the right thing”. Are you satisfied with his explanation? Do you think it makes sense to turn Kurt heel and into a traitor and coward after the last few months? No, me neither but stick with it - there’s another twist to this tale coming at Survivor Series. 

New Alliance member Kurt Angle defends the WCW US Championship against Kane. The two brawl into the crowd and as Kane dominates and throws Angle back towards the ring and with the referee distracted, Stone Cold comes from behind and assaults Kane with a steel chair, focusing it on the ankle. The Undertaker rushes down and chases Stone Cold away but the damage is done and the match continues with Kane’s ankle badly hurt. Kane fights back and shows off some wrestling skills - he actually hits four vertical suplexes back to back, holding onto Angle and chaining them together! Kane messes up, hurting his own ankle after the flying clothesline meaning he can’t get to a cover in time after a chokeslam. This is a great match - easily Kane’s best ever. Kurt rolls through a tombstone attempt into an ankle lock and in a sight no one thought they’d EVER see, Kane actually taps out. To my knowledge, the first ever title he did so.

A jubilant Kurt Angle goes to see Stone Cold and the two celebrate his victory. Austin tells Kurt that he’s proud of him, that he loves him and gives him an Austin 3:16 cap. He then reveals to Kurt that he has his medals! He says he went and fished them out of the river he threw them into back in September and Kurt practically cries having his medals back. Austin and Kurt hug as Stone Cold sneers over Angle’s shoulder. 

All show long, it was hyped up. “The biggest main event in Smackdown history” as Michael Cole repeatedly called it. The Undertaker challenging Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship. Vince goes in to check on Undertaker and motivate him. Taker is extremely focused and tells Vince to kiss his ass for doubting him on Raw, and promises to beat Austin’s brains in for what he did to Kane earlier. That match is next and in the main event. Undertaker rides to the ring on his bike but before he’s even finished making his entrance he’s attacked by the WWF Champion while he’s still sitting on his bike! Austin beats Undertaker up all around the ring and drives his head into the ring post and lays him out on the entrance ramp. The Rattlesnake actually tries to start Taker’s bike and run his challenger over but he can’t get the engine started and pays for it, getting clotheslined off the bike and Taker takes control. The match still hasn’t officially started. After a long period of fighting around the ring and in the crowd, they finally get in the ring. This is one of their better matches and when the referee goes down the Rattlesnake gets a steel chair. He tries to break Undertaker’s ankle but the deadman fights out and splits Austin’s head open with a big chairshot! Austin is bleeding heavily and planted with a chokeslam but before the referee can count to three, Kurt Angle runs down to break the cover and end this match via disqualification. Austin and Angle mercilessly beat Undertaker down for several minutes and with Kane at the hospital and The Rock and Jericho at odds (see the other section), there’s no one to save him from the Alliance. Shane McMahon comes down with a cooler of beers and throws them to Austin and Angle and the three of them toast and celebrate over Undertaker’s body to end the show. 

The Rock and Y2J finally explode

In the opening match, in a rematch from Raw, The Rock and Chris Jericho defend the WWF Tag Team titles against Booker T and Test. The challengers isolate and work over The Rock. Cole and Tazz on commentary make special mention of the fact that Jericho hasn’t helped when he had the chance to - he’s not being a very good partner.

He does finally get a tag and motos through both Test and Booker and seems to have it won with a Walls of Jericho but Booker T breaks it up. The Rock tags himself in and he and Jericho argue. A misplaced missile dropkick from Jericho knocks down The Rock and a Big Boot from Test later, the Alliance take the WWF Tag Team titles! They leave in a hurry and Jericho and The Rock, no longer burdened with the tag titles, immediately start fighting. The Rock comes out on top with a Rock Bottom on Y2J. He leaves…but then goes back to the ring and gives a groggy Jericho a second Rock Bottom for good measure.

Backstage, Vince angrily pleads with The Rock to calm down and get back on the same page as Chris Jericho! They need to come together for the WWF. He reveals that Shane has now announced Team Alliance for Survivor Series - Stone Cold, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam and Shane McMahon himself - and that Vince will be taking Kurt’s place on Team WWF. Vince and The Rock have angry words as Rocky refuses to apologise or get along with Y2J. As the conversation continues, Jericho shows up and he and The Rock have another shouting match as Vince and referees work to keep them apart. 

The Rock is in his locker room and has called Johnathan Coachman to see him. He has something to say. He and Jericho need to settle things once and for all before Survivor Series - a rematch on Raw for the WCW Championship, to clear the air before they’re teammates on PPV. Just Bring It, Chris Jericho. Later  the show The Coach tracks down Y2J and asks for his response. Chris Jericho says he’s going to go and find The Rock so he can give him his response in person. After a commercial break, Jericho goes into his locker room and gives him his answer - he immediately attacks The Rock and actually comes out on top of the fight until the room fills with referees to pull him out. The Rock isn’t done and follows out to keep the fight going! There’s enough referees to keep them all apart a second time. 

Missing match

During the tapings for this episode of Smackdown which occurred on October 30th, Christian defeated Bradshaw to win the WWF European Championship. I’m not sure why that match is missing from the WWE Network but based on the way the title victory is discussed by commentators later on, it makes me believe the match was also missing from the event in 2001 too. They must have run out of time. Regardless, I wanted to mention it mostly because I love Christian. 

Other Happenings

• Lita goes to find Matt Hardy and check in with him and Jeff before their match. Jeff comments on Lita’s black eye thanks to an accidental elbow from Matt on Raw. She asks him if Matt has ever talked about Stacy Keibler just as Matt walks in and gets defensive about his brother holding his girlfriend’s face. It seems like they’re working towards The Hardyz feuding with each other but I don’t like them turning Matt into this sort of pervert/woman beater character at ALL. Their match is next and it’s a six person tag against WCW Tag Team Champions The Dudleyz and the Duchess of Dudleyville, Stacy Keibler. As the match continues, Lita is knocked off the apron. Jeff is too busy checking on her well being leaving Matt all alone where he takes a 3D and The Dudleyz win the 6 person tag team match.
• In the Alliance Commissioner’s office, his former friend Tajiri and girlfriend Torrie Wilson go to see him. They still seem very friendly and Regal says that he enjoyed working with Tajiri so much he’s asking him if he’d like to join the Alliance. Tajiri says no and Regal says he respects it. He offers him a handshake…but then pulls him in and raining punches on him! Regal challenges Tajiri to a match tonight but before he can say anything unsavory to Torrie, he’s kicked in the head and the two escape. Regal has dropped all of his comedy stuff and is a much more sinister, evil heel now.
• The apparent co-leaders of the Alliance Stone Cold and Kurt Angle wanted to see Rob Van Dam. Kurt is kind of hilarious here as he eagerly mimics everything Austin says and the pair of them demand that he make up for his loss to Edge on Raw and prove himself tonight. On Raw, Edge retained his Intercontinental title against Rob Van Dam. Tonight the roles are reversed as RVD defends the Hardcore title in the rematch. In the heat of the match, new WWF Tag Team Champion Test comes down and flattens Edge with a Big Boot. That feels out of the blue but Edge did defeat Test on Sunday Night Heat last week. Maybe he just wanted to help an Alliance mate win. With Edge down, RVD follows with a Five Star Frog Splash to retain the WWF Hardcore title. 
• I commented on Raw that Alliance Commissioner William Regal had a new, awesome theme song and I linked to it. For some reason here, he has a different theme which isn’t nearly as good or memorable. If memory serves, he used this for a few months before switching back to the much better one he had on Raw. Strange though. His opponent and former friend Tajiri rushes the ring and attacks the fighting Commissioner but is easily dominated as a nervous Torrie Wilson looks on. Regal continues to show a much nastier mean streak than we’re used to and easily finishes the WCW Cruiserweight Champion with a neckbreaker. He keeps the beating going after the match with forearms and a stiff powerbomb. He does at least leave Torrie alone.

   

   

  On November 3rd, there was another UK Exclusive PPV with Rebellion. I’ve covered that too so please go and check that out before picking the Preview back up here!

Raw is War - November 5th, 2001

Team WWF Disintegrates 

Raw opens with a recap of The Rock and Chris Jericho’s recent issues and to my surprise, features footage from their backstage interactions at Rebellion which I’m sure was confusing for the fans in the USA who had no idea what Rebellion was. It was only available in the UK. That’s all hype for tonight’s main event - a No Mercy rematch, The Rock challenging Y2J for the WCW Championship. The big story? How can it be good to have two members of Team WWF at each other’s throats THIS close to Survivor Series? 

Johnathan Coachman interviews The Rock ahead of his rematch for the WCW Championship. He dares Chris Jericho to win “the big one” again. He made me laugh saying that No Mercy was a national holiday in Canada. “Jericho won the big one day!” He says Y2J has no idea and to be at the top you have to stay at the top. He guarantees that tonight he will once again be WCW Champion if you smell what The Rock is cooking. Later, Michael Cole interviews Chris Jericho who sarcastically calls The Rock a funny guy and says he is Canadian but he was born in Manhasset New York which is very close to where this Raw took place. He says he and Rocky are far beyond duelling catchphrases and tonight isn’t about who’s more popular, it’s about who is better.

In the main event, Chris Jericho defends the WCW Championship against The Rock. This is a big PPV main event match with The Rock seemingly working as the heel, dominating Y2J with his size advantage. They do keep it in the ring and as a straight up wrestling match which is surprising given how heated their feud has gotten.

Rock almost gets a submission victory with a sharpshooter but Jericho rolls clear of the People’s Elbow and gives The Rock a Rock Bottom! He just barely kicks out of his own finishing move. Jericho drags The Rock out of the ring and using his new full-nelson facebuster finishing move - the one he did onto a chair to win the WCW title in the first place - drives The Rock head first through the announce table. It looked perfectly safe but the challenger came up bleeding. Paul Heyman names the move The Breakdown, which fits. I don’t remember him using it for very long but Jericho has had about 20 different short lived finishing moves over the years. The Walls of Jericho is the only one that’s stuck and he locks The Rock in that when he manages to crawl back into the ring.

A bleeding Rock just barely makes it to the ropes to break the hold and when a frustrated Jericho drags him back to reapply the move, The Rock pulls him into a small package and holds tight for the three count! The Rock regains the WCW title with a desperation roll up. An angry Jericho snatches the WCW title belt from the referee and hits The Rock right in the head with it. He grabs a steel chair and the furious now former champion cracks The Rock with a chairshot to the head too. He leaves…but then goes back and hits him with the chair again. Y2J has snapped. The Rock is the new champion but Raw ends with him flat on his back, bleeding. 

Traitorous Rattlesnake

Vince McMahon opens the show and after saying that he needs The Rock and Jericho to have their match tonight and then bury the hatchet so they can focus on being Team WWF at Survivor Series. (see the previous section to see how that went) He has a huge announcement of his own and after addressing Kurt Angle’s traitorous actions last week and calling him a coward, says that this announcement will cause the Alliance to crumble before our very eyes - someone is jumping ship from the Alliance to the WWF. That gets some “RVD” chants. He says it’ll be a member of Team Alliance and they will do the ship jumping AT Survivor Series DURING the Winner Takes All match itself. Vince can’t help himself and lets the cat out of the bag - It’s Stone Cold Steve Austin! Paul Heyman refuses to believe it and the Rattlesnake himself marches to the ring and after barking at Vince to shut up, and continually asks rhetorical questions at Vince with a loud “WHAT” in between. He doesn’t actually deny it, and then drops Vince with a Stone Cold Stunner. The WWF Champion leaves in a fury as Vince lifts his head off the mat with a big smile on his face! Is Vince telling the truth and if he is, why would he give it away 13 days early? 

When Austin gets backstage the entire Alliance is assembled waiting for him and he barks at them that McMahon is a liar and that he would NEVER turn his back on them or the Alliance. No one looks like they believe him. The commentators discussed it all show long with Heyman refusing to believe it, but acting increasingly paranoid and demanding to know what JR knows.

In the Austin locker room he tells Debra how upset he is that the Alliance no longer trusts him. The fans shout “WHAT” between each sentence. That’s catching on, and fans are still doing it in 2024. Shane McMahon enters and assures Stone Cold that while he believes him, he thinks Vince does have something up his sleeve. He thinks that SOMEONE is going to jump ship, just not Austin himself. Kurt Angle enters obliviously and cheerfully says he trusts Austin and that he came to tell him that. Shane and Stone Cold look at Kurt like they don’t trust him. Angle asks Stone Cold to have his back tonight in his match with The Undertaker later. Austin takes issue with Kurt not wearing the hat that he gifted him last week but does promise to have his back tonight. Shane, Austin and Debra exchange shifty glances. 

The Rock goes to see Vince McMahon who is icing his neck from the Stunner earlier. The Rock questions if Vince is telling the truth - he says he’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Team WWF wins. The Rock says he hopes Stone Cold IS coming back to the WWF because has been waiting for him. 

In the Alliance locker room, Commissioner William Regal rallies the troops and explains that he knows Vince McMahon is a liar and Stone Cold is not going anywhere. Booker T stands up and says he KNOWS Austin won’t be jumping ship and he trusts Kurt Angle too - he thinks the mole is Rob Van Dam! He had those private meetings with Vince before No Mercy. The two argue until William Regal books them against each other tonight. 

Stephanie McMahon - Helmsely goes to check in on her old friend Kurt Angle and assure him that while her dad has something up his sleeve, she does trust him and knows he won’t defect. The two share a long, meaningful stare and then Kurt says he’s going to make The Undertaker tap out for her.

Kurt Angle (with his Austin baseball cap on as requested) defends the WCW US title against The Undertaker. Undertaker is extra motivated as not only did Kurt defect to the Alliance last week but he injured his brother Kane’s ankle and made him tap out on Smackdown. Undertaker continues to show off his recent moveset changes, adding submissions and more mat wrestling to his repertoire. It’s all very arm focused. Kurt returns fire by focusing on Undertaker’s leg to soften him up for the ankle lock. When these two have wrestled in the past, Kurt was always overmatched by the big man but here he looks like his equal and this is very even. Kurt counters the Last Ride into an ankle lock and after enduring it for a very long time, Undertaker rolls through and puts on an ankle lock of his own! That brings Stone Cold to the ring - he did have Kurt’s back afterall - to attack the deadman, causing the disqualification. He drops Undertaker with a Stunner and Austin and Angle leave together, seemingly unified. 

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Kurt Angle who is now convinced that Austin is loyal to the Alliance. Cole plays devil’s advocate and suggests Stone Cold only saved him to remove suspicion. That gives Kurt food for thought and now he doesn’t look so sure.

Alliance Commissioner William Regal joins commentary to watch WWF Hardcore Champion Rob Van Dam vs. WWF Tag Team Champion Booker T. Another Alliance vs. Alliance match tonight. JR mentions a couple of times that this is for the WWF Hardcore title but it wasn’t announced as such and there’s no weapon use so I don’t know what he’s talking about. Tajiri jumps over the security wall and attacks Regal, hammering him with punches until Booker T sees what's happening and goes to save him. Regal has a badly bloodied nose when he gets up and he spikes Tajiri with a powerbomb on the outside. Booker and RVD return to their match until The Big Show - Tajiri’s recent Tag Team partner - runs down and spikes both Van Dam and Booker with chokeslams which ends the match via disqualification and chases Regal away from ringside. He carries Tajiri to the back like a good partner. This was chaotic! 

Other Happenings

• The Alliance’s Ivory takes on the WWF’s Lita. This is a competitive match. Lance Storm comes down to try and help Ivory which brings Matt Hardy out too. He pulls Storm off the apron and it backfires as Lance brings Lita’s head with him, choking her on the top rope. Ivory wins the match and she and Storm make a quick getaway. Matt checks on Lita in the ring but once again he accidentally has cost her a match.

• Edge defends the WWF Intercontinental title against one half of the WWF Tag Team Champions, the Alliance’s Test. Edge attacks Test early and starts the match on the outside after Test cost him the Hardcore title on Smackdown. Test works show and pummels Edge who can’t quite get going with his speed game. Edge gets on a roll but as he climbs to the top rope, Test shoves the referee into the ropes which knocks Edge off. Test quickly crawls into a cover but puts his feet up on the ropes for additional illegal leverage and steals the title! Test is now a double champion and the new Intercontinental Champion.

• Jonathan Coachman interviews the new WWF European Champion Christian. I talked about this at Rebellion but he won the title on Tuesday at the Smackdown tapings but the match was cut from Smackdown for time constraints. Christian is approached by Shane Helms dressed as a reporter. He says that he is friends with The Hurricane and Christian is not the greatest European champion until he faces the Hurricane. Christian tells him to tell the Hurri-dork that he’s going to get curb stomped tonight. The Hurricane got a big laugh and having a match with Christian tonight would seem to suggest he’s a babyface now! 

• Christian defends the European Championship against fellow Alliance member The Hurricane. Christian comes out wearing a baseball jersey which I’m sure is designed to anger the local fans. He really was the master of the “local sports team sucks” cheap heat. This is a fun match but the crowd are too busy chanting “Lets go Yankees” and “Yankees suck” at each other. The Hurricane puts on his cape and takes down Christian with a diving crossbody for a near fall. Christian wins with his Unprettier to retain the title. This isn’t the only Alliance vs. Alliance match on the show. Cracks are starting to form.
• In a six person tables match, The APA and Jacqueline face WCW Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz and Stacy Keibler. In a cool entrance, Bubba and D-Von carry a table to the ring with Stacy laid on it like a Queen. She is the Duchess of Dudleyville. This is a physical match including Bubba laying into Jackie with a stiff clothesline. She avoids a powerbomb through the table and Faaooq follows up with a spinebuster driving Bubba through the table to win this match for the APA. That should get them a shot at the WCW Tag Team titles surely? 

• Live at WWF New York we get to meet a brand new tag team - The One Billy Gunn and new member of the WWF roster Chuck Palumbo. They don’t even speak, JR just tells us they’re a team now while Billy’s “The One” theme song plays. They eventually got one of my all time favourite theme songs which I mentioned during Rebellion.

Smackdown! - November 8th, 2001

Don’t Trust Austin

Backstage Stone Cold explains to Debra that he’s sick of the suspicion and accusations and tonight he’s going to get information and to the bottom of it. He calls Commissioner Regal and tells him to assemble the entire Alliance apart from Kurt Angle, Booker T and Rob Van Dam around the ring because he has something to get off his chest and has questions for them all.

Regal does as he was asked and leads the entire Alliance to the ring for questions. Notable names are DDP who’s now just part of the crowd with people like Tommy Dreamer and Shawn Staziak. That’s a real shame for the former WCW Champion and main eventer. Austin talks about trust and goes around the ring singling people out and asking them if they trust him - he starts with Chavo Guerrero, Hugh Morrus and The Hurricane asking each of them if they trust him and saying thank you when the answer is yes. I suppose it's nice to see him interact with some of the smaller names - he does the same to Shawn Staziak and calls out Billy Kidman for looking a little too relaxed. He sees Tazz sitting at ringside on commentary and says that he heard him backstage talking trash about him on commentary and demands Tazz come up into the ring too. Austin has had more than one unpleasant run in with Tazz as leader of the Alliance and it looks like he might have put his foot in his mouth again tonight. Tazz stands up for himself and tells the Rattlesnake something that no one else has the guts to tell him. Austin “what’s” Tazz and he says “I didn’t stutter” and that gets a gasp from the crowd and a “Tazz” chant! Tazz says he’s speaking for most of the Alliance when he says that no one likes him, they’re all sick of the way he treats them and that DTA doesn’t stand for Don’t Trust Anybody, it stands for Don’t Trust Austin! The WWF Champion snaps and drops Tazz with a Stunner.

He mounts him and hammers the commentator with punches for daring to speak his mind and as he continues the beating the rest of the Alliance has apparently had enough of his leadership and leaves the ring. Stone Cold shouts after them to come back to the ring! He’s been abandoned by everyone but William Regal. Jim Ross replaced Tazz on commentary for the rest of the show. 

Backstage, Stone Cold berates Shane, Stephanie and Paul Heyman about how none of the Alliance had his back and helped him with Tazz. The three of them look unimpressed - it seems like they’re starting to realise that trusting this unhinged, paranoid wreck with their futures wasn’t the best idea after all. Or maybe they’re starting to believe Vince McMahon’s story.

He sends Shane to fetch Booker T, he sends Paul Heyman to fetch RVD and finally sends Stephanie to go and get Kurt Angle. He does all of this while barking “what” in their faces and asking them if they know what time his watch is saying it is. His mannerisms continue to get more laughs than heat from the crowd. 

Stone Cold continues his interrogation of the members of Team Alliance and has a laugh with Booker T about their shared love of break dancing. He turns serious and wants to know if Booker is with him or against him. Booker says that he’s been with the Alliance since day one. Austin sits him down and shows him some footage - Booker T attacking Stone Cold and putting him through the announce table at the King of the Ring in June. It’s a ridiculous piece of evidence of course as Austin was still with the WWF at the time. Things get heated until Shane McMahon begs them to calm down. Booker T has a match with The Rock for the WCW title to get ready for. After The Book leaves, Shane assures Austin that Booker is NOT the mole. 

Vince McMahon asks to see Undertaker. They discuss Chris Jericho’s actions earlier (see the next section) and Vince asks where Kane is - he’s supposed to team with Taker against Austin and Angle tonight. Kane isn’t here. Vince keeps asking Undertaker what his plan is and his plan is to beat them up two on one one.

Vince says that isn’t fair and Undertaker agrees and says they might need a couple more partners. Undertaker suggests Vince be his partner, which he isn’t excited about and wishes him luck in the handicap match. Undertaker then changes tone and says he’s pissed off that Vince has invited that untrustworthy sewer rat Stone Cold back into the WWF fold. Undertaker says that he knows everything Vince has done and that he’s been around here for too long - he knows what Vince is up to and he can’t have the wool pulled over his eyes. Undertaker says that Vince can do whatever he wants with Austin but he can’t promise Stone Cold will even make it to Survivor Series. Taker leaves and Vince smiles and laughs to himself. 

Paul Heyman brings RVD to see Stone Cold as promised. Austin is in an extra bad mood as he just saw that Big Show is joining Team WWF. Austin sits RVD down and turns the lights off and shines a big light in his eyes like an interrogation on TV. He wants to know what Van Dam was up to, attacking a fellow Alliance member earlier (see the next section) RVD says that’s personal with him and Booker and that he’s loyal to the Alliance. RVD reminds Austin that he’s the one who turns on people - joining up with McMahon and joining the Alliance. He dismisses him. 

Before heading to the ring for their main event, Stone Cold finally questions Kurt Angle. He (correctly) points out that they fought each other for 3 months and then all of a sudden Kurt joins the Alliance and wants to hug him? He thinks Kurt is the mole. That would certainly be the logical conclusion. Kurt loses his temper and takes off his Austin cap, throwing it at his feet and tells him to kiss his ass. That leads into the main event which is now a handicap match - The Undertaker vs. the WWF Champion and WCW US Champion. He’s confident even if Vince McMahon wasn’t. Austin and Angle bicker all the way to the ring and continually accuse each other and even have a shoving match so maybe Undertaker does have a chance. The match does break down into a straight match with Austin and Angle tagging in and out as a team and using the number’s advantage but Undertaker continues to fight and fight and fight. Stone Cold tries a Stunner and Undertaker shoves him sending him crashing into Kurt. Taker rolls up Austin and actually wins the match! It counts for nothing as Kurt and Austin attack him and pummel Undertaker two on one. Stone Cold drops Undertaker with a Stunner and then…he stuns Kurt Angle too! Was that a sign that he can’t be trusted, or was that because of their argument before the match? 

Friendly Fire in a Chaotic Title Defence

Before his WCW title defence The Rock gets his elbow taped up. JR and Cole speculate that this match was signed by Shane McMahon to take advantage of how beat up The Rock was after Raw on Monday and his physical main event with Chris Jericho. The Rock gets a pep talk from Vince McMahon. Rocky doesn’t trust Vince’s concern for his well being but they do at least agree that the WWF must win at Survivor Series. Rock promises he and Jericho will be fine at Survivor Series..if Jericho makes it to Survivor Series. Elsewhere, Booker T goes to see Rob Van Dam and tells him to his face that he thinks HE’S the mole. At least he’s honest. The two have a tense disagreement and promise that they will be honest about their distrust and dislike for each other. RVD sarcastically wishes Booker T luck in his match, which is next. Booker T actually looks pretty awesome with his WWF Tag Team title belt around his waist.

The Rock is very much not at 100% and the big bandage on his elbow came from the final post-match chair shot by Y2J which was right to The Rock’s arm as he lay on the mat. I wonder if the injury was legit? The match is heated and when the referee is knocked down by an errant heel kick by Booker T, Chris Jericho runs down and flattens The Rock and follows with a Lionsault. Booker crawls into the cover but by the time the referee counts, The Rock kicks out. He comes back with a DDT but Jericho drags Rocky out of the ring. The champion fights back and sends Jericho up and over the security wall but it’s enough distraction for Booker to jump him from behind. The Rock has Booker T in a sharpshooter until his Alliance mate Rob Van Dam runs down and kicks The Rock ring in front of the referee to cause a disqualification. The in-faction fighting continues when RVD gives Booker a Five Star Frog Splash but he turns right into a Rock Bottom. Will Rock come out on top? No, Y2J returns and cracks The Rock with another big swinging steel chair shot to the face! Seems like neither team can co-exist. 

Other Happenings

• In the opening match, a championship match I speculated we’d see during Raw. The Dudley Boyz (with Stacy) defend the WCW Tag Team titles against the APA (with Jackie). Despite distractions from Stacy, fighting from Jackie and more, The Dudleyz retain with a 3D on Faarooq. The 3D looked terrible as Faarooq landed on top of Bubba and rolled over to the other side of him. 
• Backstage, Matt Hardy excitedly tells Lita he has an Intercontinental title match tonight. She’s disappointed - she thought that they were going to face Lance Storm and Ivory in a mixed tag match tonight. Matt isn’t interested. He wants his singles title match! 
• Test defends his newly won Intercontinental title against Matt Hardy. Matt puts up a good fight and thinks he’s won after his middle rope legdrop but Test’s foot was on the ropes. Matt celebrates and pays for it, turning into a Big Boot and Test retains the title. As he celebrates at the top of the stage showing off both his title belts (he’s one half of the WWF Tag Champions with Booker T) he turns into a Spear from the man he stole the title from on Raw, Edge. 
• Alliance Commissioner William Regal comes to the ring and says that his business was interrupted by a “big filthy beast of a man” in The Big Show and demands he come out and fight him. He doesn’t have to ask twice. The reason for Regal’s confidence is discovered as multiple members of the Alliance attack him during his entrance. He fights them off single handedly (Raven, Mike Awesome, Justin Credible Hugh Morrus and Chavo Guerrero) and spikes most of them with chokeslams. Later, Mr. McMahon calls The Big Show into his office and says that he’s concerned about Team WWF at Survivor Series. He asks if Big Show will take his place on Team WWF. Big Show is happy to fill in and is excited to stand up for the WWF. 

• Despite having already competed tonight and being sore from the Big Boot, Matt Hardy assumes Lita still wants him as her tag team partner. She doesn’t, she’s asked his brother Jeff to fill in. Matt doesn’t look too pleased.
• Lita and Jeff Hardy take on Lance Storm and Ivory. This is short and with a moonsault from Lita, she pins Ivory to win the match for 2/3rds of Team Xtreme. 
• Jonathan Coachman interviews WWF European Champion Christian. He has a match with the WCW Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri but neither of their titles are on the line - why? Christian explains that he was asked by Alliance Commissioner Regal to take care of Tajiri for him. Ok, that makes sense. Christian once again enters wearing a baseball jersey to mock the local sports fans. Christian wins a short match clean with his Unprettier finishing move.

Raw is War - November 12th, 2001

Survivor Series Teams Pull Together

Kurt Angle opens Raw and starts off by mocking the local sports teams (standard) and turns his attention to Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Alliance has the chance to win everything at Survivor Series and he’s worried Austin will stop it from happening. Honestly he continues to belabour the whole “making fun of Boston” thing so it’s hard to engage with. He says that for the Alliance there is no tomorrow and that Survivor Series is must win. He demands the WWF Champion come out and apologise for Stunning him on Smackdown. It’s not Austin who comes out, it’s the WWF’s Edge. Edge calls Kurt a selfish bastard and says he had the love of the fans, his country and his colleagues but he threw it away by being a coward.

He challenges Angle for his WCW US title right now. The WCW referee jumps the gun and gets in the ring before Kurt has actually accepted so surprise surprise, he does accept. The match begins immediately and is a heated, competitive match. Kurt weathers the storm and connects with an Angle slam but when he locks in the ankle lock, Kane’s pyro and music erupts. We haven’t seen Kane since Kurt attacked his ankle and made him tap out on Smackdown two weeks ago. The distraction works for Edge and Angle walks right into a Spear for the victory. Edge is the new WCW US Champion. He leaves as Kane comes through the crowd and attacks Kurt from behind, lighting him up with punches, a big boot and then locks him in the ankle lock. Several Alliance members run down to help Kurt and pay for it with a big chokeslam to Tommy Dreamer and Steven Richards. A chaotic start to Raw and a big title change already.

In Vince McMahon’s office, Alliance members and goofballs Chavo Guerrero and Hugh Morrus drop by for a visit. They say that if the WWF wins at Survivor Series, they’d like to ask for jobs. Vince calls them rats deserting a sinking ship and mentions that they want to be on the same team as Stone Cold when he jumps ship. They seem to believe him. He tells them that they cannot come to the WWF and to get the hell out of his office. They bicker and call each other stupid as they leave. Paul Heyman is enraged by their behaviour on commentary.

Michael Cole interviews his broadcast partner Tazz. He’s challenged Stone Cold to a non-title match tonight. He’s taken abuse for four months for the good of the Alliance and now Austin might jump ship, cost the Alliance and make it all for nothing. He’s going to make sure he gets a piece of the Rattlesnake before this is all over.

Tazz looks for some respect and payback for months of abuse against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Tazz has been Austin’s punching bag more than once. Austin isn’t even dressed to compete when he comes out in his jean shorts and long sleeved t-shirt. Tazz jumps him early and gets in plenty of offence, looking for a Tazzmission! A low blow and a Stone Cold Stunner ends the match but the Rattlesnake keeps the beating going until Shane McMahon comes out and pleads with Stone Cold to stop and calm himself down! He reminds him that Tazz is a member of the Alliance and says the entire Alliance is backstage waiting for his presence. That sounded like an order! 

Back in the Alliance locker room before Stone Cold and Shane arrive, Stephanie and William Regal fire Chavo and Hugh for their disloyalty and chase them out of the locker room. As soon as Stone Cold does walk in, Kurt gets in his face and demands to know why he was Stunned on Smackdown and where he was when Kane attacked him earlier! Their shouting match is broken up by Shane who tells Austin that if he wants to lead the Alliance he shouldn’t be in any of their faces, he should be in The Rock’s face! Shane gets a pep talk to the troops as they argue and shove each other - everything is on the line and none of them want to go begging Vince for a job if the Alliance loses at Survivor Series. They all need to pull it together and win, or he will see all of them in hell! 

Back in Mr. McMahon’s office, he asks Chris Jericho to explain his recent actions. He attacked and beat up The Rock with a steel chair more than once last week. Y2J says he’s sick of the People’s eyebrow, the people’s elbow and the people themselves. Vince calls him petchalant and says he can save his hatred for The Rock until AFTER Survivor Series. He needs them to work together or it’s all over. He says that Jericho better make up and be partners with The Rock or else. 

Rob Van Dam defends the WWF Hardcore title against The Undertaker. This is a physical brawl up the ramp and in a cool spot, RVD climbs the staging and dives onto Taker with a crossbody from the titantron.

Undertaker fights back and is about to Last Ride RVD off the stage to the concrete below until fellow Team Alliance member Booker T makes the save. He and RVD don’t like each other but it looks like Shane McMahon’s speech has gotten them back on the same page. Undertaker goes a good job of fighting off both men single handedly and gives Booker T a superplex but after the impact as he’s still laying on the mat, RVD appears from nowhere with a Five Star Frog Splash to retain his Hardcore title. RVD adds Undertaker’s name to the list of very impressive former WWF Champions he now has pinfall victories over. 

The Rock is the next man to visit Vince’s office and gets a similar speech as the one given to Chris Jericho about the need to co-exist and work together. The Rock insists that Vince tell him what Y2J said. He’s unbothered that he’s sick of the People’s Eyebrow and sick of the People’s Elbow but looks significantly more bothered that Jericho said he’s “sick of the People”. The Rock fires up about being the one to lead the WWF and that he won’t get his team mates down and he won’t let the people down. He promises to whip the Alliance’s candy asses at Survivor Series and ends by saying that if Jericho gets in his business one more time, he’s going to get an asskicking. 

After their private meetings with Vince McMahon, Chris Jericho and The Rock come face to face in the locker room. Jericho is unhappy to have been called a punk ass bitch, and The Rock is unhappy that Jericho is “sick of the people”. Before they come to blows again, The Undertaker walks in and tells them off - he just got his ass kicked by RVD and Booker T and where were they? Kane walks in and he gets yelled at too - where the hell was he? Undertaker tells them all to get their heads out of these asses and focus because he isn’t ready for his career to end. They need to start acting like a team and it seems like they all take his message to heart. Jericho wishes The Rock luck in his title defence against Regal and says maybe he’ll come down to show his support once it’s over.

The Rock defends the WCW Championship against Alliance Commissioner William Regal. The Rock is focused and much like Austin earlier, isn’t even dressed to compete. Regal attacks early and continues to show his new, more vicious side. Tajiri slips down to the ring and spits green mist in Regal’s face leaving him to get locked in a sharpshooter for the submission victory.

After his successful WCW title defence, the leader of Team WWF The Rock gets on the mic and says he knows there’s someone in the back who can whip his ass any time - he calls out the leader of Team Alliance, Stone Cold Steve Austin! He doesn’t wait long and in the final segment of Raw we have the WCW and WWF Champions face to face. This is the first time they’ve properly interacted since The Rock returned before Summerslam. This is an amazing segment which is pretty fondly remembered by most fans.

he two mock each other's catchphrases and continually snatch the mic out of each other’s hand, not letting them finish anything. It’s damn entertaining and it’s a blast watching these two try not to laugh. Sadly, there’s a big chunk of this segment missing as on the original broadcast, they sang a duet specifically Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. On the WWE Network version after a funny back and forth, The Rock gives Stone Cold a Rock Bottom! Kurt Angle runs down to save his team mate, followed by Chris Jericho. It seems like Y2J might attack The Rock but seems to have finally realised they need to work together and doesn’t.

Raw ends with Austin and Angle on the ramp and Rock and Jericho in the ring. In a lot of ways it's a shame that the final build for the final confrontation between the WWF and WCW focused so intensely on The Rock and Stone Cold, the two faces of the WWF but this is an awesome segment. If you’ve never watched another video I’ve shared on this website, watch this one. This is the whole thing including all the singing. Enjoy watching them try to make each other break for 15 minutes and full credit and respect to the channel who uploaded this. Incredible stuff. 

More Survivor Series matches made

WWF Commissioner Mick Foley heads down to the ring holding a clipboard. Clearly no one briefed Mick on the ongoing storyline as he continually refers to the Alliance as WCW. He says that whichever side wins, he’s out of a job after Survivor Series because even if the WWF wins, answering to Vince McMahon is not something he’s willing to do. This is effectively a shoot promo as Mick had been told that he wouldn’t be needed as an on screen presence after the PPV and he was upset about it. He even mentions that he showed up at Raw and Smackdown last week, Raw being in his hometown and was told he wasn’t “needed on the program”. He says that McMahon can take his job but he won’t take his pride. He then talks about how everyone has a title belt these days - there’s way too many championships in WWF at the moment with all of the WCW titles floating around. He says he was WWF champion back when being a champion meant something. He then uses his last act as Commissioner to make some matches for Survivor Series to consolidate those titles. Mick actually mixes up who has each title and sadly this promo is slightly ruined by JR and Heyman talking over him while he does. The main thing is that WCW US Champion Edge will face WWF Intercontinental Champion Test in a title unification match, and WWF Tag Team Champions The Hardyz (see Other Happenings) will face WCW Tag Team Champions The Dudleyz in a title unification match, and just for fun that one will be in a steel cage. He says he did plan on doing the same with the WWF Light Heavyweight and WCW Cruiserweight Championships but X-Pac is “MIA”. I mentioned this in the No Mercy preview but X-Pac is injured and won’t be on TV for a while. He says Tajiri will face William Regal at Survivor Series too and ends with a cheap pop for the fans in Boston. This was actually a really important promo with a couple of big matches announced for the PPV but it was all distracted from by Mick being visibly pissed off and taking the opportunity on live TV to make some very real life complaints about the way he’s been booked and treated lately by Vince McMahon. 

Other Happenings

• This is a little bit spoilery but I wanted to mention that this is Paul Heyman’s last episode of Raw as a commentator. It’s a shame because I loved his work and his pairing with JR. They spend this entire episode bickering and Heyman smugly offering JR a job after the Alliance wins at Survivor Series. 

• Booker T and Intercontinental Champion Test defend the WWF Tag Team Championships against The Hardy Boyz. Matt and Jeff have been a little at odds lately (and Matt’s been at odds with his girlfriend Lita too) but winning the Tag Team titles might be all they need to get them back on track. The Hardyz use their speed and trademark double teams against the two bigger opponents and show no signs of their recent dissension. With a Twist of Fate and Swanton Bomb combo on Booker T they have the match won but a well placed Big Boot from Test takes out Jeff. With the referee distracted by Test and Matt fighting on the outside he doesn’t see Lita’s diving hurricanrana on Booker and Jeff follows with a roll up to get the victory and win the WWF Tag Team titles! Matt Hardy looks a little upset by how enthusiastically Lita and Jeff celebrate and hug together following the victory, but shakes it off to celebrate with his brother. 

• Bubba and D-Von Dudley (with Stacy Keibler) defend the WCW Tag Team Championships against a new team - Scotty 2 Hotty and the freshly babyface Albert who’s ditched X-Factor, mostly because X-Pac is out indefinitely with an injury. He’s wearing a hat and seems happy to dance with Scotty. Stacy gets in the ring and distracts Scotty so Albert pulls down her skirt! With her laying on the mat flailing around trying to cover herself up, Albert actually does the Worm with Scotty but Bubba Ray pulls her to safety before she comes to any harm! Scotty’s theme song plays and this match never actually started. The Dudleyz and Stacy leave as Albert puts Scotty on his shoulders to pose for the cheering fans.

• In the Commissioner’s office Wiliam Regal is warming up for his WCW title match with The Rock later. Christian enters and Regal says that all his friends and family are so proud of him as European Champion. As a reward for taking care of Tajiri so well on Smackdown he’s going to reward him with a non-title match with The Big Show. Christian doesn’t seem happy until Regal whispers in his ear and then he’s all smiles. What do they have in store for The Big Show?
• WWF European Champion Christian faces The Big Show in a non-title match. Show was added to Survivor Series Winner Takes All 5 on 5 main event on Smackdown, replacing Vince McMahon. I wasn’t able to find any information on why Vince announced himself for the match and then changed his mind but I suspect due to his age and physical condition. DDP runs down to help Chritian but is knocked off the apron. Christian tries to use a steel chair but its punched back into his face and that’s enough for the three count. He gets no time to celebrate as The Dudleyz charge the ring to attack Big Show too. He fights them off but the four on one odds are too much and a low blow from Christian leads into a Diamond Cutter from DDP and then in an interesting spot, The Dudleyz pick up a table and break it over him. The beating is going to continue but the APA run down with steel chairs to chase off the four Alliance members and protect Big Show from further harm. 

Smackdown! - November 15th, 2001

The Winner Takes All 

In the opening match, members of Team WWF and Team Alliance go one on one. Kane vs. Hardcore Champion RVD in a non-title match. RVD is really competitive and seems like he’s going to win the match by himself but Kane is just too big and strong. Thanks to some help from Booker T, RVD connects with a diving kick from the top rope to win the match. Undertaker runs to the ring and Booker and RVD take off through the crowd.

Chris Jericho goes to see The Rock and assure him that he is putting their issues aside and that he had his back on Raw, he’ll have it tonight and he’ll have it at Survivor Series. Y2J says that he’ll lead Team WWF to victory at the PPV. The Rock basically says the same thing but does add that AFTER the PPV, he’s still going to whoop his ass. Things turn tense but they’re on the same page. They’ll go to war again..but not until after Survivor Series and shake hands and even have a bit of a laugh showing each other their cool guy, special multi-part handshakes. The Rock’s was cooler and Jericho knew it.

DDP’s music plays and he’s scheduled for a match but instead of Page, it’s a member of Team WWF. The Big Show comes out dressed as DDP with a blonde wig and big fake white teeth! He can barely speak with the teeth in as he mocks Page’s recent insincere positive motivational speeches. That brings out the real DDP who has a big smile himself, seemingly unbothered by Show’s mockery. They pose and smile together but then Page cheapshots him with a punch.

Show pulls off the wig and fake teeth and quickly spikes him with massive chokeslam to win the match. He’s attacked by a member of Team Alliance as Shane McMahon runs to the ring and clonks Show with a chairshot to the head! Shane O’Mac sprints away from the ring through the crowd as Show watches him leave with murder in his eyes. 

Booker T is scheduled to face The Undertaker but he’s jumped during his entrance as Undertaker is sick of Booker’s interference. He beats him all around the ring and shouts that he’s about to send a message. He grabs a steel chair and after shoving the referee to get himself disqualified, drills Booker with a chokeslam. The steel chair ends up not coming into play. 

There’s a good video package for Survivor Series’ Winner Takes All main event but it’s not the full version we’d see at the PPV so I’ll wait for that one. It seems like the PPV’s theme song (Puddle of Mudd’s Control) has been dubbed and edited off the WWE Network so I’ll do my best to find a version which has the song in tact. 

In the Alliance locker room Stone Cold and Kurt Angle fire each other up for tonight’s main event tag team match and promise each other that they are not the one who’ll jump ship. Kurt even pinky swears, the most serious kind of promise.

In the main event, WCW Champion The Rock and Chris Jericho put their differences aside and take on WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kurt Angle. This is a big all star tag team match. Jericho is a man possessed taking it to Angle and Austin single handedly for a long stretch before a Stone Cold distraction and an Angle German suplex allows them to isolate Y2J. The commentators barely talk about this match as JR in particular is in relentless super selling mode, harping on and on and on about the size, magnitude and importance of Survivor Series main event. An insane amount of hype. After a long time Jericho makes a tag and The Rock finally gets legally into the match. He motors through both men until, with Jericho down on the outside with an overhead belly to belly suplex, Austin grab a steel chair and attacks The Rock’s ankle. The match is thrown out when he punches the referee. The Undertaker runs down to save his team mate and chokeslams Austin. Taker is dropped with an Ankle slam. Booker T runs down and gets a bulldog and Lionsault. RVD runs down and wipes out Y2J with a heel kick and Five Star Frog Splash. Kane runs down and chokeslams RVD. Shane McMahon wipes out Kane with a jumping chairshot. The Big Show comes down and punches the chair right back into Shane’s face. Kurt Angle gives Big Show an Angle slam.

Kurt gets a Rock Bottom and FINALLY after that epic parade of finishing moves, Stone Cold drops The Rock with a Stone Cold Stunner!

Austin is the last man standing and Vince McMahon comes out onto the stage with a big smile as he and Austin laugh together! Is Austin going to defect? A chaotic and exciting end to Smackdown and the final exclamation point before Survivor Series.

Paul E gets something off his chest

Backstage, Paul Heyman tells Stephanie that he’s about to go to the ring and call out her father and say things no one has ever had the guts to say to Vince McMahon. This is a pretty well known promo as, famously, Heyman asked Vince’s permission backstage to go close to the bone and cross some personal lines. Vince allegedly told Heyman to say anything he wants as long as it “draws money” (increases interest in the PPV). Heyman attacks Vince saying that the WWF is successful because of Stone Cold, not Vince. He says his own top stars want nothing to do with him like Austin and Mick Foley. His own kids want to see him burn in hell!

He says that the WWF is going to die at Survivor Series, just like his doomed football league. That joke about the XFL brings Vince down to the ring to confront Heyman, who has a big smile on his face. Heyman name drops Patterson and Brisco when talking about how he’s a billionaire who constantly needs people to kiss his ass. He leans in and tells Vince that he hates his stinking guts and so do his own children. Shane and Stephanie are going to put him out of business just like Paul always wanted to. He calls Vince a disgusting son of a bitch. He used Hulk Hogan’s blood to build titan towers. He took Bret Hart’s dream and used it to buy a private airplane. He took Shawn Michaels’ smile and made himself a billionaire. But he’s NOT a self made billionaire like he claims - he’s a billionaire because of everyone else’s hard work. He even brings up that he spat on his own father’s legacy by taking over the company and the second his dad died he ruthlessly drove everyone else out of business. That is all true, as it happens. He says that Vince stole all of Heyman’s ideas and dreams. He ripped off all the things he created in ECW and listed a bunch of examples.

Paul Heyman is in fact good friends with Vince in real life and always was but that doesn’t make any of the things he says here less true. He ends by saying that in ECW, Tazz was a machine and a killer and a great wrestler but thanks to Vince he’s a fat little sports entertainer and a commentator and not even a good one! Heyman continues to rant as Tazz gets up off commentary and after his run ins with Austin he is finally sick of being made fun of and mocked by the Alliance. He gets into the ring and puts Paul Heyman in the Tazzmission! Vince, who’s said nothing so far, picks up the mic and ends the segment by saying that at Survivor Series the Alliance will choke, just like him. This was an amazing segment and I hope I did it justice. I love Paul Heyman. JR replaced Tazz on commentary for the rest of the show.

More PPV matches

In the Alliance Commissioner’s office William Regal breaks the news to Ivory that at Survivor Series we will get a new women’s champion, who will be the champion regardless of which team wins the main event. It’ll be a six pack challenge featuring Ivory, Mighty Molly, Lita, Trish Stratus, Jaqueline and a mystery Alliance member. In this same segment we also learn about an Immunity battle royal as ace reporter Shane Helms asks about it. A 20 man battle royal where the winner keeps their job for at least a year no matter what. Helms says that to win that, you’d have to be a superhero! 

Other Happenings

• Backstage as Intercontinental Champion Test plays X-Box (which was just about to launch, and every show for the past month has been sponsored by) Stacy Keibler comes in to check that he’s ready before teaming with The Dudleyz tonight. She calls him hot and strokes his chest and he looks so full of himself after she leaves. These two dated for quite a while in real life but I’m not sure if they were an item yet.

• New WCW US Champion Edge teams with the new WWF Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz to take on their PPV opponents, WWF Intercontinental Champion Test and WCW Tag Team Champions The Dudley Boyz. Lita and Stacy Keibler are both at ringside too. This is a good match with The Hardyz and Edge working well as a team. Jeff is isolated but makes a hot tag. Stacy tries to distract Edge but it backfires and he sees D-Von coming and connects with a Spear to win the match. Lita knocks Stacy off the apron and Matt catches her on instinct, and then drops her as Lita looks at him accusatory. Lita is too distracted by Matt’s actions and turns into a 3D from The Dudleyz. Matt checks on his injured girlfriend, and Test lays out his Survivor Series opponent Test with a Big Boot too for good measure. WWF wins but Alliance has the last laugh. 

• William Regal approaches Torrie Wilson and sinisterly says that he and Ivory are going to demolish her and Tajiri tonight in a mixed tag team match. He gets extra creep points saying that he’ll end Tajiri at Survivor Series but if she needs a job he’s sure he’ll find a “position” for her. That match is next. Regal gets some good shots in on his former boss and punishes him with a Tarantula. He also spits his green mist into Ivory’s face. Regal returns the favour by assaulting Torrie Wilson and drilling her with a powerbomb. It looked quite unsafe as he almost landed on her head! He stretches Torrie out with a Regal Stretch to win the match via submission. Or get himself disqualified. It’s hard to tell. Regal has turned into a real nasty, sinister piece of work. 

• Backstage Matt checks on Lita who has a bad neck. Matt apologises to her and says all of their miscommunications lately have been all his fault. Kisses her and promises he’ll never let anything bad happen to her again. They hug and for some reason over her shoulder, Matt rolls his eyes. What an asshole.