2001: A Wrestling Odyssey

The evening began with the WWF Tag Team championships on the line, and the bout was explosive! Edge and Christian had been assaulting The Dudley Boyz at every chance they could leading up to this bout, and that damage nearly retained their titles for them as they isolated Bubba Ray. They kept it very Rock 'n Roll Express formula, as none of them really have the ring psychology to create a really nice flow. In the end, the brothers from Dudleyville were able to ride a huge wave of momentum and hit the 3D on Edge, leading to a huge win and their second WWF Tag Team title reign begins! The crowd were absolutely buzzing after this strong start to the show.

Backstage, Mr. McMahon is seen walking through the hallways, a huge grin on his evil face. He enters a room marked "Private Dressing Room" but that is all the cameras get to witness... for now.

Just as explosive as the opening bout is the second one, as the WWF Intercontinental championship hangs high above the ring for our ladder match. Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho left literal and figurative pieces of themselves lying on the mat and around ringside trying to gain the upper hand, and Jericho seemed a little off his game with some spotty selling of his arm, and it caused the psychology to be thrown off and sometimes outright fall apart despite working the arena crowd to a fever pitch. The match ended as "Y2J" is able to shove Benoit off the ladder and out of the ring. Using only one arm after all the damage done to it before and during the match, Jericho valiantly climbs the ladder and is able to pull down the title before Benoit can stop him. We have TWO new titleholders already tonight!

Speaking of the new champions, back in the interview area, Michael Cole tries to speak with the Dudley Boyz, but before they can say much they are assaulted once again by Edge and Christian! The former champions are furious, and attack viciously with steel chairs. However, as officials are breaking this scene up, in the background, keen eyed viewers notice that Mr. McMahon's "Private Dressing Room" door opens, and out sneaks Trish Stratus, adjusting her top and makeup.

In a different interview area, Kevin Kelly gets another tongue lashing courtesy of The Rock, but "The People's Champion" is mostly focused on the twenty-nine other men in the Royal Rumble tonight. He is prepared to lay the smack down and make sure they all smell what The Rock is cookin'!

The WWF Women's championship match follows, and Chyna absolutely demolishes Ivory... for about five minutes. The challenger executes her backflip elbow into the corner, but the impact jars her injured neck, and Ivory quickly falls on top (and puts her feet on the ropes for extra leverage) and shockingly retains the title! She and Steven Richards then tastelessly mock and laugh at Chyna as paramedics rush to the ringside area to stretcher her out of the arena.

The Undertaker is in the interview area with Lilian Garcia, and despite the questions on everyone's mind being about he and Kane, 'Taker says that brothers don't matter in the Rumble. All that matters is that everyone is stepping into the "big dog's" yard, and it's every dog for himself tonight.

Elsewhere, Molly Holly and Terri are arguing about Crash and Saturn's chances in the Rumble. Lt. Commissioner Debra happens past and overhears the conversation, and she sets up a mixed tag match for tomorrow on RAW is WAR, pitting Crash and Molly Holly against Perry Saturn and Terri!

Nearby the "Private Dressing Room" Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Trish Stratus run into one another. Sparks are instantly flying as the two throw verbal barbs at one another regarding Mr. McMahon, but Trish seems to take this debate as she smugly says that perhaps there's a new "Daddy's Little Girl" on the block! Stephanie is left fuming as Trish leaves her behind!

We're still backstage but this time in a loading area, as Raven is fighting for his title and maybe even his life! Hardcore Holly and Steve Blackman are trying to take him down, but finally his mysterious getaway driver rushes in with a car and gets him out of there! Hopefully he can make it back in time for his entry into the Royal Rumble!

Jonathan Coachman has the unenviable task of trying to get words from "The Rattlesnake", but "Stone Cold" gives him nothing; he quickly tells "Coach" that he doesn't have time for this and storms off.

After a quick glance into WWF New York, where Sgt. Slaughter is watching the festivities with some young fans, it is time for the WWF Championship match. Kurt Angle and Triple H go hold-for-hold, each trying to one-up the other, but the real story is outside the ring as Trish Stratus and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley glare daggers at one another in their client's respective corners. Angle even debuted a new power move, running up the turnbuckles and surprise suplexing Helmsley, which looks like it will be a good go-to spot for him in the future. When Tim White gets taken out by an errant clothesline, the women enter the ring and end up rolling around on the mat, finally getting a piece of one another! As the men in the match pull them apart, "The Game" is able to sneak a foreign object onto his hand and takes Angle out with it! He is making the cover, but Tim White isn't able to count the three as Steve Austin pulls him out of the ring! He makes sure Helmsley knows it was him by flipping him off, but Angle recovers and hits the Olympic Slam! Kurt Angle retains his title, and "Stone Cold" is the reason for it!

Following a rapid fire set of interviews, it is now time for the Royal Rumble! Jeff Hardy and Bull Buchanan are the first two entrants. There are many surprises and shocks, such as the Hardy Boyz going at it and eliminating one another; The Honky Tonk Man making an appearance, looking like a Comedy Character (it didn't come off very well to start, but he started to grow into it quickly); there is a hardcore brawl that also sees the return of Al Snow, who was last seen injured by Raven; Mark Henry makes a surprise appearance; The Big Show makes his return after months of absence from the WWF; Kane and The Undertaker working together to clear the ring; Steve Austin is attacked and bloodied by Triple H before he can enter the ring; and the return to the WWF of Haku! He looks like he is going for his same Savage Samoan gimmick as he was using in WCW, but it only came off as Average due to how exciting the rest of the Rumble had been to this point. He and Rikishi got into a brawl with Undertaker, but Rikishi really seemed off his game in this big match. The final four falls to The Rock, Kane, Steve Austin, and Billy Gunn. Austin's performance really shone during this year's Rumble. Dispatching of Gunn, Austin and Rock try to get rid of Kane, but are unsuccessful, leading to Kane eliminating The Rock! Rock really did look excellent during his long stay in the Rumble this year, he looks more and more like a star as time passes. "The Big Red Machine" had eleven eliminations under his belt during this bout, and only needed one more. However, when he brings a steel chair into the match, Austin is able to wrest it away from him, and uses it three times right to the head and finally eliminate Kane! "Stone Cold" has won his third Royal Rumble, and he has booked his ticket into the main event of WrestleMania!