We open the show with a video package highlighting the history between The Rock and WWF Champion Kurt Angle, and between Triple H and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. We’re then subject to a horrible Rubix Cube-style moving logo, which is an affront to the eyes every time it’s on-screen, before being treated to a shot of the crowd inside WWF New York.
WWF Hardcore Championship:
Raven © vs. Big Show
We start the event properly with Big Show challenging Raven for the Hardcore Championship. There’s no explanation for this, or any backstory whatsoever. This seems to be just something else Big Show was involved in – in between his face/heel turns, of course. Raven enters first, with a shopping trolley full of weapons. Most of these don’t get used, neither does the trolley. The oddest item brought to the ring though? A basketball. Why?
As Big Show makes his entrance, Raven’s female associate – fully clothed and masked in black – tries, and fails, to attack Big Show. Big Show also avoids Raven’s attack from behind, hitting him with a stop sign three times. After Big Show hits the ring post thanks to Raven’s quick movement, a popcorn vendor jumps the rail and attacks. Of course, this turns out to be Crash Holly in disguise (and, for WWF at the time, actually a decent one!). This marks the start of the outside interference, with Hardcore Holly and Steve Blackman coming down to double team Big Show. This distraction allows “The One” Billy Gunn to roll up Raven and become the new Hardcore Champion – albeit temporarily, as Raven pins Gunn a minute or so later. Raven’s associate comes out to assist, but is followed down to the ring, and attacked, by Molly Holly. Big Show then chokeslams Raven on a trash can to win the Hardcore Championship.
This was messy. I am a fan of the Hardcore Championship, and indeed the 24/7 rule it brought with it, but it was clear at this point that it was nothing more than a vehicle to get people on screen. Despite the title changing hands three times, the official match continued only up until one of the scheduled participants won. Why did Raven not leave Big Show with Blackman and the Holly’s after taking the title back? Why did everyone else stop attacking once Big Show won? The best thing about this was Crash Holly’s appearance in disguise, and the coating of popcorn left across the ring for the rest of the match.
WWF Intercontinental Championship:
Chris Jericho © vs. Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. X-Pac
Chris Jericho had won the Intercontinental Championship at the Royal Rumble, in a ladder match against Benoit. X-Pac and Eddie had both been put on the shelf by Jericho, so the Fatal Four Way match was arranged. Before the match, Eddie and Benoit both agreed they would co-exist, but one of them would be winning the title.
While making his entrance, Guerrero waited for Benoit, and they attacked as a team (both being part of The Radicalz at the time) – removing X-Pac from the ring and working over Jericho. Eddie hit the Frog Splash on X-Pac, but Jericho broke up the pin. Benoit attempts a pin on Jericho, but Guerrero puts Y2J’s foot on the rope. Shortly after, Eddie breaks up another pin attempt by Benoit, and The Rabid Wolverine strikes Guerrero, throwing the allegiance out of the window. Benoit hits a superplex on Guerrero, injuring both men. Jericho and X-Pac both attempt covers at the same time, but only for a two count. Jericho locks on the Walls Of Jericho on Benoit, then Guerrero, then X-Pac – although none tap out.
Justin Credible makes his presence felt to assist X-Pac. They both pull Benoit out of the ring by his ankles, causing him to fall face-first onto Eddie’s groin. Jericho hits a Lionsault, but X-Pac breaks up the pin. X-Pac nails Jericho with a low blow and an X-Factor, but Benoit recovers to stop the pin. Benoit locks in the Crossface on X-Pac, but Eddie hits a beautiful low-angle neckbreaker to stop the submission attempt. Benoit hits his diving headbutt on Eddie. X-Pac nails a head kick, and Jericho rolls up X-Pac to retain his title.
Ultimately, there’s an element of difficulty watching this back. While the show is available on the WWE Network with no alteration to what was broadcast, the legacy of the Benoit family tragedy still hits hard when watching this back – especially when Chris goes for his diving headbutt.
That said, this is the best match on the show. Even the interference from Justin Credible – legal under the no-disqualification nature of Fatal Four Way matches – doesn’t feel out of place or interrupt the match. If anything, these four could have gone longer and still not outstayed their welcome. The subtle story of Eddie and Benoit stopping each other from winning early really worked into the overall effect of the match.
No Way Out 2001
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley vs. Trish Stratus
Oh boy… The creepy backstory for this match was partly an implied affair between Vince McMahon and Trish, resulting in Vince and Linda McMahon’s divorce; and partly Stephanie and Vince conspiring to have Linda committed to a sanitorium. Steph and Trish were essentially fighting here for Vince’s favour. Remember what I said about things not aging well? Before the match Vince is talking to William Regal, reminding him this match was Regal’s idea. Vince trusts Regal will “know what to do.” We even get a cut to Test at WWF New York. I won’t repeat his thoughts here, needless to say, he wasn’t that bothered about who won.
Stephanie coming out to Triple H’s old “It’s Our Time” music was a nice touch. The match starts at a pace, with plenty of aggression and some heavy clotheslines. Steph hits a clothesline from the barrier to Trish. Trish snaps McMahon across the top rope and hits a bulldog and a DDT for a pair of two counts. Trish sits on the top rope and grabs Stephanie in a choke, lifting her in the air a few times, but Steph manages to slam her off the top rope. Outside the ring, Stephanie grabs a jug of water from the announce table and throws it over Trish. An angry Trish tries a hurricanrana but is countered with a powerbomb. Steph then tries to remove Trish’s clothing, and (in a throwback to a backstage skit between Vince and Trish) spanks Trish. Regal comes out and trips the referee, putting Trish on Stephanie. Regal stops the count though, putting Steph’s foot on the rope. Stratus slaps Regal, who hits an arm trap neckbreaker on Trish, allowing Stephanie to pick up the win.
Remember when I said some things haven’t aged well from the Attitude Era? Well, this entire part of Trish Stratus’s career and the involvement of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley is up there with the worst of them. The match itself was largely impressive. Trish managed to carry the much more inexperienced Stephanie well, and they had some good spots. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the over-sexualisation of the two women (we really didn’t need that spanking spot) and the finish. Moreover, we didn’t need the Vince and Trish vs. Regal and Stephanie match that came out of this the following night – or the rest of this abysmal storyline. The Invasion isn’t looked back on fondly, but it had one positive – it put an end to this horrible angle.