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From The Shelf – WWF Backlash 2002

February 14, 2016 | Posted by Dylan Diot
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From The Shelf – WWF Backlash 2002  

WWF Backlash 2002
4-21-02
Kansas City, MO

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.

WWF Cruiserweight Championship- Billy Kidman © vs. Tajiri w/Torrie Wilson
Clothesline by Kidman and Tajiri pulls Kidman into the corner. Springboard dropkick by Kidman gets 2. Head scissors takeover by Kidman and Tajiri bails to re group. Tajiri catches Kidman and drives him into the barricade with a wheelbarrow gordbuster. Back in, Tajiri slams Kidman into a knee drop. High kick from the floor by Tajiri and he grabs a chin lock. Kidman fights out and he catches Tajiri with a hurricanrana. Tilt-a-whirl back breaker by Tajiri and he hits a basement dropkick into the corner. Tajiri stretches Kidman across the post and he hits a back breaker. He continues to stretch Kidman across his knee but Kidman breaks with a knee for 2. Tarachula by Tajiri and he misses the Buzzsaw Kick. Kidman fights back and he blocks the handspring elbow with a dropkick for 2. Spinning heel kick to the back by Tajiri and he hits a German suplex into a bridge for 2!!! Super kick by Tajiri gets 2. Kidman counters the power bomb into the faceplant for 2. Kidman goes up and misses the Shooting Star Press. Buzzsaw Kick by Tajiri gets 2!!! They go up and Kidman takes Tajiri down with the super BK Bomb for 2!!! Kidman goes for a power bomb but Tajiri sprays red mist in the eyes and he rolls Kidman up for 3!!!
Winner and NEW WWF Cruiserweight Champion- Tajiri ***1/2 ( Really good opener. With the Brand Extension, the cruiserweights starting to get more focused and you could tell both men were hungry to have a good showing. Tajiri in particular was spectacular, really thriving in the heel roll and Kidman played his part in making Tajiri look like a killer. )

Bradshaw reunites with Faarooq and he promises some payback to the N.W.O for what they did to their old office.

Scott Hall w/X-Pac vs. Bradshaw w/Faarooq
Rights by Bradshaw and he hits a DDT for 2. Hall bails but Faarooq nails him with some shots. Back in, Bradshaw overpowers Hall and drops an elbow for 2. Suplex by Bradshaw gets 2. Hall pokes the eye and he throws some rights. Hall chokes Bradshaw in the ropes and X-Pac gets a shot in. Hall stomps away but Bradshaw trucks him to end that. Rights by Bradshaw and he hits a back elbow. Big boot by Bradshaw and he hits the Clothesline From Hell for 2 as X-Pac puts Hall’s foot on the ropes at the last second. Faarooq chases X-Pac around the ring and drives him into the post when he gets caught. Hall goes low on Bradshaw and rolls him up for 3!!!
Winner- Scott Hall ** ( A very rugged match but I kind of like it in a weird way. These two just hit each other really hard for about five minutes. It wasn’t pretty but they didn’t hold back any punches so from that stand point this was entertaining. )

Vince McMahon meets with Ric Flair and he tells Flair the pressures of being an owner. He says he has employees who disagree with everything you do and now Flair placed himself between a rock and hard place by being the guest referee in the Taker/Austin match. Flair tells Vince he’ll never be like him and he refuses Vince’s handshake.

WWF Women’s Championship- Jazz © vs. Trish Stratus
Before the match, Molly Holly comes out and claims Trish is a cheater. She nails Trish with a microphone and dumps Trish to the floor. Molly sends Trish into the steps as Jazz finally makes her way out. The match starts and Jazz hits a clothesline. Sidewalk slam by Jazz gets 2. Hot shot by Trish and she throws some forearms. Fireman’s carry roll by Jazz and Trish comes back with a clothesline. Chick Kick by Trish gets 2. Trish puts Jazz on top and takes her down with the handstand Frankensteiner. Trish cleans house and hits a neck breaker for 2. Sit-out powerbomb by Jazz gets 2. Jazz misses a charge in the corner and Trish rolls her up for 2. Jazz rakes the eyes and she blocks Stratusfaction with a back suplex for 2. Dragon screw leg sweep by Jazz and she grabs the Boston Crab. She converts it into the STF and Trish taps!!!
Winner and Still WWF Women’s Champion- Jazz **1/4 ( Another nice short match. Trish was really starting to come into her own as a worker, showing great resiliency and showing that she was more than just a pretty face. This match succeeded in putting Trish over as a resilient fighter and set up her Summer program with Molly, so all around this was pretty good. )

Paul Heyman pumps up Brock Lesnar for his match with Jeff Hardy.

Jeff Hardy w/Lita vs. Brock Lesnar w/Paul Heyman
Jeff attacks right away but Brock fires back. Brock slides Hardy to the floor and Hardy dropkicks Lesnar off the apron. Slingshot pescado attempt by Hardy is block but he shoves Brock into the post. Back in, Jeff hits a crossbody for 2. Brock throws him shoulder into the midsection of Hardy a few times and he hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Another one by Lesnar and he hits some repeated back breakers on Jeff. Jeff fires back but Brock sends him hard into the corner to end that comeback. Jeff comes back with Whisper in the Wind and he hits a jaw breaker. Double leg drop by Jeff and he goes up. Swanton Bomb by Jeff gets 2!!! Jeff charges with a chair but Lesnar catches him and hits the F-5. Repeated power bombs by Lesnar and Jeff can’t continue.
Winner- Brock Lesnar **1/2 ( A perfect debut match for Brock. He tosses around Jeff like he was nothing, Jeff got a little bit of a comeback and Brock was able to sell without looking weak or bad in the process, and he destroyed Jeff to the point where he couldn’t continue to put over the idea that he really was a beast. )

Video package for Angle/Edge airs.

Kurt Angle vs. Edge
Angle overpowers Edge to start so Edge knocks him down a few times in retaliation. Dropkick by Edge and he hits a flap jack. Edge clotheslines Angle to the floor and back in, Angle stomps away. Spinning heel kick by Edge and Angle comes back with a release German suplex. Angle works over Edge in the corner and he throws some chops in the corner. Overhead belly to belly suplex by Angle gets 2. Suplex by Angle gets 2. Chin lock by Angle but Edge fights out. German suplex by Angle but Edge blocks a secod and catches Angle with an overhead belly to belly suplex. They slug it out and Edge begins to clean house. Edge-A-Cution by Edge gets 2. Bulldog by Edge gets 2. Edge goes up but Angle runs up and takes him off with an overhead belly to belly superplex for 2!!! Edge blocks an Ankle Lock attempt and Angle hits the rolling German suplexes for 2. Release German suplex by Edge and both men are down. Edge backdrops Angle to the floor and he goes up. Crossbody to the floor by Edge and back in, Edge goes up. Missile dropkick by Edge gets 2. They trade counters until Angle catches Edge with the Angle Slam for 2!!! Ankle Lock by Angle but Edge counters with a roll-up for 2!!! Lariat by Angle and he grabs a chair. He swings but misses and chair ricochets back in his face. Edge-a-matic by Edge gets 2!!! Angle rakes the eyes and Edge blocks Angle from using the chair. Edge goes for the Spear but Angle kicks him to block. Angle Slam by Angle gets 3!!!
Winner- Kurt Angle **** ( This was a great back and forth match. This was the first match that Edge really got to show he could more than hang with some of the best workers in the company, matching Angle move for move and getting the crowd rocking for each of his near falls. A great match that kicked off a really strong stretch that year for Edge and they would have an even better match at Judgment Day. )

Chris Jericho comes out and complains about how a month ago he main evented WrestleMania X8 as the WWF Undisputed Champion and tonight he doesn’t even have a match. He complains that his feelings are hurt but he claims what makes him feel better is that he knows he’s better than Hulk Hogan. He says Hogan isn’t worthy of being a champion but he is. Jericho decides he’s going to leave and he does just that.

Undertaker gives Ric Flair a hard stare down to send a quiet message to the special ref in his match.

WWF Intercontinental Championship- Rob Van Dam © vs. Eddie Guerrero from WWF Backlash 2002
Rights by Eddie but RVD fights back with forearms. Spin kick by RVD and he hits a monkey flip to Guerrero. Spinning heel kick by RVD gets 2. Dragon screw leg sweep by Eddie and he hammers away on RVD in the corner. RVD hits some shoulders to the gut in the corner and Eddie fights back with rights. He stomps away in the corner and RVD throws some kicks at Eddie. Spin kick by RVD and he hits a standing moonsault for 2. Kick to the head by RVD gets 2. Suplex by RVD gets 2. Slam by RVD and he goes up. Eddie crotches him and he hits some rights. Eddie follows up and RVD snaps Eddie’s neck off the ropes to come back. RVD goes up and hits a superkick off the top. Corkscrew standing moonsault by RVD gets 2. RVD goes for a suplex but Eddie counters into a small package for 2. Eddie escapes another suplex attempt into the O’Connor roll for 2. Eddie rolls to the floor and RVD catches him with a baseball slide. Moonsault press off the apron by RVD and he gord busters Eddie onto the apron. Spinning leg drop off the apron by RVD and back in, RVD gets 2. Rolling Thunder attempt by RVD eats knees and Eddie stomps on the back of RVD. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Eddie and he hits a back suplex for 2. Eddie continues to stomp away on the back of RVD and he drop toe holds RVD. Mexican Surfboard by Eddie and he stretches the back of RVD. RVD fights out and Eddie goes to the Gory Special. RVD counters into the sunset flip for 2 and Eddie catches him with a clothesline. Back elbow by Eddie and he hits the Hilo for 2. Assisted hurricanrana by Eddie gets 2. Brainbuster by Eddie and he hits a Saito suplex for 2. Eddie goes up but RVD stops him and follows up. Eddie blocks the superplex attempt and he hits the sunset flip powerbomb off the top for 2!!! RVD escapes a powerbomb attempt and he hits the spinning heel kick. Eddie bails to the floor and he grabs the Intercontinental Title. Eddie goes to use the belt but RVD blocks. RVD takes the belt away but hits the ref by mistake, allowing Eddie to hit a neckbreaker on the belt. Eddie goes up and hits the Frog Splash for 3!!!
Winner and NEW WWF Intercontinental Champion- Eddie Guerrero ***1/2 ( Really good match. Eddie and RVD’s styles meshed well, with RVD taking it to Eddie early with his high risk offense but then crashed and burned and Eddie used his technical prowess and cunningness to beat RVD. This was a great way to cap off Eddie’s return after his battle with drugs. )

Video package for Austin/Taker airs.

#1 Contender’s Match- The Undertaker vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Ric Flair is the guest ref. Taker overpowers Austin to start and Austin bails to regroup. Back in, they grapple for control and Austin knocks Taker down. Hip toss by Austin and he begins to work the arm of Taker. Taker backs Austin to the corner and throws a cheap shot to break. Clothesline by Taker gets 2. Taker begins to work the arm of Austin and he goes OLD SCHOOL for 2~!!! Thesz press by Austin and he fires away on Taker. Front elbow by Austin gets 2. Austin clotheslines Taker to the floor and they brawl on the floor. Austin clotheslines Taker back out and he works Taker over on the floor. Taker catches Austin with a big boot, knocking him off the apron. They slug it out and they head into the crowd for some brawling. Austin continues to work Taker over at ring side and he goes for a pile driver but Taker backdrops out. The NWO make their way out as Taker sends Austin into the steps. Taker works Austin over on the apron and he hits a leg drop onto the back of Austin. Back in, Taker works over the leg of Austin. Figure-4 by Taker but Austin makes the ropes to break. Austin fires back but Taker clotheslines him for 2. Chin lock by Taker but Austin starts to fight out so Taker rakes the eyes. Sleeper by Austin but Taker breaks with a back suplex for 2. Neck crank by Taker but Austin fights out. Clothesline again by Taker gets 2. Rights by Austin and Taker catches him with a leaping clothesline for 2. Taker exposes the top turnbuckle and Austin sends Taker into it. They clothesline each other and both men are down. Austin fires away on Taker and he accidently sends Taker into Flair. Stunner by Austin and he covers but Flair is out. Taker goes low on Austin and he hits a Chokeslam for 2!!! Taker grabs a chair but Flair takes it away. Austin goes low on Taker but Taker comes back with a big boot for 2. Spinebuster by Austin gets 2. He goes for the Stunner but Taker blocks and he sends Austin into Flair. Taker nails Austin with a chair and he covers for 2!!! Clothesline by Austin gets 2. Austin goes for the Dragon Sleeper but Taker blocks. He swings a chair but misses and Austin stomps a mud hole in him. Austin charges with a chair but Taker blocks with a big boot, knocking the chair back into Austin’s face. He covers for 3 even though Austin’s leg was in the ropes!!! Undertaker mocks Austin after the match so Austin lays him out with a Stunner.
Winner- The Undertaker **1/2 ( I can’t fully crap on the match because I get what they were going for but man did this match come off flat. This went way too long, they were looking for the long, drawn out war of attrition style match to prove that one of them really was deserving of being #1 contender. But the majority of Taker’s offense revolved around clotheslines and rest holds, so they never found that rhythm that could have gotten this to the level they probably intended. I appreciate the work, but they just didn’t click here and for almost thirty minutes that finish was incredibly weak. )

Jonathan Coachman brings Ric Flair to a monitor to show him the finish of the match. Flair realizes he messed up and walks away.

WWF Tag Team Championships- Billy and Chuck w/Rico © vs. Al Snow and Maven
The champs attack to start but Snow and Maven clear the ring of them to come back. Back in, Chuck officially starts with Maven and he stomps away. Tag to Billy and he collides with Snow, knocking him off the apron. Maven catches Billy with a DDT but can’t tag Snow. Tag to Chuck and the champs work over Maven in the corner. Enzuigiri by Maven and Billy and Snow tag in. Snow cleans house and Chuck catches him with a clothesline from the apron. Swinging neck breaker by Billy gets 2. Tag to Chuck and he grabs a surfboard. Snow fights out so Chuck hits an overhead belly to belly suplex for 2. Tag to Billy and he misses an Avalanche in the corner. Snow drop toe holds Chuck into the groin on Billy. Tag to Maven and he cleans house. Billy catches Maven with the Fameasser for 2 as Snow pulls Maven to the floor. Super kick by Chuck to Snow and Rico goes to spin kick Maven but he misses and nails Chuck. Sit-out spine buster by Snow to Billy and Maven goes up. Cross body off the top by Maven gets 2!!! Chuck super kicks Maven and Billy covers for 3.
Winners and Still WWF Tag Team Champions- Billy and Chuck ** ( Paint my the numbers tag and the usual type of buffer match you could expect before the main event. Maven looked like he was progressing nicely the match was designed to highlight him while keeping the champs strong, so nothing to complain about here. )

Video package for HHH/Hogan.

WWF Undisputed Championship- Triple H © vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Test of strength and Hogan has the early advantage. HHH gains control but Hogan over powers him to take it back. HHH fires away on Hogan and Hogan catches him with a back drop. Hogan cleans house and he fires away with rights and chops in the corner. Punches in the corner by Hogan and he backdrops HHH to the floor. Hogan works over HHH on the floor and he sends HHH into the barricade. Hogan suplexes HHH on the floor and back in, HHH sends Hogan hard into the corner. He goes for the Pedigree but Hogan counters by catapulting HHH into the corner. Hogan rolls him up for 2. Corner clothesline by Hogan and he hits an Ace Crusher for 2. HHH clips the leg of Hogan and he wraps Hogan’s leg off the post. Chop block by HHH and he continues to work over the leg of Hogan. Hogan blocks the Figure-4 attempt and HHH clips him again. HHH drops some elbows on the bad leg and Hogan blocks the Figure-4 again. HHH works over Hogan on the mat and he finally gets the Figure-4 on Hogan. HHH uses the ropes for leverage but Hogan is able to turn over, forcing HHH to break. Sleeper by HHH and Hogan’s arm only goes down twice. Hogan fights out and catches HHH with a back suplex. Hogan fires away and hits a sledgehammer. Big boot by Hogan and he hits the leg drop but Chris Jericho pulls the ref out of the ring and nails him before Hogan could cover. Jericho nails Hogan with a chair and he tries to revive the ref. HHH attacks Jericho and hits a face buster. HHH clotheslines Jericho to the floor and Hogan starts to HULK UP~!!!! Big boot by Hogan and he misses the leg drop. Pedigree by HHH gets 2 as Undertaker comes out and nails the ref!!! Taker nails HHH with a chair and he goes to put Hogan on top of HHH but Hogan wants none of it. He clears the ring of Taker and hits the leg drop on HHH for 3!!!
Winner and NEW WWF Undisputed Champion- Hollywood Hulk Hogan **1/2 ( This was nowhere near as good as Hogan’s match with Rock the month before. They did some fun stuff with ultimate test of strength early in the match but the meat of the match was boring, the crowd wasn’t engaged in the leg work and were pretty much sitting on their hands waiting for Hogan to make his famous comeback. I was OK with the over booking too, as it set up multiple programs for the next few months and I liked the aspect of both men not accepting Taker and Jericho’s interference and still wanted a win on their own, making the finish somewhat clean. Much like the Austin/Taker match, good work but as a total package it didn’t completely click. )

7.0
The final score: review Good
The 411
This show felt like a WCW PPV from 97/98 except with the WWF logo slapped on. You had the two main events that didn't live up to the hype, lacking in creativity and real energy. However, the rest of the card was very good, filled with hungry young talent working their ass off, looking to impress. The Brand Extension early on really did create competion among the rosters, as you the SmackDown brand featuirng the best workrate (Edge/Angle, Tajiri/Kidman) and the Raw brand building up stars and being more story focused. It made for a good blend across the card and despite the dissapointing main events, it was a damn fun show all around. This is one is worth a look on the network.
legend