2/16/02
Here is the rundown of the matches for WWF's No Way Out PPV, accompanied by some various info and my predictions for the outcomes:
Tag Team Title Match: Spike Dudley and Tazz vs. Booker T. and Test
They've tried to build heat for this one recently. Unfortunately, I don't think there's enough heat for it. As we all know right now, the WWF tag team division has looked pretty bad recently. Here we have this underdog team as champs going up against two wrestlers who A: make a good team; B: have a good amount of Tag Team experience between them; and C: have held the tag titles twice. But there's a bit of a twist to this here: on paper, the above factors might throw things into the favor of Booker and Test, but Spike and Tazz have beaten all comers as of late; also Booker T. and Test haven't wrestled as a team much lately. I really think this can go either way, but I can't really picture it as a good match. My prediction: Spike & Tazz will win.
Tag Team Turmoil
Essentially what we have here is a Tag Gauntlet type match. We'll be starting things off with two teams, and as a team is eliminated, another will come in and continue until all 6 teams have participated. The teams here are: Christian and Lance Storm, Chuck Palumbo and Billy Gunn, the APA (Farooq and Bradshaw), the Zoo Crew (Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert), the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von), and the returning Matt and Jeff Hardy. This match is obviously put together to drum up interest in the Tag Team division, it's about time they did something with it. All of these teams, with exception of the Hardys have been on TV alot lately, either against each other or Spike & Tazz. This event has the makings of something which could go on a good while, hopefully it does, because there's more talent here than in many things the WWF has done lately. I have to admit that I can't even really pick one team who I think can win this, it really depends on which teams start and what order they come in. With the matches we've seen lately, I'd say if any team should win this, Cuck and Billy are it, they've been on a roll lately, which doesn't seem to be slowing down, at least not until this whole "Ambiguously Gay" schtick fizzles out. The Dudleys haven't wrestled togeter on TV since the last PPV, and the Hardys haven't in even more time. Chuck and Billy are the most talented of the teams who have been performing alot lately. That's why they're my choice to win this.
Intercontential Title Match: William Regal vs. Edge, in a Brass Knuckles on a Pole Match
A long long time ago was when the concept of a "weapon on a pole" match was born. This variant features what's become William Regal's preferred weapon of choice, the brass knux. This match won't be too much different than any other match we've seen with these two in it. The outcome hopefully will be the factor that does make this one worth doing again. The fans are getting bored with these matches where Regal pulls the win out of his trunks by sneaking in a shot with the knux. I know I'm sick of it. Both these guys can wrestle, they've done a good program as enemies within the past months. Regal is one of the most talented wrestlers in the WWF, but no matter how good a program is, they've ran with this one long enough. All I have to say is: "Please, let this be the last time we see these two as opponents for awhile." My Prediction: Edge.
Rob Van Dam vs. Goldust
I still don't understand why they're putting these two against each other. When Goldust started his promos which featured him talking about the "one star", I really was hoping it would be the Rock. It would've made more sense. But here he is in a match which I consider pointless. This feud is gonna go for awhile, and I'm still not going to understand it. We need more develompent, why is it RVD? What makes him so special. Is it because he's so popular that the fans chanting has to be edited out of the TV shows? What is it? I'm not even gonna bother picking a winner for this one.
The Rock vs. The Undertaker
Okay, here we go again. They tried to build this up. The Rock helped Maven beat 'Taker for the Hardcore title. The Undertaker didn't like that showing of disrespect. I think this match is just an excuse to put these guys on a PPV. I don't think they're even gonna start a program between these two. If they do, though. I say that The Rock should win this one.
No. 1 Contender Match: Kurt Angle vs. Triple H, Special Referee: Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
Here's a grudge that's been ongoing for awhile. These two hated each other long before Triple H's injury. Basic points leading up to this: Angle is pissed that HHH eliminated him to be the last man standing at the Royal Rumble. Steph is pissed because of the outcome of the whole stupid pregnancy angle, which I'm so glad didn't last any longer than it did. Steph became the referee in this to screw her soon to be ex-husband out of the No. 1 Contender spot he won at the Rumble. I have a feeling that Ric Flair might interject himself into this match, it would be nice to have him fit into this somehow. Maybe add a secondary referee to this, which could cause things here to end up in a draw--which might make the Wrestlemania main event a 3-way dance. I don't know. I'm just saying is that even with the deck stacked in his favor like they are, Kurt Angle shouldn't win this.
Undisputed World Championship Match: Chris Jericho vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin
Alright, here's a match which has also been developed properly. Stone Cold earned a shot at Y2J by defeating both Booker T. and Kurt Angle in matches on Raw and SmackDown leading up to this. That's just good business, getting a top star to earn a title shot. At first people thought that Y2J's reign as Undisputed Champion was a fluke. It's been proven not to be now, he's had the belts for a few months. That's a good thing, building up his credibility as a main eventer, it's about time, Jericho is a damn good wrestler. But he's also a marked man, Stone Cold has appeared more intense as ever going into this match. This one will be good... that is until the nWo make their presence felt by breaking up this match. That's right, I'm saying this will be like one of those bad main events which occured on many WCW pay-per-views, and on Thunder and Nitro countless times. The nWo will come in and wreck the joint, laying out both Stone Cold and Jericho.
But wait--there's more! That's just one possibility for this match. The nWo could even possibly aid one of these guys to win, or the nWo could wait till the match ends to make their presence felt. I'm saying right now, either Stone Cold will win, or the nWo will cause the match to be thrown out.
Tune in tomorrow or Monday to read my No Way Out results & commentary.