WWE KING OF THE RING 2002

Nationwide Arena
Columbus, Ohio
June 23, 2002

Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam
Chris Jericho met Rob Van Dam in the evening's first match, a King of the Ring Tournament semifinal. The match got off to a fast start. Jericho went for a full body press to RVD on the outside of the ring, but the Intercontinental Champion moved out of the way and somersaulted over the top rope onto his opponent. RVD followed that up with a kick to the face from the top rope. He tried to seal the win with a Five-Star Frog Splash, but Y2J shoved the ref into the ropes to knock RVD down. Soon after, Y2J removed the cover off one of the turnbuckles. The referee had to replace the covering, and in the process missed RVD's rollup that had Y2J's shoulders pinned to the mat. By the time the ref turned back around, Y2J had kicked out. RVD began to take over, nearly obtaining a pinfall after scoring a kick to the face and the Rolling Thunder. Jericho mounted a rally, but fell victim to a split-legged moonsault. Y2J managed to catch RVD in the Walls of Jericho, but Mr. Pay-Per-View reversed into a pin attempt that Jericho kicked out of. Moments later, Jericho rolled away from a Five-Star Frog Splash and hit a Lionsault. That looked to be the end of the match, but Van Dam somehow kicked out after a two-count. Jericho managed to put the Walls of Jericho on Van Dam again, but RVD grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Y2J tried to set up a superplex, but was thrown to the mat. That allowed RVD to hit his Frog Splash and get the pinfall to advance to the King of the Ring Tournament Final! After the match, Jerry "The King" Lawler" got a word with RVD. Van Dam said he wasn't afraid of facing Test or Brock Lesnar in the final. While he was talking, Jericho attacked him and locked on the Walls of Jericho, refusing to let go!

Test vs. Brock Lesnar
The two big men met in the ring next for the second KOR Tournament Semifinal. Test struck down Brock with several stiff clotheslines early, causing Brock Lesnar to bring his protégé outside for a quick conference. Once back in the ring, Test continued to take it to Brock. The former NCAA Champion countered by ramming his shoulder into Test's gut in the corner. Lesnar slammed Test with a powerful suplex and followed with a back breaker. Test bounced Brock off the ropes, but only received a Powerslam for the effort. Test's experience helped him get back into the match. He appeared to have the match locked up after hitting a Big Boot square to Brock's jaw. Somehow, Lesnar managed to get his shoulder up at the last instance. Moments later, Paul Heyman stepped onto the ring apron and took a swing at Test. That allowed Brock to sneak up and hit the F5 on Test! Lesnar covered up his opponent and got the three-count to advance to the King of the Ring Final against RVD!

Jamie Noble with Nidia vs. The Hurricane (WWE Cruiserweight Champion)
Jamie Noble came to the ring with Nidia to challenge The Hurricane for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. The Hurricane wore his mask, but his green cape was draped around Nidia's neck. The Hurricane got the better of his challenger early on, but got into trouble when he started chasing after Nidia. Noble cut down the champion with a clothesline outside the ring. Noble continued to hold control, locking The Hurricane in an abdominal stretch. The champion rallied by crashing a big neckbreaker onto Noble. He delivered another neckbreaker by launching his body off the middle turnbuckle. Noble took the Eye of the Hurricane, but managed to kick out. Hurricane spied his cape hanging on a turnbuckle and went to retrieve it, but Nidia jerked it away. Hurricane responded with a cross body onto Nidia's boyfriend to the outside of the ring. Noble attempted to superplex The Hurricane onto the outside of the ring, but Hurricane instead dropped a huge neckbreaker from the top rope! Nidia tried to step in and help out, but she got blindsided accidentally by Noble. Hurricane chokeslammed the challenger, but Noble managed to kick out. The Hurricane's luck ran out there. Noble slapped Hurricane with a powerbomb and rolled up the champ. The Hurricane appeared safe after getting his foot on the rope, but Nidia shoved it off and Noble got the pin to become the new Cruiserweight Champion!

Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero
Latino Heat clashed with the Nature Boy next. Guerrero, feeling confident, mimicked Flair's walk early on. Although Guerrero mocked Flair's abilities, the 16-time World Champion showed he's got plenty of fire left. He picked Guerrero straight up into the air and held him for several moments before suplexing him to the mat. Guerrero seemed intent on insulting Flair. Before long, Latino Heat locked Flair into the Nature Boy's own signature move, the Figure Four leglock. Flair made Eddie release him and later latched on the maneuver after Guerrero missed a Frog Splash. Chris Benoit made his way to ringside and watched the action intently. Guerrero tossed Flair from the ring and distracted the ref, allowing the Rabid Wolverine to strike. Benoit put the Crippler Crossface on Flair, who screamed in pain. The ref saw this and went out to order Benoit back to the locker room. Meanwhile, Bubba Ray Dudley stormed into the ring and nailed Guerrero with a Bubba Bomb! When the ref returned, Bubba had exited but Flair had draped himself over Guerrero and picked up the three count!

Molly Holly vs. Trish Stratus (WWE Women's Champion)
The WWE Women's Championship went on the line next with Molly Holly attempting to take the title from Trish Stratus. Molly started off by wrapping Trish in an armbar, but the champ reversed into a rollup that the challenge had to kick out of. Molly climbed the top turnbuckle, but was sent crashing to the ring with a Hurricanrana by Trish. Molly went for the Stratusfaction, but Molly pushed her off and countered with a belly to belly suplex. The two continued to tangle, with each using tremendous agility and strength to roll the other woman up. Molly came out on top and jerked on Trish's tights to gain enough leverage for a three-count!. Molly Holly became the new WWE Women's Champion!

Kurt Angle vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan
Kurt Angle set out to prove that he's the real American hero by taking on Hollywood Hulk Hogan. The more experienced Hogan controlled Angle from the start, tossing him over the top rope several times. On one occasion, the Hulkster followed Angle outside the ring and smashed his face into the ring barrier. Angle managed to storm back, dropping the Hulkster with a belly to back suplex. He followed that with an Angle Slam, but miraculously, Hogan kicked out after two! Angle whined to the referee while Hogan Hulked up. He bounced Angle off the ropes and hit a boot to the face! Hogan then took Angle's wig off to reveal his smooth, bald cranium. Embarrassed, Angle turned and walked up the entranceway to grab a steel chair. Angle went to nail Hogan, but the Hulkster ducked and the chair bounced off the ropes and into Angle's face. But Hogan found himself in the ankle lock soon after. The pain was visible on Hogan's face, but he sucked it up. He tried to reverse several times, but Angle kept applying the pressure, and Hogan finally tapped out! Angle strapped his wig back on and celebrated in the center of the ring.

Brock Lesnar with Paul Haymen vs. Rob Van Dam
Two athletes competing in their first King of the Ring Tournament met in the final. It was a clash of styles, with Brock's power meeting RVD's agility and unorthodox attack. Lesnar began by overpowering RVD and bossing him around the ring. RVD struck back with a couple of kicks followed by Rolling Thunder. RVD tried for his Five-Star Frog Splash and nailed it, but Heyman whiplashed RVD on the top rope. RVD tried a springboard lateral press, but Brock caught him in midair and whirled off the F5! Just like that, Brock Lesnar lived up to his billing as the Next Big Thing by pinning Van Dam to become the 2002 King of the Ring!

The Undertaker (WWE World Champion) vs. Triple H
Triple H attempted to take the WWE Undisputed Championship out of the Undertaker's hands in the night's main event match. The Game started off by knocking Taker down with a series of shots to the head. Taker, not to be outdone, thrust Triple H into the corner and delivered several punches to his abdomen. The champion controlled the pace of the match. He smashed Triple H with a guillotine leg drop off the ring apron. Triple H fought back with a suplex to the hard floor outside the ring. But a leg drop onto Triple H's throat back in the squared circle ended that rally. Triple H again mounted some offense, this time in the form of a spinebuster that knocked Taker for a loop. A high knee that connected with Taker's chin earned The Game a two-count. Things got crazy after that as referee Earl Hebner got trapped in the corner and was smashed by both men. Suddenly, The Rock came down to the announce table, sending Paul Heyman - who had been doing some commentary - scurrying. With the referee still down, the Undertaker went and grabbed a steel chair. He didn't get to use it initially, as Triple H knocked it from his hands. Outside the ring, Taker nailed The Rock with a cheap shot. The Rock tried to get a bit of revenge, but wound up hitting Triple H with a steel chair by accident! Back in the ring, Taker decked a bloody Triple H with the Last Ride. A second referee dashed into the ring to officiate the action. But after counting to two on the pin attempt, Triple H kicked out and the ref was thrown from the ring by Taker! Suddenly, The Rock dashed in and Rock Bottomed Taker before making his exit. Three battered men lay in the ring. Slowly, Triple H collected himself and draped his arm over Taker. Hebner came to his senses and began to count, but Taker awoke after a two-count. The Game scored a Pedigree to again put Taker sprawled on the mat. The ref couldn't count right away as he was still dealing with his own pain. Triple H attempted to help him, but Take caught him with a low blow. Taker rolled up The Game and got the pinfall to retain his title!

While Taker celebrated, The Rock stormed back to the ring and delivered a People's Elbow to the champion! He then consoled Triple H, who grabbed The Rock and struck him with a Pedigree! Taker managed to collect himself and chokeslammed The Game! Dead Man Inc. celebrated by holding the WWE Championship high over his head as King of the Ring closed!