The 2001No Way Outwas the thirdNo Way Outprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view(PPV)eventproduced by theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF, now WWE). It took place on February 25, 2001, at theThomas & Mack Centerin theLas Vegassuburb ofParadise, Nevada.The show is widely considered to be one of the greatest WWE pay-per-views of all time.
| No Way Out | |||
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 Promotional poster featuringKurt Angle | |||
| Promotion | World Wrestling Federation | ||
| Date | February 25, 2001 | ||
| City | Paradise, Nevada | ||
| Venue | Thomas & Mack Center | ||
| Attendance | 15,223[1] | ||
| Buy rate | 590,000[2] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| No Way Outchronology | |||
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Sevenprofessional wrestling matcheswere scheduled on the event'scard,which featured asupercard,a scheduling of more than onemain event.The first sawThe RockdefeatKurt Anglein astandard wrestling matchto win theWWF Championship,despite interference byThe Big Show.The other main event was aTwo-out-of-three falls match,in whichTriple HdefeatedSteve Austintwo falls to one. The featured bout on theundercardwas aFatal Four Way matchbetween defendingWWF Intercontinental ChampionChris Jericho,Chris Benoit,Eddie Guerrero,andX-Pac,which Jericho won.
Production
editBackground
editNo Way Outwas first held by theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF, now WWE) as the20th In Your Housepay-per-view(PPV) in February 1998. Following the discontinuation of theIn Your Houseseries,[3]No Way Out returned inFebruary 2000as its own PPV event, thus establishing it as the annual February PPV for the promotion. The 2001 event was the third event in the No Way Out chronology and was held on February 25 at theThomas & Mack Centerin theLas Vegassuburb ofParadise, Nevada.[4]
Storylines
editThe main feud heading into the show was betweenThe RockandKurt Anglefor theWWF Championship.AtSummerSlam,The Rock defeated Kurt Angle andTriple Hin aTriple threat matchto retain the WWF Championship. AtNo Mercy,Angle defeated The Rock to win the title after interference fromRikishifailed. Two months later, atArmageddon,Angle pinned The Rock to retain the WWF title in aHell in a Cellmatch, also involvingSteve Austin,Triple H, Rikishi andThe Undertaker.On the January 1 episode ofRaw Is War,The Rock lost a #1 contenders match toKanebycountoutafter Angle interfered. A few days later onSmackDown!,The Rock lost a non-title match to Angle bydisqualificationafter attacking Angle with a steel chair. On the February 8 episode ofSmackDown!,The Rock defeatedThe Big Showto become the #1 contender to the WWF Championship at No Way Out.
Another main feud was between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H which began atSummerSlam 1999when Triple H, after failing to win the WWF title from Austin in aTriple threat match,involvingMankind,decided to hit Austin with a steel chair and targeted his leg with it. Austin would get his rematch a couple months later atNo Mercyagainst Triple H but lost afterThe Rockaccidentally struck him with a sledgehammer that was meant for Triple H. AtSurvivor Series,Austin was booked into a triple threat match for the WWF Championship that also included then-WWF Champion Triple H and The Rock. Instead, however, Austin was run down by a car in the parking lot.[5]The Big Showwould replace Austin in the match and would win the WWF Championship. What followed was neck surgery by Dr.Lloyd Youngbloodand a nine-month rehabilitation with the car angle as his reason for leaving.[5]In September 2000 atUnforgiven,Austin made his official return and tried to find out who ran him down at Survivor Series the previous year.[5]On the October 9, 2000 episode ofRaw Is War,Rikishifinally admitted to being the driver because "he did it for The Rock."[5]At the following pay-per-view,No Mercy,Austin made his in-ring return to face Rikishi in aNo Holds Barred Match.During the match, Austin attempted to drive his truck into Rikishi, who by that time was a bloody mess. Before he could, he was stopped by police officers and WWF officials, and the match was deemed a no contest. Austin was then arrested and was later bailed by CommissionerMick Foley.During a handicap match against Rikishi andKurt Angle,Triple H, who had been showing signs of a face turn, came down with the apparent intention of teaming with Austin. After clearing the ring, Triple H smashed hissledgehammerover Austin's head, and revealed it was actually him behind the whole scheme, and it was he who paid off Rikishi to run Austin over, attempting to keep the WWF Championship from Austin and end his career. AtSurvivor Series,Triple H had plotted to run Austin down again during their match (thus repeating the events of the previous year's Survivor Series) but his plot failed when Austin lifted Triple H's automobile with a forklift, then let it drop 20 feet. On the January 8th episode ofRaw Is War,Austin challenged Kurt Angle for the WWF Championship. The title match ended in a no contest when Triple H interfered and struck Austin with a steel pipe. At theRoyal Rumble,Austin got back at Triple H by interfering and costing him the WWF Championship against Angle. Austin went on to win theRoyal Rumble match,[6]last eliminatingKane.
Finally, on the February 5 edition ofRaw Is War,Vince McMahonannounced aTwo-out-of-three falls matchbetween Austin and Triple H at No Way Out to settle their differences. The first fall would be a singles match, the second fall would be astreet fight,and the third fall would be asteel cagematch. McMahon then instituted a "zero tolerance" policy and said that if either man attacked the other before No Way Out, Austin would lose his WrestleMania match and Triple H would be suspended for six months. After Austin signed his name on paper, Triple H struck him in the back of the head with the clipboard and assaulted him. He then revealed to an irate McMahon that he still had to sign the contract, which he then did. Although the two came close to attacking each other, they did not do so. The week before the event, Austin performed aStone Cold Stunneron Triple H's wifeStephanie McMahon-HelmsleyduringRaw Is War,while Triple H performed aPedigreeon Austin's friend and Raw play-by-play commentatorJim RossonSmackDown!as retaliation.
Event
edit| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| Englishcommentators | Jim Ross |
| Jerry Lawler | |
| Tazz | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Hugo Savinovich | |
| Interviewers | Kevin Kelly |
| Lilian Garcia | |
| Ring announcer | Howard Finkel |
| Referees | Mike Chioda |
| Jim Korderas | |
| Earl Hebner | |
| Jack Doan | |
| Tim White | |
| Theodore Long | |
| Chad Patton |
Before the event began, a dark match took place in whichRikishidefeatedMatt Hardyby disqualification.
Preliminary matches
editThe event opened withRavendefending theWWF Hardcore ChampionshipagainstBig Show.Tori,Crash Holly,Steve Blackman,Molly Holly,andHardcore Hollyinterfered in the match.Billy Gunnperformed a Fameasser on Raven to win the title. Holly and Blackman attacked Gunn, allowing Raven to pin Gunn to win the title. Big Show executed a Chokeslam on Raven to win the match.
Next,Chris Jerichodefended theWWF Intercontinental ChampionshipagainstChris Benoit,Eddie Guerrero,andX-Pac.Jericho pinned X-Pac with a Roll-Up to retain the title.
After that,Stephanie McMahon-HelmsleyfacedTrish Stratus.William Regalinterfered in the match, leading to Stratus slapping Regal. Regal performed a Regal Cutter on Stratus, allowing Stephanie to pin Stratus to win the match.
In the fourth match,Stone Cold Steve AustinfacedTriple Hin aTwo-out-of three falls match,in which the first fall was aSingles match.Austin targeted Triple H's arm, preventing Triple H from performing the Pedigree. Triple H targeted Austin's leg. Austin performed a Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H to win the first fall. The second fall was aStreet Fight.Triple H attempted a Pedigree through an announce table on Austin but was unable to, allowing Austin to perform a Back Body Drop through an announce table on Triple H. Austin attempted a Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H but Triple H countered the move, hit Austin with his sledgehammer and performed a Pedigree on Austin to win the second fall. The final fall was aSteel Cage match.Austin attempted a Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H but Triple H countered the move into a Pedigree on Austin for a near-fall. Triple H attempted another Pedigree on Austin but Austin countered the move and performed a Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H for a near-fall. In the end, Triple H hit Austin with a sledgehammer as Austin hit Triple H with a 2X4 wrapped in barbed wire. Triple H fell onto Austin into a pin, meaning Triple H won the match two falls to one. After the match, Austin hit a Stone Cold Stunner on Triple H.
Next,Steven RichardsfacedJerry Lawler.The pre stipulation was if Lawler won,The Katwould be able to strip down whenever she wanted andRight to Censorcould not interfere. But if Richards won, The Kat would be forced to join Right to Censor. The Kat accidentally hit Lawler with theWWF Women's Championshipbelt, allowing Richards to pin Lawler to win the match, forcing The Kat to join Right to Censor.
After that,The Dudley Boyz(Bubba Ray DudleyandD-Von Dudley) defended theWWF Tag Team ChampionshipagainstEdge and ChristianandThe Brothers of Destruction(The UndertakerandKane) in aTriple threattables match.RikishiandHakuinterfered, attacking Undertaker and Kane. Bubba Ray and D-Von performed a 3D through a table on Christian to retain the title.
Main event
editIn the main event,Kurt Angledefended theWWF ChampionshipagainstThe Rock.The Rock applied the Sharpshooter on Angle but Angle touched the ring ropes, forcing The Rock to break the hold. The Rock performed a DDT on Angle. While the two were recovering on the mat; Big Show interfered, performing Chokeslams on Angle, The Rock and the referee. The Rock hit Angle with the title belt for a near-fall. Angle applied the Ankle Lock on The Rock but The Rock touched the ring ropes, forcing Angle to break the hold. The Rock performed a People's Elbow on Angle for a near-fall. Angle threw The Rock into an exposed turnbuckle and performed an Angle Slam on The Rock for a near-fall. The Rock threw Angle into the exposed turnbuckle and performed a Rock Bottom on Angle for a botched near-fall. The Rock performed another Rock Bottom to win the title.
Aftermath
editAfter No Way Out, Stone Cold Steve Austin set his focus back to the WWF Championship and the new champion,The Rock.Austin won the WWF championship atWrestleMania X-Sevenfrom The Rock in a No Disqualification match after Mr. McMahon handed Austin a steel chair to hit The Rock with, turning Austin heel. The following night onRaw is War,Austin and Triple H truly laid their differences to rest by teaming up and assaulting The Rock following a steel cage rematch The Rock had with Austin.
Triple H felt that after he had defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin, there was no one left in the WWF to beat and that he had deserved to be in the main event at WrestleMania.The Undertakerthen told Triple H that he'd never beat him and challenged him to a match at WrestleMania, which was made official by WWF CommissionerWilliam RegalafterKanethreatened to throwStephanie McMahonover a balcony. The Undertaker would go on to defeat Triple H at WrestleMania and improve his record at WrestleMania to 9–0. Their feud continued, however, with Austin at Triple H's side asThe Two-Man Power Tripand Kane at The Undertaker's side. The two teams would face-off atBacklashwhere Austin and Triple H would come out victorious.
After winning the match at No Way Out, the Dudley Boyz feuded with the Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian leading to a triple threat TLC match atWrestleMania X-Seven,which Edge and Christian won.
X-Pacwould formX-FactorwithAlbertand a debutingJustin Credible.
BecauseJerry Lawlerlost his match, the pre stipulation was thatThe Katwas forced to joinRight to Censor.However, in real life, The Kat would be fired because of backstage heat and Jerry Lawler would quit his job following his then wife.Paul Heymanwould debut and take his place asJim Ross' announce partner. Heyman would stay on commentary until the end ofThe Invasionwhere Jerry Lawler returned to WWF the night afterSurvivor Series.
Reception
editIn 2019, Kevin Pantoja of 411Mania gave the event a rating of 9.0 [Amazing], writing, "As I said, the Rumble to Mania era in 2001 is some of the best stuff this company has ever produced. That’s especially true for the PPVs. An outstanding show with only two things that missed the mark. The Hardcore Title match was a mess and Lawler/Richards did nothing for me. Other than that, you get three matches at ****+, including an all-timer in HHH vs. Austin. The WWF and IC Title matches were total bangers, while the Tag Title and Steph/Trish were fun brawls. A little bit of everything."[7]
Results
editReferences
edit- ^"No Way Out 2001".Pro Wrestling History.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
- ^"WWE Pay-Per-View Buys (1993-2015)".Wrestlenomics.Archivedfrom the original on October 21, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 22,2021.
- ^Cawthon, Graham (2013).The History of Professional Wrestling.Vol. 2: WWF 1990–1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ASINB00RWUNSRS.
- ^"No Way Out (2001) Venue".World Wrestling Federation.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-02.Retrieved2008-09-19.
- ^abcd"Steve Austin Bio".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on August 4, 2012.Retrieved2008-06-06.
- ^Blackjack Brown (2001-01-28)."Stone Cold rumbles to Houston aiming to sell out Astrodome".Chicago Sun-Times. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-11-01.Retrieved2007-12-06.
- ^"411Mania".Archivedfrom the original on 2022-11-06.Retrieved2022-11-06.
- ^"WWF No Way Out 2001 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".cagematch.net.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-11-14.Retrieved2020-05-18.