Royal Rumble (2002)

Infobox Wrestling event
name=Royal Rumble (2002)


tagline=30 Men, One Match, One W1nner
theme="Cocky" (Kid Rock) [cite web|url=http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/january/2002.htm|title=WWF Royal Rumble 2002|publisher=pWwew| accessdate=2008-03-25]
promotion=World Wrestling Federation
date=January 20 2002cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/royalrumble02.html |title=Royal Rumble 2002 Results |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2008-03-26 ]
venue=Philips Arena
city=Atlanta, Georgia
attendance=12,915 [cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=9456|title=Royal Rumble history part two|first=Dan|last=Wahlers|date=2004-01-21|publisher=Wrestling Observer|accessdate=2008-03-25]
lastevent=Vengeance (2001)
nextevent=No Way Out (2002)
event=Royal Rumble
lastevent2=Royal Rumble (2001)
nextevent2=Royal Rumble (2003)

Royal Rumble (2002) was the fifteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on January 20 2002 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The main event was the Royal Rumble match, which Triple H won after last eliminating Kurt Angle. The other matches were Chris Jericho versus The Rock for the Undisputed WWF Championship, Ric Flair versus Vince McMahon in a Street Fight, Edge versus William Regal for the WWF Intercontinental Championship, the team of Spike Dudley and Tazz versus the Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship, and Trish Stratus versus Jazz for the WWF Women's Championship.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/31030/411s-WWF-Royal-Rumble-Report-1.20.02.htm |title=411's WWF Royal Rumble Report 1.20.02 |date=2002-01-21 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/jan21_rumble-can.html |title=Rumble 2002 stumbles Triple H wins WrestleMania spot |first=John |last=Powell |date=2002-01-21 |publisher=SLAM! Sports |accessdate=2008-03-25 ]

Background

The main feud was between Chris Jericho and The Rock for Jericho's Undisputed WWF Championship. Their feud continued from Vengeance, when Jericho cheated to defeat both Steve Austin and The Rock to win the title.cite web |title=Vengeance 2001 official results |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/ |publisher=WWE |accessdate=2007-07-29 ] [cite web |title=Vengeance 2001 results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/vengeance01.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2008-01-30 ] The Rock earned a match for the Undisputed WWF Championship at Royal Rumble on the January 3 edition of "SmackDown!" by defeating Booker T. [cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/31221/The-SmarkDown-Rant---January-3---2002.htm |title=The SmarkDown Rant - January 3 / 2002 |first=Scott |last=Keith |date=2002-01-04 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] On the January 10 edition of "SmackDown!", The Rock and Rob Van Dam defeated Jericho and Test when The Rock made Jericho submit with the Sharpshooter.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30379/411s-WWF-Smackdown-Report-1.10.02.htm |title=411's WWF Smackdown Report 1.10.02 |first=Sean |last=McCluskey |date=2002-01-10 |publisher=411mania |date=2008-03-25 ]

On the January 7 edition of "RAW", buildup towards the Royal Rumble match started, with Austin saying he wants to enter. When the returning Triple H announced his participation in the match, Kurt Angle did the same, and taunted Triple H. Triple H hit Angle with a Pedigree.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30378/411s-WWF-Raw-Report-1.7.02.htm |title=411's WWF Raw Report 1.7.02 |date=2002-01-07 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] During a match between Austin and Angle on the January 10 edition of "SmackDown!", Kane, The Big Show, and Triple H all interfered. In the end, only Triple H remained standing, and The Undertaker stared him down from the top of the ramp. On the January 14 edition of "RAW", Triple H stated that he wants to win the Undisputed WWF Championship. Austin came out, and they fought until The Undertaker came out, and hit Triple H with a chair, allowing Austin to hit the Stone Cold Stunner. The Undertaker then hit Austin with the chair.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30383/411s-WWF-Raw-Report-14.01.02.htm |title=411's WWF Raw Report 14.01.02 |first=Carlos |last=Mahuad |date=2002-01-14 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] On the January 17 edition of "SmackDown!", Austin and Triple H defeated Angle and Booker T. After the match, The Undertaker again came out, and stared them down.

The feud between Edge and William Regal continued from Vengeance. On the December 10 edition of "RAW", Edge mocked Regal, and Regal attacked him with brass knuckles. [cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30360/411s-WWF-Raw-Report-12.10.01.htm |title=411's WWF Raw Report 12.10.01 |date=2001-12-10 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] On the December 13 edition of "SmackDown!", William Regal and Kurt Angle faced Edge and Rikishi. After the match, Edge hit Regal with a steel chair and an Edgecution onto the chair, breaking his nose, and causing him to bleed. [cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/31217/The-SmarKdown-Rant---December-13---2001.htm |title=The SmarKdown Rant - December 13 / 2001 |first=Scott |last=Keith |date=2001-12-13 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] On the January 7 edition of "RAW", Regal interfered during Edge's match and hit him with brass knuckles. Regal challenged Edge to a match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at Royal Rumble, and Edge accepted. On the January 14 edition of "RAW", Edge and Rob Van Dam faced William Regal and Test, where Regal pinned Edge after using the brass knuckles.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30383/411s-WWF-Raw-Report-14.01.02.htm |title=411's WWF Raw Report 14.01.02 |first=Carlos |last=Mahuad |date=2002-01-14 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] On the January 17 edition of "SmackDown!", Regal came out during Edge's match with Test. Regal failed to interfere, and Edge hit him and referee Nick Patrick with a chair.cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/tv_reports/30384/411s-WWF-Smackdown-Report-1.17.02.htm |title=411's WWF Smackdown Report 1.17.02 |first=Sean |last=McCluskey |date=2002-01-17 |publisher=411mania |accessdate=2008-03-25 ]

Event

After Undertaker was eliminated, he went back in the ring, eliminated Maven, and assaulted him throughout the arena.

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/198811413/ Official 2002 Royal Rumble website]