User:Adster95/King of the Ring 2002

King of the Ring (2002) was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which took place on June 23, 2002 Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. It was 16th King of the Ring Tournament and the 9th annual King of the Ring event produced by WWE. Professional wrestling is a type of sports entertainment in which theatrical events are combined with a competitive sport. The buildup to the matches and the scenarios that took place before, during, and after the event, were planned by WWE's script writers. The event starred wrestlers from the Raw and SmackDown! brands: storyline expansions of the promotion where employees are assigned to wrestling brands under the WWE banner.

Nine professional wrestling matches were scheduled on the event's card. The Main Event was a standard wrestling match for the WWE Undisputed Championship which saw The Undertaker (Mark Callaway) defeat Triple H (Paul Levesque). The main matches on the undercard were the King of the Ring Tournament matches which saw Brock Lesnar defeat Rob Van Dam (Robert Szatkowski) in the finals which (this year) meant that Lesnar would get an Undisputed title shot at SummerSlam. Other Matches were Kurt Angle defeating Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea). Molly Holly (Nora Greenwald) defeated Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) to win the WWE Women's Championship and Jamie Noble (James Gibson) won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship from The Hurricane (Gregory Helms).

Background
The Main Feud heading into King of the Ring was between The Undertaker (Mark Callaway) and Triple H (Paul Levesque) At Backlash Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) defeated Triple H to become new WWE Undisputed Champion after Undertaker (who earlier that night defeated Steve Austin [ Steven Williams ] to become #1 contender for the undisputed championship.) interfered and hit Triple H with a steel chair. Triple H then became exclusive to the SmackDown! roster due to the WWF Draft Lottery and continued to feud with Jericho, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match at Judgment Day which Triple H won after a Pedigree. Last Month (at Judgment Day The Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan to become new WWE Undisputed Champion after a chair shot and a chokeslam. On the June 6th edition of Smackdown! There was an over the top rope battle royal to determine who would face Undertaker for the WWE Undisputed Championship at King of the Ring 2002. The final two were Triple H and Hulk Hogan. Triple H performed a clothesline on Hulk Hogan taking Hogan and himself over the top rope. Both Men's feet hit the floor at the same time so then Vince McMahon came out and announced that it would be a standard wrestling match between Hogan and Triple H later that night. Triple H defeated Hogan after Pedigree and would challenge Undertaker for the WWE Undisputed Championship at King of the Ring (2002).

Another Storyline heading into King of the Ring was who would win King of the Ring tournament and would go SummerSlam to challenge for the Undisputed Championship. On June 3 edition of RAW X-Pac defeated Goldust and Booker T (Booker Huffman) defeated William Regal to qualify to the quarterfinals. On June 6th edition of Smackdown! Val Venis defeated Christian. Edge (Adam Copeland) had to forfeit his qualifying match against Chris Jericho (Christopher Irvine) thus Jericho and Venis qualified to the quarterfinals. On June 10 edition of RAW Rob Van Dam (Robert Szatkowski) defeated Eddie Guerrero and Brock Lesnar defeated Bubba Ray Dudley (Mark LoMonaco) to qualify to the quarterfinals. On June 13 edition of Smackdown Hardcore Holly defeated Tajiri and Test defeated Hurricane to qualify to the quarterfinals. On June 17 edition of RAW Rob Van Dam defeated X-Pac and Brock Lesnar defeated Booker T to qualify to the Semifinals. On June 20 edition of Smackdown Chris Jericho defeated Val Venis and Test defeated Hardcore Holly to qualify to the semifinals. The semifinals and the final would take place at King of the Ring 2002. With Rob Van Dam taking on Chris Jericho and Brock Lesnar taking on Test and the winners of both matches would face each other in the final.

Another Feud heading into King of the Ring was between Kurt Angle and Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea). Last month at Judgement Day Kurt Angle lost a Hair vs. Hair match against Edge meaning that Angle got his head shaved. Embarrassed about his baldness Angle started to wear a wig. On June 13 edition of Smackdown! Hogan tore Angles wig off embarrassed and wanting revenge Angle challenged Hogan to a match at King of the Ring.

Event
Before the event went live on pay-per-view, The Hardy Boyz (Matt and Jeff) defeated Raven and Steven Richards in a Standard Tag team match taped for Sunday Night HEAT.

Preliminary matches
After Sunday Night Heat, the event began with the first semi final of the King of the Ring Tournament. This match was Rob Van Dam (Robert Szatkowski) vs Chris Jericho (Chris Irvine) this match would be contested under standard wrestling rules. After an evenly balanced match Van Dam gained momentum and won after a Five-Star Frog Splash. After the match a fuming Jericho attacked RVD. RVD would advance to the final to face either Test or Lesnar.

After the first semi final, the second semi final of the King of the Ring Tournament was next. This match was Brock Lesnar (w Paul Heyman) vs Test (Andrew Martin) this match would also be contested under standard wrestling rules. Test started to dominate with blow after blow until Lesnar performed a Spinebuster on Test and Lesnar would take control. Near the conclusion of the match Test would Running big boot Lesnar and cover him Lesnar would kick out at 2. Test would go for another one until Heyman sensing his client was in trouble would get on the apron and distract Test long enough for Lesnar to regroup and perform an F-5. for the victory. Meaning Lesnar would face Rob Van Dam in the final of the King of the Ring Tournament. This meant that RAW would win the King of the Ring Tournament as both Van Dam and Lesnar are from Raw.

The following was a standard wrestling match for the Cruiserweight Championship. Between The Hurricane (Gregory Helms) and Jamie Noble (James Gibson) with Nidia (Nidia Guenard). This was a pretty even bout until Hurricane started to gain momentum until Nidia made her presence known giving Noble enough time to recover. And powerbomb Hurricane, Noble would go for the cover and at 2 Hurricane got his foot on the rope until Nidia pushed his foot back off giving Noble the victory and the Cruiserweight Championship.

The fourth match was a standard wrestling match between RAW owner Ric Flair (Ric Fliehr) and Eddie Guerrero (Eduardo Guerrero). Near the conclusion of the match Chris Benoit was argueing with the referee (thus unintentionally causing a distraction) and Bubba Ray Dudley (Mark LoMonaco) came through the crowd and performed a Bubba Bomb onto Eddie Guerrero. Flair took advantage and covered Guerrero for the victory.

The next match was a standard divas match for the Women's Championship between Champion Trish Stratus (Patricia Stratigias) and Molly Holly (Nora Greenwald). Stratus would start to dominate until Holly caught her off guard with a after a Belly-to-belly suplex and a handful of tights.

Main event matches
The sixth match was betwen Kurt Angle and Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) in a standard wreslting match. Hogan overpowered Angle in the Lock up and domnated the early goings of the match. Hulk Hogan would hit Angle with his signature Big boot but instead of going for the Running leg drop he would take of Angle's wig. Angle embarrassed would run out of the ring and would attempt to go back to the locker room. Until Hogan grapped the wig and put it on his head. Causing Angle (with chair in hand) to come back in and break the 10 count. Angle then swung the chair at Hogan and missed Hogan would follow up with another big boot. Hogan then went for the leg drop but would miss Angle would then lock in the Ankle lock and Hogan tapped. Giving Angle the victory.

The seven match was the King of The Ring Final between Rob Van Dam and Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman). Both men had already fought earlier in the night defeating Chris Jericho and Test respectively. This match would be contested under standard wrestling rules and whoever won would be crowned King of The Ring 2002 and got a WWE Undisputed Title shot at SummerSlam (2002). RVD would gain control by quick kicks to the legs of the much bigger Brock Lesnar. Until Lesnar would counter a monkey flip into a powerbomb. And would use his strength to dominate. Working on the lower back which was still suffering from the attack from Jericho. Brock would miss a Should block and go staight into the ring post. RVD would then start to gain momentum once again using his quick feet. He would finally get the big man down after a Diving superkick. Near the conclusion of the match RVD would hit a High angle frog splash Heyman once again sensing his client was in trouble would get on the apron to distract RVD and pull RVD's head onto the rope. Van Dam would then go for another high flying move only to be caught by the regrouped Lesnar and Lesnar would perform a F-5. To pick up the victory, become King of the Ring 2002 and get a shot at the Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam (2002).

The Main Event was a standard wrestling match for the WWE Undisputed Championship between Champion Undertaker and Triple H. This would be a slow paced match with it being pretty even. Paul Heyman would be out to "Scout Lesnar's opponent". A notable spot in the match hapenened when Undertaker tossed HHH into the referee and Undertaker went to clothesline HHH but missed and hit the referee instead. The referee was out for over 10 minutes. The Rock came out to watch the match until The Undertaker Big Booted him. Undertaker then grapped a chair and was about to hit HHH until The Rock responded with punches and accidently hit HHH with the steel chair. Undertaker would throw the Rock into the ring post and would continue attacking HHH. Undertaker would perform a Last Ride on HHH but the ref was still knocked out. Referee Nick Patrick would come out to replace Earl Hebner and would count Taker's pin but HHH kicked out. Undertaker would strike Patrick knocking him out. The Rock would come in and Rock Bottom Undertaker HHH would cover him but Taker kicked out. Triple H would hit a pedrigree but the referee would still be knocked out. Triple H would attempt to revive the referee and Undertaker would hit a low blow then a roll-up with tights thus retaining the WWE Undisputed title.

Aftermath
After winning the King of the Ring Brock Lesnar would then continue to feud with Rob Van Dam and would face him at Vengeance 2002 for the WWE Intercontinental Championship which RVD would win by Disqualification.

After retaining against Triple H. Undertaking fuming with The Rock's interference asks Mr McMahon for a match with The Rock. Vince books the match for Vengeance and tells The Undertaker it will be for the Undisputed Championship. But on the 4th of July edition SmackDown!" The Undertaker wrestled Kurt Angle to a draw when Undertaker won by pinfall and taps out to Angle's submission hold. And on the following RAW Mr McMahon announced that Angle would be added to the match.

After defeating The Hurricane for the Cruiserweight Championship Billy Kidman (Peter Gruner) then challenged Jamie Noble to a Cruiserweight Championship match at Vengeance.

Results
King of the Ring Tournament Table

The tournament took place between June 3 and June 23 2002. The tournament brackets were:

1. Edge forfeited his match to Chris Jericho due to a shoulder injury.