User:LAX/Royal Rumble (2001)

Royal Rumble (2001) was the fourteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). It took place on January 21 2001 from the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The main event was the 30-man Royal Rumble match, which Steve Austin, the twenty-seventh entrant, won after last eliminating Kane, the sixth entrant. The other predominant match on the card was Kurt Angle versus Triple H for the WWF Championship, which Angle won by pinfall after Steve Austin interfered and executed a Stunner on Triple H. The primary match on the undercard was a Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship between Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, which Jericho won by retrieving the belt suspended above the ring.

Background
The main feud heading into the Royal Rumble was between Kurt Angle and Triple H, with the two feuding over the WWF Championship. At the previous pay-per-view, Armageddon, Kurt Angle won a six-man Hell in a Cell match involving Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Rikishi to retain the WWF Championship. On the January 4 edition of SmackDown!, Steve Austin defeated Kane and The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match to earn a championship match against Angle the next week on Raw. The next week on the January 8 edition of Raw, Angle fought Austin to a no-contest after Triple H attacked Austin with a lead pipe. As a result, Angle retained the WWF Championship. Later that week on SmackDown!, Vince McMahon announced Triple H as the number one contender to the WWF Championship at the Royal Rumble. On the January 15 edition of Raw, Austin and The APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated Angle, Edge and Christian in a six-man tag team match. Midway through the match, The APA chased Edge and Christian outside the ring and into the crowd, leaving Angle and Austin on their own. Shortly thereafter, Austin gained the pinfall and won the match after executing a Stunner on Angle. Three days later on SmackDown!, Austin, The Rock, and The Undertaker defeated Angle, Kane, and Rikishi, with Triple H as Special guest referee. The Rock won the match for his team by pinning Angle after executing a Rock Bottom.

The other main match on the card was Chris Benoit versus Chris Jericho in a Ladder match for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. Benoit won the title one month prior at Armageddon by defeating then-champion Billy Gunn. Two weeks later on the December 21 edition of SmackDown!, Chris Jericho and The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) defeated The Radicalz (Benoit, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko) in a six-man tag team match. After a back a forth match between the two teams with frequent tags, Jericho was able to execute a Lionsault on Benoit for the pinfall victory. On the January 4 edition of SmackDown!, Benoit defended the WWF Intercontinental Championship against Jericho. Towards the end of the match, Perry Saturn interfered on Benoit's behalf, causing the disqualification. As a result, Benoit retained the title. Four days later on Raw, Jericho pinned Benoit in a six-man tag team match between Jericho and The Hardys and The Radicalz. Later that week on SamckDown!, Jericho challenged Benoit to a WWF Intercontinental Championship match at the Royal Rumble. Benoit accepted, and told Jericho that he could chose whatever match he wanted. Jericho responded by announcing that the title match would be a Ladder match.

Event
Before the event went live on pay-per-view, D'Lo Brown and Chaz qualified for the Royal Rumble match by defeating TAKA Michinoku and Funaki in a match on Sunday Night HEAT. The first match that aired saw Edge and Christian defend the WWF World Tag Team Championship against The Dudley Boyz (Buh-Buh and D-Von). The Dudleys gained early control, tagging frequently and performing various moves including a Neckbreaker and a Sidewalk slam; however, Edge and Cristian gained the advantage after Christian illegally attacked D-Von. Towards the end of the match, as The Dudleys were preparing to execute a 3-D, Edge speared Buh-Buh. Buh-Buh, however, kicked out of the pinfall attempt and, with D-Von, executed a 3-D on Edge. Buh-Buh pinned Edge after to win the match for his team and become WWF Tag Team Champion.

Next was a Ladder match between Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho for the WWF Intercontinental Championship.

Results
The numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
 * Sunday Night HEAT Royal Rumble Qualification match: Lo Down (D'Lo Brown and Chaz) (w/Tiger Ali Singh) defeated Kaientai (TAKA Michinoku and Funaki) (1:57)
 * Chaz pinned Funaki to earn a Royal Rumble spot for a member of his team (although during the show Vince McMahon would give their spot to Drew Carey).
 * The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) defeated Edge and Christian to win the WWF Tag Team Championship (9:59)
 * D-Von pinned Edge after a 3D.
 * Chris Jericho defeated Chris Benoit in a Ladder match to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship (18:44)
 * Jericho won by retrieving the suspended belt.
 * Ivory (w/Steven Richards) defeated Chyna to retain the WWF Women's Championship (3:32)
 * Ivory pinned Chyna after she suddenly collapsed after delivering her Back Handspring Elbow.
 * After the match, Chyna was carried out into a waiting ambulance.
 * Kurt Angle (w/Trish Stratus) defeated Triple H (w/Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley) to retain the WWF Championship (24:15)
 * Angle pinned Triple H after Steve Austin hit Triple H with the WWF Title belt and a Stone Cold Stunner.
 * During the match, Stephanie and Trish got into a fight. The fight had to be broken up by Vince McMahon; however, the two fought to the back.
 * Steve Austin won the 2001 Royal Rumble (1:01:55)
 * The final two participants were Steve Austin and Kane. Austin sent Kane over the top rope following three chair shots and a clothesline.

Royal Rumble entrances and eliminations
A new entrant came out approximately every 2 minutes.