Colling It In The Ring: WWF Insurrextion 5/1/2001

World Wrestling Federation presents Insurrextion
Date: 5/1/2001
From: London, England

Matches:
1.)Eddie Guerrero defeated Grand Master Sexay
2.)Perry Saturn & Dean Malenko defeated Hardcore & Crash Holly
3.)Bradshaw defeated the Big Show
4.)Edge & Christian defeated X-Factor, the Dudley Boys & The Hardy Boys in a elimination match
5.)Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle in a best two out of three falls match
6.)Chris Jericho defeated William Regal to win the Queen’s Cup
7.)The Undertaker defeated WWF World Champion/WWF World Tag Team Champion Steve Austin & WWF Intercontinental Champion/WWF World Tag Team Champion Triple H in a handicap match; the WWF World Championship was on the line.

Angle Developments/Notes:
1. William Regal is on the phone with Kurt Angle and tells him that the whole show has been changed. Vince McMahon enters the office and says that everything is getting to Regal’s head. Vince isn’t happy with the rule changes he has made for the show. Regal assures Vince that he didn’t do any of the changes. He wants to know who made the changes, and it is revealed that Linda McMahon made the changes to the show. McMahon tells Regal that he is the boss and neither of them take demands from his wife. Linda appears behind Vince and that stops Vince quickly. Linda says she changed the card for the fans and wants them to see the best the company has to offer. Vince hopes she didn’t change the main event. Linda says she didn’t and that’s because the Undertaker wanted both Austin and HHH in the ring tonight! Vince is rather happy about that. She leaves and Vince mocks her. Vince knocks stuff off a table and says he is fed up with it. Vince asks about the foot in mouth disease and hopes he won’t get it. They both agree it’s disgusting and they make disgusted faces to end the segment.

2. Guerrero starts the match with a back elbow to knock Sexay off his feet. Guerrero puts on Sexay’s glasses and mocks him before tossing them into the crowd. Sexay comes back with a powerslam and right hands. Sexay hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope sending Guerrero to the floor. Sexay hits a baseball slide to knock Guerrero onto the floor. Sexay dances in the ring and is attacked by Eddie from behind. Sexay nearly wins with a roll up after Guerrero was taunting the fans. Guerrero quickly hits a clothesline but Sexay kicks Guerrero in the head. Sexay hits a backdrop and clothesline. Sexay drops Guerrero face first across the top turnbuckle and delivers a kick to the face for a near fall. Sexay hits a powerbomb before going to the top rope. Sexay puts the goggles on and misses the leg drop. Sexay slams Guerrero off the top rope but misses a splash in the corner. Guerrero rolls Sexay up and uses the ropes up for leverage to win the match. (**1/2. A solid opening match between these two. It didn’t get a lot of time but they got a lot of stuff in and produced some good action. Guerrero just looks like a guy who should be doing so much more in 2001.)

3. Backstage, Triple H is talking to Stephanie about the handicap match. HHH is worried about the match since it’s himself and Austin against Taker.

4. Lillian Garcia announces the next match as a six man tag match, but that’s not the case. Terri corrects Garcia by saying that she can’t even get wrestling boots so she isn’t going to wrestle in her outfit. Hardcore and Malenko go at it on the floor while Molly and Terri slap each other. Molly hits a northern lights suplex and slams Terri to the canvas. Hardcore and Saturn start the tag match trading right hands. Hardcore drops Saturn with a clothesline. Hardcore hits a back suplex for a two count. Saturn hits a jaw breaker and clothesline. Hardcore barely hits a dropkick on Saturn and kicks Perry in the low midsection. Crash gets into the match and hits a clothesline for a two count. Saturn tosses Crash over with a overhead belly to belly suplex. Malenko runs in but is met with a drop toe hold. Malenko runs into a snap powerslam from Crash. Hardcore enters but Saturn drops him with a clothesline from the apron. Dean works over Hardcore with a scoop slam before tagging in Saturn. Saturn plants Hardcore with a brainbuster for a two count. Saturn takes Hardcore over with a overhead suplex and heads to the top rope. Saturn misses a top rope elbow drop. Hardcore tries for the Alabama Slam but they botch it. Crash gets the tag and knocks Saturn down with a forearm. Crash hits a head scissors and plants Dean with a DDT. Crash hits a top rope hurricanrana but Dean breaks up the cover. Crash hits Saturn with a bulldog off the middle rope but Terri enters and that causes a cat fight. The referee is distracted and Saturn gets the win with a northern lights suplex on Crash. (**1/2. Another fine match here for the England crowd. I’ve yet to see a rest hold in the matches which is always a pleasant sight to see.)

5. Backstage, William Regal is talking on the phone saying that it’s crazy for people to think that the fans will cheer Jericho instead of him.

6. Big Show says that Test is a coward and doesn’t think that Test is really injured. Test comes out but is holding his ribs in pain. Show wants him to raise his hand in victory. Test enters the ring and starts to brawl with Show. Test hammers away on Show in the corner. Show drives Test down to the canvas with a side slam. Show drops an elbow across Test’s chest. Several officials come out to stop the beating. Show grabs a microphone and says this is why nobody can stop him. Show goes to leave but is stopped by the APA music. Here comes Bradshaw to answer the challenge.

7. Bradshaw hammers away on Show on the aisle way with right hands. Bradshaw and Show trade a series of right hands until they get into the ring. Show hits a side slam on Bradshaw and follows up with a headbutt. Bradshaw kicks Show in the corner and comes firing back with right hands. Show splashes Bradshaw and hits a scoop slam. Bradshaw avoids a leaping elbow drop. Bradshaw goes to the top rope and hits a top rope shoulder block to knock Show off his feet. Bradshaw blocks a chokeslam and is sent to the floor. Show clotheslines Bradshaw on the floor. Show gets a chair on the floor and shoves the referee into the barricade. Show goes back to Test, who was being helped to the backstage area. Show sends Test into the ring but Test is able to big boot a chair into Show’s face! Bradshaw hits the Clothesline From Hell and wins the match. (*. I’m assuming Test wasn’t really hurt since he was involved quite a bit here. It wasn’t anything special, but it’s a big win for Bradshaw at the time.)

8.Backstage, Coach talks to WWF World Champion Steve Austin regarding the main event tonight. Austin’s left eye is all cut up. Coach mentions that Taker demanded the handicap match. Austin asks Coach how stupid the Undertaker is to ask for a match like this. Austin notes that he was thrown through a window and that caused the cuts around his eye. The champ says he and HHH will take Taker out tonight just like they did to Kane. Austin puts down the country as being a piece of crap.

9. Bubba and Credible kick off the match with both men trading blows. Bubba gets the better of the exchange by hitting a scoop slam and Credible bails to the floor after tagging in Matt Hardy. Christian tags into the match as well. Matt shoulder blocks Christian but is met with a standing dropkick by Christian. Matt hits a leaping clothesline and tags in Jeff. Christian is double teamed in the corner briefly. Edge tags in and clubs away on Jeff. Jeff gets a near fall after a cross body for a two count. Pac tags into the match and hammers away on Jeff. Jeff with a head scissors on Pac before tagging Matt. They hit a splash/fist drop combo to get a near fall on Matt. Pac distracts the referee to allow Credible to ram Matt into the ring post groin first. Pac hits the Bronco Buster on Matt and taunts the crowd. Matt hits a double clothesline to drop Credible and Pac! Jeff gets tagged in and he dropkicks both Pac and Credible. Pac is met with a double leg drop and Jeff knocks both Edge and Christian off the apron. Credible gets hit with the Poetry in Motion. Pac avoids the move, but Matt hits the Twist of Fate. Albert accidentally splashes Matt and that allows Jeff to hit the Swanton Bomb to eliminate X-Factor. Christian quickly plants Jeff with the Un-Prettier to eliminate the Hardy Boys. The Dudley Boys start brawling with Edge and Christian in the ring. Christian is driven down to the mat with a double flapjack. D-Von and Christian are going at it as the final two teams look for victory. D-Von gets a two count after a powerslam. Edge drops D-Von throat first across the top rope and Christian hits a backbreaker. D-Von is worked over by Edge and Christian. Edge puts D-Von on the top turnbuckle looking for a superplex but D-Von shoves Edge off and hits a middle rope clothesline. Bubba tags in but the referee was distracted. D-Von is worked over in the corner again. D-Von hits a lifting reverse DDT on Christian! Bubba and Edge get tags into the match with Bubba cleaning house. Bubba plants Christian with a Bubba Bomb. Edge falls victim to the What’s Up! Edge and Christian are hit with a table on the floor after missing double baseball slides. Edge saves Christian from the 3D. Rhyno enters and gores Bubba! The referee never saw it and Edge pins Bubba! (***. A good match here with a lot of solid action. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout the contest, really. A nicely done elimination match.) After the match, Spike Dudley comes out and hits the Acid Drop on Edge. Rhyno is left in the ring and is driven through a table with the 3D!

10.Backstage, Coach talks to Kurt Angle. Angle says his gold medals were stolen from him on RAW and he is going to break Benoit’s ankle.

11. Steven Richards and Ivory make their way down to the ring with their annoying theme music. Richards says they should all be ashamed of themselves. Richards talks about naked breasts being on page three of their newspaper and being upset with children seeing them. Richards says he will fight for them so the children won’t have to see the nudity. Richards reveals that he has censored the ladies battle royal. Thus, the battle royal will not be happening. Richards introduces the females who were suppose to be in the match. The battle royal was going to consist of Ivory, Jackie, Trish and Lita. Ivory begins to call the other three ladies whores, basically. Jackie attacks Ivory. Lita and Trish help rip Ivory’s clothes off! Ivory is wearing old lady panties and she runs backstage. Richards is angry that the fans cheered for that. Trish begins to flirt with Richards and takes his belt off. Well, she fakes him out with a low blow and his pants are pulled off. Jackie plants Richards with a DDT! Lita goes to the top rope and hits a moonsault on Richards to end the segment.

12. Benoit and Angle start with some mat wrestling with both men countering moves. Angle elbows Benoit in the corner several times before being backed out of the corner by the referee. Benoit tries to get the Crossface locked in but Angle is able to reach the ropes and rolls to the floor. The focus early in the match is mat wrestling, which doesn’t seem to interest the fans. Angle attempts the ankle lock but Benoit reverses and tosses Angle to the floor. Benoit counters a roll up attempt looking for the Crossface but Angle reaches the ropes again. Kurt drops Benoit face first over the top turnbuckle. Angle hits a snap suplex but Benoit won’t stay down. Angle continues his offense with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Benoit fights back with an overhead belly to belly suplex of his own. Benoit hits two snap suplexs and drops Angle across the top rope. Benoit sends Kurt into a corner chest first and drives Angle down with three German suplexs. Benoit heads to the top rope and connects with the diving headbutt to win the first fall, Benoit 1, Angle 0. Angle sends Benoit to the floor through the middle rope. Angle tosses Angle into the ring steps shoulder first. Angle hits a overhead belly to belly suplex off the middle rope but Benoit kicks out at two. Kurt gets another two counter after a back suplex. Angle controls Benoit with another overhead belly to belly suplex but can’t put him away. Benoit nearly pins Angle but Angle continues to stomp away on Benoit. They begin to trade chops and right hands in the corner. Benoit plants Angle with a DDT! Benoit counters the Angle Slam and goes back to hitting three German suplexs. Benoit heads to the top rope looking for the diving headbutt, but Angle rolls out of the way! Angle gets the ankle lock in but Benoit counters with the Crossface. Benoit has to let go and rolls Angle up for the win! (***. A fine match between these two. Not one of the best matches they have had, but it had quality wrestling. I was surprised that Benoit swept the match, though.) After the match, Benoit reveals that Angle’s gold medals were down his trunks!

13. Backstage, Austin and HHH are talking about the Undertaker not having a chance against them tonight. Debra is being treated as servant as Austin, HHH and Stephanie want drinks. Debra gets some attitude and wants them to focus on Taker tonight.

14. A basic start to Jericho/Regal with Jericho getting the better of Regal in and out of the ring. Jericho drops Regal chest first across the railing. Jericho hits a top rope cross body for a two count. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho but Regal kicks him away. Regal sends Jericho shoulder first into the ring post. Regal begins to control Jericho’s left shoulder. Regal big boots Jericho in the corner but Jericho dropkicks Regal on the middle rope. Jericho hits a top rope hurricanrana off the top rope for a two count. Michael Cole doesn’t know the difference between a head scissors and a hurricanrana. Regal catapults Jericho chest first into the ropes and hits a German suplex to control Jericho. Regal drives Jericho chest first onto the ring apron. Jericho is sent face first into the ring post as well. Jericho nearly pins Regal with a sunset flip but Regal stops him with a clothesline. Jericho fights back with a backdrop and a school boy for a two count. Regal ties Jericho up in the ropes and hammers away on Jericho. Regal drives Jericho down to the canvas with a suplex for a two count. Jericho kicks Regal on the side of the head. Jericho clotheslines Regal and hits a middle rope dropkick for a two count. Jericho comes off the ropes with a leaping forearm shot. Jericho comes off the ropes with a bulldog but Regal blocks the Lionsault by getting his knees up. Regal hits a spinning slam but can’t get a three count. Jericho goes for the Walls of Jericho and Regal taps out quickly. (***. A good match between these two. The start was a little slow and basic, but they did a fine job getting me interested.) After the match, Regal attacks Jericho with the Queens Cup.

15. Taker has a steel chair in the ring as he knows he is out numbered. Austin and HHH are on the floor trying to figure out who to go about attacking Taker. HHH slides in from behind and attacks Taker. Austin enters and they hammer away on Taker in the corner. Taker ducks under a double clothesline and hits a clothesline of his own. Taker drives Austin down to the canvas with a side slam. On the floor, Taker drives HHH face first into the ring steps. Austin helps out HHH by attacking Taker from behind on the floor. They are going up the ramp with Austin hammering away on Taker. Austin goes for a piledriver but Taker counters with a backdrop on the ramp! Taker sends HHH into the guard railing face first. Taker goes to the announce table but HHH rolls Taker back into the ring. Taker backdrops HHH and heads to the top rope where he hits Old School for a two count. Taker hammers away on HHH in the corner and soon plants HHH with a DDT. HHH nails Taker with a high knee lift and Austin tags in. Austin hammers away on Taker in the corner. Austin mounts Taker and hammers away on the Deadman. Taker grabs Austin by the throat and big boots HHH. Taker does it again but HHH attacks Taker from behind. HHH and Taker collide in the middle of the ring with a double clothesline. Austin enters and nails Taker with a chair while Stephanie distracted the referee. HHH covers but Taker is able to kick out at two. Austin comes back in and knocks Taker to the floor. HHH sends Taker face first into the ring post. In the ring, Taker tries to fight back but HHH locks in a sleeper hold. Taker gets up and nails HHH with a leaping clothesline! Austin enters and goes back to a sleeper hold but Taker counters with one of his own. Austin with a counter of his own hitting a back suplex. Austin leaps off the middle rope but is punched in the midsection. HHH knocks Taker down and goes to the top rope only to be met with a big boot. Austin enters but Taker takes care of him and HHH with clotheslines in the corner. Taker punches both men to the floor. Taker focuses on Austin sending him into the railing. HHH is caught coming off the apron and Taker chokeslams HHH through the announce table! Taker avoids he Stunner with a big boot. Taker is stopped by Austin with a low blow and Austin splashes Taker across the middle rope. Austin walks into a chokeslam! Taker is bleeding from the ear and goes for the cover but HHH breaks up the cover. HHH tries for the Pedigree but Taker catapults HHH into Austin. HHH nails Taker with a facebuster a clothesline. Here comes Vince McMahon. McMahon has a chair and hits HHH on accident! Taker chokeslams McMahon! Taker chokeslams HHH! Taker goes for the cover and pins HHH. Austin rolls in and is met with a chokeslam too. Taker hits all three heels with a steel chair. Taker stands tall over the heels. (**1/2. A decent main event, but I found it to be underwhelming. I guess handicap matches are tough for me to get into. I was slightly surprised to see Taker win the match. Had Taker pinned Austin he would have won the title. I would’ve played up that part of the match a little more than they did.)

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The 411: A solid all around show here by the WWF. The first two matches were question marks for me, but even those matches delivered some good action. The middle of the show was strong and followed up with a decent main event. Some solid wrestling and a crowd full of energy? I give the show a thumbs up.
Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]