Text By Jed Shaffer

What if...Rikishi Wasn't the Guy Who Ran Over Stone Cold Steve Austin at Survivor Series 1999?

Part VI

Raw: Jan. 22, '01

Crash and Grandmaster Sexay are set to square off to open Raw when the glass shatters. Without a word said, Austin Stuns both guys, then helps each one of them to their feet, only to Stun them again. Austin paces around the ring, stomping and snarling, ready to kill. "Last night, at the Royal Rumble, Stone Cold Steve Austin got screwed not once but twice, and I'm pissed off!" he barks. "First, there's that coward piece of crap Rock. He ducks me for months, he makes me work my ass off to get a match, and he doesn't even show up to the match he asks for!" The crowd boos this. "Rock, I hope you're watching, you gutless bastard, so if you are, listen real good: if you thought what I did before was bad, it ain't nothing compared to what I'm going to do to you now. If you wanna get out of this alive, you will face me at No Way Out, Rock, or I will go to my grave trying to put you in yours!" The crowd cheers this with almost psychotic zeal. "And then we got the Royal Rumble, where I'm just a couple seconds away from tossing that yellow sumbitch Rock over the top rope so I can roll into WrestleMania and win back my World Wrestling Federation Title, the thing I live for, the thing I wrestle for every damn day of my life ... and some silly lookin' sumbitch in gold pajamas who got in at the last minute comes up and dumps me out!" Austin looks right in the camera. "I hope you can hear through your stupid little ski mask there, son, cause I'm gonna say this once: it don't matter who the hell you are, 'cause I will find you, and I will stomp a mudhole in your ass and walk it dry, and that's the bottom line, 'cause Stone Cold said so!"

Triple H enters the dressing room and runs into Chris Jericho. For a few long, tension-filled moments, the two rivals stare each other down like old gunslingers, inches from each other. Finally, Triple H extends a hand, which Jericho regards with skepticism.

"I don't like you, Jericho," growls Triple H. "But I do owe you an apology." Jericho's eyes never leaves the lock on Triple H's, and his hand never rises to meet Triple H's. Triple H sighs. "Look, we have to be on the same page tonight. We got a tag match against Chris Benoit and Steven Richards. I don't know if those two are connected, and I don't know why they played us for fools, but I do know that if we don't go out there as a team, we're gonna get beat, and after the past few months, I don't wanna give them another moment over us to gloat about."

Jericho looks down at Triple H's hand, then back up in his eyes and finally returns the handshake. Triple H shakes it and goes to release, but Jericho squeezes and pulls Triple H back. Jericho and Triple H exchange harsh, hostile stares before Jericho says through gritted teeth: "I don't like you either, Hunter. And because someone exploited our hatred, I got turned into the WWF's most hated man. Tonight, we'll have our little tag match. But I owe you something, Hunter, and it ain't an apology." Jericho throws Triple H's hand aside and turns his back on his long-time nemesis.

Val Venis joins William Regal for a tag match against the Right To Censor's Bull Buchanan & Goodfather. The announcers make mention of Regal's embarrassment in endorsing Benoit for so long only to see him turn out to be a snake, and acknowledge that rumors are circulating regarding him being on shaky ground with the board of directors. Before the RTC come down, Venis grabs a microphone. "People ask me wherever I go, 'What's going on, Val? Explain it!' Well, this is what The Big Valbowski can tell you: I was confused, I was frustrated, and Steven Richards sucked me in when I was at my weakest. But when Steven Richards helped Chris Benoit with his scheme, I knew the line had been crossed. I knew they were doing things The Big Valbowski just didn't agree with." Venis turns to Regal with his head hung. "I can't apologize enough, Commissioner Regal. Not to you, or Stephanie McMahon, or Chris Jericho, or Triple H. But I want you to know that I know I won't stop trying to prove to you and everyone I've helped to hurt and the WWF fans that this is the real me. Now let's kick some Right To Censor butt!" Regal accepts Venis' hand to the delight of the crowd. Unfrotunately, the match's outcome isn't as rosy a moment, as Richards makes sure, via timely interference, that Venis and Regal take the loss, and Venis and Regal get their brains bashed in.

Vince and his entourage of Trish Stratus, Eddie Guerrero and Kane walk into the dressing room and asks that everyone leave, save for The Rock and Rikishi. Rock and Rikishi eyeball Vince as the crowd, whether they're fully dressed or not, take their leave. When the room clears, Vince's eyes narrow to lethal slits, aimed first at Rikishi. Rikishi immediately speaks up, knowing what Vince wants. "My flight got switched last night. I don't know why, but somehow, my flight got bumped and I couldn't get another one."

Vince glares at Rikishi for a few seconds, actually making the hefty Samoan take a step back, then directs his glare to Rock. Rock, however, won't have any of it, and holds up a hand. "If you're here to scold The Rock, if you're here to badger The Rock, The Rock says you can take your attitude and take turns stuffing it up each others' asses!" The crowd likes that (even if it is from The Rock), but The Rock doesn't stop. "You're in here to say 'Why didn't you go to the Iron Circle match, Rock? Why'd you ruin the Rumble, Rock? Why'd you cost me money, Rock?' Well, The Rock doesn't need to tell you why, Vince, because you know why. And The Rock knows you know why. And The Rock knows that you know that The Rock knows why. There The Rock was, lacing his boots, ready to get this crap with Stone Cold Steve Austin over and done with. Ready. And what happens? As The Rock is going out the door, the door closes on The Rock's head. And when The Rock wakes up, the door won't open. And the door doesn't open until a bunch of referees and officials cut it open with bolt cutters. Who would do that, Vince? Who would do that? Damn near everybody in this company wants this fight to happen. The people want it to happen. William Regal, the Commissioner, he wants it to happen. Even Rock's wife and daddy, they want it to happen. Only person that don't is you." Rock steps back, crossing his arms. "Go ahead, Vince. Punish The Rock. Make The Rock pay."

Vince's lip curls up as he glares at The Rock. Finally, breaking free of Trish's arm, he steps forward into The Rock's space. "I did what I did last night to protect you, Rock. It's what Mick Foley would've wanted, and it's what this company needed." Vince looks Rock up and down, looking into Rock's eyes with a disgusted sneer. "But I can see I've been wasting my time these past few months. You're just as pathetic as Triple H or Undertaker or any of the other WWF Superstars who don't appreciate all I've done for them. Maybe when I finish taking over this company once and for all, I'll make you the first piece of trash I take out instead of Triple H." Guerrero comes up and whispers something in Vince's ear. Slowly, a malicious smile spreads on Vince's lips. "My associate here has given me an idea, Rock. Since you obviously have no appreciation for what I can provide you, and since your fat friend here can't be bothered to deliver on a promised WWF appearence, I have no need for you. But to be fair and give you a sporting chance, you'll take part tonight in a three-on-two handicap match; if you and your friend here can win, you'll keep your jobs." Vince laughs as he and his cadre leave the room, leaving Rock and Rikishi to talk strategy against an unknown trio of opponents.

Triple H and Jericho stand uneasily together in the ring as wait their opponents, Chris Benoit and Steven Richards. Kevin Kelly tries to get a word with Benoit on why he lied to everyone, including his friend, William Regal, Triple H and the WWF audience, and why he set up Chris Jericho to take the fall; Benoit gives Kelly the brush-off, chuckles ominously and heads down to the ring with his partner. Triple H and Jericho's fragile partnership ends up disintegrating in the face of the unified mission of Richards and Benoit--that of extermination of their opponents--and a mistimed spinning heel kick from Jericho blasts Triple H in the mush, setting him up for a Steven Kick and the pin by Benoit. Benoit and Richards leave the ring, enjoying their triumph as Triple H and Jericho argue over who cost their team the match.

24 hours after successfully defending his WWF Title in a fatal-four-way, Kurt Angle finds himself in the ring with one of his previous night's opponents, Undertaker, in a non-title match. The assumption, per Jim Ross, is that a win here will get Undertaker another WWF Title shot (this one a one-on-one match), and Undertaker fights like the stipulation is in effect, taking it to Angle with intensity that puts the champion on the defensive. Angle fights back with a slow but steady strategy of chipping away at Undertaker's knees, bringing the much taller and stronger Undertaker down to the mat. But Undertaker's capacity for pain keeps Angle from getting the duke, and helps Undertaker find enough energy to bring the match back under his control. Undertaker's advantage evaporates, however, when Eddie Guerrero and Kane come down to the ring and attack Undertaker, drawing the DQ. Angle takes exception to the interference, which earns him not one but two chokeslams from the Big Red Machine, while Guerrero drills Undertaker with a frog splash. Guerrero gives Undertaker and Angle a few choice words about bucking Vince before leaving them on the mat, broken and hurting.

The fight for continued employment takes the main event slot, dividing the crowd; on the one hand, the desire to send The Rock, the most reviled man (next to Vince) in the company, packing, but on the other hand, the thought of Austin getting his vengeance is too sweet. Rock and Rikishi stand in the ring, awaiting their opponents; two of the three appear, being The Dudleys, who look none too thrilled at being sent to the ring as executioners. Once in the ring, their partner appears; it is the Big Show, and unlike Bubba Ray and D-Von, the mammoth man looks hungry for blood. The Dudleys let Big Show do as much of the work as possible, manhandling the surprised Rock and Rikishi and battering them down. Neither he, nor Rock or Rikishi notice Steve Austin walking down the ramp, but the crowd and The Dudleys notice; the brothers immediately distract the referee, while Austin jumps in the ring and pops off a Stunner on Big Show. Rikishi, the legal man, gets the pinfall. The Dudleys drop away and leave the ringside area as Rock and Rikishi celebrate ... until Austin nails Rock with a Stunner. Austin gives Rock some trash-talking on the mat until Rikishi interferes, which earns him a Stunner. Austin salutes the crowd with upraised fingers in the corners, but as he comes down off the last turnbuckle, Big Show stands up, wraps his hand around Austin's throat and plants him with the chokeslam.

Smackdown: Jan. 25, '01

Smackdown opens on Vince McMahon, standing in front of his minimal audience in a locker room, now expanded to include Big Show, giving his troops a pep talk like a general about to send his troops into battle. Trish Stratus stands by his side, batting her eyelashes and staring at Vince as if he was a vision of heaven.

"Tonight, we have the chance to strike a fatal blow to our enemies!" Vince barks, veins standing out on his forehead and neck. He looks at Big Show. "You, Big Show, will team up with Edge and Christian, and together, you will wipe out those damn traitorous Dudleys!" Vince looks at the collected Radicals and Kane. "And you four ... tonight, you have Chris Jericho, that snot-nosed little punk who had the temerity to turn down my endorsement! You have that loose cannon, Undertaker! You have my no-good, rotten bastard ex-son-in-law Triple H! And you have that whining, uncooperative so-called champion, Kurt Angle! I want the four of you to exterminate them! Leave no bone unbroken! Leave no muscle untorn! Excise these four cancers from the body WWF, and we shall reign supreme!"

"What about The Rock?" bellows Big Show, cutting into the revelry like a knife through butter.

Vince's _expression darkens, a crocodile's grin slowly spreading across his face. "I already have plans in motion to ensure that tonight will be the last night we ever have to 'smell what The Rock is cooking', gentlemen. Concern yourself only with the tasks at hand."

"What about Stone Cold Steve Austin?" asks Dean Malenko.

"And Commissioner Regal?" adds Perry Saturn.

Vince's face darkens even further. Unlike before, there is no smile; just the stoic, steely determination of Vince McMahon. "William Regal's power base is eroding by the day. He cannot contain the chaos that is swallowing this company whole, and he no longer has my wife or son to shield him. He is an impotent figurehead. As for Stone Cold Steve Austin ... I am saving Stone Cold for last. Once we have purged the WWF of its toxins tonight, we will focus our efforts on Stone Cold Steve Austin collectively, and finish the job that got started in the Joe Louis Arena two Novembers ago!"

Val Venis and Chyna lead off the in-ring action for Raw, squaring off against RTC members Ivory and Steven Richards. Venis' quest for atonement comes through in his aggressive wrestling, punishing Richards as if every move or blow landed is directed at himself for his misguided following of Richards' vision. Richards' back-up in the RTC help cement the tainted victory, but Richards and his cohorts get a surprise by the appearance of the APA, who run off the geeky foursome before they can lay into Venis and Chyna.

The first phase of Vince's plan, the punishment of the Dudleys for failing to work with Big Show, gets moving, as they square off in a handicap match. But the ring announcer springs a surprise (a surprise even to him, as Trish Stratus runs down to ringside to deliver new index cards): the match will be a table elimination match, taking the already stacked odds against The Dudleys and putting them practically out of reach. Even interference from Edge & Christian rivals The Hardy Boys aren't enough to turn the tide, as D-Von goes through a table first, the victim of a chokeslam. Bubba lasts longer, but mostly because Show dictates that Edge & Christian go and punish D-Von a little more while Show works over Bubba; Bubba fights back as best he can, but also falls victim to a table-enhanced chokeslam. Edge & Christian get off Conchairtos on their rivals to add injury to insult, fulfilling Vince's first phase.

Commissioner William Regal approaches the ring with none of the haughty attitude he normally carries. The crowd gives him a supportive "Regal" chant, but it does nothing to lift his spirits. "I come before you tonight a humbled man," he says, his head bowed. "Despite my best efforts, I have failed to provide to either the WWF Superstars, the employees or the fans of this company the kind of Commissioner that was promised. That I unknowingly allowed and supported such a vile, reprehensible cretin such as Chris Benoit will be a shame I shall not soon live down, and only serves as an example of my failures." The crowd is still as Regal pauses; the announcers speculate wildly on whether or not Regal is leading up to a resignation. "And with Linda McMahon taking an indefinite leave of absence, and her son Shane doing the same, I am left without any allies to counter Vince McMahon's assumption of command, now that he has decided to step away from the ring once again."

Before Regal can get into what is obviously his resignation, Triple H's music hits, still in his street clothes. As soon as Triple H's music dies away, Austin's music hits. Regal faces both of the iconic superstars, pulling at his collar and stammering. "G-g-gentlemen, I, uh ... um ..."

"If you think we're out here to beat your ass, you got it all wrong," says Triple H calmly. "I'm not mad at you over Chris Benoit."

Austin steps up, which makes Regal take a clumsy step back. "Hey, just, just calm down," says Austin soothingly. "Me and Hunter, we don't got much in common, but we agree on this; Vince is gone crazy."

"You can't quit, William. Vince is insane. I mean, he's turning on people left and right ... you saw what he had done to the Dudleys. I think ..." Triple H pauses, scanning the arena before looking Regal dead in the eyes. "I think he may have been behind Chris Benoit and that tape. And maybe behind Steve's hit and run."

"Gentlemen," says Regal, "you can't go and throw around baseless accusations like that."

"Aw, come on, William, don't tell me you ain't thought about it!" says Austin. "Think about it! Everything's happened since I came back in October; who's made off like a bandit? He keeps me and Rocky apart and puts Undertaker in the middle of it. That keeps us busy. He sets up Jericho to keep Triple H busy, and brings in Benoit and them Right To Censor jackasses to muck it up. He gets Stephanie all scared to be here, signs her part of the company over, wants to divorce his wife and sends her packing, and Shane goes off to help mom!"

"Don't you get it, William?" says Triple H. "That crotchety old son of a bitch ... he's playing us."

"And you men want to help me. Out of the goodness of your hearts." Triple H and Austin gesture in the affirmative. "Right. Because both of you are charitable, decent men. Let's not kid ourselves; you, Hunter, are a scoundrel through and through. Nothing you do is for anyone other then yourself. And you, Steven, are a ruffian, a thug. Why, I believe one time, didn't you even attack your good friend, Jim Ross? I appreciate your kind words, but I don't appreciate you thinking I'm daft. What do you want?"

Austin and Triple H look at each other, exchanging glances that confirm Regal's assumption is correct. Triple H speaks on behalf of the two. "Well, William, you're right. I am a rotten son of a bitch. Steve is a cold-hearted bastard. And we ain't just doing this to be Boy Scouts. But if we can't get what we want if Vince gets in a position to muscle you out of the Commissionership. So, if you agree to this ... you give us what we want--"

"And we'll keep your ass out of trouble," adds Austin.

"So what is it you're asking for?"

"I want Chris Benoit at No Way Out," states Triple H. "No disqualifications, no count-outs. Me and him."

Regal looks from Triple H to Austin. "You know what I want, William. I want Rocky. I wanna hurt him. I wanna make him bleed. I wanna beat his ass and I want it all legal."

"There isn't an official in the company that'll step into that ring with you and The Rock, Steve. And if Vince has his way, The Rock won't even be employed by No Way Out."

"You leave that to me. Just find someone to be the ref, and I'll handle the rest."

Regal sighs and offers a hand. "I suppose you don't leave me much of a choice, do you?" Triple H and Austin exchange handshakes with the Commissioner, sealing the deal as Vince watches it all unfold on a monitor in back and seethes.

The first of two main events bows, although exactly what it is is a mystery to The Rock. As The Rock takes to the ring, Vince (with Trish, now changed into an outfit even sluttier then before) comes out on stage with a microphone. "Rock, you're no doubt wondering whom you're wrestling tonight. Well, you see, I was highly unsatisfied by the result of your last match, wherein I placed your job on the line should you fail to defeat your opponents. I say disappointed, because it's obvious you conspired with that alcohol-addled redneck Steve Austin to help you keep your job. But the thing is, Rock, you failed. You see ... you didn't win. Rikishi won. So, as far as I'm concerned, you're back to square one." The crowd, despite the scene being between two hated people, boos Vince's megalomania. "Shut up! This man is a criminal, a vicious, heartless psychopath, and you're booing me? What kind of--" Trish gets in front of Vince and puts a finger on his lips, silencing him. She whispers something as a smile spreads across his lips. She returns to his side, hanging on his arm like a groupie. "I apologize. That was rude of me. As I was saying, Rock, as far as I'm concerned, you're back to square one. You will have to fight for your job tonight. And this time, you'll have no partner to get the winning pinfall for you, so, if you fail to beat your opponents ... oops! I was going to leave that for a surprise! Oh, well, come on out!"

Vince takes a step aside to accomodate Rock's opponents walking by; Raven and Tazz come out, with Raven pushing a shopping cart full of weapons. Vince grins and points out the obvious: "Oh, did I fail to mention this is a hardcore match? Good luck!" Rock swings at Tazz and Raven, scoring some early hits, but facing two guys armed with weapons quickly proves too much to overcome, and the match becomes a protracted, but unstoppable, mugging. As The Rock's hopes of continued employment vanish under a hailstorm of garbage can lids and cookie sheets, Steve Austin jumps into the fray, scrambling the brains of Tazz and Raven with a steel chair. Vince watches from the ramp, horrified as Austin beats The Rock's opponents into unconsciousness, then puts Rock on top of Tazz for the three-count, saving Rock's job once again. As officials come down to help Rock to his feet, Austin turns to the stage and gives Vince a pair of middle fingers, then turns around again and, while Rock is being held up by medics, blasts Rock in the head with the chair to the delight of the crowd. Officials immediately move between Austin and Rock; Austin backs away peacefully while medics continue to help Rock, Raven and Tazz get to their feet.

And, backstage, the winner of the Royal Rumble, bedecked in his golden body suit and mask, watches silently as Austin is escorted from ringside.

The second half of the main event, the eight-man tag, concludes Raw, and the story, like all of the confrontations between Vince's troops and their enemies, is the unity of Vince's gang against the individual agendas of their opponents. Both Angle and Undertaker, not the best of friends, go after Kane, a single goal that often puts them at odds. The residual enmity between Triple H and Jericho turns their fight against The Radicals into two one-on-three matches instead of a unified forced. Somehow, though, as the match proceeds, the all-out aggression of the anti-Vince team puts Vince's thugs on their heels, and while the other six men are busy brawling, Undertaker has Guerrero ready for the Last Ride. But Guerrero comes prepared and, as he's being pulled up for the powerbomb, produces brass knuckles and clocks Undertaker in the forehead. Angle, the legal man for his team, manages to get in the ring and nail Guerrero, but turns around into a chokeslam from Kane. The Big Red Machine then picks up Angle and drops him with a Tombstone and scores the pin for his team. The Big Show comes down to assist in dismanteling Triple H and Chris Jericho. By the time Smackdown fades to black, the McMahon army has totally dominated and destroyed the opposition, leaving four broken bodies strewn about the ringside area.

Raw: Jan. 29, '01

Vince McMahon strides to the ring with Trish Stratus on his arm, a smile so boastful and triumphant, one would think he'd just been elected President. The crowd receives him with unbridled hatred, but Vince shows no effect. "I know the reception you're giving me is rooted in jealousy," he boasts, "because only I, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, could execute such a flawless, brilliant scheme as I did last week on Smackdown! None of you could even create, let alone bring to fruition, a plan that single-handedly eliminated The Dudleys, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Undertaker and Kurt Angle!" Vince's jubilation disappears as he takes on a mockingly mournful tone. "However, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the failure to excise the tumor that is The Rock from the WWF. Fortunately, I will be dealing, once and for all, with this problem tonight, as The Rock will--"

The music of WWF Champion Kurt Angle breaks Vince's prideful boasting. Vince looks horrified to see Angle come down to the ring, looking uncharacteristically angry. "What did I ever do to you, Mr. McMahon?" demands Angle. "I mean, sheesh! I never kidnapped your daughter like Triple H or Undertaker. I never ran someone over like The Rock. I never attacked women and put them through tables like The Dudleys. I'm an Olympic Gold Medalist! I'm WWF Champion! I'm a hero to millions!"

Vince collects himself and lays a hand on Angle's shoulder. "Kurt, Kurt, Kurt. I understand you're upset about last week. You're just in the wrong place at the wrong time, Kurt. The WWF is going through ... some changes, just like I am: new woman, new outlook on life, new friends. And you're just a symbol of everything that needs to be purged in this company. You're ... I mean, Kurt, let's face it." Vince shrugs, smiling suspiciously. "You're a big, whiny, crying dork. And that's not what this company needs as champion."

With that, Kane, having come down the ramp as Vince spoke, slides in the ring. Angle, however, turns around in time to block Kane's punches and nails punches of his own. Vince and Trish bark at Kane to get the job done, but Angle ducks a wild swing by Kane, gets behind the monster and nails the Angle Slam. When Kane stands up from this, Angle knocks him out of the ring, and knocks him out, by ramming the title belt into Kane's head. Angle turns around in time to catch Vince sneaking up to low-blow Angle; Vince staggers back, falling on his butt, begging for mercy. Angle grins the same suspicious grin that Vince used before Kane attacked. "You don't deserve any mercy from us," says Angle. Vince's eyes go wide at the word "us"; he mouths it back, and gets his answer seconds later as all of his victims from Smackdown come to the ring, a human wall of judgment looking down on Vince. Vince scrambles backwards, under the bottom rope and out into the crowd, leaving Trish Stratus behind to face the jury. Chris Jericho tells The Dudleys to get the tables, while Triple H and Undertaker hold Trish down while Angle tears off her skirt and blouse, leaving her in a bra and panties. D-Von sets up the table and lifts Trish up to Bubba, positioned on the top turnbuckle; Trish screams all the way down, until Bubba drives her nearly naked body through the table with a top-rope powerbomb to the fanatical delight of the crowd.

The first match pits the revenge-minded Dudleys against two of Vince's soldiers, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn, in a non-title match. With the McMahon faction rocked by their leader's vanishing from the building and the phoenix-like rise of their entire hitlist, Malenko and Saturn are little more then rudderless ships while The Dudleys play the part of the stormy sea. Malenko & Saturn's only saving grace is the appearance of Edge & Christian, determined to screw their long-time rivals, The Dudleys. This draws out The Hardy Boys, who go after Edge & Christian, making the ringside area just as chaotic as inside the ring, where Malenko and Saturn both fall victim to 3-D's to give Bubba and D-Von a rousing victory.

As Regal is lacing his boots in the locker room in preparation for his tag team match, Chris Jericho walks in. Regal and Jericho exchange cool, uneasy glances before Regal finally offers a hand. "I misjudged you, Chris. We all did. I'm sorry."

Jericho takes Regal's hand and shakes it firmly. "You can do something for me to make it up," says Jericho.

"I'm afraid every decision I make is a fight anymore, so I can't make any promises."

"I think this one's easy, William. I want Chris Benoit at No Way Out."

"I'm afraid Hunter is facing Chris Benoit at No Way Out. Perhaps at WrestleMan--"

"Not good enough, William. No Way Out. Me and Benoit. I owe him. He ruined my life for months. He made me look like I slept with ... with ..." Jericho shudders, unable to complete the sentence.

"I understand, Chris, how you might want vengeance on him. Chris Benoit suckered me in. He made me believe he was an honorable man. He humiliated me. I want revenge as much as either one of you, but--"

"Listen, William. I don't care how you get it done. Just gimme Benoit, in the ring, at No Way Out, or I promise you, he won't make it to No Way Out." Jericho turns on his heels and leaves Regal alone in the locker room to mull over the complicated scenario.

Regal's opponents, Chris Benoit and Steven Richards, are approached on their way to the ring by Michael Cole, again looking for an explanation behind their conspiracy against Triple H, Stephanie and Chris Jericho. Benoit chuckles, while Richards, usually impossible to shut up, offers only the cryptic "It served its purpose," as reason before heading to the ring, accompanied by the rest of the RTC. Regal and his partner, Val Venis, also come to the ring with escorts: the APA, Venis' personal protection. Unfortunately for Venis and Regal, while the protection nullifies the presence of Richards' cohorts, it doesn't stop the cheating in the ring, as Benoit uses a handful of tights in addition to putting his feet on the ropes to get the pin on Venis.

The scheduled Big Show/Triple H match never gets underway, as Triple H blindsides Big Show backstage with a sledgehammer thrust to the back of the head, dropping the big man instantly. Triple H talks smack to Show's unconscious body, but ends up on the floor beside him when Benoit Pearl Harbor's him. Regal, close behind Benoit on the way back from the ring, immediately jumps in the fray, chopping away at Benoit until he drives the Intercontinental Champ from the scene.

Kevin Kelly meets up with The Rock backstage and asks about what he'll do if Vince has his way and gets Rock fired. Rock raises an eyebrow and stares a hole through Kevin Kelly through his sunglasses.

"What will The Rock ... do? What will ... The Rock ... do? No, The Rock wants to know what you're gonna do. Are you going to stalk The Rock at home? Sit in The Rock's rosebushes? Go through The Rock's garbage? Break into The Rock's house and sniff The Rock's dirty laundry? Because, God knows, you already creep The Rock out here in the WWF. The Rock doesn't even wanna--"

Rock's typical anti-Kevin Kelly rant cuts off dead as Steve Austin walks up. Kevin Kelly actually trips over his own feet, trying to get to safer ground. Austin slowly crouches to pick up the dropped microphone, never taking his eyes off Rock. Slowly, security and officials creep up on the scene, ready in case it explodes into carnage. But Austin stays restrained, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"You ain't gotta worry 'bout Vince McMahon firing you, Rock," says Austin. "If there's anyone that knows how to take care of Vince McMahon, it's Stone Cold Steve Austin. I got over a year of my life stolen from me, and I'll be damned if Vince McMahon's gonna rob me of what I want. So you go to bed tonight and rest them beady little eyes, Rock, because Stone Cold's got your back. That's right, I'm gonna make sure you stick around, so that, come No Way Out, I can be the one to put you outta this business, Rock." The Rock opens his mouth to rebut, but Austin drops the mic and walks away before Rock can get out a single syllable.

The main event sets Kane and Eddie Guerrero against Undertaker and Kurt Angle. While still not on the same page in many respects, Angle and Undertaker prove more formidable then they might've weeks before, thanks to their unified mission against Vince's goons. Guerrero and Kane don't roll over and die, but their usual swarming offensive capabilities are diffused by their opponents' determination. It is the WWF Champion, in the end, who manages to overcome the power of Kane and the cheating of Guerrro to take the victory for his team, pinning Guerrero after an Angle Slam. Kane tries to get a few licks in on Angle, but Angle is ready and takes Kane down. Undertaker, likewise, gets a bit of revenge on Guerrero, splattering him with the Last Ride. Neither are as convincing a domination as the previous week's wholesale slaughter provided, but for the anti-Vince campaign, it is a start.

Smackdown: Feb. 1, '01

As Kane approaches the ring for a Hardcore Title defense, Michael Cole breaks the news that Kane has been granted a WWF Title match at No Way Out. Kane's opponent, Crash, awaits him in the ring, looking like a prisoner being tied into the electric chair. For a few seconds, Kane allows Crash to try whatever he can, but the offense from Kane's diminutive opponent amounts to little more then a mosquito bite on King Kong. Kane finally bores of the match and drills Crash into the mat with a chokeslam. But as Kane is picking up Crash for another chokeslam, Kurt Angle slides into the ring behind the monster hits an Angle Slam into a garbage can. Angle grabs the prone body of Crash and drapes him over Kane; the crowd comes out of their seats when the ref's hand falls for a three-count.

Vince McMahon, pacing in the parking garage, smiles as he sees the headlights of Austin's pick-up come down the ramp. Austin's tires squeal as he slams on the brakes. Vince strides up to Austin's door and extends a hand. "Steve! Good to see you!" Austin's gaze goes from Vince to Vince's hand and back to Vince's face, without saying a word. "Listen, I know we've had a few differences of opinion, but I want to extend an olive branch tonight, because I believe we're both working towards the same goal."

"Whatever you offering, I don't want it," dismisses Austin, pushing past.

Vince stops Austin in his tracks, though, by saying; "I'm giving you Rock. Tonight."

Austin stops cold, wheels around and gets in Vince's face. "Whatever trick you got set up here, Vince, you can just stop it right here and now, before I stomp a mudhole in your ass."

"It's no trick, Steve! Listen to me! I want Rock fired. You want revenge on Rock. Regal isn't here tonight, so there's nothing stopping us. Just think about it. You, Stone Cold Steve Austin, partnering with Undertaker, squaring off in that very ring with The Rock. Me, as special referee. Rock's job on the line. It's everything we want, Steve!"

"Except I want Rocky one-on-one at No Way Out, Vince. I don't want no partner, I don't want you prancin' around like some kind of jackass in your little striped shirt that's too tight for you, and I don't want nobody gettin' in my way of putting Rocky in a wheelchair. So as far as your little offer's concerned," says Austin, then holds up two middle fingers in Vince's face, "here's to ya!"

Austin turns to leave, but Vince's words stop him again. This time, Vince's tone isn't inviting; it's hostile, threatening. "This isn't an offer, Austin. You either partner with Undertaker tonight against The Rock, or it'll be your ass I fire." Austin grumbles, his lip curled up, but he resumes his walk into the building instead of firing off on Vince, who smirks as Austin walks away.

Big Show comes to the ring and demands The Dudleys come out and face him so he can prove once again his dominance, and eliminate The Dudleys once and for all from the WWF. The brothers are all too happy to oblige Show's handicap match request, although the mammoth athlete proves to still be formidable, even by himself. Interference by the Tag Team Champs draws a DQ finish, but it is of small comfort when the threesome outnumber and lay waste to the brothers.

In the back, while Crash looks for sanctuary from Kane, Raven finds him and blasts the little guy with a steel chair to the head. Raven makes the quick pin and captures the Hardcore Title, but gets his skull rattled by Steve Blackman's martial arts sticks, giving Blackman the title. Blackman barely has time to blink before the angry Kane finds the chaos, chokeslams Blackman through a catering table and recaptures the Hardcore Title, then leaves the scene, bellowing Angle's name.

Trish Stratus comes into Vince's office in a fluster, standing in front of Vince's desk with her hands on her hips. Vince looks up at her as he listens to the person on the phone and nods. "Yes. Yes. Mmhmm. Very well. Then do whatever you feel is necessary to keep the situation as is. Cost is not an option. Yes, goodbye." Vince looks up, his smile as phony as a six-dollar bill. "Why, hello, sweetheart! Is there something I can do for you?"

"What the hell was the big idea, leaving me alone with all those ... those ..." Trish shudders. "They stripped my clothes right off of me! They put me through a table! I could sue! I should sue! And you, you ran like a coward and left me there!"

Vince gets up and puts his hands on her arms. "Trish, love, please, calm down. Do I give you everything you want? Money, status, fame? Am I not giving you the chance to manage the World Champion when Kane defeats Kurt Angle at No Way Out? Who's making your dreams come true?"

Trish is reluctant to answer, and does so under her breath. "You."

Suddenly, Vince's _expression darkens. "Then be a good woman and keep your mouth shut. Every single one of us is committed to my vision, Trish, and we've all taken our lumps to bring it to reality. I won't have you reaping the rewards of the hard work and sacrifices made by us while you hang on my elbow; if I wanted that, I would've stayed with Linda. So you can either shut your mouth and just take what happened on Raw as a learning experience ... or you keep being an ungrateful little bitch and you can try to go toe-to-toe with me ... and make no mistake, I will bury you. Now get out of my office before you make me make you regret it." Trish, on the verge of tears, leaves as quick as lightning, sobbing into her hands.

Val Venis steps into the ring for his chance to step up in a huge way: a shot at knocking off Chris Benoit and taking his Intercontinental Title. Benoit shows the whistleblower no mercy, but Venis surprises by taking what Benoit has to give and gives back just as good. Fans are made to hold their breath when Steven Richards, bent on destroying the turncoat Venis, tries to take his head off with a Steven Kick, but Venis misses and clobbers Benoit; Venis gets a two-and-three-quarters count off the error. The ref, however, doesn't miss Richards blatantly pulling Venis out of the ring and brawling with him, and that draws the DQ. Benoit standing alone in the ring provides an easy and tempting target for Triple H and Jericho to pounce on, but before they can even get to the ring, their animosity boils over and fists fly against each other, leaving Benoit unscathed and able to escape through the crowd.

In the dressing room, Angle relaxes on a bench, caught in the middle of a phone conversation. "I mean, Vince is just gone off the deep end, Stephanie," says Angle. "I think he may, I don't know, maybe he's senile or something? I mean, he's hanging out with Kane of all people, and he suddenly hates me. He'd have to be freakin' senile for that to make sense, ya know? Is there anything--"

The door bursts open; Kane charges, murderous rage in his eyes. Thinking quickly, Angle uses the phone as a weapon, breaking it on the side of Kane's head. Crash runs up and tries to take advantage of the situation for a quick pinfall, but gets a jab in the throat to stop him in his tracks. As Kane tries to shake off the cobwebs, he staggers into the swinging arc of the door; Angle kicks him in the gut, grabs the door and throws it with all his might into Kane's head. The Big Red Machine crumples from the hit. Angle makes a cover and Crash's ref makes the count that, for the second time this evening, makes Kane a former WWF Hardcore Champion and gives Angle the distinction of being a two-time double-belt holder.

Much to everyone's surprise, Austin comes out for the main event handicap match, although his displeasure is obvious by his demeanor. More surprising, Austin lets Undertaker take the start against The Rock. When Undertaker tries to tag out, Austin backs away, further confounding everyone (including his partner and Vince). After Undertaker attempts three more times to tag out, only to be met with an empty corner, Vince comes over and chastises Austin. Austin lets Vince rant and rave, but when Vince brazenly slaps Austin across the face, Austin finally rouses himself from complacency. Vince nearly falls over himself trying to get away from Austin as he comes through the ropes, but Austin pulls another surprise by Stunning Undertaker. The Rock, weakened but aware, makes a cover, but Vince won't count; Austin grabs Vince by the scruff of his shirt and drags him over to Rock and Undertaker, deposits him on the mat rather roughly, then bends down and, with a handful of Vince's hair, points and commands Vince to count. Reluctantly, almost crying, Vince makes the three-count, preserving The Rock's job. Austin then hauls Vince to his feet and nails a Stunner on the WWF Chairman. Before leaving the ring, Austin looks right at Rock, points and mouths three words, words quickly developing a new meaning for The Rock: "No Way Out".

Raw: Feb 5, '01

Raw opens with the WWF World & Hardcore Champion, Kurt Angle, heading to the ring with a microphone. Before he can say a word, though, the floodgates open: Raven, Tazz, Crash, Hardcore Holly, Test and Albert all flood the ring, with accompanying refs, trying to take the Hardcore Title. As the invaders start to lose focus and brawl each other, Kane and Big Show push their way through the mass, swatting Superstars out of the way like flies, until Show grabs Angle and tosses his across the ring like a ragdoll. Kane picks up the champ and chokeslams him on an abandoned chair, and makes the cover while Show keeps the others away to retake the Hardcore Title. A few brave souls attempt to take on the Big Red Machine, but both he and Show knock back all would-be fighters as if they were children.

Undertaker comes storming in to William Regal's office as Regal is on the phone. Regal excuses himself, hangs up and jumps out of his chair. "I've had just about enough of all you WWF Superstars barging into my office like an inibriated elephant!" Regal barks. "With Vince McMahon's flight delayed, I finally have the opportunity to craft a Monday Night Raw as I see fit, and I will not tolerate obnoxious lummoxes like you abusing my office and my time! Now state your business and make it quick, because I have work to do!"

Undertaker takes a moment to collect himself from Regal's surprising outburst. "I want Austin," he finally says, not nearly as aggressive as one would expect. "Tonight."

Regal seats himself and looks up at Undertaker condescendingly. "But I thought the two of you were thick as thieves."

"The son of a bitch nailed me with the Stunner last week on Smackdown and made me lose to The Rock. I want a piece of his ass."

Regal shrugs, already looking away from Undertaker to concentrate on his paperwork. "No bother to me." Undertaker fumes at Regal's nonchalant, but Regal continues to ignore Undertaker, so the American Badass has no choice but to walk away.

The WWF Tag Champions are split up for the evening and given singles matches against members of rival teams that are viable contenders: Malenko gets Matt Hardy, while Perry Saturn faces off against Christian. As the Malenko/Hardy match is set to start, Regal comes down to ringside and sends Saturn back to the back on threat of suspension and the titles being stripped, and does the same for Malenko when Saturn wrestles. With Regal perched at ringside, and their partners sent to the back, both Malenko and Saturn find themselves at a loss without their normal match-winning strategies; Malenko eats a Twist Of Fate and gets pinned, while Christian uses a handful of tights to steal a pin on Saturn.

Steven Richards enters the ring for his match against Chris Jericho, microphone in hand. The crowd already starts haranguing him before he can get out a single syllable. "For far too long, the WWF and Vince McMahon have reveled in filth and garbage! For too long, Vince McMahon has peddled smut to you people and you've swallowed it hook, line and sinker, like the idiots you are!" Richards beams with pride as the crowd chants vulgar epithets on him. "Thanks to the showing of that ... that ... videotape ... we are now in a position to submit a complaint to the FCC against Vince McMahon and have him removed from the air once and for all! And the best part is ... every single one of you fell for it! We helped flood this company with smut and filth and objectionable programming so Vince McMahon would have to cave to our demands, and we have Chris Benoit to thank for helping us bring our plan to fruition!"

The countdown of the Y2J clock cuts off Richards' tiresome rantings. "Welcome to Raw Is Jericho!" says Jericho, to the welcome reception of the crowd once again. "Steven Richards, there's only one thing that's been going on for far too long, and that's you, boring this crowd to death!" The crowd agrees with this. "And since I am the cure for boredom, and I got a little problem with how you kinda took my life and flushed it down the toilet for a few months, I'd be more then happy to come down to that ring and kick your teeth in!" Jericho drops the mic and runs for the ring, and the two immediately get into a punchfest. Before the match can really get any traction, Chris Benoit comes down attacks Jericho. Benoit coming out of hiding draws out his other two foes, Triple H and William Regal, in addition to Val Venis coming out to get a piece of Richards. Officials flood the ring to pry everyone apart and send everyone in different directions, while the crowd chants "let them fight!".

With Rikishi standing in the ring, the music for X-Pac hits, but instead of the obnoxious former D-X'er, Rikishi gets Stephanie McMahon. The former princess of the McMahon empire enters the ring, no longer cocky or brash; she shakes Rikishi's hand, and says something to him politely, which gets him to leave the ring.  Stephanie takes a deep breath before speaking, trying her best to assume an image of strength after months of personal disaster.

"The past several months have been a time of great personal loss for me," says Stephanie mournfully. "Because of the lies spread by Chris Benoit and the Right To Censor, I lost people I considered good friends, I lost respect and reputation, and most of all, I lost a man I deeply loved ... a man I still love. My family has been fractured by their plans, possibly beyond repair." Stephanie raises her head, a newfound fire in her eyes. "For too long now, the WWF has been bleeding, wounded by horrible men with plots of destruction and pain. And the worst one of them all may just be ... my father." The crowd boos at the mention of the WWF Chairman. "I am here tonight to clear a misconception, and to publicly state my intentions: my father does not have my 25% interest in the WWF. During the stressful divorce, I mistakenly signed over to him the right to vote my shares as a proxy. It is the worst mistake I have ever made, and in working side-by-side with Commissioner William Regal, I intend to block my father's efforts to rule this company like a tyrant!"

The music of Trish Stratus kicks in, and immediately, Stephanie's body language switches to one of defensive hostility. The blonde vixen--making sure to wear an outfit fashioned to show off her assets--strides up to the McMahon daughter and chuckles. "Stephanie, maybe you don't get how things run around here, but when Mr. McMahon traded in your mother for me, that made me< the first lady of the WWF." Trish sneers at Stephanie, who returns the gesture. "I mean, all you've done is cause nothing but trouble for him. You run off and get married to Triple H ... you almost run the company into the ground while he's gone ... and worst of all ..." Trish gives Stephanie a disapproving scan from head to toe. "You flaunt ... that ... that ... that like you're some kind of model and you run off with one of the WWF Superstars to a motel and bring shame to the entire McMahon family. In fact," adds Trish, "last night, in bed ... that's what he called you. The shame of the family."

Stephanie jumps without warning, tackling Trish to the ground and swinging wildly. The crowd roars with delight as the two women roll around on the ground, pulling hair and trying to get the upper hand before Stephanie finally manages to get on top and starts punching and clawing, with Trish covering up her face for protection. Officials have to pry a nearly-rabid Stephanie off of Trish, the once angelic (and once snotty) Stephanie replaced with a feral, raging beast, while Trish cowers behind the throng of men keeping them apart.

Kevin Kelly catches up with The Rock backstage. Kevin Kelly asks The Rock if he's grateful for Steve Austin saving his job three times. Rocky eyes Kelly for a moment, then says; "Are you thankful when they close off the buffet when they see you coming?" Rock fakes a backhand, which makes Kelly duck. Rock shakes his head in disappointment and takes the microphone when Kelly offers it. "Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rock knows you don't give a monkey's anus about The Rock. You're interested in one thing, and one thing only: hurting The Rock. Breaking The Rock. Making The Rock break. Well, The Rock isn't running. The Rock isn't hiding. You say you need this, Stone Cold? You say you need this to happen? Well, so does The Rock. The Rock wants this issue gone, done, finished, so The Rock can get on with his life. The Rock has said he's innocent for months, and nobody's listening, so if The Rock has to move on with this over his head, that's fine. The Rock is ready to move on. No Way Out. Sunday, February 25th. Rock, Austin, Austin, Rock. It will happen, Austin. You don't need to worry. You just need to ... bring it." The Rock turns to leave, stops, then turns back to the camera. "One more thing on The Rock's mind, one more thing. Royal Rumble, Rock and Stone Cold, fighting for the chance, the big chance, to main event WrestleMania. What happens? The golden jabroni, the pajama-wearin', mask-hidin', sneaky son of a gun, he comes and dumps us both over the top! Just like that! No Rock in the main event. No Rock, no Austin. Just some lucky piece of monkey crap in a ski mask." Rocky whips off his sunglasses to look dead in the camera, his voice lethally calm. "Don't show up to Raw. Don't show up to Smackdown. It doesn't matter, Goldylocks, because the Rock will find you, The Rock will catch you, and The Rock will make sure he's wearing his extra-special, 24 karat boots, just so they match your precious little outfit when The Rock turns his boot sideways and sticks it straight up your candy ass!"

The Undertaker/Austin clash starts before they get to the ring, trading punches on the ramp and bashing each other into the barricades. The brawling doesn't stop when they finally get in the ring, and it doesn't take long before Austin's fire buckles against Undertaker's brute strength. But it also doesn't take long for Eddie Guerrero to slide in and go after Undertaker. Austin joins Undertaker in pounding Guerrero, but Guerrero gets back up from Malenko and Saturn. When The Rock joins the melee, everyone expects a cheap shot on Austin, but Rock delivers a thunderous Rock Bottom on Guerrero and helps knock drive the tag champs out of the ring. Rock and Austin exchange tense glances as Rock leaves the ring.

Prompted by the earlier attack, the main event features Angle tagging with William Regal against Kane and Big Show. The size difference comes into play immediately, as the champ and the Commissioner are treated like rag dolls, being tossed, slammed, suplexed and beaten at will. Regal gets a minor comeback, enough to tag out to Angle, but Angle is neutralized by Kane getting in a cheap shot behind the ref's back. Kane goes to work on his opponent for No Way Out, with Angle getting in minimal offense that has little effect but prolonging the inevitible. But a savior comes in the form of Raven, who slides into the ring with his own referee, and breaks a beer bottle over Kane's head. The Big Red Machine goes down in a heap, and Raven makes the cover; his ref counts the pinfall, giving Raven the Hardcore Title. As Raven runs to the back with his new championship in his arms, Angle crawls over and drapes an arm over Kane; to the amazement of the crowd, Angle draws the three-count, pinning his future challenger. Unfortunately, there is no time for celebration, as Big Show comes in and chokeslams both Angle and Regal to hell and back before escorting his cohort to the back.

Smackdown: Feb. 8, '01

The McMahon limousine arrives in the parking garage; Vince steps out and it is instantly apparent he is perturbed. "I just can't believe Stephanie is fighting me on this!" exclaims Vince, throwing his hands in the air. Trish Stratus steps out, taking one of Vince's arms. "How can she take back her proxy? This is my company, dammit! Mine!"

"Mr. McMahon—Ò

"And then there's the Right To Censor and Chris Benoit, trying to kill my company from the inside!"

"Mr. McMahon--"

"And there's Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Undertaker, and Triple H, and Chris Jericho, and The Rock, and--"

Trish puts a finger on Vince's lips and lets the other hand stroke his chest. "Shhh," she says. "You're stressed out. If you don't calm down, you're gonna have a breakdown, and we can't have that can we?" Vince shakes his head with Trish's finger still on his lips. "We need your mind crisp if you're going to purge the WWF of all the trash and begin a new era. Why don't you relax here in the limo? You don't need to sit there and worry about how the night will go. Big Show has Kurt Angle tonight, Kane has The Rock, and I got a special surprise in mind for Stephanie." Trish pats Vince playfully on the butt. "Go, get in the limo. Have a drink. Relax. Watch Smackdown on the TV. Go." Vince hesitates, grumbles, and acquiesces. Trish tells him not to worry, kisses him on the cheek, then closes the door and heads into the arena.

Smackdown is scheduled to lead off with The Rock facing off against Kane, but The Rock is ambushed by Kane in the dressing room before he can even change into his wrestling gear. Commissioner Regal arrives with the officials and helps pull Kane off Rock and lays into him about ruining the show. Kane tries to intimidate Regal by leering over him, but not only does it not work, it backfires, as Regal hauls off and slaps Kane hard, shocking the monster. Regal's yelling and posture make Kane backstep, with Regal jabbing a finger in Kane's chest and warning him that continued unprovoked attacks would result in him forfeiting his WWF Title shot. When Smackdown comes back from commercial, Regal is walking through the parking lot, making a beeline for the limo. Regal grabs the handle and almost tears the door off the hinges when he opens it. "Listen to me, you pathetic coward!" he yells. "I have had it with your hooligans running roughshod over the WWF Superstars! From now on, you can be assured I will meet your attempts to derail this program with your threats and your thugs with swift and decisive action the likes of which you have never encountered!" Regal slams the door, pauses, then opens it again. "If your father or your grandfather were alive to see the disgrace you've heaped on your family's name, they would die out of shame!" Regal slams the door again and walks away, muttering under his breath in disgust.

With all the enmity and rivalries amongst teams, Smackdown features a Tag Team Turmoil match between seven pairs to determine the number-one contendership. Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn sit in with the commentators, although they offer little but hostile glares for every team that steps in the ring. Billy Gunn and Chyna are the first eliminated, pinned by Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather. Likewise, the RTC thugs finish off the Holly Cousins, with a liberal dose of help from their leader, Steven Richards. The Hardys come up next and are in position to finish off the RTC members, but Richards' cheating draws out the APA and Val Venis, who end up getting the brothers eliminated via disqualification. Coincidentally, the APA are up next, but the Hardys, sore at the APA's interference, give Faarooq and Bradshaw a receipt for their "help", getting them DQ'ed as well. The Dudleys come out next, who get ambushed on the ramp by Edge and Christian and tossed into the ring for easy pickings for the RTC; however, the RTC overestimate the half-brothers' condition, and the Dudleys are able to drop the nerdy conservatives with a pair of 3-D's, leaving the Dudleys and Edge and Christian. The APA and Val Venis come out again to attack the RTC on their way back, which distracts the ref, leaving Edge and Christian open to grab some chairs and go for a Conchairto. D-Von plays possum, though, ducking the chair sandwich, and snatches up Edge while he nurses ringing hands from the collision of chairsl Bubba adds the assist to complete the 3-D, and Bubba pins Edge while D-Von knocks Christian out of the ring, giving the Dudleys the PPV title shot.

Stephanie McMahon comes out to an unfamiliar response from the crowd: applause. She demurely waves it down and is about to address the audience when Trish Stratus, accompanied by Eddie Guerrero, interrupts. "Maybe you didn't hear me right on Raw," says Trish, "maybe I'm remembering bad, I don't know. But I could swear I made myself clear on Monday Night Raw when I told you that I am the WWF's reigning queen now, and that you're yesterday's news. So why do you keep coming out on my shows and--"

Trish's words are cut off sharply with a slap that hits Trish's cheek so hard, she's taken off her feet. Guerrero moves forward and grabs a handful of Stephanie's hair, threatening her in a mixture of English and Spanish. The gong that marks the start of Undertaker's theme music freezes Guerrero in his tracks, and the rumble of his motorcycle as he tears down the aisle sends him scurrying out of the ring, hiding behind the announce booth. Trish scampers into the corner as Undertaker steps in the ring. "I done had just about enough of you, Guerrero," says Undertaker, looming over the ropes to glare in Guerrero's direction. "Everywhere I turn, everything I do, I got your face stickin' in mine, messin' with my business. Vince don't want Undertaker with the title; Vince don't want Undertaker even on the show, so he sends his little errand boy to screw with my stuff ... and then you and this dirty, bottle-blonde whore try and put the fear on this girl here. Well, I think you and me, we need to have a little pow-wow at No Way Out and come to an understanding, you dig?" The crowd cheers the idea, even as Guerrero is shaking his head and begging off. "But since you seem to got an itch tonight, how 'bout I do you a favor and scratch? You and the ten-cent tramp here come get a piece of me later on, right here, tonight?"

Stephanie steps forward, looking at Undertaker, but speaking to Trish and Guerrero. "And me," she says forcefully, offering Undertaker a hand. The crowd comes out of their seats in support for Undertaker to accept Stephanie's gesture. Undertaker mulls it a moment, grins an entirely humorless grin and takes her hand, sealing the deal.

Raven comes out for a scheduled defense of his Hardcore Title against a peculiar choice for opponent: Steve Austin. Austin, however, has little time to get into the groove before Kane comes down with his own ref, looking to reclaim the Hardcore Title. Kane lays into Raven, but before Austin can take exception, two people come for a piece of Kane's hide: The Rock and Kurt Angle. The Rock barely gets a bit of Kane before Austin pulls Rock away and starts swinging, while Angle hammers down on Kane. The two pairs brawl through the arena, leaving Raven alone, the match more or less thrown out by way of abandonment.

Out in the parking lot, Vince steps out of the limo and comes face to face with a surprise: Mick Foley. For a long few moments, the two exchange tense glances. Vince coughs nervously and adjusts his tie. "Mick. This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"

"Well, um, I was hoping to talk to you."

"No, I mean, how did you get in? Security has orders to bar you from entry."

"I've been waiting since this morning, before security got posted. I was Commissioner, remember. I know the schedule."

Vince sighs. "Wonderful. So now that you managed to break security and invade my arena, can I hope to expect you'll be leaving now?"

"Actually, I was hoping that, um ... well ... I don't know how to ask this." Foley sighs, his head drooping down. "I was kinda hoping you might be able to give me a job."

Vince looks at Foley, blinking absently, not saying a word or showing a single shred of emotion. Suddenly, he starts walking away, shouting for security. Foley chases after him, begging to be heard. After tolerating it for a few seconds, Vince whips around. "I know for a fact you are one of the most frugal men on the planet, Mick Foley, so if you're trying to imply you need me to give you a job for money, you're either a liar, or you think I'm stupid. Now get out of my arena before I have you arrested!"

"No! Please, Mr. McMahon! Give me a chance! I want to make amends! I want to make things right!"

Vince stops, his head cocked. "You what?"

"I screwed up. I was a horrible Commissioner, and I screwed up everything. I screwed up the Austin thing, I screwed up with security, I screwed up everything. Let me make it up. Give me a chance to make things right."

Vince sneers, as if he's being pawed by a filthy animal; suddenly, a smile erases the negativity, an idea striking him almost like a physical force. "Tell you what, Mick," he says with a predatory grin, "come see me on Raw. We'll discuss it then, alright?" Vince walks away before Foley can say anything else.

Angle comes to the ring, fired up and looking none the worse for his arena-encompassing fistfight with Kane earlier. Big Show attempts to intimidate with his size, but Angle has none of it, using his superior wrestling ability to surgically strike at Big Show's weakest points: his knees. With his wheels knocked out, Show is an easier fight for the WWF Champion. Show tries to use his power to keep Angle at bay, and for a little while, he is successful, but Angle manages to level the playing field with targeted shots to the damaged knee. When Angle gets the submission victory off a figure-four, the crowd is amazed. Kane comes down the aisle, but Angle sees him and gets out of the ring before Kane can get his hands on him, taunting him with the title belt and gesturing that he knows know how to take down the Big Red Machine.

Intercontinental Champion Chris Benoit comes out to a hailstorm of jeers and hatred. The secondary champ disregards it; in fact, he looks angry, if focused. "I've held onto this belt for months!" he proclaims. "I held two titles at once, until my partner cowardly abandoned me at the Royal Rumble! I had two WWF Title victories stolen from me by that crooked former Commissioner, Mick Foley! I am the best technical wrestler in the WWF, and yet, with all this, I can't get a title shot with Kurt Angle!" The crowd gives Benoit's rant a stern booing, which he ignores. "I am out here to demand what's mine, what I deserved, what I'm owed! Kurt Angle, I want a WWF Title shot!"

Benoit waits, looking to the stage, knowing full well he's calling out someone who just went through a hard-fought match with Big Show and a brawl with Kane, and isn't likely to come out. "Are you really this kind of champion, Kurt Angle? A coward? Someone who runs from challengers? Come out here and give me what you owe me!"

The countdown of the Y2J clock cuts in, but rather then wait for the clock to finish and go through his elaborate entrance, Jericho runs for the ring and starts trading blows with Benoit. Benoit ducks a wild swing by Jericho, goes behind and tries a German, but Jericho lands on his feet, just in time for Triple H to hit the ring. Triple H spins Jericho around, kicks him in the gut and tries a Pedigree, but Jericho reverses with a double-leg takedown and tries for the Walls. Benoit grabs Jericho's arm and tries to pull him down for the Crossface, but Jericho rolls through and gets back to his feet, all three men now in a stand-off.

"That's enough!" yells a profoundly British voice. Regal stomps down the ramp, face twisted in anger. "Now, I've tolerated this nonsense long enough, and I want to see this put to an end." Regal gets in the ring, and immediately, Benoit goes after him, only for Triple H and Jericho to cut him off. Regal yells at everyone until they stop. "One more outburst from any of you and I will suspend the lot of you until hell freezes over!" The group settles down enough to take a step back, but less then a heartbeat later, they're all arguing their case to Regal. Regal takes it for a couple seconds, then yells out; "Shut up! Shut up! I know how bad both of you want at Chris Benoit. Don't forget I put my sterling reputation on the line when I convinced you, Triple H, to let Chris Benoit tag with us at the Survivor Series. Everybody in this ring has reason to extract some vengeance from Chris Benoit. And that's why at No Way Out, we're all getting our chance." Chris Benoit's eyes go wide with surprise while Jericho and Triple H raise eyebrows. "I've signed a non-title four-way elimination match between the four of us for No Way Out." The raised eyebrows turn to smiles, while Benoit's _expression goes from surprise to horror. Regal turns to Benoit and approaches him. "I stuck up for you, I respected you. What you've done ..." Regal shakes his head. "Somebody will make you pay, Chris. That's the only thing you deserve."

The mixed-tag match gets the main event slot. Stephanie accompanies Undertaker, looking nervous but ready, while Trish, with Eddie Guerrero, looks nervous and unprepared. The men start off, with Undertaker easily overpowering Guerrero and tossing him around the ring at will. Very quickly, Guerrero chickens out and tags in Trish when he has the chance, forcing Undertaker to tag Stephanie. When the ladies square off, it becomes a hair-pulling, slap-throwing catfight. Guerrero pulls Stephanie off by her hair, which draws in Undertaker. The men brawl, spilling outside, while the women continue their fight, with Trish actually employing some wrestling moves to subdue the boss's daughter. Vince McMahon, however, provides a timely distraction, when he comes down to the ring and taunts his daughter. With the ref tied up, The Radicals come from the opposite direction and help Guerrero knock out Undertaker. Stephanie manages to turn the tide briefly as her father argues with the ref, but Trish rakes Stephanie's eyes and knocks her down to the mat, providing Guerrero with the timely opportunity to hit Stephanie with a frog splash. Trish makes the cover just in time for Vince to disengage the ref, allowing him to make the three-count. The Dudleys try to aid Undertaker, but The Radicals gang up on the half-brothers and lay waste to them as Smackdown comes to a close.

Raw: Feb. 12, '01

Raw opens with a pre-recorded message from the desk of Commissioner William Regal; his expression is blank, unreadable, as he issues his statement. "Good evening, WWF fans. Due to the overwhelming demands being put upon by the fans of the WWF, numerous Superstars, and the two men in question, I am officially announcing a once-and-for-all match to occur at No Way Out, to settle the long-standing issue between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. The match itself will be two-out-of-three falls; the first fall will be a Street Fight, the second will be an I Quit match, and if the third fall is necessary, it will be contested under Last Man Standing rules. As WWF referees remain steadfast in their refusal to be in the middle of such a dangerous environment, WWF officials continue to search for someone to serve as referee for this momentous occasion. Regardless of who officiates the match, and regardless of who emerges victorious, this match will settle this issue once and for all."

With the bombshell announcement confirming the long-awaited Austin/Rock confrontation at No Way Out in two weeks, and both Rock and Austin expected in the building, the tension on Raw is immeasurable; and with four huge matches, and a confrontation of some sorts between Vince McMahon and Mick Foley, Raw promises to be a pivotal stepping stone on the way to both No Way Out and WrestleMania.

Raw kicks off in the arena with tag action, pitting the APA against the Hardy Boys, a grudge match based on their crossing swords during the Tag Team Turmoil match. With both the RTC and the tag champs watching, the teams trade offensive styles, the Hardys using speed and flash to dazzle the APA, while Faarooq and Bradshaw use power and strength to grind down the brothers. The temptations of having targets occupied with others proves too alluring to either team, and the RTC bite first, scoring decisive interference that allowes Faarooq to take a Swanton Bomb from Jeff Hardy for a pinfall loss. Malenko & Saturn, half a step late with their attack on potential contenders, get into a shoving match with the Right To Censor. When shoves turn to punches, the APA and the Hardys take the opportunity to clear the ringside area of their shared rivals to the delight of the audience.

Vince McMahon strides to the ring, looking the very definition of the opposite of humble. In his hand is a plastic bag. "I'd like to believe I'm a forgiving man in life," he proclaims. "I've given many a man second chances. Sometimes, it's come back to haunt me, but in business, that's a risk you have to take. So tonight, I am willing to entertain giving a certain man a second chance here in the WWE. Mick, if you would please join me here in the ring?"

The music for Mick Foley hits, to a nearly silent reception, as fans neither want to embrace the disgraced former Commissioner, nor want to see him humiliate himself by prostrating at Vince's feet. Foley's walk down the ramp is a humbled shuffling, which Vince watches with obvious, and malicious, glee. "Thank you for joining me, Mick," says Vince as Foley steps through the ropes. "Now, as you all may or may not know, Mick Foley approached me last week on Smackdown and begged me to give him another chance in the WWF. Now, what I want to ask you, Mick, is, what kind of position are you looking for here?" Vince holds the microphone to Foley, but before he can reply, Vince pulls it back and starts pacing as he talks. "Because, in thinking about it, a couple things have occured to me. First, it occured to me that the position you last held is now filled. True, I believe the person currently acting as Commissioner is a failure, but I alone cannot get him removed from office, so that option is out. And that led me to my second revelation, in that, you, Mick Foley, are retired from the ring. Now, since the role of Commissioner is out, and you're not an in-ring competitor, I don't see much left for you. So," says Vince, advancing on Foley, who looks like someone has shot his puppy, "it seems to me that I get the privilege of telling you that, as much as my heart bleeds for your situation, I'm afraid you're absolutely worthless to me." The crowd firmly comes down on Vince's attitude; Foley doesn't even try to plead. He turns around and starts to leave until Vince stops him. "That is, unless you can complete a task for me. If you can do me one small thing, perhaps I can find a place for you."

Foley approaches Vince, grabbing Vince's hand and shaking it enthusiastically. "Oh, Vince, you don't know how happy you've made me! Tell me what you need done, and it's yours!"

Vince grins, a smile that has the effect of killing Foley's exhuberance on sight. "It's just a small, teeny, tiny little favor." Vince reaches into the plastic bag and pulls out its content, a large mass of black cloth. "You see, Mick Foley, during your last few months as WWF Commissioner, your policies and procedures created a monster. Your actions turned what had been the nuisance known as Stone Cold Steve Austin into a bull in a china shop. He's got the entire locker room worked up, he's created a world of anarchy in this company, and I firmly believe that if you had enforced the law during the final months of your tenure, Stone Cold Steve Austin would be a non-entity now. So I need you to clean up the mess made."

Foley blinks and takes a step back. "I ... um ... Mr. McMahon ... Vince--"

"Let's keep it at Mr. McMahon."

"Um, okay. Um, Mr. McMahon ... listen ... I ... how would I ... I don't understand."

"I know you don't, Mick. You're simple like that, which is half the reason why you failed so miserably as Commissioner. But this is your opportunity to make good." Vince tosses the black lump of cloth at Foley; Foley catches it and looks from it to Vince, confused. "Go ahead, Mick. Unfold it." Foley unfolds the fabric, and his eyes go wide when he sees what it really is: a Cactus Jack t-shirt. Vince's grin is now a full-fledged maniacal smile, his eyes wild. "If you want a job here in the WWF, Mick Foley, tonight, in this very ring, you will summon the hardcore spirit within you, you will pour your fat posterior into those tights and jam your overweight gut into that shirt, and Cactus Jack will annihilate the plague of Stone Cold Steve Austin!"

Foley's eyes make wordless protests, but his lips remain still. The crowd chants "don't sell out" as Foley looks from the t-shirt to Vince and back down again, chewing his lip. Foley takes a deep breath, hs chest falling with such weight, it is as if the entire world is pushing down on his shoulders. With great reluctance, Foley extends a hand, accepting Vince's offer. Vince grasps it and shakes, vowing Foley will not regret his decision.

Vince's two mammoth executioners, Kane and Big Show, make their way to the ring with the intention of eliminating both Val Venis and William Regal. Kane and Show take their sweet time, abusing their much smaller opponents. But when Angle runs down and points to his knees, Regal takes the cue and, upon getting into the ring, goes after Show's knees. Kane drops away to go after Angle, who makes tracks for the back, while Venis and Regal double-team Show, with Venis getting the biggest victory of his career, pinning the former WWF Champion following a Money Shot. Jim Ross hypes up Venis' No Way Out singles match against Steven Richards as the RTC leader watches his former comrade's victory on the monitor and seethes.

The shattering glass brings out Steve Austin, who looks, as usual, pissed. "I'm pissed off!" he confirms, stomping around the ring like a caged animal. "I can't even enjoy the fact that I got my match at No Way Out with that slimy sumbitch Rock, cause a few weeks back, I was this close"--Austin holds up his forefinger and thumb, with almost no room between them--"to winning the Royal Rumble. The Rock was just a Stunner away from me tossin' his sorry ass over the top rope and me rollin' on to WrestleMania to face the champ, when, BAM!, some piece of crap I ain't never seen before comes up behind me and dumps me over. I don't know who this guy is, I don't know nothin' about him, and ain't nobody seen a damn hair on his head for weeks now, cause he keeps hidin' like a little girl, watchin' us on TVs. Well, I'm out here, ya yellow bastard, and I'm sick of your crap! If you're any kind of man, you'll drag your pajama-wearin' ass out here and take and give me a chance to beat your sorry ass in front of the world!"

Instead of the Golden Champion, though, The Rock comes out, keeping his distance by staying on the stage. Austin eyeballs his two-weeks-hence prey as if he were a rabid dog and Rock was the stray cat in his yard. Rock paces the length of the stage, almost in a manic state. "Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rock knows that, as far as you're concerned, you only owe The Rock one thing, and that's an ass-whipping." The crowd cheers this, but The Rock presses on. "But The Rock is out here man to man, mano e mano, to ask Stone Cold for something else: mercy. Mercy ... for Mick Foley." Austin, about ready to launch into a vicious tirade, stops at the mention of Foley's name. "The Rock knows that you know Mick Foley is The Rock's good friend. The Rock also knows that, years ago, Steve Austin and Mick Foley were friends. The Rock knows that you and Mick Foley got problems. But The Rock is asking you, man to man, Stone Cold, to look at what's going on here, to look, to see, to recognize that all this, all this BS is Vince McMahon, stirring up the pot, getting you all riled up. Getting me all scared. Making Mick Foley dance like a puppet and beg. All this, here, tonight, right now, this is Vince McMahon. Just like he manipulated Mick Foley months ago to keep you on the bench, he's manipulating all of us, right now, right here. He wants Stone Cold and The Rock to want to hurt each other ... to cripple, to ... kill ... each other. Vince McMahon is using Mick Foley to piss us off, and I'm out here to ask you, not as Mick Foley's friend, not as a wrestler, but as a human being walkin' God's green Earth ... walk away tonight, Stone Cold. Walk away. Don't do the match. Don't do it."

The Rock waits for a reaction from Stone Cold, but all he gets is a murderous, steely stare. Seeing that Austin won't be giving him the dignity of a response, The Rock turns to leave, but Austin's voice, mimicking a sweet, innocent child's tone, makes him turn back. "Well, gee whillikers, Rock, it's just so darn cute, seein' ya come out here and beg me for mercy for your friend, maybe I oughtta!" Austin's face twists back into the Stone Cold sneer of hate. "Since the very sight of you makes my blood boil inside my veins, and hearin' your stupid little voice makes me wanna puke, most of what you said I just plain ignored. But I did hear you say something like 'cripple ... Mick Foley', and you're in luck, because that's exactly what I'm fixin' to do." Rocky tries to protest, but Austin overrides him. "The son of a bitch screwed me out of two months of my career, Rock; two months that I coulda been beatin' ass and gettin' my WWF Title back, he won't turn you in cause you're his little buddy, and the fact of the matter is, with all the crap he's pulled, it's a damn miracle I ain't rolled into Long Island, busted down his door and beat his sorry ass in his living room, right in front of his kids! You can sit here and beg and plead and whine like a puppy all you want, but the bottom line is, Mick Foley or Cactus Jack or Mankind or whatever t-shirt he comes down to the ring wearin', it don't make a difference to me, cause he's been due a Stone Cold ass-whipping like nobody ain't never seen before, and I intend on givin' the man what he's owed!" Austin goes to toss the microphone aside, hesitates, then adds with as much attitude as he can muster; "If you smell what Stone Cold is cookin'!"

All three Radicals tag up for a six-man match against their combined opponents for the PPV, the Dudleys and Undertaker. Despite the size difference, the cohesive unit the Radicals present are a formidible force against the three brawlers, and their willingness to use every dirty trick in their playbook gives them the extra edge. A well-timed distraction by Trish Stratus of the referee is enough for Malenko to score a low blow on D-Von Dudley, followed up by a frog splash by Guerrero, and the pin by Saturn. Trish blows her triumvirate's future opponents kisses as she and her cohorts quickly head for the hills.

What had been scheduled for the main event, a non-title match between Triple H and Kurt Angle, gets the semi-main slot, thanks to the impromptu booking of Austin and Cactus Jack. The two old rivals act as if the issues between them were as fresh as the moment, but now, with the knowledge of repeated facings, the match-up is made more intense with reversals and counters. Angle ducks a clothesline from Triple H, and the ref eats the shot. Before another official can replace him, Chris Benoit slides in, kicks Triple H and pulls off the ultimate insult: nailing Triple H with a Pedigree. Angle and Benoit start trading barbs until Kane races down and goes after Angle. By the time the ref comes to, Jericho and Regal have come down to run off the interlopers, but Triple H and Angle are both face down on the mat.

The very nature of the main event creates an uncomfortable feeling all throughout the arena; cameras find WWF Superstars watching the monitors nervously, while the fans twitch and shift in their seats as the ring announcer introduces the no-disqualifications main event. Mick Foley, wearing his Cactus Jack shirt, comes out onto the stage, looking less like a wrestler heading into battle and more like the condemned approaching their execution. As soon as Foley's feet hit the mat, Austin is out, eyes like a lion sizing up a gazelle. But before the timekeeper can ring the bell, The Rock jumps in the ring. There is none of the normal Rock swagger, and he isn't even wearing sunglasses. When he speaks, his voice is missing all of the projection and performance that is the hallmark of The Rock.

"Steve, please," he asks. "The Rock ... no, me, Dwayne Johnson ... I am asking you, one more time, to not go through with this. I know what you got in mind; it isn't pro wrestling. This man has a family, and so do you. Don't make a mistake that'll tear both families apart, Steve. Walk away, please."

Austin's eyes narrow to slits as he listens to The Rock's plea for Foley's well-being. Upon hearing Rock's final plea, Austin turns away, as if to consider, then hauls off with a right cross to the jaw.      Austin falls on Rock and starts whaling away; Foley drops out of the ring, grabs a chair, comes back and brings it down across Austin's back. As Vince comes out and directs traffic, Foley, reluctantly, almost remorsefully, brings the chair down in its killing arc again and again until Austin is out cold. Foley looks up at Vince, but Vince orders him to continue; Foley protests at first, but a stern glare from Vince gets Foley moving, bringing down the chair a couple more times before he tosses it away and pins Austin. The Rock having pulled himself up to a sit in a corner, watches the brutal, heinous attack with revulsion and horror. After the ref's hand hits the mat for three, he springs up and yells for medics. Foley tries to help up The Rock, but Rocky rolls under the ropes and limps away, keeping an eye on Foley as he backs away.

Smackdown: Feb. 15, '01

Smackdown kicks off in the ring, with Stone Cold Steve Austin, wearing enough bandages to pass as a mummy, but ready to fight anyway. Before he can get into gear, though, Vince McMahon comes out to ruin the party.

"Steve, I know you're expecting Kane right now," says Vince, "but before we can get on with your match, I have a major announcement to make, and it just so happens to have direct implications on your match. Now," says Vince, switching from addressing Austin to the crowd, "for any of you who, for one reason or another, witnessed the most beautiful, miraculous, transcendant moment in World Wrestling Federation history on Monday Night Raw, allow me to provide you with video so you may experience it." The TitanTron rolls with the horrific beatdown of Austin at the reluctant hands of Mick Foley, to the massive jeering of the audience. "Such a wonderful moment. Chokes me up a little," says Vince as he dabs away a non-existant tear from his eye. "Because of Mick Foley's heroic decision to pummel you into a fine goo, Stone Cold, I have awarded Mick Foley a new job here in the WWF. Now, you ask, how this affects you? I want you to take a look around you. See who's around." Austin lingers a moment, sensing a trap, but ends up looking around. "Do you see anything amiss, Austin? You're there, ready for the match. The timekeeper's there. The announcers are there. The ring announcer is there. But there's no referee." Austin's head snaps back, eyes wide with rage. "Yes, Stone Cold, tonight, debuting as a full-time WWF junior referee, and the official for this match, Mick Foley!"

Foley emerges from the back, wearing the official uniform of a WWF referee, looking just as nervous as he did on Monday. Right behind him is Kane, walking with an uncharacteristic swagger. Austin's eyes never leave Foley as he approaches the ring, walks up the stairs and steps through the ropes. Foley barely even has a leg through the ropes before Austin springs like a coiled snake, peppering Foley with shots to his body. Kane immediately leaps into the ring, going after Austin; Kurt Angle races down to the ring and nails an Angle Slam on Kane, while Rock runs down and gets in between Foley and Austin. Austin tries to take a swipe at Foley, but is too far away, so he settles for pouncing on Rock, which forces Foley to try and get physical with Austin to keep him off his friend. Before the officials can even get in gear, the other WWF Superstars rush the ring to break up the full-scale riot that is miliseconds from erupting. Austin is pushed into the back by a phalanx of WWF Superstars and security, and more handle the Angle/Kane confrontation.

When Smackdown comes back from commercial, Regal barges into Austin's dressing room. "Do you mind telling me just what in the bloody hell you were trying to accomplish out there?" demands Regal. "I have half a mind to suspend you right where you stand and terminate your match with The Rock at No Way Out!"

"That no-good, son of a bitch Foley kept me--"

"Yes, yes, we all know how Mick Foley suspended you and hampered the investigation with his bumbling and deceit." Regal advances slowly on Austin, not showing a hint of trepidation at approaching the Texas Rattlesnake. "But Mick Foley, like it or not, is a licensed WWF referee, and I will not have WWF Superstars taking out transgressions on officials, no matter the reason." Austin opens his mouth to protest, but Regal cuts him off. "I said, no matter the reason, Steven!" Regal closes his eyes and takes a deep cleansing breath. "I have business to attend to, so I am going to leave you. I expect you to be on your utmost behavior."

"Oh, I'll be on my utmost behavior, all right," says Austin with a snarl. "I'll be at my utmost pissed off when I find that big dumb bastard Kane, and then that piece of crap Rock, and that yellow bastard Foley, and Vince McMahon, and I beat 'em--"

"You will do no such thing, Stone Cold!"

"If I don't get 'em in the ring tonight, then you can bet your bottom dollar I'm gonna put someone in a hospital the Stone Cold way!"

Regal sighs. "You realize the difficult position you're putting me in, don't you?" If Austin feels any glimmer of sympathy, he shows none of it. Regal sighs again. "Very well. If Angle will agree to be your partner, you'll face The Rock and Kane tonight. Satisfied?" But Austin has already walked away, leaving Regal to mutter to himself if what he's done was the best idea.

As Triple H walks through the halls, on his way to the ring to tag with Val Venis against Steven Richards and Eddie Guerrero, he crosses paths with his ex-wife. For a long, lingering minute, the two stare at each other, a spectrum of emotions being exchanged just through the eyes. They try to talk at the same time twice before Triple H finally gestures for Stephanie to give it a start.

"Good luck in your match tonight," she says, shifting her feet around.

"Thanks," says Triple H sheepishly.

"Make sure Steven Richards pays. For ..." The sentence trails off, the unsaid implication hanging but clearly understood.

Triple H nods. "I will."

Stephanie nods in return and prepares to leave when Triple H calls to her. "Steph." She turns around, but doesn't come any closer. "I would like it if you could ... maybe ... accompany me to the ring. Just for tonight." When he sees Stephanie's body language leaning towards during down such an awkward request, he quickly adds; "I'm pretty sure Trish Stratus is gonna be with Guerrero.Ó

A devilish smile breaks out on Stephanie's face. "Give me five minutes."

Sure enough, Stephanie accompanies Triple H and Venis to the ring, grinning like the cat who swallowed the canary. For both teams being ad hoc, Triple H and Venis show a natural chemistry, while their opponents don't. In fact, since Richards represents the faction trying to take down the WWF and Vince McMahon, and Guerrero is a McMahon soldier, the two are more like gasoline and a lit match then natural partners. In the match's closing moments, as Val Venis is cleaning house on Richards, Guerrero catches an elbow in the mush from Richards by accident; Guerrero's temper gets the better of him and he abandons ship, backing up the ramp. Trish Stratus tries to escape with him, but Triple H blocks her way, which leads to Stephanie coming from behind and tossing Trish into the ring. Venis gets a Money Shot on Richards and scores the pin as Guerrero watches from the ramp, caring little for either Vince's girlfriend, or his team's loss, and turns around right into the waiting Undertaker, who chokeslams Guerrero on the steel stage. Back in the ring, Trish begs for mercy, but, seeing she isn't going to get any, she tries to run; Triple H grabs hold of her, then gestures to Stephanie to ask what she wants to do. Stephanie's evil grin comes back; Triple H grins back. Stephanie grabs Trish's clothes and rips them off, leaving her in her bra and panties. As she tries to cover herself, Stephanie kicks her in the gut and, while not perfect, does a passable impression of a Pedigree, silencing her nemesis. The crowd hoots and hollars, especially when Stephanie tells Trish's prone body that there will be more in store for her at No Way Out.

Stemming from their run-in on Raw, Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather square off against the tag champions in a non-title match. Bad omens pop up almost instantly as soon as the bell sounds, as The Dudleys, The Hardys and The APA take posts around ringside, arms crossed, just watching, while Edge & Christian watch from the stage. When The Goodfather gets tossed out and lands at the feet of Faarooq and Bradshaw, the APA back off, hands raised, smiling at the turncoat former pimp; Goodfather responds by spitting in Bradshaw's face. Bradshaw clinches his fists, but does not respond. Similarly, Malenko takes a spill and drops right in front of both the Dudleys and the Hardy brothers. Malenko gives Jeff Hardy a shove, but Bubba is quick to remind the obnoxious Malenko who their opponents are come WrestleMania. Matt gets in Bubba's face, which starts a shoving match; Malenko takes the opportunity to get back in the ring as Faarooq and Bradshaw try to break up the brawl; but their inclusion only makes it worse, which draws down Edge and Christian into the mix, leaving the participants in the ring to continue their match uninterrupted. Saturn scores the winning pinfall, using the ropes for leverage, and the tag champs manage to leave the ringside area untouched as their numerous enemies argue with each other.

Chris Benoit comes out, proudly displaying his Intercontinental Championship on his shoulder, ignoring the tidal waves of hatred coming at him. "There was a time when the Intercontinental Champion was looked on as the number one contender to the WWF Champion," says Benoit with a hint of venom. "Do you know how many title shots I've gotten since I've won this title? Everybody but me has gotten one! I am the best technical wrestler in the WWF! I had the championship won twice last year before that corrupt Mick Foley reversed the referee's decision! I deserve a title match, and I'm not leaving tonight until I get one!"

After a few seconds of awkward silence, distinctly British music pipes in, signalling the WWF Commissioner. "Christopher," says Regal with more then a hint of disdain, "you are absolutely correct. You are long overdue to be placed in a title match. In fact, I believe we have some time right now, if you'd like." Regal undoes his tie and tosses it aside, then starts unbuttoning his shirt. "Only, it won't be the title you'd like it to be, Chris Benoit. You are rather overdue to defend that title, and since both I and Chris Jericho have nothing else to do, I think an Intercontinental Title match is in order."

When Smackdown comes back from commercial, Benoit is fighting off both Chris Jericho and a trousers-and-loafers-clad William Regal, who seem less intent on winning the the match as they do punishing Benoit. But when Benoit looks ready for the kill, the pre-existing tensions, as well as the heat of the moment, overcome Regal and Jericho, and they start trading blows. Everyone gets their opportunity to defeat the other, but Benoit manages to get the victory with both a nutshot to Jericho and a handful of tights on Regal.

Though the main event tag match has four men involved, it is the very definition of a mixed tag, with Austin and Angle having been at odds in the past (and Austin's stated title desires give reason for Angle to buddy up either), and Kane representing Vince's army, a group with a stated goal of eliminating his partner, The Rock. And, as expected with such a combustable combination of people, the teams spend as much time arguing and fighting with each other as they do their opponents. Austin and Rock spill out of the ring, leaving Kane and Angle to slug it out as the legal participants. But when Angle won't stay down, Kane takes his frustrations out on the ref and chokeslams him, which draws out a new ref: Mick Foley. With Vince watching from the stage, Foley, lifting his hand as if it was made of lead, issues a quick three count on Angle when Kane pins him following a clothesline. Foley bails as quick as possible, leaving the four Superstars to continue their brawl as Smackdown fades to black.

Raw: Feb. 19, '01

The final Monday Night Raw before No Way Out is stacked, with a fatal-four-way main event pitting Angle against The Rock, Kane and Austin, a Show/Undertaker match, a tag title match, and a Divas Evening Gown Beauty Contest. But the disgruntled Intercontinental Champion hits the ring first, microphone in hand, for more self-centered complaining.

"Last week on Smackdown, the corrupt, biased Commissioner of the WWF sprung a triple threat title defense on me!" complains Benoit, and gets no sympathy from the crowd. "I am the best technical wrestler in the WWF, and the best Intercontinental Champion in history! I don't deserve this kind of treatment! I should be facing Kurt Angle for the WWF Title at No Way Out, and instead, I'm stuck facing three other men who couldn't lace my boots! Kurt Angle, I am twice the wrestler you are, and tonight, I'm going to prove it to the world, and you'll have choice but to give me what you owe me!" The announcers mull over what Benoit means by this as he leaves everyone hanging for a second. "Tonight, I am going to prove to the world that I am the superior technical wrestler by challenging any wrestler back there to try and get me to tap with your best submission hold. But I promise, not only will you not get me to tap, I will find a way out and make tap instead!"

The first to fall victim to Benoit's superior wrestling skills is Grandmaster Sexay, who gets a chicken wing reversed on him into the Crossface. Steve Blackman falls prey, as does Rikishi and Tazz. Benoit is reaching for the microphone to declare his superiority when the music of William Regal cuts him off. Regal, dressed for action, steps into the ring without saying a word and immediately gets into a game of counters and counter-counters with Benoit, until Benoit makes a mistake and Regal manages to lock on the STF. Benoit begs him off and demands they try again; Regal shrugs and again they square off, only for Benoit to find himself stuck in the hold again, in half the time of the first application. Benoit demands a third go-around, a request which Regal is only too happy to oblige. As Benoit fights to break a waistlock by Regal, Benoit mule-kicks him in the groin, floats behind and goes for a German suplex; Regal flips through, clobbers Benoit in the back, sending him to the mat, and reapplies the STF for a third time. Benoit taps for a full thirty seconds, with referees trying to pry Regal off Benoit, before Regal finally lets go and leaves Benoit in the ring, broken and humiliated.

Stemming from their breakdown on Smackdown as a team, Eddie Guerrero takes on the Right To Censor leader Steven Richards. The opening minutes of the contest raise a few eyebrows as both men are hesitant, almost withdrawn, circling one another and trading lots of reversals and headlocks. When Val Venis comes down to try and jump Richards, the trap is sprung: both Guerrero and Richards lay waste to Venis, pounding him until he bleeds and tossing him to the floor. Guerrero's No Way Out opponent, Undertaker, tries to save Venis and, for a while, manages to hold his own, but a pair of brass knuckles brought in by Guerrero drops Undertaker like a stone in a lake. Undertaker suffers a little more punishment and, like Venis, is left on the arena floor, bleeding.

Regal is on the phone, laughing about his embarrassing of Benoit, when Steve Austin barges in, almost knocking the door off its hinges and upending chairs. Regal quietly and quickly excuses himself from the call, hangs up and smiles with all the genuine happiness of a root canal patient. "Stone Cold, a pleasure to see you."

"I got one thing to ask you, Regal, and you damn well better be tellin' me the right answer," threatens Austin. "No Way Out. Me and Rocky, Three Stages Of Hell. Who's the ref?"

Regal blinks, caught off-guard by the question. "I'm sorry, you have me at a loss. I wasn't expecting that question."

"I really don't give a rat's ass what you were expecting, Regal. I wanna know who's the ref for my match?"

"Well, Steven, because of the parameters surrounding the match, and the issues--"

"You don't know."

Regal shakes his head. "You don't understand. Finding a referee has been an arduous process, Steven. None of the regular referees are willing to--"

"Is it Foley? Did you stick me with Foley? Cause if you dumped Foley in between me and Rocky, you may as well just start keepin' my paychecks, cause I'll be whippin' Foley's ass as bad as I do Rock's."

"Steven! I have tolerated your boorish attitude for long enough. No matter how despicable, no matter how questionable a man might be, I will not have you abusing WWF officials." Regal folds his hands on his desktop. "As for the official who will be involved in your match, rest assured we believe we have located a referee who will call a fair and unbiased match."

Austin glares at Regal; when he tries to make the Commissioner flinch and fails, Austin sulks just a little and says; "Well, if he ain't, after I get done beating their ass, and Rock's ass, I'm comin' after your ass," on his way out the door.

Malenko and Saturn come out for their tag title defense against a pair of most unlikely opponents: Triple H and Chris Jericho. Knowing that the tension between their opponents is still there, Malenko and Saturn seek to take advantage of it by playing mind games, keeping Jericho isolated as if he's trying to hog the match. Jericho manages to break away, though, and gets the tag to Triple H, who cleans house and has the tag champs in position to say goodbye to their titles, when Malenko counters a Pedigree with a nutshot. The run-in from the Dudleys draws the DQ, but on the outside, Triple H decks Jericho for not tagging out sooner so they could dictate the pace of the match.

In the exclusive McMahon dressing room, Vince bursts in as Guerrero is kicking back with the other soldiers, sipping champagne and laughing. "Just what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Vince bellows, bringing the celebration to a screeching halt.

Guerrero puts his flute down, ambles over to Vince and claps Vince on the shoulder. "Hey, jeffe, did you see what we did earlier? Man, that was cool!"

Vince's if-looks-could-kill glare stops Guerrero's laughter cold. "No, Eddie, it was not cool. Getting into bed with Steven Richards was most definitely not cool. The little twerp is trying to bankrupt me and you're out there, working little conspiracies? I don't care how much good you did for our cause; the Right To Censor are the very embodiment of the people we are trying to flush out of this company, and here you are, working alongside him!"

"B-b-b-but ... Commisioner Regal ... he--"

"I don't care, Eddie. Let me make myself perfectly clear, Eddie, right here and now: you're on your last straw. You've not been able to get the job done in anything I ask of you, so you have one more chance to keep your ass out of hot water with me, and that's at No Way Out." Vince leaves, slamming the door behind him, leaving Guerrero shell-shocked.

Jerry Lawler emcees the Divas Beauty Contest, which, he announces, will be a two-show event, with tonight being the formal wear competition. Lita, Tori, Chyna and Jacqueline all come out in beautiful, form-fitting, elegant (yet sexy) dresses that get the male audience members hooting. Ivory, true to her Right To Censor roots, is clad in an outfit that more resembles a muumuu then a dress, and is promptly booed. But the biggest reaction is for Trish Stratus, who comes out wearing what looks like a wedding dress designed by Victoria's Secret, with a neckline that plunges down to the belly-button (and no bra), long slit legs up to the hips, thigh-highs and high heels, and carrying a bouquet of flowers. Lawler approaches her and asks if she's confused about what she should be wearing.

"What, wedding dresses aren't formal?" she asks with mock naivete. "I was just thinking over the weekend that I needed to do something that would help me stand out, maybe even bring a little ... happiness ... to the WWF. I mean, with all that's been going on ... car accidents, adultery, divorce ... this place is depressing! Nothing's more cheerful then a bride! Ask Stephanie ... oh, wait ..." Trish covers her mouth. "Oops! I'm sorry, my bad. I guess your days as a blushing bride are kinda done."

Stephanie storms down to the ring, yelling at Trish the whole way down. When she gets in the ring, she gets in Trish's face, talking loud enough for her words to be picked up by Lawler's microphone. She manages to get in "Listen, you homewrecking slut" before Trish winds up and smacks her with the bouquet of flowers. To the surprise of everyone but Trish, Stephanie crumples like a house of cards in a tornado and doesn't move an inch from her position on the mat. Trish snickers as she brushes away the flowers to reveal a lead pipe, tosses it down and walks away with smug satisfaction.

Despite being bloodied and battered earlier, Undertaker enters the ring for his showdown with Big Show. Show goes after Undertaker's head wounds, tearing away the bandages and ripping at the skin, but the sight of Undertaker's blood only goes to enrage the American Badass. Undertaker makes the comeback, rocking the giant back on his heels until he rolls out of the ring and tries to take the shortcut of using the ringbell. Undertaker follows him out, grabs a chair and swings, sending the ringbell back into Big Show's face and knocking him unconscious. Guerrero runs down to try and get a piece of his nemesis, but Undertaker swings for the fences and almost takes Guerrero's head off with the chair. The ref has no choice but to throw out the match, but with two people lying bleeding on the floor seeing stars, Undertaker is the moral victor.

Before the huge main event can begin, Vince comes out to make an announcement. "This Sunday, my amassed army stands poised to purge the toxins that pleague the body WWF," he proclaims. "Once we finish cleansing the poisons out of the WWE, we can march onto WrestleMania with heads held high. But first, we must deal with No Way Out, and to that effect, I have taken the step of assigning a special referee for the WWF Title match between Kurt Angle and Kane. To keep his officiating skills sharp and keen, he will also be refereeing tonight's main event." The crowd turns on a dime, knowing what Vince is going to say before he says it. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the official for your No Way Out main event, three-time former WWF Champion ... Mick Foley!"

Foley cowers in a corner as the participants file into the ring one by one; Kane looks at him like he looks at everyone, a potential victim; Angle and Austin both eye the portly former Commissioner with severe mistrust and animosity. Only The Rock doesn't regard Foley as a potential target; instead, he views Foley with pity and sadness. Foley takes a step back and allows the match to progress, but, much to the surprise of everyone, Austin hangs back and refuses to tag in when The Rock is fighting; he just leans on the rope, staring a hole through The Rock. Kane manages to score the victory by hitting a blind tag on Rock as Rock is set up for an Angle Slam, then coming in and chokeslamming Angle. Austin drops down to the floor and backs away, keeping a close eye on Rock, until Kane moves toward Rocky; Austin races in and snaps off a Stunner on the Big Red Machine, leaving him the last man standing in the ring as Raw closes out.

Smackdown: Feb. 22, '01

The second half of the Divas beauty contest, two big tag matches and a 15-man pin-to-win battle royal for the Hardcore Title highlight the final Smackdown before No Way Out. And in addition, six short sit-down interviews are sprinkled throughout the broadcast, comments from Regal, Triple H, Benoit, Jericho, Rock and Austin.

The first to air is Commissioner Regal's video. "No Way Out represents an opportunity for me to exhonorate myself for the mistakes I've made, not only as a Commissioner, but by supporting Chris Benoit." Regal shakes his bowed head. "Chris Benoit was once a decent man; he helped me regain my job here in the WWF. He has been a loyal and true friend ... but somewhere, that Chris Benoit has been lost. I cannot apologize enough to either Triple H, or Chris Jericho, or to the WWF fans for my blunder in allowing Chris Benoit and his obnoxious cohorts the open door to destroy so many lives. All I can do is pledge on my honor that I will not rest until I eradicate Chris Benoit and undo the damage he has inflicted upon this company."

The 15-man hardcore battle royal starts, predictably, before all the competitors get to the ring. With the structure of the true champion being the last person to hold the belt when the timer elapses, winning the belt during the interim proves a bad strategy for anyone wanting to walk out with the belt, and Steven Richards utilizes this strategy, keeping out of the match and letting others do the beating. But as everyone brawls and swings in an effort to be the last man standing, the Radicals and Edge & Christian sneak out and start laying waste to The Dudleys, The APA and The Hardys. Richards' RTC cohorts, also in the match, join in on pulverizing The APA. With his RTC cohorts there to help, and six of the 15 competitors eliminated, Richards has his path paved for him to capture the Hardcore Title.

The second video message is from Triple H, who speaks with his elbows on his knees, his head down. "The past six months of my life have been a nightmare I can't wake up from," he growls. "Kurt Angle inserts himself into my marriage. I get so paranoid, I think my wife's having an affair. And when it's all done, I've lost the woman I love, I've lost months of my career on a wild goose chase, and a guy I trusted stabbed me in the back." Triple H looks up, water dripping from the tips of his hair, his eyes wild like a feral cat. One of his hands comes up into view, holding a sledgehammer. "This ends at No Way Out. We're going to change places, Chris Benoit, in three days. My nightmare will finally be over. Yours will be just beginning."

Triple H's is immediately followed by another of his opponents, Chris Jericho. "Since I've been in this business, I've been loved and I've been hated," says Chris Jericho. "But what Chris Benoit did to my life took my life past hatred. No, I had crowds throwing stuff at me on the streets, harassing me in airports. I got turned into the company's second-most hated man behind The Rock, and all because ... you were helping out the Right To Censor? You used my life and my reputation as a weapon against someone else?" Jericho shakes his head. "Three men, Chris Benoit. Three men you toyed with, screwed with, hurt and destroyed. Three men are out for your blood, Chris Benoit. And I have more motivation then anyone to squeeze you dry."

Val Venis teams with Undertaker in a tag match against Eddie Guerrero and Big Show. With Vince watching from a monitor in back, Guerrero and Show pour everything they have into taking down the WWF's American Badass and the turncoat agent against the RTC. Eddie Guerrero manages to score some good licks on his No Way Out opponent, but in the end, Vince's soliders come up short, and Val Venis scores the huge victory with a Money Shot on Big Show that nets the three-count. Steven Richards tries to ambush Venis, but Venis gets the better of him, picking up valuable momentum for the PPV.

When Guerrero and Show get backstage, Vince is waiting for them, glaring at them with murderous fury, arms crossed and brow furrowed. Guerrero and Show fall over each other trying to plead their cases and put the blame on the other. Vince watches the exchange, never giving hint to buying either story ... and when Kane comes exploding out of nowhere with a lariat to the back of Big Show's head, Vince's _expression doesn't change. He just hunkers down, gets in the unconscious giant's ear and growls out, "You're fired!" Vince comes up again, catching Guerrero dead in the eye. "If you don't want the same happening to you, Eddie, you'll be defeating Undertaker on Sunday," says Vince as he turns and walks away, Kane following close behind.

Chris Benoit's taped message features something most uncomfortable: a long silence, almost thirty seconds long, with Benoit grinning into the camera, flashing a grin that would send shivers down the spine of the deivl himself. When he speaks, he is still smiling, even though he sounds lethally serious. "I am the best technical wrestler in the world today," he states, "and I am the Intercontinental Champion. I will make all three of my opponents submit to the Crippler Crossface, and then, I will take what's rightfully mine, and that is a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Championship, Kurt Angle!" The camera fades to black on the sick smile of Benoit.

The second part of the Divas Beauty Contest takes center stage, with the event the male audience members have been frothing at the mouth for since Raw: the swimsuit competition. One by one, the Divas come out in robes and reveal their swimsuits. Ivory comes out in a swimsuit reminiscent of the 1930's, while the other Divas come out in one-piece and two-piece swimsuits that leave little to the imagination. However, Trish Stratus' outfit blows all the others away; it is a barely-there collection of threads, with just enough material to cover the naughty bits, colored to match her skin tone, that looks like she will fall out of it with the right movement. As Lawler is ogling and trying to compose himself to measure the audience response, Stephanie strolls out on stage as Trish starts squirming in her skin. Trish's eyes get wider as her squirming gets more prevalent, even as she tries to hold herself in. Stephanie pulls a hand out from behind herself; she is holding a tube of Icy Hot. Trish's eyes flash hatred for a moment before the discomfort is too much to bear; she scoops up her robe, throws it on and runs to the back as tears start to fall down her cheeks, while all the Divas and Stephanie share a hearty laugh at Trish's expense.

The final two sit-down confessionals roll before the main event. The Rock goes first, looking serious but calm. "When The Rock debuted, and the crowd would chant 'Die, Rocky, Die' ... that hurt The Rock. But the past six months have been worse. The Rock has said time and again that he isn't guilty, and nobody listened. The Rock made some bad choices to try and get this to go away, and it got worse." Rocky sighs. "Three Stages Of Hell. No Way Out. Stone Cold Steve Austin, you deserve your shot at revenge. But not against me. The Rock will go to his grave saying he didn't do it, and The Rock will go into No Way Out with no intention of laying down for Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock isn't going to walk in there and let Austin destroy The Rock. The Rock doesn't have a grudge here; The Rock will fight, and he will fight for survival, but make no mistake, Stone Cold; The Rock did not run you over, and The Rock won't take the blame, or the pain, you want to give The Rock. Yeah, we can talk about one fall, two falls, sixty minutes, sixty days, who's guilty of this, who's innocent of that -- it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is February 25th, No Way Out, The Rock and Austin. The fact of the matter is this: is I will give you every drop of sweat, every drop of blood, every ounce of energy I have - win, lose or draw, you are gonna get the absolute best of The Rock at No Way Out, and there's a reason why they call me The Rock, there's a reason why the most electrifying man the world has ever seen and all that ... and there's a reason why they call me the best. Come February 25th, two unstoppable forces will meet ... and all questions will be answered."

Steve Austin stares into the camera as if it was a target, as if The Rock himself is inside the lens. "I'll go on record as sayin' every single time I've been in the ring with The Rock, he has brought out the absolute best in Stone Cold Steve Austin. So when I roll in to No Way Out on February 25th? Do I wanna beat you on a personal level? Oh hell yeah, I do. You took goin' on a year and a half of my life from me in one night, Rock, and I intend on beating out the frustration of every day of that into your ass at No Way Out. But on professional level, which bleeds over into my personal existence, I need it, Rock -- I need it more than anything you could ever imagine. I need to finish this so I can get on with my life, and get on with my career, and until I do that, all I see is you in my crosshairs. So that's the mentality I roll into No Way Out with, the fact that Stone Cold Steve Austin is back, and that I must beat the Rock to get my life back on track, to get back on the path to becoming World Wrestling Federation Champion once again. And there is no other way. There is only room for one. There is only room for one of us in the World Wrestling Federation. And that will be, Rock, when it's all said and done ... Stone Cold Steve Austin. Or I'll die trying."

Before Kurt Angle can join The Dudleys in the ring, Commissioner Regal pulls him aside backstage. "Kurt," says Regal, "I just want you to know that, as part of my reaffirmed dedication to this position, I am taking in action regarding the main event at WrestleMania."

Angle blinks. "Uh ... what?"

"Should you successfully defend the WWF Title against that toe-rag Kane, you'd be scheduled to face this mysterious bloke in the gold jumpsuit. Well, I am issuing right here and now the proclamation that if this person wants to take advantage of his Royal Rumble victory, he will appear at No Way Out."

Angle swallows, eyes wide. "Or else?"

"Or else he will forfeit his shot, and we will determine a new number one contender for WrestleMania."

"But isn't he guaranteed the title shot? Isn't that iron-clad?"

"This person has not shown up at a single event since winning the Royal Rumble. He's not wrestled once, he's not contacted my office, and that makes him inactive as far as contractual status is concerned. He has until the end of No Way Out to show himself, or I will determine a new number one contender next Monday on Raw, in a match between the winner of the Stone Cold Steve Austin/Rock match and the Intercontinental Champion, Chris Benoit." Regal claps Angle on the shoulder and adds with a smile; "Rest assured, Kurt, this mystery will be put to rest quite quickly, and you can move on with your career without this nonsense hanging about." Regal walks away, leaving a perplexed Angle in his wake.

The main event, a six man tag with Angle and The Dudleys against their No Way Out opponents, Kane, Malenko and Saturn, is marred by a distracted Angle taking the brunt of the punishment. Announcers speculate that Angle is concerned with what could be a grueling future, facing either the technical prowess of Benoit or the short-tempered brawler and former WWF Champion Steve Austin at WrestleMania, if he manages to get past Kane first. The Dudleys mount the comeback for their side and clear the Radicals to the floor, leaving Kane and Angle; however, Angle takes too long in going for a moonsault and eats the mat, giving Kane the opportunity to nail a pair of chokeslams for the pin. Kane looms over his fallen foe and ignites his pyro as the announcers speculate on if the events are an omen of things to come on Sunday.

No Way Out: Feb. 25, '01

The seven-match PPV, with almost every match being high profile, kicks off with the Steven Richards/Val Venis confrontation. Before Venis can be introduced, Richards comes out with the Hardcore Title and a trash can. "For too long, this company has reveled in the lowest common denominator for programming, appealing to gutter trash like all of you with over-the-top sexual content and rampant violence!" The crowd boos his words, but the cult leader presses on undeterred. "No longer will the Right To Censor allow the WWF to run unchecked as it corrupts the minds of Americans and the youth of this country especially! No longer will we merely act as passive demonstrators; the Right To Censor is a group of action! We exposed the dependence on pornography in this company, and the FCC has heard our voices, make no mistake, brothers and sisters, and tonight, we shall bring to an end a dark chapter in the WWF's addiction to violence!" Richards hovers the Hardcore Title above the trash can. "Tonight, I, Steven Richards, am throwing this title, and the division that competes for it, in the garbage!"

Before Richards can let go of the belt, Commissioner Regal comes out. "You'll do no such thing, sunshine," he says as he strides up to Richards. "The only person who has the authority to retire a title is myself. So either, you are wasting your breath when you should be conserving it for your Hardcore Title defense in a few minutes, or you're forfeiting the title."

Richards recoils. "I, Steven Richards, would never abandon a title! I am--"

"Then this match will proceed," says Regal, walking away.

"I protest this--"

Regal wheels around as quick as a snake, slapping Richards so hard he goes to the mat. When Richards springs back up, he gets in Regal's face, only to see the fire in Regal's eyes and backs away ... until Regal grabs his tie and yanks him back in close. "And I protest your pathetic little attempt at a power play, you insufferable little bastard! Now you'll either see fit and defend this title in the manner in which it is accustomed, or I'll see to it you and your friends are spewing your nonsense about WWF programming from a picket line outside the arena after I terminate the lot of you!"

Regal turns and leaves, not giving Richards the time to respond, crossing paths in the aisle with Val Venis, accompanied by The APA, who looks poised and ready to decimate his former leader in the RTC. Because Venis is ready and willing to go hardcore, he has a distinct advantage over the conservative Richards, beating him into a standing stupor. But Richards utilizes a shot to the groin, a handful of tights and feet on the ropes (and his RTC members as distractions for Venis' protection) to take the victory.

The first of three huge main events goes next, and of the three, it is the most anticipated: the long-awaited Three Stages Of Hell match. Commissioner Regal comes out again before Howard Finkel begins his introductions and hands the ring announcer an additional index card, then goes back. Finkel announces that the first introduction is for the special guest referee: Shawn Michaels. Bad blood with both Austin and Rock aside, the crowd knows that, based on recent months, Michaels is both capable of handling himself in what is likely to be chaos personified, and fair enough to call it down the middle. Rock comes out first, to one of the loudest receptions of raw hatred ever recorded, while Austin gets a welcome like a returning war hero. For almost twenty grueling minutes, Austin pursues Rock like a serial killer stalking his victim, while Rock fights back like a man making his last stand; by the end of the first fall, both men are bleeding, battered and worn, and when Rock nails Austin with a Stunner quickly followed up by a Rock Bottom for the pin, he as well as Austin take almost a full ten count to regroup. The second fall, under I Quit rules, resembles the first fall in strategy, with neither man bothering to go for submission moves and relying on brute force and battery to draw the other to say the dreaded words. In a scene that makes the audience squirm with horror (and a reversed echo of deja vu), Austin uses a chair to repeatedly bash Rock up the aisle, although like the scene's historical mirror, there is no recorded "I quit" to be played to bail Rock out of his abuse. When Rock and Austin's brawling gets them into the parking garage, the audience's discomfort gets pronounced as everyone leaps to the obvious conclusion; when Austin, after breaking a beer bottle over Rock's head to subdue him, handcuffs Rock to a guard railing in front of Austin's truck, the worst fears in everyone's heart and mind sink even deeper. Austin starts his truck, then jumps back out and his plan is revealed: he has jumper cables in hand. Rock finally shakes the cobwebs free as Austin is attaching the cables to his truck's battery; when he sees Austin advanced with the live wires and realizes he can't move his hands, Rock utters the two words, drawing the second fall to a finish and tying the epic confrontation at one decision apiece. Michaels asks Austin for the keys so they can start the third fall, but Austin shoots him the bird and climbs into the truck. Michaels calls over officials to try and get Rock free, but when Austin closes the door and turns on the headlights, Austin's motivations become obvious.

With the squeal of tires, another car--a Lincoln Continental--comes out of nowhere and t-bones Austin's pick-up truck; the truck slides sideways, the tail section colliding with a concrete pillar, making the entire truck pivot until it comes to a stop. The Lincoln turns off as the mob of officials split between trying to free Rock and check on Austin. The driver steps out and freezes everyone in their tracks: it is the Golden Champion. He strides through the throng of people around The Rock, who is kicking and thrashing, trying to lash out with his legs. The Golden Champion silences The Rock with a tazer to the ribs, putting Rock into dreamland. When the officials manage to get Austin's door open, they find him alive, but unconscious and definitely injured. With both men unconscious and needing immediate medical attention, Shawn Michaels has no choice but to render a no-contest for the match. Lost amidst the chaos of checking on the medical condition of Rock and Austin is the Golden Champion, who is now quite a ways away, heading back into the arena. The officials and Michaels all demand answers, and surprisingly, the Golden Champion provides the answer to one of them, removing his mask before disappearing into the arena again. A hushed silence falls over all who see the gold mask pulled off, revealing Chris Benoit, to the group in the parking lot, laughing with obscene pride as he disappears into the arena again.

The Dudleys dominate the early proceedings of their WWF Tag Title match, although cheating from Malenko helps Saturn turn the tide and get The Radicals in control. When D-Von finally gets the tag and brings in Bubba, Edge & Christian come out to stop their rivals, but Edge accidentally spears Malenko instead. The Hardys come down to go after Edge & Christian, but accidentally cause Bubba to get tripped up. With the ref still coming to after taking a spill, Malenko uses the belt to bash Bubba's head in and get the pin, but the fight continues past the close of the match, with all four teams taking after each other with bloodthirsty hatred.

Nobody has any reasonable expectations beyond a catfight for the Stephanie McMahon/Trish Stratus match, and to that end, they don't disappoint; much of the fight, at least from Stephanie's end, comes from slaps, wild swings and hair-pulling. But while Stephanie's tactics are about as technically impressive as a chairshot, her fire and rage is overwhelming for the arrogant homewrecker Trish. Trish only manages to get a count-out victory when she resorts to a clever, if unfair, strategy; while she has the advantage, Trish rips at Stephanie's clothes, putting huge tears in both Stephanie's top and pants that leave Stephanie with the choice of holding onto her clothing or getting down to her skivvies to continue to fight. Pride takes over and Stephanie bails for the locker room, holding onto her clothing for dear life while Trish gloats in the ring.

As Benoit comes out for the four-way elimination match, Jim Ross updates the home audience that both The Rock and Austin are expected to be fine, with multiple lacerations and bruises, but both are in a medical facility for the night. The crowd, already not fans of Benoit, shower him with hatred usually reserved for war criminals and murderers. William Regal is announced second, and he immediately pounces on Benoit; Triple H and Chris Jericho get their entrance music, but both run for the ring to join in on the pounding of Benoit. Eventually, with three sets of fists flying, punches go astray, and the old hatred between Jericho and Triple H is renewed, splintering them off while Regal focuses on taking out Benoit. Benoit takes an amazing amount of punishment, never submitting to any of Regal's holds, but every move or hold brings him just a little closer. But while the ref has his attention turned to a pinning predicament with the other two, Benoit uses a pair of brass knuckles to put Regal's lights out, then slaps on the Crossface; the ref sees Benoit applying the hold and, when Regal won't respond, the ref has no choice but to declare Regal a loser by knock-out.

Benoit sits back and lets Triple H and Jericho fight it out, taking a powder to the floor. It takes a few minutes, but finally, Jericho and Triple H notice they've forgotten about their shared quarry; they converse a minute, then exit the ring on opposite sides, trying to cut off his escape routes. Benoit starts to back down the aisle, but the evening's second huge surprise drops to cut off his escape: the Golden Champion bolts out of the locker room, a chair in hand, bringing it down over the head of Benoit. Triple H and Jericho stand slack-jawed as the golden-dressed mystery man -- the second one of the evening -- pulverizes Benoit with shot after shot on his torso, then tosses Benoit into the ring. Triple H and Jericho shrug, communicate a second more, then finish off Benoit in dramatic fashion: a perfectly timed combination of a Pedigree and a Lionsault, followed up by a double-cover that seals the deal on Benoit's elimination, and gives both men a long-overdue taste of revenge, leaving Triple H and Jericho alone to square up their differences. For ten long minutes, the crowd remains on their feet as two crowd favorites trade offense almost move for move, punch for punch, each looking for that one mistake to capitalize on. It is, in the end, Triple H who makes the mistake, trying for a DDT that Jericho stops by holding onto the ropes; as Triple H hits the mat, holding the back of his head, Jericho nails the Lionsault and scores the pin. The crowd explodes, until Triple H gets back to his feet and confronts Jericho; for a few tense moments, they stand eye to eye, on the precipice of another explosion. But Triple H diffuses the moment by offering a hand; Jericho takes the hand with pride.

Undertaker comes to the ring with his usual casual confidence, while his opponent, Eddie Guerrero, is nervous and edgy. Guerrero unloads everything he has into closing up Dead Man Inc., taking every shortcut and using every underhanded tactic he can find, and for a while, Guerrero looks to have the win locked up. But Undertaker's fire and refusal to fall before an agent of Vince McMahon, and Undertaker reverses the tide to put Guerrero away with the Last Ride. When Guerrero comes to and realizes he's lost the match, he freaks out and leaves through the crowd as the audience sings the "Na Na Na Na, Goodbye" song for his impending dismissal from Vince's army.

With Mick Foley as the referee for the WWF Title match, the deck would seem stacked against Kurt Angle; when Vince comes out and takes a seat by the timekeeper, echoes of Montreal hit everyone in the building like a ton of bricks. Vince imposes his will on Foley from afar, scowling when Foley gives a normal-speed count for either man, and yelling at Foley for allowing Angle to "get away" with things that are basic offense. When the fight spills outside, Vince encourages Kane to utilize the ringside area--steps, tables, guardrails and ringposts--as offensive weapons, while encouraging Foley to strip Angle of the title should he use the same tools. But when Vince helps Kane by handing him a length of rope to choke Angle into unconsciousness, Foley can take no more and steps in, taking the rope away and chastising Kane. Vince responds by taking Jim Ross' candy jar and smashing it over Foley's head. Vince barks orders for Kane to continue punishing Angle as the crowd turns on the scene they are witnessing. As Vince directs Kane to finish off Angle once and for all, a new referee runs down, but it isn't just a referee; it is Shane McMahon, back from exile, brandishing a Singapore cane. He slides in without anyone seeing him and dishes out lashes for both Kane and Vince, beating Kane into a stupor and kicking Vince out of the ring. With the crowd coming out of their skins, Angle, coughing up blood, crawls over to Kane's body and drapes an arm on it; Shane makes the count, giving Angle the victory and a berth in the main event at WrestleMania.

 

To be continued....