#FiftyMatches - The Rock Goes Hollywood

July 21, 2002

The Undertaker v. The Rock v. Kurt Angle

WWE Undisputed Championship

Vengeance 2002

"The most awesome triple threat match I've ever seen in my life!" -Jim Ross

On April 19, 2002 the first movie to feature The Rock in a starring role arrived in theaters.

And the people came.

#FiftyMatches: The End Of The Invasion

Team WWF (The Rock, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, Kane, Big Show) v. The Alliance ("Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Shane McMahon)

"Winner Takes All"

Survivor Series 2001
November 18, 2001

"The stakes have never been higher in the history of this business." -Jim Ross

On Friday, March 23, 2001, the unthinkable occurred. The World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. It was the end of a decades-long, and deeply personal, rivalry.

Three days later, on Monday, March 26, 2001, the purchase was revealed to the world. It was perhaps the most mind-blowing moment in the history of professional wrestling.

#FiftyMatches: The Summer Of Austin And Angle

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin v. Kurt Angle

WWF Championship

SummerSlam 2001
August 19, 2001

"Austin must be thinking, 'What in the hell must I do to beat this man?'" -Jim Ross

For all its faults, The Invasion story line did do some good. Perhaps no one benefited more from it than Kurt Angle. After injury put Triple H out of action, it was Angle who was chosen to fill the opening as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's partner in crime. In the summer of 2001, Kurt Angle's star was on the rise like never before in the World Wrestling Federation. Before it was over, his position as a career main event performer would be secure.

#FiftyMatches: One Injury Changes Everything

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin & Triple H v.
Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit

WWF Tag Team Championship

Monday Night Raw
May 21, 2001

"The entire building is shaking! This is the greatest chance in the lives of Benoit and Jericho!" -Paul Heyman

At the time, no one could have imagined that the days of dominance for the World Wrestling Federation were coming to an end. The company was still settling into the comfortable new reality of having an industry all to itself. World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling went out of business within weeks of one another. It almost felt like the WWF had planned all along to celebrate its final victory by putting on one of the most successful and well-received pay per views in history. After WrestleMania X-7, the WWF gleefully chugged onward. Alone.

#FiftyMatches: The Last Night Of The Attitude Era

It seems fitting that the first opportunity to post two matches for the same date is WrestleMania X-7. For me, and so many other fans my age, this is the peak of professional wrestling. The build for this show was incredibly well done. Some of the matches were literally a year or two in the making. The card was stacked with matches everyone wanted to see. It's a great show, perhaps the very best of them all.

Watching WrestleMania X-7 today can be a bit bittersweet. This was the end of the World Wrestling Federation as many had come to know it. I've heard some try to argue otherwise, but how can you? This is the last night of the Attitude Era. When it was over, nothing in professional wrestling was ever the same again.

#FiftyMatches: "Stone Cold" Is Back

Triple H v. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin

2 Out Of 3 Falls

No Way Out 2001
February 25, 2001

"These guys are literally going to destroy each other"  -Jerry "The King" Lawler

Writing about the World Wrestling Federation in the year 2000, one storyline keeps popping up over and over again - The rise of Triple H.

In January 2000, he was an unproven champion still searching for a signature win. As the months passed, he earned the respect of fans. He held his own against The Rock, and dominated Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle. 2000 was the most successful year of Triple H's career, and he was in the perfect position for the biggest opportunity of his life inside the ring.