The opening match of the night saw these two fast paced superstars put on an outstanding show.
rookie, K-Kwik was more then equal to the experiance from the veteran, Dynamite but it was 
another vereran, Ted DiBiase who was the factor in this match.

K-Kwik had Dynamite set up on the top rope and signaled for a Hurricanrana but as he climbed up
Ted DiBiase lept onto the ring apron.  Tim White went over and told DiBiase to get down but as
DiBiase dropped down he deliberatly grabbed the rope and caused Kwik to lose his footing.

The champion was shoved off the buckle by Dynamite instantly and then put away by the Flying
Headbutt as he lay on the mat.

Dynamite pinned K-Kwik with the Flying Headbutt in 0:14:59.
Rating: ***
(Dynamite won the WWF Lightweight Title.)

The second title match of the night saw Billy Gunn trying for another successful title defence
whilst Al Snow wanted to taste WWF gold once more.

Al Snow did come close to winning on more then one occassion but couldn't seem to find the
knockout blow.  Snow was distracted during this match constantly though....but not by Trish,
by Head!  Al kept screaming at Head in the corner that he knew what he was doing but everytime
he did this, Billy Gunn got the control of the match back.

Billy Gunn got the win after one of these incidents.  Al Snow bent down to say something to 
Head, which of course gave Mr. Ass the opening he needed to hit the Fame-Ass-Er.

Billy Gunn pinned Al Snow after a Fame-Ass-Er in 0:13:18.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Billy Gunn retained the WWF European Title.)

VO - Christian and Edge, two brothers joined by blood but divided by money.

**Clips of Edge attacking Christian and joining DiBiase's group is shown.**

VO - Despite Christian's efforts Edge would not listen to reason and so a match HAD to happen.

**The Edge Vs. Christian screw job is shown. Followed by more clips of Edge attacking Christian
  and leaving him busted open.**

VO - Another match was made but this time, both men got what they wanted when Commissioner Foley
     added two stipulations. FIRST BLOOD was requested by Edge who seems to enjoy watching his
     brother's blood flowing. HELL IN THE CELL was requested by Christian as a way of keeping
     the match one on one.
     A first blood hell in the cell match...it's never been done before and after tonight, both
     men will wish it hadn't been thought of. 

A brutal match that was nothing more then an all out brawl between the two brothers in this
first ever Hell in Cell First Blood match.

This match was tight as neither brother could get an advantage, considering how Edge got the
advantage last time via the MDGroup, this was obviously going to decide who the better brother
was.

The win in this contest came after Edge knocked Christian down with a chair shot and set him
up against the Cell wall.  Christian got up and Edge went for the spear, only for Christian to
dive out of the way causing Edge to go face first into the cell wall.  Edge was busted open but
Christian still hit the 'Unprettifyier' onto Edge then rolled him over for Mike Keota to see
and call for the bell.

Christian defeated Edge in 0:17:32.
Rating: *** 1/4

The Table match was intense as all eight men were in at once in this non-tag version of Team
Extreme's favourite match.

Team Extreme got the early advantage after they put Chyna, Kat and Lita through tables, as EMTs
ran down to attend to the managers, it was obvious that the Hardyz and Heat would be destracted
for the rest of the match.

As the battle progressed neither team seemed capable of putting anyone through a table and the
Hardy/Heat connection was growing increasingly worried for their women.

The last few minutes picked up as there were loads of near misses.  The Dudley Boys went for a
3-D on Essa Rios but Jeff Hardy pulled the table out of the way at the last second, meaning that
Rios DID get 3-Ded but not through the table.  Guerrero and Sabu went crashing to the outside
just missing another table after a cross body block from Eddie.

Tazz and the Dudleys were left standing along with both Hardy Boys but the odds were evened out
as Chyna came from the backstage area in a fury.  She came right in and helped the Hardy Boys
to get control.  As Jeff and Matt Hardy hit Twist of Fates on both Dudley Boys, The Ninth Wonder
was thrown into the corner post by Tazz.  Tazz then through Jeff Hardy outside into the Dudley
Boys who hit the 2D on him before being taken out by Essa and Eddie.

Meanwhile in the ring, Chyna was up again and hit the sleeper neckbreaker on Tazz.  Tazz was 
place onto a table by Chyna as Matt Hardy climbed up for the Guilotine leg drop, but at the 
last second Sabu lept up onto the apron and shoved Matt off as D-Von Dudley yanked Tazz off of
the table.  Matt went crashing through the 

Team Extreme (Buh Buh Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, Sabu and Tazz) defeated Latino Heat and The
Hardy Boyz when Sabu defeated M. Hardy by putting him through a table in 0:15:39.
Rating: ***

Yet another match for the ages between these two young Canadians as they fought for the WWF
Intercontinental championship.  Jericho and Benoit's rivalry seemed to be more intense then it
has ever been.

Both men not only came close to winning but came close to winning by submission as the Crippler
Crossface and Walls of Jericho were used to punish their opponent.  But despite the best efforts
from Y2J, this wasn't going to be his night to win the WWF Intercontinental title.

Benoit went for his rolling german suplexes but as he went for the third one, Jericho managed
to block it and hit a forward russian leg sweep.  Jericho then went for the springboard asai
moonsault only for Shane McMahon to push him off the bottom rope before he could execute it.

The referee, Tim White, warned Shane McMahon but when he turned around Chris Benoit slapped Tim
White into the Crippler Crossface.  Jericho got back up and pulled Benoit away from Tim White
by his legs and put him in the Walls of Jericho.  It wasn't long before Chris Benoit tapped out
and Tim White called for the bell.  But the announcement was that Jericho had won by DQ and not
by submission, meaning that Benoit retained the title.

Following the match, Benoit and Jericho slugged it out again whilest Shane McMahon attacked Tim
White to a chorus of boos.

Chris Jericho defeated Chris Benoit by disqualification in 0:17:58.
Rating: **** 3/4
(Chris Benoit retained the WWF Intercontinental Title.)

VO - The Shooters, once a three man group, then a rising tag team in the WWF ranks.....that is
     until distrust came into play.
     Faarooq of the Shooters had left for the MDGroup just a month previously, but was he the 
     only member of the Shooters who had sold out???

**Clip of the 'overheard' DiBiase phone call with Blackman listening in at the door.**

VO - Steve Blackman refused to believe that Ken Shamrock had sold out and when Shamrock denied
     it, Blackman carried on as normal.....until more and more evidence came to light.

**Clips of Ken Shamrock winning matches due to MDGroup interference and the Bull Vs. Shamrock
  match, when Ken won by punching Bull in the first seconds of the bout.**

VO - Blackman didn't believe Ken Shamrock anymore and set about trying to prove that Ken had
     taken the pay off......he couldn't but rather then swallow his pride and admit he might be
     wrong, he challenged Shamrock to a match. Two of the WWF's matial arts experts against each
     other in the ring...but what of DiBiase? Will he play a factor in this match or not? 

The match was unusual as it appeared as though Shamrock didn't want to fight and attempted to
reason with Blackman.  At first Blackman wanted to get it on but after hearing Ken Shamrock for
a few minutes he seemed willing to finally believe him.  The Shooters shook hands and made to
leave the ring but were stopped as the 'Million Dollar' theme started up and DiBiase came out
with a microphone and a huge silver briefcase.

DiBiase then got on the microphone and said that it was true, Ken Shamrock has joined him and
that he had brought out his payment in the briefcase.  This was too much for Blackman he turned
to face Shamrock again as the crowd began booing the Dangerous Man.  Blackman then shoved Ken
Shamrock over and went to leave but Shamrock snapped and pulled him back towards him and a slug
fest developed.

Shamrock was the agressor in this contest but Blackman still fought well as the crowd was right
behind him.  The ending came after DiBiase came into the ring and offered the briefcase to Ken
Shamrock.  Shamrock snatched the case from him and pushed DiBiase down to the mat, meanwhile
Blackman was watching and looked confused......until Shamrock ran at DiBiase with the briefcase
held up.  Blackman cut him off and hit the Jumping Kick sending the briefcase back into the 
face of Ken Shamrock.  The crowd errupted with cheers as Blackman made the cover and DiBiase
picked up the discarded briefcase.

After the pinfall, Blackman turned to face DiBiase and a huge grin appeared on his face as Ted
DiBiase laughed out loud!!  It was Steve Blackman who'd sold out, not Ken Shamrock.

Steve Blackman pinned Ken Shamrock with the Jumping Kick in 0:10:01.
Rating: 3/4*

**The crowd's reaction turns to boos and jears for Steve Blackman and Ted DiBiase, on the
  other side of the ring Ken Shamrock begins to stir.

  As Ken Shamrock gets back to his feet, he sees Steve Blackman taking the briefcase from Ted
  DiBiase. Shamrock realises what has been happening and dives for the Lethal Weapon.

  Blackman and Shamrock start a fist fight again but it is quickly stopped as Test & Bull come
  out from the back to help Steve Blackman.

  Shamrock is soon laid out in the centre of the ring and DiBiase walks up to him and stuffs a
  dollar bill into his mouth. As DiBiase leaves the ring followed by Test and Bull, Steve
  Blackman bends down and plucks the dollar bill out of Shamrock's mouth and pockets it before
  following Ted DiBiase out of the ringside area.** 

**Cut to Michael Cole who is backstage with the Rock.**

COLE - So Rock, in just a few minutes, you will be faci... 

**The Rock holds up his hand in front of Cole's face for him to stop....The Rock pauses for a
  while before speaking.**

ROCK - Finally the Rock HAS come back to Madison Square Garden.....Yes you are right Michael,
       tonight the Rock steps into that ring against that milk chugging jerbroni, Kurt Angle
       and the dumbest SOB in the WWF, Steve Austin.

       The Rock will go in there and win that WWF Title once again and be at the top of the
       mountain. IF YA SMELLLLLA-LALAL-LAAAAAAA-OWWWWWWWWW WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKIN'!

**Cuts to Jonathan Coachman who is standing by with WWF Champ, Steve Austin**

COAC - Austin, you just heard the comments made by the Rock but what are your thoughts coming
       into the match.

3:16 - My thoughts are what a stupid fu#king question that was. My thoughts are the same as
       they always are. To retain my WWF Heavyweight title and pick up a bonus from Ted DiBiase
       at the same time.

       Rock, you think you'll beat me? Well I am the TOUGHEST S.O.B in the WWF and tonight
       you'll find that out the hard way. I'll beat you so bad that your mother won't recognise
       you.......As for Kurt Angle, he'll be little more then a distraction.

COAC - Thank you Austin. Now over to Lillian Garcia and Kurt Angle.

LILY - Thank you Coach, yes I am here with Kurt Angle as he is preparing for the triple threat
       WWF Title match in just a few moments. Kurt, how confident are you at the moment?

KURT - I'm quietly confident about this one Lillian.  Why? Because as you just heard from the
       Rock and Austin, neither men are expecting much from me and that could be the biggest
       mistake they could have made.
       After all I AM an Olympic Hero and I didn't get that by sending off 500 milk bottle tops.

       NO I won with dedication, hardwork and my three I's.  So I think I can get the win
       tonight and become the most prestigious WWF champion in a long while.....and that IS
       TRUE! 

The title match saw three of the top stars battling it out in an attempt to be the top man in
wrestling.  Austin was in trouble early on in this match as Kurt Angle and The Rock decided to
work together against the chmapion.  This didn't last long as Angle and Rock knew they had to
eliminate someone in order to make the pin.

Austin's manager/advisor, Ted DiBiase tried to get involved when he came out followed but he 
was stopped by Commissioner Foley.  The action continued in the ring as DiBiase and Foley 
began arguing and suddenly the interest went towards them as Foley and DiBiase exchanged blows.
This was followed by Test & Bull coming out only to be stopped by the Hardy Boys.  Soon Edge
and Blackman came out to help but once again they were stopped as Christian and Shamrock came
out.

While this action was going on outside, inside the ring the three men had just about had it and
after Austin hit a Stunner on The Rock it looked like it was over.  But Kurt Angle came from
out of no-where and hit the Olympic Slam on the champion and made the cover.
Unfortunatly there was one MDGroup member left, Dynamite managed to avoid the ten man brawl on
the outside and pull Kurt Angle off of Austin.

Kurt managed to shove Dynamite to the outside but when he turned around, the Rock was right 
behind him and caught him in the Rock Bottom.  Earl Hebner made the count as Austin struggled
to get back up but couldn't make it.  The Rock wins the WWF Championship.

Rocky Maivia defeated Kurt Angle and Steve Austin when Maivia pinned Angle
 with the Rock Bottom in 0:13:53.
Rating: *** 1/4
(Rocky Maivia won the WWF Heavyweight Title.)

The match started with Lil Heat and Tazz battling it out and Tazz was not only the first into
this year's RUMBLE but the first out.  Rios was thrown over the top but managed to land on the
apron and when Tazz grabbed him, Rios managed to suplex Tazz to the outside from the apron and
then flipped over the top rope back into the ring.

1 & 2    x Tazz and Rios started out.
         x Rios threw out Tazz after a suplex from the apron in 0:01:30

Next out was Dynamite after he attacked Essa Rios in the corner, he turned around only to be
hit in the face by a Crash forearm sending him outside.

3        x Dynamite entered at 0:02:00
4        x Crash entered at 0:04:00
         x Crash threw out Dynamite after a flying forearm in 0:05:28

Scott Hall was entrant number five and as soon as he came in he pulled Crash off of Essa Rios
and send him to the outside.  But as Hall went for Essa Rios, the Lil' Heat used his speed to
disorinate Hall.  So much so, that when Rios hit his springboard armdrag, Scott Hall staggered
forward to compensate but ended up going to the outside.

5        x Scott Hall entered at 0:06:00
         x Hall threw out Crash in 0:06:32
         x Rios threw out Hall after a flying armdrag in 0:07:26

Bull was called out next and as he slide under the bottom rope, Essa Rios ran at him.  Bull
stood up and got dropkicked right in the face and he want over the ropes for a 8 second stint in
the RUMBLE.

6        x Bull Buchanan entered at 0:08:00
         x Rios threw out Bull Buchanan after a dropkick in 0:08:08

Next in was another MDGroup member, Blackman and he was furious with Essa Rios.  Blackman came
in and destroyed Rios with several kicks that left Essa wide open for a clothesline against
the ropes that saw his involvement end.

7        x Steve Blackman entered at 0:10:00
         x Blackman threw out Rios after a clothesline in 0:10:50

Triple H and Buh Buh Ray had came in to join Blackman before the next elimination, which was by
Blackman again.  The Lethal Weapon worked together with Buh Buh to wear down the Game but when
the Dudleyville Native turned his back, Steve Blackman pushed him outside.

8        x Hunter Hearst Helmsley entered at 0:12:00
9        x Buh Buh Ray Dudley entered at 0:14:00
         x Blackman threw out Buh Buh in 0:15:34

Next up we saw Triple H and Kevin Nash work together to dominate over Blackman and Matt Hardy.
Nash Powerbomb Blackman whilst Matt got the Pedigree.  Kevin Nash then dumped Steve Blackman to
the outside and came over to help HHH as the buzzer went for the next entrant.
Vamprio was next and went right for Nash, but HHH came over to help Big Sexy, only this time he
was cut off by Matt Hardy's Twist of Fate.

Vampiro and Matt double teamed Nash for a while but it wasn't enough as the big man powered out
and threw out Vampiro and Matt Hardy in rapid sucession.

10       x Kevin Nash entered at 0:16:00
11       x Matt Hardy entered at 0:18:00
         x Nash threw out Blackman in 0:19:49
12       x Vampiro entered at 0:20:00
         x Nash threw out Vampiro in 0:20:57
         x Nash threw out M. Hardy in 0:21:01

Test and Sabu eventually joined in the action and also went for Kevin Nash as it was obvious
that they needed to get Nash out to stand a chance of winning this thing.  Nash was fought back
against the ropes by Test and Sabu but he still fought them off with forearms.  Sabu was sent
flying to the otherside of the ring with one shot.  As Nash knocked Test over though, Triple H
hit his friend with a clothesline to send him outside!

Nash was furious with HHH and tried to get back in.  HHH shouted something at Kevin Nash from
inside the ring but as he did so he turned his back on Test, who took the opportunity to put 
the Game out of the match.

13       x Test entered at 0:22:00
14       x Sabu entered at 0:24:00
         x Helmsley threw out Nash after a clothesline in 0:25:10
         x Test threw out Helmsley in 0:25:27

Saturn was the half way mark in this one and joined Test & Sabu in the ring before being joined
by NO#16, Christian.  Sabu had Saturn worn down and was about to eliminate him, when Crash came
out the back followed by Tim White!  Crash slide into the ring and hit Sabu with a steel chair
several times before dropping it and hitting the Tornado DDT on him.  Crash made the pin and
became the NEW HaRdCoRe champion.

That didn't last long though as Sabu recovered and hit a powerbomb onto the steel chair, giving
him a three count and the title back in his grasp.

Test had been watching all this and threw Sabu to the outside as he held up the HaRdCoRe title,
then Christian went out after an attempted Crossbody was turned into a running powerslam.  Just
for good messure, Test put Crash outside as well with a Military Press.

15       x Saturn entered at 0:26:00
16       x Christian entered at 0:28:00
				24/7  x Crash pinned Sabu with a tornado DDT in 0:28:34
					 (Crash won the WWF HaRdCoRe title)
				24/7  x Sabu pinned Crash with a powerbomb in 0:28:49
					 (Sabu won the WWF HaRdCoRe title)
         x Test threw out Sabu in 0:28:55
         x Test threw out Christian after a running powerslam in 0:29:12

The action slowed a little as Benoit, Jericho and K-Kwik all entered without another man being
eliminated.  Saturn went out eventually though after he went for his top top elbow drop onto
Test, Jericho was waiting and pushed him off the toprope and to the outside mat.  The buzzer
sounded as number 20, D-Von came out.  K-Kwik went to work on D-Von instantly with some fast
kicks and set him up against the ropes, he backed off and charged with a spinkick but D-Von
ducked and K-Kwik ended up going over the ropes.

17       x Chris Benoit entered at 0:30:00
18       x Chris Jericho entered at 0:32:00
19       x K-Kwik entered at 0:34:00
         x Chris Jericho threw out Saturn in 0:35:08
20       x D-Von Dudley entered at 0:36:00
         x D-Von threw out K-Kwik after a duck-down move in 0:36:22

Latino Heat and Mr. Ass joined the ever growing number in the ring, but Eddie didn't join for
long as he was caught with a D-Von shoulder block within seconds of coming in.  His recorded
time was just 6 seconds, which must be a relief to Bull after his 8 second elimination earlier
in the night.

Next in was Jeff Hardy, but the next out was Jericho after he and Benoit went over the top 
together following a double clothesline from Test.  Both men held onto the top rope and tried
to pull themselves in, but Benoit managed to hold on with one hand and deliver a chop to Y2J
causing him to lose grip and fall out.  Benoit then managed to pull himself back in whilst Y2J
cursed his luck.

21       x Eddie Guerrero entered at 0:38:00
22       x Billy Gunn entered at 0:40:00
         x D-Von threw out E. Guerrero after a shoulder block in 0:40:06
23       x Jeff Hardy entered at 0:42:00
         x Benoit threw out Chris Jericho in 0:42:35

Once more the action slowed as Syxx and Venis entered before the next elimination.  Jeff Hardy
was put outside by Benoit after a forearm smash.

Edge came in and almost beat Eddie's record after walking into a Syxx sidekick in three seconds
but Edge managed to hold on and stayed in.

The next out was D-Von Dudley after he attempted a "Whazzzzzzzzup" on Venis with Syxx holding
the Big Valbowski.  But Test was having none of that and knocked the ropes causing D-Von to
fall onto the ringpost.  Test superplexed D-Von off the top rope and then picked him up and
tossed him to the outside with ease.

24       x Triple Syxx entered at 0:44:00
25       x Val Venis entered at 0:46:00
         x Benoit threw out J. Hardy after a forearm smash in 0:47:34
26       x Edge entered at 0:48:00
         x Test threw out D-Von after a superplex in 0:49:15

Ken Shamrock entered at 27 but number 28 was Kane and he dominated as soon as he stepped into
that ring.  Gunn was the first victim as he and Syxx ran at Kane with a double clothesline, 
Kane just took the clothesline and then punched both men down, Syxx got up and was knocked
down again.  Gunn tried a cross body block but was bodyslammed by the Big Red Machine and then
put outside.

Syxx then had another go at Kane but was caught with a big boot and pushed to the outside.  But
Kane wasn't done there as he attacked everyone in the ring before eventually putting Venis out
after a huge uppercut.  Kane almost got Benoit out as well with a press slam but was stopped
when Test hit him with a chopblock to the knee.

Test had eliminated four people and had been in for over 30 mintes and was no match for Kane
when the Monster wrapped his hand around Test's throat for the Chokeslam.  Test was dumped to
the outside with ease by Kane to make it four eliminations in two minutes.

27       x Ken Shamrock entered at 0:50:00
28       x Kane entered at 0:52:00
         x Kane threw out Billy Gunn after a bodyslam in 0:52:22
         x Kane threw out Syxx after a big boot in 0:52:39
         x Kane threw out Venis after a uppercut in 0:53:32
         x Kane threw out Test after the Chokeslam from Hell in 0:53:54

The last two men came into join the four others but it still didn't matter as Kane continued 
his dominance of the match.

Soon Al Snow, Shamrock, Edge, Benoit and HBK realised that they had to get rid of Kane and a
five on one beating ensued.  Kane was staggered by this attack but somehow held on for a while
despite their best efforts.

Shamrock took the opportunity to get rid of Al Snow and almost got rid of Benoit as well after
he realised that no-one was concerntraiting on anything other then Kane.  With Snow eliminated
by Shamrock, HBK and the others realised that no one could be trusted and an all out brawl
began again for the next five minutes.

29       x Shawn Michaels entered at 0:54:00
30       x Al Snow entered at 0:56:00
         x Shamrock threw out Snow in 0:58:43

But Kane got his second wind during all this and began to assult everyone again.  He delivered
a huge boot to the face of Chris Benoit that sent the Crippler to the mat.  Benoit rolled out
of the ring to recover as Kane began to clean house again.

Edge was Kane's next victim after he was Gorilla Pressed to the outside.  Shamrock and Michaels
tried to team up on Kane but it was too little, too late.

Kane caught Shamrock running in with an elbowsmash under the jaw and the Dangerous Man was
thrown out.  Shawn Michaels was next after he was caught in midair going for a double axe off
the top rope.  Kane carried HBK by his throat in both hands and walked him to the ropes.  Kane
then lifted Michaels up higher and then leaned forward and let HBK fall to the outside.

But as Kane turned around he was greeted by Chris Benoit who had got back in the ring armed 
with a steel chair.  Benoit delivered a vicious shot to Kane's skull that staggered him, Benoit
then delivered another two chair shots that rocked him some more.  Chris Benoit then put every
last bit of energy he had left into a fourth chair shot that sent Kane over the top rope.

Benoit then dropped the chair and held his arms up in victory as he was announced as the winner
of the 2001 ROYAL RUMBLE.

         x Kane threw out Edge after a Gorilla Press in 1:04:50
         x Kane threw out Shamrock after an elbowsmash in 1:05:02
         x Kane threw out Michaels after a Double Handed Chokeslam in 1:05:10
         x Benoit threw out Kane after a chair shot in 1:05:20
Rating: ** 1/4
(Chris Benoit won the WrestleMania title shot.)



Match observations: