Judgment Day 2002: WWE Starts Its New Name with Two Great Matches and One Bad Main Event

Guerrero and Van Dam open the pay-per-view with another chapter in a rivalry that already feels more dependable than several stories placed above it. The match moves quickly because both men understand the other wrestler's rhythm now, and the counters arrive with enough familiarity to suggest an actual series rather than a random rematch. Van Dam creates the stronger athletic bursts, while Guerrero repeatedly looks for leverage, positioning and shortcuts that keep the champion one step ahead. The ending fits that pattern perfectly: Eddie uses the ropes for leverage on a backslide and steals the pin. It is not their definitive match, but it is a good title opener that preserves momentum for the ladder-match payoff on television.

Trish and Stacy are given less than three minutes, which makes meaningful championship drama almost impossible before the match has even started. The bout is structured around outside involvement from Reverend D-Von and the newly introduced Deacon Batista, leaving very little time for the champion and challenger to build anything between bells. Trish survives the interference, lands the bulldog and retains, after which the post-match table attack involving Bubba Ray becomes more memorable than the title defense itself. Nobody has enough time to produce a serious failure, but that is also the problem: a pay-per-view women's championship match should feel more substantial than a short television angle with a pinfall attached.

Lesnar and Heyman against the Hardys is mostly another chapter in Brock's rapid construction as a terrifying newcomer, with Heyman positioned as the opportunist who wants the glory without doing the dangerous work. Matt and Jeff provide the speed and recognizable babyface offense, but every sustained comeback eventually runs into Lesnar's power. The finish captures the entire concept: Brock throws Jeff into Matt, lands the F-5 and allows Heyman to crawl in for the pin. The comedy is effective and Lesnar remains protected as the true force of the team. At under five minutes, though, this is more character presentation than complete wrestling match, useful primarily because of where Brock is heading next.

Austin versus Flair and Big Show has enough star power to look important and enough interference to keep that importance from turning into a great match. The handicap structure gives Austin a natural obstacle, and Flair's willingness to wrestle rather than simply manage the numbers creates the most interesting stretches. Big Show supplies the physical threat, while X-Pac's late interference predictably turns into a mistake when his superkick catches Show instead. Austin clears the chaos and pins Flair after the Stunner. The crowd remains invested because Austin can still carry almost any segment, but the match is more about moving the Raw power struggle forward than delivering a memorable pay-per-view attraction.

Angle and Edge take the comedy-friendly Hair vs. Hair stipulation and wrestle like the humiliation matters as much as a championship. Their Backlash chemistry is still present, but the rematch is sharper because Edge now feels less like a prospect surviving against Angle and more like a peer who can beat him. The closing stretch is loaded with credible counters: Angle avoids the Spear, Edge survives the Angle Slam, the Ankle Lock gets reversed and both men keep finding ways to create near-falls without losing the match's urgency. Edge finally catches Angle with a small package and earns the shave. The wrestling is excellent, the crowd is fully engaged and the post-match haircut gives the victory a visual payoff.

Triple H and Jericho finally close their long WrestleMania-season feud inside Hell in a Cell, and the stipulation gives them the violence their earlier championship program often lacked. The match moves from the ring to weapons, blood, the broadcast table and eventually the roof, with referee Tim White becoming part of the chaos after being knocked into the cage. Unlike many Cell matches that treat the roof as a sightseeing platform, the final stretch actually uses the height to increase danger, including the Walls of Jericho and barbed-wire two-by-four exchanges. Triple H ends the rivalry with a Pedigree on top of the Cell. It is long and occasionally excessive, but it feels like a genuine feud-ending match.

The tag-title match is built around the intentionally absurd idea that Rico, Billy and Chuck's own stylist, has been assigned as Rikishi's partner. That gives the bout a comedy hook but not much competitive credibility, especially with less than four minutes available. Billy and Chuck control most of the action, Rico's loyalties remain the obvious question and Rikishi eventually creates enough chaos to pin Chuck and win the championships for his team. The title change gets a reaction because of the surprise, yet the match itself is too brief and too storyline-dependent to feel like a serious championship contest. It is an angle with belts attached rather than a reason to buy the show.

Hogan versus Undertaker is the match Judgment Day presents as the final reason to care, and that placement makes its shortcomings much more expensive. The crowd still responds to Hogan's comeback and Undertaker's heel control, but the wrestling is slow, the transitions are clumsy and neither man can create the urgency expected from an Undisputed Championship main event. The finish adds interference without adding excitement: Mr. McMahon distracts the referee, Undertaker uses a chair and a second chokeslam ends Hogan's brief title reign. The result moves the championship to a more durable full-time centerpiece, but the match itself feels years behind the better work elsewhere on the card. A weak main event should hurt the event score, and this one does.