Rebellion 2001: Manchester Gets a Strong Double Main Event Before the Invasion Ends

Edge and Christian open the pay-per-view by giving their breakup another violent stipulation, and the cage works because the rivalry already has enough history to justify escalation. Christian spends much of the match trying to slow Edge down and turn the structure into a trap, while Edge keeps forcing the pace back toward movement and escape attempts. The finish is clever rather than excessive: Christian becomes caught between the ropes and the cage, leaving Edge free to climb out and retain the championship. That outcome protects the champion, embarrasses Christian in a way that fits their feud, and gives the audience a satisfying opener without relying on outside interference.

Scotty 2 Hotty and The Hurricane work a compact midcard match that is energetic enough to stay enjoyable even though nothing about it feels essential. Hurricane controls stretches with quicker offense and character-driven confidence, while Scotty's comeback is built around the crowd waiting for the Worm. The match never pretends to be more important than it is, which helps the short runtime. Scotty eventually creates the opening, lands the bulldog and follows with the Worm for the clean pin. The crowd gets the familiar payoff and the WWF side earns another victory, but the bout remains a light bridge between the cage opener and the heavier matches later on.

Big Show versus Diamond Dallas Page is too brief to become much of a match and mostly reinforces how far Page has fallen from the credibility he carried into the Invasion. DDP tries to use movement to avoid the obvious size disadvantage, but the structure never develops beyond a few short exchanges before Big Show takes control. There is no meaningful near-fall or sustained comeback to create uncertainty. Show simply catches Page and finishes him with a chokeslam. The result gives the WWF another clean win, yet it does nothing to rebuild Page or create a memorable moment, making the bout feel more like television filler placed on a pay-per-view.

The elimination tag title match benefits from three teams with clear identities and enough shared history to keep the crowded format understandable. The APA provide power, the Hardys create speed and aerial movement, and the Dudleys work as the opportunistic champions who can survive while the other two WWF teams damage one another. The first elimination is built around the Dudleys weakening Faarooq before Matt Hardy capitalizes, which immediately changes the numbers and pace. The final stretch becomes a more familiar Hardys-Dudleys exchange until Jeff misses the Swanton and the Dudleys hit Matt with the 3D for the retention. It is a solid, efficient title match.

Regal and Tajiri have less than six minutes, but their contrasting styles give the match enough texture to avoid feeling completely disposable. Tajiri's kicks and speed create the early danger, while Regal repeatedly pulls the action toward grappling and close-range punishment. The short runtime means there is little room for escalation, so the match becomes a race to establish control rather than a layered rivalry payoff. Regal eventually catches Tajiri and applies the Regal Stretch for the submission. The decisive finish suits the Alliance-versus-WWF structure and gives Regal a useful victory, but the bout ends just as it begins to develop into something more substantial.

Jericho and Angle give Rebellion its strongest conventional singles wrestling because both men can work at a pace that makes fifteen minutes feel compact rather than rushed. Angle attacks with the urgency of an Alliance challenger trying to reclaim a major championship, while Jericho counters through movement and opportunism instead of matching him hold for hold. The match builds around Angle threatening the Olympic Slam and Jericho repeatedly finding escapes. The finish fits that story: Angle goes for the Olympic Slam again, Jericho shifts his weight and catches him in a roll-up for the pin. Angle's post-match attack with two Olympic Slams protects his aggression while Jericho leaves with the championship.

The women's tag is structured more as a character segment than as a serious match, with Trish Stratus' role as guest referee receiving nearly as much attention as the wrestlers. Lita provides most of the athletic credibility, while Wilson, Keibler and Molly work shorter sequences designed around the WWF-versus-Alliance alignment. The bout remains brief and never develops the kind of sustained exchange needed to feel important. Lita eventually hits Mighty Molly with the Twist of Fate for the pin. Keibler arguing with Stratus afterward leads to a bulldog and gives the segment its final crowd-pleasing beat, but the wrestling itself is plainly secondary.

Austin and Rock give the Manchester audience the marquee pairing the card promises, and the twenty-two-minute runtime lets the main event feel substantially bigger than the undercard around it. The match is built less around innovation than around star presence, familiar counters and the audience believing Rock can take the WWF Championship from the Alliance leader before Survivor Series. The finish becomes heavily entangled with Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho, who arrive while the referee is down. Angle eventually strikes Rock with the championship belt as Rock runs the ropes for the People's Elbow, allowing Austin to land the Stunner and retain. The interference keeps it below their best matches, but the atmosphere and stakes carry it.