As a follow up to yesterday's match, here's the advertised main event for SummerSlam. It signaled the emergence of Brock Lesnar to the top of the card, as The Rock really became a part-time attraction after this.
The Rock Vs Brock Lesnar Summerslam 2002 by Rocky_TheRock_Maivia
The Rock Vs Brock Lesnar Summerslam 2002 by Rocky_TheRock_Maivia
I hope Rock is still getting a portion of Brock's money for that performance.
ReplyDeleteRemember when Brock would use moves? I get it's all part of his gimmick (read: laziness) now but man, that guy used to be able to work, this is one of my favorite matches of his first run.
ReplyDeleteFUN match. I must have been one of the few that had not turned on Rock.
ReplyDeleteRock made Brock look like a star. The training videos for this were awesome too.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone think that the WWE will eventually release a Brock Lesner DVD. He has certainly had an interesting enough amateur and pro career to make for a good documentary and he can easily fill up two disks worth of good matches at this point.
ReplyDeleteThey already made one.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fitness guy so I always love me some training videos.
ReplyDeleteWas this the angle where they had Brock throwing around the tree stumps and dunking himself in ice water baths? I loved that training angle but didn't remember if that was the one attached to this match.
ReplyDeleteThey re-release Here Comes the Pain with additonal footage from his return in 2012, if I'm not mistaken.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if it's scary or impressive that you and I remember stuff like this from a rant that was 12 years ago.
ReplyDeleteHe's still an excellent worker.
ReplyDeleteWe assume.
ReplyDeleteYup, one of the worst docs ever btw. Matches are great but his interview portions are b-OOOO-ring.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd ever liked The Rock as a face at this point, and I wasn't into Brock at all, but it's amazing how into a match I can get when it's promoted well - the training videos really made me want to see this match. Similar to Brock/Cena this year, present as realistic and serious and I buy into it.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be interesting if they let him speak freely about how he feels about wrestling and why he left.
ReplyDeleteHe left because the schedule wouldn't let his work out as much, (I'm not even kidding. That really is part of the reason)
ReplyDeletePurely speculation: Given what Paul's said about his never-ending quest to be alone I bet the travel got to him really badly too. When you're one of those anti-social type people a packed airport must be it's own special kind of hell.
ReplyDeleteThe story they told had Brock dominating Cena. He was still working really snug and was able to tell an awesome story.
ReplyDeleteJust to play the Devil's advocate, didn't he try out for the NFL right after he left in 2004? Given that, I bet Brock had more hatred for the travel than everything.
ReplyDeleteI think I didn't do a good job explaining exactly what I meant.
ReplyDeleteObviously the guy can still work, duh, I just mean more like...remember when he could crank out five-star hold-counterhold masterpieces, that's what I'm talking about.
Obviously he's still great for his gimmick, this match just brought back fond memories of more than just the kicky-punch-F5 Brock we see these days.
Lol, understood. I may have to go back and watch some of his matches from 03.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else think that Rock looked kinda gassed in his 2013 matches? I was about to say that they should do Rock-Brock but I'm not so sure that would be a fun match.
ReplyDeleteThat run with Angle was the best work of his career including what he's done since his return as far as I'm concerned. He was just so fucking good, I'm sure that guy is still there but who needs to try at this point? It's not like mat wrestling is going to make him any more money than a punch does, so fuck it.
ReplyDeleteHis style now just bores me to death by comparison even if he is, apparently, more over than ever.
God bless this match for giving us Hollywood Rock in 2003
ReplyDeleteYou can literally see Punk, about two minutes into their match, physically slow himself down to work Rock.
ReplyDeleteThere's been a couple of awkward videos of him at the airport lately where fans try to talk to him and he acts like they're not even there. Definitely not someone who wants to deal with fans.
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of it's own weird karmic fuck you to Brock Lesnar. You don't like people so you stay at home all day and work out? Well guess what, you're so big and strong you're now world famous and everyone knows your name and face and wants an autograph and a picture! Better luck next time lonely!
ReplyDeleteThe stereo kip ups is one of my fave spots in any match ever.
ReplyDeleteTerrific match. Rock 2000-2003 is just phenomenal inside the ropes.
ReplyDeleteYep, and Rocky running up and down the stairs at Miami's stadium. I sense Jim Ross' hand in the promotion of this match.
ReplyDeleteIt's not being lazy. Moves =/= effort. It's being smart.
ReplyDeleteYeah that was his first goal, I think he actually attended training camps for the Viking and everything, got much further than anyone else ever has coming right off the street.
ReplyDeletePaul said he moved to Manitoba and keeps his only landline at the end of the driveway two miles away. This is a motherfucker that reaaaaalllllly doesn't want to be bothered.
Plenty of stinkers in his 02-03 stretch. Rock-Goldberg, Rock-Hogan II, Rock-Austin III is the worst of their series and not much fun IMO. His opponents weren't exactly in their primes or anything, but not exactly a stellar run there.
ReplyDeleteEvery single one of them, except for the tag match in 2012 where he stood on the apron for most of it.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness, Austin was in the hospital the night before. I'm just amazed they had that match at all.
ReplyDeleteNo excuses for Goldberg or Hogan II, though.
Oh yeah, it was awesome.
ReplyDeleteTJ: Watching the '99 Smackdowns on the Network. God, the theme song gives me such a nostalgia rush.
ReplyDeleteI love that crazy music they had. Perfect for that era.
ReplyDeleteGood on The Rock for being hip to the crowd reaction and cutting that 97-99-ish "I'm STILL The People's Champion, and singalong time is over" promo after the show went off the air.
ReplyDeleteIs that the "wuggity woo wuggity woo wuggity wuggity"?
ReplyDelete