Movie spotlight
WWE King of the Ring 2001
King of the Ring (2001) was the ninth annual King of the Ring PPV. It was presented by Mars' Combos and took place on June 24, 2001 at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The main event was a Triple Threat match involving Chris Benoit, Steve Austin and Chris Jericho for the WWF Championship. The undercard featured the 2001 King of the Ring tournament. Other matches on the undercard included a Street Fight between Kurt Angle and Shane McMahon, a WWF Light Heavyweight Championship match between champion Jeff Hardy and challenger X-Pac and a WWF Tag Team Championship between champions Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) and the challenger team of Kane and Spike Dudley.
Insights
Plot Summary
The 2001 King of the Ring pay-per-view featured the culmination of the highly anticipated tournament to crown a new King of the Ring. Alongside the tournament matches, the event also included significant interpromotional rivalries and championship defenses. The main event saw Stone Cold Steve Austin defend his WWF Championship against Kurt Angle in a highly charged encounter.
Critical Reception
The 2001 King of the Ring is often remembered for its intense matches and pivotal storyline developments, particularly concerning the Invasion storyline and Stone Cold Steve Austin's heel turn. While the tournament itself provided strong action, the overall reception was mixed, with some segments praised and others criticized for pacing and booking decisions.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for the King of the Ring tournament final between Kurt Angle and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Criticized for some matches having questionable finishes or running long.
Noted for advancing the significant WWF vs. WCW/ECW Invasion storyline.
Google audience: Audience reviews for WWE King of the Ring 2001 are generally positive, with many fans highlighting the quality of the main event and the excitement surrounding the ongoing Invasion storyline. Some viewers found certain matches to be less engaging than others.
Awards & Accolades
None notable for the event itself, though Stone Cold Steve Austin's performance and the continued Invasion storyline were significant talking points of the era.
Fun Fact
This event is notable for featuring a unique stipulation match where Kurt Angle competed in two separate matches on the same night: first against Christian in the tournament semi-finals, and then in the main event for the WWF Championship against Stone Cold Steve Austin.
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