10 Worst WWE Moments Of 2002
HLA, Katie Vick, Jackass wannabes. The year WWE lost their name and their minds.
Like any year, you could split WWE's 2002 with a firm line between good and bad. Unlike any other year, '02 thrilled fans with a nostalgic second helping of Hulkamania, then horrified them with an unwanted storyline involving fatal car crashes and necrophilia. One tale brought a beloved legend back, whilst another retconned a popular character and left fans thoroughly disgusted by crude creative.
It was, without doubt, one of the worst ideas ever.
WWE packed a lot into 12 months between January-December 2002. The nWo landed in February (somewhat strangely after the WCW invasion storyline), then Hulk Hogan re-donned the red and yellow following a memorable WrestleMania X8 clash with The Rock. Elsewhere, another huge star was going through a slump, and he wasn't happy about it. By mid-year, Steve Austin would "take his ball and go home", which shocked everyone.
His frustrations proved indicative of a wider disorganisation. At times, WWE felt like it was turning into the lawless WCW outfit it had just soundly thumped in the 'Monday Night Wars'. For proof, fans needed only look at the cast members and ridiculous stories they were asked to play out. Many former top WCW stars were regulars on Raw and SmackDown, and the narrative acts pinning them down would've had Vince Russo blushing.
2002 was the year the WWF changed forever, attention-seeking angles left fans embarrassed to say they watched the product at all, and new titles were introduced as others faded away temporarily.
Hogan's retro return ruled, and there was the not-so-small matter of a brand split to tackle, but none of that positivity is here. This is the worst of the year laid bare with no punches pulled.
10. That Disastrous Mixed Tag Match
The look on Trish's face said it all! On the 8 July 2002 Raw, Stratus teamed with Bradshaw vs. Jackie Gayda and Chris Nowinski. What should've been a routine mixed tag-team bout ended up being one of the year's worst. In fact, it'd likely be up there if one put together the 100 worst Raw matches in history. All 4 stunk the place out in a wretched showing, but the most miserable moments were reserved for Gayda.
Trish was clearly ticked off as Jackie blew practically every spot they'd mapped out for the match. In fairness, Gayda didn't look like she'd been properly trained - this was akin to seeing some punter storm the ring before a TV taping and try to hit some moves on their friend before being tackled by security. That had to be distressing for Stratus, because she was still in the early knockings of her own in-ring career, and she didn't want any of this stench to cling to her behind the curtain.
Anyone watching who knows a thing or 2 about wrestling could see that Stratus was blameless. Gayda was uncomfortable, uncoordinated and unaware of how somebody should even stand mid-ring. You had to feel sorry for her, but it was all unacceptably poor for WWE's flagship nonetheless, and there was just no getting away from that.
By the time referee Jack Doan raised Trish's hand post-match, she was flashing an angry look down at Jackie. It wouldn't be a surprise if there were some choice words involving talent and management once everyone returned backstage. Nobody could've been pleased with the match, but it was Gayda's performance that stood out most.
Oh dear.