10 Fascinating WWE Royal Rumble 2002 Facts
8. Chris Jericho Managed A Feat That No Other Wrestler Can Claim
Chris Jericho's Undisputed Championship reign in 2001-02 was notably marred by several factors. He was treated as something of an afterthought creatively, while a one-sided match with Steve Austin at No Way Out did him no favors. By the time he was walking Stephanie and Hunter's dog the week before WrestleMania 18, the writing was branded into the wall.
One opponent that went out of his way to help Jericho during this uncertain period was The Rock. Rock was someone that Jericho came to appreciate for his selflessness and lack of ego, and their work together in 2001-02 reflects those refreshing qualities.
When Jericho retained the gold over Rock at the 2002 Royal Rumble, it made Jericho the first (and only) man to have defeated Rock three times on pay-per-view (No Mercy and Vengeance 2001, plus this Rumble), without Rock ever once beating them in a pay-per-view match. Not even Steve Austin (who Rock retired at WrestleMania 19) has that going for him.