10 Terrible WWE Main Events One Tweak Away From Excellence
2. Chris Jericho Vs Stone Cold Steve Austin (No Way Out 2002)
Why it's terrible: The story didn't work because a) Stone Cold Steve Austin clearly wasn't that a*sed about telling it and b) The story didn't work in the first place.
Trapped in the transition phase between his tepid return to the babyface ranks and frustrated departure months later, 'The Rattlesnake' gobbles up the bulk of the match, undermining heel World Champion Chris Jericho in the process. His selling never actually reflects damage being done, further denting 'Y2J's aura. The Rock had done much to heighten that at the Royal Rumble one month earlier. Here, Austin defensively protects his spot at the expense of the action, even during an nWo beatdown angle WWE were looking to put over huge.
One Tweak: Tell the single biggest star and company saviour that unfortunately his time has passed, and get him to do his job, in both the literal and wrestling sense.
Your writer adores Stone Cold Steve Austin, but the reality of the political situation overwhelms this match as well as Chris Jericho's presence within it. He'd suffer again in his WrestleMania programme with Triple H, but this gave him a lousy last stop on the Road To WrestleMania.