Heading into No Way Out in February of 2001, it was painfully obvious that the main event of the next month's extravaganza would be Steve Austin vs. The Rock. With that in mind, few expected Kurt Angle to leave Las Vegas' Thomas and Mack Center with the WWE Championship around his Olympic gold-medal winning waist. Still, that does not mean he and The Rock did not manage to take the fans in attendance, and watching at home, on an emotional roller coaster ride. Drama was at a high, with the two legendary stars using near-falls to keep fans guessing. A late-match appearance by Big Show, and a flubbed count by referee Earl Hebner only added to the unpredictability that the performers were able to manufacture. In the end, Rock scored the victory and title, setting up his iconic bout against The Texas Rattlesnake at the seventeenth edition of WrestleMania.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
