The triple header that opened 2001 (Royal Rumble, No Way Out, WrestleMania X7) is the greatest three-event run in WWE history, bar none. No Way Out improves on the Rumble with three legit match of the year candidates: The Rock vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship, Steve Austin's 'Three Stages of Hell' battle with Triple H, and a four-way for the Intercontinental title won by champion Chris Jericho. Even Stephanie McMahon had a startlingly-amazing match with Trish Stratus, and this is before Trish showed any promise as an actual wrestler. One of those nights where inspiration ran up and down the board. RECOMMENDED MATCH: Steve Austin vs. Triple H, Three Stages of Hell. Arguably 2001's match of the year, competing against the Jericho/Benoit ladder match from the Rumble, Austin/Rock and the TLC match from WrestleMania, and Austin/HHH vs. Benoit/Jericho from the May 21 episode of Raw. Did I mention that 2001 ruled?
Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.
