McMahon confirms nWo at No Way Out

Hey, yo! For good or for bad, the nWo is finally back. Ringleader Hollywood Hogan and Outsiders Scott Hall and Kevin Nash returned to the World Wrestling Federation at last night’s No Way Out pay-per-view but didn’t quite make the impact you thought they would have given all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the trio in recent weeks. At each and every turn the trio was mocked though their interference led to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin losing the WWF World Heavyweight Title match to champion Chris Jericho in a humdrum main event which closed out an otherwise potent broadcast from the WWF. In predictable fashion, the nWo then beat on Austin after Jericho was awarded the win and spraypainted their logo on his back.

You’d almost think that the WWF was downplaying the nWo’s entry into the WWF based on what little trouble caused and airtime they were given at No Way Out. The interesting thing is that their real-life reputations for being egomaniacs, the rumoured concern within the WWF locker room that the nWo will steal spots away from other talent and the fact that it was people like them who helped ruin the now defunct World Championship Wrestling has been worked into the angle. The nWo kicked off No Way Out with an in-ring promo playing the humble we-just-want-another-chance, down-on-their-luck types.

“Now some people actually have used profanity and have said that the nWo are a bunch of company killing bastards. Speaking for myself and my two friends here, let me tell you something…that hurts our feelings,” said Kevin Nash wiping away an imaginary tear. “I mean what is it we’ve done? What awful thing did we do? I mean, all we want is a fair chance. A clean slate. We want the ability to come out and prove to you great fans not only can we do it but nobody does it quite like us.”

Scott Hall took the stick next beginning with his trademark…’Hey, Yo!’ which gained much applause. “We’re not the bad guys. Heck, we’re a bunch of marks. We’re fans. We just want the opportunity to work with some of the the boys,” said Scott Hall making light of his past personal problems while Kevin Nash waved that notion off. “The point is we don’t want any trouble because deep down we’re just like all of you,” he concluded.

As he took the mike, Hollywood Hogan got a chorus of thundering boos and cheers from the fans. Even a faint chant of “Hogan! Hogan!” could be heard.

“You know, Scott and Kevin, I couldn’t agree with you more. We are just like all of you out there. I mean, we might be a little richer and a little more famous but we are not here to kill the WWF. We are here to make it better,” said Hogan. “All we want to do is give the WWF fans exactly what they want and all we want from you is a chance but it is up to all of you out there and all the boys in the back if we get our chance. That remains to be seen but I can tell you one thing right now…in all sincerity there is one man who gave the nWo a chance and that was Vince McMahon,” concluded Hogan praising the WWF owner.

Later on in the show, the nWo made their targets known. They offered Steve Austin a six-pack of beer…which he refused to accept and approached The Rock for a photograph saying it was for Hogan’s son. A patient Rock stood beside Hogan for a snapshot. When Hogan made a rude comment about him while walking away, The Rock mocked their catch-phrases and told them where they could shove the camera.

As stated above, the only real devastation the nWo brought to bear was on “Stone Cold” Steve Austin during the closing moments of the main event. Featuring more chops than any match in the history of pro-wrestling, Austin and Jericho was an okay tussle acting as more proof that it is very unlikely that Canada’s Chris Jericho will headline WrestleMania unless the World Heavyweight Title match is downgraded in some manner or Jericho becomes a face in the four weeks leading up to the Big Show in Toronto.

After recovering from a spinebuster on the WWF World Heavyweight Title belt, Jericho reversed a Stunner from Austin and gave him a facebuster on it for a two count. Austin ducked a clothesline causing Jericho to hit the official instead. Austin put Jericho into his own finishing move — The Walls Of Jericho — and Jericho tapped out. There was no ref however to make the call. As Jericho took a swing with the belt trying to put a dent in it with Austin’s head, “Stone Cold” kicked him in the gut and Stunned him.

The nWo then invaded the ring beating Austin down. Scott Hall even dropped Austin with a Stunner of his own. Jericho stole the three count leaving the ring still the WWF World Heavyweight Champion. The nWo returned to stomp Austin.

The other half of the WrestleMania equation also brought about more questions than answers when all was said and done. With his soon-to-be “ex-wife” Stephanie McMahon as the guest referee in his match against Kurt Angle, the odds were stacked against Triple H as he fought to hold onto his WWF World Heavyweight Title shot at WrestleMania. Stephanie was taken out two minutes into the match when Triple H avoided a clothesline and Angle hit her. Stephanie fell over the top rope landing on the floor. As Triple H smiled and waved farewell, Steph was carried to the back by a group of WWF referees.

Stephanie would return about eight to ten minutes later only to be KO’ed once again. Triple H powered his way out of Angle’s Ankle Lock sending the Olympic champ into poor Steph. Triple H dodged a chair-shot from Angle driving him down with his Pedigree. Referee Tim White was about to slap a three count but Steph unloaded with a flying elbow drop on him. Ready to Pedigree Stephanie for her interference, Triple H had his back turned to Angle. Angle hit Triple H with a chair-shot across the back and head to score the pinfall. Following the match, Kurt Angle drove away in his car saying to a WWF crew member “If anyone asks where I am going say to them I am going to WrestleMania.” You sure are Kurt though we sincerely doubt you’ll hang onto that WWF World Heavyweight Title slot before you get there.

The next WWF pay-per-view is WrestleMania on March 17th.

WWF No Way Out 2002 Results