Vengeance 2001 Vengeance 2001 was the first annual Vengeance professional wrestling pay - per - view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) . It was presented by Lugz and took place on December 9 , 2001 at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego , California . The main feature of the event was a three - match tournament to unify the WWF Championship and the unbranded former WCW Championship into what became known as the Undisputed Championship . Background . The Invasion , which began in June 2001 , ended at Survivor Series , the previous event , when Team WWF won a " Winner Takes All " Survivor Series match . The Alliance was forced to close business as a result , and all their titles except for the WCW Championship were abandoned ( the remaining championships were unified with WWF championships in matches at Survivor Series and deactivated , and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship would later be revived as a WWF title ) . On " Raw " the following night , WWF Owner Vince McMahon attempted to strip Steve Austin , who was a member of The Alliance , of his WWF Championship , and award it to Kurt Angle . At this moment , Ric Flair debuted , and revealed that the owners of The Alliance sold their stock to Flair , making McMahon and Flair co - owners . Flair then prevented McMahon from stripping Austin of his title . McMahon and Flair then agreed to a tournament at Vengeance to unify the remaining WCW Championship ( which became unbranded and referred to only as the World Championship ) with the WWF Championship . The tournament would feature a match between WWF Champion Austin and Angle , and a match between World Champion The Rock and Chris Jericho . The winners of both matches would then face each other in the final to determine the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion . Austin and Angle started a feud over the WWF Championship at the Invasion event , where Team WWF , which Austin and Angle were a part of , faced Team Alliance in a five - on - five tag team match . During the match , Austin turned on Team WWF and hit Angle with a Stone Cold Stunner , allowing Team Alliance to win . On the July 23 episode of " Raw Is War " , Austin stated that he did this because he felt that Vince McMahon was grooming Angle to take over his spot , and that he was " unappreciated " when McMahon insisted he return to the old Austin . Austin and Angle would then begin a rivalry , with Angle challenging Austin for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam , which Angle won by disqualification , thus Austin retained the title . Angle then won the WWF title in his hometown of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania at Unforgiven , but lost it back to Austin when then - WWF Commissioner William Regal joined The Alliance and cost Angle the match on the October 8 episode of " Raw " . On the October 29 episode of " Raw " , Angle successfully defended the WCW United States Championship over William Regal . Angle later joined The Alliance during a WrestleMania X - Seven rematch between Vince McMahon and then - WCW owner Shane McMahon , he interfered seemingly to aid Vince but instead struck the members of team WWF with a steel chair . However , he was later revealed to be a planted mole by Vince McMahon , helping Team WWF defeat Team Alliance at Survivor Series when he helped The Rock last eliminate Austin in the winner take all match . The feud between The Rock and Jericho , both members of the WWF , began when Jericho grew jealous of The Rock . The Rock kept reminding Jericho that he had never won " the big one " ( a World Heavyweight Championship ) and wrote Jericho off as a " comedy act . " On the October 11 episode of " SmackDown ! " , Jericho defeated Rob Van Dam to become the number one contender to Rock ' s WCW Championship . At No Mercy he defeated The Rock to win the title , becoming a world champion for the first time in his career . The following night on " Raw " , Jericho and The Rock put their differences aside and won the WWF Tag Team Championship when they defeated the Dudley Boyz ( Bubba Ray and D - Von ) . On the October 29 episode of " Raw " , Rock and Jericho successfully defended the WWF Tag team titles against then Alliance members , Booker T and Test but a few days later on " SmackDown ! " , they dropped the titles to Booker T and Test after Jericho inadvertently Missile dropkicked The Rock , enabling Test to nail Rock with the big boot for the victory . After the match , The Rock and Jericho stared each other down , which ended with Rock nailing Jericho with two Rock Bottoms . Later on that episode , Rock challenged Jericho for the WCW Championship in a No Mercy rematch . On the November 5 episode of " Raw " , The Rock defeated Jericho to win the title back with a surprise roll up . Jericho turned on The Rock following the match , brutally assaulting him with the belt and a steel chair . He also attacked The Rock by delivering a Russian legsweep following his elimination in the WWF vs . Alliance winner take all match at Survivor Series the previous month and nearly cost team WWF the match , and the feud between the two continued to escalate in the weeks leading up to Vengeance . Event . Before the event went live on pay - per - view , The APA ( Bradshaw and Faarooq ) defeated Billy and Chuck in a match , taped for " Sunday Night Heat " . The opening match was a tag team match between Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert , and Christian and Test . Before the match had even started , Scotty and Albert started attacking Christian and Test . Scotty dominated in the beginning but Test soon tagged in . Albert , who was of Test ' s size , then tagged in . Scotty and Albert double - teamed Test before Christian attacked Scotty . Test and Christian took the opportunity and assaulted Scotty and prevented him from tagging in Albert . Scotty fought them out , however , and tagged in Albert . Albert dominated both of them , and set Christian up for a Baldo Bomb , but Test pulled Albert out of the ring . Scotty hit Christian with a bulldog , and attempted a Worm , but Christian knocked him down . Christian tried to hit the Worm , but Albert stopped him . Test made the save by hitting Albert with a big boot . Scotty hit a bulldog on Test , and hit a Worm . Christian tried to hit Scotty with an Unprettier , but Albert hit Christian with a Baldo Bomb for the victory . The second match was between Edge and William Regal for Edge ' s WWF Intercontinental Championship . In the beginning of the match , Edge had the advantage , showing his speed and agility . However , Regal threw Edge out of the ring , and knocked him against the barricade . In the ring , Regal hit Edge with a series of European uppercuts and reversed a sunset flip into a knee drop . Edge fought back and got several near - falls before Regal knocked Edge with a forearm smash but Edge kicked Regal to the outside . On the ring apron , Edge tried to hit Regal , a diving spear on the floor but Regal sidestepped and Edge crashed the ring steel steps . As the referee was distracted , Regal took out a pair of brass knuckles from under the ring and stuffed them into his tights . In the ring , Regal hit Edge with a powerbomb and two double underhook suplexes . Regal then hit Edge with a series of brutal kicks and , when the referee turned around , he took out his brass knuckles . Edge immediately speared Regal to win and retain his title . The third match was between Matt and Jeff Hardy with Lita as the Special Guest Referee . In the beginning , the two had several reversals until Matt got in control . Jeff sidestepped when Matt attempted a diving leg drop . Jeff hit a falling headbutt and a clothesline . Jeff went on to deliver a diving leg drop of his own . Jeff went to the top rope but Matt trapped him in a Tree of Woe . Matt then applied the sunset flip , which Jeff countered and both men were lying outside the ring . In the ring , Jeff injured his left knee , which Matt would work on . He hit a chop block and a series of moves . He tried a powerbomb , but Jeff countered it into a Compactor Clutch . Matt assaulted Jeff again with a Half Boston Crab . Jeff got to the ropes , breaking the hold , and kicked Matt to the outside . Jeff went to the top , but , because of his hurt knee , he fell down . Matt grabbed Jeff ' s leg but Jeff hit a mule kick . Matt tried a Twist of Fate , but Jeff countered it into a leg drop . Jeff hit a suplex , and went to the top rope again but , because of his knee , Matt took advantage and clutched him . Matt tried to hit a Twist of Fate but Jeff reversed it into his own . Matt attempted a pinfall on Jeff and used ropes for leverage but Lita ordered him to break it . Jeff went to the top rope again , but Matt caught him , and tried to hit him a Twist of Fate from the top . Jeff forced Matt off and hit a Swanton Bomb . Matt tried to get his feet on the ropes , but Jeff pulled them off , and won the match . The fourth match was between the Dudley Boyz ( Bubba Ray and D - Von ) , and Big Show and Kane for the Dudley Boyz ' s WWF Tag Team Championship . Kane dominated in the beginning , and tagged in The Big Show . The Big Show also dominated , but as he attempted a chokeslam , Bubba Ray held the ropes and raked the eyes of The Big Show . D - Von tagged in but received a sidewalk slam from The Big Show . The Big Show then hit D - Von with a series of hip attacks . Kane and The Big Show dominated in the ring , knocking the Dudleys out of the ring . Kane went to the top rope and jumped to the outside , knocking out Dudleys . In the ring , Stacy Keibler tried to encourage the Dudleys , but The Big Show snuck up and pulled down her skirt . The Dudleys hit Kane with a double suplex and started working on him . They gave Kane a diving headbutt low blow , and a series of double - team maneuvers . They set him for the Dudley Death Drop but Kane kicked D - Von in the head and hit Bubba Ray with a clothesline . Kane tagged in The Big Show , who tried to chokeslam D - Von but Bubba Ray hit him a chop block . Kane tried to hit D - Von with a flying clothesline but accidentally hit The Big Show . Dudleys fell to the outside while Kane and Show argued in the ring . The Dudleys then hit The Big Show with a Hotshot onto an exposed turnbuckle for the win , retaining their title . The fifth match was between The Undertaker and Rob Van Dam ( RVD ) for RVD ' s WWF Hardcore Championship . Earlier in the match , RVD hit The Undertaker with a top - rope somersault . Undertaker crotched RVD on the top rope and knocked him to the outside . He tried to drive him into the ringpost , but RVD reversed and knocked him into the ringpost instead . RVD attacked The Undertaker with the barricade , and tried to hit a bodypress but The Undertaker punched him . The Undertaker tossed him over a railing and choked RVD on the floor . The Undertaker tried to use a steel chair , but RVD hit him with a fire extinguisher . He hit The Undertaker ' s head with a trash can , and a flying crossbody . They fought on the stage where RVD hit a somersault leg drop . The Undertaker drove RVD ' s head on the stage , and attempted a Last Ride , but RVD held onto stage . The Undertaker went backstage and came back with a chair but RVD kicked it . He hit a Rolling Thunder on the stage and a Chair Surf . He tried to hit a Van Daminator but missed , and The Undertaker hit him with the chair . The Undertaker chokeslam med RVD off the stage through a set of tables for the victory , and won his first and only WWF Hardcore Championship . The sixth match was between Trish Stratus and Jacqueline for Stratus ' WWF Women ' s Championship . Jacqueline wrestled a great match in the beginning while knocking Stratus to the mat several times . Stratus kicked Jacqueline several times but was unable to knock her down . However , Jacqueline knocked Stratus by punching and kicking her on numerous occasions . She slammed Stratus twice and walked on her hair . Stratus however hit her with a clothesline for a near - fall . Jacqueline knocked Stratus down again but Stratus sent her in the corner . Stratus made a pinfall attempt with a victory roll for a near - fall . She tried to hit Jacqueline with the Stratusfaction but Jacqueline shoved her and kicked her for a near - fall . Stratus then hit and pinned her with a bridging backslide to win the match and retain her title . The seventh match was the first match in the championship unification tournament between Steve Austin and Kurt Angle for Austin ' s WWF Championship . In the beginning , both men applied holds . Austin then took advantage and pounded Angle . The two had a test of strength and Angle applied the ankle lock . Austin kicked out of the hold , and applied an armlock , followed by an eye rake . He choked Angle in the ropes and attacked in his biceps . Austin threw Angle into the ringpost three times , injuring the left side of Angle ' s torso . In the ring , Austin used an armbar takedown on Angle ' s injured left shoulder . Angle then applied the ankle lock on Austin . Austin reached the ropes and Angle broke the hold . Austin followed by knocking Angle ' s head on the announce table . Angle then wrapped Austin ' s leg around the ringpost , and applied the ringpost figure four leglock . Back in the ring , Angle applied the ankle lock but Austin rolled through . Angle hit a belly - to - belly suplex , and three German suplexes . Angle missed a moonsault , and Austin took advantage , hitting a Lou Thesz press , and a spinebuster . Austin then hit five German suplexes , but , while in the ropes , Angle hit a low blow , and an Angle Slam . Angle then tried to hit a Stone Cold Stunner , but Austin reversed it into his Stone Cold Stunner to win the match , and retain his title . The eighth match was the second match of the tournament between Chris Jericho and The Rock for The Rock ' s World Heavyweight Championship . The two exchanged many holds and reversals in the beginning . Jericho hit a spinning heel kick , and a missile dropkick . Jericho knocked The Rock ' s head into the steel ring steps , and hit a flying back elbow . The Rock came back with a flying clothesline . Jericho applied a sleeper hold but The Rock fought out of it . Jericho then hit a one - handed bulldog and a Lionsault . Jericho went to the top rope , but The Rock crotched him on the top . The Rock tried a Superplex but Jericho knocked him down , and hit a flying crossbody , but The Rock rolled through . Jericho continued attacking The Rock , but The Rock sent Jericho ' s head into the ringpost . Jericho fell to the outside where he dropped The Rock onto the barricade , and catapulted him into the ringpost . Jericho then tried to hit a Rock Bottom through the announce table , but The Rock reversed it into a People ' s DDT through the table . The Rock threw Jericho into the ring and set him for a Rock Bottom , but Jericho countered it into a Breakdown . He set The Rock up for the People ' s Elbow , but The Rock caught his legs , and applied a Sharpshooter on Jericho . Jericho reversed it into his own Sharpshooter , but The Rock got to the ropes to break the hold . Jericho then applied the Walls of Jericho , but The Rock countered it into a roll - up . The Rock hit a Rock Bottom , as Mr . McMahon came down to ringside . The Rock went for the pinfall but McMahon distracted the referee . The Rock hit McMahon , and hit a Spinebuster on Jericho . He brought McMahon into the ring and hit Jericho with a People ' s Elbow . The Rock attacked McMahon and , while the referee checked McMahon , Jericho hit a low blow and a Rock Bottom to win the match , and the title . The main event was the final of the tournament between Austin and Jericho . Right after Jericho defeated The Rock , Austin came out to start the match , but Angle hit Austin with a steel chair , while The Rock hit Jericho with a Rock Bottom , and then chased Angle backstage . The match started , and Austin speared Jericho . The two fought off outside the ring and on the announce table . Jericho took Austin to the top of table where Austin tried to hit a Stone Cold Stunner . Jericho countered it into a Walls of Jericho but Austin flipped him off the table . On the floor , he suplex ed Jericho and tossed him into the ring . The two fought out of the ring , and Jericho threw Austin shoulder - first into the ringpost . Jericho wrapped Austin ' s arm into an armbar , and used the ropes for leverage , but the referee broke the hold . Jericho attempted a flying forearm smash , but Austin ducked , and Jericho hit the referee . Jericho hit a low blow and a Stone Cold Stunner . McMahon came out again and ordered Nick Patrick to referee the match . However , Ric Flair interfered and pulled Patrick out of the ring and attacked him . McMahon knocked Flair into the ringpost . Austin then hit a low blow , and assaulted McMahon . He hit a Lou Thesz press on Jericho and applied the Walls of Jericho . Jericho tapped out but the referee was down . Booker T came out and hit Austin with the WWF Championship belt . The referee recovered and Jericho pinned Austin to win the match , and became the first ever Undisputed Champion in the World Wrestling Federation . The World Championship was unified into the WWF Championship and the two belts collectively represented the title named Undisputed WWF Championship . Aftermath . Steve Austin lost in a rematch against Chris Jericho for the Undisputed WWF Championship on the December 10 episode of " Raw " due to interference from Booker T . Austin then briefly feuded with Booker T , which involved the returning Big Bossman Jericho successfully defended his title against different opponents until The Rock earned a match for the Undisputed Championship at Royal Rumble on the January 3 episode of " SmackDown ! " The feud between Edge and William Regal continued . Regal ambushed Edge several times with brass knuckles before finally challenging Edge to a rematch for the WWF Intercontinental Championship at Royal Rumble , which Edge accepted . On the January 7 episode of " Raw " , buildup towards the Royal Rumble match started , with Austin , the returning Triple H , Kurt Angle , Kane , The Big Show and The Undertaker all declaring their participation in the match , and starting a feud .