BOOKER T (C) VS. THE ROCK

 Jim Ross and Paul Heyman are on commentary for this match. Booker T enters first, with Shane McMahon who will be in his corner for the match. Paul Heyman calls him “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment” but the man that lays claim to that title in the eyes of WWF fans makes his way out as the crowd suddenly comes alive. Earlier in the night The Rock vowed to become champion. JR reminds us this is The Rock’s return to pay-per-view since Wrestlemania back in April.

 

BOOKER T © VS. THE ROCK

WWF Summerslam 2001 (19^th August 2001)

 

  The Rock starts us off with right hands, he sends Booker T off the ropes into a back elbow before chasing Shane McMahon around ringside, until he slides into the ring.

  Booker T cuts The Rock off with an ax handle. McMahon goes out to the apron as The Rock reverses an irish whip, Booker T knocks Shane into the security wall and runs into a Samoan drop for a nearfall. Booker T reverses the irish whip and sends The Rock to the mat with a knee to the gut. We see Shane get sent into the barricade again as Booker T chops The Rock in the corner. The Rock switches positions and gets in some shots but Booker T fights out of the corner. The Rock reverses an irish whip and knocks Booker T down with a clothesline, an inside cradle gets The Rock a nearfall. Booker T kicks The Rock in the gut, then one to the face knocks him down, Booker T covers but only gets 2. The Rock sends Booker T over to the floor and sends him into the announce desk. Questionable shot to the midsection paired with similar language by The Rock. Booker T is able to swing the momentum with a kick to the gut and sends The Rock into the ring steps as Shane McMahon coaches him from nearby. The Rock is crotched on the barricade before Booker T knocks him into the crowd, The Rock fights back with right hands but is sent into a partitioning wall, then Booker T knocks him down with a clothesline. The Rock is dropped chest first across the wall before Booker T sends him back over to ringside.

  Booker T looks to be preparing the announce table, The Rock cuts him off with right hands but gets sent into the ring post. Booker T stomps at The Rock and drops him on to the barricade as Shane tries to loosen the turnbuckle pad and The Rock is sent back in the ring. The Rock fires back right hands but is sent off the ropes into a kick from Booker T for another nearfall, he knocks The Rock down with a short-arm clothesline and a knee drop, then knocks The Rock down again for another nearfall. Booker T puts The Rock in a chinlock and uses his weight to keep The Rock down. The referee checks The Rock’s arm, but it only drops twice. The Rock gets to a seated position and Booker T starts stretching out his back. The Rock makes it to his feet, turning into the pressure and breaking the hold. Booker T misses with a clothesline and The Rock trips him, putting on a Sharpshooter. Shane McMahon gets back on the apron, distracting Charles Robinson and drawing The Rock’s attention. The Rock brings Shane in the hard way but turns around into a kick from Booker T, 1, 2, no! The Rock counters an irish whip, knocking Booker T down with a short-arm clothesline and sending him into the exposed turnbuckle with a slingshot.

  The Rock hits a DDT and covers but Booker T kicks out at 2! Shane McMahon puts a steel chair in the ring, then grabs the WCW title belt. Booker T crawls over to the steel chair in the corner, the referee follows him and that allows Shane McMahon to hit The Rock with the Championship belt! The APA run down the ramp and Shane starts running, unfortunately for him he runs into a Clothesline from Hell courtesy of Bradshaw. Back in the ring Booker T hits the Book End and slowly covers The Rock 1, 2, 2.5, Rock kicks out. The Rock hits a series of right hands, Booker T counters an irish whip but is knocked down with a forearm shot. Booker T is sent off the ropes into a belly to belly for another nearfall for the challenger! Booker T connects with a knee to the midsection but runs into a spinebuster. The Rock hits The Peoples’ Elbow and covers, but Shane McMahon saves the match at the last second. The Rock hits Shane O Mac with a Rock Bottom at ringside, then connects with right hands, backing Booker T into the corner.

  The Rock runs into a spinebuster, Booker T hits the Scissor Kick and the Spinarooni which Paul Heyman goes insane for. The Rock kips up! He hits the Rock Bottom on Booker T and covers for the three!

 

WINNER: THE ROCK (NEW WCW Champion)

This was a good match between two major stars at the time, it just could have meant more in the grand scheme of things. The crowd were hot for the match though and as strange as “The Rock – WCW Champion” sounds, it wasn’t the worst way to get there. [***] 5.75/10.