TAZZ & SPIKE DUDLEY VS. BOOKER T & TEST

 Tazz and Spike won the tag titles from the Dudley Boyz on the 7^th January edition of Raw, and beat them in a rematch at the previous month’s Royal Rumble (which I reviewed Here).

Before the match, we see “Stone Cold” Steve Austin backstage, he meets with the returning nWo members, Kevin Nash, Hall and Hollywood Hulk Hogan. who offer him a six pack of beer, but Steve Austin tells Scott Hall that he’s not thirsty. Hall says to take it for later and Austin throws it away. Damn he was serious. Hollywood Hogan says to let Stone Cold through. The Fink is our ring announcer.

Booker T and Test make their way out first, 2 months ago Test won a battle royal meaning he can’t get fired, he should have got a clause about coming out to his music in teams. JR says the winner of this match with face the APA at WrestleMania 18. That doesn't happen. Tazz and Spike Dudley have Tazz’s music.

Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match.

 

TAZZ & SPIKE DUDLEY © VS. BOOKER T & TEST

(WWF Tag Team Championships)

WWF No Way Out 2002 (17^th February 2002)

  Test jumps Tazz on his way to the ring and brings him in to start the match.

  Tazz is backed into the corner and Test connects with a right hand and the back elbow, another right hand slumps Tazz down in the corner. Test lays in boots then chokes Tazz with his foot before the referee backs him away. Test takes Tazz over to another corner, Tazz fights back with a right hand but is cut off immediately with a knee to the midsection. Test sends Tazz into the turnbuckles but runs into a back elbow. Tazz knocks Test down with a clothesline and tags in Spike Dudley who hits a missile dropkick on Test. Spike cuts off Booker T with a dropkick to the knee, Test lifts Spike for a powerbomb but Spike fights out with right hands, dropping onto Test. Booker T is knocked out of the ring but Spike is lifted in a military press by Test. Spike rolls through but can’t bring Test down so Tazz knocks him off balance with a right hand. Spike gets the phantom cover as Booker T has the referee distracted and Test kicks out at 1. Test runs through Spike with a clothesline and rains down right hands before tagging in Booker T. Test lifts Spike in the air and Booker T kicks him, Booker T covers but Tazz breaks up the pin at 1.

  Booker T chops Spike against the ropes after having some words with Tazz and sends Spike off the ropes into another clothesline. Tazz is knocked off the apron and tries to get in the ring, allowing Booker T and Test to double-team Spike. They switch with no tag and Test chokes Spike against the middle rope. Test sends Spike Dudley into the corner and crushes him with a clothesline. Across the ring to the opposite corner for another clothesline and Test knocks Tazz from the apron again. Test slams Spike Dudley but misses the jumping elbow drop. Spike gets a flurry of offense before being sent into the corner. Spike charges out of the corner with a headbutt to Test and takes a rough tumble to the floor, it looked like Test meant to have Spike straddle the top rope. Booker T stomps on Spike and Tazz is arguing with the referee again, Spike is rolled back in the ring and Test covers, but Spike grabs the bottom rope. Booker T tags in and takes a free shot at Spike Dudley as Test holds him. Booker T hits the Scissor Kick before celebrating with a Spinaroonie. Jim Ross from the Fun Police calls that “wasted motion” before Booker T covers. Tazz breaks it up again. These guys may be the smallest tag team champions in WWE history, but they’re resilient.

  Spike Dudley is perched on the top turnbuckle, Booker T has some words with Tazz and Spike fights back, he can’t get the tornado DDT on Booker T but hits the jumping variation. He crawls to Tazz and makes the hot tag, Test takes the first clothesline as Tazz cleans house. Booker T cuts Tazz off with a kick to the gut but is caught with a Northern Lights suplex, Test breaks up the pin. Tazz ducks Test’s Big Boot and knocks Booker T back into the corner. Test holds Tazz in a full nelson but is backed into the ropes, Booker T charges but gets sent over to the floor as Test still has hold of Tazz. Tazz slips out and tries to lock a hold on Test, who headbutts him. Spike takes the chance to hit a Dudley Dog on Test. Booker T drags Spike to the floor as Tazz is on his feet. Spike slides from Booker T’s shoulder and sends him into the ring post as Tazz covers for 2. Tazz runs into a back elbow in the corner and Test trips him, he has Tazz in a pin but the referee notices Test’s feet on the ropes and stops counting.

  This doesn’t please Test, shockingly enough. He tells the referee it was 3 and shoves him. Test is shoved back into a Tazzmission and taps out.

WINNERS: TAZZ & SPIKE DUDLEY (STILL WWF Tag Team champions)

This is a good match, which went as you would expect. Tazz didn’t do much as he was being phased out for commentary, Spike Dudley took the heat as the smallest person in the match and Test and Booker T looked decent enough. The finish wasn’t good and  I can’t think many fans were buying tickets for WrestleMania based off The APA vs. Tazz and Spike. Pretty basic match, nothing special. [**] 3.75/10