JAZZ (C) VS. TRISH STRATUS VS. LITA

 Before the match, we go to WWF New York to see The Big Show with some of the fans. The Fink is here for our attendance announcement: 68,237 which is a new Toronto Skydome indoor record.

Jazz makes her way out first, followed by Lita, whose theme is on the new release (at the time) WWF: Forcible Entry. Trish Stratus makes her way out to a huge pop and with Canadian-themed gear, being the hometown girl. JR reminds us of her victory back at Survivor Series 2001 in the Six Pack Challenge.

Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match, Howard Finkel is our ring announcer.

JAZZ © VS. TRISH STRATUS VS. LITA

(WWF Women’s Championship)

WWF WrestleMania 18 (17^th March 2002)

Jazz and Lita exchange right hands before Trish can get to the ring. Lita has the best of it as we cut to the ring but Jazz quickly switches positions and rains down right hands.

  Trish Stratus drags Jazz off Lita and the challengers start laying in boots. They continue to double-team Jazz, Trish with chops and Lita with right hands, then send Jazz off the ropes. They both duck too early and Jazz takes control, kicking Trish and knocking Lita back with a right hand. Trish takes a right hand too and connects with two of her own but Jazz goes to the eyes and trips her into a half boston crab. She breaks the hold as Lita gets close and the champion throws a kick to the midsection before putting Lita in a double chickenwing lift and dropping her to the mat. Jazz gets some serious height on a leg drop and covers Lita but only gets 2. Lita is sent across the ring with a butterfly suplex as Trish makes it to her feet, only to get knocked out of the ring by a Jazz spinning kick. Lita catches Jazz with a monkey flip and connects with right hands but Jazz reverses the irish whip. Lita takes her down with a headscissors and Jazz is sent into the corner. Lita hits a Protobomb before we knew what it was and covers Jazz for 2. Jerry Lawler approves of that cover, so that’s all I need to say.

  Jazz rakes at Lita’s face as they get to their feet and drops her across the top rope. Lita tries to recover in the corner but Jazz doesn’t give her any space. We’ve all had friends like that. Jazz lifts Lita onto the top turnbuckle and slaps her across the face before setting up a superplex. Trish Stratus is back in the match as she brings Jazz out of the corner in the electric chair. Jazz fights out of it but walks into a kick from Lita, Trish rolls Jazz up but only gets 2. Lita hits a crossbody from the middle rope but Trish rolls through for another nearfall. Jazz knocks Trish down with a right hand but is caught in a jawbreaker from Lita. Trish hits a roundhouse kick on Jazz and a bulldog on Lita. She covers Lita but Jazz breaks it up. Jazz hits the running splash on Lita, but Lita gets her shoulder up at 2. Jazz and Trish Stratus get to their feet, Jazz kicks Trish in the midsection to set up a fisherman suplex, which looked weird without a bridge, Jazz covers anyway and Lita breaks it up with a kick to the face. Jazz answers back with an ax handle to the back and a kick in the ribs. Jazz tries to lifts Trish onto her shoulder, but it’s countered into an inverted DDT! Lita breaks up the pin, dragging Trish away.

  Lita and Trish Stratus face off for a minute before Jazz interrupts and gets knocked down by both challenges for her troubles. Trish shoves Lita and gets slapped in the face, they exchange forearms and right hands before Trish is sent off the ropes into a back body drop. Trish did some crazy twists and turns before landing. Lita sets up the Twist of Fate on Trish but changes her mind and hits Jazz instead, she slams Trish next to Jazz and goes to the top rope but her Moonsault hits Trish’s knees. Trish rolls Lita up for a nearfall and connects with some wild-looking chops. Lita reverses an irish whip but Trish gets her foot to the turnbuckle so she doesn’t hit the corner. Trish turns around and collides with Lita, leaving all 3 of them down. Jazz and Trish get to their feet, Trish is quickest catching Jazz in a backslide, but it only gets 2. Jazz runs through Trish Stratus with a clothesline but is sent over to the floor by Lita, who’s on her feet near the ropes. Trish runs into a kick to the midsection, she flips back to her feet on the back suplex attempt and looks for another bulldog, Lita sends Trish into the middle turnbuckle as Jazz is back in the ring. Lita gets to the top rope, but Trish pulls her off-balance.

  Trish Stratus is knocked down to the apron where Jazz charges at her, sending Trish to the floor. Jazz hits a Fisherman Superplex from the middle rope and covers Lita for the win.

WINNER: JAZZ (STILL WWF Women’s Champion)

It’s interesting to see earlier Trish Stratus matches, you can see shades of who she’d become but you could tell she was working out the kinks in some spots. This match had a wild last 20 seconds but with Rock vs. Hogan coming before it, they had no chance. They got a decent match in 6 minutes, but I just think Trish winning the match wouldn’t have changed history too much. [**] 4.25/10