WWE King Of The Ring Tournament – 2002
– Qualifying Round
Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena – June 10, 2002
Raw:
WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Eddie Guerrero in a non-title match at 9:38 after a series of roll overs Dallas, TX – American Airlines Arena – June 3, 2002
Raw:
X-Pac pinned Goldust at 3:26 with the X-Factor after blocking Goldust’s Bronko Buster with a kick to the groin; X-Pac came to the ring wearing Kane’s mask Oklahoma City, OK – Cox Convention Center – June 4, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/6/02:
Chris Jericho defeated Edge via forfeit when Edge was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury sustained during the previous week’s steel cage match against Kurt Angle; during the segment, Jericho attacked Edge and further injured the shoulder by laying it across the steel ring steps and smashing it with a steel chair before Val Venis made the save Oklahoma City, OK – Cox Convention Center – June 4, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/6/02:
Val Venis pinned Christian at 3:22 by avoiding the Unprettier and hitting a back suplex into a powerbomb Dallas, TX – American Airlines Arena – June 3, 2002
Raw:
Booker T pinned WWE European Champion William Regal in a non-title match at 3:26 after hitting Regal with the title belt as the referee was busy taking a steel chair away from Regal; after the bout, Booker hit the Spinaroonie Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena – June 10, 2002
Raw:
Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Bubba Ray Dudley at 4:49 with the F5 as Bubba Ray attempted to hit the Bubba Bomb on an interfering Heyman Greenville, SC – Bi-Lo Center – June 11, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/13/02:
Test pinned WWE Cruiserweight Champion the Hurricane with the Test Drive in a non-title match; after the bout, Jamie Knoble and Nidia came to the ring and humiliated the beaten champion Greenville, SC – Bi-Lo Center – June 11, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/13/02:
Hardcore Holly pinned Tajiri by fighting off the Tarantula and hitting the Alabama Slam
– Quarter-Finals
Oakland, CA – Arena – June 17, 2002
Raw:
WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam pinned X-Pac with the Five Star Frog Splash at 6:00 after Booker T interfered and hit the Bookend on X-Pac Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena – June 18, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/20/02:
Chris Jericho defeated Val Venis via submission with the Walls of Jericho Oakland, CA – Arena – June 17, 2002
Raw:
Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Booker T with the F5 at 3:22 after Booker knocked X-Pac and the Big Show off the ring apron; during the match, Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash did guest commentary while Goldust and the remainder of the NWO were at ringside; after the match, Booker and Goldust were beaten down by the NWO Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena – June 18, 2002
Smackdown! – 6/20/02:
Test pinned Hardcore Holly with the boot to the face
– Semi-Finals
From this point on, all bouts took place in Columbus, OH on June 23, 2002. WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam pinned Chris Jericho in a non-title match at 14:32 with the Five Star Frog Splash after knocking Jericho off the top and crotching him on the ropes; after the bout, Lawler interviewed RVD in the ring about who he wanted to face in the finals until Jericho attacked RVD from behind and locked him in the Walls of Jericho until he was pulled off by officials, including Fit Finlay, and referees Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned Test with the F5 at 8:17 after Test became distracted by Heyman on the ring apron
– Finals
Brock Lesnar (w/ Paul Heyman) pinned WWE IC Champion Rob Van Dam in a non-title match at 5:43 with the F5 after catching RVD as he attempted a reverse crossbody off the middle turnbuckle, moments after RVD knocked Heyman off the apron; moments earlier, RVD hit the Five Star Frog Splash but Heyman climbed on the apron to prevent the pinfall; due to pre-match stipulations, Lesnar earned a WWE World Title shot for Summer Slam