Summerslam

Earlier in 2001, Vince McMahon bought out his competition--WCW. So, the WWE had to find a way to integrate that group into the main fold. The way they did it? The Alliance, a conglomeration of WCW newbies and WWE traitors. More functionally, it was a way to distribute all championship belts without it turning into strictly "company lines", as it were. Though an intriguing idea, in theory, I feel like it comes off as a very bland/vanilla here.

Some further thoughts...

-The fact that I had absolutely no interest in the first 3/4 of this card does not bode well. I will admit that by this point I was not following professional wrestling on a week-to-week basis any longer, but I wonder if there is perhaps a cause-and-effect relationship there.

-I'm not a fan of the way WWE handled Stone Cold's heel turn. While it produced an all-time classic WrestleMania moment in 2001 ("Stone Cold is shaking hands with Satan himself!"), the aftermath was a pretty big buzzkill. I consider Austin to be the most engaging personality in the history of professional wrestling, so seeing his character reduced to hob-nobbing with the villains is an enormous risk that doesn't ever really pay off (at least not yet). Also, I don't think Angle is the guy to put over on his behalf--just not enough juice for my tastes.

-Rock/Booker-T is the best and most interesting match on the card. Those two really know how to put on a show. But ending-wise, it almost seemed like a McMahon subtle message about who is really in charge here.

I know this event is likely better for most than what I've given it here. But truth be told, I'm still quite let down by the disappointing aftermath of the brilliance that was WM 17.