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Unforgiven (2002)
Unforgiven (2002)
Unforgiven (2002)
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Unforgiven
Promotional poster featuring Brock Lesnar
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown!
DateSeptember 22, 2002
CityLos Angeles, California[1]
VenueStaples Center[1]
Attendance16,000[2]
Buy rate300,000[3]
TaglineThe Next Big Thing has arrived
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
SummerSlam 		Next →
No Mercy
Unforgiven chronology
← Previous
2001 		Next →
2003

The 2002 Unforgiven was the fifth annual Unforgiven professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It was held for wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown! brand divisions. The event took place on September 22, 2002, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. It was the first Unforgiven held under the WWE name, after the promotion was renamed from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to WWE earlier that year in May, as well as the first Unforgiven held during the first brand extension that began in March.

Eight professional wrestling matches were scheduled for the event—which featured a supercard, a scheduling of more than one main bout. The main event from the SmackDown! brand featured WWE Champion Brock Lesnar fighting The Undertaker to retain the title after both men were disqualified. After the match, The Undertaker continued to attack Lesnar, throwing him through the wall of a set. The main event from the Raw brand featured World Heavyweight Champion Triple H defeating Rob Van Dam to retain the title. Four matches were featured on the undercard. The first was a singles match where Chris Benoit defeated Kurt Angle. The next was between Trish Stratus and WWE Women's Champion Molly Holly, where Stratus won and captured the title. The third was a singles match between Eddie Guerrero and Edge, in which Guerrero won. The final featured undercard match had WWE Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho defeating Ric Flair to retain the title.

Production

[edit]

Background

[edit]
The event was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Unforgiven was first held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as the 21st In Your House pay-per-view (PPV) in April 1998. Following the discontinuation of the In Your House series in February 1999, Unforgiven branched off as its own PPV in September that year, becoming WWE's annual September PPV.[4] The 2002 event was the fifth event in the Unforgiven chronology and took place on September 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.[1] It was also the first held under the WWE name, as the promotion was renamed from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to WWE in May.[5] It was also the first Unforgiven held during the first brand extension that was introduced in March, a storyline subdivision in which the promotion divided its roster into two separate brands, Raw and SmackDown!, where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.[6] The 2002 event in turn featured wrestlers from both brands.[1]

Storylines

[edit]

The event featured nine professional wrestling matches, with outcomes predetermined by WWE script writers. The matches featured wrestlers portraying their characters in planned storylines that took place before, during and after the event. All wrestlers were from one of the WWE's brands—SmackDown! or Raw—the two storyline divisions in which WWE assigned its employees.[7][8]

Brock Lesnar as WWE Champion

The main feud heading into Unforgiven on the SmackDown! brand was between The Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, with the two feuding over the WWE Championship. On the August 29 episode of SmackDown!, as Lesnar became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand, SmackDown! General Manager Stephanie McMahon made a single elimination series of matches to declare the number one contender for the championship. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit made it to the final, however, McMahon inserted The Undertaker in the match, which he then won.[9] Lesnar and The Undertaker had their first confrontation on the September 5 episode of SmackDown!.[10] The following week, during The Undertaker's match with Matt Hardy, Lesnar's manager, Paul Heyman, threatened The Undertaker's wife, Sara, and Lesnar attacked The Undertaker when he tried to save her.[11] On the September 19 episode of SmackDown!, The Undertaker tried to attack Lesnar, but was stopped by Lesnar's security.[12]

The main feud heading into Unforgiven on the Raw brand was between Triple H and Rob Van Dam for the World Heavyweight Championship. On the September 2 episode of Raw, Triple H was awarded the newly created World Heavyweight Championship by Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff, and subsequently retained it against Ric Flair.[13] Later that night, Van Dam and Flair defeated Triple H and Chris Jericho in a tag team match, when Van Dam pinned Triple H.[13] On the September 9 episode of Raw, Van Dam defeated Jericho, Jeff Hardy and Big Show in a fatal four-way elimination match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.[14] On the September 16 episode of Raw, Triple H cost Van Dam his WWE Intercontinental Championship against Jericho and in retaliation, Van Dam attacked Triple H following his World Heavyweight Championship defense against Hardy.[15]

Another main feud on the SmackDown! brand was between SmackDown! General Manager Stephanie McMahon and Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. The feud started when Billy and Chuck had a commitment ceremony on the September 12 episode of SmackDown!. The priest of the ceremony was later revealed to be Bischoff in disguise, and Bischoff had 3-Minute Warning (Jamal and Rosey) attack Billy and Chuck, setting up a tag team match at Unforgiven.[11] On the September 16 episode of Raw, Bischoff proposed a stipulation for the match: if 3 Minute Warning won, Stephanie would be forced to participate in "Hot Lesbian Action" with two other lesbians, but if Billy and Chuck won, Bischoff would have to kiss Stephanie's buttocks.[15]

Another feud on the Raw brand was between Molly Holly and Trish Stratus for the WWE Women's Championship. Four months prior, Holly and Stratus began a feud which lead to a Women's Championship match between the two at King of the Ring in which Holly defeated Stratus to win the title. On the June 24 episode of Raw, Holly proclaimed that she had bought dignity and respect back to the Women's Championship by not being a "tramp who sleeps her way to the top" referring to Stratus. On the July 15 episode of Raw, Holly successfully defended her title against Stratus. On the September 2 episode of Raw, Stratus and Bubba Ray Dudley defeated Chris Nowinski and Holly in a mixed tag team match.

Event

[edit]
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English commentators Jim Ross (Raw)
Jerry Lawler (Raw)
Michael Cole (SmackDown!)
Tazz (SmackDown!)
Spanish commentators Carlos Cabrera
Hugo Savinovich
Interviewers Jonathan Coachman
Lilian Garcia
Ring announcers Howard Finkel (Raw)
Tony Chimel (SmackDown!)
Referees Charles Robinson
Mike Chioda
Nick Patrick
Jack Doan
Earl Hebner
Chad Patton
Brian Hebner
Jim Korderas
General Managers Eric Bischoff (Raw)
Stephanie McMahon (SmackDown!)

Before the event aired live on pay-per-view, Rey Mysterio defeated Chavo Guerrero in a dark match.[2]

Preliminary matches

[edit]

The first match that aired was The Un-Americans (Lance Storm, Christian, William Regal and Test) against the team of Kane, Goldust, Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley. Mid-way into the match, a brawl between both teams occurred. Storm attempted a superkick on Kane, but Kane countered the move and pinned Storm after a chokeslam to win the match.[16][17]

The second match was for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, in which Chris Jericho defended the title against Ric Flair. During the match, Flair targeted Jericho's left leg. Jericho missed a Lionsault on Flair, which further injured Jericho's left leg. Whilst a trainer distracted the referee, Jericho revealed that he was faking his injury and applied the Walls of Jericho on Flair, who submitted to the move, resulting in Jericho retaining the championship.[16][17]

A singles match between Edge and Eddie Guerrero followed. Edge performed an Edgecution on Guerrero, but Guerrero placed his foot on the bottom rope to void the pinfall. Guerrero exposed a turnbuckle, which Edge later collided with. Guerrero won the match after executing a sunset flip powerbomb on Edge off the top rope.[16][17]

The fourth match was between Billy and Chuck and 3-Minute Warning (Rosey and Jamal) (with Rico). Per the pre-match stipulation, Stephanie McMahon would be forced to participate in "Hot Lesbian Action" with two other lesbians if 3-Minute Warning won. Jamal attempted to perform a pop-up Samoan drop on Gunn, who countered the move into a Fameasser on Jamal. Rico distracted Gunn, leading to Gunn confronting Rico. Jamal pinned Gunn after a pop-up Samoan drop to win the match.[16][17]

Triple H, who defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Rob Van Dam

Next, Triple H defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Rob Van Dam. After a back-and-forth match, Triple H knocked down the referee. Triple H attempted a Pedigree on Van Dam, but Van Dam countered the move and performed a Five Star Frog Splash on Triple H. As Van Dam checked on the referee, Triple H executed a low blow on Van Dam. Triple H attempted to hit Van Dam with a sledgehammer, but Van Dam performed a spinning heel kick on Triple H. Ric Flair ran down to the ring and retrieved the sledgehammer, appearing as if he was going to hit Triple H with it. Instead, Flair hit Van Dam with the sledgehammer, turning Flair heel in the process. Triple H pinned Van Dam after a Pedigree to win the match and retain the title.[16][17][18]

The sixth match was for the WWE Women's Championship, in which Molly Holly defended the title against Trish Stratus. Stratus performed a Stratusfaction on Holly to win the match and the championship.[16][17]

In the penultimate match, Kurt Angle faced Chris Benoit. Benoit performed a diving headbutt on Angle for a near-fall. Benoit applied the Crippler Crossface on Angle, but Angle countered the hold into an ankle lock on Benoit. Benoit countered the hold into the Crippler Crossface, but Angle again countered the hold into an ankle lock on Benoit, with Benoit touching the ropes to force Angle to break the hold. As Angle applied the Crippler Crossface on Benoit, Benoit attempted to touch the ropes, but Angle pushed the ropes away and continued to apply the crossface on Benoit. After an argument between Angle and the referee, Benoit pinned Angle using the ropes for leverage to win the match.[16][17]

Due to Billy and Chuck's loss to 3-Minute Warning earlier in the night, an in-ring segment occurred where Stephanie McMahon had to participate in "Hot Lesbian Action" with two other lesbians. Eric Bischoff brought out another woman named 'Hildegaard' and told her to make out with Stephanie, which Stephanie did voluntarily. The "woman" would then hit Bischoff with a superkick and revealed herself as Rikishi in a costume. Stephanie and Rikishi then celebrated in the ring.[16][17]

Main event match

[edit]

The main event was for the WWE Championship, in which Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) defended the title against The Undertaker. Early in the match, Lesnar applied a bear hug on The Undertaker, who swung Lesnar through the ropes to break the hold. While Heyman distracted the referee, Lesnar hit The Undertaker with the title belt, causing The Undertaker to bleed. After Lesnar collided with the referee, who was knocked down, The Undertaker performed a chokeslam on Lesnar. Matt Hardy attempted to interfere in the match, but The Undertaker performed a Last Ride on Hardy. Lesnar then executed a spinebuster on The Undertaker for a near-fall. The Undertaker attempted to perform a Tombstone piledriver, but Lesnar pushed The Undertaker into the referee, who was knocked down again. Lesnar attempted to hit The Undertaker with a steel chair, but The Undertaker performed a big boot on Lesnar and hit him in the head with the chair, causing Lesnar to bleed. After Lesnar attacked the referee, the referee ruled the match a double disqualification, but Lesnar retained the WWE Championship. After the match, The Undertaker threw Lesnar through the stage set.[16][17][19]

Aftermath

[edit]

On the SmackDown! following Unforgiven, The Undertaker defeated Matt Hardy, who had interfered in his WWE Championship match against Brock Lesnar at Unforgiven. After the match, Lesnar attacked The Undertaker with the title belt.[20] The following week, Lesnar helped Hardy defeat The Undertaker in a Falls Count Anywhere match, after executing an F-5 on The Undertaker. After the match, Lesnar broke The Undertaker's hand with a propane tank.[21] Later that night, Lesnar was informed by SmackDown! General Manager Stephanie McMahon that he would defend the title against The Undertaker, despite his broken hand, in a Hell in a Cell match at No Mercy.[21] On the October 17 episode of SmackDown!, Lesnar and Heyman demanded that Stephanie ban The Undertaker from using his cast as a weapon inside Hell in a Cell. However, following Lesnar's match with Chuck Palumbo later that night, The Undertaker attacked Lesnar with the cast, after which Stephanie ultimately allowed The Undertaker to wear the cast.[22] At No Mercy, Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to retain the WWE Championship.[23]

On the September 23 episode of Raw, World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and Ric Flair defeated Rob Van Dam and Bubba Ray Dudley in a tag team match. After the match, Van Dam attacked Triple H and performed a diving leg drop on Triple H through the announce table.[24] On the October 14 episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff scheduled a match between Van Dam and Flair at No Mercy. Later that night, Triple H defeated Van Dam in a Canadian lumberjack match, after Flair hit Van Dam in the head with the World Heavyweight Championship belt.[25] At No Mercy, Van Dam defeated Flair.[23]

Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit were paired together in a tournament to crown the inaugural WWE Tag Team Champions. They defeated Billy Kidman and John Cena in the first round,[26] Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo) in the semi-finals,[22] and Edge and Rey Mysterio in the finals at No Mercy to become the inaugural champions.[23]

While the 2002 Unforgiven had featured wrestlers from both Raw and SmackDown!, the 2003 event was held exclusively for the Raw brand.[27]

Results

[edit]
No.ResultsStipulationsTimes[2]
1HRey Mysterio defeated Chavo GuerreroSingles match08:58
2Kane, Goldust, Booker T and Bubba Ray Dudley defeated The Un-Americans (Lance Storm, Christian, William Regal and Test)Eight-man tag team match09:59
3Chris Jericho (c) defeated Ric Flair by submissionSingles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship06:16
4Eddie Guerrero defeated EdgeSingles match11:55
53-Minute Warning (Rosey and Jamal) (with Rico) defeated Billy and ChuckTag team match06:38
6Triple H (c) defeated Rob Van DamSingles match for the World Heavyweight Championship18:17
7Trish Stratus defeated Molly Holly (c)Singles match for the WWE Women's Championship05:46
8Chris Benoit defeated Kurt AngleSingles match13:55
9Brock Lesnar (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. The Undertaker ended in a double disqualificationSingles match for the WWE Championship20:27
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match
H – the match was broadcast prior to the pay-per-view on Sunday Night Heat

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Unforgiven (2002)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Unforgiven (2002) was a (PPV) event produced by (WWE), held on September 22, 2002, at the Staples Center in , . It marked the fifth annual Unforgiven event and the first under the WWE brand following the company's rebranding from the World Wrestling Federation earlier that year. The card featured eight matches, including four for championships, with an attendance of approximately 16,000. The event highlighted the ongoing brand split between WWE's Raw and SmackDown rosters, with matches drawing from both sides. Key bouts included the main event, where Champion defended against in a no-disqualification match that ended in a double disqualification, allowing Lesnar to retain the title. Earlier, World Heavyweight Champion retained his title against in a hard-fought encounter, while Intercontinental Champion successfully defended against . Other notable matches saw capture the Women's Championship from , defeat in a technical showcase, and best Edge in a singles bout. Tag team action included overcoming and , and a winning effort from Booker T, , Goldust, and Kane against The Un-Americans (Christian, , , and ). Unforgiven 2002 is remembered for advancing major feuds, such as Lesnar's rivalry with and the brand-exclusive title defenses that underscored WWE's post-Attitude Era direction.

Background

Event history and rebranding

Unforgiven originated as an In Your House pay-per-view event titled Unforgiven: The Event of the Year, held on April 26, 1998, at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina. The inaugural event featured an Inferno match between The Undertaker and Kane (where the objective was to set fire to the opponent's ring attire), with the main event being the WWF Championship match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dude Love, marking a unique spectacle in WWF programming at the time. This event drew 21,427 attendees and served as a transitional PPV under the In Your House banner, which typically filled gaps in the WWF's annual schedule. Following the success of the 1998 iteration, transitioned to a standalone annual starting in 1999, shifting from its spring slot to align with the WWF's fall calendar alongside events like and [Survivor Series](/page/Survivor Series). The 1999 event, held on September 26 at the in , featured 's return after a six-month hiatus as the special guest enforcer for the main event Six-Pack Challenge for the WWF Championship, highlighting the promotion's emphasis on high-profile comebacks. Subsequent editions in 2000 and 2001 continued this timing, with the 2000 show in showcasing a Fatal Four-Way for the WWF Championship involving The Rock, , , and , while the 2001 event in included a main event where defended the WWF Championship against and The Rock in a match. These early PPVs established the event as a key fixture, often focusing on championship defenses and emerging rivalries within the WWF roster. In 2002, Unforgiven marked a pivotal rebranding for both the promotion and its event structure amid broader organizational changes. On May 6, 2002, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) officially rebranded to following a dispute with the World Wildlife Fund, which had challenged the use of "WWF" initials; this shift eliminated the "F" from all branding, logos, and programming, with the change taking effect immediately across 's platforms. As a result, 2002, held on September 22 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, became the first iteration under the new moniker, reflecting the company's pivot toward emphasizing entertainment alongside wrestling. The event also coincided with the early implementation of WWE's brand extension, introduced via a draft on March 25, 2002, which divided the roster into Raw and SmackDown brands to create distinct storylines and championships. While Unforgiven 2002 retained a mixed-brand format with matches from both Raw (such as Triple H defending the newly introduced World Heavyweight Championship against Rob Van Dam) and SmackDown (including Brock Lesnar's WWE Championship defense against The Undertaker), it foreshadowed the full rebranding of PPVs to brand-exclusive events starting in 2003. This hybrid approach in 2002 allowed for inter-brand rivalries, such as the Raw-focused debut of the Big Gold Belt as the World Heavyweight Championship—awarded to Triple H after a controversial tournament—while SmackDown storylines progressed independently. The brand split's influence on Unforgiven thus represented a transitional rebranding phase, setting the stage for Raw-exclusive editions from 2003 to 2006, which streamlined event rosters and intensified brand rivalries.

Promotion and brand extension

Unforgiven 2002 marked the first pay-per-view event under the newly adopted name, following the company's rebranding from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in May 2002 to resolve a trademark dispute with the World Wildlife Fund. The promotion emphasized this transition alongside the ongoing , which had officially launched on March 25, 2002, dividing the roster into Raw and SmackDown brands under separate general managers and , respectively. Building on the brand split, the event's marketing highlighted the inaugural defenses of the two world titles created after the Undisputed WWE Championship was divided in late August 2002, with retaining the for SmackDown and winning the revived World Heavyweight Championship for Raw via a on September 2. Promotional vignettes and in-ring confrontations on weekly episodes of Raw and SmackDown focused on these high-stakes , portraying the dual-title format as a cornerstone of the brand extension's competitive structure. For instance, segments teased Lesnar's dominance against The Undertaker's return, while Raw storylines promoted 's title reign amid his with , setting the stage for the faction's . The was further integrated into the event's presentation, with matches segregated by brand—Raw bouts handled by commentators and , and SmackDown by Michael Cole and Tazz—to reinforce roster exclusivity and narrative separation. This approach extended the brands' rivalry to , generating buzz through cross-brand tension while maintaining distinct programming identities, and the event drew approximately 300,000 buys, reflecting solid interest in the new dual-championship era.

Storylines

Raw brand feuds

The primary feud on the Raw brand heading into centered on the newly introduced World Heavyweight Championship, pitting champion against challenger . Following the , awarded the title on the September 2 episode of Raw after took the Undisputed WWE Championship to SmackDown, leaving Raw without a world title. RVD secured his title opportunity by winning a fatal four-way match against , , and on the September 9 episode of Raw. The rivalry intensified with mocking RVD's high-flying style and Ric Flair's interference, highlighting 's dominance within the emerging faction. Another key rivalry involved the , featuring champion defending against former titleholder in a rematch. Holly had dethroned Stratus at in June, marking her first reign as champion and shifting the division's dynamics toward Holly's technical prowess over Stratus's popularity. Leading to , the two clashed on episodes of Raw and , with Stratus seeking revenge and Holly asserting her legitimacy through aggressive defenses, including alliances with family members like . This feud underscored the personal animosity between the two top women on Raw, emphasizing Stratus's quest to reclaim her status as the face of the division. The Intercontinental Championship storyline saw champion defending against , stemming from their contentious encounters earlier in the summer. Their rivalry originated at , where Flair defeated Jericho in a non-title match using underhanded tactics like foreign objects, fueling Jericho's persona as he belittled Flair's legacy. Jericho captured the title from RVD on the September 16 episode of Raw, but Flair, frustrated by a loss to Rico and his diminishing role alongside , challenged Jericho to prove his superiority as a champion. The buildup highlighted generational conflict, with Flair positioning himself as the veteran icon against Jericho's arrogant "Y2J" attitude. A multi-man tag match encapsulated the ongoing conflict between The Un-Americans stable and a coalition of American patriots. Formed initially on SmackDown but transitioning to Raw in July, The Un-Americans—consisting of , Christian, , and later —espoused anti-American sentiments, including attempts to burn the U.S. flag on the episode of Raw, which drew opposition from Booker T, Goldust, Kane, and . The group retained the Tag Team Championship in defenses against teams like Bradshaw and Kane on September 9 and Spike Dudley and on September 16, but escalating brawls led to the eight-man elimination-style tag at , representing Raw's broader patriotic versus anti-establishment narrative.

SmackDown brand feuds

The primary feud on the SmackDown brand heading into Unforgiven centered on Champion defending his title against . Lesnar had captured the championship by defeating The Rock at on August 25, 2002, becoming the youngest world champion in history at age 25. The following night on Raw, ambushed Lesnar, igniting their rivalry, and Lesnar accepted the challenge for a title match at Unforgiven. Tensions escalated when won a on the September 5 episode of SmackDown to earn the championship opportunity, leading to intense confrontations, including Lesnar's manager attempting to protect his client from 's aggression. Another key rivalry involved and , stemming from tensions in a triple threat #1 contender's match against on the August 29 episode of SmackDown, which The Undertaker won. Frustrations boiled over in subsequent weeks, including Benoit laughing at Angle after Angle received Rikishi's Stinkface, prompting Angle to attack Benoit, with Angle later retaliating by holding Benoit for a Stinkface on the September 12 episode of SmackDown. This led to a series of confrontations, with both men trading victories in non-title matches on SmackDown, culminating in a highly anticipated singles bout at to settle who was the superior wrestler. Their history of competition, dating back to 2000, added layers to the personal animosity. The United States Championship was not directly at stake, but Edge and Eddie Guerrero's ongoing provided a marquee non-title . The rivalry originated from Guerrero's jealousy of Edge's good looks, popularity, and status as the reigning U.S. Champion, leading Guerrero to target Edge's face in attacks. Edge had defended the title against Guerrero at , but Guerrero sought revenge, resulting in brutal exchanges on SmackDown, including chair shots and ladder spots in the weeks leading up. At , Guerrero aimed to "uglify" Edge in a personal that highlighted their contrasting styles and escalating hatred.

Event

Opening matches

The pay-per-view portion of Unforgiven 2002 commenced with an eight-man tag team match pitting Raw brand's Booker T, Bubba Ray Dudley, Goldust, and Kane against the Un-Americans stable consisting of Christian, Lance Storm, Test, and William Regal. The match, lasting 9:52, showcased high-energy action typical of multi-man bouts, with Kane securing the victory for his team via pinfall after a chokeslam on Storm. This opener highlighted ongoing inter-brand tensions and the Un-Americans' heel faction dynamics, drawing a lively response from the Staples Center crowd. Following the tag match, Intercontinental Champion defended his title against in a singles bout stemming from Flair's victory over Jericho at earlier that year. The contest, clocked at 6:18, emphasized Jericho's technical prowess and Flair's veteran resilience, culminating in Jericho forcing Flair to submit to the Walls of Jericho after feigning a leg injury to draw Flair into a vulnerable position. This retention solidified Jericho's persona on Raw while underscoring Flair's desperation for another championship run at age 58, building momentum early in the card. The third match featured SmackDown rivals and Edge in a standard singles encounter. Lasting 11:57, the bout delivered fast-paced, athletic exchanges, with emerging victorious via pinfall using a sunset flip despite Edge competing through a reported . This result intensified their personal feud, rooted in Guerrero's jealousy over Edge's popularity and opportunities. Transitioning into mid-card action, the Tag Team Champions and defended their titles against (Jamal and Rosey, accompanied by Rico) under special "HLA or Kiss My Ass" , where the losers would either perform a hip-hop act or kiss the winners' posteriors. The 6:39 match ended with capturing the championships via pinfall after a double-team Samoan Drop on Palumbo, marking a significant shift in the SmackDown tag division. The added comedic and humiliating elements to the storyline, amplifying the challengers' monstrous personas.

Championship matches

The championship matches at Unforgiven 2002 featured defenses and changes across multiple titles, reflecting the ongoing brand split storylines between Raw and SmackDown. These bouts highlighted key rivalries, with outcomes influencing subsequent feuds on their respective brands. The was on the line in a rematch between champion and former champion . Their feud had intensified after Stratus lost the title to Holly at due to interference from Victoria and . The match lasted 5:47, with Stratus emerging victorious by pinfall after delivering her signature Stratusfaction bulldog. This title change marked Stratus's fourth reign as champion and shifted momentum back to her as Raw's top female competitor, setting up further conflicts with Holly and others. The World Heavyweight Championship match served as Raw's featured bout, featuring champion defending against . This encounter arose from Van Dam's rising popularity and 's recent crowning as World Heavyweight Champion on Raw, awarded as the top contender by General Manager after the brand split. Lasting 18:18, the match saw retain the title after interference from ringside enforcer , who distracted Van Dam and handed his signature . capitalized with a Pedigree for the pinfall, extending his dominant reign but drawing boos for the underhanded tactics. The bout emphasized Van Dam's high-flying style against 's power-based offense, though critics noted its deliberate pacing. A non-title singles match between SmackDown stars Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle followed, lasting 13:56 and showcasing exceptional technical wrestling. Benoit secured the victory by submission with the Crippler Crossface, using the ropes for leverage, in a highly regarded encounter that highlighted their in-ring chemistry and advanced Benoit's push on the brand. Closing the show was SmackDown's main event for the WWE Championship, where champion Brock Lesnar defended against The Undertaker. The rivalry built from Lesnar's aggressive defense of the title since defeating The Rock at SummerSlam, with The Undertaker seeking revenge after a heated confrontation on SmackDown. The 20:24 match concluded in a double disqualification when both competitors refused to release their holds amid interference from Paul Heyman and other brawling, allowing Lesnar to retain by virtue of the no-contest ruling. This controversial finish preserved Lesnar's undefeated streak as champion while prolonging the feud, leading to a Hell in a Cell rematch at No Mercy. The physical intensity, including Lesnar's F-5 and The Undertaker's Last Ride, highlighted their contrasting styles of raw power and supernatural resilience.

Aftermath

Raw brand developments

Following Unforgiven, the Raw brand's primary storyline centered on the World Heavyweight Championship, where had retained the title against in the main event via interference from , who struck Van Dam with a steel chair during the closing moments. On the episode of Raw, Flair officially aligned with , betraying his prior face role and attacking Van Dam to solidify their partnership, which would later expand into the stable. This turn escalated the , leading to a match that night where and Flair defeated Van Dam and , with Flair securing the pinfall after a Pedigree on Van Dam. The alliance positioned as the dominant champion while setting up Van Dam for further challenges, including a one-on-one rematch with Flair at No Mercy later that month. In the tag team division, the Un-Americans (Lance Storm and Christian) lost the World Tag Team Championship to Kane and The Hurricane on the September 23 Raw in a match stemming from their loss in the eight-man tag at Unforgiven. Kane pinned Christian after a chokeslam and top-rope clothesline sequence, marking the first title reign for the unusual pairing and injecting unpredictability into the division. This victory propelled Kane and The Hurricane into defenses against various challengers, including a successful outing against Storm and Christian's allies, while dissolving the Un-Americans' dominance established earlier in the brand split. The change highlighted Raw's emphasis on midcard alliances amid the post-split roster adjustments. General Manager Eric Bischoff reinforced the by declaring a "brand freeze" on the same episode, prohibiting further crossovers with SmackDown and facilitating intra-brand trades. As part of this, was transferred from SmackDown to Raw, debuting in a squash victory over via an RKO, establishing him as an arrogant upstart in the roster. Orton's arrival added depth to the midcard, quickly involving him in angles with veterans like and setting the stage for his integration by late 2002. Supporting feuds advanced steadily, with retaining the Intercontinental Championship against Goldust on Raw, continuing his reign amid rivalries with Booker T and others from the eight-man tag fallout. Meanwhile, the -Jeff Hardy rivalry intensified, as defeated Hardy in a singles match on the September 23 episode of Raw, with the feud continuing on weekly television and contributing to Hardy's eventual WWE departure in 2003. The women's division saw , fresh off winning the from at , defend successfully in a triple threat against Holly and Victoria on Raw, perpetuating the ongoing personal animosity that would culminate in Stratus shaving Holly's head at . These developments underscored Raw's focus on title stability and emerging rivalries in the weeks following the event.

SmackDown brand developments

Following the double disqualification in the WWE Championship match at Unforgiven, the rivalry between champion Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker intensified on SmackDown. On the September 26 episode, The Undertaker defeated Matt Hardy—who had interfered at the pay-per-view—via pinfall after a Last Ride. This aggression carried over to the October 3 episode, where Hardy upset The Undertaker in a Falls Count Anywhere match via pinfall following Lesnar's interference during the bout; post-match, Lesnar attacked The Undertaker with the title belt, causing a severe cut that required stitches. The escalating violence culminated at No Mercy on October 20 in a Hell in a Cell match, where Lesnar retained the WWE Championship by pinning The Undertaker after reversing a Tombstone Piledriver into an F-5. The WWE Tag Team Championship became vacant after 3-Minute Warning dethroned at , prompting SmackDown General Manager to announce an eight-team on the episode. Quarterfinal action commenced on October 3, with (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero) defeating and via pinfall on Chavo's submission to the , and Edge teaming with for the first time to defeat and via Mysterio's pinfall on Cena following a West Coast Pop. Additional quarterfinals on October 10 saw Benoit and advance by defeating Cena and , while Edge and Mysterio progressed against Lesnar and Tajiri amid ongoing interference from Hardy targeting at ringside. Semifinals on October 17 featured Edge and Mysterio eliminating Reverend D-Von and , and Benoit and Angle overcoming . The concluded at No Mercy, where captured the titles by pinning Benoit after a Frogsplash on Angle in the final match. The simmering feud between and extended beyond their singles match at , where Edge emerged victorious via pinfall. On , their rematch under No Disqualification rules saw Edge retain momentum by defeating Guerrero via in a bloody encounter that highlighted Guerrero's use of a as a weapon. This aggression influenced the tag tournament, as Guerrero's focus shifted toward his brother Chavo in pursuit of the championships, while Edge partnered with , blending their rivalry into broader brand dynamics without an immediate rematch. Meanwhile, the #1 contendership for the evolved from a triple threat match won by via roll-up on over Benoit, but SmackDown authority intervened the following week to book Benoit against Angle at No Mercy instead. Angle won via ankle lock submission, earning the title shot against Lesnar at .

Reception

Critical reviews

Unforgiven 2002 received mixed reviews from wrestling critics, who generally praised the in-ring action on the SmackDown brand while criticizing the Raw brand's main events and overall booking. The event was seen as a solid co-branded , with an average rating of around 6.5 out of 10, though some reviewers found it underwhelming due to predictable outcomes and extraneous storyline segments. Critics highlighted the technical prowess in mid-card matches, particularly versus , which was lauded as a "pro wrestling " and one of the best submissions-based bouts of the year, earning an A- rating for its intense back-and-forth action and hot crowd response. Similarly, Edge versus was commended for its storytelling and psychology, with Guerrero's cheating tactics adding depth; it received a B+ from one reviewer and was described as a thrilling highlight that showcased Edge's growth as a performer. The main events drew significant criticism for failing to deliver excitement. Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship defense against was called "long, dull, and predictable," hampered by slow pacing and 's interference, resulting in a D+ rating. ended in a no-contest marred by ref bumps and a pointless cameo, earning a D for its violent but ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. Other bouts, like retaining the Championship over , were viewed as entertaining but short on innovation. Overall, the event's strengths lay in its undercard wrestling quality, offsetting weaker elements like the HLA segment, which was deemed awkward and time-wasting, leading to a consensus that SmackDown elevated the card above mediocrity.

Commercial success

Unforgiven (2002) was held at the Staples Center in , , drawing a sellout crowd of 16,000 attendees. This capacity performance reflected strong local interest in the event's card, which featured high-profile matches across the Raw and SmackDown brands, including the defense by against . The pay-per-view garnered 300,000 buys, marking it as one of the lower-performing WWE events in 2002 in terms of viewership metrics. This figure placed it below major shows like SummerSlam 2002 (540,000 buys) but aligned with mid-tier PPVs such as King of the Ring 2002 (320,000 buys), amid a competitive landscape following the WWE brand split. Despite the modest buyrate relative to flagship events, it contributed to WWE's overall PPV revenue stream during a transitional period post-attitude era.

References

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