WWF Vengeance 2001 pay-per-view took place 22 years ago today, where Chris Jericho defeated The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin on the same night to become the 1st ever Undisputed WWF Champion.
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet in 2020, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle revealed that Vince McMahon was originally going to book him to become the first-ever Undisputed Champion.
However, Vince soon realized that Jericho would benefit more from becoming the Undisputed Champion and changed the plan.
Below is what Angle said:
“Vince McMahon came to me two weeks prior and said ‘We’re going to give you the strap again. You’re going to be the Undisputed Champion.’
I thought that was pretty cool, considering that the pool was Chris Jericho, The Rock, and Austin. Those three are the best of all time. I knew going into it, I was going to win.
5 Days before (the PPV), Vince gives me a call and says, ‘I really want to give it to Jericho. I really think he could benefit from it.’ I agreed. If anybody needs it and can run with it, it would be Chris Jericho.
I was very honored that Vince had enough respect for me to tell me about the switch.
For Jericho, it benefitted him. It put him in that title picture and main event. Chris was always up there. He was such an important factor in the company because he could make anyone look good. He was one of our supported assets.
I have more respect for him today than I ever did before. I can’t believe the things he can do now.”
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