Steve Austin vs the Big Show Insurexxtion 2002

Wanted to see this match for a long time but UK ppvs are hard to find. Austin and Show had one match in 99 before Wrestlemania 15. No idea if it was good. I remember liking it but in hindsight Show's early WWF stuff is his low point.

Background on this is on Raw Big Show joined the nWo by betraying Austin. For some reason the WWF acted like Show was never a member despite being either the fourth or fifth member in 96 and part of the inner circle. THen rejoining in 98 which I rather be forgotten.

Austin comes to the ring and instead of guns a blazing he looks worried. Knowing he is not going to stomp Big Show down and boo/Stunner win easily.

To start Austin flips off Show. I like how he backed right up after doing it. Big Show overpowers him into the corner twice. After the second time he does some push ups to warm himself up. One thing is this London crowd is great. Responding big to everything. They start doing a What chant but doing it more to pump up Cold STONE>

Austin starts laying in punches on Big Show but Show knocks him down with a back elbow. Pretty much the theme of the Match.

Austin goes after Big Show by kicking him in the knee, Show takes him down with a big clothesline. Austin tries to regroup but Show pins him in the corner hitting three big chops. Show whips him into the ropes but Austin kicks him in the head on an attempted back bodydrop. Back to kicking him in the knee again finally getting him down with a polish hammer. Then stomps him in the nuts. Now Austin is going into overdrive working over the knee.

Got Show's leg around the post and ramming it over and over. If he did a ring post figure four would seem like a Bret Hart match.

He is trying to keep Show from getting back to his feet but oh sghit Show is up. Hits a headbutt that sends Austin across the ring. Show's knee is still hurt so Austin takes him down again. Now we get Big SHOw trying to work his wAY out of a submission hold which I was not expecting. Cool visual when Show puts his hand over Austin's face and it covers it completely.

Really good job by Austin of working the hold. Making sure show can nver get a full grasp on him. JR and King are really on the ball here. Pointing out how Austin's own knee brace is putting Show in more pain.

Show got out of it and returned to his feet. But Austin clips him from behind. Show gets to his feet and tries to whip the Big Show into the ropes. How could that possibly be a good idea? Austin pays when Show hits a big body slam. Thing about Big Show is everything he does looks devastating.

Aw shit and Show lowers the straps. This leads JR and King to have a discussion of how lowering the strap increases your power level. Show hits some CHOP in the corner and starts rag dolling Stone Cold. Now he is standing on Austin which has to hurt. I mean how the hell do you pretend to stand on a guy?

Show hits a nasty looking suplex. Really like Show still selling the knee. Not overboard but the damage is still present. Show now has him across the apron and laying in the chops again.

Austin seems like he has been thru hell. Now he is desperately working on Show's knee again. What I like about this is it is really about setting up the Stunner. As big as well The Big Show is, you can't expect him to just crumple over for a stunner. But if a kne is hurt he can be pulled down.

And Austin tries to Irish whip Big Show AGAIN. Show reverses and hits a back body drop. Getting backdroped by Show must be like falling off a small building.

Show throws Austin into the ropes for a third back drop and Austin kicks him. this time Show shakes it off with a clothesline. Austin kicks out and Show goes berzerk briefly dropping stomps and elbows. Austin is pulled up and fights back briefly before a knee to the gut stops him. Gets him in there again with the chops. These chops are like Vader clubbering.

Show now locks on a big bear hug. Austin bites him to get out of it. Show lets go headbutts him then reapplies. Austin geTs out o it with headbutts of his own. Being bald is the only thing that saved Stone Cold from a crushed skull. Show charges him in the corner but Austin gets a boot up and hits a Super Thesz Press!!! Now he is laying in the punches. Show is up but Austin's punches are ffecting Show now as he is slowing being worn down. THey are chanting What on every punch like ECW fans chanted Shah. Too bad they never went who for Big Show punches.

Show is about to go down and Austin charges him only to take the big boot. Looks like Austin might be hurt because it seems like Show is checking on him. But he is okay.

Show tries to hit a short arm clothesline but Austin ducks and the ref is wiped out. Show is distracted and Austin hits the Stunner. I like how Show went to one knee for it then fell lik a tree.

But the ref is out. Austin is expecting a run in and tries to get Flair in the ring to count three. Scot Hall and X-Pac come to ring side and Flair chases them out with a broom. Austin is watching this as Big Show slowly gets up. Looks like that scene in a monster movie when the monster climbs out of the pit one last time. Show lowers the strap and attempt the chokeslam. Austin blocks it and Show shoves him into the ropes and hits the big boot again. Show is trying to call the nWo back to the ring before the ref wakes up. And here comes Kevin Nash with nunchucks!!!!

Austin hits Show in the nuts and hits the Stunner on Nash. Nash does a great job taking it. Now he stunners Big Show but he is still on his feet, now a second Stunner and Austin wins. It took three stunners to stop the Big Show. A great finish to a great match. A great atmosphere with the bull horns going off.