The Last WWF Event Ever ?

By Ryan Joy
Updated: May 4, 2022
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Newsletter #84 – The Last WWF Event Ever

May 4, 2022

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It’s the 20 year anniversary of WWF’s Insurrextion PPV!

On this day in May of 2002, WWF held their UK only PPV Insurrextion. Nick Spence described the Triple H – Undertaker main event as “an excellent headline encounter” (Credit to PWInsider).

Steve Austin defeated The Big Show on the undercard, which also included Mr. Perfect, Goldust, Eddie Guerrero, William Regal, Rob Van Dam, The Hardy’s, Brock Lesnar, Trish Stratus, Booker T, and others.

Insurrextion is notoriously remembered for many reasons – none of which have anything to do with the actual wrestling.

The WWF would drop the “F” and become WWE just two days after Insurrextion making it the historic final event to carry the WWF lettering.

Linda McMahon said in WWE’s press release, “Our new name puts the emphasis on the “E” for entertainment, what our company does best. WWE provides us with a global identity that is distinct and unencumbered, which is critical to our U.S. and international growth plans.”

In the same press release, Linda did mention the fact that the World Wildlife Fund prevailed in a court case that prevented the wrestling giant from using the letters “WWF” in certain specified circumstances.

Given the timing of the WWF’s name change to WWE, you might think fans and media would look back on Insurrextion with nostalgia and fondness.

They don’t.

Just one day after Insurrextion (May 5, 2002) and one day prior to the name change, WWF talent flew home from the UK on the infamous flight known as “The Plane Ride from Hell.”

As documented in the 2021 television series “Dark Side of the Ring,” many well known wrestlers were out of hand in the most egregious way imaginable.

Dustin Rhodes took over the plane’s PA system, Ric Flair danced naked in the aisle (and allegedly sexually assaulted a flight attendant), X-Pac cut Michael Hayes’ hair, and Curt Henning and Brock Lesnar got into a dangerous fight. WWE later fired Henning and Scott Hall (who was unresponsive during the flight).

So WWF Insurrextion is a weird one.

While the “excellent headline encounter” would have been a terrific ending to the WWF brand, the Plane Ride from Hell certainly darkens those final moments.

On one hand, Insurrextion symbolizes the end of all the history that the WWF name meant to so many people. What better symbol could you ask for than WWF’s longest lasting franchise player (The Undertaker) taking on the man who is credited with the launch of WWE’s NXT and the strength of today’s roster (Triple H)?

Maybe that ending would have been too perfect because on the other hand, how do you think about Insurrextion without also losing faith in all our wrestling heroes involved with the Plane Ride from Hell?

I guess, like many other aspects of the wrestling business, we have to compartmentalize the good memories from the bad ones.

Unfortunately, that’s an activity all too familiar to wrestling fans.

Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter. In addition to the above letter, read on for some great wrestling resources.

Thanks,

Ryan

PS – The Natural Chase Stevens joined me on CCW Insider this week. Check out that interview by clicking on any of the logos below.

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