At WWE Vengeance on December 9, 2001, Rob Van Dam (RVD) defended his WWF Hardcore Championship against The Undertaker in a hardcore-style brawl that spilled all over the San Diego Sports Arena and beyond. From the outset, RVD used his speed and innovative offense—including a top-rope somersault and a Rolling Thunder—to keep the bigger, more powerful Undertaker off balance, even using weapons like a fire extinguisher and trash can to his advantage. The two men traded stiff strikes and risky moves as the fight worked its way around the ringside area, up the entrance ramp, and onto the stage. Undertaker responded with brutal chops, chair shots, and a Last Ride attempt, ultimately gaining the upper hand. The climax came when Undertaker chokeslammed RVD off the stage through a set of tables and then pinned him to win the Hardcore Title, marking his first and only reign with that championship. The match stood out for its physicality and wild environment, framing Undertaker’s heel persona and RVD’s resilient but ultimately unsuccessful effort in this clash.
