Chris Jericho became the first Undisputed WWF Champion by defeating both The Rock and Steve Austin in a single night at Vengeance 2001.
Key Facts
- Date
- December 9, 2001
- Venue
- San Diego Sports Arena
- Tournament matches
- 3
- Undisputed Champion crowned
- Chris Jericho
- Only Vengeance under WWF name
- Yes – WWF renamed WWE in May 2002
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the WWF's acquisition of rival promotion WCW in 2001, two world championship titles coexisted: the WWF Championship and the World Championship (formerly WCW Championship). The WWF sought to unify these belts to establish a single, undisputed world champion for its roster.
The inaugural Vengeance PPV on December 9, 2001 featured a three-match tournament. Steve Austin defeated Kurt Angle to retain the WWF Championship, Chris Jericho defeated The Rock to win the World Championship, and Jericho then defeated Austin in the final to become the Undisputed WWF Champion.
Chris Jericho's victory unified the two championships into the Undisputed WWF Championship, making him the promotion's sole world champion. The title unification resolved the dual-champion situation created by the WCW acquisition and set the stage for the brand extension introduced in March 2002.