Raw begins with HHH's all too familiar music as he makes his way down to the ring. HHH makes note of the fact that there are 2 contenders to the belt, and reminds fans of the
last time something like this happened, and it led to the title being defended twice at
Wrestlemania X. HHH says that will not happen this time, and tells Bischoff to make his
way on down, and tell him who his opponent will be for Wrestlemania.
Eric makes his way down, and offers the following proposition: HHH will defend the title
tonight on Raw against either person of his choosing, and the winner goes on to
Wrestlemania to face the other contender.
After both play to the crowd, HHH tells Eric that he forgot one thing - he doesn't give a
crap what the people think - no dice! As HHH is about to go off on Eric further, Chris
Benoit's music hits, and he makes his way to the ring. As HHH goes to speak, Benoit rips
the mic away from HHH, and lets HHH know he only has one thing to say to HHH - and Benoit
lets fly with a right hand!
The 2 men scuffle back and forth, first in one corner of the ring - and then in another.
HHH goes against the ropes, and then gets put in the Crippler Crossface! He's in it for a
decent amount of time (longer than 10 seconds), when Evolution hits the ring to make the
save. Benoit ducks out of the ring, and glares at Evolution.
In the back, Evolution is with a hurt HHH, all ready to beat up on Benoit. HHH tells them
to calm down, and focus on the next match - that they have all night to get Benoit. HHH
tells Orton to go with Flair and Batista, to make sure that there is no other bad surprises
tonight.
First match: RVD and Booker T vs Flair and Batista w/ Orton at ringside
Match for the World Tag Team Championship Belts
Overall, a fairly entertaining match, in which Batistia dominated when he was in there, but
Flair got beat to hell while he was in there. Early spot saw RVD diving over the top rope
at Orton and Batista and missing, due to Orton pushing Batista to safety, and diving
himself for cover. Later, Orton goes to distract the referee, and down the ramp comes Mick
Foley! Foley and Orton go at it, while due to Orton's distraction earlier, Flair was able
to put the Figure 4 leg lock on Booker T. Foley and Orton brawl out into the stands, with
Batista following them and getting a few shots in on Foley. Back in the ring, Flair still
has the Figure 4 on Booker T, when RVD hits the 5 Star on Flair, breaking up the Figure 4!
Booker T covers: 1-2-3!
Winners, and NEW World Tag Team Champions: RVD and Booker T
In the back, Austin threatens Bischoff with an ass-whippin' if he doesn't figure out the
number 1 contender for HHH by the end of the night. An emotionally drained Bischoff leaves
his office, and gets stopped by Randy Orton, who is demanding a match with Foley. Bischoff
tells Orton that the match will be unsanctioned - which means no ref, no bell, just people
beating the hell out of each other. This suits Orton fine.
Scene of Jericho and Christian talking about Jericho's match with Kane, and Jericho's
feelings about Trish. jericho is selling the 'leg injury' from Kane last week. Jericho
asks Christian for advice on when to tell Trish about his feelings for her, showing a rose
he has for her. Christian tells Jericho to focus on the match. Jericho gets psyched up,
and goes out to face Kane, while Christian has a devious look about him.
Second Match: Kane vs. Chris Jericho
Match began with Jericho trying to take out one of Kane's knees, but essentially this was a
squash match, where Jericho's leg got royally worked over, and the ref stops the match due
to injury.
Winner: Kane (match stopped due to Jericho not able to continue)
Post match, Kane drops Jericho out of the ring on his leg, and then goes on a rant about
how all the crazy stuff going on after his matches is not the Undertaker, because he buried
his brother alive, and the Undertaker is dead, dead, dead! Kane walks up the ramps, and
the Undertaker's music hits, the arena and walkaway fill up with fog, and it begins
raining! Kane looks confused, and very soaked!
Next is a segment with Bischoff and Austin. Bischoff tells Austin that Vince is too old,
and that due to his karate backround, he could kick Vince's ass. Vince was standing right
behind him! Vince angrily tells Bischoff he gets a pass this week, but next week, he will
make a huge announcement on Raw, and he will do it in his wrestling gear, as right after,
Vince and Bischoff will have a match!
Third Match: Trish Stratus and Victoria w/ Steven Richards at ringside vs. Molly Holly and
Jazz w/ Theodore Long at ringside
Standard fare for womens matches, not much to report other than feud possibilities.
Victoria makes the pin, as the WWE tries to solidify her as a face.
Winners: Victoria and Trish
Post match, Test comes out to try to beat up on Victoria and Richards, and Trish gets in
the way. Test is about to pummel Trish, when Christan makes the save! In the back, Trish
asks Christan about this, and Christian gives Trish the rose Jericho planned to give her!
The two walk off together!
Orton comes to the ring. Orton calls out Mick Foley, and Foley comes down. The 2 begin to
fight, but it just ends up in a prolonged beat-down, when Flair and Batista come down to
ringside and join in as well. Not really a match, and no bell, just an excuse to beat up
poor Mick Foley more.
Final Match: HBK Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit
Great pure wrestling match, with a lot of back and forth. Towards the end, HBK hit the
elbow drop, and went for Sweet Chin Music, which got countered by Benoit, first almost into
a Crippler Crossface, which HBK blocked repeatedly and vigorously, and then into a
sharpshooter. Benoit had HBK in the sharpshooter for a while before HBK grabbed the ropes.
The crowd was 50-50 in this match behind either Benoit or HBK. Match ends when HHH comes
down the ramp, which allows HBK to hit Sweet Chin Music and pick up the pinfall victory.
An applauding HHH gets in the ring and picks up Shawn Michaels, only to pedigree him. As
HHH goes to leave, here comes Austin! Austin tells HHH that Bischoff made a decision, but
since he was too scared to tell HHH to his face, Austin would! It will be HHH vs. HBK vs.
Chris Benoit in the first Triple Threat match for the title at Wrestlemania! Show closes
as we get HHH's angry reaction!
Winner: HBK Shawn Michaels
--------------------------------------------------------------
Match Recap:
RVD and Booker T def. Flair and Batista w/ Orton at ringside,to become the new World Tag
Team Champions
Kane def. Chris Jericho
Trish Stratus and Victoria def. Molly Holly and Jazz
HBK Shawn Michaels def. Chris Benoit
--------------------------------------------------------------
Plot Recap:
The whole show led to HHH facing both Benoit and HBK at Wrestlemania, as has been reported.
The Kane - Undertaker angle has been furthered - expect to see him at or right before
Wrestlemania.
Christian is now macking on Trish. There is supposedly a Trish heel turn in the works, so
don't be surprised if Trish and Christian have been in Cahoots all along, to get back at
Jericho for making the "bet" earlier in the year. Expect to see the turn at Wrestlemania,
with the explanation on the following Raw.
*Commentary* This has the potential to launch Jericho as the solid #2 babyface of Raw,
behind Benoit. I know some will say "Shawn Michaels", but his role in the company right
now is a 'tweener', half heel, half babyface. If the turn of Trish is bitter enough, it
could also launch Christian to the upper-mid card. I don't see him going any further right
now, as even with HHH going out to film a movie post-Wrestlemania, HHH will not want anyone
to be anywhere near close to his position of top heel, which is why last year when Kane was
on fire up to the Goldberg-Kane-HHH match, he was suddenly dropped from the title picture
thereafter. Anyway, I see this angle either elevating both stars if it is handled well, or
neither if it isn't. It won't hurt either star, so if it's botched, take solace in that.
/Commentary/
RVD and Booker T look to be involved in a mini-angle with Evolution for the belts. Expect
Evolution to win the belts back at Wrestlemania, as I believe RVD still has no contract
with the WWE past that date.
The Orton - Foley feud intensified. This one is too hard to call for Wrestlemania. On the
one hand, Foley could go out on top, as most fans wanted him to all along. On the other
hand, Foley is from old school wrestling, which believes you should always go out on your
back, to help further the business.
*Commentary* We have seen that side in the past with his first retirement match with HHH,
but the question is also - will Foley ever retire for good? Or will he become just like
his idol, Terry Funk, who still wrestles today, but neglects his family? I love Foley, but
I hope, be it a good or bad ending, that this is the last time Foley is in a ring. I'd
love him for the occasional show up here or there, but as much as I am a Foley fan, his
family should come first. Here is hoping this is your last hurrah Mick, and that you saved
your best for last. I will miss you for sure, but it's time to end it at Wrestlemania.
And Mick - thank you for all you have done for the Wrestling Business, including letting us
fans get to see you in action one more time, at the biggest stage of them all. /Commentary/
This Raw Report brought to you by the Angle