WWE RAW report for 04/05/04
Hello again everyone and welcome to your Rajah.com RAW report. I am your humble correspondent, Jason (Jason_of_RajahWWF on Yahoo Messenger). Let's get going.
We begin with footage from last week of Shelton Benjamin's victory over Triple H.
The music plays, the pyro blazes and we are LIVE from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler will have the call as tonight; there will be a Battle Royal to determine the Number One Contender for the Women's Championship. But first...
Triple H Interview
-Hunter takes the mic from Lillian Garcia and shoos her from the ring. It makes for the great story, doesn't it? This young punk kid comes over from Smackdown in the draft, whatever his name is, and in his first match, live on RAW, he gets the lucky break of a lifetime. He gets in the ring with the greatest professional wrestler alive today, and he wins. He does the impossible, he gets the 1-2-3. It's a great story, but this is reality, and that win was a fluke that couldn't happen again in a million years. Something else that will never happen in a million years in Chris Benoit walking out of Backlash with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist. "You tapped out!" chants the crowd. Hunter will put up with that, for now. Chris Benoit must be feeling that pressure of having a target on his back. Benoit finds himself in the same position that Triple H was in; he doesn't even have to get beat to lose the title. The odds of Benoit winning one Triple Threat Match were huge; the odds of Benoit winning back-to-back Triple Threat Matches with Shawn Michaels and Triple H are impossible. Music hits and Shelton Benjamin bebops and scats to the ring. Shelton takes a mic. Triple H, Shelton doesn't mean to interrupt, but he just wanted to introduce himself. He's that young punk kind from Smackdown, the all-American from Minnesota, the guy that beat Hunter last week 1-2-3. Triple H refers to Shelton's victory as a fluke, and maybe it was, so Shelton's come out to challenge Hunter to a re-match. Wow, Shelton is getting way ahead of himself here. Shelton has one lucky moment and he thinks he can stand in the same ring as The Game, and then challenge him to a match. Triple H will tell you what he's going to do; you want a match here tonight? Let Hunter do Shelton a favor, no. Shelton could build a whole career on what he did last week, no one beats The Game. Correction, Shelton did. Shelton knows why Hunter won't take the match; he can't be the guy to lose twice in a row to a young punk kid. Alright, you want it Shelton, you got it. Tonight it's going to be The Game against whatever the hell your name is. After tonight, Hunter, you'll call Shelton, "Mister Benjamin."
COMMERCIAL
Footage this past weekend shows WWE's trip to Monterey, Mexico.
Chris Benoit Vs. Rob Conway w/Sylvan Grenier
-This is a non-title match, my babies. Ross informs us that Eric Bischoff has sanctioned the Triple H/Shelton Benjamin match and has barred anyone not directly involved in the match from ringside. Johnny Nitro, his arm in a sling, makes his way down to the old WCW show's theme to serve as the guest referee for this match. If Benoit touches Nitro this week, Eric Bischoff will strip him of the World Heavyweight Championship immediately. Nitro calls for the bell and Benoit is in control from the start with wrestling. Grenier distracts Benoit from the floor and Conway takes advantage with a neckbreaker. Stomps by Conway and he gets a near fall. Conway cinches in a neck vise on the mat, but Benoit surges up. Overhead release German suplex by Benoit. Right hands by Benoit, followed by a clothesline. Side backbreaker by Benoit. 1-2-Conway kicks out. Benoit suplexes Conway, whose feet clobber referee Nitro out of the ring. Grenier comes in and La Resistance double team Benoit. Referee Chad Patton dashes down to makes the count as Conway covers, but Benoit kicks out at two. Benoit quickly traps Conway in the Crippler Crossface and that's that at 3:54.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Chris Benoit
In the general manager's office, William Regal has arrived to see Eric Bischoff. Regal is glad to be back, he's had more ups and downs than a whore's drawers of late. Bischoff has a new assignment for Regal; he wants William to manage a new wrestler, who happens to be Bischoff's nephew, Eugene Dinsmore. In reality, Bischoff only signed the kid as a favor to his sister, but Regal eagerly accepts the job and leaves to meet his new charge.
COMMERCIAL
WWE Sting of the Night: Last week, Chris Jericho got the best of Trish Stratus in the Highlight Reel.
Chris Jericho Vs. Matt Hardy Version 1.0
-Matt has broken his nose three times. Matt never over-orders in restaurants. As soon as Hardy is in the ring, CHRISTIAN and TRISH STRATUS bring an easy chair to the stage. Matt attacks before the bell, scoring a bulldog for a near fall from referee Chad Patton. Powerslam by Matt. 1-2-kickout by Jericho. Hardy drops the elbow for another near fall before settling into a surfboard on the mat. Jericho fights up and knees Matt in the gut. Flying clothesline by Jericho, followed by chops. Kicks in the corner by Jericho, followed by a faceplant. He goes for the Lionsault, but Matt gets the knees up. Hardy looks for the Twist of Fate, Jericho turns it into The Walls, but Matt rolls him up for a near fall. Jericho drop toeholds Matt over the middle rope, then quickly follows up with The Walls for the tap out at 3:03.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Chris Jericho
Christian and Trish play tonsil hockey as Jericho watches from the ring.
COMMERCIAL
Ross throws to Mick Foley, who is backstage in a rocking chair. He's holding a long box across his lap, a yellow rose in his hand. Foley talks about his first flannel shirt, given to him on Christmas in 1977. He found the shirt recently, and intends to wear it at Backlash. It may seem odd that a Hardcore Legend like himself would be in love with a piece of clothing, but Mick has realized that Hardcore is not about tables and barbed wire, it's really about love. Love of the business and love of the fans. Mick has gone back and watched his Japanese Death Matches, and the one thing that stuck out in his mind was the look in his eyes. The look that said he maybe loved the brutality of those matches. Those honorable men in Japan never did to Mick the things that Randy Orton has done to him, and yet he was willing to wrap his arm in barbed wire to destroy them. What that in mind, what the hell will Mick be willing to do to Randy Orton, whom he hates? Foley opens the box in his lap to reveal his baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire, which he calls "Barbie." Foley uses it to wreck the set, screaming about how he will love using the bat on Orton.
In the locker room, Ric Flair and Batista try to keep Randy Orton relaxed over what they've just seen. Triple H comes in for a quick pep talk from Flair. Orton looks petrified.
COMMERCIAL
We come back with Ric Flair in the ring. He whispers something to Lillian Garcia, who introduces him as the guest ring announcer for the forthcoming match. Flair introduces himself as the guest announcer, then brings out Batista to serve as the guest timekeeper. Batista snatches the bell hammer from Mark Yeaton as Flair announces Randy Orton as the official trainer for the match and the fix is most definitely in.
Triple H Vs. Shelton Benjamin
-Triple H attacks while Orton distracts Shelton. Benjamin reverses a suplex and rolls Triple H up for a near fall from senior referee Earl Hebner. Benjamin scores two more close falls with roll-ups before Triple H scores a stiff spinebuster. Hunter shows Shelton the door, and Batista drops Benjamin's throat over the guardrail as Triple H detains the referee. Shelton crawls back into the ring at eight and Hunter gets his kick on all over Benjamin on the mat. Triple H puts his head down and Shelton fires up with right hands, but Hunter scores the facebuster and Benjamin tumbles out again. Orton tosses Shelton into the guardrail and Benjamin lands on his head. Benjamin crawls back in at nine and Triple H slaps him around on the mat. Benjamin scores the roundhouse heel kick out of the corner and both mean are down. Splash in the corner by Shelton and Hunter collapses to the outside. Benjamin goes out after him and slingshots Triple H's bean into the post. Benjamin slides into the ring just before the ten count. Triple H is still on the floor.
-HERE is YOUR Winner as the result of a Countout: Shelton Benjamin
Evolution, needless to say, four-on-one Shelton after the bell. Pedigree! Shelton is busted. Triple H hammers away on Benjamin while the other three hold him. Flair runs Hebner from the ring as Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley charge into the ring for the save. The trainer comes down to see to Benjamin, whose head is literally in a pool of blood.
COMMERCIAL
Battle Royal to determine the Number One Contender for the Women's Championship at Backlash featuring: Lita, Jazz, Nidia, Molly Holly, Stacy Keibler, Gail Kim and Trish Stratus
-Eric Bischoff joins the announcers and vows to make Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley pay dearly for what they did in the last match. Nidia is announced as hailing from Puerto Rico. Molly's wig is straight haired this week. This is Kim's first match back from injury...
COMMERCIAL
..We come back with only Lita, Jazz and Trish left in the ring. Lita and Jazz battle on the apron and Lita boots Jazz to the floor. Replays quickly recap the other eliminations (apparently you only had to be thrown out of the ring, not over the top) as Lita and Trish exchange slaps. Trish tries to dump Lita over the top, but nothing doing. Lita drives Trish to the apron, but Stratus battles back into the ring. CHRIS JERICHO makes his way down as Trish and Lita lock up again for more slapping. Lita monkey flips Trish over. Snap suplex by Lita, and she kips up. Right hands by Lita, followed by boots to Trish's belly in the corner. Clothesline in the corner by Lita as the crowd chants her name. Lita tries to shove Trish out, but Stratus kicks her away. Trish with a field goal style Chick Kick and an elbow drop. Jazz gets up off the floor and tries to get back in the ring, which allows Jericho to hook Trish's leg from the floor. Trish yells at Jericho, which allows Lita to land a dropkick that sends Stratus to the floor.
-HERE is YOUR Winner and the Number One Contender for the Women's Championship: Lita
Ross intros this week's Smackdown Rebound.
In the back, William Regal searches for Eugene Dinsmore, but runs into Garrison Cade instead. Regal comes upon a somewhat...slow young man, who turns out to be Eugene. Realizing he's been had, Regal takes Eugene to see Eric Bischoff.
COMMERCIAL
Jonathan Coachman joins the announcers. He recaps his green misting at the hands of Tajiri from last week.
Tajiri Vs. Christian
-Tajiri laughs at Coach as his passes the announcers. Christian stops Trish Stratus's ranting on his way to the ring, and tells her at Backlash it'll be the two of them versus Chris Jericho in a Handicap Match. She is not pleased. Tajiri starts in control with fast basics, but Christian comes back with a slingshot under the bottom rope. The Coach heads to ringside as Christian chokes Tajiri on the mat. Short dropkick by Tajiri, followed by the back handspring elbow. Tarantula! Christian ducks the Kick of Death and looks for the inverted DDT, but Tajiri steps out of it and nails Christian with a reverse kick. The Coach distracts Tajiri from the floor and Christian lands the Unprettier for the 1-2-3 at 2:23.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Christian
COMMERCIAL
Ross and Lawler recap the Backlash card as it exists so far.
In the back, William Regal leaves Eugene Dinsmore outside the general manager's office and goes inside to yell at Bischoff for saddling him with the boy. Bischoff insists Eugene is only "special." Bischoff demands to see his nephew, Regal insists that he's fine outside the office, but Eugene has toddled out to the announce position. JR puts a headset on Eugene and welcomes him to RAW. Eugene imitates the Bushwhackers and licks The King. William Regal comes out and leads Eugene away. I can hear the phones ringing at Titan Towers already.
COMMERCIAL
WWE Slam of the Week: Last week, Edge stopped Kane from delivering a second chokeslam to Tajiri.
Kane Vs. Rhyno
-They attack each other before the bell with Kane slamming Rhyno's arm into the ring post. Kane batters Rhyno on the mat, but Rhyno surges up hits the ropes and shoulder blocks Kane down. The middle rope has broken. Rhyno nails the Gore with his injured shoulder, but the delayed cover only gets two. Rhyno tries to press the advantage, but Kane catches him with a chokeslam for the 1-2-3 at 1:40.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Kane
Edge comes out immediately after the bell to attacks Kane. Edge apparently has a broken hand from training. Kane retrieves a chair from ringside, but Edge spears him with Kane regains the ring. Kane sets the chair up in the corner to break Edge's other hand, but Edge clobbers him with the cast on his arm and heads up the ramp. The crowd boos.
Chris Benoit and Shawn Michaels meet up in the back. They posture a bit about the Backlash Triple Threat, but Mick Foley arrives and leads them toward the ring. Johnny Nitro intercepts them and relieves Foley of his barbwire bat as per Eric Bischoff's orders.
COMMERCIAL
A video package highlights the Walking Tall premiere.
Eric Bischoff Interview
-As promised, Bischoff has some business to take care of. Chris Benoit, Bischoff demands you come to this ring. Here comes the World Heavyweight Champion. Bischoff calls out Mick Foley, and here he comes. Bischoff demands Shawn Michaels' presence in the ring, and the Heartbreak Kid obliges. All right gentleman, Bischoff will make this short and sweet. Next week on RAW, Benoit, Foley, and Michaels will team with Shelton Benjamin to take on all four members of Evolution. EVOLUTION IS A MYSTERY...here come Triple H with a sledgehammer. Hunter motions for his followers to come from the back, but they come through the crowd instead. Bischoff heads for higher ground as Evolution lays waste to the faces in and outside the ring. Sledgehammer to Michaels. RKO to Foley on the outside. Chair to Benoit's back by Triple H. Pedigree on a steel chair to Benoit. Evolution reigns supreme.
END OF SHOW