WWE RAW Report (05/23/05) - Green Bay, Wisconsin

WWE RAW Report
May 23rd, 2005
Report by: Prime Time & Rajah.Com

-The Finals of the Gold Rush tournament are recapped.

-About twenty security guards make their way out and stand on the ramp as Edge and Lita head to the ring. Lita starts off claiming that what she did to Kane, a lot of women do. Lita reminds everyone of all the things Kane did to her before and after they got married. Lita says she used Kane to take out Trish and do whatever she wanted and while Kane was doing that, she fell in love with a real man. She tells Kane that he never satisified her and that no man she has ever been with before Edge has satisified her. Edge then takes the mic and says the only reason why everyone says anything, is because they are all jealous. Edge says he's got the girl and tonight he'll get the world title. Edge lists all the wrestlers he's been through to get this title shot and he will win tonight. Bank on it. As Edge and Lita head to the back, Kane is shown backstage watching a monitor rocking back and forth. He looks heartbroken.

-Eric Bischoff is talking to some dude named Richie. Bischoff is going over details for the ECW funeral later tonight. Benjamin comes in and ask Bischoff for some more time before his match because Jericho is not here yet. Bischoff tells Benjamin that he has his hands full tonight and if Jericho doesn't show up, it will be handicap match.

Muhammad Hassan & Khosrow Daivari vs. Shelton Benjamin
-Benjamin starts off the match with some fast paced offense on both Hassan and Daivari. Hassan takes control of the match but Benjamin was back on the offensive after Daivari was tagged in. Benjamin tosses Daivari to the outside and Hassan comes in to try to regain the advantage but is met by Benjamin. Daivari tries to bring a chair into the ring, but is stopped by the ref. Benjamin attempts his T-Bone slam, however Hassan interrupts and hits his modified STO. Daivari covers Benjamin for the three.
Winners: Muhammad Hassan & Khosrow Daivari

-Jericho shows up and Todd tries to get a word from him. Jericho states that he can't talk because he has match coming up. Todd tells Jericho that the match already happened and Benjamin lost since it was a handicap match. Jericho tries to explain how Fozzy was in Australia and he lost track of time. He apologizes and asks Todd if Benjamin is still IC champ. Todd confirms that he is and Jericho says the Benjamin will get over the loss. Jericho then tells Todd to tell Bischoff he'll face anyone, one on one tonight. Todd asks Jericho if he feels bad and Jericho says he apologized, but he's not going to feel bad for having a life outside of wrestling.

-Christian and Tomko are looking over the Smackdown! roster and Christian says that Smackdown! needs some charisma. Edge and Lita walk in and propose a deal to Christian that if he helps Edge win the title tonight, he wouldn't need his money in the bank contract and he would give to Christian, if he wins, since odds are that Christian will remain on RAW. Christian seems to accept.

Chris Masters vs. Steven Richards
-Footage is shown over their previous match where Masters broke Richards' nose and orbital bone. Masters makes quick work of Richards with some high impact moves and finishes him off with the Masterlock for the win.
Winner: Chris Masters

-Backstage, Todd is letting Bischoff know what Jericho said. Bischoff tells Todd to tell Jericho his match is next. Bischoff also tells Todd that he wants to know what kind of mind frame Kane is in. Todd asks Bischoff if he wants to get security to bring Kane to his office. Bischoff tells Todd that he wants him to interview Kane and to ask the tough questions.

Chris Jericho vs. ?????
-Jericho comes out first and his opponent is announced as Sylvain Grenier. Grenier gets the early advantage and continues to dominate the match early. Grenier gets a long two count and argues with the ref and begins to yell at the fans. Jericho capitalize and hits a dropkick, followed by the Walls of Jericho for the win. Shelton Benjamin the makes his way out and Jericho gets on the mic and apologizes to Benjamin. He then states that since he does so much, Benjamin will have to get used to him being late and because he's Jericho, he can get away with it.
Winner: Chris Jericho

-Eric Bischoff is in the ring for the ECW Funeral. Bischoff starts off with the history of ECW starting off with how the wrestled in Bingo halls. He continues that ECW thought they were revolutionaries, but he was the man who crushed ECW. Bischoff states that he took ECW's wrestlers and had a better show, so he was shocked to see ads for the ECW PPV. Bischoff says that he will crush ECW again and he will get a group of volunteers from RAW who are going to buy tickets the PPV and they will destroy ECW and no one will be able to stop him. Vinnie Mac then makes his way out to a huge response. Bischoff then asks Vince if he's here to say a few words about ECW. Vince states that he is here for the opposite reason. He tells Bischoff that he has a vested interested in the ECW PPV. Vince says that for a few years the WWE finanically supported ECW. Vince says he hoped that one day the stars of ECW would be the superstars in the WWE, which they did. Vince names Foley, Dudleys and Austin as superstars that made it in the WWE. Vince gives Bischoff credit for killing ECW because while he was helping ECW, Bischoff was robbing them of their talent. Vince however, doesn't think ECW is dead because he hears the chants everywhere he goes, but the one company that is dead is WCW. Vince says that he lost some money when ECW went under so he hopes this PPV makes some money in return. Vinnie announces that the ECW rules match will happen tonight. Vince then states that he can't talk about ECW because he didn't create it. He then introduces Paul Heyman. I don't remember all the details, but Heyman tells Bischoff that ECW was more then just violence, but that they introduce Lucha Libre and great technical wrestling. Vince then tells both that he has nothing against RAW going to the ECW PPV to start a fight. Bischoff and Heyman both make comments how their brand will win. If you can, I suggest watching this segment, it was quite good.

ECW Rules:
Tajiri vs. Chris Benoit
-Tajiri attacks Benoit from behind with a kendo stick and tosses Benoit into the ring. Benoit tries to attack Tajiri, but Tajiri counters with some green mist. Tajiri goes around the ring and tosses as many items into the ring as he can find. Benoit gets tossed into a garbage can, but gains control of the match with multiple german suplexes. Benoit hooks on the Crossface and Tajiri tries to escape using the kendo stick, but Benoit uses the kendo stick to add more pressure to the Crossface for the win.
Winner: Chris Benoit

-Batista is shown backstage getting ready for his match when Flair comes in. Flair says that he has wanted to tell Batista something all week, but he can't find the words. Flair thanks Batista and extends his hand for a handshake which Batista shakes. Flair wishes him good luck tonight and leaves.

-Todd approaches Kane and asks him how he feels. Kane states that he only had one friend and no he hates her. He asks whether he deserves this considering all the stuff he has done. Kane says that he doesn't want to feel this pain that he has right now and that he only wants to give out pain. He then asks Todd to leave.

-Kane is shown leaving the arena.

-Maria is in the ring and she introduces Viscera who comes out in a suit. Maria tells Vis that she brought him out but she has an "interior" motive. Maria calls Lilian in the ring and asks Vis if he likes Lilian. Vis states that he waited for Lilian all night, but she never showed up. Vis says he still like Lillian and has a surprise for her. He gets music started and gets the lights dimmed. Vis gets Maria to get a hotdog from some fan and eats that too. Vis starts dancing and removing his clothes until the Coach interrupts him. Coach then disses Vis and tells him to leave the ring. Big Vis grabs the Coach by the throat and pummels him with some massive chops. Vis hits a samoan drop and rolls Coach out of the ring. Lilian approachs Vis and raises his hand in victory. Viscera then pulls Lilian in and plants a big kiss on her.

World Title Match:
Edge vs. Batista
-Batista gains the early advantage using his strength advantage. Batista knocks Edge to the outside which prompts Christian and Tomko to make their way out to ringside as we cut to a commercial. We come back from commercial with Batista still in control of the match. Lita distracts the ref which allows Christian to interfer. Edge rams Batista shoulder first into the steel ring post. Edge tries to win the match with a modified sleeper hold but Batista gets out. Edge regains the advantage by executing a standing dropkick. Edge attempts a high risk maneuver, but Batista catches him on the top and hits a superplex from the top rope. Edge attempts a flying forearm, but Batista ducks only to have Edge catch the ref. Batista signals for the powerbomb, but Tomko and Christian interfer. Edge, Christian and Tomko triple team Batista until Flair makes the save. Flair's momentum is short lived as Edge hits him with a spear. Batista gets back to his feet and eliminates Christian and Tomko, only to be hit with a spear from Edge, but Batista kicks out. Edge grabs his briefcase and tries to hit Batista, but Batista counters with a spinebuster. Batista hits his sitdown powerbomb for the win. After the match, Batista helps Flair up and they both embrace in the middle of the ring. Triple H's music hits and out comes the game sledgehammer in hand. As Triple H is making his way to the ring, Flair hits Batista with a low blow. Triple H enters the ring and hits Batista in the head with the sledgehammer. Triple H grabs the mic and asks Batista if he'll fight him now. Triple H then responds with "Hell in a Cell". Trips finishes Batista off with Pedigree on top of the World Title.
Winner: Batista