Submitted by Rajah on January 13, 2003 at 23:12:31

We start with video of Triple H’s creation of an arm wrestling match against Scott Steiner, and Steiner’s subsequent arm-whooping of Triple H, so to speak.

Dudley Boyz vs. Rosey, Jamal, Rico & Batista
-The Raw music video plays, the Dudley Boys’ pyro explodes, and we are LIVE for the first Raw of 2003! Tonight, Triple H and Big Poppa Pump will go at it in a Pose Down Challenge, but first... The Dudleys make their way to the ring. Bischoff’s music hits and the General Manager of Raw and Chief Morley come out on stage. Bischoff says there will be some changes in the new year. Namely, a change in attitude. He rolls clips of the Storm/Regal vs. Lawler/JR match, including the Dudleys’ interference that allowed JR to hit Regal with the brass knuckles for the win. Bischoff says the Dudleys’ actions were a slap in his face, and it’s over right now. 2003 will be the Year of Eric Bischoff, and that means everyone in this company and all the fans will show him the respect that he deserves. And if you don’t, you will pay the consequences. That starts tonight when the Dudleys get a No DQ Handicap Match where they will be beaten to a bloody pulp. The only reason the referee is there is to count 1-2-3 when they get tired of beating the Dudleys’ asses. Rosie, Jamal, and Rico come out, to the Dudleys’ delight. Bischoff introduces Three Minutes’ partner, one of the 15 Raw Rumble Superstars: Batista. Flair and Batista come out and join Three Minutes. The Dudleys start with a bit of an advantage while facing just Three Minutes. They are able to clear Rosie and Jamal from the ring and 3D Rico. But in comes Batista, who spears BuhBuh down hard, much to Bischoff’s delight. Rosie and Jamal come back in and stomp away on D-Von, while BuhBuh is tossed from the ring. Outside, Bischoff and Morley stomp on BuhBuh, while inside, D-Von is laid out. Rosie and Jamal go out to take on BuhBuh while Batista bearhug slams D-Von. Batista pins, but the ref refuses to count. Bischoff tells the ref to count it or he won’t have a happy new year. The ref reluctantly counts, but Batista pulls D-Von up to continue the match. BuhBuh runs in and starts punching away on Batista, but Rosie comes in and hits BuhBuh with a belly-belly. Ric Flair comes in and straps the Figure Four on BuhBuh, as Jamal goes up top. With Flair still locked in, Jamal hits a flying splash on BuhBuh. D-Von crawls up, only to be hit with the toss-up Samoan Drop. Batista pulls D-Von up and hits the sit-out powerbomb. He pins, but again the ref won’t count. He is forced to drop down and count the 1-2-3!

After the match, they all continue beating on the Dudleys. Morley picks up D-Von to let Bischoff smack him across the face. As Bischoff and crew begin walking up the ring, we hear JR pleading with King not to do something stupid because there are too many of them. Fade Out.

As we come back, Storm and Regal are at the announce booth, yelling at JR and Lawler. They say they’d love to get revenge, but they have to continue teaching the Dudleys their lesson. They go to the ring and start strapping on submissions. Regal puts on the brass knuckles and cracks BuhBuh in the face, busting him open.

In the back, Triple H is posing in the mirror in preparation. Flair comes in and says his project is working nicely. Trips says he's sick of people talking about Scott Steiner. His arm was killing him from Armageddon when he took on Steiner at arm wrestling, and he doesn't get respect for that? Flair says he's the best man going today, and tonight he'll humiliate Steiner. Was Scott Steiner ever a cover story in Flex magazine? Steiner comes in and takes the magazine away. Steiner says he kicked Trips' ass at arm wrestling, he'll do it tonight in the Pose Down, and he'll do it at the Rumble for the Title. And if Triple H tries anything, he'll tear his head off. Fade Out.

Trish Stratus & Jacqueline vs. Victoria & Molly
-Trish comes down, followed by her partner, Jacqueline. Their opponents come out together, Victoria and Molly, joined by Stevie Richards. Jacqui and Victoria start off, with Jacqui hitting an armdrag. Victoria trips her up and stomps away, then hits shoulder thrusts in the corner. Tag to Molly. Molly goes second rope and hits an ax handle into Jacqui's back, then a handspring back elbow 1-2-shoulder up. Molly knocks Trish off the apron, causing the ref to keep Trish from coming back in, allowing Molly to strap on a reverse chin lock, while Victoria straps on a Boston Crap, fully pulling Jacqui off the mat. Jacqui is able to push Victoria into Molly and tag in Trish. Trish takes down Molly then starts kicking away on Victoria. Spinning heel kick by Molly 1-2-broken by Molly. Molly and Jacqui fight outside. Molly runs in the ring just as Trish flips over Victoria and rolls her up for a pin. The ref is too busy with Molly to see the pin, allowing Richards to run in and knocks Trish backwards, allowing Victoria to grab the tights. Molly tells the ref to count, which he does 1-2-3!

In the back, Terri asks Booker and Goldust, the Tag Champs, what the new year will hold. Booker couldn't believe Bischoff called this the Year of Bischoff. If that's true, then we're in a lot of trouble. Booker says this will be the year of Goldust and Booker T, if you can dig that.

We cut to Bischoff's office, who screams that that is exactly what he's trying to stop. He grants Storm and Regal a Tag Title match tonight, screaming that he won't put up with this. Fade Out.

Chris Jericho/Shawn Michaels Interview
-The Y2J Countdown hits 0.00 and out comes the Ayatollah, the Living Legend, the King of the World, Chris Jericho. Ever since WrestleMania last year, he has had a recurring dream. He returns to WrestleMania and regains his World Championship. He doesn't care who it's against. He will get his shot, because it's the most important thing in his life. It's not about having to prove himself. It's not even about the Title. It's about being regarded as the best in the world. He will always be Chris Jericho: Highlight of the Night. But he wants his Title shot, and the best way to get it is to win the Royal Rumble. He spoke with Eric Bischoff today, and as of right now, Chris Jericho has been entered in the Royal Rumble! Moans fill the arena as the Show Stopper, the Icon, the Heart Break Kid, Shawn Michaels comes to the ring. He knows he and Jericho have gotten off to a rotten start, but he didn't come out here to upset Jericho. He came here to take issue with the idea that Jericho could be considered the best. He's not going to argue it. He's just going to inform Jericho of something. They have more in common than you can imagine, and in Jericho's mind, he probably believes he is the very best. But Jericho needs what Shawn always needed. Sometimes for guys like them, being the best just isn't enough. They need everyone in the arena and watching the show and everyone in the back to acknowledge them as the very best. And for that to happen, you have to volunteer to be the Number One entrant in the Rumble, outlast all others and win your shot, then go to WrestleMania and win the Title. Then, everyone will have no choice but to recognize Jericho as the best in the business. Jericho says he knows Michaels is patronizing him, trying to remind everyone that Shawn Michaels is the only man to win the Rumble from the Number One spot. He's trying to insinuate that the only way to achieve greatness is to do what Michaels has already done. Well let Jericho remind Shawn of something. When Jericho won the Undisputed Title, he beat two men that HBK has never beaten, and he beat them on the same night. So don't start telling Jericho what it takes to be the best. Michaels tells Jericho to prove it by going and volunteering to be the Number One entrant. If Jericho doesn't, Michaels will go and volunteer and he'll show Jericho how it's done. Jericho asks if that means Michaels is in the match, and HBK confirms it. So if Jericho wants to prove he's the best, he'll have to go through Michaels. Jericho says that if he has to go through Michaels anyway, why wait til the Rumble? Why not do it tonight? Jericho takes off his shirt and Michaels puts down the microphone. RNN Breaking News! Randy Orton comes out in person and walks to the ring. He tells them to hold on. It's news that Shawn Michaels is in the Rumble, but the real news is that Randy Orton's shoulder is up to 93% mobility. He asks if Michaels is jealous that his comeback story is more inspirational than Michaels' was. Shawn may think he's a good looking guy, but there's a new Sexy Boy in town. Orton says that when his shoulder is back to 100%, Michaels won't want to be around. Michaels clocks Orton, allowing Jericho to knock Michaels down from behind and attack. He tries to put on the Walls, but RVD runs down and knocks him away. Orton and Jericho team up on Van Dam, and are joined by Christian in the beating. BOOM! Kane's pyro explodes and the Big Red Machine clears Orton, Jericho and Christian from the ring. Fade Out.

Booker T & Goldust vs. William Regal & Lance Storm
-Booker and Storm start off, with Booker getting a hammerlock, but Storm hitting back elbows. Booker clotheslines Storm down and scoop slams him. Knee drop by Booker, as we see Bischoff watching anxiously in the back. Tag to Goldust, who hits a flying fist. Knee drop by Goldust 1-kickout. Storm hits a jawbreaker and tags in Regal. Goldust hits a back body drop. Regal comes back, but Goldust flips him and hits a shoulder block 1-2-kickout. Tag to Booker. Chops in the corner by Booker, who then goes for the 10 Punch, but Storm guillotines him. Regal hits an uppercut and chokes Booker with his knee. Tag to Storm, who smashes Booker into the turnbuckles then elbows him down 1-2-shoulder up. Sleeper by Storm. Tag to Regal who beats Booker down and makes a choking pin for a two count. Sleeper applied by Regal, but Booker fights up and out. Regal hits a running knee and tags in Storm 1-2-broken by Goldust. Side headlock by Storm, but Booker tries to punch out, only for Storm to trip him and apply a forearm crossface. Again Booker fights up and out, then hits a reverse thrust kick. Tag to Goldust. Uppercuts by Goldust to both men, then a clothesline to Storm and an Atomic Drop and a clothesline to Regal. Powerslam on Storm 1-2-broken by Regal. Booker punches away on Regal in one corner while Goldust beats on Storm in the other. Thump to Regal. Goldust lifts Storm in a bearhug and Booker calf kicks him out 1-2-Regal kicks the referee in the face. Booker and Goldust clear the ring of Regal and Storm but fall from exhaustion as well. To be continued. Fade Out.

Booker T & Goldust vs. William Regal & Lance Storm
-As we come back, Booker gets a two count on Storm from none other than Chief Morley who came down to referee during the break. Booker goes for a jumping calf kick, but Storm ducks and Booker nails Morley. He goes to pin, but there is no ref. Finally Nick Patrick runs down and counts 1-2-shoulder up! Tag to Goldust. Goldust battles Storm into the corner and sets him for Shattered Dreams, but Regal knocks him away and allows Storm to run outside where Regal nails a clothesline. He rolls Goldust into the ring where Storm pins 1-2-shoulder up. Tag to Regal. Side gutwrench suplex by Regal 1-2-broken by Booker. Forearms to the back by Regal. Tag to Storm, who hits a snapmare and applies a chinlock. Goldust uses the crowd to fight up and out of the hold, hitting a mini-chokeslam on Storm. Goldust crawls and tags in Booker. Knockdowns by Booker, then a back body to Storm. He chops away on Storm in the corner, then hits a flapjack. Spinaroonie by Booker, then the scissors kick 1-2-Morley pulls Patrick out of the ring! Regal puts on the brass knuckles and lays out Booker T and Goldust. He lays Storm on top of Booker. Morley comes back in 1-2-3! Regal and Storm are the new Tag Team Champions! Fade Out.

In the back, Regal and Storm talk with Bischoff and Morley about upholding his values as Tag Team Champions.

JR and King talk briefly about the Raw 10th Anniversary show that goes down a week from tomorrow. At the show there will be awards like "Best Entrance in Raw History", "Most Dangerous Move in Raw History", and *dun dun dun* "Greatest Match in Raw History."

Chris Nowinski vs. Test
-Stacy and Test come down, followed by the odd pairing of Chris Nowinski and D'Lo Brown. Earlier today, Nowinski asked D'Lo to be in his corner tonight. He understands that Stacy, the refs, and the fans are all prejudiced against such a smart black man. He understands because they all hate him for being intelligent as well. Back live, Test tosses Nowinski away to get in shots on D'Lo, but Nowinski comes back and clubs Test in the back. He rams Test's shoulder into the ringpost and applies an armbar. Test slams Nowinski and sees D'Lo putting the movies on Stacy again. He gets in between them before guillotining Nowinski. back in the ring, Test continues to take it to Nowinski. He hits a back eblow, then hits another to D'Lo. Full Nelson Slam by Test 1-2-shoulder up. D'Lo grabs Test's leg and Nowinski runs at them, but Test sidesteps and Nowinski nails D'Lo. Test hits the spinning DDT 1-2-3! After the match, D'Lo runs in and hits Test with the Sky High. Fade Out.

In the back, Jericho is talking to himself when Christian comes in. He tells Jericho that he has entered himself in the Rumble too. Jericho says that's great because Christian can help him win. Christian says he's going to win. Jericho says he's the first Undisputed Champion, but Christian has won every major Title except the big one. Jericho is a three-time tag champ, but Christian is a nine-time champ. Jericho says that makes Christian a nine-time loser, but Christian counters that Jericho's beard is stupid. Jericho badmouths Christian's tattoo, prompting Christian to pull out the "At least Shawn Michaels didn't kick my face off" card. Finally Randy Orton comes in and breaks it up, saying they have nothing to fear with him in their corner tonight.

We see that, while Steiner has never been on the cover of Flex magazine, he did have a coverstory in Ironman magazine. We look at each man preparing for the Pose Down, which goes down next. Fade Out.

Triple H vs. Scott Steiner (Posedown)
-Triple H comes down first. Coach allows him to explain the rules of this Pose Down. Trips has been fed up with people talking about Scott Steiner this and Scott Steiner that. So before he beats Steiner at the Rumble for the Title, he's going to beat Steiner right here at his own game. So they're going to go pose-for-pose and the winner will be the one with the physique to be a World Champion. He can't let all the fans judge because they're too jealous of him, so he's going to pick out six people that he deems suitable to judge a body building event. He looks around and pulls out the six guys who just happen to be sitting down and not screaming to be picked. He gives Coach a piece of paper and tells him to call out three mandatory poses for them. As the six judges take their seats in the ring, Trips shows them their cards, one which says Scott Steiner, the other which has the Triple H logo. Whomever they deem has the better physique, they will hold up that card. Steiner comes out and Coach reminds them that you only get 15 seconds for each pose. Triple H takes off his jacket to reveal his Heavyweight Title belt that he forgot to take off. He takes it off, waving it right under Steiner's face. First pose: front double bicep. Trips stretches and attempts his pose a few times, whereas Steiner just stands and flexes. Second pose: side flex. Trips does his pose, while Steiner does his little taunt. Trips catches a glimpse of Steiner's bicep and loses concentration. Third pose: most muscular. The two men start flexing in each other's face, almost going at it a few times. Judge #1: Triple H, Judge #2: Triple H, Judge #3: Triple H, Judge #4: Triple H, Judge #5: Triple H, Judge #6: Triple H. There you have it, your unanimous winner, Triple H. Steiner knocks Coach away and takes the mic. He yells at the judges, calling it a set up. He asks all the freaks in Phoenix to decide who the real winner is, and they pop for Steiner, hollering because they hear him. Trips gets the mic and says he doesn't need to go on the turnbuckle and get some idiots to tell him something he already knows. The judging panel said he was the winner, and that's as fair as any panel has ever been. He knows Steiner is embarassed, and he knows that body building is a subjective sport based on opinion. And these mens' opinion was that Triple H is better. So what could be more objective? How about... push-ups? Trips says they should go one-for-one in a push-up contest. They go face to face and start doing push-ups. They get to ten, when the judges leap up and start beating down on Steiner! Steiner eventually fights up and starts knocking them away. Overhead suplex to one, then a military press slam to another that leaves Triple H amazed. Fade Out.

Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Kane & Rob Van Dam
-Jericho and Christian come out, seemingly having made up. They are joined by Randy Orton. RVD comes out, followed by Kane, followed by their special guest, Shawn Michaels. As we return from commercial, a four-man brawl has already begun. RVD tosses Jericho out, then Kane slams Christian out on top of him. RVD sommersaults over the ropes onto the pile. In the ring, RVD and Jericho start off, with RVD taking Jericho down and going up top, but Christian tosses him to the floor while Orton distracts the ref. Christian tags in and clubs away on RVD. He smashes Van Dam's face into the mat. Tag to Jericho, who flips Jericho and hits three elbow drops 1-2-kickout. Snapmare by Jericho, who wrenches back on RVD's arms. Van Dam uses the crowd to fight up and out of the hold, but Jericho pulls him back down and keeps him from tagging. Tag to Christian. Punches by RVD, then the mule kick. Christian applies a front facelock to try to keep Van Dam from his corner, but RVD pushes Christian back and tags. Jericho however was able to distract the ref and keep him from seeing the tag. As the ref tries to keep Kane from the ring, Randy Orton pulls Van Dam outside and beats him down. Shawn Michaels runs over and gives Orton some Sweet Chin Music. Jericho tosses Michaels into the stairs and goes into the ring. Van Dam is able to ram Christian's shoulders into the ringpost and take down Jericho with spinning heel kicks. Tag to Kane. Clothesline in the corner to Christian. Big Boot to Jericho. Sidewalk slam to Christian 1-2-broken by Jericho. Christian and Jericho go for the suplex, but instead Kane suplexes them both. He goes up top and hits Christian with the flying clothesline. He calls for the end, but Jericho interrupts him. While Hebner forces Jericho from the ring, Christian low blows Kane and pins 1-2-shoulder up. Jericho comes back with chairs and they go for a ConChairTo, but Kane ducks and they smack the chairs against each other. Michaels pulls Jericho from the ring and they start to fight up into the stands. Van Dam goes up top and hits a flying spin kick on Christian, then Kane chokeslams him. RVD goes up top and hits the Five Star, and Kane pins 1-2-3!

In the back, Bischoff and Morley are still congratulating with Storm and Regal, saying he is glad with the way Raw turned out. Next week will be better, with Regal taking on Jerry Lawler. Bischoff gets a phon call and suddenly looks very down. That, he says, was Vince McMahon's secretary. Vince is going to be on Raw next week. Bischoff gives a dejected sigh as we End Show.

Please credit Rajah and Rajah's WWF News and Rumors! if using this news