Submitted by Rajah on January 06, 2004 at 00:10:03

Hello again everyone and welcome to your last rajah.com RAW report for the year 2003. I am your host Jason and tonight should be quite interesting. Let's get started...

Footage from two weeks ago chronicles Mick Foley walking out on his job as Co-General Manager rather than have a match with Randy Orton.

The music plays, the pyro blazes and we are LIVE from San Antonio, Texas. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler will have the call as tonight hometown hero Shawn Michaels will challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Board of Directors will decide the fate of Stone Cold Steve Austin, but FIRST...

Randy Orton Interview
-Orton comes out to Mick Foley's music to taunt the crowd before taking the ring, Intercontinental Championship in hand. Randy's taken some time over the holiday's to think about it, and anyone who thinks Mick Foley is a coward for walking out of the match two weeks ago is wrong. Foley's not just a coward; he's a smart coward. Walking out was the smartest thing Foley's done in his life. Congratulations, Mick, you made the right decision. The only problem two weeks ago is there was no official announcement as to who won the match. Orton calls Lillian Garcia into the ring and she announces Randy as the winner. That's not enough apparently, as Orton whispers something in Lillian's ear. She adds "and the new Hardcore Legend" to her announcement and Orton holds the belt aloft. CAN YOU DIG IT, SUCKA?...here comes Booker T. Randy needs to stop worrying about who isn't here and start worrying about who is. Booker has resolved to beat Orton for the IC title. Now can you dig that, suckaaaaaaa-Booker is attacked from behind by Mark Henry. Henry batters Booker on the stage as Teddy Long eggs him on until the RAW corps of referees arrives to run them off. Orton then saunters up the ramp and accepts Booker T's challenge.

In the back, Eric Bischoff stops the gloating Mark Henry and Teddy Long. Bischoff has a lot of problems, not the least of which being the board's meeting on Steve Austin. Teddy hears Bischoff, playuh, but he and Mark Henry want to cash in their Survivor Series favor. They'll get their favor, but for this week take the rest of the night off. Fine, but we'll get our favor next week, playuh. Buhleedat. Holla.

Commercial

Rob Van Dam Vs. Scott Steiner
-Lots of heat for Steiner when his music hits. Steiner jaws at the crowd at the bell before giving it to Van Dam as well. RVD starts with the thumbs and is promptly body slammed by Steiner. Van Dam ducks the clothesline and lands a short dropkick. Back flip splash. 1-2-kickout by Steiner. Van Dam drops Steiner in the corner and goes to the top, but Steiner hits the ropes and crotches him. Steiner goes up and belly-to-bellys Van Dam off the top. 1-2-RVD kicks out. Steiner boots RVD out of the ring and flips him into the stairs on the floor. Steiner rolls Van Dam back in and shoves him into the corner for chops. Overhead belly-to-belly. 1-2-Van Dam kicks out. Steiner ties RVD to the tree of woe and chokes him from the outside. Steiner goes back in and chokes Van Dam over the middle rope. Clothesline by Steiner and he drops the elbow. 1-2-Van Dam kicks out and Steiner works from push-ups. Van Dam gets a boot up on the corner charge off the whip and scores Rolling Thunder. Split-legged moonsault. 1-2-Steiner kicks out. Overhead belly-to-belly by Steiner stops the momentum. Steiner puts RVD on top and goes for another suplex, but Van Dam counters him back to the mat and absolutely tattoos him with a kick off the top. Five Star Frog Splash! Referee Chad Patton tolls the 1-2-3 at 6:08 and Van Dam takes it.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Rob Van Dam

Ross intros a Shawn Michaels Moment of HBK winning the WWE Championship from Psycho Sid at the 1997 Royal Rumble from San Antonio.

Commercial

WWE Rewind: Two weeks ago on RAW, Chris Jericho and Christian turn on each other during separate matches.

In the back, Jericho and Christian argue over who turned their back on who. Christian says Jericho ditched him for a girl.

Ross throws to Jonathan Coachman, who is live in Stamford, Connecticut for the meeting of the board of directors. Linda McMahon will argue before the board in favor of Steve Austin's return to RAW. Coachman catches Mr. McMahon entering the boardroom and he reveals that he will argue against Austin's return himself. Mr. McMahon is confident that the board will see things his way...and he likes Coach's hat.

Ross and Lawler intro a video package of Smackdown's Christmas in Baghdad.

Commercial

The Dudley Boyz Vs. Eddie Kramer & Russell Simpson
-Earlier tonight, the Dudleys gave their feelings on Mick Foley's walkout, saying he's become a coward. Music hits before the bell and Ric Flair styles and profiles his way to the ring to act as the special guest referee for the match as ordered by Eric Bischoff. Kramer starts with D-Von with Dudley in control off a slam, but Kramer avoids the elbow drop. Tag to Simpson, who gets double flapjacked by the Dudleys. Bubba chops away on Simpson in the corner and mocks Flair's strut. Bubba drops Simpson with a right hand and Flair gives him a stern warning about the closed fist. Bubba nails Simpson with several more right hands and goes for the bionic elbow, but Flair steps in and calls for the bell at 1:51. Can't use those closed fists, Bubba.
-HERE are YOUR Winners as the result of a Disqualification: Russell Simpson & Eddie Kramer

Bubba levels Flair with a closed fist after the bell, but Batista storms the scene and lays waste to both Dudleys.

Another Shawn Michaels Moment shows us HBK's comeback victory over Triple H in a Street Fight at Summer Slam 2002.

Commercial

In the back, Eric Bischoff has assembled the RAW corps of referees in the locker room. Bischoff commends Ric Flair for what he just did in the Dudleys match and says it's about time that WWE Superstars started respecting their authority as well.

Ross throws back to Stamford, where The Coach is with Mr. McMahon. The WWE Chairman says Steve Austin has done a great deal for WWE in the past, but he has to look toward the future. There's no place for Austin in WWE. How does Mr. McMahon account for over one million people signing the petition to bring Stone Cold back? Simple, the fans don't always want what's best for them.

Back in the arena, Terri gets the word from the Santa-attired Lita, Trish Stratus and Stacy Keibler. They start to talk about what Santa brought them this year when a black pick-up truck backs into the frame and almost kills them all. It's Stone Cold Steve Austin, honking his horn and being obnoxious in general. He's here to wait for the call from the board of directors.

Commercial

WWE Sting of the Night: Two weeks ago on RAW, Mick Foley walks out on RAW covered in Randy Orton's saliva.

In his pick-up, Steve Austin waits for the phone call from the board.

Randy Orton Vs. Booker T for the Intercontinental Championship
-Referee Mike Chioda holds the belt aloft at the bell and we're off. They tie up and roll into the corner, where Chioda orders the clean break. Booker wrestles his way into a side headlock and nails Orton with a shoulder black off the ropes. Orton powers Booker into the corner and boots him in the gut. Booker floats over in the opposite corner off the whip and lays in some chops. Spin kick but Booker and he gets a near fall. Orton flapjacks Booker's throat over the top rope and gets two himself. The crowd is totally dead for some reason. Booker fires back with right hands and works the backslide for two. Hard clothesline by Orton gets two before Randy settles into the reverse chinlock on the mat. Booker fights up and Orton eats elbow on a corner charge. Heel kick by Booker T, followed by some right hands. They slug it out and Booker scores a flying clothesline for a near fall. Bicycle kick by Booker T. Spineroonie! Orton avoids the scissors kick, Booker counters the RKO and Booker lands a different kick for a near fall. Booker looks to press the advantage when the fires of hell erupt and KANE makes his way toward the ring. Booker is distracted and Orton sneaks in for the RKO and the 1-2-3 at 5:59.
-HERE is YOUR Winner and STILL Intercontinental Champion: Randy Orton

Orton hightails it out dodge as Kane enters the ring and lays waste to Booker T.

Commercial

Another Shawn Michaels Moment shows us HBK winning the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first ever Elimination Chamber Match.

Back in Stamford, Jonathan Coachman gets the word from WWE CEO Linda McMahon. Linda says the will of the fans with respect to Stone Cold Steve Austin is difficult to deny. Coach asks Linda about her personal vendetta against Eric Bischoff and she says Austin's presence on RAW balances Bischoff's power, not undermines it.

Back in the arena, Chris Jericho gives Trish Stratus a Christmas present, which she promptly lays into him for. What did Chris get out of the bet and the win at Armageddon? You know what Trish got? She got her heart broken. Trish is in tears. Jericho tries to explain he's made a mistake, but Trish says the mistake was hers and runs off.

Commercial

Stone Cold Steve Austin is still in his truck out back with his phone rings, but it's not the board of directors.

Miss Jackie, Victoria & Molly Holly Vs. Stacy Keibler, Lita & Trish Stratus in a Six-Woman Happy Holidays Match
-All the girls are in Santa-esque attire, that's the only difference between this and a regular match. Victoria attacks Stacy at the bell; ducks a high kick and tag Molly in. Molly taunts Stacy, but Keibler whips her into the corner and boot chokes her. Stacy hair mares Stacy out of the corner and tags Lita. Lita headbutts Molly in the belly and rolls her up for two from referee Charles Robinson. Molly gains the advantage with elbow drops and chokes Lita on the mat. Lita manages another roll-up. 1-2-broken up by Miss Jackie. Molly regains the advantage with a seated surfboard and cheap shots Trish on the apron. Lita takes Molly over with a flying headscissors and makes the tag to Trish who comes in off the second rope with a Lou Thesz press. Stratusphere to Molly. Stratusfaction to Molly! 1-2-3. Trish pins the Women's Champion at 3:22.
-HERE are YOUR Winners: Trish Stratus, Lita & Stacy Keibler

The face girls leave as Victoria helps Molly up, only to lay her out again with the Women's Championship belt.

In the back, Steve Austin gets the call he's been waiting for. Stone Cold's back on RAW...as Co-General Manager. Wait a minute; Austin said he only wanted to come back under HIS terms, under HIS conditions. If that's the best the board of directors can do, they can take their job and shove it. Austin slams the phone shut and peels out of the garage.

Is that art imitating life or what?

Commercial

Ross and Lawler recap what just happened with Steve Austin. King says Mr. McMahon is a genius for the way he maneuvered Austin out. Ross, needless to say, is pouting.

Commercial

Shawn Michaels Vs. Triple H w/Ric Flair for the World Heavyweight Championship
-HBK gives the glad hand to senior referee Earl Hebner before Hunter is introduced. Hunter gets a handshake from Flair before the bell and we're off. They start with some basic wrestling that leads to a Michaels side headlock. Hunter tries to shove him of into the ropes, but HBK holds on. Hunter gets free, but Michaels levels him with a shoulder block. Hunter responds with a reverse elbow, but HBK drives Hunter into the corner with right hands. Triple H throws Michaels over the top, but HBK skins the cat back in and takes Triple H over and out with a head scissors. Flair gets up on the apron and is knocked off with a Michaels right hand. HBK planchas out onto both Hunter and Flair and wipes them out. Michaels returns to the ring as Triple H and Flair regroup. Hunter gets back in and Michaels grabs an arm wringer. Michaels moves into an arm bar and leverages Triple H to the mat. Hunter tries to hip toss out, but HBK counters and armdrags Triple H to the mat, settling back into the armbar. Hunter get to the ropes and Michaels lets go. Hunter ends up straddling the middle rope, so HBK kicks it up into Triple H's groin. Enraged, Triple H charges and gets levels with a Michael right hand. They slug it out in the corner and Michaels scores some chops. HBK sends The Game hard into the corner and Triple H flips out backward over the top and to the floor. Michaels fetches Triple H back into the ring and grabs a sleeper. Hunter tries to back suplex out, but Michaels counter and rolls him up for two. Shawn gets another two after a bridge up into a backslide before getting the boot up on the corner charge. Michaels charges at Hunter in the corner, but The Game backdrops him out all the way to the floor. Triple H collapses in the middle of the ring as Michaels reels on the arena and we go to...

Commercial

..We come back as Triple H hotshots Shawn across the top rope. Hunter pulls HBK into the ring and drives the boots to his gut in the corner. Triple H chokes Michaels with the boot as referee Hebner admonishes. Shawn surges back with right hands, but Hunter cuts him off with a back breaker. 1-2-Michaels kicks out. Triple H mounts Shawn and hammers away with right hands to Michaels' head. Hunter drops the elbow on Michaels' lower back and stalks Shawn. Right hands by Triple H send Shawn to the mat. 1-2-Michaels kicks out. Two more right hands by Hunter, but Shawn comes back with rights of his own. Hunter leverages Shawn to the outside and goes out after him. Triple H flings Shawn hard into the steel steps and returns to the ring. Lawler stops a big knot on Shawn's shoulder that could be a separation. Hunter drags Shawn back in, but Michaels works the sunset flip for a near fall. Frustrated, Hunter goes for two covers of his own, but Michaels gets the shoulder up. Hunter cinches in the abdominal stretch near the ropes, but Michaels won't give in. Flair grabs Hunter's hand for extra leverage behind the referee's back. Shawn finally fights back and hip tosses out. Chops by HBK, followed by a kick and more chopping. Michaels ducks the clothesline, but Triple H scores with the high knee. 1-2-Michaels kicks out. Hunter's knee seems hurt as he limps after Shawn. Michaels quickly seizes the opportunity with a knee breaker and cinches in the figure-four leg lock. Flair is beside himself as Triple H screams in agony on the mat. Hebner rattles off a few two counts as Hunter's shoulders make contact with the mat at the same time. Shawn drags Hunter to the middle of the ring, but Flair sneaks in and rakes Shawn's face behind the referee's back. Michaels moves in on the prone champion, but Triple H leverages him right out of the ring. Michaels quickly returns and goes to the top. He dives, but Hunter meets him with a boot to the gut. Here comes the Pedigree? No, HBK backdrops out and both men are down. The referee gets to eight before they rise and slug it out. Shoulder block by Michaels, who then collapses headfirst into Hunter's groin. Flair wants a DQ, but Hebner starts the count as both men are down. He gets to five before they rise for more punches. They exchange blows and chops in the corner. Inverted atomic drop by Michaels, and another. HBK ducks the clothesline, scores the flying forearm and kips up. Shawn to the top and he drills Hunter in the heart with the flying elbow. Michaels tunes up the band as Triple H struggles to his feet. Flair is up on the apron. Shawn drives him off and ducks a Hunter right hand, but The Game lays Hebner out by accident. Shawn looks for Sweet Chin Music, but Hunter counters into a DDT. Everyone is down. Flair recovers first and slide the World Heavyweight Championship belt in to Hunter. The Game waffles Michaels with the belt as the referee comes around. Triple H makes the cover. 1-2-thr-NO! Michaels gets the shoulder up. Hunter goes for the slingshot, but Michaels is sent into Hebner who tumbles to the outside. Here comes ERIC BISCHOFF. Bischoff checks on Hebner as Triple H removes a top turnbuckle. Hunter goes for the whip, but Shawn reverses it and Hunter eats the exposed steel. Shawn collapses onto Hunter and Bischoff dashes into the ring to make the count. 1-2-Hunter gets the shoulder up. Hunter is busted. Shawn mounts Triple H in the corner for ten punches. Hunter collapses to the mat, Shawn makes the cover and Bischoff makes the count. 1-2-thr-NO! Triple H gets the shoulder up. Hunter scores an inverted atomic drop and covers. Bischoff makes the count. 1-2-Shawn still gets the shoulder up. They stagger to their feet and...SWEET CHIN MUSIC! Shawn collapses onto the flattened Triple H. Bischoff with the count. 1-2-3! HBK has done it at 29:15. Fantastic match.
-HERE is YOUR Winner and STILL World Heavyweight Champion: Triple H

That's right; Bischoff has announced Triple H as the winner. Shawn is understandably upset. He grabs Bischoff, but Eric says Shawn's shoulders with both down at the same time that Triple H's were and, as Shawn well knows, in such a tie situation, the champion retains the title. Don't believe Bischoff, check out the footage. The TitanTron replays the end of the match and, sure enough, all four shoulders were down for the entire three count. Bischoff made the right call.

Bischoff starts to gloat in Michaels' face and Shawn backs him into the corner. Flair attacks from behind. He chops away at Shawn in the corner, but HBK surges back and backdrops The Nature Boy. Shawn then decks Bischoff and leaves the ring. He gets to the ramp and Bischoff grabs the mic and calls him back. Want to lay hands on Bischoff, Shawn? Well guess what? You're fired! Happy New Year!

The glass breaks and here comes Stone Cold Steve Austin now. Austin hits the corners and says he's back...under his terms...under his conditions. Austin rehires Michaels. There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Stone Cold Steve Austin. Stunner to Bischoff.

In Steve Austin's own words: BOORRRRRRRRRRRR-RRIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGGGGG

END OF SHOW

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