- Our regular RAW reporter should be back with his usual report next week. The following is from PWTorch.com:
Report by: Mallory Mahling, pwtorch.com
Raw was live tonight from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. It was the first Raw from Biloxi in seven years.
Quarter Hour 1
The show opened with a recap of the chaos General Manager Eric Bischoff encountered upon his return from an extended vacation. Since the decision regarding the World Heavyweight Championship had been dropped in his lap, he'd announced it would be decided in an Elimination Chamber Match at New Year's Revolution.
Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed viewers to the show.
Bischoff came out in person to do some 'splaining about the rules for the Elimination Chamber and to announce tonight's line-up. The participants in the Elimination Chamber Match would all have "Beat the Clock" matches tonight. The one who won his match in the shortest amount of time would get to enter the chamber last. Then the GM introduced the guest timekeeper for tonight, Christy Hemme--always a class act.
The first Beat the Clock match would feature Chris Jericho.
(1) Beat the Clock #1: Chris Jericho over Christian (w/Tyson Tomko). If Jericho did not win, then Christian would get his spot in the Elimination Chamber, according to a new stipulation by Bischoff. The crowd immediately started chanting "Y2J" as a time clock in the corner of the screen kept track of the time. (What in the world did they need Christy, the Guest Timekeeper, for?) Each wanted a pin as soon as possible, and there were almost constant pinning attempts. Christian put Jericho in a rest hold, then the pinning predicaments resumed. Jericho began to take control of the match, and Christian went over the side and landed on his head. Springboard crossbody to the outside by Jericho, who landed squarely on Tomko and Christian.
(Commercial break)
Quarter Hour 2
Returning from the break, the two collided in the center of the ring. Back on their feet, Jericho came off the ropes with a crossbody and got a near fall. Christian with a near fall, as well. As Tomko argued with the ref, Jericho drop kicked him off the apron. At 10:47 into the match, Christian tapped out to the Walls of Jericho, and Chris Jericho secured his spot in the big PPV match.
Backstage, Triple H, Ric Flair and Batista were deep in conversation. Triple H was concerned about who his opponent would be. Batista tried to get into his head, which caused Triple H to nervously bet Batista $100 he could win his match faster than Batista could. Ric Flair tried to talk sense to them, but put over Triple H as the winner.
A giggling Maria asked Randy Orton his thoughts; he said his New Year's Resolution was to walk out of New Year's Revolution with the title. Orton told her not to go anywhere, since his match would be over before he could say, "RKO."
(Commercial break)
(2) Beat the Clock #2: Randy Orton over Maven. The clock was ticking backwards this time. Maven was doing whatever it took to win the match, including sending Orton into the ring steps. Maven with punches and posing, which got him boos from the crowd. Maven was dominating Orton. As for Orton's pre-match boasting, he could have said "RKO" about a million times by now. Maven sent Orton to the outside, where Orton seemed to regain control of the match. Crossbody from the top rope by Orton, who gave Maven an RKO and covered him for the win. Orton won the match in 6:14 and will go on to the Elimination Chamber Match.
(Commercial break)
(3) Lita vs. Molly Holly in a non-title match. Good even action from these two aggressive ladies, but it was a fairly short match. Lita with a DDT and a pin on Molly (who had landed right on her head).
Suddenly the reason for such a quick match became apparent. Gene Snitsky came out and chased Lita to the back and stalked her up and down the hallways. She found a door with a lock, as Snitsky begged her to come out and play. Bischoff walked by and asked him what he was doing, then told Snitsky he'd meet Kane in the ring at New Year's Revolution. The Big Snit didn't look too happy.
(Commercial break)
Quarter Hour 4
(4) Simon Dean over Rosey. Rosey was already in the ring waiting from Simon Dean to come out. Simon headed to the ring with his gym bag and a few insults for Rosey and the audience. He said he was surrounded by a bunch of porkers in Biloxi, and the camera focused on a guy in the audience who looked like one of the Godwins.
Rosey had heard quite enough and got the match started. Big Rosey sat on Simon and nearly squished him. "Simon Sucks" chanted the crowd. Rosey gave Simon a swift kick and a couple of clotheslines. Simon came off the ropes, but Rosey caught him. Simon put on his weight belt to lift Rosey, but he needn't have bothered since he didn't get the chance. As Rosey and the referee argued about using the weight belt as a weapon, Simon rolled Rosey up for a quick pin.
(Commercial break) Triple H is a Triple Threat--buy the book, the movie tickets, and this month's issue of "Raw Magazine."
(5) Beat the Clock #3: Edge over Eugene. Edge got the match started before Eugene had even taken his jacket off. He began to fling Eugene from pillar to post, but Eugene sent Edge to the outside. Back in the ring, Eugene began to battle back. Standing dropkick by Edge and a near fall. Edge was getting frustrated by his inability to pin Eugene. They ran the ropes, then Eugene slipped out of the ring to slap hands in the crowd. The clock was ticking down as Eugene continued to waste time, thus letting the clock run down so that Edge could not beat the time. Spear by Edge, which sent Eugene to the outside. The clock buzzed, and Edge had lost his opportunity for the quickest match. Stunner by Eugene. Edge was out on the mat, and Eugene slowly crawled over to make the cover. Edge got a shoulder up just in time. Eugene ran his knee into the turnbuckle, so Edge worked on the knee and put Eugene in a submission hold. Eugene finally tapped out, giving Edge the win.
Bischoff was on the phone with someone who was on his way to the show. Coach barged in with a late Christmas present for the boss--a pair of sunglasses--which the GM did not appreciate. Bischoff said that the special guest referee for the Elimination Chamber Match was on his way, and when his name is announced, not one person in the match will be happy about it.
(Commercial break)
Christy Hemme had changed clothes during the commercial and was sporting a longer skirt this time.
(6) Beat the Clock #4: Chris Benoit over Viscera. Viscera? He was about three times the size of Benoit, but Benoit was not taking any crap from him. Benoit tried to get Viscera off his feet, but after a collision with Viscera's foot, Benoit was down. Modified Samoan Drop and cover by Viscera, but Benoit got his shoulders up. Sidewalk slam by Viscera when Benoit went for the Crippler Crossface. Benoit with a suplex on Viscera (amazing to see), then he put him in the Crippler Crossface. Viscera held out, but finally tapped, giving Benoit the win in 5:43. This may have been Viscera's best match ever.
Stacy Keibler was walking with a purpose. The King said she was coming out to give us her New Year's Resolution.
(Commercial break)
On behalf of the WWE family, Stacy thanked the fans for making 2004 a great year. She also thanked the fans for making her Babe of the Year, and said she would bend over backwards and forwards...
Some Middle Eastern music hit and Hassan and Daivari came out and interrupted the King's day dream.
Stacy told Daivari she wasn't finished, but he rudely grabbed the mic out of her hands and screamed at her. She left and Daivari introduced Hassan. As the audience booed him, he ranted on and on and on about his beliefs. Yeah, whatever. By now, the audience was hooting at him and chanting "USA." He concluded by saying his New Year's Resolution was to beat some sense into America. (As if.)
Daivari went over to the announce position and yelled at the King and J.R. Lawler took exception to his comments, and he and Hassan stood nose-to-nose as Daivari stirred the pot. Fortunately, it was time for a...
(Commercial break)
J.R. seemed to have a cut on his cheek. The King was still furious about the churlish behavior of the Arab-Americans.
(7) Beat the Clock #5: Batista over Rhyno. Christy had changed her clothes AGAIN. Batista seemed to be toying with Rhyno, but Rhyno got a near fall early. Rhyno's gore was stopped by Batista's spinebuster. After a Batista Bomb, Batista said he had time for one more. Following the second one, Batista pinned Rhyno in 3:02, setting the new time to beat. Only Triple H's match was left, and he's going to have to be quick if he wants to beat Batista's time and become the last person to enter the Elimination Chamber.
Highlights were shown of the Smackdown Christmas Tribute to the Troops. If only Lawler hadn't mentioned Hassan and Daivari during the introduction. By doing so, it tended to cheapen and exploit the good things WWE accomplished with the trip to Iraq.
Bischoff asked Candace (who always seems to be hanging out in his office) about her Christmas holiday. (Who cares.) She began to whine about not getting a white Christmas when Coach barged in and said the special guest referee had arrived.
Hassan was the next bargee. He stormed in with Daivari and wanted to know what Bischoff was going to do about all the hate directed at them. They wanted a match, but Bischoff said they could have a debate instead. Next week, in the middle of the ring, Hassan and Daivari will have a verbal sparring match with Lawler and J.R.
Triple H was livid that Batista had beaten the clock. Batista said he was sorry, but Rhyno had "pissed him off." He said Triple H was beginning to "piss him off," too. Uh oh.
Ric Flair tried to settle them down and gave them a rah-rah Evolution4Life speech.
(Commercial break)
Benoit, Orton, Jericho, and Edge were sitting at ringside to watch Triple H's match. Batista accompanied Triple H to the ring, then took a seat with the other contenders.
Triple H exchanged looks with each of them, except Batista, who wouldn't look Triple H in the eye.
(8) Beat the Clock #6: Triple H over Shelton Benjamin. Triple H was in a hurry to pin Benjamin within the short time frame he had. Benjamin got slammed into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Triple H gave him a spinebuster, and the clock was ticking. Triple H went for a Pedigree, but Benjamin reversed it. Sleeper hold by Triple H with less than 30 seconds on the clock. Benjamin seemed to be fading, but got his foot on the rope just as the buzzer sounded. Triple H had not seen Benjamin's foot on the rope and began to argue with the referee. Benjamin rolled up the inattentive Triple H for a near pin. Spinning heel kick and cover by Benjamin. More near falls by Benjamin, but Flair ran out to distract the referee. Shelton had Triple H pinned, but, of course, the ref didn't see it. Pedigree and a cover by Triple H, who won the match.
Bischoff came out to introduce the special guest referee..."the one, the only, HBK." "Sexy Boy" hit and Shawn Michaels danced out as the six contenders pitched a collective fit.
