They show a recap from last week's RAW where Chris Benoit defended his world title against Shawn Michaels before the RAW opening hits. We're live from San Jose, California and tonight, Randy Orton takes on Edge for the Intercontinental title. Also, Eugene debuts in the ring against Rob Conway and Chris Jericho battles against Christian in a steel cage match.
Triple H vs. Shelton Benjamin
-As Triple H makes his way to the ring, we're shown clips from when Benjamin pinned him a few weeks ago. Benjamin comes out next and immediately takes down Triple H with an armdrag takedown as the match begins. Backslide for two by Benjamin and Triple H pops back up and walks into a fireman's carry takedown. Shelton then locks in an armbar but Triple H backs him into a corner to break the hold. There, Triple H drives his shoulder into Benjamin's mid-section as the crowd chants "You tapped out". Shelton then runs into a boot but shakes it off to deliver a powerslam for another two count. He then proceeds to hit a DDT for a near fall but them isses a shoulder charge in the corner and Triple H clotheslines him to the outside. With this break in action, Shawn Michaels runs in and starts wailing away on Triple H both inside and outside of the ring. Several other officials come to the ring and subdue Michaels as Triple H leaves through the crowd.
In the ring, Shawn Michaels grabs a mic and says he's not leaving San Jose until Triple H gets his butt back in the ring so he can finish it right here, right now. Eric Bischoff comes out and says that won't happen; he knew all hell would break loose tonight and he knows Shawn is upset at not winning the title. But enough is enough, he won't lose control of his own show which is why he has let Vince McMahon know that the first person to get out of line tonight will be made an example out of. With that, he summons security to go and escort Michaels out of the building. As of this moment, Shawn Michaels is officially suspended. As the security walks down, Michaels runs through the crowd and begins to assault Triple H again, but he's restrained and then presumably escorted out.
-Commercial-
We come back to see a recap of what just happened. They also show a series of clips highlighting Randy Orton's ascent to the top and his recent involvement with Edge leading up to their title match tonight.
Backstage, Evolution is comforting Triple H and they all agree that Shawn Michaels finally got what he deserved. Ric Flair then says that tonight, Randy Orton will beat and embarass Edge and Batista chips in and says that tonight, when he's done with Tajiri, they'll have to carry him out of the ring. Eric Bischoff joins in and asks Triple H if he's okay. Bischoff then announces that next week, Triple H will have his opportunity at the world heavyweight championship.
-Commercial-
Tajiri vs. Batista
-The match immediately heads outside where Tajiri hits Batista's head on the security wall but he's caught and rammed into there himself, back first. Batista then picks himself up again and drives him into the mat before hucking him back into the ring. Inside, Batista suplexes Tajiri and kicks him before driving his right hand into Tajiri's back and choking him on the bottom rope. Batista hits a sidewalk slam and whips Tajiri into the corner where he rams him with some shoulder blocks. He runs in once more but is caught with a couple kicks but Batista regains the advantage with a clothesline. Batista then tries for a powerbomb but it's countered into a modified DDT but it only results in a two count. Tajiri sets up Batista for a final kick but Batista blocks it and then picks him up and nails a spinebuster for the pinfall win.
After the match, Batista hits Tajiri with another spinebuster and starts kicking him. He then picks Tajiri up and hits him with a powerbomb. He begins to choke Tajiri out as green liquid pours out of Tajiri's mouth as JR speculates that he may have some internal injuries. After Batista leaves, paramedics come out to attend to Tajiri.
-Commercial-
Stacy Keibler Interview
-Stacy says that summer is almost here and so it means girls all over the world will be showing off their bikinis. She then plugs the new WWE Divas: South of the Border home video by showing some clips from it. This prompts Gail Kim and Molly Holly to come out. Gail is insulted that even though she pinned the women's champion last week, it's Stacy who gets the airtime. She asks Stacy if she claimed to be the hottest diva on the video (which she never said). Molly takes the pic and asks Stacy the same thing and as Stacy is nodding no, Molly hits her in the gut. This causes Victoria to come out for the save but Jazz runs out soon thereafter and beats her up. Finally, Nidia comes out and together they double team Jazz. Stacy, Victoria and Nidia remain in the ring as the heels Molly, Jazz and Gail back away from the ring.
-Commercial-
Backstage, Victoria, Stacy and Nidia talk about what just happened and JR announces that a six-women tag team match featuring those three and Jazz, Molly and Gail has been booked for later tonight.
Backstage, Chris Jericho is interviewed and says that he wants to know what Eric Bischoff is up to - namely why he promised Triple H a match next week for the title when that's what he was promised to. But he says he'll worry about that later because tonight his focus is on the steel cage match. Jericho assures us that tonight, he will make Christian realize just how rough Chris Jericho can be.
Randy Orton vs. Edge (Intercontinental Title Match)
-They tie up and push for an advantage but break when they realize that neither man has an advantage. Another tie up and Orton turns it into a side headlock but Edge breaks free and backs away and shakes his neck gingerly. Orton begins working away on the neck area with right hands but Edge whips Orton into the ropes and follows it up with a knee to the midsection. Edge delivers several shots to the lower back which drop Orton in the corner so Edge backs away again before pulling Orton to the middle and hitting a side suplex. Edge continues to work over Orton's back and curls him around the ring post and pulls on his legs and head. Double ax-handles by Edge and a cover but Orton kicks out. Orton manages to recover but misses a back bodydrop so Edge kicks him and clotheslines him to the outside where he whips Orton into the steel steps. Ric Flair storms out in disgust and as he goes over to check out Orton, we head to commercial.
-Commercial-
Randy Orton vs. Edge (Intercontinental Title Match) -- Continued
-As we come back, Orton gets a near fall on Edge. They show what transpired during the commercial, that being Flair's interference as he shoved Edge into the steps to give Orton the advantage. As both men struggle up and Orton gets another cover for two, Flair claps away in appreciation. Orton locks in some sort of back/neck breaker submission and then turns it into a modified Cobra Clutch. Both men are down and the count gets to six but Orton is up and walks into an inside cradle for two. Orton gets up again and heads to the top where he hits a high cross body, but his momentum rolls Edge on top of him for another near fall. The two then begin to trade shots in the middle but Edge gets the better of it, by pushing Orton off the ropes and into a back body drop, followed by a suplex for two. Edge then seats Orton on the top turnbuckle and tries for a suplex but Orton stops it and the two fight up there for a moment before Edge knocks him off and to the outside. Back in the ring, Edge hits a missile dropkick but Orton is able to kick out at the last instant. Match proceeds until Edge catches Orton into a wicked sitdown powerbomb but again, Orton slips out before three. Flair jumps onto the apron so Edge pushes Orton into Flair and then tries to spear the both of them. However, Orton jumps out of the way causing Edge to spear Flair, rolls Edge up, grabs a handful of tights and gets the pinfall victory to retain his title.
-Commercial-
Backstage, Eugene is shown stretching for his upcoming match tonight. Eric Bischoff walks in and Eugene runs over and hugs him. Bischoff wants a word with Regal about his training and prospects of wrestling. Bischoff reveals that he only promised his sister that Eugene get an opportunity to wrestle. So his idea is that if Eugene were to lose tonight, he'd be too disappointed to continue and he would fulfill his promise and would have no problems putting Regal back on the active roster after Eugene would leave. Regal understands what Bischoff means and assures him that he will make sure the best man wins tonight.
Victoria, Nidia & Stacy Keibler vs. Jazz, Gail Kim & Molly Holly
-Victoria and Jazz start things off and Jazz gets the better of it with some quick jabs but Victoria fights back only to run into a takedown into an STF. Nidia runs in and breaks up the hold so Jazz decides to level her before turning back to Victoria and driving her into one corner. Tag to Molly who is greeted by some clotheslines from Victoria but Molly pulls her by the hair and tags out to Gail who almost immediately gets pinned by Victoria. The heels double team a little so Victoria tries to pull Molly's wig off but Molly bails. Inside the ring, Gail puts that armbar/headlock move on Victoria but the other girls run in to break it up. With the other four battling it outside, Gail locks on another submission, a half Boston Crab, and gets Victoria to tap out for the second straight week.
-Commercial-
Backstage, Christian is interviewed and basically says he's not concerned because he has Tyson Tomko and Trish Stratus by his side. Christian says that tonight the winner out of his match with Chris Jericho will move onto bigger and better things and the loser can go home. He reveals that next week he's been promised the opportunity to become the new world champion.
As Christian and Tomko walk away, Trish scoots over to where Lita is and says she understands what she's going through. Trish then starts screaming and says "oh my God, it's Kane!" and without even looking, Lita to begins screaming only to turn around and see that there is no one there. Trish laughs and makes fun of her so Lita attacks until Matt, Christian and Tomko break things up.
Matt Hardy vs. Val Venis
-Matt and Lita come down first and await Val. Kane's voice is heard and we cut to the backstage area where Kane is shown throwing Val into a wall. Kane then says he asked Lita a question and he wants an answer within one week. He warns Lita that the answer better be the right one. Matt tries to find out what's going on but Lita doesn't want to talk about it.
-Commercial-
Rob Conway vs. Eugene
-As Conway is entering the arena, Regal assures Eugene that he shouldn't be nervous as he will be right by his side for the match. Eugene hugs Regal, who makes some unpleasant faces. Eugene heads to the top right away but them jumps down at the ref's request. He locks up with Conway who puts him into a headlock but Eugene takes him down just the way he learned last week. Eugene then counters a few moves and gets three near falls but Conway finally knocks him down and takes control. Eugene fights back with right and left hands before blocking a big boot and hitting an Atomic Drop. Eugene follows it up with an inverted Atomic Drop and then hits an airplane spin before heading to the top for an axe handle to the head of Conway. Eugene then hits a leg drop for a two count and tries to run off the ropes but Regal trips him. When Eugene turns around, Regal convinces him that he tripped on the ring apron. Conway takes this opportunity to try and hit Eugene from behind, but Eugene catches it in time and puts Conway in a pinning combination for the victory.
-Commercial-
Eric Bischoff and Johnny Nitro come out. Johnny announces that next week Trish Stratus will face Lita. Bischoff then takes the mic and addresses all the claims from various wrestlers about having an opportunity to win the world title. Bischoff says they're all right because next week, there will be a 20-man battle royal with the winner moving on to face Chris Benoit for the world title at Bad Blood.
-Commercial-
Chris Jericho vs. Christian (Steel Cage Match)
-Jericho baseball slides through the door and knocks Christian down before throwing him into the ring as the match begins. Jericho tries for the Walls of Jericho in the early going but Christian pushes him aside only to run into a series of chops. Jericho runs into one of the corners and tries to quickly jump out of the ring but Christian catches him and tries to make a break for it himself. Side suplex by Jericho for a two count. Jericho ends up making it to the top with Christian down but Tyson Tomko grabs a chair and threatens Jericho from the bottom. From the top of the cage, Jericho hits Christian with a high cross body and slowly tries to escape through the door. But Tomko walks up to it and kicks Jericho in the head (even though he pretty much missed). At this point, the referee finally decides to ban Tomko from ringside and he reluctantly and angrily leaves. Meanwhile, Jericho almost makes it out but Christian grabs his leg and drags him back in. Inside, the two go head-to-head but Christian back drops him into the cage. Jericho then side-steps Christian and drives him head-first into the cage. Jericho then picks Christian up and throws him into the cage a couple more times before raking his face along the cage too, busting Christian open. Modified bulldog by Jericho but Christian manages to kick out at two. Trish climbs up the side of a cage to distract Jericho but he ignores her and tries for another bulldog which is countered by Christian. Christian then picks Jericho up and hits the UnPrettier but he takes a long time to get the cover, allowing Jericho to kick out. Christian tries to climb out but Jericho is hot in pursuit and hits a double-armed suplex off the top rope. Trish then decides to take matters into her own hands by opening the door and taking a chair into the ring, but Jericho catches her and puts her into the Walls of Jericho. Christian sees this and quickly runs up the side of the cage trying to get her out but Jericho runs after him and catches him, before bringing him down. Back on the mat, Jericho locks on the Walls of Jericho but Christian tries to pull himself to the door. Jericho pulls him back to the middle and finally, Christian taps out.
-End of Show-
