WWE RAW Report
Aired LIVE! From NC State University
March 7th, 2005
Reported by: The Worm, rajah.com RAW reporter
We get a clip from last week where Triple H destroys The Hurricane as well as the later confrontation between Batista, Triple H, and Ric Flair.
It's HBK coming down to the ring first. As he enters the ring, we see a clip from last Monday where Kurt Angle ambushes HBK after HBK defeated Edge in the street fight.
He's got the stick in hand and despite what happened at the Royal Rumble, HBK was really hoping that Kurt Angle and HBK could go to Wrestlemania, tear the house down, and leave each and everyone of the fans something to remember for years to come. Last week, Angle changed all that. After 15 minutes of the most brutal street fight of HBK's career, arm raised in victory, Angle took it upon himself to go to RAW, and leave HBK bloodied, beaten, and unconscious.
HBK is a doormat for absolutely nobody and that's why he decided to show up on Smackdown last week.
[Footage from last week's SD airs where Angle thinks a hooded figure is HBK only to have a cameraman reveal himself to be HBK and a fight between Angle and HBK ensues]
Need HBK remind you Kurt Angle that was not his first barbeque, that was last week. Again, last week, as I laid on the trainer's table getting the ten stitches in his head, HBK thought to himself. Where did all that rage come from? It's been a long time since HBK felt that rage from another man. It occurred to him, he knows that rage, it's the rage that comes from doubt and unanswered questions. You see Kurt Angle, despite all the Olympic gold medals and Olympic accolades, and all the World championships both in his amateur and professional career, he's never had the chance to go to the biggest stage of them all and display his ability against Mr. Wrestlemania, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels. He never had a chance to hookup with the chairman of the board. Well, Kurt Angle, this is the WWE and we make dreams come true. On April 3rd, in LA, he'll get his chance to find out why HBK is called the Showstoppa. Once and for all, we're going to find out who is the greatest performer of our generation.
Angle comes up on the Tron and he's not in the arena. He's at the WWE Studios. Angle congratulates him and he says his issue goes all the way back to 1996. It was the year he trained his ass off and broke his neck to win a gold medal at the Olympics. After all the stuff he did, people always asked him when he'd go pro. People keep asking him about Shawn Michaels and it ate him up. HBK is one of the best of all time, but to even suggest HBK is the greatest wrestler of all time is an insult to him and everything he's done. He may not be able to go back in time, but on Smackdown, Kurt Angle is going to do everything HBK has ever done in his 16 year career in four weeks.
We see Triple H with his belt heading towards the ring to get ready for his upcoming match.
- Commercial Break -
The WWE Rewind recaps Triple H assaulting The Hurricane last week.
Batista is featured on the new issue of Flex Magazine.
Match #1:
Non-Title
Triple H (C) vs. Rosey:
Triple H tries to go after Rosey before the match begins, but Rosey gains the upper hand and now he's taking it to Triple H. Triple H is whipped, he goes for the Pedigree early, but Rosey counters out. Rosey slams Triple H and he goes up top. Rosey tries for a moonsault, but Triple H rolls out of the way.
Triple H quickly crawls onto Rosey and starts to punch him. He then chokes him in front of the ref, and afterwards begins to argue with him. Triple H kicks Rosey out of the ring and then whips him hard into the steel stairs.
Triple H punches Rosey in the back of the head before getting him into the ring. Triple H whips Rosey and watch as Triple H delivers a spinebuster to Rosey like he was nothing. Triple H picks him up into the Pedigree and it connects to win the match.
Winner: Triple H
Post-match, Triple H grabs a sledgehammer from under the ring and he stares at it longingly. He pounds it on the stairs to show that it's real and then rams it into Rosey's gut. He talks to it a bit and then kisses it (I'm kidding, but you'd think that he was in love with it) before leaving the ring and raising his arms in triumph. To cap off the hilarity, you should have heard Triple H's "scream" before we went to commercial (It's sounded like someone who's been inhaling helium with a dry and scratchy throat...it's tough to put into words, but hopefully you'll understand what I was getting at).
- Commercial Break -
Christy Hemme was on hand to sign copies of the latest issue of Playboy. That issue will hit newsstands this Friday.
Triple H enters the locker room praising his sledgehammer and all the damage it can do. Ric Flair is in the room as well and Triple H wonders what is wrong with him, but Flair tries to say that nothing is wrong. However, Flair is worried about his match with Batista. Triple H made the match, and while Flair still has doubts, Triple H tries to get him pumped up. Flair won't be going alone either. Triple H will accompany him and he'll be bringing his sledgehammer as well.
We then see Jericho with Benoit, Edge, Christian, and Shelton Benjamin. Bischoff comes in and they're there about the 6 way ladder match. They're all participants, and at first, Edge wants nothing to do with it. When Bischoff mentions the World title, Edge changes his mind. The object of the 6 way ladder match will be to climb the ladder and grab the briefcase that will be suspended above the ring. The person who grabs that briefcase will be guaranteed a World title shot, and to further sweeten the deal, the winner can choose when to have that title match, but it has to happen within a year.
- Commercial Break -
I was about to grab something to eat when RAW came back on. Our next match sees a ladder sitting in front of the ring, but there are no ladder matches scheduled for tonight.
Match #2:
Christian (w/ Tyson Tomko) vs. Kane:
Kane is Christian's surprise opponent for tonight, and I can't see good things coming from this. I think JR said that Kane will be the sixth man in the six way ladder match.
Christian attacks Kane before he can enter the ring, but Kane overpowers him and he hits the snake eyes. Kane uppercuts Christian and then puts him in a corner to stomp a mudhole. Kane sends him to the opposite end, but Christian ducks out and with the ref's back turned, Tomko gets in a cheap clothesline.
Christian stomps away at Kane before choking him with his hands. Christian clubs on Kane's back, but it doesn't seem to affect Kane a whole heck of a lot. Christian jumps on the back of Kane to latch on a sleeper, and Kane is beginning to fade away. Kane recovers and drops Christian in a sidewalk slam.
Kane whips Christian into a corner and quickly clotheslines him. He whips him to the other end and catches him in a tilt-a-whirl slam. Kane signals for a chokeslam, but Christian ducks out of it and instead gets hit in the face with a boot. Kane goes up top for a clothesline, fighting off Tomko in the process, but Christian ducks out of the way. Kane wins it with a chokeslam.
Winner: Kane
Post-match, Tomko assaults Kane with the ladder and then the duo leave. Kane sits up and he is pissed while Christian looks on with shock.
Randy Orton and Stacy Keibler are backstage talking and what he's about to say in the ring later tonight is gonna shock the world. Stacy questions his motives, but Randy feels it's something he must do and he's going to issue his challenge.
- Commercial Break -
The King plugs Subway and their new sandwich, the chicken bacon ranch (I've tried one and they're good).
JR then talks about Piper's Pit returning at Wrestlemania 21 and it's time for the next match.
Match #3:
Chris Jericho vs. Edge:
They lock up and Y2J backs Edge into a corner before the tables are turned. We get a clean break and they lock up again. Y2J goes behind Edge and then Edge reverses. Y2J wrenches Edge's arm and twists it into a hammer lock. Edge reverses it and puts Y2J into a headlock. The two continue to exchange holds as Y2J puts Edge into an armbar submission.
Y2J gets backed into a corner and Edge nails him in the gut. Edge is whipped, but as he fights out of the corner, Y2J lands on the apron. Y2J eventually gets Edge into a cross armbar, but Edge is able to get Y2J into a pinning predicament, but he quickly gets out and holds the armbar. Edge comes back with a rake to the eyes and Y2J is a corner as Edge rams his shoulder into Y2J's back. Y2J fights back with chops, until Edge punches him. Edge gets hit with the climbing enziguiri, and Y2J goes for the running knee, but Edge rolls out of the way only to be met with a springboard dropkick. Y2J follows it up with a suicide cross body over the top as we go to commercial.
- Commercial Break -
(I think I noticed a sign in the crowd that said Edge Screwed Lita...anyone wanna tell me if that was true or am I just seeing things?...Correction: I was emailed from a couple people saying that sign actually said "Edge Speared Lita". Thanks!!)
Returning to RAW, Y2J is kicking Edge in the gut as he is able to retain control of this match-up. Y2J punches him in the head to knock him down and then kicks away at him. He puts Edge up in a corner as he continues to work on Edge's arm. Y2J puts Edge into another corner, and he delivers a hard clothesline. He goes up top, but Edge recovers and knocks him off.
Y2J headbutts him, but it doesn't help a lot as Edge comes up off the top with a sky high superplex. Edge gets up and kicks Y2J in the back. He drives his knee into his back a couple times before knocking Y2J out of the ring with a baseball slide.
Edge comes off the steel stairs with a double ax handle before tossing Y2J back into the ring. Edge continues to work on Y2J's back as he locks onto a body scissors. Y2J elbows Edge's knee to unlock his legs and Y2J nails a couple of straight punches, but he is hit with the kitchen sink by Edge.
Edge chokes Y2J on the middle rope and then mocks his running knee. Y2J comes back with a clothesline to counter the move and both men are down again. Y2J is the first up as he hits come chops. Edge reverses a whip only to be it with a forearm. Edge ducks a clothesline attempt, but Y2J fires off a DDT. Y2J gets Edge into a hurricanrana pin, but Edge kicks out.
Edge's arm gets wrapped around the top rope, but Edge is able to whip Y2J. Y2J kicks out and he hits a missile dropkick. Y2J follows it up with a bulldog and he then tries for a Lionsault, but lands on his feet as Edge delivers a boot to the face. Edge pins Y2J, but Y2J kicks out.
Edge whips Y2J into a corner, but Y2J gets up on the middle rope, only to be kicked in the gut as he jumps off. Y2J gets Edge into an arm wringer and then he tries for the Walls, but Edge kicks him off to send him into the ref.
The two continue to exchange offense as Y2J charges after Edge only to be met with a boot to the face. The ref is still out as Edge signals for the Spear, but Y2J sidesteps him and sends him to the outside.
Edge grabs the ladder and puts it into the ring. Edge tries to use the ladder , but Y2J uses a drop toe hold to his advantage and then lands the Lionsault on his back.Y2J tries to pin him, but there is no ref to make the count.
Edge recovers enough to ram the ladder into Y2J's gut and then sends it to the outside. Edge lands the Edgecution (I wish JR would call it that, just like I wish he'd call Shelton's "spinning heel kick" the Dragon Whip. Edge's "sharpshooter" is the Edgeucator and the slam from behind is the Edgeomatic) and wins the match.
Winner: Edge
Bischoff and the Coach are talking and Bischoff is pitching a new idea to the Coach, called "Pick Your Poison" Monday. For one week, Batista will pick Triple H's opponent and the week after that, Triple H will pick Batista's opponent.
- Commercial Break -
Randy Orton's World-Shocking Announcement:
I can't help but think that even as a babyface, Orton still has that cocky look like he was a heel.
Orton begins by doing some reminiscing about watching wrestling as a kid and seeing his dad, Cowboy Bob Orton, perform and he'll be honored this year by being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
If there's anything he's learned, that is if you wanna stand alone, you have to do something unique. When he entered the WWE ring, he did that. He became known as the Legend Killer. True, he made a lot of choices that weren't very popular, but in the business it's definitely not all about a popularity contest. It's all about making an impact, and he's going to do what no man has ever done before. He claims he will defeat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania (and therefore ending his winning streak at Wrestlemania). Undertaker, you're 12-0, you're the Dead Man, you're the Phenom, you're most definitely a legend and that's why he chose to challenge him and he wants to put an end to his winning streak.
At Wrestlemania 21, the legend of the Undertaker will become a myth, courtesy of the Legend Killer.
Bischoff interrupts him and he comes out with a mic in hand. Congrats, Randy, congratulations on making such a brave challenge. Congratulations on challenging the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. The Legend Killer vs. the Legend. He's gotta tell Orton that it's going to be one hell of a night. Not only will HBK defeat Angle, but Orton will single-handedly end the Taker's streak. Bischoff wishes him good luck and Orton has something else to say. He asks if Bischoff used to run WCW and when he was in charge, wasn't it true that for 88 straight weeks, he beat the WWE in the ratings?
Orton continues to piece together that what Bischoff has done makes him something of a legend, and Bischoff begins to say it's true, but then he realizes what's happening. He turns to leave, but Orton grabs him and delivers the RKO to end the segment.
The announcers run through the current Wrestlemania lineup, and I can't wait to hear how the Undertaker will answer Orton's challenge.
Backstage, Benoit is getting ready for his match with Shelton Benjamin.
- Commercial Break -
Match #4:
Non-Title
Chris Benoit vs. Shelton Benjamin (C):
Shelton climbs up the ladder to show off his belt, and it seems like his pop isn't as huge as it has been.
They lock up and Shelton wraps around Benoit. They begin to exchange amateur holds until they reach a standoff. Benoit gets hit with a fireman's carry and the two continue to exchange holds until they reach another standoff. Benjamin backs Benoit into a corner and they shove each other until they begin to exchange blows.
The two match each other move for move until Benoit suplexes Shelton over the ropes and clocks him. A massive holy shit moment comes when Benoit goes for a suicide dive, but ends up taking out the ladder and bending it rather than hitting Shelton Benjamin (who ducked out of the way).
Back in the ring, Shelton misses a Stinger Splash causing Benoit to connect with the rolling Germans. I'm having a hard time following this match, but Benoit manages to hit another trio of Germans and Benoit signals for the flying headbutt. He goes up, but as he flies off, Shelton rolls out of the way.
Benjamin puts Benoit in a Oklahoma pin, but Benoit kicks out. Shelton goes for a suplex, but Benoit floats over and he tries for the Crossface, but it's countered into a backslide. Benoit tries for the Sharpshooter, but Benjamin counters it into an inside cradle. Shelton tries to go for the Dragon Whip, but it's countered for the first time ever that I can possibly remember as Benoit ducks and gets Shelton into a crossface. Shelton almost gets to the ropes until Benoit rolls over and Shelton is forced to tap.
Winner: Chris Benoit
The latest Wrestlemania commercial parodies a movie I'm not familiar with. The Undertaker walks away from a car accident, and finds an injured guy laying next to a shotgun. At the end, the guy calls Taker a bitch, causing him to turn around, cock the shotgun, and shoot him (though you don't actually see him fire the gun, but you can hear the shot when the WWE logo is showing). (Thanks to Robert T. for telling me that this was a parody of the movie, Dirty Harry)
When we return, Bischoff is in his office recovering from the RKO when Hassan enters and he is pissed that he wasn't included in the six way ladder match.
Hassan is not pleased with the GM as they leave the office and the Smackdown Rebound begins to play. It basically just recaps the US Title match between John Cena and Orlando Jordan, where Jordan becomes the new champ on account of the Cabinet's interference.
We see Tajiri and Regal ogling Christy Hemme's photos in Playboy when Trish comes up and swipes the magazine away from them. She is disgusted with what she sees.
- Commercial Break -
Christy Hemme is making her way out to the ring in a blue dress. We see a recap of the unveiling from last week where Christy ends up getting "SLUT" spray-painted across her back.
She's got the mic and she's out there because she has something important to say. She needs to say it face to face to Trish Stratus. Christy calls Trish out,and Trish makes her way down to the ring.
Trish wonders how she's doing but rather than let her speak, Trish does the talking for her. Trish plugs the magazine for Christy and if you ask her to autograph the magazine, she'll print "SLUT" on it. Actually, the reason Christy is out is because she wants to challenge Trish for the WWE Women's Championship at Wrestlemania.
Back up a second, Christy, she thinks Christy just challenged her, and she realizes Christy is serious. Honey, Trish is a six -time women's champion, and if you get into the ring with her, it won't be for lingerie pillow fights or to shoot t-shirts. Trish will end her career, but it is what Christy wants. Trish accepts the challenge, but she wants to be humored. She wants to know why Christy would think she has a chance of winning. Someone's been training Christy to wrestle, and Trish jokes that it was Hugh Hefner, but no, it's someone Trish knows very well.
All of a sudden, Lita's music hits and the crowd has erupted! Lita's back as she stares down Trish, but all of a sudden Christy grabs Trish from behind and delivers a Twist of Fate!
Triple H and Ric Flair are getting ready for the upcoming match when they're stopped by Bischoff. Bischoff will not let Triple H go out with his sledgehammer and either he gives up the sledgehammer or Triple H will not go to ringside. Bischoff puts his foot down as he stares Triple H in the face. Triple H gives it up, but they're all pissed as we go to commercial.
- Commercial Break -
Next week in the Pick Your Poison match, Batista has chosen that Triple H will be facing Chris Benoit, who he has yet to defeat in one on one competition.
Main Event:
Ric Flair (w/ Triple H) vs. Batista:
Batista's sporting a new entrance video, but he's still got the same music.
They lock up and Batista shoves Flair down. Flair leaves the ring and Triple H psyches him up. They lock up again, but again Batista shoves him down. Flair WOOs, but Batista flexes, scaring Flair. Flair pokes Batista in the eye and then tries to chop him, but it doesn't affect him.
Batista whips Flair, and he hits a shoulder block. He whips him again and hits a back body drop. Flair backs into a corner, and Batista goes up to hit the 10 punch. Batista gets off to stare at Triple H, but Flair does his trademark flop.
Batista picks Flair up and connects with a sidewalk slam. More taunts are exchanged by Triple H and Batista, allowing Flair to hit a chop block on Batista's left knee. Flair chokes Batista in front of the ref and then squishes his head with his boot. Flair hits another chop block and then drops an elbow on the knee.
Flair is continuing to work on Batista's left knee and then he kicks Batista in the head. Flair hits a low blow as the ref distracted and he then decides to lock in the Figure Four. Flair gets some help from Triple H, but Batista is quick to roll Flair over.
Flair chops away at Batista, but it still doesn't affect him and Batista punches Flair. Flair is whipped, but he elbows out of the corner. Flair goes up top, only to be thrown off. Flair gets clotheslined in the corner as Batista picks up and drops him down into a modified powerslam.
Flair is whipped again, only to be met with a rather weak spinebuster. Batista does the thumbs up/thumbs down thing again as Batista picks Flair up into the Batista Bomb. Batista knocks Triple H off the apron and he connects with the Batista Bomb to win.
Winner: Batista
Post-match, Triple H nails Batista with a chop block and then goes underneath the ring to get another sledgehammer. Triple H gets ready to use it until Batista blocks it and Triple H is scared. He yanks the sledgehammer away from Triple H and Triple H pleads for mercy, but Batista takes the sledgehammer and breaks it over his leg. Triple H high-tails it out of the ring and he can't believe at what he's seeing.
END OF SHOW
