RAW starts with a dedication to the US Armed Forces. We forget the sacrifices it takes to stay a free nation. Freedom is not free. Taps are played and a number of touching and poignant stills are shown. Quite well done, as usual for WWE.
Vince comes strutting down to the ring. JR and King discuss a few of the matches slated for later in the show.
Vince says he’s happy to be here tonight. But that wasn’t the case several weeks ago when he wasn’t happy at all. Nothing can be good when you watch one of your family suffer. Vince shows video of HHH nailing Shane with a sledge.
Vince says HHH says it was an accident. Vince would like to state . . . He yells at someone in the crowd to shut their mouth. He says Shane is no longer suffering from migraines. He also says HBK was taken out last week by the SQ. Video of SQ disassembling HBK.
Vince says it might be rude, but he’d like to have a word with HBK. He tells HBK not to listen to what the crowd is calling him. The crowd is chanting, “Asshole” at Vince but he makes it out as they are calling HBK that. So the crowd starts chanting, “HBK.” Vince’s response to that is that the fan still seem to remember his name.
Vince wants him to know that even though he has to go under the knife, there will always be a place for him in the WWE. He can always set up the ring, be a time keeper or a ring announcer.
But he reviewed the video of what HHH was supposed to do last week. HHH stalls, Kenny takes the sledge and HHH takes apart the SQ. Vince asks who HHH thinks he is. He may think he’s a great competitor, but there was the accident with Shane and then the thing with SQ last week. Tonight HHH will be facing Kenny.
He’s about to leave but then says he’s supposed to announce the new GM. He’s gone all over the world but hasn’t found anyone worthy of the job. So he is appointed an executive assistant.
Coach comes out and says tonight Cena will be facing someone he’s never faced before. Cena is slated to face RVD at ONS. But Vengeance is before that, so tonight will be a #1 contender match. Edge versus Big Show. The winner will face Cena at Vengeance. Also, Shelton will put the IC Title on the line against Kane. Coach then kisses up to Vince for this incredible opportunity.
Vince then tells Coach he wants to see HHH in his office right away. Vince then says the title match will start now.
Kane comes down to the ring and Vince leaves. Shelton Benjamin then comes down trying to look all bling.
Shelton, which runs right into Kane’s fist, a couple times, throws a punch to no avail. Kane telegraphs and gets kicked. Shelton goes out on the apron and Kane nails him with a big boot to the face. Shelton falls to the floor.
- Commercial
Shelton has a headlock on Kane in the center of the ring. Shelton drives his knee into Kane’s back while continuing the hold. Kane flips Shelton over his head onto the mat. Kane then sits up when Shelton thinks he has it won.
Kane nails an uppercut and a clothesline in a corner, then nails a sidewalk slam before climbing. Kane nails a flying clothesline, then calls for the chokeslam. Shelton reverses the chokeslam and covers Kane for two with Shelton’s foot on the ropes. Kane gets Shelton up on his shoulder. Shelton reverses it into a DDT. Shelton then splashes Kane in a corner. Kane then is able to chokeslam Shelton.
But the lights go down and Taker’s voice talks. Fire erupts on the Titantron with a Kane mask rotating in the middle and a fake Kane comes out dressed as Kane did way in the beginning - full red and black costume, one glove, hair and mask. His hair is a bit too frizzy and his build is not quite right - too short and too compact, he looks just okay. He climbs in the ring and they stare each other in the eye. The Fake Kane chokeslams Kane to the mat and then has the fire erupt from the corners before leaving the ring area. He walks up the ramp and slowly turns to look over his shoulder at Kane who’s laying prone in the ring before exiting outback. Shelton is no where to be seen through all this.
- Commercial
Heyman narrated an ONS promo.
Video of what just happened to Kane. The announcers are very confused.
Outback Coach is asking Carlito if he knows where HHH. Carlito says he hasn’t seen him. Coach then asks Estrada. Estrada says he hasn’t seen him, but there’s something Coach needs to know in his new position. He introduces himself using all three names. He then says if Vince needs anything Estrada is the man.
Vis comes up and throws Estrada into a wall and threatens him for what he did to Vis last week.
Vince says hello to HHH in his office.
HHH asks to make sure things are okay between them he says the thing with Shane was an accident. Then with Kenny it was because Kenny got in his way when was trying to do his job. That’s why he’s taking apart Kenny tonight.
Vince says that since HHH is so unhappy with the whole Spirit Squad maybe the match tonight should be a little different. HHH will be facing Kenny, but the rest of the SQ will each be in a corner.
HHH asks if it’s a Lumberjack Match.
Vince says it’s a Spiritjack Match.
HHH thanks him so much for doing this for him tonight. And that if the other SQ members decide to get involved, he will be bringing a friend of his own - meaning his sledge.
- Commercial
Big Vis comes down to the ring. Lillian has a sweet smile on her face while announcing him. Umaga attacks Vis from behind as he walks down the ramp. Umaga DDTs Vis onto the steel ramp. Umaga rolls Vis into the ring and Lillian looks upset.
Umaga climbs and lands a flying splash on Vis. Vis gets to his feet but gets a samoan spike to the throat. Umaga covers for three while Lillian looks about to cry. She announces Umaga as the winner but looks on at Vis concerned. While Umaga and Estrada celebrate Lillian rubs her head and watches Vis who is prone on the mat.
Video of Kane and his new movie. The director and producer talk about the movie, as does Kane.
Outback Torrie and Beth Phoenix are talking. Torrie is holding Chloe how appears to be wearing a Tigger outfit. Trish comes out and joins them. The three head for the ring.
- Commercial
Torrie, Chloe, Beth and Trish come down to the ring. Torrie and Beth are tagging this evening. Torrie is in a tiny two piece outfit. Beth is in a black and yellow pleather one piece halter outfit that leaves most of her back bare. Trish is in light blue jeans and a sports bra shaped top in matching denim. Victoria, Mickie and Candice come down to face them. Mickie, who is not wrestling, is in a black halter top and red miniskirt. Victoria is in a tiny two piece black outfit with matching studded hat which she removes before wrestling. Candice is wearing flowing hot pink pants with a silver top that laces up the back, her hips are bared by the outfit.
Beth and Victoria lock up. They both back off and they exchange punches. Beth nails a sidewalk slam for two. Torrie tags in and they double team Victoria. Torrie splashes Victoria in a corner and then gives Victoria a stink face. Victoria then takes Torrie down by her hair and then scoop slams her.
Candice tags in and splashes Torrie on the mat. Candice dances and then drops an elbow for two. Beth is screaming for a tag. Victoria tags in and tries to drop a leg over the top but Torrie moves.
Beth and Candice tag in. Beth clotheslines Candice a couple times. Beth gut wrenches and slams Candice. Beth then sit down powerbombs Candice for three.
Outside Mickie is screaming at the three blondes in the ring.
- Winners: Torrie Wilson & Beth Phoenix
- Commercial
Another showing of the Memorial Day dedication video as it’s the beginning of the second hour.
King is complaining about the ECW, Heyman, Sabu and Tazz. He says Tazz used to be tough but isn’t now. RVD’s music plays and he comes down to the ring. He goes around and stares at King before putting on headphones. JR invites him to join them
RVD says he couldn’t help but overhear what King says about ECW. RVD says Tazz was tough, but had the sense to know when to hang up his boots and announce. Maybe King should do the same. King says he should forget about ECW as he’s in the big time now.
MNM’s music hits and Johnny Nitro comes out with Melina. They pose on the ramp and Melina does her usual split ring entrance. RVD says he’s there to scout Cena. He knows Cena is watching RVD’s ECW videos to scout him. ECW is tough and if you can’t hack it you get booed out of the arena. Cena comes down to the ring. King says something about the amount of fans watching WWE compared to ECW.
Nitro mocks Cena and gets punched for it. Nitro’s head gets slammed into the turnbuckle. Nitro gets whipped and then slingshot kicks Cena. Nitro throws forearms and kicks and King and RVD argue about ECW. Cena gets whipped and then an elbow to the face. “Cena” chants. A couple forearms to Cena’s back but then Cena fights back. They exchange punches. Cena nails some clotheslines and then a slam to huge cheers.
Cena calls for the 5 knuckle shuffle and nails it. Nitro gets the FU and locks on the STFU. Nitro quickly taps out. (Guess this is him paying his dues for the backstage crap at Smackdown.) RVD and King and still arguing.
Cena glares at RVD who gets to his feet. RVD slowly approaches the ring and gets on the apron. Nitro rushes Cena from behind. Cena sidesteps the attack. Nitro slams into RVD and both men fall to the floor in front of the announce table.
- Winner: Cena
- Commercial
WWE Rewind - Foley and Edge going after Heyman but Funk and Dreamer come out and attack Foley and Edge.
Foley and Heyman are in the ring at facing podiums.
Foley says it was great to see Melina, right here in Tacoma, Washington. But that’s not why they’re here. Heyman called him a prostitute and Foley pleads guilty. Everyone in WWE does things they don’t want to do to get to the top. The only difference between the ECW Foley and the WWE Foley is trading in a nasty little pimp like Heyman for a million-dollar pimp like Vince.
He hears that Heyman is putting together ECW/ONS. He and Edge will be facing Funk and Dreamer. He wishes Heyman luck with his pot smoking, porn-addicted wrestler he has.
Heyman says it would mean more if it wasn’t coming from a Terry Funk ripoff.
Foley says Funk was the best wrestler ever. Dreamer was an amazing hardcore wrestler. But they didn’t do what Foley did.
Heyman says Foley pulled a sock out of his pants and shove it into Vince’s mouth in a hospital room. How many title shots did he get before that?
Foley says that Dreamer and Funk have bingo hall balls. They are nothing compared to Foley. Foley got out and became a big star. Foley did it all on his own because most of the wrestlers who were in ECW left either drunk, a drug addict, a criminal or a corpse. Heyman resents him because he’s the biggest star Heyman’s ever seen.
No, Heyman says he hates him because he’s become a cheap shot taking, Lita hand smooching whore. Dreamer and Funk are going to live up to everything Foley has ever put out. The new ECW will not be about flaming tables, barbed wire and pile driving women. It will be some of that and much more. Vince has giving Heyman 2 draft picks.
Foley says he knows it will be RVD. RVD will be perfect because RVD is truly a high flyer.
Heyman says when RVD will win Cena’s title and christen it the ECW Title. Then there’s the Smackdown draft pick.
Foley says he’s some scarred up Foley wanna be.
Heyman says he wants to introduce him, he’s here tonight.
Angle’s music plays and he comes out to the ring. Foley calls for Angle to come at him. Angle tackles Foley and beats him down on the mat. Foley gets to his feet and Angle nails the Angle slam. Foley rolls from the ring with Angle screaming at him.
- Commercial
WWE 24/7 This week in wrestling history - Andre The Giant made his debut on June 1, 1971. His size earned him the name the 8th Wonder Of The World. He faced many people, but it was his title against Hogan that was the biggest of all. Andre became a household name through wrestling, TV, movies and the Hall Of Fame.
Big Show comes down to the ring for the #1 Contender Match. Lillian says he’s up to 507lbs. Edge comes down next with Lita. Lita is wearing black pants and a hot pink and black button down short sleeve top that shows her bra and cleavage, but is not cut to her naval.
Edge ducks a clothesline and throws some punches. Show pushes Edge to the mat. Show hushes the crowd and slaps Edge’s chest in a corner. They go to another corner and do it again. Show then stands on Edge’s back while holding the ropes. Show boots Edge to the mat. Lita grabs Shows leg and Show drags her into the ring with a pull of his leg.
Edge throws some punches but Show scoops Edge into his arms. Show drops Edge snake eyes on the turnbuckle. Edge climbs but Show grabs him and throws him across the ring to the mat. Show rushes Edge in a corner but Edge executes a drop toe hold landing Show face first into the top turnbuckle. Edge nails a DDT. Show tries to chokeslam Edge but the ref gets pulled into the way.
Edge leaves the ring to get a chair. Show punches the chair from Edge’s hands. Lita gets Show from behind with a low blow. Show grabs Lita and the ref argues with him to put her down. Lita gets tossed down and while the ref is tending to her Edge nails Show with the chair. Edge covers Show for three.
- Winner: Edge - goes to Vengeance as #1 contender.
Video from the premier of See No Evil. The actors talk about how big and scary Kane is to work with.
- Commercials
Smackdown Rebound - Rey retained his title. JBL challenges Rey. Rey says JBL isn’t taking on all comers. JBL says he will, so he faces Lashley. Lashley beats JBL and wins his title. JBL screams at Long, Long says the loss stands. JBL says he wants Rey’s belt. JBL says if he can’t beat Rey he will leave Smackdown. Long tells him if he loses to Rey he has to quit Smackdown. In the match Chavito gets involved and hit over the head with a chair. Rey wins the match and the crowd sings JBL from the arena.
Outback HHH is heading for the ring with his sledge. Vince says he wants to clear the air. He wishes HHH luck in his match. He says HHH’s friend is huge and wants to hold it. Once it’s in Vince’s hands his face falls. He realizes it’s the same sledge that nailed Shane and was in the ring last week with the SQ. Vince says HHH will be fine and won’t need his friend tonight. Vince walks off with the sledge. HHH doesn’t look too happy.
- Commercial
Promo for WWE VS. ECW - Head To Head, June 7th on USA.
The Spirit Squad is in the ring, or four of them are. They do a cheer introducing Kenny. Kenny comes down to the ring. Video of last week’s match against HBK. Kenny is up on shoulders and the other two are mocking HBK. HHH’s music hits and he comes down to the ring with his usual entrance to huge pop. The whole Squad is taunting HHH in the ring before he even spits his water. They leave the ring for this. HHH poses in a corner with the SQ below taunting him. Kenny circles the ring and enters from behind HHH.
HHH turns around and clotheslines an attacking Kenny. Kenny runs the ropes and leaves the ring. The SQ hangs HHH up on the top rope. Kenny gets whipped and clotheslined in a corner. Kenny rakes HHH’s eyes and throws some punches. HHH nails a high knee. The SQ members try to climb in the ring. The ref is distracted and HHH goes for the pedigree but a member pulls him from the ring. HHH beats down all members he can get his hands on. HHH is back in the ring and the SQ are all sprawled on the floor in a heap.
- Commercial
Kenny is on the mat and HHH pulls him to his feet for more abuse. Kenny leaves the ring again. HHH leaves the ring and beats on the SQ, but one nails a forearm and they all attack HHH. Back in the ring Kenny covers for two. Kenny again tries to cover but gets only two. Kenny chokes HHH on the second rope. Kenny punches HHH to the mat. HHH is in a corner but moves for Kenny to drive his shoulder into the post. The ref gets detained and others go after HHH. A roundhouse drop kick gives Kenny a cover for two.
Kenny tosses HHH from the ring and the SQ stomp HHH. “Kenny sucks,” chants from the crowd. HHH gets rolled back in the ring. Kenny tunes up the band but HHH grabs him and executes a DDT. Both men are down. They get up and exchange punches. HHH gets whipped but get his foot into Kenny’s face. SQ grabs HHH’s legs and pull him into a low blow with the ring post. They then wrap his knee around the post. Kenny overs for two.
Mitch nails a cheap shot from outside for Kenny to cover for two. Kenny is going after HHH’s left knee ad he did HBK’s. The ref gets distracted again. Two enter to whole Trip while Kenny climbs. HHH kicks them off and into the rope and Kenny gets crotched by the corner. HHH gets to his feet and nails a face buster and then a clothesline on Kenny. In a corner HHH throws 10 punches. HHH rushes Kenny in a corner but runs into a foot. HHH is able to nails a spine buster and the SQ gets up on the apron. HHH drops them al with punches. HHH turns around into Kenny rushing him. HHH grabs Kenny and nails a pedigree and covers for three.
The whole Squad rushes the ring and attack HHH. They beat him down and stomp him in the ring. HHH rolls outside and they hold him for Kenny to bitch slap him. Then Trip gets nailed in the gut and they bring him over to the announce table. They beat his head on the announce table. HHH reaches under the ring for his friend but they show him that it isn’t there. They go to get a chair but Trip suddenly comes up with another friend. They all stand there shocked and then scatter. He pounds the stairs with the sledge and rolls in the ring.
Vince comes out and says he’s impressed that HHH got past this challenge. Next week there will be another challenge. Well, actually a club. How about next week HHH joins the “Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club?”
HHH glares up at Vince on the stage as the camera fades out.
Biggest pop
HHH
RVD
Heyman
Biggest heat
Vince
Foley
Edge & Lita
