**Official RAW Thread - 17-05-04**

[Dead Crow]

PWInsider.com

 

 

Live from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.

 

Your Announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.

 

Let’s do this…

 

Pyros go, J.R. and the King welcome us in and go over tonight’s card. Later on Randy Orton & Batista will challenge Edge & Chris Benoit for the World Tag Team Championships. Main Event will be a Battle Royal with the winner getting a shot at Chris Benoit’s World Championship at next month’s Bad Blood PPV. Participants will be Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Edge, Randy Orton, HHH, Ric Flair, Batista, Matt Hardy, Val Venis, Christian, The Hurricane, Rosey, Kane, Garrison Cade, Steven Richards, Maven, Rhyno, Rob Conway, Sylvan Grenier and Johnny Nitro.

 

First up-Trish Stratus vs. Lita. Both ladies fly solo, J.R. informs us that our beloved General Manager Eric Bischoff has insisted on a clean one on one matchup with no interference. Good back and forth action until Lita was distracted by Kane’s grinning face on the Titantron. Trish then rolled her up with feet on the ropes, ref did NOT see it, 1-2-3. As Trish bailed Kane reminded Lita that he recently asked her a question-he demands she give a response, the RIGHT response, tonight. Break.

 

Slam of the Week: From last week, Randy Orton defeats Edge to retain his Intercontinental Championship. Randy had a bit of help from Ric Flair.

 

Back, Randy struts to the ring. He reminds us he likes to talk about himself. Total shock! He brags about his multitude of accomplishments before moving on to the subject of his Evolution faction pals. Randy claims that he, Batista and Flair will help HHH win tonight’s Battle Royal. Hmm. Shelton Benjamin makes his way down. He reminds Randy that he’s gotten 2 clean wins over The Game. Tonight’s HIS night, he plans on winning the Battle Royal and go on to face Benoit at Bad Blood. Heated words are exchanged, Shelton wants a shot at Randy’s belt tonight. Randy makes a derogatory response about ‘you people’ (bah) and passes on the challenge. Shelton launches an attack, Randy gets beaten down until dragged out of the ring by Flair. He and Randy back up the ramp as Shelton glares. Break.

 

Technical gaffe-we see a snippet of a recent Batista vs. Tajiri match before abruptly cutting to a commercial hyping the WM20 DVD.

 

Back for real, the Evo crew talk Battle Royal strategy. Hunter coyly points out it’ll be ‘every man for himself’. Yep.

 

Cut to Eugene Dinsmore and his manager William Regal. Eugene is congratulated for getting a win over Rob Conway last Monday. Bischoff enters and pulls Regal aside. William apologizes for not being able to surreptitiously help Rob last week. No problem, says Eric, he’s decided on a new strategy for getting his ‘nephew’ out of WWE. He tells William that later on Eugene will be interviewed. He wants Regal to let him go it alone so he’ll be humiliated and decide to leave the company. Eric exits as William looks on in disgust.

 

J.R. and the King remind us that last week Bischoff suspended Shawn Michaels after he interfered in a Shelton B. vs. HHH match. Battle Royal hype sends us to break.

 

Fires of hell signal the arrival of Kane. His opponent-Val Venis, who was the victim of a Big Red Beatdown last week. Bell rings, complete squash, chokeslam, 1-2-3. Post-match Matt Hardy runs in and attacks Kane. His attempt to use a steel chair proves fruitless, Matt gets destroyed in short order. Kane uses the chair to choke Matt-until Lita runs to the ring. She tearfully answers his mysterious question-‘Yes’. Kane grabs Lita from behind and whispers something in her ear before bailing. The plot thickens. Break.

 

Back, we get footage from a ‘Smackdown Your Vote’ rally held earlier today.

 

Next match: Chris Benoit & Edge defend their World Tag Team Championships, challengers are Randy Orton & Batista. Latter team is accompanied by the Nature Boy, Mike Chioda officiates. Bell rings, Edge and Randy start off with the basics, tags are made freely to Chris and Batista, neither team manages to dominate. Edge dumps Randy to the outside, Batista charges in but also gets sent over the top. Champs are in control. Break.

 

We return to see the tide has turned in the Evo crew’s favor, Edge has been isolated. Batista goes for 3 after a massive clothesline, Benoit saves. Edge manages to make the comeback, he crawls toward his corner-no luck, Randy thwarts the tag. Edge scores with a DDT, both men are down, ref begins the double countout, Edge staggers up and makes the tag. Randy gets his butt thoroughly kicked, Benoit locks in the Sharpshooter, save is made by Batista. Match descends into chaos, Benoit looks for the Crossface on Batista, ref gets bumped. Randy takes the Rolling Germans, Chris goes up top, Batista tosses one of the tag belts to Randy, diving headbutt gets nothing but gold. Randy goes for the pin, ref recovers, Benoit kicks out at 2. Edge takes Orton down with the Spear, Benoit follows with the Crossface, tap tap tap! Winner and Still World Tag Team Champions: Chris Benoit & Edge.

 

In the back, Regal gets Eugene hyped up for his interview-then regretfully informs him he’ll have to do it on his own. Break.

 

Back, we get footage from Eugene’s first match.

 

Todd Grisham invites Eugene to the ring. No goofy music tonight, he enters to a ‘Rocky’ style theme. Todd barely gets a word in before Jonathan Coachman enters to take over on the interview duties. He claims that last week the fans were laughing at Eugene and describes him as a joke and a laughingstock. Eugene appears close to tears as Coach reminds him he’s only in WWE due to his uncle. He tells Eugene to get out of the ring and go tell his friends that he came ‘that close’ to becoming a WWE star. Oh, that’s right-he has no friends. Eugene despondently walks up the ramp-where he’s met by THE ROCK. Great One leads Eugene back to the ring as the crowd goes nuts. Rocky rips into Coach verbally and claims ‘the people’ are 100% behind Eugene. Crowd enthusiastically chants ‘EUGENE’ and ‘SCREW THE COACH’. Coach gleefully reminds the People’s Champ that the last time he say him was at Wrestlemania 20, when he was part of a losing effort. Does it matter? Nope! Rock then asks Eugene who his favorite wrestler is. Answer, HHH! Huh? Eugene elaborates-both he and Hunter like to ‘play games’. OK, then how about a game of ‘Eugene kicks Coach’s ass’. Sure! Not so fast-Garrison Cade attempts to intercede on his pal’s behalf. No luck whatsoever, he quickly gets dispatched, Coach takes a Rock Bottom, Eugene follows up with the People’s Elbow. Rocky and Eugene celebrate, we take a break.

 

Smackdown/Judgment Day Rebound: Last Thursday Eddy Guerrero was arrested following an abortive attack on John Bradshaw Layfield’s limo. Last night at Judgment Day Eddy retained his WWE Championship after a DQ loss to JBL.

 

Main Event: Battle Royal to determine the #1 contender for Chris Benoit’s World Championship. HHH, Maven and Living Legend Chris Jericho make their entrances before we break.

 

Back, ring is beginning to fill. J.R. informs us of a pair of scratches-No Matt Hardy due to the earlier beatdown by Kane, no Christian due to injuries inflicted during his cage match with Y2J last week. Last to the ring are the 3 subordinate members of the Evolution faction, who enter en masse. Bell rings, here’s the first set of eliminations and eliminators:

 

1. Kane eliminated Johnny Nitro

 

2. Batista eliminated Steven Richards

 

3. Kane eliminated Rosey

 

Kane attempts to dump Hurricane, who gets tossed back in by Rosey before his feet can hit the floor. Break.

 

Back, match continues…

 

4. During the break, Maven eliminated Rob Conway.

 

5. HHH eliminated Maven and Val Venis simultaneously.

 

6. Chris Jericho eliminated Sylvan Grenier.

 

7. Chris Jericho eliminated Garrison Cade.

 

8. Batista eliminated Rhyno.

 

9. HHH and Batista eliminated The Hurricane.

 

Edge, Kane, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin and all 4 members of the Evolution faction remain as we take our last break.

 

Back…

 

10. Chris Jericho eliminated Ric Flair.

 

11. Batista eliminated Chris Jericho.

 

Kane goes into Big Red Monster mode and issues chokeslams to everyone…

 

12. Edge eliminated Batista.

 

13. Randy Orton eliminated Edge.

 

Final 4: Randy Orton, HHH, Shelton Benjamin and Kane, who’s down at the ropes. Shelton goes wild on HHH and Randy until Hunter connects with a high knee. Shelton mounts the comeback, Kane rises and goes after him, Shelton scores with a spinning heel kick then clotheslines Randy over the top. Down to 3. Shelton scores with a pair of Stinger Splashes, Kane no-sells and looks for the chokeslam, Hunter scores with a shot to the chongs, Kane drops. HHH tosses Shelton over the top, we’re down to 2. Kane appears down for the duration, HHH prepares for the coup de grace. Shawn Michaels runs in from the crowd, Hunter gets clotheslined over the top. Winner and going on to Bad Blood to challenge Chris Benoit for the World Championship: Kane.

 

HBK escapes into the crowd as HHH goes completely berserk. End of show.

 

 

 

Short form match results (all victories by pinfall unless otherwise noted):

 

1. Trish Stratus defeated Lita.

 

2. Kane defeated Val Venis.

 

3. Edge & Chris Benoit defeated Randy Orton & Batista to retain their World Tag Team Championships (submission, Benoit forces Orton to tap out to the Crossface).

 

4. Kane won an 18-man Battle Royal to become the #1 contender for the World Championship. Coming up short were Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho, Edge, Randy Orton, HHH, Ric Flair, Batista, Val Venis, The Hurricane, Rosey, Garrison Cade, Steven Richards, Maven, Rhyno, Rob Conway, Sylvan Grenier and Johnny Nitro.

[Guest Steve V.1]

A real good RAW this week. Lots of entertainment in the Rock-Eugene-Coach segment. A good battle royle, even if the end was a little predictable. I felt as if Jerichos elimination was a mistake.

 

A good show, well worth watching.

 

Steve

[Guest HH-Evolution]

- Rock making a surprise appearence. ^^; YAAAAAAY for teh Rock. <Duane-Fan, LOL.>

 

- Kane winning looks like a real swerve, to me. Oo; Never counted on that.

 

- Will Evolution be travelling on troubled waters from here on in? Oo I think so.

 

Overall, Looking forward to seeing this on Saturday...sounds like a nice Averagely good show.

[Guest shark25]

I called that Kane would win the battle royal on that poll early last week. Pat myself on the back and it was great to see The Rock.

[Guest christhomson]

ROCK IS A POOR SHOW

 

Great to see the rock? Hes a part timer. Hes good on the mic but hes not hear enough.A couple of years ago there was three major players, Triple H, the rock and austin. Now look, austin is an old fart who cant woo the fans anymore and rock has passed his cell by date. Triple h is by the best wrestler today, and people moan at the fact that he wins to many titles or matchs.....mybe thats because theres not much else talent in the wwe barr him.

[Chris2K]

Triple h is by the best wrestler today' date=' and people moan at the fact that he wins to many titles or matchs.....mybe thats because theres not much else talent in the wwe barr him.[/quote']

 

 

1. Chris Benoit
   
2. Eddie Guerrero
   
3. Shawn Michaels
   
4. Kurt Angle
   
5. Chris Jericho
   
6. Shelton Benjamin
   
7. Charlie Haas
   
8. Booker T
   
9. Rob Van Dam
   
10. Rey Mysterio Jr.
    
11. John Cena
    
12. Rene Dupree
    
13. Edge
    
14. Christian
    

 

Wow, that didn't take long to find lots of people who are better wrestlers than HHH....

[Guest christhomson]

THE GAME!

 

Ya obviously dont know much about wrestling. Shawn micheals is the only one who touchs triple h on that stupit list you wrote out there. Not to mention the fact that u left out the undertaker????? and kurt angle isnt even wrestling!

 

Triple h is the biggest wrestler in the wwe. If u think im wrong then prove it, give me a good reason why hes not.

[Guest Richard Flair]

Errr...I take it you missed the name Shelton Benjamin too? I also seem to remember Maven defeating HHH before his injury and Chris Benoit has made HHH his bitch recently too. The perfectly good examples.

 

Ya obviously dont know much about wrestling.

 

Please tell me that wasn't directed at Chris2k! If it was, you need to look yourself in the mirror for a very long time and think about what you say to people.

[Guest Edge1]

Evoloution

 

I'm looking forward to seeing Bad Blood Kane Vs Benoit could be a great match i would love to see Kane with the gold again also would love to see Michaels Vs HHH not sure if this will happen just yet though it would be a great Main Event in the Summer for Summerslam

[Dead Crow]

He's the biggest wrestler (just about, AND only because of his status with the boss, and because The Rock is filming movies, Hogan left, Austin left, Lesnar left, and Goldberg left), but it doesn't make him the best wrestler.

 

Chris Benoit is more over then Trips. RVD is more over than Trips. Chris Jericho is more over than Trips. Eddie Guerrero is more over than Trips.

 

Benoit is more talented than Trips. Michaels is more talented. Guerrero is more talented. Jericho, Christian, RVD, Angle, Flair, Mysterio Jr, all more talented. Hell, let's go deeper.. Paul London, Jamie Noble, Chavo Guerrero Jr, Bubba Ray Dudley, Ultimo Dragon, Lance Storm, Matt Hardy, Nunzio, Tajiri, Rhyno. All more talented than HHH.

 

Ok, so HHH has the look. Well... HAD the look. Also HAD the talent. Past tense. He WAS the best. He WAS a big star. Now.. he's just the guy who should be putting others over, cas his time in the sun is over :)

[Guest shark25]

"Great to see the rock? Hes a part timer. Hes good on the mic but hes not hear enough.A couple of years ago there was three major players, Triple H, the rock and austin. Now look, austin is an old fart who cant woo the fans anymore and rock has passed his cell by date. Triple h is by the best wrestler today, and people moan at the fact that he wins to many titles or matchs.....mybe thats because theres not much else talent in the wwe barr him."

 

O.K dude first off if the Rock came back full time to wrestling people will be going Triple who? just like they did when the rock was around. Second Austin can not wrestle anymore because of his neck injury and if you ever saw him in front of the fans when he was "the law" the people went crazy for him and when got on the mic i never heard anyone yell boring like I have heard at shows when Trips gets on. The reason Austin is no longer on wwe is contracts disputes. Everyone Chris2k listed plus the Undertaker are over Triple H. That is a fact.

[Guest tazz13]

even though i like both guys better then trips, rene dupree and john cena are NOT better wrestlers then him...not yet anyways

[Guest Jack]

this is a message that many people dont understand HHH IS THE BEST WRESTLER TODAY! to be a good wrestler you dont need to have fantastic ring skills you need the whole package and perhaps you need more mic talent than in-ring talent.this is why the biggest wrestling ever (hulk hogan) is the most overrated wrestler ever

 

Chris Benoit-crap on the mic

Eddie Guerrero-not been a main eventer for long enough

Shawn Michaels-past it maybe but good entertainment

Kurt Angle-better than hhh but changes too much he should either be a heel or face

Chris Jericho-great talent better on the mic needs a run at the top

Shelton Benjamin-too green

Charlie Haas-too green and no personality

Booker T-past it

Rob Van Dam-crap on the mic and crap gimmick

Rey Mysterio Jr.-crap on the mic

John Cena-not a main event gimmick

Rene Dupree-french

Edge-crap

Christian-not good enough

Edited May 18, 2004 by Jack

[Maxximus]

I agree with most of you, Trips has been better in the past but, he does have a lot of talent. "Killer" Kowalski doesn't train just anyone! He is good on both the mike and the mat so get used to him being around, he's not going anywhere!

As for Benoit, he may not be the best shooter around but he can get the job done on the mat and in the air, he deserves to have that belt around his waist more than anyone right now exept for maybe Eddie G. Anyone remember any of theire classic matches in WCW, or any of the indies for that matter.

The Rock can be great... when he's around but I think what wrestling fans want most is consistantsy! So, for the Rock to really get over with me, he must decide to stick around and lay the smack down! Either that or stay gone. Your shock gimmick apperances have gotten stale!

Shawn Michaels, two words...Bret hart!

Edge and Christain: Better as a tag team!

Randy Orton: young and still mutch to prove!

Kurt Angle: great skills on the mic and a fantastic mat wrestler, but he's better as a face who tries way to hard to get over with the crowd(YOU SUCK!).

Chris Jerico(Y2J) has everything it takes to be the future of wrestling but he needs to remain a heel to get over with me!

Undertaker, Kane, Batista: Monsters all! Big, Bad, and Ugly! We need guys like this to keep everyone in line!

The Maxx's Final thought: WWE has plenty of talent but as usual they are not using anyone to their full potental!

WHEN WILL THEY LEARN!!!

[Chris2K]

Chris Benoit-crap on the mic

 

The old, and still stupid excuse. Benoit's mic work has been equal to HHH's recently.

 

Eddie Guerrero-not been a main eventer for long enough

 

Why should that matter? That's like saying Arsenal aren't the best team in England because they finished 10th in 1995.

 

Shawn Michaels-past it maybe but good entertainment

 

HBK isn't as past it as HHH. The fact that HBK can sell absolutely anything is incredible consdiering his injuries.

 

Kurt Angle-better than hhh but changes too much he should either be a heel or face

 

I almost agree with you, except I'd say he shouldn't even consider being a face. (Oops, sorry Ric, I meant... good guy).

 

Chris Jericho-great talent better on the mic needs a run at the top

 

Agreed, but he did have a run at the top in 2001. Needs another one seeing as HHH squashed any momentum he had.

 

Shelton Benjamin-too green

 

It's quite difficult for one of the best North American amateur wrestlers to be green.

 

Charlie Haas-too green and no personality

 

Ditto from Shelton. Plus Haas and Rico are the only mildly entertaining angle on SmackDown right now, so he does have a personality.

 

Booker T-past it

 

I'd quite like to be that fit when I'm his age.

 

Rob Van Dam-crap on the mic and crap gimmick

 

This crap gimmick... sure it's not the one that got him over with pretty much every wrestling fan?

 

Rey Mysterio Jr.-crap on the mic

 

Strange comment seeing as he speaks once every 6 months. Too small would be a perfectly acceptable reason.

 

John Cena-not a main event gimmick

 

Yeah, the gimmick hasn't got over at all has it? :roll

 

Rene Dupree-french

 

Canadian.

 

Edge-crap

 

... what? Did you watch SmackDown in 2002 when Edge and Angle had a great feud, followed by Edge and Eddie having a great feud? The guy's had a lot of criticism recently, but he is working with a broken hand and recovering from major neck surgery.

 

Christian-not good enough

 

Again... what? The guy is a good worker with an INCREDIBLY good heel persona.

[Guest Richard Flair]

You heard it first here folks! Fourteen comments ripped apart and shoved where the sun don't shine by the forum leader Chris2K. So what can we talk about now?

[Guest JC]

Well I knew it would be Kane or Y2J..................but why wasn't it Y2J!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil

 

Jericho totally derserves another title shot and reign. Kane hopefully will start a fued with Jericho after he beats benoit (sorry but its bound to happen) and Jericho can finally get the Gold again. :lol

 

Why does he deserve it? well as Chris would say,"I'M CHRIS JERICHO I'M A SEXY BEAST BABY!" :devil

 

In all seriousness though I think wwe might make a mistake if they don't let Jericho into the title challengers soon, aswell as christian.

[Guest shark25]

mpx2k4 I am sorry but the Rock coming back gimmick is getting stale. Did you hear that crowd last night? Yeah thats what I thought.

[Dead Crow]

Actually - the plan is for Benoit to retain and then drop to HHH at Summerslam.

[Dead Crow]

The old' date=' and still stupid excuse. Benoit's mic work has been equal to HHH's recently.[/quote']

Which doesn't mean much, really. :)

[Dead Crow]

PWTorch

 

Raw drew a 4.0 Neilsen Media Research rating last night, up from the disappointing 3.4 rating last week.

 

The first hour drew a 3.6 rating, the second a 4.4 rating (including the overrun, which peaked at a very strong 4.9).

 

The Rock segment spiked the rating from 4.3 to a 4.6, then after Rock's segment ended, the rating dropped to a 4.2, so Rock had a definite impact on the show.

[Guest HBK21]

But The Rock just poppin' in and out when he has the time is getting real old. He needs to commit to acting or wrestling. Preferrably wrestling.

[Maxximus]

mpx2k4 I am sorry but the Rock coming back gimmick is getting stale. Did you hear that crowd last night? Yeah thats what I thought.

Oh! I'm sorry that your thinking prossess is faulty "sharkboy."

You obviously don't get my point.

The Rock showing up out of nowhere is a cheap pop no matter what!

It might be a little different if he could pop a crowd every night like he used to,but he dosen't.

So until the Rock comes back to stay, you or anyone else will not change my mind!

I liked the Rock, and I look forward to liking him again in the future.

But only time can tell!

[Guest Richard Flair]

Problem is, The Rock is never expected to be a full time wrestler again. He was and probably still is the most over wrestler but he doesn't appear anywhere near as often as he should. Nevertheless, it was good to see him.

[Guest christhomson]

TRIPLE H RULES

 

Ok goin bac to my triple h discussion.....chris 2k, your right about everything you said but the fact of the matter is Triple h is the best wrestler this company has right now. Hes held the wwe and world title many times. Hes held the intercon title many times. He was the second ever eurpeon champion.Hes bein a tag champ.hes won more hell in a cell matchs than anyone on the roster. Hes a rumble winner and a king of the ring winner. Hes beat stone cold at two different events. Not alot of wrestlers can say theyve done that?Hes won two wrestlemania main events. Hes the greatest heel that has ever lived. Ok mybe the wwe and vince do favour him, i wont doubt that but if you had a guy like him on your roster and you had all the others rejects like boring beniot woudlnt you favour Hunter??