World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 10/14/2002
From: Montreal, Quebec
A video package focusing on Triple H reminding Kane that he’s a murderer and that he killed Katie Vick ten years ago.
Backstage, RAW Tag Team Champions Hurricane and Kane arrive to the building. Coach asks if Kane is going to address what HHH said last week. Kane responds by saying it’s none of Coach’s business and walks off with Hurricane.
Booker T attacks Chris Jericho during his entrance to get some revenge for the attack Jericho did to him last week. Christian tried to help, but he was knocked down, too.
Opening Contest: RAW Tag Team Champions The Hurricane & Kane vs. Chris Jericho & Christian: Kane grabs Christian on the aisle and Hurricane drops Christian with a few strikes to legally start the match. Hurricane clotheslines Christian followed by a shining wizard for a two count. Christian knee lifts Hurricane and keeps control with right hands. Hurricane head scissors Christian and Kane clotheslines Jericho. Kane press slams Jericho over the top to the floor onto Christian. Hurricane dives over the top to take the challengers out with a somersault dive. Hurricane has a cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Kane tags into the match and keeps control on Christian in the corner with several strikes. Kane lifts Christian up by his neck and drops Christian to the mat, but misses an elbow drop. Kane sits up and grabs Christian by the throat to knock Jericho off the apron. Kane hits a tilt a whirl slam for a two count. Kane sends Christian into the corner and Hurricane delivers a few strikes. Jericho pulls down the ropes to send Hurricane crashing to the floor. Jericho sends Hurricane into the guard railing. Christian and Jericho double team Hurricane in the ring while the referee is distracted by Kane.
Jericho hits a vertical suplex and tags in Christian to keep control of the contest. Christian works over Hurricane in the corner, but runs into a back elbow. Hurricane hits a blockbuster off the middle rope. Hurricane drops Jericho with a neckbreaker and Kane gets the hot tag. Kane backdrops Jericho and big boots Christian. Kane side slams Jericho before heading to the top rope. Kane leaps off the top to hit a flying clothesline and sends Christian to the floor. Kane hammers away on Jericho with right hands and chokes Jericho before yelling at the referee. Christian tries to use the championship, but Kane blocks it. Christian low blows Kane allowing Jericho to hit a missile dropkick for a two count. Kane clotheslines both men and Hurricane is rocket launched onto Jericho for a two count as Christian made the save. Kane sends Christian to the floor and rams Christian face first into the ring steps. Kane has the ring steps and tosses them at Christian, but misses. Hurricane misses the neckbreaker on Jericho, but blocks a lionsault attempt. Hurricane tries for a chokeslam, but Jericho elbows free and attempts the Walls of Jericho. Hurricane counters, but Jericho counters the rollup and puts his feet on the ropes to win the match and titles. (**. I’m not sure how I feel about another tag title change as it’s doubtful that Jericho and Christian will hold them for very long. It feels like they have no idea what to do with Christian and Jericho so now they are the tag champs. They are playing up Kane’s mental state as he’s out of it considering the bombshell last week. I’m wondering if this is the beginning of Kane’s free fall from stability.)
Backstage, Jericho and Christian are celebrating when Booker is trying to get at Jericho, but is being held back. Eric Bischoff enters the scene and tries to cool things down. Bischoff says they will defend the tag titles at No Mercy against Booker T and Goldust. Bischoff is doing that since Smackdown is crowning new tag champions and his tag titles will be defended at the PPV.
Second Contest: Al Snow vs. Lance Storm: Snow hammers away on Storm, but is met with an elbow and a heel kick to the back of the head. Storm leaps over the ropes to drop Snow over the top rope throat first. Storm tries for a springboard, but Snow catches Storm with a powerslam. William Regal was on commentary, but leaves when they show his outfit from last week. Storm works over Snow with strikes and chops in the corner. Storm clotheslines Snow in the corner. Snow traps Storm’s arms and delivers several headbutts to the chest. Snow tosses Storm with an overhead throw and a series of right hands. Snow backdrops Storm coming off the ropes and plays to the crowd. Snow connects with a clothesline and punches Regal on the floor. Snow goes to the top rope leaping off to hit a crossbody, but Storm rolls through for a near fall. Regal trips Snow coming off the ropes and I think collides heads with Snow because Storm dropped down to the mat. Storm tries to use the brass knuckles, but Snow avoids it. Regal distracts Snow allowing Storm to hit the superkick fo the win. (*1/2. That got a little clunky towards the end and I don’t like the usage of interference to protect Snow. Storm needs to be built up again and a clean victory over Snow would have been a step in the right direction.)
Backstage, Coach is with Victoria for an interview. Victoria has a title match at No Mercy. Coach asks what the relaitonship is with Trish Stratus. Victoria says that WWE has interested in them both back when they were fitness models. However, Trish never let her get her chance. Victoria wanted for her opportunity, or big break. She will do anything to get her chance. Victoria claims that Trish will do anyone to get her chance. Trish walks into the scene and slaps Victoria before walking off.
Backstage, Spike and Jeff Hardy are talking when Rob Van Dam walks over asking where Eric Bischoff is at. Spike says that Bubba is messed up and has a concussion. Bischoff enters the scene and says he’s proud of all three men. Bischoff shows them their own highlight reel and it’s from the TLC match. Bischoff dismisses Spike after telling Hardy to get ready for his match. Spike tells Bischoff to “bite me.” Bischoff tells RVD that he’ll be wrestling Ric Flair at No Mercy. Bischoff also tells RVD that’s he’s wrestling Triple H in a lumberjack match because Kane had wrestled earlier and he’s a fair man
Backstage, RAW World Champion Triple H is pacing and Ric Flair is sitting down not looking thrilled. HHH wonders if Bischoff knows how many guys would love to hit him with a strap. HHH was suppose to have a night off, but now he’s wrestling. Flair isn’t happy about a match at No Mercy. HHH says that Flair won’t have to worry about No Mercy because he’s going to take care of RVD. HHH is going to ruin people’s nights and he’s going to give Kane until the end of the next match to spill the beans. HHH will do it for him if he doesn’t.
Third Contest: Jeff Hardy vs. Rico: Rico attacks before the bell with right hands in the corner. Hardy quickly fights back with a clothesline over the top to the floor. Hardy runs the railing and clotheslines Rico on the floor. Hardy rolls Rico into the ring and keeps wrist control. Rico knee lifts Hardy in the corner. Rico spin kicks Hardy followed by a mule kick for a two count. Rico stomps on Hardy to keep control on the mat. Rico continues with shoulder rams in the corner. Rico steps off the ropes to kick Hardy in the face for a two count. Rico keeps a body scissors on Hardy, but doesn’t get a submission. Hardy leg drops Rico on the groin followed by a leg drop over the bottom rope. Hardy takes Rico out with a whisper in the wind for a two count. Rico stops Hardy with a kick to the ribs and a dropkick for a two count. Rico leaps off the middle rope and Hardy connects with a dropkick. Hardy hits the Swanton Bomb for the win. (*1/2. See, a clean win for a face over a lower level heel isn’t a hard concept. Hardy should win these matches cleanly. The action was okay, but nothing stood out, really.)
Backstage, Hurricane is trying to calm Kane down. Kane tells Hurricane that he doesn’t care about the tag titles and wants to be left alone. Terri enters the scene and says she’s there as a friend, not as an interviewer. Terri thinks that Kane has to get everything off his chest and do so in public. Terri doesn’t think Kane can beat HHH with his current mental state. The people need to hear his story, and he agrees.
After a commercial, Kane is in the ring with a microphone. Kane says that Katie Vick was a friend and she’s dead. It was an accident and he didn’t kill her. He’s not a murderer. They were friends ten years ago when Kane first started wrestling. She was the only person to care about him when he was getting beaten up. They went to a party and Katie had too much to drink. Kane decided he should drive Katie home instead. Kane wasn’t familiar with a stick shift, but took her car. Kane says that an animal jumped in front of them and he swerved to avoid it causing the car to crash. Kane broke his arm, but Katie was killed instantly. Kane has to live with this and has thought about it everyday. Kane apologizes for what happened.
Triple H makes his way out to the ramp and mocks Kane. HHH wants Kane to tell the whole truth. HHH wants Kane to admit he was drinking, too. HHH says there were beer bottles all over the scene. HHH wants Kane to explain the autopsy where they found semen on Katie Vick. HHH says that Katie was more than a friend and claims that Kane was in love with Katie. However, Katie wasn’t in love with Kane. HHH wonders who could realistically love someone like Kane. HHH knows that Kane wasn’t charged with any crime. HHH proclaims that Kane killed Katie Vick. HHH asks if Kane forced Katie to have sex with him or wait until she was dead. That stuns Kane and he can’t even respond to such a claim. That ends the segment.
Backstage, Kane is leaving the arena, but Hurricane tries to stop Kane. Kane says if he stays he will do something that he’ll regret.
Stacy Keibler is the special referee for the next match.
Fourth Contest: WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus & Jackie vs. Molly Holly & Victoria: Stratus and Victoria brawl for a moment until Molly works over Stratus. Stratus head scissors Molly off the top turnbuckle and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Jackie tags in and is met with a knee lift. Jackie headlocks Molly and head scissors Victoria. Stratus forearms both women and works over Victoria in the corner. Molly takes Stratus over with a northern lights suplex for a two count. Molly slams Trish face down to the mat and puts a chin lock on Stratus. Victoria hits a somersault leg drop from the apron for a two count. Victoria connects with a swinging backbreaker and tags in Molly. Molly misses a handspring elbow in the corner allowing Jackie to get tagged in and she cleans house with strikes. Jackie side slams Molly for a near fall. Victoria backdrops Stratus to the floor. Stratus pulls Victoria to the floor to brawl. Jackie spin kicks Molly, but Stacy acts like her shoulder is hurt. Jackie is pissed and confronts Stacy. Molly tries for a rollup and is sent into Stacy causing her to fall to the floor. Jackie plants Molly with a DDT and a second referee slides in to count the fall. After the match, Victoria kicks Jackie and brawls with Stratus to the floor where Victoria gets control. (*1/4. I didn’t think that was good. I really didn’t like that Molly was knocked down for so long before three count was executed. I think this match happened just for the aftermath to advance Trish vs. Victoria.)
Backstage, Booker, Goldust, Dreamer and Spike get their straps for the lumberjack strap match in the main event. Booker is ready to kick some ass.
A vignette promoting Batista is shown.
Eric Bischoff is in the ring to cut a promo. Bischoff promises that Kane will be competing at No Mercy against Triple H no matter his mental state. Bischoff puts over the champion vs. champion match and says it’s the final time the WWE Intercontinental Championship will be represented. Bischoff introduces the first Intercontinental Champion, Pat Patterson. Patterson speaks in French getting a pop from the crowd. Bischoff requests Patterson to speak in English. Patterson doesn’t trust Bischoff and will change his mind if Bischoff is playing games. Bischoff assures Patterson this is legit and he has learned a lot from him. Bischoff introduces a video package for the legacy of the Intercontinental Championship. Patterson sees Rosey and Jamal on the apron, and tries to fight them off, but Jamal hits a Samoan Drop. Bischoff says that Patterson’s three minutes are just about up, just like the Intercontinental Championship. Gerry Briscoe runs down, but is taken out by Jamal hitting a running back splash in the corner. Jamal hits a top rope splash onto Patterson. Big Show slides into the ring with a strap and beats on Jamal and Rosey. D’Lo Brown comes out and beats on Jamal. Show clotheslines Rosey with a strap. Jeff Hardy attacks Rosey from behind. Rosey escapes through the crowd.
Backstage, Christopher Nowinski meets with Al Snow talking about Tough Enough. Snow says he’s proud of Nowinski and shakes his hand. Nowinski says he made it with no help from Snow. Nowinski tells Snow that he had a good loss tonight before walking off.
Fifth Contest: Tommy Dreamer vs. Christopher Nowinski: Nowinski beats on Dreamer with strikes in the corner, but misses a boot and Dreamer delivers a dragon screw leg whip. Nowisnki elbows Dreamer, but Dreamer connects with a neckbreaker for a two count. Nowinski kicks Dreamer and is rammed back first into the corner. Nowinski shoulder rams Dreamer before sending Dreamer hard into the corner back first. Dreamer connects with a spinebuster for a near fall. Dreamer backdrops Nowinski coming off the ropes and delivers a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Dreamer tried for a piledriver, but his back hurts. Nowinski tackles Dreamer to the mat and goes to the floor to grab a kendo stick. Dreamer yanks Nowinski into the ring as Al Snow makes his way down to ringside. Dreamer steps on Nowinski’s groin in the tree of woe. Snow stops Dreamer from getting the kendo stick, Nowinski hits a full nelson slam and pins Dreamer. (*. The crowd didn’t care about this and neither did I.) After the match, Nowinski stares down Snow.
Backstage, Terri interviews RAW World Champion Triple H. HHH doesn’t have to justify anything and says he doesn’t want to wrestle a murderer. Terri thinks it’s interesting that HHH found this before the title match. HHH suggests Terri be careful around Kane because Kane tends to hurt people close to him. HHH is going to take care of Kane at No Mercy. HHH promises that Kane will never be able to take the championship. HHH always overcomes the odds and promises to beat RVD tonight.
A vignette promoting Randy Orton is shown.
Jim Ross is on the aisle and introduces Randy Orton for an interview. Orton has his arm in a sling and has apparently suffered an injury. Orton has some horrible news and announces that he tore his shoulder. Orton says a normal person would be out for nine to twelve months. However, Orton will be back in three to four months. Orton has an email address for fans to send him get well wishes. Fans are crapping on Orton saying “nah nah hey hey goodbye.” Orton promises to respond to everyone. Orton reminds the fans that Bret Hart got screwed here. Orton thinks that Montreal should be known for where he got screwed. Orton says that he’ll be back unlike Bret Hart. This was a fantastic segment for Orton to show his charisma and set himself up as a heel moving forward.
Sixth Contest: Big Show vs. Booker T in a falls count anywhere match: Booker hammers away on Show against the ropes, but a knee lift stops Booker. Show sends Booker into the corner and is met with a boot. Booker stomps and chops Show several times. Show sends Booker over the top to the floor. Show clotheslines Booker on the floor. Show drops Booker throat first over the guard railing. Booker backdrops Show over the railing into the crowd. Booker axe handles Show after leaping off the railing. Show sends Booker over another railing they head head towards the backstage area. Show sends Booker into the wall. We see Ric Flair directing HHH on a forklift. Show sends Booker into the wall a few more times. Show misses a big boot and Booker sprays a fire extinguisher into Show’s eyes leading to a near fall. Booker hits a scissors kick in the hallway for a two count. Show chops Booker into the women’s locker room. Booker low blows Show in the locker room and they wrestle into the shower area. Trish Stratus is in a towel in the corner. Booker nearly wins with a cover. Chris Jericho whacks Booker from behind with a chair shot and Show pins Booker in the women’s shower. (*1/2. That was mostly a mindless brawl and adds some more heat to the Jericho/Booker issue. I tend to not look forward to Big Show matches.)
Backstage, Triple H has backed the forklift up against the locker room preventing the babyfaces from being at ringside. HHH pie faces Coach and calls him a stooge before walking off.
Main Event: RAW World Champion Triple H vs. Rob Van Dam in a non-title lumberjack match: RVD ducks a clothesline and nails HHH with a spinning heel kick. RVD continues with strikes in the corner and a monkey flip across the ring. RVD hammers away on HHH in the corner several times and flips off the middle rope. HHH sends RVD to the floor where several wrestles whip RVD with a strap over the back. HHH drops RVD with a right hand and they trade a few strikes. HHH knee lifts RVD and sends RVD through the ropes to the floor. RVD gets whipped again by several wrestlers. HHH tries for a back suplex, but RVD counters with a step over heel kick. RVD clotheslines HHH to the floor, but the wrestlers check on HHH and don’t whip him. RVD leaps off the top to take everyone out with a crossbody. RVD punches and kicks Regal and Christian before rolling HHH back in. Rico holds RVD’s legs allowing HHH to baseball slide RVD. Show sends RVD into the ring steps shoulder first. Show press slams RVD over the top back into the ring. HHH tries for a cover, but only gets a two count. HHH elbow drops RVD over the back a few times to keep control of the contest.
HHH shoulder rams RVD in the corner a few times to keep control. HHH hooks RVD for a vertical suplex and drives RVD down to the mat. HHH delivers a backbreaker for a two count. HHH puts RVD over the top rope and delivers right hands. RVD punches HHH off the middle rope. HHH hits a superplex as the fans remind HHH that he screwed Bret. HHH tries for a cover, but RVD kicks out at two. HHH puts an abdominal stretch on RVD and gets help from Jamal for an unfair advantage. The referee kicks their hands apart to stop the cheating. HHH tries for a suplex, but RVD counters with a rollup. RVD misses a kick, but nails HHH with a spin kick. RVD rams HHH into the corner a few times. HHH misses a clothesline and RVD hits a springboard kick to the chest. RVD comes off the ropes with the rolling thunder for a near fall. RVD forearms HHH a few times in the corner. HHH misses a kick, but blocks a spin kick attempt. HHH tries for the Pedigree, but RVD counters with a backdrop. RVD connects with a spinning heel kick and heads to the top, but is crotched by Jericho. RVD falls to the floor and is worked over by the heels. However, Booker T comes out and brings out the rest of the babyfaces. (Remember, Booker wasn’t in the locker room but in the women’s shower laid out.) That leads to a massive brawl around ringside. RVD leaps off the top to hit HHH with a kick to the face. RVD heads to the top rope again and hits the Five Star Frog Splash! Flair runs up with the championship and hits RVD. HHH covers RVD and wins the match. After the match, Kane makes his way down and takes out some lumberjacks. Kane gets in the ring and grabs HHH and Flair by the throat. Flair low blows Kane, but Kane no sells. Kane chokeslams Nowinski and clotheslines D’Lo Brown. Brown is planted with a chokeslam. Kane chokeslams Rico. Jamal and Rosey double team Kane in the corner and HHH makes his way back towards the ring. Rosey splashes Kane, but Kane big boots Jamal and clotheslines Rosey. Kane chokeslams Jamal and does the same to Rosey. HHH and Flair are freaking out on the aisle as Kane poses in the ring. (**. The odds were stacked really bad against RVD, so it’s no surprise that he wasn’t going to prevail. This match protected RVD from having to take a clean finish and gives him plenty of excuses. If RVD were to lose to Flair at the PPV, then there’s a major problem. The aftermath with Kane taking out everyone was done well and added to the excitement of HHH likely getting destroyed at No Mercy.)
Final Thoughts:
Action wise, the show was not very good as there were only a couple of worthwhile matches. A lot of the stuff just felt non-important and just filler to me. The Katie Vick stuff is cringe and not what I’d want to see from a wrestling show. The soap opera approach here is just too much. As a viewer, I certainly am invested in Kane winning the title from HHH, though. I think Kane has done well since his return and is a viable face to take the belt off of HHH. Overall, this show is mostly boring and didn’t do a whole lot to effectively build up the RAW side of the No Mercy show.
Thanks for reading.