Written by: Bob Colling
World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 11/4/2002
From: Boston, MA
F-View footage from backstage starts the show. Eric Bischoff is watching a tape of his appearance on Smackdown last week. Bischoff wore a Vince McMahon masked and proceeded to kiss Stephanie. Stephanie appeared to enjoy the kiss. Bischoff looks into a mirror and seems to be conflicted about something. (Bischoff would know this was happening since he created F-View, which he mentioned the previous week.)
Backstage, Shawn Michales is walking and gets a t-shirt. It looks like a new t-shirt for him to sell.
Opening Contest: Bubba Dudley & Spike Dudley vs. Jamal & Rosey: Bubba and Hardy go right after 3MW as both teams brawl in the ring. Bubba clotheslines Rosey sending him to the floor. Hardy dropkicks Jamal to the floor to send the heels reeling. Hardy dives over the top onto 3MW on the floor, taking out Rico as well. Bubba elbows Jamal in the corner and hits a middle rope senton. Rosey tries to get involved, but is decked to the floor. Hardy tags in and delivers an axe handle off the top rope. Hardy forearms Jamal for a two count. Bubba returns to the match, but Jamal delivers a knee lift. Rosey gets tagged in as Bubba tried for a sunset flip. Rosey plants Bubba with a belly to belly suplex. Rosey decks Bubba to the mat and tags in Jamal. 3MW collide on headbutt attempt and Bubba hits a double clothesline. Bubba tags in Hardy and Hardy leaps off Jamal’s back to kick Rosey. Hardy hits a leg drop on Jamal for a near fall. Rosey is sent over the top to the floor. Jamal sends Hardy to the corner and Hardy connects with the Whisper in the Wind for a near fall. Bubba jabs Jamal a few times in the corner. Hardy dumps Rosey to the floor while Bubba works over Jamal. Rico enters the ring, but Spike pulls Rico to the floor. Spike hits the Acid Drop on Rico on the floor! Jamal clotheslines Bubba on the floor and sends Spike into the guard railing. Rosey misses a splash in the corner. Bubba drops Rosey with a neckbreaker and Hardy leaps off the top to hit a leg drop. Bubba calls for a table. Bubba jabs Jamal a few times, but a throat thrust stops him. Hardy splashes Jamal in the corner. Rosey pulls Bubba to the floor as Hardy goes to the top rope. Rico shoves Hardy off the top to the mat. Jamal plants Hardy with a Samoan Drop to win the match. (**. Not a bad tag match as they kept to mostly a formula for the two teams. I think this was the best 3MW tag showcase I’ve seen thus far. Hardy seemed to be on a groove here and it flowed fairly well. I’d say it was a quality TV match. It was a match that 3MW needed to win.)
Backstage, Victoria and Ivory are talking with Victoria saying she’s happy Ivory is back on RAW. Victoria is thrilled that Trish Stratus accepted her challenge for a hardcore match at Survivor Series. Ivory tells Victoria that she’ll leave a little bit for Victoria at the PPV because she’s wrestling Trish tonight. Victoria is going to give Stratus some scars and bruises. Ivory notes that people thought she was nuts. We also see Stratus walking towards the ring.
Second Contest: WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus vs. Ivory in a non-title match: Ivory attacks before the bell with strikes and a scoop slam. Ivory gets a two count following a suplex. Victoria appears at the commentary table. Stratus clotheslines Ivory for a near fall. Stratus gets a two count following a kick. Ivory dropkicks Stratus on the mat to gain the advantage and rams the champion into the corner a few times. Ivory tosses Stratus across the ring by her hair. Ivory has Stratus on her shoulders looking for a slam, but Stratus counters with a rollup. Stratus delivers a neckbreaker for a near fall. Stratus chops Ivory in the corner a few times. Ivory elbows Stratus in the corner, but Stratus hits a head scissors. Ivory almost wins with a rollup countering a bulldog. Stratus connects with a bulldog off the middle rope and gets the pin. (*. A simple showcase for Stratus leading into her defense against Victoria. Ivory doesn’t really provide much of anything at this point. She’s a good hand in the ring but I don’t see much substance of her on WWE TV at this point.) After the match, Stratus and Victoria brawl on the top of the ramp. Victoria sends Stratus into the stage face first a few times and on the ground. Referees come out to break them up.
Backstage, F-View catches Terri suggesting she interview Victoria later tonight when Victoria is calmed down. Terri says she seems crazed and that leads to Victoria attacking Terri. Victoria rips off Terri’s clothing.
RNN Breaking News with Randy Orton. Orton has 32% mobility with his shoulder, which is two percent more than last week. Orton continues to ask for emails to support him on his recovery.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff is pissed with a guy for putting the F-View cameras in his office and fires him. RAW World Champion Triple H enters Bischoff’s office with Ric Flair. Bischoff asks what he can do for them. HHH wants to know what Bischoff is going to do about Shawn Michaels jumping him. HHH says they can’t even leave their locker room to get coffee without worrying about Michaels. HHH isn’t happy about how he’s been treated recently and that he’s got to defend the title inside an Elimination Chamber, and he doesn’t know what it is. Bischoff promises it will be a sight to see at Survivor Series. Bischoff thinks that HHH deserves to be part of history. Bischoff knew that HHH was the best RAW had to offer and that’s why he’s the champion. HHH thinks that Bischoff is either screwing him or someone is influencing him. Flair plays the VHS tape of Bischoff kissing Stephanie again. HHH says that Bischoff put on a mask to kiss his ex-wife and asks who is screwing who.
Lance Storm cuts a promo about election day being tomorrow and thinks that Americans take that for granted. As Storm talks, a vignette promoting Scott Steiner’s return to the WWE airs. That essentially stops the promo by Storm.
Third Contest: William Regal & Lance Storm vs. Tommy Dreamer & Al Snow: Dreamer and Storm kick off the match with Dreamer knocking Storm down. Dreamer tosses Regal into the match and tags in Snow. Regal is met with a double back elbow. Snow sends Storm to the floor. Storm drives Snow’s leg over the apron and Regal gains control by working over the left knee. Storm tags into the match and pulls on the injured leg. Regal also focuses his attack on the knee of Snow. Snow monkey flips Regal across the ring, but Storm tags in and chop blocks Snow’s leg to keep control of the match. Snow delivers a kick to break free and clotheslines Storm. Dreamer tags in and cleans house with a powerslam on Storm and backdrops Regal. Dreamer tries for a DDT on Storm, but Regal makes the save. Dreamer hits the Death Valley Driver, but is kicked by Regal right in the face. Storm covers and wins the match. (*1/4. The crowd really didn’t care about this as I don’t think Dreamer and Snow are interesting babyfaces at this point. Regal and Storm winning was the right choice since they have something offer the brand.)
Backstage, Shawn Michaels is asking someone if they’ve seen HHH. Michaels finds out where his locker room is and walks in that direction. Batista walks out of a door and he’s on his way to the ring.
Backstage, Stacy Keibler meets with Test and brings him a bunch of fan mail. Keibler thinks she is a genius. Test doesn’t care and is combing his hair. Keibler reads the mail and one of them is a gross message directed towards her. Test doesn’t want to do this whole Testicles thing. Stacy tells Test this isn’t going to hurt. Stacy says that it’s time to cut Test’s hair and Jane begins the process to cut Test’s hair.
Fourth Contest: Batista vs. Justin Credible: Batista goes right after Credible and delivers a clothesline in the corner. Batista drives Credible down to the mat gut first. Credible boots Batista a couple of times, but is caught on an axe handle attempt. Batista hits a rolling fireman’s carry. Batista misses a spear in the corner. Credible clotheslines Batista into the ropes and Batista bounces off with a clothesline to Credible. Batista plants Credible with a sit down powerbomb for the win. (1/2*. A dominate performance for Batista. I think he’ll fit in a lot better on the RAW brand than he would on the Smackdown brand.)
Backstage, Triple H and Ric Flair are talking with HHH saying he’s going to call out Shawn Michaels to come to the ring.
RAW World Champion Triple H makes his way down to the ring to call out Shawn Michaels. HHH calls Michaels out to the ring for them to do this once and for all. HHH notes that Michaels career ended once before in Boston and believes he can do it again in Boston. HHH warns Michaels to not accept the Elimination Chamber match and says nobody can do anything about him retaining the championship at Survivor Series. Booker T makes his way out to confront HHH. Booker says that HHH can handle his issues with Michaels later but right now he’s gotta deal with him. HHH says Booker can’t hold his jock strap. Booker is sick of this mess and sick of how HHH walks and talks. Booker is sick of seeing HHH carrying the championship. HHH reminds Booker who he is, but Booker cuts him off. Booker knows that HHH thinks that he runs the show, but he doesn’t run Booker T. Booker is going to think of one thing at Survivor Series. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.
Chris Jericho makes his way out to join the segment. Jericho asks if Booker is made that he interrupted his catchphrase. Jericho is sick and tired of hearing Booker saying the word sucker. Jericho guarantees that he’s going to eliminate Booker from the chamber match. Jericho insults Booker’s spinarooni dance move. Jericho notes that he’s teaming with HHH and says that Booker is a sucker right now. Booker is trapped, but he fights them off with right hands. Jericho and HHH overwhelm Booker in the corner with strikes and stomps. That is until Kane runs down to the ring and the heels bail to the floor.
Backstage, Stacy Keibler says Test looks great. Test isn’t shown.
Fifth Contest: Test vs. The Hurricane: Test forearms Hurricane and delivers a few elbows in the corner. Hurricane hammers away on Test, but a knee lift stops him. Test tries for a press slam, but settles for a full nelson slam. Test decks Hurricane to the mat and keeps control with elbow strikes and stomps in the corner. Test clotheslines Hurricane in the corner to maintain control of the contest. Test delivers another clothesline in the corner. Test tries for a powerbomb, but Hurricane nearly won with a rollup. Hurricane takes Test over with a hurricanrana and kicks Test on the knees. Hurricane clotheslines Test a few times and hits a shining wizard for a two count. Hurricane misses a blockbuster off the middle rope. Test misses a running big boot. Hurricane tries for a chokeslam, but Test elbows free and tries for a pumphandle, but Hurricane drops Test over the top rope. Test comes back with a roll of the dice neckbreaker for the win. (*1/2. I like Test’s haircut and it feels like he can be taken a little more seriously. It feels like a rarity for a haircut to actually benefit someone.) After the match, Test proclaims that he “loves his Testicles.”
Backstage, Chris Jericho praises the “Desire” video package because it was about him. Jericho says that Christian has the chance to take RVD out of the Elimination Chamber match. Christian wants to take RVD’s spot in the math. Jericho thinks that would help him, but Christian thinks he’d have a chance to become champion. They argue about it and Christian calls Jericho a sucker behind his back.
F-View footage is shown with Jericho meeting with HHH and Flair in the hallway. HHH doesn’t want Jericho to get caught off guard. Jericho says that Michaels is more HHH problem than his problem. HHH tells Jericho that they both have to deal with him. Flair says that Michaels gets involved he’ll take care of him. Jericho jokes about Bischoff hooking up with Stephanie McMahon. We see Shawn Michaels exiting a door right behind them and they just smirks as the heels walked off.
Sixth Contest: RAW Tag Team Champion Christian vs. Rob Van Dam: Christian controls RVD with a headlock to kickoff the match. Christian shoulder blocks RVD, but is met with a spin kick and dropkick. RVD clotheslines Christian over the top to the floor. RVD baseball slides Christian, but misses a moonsault to the floor landing on his feet. RVD puts Christian over the railing and leaps off the apron missing a spinning leg drop. Christian works over RVD with a strike and sends RVD into the ring steps face first. Christian stomps on RVD and taunts the fans. Christian powerslams RVD for a two count. Christian keeps a chin lock on RVD, but the fans get behind RVD leading to a quick recovery. RVD elbows free, but is met with a knee to th e midsection. Christian hammers away on RVD to keep control of the contest. Christian hammers away on RVD, but is nailed by a step over heel kick. RVD fires back with strikes and a spinning heel kick. RVD monkey flips Christian out of the corner managing a two count. RVD misses a running spinning heel kick and goes tot he floor, but recovers to hit a top rope crossbody for a near fall. Christian blocks a rolling thunder by getting his knees up. Christian manages a two count following a backbreaker. Christian goes to the floor to grabs a steel chair. Christian misses a chair shot and the referee grabs the chair. RVD leg sweeps Christian before hitting a shoulder ram in the corner. Christian kicks RVD away and heads to the top, but is kicked by RVD. Christian tries for a somersault powerbomb, but RVD breaks free and hits a kick. RVD hits a frog splash for the win. (**. A decent TV match as they worked fairly well together. Christian should have just tried to injure RVD as it lacked some intensity that Christian wanted to get in the main event. The chair stuff tried to get to that level, but I don’t think it landed. RVD isn’t a likely winner for the match at the PPV and it’s amazing how one loss at Unforgiven as derailed him into the upper midcard, at best.)
Christopher Nowinski makes his way out to cut a promo. Nowinski brags about being the only Harvard graduate and says that Boston has gone down the drain since he’s left. Nowinski wonders what is wrong with these people. Nowinski wonders how they could be so stupid. Nowinski says that their lives are dictated by people like him, an educated person. Nowinski makes a reference to Ted Williams frozen corpse and says he’s not a great man. Nowinski also says that Larry Bird is not a great man. Nowinksi proclaims that he’s a great man.
Al Snow makes his way out to confront Nowinski. Nowinski asks if Snow is going to teach him a lesson or ground him. Nowinski taunts Snow asking if he’d like to grapple with him. Maven appears behind Nowinski and Nowinski has no idea. Snow responds by saying that he’s not going to grapple or spank him. Maven decks Nowinski with a clothesline and a dropkick to send Nowinski to the floor. Nowinski stands up and is punched by Snow. Nowinski escapes through the crowd to avoid further beating. Maven celebrates his return to end the segment.
Backstage, Goldust meets up with Kane and asks how he feels about tagging with Booker T. Kane wants to be left alone. Goldust says he’s been banned from ringside and thus can’t be there. Goldust thinks that Kane should loosen up a little bit and do some breathing exercises. Goldust does his breathing taunt, but Kane presses Goldust agains the fence. Booker T enters the scene and says they are partners tonight. Booker reminds Kane about the lies HHH has said about Kane. Goldust admits to sleeping with a dead body and says he was young and stupid. Booker asks Kane to be focus tonight.
Backstage, Shawn Michaels walks by HHH’s locker room.
Main Event: RAW World Champion Triple H & RAW Tag Team Champion Chris Jericho vs. Booker T & Kane: Jericho and Booker kickoff the tag main event with Jericho hammering away on Booker. Jericho chokes Booker in the corner for a few moments. Booker heel kicks Jericho followed by more strikes and chops. Booker elbows Jericho to the mat. Jericho ducks a wild strike and hits a sleeper hold slam. HHH tags into the match and drops Booker with a right hand. Booker battles back with right hands and a running forearm smash. Booker comes out of the corner to clothesline HHH and tags in Kane. HHH quickly tags out and Jericho runs into a big boot. Jericho works over Kane with strikes in the corner, but is lifted up by Kane and dropped to the mat by his neck. Kane elbows Jericho several times in the corner. Kane sends Jericho into the corner and is met with a boot and missile dropkick by Jericho for a near fall. Kane drops Jericho gut first to the mat and nails HHH with a right hand. HHH chops blocks Kane to prevent a press slam on Jericho. Booker tries to get involved, but is stopped by the referee. HHH drags Kane to the corner and Jericho hits Kane on the knee with a chair shot. HHH keeps control with a few elbow drops to the left knee on the mat. HHH doesn’t get a submission, though.
Jericho tags in and kicks Kane on the injured knee. Jericho splashes down onto Kane’s knee and continues with a chop block to take Kane down to the mat. Kane nails Jericho with a clothesline. HHH drives Kane’s knee down to the mat a few times. HHH puts an awful looking figure four on Kane and continues to fail to get a submission. Kane side slams Jericho coming off the ropes and both men are down. HHH is tagged in and elbow drops Kane to prevent a tag to Booker. Kane blocks a double suplex and takes both men over with a suplex of his own. Booker is tagged in and cleans house with right hands. Booker backdrops HHH and ges a rollup out of the corner for a near fall. Booker clotheslines HHH and plants Jericho with a double leg slam. Booker punches Flair off the apron and nails HHH with a leaping heel kick. Booker does the spinarooni. Booker hits a leaping clothesline on both men and clotheslines Jericho to the floor. Booker scissor kicks HHH for a near fall.
Jericho puts the Walls of Jericho on Booker, but Kane leaps off the top to hit Jericho with a flying clothesline. Jericho sends Kane into the ring steps face first with a drop toe hold. The referee is knocked off the apron as Booker kicks HHH to the mat. Booker goes to the top rope missing a missile dropkick. HHH kicks Booker and tries for the Pedigree, but Shawn Michaels slides into the ring and nails HHH with the Sweet Chin Music. The referee is rolled into the ring and Booker covers HHH for the win. (**. It’s okay for what it was, but nothing here was all that memorable. The crowd didn’t seem to be all that invested in the action. I think they are most interested in Michaels, and they did pop a little bit for his arrival. I really think HHH being the champion is hurting the main event scene and there’s nobody on RAW that is a viable threat outside of Michaels at this point. So, it makes the matches feel predictable unless there’s interference taking place.)
Shawn Michaels is on the stage with a microphone. Michaels acts like he’s just going to leave, but then remembers he has a question to answer regarding Survivor Series. Of course, Michaels reveals that he accepts the invite to compete at Survivor Series in the Elimination Chamber. Michaels promises to walk out of MSG as the new World Champion.
Final Thoughts:
There’s a few average matches, but there’s just nothing exciting or interesting on the RAW brand at this point. It’s a dull show and there aren’t many acts that bring interest to segments on the show. Batista may be a fresh breath of air, but RAW needs a lot of help and an intriguing major angle to pickup steam.
Thanks for reading.