World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 12/16/2002
From: Orlando, FL
Opening Contest: WWE Women’s Champion Victoria & Steven Richards vs. Test & Trish Stratus: Stratus nails Victoria with a kick and decks Richards off the apron. Stratus head scissors Victoria out of the corner and gets a rollup for a two count. Stratus is stopped by a knee lift from Richards on the apron. Richards hits a snap suplex on Stratus and Victoria returns to the match locking in a modified cloverleaf and falling backwards. Richards decks Test on the apron and Stratus is double teamed in the corner. Richards hits a side slam on Stratus for a two count. Stratus fights back with a few forearms, but Richards eye rakes Stratus. Richards tries for a slam, but Stratus counters with a rollup for a two count. Richards knee lifts Stratus in the corner and heads to the top rope. Richards is crotched by Stratus and Stratus decks Victoria off the apron. Stratus hits a hurricanrana on Richards off the top rope. Test is ready for a tag and gets the hot tag. Test cleans house hitting clotheslines on Richards. Richards runs into a full nelson slam attempt, but Richards avoids it. Test plants Richards with a pump handle slam. Test signals for the slam on Victoria, but Richards makes the save. Test hits a double clothesline and signals for the big boot. Richards puts the referee in the way. Richards hits a Flatliner on Test for a two count. Stacy Keibler gets on the apron and shows her butt to Richards to distract him. Richards chases on the floor, and ends up running into a big boot by Test leading to the three count. (*1/2. By the looks of it, Test is getting over with this testicles gimmick led by Stacy. However, I’m believing this is similar to the Marc Mero/Sable dynamic from 1996/1997. As soon as Stacy ventures off onto something else, Test will be regulated back to a lower level act or probably a heel turn. The match was fine and the crowd showed more interest in this than I expected. It likely benefited by opening the show instead of a long promo segment.)
Backstage, Eric Bischoff opens Triple H’s locker room door and says this will be outstanding and that HHH is truly the game. Chief Sean Morley meets Bischoff in the hallway. Bischoff says it is time for him and HHH to get on the same page. Bischoff is going to produce Triple H Appreciation Night. Thus, instead of a main event there will be an appreciation night for HHH. Morley gets stressed and says that he promised the main event spot to Scott Steiner. Morley says Steiner isn’t going to be happy if HHH is in the main event spot. Bischoff expects Morley to fix this mess.
Backstage, WWE Tag Team Champions Booker T and Goldust are chatting. Goldust is dressed up as Santa. Goldust asks if Booker has been a good boy and wants to touch his sack. Goldust has a special present and hands over one of the tag team championships. Goldust thanks Booker for believing in him. Booker says the belts have made it worth it. Christian enters the scene and tells them to not get too excited because they are invoking their rematch clause for next week on rAW. Christian says Jericho will beat Booker and he’s going to beat Goldust tonight. Goldust gives Christian a gift of Ass Cream. Christian says he doesn’t use the cream, but ends up taking it anyway.
Second Contest: Christopher Nowinski vs. Maven: Maven backs Nowinski into a corner, but Nowinski gets a few strikes in. Maven takes Nowinski over with a few arm drags and keeps arm control. Nowinski elbows Maven in the corner and tries for a cheap pin with his feet on the ropes, but only gets a two count. Nowinski drop toe holds Maven into the corner and hammers away on Maven before hitting a suplex for a two count. Nowinski keeps Maven on the mat with a seated abdominal stretch. Maven gets a two count with a rollup, but Nowinski connects with a clothesline for a two count. Nowinski delivers a backbreaker for a near fall. Nowinski keeps Maven on the mat with a chin lock. Maven is driven down to the mat by a spear and Nowinski manages a two count. Nowinski tries for a suplex, but Maven hits a dropkick. Maven hammers away on Nowinski hitting a backdrop. Maven clotheslines Nowinski followed by a flapjack and gets a two count with a rollup. Maven punches Nowinski several times in the corner, but Nowinski hits an atomic drop and plants Maven with the Honor Roll (twisting DDT) for a near fall. Nowinski continues with strikes in the corner. Maven is sat on the top turnbuckle, Nowinski punches Maven several times. Maven shoves Nowinksi off the middle rope. Maven tries for a sunset flip, but Nowinski rolls through and covers Maven with a handful of tights for the win. (*. Yeah, there wasn’t heat here at all. I think Nowinski has potential to eventually be a big-time heel for the WWE with more time in the ring. Maven isn’t bad, but he seems to lack fire.)
Shawn Michaels makes his way down to the ring to cut a promo. Michaels, who lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship last night, is dancing and seems to be in a jovial mood. Michaels has a bandaged on his forehead as the fans chant for HBK. Michaels mentions how last week Ric Flair said that Michaels didn’t have it anymore and his best days were behind him. Michaels says he is alive and well. Michaels admits he’s not wearing the championship, but brags about stealing the show. Michaels recalls the weapons and big moments that happened during his match with Triple H last night. Michaels went down, but he went down in a blaze of glory. Michaels feels good tonight. Michaels wants to do three out of five tonight. Michaels calls out the man so he can beat him up.
Instead of Triple H, Chris Jericho’s music hits and Jericho comes out to cutoff Michaels. Jericho believes that the ass clowns (fans) all came here to see him. Jericho says he’s more athletic and charismatic than Michaels. Jericho also believes he’s better looking and calls himself a true sexy boy. The fans chant that Michaels is an asshole. Jericho admits he was excited to see Michaels return to the ring. Jericho puts over Michaels performance in the match. Jericho found the performance to be sad, though. Jericho says the HBK of old would have defied the odds and silenced the skeptics. Instead, Michaels lost and calls Michaels a loser. Jericho thinks it’s embarrassing for Michaels and for himself. Jericho credits Michaels for the main reason Jericho wanted to be a WWE Superstar and champion. Jericho calls Michaels his hero. But, now Jericho sees Michaels as someone who is finished. Jericho doesn’t believe Michaels is the Showstopper. Jericho tells Michaels the show is over and Michaels is damaged goods. Jericho thinks he could kick Michaels ass right now if he wanted to and he should do it. Jericho gets in Michaels face as the crowd is chanting for Michaels. Jericho isn’t going to waste his time because Michaels proved that HBK stands for “Has Been Kid” and turns around allowing Michaels to nail Jericho with the Sweet Chin Music.
Third Contest: Christian vs. WWE Tag Team Champion Goldust: Goldust drop toe holds Christian and keeps control with a headlock and a shoulder block. Goldust drops Christian over the top rope chest first followed by a bulldog. Goldust pummels Christian with right hands, but Christian eye rakes Goldust and sends Goldust shoulder first into the ring post. Christian keeps arm control and wrenches on the shoulder. Goldust breaks free, but Christian plants Goldust with a DDT for a two count. Christian punches Goldust on the arm a few times. Christian leaps off the middle rope, but Goldust manages to hit a slam in midair. They trade right hands until Goldust delivers a clothesline and right hands. Goldust hits another clothesline and a neckbreaker. Goldust holds the ropes to avoid a dropkick and gets a two count on a cover. Goldust plants Christian with a snap powerslam for a two count. Goldust misses a bulldog and Christian delivers a reverse DDT for a two count. Goldust rams Christian into a corner and punches Christian several times. Goldust sets Christian up in the corner for the Shattered Dreams, but the referee prevents it. Christian boots Goldust and counters a rollup with a rollup of his own and uses the ropes for leverage to win the match. (*. I’m sure this is going to continue to play into the lack of confidence angle that Goldust is developing. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jericho wins later tonight and then the tag champs retain next week. Because, you have to love 50/50 booking.)
Backstage, Eric Bischoff meets with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H. Bischoff puts over Triple H’s performance last night at Armageddon. Bischoff doesn’t think Triple H should wait for the main event segment. Bischoff suggests they have the ceremony now. HHH wants to know if there’s something Bischoff didn’t tell him. Bischoff tells HHH that he’d put Steiner’s contract signing in the main event. HHH gets livid about Steiner getting the main event spot over him. HHH calls Steiner a jacked up piece of trash. HHH tells Bischoff to think again if he’s going to give Steiner his spot. HHH tells Bischoff he’ll pull a Stone Cold Steve Austin and walkout on Bischoff. HHH tells Bischoff to think about that. Bischoff it’s not an issue they will figure it out.
Moments ago, Ric Flair was telling 3MW that they need to listen to him and follow Batista.
In the parking lot, Chief Sean Morley tells Terri to tell Scott Steiner to report to Morley. Terri was on the phone, but Morley hangs up the phone call.
Backstage, Coach interviews Kane and Rob Van Dam regarding the handicap match. Kane is pissed and RVD says that Kane is disturbed about the situation. RVD translates Kane’s anger in a cooler manner. Kane doesn’t appreciate being mocked, but RVD promises he’s not. RVD wants Kane to relax and release his inner Kane.
Fourth Contest: Batista, Rosey & Jamal vs. Rob Van Dam & Kane in a handicap match: Batista starts the match by nailing RVD with a clothesline and continues with stomps on the mat. Batista chokes RVD over the middle rope. Batista rams RVD into the corner and continues with elbow strikes. RVD boots Batista in the corner, but Batista responds with a clothesline for a near fall. Batista rams RVD into the corner back first and tags in Jamal. Jamal kicks RVD in the corner and taunts RVD. Jamal nails RVD with a discus clothesline for a near fall. Jamal decks RVD over the back and rams RVD into the corner. Jamal misses a dropkick landing on the mat. RVD connects with the rolling thunder. RVD spin kicks Jamal and tries to tag Kane, but fails. Rosey tags into the match and clubs RVD with strikes. Rosey misses a splash in the corner and RVD hits a springboard kick to the chin of Rosey. Rosey prevents RVD from tagging out to Kane. Jamal tags into the match and nails RVD with another clothesline. Batista and Ric Flair decide to leave the match and go backstage. RVD connects with a spin kick on Jamal. Kane goes to the top rope leaping off hitting a flying clothesline. Rosey tries to get involved and gets clotheslined. Kane plants Rosey with a DDT. Kane clotheslines Jamal in the corner and clotheslines Rosey. Kane big boots Jamal and slams Rosey. Kane tries for a chokeslam, but Rosey makes the save. RVD kicks Rosey to the floor. RVD spin kicks Jamal and Jamal spins around into the chokeslam by Kane leading to a three count. (*. Batista leaving the match doesn’t bother me. Kane and RVD becoming a tag team can probably be a fun duo. I’m just hoping they are regulated to being just a tag team because the babyface side for singles challengers could be depleted.)
Backstage, Scott Steiner arrives to the arena and he’s pissed.
Fifth Contest: William Regal & Lance Storm vs. Dudley Boys: Bubba and D-Von attack Storm and Regal. Storm is driven down with a flapjack and D-Von dumps Storm to the floor. Regal staggers to the apron loopy. Bubba slingshots Regal into the ring and Regal begs off. Bubba jabs Regal and D-Von hits a splash in the corner. Bubba side slams Regal for a two count. Bubba decks Storm off the apron. Bubba misses a splash in the corner. Regal clotheslines Bubba from behind. Regal uppercuts Bubba and Storm enters to deliver a few strikes in the corner. Storm keeps Bubba on the mat with a chin lock. Bubba elbows Storm to break free, but Storm hits a heel kick for a two count. Regal returns to the match and stomps on Bubba’s midsection. Regal nails Bubba with a jumping knee strike for a two count. Storm and Regal backdrop Bubba leading to a near fall. Bubba arm drags Storm, but Regal gets tagged in and prevents a tag to D-Von. Regal knee drops Bubba for a two count. Bubba kicks Regal and finally tags in D-Von. D-Von nails Regal with a leaping clothesline and a snap powerslam for a two count. Bubba slams Storm and D-Von goes to the top rope hitting the What’s Up. Dudley’s hit an elevated reverse DDT, which is not the 3D for a two count. Regal nails D-Von with brass knuckles and pins D-Von for the win. (*1/2. I’m sure Regal and Storm are being lined up as the next tag team to challenge Booker and Goldust. Dudley Boys are arguably the third level face tag team below Booker/Goldust and now Kane/RVD. So, they should be used to elevate other teams at this current time.)
Sixth Contest: D’Lo Brown vs. Jeff Hardy: Hardy hammers away on Brown and hits a sling blade. Hardy head scissors Brown to the floor. Hardy hits a running dive off the apron, but Brown recovers first and rolls Brown into the ring. Brown clubs Hardy over the back and delivers a knee lift to the chest. Brown decks Hardy to the mat with a right hand. Brown keeps a sleeper on Hardy, but doesn’t get a submission. Hardy elbows free from Brown, but Brown drives Hardy down with a front suplex for a near fall. Brown slams Hardy and hits a leg drop for another two count. Hardy stops Brown with a jawbreaker. Hardy leaps off the top to hit Whisper In The Wind. Hardy forearms Brown to the mat and almost wins with a pin trapping Brown’s legs with a leg drop. Hardy dropkicks Brown to the floor and dives onto Brown on the floor after leaping off the referee’s back. Hardy hits the Swanton Bomb, but Brown gets his boot on the bottom rope. Well, the referee still counts the three anyway and Brown is pissed. (*. I feel like it’s incredibly obvious that Hardy has no interest in being in the WWE right now. He can’t win a match against Brown without a controversy cover? He’s checked out. There’s no doubt.)
Backstage, Scott Steiner is working out his upper body. Ric Flair enters the room and Steiner doesn’t acknowledge Flair’s presence. Flair tells Steiner that tonight is HHH’s night and nothing is going to ruin his night. Flair says that Steiner isn’t half the man that HHH is. Steiner pushes Flair up against the wall and threatens Flair. Flair staggers backwards out of the room.
Backstage, the referee apologizes to D’Lo Brown for not seeing his foot on the ropes. Brown says the referee can tell him he’s sorry, but it doesn’t matter because the L stays on his record and his money is lost. Brown thinks the honest mistake had a lot more to do with the fact that the referee is a white boy and he’s a black man.
Backstage, Stacy Keibler tells Test that he’s got a new commercial with BOD body spray. Raven is seen lurking behind a production truck.
Chris Jericho cuts a promo saying he knows the fans think its funny that Shawn Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music. Jericho thinks it was unfair and not right, but Jim Ross urges for a commercial, so we go to commercial while Jericho rambles.
Main Event: WWE Tag Team Champion Booker T vs. Chris Jericho: Jericho attacks Booker before the bell for the cheap advantage. Jericho chops Booker in the corner. Booker clotheslines Jericho and follows up with right hands. Booker elbows Jericho followed by a slam for a two count. Booker knee lifts Jericho and hits a side slam. Booker goes to the top rope, but Jericho crotches Booker on the top rope. Jericho chops Booker on the top rope followed by right hands. Jericho hooks Booker for a suplex and hits a superplex for a two count. Jericho kicks Booker in the ribs and continues with right hands on the mat. Jericho dances in the ring and jabs Booker to the mat a few times. Booker nails Jericho with a leaping side kick. Jericho elbow drops Booker to regain control of the match. Jericho keeps a chin lock on Booker, but Booker gets to his feet. Jericho counters a spinebuster and tries for the Walls of Jericho, but Booker almost wins with an inside cradle. Booker forearms Jericho and nails Jericho with a superkick for a near fall. Booker chops Jericho, but Jericho fights back with a bulldog.
Jericho tries for a springboard moonsault, but Booker avoids it and hits a double leg slam for a near fall. Booker chops Jericho in the corner a few times. Booker tries for a rollup out of the corner, but Jericho sits down for a two count. Booker tries for a suplex, but Jericho avoids it. Jericho avoids the Book End, but Booker hits it on the second try, but Jericho got his boot on the ropes. Booker flapjacks Jericho and does the spinarooni. Christian slides into the ring and is met with a heel kick. Jericho runs into a heel kick, as well. Goldust runs down to the ring to help Booker. Booker backdrops Jericho over the top to the floor. The referee raises Booker’s hand and Booker apparently won the match by disqualification. (*1/2. That main event was not very good, at all. They just seemed off and it was a bit sloppy. Plus, the finish was lazy and didn’t do anything to advance the tag feud.)
Backstage, Chief Morley meets up with Scott Steiner and admits he made a mistake. Morley promised Steiner the main event spot and throws Bischoff under the bus. Morley doesn’t think the people in Florida need to see Steiner tonight. Morley gives the contract to Steiner and says that tonight is for HHH. Steiner says its no problem for HHH to have his moment. Morley thanks Steiner for understanding. Steiner says HHH will have a moment that he’ll never forget.
Eric Bischoff is in the ring with Chief Morley to begin the Triple H Appreciation Night segment. Bischoff puts over Triple H as being a guy who has done a lot for the industry more than anyone else. the NEW WWE World Heavyweight Champion Triple H makes his way out along with Ric Flair. Bischoff introduces a video tribute for HHH. Bischoff tells the fans to show their appreciation, but their not all that excited. HHH chimes in and thinks the fans should be thanking him. HHH says its hard to be humble when you’re HHH and this good. HHH claims that he is the best and he proves it again and again. HHH says you can name anyone in the industry and he’s beaten them all. Shawn Michaels, Hulk Hogan, Kane, Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, Steve Austin and the Rock. HHH says Rock knows why he’s making movies. HHH takes credit for retiring Mick Foley. HHH is the best because he’s the Game.
Scott Steiner’s music hits and Steiner comes out to cutoff the Appreciation Night. Steiner says HHH has beaten a lot of guys, but HHH can’t beat him. Bischoff thought they had an agreement. Steiner says his contract says he gets a title shot, and if he doesn’t, he’s out of here. HHH asks if Steiner thinks he deserves a title shot for coming down to the ring. HHH knows where Steiner came from, but this place is different because you earn your shot at the championship. HHH tells Bischoff that Steiner hasn’t proven anything to him and says he doesn’t get a title shot. Steiner didn’t come here to start at the bottom. Steiner tells HHH that he’s going to be the greatest of all-time. Steiner suggests HHH is a little scared. Steiner wasn’t lying when he said he’s a genetic freak. Steiner thinks HHH is the game with no balls. HHH smirks off that insult. HHH tells Bischoff to give Steiner his World Championship match, but it’s Steiner’s funeral. Bischoff hurries with the contract, but HHH explains to Steiner what signing that contract is all about. HHH says that Steiner had been a big fish in a small pond. HHH promises to eat Steiner up if he signs the contract. Steiner signs the contract anyway. Bischoff reveals that Scott Steiner will get his title shot at the Royal Rumble. HHH doesn’t look thrilled about that announcement. Steiner doesn’t consider the world a small pond. Steiner brags about having the biggest arms in the world. Steiner claims to be the man and not HHH. Steiner suggests they have the match tonight instead of the Royal Rumble. Steiner wants to bitch slap HHH right now because there’s nothing HHH can do about it. Steiner wants HHH to prove his a tough guy and take the first punch to see what happens. Steiner would rip HHH from limb to limb. HHH takes off his jacket and gets in Steiner’s face. HHH ends up backing off with Flair. Steiner lists his nicknames that HHH isn’t and promises to kick HHH’s ass. HHH poses with the belt on the ramp to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
Action wise this was a rough RAW to get through. However, it’s clear where they are seemingly taking things into 2003. I don’t envision a long reign for Booker and Goldust, but I don’t see a title change happening next week. Scott Steiner didn’t across as the WCW version of Steiner. He just felt off. Overall, a lackluster episode, but I liked starting off with a match and finishing with a segment.
Thanks for reading.