World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 1/13/2003
From: Uncasville, CT
Outside, Eric Bischoff is with Chief Morley and says he wants everyone to be happy when Vince McMahon shows up to the show. Earl Hebner enters the scene and tells Bischoff that the wrestlers have been discussing a strike. Morley walks off with the referees. Scott Steiner walks up from behind and tells Bischoff he’s not waiting for the Royal Rumble and wants Triple H tonight. Bischoff says tonight it will be Steiner vs. HHH in a benchpress competition. Steiner is annoyed and wants to fight. Steiner refuses to promise that he won’t hit HHH tonight.
Opening Contest: WWE Women’s Champion Victoria vs. Jacqueline vs. Trish Stratus in a hardcore match: There are trash cans filled with weapons attached to the corners. Victoria finds a cardboard cutout of Trish, which she doesn’t like. Victoria knocks Stratus down and Jacqueline messes up with a head scissors on Victoria. Trish works over Jacqueline with strikes against the ropes. Steven Richards pulls the ropes down to cause Jacqueline to fall to the floor. Stratus whacks Victoria with the kendo stick a few times and hits Richards off the apron. Victoria hits Stratus with a trash can lid and slams Stratus onto the lid. Victoria misses a top rope moonsault. Jacqueline gets a two count on Victoria after a few pin attempts. Stratus shoves Jacqueline and they double team Victoria. Richards trips the challengers and sends Jacqueline into the barricade. Richards nails Stratus with the trash can lid and Victoria manages to pin Stratus for the win. (1/2*. Easily one of the sloppiest matches I’ve seen. Luckily it was short, but the crowd turned on these ladies pretty quickly when they realized it was gonna be a mess of a match.) After the match, Stratus forearms Victoria while Jacqueline punches Richards, but Richards sends Jacqueline to the floor. Richards plants Stratus with a double arm lifting DDT. Richards holds Stratus over his knee as Victoria went to the middle rope, but The Hurricane runs down to the make the save.
Outside, Erich Bischoff is chatting with Chief Morley wondering aloud that Vince McMahon would be happy with how he’s been running RAW. Dudley Boys walk up from behind and bump into Morley and Bischoff. Bischoff isn’t scared of them, though. Bubba reminds Bischoff what he’s done to them recently, but Morley steps in front and gets attacked by D-Von. The Dudley Boys double team Morley until security runs over and grabs the Dudley Boys. Bischoff fires the Dudley’s, but once Bubba notes that Stephanie would love a good tag team, Bischoff switches to a suspension without pay.
Second Contest: Christopher Nowinski & D’Lo Brown vs. Maven & Test: Test and Brown kickoff the tag match, but Brown tags out to Nowinski. Brown distracts Test, but Test elbows Nowinski and slingshots Brown into the ring. Brown nails Test with a side slam and Nowinski keeps control with strikes in the corner. Test boots a charging Nowinski and clotheslines Brown off the apron. Maven tags in and delivers a double elbow for a near fall. Maven hits a spinning heel kick and dropkick for a two count on Nowinski. Brown decks Maven from the apron, but is knocked off the apron. Brown drops Maven throat first over the top rope and Nowinski delivers a spinebuster. Brown plants Maven with a spinebuster for a near fall. Maven fights back with strikes and hits a snap suplex, but Nowinski tagged in and elbow drops Maven. Nowinski ties Maven up in the ropes and allows Brown to deliver a cheap shot. Nowinski hits a double under hook spinning slam for a two count. Brown returns to the match and decks Maven with a clothesline. Brown decks Maven over the back with a strike. Brown scoop slams Maven and puts a kneeling abdominal stretch on Maven. Maven fights back and tags in Test. Test clotheslines Brown a few times and side slams Nowinski. Test plants Brown with a tilt a whirl slam and a full nelson slam to Nowinski. Test tries for the pump handle on Brown, but Nowinski makes the save. Test spikes Nowinski with the Test Drive, but misses a big boot on Brown and falls to the floor. Brown hits the Sky High, but isn’t the legal man. Brown argues with the referee when Stacy gets on the apron allowing Test to hit the big boot and pins Brown for the win. (*1/2. Honestly, I thought Test looked great here. His powerful offense looked great. Test being associated with Stacy is helping his babyface persona and actually makes me forget that he was recently part of the Un-American heel group a few months ago. The “testicles” aspect of his persona likely limits him to a midcard power guy, but there’s still potential for him to breakout in a babyface capacity at some point with Stacy.)
Outside, Bischoff is on the phone promising he’s got everything under control. A limo pulls up and Bischoff believes it’s Vince McMahon as RAW goes to commercial.
During the break, Mean Gene came out of the limo and was there to present for the RAW 10th Anniversary Show tomorrow night. Gene insults Bischoff that they’d have a Nitro reunion if Bischoff was smarter. Chris Jericho walked up to Bischoff saying they have a problem for the Royal Rumble. Jericho believes that he needs to enter number one for the Royal Rumble match. Bischoff tells Jericho he needs a RAW wrestler to win the match and says Jericho would be at a disadvantage. Bischoff tells Jericho to prove it in a battle royal in the main event tonight. Jericho walks off without Bischoff agreeing.
F-View TV records RAW Tag Team Champions Lance Storm and William Regal chatting about Regal getting ready for his match. Regal is reading Jerry Lawler’s book, but insults Lawler for being divorced several times and his kids hate him. Regal promises to beat Lawler for embarrassing them a few weeks ago.
RAW Tag Team Champion William Regal decides to read some of Lawler’s book in the ring. Regal reads Lawler’s description of his relationships with young children. Regal says that Lawler was a king in the ring, but in the bedroom he was a court jester. Regal decides to stop reading and have a match.
Third Contest: RAW Tag Team Champion William Regal vs. Jerry Lawler: The referee tries to check Regal, but Regal tries to keep moving. Three referees come into the ring and search Regal in the corner. They find brass knuckles in Regal’s trunks. The referees check Lance Storm and they find another pair of brass knuckles. Lawler goes into his boot and grabs a chain. Lawler waits for Regal to turnaround and decks Regal with it around his fist. The referee notices the chain around Lawler’s fist on the cover and proceeds to disqualify Lawler. After the match, Lawler declares himself the winner and still the king. (NR. Not sure what the point of this really was.)
Fourth Contest: Jeff Hardy vs. Raven to earn final spot in Royal Rumble Match: Raven shoulder blocks Hardy for a two count to start the match. Hardy gets a rollup for a near fall and they have a standoff. Raven tries for a knee lift, but Hardy counters with a rollup for a two count. Hardy hits a running crossbody sending himself and Raven over the top to the floor. Hardy rolls Raven into the ring and climbs to the top rope, but Raven rolls to the floor. Raven trips Hardy and wraps Hardy’s left leg around the ring post. Raven stomps on Hardy’s knee before driving Hardy’s knee onto the mat. Raven stomps Hardy several times in the corner. Hardy kicks Raven away a few times. Hardy misses a moonsault attempt and Raven gets a two count. Raven kicks Hardy on the knee a few times. Raven locks in a spinning toe hold, but Hardy doesn’t submit. Hardy kicks Raven chest first into the corner and delivers a mule kick. Hardy staggers Raven with a jawbreaker and a clothesline. Hardy hits a spinning heel kick and delivers a double leg drop for a near fall. Raven tries for a DDT, but misses a clothesline. Hardy slips on the ropes and Raven goes for a cover managing a two count. Raven catapults Hardy into the corner chest first. Raven tries for a DDT, but Hardy holds onto the ropes. Hardy leaps off the top to hit the Swanton Bomb for the win. (*. There’s not much heat for this, but an obvious outcome for Hardy to be entered in the Rumble instead of Raven.)
Outside, Vince McMahon has arrived to the arena and is greeted by Eric Bischoff. Bischoff quickly sucks up to McMahon. McMahon tells Bischoff that he’s here to make an announcement. Randy Orton is there and tells McMahon that his shoulder is at 94%. McMahon whacks Orton on the shoulder several times.
A vignette promoting Sean O’Haire airs. O’Haire tells us that we have sexual desires and that we need to indulge. O”Haire is supportive of adultery. These vignettes are fantastic.
Vince McMahon makes his way down to the ring with the crowd cheering him. McMahon is here for one reason. The Dudley Boys make their way down to the ring quickly to cutoff McMahon. McMahon tells D-Von this better be good. Bubba apologizes for interrupting the segment and tells McMahon they got suspended earlier, which surprises McMahon. Bubba tells McMahon that Bischoff is a piece of crap. Bubba doesn’t think Bischoff appreciates them or any talent. McMahon doesn’t appreciate them interrupting him. McMahon tells Bubba if anyone is going to throw their weight around it’s going to him. McMahon announces that the Dudley Boys are reinstated. McMahon books the Dudley Boys against the RAW Tag Team Champions Lance Storm & William Regal for the Royal Rumble. McMahon wants the Dudley Boys to get the tables during the tag match at the Rumble. Dudley Boys leave the ring happy with that decision. McMahon tries to continue his promo, but…
Chris Jericho makes his way out to interrupt the segment. Jericho is happy to see McMahon again and says that they have a huge issue. Jericho is upset that he’s been denied the number one entry in the Royal Rumble. Jericho doesn’t like that Bischoff is only considering his spot if he wins the main event. Jericho needs to remind the entire world that he’s the best in the business. Jericho thinks McMahon is the only person in the world with the most power to help him. McMahon tells Jericho to shut his mouth. McMahon makes it so the winner of the main event can choose any number in the Royal Rumble. Jericho promises to enter himself in the number one position when he wins the match. McMahon clarifies that the winner can pick any number except for number one because Shawn Michaels has taken the number. McMahon doesn’t like being interrupted. McMahon suggests Jericho leave if he wants to be in the Royal Rumble at all.
Eric Bischoff comes out to interrupt McMahon. Bischoff doesn’t understand how McMahon can under mind his decisions. McMahon tells Bischoff to shut up and he’s had enough of this crap. McMahon came out to share one announcement about the RAW 10th Anniversary Show tomorrow night. McMahon decides to do a public job evaluation. McMahon asks the audience how many think Bischoff has been doing a good job. The crowd boos heavily, but McMahon thinks Bischoff is doing a good job. McMahon hired Bischoff to be great and not just good. McMahon says that Bischoff hasn’t revolutionized RAW, at all. McMahon hired Bischoff to choke out RAW, but he has not done this at all. McMahon is giving Bischoff thirty days to turn RAW around and if he doesn’t turn it around then he’ll be fired.
In the parking lot, Bischoff tells McMahon that he needs some time to get in his groove. McMahon doesn’t think there’s any man who could replace him. Shane McMahon steps out of the limo and stares at Bischoff before getting back in the limo. McMahon reminds Bischoff that he’s got thirty days.
Fifth Contest: RAW Tag Team Champion Lance Storm vs. Booker T: Booker puts a headlock on Storm and delivers a shoulder block after Storm shoves Booker into the ropes. Storm elbows Booker into the ropes and tries for a hip toss, but Booker delivers a clothesline and a scoop slam instead. Booker delivers a knee drop for a two count. Booker chops Storm in the corner, but Storm delivers an eye rake and rams Booker into the corner followed by strikes. Storm argues with the referee and chokes Booker in the corner. Booker gets a rollup out of the corner for a two count. Booker kicks Storm away and they have a standoff. Storm punches Booker a few times and delivers chops in the corner. Booker plants Storm with a flapjack. Booker nails Storm with a heel kick and covers for a two count. Booker keeps Storm on the mat with an arm bar. Storm shoulder rams Booker in the corner. Storm sends Booker into the corner and manages a two count. Storm drives Booker down with a backbreaker. Storm knee drops Booker on the mat several times. Storm keeps Booker on the mat with a sleeper. Storm controls Booker on the mat with a chin lock. Booker elbows Storm out of the hold, but Storm decks Booker from. behind. Storm misses a clothesline and Booker delivers a forearm smash. Booker backdrops Storm coming off the ropes. Booker chops Storm several times against the ropes. Booker kicks Storm to avoid a backdrop, and misses a heel kick. Regal decks Booker from the floor and Goldust attacks Regal until Storm delivers a kick. The Dudley Boys slide into the ring and attack the tag champions causing a DQ. After the match, Dudley’s try for the 3D on Storm, but Regal pulls Storm to the floor. (**. Yeah, we’ve gone full pivot to the Dudley’s challenging for the tag titles instead of Booker and Goldust. The match was decent for what it was, but the DQ finish was a bit lame.)
Sixth Contest: The Hurricane vs. Steven Richards: Trish Stratus and WWE Women’s Champion Victoria are in the respective corners of the men. Richards pummels Hurricane with strikes in the corner to gain the early advantage. Richards signals for a DDT, but Hurricane counters with a suplex. Richards knee lifts Hurricane a few times. Hurricane clotheslines Richards several times. Hurricane drives Richards down to the mat with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Richards misses a splash in the corner and Hurricane hits a middle rope blockbuster. Hurricane is distracted by Victoria and Trish attacks on the floor. Hurricane hits the Eye of the Hurricane on Richards to win the match. (NR. I mean, this is hardly a match. I’m disappointed that Richards would be jobbed out so quickly. It feels like Hurricane is gaining steam as a babyface character on RAW.) After the match, Hurricane clotheslines Richards to the floor and Trish kicks Victoria to the floor.
Backstage, Scott Steiner is working out to prepare for the benchpress competition coming up on RAW.
A vignette promoting the debuting Nathan Jones, who has recently been freed from prison.
The Coach is at the top of the ramp to promote the benchpress and introduces Scott Steiner to be the first man to compete. Steiner grabs a microphone and talks about beating Triple H in an arm wrestling match and beating HHH at a pose down. Steiner says he’s doing things his way tonight. Steiner knows how much he can bench and we’re going to see if HHH can bench as much as he can. Steiner puts 585lbs on the bench to start.
RAW World Champion Triple H comes out to the ring and tells Steiner he doesn’t care about their competitions. HHH cares about one thing and it’s the World Heavyweight Championship. HHH declares that the championship proves that he’s the best at wrestling. HHH asks if Steiner thinks he’s the first one because there’s a long list of guys who thought they were the man. HHH lists guys such as Hogan, Undertaker, Michaels, Rock, and Austin. HHH still remains the World Heavyweight Champion. HHH tells Steiner that he’ll talk a good talk until they get to the Royal Rumble where HHH will make an example out of Steiner and prove that he’s the best. Steiner doesn’t want to wait until Sunday night. Steiner doesn’t think the fans came for a bench press contest and instead they came to see Steiner get in the ring and kick HHH’s ass. Steiner heads to the ring and HHH delivers right hands in the corner. Steiner plants HHH with a belly to belly suplex followed by strikes in the corner. Steiner tosses HHH out of the corner and rips HHH clothing off. HHH is fighting in his underwear, but Steiner backdrops HHH out of the corner. Steiner sends HHH over the ropes in the corner to the floor. Steiner tells HHH that he’s just getting started and promises the World Heavyweight Championship will be his at the Royal Rumble. Steiner poses with the championship on the middle rope to end the segment.
Main Event: Kane vs. Chris Jericho vs. Batista vs. Rob Van Dam; winner chooses spot in Rumble between #2 to #30: All four men are in the ring with Batista working over RVD as Kane hammers away on Jericho. Kane rams Batista into the corner. RVD catapults Jericho into the corner and knocks Jericho to the apron. RVD kicks Batista as Kane delivers a swinging neckbreaker. Jericho saves Batista from being eliminated. Jericho drives RVD down with a back suplex. Batista works over Kane in the corner with stomps. Batista tries to eliminate Kane in the corner, but Kane elbows free. RVD misses a spear and hits the post shoulder first. Jericho punches Kane against the ropes a few times. Kane avoids being eliminated as RVD helps Kane by ramming Jericho into the corner. Jericho elbows RVD in the corner, but RVD sends Jericho into the corner and is met with a boot. Jericho hits a dropkick off the middle rope. Batista decks Kane with a clothesline. Jericho chokes RVD over the ropes. RVD kicks Jericho into the corner and delivers a few right hands. RVD nails Jericho with a step over heel kick. Kane nails Batista with a big boot. Kane grabs Jericho coming off the middle rope and slams Jericho as RVD kicks Batista. RVD leg sweeps Batista as Kane delivers a clothesline.
Batista fights out of the corner and RVD spin kicks Jericho. RVD kicks Jericho several times followed by a forearm against the ropes. RVD kicks Jericho, and is nearly eliminated. RVD leaps off the top to kick Jericho. RVD hits the rolling thunder splash. Batista spears Kane coming out of the corner. Batista clotheslines RVD and is the only man standing. Batista grabs RVD and tries for a powerbomb, but Kane tries for a chokeslam until Jericho delivers a low blow. Batista takes advantage and clotheslines Kane over the top to the floor. Batista kicks Jericho and hits the Batista Bomb. RVD kicks Batista over the top to the floor. It’s down to RVD and Jericho. Batista shoves RVD off the top and RVD lays over the top rope allowing Jericho to dump RVD over the top to the floor to win the match. (*1/2. Battle royal style matches are tough to be entertaining and considering Jericho’s obsession with being number one, it was a bit obvious where this would go.)
Chris Jericho grabs a microphone and celebrates winning the match. Jericho knows that logic says he should take #30. Jericho announces that he’s entering the Royal Rumble as the #2 entrant. Shawn Michaels runs to the ring and skins the cat to remain in the ring and tosses Jericho over the top to the floor. Michaels poses on the ramp to end the show.
Final Thoughts:
This show felt rather lifeless to me. Scott Steiner is not coming across as the cool version that he was in WCW dying days. I kind of wish that Jericho would have swerve everyone and taken the #30 spot because being champion is most important to him. But alas that doesn’t happen. Royal Rumble on the RAW side is nowhere near the level of interest for Smackdown.
Steiner vs. Triple H build has been mostly about their bodies and who has the best body. I don’t care about that. There’s nothing personal going on to drive the feud for a PPV match.
Dudley’s vs. Regal/Storm is basically a pivot away from Goldust/Booker being challengers. I’m sure Goldust and Booker were needed for the Rumble match itself. Dudley Boys are a played out team and there’s not much interest in a tag title run for them at this point.
Hopefully RAW can get some steam going for their build towards WrestleMania XIX.
Thanks for reading.