World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 4/21/2003
From: Atlanta, GA
Backstage, Ric Flair is in a room with Eric Bischoff. Flair talks about Kevin Nash is back in WWE under the assumption that Nash would reform the Kliq with Shawn Michaels and RAW World Champion Triple H. Flair promotes the six man tag match taking place at Backlash. Flair isn’t thrilled about HHH defending against Booker T tonight. Bischoff announces that Shawn Michaels will be the special referee for the HHH vs. Booker T title match tonight. Bischoff is all about compelling TV and thinks everything will be fine. Bischoff suggests Flair take his frustrations out on someone else because he’s just doing his job.
Coach and Jerry Lawler promote the show, which includes a second concert performed by the Rock.
MATCH #1: CHRIS JERICHO VS. THE HURRICANE
FINISH: Jericho forces Hurricane to submit to the Walls of Jericho. After the match, Ric Flair storms the ring and throws Hurricane to the floor. Flair sends Hurricane into the ring steps and the guard railing. Flair puts the figure four leg lock on Hurricane. Several referees come out to pull Flair off to end the segment.
Bob’s Take: I’m glad to see Hurricane getting a shot to shine on RAW, and his push is an example of what the Brand Split should be accomplishing. Hurricane got to show off his high flying ability early in the match by hitting a springboard somersault dive to the floor. Jericho got the Walls of Jericho on early into the match, and I thought for a second they were going to job out Hurricane quick, but thankfully that didn’t happen. Hurricane got plenty of offense and near falls for that matter. I thought Hurricane looked good here and the offense kept my interest. Jericho prevailing isn’t a shock since he has a PPV match and is in the main event scene, but I’m all for a substantial Hurricane push. I think he’s gotten over on RAW thanks to his involvement with Rock in recent weeks. I hope this isn’t an example of using that steam to heat up someone like Jericho instead of pushing someone new. This was a good TV match.
Match Rating: ***
Backstage, a limo pulls out and the Rock exits to a mixture of cheers and jeers. Rock has a guitar and he is happy to be at RAW. Rock hypes up his second concert. Rock thinks they’re going to have fun tonight.
Teddy Long and Rodney Mack head out to the stage where Long cuts a promo saying the man is trying to keep himself and Mack off of RAW. Long had to issue the five minute white boy challenge as a way to get them back on RAW. Mack will beat any white boy in five minutes or less each week. Long says the white boy in the ring is just another white boy and doesn’t care to know his name.
MATCH #2: RODNEY MACK VS. WHITE BOY EVANS — FIVE MINUTE CHALLENGE
FINISH: Mack wins following a running powerslam in a minute and forty-six seconds.
Bob’s Take: The audience is responding to Teddy Long, but it may be more from a comedy standpoint. Long is a funny promo, but Mack is a serious wrestler and I’m not sure if the connection to a comedy act like Long is going to be a good thing in the long run. Mack is a good mauler, and I feel like Mack should have won this challenge in less than a minute to make a statement. I liked the showcase and it was a fine enhancement match for Mack’s character overall.
Match Rating: *1/2
Backstage, Booker T walks up to Shawn Michaels locker room. Booker barges in and greets Michaels for a conversation. Booker wants to know the deal as to why Michaels his the referee, but Michaels says he’s surprised, too. Booker wants to get something straight between them. Booker claims punching Michaels last week was an accident. Booker recalls last June that Michaels hit him with a superkick and thinks they are even. That actually happened in the same venue. Booker expects to see Michaels call it even and Michaels tells Booker he can dig it. Booker leaves and Michaels says ‘yeah, we’re even.’
Coach is in the ring and introduces Lita for an interview. Lita makes her way out and is greeted with a positive response. Lita has been out of action since suffering a neck injury last April following an accident filming for the show Dark Angel. Lita says it has been a long year for her as the crowd chants for her. Lita thinks it has been far too long since she has wrestled. Lita announces that she can finally train… RAW GM Eric Bischoff comes out to cutoff Lita. Bischoff tells Coach that he can handle the rest of this segment and tells Coach he’s doing a much better job than JR as Coach departs the ring. Bischoff says Lita is amazing and tells the crowd to put her over. Bischoff says Lita has impressed him far more than being just a wrestler. Bischoff begins to hit on Lita and suggests Lita expose her talent that we’ve never seen before. Lita acts like she doesn’t know what Bischoff is talking about. Bischoff notes that it could take Lita two months before she could get back into the ring. Bischoff tells Lita that she is worthless if she’s not wrestling. Bischoff wonders if Lita could get the same PR for RAW that Torrie Wilson got for Smackdown by posing for Playboy. Lita tells Bischoff she would only pose on her own terms and not by being forced by her boss. Bischoff tries to downplay that aspect. Bischoff can’t pitch her for Playboy when he hasn’t seen the goods himself. Bischoff suggests they solve that problem and Lita stop by his hotel room to give him a private audition. Bischoff wants Lita to give him a good reason to make the pitch to Playboy. Bischoff suggests Lita give him every reason to keep her on the payroll. Lita declines the offer and tells Bischoff he can go to hell. Lita leaves the ring and walks up the ramp. Bischoff warns that Lita will never come back to RAW or Heat and to ask Steve Austin or Jim Ross. Bischoff announces that Lita is fired!
Backstage, Ric Flair is chatting with Triple H about how Bischoff told him to leave. HHH is most annoyed by Shawn Michaels being the special referee and thinks Bischoff is screwing with him. Flair thinks there has to be a way to get insurance. HHH agrees and just has to think about how he’s going to do it.
MATCH #3: THREE MINUTE WARNING (JAMAL & ROSEY) VS. SCOTT STEINER & TEST
NOTE: Christopher Nowinski is on commentary, and notes how negative the fans have responded to him. Remember, last week Steiner was attacked by 3MW, which was setup by Nowinski.
FINISH: Late in the match, Test sees Steiner consoling Keilber allowing Jamal to deliver a splash in the corner. Steiner tags himself in and plants Jamal with a reverse DDT to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Atlanta loves Scott Steiner and it may be the biggest pop he has gotten since his return at Survivor Series in MSG. I’m not sure what has happened to Steiner, but he just looks and moves like he’s much older than what he is. This is not the same man from WCW that’s for sure. Test got zero pop for his hot tag, and that’s likely because they made him a douche to Stacy and the fans don’t like that. Test did hit an impressive pump handle slam on Jamal. Rico kicked Keibler during the match, which got some heat, too. I honestly thought there was going to be a distraction finish for 3MW to win, but the fact they still lost despite that must mean they’ve lost favor in the WWE at this point.
Match Rating: *1/2
Backstage, Test confronts Scott Steiner and tells Steiner he didn’t need to hog the glory. Steiner did what he needed to do and saved his freak. Keibler chimes in and thanks Steiner for tonight. Steiner spits on the ground to show disrespect towards Test.
Backstage, Kevin Nash enters Bischoff’s office. Nash brings up the Booker vs. HHH title match and mentions to Bischoff he’s trying to get them on the same page. Nash wants to know what changed about their plans. Nash warns Bischoff he’s not going to be conned and thinks Bischoff has him in the middle of nonsense. Bischoff tells Nash to pick a side and get out of this mess. Bischoff back peddles and says he’s just trying to help. Nash will pick a side, but it will be the winning side.
Backstage, Rock is warming up for his second concert when Terri walks up for a word. Rock tells Terri the fans can expect the most electrifying night in the business.
The Rock makes his way out for the Rock Concert II. Rock insults the Georgia crowd and also taunts Goldberg for a bit. Rock demands some appreciation from the crowd. Rock asks if the crowd actually paid to see Goldberg, which they did. Rock insisted that Goldberg be there tonight despite Goldberg not wanting to be there. Rock threatens to slap the fans. Rock calls out Goldberg to join the concert, but it’s Gillberg. Rock offers Gillberg a chance to share some words, but Gillberg yells into the microphone. Rock is going to sing another song for the crowd. The song is ‘Rock Went Down To Georgia.’ Rock insults the Braves saying Goldberg would choke just like the Braves. The camera cuts to the parking lot and we see that Goldberg has arrived to the arena. Rock is stunned. Rock has security in front of the ring. Rock warns Gillberg that he’s in trouble for making fun of Goldberg for years. Rock promises nothing is going to happen to Gillberg as Goldberg makes his entrance. Goldberg plows through security, but Rock escaped to the floor quickly. Goldberg proceeds to destroy several security guards, though several guards left the ring. Gillberg tries to get involved, but Rock decks Goldberg from behind and hits the Rock Bottom! Goldberg didn’t get anything on Gillberg, for the record. Gillberg did punch Goldberg several times. Goldberg gets up and chases Rock backstage.
Backstage, Rock is running away from Goldberg and enters his hummer limo to drive off. Goldberg gets into his car to continue the chase. Well, his car actually stalls. Goldberg gets out of the car and decides to chase the car. But, Rock is actually still here at the arena. Rock faked out Goldberg!
A vignette promoting La Resistance is shown. Rene Dupree and Sylvan Grenier promise Americans will learn the hard way.
Chief Morley comes out and cuts a promo telling Spike Dudley and Trish Stratus that he’s there to introduce their opponents. Morley notes that the team will challenge RVD and Kane for the tag titles at Backlash. The team in question is the Dudley Boys.
MATCH #4: DUDLEY BOYS VS. SPIKE DUDLEY & TRISH STRATUS
FINISH: Kane and RVD come out to brawl with the Dudley Boys and save Trish from being put through a table. Morley suffers a chokeslam for his role in all this. Jazz comes out and attacks Trish Stratus dropping Stratus face first onto the table to stand tall.
Bob’s Take: This is starting to feel more and more as if the Dudley Boys are fully turning heel for the sake of going for the tag titles, at least Bubba Ray. D-Von has some reserve towards this antics. This is hardly a match and much more of a segment with Bubba seemingly embracing the heel role. D-Von refused to get a table for Bubba. Oddly enough, three years ago, D-Von was onboard with putting women through tables. For a segment, this was enjoyable.
Match Rating: NR
Backstage, Rock is walking and suggests it is time for an encore.
Backstage, Triple H and Kevin Nash are chatting on the steps, but they are unaware of the camera.
In the ring, Rock is prepared for an encore of his concert. Rock notes he quickly outsmarted Goldberg and thinks he’ll beat him even quicker at Backlash. Rock sings a little bit, which is not very good. The crowd reacts to Goldberg coming through the crowd and clotheslines Rock in the ring before tossing Rock over the top to the floor. Goldberg sends Rock face first into the ring post. Goldberg rolls Rock back into the ring to continue the beating. Goldberg waits for Rock to get up, but Christian slides into the ring and attacks Goldberg with a chop block! Rock gets a stomp on Goldberg, but Goldberg delivers another clothesline to send Rock to the floor. Christian ends up eating a spear. Rock whacks Goldberg over the back with a chair shot and over the head a couple of times. Rock continues to whack Goldberg over the back with chair shots. Rock leaves the ring as Goldberg is left laying in the ring. Goldberg slowly pulls himself up and holds his head for a moment to end the segment.
Backstage, Kevin Nash meets with Shawn Michaels and tells him to keep an open mind as someone wants to talk to Michaels. Triple H enters the scene and walks into Michaels locker room to have a discussion.
Mr. America is coming to the WWE soon.
MAIN EVENT: RAW WORLD CHAMPION TRIPLE H VS. BOOKER T
FINISH: Late in the match, HHH shoved Michaels into the ropes to knock Booker off the top rope. HHH pulled Michaels pants down on the shove, which was a bit funny. Booker hit a second scissors kick, but Jericho nails Booker with the championship as Michaels is distracted by Flair. Michaels notices the championship and punches Flair off the apron. Michaels nails HHH with the Sweet Chin Music. Jericho and Flair attack Michaels to prevent the fall. Kevin Nash marches toward the ring and scares off both Flair and Jericho. Nash grabs HHH and HHH tries to explain to Nash what happened. Nash pulls Michaels up, but HHH delivers a low blow to Nash from behind! HHH tells Nash that now he knows where he stands. HHH stomps Michaels before walking off. Obviously, the title match is a no contest. Nash yells that HHH is dead.
Bob’s Take: Adding potential mystery as to where Michaels would align is a good additional angle to the title defense, but realistically, is anyone buying into Booker winning here since Nash is clearly being setup as a challenger for HHH? It shouldn’t be a surprise that Jericho would make an appearance, which he does and attacked Booker on the floor at one point. HHH works over Booker for an extended period of time following Jericho’s involvement on the floor. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a Booker/Jericho program right after Backlash. Booker’s offense is a lot more engaging and exciting than what HHH provided, which some could argue is the point of the heel. Booker hit a scissors kick, but had to fight off Flair and Jericho leading to a good close fall. The match is good enough and I wish Booker was given a fair chance in the main event scene, but this is the era of HHH being a top heel and Booker isn’t a huge name and isn’t HHH pal, so he’s going to prevail in the end. The aftermath is fine and we’re set for a clear HHH vs. Nash feud.
Match Rating: ***
Final Thoughts:
Quite a bit going on here, and I thought it was an enjoyable go-home show before Backlash. Rock getting the advantage on Goldberg in Goldberg’s hometown is an obvious booking tactic for Goldberg to get the PPV win, so there’s nothing wrong there. I hope Booker gets a win over HHH in the six man tag, at least. This felt like a productive RAW episode with a couple of good TV matches and angle advancement that was done well. I’ll give this week a thumbs up.
Thanks for reading.