World Wrestling Entertainment presents RAW
Date: 5/5/2003
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
In memory of Elizabeth Hulette better known as Miss Elizabeth. 1960-2003. Elizabeth died on May 1st at the age of 42.
Co-GM Steve Austin makes his way out to the ring to kickoff the program. Austin is happy to be here and thanks Linda McMahon for putting him in the spot as co-GM. Austin talks about how he has never been low profile in his life. Austin is going to throw a beer bash on RAW. Austin notes there were a lot of things that happened that he didn’t agree with. One of the stupid ideas that happened were abolishing the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Austin considers that WWE IC Championship one of the most important titles of his career. Austin opens his steel briefcase and announces at WWE Judgment Day there will be a battle royal to crown a new WWE Intercontinental Champion. Austin has the title with him and says if you’re a former WWE Intercontinental Champion you can enter the battle royal. There’s something else Austin wants to do, but…
Co-GM Eric Bischoff and Chief Sean Morley make their way out to join the segment. Bischoff wants the people to shut up as they are calling him an asshole. Bischoff reminds Austin they are co-general managers. Bischoff says they both have to agree on such decisions as the Intercontinental Championship. Bischoff knows that Austin knows that he was the guy who abolished the championship. Bischoff is a team player and he agrees with Austin’s decision. Bischoff has an announcement he wants to make. Bischoff announces that at Judgment Day the RAW World Champion Triple H will defend against Kevin Nash, and Austin has no problem with that. Bischoff is a bit surprised by this. Austin has another thing he wants to do and he didn’t ask Bischoff. Bischoff is not thrilled by this. Austin says he’s hired someone. Austin hired the best announcer in pro wrestling, Jim Ross.
Jim Ross makes his way out to a huge ovation. Bischoff is glad to see Ross so that he can fire him again. Austin and Bischoff argue over whether or not Ross is hired or fired. Austin stops Bischoff from screaming fired. Austin is trying hard to not lose his tamper. Austin tells Bischoff they can settle this like men. Austin suggests settling this with a match. Austin suggests a match with Bischoff with whomever wins Ross is hired or fired. Bischoff notes Linda said they can’t put their hands on each other. Austin taunts Bischoff for being scared, but Bischoff denies that. Morley chimes in and says he’d be more than happy to compete on Bischoff’s behalf. Morley thinks he should wrestle Jim Ross. Bischoff loves that idea, but Austin thinks Bischoff is stupid. Jerry Lawler speaks up and wants to wrestle for JR to get his job back. Austin wants to do the match right now and they shake hands.
MATCH #1: JERRY LAWLER VS. CHIEF MORLEY — JIM ROSS JOB ON THE LINE
FINISH: Late in the match, JR shoves Morley off the top rope and Lawler hit a middle rope fist drop to pin Morley. As a result, Jim Ross has gotten his job back. After the match, Bischoff bickers at Morley and slaps him after saying Morley let him down. Morley is livid. Austin calls for Coach to head to the ring.
Bob’s Take: Morley is wrestling this match in his suit pants. Coach is commentary acting as if he’d be part of a three-man group. Lawler fights back early on with a series of dropkicks. Lawler spikes Morley with a piledriver, and I’m shocked Morley kicked out of it. Morley fought back with a series of suplexs after avoiding an elbow drop. Morley hit a middle rope elbow drop of his own, but Lawler got out of the cover. Bischoff trips Lawler at one point and Morley delivered a DDT. JR getting involved was a bit predictable, but this was a fine segment and the crowd loved seeing JR get his job back.
Match Rating: *1/2
Coach is signaled to head to the ring by Steve Austin. Coach enters the ring and Austin suggests Coach would want to welcome JR back to the WWE. Austin says there’s a bit of a problem. Austin notes there is three of them and there’s a problem as they only need two and proceeds to lay out Coach with a stunner!
Backstage, Eric Bischoff is pissed off and Sean Morley is saying he got screwed. Bischoff tells Morley he got embarrassed. Bischoff says when he gets embarrassed people get fired. Bischoff proceeds to fire Morley! Morley can’t believe it. Bischoff calls Morley worthless. Austin walks by and Morley tells Austin he just got fired. Austin walks Morley back over to Bischoff and asks Bischoff what he’s doing. Bischoff tries to explain why he did it. Austin tells Bischoff he can’t fire Morley without telling him. Morley tries to act like he’s still chief of staff, but Austin then fires Morley anyway.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler are reunited at the commentary table. They promote the recent happenings involving Goldberg cleaning house on Three-Minute Warning. Tonight, Goldberg has his first RAW match against Christian.
Backstage. Scott Steiner is flexing in the mirror when Test walked in and stepped in front. Stacy Keibler talks to them about being tag team champions and says it will be great when the testicles team up with freaks.
MATCH #2: RAW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS KANE & ROB VAN DAM VS. SCOTT STEINER & TEST
FINISH: Late in the match, Test accidentally big boots Steiner. Kane chokeslams Test followed the Five Star Frog Splash by RVD to win the match.
Bob’s Take: Steiner and RVD kicked off the match with RVD taking out Steiner with a standing moonsault and a dive to the floor. Steiner powerslams RVD to gain the advantage. Steiner shows off his strength delivering a belly to belly suplex. Test delivers a good strong clothesline in the corner, but RVD refuses to stay down. RVD dropkicks Test away and Kane got the hot tag cleaning house with clotheslines and a side slam on Steiner. Kane hit a flying clothesline on Test, but Steiner suplexs Kane. RVD nails Steiner with a kick from the top rope. Test impressively hits a pump handle slam on Kane. Test follows up with a full nelson slam on Kane before going to the top rope hitting an elbow drop for a near fall. Test is looking good here tossing Kane around with ease. I liked that this wasn’t a formula tag match and there was a level of chaos. Again, Test looked very good here and his ability to take care of Kane came across very well.
Match Rating: **1/4
Backstage, Steve Austin is hanging his picture, which is much bigger than Bischoff’s. Austin is loading the office up with a lot of beer. Bischoff can’t approve this much beer. Austin flips over a couch to bring in a desk. Austin tells Bischoff he’s not invited to the beer bash.
Chris Jericho makes his way out to host the Highlight Reel. Jericho claims his segment was the hottest segment of the show. Jericho welcomes everyone to another edition of the Highlight Reel. The fans are chanting favorably towards Jericho. Jericho provides a rebuttal to Piper’s comments on Smackdown. Jericho puts himself over as having talent and suggests Piper get on that diet. Jericho brings up the WWE Intercontinental Championship and announces he’s entering the battle royal and he will bring the title back to Canada. Jericho takes credit as captain for Backlash when his team won. Jericho shows footage of HHH pinning Nash after a sledgehammer shot. Jericho considers Nash a thug for responding by breaking windows on a car. Jericho introduces Kevin Nash as his guest.
Kevin Nash makes his way out to join the segment. Nash tells Jericho to shut up and he’s livid. Nash came out there for one thing and says what HHH did was try to end his career. Nash is still standing and he’s right here. Nash promises HHH is a dead man. Jericho reveals that he’s got another guest, and it is RAW World Champion Triple H!
Triple H joins the segment. Nash sends Jericho to the floor and destroys a portion of Jericho’s set. HHH jumps on the apron, but Jericho low blows Nash from behind to allow HHH to pummel Nash in the corner. HHH waffles Nash over the back with a steel chair. HHH tries to Pedigree Nash onto a chair, but Nash backdrops HHH. HHH grabs the chair, but is met with a big boot. Nash and HHH trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Nash knee lifts HHH in the corner several times. Nash pummels HHH on the floor. The fans are chanting ‘Diesel Sucks”. HHH avoids a chair shot and pummels Nash some more on the floor. Nash sends HHH into the ring steps. Nash smashes HHH with the ring steps. HHH is busted wide open and begs off on the aisle. Nash nails HHH with the title and tosses officials aside. HHH whacks Nash with a pipe to the midsection. HHH nails Nash over the back with the pipe. HHH hits Nash with a lighting structure. Nash sends HHH face first into the stage and they brawl backstage. We see the brawling continuing backstage. Nash is bloodied and continues to taunt Nash. Nash drives HHH into the garage doors. Nash sends HHH into an ambulance as officials try to help them. HHH almost gets ran over by a car in the street. HHH tosses someone away and steals a truck like it is GTA to get away. That was a far better brawling segment than I expected it to be.
Backstage, Steve Austin is with Chris Jericho, who is smiling at the carnage. Austin asks if Jericho is proud of it, and Jericho admits that he is proud of it. Jericho thinks is a main event guy. Austin announces that next week Jericho is in the main event. Austin books Jericho in a match against Kevin Nash. Jericho can’t believe it.
MATCH #3: BOOKER T VS. LANCE STORM
FINISH: Booker flapjacks Storm followed by the scissors kick for the win.
Bob’s Take: Lance Storm gets a good ovation from the crowd. These two had some good matches in WCW, but that’s going to be dependent on giving them proper time. Storm put a sharpshooter on Booker early in the match and the crowd went nuts for it. Storm is able to be quite competitive bouncing back for a heel kick with a few of his own. Booker winning is the obvious call, and the crowd was a little deflated, but they didn’t crap on Booker winning.
Match Rating: **
Backstage, La Resistance walk up to Stacy Keibler and tell her they were defending themselves against Scott Steiner. They don’t know why Stacy is associated with Steiner and Test. Rene Dupree offers her the chance to manage them. Grenier suggests Stacy watch their match.
MATCH #4: LA RESISTANCE (DUPREE & GRENIER) VS. TOMMY DREAMER & SPIKE DUDLEY
FINISH: La Resistance plant Spike with a double spinebuster for the win. After the match, Dupree attacks dreamer with a kendo stick. Scott Steiner comes down and cleans house. Test joins the segment and helps Steiner clean house.
Bob’s Take: La Resistance are wearing trunks similar to what the Mountie wore in the early 90s. It’s probably the best selection to put beloved Tommy Dreamer and Spike Dudley in the first match against a new heel team. Spike takes a big bump to the floor crashing through the ropes and doing a somersault. Spike takes a good beating, but Dreamer gets the hot tag and gets some momentum briefly. Dreamer hit a neckbreaker/DDT combo and Spike hit a double stomp. Spike gets finished off just moments later. This was a fine showcase for La Resistance and I know we’re going to see a lot of them.
Match Rating: *1/2
They promote WWE Confidential where they will discuss Miss Elizabeth and her passing.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff is on the phone. Bischoff complains about Austin ruining stuff. Bischoff tells Linda he can’t work like this, but he doesn’t want to resign. Bischoff is trying to get along with Austin and is giving Trish Stratus a rematch for the women’s title. Bischoff is going to raise the bar next week. Bischoff tells Linda what he said he meant it when it comes to a mature woman. However, Linda hung up the phone.
Backstage, Terri interviews Christian. Christian continues to say he’s the People’s Champion and he has peeps. Terri plugs the new WWE Magazine featuring Goldberg on the cover. Christian asks if that is suppose to impress him. Christian says tonight is his night. Christian is still standing after getting speared twice. Christian will avenge Rock’s loss from Backlash. Christian rips the magazine and walks off.
MATCH #5: WWE WOMEN’S CHAMPION JAZZ VS. TRISH STRATUS
FINISH: Late in the match, Victoria got on the apron after Trish hit a bulldog to cause a distraction. Jazz whacks Stratus with the women’s title to retain the title.
Bob’s Take: So, it turns out the stipulation between Bischoff vs. Trish from last week met nothing since Bischoff won and Trish still gets a title shot. WWE would be better off not booking stipulations they don’t intend on delivering on. Teddy Long tries to interfere on the apron with his shoe, but slipped in a funny moment. Not much of a match here and it’s typical booking for a heel to retain the title.
Match Rating: *
Prior to the main event starting, Rico and Three-Minute Warning come out and tell Goldberg they haven’t forgotten about last week. Rico says they are going to get a piece of Goldberg. Rico says Jamal is going to kick Goldberg’s ass around the ring. Rico is going to choke Goldberg and then Rosey is going to splash Goldberg through the mat. Goldberg tells them to bring it on. Goldberg proceeds to fight off 3MW and Rico with ease. Jamal gets a few strikes in on Goldberg and hit a Samoan Drop. Goldberg delivers a double clothesline to 3MW and Rico tries to escape, but is stopped. Goldberg delivers the jackhammer to Rico and pins Rico. Christian slides in with a chair and whacks Goldberg over the back before leaving through the crowd. So much for the main event. Goldberg gets a microphone, but Steve Austin comes out.
Steve Austin is out there for a beer bash. Goldberg has a problem with the beer bash, apparently. Austin knows that Goldberg wants to kick Christian’s ass. Austin books Goldberg in a singles match with Christian next week, but Goldberg says that’s not good enough. Austin puts them inside a steel cage next week. Goldberg offers a rare smile. Austin signals for some beers and begins to drink in front of the crowd for a beer bash. Austin tosses Goldberg a beer and they continue the beer bash. Ringside is full of fans as the beer bash closes the program.
Final Thoughts:
Despite there not being a standout match, I enjoyed this weeks episode and they promoted next weeks RAW very well. I liked the Nash/HHH brawl segment. Christian in a steel cage against Goldberg is something I’m excited to see. Christian has been doing a great job in this role. RAW has been much better in recent weeks. Hopefully that trend continues.
Thanks for reading.