Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Raw Review - October 21st, 2002

WWE Raw Review

October 21st, 2002

So, the WWE Network's description for this show had me confused as fuck because it said it was the final Raw before No Mercy, but it's actually the Raw after No Mercy. So after that mind fuck that took me five minutes to figure out, I finally got started on this.

Triple H has a message for 'the boys in the back' to start the show. He says he's untouchable and proceeds to say he has a tape to expose whether or not Kane slept with Katie Vick before or after death. This shit really is gonna keep going huh? Hurricane runs down to attack and try to take the tape. Flair stops him and H says he is gonna show the tape later whether Kane shows up or not. Lots of EDGY references to Katie Vick being dead. Well then. 

1) Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Nowinski

This wasn’t as terrible as you’d think. Jeff flew and bumped around. AL SNOW shows up with a chair, Nowinski grabs it, Hardy dropkicks it into his face and hits a swanton. 1..2.. Snow pulls Nowinski out and this leads to him getting the win. Ok?

Match rating - **

Eric Bischoff backstage, Stacy Keibler walks up and asks for something and Bischoff grants it, I can’t remember what it was. Big Show shows up and Bischoff says he’s facing Rico, Jamal & Rosey and there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.. 

Tommy Dreamer confronts Al Snow about his actions. Snow makes it known that it’s all about Nowinski being one of his Tough Enough “kids”. Dreamer says tonight they’re facing in a Singapore cane match. Nowinski comes through the curtain and says he doesn’t need Al’s help. Damn. Snow done worked himself into a shoot.

2) Lance Storm & William Regal vs. Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley - #1 Contender’s Match for the Tag Team Titles 

Spike starts with Lance and a backslide pinning combo for a near fall. Bubba gets in and we get a small hot tag from Spike a minute or two later. Meanwhile backstage, Kane has arrived. Hot run from Spike with a hurricanrana. It’s back and forth but Spike & Bubba get the win. 

Match rating - **1/4 

Jericho & Christian tell Trish to tell Booker & Goldust they aren’t suckas and basically insinuate that she slept her way to the top like Victoria has been saying. 

Bischoff announces the Elimination Chamber for Survivor Series but with no details on what the match will entail. 

BATISTA HYPE VIDEO 

3) Test vs. D-Lo Brown - Special Guest Ref: Stacy Keibler 

New look for Test and it appears he’s distancing himself from the Unamerican stable? Stacy slaps D-Lo at the bell and this turns into her favoring Test and counting slow/acting distracted when D-Lo has a chance for a pin. This costs him the match as Test boots his ass down and gets the fast three count. Test leaves and Stacy latches onto him so I guess this is gonna be a thing now. 

Match rating - *1/2

Lil interview with Victoria backstage. Book & Goldust come up to hype the inter gender tag match coming up. Goldust slaps Victoria on the ass as they leave. 

4) Booker T, Goldust & Trish Stratus vs. Chris Jericho, Christian, & Victoria 

This was loads of fun. Trish & Vic brawl to start. Everything Book & Goldust are involved in has a hot crowd so that always helps. Trish’s hurricanrana to Jericho (I think) off the top rope near the finish ruled, but it’s not enough to get her team the win as the Walls of Jericho finishes things.  

Match rating - **3/4

Probably one of the worst segments in Raw history airs here as Triple H shows the footage he has to “expose Kane” and it’s just him dressed up as Kane in a funeral home and I.. can’t even go further into detail or “review” of this terrible Katie Vick bullshit. Upset I even took the time to watch this. 

5) Al Snow vs. Tommy Dreamer - Singapore Cane Match 

Ahh. This kinda sucked. Nowinski comes down and tries to hit Dreamer with a chair sorta but fucks up and hits Snow, but doesn’t seem to care. Alright. Dreamer wins off that chair shot. 

Match rating - *1/2

6) The Big Show vs. Rico, Jamal & Rosey - Handicap Match 

Pointless Bischoff bullshit. Seeing Show throw these guys around was kinda fun though. He wins and goes backstage and Bischoff announces he’s traded to Smackdown and never wants to see him again. Show doesn’t care and tells Coach not to feel bad for him because “you’re the one who still has to work for that asshole.”

THA HEARTBREAK KID SHAWN MICHAELS IS LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY. He rolls up in a wheel chair in front of a huge hot crowd and cuts a really good ass promo about how he’s gonna he better and hunt down Triple H. He acts like he has trouble standing then JUMPS UP FOR A HUGE POP. HBK IS COMIN FOR THE GAME BABY. 

7) Triple H & Ric Flair vs. Kane & Rob Van Dam 

As boring and honestly bad as H was during this era, him and Flair together is always awesome. In this instance, they were such good old school tag heels. After an opening brawl, they isolate Van Dam for a while which leads to the Kane hot tag. H & Kane battle to the back and Van Dam & Flair go at it in the ring where Van Dam pins Flair with a frog splash. 

Match rating - **1/2 

Meanwhile, Kane and H are still fighting backstage through tables and into the parking lot. Kane chokeslams H onto the hood of a car with a Tennessee license plate and stuffs him in the trunk. Kane says “Now I’m gonna screw you, the question is will you be alive or will I wait til you’re dead...” Kane drives off to close the show. End scene.