January 27th, 2003
Chicago, Illinois
World Heavyweight Champion - Triple H (since 12/15/02)
World Tag Team Champions - William Regal & Lance Storm (since 1/20/03)
WWE Women's Champion - Victoria (since 11/17/02)
Commentary - Jim Ross & Jerry "The King" Lawler
Replays of Triple H, Ric Flair, Batista and Randy Orton beating down Scott Steiner and posing together to close the show last week.
1) Booker T vs. Jeff Hardy
They trade kick attempts and shit and come to a stalemate to start. That was cool. Apparently Jeff issued this challenge. They play off the angle they ran last week where Jeff almost used a chair on RVD after their match. They go back and forth for a little bit. Booker wins and Jeff attacks him after the bell. It bites him in the ass as Book moves out of the way of a dive off the top turnbuckle and Jeff eats shit on the railing.
Match rating - **1/4
Cameras catch Scott Steiner in the hall for thoughts on what happened last week. STEINER SAYS HE'S CALLING H OUT LEGGGGGOOO!
Steiner comes to the ring and calls out the World Heavyweight Champion. Triple H comes out, but says that from now on when someone calls him out, he doesn't just get him. Out comes Flair, Batista, & Orton. H says now you get all three of them as well. Steiner still encourages them to come down. They circle the ring and Steiner pulls out a pipe from his boot and starts swinging at Orton and Batista. They all retreat, H doesn't get touched.
Backstage, Terri has Teddy Long & D-Lo Brown for an interview. Teddy asks why there aren't any black superheroes and says that there is one now in the form of D-Lo Brown and tonight he's gonna teach Hurricane to be down with the brown.
2) D-Lo Brown vs. The Hurricane
Not much to talk about here, the work is fine because both of these guys are good. D-Lo is on his game with this new gimmick. He beats Hurricane with the sit out style powerbomb he's been using.
Match rating - **
Backstage, Sean Morley is watching the tape of Hogan & Vince from Smackdown. Bischoff walks in and tells him to turn it off. Morley seems to think this will be good for Raw. Bischoff disagrees because "the last thing we need is a pissed off Vince McMahon" Morley asks what he's gonna do and Bischoff says he has an idea. JR mutters on commentary "better be a good one" LMAO
Jericho backstage says he doesn't owe anyone an apology for what happened to Stacy last week nor does he need the benefit of the doubt, but he will address the public NEXT
STILL TO COME: Dudleys/Regal & Storm Tables Match for the Tag Titles plus a Chicago Street Fight between Trish & Victoria - these are apparently attempts from Bischoff to spice up Raw
Jericho comes out and acts like he's gonna apologize about the Stacy Keibler incident from last week only to address his #1 Contender's Match against Scott Steiner next week. Jericho looks like he's gonna circle back and apologize when Christian comes out and says there's no reason he should apologize and Jericho agrees and blames Test for the incident. Test isn't here tonight so naturally Jericho talks a load of shit and out comes SHAWN MICHAELS. Michaels says some cringy shit about what a "real man" is and makes fun of Jericho's pants before going down and attacking both Jericho & Christian much to the delight of the crowd.
3) Victoria (c) vs. Trish Stratus - Chicago Street Fight for the Women's Championship
This was a hoot and made up for all the garbage we've seen in some recent weeks from the women. Just good trash wrestling with cans and kendo sticks. Stevie breaks a fire extinguisher out and uses it on Trish. We even get a nice near fall or two. The finish comes off Trish going for Stratusfaction only to get tossed to the floor. Victoria gets the pin to retain the Women's Title. Fun match.
Match rating - ***
After the match, JAZZ walks down the ramp making her Raw return after being out with an injury. Jazz passes by Victoria and hits the ring to stomp Trish Stratus out. A reign of boos as Jazz yells "I'M BACK!"
4) William Regal & Lance Storm (c) vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley) - Tables Match for the World Tag Team Titles
“I’ll bet you a hundred dollars to a doughnut...” -Jim Ross
MY gAWD. This was a clusterfuck and a half. Sean Morley apparently arranged for no tables to be under the ring to try and screw the Dudleys... which sort of makes no sense because how would Regal & Storm even retain. Morley comes out on the stage with a table and The Dudleys back him up to the corner of the stage and 3MW & Rico show up. They beat up Bubba & D-Von and help Regal & Storm powerbomb the SHIT out of D-Von through a table to retain.
Match rating - **
H, Orton, Flair & Batista surround Eric Bischoff in his office. They confront him about what he’s doing around here. In the midst of this, H realizes he has Batista & Orton so he’s not worried about who wins the Steiner/Jericho #1 contender match next.
John Hennigan/Morrison/Johnny Nitro is backstage with another Tough Enough fella. Their debut match is next. Al Snow tells them to make him proud.
Kane & RVD talk about Kane throwing RVD out in the Rumble. Van Dam says it’s all good. Tonight they’re a team and no one can touch them. He gets Kane to do his thumbs pose thing and says “BIG. RED. MACHINE.” Instead of “Rob Van Dam.”
5) John Hennigan vs. Matt Cappottelli
It’s a Tough Enough exhibition match here. Al Snow is at ringside. They run through headlock takeovers and hip tosses, hitting the ropes etc. Moments later, Chris Nowinski runs down and basically admits he’s jealous they won Tough Enough and to stop the match. Tommy Dreamer runs down with a kendo stick and runs Nowinski off. Dreamer then welcomes Hennigan & Cappotelli to the WWE by... bashing them in the head with the kendo stick.
Eric Bischoff comes out and says Stone Cold Steve Austin isn’t here tonight. However, Austin will reveal all about his departure last year in this month’s RAW MAGAZINE. Big buzzkill. Bischoff re-extends his invitation to return to WWE at No Way Out and says he knows Austin is watching at home and hopes he makes his way back home to Raw. Your 30 days are gonna be up before No Way Out, Eric..
6) Rob Van Dam & Kane vs. Triple H & Batista (w/ Ric Flair)
Not a bad main event at all. Kane has a nice hot tag before getting his mask ripped off on the floor. Kane rush to the back leaving Van Dam to go it alone. He hits the five star on H, but Batista slides in and destroys him for the pin. 4 on 1 beat down on Van Dam from H, Batista, Orton & Flair. Scott Steiner runs down, only to get the hell beat out of him and bloodied up. Chris Jericho is down next and locks Steiner in the Walls of Jericho to close the show. Jericho/Steiner next week in a #1 Contender’s Match.
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