Ruthless Aggression Era Project: WWE Raw Review - February 17th, 2003

WWE: Raw 

February 17th, 2003 

Columbus, Ohio

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

TONIGHT: Booker T & Scott Steiner vs. Triple H & Batista 

1) Rob Van Dam (w/ Kane) vs. Lance Storm (w/ William Regal) 

This is a teaser for the tag team title match that’s coming up at No Way Out between these two teams. It’s pretty decent and goes a little longer than you’d expect. Storm works over Van Dam, RVD makes his comeback and wins with the five star. 

Match rating - **1/4 

Backstage, Shawn Michaels is talking with Jeff Hardy. Eric Bischoff walks by and HBK wishes him luck Sunday because he’s gonna need it. Hardy & HBK laugh, Eric says “you think that’s funny?” And says he’s going to the ring to address the whole locker room and that includes them. 

Bischoff hits the ring and brings out Chief Sean Morley whom he reinstates as his chief of staff. He announces a bunch of matches and also that he suspended the Dudley's and threw them out of the building. 

Bischoff then goes on about how he’s a black belt or some shit and says he’s gonna compete tonight in a No Holds Barred Match against GOOD OL JR. 

I’ll be damned.. 

Jazz and Victoria confrontation backstage ahead of the upcoming tag match, as well as some replays of Victoria pinning Jackie on Heat last night. 

2) Victoria & Jazz vs. Molly Holly & Jacqueline 

Jazz & Victoria manage to coexist and get the win pretty quickly here. Jazz destroys Jackie again after the match then grabs the mic and says THE BITCH IS BACK. She pushes Victoria aside to leave the ring, but Victoria pulls her back in. They trade shoves and slaps. Jazz smiles when Victoria slaps her then leaves.

Backstage, Booker T gives us an update on Goldust’s condition after he was electrocuted following the assault by Evolution last week. Book says something isn’t right with him and he has neurological issues. Book then says he’s looking forward to teaming up with Scott Steiner tonight and getting some payback for his friend.

Video package highlighting the life and career of the late Mr Perfect Curt Henning who died a week prior to this show.

Teddy Long comes out with Rodney Mack. Apparently he’s dropped D-Lo Brown and picked up John Cena’s one week partner Rodney Mack. 

3) Rodney Mack (w/ Teddy Long) vs. Al Snow

Squash for Rodney. 

Match rating - * 

Christian and Jericho backstage talking about their upcoming match with HBK & Jeff Hardy. 

4) Chris Jericho & Christian vs. Jeff Hardy & Shawn Michaels - No Holds Barred Match 

Not much happening here. They do a spot where Shawn gets handcuffed to the bottom turnbuckle for a few minutes while Christian & Jericho beat up Hardy. Shawn gets out and gets a nice run that the crowd is hot for. Hardy gets the win with the swanton.

Match rating - **1/4 

5) The Hurricane vs. Chris Nowinski

Hurricane wins while Jerry & JR argue about why JR hates Nowinski. 

Match rating - *1/4 

Backstage, Bischoff is warming up throwing kicks in a karate uniform while Morley holds a pad for him dressed as JR and mimicking him. 

“Hey, King. You like that music?” 

6) Spike Dudley vs. 3MW (Rico, Jamal & Rosey) 

Oh I forgot, Eric announced this earlier also. Nice to see we’ve reverted back to the same shit he was doing months ago. Squash. 

JR & King run down the No Way Out card before our big Bischoff vs. JR main event. 

JK THERES ANOTHER MATCH. Steiner is interviewed backstage and it’s TIME. 

7) Booker T & Scott Steiner vs. Triple H & Batista (w/ Randy Orton & Ric Flair) 

Idk how I forgot this was happening, but yeah. It’s okay, lots of Orton and Flair interference. Steiner is worked over and Book gets the hot tag. Not that much of a finishing run, Book gets a big pinfall over Triple H for the win though!! H vs. Steiner for the title is coming up on Sunday in a rematch I’m sure no one cares about. Hopefully Booker getting that pin will set him up for a title match after the PPV. 

Match rating - *3/4 

8) Eric Bischoff vs. Jim Ross

This was honestly a pretty entertaining segment. Bischoff makes it No Holds Barred so of course Morley gets involved and beats down JR with fists before Bischoff kicks and breaks a cinder block on JR’s head which triggers Jerry Lawler to come running down from the commentary booth. I don’t even like that motherfucker, but that popped me. They take Lawler out after a small flurry. JR is bleeding from the cinder block and Bischoff pins him. Bischoff mocks Stone Cold with a beer celebration and promo in his voice to close the show. It’s Austin vs. Bischoff at No Way Out on Sunday.