Post by VinMan on Dec 21, 2009 18:11:22 GMT -5
WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT
MONDAY NIGHT RAW
(AIRDATE: JANUARY 26, 2004)
WWE logo appears on screen.
Footage from the Royal Rumble is shown from last night and then a new opening for Raw hits.
J.R.: We are sold out tonight live in Hershey, Pennsylvania and this is Monday Night Raw. Hello everyone I’m Jim Ross along with Jerry “The King” Lawler at ringside. Yes folks it’s J.R. and the King here as we have been drafted from Smackdown to Raw and I have no earthly idea what that means for Jonathan Coachman.
King: I don’t care where Coachman ends up J.R., but at least we both ended up together on Raw.
J.R.: After an amazing Royal Rumble just twenty-four hours ago featuring a sixty man Royal Rumble match won by the Rated R Superstar Edge, I am sure we are in for an interesting night.
“Can you dig it?“ The music of Booker T. plays as he heads to the ring with Sharmell at his side.
J.R.: Well King it seems the current United States Champion Booker T. and his bride Sharmell have come to Raw as we have. The Royal Rumble certainly has altered the state of the WWE and we will find out more about that as the night progresses and as we watch the return of ECW tomorrow night and Smackdown this Friday.
Booker T. gets a microphone.
Booker: Get off your feet and show some respect to the reigning United States Champion. It’s obvious that I’ve already defeated everyone that Smackdown has to offer and therefore I move to Raw to continue my dominance by defeating everyone on the Raw roster. I know you can dig that.
King: Can you dig that J.R.?
J.R.: I don’t know King. Granted Booker T. is a tremendous athlete, but I think his ego may have gotten the best of him.
Booker: So why doesn’t someone from Monday Night Raw come on out here so I can prove once again why I am the supreme superstar in all of the WWE!
“Booyaka, Booyaka 619” Rey Mysterio’s music plays and he heads to the ring.
J.R.: Are you kidding me? Here comes one of the WWE’s most entertaining, risk-taking superstars Rey Mysterio!
Booker: This isn’t happening! Tell me this is isn’t happening.
King: Oh it’s happening Booker T.
Rey: Booker T. Just like you, I am now on Monday Night Raw! So Booker T. you avoided me on Smackdown, running and hiding like the coward that you. Now it’s time to stand up and defend your title and show the Monday Night Raw audience that you meant what you said.
Booker: Rey you don’t get it. I am trying to save you the embarrassment. Everyone knows you can’t beat me and I don’t want to have to disappointment all those little kids out there who bought there Rey Mysterio masks to have to go home crying to their mommies after I humiliate you in the center of the ring.
Kurt Angle’s music hits and the World Champion heads down to the ring.
J.R.: Well business has just picked up as here comes the current World Heavyweight Champion who successfully retained his title last night in a triple threat match over the Nature Boy Ric Flair and Chris Jericho.
Angle: As the still reigning World Heavyweight Champion and only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history, I would like to personally welcome both of you to Monday Night Raw. This is where you want to be if you want to be the best in the world. Last night at the Royal Rumble I beat both Chris Jericho and Ric Flair to retain my title and I always welcome new challenges to overcome. I like to set an example by really proving my worth as a fighting World Champion, not just spewing garbage out of my mouth. Booker T. I respect your ability in the ring, but Rey Mysterio deserves a shot. So Booker T. as the leader of the Raw roster and as the World Heavyweight Champion, tonight in this very ring I am going to put this World Title on the line against you…. Rey Mysterio!
Booker: You can’t be serious Kurt?
Angle: Oh I am dead serious my friend and that is damn true! Rey I will see you later!
J.R.: This is huge news King. Tonight here on Monday Night Raw, Kurt Angle puts the World Heavyweight Title on the line against Rey Mysterio. Can Mysterio walk out of Hershey Park as the new World Heavyweight Champion? We’ll find out tonight!
-Commercial Break-
J.R.: Welcome back to Monday Night Raw. As we heard at the top of the show both Booker T. and Rey Mysterio have joined Raw and later tonight Kurt Angle defends the World Heavyweight Title against Mysterio in what should be a worthy main event. Also still to come here tonight the World Tag Team Titles will be on the line when Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard of the Four Horsemen defend against the former champions Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. That is all still to come.
THE MIZ VS. JEFF HARDY
The Miz heads to the ring first and grabs a microphone.
[i]J.R.: This is our first glimpse of the Miz here on Raw and in singles competition after making a huge impact last night in his debut at the Royal Rumble. The Miz was a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble and what a showing he had as one of the final three in the sixty man Royal Rumble match.
Miz: Last night I arrived on the scene here in the WWE and to the surprise of no one I put the rest of the WWE Superstars to shame on my very first night. I had the Rumble won, but I was only eliminated after a two-on-one attack at the hands of Edge and Jeff Hardy. You see I will prove tonight that in a one-on-one situation I will not lose. I will not allow my record to be tarnished from the get-go by some long-haired little punk whose only claim to fame is falling off of ladders. I don’t need gimmicks to get over and that’s because I’m the Miz…. And I’m Awesome![/i]
The bell rings and Jeff Hardy nails Miz right away. Hardy pounds on Miz and sends him in. Hardy takes him over with a hiplock and then scoops him up and slams him down. Hardy plants a fist and sends Miz into the corner. Hardy kicks away. Hardy sends Miz to the far corner, but Miz gets a knee up and clotheslines Hardy.
King: This Miz has a lot to say and he’s not going to make any friends with his attitude.
J.R.: The Miz may rub a lot of people the wrong way, but let’s see if he can get the job done in the ring. He did have an impressive outing last night at the Royal Rumble and that says a lot for this young newcomer to the WWE.
Miz stomps on Hardy and then snap mares him over. Miz drops several elbows and then rams Hardy into the corner. Miz misses a clothesline and then Hardy rams the Miz to the turnbuckle. Hardy connects with a jawjacker and then delivers the swinging dropkick into the corner. Hardy pulls Miz out of the corner and covers him, but Miz kicks out. Hardy delivers a front face suplex on the Miz and then dives over onto him for a near fall. Hardy sends him in, but Miz reverses. Hardy goes all the way up for Whisper in the Wind, but the Miz moves. The Miz drops a leg and gets a near fall.
J.R.: The Miz seems to have done his homework here scouting the big moves of Jeff hardy.
Miz sends Hardy for the ride. Miz kicks Hardy and delivers a gut buster. Miz makes the cover for a count of two. The Miz delivers a back breaker and goes up to the top rope. Jeff Hardy gets up and nails the Miz. Hardy climbs and delivers a superplex on the Miz. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Miz pushes him into the corner. Hardy gets his feet up. Miz comes back, but Hardy moves and rolls up Miz for a near fall. hardy connects with the wrap around clothesline and then nails him again. Hardy sends Miz to the corner. Miz nails Hardy with an elbow coming in. Miz dumps Hardy out over the top, but landing on the ring apron. Hardy snaps the Miz off the rope and then sling shots in over the top with a leg drop for a near fall. Hardy scoops up the Miz, but he slips out and connects with a back breaker. Miz sends Hardy to the corner. Miz charges in with a clothesline. Miz connects with a bulldog and gets a near fall. Miz goes for a neck breaker, but Hardy reverses it into the Twist of Fate, but Miz pushes him off into the corner, but Hardy goes up the ropes and nails Miz with the Whisper in the Wind.
J.R.: Hardy connects with Whisper in the Wind that time and the Miz may be in la la land right now.
Jeff Hardy makes the cover, but the Miz gets a shoulder up. Hardy tries to send the Miz out of the ring, but he reverses knocking Hardy out to the apron. The Miz elbows Hardy off the apron to the floor. Miz goes out and kicks Hardy and pushes him back in. Miz gets up on the apron and shoulders into Hardy. Miz goes to knee Hardy, but he dropkicks Miz in the leg. Hardy hooks Miz and gives him the Twist of Fate back into the ring.
King: Oh that was a great counter by Hardy.
Jeff Hardy climbs up top. He gets set for the Swanton Bomb, but he sees Mr. Kennedy walking down the ramp. Stone Cold Steve Austin follows Kennedy who takes off running. The momentary distraction allows Miz to kick Jeff Hardy who falls back into the ring. Miz delivers the big knee lift into the neck breaker and hooks the leg for a three count.
J.R.: Jeff Hardy had this one in the bag, but Mr. Kennedy’s arrival caused a moment of distraction allowing for the Miz to take advantage and secure a huge win on his first night here on Raw. Kennedy, however took off running at the sight of one Stone Cold Steve Austin who is hot on Kennedy’s trail after their clash in the sixty man Royal Rumble match last night. Well the Miz is off and running on a promising career and still to come tonight a huge one-on-one match as the Alpha Male Monty Brown takes on the Immortal Hulk Hogan. Don’t go away!
-Commercial Break-
Gene Okerlund is backstage with the members of the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Mikey, Nicky, Johnny, and Mitch).
Gene: Gentlemen, last night fans got their first glimpse of the Spirit Squad at the Royal Rumble. What can we expect from you going forward here on Raw?
Kenny: We are here Mean Gene to lift the spirits of the entire WWE. We have what it takes to get people out of depression and to make everyone as happy as they can be. The Spirit Squad is all about the spirit because we are givers. Isn’t that right guys?
Spirit Squad: S-P-I-R-I-T. S-P-I-R-I-T. S-P-I-R-I-T. Spirit, spirit, go spirit!
MUHAMMAD HASSAN VS. TBA
Muhammad Hassan enters the ring alone and picks up a microphone.
Hassan: After last night at the Royal Rumble I am truly aware that the conspiracies to keep me from getting ahead in the WWE are firmly in place. I would be the Intercontinental Champion right now if it wasn’t for the outright hatred directed towards me for my heritage and my beliefs. Not only that, but I come to Raw tonight and find that Daivari is nowhere to be found. I am sure this will prove to be another measure taken to ensure that I do not succeed. Let alone the fact that I came to the ring to compete in a match and I wasn’t even told who my opponent would be.
“I’m back and I’m better than ever…” Eric Bischoff’s music plays.
J.R.: Well King here comes the General Manager of Monday Night Raw and perhaps he will shed some light on the so-called conspiracy theory’s that Muhammad Hassan is talking about.
Bischoff: First of all I would like to say that after watching the match last night between yourself and Christian for the Intercontinental Championship, I have no doubt in my mind that you Mr. Hassan were a victim of your own sabotage. The WWE does not have any reason to stop you from succeeding. Secondly the reason Daiviari is not here is simply because he has been drafted to ECW. That again was not a conspiracy, but just what happens when the entire WWE landscape changes. As far as your opponent for tonight. Well it was just good old fashioned fun to see what would happen when you and the entire WWE found out who it would be. You see Mr. Hassan. If you can remember back to a little something that happened at Summer Slam involving a haircut and unmasking. So I think we should just get on with it.
An explosion of pyro goes off and out comes an unmasked Kane!
J.R.: Through hell, fire, and brimstone comes the Big Red Machine! It’s Kane! Kane is back and he is looking for retribution against Muhammad Hassan.
Kane gets into the ring and Muhammad Hassan backpedals out and runs away through the crowd. Kane takes off and goes after him.
King: Well if there was a conspiracy to send Muhammad Hassan packing, it worked.
J.R.: Well King let’s talk a little bit more about the draft that occurred courtesy of last night’s Royal Rumble. During the random drawing that was held for the Royal Rumble match last night, not only did Superstars determine where they would enter the Rumble match, but it also determined on which of the three WWE rosters they would be competing on. Following the Rumble, a supplemental draft occurred to determine where everyone not involved in the Rumble match would find themselves, hence both myself and the King being on Raw here tonight. Also as it stands, the man who won the Royal Rumble last night, the Rated R Superstar Edge is still a member of the Smackdown roster and he will make his choice known this Friday night on Smackdown as to which champion he will challenge in the main event of WrestleMania XX. Will he choose our World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle or will he choose to face WWE Champion Bret Hart?
King: Whichever he decides, that is going to be a huge main event come WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.
J.R.: So let’s take a quick look here at the entire Monday Night Raw roster as it stands after last night.
A graphic is shown on the screen listing each of the members of the Raw roster.
Arn Anderson
Kurt Angle
Steve Austin
Danny Basham
Doug Basham
Batista
Shelton Benjamin
Tully Blanchard
Booker T.
Monty Brown
John Cena
Simon Dean
Eugene
Ric Flair
Lilian Garcia
Goldberg
Charlie Haas
Jeff Hardy
Muhammad Hassan
Hulk Hogan
Chris Jericho
Kane
Mr. Kennedy
Jerry Lawler
Layla
Lita
Chris Masters
The Miz
Rey Mysterio
Johnny Nitro
Gene Okerlund
Jim Ross
Spirit Squad (Kenny Dykstra, Johnny Jeter, Mitch Mitchell, Mikey Mondo, Nicky Nemeth)
Trish Stratus
Triple H
Victoria
Barry Windham
King: J.R. it looks like we lost the Intercontinental Title to another roster, but we gained the United States title as Christian moves to another show and Booker T. joins Raw.
J.R.: Speaking of Booker T. Earlier tonight we found Booker T. once again avoiding the challenge of Rey Mysterio for his U.S. Title. Our own World Champion Kurt Angle stepped up to the plate and he will put the title on the line against Rey Mysterio tonight here on Monday Night Raw.
Chris Jericho is shown on screen heading towards the arena.
J.R.: One third of last night’s World Title triple threat match Chris Jericho is headed our way. We’ll hear from Y2J next!
-Commercial Break-
WWE Royal Rumble Rewind: Footage shows the closing moments of the Angle/Jericho/Flair triple threat match for the World Title last night at the Royal Rumble.
Chris Jericho is in the ring with a microphone in hand.
Jericho: Last night at the Royal Rumble I was a few seconds away from finally becoming the World Heavyweight Champion. I had the belt in my sights, the victory was at hand, but instead the man who has the held the title on sixteen different occasions tapped out. Yes Ric Flair, the legend. Ric Flair, the man who is still in this business after thirty years. Ric Flair I want to know from you face-to-face in this ring what was going through your mind when you tapped out without hesitation. I want answers and I want them right now.
J.R.: Jericho may want answers, but to my knowledge King, the Nature Boy is not here in Hershey Park tonight.
Jericho: Oh that’s right Ric. Not only did you tap out last night. Not only did you not get drafted off of Raw, but Ric Flair did not show up for work tonight. Ric Flair went to see his doctor due to suffering a possible injury. How convenient is that? I mean tonight I was going to challenge you Ric. I was going to challenge you to a one-on-one contest to determine who would be next in line for a title opportunity and not just any title shot. I mean the opportunity to face the Champion at WrestleMania. Yeah I know Edge won the Royal Rumble, but after he decides which Champion he’s facing, there will be an opening and I plan to seize the opportunity and be a headliner at WrestleMania XX. So Ric I’ll give you til next week to show up here and answer my challenge. I mean come on Ric, how many WrestleMania’s do you have left in you?
King: Some strong words from Chris Jericho directed at the Nature Boy.
J.R.: I’m sure Ric Flair will have plenty to say about this next Monday. Well there will be titles up for grabs here on Raw as the World Tag Team Titles are on the line next!
-Commercial Break-
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
TULLY BLANCHARD & ARN ANDERSON © VS. SHELTON BENJAMIN & CHARLIE HAAS
Tully Blanchard and Shelton Benjamin lock up. Tully backs Shelton to the corner. Benjamin moves and applies the headlock. Blanchard sends him for the ride. Shelton knocks Tully down and goes to the ropes. Blanchard hooks Shelton with a hiplock and then scoops him up and slams him. Tully then takes Shelton over with a side headlock.
J.R.: These are four the of the most technically sound competitors in the entire WWE. Haas and Benjamin both have collegiate wrestling backgrounds not to mention their association with the World Champion Kurt Angle. Haas and Benjamin are hoping to reclaim Tag Team gold here tonight.
Benjamin pushes Tully up to his feet and then lifts him off the mat. Blanchard uses his weight to take Shelton back over to the canvas. Shelton pushes up again and sends Tully to the ropes. Blanchard knocks him down and goes to the ropes. Shelton leap frogs over and then takes Tully down with an arm drag. Blanchard then takes Benjamin over and sends him back to the mat. Benjamin rolls Tully back for a one count. Benjamin then knees Tully and pounds on him. He tries to ram Tully to the buckle, but he blocks it and rams Shelton. Tully sends him in, but Shelton reverses Tully into the corner and then tags Charlie Haas.
King: These two teams seem evenly matched, but it’s going to come down to who wants it more.
Haas pounds on Tully and delivers a back suplex for a near fall. Haas hammers away and rams Blanchard into the turnbuckle. Haas suplexes Tully and stomps on him. He drills him with his knees and covers him, but Tully kicks out. Haas tags Benjamin back in. Haas sends Tully for the ride and drops down. Benjamin catches Blanchard with a reverse elbow. Benjamin makes the cover, but Blanchard kicks out. Benjamin drops the leg and then nails Blanchard again. He sends him in. Tully hooks the ropes as Benjamin misses a dropkick. Blanchard finally tags to Arn Anderson.
J.R.: Here comes Double A, the Enforcer for the Horsemen Arn Anderson.
Anderson nails Benjamin and delivers uppercuts. He scoops him up and power slams him back down. Anderson has the cover, but Haas makes the save. Anderson nails Haas with a dropkick knocking through the ropes. Benjamin comes in charging at Anderson, but he side steps him and Benjamin ends up out on the apron. Anderson nails Shelton and suplexes him back into the ring. Anderson lands an elbow drop for a near fall. Arn sends Shelton in. He ducks under, but gets caught with the spine buster.
King: That’s the patented Double A spine buster and Shelton Benjamin may be done.
Arn Anderson tags Tully Blanchard. Arn lifts Shelton in an over the shoulder back breaker and Tully comes in with a double axe handle nailing Benjamin. Tully makes the cover, but Shelton kicks out. Tully sends Benjamin for the ride and connects with a dropkick. Tully uses the jackknife cover, but only gets a two. Tully delivers a neck breaker. Haas comes in and clotheslines Blanchard. Benjamin hooks Tully, but he kicks him off. Benjamin comes right back with a dropkick to the face. Benjamin sends him in and nails hi with a heel kick and then drives Blanchard’s face into his knee. Benjamin tags Haas again. Benjamin delivers an inverted atomic drop and Charlie Haas nails Tully with a kick to the face. Haas covers Blanchard, but Anderson stops the count.
J.R.: These two teams are laying it all on the line as they compete for the World Tag Team Titles.
Charlie Haas gives Blanchard a belly to belly suplex and then goes up top. He comes off, but Tully gets his foot up and hooks an inside cradle for a near fall. Tully delivers the sling shot suplex on Haas, but Benjamin spring boards in off the top rope with a bulldog on Blanchard. Arn Anderson hit’s a spine buster on Benjamin and then tosses him out of the ring. Haas clotheslines Anderson to the outside. Blanchard hit’s a side Russian leg sweep on Haas and gets a near fall. Haas and Blanchard spill out to the floor. Anderson rams Benjamin into the security wall. Haas whips Blanchard into the ring steps. The referee has the count going and calls for the bell at ten. The four men continue to fight as several officials come in to break it up.
J.R.: What was an excellent competitive match broke down in the closing moments leading to a double count out which means that Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson retain the World Tag Team Championship on this occasion.
Gene Okerlund is standing by with Rey Mysterio.
Gene: My guest at this time will challenge Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship later tonight here on Raw. He is Rey Mysterio. Rey please give us your thoughts on this huge match tonight.
Rey: Gene, tonight is the biggest match of my entire career. I’ve been Tag Team Champion. I’ve been Cruiserweight Champion. But I’ve never been the World Heavyweight Champion. I had the U.S. Title in my sights, but Booker T. being the man that he is, time and again has refused to put the title on the line knowing full well that he will leave that encounter empty handed. Tonight I have to give props to Kurt Angle. Tonight Kurt Angle showed me that he is a man I can respect by stepping up and putting the title up for grabs. Kurt tonight I look forward to going out to that ring and showing the world what true competition is all about. I also plan on leaving Hershey Park tonight as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Gene: Thank you very much Rey Mysterio.
-Commercial Break-
Slam of the Week: John Cena eliminates Triple H last night at the Royal Rumble. After Cena is eliminated, Triple H gives him the Pedigree on the floor.
A graphic on screen shows Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson as well as Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin.
J.R.: Huge news as we welcome you back to Raw. Next week right here the World Tag Team Titles will be decided in a return match from tonight, this time in a two out of three fall contest. That match was made during the break by Eric Bischoff. Also to be noted is that Eric Bischoff has ordered that Barry Windham, Ric Flair, and Kurt Angle are all banned from ringside.
King: That is going to be huge next week here on Raw. I can’t wait.
TRIPLE H VS. COLIN DELANEY
Triple H locks up with Delaney. The Game shoves him down to the mat.
J.R.: The Game just sent young Colin Delaney to the canvas with authority. Delaney is making his WWE debut here tonight and what luck on his part in having to face Triple H.
King: It could be bad luck considering the mood the Game has been in since being eliminated by John Cena at the Royal Rumble last night.
J.R.: It could also be good luck King. Think about if young Colin Delaney could somehow defeat Triple H here tonight, that would put him on the map. Delaney of course is giving up a lot of size and experience, but you have to start somewhere.
Triple H pounds on Delaney and nails him with a hard shot. Triple H plants the knee and then whips Delaney hard into the corner. Triple H kicks away and sends Delaney across to the other side. Triple H scoops up Delaney and slams him down. Triple H drills him with three elbow drops. Triple H then connects with a long standing vertical suplex. Triple H does a mocking you can’t see me gesture towards the camera.
J.R.: Obviously as you mentioned earlier King, Triple H has John Cena on his mind.
The Game kicks Colin Delaney and then comes off the ropes, but Delaney gets up with a dropkick nailing the Game.
J.R.: Nicely executed dropkick by the rookie who needs to capitalize now.
Delaney goes to the top rope. Delaney leaps off, but Triple H kicks him right in the chest coming down and plants him with the Pedigree. Triple H pins Delaney and gets a three count. Triple H then tosses Delaney out of the ring.
J.R.: Triple H picks up the definitive win here over Colin Delaney. I hope this doesn’t stop Delaney from pursuing his dream here in the WWE.
Triple H goes out of the ring and grabs Delaney and rams him into the announce table. Triple H then whips Delaney into the ring steps.
King: The Game is taking this a little far now. I mean Colin Delaney is getting pulverized.
Triple H picks up a chair, but John Cena runs out and then Game drops the chair and walks away.
J.R.: You can bet we are going to be seeing a lot more of this rivalry developing here on Raw. But coming up it will be the Alpha Male Monty Brown facing the Immortal Hulk Hogan. Oh what a match next!
-Commercial Break-
WWE Rewind: Monty Brown arrives at Survivor Series and causes Hulk Hogan to be eliminated in a five-on-five tag match.
HULK HOGAN VS. MONTY BROWN
Hulk Hogan quickly nails Brown. Hogan fires away and sends Brown in. Brown reverses to the delight of Layla at ringside. Brown connects with an elbow and then scoops Hogan up and power slams him to the mat. Brown drills Hogan with a knee and gets a near fall.
J.R.: This Monty Brown is a power house, power slamming the nearly three hundred pound Hulk Hogan.
King: And Layla is a power house in the beauty department.
Brown sends Hogan into the corner. Brown follows in hitting Hogan hard. He sends him to the other corner and follows in again. Brown scoops Hogan up again and slams him down. Monty Brown sends Hogan for the ride one more time. Brown connects with the Pounce.
J.R.: Oh my God King this is it. Monty Brown may make the record books here with the fastest victory ever obtained over Hulk Hogan.
Brown covers Hogan. Hogan kicks out!
King: No record set here J.R. Hulkamania is running wild.
Hogan gets to his knees. Brown pounds on him, but Hogan gets to his feet shaking him off. Hogan stands up straight shaking his head and waving his finger at Brown. Hogan punches Brown and sends him in. Hogan connects with a clothesline. He hits another. Hogan slams Brown. Hogan drops a series of elbows and then steps on Brown’s face. Hogan goes to the ropes, but Layla reaches in for his leg. Hogan avoids it, but is distracted enough for Monty Brown to drive Hogan out of the ring with a knee to the back. Monty Brown goes outside and rams Hogan against the side of the ring. Brown then slams Hogan on the steel ramp.
J.R.: Monty Brown is doing a number on Hulk Hogan. Brown certainly has made a name for himself at the expense of the Hulkster.
Brown sends Hogan back into the ring. He rams Hogan into the buckle. Hogan blocks it. Hogan nails Brown and rams him into the turnbuckle. Hogan clotheslines Brown. He nails him again and gets him up for a suplex. Layla is up on the ring apron. Hogan pulls her into the ring. She runs out the other way. Hogan punches Brown and sends him in connecting with the big boot. Hogan drops the leg and makes the cover picking up the victory.
J.R.: Hulkamania is alive and well here on Monday Night Raw. Hulk Hogan comes back and picks up the big one over the Alpha Male.
King: That was a great victory for the Hulkster, but it will be even a greater victory if Rey Mysterio can defeat Kurt Angle to become the World Heavyweight Champion right here tonight.
J.R.: This could be the night that Rey strikes gold. Rey gets his opportunity at Angle and the World Title. It’s our huge main event and it’s next!
“ECW…ECW…ECW… Tomorrow night it’s the return of the extreme. Join Paul Heyman as he reintroduces us to Extreme Championship Wrestling. Live tomorrow night. Don’t miss it!”
-Commercial Break-
A highlight from last night’s Royal Rumble shows Kurt Angle retaining the World Title.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
KURT ANGLE © VS. REY MYSTERIO
Mysterio and Angle hook it up in the middle of the ring. Angle drops down and takes Rey over with a fireman’s carry. Angle applies the head lock and takes Rey to the canvas. Rey pushes Angle up and sends him into the corner. Rey charges in, but Angle moves. Rey puts on the breaks. Angel tries to hook a German suplex, but Rey holds on. Rey elbows out and then spring boards off the middle rope into a cross body for a one count.
J.R.: We are off to a spectacular start here in our main event with the World Title on the line.
Rey catches Kurt with a drop toe hold into the middle rope. Rey quickly goes for the 619, but Angle rolls out of the ring.
King: Rey tried to get Angle early, but it’s going to take a lot more than quickness to take the World Title away from Kurt Angle.
Angle rolls back into the ring and locks up with Rey again. Angle forearms Mysterio. Rey fires back. Rey sends Angle in, but he reverses. Rey ducks and then slides under and goes for a bulldog, but Angle lifts him all the way up. Rey goes up and over and pushes Angle into the rope and rolls him back for a near fall. Angle misses a clothesline and Rey takes him over with an arm drag. Rey hits another and then delivers a dropkick into the corner. Rey kicks Angle and sends him in in, but Angle reverses him into the corner. Mysterio gets an elbow up and then leaps up and then rolls through for a near fall.
J.R.: Rey Mysterio is hoping to walk out of Hershey Park with the World Heavyweight Championship. This could be the start of an amazing year for Rey Mysterio.
Rey leaps up onto Angle in the corner and monkey flips him over. Rey charges at Angle. Angel lifts him up, but Rey drops down landing on the ring apron. Rey snaps Angle off the rope and then springs in with a seated senton for a near fall. Rey sends in Angle. Angel reverses, but Rey comes back with a sunset flip, only Angle rolls through and nails Rey with a foot to the face.
J.R.: That will put your lights out in a hurry.
Angle hammers away at Rey and pounds on him. Angle nails Rey in the corner and then delivers an over head suplex. Angle drops a couple of elbows and gets a near fall. Angle drills Rey with shoulders into the corner and then delivers a suplex. He hit’s a second one and then goes for a third, but Rey goes up and over and pushes Angle into the corner. Rey charges in, but Angle moves. Rey leaps up top, but Angle crotches him. Angle climbs up and goes for a German suplex off the top, but Mysterio elbows out knocking Angle down. Rey comes off with a moonsault and gets a near fall.
J.R.: This is a tremendous match here for the World Title between Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. You can only see this on Monday Night Raw. We may have Booker T. to thank for this as Angle stepped up when Booker again refused to defend his Untied States Title against Mysterio.
Rey nails Angle and then plants him with a bulldog. Rey drops three quick leg drops in a row and gets a near fall. Rey kicks Angle, but he catches his foot and then turns him into a German suplex. He hits another and another. Angle then kicks Rey in the corner. Angle elbows Mysterio and nails him with a clothesline. Angle knees Rey and slams him down. He plants a knee and then goes for the Angle Slam, but Rey slips out into an arm drag and dropkicks Angle out to the floor. Rey slides out, but Angle moves and clotheslines Mysterio to the floor.
King: That was a brutal clothesline by Kurt Angle.
Rey is rammed face first into the ring apron and then pushed back in. Kurt Angle follows and then power bombs Angle into the corner. Kurt Angle covers Rey. The ref makes the count, but Rey gets a shoulder up. Angle delivers a shoulder breaker. He goes for the ankle lock, but Rey rolls through and then nails Angle with a heel kick. Angle falls into the middle rope. Rey runs the ropes.
J.R.: I think it’s time to dial 619.
Rey connects with the 619. Rey drops the dime on Angle. He makes the cover. One…two…thre… Angle kicks out.
J.R.: Talk about a close call. That may have been the closest count I’ve ever seen.
Booker T. is shown walking down the ramp watching the match. Rey sees Booker. Angle nails Rey and then gestures towards Booker and says “watch this.” Angle delivers the Angle Slam on Rey and he makes the cover, but Rey kicks out. Rey fights back at Angle. He charges towards Kurt. Kurt back drops him up and over the top, but Rey lands on Booker T. Rey is up. He is on the apron. Angle tries to grabs him. Rey leaps in over Angle’s head, but Angle chop blocks Rey as he lands. Angle applies the ankle lock. Rey tries to reach for the ropes. Angle pulls in Rey’s leg and locks it in. Rey taps out as Booker T. gets back to his feet on the outside.
J.R.: What a match we just witnessed. Rey Mysterio in perhaps the biggest match of his life nearly wins the title, but Kurt Angle somehow retains in the end.
Booker T. gets into the ring. Booker hit’s the Book End on Rey. Eric Bischoff shows up on the Titan Tron.
Eric: Booker T. Next week you will defend your United States Championship. And you will defend it against Rey Mysterio!
J.R.: Booker T. is beside himself. Rey vs. Booker for the U.S. Title. It’s on! We are out of time folks. Thanks for joining us. So long everyone!
MONDAY NIGHT RAW
(AIRDATE: JANUARY 26, 2004)
WWE logo appears on screen.
Footage from the Royal Rumble is shown from last night and then a new opening for Raw hits.
J.R.: We are sold out tonight live in Hershey, Pennsylvania and this is Monday Night Raw. Hello everyone I’m Jim Ross along with Jerry “The King” Lawler at ringside. Yes folks it’s J.R. and the King here as we have been drafted from Smackdown to Raw and I have no earthly idea what that means for Jonathan Coachman.
King: I don’t care where Coachman ends up J.R., but at least we both ended up together on Raw.
J.R.: After an amazing Royal Rumble just twenty-four hours ago featuring a sixty man Royal Rumble match won by the Rated R Superstar Edge, I am sure we are in for an interesting night.
“Can you dig it?“ The music of Booker T. plays as he heads to the ring with Sharmell at his side.
J.R.: Well King it seems the current United States Champion Booker T. and his bride Sharmell have come to Raw as we have. The Royal Rumble certainly has altered the state of the WWE and we will find out more about that as the night progresses and as we watch the return of ECW tomorrow night and Smackdown this Friday.
Booker T. gets a microphone.
Booker: Get off your feet and show some respect to the reigning United States Champion. It’s obvious that I’ve already defeated everyone that Smackdown has to offer and therefore I move to Raw to continue my dominance by defeating everyone on the Raw roster. I know you can dig that.
King: Can you dig that J.R.?
J.R.: I don’t know King. Granted Booker T. is a tremendous athlete, but I think his ego may have gotten the best of him.
Booker: So why doesn’t someone from Monday Night Raw come on out here so I can prove once again why I am the supreme superstar in all of the WWE!
“Booyaka, Booyaka 619” Rey Mysterio’s music plays and he heads to the ring.
J.R.: Are you kidding me? Here comes one of the WWE’s most entertaining, risk-taking superstars Rey Mysterio!
Booker: This isn’t happening! Tell me this is isn’t happening.
King: Oh it’s happening Booker T.
Rey: Booker T. Just like you, I am now on Monday Night Raw! So Booker T. you avoided me on Smackdown, running and hiding like the coward that you. Now it’s time to stand up and defend your title and show the Monday Night Raw audience that you meant what you said.
Booker: Rey you don’t get it. I am trying to save you the embarrassment. Everyone knows you can’t beat me and I don’t want to have to disappointment all those little kids out there who bought there Rey Mysterio masks to have to go home crying to their mommies after I humiliate you in the center of the ring.
Kurt Angle’s music hits and the World Champion heads down to the ring.
J.R.: Well business has just picked up as here comes the current World Heavyweight Champion who successfully retained his title last night in a triple threat match over the Nature Boy Ric Flair and Chris Jericho.
Angle: As the still reigning World Heavyweight Champion and only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history, I would like to personally welcome both of you to Monday Night Raw. This is where you want to be if you want to be the best in the world. Last night at the Royal Rumble I beat both Chris Jericho and Ric Flair to retain my title and I always welcome new challenges to overcome. I like to set an example by really proving my worth as a fighting World Champion, not just spewing garbage out of my mouth. Booker T. I respect your ability in the ring, but Rey Mysterio deserves a shot. So Booker T. as the leader of the Raw roster and as the World Heavyweight Champion, tonight in this very ring I am going to put this World Title on the line against you…. Rey Mysterio!
Booker: You can’t be serious Kurt?
Angle: Oh I am dead serious my friend and that is damn true! Rey I will see you later!
J.R.: This is huge news King. Tonight here on Monday Night Raw, Kurt Angle puts the World Heavyweight Title on the line against Rey Mysterio. Can Mysterio walk out of Hershey Park as the new World Heavyweight Champion? We’ll find out tonight!
-Commercial Break-
J.R.: Welcome back to Monday Night Raw. As we heard at the top of the show both Booker T. and Rey Mysterio have joined Raw and later tonight Kurt Angle defends the World Heavyweight Title against Mysterio in what should be a worthy main event. Also still to come here tonight the World Tag Team Titles will be on the line when Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard of the Four Horsemen defend against the former champions Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. That is all still to come.
THE MIZ VS. JEFF HARDY
The Miz heads to the ring first and grabs a microphone.
[i]J.R.: This is our first glimpse of the Miz here on Raw and in singles competition after making a huge impact last night in his debut at the Royal Rumble. The Miz was a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble and what a showing he had as one of the final three in the sixty man Royal Rumble match.
Miz: Last night I arrived on the scene here in the WWE and to the surprise of no one I put the rest of the WWE Superstars to shame on my very first night. I had the Rumble won, but I was only eliminated after a two-on-one attack at the hands of Edge and Jeff Hardy. You see I will prove tonight that in a one-on-one situation I will not lose. I will not allow my record to be tarnished from the get-go by some long-haired little punk whose only claim to fame is falling off of ladders. I don’t need gimmicks to get over and that’s because I’m the Miz…. And I’m Awesome![/i]
The bell rings and Jeff Hardy nails Miz right away. Hardy pounds on Miz and sends him in. Hardy takes him over with a hiplock and then scoops him up and slams him down. Hardy plants a fist and sends Miz into the corner. Hardy kicks away. Hardy sends Miz to the far corner, but Miz gets a knee up and clotheslines Hardy.
King: This Miz has a lot to say and he’s not going to make any friends with his attitude.
J.R.: The Miz may rub a lot of people the wrong way, but let’s see if he can get the job done in the ring. He did have an impressive outing last night at the Royal Rumble and that says a lot for this young newcomer to the WWE.
Miz stomps on Hardy and then snap mares him over. Miz drops several elbows and then rams Hardy into the corner. Miz misses a clothesline and then Hardy rams the Miz to the turnbuckle. Hardy connects with a jawjacker and then delivers the swinging dropkick into the corner. Hardy pulls Miz out of the corner and covers him, but Miz kicks out. Hardy delivers a front face suplex on the Miz and then dives over onto him for a near fall. Hardy sends him in, but Miz reverses. Hardy goes all the way up for Whisper in the Wind, but the Miz moves. The Miz drops a leg and gets a near fall.
J.R.: The Miz seems to have done his homework here scouting the big moves of Jeff hardy.
Miz sends Hardy for the ride. Miz kicks Hardy and delivers a gut buster. Miz makes the cover for a count of two. The Miz delivers a back breaker and goes up to the top rope. Jeff Hardy gets up and nails the Miz. Hardy climbs and delivers a superplex on the Miz. Hardy goes for the Twist of Fate, but Miz pushes him into the corner. Hardy gets his feet up. Miz comes back, but Hardy moves and rolls up Miz for a near fall. hardy connects with the wrap around clothesline and then nails him again. Hardy sends Miz to the corner. Miz nails Hardy with an elbow coming in. Miz dumps Hardy out over the top, but landing on the ring apron. Hardy snaps the Miz off the rope and then sling shots in over the top with a leg drop for a near fall. Hardy scoops up the Miz, but he slips out and connects with a back breaker. Miz sends Hardy to the corner. Miz charges in with a clothesline. Miz connects with a bulldog and gets a near fall. Miz goes for a neck breaker, but Hardy reverses it into the Twist of Fate, but Miz pushes him off into the corner, but Hardy goes up the ropes and nails Miz with the Whisper in the Wind.
J.R.: Hardy connects with Whisper in the Wind that time and the Miz may be in la la land right now.
Jeff Hardy makes the cover, but the Miz gets a shoulder up. Hardy tries to send the Miz out of the ring, but he reverses knocking Hardy out to the apron. The Miz elbows Hardy off the apron to the floor. Miz goes out and kicks Hardy and pushes him back in. Miz gets up on the apron and shoulders into Hardy. Miz goes to knee Hardy, but he dropkicks Miz in the leg. Hardy hooks Miz and gives him the Twist of Fate back into the ring.
King: Oh that was a great counter by Hardy.
Jeff Hardy climbs up top. He gets set for the Swanton Bomb, but he sees Mr. Kennedy walking down the ramp. Stone Cold Steve Austin follows Kennedy who takes off running. The momentary distraction allows Miz to kick Jeff Hardy who falls back into the ring. Miz delivers the big knee lift into the neck breaker and hooks the leg for a three count.
J.R.: Jeff Hardy had this one in the bag, but Mr. Kennedy’s arrival caused a moment of distraction allowing for the Miz to take advantage and secure a huge win on his first night here on Raw. Kennedy, however took off running at the sight of one Stone Cold Steve Austin who is hot on Kennedy’s trail after their clash in the sixty man Royal Rumble match last night. Well the Miz is off and running on a promising career and still to come tonight a huge one-on-one match as the Alpha Male Monty Brown takes on the Immortal Hulk Hogan. Don’t go away!
-Commercial Break-
Gene Okerlund is backstage with the members of the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Mikey, Nicky, Johnny, and Mitch).
Gene: Gentlemen, last night fans got their first glimpse of the Spirit Squad at the Royal Rumble. What can we expect from you going forward here on Raw?
Kenny: We are here Mean Gene to lift the spirits of the entire WWE. We have what it takes to get people out of depression and to make everyone as happy as they can be. The Spirit Squad is all about the spirit because we are givers. Isn’t that right guys?
Spirit Squad: S-P-I-R-I-T. S-P-I-R-I-T. S-P-I-R-I-T. Spirit, spirit, go spirit!
MUHAMMAD HASSAN VS. TBA
Muhammad Hassan enters the ring alone and picks up a microphone.
Hassan: After last night at the Royal Rumble I am truly aware that the conspiracies to keep me from getting ahead in the WWE are firmly in place. I would be the Intercontinental Champion right now if it wasn’t for the outright hatred directed towards me for my heritage and my beliefs. Not only that, but I come to Raw tonight and find that Daivari is nowhere to be found. I am sure this will prove to be another measure taken to ensure that I do not succeed. Let alone the fact that I came to the ring to compete in a match and I wasn’t even told who my opponent would be.
“I’m back and I’m better than ever…” Eric Bischoff’s music plays.
J.R.: Well King here comes the General Manager of Monday Night Raw and perhaps he will shed some light on the so-called conspiracy theory’s that Muhammad Hassan is talking about.
Bischoff: First of all I would like to say that after watching the match last night between yourself and Christian for the Intercontinental Championship, I have no doubt in my mind that you Mr. Hassan were a victim of your own sabotage. The WWE does not have any reason to stop you from succeeding. Secondly the reason Daiviari is not here is simply because he has been drafted to ECW. That again was not a conspiracy, but just what happens when the entire WWE landscape changes. As far as your opponent for tonight. Well it was just good old fashioned fun to see what would happen when you and the entire WWE found out who it would be. You see Mr. Hassan. If you can remember back to a little something that happened at Summer Slam involving a haircut and unmasking. So I think we should just get on with it.
An explosion of pyro goes off and out comes an unmasked Kane!
J.R.: Through hell, fire, and brimstone comes the Big Red Machine! It’s Kane! Kane is back and he is looking for retribution against Muhammad Hassan.
Kane gets into the ring and Muhammad Hassan backpedals out and runs away through the crowd. Kane takes off and goes after him.
King: Well if there was a conspiracy to send Muhammad Hassan packing, it worked.
J.R.: Well King let’s talk a little bit more about the draft that occurred courtesy of last night’s Royal Rumble. During the random drawing that was held for the Royal Rumble match last night, not only did Superstars determine where they would enter the Rumble match, but it also determined on which of the three WWE rosters they would be competing on. Following the Rumble, a supplemental draft occurred to determine where everyone not involved in the Rumble match would find themselves, hence both myself and the King being on Raw here tonight. Also as it stands, the man who won the Royal Rumble last night, the Rated R Superstar Edge is still a member of the Smackdown roster and he will make his choice known this Friday night on Smackdown as to which champion he will challenge in the main event of WrestleMania XX. Will he choose our World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle or will he choose to face WWE Champion Bret Hart?
King: Whichever he decides, that is going to be a huge main event come WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden.
J.R.: So let’s take a quick look here at the entire Monday Night Raw roster as it stands after last night.
A graphic is shown on the screen listing each of the members of the Raw roster.
Arn Anderson
Kurt Angle
Steve Austin
Danny Basham
Doug Basham
Batista
Shelton Benjamin
Tully Blanchard
Booker T.
Monty Brown
John Cena
Simon Dean
Eugene
Ric Flair
Lilian Garcia
Goldberg
Charlie Haas
Jeff Hardy
Muhammad Hassan
Hulk Hogan
Chris Jericho
Kane
Mr. Kennedy
Jerry Lawler
Layla
Lita
Chris Masters
The Miz
Rey Mysterio
Johnny Nitro
Gene Okerlund
Jim Ross
Spirit Squad (Kenny Dykstra, Johnny Jeter, Mitch Mitchell, Mikey Mondo, Nicky Nemeth)
Trish Stratus
Triple H
Victoria
Barry Windham
King: J.R. it looks like we lost the Intercontinental Title to another roster, but we gained the United States title as Christian moves to another show and Booker T. joins Raw.
J.R.: Speaking of Booker T. Earlier tonight we found Booker T. once again avoiding the challenge of Rey Mysterio for his U.S. Title. Our own World Champion Kurt Angle stepped up to the plate and he will put the title on the line against Rey Mysterio tonight here on Monday Night Raw.
Chris Jericho is shown on screen heading towards the arena.
J.R.: One third of last night’s World Title triple threat match Chris Jericho is headed our way. We’ll hear from Y2J next!
-Commercial Break-
WWE Royal Rumble Rewind: Footage shows the closing moments of the Angle/Jericho/Flair triple threat match for the World Title last night at the Royal Rumble.
Chris Jericho is in the ring with a microphone in hand.
Jericho: Last night at the Royal Rumble I was a few seconds away from finally becoming the World Heavyweight Champion. I had the belt in my sights, the victory was at hand, but instead the man who has the held the title on sixteen different occasions tapped out. Yes Ric Flair, the legend. Ric Flair, the man who is still in this business after thirty years. Ric Flair I want to know from you face-to-face in this ring what was going through your mind when you tapped out without hesitation. I want answers and I want them right now.
J.R.: Jericho may want answers, but to my knowledge King, the Nature Boy is not here in Hershey Park tonight.
Jericho: Oh that’s right Ric. Not only did you tap out last night. Not only did you not get drafted off of Raw, but Ric Flair did not show up for work tonight. Ric Flair went to see his doctor due to suffering a possible injury. How convenient is that? I mean tonight I was going to challenge you Ric. I was going to challenge you to a one-on-one contest to determine who would be next in line for a title opportunity and not just any title shot. I mean the opportunity to face the Champion at WrestleMania. Yeah I know Edge won the Royal Rumble, but after he decides which Champion he’s facing, there will be an opening and I plan to seize the opportunity and be a headliner at WrestleMania XX. So Ric I’ll give you til next week to show up here and answer my challenge. I mean come on Ric, how many WrestleMania’s do you have left in you?
King: Some strong words from Chris Jericho directed at the Nature Boy.
J.R.: I’m sure Ric Flair will have plenty to say about this next Monday. Well there will be titles up for grabs here on Raw as the World Tag Team Titles are on the line next!
-Commercial Break-
WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
TULLY BLANCHARD & ARN ANDERSON © VS. SHELTON BENJAMIN & CHARLIE HAAS
Tully Blanchard and Shelton Benjamin lock up. Tully backs Shelton to the corner. Benjamin moves and applies the headlock. Blanchard sends him for the ride. Shelton knocks Tully down and goes to the ropes. Blanchard hooks Shelton with a hiplock and then scoops him up and slams him. Tully then takes Shelton over with a side headlock.
J.R.: These are four the of the most technically sound competitors in the entire WWE. Haas and Benjamin both have collegiate wrestling backgrounds not to mention their association with the World Champion Kurt Angle. Haas and Benjamin are hoping to reclaim Tag Team gold here tonight.
Benjamin pushes Tully up to his feet and then lifts him off the mat. Blanchard uses his weight to take Shelton back over to the canvas. Shelton pushes up again and sends Tully to the ropes. Blanchard knocks him down and goes to the ropes. Shelton leap frogs over and then takes Tully down with an arm drag. Blanchard then takes Benjamin over and sends him back to the mat. Benjamin rolls Tully back for a one count. Benjamin then knees Tully and pounds on him. He tries to ram Tully to the buckle, but he blocks it and rams Shelton. Tully sends him in, but Shelton reverses Tully into the corner and then tags Charlie Haas.
King: These two teams seem evenly matched, but it’s going to come down to who wants it more.
Haas pounds on Tully and delivers a back suplex for a near fall. Haas hammers away and rams Blanchard into the turnbuckle. Haas suplexes Tully and stomps on him. He drills him with his knees and covers him, but Tully kicks out. Haas tags Benjamin back in. Haas sends Tully for the ride and drops down. Benjamin catches Blanchard with a reverse elbow. Benjamin makes the cover, but Blanchard kicks out. Benjamin drops the leg and then nails Blanchard again. He sends him in. Tully hooks the ropes as Benjamin misses a dropkick. Blanchard finally tags to Arn Anderson.
J.R.: Here comes Double A, the Enforcer for the Horsemen Arn Anderson.
Anderson nails Benjamin and delivers uppercuts. He scoops him up and power slams him back down. Anderson has the cover, but Haas makes the save. Anderson nails Haas with a dropkick knocking through the ropes. Benjamin comes in charging at Anderson, but he side steps him and Benjamin ends up out on the apron. Anderson nails Shelton and suplexes him back into the ring. Anderson lands an elbow drop for a near fall. Arn sends Shelton in. He ducks under, but gets caught with the spine buster.
King: That’s the patented Double A spine buster and Shelton Benjamin may be done.
Arn Anderson tags Tully Blanchard. Arn lifts Shelton in an over the shoulder back breaker and Tully comes in with a double axe handle nailing Benjamin. Tully makes the cover, but Shelton kicks out. Tully sends Benjamin for the ride and connects with a dropkick. Tully uses the jackknife cover, but only gets a two. Tully delivers a neck breaker. Haas comes in and clotheslines Blanchard. Benjamin hooks Tully, but he kicks him off. Benjamin comes right back with a dropkick to the face. Benjamin sends him in and nails hi with a heel kick and then drives Blanchard’s face into his knee. Benjamin tags Haas again. Benjamin delivers an inverted atomic drop and Charlie Haas nails Tully with a kick to the face. Haas covers Blanchard, but Anderson stops the count.
J.R.: These two teams are laying it all on the line as they compete for the World Tag Team Titles.
Charlie Haas gives Blanchard a belly to belly suplex and then goes up top. He comes off, but Tully gets his foot up and hooks an inside cradle for a near fall. Tully delivers the sling shot suplex on Haas, but Benjamin spring boards in off the top rope with a bulldog on Blanchard. Arn Anderson hit’s a spine buster on Benjamin and then tosses him out of the ring. Haas clotheslines Anderson to the outside. Blanchard hit’s a side Russian leg sweep on Haas and gets a near fall. Haas and Blanchard spill out to the floor. Anderson rams Benjamin into the security wall. Haas whips Blanchard into the ring steps. The referee has the count going and calls for the bell at ten. The four men continue to fight as several officials come in to break it up.
J.R.: What was an excellent competitive match broke down in the closing moments leading to a double count out which means that Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson retain the World Tag Team Championship on this occasion.
Gene Okerlund is standing by with Rey Mysterio.
Gene: My guest at this time will challenge Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Championship later tonight here on Raw. He is Rey Mysterio. Rey please give us your thoughts on this huge match tonight.
Rey: Gene, tonight is the biggest match of my entire career. I’ve been Tag Team Champion. I’ve been Cruiserweight Champion. But I’ve never been the World Heavyweight Champion. I had the U.S. Title in my sights, but Booker T. being the man that he is, time and again has refused to put the title on the line knowing full well that he will leave that encounter empty handed. Tonight I have to give props to Kurt Angle. Tonight Kurt Angle showed me that he is a man I can respect by stepping up and putting the title up for grabs. Kurt tonight I look forward to going out to that ring and showing the world what true competition is all about. I also plan on leaving Hershey Park tonight as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Gene: Thank you very much Rey Mysterio.
-Commercial Break-
Slam of the Week: John Cena eliminates Triple H last night at the Royal Rumble. After Cena is eliminated, Triple H gives him the Pedigree on the floor.
A graphic on screen shows Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson as well as Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin.
J.R.: Huge news as we welcome you back to Raw. Next week right here the World Tag Team Titles will be decided in a return match from tonight, this time in a two out of three fall contest. That match was made during the break by Eric Bischoff. Also to be noted is that Eric Bischoff has ordered that Barry Windham, Ric Flair, and Kurt Angle are all banned from ringside.
King: That is going to be huge next week here on Raw. I can’t wait.
TRIPLE H VS. COLIN DELANEY
Triple H locks up with Delaney. The Game shoves him down to the mat.
J.R.: The Game just sent young Colin Delaney to the canvas with authority. Delaney is making his WWE debut here tonight and what luck on his part in having to face Triple H.
King: It could be bad luck considering the mood the Game has been in since being eliminated by John Cena at the Royal Rumble last night.
J.R.: It could also be good luck King. Think about if young Colin Delaney could somehow defeat Triple H here tonight, that would put him on the map. Delaney of course is giving up a lot of size and experience, but you have to start somewhere.
Triple H pounds on Delaney and nails him with a hard shot. Triple H plants the knee and then whips Delaney hard into the corner. Triple H kicks away and sends Delaney across to the other side. Triple H scoops up Delaney and slams him down. Triple H drills him with three elbow drops. Triple H then connects with a long standing vertical suplex. Triple H does a mocking you can’t see me gesture towards the camera.
J.R.: Obviously as you mentioned earlier King, Triple H has John Cena on his mind.
The Game kicks Colin Delaney and then comes off the ropes, but Delaney gets up with a dropkick nailing the Game.
J.R.: Nicely executed dropkick by the rookie who needs to capitalize now.
Delaney goes to the top rope. Delaney leaps off, but Triple H kicks him right in the chest coming down and plants him with the Pedigree. Triple H pins Delaney and gets a three count. Triple H then tosses Delaney out of the ring.
J.R.: Triple H picks up the definitive win here over Colin Delaney. I hope this doesn’t stop Delaney from pursuing his dream here in the WWE.
Triple H goes out of the ring and grabs Delaney and rams him into the announce table. Triple H then whips Delaney into the ring steps.
King: The Game is taking this a little far now. I mean Colin Delaney is getting pulverized.
Triple H picks up a chair, but John Cena runs out and then Game drops the chair and walks away.
J.R.: You can bet we are going to be seeing a lot more of this rivalry developing here on Raw. But coming up it will be the Alpha Male Monty Brown facing the Immortal Hulk Hogan. Oh what a match next!
-Commercial Break-
WWE Rewind: Monty Brown arrives at Survivor Series and causes Hulk Hogan to be eliminated in a five-on-five tag match.
HULK HOGAN VS. MONTY BROWN
Hulk Hogan quickly nails Brown. Hogan fires away and sends Brown in. Brown reverses to the delight of Layla at ringside. Brown connects with an elbow and then scoops Hogan up and power slams him to the mat. Brown drills Hogan with a knee and gets a near fall.
J.R.: This Monty Brown is a power house, power slamming the nearly three hundred pound Hulk Hogan.
King: And Layla is a power house in the beauty department.
Brown sends Hogan into the corner. Brown follows in hitting Hogan hard. He sends him to the other corner and follows in again. Brown scoops Hogan up again and slams him down. Monty Brown sends Hogan for the ride one more time. Brown connects with the Pounce.
J.R.: Oh my God King this is it. Monty Brown may make the record books here with the fastest victory ever obtained over Hulk Hogan.
Brown covers Hogan. Hogan kicks out!
King: No record set here J.R. Hulkamania is running wild.
Hogan gets to his knees. Brown pounds on him, but Hogan gets to his feet shaking him off. Hogan stands up straight shaking his head and waving his finger at Brown. Hogan punches Brown and sends him in. Hogan connects with a clothesline. He hits another. Hogan slams Brown. Hogan drops a series of elbows and then steps on Brown’s face. Hogan goes to the ropes, but Layla reaches in for his leg. Hogan avoids it, but is distracted enough for Monty Brown to drive Hogan out of the ring with a knee to the back. Monty Brown goes outside and rams Hogan against the side of the ring. Brown then slams Hogan on the steel ramp.
J.R.: Monty Brown is doing a number on Hulk Hogan. Brown certainly has made a name for himself at the expense of the Hulkster.
Brown sends Hogan back into the ring. He rams Hogan into the buckle. Hogan blocks it. Hogan nails Brown and rams him into the turnbuckle. Hogan clotheslines Brown. He nails him again and gets him up for a suplex. Layla is up on the ring apron. Hogan pulls her into the ring. She runs out the other way. Hogan punches Brown and sends him in connecting with the big boot. Hogan drops the leg and makes the cover picking up the victory.
J.R.: Hulkamania is alive and well here on Monday Night Raw. Hulk Hogan comes back and picks up the big one over the Alpha Male.
King: That was a great victory for the Hulkster, but it will be even a greater victory if Rey Mysterio can defeat Kurt Angle to become the World Heavyweight Champion right here tonight.
J.R.: This could be the night that Rey strikes gold. Rey gets his opportunity at Angle and the World Title. It’s our huge main event and it’s next!
“ECW…ECW…ECW… Tomorrow night it’s the return of the extreme. Join Paul Heyman as he reintroduces us to Extreme Championship Wrestling. Live tomorrow night. Don’t miss it!”
-Commercial Break-
A highlight from last night’s Royal Rumble shows Kurt Angle retaining the World Title.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
KURT ANGLE © VS. REY MYSTERIO
Mysterio and Angle hook it up in the middle of the ring. Angle drops down and takes Rey over with a fireman’s carry. Angle applies the head lock and takes Rey to the canvas. Rey pushes Angle up and sends him into the corner. Rey charges in, but Angle moves. Rey puts on the breaks. Angel tries to hook a German suplex, but Rey holds on. Rey elbows out and then spring boards off the middle rope into a cross body for a one count.
J.R.: We are off to a spectacular start here in our main event with the World Title on the line.
Rey catches Kurt with a drop toe hold into the middle rope. Rey quickly goes for the 619, but Angle rolls out of the ring.
King: Rey tried to get Angle early, but it’s going to take a lot more than quickness to take the World Title away from Kurt Angle.
Angle rolls back into the ring and locks up with Rey again. Angle forearms Mysterio. Rey fires back. Rey sends Angle in, but he reverses. Rey ducks and then slides under and goes for a bulldog, but Angle lifts him all the way up. Rey goes up and over and pushes Angle into the rope and rolls him back for a near fall. Angle misses a clothesline and Rey takes him over with an arm drag. Rey hits another and then delivers a dropkick into the corner. Rey kicks Angle and sends him in in, but Angle reverses him into the corner. Mysterio gets an elbow up and then leaps up and then rolls through for a near fall.
J.R.: Rey Mysterio is hoping to walk out of Hershey Park with the World Heavyweight Championship. This could be the start of an amazing year for Rey Mysterio.
Rey leaps up onto Angle in the corner and monkey flips him over. Rey charges at Angle. Angel lifts him up, but Rey drops down landing on the ring apron. Rey snaps Angle off the rope and then springs in with a seated senton for a near fall. Rey sends in Angle. Angel reverses, but Rey comes back with a sunset flip, only Angle rolls through and nails Rey with a foot to the face.
J.R.: That will put your lights out in a hurry.
Angle hammers away at Rey and pounds on him. Angle nails Rey in the corner and then delivers an over head suplex. Angle drops a couple of elbows and gets a near fall. Angle drills Rey with shoulders into the corner and then delivers a suplex. He hit’s a second one and then goes for a third, but Rey goes up and over and pushes Angle into the corner. Rey charges in, but Angle moves. Rey leaps up top, but Angle crotches him. Angle climbs up and goes for a German suplex off the top, but Mysterio elbows out knocking Angle down. Rey comes off with a moonsault and gets a near fall.
J.R.: This is a tremendous match here for the World Title between Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio. You can only see this on Monday Night Raw. We may have Booker T. to thank for this as Angle stepped up when Booker again refused to defend his Untied States Title against Mysterio.
Rey nails Angle and then plants him with a bulldog. Rey drops three quick leg drops in a row and gets a near fall. Rey kicks Angle, but he catches his foot and then turns him into a German suplex. He hits another and another. Angle then kicks Rey in the corner. Angle elbows Mysterio and nails him with a clothesline. Angle knees Rey and slams him down. He plants a knee and then goes for the Angle Slam, but Rey slips out into an arm drag and dropkicks Angle out to the floor. Rey slides out, but Angle moves and clotheslines Mysterio to the floor.
King: That was a brutal clothesline by Kurt Angle.
Rey is rammed face first into the ring apron and then pushed back in. Kurt Angle follows and then power bombs Angle into the corner. Kurt Angle covers Rey. The ref makes the count, but Rey gets a shoulder up. Angle delivers a shoulder breaker. He goes for the ankle lock, but Rey rolls through and then nails Angle with a heel kick. Angle falls into the middle rope. Rey runs the ropes.
J.R.: I think it’s time to dial 619.
Rey connects with the 619. Rey drops the dime on Angle. He makes the cover. One…two…thre… Angle kicks out.
J.R.: Talk about a close call. That may have been the closest count I’ve ever seen.
Booker T. is shown walking down the ramp watching the match. Rey sees Booker. Angle nails Rey and then gestures towards Booker and says “watch this.” Angle delivers the Angle Slam on Rey and he makes the cover, but Rey kicks out. Rey fights back at Angle. He charges towards Kurt. Kurt back drops him up and over the top, but Rey lands on Booker T. Rey is up. He is on the apron. Angle tries to grabs him. Rey leaps in over Angle’s head, but Angle chop blocks Rey as he lands. Angle applies the ankle lock. Rey tries to reach for the ropes. Angle pulls in Rey’s leg and locks it in. Rey taps out as Booker T. gets back to his feet on the outside.
J.R.: What a match we just witnessed. Rey Mysterio in perhaps the biggest match of his life nearly wins the title, but Kurt Angle somehow retains in the end.
Booker T. gets into the ring. Booker hit’s the Book End on Rey. Eric Bischoff shows up on the Titan Tron.
Eric: Booker T. Next week you will defend your United States Championship. And you will defend it against Rey Mysterio!
J.R.: Booker T. is beside himself. Rey vs. Booker for the U.S. Title. It’s on! We are out of time folks. Thanks for joining us. So long everyone!