The day that everyone (well, at least me) has been waiting for, the return of HHH in Madison Square Garden finally arrived. The first Raw of the new year had Vince McMahon come down with an even bigger announcement than the return of HHH; whether Ric Flair was deserving enough to step into the ring with someone of Vince's McMahon's caliber. Vince then showed a clip of some of Flair's greatest moments, but then proceeded to put on a wig and a "Nature Boy" robe and strut around the ring until the real Ric Flair came down. Flair started yelling at Vince so forcefully that Flair's face turned red as he demanded that Vince remove the wig and robe. From the robe, Vince whipped out a lead pipe and blasted Flair in the head with it in the Conservatory -er- ring, busting the "Naitch" open. Vince then beat on Flair a little more before walking away.
The first match of the new year pitted Test against Rob Van Dam. Test tried to hit some power moves but kept getting countered by the fan-favorite RVD, whose Five Star Frog Splash was stopped by Test shoving the ref into the ropes. Test then tried to pin RVD with his feet on the ropes, but RVD kicked out. RVD hit a Van Daminator on Test, who was holding a chair, and then hit the Five Star Frog Splash to win the match.
Kurt Angle was pouting about everyone talking about HHH and promised that tonight would be Kurt Angle's Night.
Next, Billy and Chuck battled Albert and Scotty Too Hotty in a fine example of how low the tag team division has come, but read further down to see the true tragedy. Back to the match, Scotty Too Hotty went for the WORM, but eventually got a FameAsser from Billy to end it.
The Undisputed Champion said that his face would not be blemished by the Stink Face in his non title match against Rikishi scheduled for later in the show.
Michael Cole's attempts to interview Stone Cold were met by repeated "WHAT?"s, but Austin finally said that he had been in the same situation as HHH (coming back from a potentially career ending injury) as well as announcing that he was entering himself in the Royal Rumble and was going to eliminate the other 29 guys in it. The Rattlesnake also said that he and the Rock would whip Booker T and the Bossman's A**es on Raw.
Edge put the Intercontinental Title on the line against Lance Storm, and suffered some early trouble after being put in Lance Storm's Maple Leaf Submission maneuver, but Edge got to the ropes. Edge also managed to get control of the match and hit the Edgecution to retain the IC Title. |
