The fireworks went off in the arena for the start of WWE RAW and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler kicked it off on commentary, saying that the Road to Wrestlemania continues tonight and tonight, we will see Chris Benoit in a one on one match against Evolution's monster, Batista! But that's not all, this is going to be the night where the Monday Night War could erupt all over again because Vince McMahon is here tonight to confront Eric Bischoff!
Women's Championship Match
Fatal Four Way Match
Lita vs. Victoria vs. Jazz vs. Molly Holly (c)
Lita's music hit in the arena and she made her way out to the ring for a fatal four way match against Victoria, Jazz and Molly Holly with the Women's Title on the line! Jazz was accompanied to the ring by her manager Theodore Long. In this match, there will be three eliminations and the winner of the match will walk out as the Women's Champion!
Molly started it off by kicking Victoria in the gut and then the two fought to the ropes where Victoria gave Molly Holly a back body drop to the outside of the ring as Jazz and Lita went at it on the other side of the ring. Victoria rolled Jazz up in a pin but only got a two count.
Jazz gave Victoria the release chicken wing and after Victoria hit the mat, Jazz was ready to dominate her but Lita attacked her from behind and gave Jazz a DDT and then pinned her for the three count to eliminate her from the match.
Victoria rolled Molly Holly up and covered her for the three count to lose the match and the Women's Title and now whoever wins between Victoria and Lita will be the new Women's Champion. An angered Molly Holly attacked Victoria and WWE officials came out to the ring to restrain her and attempt to get her out of the ring as the fans rallied behind Lita.
Victoria got Lita on her back and went for a spinning slam but Lita countered it into a modified head scissors and then she pinned Victoria for a two count. Lita gave Victoria her version of the Twist of Fate and then she pinned Victoria again but only got a two count.
Lita gave Victoria a drop toe hold to send her into the bottom rope, neck first and then Lita gave Victoria a spinning back suplex and then she went to the top rope for the moonsault but Victoria popped up and gave Lita the Widow's Peak and then she pinned Lita for the three count to win the Women's Title!
Winner and new Women's Champion, Victoria
The Aftermath: Victoria celebrated her title win in the ring and Stevie Richards stormed to the ring to celebrate with her.
Backstage: A limo was shown pulling up to the arena and Vince McMahon stepped out of the limo and he asked the driver to get the wrestling gear out of the trunk and bring it to his office. McMahon then went on his way and later tonight, he's expected to make a blockbuster announcement in regards to Wrestlemania XX and at the same time, he's out to kick Eric Bischoff's ass!
Eric Bischoff was shown backstage in his office and The Coach entered the room and asked him if he knows Mr. McMahon is here? Eric said that he knows that. Maybe Coach needs to set off a signal fire or something? Christian knocked on the door and entered, asking Eric if he knows Mr. McMahon is here? Anyway, Christian heard Eric wants to see him. Christian knows Chris Jericho is out with a knee injury but he's a quick healer. So how about this, Christian and Chris Jericho vs. the Tag Team Champions at Wrestlemania? Eric said that he appreciates friendship but Chris Jericho is no friend of his. Never has been, never will be. He didn't appreciate the fact that Chris walked out on him in WCW and he sure as hell doesn't appreciate him now. Eric hopes Chris Jericho is watching because tonight, Christian is going to have a match against Chris Jericho's other best buddy and that's Christian vs. Trish Stratus! Christian didn't seem to like that one bit but he'll be forced into that match, tonight!
Non Title Match
Val Venis vs. Randy Orton (c)
Randy Orton's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Intercontinental Champion and as he stood on the ropes displaying the Intercontinental Championship, they showed us footage from last week when Mick Foley was brutally beaten down by Randy Orton and the rest of Evolution. Jim Ross noted that he had the opportunity to talk to Mick this weekend and we'll see that interview later tonight. Ross put that interview over as one of the most shocking interviews he's ever conducted with anybody, especially Mick Foley. Val Venis made his way out to the ring as the opponent of Randy Orton in this Non Title Match.
Val went to lock it up with Randy but Randy ducked under it and gave Val a shot to the mid section and then he backed him into the corner and kicked away on him and then choked him with his boot.
As the match was going on, the fans heavily chanted "Foley, Foley!" as Orton dominated Val Venis. Randy Orton put Val Venis in a bow and arrow in an attempt to force him to tap out but Val refused to do so and Orton's shoulders were down on the mat so the referee counted a two count in favor of Val Venis but Orton was able to kick out of it.
Randy Orton irritated the crowd by putting his fingers in the sign of pistols and then he said "bang, bang," reminiscent of Cactus Jack.
Val Venis gave Randy Orton his version of the Rock Bottom and Jim Ross actually referred to it as the urange. Val then pinned Orton but only got a two count.
Val Venis gave Randy Orton a spinebuster slam and then he struggled to get to the top rope for the money shot but Randy Orton got up and pressed Val Venis from the top rope down to the mat.
Val went for an abdominal stretch but Randy shoved Val into the ropes and then Randy planted Val Venis with the RKO and then he pinned him for the three count to pick up the win.
Winner, the Intercontinental Champion, Randy Orton
Footage from the Monday Night WAR DVD was shown when Eric Bischoff challenged Vince McMahon in 1998. Eric Bischoff was shown backstage live and he asked, who in the hell told them to play that? If he finds out... Stone Cold showed up and said that he's the one who said to play that video. Austin thought that Bischoff was tremendous. What is he so nervous about? Austin reminded Bischoff of last week when he talked trash on McMahon, saying Bischoff has the karate thing going on. He's got the age, the martial arts background and a ton of guts. Look at it this way. Austin is the only man he knows that's made out with Vince's wife, his daughter and he's still here to live and tell about it and not only is he here to live and tell about it, the man is still signing his paychecks? Eric laughed, saying Austin has a point. He has to be wondering what's going on. Vince is paying Eric to live his fantasy. He did make out with Stephanie and Linda and he has this other fantasy and that starts out in Stamford and it involves Stephanie. Eric stopped because he found out McMahon was standing right behind him. Vince said that some people say the match between McMahon and Bischoff is nothing but a fantasy and after he makes his announcement tonight, it's not just going to be a fantasy, it's going to be a reality! Vince aggressively tapped Bischoff on the face and then left the room. After Vince left, Austin said "face it kid, you got him right where you want him!"
Batista was shown backstage and Ric Flair and Randy Orton were pumping him up for his match against Chris Benoit, tonight. Ric Flair said that Benoit has been a thorn in Evolution's side and tonight, he knows that Benoit will no longer run wild on RAW. Batista said that Benoit made a big mistake and he doesn't belong here. After tonight, he'll be begging to go back to Smackdown!. He stood in the way of Evolution and when Batista is done with him, he'll be lucky if he's standing at all! Orton and Flair told him to tear Benoit apart and Triple H showed up and said that he's got something to say and he's going to say it in the ring and he wants Evolution to hear this. Flair told the troops to follow the Champ.
In ring promo
Triple H's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the World Heavyweight Champion with Evolution following behind him. Triple H got in the ring and took the mic and said that last week, Stone Cold came out here and informed the world and informed him that for the first time at Wrestlemania, the World Title is going to be decided in a Triple Threat Match. It's going to be Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit. Triple H has to admit it; he freaked out and was pissed off. He was probably madder than he's ever been in his entire career until he had time to go back and think about it. And then he realized, what else should he expect? Isn't that what they always do? Stack the odds against him? It wasn't until Ric Flair pointed out to Triple H just who the hell he is. He pointed out to him that he is Triple H, the Game, and the World Heavyweight Champion. But hell, he's only human and sometimes he can even forget how great he actually is. Now is he happy? The fans chanted "You suck, you suck" and Triple H said that's the thing. No matter how great he knows he is, it must be killing the fans because he's put out opponent after opponent but yet, he stands here every week the World Heavyweight Champion! Now is he happy about the fact that he has to defend the World Title against two men in a Triple Threat Match at Wrestlemania? No. Is he happy that he can lose the World Title without even getting beaten at Wrestlemania? No. But is this going to be the end of Triple H? Is this going to be the night that he falls? Is this going to be the night that they knock the king off his throne? Is this going to be the night that it's Game Over? No. Because this is Wrestlemania XX, the biggest event of them all. The biggest night in all of their lives and this will be the biggest night in his career because he will rise to the occasion like never before. He will go to Wrestlemania and against all odds, he will beat the Icon, the show stopper, the legend of Shawn Michaels. And he will beat the greatest technical wrestler alive today in Chris Benoit. And he will stamp his place in history at Wrestlemania when he proves to the world that he is everything that he says that he is. Because once again, he will prove just as he done over and over that he is the best wrestler in the world today, that he is the World Heavyweight Champion, that he is the Game and that he is that damn good!
Chris Benoit's music hit and he made his way down the ramp and he took a mic and said that the fact of the matter is that Triple H is the World Champion and to be able to call himself the World Champion, he has to be nothing but the absolute best and Benoit respects that. He likes to call himself the Game, hell, he even likes to say that he is the greatest World Champion alive today. Well since Benoit has come over to RAW, that's all he's heard from Triple H. It's a hell of a lot of talk and Chris Benoit is sick and damn well tired of listening to Triple H run his mouth. The time for talking is done.
Triple H responded by saying "really?" The time for talking is over. Chris Benoit likes to come across as a real tough guy but why doesn't he step in the ring and show them how tough he is? Triple H said that he thinks Benoit is a lot of talk and they're all standing right there and the fact is... Chris Benoit grabbed a steel chair and he got in the ring with it and Evolution backed off and then they spread around the ring to surround Chris Benoit. Chris got ready to hit Randy Orton with the steel chair but Batista nailed him from behind and then all four members of Evolution stomped Chris Benoit down in the ring until Shawn Michaels ran to the ring to make the save. Shawn Michaels used the steel chair to clear the ring of Orton and Batista as Benoit got Flair and Triple H out of the ring and then Chris Benoit put the Crippler Crossface on Shawn Michaels. Stone Cold Steve Austin's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Sheriff of RAW and he chased Ric Flair around the ring on the ATV.
Stone Cold took the mic and said nobody enjoys a good fight more than Stone Cold Steve Austin but as sheriff, he's out here to enforce the law and the law states that there's supposed to be a match tonight, so before Evolution or anybody else decides to get back in that ring, we're going to have that match and that match is going to be Chris Benoit vs. Batista. Austin said that if anybody decides to get involved in this match, they will not make it to Wrestlemania XX. Not only is that the law, but that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so! After Stone Cold finished talking, Michaels and Benoit exchanged words and after the break, it'll be Chris Benoit against Batista!
Chris Benoit vs. Batista
After the commercial break, the match between Benoit and Batista was joined in progress with Benoit knocking Batista down to the mat and stomping away and working on his left leg.
Batista put Chris Benoit in a half crab in an attempt to force him to tap out but Benoit refused. Batista then pulled Benoit off the mat by the leg and slammed him right back down to the mat and then pinned him for a two count.
Chris Benoit went for the Crossface on Batista but Batista over powered it and charged at Benoit in the corner but Benoit moved and Batista went crashing into the top turnbuckle.
Chris Benoit gave Batista a German suplex and then he thought about going to the top rope but Batista got up and Benoit went and gave him a series of German suplexes to leave him down on the mat. Chris Benoit then went to the top rope for the flying headbutt but Batista rolled out of the way and Benoit went crashing down to the mat.
Batista grabbed Chris Benoit and went for a power bomb but Chris Benoit countered it into the Crippler Crossface and Batista tapped out, giving Chris Benoit the victory!
Winner - Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit celebrated his win in the ring as Batista got out of the ring holding his arm. While celebrating, Benoit watched his back incase any other of Evolution hit the ring or even Shawn Michaels. Fortunately for Chris Benoit, no one came out to spoil his post match celebration.
Backstage: Eric Bischoff was shown in his office and he was pacing back and forth and Stone Cold showed up and asked him to loosen up and try to relax? Eric said that he's going to go out there and get killed. Austin told him to look at him. What happened to the Eric Bischoff that lead Nitro to beat RAW for 83 weeks? What happened to him? He's not standing in front of Austin right now. The Eric Bischoff that used to lead Nitro was a leader, a visionary and he commanded respect. The man standing in front of Stone Cold is completely pathetic. Austin told Eric that he has three choices. One, he can walk out of this fight and Vince is going to fire him. Two, he can go through with this fight and he can lose and Vince McMahon is still going to fire him. Or three, he can go out there, don't worry about a damn thing, turn back into the Eric Bischoff that lead Nitro to beat RAW and be the leader he used to be and he goes out there like he did on Nitro vs. RAW, 83 weeks of victories. The bottom line is that he goes out there and whips that man's ass. The choice is up to Eric Bischoff. As far as Austin is concerned, it's a pretty damn easy choice. Austin said "Eye of the tiger, survive, kick ass!" After Austin left, Eric Bischoff seemed more determined to go out there tonight to face Vince.
Non Title Match
La Resistance vs. Rob Van Dam and Booker T (c)
Rob Van Dam's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a non title Tag Team match with Booker T against the former Tag Team Champions, La Resistance!
Rob Van Dam started it off in the ring against Rene Dupree and when RVD did his "RVD" hand signal, Rene went to kick RVD in the gut but RVD caught his foot and gave him a series of right hands.
Rob Van Dam held onto Rene Dupree in a spinebuster position and Booker T got in the ring and hit Rene Dupree with a heel kick and RVD gave Rene a spinebuster down to the mat at the same time to double the impact.
Rob Van Dam knocked Rob Conway down to the mat with a kick to the chest from the second rope and then he nailed him with the rolling thunder and then Rene Dupree attacked RVD.
Booker T gave Rob Conway the Book End to send him out of the ring and then he nailed Rene Dupree with the scissors kick and then RVD came off the top rope with the frog splash and the pin for the three count to pick up the win!
Winners, the Tag Team Champions, Booker T and Rob Van Dam
Still photos of Mick Foley's face were shown and he was extremely bruised up after the beating he suffered at the hands of Evolution last week. Jim Ross noted that his conversation with Mick Foley is up next.
Christian was shown in the backstage area and Trish showed up, saying she can't believe this. Christian said he knows and he didn't want Trish to think this was his idea. It was Bischoff. Christian said the last thing he wants to do is hurt Trish. Trish asked what they're going to do? Christian said they'll go out to the ring and Trish will cover him, one, two, three. They'll do that, hit the showers, go back to the hotel and do whatever. And since she laid down for him, maybe she can lay down for him. Trish said "excuse me? What did you say?" Christian said he was joking and he told her that she passed the CLT, the Christian Love Test. Now that he knows she isn't going to two time Jericho, it's all good. He'll see her out there at the ring. Trish left, saying she'll see him out there and Christian just stood there taking a look at Trish.
Interview with Mick Foley
This past weekend, Jim Ross conducted an interview with Mick Foley and before that interview, they showed footage of the beating Mick Foley suffered last week at the hands of Evolution.
This past weekend, Jim Ross conducted an interview with Mick Foley and before that interview; they showed footage of the beating Mick Foley suffered last week at the hands of Evolution. Jim Ross said that last week's RAW was extremely disturbing. The world witnessed three men beat another man. Mick has asked for this time and Jim is more than happy to give him that but he must be sitting there in horrific pain. Mick said that for the most part, he's been in some type of pain all his career since he was 19. He accepted then that pain would come with the territory, that injuries would come with it. But he never needed his injuries explained to him. The thing that got him was why he was hit in the head six or seven times, why would the blood go down into his eyeball? Injuries never scared Mick Foley until now. Jim said that during this assault, we heard time and time again from Randy Orton to stay down. Why didn't Foley just stay down? Mick said the only thing he can think of is instinct. He doesn't even remember being aware of all that much. Until he watched the video tape, he wasn't aware he was being beaten for that long. It was just instinct that he kept getting back to his feet and while he was watching that beating, the one thing that kept going through his mind was "Where's the help?" How could he be beaten up for that long without a single soul out there to help him. Mick said he was under the assumption that he was somebody that was respected, looked up to and loved to some degree and to think that he wasn't worth saving, it tears him up emotionally. And he thinks there's a lot of guys who haven't forgiven him for his action or inaction of December 15th. There are some wrestlers who think he broke the law when he walked away from his match and people look at that as overshadowing the rest of his career.
Jim said that with the results of Monday night's beat down; can we safely assume that Mick Foley's career is over? Mick said that he has a big problem with giving Evolution that type of power. He has a big problem with giving Randy Orton that type of power. If he wants to be the guy to say that he spit in Mick's face, then that's fine because he did. If Evolution wants to say they were the first to put Foley on a stretcher, that's fine because they did but he cannot give them the power to tell him when his career is over. Mick is longing for the days of the old Mick Foley, the guy who made people laugh. He doesn't laugh anymore and he doesn't want to look back at Evolution as the guys who took that away. Is it safe to assume his career is over? That's not really a safe assumption to make. If you want to make a safe assumption, what you need to assume is that next Monday, he's going to get on a plane to Atlanta and it's safe to assume that he's going to take that plane to RAW and it's safe to assume there's going to be hell to pay for the things that went down. So tell Randy Orton, Ric Flair and Batista that it's safe to assume that their asses are his because next week, Mick Foley is coming to RAW!
Intergender Match
Trish Stratus vs. Christian
The music of Trish Stratus hit in the arena and she made her way out to the ring for a one on one Intergender match up against Christian!
Christian got in the ring and he exchanged words with Trish and Trish nodded. Christian laid down on the mat and Trish pinned him but Christian aggressively kicked out of the pin and got up off the mat. Trish started to leave the ring but Christian slapped her on the ass and then he plowed through her with a vicious clothesline.
Christian aggressively pulled Trish Stratus down to the mat and put her in the Walls of Jericho as the fans chanted "asshole, asshole!" and Trish Stratus crawled to try to get to the ropes to break it up but Christian pulled her back to the center of the ring. Trish was forced to tap out, giving Christian the win.
Winner - Christian
Christian held onto the Walls of Jericho on Trish Stratus and then he held his arms up in the air in victory. Christian then asked Trish where her boyfriend is now?
Backstage: Trish Stratus was shown being carried out of the arena and Trish seemed to be in a ton of pain.
Backstage: The Coach was shown knocking on the bathroom door, asking Bischoff if he's OK in there? He understands if Bischoff needs to be in there puking his guts out. If Mr. McMahon was calling him out, he'd be scared to death! Bischoff stormed out of the bathroom, saying he's not afraid. He's gone head to head with Vince McMahon before and beat him at his own game for 83 weeks in a row. How did he do it? He took every one of his stars, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Roddy Piper and he made them bigger stars and Eric Bischoff became number one. Here's his version of history, Vince McMahon didn't beat Eric Bischoff because Bischoff had Vince but Time Warner threw in the towel. Everyone may think that Vince McMahon won the battle but tonight, Eric Bischoff is going to win the war!
In ring promo: Vince McMahon's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Chairman of the WWE in his fighting attire and he has a major announcement in regards to Wrestlemania, which is less than three weeks away on pay per view!
Vince said before he takes care of some business with Eric Bischoff, he'd like to make the following Wrestlemania announcement. Stacy Keibler's music hit in the arena and she and Miss Jackie made their way out to the ring. Vince asked them what he owes this pleasure interruption to? Miss Jackie apologized for interrupting him but they need a second of his time. Vince said that he's listening and Stacy said that since Hugh Hefner chose Torrie and Sable to be on the cover of Playboy this month, she and Miss Jackie want to prove they're the hottest Divas in the WWE but they want to do it on the biggest stage of them all, Wrestlemania XX. Vince said that if they want to prove it at Wrestlemania XX, why not prove it tonight in Omaha?! Stacy agreed and said to hit her music and she and Miss Jackie danced around the ring and did cartwheels and they were all over Vince. Vince said that they're hot, so what he'll do is at Wrestlemania XX, he'll make the first ever Interpromotional match. On Behalf of RAW, we'll have Miss Jackie and Stacy squaring off against Torrie and Sable and this will be the very first ever Playboy Tag Team Evening Gown Match!
Kane's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring and he didn't seem too happy at all as McMahon looked a bit scared of the Big Red Machine. Kane got in the ring and he said that Vince promised him that he would die, so he buried him alive and now he's back. Vince said that he doesn't know. Kane interrupted, telling Vince not to play with him. Vince knows exactly what he's talking about. It's him, his brother, the Undertaker. Kane said that the Undertaker never sleeps. He's been tormenting him day and night and if Vince doesn't do something to stop him, Vince will be the next one that gets buried alive. Vince told Kane to settle down. He wants the same thing Kane wants. He wants to see it and it's going to happen, Kane vs. the Undertaker at Wrestlemania! Yes, it will happen! Only this time, someone will be finally resting in peace. With Vince McMahon in the ring, Kane set off his pyro and left the ring as Vince remained in the ring. Vince said let's get down to some business here. He came out here to announce a potential cross promotional Wrestlemania match. The fans heavily chanted "Goldberg, Goldberg!" and Vince said last week on Smackdown!, Brock Lesnar was on his knees and begging Vince to make this match at Wrestlemania; Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg. Vince thought about it and he's not so sure it's the right thing to do when you consider the volatile nature of these two individuals. Goldberg is a ticking time bomb and the state of mind Brock Lesnar is in, who could control this type of match? The 82nd airborne could not maintain control in this type of match. Therefore, Vince regrets to inform everyone...
Stone Cold Steve Austin's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring on his ATV to interrupt Vince McMahon. Vince asked Austin what the hell he's doing here? Austin said he's sorry to come out here and interrupt, but if he doesn't give these people what they want to see, that means he'll be in direct violation of the Law. Austin asked the fans if they want to see Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg at Wrestlemania and they said "hell yeah" and Austin said that he agrees that this match might be too brutal for a normal referee so therefore, he's making the request that he makes Stone Cold Steve Austin the special guest referee! Vince asked Austin what's in it for him? Austin responded by telling Vince that's none of his damn business. Vince agreed and said it's Goldberg vs. Lesnar and Austin's the guest referee at Wrestlemania! But before he goes anywhere, let's find out what kind of guest referee he can be in this next match. Vince is expecting Bischoff to walk down that ramp any second and he told Austin to stay there because he's the referee, let's get it on!
Referee: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Eric Bischoff vs. Vince McMahon
Eric Bischoff's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring.
Eric Bischoff and Vince McMahon stood face to face and stared each other down and Eric extended his hand to Vince to shake and the two shook hands and Vince nodded in approval and then he pulled Bischoff in and gave him a knee to the mid section and beat him against the ropes.
Vince McMahon choked Bischoff against the ropes but Austin broke it up. Eric then fired back on Vince with some kicks to the mid section and then Vince cowered Bischoff in the corner and grabbed him but Austin demanded that Vince let him back in the ring.
Vince McMahon shoved Stone Cold and Stone Cold responded with a hard right hand to knock Vince McMahon down to the mat. Eric Bischoff then kicked away on McMahon as he was down on the mat and then he yelled at McMahon as he kicked him.
Vince McMahon gave Eric Bischoff a clothesline to send him down to the mat and Vince went after Bischoff for a choke and Vince chased him around the ring. Vince choked Eric Bischoff on the outside of the ring and as Vince choked Bischoff, Brock Lesnar showed up and when Austin turned around, Lesnar planted Austin with the F5! The show ended with the focus on Brock Lesnar standing in the ring hovering over Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Results by Kevin Gregg of PowerWrestling.com
Credit: WrestlingAttitude.com