JR : Hello everybody and welcome to RAW! Tonight we have a double main event in store folks! Over the weekend we discovered that we would be witnessing this double main event here tonight as The RAW Brand Owner himself Hollywood Hulk Hogan published an article on www.sadistic.vze.com stating that Kane would face Shelton Benjamin and Chris Benoit would face Charlie Haas with the two winners progressing to Backlash which is in 6 days folks and they will be entered into a Triple Threat match with the Inter-Continental Champion which at this current time is Lance Storm of the Un-Americans!
King : This is a great idea as far as I'm concerned, I don't always agree with Hogan but the competition is going to be high surely tonight as we are going to have four men looking to get the two spots available to go onto Backlash and fight for the WWE Inter-Continental Championship. But can you believe JR its only 6 days till Backlash? The Hulkster and Naitch are having to work with very little time, It only seems like yesterday that it was Wrestlemania! But now Wrestlemania is over and the wrestling calendar has now started once again, remember rookies can go to legends in any one year in the WWE, think of Kurt Angle folks and the likes of Brock Lesnar people who have made an impact in their rookie year and like Shane Douglas has in WWE Sadistic its hard to think that he has only been here around nine months and he had to prove to a lot of people that he had what it takes and he showed that he was indeed a legend and a main event calibre superstar at the showcase of the immortals Wrestlemania!
JR : Shane Douglas isn't actually here tonight but I would like to say that those two tore the roof off the Safeco arena in Seattle in one of the greatest Wrestlemania matches of all time! and Shane Douglas earned the respect of a lot of people. And speaking of respect so did The Game, Triple H in his match with The Undertaker, it's the first time I've ever seen a Hell in a Cell match end in a hand shake but thats what happened when The Undertaker defeated Triple H in his very last Sadistic match!
King : But anyway JR, new superstars need to look at what they saw at Wrestlemania and realise that people like Shane Douglas, and Chris Benoit who was out with a neck injury came back against all odds and Chris Benoit become a Tag Team Champion with Kane who was screwed out of the titles a few months ago, provailing and tonight we need to see spirit and desire throughout! And I believe we should be starting with a Triple Threat Match between Nathan Jones, D-Lo Brown and the debuting John Cena...
((( WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! - Naitch )))
JR : Maybe not then King, We are scheduled here to see the triple threat but instead we have got Ric Flair not that I'm complaining its good to see Ric out here, he's looking kinda suave but look I just noticed he's got that WWE Hardcore Championship belt wrapped around his waist underneath his jacket
King : Yeah but Naitch still looks good with that ugly thing wrapped around his waist, remember that is the Unified Hardcore Title as it was unified with the ECW Heavyweight Title at No Way Out inside the BattleDome! another one of Hogan and The Nature Boy's creations. Now Flair into the ring and unstrapping that title as he is handed a microphone by the lovely Lillian Garcia.
[Ric Flair]
WHOOOOOOO!! It's great to be here on Raw tonight! But you know what some people don't think its great to be on Raw and that is why 2 out of the 4 matches that me and my man the Hulkster planned have had to be declared void, dont worry though the Inter-Continental Championship Tournament is still intact but the undercard is now non existent as Batista and Stone Cold Steve Austin are not here tonight which basically means that these two men will be playing no part at Backlash or at least they wont be at this current time. And this Triple Threat Match you were all expecting with Nathan Jones, John Cena and D-Lo Brown is also being declared void because two of the three opponents for this match have also failed to turn up here to RAW! So you know what it's tough luck because what they don't know and all you fans didn't know is that this Triple Threat Match was also going to be for this very WWE Hardcore Championship belt! (unstraps the belt) Yeah that's right WHOOOOO!!! Because Shane Douglas has decided that in his absence he wants to un-unify if thats a word folks, he's decided to relinquish his position as Undisputed World Hardcore Champion and donate the WWE Championship back to the WWE Raw Brand! and because he didn't like the idea of the whole unified thing he has decided to remain recognised as the last ever ECW Heavyweight Champion, the King of the Extreme, The man that defeated Taz in the best of Five Series and retain the ECW Heavyweight Title inside the battle dome and so you cannot argue he deserves some credit and probably deserves the title as the LAST and maybe BEST ECW Champion of all time! But that doesn't explain what's going to happen with the WWE Hardcore Championship now does it!
Fans : Go Nutz
That's right WHOOOO!! There is a man in the back who cannot believe his luck, he's actually only had to turn up tonight to be awarded this title LITERALLY!! so come out NATHAN JONES!! It's your lucky day!
((( Collossus of Boggo Road - Nathan Jones )))
JR : Oh My God! Is this what I think it is King, is Nathan Jones being awarded the WWE Hardcore Championship?
King : I think that's right! Nathan Jones has only been here a few weeks and he's the Hardcore Champion! As now he gets to the ring wearing a new t-shirt designed for him and a pair of jogging pants he gets in the ring looking as Psycho as normal quite frankly and takes the title from Ric Flair and throws it over his shoulder and takes the microphone from The Nature Boy!
[Nathan Jones]
G'day Ric, And what a G'day it is for Nathan Jones the New WWE Hardcore Champion! Ya know it was tough sitting in dark, murky Ozzy prison cells for ten long years but getting to World Wrestling Entertainment and actually being recognised as a champion makes it all seem right, it's what I worked for and it's what I aimed for when I was tasting steel,I wanted to make a change for the better and it makes me want more! I crave success and so I thank you Ric, I wont let you down like Stone Cold Steve Austin CONSTANTLY DOES!! and if he wants to challenge that statement he can go ahead and try, No Show Steve hasn't get a leg to stand on but meanwhile Nathan Jones is standing tall, Seven Foot tall with this Hardcore Title over his collossus shoulder and now people had better sit up and recognise because I am Nathan Jones! G'DAY !!
[Ric Flair]
I have confidence in your Nathan, I see the qualities of big men like The Undertaker and Kane in you, such greats as Kevin Nash! and thats why I think you'll make a tough opponent and a great Hardcore Champion, but one thing is you need to prove yourself as a champion and thats why at Backlash! in six days you will defend that Championship belt against an opponent to be determined but don't worry you will have 72 hours notice, It's just that I haven't decided who the number one contender should be yet, but I do have a pretty good idea! WHOOOO!!!
**Naitch's music hits and we go to a commercial as Jones is a little bit uneasy now but he's still smiling and parading his belt!**
WWE Inter-Continental Championship
Number One Contenders Tournament Match #1 of #2
Winner advances to Backlash...
Kane (Tag) vs Shelton Benjamin
JR : We have the first of two contenders matches now for the two spots to go to Backlash to face the Inter-Continental Champion Lance Storm who isn't carded here tonight, getting a bit of well earned rest I think because this Backlash Triple Threat is going to be awesome what combination will we have could the two tag team champions be in the same match to face Lance or could the two All Americans be in the same match to face the Anti-American? or a combination of the two? We'll find out sooner rather than Later!!
[Both men make their ring entrances and we are underway as now Benjamin and Kane circle each other and Benjamin runs at Kane but gets taken down with a Big Boot but to his credit pops straight up and runs at Kane again but gets taken down with a big uppercut as Kane now sets up his opponent and vertical suplex with one arm executed with great perfection. Kane hits the ropes elbow drop MISSED! Benjamin now into a greco roman front headlock but Kane gets up from the position and into a front suplex with Benjamin's gut landing over the top rope as Kane now heads up top for a Flying Clothesline but Benjamin shakes the ropes and Kane is crotched on the turnbuckle as now Shelton uses a Fisherman's Buster off the second rope on Kane, great technique 1.........2..........Kane managed to kick out somehow as now Benjamin pulls him up and into a go behind German Suplex trying a bridge 1...........2...........Kane pops a shoulder up as now Benjamin going up top and looking for a splash and connects!! But he is caught in a Goozle by Kane!! Kane caught Shelton and he gets to his feet CHOKE SLAM 1........2..........Shelton gets a foot on the rope, good in ring presence as now Kane is angry he has Shelton up and now looking for a POWERBOMB but Shelton counters with a Hurracanrana on the big man, Benjamin waits for Kane to get up kick to the gut by Benjamin, caught by Kane, Benjamin now spins round DRAGON ENZIGURI!! But Kane ducks the shot, Kane throws down Benjamin's leg and goes for a kick to the gut but Benjamin catches Kane's foot now, but Kane counters with a BIG ENZIGURI of his own! Kane covers 1..........2..........3 That's it!! Kane is going to Backlash! Can Kane add to his gold! as now Kane stands up and begins to raise his arms for his pyro's Benjamin grabs Kane by the leg and Kane stops raising his arms, Kane grabs Benjamin back up and now and what does Kane have planned? Kane turns over Shelton onto his stomach and he's got his left leg ANKLE LOCK by Kane on Shelton!! What an insult and Kane has it locked in quite well and Benjamin is tapping like a drunk, he may have torn some ligaments in that ankle now! He doesn't look too healthy as Kane now takes his tag title and raises his arms again and BOOM!! explosion of pyro's as he leaves backwards over the top rope.........Winner : Kane - #1 Contender IC Championship at Backlash]
JR : Before the next match folks we would just like to inform you that we are getting word that Kane has indeed torn ligaments in the left ankle of Shelton Benjamin and he is unable to walk very well as we speak, ligaments take a few weeks to heal so it looks like we have a second member of Team Angle sidelined currently as remember Kurt is at home recovering from minorneck surgery to repair that neck of his, I know your watching Kurt so good luck with your recovery (or should we saw GCSE's, which are also a pain in the neck lol)
------
WWE Inter-Continental Championship
Number One Contenders Tournament Match #2 of #2
Winner advances to Backlash....
Chris Benoit (Tag) Vs Charlie Haas
[Both competitors enter the ring after introductions from Mean Gene Oakerlund. Chris Benoit goes on the attack feeling confident after talking one of the tag championships from Haas at Wrestlemania. Benoit executes a stunning snap suplex and keeps the arms locked in to go for another. Benoit releases just before impact sending Haas skidding along the ring mat. Benoit then goes on to continue the attack with some vicious stomps. Haas gets to his feet and slides out of the ring to gain some composure. Benoit eager to keep the attack going goes in pursuit to try and get him back in the ring. Haas spots him and nails Benoit with a drop toe hold on the outside. This gives Haas the advantage and takes the action back into the ring. Haas whips Benoit into the corner. Hass begins to choke Benoit out with his foot using the ropes as extra leverage. Referee counts to 4 Haas then stops, he then pulls Benoit out of the corner and goes for a spike DDT plant. Haas goes for the first cover of the match but Benoit kicks out. Haas gets Benoit to his feet, sends him into the ropes hits a huge body drop on the Rabid Wolverine. Haas goes for another cover gets a near fall but not enough to go to Backlash for the title match. Haas tries to keep it up by connecting with a hip toss but Benoit scouts is and hits a Angle slam like move to Haas. Both men get to their feet sharpish Haas attempts a clothesline Benoit ducks and sends Haas flying with a release german. Haas lands very badly with the bulk of the impact being put onto this neck and spine. Benoit see�s the opportunity and applies the Crippler crossface. Haas is close to the ropes but not near enough, Haas taps after a few seconds. It�s evident that the release german hurt him bad, the added Crossface was too much for the youngster to take. Benoit celebrates in the ring with the knowledge he is going to Backlash for the IC title. The referee is concerned about Haas as he is not moving, he�s calling down the paramedics. They come down with a stretcher, Benoit checks on him and tries to help out. He genuinely looks concerned, the paramedics lift Haas onto the stretcher and take him up the ramp way. Chris Benoit celebrates in the ring, whilst his celebration goes on his tag team partner walks out onto the stage clapping at his friend]
Winner : Chris Benoit - #1 Contender IC Championship at Backlash
JR: These two men have won the right to go on to Backlash and face Lance Storm for the Ic strap, personal feelings and the tag team championship are gonna have to be at the back of these two mens nights. But how will this match affect their tag team relationship? Goodnight folks!