Full Credit: John Keane, PWInsider.com
RAW RECAP
by John Keane @ 12:20:00 AM on 11/2/2004
Raw Recap for 11/2004.
Live from the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.
Your Announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
We open with footage from last Monday-in the night’s Main Event, Ric Flair, with some help from Batista and HHH, defeated Randy Orton. Due to a pre-match stip proposed by Hunter and agreed to by Randy, the ‘Legend Killer’ is now out of the World Title picture for the duration of HHH’s current reign. Post-match HHH took a massive beatdown from the ‘fan favorite’ side of the roster-throughout the show he and his boys had been running their mouths and flexing their muscles after General Manager Eric Bischoff decided to take the night off
Let’s do this..
Pyros go, J.R. and the King welcome us in, we’re reminded that the ‘Survivor Series’ PPV is just 2 weeks away.
Gene Snitsky makes his way to the ring pushing a baby carriage full of junk. Looks like the ‘Hardcore Division’ is making a ‘One Night Only’ return.
In the back Gene’s opponent, Eugene Dinsmore, nervously paces. William Regal enters, he asks to serve as Eugene’s second. Nope, he insists on doing this on his own.
First Match: Gene Snitsky vs. Eugene Dinsmore. Modified squash, Eugene gets in a few good shots but gets pinned after a pumphandle slam onto a road sign. Post-match the dynamic Mr. S. tries to inflict more punishment, William makes the save.
We get a pre-recorded speech from HHH. He peevishly announces that after the disrespect shown to him last week he won’t be appearing live on tonight’s show. But next Monday, it’s on like neckbone. Break.
Back, King goes nuts over the new WWE Divas magazine.
New interview girl, Maria, interviews Tajiri. He’s just fine with HHH passing on tonight’s show, thank you very much. Ric Flair enters and asks for a handshake. As Tajiri considers, Batista blindsides him.
Hunter’s Henchmen (in street clothes) hit the ring. Ric states that the treatment of the Evolution faction last week was totally unacceptable. He insists that Bischoff restore order-if not, he’ll unleash Batista on the entire locker room. Eric makes his way down. First on his agenda-Survivor Series. Card is gone over-Christian will get a shot at Shelton Benjamin’s Intercontinental Championship, Lita will challenge Trish Stratus for the Women’s title, Main Event will be a classic 4 on 4 SurSeries match: Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Maven & Randy Orton vs. Edge, HHH, Batista-and Gene Snitsky? Ric is DAMN pissed he’s not on the latter team, he demands an explanation. Eric explains he had a revelation two weeks ago at the Taboo Tuesday PPV. As he sat having his head shaved after losing to Eugene, he wondered why his pals in the Evo crew didn’t even attempt a save. He’s done sucking up to the glory boys-from now on he answers only to himself. Next topic-Raw post SurSeries. Eric announces after the PPV he’ll be taking a month long vacation, and Raw will be overseen by the winners of the big 4 on 4 match, 1 guy per week. Ric and Batista’s bullying protests fall on deaf ears.
WWE Rewind: From last week, after successfully defending his IC title, Shelton B. was beaten down by Christian.
Next up: Christian vs. The Hurricane. Match just begins when Edge makes his way down the ramp. He ignores the in-ring action and shamelessly shills for his new book. After giving J.R. a signed copy he exits to a chorus of boos. Oh yeah, the match-not bad for what was actually seen, Christian wins with the Unprettier. Post-match Shelton runs down to get some-Christian passes, however, he has a ‘one night only’ problem solver on hand who’s ready to go. Viscera (AKA King Mabel) saunters down the ramp. As Shelton looks on all ‘WTF?’, Christian decides what the heck and launches an attack. Viscera joins him, Shelton takes a 500 pound corner splash and is left lying. Break.
Back, Todd Grisham interviews Edge. He states he WILL be joining Chris Benoit for tonight’s Tag Team title defense (as you may recall, Edge walked out on Chris Benoit at Taboo Tuesday, leaving him to win the tag titles on his own). Crippler enters carrying both belts, Edge grabs one-Benoit makes it very clear he’d be more than happy to defend the titles on his own.
Cut to Maven, who confronts Flair and Batista in their locker room. Trash is talked, things look to get ugly until Living Legend Chris Jericho and Randy O. join the proceedings. Evo duo quickly back down.
Back, fitness guru Simon Dean is in the ring. He shills for his ‘Simon System’ junk and rags on some rotund ringside fans. Guy missing some teeth gets singled out, he attempts to charge the ring-Simon tells security to let him in. After Simon rags on his ‘jiggly man boobs’ ‘Matt’ launches an attack, Simon quickly takes him down and cinches in a choke. Yeah, whatever. Break.
Back, King shills for a portable media player. Major shillfest tonight.
Next: Rob Conway & Sylvan Grenier challenge Edge & Chris Benoit for the World Tag Team Championships. La Res launch an attack, Edge remains unseen as Chris fends off the 2 on 1 assault. He appears in complete control as Edge finally appears. He takes his place in the corner as Rob and Syl take over. Chris tries to make the tag-Edge unceremoniously jumps off the apron and reteats to the back, shouting verbal encouragement to the WAY pissed Crippler. Oy. Break.
Back, Edge has joined J.R. and the King. He gets to f*** up another match shilling his book. In the ring Chris continues to be manhandled, he finally makes the comeback, suplexing the hell out of Rob and Syl. Latter takes the diving headbutt, Edge decides it’s time to go back to work. His presence at ringside distracts Chris and the ref, La Res seize their opportunity, Chris goes down to the Au Revoir, Syl covers, 1-2-3. Winners and once again tag champs: Rob Conway & Sylvan Grenier. Post-match Edge, still holding one of the belts, hits the new champs with wuss shots and Chris with a massive one, busting him open at the forehead. Rob and Syl clear out as Edge continues the assault, he adds insult to injury by putting Chris in the Crippler Crossface.
Back, footage filmed during the break shows Benoit wearing the Crimson Mask.
Eric is hanging out with Jonathan Coachman backstage. Flair and Batista barge into his office to continue bitching about the SurSeries situation. Eric could give a crap, the stip stands. He announces tonight’s Main Event will be a 6 man tag-Y2J, Maven and Randy O. vs. Batista, Flair-and HHH? Batista reminds Eric the Game’s a no show tonight. Alrighty then, if HHH is ‘for real’ not in the house, it’ll just have to be a 3 on 2 handicap match. Ric and Batista are outraged.
Promo airs hyping the debut of Arab-American wrestler Muhammad Hassan and his manager Kosaru Davari. They want to be respected and not treated like terrorists. OK.
J.R. and the King go over the SurSeries card as it currently stands. From Smackdown:
1. Booker T. challenges John Bradshaw Layfield for the WWE Championship.
2. The Undertaker vs. John Heidenreich.
3. Classic 4 vs. 4 Elimination match: Team captained by Eddy Guerrero vs. Team captained by Olympic Hero Kurt Angle.
From Raw:
1. Christian challenges Shelton Benjamin for the Intercontinental Championship.
2. Lita gets a shot at Trish Stratus’ Women’s Championship.
3. Classic 4 on 4 Elimination match: Maven, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit & Randy Orton vs. Edge, Batista, Gene Snitsky & HHH.
In the back we see Shelton B. with taped ribs. J.R. announces he’s challenged Viscera to a non-title match. Break.
Back for Shelton Benjamin vs. Viscera. Slow, very ugly squash until Shelton connects with a spinning heel kick that gets 3. For this one I wouldn’t have minded Edge blathering about his damn book. Post-match Christian runs in but eats a T-Bone suplex.
Smackdown Rebound: We get highlights (so to speak) from last Thursday’s ‘Tough Enough’ segment.
Slam of the Week (kindly sponsored by Simon Dean): From last Monday, Trish Stratus calls Lita ‘chubby’. Brawl followed.
Trish Stratus makes her way down to hype her SurSeries match. Video rolls on the Titantron-Lita’s career gets a quick recap. Trish points out that she helped to kill the careers of Essa Rios, The Hardy brothers and Kane. ‘Fat’ reference draws Lita to the ring. Trish gets speared and clubbered, Gail Kim (in a VERY nice pleated skirt) makes the save. Lita gets left lying.
‘Smackdown Your Vote’ rally footage. Hi Linda.
In the back, Y2J, Maven and Randy O. are looking smug and WALKING! (Weekly CRZ tribute.)
Monster Job of the Week: From last week, HHH gets the government mule treatment. Break.
Back, J.R. announces that next week Benoit and Edge will go one on one.
Main Event: Chris Jericho, Maven & Randy Orton vs. Batista, Ric Flair…and no HHH, at least for now. Bell rings, Randy and Batista start and go back and forth, tag to Flair. Randy takes control, Y2J gets the tag and goes for the Walls, Batista attempts the save, Chris breaks the hold, he and his partners convince Batista to return to his corner. ‘Fan Favorite’ crew take turns manhandling Ric as Batista fumes. Chris again looks for the Walls, Ric resorts to the ol’ rake of the eyes and manages to make the tag. Batista beats the living hell out of Chris, Nature Boy gets the tag, enzugiri by Y2J leaves both men on the canvas. Batista gets the tag but can’t establish any momentum, Ric decides to hell with this, he grabs Batista, they decide to head to the back and cut their losses. ‘Time to Play the Game’ hits, Ric grins from ear to ear-until Tajiri, wearing a HHH shirt and a ratty wig, appears atop the stage. Flair and Batista get dragged back, Ric gets left lying at ringside, Randy hits Batista with the RKO, 1-2-3.
Things get interesting post-match. As Randy, Maven and Chris join Tajiri on the ramp Ric goes to check on his partner-and gets shoved to the canvas for his efforts. J.R. and the King stay silent, Batista glares at the men on the stage as Flair looks at him in stunned shock. End of show.
Short form match results (all victories by pinfall):
1. Gene Snitsky defeated Eugene Dinsmore.
2. Christian defeated The Hurricane.
3. Rob Conway & Sylvan Grenier defeated Edge & Chris Benoit to become new World Tag Team Champions.
4. Shelton Benjamin defeated Viscera.
5. Maven, Chris Jericho & Randy Orton defeated Ric Flair & Batista.
Source: PWInsider.com
