Full Credit: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com
Raw for November 22nd opened with a spoof of last week’s Monday Night Football skit with Shelton Benjamin and Trish Stratus (with nose guard) playing the roles of Terrell Owens and Nicolette Sheridan. Vince McMahon interrupted and essentially mocked the controversy while taking shots at the NFL and NBA. Vince said he had a board of directors to answer to, and couldn’t allow this. Shelton left, telling Vince to “lighten up”. Once he was gone, Trish dropped the towel and straddled Vince, although her nose guard prevented them from kissing. Vince then asked if we were ready for some wrestling.
Chris Benoit, general manager for the night, said that in order to avoid politics, he was giving anyone whatever match they wanted. He then announced Maven vs. Gene Snitsky, Batista vs. Chris Jericho, a triple threat match for the Women’s Title with Trish vs. Lita vs. Molly, and Jonathan Coachman vs. Jim Ross (this time a “real match). Benoit then pointed out the steel cage above the ring, then announced he was facing Triple H for the World Title tonight in the cage. Benoit then had them start the show.
Gene Snitsky vs. Maven. Snitsky wouldn’t let Maven into the ring at the start, although Maven did have little bursts of offense once he got in the ring. Snitsky grinded Maven’s head into the ringpost, and used a half crab to weaken him. Snitsky threw Maven into the ringpost (which looked bad) and missed a flying knee to the head (which looked worse). Maven hit a top rope flying bodypress and a second rope bulldog for a two count. Snitsky won clean with a pumphandle powerslam. Winner: Gene Snitsky.
Backstage, Triple H complained to Ric Flair and Batista about having to face Benoit in the cage. Triple H complained about Batista not “having his back” lately, while Ric Flair tried to defuse the situation. Batista went to go get ready for his match with Jericho, and Triple H remarked “A hundred bucks says you lose that too”.
Stacy Keibler was in the ring using the T-Shirt gun, then pulled the ECW DVD out of her skirt and was about to toss it to the crowd, when Simon Dean came out. Dean said that ECW means “Eating Causes Weight gain”. Dean then produced his “Simon System” DVD, saying girls like Stacy weren’t interested in fat disgusting slobs. Stacy tossed Dean an insult (she doesn’t like men who stare at a mirror longer than her), and Dean began to intimidate her until Hurricane hit the ring. Dean kicked Hurricane low and went for a facelock, but Hurricane backdropped him and hit a clothesline. Dean hit a low blow and pulled out a weightlifting belt, then started whipping Hurricane with it. Rosey ran in for the save.
Backstage, two women (one was Melina from OVW, the other was Candice from the Maven vignette last week) were talking about the tensions in Evolution. Ric Flair and Batista entered, with Batista ticked off about what Triple H has said, and Flair trying to calm him down, saying Triple H was under a lot of pressure.
Chris Jericho vs. Batista. Batista dominated early with power moves, but Jericho came back with a springboard dropkick, pescado, and top rope bodypress for a two count. Batista went back on offense with a side slam, but Jericho floated out of a powerbomb attempt. Ric Flair distracted Jericho, and Batista hit a spinebuster. Batista put Jericho in the Tree Of Woe, and choked Jericho from the outside, bending Jericho backwards. The referee counted, and finally called for the bell. Winner via DQ: Chris Jericho. Batista had a trickle of blood on his forehead, and went back in to knocked Jericho down with a clothesline before leaving.
Backstage, Triple H mockingly applauded Batista, and asked when he was getting his hundred. Batista said he walked from the ring, while Jericho was carried out. Triple H said Batista blew it, and that he had a “million dollar body and a ten cent brain”. Triple H said he needed someone who could get the job done. Batista said “Screw you” and walked off. Triple H told Flair that he needed to talk to Batista. Flair told Triple H he needed to back off Batista, and left.
Todd Grisham interviewed Edge about his attack on Christian last week. Edge said he was a “lone wolf” now, and didn’t need a partner. Edge said he was dressed to wrestle, but Chris Benoit didn’t give him a match tonight. Edge said he deserved a World Title match, and conducted an impromptu poll of backstage staff over whether or not he deserved a title match. No one said he did, and Edge was about to beat up a stagehand that said he voted for Shawn Michaels at Taboo Tuesday, when Benoit interceded. Edge backed off, saying “to hell with it”.
Jonathan Coachman came to the ring and started bad mouthing Jim Ross, as JR took off his tie and acted like he was going to wrestle. Benoit appeared on the screen, and said that when Coachman asked for a match with “JR” he thought it meant, “Just Rhyno”.
Rhyno vs. Jonathan Coachman. Rhyno hit the ring, and Coachman hit him with the microphone. However, Rhyno quickly recovered and hit the Gore for the pin. Winner: Rhyno.
Lita was shown getting ready for her match.
They replayed Benoit’s announcement from earlier to hype the cage match with Triple H.
WWE Women’s Champion Trish Stratus vs. Lita vs. Molly Holly. Trish convinced Molly to work with her, and they double teamed Lita. Lita floated over a double suplex and clotheslined both women. Lita snapped Trish’s nose guard into her face. However, Lita fell victim to the two on one again. Trish slapped Lita as Molly held her. However, Trish turned on Molly and rolled her up from behind for a two count. As they argued, Lita came back, working over Trish in a corner and dropping headbutts into Molly’s groin. Molly hit the Molly-Go-Round on Trish, but Lita broke it up. Lita hit a DDT on Molly, but Trish pulled Lita out of the ring, and covered Molly for the pin. Winner: Trish Stratus. Post-match, Lita choked out Trish again.
Backstage, Batista was having his elbow iced, and Ric Flair tried to calm him down, explaining that Triple H was grooming him to take the top spot when Triple H’s time was done. Batista essentially said he didn’t like having to put up with Triple H’s crap.
A vignette aired about Shelton Benjamin’s childhood, growing up in a rough neighborhood, surrounded by drugs and guns. Shelton told a story of how he was expelled from school for carrying a gun, which he never used, but carried to protect himself from a group he had been having fights with.
Shelton Benjamin, William Regal & Eugene vs. Christian & La Resistance. Eugene did a Randy Savage double axhandle off the top, and went for a stunner on Conway, but was yanked over the top rope by Christian. Benjamin eventually got the hot tag and cleaned house on all three men, until Tyson Tomko yanked Benjamin’s leg to prevent a cover. Benjamin backdropped Christian onto Tomko, but La Resistance hit a Hart Attack on him. Regal ran in to break up the pin. The finish saw Regal hit a knee lift, Eugene hit a stunner, and Benjamin hit a T-Bone suplex on Conway for the pin. Eugene danced with some kids after the match. Winners: Shelton Benjamin, William Regal & Eugene.
Hussan and Daivari did a vignette about increased airport security following 9/11. They claimed that while heightened security was necessary, they were often unfairly strip searched in airports because they are Arab descent. Hussan promised to beat respect out of people.
The Smackdown Rebound was shown.
World Champion Triple H vs. Chris Benoit, steel cage match. After Benoit went to the ring, they cut backstage, where Batista was walking out with his bags. Flair was screaming for a doctor, and we saw that Triple H was down in the back. Flair told the doctors that Triple H wanted an apology, but Batista went crazy on him. Benoit came into the back, and demanded that they get Triple H’s “carcass” in the ring. The crowd popped for it. The doctor said Triple H could not wrestle, and Flair said if Benoit tried to bring Triple H in the ring, he would be sued. Edge got in Benoit’s face, saying he would have blown his World Title opportunity anyway. Benoit told Edge that he was now in the cage match, and shoved him to the ground as they went to commercial. So much for the title match.
Chris Benoit vs. Edge, steel cage match. After some back and forth at the start, Edge tried to escape after a vertical suplex, but Benoit stopped him and hit a back suplex. Benoit started to climb, but Edge hit him as well. Benoit tossed Edge into the cage and hit a powerdrive elbow, then gave Edge a baseball slide into the cage. Edge blocked a Crippler Crossface attempt and worked on Benoit’s arm with punches and elbows. Benoit catapulted Edge into the turnbuckles and rolled him up sunset-flip style for a two count. Benoit hit a lariat and went to climb out, but Edge stopped him and hung him in the tree of woe. Benoit booted Edge from the Tree Of Woe position. Benoit and Edge collided, and we saw that Batista was watching from a monitor. The announcers wondered why he hadn’t left, as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Benoit was busted open, and Edge was working him over with a sleeper. Edge went to climb out, but Benoit stopped him and pulled him back into the ring. Benoit hit five consecutive German suplexes. Benoit went to climb out, but Edge stopped him, and they battled on the top rope. Benoit headbutted Edge to the mat, then hit a top rope headbutt for a two count. Benoit applied a Crippler Crossface, but Edge rolled out of it. Edge grabbed Benoit by the tights to send him head first into the cage. They went near the cage door, and Benoit slammed the door into Edge’s head. Edge then speared Benoit, but sent him through the ropes and the cage door. Benoit fell to the floor for the win, as Edge looked on in disbelief. Winner: Chris Benoit.
Backstage, Ric Flair confronted Batista, asking if he was out of his mind. Flair said Triple H was back on his feet, and Batista should leave. Batista said he was going to the ring, and that Triple H better meet him there, so he could finish what he started. He told Flair he needed to decide which side he was on, and headed towards the ring.
Batista was in the ring after the commercial, and called out Triple H, who stumbled out with Flair and the doctor trying to stop him from going to the ring. Triple H got nose-to-nose with Batista, with Flair begging them not to go at it. Triple H got on the mic and said “I have one thing to say to you … well done, man.” Batista, Triple H and Flair started cracking up with laughter. They then paid off the doctor, saying he was “worth every penny”. Triple H said they fooled everyone, and it was easier than they thought. Triple H said that Batista was the MVP of the night (but still took a shot at him for losing to Jericho). Triple H said he wanted to party, and called out the ladies. Instead, Randy Orton came out. Orton said he was the General Manager of Raw next week, and Triple H, after mocking him, reminded Orton that he was unable to have a shot at the World Title. Orton said he was going to have a match with Triple H next week, and if he wins, the stipulation barring him from getting a World Title match would be lifted. Triple H refused to put that kind of stip on the line. So, Orton instead announced that Triple H would defend against the entire Raw roster (including Flair and Batista) in a company-wide Battle Royal with the World Title on the line. The whole roster, standing on the stage behind Orton, were smiling, as Triple H stood in the ring stunned.
Source: PWInsider.com
