Full Source: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com
Raw for December 6th opened with General Manager for the night, Chris Jericho, in the ring, surrounded by the Highlight Reel set, welcoming us to “Raw Is Jericho”. Jericho said they would get to the bottom of the World Title situation later tonight. Jericho said everyone was going to “get lei’d” tonight, and Hawaiian Leis dropped from the sky as Jericho made a bunch of “laid/lei’d” jokes. Jericho announced that Lita would challenge Trish Stratus for the Women’s Title tonight, and there would be a Diva “Rock N’ Roll Limbo A Go-Go” contest with music provided by Fozzy, who were set up on the stage.
Jericho, after mentioning that the World Title situation was out of his hands, reviewed the finish of last week’s main event, with several different angles showing that Edge started tapping at the same time the referee counted three on Chris Benoit. Jericho then brought out Vince McMahon, who had the World Title belt, to announce the fate of the World Title. Vince said that Edge and Benoit essentially ended in a tie, so neither of them were deserving of the title. Before Vince could continue, Triple H came out, assuming that he was getting the Title back. Vince told Triple H “Congratulations” and shook Triple H’s hand. However, Vince said he was congratulating Triple H on his new book and his role in Blade: Trinity. Triple H went to grab the belt, but Vince pulled it back. Vince said he wasn’t naming him, or anyone World Champion. Vince said Eric Bischoff would decide next week what the fate of the World Title would be, and that for now, the belt was vacant. McMahon told Triple H he was no longer the World Champion, and left with the belt as Triple H glared at him.
After the break, Triple H was freaking out backstage as Flair and Batista were trying to calm them. Triple H starting taking out his frustration on Batista, and Batista reminded Triple H that he pulled him out of the Crossface. Batista told Triple H if it wasn’t for him, Chris Benoit would have won the title clean.
Chris Jericho was having a party in his office with a bunch of women, when Christian came in, mad about some ring garb that Jericho wanted him to wear tonight. Jericho made fun of Christian’s “Captain Charisma” name, and told him if he wanted an Intercontinental Title match tonight, he would wear the outfit. Chris Benoit entered, and Jericho told him that he would have a chance for revenge tonight, as it would be Benoit & Jericho vs. Triple H & Batista.
The first of several clips tonight recapping the Lita-Trish feud was shown. This one being a backstage brawl when Trish teased Lita that Kane was behind her.
Eugene, with William Regal, vs. Maven. Maven tried to offer a handshake to William Regal and Eugene, apologizing for last week. Regal wouldn’t shake his hand, but Eugene did. They wrestled scientifically for a few minutes, with Eugene getting the better of Maven, but Maven smiling at Eugene at every break. Maven leapfrogged Eugene, then fell down and pretended that William Regal tripped him. The referee believed Maven, and ejected Regal from ringside. Eugene rolled up Maven for a two count, then hit a Northern Lights suplex for another two. Maven congratulated Eugene on his near falls, then kicked him in the knee. Maven got vicious, and started working over Eugene’s leg. Maven hung Eugene by the leg in a corner, then choked Eugene until the referee disqualified him at the five minute mark. Regal ran back to the ring, and Maven took off. Winner via DQ: Eugene. As Regal checked on Eugene, Maven picked up the World Tag Title belt and ran in and hit Regal with it.
Jericho’s “Rock N’ Roll Limbo A Go-Go” contest was next. This was a Limbo contest with the same Raw Divas from last week’s Lingerie show (Candace, Melina, Christy, Maria, Stacy). Jericho allowed Lana, one of his assistants/party girls, to join in. Christy won. Jericho then sang “Don’t You Wish You Were Me” with Fozzy while the Divas danced in the ring. The lights suddenly went out during the song, and Hussan and Daivari appeared on the screen. Hussan asked how it felt to be having a fun time, and suddenly have it stopped. Hussan said Arab-Americans have felt like that since 9/11. Hussan said everyone should enjoy their party, because next week he would make his debut, and the party would be “over”. They went to commercial without a response from Jericho.
Simon Dean came out and said that Chris Jericho wouldn’t let him have any time on the broadcast to talk about the Simon System unless he had a wrestling match. Simon started to talk about his Simon Powder, when Hurricane’s entrance interrupted him.
Simon Dean vs. The Hurricane. Hurricane outwrestled Dean at the start, but Simon came back with punches and a backbreaker. Simon dropped some elbows, but Hurricane came back with an uppercut and a reverse DDT. Jerry Lawler pushed that Dean was an amateur wrestling star, and had never wrestled in a pro ring. Hurricane missed a Shining Wizard, and Dean rolled him up with a handful of tights for the pin at the three minute mark. Dean immediately left the ring. Winner: Simon Dean.
Another Trish-Lita moment was shown. This was the famous “baby shower” bit.
Jonathan Coachman interviewed Randy Orton backstage. Orton was pleased with the World Title situation, since he was now free and clear to compete for the belt again. Randy then made a joke about how, despite Jericho distributing leis earlier, Coach still couldn’t “get lei’d”. Edge’s entrance to the ring interrupted Orton’s interview.
Edge came to the ring and complained about not being awarded the World Title. Edge said he never tapped out, and that he deserved the World Title for pinning Chris Benoit. Edge said he blamed Randy Orton for not making it Edge vs. Triple H to begin with, thus avoiding the controversy. Edge said Randy Orton was a failure as World Champion, and called him out. Orton, removing his shirt as he came down, hit the ring. Orton said he could have made the match Benoit vs. Triple H, and left Edge with nothing. Orton told Edge he was “nothing” and he needed to blame himself. Orton said he had been World Champion, and that Edge was a failure. Edge reminded Orton that he beat him for the Intercontinental title, and said Orton was his “bitch”. Orton and Edge started slugging it out, with referees and officials pulling them apart. The crowd was popping for the brawl (or they were popping for Arn Anderson, since this was Charlotte, North Carolina). The two were finally seperated, as the fans chanted for Orton.
A video package on Triple H filming Blade: Trinity was shown.
Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin vs. Captain Charisma (Christian), with Tyson Tomko. Christian was forced to wrestle in a silly superhero outfit and mask, and Tomko (who was laughing behind Christian’s back) had to convince him to go to the ring. Benjamin kept laughing at the start of the match. Benjamin hit a top rope clothesline early for a two count. Tomko nailed Benjamin from the outside, allowing Christian to hit a reverse DDT for a two count. Benjamin got a two count with a sunset flip off the middle rope. Christian hit a one-armed powerbomb out of a corner for a two count. Tomko tossed in the IC belt, but Benjamin kicked Christian before he could use it. As the referee took the belt out of the ring, Tomko ran in and kicked Benjamin, giving Christian a two count. Tomko got on the apron, and caught a Benjamin kick, but as he swung the leg away, Benjamin ended up kicking Christian. Benjamin kicked Tomko off the apron. Christian’s mask was turned around, and he couldn’t see, as Benjamin hit a belly-to-belly suplex for the pin at the six minute mark. Winner: Shelton Benjamin.
Chris Jericho came out and announced that he was signing Randy Orton vs. Edge for next week. He then had Fozzy play “Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” for Christian as he left the ring.
The Smackdown Rebound was shown.
Another Lita-Trish moment was shown. This was Trish interrupting Lita’s marriage to Kane.
Backstage, Gene Snitsky got in Lita’s face, saying it was a shame her husband and her baby wasn’t there to cheer her on. Snitsky grabbed her and said he ended Kane’s career, but Lita losing her baby wasn’t his “fault”. Snitsky then sarcastically wished her luck tonight.
They replayed the opening segment, where Vince McMahon vacated the World Title.
Backstage, Triple H and Ric Flair were calling Eric Bischoff. They left a message on his machine, pointing out all the reasons why Triple H should be named World Champion (he is the franchise player, he is on the cover of Raw magazine, his book is coming out, his movie is coming out, it is good for business). Triple H was about to tell Bischoff what he would do to him if he didn’t give him the belt, but Batista interrupted them, closing the phone. Batista said he was stopping Triple H from making a mistake, telling him not to threaten Bischoff. Triple H asked Batista if he thought he didn’t deserve the title. Batista said he believed there was only one true champion, and walked off, as Flair convinced Triple H that he was talking about The Game.
Batista & Triple H, with Ric Flair, vs. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit. Triple H chased ring announcer Lilian Garcia out of the ring and through the crowd for announcing him as the “former World Champion”. Benoit and Jericho worked over Triple H early, with Jericho dropkicking Triple H in the corner. There was a loud “We Want Flair” chant (this is Charlotte, after all). Benoit went for a Crossface early, but Batista pulled Triple H out of the ring to break it up. Jericho threw Triple H to the floor, and when Batista ran in, Jericho & Benoit gave him a double dropkick to send him to the floor. Triple H got on the apron, and was knocked back down into Batista as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Batista was working over Jericho with a camel clutch. We saw that during the break, Batista had given him a spinebuster. Flair interfered, choking Jericho with his jacket, to the cheers of the crowd. Evolution worked over Jericho, until he dropkicked Batista’s leg out, sending him into the turnbuckles. Benoit got the hot tag, and cleaned house on Evolution (getting booed for hitting Flair off the apron). Benoit hit baseball slides on Flair and Batista, then gave Triple H three German suplexes. Jericho gave Triple H a Lionsault, and Benoit gave him a top rope headbutt. Jericho gave Triple H the Walls of Jericho, and Batista applied the Crippler Crossface on him at the same time. Batista broke it up, giving Benoit a spinebuster and choking Jericho in a corner. Triple H grabbed a chair and hit Benoit with it for a DQ, then hit the referee with the chair as well. Winners via DQ: Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit. Triple H then went to hit Jericho, but missed and hit Batista with the chair. Triple H then managed to hit Jericho with the chair. Flair checked on Batista, while Triple H said it was an accident. Triple H walked off, angry, while Flair was helping Batista up in the ring.
Backstage, a couple of stagehands were checking out Trish’s rear end while she stretched. Lita approached her, and Trish called her “the walking Kiss Of Death”. Trish asked whose career Lita was going to ruin next. Lita said “yours” and planted a kiss on Trish before shoving her down and walking off.
Women’s Champion Trish Stratus vs. Lita. Trish wore her noseguard to the ring. They locked up and rolled to the floor early. Back in the ring, Trish matrixed under a clothesline, but was tripped by Lita. Lita hit a Russian legsweep and backdropped Trish to the floor. Lita gave Trish a tope (and looked like she could have killed herself on the landing, as she went down face first, and her body bent backwards). Lita got back in the ring first, and Trish took off the noseguard and hit Lita with it from the floor. Trish gestured that her nose was fine. Trish worked over Lita in the ring, hanging her with a sleeper in the corner. Trish worked over Lita with a full nelson, but Lita elbowed out. They brawled and fought on the ropes, with Lita hitting a top rope superplex. Both were slow to get up. Trish hit a kick to the head for a two count. Trish worked over Lita in a corner, but Lita came out of it with a powerbomb. Lita got a two count with a victory roll. Trish blocked a DDT and covered Lita with her feet on the ropes for a two count. Lita blocked a Stratusfaction and hit the Twist Of Fate. Lita then hit a moonsault for the clean pin at the seven minute mark, winning the belt in her hometown. Winner and new Women’s Champion: Lita.
Next week:
– Randy Orton vs. Edge.
– Eric Bischoff returns and will decide the fate of the World Title.
– Debut of Mohammad Hussan.
Source: PWInsider.com
