Full Credit: Buck Woodward, PWInsider.com
Raw for 12/13 opened with General Manager Eric Bischoff returning to clear up the World Title situation. Bischoff explained the situation, and the reasons why Edge, Benoit and Triple H all had a valid claim for the belt. All three were assembled in the backstage interview area. Triple H interrupted Bischoff, and used Ric Flair’s “To be the man, you have to beat the man” line, and said that since no one beat him, he deserved the belt back. Benoit reminded Triple H that he hasn’t been able to beat him since Wrestlemania. As Benoit and Triple H argued, Edge complained about how Benoit and Triple H have been fighting over the World Title all year, and he never gets a shot. Edge attacked Benoit, sparking off a brawl between the three men. As officials broke it up, Eric Bischoff announced Triple H & Batista vs. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho for later tonight, and said Edge vs. Randy Orton was next. Bischoff said once the show was back under control, he would announce the future of the World Title.
Randy Orton vs. Edge. The fans chanted “You tapped out” at Edge before the match began. Edge got a two count early after a fast exchange of moves, frustrating Orton, while Edge smiled at him. They exchanged moves on the mat, and simultaneously attempted dropkicks. Orton kept using a drop toe hold to take Edge down, and clotheslined him over the top rope and to the floor as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Orton rammed Edge into the ringsteps, and worked him over in the ring with a chinlock. Edge broke free, and pulled the referee in front of him to stop Orton for advancing on him. Edge ran out of the ring, and Orton gave chase, allowing Edge to attack when Orton followed him back into the ring. Edge gave Orton a baseball slide kick to send him to the floor. Edge speared Orton off the ring apron, sending him into the security wall. Edge rolled Orton back into the ring for a cover, but Orton got his foot on the bottom rope. Edge worked over Orton with a chinlock and bodyscissors. Orton got free, and he and Edge clotheslined each other to the mat. Both men got up, and Edge hit a dropkick, then went to the top rope for a flying bodypress, but Orton dropkicked him in mid-air. Orton and Edge slugged it out, and Orton hit a dropkick and a side neckbreaker for a two count. Orton dodged a charging Edge and cradled him for a two count. Edge hit a reverse facebuster for a two count. Edge blocked an RKO and took Orton down with a backslide (with his feet on the ropes) for a two count. Orton gave Edge a Hot Shot into the turnbuckles for a two count, then hit a powerslam and went to the top rope. Orton went for a dive, but Edge ducked and Orton hit the mat hard. Edge measured Orton for a spear, but Orton gave Edge a drop toe hold into the bottom turnbuckle as he charged. Orton went for the RKO, Edge reversed into an Implant DDT position, but Orton reversed it again and hit an RKO for the clean pin at the eighteen minute mark. Winner: Randy Orton. Edge had a tantrum in the ring after losing the match, as the announcers put over that losing the match hurt Edge’s case for being declared World Champion.
Backstage, Ric Flair gave Triple H a pep talk, saying Bischoff had to recognize that Triple H is the World Champion. Triple H said he would go make Bischoff declare him the champion. Batista told Triple H not to do that, saying Triple H should go into the ring and show Bischoff why he is the World Champion by dominating Benoit and Jericho in their tag match. Triple H liked the idea.
A video package on the Raw house shows from last weekend was shown.
Christy, Melina and Maria were in the ring tossing shirts out to the crowd and using the Shopzone T-Shirt gun, while Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler discussed the World Title situation. Gene Snitsky came into the ring, telling the women not to be scared of him. Snitsky said everyone on the Raw roster was too scared to face him in a match, boasting about what he had done to Kane and Lita‘s baby. Snitsky said he liked to have fun, and he was going to have some fun with the women. Snitsky said he wanted to shoot the shirt gun and dance with the women. Christy seemed to believe him, but Snitsky grabbed her by the throat and said he only had fun when “someone suffers”. Lita came out on the stage and made fun of Snitsky, saying he only picks on women, and despite his trying to scare Lita last week, Lita still won the Women’s Title. Lita said she got a message from “her husband Kane” and that Kane would be returning soon to beat up Snitsky. Snitsky threw down Christy and chased after Lita, but a wall of flames shot up on the ramp, preventing him from following her.
A video package on Triple H attending the Blade: Trinity premiere was shown.
Backstage, Christian was having Candace attend to his make-up, while complaining to Tyson Tomko about not getting any respect. Eugene approached him, and called him “Captain Charisma”, but said he wasn’t as cool a superhero as Aquaman, since Aquaman talks to fish. Mick Foley arrived, and said he was there due to a big announcement that was going to be made later. Eugene turned his attention to Foley, saying he was his favorite wrestler after Rock, Papa Shango, and Huntsville’s own Beautiful Bobby Eaton. Foley and Eugene walked off, with Christian again complaining about the lack of respect he gets. Eugene came back into the frame, wearing Mr. Socko, and told Christian “Have a nice day, Bang Bang!” before leaving.
In Eric Bischoff’s office, Simon Dean signed a Raw contract, saying it was a great way to promote his Simon System. Chris Benoit entered, and Dean took off. Benoit told Bischoff he wanted him to order a Triple Threat rematch for the World Title, and said (in very demanding fashion) that Bischoff better not hand the belt back to Triple H.
Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs. Triple H & Batista, with Ric Flair. Benoit and Triple H started off, trading chops and punches. Batista tagged in and worked over Benoit in his corner. Jericho tagged in, and Batista pounded him down to the mat as well then tagged in Triple H. Jericho hiptossed Triple H and kicked him in the head before working him over in a corner. Triple H came back with a jumping knee and tagged in Batista, who gave Jericho shoulderblocks in a corner and choked him with his boot. Jericho battled out of a chinlock, but Batista it a back elbow for a two count. Triple H and Batista worked over Jericho on their side of the ring, choking him with the tag rope and Triple H hitting a big vertical suplex and a kneedrop. Benoit broke up the cover. Jericho finally battled back, including knocking Ric Flair off the ring apron. Flair flipped out, and rushed into the ring, but Triple H and Batista held him back so they wouldn’t get disqualified. They played up that Triple H wanted to win to prove he should be World champion as they went to break.
Back from commercial, Benoit and Triple H were going at it, with Benoit hitting three consecutive German suplexes. Benoit knocked Batista off the apron, then slugged Flair as he went to the top rope, but missed the diving headbutt. Batista tagged in and powerslammed Benoit for two, then whipped him hard into the turnbuckles. Triple H tagged in and whipped Benoit into the opposite corner and covered for two. Benoit hit some chops, but Triple H put him in an abdominal stretch. Batista reached in to give Triple H help, but the referee caught them the second time and made them break the hold. Benoit hit some forearms and chops, but ran into a Triple H boot. Triple H came off the second rope, but Benoit got his foot up and kicked him in the mouth. Batista and Jericho tagged in, and Jericho knocked Triple H off the apron with a forearm. Batista caught a Jericho bodypress and went for a slam, but Jericho floated over and went for the Walls Of Jericho, but Batista kicked him off. Batista kept going for powermoves (spinebuster, powerbomb), but Jericho kept escaping. Jericho gave Batista an enzugiri and a Lionsault. Triple H ran in, and Jericho threw him out of the ring. Jericho dropkicked Flair off the apron and tagged in Benoit, who hit a diving headbutt on Batista. On the floor, Flair threw Jericho into the ringsteps. Benoit put Batista in a Sharpshooter, but Triple H ran in to break it up. Benoit put Triple H in the Crippler Crossface. Batista pulled Benoit off of Triple H and hit a spinebuster for the pin at the sixteen minute mark. Winners: Triple H & Batista. Triple H stared at Batista from the mat, surprised that Batista scored the pin.
Mick Foley came to the ring to a huge ovation. Foley asked what the holidays would be without a “cheap Mick Foley book plug”. Foley plugged his book, then said next week he would be jumping to Smackdown for a week. The fans booed, but Foley said there was a good reason for it, and introduced a video on WWE’s visit to Iraq from last year. Foley admitted to being a John Kerry supporter, and made some political jokes. Foley then said supporting the troops went beyond political affiliations, and that it was going to be an honor to go to the Middle East next week with the Smackdown crew to entertain the troops.
Foley was then entertained by entrance music for Muhammad Hussan and Khosrow Daivari. Daivari introduced Hussan in Farci. Hussan said he had enough of “listening to lies” and now everyone had to listen to him. Hussan said he used to “blindly” support the troops and the country, until 9/11. He said that his eyes were opened to the truth, and that he was the true victim of the war. Hussan said the war promoted unfair treatment of Arab-Americans. Hussan said he was a “prisoner” in his own country. The fans gave him the old Steve Austin “What” treatment the whole time. Foley said that Hussan was able to express his views because he lived in America, where people are able to speak their mind freely. Hussan said the troops were “gutless cowards and heartless infidels” and Foley said “Now, you’ve pissed me off”. Foley talked about how troops died to give him the right to speak his mind, while Daivari yelled in Farci. Hussan said Foley was supporting an “evil and unjust war” and Foley screamed “I support America”. Foley said that Hussan and Daivari had the right to say whatever they wanted anywhere in America, except for inside the ring, which Mick called “Foley Island”. Foley invited Hussan and Daivari to step into Foley Island and take him on, but Hussan said he wouldn’t fight someone he didn’t respect, and he said he didn’t respect Foley and he walked out.
Lita’s WWE Women’s Title win over Trish Stratus from last week was recapped with a highlight video (including multiple angles of Lita’s insane tope where she crashed to the floor).
Todd Grisham interviewed Trish Stratus about losing the Women’s Title. Trish said she was the best women’s wrestler ever, and pointed out that Lita had to practically kill herself to win the belt. Trish said she would win back the title as soon as she got a rematch.
Backstage, Eric Bischoff was chatting with some model named Michelle, when Edge came in. Edge complained about Taboo Tuesday, the contendership battle royal, the Triple Threat match and said he deserved the World Heavyweight Title. Edge said his match with Orton should not be held against him. Bischoff said he was going to make his announcement about the title following the next match, and said he was going to give Edge something he never had before. Edge was very happy about this, and said it was great to have Bischoff back.
Maven, Christian & Tyson Tomko vs. Eugene, William Regal & Shelton Benjamin. Eugene started off with Christian slapping him across the face and working him over in a corner. Eugene backdropped Christian and pulled out Mr. Socko. Maven ran in, and Eugene gave him an airplane spin, then gave one to Christian. Eugene threw Maven over the top rope, but Tomko ran in and clotheslined Eugene to give Christian the advantage. Christian choked Eugene with Mr. Socko. Tomko tagged in and powerslammed Eugene for two, then hit a series of right hands before applying a chinlock. Maven tagged in and worked over Eugene, with Regal yelling encouragement to Eugene. Christian tagged in, and Eugene gave him and inside cradle and a backslide for two counts, but Christian kicked him and put him in a chinlock. Eugene fought out of it, but Christian pulled Eugene back to his corner to prevent a tag. Maven tagged in and applied a chinlock. Eugene hit a stunner on Maven and made the tag to Benjamin, who hit Maven with a top rope clothesline. Benjamin cleaned house on all three opponents, and gave Maven a flapjack. Benjamin missed a Stinger splash, but caught Maven with a T-Bone suplex. The match broke down, with everyone fighting. Eugene put Christian in the Mandible Claw on the floor. Tomko knocked Regal to the floor. Benjamin superkicked Tomko. Maven cradled Benjamin from behind and grabbed the ropes for leverage to pin Benjamin at the eight minute mark. Winners: Maven, Christian & Tyson Tomko. Shelton Benjamin had a stunned look on his face.
Triple H came up to Eric Bischoff, and calmly asked Bischoff to make the “right decision”, saying the World Title was his whole life. Triple H seemed to be on the verge of tears, pleading his case to be champion. Triple H said Benoit and Edge were “just wrestlers” while he was a household name, known for being World Champion. Triple H begged Bischoff to “do the right thing for business”. Bischoff said he would take all of the things Triple H just said into consideration.
Next week’s show will be the “Best Of Raw 2004” special, including the Wrestlemania XX main event of Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels.
Eric Bischoff came to the ring with the World Heavyweight Title. Bischoff asked Edge, Chris Benoit and Triple H to come to the ring. Triple H was accompanied by Ric Flair and Batista. Triple H said Evolution was with him because they were “one and the same” and when one succeeds, they all succeed. Triple H was much more arrogant than he was earlier. Eric Bischoff said there would not be a Triple Threat rematch, like Benoit wanted, and he would not just give the belt to Edge, like he wanted. Bischoff said he would instead have a match at the New Year’s Revolution Pay-per-view to decide the World Champion, and announced an Elimination Chamber match with Chris Benoit, Edge, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Batista, and Randy Orton. Batista smiled when his name was announced, and Ric Flair glared at him. Bischoff left, with Flair following him and arguing over the decision. In the ring, a fight broke out, with Batista, Triple H and Edge beating down Benoit. Jericho ran out and started fighting with Batista, as Benoit fought Edge. Triple H was walking away from the fight, when Randy Orton came down and dragged Triple H back to the ring. Orton was setting up Triple H for an RKO, but Batista ran in. Orton gave Batista the RKO, and Orton stood triumphant in the ring as the show ended.
Source: PWInsider.com
