Raw Report for January 17, 2005
By Richard Trionfo
We begin tonight’s show with the annual clip of Martin Luther King Junior’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’
Do you remember last week when Randy Orton came out and questioned Hunter’s loyalty to Batista, and he challenged Hunter for his title? Do you remember Eric Bischoff ordering a match between Batista and Orton to determine the number one contender? Do you remember that Orton won?
We are live from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and your announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.
We start off with the Highlight Reel since Chris Jericho is in the ring with his stuff. Chris says that he qualified for the Royal Rumble last night. From out of nowhere, Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari come to the ring. Jericho calls them ass clowns. Chris says that it is custom for the guests to be introduced. Hassan says the host should get to the point instead of rambling about himself. Chris wants to know why they are so angry all the time. Why aren’t they happy they are not in the United States? Jericho does the Mick Foley Cheap Pop. Hassan feels a connection to Canada because they are second class citizens in the United States. Hassan says they deserve to be treated that way. He blames Canada for the way he is treated. He says the terrorists came through Canada, and if the Canadian authorities did their job, it wouldn’t have happened. Hassan calls everyone in the arena hypocrites because they are as racist as the Americans, but they hide their true feelings. Jericho says they will not be shy to tell Hassan and Daivari what they really think. Daivari speaks in his native tongue. Chris says that he understood what Daivari said, and Daivari was talking about Fozzy’s new album. Hassan mentions that Jericho was born in the U.S. and lived in Canada, so he is the worst of both worlds. Arrogant like an American, and a coward like Canadians. Jericho slaps Hassan and clotheslines him before putting him in the Walls of Jericho. Daivari climbs on Jericho’s back, but he is snap mared. Hassan with the WMDDT followed by a camel clutch. From out of nowhere, Chris Benoit comes to the ring to help Jericho.
Triple H is in the back with Ric Flair and a guy with Hunter’s bag. Hunter insults Canada. Hunter wants to know if Batista is OK. Flair says that everything is cool, but Batista will be a little late tonight. At least that is what the message said. Hunter yells at Flair. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Raw Rewind with Shelton Benjamin qualifying for the Royal Rumble.
It is time for our next match and La Résistance are in the ring, and they are your new World Tag Team Champions, after last night’s match in Winnipeg. They are joined by Maven. Their opponents are Rosey, Hurricane, and Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin and Conway start things off. Conway punches Benjamin and then kicks him in the corner. Benjamin fights back and Benjamin with a clothesline. Benjamin with a hip toss on Grenier followed by a back breaker on Conway, but Maven breaks it up. Conway with a jumping leg lariat on Conway. Grenier tags in and runs into a Hurri-Pose. Hurricane with an eye poke and a cross body. Maven distracts Hurricane and then Grenier throws him outside the ring. Conway with a clothesline on Hurricane outside the ring. Grenier with a knee drop. Conway tags in and punches Hurricane followed by a snap mare and rear chin lock. Conway with a Stunner on Benjamin while he was on the apron. Hurricane with an inverted atomic drop on Conway and then he cleans house. Conway tries for a Sunset Flip, but Rosey drops down. Maven with a drop kick to break things up. Benjamin attacks Maven from behind. While Maven and Benjamin distract the ref, Conway and Grenier hit the Au Revoir on Rosey for the three count.
Randy Orton is in the back and he is stopped by Stacy. Stacy says that she was so happy for him last week. Stacy kisses Orton on the cheek and then she walks away.
Steve Austin will have a press conference on Wednesday. We go to commercial.
We are back and Randy Orton comes to the ring. Orton says his single most greatest moment in his life happened in Toronto when he became the youngest World Champion in history. Randy says that he cried in the ring because he accomplished something he thought he would never accomplish. Then on the next night, he bled. Randy says that one person took everything away from him. That person was Triple H. Randy says that he will win at the Royal Rumble. From out of nowhere, it is Game Time as Hunter comes out with his Game Water and mic. Hunter says that is the same song and dance that he has heard since he won the title at Unforgiven. Hunter says that he thought Orton was something and had that thing. However, Orton turned his back on Evolution. Hunter says that Orton will suffer again. He is the greatest wrestler alive today. He has beaten them all and he runs down the list of wrestlers. Orton stops him and he says that Hunter has been using this speech for the last six years. Orton says that he heard this every day. Hunter says that any time someone shoots their mouth off, he leaves the ring with the title around his waist. Orton wants Hunter to come to the ring to prove it. Hunter says that Orton is out of his league. Hunter says that he does not come to Orton, Orton comes to him. Hunter walks away. Orton runs out of the ring and up the ramp, but Hunter punches him as he goes to the Gorilla position. Hunter sends Orton into the ring steps. Hunter gets a chair and attacks the ring steps, but Orton kicks Hunter and then punches Hunter. From out of nowhere, Flair enters the ring and gets punched and then a back body drop. Orton with a back body drop to Flair and then he grabs the chair. Flair and Hunter leave the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Hunter is walking out with Flair. From out of nowhere, Maria wants to ask Hunter a question but he yells at her. Hunter walks into the Evo-Locker Room and Batista comes out. Batista has been thinking about last week. Batista says everything is cool. Batista says that he has to talk to Bischoff. Hunter says that he will talk to Bischoff since he has ‘stroke’ with him. Batista says that everything is OK, and he does not need Hunter. Batista says that it is about the Royal Rumble and the World Title.
Coach is in the interview area, and he is joined by Shawn Michaels. Shawn says the fans haven’t forgotten about the last seven years, and he has tried to make peace. Shawn has decided to move on, and he is going to talk about the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. Shawn says that if he qualifies for the Rumble match, he will make sure that Edge cannot become the World Champion. If Edge is out of the Rumble, he is out and Shawn is in. Bischoff enters the interview area, but Bischoff says that Shawn Michaels has already won the Royal Rumble twice. He even beat Bret Hart for the title. Eric says that Shawn is in the Rumble. Eric says that it is always fun to wrestle ‘north of the border’, so Shawn will face Christian. Shawn accepts the match and he walks into commercial.
We are back and Christian (with Tyson Tomko) comes to the ring. Do you remember when Shawn Michaels told Edge to earn a title shot at Wrestlemania and Edge and Shawn fought? His opponent is Shawn Michaels. Before the match begins, Edge comes out to the ring as we go to commercial.
We are back and the match has begun and both men are down while Edge continues to watch from the ramp. Michaels with a chop and Christian with punches. Michaels slaps Christian and then Michaels with a back body drop that sends Christian to the floor. Michaels with a chop on Christian while Edge moves to the ring. Michaels gets on the apron, and Christian sends Michaels into the ring post. Christian with an Irish whip of Michaels into a Tomko clothesline. Christian punches Michaels and kicks him. Christian with a back breaker. Christian with an Inverted Tornado DDT for a two count. Christian chokes Michaels on the ropes. Michaels kicks Christian and chops him. Christian with a back breaker. Christian with a rear chin lock. Christian tries for an Unprettier, but Michaels escapes. Christian slaps Michaels, but Michaels fights back. Michaels with a Lou Thesz Press. Michaels with a back slide. Michaels with a flying forearm and a nip up. Edge comes in the ring when Tomko distracts the ref, but Michaels moves when Edge tries for a Spear. Michaels slams Christian and hits the elbow from the top turnbuckle. Michaels sets up for some Sweet Chin Music. Tomko gets on the apron to distract Michaels, but Michaels knocks him off. Christian tries for an Unprettier, but Michaels escapes and hits Sweet Chin Music for the three count. After the match, Michaels has some Sweet Chin Music for Tomko. Edge SPEARS Michaels and puts Michaels in a modified Sharpshooter. Edge gets in Michaels’ face as we go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Night: Kane being attacked by Snitsky last week.
It is time for a Moments Ago Moment of Edge SPEARING Shawn Michaels and continuing the attack on Michaels.
It is time for our next match and out first is Batista. His opponent is Viscera. Viscera backs Batista into the corner and then punches him, but Batista responds with forearms of his own. Viscera misses a charge into the corner, and Batista with a series of shoulders to Batista’s gut followed by a clothesline to Viscera while Hunter and Flair watch in the Evo-Locker Room. Viscera with a clothesline to Batista. Viscera with a Samoan Drop followed by an elbow. Viscera with a splash in the corner. Batista fights back, but Viscera with a head butt. Batista with a spinebuster for the three count.
Chris Benoit is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Flair is trying to pump up Hunter’s ego in the Evo-Locker Room. Then Batista enters and Flair kisses his ass. Hunter congratulates Batista on the victory. Batista says that he was offered a spot in a qualifying match for the Royal Rumble next week. Hunter wonders if Batista should do that because they need to focus on Randy Orton. Orton will take advantage of the situation if Batista is in that match. Hunter says that Batista is being selfish for wanting to be in the Royal Rumble because then he will want to win the Rumble, and be the champion. Hunter says that if Batista talks about himself, he will sound like Orton. Batista understands and says that nobody likes a selfish, self-centered egomaniac.
It is time to countdown as Chris Jericho comes to the ring. Do you remember earlier tonight when Hassan and Daivari were attacking Jericho only to be saved by Chris Benoit? Out next is Chris Benoit. Jericho with a clean break. Jericho with a go behind followed by a head scissors and Benoit escapes. Benoit with a leg trip into an arm bar, but Jericho bridges out of it and has Benoit in a hammer lock. Benoit with a take down, but Jericho keeps an arm bar. Jericho with a go behind, but Benoit with a standing switch into a German Suplex. Jericho with a roll up and then he tries to put Benoit in the Walls, but Benoit blocks it. We go to commercial.
We are back and Benoit has Jericho in a side head lock. During the break, Benoit knocked Jericho off the apron onto the ringside barrier. Jericho with chops to Benoit followed by a running knee. Jericho drops Benoit on the ropes and then slams his head into the turnbuckle. Jericho and Benoit exchange blows in the corner. Jericho has Benoit up for a superplex and he hits a Butterfly Superplex. Jericho with a kick to Benoit. Benoit with a belly-to-back suplex that sends Jericho over the top rope to the floor. Benoit also falls outside the ring. Benoit rolls Jericho back into the ring. Benoit with a clothesline followed by a double axe handle. Benoit with a baseball slide that sends Jericho to the floor. Benoit with a hard Irish whip that knocks Jericho down. Benoit with Hat Trick German Suplex combo. Benoit with a throat slash and he goes up top for the diving head butt, but Jericho moves out of the way. Both men are down. Benoit tries for the Crossface, but Jericho tries to get out of the attempt. Jericho tries to get Benoit in the Walls of Jericho, but Benoit gets out of it. Benoit tries for a Sharpshooter, but Jericho with a small package for the three count. After the match, Benoit gets in Jericho’s face. Benoit offers his hand to Jericho, and Jericho shakes it.
It is time to run the Kane/Snitsky video package that aired at New Year’s Revolution to show why Kane does not like Gene Snitsky. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Chris Masters video.
It is time to run down the current card for the Royal Rumble, and they have added Shawn Michaels versus Edge to the card. Next week on Raw, Ric Flair will face Randy Orton.
Trish Stratus comes to the ring. Trish says that it feels good to be appreciated. Trish talks about the ‘idiots in the States’. She says they don’t get it and they say some amazing things. Trish calls them U. S. A-holes. Trish said things would be over ‘just like that’ if Lita faced her at New Year’s Revolution. Trish says that Lita’s comeback is over, ‘just like that’. Trish mentions that Lita destroyed her knee and she will be out for a long time. Trish says that it will be a long and lonely road back, and there are a lot of men in the back who are willing to impregnate her. Trish says just because her knee is messed up, it doesn’t mean here uterus is messed up. From out of nowhere, Kane comes to the ring and he brings Trish back into the ring. Kane has Trish by the throat, but Kane lets go of her. Kane has an evil look and then he choke slams Trish. Kane leaves the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Kane is in the ring. Do you remember when Kane choke slammed Trish? Gene Snitsky comes out and Kane meets him outside the ring. Kane sends Snitsky into the ring post and then Snitsky with a big boot to Kane that sends him into the crowd. Kane with a jumping clothesline from the ringside barrier followed by a jumping clothesline in the ring. Snitsky leaves the ring and gets the ring bell and hits Kane with it. Snitsky reaches under the ring and gets a weight belt, and then he hits Kane with the belt. Kane with a back body drop and then a Big Boot. Kane goes for a chair and he brings it into the ring. Snitsky with a boot to Kane and the chair falls on Kane. Snitsky hits Kane with the chair and then puts it around Kane’s throat. Snitsky climbs the ropes, but Kane sits up and he hits Snitsky with the chair and he falls to the floor. Kane gets the weight belt and he whips Snitsky in the back. Kane with a boot to Snitsky’s head while he is hanging over the apron. Kane and Snitsky fight up the ramp to the Titantron and Kane slams Snitsky’s head into the wall. Kane sets up for a choke slam, but Snitsky with a low kick. Kane stands by the edge of the ramp, but Kane moves and Kane with a spike choke slams him off the stage. Both men are down as we go to credits.
Source: PWInsider.com
