Raw Report for January 24, 2005
by Richard Trionfo
We are less than a week from the Royal Rumble and it is time for things to come together for the Raw brand. What new matches will be announced? Who else will make the Rumble match from the Raw brand? What will happen with the two matches that are already announced? What will happen to Jim Ross in his home state? What will the WWE do with Hassan and Daivari since they are in another city that has gone through a terrorist attack?
Do you remember last week when Kane and Gene Snitsky had a special moment together after Kane choke slammed Snitsky off the ramp? How about some music?
We are live from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and your announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.
We begin with Shawn Michaels and he is part of a six man match. Do you remember last week when Edge speared Shawn Michaels in Toronto and then put him in a Sharpshooter? His first partner is Chris Jericho. His other partner is Chris Benoit. Their opponents are Captain Charisma Christian, Tyson ‘Ox Baker Version 2.0’ Tomko, and Edge. Michaels and Christian start things off. Michaels with a side head lock followed by a shoulder block. Michaels gets close to Edge, but he goes off the apron. Benoit tags in and he connects with some forearms. Christian kicks Benoit. Benoit tries for a Crossface, but Christian escapes. Benoit with a Northern Lights Suplex and bridge. Tomko tags in and he hits a gutwrench, but Benoit floats over and chops Tomko. Benoit tags in Jericho and they hit a double elbow. Tomko chokes Jericho and throws him into the corner. Tomko charges, but Jericho moves. Jericho with a drop kick into the corner. Jericho with a drop toe hold and then he hits a flying forearm. Tomko presses Jericho over his head, but Jericho turns it into a rollup. Jericho tries for the Walls, but Edge comes in and it is pandemonium in the ring. Michaels knocks Edge out of the ring while Benoit knocks Tomko out of the ring. Benoit and Jericho press slam Christian over the top rope onto Edge and Tomko as we go to commercial.
We are back and Edge tags in Christian as they work on Benoit. Christian with kicks to Benoit, but Benoit with chops. He tags in Michaels and he gives Christian an inverted atomic drop. Christian punches Michaels, but Michaels chops Christian. Edge pulls down the ropes and Michaels falls to the floor. Edge rolls Michaels back in and then he tags in. Edge punches Michaels, but Michaels fights back. Christian kicks Michaels and then gives him a neck breaker. Tomko tags in and he punches Michaels and then chokes him. Tomko with a snap elbow and Jericho breaks things up. Edge tags in and he punches Michaels in the corner. Michaels chops Edge, but Edge with a take down and he punches Michaels until he can tag in Christian. Christian with a snap mare and rear chin lock. Michaels punches Christian, but Christian responds with his own. Michaels with a Lou Thesz Press on Christian, but Christian holds on to Michaels’ leg so he cannot make the tag. Tomko tags in and hits an elbow on Michaels followed by punches. Tomko has Michaels up and connects with a power slam for a two count. Edge tags in and kicks Michaels followed by a punch and standing drop kick. Edge does the Shawn Michaels pose followed by elbow drops. Christian tags back in and he stomps on Michaels. Christian draws Jericho in, and while the ref is distracted Michaels with a small package, but he cannot get the three count. Michaels with punches and chops. Christian tries for an Unprettier, but Michaels gets out. Double clothesline and both men are down. Tomko tags in and so does Benoit. Benoit with the double axe to Tomko followed by a release German Suplex to Tomko. A snap suplex to Christian and then he hits a snap suplex to Edge on top of Christian. Jericho with a springboard drop kick to Tomko that knocks him off the apron followed by a tope. Benoit with the Hat Trick German Suplex Combo to Christian followed by the Flying Headbutt. Benoit tries for the Sharpshooter, but Edge knocks him out of the hold. Edge leaves the ring when Michaels gets in the ring. Tomko misses the Big Boot on Benoit, and Michaels with Sweet Chin Music to Tomko allowing Benoit to get a rollup for the three count. We go to the Smackdown Rebound.
We go to the back and Stacy Keibler is walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with footage of Hulk Hogan on the Tonight Show and then they mention that Johnny Carson passed away over the weekend.
Stacy Keibler comes to the ring. Stacy has a mic and she says that it is a special day in the State of Oklahoma because today is Jim Ross Day in Oklahoma. Danny Hodge comes into the ring to honor Jim Ross, and he leaps over the top rope into the ring. Stacy brings Jim Ross to the ring. Jim hugs Danny Hodge. We see some footage from earlier today when the proclamation was made. Stacy kisses JR. Jim takes the mic and he says that he wishes his parents were here to see it. From out of nowhere, it is time to Evolve as Triple H and Ric Flair come to the ring. Hunter grabs a mic and he says that it brought a tear to a glass eye. Hunter talks about Oklahoma celebrating JR Day, and says it is like crap telling puke that it smells good. Hunter wonders if there is anything else in Oklahoma besides Jim Ross to celebrate. Hunter asks Flair what the score of the last Oklahoma game, and Flair tells the crowd. Hunter suggests that they celebrate Triple H day instead of JR Day. He is a ten time champion, and that would be a celebration. Hunter apologizes for interrupting, but he has some business to attend to, and he tells ‘Father Time’ to leave. Hunter tells Stacy to stay in the ring because she is part of the business he wants to take care of. Jim Ross gets in Hunter’s face, and Hunter wonders if Jim Ross didn’t hear him. Jim Ross knows that Hunter can beat him up, but he is not going to leave him in the ring with Stacy Keibler. Hunter tells JR to ‘run along’. Flair with a low blow to Jim Ross and Hodge comes back in the ring and he punches Hunter. Flair attacks Hodge from behind and then Hunter joins in. Hunter turns his attention to Stacy, and he mentions that since he kissed JR earlier and Randy Orton last week . . . what about the champ. Hunter says that he has a better job for Stacy, and he sets her up for the Pedigree, but from out of nowhere, Randy Orton comes into the ring while Hunter and Flair leave the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back and Hunter is walking with Flair in the back. Hunter looks up the dress of a woman in the back and she runs away disgusted. They enter the Evo-Locker Room and Batista is in there. Batista says that he missed what Flair and Hunter just did. Hunter tells him, and Batista wonders why Flair would attack an announcer. Then they talk about Danny Hodge, and Batista wonders how old he is. Then he talks about what he did to Stacy Keibler. Hunter says that Orton came out, and Batista wants to know what Flair and Hunter did to him. Hunter says that he left the ring. Batista says that he has thought about the Royal Rumble, and he has accepted the qualifying match, and he says that he is going to win the Royal Rumble. Batista says that they talked, and the main focus was the title stays in Evolution. What if Orton wins on Sunday? Batista will win the Rumble and he will win the title back for Evolution at Wrestlemania. Batista says that he has to talk to Bischoff.
We go to the Bischoffice and William Regal is talking about the Royal Rumble. Regal says that he will earn a spot. Bischoff talks about loyalty. Bischoff says that he will give the spot to a man who is loyal . . . Coach. Coach is excited to be in the match. Coach says that he will take care of the other thing. La Résistance enter and they want to know about their spot in the Rumble. Eric says that there are others who want a spot. From out of nowhere, Batista enters. Batista says that he wants to be in the qualifying match. Grenier suggests that La Résistance face Batista for the spot in the Rumble. Batista doesn’t mind beating two men. Conway says that he will take the flag and shove it down his throat, but Batista says that when he wins, he will shove it somewhere else. We go to commercial.
We are back and Jim Ross is back at the announce position and Lawler talks about the main event and the Steve Austin update.
Coach is in the ring and he is the guest ring announcer. Tajiri is in the ring. This is an over the top rope challenge. His opponent is Viscera. Tajiri sprays the green mist in his face and then kicks Viscera. Viscera hits Tajiri when he tries for the handspring elbow. Viscera throws Tajiri over the top rope, and he is in the Royal Rumble.
Do you remember last week when Trish Stratus got choke slammed by Kane last wek in Toronto? How about the match between Kane and Snitsky, including the laugh they shared after Kane choke slammed Snitsky off the ramp? We go to commercial.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Last week’s six man match when La Résistance hit the Au Revoir on Rosey.
Tajiri is walking in the back and Maria stops him in the back for a few questions. She wants to know how he feels about losing a shot in the Royal Rumble. Tajiri speaks in Japanese. From out of nowhere, William Regal says that he has a plan for Tajiri to get back at Bischoff.
It is time for our next match and Batista comes to the ring. His opponents are Rob Conway and Sylvan Grenier for a spot in the Royal Rumble. Grenier grabs a mic before the match and he starts to sing O’Canada, but Batista stops him. Batista attacks Conway and then hits a shoulder block on Conway. Batista kicks Grenier and punches him in the corner and then hits shoulders in the corner followed by a hard Irish whip. Conway pulls Grenier out of the way when Batista charges at him in the corner and meets the ring post. Single arm DDT by Grenier to Batista and both men kick Batista. They continue to work on his arm. Grenier with a key lock and Conway kicks and slaps Batista. Batista throws Conway down, and then he slams Grenier. We see Hunter and Flair in the locker room. Batista with a clothesline to Grenier and then he hits Conway with a spinebuster on Grenier for the three count and Batista is in the Royal Rumble. We see Hunter and Flair applauding Batista’s performance. After the match, Batista grabs one of the flags and plants it La Résistance. Flair says that Batista was impressive, but Hunter says he has something impressive to do as we go to commercial.
We are back with footage from Hassan putting Jericho in the Camel Clutch.
It is time for our next match and it is a Royal Rumble Qualifying match. Out first is Muhammad Hassan (with Khosrow Daivari). His opponent is Val Venis. Before the match, Daivari tells Lillian Garcia to leave the ring, and he chases her around the ring. Daivari distracts Venis and then Hassan attacks him from behind. Hassan with an elbow drop to Venis’s back and a hard Irish whip. Hassan with a snap suplex followed by a forearm to Venis’s back. Hassan with a back breaker to Venis. Venis with a chop, but Hassan punches Venis. Daivari slaps Venis when Hassan distracted the ref. Hassan slams Venis and then kicks him in the head. Hassan puts Val in the Camel Clutch and then turns it into a front face lock. Val powers up and he punches Hassan, but Hassan works on Val’s back. Val with a short arm clothesline and both men are down. Venis punches Hassan and then chops him. Val with a shoulder block followed by clotheslines. Val with the belly-to- back into a sit out slam followed by the half nelson slam. Venis goes up top, but he misses the Money Shot. Hassan with the WMDDT for the three count. After the match, Hassan puts Val in the Camel Clutch while Daivari spits in Val’s face.
We go to the Evo-Locker Room where Flair is talking about Batista’s victory. Hunter enters the room and he tells Batista that he was right. Hunter says that Evolution needs to cover all their bases. Hunter says that there was one more spot and it needs to go to a legend. Hunter says that the final spot goes to Ric Flair. Flair says that he thought Evolution was concentrated on Orton. Hunter says that Flair and Batista will both be in the Rumble. Should Batista be eliminated in the Rumble, Flair will carry the torch. Flair says that Orton is going down. They huddle up as we go to commercial.
We are back and Maven is in the ring. He says that he has great news for everyone in Oklahoma City. Maven says that he has a second chance to get into the Royal Rumble. He will challenge anyone who has already qualified. Maven says when he wins, he gets the spot. There is a flash and Kane comes to the ring with his arm bandaged. Maven says that he didn’t mean Kane because he is in no shape to fight him. He says anybody else. What a surprise because Gene Snitsky comes to the ring and his ribs and arm are taped up. The ref tells Lillian Garcia that the match is a triple threat match. Kane and Snitsky face off and Snitsky pushes Kane in his injured arm. Kane with a punch to Snitsky’s ribs. Double Big Boot and both men are down. Maven covers Snitsky, but he gets a two count. Maven moves towards Kane, but Kane sits up. Kane with a clothesline to Snitsky. Snitsky hits Kane with his injured arm. Kane with an Irish whip and then he clotheslines Snitsky to the floor. Maven punches Kane in the injured arm. Kane grabs Maven by the throat and he choke slams Maven for the three count. We go to commercial, but we will hear what is up with Steve Austin when we return.
We are back and Christy is shooting shirts into the crowd.
It is time to see the press conference from last Wednesday. Vince McMahon introduces the man who broke every box office record in the WWE. Steve Austin comes out. Austin talks about how much he enjoys coming out in front of WWE fans, and it is like being back home. Vince talks about the electricity in the air when Austin is there. We see footage for the Best Damn Sports Show Period when Vince and Austin appeared. They talk about the three picture deal that he signed.
It is time to run through the Royal Rumble card at this time. First, we go to the Smackdown matches. We have the casket match with Heidenreich facing Taker; and the Triple Threat match with Big Show and Kurt Angle challenging Bradshaw. Cole mentions that the last two Rumble winners were on the Smackdown roster. Now, on to the Raw matches. Edge will face Shawn Michaels; and Triple H will face Randy Orton for the World title.
We go to Todd Grisham who is with Edge. Todd wants to talk about last week when Edge ‘brutally attacked’ Shawn Michaels by spearing him and putting him in a ‘submission move’. Edge says that he is sick of hearing people say that he has changed. Edge is a realist since he has missed TWO Wrestlemanias with a broken neck. He says that he can beat Shawn Michaels and win the Royal Rumble in the same match. Edge says that Shawn Michaels is a man who knows nothing about pain and sacrifice.
We see Randy Orton walking in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back with a Chris Masters vignette.
It is time for the main event and out first is Ric Flair (with Batista and Triple H). Out next is Randy Orton. Orton with a side head lock followed by a shoulder block and a slap to Flair. Flair with a side head lock and a shoulder block. Orton with a standing drop kick. Flair with an eye poke and a chop. Flair chops Orton in the corner and then he punches Orton and chops him some more. Orton is bleeding from his forehead. Orton blocks a punch and then he puts Flair in the corner and punches him. Time for the Flair ‘I am not a stuntman’ Flop. Orton with a back body drop. Flair rolls outside the ring and Orton goes after him. Flair chops Orton while Orton responds with punches. Orton sends Flair into the front row. Flair with another eye poke. Flair goes up top, and since it is Ric Flair, Orton grabs him and slams him down to the mat. Orton with another back body drop. Hunter trips Orton as he comes off the ropes and then Flair sends Orton over the top rope to the floor. The ref yells at Batista for tripping Orton, and sends him to the back. Hunter has that innocent look on his face as Batista is not a happy camper before he goes to the back. We go to commercial.
We are back and Flair chops Orton, but Orton responds with punches. Orton with an Irish whip and Flair does the Flair Flip, but he goes to the floor instead of running the apron. Orton suplexes Flair back into the ring. Orton kicks Flair, but Flair holds onto the ropes when Orton tries for a drop kick. Hunter gets on the apron and Flair with a kick to Orton’s lower groin. Flair with the rolling knee drop and then he punches Orton on the forehead. Flair continues the attack with more punches. While Flair distracts the ref, Hunter attacks Orton while he lies across the apron. Flair drops Orton across the top rope. Flair chops Orton, but Orton does not go down. Orton starts to ‘Hulk Up’ as Flair’s attack has no effect. Orton punches Flair and then the attack continues in the corner. Orton goes up for the punches of ten and time for another Flair Flop. Orton with a back body drop and a clothesline. Orton with a back breaker. Orton with a power slam, but he only gets a two count. Orton knocks Hunter off the apron, but Flair with a clip on Orton. Flair tries for the Figure Four, but Orton sends Flair into the ref. Hunter comes in and hits Orton in the knee with the belt. Flair puts Orton in the Figure Four, but the ref is still down. Another ref comes in, and Orton gets up before the three count. Flair punches Orton, but Orton ‘Hulks Up’ again. Orton reverses the hold and Flair is about to tap, but Hunter pulls this ref out of the ring. Hunter with an elbow drop on Orton. Hunter works on Orton’s leg. Flair continues to work on Orton’s leg. Hunter goes up to the second turnbuckle, but he comes off into a boot from Orton that sends Hunter outside the ring and he knocks Flair down. Orton with an RKO, and the ref recovers in time to make the three count. After the match, Orton holds the belt and tells Hunter to come in the ring and get it. Orton holds the belt over his head as we go to credits.
Source: PWInsider.com
