Full Credit: Richard Trionfo, PWInsider.com
Raw Report for March 21, 2005
by Richard Trionfo
We are less than two weeks from Wrestlemania 21, and it is time to see what the Raw brand will do to make people want to buy the pay per view on April 3rd instead of watching the season opener for the Red Sox and Yankees. Will we see more from Marty Jannetty? Will we see the Undertaker confront Randy Orton? Will we see any other Divas get a bit too excited being beaten up? Will Christy kick anyone else in the groin?
We are live from Birmingham, Alabama, and your announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler.
We start off with Shawn Michaels coming to the ring for a match. His opponent is Rob Conway (Sylvan Grenier). Do you remember last week when the Rockers reunited and defeated La Résistance? Michaels with a hammer lock and side head lock. Grenier trips Michaels off the ropes. Conway with an elbow and then he kicks Michaels. Michaels slides through Conway’s legs and pulls him out of the ring. Michaels with punches for both Conway and Grenier. Michaels with a pescado onto Conway and Grenier. Conway punches Michaels and chops him in the corner. Michaels with chops of his own to Conway. Conway with a hard Irish whip and Michaels does the Michaels flip to the floor. Conway distracts the ref and Grenier hits Michaels with the flag. Grenier rolls Michaels back into the ring and Conway with a quick cover. Conway knocks Michaels out of the ring and we go to commercial.
We are back and Conway has Michaels in a neck vice. Michaels with a chop to Conway. Conway throws Michaels over the top rope, but he holds on and skins the cat. Michaels chops Conway. Conway with a jaw breaker and then he punches Michaels. Conway and Michaels exchange punches and chops. Michaels with a flying forearm and kip up followed by a reverse atomic drop and punches. Michaels with a back body drop to Conway and Grenier gets on the apron, but Michaels knocks him off. Michaels slams Conway and then goes up top for the flying elbow drop and hits it. Michaels sets up for Sweet Chin Music and hits it for the three count.
It is time to take a look at Kurt Angle and here is a video package about him and his hatred for Shawn Michaels. It mentions all of Kurt’s accomplishments with match footage included. We see Kurt making people tap in the ankle lock.
We go to the back and Christy is walking with William Regal, Tajiri, and Lita as they prepare for their six person match. Christy says that she has been working on her kicks and offers to demonstrate, but Regal and Tajiri protect themselves. We go to commercial.
We are back and there is big news about the Hall of Fame ceremony. Sylvester Stallone will be inducting Hulk Hogan.
It is time for our next match and out first is Christy Hemme (with Lita). Out next are her tag team partners, the tag team champions William Regal and Tajiri. Their opponents are Maven, Simon Dean (with bag of stuff), and Molly Holly. Before the match begins, Trish Stratus comes to the ring. Regal and Dean start things off. Dean with a hammer lock, but Regal with a hammer lock take down. Regal with a side head lock and forearm. Regal with a shoulder block and wrist lock take down. Tajiri tags in. Regal with a drop toe hold followed by a drop kick from Tajiri. Maven comes in and gets chopped for his efforts. Maven trips Tajiri off the ropes. Maven tags in and he stomps on Tajiri. Maven punches Tajiri and then throws him down by the hair. Simon tags back in and then give Tajiri a double hip toss slam and then Simon and Maven do push ups. Simon with a front face lock to Tajiri. Tajiri tries to make the tag, but Simon knocks Regal off the apron. Tajiri with a jumping heel kick to Simon. Molly and Christy tag in. Trish distracts Christy allowing Molly to hit her from behind. Christy with kicks to Molly. Molly with a knee to Christy followed by an Irish whip. Christy with a sunset flip to Molly, but Simon breaks up the cover. Regal with a knee to Simon’s head. Tajiri with a baseball slide to Maven outside the ring. Molly slams Christy and then goes up top, but misses the Molly Go Round. Christy hits a Modified Twist of Fate on Molly for the three count. After the match, Trish and Christy have words for each other as Trish goes to the back.
Triple H is walking in the back and he knocks a guy into the wall. Hunter does not look to be in a good mood as we go to commercial.
We are back with a Stone Cold Stunner moment: Steve Austin visits Vince McMahon in the hospital in 1998.
It is time to ‘play the Game’ as the World Champion, Triple H (with GameFountain) comes to the ring. Hunter brings a chair into the ring with him. Hunter has a seat while h gets ready to say something. Hunter says that it never ceases to amaze him how underappreciated he is for the sacrifices that he makes. He talks about what he had to do to make a future for this company. He did a lot to make Randy Orton and Dave Batista into stars. Along with Ric Flair, they formed Evolution, the greatest force ever in this business. He says that some would say that they were unstoppable. However, that was not true because it could be stopped, only by itself. It was stopped by the jealousy and greed of Orton and Batista. Orton was on top when he was in Evolution. He was the youngest heavyweight champion, but then he made a bad decision. He turned on Hunter. It has been eight months, and now Orton is groveling for the scraps of Wrestlemania. Orton is facing Taker at Mania only to make a name for himself. In Evolution, Randy groveled for nothing because he had a name and he was a star. The same can be said for Batista. Batista made the bad decision after the Royal Rumble when Batista turned on him. He could have made the right decision and could have beaten Bradshaw or Cena. He could even beat both of them in the same match. However, he made the wrong decision, and he will lose at Wrestlemania. Hunter says that Batista is not good enough, and not even at his level. Hunter says that Batista wasn’t even at Wrestlemania long enough to get a cup of coffee. Hunter reminds us that he has won the title ten times and is the greatest wrestler alive today. Hunter says that everyone says that they are the greatest . . . the best . . . the icon. Hunter mentions that people even call themselves a ‘Wrestling God’ and that is a joke. There is only one guy who is considered the best, and that his him. Hunter mentions that he faced the man Hunter ‘could not beat’, but that was until last week when Hunter beat Benoit. Hunter tells Dave that he is making some bad decisions. Hunter tells Batista that to make the right decision, you have somebody face someone like Kane. Hunter says that the match between Batista and Kane is a lumberjack match. The lumberjacks will be picked by Hunter and anything goes. Hunter says that Batista was like a brother to him, and Batista crushed Hunter’s heart when he turned on him. Hunter says that when you have a pet, you nurture it and groom it. When the animal turns around and bites your hands. Nothing will stop Hunter from finishing off Batista and putting the Animal down. We go to commercial.
We are back with the Stack of the Night: Chris Jericho helping Shelton Benjamin in his match with Edge last week.
It is time for our next match and it is time to countdown to Chris Jericho. Out next is his tag team partner, Shelton Benjamin. Out next are their opponents. Out first is the Christian Coalition, Christian (with Tyson Tomko). You think you know his partner and it is Edge. Christian and Jericho start things off. Christian with a go behind and Jericho with a side head lock. Jericho with shoulder blocks followed by a forearm. Edge hits Jericho as he comes off the ropes. Edge holds Jericho, but Christian knocks Edge off the apron. Jericho throws Christian over the top rope. Edge, Christian, and Tomko argue and Jericho hits a baseball slide on all three men. Benjamin hits a plancha onto all three men. Jericho with a belly-to-back suplex on Edge. Benjamin tags in and kicks Edge. Benjamin punches Edge and then hits a back elbow. Benjamin goes up for the punches of ten, but Tomko distracts the ref, allowing Christian to drop Benjamin on the top rope. Edge punches Benjamin and then Christian tags in. Christian with an open hand slap followed by a neck breaker. Christian continues to work on Benjamin’s neck. Christian with a knee to Benjamin. Christian draws Jericho into the ring and Edge and Christian double team Benjamin while the ref is distracted by Jericho. Edge tags in and hits a drop kick. Christian tags in and he stomps on Benjamin. Benjamin punches Christian, but Christian punches back. Benjamin with a modified neck breaker to Christian and then he tags in Jericho. Jericho with a kick and chop to Christian. Jericho with a spinning heel kick to Christian and a hip toss to Edge. Jericho with a double bulldog and then he hits a Lionsault on Christian. He puts Edge in the Walls of Jericho, but he releases the hold and hits a springboard drop kick to Tomko and knocks him off the apron. Christian with an inverted DDT and we go to commercial.
We are back and Christian and Jericho are down in the ring. Edge and Benjamin make the tags. Benjamin punches Edge and then he hits Christian. Benjamin with a back body drop to Edge followed by one to Christian. Benjamin with a power slam to Edge. Christian punches Benjamin. Benjamin comes off Edge’s back and hits a flying clothesline. He follows that with a Dragon Whip to Edge. Jericho comes in and Edge and Christian double team him. Edge and Christian try to give Jericho a double suplex, but Jericho lands on his feet and then he gives a double neck breaker. Jericho clotheslines Christian over the top rope to the floor. Jericho tries for a springboard splash on Tomko, but he jumps into a Tomko boot. Benjamin tosses Christian into the air and hits a Stinger Splash on Christian. Edge sets up for the Spear, but Benjamin kicks Edge. Christian hits Benjamin the corner with the Intercontinental title belt and then Edge hits the Spear for the three count. After the match, Edge and Christian continue the assault on Benjamin and Jericho, but from out of nowhere Chris Benoit comes out and he gives a German Suplex to Edge and Christian. Tomko gets the ladder and hits Benoit in the chest and back with the ladder. We go to commercial.
We are back and the heels are in the locker room. Ric Flair enters and he says that he wants them to feel good for supporting Triple H in the lumberjack match tonight. Flair says that Batista screwed all of them by not going to Smackdown when he had the chance. Batista was selfish. None of them were able to get a match with Hunter at Wrestlemania. Flair tells them that tonight is their own Wrestlemania. Flair says that he will be watching since there is an opening in Evolution. They are looking for someone to step up and join Evolution. Flair tells Hassan that the money where he comes from is chump change.
Batista is in his locker room and there is a knock at the door. Eric Bischoff enters and he tells Batista that he knew nothing about the lumberjack stipulation. Bischoff asks Batista if he knows what it is like to be a marked man. Batista says that he does not know what it is like, but he will when he wins the title at Wrestlemania. Bischoff says that he will be honored to have Batista as his World Champion if he beats Hunter at Wrestlemania. Batista asks Bischoff if he ever thought about running for office. Batista says that Bischoff would make a great politician. Batista comes back and suggests that it would be better if Bischoff was a used car salesman.
We go elsewhere in the back where Randy Orton and Stacy are talking. Stacy asks Randy if he thinks he should be doing this. Orton says that he has an answer for Taker and it is in the box that he is holding. He asks Stacy to join him in the ring.
We go to commercial with a look at Jake Roberts’ appearance on Raw last week and the RKO that Orton gave to Jake.
We are back with the Smackdown Rebound featuring the contract signing.
It is time for Randy Orton (with Stacy Keibler) to come to the ring. Orton gets a mic because he has something to say. Orton says that he wants to make one thing clear. When he slapped Taker last week, it was not to disrespect him. He was showing everyone that he will not back down from Taker. Orton says that his confidence is at an all-time high. Orton opens the box and he takes out a Randy Orton ‘Legend Killer Tour’ shirt. He has added Taker’s name to the shirt. Randy says that he was meant to end Taker’s streak at Wrestlemania. Orton will not fall victim like the others. Time for a Randy Orton video package. Orton says that in two weeks, Taker’s streak and legend will both be dead. Orton says that he needed to say that for a long time out loud. Randy says that he has something that he has wanted to do to Stacy for a long time. Randy holds her hand and then kisses her. Orton says that he thrives on positive energy and he will not listen to anyone who is negative and thinks that he will lose and become a victim of the Undertaker. Then Orton gives Stacy an RKO. Two refs check on Stacy while he leaves the ring. We go to commercial.
We are back with a Hulkamania Moment: Hogan at Wrestlemania V against Randy Savage.
Tyson Tomko is in the ring awaiting his opponent. We have an Earlier Tonight moment when Tomko attacked Benoit with the ladder. What a coincidence that his opponent is Chris Benoit (with taped ribs). Tomko knocks Benoit out of the ring as he enters. Benoit sends Tomko into the corner and then hits the Hat Trick German Suplex Combo. Benoit goes up top and hits the diving head butt, but only gets a two count. Benoit with a forearm to Tomko’s back. Tomko with a boot to Benoit, but Benoit gets his foot on the rope. Tomko punches Benoit and then chokes him. Tomko sets up for the Big Boot, but Benoit moves. Benoit locks in the Crippler Crossface and Tomko taps.
Shawn Michaels is in a suit and he is stopped by Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari. He talks about the adversity that both have faced, but Michaels knows nothing about what Hassan has faced. It is discrimination that is keeping him off Wrestlemania. Hassan says that he has not been pinned, and he should be on Wrestlemania. Michaels says that Hassan has earned nothing. Michaels says that next week, he will face Hassan. Then Hassan will learn why Shawn Michaels is known as Mr. Wrestlemania. We go to commercial.
We are back with the newest Wrestlemania commercial. Tryouts for Taxi Driver.
It is time for the main event, and out first is Triple H. He is joined by Ric Flair and the rest of the lumberjacks. The lumberjacks are Viscera, Simon Dean, Sylvan Grenier, Rob Conway, Gene Snitsky, Chris Masters, Jonathan Coachman, Maven, Christian, Edge, Tyson Tomko, Muhammad Hassan, and Khosrow Daivari. Hunter and Flair join Ross and Lawler at the announce position. We go to commercial.
We are back and Hunter and Flair are still with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler. Jim Ross announces that Batista and Hunter will be facing off in the ring next week.
It is time for the first participant in the lumberjack match, Kane. Out next is Batista. Kane with a kick to Batista. Batista with an Irish whip followed by a power slam. Batista goes out of the ring after Daivari and Hassan hits him. Kane goes after Batista, but Batista slams Kane into the ringside barrier. Masters attacks Batista before he enters the ring. Kane with a big boot. Batista with a clothesline to Kane. Batista punches Kane in the corner. Batista is grabbed by Conway and Grenier. They try to pull him into the ring post, but Batista is too strong and he sends them into the ringside barrier. Kane with a DDT followed by a choke. Kane punches Batista in the corner. Kane with a Nash Clothesline followed by a cover for a two count. Batista punches Kane, but Kane responds with an uppercut. Kane with a drop kick to Batista’s head. Kane punches Batista and chokes him on the ropes. Kane punches Batista in the corner, but Batista punches his way out of the corner. Kane with an Irish whip followed by a side slam and then he goes up top. First, he gives Snitsky a big boot from the apron. Batista slams Kane from the top turnbuckle. Batista with a Nash clothesline followed by a suplex. Batista with a clothesline. Kane sets up for a choke slam, but Batista escapes. Batista sets up Kane for the Sit Out BatistaBomb, but Kane runs him into the corner. Kane and Batista knock heads. Batista goes down and Kane goes outside the ring. Snitsky attacks Kane and then Kane punches Snitsky into the crowd. Kane attacks Simon Dean and Viscera while the rest go after Batista. Tomko, Christian, and Edge attack Kane in the ring. Batista powers off and he gives Masters a clothesline. He sends Grenier into the ring post. Maven goes into the steps. Batista drops Coach on the ringside barrier. Batista with a back body drop to Tomko followed by Spinebusters to Edge and Christian. Kane sits up and he gives Batista a choke slam, but Batista kicks out at two. Kane tries to get Kane into a Tombstone, but Batista escapes and he hits a spinebuster on Kane and then gives him a Sit Out BatistaBomb for the three count. Batista stares down Hunter from the ring while Hunter gets on the announce table. We go to credits.
