Full Credit: Todd Martin, Wrestling Observer
WWE Raw Report
By: Todd Martin
Email: MartinT2007@lawnet.ucla.edu
Date: 05/09/05 from Wilkes-Barre, PA.
The Big News: Edge and Kane won their semi-final matches, and they will meet
next week for a title shot. Obviously, the speculation in many circles will
be that Lita is turning on Kane and joining Edge. I, on the other hand,
predict a run-in by Rockin’ Robin.
Title Changes/Turns: None.
Match Results: Chris Jericho b Khosrow Daivari; Viscera b Sylvan Grenier;
Kane b Chris Benoit; Ric Flair b Tyson Tomko; Shelton Benjamin b Robert
Conway; Edge b Shawn Michaels.
Show Analysis:
The show started with La Resistance in Eric Bischoff’s office. Well, at
least it did for me, as I arrived late. I never thought I would use all six
hours for my Con Law exam. Anyway, here’s a recap of what I missed, combined
and condensed from other sources:
HHH started the show by saying Bischoff is afraid to give him a rematch with
Batista. Batista came out, noting he beat HHH twice and Benoit made HHH tap.
He said HHH isn’t good enough to face him. HHH threatened to leave Raw if he
doesn’t get a title shot, and Batista said he’s a poor loser. HHH left and
drove away. Chris Jericho beat Khosrow Daivari. Before the match Daivari
begged Hassan for forgiveness. He issued an open challenge to anyone
backstage. Jericho beat him with the Walls, and Hassan jumped Jericho after.
Benjamin made the save. Eric Bischoff told Christy he hopes she is drafted
to Smackdown, and he will replace her with the new Diva Search winner.
Now back to Resistance. They argued about who was to blame for their loss
last week. Eric Bischoff said they could both have singles matches to prove
who the best is. Christian backstage mocked Ric Flair, who challenged
Christian to a match. They aired an advertisement for ECW One Night Stand.
They did a WWE 24/7 flashback to Jerry Lawler winning the AWA Title fifteen
years ago today.
Viscera, who received a face reaction from some fans, beat Sylvan Grenier
with the sit down power bomb. Viscera stole a fan’s nachos after the match
and came on to Lillian. A weird segment took place backstage where Kane
alluded to Lita saying she hoped he would rot in hell, and said he would
become champion. Kane said he always gets what he wants, and Lita said so
does she. This was so bizarre that I have to figure they are breaking up
next week during the Edge/Kane match. I think you have to put Lita and Edge
together at this point, to try to convert the heat into something usable.
Kane beat Chris Benoit. There were immediate chants of “you screwed Matt.”
Benoit hit the diving head butt and an enzuigiri. He was going to attack
Kane to the outside, but Lita hurt her knee, and Benoit tried to help her.
Kane assaulted him from behind and hit the choke slam for the pin.
Ric Flair beat Tyson Tomko. Christian said Flair would have to go through
Tomko, so Flair did. I liked this, as it added some build to a
Flair/Christian match. Flair used a chop block and applied the figure four
quickly. Christian raked Flair’s face, so the referee ejected him. While he
was leaving, Flair used a low blow and grabbed the tights for the pin.
Stacy plugged a Stuff Magazine spread. Simon and Maven came out and insulted
her, but Hurricane and Rosey made the save. Coach alluded to an ECW PPV, and
there were ECW chants from the crowd. Bischoff was annoyed, and threatened
to squash ECW. That would have been the biggest program in ECW history if it
could have been done when ECW was still around.
Shelton Benjamin beat Robert Conway with a crescent kick and springboard
bulldog. Hassan and Daivari jumped Benjamin after the match. They aired the
Bad, Bad Man video, which is a real bad idea. If this is the first
impression they want to leave non-fans with, it makes Cena look like a total
joke. He needs to establish some semblance of credibility first. Shawn
Michaels was interviewed backstage by the mentally handicapped woman. Sorry,
she passed the threshold past just being really stupid. Michaels put over
Shelton Benjamin and promised to beat Edge.
Edge beat Shawn Michaels. Michaels used a springboard crossbody to the floor
early. Edge used a stun gun to turn the tide, and controlled the match for a
while. Michaels came back with a flying forearm and elbow off the top. He
went for sweet chin music but Edge avoided it. Michaels accidentally knocked
out the referee. Edge hit the leaping DDT, and went for the spear, but
walked into sweet chin music. There was no referee, and Edge tried to hit
Michaels with the briefcase. Michaels avoided that and used the sunset flip,
but Edge clobbered him with the briefcase for the pin.
