Last night, Kurt Angle won his title match against John Cena, but he did not become the WWE champion because of a disqualification. However, the boyhood dream of Ric Flair was attained when the sixteen-time (or more if you remember the recap of Ric Flair’s title runs on PWInsider.com) World Champion became a one-time Intercontinental champion. What will happen with the new tag team champions, Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade? Will Gene Snitsky have the same miracle cure that Matt Hardy and Edge had to appear on Raw this week after getting slammed in the back of the neck with the ring bell? What is next for Chris Masters since he lost to Shawn Michaels last night? What will Maria say on this week’s show? What is next for the women’s champion since she was successful in her return to the ring last night? What surprises will happen on the final two episodes of Raw on SpikeTV before they return to USA Network?
We are live from Wichita Falls, Texas and your announcers are Jim ‘On the bad side of the Red River’ Ross, Jonathan ‘third wheel in the booth’ Coachman, and Jerry ‘Where is my Intercontinental Title Shot’ Lawler.
We begin with Eric Bischoff coming to the ring with the old WWE title belt with Kurt Angle’s name on the belt. He has a mic. He says that after last night there is a great deal of confusion as to who the WWE champion is. Eric is here to clear things up. Eric has a major announcement to make. First, he wants to introduce the only Olympic gold medalist in the WWE, Kurt Angle who comes to the ring. Eric and Kurt hug in the ring. Eric says that last night, John Cena showed a flagrant disregard for the rules and authority. Cena even put his hands on Eric Bischoff. Being the general manager, it means that he can do something about it. Eric is stripping John Cena of the WWE title. Before Eric can introduce the new champion, there is NO CHANCE that Vince McMahon (with Stunt Walk) would not miss an opportunity to come to the ring. Vince shakes Kurt and Eric’s hands. Eric did not expect Vince to be here so early. Kurt says that Vince wanted to come down and congratulate Kurt for beating John Cena and putting on a great show. Vince congratulates Kurt for beating John Cena. Vince says that he has a bone to pick with Eric. Kurt cuts Vince off and says that as new champion, he will bring the ‘Three I’s’ intensity, integrity, and intelligence. The company needs a hero like Kurt Angle. Someone they can look up to. Vince stops Kurt and wants to know who in the hell named Kurt Angle the WWE champion. Kurt says that Eric did it. Vince tells Eric that he does not have the power to strip John Cena of the championship. There are only two ways to win the title, pinfall or submission. Vince asks Eric what happened last night. Eric tells Vince that Cena attacked him. Vince mocks Eric and tells him to SHUT THE HELL UP. Vince says that Angle won the match last night, but it was by disqualification. John Cena is still the WWE champion. Vince says that it is time to make an announcement now. Vince says that in two weeks, it will be the biggest night in Raw history. There will be a ‘WWE Homecoming’ where you will see Mick Foley, Triple H, Hulk Hogan, and Steve Austin. There will be another thing that will happen in two weeks, and Vince says that he has the authority to do this. Kurt asks if it will involve him. There will be a WWE title match in two weeks. John Cena will face . . . Eric Bischoff. Eric is not happy and Vince takes the belt from Eric’s shoulder. As Vince walks up the ramp, Kurt has some words for Eric.
We see Trish stretching in the back as she gets ready for her match. We go to commercial.
We are back and we hear the theme song from last night’s pay per view.
Eric is begging for mercy saying he is not a wrestler. Vince reminds Eric that he has a karate background. Eric says that he would be better off doing his thing behind the scenes. Vince says that he will think about what Eric said. Vince says that he thought about it . . . and the match is still on.
It is time for our first match, Torrie Wilson (with Candice, Victoria, and Torrie’s dog) versus Trish Stratus (with Ashley) in a non-title match. Trish grabs Victoria’s hair, but Torrie knocks Trish to the floor. Torrie rolls Trish back in and kicks Trish in the ribs. Trish with a punch to Torrie and Torrie rolls outside. Trish goes after Torrie and pushes Victoria down. Trish with a kick to Torrie and Ashley with a clothesline to Victoria and Candice outside the ring. Trish with kicks in the corner followed by a chop and another kick. Trish with an Irish whip followed by a kick in the corner. Candice gets on the apron to distract the ref, and that allows Victoria to push Trish down. Torrie yells at Victoria and Trish with a rollup.
Winner: Trish Stratus
After the match, Victoria and Candice come in the ring to attack Trish and Ashley. Trish with the matrix and Torrie accidentally clotheslines Candice. Victoria punches Torrie while Candice gives Ashley a neck breaker followed by an X Factor from Torrie. Victoria with a Widow’s Peak to Trish. We go to commercial with a reminder that Triple H will be back on October 3rd.
We are back with the WWE Rewind: Trevor Murdoch and Lance Cade win the tag titles at Unforgiven.
It is time for our next match, Trevor Murdoch (with Lance Cade) versus The Hurricane (with Rosey). Murdoch with a knee and forearm, but Hurricane backs Murdoch into the corner. Hurricane with kicks to Murdoch and Trevor goes outside the ring to regroup. Hurricane with a hip toss to Trevor and then he goes back outside the ring. Rosey throws Trevor back into the ring. Hurricane with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors followed by punches to Murdoch’s head. Murdoch sends Hurricane into the turnbuckle and Murdoch continues the attack with a forearm to Hurricane’s head. Trevor works on Hurricane’s neck and has Hurricane in a rear chin lock. Hurricane with a punch, but Trevor with a punch of his own. Murdoch tries for DDT, but Hurricane is able to avoid the hold by holding on to the ropes. Hurricane with punches followed by a high knee and clothesline. Hurricane goes up to the second turnbuckle for a missile drop kick, but Hurricane lands on his ‘injured’ shoulder. Hurricane with forearms to Murdoch in the corner and then he goes up for the ‘punches of ten’. Murdoch grabs Hurricane at four and hits a hot shot on the turnbuckle followed by a DDT for the three count.
Winner: Trevor Murdoch
Todd ‘Can I borrow some of those pills’ Grisham is in the interview area with Carlito. Carlito says that he did not tap out. He was reaching for the ropes and his hand hit the mat instead of the ropes. Todd says that they can look at the footage, but Carlito says it does not matter. When Carlito wins the title back, it will be cool. We go to commercial with a reminder that Mick Foley will be on Raw in two weeks.
We are back and Edge tells Eric that he is Money in the Bank. Last night, Matt went too far and touched his woman. Edge wants Matt fired again. Eric asks Edge if he is demanding something. Eric says that Edge is not the only person around her with problems. Edge has the audacity to demand things from him. It is painfully obvious that Matt and Edge cannot co-exist. At WWE Homecoming, on the night when Eric can become the WWE champion, Edge will face Matt Hardy in a loser leave Raw match. It will be a ladder match. Edge wonders what will be hanging above the ring. Bischoff says that the briefcase will be hung above the ring. The winner gets the title match; the loser has to worry about the door hitting him in the ass.
It is time for our next match, Tyson Tomko versus Eddie Craven. Tomko pushes Craven instead of a clean break. Craven gets caught in the ropes and Tomko with a kick to Craven’s head that sends him to the floor. Tomko rolls Craven back into the ring. Craven with a forearm to Tomko. Tomko with the big boot and Craven is out. The ref calls for the bell.
Winner: Tyson Tomko
We take a look back at the problems between Ric Flair and Carlito and see the video package that aired before their match at Unforgiven plus photos from the end of last night’s match when Flair won the title.
It is time for our next match, Carlito versus Ric Flair for the Intercontinental Title. Before Flair comes out, we go to commercial with a reminder that Hulk Hogan will be on Raw in 2 weeks.
We are back and it is time for the champ to come to the ring. The ref holds Carlito back before the match officially begins. Flair struts as the bell rings and then he woooos a few times. Flair backs Carlito into the corner and makes Carlito flinch with a woooo. Carlito with a side head lock followed by a shoulder tackle. Flair with a knee and a chop that sends Carlito to the mat and then Carlito goes outside the ring and attacks the ringside barrier. Carlito returns to the ring and he has an arm bar on Carlito followed by a chop. Flair chops Carlito in the corner and then connects with a punch. Flair with boots to Carlito’s leg, but Carlito goes outside the ring to regroup. Flair with a side head lock into a single leg take down and hammer lock. Flair with a boot to Carlito’s arm and then he chops Carlito two more times. Flair with an arm bar on Carlito. Carlito with a rake to the eyes and then he clotheslines Flair over the top rope to the floor. Carlito kicks Flair when he returns to the ring. Carlito punches and kicks Flair in the corner. Carlito with an Irish whip and back body drop. Carlito kicks Flair in the head and he backs into the corner. Carlito continues the attack with a punch and more kicks to Flair’s head. Flair with an eye poke and chop to Carlito that sends Carlito to the mat. Flair with another chop. Flair with a boot to Carlito’s ribs and then he puts Carlito in the ropes and prepares for the Testicular Claw, but Carlito gets off the ropes and he kicks Flair. Carlito goes up and punches Flair in the corner. Time for the Flair Flop. Carlito chops Flair in the corner, but it is time for Flair to chop Carlito. Flair with an Irish whip and he chops Carlito as he comes off the ropes. Flair goes outside the ring and gets Carlito’s apple. Flair spits some apple in Carlito’s face and then chops Carlito again. Flair stretches Carlito’s face and then punches Carlito in the corner. Flair with another chop to Carlito and then he struts. Flair drops Carlito’s neck on the top rope, and then he does it again. Flair chokes Carlito on the apron. Flair tries to suplex Carlito into the ring, but Carlito blocks it. Carlito tries to suplex Flair to the floor, but Flair blocks it. Flair sends Carlito’s head into the turnbuckle and then chops Carlito off the apron to the floor. Carlito heads to the back and we go to commercial.
We are back and Carlito slaps Flair in the corner. Flair responds with chops of his own. During the break, Carlito punches Flair on the ramp and then sends Flair into the rings steps. Back to live action. Carlito with a standing drop kick to Flair for a two count. Carlito continues the attack with a swinging neck breaker for another two count. Carlito with a reverse chin lock. Flair with punches to Carlito’s ribs and chops. Carlito with a spinebuster to Flair for a two count. Carlito with a suplex to Flair and another two count. Carlito punches Flair followed by a boot to Flair’s face. Carlito punches Flair in the corner and goes up for the punches of ten, but Flair stops him and hits a reverse atomic drop followed by a chop. Flair goes down too after the chop. Flair with a chop to Carlito and he struts followed by an elbow drop, despite Carlito’s attempt to roll out of the way. Flair with an Irish whip, but Carlito comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Carlito punches Flair while Flair chops Carlito. Flair spits in Carlito’s face and then kicks Carlito. Carlito and Flair exchange chops until Flair with thumbs to Carlito’s eyes and a chop. Flair with punches to Carlito followed by one more chop. Flair with a back elbow to Carlito off the ropes. Flair goes up top, but Carlito stops him. Flair knocks Carlito off and he hits a forearm off the top rope. Flair celebrates and then he clips Carlito. Carlito pulls Flair out of the ring. Carlito runs Flair’s back into the ring apron followed by a chop. Carlito rolls Flair back into the ring. Carlito takes his time getting back in the ring. Flair kicks the ropes. Flair puts Carlito in the figure four and Flair uses the rope for leverage and Carlito taps out.
Winner: Ric Flair
Todd Grisham is in the interview area with Matt Hardy. Todd talks about the Twist of Fate to Lita and the leg drop from the top of the cage last night. Matt says that things are not over yet. He will be on the opposite side of the ring tonight, but in two weeks he will have the money in the bank ladder match with the loser leaving Raw. From out of nowhere, Shawn Michaels asks if he heard ‘ladder match’. People are talking about the cage match, but they are also talking about the Shawn Michaels/Chris Masters match that stole the show. From out of nowhere, Big Show comes out and he say that there is nobody bigger than him. From out of yet another nowhere, John Cena comes out and says that no matter how big Show is, he is not as big as the team that will be in the ring tonight. Cena says that if necessary, he will get Show to eat someone. Show says that they will need some BBQ sauce. Cena says that one note from Sweet Chin Music and it will be lights out. Cena says who wouldn’t want a partner that will not die. Cena gets to Grisham and asks him what he can do. Cena says that there is one move that spells it out for Snitsky, Masters, Edge, and Angle . . . F-U. We go to commercial with the reminder that Steve Austin will be on Raw in two weeks.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Matt Hardy hitting the leg drop from the top of the cage last night.
We are reminded that in two weeks we will see Edge versus Matt Hardy in a ‘Money in the Bank’ ladder match with the loser leaving Raw. Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley, Triple H, and Steve Austin will be there too. There will be other Hall of Famers there too. Don’t forget that John Cena will defend the title against Eric Bischoff.
Maria is in the interview area with Ric Flair. Maria asks Ric about his eye. Maria wants to know why he is called the ‘Nature Boy’. Ric says that he is called the Nature Boy because he can go all night long. Since he won the title, he left the town with four beautiful women and partied with them all night long. Flair says that he never confuses business with pleasure. He is able to differentiate between work time and play time. He found out for the second time that you do not mess with the Nature Boy. From out of nowhere, Carlito says that he was screwed for the second night. Flair punches Carlito, but Chris Masters comes out and puts Ric Flair in the Master Lock while Carlito kicks Flair. Carlito spits apple in Flair’s face and then Masters and Carlito leave. A referee checks on Flair while we go to commercial.
We are back with an Unforgiven video package from last night’s pay per view with a reminder that there are encores.
We have a Moments Ago Moment from when Carlito and Chris Masters attack Ric Flair in the interview area.
Jim Ross says that it shows how cutthroat the Intercontinental title has become with Carlito and Masters attacking Flair. Jim Ross says that you better be careful when you cross the dirtiest player in the game.
We have a Smackdown Rebound.
It is time for the main event, Kurt Angle, Gene Snitsky, Chris Masters (with Golden Shower Version 4.0), and Edge (with briefcase) versus John Cena, Big Show, Shawn Michaels, and Matt Hardy. We go to commercial before the action starts.
We are back and John Cena with clotheslines to Edge as the match has begun. Cena with an Irish whip and suplex to Edge. Cena with elbow drops on Edge. Show tags in and he gives Edge a head butt. Show steps on Edge’s back two times. Edge rakes Show’s eyes and he tags in Masters. Masters kicks and chops Show. Show returns the favor with a chop on Masters followed by a head butt. Show tags in Hardy who punches Masters. Masters punches Hardy and tags in Cena. Cena punches Masters, but Masters with a knee to Cena followed by a forearm. Cena with a kick to Masters off the ropes. Masters with a rake of the eyes and he suplexes Cena for a two count. Masters tries for another suplex, but Cena blocks it and hits a suplex of his own. Hardy tags in and punches Masters. Hardy slams Masters’s head into the turnbuckle followed by a running clothesline into the corner. Michaels tags in and he chops Masters and slams his head into the turnbuckle. Masters with an Irish whip and Michaels does the Michaels flip out of the corner and Masters with a press slam to Michaels. Masters punches Michaels followed by an Irish whip. Masters charges into an elbow from Michaels. Masters slams Michaels, but he misses an elbow drop. Hardy tags in and he punches Masters. Masters catches Hardy off the ropes, but Hardy with an inverted DDT. Hardy brings Edge into the ring and Hardy punches Edge. Edge with a clothesline. Hardy with a Side Effect on Edge and he sets up for the Twist of Fate, but Masters puts Hardy in the Master Lock. Show comes in and head butts Masters, sending Masters and Hardy to the mat. We go to commercial.
We are back and Edge has Matt in a rear chin lock. Matt with elbows to Edge, but Edge with a flapjack to Hardy for a two count. Snitsky tags in and he Irish whips Matt and hits a running clothesline in the corner. Snitsky with a suplex to Hardy. Matt with a Twist of Fate to Snitsky and both men are down. Angle and Michaels tag in and Shawn punches Kurt. Michaels with a flying forearm, kip up, reverse atomic drop and slam. Michaels goes up top for the elbow drop, but Angle moves out of the way. Angle has some words for Cena and then he tries to give Michaels an Angle slam, but Michaels rolls through for a sunset flip attempt. Angle rolls through for an ankle lock. Michaels tries to roll through, but Angle holds on. Show comes in and punches Angle and then grabs him by the throat. Snitsky attacks Show from behind. Angle with an Angle slam that sends Show over the top rope to the floor. We go to commercial.
We are back and Edge has Michaels in a modified Sharpshooter, but Michaels makes it to the ropes. Masters tags in and he kicks Michaels in the leg. Masters punches Michaels and works on Shawn’s knee. Masters stretches Michaels’s leg and kicks the hamstring. Show is still down outside the ring. Masters continues to work on Michaels’s leg. Michaels punches Masters, but Masters tags in Angle. Angle stretches Michaels’s face and then puts Shawn in a reverse chin lock. Michaels punches Angle and then hits a belly-to-back suplex on Angle and both men are down. Angle and Michaels exchange punches and chops, but Angle with an Angle slam on Michaels, but Hardy makes the save. Masters with a forearm to Hardy’s back and that sends Hardy outside the ring. Masters kicks Michaels in the back. Angle tries for the ankle lock, but Michaels powers out. Edge tags in and he spears Cena off the apron. Michaels with an enzuigiri to Edge. Show works his way back onto the apron. Show tags in and he clotheslines everyone followed by a head butt to Angle. Chop to Edge and then he sends Angle into Edge. Show with a splash on Edge and Angle followed by one to Masters and Snitsky in the opposite corner. Show’s strap is down and he grabs Snitsky. Snitsky with a low kick followed by a Spear from Edge, but he only gets a two count. All four men attack Show, but it is time for the ‘Andre the Giant’ spot where all four men fall off. Cena throws Snitsky over the top rope while Hardy throws Masters out of the ring. Show presses Edge over his head and throws Matt onto Snitsky and Masters. Edge tries to hit Cena with the briefcase, but Cena with the Blue Thunder Driver followed by the Five Knuckle Shuffle. Show with a choke slam to Edge and all four men make the cover.
Winner: Big Show, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, and Matt Hardy.
We go to credits.