WWE Raw Results: 1/5/04 By: Rob Morris on 01/06/04
Raw Recap for 1/5/2004.
Report by John Keane
Live from The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee.
Your Announcers are Jim Ross and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
Let’s do this…
We start out backstage-Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff is with Jonathan Coachman whining about Stone Cold Steve Austin being back on Raw as a self-appointed ‘Sheriff’ figure. Mark Henry and his manager Theodore Long enter-World’s Strongest Man wants to call in the favor Eric’s owed him since the Survivor Series PPV. Simply put, he wants Theo appointed General Manager of Raw for this one night. Eric at first balks, as he needs to be around to deal with the Austin situation. Light goes on, Bischoff realizes he can put off dealing with the Rattler for at least a week. He happily agrees to vacate his office. Looks like Mr. Long is ‘The Man’ tonight.
Pyros go, J.R. and the King welcome us in, we’re informed tonight Bubba Ray & D-Von Dudley will get a shot at Batista & Ric Flair’s World Tag Team Championships.
Mr. Long makes his way to the ring solo. He immediately goes for the cheap heat, ragging on the Memphis crowd for their (presumed) racist tendencies and lack of education. Hometown boy the King takes offense, he hits the ring, harsh words are exchanged-until Intercontinental Champion Randy Orton enters from out of nowhere and lays out the King with the RKO. He and Theo bail to the back, where they run into Mark Henry, who wants a shot at Randy’s title. Orton’s protests fall on deaf ears, Mr. Long announces Henry vs. Orton is a go for later on.
As Randy shuffles off, Theo and Mark run into Stone Cold. He feels there’s someone more deserving of a shot at the IC title-Rob Van Dam. Therefore, no IC title match tonight. Instead, Mark and RVD will get it on to determine a #1 contender, with the winner getting a shot at Randy next week. Theo grudgingly agrees. Break
Back, Coach takes the King’s place on commentary, as ordered by Mr. Long.
First match: René Dupree vs. SPIKE DUDLEY, making his return to Raw. Footage rolls from 4 months ago-we’re reminded Spike’s career was nearly ended by René and his then-partner Sylvan Grenier after their attempt to throw him through a table went horribly short. Bell rings, we get the expected near-squash, Spike pulls off the miracle upset, rolling up René for 3 after floating through a powerbomb attempt. Post-match the elder Dudz join Spike in celebration on the ramp, but get blindsided and beaten down by Batista & Flair. Team of refs haul the tag champs off as we go to break.
We return to Christian and Chris Jericho backstage. Former apologizes for acting like a jerk recently. Y2J readily accepts after a small discussion regarding the ownership of a jar of ‘Ass Cream’. Christian informs his pal they’re scheduled to wrestle a tag match, next. Vitamin C are back! (Maybe…)
J.R. and the King show us footage from last week’s Main Event-Shawn Michaels challenging HHH for the World Championship. Great match waited until near the end to get screwy-after a ref bump Eric Bischoff took over the officiating. After several near falls (with Eric seeming to show no favoritism) Shawn fell on top of Hunter after connecting with a superkick. Bischoff rather shockingly counted the clean 1-2-3. HBK celebrated until Eric made the announcement that the winner-and STILL Champion-was HHH. Shawn-and the crowd-appeared ready to go for blood until Eric had a replay roll on the Titantron. And yes, HBK DID have his shoulders to the canvas as he covered Hunter. Eric declared simultaneous pinfalls, with the victory going to the champ. More later, I’m sure. Break.
Back, King tries to replace Coach at the announcer’s table. Things look to get REAL ugly, until Mr. Long intervenes. He tells the King that if he wants to return to commentary, fine, but if he even looks at Coach wrong he’ll be fired. Seems we’ll be going with a 3-man announce team for the rest of the night.
Next match: Christian & Chris Jericho vs. Rosey & The Hurricane. Good match that pretty much just served as a backdrop for our announcers bickering. In any case Christian gets the win for his team, pinning Rosey after the Unprettier. Post-match Vitamin C are all smiles as they exit up the ramp.
We’re informed another match has been added to tonight’s card-later on Victoria will be getting a shot at Molly Holly’s Women’s Championship. Break.
WWE Rewind: From last night’s Heat, Victoria helps Steven Richards pick up a win over Test.
Next up is the rematch: Test vs. Steven Richards, with Victoria. Fast-paced action, Steven gets the win with a roll-up after Test got hung up on the ropes as he tried to hit Victoria with the Big Boot. Post-match celebration by the Wacko Duo was cut short when Test flattened Victoria with the boot. Steven then got in some shots to Test before going to check on his KO’ed companion. Break.
Back, the GLASS BREAKS, and ‘Sheriff Austin’ makes his way to the ring. Straight to business-last week he mentioned HBK would be getting another shot at HHH and his World Championship. He starts talking about the Royal Rumble-until HHH joins him. He trashes Austin’s new role as ‘Sheriff’, making references to Deputy Dawg, Barney Fife and Roscoe P. Coltrane. He nearly busts a gut over Austin’s Sheriff’s badge. Rattler keeps his cool, then goes over the extent of his powers. He’s able to strip HHH of his title, hit him with a Stunner, or even take a nice big dump on his Gucci loafers. Hunter only starts getting pissed when it’s pointed out that Shawn Michaels kicked his butt last Monday. Walked in World Champion, walked out the same way, etc. Thankfully, ‘Sexy Boy’ hits, and HBK joins Hunter and Austin in the ring. Shawn lays it on the line-he wants to see if Hunter can beat him just one more time. Austin makes the match: HHH vs. HBK, Royal Rumble, World Championship on the line. He exits up the ramp, at the top he adds the match will be of the ‘Last Man Standing’ variety-HBK appears fine with the decision, HHH’s face clearly reads ‘yeah, whatever…’ Pedigree quickly wipes the smirk off Shawn’s face. HHH exits as Shawn is left lying.
Back, Molly hits the ring as footage of Victoria being laid out by Test rolls. The champ asks Lillian Garcia to announce her winner by forfeiture. Mr.Long appears on the Titantron-he tells Molly she WILL wrestle tonight, with another white girl, in a non-title match. Her opponent: Trish Stratus.
Trish makes her way down. Bell rings, OK match that ended in DQ when JAZZ, making her return to Raw, ran in from the crowd and attacked Trish. She then teased teaming with Molly for the beatdown, but then tossed her out of the ring to continue the assault alone. Jazz put Trish in the STF until Jericho charged into the ring to chase her off. He then helped Trish to her feet, but was immediately pushed aside. Y2J is left alone in the ring. Break.
(First commercial features footage of Mick Foley. Voiceover: “Mick Foley. In 1998 he became a Hardcore Legend. In 1999 this legend became a best selling author. And in 2003, Mick Foley, the legend, became Mick Foley, the coward.” ERRRGGHHH…Rest of spot, paid for by ‘The Friends and Supporters of Randy Orton’, simply heaps praise on the Legend Killer and New Hardcore Legend.)
Wrestlemania Recall: From WM14, Kane treats Pete ‘OK, I DID bet on baseball games’ Rose to a Tombstone Piledriver.
Next match is to determine the #1 contender for Randy Orton’s IC title: Rob Van Dam vs. Mark Henry, with Theodore Long. MAJOR style clash, kind of a mess, Rob appeared to get the DQ win after a blatant chair shot-until Theo used his GM powers to declare the match a ‘no disqualification’ affair. Referee Charles Robinson gets ordered to re-start the match, Theo struts around the ring chanting ‘I Make The Rules!’-until Stone Cold, riding an ATV, appears atop the ramp. Theo gets chased to the back as we go to break.
Back, match continues and business has DEFINITELY picked up-Rob seems to have turned up the juice by about 300% due to the no-DQ stip. After some wonderfully stiff kicks RVD picks up the win with the 5 Star Frog Splash. Rob celebrates as Austin chases Mr, Long back to the ring. Theo tries to suck up to Rob, but gets casually tossed into the ring. Stone Cold follows, as does the inevitable Stunner. Rob and Austin celebrate at the top of the ramp as we go to break.
In the back, Y2J knocks on Trish’s dressing room door. He enters uninvited and walks to the entrance of her lavatory (shower is running). Y2J pledges his love and devotion. Mae Young exits the shower in a towel and declares her reciprocation. Oy.
Kane makes his way to the ring-as he walks we get footage from last week. Kane’s distraction helped Randy Orton defeat Booker T in an IC title match. Beatdown of the Book by Big Red followed. In the ring Kane reminds us he’s never been the winner in a Royal Rumble. Footage rolls from last year’s event-in 2003 he was eliminated by his own ‘brother’, The Undertaker. He gleefully reminds us ‘Taker hasn’t been seen since he helped Vince McMahon ‘bury (him) alive’ at the Survivor Series PPV. Next subject-the cat that got ‘his’ title shot at WM19, Booker T. Kane claims the assault on the 5-time WCW Champion was simply his way of ‘making a statement’ Ranting about winning the Rumble this year and going on to Main Event at WM20 is interrupted when Booker charges into the ring. After a quick brawl Kane gets dumped over the top. Book then announced he’s got 2 goals for the Rumble: to eliminate Kane, and to win the match to earn a shot at the World Championship at WM20.
In the back Bubba Ray & D-Von prepare for their upcoming match. Break.
Digital Play of the Night: From last month’s Armageddon PPV, Flair & Batista defeat the Dudz to become World Tag Team Champions.
Main Event: The Dudley Boyz challenge Ric Flair & Batista for the World Tag Team Championships. Just the 2 teams (to start), no Spike, no additional members of the Evolution crew. Bell rings, pretty good match that had kind of a ‘by the numbers’ feel to it. End saw the Dudz hitting Ric with the 3D as HHH appeared on the apron. Ref was distracted, Batista hit D-Von with his sit-out powerbomb, Flair then made the cover for all 3. Ric Flair & Batista retain the World Tag Team Championships.
Post-match Hunter checks on the Nature Boy-when HBK charges in to lay him out with a Superkick. Show ends with Shawn dancing his way back up the ramp as Batista (only member of the Evo crew left standing) looks on.
