Good start, with a match right off the bat. The Dudley Boys came out with Stacy at their side, and DAMN did she look good in that Dudleys gear! Tazz joined them as their partner in this six-man match. Their opponents were Big Show, Spike, and Tajiri. This was a really, really short match to the point that it actually pissed me off. Although, I do thank the WWF for getting Big Slow off TV as quick as possible. After Tajiri got the pin on Tazz, the aftermath began. Tazz choked Tajiri in the corner as the Dudleys put Torrie Wilson through a table. All in all, I didn’t think this was a bad segment at all. It was too short, but it also certainly wasn’t an opening to “the best RAW of all time”. But we still had about two hours to go, right?
After the commercials we’re treated to Stephanie’s “return”. She comes out and talks/screeches for a minute before being interrupted by Chris Jericho. Usual stuff here, then Shane comes down as well, and tells Jericho that he should concentrate on bettering his wrestling as much as he does coming up with Stephanie insults. True, but what’s the point? It sets up Shane/RVD vs. Rock/Y2J for later in the night.
Next we had a pretty funny backstage segment with Booker T, Test, and Rob Van Dam. Booker T says something about how he’d have beaten Angle for Austin if he had been asked since he’s a 5-time WCW Champion. But then, RVD says “I can’t believe you lost the WCW title 5 times!” and that he doesn’t need to be Booker T, since he’s ROB VAN DAM! You can point to yourself with your thumbs as you read that, if you like. But I thought it was a good segment, even though it was rather pointless.
Next we had the WCW Tag Team Titles on the line with Booker T and Test defending against the Hardy Boyz. The Hardyz ended up winning when Undertaker ran down to the ring and actually landed the Last Ride without struggle on Booker T. Jeff followed it up with a long Swanton, and the Hardyz are your new WCW tag team champions. Sorry, I don’t like the Hardyz, they’re SOOOO overrated, and now we have Booker T vs. Undertaker at No Mercy. Do you think Undertaker will job to Booker T? Hell no he won’t! Unless maybe if Austin or the Rock came in there and beat his ass, because then maybe the Undertaker could justify losing since it’d “really” be a job to Austin or Rock.
Another backstage segment with Hurricane, Molly, and Lita. Molly challenges Lita to a one on one match, saying that the Hardyz and Lita needed to cheat to win the tag team belts, and we all know cheaters never win, and winners never cheat. Lita accepts. I’d just like to say that the Alliance has all of the women now except for Lita, Jackie, and Trish, and Trish is hurt, and Jackie gets no TV time. I am liking this Hurricane/Molly team, but I guess it just goes to show you, since the Alliance are the heels, that the bad boys always get the girls.
Christian comes down for guest commentary and does a little bit of a Bret Hart spoof, giving his shades to a kid at ringside, but then he takes them back. Edge vs. Rhyno for the WCW United States Championship is the match Christian will be commentating for. Predictable ending, Edge has the win in his grasp, Christian pulls him out of the ring. A little after match action with Rhyno trying to gore Edge, but Edge moves, then spears Christian. A ladder match for the IC title has been added to No Mercy, with Edge vs. Christian. Not a terribly bad segment at all, and that match at No Mercy should be great.
I forget exactly where this came in, but I believe it was somewhere in this area of the show. We were treated to another of DDP’s segments. Man, it was HILARIOUS! He had this girl “Jennifer” talking about how she lost some weight, and her husband wouldn’t touch her before, but now he loves to touch her. DDP was cracking me up, especially when she bent over and he says “I’d love to touch you too, Jennifer!” HAHAHAHAHAHA! Great stuff!
Next we have the match that was set up earlier in the night with Shane McMahon and Rob Van Dam taking on Chris Jericho and the Rock. It was a pretty decent match, Jericho was bleeding hard. The ending to the match is what got me though, because I was going “oh please…turn heel Jericho”. Jericho goes to hit Shane with a chair, but Shane moves and Jericho blasts the Rock, and RVD gets the easy pin on the Rock. Could it be a sign of things to come? As we would see later, it very well could be.
Another pointless WWF New York segment, with Lance Storm and Ivory. I wouldn’t even bother mentioning this segment, except I thought it was funny that Lance Storm was totally talking over Ivory when she was trying to rile up the crowd.
We saw Y2J in the training room getting looked at by EMTs when Rock comes in asking what happened. Jericho says he was trying to hit Shane obviously, and everyone makes mistakes. Rock says yeah everyone makes mistakes, but at least when he does he owns up to them like a man. Rock goes to leave, but over hears Jericho say something like “what the hell does he want from me?” This pisses Rock off, and he gets into a little discussion with Jericho, before a brawl erupts. YES YES YES! Jericho is on his way to being a heel! YES YES YES! I’m gonna have to break out my Y2J shirt I bought when he first entered the WWF if he’s finally going back heel. I don’t care what anyone says, Jericho’s best work is as a heel. Maybe we’ll get to see Rock vs. Jericho for the WCW Championship at No Mercy?
WHY THE HELL was X-Pac vs. Scotty on the card? Scotty sucks, X-Pac rarely wrestles on TV anymore, keep this shit on Heat or at least don’t fuck up the last of the show with it! Oh yeah, and X-Pac won.
Next we have the Women’s match, Molly vs. Lita. It was a good match, for a women’s match at least. Molly got the clean win! YES! Lita is also SOOOO overrated.
Next we have our “BIGGEST MAIN EVENT EVER ON RAW”, Stone Cold vs. Kurt Angle for the WWF title. Once William Regal was sitting ringside for this, if you had any doubt that Steve Austin was going to win the belt back, you need to have your f*cking head examined. It was a good, solid match, but I don’t think it was the best ever. In the end, Regal hits Angle with the belt, Stunner, the end. Stone Cold Steve Austin is your new WWF Champion, and Regal is heel. Three questions come to mind on this one; why did they give Angle the belt in the first place? Just because of the terrorist attacks maybe? Will Tajiri turn heel as well, or will he fight Regal maybe? Does this mean the return of Mick Foley? I hope so.
This was a good RAW, top to bottom. It was much better than the last few weeks’ shows have been, but it was damn sure not the “biggest RAW ever”. The big returns ending up being Austin and Stephanie is pure bullsh*t. The Scotty match and the Hardys match both made me want to throw up, but then the apparent Y2J heel turn and the DDP segment made up for that. Like I said, good show, but not the best ever.
Until next time…
