Raw Results 2-23-2004
Submitted by Steven "Rommel" Schaeffer on Monday, February 23, 2004 at 11:36 PM EST



As always, the show starts with a video package that details just what it is you missed last week on the show. I almost wonder if they should stop doing these every other segment, and force viewers to pay attention. The show then began things with a match, a Four-Way Elimination match between Jazz, Lita, Molly Holly © and Victoria for the Women’s Championship. With the crowd firmly behind her, Lita eliminated Jazz quickly. Surprisingly, Victoria eliminated the champion next. Molly went irate, and attacked her after the roll up elimination.

The show returned with the match still in progress. Lita seemed in control, but could not score the victory after the Twist of Fate. While Victoria was down she went up top, but Victoria of course moved out of the way. Victoria hit the Widows Peek, and pressed her body to the fallen punk Superstar. Victoria defeated Jazz, Lita and Molly Holly via pin fall to win the WWE Women’s Championship. Steven Richards celebrated with her after the win. In the parking lot, Vince got out of his limo.

In Mr. Bishoff’s office Coachman informed Eric of Vince’s arrival, but the General Manager already knew about it. Christian ran in afterward and lobbied for a World Tag Championship at Wrestlemania for his friend and himself. Eric doesn’t consider Jericho a friend of his but he does appreciate friendship, so he gives Christian a match versus Jericho’s other best buddy, Trish Stratus. A replay of the beating of Mick Foley last week is shown as Orton is introduced to the ring. In a short match that featured Orton working the back (Despite having a neck-based finisher), the crowd chanting Foley and Jim Ross calling the “Urangi” properly Randy Orton defeated Val Venis via pin fall. There was interesting announcing in this bout. Besides JR not calling the Urangi a “Rock Bottom” (Foreshadowing?) The King was putting Randy over huge throughout.

A vignette from 1998, where NWO Bishoff calls out Vince McMahon is shown. Bishoff and Coachman ponder who order them to play that old tape. Austin materializes from off screen and claims responsibility, and reminds the world of Eric’s many boasts from last week. He even goes so far as to show that Bishoff made out with both his wife and his daughter, and the man still signs his paychecks. Vince teleports behind Bishoff (Dude, get a bell for your office door) and hilarity ensues. In Evolutions office Batista hops up and down while Orton and Flair prep the big man for Chris Benoit. Hunter walks in, telling his group his has an announcement to make in the ring and he wants his guys for backup.

Evolution enters the ring (To HHH’s music) for the big announcement. Hunter says that he momentarily forgot how great he was, and says he remembered that he has stood up through every opponent and obstacle and is still the World Heavyweight Champion. He isn’t happy he has to face two men, but that will not be “Game Over” for him. He will defeat the show-stopper and the greatest technical wrestler in the world. Hunter claims that once more he will prove, at the Grand-daddy of the all, that he is The Game and that he is That Damn Good. Benoit enters, and says Hunter has being doing a lot of talking – and the time for talking is done. Hunter begins running Chris done, but Benoit grabs a chair as an equalizer and enters the ring surrounded by Evolution. They quickly overwhelm him until Shawn Michaels runs in. He helps Benoit clear the ring with the chair, but afterward Benoit locks HBK into the Cross face. The Sheriff rides down on his horse, and Chris frees the showstopper. He lovers a good fight, but the law states that there is supposed to be a match tonight. That match tonight is going be Batista versus Chris Benoit. Anyone who interferes will not make it to Wrestlemania.

The show returned with the match already in progress. Benoit was working the big man’s leg over, seemingly to go for the Sharpshooter. I fear for the psychology they are building for ‘Mania with him using that. Bret, don’t come back. Batista tried a horizontal bear hug (Yes, it looked exactly like they were humping) until turning it into a half-crab. Chris tried unsuccessfully for the cross face, but Evolution’s monster muscled out of it and delivered a spine buster for a two count. He set up a snake eyes, and Benoit escaped to deliver the first of four German suplexes. Benoit missed the flying head butt and JR mentioned the Dynamite Kid. Batista tries a power bomb and the Rabid Wolverine counters it midair for the Crippler Cross face. Chris Benoit defeated Batista via submission when Batista tapped to the cross face.

Austin confronts Bishoff backstage, reminding him of his accomplishments in the past. He dares him to whip Vince’s ass. In a non-title match, RVD and Booker T took on La Résistance. The WWE new ticker appeared beneath the action, to alert us that the new edition of Playboy has sold over eighteen million copies. Booker T was shortly in trouble, but once Rob got the hot tag him and Booker T quickly finished the evil French team. Booker T hit the Axe Kick and Van Dam landed the 5*, locking the result of Booker T and Rob Van Dam defeated La Résistance via pin fall.

By the way Wevv, the Quizno’s subs commercials come from Rathergood.com. I am surprised they didn’t opt for the Viking Kittens. In the locker room Trish and Christian and talk about their match. Christian says he never wanted to hurt her, and offers to lay down for her. He asks that since he was willing to lay down for her, maybe she’d lay down for him. Christian laughs it off, calling it a test. A video package detailing the feud between the Hardcore Legend and the Legend Killer, culminating with the beating last week, is shown. Jim Ross and Mick Foley had a sit-down taped interview. Mick relates the extent of his injuries. He states that when it was going on, he did not stay down because he lost ability to reason and instinctively tried to stand again and again. He pondered why no one came to help him during the six minutes of the attack, and wondered if the one night where he broke the unwritten wrestler code and walked out on his match he lost a lot of respect backstage. Jim asks if the attack ended his career, but Mick doesn’t want to give Evolution that power. So he says he’ll be back. An excellent interview segment; they should have Foley teach the greener men on the roster how to do them half as good.

Last week Kane tried to pulverize Jericho’s leg. Trish went for the pin on Christian, as promised, but Christian double crossed her and kicked out. He patted her ass, and then gave her a clothesline. Acting like it was a mistake (While the crowd chanted “Asshole”) he stood her up only to lock on his friend’s finisher – the Walls of Jericho. Christian defeated Trish Stratus via submission. He held the hold after the match, and gloated over the fallen Diva before leaving the ring with a disturbing smile.

A pair of road agents helped carry Trish backstage, who was in agony. Coach was at Bishoff’s door – checking to see if his boss was alright. He lamented that he would be scared too – which causes Eric to burst out. He reminds everyone that he beat Vince for all those weeks in a row, and he did it by stealing his stars and making them bigger stars. Vince didn’t beat him, he says Time Warner through in the towel just when he had victory in his grasp.

Vince comes down for his Wrestlemania announcement, when Stacey and Miss Jackie interrupt. Stacey was wearing ankle warmers, and I begin misspelling words. Thank God for Word. Stacey and Miss Jackie state they want prove that Mr. Hefner made the wrong decision choosing Torrie Wilson and Stacey. Vince asks them to prove it tonight as well. They do, as Stacey’s music hits. Jackie begins dancing with Vince while Stacey does cartwheels in high heels. Vince makes the first inter-promotional match, Stacey and Miss Jackie versus Torrie and Sable in an evening gown match. Kane comes down to rain on my parade, and says that he was promised that Undertaker would die if he buried him alive. Yet he has been tormenting poor Kane day after day. Vince wants to see ‘Taker go away too, so Mr. McMahon announces that Kane will take on Undertaker, and someone will finally be “Resting in Peace.” Vice gets down to business, and announces another inter-promotional match, in Brock Lesnar versus Bill Goldberg. Austin rides down to calms Vince’s hesitance at the match, so Stone Cold asks to be the Special Guest Referee. Vince wants to know what is in it for the Rattlesnake, but Austin refuses to tell. Vince complies anyway, but he demands that Austin show his officiating abilities by demonstrating them in this next match. Eric and Vince stare down with Austin in the background (Isn’t that the cover of the DVD?) and Bishoff offers to shake Mr. McMahon’s hands. Vince hits him, and Bishoff tries a little Karate. Vince gets mad and forces the General Manager into the Corner. Austin wants him to let him from under the ropes, but he refuses so Austin decks him. Bishoff seizes the opportunity to deliver a few kicks to vicious kicks to McMahon’s back, but he gets to his feet and chases Eric from the ring. Vince McMahon and Eric Bishoff wrestled to a no-contest. Austin watches, and from the crowd Brock Lesnar sneaks in to deliver an F-5 to Stone Cold. Lesnar stands over the Rattlesnake to end the show.

--End--

I wanted to congratulate my good friend Solomon Douek on his marriage to the beautiful Doris Moreira. You rolled a Natural Twenty with her. We’ll miss our favorite Arcane Trickster at the Living Greyhawk table, but I am sure you’ll enjoy the Honeymoon far more than another crappy Core mod.








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