WWE Raw Report 8-30-2004 – Live from the Cow Palace
Submitted by Steven "Rommel" Schaeffer on Monday, August 30, 2004 at 11:09 PM EST





Last week on Raw, Randy Orton spat in the face of Triple H and denied Evolution. This week, they come to the ring and take the microphone. Hunter explains that he was the reason behind Evolution. He describes each member, and why he included them in the team. Ric Flair had forgotten what it was to be the Nature Boy, and Batista was a monster without direction. He talked about how Orton was a “Nobody” who he was grooming to take his place – when and only when he was ready. Randy replayed him by spitting in his face! So Hunter called the young superstar out, and so a brand new selection of entrance music played for the Heavyweight Champion. Out walked a few roadies with covered easels, and Randy Orton to tell Hunter to call him “Champ.” Orton agreed that indeed Hunter gave him an opportunity, but he got things out of it as well. He unveiled a picture of them walking with Hunter front and center, saying that Evolution wasn’t about Triple H past, present and future but about protecting Triple H. Hunter said that Orton is the champ only because of Evolution, but once again Randy disagrees. He unveiled a second picture, one of him doing what Hunter could never - beat Chris Benoit, and all alone at that. He then unveils the picture of him spitting in Hunters face. Orton promised to not wait for Unforgiven, and to kick Triple H’s ass immediately. Since Hunter had some friends with him he brought a friend of his own. His friend was a sledge hammer. Randy Orton chased all of Evolution away. Batista versus William Regal and Ric Flair versus Chris Benoit were announced for tonight.

Backstage Eric Bishoff gets in Orton’s face, but Randy did not seem to care less. Bishoff ordered the champion to leave the building, and to leave the sledge hammer behind. Orton dropped the hammer, right on the General Manager’s foot, and left the arena. A replay of the Rock’s appearance pertaining to Jonathan Coachman was shown. As a result of that, Rhyno and Tajiri were being punished this week by being placed in a three on two handicap match against the Tag Champions, La Résistance with The Coach. Rhyno played the face in peril from the opening bell, with Tajiri repeatedly taken out of the equation by the extra man. After some time, Rhyno made a very low energy but high impact comeback as Tajiri was knocked off the apron yet some more. He avoided a double back body drop and subsequently gave Coach a gore. That was the end of his offense, though. La Résistance popped up, delivered their finisher and got the victory. Who ever is booking this feud does not know how to build challengers well. La Résistance and The Coach defeated Rhyno and Tajiri via pin fall. Edge was then announced as the guest on tonight’s highlight reel.

Papa Roach was in attendance, and shown on camera. A vignette replaying the important portions of the wedding from hell was aired. Kane was backstage, talking through a door off camera. He told whoever was inside to not come out until he gave the word, because he wanted to make it something his wife never forgot. William Regal was walking backstage, and Eugene popped up. He thanked William for taking him around San Francisco the day before, and for taking him to see the Giants play. He made bad baseball references while Regal tried to impart the importance of staying backstage lest Triple H were to come after him, as the two were scheduled for a match later in the night. Eugene did not seem to understand the order, but complied.

William Regal had a very short match with Batista. The commentators were arguing who was the bigger cheater, William Regal or Ric Flair. Regal was holding his own quite well against the monster, when Ric Flair answered the question. The Nature donned a pair of brass knuckles and decked the former blue blood with them while the referee was distracted. Batista ran over a staggered William Regal. After that, it was academic. Batista defeated William Regal via pin fall. Shawn Michaels, Ivory and Linda McMahon were at the Republican National Convention. In case anyone cares, I was actually supposed to be a volunteer there this year, but some complications with the health of my friend prevented us from campaigning together. The next elimination of Diva Search contest was announced as next.

Stacy Kiebler, smoking hot, came out to introduce the Divas who were in their bikinis for the elimination. This week Maria was eliminated, and so go the blonds. Stacy told the girls that this week’s challenge was for face to face Diva trash talking. I cannot repeat what the girl’s said to one another, for it was far too lewd and crude for my virgin ears. Backstage, Kane was dragging Lita for his special surprise that was even better than the honeymoon. Trish Stratus was conveniently in their path with Tomko. She said they were already like a regular married couple, with him taking out the trash. Kane appeared angry at this at first, and then said it was a “Good one.”

JR and Lawler thank the three bands who supplied music for the Diva Search. I missed who they were, so someone E-Mail them to me. Kane had a wedding surprise for his favorite piece of property, Lita. He thanked all of the wedding gifts he received, such as the open contract to face anyone he wished to face at Unforgiven. Still the greatest gift was Lita’s womb. Kane introduced his gift, and introduced the Hardy Boyz. Four independent workers, all dressed as Matt Hardy, were introduced as Pat, Matt, Rat and (Appropriately) Fat Hardy. Kane explains that they would all suffer Matt’s fate right now. He beat them up and even scored a pin on one of them. Kane defeated the Four Hardy Boyz via pin fall. After the “Match,” Lita informed how joint property works. She informs Kane that see signed Bishoff’s wedding present contract at Unforgiven. Since Matt was unavailable, she signed Shawn Michaels.

Ric Flair took on the former Heavyweight Champion, Chris Benoit in a one on one match. Before the match begun, the referee checked the trunks of Ric Flair for any foreign objects. Ric was hesitant when he tried to check his knee pads, however, with good reason – the referee found a pair of brass knuckle inside. Flair was livid at the referee, but a shove by Benoit put his mind back in the game. The bell rung and Benoit immediately took control. He almost had the crippler cross face locked in, but Flair managed to make it to the ropes to prevent the quick defeat. Flair took control and began to work the leg of the former champion, setting up for the figure four leg lock. A tight toe hold knee submission was applied on Benoit, but Benoit made it to the ropes. Flair was still in control, until Chris countered with an enziguri. All Canadian wrestlers use enziguris! Benoit climbed dragged his thumb across his throat and went for the flying head butt only to hit apron. Flair tried to regain momentum, setting up for a inverted atomic drop, but Benoit flipped over and grabbed the Nature Boy by the waist and hit the trifecta of German suplexes. He locked on the sharpshooter, but was forced to release it when Batista rushed the ring. Chris Benoit defeated Ric Flair via disqualification. Benoit tried to hold the monster off, but ended up on the unhappy side of the Batista bomb.

The Highlight Reel was next, after a replay of last week’s overbooked debacle. Jericho skirted around the issue of how lame the finish was last week, saying that Edge got himself intentionally disqualified, but does thank Edge for accepting his challenge at Unforgiven. Edge is called down, and out he comes on crutches. Edge says Jericho is building up for a rematch he cannot be in, having had his groin injured at a house show over the weekend. Edge also says that he does not need to get himself intentionally DQ’d – as he already beat Chris one on one at SummerSlam. Jericho talks about how Edge was booed by his home town crowd at SummerSlam. Edge was fine with losing the popularity contest, as he would win all the matches. Jericho doubted the validity of Edge’s wounds. Edge promised to settle things once he was all healed up, and offered his hand. The two men shook hands, and Edge left the ring. Out of no where, Christian appeared and attacked Jericho. Edge looked on with surprise or shock in his eyes from the ramp as Christian beat and whipped Jericho, but Christian looked very happy to see his brother.

Trish Stratus was finally back in action, teaming with Gail Kim to take on Nidia and Victoria. No mention of Christian’s affiliation with Trish was made, even though his return was last segment. Tomko was in the heel’s corner. Gail Kim has the best submissions in the company at this point and time, locking walked looked like a modified horizontal octopus on Nidia in the early goings. Nidia hit a double monkey flip to tag in Victoria, who came in on fire. She dominated both women handedly, until a distraction allowed Gail Kim to lock on a modified standing sharpshooter. The “Mystery Woman” came out, distracting Gail long enough for Victoria to roll her up. Nidia and Victoria defeated Gail Kim and Trish Stratus via pin fall.

The Smackdown Rebound aired, and I am tired of using exclamations marks between those words. Todd Grisham was in Bishoff’s office, asking about his foot. He did not invite Grisham in to talk about his foot though. He had a major announcement – Next week Randy Orton would be in one on one competition with Kane. Grisham asked if this was because of the sledge hammer incident or Triple H’s influence. Eric said that he makes the decisions, and that Hunter was focused on eliminating Eugene once and for all. Hunter was seen walking backstage.

The match was announced as a no disqualification match. Hunter attacked the special young man as soon as he entered the ring, beating him savagely immediately. As soon as he had an opening, however, Eugene began to chain Hunter around the ring with moves that can only be described as “Wrestling 101.” Hunter fought out of a headlock and knocked Eugene down, hitting a blatant low blow on Eugene before tossing him from the ring. Outside, Hunter went back to beating Eugene and then slammed his head into the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Hunter began to lose his mind when he started screaming “Orton!” at Eugene. Eugene was set to the corner, and the autistic wrestler began to hulk up. He used his super strength to pound and slam Hunter around the ring, scoring a near fall with a double axe handle from the top rope. An atomic drop preceded the rock bottom and an attempted stunner, which hunter countered into the sleeper hold. Eugene went to sleep, and the camera zoomed in real close to hear Hunter taunt Eugene. The referee counted Eugene’s arms twice, where Triple H released the hold. He applied the pedigree, and refused to pin a helpless Eugene. Hunter went under the ring and found his sledge hammer. As he went to bring it into the ring, however, out appeared Randy Orton to grab the sledge hammer. Hunter kicked the gut of the champion before he could use it, and picked it up himself. Orton replied to Hunter’s attempt exactly the same, stunning Hunter with punches long enough to grab the weapon a second time and use it on Hunter’s gut. Orton prepared to hit Triple H again as he stood, but as he looked at the sledge hammer he changed his mind. The weapon was thrown down, and replaced with a RKO. Evolution came to the ring to make the save, but couldn’t get passed Orton with the hammer. Randy dragged the still unconscious Eugene atop of Hunter, and the referee made the count. Eugene defeated Triple H via pin fall. After the match, Orton taunted the helpless members of Evolution as the show went dark.








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