WWE Raw (7/22/02)

[Guest CHEAT TO WIN~!]

To open the show, we get an Eric Bischoff segment. He comes out and runs down Stephanie McMahon, using several unkind sexual gestures, calling her a slut, whore, etc. Shane McMahon runs down to the ring and gets in Bischoff’s face, warning him to never talk about Stephanie like that again. Vince then runs down to the ring and breaks it up. He yells at Shane, saying that Eric was his hand picked GM and he could say whatever he wants. Vince and Shane get in a yelling match, when Vince suddenly turns around and nails Bischoff in the face with the microphone. Vince and Shane beat the living hell out of Eric. Vince screams at Bischoff, asking why the hell he thought that Vince would actually give him a job. He says he put Bischoff out of business, and he doesn’t need a piece of crap like Eric bringing down his company. Then Vince says those fateful words; “You’re fired!” Vince says it was a mistake to get his baby girl Stephanie into the stress and politics that is the WWE. Vince says he’s sick of trying to make other people into the evil owners. He was the original evil owner, and no one can match up with him. Tonight was the last time they will see an evil owner angle. He says that business is down, but he knows the way to bring back the true fans. He isn’t going to sign a couple of big names and hope that everything is better. He says he’s going to push new superstars, hire a new booking team, and the overall product will be much better than it has in over a year. He knows that the fans are tired of all of the new directions the company has been trying out, but this time will be the last.

 

(1) The Hardy Boyz beat William Regal & Chris Nowinski in 5:56. This match was basically to play up the Regal vs. Jeff feud over the Euro title. Matt played Ricky Morton for a couple of minutes before he made the hot tag to Jeff. Matt comes back in and everyone brawls. Regal swings at Jeff with the brass knucks, but he ducks and Nowinski gets nailed. Twist of fate by Matt on Regal, followed by a swanton from Jeff, wins it for the Hardys.

 

Raven comes out and says he’s sick of the way he’s been treated in the WWE. Ever since his arrival, he’s been stuck in the hardcore division, being an announcer, or jobbing on Heat. He reminds us that he’s a former ECW Heavyweight Champion and a former WCW US Champion, and that he doesn’t deserve to be treated like a nothing. The only time he got the respect that he deserved was in WCW. He says it’s time to return to his former glory and bring back The Flock. Chris Kanyon and Perry Saturn both make their returns to WWE programming. Both are dressed in black, looking quite scary. Raven introduces them to us as The Eliminators. He challenges anyone in the back to come out and get extreme. Tommy Dreamer and Spike Dudley answer the challenge, and we have ourselves a tag match.

 

(2) The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & Chris Kanyon) beat Tommy Dreamer & Spike Dudley in 6:35. This match is pretty much a squash. They double-team Spike with some awesome moves before he makes the hot tag. Dreamer gets a DDT on Saturn and a DVD on Kanyon, but only gets a two count. They toss Tommy, and then hit Total Elimination on Spike for the win. After the match, the Reverend D-Von makes his way to the ring. This is odd because he’s a Smackdown competitor. Raven puts a wad of cash in the collection box, and out walks Bautista. He looks like a Flock member, and as it turns out, he now is. He puts Tommy on the announce table, and then powerbombs Spike on top of Tommy, sending them both through the table.

 

Brock Lesnar approaches RVD in the back. He apologizes for the interference, and offers a rematch tonight. This time Van Dam has the chance to win Brock’s title shot at Summerslam. RVD thanks Lesnar and agrees to the match later tonight.

 

(3) Chris Benoit beat Bubba Ray Dudley by submission in 9:13. This was a GREAT match. Probably Bubba’s best singles match of his career. It went back and forth with Benoit working over Bubba’s shoulder. Bubba made the comeback, using several high impact power moves on Benoit. The Bubba Cutter gets two. He goes for the Bubba bomb (full nelson slam), but Benoit escapes and brings Bubba down with the Crippler Crossface for the submission.

 

Goldust approaches Eddy Guerrero in the back. He says that Eddy's Latino Heat won't be enough to overcome...*breathes in* Goooooldust. Eddy calls Goldust a freak and leaves, mumbling something in Spanish.

 

(4) Eddy Guerrero pinned Goldust in 6:46. Another good match. Goldust is trying hard in his renewed push and Eddy works the knee like a good dick heel the whole time. Eddy looks to put it away with the frog splash, but Goldust moves. He gets up and mounts the comeback. A bulldog gets two. Powerslam gets two. Lariat gets two. He goes for the Curtain Call, but his knee gives out and Eddy rolls him up for the win.

 

Booker T is interviewed in the back and he says after tonight, he will not only be a 5 time WCW Champion, but he will win his first WWE Undisputed Championship. Now can you dig that?...SUCKA!!!

 

(5) Booker T beat Undisputed Champion The Undertaker by DQ in 7:13. Booker is so over that it’s scary. Taker, barely holding onto his title last night at Vengeance, already has to face a top contender in Booker. It’s a slow match, with both guys getting about the same amount of offense. Finally, Taker goes for the Last Ride, but Booker slips out of it. He hits the Book End. Then he executes the Spinaroonie to a huge pop, but Triple-H runs in and nails him with a sledgehammer for the DQ. He beats down Booker and walks out to a ton of heel heat.

 

Brock Lesnar is interviewed in the back. He says that he's better off without Heyman, and prefers doing things on his own.

 

RVD says he's happy that he and Brock can finally have a match without him having to worry about Heyman lurking on the outside. He looks forward to the tough competition.

 

(6) Rob Van Dam pinned Intercontinental Champion Brock Lesnar in 9:40 of a non-title match to become the #1 contender to the Undisputed title. This was probably the best match yet between the two. Both seemed to be trying hard to justify their main event push. Brock seems to be in control when Paul Heyman makes his way to ringside. The ref is preoccupied with Heyman. Brock turns around and he gets nailed with a GORE~ from Rhyno. The Man-beast has returned. Rhyno piledrives Brock and leaves the ring. RVD crawls over and covers Brock for a 2 count. He looks at Rhyno and Heyman and shakes his head in disgust. He goes up and hits the Five Star for the win anyway. He helps Brock up after the match and Brock chases after Heyman. The Undertaker comes out and stares down RVD as the show goes off the air.

[Guest CHEAT TO WIN~!]

Come on guys... almost 20 views, but no replies?