Notes on Raw Greensboro card (3/5/05)

[cawthon777 0]

WWE @ Greensboro, NC

March 5, 2005

Special Events Center @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex

 

I arrived to the arena a few hours before the show, early enough to see the arrivals of Dean Malenko, Arn Anderson, Christian & Jonathan Coachman (together), Chris Benoit & Tyson Tomko (together), Gene Snitsky & someone with him, Val Venis, Trish Stratus, Mike Chioda, Victoria, Chris Jericho, Edge, Christy Hemme, and Kane.

 

Notes: Christy is rather scrubby looking without the make up. Out of everyone that I saw arrive, the only two that were up for signing some autographs were Victoria and Chioda, both of which I had sign my WrestleMania XX ticket. I would have paid good money to get Benoit’s autograph. He’s doing a 2-hour signing in Raleigh on Monday. I’m considering going but it would require me to skip a full day of classes which I’m not thrilled about doing.

 

Very small venue. A few thousand, if that, but packed to capacity. It had the look of a decent-sized high school gym.

 

WWE Raw Tag Team Championship: William Regal & Tajiri © vs. Rob Conway & Sylvian Grenier. Regal over Conway at 8:42 with a knee to the head. Entertaining but basic opener.

 

Chris Masters over Val Venis via submission with the full nelson at 8:21. A brief chant of “Steroid monkey” was directed at Masters during the bout.

 

Jonathan Coachman brings out Christy Hemme to talk about her Playboy cover. Trish Stratus soon follows which brings out Victoria.

 

WWE Women’s Championship: Trish Stratus © vs. Victoria. Trish picks up the win at 5:04 with her feet on the ropes after the challenger missed a moonsault.

 

Chris Jericho defeated Christian via submission with the Walls of Jericho at 11:52. Travis Tomko was in Christian’s corner until the 5-minute mark when he was sent backstage for tripping Jericho.

 

Kane pinned Tyson Tomko with the chokeslam at 4:24.

 

Chris Benoit defeated Mohammad Hassan (w/ Daivari) via disqualification at 8:20 when Daivari interfered as Hassan was caught in the Crippler Crossface. After the match, Benoit also locked Daivari in the hold. They must really see a lot in Hassan to have him not even lose via pinfall or submission on a house show.

 

Intermission

 

WWE IC Champion Shelton Benjamin pinned Gene Snitsky at 9:28 with a spin kick as Snitsky held the opposite leg. After the bout, Snitsky attacked Benjamin to regain some of his heat.

 

Shawn Michaels pinned Edge with the superkick at 8:51 after Edge began arguing with the referee for not counting HBK down for 3, moments after Edge countered Michaels’ initial attempt at the superkick by landing the spear. After the bout, I noticed a “Edge Betrayed V1” sign in the front row of the opposite side of the ring which had me laughing pretty hard. I didn’t expect anyone in attendance to know about that situation.

 

Batista defeated WWE Raw World Champion Triple H & Ric Flair in a handicap match at 14:40 by pinning HHH with the spinebuster and sit-down powerbomb after dropping Flair with the spinebuster. Randy Orton was to have been Batista’s partner but was attacked 2-on-1 before Batista’s entrance, ultimately sustaining a chair shot to the head by HHH which took him out of the match before it even began. Batista then challenged HHH & Flair to a handicap match which was quickly accepted. During the bout, Flair – the hometown hero – was portrayed as completely weak as Batista no-sold all his chops and, when locked in the figure-4, rolled over to reverse the hold almost instantaneously. Batista was easily the most over name on the show. No clue why Orton was written off so early. He was only out there maybe 5 minutes, 3 of which was him selling the chair shot.

 

Good show, despite many in the crowd who pissed me off by standing in front of me to take their precious upclose photographs. I expected more from Edge / HBK; no blood or anything like but I was surprised it didn’t even go 9 minutes.

[BUTT 0]

Chris Masters over Val Venis via submission with the full nelson at 8:21. A brief chant of “Steroid monkey” was directed at Masters during the bout.

Ugh. 8 minutes of Masters? I'm guessing he didn't show any talent that he's been hiding on Raw, did he?

[cawthon777 0]

Surprisingly, it wasn't awful. Thank you, Val.

 

I was waiting for another Polish Hammer of Doom. It never came.

[Guest Locutus]

I was there last night. Any idea why they held the show in the special events center? I thought it was going to be in the main coliseum; did the tickets sell poorly, or did they always plan to perform where they did?

 

I thought it was a pretty good show, though you're right: Shawn vs. Edge was a bit on the short side.

 

You didn't mention the best spot of the whole night: Flair clubs Batista to break a pin, Batista gives Flair a death-look, and after a long pause, Flair screams at the top of his lungs, "Oh God, I'm sorry!" The entire audience popped like mad for that one.

[cawthon777 0]

Well they had that ACC women's BB game in the main venue. I'm guessing that was scheduled before the WWE gave them a call.

 

My vantage point was decent but since I was in the front row of the "bleachers" section (the folding chair row), my view was blocked every time someone wanted to walk by to take a good picture or the entire front row wanted to stand. I missed the death stare altogether.

[Guest Locutus]

Yeah, I was in the third row on the floor and still had problems seeing form time to time, thanks to folks walking around. Still, this was my fourth WWF/E live event, and the first time I was within fifty rows of the ring, so it was exciting just to be able to see the wrestler's faces.

 

All in all, a great time. I live in Southern, VA, and had a difficult time deciding whether I would go see this show, or Smackdown in Roanoke. . . I'm very glad I choose Raw.

[Art Sandusky 0]

The Tomko Twins will reinvigorate the tag division.

[Guest Coffey]

I really don't think that Batista and HHH should be in the ring together, in any wrestling capacity, before Wrestlemania. Including on house shows.

[MillenniumMan831 0]

I really don't think that Batista and HHH should be in the ring together, in any wrestling capacity, before Wrestlemania. Including on house shows.

Agreed. In fact I felt and still feel that Eric Bischoff should put a "No Contact" edict between HHH and Batista until WM21. Let HHH seeth that Batsita got the last laugh physically while spending the next four weeks trying to get under Batista's skin mentally.

[Guest Fook_Theta]

Eight minutes of Chris Masters? The kid needs to be putting on thirty minute clinics if he's ever going to be good. I would have him earning his wrestling boots in 1v1v1 matches with Jericho and Benoit stretching his stupid ass. Probably make him sell getting hit with a soft drink like death in a hardcore match with Stevie. Toss in a mop for post match mop up. That or two-three years in Evolution.

 

Chris Jericho defeated Christian via submission with the Walls of Jericho at 11:52.

Any more info on how good this was? I could swear Christian has put on two flat out great matches(compared to the rest of current WWE) in the last month. He might actually be getting a push towards the belt that will leave him strong, and Benjamin looking just as strong. Could be interesting if they build both guys up over an entire year or even till Summerslam/next big PPV of the Four "must buys."

 

By the way, supposely they're going to have Hassan do an "undefeated" gimmick all the way till next Wrestlemania.

[Guest Tjhe CyNick]

Did the fans cheer Batista over Flair?

[Guest Locutus]

^Yes. Flair got a huge pop, but not as big as Batista's. Flair mostly got comedy heat during the match itself. The final pinfall was Batista over Trips, though.

[cawthon777 0]

Chris Jericho defeated Christian via submission with the Walls of Jericho at 11:52.

Any more info on how good this was?

It was very good. Not as good as WrestleMania but with some comedy thrown in. The crowd was into it and it was the first match of the night that had my full attention.

[Exslade ZX 0]

I really don't think that Batista and HHH should be in the ring together, in any wrestling capacity, before Wrestlemania. Including on house shows.

Agreed. In fact I felt and still feel that Eric Bischoff should put a "No Contact" edict between HHH and Batista until WM21. Let HHH seeth that Batsita got the last laugh physically while spending the next four weeks trying to get under Batista's skin mentally.

Well...that is how they practice. :/ Sure, you might could say they should do it on their on time, in an empty arena or something, but they need to know what spots work the crowd the most etc. That's all a houseshow is anyways, practice, so they should be wrestling at them as much as they can...

[MillenniumMan831 0]

What is this Spring Training? I'm sure the crowd will eat everything up with a spoon. They can easily work out in the ring an hour or two before the house shows are to start.