Detailed Raw House Show report

[benn 0]

My girlfriend and I just got home from a 6.5 hour train trip to see this show. We had a lot of fun. The crowd was hot, lots of people were wooing like Flair as the arena was filling up. The show started with a promo for Summerslam, particularly the Hulk/Orton match. Welcome To The Jungle played and Howard Finkel came to the ring to welcome everyone and introduce the first match.

 

Matt Striker vs Harry Smith

Striker came out to huge heat and introduced Smith as the son of Davey Boy Smith which got a big cheer. Striker called him Harold and said that he was tall but didn't have what it takes to be a superstar. Smith outwrestled Striker early on and they went to do an old test of strength but Smith was too tall and Striker couldn't reach his hand. Striker thumbed him in the eyes and dominated the rest of the match. There were 'Harry' and 'Bulldog' chants. Smith hit a running powerslam out of nowhere a la Lashley for the pinfall. Smith looked impressive as hell and was really over. Striker got booed out of the ring while Smith lingered for cheers. Finkel introduced the next match.

 

Shelton Benjamin vs Charlie Haas

This match basically killed the crowd after a great opening match. Shelton came out to a face-like pop and Haas didn't get much of a reaction. Shelton looked confused at the reaction and they were both playing heel to begin with as Haas told the crowd to shut up and Shelton kept retreating from the ring. Eventually they settled into Haas playing heel but by then nobody cared. Shelton won with the T-Bone suplex and Haas stayed in the ring to some sympathy cheers. Whoever put this match together is an idiot. Finkel introduced the next match.

 

Umaga vs Snitsky

At first Armando cut an anti-Australian promo and said that he didn't like flying 20 hours to some crappy country and he doesn't like kangaroos either. He stopped at the "rrrrrrrrrr" in Estrrrrrrrrrada twice when the crowd said it along with him. Umaga dominated the match and spat at the crowd. Snitsky made a comeback and hit the big boot but Umaga no-sold it and hit the Samoan Spike for the win. There was a 'Snitsky' chant after the match but the crowd was still mostly dead. Finkel introduced the next match as an intergender tag team match.

 

Nitro and Melina vs Carlito and Trish

This woke the crowd up a bit. Trish got a huge pop from the crowd and Carlito's was slightly less. Nitro and Melina dominated Carlito for most of the match but it was pretty much by-the-numbers intergender stuff. Trish hit the head scissors on the turnbuckle on Melina followed by the Chick Kick for the pinfall. Carlito checked Trish out as she left the ring and they left arm-in-arm. Finkel pimped the merchandise and we went to an intermission. After the intermission some guy came in the ring and they gave away a DVD player to a random seat. I took this moment to check out the crowd and it was basically sold out. Finkel then introduced the next match for the Women's Championship.

 

Torrie Wilson vs Mickie James

Torrie got a big pop and I heard somebody behind me say "Torrie used to just be eye candy but she's turned into a great wrestler". Mickie was in control of the opening of the match. Torrie came back and went for a Stink Face but missed. I think Mickie hit a Mick Kick for the pinbut I couldn't see properly. Mickie attacked Torrie after the bell but Torrie got the upper hand and did the Stink Face. A small group of people were chanting 'Howard Finkel' as he came out to introduce the next match and The Fink beat his chest twice and pointed to the guys chanting for him.

 

Randy Orton vs Kane

The crowd went nuts for Randy during his entrance but he turned the heat around very fast. He hugged just about every girl at ringside and after Kane came out, he did stretches and jumping jacks before finally getting in the ring. Kane dominated the early going but Randy turned it around and did a chinlock for about half the match. Kane came back and Randy missed an RKO but hit a low blow and then hit the RKO for the pinfall. Both guys left quickly and Finkel introduced the next match as a 5 on 1 tag match.

 

Spirit Squad vs Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair

SS entered to huge heat. Johnny got on the mic and said that Newcastle was "a little salty on the spirit". They did the "we've got spirit, yes we do, we've got spirit, how bout you" cheer to resounding boos and a 'Newcastle' chant. The DX music and pyros hit and the crowd erupted to see HBK with a chair. HBK asked who could help him even the odds. The crowd apparently thought he was asking for volunteers and he said that he appreciated the offers but needs an actual wrestler. He asked who is his "mostest favouritest wrestler" and introduced Ric Flair as a one-night-only honorary degenerate. They did the DX intro and HBK said "for the thousands in attendance, the millions NOT watching at home, and 5 young men confused about their sexuality...not that there's anything wrong with that" and Flair said the Suck It was especially for SS. Mitch mocked HBK with a mask of him and ate a Sweet Chin Music for it. Kenny gave the ref attitude who eventually hit him. HBK was dancing to an 'HBK' chant. Nicky had Flair in the Figure 4 for a while. Kenny missed the leg drop and HBK faked Sweet Chin Music on Mikey while Flair gave him a low blow. HBK hit Sweet Chin Music on Mikey for the win. The crowd chanted for Finkel again while he introduced the Main event for the WWE Championship.

 

Edge w/Lita vs John Cena

Edge came out to insane heat and Cena to an insane pop. The crowd was about 95% pro Cena. My girlfriend and I and the guy sitting behind us were trying to start up an Edge chant to duel with the Cena one but it was pretty much just us screaming and a few others scattered around. Edge dominated most of the match and tried to have Cena counted out. He mocked the You Can't See Me hand thing and gave the 'up yours' gesture to the crowd. Cena eventually hulked up and put Edge up for the FU but Edge escaped and Cena knocked the ref down. Edge hit Cena with a low blow and told Lita to undo the turnbuckle pad. He catapulted Cena into the turnbuckle, but Cena came back and hit him with the FU and STFU. Edge tapped but the ref was still down. Lita went for a chair shot but Cena grabbed the chair and threw it out of the ring. Edge hit Cena with the belt and the ref called for a DQ so Edge speared him. Edge got on the mic and said he couldn't wait to get out of this cesspool and told Cena he was going to end it now before Summerslam. They went for a Litacanrana but she hit Edge. Cena FUed Edge and he and Lita bailed. Cena challenged Edge to a street fight but Edge left. Cena told the crowd that 'the wanker has left the building' and thanked the crowd before the show ended.

 

Biggest cheers:

1. Cena

2. HBK

3. Flair/Harry Smith

 

Most heat:

1. Edge

2. Matt Striker

3. Spirit Squad

 

We also went to an appearance with Edge and Lita before the show but found out when we got there that you needed tickets. We hung around anyway and they ended up letting us in and I got Edge to sign my copy of his book. He was a cool guy but they were rushing us through so I didn't really get to talk to him.

 

We took a bunch of photos so I'll post a link when I upload them.

[JimmyHendricks 0]

Good review. Sounds like they are really stepping it up in terms of entertainment at these house shows, and star power as well. I remember going to one in either 2002 or 2003 where the main event was Buh Buh Ray Dudley (back when he was a singles and D-Von was Reverend Devon) against Booker T. Meh.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Harry smith and Mat Striker being that over is awesome.

[benn 0]

Yeah, I was really surprised at how over they both were. They put on a great opener but unfortunately the clusterfuck booking in the next match killed the crowd.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

I hope Smith gets over in WWE in the states.

 

From everthing I've heard of him, he can, but I'm afraid Vince will find a way to fuck it up.

[benn 0]

He definately fits Vince's hard-on for big guys with good physiques, the guy looked a million bucks last night. The main thing was that he was quick on his feet. There was this one spot where they were reversing each other's hammerlocks, and Smith like stepped through the ropes twice and somehow spun under Striker's arm. I don't even remember exactly what he did because it was so quick and fluid, I just remember thinking, whoa shit that was neat. If they present him as Davey Boy's son and have him as this young face who's going after championships, I think he'll get over pretty quickly.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

That spot sounds cool.

 

As long as they don't overplay the whole son of Davey Boy deal, it'll definetly hep to be know as that. They bring up that he's related to the Hart Foundation/Family through DBS too.

[LooseCannon25 0]

Good review. Sounds like they are really stepping it up in terms of entertainment at these house shows, and star power as well. I remember going to one in either 2002 or 2003 where the main event was Buh Buh Ray Dudley (back when he was a singles and D-Von was Reverend Devon) against Booker T. Meh.

 

 

Yeah that's when they were trying to push Buh Buh hard as a singles wrestler. Gave Brock a big time run for his money.

 

 

It's good that they are stepping it up though

[LooseCannon25 0]

Charlie Haas is a very good wrestler but has absolutely no charisma, and it's sad that he'll never get over. He really needs to be in a tag team.

[cabbageboy 0]

I don't recall this Bubba and Brock semi feud. Brock left for SD in Aug. 2002 and Bubba didn't really get much of a singles push of any kind until that bizarre minor feud with HHH in Sept/Oct. 2002.

[LooseCannon25 0]

I don't recall this Bubba and Brock semi feud. Brock left for SD in Aug. 2002 and Bubba didn't really get much of a singles push of any kind until that bizarre minor feud with HHH in Sept/Oct. 2002.

 

 

They feuded for several weeks right before King Of The Ring 2002. As a matter of fact, the match they had a few weeks before KOTR was a qualifying match for the tournament. Not a bad little match. Buh Buh had Brock in trouble until Heyman interfered and Brock F-5'ed Buh Buh for the pin.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Holy Shit.

 

Bubba Ray The Maint Eventer was awesome.

 

They had him out there goin' against Triple fuckin' H in a fued.

 

And they were pushin' Bradshaw hard at the time in his old Blackjacks gimmick.

 

And the Spike/Molll/Hurricane love triangle was happenin.

 

I actually enjoyed Raw on a consistent basis back then.