WWF Raw Is War 5.14.2001

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, May 14th, 2001

Live from the FirStar Center in Cincinnati, OH

List of WWF Champions at the time:
● WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin (4/01/2001)
● WWF Intercontinental Champion: Triple H (4/16/2001)
● WWF World Tag Team Champions: Steve Austin & Triple H (4/29/2001)
● WWF European Champion: Matt Hardy (4/26/2001)
● WWF Hardcore Champion: Rhyno (4/19/2001)
● WWF Women’s Champion: Chyna (4/01/2001)
● WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Jerry Lynn (4/29/2001)

~ Raw comes on the air with clips of the Undertaker/Steve Austin saga from Smackdown including Kane’s return. After the intro Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Paul Heyman and we’re just six days aways from Judgment Day, but tonight Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho team up against Edge & Christian and Chyna and Lita will team up as well.

~ Things kick off with Steve Austin making his way to the ring with the Helmsleys joining him for the opening promo, and Stephanie gets on the mic first to give Triple H a special intro, while making everyone’s ears bleed in the process. And I feel I should point out that Ausitn came out before Triple H again. Triple H takes the mic and feels Kane isn’t the smartest member of his family after coming back on Smackdown, since all he had to do was stay away and nurse his injuries following the beating he and Austin gave him. Triple H decides he wants to finish the job they started and offers Kane an Intercontinental Title match at Judgement Day, but suggests they make it a chain match and dares Kane to come out and accept his challenge. Austin takes over the mic and says everywhere he goes fans are asking if he’s worried about facing the Undertaker, when he feels Taker doesn’t have a chance against him Sunday because he doesn’t the guts or talent to stop him. Austin says he never needed chairs or chains and he deserves to be treated better than the way Taker has treated him, especially after that trap he set on Smackdown. Austin then mentions he and Triple H haven’t defended the Tag Team titles since winning them from Taker and Kane so he challenges the Brothers to a Tag Team Title match tonight, feeling the champs can’t be stopped. It doesn’t take long for Undertaker to make his way out to the stage with a chain in hand and offer a rebuttal on the mic, telling Austin that he isn’t a coward, he’s just looking for someone brave enough to fight him. Taker suggests Austin to go to church on Sunday morning and pray for his soul because his rear end belongs to him. Taker then turns to Triple H and says that Kane will gladly accept his challenge for a chain match at Judgment Day, just like they;ll accept the tag title match tonight. Taker then brings up what Austin said about traps and almost on cue Kane runs in the ring from behind wielding a chain and clears the ring of the Two-Man Power Trip. Austin and Triple H flee up the ramp while Taker and Kane stand tall in the ring and there’s our setup for tonight. Don’t know why they needed 17 minutes, though.

~ Backstage Commissioner William Regal watches this unfold on a monitor when he gets a visit from Kurt Angle, who wants to know why he’s facing Rikishi tonight and what it has to do with him getting his gold medals back. Regal explains he wants to ensure Rikishi is properly punished for assaulting him and besmirching Stephanie last week and offers to let Angle choose the stipulations for his match with Chris Benoit on Sunday in exchange. Angle jumps at this oppertunity and says how it’s hard to dance when one’s ankle is snapped in two.

• Kurt Angle vs. Rikishi

Rikishi continues to pay for his trangressions the previous week, and after losing to Austin and managing a DQ win against Triple H, let’s see how he fares against Angle. Both men lock up to start and Angle trips Rikishi by the leg then goes into a waistlock but Rikishi fights him off. Angle then tries to slam Rikishi but can’t get him up and strains his back while Rikishi easily gets his slam off. Rikishi exchanges punches with Angle who gets the advantage and wails on him but Rikishi shoves him away. Angle quickly fights back but Rikishi shoves him away again and hits a clothesline followed by the superkick. Rikishi clotheslines Angle over the ropes then goes out rams him into the steps before throwing him back in. Angle gets in some offense but Rikishi stops that with the chop to the throat then whips him but lowers the head. Angle attempts a Sunset Flip but can’t get Rikishi over so Rikishi goes for the sitdown spleash but that misses. Angle Rikishi in a corner with punches and kicks and goes for a whip but Rikishi holds onto the ropes to block it and hits a belly-to-belly suplex. Rikishi headbutts Angle down in a corner, putting him in prime position for a Stinkface, yet he’s just standing there as if he’s waiting for something. Ah, here comes William Regal, who probably misses his cue, to run in and attack Rikishi to end this. (2:48) Rikishi sure isn’t having a good run in his comeback, is he? Regal stomps Rikishi down and kicks away at him then allows Angle to finish him off with an Olympic Slam. Angle didn’t win the match but Regal seems satisfied with the outcome so does he still get his stipulations? DUD

~ JR then mentions we have a breaking story as we cut backstage to find Johnathan Coachman at the interview set, with Coach reporting the police have just arrived at the building wanting to speak to The Undertaker for whatever reason. Coach says they don’t know the reason but promioses to report back when he gets the details on this situation. Ooh, sounds serious.

~ Trish Stratus is making her way to the ring for some reason as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we find Crash Holly trying to talk to Molly who thinks it’s about her teaming with Ivory tonight. Instead Crash brings up Molly talking to Spike Dudley, feeling that he can’t trust her because he’s a Dudley and the Dudleys are known for putting women through tables and may want to put her through a table next. Molly assures Crash that Spike’s not like that and she was impressed with him putting someone through a table. Crash mentions he’s facing Rhyno tonight and it’ll be impressive when he becomes a 13-time Hardcore Champion. Crash reminds Molly that he’s family and stresses that she can’t trust a Dudley but Molly just shakes her head.

~ Elsewhere backstage we get a shot of Lita preparing for a tag match against the aformentioned Ivory/Molly team.

~ Still elsewhere Eddie Guerrero is admiring Perry Saturn’s hat when Saturn and Dean Malenko come in with Terri, wanting to know why he’s chummy with the Hardys and Lita after everything they’ve put them through. Eddie tries to tell his pals there’s no reason to get hot and bothered by it but Saturn takes exception to it, since he and Malenko have a match with the Hardys and Eddie needs to decide which team he’s on. Eddie promises everyone that tonight they will find out he is a team player as they head out.

~ Out in the arena Trish Stratus hits the ring and gets on the mic saying Vince wouldn’t approve of what she’s about to do. Trish feels the fans want to see more of her and shows a preview of the latest divas video, simply to kill some time.

~ Backstage Johnathan Coachman stands outside Undertaker’s door informing us that the police are meeting with him. As Coach is talking Taker suddenly charges out of his dressing room and bolts out of the building for some reason. Maybe we’ll get the scoop on what happened to cause Taker to leave like that after the commercial break.

~ Back from break Coach is interviewing a plain-clothed police officer on what’s happening with the Undertaker. The officer, Sgt. Warman, informs Coach that Taker’s (then-)wife Sara was in a car accident and is now in the hospital. Warman says he can’t report anything else right now but they do have provided a police escort for Taker. Good gravy, what will this mean for the scheduled tag team title match? It was obvious where this was going but let’s not spoil it for the kiddies.

• The Hardy Boyz vs. Dean Malenko & Perry Saturn (w/Eddie Guerrero & Terri Runnels)

So will we finally get the answer to where Eddie truly stands? Oddly enough Eddie’s music and video start playing even though he’s already with his pals at ringside. The Hardys ask Eddie what his deal is but that allows Malenko and Saturn to jump them and gets us started. Matt and Malenko then head out while Jeff gets in some shots on Sautn but Saturn hits an exploder suplex. Saturn whips Jeff when Jeff comes back and goes for an O’Connor roll but Saturn grabs the ropes to prevent it. Jeff leapfrogs Saturn and goes for a monkey flip, Saturn grabs his legs but Jeff flings him with a body scissors. Jeff takes down Saturn by the legs and hits the double legdrop to the chest then decks Malenko on the apron. Jeff goes for a whip, Saturn reverses it but Jeff runs up the turnbuckles and hits the Whisper in the Wind. Malenko comes in but Jeff takes him down and hits him with the double legdrop while Matt comes in as well. Matt whips Saturn into a corner then drops down into position while Jeff connects with the Poetry in Motion. The referee tries to get Matt out of the ring while Malenko nails Jeff from behind and lays the boots to him. Malenko whips Jeff and hits a back elbow then whips Jeff into a corner and sets him on the top turnbuckle. Malenko goes up looking for a superplex but Jeff shoves him off to the mat and nails him with a missile dropkick. Both men crawl to the corners and Malenko tags Saturn but Matt gets his tag and takes it to both Radicals. Matt clotheslines Malenko over the ropes and Jeff runs along the barricade and nails Malenko with a crossbody. Saturn superkicks Matt when Terri slides a chair in the ring then hops on the apron to distract the referee. Saturn grabs the chair and readies a swing when Eddie suddenly hops onto the apron and takes the chair away. That causes Saturn to stagger into a Twist of Fate from Matt and that gets the three. (3:30) Pretty dull and disappointing match. *

The Hardys leave the ring and head up the ramp while Eddie doesn’t look too happy with what just went down. Malenko goes in and demands to know what’s up with Eddie and Eddie responds by clocking him with the chair to a huge pop! I guess Eddie really has gone good, reducing the Radicalz to a duo. Not that it’s going to matter in the long run anyway.

~ Backstage the police officer is about to leave when Steve Austin comes up asking how Undertaker took the news. The officer mentions Taker was a bit upset and Austin thanks the officer as he leaves … and ponders this. Hmmm.

~ Back form break we get an exterior shot of the building and find the Arizona Diamondbacks in the crowd. Even though the show is being broadcast from Cincinnati.

• WWF HARDCORE TITLE: Rhyno © vs. Crash Holly

Rhyno pounds away on Crash to start and goes for a whip but Crash reverses and tosses Rhyno over the ropes then follows it up with a baseball slide. Crash goes out and whips Rhyno into the barricade then climbs on the barrier and takes Rhyno down with a huricanrana for a two count on the floor. Crash starts pulling out various weapons and tossing them in the ring before throwing Rhyno back in as well. Crash grabs a trash lid and climbs to the top rope then nails Rhyno with a flying shot to the head for a near fall. Crash goes for a whip but Rhyno reverses it and plants him with a spinebuster for a two count. Rhyno stomps Crash down in a corner and caps off with a running boot then sets a trash can next to Crash and kicks it into him with a running kick. Rhyno covers Crash but Spike Dudley runs out to ringside and puts Crash’s foot on the rope to save him, which begs the question of why they would have rope breaks in a match with no disqualifications. Spike is in and sets Rhyno up for the Dudley Dawg but Rhyno tosses him into Crash who’s holding a trash can. Spike rolls out to the floor while Crash is out of commission as Rhyno grabs the pin. (2:13) Couuld have been an entertaining match but was cut way too short. Rhyno walks off with his belt while Spike tries to help Crash to his feet but Crash doesn’t appreciate his “help”, so Spike decks him. However Crash comes back and nails Spike repeatedly with a trash can lid then leaves him laying. *½

~ Backstage Kane is about to leave the buidling to join The Undertaker but William Regal comes up and stops him, saying that as Commissioner he has to make many of the tough decisions. Regal tells Kane the incident with Taker’s wife is tragic but he can’t have all of his talent leaving early after the people paid good money to see him compete. Regal claims Taker is in breach of contract then threatens to fire both him and Kane if he leaves as well and orders him to compete tonight. Kane angrily throws down his bag and heads back to the lockeroom.

• Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho vs. Edge & Christian

Edge and Christian each got singles wins over the Chrises on Smackdown so let’s see what happens in a tag match. Benoit comes out wearing Kurt Angle’s medals on his neck and places them over the ringpost, which might be important somehow. Jericho lockups with Christian to start and gets a hammerlock, Christian counters into his own hammerlock, Jericho elbows out of it and comes off the ropes when Christian leapfrogs over him but Jericho hits an elbow followed by a bulldog for a two count. Benoit tags in and helps Jericho with a double-team then whips Christian but lowers the head. Christian kicks the face then tags Edge but Benoit greets him with some chops. Edge hits a knee to the chest then whips Benoit into a corner but Benoit comes out and hits a German suplex. Benoit holds on for a second German suplex when Christian comes in but Jericho cuts him off with a right hand. Benoit puts Christian in the Crossface but Edge breaks it up with a dropkick then lays the boots to Benoit. Christian tags in and hits a backbreaker for a two count and Benoit starts to fight back but Christian stops that. Christian then sets up for the Slop Drop but Benoit slips out of it and slaps Chrisitan in the Crossface again. Edge breaks it up again and the referee tries to keep Jericho out while Edge sneaks in a shot and chokes Benoit. Edge hits a dropkick that gets a near fall and both men exchange shots until Edge rakes the face to take control. Edge clubs Benoit in the back then tags Christian in and Christian lays the boots to Benoit and chokes him. Christian distracts the referee while Edge chokes Benoit and Christian covers for a two count then tags Edge. Edge slams Benoit then hops to the middle rope but misses an elbowdrop and Christian is in to stomp Benoit. The referee gets Christian back out while Jericho climbs to the top rope and nails Edge with a missle dropkick. Jericho pops Christian through the ropes then goes out while Benoit covers Edge but only gets a two count. Benoit lunges for his corner to try and make the tag but Edge catches him and drives him into the wrong corner. Christian tags in and Benoit fights back with some chops but Christian answers with forearm shots of his own. Christian goes for a whip but Benoit reverses it and plants Christian with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Both men crawl to their corners and Christian tags in Edge while Benoit is able to make the hot tag to Jericho. Jericho greets Edge with a flying forearm followed by a clothesline then chops away at him and goes for a whip. Edge reverses it and knocks Jericho right into Christian on the apron but Jericho backdrops him over the ropes. Edge lands on his feet on the apron and shoulderblocks Jericho then leaps back in and goes for a Sunset Flip. Jericho holds onto the ropes but Christian pops him allowing Edge to get him over and Jericho rolls through it. Jericho then puts Edge in the Walls of Jericho but Christian makes it back in to save it before Edge can tap. Christian tosses Jericho shoulder-first into the ringpost when Benoit knocks him through the ropes in return. Benoit goes out to the floor but Christian throws him into the ringpost then slides a pair of chairs in the ring. E&C ready to hit a ConChairto but Jericho ducks it while Benoit dropicks the chairs into both men’s faces. All four are down when Kurt Angle runs out and grabs his medals off the post then dashes back up the ramp. Back in the ring Jericho quickly connects with the Lionsault on Edge and is able to get the pin for his team. (7:06) Nice little tag match and some pretty good stuff there from the Canadians. ***

As Benoit gets his arm raised he looks out and sees Angle gloating about reclaiming his medals then gets on the mic and tells Angle those medals are really sweet … because they’re made out of candy. Wonk-Wonk! Angle quickly discovers the medals are indeed fakes while Benoit pulls the real medals out of his tights and tells Angle to prove him wrong at Judgment Day if he wants to get his medals back. Angle is not happy and storms off while Benoit slips the medals around his neck. Eww, those where just in your tights, Chris.

~ Back from break we get fooatge of Kurt Angle angrily storming through the backstage area during the break as Michael Cole walks up asking what kind of match he’s going to have with Chris Benoit at Judgment Day. Angle says he doesn’t know yet but Benoit will get what’s coming to him because those are his gold medals he has. Guess we’ll have to wait until Smackdown to get the answer.

~ Backstage Kevin Kelly interviews Chris Jericho on his big win as well as getting his revenge for Smackdown, with Jericho saying Edge & Christian were the ones who reeked tonight. Suddenly E&C jump Jericho from behind and beat him down then grab another pair of chairs and this time are able to connect with the ConChairto. Edge asks Jericho who reeks now and he and Christian depart while Jericho is left laying.

~ Out in the arena William Regal makes his way to the ring and looks to kill some time on the mic, saying how being Commissioner includes certain responsibilities such as regularly providing quality sport entertainment. Regal says that what happened to The Undertaker’s wife earlier tonight is tragic but feels the show must still go on so they need a main event and the only suitable one is Steve Austin and Triple H vs. Kane in a handicap match. Regal then allows the chain match for the Intercontinental Title to take place at Judgment Day before saying he enjoyed teaching Rikishi a lesson so he’s added a match between the two of them to the pay-per-view, promising to teach Rikishi manners as well as get even for him besmirching himself and Stephanie McMahon. Regal is about to leave the ring when Grandmaster Sexay come out to the ring to unnecessarily prolong this segment. Sexay gets on the mic and mumbles something about Regal needing chill pills and being down with Rikishi again. Regal doesn’t know what Sexay is saying as Sexay decides to help Regal loosen up and get funky or something. Sexay invites a group of girls in the ring and everyone starts busting a move as Regal looks on with confusion. Eventually Regal has enough of this nonsense and nails Sexay with a forearm then hits the inverted neckbreaker and slaps on the Regal Stretch before telling him the party’s over and departs. I’m sure this segment had a purpose but it seemed to be lost when Sexay came out. Not that it matters since Sexay wouldn’t be around much longer anyway.

~ Backstage Debra is with Steve Austin expresses her concern about the rumors of the Undertaker’s wife, not wanting to think about being in Sara’s position. Austin assures his wife it will never happen to her.

~ Lita and Chyna are shown heading out to the ring together for their tag match. Can the opponents for this Sunday get along tonight? Maybe we’ll find out as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Chris Jericho avoiding one ConChairto in the match but getting nailed with the second backstage as JR and Heyman report Jericho has been taken to a nearby medical facility for evaulation.

~ Somehow that takes us to footage of The Rock appearing on NBC’s Dateline the previous night. Kind of a weird transition.

• Lita & Chyna vs. Molly Holly & Ivory

No, I don’t get pairing Molly with Ivory either. I guess the WWF figured someone had to tag with Ivory despite the shortage of heel divas at this point. Ivory pounds on Lita to start and rams her face-first into the mat then whips her but Lita hits a headscissors. Ivory hits a dropkick for a two count then stomps her and whips her but Lita hits a swinging neckbreaker. Lita then starts crawling to her corner looking for a tag but Molly gets her tag and drags Lita back to the center. Lita kicks Molly away and makes it to her corner … but Chyna encourages her to keep going instead of tagging. Naturally Lita is not happy but does lock up with Molly and trips her by the leg then gets a cross armbreaker. Molly gets her foot on the bottom rope but Lita comes back with an armdrag. Lita whips Molly into a corner, Molly lifts herself over the ropes to avoid Lita then climbs to the top and connects with the Molly Go Round. Molly covers but Chyna saves it then pops Ivory off the apron while Lita drills Molly with the Twist of Fate. Lita climbs to the top rope and connects with the moosault and is able to get the three single-handedly. (2:25) Chyna comes in and rasies Lita’s arm but Lita seems annoyned with this. I can tell you she’s not the only one. DUD

~ Backstage William Regal is reading a magazine but snaps to attention when Steve Austin comes in his office asking if it’s fair to have Kane in a handicap match after everything that his family has been through tonight. Regal says it’s been a rather peculiar night but wants to be fair to the fans who pay money to see the wrestlers compete. Austin decides that if Regal insists on the match tonight then he wants the Tag Team titles to be on the line as well. Well isn’t this a nice setup.

~ Back from break we get a replay of Chyna refusing to tag in for Lita during the women’s tag team match earlier. Backstage Michael Cole interviews Lita about that incident but Lita says she doesn’t know what Chyna’s deal is as she plugs their Women’s Title match in six days. Chyna shows up and explains she wanted Lita to do this on her own to prove that she’s ready for Judgment Day, which she has. Chyna warns Lita not to trust Eddie Guerrero and departs leaving Lita and Cole with surprised looks.

~ We then get a recap of Undertaker leaving the building earlier after receiving the bad news about his wife, just in case you missed the main storyline of the show.

~ We then cut to WWF New York and find Jerry Toliver and Tony Bartone of the WWF racing team there. We also get a look at the Stone Cold funny card and Toliver announces the debut of the Triple H funny car.

~ Backstage Stephanie talks with Steve Austin and Triple H about his funny car debuting on Friday in English Town but can’t get excited about that, not with Undertaker’s wife’s car wreck hanging over them. Stephanie says rumors are circluating of Sara’s condition and Triple H says he’s heard she has massive hemmoraging. Austin says he heard Sara’s face is mangled and twisted and even if she makes it she will never look the same again. Can they make it more obvious this is a swerve without actually revealling it is?

• The Acolytes & Test vs. The Big Show, Bull Buchanan & The Goodfather

Both Bradshaw and Test were having their issues with Show and the remnants of the Right To Censor were deperate for a win at any costs, so here we go. Incidentally the previous night on Heat Shot challenged Test to a match on the pay-per-view and Test accepted. Show comes out first for his team but the good guys triple-team him before the RTC’ers head out to the ring. Buchanan and Goodfather double-team Faarooq while Bradshaw and Test whip Show and hit a double elbow. Show is staggering but still up so Test and Bradshaw hit a double shoudlertackle that knocks him off his feet. Bradshaw tosses Buchanan through the ropes then the two whip Goodfather and hit a double shoulderblock. Faarooq goes for a whip but Goodfather hits a crescent kick then tags Buchanan who comes in with an axe kick. Buchanan lays the boots to Faarooq then goes for a whip but Faarooq reverses and hits a powerslam for a two. Bradshaw tags in and goes for a whip, Buchanan reverses but Bradshaw hits a neckbreaker and an elbowdrop. Bradshaw covers Buchanan but Show saves it then hammers him while the referee keeps Test on the apron. Bradshaw fights back against Show but Goodfather stops that and Bradshaw gets triple-teamed in a corner. Buchanan slams Bradshaw then runs up the buckles and springs off the rope with a clothesline for a near fall. Buchanan whips Bradshaw into a corner but Bradshaw comes back with a shouldertackle and both are down. Test gets the tag and hammers Buchanan with clotheslines then catches Goodfather and hits the Full Nelson slam. Show comes in and nails Test from behind then nails Faarooq … and seems confused as to what he’s to do next. Show goes after Test who pulls down the top rope … and I guess Show was suppsed to go over but forgot. Show hits a headbutt then charges at Test but Test pulls down the ropes again and this time Show goes over. The RTC’ers whip Test but the Acoyltes pull Goofather out to the floor while Test nails Buchanan with a boot. The Acolytes work Goodfather over on the floor when Show picks up the steps and rams them into Test’s face. Both guys are down in the ring but Buchanan is able to drape an arm over Test and steal the pin. (3:18) Just a horrible, sloppy match as everyone seemed lost in there and it just killed the crowd. DUD

~ Backstage Michael Cole nervously interviews Kane on being forced into a handicap match under the circumstances. Kane says the match is for Sara but the chain is for Austin and Triple H and starts whipping metallic objects with it.

~ Elsewhere Johnathan Coachman interviews Austin if he feels any symphaty for Kane heading into their match but Austin says he doesn’t feel sympathy for animals like Kane. Austin points out the handicap match was the Commissioner’s idea then promises to do whatever it takes to defend the tag titles tonight and thus will show Kane no mercy. Austin says he feels sorry for no one going into this Sunday and that he cannot be stopped.

• WWF WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES: Steve Austin & Triple H © (w/Stephanie) vs. Kane – Handicap Match

Can Kane win the titles single-handedly? Don’t know if we’re going to find out since we’re already into the overrun as the participants file out. Kane does have the chain with him and is ready to go but Earl Hebner convinces him to dispose of it on the floor. Kane boots Triple H down to get us going and hammers away at Austin then whips him and hits him with a boot. Kane turns and clotheslines Triple H in a corner when Austin nails him from behind and gets in his shots. Ausitn goes for a whip but Kane reverses it and hits a sidewalk slam then clotheslines Triple H over the ropes. Kane goes out and rams Triple H into the steps but Triple H rams Kane’s injured arm onto the announce table. Kane comes back and rams Triple H into the table but Austin nails him from behind and throws him in the ring. Austin wraps Kane’s bad arm around the rope and stomps him down when Kane clotheslines him with the cast. Triple H is back in and goes for a whip, Kane reverses it and grabs him by the throat but Austin saves him. Austin and Triple H double-team Kane then whip him but Kane comes back with a clothesline on both guys. Kane whips Triple H into a corner and Triple H flips over the ropes while Kane nails Austin with a powerslam. Kane climbs to the top rope and connects with the flying clothesline then grabs Austin and hits the chokeslam. However Triple H grabs Kane’s chain then climbs to the top rope and nails Kane with the chain to his head. Triple H then wraps the chair around his fist punches Kane in the face and Hebner decides that’s enough. (3:35) Yep, all that build for a nothing three-minute main event. DUD

Triple H continues assaulting Kane with the chain then hits a chained fistdrop before Austin gets in his licks then starts attacking Kane’s injured arm with the chain. The crowd is chanting for someone to make the save and you’d figure the bookers would have somebody run out to send them home happy but no one comes out. Eventually Austin gets on the mic and says that he’s not heartless but he is going to beat Undertaker this Sunday and has a feeling Taker’s wife is going to be just fine, pretty much confirming what everyone guessed once they started this angle.

Conclusion: Very poor edition of Raw that did nothing to get anyone excited for Judgment Day, such as the card was at this point. Once again the show was centered around a silly storyline that fooled no one and continued the domination of the same four guys that’s been going on almost since Wrestlemania. Plus all the matches save the tag match with the Canadians was forgettable and the midcard was running in place as well since many of the wrestlers on the show didn’t even have matches set up for the pay-per-view, giving them nothing to build toward. Thumbs down effort that continued the doldrums and it would still be a while before things actually started happening.

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