WWF Raw Is War 5.28.2001

WWF RAW IS WAR
Monday, May 28th, 2001

Live from the Saddledome in Calgary, ALB

List of WWF Champions at the time:
● WWF World Heavyweight Champion: Stone Cold Steve Austin (4/01/2001)
● WWF Intercontinental Champion: Kane (5/20/2001)
● WWF World Tag Team Champions: Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho (5/21/2001)
● WWF European Champion: Matt Hardy (4/26/2001)
● WWF Hardcore Champion: The Big Show (5/21/2001)
● WWF Light Heavyweight Champion: Jerry Lynn (4/29/2001)

~ Raw comes on the air with clips of Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho surviving the TLC match from Smackdown. Jim Ross welcomes us to the show along with Paul Heyman and runs down some of tonight’s action, including The Dudley Boyz squarring off against the Holly cousins in a tag team tables match. JR also mentions that earlier he recieved a letter via courier saying we will meet the Undertaker’s wife tonight, which he finds strange since Taker isn’t scheduled to be on the show tonight. Maybe we’ll find out what that’s about on the show.

~ Things get started with Vince McMahon heading to the ring to a chrous of boos to make sure he always gets in the first work. Vince gets on the mic and says how nice it is to be in Calgary and that the fans have made him feel at home so he encourages other Americans to cross the border to enjoy the hospitality. Vince mentions how Canada has that two divergent groups, the English and French, living in harmony and that everyone gets along just fine despite the excess taxation and devaled dollar. Vince also calls the Canadians proud for bringing ice hockey, strong beer and the word ‘eh’ to America and encourages Americans to visit Canada as long as they never live there. Eventually Chris Jericho appears on the stage to a huge ovation and tries to talk but has problems with his mic. Vince claims the mic doesn’t work because it’s a Canadian microphone as Jericho goes to the back and brings out a second mic to try this again. Jericho tells Vince to stop boring his Jericholoics with his long speech Jericho then gets right to the point, demanding a WWF Championship match with Steve Austin tonight. Vince says no dice so Jericho responds by claiming he’s wearing one of the worst toupees ever and that he created two of the worst sluts ever: Stephanie McMahon and Steve Austin. Jericho then talks about Vince thinking he can sing and says he has something to show everyone before showing the always awesome clip of Vince singing “Stand Back” from the 1987 Slammy Awards! Vince is furious and demandes to know how Jericho got ahold of that footage before giving him a title match … only it’s against The Big Show for the Hardcore Title.

Just then Chris Benoit joins Jericho on the stage with his own mic, also getting a great reaction from the crowd. Benoit feels he can’t “Stand Back” and let Jericho have all the fun tonight, and since Jericho has a Hardcore title match tonight, he should get a WWF Title match with Austin. Benoit then calls Vince a great dancer in addition to a great singer before showing more of the Slammy footage. Vince gets even more angry and books Benoit in a match with Rhyno, but decides that whichever of the two Chrises is more impressive in his match will face Austin for the title tonight. Benoit and Jericho get the last word by showing more of the footage and the humiliated Vince storms out the ring to the back as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break we get an exterior shot of the Saddledome as JR hypes either Benoit or Jericho getting a title shot tonight. After that Howard Finkel introduces Stu Hart and some of the Hart family members sitting at ringside. This was certainly interesting given the past between the Harts and the WWF.

• The Hardy Boyz (w/Eddie Guerrero & Lita) vs. X-Pac & Justin Credible (w/Albert)

The Hardys are coming off the bruising TLC match on Smackdown but still want their chance to get even for X-Pac and Credible from eliminating them in Tag Team Turmoil. Interestingly enough Eddie is wearing a Hardys t-shirt in support of his new friends. Credible starts off against Jeff and pounds away on him then whips him into a corner but Jeff lifts himself up and over Credible and hits a hiptoss. Jeff hits another hiptoss then applies an armwringer but Credible rakes the face then tags X-Pac who runs into an armdrag. Matt tags in and applies an armwringer then goes for a whip but X-Pac reverses and tosses Matt over the ropes. Credible and X-Pac go out and crotch Matt on the ringpost then Credible rolls Matt back in and takes over with out a tag. X-Pac tags back in and pounds Matt down in a corner then connects with the Bronco Buster. X-Pac hits a snapmare and slaps on a chinlock, Matt fights out of it and whips X-Pac into a corner but eats a boot. However Lita trips X-Pac from the outside and pulls him into the ringpost while Jeff gets the tag and knocks Credible off the apron. Jeff takes X-Pac down by the legs and hits the double legdrop to the chest. Credible comes in but Jeff takes him down and legdrops him as well. The Hardys whip Credible into a corner, Matt drops into position and Jeff hits the Poetry in Motion. The Hardys whip X-Pac into a corner and go for another Poetry in Motion but X-Pac dodges it and Jeff crashes into the turnbuckles. X-Pac drops Matt onto the top rope with a Stun Gun then he and Credible ready for the double superkick but Eddie trips Credible from the floor while Matt blocks X-Pac’s kick and hits the Twist of Fate. Matt covers X-Pac and Credible tries to make the save but misses and nails his own partner. Matt pops Credible out through the ropes while Jeff climbs to the top and connects with the Swanton Bomb on X-Pac for the win! (3:41) Okay match but nothing outside the usual tag team stuff. Albert comes in and sets Jeff up for a powerbomb but Eddie interupts him with a dropkick then helps Jeff out of the ring to safely. **

~ Backstage Trish Stratus is getting ready for a match when Terri comes along and bumps her away from a mirror. Terri then sprays Trish with hair spray before asking if she’s going to the ring dressed the way she is. Trish suggests she might want to worry about what she and Steve Blackman will do to her and Perry Saturn instead and Terri departs while Trish gives her a parting shot as we go to commercial.

~ Back from break Tajiri is in William Regal’s office pouring tea for the Commissioner when Regal has a special job for him, hanging a portrait of the Queen. Tajiri sets out to do that task when Albert barges into the office, startling Tajiri and causing him to drop the portrait. Albert demands a match with Eddie Guerrero on the show and Regal complies but bans the Hardys and X-Factor from ringside. Albert says that’s fine because he’s going to break Eddie in two then leaves while Regal and Tajiri are astonished at the size of his head.

• Chris Benoit vs. Rhyno

Benoit is coming into this match with his ribs taped up from the TLC match on Smackdown. Benoit gets in shome quick shots and goes for a whip but Rhyno reverses and kicks him in the injured ribs. Rhyno press slams Benoit and comes off the ropes but Benoit comes back with a German suplex. Benoit holds on and hits a second German suplex, Rhyno blocks the third and goes for a short-arm clothesline but Benoit ducks it and hits a bridge suplex for a near fall. Benoit goes for a whip, Rhyno counters it but misses another clothesline and Benoit goes into the Crossface. However Rhyno manages to grab the bottom rope to force a break. Benoit argues with the referee when Rhyno spears him with the Gore to the ribs! Benoit rolls out to the floor writhing in pain as Rhyno rolls him back in the ring for a two count. Rhyno hammers Benoit in a corner but Benoit starts to fight back then whips Rhyno into a corner and hits two more German suplexes. Benoit whips Rhyno into another corner and hits a chop then sets him on the top rope before going up and hitting a superplex. However Benoit hurts himself and can’t make the immediate cover and only gets two as a result. Benoit goes for a whip but Rhyno reverses it and hits a spinebuster. Rhyno goes for the Gore again but Benoit counters right into the Crossface! This time Rhyno can’t reach the ropes and taps out, suffering his first submission loss. (3:28) Intense match but way too short, it really needed a few more minutes. Now the question is did Benoit impress Vince enough to get his shot at Steve Austin? **

~ Back from break the announcers discuss the hilarity between Steve Blackman, Trish Stratus and Grandmaster Sexay on Smackdown. It’s interesting they would show Sexay, since he was caught with drugs at the Canadian border as he was travelling to this show and was promptly fired by the WWF.

• Steve Blackman & Trish Stratus vs. Perry Saturn & Terri Runnels (w/Dean Malenko) – Intergender Match

So with his partner quietly turfed, let’s see how Blackman fares. Saturn goes to work on Blackman to start off and goes for a whip, Blackman reverses him into a corner and Blackman goes for a monkey flip but Saturn holds onto the ropes to block it. Saturn misses an elbowdrop and Blackman hits a dropkick then goes for a whip but Saturn reverses it. Blackman rolls under a clothesline and misses a roundhouse kick but hits a reverse footsweep. Blackman grabs the legs but Saturn flips him away and hits an exploder suplex. Saturn hits a clothesline then goes for a whip, Blackman reverses him into his corner and hits a suplex. Trish tags herself in then shoves Saturn into the other corner trying to get Terri to tag in. Trish grabs at Terri despite no tag but Terri snaps Trish’s neck on the top rope then throws her across the ring by the hair then hits a snapmare. Terri then stands on Trish’s hair while pulling on her arms before taunting Blackman with the devil horns, allowing Trish to roll her up for a two count. Trish stomps Terri down in a corner then hits a sloppy running bulldog but Saturn pulls her down by the hair. Saturn tags in but Trish crawls under him to tag Blackman who hits a clothesline then whips Saturn and drops him to the mat. Blackman pops Saturn in the face the goes for another whip, Blackman goes for a hip toss but Saturn counters it into a Northern Lights suplex for a two count. Saturn goes for a whip but Blackman reverses it and hits a bicycle kick. Terri jumps on Blackman’s back but Blackman moves her onto his knee and spanks her. Blackman then goes for a fallaway slam, pitching Terri right into Saturn’s arms. Saturn sets Terri down then ducks a clothesline and both men end up clotheslining each other while Trish spears Terri. The two women roll out to the floor… when in the ring comes WCW’s Lance Storm, who’s actually getting a pretty good pop from his hometown crowd. Storm nails Saturn with a superkick then leaves the ring as Blackman covers Saturn for the pin. (3:34) Storm makes his way back through the crowd as Trish and Blackman celebrate their win while Malenko and Terri are dumbfounded and Saturn is reeling from another blow to the head. Suprprise run-in aside this was a forgettable match. Plus wouldn’t Storm have make a bigger statement if he interupted a say, more high-profile match, becuase I’m not sure how many people cared about this bout. DUD

~ Back from commercial we get ‘During the Break’ footage of Lance Storm running through the building and out a door where Shane McMahon is waiting for him outside. The two embrace and celebrate as Shane declares “it’s begun” and “it’s on!” before they make their escape in a limosine. Man, it’s almost like the WWF just got invaded or something.

~ Elsewhere backstage Vince is screaming to his security force about the intrusion and threatens to fire them if anyone else from WCW interferes in any other match tonight.

~ We then cut to WWF New York and find Al Snow, who hypes the upcoming Tough Enough program. Snow knows people are dreading another reality show (ah, yes, the reality show rush of the early 2000’s in the wake of Survivor’s success) but promises this show is different because it’s about kids trying to live their dream. Okay then.

~ Backstage Spike Dudley and Molly Holly are holding hands and talking about their families feuding, with Spike assuring Molly he’ll never stop fighting for her. The two try to kiss but Kurt Angle walks by and interupts, saying they’re making a big mistake. Angle gives them an overview of the birds and the bees before saying that the two of them having babies would be embarassing. Spike starts yelling at Angle and slaps him before spearing him into a cabinet. However Angle beats Spike down, capping off with an Olympic Slam into a wall. As Angle continues his beating, Molly runs off frantically looking for Bubba Ray and D’Von, finding them in their lockeroom and telling them to come quick. Molly runs off and The Dudleys start to head out … just as Crash and Hardcore Holly walk by their door. The Hollys take advantage of this oppertunity and attack the Dudleys from behind, leaving them laying and walking off. Pretty neat segment there.

~ Back from break the Dudleys are recovering from their beatdown when Spike comes in wondering what happened. Bubba accuses Molly of setting them up while D’Von wants Spike to see that she doesn’t care about him. Spike tries to explain but the Dudleys won’t hear of it, not after everything they’ve already told him about blood being thicker than water. Bubba decides Molly is going through a table and Spike continues to plead with his half-brothers not to hurt her but they refuse to listen.

• WWF HARDCORE TITLE: The Big Show © vs. Chris Jericho

Benoit has won his match earlier, now let’s see if Jericho can match him. For some reason Lillian Garcia introduces Jericho as “Intercontinental Champion” as well as Tag Team Champion, which has to be news to Kane. Show tries to clothesline Jericho in the aisle to start us off but Jericho ducks it and slides in the ring then hits a dropkick through the ropes. Jericho gets his shots in then pulls a chair out from under the ring and jabs Show in the chest with it. Jericho takes a swing but Show punches the chair into Jericho’s face and throws him into the ringsteps. Show tosses some garbage cans and lids in the ring then Show press slams Jericho onto the barricade before throwing the ringsteps in the ring followed by Jericho. Show goes in and clubs Jericho in the back and wedges a can in a corner between the ropes then grabs a chair but Jericho dropkicks it into Show’s knee. Jericho goes for a bulldog but Show scoops him onto his shoulder and tosses him into the can like a dart. Show decks Jericho and headbutts him in the back of the head and Jericho slumps onto a can. Show goes for a legdrop but Jericho rolls out of the way as Show flattens the can. Jericho whacks Show in the head with a lid, then comes off the ropes but runs into a boot. Show sets up for the Final Cut and Jericho floats over but eats a clothesline. Show chops Jericho in a corner and sets him on the top turnbuckle then grabs the steps but Jericho comes off top with a missile dropkick that drives the steps into Show’s face. Jericho quickly connects with the Lionsault and gets the 1….2….3 for the title, ending Show’s reign after just one week. (4:31) Jericho has held the Intercontinental, European, Tag Team and now the Hardcore Title. Entertaining enough match mainly thanks to Jericho selling like a champ for Show. And now we’re wondering if Jericho impressed Vince enough to get a shot at Austin as well. **

The weary Jericho starts to walk up the aisle with his Tag Team and Hardcore Title belts but as he reaches the entrance, Rhyno charges out from the back and Gores Jericho on the stage! Rhyno covers Jericho as referee Mike Sparks comes out and counts 1….2….3 and we have a 24/7 title change after 68 seconds. So in the span of one week that Hardcore Title has gone from Rhyno to Show to Jericho back to Rhyno. Just seems like two of those title changes were unnecessary. Anyway Rhyno walks off with the Hardcore belt while Jericho is left laying on the stage as we go to commercial.

~ A classic King of the Ring moment is shown, this one from 1993 of Bret Hart defeating Bam Bam Bigelow to win the inagural pay-per-view tournament and getting attacked by Jerry Lawler during his corination. Guess that’s how we’ll build up this year’s supercard.

• Eddie Guerrero vs. Albert

Albert wants revenge for Eddie costing his pals their match earlier and saving Jeff Hardy from the post-match Baldobomb. Albert goes right to work on Eddie in a corner when Eddie slips out and gets in his shots then rakes the face. Albert shoves Eddie away and misses a clothesline but clubs him in the back of the hear. Albert lays the boots to Eddie then trash talks him him before hitting a backbreaker. Albert holds on and hits a second backbreaker followed by a press slam. Albert trash-talks some more Eddie as he hammers him in the ropes then slingshots him into the middle rope. Eddie falls out to the floor and Albert goes out after him and talks more trash at him. Eddie tries to fight back but Albert clubs him in the back and press slams him back in the ring Albert climbs on the apron when Eddie dropkicks him in the knee. Eddie slings himself over the ropes into a pescado but Albert catches him and rams him into the ringpost. Albert rolls Eddie back in the ring and goes for a powerbomb, Eddie tries to counter into a huricanrana when Albert blocks it and goes for the powerbomb again but Eddie fights it again and manages to get Albert off his feet. Eddie drives Albert into a corner and hits a series of shoulderblocks then goes for a whip but Albert reverses him into a corner and hits the Avalanche. Lita runs out to ringside as Albert goes for the Baldobomb but Eddie counters into a rollup that gets the three? (2:51) The announcers says Lita distracted Albert even though he never once look at her. Maybe he was supposed to glance at her and forgot, leading to the odd finish. In any case Eddie goes out and celebrates with Lita then hugs her but thinks better of it and settles for a high five. *

~ Back from break we get clips of Mick Foley’s appearence on the Today show as he celebrates his second #1 bestselling book.

~ JR and Heyman then start talking about the tables match… but are interupted when a videotape cuts in of a woman combing her hair. A distored voice explains this is the Undertaker’s wife Sara in the privacy of her home and that we’ll be seeing a lot more of her before cutting out. Looks like we have a new Black Scorpion mystery on our hands.

~ Backstage the Hollys discuss the tables match, with Hardcore telling Crash the object is simply put a Dudley through a table. Crash eagerly agrees as Molly asks her cousins to spare Spike but Hardcore says Spike going through a table if he gets involved. Molly continues to plead Spike’s case, feeling they don’t even know him before storming out but Hardcore and Crash then head out as well looking to put someone through a table.

~ Elsewhere Benoit and Jericho complement each other on their matches tonight when Vince walks by and tells them that they were both impressive tonight. Vince even says Steve Austin wants to face both of them, but he’s not going to let it happen and gives the nod to Benoit for the title shot tonight. Vince then heads out, but not before saying he wants to know where they got that footage. Jericho congradulates Benoit and wishes him luck but also tells him he wants to be his first challenger after he wins the WWF Championship.

~ Back from break Regal is giving Tajiri the business over the picture he dropped earlier when Vince walks in. After Regal introduces Tajiri to him, causing Tajiri to bow in response, Vince tells Regal to send Tajiri out for coffee and Tajiri complies and departs. Once alone Vince tells Regal that Austin has came up with a brilliant idea for the main event but doesn’t want to tell him what it is, just to watch and enjoy.

• The Dudley Boyz (w/Spike) vs. Crash & Hardcore Holly (w/Molly) – Tables Match

A funny logic gap here: had the Dudleys looked up at the TitanTron and actually seen the replay of what happen earlier, they’d realize Molly really was innocent which would negate their beef with her. But since we don’t follow logic in wrestling, here we go. All four men go at it to start and the Hollys get the advantage as Hardcore chokes D’Von with his shin while Crash wraks Bubba’s arm around the top rope. Crash goes out and slides a table in the ring ten sets it up. Hardcore tries to powerbomb D’Von through it but Bubba throws Crash out through the ropes then moves the table out of the way. Hardcore clotheslines Bubba as Crash comes back in and helps with a double-team. Bubba fights back but Hardcore rakes the face as Crash sets the table up in a corner. Hardcore works over D’Von as Crash tries to force Bubba onto the table and Bubba fights him off. Hardcore whips Crash into Bubba but Bubba sidesteps and Crash runs into the table. Hardcore works over Bubba but Bubba slams him then sets him up while D’Von climbs to the top rope and hits the “Wassup” headbutt. The Dudleys each go out and bring a table in the ring then grab one table but Hardcore dropkicks it into their faces. Hardcore sets the table up then tries to whip D’Von but D’Von reverses and there’s a 3D through the table for the win. (3:05) Pretty decisive win for the Dudleys. *

After the match Molly makes the mistake of going in the ring to tend to Hardcore and naturally the Dudleys spot her and get that look. Bubba grabs Molly by the hair and D’Von prepares a table as Spike comes in to try to reason with his half-brothers. However Bubba slaps Spike down and climbs to the second rope ready to superbomb Molly through the table but Spike lays on the table saying they’ll have to put him through as well. So D’Von hands Molly off and Bubba superbombs her through Spike and through the table. The Dudleys look down at what they did with stone-faced looks before walking off.

~ Back from break a number of EMTs are in the ring tending to Spike and Molly who keep asking about the other’s condition.

~ JR and Heyman then talk about Triple H’s injury last week, showing how his quad tore when he broke up Jericho’s Walls of Jericho on Austin. That’s followed by footage of Triple H’s visit to Dr. James Andrews, who says he’ll need surgery to repair it which will put him on crutches for six weeks and will require four months to heal. Triple H also talks on finishing the match, including the Walls of Jericho on the announce table. We also get footage of the following day as Stephanie looked on during the surgery while Dr. Andrews says the operation went well but Triple H has a lot of work and rehab ahead of him.

~ JR and Heyman whish Triple H well on his recovering and rehab before hyping the main event with Heyman feeling something is going down tonight. I wonder what that could mean?

• WWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Stone Cold Steve Austin © (w/Vince McMahon) vs. Chris Benoit

In a nice touch they have Howard Finkle do a big match-style intro for this contest. Ross also points out the extra security at ringside, claiming it’s to prevent another WCW run-in. I wonder if it’s for something else. Anyway both men lockup to start and jockey for position in a corner then Austin breaks cleanly before kicking Benoit repeatedly in the injured ribs. Benoit fights back with chops but Austin kicks him in the chest to regain control then hits a series of shoulderblocks. Austin whips Benoit into the opposite corner but Benoit blocks a clothesline and tries for the Crossface already. However Austin slips out and attacked Benoit in the ribs, capping off with a whip and a knee to the midsection for a two count. Benoit comes back with chops then comes off the ropes but runs into a Lou Thesz Press. Austin hammers away at Benoit but Benoit counters into a rollup, Austin rolls out of it into his own rollup but Benoit counters that and gets the Corssface! Austin manages to inch over and grab the bottom rope then rolls out to the floor to regroup. Benoit goes out and rams Austin into the announce table twice then into the ringsteps twice before hitting more chops. Benoit goes for a whip but Austin reverses him into the steps then rams him into the announce table before rolling him back in the ring. Austin whips Benoit but lowers the head and Benoit gets a Sunset Flip, Austin rolls out of it but Benoit takes Austin down by the legs and puts him in the Sharpshooter!! The crowd is going nuts as Austin inches toward the ropes but Benoit pulls him back to the center of the ring. Austin again tries for the ropes and this time reaches them as the crowd boos loudly.

Austin rolls out the floor and Benoit goes out after him but Ausitn kicks him in the chest and rams him into the table again. Austin suplexes Benoit onto the barricade twice then suplexes him onto the announce table. Austin rolls Benoit back in the ring and covers him but only gets two. Austin applies an abdominal stretch and uses the ropes for leverage but referee Earl Hebner sees it and kicks the arm off, allowing Benoit to counter with a hip toss. Benoit then hits a German suplex then holds on and hits a second German then goes for a third but Austin fights it. Benoit sets Austin on the top rope and chops him repeatedly then goes up but Austin fights it and throws Benoit down to the mat. Austin sets Benoit on the top rope then goes up and hits his superplex but only gets two! Austin unlaods on Benoit and covers for another near fall then tosses him out through the ropes. Austin goes out and grabs his WWF Championship belt then readies a swing when Hebner takes it away. That prompts Vince to argue with Hebner while Austin rolls Benoit back in the ring and hit the Stunner! Austin covers Benoit but Hebner is still arguing with Vince as he throws the belt in the ring. Austin tries to get the referee’s attention when Benoit clocks him with the belt!! Hebner finally gets back in the ring as Benoit covers Austin … but only gets a two count! Austin whips Benoit and goes for the Stunner but Benoit shoves him off and slaps on the Crossface!! Hebner is over to see if Ausitn gives it up but Vince pulls him out of the ring so Hebner shoves Vince down then goes back in the ring as Austin manages to grab the ropes again. Benoit lays the boots to Austin and goes for a whip but Austin reverses it and hits a knee to the chest. Austin then locks in his own Crossface on Benoit and I bet you can guess what’s coming up next. Sure enough Vince orders the timekeeper to ring the bell and forces Finkel to announce Austin as the winner by submission, even though Benoit didn’t give up. (11:12) Yep, they dragged the Montreal finish out for this one. Horrible ending to what was a very good match between these two. Austin and Benoit meshed together as always and the crowd was hot throughout, but nowadays it’s hard to really get into this match when both men would outdo it just four days later. ***½

JR is screaming about Benoit getting screwed as Austin lays out Hebner with the Stunner. Vince then gives Austin one of the tag title belts (thinking it’s the championship belt) and both men pose on the ramp … when Chris Jericho comes out and jumps both from behind. Benoit and Jericho double-team Austin then roll him in the ring and Jericho puts him in the Walls of Jericho. Vince tries to make the save but Benoit intercepts him with the Crossface. Both guys start tapping out as a swarm of referees try to get Benoit and Jericho off but the Chrises refuse to let go. Benoit and Jericho then stand tall in the ring while both Austin and Vince are laid out, and that at least sends the crowd home happy as Raw fades to black.

Conclusion: Pretty good episode of Raw for the most part. A lot of new stuff was happening and the in-ring action was mostly decent with a good main event despite a terrible ending. Benoit and Jericho were finally getting their chances to be in the main event which was a refreshing change, albeit briefly, while Austin was finally getting the heel spotlight to himself instead of playing second fiddle to Triple H since he was out of the picture. In addition some pretty big angles were starting to get built up, but of course where said angles eventually ended up is another story. Nonetheless a solid show to check out.