MARCH 29, 2004 - MONDAY NIGHT RAW
Four week away from Backlash, and Monday Night RAW kicks off with the World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels coming to the ring! He grabs the microphone and re-iterates that two weeks ago when he tapped out to the Angle Lock, he was doing so for his own sake. He could have fought his way out of the move, but the effort it would have taken wouldn't have been worth it. He'd just have wound up causing himself more strain than he needed, plus he didn't really care whether he wound up on RAW or SmackDown!, because either way, he'd still be the best thing going. So he let Kurt Angle pick up the "clean" win two weeks ago, and now he's got himself a title match at Backlash. Well, good for Kurt. The only problem is, this isn't the B Show anymore. He's getting in the ring with the best professional wrestler in the history of the industry, and if Angle thought things were going to be that easy again, he's got another thing coming.
Our opening contest is tag-team action pitting RAW newcomers A-Train and Rikishi against La Resistance. Rikishi kicks Grenier, then slams him for two. Tag to A-Train for a Hart Attack. Train slams Grenier for two. Train hits strikes, but Grenier moves to the side to avoid an avalanche, then hits a spinebuster before tagging in Dupree. Dupree slams Train, then hits a piledriver. Train tags in Rikishi, who hits a DDT, then a discus punch for two. Rikishi hits a kick, but Dupree ducks a punch and hits a bulldog. Grenier slides in, and they hit La Crepe for the win.
Rosey is out next, hoping to rebound from his loss last week to Lance Cade against Chuck Palumbo. Palumbo starts with a series of strikes for two. Clothesline in the corner gets two more. Rosey hits an elbownd a punch to get two. Rosey hits a clothesline, but takes a side suplex (the first wrestling move of the match) and the Jungle Kick to give Palumbo the win. Rosey goes to leave, but Palumbo jumps him, obviously not done making a statement, as he continues to pummel Rosey.
It's a Divas tag match next as Lita and Mickie James team up to take on Jazz and Gail Kim. Mickie punches Gail and hits a flying kick for two. Tag to LIta for a double clothesline for two. Lita hits a dropkick, but Gail fights out of an arm wringer with an elbow to the head, then a back heel kick for two. Tag to Jazz, who hits a clothesline for a long two. Vertical suplex from Jazz. Lita trips her, then hits an armdrag. Tag to Mickie, who chops Jazz. Gail tags in, but Mickie hits a spinning back kick. Tornado DDT on Gail gives Mickie the win!
Chris Benoit is backstage, and he issues a challenge to Edge for Backlash. Benoit's temper has gotten the best of him over the last several weeks, and last week it cost him his RAW debut. But at Backlash, he's going to be focused, and he's going to show Edge why they call him The Crippler.
United States Champion Sean O'Haire is up next, taking on his Backlash opponent Rob Van Dam's friend Tommy Dreamer. O'Haire hits him with a forearm to the face, then punches and a pair of neckbreakers. Dreamer manages to fight back with a back elbow and a full nelson slam for two. O'Haire hits a piledriver for two. DVD for two. Tommy hits another elbow to the face, then a slam, but he misses an avalanche and takes a back elbow and the Prophecy. O'Haire picks up another win.
Last week, the final two participants in a battle royal to determine the #1 contender for O'Haire's title were Van Dam and Chris Jericho. Tonight, Jericho hopes to get his win back. RVD hits a stiff kick, but Jericho turns a sleepr into a jaw breaker, then hits a back heel kick and a facecrusher for two. RVD hits a flying elbow, then a springboard reverse elbow for two. Diamond Dust for a loooooooooooooong two. Jericho reverses a hiptoss and hits a lightning kick for two. He goes for the Lionsault, but RVD gets his knees up! RVD goes to the top and hits the Five-Star Frogsplash for the win!
After the match, RVD is celebrating, when he's blindsided by Sean O'Haire! But O'Haire isn't alone! Chuck Palumbo, Johnny Stamboli, and Mark Jindrak are with him! The Natural Born Thrillers are back!
It's time for one of our featured bouts. Last week, the newly-formed Ministry assaulted Rhyno. The World's Greatest Tag Team have asked to be his partners for a big six-man tag match. Haas hits a high kick on Big Show, then a Russian legsweep. Tag to Shelton, who hits a slam and a Doctor Bomb (
) for two. Tag to Rhyno, and they hit a double back elbow. Backdrop from Rhyno, but Show elbows him in the side of the head and hits a clothesline. Tag to Kane, who hits a flying shoulder tackle, then as spinebuster for two. Kane slams Rhyno, then tags in Undertaker. Taker slams Rhyno, then hits a neckbreaker. Rhyno turns a sleeper into a jawbreaker and tags in Haas, who hits a flying neckbreaker. Show tags back in, who gets in some brawling, then a bulldog. Show Stopper on Haas, and the Ministry picks up the win!
After the match, the champs get the ringside mic and say they want Show and Undertaker at Backlash! The titles will be on the line! The Ministry accepts!
Tonight's main event pits the #1 contender for the World Title Kurt Angle against Chris Benoit! These two put on a match of the year candidate several months back, so here's hoping for a repeat. Angle hits a right hand, but gets knees on a splash. Benoit hits a lariat, then a corkscrew breainbuster for two. Angle hits a right hand and a Stun Gun, then a piledriver for two. Flying clothesline for two. Benoit hits a brutal back suplex for a long two. They trade punches, and Angle takes Benoit down. He clamps on the Angle Lock, but HBK hits the ring and lays Angle out with Sweet Chin Music! The referee calls for the bell, and Benoit and HBK continue to pound on Angle until Edge hits the ring and makes the save. Edge and Angle stand tall as RAW goes off the air!