WWF Monday Night Raw 9/8/2003
The ring is littered with weapons as Raw comes up. Raven makes his way to the ring, sermonizing about how it's about time the WWF realizes the same thing everyone else realized years ago: Raven = Ratings. He poses in the corner while he waits for the arrival of his opponent, the Manbeast Rhyno! The two former ECW stars put on a brutal battle using all the tools around them. Raven puts a chair in the corner, then dodges a Gore. As Rhyno staggers out of the corner, he's planted with the Raven Effect. Raven is looking strong less than two weeks before Unforgiven!
Our next contest is an eight-man tag team match that has been brewing all week. The Dudley Boyz and the APA, the Dudleyville Protection Agency, team up to take on four members of The Dirty Dozen - Big Show, Hardcore Holly, Kane, and the man who unseated Bubba Ray Dudley to become the new Intercontinental Champion X-Pac. More stiff action (hee hee) before Kane plants Faarooq with a chokeslam to pick up the victory.
They're soon joined by the remaining members of the Dozen (The New Age Outlaws, K-Kwik, Maven, Val Venis, Al Snow, Chyna, and their leader the Undertaker). Taker takes the mic and calls out Paul Bearer. He says that what Bearer said on SmackDown is partially true. But what's happening here isn't just blind obedience. This is brotherhood. Paul, I once trusted you like a brother, and the fact that you're with that mop-loving idiot hurts. But bring him out here now, let him take his beating like a man, and maybe. Just maybe. Maybe I'll let you both walk out of here under your own power.
Bearer obliges, bringing Perry Saturn with him. Saturn steps into the ring, and the rest of the Dozen surround him. Taker waves them off. Saturn gets in a bit of offense, but he's overmatched. Undertaker makes Saturn take the Last Ride for the victory.
Backstage, the six members of Team BRECK-J are ready for action. Rhyno (R) is still smarting from his battle with Raven, but Chris Benoit (B) and Chris Jericho (J) are both preparing for singles matches. Meanwhile, Edge (E), Christian (C), and the #1 contender Kurt Angle (K) are in tonight's main event against the three members of the Wrecking Crew. Good promo work from all six guys, but MAN that's a weird combination.
The first of those singles matches is next as Chris Benoit takes on Eddie Guerrero. The two former friends have a very good technical match that is unfortunately marred by the interference of Eddie's Unforgiven opponent Triple H. H distracts Eddie allowing Benoit to capitalize with a Crippler Crossface, leaving Eddie no chance but to tap out.
Triple H remains in the ring as he's up next against Chris Jericho. More gpod work (though EWR says they don't quite "click"), but they are interrupted by (SURPRISE!) Eddie Guerrero, who allows Jericho to hit a Lionsault for the pinfall victory.
After break, the ring has been changed out to the set for Stevie Night Heat. Stevie Richards' guests are John Cena and Shawn Michaels, two men who appear to be on a collision course. Sure enough, the set is trashed, Stevie's knocked to the floor, and Cena and HBK tear each other apart.
Match #3 on the Road To Redemption is next! The Rock takes on the Embodiment Of Eeeeeeeeevil TAKA Michinoku. As with his previous matches, Rock makes short work of TAKA. The People's Champion is motivated. Is it possible for him to lose a match between now and the Rumble?
The Wrecking Crew makes its way to the ring, toting the World and Tag Team Titles. They hype up Brock Lesnar's title defense against Kurt Angle at Unforgiven and tonight's six-man main event. Passable mic work from the championship trio.
And now it's time for the main event. Six of the best wrestlers in the world go at it in a thrilling match. Lesnar and Angle brawl on the floor, Christian hits an Unprettier on Charlie Haas, but eats a Dragon Whip from Shelton Benjamin, only for Shelton to eat a spear from Edge. The ECK part of Team BRECK-J pick up the win, and Edge & Christian look like solid contenders for the Tag Team Titles! Benoit, Jericho, and Rhyno come out to celebrate with their partners as Raw goes off the air.
Quick Results (Final Rating 5.16)
- HARDCORE RULES - Raven over Rhyno
- Big Show, Hardcore Holly, Kane, and X-Pac over Dudleyville Protection Agency
- Dirty Dozen promo on Paul Bearer
- Undertaker over Perry Saturn
- Team BRECK-J promo about Brock Lesnar
- Chris Benoit over Eddie Guerrero after Triple H interferes
- Chris Jericho over Triple H after Eddie Guerrero interferes
- John Cena and Shawn Michaels fight on Stevie Night Heat
- ROAD TO REDEMPTION - The Rock over TAKA Michinoku
- Wrecking Crew promo about Kurt Angle
- Kurt Angle and Edge & Christian vs. Wrecking Crew when Edge pins Shelton Benjamin
Unforgiven 2003 Card so far (9/28)
- WWF World Heavyweight Title: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Kurt Angle
- Road To Redemption: The Rock vs. ???
- Eddie Guerrero vs. Triple H
- Scotty 2 Hotty vs. Raven