WWE Monday Night Raw- 1/8/05- Detroit; Michigan
We kick the show off with a video package from last week’s show, beginning with with the official return of Batista before we’re shown the weasel like General Manager Eric Bischoff escorting the World Champion out of the building via security, citing Batista not yet being medically cleared as the reason. We then go to what was supposed to be the main event between Big Show and the number one contender Kane, however chaos ensues as Show and Kane tear into one another before the bell can even ring as Bischoff’s cronies come down to his and Kane’s aid. Mark Jindrak, Big Show’s bitter rival along with his mentor William Regal join forces with Kane as well as Mr.Money in the Bank himself, Edge.
As the beat down continues, the Animal somehow finds his way back into the arena and storms the ring, destroying all the security who stood ringside for this one before getting his hands on Jindrak, Regal, Edge and the Big Red Machine himself before BAM!! In a shocking twist, Eric Bischoff’s Personal Employee, the man who will officiate the World title match at Summerslam and who has been ordered to ‘do the right thing’, Shawn Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music to Batista, stunning the Milwaukee crowd. Michaels would then mouth the word ‘Payback’ to Batista.
We then go to the opening video and pyro!
Jim Ross: We are just twenty days away from the biggest party of the summer, Summerslam!! I’m Jim Ross, joined as ever by Jonathan Coachman and we welcome you LIVE to Monday Night Raw!
‘Break the Walls Down’
It’s a very solid pop that greets the musi of Y2J, Chris Jericho, absent last week but returning to action here tonight as we get things underway.
Jim Ross: And we are kicking things off with the Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla, Y2J himself, Chris Jericho! And Coach, Jericho has had to endure the actions of Edge now for weeks upon weeks and over the past seven days we have learned that Jericho will get the chance to get his hands on the Rated R Superstar as the two will go toe to toe once again in a blockbuster showdown at Summerslam.
The Coach: It’s what Edge has wanted ever since that defeat to Jericho back at Vengeance, but J.R I don’t think Edge wanted it to go down this way. He pleaded with Eric Bischoff for this match, he begged Eric Bischoff for this match but he didn’t expect our boss to do what he did. I…I…I’m still in shock J.R, really.
Jim Ross: Oh Edge absolutely did not expect the actions of Eric Bischoff because that match at Summerslam folks is only half the story. It will indeed be Edge and Jericho one on one at Summerslam, however Edge’s Money in the Bank contract WILL be on the line by order of Raw’s General Manager after Edge failed to carry out Bischoff’s instructions last week. A huge opportunity now when we head to our nation’s capital, August 21st for this man. Jericho could very well be money come Summerslam.
The Coach: I sure as hell hope not.
‘Crank it Up’
It’s the music of Jericho’s partner here tonight that hits next as out steps the seven foot, five hundred pound giant, Big Show to a nice pop from the crowd.
Jim Ross: Well another man who’s had it rough of late, much like Chris Jericho is the World’s Largest Athlete and as you can see by the look on his face, Big Show ain’t happy right about now Coach.
The Coach: I wouldn’t be either cowboy. Big Show’s been beaten, battered and bruised week after week. Mark Jindrak has got this five hundred pound piece of garbage in his pocket and that ain’t changing’ any time soon.
‘You think you Know me’
‘Metalingus’
It’s immediate heat as the music of Mr.Money in the Bank hits and out steps Edge, briefcase in hand as he looks at the case before kissing his prized posession as the camera pans to the watching Jericho who sblacks a little before pointing at that briefcase.
Jim Ross: That right there ladies and gentleman shows you just how much that briefcase means to Edge. Inside lies the contract that guarantees a World Title opportunity any time Edge likes, right up until Wrestlemania 22 but that contract is now in serious jeopardy.
The Coach: It may be on the line come Summerslam J.R and as unfair that is on Edge, you know what? I think that all this is gonna do is drive Edge to another level. Edge has been desperate to write the wrongs from Vengeance and the fact that contract is on the line at Summerslam is only gonna make him more determined, more focused, more intent on beating that punk Jericho in eighteen nights time.
Jim Ross: You may be right Coach but the fact that contract’s on the line is gonna have the exact same effect on Chris Jericho. Jericho has labelled that as Edge’s ticket to the top, a place Jericho’s been before and a place he so desperately wants to reach again. It is HUGE stakes come Summerslam.
‘Born Naughty’
Again there’s strong boos as the music of William Regal hits and out comes the veteran Englishman alongside his ‘Protégé’ Mark Jindrak who gets set to join forces with the Money in the Bank holder.
Jim Ross: And here come two men who just continue to make Big Show’s life a total misery. Since William Regal has taken Mark Jindrak under his guidance we’ve seen a whole new side to the ’protégé’ as he’s been labelled. Jindrak is a nasty piece of work and Big Show’s experienced that first hand.
The Coach: And he ain’t the only one J.R. Jindrak has taken it to Batista, to Jericho, to Shawn Michaels. William Regal saw the potential in this kid and he’s maximising it, like the great leader that he is. These two are gonna go on to dominate J.R, DOMINATE Monday Night Raw.
Match One: Tag Team Match
Chris Jericho and Big Show vs. Edge and Mark Jindrak
It’s the Money in the Bank contract holder Edge who kicks this one off up against the 500 pounder Big Show and it’s Show who grabs a stranglehold on the match from the get go with Edge unable to conquer the enormous size difference, despite going after Show time and again.
Show deals with Edge’s attempts with consummate ease, acting as a pillar on Edge’s shoulder tackles whilst taking Edge down with a big right hand off Edge’s own clothesline attempt. Show then assumes full control as he picks apart the Rated R Superstar, whipping him across into the corner and charging, full steam ahead before clobbering Edge with a mammoth clothesline, met with a nice pop from the crowd.
Show then continues to make his mark, delivering his infamous chops across the chest, the echo heard around the arena for all as Edge grimaces in pain, his chest now looking a nice shade of pink as Show laughs a little bit, Edge stumbling out of the corner before clubbing Edge across the back, doubling the TLC specialist over . Show then grabs Edge by the hair, giving him a deathly glare, evil intentions in mind but Edge delivers a kick right to the knee cap breaking Show’s grip and sending the big man to one knee as Edge catches his breath.
Edge begins to take a run up as Show clutches his knee cap and Edge comes storming in with a low angle dropkick, taking Show’s head off!! Cover, 1...2...shoulder up from the former WWE Champion.
Edge runs his hands through his hair before getting to his feet and now begins to gain control over his larger opponent, keeping him grounded with several kicks to the ribs as Show grimaces. Edge then runs the ropes before delivering a pinpoint leg drop right across the mid section of Show as Edge now slowly heads over to his corner and tags in ‘The Protégé’ Mark Jindrak. Jindrak slowly hops through the ropes, sizing up Show with a menacing grin as we cut to William Regal who looks excited that his pet project will get his hands on his bitter rival here.
Jindrak begins to hammer away with stomps to the mid section of Show, picking up where Edge left off as he looks to keep Show grounded. Jindrak then drops to his knees and grabs the back of Show’s neck, bringing his head up and beginning to slowly, viciously hammer away with left hands right to the forehead of the giant. Jindrak then looks around the crowd who boo him profusely as he lets out that smirk once again before delivering one more DEVASTATING left hand before hopping to his feet and taunting the crowd to more big heat.
We see William Regal applauding on the outside before Jindrak goes back to work on Show, bringing him to his feet, nailing a forearm followed by a kick to the mid section as Jindrak appears to…appears to be going for a suplex!! Can Jindrak lift the giant up? He’s tugging away, desperate to scoop Show up but Show’s refusing, holding in for all he’s got and…reversal!! Show finds it in him to scoop Jindrak up high and drop him with a massive suplex!!
Jindrak is down but Show’s still struggling after the pummelling just taken as Jericho stretches out an arm, desperate for the tag. Edge does likewise, clearly wanting in on this thing now as both Jindrak and Show start to crawl towards their partners, who will get there first?
Show appears to be within arm’s reach now of Jericho as Jindrak struggles a little more to get to Edge and SHOW MAKES THE TAG!! Here comes Jericho! Jindrak tags in Edge and the two bitter enemies charge at one another!! Jericho and Edge laying into each other, right hand by Jericho, right hand by Edge, the crowd are all fired up here! It’s an all out fist fight and it’s Jericho who’s getting on top, Edge being forced back towards the ropes, Irish whip by Jericho, Edge rebounds right into a dropkick by Jericho!
Jericho races over to Edge and into a cover, 1...2...kick out by the Money in the Bank winner as Jericho quickly brings him to his feet, nailing more right hands. Irish whip by Jericho, Edge comes back at him as Jericho swings for a clothesline, ducked underneath by Edge, kick to the mid section, swinging neck breaker! NO! Counter by Jericho, shoves Edge off of him, Edge spins round, kick to the mid section, DDT!! DDT by Jericho!! Cover again, 1...2...3...NO!! JINDRAK BREAKS THE COUNT!!
Jindrak breaks things up, delivering a brutal kick to the head of Jericho, forcing the former Undisputed Champion off of Edge as BIG SHOW comes storming through the ropes but Jindrak hightails it back to his corner, the referee having to step in Show’s path to stop him, ordering him back to his corner as William Regal pats his Protégé on the back there.
Edge begins to stir as Jericho looks down and out following that vicious kick. Edge slowly uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet as Jindrak yells ‘I want in’ and Edge looks at his partner as if to say ‘He’s mine’. The Rated R Superstar heads over to Jericho who is now moving and brings him to his feet, clobbering him with a hard right hand before a kick to the mid section as Edge now hoists him up and drops him down with a nice side slam. Into the cover by Edge, 1...2..shoulder up by Jericho, Edge mouthing ‘Damn it’ as Y2J stays alive.
Wiping the hair away from his face, Edge goes right back to work on Jericho and applies a sleeper hold on his rival, looking to keep him down, looking to finally get the win over his adversary. Jericho looks in a world of trouble as Edge wrenches the hold in, a look of sheer determination in his eyes as the crowd along with Big Show will on Jericho, clapping their hands together in the hope that Jericho escapes here.
Jericho is reaching out, hoping for some kind of route away but he’s dead centre of the ring as Edge locks it in all the harder, the referee checking on Jericho here as…oh an elbow from Jericho! Fight left in the Ayatollah of Rock ‘N Rolla. Elbow from Jericho again and another as Edge is taken off guard. ANOTHER elbow and the hold is broken! Edge appears a little winded as Jericho breaks free and gets to his feet, Edge charges, clothesline, NO! Jericho ducks it, backbreaker!! Big time backbreaker by Y2J!! Can he make the cover?? No is the answer as Jericho struggles for breath, instead lying on the mat in clear discomfort with Edge down also, perhaps time for a tag here?
Or perhaps not! Jericho gets to his feet, Edge still down as Jericho looks around this encouraging crowd, Walls of Jericho time!! Jericho grabs the legs of Edge who kicks out in a desperate attempt not to get locked in, Jericho looks to turn over but Edge kicks him away. Edge manages to get out of dodge and scurries over to his corner, tagging in Jindrak, wanting nothing to do with Y2J. Jindrak looks shocked but after a moments hesitation he steps back into this thing and he’s met with a big right hand by Jericho!
Jericho is taking to the young up and comer and Jindrak appears to have no answer as Jericho fires away with right hands, every one met with a cheer from the Detroit faithful. Jindrak is up against the ropes now as Jericho fires away with some stinging knife edge chops, ‘Woooo’, ‘Woooo’, Irish whip now from Jericho, Jindrak rebounds, Arm Drag from Y2J but Jindrak counters, Irish whip to Jericho who rebounds right into a beautiful fall away slam!! Textbook stuff from Jindrak, cover, 1...2...3...NO, Jericho with the shoulder up right on cue!!
Jindrak pounds the mat, not understanding how that didn’t get the job done as he immediately brings Jericho to his feet again, delivering some of those devastating left hands of his but Jericho now responds with a right of his own from out of nowhere! Fist fight ensuing here but Jindrak blocks Jericho off and swings one more, ducked by Jericho, Jericho spins around, looks for a kick, Jindrak catches his boot, ENZIGURI!! Wow, émigré from Jericho who now looks towards his corner where he sees Big Show who is desperate to get his hands on Jindrak here, the crowd are desperate too and Jericho heads over, makes the tag, here comes Show!!
Show bounds over the top rope and immediately signals for a choke slam! He’s not gonna waste any time here but Edge comes back in, SPEAR!!! SPEAR TO BIG SHOW!! Spear from out of nowhere!! OH TAKE DOWN BY JERICHO!! Jericho and Edge are going at it!! It’s absolute chaos! Show and Jindrak are down, Edge and Jericho now beating the hell out of each other, both men on the mat, swinging rights.
Jericho gets to his feet, Edge also as Jericho takes Edge over the top with a clothesline!! Edge falls to the outside, Jericho in pursuit, wanting more of his arch rival here.
Inside the ring and Show is holding his ribs, clearly hurt by the impact there as Jindrak begins to stir. Jericho meanwhile has Edge up on the outside and he tosses Edge into the crowd, following him right behind!! This thing’s spilling all over the arena now!! Jericho steps over and he’s caught with an elbow by Edge, winding the former Undisputed champion.
Back inside and Jindrak is almost up again, Show is to his knees as J.R informs us that Jericho and Edge are battling right the way through the crowd as we get a shot of them swinging rights again.
Jindrak is now up meanwhile, Show also but a little more hurt as Jindrak charges with a big boot but Show ducks it!! Jindrak is spun back round right into a hand around the throat, choke slam time!! No Jindrak manages to wriggle free and falls to his knees, the referee momentarily checking on him as BAM!!! BRASS KNUCKS!! BRASS KNUCKS FROM WILLIAM REGAL TO BIG SHOW!!
The crowd are going ape shit here as the referee turns back round to see Regal back on the outside, Show is fallen as Jindrak crawls into a cover, surely not this way? 1...2...3...he got him, Jindrak steals it!
Winners: Edge and Mark Jindrak(12:46)
Jim Ross: Oh Jindrak steals it!! Damn it!! William Regal with the Brass Knucks!! Is somebody ever gonna put a stop to these two men?!
The Coach: Brilliant!! J.R can William Regal get any smarter?! Mark Jindrak just pinned Big Show AGAIN ha ha!
Jim Ross: Are you kidding me?! Jindrak had Regal do his dirty work!
The Coach: A win’s a win J.R. The record books will have it down, Mark Jindrak beats Big Show again. You are looking at the future right there.
Jim Ross: Well I still believe that….oh the fight is still goin’ on!! The fight is on here!!
The camera then heads off backstage where we see Chris Jericho and Edge still brawling through the back, laying into one another with right hands as we begin to see officials flocking towards the two men. Jericho appears to be on top in this thing as he forces Edge back but we then see around ten to fifteen backstage workers and officials start to separate these two as Jericho yells ‘C’mon, c’mon tough guy’ as Edge grits his teeth, looking desperate to break the officials clutches and take down Y2J. We then see both men being pulled further away in opposite directions as Edge lashes out with a kick to some kind of cabinet and we head off.
Commercials
We return and head over to the announce table to a shot of J.R and Coach.
Jim Ross: Welcome back to Monday Night Raw and before the commercial break we saw, well, we saw what can only be described as a straight up fight between Edge and Chris Jericho.
We go to a replay of the events before the break with Jericho and Edge dismantling one another backstage before the inevitable break up.
Jim Ross: Well these two bitter rivals simply wanna tear each other apart Coach and that match at Summerslam, I don’t think it’s gonna be anything other than a brawl between Edge and Jericho
The Coach: If that’s the way it’s gonna go down then you better believe Chris Jericho will be put in his place by the Rated R Superstar come August 21st. When Edge is as intense as that, when Edge has got it all on the line, he delivers, he did it at Wrestlemania to win that Money in the Bank contract and he’s gonna do it again at Summerslam. Mark my words.
Jim Ross: Well lets take you over now to our colleague Todd Grisham who is standing by waiting to talk to us.
We cut away backstage where Grisham is positioned, ready for his first interview of the evening.
Todd Grisham: Thanks J.R and joining me at this time, he is the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. Please welcome, Kane.
Kane appears into shot, a very angry look across his face as he scowls at Grisham which shakes the scrawny interviewer up a little bit.
Todd Grisham: Kane last week you were scheduled to take on Big Show in our main event only to see the arrivals of Mark Jindrak, William Regal and Edge before the emergence of Batista back into the building. How did you feel as Batista came down that ramp headed after you?
Kane begins to laugh a little bit here.
Kane: I felt great Todd. I thought that by now people would realise, people would understand that I am not afraid of anybody, that I am not afraid of any challenge thrown in my direction. When somebody wants to pick a fight with me, when somebody wants to cross my path, all I feel…all I feel is a sense of
joy.
Kane looks up high, smiling, looking quite disturbed here.
Kane: That joy I feel is because there is nothing more I love than inflicting pain, than beating down, than sending a message to those who try and step in my way and that message? That message is one that they are not going to enjoy ha ha and Dave Batista? Dave Batista is no different.
Kane strokes his chin a little, still displaying that evil smirk of his.
Kane: Since Batista’s come back, I’ve had to endure people talking, people whispering, murmuring that Batista is on some kind of warpath, that Batista is on a path of destruction around here and that I am in his way. Do-do people not know who I am Todd? Do people not understand just what I am capable of?
Kane tilts his head as he looks in Grisham’s direction.
Kane: I think that you are all forgetting just what I did to Batista. I think that you are all forgetting that
I was the one who put Batista on the shelf, that
I took Batista out. But now? Now Batista’s made his ‘big’ triumphant return, everybody’s happy, everybody’s excited that their hero has come back, that their hero is coming after me. Well let me ask you a question, why? Why are these people happy he’s back?
Todd Grisham: I…I don’t…I
Kane: I’ll tell you why they’re happy. They’re happy because what they expect is that come Summerslam, Dave Batista will get his hands on me, that Dave Batista will teach me a lesson, that maybe, just maybe Eric Bischoff will feel the
wrath of Dave Batista too. Well let me give all of those people who believe that a reality check.
Kane now looks directly at the camera.
Kane: None of that is going to transpire. Not one single word of that will prove to be true and I’m sure you’re all wanting to know why, well here’s the answer. You people should be
devastated Batista’s come back, that he’s coming after me, you should be DEVASTATED! Because all that is gonna happen to your beloved Batista is that I, ha ha, I am going to do to him the exact same thing I did to him before. I am going to take Batista…
out.
Kane laughs to himself again.
Kane: But this time it’s gonna be a whole lot worse because not only am I gonna take the Animal out, not only am I going to put Batista on the shelf again, I’m gonna ensure that this time? This time he doesn’t…come…back.
Strong heat for the Big Red Machine here.
Kane: So for all those people who are excited at the prospect of Summerslam, at the prospect of Batista beating me, at the thought of Shawn Michaels even playing his part in it all, well you’re all in for a very…
very rude awakening.
Kane’s intensity levels have risen now here.
Kane: Come August 21st, what‘s going to happen is that I am going to dominate your precious Batista. I'm gonna put him back on the injured list, Shawn Michaels is going to count one, two, three as I put down the Animal and you are all going to be looking at the new World…Heavyweight…
Champion.
Kane begins to laugh again as he heads off and we return ringside.
We return and we get a shot of the crowd who are still pretty excitable despite not much going on since the earlier tag match as we then return to see Lilian Garcia in the ring as well as Eugene who is bouncing up and down excitedly, clearly set for action here.
‘Kennedyyyyy’
‘Turn up the Trouble’
There’s relative silence as this unfamiliar music hits but it’s soon apparent as to who it is for as out steps the man who for weeks has informed us he’s on his way to Monday nights, the arrogant loudmouth, Mr.Kennedy.
Jim Ross: Well we have heard over the past several weeks from this man ladies and gentleman. He is loud, he is arrogant, he is obnoxious, he is Mr.Kennedy and he believes he’s all set to take Monday Night Raw by storm.
The Coach: He believes it because it’s true J.R. I’ve listened to this guy, I’ve heard what he’s had to say and he means business baby. Kennedy ain’t comin’ here to pick up a paycheque, he ain‘t comin‘ here to sit in people‘s shadow, Kennedy’s here to win him some gold.
Lilian Garcia: Ladies and Genleman, making his Monday Night Raw debut, weighing in at two hundred, forty f…
Garcia has the mic snatched from her grasp by Kennedy which draws him some heat already as he tosses her microphone to the outside and then looks up to the heavens before stretching an arm up high as a microphone is lowered from the rafters and the arena goes dark bar a spotlight that shines bright on Kennedy.
Jim Ross: What the hell was that for? What the hell did he do that to Lilian for? She was just tryi…
The Coach: She was just getting in this man’s way. Let the guy speak J.R. I wanna hear this, we ALL wanna hear this.
Kennedy is cockily chewing gum as his music quietens down and he gets ready to enlighten us.
Mr.Kennedy: First thing’s first. Lilian, lovely,
lovely Lilian, let me teach you a couple things sweetheart. From now on you DO NOT introduce me to these people cos quite frankly you aren’t worthy of carrying out such a…such a
prestigious honour, leave that to the professionals around here.
Heat again for Kennedy as Lilian looks horrified.
Mr.Kennedy: So without further a due. Ahem.
Kennedy clears his throat.
Mr.Kennedy: Ladies and gentleman, it is now time, it is now the moment you have allllllllll been waiting for. Tonight in this very ring, against this…this
special little individual, you will witness the arrival of the man who will single handedly…change the entire face of Monday Night Raw, who will change the entire face of the
W…W…E.
Kennedy breathes for a second before going off again, finished staring at Eugene.
Mr.Kennedy: Tonight will be marked upon as a defining moment in this industry, mark my freakin‘ words on that. A star is born, a
game changer is displayed right in front of your very eyes. So you should all feel
privileged that you are about to see the debut of a man who weighs in at a quite
astonishing two hundred forty five pounds, who hails from Greeeeeeeen Bayyyyyyyyyyy, Wisconsinnnnnnnnnnn.
Kennedy displays a look of intensity now.
Mr.Kennedy: Tonight you will all bask in the glory of witnessing the one, the only……… MISTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR……….KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
Kennedy has the mic held high as the fans boo the crazed new superstar.
Mr.Kennedy: KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
Kennedy then tosses the mic up high as the lights come back on and we see Eugene backed up in the corner as Kennedy spits his gum out and gets set for action.
The Coach: WOW!! This man may just be the greatest superstar of all time J.R!!
Jim Ross: What? The guy hasn’t even had a damn match Coach!!
The Coach: Wait and see J.R. Just wait and see.
Match Two: Singles Match
Mr.Kennedy vs. Eugene
The first minute of the match is Kennedy toying with poor Eugene, shaking his hand to begin with in a sarcastic manner as Eugene looks quite excited to be doing so, Kennedy simply laughing. The two then go to lock up but Kennedy breaks away asking Eugene if it’s alright for him to have a stretch, Eugene obliges as he claps his hands while Kennedy stretches against the ropes, getting a little heat here.
Kennedy finally finishes stretches, citing that he’s ‘done’ before circling the ring, Eugene doing likewise before they lock up again and this time Kennedy forces Eugene into the turnbuckle before delivering a big shoulder into Eugene’s mid section followed by shoulder after shoulder as Eugene stumbles outta the corner.
Eugene clutches his stomach as Kennedy asks the referee ‘Is he alright?’ Kennedy then goes over to Eugene and asks him ‘You ok kid?’ ‘You alright?’ Eugene nods his head, holding his stomach as Kennedy shows his ‘sympathy’ and puts an arm around Eugene, continuing to ask him if he’s alright. Kennedy then SLAPS Eugene right across the chops, drawing BIG TIME heat from the crowd as he laughs like a little prick.
Eugene stumbles backwards holding his face before turning round and is met with some stiff right hands from Kennedy, kick to the mid section before a snap suplex drops Raw’s special superstar. Kennedy heads over into a cover, 1...2...KENNEDY STOPS THE COUNT!!
Kennedy pulls himself up and says ‘Not just yet Jack’ as he brings Eugene to his feet and tosses him into the corner. Eugene is perched as Kennedy takes a run up, continuing to interact with the crowd as he tells them ‘Watch this, you’re gonna like it’ as Kennedy charges and almost turns Eugene inside out with a venomous clothesline!! Eugene stumbles once again out of the corner as Kennedy grabs Eugene and DROPS HIM WITH THE MIC CHECK!! Cover by Kennedy, 1...2...3...he got him.
Winner: Mr.Kennedy(4:10)
The Coach: I told ya J.R!! This guy is gonna equal greatness, we’re lookin’ at a star!! Go and ask Eugene, c’mon J.R, go and ask him.
Jim Ross: Oh would you give it a rest Coach? That was no doubt impressive from Mr.Kennedy but I don’t thi…
The Coach: Shut your mouth J.R!! The man has a microphone, he talks, you listen!!
Kennedy does indeed have his own lowered from the rafters microphone once again.
Mr.Kennedy: I really,
really hate to say i told ya so but folks, the evidence don't get much clearer than this. The wiiiiiiiinner of this matchhhhhh via pinfall………MISTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR….KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
Wait for it.
Mr.Kennedy: KENNEDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
The microphone heads back up as Kennedy struts that cocky smirk and exit’s the ring to a fair amount of boos considering he’s only just debuted. Coach is now standing and applauding Kennedy as he walks away.
Jim Ross: Oh for cryin’ out loud, would you sit down and do your job Coach?
The Coach: I’m doin’ my job and you should be doin’ yours cowboy. When you get to be a part of history, when you get to watch a man of this talent do his thing, strut his stuff, you damn sure better applaud him for it.
Jim Ross: Gimme a break.
Kennedy waves to the fans at the top of the stage in a sarcastic prick kinda way before departing as we head off.
Commercials
We return and head backstage and we are taken into the office of Eric Bischoff. The sight of Bischoff immediately draws strong heat from the crowd with Bischoff smiling in the direction of….Shawn Michaels!! Michaels appears on screen to a nice pop as ever, though there are a few boos in the mix, probably for his actions last week.
Eric Bischoff: Shawn, last week was just…it was…I can’t even describe how great it was, how proud I was of what you did to Batista last week. I didn’t think you had it in you!!
Bischoff pats Michaels on the back in a friendly way with Michaels not responding too kindly.
Shawn Michaels: Let me make one thing crystal clear to ya Eric. Last week? Last week had absolutely
nothing to do with you, it had nothing to do with me working for you. You were not involved in any way, shape or form, ya understand that?
Michaels make it painfully clear for the GM here.
Eric Bischoff: Hey I understand and to be honest Shawn I don’t care whether that was for me, for you, for whoever, all I care about is that you did a
damn good job last week.
Bischoff begins to laugh sinisterly.
Eric Bischoff: You may not realise it Shawn but you’re starting to turn things around. Really, you are. You’re starting to see the light, you’re starting to see things…the Eric Bischoff way.
Boos meet this statement as Michaels smirks.
Shawn Michaels: Eric, no matter how long you have me under this contract for, no matter how long I have to turn up to work every week and listen to all the crap that comes outta your mouth, I will never and I hope to God that you listen real carefully to this. I will
never…start to see things your way.
This is met with a very nice pop for the Showstopper as Bischoff’s demeanour changes a little.
Eric Bischoff: Like I said Shawn, you simply haven’t realised it yet but soon enough it’ll click inside that head o’ yours. One day Shawn you’re gonna turn up and you’re gonna think to yourself, ‘You know what? Eric was right’.
Bischoff begins smiling again now.
Eric Bischoff: And later on out there tonight? You’re gonna do things the right way again Shawn, just like you’re gonna do things the right way at Summerslam. Tonight when you go face to face with Dave Batista you’re gonna tell him
exactly how you feel. Don’t beat around the bush Shawn, don’t bottle up those feelings deep down inside of you, let it all out, let Batista feel your...feel your
pain.
Michaels hangs his head a little here, perhaps Bischoff’s words ringing true somewhat.
Eric Bischoff: I promise you Shawn, whether you like it or not, eventually, you’re gonna see the light. Tonight? Tonight’s another step on that road and hey y’know what? I can not
wait to see it.
Bischoff again pats Michaels on the back before heading off as Michaels looks at where Bischoff hit him and grits his teeth, clearly frustrated that there’s nothing he can do revolving the GM.
We then head off elsewhere backstage and once again join Todd Grisham who is standing by ready to speak to us.
Todd Grisham: Ladies and gentleman, joining me at this time, the man who meets Muhammad Hassan for the Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam, Shelton Benjamin.
Benjamin appears into shot, looking a lot happier than he has been recently and is met with a nice reception from the crowd.
Todd Grisham: Shelton last week saw your tag team partner score a huge victory, defeating Muhammad Hassan to earn you an Intercontinental Title shot. How grateful are you to Charlie Haas for his performance last week?
Shelton Benjamin: Grateful? Grateful isn’t a strong enough word to describe how I feel about Charlie’s performance last week. Me and Charlie are as close as can be, the guy’s my best friend in this business Todd and what he did last week meant the world to me, really, it did.
Benjamin nods as he seems a little emotional almost.
Shelton Benjamin: Charlie’s been in my ear ever since he was drafted to Raw. He’s been sayin’ ‘Shelton man, when are we goin’ after the Tag titles?’ ‘Shelton, you’ve had your title shot, now it’s time for US to win some gold’. But I’ve had to put Charlie’s hopes to one side cos I just can’t focus on anything but that Intercontinental title, not until I get a fair shot, not until I get a fair crack at what I deserve.
This is met with a decent pop from the crowd once more.
Shelton Benjamin: Now any normal guy wouldn’t take too kindly to that. Any normal guy would flip out, would say ‘Shelton, forget it, I’m done’ and that’s exactly what Charlie could’ve done. Last week he could’ve easily went out there against Hassan and not given a damn. And hey, I probably would’ve held my hands up and said y’know what? Fair enough Charlie, fair enough.
Benjamin nods his head as he says this.
Shelton Benjamin: But Charlie Haas? Charlie Haas ain’t no
normal guy Todd. Charlie Haas isn’t that kinda guy. Charlie Haas is the kinda guy who has your back, who no matter what you put him through, he stands by your side and he steps up to the plate and for that I am forever in debt to him.
A nice bit of applause there for Benjamin’s strong words.
Shelton Benjamin: And I promise right here, right now. Once Summerslam’s come and gone and I WIN the Intercontinental title, me and Charlie
will go after the Tag Team Titles and we will once again prove exactly why we’re the World’s Greatest Tag Team.
Benjamin then stops as we see the man himself appear into shot to a pretty nice pop, Charlie Haas.
Shelton Benjamin: Speak of the devil. How’s it goin’ man?
Benjamin and Haas embrace with Haas looking in a pretty buoyant mood.
Charlie Haas: Pretty good, pretty good but hey, can’t be as good as you must be feelin’ right? I mean you got your shot man, this is it, Summerslam, you take the big one home.
Benjamin smiles as Haas builds his confidence all the more.
Shelton Benjamin: Damn straight man. I was just telling Todd here how grateful I am for last week y’know? Meant a lot for you to go out there and do that for me. I mean, I didn’t expect any less but still, I appreciate it and as soon as I win that bad boy back August 21st, me and you are goin’ for some gold! I’ll catch ya later man.
Haas and Shelton shake hands again both bouncing around happily as Shelton then heads off and Haas is placed next to Grisham.
Todd Grisham: Charlie can I just get a quick word on your thoughts on all this? I mean you were adamant that Shelton should simply focus on the Tag Team Titles, yet you helped him gain this shot come Summerslam.
Haas pauses for a second, not answering.
Charlie Haas: I’m a professional wrestler Todd. Every single time I step inside that ring, I give it my all, no matter who my opponent, no matter what the stipulation may be and last week I did exactly that. And now? Now Shelton gets exactly what he’s wanted and to be honest he deserves it. Hassan’s put him through a lotta crap these past few months, Shelton’s really struggled and come Summerslam, that’ll all come to an end, once and for all.
Haas looks confident.
Charlie Haas: And then? Then finally, at long last me and Shelton can move on from this, move on to what our
real goal is, move on…to the Tag Team Championships.
Haas then goes to walk away but Grisham reluctantly follows.
Todd Grisham: Bu-but Charlie, how can you be so sure? I mean the Entity are gonna be in Muhammad Hassan’s corner once again at Summerslam.
Charlie Haas: Oh I’m sure this will come to an end come Summerslam Todd. Infact I
know…it will come to an end.
Haas looks Grisham dead in the eye before walking away as Grisham looks a little confused by Haas’ words and we head back ringside.
'Arab America’
We return and immediately hear the oh so familiar music of Muhammad Hassan and the Arabian Entity as out steps Sonjay Dutt and Daivari, all set for their big tag team title opportunity here tonight.
Jim Ross: Well Charlie Haas has made his intentions clear. Shelton Benjamin’s quest for gold ends at Summerslam and after that, his quest begins. Speaking of Tag teams Coach it’s been a hell of a ride these past few weeks involving the Tag Team Titles. The Dudley Boyz defended their gold successfully against the Basham Brothers as well as Ken Doane and Nick Nemeth last week, however it hasn’t come without controversy.
The Coach: Controversy’s an understatement. Ken Doane and Nick Nemeth were on their way to becoming Tag Team Champions last week only to have it ruined by those damn Basham Brothers. We were about to see the Tag Team titles become perfected!
Jim Ross: I think you’re forgetting that these two men played a huge role last week. Sonjay Dutt and Daivari were the ones who looked set to cost the Dudleyz their titles, only for the Bashams to even the odds and come to the aid of our Tag Team Champions.
The Coach: The Bashams had no right being anywhere near that ring last week and you know it J.R. Made me sick, I used to have a whole lotta respect for those guys, not any more, not a freakin’ chance.
‘Yeah, We’re Comin’ Down’
It’s a nice pop that greets the music of the World Tag Team Champions as Bubba Ray and D-Von head down to the ring, looking pretty fired up.
Jim Ross: Well I think the Bashams have certainly earned the respect of these two men over the past couple of weeks. The Dudleyz have had a real hard task in having to defend their titles three weeks in a row, culminating here tonight and if it wasn’t for the Bashams last week, they may not be holdin’ those titles.
The Coach: May not? They would not J.R. These two guys need to take a good long look at themselves in the mirror and realise they just don’t have it any more. Move on, let guys like Doane, Nemeth, Dutt, Daivari, REAL talent shine rather than take up their opportunities. Makes me sick J.R.
Match Three: World Tag Team Championships
The Dudley Boyz© vs. The Arabian Entity; Sonjay Dutt and Daivari
Daivari starts this one out for the Entity whilst D-Von does so for the champions as the two men begin circling the ring. Eventually they tie up and it’s D-Von who gains control, the size difference evident as the much larger D-Von forces Daivari back and into the corner before breaking up the lock and beginning to deliver some stern right hands.
D-Von keeps up the pressure as he now begins to stomp away at the mid section of Daivari who slouches into the corner with D-Von continuing to hammer away, clearly pumped up here tonight as the referee has to restrain one half of the champions. D-Von composes himself a little before going back at Daivari, pulling him upright before nailing an elbow to the head. Irish whip now from D-Von but a reversal by the Entity member as D-Von falls into the opposite turnbuckle and he’s met with a huge jumping knee to the skull!!
The fans ooooh as the impact can be felt around the arena with Daivari’s knee smashing into D-Von’s head there. D-Von slumps falling out of the corner as Daivari charges and drops D-Von to the mat with a bulldog! Cover by Daivari, 1...2..shoulder up in the nick of time by D-Von there as Daivari appears a little disappointed.
Daivari now takes charge of this one, looking to keep D-Von grounded as he delivers several stiff kicks to the back of D-Von’s head before dropping some pinpoint elbows, looking to wear D-Von down. Daivari takes a moment or so before dragging D-Von away from the centre of the ring towards his corner and tags in Sonjay Dutt to this one now.
Dutt hops over the ropes, lively as ever and immediately picks up where his partner left off, dropping some elbows onto the back of D-Von’s head, the top of his neck as D-Von grimaces in pain here. Dutt then draws D-Von up, nailing a kick to the mid section, Dutt now runs the ropes and takes D-Von down beautifully with a running spinning heel kick!! D-Von is floored as Dutt scrambles into a cover, 1...2...3...NO!! Dutt with the nearest of near falls as D-Von continues to struggle here.
Dutt bangs the mat in frustration before getting to his feet and draws D-Von to his also, looking to keep the momentum going as he clubs D-Von across the back of his neck again, clearly a target spot for the Entity before a kick to the gut from Dutt. Irish whip now from the high flier and Dutt charges right behind him but D-Von responds with a big elbow knocking Dutt away! Dutt spins out of the corner and spins right back round as D-Von flies from the middle rope taking Dutt down with a flying shoulder block!!
D-Von immediately clutches his neck however as he tries to get back up but appears to be struggling, Dutt clearly struggling also as D-Von heads towards his corner, evidently wanting to tag in Bubba to this thing. Dutt looks headed for his corner also as Daivari stretches out an arm, desperate for his partner to reach him. It appears as though D-Von’s gonna get there first but Dutt’s speed appears to be helping him, both men now a whisker away after slow starts to react but it’s D-VON WHO GETS THERE FIRST!! Here comes Bubba!! Dutt makes it too and Daivari comes storming in but it’s Bubba who takes it to him!!
Bubba’s straight to it with right hands before the classic Bubba Ray jabs begin as Daivari has no answer. Left jab, Right jab, Daivari is all over the shop before Bubba drops him with the point of his elbow, cover by Bubba, 1...2...Dutt breaks up the count!!
Dutt jumps all over Bubba as D-Von re-enters the ring and SPEAR!! WOW!! D-Von spears Dutt through the ropes, taking himself down in the process!! Both men crash and burn to the outside as D-Von immediately writhes around in agony, holding that targeted neck area, Dutt clutching his left ankle, perhaps an awkward landing for the cruiserweight there as both Bubba and Daivari lay down in the middle of the ring as the legal men.
Bubba claws his way to the ropes as Daivari gets to his knees, holding his forehead after the effect of Bubba’s stiff shots. Bubba draws himself up, Daivari a little slower as Bubba heads after the little man but he’s met with an elbow to the gut, followed by another as Bubba is doubled over and he’s caught with a massive dropkick from out of nowhere by Daivari!! Cover on Bubba, 1...2..kick out from the veteran as Daivari demands a faster count from the official.
Daivari picks himself out and dusts himself down again before looking at Bubba, clearly not all that sure what his next move should be as he then looks to the outside where he sees D-Von and Dutt still down and out as Daivari now heads over to the turnbuckle and begins to scale the ropes, Daivari’s going up top!
Daivari steadies himself as Bubba gets to his feet, he turns around to see Daivari fly, cross body, NO!! Bubba caught him!! Powerslam!! Powerslam by Bubba!! Crawls into the cover, 1...2...3...NO!! Daivari just about survives as the crowd thought this one was over.
Bubba sits back up and looks stunned as he picks himself up and we see Dutt and D-Von beginning to stir on the outside with Bubba going over to check on what’s going down, peering through the ropes before refocusing inside the ring where…HEY!!! WHAT THE HELL?! Bubba is blindsided by KEN DOANE AND NICK NEMETH!!
The Platform to Perfection come from nowhere and take Bubba down and now begin to pick apart the champion, stomping a mudhole on him as…OH HERE COME THE BASHAMS!! Danny and Doug Basham making a bee line for the ring, for the Perfectionists!! The referee calls for the bell as the Bashams and PTP go to war!!
Result: No Contest(9:13)
D-Von and Dutt see what’s going down and D-Von heads to go in and stop all this but Dutt has other ideas and grabs D-Von from behind, slamming his head off the apron and tossing D-Von inside the ring, following him right behind! Dutt now stomps the hell out of D-Von as Daivari gets to his feet and begins to stomp the crap out of Bubba with this thing spiralling out of control.
Jim Ross: It’s chaos here in Detroit!! The Dudleyz, the Bashams, the Perfectionists and the Entity are goin’ to war!!
The Coach: Get ‘em Ken, Get ‘em Nick!!
It’s carnage as the Basham’s are slogging it out with the Platform to Perfection, both teams beating the holy hell out of each other whilst Bubba and D-Von are now up and on their feet, the Entity having lost momentum and these four are going toe to toe also.
Jim Ross: These eight men all want the same thing, these eight men all want the World Tag Team Titles but I don’t think the Dudleyz are letting their gold slip away without a fight Coach!!
The Coach: Dutt, Daivari kick their ass all over this stinking arena!! Out with the old, in with the new!!
Finally the brawl ends as Doane pokes Danny Basham in the eye and gets outta the ring, dragging Nemeth from his feet out of the ring also and hightailing it up the ramp. Doug Basham looking on furiously as we see Bubba Ray toss Daivari over the top rope but Daivari lands on his feet and now he too drags Dutt under the bottom rope by his feet, the Bashams and Dudleyz standing tall in the ring with PTP and the Entity clearly rattled by the solidarity shown here from their rivals, clearly wanting out of this crazy situation as we head away from the chaos.
Commercials
We return to Raw and we immediately head backstage where we see all of the eight men involved in that brawl before the commercial. The Dudleyz, Platform to Perfection, the Basham’s and the Entity are all arguing as Eric Bischoff stands in the middle of it all.
Eric Bischoff: ENOUGH!! HEY, HEY!! I SAID ENOUGH!!
Finally the arguing dies down as all eight men look like they wanna rip each other apart here.
Eric Bischoff: Now I am sick and tired of all this crap that’s been goin’ on with you guys and we’re gonna find a way to settle this. But, rather than the predictable, me sticking you all up against each other, that’s not what we’re gonna do. No, no, see Eric Bischoff doesn’t do easy, Eric Bischoff doesn’t do predictable.
Bischoff looks at each of the men before continuing.
Eric Bischoff: So here’s what we’re gonna do. Summerslam, it’s gonna be the World Tag Team Champions, Bubba Ray and D-Von, the Dudley Boyz
teaming…with the Basham Brothers.
Bubba Ray Dudley: What?
Doug Basham: Bubba’s right Eric, what the hell is that about? I mean, c’mon we may respect Bubba and D-Von but we want what they’ve got.
Eric Bischoff: If you’d all let me explain. It’ll be you guys teaming up to take on Ken Doane, Nick Nemeth, Sonjay Dutt and Daivari in an eight man tag team match.
Decent pop for that but everyone looks confused.
Nick Nemeth: An eight man tag team match? Eight…man…tag team match. Eric I think you’ve kinda forgotten that there are only TWO men who hold the Tag titles and there are only TWO men who deserve a shot at them and hey, it ain‘t the Arabian Knights and it damn sure ain‘t the Chuckle Brothers.
Daivari: Hey!! You watch your mouth punk!!
Eric Bischoff: Alright, alright, I get it, you all want the Tag Team titles but here‘s where it gets interesting. Whoever scores the winning pinfall in this match will earn their team a Tag Team title shot at Unforgiven. IF and in my eyes this is a very big if.
If either of you two, Bubba, D-Von, if either of you two score the winning pinfall
you will get to pick your opponents come Unforgiven. Now get the hell outta my office before I have you thrown out.
The fans pop for this announcement as the Dudleyz look very sternly at the Basham’s, knowing that they want to win this match but need to be the ones who do so while PTP and the Entity do likewise.
Eric Bischoff: I said, GET OUT!!
The teams then leave, all looking a little pissed off about this situation as we head away and back ringside.
Jim Ross: Well a HUGE announcement there from our General Manager regarding the World Tag Team Titles but folks we’d now like to take you back to last week where….well, where we saw a pretty disturbing video from Christian. Let’s take a look.
We are shown that same video as last week where we're led to a simple enough looking street, there are several houses to the left of our picture as well as to our right. The houses are all fairly standard looking homes, nothing too fancy, not too shabby however, as we see a loose dog running around the grass outside one particular house and some children playing on another patch in what just looks like a nice little neighbourhood. A few cars slowly drive up and down before suddenly out pops in front of the camera from out of nowhere, Christian.
Christian looks directly at the camera before beginning to walk backwards, looking around at the scenary. Captain Charisma is dressed in jeans, an orange patterned t--shirt and a leather jacket.
Christian: Well, here we are folks, Charlotte, North Carolina. The home of the Nature Boy, the home of Ric Flair.
Christian starts laughing as he spins around continuing to look around before once again facing the camera.
Christian: I wanted to come here and I wanted to record all of this from the very moment that my match with Ric Flair at Summerslam was announced. You might think to yourself, ‘Why?’ ‘What relevance does this have to Summerslam?’
Christian looks down, stopping his backwards walk before looking back up.
Christian: I’ll tell you exactly why. The relevance this has to Summerslam is that this, this right here is where Ric Flair returns to, this is the very place where Ric Flair comes home when I beat him at Summerslam, this is the place where Ric Flair will get to enjoy every little second of his retirement.
The camera does a 360 spin, showing off all avenues on display here.
Christian: And I need these people to know exactly what kinda guy Ric Flair is. I need his home town to know that come Summerslam, it won’t be a hero returning home. No, n-n-n-no, not at all. It will be the ultimate villain comin‘ back home.
Christian is chuckling to himself.
Christian: People don’t understand the type of guy Flair is. People of all ages just don’t get it. I need the kids of Charlotte especially to understand that they can’t look up to him, they can NOT look up to Ric Flair. I need them to know though that no matter how bad a role model Ric Flair is, there’s always an alternative and that they can always and I mean this from the very bottom of my heart, they can always look up…to me.
Christian is still walking down the street as he then stops and looks at some children playing outside. The kids look around 8 or 9 years old and are running around chasing after one another.
Christian: Lets…lets try it out shall we? Hey, hey guys, come on over here.
Christian calls the two kids over, both are boys and they seem hesitant and start discussing with one another what to do.
Christian: Come on, don‘t be shy.
This isn’t very appropriate calling young boys in from the street but the boys follow Christian’s orders.
Christian: Hey guys, what’s going on? My name’s Christian and I’m here in Charlotte today to just do a little QandA, you two uh, you two wanna get involved?
Boy One: Yeah, sure!
Both boys look extremely excited by this as Christian has a dickish look on his face.
Christian: Awesome. Well uh, first question, do you guys know who Ric Flair is?
Christian kneels down and gets in the boys faces, staring them right in the eyes.
Boy Two: Yeah, he’s awesome!! I love it when he does the ‘Wooo’.
The other boy laughs as Christian turns his head laughing, almost in disgust.
Christian: You like that huh? Think that’s pretty cool right?
Both boys smile excitably and nod back at Christian.
Christian: Well let me tell ya something guys and I want you to be prepared for this ok? Your mommy and daddy may hide the truth from you but I’m not gonna do that, no way, na uh, not a freakin’ chance because I want kids like you to understand life, to understand what’s right and what’s wrong. Y’see, that ’Wooo’ Ric Flair does, it is not cool. Far from it, infact nothing about Ric Flair is cool. Let me ask ya, how old are you two kids?
Boy One: We’re both nine years old.
Christian nods.
Christian: Nine years old. Y’know, I remember being your age and I remember going to a sports club every day after school was over with. We did all kinds of stuff there, soccer, basketball, baseball, wrestling. This sports club I went to, it had kids your age right the way up to about twelve years old and there were these two kids there, both of ‘em twelve year old boys and they used to walk around this club as though…as though they were in charge, as though they were in control, y’know?
Boy Two: We have one guy like that at school.
Christian: Oh really? Well this is gonna be all the more helpful for you two guys, believe me. These two boys, they got everything given to them, our wrestling coach treated them like his own two sons and why? Why was that d‘ya think? Because they were the oldest there, because as the two oldest there, they got everything handed to ’em cos they were bigger, cos they were stronger while us nine year olds sat back and watched them get handed everything, time and time again, just like that.
Christian clicks his fingers.
Christian: You think that’s fair?
Boy Two: N-n-no.
Christian: No, you’re right, it wasn’t fair. So instead of sit back, y’know what I did? I went to that club one day after school and I decided, enough’s enough and I confronted those two guys. I said that I was sick of ’em taking my opportunities away, just because they’re older than me, so uh, ha, y’know what they did?
Boy One: They let you get a turn?
Christian laughs looking up to the heavens.
Christian: Let me have a turn, ha ha. Wrong answer kid, they beat the holy hell outta me. Yeah, they did and I’m not afraid to admit that but what I want is…what I need is kids like you to understand that those bullies I talked about? Those two bullies are the exact same…as Ric Flair.
The two kids look open mouthed as they look at one another.
Christian: It’s true. Ric Flair is a bitter, old man and he can’t walk away from being a bully, he can’t step aside and let somebody younger, somebody better than him take his spot. He just won’t do it, he just can’t do it and that’s why I’ve made it my mission to take him out, to take him down, to END your beloved Ric Flair.
One of the kids looks a little upset now and one slightly nervy as Christian looks quite sinister here.
Christian: I won’t allow him to do what those two bullies did to me all those years ago and the sooner that people, that kids like you realise that Ric Flair is the one in the wrong here, the better.
Boy One: C-c-can we go now? Please, you’re upsetting my friend.
Christian: Oh we’re done here and hey, sometimes kids, the truth hurts.
Christian pats one of the kids on the head as the two run off with one holding the other who is really upset now and Christian stands up, shakes himself off and smiles broadly.
Christian: That right there? That’s just two, just two kids who need to learn the truth about Ric Flair and hey, there’s a whole ton of Charlotte left for me to, well, left for me to ‘explore’.
Christian then starts laughing and the camera fuzzes off.
We return to the sight of J.R. and Coach with the fans voicing their opinions, all booing the actions of Captain Charisma.
Jim Ross: Well we have learned that Ric Flair will return to Monday Night Raw next week and he will address Christian’s visit to his home back in Charlotte. I know that Nait…
‘Just Close Your Eyes’
The Coach: Yes!! There he is J.R!! The man who in eighteen days time will retire, yeah I said it, he will retire Ric Flair once and for all.
Indeed out steps Captain Charisma, alongside his Problem Solver Tomko as Christian comes down all set for action here.
Jim Ross: Indeed Christian will face Ric Flair in eighteen nights at Summerslam but I wouldn’t bank on Christian retiring the Nature Boy Coach. Christian, as good as he is inside that ring, Ric Flair will fight for his life when we head to Washington and Christian ain’t gonna like it.
The Coach: Well Ric Flair ain’t gonna like it either because no matter how fired up he is, no matter how much he ‘fights for his life’, his life, his career ends come Summerslam, mark my words cowboy.
Jim Ross: Moving on to tonight though folks and Captain Charisma has issued a challenge here tonight. Christian’s challenge is for somebody from Ric Flair’s past, to come to Monday Night Raw and face him one on one here tonight. Anybody who has faced Ric Flair in his entire career will be eligible, will have the opportunity to take him on, I mean Coach, it could literally be anybody.
The Coach: Your guess is as good as mine J.R. I have absolutely no idea but I’m lookin’ forward to finding out.
Christian now has a microphone in hand as a ‘You Suck’ chant breaks out already here, wasting no time to pour heat on CC.
Christian: Twenty small days and counting until an event that has been labelled, that has been branded as the ‘biggest party of the summer’. Of course I’m talking about Summerslam.
Christian nods his head smiling a little here.
Christian: Well here’s the thing. It won’t be the biggest party of the summer. No, no, far from it infact because Summerslam is going to be the biggest party of the entire YEAR!
Boos as well as the odd cheer thrown in there.
Christian: I hear all my peeps asking, why? Why will it be the biggest party of the year? Well I thought that would be clear as day for everybody here tonight to see, for everybody sitting at home watching to see. Summerslam will be the biggest party of the year because Summerslam will mark the
end of Ric Flair’s career.
Christian’s now intense, smile removed as he stares directly into the camera, the crowd booing him once again.
Christian: Finally the old man around this place will fade off, will fade away into the background, will head off into the sunset and believe me, believe me… there won’t be a single damn guy in the back there who won’t join in the celebrations because this has been in the making for far…
far too long now.
Christian shakes his head in dismay.
Christian: I’ve been waiting for this moment, jeez, I don’t even know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment. Tomko here will tell ya, this has been my mind for a very,
very long time. I’ve had to wait, sit back, watch as Ric Flair takes up my spotlight. Not just for a few weeks, no, I’ve had to endure that pathetic shell of his former self strut around this ring, stealing my moment for
years and it makes me physically…it makes me, I can’t even…IT MAKES ME PHYSICALLY SICK!!
Christian’s intensity levels rise again as the crowd shit all over him as he takes a moment to calm himself down and compose himself.
Christian: But y’know what? I can wait twenty more days. I can wait that little while longer because I know just how sweet it’s gonna be when the moment comes, oh yeah, you can’t deny that moment is coming and when it does, the biggest party of the summer, the biggest party of the year, the biggest party…of ALL TIME. Washington DC, August 21st, Captain Charisma
retires… the Nature… Boy.
More strong heat for Christian whose smirk returns now.
Christian: That? That has to wait though, me and Tomko can’t quite get the confetti out just yet but what we can do is this, we can start the celebrations a little early. See, all week long I’ve been working hard, searching,
desperately trying to find somebody to come here tonight and face me one on one in this ring. But, there’s been a little catch we put on that. That catch being, my opponent has to have been a part of Ric Flair’s career, he has to have faced off against the Nature Boy at some point down the years and well, I’m sure this doesn’t surprise anybody here tonight but nobody, not one single person has accepted my challenge.
Boos ring round the arena again.
Christian: Yeah, my thoughts exactly.
Christian and Tomko laugh to each other.
Christian: None of Ric’s old buddies wanna try and stand up to me, stand up for their good pal and hey, who can blame ‘em? I mean they all saw exactly what I did to Arn Anderson a little while back, they all saw what I did to Flair himself at Vengeance and they’re all sitting at home, scared to death that I’d do the same damn thing to them.
More heat for the brash mouth of Captain Charisma.
Christian: So this is it, the final boarding call. If there is anybody back there who wants the opportunity of a lifetime, wants the chance to step inside the ring with this generation’s very own bigger and better version of Ric Flair, now…now is your shot.
HUGE heat for Christian’s Flair comparison as Christian soaks it in before folding his arms, waiting for a response but not getting one at all.
Christian: I knew it. Tomko, c’mon let’s get outta this dump and start focusing on Summersl…
‘Wild Horses’
The fans who know this theme go CRAZY as ARN ANDERSON appears through the curtain to Christian’s horror!!
Jim Ross: WHAT THE HELL?!? ARN ANDERSON!! THE ENFORCER!! HE’S HERE AND HE’S HEADED AFTER CHRISTIAN!!
The Coach: Christian put this guy in a hospital J.R, he can’t be here!!
Jim Ross: Well there he is Coach and he’s heading down to this ring and by god, he’s heading towards giving Christian an ass kicking!!
Anderson steps through the ropes as Christian, surprisingly, is still smirking.
Christian: Perfect. Double A huh? You just don’t know when to give it up do ya Arn?
Anderson looks ready to fight, he’s coming down minus the glasses, dressed in his usual demeanour however, not in ring gear, simply looking for a fight.
Christian: I mean, I’ve put you in the hospital once already and y’know what? I got absolutely NO problem doing it again. Woah, woah hold on just a second, didn’t …didn’t you uh…didn’t you have to
retire due to injury Arn?
Anderson snatches the mic out of Christian’s grasp which is greeted with a pop. Christian and Tomko laughing to one another.
Arn Anderson: I damn sure did but quite frankly son, I don’t give a RATS ASS! You put me in a hospital bed and I ain’t come here to kiss and make up, I came here to return the favour, I came here to put YOU in a hospital bed.!
HUGE pop as Anderson shoves the mic into Christian’s chest.
Christian: That’s funny Arn, real funny. Look all you had to do was ask, so I’ll put you outta your misery here tonight, lets get this show on the road and hey one more thing, Flair if you’re watching back at home like I know you are then I beg you…I BEG you to please,
please…enjoy watching this.
And with that Christian tosses the mic away as Tomko exit’s the ring, Christian turning round to speak with him quickly as ANDERSON JUMPS CHRISTIAN FROM BEHIND AND TAKES HIM DOWN!! ANDERSON BEGINS HAMMERING AWAY WITH RIGHT AND LEFT HANDS AS THIS ONE GETS UNDERWAY!!
The Coach: Hey get your hands off of him old man!!
Jim Ross: Arn Anderson getting him some payback!! This one is off and running!!
Match Four: Singles Match
Christian vs. Arn Anderson
Anderson completely hammers away at Christian with Captain Charisma having no answer to the Enforcer’s aggression here. The built up anger being spilled all over by the man who Chrsitian put in hospital several weeks ago.
Anderson then whips Christian off the ropes with the former Intercontinental Champion rebounding right into a devastating clothesline from Double A taking Christian down. Anderson hops on top of his opponent and begins hammering away, left and right, left and right again as the referee has to get him away. Anderson then fires up the crowd who cheer like wild for the veteran here.
Anderson then goes back to Christian who is slowly to his feet and OH!! Anderson is met with a thumb to the eye, a thumb to the eye from Christian, pulling a page out of Ric Flair’s book! Anderson is blinded as Christian grabs him from behind, UNPRETTIER!! BAM!! Cover by Christian, 1...2...3, that’s all she wrote.
Winner: Christian(2:11)
The Coach: Take that Anderson!! Next time stay in your hospital bed or else Captain Charisma will send ya back there!!
Jim Ross: Damn it. Arn Anderson put up a fight, he took it to Christian here tonight folks but in the end Christian weasels his way to victory and if he does that at Summerslam then it’ll be the end of Ric Flair’s career. I can’t even begin to imagine wha…OH COME ON!!!
J.R stops in his tracks as we see Christian ordering Tomko to lift AA to his feet again as the crowd shit all over Christian here. Tomko holds Anderson up as Christian wipes the sweat off his forehead before getting right in the face of Anderson, mouthing obscenities to the Enforcer as Anderson looks like he’s ready to blow a gasket here and CHRISTIAN SLAPS ANDERSON!!
Jim Ross: YOU SICK BASTARD!!
The Coach: That is the LEAST he deserves!!
Christian then smirks before heading out of the ring and he grabs a STEEL CHAIR!! Tomko keeps a hold of AA as Christian slides back in the ring, chair in hand, looking at it as though it were his prized possession and he swings it back…
‘WOOOOOOO’
Jim Ross: YES!! RIC FLAIR!! RIC FLAIR IS HERE!!
Indeed the Nature Boy is here!! Suited and booted, Flair heads on down to the ring as Tomko tosses Anderson away and awaits Flair as Christian drops the chair and Christian……exit’s the ring?!?
The Coach: That’s damn smart strategy from Christian. Stay outta this old man’s path, finish the job off in style, not here, not now.
Jim Ross: Christian’s running scared Coach!! Christian wants NO PIECE of Ric Flair!!
Flair enters the ring and drops Tomko with a right hand!! Tomko rebounds and Flair hammers him with another before whipping Tomko into the turnbuckle and Flair unloads with chop after chop, WOOOOOO, Tomko is in a world of trouble as he drops outta the corner and the infamous Ric Flair strut is now on show!!
Jim Ross: The Nature Boy!! Stylin’ and Profilin’!!
Tomko is down and it’s time!! Flair locks in the FIGURE FOUR!! FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK TO TOMKO!! The Problem Solver is writhing in agony as Flair looks up the ramp, a look of intensity etched across his face as Flair stares down the man who he meets at Summerslam with Christian looking a little worried by Flair’s actions here tonight. Flair finally lets go as Tomko is completely torn apart by Naitch as he lets out another roaring, ‘Woooo’ joined by the crowd as we see Flair now tend to Arn Anderson and lift him to his feet asking his friend if he’s ok. Anderson then hugs Flair before Flair raises the Enforcer’s hand which greets a mammoth ovation from the crowd.
Jim Ross: That? That right there Coach is what ya call class. A show of class from Ric Flair, from Arn Anderson, two of the all time greats in this industry and if there’s any justice in this world, Ric Flair will teach that punk Christian a lesson at Summerslam.
The Coach: If there’s any justice in the world, Arn Anderson would still be in his hospital bed and Ric Flair would be sat in a retirement home back in Charlotte.
Jim Ross: Oh would you quit it? At Summerslam, the showdown is on, the stakes are as high as can be and I can only hope, I can only pray that this is the scene in Washington DC on August 19th!
We head off with a shot of Flair and Anderson looking up the ramp at Captain Charisma who appears to mouth ‘Damn it’ as Flair nods in agreement almost.
Commercials
We return to Raw and see the wily old presence of William Regal along with his Protégé Mark Jindrak stumbling down the halls before we see the beautiful Maria bump into the duo, microphone in hand.
Maria: Hi Willy!!
Regal looks up to the heavens as if to say ‘Oh why me?’
Maria: Just wanted to y’know, get your thoughts on what your Protégé did earlier on tonight to the Big Show…
William Regal: What young Mark here did earlier was absolutely no different to what he’s been doing since I first aligned myself with him. Since day one he has been dismantling, brutalising,
destroying his opponents, he’s been destroying the Big Show.
Regal flashes a little grin as Jindrak looks on menacingly.
William Regal: Quite remarkably Big Show still, he
still quite hasn’t understood that he is no match for young Mark and what he has to offer. Mark showed back at Vengeance when he defeated the World’s Largest Athlete. He showed it again several weeks back on Raw and he’s shown it again tonight. He is simply more vicious, more cunning, more
dangerous than Big Show. Quite frankly Maria, Mark is better…than Big Show.
Boos for that statement.
Maria: Mark, what do you have to say about Big Show?
Maria looks(cluelessly) at Jindrak who doesn’t respond.
William Regal: Mark doesn’t have anything to say about someone so far down beneath him. He lets his actions do the talking and that Maria? That is the way we like it and that is the way we will continue to do our business. If Big Show wants to continue being a part of that business, then so be it but I’d like to personally deliver him this message…
Regal looks directly at the camera now.
William Regal: Show, this is…this
is and this
has been nothing, absolutely
nothing compared to what this man is capable of.
The camera shifts to Jindrak before shifting back on Regal.
William Regal: He’s displayed to you exactly why I took him under my wing. He’s displayed to the entire world exactly why I took him under my wing and if you haven’t already seen the light, if you haven’t already realised it, he is
not…going…to stop.
Regal laughs rather maniacally.
William Regal: So by all means, keep coming after me, keep coming after Mark but be warned, what you’ve experienced thus far will be mere child’s play compared to what he does next.
Regal and Jindrak then head off with Jindrak staring a hole through Maria as we head back ringside where already waiting in the ring is former Diva Search contestant Ashley Massaro who panders to the crowd before we hear…
‘LoveFuryPassionEnergy’
And out steps Lita to a nice little ovation from the crowd as the Daredevil Diva heads down for action.
Jim Ross: Well last week Lita was asked to prove herself, to prove that she was worthy of a Women’s Championship opportunity against Victoria and Coach I think she did exactly that, defeating a game Molly Holly.
The Coach: Lita was impressive last week, no doubt about it but J.R I said it last week and I’ll say it again. Molly Holly as good as she is, she ain’t Victoria. Ashley Massaro? I don’t think she’s got a dime on the Women’s Champ baby and tonight will prove why neither of these women, NO woman in this industry can touch Victoria right now.
Match Five: Singles Match
Lita vs. Ashley Massaro
Lita starts off a little rusty as Ashley brings it to the multiple time former Women’s Champion, looking to make her mark here.
Ashley really hammers into Lita, nailing the Daredevil Diva with right hands before some solid forearms send Lita aback as Ashley takes her down with a vicious clothesline, the crowd a little surprised here.
The Diva Search winner keeps on top for a couple more minutes, keeping Lita floored with several stomps to the back and some nasty elbows dropped on the back of Lita’s neck as the crowd tries to rally the fan favourite.
After taking all the surprising punishment, Lita suddenly turns the tables. Ashley hoists her to her feet before whipping Lita with authority into the ropes as Lita rebounds and Ashley looks for a back body drop but ducks too soon as Lita smashes her with a kick to the face!! Lita then drops Ashley with a big time clothesline as she assumes control for the first time.
Lita lets out a roar to the crowd as she awaits Ashley’s return to her feet as the crowd begins to stir and the camera shifts to see Victoria strutting down to the ramp. Lita doesn’t realise as Ashley turns around kick to the mid section, Twist of Fate!! NO!! Ashley shoves Lita away, Lita hit’s the ropes but hangs on as she sees Victoria in her eyeline. Lita looks furious as Victoria hops onto the apron and goes for Lita but Lita DROPS her with a right hand!!
Roll up!! Roll up by Ashley, 1...2..kick out by Lita!! Both women are quickly up as Ashley swings a right, ducked by Lita, kick to the mid section, Twist of Fate, CONNECTS!! Cover, 1...2...3...she got her!!
Winner: Lita(5:17)
Jim Ross: Impressive again Coach!! You can’t deny that Lita’s shaking off the rust and is on a real roll right now. Victoria must be worried about her title, she must be fearful of just how dangerous Lita is.
The Coach: She ain’t scared of anything or anybody J.R and that’s a fact.
Jim Ross: Then why in the heck is she runnin’ scared huh Coach? Why is Victoria not standing up to Lita huh?
The Coach: Because Lita’s not worth her time cowboy, she just isn’t worth it, it’s as simple as that.
Victoria holds her jaw as she lay fallen on the outside looking up at Lita who celebrates on the turnbuckle, posing to the fans before looking down at the Women’s Champ and motioning that she wants her title belt.
Commercials
We return and head into a video package...
Narrator: The biggest party of the summer.
The Summerslam logo appears across the screen as the Summerslam theme plays in the background.
Narrator: High pressure, high stakes.
We see a shot of Batista raising the World title high before a shot of a dejected Shawn Michaels.
Narrator: Who can overcome these obstacles?
We see Kurt Angle locking in the Ankle Lock on Randy Orton.
We then see Kane chokeslamming Chris Jericho.
Narrator: Who can stand tall?
We see John Cena FU’ing JBL.
Narrator: Who can rise to the occasion?
We see Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas celebrating.
Narrator: Who can handle… the heat?
We see a smirking Christian before an angered Ric Flair.
Batista: At Summerslam.
Flashing shot of the Animal landing a Batistabomb.
Edge: At Summerslam.
A brief shot of Edge delivering a Spear.
Randy Orton: At Summerslam.
The Legend Killer delivering an RKO is shown.
Ric Flair: At SUMMERSLAM! WOOO!
Flair locking in the Figure Four is then shown briefly.
Kurt Angle: At Summerslam.
We then see Angle locking in the Ankle lock, wrenching the hold in.
John Cena: At Summerslam.
It’s Cena’s turn then as we see the WWE champion deliver a thunderous FU.
Christian: The heat…is on.
A shot of a desert like scene is then shown as the Summerslam logo then appears again before…
Narrator: Summerslam: Can you handle the heat?
We return and head on over to the announce table once again as we hear from J.R and Coach.
Jim Ross: Welcome back to Monday Night Raw and folks during the commercial break we received word that Victoria hs finally, finally given in and has accepted a match for Summerslam one on one with the Daredevil Diva Lita and the Women’s Championsip WILL be on the line. Huge stakes come August 19th.
The Coach: Huge indeed but I ain’t worried, I ain’t scared, I got no doubts that my girl Victoria will wipe the floor with Lita at Summerslam and prove once again just why she is the most dominant, dangerous diva in this business. I guarantee it.
‘Sexy Boy’
It’s a rousing ovation that greets the music of the one, the only, Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels!! Michaels heads down to the ring, a stern look on his face, no over the top shenanigans as he clearly has things on his mind here tonight.
Jim Ross: Well Eric Bischoff has given Shawn Michaels permission, I can’t believe I’m saying that but Eric Bischoff has indeed given the Heartbreak Kid permission to come down to the ring here tonight and to confront Dave Batista, to clear the air so to speak with the Animal.
The Coach: Clear the air, yeah right. Michaels kicked his dam head off last week and now he wants to ‘clear the air’? I think Eric Bischoff’s right J.R, I think Shawn Michaels has begun to see the light, he just doesn’t realise it yet.
Michaels takes a microphone as the applause dies down and the Heartbreak Kid steadies himself, not looking as down and depressed as he has done in recent weeks.
Shawn Michaels: I guess…I guess I owe everybody an explanation.
A few cries of yes, a few cries of no, a few rumblings, nothing major.
Shawn Michaels: Well I think it’s real easy for everybody here tonight to understand so I’ll just get right down to it. Two weeks ago Batista returned after suffering a rib injury at the hands of Kane, he came down that ramp with one thing on his mind and that was to get his hands on anybody and everybody that he could.
Pop for that as Michaels nods.
Shawn Michaels: But uhhh, did he end up getting his hands on Kane? No. The man who put him on the injured list didn’t feel the wrath of the Animal. Did he…did he get his hands on Eric Bischoff? No, no he did not. The man who has set this whole thing up in the first place, the man who has targeted Dave Batista, just like he targeted myself did NOT get a taster of what Batista’s capable of.
Michaels pauses momentarily.
Shawn Michaels: But, y’know who Batista
did get his hands on? Y’know who Batista
did lay into? He got his hands…on
me, he laid in…to
me.
A few boos can be heard but it’s more intrigue as to what Michaels has to say.
Shawn Michaels: Now correct me if I’m wrong here but at no point in this whole thing have I gone against Dave Batista. At no point in this whole thing have I supported Eric Bischoff and what he’s doing. Everybody knows how I feel about Eric Bischoff and hey, it ain’t pretty, believe me.
Nice pop for that.
Shawn Michaels: So when I came round from taking that Batistabomb, to be quite honest I was stunned, I was hurt, oh yeah I felt it but more than that I was stunned. Eric Bischoff’s ordered me around to do a whole lotta his dirty work since Vengeance and I’ve had to go along with it. Every single minute, every
second of it has been nothing short of a living nightmare for me but I’ve had to take it.
Michaels shakes his head.
Shawn Michaels: I thought and hey, call me crazy but I thought Batista understood y‘know? Of all people I thought he would understand what kinda situation I was in, what kinda situation I am still in. But no, he seems to think that I
want to be a part of all this, that it’s
my decision to be a part of this whole thing. He seems to believe that I can just…that I can just walk out.
Michaels laughs a little to himself.
Shawn Michaels: Well it ain’t that simple. I cannot just walk away from this business, this is what I do, this is what I live for, this is…this is my
life.
Sympathetic pop.
Shawn Michaels: And right now? Right now is about as tough a spot as I’ve ever been in but when you’re at a low point in your career, when you’re at rock bottom, the only way…
is up. I know, I know deep down that something will change, something has
got to change and when it does, this will all be over with. I thought Batista would recognise that fact, would recognise that I’m slugging it out right now and I’m slugging it out in the hope that one day, soon enough, the Heartbreak Kid will once again steal the show.
A very nice pop there.
Shawn Michaels: So last week comes along and I’m sitting in the back and I’m watching Batista come out here and deliver his little speech. I’m watching him let everybody know that, woah, hold up a second, that… that can’t be right, can it? He let you all know that he uh, he DID come down to this ring seven days earlier with the intention of getting his hands on me. That? That caught me off guard, that hit me a little bit right there.
A few boos for that point brought up.
Shawn Michaels: I thought y’know, maybe I was wrong place, wrong time, maybe he’d realised his mistake, maybe an apology was in order but what do ya know? He meant it every damn step of the way. So I figured I was left with no option, no alternative but to send Batista a message last week, to let him know that I may have to let Eric Bischoff walk all over me but I ain’t about to let him do the same.
It’s a fierce determination shown from Michaels, not seen in weeks, months from him as he grits his teeth here, receiving a pop as well as the odd boo from the crowd.
Shawn Michaels: So Dave, now’s your chance. The score’s tied. One against one, you had your moment, I’ve had mine. Way I see it is this, we got two options here. Number one, you can come out here and we can let this all slide, water under the bridge and we can move on, we can focus on what the real problem around this place is, we can focus on Eric Bischoff.
Nice response for that suggestion.
Shawn Michaels: Or option number two, you can come down to this ring and we can do this the hard way.
Oooooooh is the overwhelming response for that as Michaels holds out his arms, awaiting the arrival of the World Heavyweight Champion.
‘I Walk Alone’
It’s more a sense of anticipation than a thunderous pop as the Animal, Batista makes his way down and he doesn’t look in the mood here tonight. Big Dave is dressed pretty smartly, a shirt and blazer as well as his shades for indoors which are always interesting.
Jim Ross: Shawn Michaels has laid it on the line here Coach and we’re about to find out just what our World Champion makes of all this.
The Coach: Well he don’t look too happy that’s for sure and this one could be about to get real ugly, real quick.
Tista steps through the ropes, looking intensely at the Showstopper before grabbing a microphone from the lovely Lilian Garcia.
Batista: So I got two choices huh Shawn? I can either shake your hand and let bygones be bygones or… I can kick your ass.
More ooooohs from the crowd as well as some cheers.
Batista: To be honest with you I came here tonight intending to do exactly that, kick your ass all over this arena. What you did last week, it didn’t sit well with me Shawn. I’ve been sitting at home all week long thinking it over, thinking through what went on last week and I’ve been desperate for tonight to roll around so I could take out all the anger, all the frustration that’s been building up inside o’ me, to take it all out…on
you.
Tista gets in Michaels face now as the tension rises. Michaels now backs off and slowly raises the mic to his mouth.
Shawn Michaels: Well I guess…I guess that answers my question.
Michaels then tosses the microphone down and takes off his t-shirt. This thing’s about to explode!!
Jim Ross: Awwww here we goooo!!
Batista then removes his blazer as the crowd starts to feel something big’s going down here.
The Coach: This is what Eric Bischoff has wanted all along!! This ain’t benefiting Batista, this ain’t benefiting Shawn Michaels. This is benefiting one man and one man only, the boss!!
‘BOOOOOOM’
‘Slow Chemical’
Uh-oh, the third party makes his arrival as down storms the number one contender, Kane! Evil intentions in mind here as Michaels and Batista watch on.
Jim Ross: Business is about to pick up folks!! The Big Red Machine, Kane is making a beeline for the ring, a beeline for Batista!!
The Coach: It’s gonna be two on one J.R!! Michaels and Kane against the Animal!! He’s about to get put down!!
Kane steps through the ropes and Batista swings a right hand, Kane swings right back and these two men go to war!! Michaels stands in the background, he doesn’t wanna get involved as Kane forces Batista back, getting the upper hand on the World Champion. Irish Whip by Kane AND BATISTA EXPLODES WITH A CLOTHESLINE!! Kane is floored as Batista roars to this fired up crowd. He drags Kane up to his feet again and knees the monster in the gut, Batistabomb time!! The Animal stares right at Shawn Michaels as he takes his challenger up high but Kane fights it off!! Kane wriggles free and GRABS BATISTA BY THE THROAT!! CHOKESLAM!!! NO!! SWEET CHIN MUSIC!! WHAT THE HELL?!!? SHAWN MICHAELS WITH SWEET CHIN MUSIC TO…TO KANE!!
The Coach: What the hell did he just do?!? What the hell is Shawn Michaels thinking?!?
Jim Ross: Shawn Michaels!! Shawn Michaels has floored the Big Red Machine!! Shawn Michaels ain’t takin’ sides Coach!!
Batista is a little dazed as he turns around and sees Kane down and out before looking up at Michaels, SWEET CHIN MUSIC, NO!! MICHAELS FEIGNS IT!!! Shawn Michaels playing mind games with the Animal!! Michaels then motions he was ‘this close’ before seeming to mouth, ‘I coulda Dave, I coulda’ as Batista who has backed away, clearly worried of the impending SCM as Michaels then exits through the ropes with Batista looking on and the tension between the two men evident for all to see.
Jim Ross: Can you feel the tension Coach?! Can you feel the intensity between these two men? Between all THREE of these men?! Kane wants the World Title, Batista has the prize and Shawn Michaels is the man in the middle, Shawn Michaels has the power come August 21st!!
The Coach: Shawn Michaels has the power and if he’s got any sense at all, if he wants to keep his damn job, he will do the right thing at Summerslam!! He will count Batista…DOWN!!
The final shot is of HBK and Batista mouthing words to one another before we get a glimpse of Kane sitting up and smiling devilishly at Shawn Michaels, clearly an angry monster following the Heartbreak Kid’s actions as we fade out.
Date: 21st August 2005
Location: Washington DC
World Heavyweight Championship:
Special Guest Referee: Shawn Michaels
Batista(c) vs Kane
If Ric Flair loses, he must retire:
Christian w/Tomko vs Ric Flair
Randy Orton vs The Undertaker
WWE Intercontinental Championship:
Muhammad Hassan(c) vs Shelton Benjamin
Money in the Bank Contract:
Edge vs Chris Jericho
8 Man Tag Team Match:
The Dudley Boyz and The Basham Brothers vs Ken Doane and Nick Nemeth; The Platform to Perfection and Sonjay Dutt and Daivari; The Arabian Entity