well, not bad at all. I was enjoying watching Rey over on Nitro, but you know, when Bam Bam Bigelow is in the picture (and not escorted by Luna) well, I can easliy be pursuaded to change the channel. ESPECIALLY when Road Dogg is making his return on Raw.

So onward.
We start with Vince and the corporation coming out to the ring. Vince says the footage of the "brief moment in the life of Vincent Kennedy McMahon, when he showed weakness" is in the Museum of Moving Image in New York (I should go check that, no? ;) "none of you know the capacity I have to love, to feel, to care, to cherish, and I wouldn't expect you to know, because amoeba can't feel." (Note: Vince rocks. That was really damn funny.) He then fires Kane and calls out the orderlies to take him away. Chyna and Kane battle the orderlies, and Chyna tells Vince that he's making a mistake because he doesn't know how to control Kane like she does. She then says she'll be responsible for Kane, and that he should have a match against Austin to prove himself. McMahon agrees, adding a stipulation that if Kane loses, both he and Chyna will be fired.

Mankind comes out and asks for another chance to prove himself... "last week I was screwed worse than a White House intern." Vince says he can be a ref at Wrestlemania if he beats Undertaker tonight.

The lights go out. Undertaker speaks over the PA system, the usual, directed at Vince.

~*~ commercial ~*~ Billy Gunn is sick, and unable to fight his match tonight. Fluid in the lungs. Pneumonia. Something like that. odd angle choice, no?

Ken Sharmock vs Goldust (with Blue Meanie) vs Val Venis (Intercontinental Title)
So, apparently on the unaired (lost episode?) Heat from this Sunday, the relationship between Goldust and Blue Meanie was explained-- imitation was flattering, Goldust is like a mother to the Meanie. (Note: Can I ask his mommy for a date? I adore the Meanie!) Ryan Shamrock comes to ringside, and doesn't do much of anything, until Goldust grabs her and kisses her. This, of course, sets Shamrock off into the "zone" and he goes through The Blue Meanie to Goldust, and tehy fight in the crowd, to get the countout. Val keeps the belt. As he's walking away, Billy Gunn comes out and attacks him.

Mankind and Al Snow are seen talking to Jim Ross, who will be making his return tonight.

~*~ commercial ~*~ includes MANKIND on the Chef Boyardee commercial. Lord, is there ANYTHING this man can do that isn't great? I don't think so. Viva La Mankind.

Jim Ross returns to the ring, to a huge pop, and a "JR" chant. he invites Bart Gunn to the ring for an interview. Bart Gunn won't look at his face, and we see that the Bell's Palsy did affect his face some more than it did before. He starts yelling at Bart, for cgloating about knocking Steve Williams out, and for calling Williams "JR's boy." He says that no one will look at his face or look him in the eye anymore, and how he was ready to come back to his old job at the royal Rumble, but they wouldn't let him. He then hits Bart Gunn in the face, and starts yelling, "This is your fault!" Bart pushes him and tells him not to ever touch him, when Steve Williams comes out and starts beating on Bart, with JR encouraging him. This was a pretty disturbing piece, though I think it's really good to have JR back and involved in an angle, it was a bit too... I don't know. Real, maybe.

Debra is seen backstage, rubbing her legs, for some reason.
D'Lo and Ivory are also seen backstage.
Jarrett/Owen Hart/Debra to the ring.
Hart: "Enough is enough. I am a champion! I am not a nugget!" They talk about how they have beaten all the tag teams, and demand competition. Anyone that beats them will be handed Debra's silk robe off her back.

HHH and XPac vs Jarrett/Owen (tag titles)
Decent match. HHH and XPac would have had the titles, too, but Debra came up on the apron, distracted the ref, and then got knocked off the apron. HHH gets tagged in, and XPac checks on Debra, only to get thrown into the stairs by Shane McMahon. XPac then chases him, as per their usual schtick. HHH gets double teamed, there is a DQ. Ivory comes out and stares down Debra. D'Lo comes after Jarrett/Hart as they're leaving the ring. Ivory pulls off Debra's robe. Amusingly, Jarrett then tries to cover Debra with the tag belts, since all she is wearing is underwear.

Kevin Kelley interviews Jarrett/Hart and Debra- she calls out Ivory for a match later. (why can't the real wrestlers call out Ivory?)

Luna comes out, with Tori.
"Sable, I tried reasoning with you, and then you attacked me and this woman, your number one fan, from behind. Tonight, she stands by me. By me. I'm standing up for Tori, myself, and the fans you used to get where you are. Tonight, I'm goinbg to bring you back down to earth where you belong." Sable comes out. Tori turns on Luna, and the Sable/Tori double team Luna, getting her down in the ring. Sable ignores Tori, and she follows Sable out. (Note: Sable, shaking her plastic body all over holding that belt... ugh)

Road Dogg vs Rock (World title)
I still don't see WHY Road Dogg gothis title shot, but I'm not one to complain about anything with Road Dogg in it. The match is short, with some back and forth. Paul Wight comes out and head butts Road Dogg (note: because he sucks.) Rock ends up winning with the Roack Bottom to the people's elbow. (booo hiss. I actually allowed myself to mark out and hope that road dogg would win.)

After Rock leaves, Al Snow comes out and says, "It's schitzophrenic psycho from Lima, Ohio: his hobbies include hardcore matches and needlepoint... and we're going to pick up where we left off, becase you made me do the j-o-b to b-o-b on the p-p-v and it's time for double jeopardy." Al gets to the ring with a chair, which Road Dogg hits him with. Bob Holly (Note: I REFUSE to call him hardcore) also gets taken out. Road Dogg grabs the mic and says, "I see no reason to disrupt this tv show anymore. If you two pussies want me, I'll be in the parking lot."

Road Dogg is seen in the parking lot: "Where's Al Snow with his bodyless bitch?" "Where's Hardcore Holly?"

Public Enemy come out, dressed as the Brood, to their music. They address the Brood, saying they aren't scared of anyone, and that they're hardcore. Apparently, Rocko is now known as "Flyboy." God, that name sucks. Brood then come out in the dark, and "Flyboy" disappears when the lights are back on.

Holly and Road Dogg start having a HC match in the backstage area.

Droz vs Steve Blackman (Kendo stick match)
The obect is to be the first guy to knock your opponent off his feet. Blackman wins the match, but the ref is down. Droz then gets Blackman down, the ref sees it, and the match is over. It was quick, and interesting. (Note: New tattoos on Droz, who's work I love. new design on his lower back, and below his navel. Beautiful work.)

Al Snow gets involved in the HC match outside, which ends up in a street with traffic. The refs break it up at this point. Amazing how Holly almost looked decent in this match-- Al and Road Dogg can carry his ass.

A promo for Shane McMahon, about growing up in Greenwich, Ct, with some guystalking about it is shown. It's strange, makes no sense, and hopefully, won't be shown again.

"Flyboy" is seen hanging from some metal racks, covered in blood. Johnny is screaming for help.

Vince comes out- announces Undertaker vs Bossman hell in the cell for Wrestlemania. (note: Underwhelming. Oh how... underwhelming.)

Undertaker vs Mankind
This is the best the Undertaker has looked in a while. Mick Foley is limping. UT does the rope walk, which is turned into a mandible claw. Foley gets flung out of the ring. the two fight outside the ring some, and the ref calls for the bell, Undertaker being counted out (which means Mankind gets to be the second ref at WM.) Undertaker goes after McMahon at the commentary table, and almost chokeslams him, but Bossman comes out and makes the save. Boss/McM then take off through the crowd.

Bossman and Vince are seen leaving in a limo.

Debra vs Ivory
Not really a wrestling match, since Debra can't wrestle. PMS come out, and Jackie goes after Ivory, making me drool at the thought of some real matches between the two of them. Women's wrestling! yes! D'Lo comes out to help Ivory, who is getting double teamed. the whole thing is quick, and it's a DQ win for Ivory.

Kane vs Austin
They both put on a perrt good match here. They fight in the crowd. Chyna goes after Austin a few times. The ref gets knocked out. There are a few near falls. Austin has it won, but the ref isn't up, and by the time he is, Kane is back on his feet. Austin goes after Chyna, but gets suplexed by Kane. paul Wight comes out (to hurt us all with his presence ;) and puts a chair in the ring. Austin hits Kane twice, and goes after Chyna with the chair. Chyna low blows Austin. Kane holds Austin, and Wight goes for a superkick, which Austin ducks. Ref calls for the bell, Austin walks off. But kane gets the win by DQ.