Raw Rant for February 25, 2002.
Raw opens with NWO apologizing to the WWF marks, I mean fans from Smackdown, followed by Austins heinous attack on Scott Hall.
The NWO comes out with their slow motion capture video. Hall has a wheel barrel with something covered in it. Wow they are moving slower than ever! Hogan has the mic and boasts about his actions on the Rock. Nash is handed the mic, and says that they are the three biggest stars in the history of wrestling. Hall now has the mic and complains about the beating from Austin. Hall challenges Austin to a match at Wrestlemania. What a bunch crap for a promo for the NWO. Is this supposed to draw ratings? The never mentioned the wheel barrel at all. Ah Well!
Hardyz vs Billy and Chucky
Wow I see the Hardyz have some neon glowing outfits, what a change! Billy and Chucky have the gayest music in the history of the WWF. Hey Chucky has a neat new do! Jeff starts with a jawbreaker and a tag to Matt. Attempted Twist of Fate turned into a clothesline. Matt and Chucky exchange blows. Attempted powerslam by Chucky but countered into a reverse DDT. Double tag and Jeff cleans house. Poetry in motion by jeff. Jeff climbs the ropes to attempt a Swanton bomb but gets racked by Chucky. Sleeper hold slam by Billy. Lita hits a top rope hurricurana. Twist of Fate by Matt and Swanton by Jeff, but the ref doesn't count it. Superkick by Chucky and Billy covers Jeff for the win and to retain the Tag Team Championships. 1*
A limo arrives with jericho and Stephanie. Jericho asks Steph if she's ready and she comes back with the ever popular line, "partner, I was born ready!" Really good stuff!!
Michael Cole speaks to Debra.
Christian walks up to Arn Anderson and asks where Flair is. Apparently he wants to sign his resignation papers. DDP comes from behind and tells Christian not to quit. He explains to Christian how to win. Killer smiles by both Arn and Christian, way to go guys!!
Cole catches up to Austin. Austin is running out of things to say just so the crowd can say What? Austin accepts Hall's challenge for Wrestlemania. Let's see if Hall is around long enough for this to happen
#1 Contender Match for the IC Title
RVD vs Lance Storm vs Big Show
Regal is at ringside to do commentary.
Regal is telling people that the only person he wants to wrestle is Lance Storm because he is a pure wrestler, which I agree with, but come on what are Storm's chances in this match???
Spin kick by RVD which Show shrugs off. Show dominates both men, wow those two look like sacks of potatoes in there. RVD and Storm get double suplexed by Show. Show punches a chair into Storm's face. RVD hits the Van Daminator from the top while Big Show holds the chair. RVD follows with a 5 star frog splash on Show for the win and a shot at the IC title at Wrestlemania. I guess there were no DQ's. DUD
Booker practices his Japanese for a commercial for Japanese shampoo.
Farrooq is playing cards and Bradshaw uses a key to get through the office door. AH a little bit of comic relief there! There are headed to the Friendly Tap bar from which they received an invitation. Ummm I think I smell a set up!
Rikishi vs Booker T
Booker starts off with the popular punches and kick offence. Rikishi hits a clothesline and a powerslam. Reverse heel kick by Booker followed by kicks to the gut. Rikishi with a Somoan drop and a Belly to Belly suplex. Rikishi misses the Back that Ass up and Booker hits the scissors kick. Booker wastes too much time and Rikishi hits a superkick. Booker pulls the ref in front of Rikishi and hits the axe kick for the win! Booker is in desperate need of a new finisher. DUD!
Steph and Y2J come out together. Apparently they have a surprise for HHH. The video surprise is.... HHH tearing his quad 8 months ago????? WHAT????? Out comes HHH after Steph makes fun of the size of his genatalia, hmmm big surprise. What a nice comeback for HHH, he said something along the lines of maybe it wasn't how small the game was but maybe the field he was playing on was too big. Then he made reference to a 747 being small when it flies into the Grand Canyon! That is gold! HHH challenges Y2J tonight but Angle comes out and informs them he has a title shot tonight against Jericho, Vince had told him that over the phone!
Mr.Perfect is backstage and has challenged Austin to a match tonight and he does some trash talking.
Jazz vs Mighty Molly
Oh great Women's wrestling! Both women get no pop or heat from the crowd. I don't even want to comment on this match, so at the risk of sounding sexist, this match never existed!
Molly is still in the ring when the commercial break ends and Taker comes out. Arn Anderson is trying to help Molly but he gets a punch from Taker. Arn is busted open from a punch from Taker and his padded gloves! Taker wants to destroy Arn to get a shot at Flair. Arn could destroy Taker in his hay-day! No Show for Flair. I guess the beatdown on Arn wasn't nough to accept the challenge from Taker. Taker should get David Flair and the other little pisant son Reid and beat the hell out of them before Flair accepts.
Undisputed Championship Match
Y2J vs Kurt Angle
Why isn't this the main event??? I guess they really don't take these two guys as serious main eventers! Ah well it is only the undisputed championship on the line right? Angle opens with kicks and a clothesline. Chops and punches by Angle followed by a German suplex. Angle is dominating Y2J Overhead Belly to Belly suplex and a two count. Blown spot by Jericho and he dumps Angle outside. Reverse elbow from the top by Y2J. Jericho looks a little shaky in the ring. Hard Chops by Jericho followed by a back elbow. Y2J attempts the Walls of Jericho but Angle turns it into an inside cradle for a two count. Slingshot by Y2J and Angle climbs the 2nd rope to suplex Jericho for a two count. The two trade blows and Angle gets the upper hand. Angle hits the rolling German Suplexes. Angle is a little bit loud in calling his spots. Angle reverses the Walls of Jericho into Angle lock but Y2J gets to the ropes. Angle Slam reversed into the Walls of Jericho, Angle makes it to the ropes. Jericho goes for his belts and the ring bell. Was that bell supposed to hit the ref?? Angle hits Y2J with a belt and gets a 2 3/4 count. Angle lock on Jericho and he makes the ropes again. Insurguri on Angle and Kane comes through the crowd. Kane throws Kurt back into the ring and hits the breakdown for the 3 count. Kane attacks Angle but Kurt runs and Kane follows. Decent match with a garbage ending. Is this setting up Kane vs Angle for Wrestlemania? What a waste for Kurt! 2*
Hogan is shown backstage going into the Rocks locker room. Nice cardboard cutout of the Rock, and Hogan is talking to it. The rating should be going through the roof right about now. Hogan says legends don't grow on trees, he should know, he is one! One what? A tree? Can't argue with him there, he sure moves like one!
APA are shown at the friendly tap. It's "men's" night there. What a stupid segment. Figures Billy and Chucky would be in a gay bar!
Steve Austin vs Mr. Perfect
Why this is the main event I have no idea. I mean if they want to do any NWO stuff at the end of this match it could have easily been done in the last segment! Austin comes to the ring carryng the tire iron. Match starts with tie-ups. I think the mic is too close to the ring because you can hear the spots being called. Trading chops by Austin and Perfect. These guys don't even look like they want to be in the ring. Spinebuster by Austin followed by a stomp to the abdomen. Clotesline out of the corner by Austin. Attempted Stunner blocked. Chops by Perfect, punches by Austin. Lou Thesz Prezz followed by the elbow drop to the solarplexes. Mudhole stomping by Austin. Stunner to Perfect for the 3. Hall comes down with his wheelbarrel that had no mention earlier in the show. It has cinder blocks in it. Hall and Austin exchange blows and Nash and Hogan appear from the crowd. Hall nails Austin with the cinder block in the knee which explodes on contact. Is the crowd really buying into that crap??? The NWO turn and walk away. Fade to Black! DUD
This Raw was not a good build up to Raw at all. Angle and Jericho could have been a good match but the one problem is they are both heels. The Kane and Angle match makes no sense to me at all. I guess they can't find anyone for Angle to wrestle. Ah well.....
Until next time, this is The Net Detective!
