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Raw Report for April 18, 2005
by Richard Trionfo
We are less than two weeks away from Backlash and we have a total of two matches announced for the pay per view. Will we see any more matches announced for the pay per view? What will happen when Triple H faces Jim Ross in a non-Oklahoma venue not on Jim Ross’s birthday? What will happen when Hulk Hogan answers Shawn Michaels’s request to be his tag team partner against Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari? Will we see the World Champion appear on the show to do something before the final segment this week? What will happen with the open challenge for the tag titles that William Regal made last night on Heat? If Jim Ross beats Triple H, will he get the title match against Batista at Backlash?
Eric Bischoff is in his office with Jim Ross and he tells Jim that he knows how he feels. Eric says that he would be scared too if Triple H challenged him to a match. Eric wonders if Jim Ross wants him to call off the match and let him announce. However, Eric says that announcers are ‘a dime a dozen’ so the match will go on. Eric says that the match will now be a no-disqualification match. Eric says that he will be fair so he will let Jim Ross have someone in his corner to offset Ric Flair. That man will be Batista. How about some music?
We are live from the Mecca of Wrestling, Madison Square Garden in New York, New York and your announcers are Jerry ‘I Miss JR already . . . Is that Scoops over there?’ Lawler and Jonathan ‘CM Punk is one person?’ Coachman.
We start off with the man who I think you know possesses a leather briefcase, Edge. His opponent is Chris Benoit. Do you remember two weeks ago when Edge attacked Chris Benoit with a steel chair? Edge attacks Benoit when he comes into the ring and punches Benoit. Benoit responds with chops and knees in the corner. Benoit with an Irish whip, but he runs into a boot from Edge. Edge misses a clothesline, but Benoit tries for a German suplex, but Edge is able to get out of it. Benoit is able to hit the Hat Trick German suplex combo, but he isn’t finished and hits two more to get one for the thumb on the German suplexes. Benoit with the throat slash and he goes up top, but Edge moves when Benoit comes down with the diving headbutt. Edge sets up for the Spear, but Benoit moves out of the way. Edge with an inverted DDT to Benoit followed by a rear chin lock. Edge with an arm bar, but Benoit with forearms to Edge followed by chops. Benoit flips out of a belly-to-back suplex and locks in the Crossface. Edge is able to get to the rope. Benoit goes outside with Edge and sends Edge into the ring steps. Edge with a forearm to Benoit and then Edge runs Benoit’s head into the Smackdown announce table. Benoit with an Irish whip into the ringside barrier, and Benoit clotheslines Edge into the crowd. Benoit follows Edge and they exchange punches in the crowd. Edge and Benoit fight into the back. Edge slams Benoit’s head into part of the scaffolding in the back. Benoit with forearms to Edge’s back. Edge slams Benoit’s head into a trash can. Security separates the two men in the back as we go to commercial.
We are back and Divas are in the back looking at the Diva magazine. From out of nowhere, Edge and Benoit continue to fight in the back, scattering the women. Eric Bischoff comes out and he tells them to stop. Eric says that they will have a match, but it will be a Last Man Standing match at Backlash. Eric threatens to suspend Edge if he doesn’t stop.
It is time for one third of the women’s division to come out, and it is the women’s champion, Trish Stratus. Trish tells the crowd to sit down because their applause is not necessary. Trish says that she wants to clear the air and make a clean start with Lita. Trish wants Lita to come out to talk before things get out of control. Lita comes to the ring on a crutch with her leg in a brace. The crowd boos Lita, and Trish tells them to be quiet since they are trying to have a conversation. Trish says that she is not doing this because of what happened with Kane. Trish says that she has been searching deep. The crowd chants ‘slut’ and Trish tells them to stop calling Lita a slut. Trish says that they have been through so much. What about the history between the two? Trish says that she regrets everything that she has ever done. Trish tells the crowd that she will leave if they do not shut up. Trish says that she respects Lita regardless of what the people say. Trish says that she does not respect the people in the crowd. Trish tells Lita that she is like a sister. Trish says that she not only respects Lita, but she loves her. Trish wants to know if Lita accepts her apology. Trish wants to clear the slate. Trish gives Lita the mic. Lita says that Trish will tell her that she respects her and loves her. Lita figures that is why Trish has made her last year a living hell. Lita says that they have a history, so that is why she does not believe Trish and will not accept her apology. Lita says that just like Trish, ‘payback is a bitch’. Kane’s lighting comes up and Lita hits Trish with the crutch. Kane comes to the ring and Trish runs towards the back while Kane chases after her. Kane grabs Trish and grabs her by the throat. From out of nowhere, Viscera comes out and attacks Kane by sending him into the ringside barrier. Viscera Irish whips Kane into the apron. Viscera sends Kane into the ring and hits the running splash into the corner. Viscera with a Samoan Drop to Kane followed by the Vader Splash. Viscera leaves the ring and he carries Trish to the back. We go to commercial.
We are back and Viscera and Trish have a good laugh in the back. Trish says that she does not think that Kane has felt pain like that again. Trish walks away, but Viscera pulls her back. Viscera says that he will be glad when Trish services him. Viscera reminds Trish what the deal was. Viscera asks Trish out for next week. Trish says that things are strictly business. Viscera says that he likes to mix business with pleasure. Trish says that things are awkward. Viscera suggests that Trish take care of Kane and Lita by herself. Trish tells Viscera that they can take it slow. Viscera agrees to take things slow. Trish walks away, but Viscera grabs her by the hair and kisses her before walking away.
It is time for our next match and out come the World Tag Champions, William Regal and Tajiri. Their opponents are the Heart Throbs (Romeo and Antonio). This is a non-title match. Regal and Antonio start things off. Antonio with a shoulder tackle followed by a side head lock. Antonio with a cross body and then Antonio dances in the ring. Tajiri tags in. Antonio does the crane. Antonio with an arm bar. Tajiri reverses. Tajiri with a hair pull and arm bar. Antonio with a knee. Romeo tags in and he connects with an elbow in the corner followed by a forearm. Tajiri with a monkey flip followed by a kick and Regal is tagged in. Regal and Tajiri with a back elbow. Romeo with a head butt to Regal. Antonio chokes Regal while Romeo distracts the ref. Antonio tags in and they make a wish on Regal. Antonio with a snap mare and bow and arrow on Regal. Antonio with a knee to Regal and Romeo is tagged back in. Romeo with a punch to Regal. Romeo with a forearm to Regal’s back. Antonio tags in and gives Regal an Irish whip. Regal is able to tag in Tajiri who hits a jumping heel kick to Antonio followed by a kick and handspring back elbow to Romeo. Tajiri kicks Romeo and sends Antonio outside the ring. Tajiri with a sunset flip for the three count. After the match, Antonio attacks Regal while Romeo punches Tajiri. Antonio punches Tajiri and kicks him while Romeo holds him. The Heart Throbs with a double STO to Tajiri. We go to commercial.
We are back with a WWE Rewind: Triple H defeating Rosey and Hurricane last week.
Jim Ross is in the back with Mike Chioda and neither of them can find Batista.
Triple H and Ric Flair are in the Evo-Locker Room. Flair wants to talk about their strategy for when Batista gets to the arena. Hunter says that Batista will not be there tonight, so Hunter told the limo company to take him ‘on the ride of his life’. Flair says that is why they call Hunter ‘the cerebral assassin’.
Hassan and Daivari are in the interview area with Todd ‘I know less about the Olympics than wrestling’ Grisham. Hassan said that after seeing Daivari take care of Shawn Michaels last week, he might as well do it in the most evil city in the world, New York. People look at him with hatred and suspicion on the street. Todd asks Hassan and Daivari about having to possibly face Michaels and Hulk Hogan. Hassan says that Hogan did not hear Shawn’s request and has not returned Shawn’s calls. Hassan says that Hogan is self-serving and only in it for himself. Hassan says that nobody will be able to save Shawn Michaels tonight. Daivari has something to say as we go to commercial.
We are back with the Slam of the Week: Daivari defeating Shawn Michaels last week on Raw.
It is time for our next match and out first is Muhammad Hassan (with Khosrow Daivari). His opponent is Shawn Michaels. Michaels punches Hassan before Hassan goes outside the ring to regroup. Hassan punches Michaels, but Michaels responds with a punch of his own. Michaels and Hassan exchange punches and then Michaels chops Hassan before Hassan goes outside the ring. Hassan returns to the ring and connects with a knee followed by a punch. Hassan kicks and punches Michaels in the corner. Hassan with an Irish whip, but Hassan charges into a Michaels’ knee. Michaels with a chop followed by a knee. Daivari grabs Michaels’ leg and Michaels chases Daivari around the ring. Hassan attacks Michaels from behind and runs Michaels’ back into the apron. Hassan tries to suplex Michaels back into the ring, but Michaels flips out of the suplex and chops Hassan. Michaels throws Hassan over the top rope to the floor and we go to commercial.
We are back and Michaels chops Hassan in the corner. Hassan with a forearm to Michael’s back followed by an elbow to Michaels’ neck on a modified DDT. Hassan with a forearm to Michaels followed by a back breaker. Hassan chokes Michaels on the mat followed by a swinging neck breaker. Hassan with an elbow to Michaels followed by an arm bar and crossface to Michaels. Michaels punches Hassan, but Hassan kicks Michaels. Michaels with a flying forearm and Michaels with a kip up. Michaels with a reverse atomic drop followed by a clothesline. Michaels knocks Daivari off the apron. Michaels slams Hassan and then goes up top for the elbow drop from the top turnbuckle. Michaels sets up for Sweet Chin Music. Daivari gets on the apron and Michaels slams him into the ring. Michaels punches Daivari and Hassan hits the WMDDT (copyright Chris Catanese). Hassan and Daivari attack Michaels and the ref signals for the bell. Hassan chokes Michaels in the ring and hangs him over the top rope. From out of nowhere ‘Real American’ plays and Hogan comes to the ring. Hassan and Daivari attack Hogan when he enters the ring. Hogan starts to Hulk up and it is time for the Double Finger Point of Doom. Hogan with a double noggin knocker. Hogan punches Daivari and hits the Big Boot of Doom on Daivari followed by one to Hassan. Michaels with clotheslines to Daivari and Hassan that send them over the top rope to the floor. Hogan and Michaels celebrate in the ring. Hogan rips off his shirt and poses for the crowd. Michaels joins in on the posing. They walk to the back together as we go to commercial.
We are back and Coach and Lawler talk about the return of Hulk Hogan to the ring on Raw.
It is time for the ‘Man who would be Lex Luger’, Chris Masters to come to the ring. Masters says that he has heard about how tough New Yorkers are supposed to be. Masters says that he has $1,000 of his money that says that nobody could break his MasterLock. Masters sees a man in the crowd and asks him to come into the ring. He says that his name is Roman and he is from Queens. Masters tells Roman to get in the chair and he will apply the MasterLock. Before he applies the hold, the ref takes the money from Masters to hold. Masters applies the hold and the ref calls for the bell. Masters walks to the back with his money. We go to commercial.
We are back and Simon Dean is in the ring and he has something to say before his match. Simon reminds us who he is and how he created . . . from out of nowhere, Shelton Benjamin comes to the ring. Do you remember last week when Shelton and Chris had a verbal jousting match on the Highlight Reel? Before the match begins we count down to Chris Jericho who has a mic. Chris has a few words for Shelton Benjamin to say that they will be facing each other for the Intercontinental title at Backlash. Chris wants to serenade Shelton with Fozzy’s latest song. Chris brings out Fozzy’s guitarist. Simon attacks Shelton before Chris can finish the song. Simon goes up top and hits a clothesline on Benjamin. Simon punches Shelton and follows that with cross faces and a head scissors. Dean rams Shelton’s head into the mat while in the head scissors. Simon with a rear chin lock. Shelton with an elbow. Dean with an elbow in the corner followed by a clothesline. Dean kicks Shelton and then puts Benjamin in an arm bar. Benjamin misses a clothesline and Dean with a forearm to Shelton. Dean uses Benjamin’s arms to choke Shelton. Benjamin with a Northern Lights suplex. Shelton with a back breaker followed by a clothesline. Benjamin punches Dean followed by a flap jack. Benjamin with a running knee to Dean followed by a Stinger Splash. Benjamin with the Exploder Slam to Dean for the three count. After the match, Jericho applauds Benjamin’s work.
Time for the Smackdown Rebound and we go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for the Christian Coalition to come to the ring as Christian is accompanied by Tyson ‘The Raw Anvil’ Tomko. Christian is not in his wrestling gear, so he must have something to say. Christian says that he expected more from his Christian Coalition in New York City. Christian mentions the little ovation that they gave Hulk Hogan earlier. Christian wants to know if Hulk Hogan beat Chris Benoit last week. Christian says that he will not come out and swing at the crowd like Gary Sheffield. Christian says that he wants the proper ovation. From out of nowhere, there is No Chance that Vince McMahon would not come to the ring with the ‘Stunt’ Walk. Vince says that he is sick of hearing people talk without saying a damn thing. Vince asks Christian if he knows why he is out for the first time since Royal Rumble. Christian says that Vince came out to congratulate him for his victory over Chris Benoit last week. Vince says that Steve Austin was right when he called Christian a ‘Creepy Little Bastard’. Vince says that he is out to make an announcement of the biggest event. Christian says that they already announced the Diva Search. Vince tells Christian if he interrupts him again, he will not be Captain Charisma, but Captain Unemployed. Tomko covers Christian’s mouth. Vince says that there will be a draft lottery in about a month, and there are no exceptions. Christian says that he has been underutilized on Raw and if he gets a shot at John Cena, he would kick Marky Mark’s ass and take his WWE title. Vince asks Christian if he thinks that he should be in the main event. Christian says that he deserves to be in the main event. Next week, Christian will face Batista. We go to commercial.
We are back and it is time for Coach and Lawler to talk about the draft lottery.
It is time to run through the Backlash card. So far we have Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels versus Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari; Shelton Benjamin versus Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title; Chris Benoit versus Edge in a Last Man Standing match; Triple H/Batista II for the World Title.
Todd Grisham is in the interview area with Triple H. Todd wants to know about the rematch at Backlash. Todd wants to know if Hunter really believes that all it will take is to hit the Pedigree to win the title back. Hunter says that it will be proven for the eleventh time. Hunter asks Todd if he knows what the Pedigree is. Hunter says that it is the end. Tonight, Jim Ross will find out and Batista already knows it. Hunter says that for anybody who doesn’t, they need to look at a video package. We come back and Hunter asks Todd if he has to say anything else.
Jim Ross is walking in the back and he walks alone into a commercial.
We are back and it is Game Time as Triple H (with GameFountain and Ric Flair) come to the ring. It is time for his opponent to come to the ring, and out comes Jim Ross (with hat, but without Batista). Hunter has some words for Hunter before they lock up and then he offers his hand to Jim. Jim refuses to shake Hunter’s hand and then Hunter punches Jim Ross in the gut. Hunter high fives Flair before continuing the attack. Hunter punches Ross in the head. Ross uses the ropes to get up. Ross with a punch to Hunter’s face. Hunter punches Ross and he goes down. Hunter gets on top and punches Ross in the head. The ref pulls Hunter off Jim Ross, but Hunter pushes the ref into the corner. Ross is bleeding and Hunter punches him on the cut. Hunter rips Jim Ross’s Oklahoma jersey and continues the attack. The blood runs down Jim Ross’s face as Hunter continues the attack. Hunter takes Jim Ross’s belt and prepares to punch him with the belt. Hunter chokes Jim with the belt. Lawler says that he has taken enough and he goes to the ring to help Jim Ross. Lawler gets in the ring and he tries to get Hunter to stop. Flair gets in the ring, but Hunter holds him back. Lawler checks on Ross and Hunter punches Lawler. Hunter gives Lawler a Pedigree. Hunter punches Ross while Flair punches Lawler. We cut to the garage where a limo has arrived. Batista comes out of the limo and he is running into the arena. We return to the ring where Hunter puts Jim Ross in the corner. Batista’s music plays and he walks to the ring. Batista comes into the ring and they exchange punches until Batista gets the advantage. Flair jumps on Batista’s back, but Batista throws Flair off. Batista with a running clothesline in the corner. Batista punches Hunter in the corner. Flair brings a chair into the ring, but Batista with a spinebuster to Flair. Hunter hits Batista with the chair and Hunter sets up Batista for the Pedigree. Batista with a back body drop to counter and Batista gets the chair and hits Hunter with it. Batista stands over Hunter and then he puts Jim Ross on top of Hunter for the three count. Batista holds up Jim Ross’s arm before Rim Ross collapses on the apron. We go to credits.
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