RAW Results February 23rd:
WWE RAW opened up with footage from last week's edition of RAW when Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit met in the main event, a match that many of us have waited for, for a long time! In what was a memorable match, Shawn Michaels defeated Chris Benoit and Triple H entered the ring after the fact and acted as though he was going to help Shawn Michaels to his feet but he instead gave him a Pedigree to send him crashing down to the mat. After seeing that Pedigree, Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and announced that Eric Bischoff decided that at Wrestlemania, the World Championship will be decided in a Triple Threat Match with Triple H defending the title against Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit!
The fireworks went off in the arena for the start of WWE RAW and Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler kicked it off on commentary, saying that the Road to Wrestlemania continues tonight and tonight, we will see Chris Benoit in a one on one match against Evolution's monster, Batista! But that's not all, this is going to be the night where the Monday Night War could erupt all over again because Vince McMahon will be here tonight to confront Eric Bischoff!
Women's Championship Fatal Four Way Match - Lita vs. Victoria vs. Jazz vs. Molly Holly
Lita's music hit in the arena and she made her way out to the ring for a fatal four way match against Victoria, Jazz and Molly Holly with the Women's Title on the line! Jazz was accompanied to the ring by her manager Theodore Long. In this match, there will be three eliminations and the winner of the match will walk out as the Women's Champion!
Molly started it off by kicking Victoria in the gut and then the two fought to the ropes where Victoria gave Molly Holly a back body drop to the outside of the ring as Jazz and Lita went at it on the other side of the ring. Victoria rolled Jazz up in a pin but only got a two count.
Jazz gave Victoria the release chicken wing
After Victoria hit the mat, Jazz was ready to dominate her but Lita attacked her from behind and gave Jazz a DDT and then pinned her for the three count to eliminate her from the match.
Victoria rolled Molly Holly up and covered her for the three count to lose the match and the Women's Title and now whoever wins between Victoria and Lita will be the new Women's Champion. An angered Molly Holly attacked Victoria and WWE officials came out to the ring to restrain her and attempt to get her out of the ring as the fans rallied behind Lita.
Victoria got Lita on her back and went for a spinning slam but Lita countered it into a modified head scissors and then she pinned Victoria for a two count. Lita gave Victoria her version of the Twist of Fate and then she pinned Victoria again but only got a two count.
Lita gave Victoria a drop toe hold to send her into the bottom rope, neck first and then Lita gave Victoria a spinning back suplex and then she went to the top rope for the moonsault but Victoria popped up and gave Lita the Widow's Peak.
Then she pinned Lita for the three count to win the Women's Title!
Victoria celebrated her title win in the ring and Stevie Richards stormed to the ring to celebrate with her.
A limo was shown pulling up to the arena and Vince McMahon stepped out of the limo and he asked the driver to get the wrestling gear out of the trunk and bring it to his office. McMahon then went on his way and later tonight, he's expected to make a blockbuster announcement in regards to Wrestlemania XX and at the same time, he's out to kick Eric Bischoff's ass!
Eric Bischoff was shown backstage in his office and The Coach entered the room and asked him if he knows Mr. McMahon is here? Eric said that he knows that. Maybe Coach needs to set off a signal fire or something? Christian knocked on the door and entered, asking Eric if he knows Mr. McMahon is here? Anyway, Christian heard Eric wants to see him. Christian knows Chris Jericho is out with a knee injury but he's a quick healer. So how about this, Christian and Chris Jericho vs. the Tag Team Champions at Wrestlemania? Eric said that he appreciates friendship but Chris Jericho is no friend of his. Never has been, never will be. He didn't appreciate the fact that Chris walked out on him in WCW and he sure as hell doesn't appreciate him now. Eric hopes Chris Jericho is watching because tonight, Christian is going to have a match against Chris Jericho's other best buddy and that's Christian vs. Trish Stratus! Christian didn't seem to like that one bit but he'll be forced into that match, tonight!
Non Title Match - Val Venis vs. Randy Orton
Randy Orton's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Intercontinental Champion and as he stood on the ropes displaying the Intercontinental Championship, they showed us footage from last week when Mick Foley was brutally beaten down by Randy Orton and the rest of Evolution. Jim Ross noted that he had the opportunity to talk to Mick this weekend and we'll see that interview later tonight. Ross put that interview over as one of the most shocking interviews he's ever conducted with anybody, especially Mick Foley. Val Venis made his way out to the ring as the opponent of Randy Orton in this Non Title Match.
Val went to lock it up with Randy but Randy ducked under it and gave Val a shot to the mid section and then he backed him into the corner and kicked away on him and then choked him with his boot.
As the match was going on, the fans heavily chanted "Foley, Foley!" as Orton dominated Val Venis. Randy Orton put Val Venis in a bow and arrow in an attempt to force him to tap out but Val refused to do so and Orton's shoulders were down on the mat so the referee counted a two count in favor of Val Venis but Orton was able to kick out of it.
Randy Orton irritated the crowd by putting his fingers in the sign of pistols and then he said "bang, bang," reminiscent of Cactus Jack.
Val Venis gave Randy Orton his version of the Rock Bottom and Jim Ross actually referred to it as the urange. Val then pinned Orton but only got a two count.
Val Venis gave Randy Orton a spinebuster slam and then he struggled to get to the top rope for the money shot but Randy Orton got up and pressed Val Venis from the top rope down to the mat.
Val went for an abdominal stretch but Randy shoved Val into the ropes and then Randy planted Val Venis with the RKO and then he pinned him for the three count to pick up the win.
Footage from the Monday Night WAR DVD was shown when Eric Bischoff challenged Vince McMahon in 1998. Eric Bischoff was shown backstage live and he asked, who in the hell told them to play that? If he finds out... Stone Cold showed up and said that he's the one who said to play that video. Austin thought that Bischoff was tremendous. What is he so nervous about? Austin reminded Bischoff of last week when he talked trash on McMahon, saying Bischoff has the karate thing going on. He's got the age, the martial arts background and a ton of guts. Look at it this way. Austin is the only man he knows that's made out with Vince's wife, his daughter and he's still here to live and tell about it and not only is he here to live and tell about it, the man is still signing his paychecks? Eric laughed, saying Austin has a point. He has to be wondering what's going on. Vince is paying Eric to live his fantasy. He did make out with Stephanie and Linda and he has this other fantasy and that starts out in Stamford and it involves Stephanie. Eric stopped because he found out McMahon was standing right behind him.
Vince said that some people say the match between McMahon and Bischoff is nothing but a fantasy and after he makes his announcement tonight, it's not just going to be a fantasy, it's going to be a reality! Vince aggressively tapped Bischoff on the face and then left the room. After Vince left, Austin said "face it kid, you got him right where you want him!"
Batista was shown backstage and Ric Flair and Randy Orton were pumping him up for his match against Chris Benoit, tonight. Ric Flair said that Benoit has been a thorn in Evolution's side and tonight, he knows that Benoit will no longer run wild on RAW. Batista said that Benoit made a big mistake and he doesn't belong here. After tonight, he'll be begging to go back to Smackdown!. He stood in the way of Evolution and when Batista is done with him, he'll be lucky if he's standing at all! Orton and Flair told him to tear Benoit apart and Triple H showed up and said that he's got something to say and he's going to say it in the ring and he wants Evolution to hear this. Flair told the troops to follow the Champ.
Triple H's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the World Heavyweight Champion with Evolution following behind him. Triple H got in the ring and took the mic and said that last week, Stone Cold came out here and informed the world and informed him that for the first time at Wrestlemania, the World Title is going to be decided in a Triple Threat Match. It's going to be Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit. Triple H has to admit it; he freaked out and was pissed off. He was probably madder than he's ever been in his entire career until he had time to go back and think about it. And then he realized, what else should he expect? Isn't that what they always do? Stack the odds against him? It wasn't until Ric Flair pointed out to Triple H just who the hell he is. He pointed out to him that he is Triple H, the Game, and the World Heavyweight Champion. But hell, he's only human and sometimes he can even forget how great he actually is. Now is he happy? The fans chanted "You suck, you suck" and Triple H said that's the thing. No matter how great he knows he is, it must be killing the fans because he's put out opponent after opponent but yet, he stands here every week the World Heavyweight Champion! Now is he happy about the fact that he has to defend the World Title against two men in a Triple Threat Match at Wrestlemania? No. Is he happy that he can lose the World Title without even getting beaten at Wrestlemania? No. But is this going to be the end of Triple H? Is this going to be the night that he falls? Is this going to be the night that they knock the king off his throne? Is this going to be the night that it's Game Over? No. Because this is Wrestlemania XX, the biggest event of them all. The biggest night in all of their lives and this will be the biggest night in his career because he will rise to the occasion like never before. He will go to Wrestlemania and against all odds, he will beat the Icon, the show stopper, the legend of Shawn Michaels. And he will beat the greatest technical wrestler alive today in Chris Benoit. And he will stamp his place in history at Wrestlemania when he proves to the world that he is everything that he says that he is. Because once again, he will prove just as he done over and over that he is the best wrestler in the world today, that he is the World Heavyweight Champion, that he is the Game and that he is that damn good!
Chris Benoit's music hit and he made his way down the ramp and he took a mic and said that the fact of the matter is that Triple H is the World Champion and to be able to call himself the World Champion, he has to be nothing but the absolute best and Benoit respects that. He likes to call himself the Game, hell, he even likes to say that he is the greatest World Champion alive today. Well since Benoit has come over to RAW, that's all he's heard from Triple H. It's a hell of a lot of talk and Chris Benoit is sick and damn well tired of listening to Triple H run his mouth. The time for talking is done.
Triple H responded by saying "really?" The time for talking is over. Chris Benoit likes to come across as a real tough guy but why doesn't he step in the ring and show them how tough he is? Triple H said that he thinks Benoit is a lot of talk and they're all standing right there and the fact is... Chris Benoit grabbed a steel chair and he got in the ring with it and Evolution backed off and then they spread around the ring to surround Chris Benoit. Chris got ready to hit Randy Orton with the steel chair but Batista nailed him from behind and then all four members of Evolution stomped Chris Benoit down in the ring until Shawn Michaels ran to the ring to make the save. Shawn Michaels used the steel chair to clear the ring of Orton and Batista as Benoit got Flair and Triple H out of the ring and then Chris Benoit put the Crippler Crossface on Shawn Michaels.
Stone Cold Steve Austin's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Sheriff of RAW and he chased Ric Flair around the ring on the ATV.
Chris Benoit vs. Batista
Stone Cold took the mic and said nobody enjoys a good fight more than Stone Cold Steve Austin but as sheriff, he's out here to enforce the law and the law states that there's supposed to be a match tonight, so before Evolution or anybody else decides to get back in that ring, we're going to have that match and that match is going to be Chris Benoit vs. Batista. Austin said that if anybody decides to get involved in this match, they will not make it to Wrestlemania XX. Not only is that the law, but that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so! After Stone Cold finished talking, Michaels and Benoit exchanged words and after the break, it'll be Chris Benoit against Batista!
After the commercial break, the match between Benoit and Batista was joined in progress with Benoit knocking Batista down to the mat and stomping away and working on his left leg.
Batista put Chris Benoit in a half crab in an attempt to force him to tap out but Benoit refused.
Batista then pulled Benoit off the mat by the leg and slammed him right back down to the mat and then pinned him for a two count.
Chris Benoit went for the Crossface on Batista but Batista over powered it and charged at Benoit in the corner but Benoit moved and Batista went crashing into the top turnbuckle.
Chris Benoit gave Batista a German suplex and then he thought about going to the top rope but Batista got up and Benoit went and gave him a series of German suplexes to leave him down on the mat. Chris Benoit then went to the top rope for the flying headbutt.
But Batista rolled out of the way and Benoit went crashing down to the mat.
Batista grabbed Chris Benoit and went for a power bomb.
But Chris Benoit countered it into the Crippler Crossface and Batista tapped out, giving Chris Benoit the victory!
Chris Benoit celebrated his win in the ring as Batista got out of the ring holding his arm. While celebrating, Benoit watched his back incase any other of Evolution hit the ring or even Shawn Michaels. Fortunately for Chris Benoit, no one came out to spoil his post match celebration.