RAW results -- March 25, 2002
RAW opened with World Wrestling Federation Chief Executive Officer Linda McMahon addressing superstars from Federation studios in Stamford, CT. Linda explained that during the night, Vince McMahon and Ric Flair would have 10 draft choices each. Following the broadcast, each side would have 20 lottery picks that would be made live on WWF.com!
However, Linda continued, there were some stipulations. Due to the Tripe Threat match later that evening for the Federation Championship, neither Triple H, Chris Jericho nor Stephanie McMahon is eligible for the draft. Also, because of a clause in his contract, Stone Cold Steve Austin could not be drafted. The Rattlesnake is therefore deemed a free agent who is eligible to side with either Flair's RAW or Vince's SmackDown!.
Following the amazing opening fireworks, Tazz arrived at the ring to face Mr. Perfect in singles action. Before the match began, Mr. Perfect addressed the crowd and said that they would see the perfect pick. He suddenly dropped the mic and assaulted Tazz.
Perfect nailed the PerfectPlex, but Tazz got his foot on the rope to avoid the pinfall. Tazz then mounted some offense in a hurry by latching on the Tazzmission and forcing Mr. Perfect to tap out! Tazz then took the mic and said that the perfect pick has become just another victim!
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson were shown in their war room discussing their strategy. Flair seemed confident that he could handle the draft. In Mr. McMahon's war room, Vince set down a file he was studying and confidently set out to make the first pick in the extension draft!
Mr. McMahon came to a podium set up onstage in front of the TitanTron at Penn State University. With a roomful of anxious superstars watching backstage on the monitor, Mr. McMahon chose the first individual in the history of the Federation to be drafted: "I Vince McMahon choose … The Rock!" Vince said.
Cameras caught a ticked-off Rock spring from his backstage seat and stomp out to face Mr. McMahon.
The Brahma Bull arrived on stage to a thunderous ovation. Mr. McMahon said that there would be some new rules for SmackDown!. He said that on SmackDown, The Rock could never touch him, he could never talk about putting things up people's candy asses and he could never use the phrase, "It doesn't matter." This elicited angry boos and chants from the crowd. But Mr. McMahon continued.
Mr. McMahon reminded The Rock that he had brought the People's Champion into this world, and he could take him out of it.
Vince turned to leave, but The Rock stopped him. The Great One said that seeing as how this would be his very last RAW, he wanted to go out with a bang. The Rock reminded Vince of the history that he had made on RAW. On that show, he had won the Federation title and teamed with Mick Foley to form the Rock and Sock connection. The Rock asked if Mr. McMahon really wanted to take him away from this. Mr. McMahon began to answer, but The Rock said it doesn't matter what he things.
The Rock said that Vince didn't make The Rock. It was the people that made The Rock. Speaking of the people, The Rock said that when you mess with The Rock on SmackDown!, you mess with the people. The Rock said that Penn State has a saying. He screamed, "We are," and the crowd shouted back, "Penn State!"
But The Rock said that tonight there would be a different saying at PSU and arenas across the nation. The Rock told one side of the arena to scream, "You are" while the other side responded, "An asshole!" The crowd roared this for several moments while Mr. McMahon stormed off. The Rock finished things off and the cameras went to break with Ric Flair readying his first pick.
The Nature Boy came out following the break and said that despite his personal differences, he was picking man who is the cornerstone of the Federation. With that, Flair picked the Undertaker!
All eyes backstage fell on the American Bad Ass, who threw a chair against the wall and stormed out of the room.
In his war room, Vince threw up his hands in disgust after seeing the pick. Kurt Angle walked in and said his feelings were hurt that Angle hadn't been picked first. Vince said that he threw Flair a swerve and Flair had tossed one right back. Take stormed in and asked what Vince was going to do about Flair drafting the Dead Man.
Vince promised to make things right. Taker said that this is one time that Vince had better keep his word.
Before more picks were announced, a tag team match took place with Edge and DDP taking on Christian and Booker T. Booker and Edge started the action. Booker nailed a kick to Edge's face when Christian distracted his brother. Christian tagged in and suffered a stiff spinebuster from Edge. Booker and DDP entered the ring. DDP landed the Diamond Cutter soon after but the pinfall was broken up by Christian. Then, while Edge and Christian brawled outside the ring, Booker nailed a scissors kick
and covered DDP for the 1-2-3!
Backstage, Angle read off a list of his accomplishments from a press kit before Vince cut him off. Vince asked if Flair would pick the nWo next. Angle worried that he might be picked next because Flair didn't want the poison that is the nWo. Vince agreed and made Angle the third overall pick of the draft. Angle exulted but reiterated that he should have been picked first.
Flair came back out to make his second pick of the night. He said that he would work diligently to bring Stone Cold to RAW.
The Nature Boy went on to pick the collective unit of the nWo!
Vince couldn't believe what he was seeing on the television back in his office. He exploded in a rage and said that Flair would not get Austin. He promised to sign him somehow. Angle implored Vince to calm down. Angle said that to throw Flair off his game, Vince should choose someone who hasn't been around for a while, but who would come back bigger and stronger than ever. Vince smiled and selected his third pick of the night: Chris Benoit!
The nWo confronted their new boss in his war room.
X-Pac said that Mr. McMahon brought them in and that's who they work for. Flair said otherwise, but Nash said X-Pac was right. Arn Anderson came in and said Flair needed to make his next pick and Flair asked the nWo to leave. They refused, saying nobody orders them around. Flair simply said he would have his next pick come in and deal with them. Flair's pick: Kane! The nWo heard this and quickly shuffled out of the room.
Before Mr. McMahon could make the seventh pick of the draft, Trish
took on Ivory in the ring. Ivory took control by pulling Trish off the mat by the hair and slamming her down. Soon after though, Trish hit a modified hurracanrana off the top rope and followed with a bulldog to claim the win!
Backstage, the superstars talked about the developments so far. Mr. McMahon came out to the chorus started by The Rock earlier in the night.
Vince needed to shout over the roaring crowd and announced that he chose Hollywood Hulk Hogan!
Ric Flair announced the eighth pick of the draft following commercial. Flair selected Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam! Vince was ticked because he wanted RVD for SmackDown!. Vince said he wanted the IC Title to be on SmackDown!. Kurt said that he would get the title that night by defeating RVD!
Backstage, The Rock and Hollywood Hogan stumbled into each other. Hogan said that the people made The Rock, but they also made Hogan. The Rock agreed. Hogan said that since they were both headed to SmackDown!, the two should join up and take on the entire nWo! The Rock agreed to go out with a bang!
Vince came out and chose with the ninth pick of the draft, the Tag Team Champions Billy and Chuck along with their stylist, Rico!