RAW Results February 2nd:
WWE RAW opened up with footage from the Royal Rumble when Triple H and Shawn Michaels battled in a Last Man Standing Match and that match wound up being a tie. On RAW last week, Stone Cold told Shawn Michaels that he deserves a rematch for the title, but he didn't win the Royal Rumble. Stone Cold invited the winner of the Royal Rumble out to the ring and that's none other than Chris Benoit. Chris Benoit came out to the ring and announced to the world that he'd like to challenge Triple H for his World Heavyweight Championship as opposed to Brock Lesnar's WWE Heavyweight Title. In doing that, Chris Benoit made the jump from the Smackdown! brand to the RAW brand!
The fireworks went off in the arena for the start of the show and tonight, Goldberg will battle Kane! Plus, the future Hall of Famer, Shawn Michaels will be facing Randy Orton for the Intercontinental Championship! The Coach rejoined Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler to form a three man commentary team on RAW.
Chris Jericho was shown in the ring and the Highlight Reel was setup in the ring. Chris welcomed everyone back to the Highlight Reel and tonight, his guest has had more exposure than Janet Jackson's right booby. First he was on Smackdown!, now he's on RAW and now he's in the big time because now he's the guest on the Highlight Reel, Chris Benoit!
Chris Benoit came out to the ring and Jericho congratulated him on winning the Royal Rumble. And the legal loophole he found to be able to come to RAW, pure genius. He's obviously the man with the plan. What a plan it was, win the Royal Rumble, jump to RAW, take Triple H downtown to Chinatown at Wrestlemania and beat him to become the new World Champion! But he has to warn him, he's not just dealing with Triple H. No, he's dealing with Orton, Flair and Batista, collectively known as Evolution. And most importantly of all, he's dealing with the biggest assclown he's ever met in Eric Bischoff.
Benoit told Jericho that he appreciates the warning but he is well aware of who he has to deal with on RAW. He came here for one reason and one reason only and that is to be the best and no one is going to stop him from winning that World Title at Wrestlemania! If Triple H seems to feel differently, then he's just going to have to prove Benoit wrong. Jericho said maybe Benoit is right, but has he ever thought that maybe the biggest obstacle facing Chris Benoit is Chris Benoit himself? He's heard all the critics. Chris Benoit, the greatest technical wrestler of all time but he can't win the big one now can he? Jericho used to feel that same way until he won the Undisputed Championship and became the first ever Undisputed Champion ever but Chris Benoit still hasn't won the big one. He's heard the people talking and a lot of people think he doesn't have what it takes to be a Champion. A lot of people think Benoit just doesn't have it. People in this arena, people in the back and the greatest World Champion of all time thinks it. Chris Jericho brought up footage from the Royal Rumble where Ric Flair straight up told Chris Benoit that he couldn't win the big one.
Chris Benoit said as far as Ric Flair is concerned, he's got a ton of ... Ric Flair's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring! Ric Flair took the mic and asked Chris Benoit if there's something he said last week he doesn't understand? Yeah, Chris Benoit, the most gifted technical wrestler of all time. That's coming from Ric Flair and that's a pat on the back. A physical specimen second to none, but in Ric Flair's category in the real world, he's what they call a runner up, the second best. He said it last week, every time he reaches up for the brass ring, it gets away. That's a problem for Chris Benoit because this isn't Smackdown!, this is RAW! There's only one guy around here that rules and that's Triple H, the World Heavyweight Champion and he lives by a motto that Flair made famous; to be the man, you got to beat the man and that's not going to happen.
Chris Benoit agreed that Triple H is the man and at Wrestlemania XX in New York City, he will have the privilege in fighting the man but right now, he couldn't think of a better privilege of going one on one with the one and only Nature Boy! Ric Flair nodded his head saying "no" and Eric Bischoff's music hit and he made his way out to the staging area. Eric Bischoff said Flair vs. Benoit sounds pretty damn good to him but he's got something a little different in mind. You see, it's important to Bischoff that Chris Benoit realizes that he is not Paul Heyman. Eric strives to have a healthy working relationship with all of his talent. And with that in mind, forget about the number one contenders match Chris Jericho and Christian had scheduled. Let's get right to it tonight, World Tag Team Titles on the line, Chris Jericho and Christian vs. Ric Flair and Batista!
Mark Henry vs. Chris Benoit
And Mr. Benoit, Bischoff knows how badly he wants to prove to the RAW audience just what he brings to the table. Bischoff knows how badly he wants to see action so stay right there. Chris Benoit's very first match since returning to RAW is coming up next! With that, WWE RAW went to a commercial break. After the commercial break, Chris Benoit was seen pacing back and forth in the ring with his music play, patiently awaiting his first opponent on RAW. Mark Henry's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring along with Theodore Long as the opponent for Chris Benoit and if you remember back to the Royal Rumble, it was Chris Benoit that eliminated Mark Henry from the Royal Rumble match.
Mark Henry yelled at Benoit, telling him that he's dealing with a man and then Mark grabbed Benoit by the throat but Benoit chopped Mark a couple times.
Mark then nailed Chris Benoit in the back of the head to knock him down to his knees and then he continued to hammer away on him.
As the match was going on, Triple H slowly made his way down the ramp in an attempt to distract Benoit. Benoit went to the top rope and came off with a hard shoulder block on Mark Henry and that knocked Mark back a bit, but he didn't fall down to the mat.
Chris Benoit pulled Mark Henry down to the mat with the Crippler Crossface to pick up the win.
Chris Benoit either didn't know Triple H was at ringside or he did his best to ignore him and not lose focus on his match against Mark Henry.
After Chris Benoit released the Crossface, he set his sights on Triple H and Triple H arrogantly looked at Chris Benoit and sarcastically clapped for Benoit's victory.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was shown walking through the backstage area and he caught up with Shawn Michaels. Austin said there's something about Shawn that's completely different. Is he down in the dumps because Chris Benoit is on RAW? Does he think he's out of the Championship picture? Shawn said that it is what it is. Stone Cold said he said it once and he'll say it again. He deserves a rematch, so what is he going to do about it? Shawn said he's not going to do anything about it. Stone Cold talked about how Shawn never said no to anything and Shawn said that Benoit won the Rumble, it's that simple. Austin told Shawn that if he wants a shot at the title to do something about it! Austin then left as Shawn Michaels didn't seem too happy.
Mick Foley was seen walking through the backstage area and Test confronted Foley, saying he has some balls to show up here after what he did at the Royal Rumble. Mick and Test argued and Randy Orton nailed Foley from behind with the Intercontinental Title and Orton sent Test on his way, telling him to back off. Randy then nailed Foley with the title once again and then Randy went to Foley's ear as he was down on the ground and said "Make no mistake, you are my bitch."
Rico vs. Rene Dupree
The music of La Resistance hit in the arena and Rob Conway and Rene Dupree made their way out to the ring and this is a one on one contest with Rene Dupree against Rico, who was accompanied to the ring by Miss Jackie. After what happened last week with Jackie distracting Rob Conway and costing him the match, will Rene Dupree be able to defeat Rico or will Jackie once again cost La Resistance another match?
Rico slapped Rene Dupree's ass and Rene got pissed and charged at Rico but Rico took him down to the mat and Rico started riding Rene and slapping his ass some more to further anger him.
Rico hit Rene Dupree in the ear with a martial arts kick and then he pinned him but only got a two count. Moments later, Rico nailed Rene in the face with a reverse mule kick and then he pinned him but once again got a two count.
As the match was going on, Stacy Keibler's music hit and she made her way out to the ringside area and that distracted both Rico and Rene but Rico continued to hammer away on Dupree. Rico went for a monkey flip on Rene out of the corner but Rob Conway held onto Rene and Rico went flying down to the mat.
Stacy hopped up to the ring apron and distracted Rene and Rene turned around and went to hit Rico but he instead knocked Rob Conway down from the ring apron.
Rico then hit Rene Dupree with a martial arts kick and then pinned him for the three count to pick up the win!
Miss Jackie got in the ring and celebrated with Rico as Stacy Keibler also got in the ring and clapped for Rico. Stacy Keibler took the mic and said that if Playboy is looking for the hottest pair of WWE Divas, they found them right here!
Stacy then said to hit her dance music and she and Miss Jackie danced in the ring together!
Trish Stratus was shown backstage and she came across Christian, who was reading Rolling Stone Magazine. Trish asked Christian what he wants? Christian said he was just reading about the Beatles. They could have been so much more if it hadn't been for Yoko Ono. The one that became good friends with John Lennon and distracted him and instead of making great music, they argued and broke up the greatest band of all time. Trish said she doesn't know if it happened exactly like that and Christian said maybe or maybe not. Christian said that if he was Paul McCartney, he wouldn't have waited for Yoko to break up the Beatles. He would have smacked her with a one man Conchairto but that's just him. Anyway, good luck tonight. Trish looked confused and a little bit scared and she's up against Molly Holly with the Women's Title on the line, next!
Trish Stratus vs. Kane
Trish Stratus' music hit in the arena and she made her way out to the ring for a one on one match against Molly Holly for the Women's Championship!
Eric Bischoff appeared on the Titantron and he asked if we could please cut the music. It appears as though he scheduled this Women's Title match a little prematurely. It has occurred to him at this point that she isn't the number one contender for the Women's Title and unfortunately, that match is not going to happen tonight. But Eric knows how much this meant to Trish and she came here ready to wrestle and with that in mind, stay right there in the ring because he has a match for her. Kane's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as Trish was very upset.
Trish tried to run out of the ring but Kane grabbed her and then he grabbed her by the throat for the choke slam.
Chris Jericho came out to the ring and went to work on Kane. Kane shoved Jericho down to the mat but he got right back up and Kane charged at Jericho but Jericho ducked and Kane fell out of the ring. Chris Jericho then told Trish Stratus to go to the back and then he went after Kane but Kane nailed him with a steel chair and then he grabbed Jericho and rammed him into the ring post, knee first. Kane then got in the ring and smiled as the commentators speculated that Jericho's knee was shattered. As Kane stood in the ring, Jim Ross told us that Kane isn't going anywhere because his match with Goldberg is next! RAW then went to another commercial break.
Chris Jericho was shown being worked on and Trish showed up asking if Chris is OK? Chris started to tell Trish something but Christian showed up and yelled at Chris, asking him what the matter with him is? They have a World Tag Team Title match next!
Christian told Trish to get out of here and Chris stood up, saying he doesn't talk to him or her like that. He knows what's on the line tonight and he told Christian to worry about getting the job done in becoming the World Tag Team Champions.
Goldberg vs. Kane
Back in the arena, Kane remained in the ring waiting for Goldberg and Goldberg's music hit and Coach said "And here comes the Brock Lesnar wannabe!"
Kane and Goldberg locked it up in the center of the ring and Kane quickly broke it up and gave Goldberg a hard right hand and then he backed Goldberg into the corner and gave him some reverse elbows.
Kane went to whip Goldberg off the ropes but Goldberg reversed it into a power slam and Kane got up but Goldberg knocked him down with a clothesline and then again.
Kane grabbed Goldberg by the throat and gave him a choke slam and after that, the lights went out and lightning struck the ring and then some weird music and a video played on the video wall, totally freaking Kane out.
It was almost as if Kane could feel some force surrounding him in the arena and he looked around and then Goldberg speared Kane down to the mat. As Kane went down, a "gong" went off and the ring smoked up and the smoke changed from white to red to purple as the lights went out and Kane got out of the ring and left as the show went to fuzz.
Booker T vs. Matt Hardy
Booker T's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a one on one match against Matt Hardy, which is a rematch from last night's edition of Sunday Night Heat!
Matt Hardy nailed Booker with a clubbing blow to the back of the head to send him into the corner and then he gave him some more right hands and Booker fired out of the corner with some right hands of his own.
Matt Hardy gave Booker T a running bulldog out of the corner and then he pinned him but only got a two count.
Booker T went for a spin kick but Matt avoided it and then he took Booker down to the mat with the side effect. Matt then pinned Booker for a two count.
Booker T knocked Matt down to the mat with a spinning heel kick and then he pinned Matt for another two count. Moments later, Matt rolled Booker up and used the ropes for leverage and the referee caught him so he stopped the count.
Booker T knocked Matt down and then he did the spinaroonie and went for a side kick but Matt countered and went for the Twist of Fate.
Booker got out of it and went off the ropes and knocked Matt Hardy down to the mat with a scissors kick and then the pin for the three count to pick up the victory!
Shawn Michaels was shown backstage and Randy Orton showed up and asked Shawn what he's doing? Shawn said he's cleaning Hunter's blood off his boot, why?
Randy said he knows Shawn is frustrated because he won't get another World Title shot. Shawn and Randy argued and Randy said he's going to cement himself as the legend killer and Shawn told Randy to be incredibly careful with him because if he's not, it's going to be his blood on his boot and he promises that.
Non Title Match - Spike Dudley vs. Triple H
Triple H's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring for a non title match. Triple H took the mic and said there's an old saying, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. Chris Benoit needs to understand that he's hit the big time and the reason Benoit is here is because there's only one true World Champion. Chris Benoit wants the one that means you are the best and that's why Benoit is here. Understand what that means. Next week, Triple H and Chris Benoit are going to come in the ring and sign contracts and once those names are on those dotted lines, there is no turning back because once they sign those contracts, it because official. At Wrestlemania, it will be Chris Benoit going up against the best that there is, the Game for the World Heavyweight Championship. And Benoit needs to realize that when most guys get in the ring with Triple H, real quick, their dreams become nightmares. Triple H saw what Benoit did to Mark Henry earlier and that was real impressive but let's see how impressive Benoit is next week against someone like the Nature Boy Ric Flair. 16 time Heavyweight Champion of the World. There's a lot of similarities between Flair and Triple H; both born to be the best and groomed to handle the pressures of being the World Heavyweight Champion. Triple H said that he wants Benoit to watch and he's going to show him what it means to be the World Heavyweight Champion. Spike Dudley's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the opponent of Triple H in this non title match.
Triple H stood face to face with Spike Dudley and smiled at him and turned his back. Spike attacked Triple H from behind and went off the ropes and charged at Triple H but Triple H knocked Spike down with a high knee.
Triple H hooked Spike Dudley in the Pedigree and easily planted him with it to pick up the win.
Stone Cold was shown backstage and he knocked on Goldberg's locker room door and went in. Austin asked Goldberg if he had a bad day at the office? Goldberg said it's the same old. Austin said he wanted to talk to Goldberg about something. Smackdown! has a pay per view coming up and Goldberg has heard the comments by Brock Lesnar. The main event of that show is Eddie Guerrero vs. Brock Lesnar and Stone Cold had a good buddy in San Francisco and he sent him this ticket.
It's a front row ticket and since Stone Cold can't go, he figured he'd pass the ticket to a good buddy. Austin told him that if he takes this ticket and is sitting in the front row, he's not just going to represent RAW, he's representing the good name of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin told Goldberg to enjoy himself and not to do anything Austin wouldn't do. Goldberg said "you bet your ass" and Austin told him to have a good time!
Tag Team Championship Match - Chris Jericho and Christian vs. Ric Flair and Batista
Chris Jericho's WWE Originals music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring with a little bit of a limp after what happened earlier tonight between he and Kane.
Christian started it off against Ric Flair and the two locked it up and Flair took Christian down to the mat and then he put him in a front face lock until Christian countered it into a hammer lock to get up off the mat.
Batista planted Christian with a vicious spinebuster and then he gave Christian a back breaker to continue to work on the back of Christian.
Jericho and Christian gave Batista a double team clothesline to knock him over the top rope to the outside of the ring. Chris Jericho then gave Flair the bulldog and then he went for the lionsault but Flair rolled out of the way and Jericho landed on his feet but jammed his knee on the way down.
Flair rolled Chris Jericho up but only got a two count and then Chris Jericho put Flair in the Walls of Jericho as Batista rammed Christian into the ring post, back first. Batista rolled Christian into the ring and as the referee tried to get him out of the ring, Flair tapped and then Batista got in the ring and broke up the Walls of Jericho.
Ric Flair then grabbed Chris Jericho by the legs and put him in the figure four leg lock to force him to tap out and Flair and Batista retain the titles as a result!
Chris Jericho remained down on the mat in pain as Flair and Batista hovered over him and arrogantly looked down at him, celebrating their victory.
Non Title Match - Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels
Randy Orton's music hit in the arena and he made his way out to the ring as the Intercontinental Champion for a one on one match against Shawn Michaels and the Intercontinental Championship is not on the line in this match.
Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton locked it up in the center of the ring and Orton powered Shawn into the corner and the referee got in between them to break it up and they once again locked it up and Orton backed Michaels into the corner again and then gave him a series of right hands.
Randy Orton went to give Shawn Michaels a drop kick but inadvertently drop kicked referee Michael Chioda to send him out of the ring. Randy then whipped Shawn into the corner to send him flipping onto the top turnbuckle and then crashing down to the mat.
When Randy noticed the referee was down and out of the ring, he got out of the ring and grabbed the Intercontinental Title and brought it into the ring. Stone Cold Steve Austin's music then hit in the arena and he rode out to the ring on his ATV with referee Earl Hebner on the back of it and Randy Orton quietly placed the Intercontinental Title on the ring apron.
Stone Cold let Earl Hebner get in the ring and he took the Intercontinental Title and referee Michael Chioda and drove them to the backstage area.
Randy Orton went to the top rope and came off with a high cross body but Shawn Michaels ducked under it and Randy Orton went crashing down to the mat.
Michaels knocked Orton down with a flying forearm and then he nipped up to hop to his feet and then he went to the top rope and came off with an elbow drop. Shawn Michaels then went to the corner and went for the super kick but Orton countered it and went for the RKO but Michaels countered that and then Orton planted Michaels with a DDT.
Orton then stood over Shawn, ready to pull him off the mat and Mick Foley made his way out and Shawn Michaels rolled Orton up from behind and pinned him for the three count to get the win!
Mick Foley got right in the ring and went right at it with Randy Orton and the two fought through the crowd and Evolution made their way out to the ring and Flair and Batista went through the crowd after Foley and Triple H stopped and turned around and got in the ring and hammered away on Shawn Michaels. Chris Benoit came out to the ring and pulled Triple H off of Michaels and Triple H went for a right hand on Benoit but Benoit didn't back down and Triple H pulled back. Benoit and Triple H then had a stare down as the fans heavily chanted "Benoit, Benoit!"
Triple H slowly bowed out of the ring and you could hear him saying that Chris Benoit just made a big mistake. Michaels finally got to his feet and Chris Benoit extended his hand to Shawn Michaels and Michaels shook his hand.
