Providence, R.I., roared with excitement as RAW opened live from the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. As the broadcast opened, it was announced that Stone Cold Steve Austin would face Mr. Perfect in a match later on.
The nWo started things off with all three men coming to the ring. Hall pushed a wheelbarrow bearing a cloaked object with him.
Hollywood Hogan took the microphone and asked how everyone liked what he did to The Rock. Hogan said that The Rock’s injuries are a lot more severe than what was officially announced by the World Wrestling Federation. He said it felt real, real good to hurt The Rock. He went on to say that The Rock would probably be there that night and the two would go face to face. Hogan promised not to finish the Great One; he would wait until WrestleMania. “What’cha gonna do, brother, when Hulkamania runs wild on you?” Hogan asked.
Nash told the crowd that they were looking at three of the biggest stars ever in wrestling, and the nWo expects to be treated as such. Scott Hall screamed that Steve Austin went too far when he attacked with a crowbar and pickup truck. Hall said that nobody embarrasses or humiliates him. He said that he wanted to face Stone Cold one-on-one in a match … at WrestleMania! Shortly after, the nWo walked back up the ramp with Hall taking with him the wheelbarrow that the trio failed to acknowledge.
The first match of the evening put the Tag Team Championship on the line with Billy and Chuck defending against the Hardy Boyz, who were accompanied to the ring by Lita. The Hardys dropped Chuck early on with a double suplex, but Matt was thwarted on a Twist of Fate attempt and the champs took over. Chuck dominated Matt for several minutes, but Jeff tagged back in and cleaned house. Team Xtreme hooked up to nail the Poetry in Motion on Billy, but then their luck changed. Chuck knocked Jeff off the top rope when he went for a Swanton. Lita helped momentum shift again as she nailed Billy with a Litacanranna. But Chuck interfered and leveled Jeff with a superkick and Billy draped his arm over Jeff to successfully defend the titles!
Chris Jericho pulled up in a limo backstage and opened the other passenger door and extended a hand to his new friend, Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie said that he looked amazing with gold. Jericho gave the driver a video tape and ordered him to deliver it to the production truck, saying he had a special surprise for Triple H and the world!
Backstage, Michael Cole caught Debra and asked what Austin’s reaction to what Scott Hall was. Debra told Cole he needed to ask Stone Cold himself.
Arn Anderson finished a telephone call and was confronted by Christian. Christian was looking for Ric Flair so he could sign the papers to officially quit. Suddenly, a grinning DDP came up and said that Christian didn’t want to quit, he was just filled with pent-up negative energy. DDP said that the only way Christian would start winning would be to focus that energy and make it positive. DDP suggested he start with something simple – a smile. DDP flashed a smile, and Arn Anderson followed suit! Christian looked skeptical but gave a weak smile then headed off with Diamond Dallas Page for more encouragement.
Michael Cole tracked down Stone Cold and got an angry reaction from the Rattlesnake. He said that Scott Hall is a big fat jackass. Austin said he would accept Hall’s challenge for a match at WrestleMania! He promised to show that he is the last son of a bitch that Scott Hall wants to mess with!
A nattily dressed William Regal joined The King and JR at the announce table to watch Rob Van Dam grapple with Lance Storm and Big Show in a Triple Threat Match. The winner gets a shot at Regal for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania. Big Show manhandled the other men at the start. RVD and Storm had to work together to take down the gigantic superstar. They hit him with a double suplex, and RVD delivered a Van Daminator off the top rope, followed by a Five-Star Frog Splash to pin Big Show and win the match!
Backstage, Booker T was studying a book on how to learn Japanese. Test came up and complimented Test. Booker said that he had the chance to star in a Japanese shampoo commercial. He figured the company would be impressed when they see him speak Japanese and they’d be more impressed after watching him thrash Rikishi later on.
Bradshaw told Faarroq he had bad news, they didn’t have a match that night. But he excitedly told Faarooq that the people at the Friendly Tap had forgiven them for trashing the place last time they were in town and they wanted the APA to come down for a round of drinks on the house! The two nearly tripped over themselves on the way out the door.
Rikishi and Booker T butted heads next. Booker dropped Rikishi with a kick and continued to stomp his opponent. Rikishi stormed back with a Samoan Drop but was dropped by a scissors kick soon after. Booker T showed off a few karate stances, but was met by a superkick from Rikishi, Booker then used the ref to block a Stink Face and booted Rikishi and took the pin!
The Undisputed Champion arrived at the ring next with Stephanie McMahon at his side. Jericho started off by singing his own praises and saying that when it comes to playing the game, Stephanie is a hall of famer. Jericho said that while he technically he had never beaten Triple H, he had done something much better. He showed footage of the night that Jericho had torn The Game’s quad. He reminded Triple H that Jericho put The Game out of commission for eight months. If it weren’t for Jericho, Triple H may have been able to give his wife the attention she deserved and their marriage wouldn’t have crumbled, and he might have been man enough to get Stephanie pregnant for real. Stephanie said that was doubtful, because in the bedroom, Triple H always came up a little bit short!
The Game’s music hit and out sauntered the Cerebral Assassin. Triple H said it wasn’t so much a matter of him coming up so short, it was just a matter of the field he was playing on being a little too big! Stephanie angrily said she didn’t know what he was talking about. The Game said that even a 747 looks small when flying into the Grand Canyon! He then got into Y2J’s face and said that he wasn’t doing anything that night, so the two should get it on in a non-title match that night!
Before Jericho could say anything, Kurt Angle stomped out and said that only Mr. McMahon makes decisions around here. Kurt said that since he was robbed of his WrestleMania title shot, Mr. McMahon granted him a match against Jericho for the Undisputed Championship! He said that he would be more than happy to make Stephanie his business partner after he beats Jericho. Without warning, Triple H pounced on Jericho and sent him flying from the ring!
Backstage, Mr. Perfect told Coach that he challenged Stone Cold to get even for the Rattlesnake’s meddling with him at the Royal Rumble and then next RAW. He said that his match with Kane last week was an exhibition, but tonight, his record would remain perfect.
Jazz defended the Women’s Championship next against Mighty Molly. Jazz jumped Molly right from the star and began pounding her opponent. She then took Molly’s cape and ripped it up. Shortly after, Jazz bodyslammed Molly and followed with a leg drop but only got a two count. Molly refused to go down easy. She absorbed two double-arm suplexes and Jazz’ favorite submission move then slyly rolled Jazz up in several quick pin attempts. Molly worked to the top rope and tried a cross body, but missed. Jazz followed with a brainbuster and successfully defended the title. After the bell, Jazz locked Molly in another submission move and landed a DDT for good measure.
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