Raw is War

Chicago, Illinois
March 20, 2000

Before RAW IS WAR officially got underway from Chicago, Vince McMahon announced there would be a tag team elimination tournament on the show, and the winners of each match would face off in a battle royal to determine the No. 1 contender for the Tag Team Championship. McMahon also suggested that there would be another announcement on RAW that would "shake the very foundations of the World Wrestling Federation."

The tag team elimination tournament started off right away as the Hardy Boyz took on the Road Dogg and X-Pac. Business picked up when Kane made his way out to the ring and set his sights squarely on X-Pac, who was recovering outside the ring. The Big Red Machine grabbed X-Pac for a chokeslam, but Tori came from behind with a double-axehandle - which didn't even phase Kane! While Kane chased Tori around the ring, the Hardy Boyz finished off a defenseless Road Dogg after Jeff hit the "Swanton bomb." The Hardys qualified for the battle royal later in the night. After the match, X-Pac pulled the Road Dogg out of the ring and ran to safety. They left Tori behind, who was soon the victim of a chokeslam from Kane!

Back from commercial, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Federation Champion Triple H hit the ring. Triple H called out Vince McMahon, demanding to know this "major announcement" the owner was talking about. But instead, Shane McMahon and the Big Show appeared, and immediately challenged Triple H to a match "right here in Chicago." Triple H said he would defend his title anytime, but not against the Show because "that big goof doesn't deserve it." Big Show marched toward the ring to get a piece of the champion, but Vince McMahon interrupted the festivities. Vince said that since Triple H was so willing to defend his Federation Championship, he would do so in Chicago - against The Rock and the Big Show in a Triple Threat Match - WrestleMania's main event would happen "tonight, right here in Chicago!" Triple H agreed to the match, but only on the condition that he wouldn't have to defend his title again in the same match at WrestleMania. Vince suggested that Triple H should pucker up and kiss the WWF Championship goodbye.

Accompanied by some fine "Chicag-hos," the Godfather was scheduled for a match against the Big Boss Man. However, the Boss Man and Bull Buchanan, his new protégé, came out and attacked the Godfather, double teaming him with several high-impact maneuvers, and walking away as he lay writhing in pain. The match never officially got underway.

The tag team elimination tournament continued as Too Cool faced Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko, accompanied by Eddy Guerrero. Guerrero's interference ended up backfiring, and Too Cool got the win when Grandmaster Sexay pinned Malenko after a superkick.

Backstage, X-Pac complained to Triple H and Stephanie that Kane was seemingly everywhere. Triple H came up with an idea - put the Big Red Machine in a match with Rikishi Phatu. Before the match got underway, Jim Ross announced that Rikishi and Kane would actually be teaming up at WrestleMania to face Road Dogg and X-Pac. Kane took control and dropped Rikishi with a chokeslam, but X-Pac and Road Dogg came from behind and low-blowed the Big Red Machine, and then did the same to Rikishi. Then X-Pac floored both superstars with his X-Factor.

Next up, Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho met one on one. Jim Ross announced that the two superstars would be involved in a Euro-continental Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania against Kurt Angle, who provided commentary during the match with J.R. and Jerry "The King" Lawler. When Benoit spilled outside the ring, he and Angle got into a scuffle, which culminated with Angle clobbering Benoit with one of his championship belts. Y2J finished off the Cripper with an Asai moonsault. After the match, Bob Backlund appeared and distracted Jericho. Angle came from behind and clobbered Y2J with a belt as well.

Match No. 3 of the tag team elimination contest involved Hardcore and Crash Holly against Al Snow and Steve Blackman. Taking advantage of Crash's "24/7" rule, Tazz appeared with referee Teddy Long and a Hardcore Title Match broke out - in the middle of the match! Tazz and Crash battled through the crowd, leaving Hardcore Holly alone against both members of "Head Cheese." While Crash was able to escape with his title out one of the building's exits, Hardcore was not so lucky, as both Blackman and Snow finished him off.

Those mysterious GTV cameras were in business again, as they picked up Terri backstage having a conversation with the Kat. Kat tried to sympathize with Terri after the "she-devil" took a spear from Edge last week. Terri confirmed that she was in pain, but not nearly as much pain as the Kat must be in for not being on television anymore.

In the final elimination match of the night, Edge and Christian battled the Acolytes. The Acolytes' new lackey, Mideon, tried to interfere on Faarooq and Bradshaw's behalf, but he inadvertently ended up clobbering Bradshaw with the handle of a mop. Edge finished off Bradshaw with a downward spiral. After the match, the Acolytes put a beating on Mideon.

Two young lions squared off next as Val Venis took on Test, accompanied by Trish Stratus. The two started off the match with a handshake of respect, but any good feelings they felt toward each other were quickly extinguished by the time the match concluded. Test got the win after rolling up the Big Valbowski and grabbing his tights. After the match, Val and Test got into a shoving match; Prince Albert came from behind and went after Val. Test and Albert continued their onslaught until Trish Stratus told them to stop. Trish then declared that she knew what everybody wanted - T&A. And that was exactly what they were looking at -- Test & Albert.

The four teams that won tag team elimination matches earlier in the night squared off next in a battle royal. The winner would get a title shot against the Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania. The Tag Team Champions joined J.R. and the King for commentary during the battle royal. Scotty 2 Hotty of Too Cool executed the worm on Steve Blackman as the crowd went crazy, but Al Snow came from behind and tossed Scotty out. Seconds afterward, Blackman too was tossed out, leaving only Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz in the ring. The Dudley Boyz attacked both teams, dropping Edge and Matt with 3Ds and then fetching a table. The Dudleys positioned Christian on the table, and then Buh Buh Ray powerbombed Jeff Hardy off the second rope and on top of Christian, sending both superstars through the table. The match ended inconclusively and with no No. 1 contender being named.

WrestleMania was still two weeks away, but fans didn't have to wait any longer for the main event - as it took place live on RAW IS WAR. Triple H put the Federation Championship on the line in a Triple Threat Match against former champion the Big Show and three-time former champion The Rock. The People's Champion went for the People's Elbow on the Big Show, but Shane McMahon pulled down the top rope, and The Rock tumbled outside the ring. Shane continued his attack by clobbering the "Great One" with a steel chair. Vince retaliated with a right hook on his son, knocking Shane cold, and then Triple H floored Vince with a right hook of his own. Triple H grabbed the chair and turned and nailed the Big Show with it. Back in the ring, Triple H hit the Pedigree on the Show, and covered him to retain the title. After the match, an irate Rock chased Shane McMahon through the crowd. As Triple H and Stephanie headed back toward the locker room, Linda McMahon appeared! The matriarch of the McMahon family confirmed that there would be no Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania, as Triple H had insisted upon earlier. Linda added that there was a hole in the main event at WrestleMania and she intended to fill it. She announced that Triple H would be a part, as would The Rock and the Big Show. But Linda had another person in mind, and she announced the main event would be a Fatal Fourway Elimination Match. The fourth participant? Mick Foley! Linda granted Linda's lifelong wish, and named him part of WrestleMania's main event. Foley, who will return for one night only at WrestleMania, came from the back upon hearing Linda's announcement. He went right after Triple H and the Big Show, flooring both men by hitting them with Triple H's WWF Title. Foley celebrated as RAW came to a dramatic conclusion.