Raw is War

Detroit, Michigan
October 16, 2000

Less than a week away from No Mercy, RAW began live from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI, the very same arena that saw Rikishi run over Stone Cold Steve Austin one year ago!

Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero came to the ring to address his situation with a number of World Wrestling Federation Superstars. He said he was tired of Chyna's moaning and crying, and that she was a whimpering pain in the ass! Then, Guerrero told Mr. Ass he would find his right foot kicking his ass, just like what would happen to Chyna if she came begging for forgiveness! Eddie ended his tirade by yelling at Mick Foley about his poor skills as Commissioner, and he said that he would take on anyone Mick wanted him to face! Immediately, Chris Jericho rocked the arena and challenged Guerrero to his Intercontinental Title!

After the match began it looked as if Guerrero injured his leg, and the referee called for the bell. As Jericho stood over the fallen Guerrero, X-Pac ran out and attacked Y2J! As X-Pac celebrated, Mr. Ass came out to get him some of X-Pac! After a Fame-Asser, Jericho and Mr. Ass watched as X-Pac and Guerrero retreated to the back.

A limousine pulled up with in the parking lot, and Kurt Angle eagerly greeted it. His new business partner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley got out, and told Kurt to grab her bags, which he eagerly did!

Earlier on Monday, Jonathan Coachman sat down and interviewed Rikishi on his thoughts about why he ran over Stone Cold.

Immediately, Rikishi said that his admission of his crime has been positive. He said that his people are proud that he stood up to make a change. When Coach told Rikishi that The Rock wasn't proud, the Phat Man said that The Rock seemed confused; that deep inside, Rock was happy with what he had done because they are family. Rikishi expressed no remorse at all - he meant what he did. In the past, his people were held back and he didn't want to see it happen again. Rikishi said he doesn't care one bit about Stone Cold, and that he would crush Austin at No Mercy.

In a match set up on HEAT, T&A took on the very angry Acolytes. The match was a slobberknocker, with both physical teams brutalizing each other. Test threw punch after punch at Faarooq and Bradshaw hammered on Albert. The beating finally stopped when Trish got up on the ring apron, distracting Bradshaw. Faarooq saved his partner and Bradshaw pinned Albert after a clothesline from hell.

In the McMahon-Helmsley locker room, Triple H asked Stephanie why she was still assisting Angle. She said that when they had talked about it at home, she told Hunter she'd reconsider - like he told her he would do. But since he won't, she would continue to help Kurt. The Game asked what would happen if she was hurt. Steph just told him that it was a chance they'd have to take. The Game said he wouldn't be able to control himself if she got hurt somehow, and he walked away.

Kurt came in and Stephanie guaranteed Kurt would win the title at No Mercy. The Game came back in and asked Stephanie to leave!

In a European Title match, goodwill Ambassador William Regal took on Champion Al Snow, who was representing the United Kingdom, complete with a portrait of Regal! Regal, in great condition, took Snow from rope to rope. After Al missed a moonsault, Regal locked him in a submission hold, forcing Snow to tap out! William Regal waved graciously to the crowd as he accepted his new European Title!

In his locker room, Triple H told Kurt that Stephanie was his responsibility - if she got hurt, it was Kurt's fault. Secondly, Triple H said, if Angle tried to make it anything other than a business relationship, it would be the last thing he ever did! Angle said okay, but smirked as the Game walked away!

As Triple H was set to battle Kane, Chris Benoit came out to offer guest commentary. His entrance distracted the Game, who was immediately hammered by Kane. As Triple H was getting brutalized, Stephanie, who was watching in the back, told Kurt she needed to help Hunter because she knew Benoit would interfere. Before she could leave, Angle convinced her to stay in the back. 

In the ring, Kane continued to beat on Triple H. But after being down for most of the match, the Game came back and started throwing punches at the Big Red Machine. While Kane lie prone, Triple H went and attacked Benoit at the announce table!

Then, Hunter gave Kane a Pedigree, only to get nailed by Benoit with a chair! After getting Triple H back in the ring, Benoit locked him in the Crossface, which the Game immediately tapped out of!

Michael Cole introduced Stone Cold Steve Austin, who came out to a rousing ovation from the Detroit crowd. Cole then asked Austin how he felt returning to the scene of where he was hit by Rikishi, and Stone Cold said he was happy to be there, but upset because he couldn't whoop Rikishi's ass right then! Austin said he had Rikishi's picture everywhere, and every time he saw that picture, he was looking at a dead man! Cole asked Austin what he was going to do to him at No Mercy, and Austin said he was going to stomp a mud hole in Rikishi's huge ass, no matter how long it took!

Rikishi interrupted from the parking lot - from the very spot he hit Austin! Then he said he may not be allowed in the ring, but he called Austin out to the back! Austin ran out to confront Rikishi, where he tried to run over Stone Cold again! As he drove away, Rikishi smiled and said that on Sunday, there would be No Mercy!

X-Pac came out to the middle of the ring and called out Mr. Ass! When Mr. Ass came out, he laughed at X-Pac, only to be hit from behind by Eddie Guerrero, who had a huge wrap on his leg! As X-Pac beat on Mr. Ass, Chris Jericho ran out and started pounding on X-Pac with fists and a steel chair! Finally, the referees were able to restrain Y2J!

Mr. Ass ran in to Commissioner Foley's office and demanded a piece of Eddie Guerrero. Foley replied by making a match for Mr. Ass against Eddie Guerrero at No Mercy!

The Dudley Boyz took on Los Conquistadors, who J.R. said reminded him a lot of Edge and Christian. The match was surprisingly even, with the mysterious men in gold really taking it to the Dudley Boyz. After D-Von testified with a flying headbutt to the groin of one of the Conquistadors, Buh Buh called for a table! Before the table came out, one of the Conquistadors hit Buh Buh from behind and rolled him up for the win!

The Road Dogg faced Right to Censor member Mr. Val Venis in a physical affair. The D-O-Double G really took it to Venis, but Val came back and started stomping on Road Dogg with his white shoes. After being locked in several submission holds, the Dogg came back and beat Mr. Venis when Naked Mideon ran out and distracted Val, allowing the Dogg to get the pin! Mideon even helped the Dogg out and laid out Mr. Steven Richards!

Stephanie pounded on Kurt Angle's locker room door, telling him he wasn't focused. Angle looked overwhelmed and sighed deeply when Stephanie kept telling him he needed to focus more so he could beat The Rock.

Stephanie then introduced next Sunday's HEAT host, the man who will interview The Rock and then beat him for the Federation Title, her new business associate, Kurt Angle!

Angle said it was that the Joe Louis arena was famous, but not because it was where Stone Cold was ran down, but because it is the arena that Kurt Angle made his debut in! Stephanie said she would lead Kurt to the title, just like she led her husband there! Then Kurt went to the ring, where he would team with Edge and Christian against the Hardy Boyz and The Rock!

The three-way tag team main event was action-packed. The Rock came out with his fists flying, nailing Edge and Christian and begging Kurt Angle to get into the ring. Angle got the tag and pummeled The Rock, as Triple H watch on from his locker room. As The Rock continued to be held back from making the tag, Edge came in and mocked the Hardys! The Rock was finally able to make the tag, and Matt Hardy entered the fracas and took out both Edge and Christian, even nearly pinning Edge! Again, Angle got the tag and had several near-falls on the isolated Matt Hardy. After recovering from some severe blows, Matt was able to tag in The Rock! The Rock was a house on fire, and had Angle pinned, but the referee was distracted by the Hardys and Lita fighting Edge and Christian on the outside of the ring. When the ref turned around to make the count, Stephanie pulled The Rock's leg, ending the count. Then, Jeff Hardy went to hit Angle with a Swanton Bomb, but Stephanie hit him in the knee before he could! Lita saw what she did, but Stephanie took the Women's Champions and slammed her into the ring stairs!

When all was said and done, Kurt Angle pinned The Rock for the win, with a lot of help from his partner Stephanie! The two celebrated as RAW went off the air!