Raw is War

San Jose, California
January 8, 2001

Electricity filled the air in the San Jose Arena in San Jose, Calif., in anticipation of the main event of RAW, where Stone Cold Steve Austin would face Kurt Angle for the Federation Title!

Mr. McMahon came to the ring to kick off the show, and he said he had a New Year's resolution for everyone. He said that everyone should "respect authority." McMahon went on to say that there is one person who doesn not respect any authority - and that man is The Rock! Vince said that Stephanie had made a match for The Rock against both Kane and Rikishi, along with two other partners for The Rock - selected by Stephanie. And those two partners would be referees!

Vince then addressed why he counted to three on SmackDown! last week to allow Stone Cold the victory. Mr. McMahon said that he did that because he was a new man, and that he was trying to be fair. As Vince went on to explain why he was trying to be fair, he was interrupted by Stone Cold Steve Austin's entrance music!

Austin said he didn't care if Vince was trying to be fair - Austin said that he would always say DTA - don't trust anybody. The Rattlesnake said he had one message for Vince - stay out of Stone Cold's life and he would let Vince live his. Then Austin promised to beat Kurt Angle later!

At that, Angle came out to the ring and told Stone Cold that he was very impressed. Impressed that Austin could be so lacking of respect for anyone and anything. The Champion said that, just because Austin had a title shot didn't mean he would walk out the winner. Kurt said that he was that man who walked out of the Hell in the Cell and several other brutal matches as the World Wrestling Federation Champion. Angle told Austin that he was not impressed by Autin at all. Austin said he would still kick Angle all around the building, and as Austin was about to have a celebratory beer, Angle hit him in the head with the title and walked away!

In a six-man tag match, Chris Jericho teamed with the Hardy Boyz against Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn. As Lita and Terri watched on from ringside, the Radicalz and the Hardyz and Y2J battled each other with some high-impact moves. Jericho got the win after pinning Benoit with a backslide. After the match, Dean Malenko took the hot dog vendors tray and dumped its contents all over Lita. As Lita angrily walked to her locker room, Matt and Jeff Hardy told her to take a shower and get the nacho cheese off of her. After the Hardyz walked away, Dean Malenko snuck into her locker room!

Stephanie tried to recruit two referees to team with The Rock, two refs told Stephanie that they were untrained in the ring. Upon hearing that, Stephanie told them that, since they spoke up, they would be the men teaming with the Great One.

Kevin Kelly then interviewed The Rock about this handicap match later on RAW. The Rock said that it didn't matter what he had to do - he was going to become the champion once again.

As Lita showered, Dean Malenko snuck in and watched her! As her offered the shocked Lita a towel, the Hardy Boyz came in and attacked Malenko!

Michael Cole interviewed Chyna about her injuries, and the Ninth Wonder of the World said that she did want to come back to wrestling, but she was very disappointed she wouldn't be able to participate in the Royal Rumble. She said that, for now, she was going to watch Billy Gunn defeat Val Venis in a lumberjack match.

In that lumberjack match, 'The One' Billy Gunn and Val Venis attempted to destroy each other. Val Venis fell victim to the lumberjacks at the outset, as 'The One' tossed Val out of the ring numerous times. Billy Gunn got the win with a sleeper-slam, and after the match, the Right to Censor tried to attack 'The One', but the rest of the lumberjacks emptied the ring.

In a handicap match, Kane and Rikishi took on The Rock, who teamed with (very nervous) referees Teddy Long and Jack Doan. As Stephanie had ordered earlier, Teddy Long began the match in the ring against Rikishi. Rikishi grabbed Teddy and tossed him into the corner of the ring and gave him a Stink Face! Long then got away and made the tag to The Rock! The Great One fought hard against Kane and Rikishi, and as The Rock distracted the referee, Long and Doan jumped in the ring and attacked Rikishi! The Great One continued to try and go it alone, but the constant double-teaming of Kane and Rikishi wore him down. The match was called a disqualification when Kane went to get some chairs from ringside. Undertaker then ran out to ringside and flattened Kane. Then, Rikishi was laid out with a Rock Bottom!

In their dressing room, Stephanie and Vince discussed the fact that The Rock had learned nothing about respecting authority. Vince said, that both Rock and Undertaker would learn, and he made a match for SmackDown! - a Fatal Fourway pitting Rikishi vs. Kane vs. Taker vs. Rock, with the winner getting the No. 30 spot in the Royal Rumble!

Raven put his Hardcore Title on the line against former Hardcore Champ Steve Blackman. Before the match, Raven reminded Blackman about Al Snow, who Raven called the first victim of the "Raven Effect." Blackman then ran out to the ring and the match began. Before long, Hardcore Holly entered the ring, utilizing the 24-7 rule. Raven ended up pinning Holly for the win. After the match, Hardcore chased Raven up the rampway, but was pulled away by Steve Blackman. As Raven ran away, he jumped into a waiting car!

In the locker area, Edge and Christian told a special guest of theirs not to come out until they introduced him - because they wanted the Dudleyz to be completely shocked.

Christian and Edge then made their way to the ring carrying a table and their Tag Team Championships. Christian then went on to say that not much was reallt known about the Dudleyz. Edge said that, to find out more about D-Von and Buh Buh, they took a little trip to Dudleyville, and then he introduced Mother Faye and Levon - the Dudley parents! Two people who were dressed like the Dudleys! Finally, the real Dudleyz ran out to the ring and gave the imposter daddy Dudley a 3-D! Then they hit the fake mama Dudley with the "Wazzaaaap!" Then, they got out a table and put her through it!

In the McMahon's dressing room, Vince complained about his coffee, and asked Stephanie to go get him some fresh coffee. He said he'd be fine by himself while she was gone. After she left, Vince smiled and took off his sportcoat!

Stephanie came back as Vince was asking what was taking so long. And as Stephanie sat down, she heard a toilet flush, and Trish walked out! Stephanie immediately stood up and said that she was putting Trish in action tonight - she would team with Albert against Test, because, Stephanie said, she heard Trish liked two-on-one! Vince McMahon stammered a bit when Stephanie made the match, and then walked down the hallway.

In a special announcement, Jim Ross said that a new TV show called "WWF Tough Enough" would allow fans tohe opportunity to become a WWF Superstar!

In a two-on-one match, Trish and Albert teamed up against Test. As Test went after Trish, William Regal walked out to help her! As Trish and Regal walked away, Albert pinned Test after an Albert Bomb!

In their dressing room, Stephanie yelled at Vince, assuming he had Regal interfere in the match!For the first time in over a year, Stone Cold Steve Austin had a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Championship on RAW. On this night, he faced Kurt Angle for the title. The match started off with a bang as Austin went after Angle with everything he had. Stone Cold brutalized the champion with fierce punches and many suplexes! After being victimized for much of the first part of the match, Angle was finally able to lay out the Rattlesnake. Austin battled Angle, and kept getting up and both men continued to fight outside of the ring. While outside the ring, William Regal ran to ringside and tried to hit Austin with a pipe. Austin saw him coming and smacked him with a chair! Then Austin put his focus back on Angle, and tossed him onto the concrete and then finally back into the ring, where Austin got several close pinfall attempts! Angle came back with several suplexes of his own, leading to a close pinfall for Angle! Angle kept suplexing Austin, and it appeared Angle nearly had the match won, but Stone Cold reached down with everything he had and gave his all against Angle! Austin finally hit Angle with a Stunner and had the match won, but Triple H returned and pulled the referee out of the ring! The Game then walked up the rampway, but Austin called him back to the ring! Triple H responded and walked down to the ring and he and Austin started pounding each other!The two men were uncontollable and began beating the hell out of each other, and the Game even busted Austin open with the lead pipe time and time again! As RAW went off the air, Triple H stood over a bloodied Austin!