Raw is War

Anaheim, California
December 10, 2001

With an undisputed champion having been crowned for the first time in history less than 24 hours ago at Vengeance, RAW opened live from Anaheim, California!

World Wrestling Federation co-owner Ric Flair got the show started by carrying both the World Championship and the Federation Championship to the ring. The Nature Boy said that last night in San Diego, he had promised to formally bestow the championships on the winner during RAW. With that, he introduced Chris Jericho, who sauntered to the ring.

The Arrowhead Pond crowd loudly booed as the grinning Y2J started thanking people who had helped him achieve this feat. He said that nobody thought he had a chance in hell of walking out of San Diego victorious except for one person who always had faith in Y2J: himself! He thanked himself for being so strong, athletic and talented to prove all the doubters wrong. Also, he dished out thanks to The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin for giving such great efforts last night. For Y2J to single-handedly beat those two in back-to-back matches on the same night was incredible. He urged The Rock and Cold Stone, whom he called “Little Troopers,” to keep their chins up.

Jericho went on to thank the crowds. It was only after he realized that there was no point in putting them first that he was able to soar to the top. Y2J also wanted to thank a man with dignity, Mr. McMahon! Y2J thanked Mr. McMahon for coming to ringside and making sure there was no outside interference to disrupt his match. Lastly, Jericho thanked Ric Flair for keeping his word and giving him the titles on RAW. Jericho said that when Flair was winning title after title throughout his illustrious career, he always wanted to be in the ring with a living legend, and he finally got his wish. Then, Jericho said he bestowed the honor on Ric Flair to crown Y2J the first true undisputed champion!

Flair draped the championships over Jericho’s shoulders then asked Y2J how it felt. Flair said he was glad it felt good, because tonight, Jericho would defend his titles in a 15-foot steel cage! The punchline, Flair continued, was that Jericho would face Stone Cold Steve Austin! Y2J’s face fell as he looked skyward at the steel cage looming over the ring.

After the first break of the evening, the new Federation Hardcore Champion the Undertaker underwent his first title defense by taking on Spike Dudley! Before the match started, Spike pulled back the ring apron and tossed several trash cans, a broom handle, stop sign and a few trash can lids into the ring. Spike then taunted the Undertaker by climbing on the American Badass’ motorcycle and making mocking gestures. Taker caught Spike and began pounding on the undersized Dudley.

Spike hung tough, though, and began using the foreign objects to his advantage. Taker was simply too big and too strong, however. Taker smashed Spike repeatedly with a trash can lid to soften him up, then gave Spike the Last Ride through a trash can to earn the win! Following the match, Taker dragged Spike to his feet and delivered a devastating chokeslam that sent Spike flying over the top rope to the hard floor below! Satisfied with the destruction left behind, Undertaker got on his motorcycle and headed away.

Backstage, Mr. McMahon walked with Booker T with a full security escort complete with menacing dobermans. Ric Flair came up to Mr. McMahon and informed him of the steel cage match between Jericho and Austin! Mr. McMahon was visibly upset but said that Flair couldn’t change his plans for The Rock. Later that evening, The Rock and Trish Stratus would team up against the Dudley Boyz! Flair wanted Mr. McMahon to apologize for what he did at Vengeance and said that things weren’t over between them.

Following commercials, Mr. McMahon and Booker T walked into a luxury sweet where they settled in to watch RAW in style.

Kurt Angle came to the ring accompanied by a remix of his entrance music. Kurt took the microphone and said that despite the fluke that left him without the undisputed championship last night, he requested his match tonight for Mr. McMahon. What Mr. McMahon went through on SmackDown! last week was a horror that should never be seen again. “Let me show you what I mean. Roll the footage,” ordered Kurt as video rolled of Mr. McMahon writhing neck-deep in Rikishi’s ass!

Angle ordered the tape played in slow motion while Booker T and Mr. McMahon squirmed uncomfortably in their luxury box. Kurt finished his monologue by saying he would dedicate his match against Rikishi that evening to Mr. McMahon.

Rikishi came to the ring where he was immediately pounced on by Angle. Angle displayed amazing strength by delivering a German Suplex to the 350-pound Samoan. When Angle tried to roll up Rikishi for a pin, the Phat Man caught his balance and plunged onto Angle’s chest! Rikishi threw Angle into the corner and was about to deliver a Stinkface when Kurt hustled out of the way and began walking up the entrance ramp. The referee counted to 10 and ordered that Rikishi be given the win via countout! Rikishi then put on a slick black hat and started dancing in the ring! Angle stormed back to the squared circle and pummeled Riskishi! But Rikishi recovered and tossed Angle into the ring and gave the Olympic Hero a Stinkface! With business taken care of, Rikishi resumed his groovin’.

But Angle wasn’t through. He brought a steel chair into the ring and smacked it repeatedly onto his opponent. Rikishi lay in pain as Angle exited and Mr. McMahon applauded along with Booker T.

The Dudley Boyz and Stacy Keibler prepared for the match in the locker room. Bubba Ray was pacing nervously when D-Von asked what was wrong. Bubba Ray said he was worried because the Dudleys had their toughest match ever. He noted that the two were facing The Rock and Trish Stratus. Bubba then broke out laughing as he mentioned he and D-Von were facing The Rock and Trish Stratus. Now seeing that the whole thing was a joke, D-Von concurred that it would be a tough match.

Bubba Ray said that D-Von should take care of The Rock because he knew what to do with Trish Stratus.

Ric Flair lounged in his office when Lance Storm came in. Storm said he was tired of cleaning up at WWF New York and he was ready for whatever match Flair wanted to throw at him. Flair rebuffed Storm and sent him on his way.

Coach caught up with Edge and asked about his title defense against William Regal at Vengeance. Edge laid on a phony British accent and asked if Regal had kissed any bums lately. Without warning, Regal burst in and blindsided Edge, leaving him in a painful heap on the ground.

MAD TV star Will Sasso watched from ringside as Lance Storm again confronted Ric Flair and said he would make an exceptional addition to the roster. He emphasized his point with a monotone, “Whoo.” Flair shook his head and said the answer was still no.

William Regal entered the squared circle and was immediately searched by referee Teddy Long. Regal then took the mic and said that what he just did to Edge was only the beginning. There was a new William Regal who would be dishing out punishment in a way that had never been seen before. Before he could go any farther, Kane exploded into the arena and climbed over the ropes. The match started and Kane immediately asserted control.

But with Regal outside the ring, Kane climbed to the top turnbuckle and launched his body toward his opponent. Regal moved, however, and picked up a pair of brass knuckles he found at ringside. Kane dropped Regal with a boot before both men came back to the ring. Once there, Regal smashed Kane with the brass knuckles and pinned the Big Red Machine while Mr. McMahon and Booker T toasted their good fortune from the luxury box.

The Dudley Boyz put the Federation Tag Team Championship on the line next against Trish Stratus and The Rock. The People’s Champion directed an icy stare toward Mr. McMahon and Booker T, who mocked The Rock from their suite.

The Rock vented his fury by smacking both Dudley Boyz. The Great One slammed D-Von’s head onto the announce table then threw Bubba Ray over the table. He pushed Bubba back into the ring and continued the beating, but he was taken down by a stiff shoulder block. The Rock rebounded with a Samoan Drop that earned him a two count. The Dudleys then began using better teamwork and dealt themselves back into the match. Even Stacy got into the action. She choked The Rock while D-Von had the ref looking the other way.

A vicious flapjack from both Dudleys really took the wind out of The Rock, but he mustered up enough strength to avoid being pinned. He threw D-Von down then and tried crawling to his corner to make a tag. But Stacy Keibler snuck up behind Trish and pulled the Women’s Champion off the ring apron. Bubba caught The Rock in a sleeper hold that nearly got The Rock to submit. But The Great One gathered his senses and backdropped Bubba Ray! D-Von tagged in and was met by a series of stiff shots from The Rock. Bubba Ray came in to help out, giving his opponent a suplex. D-Von tagged back in and got in trouble once more. This time, when Bubba came in, The Rock ducked and caused Bubba to clock D-Von! The Rock followed with a stiff clothesline that knocked Bubba for a loop.

Trish begged for a tag, but The Rock began taking control of both men. He tossed Bubba from the ring and layed the smack down on D-Von. D-Von was locked in the sharpshooter and may have tapped out if Bubba Ray hadn’t broken things up. For his efforts, Bubba took a spinebuster and a People’s elbow! D-Von had to break up the pin attempt to keep the titles. Trish pleaded to get into the match, and The Rock granted her wish! He tagged her in then held D-Von’s legs up so she could deliver a flying head butt to his crotch from the top rope! Their attention turned to the Duchess of Dudleyville, who also found herself victim of a flying head butt!

Suddenly, Test came in and took out The Rock while Trish was occupied with stomping Stacy into submission. Not knowing The Rock was down, Trish turned around and stumbled into a 3D that gave the Dudleys the win. Following the match, The Rock gave Bubba Ray a Rock Bottom before Test booted The People’s Champion.

Mr. McMahon addressed the crowd from his luxury box, saying he was having a wonderful time. He waved to the crowd and said that The Rock officially closed the Mr. McMahon Kiss My Ass Club. But last night, Mr. McMahon said he had the last and loudest laugh. There was now a new club open: the Mr. McMahon Kicked Your Ass club! New members were Ric Flair, The Rock and Trish Stratus. To join the club, all you had to do was cross the boss and Flair had done just that. “I am the boss,” Mr. McMahon told Ric Flair. There’s a new superstar in the Federation, Mr. McMahon continued, the biggest star of them all: Booker T! Booker grinned at Mr. McMahon’s side.

IN the locker room, Lita pleaded for Matt to speak to her. She said that she loved him, but Matt ignored her at first. As she was walking away, he accused her of saying that just to make him feel guilty. He said that she and Jeff should try beating him to his face instead of doing so in a sneaky fashion. “Just like the Hardy Boyz, Lita, we’re breaking up!” Matt screamed before slamming the door. Lita began bawling and was comforted by Jeff when he walked in the room.

Matt Hardy came to the ring to face Jeff and Lita while “The Green Mile” star Michael Clarke Duncan flexed from his ringside seat. Lita was obviously still upset. She got between the brothers when they faced off, but Matt shoved her aside and began pounding his brother. The two savagely beat each other back and forth. The brawl spread outside the ring and into the crowd. Once back inside the ring, Matt clotheslined Jeff and taunted Lita. A Whisper in the Wind leveled Matt and Jeff followed with a series of sharp blows to his brother’s head. Jeff went for the Twist of Fate but Matt countered and tossed Jeff from the ring! Lita climbed to the top turnbuckle and hit her ex-boyfriend with a Litacanrana! Jeff tried to follow with a Swanton Bomb, but Matt moved out of the way. Jeff tagged Lita in, but Matt simply overpowered her and took the pin. A heartbroken Lita cried and consoled Jeff as Matt left the arena.

Lance Storm once again begged for a job from Ric Flair. Flair said he was tired of seeing Storm. He relented and gave Storm a match, but if Storm lost he must leave and never return.

Lance Storm eagerly took to the ring as he attempted to win a slot in the Federation. He stared down the entrance ramp and was surprised to see the Big Show come out. Storm tried to get the jump on Big Show by launching his body over the top rope. But Show caught Storm and deflected the attack. Big Show repealed ever onslaught Lance Storm brought. Storm got more than he bargained for in this match as Big Show dished out a vicious beating. Storm finally mounted an effective offense by dropping Big Show with a dropkick from the top rope. The massive Big Show, however, collected himself and delivered a Showstopper that put Storm down for the count and still without a job.

In his luxury box, the waitress Felicity delivered a plate of sandwiches to Mr. McMahon and Booker T. Booker stood up and angrily demanded to know who made the sandwiches. Thinking it was a trick by Stone Cold Steve Austin, Booker demanded that Felicity try one herself. She did, and Booker seemed satisfied that everything was on the up and up.

Following a video package of Triple H set to U2’s “Beautiful Day,” Stone Cold Steve Austin addressed the crowd from backstage. Austin said that after thinking about it, there was no use whining and crying about what happened at Vengeance. He was trying to think about who he wanted more, Booker T or Y2J. So after getting some food, he decided that he wanted them both. He told Y2J that he would make a movie that Jericho would star in. It was called, “My name is Chris Jericho and I’m getting my ass whipped in a steel cage.” Austin made it clear that he was out for revenge.

Austin entered the steel cage where he awaited undisputed champion Chris Jericho. The two men traded shots before Jericho even entered the cage to start the match. Austin grabbed a steel chair, which caused Jericho to actually climb the cage to get into the ring! Austin passed through the cage door to officially start the match.

Austin hammered away on Jericho. He repeatedly threw Y2J into the steel cage surrounding the ring. Jericho was battered, but he managed to fight back. Stone Cold, though, nearly locked his opponent in his own finisher, the Walls of Jericho. Y2J thwarted the attempt and mounted some offense. He took down Austin with a bulldog and followed up with a Lionsault before he began climbing the cage. Jericho hoisted his torso onto the top of the cage, but Austin appeared and pulled him back inside. A big superplex by Austin put both men on the mat in bad shape.

Jericho inched toward the open cage door with Austin clinging to Y2J’s leg to slow him down. Jericho booted Austin and resumed moving to the cage. He reached the ring steps, but Austin once again grabbed Jericho and reeled him back in. Jericho responded with a huge Stunner that conjured up images of his win over Stone Cold the previous night Vengeance.

Once again, Jericho reached the ring steps and put his hands on the floor, but Austin reeled him back in before his feet touched the outside. The match continued with Austin removing one of the turnbuckle corners. He slammed Jericho’s face repeatedly into the bare steel which resulted in a river of blood teeming down from Y2J’s forehead. Austin then catapulted Jericho into the steel and dropped his face onto the exposed turnbuckle for good measure. Austin crawled to the door and could have easily stepped outside to win the match, but he looked back to see Y2J flipping him the finger! Stone Cold went over and delivered a Stone Cold Stunner! As he tried to exit the cage, Booker T appeared and slammed the door on Austin’s head! Jericho managed to crawl his bloodied, bruised body out the door and retain his championship!

Mr. McMahon clapped from his luxury box and while smiling and praising Booker T as RAW faded to a close!