Raw is War

Austin, Texas
March 4, 2002

With just 13 days remaining until WrestleMania X8 takes Toronto by Storm, RAW kicked off live from Austin, Texas! The Federation dubbed the evening Fan Appreciation Night to honor its faithful supporters.

Fittingly, Stone Cold Steve Austin started the show in his native state by facing Booker T in one-on-one action. Booker and the Texas Rattlesnake traded blows at the start of the match. Austin heavily favored his left knee, which was smashed with a cinder block courtesy of Scott Hall just one week prior. The injured extremity slowed Austin and allowed Booker T to stomp the Rattlesnake into the corner. Booker then clutched Austin in a chin lock in the center of the ring.

Suddenly, all three members of the nWo stormed down and began to assault Austin! The Rattlesnake fought back valiantly, but succumbed to the three men. Scott Hall grabbed a wrench tucked away beneath the ring and clobbered Austin on the head which produced a stream of blood. The annihilation continued with each member of the nWo delivering a series of cheap shots. With Austin completely decimated, the nWo turned and left, but Hall’s mood soured without warning and he stormed back into the ring and dropped Austin with a Stunner!

Austin was still rolling around the ring bloody and in pain when RAW resumed following a commercial break.

Referees helped Austin stagger to the back.

Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert danced to the ring next. Test appeared beneath the TitanTron and said that since his usual partner, Booker T was busy that evening, he had gone out and found the Perfect Replacement. Mr. Perfect came out and the two strutted their way down the ramp to begin the match. Test started things off against his former tag partner, Albert. Test softened Albert and brought in Mr. Perfect, who was quickly thrown to the mat. Scotty entered the fray and took down Mr. Perfect then dropped Test with a Superkick.

Albert regained strength and slammed both opponents into the corner. While Albert then concentrated on cracking Mr. Perfect outside the ring, Scotty his Test with the Worm! But Mr. Perfect dashed back in and crumpled Scotty with a PerfectPlex and got the 1-2-3! The two teams continued to trade shots after the bell rang when out of nowhere, Rikishi came down and helped out Scotty and Albert! The Phat Man delivered a Stink Face to Mr. Perfect, then embraced his former partner, Scotty 2 Hotty before leaving.

Backstage, Coach caught up with Kurt Angle. Angle said he was glad it was fan appreciation night because he was a fan and he appreciated watching the nWo demolish Austin. He was also appreciative that Mr. McMahon had ordered a steel cage match for the evening that would pit Kurt Angle against Triple H. Angle said that he’s a man with nothing to lose, and warned Triple H to be wary.

Following the break, the new Hardcore Champion, Goldust appeared in the ring and was interviewed by Lilian Garcia. Goldust said that like the people in attendance, Maven was stupid. He said that nobody had been dumb enough to attack the Undertaker and take advantage of the 24/7 rule, and nobody would dare attack him – Goldust.

Tazz came to the ring and an impromptu Hardcore Championship Match took place with Jackie as referee. After subduing Tazz in the corner, Goldust pulled out a trash can and headed back between the ropes. Tazz fought back, and latched Goldust in the Tazzmission! But Goldust smashed Tazz with a garbage can lid and got the 3-count to retain his title.

Backstage, the nWo indulged on the contents of Stone Cold’s personal beer cooler. Kevin Nash said he was getting a little bored and suggested the men take a short walk.

Coach caught up with Rob Van Dam and said that at WrestelMania he would nail William Regal with his Five Star Frog Splash and take the Intercontinental Championship. Lance Storm suddenly burst upon the scene and said that he was upset that RVD had beaten him last week. He said the two had a rematch later that night and he took the event very seriously. RVD told Lance he needed to lighten up. Storm responded with a stinging slap across RVD’s face. RVD recoiled and came back looking very pissed off. But his scowl turned back into his trademark smirk and he calmly told Storm they’d settle everything in the ring.

DDP helped Christian beef up his positive attitude in the locker room. DDP had Christian recite a number of inspirational phrases, when Christian’s cell phone suddenly rang. Christian told the person on the phone to “pull the plug” because the fast “she goes, the faster he cashes in”. Christian hung up and explained that his grandmother was just about to go. DDO looked completely taken aback and suggested the two retreat to step 1.

On their walk backstage, the nWo stumbled upon a crew member. They savagely beat the poor crew member after Hogan claimed that he saw him flip Scott Hall the bird. Having completely wrecked the defenseless worker, the nWo turned and left.

Trish Stratus came down to the ring for her title shot against Jazz for the Federation Women’s Championship. Trish is one of the lovely Federation Divas that will be featured on the Divas Sex on the Beach special, which airs next Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on UPN!

Jazz came to the ring and immediately stepped up to Trish. Jazz smacked Trish around the ring then picked her up by the hair and slammed her down. Jazz then locked Trish into a crossface submission move, but Trish clawed her way to the rope and broke the hold. Trish mounted her own offensive, scoring a stiff kick to the back of Jazz’s head. She then tried for a bulldog, but Jazz countered and again tossed Trish to the canvas from the hair. Jazz picked Trish up and whipped her down again, tearing off the blonde’s shirt in the process!

A furious Trish locked Jazz in her own crossface submission move and wouldn’t let go once Jazz reached the rope! The match ended in disqualification, but Trish got in another smack across Jazz’s face and left while trying to hold herself in her bra!

Backstage, Stephanie McMahon was engaged in a heated conversation with Chris Jerichoo. Stephanie berated Y2J for not being able to find her special hand lotion. While she was spouting off about how valuable she is to the Undisputed Champion, Triple H came up behind her bearing a box loaded with several of her items. “Since it’s your box, it’s appropriately quite large,” Triple H said. He emptied the box at her feet and Stephanie was overjoyed to find her special lotion, which she eagerly spread over herself. Triple H stared at her then left when Stephanie got more annoyed.

The Undertaker rolled to the ring and took the microphone while JR noted that Ric Flair was not at the arena due to a family emergency. Taker said he had to find out what makes Ric Flair tick and what would force him to agree to a fight. That’s why Taker had attacked Arn Anderson, Flair’s best friend. Taker said he didn’t want to victimize Arn Anderson, but Flair gave him no choice. Anderson’s blood was on Flair’s hands, Taker said, not his own. Taker said to assure the fact that Flair accepted his challenge, he had to push the envelope a little further. He said that early that morning, he went and paid a visit to Flair’s oldest son, David.

Taker said that the sins of the father shall be visited upon the son. He then rolled footage that showed David Flair working out in the ring at a Federation training facility. Once David left the ring, Undertaker came up behind him and beat the crap out of him and trainer Dr. Tom Prichard! Taker tossed David around and smashed him into the wall and tossed him in the bathroom where he continued to demolish Ric Flair’s son. Taker proudly showed David’s bloody face to the camera and said that all he wanted was a yes from Ric. He turned to the battered David and recalled that he had a younger brother … and a sister.

RVD and Lance Storm faced each other next. JR mentioned that next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET, TNN would air a special showing all the greatest moments from each of the first 17 WrestleManias.

RVD and Storm stood face to face in the center of the ring, and RVD got things started with a smack to Lance’s face. Storm spilled outside the ring and RVD followed with a crossbody over the top rope. The action returned to the ring with Lance smacking RVD into the corner. RVD writhed in pain after twisting his knee, and Storm took advantage by pulling and twisting the knee even more. Storm stood up and mocked Mr. Monday Night by doing his signature thumbs pose. RVD took advantage of the cockiness and took down Storm and tried to follow with a Five Star Frog Splash. But Lance stood up and knocked RVD down.

With Van Dam still nursing his damaged knee, Storm grasped him in a half Boston Crab. RVD managed to reach the rope. Soon after, a spinning heel kick knocked Storm down and produced a two count. RVD tried for his Rolling Thunder, but this injured knee wouldn’t let him. It also slowed his ascent to the top rope. Storm used the hesitation to head off RVD. Moments later. Storm landed a springboard off the top rope, but RVD kicked out after two. Shortly after, RVD managed to take down Storm and nail his Five Star Frog Splash for the win!

Backstage, the nWo was talking about their harsh treatment of Stone Cold at the start of the night. A crew member came in and said he had to check on the coffee machine nearby. The nWo parted to let him through, but Hall suddenly pushed the man’s face into the scalding hot liquid. The nWo then played Odds or Evens to figure out who would be in a match that night. Hall won and JR wondered who the Bad Guy would face.

Following a break, a new Desire video set to POD’s “Alive” showed highlights from The Rock’s career.

Backstage, Hollywood Hulk Hogan said that The Rock would be at SmackDown! and told Hall and Nash that they needed to give him a great nWo welcome back. Hall then picked a piece of paper out of a tumbler and determined who he would face that night.

Hogan and Nash escorted Scott Hall to the ring for his match. Nash took the microphone and said that he was sure that all the fans appreciated him kicking Austin’s ass.

Hall said he had another treat for the fans. Whichever Federation Superstar that emerged from the TitanTron next would be Stone Cold in his eyes.

That superstar turned out to be Spike Dudley. Scott Hall immediately began pounding on the undersized Spike. But Spike caught Hall by surprise and wrapped him up in a pin attempt! Hall kicked out and nailed Spike with a fallaway slam and continued to assault his foe. He threw Spike out of the ring and allowed Nash and Hogan to beat up on the Dudley. Once back in the ring, Scott Hall hit Spike with a Super Back Drop. Then he signaled for and delivered the Razor’s Edge! Hall merely stepped his foot onto Spike’s chest to get the pinfall.

Following commercial, the World’s Strongest Man, Mark Henry returned to the Federation by making an appearance in Austin, Texas!

Backstage, Kurt Angle found Stephanie McMahon broken out in hives and itching frantically at her skin! She accused Triple H of putting a noxious substance in her lotion bottle. Angle tried to tell her it wasn’t noticeable, but Stephanie whipped into a rage and ordered Angle to make Triple H pay.

Just before the night’s main event, Jim Ross announced that Drowning Pool will be playing live at SkyDome during WrestleMania!

With that, Triple H arrived at the ring and entered the steel cage. The Game climbed to the top and spewed mist over his massive frame. Kurt Angle arrived next and the mayhem got started.

The two men traded blows early on.

Angle tried to squash Triple H’s face into the cage, but The Game blocked the attempt and took control. He delivered a crushing clothesline to Angle, but was then nearly caught in the ankle lock. He needed to use some crafty, agile maneuvering to avoid the hold.

Soon after, Angle clotheslined The Game and reached the top of the cage. Triple H scrambled to his feet and knocked Angle all the way down to the mat. Angle retaliated with a low blow and a couple belly to belly suplexes.

Angle continued to control Triple H. He landed several German suplexes and went for the cage door. Triple H forced himself up and prevented Angle from leaving, then caught Angle with a neck breaker. It seemed that The Game decided there would be no more tomfoolery in this match. He delivered a spinebuster then a face buster and left Angle sprawled out on the mat. Triple H began to climb the chain link cage. It appeared that he would go over the top, but Angle caught him from behind and pulled him back in. Angle delivered and Angle Slam for good measure. When both men regained their feet, Triple H crashed Angle to the mat with a Pedigree!

Suddenly, Stephanie McMahon stomped down the entrance ramp, rash and all. When the referee protested, she pushed him face first into the cage. Just as Triple H was set to exit the cage door, Stephanie slammed it shut right on his face! Angle then tried to leave, but as a goof, Stephanie locked the door and ordered Angle to beat the snot out of Triple H.

Angle began to do just that. He tossed Triple H around until Stephanie was satisfied. She opened the door and Angle began to walk out, but he stopped and decided it would be fun to beat the bejeezus out of The Game some more. That’s when the hijinks started. Triple H grabbed Angle and vaulted him face first into the cage. That made Stephanie angry, so she decided to toss a chair into the cage. Instead of it being used by Angle, it was used ON Angle. Triple H hit a DDT on Angle that sent the Olympian’s head into the steel!

Stephanie couldn’t take anymore. She entered the ring, and smashed her ex-husband repeatedly with the chair! Triple H got his foot hung up between two ropes and was powerless to stop Stephanie by dragging Kurt out of the cage. The ref saw this and ordered the bell rung, declaring Angle the winner as RAW went off the air!