Raw is War

Phoenix, Arizona
April 8, 2002

RAW opened live from Phoenix with the Undertaker roaring to the ring on his motorcycle. The Dead Man circled around the ring before grabbing the mic and asking what the hell is going on. He said he was a bit confused and a little pissed off. Taker didn't understand how Hollywood Hulk Hogan got the chance to face Triple H at Backlash for the Undisputed Championship.

Taker said that he would stand in the ring until somebody came out to explain things to him. He was abruptly cut off when the head honcho of RAW, Ric Flair, came down and faced Taker in the ring. Flair said that last week, he was a little too ambitious during his first day on the job. He conceded that Vince McMahon did have the right to name Triple H's opponent at Backlash. However, he said that he could make a championship match after Backlash, so he told Taker to take a deep breath and calm down.

Taker didn't calm down. In fact, he called Flair a liar and a no good son of a bitch! Taker accused Flair of holding a grudge against him for what happened at WrestleMania, and Taker said he couldn't blame him. However, he said that Flair could make him the No. 1 contender for the title after Backlash because no one else is more deserving. Taker threatened to make another WrestleMania moment if Flair didn't comply.

But Flair didn't have a chance to answer as Stone Cold Steve Austin came to the ring! Austin got in Flair's face and asked if he was making Taker the No. 1 contender after Backlash. Austin wanted to know why, and he kept asking if it was because of certain traits the Undertaker possesses. Naturally, this produced a round of "What?" chants from the crowd. Austin then got up in Taker's grill and demanded to know what made him so special. Stone Cold listened to his watch, which said that it was time for Ric Flair to make up his mind. Taker stepped back in and also demanded an answer. Flair said that before he made a decision, he needed to get something straight. He looked at Undertaker and retold the story of how the Dead Man had made his life miserable from the beginning. Flair then turned to Austin and reminded him of the Stunner he delivered at the end of last week's RAW. Flair continued that from now on, anybody who even thinks of putting their hands on him would have Hell to pay!

Flair went on to say there would be two No. 1 contender's matches that night. First, Undertaker would face Rob Van Dam in a non-title match. Then Austin would have a WrestleMania re-match against Scott Hall. Taker said Flair was full of crap and that he deserved the title shot while Austin only deserved to get his ass kicked! Taker said if Flair didn't make him the top contender, there would be hell to pay, and there wasn't anything Austin - who Taker called "Cue ball" - could do about it! The Rattlesnake snapped and beat Taker from the ring!

Bubba Ray Dudley set out for his first Hardcore Championship defense by taking on Booker T. Before the match began, Booker faced Bubba in the ring and said that the people there spent their hard-earned money to see the spineroonie! Booker got down and whirled off what he called the most electrifying move in sports entertainment. After that, Bubba Ray asked for some funky music to be played and he busted a move right there in the ring! When that tomfoolery subsided, Bubba and Booker slugged at each other. Bubba immediately reached beneath the ring and brought out a slew of objects. Booker cut own Bubba with a kick to the head and stomped the champ in the corner. Booker then took down Bubba with a scissors kick and cracked a steel trash can over his opponent's skull! Moments later, Bubba fought back with a Samoan Drop. Bubba got a crazed look in his eye and went out and brought a table into the ring. Booker T slammed Bubba to the mat, though, and set the table up himself. He was about to slam Bubba through the wood, but Goldust raced in and smashed Booker with a garbage can to the head! Goldust was about to take advantage of the 24/7 rule, but Bubba powerbombed the Golden One through a table and pinned him to win the title.

Backstage, Coach asked Trish about the unprovoked attack by Molly Holly last week. Trish said that during their match that night, Molly would have to taker her on face to face. Suddenly, William Regal came in and said that Molly simply put Trish in her place. Trish grabbed the mic back and reminded him how Spike Dudley had pinned him last week. Regal retorted that Spike's win was a fluke, just like Spike's conception. He promised to beat the bag out of Spike later on.Terri found Kane backstage and asked about the change in his demeanor lately. Kane said that all his life he'd been called a monster and a freak. But when he teamed with Rock and Hogan with 17,000 screaming Kanenites, he realized that freaks kick ass! Just like Randy Johnson mows down batters, Kane said that he would begin to mow down opponents, beginning with X-Pac that night! Kane said that it's a simple fact of life that X-Pac sucks!

Speaking of X-Pac, he was warming up with nunchuks in the locker room and told Scott Hall and Kevin Nash to hang out the back there because he wanted to beat Kane himself.

As X-Pac made his way to the ring, Jim Ross said that this would be a falls count anywhere match. X-Pac jumped on Kane right at the start, kicking him in the corner. Kane wasn't at all fazed by the onslaught, however. Kane tossed X-Pac high into the air, causing him to plant his face into the mat. Kane then whipped X-Pac over the top rope and two began to brawl in the crowd. Eventually, the men reached the backstage area, where X-Pac's nWo buddies waited with 2-by-4s and lead pipes. The men assaulted Kane, who lay face down and unconscious on the ground, allowing X-Pac to get the pin. X-Pac finished the assault by removing Kane's mask and taking it with him. X-Pac readied a final blow to finish Kane, but Bradshaw raced in, got the jump on the nWo and chased them off. 

Medical personnel attended to Kane while X-Pac donned the Big Red Machine's mask and gloated in the locker room. An angry Ric Flair stomped in and said that the nWo wasn't running their own show. Nash grabbed Flair and asked what he was going to do about it. Flair said that Nash was officially suspended without pay! X-Pac and Hall backed off as Flair threatened to give them the same punishment. A ticked off Nash angrily shouted that he was going to sue Flair.

William Regal came to the ring for his match with Spike Dudley and was promptly searched by the ref. The ref found a pair of brass knuckles on Regal and took them. When the ref turned to give them to the timekeeper, Spike Dudley raced in to the ring, put on his own brass knux and clocked Regal with them to win the title!Backstage, Spike was greeted by several superstars who excitedly congratulated him. Tommy Dreamer even poured a Slurpee over Spike's head. Bubba Ray Dudley arrived and stared down Spike and his new title, then grabbed his hand and congratulated him as well!

Rob Van Dam took on the Undertaker next in a non-title match that would help settle the issue of who would become the No. 1 contender to the Undisputed Championship after Backlash. Taker overpowered RVD at the start and nearly earned a pinfall early on. Taker draped RVD so his head hung over the ring apron and went to drop a leg onto his opponent's throat, but RVD moved and Taker's leg slammed heard into the ring. RVD then backflipped off the ring apron and nailed Taker in the chest! The Intercontinental Champion let loose some more high-risk offense and took control of the match. He tried for a Five-Star Frog Splash, but Taker knocked him hard to the turnbuckle. 

Taker nearly got the win after a hellacious superplex off the top rope, but RVD managed to kick out after two. Frustrated, Undertaker grabbed a steel chair from ringside but RVD kicked it into Taker's face when the ref wasn't looking. RVD went up top for his finisher, but instead leapt to the outside of the ring where Eddie Guerrero had just arrived! RVD knocked Guerrero into submission but then suffered a chokeslam after re-entering the ring! But still, Rob Van Dam could not be pinned. Taker then signaled for the Last Ride, but RVD got out of the move and kicked Taker down, then mounted the top rope for a spectacular flying kick! RVD took to the air again for the Five-Star Frog Splash. He nailed the move but was smacked with the Intercontinental Championship by Eddie Guerrero from outside the ring! Taker recovered and took advantage by covering RVD, but the champ kicked out again! Taker went for the Last Ride again and this time he connected and got the pin! Eddie Guerrero sneered at ringside.

After a break, Federation Women's Champion Jazz joined the broadcast team as Trish Stratus came to the ring to face Molly Holly. Jazz sported an ugly black eye and sat sullenly at ringside. Backstage, Terri caught Molly backstage. Molly - who now wore a shiny head of chocolate brown hair - said that the whole superhero thing was bringing her down since she is the best woman wrestler in the ring. Molly also said she is the most beautiful desirable Diva and unlike the others, she was also pure and wholesome. Trish didn't wait for Molly to get in the ring, she jumped Molly on the entrance ramp and began to beat on her. The beating continued in the ring with Trish hitting a drop kick on Molly's face. Molly decided that she wouldn't be fighting that day, so she left the ring and started up the ramp, but Trish caught her from behind. When the two reentered the ring, Molly took over, choking the breath out of Trish. Molly whipped Trish into the corner and hit a back-handspring elbow on her to produce a two-count. At ringside, JR and The King tried to get Jazz involved in the conversation, but she sat silently while staring at the action with hate building in her eyes. Meanwhile, Molly went to the top rope, but was flipped to the mat by Trish. Trish immediately left the ring and got in Jazz' face, but the champ slammed her to the hard concrete. Molly tossed Trish back in the ring, locked her up and took the pin! 

The massive Brock Lesnar paced nervously in his locker room while Paul Heyman told him to calm down. He said the people in Arizona were the worst audience in the world and didn't respect him. Heyman said that as Brock's agent, it was his job to keep things under control. Heyman made sure Brock was ready and the two headed to the ring.

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman arrived in the ring. Heyman took the microphone and said that when you stand next to Brock Lesnar, you can do anything you damn well please. Heyman said it pleased him to educate everyone on some historical facts that led to Heyman being hired as Brock's agent. Heyman said it was a historical fact that Heyman managed Steve Austin and groomed him to be Stone Cold. He also groomed the Undertaker into the Dead Man and was the architect behind ECW, which spawned the birth of WWF Attitude. Heyman said that he can spot the next big thing, and Brock Lesnar is it. But Heyman didn't want the fans to take his word for it. He showed footage of Brock destroying several opponents that he'd faced during his short time in the Federation.

As Heyman continued to expound on Lesnar's amazing ability, the Hardy Boyz raced in and attacked Brock! But the Next Big Thing flung the Hardys over the top rope! Matt and Jeff grabbed steel chairs and delivered several shots to Lesnar, which caused him to exit the ring in a pissed off mood! He angrily stared the two down as he backed up the entrance ramp with Heyman.Mr. Perfect clashed with the Big Show next. Perfect's chops to Big Show's chest had not effect, but when Show responded in kind, Mr. Perfect flung over the top rope! Big Show continued to dominate, but Mr. Perfect managed to get Show in position and flipped him in a PerfectPlex! That only angered Big Show, who gathered up his opponent and delivered the Showstopper for the win!

Backstage, Stone Cold stomped into Flair's office but found the place was deserted, The Rattlesnake simply say in Flair's chair and propped his feet on the desk, waiting for Flair's return. 

Flair did eventually return and Austin demanded an explanation about who was the No. 1 contender. Flair said that if Austin won his match, the two would still be the front runners and would have to face each other at Backlash to determine the top contender. Austin glared at him and thanked Flair for clearing up the confusion.

Scott Hall rambled down the entrance ramp first with X-Pac at his side. X-Pac carried Kane's mask with him and continued to gloat over his win from earlier in the evening. Stone Cold entered the ring next and stormed right at Scott Hall. He took down the Bad Guy and choked him with his shirt. Austin took the fight outside the ring and chopped Hall repeatedly across the chest. When the action reentered the ring, Austin Irish Whipped Hall from corner to corner. Soon after, Hall flung Austin over the top rope and allowed X-Pac to assault the Rattlenake. Austin disposed to X-Pac and turned back to Hall.

Scott Hall managed to level the field a bit by caching Austin with a sneaky low blow. Austin fell outside the ring again, where X-Pac lashed into the Rattlesnake. This allowed Hall to take control of the match. But soon, both men collided after bouncing off the ropes and fell in a heap on the mat. X-Pac soon got involved after the ref was taken down, but Austin took X-Pac out of the picture. Suddenly, Undertaker raced in and assaulted the Rattlesnake until Bradshaw came to the rescue and hauled the Dead Man off. Back in the ring, Hall had draped his arm over Austin and the ref began counting as he regained his bearings, but Austin kicked out!

The referee again fell to the mat, allowing X-Pac and Hall to hammer away with impunity. Suddenly, the RAW owner himself came down and distracted X-Pac while Austin delivered a Stone Cold Stunner to Scott Hall and took the pin! The Rattlesnake gave Flair a Stunner for good measure as well and chugged down some ice cold Steveweisers as RAW closed!