Raw is War

Toronto, Ontario
May 13, 2002

RAW opened with questions lingering in the air about Ric Flair's inexplicable double-cross of Stone Cold Steve Austin just one week prior. Tensions were peaking with Judgment Day just six days away!

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman sauntered to the ring first where The Next Big Thing would take on both Matt and Jeff Hardy in a Handicap match. The Hardy boys circled the ring in opposite directions to try to confuse their massive opponent, but the former NCAA Champion still managed to overpower Jeff when the bout began. The Hardys tried to use teamwork to their advantage, but Brock's strength could not be matched early on. He delivered several suplexes to Matt while barely showing any signs of exertion.

Before long, though, the Hardys began to string together some offense. They teamed for a Poetry in Motion, followed shortly after by a flying body press from Jeff and a flying leg drop from Matt delivered simultaneously off the top rope! Brock kicked out of the pin attempt, but Heyman pulled the ref from the ring anyhow. This earned a disqualification. After the match, Matt hit Brock with a Twist of Fate and Jeff followed with a Swanton Bomb!

The Hardys walked triumphantly up the ramp, but a livid Heyman stopped them with the microphone. A red-faced Heyman screamed that he demanded a rematch at Judgment Day. He dared the Hardys to take on Brock in a match where The Next Big Thing would team with Heyman himself! The Hardys eagerly accepted!

Backstage, Ric Flair told X-Pac and Big Show that a new era was beginning. He had to fire Scott Hall because Hall had let the nWo down too many times since losing to Austin at WrestleMania. But when Kevin Nash returned after rehabbing his torn biceps, he and the nWo would be bigger and badder than ever!

Ric Flair entered the ring with Big Show backing him up. Over a throng of booing, Flair asked the fans in Toronto if there was a problem. He said that if the fans knew anything about the business and who he was, you had to respect him. He said his 16 World Championships made him 15 times better than the Toronto Maple Leafs, which made the crowd scream for Flair's head. Flair also said that unlike the Maple Leafs, who had to rely on Tie Domi, he had a real enforcer in the Big Show!

Flair said there was clearly a problem between himself and Stone Cold Steve Austin. He said he tried to be Austin's friend and help him, but all he got in return were Stone Cold Stunners. Flair said that like the fans, Stone Cold is trash. Flair said he could now sympathize with what Vince McMahon went through because dealing with Austin is a pain in the ass. Flair said that at Judgment Day, Austin would bleed when he steps into the ring with himself and Big Show. Flair said he would show his power that night by making a WWE Championship match with two real legends facing each other. Hollywood Hulk Hogan would take on the Nature Boy with the title on the line!

Shawn Stasiak sprang into action next. Cameras showed him and Eddie Guerrero talking earlier in the day. Guerrero accused Stasiak's wacky demeanor of being attributed to some kind of dope that Stasiak was ingesting. Stasiak invited Eddie to find out in the ring.

Stasiak and Guerrero circled each other in the ring, but before they came to blows, Rob Van Dam strolled to ringside, sipping a bottle of water. RVD took a seat right next to the ring so he could get a good fix on the action. Stasiak leveled the Intercontinental Champ with a clothesline, followed by a lateral press. Guerrero kicked out and took over the momentum. He dropped Stasiak with a suplex and hit his Five-Star Frog Splash for the pin! But Guerrero didn't have a chance to celebrate as RVD pounced on the champ and tossed him from the ring with ease! 

RVD began walking up the ramp with a grin on his face, but Eddie took the mic and angrily demanded that he turn right around. He asked RVD who he thinks he is. RVD stuck up his thumbs and responded that he is Rob Van Dam!

Coach knocked on Austin's dressing room door in hopes of landing an interview. Debra answered and said that Austin wants to talk. She told Coach to wait there and she'd go get the Rattlesnake for him.

True to her word, Debra produced Austin for his interview. The Rattlesnake was visibly pissed off. He called Ric Flair a jackass and said that he did not trust him or care how many times he was a champion. Austin said he is not impressed by either Flair or Big Show. He said Flair did not deserve a title shot against Hulk Hogan. At Judgment Day, Austin said, Flair and Big Show would get their asses whipped!

Following commercial, a disclaimer was shown saying that the following segment was the views of Tommy Dreamer and viewer discretion was advised. A segment title "A day in the life of Tommy Dreamer" was shown. In it, a camera followed Dreamer as he brushed his dog's teeth then used the brush on his own, and did several other bizarre things, including drinking water out of a public urinal!

William Regal joined JR and The King at the broadcast table as a barely dressed Terrie came to the ring. Terri was set to take on Molly as a result of last week's swimsuit competition gone awry. Terri began choking Molly at the start of the match and managed to body slam her opponent. Molly took over from there, however, suplexing Terri and gaining control. Molly tried to finish Terri off by climbing the top rope, but she was knocked down and suffered hurracanrana from Terri! But shortly after, Molly caught Terri by surprise with an inside cradle and got the win!

Regal climbed in the ring and said it was nice to find a lady who can make a name for himself in a way other than hiking of her skirt or showing her bosom. Regal said it would be his honor to escort Molly up the ramp, and Molly took him up on the offer. 

Ric Flair was shown psyching himself up for his match against Hogan backstage while decked out in a sparkling blue robe.

The Nature Boy locked horns with the Undisputed Champion Hulk Hogan next. The champ rolled to the ring on a red and yellow motorcycle. Two legends stood inches apart in the center of the ring at the start. Hogan knocked Flair down early with a couple of shoulder blocks, which infuriated the WWE co-owner. Flair fled the ring and brought in a steel chair, but was disarmed by referee Charles Robinson. Flair tried chopping Hogan across the chest, but Hulk's eyes went wide wand he punched Flair repeatedly in the corner. 

Hogan continued to dish out punishment until Flair snuck in a low blow out of the ref's sight. Flair took over, tossing Hogan from the ring. But Hogan fended off the attack and cracked Flair's skull against the steel ring steps. Back in the ring, Hogan locked the Nature Boy in his own signature Figure Four leglock! Flair screamed in pain, but managed to break the hold by reaching the ropes. 

Flair began assaulting Hogan with chops and punches, but the champ Hulked up and took over. He hit a big boot followed by a legdrop and went for the pin, but X-Pac stormed in and stopped the count! Because it was a no-disqualification match, the ref was powerless to interfere as Big Show came down and took a shot on Hogan as well! Suddenly, Bradshaw raced down to even the score, but Flair seized the opportunity to attack Hogan! The WWE Championship may have changed hands if Stone Cold Steve Austin hadn't raced down and given Flair a Stunner! Hogan followed with a leg drop and covered Flair to retain his title!

Ric Flair went completely bonkers backstage, throwing things around his locker room and screaming at X-Pac and Big Show. Flair said that Austin would pay as he would be in a Lumberjack match with the Lumberjacks being hand picked by Flair himself! His opponent, Flair said, would be the newest member of the nWo, who would be revealed later on. Bradshaw would also have to accept a punishment. He would take on Big Show and X-Pac in a Handicap Match.

In a unique contest Trish Stratus entered the ring along with Bubba Ray Dudley in a tag match against Stevie Richards and Jazz. Although it was a tag match, the rules stated that only the women could face each other and the men could only trade blows with Hardcore match rules also applying. Both the Women's Championship and the Hardcore Championship would be on the line as well. While Jazz and Stevie came to the ring, Bubba pressed Trish over his head and tossed her onto the opponents! In the ring, Trish smashed Jazz with a trash can and Bubba Ray cracked Stevie right in the jewels with a hockey stick! Things went completely batty from there as Justin Credible and Crash entered the fray., Justin got a music lesson as Bubba broke a guitar over his noggin. The guys began fighting outside of the ring, leaving Jazz and Trish to take over the action. Trish hit the Stratusfaction and pinned Jazz to become the new WWE Women's Champion in her hometown! Trish wasn't done yet, though. She slugged Jazz with the championship and yelled for Bubba to get the tables! Bubba could barely contain his excitement as he got out the wood and set it up in the ring. Trish picked Jazz up and sent her up to Bubba on the top turnbuckle. Within seconds, the table was splintered and Jazz lay completely broken amidst the rubble.

Backstage, the Undertaker was approached by Coach who wanted to know what Taker thought about what Hogan did to his motorcycle. Taker didn't utter a word, but he spoke with an evil look that seemed to give Coach a scare.

Backstgage, Goldust was saying how excited he was that he and another superstar were picked to be lumberjacks. He started singing a traditional lumberjack match, but was cut off as the camera switched to Booker T, dressed as a lumberjack complete with a flannel shirt, thick beard and an ax! Goldust loved Booker's look, but Booker T got angry and told Goldust if he liked the outfit so much, he should wear it. 

X-Pac and Big Show were set to get out their frustrations at Bradshaw's expense in a Handicap match. X-Pac continued to gloat over his thrashing of Kane by wearing The Big Red Machine's mask to the ring. 

Bradshaw started off against X-Pac, but then ordered Big Show to tag in. That proved to be a bad move on the Texan's part as Show softened Bradshaw up enough for X-Pac to come in. The nWo tandem was simply too much for even the tough as nails Bradshaw to handle. He went to hit the Clothesline from Hell on X-Pac but was met on the ropes by a steel chair delivered by the Big Show. Show followed with two chokeslams, and X-Pac covered Bradshaw for the win!

Coach found Hogan backstage and asked about his upcoming match against the Undertaker at Judgment Day. Hogan said he was going to go out for some fun in TO, but he decided he should return the favor to Stone Cold by sticking around for Austin's match. Suddenly, Taker attacked Hogan from behind with a tire iron! He then tied a rope to Hogan's gleaming red and yellow bike and attached the other end to Hogan's leg. Taker said that the two of them would be going for a ride! After a few more shots to Hogan's face, Taker mounted the bike and took off, pulling the Undisputed Champion with him! Taker raced around until Hogan collided with a stack of metal rods, which fell on top of him. Taker told Hogan he'd see him Sunday before laughing and walking off.

EMTs had to attend to Hogan backstage. The champion was in some pretty bad shape following the Undertaker's attack. 

Back in the ring, dozens of lumberjacks stood outside the squared circle as Austin made his way down. When the Rattlesnake got close, he was assaulted by the lumberjacks, who tossed him in the ring. Flair took the mic and told Booker T to get in the ring because he is the new member of the nWo! 

Booker immediately pounced on Austin and began to knock him around. Booker got some help when Austin was pulled outside and assaulted by the lumberjacks. Brock Lesnar bashed Austin around before tossing him back inside.

Austin tried to mount some offense, but each time he was thwarted by the lumberjacks and Booker. Booker T dropped Austin with a scissors kick then whipped off a spineroonie! But somehow, Austin got the best of the nWo as he rolled up Booker T without warning and held him to the mat for a three count. 

Austin laughed as he strolled up the ramp, but that didn't last long as he was blindsided by Arn Anderson! Flair's best friend herded Austin back in the ring, where he was picked apart by the nWo! RAW closed with a busted open Rattlesnake bleeding on the mat, surrounded by a celebrating nWo!