Raw is War
Providence, Rhode Island
February 28, 2005
Dream match made
Feb. 28, 2005
SmackDown! Superstar Kurt Angle answered Shawn Michaels’ challenge Monday night
on RAW, and he left Providence, R.I., with blood on his hands.
Angle assaulted HBK seconds after the conclusion of his Street Fight Match with
Edge, pummeling Michaels’ helpless body and delivering the Olympic Slam.
Afterward, Angle grabbed a microphone and in regards to the WrestleMania
challenge, said, “I accept.”
It was a shocking conclusion to a vicious and highly competitive Street Fight
Match. Early on, Edge busted Michaels’ head open with a modified DDT onto a
steel chair. Edge then got the blood really flowing when a drop toe-hold sent
Michaels’ face into a ladder.
The latter stages of the match found the ring littered with weapons, but both
Ladder Match veterans frequently went to the ladder to deliver their most
innovative and punishing attacks. After a series of low blows, Michaels somehow
willed his way out of a spear. When Edge went to his finisher again, Michaels
countered with a lightning quick Superkick for the win.
But as soon as the bell rang, Angle was upon him. By the time the SmackDown!
intruder was finished, his hands, chest and street clothes were covered in
Michaels’ blood. At least at WrestleMania, Michaels will see Angle coming.
As WrestleMania goes Hollywood, none other than Hogan himself will be inducted
to the WWE Hall of Fame. In addition, Stone Cold will appear on Piper’s Pit.
He's also on the cover of RAW Magazine. WrestleMania now has the biggest names,
world championship defenses and inter-brand dream matches that weeks ago we
never thought possible.
Earlier on RAW, Triple H sent a message to Batista by dismantling The Hurricane.
Then, Evolution interrupted Batista’s Q&A with Jim Ross. But when Ric Flair
charged the ring, Triple H balked. As a result, “The Nature Boy” suffered
through a spinebuster and Batista Bomb while The Game was frenzied outside the
ring. The World Heavyweight Champion may have avoided a physical confrontation
on RAW, but we’ll see the match at WrestleMania 21.
After finishing Maven with the Walls of Jericho, Y2J made his own WrestleMania
statement. Saying he wanted to make history, Jericho described his pay-per-view
vision: six elite Superstars, the chance of a lifetime and a very big steel
ladder. More details are sure to be revealed soon.
The third time wasn’t the charm for Gene Snitsky in a zero-tolerance
Intercontinental Championship Match on Monday. After two weeks of DQs, General
Manager Eric Bischoff stipulated that if Benjamin got disqualified again, he’d
lose the championship. So, Benjamin went out there and used technique to top the
big man. When Snitsky went for a chair, Shelton countered with a stinger splash
and T-bone suplex for the win.
Muhammad Hassan was disqualified in his grudge match with Chris Benoit, but it
was The Crippler who was again left lying in pain after a contest-ending
low-blow.
Elsewhere on RAW, Trish Stratus interrupted Christy’s Playboy cover unveiling,
hitting the Bunny with a Chick Kick, then spray painting “SLUT” across her back.
“Superstar” Billy Graham had some advice for Randy Orton, telling him to do
something truly unique at the pay-per-view on April 3. Afterward, The Legend
Killer had his eye on the latest edition of SmackDown! magazine, depicting on
the cover the legendary Undertaker.
“The Masterpiece” Chris Masters racked up another win with his swinging full
nelson submission, and we got an update on his last opponent, as well. Steven
Richards suffered a broken nose and orbital bone as a result of Masters’
double-sledgehammer last week on RAW.
We also learned that next week, it’ll be Batista vs. Ric Flair in Nature Boy
country of Raleigh, N.C.
MATCH RESULTS
Triple H vs. The Hurricane (never officially got underway)
Chris Benoit def. Muhammad Hassan (DQ)
Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin def. Gene Snitsky (Zero-tolerance
match)
Chris Masters def. Providence local wrestler
Chris Jericho def. Maven
Shawn Michaels def. Edge