Raw is War

Richmond, Virginia
June 11, 2001

RAW IS WAR exploded live from the sold-out Richmond Coliseum in Virginia as Commissioner William Regal entered the ring. Mr. Regal said that he had a simple question - where has all the sportsmanship and decency gone? He said that last week's match between Mr. McMahon and Stone Cold and Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit would be forever tainted. Tainted because Chris Benoit was promoting nudity and poor sportsmanship by pulling on Austin's shorts to pin him!

Regal said that if Benoit's actions were befitting of a champion, then he would step down as commissioner! But, alas, Regal didn't, because he believed sportsmanship still existed in the world. Regal then announced that Chris Jericho would be facing Rhyno and the Big Show in a handicap match! He added that Benoit would take on Kurt Angle, in a steel cage!

The Commissioner then moved on to the King of the Ring. He said that both Benoit and Jericho had beaten Stone Cold in tag team matches, but that didn't prove they deserved a title shot in a singles match! Regal said that tomfoolery might have been a part of a previous regime, but he would not tolerate it!

Before he could go on, former Commissioner Mick Foley interrupted and joined Regal in the ring! Mick said that he wanted to admit that many times in the past, he had been guilty of committing tomfoolery! Mick said he wanted to announce a very important guest, but before he could announce his guest, Regal asked security to take Foley away.

Before security could come to the ring, Linda McMahon walked down the rampway! William Regal told Linda he was very excited to see her. Linda cut him off, and told him she had been thinking about and appropriate main event for King of the Ring. She said that Jericho and Benoit were both deserving of a title shot! Linda said that Stone Cold should face both men in individual matches - first, a match against Benoit. If he should win that, he would face Jericho later! Linda then rescinded, because she had a different idea, one that was given to her by Mick Foley! Foley pointed out to Linda something Stone Cold said last week - that he could beat both Benoit and Jericho at the same time! Linda announced that the King of the Ring main event would be Stone Cold facing Benoit and Jericho in a Triple Threat match!

Linda said that was what she wanted, and what her lawyers wanted, and what Vince would want - because it would make Linda's lawyers happy! She asked Regal if that was what he wanted, and the commissioner agreed to the match!

In the back, Edge talked with Rhyno about the Hardcore title, when Christian walked up. Christian said that it reeked that he had to face Kane to get into the King of the Ring tournament. Edge said it'd be all right, because he would be in his corner and Rhyno would be rooting him on from the back! Christian angrily walked away, and as he did, Edge told Rhyno, "He may be my brother, but sometimes he can be such a bitch!"

The winner of the Kane vs. Christian match would qualify for the King of the Ring tourney. Kane manhandled Christian from the get-go, laying Christian out after a boot to the face. The Big Red Machine went for the pin, but Edge pulled him away. When Kane went after Edge at ringside, Christian went to hit him but got Kane instead! Then, as the referee was distracted, Albert ran out and flattened Kane with a Baldo-Bomb! Christian was able to cover Kane and get the pin to advance to the King of the Ring!

As Stone Cold Steve Austin arrived at the building, Linda McMahon greeted him, and he immediately got in her face. Mick Foley said that he didn't like how Austin treated Debra and he didn't like how he was treating Linda. Foley informed Austin of the King of the Ring match, which further incensed the Rattlesnake! Mick and Linda then left the building as Austin steamed.

In tag team action, the Hardy Boyz faced Justin Credible and X-Pac of X-Factor. Jeff Hardy pinned X-Pac after nailing him with a Swanton Bomb! After the match, X-Pac grabbed a steel chair and smacked Jeff over the head!

In the commissioner's office, Tajiri begged to become a superstar when Stone Cold burst in. The Bionic Redneck said that there was a conspiracy trying to get the title away from Austin. When Tajiri tried to interject, Austin flattened him!

In the back, Trish Stratus told Steve Blackman that she wanted to support him at ringside for his match against Perry Saturn. Blackman asked if she just wanted to join him or try to get a piece of Terri. Trish said it was a little of both.

Outside their locker room, Benoit and Jericho discussed their opportunity at King of the Ring vs. Austin. Both promised each other that whoever won, they would give the other man the first title shot.

Elsewhere, Spike Dudley told Molly Holly he would give her the kiss he was going to give her on SmackDown! But then he heard that the Dudley family was taking on the Holly family later on RAW! Molly apologized for her cousins, and Spike told her that he would never fight against Molly again. Just as the two were about to kiss, Bubba pulled Spike away, and then promised Molly that he wouldn't forget to bring the table to the ring!

In the parking area, Vince told Stone Cold he didn't know anything about the match Linda had made. When Vince said he wanted to talk about it in the dressing room, Austin told him he'd better not walk away from him! Vince stopped and looked at Austin nervously. Then, the Rattlesnake hugged Vince, but still had an angry look in his eyes!

Chris Jericho faced nearly impossible odds in a handicap match against the Big Show and Hardcore Champion Rhyno. As the crowd chanted for Y2J, Rhyno and Show took turns tossing Jericho around the ring. But, Jericho hit Big Show with a missile dropkick and went for the Walls of Jericho, but Rhyno pulled Jericho away! Jericho went to hit Rhyno, but the Man-Beast hit Big Show with a Gore! Rhyno hit Jericho with a Gore to take the win! After the match, Jericho seemed to be struggling to get to his feet.

In the parking area, Shane McMahon walked in the building and ran into Kane, and Kane told him that Albert was going to pay. Shane thanked Kane for saving him last week, and then offered some help on finding Undertaker's stalker - Shane knew of one man who interfered in people's personal lives - Kurt Angle! After all, it was Angle who messed with Stephanie and Triple H's marriage!

As Rhyno ran through the back, Michael Cole asked why he hit Rhyno with a Gore. Rhyno said that it was simple - he wanted to get the pin, because he has now pinned Chris Jericho three straight times, and if Jericho wins at King of the Ring, it makes Rhyno the No. 1 contender!

As Y2J was getting checked on by medical personnel, Stone Cold burst in and attacked, leaving Jericho lying on the floor!

Kurt Angle then made his way out to the ring and said that he was going to beat Chris Benoit once again, only this time, it would be in a steel cage. Angle said that all his life, he lived by one motto only - cheaters never win. And Benoit is a cheater! Angle said that it was his non-cheater ways that made him a National Wrestling Hall of Famer! Angle then rolled footage of himself being inducted into that Hall of Fame. The Olympic Hero then added that he was the closest thing there is to a modern-day superhero! He went on to say that he would be the first man to win the King of the Ring two years in a row, and then after he won, he would teach Shane McMahon a lesson. Angle told Shane to not be a coward and come out right then!

Instead of Shane, the Undertaker met Kurt's challenge! The Dead Man told Angle that he wanted answers. Kurt replied that he was sorry that some whacko was stalking his wife, but Kurt said that he had met Taker's wife and he didn't even like her! After the Dead Man gave Kurt a Last Ride, more footage of the sick stalker was shown. The stalker told Taker that he knew he was hiding his wife, in fact, he knew the exact room that she was in! The stalker warned that he was getting angry with Taker, so he was leaving Sara a message that he knew where she was!

Back in the ring, the Undertaker ran to the back, and Shane McMahon snuck into the ring and hit Kurt Angle with an Angle Slam! The WCW Chairman ran away before security could get to him.

In a King of the Ring qualifying match, Perry Saturn went up against Steve Blackman. Saturn picked up the win with a Fisherman's Suplex but, after the match, Trish went after Terri! Dean Malenko grabbed Blackman's kendo stick, but the Lethal Weapon snagged it and whacked Saturn over the head with it! Perry sat dazed in the ring after another blow to the head.

In his dressing room, Stone Cold stewed about his impending King of the Ring match, and Debra offered him a carrot, which he declined. Austin said that what he wanted was to not face Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. He said that since he was Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was going to get his way.

Elsewhere, Molly Holly begged her cousins to not hurt Spike. She told them that she didn't know how she felt about him. Hardcore and Crash both laughed at Molly and told her that the only way she could guarantee Spike didn't get hurt was if she pinned him herself!

Terri and Dean Malenko entered Commissioner Regal's office and told him that Perry Saturn was going nuts after all these shots to the head. Because of that, the two asked to have SmackDown! off. Regal agreed, and then Perry Saturn walked in. Saturn told Regal that British people fight dragons because they are so fiery, and then added, "You're welcome!" As the Radicalz walked out, Malenko told a befuddled Regal, "See? This is what I have to live with!"

In mixed six-man tag team action, the Holly cousins - Hardcore, Crash and Molly - took on the Dudley brothers - Bubba, D-Von and Spike. Both Spike and Molly were obviously reluctant to participate in the match. Spike and Molly began the match in the ring together, but refused to lie a hand on each other. Hardcore then slapped Molly to tag himself in and began punishing Spike. The runt of the Dudley litter was able to make his way over to his brothers and tagged in Bubba. Bubba then teamed up with D-Von to nail Hardcore with the Wassap Headbutt!

As Hardcore lie in the ring, Bubba begged for a table! D-Von and Bubba set up a table, and Bubba chased down Molly, but she was able to get away. After getting back in the ring, D-Von and Bubba hit Spike with a 3D and picked up the win. After the match, Hardcore Holly went after Bubba. The two ended up brawling to the ring apron and both ended up falling through the table! That left just Molly and Spike the only two standing. They entered the ring together and took each others hands. Molly leaned in to Spike and the two kissed each other! They walked out of the ring hand-in-hand as their families lie in ruins around them!

In a special update from Triple H about his injured quadriceps, footage was shown of the Game's difficult rehabilitation he has been going through. The doctor said that he was ahead of schedule, so they were slowing him down, so he wouldn't be too aggressive. Triple H promised he would be better than ever when he came back.

From WWF New York, Test told J.R. that it was hard to believe that he was actually very good friend with Shane. Test added that if there were any rumors about Test and WCW, he said he definitely wanted a piece of that action!

The steel cage was slowly lowered in preparation of the match between Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle! Before the match began, Stone Cold Steve Austin angrily stormed out to ringside to join Paul Heyman and Jim Ross at the announce table. The tension was palpable between J.R. and Austin.

There were only three ways to win the match - by pinfall, submission or by escaping the cage - and Benoit and Angle both began the match like a house ablaze! Angle soon became the aggressor in the match and cornered Benoit with some hard shots to the face. When Benoit went after Angle, he accidentally catapulted himself face-first into the cage. Angle continued his offensive by pounding Benoit's face off the cage. The Olympic Hero and Hall of Famer slammed Benoit with suplexes. Angle then went to escape the cage, and soon, both men were slugging it out while standing on the top rope! Angle clutched the cage for dear life and Benoit attempted to suplex him! Angle's grip slipped and Benoit suplexed him off the top rope into the center of the ring!

Both men continued to brawl as Angle climbed back up the rope and then flew down, nailing Benoit with a flying elbow! Benoit stood back up and started tossing Angle off the cage walls. Angle couldn't stand any more, and Benoit started to climb. Kurt made it to his feet and hit Benoit with a low blow, causing the Wolverine to fall. Angle then flattened him with an Angle Slam and began climbing out of the cage. Kurt climbed to the top of the cage and went to hit Benoit with a moonsault, but Benoit rolled away! As Angle was incapacitated, Benoit started kicking and stomping him. The two men both were suffering, but neither would give up. Benoit started hitting Angle with suplexes as the crowd counted along!

In the end, Benoit hit Angle with nine consecutive German Suplexes before climbing to the top of the cage!

When he got up there, Austin stood up from the announce table and went over and threatened Benoit with his steel chair! The Wolverine turned around and dove down onto Angle with his Flying Headbutt! Both men were suffering the effects of that blow! As Austin prowled outside the ring, Benoit and Angle both struggled to get to their feet. Benoit tried to escape out the door, but Austin held it shut! So Benoit hit the door into Austin with a baseball slide! Angle tried to lock on the Ankle Lock, but the Wolverine escaped! As Benoit tried to get out the door again, Austin slammed the door right on his head! Angle started climbing out of the cage and made it to the ground, getting the win after a brutal match!

After Angle's win, Stone Cold entered the cage and started pounding on Benoit with a chair! Stone Cold fumed as RAW went off the air!