Raw is War

Providence, Rhode Island
July 16, 2001

As RAW IS WAR kicked off, Stone Cold Steve Austin was seen sitting alone drinking a beer inside the Friendly Tap Pub in Providence, Rhode Island.

With Jim Ross and Michael Cole doing commentary, a crutch-sporting Spike Dudley hobbled down the ramp and made his way into the ring. He told the crowd that he had something building up inside him for a while now, so he wanted to get it off his chest. He then called out Molly Holly, saying that he had something he wanted to tell her. Molly made her way into the ring, and Spike told her that he loved her. Molly responded by saying she loved him, too. Spike then presented her with a rose. Molly said she had something to give him, too, but she couldn’t give it to him in the ring. That response prompted Spike to tell the crowd that they were leaving. Then, the ECW theme music hit, and the mad scientist of sports entertainment – Paul Heyman – came to the ring.

Heyman told Spike that he gave him a job five years ago in ECW at a time when small men didn’t have a spot in this industry. He said that he wanted him to return to ECW, and after he was done with Molly that night, he should meet him at the ECW headquarters tomorrow. Spike said he wanted to stay with Molly. Heyman responded by saying that after liposuction, Molly, too, had a place in ECW. At that point, Spike threatened to kick Heyman’s ass with his only good leg, which prompted Bubba Ray and D-Von to make their way out.

Bubba Ray grabbed the mic and said that the last time he saw Spike, he had cost the Dudleyz the WWF Tag Team Championship. He said that he and D-Von were tired of working their asses off when Spike was stealing their spotlight. D-Von then got on the mic and said that they should give the crowd something to really talk about, and they proceeded to hammer away on the already-injured runt of the Dudley litter. Molly came to the aid of her boyfriend by nailing Bubba Ray with a steel chair, but D-Von restrained her long enough for Bubba to set up a table. D-Von then passed Molly to Bubba Ray, and he planted the blonde beauty through the table as a tied-up Spike watched in horror! Paramedics rushed to ringside to carry the injured diva away.

Backstage, Kurt Angle was deciding on how he should accept Mr. McMahon’s invitation to be the new leader of Team WWF. Mr. McMahon then came in and asked what the gold medalist was doing in his office. He then asked where Stone Cold was, and Angle told him that not only was he not here, but he was at some lowly bar called the Friendly Tap. The Federation Chairman then left, saying that he was going to go get the Rattlesnake!

Faarooq, seconded by Bradshaw, then battled Chuck Palumbo, who was accompanied to the ring by Sean O’Haire, in one-on-one action. During the match, Jim Ross announced that the APA would be facing Palumbo and O’Haire this Sunday at Invasion. Bradshaw and O’Haire went back and forth outside the ring as the match endured. Palumbo picked up the win after a superkick to Faarooq’s face for the 1-2-3.

Kurt Angle then complained to the Brooklyn Brawler about why he should be the leader of Team WWF, obviously upset that Mr. McMahon wouldn’t name him the captain. He said that he was extreme because he drank milk a day after the expiration date. ECW’s Raven then came up to Angle accused the former Federation Champion that he knew nothing about being extreme, and he challenged Angle to a match under ECW rules later on RAW!

ECW’s Mike Awesome made his way to the ring with Lance Storm. Storm grabbed the mic and said that he wanted to challenge the two guys that he said epitomized everything that was wrong with the business – Edge and Christian – to a match this Sunday at Invasion. At that point, Edge and Christian came to the stage. Christian said that he couldn’t believe that he actually stumbled upon a living, breathing Reekasaurus Rex! Edge said that he and his brother would accept their challenge for a match this Sunday at Invasion

Edge then battled Awesome in singles competition. Edge hit his Buzzkiller DDT on Awesome and went for the cover, but Storm pulled his ally’s foot on the rope. At that point, Edge and Christian went for a Con-Chair-To on Awesome, but the WCW referee pulled the chair away from Christian. With the official’s back turned, Storm hit a superkick to the face of Edge, laying him out, allowing Awesome to pin the 2001 King of the Ring for the win!

Backstage, Stephanie was telling Booker T that she was so incredibly proud that he was the WCW World and U.S. Champion. Y2J Chris Jericho walked up and congratulated the Billion Dollar Princess for acquiring ECW. He said he finally knew what ECW stood for – Every Customer Welcome. Booker T stepped in and said that Jericho was real tough talking to a lady like that. The WCW Champ challenged Y2J to a match, but Jericho said he would only accept it if the WCW Title was on the line! Stephanie accepted the match for Booker T.

In the Commissioner’s office, William Regal was telling Tajiri that he was going to teach Tazz a little respect their match later on RAW.

Stephanie was seen talking with Shane and Heyman about how Team WECW was going to kick Team WWF’s ass at Invasion. Shane said that Team WECW would be DDP, Booker T, the Dudley Boyz and Rhyno!

Mr. McMahon walked into the Friendly Tap Pub, where he was met by Debra. He asked her how Stone Cold was doing, and she said she hadn’t seen him act this way in a long time. The Federation chairman then went up to Austin and told him that he was sorry about what happened on SmackDown!, but the World Wrestling Federation really did need the “old” Stone Cold to lead Team WWF at Invasion. Mr. McMahon said there was nothing wrong with the current Stone Cold, but he needed the former finger-gesturing, beer swilling S.O.B. to combat the threat of WECW this Sunday. Vince pleaded for the Rattlesnake’s help, but Austin simply turned his back on his boss, prompting Vince to leave, saying that he hoped to see Stone Cold at the arena later that night.

Next up, ECW’s Tazz took on Federation Commissioner William Regal. Tajiri joined J.R. and Cole on commentary. During the match, Tajiri left the announce position and entered the ring. He ripped off his polo shirt to unveil an ECW shirt! It looked as though Tajiri had defected back to his former company when suddenly he attacked Tazz! The Japanese Buzzsaw locked in his Tarantula on the man from Red Hook as Commissioner Regal celebrated the Federation’s first triumph of the night.

DDP and Rhyno were talking backstage about how the world would never forget their match against the Undertaker and Kane later in the night. Page asked Rhyno to go get some of the boys and bring them back to the locker room because he was going to have a special airing of the unedited footage of the Undertaker’s wife, Sara.

Back at the Friendly Tap, Federation ref Tim White handed the Rattlesnake a beer and told him that he had closed the bar for Stone Cold so he could think about his decision leading Team WWF this Sunday. White said he knew his friend Austin would do the right thing.

Booker T, accompanied by WCW owner Shane McMahon, defended his WCW Championship against Y2J. Jericho had the WCW Champ in the Walls of Jericho until Shane distracted Y2J. Booker T hit a gut-busting flapjack on Jericho for a two-count. Jericho retaliated with a missile dropkick and went for the pin, but WCW ref Nick Patrick only counted to two before suddenly gesturing that he had injured his arm and was unable to slap the mat for a third time. Y2J locked in the Walls of Jericho again, but Patrick then mysteriously hurt his leg, which prevented him from seeing the WCW Champ tapping out. WWF ref Earl Hebner ran in and was about to motion for the submission win – making Jericho the WCW Champion -- but at the last second, Shane grabbed Hebner’s and knocked him out!

Jericho went after Shane, but the distraction allowed Booker T to regain his composure and roll up Jericho as Patrick slapped down a fast three-count!

Backstage, Perry Saturn was gazing at his mop –now sporting a painted face – when Heyman walked into the locker room and told Terri that he wanted to talk to Perry. Heyman told Saturn that he wanted him to return to ECW. Saturn responded by saying “Snausages.” Heyman told him to think about it, which prompted Saturn to reply, “You’re welcome!”

Carrying a trash can full of weapons, Raven headed to the ring to battle Kurt Angle in a ECW-rules match. Angle won the match after making Raven tap out to the ankle-lock submission. The American hero continued to decimate Raven in the middle of the ring, choking the former ECW Champion, and then attacking him with a steel chair. Chris Kanyon, Justin Credible and Shawn Stasiak of WECW ran out to help Raven, but Angle fended them off with the chair, forcing the trio to retreat back to the locker room.

Stone Cold was then seen shooting pool at the Friendly Tap with Debra.

Next up, the Hardy Boyz battled the Dudley Boyz. Matt his hit Twist of Fate on D-Von, which was followed by a Swanton Bomb by Jeff. Jeff went for the cover, but Bubba Ray pulled him off after a two-count. D-Von went for the pin on Matt, when suddenly, ECW’s Rob Van Dam ran in and assisted D-Von for the win. Jeff attacked Van Dam, but he was restrained by the Dudleys. Van Dam then hit Jeff with his Five-Star Frog Splash from the top rope as ECW’s theme blared throughout the arena!

Mr. McMahon entered his locker room to find the APA waiting for him. Faarooq and Bradshaw were furious about the actions of WECW. Vince told the duo that he didn’t think Stone Cold wasn’t going to show up, so he asked the APA to gather all the members of the WWF locker room for a company meeting.

Shane, Stephanie and Paul Heyman then gave a pep talk to the entire WCW/ECW roster. told the members of WECW that this Sunday was their last chance. She said that she and Shane had sold all their Federation stock, so there was no turning back. Shane proclaimed that after Sunday, there was no tomorrow. He said the Federation would never take them back because WECW was the biggest threat to ever go up against the WWF. Heyman stood up and said that the WWF would find out what hardcore was all about this Sunday when Team WECW took out the best the Federation had to offer

After Shane, Stephanie and Paul said their piece, all the WECW members screamed and cheered in excitement, pumped up at the thought that they might actually overtake the WWF this Sunday at Invasion!

In another locker room, Vince addressed the entire Federation locker room. The APA riled up the troops by saying that they weren’t going to take it anymore, and Vince said that everyone in the room was threatened by WECW. He said the coalition wanted to eat each one of them alive, and they wanted to finish them off this Sunday. Undertaker then spoke up and said that it was time to nut up or shut up. He said Austin obviously didn’t have the heart to back up the company that made him, so they would have to do it together. Taker said there was no honor in not fighting at all. At that point, the Brooklyn Brawler brought Federation legend “Classy” Freddie Blassie into the locker room. In a passionate speech, Blassie said that now was the time for everyone to fight for what they believed in. His heartfelt words brought the Federation’s locker room even closer together.

Back at the Friendly Tap, Austin was watching the events unfold at the arena on a closed circuit television. The words of his peers obviously affected him, and after smashing a pool cue into pieces, an emotional Stone Cold stormed out of the pub.

Two of the Federation’s most sultry divas went at it next, as Trish took on Terri. Trish -- who will team up with Lita this Sunday against WCW’s Stacy Keibler and Torrie Wilson in the first-ever tag-team Bra and Panties match at Invasion -- ended up pinning Terri after a bulldog. After the match, Trish attempted to take off Terri’s bra, when Stacy and Torrie ran out to attack the blonde bombshell. Lita then ran to the ring to help her fellow Federation diva, chasing the WCW beauties back to the locker room!

The main event on RAW pitted DDP and Rhyno against the Undertaker and Kane. The match started fast and furious, as all four men went at it in the ring. Undertaker hit a sidewalk slam on DDP for a two-count, but DDP kicked out. At that point, the Dudley Boyz and Booker T ran out to help Team WECW. That prompted the Hardyz, the APA and Jericho to even the odds for Team WWF. The ring continued to fill up with members of both sides, and members of the companies were even battling in the backstage area and the parking lot! Suddenly, shockingly, and much to the delight of the sold-out crowd in Providence, Stone Cold pulled up to the parking area in his Austin 3:16 truck and started whipping some WECW ass! The Rattlesnake made his way to the backstage area, beating on every WECW member in sight with a broken pool cue.

As the fight continued in the ring, the familiar sound of broken glass filled the arena, and as every fan rose to their feet, out came Austin! The Stone Cold of old began dishing out ass kickings to every WECW star in sight, stunning the hell out of everyone!

Team WWF continued to hand out punishment until all five members of Team WWF had cleared out the ring. With the WECW stars licking their wounds at ringside, Stone Cold stood aside his Federation Superstars in a show of unity. The old Stone Cold was back, and the people in Providence loved every minute of it!

Backstage, Shane and Stephanie bad-mouthed “Classy” Freddie Blassie, saying that his words in the Federation locker room were a moot point, considering how WECW was going to destroy his former company this Sunday at Invasion. Stephanie said that Blassie and the WWF had a lot in common – they were both about to die! Shane then told Blassie to get the hell out of there as RAW went off the air!