Raw is War

Boston, Massachusetts
November 12, 2001

With just six days remaining until the historic "Winner Take All" match at Survivor Series on Pay-Per-View, RAW lit up the FleetCenter in Boston.

Kurt Angle wasted no time in coming out to the ring with his WCW United States Championship slung over his right shoulder. The Olympic Hero, under suspicion by some Alliance members as a possible mole for the World Wrestling Federation, said he had a story to tell and he hoped Stone Cold was listening. Angle explained that there was once a group of talented men who had a chance to win it all, but they lost the opportunity due to back-stabbing and lack of leadership. They became a group of losers with nothing. "Of course, I'm talking about the 2001 Boston Red Sox," Angle said.

Angle said the Alliance had better win Sunday. Unlike the Boston Red Sox, who have another year to screw things up after their season is finished, the Alliance won't have a second opportunity if it loses at Survivor Series. Angle demanded that Austin come out and apologize for delivering the Stunner and he would not leave until that happened.

Entrance music hit, but it did not begin with glass breaking. Instead, Edge came out and faced Angle. Edge called Angle selfish for throwing away the respect of the people and his peers by joining the Alliance. Edge challenged Angle to a match for the WCW U.S. Title right then and there! Angle told Edge to come and get it. The bell rang and the evening's first match got underway!

Angle took Edge down first, then celebrated with a yell. But Edge turned the tide and let out a scream to mimic Angle's. With the crowd chanting "Angle sucks!," Edge slammed Kurt face first into the canvas. But Angle came back and suplexed Edge to the outside of the ring. Angle beat on Edge then brought him back into the ring where he stomped and smacked him in the corner. Angle continued to dominate with his amazing technical skill. He climbed the top rope and let loose a moonsault, but Edge rolled to safety. This allowed Edge to recover. He came back with a series of clotheslines, but had to dodge an attempt at an Angle Slam from his opponent. But shortly after, Angle landed his trademark finishing move, then latched on the Ankle Lock. Edge lifted his hand to tap out, but an explosion marking Kane's entrance music hit!

Angle stood up and looked for The Big Red Machine, who was nowhere to be found! This allowed Edge to sneak up behind Angle, roll him up and become the WCW U.S. Champion! After the match, Kane came through the crowd and surprised Angle from behind! He grasped Angle in the Ankle Lock, then let go so he could fight off a stream of Alliance Superstars who sprinted to Kurt's defense. After the dust cleared, Kane stood strong in the center of the ring!

Backstage, Michael Cole asked Tazz about his challenge to Stone Cold for a non-title match that evening. Tazz said the challenge was a result of taking four months of abuse from the Rattlesnake. Tazz said before he was out of a job, he'd get a piece of Tazz. A man is most dangerous, Tazz said, when he has nothing to lose.

Five-time former WCW Champion Booker T and Federation Intercontinental Champion Test put their Federation Tag Team Championship on the line against the Hardy Boyz next. The Hardy Boyz arrived at the ring with Lita and set out to bring the gold back to the Federation. But things didn't start out the way Team Xtreme would have liked. Booker T pounded on Jeff Hardy at the start of the match, then tagged in Test. Test battered Jeff, but Matt Hardy managed to tag in and turned momentum around. Matt hit a leg drop off the second turnbuckle and would have scored a pinfall on Test if Booker hadn't broken up the count. Soon after, Matt hit a Twist of Fate on Booker and Jeff followed with a Swanton Bomb! That would have ended things, but Test came in and landed a Big Boot. With Matt and Test trading blows outside of the ring, Lita hit a Litaranna on Booker T that dazed the champ enough for Jeff to roll Booker up and take the pin! After the match, Jeff Hardy celebrated with his newly won tag team championship on one arm and Lita in the other as a perplexed Matt Hardy viewed the scene.

In his office, Mr. McMahon happily watched the Hardys win when Hugh Morrus and Chavo Guerrero Jr. came in. The two complimented Mr. McMahon on the Federation's success so far that evening and shyly asked for jobs if the Federation won on Sunday at Survivor Series. Mr. McMahon said he could relate to their situation. It was kind of like the rat deserting the sinking ship. Or, maybe it was that Chavo and Hugh wanted to be on the same side as Stone Cold. As far as Chavo and Hugh having a job? "No," came Mr. McMahon's curt reply.

Tazz and Stone Cold Steve Austin met in the ring for a non-title match. A furious Tazz latched on the Tazzmission within a minute of the opening ring bell, but Stone Cold reversed it into a Stunner that earned him the win! Austin continued pounding on Tazz after the bell, but stopped when WCW owner Shance McMahon came out and ordered him to cease. Shane said that Tazz was a member of the Alliance. The Alliance was waiting for Stone Cold right now, Shane bellowed.

Several members of the New England Patriots watched from ringside as Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley addressed the Alliance in the locker room. An enraged Stephanie called Hugh Morrus and Chavo Guerrero Jr. up front where Commisioner Regal fired them! Shane and Stone Cold walked in the door and Kurt angrily confronted Stone Cold and asked why he stunned him last week. Shane separated both men before they came to blows. Shane asked who was defecting to the Federation, and gave his own answer. "It's nobody." Shane said it was just a plot hatched by Vince to drive the Alliance apart. Shane screamed for the Alliance to come together this Sunday or else he would see all of them in hell! With that, a stern-faced Shane O'Mac uttered, "What," then turned and left while the Alliance members resumed squabbling.

After a break, the Dudley Boyz defended their WCW Tag Team Championship against Scotty 2 Hotty and Albert. The match got underway with the Duchess of Dudleyville, Stacy Keibler, viewing the action at ringside. But Stacy didn't just watch. She entered the ring and put the moves on Scotty! Albert sneaked up behind her and pulled down her skirt to reveal Stacy's lacy underwear! Stacy tripped to the mat, and Scotty lined up to hit the WORM with Albert following along! But before Scotty dropped his arm onto Stacy, the Dudleys pulled their companion from the ring and fled!

Backstage, Chris Jericho met with Mr. McMahon. Vince told him that if Y2J doesn't get along with The Rock then in all likelihood, Jericho would be out of a job the day after Survivor Series. Mr. McMahon told him to get in line or else. Jericho wondered what "or else" would be like.

Commissioner Regal performed a little shadow boxing in his office when Christian walked in to say good luck in his match against The Rock. Regal told Christian he was doing a good job as the European Champion and as a reward, he would have a non-title match against the Big Show!

Christian spat out the coffee he was drinking, but Regal whispered something in his ear before he could protest. A smile crept over Christian's face in reaction to the idea.

The Undertaker took on Rob Van Dam for the Federation Hardcore Championship next. RVD's electrifying offense served him well at the start. He worked Taker into the corner and smacked him with repeated punches. But Taker stormed back and when the action spread outside the ring, he caught RVD and slammed his spine into the ring post. The men worked up the entrance ramp and brawled on the stage. With Taker laying prone on the stage,RVD climbed the scaffolding beneath the TitanTron and launched a breathtaking cross body onto the American Badass! RVD punched Taker to the edge of the stage and nearly knocked him off. But Undertaker kicked RVD away. They exchanged shots until Taker lifted RVD into the Last Ride! He was about to send RVD flying off the stage when Booker T came out and stomped on the Undertaker. Booker herded Taker back to the ring where the American Badass was double-teamed. But Taker mustered all his energy and fended off both assailants. He threw RVD through the ropes but met with a kick to the face from Booker T. Booker climbed the top turnbuckle, but was knocked down when Taker threw the ref into the ropes! Taker gathered Booker up and superplexed him. But before Taker could get up, RVD hit him with the Five-Star Frog Splash to win the match!

The Rock caught up with Mr. McMahon backstage where the Federation Chairman emphasized how important it was for Rock and Jericho to work together. Rock asked was Y2J said, and Mr. McMahon told Rock how Jericho was sick of the People's Eyebrow, the People's Elbow, and if the people didn't understand, Jericho was sick of them too. But, Mr. McMahon said, the match at Survivor Series was above all this personal fighting. The Great One told Mr. McMahon he could count on The Rock not to let him down. More importantly, The Rock said he would not let the millions and million of Rock's fans down! Mr. McMahon smiled triumphantly, but The Rock said he wanted to tell him how he felt about Chris Jericho. The Rock said that it was no problem that Y2J was sick of the People's Elbow and People's Eyebrow. But sick of the people? Problem. Rock called Jericho a Twisted Sister wannabe punk bitch. He said that Jericho would get an ass kicking.

A surprise greeted fans in Boston after commercial as Federation Commissioner Mick Foley came to the ring! He said there was a lot on the line at Survivor Series not just for the Federation or WCW, but for himself as was. No matter who wins, he was out of a job. Foley said that there was a lot of things he wanted to do with the rest of his life, and answer to Vince McMahon was not one of them. Mick recalled winning the Federation Championship in Massachusetts. He still has a belt at home, but so what. It seemed everyone in sports-entertainment had a belt these days.

Foley said there were too many belts that did not mean anything. He was going to do what he could to make those belts mean something again. He would go about consolidating some of those belts. He then made a few matches for Survivor Series: Test would meet Edge to consolidate the WCW U.S. Championship and the Federation Intercontinental Championship and the Dudleys would meet the Hardys to bring together the tag team titles - in a steel cage!

Christian took on the Big Show in a non-title match next. Big Show dominated his smaller opponent early on, but Christian hung tough. After Big Show threw Christian from the ring, Diamond Dallas Page ran down to the ring. But Big Show smacked DDP from the ring apron. Christian had used the distraction as an opportunity to grab a steel chair, but Show punched it into Christian's face. The Dudleys arrived at the ring with a table, but they too were shooed away by Big Show. But the tide turned. DDP hit a Diamond Cutter and the Dudleys smashed a table over the big man's face. Before more damage was done, the APA ran down to defend the important member of the Federation's team.

Footage was shown of Edge accompanying Rob Zombie onstage at a concert two weeks ago. Edge addressed the rabid concert crowd, saying there were a lot of Edgeheads there that evening. Edge introduced the next song Zombie would play, "Never Gonna Stop," which is Edge's poplar new theme music. The song is included on Zombie's new album, "The Sinister Urge," which is released Tuesday, Nov. 13.

The Rock psyched up in his locker room for his match against William Regal. Jericho stormed in and asked if Rock had called him a punk bitch. Rock asked if he was sick of the people and Y2J said he was if the people were on The Rock's side. In that case, The Rock said Jericho was a punk-ass bitch! "Then why don't you punk me out then, bitch!" Jericho taunted. Before the two men exchange blows, Undertaker stormed in and told them to get their heads out of their asses. They needed to work as a team or else Taker would kick their asses. "Am I clear?" the American Badass questioned. The Rock said they were a team and that Taker was crystal clear. Jericho wished Rock good luck in his match and said that Jericho might come down to the ring later and show Rock his, "support." Rock said he would be waiting.

William Regal and The Rock tangled in the ring next. The Alliance Commissioner took control early on, Regal beat on The Rock outside the ring and threw the People's Champion back into the squared circle. But before Regal could follow, Tajiri raced down and spewed green mist into Regal's face! The blinded Regal stumbled into a Sharpshooter and tapped out to The Rock! A pissed-off Rock quickly grabbed a microphone and said there was someone in the back who hated The Rock. He ordered Stone Cold Steve Austin to come down to the ring!

Cameras found the Texas Rattlesnake working backstage working his way toward the squared circle!

The Texas Rattlesnake indeed came to the ring following a commercial break. He stood eye to eye with the WCW Champion, who said he had not forgotten about WrestleMania or the next night on RAW. He said all the talk about Austin jumping to the Federation because that means The Rock could whip Austin's candy ass and take the Federation Championship. The Rock said he also had not forgotten that finally, "The Rock has come back…"

Stone Cold suddenly grabbed the microphone and said what The Rock meant to say was, "Finally, Stone Cold …"

This time, Rock grabbed the mic and started his trademark phrase. But Stone Cold snatched the microphone away and taunted the Boston crowd's "Rocky chants." He then started to once again mimic The Rock by saying, "Finally, St…."

Rock grabbed the mic and poked fun at Austin by using a whiny little voice. Stone Cold grabbed the microphone back and entered into a "What!?" war with the crowd. If they didn't like that phrase, maybe they'd like this one: "And that's the bottom line, bec…"

After a few more trades of the microphone, The Rock said that Austin's breath smelled like strudel! Actually, Rock said it smelled like a big stinking piece of dog turd. Austin retorted with a list of questions that elicited calls of "What!?" after each one from the crowd.

Austin said the easy and obvious thing to do would be to open a can of whoopass on The Rock right there.

Austin asked Rock if he remembered the rock band "Boston." Austin began singing a few bars of one of the band's songs. "Does that make you feel better?" Austin asked.

Rock said he appreciated entertainment and asked to sing a song to Austin, noting the Rattlesnake's love of country music. He launched into song, then asked if Austin felt better. "I feel like crap!" Austin retorted.

Rock then said the two should sing a duet together. The crowd roared in approval, Austin cleared his throat and launched into Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville." The Rock joined in with each man changing the lyrics a bit to suit each other. The men grasped fists and smiled in what seemed like friendship. But. "The Rock will never, ever forget," said the People's Champion. He scooped Austin up into a Rock Bottom and all hell broke loose! Angle came down followed by Jericho, who grabbed a steel chair and faced Rock in the ring. But he didn't swing at the WCW Champion. Instead, both men stared down Austin and Angle as RAW came to a close!