Raw is War
St. Louis, Missouri
June 6, 2005
THE TIME IS NOW
JUNE 6, 2005
ST. LOUIS — After one head-spinning night, RAW fans everywhere were left to
wonder if what they saw on Monday night really happened. Over the course of two
jaw-dropping hours of Monday night television, fans not only saw John Cena — the
WWE Champion and former SmackDown! Superstar — drafted to RAW, but they also
witnessed an invasion of ECW stars that included standouts Tommy Dreamer, The
Sandman and Rhyno.
After the show, fans in the sold-out Savvis Center were seen turning to each
other for answers and discussing the ramifications of what just transpired. The
more they talked to each other, however, the more question marks popped into
their heads:
Did we really see ECW crash and burn RAW, fully resurrected and vicious as ever?
Was that The Sandman on WWE-branded television blasting Bischoff’s anti-ECW
crusaders with a kendo stick? Was it really the return of the Dudleys, alongside
the likes of “The Innovator of Violence” Tommy Dreamer, Rhyno, Balls Mahoney and
Axl Rotten — with weapons in hand — making bodies hit the floor?
Did we really see the WWE Champion ripped from megastar status on Thursday
nights and planted — alongside World Heavyweight Champion Batista — on RAW? Did
we really experience that outpouring of emotion on The Highlight Reel when the
news sunk in and John Cena was forced to address his fans about these events on
live television — then confront Christian? What will it mean for “The Champ” to
be here on RAW, and where does that leave the SmackDown! franchise?
RAW began with thrilled General Manger Eric Bischoff eagerly anticipating the
announcement of the first Superstar to move from SmackDown! to RAW. The scene
shifted to the center of the ring, where Y2J — unaware of who the selection
would be — called out for the first pick to appear. When Cena’s signature voice
and the brass horns of his fitting song, “The Time is Now” hit, Jericho’s jaw
dropped.
Cena emerged with the WWE Championship raised high. He walked confidently to the
ring, looking into the crowd at the faces of RAW’s fans and telling them, “The
Champ is here!” The crowd chanted his name as he soaked in the unforgettable
moment. Later, Christian and Tyson Tomko tried to sour Cena’s RAW debut.
Instead, Cena dropped some freestyle rhymes on Christian before taking down
Tomko with his FU finisher.
Clearly on Thursday, all eyes will be on SmackDown! General Manger Theodore
Long, who must first pick up the pieces, address the void created by Cena’s
departure, then attempt to fill that void with his first draft pick. Can he
possibly create as many waves with the selection of the first Superstar to move
from RAW to SmackDown!? We’ll find out Thursday on UPN.
Meanwhile, World Heavyweight Champion Batista and Triple H made their Vengeance
Hell in a Cell Match official. The Game reminded Batista and the crowd that he’s
undefeated in the demonic structure and has used it end careers. But Batista
didn’t back down, telling Triple H that signed up for a one-way ticket to Hell.
In addition, the GM guaranteed that this match would take place as scheduled
regardless of the Draft Lottery, and he also made a second Vengeance match: Kane
vs. Edge. After weeks of enduring malicious taunting, Kane will get his chance
to silence Lita and her new love interest. But if he falls at the pay-per-view
in Las Vegas, it could be the ultimate anguish.
If next week’s RAW is to match this week’s intensity, it’s off to a good start.
In addition to the second SmackDown!-to-RAW Draft Lottery selection, the main
event will feature RAW’s newest champion — John Cena — in a tag-team match
alongside Y2J against Christian & Tyson Tomko. And none other than Stone Cold
will be administering some Texas Rattlesnake-style justice in Stone Cold Court
opposite Muhammad Hassan and Daivari.
Hassan thought he had become the new Intercontinental Champion during an unusual
Handicap Match alongside Daivari against Shelton Benjamin. Under a stipulation
granted by Bischoff, if either Daivari or Hassan pinned Benjamin, Hassan would
become the new Intercontinental Champion. And when Hassan hit his modified STO
finisher and covered Shelton, he thought he had ended the longest
Intercontinental Championship reign in recent memory. Little did he realize that
Shelton managed to get a foot atop the bottom rope, forcing the referee to
correct his original ruling and negate the victory.
Hassan and Daivari were furious and never fully regained their composure.
Benjamin seized the opportunity to hit his T-bone suplex on Daivari to pick up
the win despite the difficult odds against. Following the match, Hassan and
Daivari stormed into Bischoff’s office, attempting to use the referee’s decision
as further evidence of discrimination on RAW. There, Bischoff informed Hassan
that WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon has assigned an independent authority to deal with
their grievances next week on RAW: Stone Cold Steve Austin.
MATCH RESULTS
Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin def. Muhammad Hassan & Daivari
(Handicap Match)
Chris Masters def. Val Venis
The Heart Throbs & Victoria def. The Hurricane, Rosey & Christy Hemme (w/Stacy
Keibler) via DQ
Kane match never officially got underway
Chris Benoit def. Gene Snitsky (ECW Rules Match)