Raw is War
Nashville, Tennessee
September 5, 2005
The Master Lock claims another
victim
September 5, 2005
Week after week, month after month, no WWE Superstar that has taken the Master
Lock Challenge has been able to break the hold. This Monday on RAW, Shawn
Michaels was added to that list of unsuccessful challengers.
Immediately after Masters locked in the hold, Michaels aggressively attempted to
break the hold, whipping the Nashville, TN, crowd into a frenzy. With thousands
of fans behind him, Michaels backed Masters into a corner, but The Masterpiece
kept his hands locked. HBK then used another corner for leverage and flipped
over, sending both Superstars to the mat. But once again, Masters kept his hands
locked. HBK then managed to smash Masters’ head into a turnbuckle but to no
avail. Michaels then rammed Masters into a corner four times and once again
flipped over onto to the mat, but Masters persevered.
After trying to power out of the move, the Showstopper pulled out the equalizer,
delivering a crushing low blow with his leg. The low blow appeared to be enough
to get HBK out of the hold, as Masters’ hands began to separate. In an act of
desperation, Masters threw HBK to the mat. He then grabbed a steel chair and
swung for the fences, connecting with Michaels’ head, busting him wide open in
the process. Masters then reapplied the hold, and HBK was unable to break free.
After more than five months, no one has been able to win the Master Lock
Challenge.
Earlier in the evening, Kurt Angle faced off against Eugene in a rematch from
SummerSlam. Angle was out to not only defeat Eugene, but he wanted to send a
message to WWE Champion John Cena in the process. Angle was as vicious as ever
in this one, starting off with a series of punches, kicks, uppercuts and
face-rakes. Eugene tried to mount a comeback, channeling Hacksaw Jim Duggan in
the process, but he missed the three-point stance tackle and Angle pounced on
him, working over his left knee. Angle then hooked in the Ankle Lock and the
rest was history. After the match, Angle mercilessly reapplied the hold. Cena
stormed the ring to make the save, but then Tyson Tomko came from out of nowhere
and leveled the WWE Champion with a crushing kick to the head.
Tomko was rewarded for his deeds by General Manager Eric Bischoff with a match
against Cena later in the evening. With Cena suffering a concussion from Tomko’s
kick earlier in the evening, the WWE Champion was on the defensive almost from
the outset. Tomko utilized his size and strength and delivered several crushing
blows. Cena was able to come back with a shoulder block and an offensive flurry.
After connecting with the Five Knuckle Shuffle, Cena pumped up his shoes and hit
an FU for the win. After getting to the top of the ramp, Cena turned around and
acknowledged his fans, but with his back turned, Angle appeared form out of
nowhere and beat down the Champ for the third week in a row. After laying out
Cena, Angle posed with the WWE Championship. Could this be a sign of things to
come at Unforgiven?
Carlito was back with another edition of the Cabana, and this week his guest was
RAW’s newest Diva, Ashley. After commenting on Ashley’s “initiation” last week
at the hands of Victoria, Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle, Carlito said that
she had to go through another initiation on the Cabana. Before Carlito could
spit his signature apple into Ashley’s face, Ric Flair’s music hit the arena
loudspeakers. The Dirtiest Player in the Game ran to the ring and hit a series
of low blows, causing Carlito to flee the scene. After Carlito retreated, Flair
said that at Unfrogiven he would do something he’s never done before – defeat
Carlito and become Intercontinental Champion.
Matt Hardy and Edge were both on RAW this week, but neither were in good shape.
Last week they took each other to the limit – not to mention to the hospital.
After Hardy sent himself and Edge off the stage with a Side Effect into some
electrical equipment, both Superstars were rushed away in ambulances. Bischoff,
realizing this rivalry could not be settled with a traditional match, signed
them for a Steel Cage Match at Unforgiven. But after Hardy signed the contract,
Bischoff said that even though he was in no condition to compete, he would be
facing Snitsky. Lita and Edge, who was sporting a neck brace, went to the
broadcast booth for some guest commentary.
Hardy gave it a valiant effort, but Snitsky was too much to handle, given
Hardy’s physical condition. After being thrown into the steel steps, Snitsky hit
a crushing Sidewalk Slam for the 1-2-3. After the match, Snitsky grabbed the
ring bell, prompting Big Show to come to the ring and try and make the save.
Before he could get to the ring, though, Snitsky nailed Hardy in the back of the
head with the bell and retreated into the crowd. There will be nowhere for
Snitsky to retreat to at Unforgiven, though, when he goes one on one with Big
Show. But after the shot to the head, will Hardy recover in time for his Steel
Cage Match?
For the past couple of weeks Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch have been sending
messages that they were on their way to RAW to make an impact in the tag team
division, and this week was their big chance. They had a non-title match against
The Hurricane and Rosey, and they certainly made the most of their debut. After
showing off a dazzling display of tag team maneuvers, The Hurricane and Rosey
started to come back. But with Cade and Rosey on the outside, Murdoch was able
to hit a top-rope bulldog for the upset win.
Plus, Shelton Benjamin squared off against the red-hot Rob Conway. Kerwin White,
who has made questionable remarks about Benjamin as of late, even rode out on
his golf cart to get an up-close look at this one. Benjamin looked to have
things going his way, but White tripped him up with one of his golf clubs,
allowing Conway to roll him up for the win.
Ashley tried to get revenge on Torrie Wilson in a match, but even though it was
a one-on-one contest, Candice Michelle and Victoria got involved and helped
Torrie pick up the win. Viscera and Val Venis were also in tag team action as
they picked up a win over The Heart Throbs.
Matches
WWE Champion John Cena def. Tyson Tomko
Kurt Angle def. Eugene
Snitsky def. Matt Hardy
Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. World Tag Team Champions Rosey & The Hurricane
Rob Conway def. Shelton Benjamin
Torrie Wilson def. Ashley
Val Venis & Viscera def. The Heart
Throbs