PWP Contributor & Graphic Designer Harry Austen brings a classic Raw Review to PWPNation.com from Chicago in advance of tomorrow night’s major WWE Raw LIVE from Chicago on The Road to WrestleMania!
Highlights:
Steve Austin opening promo
Hardy Boyz & Lita vs. Christian and Lance Storm
Stephanie McMahon and Kurt Angle backstage segment
The Undertaker arrives backstage
Mr Perfect’s ‘back home’
Hogan’s ready to ‘Rock his world’
The Godfather vs. Booker T
Goldust & William Regal vs. RVD and Edge
Triple H vs. Kurt Angle
Check out the full episode: (RAW: 2/18/2002)
Steve Austin Opening Promo
Steve Austin kicks off RAW with a steel chair in hand, as he furiously walks down to the ring. Austin cleverly plays to the “WHAT!” treatment by the crowd, in the electric Chicago, IL. “Stone Cold — WHAT! — that’s me”… Austin quickly and clearly describes how the night before he got ‘screwed’ by the NWO.
The ‘rattle snake’ calls out the NWO, beer in hand. The NWO answer Austin requests, and are seen discussing on the ramp their plan of action. They hellishly walk away. Austin replies, “Bring your asses back here, you little ‘chicken shits’!” With the NWO gone, Austin refuses to leave the ring, until they return.
Austin continues to sit and drink beer, but is interrupted by Kurt Angle. Angle, sided by ‘off duty cops’, as protection, discusses his upcoming match at WrestleMania. Talking down to Austin, saying, “It’s my time now!”. As Angle is finally in the ring, surrounded by cops, Austin strikes. In the process, hitting an ‘off duty cop”. Kurt then quickly reminds Austin, that “he’s going to jail!” As it’s against the law to strike and ‘off duty cop’. Angle finishes his promo stating, “I’m going to WrestleMania, and you’re going to jail!”
As the first segment of the show, it delivered. Sending a true message of Austin’s anger, and again showing Angle’s great heelish character. The segment didn’t seem to go on for too long, and made the Chicago crowd wanting more of Austin. All round, a good start to the show.
Hardy Boyz & Lita vs. Christian and Lance Storm
Throughout the start of the match, JR and Jerry keep mentioning the fact that Stone Cold is always intoxicated. Lawler mentioning, he’s never seen Austin sober. Good heel spots for Christian and Lance, as they continue to beat down Jeff Hardy. As the view is constructed by a distraction on the outside of the ring.
Christian hits a beautiful gut buster, helped by the tremendous selling of Jeff. Christian and Storm show good team work, until finally Jeff hits the hot tag to Matt. Four ‘close lines’ later, Matt is rolling. Good tag team work, and a pin is intercepted by Storm. Christian starts to break down in the ring, showing his anger by constantly banging his body against the canvas.
Whilst the ref is distracted, Lita hits a ‘hurricanrana’ to Lance, and momentum starts in the favour of the Hardyz. Christian goes for the ‘kill-switch’ but Matt reverses into the ‘twist of fate’. Setting up perfectly for the ‘Swanton bomb’. Matt secures the cover, and the Hardy Boyz pick up the win.
Stephanie McMahon & Kurt Angle Backstage Segment
Steph congratulates Kurt, not only for getting Austin ejected, but for beating her “soon to ex-husband” Triple H. Kurt thanks Steph for being, “fair and impartial in his match”. Steph over celebrates, just as Ric Flair walks into shot.
Flair gives credit to both, Stephanie and Kurt, but Steph doesn’t seem to think it’s genuine. Flair quickly changes his tone, and tells them he was so inspired by Angle’s win, he will make him face Triple H again tonight on RAW. Steph backs Kurt, and says, he already earned a title shot. “That is completely unfair”, states Stephanie. Flair responds, “Do you know what is fair, the winner of this match to go to WrestleMania… And if you get involved [Stephanie] in any shape or form, Triple H gets the title shot at WrestleMania against Jericho!”
A solid promo, to help build up towards the main event. Flair delivered his lines quickly, and the story makes sense. Flair aligning himself of course with his close friend, and Stephanie gloating with Kurt about Triple H.
The Undertaker Arrives Backstage
Undertaker: “Hey where’s Ric Flairs office?”, said to a random camera man backstage. The camera man struggles to answer, and finally tells him where his office is. Undertaker angrily replies, “Was that so hard?” sarcastically. With the crowd not knowing what Undertaker wanted, this helped build suspense to what Undertaker was really going to say or do to Flair. The segment was short, but once again helped Undertaker show his true heel qualities, also helping his continue receiving heat from the Chicago crowd.
When the show returns to air we are welcomed by Ric Flair on the phone, being interrupted by Undertaker. He comments on Flair striking him the night before, and telling him he was tempted to take Flair outside and “beat his ass”. But, he had a better idea. Undertaker then goes on to challenge Flair for a match at the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania.
Flair refuses, and comments on him now being an owner. Saying he too old to battle ‘the man’ in the company. Undertaker brushes off the comments, and says he’ll “try and change his mind”. This indicates Undertaker therefore beating Flair senseless, until he has no other option but to accept the challenge of the ‘dead man’.
Mr Perfect’s Return Home
Perfect comments on him being his back garden – Chicago, Il – and then picks out Chicago Bears line-backer, Brian Urlacher. “What a great season the Chicago Bears had… wait, it was almost a perfect season. But you failed in the playoffs!” The crowd heavy boos. “You lost, I win…” Perfect comments. He then goes to comment that he is like everyone he faces in the WWF, imperfect.
Suddenly Kane’s music hits, with a explosion of fire suddenly. Kane takes control of the match, dominating Mr Perfect. Perfect turns it around, and continues to taunt Kane. Kane then turn the match around, hitting his side slam with perfection, no pun intended.
Kane hits a ‘chokeslam’, that seems to be ‘botched’, but is recovered well by the announcers, saying that Perfect was trying to escape the hold before the slam. Kane wins, to a good reaction. Kane stands tall in the ring, as the camera goes backstage. Hogan is there, and as he walks past the camera, says, “Rocks his world”… The comment at this point seems vague, but will eventually make sense as the night progresses.
Hogan’s Ready to ‘Rock His World’
Hogan receives a mix reaction in the Chicago crowd. “The WWF, made Hulk Hogan famous…”. Hogan then goes on to comment on how he’s so glad that he can once again be in this ring. He follows this up by talking about how the fans have been through it all with him, mentioning the late, Andre the Giant.
He describes this in being an experienced he shared with the people in the crowd and at home, excellently. “But you know something, something happened… then you people turned on me!” The crowd then gives Hogan the “WHAT!” treatment. Hogan, being quick witted replied, “WHAT!–YOUGUNNADO”… The comment didn’t get any response, and so he quickly moved on. Trying to gain some more cheap heat, Hogan mentions Michael Jordan being treated badly by Chicago. This worked, causing uproar in the crowd. Hulk thanks Vince, to more boo’s. “There’s only one thing I wanna say to you WWE fans… You can kiss my ass!” He finally gloats about the fact that he was the one who made wrestling what it is today. “There’s nobody in this business that is a bigger icon than me!” Continuing to gloat, The Rock interrupts him. To a good ovation by the crowd. “Wrestling’s past, is about to meet wrestling’s future!” – What a great additional comment by JR. showing his class as a commentator, knowing exactly what to say, at exactly the right time.
The Rock stares down to Hogan. They both remove their glasses, as the intensity increases. The Rock leads up to, “It doesn’t matter what you think!” to a thunderous response from the crowd. The promo eventually leads to The Rock challenging Hogan to a match at WrestleMania, to an almighty pop. The crowd then starts to chant “HOGAN”… proving that it wouldn’t just be a straight up ‘heel vs face’ match, but a mixture of the two. “You know what… they’ve got a name for people like you… it’s called flavour of the month!”, argues Hogan. He then goes on to talk down to Rock, saying he’s not even in his league.
The Rock raises his palm, to cut of Hogan in mid-sentence, insisting a yes or no answer. Rock continues to create a picture in the fans heads, calling it a fantasy matchup. Suddenly The Rock becomes unsure – “Maybe it shouldn’t be up to you to decide… Maybe it shouldn’t even be up for the Rock to decide? Maybe… it should be up, to the people?”. The Rock asks the people in the crowd, to an astonishing reaction. The Rock then goes on to mock Hogan, signalling to the crowd, to an even bigger pop. “Yes… or no?”… – “YES!” Hogan pulls out his hand to shake Rocks, he mentions, “Good luck [pulls him closer] you’re gonna need it!” With Hogan’s hand still attached to Rock’s, he tries to leave, but Rock holds on. “Not as much as you… brother!” — Rock bottom! — To a thunderous reaction.
What a great segment. Not once again showing Rock’s on Hogan’s level, but surpassing it! A good solid build up towards their match. The promo didn’t seem to go on for too long, and even added in unique catchphrases, that all round added to the feeling of this bout. It reminded us that this match wasn’t for a title, nor a rivalry… but was simply ‘icon vs icon’. Just as Rocky goes to leave, the NWO walk out and start beating down on the Rock.
The Rock is pushed back in the ring, and Hogan starts to beat the Rock with his belt. Scott Hall delivers a ‘razors edge’ to the surprise of the crowd. Kevin Nash then hits an emphatic ‘power bomb’. Hogan goes under the ring, and finds a hammer. Nash and Hall hold Rock, and Hogan smashes the hammer over his head. This all eventually ends with Hogan delivering the ‘leg drop’, and Hall simulating the ‘1,2,3’. To add the final cherry on top, Hogan adds “NWO too sweet” on Rocks back with a spray can. Rock exists the ring via a stretcher.
When the show comes back on air, Rock is seen being placed into an ambulance. The ambulance is seen to drive off, but eventually stopped by two cars placed at the back and front of the vehicle. So the ambulance cannot move. The people inside the cars are none other, than the NWO. They end up smashing the car, and locking him inside. Hogan then drives his truck right into the ambulance, with the idea that Rock is still locked inside. Causing destruction to the ambulance. The NWO then quickly escape, without a trace.
When the show airs back, Jerry takes a second to point out “this is way more than wrestling”, consistent on the point that there is a difference from what takes place in the industry and pure savage destruction. A good point by Lawler, making the scenario seem more legitimate.
The Godfather vs. Booker T
Booker T received a good pop. From the fire to the ‘five time’ gesture on the ramp – The crowd was into Booker T. The match flowed evenly, but the crowed seemed off put, still getting over what they had just seen. Lawler and JR consistently mention the ambulance, and how even the wrestlers backstage were trying to get over the images they have just witnessed.
Booker T hits the Godfather of guard, and gets the win.
The whole match was almost designed for the commentators to keep reminding you about the previous segment. At times it got annoying, and even the crowd seemed to be mute due to the scenes previous. When the match ends, a live stream of the setting in the parking lot is displayed. We see firemen trying to free the Rock, but it only lasts for a few minutes. The intensity of the setting is good, but in my opinion, it slightly seemed like ‘overkill’.
Goldust & William Regal vs. RVD and Edge
RVD and Edge get an astonishing reaction. The match starts quickly with a ‘quick attack’ by Goldust & William Regal, who start to control the match in the early goings. RVD starts to regain control, and manages to reach the ‘hot tag’ and get Edge back into the match. RVD distracts Goldust outside the ring. Edge hits a ‘spear’ and finishes off Regal with the ‘Edgecator’. Goldust tries to hit Edge with a ‘closeline’, but he ducks, and hits another ‘spear’. They end the match tall, as Regal walks up the ramp, and Goldust lying on the outside of the ring.
Triple H vs. Kurt Angle
Y2J joins commentary, as the main event is next. Jericho mocks Austin, “Hey JR, Jericho beat Austin — WHAT — Jericho beat Austin — WHAT –”… he says, with a arrogant grin on his face. Triple H’s music hits, to a great reaction by the Chicago crowd. The match kicks off quickly, as Triple H strikes the first punch on the outside of the ring. Jericho keeps reminding us, he’s “been ready for WrestleMania for the last three months”, no matter who is opponent is.
During the early stages of the match, Angle hits a gorgeous suplex. Towards the end of the match, Kurt is seen talking ‘trash’ to Jericho. The ref stands in the way of Y2J, and Angle takes one of his titles and strikes Triple H, just as the referee’s back is turned. Angle pushes Triple H’s senseless body, and makes the cover. Angle holds the cover for three, but the ref is still arguing with Jericho. He quickly runs back into the ring, and Triple H kicks out at two and a half. Angle hits three perfect suplexes in a row, without unlocking his arms. Angle locks in the ‘angle lock’, but Triple just reaches the rope. Triple H sets up for a ‘pedigree’, Angle reverses into the ‘angle lock’, which is then reversed. Triple H then hits a final ‘pedigree’, to pick up the three count.
After long anticipation, and a gruelling match, you finally witness Triple H get the win over Angle. RAW ends with Jericho standing on the commentary team table, two titles in hand; Triple H staring back, in the ring.