Before the match began, Tazz joined his former nemesis Jim Ross for commentary. JR showed footage from this weekend’s XFL game where Jesse Ventura got under the skin of NY / NJ Hitmen coach Rusty Tillman. Ventura was critical of the coach and Tillman took offense of it. Sparks flew and set the stage for this weekend’s coming up on NBC.
Match 7 : The APA & Jerry Lawler vs. Right To Censor (Goodfather, Val Venis & Bull Buchanan)
Steven Richards took a headset at the table and Tazz asked him who the hell invited him to the table. Back inside the ring, Bull stomped on Faarooq. Goodfather tagged in and took the “good fight” to Faarooq. As Tazz said he would like to see Richards in the ring, Goodfather whipped Faarooq to the corner, who reversed the move and nailed Goodfather with a clothesline. Bradshaw tagged in and took the fight to Bull Buchanan, but was quickly beaten down in the corner of the RTC. Even though he was being triple-teamed, Bradshaw fought back and hit a fall-away slam on Val Venis.
Outside the ring, the Kat jumped on Ivory and tried to choke her out. Steven quickly stopped the Kat’s attack, and he and the other members of the RTC took her to the back. Inside the ring, King got the win by pinning the remaining member of RTC left in the ring. There was so much action, I missed who the losing member of RTC was…Sorry!
Winner s: Jerry “The King” Lawler & The APA by pinfall
Main Event time on RAW is WAR — The Triple-Threat Hardcore Title Match. JR said he thought the new attitude of Kurt Angle was “menacing”, as he threatened to “do everything in his power to make sure the Rock wouldn’t be walking anywhere” after their match tonight. Let me get this straight — Big Show is sent down to Ohio Valley Wrestling to lose weight and his attitude…he comes back fatter and with a larger attitude problem, and he is rewarded with a Hardcore Title push? I don’t get it…oh well — Onto the Match!!
Match 8 : WWF Hardcore Triple-Threat Title Match
The Rock vs. Kurt Angle vs. The Big Show (c)
The Rock entered the ring,and immediately faced off with the former WWF Champion Kurt Angle. The two were so focused on each other they didn’t see the Big Show attacking them. Big Show struck Angle with thunderous reverse knife edge chops, and the Rock slipped in and took out Angle with a thunderous clothesline.
Rock left the ring to get an item to use in the match, but was quickly stopped by the Hardcore Champ. Kurt Angle quickly took over and “stomped a mudhole” in the Rock. The Rock nailed a beautiful dragon-leg whip and slapped on the sharpshooter. The Big Show quickly broke up the submission attempt and focused his attack on the Rock. The Rock hit Big Show in the “jewels” and both Kurt Angle & The Rock worked together to suplex the Hardcore Champ. As Angle & The Rock fought each other on the outside, Hardcore Holly & Steve Blackman entered the ring and attempted to win the title.
All Hell broke loose as Albert joined the fray and tried to win the match. Big Show kicked out and Saturn hit the ring and attacked Albert. As Big Show regained his footing, Billy Gunn ran to the ring with a baseball bat and repeatedly nailed the champ with the bat. The action spilled outside the ring, All the men fought to the back attacked the Big Show. Saturn, Angle & Albert stayed in the ring and tried to cripple the Rock. But Rock was able to fight back momentarily. The three men beat down the WWF Champion again as the cameras switched to the back and showed the Big Show fighting off the advances of the men chasing him. Essa Rios joined the match and was pinned against a wall for the pinfall victory!! Big Show pressed Rios against the wall and won the match with a very unconventional pin!
Winner & Still WWF Hardcore Champion: Big Show by pinfall (on Essa Rios)
Back in the ring, Saturn and Albert continued to pound on the Rock. The Rock fought out of the situation and nailed a sidewalk slam on Albert (I think!) and Kurt Angle slipped in from behind and put the ankle lock on Rock!
As Rock screamed in pain, Austin hit the ring and stunned Angle! Austin and Rock exchanged looks as RAW is WAR — A WILD RAW is WAR went off the air for another week!!
Bibliography
www.wrestlingunleashed.com