By Mallory Mahling, Torch Team Contributor

WWE Raw "Virtual Time" Alternative Perspective Coverage
November 8, 2004
Live from Austin, Texas
Aired on Spike TV
Report by Mallory Mahling, Torch Team Contributor

Ongoing Alternative Perspective Review of the Show

Raw was live tonight from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. With Survivor Series less than a week away, tonight was the last big push toward next Sunday's PPV.

Quarter Hour 1

As the show opened, Triple H was in the ring in mid-rant. He said he'd decided to sit out last week's show to teach some people a lesson. However, they'd used the opportunity to attack Evolution, injuring Ric Flair. Flair would not be at tonight's show, he said. Triple H turned his attention to the "useless General Manager" who'd allowed (and encouraged) last week's chaos.

Eric Bischoff came out and Triple H immediately grabbed him by the lapels. Bischoff threatened to strip Triple H of the title if he didn't let go.

Bischoff laid out the stipulations for the Team Orton vs. Team Evolution at Survivor Series. Simply stated, the winning team would be in control for a month. Then Bischoff called for the first match of the night to begin.

Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed viewers to the show as Lillian announced the competitors for the first match, Randy Orton and Batista.

(Commercial break)

(1) Randy Orton over Batista. The match had started during the break and the crowd was in the middle of a loud "RKO" chant. Triple H had remained at ringside to stir up trouble. Orton backed Batista into a corner and began to throw punches, but they were falling a bit short. Batista rolled out of the ring and Orton followed him. The two traded punches again, then Orton tried to get Batista off his feet. He managed to send Batista through the ropes and onto the floor. Batista got back into the ring and took control.

Quarter Hour 2

Batista trapped Orton in the crook of his elbow and Orton's face was turning red. Orton battled to his feet and broke the hold. Orton got ready for the RKO, but Triple H grabbed his leg. A clothesline from Batista and Orton was out cold. The referee ejected Triple H from ringside. He went, but not willingly.

Batista tossed Orton onto the floor as the show went to a...

(Commercial break)

Back from the break Batista covered Orton, but Orton got his shoulder up.
During the break, Batista had slammed Orton into the ring steps. Another pinning attempt by Batista, but Orton kicked out during the ref's "slow count," as Lawler called it. Batista sent Orton flying into the ring post, where he fell onto the ring steps.

Batista put Orton into another punishing submission hold, as a "Randy" chant came from the crowd. Orton began a comeback and dropkicked Batista into the turnbuckle. A standing dropkick by Orton, followed by a clothesline, sent Batista to the floor. A DDT on the outside and Orton rolled back into the ring. Orton went up top, but Batista tried to shake him off the ropes. Orton came off the top with a crossbody, but Batista refused to be pinned. Inverted backbreaker by Orton on a bloody Batista. Orton started an RKO, but Batista turned it into a spinebuster. Back and forth it went, but it was Orton who rolled up Batista for the pin and the win.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 3

Backstage, Orton and his team were talking strategy when an ill-tempered Batista attacked Orton. It turned into a pull-apart brawl.

Scenes were shown from Taboo Tuesday, where Edge and Chris Benoit began their short run with the Tag Titles. Then last Monday night, Edge had humiliated Benoit and made him tap out.

Last Monday after Raw, a bloody Benoit had cut a promo. He said that he would not let his wife and children watch tonight's show because of what he planned to do to Edge.

(Commercial break)

Last Tuesday in Detroit, the Pistons had come out wearing WWE championship belts.

(2) Tyson Tomko (w/Christian) vs. Shelton Benjamin. I never thought I'd be glad to see Tomko, but his return meant that Viscera would not be gracing our TV screens tonight. Tomko began by out-powering Benjamin. While Tomko distracted the referee, Christian was up to no good on the outside. Suddenly Benjamin was on fire and got a near fall. Tomko went for a pin but was unsuccessful. Benjamin with a clothesline off the top rope, but Tomko no-sold it. T-Bone by Benjamin, followed by the winning pin. And then because payback is a you-know-what, he also gave Christian a stiff kick in the chops.

Last Thursday, the Tough Enough hopefuls had puked and panted their way through the silly stunt of the week. This week, they'll have to take the Torrie Wilson sex test. Keeping in mind that it's a family show, it's probably not what you're thinking.

Trish Stratus was primping in the mirror and getting ready for her appearance on the Highlight Reel.

(Commercial break)

Chris Jericho was in the ring for the Highlight Reel. He was sure his team would win the opportunity to control Raw for a month. He introduced a referee who would remain on the Highlight Reel set to keep Trish Stratus and Lita from scratching each other's eyes out.

Trish came out first. Then Lita was introduced and she hit the ring ready to pounce on Trish. Jericho told the ref to keep them separated, because he didn't want it to turn into an episode of "Jericho" Springer. That didn't stop the name-calling. Jericho still carried a grudge and implied that Trish was a slut. Trish called Lita fat and out of shape. Lita said she planned to take everything she'd been through out on Trish. Lita agreed she was the Walking Kiss of Death and she told Trish to pucker up.

Out came Gene Snitsky with a bawling baby doll. He tormented Lita with it. (As he cradled it to his bare chest, he looked like he was breast feeding it.) Then the big oaf kicked the doll into the audience as tears welled up in Lita's eyes. The audience was booing loudly as Jericho attacked Snitsky. Snitsky rammed Jericho into the ring post and left.

(Commercial break)

Moments ago, Snitsky had punted a baby doll into the audience.

Simon Dean came down to advertise the Simon System. J.R. said WWE did not condone Dean's behavior last week. (Of course they don't. *wink, wink*) He asked for a volunteer from the audience and picked a chubby Roseanne look-alike. He called her smelly and she looked genuinely offended. Then Dean found another victim in the audience, whom Lawler delicately called a wide load.

Quarter Hour 6

Dean asked her about her sex life, and she told him to mind his own business. He told her that the Simon System could help. "Asshole," chanted the crowd. He mixed the diet drink for her (it looked like Tang) and told her to gulp it down. When he continued to insult her, she tossed the drink in his face and went back to her seat. He chased her down and poured the pitcher over her head.

(Commercial break)

The 56th National Guard Brigade was well represented in the audience.

It was time to play The Game, and it was the real Triple H this time, not Triple Tajiri who'd imitated him last week.

(3) Triple H vs. Tajiri was a no contest. Tajiri hadn't even made it down the ramp when Snitsky attacked from behind and began to kick the stuffing out of Tajiri. "You suck," hollered the crowd. I agree.

With Tajiri out of the picture, Triple H welcomed Big Snit to "the team." Snitsky grabbed the mic and warned Triple H that he'd never been much of a team player. If their team wins at Survivor Series, it would be because of his bad self. And when it's his turn to run Raw, he'd be coming for Triple H's title. Triple H did not look pleased.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 7

Hassan had apparently grown up in Beaver Cleaver's neighborhood, but all that had changed on 9/11, he said. Daivari translated what he said into another language, ending with "merci." Do you suppose that means they're going to align with La Resistance? Mais oui.

Tazz and Michael Cole pitched the Smackdown brand's Survivor Series matches. I can't wait for that Undertaker/Heidenreich match. It doesn't get much better than that.

Lawler led the crowd in an "O.U. Sucks" chant for J.R.

Maria was interviewing Edge backstage. Edge was giving an intense, dramatic promo, and Maria was about to burst into a fit of giggles. Ugh!

Triple H walked up and welcomed Edge to the team. He recommended that Edge keep his eye on Snitsky. Edge said he had seen Snitsky's promo and he'd been wrong. When they win, it will be because of Edge, and Edge will be coming after Triple H's title. Poor Triple H. All his rowdy friends were turning on him tonight.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 8

In the dressing room, Triple H told Batista he needed to have a talk with Edge and Snitsky to set them straight. Triple H walked away and Batista covetously picked up the title belt.

Christy Hemme headed to the ring to announce the next match. She was shrieking like a banshee. (Where's Lillian?)

(4) Edge vs. Chris Benoit ended in disqualification. This started off every bit as fierce as Benoit had promised it would. Edge finally gathered his wits and assumed control of the match. Then Edge started walking to the back, but when Benoit went after him, it had been a ruse and they fought on the ramp.

(Commercial break)

Returning from the commercial, Edge was trying to make Benoit tap out again. During the break, Edge had given him an overhead suplex. Benoit began to fight back with hard chops and gave Edge a knee to the gut.

Evolution's music hit and Triple H and Batista headed out to watch at ringside.

Randy Orton's music hit, and he and Chris Jericho and Maven headed out to be in Benoit's corner.

Meanwhile, back in the ring neither was giving an inch. Edge suplexed Benoit again, then went up top where they both fought on the turnbuckle. They came off the top like a car wreck and the referee began to count. Both got to their feet and picked up where they left off. Benoit bounced Edge off the top rope, then dumped him over the side and slammed his head into whatever was handy. Batista and Triple H were keeping their eyes on Orton and Company.

Benoit was back in control of the match and put Edge in the Sharpshooter. Edge crawled toward the ropes and grabbed on just in time. Benoit gave Edge a series of German suplexes, then he signaled for the end. Benoit came off the top with a head butt, but Edge kicked out of the pin that followed. Benoit put Edge in the Crippler Crossface and Edge reached for the ropes. Interference broke out and the referee called for the bell and a disqualification.

By this time, Snitsky had joined the party and cleared the ring. Triple H was confronted by his not-so-loyal teammates, but before anything could be said, Team Orton charged the ring and it turned into a Pier Six Brawl. Team Orton had control of the ring and Triple H and his so-called team found themselves on the outside as the show ended--in more ways than one. Don't they know there's no "I" in "team"?

This was an enjoyable show and a solid build-up for the Raw half of Survivor Series.

***

I love feedback and you can reach me at mallory_m_@hotmail.com. See you in The Lounge on Saturday.

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