By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Raw virtual time ongoing review
Aired March 31, 2003
Live from Seattle, Wash.
Broadcast live on TNN

Ongoing ''Virtual Time'' Review of Raw

This is an ongoing ''virtual time'' report on tonight's Raw. I will update this report with results and commentary every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the show. You may have to hit refresh in order to see our latest update.

5th Quarter Hour

(4) Booker T beat Chris Jericho by DQ at 2:28 when Ric Flair interfered. As the match started, Ross gave a quick recap of the Steve Austin storyline. At 2:00, Booker took control of the match, but Ric Flair ran out and attacked Booker for the DQ. Booker started to get the better of Flair, but Triple H ran out at the same time Jericho recovered, making it a three-on-one attack. Triple H hit the Pedigree on Booker, then Flair locked him in the Figure Four. Shawn Michaels ran out for the save and cleared Flair from the ring. Michaels set up to hit Sweet Chin Music on Triple H, but Jericho recovered and cut him off. The heels threw Booker to ringside and focussed their attack on Michaels. Jericho locked Michaels in the Liontamer. Booker recovered and went after Triple H, who quickly got the better of the situation and placed Booker in a leg-lock. Both Booker and Michaels tapped while the heels had the moves applied. Eventually, Triple H and Jericho released the holds and hugged...

(Commentary: I was expecting Kevin Nash to make the save as Diesel, but I guess he's being saved for later in the show. Still, this was a good segment that placed heat on all three heels involved. Jumping back to the Austin storyline, one problem WWE faces is that the Austin character has been fired so many times in the past that casual fans who don't know any better can't be taking this storyline very seriously.)

[Commercial break]

(5) Jeff Hardy beat Steven Richards (w/Victoria) at 3:42. Before the match, Ross plugged next week's Raw in Milwaukee. Richards took control of the match, but came away with Jeff's blue paint smeared all over himself. Lawler cracked a lame joke about Jeff's opponents needing to shower with paint remover.

6th Quarter Hour

Jeff regained control of the match. Victoria tried to interfere, which brought Trish Stratus out for the save. Jeff hit the Swanton on Richards and scored the pin. After the match, Jeff and Trish got close, but didn't kiss...

Backstage, Steve Austin said his goodbyes to several crew members, who wished him good luck. The scene concluded with Austin walking up the arena entrance ramp with his gym bag slung over his shoulder and his head hung low...

[Commercial break]

(Commentary: Oh now, I just thought of something. I've had this horrible suspicion that WWE was going to bring Nash back on Smackdown and give him the top heel spot that's been vacated by the injured Angle. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I heard he was being placed on the Raw roster, because that seemed to eliminate any chance of him being handed such a high profile spot without earning it. Now I'll be nervous until I see him show up on Raw. After all, there is a natural storyline there, as Nash's initial push to the top as champion shared some similarities to Brock Lesnar's.)

More "Rock Appreciation Night Moments" aired...

Backstage, Test was telling Torrie Wilson how hot her Playboy pictures are, while Goldust was standing in the background. Stacy Keibler walked in the room but didn't hear Test's conversation. Test got flustered and asked Goldust to back up his story, even though Stacy wasn't concerned about it. Goldust tried to lie for Test, but then blurted out the truth when his Tourette's acted up.

(Commentary: Goldust acted more like the old Mr. Subliminal character from SNL than someone who suffers from Tourette's, but I liked it.)

Backstage, Rock told the disappointed crew members who had just wished Austin farewell that he was going to throw a party. He told them they weren't invited to the party, but could watch it from outside...

The Goldberg video aired again...

[Commercial break]

7th Quarter Hour

Highlights aired of the WrestleMania crowd being informed that they had set a new Safeco Field attendance record...

(6) Rob Van Dam & Kane beat Chief Morley & Lance Storm and The Dudleys in a three-team elimination match to win the Raw Tag Titles at 12:58. At 2:00, RVD caught D-Von with a kick that he didn't appear ready to take. D-Von sold the kick and then stumbled as he tried to get back on his feet. Assuming he wasn't working, D-Von appeared to regain his composure quickly as he re-entered the match less than a minute later and appeared to be fine. Later, Bubba held RVD, who then served as the target for Morley's chairshot. Before Morley could swing the chair, D-Von ripped it out of his hands. RVD kicked the chair at D-Von and then pinned him to eliminate the Dudleys from the match at 5:07.

[Commercial break]

After the break, Morley & Storm were in control of the match. The teams traded offense for the next several minutes, then Kane chokeslammed both of his opponents at the same time. RVD followed up with the Five Star Frogsplash on Morley for the win.

8th Quarter Hour

After the match, RVD & Kane celebrated the win while the referee tended to Morley, who was either injured or doing a hell of a job of selling the pinfall...

Backstage, Bischoff told an unidentified caller that the biggest surprise of the night was still to come. "The ink is still dry on this contract," Bischoff told the caller in reference to his big surprise...

(Commentary: Please be Nash, please be Nash...)

The Confidential preview featured Roddy Piper taking credit for WrestleMania...

[Commercial break]

The announcers hyped Michaels & Booker vs. Triple H & Jericho as next week's Raw main event...

(Commentary: There's not enough time for Nash and Goldberg to come out, so it looks like Goldberg was the surprise Bischoff was referring to. My bet is that Nash will interfere in next week's main event instead, or at least I hope he will.)

The Rock walked to the ring for his appreciation ceremony. He teased the crowd by saying "Finally" a couple of times, then finally blurted out, "Finally the Rock has come back to Seeee... to Seeee... to see all of you jabronis appreciate The Great One." Rock said he's sorry Steve Austin was fired. "I actually think that really sucks, because in all honesty, you and The Rock put on a hell of a performance last night at WrestleMania. You gave The Rock everything you had. The Rock gave you everything he had." Rock said he loves Austin and thanked him for the match. Ross chimed in on commentary that he doesn't believe a word Rock was saying. Sure enough, Rock went back to heel mode by bragging about his win and adding that Austin shouldn't be embarrassed about losing to The Great One. Rock hilariously scolded a ringside fan for flipping him the bird.

9th Quarter Hour

Rock directed the crowd's attention to TitanTron, where a great video of his wrestling and Hollywood highlights aired. Back live, the crowd was booing while Rock was smiling in the ring. A small "Rocky" chant broke out. Rock quieted the fans down and complained about being booed. The crowd started to chant "Goldberg," so Rock told them to stop acting cool just because they know his accountant is Ira Goldberg.

Rock said he was so offended by the lack of appreciation the fans have showed him since he returned from Hollywood that he's calling it quits. "That's it, it's over. This is the last time you will see The Rock." Rock told the crowd to kiss his ass.

Suddenly, Goldberg's entrance music started playing and a backstage camera showed him walking backstage. Once Goldberg made it onto the stage, fireworks similar to the ones he used in WCW exploded. Goldberg stood in the fireworks until they stopped, then entered the ring. Rock and Goldberg circled around the ring for a bit. Goldberg took the mic and asked, "So, Rock, you want to know who's next, eh? You're next!" Goldberg charged toward Rock and speared him. Goldberg left the ring to the crowd's cheers while Rock sold the move as if he'd been shot...

This concludes tonight's "virtual time" coverage of Raw. Check the "Torch Feedback" section for reader reviews of the show. If you would like to contribute, see below for details. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with the Raw Hitlist, which will be posted in the "Powell's Take" section.

***

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John Smith of Denver, Col. (5.0): Raw was an average show, but the highpoint was definitely... etc...

Forward your comments to TVFeedback@pwtorch.com.

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