By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Raw virtual time ongoing review
Aired May 19, 2003
Live from Greenville, S.C.
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

Backstage, Shawn Michaels approached a misty-eyed Ric Flair and encouraged him to go all out against Triple H. Flair asked if someone his age could really compete with Hunter. Michaels said he believes Flair can, but the question is whether Flair believes he can...

(Commentary: Very good backstage segment. Either Flair is doing one hell of an acting job or he's legitimately emotional about something. Hmm...)

[Commercial break]

(3) Rodney Mack (w/Teddy Long) beat Spike Dudley in a five minute White Boy Challenge via submission at 4:59. Before the match, Teddy issued a challenge to any "WWE established white boy." The live crowd fell asleep again. Did someone ban beer sales in the arena or something? Late in the match, Mack locked Spike in the Cobra Clutch, which Long has renamed "The Blackout." Spike tried to fight his way out of the hold. The live crowd woke up long enough to countdown 3-2-1, but Spike tapped with one second to go...

I keep forgetting to mention it, but Ross has been pitching a poll on the WWE website that lets viewers vote on which wrestler they think was behind the wheel of the car that nearly struck Goldberg...

6th Quarter Hour

[Commercial break]

Backstage, Austin harassed the hungover Bischoff by banging on a trash can lid and then yelling at him through a megaphone. Austin stopped making noise long enough to tell Bischoff the real cure for a hangover is female entertainment. Austin ushered Mae Young and Fabulous Moolah into the office and left the room. Bischoff threw a fit and ran Mae and Moolah out of the room...

[Commercial break]

Backstage, Ric Flair put on his robe and looked at himself in the mirror. Flair danced around and offered up a "Whoo!"...

(4) La Resistance beat Scott Steiner & Test (w/Stacy Keibler) at 2:07. Highlights aired of Steiner's appearance at Saturday's on-sale event in New York. Before the match, Steiner and Test argued over who would start the match. La Resistance jumped them from behind before the argument got very heated. Seconds later, Rene Dupree ran Steiner into the steps at ringside. Stacy spent the next 30 seconds checking on Steiner's storyline condition. Later, Sylvain Grenier rolled up Test for the win out of nowhere. After the match, Steiner and Test resumed their argument. They took turns shoving each other to the mat and then Stacy stood between them. Test grabbed Stacy's hand and tried to pull her out of the ring, but Steiner grabbed her other hand to keep her in the ring. Eventually, Stacy got upset and stormed out of the ring without either Steiner or Test...

7th Quarter Hour

Backstage, Austin entered a room which was marked "The Interrogation Room." Meanwhile, the announcers revealed the results of the WWE.com poll which asked viewers to decide which wrestler tried to rundown Goldberg. The Rock came in first and was followed in order by Christian, Hunter, Austin, Jericho...

[Commercial break]

Backstage, Austin interrogated Lance Storm, who was sitting on a chair with a light over his head. Austin asked Storm if he driving the car. When Storm didn't answer, Austin said he had ways of making him talk. Storm confessed that he was driving the car, but claimed it wasn't his idea and added that he simply lost control of it. Austin booked Storm vs. Goldberg...

Backstage, Flair told Triple H that he never asked anyone to lay down for him during all of his years as a champion. Flair said he's not going to lay down for anyone, especially in Greenville. Flair warned Triple H that he was coming with everything he had during their match and suggested that he do the same...

8th Quarter Hour

[Commercial break]

(5) Goldberg beat Lance Storm at 1:11. Ross recapped the interrogation storyline by saying that Storm confessed to being part of the attempted hit and run but would not give up his co-conspirator. A powerslam, spear, Jackhammer, and a few poses for the camera in between. No offense for Storm. Afterward, Goldberg sat on Storm's chest and choked him while demanding to know who put him up to the attempted rundown. Storm blamed Chris Jericho, which drew zero reaction from the live crowd...

(Commentary: In fairness to the folks in Greenville, they did perk up for Scott Steiner, Goldberg, and Ric Flair. In other words, Greenville is still WCW Country.)

[Commercial break]

Jonathan Coachman tracked down Chris Jericho in the parking lot and asked him if Storm was telling the truth. Jericho confessed that he did tell Storm to rundown Goldberg. Jericho added that he would rundown Goldberg in person next week, because Goldberg is going to be his special guest on the Highlight Reel. Good tease for next week...

(6) Triple H beat Ric Flair to retain the World Hvt. Title at 7:26. Hunter entered the ring with his ribs heavily taped. Before the match, Flair extended his hand to Triple H, only to pull it back and run his fingers through his hair. The live crowd popped big. Flair kept them going with a series of Whoos. Flair dominated the opening minutes with chops and suplexes. Triple H fired back with a spinebuster on Flair. The live crowd was into the match at this point, but they weren't standing in anticipation as one might expect them to be.

9th Quarter Hour

Flair climbed to the top rope and... landed a double ax-handle! Top rope moves are pretty routine in wrestling, but anyone who has watched Flair's career knows how infrequently he has actually hit a top rope move. Flair locked in the Figure Four, which brought the live crowd to their feet. Triple H reached the ropes to break the hold, which drew a chorus of boos.

Triple H came back by locking Flair in a sleeper hold and the ref was bumped when Flair flailed his arms. Flair broke free and low-blowed Triple H, then hit him with the title belt. Flair woke up the ref and scored a big nearfall, which Ross spoiled by declaring the match over. Triple H recovered a half-minute later and hit the Pedigree for the win.

Afterward, Kevin Nash ran out and chased Triple H from the ring. Hunter walked toward the top of the ramp and fell down. Steve Austin walked out, knelt down beside the fallen champion, and announced Triple H vs. Nash in a Hell in a Cell match for Bad Blood to end the show...

(Commentary: The main event was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately, the announcement of Nash receiving another pay-per-view title match caused the otherwise quality show to end in a disappointing fashion.)

This concludes tonight's "virtual time" coverage. Check the "Torch Feedback" section momentarily for reader reviews on tonight's show. If you would like to contribute, see below for details.

***

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