By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor

WWE Raw virtual time ongoing review
Aired July 14, 2003
Live from Indianapolis, Ind.
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.

1st Quarter Hour

The show opened with the usual still-photos of Eric Bischoff and Steve Austin... A video recapped last week's storyline between Steve Austin and Kane. The video mixed shots from last week's show and a clips of creepy little girls from what I'm guessing was a past Undertaker or Kane video... The opening montage aired...

Chris Jericho was standing in the ring with the Highlight Reel set. Jericho said he wanted to start the show off "because enough is enough." Jericho said something has to be done about the "utter chaos" that Raw has become the last two weeks. "Superstars are getting attacked backstage," Jericho said. "Grown men are terrified to go into their own locker rooms." Jericho introduced the one man who could do something to change things. Jericho introduced Eric Bischoff, who walked to the ring wearing a neck brace.

Jericho thanked Bischoff for having the courage to appear on his show just two weeks after being powerbombed off the stage. Bischoff said his doctors wanted him to take several weeks off to let his neck heel, but he couldn't do it because Austin was "running the show into the ground." Bischoff said he received a court order banning Kane from the arena. "However, we are going to see Kane on the show because we've arranged for a live sit-down interview between Kane and Jim Ross," Bischoff said. Bischoff added that Kane will be doing his end of the interview from the WWE studios in Stamford, Conn.

Bischoff introduced footage taped last week of Rob Van Dam confronting Kane backstage last week. Kane grabbed RVD by the throat and threw him through a wall. Back live, Jericho applauded Bischoff for banning Kane from the building. "He's crazy," Jericho said of Kane. "Who knows what he might do?" Jericho turned his attention away from Kane momentarily to hype his match with Shawn Michaels that will take place on next week's show. Jericho started sucking up to Bischoff again, but was interrupted by Steve Austin's music.

Austin stormed to the ring and complained about Bischoff having Kane banned from the building. Austin said he wanted to whip Kane's ass after what he did last week. Austin teased attacking Bischoff, but backed off and started to leave the ring. Jericho stopped Austin from leaving and began ripping into him verbally. Austin listed to Jericho for about a minute and then gave him the Stunner to end the segment...

Jonathan Coachman and Jerry Lawler introduced the segment and hyped Triple H & Ric Flair & Randy Orton vs. Bubba & D-Von & Spike Dudley, Booker T vs. Christian in an Intercontinental Title rematch, Gail Kim vs. Molly Holly for the WWE Women's Title, and Kane's sit-down interview...

(Commentary: A good opening segment. Jericho, Bischoff, and Austin were all effective at setting the mood of the show and explaining their individual views on the Kane situation. Unfortunately, whatever good came from the segment was eliminated Coachman introduced himself as the play-by-play announcer. The explanation that is being used is that Ross is conducting the sit-down interview with Kane in Stamford. Please tell me that there's not going to be an injury angle with Ross that keeps Coach doing commentary for the next few weeks.)

2nd Quarter Hour

[Commercial break]

(1) Kevin Nash & Scott Steiner & Trish Stratus (w/Stacy Keibler) beat Test & Steven Richards & Victoria 5:10. The rules of the match allowed men and women to wrestle one another. This seemed to confuse Coachman, who tried to establish the opposite just seconds before Trish and Test locked up. Late in the match, Test deserted his team and headed up the ramp. Nash hit the Jackknife on Richards and scored the pin...

Backstage, Jericho complained to Bischoff about Austin attacking in the earlier segment. Bischoff said he can't imagine there is a company policy that would allow that. Jericho told Bischoff that he just gave him an idea...

[Commercial break]

Lance Storm came to the ring and read a prepared statement in which he told fans that he will be forced to take legal action if they continue to chant boring before, during, and after his matches...

3rd Quarter Hour

(2) Maven beat Lance Storm at 6:06. After five minutes of back and forth action that received boring chants from the crowd (thanks to Storm's new gimmick), Storm connected with a great superkick for a nearfall. Storm locked in the Maple Leaf finisher, but Maven reached the ropes. Storm pulled Maven off the ropes and tried to keep him locked in the hold, but Maven rolled him up for the win. "Not only is (Storm) boring, but now he's on a losing streak," Lawler commented...

(Commentary: Coachman isn't the only one making mistakes tonight. So far, I've posted this review on the wrong website, produced a duplicate version of this review, and listed the first match as match number two. Doh! Thanks for hanging in there with me.)

In Stamford, Jim Ross told a production member that he was nervous about interviewing Kane but had to because it's his job...

La Resistance walked to the ring for a promo. Sylvan Grenier said he and his partner were there to celebrate for two reasons: (1) Eric Bischoff is back. (2) French Independence Day. The duo took turns singing the French National Anthem as the show went to commercial...

[Commercial break]

4th Quarter Hour

La Resistance were still singing when the show returned from the break. Bubba Ray and D-Von hit the ring and attacked the heel team. The Dudleys got the better of the encounter and hit 3D on Dupree. After the heels fled to ringside, Spike walked to the ring while waving an American flag. Bubba took the mic and led the crowd in signing the U.S. National Anthem. Oddly enough, Bubba's singing sounded exactly like Jim Duggan's until he got to the "Land of the free" line, at which point he hit a Roseanne-like high note. Lame segment...

[Commercial break]

(3) Triple H & Ric Flair & Randy Orton vs. Bubba & D-Von & Spike Dudley in an elimination match concluded in the show's second hour. Bubba dominated Flair for the first minute of the match. Flair backed away from Bubba, flipped him off, and clearly told him "F--- you." This was just part of the match, but I'm sure Flair will catch some hell for it from Vince or one the agents once he gets backstage. Heck, if Bischoff were really running the company, he'd probably fire Flair for what swearing on TV. Then again, if Bischoff were really running the company, Flair would probably be sitting home or working for NWA-TNA right now. Anyway, the two teams traded offense for the next few minutes until Spike removed his shirt and revealed the singlet he wears underneath his usual gear. A few seconds later, Orton hit a Stunner-like move on Spike to eliminate him from the match.

This concludes our first hour coverage of tonight's show. Check the "TV Reports" section for our second hour Raw coverage.

***

After Raw concludes, you are encouraged to send feedback consisting of your name, hometown, 1-10 score, and a pithy paragraph of thoughts in ready-to-publish (i.e. well proofread) in the following format:

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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax