By Mallory Mahling, Torch Team Contributor

WWE Raw "Virtual Time" Alt. Perspective Coverage
May 10, 2004
Live from San Jose, California
Aired on Spike TV
Report by Mallory Mahling, Torch Team Contributor

Ongoing Alternative Perspective Review of the Show

Do you know the way to San Jose?

Raw is live tonight from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, and the card reads like a pay per view..."restaurant quality," if you will.

- Triple H vs. Shelton Benjamin
- Batista vs. Tajiri
- Intercontinental Championship: Randy Orton vs. Edge
- Steel Cage Match: Chris Jericho vs. Christian
- Eugene vs. Rob Conway

Quarter Hour 1

The show opened with a recap of last week's Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels match.

Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler welcomed viewers to the show.

(1) Triple H vs. Shelton Benjamin was a no contest. Shelton Benjamin has had an eventful six weeks on Raw; he started the match early and caught Triple H off guard. DDT by Benjamin and an early cover.

Suddenly, Shawn Michaels slid into the ring and began to throw punches at Triple H. He drove Hunter's head into the ring steps. Referees swarmed out and tried to restrain Michaels, but he refused to be stopped.

Triple H fled the ring and Michaels grabbed a mic. He called Triple H out--right here, right now--but Eric Bischoff came out and rained on his parade. Bischoff warned him that he had no intention of losing control of his own show and called for security to escort Michaels out of the building. "As of this moment," growled Bischoff, "Michaels was suspended." However, before he left, Michaels attacked Triple H. It was a stand-off as the show went to commercial.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 2

Moments ago, Shawn Michaels had been removed from the building.

In the locker room, Ric Flair, Batista and Orton were tending to a punch drunk Triple H. Cheerleader Flair gave each member of Evolution a pep talk.

Bischoff came in and said he'd made decision. Next week Triple H would get another opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship.

(Commercial break)

(2) Batista pinned Tajiri. Tajiri started out with a flurry of kicks and was getting the better of big Batista. That didn't last long, though, as Batista began to take Tajiri apart. Sidewalk slam by Batista, who leaned over; Tajiri surprised him with a kick to the head.

Tajiri with a near fall. Batista countered his kick with a spinebuster, and Batista got the pin and the win. But he followed that with a second spinebuster and then a powerbomb. Batista continued brutalizing Tajiri, who swallowed the green mist. Batista looked very proud of himself.

Quarter Hour 3

(Commercial break)

Stacy Keibler came out pitch the new WWE Divas - South of the Border DVD. They showed a preview, but Gail Kim and Molly Holly came out (in bad moods, as usual) and put a stop to it. Gail Kim objected to Keibler saying that she was the hottest diva on the video and punched her in the stomach. Victoria came out to make the save. Jazz came out and sent Victoria face-first into the mat. Then Nidia ran out to even the odds. It turned into Bitch Fest 2004, until the heels were chased to the back.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 4

J.R. announced a six-girl tag team match for later. Ugh! Of course, the King was loving it.

Todd Grisham asked Chris Jericho about Shawn Michaels being suspended. Jericho had his own agenda; he still wanted his chance at the World Heavyweight Title, but tonight he had more pressing concerns. Since Trish likes it rough, tonight he'd show Christian and Trish just how rough he could be.

(3) Intercontinental Title Match: Randy Orton over Edge. The match started with a lot of stalling. Edge began to dominate and even twisted Orton around the ring post. Orton was taking a beating and looked a bit sloppy.

Ric Flair headed to the ring just as the show went to commercial.

(Commercial break)

During the break, Flair had tossed Edge into the ring steps, and Orton had gathered his wits and was in control of the match.

Quarter Hour 5

Orton was working over Edge's arm, but Edge finally broke the hold. Orton went up top and came off the turnbuckle with a crossbody. High back body drop by Edge, followed by a suplex and a cover.

Flair was still at ringside, and Edge kicked Orton to the outside and into the guardrail. Edge came off the top with a drop kick and a near fall. More near falls and counters until Edge speared Flair, and Orton was ready with a roll-up to keep his IC title.

(Commercial break)

Last week William Regal had attempted to train Eugene, but Eugene had handed him his ass instead.

Backstage, Regal was helping Eugene warm up. Uncle Eric walked up and Eugene gave him a big hug.

Eric took Regal aside and told him he was hoping Eugene would lose and be so disappointed that he would quit. After all, he'd only promised his "sister" that Eugene would get an "opportunity." Bischoff suggested that if Eugene lost, he might be able to find a spot on the roster for Regal.

J.R. extended his condolences to the family of Pepper Gomez who passed away last week.

(4) Six Diva Tag Team Match: Molly Holly & Gail Kim & Jazz over Nidia & Stacy Keibler & Victoria. Victoria and Jazz started out, and Jazz was absolutely vicious. So were the other two heels. This match had its moments. The end came when Victoria tapped out to Gail Kim for the second week in a row.

(Commercial break)

Christian, Tyson Tomko and Trish were being interviewed by Todd Grisham. Was Christian concerned about the upcoming cage match? Heavens no; he had a problem solver. The loser could take his ball and go home, and the winner would get the opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship.

Trish walked up and startled Lita, who was getting a cup of coffee. Trish then began to scream bloody murder, teasing that Kane was standing behind Lita. Lita freaked out and began to pummel Trish. "Can't she take a joke?" asked Trish.

(5) Matt Hardy (w/Lita) vs. Val Venis never happened. Val's music played, but Kane appeared on the TitanTron he said. He'd taken care of Matt's opponent by beating him senseless, then he looked into the camera and had a message for Lita. He demanded an answer, and she would have one week to give him that answer. He warned her that it had better be the right one. Matt wanted to know what Kane was talking about. Lita wouldn't answer him, but looked troubled.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 7

(6) Eugene (w/William Regal) over Rob Conway (w/Sylvain Grenier). Regal told Eugene he'd be right by his side; Eugene hugged him and it was hard to tell if Regal was up to no good or touched by the hug.

Eugene started the match by attempting to jump off the top turnbuckle, but as the match progressed, Eugene was magnificent. He came off the top and got a near pin, then dropped a leg on Conway. Regal tripped Eugene. Conway attempted to use the distraction for a pin, but Eugene pinned Conway with a bridge. As Eugene celebrated, Regal seemed torn between wanting Eugene to succeed and Bischoff's promise of a spot on the roster.

(Commercial break)

Quarter Hour 8

A music video of Chris Benoit's 18-year journey to the championship aired. Nicely done.

Eric Bischoff and Johnny Nitro came out to clear up the controversy concerning the title picture. He let Nitro make an announcement first. Next week, in that very ring, it would be Trish Stratus vs. Lita.

Bischoff noted that various people had claimed to be getting a title shot next week. They were all correct, since next week there would be 20-man, over-the-top-rope battle royal, and the winner would get a title shot at Bad Blood.

(Commercial break)

Bischoff joined J.R. and the King and reiterated that Shawn Michaels would remain suspended indefinitely.

(7) Steel Cage Match: Chris Jericho over Christian (w/Trish and Tyson Tomko). While the ref had words with Tomko and Trish, Jericho got the match started. Jericho headed over the top of the cage early, but Christian pulled him back down. Christian started up the side of the cage, but he and Jericho battled along the ropes. Jericho was standing atop the cage, sailed off and landed on Christian. Jericho crawled (too) slowly to the open cage door, and Tomko punched him in the face, which caused the ref to eject Tomko from ringside.

Quarter Hour 9

Jericho was crawling out the door and had reached the steps. Christian pulled him back in. Christian was sent head first into the side of the cage as Trish looked on in horror. He was busted open and bleeding badly. Bulldog and near fall by Jericho. Unprettier and cover by Christian, but Jericho got a shoulder up. Christian was bleeding buckets, but attempted to climb over the side. Jericho had other ideas. Double-arm suplex and both were back down on the mat.

Trish shoved the ref out of the way and brought a chair into the cage. Jericho put her in the Walls of Jericho as Christian went over the side. In the nick of time, Jericho grabbed him and pulled him back into the cage and put him in the Walls. Christian tried his best to escape Jericho's clutches, but he eventually tapped out.

Jericho climbed to the top of the cage to celebrate his victory as the show drew to a close.

***

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

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