Torch Newsletter back issues from five years ago and ten years ago are republished at the Torch VIP website (www.pwtorch.com/members) every week featuring full reviews of Raw, Nitro, other TV shows, and PPVs, plus the Torch cover story, WWF Newswire, WCW Newswire, ECW Newswire, ETC Newswire, "Torch Talk" interviews, columns, and more. The following is an excerpt of that feature with a full review of WWF Raw from five years ago this week.

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Torch Newsletter Archive
By Jason Powell, Torch assistant editor
June 5, 2000 - WWF Raw review
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #606
Cover dated: June 10, 2000

5.9 rating; 5.4 head-to-head w/Nitro; 10-wk. avg.= 6.5; 5-wk. avg.= 6.3

(Live from Rochester, N.Y.)... Hosts: Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler... [Q1: 4.7]... Highlights aired from Smackdown, recapping the scenario which led to Rock, Kane, and Undertaker each being named number one contender...Backstage, Michael Cole interviewed Vince McMahon, who had Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco with him. Vince said he doesn’t care how Triple H feels about having three number one contenders. He added that Triple H should have listened to him instead of being such an egomaniac... The opening montage aired... Triple H and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley came to the ring for a promo. Triple H put over the WWF Title, and then ripped Vince McMahon’s ego. Later, Vince walked to the ring and exchanged words with Triple H.

[Q2: 6.0]... In the ring, Triple H and Vince took off their jackets and squared off for a fight. Shane McMahon ran out to calm them down. Shane said maybe he should take over the WWF. Vince and Triple H simultaneously punched Shane. Rock walked out and cut a promo asking for his title match. As Rock walked toward the ring, Kane walked out with a mic and asked for his title match. Finally, Undertaker walked out with a mic and asked for his title match. Vince announced that Rock, Kane, and Taker would compete in a three-way with the winner receiving a title match later in the show... [C]

[Q3: 5.4]... (1) Val Venis & T&A (w/Trish Stratus) beat Rikishi & Too Cool at 4:44. In the end, Val Venis hit Grand Master Sexay with one of the tag titles while the ref was distracted. Moments later, Test pinned Sexay. Afterward, Rikishi gave Trish the Stinkface... [C] Backstage, Vince and Triple H apologized to one another. Shane led the MHR in a group hug. In the hallway, Crash Holly ran toward the MHR with a chair in hand, but the door to the room closed, causing him to hit himself with the chair... (2) Chris Benoit beat Road Dogg (w/Tori, X-Pac) at 1:41 in a King of the Ring tournament qualifying match. Late in the match, the Dudleys ran out and distracted Dogg long enough for Benoit to hit a bridging German suplex for the win.

[Q4: 5.3]... Afterward, Buh Buh grabbed Tori and set her up for a table spot, but X-Pac saved her... Backstage, Cole interviewed Brisco and Patterson. Behind the interview curtain, Crash snuck up and accidentally hit Patterson...Backstage, Cole interviewed Kane. Kane said he has no brother, nor allies in the three-way... (3) Gerald Brisco (w/Pat Patterson) beat Crash Holly to retain the WWF Hardcore Title. In the end, Patterson and Brisco both piled on top of Crash for the pin... Backstage, Cole interviewed Taker, who said Kane was right about not having any allies in the three-way...

[Q5: 6.1]... (4) Rock beat Kane and Undertaker at 3:41 in a three-way match to earn a WWF Title shot later in the show. Triple H sat in on commentary. Late in the match, Triple H hit Taker with a chairshot at ringside. Kane leaned over the top rope and tried to grab Taker, but Triple H hit Kane with a chairshot. Kane stumbled into Rock, who hit him with the Rock Bottom, and scored the pin. Afterward, Triple H hit Rock with a chairshot... [C] (5) Eddie Guerrero & Chyna beat Godfather & Dean Malenko (w/’hos) at 2:51.

[Q6: 6.0]... In the end, Guerrero pinned Malenko... (6) Hardcore Holly beat Faarooq at 2:50 to qualify for the KOTR tourney. Faarooq dominated the match, but Hardcore hit his finisher out of nowhere and scored the pin... Backstage, Kurt Angle hyped Edge & Christian for their upcoming match by telling them they would be defending the honor of Stephanie... [C]

[Q7: 6.4]... (7) Edge & Christian & Kurt Angle beat Chris Jericho & The Dudleys at 4:07. Late in the match, the Dudleys set up Christian for 3D, but Edge pulled Christian out of the ring. Angle snuck up behind Buh Buh and hit his finisher for the win. Afterward, Jericho locked Angle in the Liontamer, but then released him so the Dudleys could put him through a table... [C] (8) The Hardys beat Big Bossman & Bull Buchanan. Late in the match, Bossman accidentally ran into Buchanan which led to Jeff pinning Buchanan.

[Q8: 6.5]... Afterward, Buchanan shoved Bossman and started to leave the ring. Big surprise, Bossman grabbed his nightstick and hit Buchanan with it from behind... Backstage, Triple H instructed the rest of the MHR not to interfere in his title match against Rock... [C] Backstage, Cole interviewed Triple H, and told him that Earl Hebner would be the "special referee" for the main event. Triple H said it didn’t matter who was ref, he would still beat Rock without the MHR. As Triple H walked away, Cole asked Steph when she will defend the women’s title. Steph claimed that there are no challengers for the belt. In another big surprise (obviously being sarcastic), Jackie and Ivory burst onto the set and said they wanted matches. Steph announced that there would be a women’s battle royal on Smackdown to determine the number one contender... (9) Triple H (w/Stephanie) beat Rock at 9:30 to retain the WWF Title. Both men fought at ringside during the opening minutes.

[Q9: 7.5]... Back in the ring, Triple H hit Rock with a kneelift and a clothesline for a nearfall. Later, the MHR walked to ringside. Rock hit Triple H with the People’s Elbow and went for a cover. As Hebner made the count, X-Pac reached in and pulled him out of the ring. Hebner kicked X-Pac and re-entered the ring. Moments later, Hebner was bumped which allowed the MHR to run in and attack Rock. Undertaker and Kane ran out to help Rock. Later, Taker picked up X-Pac by the throat as Shane climbed on his back. Meanwhile, Rock swung a chair at Shane, but Dogg pulled Shane off of Taker’s back, causing Rock to hit Taker with the chair. Taker turned around and chokeslammed Rock. Taker kicked Triple H twice and left the ring to beat up the MHR at ringside. Triple H rolled over and covered Rock as Hebner woke up and made the three count. Afterward, Taker and Kane re-entered the ring. Taker punched Triple H, knocking him over the top rope. Taker and Kane stood in the ring while Rock struggled to get to his feet. The MHR left the ring and gloated on the ramp to end the show...

COMMENTS

-The opening promo lasted nearly 25 minutes. It was a solid segment, but it made little sense for Rock to walk out just as Vince and Triple H were getting ready to fight each other. If the WWF plans to turn Kane or Undertaker heel, one of them should have walked out first. Later, when Rock moved down the entrance ramp, it became predictable that someone else would be walking out behind him. Sure enough, Kane walked out for his promo. Then, Kane moved down the ramp, making it obvious that Undertaker would walk out next. As good as the segment was, it would have been more exciting and less predictable had Taker or Kane walked out through the crowd to cut their promo.

-Strong point: The biggest suprise of the show came when Rock won the three-way to earn the title shot. I was surprised that the WWF would give away Rock vs. Triple H on Raw. It must be a sign that they plan on moving away from the feud, but wanted to give it some sort of conclusion for the time being. If the WWF is moving on from Rock vs. Triple H, the big question now is what to do with Rock? It would make sense to have Taker and Kane turn on him at the PPV. While Taker is really over with the fans, the WWF may not be confident that his new gimmick will work long term. At the same time, the WWF has failed to add any new dimension to Kane’s gimmick, other than giving him more mic time. The WWF has a shortage of main event heels, so the timing may be right for a Taker and Kane (and maybe even Big Show) faction.

-Weakest point: Big Bossman and Bull Buchanan vs. The Hardys was a decent match, but as I’ve said before, Bossman should not appear on Raw or Smackdown until he is over. The mere sound of his music is enough to kill even the hottest crowd. How many times have we seen other wrestlers beat him up and turn their heads, only to be attacked with the nightstick? He works hard, but until the writers find a way to get him over again (if that’s possible), Bossman should be regulated to working Heat and house shows. Second weakest point goes to Brisco vs. Crash. Patterson’s underwear gimmick has already run its course.

-Overall score (7.0): The majority of the show featured the top names cutting promos or working matches. Based on star power alone, I would give the show a 10.0. However, the rest of the matches were filler which is understandable when you consider that the WWF gave away two PPV main event caliber matches (Rock vs. Kane vs. Taker, Rock vs. Triple H) on free TV. While some of the matches were made a little more interesting by being given the KOTR qualifying match title, most seemed pointless. [JP]

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