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.

For subscription info about the Torch VIP ESub Membership option, which saves money by skipping the actual home delivery of the paper copy of the Torch Newsletter (although you still have a chance to read the entire weekly Torch Newsletter online as soon as it's published), click here: Torch VIP ESub Subscription Info. Sub prices range between $1.05 and $1.37 per week - same price U.S. or overseas.

Torch Newsletter Archive
May 1, 2001 - WWF Raw review
Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #652
Cover dated: May 5, 2001

4/30 Live from Milwaukee, Wisc.

-Review of the Show: [Q1]... Hosts: Jim Ross and Paul Heyman... The announcers introduced the show and discussed Steve Austin & Triple H winning the tag titles at Backlash. Ross hyped the show’s main event as Kane vs. Steve Austin for the WWF Title... Kurt Angle walked to the ring as the announcers discussed his loss to Chris Benoit at Backlash. Angle said Benoit showed him a side that he hadn’t seen before: "The biggest cheater walking God’s green earth." Angle had the director air footage of the final 20 seconds of the Backlash match where Benoit tapped after the buzzer sounded. Angle quoted Olympic rules that say that a sudden death overtime period must be immediately after the regulation period, thus making Angle the winner. Angle said he is now and forever an Olympic gold medallist, and that Benoit could not take that away from him. Benoit headed to the ring and tried to take the mic from Angle, but Angle pulled it away. Angle told Benoit he could steal matches away from people, but he would never know what it was like to have a gold medal placed around his neck. Angle gave Benoit the mic, and Benoit said that Angle was right about being a gold medalist. He said Angle was the very best in the world, but that he had defeated Angle at Backlash despite all of Angle’s accomplishments. A brawl ensued. Benoit locked Angle in the Crossface, but Angle got out of it. For his trouble, Angle took two German suplexes and a backdrop to the floor from the Crippler. Benoit got Angle’s gold medals and held them up while Angle held his head on the floor. Benoit left the ring with Angle’s gold medals... [C]

[Q2]... Highlights aired of the previous angle and of Angle searching for his medals during the break. Back to live action, Benoit asked Tazz if he had seen Benoit, but Tazz didn’t answer. Angle walked away, and Tazz called him a jackass... (1) Matt Hardy (w/Jeff Hardy) beat Edge (Christian) to retain the WWF European Title with the Twist of Fate. Late in the match, Matt bodyslammed Edge and followed up with a guillotine leg drop. After Christian’s interference backfired, Matt hit the Twist of Fate for the pinfall... [C] Backstage, William Regal complained to Jonathan Coachman that Chris Jericho "took the Duchess out of her element" at Backlash. Regal said he would return the favor by booking Jericho in a Hardcore title match with Rhyno. Trish Stratus entered the room and Regal told her that if she beat Chyna in a non-title match, she might receive a title match in the future... (2) X-Pac (w/Justin Credible, Albert) beat Spike Dudley with the X-Factor.

[Q3]... Late in the match, X-Pac avoided Spike’s finisher and countered with his own for the win... Backstage, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley arrived in a limo. Michael Cole pointed to a mark on her face and asked her what caused it. Steph claimed Kane left the mark when he kicked her in the face at the PPV. She said Daddy would make sure Kane paid for it. Steph brought up Test, saying he would learn to stay out of McMahon family business... [C] The announcers hyped that Team McMahon would deliver the "State of the Union Address" later in the show... Backstage, Kane received medical attention on his injured arm... Backstage, Edge & Christian were arguing when Angle approached them and asked about his medals. Christian asked Angle if he ever considered the possibility that Benoit left the building, but Angle said Benoit would never have gone out in public with his gold medals. Angle accused E&C of covering for Benoit due to some "Canadian thing." E&C told Angle they don’t care about his medals, causing him to storm away... Backstage, The Acolytes were beating Crash Holly in a game of poker... The announcers recapped the finish of the Last Man Standing match between Shane and Big Show as still-shots aired of Shane’s leap. Ross claimed that Shane and Show were still receiving medical attention... Backstage, Stephanie found Test and lambasted him for interfering in family business. Stephanie reminded Test that he is "not family" and said that Triple H would finish him once and for all later in the show... A backstage shot aired of Chris Jericho... [C] Backstage, Hardcore Holly interrupted Crash’s poker game and asked him what the hell he was doing. The Acolytes offered Hardcore a beer, which he threw at Bradshaw while challenging them to a match...

[Q4]... William Regal joined the announcers on commentary... (3) Rhyno beat Chris Jericho to retain the WWF Hardcore Title when Edge & Christian interfered. Late in the match, Edge and Christian ran out and sprayed a fire extinguisher at Jericho, which led to Rhyno hitting the Gore for the win. Afterward, Regal climbed into the ring and tried to attack Jericho with a garbage can, but Jericho took it away from him. Jericho beat the hell out of Regal until several referees ran out to separate them... A backstage shot aired of Vince, Steph, Austin, and Triple H... [C] As Vince and Steph walked to the ring, Ross broke the news that divorce proceedings between Vince and Linda McMahon have been "temporarily suspended."

[Q5]... Vince took the mic and praised Austin and Triple H for being leaders. Vince blamed Test for Shane’s PPV win over Big Show and said Test would pay for it during his match against Triple H. Vince moved onto his next "blemish" by showing footage of Kane hitting the big boot on Stephanie at Backlash. Steph introduced Austin and Triple H, who showed off their title belts. The WrestleMania theme played as a shot aired of Linda McMahon at WWF New York. Linda said she hated to spoil the celebratory mood that Vince was in. She said their divorce attorneys will meet Friday, but she would temporarily halt the proceedings if Vince would agree to a few things. She said Kane was not ready to wrestle tonight. Linda "strongly" suggested that Kane should have the night off and that Austin should defend his title against Undertaker. Although Austin was furious, Vince reluctantly complied with Linda’s request to keep his divorce proceedings from continuing... [C] Backstage, Austin told Vince that his divorce was "affecting business" and screwing up their plans. Vince said he would think of something. Austin told him he had better think of something fast... Hardcore Holly and a drunken Crash headed to the ring. Crash lost his title to Jerry Lynn on Heat, and the announcers talked about how he was taking it hard... (4) The Acolytes beat The Hollys. Does a tag match in the WWF start any other way than all four men brawling?

[Q6]... Late in the match, Crash accidentally hit Hardcore with a missile dropkick. Bradshaw followed up with the Clothesline from Hell on Hardcore and scored the pin. Afterward, Crash tried to apologize to Hardcore, who punched and suplexed him in return... Backstage, Vince told Triple H to "set the standard" by taking care of Test... [C] Backstage, Lillian Garcia interviewed Undertaker about his WWF Title match... (5) Test defeated Triple H by DQ.

[Q7]... Late in the match, Triple H hit Test with a chairshot at ringside for the DQ. Afterward, Triple H continued to attack Test until Kane ran out for the save... [C] Backstage, Triple H told Vince he is sick of Kane & Undertaker sticking their noses into his business and warned that Kane would never do so again... Ross hyped the Rock’s appearance on Jay Leno for the following night... A backstage shot aired of Trish... [C]

[Q8]... (6) Chyna pinned Trish Stratus with a powerbomb in a non-title match. Afterward, Chyna grabbed the mic and said that since she doesn’t have much in the way of competition, she planned to spank her fellow divas. Lita walked out, praised Chyna, and challenged her to a match. Chyna responded, "Come get your spanking." Lita told Chyna her challenge was serious. Chyna said she was also being serious and told her to name the time and the place for their match... A backstage shot aired of Undertaker... [C] Undertaker came to the ring for the main event. Austin’s music played, but he didn’t come out. Moments later, a shot aired on TitanTron of Austin and Triple H attacking Kane in the backstage area. Undertaker ran backstage to help, but was overpowered by the heels.

[Q9]... Eventually, Austin and Taker fought their way to the ring... (7) Undertaker beat Steve Austin by DQ when Triple H interfered. Late in the match, Triple H ran to the ring with his sledgehammer for the DQ. Kane ran out favoring his injured arm. The heels placed Kane’s arm over the ringsteps and hit it with chairshots. The heels placed Kane’s arm inside a chair as Undertaker crawled over to help. Austin flipped off Taker and jumped onto the chair. The show concluded with the heels dominating Taker & Kane... [Brandon Simpson]

..

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE FLASHBACK: Kane character debuts 18 yrs. ago today in first-ever Hell in a Cell match - Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels

HIAC FLASHBACK: Kane beats Undertaker in HIAC match 5 yrs. ago today, plus Randy Orton vs. Sheamus for WWE Title

ROH FLASHBACK: The aftermath of Joe vs. Kobashi 10 years ago today