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By Wade Keller, Torch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
JUNE 2, 2003
LIVE FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIF.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

-The finish of the main event six-man tag with Kevin Nash & Shawn Michaels & Hurricane vs. Ric Flair & Triple H & Randy Orton was botched with veteran ref Earl Hebner calling for the bell after stopping mid-stream with a two count when Orton had Hurricane pinned. Ross said he didn't understand it and no explanation was offered.

-The Rock put in a stellar performance with Christian and Chris Jericho during the Highlight Reel.

-Steve Austin tried to give Kane a pep talk, and even gave him a Stunner to try to get the fire burning inside of him again.

-Austin and Eric Bischoff agreed to have a triathlon style contest at Bad Blood.

-Austin teased bringing in Mick Foley as special referee for the Hell in a Cell match. The crowd thought he meant Foley and chanted "Foley, Foley," although Austin never said it.

-Scott Steiner vs. Test was added to Bad Blood - winner gets Stacy's managerial services.

SEGMENT-BY-SEGMENT RUNDOWN

-The show opened with Rock driving into the arena tunnel and stepping out and cutting a promo about himself and his visit to Raw. "Are you ready for a visit from the most electrifying man in sports entertainment?" he said. Fans cheered and chanted "Rocky, Rocky."

-The Raw opening promo then aired, followed by Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introducing the show.

1 -- VICTORIA & MOLLY HOLLY & JAZZ vs. TRISH & IVORY & JACKIE

Ivory hit a nice looking crossbody block off the top rope onto two of the women at ringside.

WINNER: Ivory pinned Jazz at 3:38 out of nowhere.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Short, but good energy as usual from the Raw female team.

-Goldberg arrived in a black hot rod car. Johnathan Coachman attempted to interview, but Goldberg shoved him aside and kept walking.

[commercial break]

-Lawler plugged Jim Ross's new cookbook and the WWE.com poll asking fans whether they think his book will be a flop or best seller.

-Backstage Test screamed in Stacy's face. She told him it's over. He continued to yell (how endearing) that she is contractually obligated to him as his marketing director. Stacy slammed the door in his face.

-Hurricane walked out for his match. Randy Orton attacked him from behind on the stage. Hunter and Ric Flair walked out with smiles on their faces. Orton tossed Hurricane back through the entrance tunnel, then came back out to accompany Hunter and Flair to the ring. Ross wondered why Flair turned his back on Shawn Michaels last week. "That's like picking up a snake and wondering why it bit ya'," said Lawler.

Flair said he was honored that Shawn Michaels told the world that he was his boyhood hero. "But they also say imitation is the greatest form of flatter, and I have seen a hundred Ric Flair wannabes come and go," he added. He said he was sick of people in airports and bars tell him that Michaels passed him by. He said even women were telling him that. Flair said he never officially passed the torch. "They are passing the term legend around much too loosely," he said. "Do you know how you become Ric Flair, you spend $30 million dollars, you make love to 3,000 women, you wrestle 300 times per year, you love it, and you do it day after day, until somebody goes, 'Jesus Christ, he is the greatest.'" He added, "If you were growing up a wrestling fan during my prime, who else would you have wanted to be other than Ric Flair." Great point. Flair is at his enthusiastic best in this promo. Flair then turned to Hunter, got on his knees and bowed, and said he passed the torch to Hunter. He told Michaels he'll always be a Ric Flair wannabe. He pointed at Orton and said he'll be next. He told Michaels to never turn his back on "the greatest player of the game." He said at Bad Blood he'll outwrestle and outstyle him and Hunter will leave Nash in a pile of his own blood, then they'll get in a limo filled with women and booze. "You're going to be my bitch all night long," said Flair.

Shawn Michaels stepped out onto the stage as his music played. Ross hyped Bad Blood, but said we may not have to wait until then for Michaels vs. Flair. Michaels said he knew it was risky when he revealed so much of himself to Flair and the fans watching everywhere. "True to form, you made me pay for it and spit on all the respect and admiration I've had for you over the years. But you need to understand one thing, Ric, I am not the little boy sitting in front of the TV watching my idol Ric Flair. I am a man who has established the name Heartbreak Kid in the wrestling industry and I have done it doing the same thing, wrestling 300 nights a year, bleeding all over the place, and the difference between you and me is I don't need to brag about women. I don't need to brag about anything other than my ability in the ring. And Flair, I want to make one thing perfectly clear to you, you didn't pass the torch to me, it took it from you. When you realized you couldn't make it in this company, you ran South and I took the World Title here, I went in that ring, and I showed every person in that dressing room and every guy in this industry that Shawn Michaels is the new standard in this industry." Ross added, "And he has been, King." Hunter had to hold Flair back.

Michaels said he's not an angry guy anymore and he has nothing to prove anymore. He said he knows there isn't a young buck in the locker room that he can't run with and take to a new level in the ring. He said at Bad Blood he is going to show that Space Mountain is a broken down rickety old ride. "I'm going to make you famous by running you into the ground," he said. He added that he is going to shove Flair's torch in the place where the sun don't shine. Hunter then asked Michaels if he wants to try to stick that torch up his ass with him in the ring. Nash then stepped out to stand alongside Michaels. "Obvious, I'm not coming alone," said Michaels. Do you like the way they incorporated Nash into this situation at the last possible second. They're protecting Nash from doing damage to himself as much as they are with Goldberg. Nash and Michaels were joined in the ring by Hurricane, and the three of them cleared the ring of the three heels.

[commercial break]

3 -- SCOTT STEINER (w/Stacy) vs. STEVEN RICHARDS

I think they've found a good role for Steiner. He clearly just wasn't up to the task of being a main eventer or top draw right away, but putting him in a mid-card mix like this has been okay. Who knows, he may work himself in good enough shape and, body-willing, he might be in a position for something more significant in six months or a year.

WINNER: Steiner at 1:34.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- Not much to it. Just a squash to establish that Stacy is with Steiner now even when Test isn't around, and that Steiner treats her like a gentleman.

-Test walked out onto the stage and watched Steiner and Stacy leave the ring together. Then Eric Bischoff's music started. Test grinned. Bischoff came out to the ring and announced that Stacy is indeed contractually obligated to Test. He announced, though, that he is booking Test vs. Steiner at Bad Blood and the winner gets Stacy as their manager.

[commercial break]

-Jim Ross announced that they just received word an hour ago that Freddie Blassie had died earlier today. Lawler reminisced about him being at Raw just a few weeks ago.

-They cut to Eric Bischoff smiling at a picture of himself on the wall. Then he turned to Steve Austin, making his first appearance of the show. Austin told Bischoff that it's "Stone Cold Steve Austin Presents Monday Night Raw." He said he wanted to book a six man tag for later with Hurricane (designated jobber) & Michaels & Nash vs. Hunter & Flair & Orton. Bischoff wondered about what Austin thought the stips should be for their contest at the PPV, hoping it wasn't a redneck type match. Bischoff suggested a triathlon. Austin said, "How about a Redneck Triathlon?" They shook on it.

-Terri interviewed Goldberg backstage. They showed on a monitor Chris Jericho pouring yellow paint all over the hood of Goldberg's black Barracuda hot rod. Jericho ran off. Goldberg ran to the parking lot and got in the car and sped off, burning rubber on the way.

[commercial break]

-A plug aired for Confidential including a brief excerpt of Lex Luger's 911 call, which they can stop exploiting any day now. It was just a generic plus for the show being daring.

-Lawler revealed that 65 percent thought Ross's book would be a best seller, whereas 35 percent believe it will be a flop. How about "something in between?"

-Chris Jericho's Highlight Reel set was in the ring, but Christian came out instead. He said he was going to turn it into his show. "Welcome to the first edition of the Peep Show," he said. He introduced The Rock, who milked his ring entrance for all he could. Christian interrupted Rock's "Finally..." speech by finishing it himself. Christian told Rock he had some news to break to him. "You've been replaced. There is a new champion of the people, it's me. I'm the new Intercontinental Champion. I'm on a roll. I'm on fire." Rock interrupted and said, "You are on crack. The Rock knows your ugly, but you're not that stupid." Rock cut a rhyming promo on John Cena worthy of a Derek Burgan transcript. Christian responded, "My daddy ain't a ho, he's a pediatrician, there's a difference. More importantly than that Rock, these people don't even like you. They've been booing you for the last four months. That's why these peeps embraced me and named me the new undisputed People's Champion. Listen to them!" The crowd booed. Rock said, "Obviously they love you. Why don't you just ask the people. That's what you need to do. What you did is took your little narrow ass and told them what to think." Rock said it's time for him to take over the show and go to the people. Rock went into the crowd and asked fans who the real people's champion is. They shouted Rock. He got mobbed by fans, and the camera angle accentuated the mob scene that was being created. Rock told Christian there isn't just one Elvis, one Statue of Liberty, and only one People's Champ, The Rock. Ross said it sounds unanimous. Chris Jericho walked out onto the stage and said, "Wait one second!"

"That's enough of that garbage. The Highlight Reel is back in the hiz-ouse. I've got some business to do, so step aside Christian," said Jericho. He called for Rock's "belt buckle tattooed ass to make its way back in the ring." Jericho said despite what the WWE.com poll said, he didn't get speared last week and he won't be getting speared this week. "Since I've never felt the power of Goldberg's spear, I wanted to know how does it feel to get speared by Goldberg?" he asked Rock. Rock said he thought they were cool, but he can deal with it and he'll answer his question. Rock addressed a group of about 20 fans chanting "Rocky sucks." He responded to them: "Let me make it clear that Rock gets more pie in a week than you get in a lifetime." Jericho said the interview was over. Rock said that he wanted to answer his question. He said the Spear hurts and he doesn't want to feel it again. Rock threatened to put his boot up Jericho's candy ass. Christian attacked Rock from behind. Jericho and Christian double-teamed Rock. Booker T made the save, clotheslining Christian over the top rope to the floor. Rock nailed Jericho with a flying clothesline, then nipped up and punched and sidewalk slammed him. Rock then gave Jericho the People's Elbow. Jericho rolled out of the ring. "Who's your daddy," said Ross. Booker shoved Christian into the ring. Rock gave him the Rock Bottom. Rock called for Booker T to enter the ring. He then did his version of the People's Elbow. Jericho and Christian staggered out of the ring.

Booker stopped Rock from leaving the ring and told Rock he needs to talk about his premier. "It's called the Rock-a-Roonie, and I know you can do it," he said. Rock looked a bit nervous about attempting it. Booker's music started. Booker encouraged crowd cheers as Rock warmed up. After a long dramatic pause, Rock attempted one, then stopped mid-stream. Booker demonstrated a Spinarooni in slow-mo. Rock looked at his hand, then did the Spinarooni - a really bad version. It's cool of Rock to put over how difficult the Spinarooni is! But at the same time be secure enough to do a poor version of it on live TV.

Very good segment. It seemed designed primarily to establish that Rock is a full-fledged babyface again and for Rock to give some rub to three important players on the Raw roster—Christian, Jericho, and Booker. Rock was "on" tonight. Christian did a great job in his role. Jericho was strong as usual. Raw certainly doesn't seem to be lacking star power tonight, especially because of the presence of Steve Austin and Goldberg (limited as it is), great use of special guest Rock, and Raw regulars who are "on" right now - specifically Shawn Michaels, Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho, not to mention rising star Christian. Raw seems like a "happening show" tonight.

[commercial break]

-Christian and Jericho were headed out of the arena when Austin told them their night wasn't over yet.

3 -- RENE DUPREE (w/Sylvan Grenier) vs. KANE (w/Rob Van Dam)

Grenier distracted Kane, leading to a roll-up three count for Dupree.

WINNER: Grenier at 2:!5.

STAR RATING: 1/2*

-Austin then came out and said, "RVD, you are a dismissed." Ross quipped, "Well, that wasn't a committee meeting." Funny line. Austin then called Kane to the center of the ring. "What are you doing? Every single thing you are doing. I've been watching you. I've been watching every single thing you do, and when I look at you I'm not impressed." He cited the catch phrase "the fire burns within." He asked where that fire is and whether he wants it anymore. "You just got rolled up like that, one-two-three? It's that easy to beat you. That's all it takes. I thought you were going to chokeslam one of them bitches right through the mat. You didn't. Can I piss you off tonight. Do you feel anything underneath that mask." He shoved some hair out of Kane's face. "Does that make you made?" He slapped him. The crowd "ohhhed." He ordered Kane to turn around and look at him. He asked him what he has to do. He stepped on his toes and ground his boot into them. "What if I take your little grubby hand and I put it right here?" He then put Kane's hand on his throat, basically challenging him to chokeslam him. Kane walked away. "Where is the Kane who beat my ass and took my belt from me in a first blood match? Does that son of a bitch still breath?" He shoved at him again. He put Kane's hand on his own throat again. Kane released his grip. "You are without a shadow of a doubt the sorriest, weakest son of a bitch I think I've ever seen." Kane then grabbed Austin by the throat. Austin said, "Do it!" Kane released it. Austin kicked the bottom rope in frustration that he wasn't able to bring the fire back. Austin gave Kane a Stunner and then walked out of the ring. Kane sat up a half minute later. Austin turned around and looked him with disgust and hope.

[commercial break]

-Lawler and Ross talked about Austin's conduct in the previous segment, wondering if it was justified. They showed Hunter standing near the referee's locker room. Ross and Lawler wondered what that was all about. Then they plugged the Bad Blood line-up. It helps with this PPV promotion that they're able to have a full line-up to plug all-out, rather than just two or three matches. For Raw viewers, it makes the PPV card seem deeper compared to when half of of the PPV matches were hyped exclusively on Smackdown (in terms of full-fledged storyline development).

-Backstage Flair asked Hunter what his plan is. Hunter smiled and said if things work out there won't even be a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood. Orton asked what he was up to. Hunter said he'll see.

-Jericho and Christian were shown backstage preparing for their tag match against Booker & Goldust. That's the first we've heard of that

[commercial break]

-A new WWE.com poll asked if viewers thought Austin was justified for giving Kane a Stunner.

4 -- GOLDUST & BOOKER T vs. CHRISTIAN & CHRIS JERICHO

A minute into the match they cut to another commercial.

[commercial break]

Goldust set up Golden Globes on Christian, but Jericho made the save.

WINNER: Booker & Goldust when Booker pinned Christian after a scissors kick at 8:22

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Okay action, but nothing memorable.

After the match, Goldberg ran out to make the save, but Jericho threw ref Charles Robinson into Goldberg's path. Goldberg took Robinson to the mat hard with a Spear. Goldberg called for EMTs, who them came out and put Robinson in a neck brace.

[commercial break]

-Steve Austin and Eric Bischoff were approached backstage by three referees, all of whom said they wouldn't referee because bad things happen to referees who are in Hell in a Cell. Austin said he has an idea of a "sick son of a bitch" who could handle the job. The crowd began a "Foley" chant.

-Poll results were strongly in favor of Austin being justified in giving Kane the Stunner.

-Ric Flair came out to his music. Triple H came out to his music. Randy Orton was already in the ring. Ross said they would be back after this final commercial break. This has been a lot of commercial breaks in the final half hour of the show.

5 -- RIC FLAIR & TRIPLE H & RANDY ORTON vs. KEVIN NASH & SHAWN MICHAELS & HURRICANE

Michaels took Orton down with an armbar takedown, then walked on his back for several steps. Nash's entrance fog made it difficult to see what was happening in the ring. Hurricane seemed out of place in part because they didn't do any backstage segments to try to establish what Michaels and Nash thought of teaming with a guy in a lime green superhero outfit. Maybe a comment from Ross mentioning that while some may not take Hurricane seriously, he holds a win over The Rock. Any backstage segments would have required Nash speak, and WWE seems completely against anything more than the bare minimum exposure of their PPV main event babyface these days. At 3:00 Hunter began working over Michaels's knee. Michaels hit an enzuigiri on Hunter and hot-tagged Nash who got a mild, mild two second pop. The wobbly legged Nash bodyslammed Flair and Orton, then threw elbows at Hunter in the corner. He clotheslined both Orton and Flair. It looked like Nash's knees might give out at any second like Shawn Bradley on the Dallas Mavericks. Nash set up Hunter for a Jackknife, but Flair intervened. Flair was bleeding from the back of his head by this point. Hunter bumped over the top rope. Orton went after Nash, but Nash gave him a knee followed by a big boot. Nash tagged in Hurricane who gave Orton a big bodyblock off the top rope (which Orton bumped well for) followed by his Shining Wizard for a near fall. At ringside Nash beat up Hunter, but the camera stayed away from any close-ups. Hurricane went for another pin on Orton, but Flair intervened. Hurricane nailed Flair with a clothesline. Hunter then gave Hurricane a Pedigree even though he wasn't the legal man in the ring. Orton covered Hurricane. The ref counted to two, then stopped. Then he called for the bell. "I don't have a clue what that damn call was," said Ross. A total crap finish. Ross and Lawler even acknowledged that the ref call was blown, saying the Hell in a Cell match must be getting to them. Nash gave Hunter an anti-climactic Jackknife after which the faces cleared the ring of the heels. No crowd heat other than a small "bullsh--" challenge after the botched ref call.

WINNER: Orton & Triple H & Flair when Orton got a two count on Hurricane which the ref counted as a pin for some reason at 8:20.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- That botched finish pretty much took any steam away from the match, which needed a hot finish to bring it even close to the "average" range.

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