By Wade Keller, Torch editor

WWE RAW REPORT
NOVEMBER 3, 2003
LIVE FROM CLEVELAND, OHIO

-Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the program and previewed the show. Clips aired of last week's show-closing post-main event cage brawl.

1 -- BOOKER T & ROB VAN DAM vs. CHRIS JERICHO & CHRISTIAN

Christian and Jericho attacked RVD and Booker out of nowhere to start the match. The faces soon took over offense for the first two minutes. The heels then took over afterward with some double-teaming on Booker. Ross and Lawler talked a lot about Survivor Series, just 13 days away. RVD got the hot-tag at 5:00 and nailed Jericho with a flurry of moves. RVD nailed Jericho with a split-legged moonsault at 6:30 and went for a pin, but Christian interrupted the count. Four-way action ensued. Booker tossed Christian to ringside, Jericho threw Booker to ringside. RVD then nailed Jericho with a top rope flying sidekick. Christian distracted the ref, who didn't make the pin count as RVD had Jericho down. When RVD got up to get the ref's attention, Jericho hit him from behind. Jericho then covered RVD as Christian held RVD's leg to prevent him from kicking out.

WINNERS: Christian & Jericho at 7:44 when Jericho pinned RVD.

STAR RATING: ** -- Good opening tag match.

-Backstage, The Coach coughed to get Steve Austin's attention. He said he wanted to be at ringside to interview Austin after his team loses at Survivor Series. Austin said if his team wins, though, he's going to get his ass whooped. He added that if his team loses, and he has nothing left to lose, he's going to whoop his ass, too. He then thanked Coach for putting himself in that no-win situation.

[Commercial Break]

-Terri interviewed Molly. She said she's sick of hearing Terri and "other members of the media" wanting to tell the inspirational story of Lita's comeback from neck surgery. She said Terri and Lita will be able to share on thing in common after their match - they both were destroyed by the WWE Women's Champion. Molly then attacked Terri and dragged her to the ring. Terri managed to mount a comeback briefly, but Molly overwhelmed her. Lita's music then started and she ran to the ring. Molly ran to the crowd, where Gail Kim, disguised in a hooded jacket, attacked Lita with a wrench. Ross said it looked like a set-up all along. Good, traditional angle to add heat to their match.

-Austin approached Shawn Michaels backstage. He asked him if he was ready. Michaels, as smug as usual, said he was ready. Austin explained the stipulations of the Survivor Series match. Michaels said he didn't know what Austin was getting at. Austin beat around the bush and finally asked Michaels to be his fifth member. "Stone Cold needs HBK?" asked Michaels, turning up the smug factor to 11. Michaels said their history isn't pretty. He talked about how they were forced to be a tag team, "and it didn't work." He said they nearly killed each other at WrestleMania X-4. He said they don't mix. Austin said he didn't come to Michaels for a history lesson. He said he needs Michaels. "Does that make you feel better?" he said. "Are you in or are you out?" Michaels said, "I think you, Stone Cold, have a heck of a problem on your hands. And to answer your question, the answer is yes, I'm in." Excruciatingly drawn out because it seems Michaels thinks everybody is breathlessly hanging on his every word, but the point of the segment ultimately got across - which is that Austin had to dig deep and set his ego aside to ask Michaels to be a member of his team. It portrayed Michaels as a huge deal since it's not many people Austin would grovel at the feet of for a favor. It also planted doubt as to whether Michaels could be trusted in the actual match.

[Commercial Break]

-A trainer tended to Lita, who complained of neck pain. Christian ran in and feigned concern for her well being. He said he should have been there for her, but he was just getting into the shower. When she and trainer said they had things under control he left, but not before shooting a look of devious self-satisfaction at the latest step in his evil plan. I expect this is headed toward Matt Hardy jumping to Raw to save his girlfriend from Christian playing mindgames with her.

-They showed Lebron James sitting at ringside for Raw. That's huge for WWE that he sat at ringside for the show. That's an A-level athlete-endorsement to be sure.

2 -- BATISTA (w/Ric Flair) vs. MAVEN

Batista dominated from the start. Maven took a nice bump at ringside from a Batista clothesline. Maven went for a top rope bulldog, but Batista caught him with a vicious clothesline followed by a powerbomb for the win.

WINNER: Batista at 2:00.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Good, dominant squash. It's what Batista needs right now to build him up as a future opponent of Goldberg or a babyface Triple H or wherever they go with him.

-Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were shown on camera and plugged tickets for the December Raw PPV, Armageddon, going on sale this Saturday. A clip then aired of Michaels superkicking Mark Henry last week, then plugged the Michaels vs. Henry rematch taking place later.

-Kane caressed the side of an ambulance, and he talked to no one in particular about how Shane would get what he wanted at Survivor Series. Kane then looked into the camera. "Have you thought about that, Shane, what it's going to be like, being rolled into the back of an ambulance?" Kane said. "Seeing the fear for your life in the eyes of the paramedics?" He said one of the last things he'll see is him standing outside the ambulance doors as he drives away to the hospital to arrive DOA. Nice heel promo. Good creative visuals added of paramedics loading an ambulance from a first-perspective perspective.

-Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak talked about how they had a chance at the Dudleys tonight, and with one win they would be in contention for the tag titles.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- GARRISON CADE & MARK JINDRAK vs. D-VON & BUBBA DUDLEY

Cade wrestled the vast majority of the match. Jindrak did hit his high dropkick on D-Von at 3:00 for a near fall. D-Von hot-tagged Bubba at 3:30 for a crowd pop. Scott Steiner's siren then rang out and he brought Stacy onto the stage. He pressed her in the air. That led to a distracted Bubba getting clotheslined by Cade and losing the match. Bubba smiled when he realized how they were just outsmarted with a distraction.

WINNERS: Cade & Jindrak when Cade pinned Bubba at 4:22.

STAR RATING: *

-Eric Bischoff walked backstage with a clipboard in hand.

[Commercial Break]

-They set up a table in mid-ring with a chair on either side. It was time to sign the contract for the Eric Bischoff Team vs. Steve Austin Team ten-man tag match at Survivor Series. Austin came out first, followed by Bischoff. Bischoff announced Randy Orton was on his team. Orton walked out and tossed some words Austin's way, including saying he prides himself in being a legend killer. When Austin threatened to go at it with Orton, Bischoff told him about the fact that he couldn't physical attack anyone unless physically provoked. Austin used that as motivation to sign the contract for the match at the PPV, which would give him a chance to change that rule. Bischoff said he just read Austin's book and said he is nothing but a fraud. Bischoff told him that by signing the contract, he violated everything he claims to stand for. He said his motto is "Don't Trust Anyone." Bischoff told him for the first time in his life he is going to have to trust five others to work for his best interests. "Your fate is in their hands," Bischoff said. He said RVD, Booker T, The Dudleys, and Michaels will determine his fate. He said it's not looking good for him, and in two weeks they'll no longer have to look at his bald head again. Austin patiently waited for Bischoff to finish, then called Bischoff stupid in a number of ways. Then he gave him the finger. Austin said a lot of what he says is true because he has to trust five others with his career, but the fact is "Stone Cold Steve Austin hasn't been Stone Cold Steve Austin for a long-ass time." He said it's true his motto is don't trust anybody, but when it doubt, whoop as much ass and raise as much hell as possible. He said the reward is worth the risk. "So if I can't be the Stone Cold Steve Austin that I'm supposed to be, then it ain't worth being Stone Cold Steve Austin." He asked the crowd, and they agreed with him. Another very good stage-setting segment with two pros at getting across key points.

[Commercial Break]

-Batista confronted Austin backstage and told him the real reason he doesn't put his hands on people anymore is because people like him have caused him to lose his nerve. "I think you're just a coward. Did you hear me, Austin? I think you're a coward!" he said. Austin stared him down, but didn't react. Another good segment at establishing how badly Austin wants to change that restriction so he can let loose and "whoop ass" again. Ross said he's never seen anyone provoke Austin like Batista just did, but he has no alternative but to take it - at least until Survivor Series.

4 -- RICO (w/Jackie Gayda) vs. LANCE STORM

Val Venis came to the ring with three women on his arms, and Ross and Lawler wondered what he was doing at ringside. Val and the women danced with Storm after the match. Storm seemed to like it, and Ross and Lawler were as surprised as the big brothers were that Mikey liked Life cereal.

WINNER: Storm at 2:15.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Not much to it.

-Jericho and Trish Stratus flirted with each other backstage. Jericho questioned Trish on whether she knows enough about John Heinreich to trust him as a partner. Trish said Big John showed her Little John backstage. Jericho was outraged. He called him a pervert, but Trish didn't seem to indicate Little John was what Jericho believed it to be.

-An ad for Confidential, stating the show will focus on Road Warrior Hawk this week.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- STEVEN RICHARDS & VICTORIA vs. BIG JOHN & TRISH STRATUS

More innuendo by Ross regarding Richards. He vaguely referred to hearing stories about Richards and he doesn't know whether to believe them or not. I still can't figure out if that's going somewhere or if it's one of these secret hidden messages Vince McMahon is sending via storylines about something in real life. Trish and Victoria, thankfully, carried the bulk of the action in this match. Richards tagged in at 4:00. Trish then tagged in Big John. John nailed Richards with three indy bar show clotheslines from a student who's had two days of training followed by a sideslam. Victoria jumped on his back and tried to choke him. Trish yanked her off of him and they fought to ringside. Meanwhile. John gave Richards an awkward slam to the mat. Someone who's had neck surgery as Richards has shouldn't be in the ring with someone as green and clumsy as Big John obviously is - something evident in his OVW TV appearances.

[Commercial Break]

-Austin told Coach that he is going to be the ringside enforcer for the Michaels vs. Henry match, and if Batista sticks his nose in the match, he will consider that physical provocation and thus he can get back at Batista. He said that was an open invitation.

-Ross said that was a clever way around the physical provocation clause. Good way to send a message to viewers that they might get to see Austin "whoop ass" after all. Ross and Lawler then plugged Survivor Series: Team Austin vs. Team Bischoff, Triple H vs. Goldberg for the WWE Title, Molly Holly vs. Lita, and Shane McMahon vs. Kane in an ambulance match.

-Sgt. Slaughter gave Kane a note from Shane McMahon. Kane read it, laughed, and told Sarge to tell Shane if he sees him that he accepts.

-Steve Austin came to the ring, signalling to viewers that the main event was up next.

[Commercial Break]

6 -- MARK HENRY (w/Teddy Long) vs. SHAWN MICHAELS

That they managed to turn a Henry vs. Michaels match into a seemingly marketable main event is a testament to efficiency - not having to give away anything substantial to draw a decent rating (assuming it doesn't bomb, of course, which we won't know until later this week). The placement of Austin at ringside the tease of Michaels-Austin tension and a potential Batista-Austin confrontation made this much more than just Henry vs. Michaels. A fan held up a sign that said, "I hate Mark Henry." That seemed a bit harsh. When Long distracted Michaels, Michaels turned to him. Henry charged at Michaels. Michaels, though, sidestepped Henry. Henry bumped over the top rope to the floor. Long moved just in time. Austin sent Long to the back. Michaels then dove onto Henry, but Henry caught him and rammed Michaels back-first into the post. He then threw Michaels into the ring and worked over Michaels. Henry put Michaels in a bearhug, and Ross and Lawler did their best to make it not seem like a boring rest hold. Henry bodyslammed Michaels, and Michaels did one of those annoying "shift my body so it's in position for the next move against me" deals. Henry went for a splash. Michaels moved and then superkicked Henry for the win.

WINNER: Michaels at 6:25.

STAR RATING: 3/4* -- Basic stuff, but not boring.

-Austin entered the ring and congratulated Michaels for his win. He thanked him for joining his team at Survivor Series. Austin respectfully asked Michaels to leave the ring because he had something he had to take care of himself. Michaels did so, but not before making it clear he wasn't necessarily entirely pleased being told what to do. Austin called out Batista and said he wasn't leaving the ring until he came out. Ross said they had to take the last break.

[Commercial Break]

-Batista came out and went after Austin right after the break. Austin took one bump from a punch, but then got up and knocked Batista to ringside with a clothesline. Henry attacked Austin next, but Austin fended him off. However, Batista then came back and blindsided Austin, ramming him into the ringpost. They showed Goldberg storming through the backstage area, grabbing a chair, and limping to the ring. He nailed Henry over the skull with a chair and then entered the ring, where Batista threw forearms at him. Goldberg came back with a Spear, although barely lifting Batista in the process. He then put Batista's ankle in a chair and was going to return the favor from last month, but Ric Flair entered the ring. Goldberg turned to Spear him, but that gave Batista a chance to escape the ring before having his ankle smashed in the chair. Ross screamed that Goldberg physically shouldn't have been there, but he couldn't keep himself away. Goldberg and Austin were left standing in the ring. Ross said, "God almighty, what a night!" Austin offered Goldberg a beer. Goldberg stared him down and wouldn't accept the beer. Austin asked, "You don't want to drink beer with Stone Cold?" Goldberg shook his head. Austin asked him if he knew what that meant. Goldberg said he knows what that means. Austin gave him another chance to say yes. "First of all," Goldberg said, "There is something you can do for me. Next week, Raw, Monday night, Goldberg-Batista. Then and only then you got your drinking partner." Austin told him to put his drinking shoes on because he was booking the match. Goldberg celebrated with a beer.

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