By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

WWE RAW REPORT
FEBRUARY 23, 2004
LIVE FROM OMAHA, NEB.

-After clips aired of last week's show and the opening montage aired, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show, hyping Chris Benoit vs. Batista and the Vince McMahon-Eric Bischoff segment.

1 -- MOLLY HOLLY vs. JAZZ vs. TRISH STRATUS vs. VICTORIA - Women's Title match

Victoria threw Molly over the top rope in the opening seconds, but that didn't count as an elimination. Lita pinned Jazz at 1:00 for the pinfall elimination. Molly gave Lita a rolling neckbreaker for a pin attempt, but Victoria interjected herself and scored a pin on Molly at 1:39. That meant a sure title change. Molly went crazy on Victoria afterward until refs dragged her away. It took a lot of work, so they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Back from the break, Victoria took control on Lita. Lita hit a Russian leg sweep to take control. She grabbed at her neck afterward. I don't like when those who have had neck surgery grab at their neck. It worries me every time I see that. They went into some nice two counts. Lita hit her version of a Twist of Fate for two near falls. Lita then went to the top rope at 9:15, but Victoria caught her up there and took her down with a Widow's Peak, one of the scarier looking finishers in wrestling.

WINNER: Victoria at 9:43 to capture the WWE Women's Title.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Awkward at times, but also oddly realistic because of it. As usual, they had good intensity, too.

-Vince McMahon was shown getting out of a limo. He asked the driver to get his fighting gear.

[Commercial Break]

-Coach walked up to Eric Bischoff and asked if he knew Vince had just shown up. Bischoff said he was and didn't seem happy. Christian then walked in and asked the same thing of Bischoff. His reaction made it clear to Christian he didn't want to be reminded of Vince's arrival. Christian then suggested he team with Chris Jericho against the tag champs. Bischoff suggested Christian vs. Trish Stratus instead. Christian wasn't happy.

-Footage aired of the Evolution attack on Mick Foley last week.

2 -- RANDY ORTON vs. VAL VENIS

Hearing Val's intro music actually sounds nostalgic now, almost (but not quite) like hearing Honky Tonk Man's intro song. Ross mentioned that they sold out the new Qwest Center for Raw. Lawler said it was one of the first events at that arena. Fans chanted, "Foley, Foley." Ross said Foley wouldn't be there in person, but he'd have words for Orton later. You know you're being used as enhancement talent when you're getting beat up by a heel and the fans start chanting a different babyface's name. Val made a brief comeback at 4:00. Val went to the top rope slowly, giving Orton a chance to recover and slam him to the mat. Both were selling their respective beatings. Orton escaped a Val abdominal stretch attempt into a sudden RKO for the win.

WINNER: Orton at 5:15.

STAR RATING: *3/4 -- Solid basic five minute TV match.

[Commercial Break]

-You knew it was just a matter of time before Vince used his "Monday Night War" victory to answer Bischoff's challenge on his terms. Footage aired of the bizarre then and bizarre now Nitro segment where a sweaty Bischoff was shown training and challenging McMahon to a fight. Back life, Bischoff told Coach he was going to find out who authorized the playing of that clip. Steve Austin walked in and told Bischoff it was him. He said he shouldn't be nervous because he's younger than Vince and has the karate thing going for him. He also told Bischoff he has a ton of guts. "You're the only man I've known who's made out with Vince's wife, Vince's daughter, and you're still here to live to tell about it. And the man is still signing your paychecks." Bischoff said Austin had a point. "He's paying me to live my fantasy," said Bischoff. He said he had anew fantasy that's been going on for a few months now. He said it starts in Stamford and involves Stephanie. Bischoff then sensed Vince was standing right behind him. He nervously turned around and cowered in Vince's presence. Vince said after he makes his WrestleMania announcement, the Vince vs. Bischoff match won't be a fantasy, it will be a reality. Austin told Bischoff, "Face it, kid, you've got him right where you want him." Bischoff's expression suggested that if the camera panned down, it would have shown a wet streak down the leg of his pants.

-Orton and Ric Flair gave Batista a pep talk. Orton said after tonight, Benoit will be begging to go back to Smackdown. A serious Hunter stepped in and said he had something to say in the ring and he wanted them there to hear it.

[Commercial Break]

-Triple H gave a long speech about how at first he was upset with being put in the ring with two men, but now when he overcomes the odds, he will prove how great he really is. It took him about 20 minutes to say that one sentence, but it got good heat so what the heck. Flair bowed as Hunter talked. Chris Benoit then came out. You can't blame Benoit for interrupting Hunter's speech since everyone always interrupts his promos, although they usually don't wait 20 minutes to do it to him. Hunter asked Benoit to step into the ring and show them how tough he is. Ross said that wouldn't be very smart considering there were four men in the ring. Lawler encouraged Benoit. Benoit grabbed a chair and entered the ring. Evolution backed down all at once. Then they began to surround Benoit. Batista nailed Benoit from behind. All four stomped away at Benoit. Shawn Michaels ran out to make the save. He grabbed the chair and Evolution bailed out. Benoit then put Michaels in the Crossface, forcing Michaels to frantically try to escape. Steve Austin then rode his ATV to the ring. They need to come up with a cute name for Austin's vehicle like DUI-mobile or something. Austin said if anyone interferes in the Benoit vs. Batista match later, they'll be banned from WM20. Meanwhile, Benoit and Michaels exchanged heated words in the ring.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- BATISTA vs. CHRIS BENOIT

The match was joined in progress after the break. After an early flurry of exchanges, Batista began working over Benoit's legs. He scored a near fall at 3:15. Benoit came back and went for a top rope headbutt, but Batista moved out of the way. Batista went for his powerbomb finisher, but Benoit reversed it into a Crossface which got a big pop. Then Batista tapped out, which drew a huge crowd pop. Ross said that win proves Benoit, when the odds are even, can beat anyone of any size.

WINNER: Benoit at 6:40.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Pretty short, but it made it's point well.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross plugged Booker T & RVD vs. La Resistance would be next. They really would have benefited from producing a video of some kind to give a sense of importance to the tag title win by Booker & RVD last week. All they did is throw it into one of their sponsored commercial spots.

[Commercial Break]

-Austin gave Bischoff another ill-intended pep talk that Bischoff ate up completely. He told him the Bischoff he knew in WCW was a fearless leader and told him not to be nervous or scared. He said, "Eye of the tiger!" which drew a laugh from the crowd.

4 -- ROB VAN DAM & BOOKER T vs. LA RESISTANCE - World Tag Team Title match

Booker T elbowed out of a Rob Conway chinlock at 2:00, which was applied with a lot more intensity than it would have been six months ago before "New Style" kicked in. Conway and Dupree doubled on Booker as the ref tried to get RVD out of the ring. Booker, though, fended them off and hot-tagged RVD who threw a barrage of kicks at both heels. RVD hit Rolling Thunder on Conway. Booker hit Dupree with a scissors kick. RVD followed with a Five-Star for the win. Lawler made a big deal out of whether the legal La Resistance member was pinned, which seemed a bit forced. Ross brushed the comment aside and plugged his taped interview with Foley was next. They showed pictures of Foley's battered and bruised face from last week's attack.

WINNERS: RVD & Booker at 4:35 to retain the World Tag Titles.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Passable and basic stuff.

[Commercial Break]

-The WrestleMania Recall featuerd Steve Allen, Nikolai Volkoff, and my old neighbor Boris Zhukov (he lived in Minnesota, I never lived in Russia).

-Trish asked Christian what was up. He said the match wasn't her idea. Trish asked how they should handle it. Christian said hurting her is the complete opposite of what he wants. He offered to lay down let her pin him. Trish said that was really great of him. Christian then said, "Since I laid down for you, maybe you could lay down for me later at the hotel." Trish got upset. He said she just passed his test to see if she would cheat on Jericho. Trish accepted his response, but wasn't sure he was being totally honest about that proposal being "just a test." Another nice little advancement in the ongoing Christian-Trish-Jericho storyline.

-Extended clips aired of the Evolution-Foley segment last week.

-The sitdown interview aired with Jim Ross and Mick Foley. Foley said he isn't used to spitting up blood anymore or losing his balance. Foley said he was never scared of injuries before, but this attacked scared him. Ross asked him why he kept getting up when Orton kept yelling at him to stay down. Foley said it was instinct. He added it felt like a minute or two, not six minutes. He said even more shocking was that nobody saved him. Ross said that had to disappoint him. Foley said it tears him up emotionally because he felt he was respected. "Deep down I think there are a lot of guys who haven't forgiven me or forgotten my actions of Dec. 15, who think I broke some unwritten law by walking away from a fight." He said he thinks some wrestlers are letting that overshadow his entire career. I like that Foley addressed the odd circumstances of no wrestlers saving him. Ross asked Foley if it's safe to assume his career is over. Foley paused and said, "I have a big, big problem with giving Evolution that type of power." He said he'd allow Orton to be the one who spit in his face, that's fine, but he won't give them the power to tell him when his career is over. Foley said there's a pain his stomach, wanting to be the person who made people laugh. He doesn't want to let Evolution be the group that took that away from him, so he said it's not a safe assumption. He said what is a safe assumption is that next week he will be boarding a plane and attending Raw. He stood and began screaming that there would be hell to pay for what went down. "It's safe to assume their ass is mine!" he screamed. Very good promo that made it's point without overstaying it's welcome just to take advantage of Foley's ability to carry an even longer promo.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- CHRISTIAN vs. TRISH

Christian laid down for Trish, but aggressively kicked out at two. Trish was shocked and turned her back to leave. Christian grabbed her ass. Ross said, "Did that man just grope that young woman?" She turned around and yelled at Christian. He knocked her down with a clothesline and then applied the Walls of Jericho. She tapped out. The crowd booed as Christian refused to break the hold for about 20 seconds.

WINNER: Christian at 1:23.

STAR RATING: NR -- Good at making its intended point.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross talked with outrage over what Christian just did to Trish as clips aired. Lawler said she brought it on herself.

-They showed Trish being carried to the back, wincing in terrible pain.

-Coach knocked on a bathroom door and said he understand if he's puking his guts out. Coach said Mr. McMahon called him out to the ring, he'd be scared. Bischoff barged out and said he isn't scared. He said he once beat Vince at his own game for 83 consecutive weeks. He said, "You know how I did it? I took every one of his stars... and I made them bigger stars." He said Vince didn't beat him. He said Time Warner came in and threw in the towel. He said Vince didn't win the battle, and tonight he would win the war. Lawler said, "This is going to be good!" That's a nice speech from Bischoff that gave Vince credit for creating the stars that Bischoff used to beat him in their Monday battles, but still managed to give himself credit for making Vince's stars bigger than ever, then he managed to sidestep having lost to Vince by saying Time-Warner threw in the towel. Of course, every one of those statements is at least as much false as true, but it makes for a good "based on a true story" script.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross plugged next week's Raw featuring Mick Foley, plus just signed - Batista & Orton vs. Michaels & Benoit. Ross said being in Atlanta next week would "be like going home again."

-Vince McMahon walked out in his sweat suit. He was about to quickly make his WM20 announcement when Stacy and Jackie Gayda walked out. They told Vince they wanted to prove at WM20 they are hotter than Sable and Torrie Wilson (as if Playboy wouldn't gladly let them be the cover girls on next month's edition). Vince asked them to prove they are hotter right now. Their music played, Stacy did a cartwheel, and Jackie began using Vince as a strip club pole. That led to a scary TV moment considering Vince was wearing sweat pants. Vince called off the dance quickly and conceded they were hot. He said he would grant them the first ever "inter-promotional" match at WM20 in a Playboy tag match. Lawler throughout the segment was panting. He said he couldn't wait to see them ripping off each other's clothes at WM20.

The women left and then Kane came out. He told Vince that Undertaker has been tormenting him day and night. He said if Vince didn't stop him, Vince would be the next person to be buried alive. Vince said he wants the same thing Kane wants. He said he is going to book Kane vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania. Ross acted shocked, although not that Undertaker was alive, which should preclude the match from happening (technically speaking, of course). He said this time, somebody would be finally resting in peace afterward. Kane smiled. Kane's fireworks them shot off. Vince then went back to his original announcement. He said he had another inter-promotional match to announce. He said on Smackdown last week, Brock Lesnar was begging him to book him against Goldberg. Vince said he thought about it and he's not so sure it's the right thing to do considering the volatile personalities of those two. Vince said he doesn't know who could possibly control those two.

Austin then interrupted. He drove to the ring on his ATV. He asked the crowd if they wanted to see Goldberg vs. Lesnar at WM20. The fans yelled, "Hell yeah!" Austin said he understands McMahon's concern about someone being able to control the match. The thus announced he would be special ref. Vince asked him what was in it for him. Austin said, "None of your damn business." Vince said the match was on, but then asked Austin to be special guest referee for the next match with him against Bischoff. Bischoff's music then played. Bischoff walked out wearing his aged Mid-America Karate black belt. They had a historic staredown with Austin smiling in the background.

6 -- VINCE MCMAHON vs. ERIC BISCHOFF

Bischoff offered a handshake. Vince shook his hand, then yanked him into his knee. Austin made McMahon break his hold while in the ropes. McMahon did break the hold, following his "New Style" rule of listening to referees in the ring. Bischoff threw some kicks. McMahon no-sold then. Bischoff backed off into the ropes. Austin ordered him to break. When McMahon refused and then got in Austin's face, Austin knocked him down. Bischoff then kicked away at Vince. Of course, the only way Bischoff got offense against Vince was due to Austin softening him up. McMahon, though, stood up and clotheslined Bischoff to the mat. Bischoff bailed out. McMahon chased Bischoff around the ring. McMahon choked Bischoff. Brock Lesnar then showed up behind Austin in the ring. Brock then gave Austin an F5. Not a smart move to do to the special referee for your match. Ross said, "This isn't Smackdown, it's Raw. What the hell is going on!" The show went to black.

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