2003 Transactions
01.09.03: Al Wilson dies due to a heart attack during sex with Dawn Marie. Funeral is held on the 01.16.03 SD.
01.11.03: Sakoda debuts on SD’s Velocity in a loss to Chuck Palumbo.
01.11.03: Brian Kendrick (Spanky) debuts on SD’s Velocity using a masked hometown wrestler gimmick Diamondback, in Arizona (later he wrestles as The Jet in New Jersey, River Rat in Albany).
01.13.03: Bubba Dudley is suspended without pay by Eric Bischoff.
01.13.03: Bubba Dudley is reinstated by Vince McMahon.
01.13.03: D-Von Dudley is suspended without pay by Eric Bischoff.
01.13.03: D-Von Dudley is reinstated by Vince McMahon.
01.13.03: Mene Gene appears on RAW to plug the RAW X special.
01.13.03: Shane McMahon appears on RAW in Vince’s limo.
01.13.03: SD’s Edge appears on RAW from The World to plug the RAW X special.
01.13.03: SD’s Brock Lesnar appears on RAW from The World to plug the RAW X special.
01.13.03: SD’s Charlie Haas appears on RAW from The World to plug the RAW X special.
01.13.03: SD’s Shelton Benjamin appears on RAW from The World to plug the RAW X special.
01.19.03: Randy Orton, Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon talk backstage at the Royal Rumble PPV.
01.19.03: 15 RAW and 15 SD superstars take part in the Royal Rumble at the PPV.
01.19.03: SD’s Bull Buchanan is fired from WWE after appearance in the Royal Rumble at the PPV.
01.20.03: Theodore Long debuts on RAW as D-Lo Brown’s manager. He hasn’t been on WWE TV since he was a SD ref at the 06.15.02 Velocity.
01.20.03: RAW’s Raven fired by WWE (not kayfabe). His last appearance was on the 01.13.03 RAW in a loss vs. Jeff Hardy.
01.20.03: RAW’s Justin Credible fired by WWE (not kayfabe).
01.23.03: Hulk Hogan returns to SD after signing a new contract w/Stephanie. He hasn’t been on SD since being beaten up by Lesnar in mid-2002, and his contract had apparently run out since then.
01.27.03: Matt Capotelli from TE3 debuts on RAW in a match vs. John Hennigan.
01.27.03: John Hennigan from TE3 debuts on RAW in a match vs. Matt Capotelli.
01.30.03: Brian Kendrick appears on SD, in a backstage vignette with Paul Heyman.
02.01.03: Mike Bucci (Nova) debuts on SD’s Velocity with a loss to Jamie Noble.
02.06.03: Brother Love appears on SD in an Undertaker segment.
02.06.03: Sean O’Haire debuts on SD in a backstage segment with Brian Kendrick. O’Haire was last seen on the 08.11 and 12.1 episodes of RAW’s HEAT, and no explanation was given for his switching of brands.
02.09.03: Sgt. Slaughter appears on RAW’s HEAT in a wrestling capacity, with a win over Stevie Richards.
02.10.03: JR gets fired by Bischoff.
02.10.03: Bischoff gets fired by McMahon.
02.10.03: Chief Morley loses his job with a loss to the Dudleyz.
02.10.03: JR gets reinstated by Vince.
02.10.03: Bischoff gets reinstated by Vince if he fights Austin at No Way Out.
02.13.03: Johnny “The Bull” Stamboli debuts on SD as a member of the FBI. His last appearance on RAW was 09.09.03 and was a regular on HEAT through 12.29 ‘ long after the contracts were frozen ‘ and no explanation was given for his jump from one brand to the other.
02.13.03: Kanyon debuts on SD in a segment with the Undertaker. He was un-drafted, and apparently signs as a free agent.
02.16.03: D-Lo leaves RAW after a beat-down by Redd Dog, referred to as “Rodney Mack”. Video footage shown happened after the 02.10.03 episode of RAW. D-Lo was then fired from WWE.
02.16.03: Rodney Mack debuts on RAW’s HEAT with Teddy Long as his manager. No explanation is given why the former “Redd Dog” jumped from SD to RAW, unless we are to assume that “Rodney Mack” and “Redd Dog” are two different characters, or that his appearances on SD and Velocity were as unsigned talent. He was last seen as a member of the SD roster on the 02.01.03 episode of Velocity.
02.17.03: Chief Morley is reinstated by Eric Bischoff.
02.17.03: Dudley Boyz are suspended by Eric Bischoff.
02.20.03: Nathan Jones debuts on SD in an interview with Michael Cole, signed as a free agent. He debuts live on the 02.27.03 episode.
02.22.03: Johnny Jeter debuts on SD’s Velocity in a tag match with Nova vs. FBI.
02.23.03: Matt and Jeff Hardy encounter each other backstage at the No Way Out PPV.
02.23.03: Steve Austin returns to RAW at the No Way Out PPV with a win over Eric Bischoff.
02.23.03: Sylvain Grenier debuts at the No Way Out PPV as a referee in the Hogan/Rock SD match.
02.24.03: The Rock debuts on RAW, after jumping rosters as a favor granted by Vince for beating Hogan.
02.24.03: The suspended Bubba Dudley makes a run in during a King/Morley match.
02.24.03: The suspended D-Von Dudley makes a run in during a King/Morley match.
02.27.03: Brian Kendrick asks Stephanie for a contract on SD, but does not achieve it by lasting 5 minutes in the ring with Kurt.
02.27.03: Rhyno debuts on SD, signed as a free agent, with a tag-team win with Benoit vs. Matt and Shannon.
02.27.03: Sylvain Grenier appears on SD to replay the ending of the Rock/Hogan No Way Out match.
03.10.03: D-Von faces Storm & Morley to be reinstated, but loses. The Dudleyz remain suspended.
03.13.03: Brian Kendrick appears on SD as “The Pittsburgh Penguin” with a win over Matt Hardy.
03.13.03: Eric Angle appears on SD in a Kurt Angle match.
03.17.03: Bubba Dudley returns to RAW, after Morley lifts his suspension following a beatdown of RVD and Kane.
03.17.03: D-Von Dudley returns to RAW, after Morley lifts his suspension following a beatdown of RVD and Kane.
03.20.03: Brian Kendrick officially joins the SD roster after beating Shannon Moore.
03.20.03: Eric Angle appears on SD with Kurt Angle.
03.24.03: Vince appears on RAW, showing footage that includes Mene Gene, Vince, Hogan, Kurt Angle, Eric Angle, Stephanie and Brock Lesnar to hype Wrestlemania XIX.
03.27.03: Jimmy Hart appears on SD alongside Hulk Hogan.
03.27.03: Nick Bollea appears on SD alongside Hulk Hogan.
03.30.03: RAW’s Stacy Kiebler and SD’s Torrie Wilson argue about Hogan and McMahon, and then participate in a cat fight at Wrestlemania.
03.30.03: Sylvain Grenier is seen backstage walking into Vince’s locker room at Wrestlemania, and then during the match as a referee.
03.30.03: Roddy Piper appears at Wrestlemania, with a run-in during the Hogan/Vince match.
03.30.03: Shane McMahon comes out to tend to his father at Wrestlemania.
03.31.03: Steve Austin is fired from RAW by Eric Bischoff due to medical reasons.
03.31.03: Goldberg signs with RAW.
04.03.03: It is announced that Piper’s Pit will return next week on SD.
04.03.03: Jimmy Hart appears on SD.
04.03.03: Nick Bollea appears on SD.
04.03.03: Sable debuts on SD, signed as a free agent.
04.03.03: Vince suspends Hogan with pay for the duration of his contract on SD.
04.07.03: Jim Ross fired from RAW by Eric Bischoff for comments made on the air.
04.10.03: Roddy Piper debuts on SD during a Piper’s Pit segment with Vince, Rikishi and O’Haire.
04.17.03: Jimmy Snuka appears on SD on Piper’s Pit.
04.21.03: Lita is fired by Raw GM Eric Bischoff because she would not pose for Playboy (Was the current Heat announcer)
04.21.03: Gillberg shows up on Raw to help The Rock poke fun at Goldberg
04.22.02: RAW’s Jeff Hardy fired by WWE (not kayfabe).
04.27.03: Test appears in a backstage segment with Sable and Torrie at the Backlash PPV.
04.27.03: Stacy appears in a backstage segment with Sable at the Backlash PPV.
04.27.03: Stacy appears in backstage segments with Torrie, Test & Steiner at the Backlash PPV.
04.28.03: Sylvain Greiner of La Resistance debuts on Raw after filming vignettes that started airing on 04.07.03.
04.28.03: Rene Dupree of La Resistance debuts on Raw after filming vignettes that started airing on 04.07.03.
04.28.03: Bubba Dudley is suspended from RAW by Chief Morley.
04.28.03: D-Von Dudley is suspended from RAW by Chief Morley.
04.28.03: Steve Austin returns to RAW as Co-GM along with Eric Bischoff, by order of Linda McMahon
05.01.03: Mr. America debuts on SD during Piper’s Pit, signed by Stephanie as a free agent. It is Hulk Hogan under a mask
05.04.03: Al Snow replaces Lita as the regular Sunday Night Heat announcer.
05.05.03: Chief Morley is fired as “Chief of Staff” by both Eric Bischoff & Steve Austin
05.05.03: Jim Ross is re-hired to RAW after Lawler beats Morley in a match.
05.12.03: Legion of Doom appear on RAW with a loss to RVD and Kane.
05.12.03: Freddie Blassie appears on RAW to plug his book.
05.12.03: Bubba Dudley returns to RAW, unsuspended by Austin.
05.12.03: D-Von Dudley returns to RAW, unsuspended by Austin.
05.15.03: Zach Gowen debuts on SD as a fan making a run-in.
05.18.03: Chief Morley returns as Val Venis to compete in Raw’s Intercontinental Battle Royal
05.18.03: The Intercontinental Title returns to RAW when Christian wins a Battle Royal at the Judgment Day PPV. It had last been seen when HHH beat Kane to merge it with the World Title on 10.20.02.
05.18.03: SD’s Stephanie McMahon and RAW’s HHH meet backstage at the Judgment Day PPV.
05.18.03: SD’s Roddy Piper and RAW’s Jericho confront each other backstage at the Judgment Day PPV.
05.18.03: RAW’s Gregory Helms interviews SD’s Mr. America backstage at the Judgment Day PPV.
05.19.03: Mae Young appears on RAW in a skit with Bischoff.
05.19.03: Moolah appears on RAW in a skit with Bischoff.
05.29.03: Danny Basham debuts on SD as part of the Basham Brothers tag team with Doug Basham, with a win over Rikishi & Spanky. Doug originally appeared on SD’s Velocity on 09.28.02.
05.31.03: Orlando Jordan debuts on SD’s Velocity losing to Jamie Noble
06.08.03: Lance Cade debuts on Raw’s Sunday Night Heat losing to Lance Storm. As of 06.29.03, he is known as “Garrison Cade).
06.09.03: Mick Foley debuts on RAW, named special guest referee for HHH vs. Nash at the upcoming Bad Blood PPV.
06.12.03: Shaniqua debuts on SD (Linda Miles from TE2) as the Basham Brothers’ manager. She was on the RAW roster, but hasn’t appeared on TV since the open contract period, so it’s assumed she was a free agent.
06.14.03: RAW’s Jamal is fired from WWE (not kayfabe). His last appearance on TV was the 06.01.03 episode of HEAT.
06.15.03: RAW’s first brand-only PPV, Bad Blood, occurs in Houston, TX.
06.15.03: Moolah appears on RAW’s Bad Blood PPV in a segment with Austin and Bischoff.
06.15.03: Mae Young appears on RAW’s Bad Blood PPV in a segment with Austin and Bischoff.
06.16.03: Mae Young appears on RAW in a segment with Bischoff, and a match vs. Test.
06.16.03: Moolah appears on RAW in a segment with Bischoff.
06.19.03: Bradshaw jumps to SD, has been injured since 9.16.02 while contracts were open, so it is assumed he signs as a free agent.
06.23.03: Sgt. Slaughter appears on RAW in a match w/Hurricane vs. La Resistance.
06.26.03: Ultimo Dragon debuts on SD with a win over Shannon Moore.
06.26.03: SD’s Roddy Piper wrestles his last match, for the tag titles with O’Haire vs. Eddie and Tajiri, before being fired from WWE (not kayfabe).
06.30.03: Gail Kim debuts on Raw to win the Woman’s Title Battle Royal.
07.01.03: SD’s Crash Holly is fired from WWE (not kayfabe).
07.03.03: Hulk Hogan is fired on-screen from SD by Vince for breach of contract (showing up on SD as Mr. America even though he was suspended). This is the kayfabe explanation for Hogan deciding to leave WWE on 06.24.03, also due to contractual issues.
07.07.03: Mark Jindrak debuts on Raw, having not been seen since 2002 on Heat, in a loss to Chris Jericho.
07.10.03: Zach Gowen signs his SD contract, after winning a handicapped match with Stephanie McMahon over Big Show a week earlier.
07.13.03: Stevie Richards becomes GM of RAW’s Heat, as explained in an interview shown on 07.20.03’s Heat.
07.13.03: Goldust is suspended by Heat GM Stevie Richards.
07.17.03: Los Conquistadors appear on SD with a loss to Rey/Kidman.
07.19.03: Matt Capotelli (from TE3) appears on SD’s Velocity in a tag match with Johnny Jeter, losing to the Bashams.
07.19.03: Johnny Jeter appears on SD’s Velocity in a tag match with Matt Capotelli, losing to the Bashams.
07.20.03: Goldust’s suspension is lifted by Heat GM Stevie Richards.
07.20.03: Nick Dinsmore debuts on RAW’s Heat with a loss to Tommy Dreamer.
07.20.03: Rob Conway debuts on RAW’s Heat with a loss to the Hurricane, and debuts on RAW on 08.13.03 with a run-in from the crowd. He was last seen on the 07.06.02 episode of Velocity, before the open contract period ended.
07.21.03: Linda McMahon appears on RAW to announce that Austin can’t beat people up without provocation.
07.27.03: Vengeance, the first SD brand-only PPV is held.
07.28.03: United States Title returns to SD when Eddie Guerrero wins the tournament finals vs. Chris Benoit. Title had last been seen when combined with the IC Title with Edge’s win over Test at Survivor Series 2001.
07.28.03: The Easter Bunny, Doink the Clown, Brother Love, The Conquistadors, Matt Capotelli, John Hennigan and the Brooklyn Brawler appear on SD’s Vengeance PPV in the barroom brawl.
07.29.03: Shane debuts on RAW to confront Kane.
07.31.03: Doink the Clown (allegedly played by Nick Dinsmore) appears on SD in a loss to Benoit.
08.07.03: Sgt. Slaughter shows up on SD as an authority figure for one night and makes a match.
08.25.03: Mark Henry, Jumps to RAW, deal worked out with Teddy Long to add him to Thuggin & Buggin Enterprises.
09.01.03: Coach makes his in ring debut on Raw, defeating Jerry Lawler.
09.04.03: Bruce (Morris from OVW) debuts on SD as The APA’s butler.
09.07.03: Jimmy Yang debuts on RAW’s HEAT in a loss to Tommy Dreamer.
09.15.03: Moolah appears on RAW with a win over Victoria on her 80th birthday.
09.15.03: Mae Young appears on RAW.
09.15.03: Lita returns to RAW, being rehired by Co-GM Austin.
09.20.03: Joey Matthews debuts on SD’s Velocity with a loss to Matt Hardy.
09.27.03: Crowbar appears on SD’s Velocity with a loss to Sean O’Haire.
09.28.03: Crowbar appears on RAW’s Heat with a loss to Scott Steiner.
09.29.03: Steve Austin is suspended from RAW for one week, WWE Board, getting physical w/talent.
09.29.03: John Heidenreich appears on RAW as a fan with a ticket for Austin.
10.06.03: Referee Michael Chioda debuts on RAW, in a trade for Nick Patrick announced on WWE.com on 10.08.03. (Referee brand changes tracked from here on.)
10.09.03: Referee Nick Patrick debuts on SD, traded to SD for RAW’s Mike Chioda, as announced on WWE.com on 10.08.03.
10.09.03: Paul London debuts on SD in a loss vs. Brock Lesnar. He had appeared on Velocity almost a year earlier.
10.13.03: Jason Roberts appears on RAW as substitute ring announcer. He last appeared on the 07.26.03 episode of SD’s Velocity.
10.16.03: John Heidenreich appears on SD to hand a tape to Matt Hardy to give to Steph for a tryout. Matt throws the tape away.
10.19.03: Akio debuts on SD’s No Mercy PPV as a fan running into a Tajiri/Rey match. He had been on RAW’s Heat as Jimmy Yang on 09.07.03, but did not appear with that brand regularly.
10.19.03: Sakoda debuts on SD’s No Mercy PPV as a fan running into a Tajiri/Rey match. He had previously appeared on Velocity on 01.11.03.
10.19.03: John Heidenreich appears on SD’s No Mercy PPV, chokes Shannon Moore, then apologizes.
10.19.03: Stephanie leaves SD, as a result of losing an “I Quit” match vs. Vince at the No Mercy PPV when Linda threw in the towel.
10.23.03: Paul Heyman debuts on SD as the new General Manager, appointed by Vince.
10.26.03: John Heidenreich appears on RAW’s Heat in a skit with Rosey and Hurricane.
10.27.03: John Heidenreich wins a RAW contract winning a tag match w/Hurricane vs. La Resistance.
10.30.03: Matt Morgan debuts on SD, drafted onto Team Lesnar by Paul Heyman.
11.06.03: Lamont (formerly Bruce, the APA’s butler) debuts on SD in a Ernest “The Cat” Miller vignette.
11.16.03: Rue DeBona debuts as a SD announcer on Heat before Survivor Series PPV.
11.16.03: Mark Cuban appears on the Survivor Series PPV and gets RKO’d by RAW’s Randy Orton.
11.16.03: Steve Austin leaves RAW after his team loses at the Survivor Series PPV.
11.16.03: RAW’s Kane interferes in a match with SD’s Undertaker at the Survivor Series PPV.
11.16.03: SD’s Brock and RAW’s Goldberg have a backstage confrontation at the Survivor Series PPV.
11.17.03: Matt Hardy jumps to RAW after his contract with SD expires.
11.17.03: Lita is fired from RAW after she and Matt lose a tag match vs. Molly and Bischoff.
11.17.03: Lita is re-hired to RAW by Eric Bischoff, when Christian uses his
Survivor Series favor.
11.20.03: Bob Holly is suspended indefinitely from SD for showing up on his day off!
11.20.03: RAW’s Kane appears on SD to deliver Undertaker’s eulogy, invited by Vince.
11.24.03: Sgt. Slaughter appears on RAW in a loss vs. Randy Orton.
12.01.03: Mick Foley returns to RAW as Consultant/Co-GM, hired by Linda. (Test, Steiner, Coach, Conway, Dupree Ã??Ã?á¢?Ã??Ã?ᦠare fired by Foley, but he doesn’t sign their release papers, so they are still on the RAW roster.)
12.04.03: Jason Roberts returns to SD, making occasional ring announcer appearances on SD and Velocity. He last appeared on the 10.13.03 Heat as a substitute ring announcer on RAW, and is used on RAW and SD as needed.
12.07.03: El Conquistador appears on RAW’s Heat in a loss to Heidenreich.
12.11.03: Nathan Jones leaves SD, “dealt with” by Paul Heyman. He had recently left WWE (not kayfabe) for personal reasons.
12.11.03: Bob Holly appears on SD, despite suspension, in a mask.
12.15.03: Bill Goldberg is deactivated from RAW for 30 days by Bischoff for beating up Coach and La Resistance.
12.15.03: Mick Foley is no longer co-GM of RAW due to losing a match vs. Orton.
12.18.03: Bob Holly returns to SD, his suspension lifted.
12.22.03: RAW’s Goldust fired from WWE (not kayfabe).
12.25.03: Steve Austin appears on SD dressed as Santa Claus in Iraq.
12.29.03: Steve Austin returns to RAW as Sheriff, per Board meeting that included Vince and Linda arguing both sides of the issue.
12.29.03: HBK fired from RAW by Bischoff.
12.29.03: HBK re-signed to RAW by Austin.
12.31.03: RAW’s Kevin Nash leaves WWE, contract running out (not kayfabe).
