The RAW Events

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The RAW Events
— The 3 hour Homecoming edition as Raw returns to the USA Network! This is actually only the second homecoming I’ve ever gone to. Just for the simple reason that the first one I went to in high school absolutely SUCKED!! But that’s how it usually tends to be with school sponsored activities. And MY school really didn’t help things much. But who says you have to go to the school parties, right!? So let’s hope this second homecoming time is a charm and that I wont have to ditch it for the after party.

Live from Dallas, Tx.

The MAIN Events
-30 Minute Iron Man Match: Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle
To be honest I completely missed this match, not seeing wise but recording wise both on TV and on paper. Yes, I was that much into the match because every time these two meet in that ring its pure and simple gold, and tonight was no difference. Good stuff between both guys and I guess since they are both tied currently right now in their match- up series, it was only fitting they end this one in a tie too. Not the way I would have liked it but….
Winner: Draw (1)

-Ladder Match: Edge w/ Lita vs. Matt Hardy
Edge tries to end this match quickly as we begin, attacking Matt from behind and hurryingly running up the ladder to grab the briefcase but is stopped by Matt. Hardy then tries to do the fancy stuff with the ladder, squeezing Edge between the ladder while also trying to get Lita on the outside. Edge finally starts to fire back, setting Matt up on a table and jumping from the apron crashing Hardy through. For a second there it almost looks as if Matt was gonna win but Lita eventually puts herself in the match (before COMPLETELY missing a kendo shot while Matt was on the ladder). In the move of the match, Hardy gets hung up on the briefcase while Lita moves out the ladder from underneath him causing Edge to swing him down onto the ropes. Pretty academic after that as Edge gets the ladder and climbs up to grab the briefcase and send Matt out of Raw.
Winner: Edge (2)

-Carlito & Chris Masters vs. Ric Flair & HHH
The return of the game match as we get some back and forth brawls between both teams getting Flair to hit the hot tag to HHH who starts to clean house. And just as things are about to go south with Masters coming up to swipe HHH with the sledge, Flair makes the save to set up the Pedigree for the win. But a swerve is pulled as HHH attacks Flair after their celebration, busting up the Nature Boy in the process.
Winner(s): HHH & Ric Flair (3)

– Bra & Panties Match: Torrie Wilson, Candace Michelle & Victoria vs. Trish Stratus & Ashley
Heel beat down is quick to go as Ashley is the first one to lose her shirt, my oh my! You know the rest… catfight stuff goes back and forth as all girls are flying around the ring. And while this goes on, Candace not only loses her pants but nearly her actual panties as well! One more second of tugging from Ashley and we would have gotten a really good look! That alone should give this match a top match nod of the night. Torrie is the last one to lose her clothes.
Winner(s): Trish Stratus & Ashley (5)

– Smackdown! Match: Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit & Batista vs. JBL, Christian & Eddie Guerrero
We got the whole Smackdown! Vibe going on here with Michael Cole and Tazz on commentary with the Smackdown entrance graphics along to accompany the wrestlers out to ring side. But just as we are gonna start the match Raw GM Bischoff comes out and turns out the lights on the party… literally. Surprisingly enough, we don’t get the Smackdown match as we come back from commercial to be introduced by Hulk Hogan. Ok… let me get this straight, they don’t give match time to the top 6 Smackdown guys, but give it to Hogan to do his usual “brother” promo!?
Winner: Everyone’s a loser on this one Dead Last!

– WWE Title Match: Eric Bischoff vs. John Cena (Champ)
The MAIN Event: Cena toys around with the GM for a while, constantly going back and forth making sure Angle (who’s at ringside) doesn’t interfere in the match. But just as he stops to do so, guess what? Angle interferes. Bischoff gets in a few quick hits and a 1 count after hitting Cena below the belt. FU hits Bischoff for the 3 to end things quickly.
Winner: John Cena (4)

Quick HEAT

— Piper’s Pit w/ Mick Foley. Foley comes in as usual to get his cheap pops from the crowd as he always does as he goes back and forth with Piper. Randy though comes out though with his father Bob Orton and RKO’s Mick Foley and Piper to keep his legend killer status going. I really do hope Orton gets his second chance in Smackdown, he was just completely buried here on Raw.

— Vince McMahon makes his debut for the night as he starts to take a trip down memory lane and starts to talk and revisit old memories with his days feuding with Stone Cold, causing Austin to come out himself and pull out more memory videos (Beer truck being my personal favorite). But a stunner hits Vince, Shane comes out- another stunner for him, Stephanie- ditto. Vintage Austin as he celebrates with Linda (who comes out to look over the damage) in the beer.

— Ashley and Trish are backstage talking about the bra and panties match that Mae Young overhears as she begins herself to take of her shirt!?!?! Oh no, I think I’ve seen enough for the night… Monday night football, where’s the remote!?!

– *Whew* Carolina’s beating Green Bay!

— After the HHH/ Flair tag team match, we get some additional footage of the HHH beat down on the Nature Boy. Sending him into his Limo and sending it off as HHH uses the sledge to shatter the window as the limo screeches away. Ohh, watch out the bully who can break a window with a hammer! Well at least it wasn’t with his hand right!?

— Dusty Rhodes is in center ring with all the WWE Hall of Famer’s praising everyone’s work for what they have done over the years. Until the man with the shades shows up breaking up the “seniors” Homecoming cracking a few old jokes along the way. Even though they may be old, Conway’s sorta out matched 25 to 1. And sire enough poor Rob gets jumped officially becoming the Hall of Fame Jobber.

— Like I said earlier, the Smackdown match was cut down to an absolute no- show to get a Hulk Hogan promo to announce his next “opponent”… Stone Cold Steve Austin. Just a quick note; a Wrestlemania commercial has already been run earlier tonight. Hmmm.

— Angle tries to get a few licks in before Long interrupts the ending and sicks the Smackdown roster on Cena, Angle and Bischoff for messing up their match earlier on. And before you can even smell the battle royal ending, the Raw roster comes out to even things up as we end the show.

RAW Analysis
– Well I’m still here so which only means that Homecoming kept my attention going. Decent matches throughout helped the re- debut show on USA as well as the nostalgic appearances by the Hall of Famer’s that showed up on the show. Only gripes had to be was the cut- off of the Smackdown match only to be replaced by a Hogan interview and the less than suprising pay- off in the end with Smackdown attacking Raw. Then the return of HHH, who more than likely will be taking up a lot of the upcoming TV line with his feud with Flair now. Was it just me or did anyone else think that match was gonna end a swerve with the showcasing of the new “Evolution”? But again, decent as I’m off to California in my long awaited and delayed vacation of the year. Funny too that the “Tag Champs” were a no show for one of the biggest Raw’s of the year, just goes to show you. And boy oh boy am I looking forward to this… I’ve needed this vacation more than anything! Should be good for the body and mind, so hopefully when I return I come back with a clearer head and a re-energized battery with a lot less problems to deal with, but an EVENT either way. But the rap up is done here now so which means the after party is gonna start, lets just hope the Panthers are still winning. Peace!