WWF RAW 01/28/2002
Richmond, VA
WWF Undisputed Champion: Chris Jericho
WWF Intercontinental Champion: William Regal
WWF Tag Team Champions: Spike Dudley & Tazz
WWF European Champion: Christian
WWF Hardcore Champion: The Undertaker
WWF Cruiserweight Champion: Tajiri
WWF Women's Champion: Trish Stratus
Kane vs. The Big Show
I have to admit even though every Show/KANE match sucks they always try to make it good but they just don't click as opponents like they do when they are partners. The best part of the match was when Show catches Kane off the top and hits the Chokeslam, but KANE kicks out. Show then yells "WHAT THE FUCK?!"
Kane then Chokeslams Show for the win. **
The APA asks Flair about this NWO in coming to kill the company. Flair says Vince is out of his mind, and he's going to talk to him as soon as he gets here, and he knows more than anyone how the NWO can be. Bradshaw says if it's who he thinks it is, they're no good backstabbing asskissing self-serving shit disturbing sons of bitches. Faarooq says that's being nice about it.
Goldust cuts one of his underrated promos in which he says "The greatest trick the Devil ever played was making the world believe he didn't exist." - Kevin Spacey, The Usual Suspects, He says he is very much real, and it's a reality that "he" is very much closer to getting a taste of. He says he saw "him" perform last week and the people like him, they really like him. He says "he" will soon look back on his life now and miss having so much fun, before his life was changed by the life of GOLDUST!
In the back, Chris Jericho says it was him who granted Maven the title shot. He said he did it because everyone is talking about Maven after the Rumble and NOT him beating The Rock for the 5th time. He says the question isn't if Maven is Tough Enough, but if he's good enough.
WWF Intercontinental Championship: William Regal vs. Rob Van Dam
Van Dam attacks while the ref is checking Regal out. RVD rams Regal into the steel post, then into the steel steps. RVD tosses Regal back into the ring, and lands a big kick and covers Regal, but only for two. RVD lands a flip, cover for two. Rolling Thunder by Van Dam, another two count. Regal lands a blatant low blow, and the ref calls bell for the DQ. Post-match, Regal hits the ref and tries to bail with the title, but RVD pulls him back in. He beats on Regal, but the Dudley Boyz run down and attack RVD. Edge runs down and Spears Regal and Bubba, and throws out D-Von, as RVD gets up. He climbs up and hits Bubba on the floor with an Crossbody. Edge then hits a Flipping Senton to D-Von, and Regal puts the brass knucks on in the ring. Edge tries to come at him off the top, but Regal hits him in the air with the knucks. RVD hits a Flying Sidekick on Regal, but then turns into the 3D from the Dudleyz. DUD!
Stephanie yells at Flair for booking Triple H vs. Booker, and he says it's not his fault because Vince booked it. She asked if it was because Triple H called Vince an asshole on Smackdown, and Flair says he doesn't know or care, and if she wants to ask Vince why, get in line behind him, because as soon as he arrives, he's talking to Vince about the NWO.
Diamond Dallas Page & The Godfather vs. Christian & Lance Storm
Before the match Godfather says DDP is one of the satisfied customers of Godfather's Escort Service, and hasn't been able to stop smiling since last night. THAT'S NOT A BAD THING, IT'S A GOOD THING!
, Anyway this match was really fun for the time that it got. Christian and Storm's bumping made Godfather look great and DDP look like a champ too. **1/2
Vince arrives in a limo, the driver apologizes for being late. Vince, instead of firing him, just pats him on the shoulder and walks off.
Ric Flair comes down to the ring, and gets on the mic. He puts over the town for a bit before going to the subject at hand. He says everyone has bad days, and Vince had a bad night on Smackdown, but that is no reason to bring in the NWO. He says he thinks he found a way to impress upon Vince what he would be ruining. He shows a new video dedicated to WWF history, and MAN is it a doozy. The idea is to summarize 30 years of WWF tradition, and it’s ALL there, from Bruno to Graham to Backlund to Hogan to Bret Hart to Shawn to Diesel & Ramon to the present, including all the “eras”, great moments, and memorable matches. That was one HELL of a video. The point, according to Flair, is to remind Vince of the tradition of the WWF, and what exactly he would be throwing away if he let the NWO into the promotion again. Vince refuses to look Flair in the face, and Flair goes nuts asking if he wants to pin him, make him bleed, hit him in the head, hit him with a pipe again, "GODDAMNIT WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? DO NOT DO THIS TO YOUR COMPANY!" Vince grabs the mic and says he'll call it all off if Flair sells him back his 50% of the stock and gives him full power again. He says Ric has a few days to think about it, and if he says no, he's going to inject the poison o the NWO into WWF veins and it will slowly and eventually kill the WWF, and he'll see all of us in Hell. FUCKIN' AWESOME SEGMENT!
WWF Undisputed Championship: Chris Jericho vs. Maven
I like that they did the Triple H/Shelton, Taker/Hardy role and made Maven look good with some real nice near-falls. The finish happens when Maven fights off the Walls, and catapults Jericho into the exposed turnbuckle then bitchslaps Jericho. Small package gets two for Maven. Jericho then says enough of this shit and puts Maven in the Walls for the submission for the tap out. Post-match, The Undertaker comes down and Jericho goes out for some commentary. He punches him in the ribs and Maven responds by trying to fight back, causing Taker to kill him more. He takes him out to the floor and hits the larynx to the chair murder move. **3/4
In the back, Coach asks Taker about Rock on SD and now Maven. Taker asks if Coach would like to remain in possession of his teeth, and he says yes, and Taker says if he says the name "Maven" in his presence again, he will be wearing Coach's teeth as a necklace. He says this is his own fault for letting Maven try and get some ring time at the Rumble while he beat up the Hardyz and this punk kid takes a liberty and eliminates him. Taker says he'll keep beating on Maven until he's decided he's had enough, and as far as The Rock goes, he got what was coming for reminding the whole world that Maven eliminated Taker in a promo. He says everything's a joke, song, and dance to The Rock, but he's not cute and he doesn't sing or dance, and he DOES NOT get disrespected. What happened to Rock will continue to happen every time Rock disrespects him.
Jazz finds Billy & Chuck doing some groin stretches, SWERVE! Elsewhere Stephanie tells H about Vince booking the match, and he says he doesn't care, and he'll be fine. She offers her help at ringside, and he says thanks but no thanks.
The Acolytes & Trish Stratus vs. Billy & Chuck & Jazz
Jesus this was awful, APA are trash, Billy & Chuck are even worse, Trish is still learning and Jazz was solid. Chuck Powerbombs Trish to win. 1/2*
Kurt Angle cuts a promo saying he hopes Austin is mad about SD, since he'll either get so angry he'll get DQ'd, or he'll be so angry he messes up allowing Kurt to easily win.
Triple H vs. Booker T
This was below average, and was mostly used to show an off Triple H’s face offense. His selling was off here too as he would sell go on offense, not sell then sell for like 5 seconds. The most hilarious part of the match was when Christian ran down to hit Triple H with a Reverse DDT on the floor, and like 30 seconds later, He was back in and killing Booker T. Stephanie ran down to try and stop Christian on the apron, and she slapped him. He knocked Christian off and yelled at Stephanie. Booker knocks H into her and gets a schoolboy with the tights to win. OH SHIT! Post-Match: She's crying and says she's sorry, but Triple H walks out on her. **1/4
Video Package telling us Wrestlemania X8 is 7 weeks away.
Backstage, Triple H wouldn't let Stephanie in the locker room, and she yelled that she's sorry and she loves him. He opened the door and put her suitcase and shoes in her arms and slammed the door shut again.
#1 Contender's Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Kurt Angle
Angel/Austin finally delivering something great not like their last 2/3 meetings. This was tremendously paced and hard-fought and was filled with some great moments like at the start when Austin wants to kill Kurt after Smackdown, but Kurt catches him trying to end it early and gets the Ankle Lock, and Steve Austin counters with a fucking Victory Roll. The finish was pretty BADASS too As Austin is getting more pissed off so he tries to use a chair, but Kurt pushes Austin into the ref. He beats the SHIT! out of Austin with the chair, but by the time the ref crawls over, Austin kicks out. He survives the Ankle Lock, and gets his foot on the rope after the Angle Slam, but Kurt doesn't see it and just heard the ref count to three. Of course, the bell didn't ring so Angel is pissed, he then turns around and Austin hits him with the Stunner for the 3 count. Jericho runs down but Austin also gives him a Stunner before drinking beer to end the show. AWESOME! Austin’s selling of the chair shots while he’s trying to get up to drink beer is hilarious. ***1/2 - ***3/4
but more importantly I will be adding GIFS~! of the stuff I enjoyed during the show. So even if you don't read I will have a fun gif for you to look at.
