WWE Raw Presents WWE Backlash
LIVE! on PPV from Milwaukee, WI at 8e/7c
VIDEO: Highlights of Eric Bischoff and Thuggin’ and Buggin’ Enterprises’ feud with Goldberg, Shawn Michaels’ back and fourth heel/face turn, and Chris Jericho and Triple H’s war of words.
Pyros go off as the Backlash Theme plays.
JR: Welcome everyone to WWE Backlash! JR Jim Ross and Jerry the King Lawler here ringside in a sold out Milwaukee, WI! King, I can’t wait for tonight, we have a stacked card, top to bottom, ladies and gentlemen, what about you King?
King: Oh definitely JR, our great GM Eric Bischoff really pulled out all of the stops on this one and I have a feeling that tonight it going to be Evolution’s Night JR!
JR: You have got to be kidding me King, you are still for Evolution after what they pulled last Monday Night on Raw? Well, it’s your opinion, not mine, I don’t want to get this show off on the wrong foot, so I am dropping this right now. We have many great matches for you this evening, so let’s send it to the ring for our first contest…
Jeff Hardy’s music hits as the Charismatic Enigma comes down the ramp to a thunderous ovation.
JR: Now King, I don’t know about you, but Jeff is my odds on favorite to capture the vacated Intercontinental Championship, this kid has been on one hell of a roll for the past few weeks.
Christian’s music hits as Captain Charisma comes to the ring.
King: JR, you want to talk odds on favorites? Let’s talk about Christian, this guy is a main eventer waiting to happen.
RVD’s music hits as Mr. Monday Night comes to the ring.
JR: Well King, he might not be in the limelight, but RVD sure put on one hell of a show last Monday Night as he took both Christian and Jeff Hardy out, it was pretty impressive, and he made one hell of a statement to both of these men!
WWE Intercontinental Championship
Jeff Hardy vs. RVD vs. Christian
All 3 men stand in their respective corners waiting for another to make a move. Christian cockily walks into the center of the ring and starts trash talking both Jeff Hardy and RVD. Christian pounds on his chest and acknowledges his peeps, but gets an ovation of boos. RVD stands on the second rope and does his signature R-V-D taunt and the crowd explodes. Jeff Hardy smiles and looks at both RVD and Christian and then looks at the fans. He starts doing his signature dance he does in his entrance. Jeff Hardy stops and signals he wants to fight. Christian locks up with Jeff Hardy. Christian twists Hardy’s arm behind his back but Hardy quickly counters and twists Christian’s arm behind his back. RVD storms into the match and hammers Jeff across the back breaking his hold. RVD delivers a high heel kick to Hardy then a spin kick to Christian. Hardy gets up, but RVD kicks him in the gut and goes for a DDT, but Hardy spins out and goes for the Twist of Fate, but RVD counters his and positions him for the DDT again, but Christian pops up and delivers a huge flying clothesline to the throat of RVD and both RVD and Christian go down. Christian gets up turning towards Hardy and Hardy goes for a kick, but Christian catches it, but Hardy counters him and nails him with a spinning heel kick. RVD runs across the ring and then nails his signature Rolling Thunder onto the chest of Christian. RVD shoots up and gets a huge pop right before Hardy clotheslines him over the top rope. Hardy shoots his mouth off at RVD, but from behind Christian rolls him up and Christian puts his legs on the ropes for leverage covering him 1…2…kickout! Christian gets up and delivers several stomps to Hardy, but RVD rises on the outside and pulls Christian by the leg and pulls him out of the ring. RVD lands numerous shots on Christian and then goes for a suplex on the outside. Christian counters and goes for a suplex of his own, but RVD blocks it. They break the hold and then lock up again. Hardy gets up in the ring and suicide dives from the ring over the top rope onto both Christian and RVD. Hardy gets up to a huge pop. Hardy picks RVD up and walks him over to the barricade. Hardy slams his head off the barricade and hangs him on it. Hardy delivers numerous shots to the skull of RVD. Hardy backs off and turns around only to see Christian running towards him. Hardy dodges Christian and Christian runs towards Van Dam, but RVD shoots him up with a back drop and Christian crashes into the audience. RVD looks at Christian and starts trash talking him. RVD crosses the barricade into the audience and picks Christian up. Jeff Hardy stumbles around ringside for a second but then climbs the turnbuckles to a huge ovation. RVD and Christian battle it out at ringside while Hardy signals for something big. Hardy lunges off the top turnbuckle over the ringside area and barricade into the audience onto RVD and Christian. Hardy quickly gets up and stands on the barricade taunting the audience to a huge pop. Hardy runs into the ring and breaks the ring out count. Hardy goes back to the outside and as he goes over the barricade, Christian pops up from the floor, and delivers a huge uppercut. Christian crosses back onto the outside floor and guides Jeff to the apron. He slides Hardy on the apron with his head hanging off. RVD springboards off barricade, Christian turns around only to get nailed with the flying clothesline by Van Dam. RVD goes onto the apron and nails a spinning leg drop onto the throat of Jeff Hardy. RVD rolls Hardy back into the ring, slides in, and covers him 1…2…kickout! RVD signals for another Rolling Thunder onto Hardy. RVD bounces off the ropes, but Christian pulls his leg and drags him out of the ring. Christian slides in and climbs the turnbuckles. Christian launches off the top rope and nails a Frog Splash on Jeff Hardy. Christian slowly covers Jeff Hardy as RVD climbs the turnbuckles. Christian covers Hardy 1…2…RVD nails a 5 Star Frog Splash onto Christian breaking the count. RVD rolls over and cover Christian 1…2…kickout! RVD then rolls over and covers Jeff Hardy 1…2…kickout! Hardy and Christian both get up and RVD clocks their heads together. RVD goes for a swipe kick to the back of the knees of Christian and Christian goes down. RVD backflips into a splash onto Christian. RVD gets up and stalks a stumbling Jeff Hardy. RVD goes for a kick, but Hardy counters and spins him around. Hardy goes to throw RVD into the corner, but RVD counters and whips Hardy into the corner. Christian gets up and turns around right next to RVD and Hardy shoots up the turnbuckles and nails the Whisper in the Wind onto both RVD and Christian. Hardy gets up and stalks Christian. Christian gets up and Hardy kicks him in the gut and signals for the Twist of Fate. Christian spins out of it and goes for the Unprettier, but Hardy slides out and pushes Christian towards the ropes. Christian bounces off the ropes right back into the Twist of Fate by Hardy. Hardy plants him down and covers him 1…2…RVD breaks the count. RVD picks Hardy up by the hair, but Hardy kicks him in the gut and nails him with a Twist of Fate as well. Christian rolls out of the ring in pain. Hardy signals for the Swanton and climbs the turnbuckles. RVD shoots up and climbs the turnbuckles as well and starts exchanging with Hardy up top. RVD sets up for a Superplex, but Christian rolls into the ring and sets RVD up for a Powerbomb. He nails the powerbomb which makes RVD connect with the top rope superplex, Hardy and RVD crash to the mat. Christian pats himself on the back for playing possum as he goes towards Jeff Hardy. He kicks him in the gut and cockily mimics Hardy and attempts to Twist of Fate. Christian goes for it, but Hardy pushes him away last minute. RVD is in front of Christian and goes for a Spin kick on Christian, but Christian ducks and RVD nails Hardy. RVD gets up and stares at Hardy while Christian gets the back door roll up onto RVD pinning him 1…2…3!
WINNER: New Intercontinental Champion Christian
JR: What a hell of a match! Incredible!
King: Yes! Christian is the new Intercontinental Champion! JR I can’t believe this! Someone get me a crystal ball because I think I just predicted the future!
JR: Ok King, I have to hand it to you, no, I have to hand it to Christian, what the hell am I saying? Christian did win the match, even though it was by dirty tactics, but he did play it smart and picked his spots just right, but if you think Christian has it made, that’s far from the truth. It’s one thing being champion, but defending it is another thing!
King: Oh JR, stop trying to rain on our parade, I am going to talk to Christian later, you know me and him are good friends, and we are going out on the town tonight, this is going to be great, do you think Trish could join us? Ohhh!
BACKSTAGE:
Shawn Michaels walks into the arena with his bags and automatically runs into Chris Jericho who was waiting in the hallway for him all night.
HBK: Hey Chris, how you doing, how’s your head, you had that little mishap last week with Triple H and that hammer, plus…
Y2J: Michaels, I have to admit I am surprised…
HBK: Gee, why’s that Chris?
Y2J: Well for 2 weeks now, I have been getting the snot kicked out of me by Evolution, and during matches when you’re supposed to have my back, after the match you are nowhere to be seen…
HBK: Hey, Chris, don’t go giving me that, you know as well as I do that I saved your neck last week, if I would have never chased Orton and Batista from ringside on Raw, it technically would have been a 3 on 1 in that match!
Y2J: That is true, and I do thank you, but I have to ask you something, do you love seeing me get the crap kicked out of or something? I just can’t get it through my head, you say right to my face that you aren’t with Evolution. “Oh, I am with you Chris, don’t worry about that…†but when push comes to shove, you won’t defy Evolution by saving me neck, what is up with that Michaels?
HBK: Chris listen, I am not with Evolution that much is true, but I am not risking my neck to save yours when it’s a 4 on 1, even if I were to come out, that would have made it 2 on 4, which really isn’t too appealing to me, you know as well as I do that in this business, it’s every man for himself, and it looks to me like you are just on the wrong side of the fence, but hell, you have a chance at the World title tonight, I know people have been telling you this, but you shouldn’t fill your mind with this garbage, me, you, Evolution, it doesn’t matter, tonight is your night, it’s your time, if I were you, nabbing that World’s title is the first thing on my mind, first and only, I have a match tonight, I got to get settled. Chris, tonight, the Heartbreak Kid doesn’t lay down for anybody, tonight is no exception. However, if you still don’t believe me Chris, tonight, I will make it crystal clear, what side I am on, you can hold me to that…
Shawn starts walking away, but turns back towards Chris Jericho.
HBK: By the way Chris….good luck.
Molly Holly’s music hits as Molly Holly comes down the ramp.
JR: Well King, I would ask your predictions for this match, but I am afraid that I already know.
King: You know it JR, I hope Trish beats Molly Holly right here tonight as sits atop that pedestal she rightfully deserves to be on, the is the greatest Women’s Champion we have ever had in this company you know.
Trish Stratus’ music hits as the WWE Women’s Champion comes down the ramp.
JR: I will tell you right now King that Molly Holly is no easy feat to climb here, Trish has her work cut out for her heading into the match, I mean Victoria almost put her on the shelf a couple weeks ago and she might not even be 100% King!
King: JR, you have to believe, if you don’t think Trish can win this, I just might have to find a new commentator partner!
WWE Women’s Championship
Trish Stratus* vs. Molly Holly
Trish runs towards Molly, but Molly slides out under the bottom ring onto the floor dodging Trish while the fans boo Molly. Molly throws her hands in the air and walks around the ring. Trish slides out of the ring and chases Molly on the outside around the ring. Molly slides in the ring and Trish follows. Molly hammers Trish across the back with a double sledge. Molly twists Trish’s arm behind her back and puts the pressure on looking for a submission. Trish swings out of it on the mat and stands up. Trish twirls Molly’s arm and Molly flips over onto her back and Trish gets on the mat and slaps on a headlock on Molly Holly. Molly finally gets up to her feet still in the headlock and connects with a backdrop onto Trish Stratus. Molly gets up and kicks Trish in the ribs. Molly bounces off the ropes and goes for a leg drop, but Trish rolls out and nobody’s home for Molly. Molly gets up holding herself in pain as Trish bounces off the ropes and connects with a flying clothesline on Holly. Holly gets up and Trish connects with another clothesline on Molly. Holly gets up and Trish dropkicks her and Molly falls through the second and third ropes onto the floor. Trish stands on the apron on the opposite end of the ring. Molly gets up on the floor and Trish runs along the apron and nails a flying clothesline to Molly Holly. Trish gets up and points to the fans for a huge reaction. She turns and Molly nails her in the gut with a right. The takes Trish by the hair and slams her head off the apron. Trish stumbles, but regains herself, she charges Holly again, but Molly Holly nails her with a drop toe hold and Trish goes face first into the steel steps. Molly laughs and takes a bow to the crowd to an ovation of boos. Molly starts stomping the hell out of Trish between the steps and the apron. She pulls Trish up by the hair and sits her on the apron. She repeatedly blows Trish’s skull with forearm shots. She moves the steel steps out and places Trish’s lower leg in between the steps and the apron lodging it so Trish can’t take it out.
JR: Oh no, Molly, don’t do it! That’s Trish’s bad leg!
King: JR, this has bad news all over it, get out of it Trish!
Molly grabs Trish by the hair and begins to talk trash to Molly. At the last second Trish uses her other leg and kicks Molly in the gut. Trish steps onto the floor and wedges her leg out from between the stairs and the apron. Molly wanders away from Trish. Trish slides into the ring breaking the ring out count and slides back out. Trish charges Molly and connects with the Air Canada, a Thesz Press followed by mounted punches, onto Molly Holly. Trish gets up and drags Molly and throws her back into the ring. Trish stalks Molly as she gets up. Molly turns towards Trish and locks her in for the Stratusfaction, but Molly pushes her towards the ropes. Trish bounces back and Molly drills her down with a spinebuster. Molly covers Trish 1…2…kickout! Molly picks Trish up and whips her into the corner. Molly charges Trish, but Trish gets her legs up, maneuvers around and gets a cradle roll up on Molly 1…2…kickout! Both women get up and lock up. Trish gets behind Molly, but Molly grabs Trish’s head and whips her over her shoulder into a headlock on the mat. Molly releases the headlock and bounces off the ropes. She delivers a huge running boot to the face of Stratus then pins her 1…2…kickout! Molly picks Trish up. She swings her onto her shoulder and goes for a running powerslam. Trish counters and slips out of the back. Molly turns around, Trish goes for a Chick Kick, but Molly ducks. Trish turns around and Molly sets her up and executes a perfect Molly Go Round. Molly pins Trish 1…2…3!
WINNER: New WWE Women’s Champion Molly Holly
JR: Oh my Gawd King, Molly Holly has just pinned Trish Stratus winning the Women’s Championship! That match sure was a slobberknocker in its own right, but Trish sure showed the heart of a champion!
King: That was a fluke! Molly cheated! The ref should be fired! Trish should still be champion! JR, you saw it, Molly cheated!
JR: King, I am sorry, but I feel worse for Trish, after over coming a possible injury, she has lost the Women’s title, this is devastating to the former champ’s morale! King, I have to say it, Molly Holly is once again Women’s Champion…
BACKSTAGE:
Eric Bischoff is in his office. Coach walks in for an interview.
Coach: Excuse me Mr. Bischoff; have time for a few words?
Bischoff: Sure Coach, hell yea, I have time for a few words, by the way, how the hell are you after that Evolution beatdown in the parking lot, heard they got you pretty bad, hope you are doing okay.
Coach: Why thank you Eric, I am healing, and might I say you are in a great mood tonight!
Bischoff: Well Coach, when you are right about to crush a annoying fly with a rolled up newspaper and finally rid yourself of that agony, sure you are in a good mood, and that’s exactly why I am happy tonight. Goldberg, the greatest champion in WCW history, is about to get destroyed all thanks to the genius of myself. You see, Bill came to Raw thinking he would dominate, sure he won a few matches, undefeated to be exact, but it all ends tonight. Due to that “unexpected†blindside to Goldberg by Mark Henry and Rodney Mack, Goldberg, I have heard isn’t in that great of shape tonight, plus he has a handicap match with those gentlemen coming up, so I would presume he is not in the greatest boat as of now.
Coach: Well do you have any predictions for this match? What if Goldberg has something up his sleeve?
Bischoff: Coach, this is a plan by the genius that is Eric Bischoff, it’s full proof, nothing can go wrong tonight, nothing.
The Dudley Boys’ music hits as the World Tag Team Champions come down the ramp.
JR: Here come the 2 men, the World Tag Team Champions, the Dudley Boys, who will represent Old Glory here in this Tag Title Flag Match at Backlash!
King: JR, I must say, I cannot wait to see La Resistance get the beating they deserve here tonight!
La Resistance’s music hits as Rob Conway and Rene Dupree come to the ring.
World Tag Team Championship
USA vs. France Flag Match
Dudley Boys* vs. La Resistance
Bubba Ray and Devon meet face to face in the ring with Conway and Dupree. They start talking trash to one another while the fans chant USA! USA! USA! Bubba Ray points to the American Flag hanging in their corner and the USA chants get even louder. La Resistance covers their ears in disgust. Bubba and Devon unload shots to both members of La Resistance. Bubba clobbers Dupree back into a corner as does Devon to Conway. Bubba manhandles Dupree and puts him throat first onto the second rope and starts choking him. Conway reverses Devon and throws him into the corner and head butts him. Rob Conway runs away from Devon and hammers Bubba Ray from behind breaking the choke on Dupree. Dupree gets up and both members of La Resistance hammer Bubba Ray. They whip him across the ring; Bubba bounces back and double clotheslines La Resistance. Devon walks over and picks up Rob Conway. He hard chops him and whips him against the ropes. Devon drills him with an Atomic Drop followed by a Bubba Ray clothesline. Devon stomps the hell out of Conway as Bubba goes on the assault towards Dupree. Dupree rakes Bubba’s eyes and nails him with an elbow to the forehead. Dupree scales his turnbuckles and reaches for the French flag. Devon runs towards Dupree and grabs him by the tights. He drills him down to the mat off the top rope with a powerbomb. Conway gets up and kicks Bubba in the gut and whips him into his flag’s corner. Bubba Ray bounces off the turnbuckles and Conway charges him. Bubba catches him, shoots him up, Conway reaches for the flag, but Bubba drills him back first onto the mat with a spinebuster. Devon picks up Dupree and goes for a sidewalk slam, but Dupree powers out, lands on his feet, then slams Devon with a Russian Leg Sweep. Dupree exits the ring and drags Devon by the legs over to the corner. He positions him so the ring post is right between his legs. Dupree pulls Devon slamming him groin first into the steel ring post. Bubba spots him and runs out to the floor chasing Dupree. Dupree rounds the ring while Conway exits the ring and hides behind the apron. Dupree rounds the corner of the ring with Bubba chasing after him as Conway pops out and nails Bubba with a clothesline. Dupree stands by Bubba laughing as he does his signature French Tickler. Devon appears in the ring scaling the turnbuckles reaching for the American Flag. La Resistance storms the ring and climbs the turnbuckles where Devon is. They hammer him with forearm shots to the back, but Devon starts fighting them off. Devon clocks Dupree with a back elbow and Dupree falls to the mat. Conway nails him once more and connects with a huge top rope backdrop onto the mat. Bubba re-emerges in the ring and Conway charges him, but Bubba dodges and throws him over the top rope onto the floor. Dupree gets up and Bubba drills him to the mat with a Bubba Bomb. Bubba goes to help Devon up as Conway storms back into the ring holding the World Tag Team Title belt looking to clock Bubba in the back of the head. Bubba turns around, Devon gets up, Bubba ducks the belt shot, Conway bounces off the ropes and lands right into a 3D by the Dudley Boys. Bubba goes to his corner and climbs the turnbuckles. He reaches and grabs the American Flag and waves it in the air.
WINNER: World Tag Team Champions the Dudley Boys
JR: You can hear the crowd alive and well here in Milwaukee chanting USA, that’s right the Dudley Boys defend America successfully here tonight and keep their World Tag Team Championships, congratulations!
King: Oh man JR, this night is going so great, well of course for the whole Trish Stratus debacle! I still have to comfort her backstage…
JR: For God’s sake King, the Dudley Boys just retained their World Tag Titles and all you can think about is Trish! I have to admit King, you just might, just might, be obsessed.
King: Oh I am way ahead of you there JR…
The Dudley Boys hold the American Flag and their World Tag Titles as Bubba screams at Devon to get the tables! Devon goes to the outside and grabs a Table. He slides it into the ring and Bubba Ray sets it up. Devon kicks Rene Dupree in the gut and drags him up. Devon whips Dupree against the ropes then sends him up and the Dudley Boys drill Dupree with a 3D through the table.
JR: What a devastating 3D through that table! They sure sent a message to those two Frenchman by way of the good old USA! God Bless America!
BACKSTAGE:
Terri with Theodore Long, Rodney Mack, and Mark Henry
Terri: I am standing here with Teddy Long's Thuggin' and Buggin' Enterprises whom in just moments will go 2 on 1 in a handicap match with Bill Goldberg. Now gentlemen, given Goldberg's win over both of you in the past few weeks, do you think that gives him the psychological advantage in this match?
Long: Terri, baby girl, the only thing Goldberg has in this match is his reputation and the hope that he can back up his talk. Billy Goldberg is 2 things, big talk and big hype. Tonight he gets put to the test when he goes against Mack and Mark, my boys, tonight.
Terri: Well, hypothetically speaking, if Goldberg happens to defeat you here tonight, what might Eric Bischoff...
Long: Terri, listen up girl friend, loosing ain't really an option tonight, I have gone over it with the big guys, nothing will go wrong here tonight, we are fighting for Eric Bischoff, great GM in the world, so if something happens out there tonight, there's no one to blame but us, but nothing's gonna happen like that, holla, holla, holla!
Teddy Long, Rodney Mack, and Mark Henry walk away past Terri giving her dirty looks.
JR: Well King looks like Teddy's boys are ready tonight, but will they be able to stop Bill Goldberg?
King: Goldberg is an animal, and tonight, for the first time in WWE, Goldberg will be put down by those two men, Goldberg has too big of a mouth, he asked for this JR and he is going to get what's coming to him!
Still to come on WWE Backlash...
Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels
Goldberg vs. Rodney Mack and Mark Henry
World Championship
Triple H defends against Chris Jericho