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RAW is WAR: 1/1/2001
The first WWF RAW is WAR of 2001 was live at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. There were huge three main events already made. The Undertaker vs Rikishi, Kane vs the Rock, and the Bladewolf vs Chris Benoit. The winners of those matches will meet on SmackDown, and the winner of that match will receive a shot at the World Wrestling Federation Championship on the January 8 episode of RAW!
s Stone Cold Steve Austin arrived at the Frank Erwin Center in - fittingly enough - Austin, Texas, senior referee Earl Hebner stopped the Texas Rattlesnake and told him that Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley wanted to see him in her office. Austin said that the meeting had better be about the Federation Championship match he demanded last Thursday on SmackDown!
RAW opened with a match pitting the Undertaker against Rikishi - with the winner moving on to SmackDown to face either Rock, Bladewolf or Kane for a title match against Kurt Angle. Rikishi took his time walking to the ring, and soon Undertaker couldn't take it anymore, and he jumped on his bike and tried to run Rikishi down! The two super-heavyweights battled on the stage, and it looked momentarily like the Taker might toss the 400-pounder off the stage, much like he threw him off Hell in the Cell last month at Armageddon!
Finally the two men made their way into the ring, and the match officially began. Shockinly, the Undertaker seemed poised to give Rikishi the Last Ride, but even the massive strength of the Taker couldn't lift the 400-pounder off the ground. Rikishi took advantage, squashing the Taker with a huge legdrop. But the 400-pounder soon walked into a massive DDT, and the Undertaker pinned him to move on to SmackDown!
Backstage, Stone Cold walked into Stephanie's office. He said he wanted to talk about his title shot, but she said he had to earn his title shot. She said that based on his love of drinking beer and raising hell, she came up with a job for him, which she demanded he take, since he was under contract. She then pointed to a beer and hot dog vendor in her office - and she said that the Rattlesnake would have to sell every single beer and hot dog, or else he would never get a title shot! As the vendor wished him luck, Austin snapped and beat the hell out of him!
As Edge, Christian and Kurt Angle arrived backstage at the arena, Coach approached them and asked Angle what he thought about having to defend his title against either Undertaker, Bladewolf, Kane or Rock next Monday. Angle said he had never been told about it! Edge & Christian told him not to worry, since he was like a superhero. Coach then asked the three how they felt about facing Bulletproof and Chris Jericho in a six-man table match on RAW - and the three men were so irate that they stormed off
The Acolytes and Billy Gunn then faced Val Venis, Bull Buchanan and the Goodfather of the Right to Censor in tag action. "The One" won the match for his team, pinning Val Venis following a sleeper slam. After the match, Billy prepared to piledrive Val - hoping to get a measure of revenge for Chyna - but Venis was saved by his allies in Right to Censor.
In the hallway backstage, Stone Cold was munching down on a few of his hot dogs when Stephanie approached him and said he couldn't eat the hot dogs - he had to sell them! The Rattlesnake responded by squirting mustard all over Stephanie's blouse! As she shrieked and ran away in horror, Stone Cold just smiled and asked if she wanted onions on her hot dog!
After the commercial break, Austin was still backstage, enjoying a couple of beers!
Elsewhere, Stephanie cleaned the mustard off herself as she talked to her father on speakerphone. She complained to her father, who told her just to buy a new blouse, and not to let Austin get to her like that.
Michael Cole interviewed Bulletproof, who promised that Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian would get their asses kicked on New Year's night!
Raven defended his Hardcore Championship against his former partner, Tazz. Before the match, Raven said that today was a special day - a day that will live in World Wrestling Federation infamy. He said it was the first day of the year of the Raven, and that everyone would bear witness to the Raven effect. The two fought to the backstage area - where Tazz dunked Raven's head into a toilet bowl! Pretty soon, all three members of the Holly family attacked the men, as did Steve Blackman! Raven would win the match moments later... by pinning Crash! Raven then fled the scene of the crime before any of the other superstars could take advantage of the 24-7 rule
Stone Cold Steve Austin headed to the ring to a huge ovation. Carrying a can of beer, the Rattlesnake reiterated his demand from last week's SmackDown that he wanted a shot at Kurt Angle's Federation Championship. He told Stephanie that he had sold all the beers and hot dogs, so he wanted his shot.
Wearing a new blouse, Stephanie then walked to the ring to answer Stone Cold. She asked Austin who he thought he was talking to... and he answered, "a complete bitch!" She said she hadn't seen Austin sell one hot dog or beer. She called him a liar, and a beer-swilling Texas redneck - which the crowd in Austin didn't take to very kindly.
Austin said he had found a few people in the locker room to drink the beer - the Acolytes and Jacqueline! He then made Stephanie wear the tray he held his beer in. He said he didn't give a rat's ass what she thought - only about his title shot.
As Stephanie struggled to keep her balance while holding the beer tray, she said she would put him in the mix, since she was a woman of her word. She told Austin that he would face William Regal on RAW, with the winner to move onto SmackDown to face Undertaker and either Bladewolf, Rock or Kane in a Fatal 4-Way Match, with the winner becoming the No. 1 contender.
She told Austin not to be too surprised when he lost and not to be too surprised when she made him scrub toilets on SmackDown. She then demanded that Austin get the beer tray away off her... and the Rattlesnake ripped off not only the beer tray, but also Stephanie's blouse! As Stephanie ran to the back, struggling to cover herself up, the Rattlesnake celebrated in the ring!
In a six-person table match, Chris Jericho and Bulletproof faced Kurt Angle, Edge & Christian. Before the match, Y2J welcomed the crowd to "Stephanie is naked!" The match soon deteriorated into a Pier 6 brawl, with all six men hooking it up. After Bulletproof hit a double spear on Angle, they set Angle up for their Double Powerbomb finish! After several near finishes, Angle wound up locked in the Walls of Jericho. When Edge went to save the Federation Champion, he was given a double powerbomb through the table, giving Bulletproof and Y2J the win!
Next up was the Bladewolf vs Chris Benoit in the WWF Title #1 Contender Tournament.
In the arena, Chris Benoit's theme hits to boos and out comes the Rabid Wolverine who looked focused and determined to win tonight.
"this is going to eb a fight, JR!" Jerry exclaimed.
JR nodded. "Bladewolf and Chris Benoit have had a series of matches as of late, one of which was at Armageddon recently a few weeks back and Bladewolf retained the Intercontinental Championship. However, Bladewolf is not putting his title on the line, he's focused on becoming a 4-time WWF Champion, but to do so he needs to get through Chris Benoit and three other superstars on SmackDown, one of which is his big brother, the Undertaker."
Benoit rolls into the ring and paces back and fourth as his theme dies down.
OOOOOOWHOOOOOO!
Dead Silent plays to a pop from the fans as smoke fills the stage, the lights dimming to a familiar sinister blood red and dark blue. Trish is standing on the stage in a dark robe, dressed in a black top that gave a great view of her cleavage, wore a black leather skirt that stopped mid-thigh, giving a great view of her long legs and wore a black cowgirl hat, before the Bladewolf walks out, the Intercontinental Championship around his waist, and stands in front of her, facing the ring with a dark glare on his face.
Trish takes the robe off, then walks around him, running a hand seductively across his shoulders as she walks forward to the ring while singing.
"He is time... famine, war... pestilence you cannot endure..." Trish gets in the ring and seductively rubs her body against the ropes as she continues while getting more frantic by the second. "the end is here... the end is here! Fall and Pray! Fall and Pray! Fall and PRAY!"
The lights flash blood red repeatedly as Trish falls to her knees and moves out the way as Bladewolf appears in the ring, unleashing a primal yell as he stands under the flashing red lights while the songs repeats the 'fall and pray' part.
Bladewolf beats his chest in sync with the drum part of the theme and the song slowly ends as Trish slides between Bladewolf's legs and poses on her knees in front of him while her back is pressed against his knees.
The lights go to normal and Trish gets to her feet as Bladewolf takes off his coat followed by his short-sleeved shirt to reveal his ring gear underneath. Bladewolf takes off the Intercontinental Championship, handing it to Trish, who gets out the ring to stand at ringside.
The referee then calls for the bell.
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
"Here we go." JR said just as Benoit rushes Bladewolf and tackles him into the corner, laying in some right hands. "And Benoit wasting little time here, he knows how dangerous Bladewolf is and can be when in control of the match. Benoit knows he needs to keep Bladewolf down and off balance as much as he can in order to win here tonight."
Benoit keeps up the assault with a series if roghts hands until Bladewolf knees Benoit in the stomach, causing the Rabid Wolverine to back off but is then floored with a clothesline by the Demon Wolf.
"Nice clothesline there by the Demon Wolf." JR complimented.
"Meh, Wolf vs Wolverine, JR." Jerry chuckled. "Like something out or a werewolf movie or something."
Benoit gets to a knee but Bladewolf was quick to grab Benoit's right arm and teist it, causing Benoit to yell in pain before Bladewolf drove his shoulder into the shoulder joint of Benoit, followed by a chop across Benoit's chest that echoed throuout the arena.
"What a chop." JR said.
Bladewolf lifts Benoit up by the arm and throws him to the mat, releasing him, then brings a leg down across Benoit's throat and hooks the leg.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thr-!"
Benoit kicks out at two.
"Kickout by Benoit." JR said.
"Benoit's not so easy to beat, JR." Jerry said. "He's the Rabid Wolverine for a reason! He's a former Intercontinental Champion!"
"And Bladewolf is a 2-time Intercontinental Champion with this being his second reign." JR reminded as Bladewolf locks in a headlock on Benoit. "Bladewolf has held the title for 127 days thus far. If he is still the Intercontinental Champion come the Royal Rumble, he will have held the title for 147 days."
"impressive, I must say." Jerry nodded.
Bladewolf brings a forearm down on Benoit's chest repeatedly befor ehe locks the headlock back in and takes Benoit down as Benoit tries to fight out of it but is unable to, his arms weakening, but Bladewolf then suddenly releases Benoit and lifts him to his feet, hooks the arm and hits a suplex.
"Nice suplex there." JR said.
Bladewolf gets to his feet, walks over to Benoit and pulls him to his feet again, shoving him into the corner where he unload with lefts and rights to the Rabid Wolverine but finishes with an uppercut that knocks Benoit down. Bladewolf pulls Benoit back to his feet and Irish whips him off the ropes, going for a right punch but Benoit ducks and halts himself on the ropes when Bladewolf goes for a big boot. Benoit runs straight into a clothesline by the Bladewolf.
"What do you think Bladewolf is thinking if he meets his brothers on SmackDown?" Jerry asked.
"I... doubt he'd care, King." JR said. "Bladewolf battled Kane on SmackDown several weeks back and beat his brother in a No Holds Barred match that took a lot out of all of them. But to see the Undertaker, Bladewolf and Kane fighting each other? It'll be hell on Earth if you ask me."
Bladewolf picks Benoit up when Benoit headbutts Bladewolf, throws several lefts and rights before he hits a swinging neckbreaker on the Demon Wolf. The two get to their feet and Benoit runs at Bladewolf only for Bladewolf to lift him onto his right shoulder
"Uh oh." JR said.
Benoit frees himself and shoves Bladewolf into the corner, causing him to stumble back, which allows Benoit to attempt a roll up pin.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thr-!"
Bladewolf kicks out at two.
Bladewolf gets to his feet but Benoit grabs him from behind and hits a German Suplex. Benoit gets to his feet and delivers some stomps to the chest of the Demon Wolf, then brings his elbow down on Bladewolf's chest several times. Benoit then starts going to the top turnbuckle, jumps off... AND HITS A DIVING HEADBUTT!
"Diving headbutt by Benoit!" JR exclaimed as Benoit hooks the leg. "Benoit with the cover!"
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thre-!"
Bladewolf kicks out again
"And a kickout by Bladewolf!" JR said. "Bladewolf is not so easy to beat. He's resilient, he's resistant, he will fight as hard as he can to gain victory and he will destroy anyone and anything that stands between him and what he wants, and what he wants is to be WWF Champion."
Benoit grabs Bladewolf... WHO SUDDENLY PULLS HIM INTO THE DEATHBITE CROSSFACE!
"Crossface! Crossface!" JR said. "Bladewolf's got the Deathbite Crossface locked in! Will Benoit tap out?!"
Benoit's arm raises as he seems to consider it but clenches his fist. Because of this, Bladewolf pulls back harder and yells for Benoit tot ap... AND BENOIT TAPS OUT! BENOIT TAPS OUT!
'Ding! Ding! Ding!'
Dead Silent plays as Bladewolf releases benoit and gets to a knee, looking down at Benoit with a glare as Trish slides into the ring, running her hands over Bladewolf's body as she did so. Bladewolf stands and pulls the straps of his wing attire down to his waist then kisses Trish before taking the Intercontinental Championship and raises it.
"King, Bladewolf will meet the Undertaker this Thursday on SmackDown." JR said. "Now we need to know if either the Rock or Kane will be joining them, or even Stone Cold Steve Austin."
Bladewolf leaves the ring with Trish and the couple head up the ramp and go backstage...
And that's it for the first RAW of 2001.