December 2 2002

Austin, Texas

The December 2, 2002, edition of Monday Night Raw began with the unmistakable opening riff of "The Game" by Motörhead, filling the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. As Triple H, dressed sharply in a tailored suit and flanked by the Nature Boy Ric Flair, made his way down the aisle, the crowd responded with a mix of cheers and boos, the audience split on their feelings toward The Cerebral Assassin.

At ringside, Jim Ross welcomed the viewers. "Welcome to Monday Night Raw! We're live from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas, and here comes a man who, frankly, has a lot to answer for after what happened last week on SmackDown!"

Jerry "The King" Lawler, a longtime admirer of Triple H, nodded with interest. "I was watching SmackDown! last week, JR. I couldn't believe it! But you know, Triple H always has a plan, and I'm sure he has a very good explanation for what he did to Zlatan Ibrahimović."

As Triple H and Flair entered the ring, the lights dimmed slightly, focusing the crowd's attention on the former World Heavyweight Champion. Triple H took a microphone, the intensity in his eyes evident as he glanced around at the Austin crowd, who continued to voice their mixed reactions.

Triple H started, his voice steady but laced with frustration. "Let me make something clear—last week on SmackDown!, what I did was no accident. That wasn't some spur-of-the-moment attack. It was a message. And if anyone's wondering why I decided to interfere in that Iron Man match, well, it all goes back to when Zlatan Ibrahimović decided to stick his nose in my business."

The crowd's reaction grew louder, a mix of boos and intrigue as Triple H continued.

"A few months ago, right here on Raw, Zlatan had just been traded to SmackDown!," he explained, his voice filled with irritation. "He was saying his goodbyes, but he couldn't resist throwing a look my way and giving me a little…warning." Triple H chuckled, though there was no humor in his tone. "He warned me—ME—that if I ever used a sledgehammer on him, like I did to Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam, I wouldn't like how it turned out. He thought he could threaten me."

The crowd's boos grew, but Triple H ignored them, pressing on.

"And then, at Survivor Series, right before I stepped into the Elimination Chamber to defend my World Heavyweight Championship, there he was again," Triple H continued, his voice dripping with disdain. "He just couldn't keep his nose out of my business, and that was his mistake. Because of that… because of him…I lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Shawn Michaels."

King nodded in agreement, adding, "I don't blame Triple H one bit, JR. He has every right to be angry. Zlatan kept pushing him!"

Jim Ross, ever the voice of reason, interjected, "Now hold on, King. Triple H narrowly retained his title that night, but it was Shawn Michaels who endured and won that match fair and square. Zlatan didn't interfere, and Triple H knows it."

Ignoring the boos from the crowd and JR's pointed commentary, Triple H resumed, his gaze growing colder. "But it's not just about that. You see, I don't like Zlatan Ibrahimović. He's an arrogant, disrespectful hotshot who thinks that just because he was a talented soccer player in Europe, he can come in here and make a name for himself."

The Austin crowd booed, clearly unimpressed with Triple H's harsh words, but he paid them no mind.

"He thinks he can walk into my business, look me in the eye, and act like he belongs. But he's in for a harsh reality check. I'm here to teach him a lesson he'll never forget. A lesson about respect, about knowing your place, and about learning that you don't mess with The Game."

Ric Flair stood beside him, nodding with approval as Triple H continued. "Now, while he's busy licking his wounds from last week, I'm back on my quest to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship. Because, in 17 days, at Armageddon, I'm taking back what's rightfully mine."

The crowd erupted into boos, but Triple H simply smirked, clearly unaffected.

King, leaning into the moment, exclaimed, "JR, this is what makes Triple H 'The Game!' He's not here to make friends—he's here to take back his title and prove that he's the best."

Jim Ross, however, remained skeptical. "Well, King, if Triple H thinks he can push around every new Superstar who challenges him, he's got another thing coming. Zlatan may be new to WWE, but he's proven he's got heart and skill. And something tells me this rivalry is far from over."

Triple H handed the microphone back to Flair, who laughed and held up four fingers in his signature gesture, signaling his support for the Game's path to reclaiming gold. As they left the ring, the WWE Universe was left with one clear message: Triple H had no intention of letting Zlatan's success in WWE go unchallenged, and he would stop at nothing to reclaim his throne

XXXX

The main event was at its peak in the Frank Erwin Center, as Rob Van Dam and Triple H battled it out to determine the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. The special guest referee,Shawn Michaels, had been calling the match right down the middle, maintaining control despite the intensity between RVD and The Game. Ric Flair was notably absent from ringside, having been dismissed by Michaels earlier in the night, adding to the tension as Triple H and RVD fought with everything they had.

The turning point came when Triple H whipped RVD into the corner with force. RVD, always athletic, caught himself, hopping onto the second turnbuckle and launching into acrossbody. But The Game ducked, causing RVD to crash into Michaels, who was standing just behind Triple H. The impact sent Michaels sprawling to the mat, leaving him temporarily incapacitated. Sensing an opportunity, Triple H capitalized by planting RVD with a DDT, which left Van Dam reeling.

Jim Ross, calling the action, exclaimed, "The Heartbreak Kid is down, and Triple H sees an opening! This could be his moment!"

King added, "And with HBK out of the picture, The Game has free rein!"

Seeing Michaels down, Triple H's instinct kicked in as he slid outside the ring and searched under the apron, pulling out his infamous sledgehammer. As he re-entered the ring, he took measured steps, the weapon in hand, ready to strike a vulnerable RVD who had no idea of the impending danger.

Just as Triple H raised the sledgehammer, the arena erupted in cheers as a figure jumped over the barricade—it was Zlatan Ibrahimović! Clad in street clothes, his face etched with anger, Zlatan charged into the ring, sliding under the bottom rope. Jim Ross spotted him first.

"Wait a minute! Zlatan Ibrahimovic! The Lion of Rosengård is here!" JR shouted.

King, shocked, exclaimed, "What the—?! What is he doing here?!"

In an instant, Zlatan tackled Triple H to the mat, landing heavy right hands on The Game, each punch driven by the desire for revenge after Triple H had cost him his WWE title shot the previous week on SmackDown. The crowd was electric as Zlatan unloaded on Triple H, the WWE Universe rallying behind the Lion of Rosengård as he sought to make The Game pay.

Jim Ross called the action, "Zlatan is unloading on Triple H! This is pure revenge—Triple H has unleashed the lion!"

As Triple H struggled, a new threat emerged in the form of Ric Flair, who came charging down the ramp, desperate to help his protégé. Zlatan noticed Flair's arrival and, with purpose, waited for the Nature Boy to enter the ring. As Flair attempted to intervene, Zlatan charged, catching Flair with a spine-rattling spinebuster, executed in the style of Arn Anderson, Flair's longtime friend and ally. The impact sent Flair rolling out of the ring, clutching his back.

With Flair neutralized, Zlatan turned his attention back to Triple H, who was struggling to get up after the assault. The Game, groggy and disoriented, slowly rose to his feet, only to find himself in Zlatan's line of sight. Zlatan crouched in the corner, measuring his target, and as Triple H turned around, Zlatan unleashed his devastating Lion's Roarsuperkick, connecting squarely with Triple H's jaw.

Jim Ross was ecstatic. "The Lion's Roar! It connects! Zlatan just took Triple H's head off!"

King groaned, "Oh no! The Game didn't see it coming!"

To add insult to injury, Zlatan stood over the fallen Triple H and executed a DX chop, mocking The Game in a direct reference to Triple H's legendary faction. The fans went wild as Zlatan soaked in the moment, a fitting payback for the man who had robbed him of his opportunity.

With a quick glance to his friend, RVD, who was stirring on the mat, Zlatan encouraged him to get up, urging him to finish the match. As RVD regained his senses, Zlatan slipped out of the ring, leaving the scene of chaos he had just created. Triple H lay motionless on the mat from the Lion's Roar, and Ric Flair was still recovering outside the ring, leaving RVD with an open opportunity.

Jim Ross summarized the moment. "Zlatan Ibrahimović just turned the tables on The Game! And now it's RVD's time to capitalize!"

King, still in disbelief, added, "This wasn't supposed to happen! Zlatan had no business being here!"

With Zlatan Ibrahimović's intervention setting the stage, Rob Van Dam seized the opportunity, motivated by his friend's encouragement. Rising to his feet, RVD looked over at Zlatan, who nodded in support, urging him to finish the job. Without hesitation, RVD headed to the corner, climbing to the top rope with the energy of the crowd behind him.

Jim Ross, recognizing the moment, called out, "RVD's going to the top! He's setting up for the Five-Star Frog Splash!"

RVD measured his downed opponent, Triple H, lying motionless from the Lion's Roar and the brutal spinebuster. With precision, RVD leapt off the top rope, executing his signature Five-Star Frog Splash, crashing down onto The Game. The crowd erupted as RVD hooked Triple H's leg for the pin.

Just then, Shawn Michaels, who had just regained his bearings, crawled over to make the count.

1… 2… 3!

The bell rang, signaling RVD's victory, and the arena erupted with cheers as Lilian Garcia made the announcement. "Here is your winner, Rob Van Dam!"

Jim Ross, filled with excitement, shouted, "It's official! Rob Van Dam is heading to Armageddon to face Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship!"

King, still in shock, shook his head in disbelief. "What just happened? How could this be? RVD just… just stole this win!"

Ignoring King's outrage, JR continued, "Well, maybe it's poetic justice, King. Zlatan Ibrahimović just gave Triple H a taste of his own medicine, just like The Game cost him his WWE title shot last week on SmackDown!."

As the realization began to set in, Triple H, still groggy, pushed himself up, his mind slowly processing what had just unfolded. His gaze fell on Zlatan at ringside, who stood with a mischievous grin, waving mockingly at him. The smug greeting was like a slap in the face, and Triple H's expression twisted with fury. The Game exploded, kicking the ropes and grabbing the top turnbuckle as he ranted at Zlatan, his voice dripping with venom.

"You're a dead man, Zlatan!" he roared. "You hear me? This isn't over! You just signed your death warrant! You have no idea who you're messing with!"

King, in disbelief, looked at JR, who was remarkably calm. "How can you be okay with this, JR? Triple H got robbed!"

But JR, unfazed, replied with a smirk, "The Lion of Rosengård has retaliated and cost Triple H his shot at the World Heavyweight Title. Just like Triple H cost Zlatan his chance at the WWE title in Columbia. Turnabout's fair play."

Ignoring the taunts, Zlatan smiled as he slowly backed away through the crowd, clearly relishing The Game's meltdown. He exchanged high-fives with fans as he made his way back up the stairs, leaving the enraged Triple H to stew in his defeat.

JR concluded, "The Lion of Rosengård has spoken loud and clear, and if tonight is any sign, Triple H just got a warning shot. There's a new force in WWE, and his name is Zlatan Ibrahimović."

King, still in disbelief, muttered, "This isn't over, JR. Not by a long shot."

As RAW went off the air, Triple H's face was a mask of rage, his gaze fixed on the crowd where Zlatan had vanished, knowing full well that the Lion of Rosengård had just set the stage for a personal war he wouldn't soon forget.