The Opening Video Package/Mick Foley Resigns
The video package that kicked off the show was almost like a PPV intro, explaining the events over the past month, all that led to this moment with “The End Is Here”, famously the theme used for the future Armageedon PPVs. This transitioned into Foley and McMahon going back and forth, leading to Foley resigning from his Commissioner role. Foley mentioned naming the chairs after him and Vince had a great line about the “Dude Love Toilet”. I have no real context about what led up to this. Only that they hated each other for about a year. But it was short and got a laugh out of me. Neat start to RAW.
Vince McMahon
I think this is a famous RAW long storyline so I don’t need to explain that Vince thanks Kurt Angle (deservedly so, by the way) and not The Rock, who also deserves credit and wants everyone to kiss his ass or they’ll be fired. This is the start of many. Heyman was up first, and he played it wonderfully. He came down all smiles, acting like a kiss ass, claiming that he got away with it, only to have the rug pulled from out under him. Heyman going for a cheap shot at JR was absolutely gold. Then came the return of the King, Jerry Lawler.
I’ll say one thing though. This was the perfect chance to turn Vince and the idea of an authority figure face and he immediately goes heel. So tiresome. He’s a perfect arsehole boss but the gimmick is old.
WWF World Women's Title Match: Trish Stratus (c) vs. Lita (w/Matt Hardy)
Oh look, it’s two of the greatest women wrestlers ever. And they are feuding over Trish and Matt Hardy potentially having an affair. Brilliant. And immedately, they fuck up an arm wringer spot. I know that no one points to this era for their work and they would make strides later but I will laugh anyway. Trish to her credit leans into Lita’s strikes to make them look better so the instincts are there. Lita got pushed off the top turnbuckle to the outside, leading to Matt Hardy to hug her and Trish nailed them with a basement drop kick, as she should’ve but that was the transition into a real poor finish where Matt picked Lita up and put her into the ring, right into a backslide for the three. Come on. *
Vince Confronts The WCW Champions (And Test)
Decent segment but the vibe is backwards for me. Oddly, they all come off like the faces despite being ex-Alliance Members. And only Van Dam would become one in the coming weeks. Vince puts them in title matches against each other (RVD against the Dudleys in a tables match), Test just mentions that he has immunity, which is for the best, and Christian attempts to smooth talk Vince who brushes him off.
Two On One Handicap Table Match: Rob Van Dam vs. The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley) (w/Stacy Keibler)
The teams are forced to fight but since their alignments are no longer in line, the Dudlesy forget the past very weekly. The Dudleys attack quickly but RVD uses his speed to fight back. D-Von caught him with a nasty neckbreaker off the second rope and the tables came into play. They run back some cool ECW spots, including the spinning heel kick into the chair spot. Van Dam then hits a lovely Five Star Frog splash to the table, but D-Von moves, leaving RVD vulnerable to the 3-D. Embarrassingly, the table didn’t break on the first attempt but the second did it. Fine TV Match to re-establish RVD as a face.
Kurt Angle Wants Respect
Here’s another example of backwards booking: Kurt Angle shows up and acts like a total prick to a backstage runner when he showed over the fall that he’s ready to be a face. He then goes to The Rock and demands congratulations. The Rock responds in an amusing but robotic way. He does it well but he kind of just recaps what Angle’s role was in the dying days of the alliance. He is unhappy about Kurt attacking him in that period and challenges him to a match. Kurt accepts, for fun. The strongest aspect of the segment was The Rock saying that he doesn’t trust Kurt Angle and calls him an asshole. Kurt Angle confronts Edge later in the show, who iterates something similar but Kurt Angle’s response is gold.
More Vince
I can buy many things but a pet peeve of mine is people arriving in the middle of the show. Kurt Angle did it and so did Shane and Stephanie McMahon. We all know that everyone has to be there hours early in the day so it’s a tough pill to swallow. That aside, this follows the segment earlier. Shane apologies and says the better man won and walked away. Stepahnie goes the opposite direction and says Shane convinced her to do it, calling herself naive. Neat content but her shrill voice is unbearable. Vince does the biggest face thing he could do and kicks Stephanie out of the ring. Important plot point but it wasn’t a great one.
Vince confronts Jericho on his actions at the Survivor Series, who blames it on ego. Vince puts him against Kane. No, please no. Anything but that!
World Heavyweight Title Match: The Rock (c) vs. Kurt Angle
This is a fairly typical television between two main eventers. It’s done with a quick pace, tons of punches and a lot of short cutting. The match came to a stop after the Rock hit a belly to back suplex off the ropes before laying the smackdown on Angle and hitting his bad (good) belly to belly suplex. Angle then no-sold a DDT Rock to regain control, which only served to transition into the closing stretch. Angle slips out of a Rock Bottom attempt and hits an Angle Slam. He then locks on the Ankle Lock but the Rock rolls through to score the three and Angle is pissed. Jericho then came down and attacked the Rock. A lame finish to a forgettable match. Angle locks on the Ankle Lock and Jericho does the Walls of Jericho. Jericho doesn’t get much heat when Angle leaves though. Disappointing as a whole package. **
The Lord Kisses Ass
Another famous segment. Infamous? It’s a bit uncomfortable though. Regal takes it like a champion but this is too much Vince. So many indulgent segments. Tazz is unimpressed.
Kane vs. Chris Jericho
Another fast paced Television match with punches and short cutting. Jericho attempts a lionsault but Kane blocked it with a choke to the throat, but the spot goes nowhere. Jericho then randomly gets a chair to set up a DQ finish to not much heat once again. Jericho struggles to set up a Wall Of Jericho (twice) and gets laughs. This is the next champion, folks. *
Tazz vs. William Regal
Regal is pissed after the earlier incident and took it out on Tazz afterwards which brought up THIS. All the matches have been short tonight but this is the one that had something to it. It didn’t last a minute though - Regal tapped Tazz out with the Regal Stretch.
Kurt Angle Finally Gets Appreciation???
Vince McMahon finds Kurt moping backstage so he brings him out to the ring in order to get the thanks that he deserves. Vince McMahon plans to strip Stone Cold of the WWF Championship and award it to Kurt Angle but wait a second….Ric Flair makes his return to the WWF. He reveals that he bought the shares that Shane and Stephanie sold to fund the Alliance which makes sense in a business world. Where would they get the money? Flair cuts a fine promo explaining how he became co-owner. He does all the manic beats and pops the North Carolina crowd. Then came down Austin who’s back as a face and blasts Angle with a clothesline. Finally, his heel run (which isn’t exactly a flop in terms of buys and match quality but more perception and long term effect) is over. Austin and Flair face off and Austin retakes the title belt.
Overall
This was a watchable RAW. An important RAW to transition from the Invasion to what is next. The matches weren’t good unfortunately but I thought that the segments were decent enough to progress things. And while the booking was (again) backwards, it did that well enough. However there are some clear missteps taken already. One of their top heels, Jericho, is cold as hell and Vince McMahon reverts back to his old gimmick that’s long overstayed its welcome. Kurt Angle is a riot though. Amazing television presence. Austin is back as a face and The Rock is around as well. Plus add in Rob Van Dam, and you got a select of good babyfaces on the roster. Knowing what direction the WWF goes in makes it hard to think positive though. Angle should’ve taken Jericho’s place as the next champion, that’s the one takeaway that I had from this RAW.
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