*** Official Raw Thread - 28th February 2005 ***

[Kam]

Preview:

 

Road to WrestleMania

Feb. 28, 2005

 

When we last saw Triple H, he had just been driven through a table with a Batista Bomb. Now that The Cerebral Assassin knows he'll be facing Evolution's Animal at WrestleMania, what will he do? And is it possible for Batista to top the impact he had last week on RAW? Tune in on Monday night to find out.

 

The hatred between Edge and Shawn Michaels can't seem to be contained to the wrestling ring, so on Monday Night RAW, they'll square off in a Street Fight Match. Edge's frustration and fury have boiled over, while HBK won't stand for any more backstage sneak attacks. They'll try to settle the score in a lawless environment on Monday.

 

Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari left Chris Benoit beaten and lying in the ring last week. But it won't be two-on-one with The Crippler gets his hands on Hassan this week on RAW. Will the young newcomer be able to take the action to the 18-year veteran, and will either man be able to lock in his signature submission?

[WWE]

I can't wait to see RAW this week

 

The Street Fight sounds good, like a hardcore backstage match

 

I think Muhammad Hassan vs. Chris Benoit will be a good match, I think Muhammad Hassan will win because it will be Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho vs. Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari at WrestleMania XXI I think...

 

I can't wait to see what will happen between Triple H and Batista too!

[Jonny]

is it me or RAW isnt the same anymore, in the attitude days aka RAW IS WAR, used to unvail more of the main story for e.g austin and vince, alot would happen in one night, now hardly anything happends, just got to wait till the very end, grrrrrr.... i like it still though :P

[WWE]

I like the "can't wait to see what happens" thing jonny :P

 

e.g. Batista contract signing and the Theodore R. Long GM segmant both from last week.

 

Ah yes, RAW is on tonight. *#1 WWE Fan can't wait* :D :P

[horsemansmiler]

I think raw still has some surprise points but not as many as old school raw. Man i also cant wait for raw i just hope to god benoit dosnty get drowned under the pathetic wave of crapness that is hussan. and i also hope its the last edge hbk match and they go out with a bang in the street fight. oh yeah theres also the small batista thing lol

[MARTIN316V1]

Cant wait for Raw tonight.

 

I am really looking forward seeing the fall out from the HHH-Batista angle. It will be interesting to see what they do next. They should build Batista up as a monster right into Mania, i just hope he doesnt get beat down after beat down every week.

 

Street fight should be interesting also. Im expecting an appearance from Angle in this one, to help build the fued with Shawn into Mania.

 

Hopefully Hassan defeates Benoit tonight, because a Benoit win would make no sense at all.

 

Looking forward to the show.

[MartynJ]

Ill be staying up to watch it tonight, hopefully we'll see some decent heels to lead us up to some good feuds for mania. ill go downstairs for something to eat when that hassan match is on ,(he bores me with all his crap, only my opinon though).And i want to see if theres gonna be any devopment with the (rumoured only) orton v taker feud, but theres not long to go now till it starts, im just glad ive no work for the week

[MARTIN316V1]

The screw up in the Benoit-Hassan match was pretty bad. I think the end was suppose to have been that spot when Hassan got the ring bell up into Benoit's face, but he missed by mile and i think Benoit knew it so he kicked out. Even the improvised finish was poor, ending with a silly looking low blow. JR even sold the fact that Hassan hit Benoit with the ring bell even though Hassan didnt even make an effort to move it! Rubbish Match.

 

Shelton Benjamin needs some sort of new gimmick, he's about as stale as the Dudleyz usually get, and i think thats saying something! Ever since winning the IC title, he has had no direction at all. He needs another serious contender for the IC title or a heel turn to spark him up because as of now he bores me to tears! I really wanted Snitsky to win the IC title, oh well.

 

Mania is going to be awesome! 2 MASSIVE annoucements and mark out moments. First Hogan gets inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and just as you think nothing could beat that, Austin will be at WrestleMania on Pipers Pit! Brilliant, well done WWE :xyx

 

And it also looks as if all this talk about Rock's contract being up, was not as big as people were making it out to be. Seeing as they showed him on Raw, he will still be under contract to WWE, so possibly a Mania match for Rock? I hope so, I would love for it to be the Rock N Sock Connection vs Edge and Christian at Mania.

 

Not a bad interview from Dave considering it's pretty much his first real face interview. Strange segment though, I thought HHH would have had something up his sleeve, but he just wimped out (which put Batista over more). Also there's nothing better than watching good old Ric Flair getting beat up. A couple of more powerbombs would have been nice though :P

 

I was thinking Jericho was going to name an elimination chamber match for Mania, because he said something like 6 superstars will face off. Glad it's a ladder match though, havent seen a good ladder match in quite sometime so it sounds good. I wonder who the other 5 superstars will be? My money's on Benoit, Edge, Christian (Kane & Snitsky OR Shelton & Hassan). I would personally put Kane and Snitsky in there, and have Hassan vs Benjamin for the IC title.

 

Another brilliant WrestleMania 21 video.

 

Was i the only one thinking nWo when Trish had that spray paint? Anyway, I guess it's Trish vs Christy at Mania now then.

 

Nice little segment to kick the Undertaker-Orton fued off. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the fued will take place. How will Orton turn heel? Will he join SD? Will Orton be the one to end Taker's unbeaten Mania streak? I cant wait for the rest of this build up.

 

Edge and Shawn just looked ridiculous wearing that stupid ring attire. Edge looked as if he just came of a building site, and Shawn looked as if he just got back from a hard days work of plumbing! The match was pretty good, although i would have prefered Angle to run in during the match and cost HBK, but it was still pretty well done.

 

Although this weeks Raw didn't have much in the way of decent matches, with the exception of the main event which was ok. I thought Raw was pretty good. The announcements of Hogan, Piper & Austin have made my night. As did the start of the Orton vs. Taker fued, and the comformation of Angle vs. Michaels.

 

With 34 days left until Wrestlemania 21, WWE have started this building process toward the PPV excellently. Let's hope we get another 5 weeks + of exciting television each week now.

Edited March 1, 2005 by MARTIN316V1

[The Beltster]

All that matters, for me, is the House that Hogan built finally welcomes back the owner and inducts the man who deserves it more than anybody, into the HOF.

 

I cant wait for the HOF DVD to be released this year. I'm sure Hogan will do something on the WM card too. WrestleMania without Hulk Hogan is like a Kingdom without a King.

 

As for Rock, his contract ended on 31 December, 2004, he has said it himself, but there is no way they wouldnt have him at a WM. He will be there in same capacity, I'm sure.

 

I'm just hoping we get Hogan vs Austin, finally. Yeah they are old and broken down, but who gives a toss, its WM and its more about memories than great in-ring action.

Edited March 1, 2005 by The Beltster

[Anime Otaku]

good to hear trish giving christy another slapping but a wm match? please no i'd rather have a Trish vs Victoria match with Christy as a special ref if they have to put them in a match together. preferably with Trish missing Victoria giving Christy a chick kick then getting the widows peak, getting pinned, but no ref then when christy is just coming around she rolls up Victoria for a somewhat cheap win and hopefully getting away from the fluff and into a GOOD fued with Victoria.

was the Spray paint thing pure NWO or did they do something a differrent just that the sprary can was a bit of a reminder

[Simon]

Excuse me... jobber matches on Raw? For ****s sake.

 

Loving the Piper's pit announcement though.

[Anime Otaku]

what jobber match?

[Simon]

Chris Masters v Jobber... or sorry, as the WWE put it "Providence local wrestler".

 

Bleh. OVW. OVW. OVW.

[Dead Crow]

Didn't know about the Pipers Pit announcement, but that'll make my Wrestlemania now. Screw everything else. I love Piper, and Austin always gives a great interview. Excellence.

 

The rest ranges from decent to bad, but they're trying I guess. Just seems like they're throwing everyone into anything, for the sake of them being there. For Backlash, fair enough. For Mania, I don't like that idea.

[Jung]

I hope to God we don't get Austin v Hogan. There's no point to it, it would overshadow everything else, and it would be a horrible match. Would be a waste of time. When both were healthy and active, sure it would have been a dream match, but now? for no reason? Definitly not.

 

I'd like Hogan to do something, heck have him be like a second, to an American guy to face Hassan, and then he can interfere or whatever do the legdrop, and get the big pop and help elevate the guy who faces Hassan, by giving him the Hogan rub.

 

Just keep him out the ring match wise, and definitly not with Austin, cause it serves no purpose. Its 2005, not 1985, and Hogan, like Flair, shouldn't be wrestling.

[The Beltster]

Maybe Hogan would second Batista, while Flair is with Criple H, and then Hogan and Flair could get upto their crazy hyjinx outside the ring, anything to improve the match that Batista and HHH will have, because lets all be honest, Batista vs HHH for 20 minutes + will suck balls.

[horsemansmiler]

i dont think either hogan or austin will wrestle im thinking maybe piper may get a stunner if he goes heel in the pit. Its shaping up to be an amazing wrestlemania. it was a great raw but my god dam tape messed up so i got dam jetsking from sky sports one

[Jung]

Hogan and Flair with Batista v HHH would be very very bad, cause it would take the entire focus of the match, the feud, and make it worthless. They'd be overshadowed, thus it simply would be disasterous. Anything Hogan does, will have to be on the undercard.

[The Beltster]

Hogan and Flair with Batista v HHH would be very very bad' date=' cause it would take the entire focus of the match, the feud, and make it worthless. They'd be overshadowed, thus it simply would be disasterous. Anything Hogan does, will have to be on the undercard.[/quote']

 

Anything Hogan does, whether its undercard or main event, will overshadow pretty much anything else on the card. Thats why Hogan could never be a manager like Flair is, cos he would overshadow any guy he managed.

[Jung]

I think with time, he wouldn't overshadow. Cause I mean the only reason Flair doesn't, is cause he's tarnished his legacy so much, being in stupid matches and stupid skits (heck even remember him jobbing to Maven?) thus if Hogan did the same, I imagine he'd be in the same situation as Flair. But Hogan's too smart for that, thus it wouldn't happen.

 

Plus I'm pretty sure whatever ever Hogan does (apart from if he appears in the main event) it won't be the most memorable event. He won't overshadow everyone. I mean he didn't in the dying days of WCW from 99 to 2001, and while his appearance will be a big part of the show, it won't overshadow Batista v HHH. Hogan is a legend, but he is the past, not the future. If it's a one shot thing (which personally I hope for, because I can't see him sticking around to put people over, which is all he's good for now) then he won't overshadow the main guys.

[Simon]

I agree with Jung but for different reasons...

 

I hated seeing Hogan jobbing to everybody last time around and was absolutely raging when he tapped out to Angle, so I hope he doesn't stay around and just leaves his legacy where it is, on a good note.

[hbk fan]

Liked Raw this week, great to see Pipers pit with Stone Cold at wm. I enjoyed the Street Fight match, that was the best match by far. It looks like it'll definately be orton v Undertaker at mania now.

I wonder whether HBK will show up at Smackdown after Angle's appearance last night.

[Chris2K]

Some Chris2K RAW Quicknotes:

 

HHH opening promos bore me.

 

HHH squashing Hurricane pisses me off.

 

Hogan deserves the HoF, no argument there. Hogan however should NOT be involved in WM21, just leave him where he is.

 

Benoit vs. Hassan WASN'T a crap match. Everything up to the ringbell spot was very good, and obviously that didn't go down as planned, but kudos for them finding something to finish with. At least the initial idea of using the ringbell to counter the headbutt is innovative.

 

Snitsky can't wrestle. Lillian needs to learn he's forgotten his first name.

 

Chris Masters still sucks. Stevie looked TERRIBLE in the WWE.com exclusive, hope he gets better soon.

 

Batista can cut promos. AND he's learned how to do a CHEAP POP~!

 

I lost concentration during Y2J/Maven, but Jericho's match announcement sounds awesome.

 

JBL and Cena's WM21 ad was superb. JBL really could be a great actor if he wanted to be.

 

The Christy/Trish thing is still pointless. And I too wanted her to write "4 Life" after the "Slut".

 

Edge vs. Michaels was a HELL of a match, probably my favourite this year thus far. They just beat the hell out each other. And why should it matter what they were wearing? Their job's to wrestle, not be fashion models.

 

Angle's after-match attack makes sense, as HBK would have been less able to put up a fight. And man, HBK really bladed this time, shades of Survivor Series 2003.

 

I enjoyed the show, very entertaining throughout except for the few filler pieces of crap.

[RAW_Diva]

Edge vs. Michaels was a HELL of a match, probably my favourite this year thus far. They just beat the hell out each other. And why should it matter what they were wearing? Their job's to wrestle, not be fashion models.

 

Angle's after-match attack makes sense, as HBK would have been less able to put up a fight. And man, HBK really bladed this time, shades of Survivor Series 2003.

My sentiments exactly! Oh man was I pissed off when I was watching my tape back and Sky Sports cut out (temporary fault...wtf?!)...I was screaming at the telly...then I remembered I can actually fast forward a tape...oops! Still annoyed me though.

 

Anyway...as a girl, and a big HBK and Edge fan (obviously for more reasons than purely their wrestling talents) I thought the pair of them looked very sexy in their street fight attire - I know that's not really the point but hey...they gotta please us ladies sometimes.

Loved the whole match, it was ace! Was the only one so far in 2005 that has had me wincing and screaming but unable to look away...fabulous work!

 

Very much looking forward to WM now...thought I'd died and gone to heaven with the Austin announcement...that has made my year!

[Steamboat]

I really enjoyed Raw this week. Lots of exciting stuff happening. My bro also noticed the swift ending to the Benoit match. Delighted with Hogans inclusion in the hall of fame. It has been a long time coming. Great match between Michaels and Edge. Amazing blade job by HBK. Lots of great build up for Wrestlemania. Austin and Piper together should be intense!