Monday Night Raw April 15, 2001

Live from Knoxville, TN

Opening Promo Time with Mr. McMahon

• Tonight, two title matches, Edge and Christian defend the Tag Team Titles against Too Cool.
• Chris Jericho will defend the Intercontinental Title against Kurt Angle.
• McMahon says an apology is in order for what happened on Smackdown Thursday Night. If the Hardys wish to apologize to Mr. McMahon and Steve Austin they can retain their WWE Contract and Tag Team Title Shot. They have until the end of the night.
• The Hardys music starts. They don’t need that long. They can make their decision now.
• McMahon reminds them of the 18 month clause in their contract and that they cannot work for WCW.
• The Hardys discuss amongst themselves. McMahon goes into the corner and starts jawjacking with fans at ringside. The Hardys hit the Leap of Faith.Austins music hits and The Hardys leave through the crowd.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, Vince McMahon is promising Steve Austin we will never see the Hardys in a WWF ring again.

WWF Tag Team Titles- Too Cool vs. Edge and Christian (c)

• 5 minute match with lots of high spots.
• After it breaks down, Scotty hits a crossbody on Edge and they both tumble over the top. Sexay hits a crossbody but Edge rolls through and hooks the tights for a 3 count.

In the back, Lita is confronted by Vince McMahon. The Hardys are long gone. Tonight Lita will face Stone Cold Steve Austin once again. Only this time if Lita loses, she’s fired also.

COMMERCIAL

Shane McMahon arrives in a limo.

Albert vs. Spike Dudley

• Spike requested this match so he could get Albert face-to-face.
• The other two members of X-Factor accompany Albert to the ring.
• X-Factor sets up a table ringside as they expect to put another Dudley through a table tonight.
• 4 minutes in Bubba and D-Von hit ringside and brawl with Pac and Credible. Justin Credible is 3-D’d through a table.
• Albert is distracted and Spike is able to roll him up for the win.

Shane McMahon is shown in the back talking to The Big Show.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, Rhyno tells William Regal he wants a shot at the Hardcore Title tonight. He gets it. Kurt Angle comes in. Regal wants to make sure that Angle will give him the first shot at the IC Title if he wins it tonight. Angle agrees as long as Regal guarantees Shane won’t interfere. Regal says he doesn’t think that will be an issue.

Elsewhere in the back, Austin and McMahon mockingly prep for the main event in a hallway. They’re making jokes about the match and laughing. Suddenly the Hardys strike from behind. The take out both men and flee.

COMMERCIAL

Triple H and Stephanie are shown sitting in the back watching the show on the monitor.

WWF Hardcore Title- Rhyno vs. Kane (c)

• Kane dominates a garbage match but can’t put Rhyno away.
• 3 minutes in Kane hits a big boot on the outside and signals for a chokeslam. Eddie Guerrero runs in and puts a potato sack over Kane’s head. He suffocates him for several moments until Kane falls to a knee. Several officials finally manage to get Eddie off.
• Kane is visibly disoriented. GORE by Rhyno gets the 3 count.
• Winner and NEW WWF Hardcore Champion: Rhyno

COMMERCIAL

In the back, Shane McMahon is shown laid out. Triple H and Stephanie see it on the monitor and go to check on him. Shane is loaded in an ambulance and Stephanie decides to ride with him. Triple H says he’ll follow in his car.

Intercontinental Title Match: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho (c)

• Angle is all smiles walking to the ring.
• 8 minute match.
• Regal makes his way down the aisle.
• Jericho blocks several attempts at the ankle lock.
• Jericho hits a lionsault and Regal hits the ring for the 2-on-1.
• Benoit runs in for the save. They chase off the heels.
• Raven comes on the TitanTron and says he has a simple question for Benoit. If Benoit were in trouble, would Jericho be so quick to help him?

Regal gets on the mic and demands a tag team match right now.

Kurt Angle & William Regal vs. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit

• 5 minute ECW style tag match as the rules never really apply.
• Jericho pins Regal with a small package.
• Regal attacks after the bell and he and Jericho fight towards the back.
• Raven comes through the crowd and jumps Benoit. Raven and Angle double-team Benoit. There is no save.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, The Undertaker is in his locker room when Vince McMahon comes in and tells Undertaker he’s got the night off. Taker says he thinks he’ll just stick around. Vince says that’s fine but if he interferes in the Main Event he will be fired. Undertaker says before Vince does anything stupid maybe he should check the fine print in The Dead Man’s contract. See he signed it a long time before the Monday Night Wars, so he doesn’t have the no compete clause. Vince hesitates and says fine, Undertaker can stick around, but he might regret it.

Non-Title Match: Dean Malenko vs. Test

• 6 minute match.
• Test beats Malenko clean with the Flying Elbow.
• After the match, Saturn hits the ring and slaps Test in the Rings of Saturn.

In the back, Vince McMahon reviews the security tapes and discovers who it was that took out Shane McMahon earlier.

Elsewhere in the back, The Hardys are being escorted out of the building by security.

COMMERCIAL

Promo Time with Vince McMahon

• Vince says he has somebody to thank.
• Somebody we should all thank for doing what is right for the WWF. For eliminating a nuisance from our presence this evening. His son.
• Vince shows the security footage of The Big Show taking out Shane earlier and invites Show to the ring.
• Show comes out.
• As a reward for his loyalty The Big Show will be in the main event of Smackdown this Thursday. He will team with Stone Cold Steve Austin to face The Undertaker and Triple H. Additionally, Show has the chance to right a WrestleMania wrong. He will face Rhyno for the Hardcore Title at Backlash.
• Show thanks Vince for the opportunities.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, The Undertaker responds to a summons by William Regal. Once in the office, The Big Show comes out of a closet and attacks Taker, chokeslamming hiim through Regal’s table.

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Lita

• We are reminded that The Hardys, Undertaker and Triple H have been removed from the picture.
• Austin toys with Lita again, putting her in a headlock and an armbar.
• Lita fights back with a spin kick and a twist of fate. Lita misses a moonsault.
• Stone Cold Stunner finishes it. Lita is fired.
• Austin’s not done. He sets up for another one.
• “Ît’s Time to Play the Game”
• Hunter hits the ring and goes toe to toe with Austin.
• Vince McMahon comes to the rampway and waves out the troops.
• Big Show, William Regal and Kurt Angle all hit the ring and work over Hunter.
• Bong!
• Taker makes his way to the ring.

Fade to black…