Raw is War: May 14, 2001

Live from Cincinnati, OH

Opening Promo Time with Stone Cold Steve Austin

• Austin is bandaged up and pissed off about Hunter putting him through the window.
• Triple H isn’t going to make it to Judgment Day. Albert damn near finished the job last week and he is sure that somebody will finish the job tonight.
• ” Time to Play the Game” Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley makes her way out. She hasn’t exercised her power in a while, but she’s going to do so right now. First of all anybody who attacks Hunter outside of the ring, will be suspended. Secondly, the Heavyweight Title Match at Judgment Day will be an I Quit Match.
• “No Chance in Hell” Vince McMahon makes his way out. That’s very cute Stephanie. Another example of the problem right now in the WWF. WWF has been a mess since his children and wife got involved. At Judgment Day he will take the first step towards righting that. Afterwards, he may have to take care of his daughter as well.
• As for the stipulation at Judgment Day. He and Austin have no problem with a submission match. But how about we make this more interesting. Steph in Hunter’s corner, Vince in Austin’s. Each with a towel. Let’s see who pulls the trigger first. Steph accepts.
• Austin wants to know what the hell just happened. Vince assures him it will be fine.

Kurt Angle is in William Regal’s office and wants to know why he was booked to wrestle Rikishi. Regal tells him it was Vince’s decision. Rikishi saved Triple Haitch last week and it is Kurt’s responsibility to make him regret it.

COMMERCIAL

Kurt Angle vs. Rikishi

• 4 minute match
• Angle looks to have the upper hand until the ref gets bumped.
• Hardys enter the ring. Matt gets a twist of fate on Angle. Jeff revives the ref.
• Rikishi hits Angle with a leg drop and gets the pin.
• Regal makes his way out and a fight is on. Hardys and Kish get the better of Regal and Angle.

In the back, Crash is with Molly Holly. He tells her that tonight he is going for the Hardcore Title for the last time.

In the back, Dean Malenko wants to know why Perry Saturn was teaming with the Hardys last week. Saturn tells him it was about getting a shot at Rhyno. Rhyno was right the WWF has made hardcore a joke. At Judgment Day he and Rhyno will take the WWF Hardcore division to the extreme.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, The Undertaker has arrived.

WWF Light Heavyweight Title: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Matt Hardy

• 5 minute match
• Physical match, dominated by Dean
• Matt makes the comeback and hits his spots
• Matt goes for the twist of fate. Dean pushes off and catches him with a knee to the face coming off the ropes.
• Texas Cloverleaf finishes it.

Backstage, Austin is talking to Vince when Triple H comes crashing into the room. The fight is on. Vince gets in some cheap shots. They fight into the hall until security breaks it up.

COMMERCIAL

WWF Hardcore Title: Rhyno (c) vs. Crash Holly

• It is reiterated that this is Crash’s last shot at the Hardcore Title.
• 4 minute match
• Rhyno dominates early, but Crash comes back with weapon shots to get several near falls.
• Perry Saturn makes his way out. He hits Crash with a T-Bone suplex.
• Rhyno and Saturn stare down. Crash gets up and Rhyno hits him with a Gore for the pin.
• Saturn backs up the ramp still staring.

In the back, Mick Foley is in the building.

COMMERCIAL

Edge vs. Chris Jericho

• 8 minute match
• Very good back and forth match featuring the wrestlers normal spots
• Christian attempts to interfere and Benoit takes him out.
• Edge misses a missile dropkick and Jericho gets a lionsault for 2.
• Jericho misses a charge and Edge hits an enziguri for a near fall.
• Edge goes for a frankensteiner and Jericho counters with the Walls of Jericho for the submission.
• Benoit holding his belt and seemingly contemplating hitting Jericho with it. Jericho turns around and sees him. Benoit just chuckles. Jericho does not look pleased.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, Jericho wants to know what the hell Benoit was doing. Benoit says he just wanted Jericho to know how he feels. Unsure. Raven enters the scene. “Isn’t it more a matter of when and who, rather than if?” Jericho and Benoit eye each other.

Promo Time with The Undertaker

• He knows a lot of people want to know why he chokeslammed Mick Foley on Thursday.
• It’s not because of any loyalty to Vince McMahon. It’s because he needs to win at Judgment Day. Maybe things would be easier for him if he lost. After all, then Linda would be in control instead of Vince. But that’s not something he can do. He needs to win every fight he’s in. He can’t do that without his killer instinct. Besides, he’s not going to lie to you. He hates Mick Foley.
• Cue Foley. Foley says he understands that. He’s no great fan of The Dead Man either. After all, he’s repeatedly tried to kill Mick in the past. But he was willing to leave that in the past. Until Taker showed his true color on Thursday. Yellow.
• Taker does not respond well to this and starts to make his way up the ramp.
• The Big Show attacks Foley from behind and choke slams him on the top of the ramp.
• Show mouths “You’re Welcome” to Taker, who does not look particularly grateful.

In the back, Austin is being attended to when Hunter again attacks him. Security is forced to intervene once again and Vince says something needs to be done about this.

COMMERCIAL

In the back, Vince is on the phone. He is talking to Linda. Apparently, they are in agreement concerning some change that will be made to the stipulations of the Main Event at Judgment Day.

WWF European Title: Bull Buchanan vs. Test (c)

• 5 minute match
• Power match, with each man mixing in some surprising agility.
• Test tries a corner whip, but Bull counters by leaping to the top turnbuckle and springing off with a clothesline.
• Bull goes to the top again and Test catches him and slams him off.
• Big Boot finishes it.

Judgment Day Update

• WWF Title: Throw in the Towel Match- Stone Cold Steve Austin w/Vince vs. Triple H w/ Steph
• For 25% control of Company- The Undertaker represents Vince vs. Mick Foley representing Linda
• WWF Tag Titles: Edge & Christian vs. Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho
• Intercontinental Title: Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit
• WWF Hardcore Title: Rhyno vs. Perry Saturn
• WWF European Title: The Big Show vs. Test
• William Regal & Kurt Angle vs. The Hardy Boys

COMMERCIAL

Albert vs. Triple H

• 5 minute match
• Albert dominates with power moves.
• Triple H makes the comeback but runs into a boot from Albert.
• Albert misses a corner charge and eats a Pedigree. Simple 3 count.
• “No Chance in Hell” Vince McMahon and Stone Cold make their way out.
• Austin has the mic and he wants to know what the hell was so important that Vince drug him out here.
• Vince says that Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H are the two biggest stars in the WWE. Two of the biggest stars ever. But things can’t keep going like they are. As long as these two are involved, so will Steph be and the WWE will never be able to move past it. Before he makes his announcement he wants to assure Stone Cold that there is no way he will throw in the towel at Judgment Day. After all, he doesn’t even really like Austin. He just likes the money they make together and if Austin is so hurt he can’t continue then he’s no good to Vince anyway. He’s like a horse that Vince will ride till it dies. Can Steph say the same. Will she be able to watch her loving husband suffer and not save him? She better be able to. Because the match at Judgment Day won’t just be a throw-in-the-towel match. It will be a career ending match.

Fade to black…