RAW IS WAR: May 28, 2001

Live from Calgary….Alberta….Canada

Opening Promo Time with Vince McMahon

• Vince walks down pissed. He gets and grabs a mic. He talks about his rise to power in the WWE and turning it into a global powerhouse outlasting his rival WCW. He then says he got to where he is because he did not let people take advantage of him. He says there are two things he hates more then any thing else in this world. Cowards and Traitors. He will not tolerate cowards and traitors in the WWE.
• The WWE has pleanty of both Cowards and Traitors. Cowards like his daughter Stephanie who walk out the family busniess and gave her twenty percent of the family busniess to his traitor son shane. Who abused his power by putting the companys champion and biggest superstar Stone Cold in harms way by booking him in a match against Taker. But the biggest Cowards and Traitors in the WWE are a couple of degenerates who are completely worthless and ungrateful punks by the names of the Dudley Boys. The Dudleys were nothing before the WWE. He made them famous he was the one who made the fans cheer and this is how they show their respect by running away like a coward to the other side like a traitor. And since the Dudleys like to put there nose into other people’s busniess they will be punished when at the King of Ring they will face the Hardy Boys.
• “Here Comes the Money” Shane comes out with mic in hand. Dad you call the Dudleys cowards but they are the only guys with guts in this busniess. They stook up for themselves against the tyrany of Vince. There is nothing that he can do at the King of the Ring it will be the Hardys vs the Dudleys in a tag match. But since he cant punish Vince he can punish Vince’s golden boy. At King of the Ring it will be Undertaker vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin in a No Disqualification match. But thats not all tonight he has decided that he will give the fans in Canada the chance to see there own Canadian hero get a chance at the world tonight when Stone Cold Steve Austin face CHRIS BENOIT!!!. Vince has a shocked look on his face as we go to commercial. 

COMMERCIAL

Back from commercial, Howard introduces Stu and Helen Hart sitting in the front row.

Light Heavyweight Title Match: Dean Malenko (c) vs. Tajiri

• 5 minute match
• Malenko gets far more offense than he did on Smackdown as he is prepared here.
• Perry Saturn comes to ringside and attempts to help Malenko
• Saturn inadvertently hits Malenko…Swift Kick from Tajiri gets 3.
• Winner and NEW Light Heavyweight Champion: Tajiri

After the match, Malenko is very angry with Saturn. Perry apologizes profusely.

In the back, Vince McMahon finds Chris Benoit. He congratulates him on his opportunity tonight. However, Shane has no control over the rest of Benoit’s night. He should get dressed earlier than expected as he will face Rhyno next.

COMMERCIAL

In the Commissioner’s office, Albert wants a shot at the KOTR tournament. Regal agrees and tells him he’ll face a very familiar opponent tonight. He will have a qualifying match with Test.

Rhyno vs. Chris Benoit

• 4 minute match
• Very competitive match, Heyman putting over that Rhyno hasn’t lost a match since WrestleMania and has never tapped.
• Rhyno Gores the ring post and succumbs to the Crippler Crossface.

COMMERCIAL

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Kurt Angle vs. Steve Blackman

• 6 minute match
• Both men use ground and pound and try submission moves.
• Angle elbows out of a german suplex attempt and gets the Angle Slam for 3.
• “Here Comes the Money” Shane is out to congratulate Angle on his win. He’s been to war with Blackman and knows it wasn’t easy.
• Angle takes the mic and says Shane’s got some balls getting in the ring with him again. This time maybe, he’ll finish the job.
• Angle grabs Shane when out of nowhere through the crowd comes Lance Storm. Storm takes Angle down from behind with a german suplex, then Superkicks him. Shane hugs Lance and raises his hand.

COMMERCIAL

In Shane’s office he and the Dudleys officially welcome Lance Storm to the World Wrestling Federation.

Chris Jericho finds Vince McMahon. He wants to know why Benoit is getting a title shot when he’s already the IC Champ. Vince says, maybe that’s why. Jericho needs to start reminding people why he USED to be the future of this sport. He can start tonight. He’ll go one-on-one with Scotty II Hotty.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: William Regal vs. ?

• Regal gets a mic and voices his appreciation to Vince McMahon for putting him in charge of the tournament at King of the Ring. He felt it only right that he, William Regal be a part of this tournament. He has challenged himself tonight with suitable competitoin.
• Regal’s opponent is Gillberg.
• 2 minute squash. Regal finishes him with a Regal Cutter.

COMMERCIAL

In the back the Hardys run into Vince and asked him why he thinks they would help him against the Dudley Boys. Vince says he is giving them the chance to get vengeance against the Dudleys. But if that is not sweet enough he will give the Hardys a Tag Team title match. Vince walks away and the Matt and Jeff look at eachother and nod their heads.

King of the Ring Qualifying Match: Albert vs. Test

• 4 minute match
• Aggressive match with lots of power moves.
• Test goes behind on a slam attempt and hits a powerslam of his own for 3.

Vince McMahon is with The Big Show. He is disgusted with him. He can’t believe he lost to Spike Dudley last friday. Big Show needs to prove himself and do it soon or he may no longer be employed.

Chris Jericho is with Chris Benoit. He’d love to face Benoit for the WWF Title at KOTR. He knows they haven’t been as close lately as they used to be and that a lot has gotten between them. But sincerely, in front of all his country people and the man who he considers a father figure, he wishes Benoit the best of luck tonight. If it can’t be Jericho, there’s no man he’d rather see wearing the World Title than Benoit.

COMMERCIAL

Vince tells Austin he thinks tonight is going to work out just fine.

Scotty II Hotty vs. Chris Jericho

• 4 minute match
• Jericho dominates early, but Scotty starts getting reverses and near falls
• Jericho finally grabs Scotty and throws him over the top rope.
• Jericho follows and throws him back first into the pole a couple of times. Throws him back in and locks on the Walls of Jericho. Scotty submits but Jericho does not let go for a couple of moments afterwards.
• Jericho gets off and looks regrettful about his actions. He helps Scotty up.

COMMERCIAL

We come back and take another special look at Triple H. The commentator talk about how unfortunate it is that he will no longer grace a WWF ring.

WWF Title Match: Stone Cold Steve Austin (c) vs. Chris Benoit

• 12 minute match
• Brilliant match with an obviously hot crowd. Almost wish I had time to transcribe matches for every show.
• Austin has the advantage and Vince McMahon makes his way out.
• Benoit counters a Stunner and gets a Crippler Crossface.
• McMahon in and kicking Benoit.
• Austin joining in the attack
• Jericho is in the ring. He’s helping Benoit. Benoit and Jericho chase off McMahon and Austin.
• Austin left his belt. Jericho and Benoit both go to pick it up at the same time. Each holding the WWF Title, shades of Smackdown. Jericho lets it go and claps for Benoit, who holds it for a moment then takes it outside and hands it to Stu. Stu holds up the WWF Title. Benoit and Jericho clap for him.

Fade to black…