WWE Women’s Title
Jazz (c) vs. Ivory
Talked about possibly happening, maybe even on Heat in between video packages, if they can find the space, but to be honest - we all know that if and when Jazz loses her title, it won’t be to Ivory. No offence to Ivory, but she’s not a Trish or a Victoria. Expect Theodore to get involved - if the match happens.
Winner : Jazz
Redneck Triathlon
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Eric Bischoff
Pfff. That’s all I have to say. Austin to win, natch. Let’s just hope it’s not soul destroying.
Winner : Stone Cold Steve Austin
Winner gets Stacy
Scott Steiner vs. Test
Yeah - winner gets da woman - lovely and not chauvinistic at all... and to be frank, who really cares? Do you? I know I don’t. That’s why... this is the Sandwich Match of the night - whooo! Going by the contents of my fridge, it’s going to be a salami, cheese and Worcester Sauce toastie! How’s that for exotic?
But the match, you want to know about the match... Well, the UK version of it last week wasn’t entirely horrible, but it was only 6 minutes and 3 minutes of that was Test and Stacy arguing over a towel (don’t ask) so don’t get your hopes up for a 30 minute blood ‘n sweat marathon. I can see Test winning this, if only to get him over as a bad ass heel and further the feud between him and Steiner, and heap the sympathy vote on Stacy.
Winner : Test
World Tag Team Championships
Rob Van Dam & Kane (c) vs. La Resistance
Kane seems to be getting angry. Well, angrier than usual.. Maybe if he gets any angrier he can take RVD for a moonlit drive after a party and put an end to this crap. Look, turn the guy heel and have done with it. La Resistance are being lined up as the next tag team champions, whether they’re ready or not - so give them it already and let them run with it. Hopefully, it’ll spice up Raw’s tag team division a little.
Winners : La Resistance
The Dudleys vs. Christopher Nowinski & Rodney Mack
Wow. I mean, like wow. While the Dudleys kick it in a live environment, they’re TV matches have followed the same formula for the past year - if they win, someone gets tabled after the match. If they lose, someone gets tabled after the match. It’s a sweet deal for table makers the world over.
However, This one will be dull. I don’t like Mack, I can tolerate Nowinski and the Dudleys have their funny moments but don’t light up the ring they way they once did. Hopefully, we’ll be blessed with some Long-isms before this match and that will make it worthwhile. Expect to see Mack extend his lengthy winning run.
Winners : Christopher Nowinski & Rodney Mack
Intercontinental Championship
Christian (c) vs. Booker T
Ladies and Gentlemen, say hello to the new Honky Tonk Christian - I see him holding on to his belt in a similar way - by any means necessary. Christian has the mic skills to carry it, and is no slouch in the ring either, so why not? Heel champions tend to draw more heat, and Booker could do with a good solid feud to get his teeth into. Hopefully to prepare him for bigger things, but I think his time has passed.
The match at Insurrextion was pretty damned cool - 90% Booker offence against Christian - and got the crowd going, which won’t be a problem with The Book being a hometown Houston boy. Given the WWE’s weird booking over the past few years, we all know what happens to people in their home town... they get screwed over. And I don’t see anything different happening here.
Winner : Christian
Chris Jericho vs. Goldberg
The feud that should have happened in WCW. And credit to the WWE on this one -they’ve weaved that history into this feud without confusing anyone who didn’t know about it - maybe a few clips from the Greenberg era spliced into the inevitable pre-match video would be a nice touch too. This feud is an example of what the WWE can do when their mind is on the game - even the backstage confrontation between the two men has been mentioned on the website!
The match hopefully won’t be a three minute squash, Goldberg’s speciality - Jericho is above that sort of thing now. In fact, this could be a turnabout match in Goldberg’s career - if he can put in a solid 15 minute performance here, then his credibility level shoots up. If he can’t, then he’s nothing more than a big name living on the hype... I know which option seems more likely to me... Much as I like Jericho, Goldberg simply HAS to win this if his next target is Triple H.
Winner : Goldberg
Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
The match of the night for me by a long way. The build up to this has also been excellent. Sure Flair’s face turn could have lasted a little bit longer, but a heel Flair vs. a face HBK works for me. This is a match that should get every wrestling fan excited, simply because of the history and legacy of the two people involved. Flair has recaptured some of that old fire recently, and HBK can still go when he’s called upon.
As for the actual winner... well, it doesn’t really affect either guy in the long run. I can maybe see a classic bit of Flair cheating pulling out the win on this one, but I can also see a classic HBK comeback lighting the crowd up for the big win... I think I’m gonna bet on Michaels. Either way, this one is gonna be a rocketbuster - oh sorry, a slobberknocker - this is a Raw PPV after all...
Winner : Shawn Michaels
World Heavyweight Championship
Hell In A Cell : Special Guest Referee : Mick Foley
Triple H (c) vs. Kevin Nash
Well, here we go - the only possible thing they could do to get people interested in this one - put them inside the Cell - and THEN add Mick Foley and his book to the mix. Well, it’s worked. I now want to see Triple H vs. Mick Foley. Nash? Pfff. He can wash his hair for all I care about him.
Stand by for the dullest HIAC match ever - from the 2 competitors involved, anyway. I expect the Trips-Foley interaction to be quality - as it always is between those two. Nash and Trips, to say that they’re friends, there’s absolutely no chemistry between the two at all. I don’t honestly see Nash getting the belt... in this case, Trips should hold onto it. Yes, I actually said that. Hell In A Cell matches are always worth watching as they’re so few and far between, but don’t expect a lot out of this one, folks.
Winner : Triple H
Well, going by Insurrextion last week, I don’t think this is going to be too bad. Flair and HBK should steal the show, and Jericho-Goldberg should be solid enough. Hopefully, the experiment will work. Roll on the Smackdown PPV though. Enjoy the show, and I’ll see you on Monday. Until then, have fun, go mad.
