It’s time for some more Ruthless Aggression as we return to RAW in week two of this glorious era. Tonight’s RAW will feature the main event of Big Evil and undisputed champion The Undertaker taking on Jeff Hardy in a ladder match. This comes from Jeff Hardy challenging Taker to the match after weeks of coming up short against the Deadman. We’re also two weeks away from Vengeance so I’m expecting some matches to be confirmed or set up tonight. The show is from New Hampshire with Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler our commentators.

The show begins with a run down of last weeks show (check out my review of said show here). The promo focuses on building up the next big thing and his ongoing feud with Rob Van Dam, who nearly beat Lesnar last week if it wasn’t for Heyman’s interference for the DQ. Of course following this match Lesnar powered RVD through a table which brings us to this week and our first segment…

The show begins with Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman angry man walking down to the ring. Heyman tells us that we are now in the summer of Lesnar, he references that this was meant to be the summer of RVD but Brock Lesnar has what RVD does not, Ruthless Aggression. Heyman declares that not only does Lesnar have Ruthless Aggression but he will use it to claim the WWE title at Summerlam (he has a title shot after winning King Of The Ring).

Heyman now turns his attention to Kurt Angle, (who had an open challenge to a rookie on Smackdown answered by John Cena) he praises Angles intelligence but tells us that Brock Lesnar will outdo anyone in this company so he doesn’t want a rookie tonight he wants a veteran.

The open challenge is answered by… RIC FLAIR!! Flair struts to the ring, takes a microphone and begins telling Lesnar and Heyman he hasn’t forgotten that Lesnar cost him ownership of RAW in a match against Vince McMahon. Flair tells Lesnar that he’s a legend and he will prove to Lesnar why he’s the dirtiest player in the game. (he even does a Gordon Ramsey Big Boy, or does Gordon Ramsey do a Ric Flair? A scary thought). Lesnar takes the mic and tells Flair “Wrong place wrong time wrong guy”.

Brock Lesnar (W/ Paul Heyman) v Ric Flair

Pre Match Thought’s: I’m hoping for good things here, Flair can still put on good shorter matches at this time and we have a Lesnar that’s on his way to super stardom. It’s obvious who gets the win here as Lesnar continues his monster build but lets see what we get in between.

Stitch’s Summary: After lots of circling the match begins with Lesnar running over Flair with a shoulder block before throwing him across the ring. We get a lot of solid Flair bumping here. Flair counters with some chops before hitting the strut to a nice pop.

Lesnar continues to use his power advantage with the lock up but Flair is quicker to dodge the clothesline and hit some more chops. Lesnar cuts off Flair’s come back with a body slam but misses an elbow as Flair rolls to the outside. Lesnar gives chase but Flair rolls back in the ring hanging Lesnar on the top rope to Lesnar’s anger.

Vintage Flair follows with the knee drop but Lesnar literally throws Flair off him at the pin attempted. Another brutal clothesline follows before another one in the corner (cue comedy fall). Brock Lesnar continues his dominance on the outside before the two return to the ring, Flair works on Lesnars shoulder with Lesnar twice running into the ring post. After a bear hug to Flair, he fights back with chops but is hit with an Alabama slammer. Flair pleads with Lesnar before hitting not one but two low blows.

Flair locks in the figure four but Heyman gets onto the apron distracting Flair and allowing Lesnar to get to the ropes. As Flair punches Heyman Lesnar gets up and lands the F-5 for the three.

Winner: Brock Lesnar By Pinfall

Stitch’s Rating. 5.5/10. This match was okay, I definitely didn’t hate it but there wasn’t a lot memorable about it for me. We got the classic Flair schtick which was enjoyable as well as Lesnar being a monster but not much else. Also, the ending was silly, this is the second week that Lesnar avoids defeat thanks to Heyman. When you are building someone to be an unbeatable once in a generation monster why do this? Especially with someone like Flair who can easily take to loss. Such a confusing ending but an okay match just nothing to shout about.

Next we have a rewind of Trish Stratus getting a pinfall win over Women’s Champion Molly Holly in a tag match last week. This is followed by a promo where Jackie Gayda blames Holly for their loss, Holly tells Gayda that she (Molly) is a role model and Jackie could learn a few things from her (this is referring to Molly disapproving at a bikini contest Gayda took part in). Jackie tells Molly that unlike her she actually looks good in her underwear leading to a brawl. The brawl spills from backstage into the ring with Molly destroying Jackie. This segment ends with Trish attacking and pantsing Molly.

Christopher Nowinski is interviewed next as he tells us that he has no interest in Bradhsaw’s hardcore title (they fight next in a non title match) he wants to compete like a civilised gentlemen.

Bradshaw v Christopher Nowinski

Summary: This was a very short match that didn’t even go a minute. Bradshaw goes crazy throwing chairs, trashcans and his cow bell into the ring. The referee stops him using them on his opponent but Nowinski grabs the cow bell and hits Bradshaw with it behind the referees back for the three.

Winner: Christopher Nowinski By Pinfall

William Regal is backstage as he is confronted by Rob Van Dam who is looking for Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman, Regal runs down RVD for a) being late and b) running his mouth trying to find Lesnar and trying to pick fights. RVD responds with a request to fight Regal himself later tonight which is accepted by the cartoon bond villain.

Jeff Hardy is interviewed as he claims that he’s not going into this match the underdog, Taker has never been in a ladder match and Hardy is at home in them. Jeff then jumps on things that really aren’t that high before climbing a ladder that’s magically appeared which ends the segment.

Another promo next as Goldust is dressed as Darth Vader (as a Star Wars fan this is everything, it’s just perfect why is Goldust not spoken about more? This is everything). After many Star Wars references he tells Booker to relax as he has concocted another master plan to take down the NWO. Booker ends the segment with a lightsabre calling himself Obi-Book Kenobi. Track this down if you want a laugh it’s so so funny I can’t put it into words.

Next Eddie Guerrero is with Vince McMahon, it’s basically a pep talk where he explains how Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit are on RAW (I mean kind of explains, the explanation is pretty much you owe me one). We get more Ruthless Aggression pleas with a particularly funny moment where Vince asks Eddie what Ruthless Aggression is in Spanish, Eddie’s response “Eddie Guerrero Holmes”

Rob Van Dam v William Regal

Summary: A three minute match that could have been so much better with more time, Wrestlemania was an example of that, give them even a little bit of time (that match was shockingly only 6 minutes long) and these two can go. This very much was a Regal putting in submissions with RVD quickly fighting back. I know it’s a tv match but we could have got so much more, it highlights one of the big problems with McMahons booking for me, always failing to see what’s in front of him talent wise. Ultimately this match was to give RVD a win whilst he waits for Lesnar and it achieved that.

Rob Van Dam takes the mic after the match and calls out Brock Lesnar, Lesnar comes out but is held back by Heyman who says Lesnar will not fight him here but at Vengeance, RVD accepts this and we have a match for Vengeance.

Bubba and Spike Dudley v Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero

Summary: This match follows Benoit returning last week and attacking Bubba Ray with a crossface following his match with Eddie. Expecting a solid match here so lets see what happens.

Spike and Eddie start us off as Eddie takes control quickly with some forceful right hands and an suplex, Spike counters with an atomic drop, suplex and then a neck breaker but can only get a two. Bubba’s in now, he unloads on Guerrero before getting hit with a dropkick off the ropes. Bubba hits Guerrero with a body slam and an elbow drop but can only get a two. It’s the early advantage from Bubba and Spike who get quite a bit of offence in before Eddie tags in Benoit.

Benoit hits chops and stomps in the corner before laying in some brutal clotheslines, he follows up with a pin but only gets a two. Benoit hits a suplex to Bubba but gets caught in a neckbreaker. Spike tags in and goes for the pin but can only get a two. Spike presses the advantage on Benoit getting another two count with a bulldog but Benoit fights back hitting a backbreaker but can’t keep Spike down. Benoit manages to get the cross face on Spike but Bubba breaks it up.

Eddie and Benoit now double team Spike as Bubba is distracted by the referee in the corner, both men work on Spike with Benoit throwing him shoulder first into the ring post. Eddie in now and Spike once again goes shoulder first into the ring post, Eddie distracts Bubba and the ref as Benoit sends Spike into the post once more but this time headfirst.

Spike takes out both Eddie and Benoit getting the hot tag to Bubba, who gets a near fall with a powerbomb that is broken up, the Dusty Rhodes elbow on Eddie preceeds a bodyslam. Spike hits the diving headbutt on Eddie and is instructed by Bubba to get the table! Benoit intercepts beating down Spike on the outside whilst Eddie hits a hurricanrana in the ring on Bubba. Eddie misses the frog splash but runs straight into the Bubba bomb for the three count.

Winners: Bubba Ray & Spike Dudley

Following the match Benoit attacks Bubba, he sends Spike through the table on the outside before locking the cross face on Bubba combined with a frog splash from Eddie. Referees rush to the ring to get Benoit to break the hold.

Stitch’s Rating: 6/10. A really solid tag match that had time to tell a story and did just that. Each man got time to look good and I thought the match was really well paced. You can really see here the star that Eddie is and how he is crying out for a title opportunity. Bubba and Spike were reliable as always and brought that underdog energy to the match. A good showing here.

Goldust or DarthDust is backstage, he approaches the Big Show proclaiming that he is his father. He then lovingly hits Big Show over the head with a toy lightsabre in what may be one of my favourite WWE moments ever. Darthdust tries to run off but Kevin Nash rounds the corner and annihilates him. Good stuff here but very little reason for it, still amazing though in the silliest way.

The Undertaker does an interview where he declares his intention to deal with Angle and then finally The Rock. The Undertaker see’s Jeff Hardy as no threat and this continues the night long build of Jeff Hardy having no chance.

Following this X-Pac is found unconscious backstage by an mystery attacker.

Booker T v The Big Show

Summary: Earlier advertised as a tag match but now a singles match following Darthdust and X-Pac’s injuries. This was another three minute match that did little more than the smaller Booker T try to get round Big Show’s power advantage that when not done right or uniquely is just so boring. Big Show dominates Booker for most of the match before going to steel steps however these are kicked in his face which causes a count out (sigh).

Stitch’s Rating: N/A. What a stupid ending, this really feels pointless to me, the backstage stuff was at least funny but in reality the bits of this storyline I’ve seen have just been ridiculously pointless. How this was what the NWO in WWE became is mind boggling and you can tell we’re getting close to the end of the group now. A shambles of a match again here and I don’t understand why or what for, nothing happened story wise other than the post match segment which I guess I must get to now.

The following segment see’s the NWO in the ring, Shawn has the mic and breaks up a fight between Nash and Show where Nash has just punched Show. Shawn Michaels takes what feels like ten minutes to tell us Triple H will be joining the NWO when he’s back from injury. This is even more mind boggling especially since HHH is on Smackdown. Shawn superkick’s Show before leaving.

Undertaker is backstage with Vince who is attempting to hype up Taker even giving Taker his match with The Rock at Vengeance. Vince makes the mistake of saying whether you’re champion or not which just pisses off The Undertaker even more. Following this Matt and Lita wish Jeff Hardy good luck for tonight.

Jeff Hardy v The Undertaker Ladder Match For The WWE Undisputed Championship

Pre Match Thought’s: I’m not sure what to expect here, this match has quite a reputation in the fanbase. Some will see it as one of Jeff Hardy’s greatest ever performances and a RAW classic for others it possibly the worst ladder match ever. I think for me it will have to be pretty bad to fall into the latter but lets see.

Summary: The match starts very slow with The Undertaker virtually squashing Hardy, who went quick out the gates with a brutal looking chair shot to Taker’s head. This pretty much begins the brutal beating of Hardy. Taker nearly knocks Jeff out with a ladder before going for the title, he stops, deciding to beat down Jeff more. It’s more slow beatdowns and punches before Jeff gets in a whisper in the wind.

Jeff rallies now as he hits a low blow and a dive before going for the belt (on a stupidly tall ladder), a last ride is countered, several chair shots can’t stop Taker and Jeff is eventually Chokeslammed off the ladder as Taker wins.

The Undertaker Wins and retains Unified WWE Championship

Stitch’s Rating: 5/10. This was a tough one to rate and even harder to describe, I actually really enjoyed the last stretch of the match. Jeff played his role perfectly and I think they got over what they wanted to with Jeff here which was that he just won’t quit. I think the problem here was that it was just so slow and that took away from the jeopardy of the match. It didn’t help that for the last week WWE pretty much ignored this match like Taker wouldn’t even have a challenge. Jeff got so overshadowed with the upcoming Kurt and Rock matches for Taker that it just made it so hard to root for him. having said this the last part was entertaining and there’s certainly worst matches so it gets an average five for me.

Following the match Undertaker continues to beat down Jeff but he continues to get to his feet refusing to quit. Jeff takes a Last ride but as Undertaker goes to leave Jeff tells him he’s still standing! The Undertaker returns to the ring once more but this time raises Jeff’s hand and shows respect.

Final Rating: 5/10. This was a weird one, when I first watched it I thought it was just brilliant but as I went back to analyse some of it individually I realised its downfalls. Not many matches were memorable and not because of wrestling but weird booking and pacing issues like Lesnar not winning clean or the Taker/Hardy match feeling like it was two hours long. Not a bad show at all but comparing to Smackdown it’s not on that level this week.