It’s the RAW Vengeance 2002 go home show in todays retro review as we look towards what could be a really enjoyable show. On the RAW side the big match will be Rob Van Dam defending his Intercontinental title against the next big thing Brock Lesnar. Elsewhere we are lacking announced matches for RAW so lets see what tonight brings us.

The show begins with Paul Heyman and The Undertaker; Heyman has had the idea that Taker & Brock will face Ric Flair and Rob Van Dam in the main event tonight. Heyman does some sweet talking but Taker shuts that down immediately, Taker says they better hope Taker loses at Vengeance so Taker won’t make the next big thing disappear at Summerslam.

Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler welcome us to the show, live from New Jersey, as we open with the NWO music however we are greeted by Mr McMahon to the shock of everyone. Mr McMahon tells us that we are hearing the NWO music for the last time as there is no more NWO. Thats pretty much all we get on that subject before McMahon talks about the various eras of WWE Champions remarking that WWE must always change with the times. The crowd chant asshole at McMahon at every turn here which is quite hilarious, he mentions that soon we we will celebrate the 500th episode of RAW but before that it’s take to shake up RAW, shake up SmackDown and shake up the whole company. McMahon announces he has hired two new General Managers who will have complete control of their respective brands. McMahon says that he will announce RAW’s new manager tonight, a firm but fair GM that will take RAW to new heights (more asshole chants follow which McMahon is visibly furious at). McMahon tells us that the new GM will give the fans what we truly want and what we truly deserve. This ends the segment.

Backstage Ric Flair is asked if he knows who the new GM is, Flair tells us that he doesn’t know but he doesn’t think that any one who is not a McMahon can do such a thankless job.

Elimination Six Man Tag
Bubba Ray Dudley, Spike Dudley & Jeff Hardy v William Regal, Chris Benoit & Eddie Guerrero

Summary: It is announced before the match that the Dudley Boyz will take on Benoit and Guerrero at Vengeance in a table match. All six men brawl at the bell with Eddie and Spike left in the ring, Spike hits an Atomic drop followed by a neckbreaker on Guerrero before a roll up by Guerrero eliminates Spike.

Spike Dudley is eliminated By Eddie Guerrero

Bubba Ray hits a Bubba Bomb on Guerrero but Regal breaks up the pin attempt, Benoit tags in as Bubba hits a takedown followed by punches. Chops to Benoit in the corner followed by a splash in the corner, Regal gets a cheapshot in allowing Benoit to hit a suplex. Regal in now dropping Dudley with a shoulder tackle, forearms in the corner followed by a bodydrop from Bubba. The elbow drops Regal but his pin attempt is broken by Guerrero, Hardy tags in but no one really knows who’s legal for the heel team in the end they decide Benoit (although I’m sure it was Regal and so was JR) who lays punches to the European Champ in the corner.

Eddie Guerrero is in now continuing to take the match to Hardy, a suplex gets a two count, Regal back in now but Jeff fires back with a cross body for two. Benoit is in and lands a sideslam before tagging in Guerrero. The heels exchange tags with Hardy worked over, Jeff fights back with a dropkick to Regal but once again he is brought back in control with a dropkick to the head from Guerrero. After Guerrero gets into an argument with the ref Regal goes for a European title shot to the head of Jeff but Bubba intercepts hitting Regal with the belt, this leads to a Bubba DQ.

Bubba Ray is eliminated by Disqualification

In amongst the chaos Hardy hits a Swanton Bomb on Regal to eliminate the former European Champion.

William Regal is eliminated by Jeff Hardy

It’s Jeff v Benoit & Guerrero as Jeff is just picked apart by the heels, Guerrero goes for a springboard splash but misses allowing Hardy to hit the atomic leg drop and roll Guerrero up for the three!

Eddie Guerrero is eliminated by Jeff Hardy

Guerrero immediately continues his beatdown of Hardy despite his elimination with Hardy literally kicking him out the ring. Benoit hits a German suplex followed by a lariat but Jeff kicks out at two. Hardy hits a whisper in the wind before Guerrero is back to distract the ref. Whilst he does this Regal sneaks back in to hit Jeff with the brass knucks allowing Benoit to lock in the crossface but Jeff is already out cold.

Winners: Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero & William Regal

Following the match Benoit and Guerrero go for the table but they are chased away by Bubba and Spike.

Stitch’s Rating: 6.5/10. A welcome change to RAW with a really entertaining fifteen minute opening match that continued the stories well and did a good job of setting up Vengeance. Other than Spike going early this was really enjoyable, a typical Jeff Hardy underdog match with the heels doing everything they can to steal a win. This sets up the tables match at Vengeance as well as presumably a title rematch between Regal and Hardy. A great start to RAW and already better than the entirety of last weeks episode.

We cut to Jonathan Coachman who is trying to get further information from McMahon on who the new GM is, Heyman enters Vince’s office teasing very heavily he is the new GM. We find out that the new General Manager isn’t Heyman (to Heymans horror) but he has arrived. Shane McMahon enters Vince’s office but he is not the new GM. Shane is outraged by Vince’s choice for GM, he calls the GM a parasite and that he will screw Vince, the company and the McMahons at the first chance he gets.

Tommy Dreamer and RVD discuss the new GM backstage, they both agree they are happy it’s not Heyman. After reliving the van terminator he gave Heyman last week RVD leaves to prepare for his match tonight. Dreamer is then confronted by Steven Richards who congratulates Dreamer for defending ECW last week. Richards tells him that Dreamer did it for himself and not for ECW. Richards challenges Dreamer to a Singapore cane match (before hitting Dreamer with the cane and disappearing) and we’re getting that next.

Singapore Cane Match
Tommy Dreamer v Steven Richards

Summary: Dreamer goes right for Richards with the Kendo stick, Richards tries to run but he can’t escape the Kendo stick shots, taking a blow to the back following Dreamer jumping from the steps. Dreamer goes for the steel steps but he takes a kendo stick to head from Richards who procedes to have a shot with his Kendo stick. Dreamer is busted open now, Richards hits a suplex on the ramp before rolling Dreamer back into the ring. Richards chokes Dreamer with the Kendo stick before setting one up in the corner sending Dreamer back first into it.

Richards continues the shots to the back with the Kendo stick but Dreamer won’t back down, he even asks for more before hitting a Russian leg sweep. Dreamer unloads with a Kendo stick of his own to Richards back and legs. Dreamer hits a DDT for a near fall, Dreamer goes up top but jumps into a superkick, Richards gets the cover but Dreamer kicks out. As Richards goes for another Kendo stick shot Dreamer unleashes one hell of a shot of his own to get the win.

Winner Tommy Dreamer

Stitch’s Rating: 6.75/10. I may be really kind to this one (I know must people wouldn’t even rate it)but for a five minute Singapore cane match I enjoyed this. I enjoy these types of matches and the reason I mark it as I have is because it’s a Tommy Dreamer match that WWE actually booked in a way that never fails to make Dreamer look good. These are his bread and butter where he gets decimated and busted open, looks like he’s going to get squashed, fights back and somehow wins. I just love the violence I can’t lie.

Backstage Booker T is being interviewed, Booker has a match with the Big Show tonight who says that he feels like celebrating the NWO’s death. He gets Coachman to do the worst Spin-a-roonie (Coach-a-roonie) that I’ve ever seen and its glorious. Booker T chastises Coach but is interrupted by someone who shocks Booker to his core, Eric Bischoff.

Mr McMahon returns to make his announcement, he’s greeted by more asshole chants. McMahon says it takes a son of a bitch to be successful in this business so from one bitch to another he introduces the new RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff. Eric and McMahon embrace before McMahon departs and Eric makes his way to the ring.

Bischoff introduces himself, Bischoff says he ran WCW but not the watered down version that invaded the WWE last year. Bischoff says he was the only person ever able to take it to Mr McMahon. He talks about his Ruthless Aggression in signing away McMahons top stars such as Hogan, Savage, Nash, Hall and Piper. Bischoff even claims he signs Bobby Heenan and Mean Gene Okerlund just because he could, Bischoff says it was sweet to give the McMahon family a kick in the groin and that during the steroids trial McMahon took his eye off the ball allowing Bischoff to raid his company. Bischoff calls himself innovative and cutting edge citing him leaking RAW results on Nitro as an example as well as making Alundra Blayze throw the WWF women’s title in the trash. Bischoff summarises that him giving away a big match every night on Nitro changed wrestling and made McMahon change how he did things to keep up with him. Bischoff also continues to brag about Nitro being RAW as well as bigging himself up for creating the NWO and nearly destroying the WWE.

Bischoff tells us that he is the person to make WWE RAW an international powerhouse, he also tells us that he wants to sign Triple H at Vengeance (Triple H is out injured but is a SmackDown star currently) before going back to hyping himself up. Bischoff finally concludes with “I’m about to put the E in WWE”.

Backstage Bradshaw is with The Undertaker but Bischoff interrupts them, he ignores Bradshaw but tells Taker that if there is anything Taker needs he should just call him.

WWE Women’s Championship
Trish Stratus v Molly Holly (c)

Summary: This has been a feud that’s been the focus of the women’s division for the last few weeks, this feud feels destined to go on till Trish wins the title back so lets see if she does it tonight. The match starts with Trish charging at Molly put falling to a drop toe hold in the corner, Molly slams Trish by her hair for a near fall. (While this happens JR tells us Vince has left and given Bischoff full control). Trish hits a leg sweep on the top rope before hitting a drop kick, the chick kick follows but Molly kicks out at two. A victory roll by Trish gets another two count before Molly hits a backbreaker but this time Trish kicks out. A back slam reversal from Stratusfaction gets Molly a three count with Mollys feet clearly on the ropes.

Winner and STILL Women’s Champion Molly Holly

Stitch’s Rating. N/A. A three minute match that was okay for the very little time they got, as mentioned above I just think this storyline will drag on now even though Trish could have just won tonight. Not bad by any means though.

Backstage Bischoff bumps into Ric Flair, he tells Flair its good to see him and that they should leave their bad history in the past. Ric Flair cuts of Bischoff and walks away to prepare for his match.

Big Show v Booker T

Summary: As the match begins JR confirms NWO to be over, Nash is out for about six months with a torn quad, Shawn Michaels has a night off and X-Pac is now on a leave of absence. The match starts with Big Show charging down Booker T from the bell. Chops in the corner leads into Show throwing Booker across the ring before hitting a standing suplex. Show misses an elbow drop allowing a mini fight back from Booker but Show brings it back in control with a sidewalk slam for a two count.

Booker lands a kick to the face before hitting a spinning kick off the ropes that take the big man off his feet. A clothesline from Booker takes both men out of the ring followed by Booker throwing Show into the stairs knee first. Booker goes for a chair shot to the head which enrages the Big Show, Booker tries again outside the ring but Show just punches the chair out of his hands. Big Show throws the ref out of the ring before attacking Booker with a steel chair, Big show is disqualified.

Winner Booker T by DQ

The brawl continues after the match with Show choke slamming Booker into the announcers table, Show angry man walks away.

Stitch’s rating: N/A. Essentially an angle that I assume sets up a match for Vengeance, did what it needed to in that regarded but a bit unnecessary.

Backstage Brock Lesnar is doing arm crunches with part of the set as Paul Heyman talks about how wonderful it is that Bischoff is GM. Heyman goes on to gloat about kissing up to Taker saying Taker has no idea why they are teaming with Heyman saying it’s so they can annihilate Rob Van Dam ahead of Vengeance.

Hardcore Championship
Bradshaw (c) v Christopher Nowinski

Summary: Nowinski takes the mic before the bell, he says he doesn’t want a hardcore match and the crowd doesn’t either. Nowinski offers to lay down for Bradshaw so he can beat him and get it over with. Nowinski does allow Bradshaw to pin him but gets a roll up at two out of nowhere which Bradshaw just kicks out off, Bradshaw connects with a big foot and a clothesline before Nowinski tries to run away. The brawling continues on the outside as Bradshaw hits Nowinski in the face with steel steps. Nowinski runs through the crowd being chased by Bradshaw with a trashcan. In the back Nowinski is taking baking trays to the face before getting his head slammed in a trunk, as Bradshaw does this he is attacked from behind by Johnny Stamboli who pins Bradshaw to win the title.

Bradshaw v Nowinski No Contest but Stamboli pins Bradshaw to win Hardcore title under 24/7 rules

Bischoff is greeted by Big Show backstage who asks for a No DQ match with Booker T at Vengeance, Bischoff debates whether he should piss of McMahon so early making such decisions but of course agrees to book the match. After the commercials Stamboli is in Bischoff’s office thanking him for letting him compete on RAW so he could win the hardcore title, Bischoff promises any young superstar gets that chance on RAW. Before Stamboli can leave Bradshaw runs in with one of hell of a clothesline from hell to win the belt back.

Prior to the main event Paul Heyman is hyping Brock Lesnar for his match at Vengeance before Taker arrives with the two staring down each other.

Brock Lesnar & The Undertaker v Ric Flair & Rob Van Dam

Summary: Taker and Flair begin the match, Flairs chops light up Taker as he fights against the strength advantage. RVD tags in getting a near fall with the crossbody, he then targets Takers legs with the kicks before Flair’s back in with the knee block, the figure four is locked in on Taker but the champ fights out of it with a choke. Flair avoids the chokeslam with a low blow before eventually being caught by the move. RVD breaks the count as Lesnar tags in and starts to destroy Flair with shoulder blocks in the corners as well as vicious stomps. RVD asks for Brock to let him in but Brock just destroys Flair with three big backbreakers before Taker drops the leg on the apron.

Brock tags in Taker who continues to work on Flair in the corner, Flair is still fighting with the chops but is once again taken down by the diving clothesline. Taker misses an elbow drop allowing Flair to go up top, Taker meets him hitting a huge superplex off the top rope but the pin fall attempt is broken up by RVD once more. Brock returns with big fists to Flair in the corner, Flair fights back with chops but Lesnar responds with shoulders. Flair gets hit with a powerslam but Lesnars spear misses as he goes flying into the ring post. RVD finally gets in, so does Taker; a spinning kick to the champ is followed by a monkey flip and rolling thunder. Lesnar breaks up the two count and goes for RVD but is taken down by dropkick and a split legged moonsault, RVD and the ref forget that Lesnar is not the legal man but counts anyway Taker breaks up the pin before being sent out of the ring by Flair.

Lesnar blindsides Flair with a F-5 but RVD gets a superkick on Lesnar, the five star frog splash hits but Taker is back to hit the last ride for the win

Winners The Undertaker & Brock Lesnar

Following the match Lesnar attacks the Undertaker hitting him with an F-5 before posing with the world title.

Stitch’s Rating: 6.5/10 This was a good main event that had enough time to tell a story, Flair did the Flair tag team role well as he always does and RVD is the best type of person for the hot tag. In a go home show this is what you want, your two biggest matches in one final match that sets up the ppv as well as a possible rivalry post that. I enjoyed it a lot.

To end the show we see Eric Bischoff leaving a voicemail for The Rock wanting him to come join RAW.

Final Rating: 6.5/10. A much better focused show that was easily the best RAW I’ve seen in this series. The first half was much better than the second with a fifteen minute match and fun Singapore Cane squash sandwiching a long but interesting promo from Bischoff which, whilst painfully long, wasbetter than some of the dreadful NWO ppvs we’ve suffered through. The second half had all the squash matches but still some good set up promos. This feels like a reset for RAW in a monumental way, the show had much more of a focus and every match and promo was building to or apart of a solid storyline. Going forward we desperately need some more stars and fresh stories and having the smarmy Bischoff leading that on screen is a good call.