Hartford, Connecticut
Attendance: 13,864
January 5, 2004
There was a full slate for Uprising and the first RAW of 2004 and the action didn't disappoint. ZeroEx vs. Hardcore Holly of mFw Hardcore Holly's rehabilitation from a serious neck injury continued with a tough match against ZeroEx. ZeroEx seemed to have Holly in a lot of trouble with some stiff kicks but he walked right into the "Alabama Slam" and was pinned. Goldust w/ Jackie Gayda vs. Animal Goldust and Jackie combined to use any shortcut they could to get the win in this match but the rugged Animal was not gonna go down to defeat and after a running powerslam, he put Goldust down for good. Doug Basham w/ Victoria vs. Eddie Guerrero These two put on a very good match and Basham gave Eddie all he could handle. But after a trifecta of vertical suplexes, Eddie went to the top rope and hit his Frog Splash to pick up a big victory. RAW GOES LIVE
FOOTAGE FROM THE HOLIDAY HELL TOUR IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA IS SHOWN OF KURT ANGLE WINNING THE FATAL 4 WAY MATCH. "ACROSS THE NATION" THEN PLAYS AND RAW's MONTAGE IS SHOWN BEFORE THE LOUD HARTFORD CIVIC CENTER COMES INTO VIEW AND IS LIT UP WITH FIREWORKS AND PYRO. AS SOON AS THE EXPLOSIONS STOP, KURT ANGLE's MUSIC HITS AND THE CROWD COMES UNGLUED. Jim Ross: "Voted the most entertaining show in 2003, we are proud to bring you TWF RAW and King, we're startin' with a bang"! Jerry Lawler: "We sure are J.R., I've been waiting to hear what Kurt Angle is about to say for weeks"! J.R.: "Kurt Angle won the right to select a new Enforcer for RAW in Australia and we expect him to make that announcement tonight"! Kurt Angle: "Oh hwow good it is to be your Olympic hero! THE FANS CHEER I mean, I am about to change the face of RAW forever with my announcement of a new Enforcer! So without wasting anyone's time, I wanna bring that person out right now! He is a man that has changed this industry more than once and his name is synonomous with sports entertainment. I think he will be a great Enforcer for RAW and I can't think of too many guys who are gonna try and get in his face so with that, let me introduce the one, the only, the immortal Hulk Hogan"! "REAL AMERICAN" HITS AND HULK HOGAN COMES OUT TO AN UNBELIEVABLE POP. J.R.: "Oh my gosh King.... look at this"! Lawler: "I can't believe it J.R.! Hulk Hogan"? J.R.: "Hulkamania is runnin' wild again, right into the Enforcer's office on RAW"! Hulk Hogan: "Kurt, let me tell you somethin' dude.... thank you. Thank you for this oppurtunity and I know that all my Hulkamaniacs out there are just as happy as I am about this decision! So to all you guys in the back, you better think twice before you cross the Hulkster brothers"! J.R.: "This is great"! Hogan: "But onto some more important business! After talking things over with Stephanie McMahon, I have made my first decision as Enforcer of RAW and that decision is that at the Royal Rumble.... High Octane is gonna challenge the Undertaker for the World title"! J.R.: "Oh my gosh"! Lawler: "That's huge J.R."! "WHEREVER I MAY ROAM" BY METALLICA HITS AND JOE COREY COMES OUT WEARING HIS STREET CLOTHES AND A PAIR OF DARK SHADES. J.R.: "What the heck is this"? Joe Corey: "Excuse me Hogan, sorry to interrupt. But as you know, I was one of the men who was in line to select a new Enforcer of this show and needless to say, it wouldn't of been you! THE FANS BOO But I didn't come out here to insult you. What I did come out here to say was that since you are making title matches, just make the one that needs to be made most and that is Austin Pyromania getting a shot at the King of Cable title, that's all I have to say". JOE COREY WALKS INTO THE BACK AND HOGAN LOOKS AT ANGLE WITH A CONFUSED LOOK ON HIS FACE. J.R.: "What the heck is that about"? Lawler: "He's lobbying for a title shot but not for himself, for Austin Pyromania"! BACKSTAGE..... CAMERAS IN THE BACKSTAGE AREA SHOW TERRI SITTING ON THE LAP OF TAYLOR MADE, RUNNING HER FINGER DOWN HIS BARE CHEST. Terri: "So.... what do you think"? Taylor Made: "I think that one woman is not enough for me". Terri: "Oh really"? JUST THEN, SCOTT STEINER WALKS BY THE ROOM WEARING HIS HEADGEAR. HE IS ON HIS WAY TO THE RING. COMMERCIAL BREAK..... A COMMERCIAL FOR SNICKERS CRUNCHER IS SHOWN. RETURN FROM BREAK.... AS RAW RETURNS, CAMERAS SCAN THE BRAND NEW OFFICE OF HULK HOGAN WHICH IS ADORNED WITH HOGAN's OWN MEMOROBILIA AND EVEN CONTAINS A RED AND YELLOW DESK WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE HIDEOUS. TEDDY LONG AND NATHAN JONES ARE AT THE FOOT OF HIS DESK. Teddy Long: "So surprise, surprise, Kurt Angle selected a white man to be the new Enforcer of RAW. And once again, the black man is gonna be slighted because of it! Ya know Hogan, my men and I are thinking of quitting RAW and going to PrimeTime to see if we can uh, get a fair shake if ya know what I'm sayin'". Hogan: "Yeah, I know what you're sayin' brother and I've had it up to here (motions with his hand) with this discrimination crap! So next week, right here on RAW, I'm gonna give the Truth here a shot at the World title! Tell me you can get that on PrimeTime"! Long: "Okay, okay, I feel ya playa, we like that. But what about brother Jones here? No reason to keep him down just cause he beat you in Australia". Hogan: "Oh I didn't forget about him. HOGAN STARES RIGHT AT JONES So tonight, he's in the main event.... against Kurt Angle! No get out of my office before I put you in a match too..... brother"! Long: "Come on boys.... we got what we came for". THE SHOT SWITCHES TO THE ARENA WHERE "HOLLA IF YA HEAR ME" IS HEARD FOLLOWED BY SIRENS AND THE SOUND OF SCOTT STEINER's MUSIC. HE COMES OUT AS A RED LIGHT FLASHES OVER THE ARENA TO A MIXED REACTION. J.R.: "Hogan is on a roll King as a matchmaker! Not even Teddy Long can complain about that"! Lawler: "Give him time, he was born to bitch"! J.R.: "Well we've got Scott Steiner scheduled for singles action here but he's got the microphone". Scott Steiner: "Here in a couple of weeks, we've got the Royal Rumble. And let's get real, who is gonna throw this out of that ring? HE DOES A QUICK FLEX OF HIS BICEPS. So right now, I wanna be the first man to enter his name into the Rumble and all I got to say is before, during and after that match, Big Poppa Pump is your hook up and I will go to the main event at WrestleMania"! STEINER TOSSES THE MIKE DOWN AS JON HEIDENREICH's MUSIC HITS AND HE COMES OUT TO A DECENT RESPONSE. J.R.: "Big words for Steiner but he's got a big man to deal with here King". Lawler: "He sure does, but a win here would give him a lot of momentum heading into the Rumble"! Scott Steiner vs. Jon Heidenreich Right as Heidenrreich got into the ring, Steiner was all over Heidenreich and the big man had a tough time recovering. Steiner worked him with some hard clubbing shots to the back before slinging him into the corner and driving his shoulder into his gut. But when Steiner went for a hip toss, there was no way he could get Heidenreich up and Heidenreich dropped him with a clothesline. Heidenreich started to get fired up and he caught Steiner with a big boot off an irish whip but miscalculated an elbow drop and Steiner rolled out of the way. He then showed his power by scooping Heidenreich up and slamming him to the mat. He then flexed his bicep again before dropping it across the chest of Heidenreich but the lousy cover only got him a 1 count. Heidenreich was then able to reverse an irish whip and he caught Steiner with a sidewalk slam. But there was no cover attempt and it seemed Heidenreich didn't have a follow up move in mind as Steiner caught him with a Steiner Line when he charged in before rolling him over and locking in the "Steiner Recliner" and Heidenreich was relegated to tap out. Match Time: 6:05 Lawler: "How impressive was that J.R."? J.R.: "A big win for Big Poppa Pump over Heidenreich who didn't seem ready for this matchup". Lawler: "Well he is still a rookie J.R. but Steiner is ready and if he draws a high number in that Rumble match.... look out"! HOGAN's OFFICE..... BACKSTAGE, THE UNDERTAKER IS IN HOGAN's OFFICE. Hogan: "Can I help you"? Undertaker: "Hogan, you and I go way back and I know, you ain't gonna play games with me. But what I want is to know that no matter what I do to High Octane in this match you've made, no matter how long I put him out of action, even if it's forever, I will not be held accountable". Hogan: "If that's what you want man, we can make that gaurantee but if I were you, what I'd be more worried about is winning that match and retaining my title". Undertaker: "Apparently you haven't been watching RAW for the last couple years. That ring, that ring is my yard and whoever steps into it, usually comes out the worse for wear and at Royal Rumble, High Octane will be lucky just to come out". Hogan: "Just remember what I said". BACK AT RINGSIDE, SAM WILDE's MUSIC IS PLAYING AND HE IS IN THE RING. "WHEREVER I MAY ROAM" BY METALLICA PLAYS AGAIN AND JOE COREY COMES OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH ALEXIS LAREE. J.R.: "Well I gotta agree with Hogan on that one, High Octane is no slouch". Lawler: "He certainly isn't J.R., Hogan has a point". J.R.: "And ya gotta wonder what Hogan thinks of what this man said earlier tonight, lobbying for Austin Pyromania to get a King of Cable title shot". Lawler: "Yeah, I don't know what to make of that one". J.R.: "Well right now, it'll be Sam Wilde one on one with Joe Corey who's got that jezebel Alexis Laree out here with him". Lawler: "What makes her a jezebel J.R.? Why do you say that? I think she's..... J.R.: "Yeah but ya gotta remember, that's Uncle Jerry talkin' again". "The Show" Joe Corey w/ Alexis Laree vs. Sam Wilde Corey and Wilde locked up and after an exchange of armdrags, Wilde grabbed him with a side headlock and whipped him over his body to the mat. Corey escaped with a headscissor and followed ducking a clothesline with a chop block. Corey then went into a variety of submission holds, stretching Wilde's right leg out. But Wilde fought up on one leg and dropped Corey with an enziguri. Alexis got up on the apron but Wilde paid no attention to her and snap suplexed Corey right into a cover for a 2 count. After an atomic drop, Wilde hit the ropes but Corey picked him up and dropped him over the top rope with a stun gun. He then locked in a cobra clutch and fell backward to the match, briefly choking Wilde out but long enough to get referee Jack Doan to stop the match. Match Time: 6:59 J.R.: "So that is it, Joe Corey has won this match via submission but I'm not to sure that wasn't a chokehold King". Lawler: "Look at Alexis, she wants some of Wilde now"! AS WILDE TRIED TO GET UP, ALEXIS PULLED HIS HAIR AND SLAPPED HIM ACROSS THE FACE. BUT JUST THEN, JESSICA LOPEZ RAN OUT AND GOT INTO THE RING, TACKLING ALEXIS. AFTER A FEW HARD RIGHTS FROM LOPEX, COREY GRABBED ALEXIS' ARM AND PULLED HER OUT OF THE RING AS THE CROWD LOUDLY CHEERED. J.R.: "Well have some of that Alexis! Jessica Lopez is all riled up"! Lawler: "What does she see in Wilde?! She's beem stuck on this guy for weeks"! J.R.: "Well maybe she just wants to do the right thing! Did ya ever think of that"?! LOPEZ AND WILDE LOOK ON IN ANGST AS COREY HELPS A SEETHING ALEXIS LAREE UP THE RAMP. COMMERCIAL BREAK..... A COMMERCIAL FOR VERIZON WIRELESS IS SHOWN. A DARK FIELD IS SHOWN IN A VERY WINDY SETTING. A SCRATCHY VOICE THEN BEGINS TO SPEAK, A VERY FAMILIAR VOICE. Voice: "An act or instance of retaliation in order to get even. That is the definition of revenge. Soon, revenge will be sought against everyone and everything that has ever tried to stand in my way, very soon". THE CAMERA THEN ZOOMS ACROSS THE FIELD AND COMES TO REST WHERE A SHADOWY FIGURE STANDS WEARING A LONG BLACK TRENCH COAT AND HOLDING A BASEBALL BAT. NEMESIS...... RETURNING AT THE ROYAL RUMBLE!!!! RINGSIDE.... AS RAW RETURNS, BOOS FILL THE ARENA AS LA RESISTANCE's MUSIC HITS AND THEY COME OUT. J.R.: "Back on RAW folks and you're all gonna have to bear with us because Rene Dupree and Sylvan Grenier are scheduled to join us for commentary here". Lawler: "What do you mean bear with us J.R.? This is gonna be great! C'mon guys, have a seat"! Rene Dupree: "How are you this evening King? I know it's tough having to sit with this hillbilly all night". J.R.: "Hey, who you callin' a hillbilly"?! Sylvan Grenier: "Make some room on this table, we have a lot of gold to set down". THEY SET THEIR TAG TEAM TITLE BELTS ON THE TABLE AND SIT DOWN AS MARK JINDRAK COMES OUT TO HIS MUSIC AS A REPLAY IS SHOWN FROM THE HOLIDAY HELL TOUR WHEN HE AND SHELTON BENJAMIN SAVED STEPHANIE McMAHON ON THE SET OF "EXTRA CREDIT". J.R.: "You remember this don't you guys"? Dupree: "We remember that and we have to say that it is typical of Americans to attack from behind the way those two did"! THE BASHAM BROTHERS' MUSIC HITS AND DANNY BASHAM COMES OUT ALONG WITH VICTORIA. Lawler: "They did do that J.R.". J.R.: "Well what the hell did you have planned for Stephanie McMahon? You put your lips all over her... what else did you think was gonna happen"?! "VIVA LA RAZA" HITS AND CHAVO GUERRERO COMES OUT TO A GOOD CHEER. Grenier: "We see what you are trying to insinuate Mr. Ross and we can assure you that Stephanie McMahon does not appeal to us in that way". Dupree: "Let's just sit back and watch these three beat the crap out of each other". J.R.: "Well the winner here earns a tag team title shot against our great guests tonight! Are you sure you two aren't gonna get involved in this"?! Grenier: "We're gonna sit right here next to you and of course, the King here". Triple Threat Match: Mark Jindrak vs. Danny Basham w/ Victoria vs. Chavo Guerrero The bell sounded and Chavo nodded at Jindrak as if to team up on Basham. Basham rushed Jindrak and knocked him to the mat with a forearm but Chavo came from behind and drilled Basham with a clothesline. But when Jindrak got up, Chavo put him back down with a right hand. Jindrak popped up and got in Chavo's face, recalling their agreement that started the match when Basham came from behind and rolled Jindrak up. Chavo stopped the count right away but Jindrak popped him from behind with a right hand before whipping him to the ropes and drilling him with his dropkick. Chavo rolled out of the ring and Victoria got up on the apron. Referee Jim Korderas went over to stop her from getting involved as Jindrak countered a Basham clothesline into a full nelson falling slam. But suddenly, William Regal came from out of the crowd and he ordered the timekeeper out of his chair. Jindrak saw the comotion and went over but Regal turned around with the steel chair and crowned Jindrak. Chavo then rolled back into the ring and hooked Jindrak's leg as Korderas turned to make the 3 count. Match Time: 7:21 J.R.: "Well I'll be damned"! Lawler: "They kept their word J.R., they didn't get involved"! Dupree: "King have a good night". LA RESISTANCE GETS UP AND LEAVES AS "VIVA LA RAZA" PLAYS AND CHAVO LEAVES IN VICTORY BUT AS HE's WALKING UP THE RAMP, REGAL COMES FROM BEHIND AND PUTS HIM DOWN WITH THE CHAIR. J.R.: "Oh for gold sake... someone get these guys outta here"! Lawler: "Looks like no one's a winner tonight J.R."! J.R.: "I'm just about sick King and I hate to say it but we have two damn cowards as tag team champs! That's right, you heard me"! Lawler: "Calm down J.R., they're not even backstage yet". BACKSTAGE..... HULK HOGAN IS SHOWN WALKING BACKSTAGE AND HE PASSES AGENT TONY GAREA AND THEY SHAKE HANDS. JUST THEN, STEPHANIE McMAHON COMES UP. Stephanie McMahon: "Hogan, wait up" HOGAN TURNS AROUND Hogan: "Oh hey Steph". Stephanie: "Ya know Hulk, with everything that's been going on lately, Spawn going out of control, La Resistance trying to embarass me in Australia, I just wanted to say that I look forward to you being the Enforcer of RAW". Hogan: "Well thanks Steph, I look forward to it too". JUST THEN, TRIPLE H COMES UP. Triple H: "Well look at this. Ya know Steph, I know that with this guy as the Enforcer, I am not going to get what I deserve here on RAW. What I deserve is to be in the main event at WrestleMania so I want in. I want in the Royal Rumble and I want that announced tonight". Stephanie: "Wow, you sure are demanding tonight Hunter. I think my new Enforcer would like to handle this". Hogan: "I like the idea of you earning a shot at WrestleMania in the Royal Rumble Triple H. But I also like you earning a spot in the Royal Rumble. So tonight, you've got a match with a guy who you've got a lot of history with..... Val Venis! And you better win because if you don't, that Royal Rumble spot will go to someone else dude"! HOGAN AND STEPHANIE WALK AWAY AND TRIPLE H ACTS LIKE HE's GONNA PUNCH THE BRICK WALL, BUT THINKS BETTER OF IT. BACK AT RINGSIDE, JUSTIN SANE IS IN THE RING AND THE THEME OF ANARCHY, INC. IS PLAYING. J.R.: "I apologize to all our fans out there for getting so riled up there. Those guys will get theirs, that's for sure but right now, we've got the artist formerly known as Psymin in the ring awaiting the arrival of Austin Pyromania". "DON'T PLAY WITH FIRE" BY 2 PAC HITS AND STACY KIEBLER COMES OUT AMID SOME GOLD PYRO WHICH LEADS AUSTIN PYROMANIA OUT TO A BIG POP. Lawler: "And where Pyromania goes, Stacy goes..... wahooo"! J.R.: "Ya gotta love the smile on Stacy's face, she is so excited to be part of the action but she may not be smiling here in a minute. Justin Sane is a very formidable opponent". Justin Sane vs. Austin Pyromania w/ Stacy Kiebler As soon as the bell sounded, Sane smacked the taste right out of Pyromania's mouth. But Pyro retaliated with 2 hard right hands and whipped Sane to the ropes. But when he put his head down too soon, Sane capitalized with a 2 handed facebuster. He then locked in a side headlock and continually wrenched his arms, creating a lot of discomfort. Pyromania drove his way up and used a backdrop suplex but Sane would not let go of the hold. Sane locked it in deeper and again, Pyromania went for a backdrop suplex but again, Sane held the headlock. Pyromania then tried to force him into the ropes but Sane just rode him to the mat. Referee Chad Patton saw Pyromania fading out and then checked his arms. Stacy clapped some encouragement after his arm went down a second time and on the third attempt, Pyro showed he had something left by holding it up. He then got to a vertical base and drove his elbow into Sane's gut 3 times, finally getting him to let go of the hold. He then hit the ropes and ducked a clothesline before catching him with a crossbody block that got 1.....2......, but Sane kicked out. Pyro then kicked him in the gut and drove him into the mat with a DDT before ascending the top rope and coming off with a frog splash but Sane got his knees up just in time and Pyromania folded up in pain. Sane then pulled him up in position for a piledriver or powerbomb but Pyromania was able to counter with a backdrop. He then whipped him to the corner and when he came out, Pyromania picked him up and spun him around for the "Pyrotechnics". A spent Pyromania hooked the leg and got the 3 count. Match Time: 5:59 J.R.: "Well you talk about a hard fought win.. that was certainly that King and..... oh look out"! JUST AS PYROMANIA GOT HIS ARM RAISED, NAILS CAME INTO THE RING AND DROPPED HIM TO THE MAT WITH A VILE CLOTHESLINE BEFORE PICKING HIM UP AND PLANTING HIM WITH THE "NAIL GUN". STACY SCREAMED IN HORROR AS NAILS PULLED A PAIR OF BRASS KNUCKLES OUT OF HIS BACK POCKET AND LOADED HIS RIGHT HAND WITH THEM. BUT BEFORE HE COULD DEAL THE KNOCKOUT BLOW, JOHN CENA HIT THE RING AND FORCED NAILS AND JUSTIN SANE OUT. Lawler: "What the heck is Cena doing"? J.R.: "He's doing the right thing! Nails was about to mame Pyromania"! Lawler: "But consider this J.R., John Cena is the man that Joe Corey suggested Pyromania get a King of Cable title shot against"! PYROMANIA GOT UP HOLDING HIS HEAD AND BEGAN YELLING AT CENA. J.R.: "Well it's still the right thing to do but look at Pyromania, he doesn't seem to see it that way". PYROMANIA THEN EXITED THE RING AND GRABBED STACY's HAND, PULLING HER WITH HIM. Lawler: "He doesn't seem to want anything to do with the Doctor of Thuganomics"! COMMERCIAL BREAK...... A COMMERCIAL FOR LAMISIL IS SHOWN FOLLOWED BY A COMMERCIAL FOR MSN.COM RETURN FROM BREAK.... STEPHANIE's OFFICE.... STEPHANIE IS PACING BACK AND FORTH UNTIL HULK HOGAN ENTERS. Hogan: "Steph, what is it"? Stephanie: "Well, I just got off the phone with Strife. Remember, he never got to the arena tonight"? Hogan: "Yeah". Stephanie: "Well that's because he's still in Australia and he hasn't been able to get a hold of anyone! Seems he got his luggage stolen and I have a pretty good idea who did it". Hogan: "Yeah, me too. I'll find him". HOGAN LEAVES THE OFFICE AS THE SCENE SHIFTS TO RINGSIDE WHERE TRIPLE H IS IN THE RING, POSING ON THE TURNBUCKLE TO THE BOOS OF THE CROWD AS "THE GAME" BY MOTORHEAD PLAYS. J.R.: "Still in Australia? What the hell is going on"? Lawler: "Stephanie thinks she knows"! VAL VENIS' MUSIC HITS AND HE COMES OUT TO A GOOD POP. J.R.: "Hulk Hogan has been a busy man tonight and it looks like he's gonna get busier but one thing he did tonight was make this match". Lawler: "Yeah and just as you thought what La Resistance did earlier was uncalled for, that's what I think of this match... totally unnecessary! Triple H has more than proven he deserves to be in the Rumble"! J.R.: "Well as Hogan noted earlier, he and this man have a history that has included main eventing pay-per-views against one another so Triple H is just gonna have to prove it some more". Val Venis vs. Triple H * Triple H must win to qualify for the Royal Rumble Before the bell could sound, Helmsley nailed Venis from behind and the match was underway. An aggressive Triple H rocked Venis with several right hands until Val reversed an irish whip right into a spinebuster. He then dropped a knee right on his forehead and went for a cover but only got a 1 count. Venis then whipped him to the corner and climbed to the middle rope, following with right hands as the crowd counted each one. But after a sixth punch, Triple H stepped out about 2 steps and dropped Venis on the turnpad. When Venis turned around holding his nose, Helmsley was waiting with a boot to the stomach followed by the Pedigree. He then rolled him over and got the 1.....2....., but Venis got his foot on the bottom rope to halt the count! Triple H thought he had won the match but referee Mike Chioda had to explain what happened. As this was going on, Rob Storm crept down the ramp undetected with a rolled up Canadian flag in hand. As Venis tried to pull himself up using the ring ropes, Storm jammed the flagpole into his larynx area. Val squirmed in pain as the Game picked him up and delivered a second Pedigree, this time in the middle of the ring and Chioda got down to make the 3 count. Match Time: 4:55 Lawler: "There it is! The Game is Royal Rumble bound"! J.R.: "And he's good enough to be WrestleMania bound but what I wanna know is what the hell Rob Storm is doing sticking his nose in this"! Lawler: "Don't you remember what happened between he and Val in Australia"? J.R.: "Well Triple H owes him a huge assist". BACKSTAGE...... HIGH OCTANE IS TRYING TO FORCE HIS WAY OUT OF HIS DRESSING ROOM BUT SHAWN MICHAELS IS DOING HIS BEST TO HOLD HIM BACK. Shawn Michaels: "Damion come on... you got the title match! You don't wanna go out there". High Octane: "I have to! I'm tired of this"! HIGH OCTANE GETS THROUGH MICHAELS AND CAMERAS SHOW HIM WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY WITH HBK FOLLOWING. J.R.: "What the heck is this now"? Lawler: "I don't know, but they're coming this way"! THE FANS LOUDLY POP WHEN MICHAELS AND HIGH OCTANE EMERGE FROM THE BACK, BOTH IN STREET CLOTHES. THEY GET INTO THE RING AND HIGH OCTANE ASKS LILIAN GARCIA FOR THE HOUSE MIKE. High Octane: "I know, I know what you think Shawn, but this is about what I want right now. Undertaker, I'm tired of all the stuff I hear you saying about me man. I respect everything you've accomplished throughout your career and I know almost everyone in this industry does. But what you are failing to do is give that respect back! I didn't become the number one contender by getting a lucky box of Cracker Jacks! Now I heard that you already left for the night, but I know you'll see this on tape! So right now, in order to show you that I am no joke, I want the biggest, baddest guy that's back there to come down here right now and get himself into a Head on Collision"! HIGH OCTANE DROPS THE MIKE AND GETS INTO A FIGHTING STANCE. Lawler: "He wants what"? JUST THEN, A-TRAIN's MUSIC HITS AND THE FANS START TO BOO AS HE COMES OUT AND SMOKE FLOWS UP EACH SIDE OF THE RAMP. J.R.: "Oh boy, it looks like he got the biggest and the baddest King". Lawler: "He sure did"! A-TRAIN SLIDES INTO THE RING BUT HIGH OCTANE IS ALL OVER HIM WITH RIGHT HANDS. HE BACKS UP AND GOES FOR THE "HEAD ON COLLISION" BUT A-TRAIN CATCHES HIS FOOT AND BLASTS HIM WITH A CLOTHESLINE. AFTER OCTANE GETS TO HIS FEET, HE IS TAKEN OUT BY THE PUMP KICK AND THEN A-TRAIN PUTS HIS HANDS UP, CALLING FOR THE "BALDO BOMB". BUT WHEN HE TURNS AROUND, SHAWN MICHAELS TAKES HIS HEAD OFF WITH THE "SWEET CHIN MUSIC" AND THE CROWD GOES NUTS AS HE PULLS HIGH OCTANE OUT OF HARMS WAY. J.R.: "Oh what a superkick and thank god Michaels was out here, we may not have had that title match at the Royal Rumble if not"! Lawler: "Yeah, but like Austin Pyromania earlier, High Octane doesn't seem to have wanted the help"! HIGH OCTANE GIVES MICHAELS A LOOK OF DISAPPOINTMENT AS THEY WALK UP THE RAMP. THE CAMERA SHOWS A FRUSTRATED A-TRAIN KICKING THE ROPES IN THE RING. J.R.: "Well fans, Nathan Jones versus Kurt Angle is our main event tonight and it is next"! COMMERCIAL BREAK..... A PREVIEW FOR THE MOVIE TORQUE FEATURING ICE CUBE IS SHOWN. RETURN FROM BREAK.... RINGSIDE.... AS RAW RETURNS, KURT ANGLE's MUSIC HITS AND HE COMES OUT TO HIS PYRO FILLED ENTRANCE AS THE CROWD GOES NUTS. J.R.: "Fresh off winning Comeback wrestler of the year, Kurt Angle is ready to make 2004 the year of the Olympian"! Lawler: "Maybe so, but he's got his hands more than full tonight J.R.". NATHAN JONES' MUSIC HITS AND TEDDY LONG, WEARING A TURQUOISE SUIT, LEADS HIM TO THE RING. J.R.: "Well we already know that next week on RAW, Ron Killings gets his shot at the World title and this was the reward for Nathan Jones". Lawler: "Well it's good to see Hogan's not gonna be a discrimination Enforcer, but I don't see this as much of a reward"! J.R.: "Well a win over Angle would propel Nathan Jones even further up the ladder here on RAW and perhaps he'd be next in line for a World title shot. But look at Angle, he looks ready"! Nathan Jones w/ Brother Teddy Long vs. Kurt Angle As the bell sounded, Kurt tried to size up the gargantuan Jones who just looked on with an evil smile. After many attempts, Angle finally used a go behind on Jones and gave him a shot to the back but Jones hardly moved. He then turned and just backhanded Angle which knocked him into the corner and he then grabbed him around the throat with 2 hands, trying to choke the life out of him. Jones was unresponsive to a warning from referee Earl Hebner to break the hold but Long finally got him to do so. Angle was in some discomfort but he charged out of the corner and took Jones down with a double leg. Angle then stomped repeatedly on Jones' chest before pulling him up and going for an irish whip. But Jones reversed it right into a big kneelift before pulling Angle up and dropping him with a headbutt. Jones then pelted him with several stiff kicks to the body before hooking him up for a suplex. But Angle slipped out of it and fell behind him. He grabbed his leg and tripped him up before locking in the Ankle Lock. Fortunately for Jones, he was right by the ropes and he grabbed it, breaking the hold. But Angle stayed on the leg on Jones, obviously looking to soften it up even more. But after missing with a clothesline, Angle was taken out with a kick to the upper body that may've even caught him in the face. Jones then pulled him up and whipped him to the ropes. As Angle came off, Jones attempted what would've been a knockout spin kick but Angle avoided it right into the Angle Slam. Rather than going for the pin, Angle put the Ankle Lock back on and when Jones tried to get to the ropes, he pulled him back. Knowing there was no escape, Jones tapped out. Match Time: 8:03 J.R.: "He tapped out! Angle has won this thing"! ANGLE's MUSIC PLAYED AND HEBNER RAISED HIS HAND AS TEDDY LONG COULD JUST LOOK ON IN DISBELIEF. Lawler: "I didn't think it was possible J.R.! The Collossus of Bogo Road tapping out"! J.R.: "It was a great comeback year for Angle in 2003 but what does 2004 have in store for the Olympic hero"?! OFF AIR.....