***Official Raw Thread - 19th January 2004***

[Chris2K]

From RajahWWF.com

We begin with a small tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who would have been 75 today.

In the back, Jonathan Coachman addresses the RAW superstars who have qualified for the Royal Rumble so far. He says that Eric Bischoff has secured the right to name the man who will enter the Rumble at number 30. Chris Jericho tries to use his Survivor Series favor to get number 30. The Coach, who has been appointed general manager for the night by the absent Eric Bischoff decrees that all the Rumble contenders will be in matches tonight and the winners of those matches will meet in a Battle Royal at the end of the night to determine the 30th entrant to the Rumble. And, Coachman adds, if anyone interferes in any of the other matches, that man will lose his shot at number 30...and his spot in the Rumble itself.

The music plays, the pyro blazes and we are LIVE from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler will have the call as RVD makes his way to the ring.

Rob Van Dam & Booker T Vs. Christian & Matt Hardy Version 1.0 for spots in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-Footage from last week shows Kane's assault on Booker T. Matt loves Mongolian BBQs. Matt's countertops are all granite. Van Dam and Hardy start with dueling taunts before RVD opens with a reverse heel kick. Van Dam with a quick cover for one from referee Jack Doan. Van Dam with a springboard crossbody from the second rope for a near fall. Tag to Christian. Van Dam gets control of him and tags Booker T. Booker unloads with chops in the corner, but Christian reverses things briefly before getting backdropped for two. Booker with kicks for both heels. He goes for the scissors kick on Christian, but Hardy pulls him to the outside. Hardy subdues Booker on the outside and shoots him back in to Christian. Christian with a neck vise on the mat before scoring a near fall. Tag to Hardy. Matt drops the leg and makes the cover for two. Booker fires back and cleans Christian off the apron. Side Effect by Hardy. 1-2-kickout by Booker T. Hardy corrals Booker in the corner and tags Christian. Booker eats elbow on a corner charge, but Booker catches him coming off the second rope with a right hand. Both men tag and Van Dam cleans house on both opponents. Slingshot on Hardy and Matt collides with Christian on the apron. Christian tumbles to the floor as Van Dam scores a pair of near falls on Hardy. Rolling Thunder but Hardy gets the knees up. Matt with the Flair pin. 1-2-Van Dam kicks out. Booker and Christian return and Booker blasts the heels with a double scissors kick. Christian rolls out as Van Dam goes to the top and scores the Five Star Frog Splash on Matt for the 1-2-3 at 6:06. Booker and RVD advance.
-HERE are YOUR Winners: Rob Van Dam & Booker T

Ross informs us that the Goldberg/Scott Steiner match for later tonight has been made into a Triple Threat Match that will include Test and it will be for a spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal

Commercial

Jonathan Coachman joins the announcers.

Chris Jericho Vs. Rene Dupree for a spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-Dupree scores a quick hip toss, but Jericho comes back with chops. Jericho mounts Dupree for punches are senior referee Earl Hebner admonishes. Jericho looks for The Walls, but Dupree gets into the rope. Jericho with his springboard dropkick and Dupree tumbles to the outside. Jericho fetches Rene back into the ring and quickly catches a dropkick from the young Frenchman. 1-2-kickout by Jericho. Dupree with an abdominal stretch, but Jericho won't give. Y2J manages to reverse things, but Dupree hip tosses out. Rene does his little dance, but Jericho runs him over with a shoulder block. Jericho drapes Dupree over the middle rope and squashes him into it for a near fall. Bulldog by Jericho, but Dupree gets his knees up on the Lionsault. Slam by Dupree. 1-2-Jericho barely kicks out. Jericho counters a dropkick and turns Dupree over in The Walls for the tap out at 4:37.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Chris Jericho

The latest in Randy Orton's anti-Mick Foley ads airs.

Commercial, during which CNN projects Sen. John Kerry as the winner of the Iowa Caucuses for those keeping score.

In the back, Christian congratulates Chris Jericho on his win, but laments that he won't be in the Number 30 Battle Royal himself. Christian asks Jericho to use his Survivor Series favor to give his Battle Royal spot to him. Jericho balks, but Christian pleads his case. Jericho still says no, saying Christian will get his shot some day.

Ross, Lawler and Coachman intro a video package of the seven year build-up to the Last Man Standing Match at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Championship between Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Commercial

Ross reminds us that, so far, Rob Van Dam, Booker T and Chris Jericho have qualified for the Number 30 Battle Royal.

Mark Henry w/Theodore Long Vs. Rico w/Miss Jackie for a spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-Rico and Jackie are already in the ring for the announcements, that doesn't bode well for them. Rico slides out of the ring at the bell and kisses Teddy Long's skull. Henry chases Rico back in where Rico quickly mounts him like a horse and spanks him. Henry surges up and traps Rico in a nerve hold. Rico tries to fight out, but Henry doubles up on the nerve hold. Rico finally escapes and dodges Henry on a corner charge. Rico with a stiff kick in the corner, followed by one in the center of the ring. Rico goes to the top, but Henry dodges the dive, scrapes Rico up off the mat and delivers the World's Strongest Slam for the 1-2-3 at 2:34. Henry advances.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Mark Henry

Randy Orton and Batista are in the back looking at the new issue of RAW magazine when Ric Flair Whooos into the frame. Flair strokes their egos for a while and guarantees Evolution victories all around at the Royal Rumble. Flair says when Orton wins the Royal Rumble; it will be an all Evolution main event at WrestleMania XX.

Commercial

WWE Extreme Blast of the Night: At the 2002 Royal Rumble, Maven eliminates The Undertaker.

Kane Vs. Spike Dudley for a spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-Spike charges into the ring before the bell as The Coach gloats over booking the match. Kane catches Spike coming off the top with a choke and tosses him into the corner. Kane chokes Spike in the corner as referee Chad Patton admonishes. Kane turns around and Patton flinches. Spike takes the opportunity and shoves the referee from behind. Patton turns around, thinks it was Kane that pushed him and calls for the bell at 1:05.
-HERE is YOUR Winner as the result of a Disqualification: Spike Dudley

Enraged, Kane chases Patton from the ring and then goes out after Spike. He tosses Spike and a set of steel steps into the ring and looks for the Tombstone, but the RAW corps of referees dashes to the ring. Two of them distract Kane while the others pull Spike from the ring.

Commercial, during which CNN confirms that Dick Gephardt will drop out of the race for the Democratic nomination for president

Scott Steiner Vs. Test Vs. Goldberg in a Triple Threat Match for a spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-Referee Mike Chioda calls for the bell and we're off. Steiner and Test immediately team up and attack Goldberg. Goldberg ducks a double clothesline and scores one of his own. He clotheslines Test in the corner and tosses him to the outside as Steiner attacks from behind. Steiner with chops in the corner, but Goldberg comes back and scores a short clothesline. Test gets back up on the apron and he nails Goldberg with a forearm off a Steiner whip. Goldberg knocks Test off the apron, but Steiner nails him with a belly-to-belly suplex. The heels with kicks on Goldberg in the corner. Test holds Goldberg up for Steiner's chops, then they switch and Test nails Goldberg with punches. Goldberg dodges a Test charge and Andrew nails Scotty. Goldberg boots Test over the top and military presses Steiner into a powerslam. Goldberg looks for the Spear, but Test breaks it up. Flatliner by Steiner on Goldberg. 1-2-broken up by Test. Test slides in and look for the cover on Goldberg himself, but Steiner breaks it up. Steiner shows Test the door and hooks the Steiner Recliner in on Goldberg. Goldberg won't give and Test returns to the ring to deliver the Big Boot to Steiner. Scotty tumbles to the outside and Goldberg Spears Test. Jackhammer to Test and Goldberg scores the 1-2-3 to advance at 5:17.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Goldberg

Ross recounts the qualifiers for the Number 30 Battle Royal. They are Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, Spike Dudley and Goldberg. Only one spot left.

The Coach intros a new anti-Mick Foley ad, paid for by friend and supporters of Randy Orton.

In the back, Sheriff Austin watches the ad with disgust. He revs up the ATV and takes off down the hall, almost killing Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade.

Commercial

WrestleMania Recall: At WM XV, Butterbean almost kills Bart Gunn in a Brawl For All.

Sheriff Austin Interview
-Austin motors to the ring, hits the corners and takes the stick. Austin has a message for Mick Foley. Austin doesn't know what's going on in Mick's head, but last month he walked out on a match and let Randy Orton spit in his face. Then last week, Orton bought Foley a ticket and sent a limo for him, but Mick still wouldn't show up. This is not the Mick Foley Austin knows. Austin used to ride up and down the road with Foley and when Orton spits in Foley's face, he spits in the face of the business and of Austin himself. As sheriff, Austin orders Mick Foley to appear at the Royal Rumble to beat Randy Orton's ass. If Foley doesn't appear, he will have broken the law and Austin will have to ride his ATV to Long Island and drag Mick's ass to Philadelphia. Austin calls for the two beers and salutes Mick Foley. That's the bottom liiiiiiine...

Commercial

Ross intros a video package of last week's midnight on-sale for the WWE Originals CD.

In the back, Molly Holly is taunting Trish Stratus as Christian approaches. Molly leaves as Christian tells Trish he just wants to clear the air. Christian tells Trish he knows she doesn't ever want to see Chris Jericho again. She reluctantly agrees. Good, says Christian, because look as all these girls that Christian took pictures of Jericho with when they were out last week. Christian grins away, Trish looks upset.

Lita Vs. Jazz w/Theodore Long
-Jazz controls things with wrestling at the start as the crowd chants for Lita. More superior amateur style wrestling by Jazz needs to a forearm to the head. Lita rolls Jazz into a mount and punches away. Jazz bails to the outside and Lita fetches her back inside. Nice trip by Lita for two from referee Jack Doan. Lita with a monkey flip and a boot to the gut. Jazz counters and catches Lita in the back of the head with a dropkick. Jazz goes to the floor and elbows Lita's neck. Jazz returns to the ring and works a side headlock, but Lita trips her way out and scores a float over double leg pin for a near fall. Headscissors takeover by Lita, followed by a side slam. 1-2-kickout by Jazz. Jazz misses the corner charge and Lita scores a modified Twist of Fate. Lita whips her shirt off and looks to go to the top, but Teddy Long is up on the apron. Lita chases him away, but Jazz rolls Lita up from behind and grabs the shorts for the 1-2-3 at 3:39.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Jazz

In the back, Terri gets the word from The Hurricane, who's scheduled to face Randy Orton next for the final spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal. Hurricane knows the odds are against him, but he believes in himself and his chances of winning.

Commercial

A couple of Green Bay Packers flex in the crowd as Ross intros a clip from last week of Randy Orton's last taunts directed at Mick Foley.

Randy Orton Vs. The Hurricane for the final spot in the Number 30 Battle Royal
-JR tells us today is Pat Patterson's birthday. Happy Birthday, Pat. Orton hammers away on Hurricane's back at the bell and drills him with a clothesline for a near fall from referee Charles Robinson. Orton scores another near fall after a standing dropkick before settling into a modified neck vise on the mat. Hurricane battles out and scores with right hands. Cross body block by Hurricane followed by the Hurribuster. 1-2-kickout. Roll up by Hurricane for a near fall before Orton goes to the eyes. Modified neckbreaker by Hurricane. 1-2-kickout by Orton. Covers again. 1-2-Orton gets the shoulder up. Cover again. 1-2-Orton kicks out. Big cross body block off the top by Hurricane. 1-2-Orton gets the shoulder up. Orton goes to the eye again and then scores the RKO for the 1-2-3 at 2:50.
-HERE is YOUR Winner: Randy Orton

Ric Flair and Batista come down to celebrate with Orton after the bell as Rosey comes out to see to The Hurricane. Flair sucker punches Rosey and Batista powerbombs him to the mat. Evolution starts to beat on Rosey when the Dudley Boyz storm the ring. They drive Orton and Batista from the ring and set Flair up for the table spot. Interim General Manager Jonathan Coachman gets on the mic and calls for a halt to the proceedings as Orton and Batista drag Flair out of the ring. The Coach goes to the ring as Evolution leaves. Coachman orders the Dudleys to leave the ring by the time he counts three. Coachman stupidly turns around to count. 1...2...3! 3-D through the table on Coach.

In the back, Chris Jericho and Mark Henry are nose-to-nose. Jericho wonders what that smell coming off of Henry is. Mark says it's his "stank" and if Jericho ever gets close enough to Trish Stratus again, Y2J will smell Henry's stank all over her.

Commercial

Ross announces that Spike Dudley has been scratched from the Number 30 Over The Top Rope Challenge due to the beating he took from Kane earlier tonight. Lawler gets Ross to reluctantly admit that Mick Foley is a coward if he doesn't answer Sheriff Austin's call to appear at the Royal Rumble. They then throw to the WWE studios where Michael Cole and Tazz run down the Smackdown portion of the Royal Rumble card. JR and The King do the same for the RAW side of things.

Commercial

Over The Top Rope Challenge for the Number 30 spot in the Royal Rumble featuring Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Randy Orton, Mark Henry and Goldberg
-Standard Battle Royal rules apply here. Goldberg dominates at the start, striking all comers. Book End to Goldberg! Lionsault on Goldberg! Five Star Frog Splash on Goldberg! Booker T tosses Van Dam. Jericho nails Booker T out. Orton tosses Jericho, but Chris skins the cat back in. Jericho dropkicks Orton out, but Randy skins the cat as well. Orton and Henry team briefly on Jericho. Orton goes after Goldberg but gets backdropped. Power flapjack from Henry to Jericho. Henry chokes Goldberg over the bottom rope as Jericho tries to oust Orton, but nothing doing. Orton stomps Goldberg on the mat as Henry tosses Jericho, but Chris lands on the apron and drills Henry with a missile dropkick. Jericho teams with Goldberg to try to eliminate Orton, but they can't get it done. Short clothesline by Goldberg to Orton. Jericho dropkicks Goldberg's knee. Orton gets the elbow up on a Jericho corner charge and Henry ads a clothesline. Orton and Henry seize Jericho up and toss him out. The heels agree to team up on Goldberg, but Bill keeps them at bay with right hands. Goldberg gets the boot up on an Orton corner charge and Spears Henry. Goldberg picks Henry up, but can't throw him out. Dropkick by Orton to Goldberg. Henry staggers around near the ropes and Orton turns on him, trying to throw him out. Goldberg nails Orton from behind and Henry topples out to the floor. Orton and Goldberg square off as RIC FLAIR and BATISTA make their way to the ring. Spear to Orton! Goldberg military presses Orton and tosses him out onto Flair and Batista at 7:01 to win the match.
-HERE is YOUR Winner and Number 30 in the Royal Rumble: Goldberg

[Steve V.1]

Meh. It was good up until the end, then I feel asleep

[Alan]

Not a bad show, but i was hoping that Jindrak and Cade would be well on their way to the tag titles by now. However they are no-where near the shot they deserve, and are now reduced to being nearly run over by Austin (who should just up and leave)!

[Cactus Jack]

Good Raw.

RE:CLB/Trish - Christian say's Jericho left with "Alexis". Could Laree be in for a debut?

[Peter]

I thought it was pretty crap to be honest, nice buildup for the Rumble and decent bookend matches but that was it.

[pepsi]

I enjoyed the Jericho/Dupree match the best as you got to see some of the old jericho. He seemed to acknowledge the crowd a bit more than usual aswell.

Pepsi

[Dickie Hyde]

Originally posted by AlanJP and are now reduced to being nearly run over by Austin (who should just up and leave)!

Actually they should be honoured

Austin should not shut up and leave. You can't say that he was given too much TV time this week, so please stop telling him to leave... he's a good aspect for the show...

[Marc McCann]

Pretty good show. Thought Coach was excellent on Raw. Pity to see Mark Henry on a roll still.
My only problem was with Spike beating Kane, the battle royal would have been better with Kane in.

The Orton face turn is getting closer, just wait till he drops the IC gold