Monday, January 3rd, 2005
Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, New York
So since I am covering some of the newer WWE Network era stuff and then all the way back in 1992 with Superstars and eventually going into the introduction of Raw, I decided I wanted to go somewhere in between. I split the difference and landed on 2005, which is where my interest in the product increased after being down a bit from 2002-2004. Looking forward to re-visiting this era that I believe is extremely underrated.
We get a video package to open the show, where they are hyping up the Elimination Chamber at the inaugural New Year's Revolution. I almost kind of forgot that Eric Bischoff was still the Raw GM during this era.
Bischoff then announces that all 6 participants in the Chamber will face off against one another.
Batista vs. Chris Benoit
I was never a big Batista fan until he turned heel towards the end of his run with WWE. Due to Batista winning the Beat The Clock Challenge, he will be the last man in the Elimination Chamber. It will never stop being weird to watch Chris Benoit. Benoit hits 3 Germans on Batista, which is impressive. Batista is a little more impressive than I remember him being at this time, but he isn't quite to where he would be in regards to his character and selling. This match has a real sense of urgency and I am really digging the pace they are competing at. Benoit gets him in the Crippler Crossface, but Batista powers out of it and hits Benoit's head onto the exposed turnbuckle. That was a great little spot. Batista Bomb and it's all over. Good opening match.
Match Rating: ***1/4 (out of 5)
Triple H and Ric Flair are back in the locker room. Flair is celebrating Batista's victory and now Batista walks in. Flair says the plan is for Batista to take out the other four competitors and that he lays down for Triple H. Batista wants $100 from Triple H because they bet who would win faster last week. This is a real thing that happened. There is tension in the air, but then Batista says Triple H needs a sense of humor.
Snitsky! They show highlights from Taboo Tuesday where Snitsky crushed Kane's throat with a chair. Snitsky is with Maria. Snitsky then whispers something in her ear and smells her, which causes her to run off. Snitsky is so bad.
Edge is backstage with Bischoff. Edge is complaining that Shawn Michaels is the special referee for the Elimination Chamber. Bischoff says that Edge cost him revenue and that adding Michaels to the match will help him make up for it.
Edge vs. Chris Jericho
This is pre-Rated R Superstar heel Edge. For the record, Chris Jericho is my favorite wrestler of all time. 2005 turned out to be the turning point for Edge as a character, which led to his huge 2006. This era was probably Jericho's worst in terms of his look. It's hard to put a finger on just one thing, but this show is already just so much entertaining than today's Raw. Edge goes for a spear, but Jericho jumps over him. Jericho goes for a victory roll, but Edge blocks it and grabs the rope for the 3 count.
Match Rating: **1/2
Jonathan Coachman is back with Randy Orton. His promo style really hasn't changed a whole lot in the last 14 years. No thanks.
Sylvain Grenier vs. Shelton Benjamin
La Resistance wasn't around long, but man were they shoved down our throats. Benjamin is the Intercontinental Champion here. As Benjamin is entering the ring, Maven comes down and distracts the ref, which leads to him being attacked by La Resistance. This was pretty much it for Maven. Maven is on commentary and he is trying his best to be a cocky heel. Grenier hits a terrible dropkick and then goes for a kip up and screws that up too. Benjamin hits the T Bone Suplex and gets the victory.
Match Rating: 1/2*
We get the hype video for the Elimination Chamber. I am a total mark for the Chamber. It's one of my favorite gimmick matches.
Muhammad Hassan and Daivari are on their way down to the ring, followed by a clip of them bullying Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler on Raw last week. We are now getting a debate...yay? What a way to kick off the second hour of the show. Hassan was in the beginning stages of his mega push that essentially led to nowhere. Kevin Dunn keeps cutting to crowd shots, but they aren't 100% invested in this character like they have for other foreign heels. Hassan is struggling a little bit, but that isn't too surprising considering how green he was. Daivari on the other hand was great in his role. They definitely did not shy away from some pretty hot topics for Hassan. This was definitely turned up a notch over their previous similar gimmicks. Jim Ross tells him to either love it or leave it, which leads to Hassan punching JR in the gut. They then turn to Lawler and bust him open. After a slow start, they did get the crowd invested.
Coach is now out to cover on commentary and they show highlights of everything that just happened 3 minutes ago just in case you forgot.
Trish Stratus vs. Victoria
Trish will be challenging Lita for the Womens Championship at New Year's Revolution. Trish is a lot more aggressive tonight. You know how I can tell? Coach has said it 18 times in 2 minutes. Victoria makes a little bit of a comeback, but Trish blocks the moonsault with her knees. A Chick Kick and that's it. Trish says this is what Lita has in store for her at NYR. Lita's music hits and she is out to the ring. Lita slaps Trish and now they are slugging it out. Lita is in control and then Snitsky comes out and takes Lita off of Trish. Snitsky puts a chair around Lita's neck but then out comes Kane and now they are going at it.
Match Rating: *1/4
Another hype video for the Elimination Chamber. Coach says that Jerry Lawler has challenged Hassan to a match at New Year's Revolution. Kane will also take on Snitsky and Shelton Benjamin will meet Maven. I can only imagine the number of people dying to order this show now.
Backstage with Christy Hemme getting photographed and after an awkwardly long time showing her do that, Eugene comes in. He's listening to a portable CD player and Christy asks him to sing for her. Regal says he has a match with Christian and that it's time to go. While they head out, Regal grabs the CD player and begins dancing and singing when Eugene and Christy come back and catch him. This was really terrible.
Eugene vs. Christian
I still can't believe that Eugene was ever a real WWE character. Christian is one of my all time favorites. After a great 2004 he sort of floundered a little bit and eventually went on to great success in TNA in 2005. I wonder if any young tag teams would list Eugene and William Regal as one of the teams that inspired them? They exchange nearfalls and then Christian blocks a pin attempt from Eugene and gets the pin with a late assist from Tomko.
Match Rating: *
Backstage again with Triple H, Flair and Batista. Triple H tells Batista that he'll need him to watch his back in the Elimination Chamber but not tonight since it's just Randy Orton.
Jim Ross joins Coach at the announcer booth.
Triple H vs. Randy Orton
It is surprising to me 14 years later that they had this throw away match on a Raw, as they would go on to main event WrestleMania a few years later. Orton gets bumped off the apron and almost into the first row. Flair naturally comes over and adds insult to injury. After a few minutes of Triple H on offense, Orton slams Triple H into the ring post. Orton hits a crossbody off the top rope and almost gets the 3. Can't remember the lat time I saw Orton do that move. Orton had Triple H in a sleeper, but Triple H causes a ref bump and Flair hands Triple H the ring bell. Orton blocks it and now picks up the bell, knocking Triple H out. Out comes Batista and Benoit. They slug it out on the outside. Shawn Michaels is out in his ref gear to check on the ref. Edge goes to spear Michaels but Jericho blocks it. Jericho then does a suicide plancha. Triple H is distracted by HBK and Orton goes for the RKO, but Triple H blocks it. Orton gets a nearfall and then hits the RKO for the big win. Most of the match was nothing special, but all of the shenanigans at the end were a lot of fun.
Match Rating: **1/2
This was light years better than most of the 3 hours Raws that are currently on Monday nights these days. The opening match was very entertaining and overall this show succeeded at building to the pay per view, even if the card for the show looks downright terrible.
Overall Rating: 68%
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