Raw is War

Hartford, Connecticut
May 6, 2002

"Get the 'F' out!" was the motto of the day as a new era began in sports entertainment on the May 6 episode of RAW -- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) was born!

As the show kicked off from Hartford, Conn., the luscious Trish Stratus headed to the ring to challenge Jazz for the WWE Women's Championship in a no-disqualification match. Jazz was accompanied to the ring by Hardcore Champion Stevie Richards. The crowd chanted for puppies as the two divas battled it out. Trish seemed to have the pinfall, but Stevie distracted the ref. That allowed Jazz to gain the advantage and brutalize her challenger. Trish regained the advantage and hit the Stratus-faction, but Stevie pulled the ref out of the ring when Trish went for the pin! Stevie then gave Trish a Stevie-kick, and Jazz covered for a successful title defense!

After the bout, Bubba Ray Dudley ran to the ring with a ref, and brutalized Stevie. Bubba also took it right to Jazz! Bubba then told himself to get the table. He gave Stevie a Bubbabomb and pinned him to win the Hardcore Championship. Jazz then went to hit Bubba, but Bubba caught her. As he went after her, Raven attacked him and pinned him to win the title! Justin Credible then kicked Raven and pinned him to win the title! Moments later, Crash hit a missile dropkick on Credible and pinned him to win the title! Crash then ran into Bubba and told him to get the table, but Bubba just hit Crash with a garbage can! Trish then pinned Crash to win the title! Bubba then grabbed Trish, but Jazz shot a fire extinguisher in Bubba's eyes! A blind Bubba powerbombed Trish through the table. Stevie then crawled over and pinned Trish to regain the Hardcore Title!

After the bout, referees checked on Trish, who was out cold after being powerbombed through the table. As Bubba regained his vision, he realized what he had done, and he helped Trish back to the locker room area.

The nWo -- Scott Hall, Big Show and X-Pac -- headed to the ring next, as they prepared to meet Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bradshaw and Ric Flair in six-man action later in the night. Big Show said he knew the fans had small attention spans, so in case they missed it, he wanted to show the footage from two weeks ago, when he turned his back on Stone Cold and joined the nWo. Big Show said nothing was more beautiful than that.

Big Show said the big question now was why he had done that. He told the crowd if they said "What?" he would break them all in half. Show said he would put things in perspective. Show said he was in the main event of WrestleMania two years ago, and this year, he was in a restaurant. He said the common denominator was that two years ago, Austin was hurt, and now, where was he? He said instead of being on the PPV, he was in a prelim match on HEAT. Show said he was the biggest star in this company, and that Austin was insecure. He said the small people realized they couldn't stop him or control him, so they tried to hold him down and deny him what was rightfully his.

Show said there was no stopping him now. He was a real-life fire-breathing pissed-off giant. Big Show said this was great, because the nWo got supercharged. Show said the bottom line was that there was nothing anyone -- including Ric Flair -- could do about it.

That brought to the stage the owner of RAW, Ric Flair. Flair said Show was a whiner and a crier. The Nature Boy said he wished he was as big as Show, but he was still a 16-time World Champion because he worked his ass off. Flair said if Show had a problem, he should look in the mirror. Flair said he had apologized to the nWo for last week's mistake, and if he didn't like it, tough s**t! Flair said he liked Austin, but didn't like the nWo at all, and as much as he wanted to see Bradshaw and Austin kick their ass all alone, he would be teaming up with the two to take on the nWo tonight in Hartford!

Hall grabbed the microphone and questioned what Flair's proclamation. He said the nWo had a surprise for him and for all the fans -- and it would happen in this very ring, and it would change the history of the company forever!

Next up, William Regal challenged Spike Dudley for the European Championship. Spike was fighting on a severely sprained right ankle -- an injury suffered at the hands of Regal at the Insurrextion Pay-Per-View in England this past Saturday. The champion was noticeably limping as he headed to the ring. Prior to the bout, Regal said Spike's courage was admirable, and it was a shame that Spike had signed for the match before he got injured. Being the gentleman he was, Regal offered to let Spike do the right thing and forfeit the title, or else Spike would get a thrashing. Spike took the mic and said Regal may be right -- his ankle was killing him and he could barely walk. Spike said maybe he should do the smart thing and forfeit. Spike said Regal had really put things in perspective -- and he then attacked Regal! Regal went right to work on Spike's injured ankle, as the runt of the Dudley litter screamed in pain! Regal locked on a half Boston Crab, and Spike tapped out -- Regal is the new European Champion!

After the bout, Regal took the mic and said he wanted to take a moment to declare himself the greatest European Champion of all time. He then left the ring and attacked an already-injured Spike! He tossed Spike back into the ring and locked Spike in a half Crab -- until D'Lo Brown ran down and attacked Regal, saving Spike!

Ric Flair was in his locker room backstage, and asked Arn Anderson what the nWo's surprise was. He said if there were any surprises, he wanted to know what they were. He told the Enforcer he would head to the nWo's locker room and find out what the surprise was right now.Footage was shown from earlier in the day of Booker T going to a 7-Eleven. Booker asked the cashier where the Slurpees were, and told the kids to get out of there. He questioned why there were no Booker T cups. Booker got a Slurpee and ran into Goldust, who was in a Latrell Sprewell jersey! Goldust apologized for the disguise and last week's mishaps -- he said he wanted them to remain a team. Booker said Goldust was a freak, and he didn't like it. Goldust said he wasn't a freak, he just liked mind games. Goldust said they were the best they could be. Booker said he had to go. Goldust asked for a drink of Booker's Slurpee, in exchange for a bite of his wiener. Booker exploded, saying it was over between them!

Backstage, Paul Heyman told a psyched Brock Lesnar that it was time to bring Planet Stasiak back down to earth.

In the nWo locker room, Flair didn't find any members of the faction -- but he did find an APA hat.

Undertaker pulled into the parking lot backstage on his motorcycle. He told a security guard to watch his bike, saying he needed to do something, but wouldn't be long. Elsewhere in the parking area, the nWo was having a private meeting at the entrance area of the building.

Next up, Shawn Stasiak took on Brock Lesnar, accompanied by Paul Heyman. Brock brutalized the native of Planet Stasiak, as Paul screamed that he shouldn't defeat him -- he should hurt him! Brock downed Stasiak with his front slam, and then mercifully pinned him for the win.

Backstage, Taker was walking around the parking area, but couldn't find his motorcycle. He asked the guard where his bike was, and the guard said that Hollywood Hulk Hogan had taken it!

Moments later, Undertaker's music played, but out came Hollywood Hogan, riding Taker's bike! As Taker's music played, the crowd cheered for the Undisputed Champion! As the crowd chanted "Hogan," the Hulkster said that last week, Taker had flapped his gums about how the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Hogan said he would show Taker how he had changed since the last time they were in the ring together. He said that Taker may not care about a lot of things, but one thing Taker cared about was his bike.

Hogan climbed outside the ring and stood next to Taker's bike, saying he had something that belonged to the Dead Man. He said if Taker wanted the bike so bad, he dared him to come out and take it from him.

It didn't take long for the Dead Man to come out. Hogan sat on the bike as Taker stood on the stage. Taker said he knew Hogan rode bikes as well, and knew Hogan knew better than this. He said you don't touch another man's motorcycle. Taker said he was already planning on giving Hogan the beating of a lifetime at Judgment Day, so before Hogan did something really stupid, there was something Hogan should know. Taker said he'd sent people to the hospital for looking at his bike funny. He told Hogan that he knew he wasn't in his right mind, and said he would give Hogan one opportunity to get off the bike, but if he didn't, he would walk down the ramp and kick his teeth in -- but Hogan just said, "blah blah blah!"

Hogan challenged Taker to come do something, instead of standing on the stage like the bitch he was! Hogan said Taker didn't want none, and said he would bring the bike up to him. Hogan started to ride up the ramp, but Taker simply ran away, and Hogan chased after the Dead Man.

Moments later, Hogan rode the bike backstage looking for Taker. Fed up, Hogan left the bike in the walkway and went looking for the Dead Man. Hogan then spotted a semi and ran over the Undertaker's bike, demolishing it to pieces!

In tag action, Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy took on Intercontinental Champion Eddie Guerrero and Booker T. The bout was action-packed and fast-paced, as four of the brightest superstars in the WWE went to war. RVD and Guerrero were soon going at it in the ring, and Van Dam was clearly looking to get the upper hand on Latino Heat, just days before their IC Title rematch at Judgment Day. Jeff hit Eddie with a facebuster and a tilt-a-whirl, until Goldust ran to the ring. But Jeff threw Goldust out of the ring. Jeff then hit the Swanton on Eddie, and RVD followed up with the Five-Star Frog Splash for the pin!

Coach interviewed Terri, as she had challenged Molly to a divas swimsuit competition. Terri said Molly had been insulting the divas in recent weeks, and now it was time to call Molly out in a swimsuit competition, and let the people decide who was the hottest diva.

Ric Flair was backstage talking to Arn Anderson, saying something was wrong here. He asked why there was an APA hat in the locker room. He said they'd never seen anyone attack Bradshaw two weeks ago, and he set out for Bradshaw's locker room to get the story.

Jerry "The King" Lawler got into the ring to held conduct the swimsuit competition between Terri and Molly Holly. Oddly, Molly brought flippers to the ring with her. Molly said she wanted to go first. She told Lawler not to get too excited, because when he saw what she was wearing, he wouldn't believe his eyes! She was wearing a 1920s bathing suit -- covering up nearly all her assets! Lawler and the crowd didn't seem too impressed!

Terri then took off her robe, revealing a stunning thong bikini! Molly was disgusted, and told Terri she was disgusting. She asked how Terri could parade around like that, and Terri said she was just jealous. Molly said Terri was dressed like a stripper, and might as well put a pole in the middle of the ring. Terri said they should let the people decide -- and they overwhelmingly chose Terri! Molly told the fans they didn't deserve to see her virgin body in that state of undress. As Terri paraded around, Molly attacked her with one of the flippers, until Lawler chased her away.

Flair went to Bradshaw's locker room to confront him about the hat he found, but the former APA member was nowhere to be found. He did, however, find Kane's mask in Bradshaw's locker room. As he left Bradshaw's locker room, he ran into Jacqueline, who pointed him in the direction of Stone Cold's locker room.

Moments later, Flair knocked on Stone Cold's door. Debra answered the door, and told Flair that Austin had gone to have his knees taped. As he went to look for the Rattlesnake, Flair ran into Bradshaw, and said Bradshaw owed him an explanation. Bradshaw said he didn't owe Flair anything, and it was time to head to the ring. He said he and Austin would be there, and asked if Flair would be.

The main event on RAW was a six-man match pitting Scott Hall, X-Pac and Big Show of the nWo against Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bradshaw and Ric Flair. As the match began, Taker was walking backstage and found his bike mangled under the truck. The Dead Man was irate.

A limo then pulled into the parking area, and out of the limo climbed Kevin Nash. Moments later, the match began, as Austin started the bout against X-Pac. The Rattlesnake also went toe-to-toe with Hall, but asked to face off with Big Show, and soon got his wish. Show soon backdropped Austin nearly nine feet in the air.

Austin tagged in Bradshaw, who battled it out with Hall. The tough Texan also took it to X-Pac, but was soon being tossed around like a rag doll by Big Show. Bradshaw was soon bleeding, much to Show's delight. The nWo isolated Bradshaw, keeping him from tagging in the Rattlesnake or the Nature Boy.

Bradshaw tried to fight back, and ultimately the fight spilled out of control, with all six men going at it. Flair went for the figure-four on X-Pac, but was tossed to the outside. In the ring, Bradshaw and X-Pac duked it out, and Bradshaw hit the Clothesline from Hell, but Show pulled Bradshaw out on the pinfall attempt. Show then chokeslammed Bradshaw through the announce table!

The nWo took Flair down and attacked Austin in the ring, but the Rattlesnake fought back. He gave X-Pac and Hall a double Stunner! He stared down Big Show and invited him to get into the ring, which Show did. Show pounded on Austin, using his size to his advantage to dominate the Rattlesnake.

Austin battled back, and downed Show with a second-rope Lou Thesz Press. He went for the Stunner on Show, but Show battled out, and the ref was knocked out. Flair got back in the ring and went to hit Show with a chair, but Show caught Flair. Austin hit Show with a low blow and a Stunner, but there was no ref to count the pin!

Austin tried to revive the ref as Flair nailed Stone Cold with a steel chair! The Nature Boy went to work on Austin's knee, and then took a microphone. Flair said his next official act for the RAW brand was to tell Austin that at Judgment Day, it would be Stone Cold against Flair and Big Show in a Handicap Match! Flair then locked Austin in the figure four, as Show stood back and just laughed! The Rattlesnake screamed in pain as RAW went off the air!