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By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor

KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT
APRIL 7, 2003
LIVE FROM MILWAUKEE, WISC.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

-Rock tried to charm Trish backstage. Jeff Hardy interrupted, setting up a TV match between them, which Rock won.

-Rock called Goldberg to the ring. Goldberg came out. Rock said "Nah!" in reference to wrestling him at Backlash. Rock then fled the ring.

-Eric Bischoff arrived in Stone Cold's pick-up truck. He gloated about firing Austin, then turned to Jim Ross who ripped into him last week. Before Bischoff could fire Ross, Ross said he meant everything he said last week, then he quit. Johnathan Coachman took over announcing for the last two matches.

-Kevin Nash returned during the main event tag match between Triple H & Chris Jericho and Booker T & Shawn Michaels. He saved Jericho from a post-match attack by the heels. He beat up Jericho and Flair and had a staredown with Hunter as the show ended. Booker scored the pin on Hunter in the actual match.

RUNDOWN OF THE SHOW

-Highlights aired of Goldberg and Rock on last week's Raw. Then the Raw opening montage and when Austin's was shown, there was a big red "X" across the screen indicating he wasn't part of the show anymore. Nice small touch.

-Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the program and previewed the main event of Triple H & Chris Jericho vs. Booker T & Shawn Michaels.

1 -- TRISH STRATUS vs. JAZZ

At 3:40 Jazz had Trish locked in an STF for a potential submission, but Trish reached the ropes. Trish then scored the pin after a Stratusfaction, but the ref didn't see that Jazz had placed her leg on the bottom rope before the third count.

WINNER: Trish Stratus at 5:12.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Overall a good five minute opener with a couple minor mistimed or botched spots.

-They showed Rock arriving at the arena backstage. He went right to Eric Bischoff's office. Rock said Bill Goldberg speared him last week during his appreciation ceremony. "Who in the hell does Bill Goldberg think he is, ruining Rock's night," he said. He mocked Goldberg's facial gyrations and ticks after saying "Who's next." Rock said if Goldberg wants competition, he's got competition.

[commercial break]

-Kane and Rob Van Dam talked backstage about winning the tag titles last week. RVD told Kane that he can trust and rely on him without need to worry.

-Teddy Long approached Jazz backstage. He told her she was a victim of bigotry and bias. He said if she aligned with himself and Rodney Mack, she'd no longer be a victim. She shook Long's hand and accepted the offer.

-Rock was shown again backstage drawing big boos from the crowd. He approached Trish backstage and congratulated her on her win. He noticed she's all sweaty and wet. "Is that because you just had a match or because you've been thinking all day and night about The Rock," he asked. He told her there isn't anyone she should be looking at but him. Then he noticed she was looking at Jeff Hardy standing behind him. He asked who he was. He said he wouldn't sign any autographs, adding he was busy. Hardy said last time he saw him he was busy getting his ass kicked by Goldberg. Rock said when Goldberg "finally has the testicles to show up," he's going to call him out. He said in the mean time he'll "whip his candy ass" in the ring. He told Trish she could watch. Rock walked away. Jeff chatted with Trish.

[commercial break]

-They showed Steve Austin getting bashed with a chair by an ESPN announcer for a commercial spot filmed last year.

2 -- SEAN MORLEY vs. ROB VAN DAM

RVD took early advantage, but Morley took over by 2:00 with a string of offense. RVD fought back at 3:30 with a dropkick and clothesline followed by a series of RVD highspots. Lance Storm interfered, upsetting RVD. He then distracted the ref when RVD had Morley pinned. RVD stayed on offense and set up the Five-Star Frogsplash. When Storm grabbed his leg, RVD shoved him away and leaped onto him at ringside instead. When RVD re-entered the ring, Storm tripped him leaving him vulnerable for a DDT from Morley and a pin. RVD dropkicked both Storm and Morley after the match, fending off their attempt to double-team him.

WINNER: Morley at 5:25.

STAR RATING: *1/4

-Backstage Booker T was getting his leg taped by a trainer. Michaels told Booker they've got a score to settle tonight. Booker said he was up for it.

[commercial break]

-Clips aired of Shawn Michaels and Ivory signing autographs as a military base. The announcers then sent their best wishes to the Coalition troops overseas. Lawler said he loved seeing the Saddam statue get knocked over.

-Scott Steiner came out for a match against Christopher Nowinksi. Nowinski said he was going to exercise his freedom of speech and compare Steiner to the U.S. military as being strong, but arrogant. The crowd booed. Steiner attacked Nowinski and put him in a Steiner Recliner. No match took place.

-They showed Bill Goldberg walking backstage decked out in leather.\

[commercial break]

-A Goldberg video aired featuring highlights of Goldberg in WCW. Ross and Lawler said it captured his mystique. They included commentary from Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan talking about his winning streak.

-Christian walked into Rock's locker room and asked for a favor. Rock said: "Hey, you walk in here, catch me half naked, ask me for a favor. The Rock don't swing that way. If you do, that's cool. That's you." He asked Rock to sign a DVD of his movie for a friend. Rock asked what his name is. Christian said, "Christian," which got a pop from the crowd. Rock said something has always bothered him about him. He said he needs to seize the day and own the room. Christian said that's kinda like becoming a Born Again Christian. Christian said he doesn't care what people are saying, he believes Rock will kick Goldberg's ass. Rock got defensive and asked who was saying that. He said he is going to seize the moment against Goldberg. He handed Christian his jacket and told him to "hold it, not smell it."

-Trish and Jeff Hardy kissed backstage. Jeff smiled as he walked away.

[commercial break]

3 -- JEFF HARDY vs. THE ROCK

At 4:00 when Hardy went on an offensive flurry, Ross said he was showing signs of concentrating on Goldberg instead of the match at hand. Hardy hit a Twist of Fate at 5:15, then took off his shirt to gets screams from the girls. He then did his version of the Rock Bottom with a little Hardy mannerisms thrown in. That got a pop from a certain demographic. He followed with a Swanton Bomb. Rock kicked out at two. Rock then got a surge of energy and dropped Hardy with a DDT. He followed with a Rock Bottom for the pin.

WINNER: Rock at 6:53.

STAR RATING: **1/2 -- Good match. Rock is a pro. He gave Jeff enough offense that Jeff didn't lose anything despite getting pinned.

-After the match Rock grabbed the house mic and told Goldberg, "Just bring it, bitch." Goldberg's music played and he entered the ring. Rock and Goldberg went eye-to-eye. Goldberg told him he'd take him on right now. Rock said Goldberg would like to wrestle him one-on-one at Backlash in the greatest match of all time, then added, "Nah!" Then he walked out of the ring. Goldberg yelled (sans a mic), "You punk." When Christian attempted to "seize the moment" and attack Goldberg from behind, Goldberg speared Christian. As Goldberg celebrated, Rock then attacked him from behind. Goldberg "Hawked" it by no-selling and then flexing his trapezeous muscles and yelling. Rock bailed out and mixed a look of fear with attempted bravery. Ross said he wants to see Rock vs. Goldberg, "but Rock said no."

[commercial break]

-Terri approached Rock backstage and asked why he said no. Rock looked panicked and in a hurry to leave. Ross pointed out he wasn't even getting dressed and it was snowing outside. Rock paused and told Terri. "You wanna know why I said no?... Because." Then he left. Funny segment. Rock has been really on.

4 -- KANE vs. BUBBA RAY & D-VON DUDLEY

Bubba was selling hard any big bumps he took during the match. Kane beat up D-Von for a couple of minutes. When Bubba entered, the double-teaming led to Kane being on defense for a while. Kane, though, held his own and went for a double clothesline. However, the Dudleys escaped and gave him a 3D for the win.

WINNER: Dudleys at 3:20.

STAR RATING: * -- That was the smart finish since the Dudleys rightfully should be able to beat Kane in a two-on-one match. Had they lost, it would have killed off their credibility.

-After the match, RVD ran out to make the save after the match and nailed Bubba with a sidekick. When he went for the Five-Star, Storm yanked RVD off the top rope. Morley then came out and was going to nail RVD with his splash, but Kane covered RVD to protect him. D-Von hit Kane with a chair, freeing up Morley to hit RVD after all with a frog splash. As D-Von held a chair up to RVD's face, Storm dropkicked the chair into his face. The Dudleys then gave Kane another 3D. This three-team feud isn't setting the world afire, but it's been given considerable time to develop in recent weeks (including the conflicted Dudleys unsure of their decision to join the Bischoff Administration). If there were no brand split, this wouldn't have been given this much time to develop into a full-fledged feud.

-Test approached Goldust backstage about telling Stacy that he was never on the phone with Torrie. They pinky-shook on in.

[commercial break]

-Test brought Stacy to Goldust. Goldust said he was the one who was looking at the Playboy magazine, not Test. Test said he's never even seen a Playboy. Goldust then began spouting off uncontrollably about "naked in the duffel bag." Stacy found a WWE Magazine with Goldust on the cover. Goldust yelled, "Fake cover, fake cover." Stacy discovered Playboy under it and stormed off. Test asked Goldust what the hell is wrong with him. Goldust looked at the Playboy spread and did an imitation of Jar Jar Binks from Star Wars I.

-Stone Cold's music played and the Stone Cold truck drove into the arena. Eric Bischoff then popped out of the driver's side and saluted the crowd with a grin on his face. He did all of Austin's mannerisms. Ross said he was getting sick. Bischoff mockingly said he misses Austin. He said he especially misses the look on Austin's face when he told him he was fired. He called Austin a washed-up has-been who was trying to keep his medical condition a secret. He said Austin was too much of a liability every time he stepped into the ring and he couldn't take the risk. Bischoff turned to Ross and acknowledged that he had a few things to say about Bischoff's decision last week. Bischoff asked him to get his "Stone Cold lovin' ass" onto the stage. Footage aired of Ross saying that Bischoff has robbed him of his dream and livelihood and calling Bischoff a no good son of a bitch for taking Austin out of the ballgame for medical reasons, "ruining his dreams." He said he "ought to burn in hell for it." Bischoff asked Ross to step up onto the stage if he has something to say to him. Ross asked for a chance to say something before Bischoff made his inevitable announcement. Bischoff said he wanted to hear him grovel He said: "About what I said last week, I meant every word of it because you are one lousy son of a bitch and you can take this job and shove it because I quit." He shoved the mic into Bischoff's chest and walked out. Bischoff said he can't quit because he's fired.

[commercial break]

5 -- GOLDUST vs. STEVEN RICHARDS

Johnathan Coachman came out to take Ross's place. He said Ross left the building and he is surprised he'd quit. Late in the match Victoria yelled from ringside at Richards that she couldn't find her belt. Richards yelled at her. Goldust then powerslammed the distracted Richards and scored the pin. Coachman said that move is called Shock Treatment. Richards and Victoria argued afterward. Goldberg knocked their heads together.

WINNER: Goldust at 2:59.

STAR RATING: 3/4*

-Ric Flair gave Triple H and Chris Jericho a pep talk backstage, telling them to bury their differences for a night. Jericho said he was willing. Triple H said he'd make sure Michaels never gets in his face again and smiled.

[commercial break]

-The French team of Sylvan Grenier & Rene Dupree did a promo from a "news desk" setting stating that they are coming to WWE soon to teach Americans' a lesson that they aren't sissies.

6 -- TRIPLE H & CHRIS JERICHO vs. SHAWN MICHAELS & BOOKER T

Coachman plugged next week's Raw in Richmond, Va. It's a bad sign when a week out they're having to plug ticket sales for Raw when in the past they'd have been sold out long before. During Michaels's ring intro, fireworks shot off in the background. They sounded like gunshots, so Lawler said, "That had to make Booker feel at home." Michaels catapulted Jericho over the top rope to the floor in the opening seconds, and then dove onto Jericho and Hunter at ringside. Four minutes into the match, they showed a limo arrive. Coachman said they weren't expecting anyone.

[commercial break]

Hunter hit Michaels with a high knee at 6:30. Jericho then choked Michaels with tape as Flair distracted the ref. Hunter put Michaels in a sleeper at 8:45. Michaels escaped and put Hunter in a sleeper at 9:15. Hunter quickly escaped with a back suplex and tagged in Jericho, who worked over Michaels's leg. Michaels hot-tagged Booker at 11:00. Booker gave Hunter a flying forearm and a series of chops followed by a spin wheel kick. He planted Hunter with a DDT at 12:00. He then hit a spinebuster at 12:00 for another two count. Jericho caught Booker in a Walls of Jericho. Michaels superkicked Jericho. Booker went for his scissors kick, but Hunter avoided it. Booker then escaped Hunter's attempt at a Pedigree and then bridged Hunter for a pin.

WINNERS: Booker T & Shawn Michaels at 13:30.

STAR RATING:

-After the match, Flair clipped Booker's legs from behind. Jericho and Flair worked over Booker's leg as Hunter and Michaels went after each other. Jericho nailed Michaels with a chair. The three heels handcuffed Michaels tot he middle rope. Hurricane ran out to attempt to make the save, but he was quickly overwhelmed. Kevin Nash's music then played and he walked out wearing a "Hustler" t-shirt. He came out to his old Diesel music and appeared to be in better shape than at any time in recent years. He stepped over the top rope. Jericho charged him with a chair. Nash gave him a big boot and managed to not suffer an injury. He beat up Flair, also, with a sidewalk slam. Nash gave Jericho a Jackknife (which Coachman called a powerbomb, which is close). Hunter then entered the ring and the two had a staredown about 10 feet apart. Hunter dropped his sledgehammer and backed out of the ring as Nash stared him down.

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