By Wade Keller, Torch editor

RAW REPORT
NOVEMBER 28, 2005
CLEVELAND, OHIO

-Joey Styles, Coach, and Jerry Lawler introduced the show and said Eric Bischoff was in the ring and looked angry.

-Bischoff ordered the Raw wrestlers to come to the ring to face him because they let him down last night. Nobody came out. Then Bischoff asked if there was an audio problem. Coach, Lawler, and Styles said they'd hate to be one of those wrestlers right now. Bischoff said if the wrestlers weren't going to come out, he was going back there and would fire the first person he saw. At that point, Vince McMahon walked out. He told Bischoff not to fire him because he loves his job. "Eric you're not going to fire me," he said. "You're not going to fire anybody." He said the reason the Raw wrestlers aren't coming to the ring is because he told them they didn't have to. He then ran down the list of promises Bischoff made, and how none of them happened. "You set these goals for yourself and then failed to reach those goals. Some could construe that to mean you're a failure. Don't get me wrong. You've had a little success here and there." He said he had a "couple of months" run with WCW, but then burned it to the ground. He asked if he was going to do the same to his show. When Bischoff said his record speaks for itself, McMahon yelled at him to shut up and told him, "You're record sucks."

McMahon, "Perception is reality. Therefore if these people perceive you as a failure, then they're going to perceive Monday Night Raw as a failure. And if they perceive Monday Night Raw as a failure, then they're going to perceive me Vincent K. McMahon as a failure." He said he may be perceived as a lot of things, but failure is not among them. He said therefore he was going to give Bischoff an ultamatum: "Set a goal and achieve it. For a change, set a goal and accomplish it." He said if that doesn't happen, he could very well be looking for a new general manager. Bischoff said, "With all due respect, you and I know it's not as easy as it sounds." He said since 2002, he's held the show together. He said the Smackdown G.M. position has been revolving door, but he's been steady. He said he wouldn't have an easy time finding anyone to replace him when he thinks about it. McMahon pretended he had something stuck in his ear and asked Bischoff to repeat himself. McMahon then looked over Bischoff's shoulder and out came Shane McMahon. Yes, when ratings are disappointing, bring out a new McMahon.

Shane danced on the stage and made his way to the ring. He hugged his dad and took the mic. "You know, Eric, I've never really liked you," he said. "And I'm actually looking forward to seeing you go." He said he would be his replacement. "I was born to do this job," Shane added. That was it. Segment ended with Bischoff mouthing off at Shane and Vince without a mic near him. Not a bad segment, because it made it seem as if something major was at stake during the show and added a mystery of what goal Bischoff would create for himself (which is a pretty tame challenge since Bischoff could set the goal that he drink a glass of water and then accomplish it). The downside of the segment is that it seems as if Vince McMahon is going to back to featuring non-wrestlers to try to get the desired uptick in the recent disappointing ratings.

-Lawler plugged that Michaels vs. Carlito was up next.

[Commercial Break]

-Styles commented on the main page of WWE.com that showed a picture of Bischoff with the words, "Not his night" as the headline.

1 -- SHAWN MICHAELS vs. CARLITO

Where would WWE be without the veteran presence and skills of Michaels at this point? With the tragic loss of Eddie Guerrero and the departures of Christian and Chris Jericho, it's not a deep roster of workers at this point who can carry greener young wrestlers such as Carlito. Styles threw to a clip of Carlito, which he said aired exclusively on "WWE.com Unlimited" earlier, bad-mouthing Michaels. Carlito said if it weren't for Michaels, Team Raw would have won. He said he'd prove it in the match. Carlito slapped Michaels, spit an apple bite in his face, and then went to work with aggressive offense. They brawled at ringside. Back in the ring, Carlito went to a couple of headlocks. Michaels teased comebacks, including skinning the cat into the ring. Carlito knocked him down and then dove onto him. Michaels nipped up, then grabbed at his left leg as if he pulled something. He bailed out to ringside. After chatting with the ref, Carlito slidekicked him. They cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

The announcers noted that the match was available on WWE.com during the break, so they're back to heavy plugs for the "competing" stream of Raw. Michaels made a comeback at 11:00. He was barely able to launch off the top rope with a flying elbow. He then signalled for the Sweet Chin Music, but couldn't execute the kick. Carlito then hit Michaels with a DDT out of nowhere for a quick two count. Carlito looked dejected that Michaels kicked out. Michaels again went for a quick sidekick, but his support leg gave out on him. He collapsed. Carlito attempted to grab Michaels, but Michaels shoved off. Carlito almost hit the ref. When Carlito turned around, Michaels managed to execute Sweet Chin Music after all for the pin. Michaels was helped to his feet by the referee.

WINNER: Michaels at 13:30.

STAR RATING: ** -- Average match.

-Backstage, Kurt Angle and Daivari barged into Bischoff's office. Angle was in a rage and complained about a Smackdown referee counting his pin. He said he wanted vengeance. He told Bischoff not to piss him off. Bischoff threw his head back and grimaced at the pressure he was under.

[Commercial Break]

-A highlight package aired from Survivor Series. They also plugged the live special on UPN tomorrow night featuring Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show in a David vs. Goliath match.

-Maria entered Bischoff's office and innocently asked in a perky manner if he thought he was going to get fired. Bischoff asked if someone put her up to asking that. She said Shane McMahon thought it'd be a good idea. Bischoff said he was booking her against Kurt Angle in the next segment and his goal was to never have to hear her ask another question again. Styles asked if we were really going to see Angle wrestle "sweet little Maria."

[Commercial Break]

-Maria stood in the ring being consoled and coached by Lilian Garcia. Daivari then walked out to be referee. Chad Patton argued with Daivari and eventually punched him on the chin. Daivari then attacked Patton from behind and choked him. Kurt Angle then came out for the match.

2 -- KURT ANGLE vs. MARIA

Angle said he's a gentleman and didn't want to hurt her. He asked for a hug. They hugged, but then Angle wouldn't let go. Maria began to panic. Daivari called for the bell to start the match. Maria screamed. Angle suplexed her. Angle began to apply the anklelock when John Cena ran to the ring for the save. The screams from the women were loud when Cena arrived in the ring. Chris Masters then jumped Cena and put him in a Master Lock.

WINNER: No decision.

-Eric Bischoff stepped out onto the stage and announced that he was booking Cena vs. Angle vs. Masters in a three-way match with the title on the line. He said it would be a no-DQ submission match.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- CANDICE MICHELLE & VICTORIA & TORRIE WILSON (w/a small dog) vs. TRISH STRATUS & ASHLEY & MICKEY JAMES

Lawler said he hoped this would be the longest match of the night. Styles said the referee was a lucky, lucky man. Mickey won using Trish's finisher, Stratusfaction. She then grabbed the Women's Title belt and celebrated. Trish tapped her and nicely asked for the belt. James happily handed it to her.

WINNER: Mickey & Ashley & Trish when Mickey pinned Victoria at 4:20.

STAR RATING: 1/2*

[Commercial Break]

-Shane McMahon gave Bischoff a hard time about putting Maria in a match against Angle. "That must have made you feel like a big man," he said. He then said Shane was party of the "lucky sperm club." Shane grabbed Bischoff and threw him into the wall. He yelled at him, saying he is never to disrespect his family name.

-Backstage, Daivari gave Angle a shoulder massage backstage. As they talked about Angle winning, Masters stepped in and said he went to Vince McMahon and got Daivari removed as referee for the match. He said tonight his first WWE Title match would feature an impartial referee. Coach began reacting, but they cut him off.

[Commercial Break]

4 -- TREVOR MURDOCH vs. SHELTON BENJAMIN

Shelton jump-started the match with a barrage of punches and a flying clothesline off the top rope to Murdoch on the floor. The back and forth match ended with a roll-up by Murdoch with a yank of the tights.

WINNER: Murdoch at 3:10.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Good action. Strange match to book. With the roster in the shape it's in, it's surprising they're treating Benjamin like a virtual jobber right now.

-They showed Triple H backstage heading toward the entrance tunnel to comment on his beating up Ric Flair the night before at the PPV.

[Commercial Break]

-Triple H stood in the ring and said despite rumors, he is a compassionate man. He said after the beating he gave him last night, he made sure that Flair got the best hospital care. He said he made sure the hospital wall had a nice plasma TV on it with USA Network available so he could watch Raw live from his bed. He told Flair that he had a chance to go out on top, and so therefore when he was released from the hospital, he should go home and call it career. He said there was no one who would get in his face at this point about what he did to Flair. Big Show's music played and he walked out. Show said, “You’re a piece of sh––.” The crowd popped. They obviously bleeped the forecast four-letter word. Show said he doesn't need a sledgehammer to KO someone, he can do it with his bare hands. He asked Hunter if he had the guts to fight him right now. When Hunter began mouthing back, Show knocked the mic out of his hand and yelled at him. Hunter backed out of the ring and returned to the back.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- BIG SHOW & KANE vs. GENE SNITSKY & TYSON TOMKO -- World Tag Team Title match

Show and Kane dominated. They knocked Snitsky out of the ring and then Show finished off Tomko with a chokeslam. Styles said he's never seen Show so angry before.

WINNERS: Show & Kane at 1:30.

STAR RATING: 1/4* -- They sure don't have plans for Snitsky or Tomko to be presented as credible anytime soon.

[Commercial Break]

6 -- JOHN CENA vs. KURT ANGLE vs. CHRIS MASTERS -- WWE Title match

The announcers made a big deal out of this being the biggest match of Masters's career. Cena charged to the ring and went after Masters, but soon Angle and Masters took control and beat down Cena. Masters and Angle celebrated their attack, but then Angle turned on Masters and attacked him, knocking him out of the ring. Cena made a brief comeback, but Angle soon had Cena in an Anklelock. Masters re-entered the ring and put Angle in a Masterlock. Angle tried to power out of it. Angle couldn’t power out, but he did last a while. Cena eventually broke it up. A loud "Cena sucks" chant broke out. Masters then put Cena in the Masterlock. Cena immediately began fighting it. As Cena began to pass out, Angle attacked Masters from behind. Angle then put Masters in an Anklelock. Cena broke it up with a leap off the ropes with a double axe handle. Cena shoulder-tackled Angle as the guys in the crowd began booing. Cena did the "You can't see me" bit, but Masters hit him from behind. Angle charged at Cena with a chair, but Cena kicked it into Angle's face. Cena bashed Masters's knee with a chair twice, then locked on an STF, and Masters tapped out. Coach asked, "When did Cena learn the STF?" As Cena celebrated with his belt on the stage, Angle yelled in frustration at him from center ring.

WINNER: Cena at 7:01 to retain the WWE Hvt. Title.

STAR RATING: **1/4 -- Chaotic and frenetic. Solid TV main event action, if not compressed into too short of a slot.

-Vince McMahon told Shane backstage that it was time to "take out the trash." The announcers said that meant next week Bischoff would be fired.

We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Raw Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. To contribute your thoughts on Raw, click here.

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