By Wade Keller, Torch editor

RAW REPORT
APRIL 19, 2004
LIVE FROM CALGARY, ALB.

-The opening montage included an image of Eric Bischoff flanked by Johnny Nitro, but no image of Steve Austin.

-Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler introduced the show. They went right to the opening match.

1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. CHRISTIAN (w/Trish Stratus)

Lawler gushed so much over what a "hot couple" Christian and Trish were that Ross asked him who he was more infatuated with of the two. The crowd was hot into the match from the get-go, chanting for Jericho and "ohhing" and "ahhing" early exchanges and pin attempts. After a flurry of exchanges, Jericho settled into a side headlock at 2:45. When Trish attempted to interfere, Jericho lifted her for a slam. Lawler accused him of groping her. He was squeezing her butt pretty tightly with a smile on his face. He then spanked her. When Trish bailed out with Christian at ringside, Jericho dove onto both of them. Then they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

After the break, Trish took some shots at Jericho including a roundhouse kick to his head at ringside. Christian then gave Jericho a hard clothesline in the ring and gloated about his accomplishment. He choked Jericho over the middle rope, but when he gloated again, Jericho recovered and nailed Christian with a hard clothesline. Jericho called Christian a CLB and then did a little dance before smashing his head into the mat. He followed with a Lionsault attempt. Christian moved. Jericho landed on his feet. Christian came back with an Unprettier for a near fall out of nowhere. Christian went to the top rope. Jericho caught him up there and threw some chops, then underhook suplexed him to the mat. Jerich sold a knee injury on impact as Trish cheered on the KO'd Christian. Jericho rolled to make the cover, but Christian kicked out. The crowd continued to pop for everything. Christian surprised Jercho with a reverse DDT off the second rope for a near fall at 14:00. Christian whipped Jericho into the ropes where he bumped into Trish. Trish then went to hit Jericho, but he ducked and Christian took the slap. Jericho gave Christian an enzuigiri, but Trish had the ref distracted and couldn't count the pin. Jericho then flipped Trish into the ring. He then went for a Walls of Jericho on Christian, but a mystery bald man kicked Jericho in the face (and then fell on his ass afterward, but we won't mention that), then rolled out of the ring. Christian then scored the pin. The mystery man followed Christian and Trish to the back, although Christian and Trish didn't seem to know who he was.

WINNER: Christian at 15:25.

STAR RATING: *** -- Some of the better action between those two so far.

-Ross and Lawler announced that Chris Benoit retained the World Hvt. Title at Backlash and plugged that he'd be interviewed later.

[Commercial Break]

-Chris Benoit walked out to standing ovation from the Calgary crowd. Ross said the match at Backlash may have been better than WrestleMania, "but I'm sure that's an arguable point." He paid tribute to the late Stu Hart, his trainer, saying he wishes he was around to see him win the big one because for so long, so many people said he couldn't do it. The crowd chanted "Stu, Stu" and "Benoit, Benoit" for several minutes. Eventually Shawn Michaels interrupted. He danced to the ring. He told Benoit he never doubted Benoit was for real. The crowd chanted "asshole, asshole" at Michaels. Michaels said he and Benoit are a lot alike, but he always wondered if he knew deep in his heart whether he was really the very best. Benoit interrupted and said he has the World Title belt to prove he is the best. Michaels said he had footage that proves Benoit never beat him, but did show footage of Michaels superkicking and pinning Benoit two months ago on Raw. Michaels said he knows he is the least popular person in the arena, but he wanted to tell him man-to-man that he wanted to find out which of them was the best later in the night on Raw. The crowd liked that idea. Benoit said, "Let's get it on." Benoit ripped off his shirt.

Eric Bischoff walked out with Johnny Nitro. He said liked the idea so much, "there isn't a chance in hell I'm going to let that match happen in Calgary." The crowd booed. Benoit said, "Before you go on, Shawn Michaels came out here to talk to Chris Benoit man-to-man, and you don't have any damn business being out here. This is man to man." Bischoff said with all due respect, as G.M. with business to conduct, he had the right to be out there. Bischoff said they need to two weeks to properly promote the match. He asked Nitro where they'd be in two weeks. Nitro checked his pocket schedule and told Bischoff, who said the match would take place in Phoenix in two weeks. Ross said understandably the Calgary fans were disappointed, but fans in Phoenix should be doing cartwheels. Benoit then extended his hand to Michaels. Michaels shook it. Benoit pulled Michaels in close to his face. They almost kissed, but then decided that, too, would require at least two weeks of courting first. Lawler predicted Benoit wouldn't be a three-hit wonder. Ross said he might be right.

[Commercial Break]

2 -- MOLLY HOLLY vs. VICTORIA

Lawler suggested Ross wear a chin strap like Molly was to keep her wig on because it could help Ross with his double-chin. Those who live in glass houses. Molly got so upset when Victoria ripped off her blond wig that she aggressively stomped away at her and then applied a chokehold. When she wouldn't break it, the ref called for the bell. Two referees pried her off of Victoria, who was lifeless in the ring.

WINNER: Victoria via DQ at 2:20.

STAR RATING: 1/2* -- Not much time given to it, but good while it lasted.

-Todd Grisham interviewed Evolution as they got out of a white limo outside the arena. They looked all business. At first, Hunter wouldn't answer his questions, but when he brought up the Benoit vs. Michaels match that had been signed, Hunter asked him about it. He got upset and said, "That's my match."

[Commercial Break]

-A taped promo aired with Kane. They went very close on his face as he said he will once again taste the pain of others. "I will feast on the fear of the innocent for that is the sweetest taste of all. Tonight, I hunger for a sacrifice!" It's about time they do something to try to give Kane some juice again.

-The cut backstage to a nervous looking Bischoff and Nitro. Nitro wondered if Bischoff knew who Kane was targeting. Bischoff said he wasn't going to let it be him. He said he didn't want to become like Kurt Angle on Smackdown. William Regal walked in and said he can't handle babysitting Eugene anymore. "I can serve you in much better ways, you know," he said. Bischoff asked Regal where Eugene was. Regal said Eugene decided to play a game of "hide and seek." He said he hasn't seen him since. Bischoff said it isn't funny. He told him his job caring for his nephew Eugene, he will never work in wrestling again. Bischoff told Regal that Kane is looking for a sacrifice, so he better find him really quick. He said if he didn't find Eugene, he'd book him (Regal) against Kane.

-Ross plugged that they'd show highlights of Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley next. A clip aired of all of the thumb tacks stuck to Orton's body.

[Commercial Break]

-Ross thanked the fans "who joined then for Backlash."

-Randy Orton then walked out. Ross called Backlash the biggest night of his life. Lawler said Orton was mutilated. He was emotionless as he walked to the ring, bandages covering his forehead. Ross said Orton beat Foley at his specialty. Orton said he is scarred for life. "Who is the no-dues-paying, can't-hang-with-the-big-boys, wet-behind-the-ears, punk kid now?" asked Orton. He said the fans probably all bought their tickets in advance in anticipation of thanking Foley for shutting him up once and for all. "But it didn't happen," he said. Then he held his IC belt in the air. "Strange as it may seem, I want to thank you, Mick Foley, because I didn't face the retired author of children's books last night, like I did at WrestleMania, I faced a true hardcore legend." He said he saw the sadistic hatred of Cactus Jack up close and personal and stood up to it. He recounted some of the things Foley did to him, and said the fans cheered each time. He said by withstanding and overcoming Foley, he became something he once despised. He said he entered the match as the "legend killer" and he left the match "a living legend." Edge music interrupted and he charged to the ring. Orton's subtle reaction to Edge's music starting shows the value of not overacting. He seemed genuinely surprised by the interruption, rather than obviously manufacturing an exaggerated look of shock at the planned interruption.

Edge said during his 14 months off, he watched Randy Orton on TV and he has come to realize one thing for sure: "I don't like you!" He dared Orton to spit in his face. Orton said he is too sore and beaten down from Backlash, but he said even if he wasn't, Edge wouldn't be worth the effort. Edge then punched Orton. The other three Evolution members quickly ran out to beat down Edge. Benoit ran out to try to make the save, but he, too, was overwhelmed by the numbers. As Evolution left, Bischoff stepped out and announced a tag match later with Flair & Batista vs. Benoit & Edge in the TV main event. He said the tag belts would be on the line. Ross said there is nothing left of Edge and Benoit. They showed the two struggling to get to their knees in the ring as Flair and Batista smiled at the prospects of the match.

[Commercial Break]

3 -- TAJIRI vs. GARRISON CADE

Coach joined Ross and Lawler on commentary, who was gloating about his win the night before and being 2-0 on PPV. Ross pointed out that Cade was trained by Shawn Michaels. He said Cade has been working out with him. "How do you think I got so great so fast," Coach asked. A crawler on the bottom of the screen announced that WWE Experience, the Sunday morning show that's replacing Confidential, would premier on Sunday morning, May 2. (It will be promoted as the only show covering both WWE brands each week. Grisham will host.) In the end, Tajiri missed a moonsault and then Cade hit a top rope elbow Barry Windham-style for the three count. Coach said nobody has ever thrown an elbow like that in wrestling history. (I'm really annoyed that everyone says "in the history of this business." That sounds normal to those of us who examine wrestling as a business or industry, but to the average fan, when the watch wrestling, they think of it as a sport, not a "business." This isn't Wall Street, it's a wrestling ring.)

WINNER: Cade at 4:35.

STAR RATING: *1/4 -- Basic stuff, but good. There's nothing about Cade that's all that remarkable either work-wise or personality-wise, but he showed in OVW that he can talk.

[Commercial Break]

-The "Smackdown Rebound" recap then aired.

-When they came back live, Eugene was in the ring with Lilian Garcia shooting t-shirts to the crowd from the t-shirt gun. He shot a shirt at Lawler which got a pop from the crowd. Regal came to the ring with a smile on his face, having located Eugene. He asked Eugene to put the gun down and return to the back with him. Eugene instead shot a t-shirt at Regal. It came awfully close to being a lot more painful for Regal. I had just been wondering how much that would hurt. Ross said it was an accident. Eugene tried to tend to Regal, who didn't w ant Eugene to touch him. Fans chanted "Eugene, Eugene." Ross said, "He just made a mistake." Regal made faces as Eugene escorted him to the back.

[Commercial Break]

-They showed Edge warming backstage for the TV main event. Benoit gave Edge a pep talk, saying they'd walk into the ring together as underdogs and walk out together as World Tag Team Champions.

4 -- VAL VENIS & LITA vs. MATT HARDY & GAIL KIM

Matt Facts: "Matt has 44 different action figures" and "Matt doesn't waste time making his bed." Before the match could begin, Kane came out and chokeslammed Val Venis who rolled out of the ring. Kim had already bailed. Kane then went after LIta. Hardy paused, but then charged into the ring and saved Lita. Kane gave Hardy a big boot as Lita cowered in the corner. Kane then threw Hardy into the ringpost and followed with a chokeslam. Kane's fireworks shot off. Kane then looked down at Lita, who shook in fear. Ross said Kane has no soul and "not one damn redeeming social quality." Ross said Hardy paid a big price for saving Hardy from possible destruction. They needed to turn Hardy babyface since crowds were cheering for him everywhere, and reuniting him with Lita also gives Lita's character a boost. It was a good way to do it except that it painted Hardy as inferior to Kane physically since he was just manhandled easily.

[Commercial Break]

5 -- RIC FLAIR & BATISTA vs. CHRIS BENOIT & EDGE -- World Tag Team Title match

Benoit and Flair opened up against each other. Benoit tagged in Edge who won the war of chest slaps with Flair, so Flair did his face-first bump which drew a pop. Then Flair got up and poked Edge in the eyes and tagged in Batista. Batista nailed Edge with a vicious clothesline then tagged Flair back in. Flair worked over Edge until 6:00 when Edge began comeback. Edge crawled to hot-tag Benoit at 6:15. Benoit and Flair exchanged more chops. Benoit checked Batista off the ring apron to the floor, then applied the Sharpshooter on Flair. When Batista entered to make the save, Benoit gave him a back suplex. Benoit then put Flair in the Crippler Crossface. Ross screamed that Flair was going to tap and we were going to have new tag champs (which eliminated that as an actual possibility). Hunter ran out and jumped on the ring apron. Benoit released Flair and knocked Hunter to the floor. Flair then went after Benoit from behind. As Flair and Batista retook control, they cut to a break.

[Commercial Break]

Hunter remained at ringside. Batista threw a barrage of vicious-looking punches at Benoit on the mat after the break. He then lifted Benoit into a bearhug at 11:30. Benoit headbutted out of it at 12:15, but Batista threw an elbow and then tagged in Flair, who worked over Benoit in the corner with punches and chops. As Flair distracted the ref, Hunter choked Benoit. When Lawler played dumb, Ross disgustedly said he sounds absurd when he denied the obvious. Fans chanted, "We want Bret! We want Bret!" Batista controlled Benoit on the mat at 13:45. After Flair tagged back in, Benoit hit a series of three unreleased German suplexes. Flair and Benoit both tagged in their partners at the same time at 16:00. Edge took both Batista and Flair down with clotheslines. Batista eventually set up Edge for his sitout powerbomb, but in mid-move, Edge KO'd Batista with his cast. Edge landed on Batista. When Flair interfered, Edge got rid of him. Benoit then hit Batista with a top rope headbutt. Hunter yanked Benoit out of the ring and beat on him. Shawn Michaels showed up and gave Hunter a superkick at ringside. Meanwhile, Edge finished off Batista with a spear for the win.

WINNERS: Edge & Benoit when Edge pinned Batista at 17:22 to capture the World Tag Team Titles.

STAR RATING: ***3/4 -- A very good TV main event. Great crowd heat and good energy on everyone's part. Great call by Ross and Lawler, too. Edge was limited in what he did, but looked good and intense. Benoit carried it, with Batista holding his own and being in the right place at the right time. Flair did his thing, which the crowd ate up.

Send your thoughts on the show to torchreax@pwtorch.com. Include your name, hometown, 1-10 score, picks for best and worst matches, plus brief comments (about ten lines).

We suggest these recent related articles...

PARKS'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 10/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Thursday show, including Roman Reigns & Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt & Braun Strowman

METZGER'S ROH TV REPORT 10/4 & 10/7: IWGP World champ Okada vs. Roderick Strong main event, plus Briscoes vs. Time Splitters, more from "Field of Honor," Overall Reax

MCMAHON'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/7: TNA Title Series kicks off, Bound for Glory fall-out, more; Overall Reax