Raw Deal - Raw recap for May 15, 2000

RAW

The Rock is seen entering the arena.

WWF Commissioner "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels shows up to start tonight's show. After reintroducing himself, he says that there have been some things going on that people should have been punished for but were not, and that is his fault. He says that he has plenty of priorities such as the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, the Texas Wrestling Alliance and his beautiful wife Rebecca and his 4-month-old son Cameron. As a result of that, he has not been good at his job, and he takes the time to retire and resign as WWF Commissioner, saying that the first person who should be punished is himself, for everything is his fault. He states that he got the wheel in motion last August at the first episode of SmackDown when he cost The Rock the WWF Championship. WWF Chairman Vince McMahon shows up with kind words for Shawn, who states that he was invited to show up tonight as per the CEO and President of the World Wrestling Federation, Linda McMahon, and that he is here to make two announcements: to resign as WWF Commissioner to become its official spokesperson, and for an announcement regarding the 60-minute Iron Man Match for the WWF Championship between Triple H and The Rock at Judgment Day. He says that he is the man who made the Iron Man Match famous, then says he is not afraid of the match due to having been in it before and gone the whole 60 minutes. As a result, he is officially the special guest referee for that match. Vince admits Shawn has caught him off guard, and while Shawn is one of the greatest and most resilient of all time, he wants to know how resilient Shawn is now. Shawn shoves Vince to the mat in response.

In footage from during the break, "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels is seen leaving the arena in a limousine while D-Generation X (Triple H, X-ac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James), WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon Helmsley and Tori enter the arena in another. After noticing that Shawn is inside the other limo, Triple H comes face-to-face with Big Show, who is looking to give WWF co-owner Shane McMahon- who is not here yet - a beating.

Before the next match, "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman tells Al Snow - who is now dressed like Blackman - to stay serious in their match against The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley). Much to the annoyance of Blackman, Al Snow has given up the idea of getting "Head Cheese" over and is also meditating.

The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) beat Al Snow and "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman. Shortly after the beginning of the match, D-Generation X (X-Pac, "Road Dogg" Jesse James, Tori) show up and watch the match from the stage, and after the match, they attack The Dudley Boyz. Road Dogg pulls out a table from underneath the ring, but before putting Buh Buyh Ray through it, Tori stops Road Dogg and does it herself with a dive off the top turnbuckle.

Backstage, D-Von Dudley has to snap Buh Buh Ray out of a trance, and tells him that Tori will konw their name and that they will testify at Judgment Day.

WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley shows up. She says that she is incredibly proud of Tori for standing up to herself and putting Buh Buh Ray through a table, then says that Tori is not the only woman in the World Wrestling Federation who has suffered humiliation and degradation, for one week ago, she almost suffered the most humiliating and violating thing of her life. We then see footage from last Thursday on SmackDown where Rikishi Phatu almost applies the Stinkface to her face before Triple H makes the save and hits him with the Pedigree. She calls the Stinkface the most revolting and disgusting move in the World Wrestling Federation, and says that Rikishi will be sorry when he faces a man who feels the same way she does: Kurt Angle. Angle shows up and says he is also sickened with the Stinkface, and while he does not know much about the move, he does know that the Stinkface is not a sanctioned wrestling move and does not belong in the ring.

Kurt Angle vs. Rikishi ends in a no-contest. During the match, Edge, Christian and Pat Patterson show up to watch the match from the stage as well as to mock Rikishi, and when Rikishi gets ready to put the Stinkface on Angle, Edge and Christian run into the ring in an attempt to make the save. Rikishi manages to get all three men in the corner and fight them off. Too Cool (Grandmasta Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty) show up and knock Patterson off the apron as they get into the ring to get a piece of Edge and Christian.

Backstage, Big Show waits for WWF co-owner Shane McMahon in the parking lot.

Crash Holly retains the WWF Hardcore Championship against The Godfather. During the match, D'Lo Brown shows up to fight both men for the title, and as The Godfather and D'Lo are fighting on the outside, one of The Godfather's hos pins Crash Holly to win the title and become the first woman to win the title. Crash quickly pins her with a schoolkid pin to take the title back, then runs away.

While WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Triple H are heading towards the ring, Big Show is still waiting for WWF co-owner Shane McMahon to arrive in the parking lot.

WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley and Triple H show up. Vince announces that "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels has left the building and says that it is "a damn good thing" that he has, then announces that The Rock will be in the ring against Chris Benoit tonight, and to keep The Rock on his toes, the match will be a submission match. After stating that The Rock knows no submission moves, Triple H says that The Rock will show up to answer his challenge, and says that he wants there to be no question as to who the better man is in a match that is not about catchphrase, cliches or gimmicks that nobody wants to touch simply because they do not have the ability to do it. He asks The Rock if he has that ability, and says there is no question about it that he has that ability and then some. He says taht when Judgment Day is over, one man will walk out of the ring as the very best, the greatest and the undisputed WWF Champion, and it will be him. As for Shawn Michaels, he admits that they have quite the past together, but after what happened earlier tonight, he wonders if they even have a present. He then tells Shawn that if he does not call the match the way that it should be called, he will guarantee that Shawn will have no future. The Rock suddenly shows up and says that he will "officially kick [Triple H's] candy ass" and says that the fact that he is better than him eats Triple H up inside. He plans to prove that on Sunday, then states that he does not trust Shawn after what happened the last time he was a referee. He tells Shawn to call the match straight down the middle or else he will take his boot and shove it straight up his candy ass. The Rock then tells Vince that he will get the job done tonight one way or another, and says that when it comes to what he will do to Triple H at Judgment Day, one hour will not be long enough.

WAR ZONE

Hardcore Holly beats Chris Jericho in a Hardcore Rules match. During the match, Chris Benoit runs in and puts Jericho in a Dragon Sleeper, allowing Hardcore Holly to hit Jericho with a steel chair to win the match.

Backstage in the parking lot, Big Show spots a limousine and goes for the occupant in the back only to find out that WWF co-owner Shane McMahon is not inside.

WWF co-owner Shane McMahon shows up. He tells Big Show that he is right here in the ring, then says he has been coming out for weeks to chants stating that he is a "pussy." He says that he has consulted Webster's Dictionary and confied that a pussy is a cat, and says the people call him a pussy because he is quick as a cat and has the moves and ferocity of a jungle cat. He then says that he is so frisky that he is challenging Big Show to a match at Judgment Day contest under no-disqualification rules. Shane then says that after Big Show is lying down on his back on the canvas looking up at the lights as he leaves, the only question Big Show will be asking himself is where Shane went. Big Show shows up and tells Shane he has just made his day, as he no longer has to hunt him down and he has him in the ring where he wants him. He then says that if Shane is a cat, then he is a big nasty bastard, then proposes beating him up right now. Shane says he was expecting this, and puts Big Show in a match right now against T&A (Test and Albert), who show up with Gerald Brisco linking arms with Trish Stratus.

Big Show beats T&A (Test and Albert) by disqualification in a two-on-one handicap match. During the match, Trish Stratus hands Test a steel chair, but Big Show punches it into Test's face and knocks Test out. As he is about to powerbomb Albert, Trish Stratus gets in the ring and confronts Big Show only to be grabbed for a choke slam. As Big Show is about to do it, Gerald Brisco gets in the ring and confronts Big Show, who lets go of Trish and choke slams Brisco. Shane then gets in the ring and hits Big Show in the back with a steel chair, but it has absolutely no effect and Big Show chases Shane to the back before grabbing him and throwing him into the WWF.om sign below the TitanTron. T&A then fights Big Show on the stage, but he makes quick work of them.

The Radicalz (Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko) beat Eddie Guerrero and Chyna after Chyna inadvertently kicks Eddie in the groin, thinking that Saturn is behind her.

Backstage, Edge and Christian talk about the extra money they have made today when Michael Cole interviews them. When asked why they are putting the WWF Tag Team Championships on the line against The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw), Christian says they are "the fightingest champions of all times," and Edge says that it is about the fans. As for the fans who can afford five seconds of flash photography, they have a special surprise in store for them.

Before the next match, it is announced that WWF co-owner Shane McMahon has been taken to a local medical facility. Christian announces that he and Edge have a treat for them: a special new five-second pose called "A Cleveland Indian's Relief Pitcher." Edge pretends to pitch a ball, and Christian pretends to look off into the distance.

Edge and Christian retain the WWF Tag Team Championships against The Hardy Boyz (Jeff and Matt Hardy) and The Acolytes (Faarooq and Bradshaw) after Matt Hardy notices The Acolytes attacking Jeff.

Backstage, Michael Cole interviews Chris Benoit, who considers himself the right WWF Intercontinental Championship and the possessor of the most devastating submission hold in the WWF, the Crippler Crossface. He says that what he will do to The Rock is a preview of what he will do to Chris Jericho, and that The Rock has zero submission holds.

Triple H and "WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley show up before the next match to get a closer look, and WWF Chairman Vince McMahon shows up to get a closer look some time later.

Chris Benoit beats The Rock in a submission match. During the match, WWF co-owner Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley gets on the apron to distract referee Tim White so that Triple H can drag Benoit to the bottom rope. Triple H then distracts The Rock, and Benoit puts The Rock in the Crippler Crossface. WWF Chairman Vince McMahon commands the timekeeper to ring the bell, even though The Rock has not submitted, and demands Lillian Garcia declare Benoit the winner. After the match, Triple H and Benoit continue to attack The Rock, but The Rock fends them off and Vince backs off when he gets in the ring. As he makes his way up the ramp, Chris Jericho shows up and blocks Vince's exit, and The Rock grabs Vince. Triple H hits The Rock before The Rock can get Vince in the ring, but Jericho gets Triple H in the Walls of Jericho and The Rock hits Benoit with the Rock Bottom. X-Pac and "Road Dogg' Jesse James rush in to attack The Rock and Jericho, but The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von Dudley) show up with a table and fight X-Pac and Road Dogg. Triple H and The Rock end up the only two men still in the ring, and The Rock puts Triple H through the table that The Dudley Boyz left in the ring to end the show.