Mike Reviews WWE Raw #553 (HHH Vs HBK – December 2003)

Happy Friday Everyone!

In keeping with the theme of “Great TV Main Events” that we started two weeks ago; we’re going to look at an episode of Raw from December 2003 that features Triple H and Shawn Michaels going at it in a famous match. I’m not sure how the rest of the show will be, as Raw wasn’t great in 2003, but maybe there’s some good stuff elsewhere on the show to go alongside the strong Main Event?

You can view the full card for this episode of Raw by clicking below;

WWE Raw #553 card

Pics come courtesy of Pro Wrestling Wiki

Raw is emanating from San Antonio, Texas on the 29th of December 2003

Calling the action are Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler

The opening video package recaps Mick Foley walking out as Raw CO-GM two weeks ago rather than wrestle Randy Orton for the IC Title. Foley would of course eventually build up the courage to fight Orton, in an example of “letting things play out” actually leading to something worthwhile.

The WWE board of directors are meeting tonight in order to decide whether Stone Cold Steve Austin can return to Raw after he was “fired” back at Survivor Series 2003.

Raw Intercontinental Champ Randy Orton joins us, to Mick Foley’s music no less, to no doubt talk about last week. Orton reminds us that Foley is not just a coward, he’s a smart coward, because Foley knew that he couldn’t defeat Orton, so he decided to run away instead. Orton demands that Lilian Garcia step into the ring and officially announce him as both the winner and the new Hardcore Legend, to which she reluctantly complies. Booker T joins us though, and says that he wants an IC Title match with Orton tonight on Raw, as his new year’s resolution is to whoop Randy Orton’s butt. That’s a very specific resolution. Mark Henry and Teddy Long attack Booker to seemingly put the kibosh on that one though. Orton is of course happy to accept Booker’s challenge now that Booker has been attacked by a big angry man, so that match will happen later on Raw.

Eric Bischoff is not happy about what Mark Henry and Teddy Long did, and says that if they take the rest of the night off, then he’ll do them a favour next week.

Match 1
“Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner Vs “Mr. Monday Night” Rob Van Dam

Steiner was part of the pro-Bischoff section of the Raw roster whilst RVD was anti-Bischoff, so they’d been locking horns in some capacity for most of the autumn and winter. Steiner was not good in the ring during this period due to issues with both his back and feet, but he was awesome on the SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain game due to his hard hitting suplex based offence. RVD stupidly decides to taunt at the opening bell, which leads to Steiner just kicking RVD in the gut and then working him over. RVD flips and kicks his way back into it though, with the near immobile Steiner doing his best to keep up. Steiner would eventually get his Drop-Foot dealt with and would look better than this in TNA as a result. Steiner eventually stops an attempted RVD high risk move with a big suplex off the top, and that’s the heat segment.

Steiner’s offence looks okay during the heat and RVD sells it well, so it’s a reasonably effective heat segment, with the crowd mostly sticking with it. Steiner is only really drawing scattered boos, but it’s better than silence at least. RVD eventually makes the comeback, getting the Split-Legged Moonsault for two. Steiner fights back and tries another suplex off the top, but RVD fights that off and gets the flying kick from the top rope before following up with the Five Star Frogsplash, which is enough to give RVD the clean win. Considering that a year prior to this they were building up Steiner for a Raw World Title match with Triple H, the fact he’s losing clean here in the Raw opener kind of shows how far down the pecking order Steiner was at this point.

WINNER: ROB VAN DAM
RATING: **

Thoughts: This was fine. Basic TV stuff really, but they got enough time to have an actual match with a beginning, middle and end, which is always appreciated in a setting like this. The clean finish was a nice bonus too

We see clips from Royal Rumble 1997, where a flu ridden Shawn Michaels did his best to have a watchable match with Sid. This was supposedly meant to be Vader in the Sid role, but Shawn hated working with Vader so Sid got the slot instead.

Christian and Chris Jericho are arguing about Lita and Trish Stratus. Christian is annoyed that Jericho is more into being with Stratus than him. Come on Christian, can you really blame him?

Jonathon Coachman is in Stamford, CT where the board are discussing whether Stone Cold Steve Austin can return to Raw. Linda McMahon will be arguing for Stone Cold to return, whilst Vince McMahon will be arguing that Stone Cold should stay away. Vince comes by to say that he thinks the board will listen to him, oh and he likes Coach’s hat.

Meanwhile, we take a look at the SmackDown crew going to Iraq to put on a show for the troops. Man those poor service people. It’s bad enough that they have to spend their time fighting the army of Saddam Hussein, but on their day off they’ve got to watch a 2003 Big Show match? That’s just cruel!

Match 2
Guest Referee: “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
Eddie Kramer and Russell Simpson Vs The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von)

Ric Flair and Batista had defeated The Dudleyz for the Raw Tag Titles, so this is a continuation of that feud, with Flair being the unfair Heel referee here. Sadly Flair hasn’t brought his famed red shoes from the Backlash 2002 pay per view. Jim Ross is horribly offended by his khaki trousers though in a funny moment. The Dudleyz are quickly disqualified for using a closed fist punch, in a rare instance of a Heel ref just ending the match as quickly as possible without stretching things out. Punching was actually illegal still in Britain until quite recently, which made a sly unseen punch a great way to draw heat from the crowd that has now sadly gone.

WINNERS BY DQ: KRAMER & SIMPSON
RATING: N/A

Thoughts: More an elongated angle than an actual match, and to be honest if you’re doing the Heel ref shtick then it’s probably better to do it that way

Bubba Ray punches Flair after the match, so Batista runs down and lays out both Dudleyz to keep that feud going.

We get another classic Shawn Michaels moment, this time SummerSlam 2002, in a match that didn’t help anyone but was sure darn entertaining.

I’m personally disappointed they haven’t included Shawn’s incredibly enjoyable TV match with Jimmy del Ray from Raw in 1995. That’s genuinely one of the better Shawn Michaels moments from the 90’s.

Eric Bischoff yells at the referee corps for not being strict enough and tells them to lay down the law more stringently. The refs seem down with that.

Back in Stamford, Jonathon Coachman is with Vince McMahon. Vince thinks that he made his case well, and that there isn’t a place for Stone Cold in the modern WWE. The crowd in the arena doesn’t seem to agree, nor do the million people that signed a petition for Stone Cold to come back to Raw. Vince talks about how he sees the fans as his children, as I reach for a sick bag, and states that he knows what is best for them.

Terri Runnels is interviewing Lita, TrishStratus and StaceyKeibler, who are all ready for their T&A match later on. The interview gets cut short though, as Stone Cold Steve Austin shows up in his truck in order to wait to hear what the board of directors say.

Match 3
WWE Raw Intercontinental Title
Champ: “The Legend Killer” Randy Orton Vs “The Five Time WCW Champion” Booker T

Booker looks to be in great shape here, despite the previous attack from Mark Henry. Booker shines on Orton to start, whilst a vocal section of the crowd chants that Orton does the opposite of blowing. Orton manages to cut Booker off with a clothesline and goes to his trademark chinlock following that. Booker manages to fight out of the hold and makes the comeback, getting a very nice flying forearm for two before busting out the Spinaroonie. Orton counters the Scissors Kick, but Booker responds with the 110th Street Slam for two. Booker looks to have things well in hand, but Kane decides to distract Booker and the RKO gives Orton the three count.

WINNER AND STILL CHAMPION: RANDY ORTON
RATING: **

Thoughts: Another basic, yet totally fine, TV match here on Raw. The finish was kind of dumb, seeing as Kane and Booker were hardly in the midst of a feud at the time based on the confusion from the announce team at the attack, but at least we got a pin fall. Also, fire pyro going off during a match is suitably distracting I suppose, so I buy that more than the usual “distraction finish” we’d get most weeks

Kane beats Booker up following the match

Our next Shawn Michaels moment is Survivor Series 2002, with Shawn winning the inaugural Elimination Chamber match.

Jonathon Coachman is in Stamford with Linda McMahon, who thinks the board of directors needs to listen to the fans and bring Stone Cold back to Raw.

Chris Jericho wants to give Trish Stratus a Christmas gift, but she’s not impressed because Jericho had a bet on with Christian for one dollar (CANADIAN no less) that Jericho could get Stratus into bed. Stratus storms off after saying that Jericho hurt her feelings. That was actually decent acting by Pro Wrestling standards from both of them.

Stone Cold is still waiting for his phone call.

Match 4
Happy Holidays Six Woman Tag Team Match
Miss Jackie Gayda, Women’s Champ Molly Holly and Victoria Vs Lita, Stacy Keibler and Trish Stratus

All the competitors in this one are dressed as Sexy Santa’s, as was the style at the time. Gayda and Keibler could never really wrestle, and Lita could only really have a good match if she was in there with the right opponent, but Holly, Victoria and Stratus can all go, so this one is watchable when one of those three are in there. Holly and Victoria both do their best to make Keibler look like an honest to goodness wrestler, and the crowd responds well to it. Eventually the Heels work some heat on Lita, with Holly doing most of the work. Stratus gets the hot tag and runs wild on Holly, getting a rope assisted Bulldog for the three count.

WINNERS: LITA, KEIBLER & STRATUS
RATING: *

Thoughts: Ah, back when wearing a sexy outfit and wrestling for less than 4 minutes was the only way for women’s wrestlers to get onto an episode of Raw. Truly halcyon days…

Victoria lays out Holly with a belt shot following the match, which I believe was the beginning of a babyface turn for her.

Stone Cold gets a call from the board of directors, and he’s back on Raw, but only as Co-GM. Stone Cold isn’t happy with that though, as he wants to come back under his own terms, so they can shove their job.

Main Event
Raw World Title
Champ: “The Game” Triple H w/ Ric Flair Vs “The Heart Break Kid” Shawn Michaels

These two had a great singles match back at SummerSlam 2002, but they couldn’t quite match that in their subsequent singles matches together. This is them having another stab at it here on Raw. Shawn gets the better of things in the early going, with even Flair taking some bumps as well when Shawn dives out onto both Heels and nearly overshoots it. The commentary team do a good job getting the story of the match over, with Lawler talking about what it’s like to get a big Title shot in your hometown and the pressures it brings with it. They do the extended babyface shine, with Shawn working holds and frustrating the Champ. Tri decides to turn it into a slugfest in an attempt to gain an advantage, but Shawn is able to match the Champ in that type of contest as well, as Shawn blisters HHH with some chops and then sends The Game to the floor with an Irish Whip. Shawn keeps coming back inside, but Tri manages to back body drop Shawn to the floor and that appears to be the cut off as we take an advert break.

When we come back from the ads; HHH is firmly in control and working Shawn over, which gives the challenger a chance to show off his exemplary selling ability. HHH of course targets Shawn’s previously injured back with his offence, getting an impressive Pendulum Back Breaker at one stage. HHH was looking really swollen during this period, to the point that it looked like he’d been pumped full of air. He’s kind of gross to look at to be honest, and it was a definite improvement when HHH leaned up later in the decade following his second quad tear. He still looked physically impressive, but he was carrying less water weight and actually moved better in 2007/08 than he does here, despite him being younger in this Raw match. HHH does do a good job of being a bullying bigger Heel here, and he of course cheats when the opportunity allows, despite him being considerably bigger than his challenger here, even getting Flair to lend a hand as well. Needing help from your manager to beat up a guy smaller than you, now THAT’s heeling!

Shawn eventually fights back by targeting HHH’s leg, locking in a Figure Four for good measure whilst Flair has conniptions at ringside. Tri sells the Figure Four really well, acting like he’s in excruciating pain due to the hold, with the crowd buying that the match might come to an end. Flair has to ultimately rescue his charge by attacking Shawn when the ref isn’t looking, leading to hold being broken up. Shawn tries an Axe Handle off the top following that, but HHH catches Shawn in a Pedigree attempt. Shawn manages to counter the counter with a Back Body Drop though, and that’s the double down, as the crowd is super into this match. They’ve built this one really well, and the match is peaking at the right time, with the crowd being invested in the action and the story being told of Shawn having the Champ on the ropes but not quite managing to go that extra step to secure the Title just yet.

Shawn looks to TUNE UP THE BAND, but Flair tries to get involved again, so Shawn pops the Nature Boy with a punch. Tri goes after Shawn following that, with the ref taking a stray clothesline and getting bumped, which allows Flair to pass the Title belt to the Champ. The dreaded belt shot follows, but Shawn kicks out at two in a great near fall, as the crowd is losing their minds thinking that it might be Shawn’s night. The ref ends up taking ANOTHER bump, which leads to Eric Bischoff coming down to assume refereeing duties, and he looks to be doing it fairly for the most part, I guess worried that the board of directors are scrutinising him more than normal. HHH tries to throw Shawn into an unprotected buckle, but Shawn counters and gets a two from Sleazy E, who missed the initial move because he was checking on the original referee. Shawn eventually manages to catch Triple H with the Sweet Chin Music and seemingly gets the three count, but it turns out that Shawn’s shoulders were down as well, so it’s a draw.

DOUBLE PIN (HHH RETAINS)
RATING: ****

Thoughts: By the standards of Raw and SmackDown matches during the timeframe, this match was way up near the top when it came to match quality, and there were plenty of great bouts on free TV in 2003, despite it not being a banner year for WWE in general. The crowd was into this, the wrestling was really good, and the match told a solid story of the smaller Shawn being able to overcome the size difference and almost take the Title from the bigger World Champ due to the support of his hometown crowd. The finish was a bit cheap, and was bordering on being a Dusty Finish in some ways, so that takes the match down a bit, but it was a different way of continuing the feud without switching the belt or making Shawn eat a loss

Bischoff taunts Shawn about blowing the big match, so Shawn clocks Bischoff and Super Kicks Flair for good measure before storming off. Sleazy E tries to fire Shawn following that, but Stone Cold Steve Austin shows up and announces that the board of directors have given into his demands. Thus that means Austin is back as the babyface authority figure and he can beat people up if he wants. Austin makes sure to point out that not only is Shawn not fired, but he’ll get another shot at the Raw Title. And with that, it’s a Stunner for Bischoff and Stone Cold is now the “sheriff” of Raw. That meant the fans could go home happy at least.

In Conclusion

Most of this episode of Raw was decent, with the Main Event easily pushing it all the way to being a thumbs up show overall. I must admit that “Sherriff” Austin didn’t do much for me at the time, but it at least broke up the monotony of both Raw and SmackDown having Heel authority figures (Paul Heyman was the SmackDown GM at the time).

Recommended Show!