Monday Night Raw – July 22, 2002 (2016 Redo): The People’s Mullet
Monday Night Raw
Date: July 22, 2002
Location: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler
Opening sequence.
Intercontinental Title: Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy
Ladder match and technically the titles are already unified so Jeff is challenging coming in. They hit the mat to start with Van Dam scoring off a dropkick and going for a cover out of instinct. Jeff gets knocked out to the floor for a moonsault off the apron, allowing him to bring in the first ladder.
Trish Stratus/Bubba Ray Dudley vs. Molly Holly/William Regal
Brock Lesnar vs. Tommy Dreamer
Undertaker comes out and knocks Lesnar around with the cane.
Three minute time limit with Bischoff watching from the stage. Brown goes for some early near falls but walks into a powerslam as Bischoff says thirty seconds. Bischoff finally gets bored and counts down the clock after about a minute and a half. Cue two unnamed Samoans to maul both guys for the no contest. That would of course be Jamal and Rosey, soon to be known as 3 Minute Warning.
So to recap, this match had nothing to do with competition and was all about entertaining Bischoff. Well done indeed.
HHH gives Shawn a bag containing something to wear. Shawn seems intrigued.
Goldust congratulates Booker for beating Big Show last night and gives him a Don King wig for being King of the Giant Killers. Booker actually gets into the impression to talk about his match with Benoit.
Booker T. vs. Chris Benoit
Rating: B. Bad refereeing at the end aside, this was a heck of a match with Benoit taking Booker apart thanks to the injury and destroying him like only Chris can. Booker looked fine in defeat as he came in injured and Benoit cheated to win on top of that. If nothing else, this makes up for Benoit jobbing to the Dudleyz last night. Well done all around.
Big Show vs. Spike Dudley
Bischoff is on commentary now. Chokeslam wraps Spike up in about a minute.
Show loads up a table and puts the invading Bubba through it along with his brother. Bischoff is very pleased with these results.
After a break, HHH drives away. As he leaves, Stephanie arrives to continue this stupid “steal the talent” story.
The Rock vs. Eddie Guerrero
Bischoff goes out to a see a very smug looking Stephanie. She gets out of the car and smiles as Brock and Paul Heyman gets into the car. Stephanie asks how it feels to be kicked in the testicles, which she says about four times in a minute. Apparently Brock has been signed to Smackdown. Good to know.
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