WWE Revolution: A New Era

WWE Monday Night RAW #1
Live from Memphis, TN and on SpikeTV
12,925 in attendance
Michael Cole & Jerry Lawler on commentary
This episode of RAW is presented by Dodge and the all-new 2005 Dodge Ram.
We have 2 stacked hours on SpikeTV tonight and we will head right to the ring for our opening match.

Brian Kendrick v. The Hurricane
The Hurricane defeated Brian Kendrick in 4:55. The crowd wanted to see Hurricane win and he did. Brian Kendrick put in an impressive performance in a decent match.

Juventud & Psicosis v. Rosey & Ernest Miller
Ernest Miller pinned Juventud Guerrera in 06:52 in a match that did not quite deliver to its full potential

Vader & Danny Basham & Matt Morgan v. Shannon Moore & Spike Dudley & Mark Henry
This 6 Man Tag went 8:45 and Vader pinned Spike Dudley. The match was solid but did not have great heat.

Clips of Mick Foley's 2004 iconic moments flash across the screen, reminding fans of his career resurgence in 2004. Foley has shown he still has an unyielding passion for the squared circle.
Tonight, Foley takes on Shawn Michaels in a #1 contenders match for Brock Lesnar's WWE Heavyweight title. 2 legends face off in the ring, both coming off a very successful year
Cole & Lawler wonder whether Foley will have the toughness to match up with Michael's athleticism. Only one man will emerge victorious tonight
Cameras are scrambling backstage to capture the frenetic scene unfolding. We find Triple H unleashing a assault on Kurt Angle, his scheduled opponent for tonights main event. Boos reverberate off the arena walls as the WWE universe voices their disapproval of Triple H's actions against their olympic hero.

Rikishi vs Hardcore Holly
Rikishi defeated Hardcore Holly in 05:36 , this match underdelivered as once these two were in the ring it was clear that they did not have any chemistry and that hurt the match

The cameras cut back to the backstage area, where Kurt Angle is dealing with the aftermath of Triple H's brutal attack. Surrounding Angle are medical personnel and concerned WWE officials, engaged in discussions about the ramifications for the scheduled match later in the evening. WWE officials and medical staff attempt to convince Kurt to postpone the match tonight, but Kurt is stubborn and wants Triple H tonight. Kurt Angle has been fired up by Triple H's attack, and could he have made a mistake getting Angle more pumped up for the match?
Cole & Lawler weigh in on the drama. Lawler calls Angle a fool and cracks jokes about him wrestling tonight. Michael Cole counters with a more optimistic outlook, still considering the chance for Kurt Angle to beat the odds.

Backstage we have Eddie Guerrero being interviewed about his tag team match tonight where he finds himself partners with The Undertaker against Ken Shamrock & Test. Eddie talks about bringing the heat to Shamrock & Test. He acknowledges their size and strength but reminds us that it is sometimes about more than size, sometimes it is about playing the game, and Eddie says nobody plays it smarter than him.
We head to the halls of the backstage area and into the Evolution locker room. The members are discussing the unfolding chaos tonight in regards to the main event. Triple H's ranting seems to get on Orton's nerves, and the two end up face to face in a tense moment. Batista & Flair are able to step in and calm the situation.

LA Park vs Scotty 2 Hotty
LA Park defeats Scotty 2 Hotty in 08:07
LA Park picks up a win in a standard cruiserweight division match.

Michaels comes out and the crowd hits a fever pitch, Michaels entrance fills the air and we have the Heartbreak Kid himself coming to the ring. He addresses the rowdy crowd in Memphis. Michaels cuts a promo saying that while Mick is a tough competitor, tonight is about Shawn Michaels getting his hands back on the WWE Heavyweight Title.
Michaels pauses for dramatic effect, he then tells the Memphis crowd that The Royal Rumble is on his mind. He says there is nothing like the thrill of competing in that match. He also hypes the road to Wrestlemania. He tells the crowd the Showstopper and the Wrestlemania main event is the perfect combination, and by the sound of the crowd they wholeheartedly agree. Michaels officially announces his entrance into the Royal Rumble match, the first participant we know so far.

After the commercial break we get shots of both Shawn and Foley getting ready for the match.

We see some highlights from different up and coming wrestlers in WWE's developmental companies.

Test is interviewed about tonights tag match. He admits it is a big opportunity and says Guerrero & Taker are as tough as it gets. Test says he thrives on challenges and he will prove while he belongs at the top of the WWE.

Billy Gunn vs Tajiri
Billy Gunn defeated Tajiri in 9:20 Billy Gunn went over clean in a great performance.

Shamrock & Test vs Eddie Guerrero & The Undertaker
Ken Shamrock pinned Eddie Guerrero in 13:05 all wrestlers involved worked hard to make a pretty good tag match. Shamrock picks up a surprise victory over Eddie in the tag match

Shawn Michaels vs Mick Foley
Mick Foley gets the victory in 13:05 and becomes the #1 contender for the WWE Heavyweight Title, and will face Brock Lesnar next week on Raw.

World Heavyweight Title: Triple H (c) vs Kurt Angle
Anticipation filled the air as the crowd wondered whether the olympic hero would be able to perform against the champion. This match was a seriously good TV match, with Angle gaining a lot of public support. Angle used that support to comeback and totally defy the odds, emerging victorious over Triple H in 20:05 and winning the World Heavyweight Title. The first Raw of 2005 is over and we already have a new World Heavyweight Champion

Announced for Raw

WWE Heavyweight Title: Brock Lesnar (c) vs Mick Foley

Eddie Guerrero & ??? vs Chris Jericho & ???

WWE United States Title: John Cena (c) vs Rob Van Dam