Raw

Card Information:
 Held in: PONTIAC SILVERDOME
Location: MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES
          on January 2005 at 9:00pm

Interview:
The nWo's plan for Benoit...
Click here to see highlights.

Hollywood Hogan and Brock Lesnar book a handicap match, but not quite the match
they were hoping to make.


Tajiri pinned Taka Michinoku with the Stiff kick to the head in 0:11:01.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Tajiri retained the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.)

Taka failed to win the Cruiserweight Title on his return to WWE, as Tajiri made
a successful defence of the gold.  After the match, nWo member Jamie Noble
rushed to the ring and attacked the champion and challenger with a steel chair.


Val Venis, Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho defeated
Christian, Kane and Eddie Guerrero when Venis pinned Christian with the
Money Shot in 0:01:18.
Rating: **

A surprisingly short match between six Rumble entrants ended with Val Venis
getting the pin over Christian.  This led to a six man brawl, which ended with
Kane being left as the last man standing.


Interview:
Who's next?
Click here to see highlights.

Goldberg wants Orton, but the Legend Killer doesn't think he's ready.


Goldberg pinned Marty Jannetty with the Jackhammer in 0:17:51.
Rating: ** 3/4

With Nick Patrick as referee, Goldberg's victory took longer than expected.
As he celebrated victory, Randy Orton looked on, mouthing the words "not yet"
to Goldberg.


Interview:
The Heartbroken Kid...
Click here to see highlights.

Shawn Michaels' attempts to call it quits are thwarted by Cactus Jack.


Jeff Jarrett pinned Booker T with his special move in 0:10:58.
Rating: ****

Jarrett cheated Booker T out of the victory by smashing the guitar over his
head while the referee was down.


Interview:
Jarrett challenges the Dead Man...
Click here to see highlights.

The Undertaker delivers another chilling vocal message to Jeff Jarrett.


Handicap-Match:
nWo (Brock Lesnar and Hollywood Hogan) defeated Edge when Lesnar pinned Edge
 with the F-5 in 0:15:15.
Rating: *** 3/4

Edge gave a great effort, but ultimately could not survive the dual onslaught
of Hogan and Lesnar.


The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) defeated Bret Hart and Steve Austin
 when Hall pinned S. Austin after a gutwrench suplex in 0:16:06.
Rating: *** 1/4
(The Outsiders won the WWE Tag Team Championship.)
Click here to see highlights.

After months of chasing the tag titles, the nWo finally got their hands on the
gold thanks to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.



Card rating: *** 1/4


Match observations: 

All in all, it was a pretty good night for the nWo.  Despite Marty Jannetty
being defeated by Goldberg, there were big wins for Jeff Jarrett, Hollywood
Hogan and Brock Lesnar, and the Outsiders, who finally took brought the Tag
Team titles into the fold.  Jamie Noble also made a good showing for himself
as he beat down both the Cruiserweight Champion Tajiri, and the man who was
aiming to win the title here tonight, Taka Michinoku.

As we saw, Cactus Jack managed to rejuvinate Shawn Michaels' morale, as he
persuaded HBK to throw his hat into the ring for the Royal Rumble.  As well
as looking to win, Michaels will be looking for revenge on both Steven Richards
and Kevin Nash.  Whether he's able to get this is another matter entirely.

The Undertaker also made another vocal appearence tonight, promising to unleash
hell on Jeff Jarrett at the Royal Rumble.  Don't be surprised to see Jarrett
getting himself eliminated on purpose so as not to face this hell.  

When will Goldberg get to Randy Orton?  It won't be this Thursday, as he's 
been told he'll face X-Pac.  Perhaps 'Berg will have to wait until the Rumble 
to get his hands on the Legend Killer, and even then, there's no guarantee that
they'll be in the ring at the same time.

Next Show: Smackdown