Raw

Card Information:
 Held in: CHARLESTON CIVIC CENTER
Location: WEST VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES
          on February 2005 at 9:00pm

Interview:
Steiner brings out the nWo...or does he?
Click here to see highlights.

After attempting to bring the nWo to the ring, Scott Steiner only finds Bill
Goldberg waiting for him.


Goldberg pinned Scott Steiner with the Jackhammer in 0:00:24.
Rating: *

Taking Steiner completely by surprise, Goldberg made short work of Big Poppa
Pump.  He then sent a message to the man who screwed him out of a Wrestlemania
title shot, Randy Orton.  Orton, it seems, is once again next.


The Undertaker pinned Jamie Noble after the Choke Slam in 0:09:18.
Rating: *** 1/2

Once again sending a message to the Big Show, the Taker put down another nWo
member in Jamie Noble.  After the match, the Show came to ringside and was 
locked into a staredown with the Dead Man.  It seems as though the 500lb giant
is not willing to be intimidated by his foe.


Interview:
HBK steps closer...
Click here to see highlights.

Shawn Michaels exudes confidence, as he prepares for his semi final match with
Kane later tonight.


Steven Richards made Val Venis submit to a sleeperhold in 0:11:59.
Rating: *** 3/4

In a match that ended up having three refs, Steven Richards made one half of
the tag champs submit.  This makes the upcoming title match at No Way Out all
the more interesting.


[WWE Title Shot Tournament - Semi Final]:
Shawn Michaels pinned Kane with the Sweet Chin Music in 0:15:54.
Rating: **** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

After an amazing match-up, which saw Michaels get busted wide open, HBK was
able to survive and now advances to No Way Out to face Randy Orton.  As an
angry Kane stood in the ring after the match, Stone Cold Steve Austin ran 
down with a steel chair and attacked the Big Red Machine, busting him open as
well.


Interview:
The former champ vows revenge...
Click here to see highlights.

Chris Benoit and Shane McMahon send strong words to Hogan and Lesnar.


The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) and Chris Jericho defeated
nWo (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and X-Pac) when D-Von pinned Hall after the
Dudley Death Drop in 0:22:00.
Rating: *** 1/2

A rather good six man tag match saw the WWE representatives prevail, as Scott
Hall was nailed with the 3D.


No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
Chris Benoit and Shane McMahon defeated nWo (Brock Lesnar and Hollywood Hogan)
 when Shane O Mac pinned Lesnar with the Shane-O-Mac Terminator in 0:20:04.
Rating: *** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

In a major shocker, Shane McMahon was able to pin the WWE Champion, Brock
Lesnar, to win the match for his team.



Card rating: *** 1/2


Match observations: 

After the nWo's great night last Thursday on Smackdown, this last Raw before
No Way Out brought them crashing back down to earth with a bump.  It started
off badly, with Goldberg squashing Scott Steiner, and only got worse, as Jamie
Noble fell to the Undertaker, The Outsiders and X-Pac were taken down by Y2J
and the Dudleys, and then to cap it all off, Shane McMahon was able to pin the
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.

Elsewhere Shawn Michaels took one step closer to his dream of main eventing
this year's Wrestlemania, as he defeated Kane in a great match.  HBK will now
fight Randy Orton at No Way Out for the shot.  It was Orton who originally
knocked HBK out of the tournament at the 1st round stage, with some help from
Hollywood Hogan, but this time it'll be strictly one on one.  When the better
man is clearly determined, he alone will move on to Wrestlemania to face either
Benoit or Lesnar for the title.

Tonight's other interesting result saw Steven Richards make Val Venis submit
to a powerful sleeper hold.  If he can do that again at No Way Out, we'll have
new tag team champions.  But of course, Stevie Night Heat will also have Lance
Storm to contend with at the PPV.  Unless William Regal gets to him first, of
course.

Next Show: Smackdown