Raw

Card Information:
 Held in: UAA SPORTS ARENA
Location: ALASKA, UNITED STATES
          on March 2005 at 9:00pm

Interview:
Shane McMahon's State of WWE address...
Click here to see highlights.

Shane McMahon makes some major announcements concerning Wrestlemania.


Match with Managers Banned From Ringside:
The Basham Brothers (Doug Basham and Danny Basham) defeated
The Dudley Boys (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley) when Doug made Bubba
 submit to a sleeperhold in 0:09:49.
Rating: ***

Bubba couldn't make the tag, and the Bashams got the submission win.  It'll 
be a lot tougher on Sunday when they face three other teams in the four way
elimination match.


William Regal made Cactus Jack submit to the Regal Stretch in 0:10:01.
Rating: **** 1/4

Cactus was a victim of the Regal Stretch, as one half of the tag champs was
able to defeat one half of the challengers.


Interview:
New arrivals...
Click here to see highlights.

The Outsiders get a rude awakening from John Cena and Tazz, who are going under
the name Thug Life.


Matt Hardy pinned Brian Kendrick with the Twist of Fate in 0:03:09.
Rating: *** 1/4

A great match for just three minutes of action.  But can Kendrick survive for
longer at Wrestlemania?


Rob Van Dam pinned Rene Dupree with the Five Star Frog Splash in 0:07:16.
Rating: ***

Two participants in the Wrestlemania battle royal square off, with RVD getting
the big win.


Interview:
Big Poppa Pump...
Click here to see highlights.

Scott Steiner has some harsh words for Bill Goldberg.


Bret Hart defeated Marty Jannetty by disqualification in 0:05:18.
Rating: **

Bret picked up the win by DQ, and locked Jannetty in the Sharpshooter after
the bell.  Ted DiBiase appeared on the apron, but did nothing to help his nWo
team mate.


Chris Benoit and Booker T defeated Evolution (Batista and Triple H) when Benoit
 made HHH submit to the Crippler Crossface in 0:13:43.
Rating: *** 1/2
(Randy Orton no-showed.)
Click here to see highlights.

Benoit gained revenge for last week on Smackdown by making the Game tap out.
His joy was shortlived, however, when Randy Orton emerged from the crowd and
nailed the champ with the RKO.



Card rating: ***


Match observations: 

Was this a set-up between Evolution and Randy Orton?  Has Orton returned to
the fold?  After all, it was thought that Randy Orton had no-showed Smackdown,
and therefore was replaced by Batista, but he showed his face right after the
match, putting Chris Benoit down with the RKO.

The shocking news of the Undertaker leaving has led to another change in the
Wrestlemania card.  As Shane McMahon announced tonight, it will be Bret Hart
vs Ted DiBiase, with DiBiase needing to win, or else the nWo will be disbanded
forever.  Also signed after tonight's events are a 20-man battle royal, Shane
McMahon versus Brock Lesnar, and a special tag team match between the Outsiders
and the new team Thug Life, which consists of John Cena and Tazz.

Cactus Jack and Shawn Michaels will have to shape up if they want to win the
tag titles at Wrestlemania.  After they were beaten by the Bashams last week
on Smackdown, Cactus lost in singles action tonight against William Regal.  HBK
will be hoping for better luck this Thursday, when he fights Regal one on one
in a Towel Match.  Both men's partners will be in their corners for the match.

Also on Smackdown will be an 8-man elimination match, with the Dudleys and
Kaientai facing the Bashams and the World's Greatest Tag Team.  These teams
will need to co-exist, prior to their four corners match at Wrestlemania.

With just one show to go until the big day, Smackdown should be a scorcher of
an event, with emotions running higher than ever before.

Next Show: Smackdown