Raw

Card Information:
 Held in: MCNICHOLS SPORTS ARENA
Location: COLORADO, UNITED STATES
          on August 2005 at 9:00pm

Interview:
A Proposition for the Champion...
Click here to see highlights.

Triple H offers Randy Orton the chance to rejoin Evolution.  Orton manages to
turn the offer into an audition for Helmsley.


Test pinned Val Venis with the Big Boot in 0:10:08.
Rating: *** 3/4

Test picks up the win over Val Venis.  Test left the ring feeling rather smug
with himself, while as Venis tried to recover from the match, he was suddenly
jumped by Kurt Angle and John Bradshaw Layfield.  Eventually, Edge made the
save.


Paul London, Spike Dudley and Ultimo Dragon defeated
Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Chavo Guerrero when U. Dragon pinned Chavo after
a Frankensteiner in 0:10:52.
Rating: *** 3/4

Big win for the face team.  As per the rules of the match, Ultimo Dragon is
now the number 1 contender to the cruiserweight title, and will face Rey
Mysterio for the gold at Summerslam.  Post match, Billy Kidman fell victim to
an attack from Stone Cold Steve Austin, with the Rattlesnake still mad about
losing to Kidman on Smackdown.


Interview:
Michaels' opportunity...
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Shawn Michaels is given an Intercontinental Title shot here tonight, but there
is a potential price on victory.


The Big Show defeated Vader when Vader passed out in a bearhug in 0:04:40.
Rating: ** 1/2

In a shocking turn of events, the Big Show made Vader pass out.  Never before
has Vader been manhandled in such a way.


Shawn Michaels defeated Christopher Daniels by countout in 0:04:48.
Rating: ** 1/2
(Christopher Daniels retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship.)
Click here to see highlights.

Michaels won the match, but was unable to take the title.  Will Shane McMahon's
clause still stand, therefore?


Interview:
Soon...
Click here to see highlights.

Another mysterious vignette plays for a returning superstar.


AJ Styles and Raven defeated
The World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin) when Raven
 pinned Haas with the Evenflow DDT in 0:19:38.
Rating: *** 1/2

A welcome return for AJ Styles, as he and Raven pick up a big win over Haas and
Benjamin.


Triple H pinned Cactus Jack after a kneedrop in 0:07:25.
Rating: *** 1/2
Click here to see highlights.

Triple H picked up the win, after battering Cactus Jack all over the arena.
Post-match, Randy Orton came down to ringside, clearly impressed with what he
had seen and shook hands with Triple H.  This brought Ric Flair running down
to the ring, who raised the hands of the apparently re-united Evolution.



Card rating: *** 1/4


Match observations: 

So it seems as though Evolution is back together, after Randy Orton, Ric Flair
and Triple H were left celebrating together at the end of the night.  You do
have to wonder if Triple H is using this as a means of gaining Orton's trust
before stabbing him in the back at Summerslam.  That remains to be see, as does
the role of Evolution in Orton's non-title match with The Rock on Smackdown.

Christopher Daniels' acrobatics seem to be causing him all sorts of problems as
of late, with regards to them getting him counted out.  However, it is working
to his advantage, as he cannot lose the title on a count-out.  Don't be at all
surprised if Shawn Michaels comes looking for a rematch now, especially as he's
most likely free of Shane McMahon's secret stipulation now.

Based upon tonight's actions, we have a few new matches set up for Summerslam.
Rey Mysterio will defend his Cruiserweight title against Ultimo Dragon, while
the new tag champions, Val Venis and Edge, will make their first defence of
the gold against the Great Americans, Kurt Angle and JBL.  However, it looks as
though Venis' issues with Test are far from over, after the big Canadian got
a win over Val here tonight.

Other matches signed are rematches between Stone Cold and Billy Kidman, and
the Big Show and Vader.  Both Vader and Austin will be looking to gain some
revenge for their shock defeats in those match-ups.

Next Show: Smackdown