Raw

Card Information:
 Held in: ARCO ARENA
Location: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
          on February 2005 at 9:00pm

Interview:
Hogan vs McMahon
Click here to see highlights.

Shane McMahon exposes a legal loophole that has left him back in charge.


Edge pinned Kurt Angle after a spear in 0:04:19.
Rating: *** 1/2

The first two entrants in the Rumble squared off here tonight, with Edge coming
out victorious.  Clearly frustrated by this result, Kurt Angle snapped, and 
locked his one-time friend in the Ankle Lock, much to the dismay of the crowd.


Handicap-Match:
Brian Kendrick and Ultimo Dragon defeated The Big Show when U. Dragon pinned
Big Show after a flying cross body press in 0:11:27.
Rating: ****
[X-Pac interfered against Ultimo Dragon.]

In a shocking turn of events, the two cruiserweights were able to defeat the
7-foot monster.  However, after the match, X-Pac entered the ring to help his
nWo team mate beat on Kendrick and Ultimo.


Interview:
For whom the bell tolls...
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The Undertaker delivers a message to the Big Show.


[WWE Title Shot Tournament - Round 1]:
Goldberg pinned William Regal with the Jackhammer in 0:08:05.
Rating: *** 1/2
[Randy Orton interfered against Goldberg.]

Despite attempted interference from Randy Orton, Goldberg managed to defeat
William Regal and advance to the semi-finals of the title shot tournament.  It
looks like Regal won't be going to Wrestlemania after all.


Booker T defeated Batista by disqualification in 0:05:21.
Rating: * 3/4
(Booker T retained the WWE Intercontinental Championship.)
[Triple H interfered against Booker T.]

Booker T won the match, but the real story was Triple H attempting to take out
the Intercontinental Champion.  After the match, Batista and Helmsley double
teamed the champ, before HHH put him down with the Pedigree.


Interview:
Triple H explains his actions...
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Triple H shows his true colours as he addresses the fans.


Handicap-Match:
Shawn Michaels, Cactus Jack and Chris Jericho defeated Hollywood Hogan when
Michaels pinned Hollywood with the Sweet Chin Music in 0:12:12.
Rating: ** 3/4

HBK put the finishing touches on Hogan, and then Shane McMahon came out to
celebrate over the fallen body of the nWo leader.


No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
Brock Lesnar pinned Chris Benoit with the F-5 in 0:14:40.
Rating: *** 3/4
(Brock Lesnar retained the WWE Championship.)
[X-Pac interfered against Chris Benoit.]
Click here to see highlights.

Lesnar retained the title, but the interference of X-Pac in the match certainly
left the victory tainted.  Benoit seemed incredibly disappointed after the
match.



Card rating: ***


Match observations: 

It certainly was a night of shocks, with began with Shane McMahon dropping the
bombshell that he had exposed Hollywood Hogan's stupidity to regain the power
in WWE.  nWo fortunes certainly started falling after that, but they managed
to save face at the end of the night, with Brock Lesnar successfully defending
the WWE title against Chris Benoit in an excellent match-up.

We also saw some reprehensible behaviour from two of the WWE's most popular
fan favourites here tonight.  Both Kurt Angle and Triple H showed disgusting
sportsmanship, as they attacked Edge and Booker T respectively.  It has been
announced that Triple H will now face Booker T for the Intercontinental Title
at No Way Out, while Edge and Kurt Angle will also square off once again at
this PPV.

Goldberg marched one step closer to the WWE title by eliminating William Regal
from the title shot tournament.  After thinking for 24 hours that he would be
going to Wrestlemania, Regal was brought down to earth with a jackhammer sized
bump this evening.  Goldberg's next opponent will be the winner of a match this
Thursday on Smackdown between Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton.  I think it's 
safe to say we know who Goldberg will be rooting for there.

Also, the Undertaker delivered a message to Big Show tonight, after it was the
7-foot monster who eliminated him from the Royal Rumble on Sunday, and also
helped Jeff Jarrett to stuff the dead man in his own casket many months back.
The Taker will be back in action on Smackdown, but we've yet to find out who
his first victim will be.

Next Show: Smackdown