[2001-01-15-WWF-Raw] APA (Faarooq & Bradshaw) & Steve Austin vs Edge & Christian & Kurt Angle

[GSR]

Even though he’s not here, Mr McMahon had signed the Dudley Boyz & Steve Austin to take on Edge & Christian & Kurt Angle in a six-man tag, however the Dudleyz were taken out backstage by a pair of ‘conchairtos’.  Jim Ross thinks it’s not the wisest decision to come out and face Team ECK in a handicap match and wishes he’d tried to recruit a couple of partners.  Jerry Lawler comments on Austin’s smirk, wondering why is he smiling when he’s got nothing to be smiling about?  He does though, and here comes the APA.  Bradshaw throws his weight around in there, launching Christian with a fallaway slam.  The crowd are so hot for this.  Faarooq carries on where his partner left off.  Austin telegraphs a backdrop and after the Edge superkick Angle is wanting in.  A pair of belly to back suplexes, he goes for a third but Austin flips over.  Spinebuster, Angle getting a shoulder up just in time.  E&C are in with chairs, although fail on the attempted ‘conchairto’.  That brings in the APA and the two regular teams fight out the arena leaving Austin and Angle all alone.  Superplex for a near fall.  Triple H makes his way out, standing at the top of the entrance way, which distracts ‘Stone Cold’ and Angle gets in a low blow.  The big thing is that HHH and Austin have been told they can have no physical confrontation with each other until Sunday night or they will be out of the Royal Rumble.  Overhead belly to belly by Kurt.  Austin blocks the ‘Olympic slam’ with some knees.  He hangs Angle over the middle rope and comes charging at him, however even though Kurt moves out the way Austin puts on the breaks.  Thesz press.  Angle rakes him in the eyes.  He comes off the middle with an axe handle right into a boot to the gut, Stunner, and this one’s done, ‘Stone Cold’ getting a pin on the World champion.

We’re not done though!  Austin’s staring a hole through Triple H who tells the audio man to “cut the damn music” as he makes his way towards the ring.  He’s baiting ‘the rattlesnake’ and trying to provoke him into hitting him so that he will get kicked out the Rumble.  Ross and Lawler are playing good cop/bad cop while this is going on, JR telling Austin not to be a fool while ‘the King’ wants to see him hit him.  HHH continues to push his buttons and it looks like it’s starting to have the desired effect as Austin ducks out to grab a chair from ringside.  ‘Stone Cold’ shows great restraint though, throws the chair down, flips him the bird and gestures that it’s all about the belt and that’s what’s important to him.  As Austin is about to step back through the curtain Triple H calls him “a great big pussy”.  That did it!  Austin runs back to the ring but Angle lays out HHH with an ‘Olympic slam’ before he can get to him.  Kurt starts celebrating and he ends up getting stunned, Austin left standing tall.

[soup23]

HHH promo. He says that people keep coming up to him on the street telling him to kick Stone Cold’s ass. He promises that unless he is provoked, he will leave him alone. Stephanie starts talking and has insane heat. Vince looking like he is on the set of Friday Night Lights with an XFL football, banner and leather jacket joins us via satellite. Vince says things will be interesting tonight.  He says if Austin and HHH clash in any way, there will be serious consequences. HHH loses his #1 contender ship and Austin loses his spot in the Rumble. He sets up the six man match with Austin teaming with the Dudley Boyz vs Edge, Christian & Kurt Angle. Vince says he can’t watch tonight because he has a “meeting”. HHH turns his attention to Angle. He talks about Kurt’s tactics he has used to retain the title thus far such as using his brother. HHH says he can bring all of his Olympic friends, it wont mean a damn.

Angle is out now. Angle says he is very disappointed in Steph. He loves her but she blew it babe. Angle says there is no way that HHH is winning the match Sunday and Donkey Kong himself has a better shot. Angle says that Donkey Kong is the big smelly ape that people actually like. Angle hopes Steph can respect his wishes to have Trish in his corner. Angle says it is someone that the McMahon/Helmsley family knows quite well.  Trish gets introduced and is wearing a nice fur coat and diamond earrings. Trish says no hard feelings but it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up when Kurt asked her. She says whether its Angle or Mr. McMahon himself, she loves a man on top. Steph says that no isn’t in Trish’s vocabulary. She makes a match involving Trish against Jacqueline in a spanking match.

Backstage, HHH is on the couch with Steph saying that he doesn’t think Vince will like the match involving Trish that Steph booked. HHH says he will keep cool but if Austin provokes him, it will be on.

Cole catches up with the Dudley Boyz. This is clever in that I had forgotten that Austin had smacked them with the chair on Thursday so everything is weaving together. Bubba says they understand that a man has to do what a man has to do. They state that after they demolish all their opponents they will have a Dudley Ville discussion.

Dudley’s are walking to the ring and get attacked by Edge and Christian. Some heavy chairshots from E&C and they give D-Von a conchairto saying they have the night off.

HHH is with Stephanie and says that is impressive. He says that he will do that to Austin if he tries to provoke him. Stephanie wants to call dad. Steph does that after the next match. Vince doesn’t sound too enthused. Vince says that Austin can scrounge up some partners if he can but in the interest of fairness, he will have to go on his own. He also asks how the roster is doing including Essa Rios and Trish. Steph gets mad and says he is sorry that he isn’t there because she is wearing a brand spanking new outfit.

Angle saves Trish from her spanking match but not before Jackie pulls her pants down and whips her with King squealing like a 12 year old. Angle in the back gives Trish the rest of the night off.

Austin doesn’t look like he can find a partner and Steph has an idea she whispers into HHH’s ear. Great pillow talk.

Match starts and we find out the APA is going to tag up with Austin. Hot action to start and overall this is a sprint to the finish. E&C try a conchairto but Austin ducks and then the APA clear them from ringside as they brawl to the back. That leaves Austin and Angle and they are clicking so well right now. Angle is getting a ton of offense on Austin due to the finish and is suplexing him all over the place. Finish was a bit contrived but Austin gets the pinfall following a stunner. HHH had been on the ramp and now he makes his move. HHH says lets do this thing now and he gets in the ring and removes is jacket. HHH is nice enough to give Austin the first shot. HHH calls him a punk and insults his manhood. Hebner tries to intervene but he gets shoved away. Austin refuses to take the bait and this is a fun interaction between these two. This is a vehicle they use throughout their feud in the first two months of the year. Tons of tension between the two. Austin gets a chair and really ponders smacking HHH. Austin throws the chair down, gives HHH the bird and walks away. That was awesome and the crowd responds well. Austin is nearly backstage when HHH calls Austin a great, big pussy. Austin rushes back in but Angle has recovered and gives HHH the Olympic Slam. Austin gives Angle another stunner and is riding momentum heading into the Rumble. Another good Raw. ***1/4 (6.3)