FOLEY
A NO SHOW; GOLDBERG RETURNS!
The more
Randy Orton boasts that he is the new Hardcore Legend, the more it seems that
his claim could very well be true. On RAW from Long Island, New York – just 15
miles from the home of Hardcore Legend Mick Foley – Orton not only called out
Foley, he gave him every incentive to make an appearance on RAW. However, a
front row seat for RAW and free limo ride to the arena were not enough for
Foley to make an appearance. Orton was certainly ready, as he focused more on
Foley than his Intercontinental Championship defense against Rob Van Dam. And
the crowd was also ready, as chants of “We want Foley” echoed throughout the
night. If there was a ever night for Foley to defend his Hardcore Legend status
and refute Orton’s claims, this was it.
But
alas, Foley did not show and the seat reserved for Foley stayed vacant the
entire night, save a brief stay by Orton himself during his defeat of RVD. But
the battle Orton wanted to determine who could claim status as the Hardcore
Legend did not take place, and it appears as if the battle will never happen.
If Foley did not make an appearance in his own backyard, will he ever do so
again?
While
Foley did not make a return to RAW, the Coliseum crowd was brought to its feet
by the return of a man who made a splash just as big. Goldberg stormed to the
ring at the invitation of Stone Cold Steve Austin – who called out any opponent
who would like to face an angered Matt Hardy. Not only did Goldberg decimate
Hardy, but he also made it clear that his mission has not changed. He will
enter the Royal Rumble and claimed that he will win and then regain the World
Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
Goldberg was involved in a second bombshell moments later when an altercation
with Scott Steiner – who also entered the Rumble – led to a challenge for a
match next week on RAW!
In
other RAW action, after weeks of battling back and forth with Ric Flair & Batista, the Dudley Boyz
will have their rematch for the World Tag Team Championship. Moments after
Batista defeated D-Von Dudley, it was announced that not only will the two
teams meet at Royal Rumble, but they will do so in a Tables Match! The
announcement makes the Rumble an even hotter event as the Tables Match will be
on a card that already includes the Last Man Standing Match between Triple H
and Shawn Michaels, the SmackDown! Match between
Brock Lesnar and Hardcore Holly for the WWE
Championship, and the Royal Rumble itself. What else is in store for the
Rumble? Tune in next week to find out!
Speaking
of the Last Man Standing Match, Jonathan Coachman joined J.R. and Jerry “The
King” Lawler for the second straight week, and this time he also scored a major
interview when he hosted Triple H and Michaels in the middle of the ring. The
result was an emotional exchange between the former best friends, an exchange
that turned dangerous for Coachman himself when Michaels demonstrated just how
fast Triple H could become the last man standing when he floored Coachman with
some Sweet Chin Music, knocking him unconscious.
RAW also
saw a new chapter to the ongoing saga between Trish Stratus and Chris Jericho
when
Is it over between Stratus and
Match
Results:
Jazz & Molly Holly defeated Trish Stratus & Lita
Goldberg defeated Matt Hardy
Batista defeated D-Von Dudley
Booker T defeated Kane via disqualification
Mark Henry defeated Chris Jericho
Randy Orton defeated Rob Van Dam