WWE RAW Results (6/25): RAW Cancelled - Benoit Tribute!
Event: WWE Monday Night RAW
Airdate: Monday, June 25th, 2007 (USA Network)
Location: The American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas
The show opens to a wide angle shot of an empty American Bank
Center in Corpus Christy, Texas. Vince McMahon, abandoning his
storylined death, stood alone in the ring and delivered the
following message:
"Good evening. Tonight this arena here in Corpus Christi, Texas
would have been filled to capacity with enthousiatic WWE fans.
Tonight's storyline was to have been the alleged demise of my
character, Mr. McMahon. However, in reality, WWE superstar Chris
Benoit, his wife Nancy and their son Daniel are dead. Their bodies
were discovered this afternoon in their new, suburban, Atlanta
home. The athourities are undergoing an investigation. We here in
the WWE can only offer our condolences to the extended family of
Chris Bennoit. And the only other thing we can do at this moment
is, tonight, pay tribute to Chris Benoit. We will offer you some of
the most memorable moments in Chris' professional life and you will
hear, tonight, comments from his peers - those here, his fellow
performers - those here, who loved Chris and admired him so much.
So tonight will be a three hour tribute to one of the greatest WWE
superstars of all time. Tonight, we pay tribute to Chris
Benoit."
A short encapsulation of Benoit's career aired to the song "One
Thing" by Finger Eleven.
- Commercial break -
RAW returned to footage from Chris Benoit's WWE produced
autobiographical DVD.
Back in the empty American Bank Center are Jim Ross and Jerry
Lawler speaking about some of Chris' greatest professional moments.
They lead us into footage of Benoit's win at the Royal Rumble in
2004.
Stone Cold Steve Austin pays his respects to Chris Benoit in a
studio-shot segment.
- Commercial break -
More footage from the Chris Benoit DVD. Chris and friends talk
about how, as young men, they hung around the local wrestling scene
and eventually got to meet Chris' idol, Dynamite Kid, Tom
Billington.
Michael Cole and John "Bradshaw" Layfield speak about Chris'
dedication to his family, his proper upbringing of his children and
his overall respect for those around him.
John speaks about Chris Benoit.
- Commercial break -
Back from commercial, we see more footage from Chris' DVD. This
time, he speaks about his time in ECW.
Joey Styles and Tazz share their thoughts on Benoit's arrival to
ECW in 1994.
Styles and Tazz lead us into Benoit's final televised match ever -
last week on ECW on SciFi against Elijah Burke.
CM Punk gives his thoughts on Chris Benoit.
- Commercial Break -
9:00 hour mark. Recap of Vince's intro to tonight's show.
JR and Jerry Lawler speak again about Chris' competitiveness. They
introduce us to a match between Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit from
WCW Hogwild in 1996.
- Commercial break -
JR and Lawler bring us back from commercial and return us to the
completion of Malenko cs. Benoit at Hog Wild 96.
Dean Malenko shares his thoughts on his best friend in the
wrestling business.
- Commercial break -
JBL and Cole speak to Benoit's strengths as a wrestler. While he
may not have been the "best talker" according to JBL, he was
phenominal in the ring. Cole mentions how fans gave Benoit standing
ovations whether he won or lost. We then see the last half a cage
match between Benoit and WWE US Champion JBL on SmackDown in April
2006.
Stephanie McMahon gives her thoughts on Chris Benoit. She talks
about Chris' genuine excitement for her and Triple H, Paul
Levesque, on their marriage and new child.
- Commerical break -
Chavo Guerrero gives his thoughts on Chris Benoit.
- Commercial break -
Joey Styles and Tazz remember Chris Benoit's history in Japan as
the Pegasus Kid. They take us to a match between Pegasus Kid, Chris
Benoit, versus Jushin "Thunder" Liger in Japan from the early
1990's
William Regal shares his thoughts on Chris Benoit.
- Commercial break -
Replay of Vince's speech at the 10:00pm mark.
JR and Lawler greet the audience and set up some more footage from
Benoit's DVD where he talks about how he patterned his moveset of
The Dynamite Kid, Tom Billington.
Lawler and JR set up a recap of Benoit and Jericho's amazing ladder
match at the Royal Rumble 2001 for the Intercontinental
Title.
Lawler and JR speak again about Benoit's dedication to the
wrestling business.
- Commercial break -
Edge gives his thoughts on Chris Benoit.
- Commercial break -
JBL and Cole welcome us back with more words on Benoit's leadership
and professionalism backstage.
A somber tribute promo airs with more photos from Benoit's
life.
- Commercial break -
Triple H gives his thoughts on Chris Benoit.
JR and Jerry Lawler set up the footage of Benoit's title win at
Wrestlemania 20 with a few last words about the key theme of
tonight's broadcast and a key theme in Benoit's life. One word.
Respect.
Two commercial breaks later and just before the end of the match,
JR and King say a few last words about Benoit.
We close the show with the conclusion of Benoit's colossal win over
Shawn Michaels and Triple H at Wrestlemania 20 for the World
Heavyweight Championship and the emotional post-match celebration
with the late Eddie Guerrero.
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