The Kurt Angle Show - Raw 07.04.05 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re going to look back at a special Raw episode that took place on July 4th, 2005 - live from Sacramento!

Let’s get your Peacock out and fired up!

Season 13, episode 27. That’s season 13, episode 27!

3-2-1!

As we begin the show the week before Raw was in Anaheim for the show coming off Vengeance 2005 that we covered a few weeks ago. Kurt defeated Ric Flair with the ankle lock on that show…what was it like wrestling the Nature Boy back then?

Right from there you guys head to South Korea & then Japan for a few shows and you work Undertaker and lose both nights. Any memories of this trip to South Korea or Japan?

You fly directly from Japan to California for this Raw on Independence Day…no days off huh?

How tired is the crew when you do these overseas tours?

Observer:

Raw - July 4, 2005 live from Sacramento:

Raw opened with Carlito's Cabana with Hogan as guest. It was a plug for the "Hogan Knows Best," show, complete with clips. Hogan is trying to repackage himself as the overprotective father of the hot daughter to appeal to people with teenagers. That, and trying to get her a career break. They showed a clip of a 22-year-old wanting to date Brooke and Hogan telling the kid that his daughter isn't sexually active. Carlito then said his daughter is hot and if he met her she'd be sexually active. He decked Carlito.

There’s some rumors out there that Carlito is due to return to the WWE soon after his appearance in Puerto Rico. What did you think of Carlito during this time and are you surprised the WWE is interested in bringing him back?

What was missing from Carlito being a top guy?

“Angle ran out and said he made Hogan tap (June 23, 2002 King of the Ring PPV) and wanted to make his daughter tap. Hogan decked Angle but Carlito gave Hogan a DDT and they put the boots to him. Michaels made the save. Michaels supposedly went to Bischoff's office (Bischoff apparently wasn't there since he never appeared) and came out of it announcing the tag match saying, "I did what I always do. I moaned and groaned till I got my way."

Getting to work with Hogan here had to be pretty cool from the time you were working him in 02 right?

When you get to the building and this is what’s booked as an opening segment and a main event - that’s a pretty big deal was it not?

Kane & Big Show beat Snitsky & Edge in 10:03 when Kane pinned Snitsky after a choke slam. They got Lita away from ringside right away to get the focus on the four guys in the ring. Some Matt Hardy chants, but not a lot. Snitsky was really bad, but the crowd was super hot anyway.

What did you think of the whole Matt Hardy - Lita - Edge issues backstage?

Were you shocked they let Matt go at the time?

What did you think of Snitsky’s “It’s Not My Fault gimmick?”

Was Snitsky as bad as everyone says he was?

“Viscera beat Heart Throbs via DQ in 2:00.

They are now pretty boys from Panama Beach and were hitting on Lillian Garcia, but she was in tears because of her recent break-up. This match was awful, but at least it wasn't awful for long. Cheap ending as they crotched Viscera on the post, and even though they lost, their music was played as they tried to hit on Garcia again.”

This whole Viscera and Lillian dating thing - this had to be a rib right?

Did you get a chance to work with the Heart Throbs? Do you think they were given a good chance at success for the WWE?

“Maria interviewed Chavo, who explained his new gimmick, which is Raw's latest Simon Dean/Red Rooster caliber gimmick. He blamed the Hispanic people for his not being over. My experience is, whenever you have a gimmick based on the fact you suck or even used to suck, it usually dooms it, although this gimmick had little chance even if it was played differently. He also insulted Maria.”

The debut of Kerwin White - supposedly based on Kerwin Stifles - Kurt - what the hell is this?

Did Chavo ever discuss with you this gimmick? Did he hate it?

“They did a comedy bit where Hurricane, Rosey & Keibler were doing a speech on fireworks safety as they were holding sparklers and depositing them in a barrel full of water. As Keibler bent over, Rosey was staring at her ass and his arm went up on fire.”

Stacy Keibler is now a hall of famer, and Hurricane & Rosey are quite entertaining here. Were they two of your favorites backstage?

“Maria was in tears about being called stupid by Chavo, but Cena consoled her. So Maria has a crush on Cena.”

Maria is still in the business doing her own thing - what did you think of Maria?

“Next up was the Highlight Reel with Jericho and Cena. Jericho started as a face, and showed clips of his performing with Fozzy in England at the recent music festival. Eventually, he went heel telling Cena that he's a much bigger world star than Cena. Cena told Jericho he was pathetic and they went at it. It was better, due to delivery, than it reads, and was a good way to keep the ball rolling on their program.”

Jericho’s transformation and Cena’s role in it is so good. Just how amazing are both - and Cena is only a few years in here at this point?

“Next up was the bikini obstacle course, which was one of those train wreck segments that probably did well in the ratings. It seemed like it went 45 minutes, although was closer to 20.

First they had Coachman go through the obstacle course. Coachman is a legit good athlete (he went to a small college where he was a basketball star and for years held the school's all-time scoring record), probably at a higher level than all but the top wrestlers in the company. But he acted semi- uncoordinated, falling over the wall, and basically trying to get a lousy time. Apparently, he did a run-through earlier that afternoon and got through it so fast that Vince told him to screw up because they needed to put the women over. Still, his time beat out three of the eight women.”

You ever know that about Coach?

What did you think of the diva search - was this annoying to the boys who wanted TV time?

“As far as the scoreboard on this went, Ashley Massaro didn't do well, but she's still the favorite and has a guaranteed job either way. Leyla Milani got back in the game because her top came off and she couldn't fix it and ended up DQ'd. This was planned ahead of time to get her noticed in what they thought was a good way since she had no idea she was supposed to wear a bra and panties and lost points because of it the week before. If you actually watch it you could see, before she went under the netting, her adjusting her top for the "malfunction." Summer Delin Bryan, who is engaged to a plastic surgeon in Louisiana and is getting signed either way, came off quite athletic, as did Kristal Marshall. She had a great body and had the second best time. Elisabeth Rouffaer got out of the fans' doghouse from last week, as she won the whole shebang and made herself a contender.”

Ashley Massaro would end up in Playboy before sadly passing away, Kristal Marshall would probably end up being most well known as working in WWE & TNA and dating Bobby Lashley…but this is…quite the TV segment is it not?

“Rene Dupree pinned Val Venis in 1:57 with his feet on the ropes. He came off as a generic bodybuilder who shows nothing special.”

It was time for Val Venis’ gimmick to go away wasn’t it?

Rene Dupree has been talked about a lot after his time in WWE. What all do you remember of him in La Resistance and this here?

Was he just too young?

“Hogan & Michaels beat Carlito & Angle in 12:39 when Hogan pinned Carlito after a legdrop. Michaels sold most of the way, so the match was good. Michaels superkicked Hogan out of nowhere during his posing routine and the place went silent. Really well done. The turn saved what was otherwise not much of a show. Michaels had always turned down requests to go heel, citing religion.”

Kurt - what did you think of the idea of turning Shawn to build up SummerSlam against Hogan?

What was it like working across the ring from two legends in Shawn & Hulk?

Did you wish you could’ve had another program with Hulk instead of Shawn?

Did you & Hulk have problems backstage with your work?