On June 20, 2005, WWE held an eventful edition of Monday Night Raw from Phoenix, Arizona, featuring major storylines and high-stakes matches. The WWE Raw June 2005 Highlights include the surprising wedding ceremony of Edge and Lita and a heated challenge from John Cena as he confronted multiple opponents. The action-packed night set the tone for the upcoming pay-per-view and furthered the ongoing rivalries in the WWE universe.
John Cena Issues Immediate Challenge in a Charged Opening Segment
After an energetic introduction by commentators Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler, John Cena made a strong appearance, addressing the unpredictable nature of WWE alliances. Cena praised Christian’s straightforward approach but criticized Chris Jericho for attacking him behind his back, escalating tensions between the wrestlers. Demonstrating his newfound confidence on the microphone, Cena called out Jericho and Christian for an impromptu fight rather than waiting for the Vengeance pay-per-view. When Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari interrupted, Cena challenged Hassan to a match later in the show. Eric Bischoff then officially booked the WWE Championship match, highlighting Cena’s rising assertiveness and growing fan support throughout the segment.
Shelton Benjamin Faces Carlito Cool in Intense IC Title Contest
Eric Bischoff praised WWE Champion Shelton Benjamin for his historic Intercontinental Championship reign before announcing that Carlito Cool would challenge Benjamin that night. The match quickly turned dramatic when Benjamin suffered a painful misstep, crashing hard after attempting a dive over the top rope. Although Benjamin battled back with several moves, Carlito secured victory by using the ropes for leverage during a pinfall. Carlito’s win marked a significant shift in WWE Raw’s landscape, and commentators noted Carlito’s move to Raw as a strategic choice to refresh the show’s roster dynamic.
Edge and Lita’s Wedding Ceremony Turns Chaotic
One of the most unforgettable moments of WWE Raw June 2005 Highlights was Edge and Lita’s wedding ceremony. Lita entered in an eye-catching dress as the crowd erupted in chants demanding Matt Hardy. During the ceremony, a clumsy priest repeatedly tripped over his lines, creating a comedic but tense atmosphere. The mood shifted when Gene Snitsky interrupted with a controversial poem containing shocking insults, including:
“It’s not my fault that Kane can’t get an erection”
and
“It’s not my fault you had a dead baby in your uterus.”
Edge and Lita pressed on despite the distractions.
Edge humorously dubbed himself “Money in the Sack” while addressing the audience amid boos and chants of “Boring!” Lita responded defiantly, saying:
“I may have been unlucky in marriage, but I’ve never been unlucky in love. I never loved Kane. And I now know after falling in love that I have never been in love with any man.”
She continued,
“I don’t care what these people say, and it might hurt, but if falling in love makes me a slut, then I’m proud, I am proud to be the slut of the century.”
The ceremony appeared to reach its climax until Matt Hardy’s music played, causing an uproar and effectively diverting the moment. Edge and Lita laughed off the interruption but seemed concerned.
Suddenly, Kane emerged from under the ring, knocking Edge out and attacking Lita. A frantic fight broke out as Edge recovered to defend Lita, but Kane destroyed the wedding set with pyrotechnics and brutal force. The segment ended with a dramatic brawl and a signal that Kane was reclaiming his “monster” persona, apologizing backstage with a bold proclamation: “I’m baaaack!”
Violent Conflict Between Christy Hemme and Victoria Escalates
The personal rivalry between Christy Hemme and Victoria intensified during the broadcast. After being assaulted by Victoria in a previous week, Hemme voiced her intense anger in an interview, declaring:
“Every time I think about that bitch, I just want to rip her head off.”
Suddenly, Victoria ambushed Hemme from behind, breaking a glass object over her head and causing a serious injury. Addressed swiftly by medical personnel, Hemme was treated backstage, wearing a neck brace and unconscious of the events that led to her injury. This gruesome attack firmly positioned their feud as one of WWE’s more violent and emotionally charged confrontations.
John Cena Defeats Muhammad Hassan to Maintain WWE Title Momentum
In a WWE Championship match later in the evening, John Cena faced off against Muhammad Hassan. Despite regular interference attempts by Hassan’s ally Khosrow Daivari, Cena swiftly took control, delivering his signature FU finisher for a quick victory at 2:19. The match itself was short and lacked complexity, ending Hassan’s winning streak abruptly and with little fanfare. After the match, Cena was assaulted from behind by both Jericho and Christian, who joined forces to weaken his momentum before walking away with hostile tension lingering in the air.
Mid-Card Matches Provide Additional Highlights and Character Development
A series of mid-card contests offered moments of both humor and aggression. Simon Dean taunted larger opponent Viscera before succumbing to a dominant Viscera Driver maneuver, yet surprisingly, Dean was credited the winner in a brief and disjointed finish. Viscera then shared a suggestive backstage moment with Lilian, hinting at future storylines set in Las Vegas.
Further backstage segments introduced the finalists of the WWE Diva competition in a reality show-style format, mirroring popular culture with interviews and coach-like guidance. This added a fresh dimension to the evolving women’s division, engaging viewers with new talent.
Tag Team Turmoil and Rivalries Intensify Ahead of Vengeance
The tag team scene took center stage when Batista clashed with Kurt Angle. Early in the match, Triple H and Ric Flair disrupted the fight by attacking Batista, prompting a disqualification victory for Batista. This interference led Eric Bischoff to order a tag team match featuring Triple H & Kurt Angle against Batista & Shawn Michaels. During the ensuing chaotic bout, the competitors exchanged heavy strikes and momentum shifts, culminating in Triple H securing a pinfall over Batista following a Pedigree. The fiercely competitive match served to amplify tensions heading into the upcoming Hell in a Cell and Vengeance events, building anticipation for marquee battles.
Eric Bischoff and Shelton Benjamin Highlight the Draft Lottery Uncertainty
Bischoff praised Shelton Benjamin’s lengthy Intercontinental Championship reign but publicly teased the unpredictability of the WWE draft lottery. Benjamin confrontationally challenged the mysterious draft lottery winner, leading to Carlito Cool’s surprise debut on Raw. Carlito’s cold demeanor and confident victory over Benjamin seemed intended to shake up the status quo, creating fresh intrigue about roster moves and the future landscape of WWE storylines.
Significance and Future Implications of June 2005 Raw Events
The WWE Raw June 2005 Highlights demonstrated increasing narrative complexity and character interplay as WWE geared up for the Vengeance pay-per-view. The shocking wedding disruption and Kane’s ominous return set the stage for heated future confrontations, while John Cena’s assertive mic work and in-ring victories positioned him as a central figure despite ongoing opposition. The unpredictable interferences and tag team machinations illustrated the chaotic dynamics among WWE’s top stars, ensuring that storylines would continue evolving dramatically. Fans could expect further twists as the various rivalries escalated, particularly with Carlito Cool’s fresh challenge and the developing Diva competition adding new elements to the WWE’s entertainment mix.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is WWE Raw kid friendly?
A. Fans wanted the new streaming service to allow more creative freedom with storylines and language. However, WWE leaders Nick Khan and Paul “Triple H” Levesque stated that WWE Raw will keep its “TV-PG” content rating.
