Swwerve

The April 11, 2005, edition of WWE RAW continued the fallout from WrestleMania 21 with Chris Benoit attacking Edge and challenging him to a fight before Backlash. In the main event, Shelton Benjamin defended the IC Championship against Tyson Tomko.

Edge slams Chris Benoit before being confronted by Hardcore Holly

Edge announced that he has a match with Chris Benoit at the Raw Backlash PPV. Edge believes he has nothing to prove, but he will accept the match to silence Benoit and continue his rise on Raw.

Edge vowed not to lose to World Champion Batista the way Benoit did last week. Benoit losing while injured simply showed that Edge was right—it was best to wait until the most opportune time to compete for the World Championship.

Hardcore Holly confronted Edge, calling him a coward for not fighting for the championship last week. Benoit showed he has the heart of a champion while Edge does not. Many wrestlers have waited their entire careers for opportunities like the one Edge has. That Edge isn’t interested in using that opportunity is insulting.

Edge said those wrestlers waited because they suck. They’re not Edge! Edge is tired of people telling him what to do just because they failed at their careers. Besides, who is Holly to say anything to him? Edge questioned what Holly has accomplished throughout a career of mediocrity.

Holly laughed off the insults before attacking Edge. A full-on fight broke with Holly in control. That was until Edge kicked Holly below the belt. Before Edge could do more damage, Chris Benoit entered the ring and hit him with a chair. Edge immediately bailed out of the ring and through the crowd as Benoit took control of it.

Chris Benoit doesn’t want to wait until Backlash

Benoit sat down in the middle of the ring and vowed to make sure Edge never becomes World Champion. Benoit didn’t want to wait until Backlash and said that after what Edge did to him last week, he demanded a fight with Edge right now.

Benoit told Edge to be a man and show him the person who will eventually become a champion. Instead, Tyson Tomko, who was set to face Shelton Benjamin for the IC Championship, entered the ring. Tomko told Benoit to leave so he could have his match. When Tomko shoved Benoit, he went on the attack and locked Tomko in the Crippler Crossface.

Edge ran back into the ring from the crowd and jumped Benoit from behind, sparking a brawl that had to be separated by security and agents. General Manager Mick Foley surveyed the action from the stage area. As Edge passed by Foley on the way to the backstage area, Edge asked if this was what Foley would allow to happen to the future of his show.

Foley followed Edge, asking what he meant. Edge asked why he was stuck fighting maniacs like Holly and Benoit when the focus should be on preparing for his eventual World Championship match. Edge said Benoit was standing in his way, and Foley wasn’t much better for allowing it.

Backstage: Batista and Shelton Benjamin

World Champion Batista approached IC Champion Shelton Benjamin backstage. Batista joked that Tomko was going to be a very angry man once Benjamin steps into the ring. Benjamin called Tomko a fool for getting in Benoit’s business.

Batista said he was happy to see Benjamin get the main event slot. However, Benjamin said the spotlight was already taken by what’s going on between Edge and Benoit, and facing Tomko isn’t the same as facing someone like Benoit.

Batista conceded that may be true, but he advised Benjamin not to take Tomko lightly. Tomko is now running solo, hungry, and, at the moment, embarrassed. He was desperate, and desperate men do desperate things.

Backstage: Stevie Richards and Simon Dean

Simon Dean was packing up his Simon System products when Stevie Richards approached him. Richards noted that few products were sold. Richards asked if Dean would like to stop scamming people and instead tag with him again.

Dean asked if the recent announcement of ECW: One Night Stand in June has Richards feeling nostalgic for their old faction. Richards said he wasn’t trying to relive the past. He simply wanted to prove he still belongs. He wants someone who was his friend to show he still belongs.

Dean thought for a moment before saying he has already proven his worth—that’s why he’s now Simon Dean. Dean said that when Richards comes to the same realization Dean did, they should team up … to sell his Simon System.

IC Championship Match: Shelton Benjamin (c) vs. Tyson Tomko

Tomko was already in the ring as Benjamin made his way out. As Benjamin posed in the corner for the fans, Tomko hit a hard forearm to the back of Benjamin’s neck.

Tomko immediately hit a running big boot, resulting in a near fall. Tomko controlled the match until Benjamin responded with a Dragon Whip, his first moment of meaningful offense. The two exchanged blows, with Tomko’s getting near falls on pin attempts while Benjamin struggled to take the big man off his feet.

Benjamin began a flurry of offense, but when charging at Tomko in the corner, Tomko pulled the official in front of him. Benjamin moved the official aside but took a headbutt from Tomko. Tomko hit a gutwrench suplex for another near fall.

Tomko went for a running big boot, but Benjamin dodged it and connected on a Shell Bomb out of desperation. Benjamin followed with a springboard bulldog for the win.

Result: Shelton Benjamin defeated Tyson Tomko via pinfall.