In the May 16, 2005 edition of WWE Raw, the King of the Ring tournament continues as Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin faces Stevie Richards. Elsewhere, William Regal and Tajiri defend the World Tag Team Championship against The Superheroes.

Backstage: Stacy Keibler and Mick Foley

A camera caught Stacy Keibler meeting with Mick Foley in the General Manager’s office. Stacy wanted to compete in the women’s division, but Foley was hesitant. It had been years since Stacy wrestled a proper match in WWE, and after Randy Orton’s attack, Foley was also concerned about her well-being.

Stacy appreciated Foley getting rid of Orton, but she didn’t want his sympathy or to be reduced to the woman who took an RKO from her ex-boyfriend. She had been training with The Superheroes and didn’t want to be seen as a defenseless, delicate flower.

Foley joked about the quality of training she must be receiving from The Superheroes, but gave Stacy credit for putting in the work.

Still, training was different from stepping into the ring with women like Tara Varon and Women’s Champion Trish Stratus. Foley needed to build a division, though, and if Stacy wanted to be part of it, he was willing to give her an opportunity.

Foley promised to update her about her first match. Stacy thanked him and left.

Backstage: Stacy Keibler and The Superheroes

As Stacy Keibler left Foley’s office, Hurricane and Rosey passed on their way to the ring. Stacy excitedly told them Foley had approved her becoming a full-time wrestler.

Hurricane congratulated her and encouraged her to keep training. Stacy wished them luck in their upcoming World Tag Team Championship match.

From farther down the hallway, Torrie Wilson called out to Stacy.

Rosey suggested they go ahead so Stacy could talk with Torrie. Instead, Stacy offered to accompany The Superheroes to ringside.

The delighted Hurricane even offered her a mask.

The three headed toward the stage, leaving a confused Torrie behind.

World Tag Team Championship: William Regal & Tajiri (c) defeated The Superheroes (Hurricane & Rosey, with Stacy Keibler)

After his impressive performance against Triple H last week, Tajiri returned to tag team competition alongside William Regal for their first title defense since WrestleMania 21.

With Tajiri’s remaining time in WWE running short, so were the opportunities for Raw’s tag teams to challenge the champions.

Hurricane and Rosey, accompanied by Stacy Keibler, hoped to capitalize on a Tajiri still feeling the effects of his match with Triple H.

The champions controlled Hurricane early, but Rosey’s entrance changed the match. His size overwhelmed a fatigued Tajiri until Regal and Tajiri began targeting his conditioning and gradually wore him down.

After Rosey broke up a pin on Hurricane, the champions worked together to take the bigger man out of the match. Tajiri wiped out Rosey with an Asai moonsault at ringside, leaving Regal to hit Hurricane with the Regal Cutter for the victory.

Backstage: The Shane Twins talk to Simon Dean

Simon Dean was sitting alone when Mike and Todd Shane approached him.

Mike insisted they weren’t looking for trouble. Todd casually asked where Stevie Richards was.

Dean explained that Richards was doing a WWE.com interview ahead of his match with Shelton Benjamin.

Todd feigned surprise.

Richards was in the King of the Ring? The main event too?

Todd wondered how it felt watching Richards soar while Dean’s feet remained firmly on the ground.

Dean stared at him without answering.

Mike thought Dean looked a little upset. Todd couldn’t blame him. It had to be difficult reuniting with an old friend only to watch that friend receive all the acclaim.

Before leaving, Todd asked Dean to congratulate Richards on their tag team victory last week and wish him luck tonight.

Backstage: Batista talks with William Regal and Tajiri

World Champion Batista spotted William Regal and Tajiri in the trainer’s room and stopped to congratulate them on their title defense.

Batista also praised Tajiri’s performance against Triple H. He had been rooting for him.

Regal said everyone had been. Tajiri may have fallen short, but the world received one more reminder of just how good he truly was.

Batista then asked Regal whether he was ready for Edge next week.

Regal remembered the young Edge he had battled years ago and grown to respect. But he was concerned about the man Edge had become since returning from injury.

Regal sensed desperation in him.

Next week, Edge would be desperate to escape Regal.

Batista smiled and said he was looking forward to it before leaving.

Interview: Todd Grisham speaks with Triple H and Ric Flair

Todd Grisham wasted no time asking Triple H whether his difficulty against Tajiri concerned him with the competition only getting tougher.

Triple H bristled at the question, prompting Ric Flair to answer for him.

Flair blamed ring rust. Triple H hadn’t competed in more than a month. He was still the greatest wrestler alive, and winning the King of the Ring would prove it.

Triple H suddenly became more interested in something else.

What was Batista trying to prove by talking to Tajiri?

Triple H had returned to Raw, yet Batista hadn’t even confronted him. He insisted he had simply gone easy on Tajiri and promised he wouldn’t be so nice to either Shelton Benjamin or Stevie Richards in the next round.

Triple H slowly limped away from the interview.

In the Ring: Christy Hemme and Torrie Wilson

Christy Hemme spoke for the first time since losing to Women’s Champion Trish Stratus at WrestleMania 21.

Christy admitted she had been humiliated. She had no business being in the ring with the best women’s wrestler in WWE and accepted the criticism she had received since.

But WrestleMania hadn’t convinced her to quit.

It showed Christy what she could become with enough training and work. Trish had endured her own embarrassments early in her career and kept going. Like Stacy Keibler, Christy had been training, and she wanted to earn a place in Raw’s women’s division.

Torrie Wilson interrupted.

Torrie gave Christy credit for wanting to improve, but reminded her that wrestlers in WCW saw something in Torrie and brought her into the business. Christy got into WWE because The Rock liked how she covered her ass in pie.

As far as Torrie was concerned, Christy had already received more than her deserved fifteen minutes of fame. She should quit while she was ahead.

Torrie hadn’t come to Raw to make friends. She had come to compete after spending years holding together what little women’s wrestling existed on SmackDown. Christy was only still here because nobody wanted to admit that WWE’s $250,000 investment had been a waste.

Christy finally fired back.

Now she understood why Stacy hadn’t wanted to talk to Torrie earlier.

Was this how Torrie felt about Stacy too? Was that why they weren’t friends anymore?

Torrie glared at her.

Christy said nobody cared about Torrie’s fitness competitions or who she rubbed elbows with to get into WCW. The truth was that nobody cared about Torrie—and that was what bothered her.

Christy might have covered her ass in pie, but she also earned a big contract, appeared in Playboy and wrestled at WrestleMania. Maybe Torrie’s real problem was realizing she wasn’t above any of them.

WrestleMania had given Christy her reality check. If Torrie wanted a fight, she wasn’t getting the wide-eyed Diva Search winner anymore.

She was getting a fiery redhead ready to fight.

Torrie started to leave before stopping.

If Christy planned on becoming a wrestler, Torrie would gladly show her just how large the gap between them really was.

King of the Ring Quarterfinal: Shelton Benjamin defeated Stevie Richards

Shelton Benjamin entered the match looking to rebound from his loss to Batista at Backlash, while Stevie Richards, accompanied by Simon Dean, continued his recent resurgence.

World Champion Batista watched from ringside.

Benjamin controlled most of the match, but Richards refused to stay down. Dean repeatedly checked on his friend and eventually told Richards that he had nothing left to prove.

That only seemed to fire Richards up.

Richards fought back and stunned Benjamin with a superkick before hitting the Stevie-T for a near fall.

Desperate, Richards immediately tried another.

Benjamin countered with a back body drop and quickly followed with the Shell Bomb for the victory.

Post-Match: Triple H confronts Batista

Batista applauded as Shelton Benjamin celebrated his victory.

Then Triple H’s music hit.

Triple H walked to ringside alone and immediately confronted Batista. Benjamin slipped outside and reminded Triple H that after tonight, he was Triple H’s next opponent—not Batista.

Triple H dismissed him and turned his attention back to the World Champion.

Benjamin punched him in the face.

Triple H never had an opportunity to respond as Benjamin unloaded with punches. Ric Flair rushed to ringside and stepped between them, trying to get Benjamin to back off.

Batista stood behind Benjamin as Flair helped Triple H retreat toward the back.

Benjamin continued jawing at Triple H and Flair as they disappeared backstage.

Raw went off the air with Shelton Benjamin standing his ground.