| Date: September 12, 2004
| Venue: Rose Garden | City: Portland, Oregon
| Attendance: 10, 000 | Buys: 239, 000

| tweet me: @BastionBlogger

Insane. Pain. Kane. The Big Red Machine is the man on the poster for this show and he is the only man that has fought on the previous 6 Unforgiven PPV’s. He’ll be in action tonight too but I’ll get to that shortly. The main event tonight is between Randy Orton and Triple H. After winning the World Heavyweight Championship at Summerslam, Orton was kicked out of Evolution by Triple H. Triple H would demand that Orton give him the title but instead Randy spat in his face. The two men have since attacked each other on numerous occasions with Orton costing Triple H a match against Eugene and Evolution attacking Orton after a cage match with Kane.

So speaking of Kane, he was given a wedding present by Eric Bischoff in which he could choose any opponent he likes for Unforgiven. However Lita informed Kane that now they are married, it is up to both of them and Lita has already signed the contract that Kane will be going one on one with the returning Shawn Michaels! Kane put Michaels out of action three months ago and now Michaels returns to take revenge. Kane’s wife Lita won’t be in action tonight as she’s pregnant but Women’s Champion Trish Stratus will be on the line, defending her title against Victoria. Victoria became number one contender by beating Molly Holly at Vengeance and now Trish is off the injured reserve, she can defend her belt. The two girls got into it at Summerslam following their dodgeball loss to the total divas.

The Intercontinental Championship is set to be decided tonight. Edge got injured in a house show match with Chris Jericho and as a result had to vacate his title. Chris Jericho staked his claim to the title but then so did the returning Christian. Eric Bischoff announced that the two men would meet at Unforgiven to decide a new champion. Jericho would up the stakes to a ladder match and Bischoff made it official. Jericho and Christian meet for the vacant title tonight. The World Tag Team Championships will also be on the line tonight as La Resistance defend against Tajiri and Rhyno. Evolution have been causing chaos on Raw over the past few weeks and two men that have received the brunt of it are Chris Benoit and William Regal who tonight go up against Evolution’s Ric Flair and Batista.

On Sunday Night Heat prior to Unforgiven, Maven defeated Rodney Mack.

A fast paced video package kicks us off highlighting the Randy Orton and Triple H rivalry. It’s a decent package a big improvement on the one we got at Summerslam. Jim Ross then welcomes us to Unforgiven, he is of course joined by Jerry “The King” Lawler.

Chris Benoit & William Regal vs. Ric Flair & Batista

How the mighty have fallen. Chris Benoit goes from World Heavyweight Champion to a tag match opening a pay per view. Chris Benoit has a 1-1 record at Unforgiven PPV’s, Ric Flair has a 0-1 record whilst William Regal has a 0-1 record and Batista make his Unforgiven debut tonight. It’s Chris Benoit and Batista that start the match and Benoit executes a couple of takedowns. Benoit tags in Regal who returns to PPV after a long absence. Batista takes a cheap shot to Benoit and then applies a headlock to Regal. Benoit returns the cheap shot allowing Regal to hit a t-bone suplex for a one count. Regal tags Benoit back in but Batista over-powers him and hits some big right hands. Batista tags in Ric Flair to a chorus of “woo’s”. They continue has Flair hits some of his trademark chops. There’s a lot of picture break up on this show.

Chris Benoit hits a big back body drop and then some chops of his own before tagging out to William Regal. Regal tags Benoit back in and there’s some quick tags between the two. Flair hits a chopblock on Regal to take the advantage but Regal applies a wristlock and tags in Benoit. Benoit hits some big chops to knock Flair down. These two men were quite pally two years ago. They exchange chops before Benoit takes Flair down with an enzeguri. Both men make tags and it’s advantage Batista but more quick tags as Regal tags in Benoit. Chris Benoit takes Batista down and tries for a sharpshooter but Batista fights him off and knocks him down for the first near fall of the night. Benoit tags in Regal who hits uppercuts and headbutts. Flair gets involved, choking Regal with the tag rope to give Evolution the advantage. Flair tags in and hits Regal with a big right hand and a hard Irish whip.

Flair hits a side suplex on Regal for a two count. Batista then hits Regal with a cheap shot and Flair knocks him down with a chop. Flair tags in Batista who hits a neckbreaker for a near fall. Batista tags in Flair who hits an elbow on Regal and then a chopblock. Ric then locks on the figure four! Benoit comes in and breaks the hold so Flair tags out to Batista. Batista hits a suplex and then applies a chinlock but Regal gets out of it before the two men knock heads. Batista then tags Flair and Regal tags Benoit! Benoit lays into Flair with big right hands and chops. Chris hits a back body drop, a snap suplex and then a German suplex. Batista then gets a German suplex before Benoit goes back to Flair and hits him with 2 more. Benoit goes to the top and hits him trademark diving headbutt on Flair!

Benoit looks to apply the sharpshooter on Flair but Flair pokes him in the eye! Benoit then locks the crippler crossface on Flair but Batista breaks it up! Batista then hits Regal with a big spinebuster! Batista and Regal fight to the outside where Regal shoves the big man into the ringpost before throwing him into the crowd. In the ring Benoit counters a figure four into a crippler crossface! Ric Flair taps out which means Chris Benoit and William Regal win the match! A really good match to start things off.

Rating: 7/10

Trish Stratus, Christian and Tyson Tomko are walking backstage. Christian and Trish are fighting over whose problem solver Tyson Tomko’s is. They both want him in their corner. Trish asks Tomko to accompany her to the ring one last time and promises him some action if he does.

Trish Stratus (c) vs. Victoria – Women’s Championship Match

This is the third PPV match between these two women, Trish won the first at No Mercy 2002 and Victoria won the second at Survivor Series 2002. Nearly two years later these ladies settle it in a rubber match. Trish has a 2-0 record at Unforgiven PPV’s whilst Victoria wrestles at this event for the first time. Trish is accompanied by Tyson Tomko. Victoria starts the match with a couple of takedowns and a bridge for a near fall. A “slut” chant breaks out aimed at Trish. Stratus has new wrestling gear tonight and she hits a knee to Victoria before smashing her into the top turnbuckle. Trish chokes Victoria on the middle rope and then hits some kicks to the middle section. Trish hits a hanging choke form the top rope but Victoria fights back and holds Trish high above her head before dropping her on her knee.

Victoria dropkicks Trish out of the ring and then heads up top but Tomko picks up Trish and takes her out of the way. Victoria drops down and throws Trish back into the ring but Trish fights back with an elbow and throws her into the ring post. Trish gets a two count. I would definitely class these two women as two of the best in the past 20 years. Trish would be number one for me. Trish hits some right hands and then covers Victoria for another near fall. Stratus applies a modified abdominal stretch and then gets a near fall. Trish applies a sleeper which Victoria gets out of but Trish takes her right back down with a spinebuster for another near fall. Trish goes back to the sleeper which Victoria gets out of and hits a tilt-a-whirl sidewalk slam for a near fall. Victoria then hits a slam and her trademark standing moonsault for a near fall. Trish avoids a clothesline with her matrix move but Victoria hits her with a headbutt.

Victoria dives to the outside onto Tomko but that gives Trish time to get up and when Victoria gets back into the ring Trish hits her with Stratus-faction which is enough for the three! Trish wins the match! After the bell Tomko gets in the ring and looks to hit a chokeslam on Victoria but from nowhere comes the mystery “woman” who makes the save! It’s totally Stevie Richards and everyone knows it. Good match between these two ladies.

Rating: 6.75/10

Tyson Tomko gets on the mic and challenges the mystery woman to a fight.

Tyson Tomko vs “The Mystery Woman” (Stevie Richards)

The mystery woman comes back out and it looks like we have an impromptu match! She slaps Tomko and then Tyson lays into her, ripping off the wig and the ladies clothes. We can then see that it is none other than Stevie Richards! What a shocker. Tyson hits some big right hands and then chokes Richards. A “you suck” chant breaks out aimed at Tomko as he continues to lay into Richards, choking him on the ropes. This match is terrible. Seriously bad. Tomko has no idea what to do. He picks Richards up and uncomfortably throws Richards across the ring before applying a chinlock. Richards fights out of it but Tomko knocks him right back down. This is just awkward to watch. Richards throws his wig at the referee and then claws Tomko’s balls.

Richards hits a couple of dropkicks and then picks up his bra so Tomko attacks him from behind and hits him with a swinging neckbreaker off his shoulders. Awful.

Rating: 0.5/10

There’s a video package showing the recent developments between Edge, Chris Jericho and Christian.

Chris Jericho vs. Christian – Ladder Match for the vacant Intercontinental Championship

This is the second PPV singles match between these two men. Christian won the first at Wrestlemania XX when Trish Stratus turned heel and helped Christian win. Both men have wrestled at five Unforgiven PPV’s before and both men have 2-3 records at this event. Christian actually successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam at last years event. Christian also beat Edge for the IC title at the 2001 event so he has a good record when it comes to this title at this event. Christian slaps Jericho in the early going which fires Jericho up . Jericho hits a clothesline, a suplex and a side suplex. Christian fights back with kicks and chops before stomping on Jericho. A “CLB” chant breaks out aimed at the creepy little bastard, Christian. Jericho back body drops Christian out of the ring. Nobody has fought as many PPV matches without main eventing than Christian.

Jericho grabs a ladder from ringside and throws it at Christian who gets out of the way. Back in the ring and there’s a bit of a botch which ends in Christian on the middle rope. Jericho hits the move than I never know what to call (runs and lands on Christian on the middle rope) before hitting him with an enzeguri. Jericho and Christian then battle to the outside where Christian throws Jericho into the crowd. Christian lays into Jericho with big right hands and the two then battle to the ringside area. Christian then hits the unprettier on the outside of the ring before throwing a ladder into the ring and setting it up. Christian climbs the ladder (slowly) and gets to the title but Jericho pulls him down. Christian sets up a ladder in the corner before attempting to throw Jericho into it but Jericho reverses it and Christian goes face first into the steel.

Jericho throws the ladder at Christian and then sets it up. Christian throws Jericho into the ladder and both men go down. Both men use the ladder against each other and then Jericho attempts a bulldog but Christian throws him right into the ladder. Christian climbs up the ladder but stops when Jericho gets up to his knees and flips him the bird. Christian hops down and picks up the ladder which Jericho dropkicks right into his face. Jericho hits a bulldog onto the ladder and then sandwiches him into it before attempting a lionsault but Christian gets out of the way and Jericho hits the ladder. Christian then picks up the ladder and rams it into Jericho’s face. Christian sets up the ladder and climbs up it slowly again but Jericho is back up. Christian holds onto the cable that the belt is on and Jericho rams the ladder into him, bringing Christian back down to the mat.

Jericho sets up a ladder, trapping Christian to the mat as he does. Christian manages to escape and lifts up the ladder sending Jericho sprawling to the mat. Christian climbs the ladder but Jericho meets him up there and locks on his walls of Jericho on top of the ladder! Christian falls down to the mat and Jericho touches the title but Christian pushes over the ladder and Jericho lands nastily right on the bottom of the ladder. That looked painful. Christian finds another ladder which is bigger and climbs up that. Jericho sets up the other ladder and climbs up that one before Jericho takes Christian down to the mat with a facebuster. Jericho sets up a ladder and climbs it whilst Christian is out for the count. Jericho grabs the title and it’s all over! Jericho wins the Intercontinental Championship tonight! A really good match with an under-whelming finish.

Rating: 7.25/10

Todd Grisham is backstage looking to get an interview with Kane. Lita comes out of Kane’s locker room and says that tonight she hopes Shawn Michaels beats the hell out of Kane tonight. Kane steps out of his locker room grinning and jokes about Lita being supportive. Kane then says that Eric Bischoff has made his match no disqualification. Kane then kisses Lita for good luck.

Coach is backstage with Shawn Michaels and asks him how he feels to be Intercontinental Champion again. Jericho is happy that he is a record breaking 7 time champion. Edge then shows up on crutches and sarcastically congratulates him. Edge says he will be taking back what’s his. Jericho will be waiting.

There’s a video package next for Kane and Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels vs. Kane – No Disqualification Match

This is a first time singles meeting between these two men on pay per view. Kane is the only man to have fought on all 7 Unforgiven PPV’s and up to now he has a 3-3 record after losing his first 3 matches at the event and winning his latest 3. Shawn Michaels has only wrestled at the 2003 event and he lost to Randy Orton. Kane has his wife Lita with him. Kane made his debut helping Shawn Michaels win a hell in a cell match against The Undertaker. Michaels starts lively, hitting a Lou Thesz Press and hitting Kane with big right hands. Michaels then knocks Kane to the outside where the two men go at it. Michaels hits some chops and Kane rolls back in the ring. Michaels then goes up top but Kane sees him coming and hits him with an uppercut.

Kane chokes Michaels with his boot and then hits him with a big clothesline in the corner. Kane gets the first near fall of the match and then hits a powerslam before missing with an elbow drop. Michaels clotheslines Kane out of the ring before skinning the cat back in. Michaels then dives to the outside and hits some big right hands. Kane uses his wife as a shield which works as a distraction for Kane to hit some right hands before dropping Michaels on the barricade. Kane slams Michaels onto the Spanish announce table before suplexing him right through it. Kane rolls Shawn back into the ring for a near fall. Kane hits a big legdrop for another near fall. It’s all Kane now as he hits a hard Irish whip and some big uppercuts outside the ring. Back in the ring and Kane hits a sidewalk slam for a near fall.

Kane applies a chinlock and then a double armed chokeslam for a near fall. Kane goes back to the chinlock whilst shouting at his wife who is rallying behind Michaels. Michaels fights out of the chinlock but Kane takes him right back down with a clothesline. Michaels hits a DDT which buys himself some time. Both men get to their feet and slug it out until Shawn hits his trademark flying forearm. Kane sits up and then Michaels nips up and lays in some chops. Kane hits a hard Irish whip sending Michaels all the way out of the ring. Michaels is busted wide open now. Kane tries for a big boot but Michaels gets out of the way and Kane goes right into the ringpost. Shawn throws Kane back into the ring and hits him with an atomic drop and some more chops. Michaels hits a slam and goes to the top before hitting an elbow drop.

Michaels motions for sweet chin music but Kane takes his time getting up and hits a big boot! Kane hooks the leg but Michaels kicks out at 2. Kane goes to the top and dives off with a clothesline. The Big Red Machine sets up for a chokeslam but Michaels hits him with a low blow! HBK then grabs a steel chair and swings it into Kane’s face. Kane sits up and grabs the chair but Lita wrestled it off him! Kane goes mental at his wife and then turns around into a sweet chin music attempt but Kane grabs the leg and tries for a chokeslam but Michaels nips down and this time hits sweet chin music! Shawn Michaels returns with a big win over Kane!

Rating: 6.75/10

There’s a promo video hyping the return of Shelton Benjamin.

Todd Grisham is then backstage with Triple H asking him if he can beat Randy Orton. Triple H says that Orton was a loser until he met him. Triple H says he will spit in Ortons face by becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

La Resistance (Sylvain Grenier & Rob Conway) (c) vs. Tajiri & Rhyno – World Tag Team Championship Match

This is a first tag team match on PPV between these two teams. Rhyno actually beat Tajiri at the 2001 event whilst the only action La Resistance have had at Unforgiven before was in a losing effort to the Dudley Boyz at last years event. Grenier and Conway are the only current champions in the company that have successfully defended their titles on two PPVs. Grenier’s rendition of “Oh Canada” is interrupted by the challengers. Grenier starts the match with Tajiri and applies a headlock before knocking Tajiri down. Tajiri wraps Grenier up in all sorts of holds before hitting some chops and armdrags. Grenier tags in Rob Conway who also gets caught with an arm drag. Tajiri tags in Rhyno who slugs it out with Conway before hitting a big back body drop. Rhyno then sets up for a gore but Conway slides out of the ring.

Rhyno misses with a splash in the corner allowing Conway to take him down with an armbar takedown. Conway then tags Grenier who applies a wristlock and then an armbar before tagging back out to Rob Conway. Rhyno hits Conway with a belly to belly suplex and then tags out to Tajiri. Tajiri hits some big kicks for a near fall and then rolls Conway around the ring. Tajiri hits a handspring, knocking Grenier off the apron but Conway takes Tajiri down with a clothesline. La Resistance sometimes remind me of The Fabulous Rougeaus. Grenier hits a suplex for a two count and then applies a chinlock. Grenier hits a backbreaker and then a hard Irish whip before tagging out to Rob Conway. Conway chokes Tajiri on the ropes and then hits a slam for a two count.

Rob Conway applies a modified camel clutch which Tajiri gets out of and follows it up with a head scissors. Tajiri hits another kick and both men tag out. Rhyno lays into both members of La Resistance before disposing of Conway. Rhyno hits a shoulder tackle in the corner and then a belly to belly for a two count. Rhyno hits a big spinebuster on Grenier for a near fall and then La Resistance hit a double spinebuster on Rhyno for a near fall. All four men then go at it and Tajiri accidentally hits a low blow on Grenier with a flag. Rhyno then gores Grenier and hooks the leg but Conway puts Greniers other leg on the ropes to break the count. Grenier then smashes Rhyno with the flag as the referee saw to Tajiri and Conway on the outside. Grenier hooks the leg and it’s all over! La Resistance win the match and retain their World Tag Team Championships!

Rating: 5.75/10

There’s a video package for Randy Orton and Triple H next.

Randy Orton (c) vs. Triple H – World Heavyweight Championship Match

This is a first time meeting between these two men on pay per view. Triple H has a 4-1 record on Unforgiven PPV’s whilst Randy Orton has a 1-0 record having beaten Shawn Michaels at last years event. Triple H has his white boots on that I’m not a big fan of. Orton slaps Triple H in the early going and then spits at Triple H like he did on Raw a few weeks ago. Orton then Triple H then exchange right hands until Randy hits a back body drop. Orton hits a snapmare and some more right hands before hitting a knee drop for a near fall. Orton then applies a chinlock which has become a common theme in Randy Orton matches. Triple H gets out of it and hits some right hands but Orton comes back with right hands of his own. Orton then throws Triple H out of the ring before going out with him and knocking The Game down with a clothesline.

Back in the ring and Orton hits some uppercuts but Triple H gets back into it with a chopblock. Triple H then attempts to wrap Ortons leg into the ringpost but Randy pulls Helmsley into the post. I’m not sure I’m a fan of Ortons working punch. Triple H drops an elbow on Ortons ankle and this time wraps the ankle into the ringpost. Triple H works the left leg, ankle and knee of Randy Orton now. Orton comes back with some right hands but Triple H hits him with a knee to the face for a near fall. There has only been one pay per view in the last two years that Triple H has been eligible to wrestle on and hasn’t been in the top Raw match. And that was Summerslam when Orton beat Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H applies a figure four now. Orton finally gets out of it but Triple H tries to lock it on again only for Orton to kick him into the ringpost, busting Triple H wide open.

Orton hits a big powerslam for a near fall and then a nice dropkick for another two count. It’s all Orton now as he hits a DDT. Triple H tries to lock on a sleeper but Orton counters it into a sleeper of his own but Triple H hits a side suplex to break it up straight away. Triple H goes to the middle rope but Orton sees it coming and lifts up his leg. Orton heads to the top and hits a cross body for another near fall. Come on, we know these moves aren’t going to finish the match, there doesn’t need to be as many near falls. Randy clotheslines Triple H out of the ring but they’re soon back in the ring where Orton hits his trademark neckbreaker. Orton tries for an RKO but Triple H shoves Orton into the referee and then tries for a pedigree but Randy counters it into an RKO! The referee is out of the ring though and out comes Ric Flair! Orton disposes of Flair and here comes Batista who Orton also disposes of.

Triple H hits a low blow and out comes Coach in a referees shirt. Triple H covers Orton and Coach counts but Orton kicks out. Orton lays out Coach and then Batista is back in and he hits a big spinebuster on Orton. Triple H covers Orton but Orton kicks out of Coach’s count. Both men get to their feet and Triple H sets up for a pedigree but Orton back body drops him and then RKO’s Coach! Flair is back in with a chair but Orton pokes him in the eye and hits him with an RKO! Batista us back in and sets Orton up for a Batista Bomb but Orton hits him with a low blow. Triple H grabs the chair and swings it hard into Ortons head. Helmsley then pedigree’s Orton onto the steel chair! Batista throws referee Earl Hebner back into the ring and Earl counts the 3! Triple H wins the match and regains the World Heavyweight Championship! Normality is restored on Raw.

Rating: 7/10

And that was Unforgiven 2004. I’ll give it a quick conclusion. Chris Benoit and William Regal got the win over Evolution which was the right way to go. Benoit definitely needed to get a win back after losing his World Heavyweight Championship last month. I do wonder if Benoit was filling in for the injured Eugene here and I’m not sure what it means for Benoits future. I can’t see him back in the World title picture anytime soon. Trish then beat Victoria which is fine. Victoria has become one of the best women in the division but Trish is the best in the division and is well placed as a heel with the title. What followed was awful. Stevie Richards is a good hand and has had good matches in the past but this was just abysmal. The worst PPV match I think I’ve ever seen. Tyson Tomko is not ready for singles matches on pay per view. Jericho may have carried him to a good match a couple of months ago but this was not the same. Terrible.

Chris Jericho beat Christian in a solid ladder match. Both men put it all on the line and delivered. I cringed at Jericho falling off the ladder and hitting his back. These two men are going to be the cornerstones of the Intercontinental division going forward and it should get even more fun when Edge returns. Shawn Michaels beats Kane clearly which makes me think this is the end of these two. Kane has a big storyline at the moment with Lita that’ll run and run. I have no idea where Michaels fits into everything though. Probably back in the title picture because that’s what tends to happen. La Resistance successfully defended their world tag team titles against Rhyno and Tajiri which is fine with me. I’m a big fan of “proper” tag teams and La Resistance is just that for me. Not much of a tag team division at the moment so who knows who their next challengers will be.

Then in the main event Triple H defeated Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Yes I get that Orton isn’t the strongest champion but to take the belt off him after a month is ridiculous. I’m sure Orton will bounce back but to really solidify him as champion he should have had a longer run. It was a decent enough match, nothing special but Orton isn’t putting on the best matches to be honest. Overall a pretty solid show, one of the better single brand pay per views.

Overall Rating: 58.75/100 (ranked joint 71st out of 169)

Match Of The Night: Chris Jericho vs. Christian
Worst Match Of The Night: Stevie Richards vs. Tyson Tomko
Surprise Of The Night: Triple H retains the World Heavyweight Championship
Worst Booking Of The Night: Either booking the Tomko/Richards match or putting the belt back on Triple H
Superstar Of The Night: Triple H
Unforgiven 2004 Will Be Remembered For: Randy Orton dropping the World title after a month