AL SNOW & JONATHAN COACHMAN VS. JIM ROSS & JERRY LAWLER

  Before the match, Triple H is asked by an interviewer I don’t recognise. He asks for Triple H’s thoughts, calling his title defense against Goldberg the biggest of his career. Triple H tells a story about a hero (obviously referencing Goldberg) that beat every villain and slayed every dragon in his own world, but now he’s in Triple H’s world. He’s going to leave with the title and he’ll put his life on the line to keep the World Heavyweight Championship because he doesn’t believe in Fairytales or the hype. He tells Goldberg it’s time to play the Game and stares down the camera for an extra second.

There’s a video package to recap this story. Jonathan Coachman interfered in Eric Bischoff’s Summerslam match (here) and won himself an employee of the month award. He filled in for JR and got no appreciation. The King obviously had his old pal’s back when Coach starts mocking JR, Al Snow comes to Coach’s aide to even up the numbers. Hey, what do you know? Both teams have a retired wrestler. JR’s been in the ring before, and Coach can go out there and not embarrass himself more than is intentional… There’s an idea for a brand exclusive Pay Per View!

   Coach and Al Snow make their way out as King has a last-minute pep talk at the announce table. Jerry Lawler makes his way down from the announce desk next, followed by Good Ol' JR. Lillian Garcia is our ring announcer for this match but obviously, there is no commentary for this match so we can relish in the Road Warrior pop these 4 will get for their athletic abilities(!)

AL SNOW & JONATHAN COACHMAN VS. JIM ROSS & JERRY LAWLER

(Winners become Raw’s official announce team)

WWE Unforgiven 2003 (21^st September 2003)

  Jerry Lawler and Al Snow start the match, as you would expect. The King shoves Al Snow into the corner with a sloppy-looking attack and rolls him up with a schoolboy for a 2 count.

 Jerry Lawler gets another 2 count with an inside cradle and we have a stand off. They lock up and Lawler grabs a headlock, Al Snow sends him off the ropes but is dropped with a shoulder tackle. Lawler covers again and we all pray for 3 but Al Snow has the audacity to kick out and save his job. Al Snow trips King and covers but King kicks out at 1 because it’s one of those shitty cover spots. Al Snow shouts at JR before backing Lawler into the turnbuckles, Al Snow breaks as the referee counts but hits Lawler across the face as JR calls bullshit from the apron. Al Snow gets another shot in, but Lawler has receipts. He hits Al Snow with a right hand from the middle rope and snapmares him down. Jerry Lawler connects with a fist drop and covers but Al Snow kicks out at 2. Lawler loses concentration as Al backs off, getting caught with a kick to the midsection to turn the tide. Al Snow beats King down and lays in the boots before sending Lawler off the ropes into a clothesline. Al Snow threatens JR before covering and only gets 2.

  Al Snow clubs at Lawler, keeping him off his feet and rolling King up for another 2 count. Al Snow gets annoyed at the referee as Lawler gets to his feet in the corner. King tries to get something going with more right hands but gets neutralized with an eye poke. Al Snow sends Lawler across the ring into the turnbuckles. Lawler reverses the irish whip on the return journey but Al Snow slides to his knees to stop the momentum and knocks Jerry down with a clothesline for another nearfall. Al Snow puts Lawler in an abdominal stretch on the mat, slowing this match down further. The crowd notice, chanting “boring” as Al Snow transitions to a chinlock and Lawler gets to his feet. Jerry Lawler is sent across the ring into a backdrop and Snow goes for a chat with JR. Coach tells Al Snow to do it again, Al clubs at Lawler to soften him up and sends him across the ring with an irish whip. Al Snow ducks for the backdrop and is nailed with a Piledriver. It's Almost as if shouting what you’re going to do would be a bad tactic in a real fight? Jerry Lawler covers as JR tells the referee it’s over but Al Snow has other ideas getting his foot to the bottom rope.

 Coach is very vocal about Al Snow’s foot in case the referee doesn’t notice it and JR shoves it from the bottom rope. Al Snow stops Lawler from making the tag and hits him with an elbow drop. King fights back to his knees with right hands but is on the wrong side of the ring. Jonathan Coachman tags himself in and tells an even more pissed off Al Snow that he’s “got it” before clubbing at Lawler and kicking him in the leg. Coach sends Lawler into the corner with an almost passable irish whip. Coach kicks Lawler in the midsection and clubs at his back. Coach connects with a falling ax handle and covers but King kicks out at 2. Coach covers again and this time Lawler gets his foot on the bottom rope. Coach connects with laughable strikes before sending Lawler into the turnbuckles. Jerry Lawler slumps down and Coach taunts him with crotch chops. Jonathan Coachman charges into the corner and Lawler moves out of the way, sending Coach balls first into the middle turnbuckle.

  Of all the moves Coach could try out, the Bronco Buster? The referee shouts at Al Snow as he gets in the ring, but leaves him to get decked by Lawler and roll to the floor. King pulls his strap down and repeatedly knocks Coach down with right hands. Coach is slammed in the middle of the ring and King hits a Fist Drop. Jerry Lawler covers but Al Snow breaks up the pin and shouts what I think is supposed to be encouragement to Coach. JR gets the tag! Al Snow is there to meet him, giving Coach time to get his bearings. Al Snow grabs JR by the Sooners Jersey. Big mistake! Jim Ross connects with his first move of the match, a low blow to Al Snow! It even rhymes! JR knocks Coach down with a clothesline and starts kicking him as Coach tries to remember how to writhe in pain. None of my descriptions matter too much, the crowd is eating this match up. JR connects with mounted punches as Coach tries to cover up and pleads with JR not to hit him in the face. The fans count along when JR connects with shots.

  Chris Jericho has run down to the ring. He dropkicks JR and places Coach on top for the cover. Chris Jericho slides out of the ring and tells the referee without being questioned as the referee counts the 3.

WINNERS: AL SNOW & JONATHAN COACHMAN (NEW WWE Raw Announce Team)

They kept the match basic, which is what they needed to do, but it did make the 8 minutes seem to drag along. Jerry Lawler was clearly past his prime and it showed in this match. Al Snow can still get a serviceable match, but with 2 non-wrestlers and Jerry Lawler at 53 years of age. [¾* ] 1/10

After the match, Jerry Lawler asks the crowd what happens as the mysterious (to me) interviewer catches up with Jericho on the ramp. When asked for an explanation, he said he was going to get to Steve Austin through his Oklahoma buddy. Mission accomplished, daddio! Al Snow and Coach celebrate as they make their way to the back and Lawler is shown with JR in the ring. Jim Ross has his head in his hands, distraught at the loss.

We see clips from Goldberg's domination of the Elimination Chamber match at SummerSlam. Triple H locked himself in his pod but Goldberg kicked through it in a cool moment. Goldberg is then shown setting up for the Spear but Ric Flair slid the trusty Sledgehammer to Triple H, allowing the H's to cut Goldberg off and retain the World Heavyweight Championship. Flair and Randy Orton then joined the beatdown, handcuffing Goldberg to the Chamber for more shots from the sledgehammer, busting him open. The next night Goldberg demanded a rematch and Triple H made it a Championship vs. Career match. Jim Ross apologises to King for letting them both down and losing their jobs. He's only ever wanted to be in this job his whole life and calls King like a brother. He stiffens his upper lip and says they have one more match to call and they're going to go out with a bang.

- For those who don't know or don't remember, Jim Ross would win a strap match against Coach that reversed this decision. (Here)