-[dramatic theme music playing] -[indistinct chatter]
[dramatic music playing]
[Triple H] Right from the beginning, I earned the shot
to be the number one contender.
[Ross] Wait a minute, Helmsley's got-- can Helmsley--
The Pedigree. Yes!
Dammit. Helmsley got the Pedigree.
And Helmsley's going to SummerSlam.
SummerSlam is my time to take what is mine
and that is becoming the WWE Champion.
-[Lawler] Pedigree. Got him! -[Ross] Pedigree. Yes!
[Ross] Helmsley with a Pedigree.
And Mankind with a shot--
Mankind with a shot on Helmsley.
A double-arm DDT on Austin.
Mankind's got the leg hook.
Can he-- Yes. Mankind! Mankind!
Mankind is the champion.
[Triple H] Last night was my night,
and again I got screwed!
[Ross] Helmsley got a steel chair.
Helmsley assaulting Austin with a steel chair.
Austin is being scammed by Helmsley.
[Triple H] I crippled the Rattlesnake.
[Ross] Austin may never be the same thanks to Triple H.
You're enjoying this, aren't you?
Just like I'm gonna enjoy what I'm about to do.
[Mankind] You break his arm, you don't get a title shot.
[Shane] I'm ordering you. You will defend
the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship
against Triple H.
[Cole] Triple H and Mankind,
WWE Championship on the line.
Shane with a chair from behind.
Triple H chair. That did it.
[Rock] Right there. Right there--
[Cole] Oh no! Triple H just laid out The Rock
with a chair.
Shane just coldcocked the referee.
Triple H with a Pedigree.
-[Lawler] This is unbelievable. -[Cole] Will it be-- will it be--
-Triple H! Triple H! Triple H! -[bell ringing]
[Lawler] Triple H has realized his dreams.
It's all about Triple H.
He is now the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
["Everybody on the Ground" playing]
[fireworks exploding]
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Are you ready for SmackDown?
Are you ready for World Wrestling Entertainment?
The most exciting sports entertainment series on television
is on UPN.
Hello again, everybody, I'm Jim Ross
sitting ringside with Jerry "The King" Lawler.
And this is SmackDown!
♪ One, two, is this on? ♪
["My Time" playing]
♪ Ha! Yo, Jimmy Hit me with that Triple H ♪
♪ Yeah, you let the music keep playin' Mr. Dumb ♪
[announcer] Making their way to the ring,
being accompanied by the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna,
he is the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
Triple H.
[Lawler] Well, I'll tell you, JR, usually you save the best for last,
but not here in the WWE.
We're kicking off SmackDown
with the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, Triple H.
[Ross] Triple H proudly wearing the most coveted title in the game,
the WWE Championship that he won this past Monday night on Raw
on the USA Network.
Helmsley, with a lot of help from Shane McMahon, among others,
became the WWE Champion Monday night.
[Lawler] I know, JR.
I know it's gonna be difficult for you to say anything positive at all
about Triple H, especially since--
Well, let's face it, you are wearing a cast
on your left arm, aren't you?
[Ross] I certainly am. Triple H broke my arm, as we saw.
[Lawler] Is it sore? Does it hurt?
-[Ross] Yes, it's sore. -[Lawler] If I squeeze it, like-- I won't.
[Ross] Well, you have to respect any man
that can climb the top of his profession.
But the route that Triple H has taken
has been somewhat dubious to say the least, King.
You know, normally I would come out here and I would have just two words
for all of you.
[crowd booing]
But tonight, I've got about four.
[crowd] Asshole! Asshole!
[Lawler] Uh-oh, sounds like they have two words for Triple H.
[Ross] That's one word, King, here in Kansas City.
Maybe so, but the fact of the matter is, I am
the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion!
[crowd booing]
[Ross] And unfortunately, they're stuck-- oh wait, there's The Rock.
And for each and every one of you,
right down to every corporate honcho in the back
that said, "Oh, you can't do it. You'll never make it,"
who held me back…
well, Monday night I did it.
[Lawler] He did it. He did it his way, JR.
I turned it around
and I crammed it down all your throats.
Like it or not, I am the WWE Champion.
[Ross] Gotta wonder how long The Rock is gonna tolerate
and listen to this.
I proved to the world what I said I was,
and that is, I am The Game.
[crowd booing]
[Lawler] Can't doubt that. Can't deny it. He proved it.
Not "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Not.
Not Mankind.
[Lawler] Not.
No. Because after I got done with Austin at SummerSlam,
I came the next night and I beat Mankind right in the middle.
[crowd booing]
So the fact of the matter is, you can line 'em up
and I'll mow 'em down from the very bottom all the way up.
It doesn't matter who it is, whether it's the People's Ass…
-[Lawler] Oh ho! -[Ross] Talking about The Rock.
…or anybody else.
[Lawler] The Rock's listening.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[Lawler] And so are these fans.
[Ross] Huge crowd on hand here in Kemper Arena,
chanting for the People's Champion.
♪ Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? ♪
-[Ross] Here it comes! -[Lawler] We're gonna get The Rock!
["Do You Smell It?" playing]
He's coming out here!
♪ The Rock says, The Rock says ♪
[Ross] This is gonna be very, very interesting
here on our premiere broadcast of SmackDown.
The champion, Triple H, and the People's Champion, The Rock.
[Lawler] Making a first, JR. That's a SmackDown first! The Rock.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Here we go.
[Ross] We can feel the tension here and it's all about the WWE title.
[crowd chanting "Rocky!"]
Finally, The Rock has come back to Kansas City.
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler laughs] -[Ross] Wow, what an ovation.
[Lawler] They love The Rock in KC.
How dare you little jabroni come on to The Rock's show,
come on to the People's Show,
come on to the premiere show, SmackDown,
and…
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] SmackDown on UPN.
[Ross] This is an explosive situation.
…and run your mouth about
how you're the WWE Champion,
and run your mouth about how you're The Game.
Well, The Rock says if you are The Game, then quite frankly,
you need to go back to the drawing board because your game absolutely sucks.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
The Rock's got a little plan in mind, is that tonight,
in the middle of that ring,
surrounded by the millions…
[crowd] And millions!
…of The Rock's fans, The Rock is gonna beat your monkey ass,
become the WWE champ.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] What?
[Ross] Rock's making a challenge, it sounds to me like,
right here tonight.
[Lawler] Sounds like he's making a promise.
And there's two things you can do about it,
absolutely nothing and like it.
[crowd cheering]
[Triple H] Rock…
If you even wanna play in this game, you gotta be in my league.
And listen, you little jabroni.
[Lawler] Uh-oh.
[Triple H] You are nowhere near my league.
So what you can do
is you're can run your little ass in the back,
go back to whatever it is you were doin'
and get lost.
[crowd booing]
[Ross] Why don't you accept the challenge there, tough guy,
if you're such a great champion?
[Lawler] Good thing he can't hear you.
[The Rock] Obviously, there's a lack of communication.
You left The Rock with just three choices.
The first choice is, The Rock could go in the back,
take off his electrifying $800 shirt…
-[Lawler laughs] -[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Not bad for that shirt, huh?
…come back out here and start this promo all over again.
The second choice is The Rock figured you like wearing your WWE belt,
he'll go ahead and take that WWE belt from you,
put a little Icy Hot on it, turn it sideways,
and stick it straight up your candy ass.
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler laughs] -[Ross] Wow.
[Triple H] The fact of the matter is, Rock, not only are you not in my league,
pal, you can't even hold my jock.
-[Lawler] Uh-oh. -[crowd booing]
Seeing as The Rock was not done speaking, you should know your role
and shut your mouth.
[Ross] Very inflammatory remarks back and forth here.
[Rock] The Rock's third choice…
[Lawler] Something's gonna happen, JR. I can feel it. Oh, I can feel it!
-[Ross] You're right, King. -[Lawler] Ha ha! I wanna see it.
…is he could walk down the People's Ramp, just like he's doing now…
[Lawler] He's walking down the ramp.
…have you take a listen because they are chanting his name.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
[Lawler] They're chanting The Rock's name.
[Ross] En masse, on their feet in KC.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
[Lawler] And The Rock's walking down the ramp.
Then The Rock figured
he'd take his $600 shoe off…
-[Lawler] Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
…just like this…
turn it sideways, just like this.
And stick it up straight up
your candy ass.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] They're gonna get it on.
-["Sexy Boy" playing] -[Lawler] What?
♪ I think I'm cute, I know I'm sexy ♪
-[Ross] Commissioner Shawn Michaels. -[Lawler] What?
[Ross] Commissioner Shawn Michaels.
[Lawler] He's the commissioner of World Wrestling Entertainment.
He loves to throw his weight around.
[Ross] HBK from San Antonio, a WWE legend,
former WWE Champion, now the commissioner.
[crowd cheering]
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
♪ Sexy boy ♪
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
♪ Boy toy ♪
Now, hold on a second, Rock.
If we're gonna do this,
let's make it official.
[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] Yeah. -[Lawler] Wait a minute.
-[Ross] Make it official, let's do it. -[Michaels] There's only one cat
in World Wrestling Entertainment that can do that,
and that's HBK.
[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] He is the commissioner. -[Lawler] We're gonna have a title match?
So if the people want…
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] They want!
[Ross] We all want.
…the people shall receive.
[Lawler] Ha! Yes.
Tonight…
right there in that very ring,
The Rock…
will take on, in one-on-one competition,
Triple H…
[Lawler] Oh boy.
[crowd cheering]
…and the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship
will be on the line.
[Ross] All right! On SmackDown. We're gonna have it tonight.
The WWE title decided here tonight on UPN.
[Michaels] And just to make sure that there are no shenanigans,
no crooked referees,
I figure there's only one man in World Wrestling Entertainment…
-[Lawler] Oh no. Wait a minute. -[Ross] Yes.
…that we can trust
to be the law and order in that ring,
and that also is yours truly, the Heartbreak Kid.
[Ross] All right! It can't get any bigger than this, folks!
The WWE title here tonight!
-The Rock, Triple H, and HBK. -So if you two don't mind,
in your WWE Championship match,
I will be the special guest referee.
-[crowd cheering] -["Sexy Boy" playing]
[Ross] The commissioner has spoken, King, and so it will be--
Wait! Wait just a minute.
There's Shane McMahon, one of the owners of the WWE.
[crowd booing]
[Lawler] Shane-O! What's up?
Wait just a second.
Okay, HBK.
You wanna make your little match,
now as commissioner you have all rights and privileges to do so.
You do have the stroke to make Triple H face The Rock
for the WWE Championship.
However, as the owner of the WWE,
I'm gonna one-up you a little bit on stroke, HBK,
and I'm gonna appoint myself the special second guest referee
this evening to keep my eyes on you, Michaels.
-[crowd booing] -[Ross] I don't--
[Lawler] No. No, it's only fair.
[Michaels] Well, see,
we're gonna have a little problem with that right there
because you're gonna be busy tonight.
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler] What does he mean? -[Ross] I don't know. What does he mean?
Let me give you a little lesson in stroke, McMahon.
-[Lawler] He's talking to the owner! -[Ross] I know.
Seeing as that I can book any WWE wrestler in any match
at any time…
and coming off…
a stellar four-star performance at SummerSlam,
you yourself now are a WWE superstar.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Shane is not a wrestler. He just had that special match.
[Michaels] So with that in mind,
you're not gonna be able to help me referee
because you're gonna be busy taking on a man
in one-on-one competition
that you screwed last Monday night.
-[crowd cheering] -[Lawler] Wait a minute.
JR, he can't--
[car crashing]
-No! -[Ross] Absolutely!
[Mankind's theme music playing]
[Lawler] Shane can't-- He's not gonna--
[Ross] Mankind and Shane McMahon here tonight.
Can you believe it, ladies and gentlemen?
[Lawler] Oh my God, look at Shane's face.
[Ross] Shane McMahon can't believe it. The WWE title on the line.
Wait a minute.
All this talk about stroking and screwing
has got Mankind a little bit excited.
-[Lawler] Ha. You idiot. -[crowd cheering]
So I figure why put off until today what we can do tomorrow?
-[Ross and Lawler] What? -So what Mankind is gonna do
is he's gonna unbutton his $3 Salvation Army special…
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] That's the truth.
Looks like an unmade bed.
He's gonna loosen up the tie that was given to him free by the WWE.
He's going to begin walking down the People's Aisle.
[Lawler] Wait a minute. He's not--
And he's going to listen while the dozens…
[crowd] And dozens!
…and dozens of Mankind's fans…
all chant his name.
[crowd chanting]
[Lawler] Really is just dozens.
-Dozens of them out there. -The Rock says [bleep] on this talk.
He's gonna lay the smackdown on your candy--
-[Ross] Uh-oh! Look out! -[Lawler] I knew it was gonna happen!
[Ross] And Helmsley, Shane McMahon, Mankind.
We got a war here on SmackDown.
Wait a minute.
Here comes Shane McMahon's Greenwich, Connecticut, Mean Street Posse.
[Lawler] And Shane's best friends to the rescue, but they're all crippled.
[Ross] Test has injured most of the Posse.
Oh, wait a minute. Pete Gas caught.
Oh, Rock Bottom!
Mankind…
hammering whatever moves.
[Lawler] Not another one!
Joey Abs goes up. And smackdown.
[Lawler] Get The Rock out of there!
♪ Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? ♪
[Ross] Oh my God, can you imagine, ladies and gentlemen,
here tonight
what it's gonna be like?
Not only will Shane McMahon fight with Mankind, but…
I'll tell you what.
Thank you very much for being with us here tonight
on SmackDown here on UPN.
I'm Jim Ross along with Jerry "The King" Lawler.
And, King, the WWE title decided here tonight.
It can't get any bigger than that.
Triple H against The Rock, HBK the referee.
And what about Shane McMahon is now gonna be forced to fight Mankind
right in this ring tonight?
And, ladies and gentlemen, the Tag Team Championship will be decided.
The champions, The Undertaker and The Big Show,
in a triple-threat match with these two teams,
the Acolytes versus X-Pac and Kane.
[Lawler] And it doesn't get any bigger than this, JR.
The ring debut of Chris Jericho, Y2J,
taking on the Road Dogg right here tonight on SmackDown.
[Ross] And quite a departure from the physicality
because we know that Test is awaiting Stephanie McMahon's response
to his marriage proposal that we heard Monday night on Raw.
-[Lawler] Wait a minute. -[Ross] That's Jeff Jarrett.
[overlapping chatter]
[Lawler] Oh yeah. Hey, puppies!
[Ross] Jarrett looks to be a little irate.
[Lawler] Puppies.
[muttering]
[Ross] There's Mr. Ass, Bad Ass Billy Gunn.
Oh, we got… we got something big brewing here,
right here tonight on SmackDown.
[Ross] We're back on SmackDown here on UPN.
Thanks for being with us, everybody.
Jeff Jarrett along with Debra and Debra's new assistant,
Miss Kitty, on their way to the ring.
Jarrett will take on Bad Ass Billy Gunn in a non-title matchup here.
And certainly there were fireworks involving the Intercontinental title
this past Monday night on Raw.
Jarrett offered to meet anybody for the Intercontinental title,
and Chyna beat Billy Gunn to the punch.
Chyna signed the contract to meet Jarrett for the Intercontinental title.
Now, that led to a confrontation between Chyna and Mr. Ass later on Raw.
And boom! Jarrett took advantage to nail Chyna with a guitar.
And Mr. Ass then would get another of Jarrett's guitars
and leave a lasting impression on the Intercontinental Champion.
[Lawler] Oh, look at the puppies. And the kittens.
[Ross] Jarrett Enterprises are growing now that Jarrett is, again,
the Intercontinental Champion.
And certainly a lot of controversy.
♪ I'm an ass man ♪
["Ass Man" playing]
♪ Yeah, I'm an ass man ♪
[announcer] And his opponent,
he weighs in at 269 pounds,
Mr. Ass.
[Ross] Again, this is a non-title matchup between Mr. Ass and that man,
Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett is the Intercontinental Champion.
And Jarrett's starting off very aggressively here
against his larger and perhaps more athletic opponent.
Jarrett says he's the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time,
and that certainly takes in a lot of territory, folks,
as Jarrett tries now to intimidate referee Earl Hebner.
Jarrett now sending up Bad Ass for the ride.
Can't connect there.
Look at the athleticism.
Oh, a great dropkick by Bad Ass Billy Gunn,
and Jarrett's in trouble.
Oh man, what a powerslam by Bad Ass Billy Gunn.
The leg is hooked and--
Oh, close.
[Lawler] Hey, hey, hey, we got puppies on the ringside here. Woo-hoo!
[Ross] Up on the ring apron.
Jeff Jarrett making a U-turn now.
[Lawler] Check 'em out. [whistles] There they are!
[Ross] Jarrett trying to get the drop on Bad Ass Billy Gunn,
but it didn't work that time.
[Lawler] How could Mr. Ass ignore puppies?
[Ross] I'll tell you what. I could not believe that guitar shot
that Jarrett delivered on Chyna on Raw Monday night.
And then certainly, Bad Ass retaliated with a chair shot of his own.
Oh my. Jeff Jarrett and, man, that'll, that'll dislocate your arm.
It's almost a DDT-like maneuver there
right on the shoulder, King.
Jarrett could have-- or Bad Ass could have his shoulder separated.
He is-- Bad Ass is in a bad, bad way.
No pun intended.
[Lawler] I'll tell you this. I don't know how
Jeff Jarrett could be in such a bad mood
when he's surrounded by such beautiful ladies.
Puppies and kittens everywhere, woo!
[Ross] Jarrett Enterprises doing very well.
Nobody there that time for Bad Ass Billy Gunn.
And the controversial Bad Ass,
who met The Rock at SummerSlam this past Sunday night,
on the outside with the reigning Intercontinental Champion.
[Lawler] Watch it.
[Ross] Oh! Bad Ass just smacked his face right into that steel ring post.
Again, this is a non-title matchup.
Jarrett's Intercontinental title not on the line.
And Jarrett, who won the Intercontinental and the European title in one match
against D'Lo Brown at SummerSlam this past Sunday
in Jesse "The Body" Ventura's home state of Minnesota.
And then Jarrett awarded the European title, King,
Monday night I saw, to Mark Henry.
[Lawler] Right. And I guarantee you, Mr. Ass is out to prove a point.
He wants to beat Jeff Jarrett here tonight,
prove that he should be the title-holder.
That would at least make him the number one contender, I'm sure.
[Ross] I'd agree with that.
[Lawler] Oh my gosh!
[Ross] Great move there by Bad Ass Billy Gunn,
dropping Jarrett face-first on that top turnbuckle.
-And wait just a second. -[Lawler] Miss Kitty's upset.
-[Ross] And here comes Chyna. -[Lawler] Speaking of upset.
[Ross] Chyna, who has signed the contract to meet the Intercontinental Champion,
down here to get a close look,
observing just who she might meet at some point in time.
[Lawler] Look, Jeff Jarrett's asking for the guitar.
[Ross] Oh, Miss Kitty throwing that guitar to-- Oh! Chyna's got the guitar.
-[Lawler] Look out! -[Ross] Oh my!
Chyna went for Miss Kitty, but hit Debra with the guitar.
And now Bad Ass rolling up Jeff Jarrett.
One, two, three.
[bell ringing]
-[Lawler] This is a catastrophe. -[Ross] Bad Ass Billy Gunn.
[announcer] Here's your winner, Mr. Ass.
[Lawler] The puppies got pounded and Jeff got beat. What!
["Ass Man" playing]
[Ross] Well, the good thing for Jarrett, this is a non-title matchup.
And now in the ring, Chyna and Bad Ass Billy Gunn
having some words and-- Oh my!
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler] Did you see that? -[Ross] What a low blow by Chyna.
I think Mr. Ass was gonna give Chyna a close look at his posterior
and then Chyna retaliated.
["My Time" playing]
Bad Ass Billy Gunn has a non-title victory over Jeff Jarrett
but Chyna has a contract signed to meet the Intercontinental Champion.
Well, folks, standing by with a heartbroken Al Snow is Lilian Garcia.
WWE.com has reported that the Boss Man is gonna show up here
at SmackDown with Pepper tonight.
Is there anything that you would like to say to him?
Yes. Boss Man, please, please listen to me.
Pepper is so small. I know he just thinks he's lost.
I know he misses me. I'm sure he's crying.
I hope you're feeding him, taking care of him.
Please don't hurt him. Please, please.
Whatever you have, whatever you want, whatever you need,
I'll do it.
I'll do whatever it takes.
I'm not a begging man, Boss Man, but I'm begging you.
Please don't do anything that we're all gonna regret.
Just give him back to me.
-[Lawler] That's so sad. -[Ross] Sure is.
-[Lawler] Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Howard Finkel polishing Chris Jericho's boot.
Jericho wrestles right here tonight.
[Ross] We're back on SmackDown, and Test is nervously awaiting
the arrival of Stephanie McMahon
and her answer to Test's marriage proposal
that Test made this past Monday night on Raw.
-[Kane's theme music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[explosion]
["Break It Down" playing]
♪ Degenerate into something, fool ♪
♪ We just got tired Of doin' what you tell us to do ♪
♪ That's the breaks, boy, yeah ♪
♪ That's the breaks, little man Break it down ♪
[crowd cheering]
-♪ D-Generation ♪ -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following Triple Threat contest
is scheduled for one fall and it is for
the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Championship.
Introducing in the ring, at a combined weight of 548 pounds,
X-Pac and Kane.
[Ross] Three teams will compete in this matchup.
♪ That's the breaks, boy ♪
-[pyrotechnics bang] -[Lawler] Ah!
[Ross] You talk about some hellfire and brimstone.
Tag Team titles on the line right here tonight on UPN
on our first broadcast here on SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
[Acolytes theme music playing]
[Ross] As the Acolytes make their way to the ring, folks.
[announcer] And their opponents, at a combined weight of 613 pounds…
[Ross] Here's a look at some of the action between these three teams
that we have seen the last few weeks.
X-Pac and Kane took the tag titles from the Acolytes,
and that was a war.
And then certainly at SummerSlam, we saw The Undertaker and The Big Show
take the Tag Team Championships, King, from X-Pac and Kane.
[Lawler] And poor X-Pac was literally brutalized by The Big Show.
And The Big Show obviously could have had the pin,
but he didn't go for it, which upset The Undertaker.
And The Undertaker came in and planted X-Pac, finished him off.
[Ross] And that was at SummerSlam, so The Big Show, the 500-pounder,
and The Undertaker, the champions.
And then this past week on Raw, King, while I was at the hospital,
all hell broke loose involving these men.
[Lawler] Yeah. X-Pac and Kane come over here to do commentary with me.
And of course, uh, X-Pac could talk his head off
but nobody'd ever listen.
But Kane wouldn't say a word.
But then the action spilled right over from the ringside here into the ring.
["Unholy Alliance" playing]
Uh-oh.
[announcer] And their opponent, being accompanied to the ring
by Paul Bearer, at a combined weight of 828 pounds,
they are the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions,
The Big Show and The Undertaker.
[Lawler] Wow.
[Ross] What a combination these two are here in the premiere of SmackDown.
The Undertaker, the Phenom, the vaunted Undertaker
known around the world, and The Big Show
at seven feet two, 500 pounds,
they are the World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions.
And the match will be contested in Triple Threat rules,
meaning there'll be three men in the ring at one time.
Folks, let us remind everybody that a special Raw Is War
is this Monday night at our normal time on the West Coast,
but at a special eleven o'clock, ten Central Time,
this Monday night on USA.
[Lawler] Yeah, Raw late night for the East Coast, huh?
That's gonna be cool.
[bell ringing]
[Ross] Wait. We're being joined by The Undertaker.
[Lawler] What a pleasure.
Of course, it's a pleasure.
[Ross] I'm a little bit surprised, sir.
Your Tag Team title is on the line and you're not there.
You're here. I mean, obviously…
[Undertaker] What you're getting ready to witness, Jim Ross,
is a case of what you might call hard love,
but this is the way I teach.
So what you have the benefit of is my color commentary.
[Lawler] You're making The Big Show go it alone in a Triple Threat?
[Undertaker] Big Show wants something. He wants the knowledge that I possess.
But if he wants it, he's gotta earn it.
And that display at SummerSlam just ain't gonna cut it.
Look at him now. He's…
[Ross] Nobody for The Big Show to tag here.
Remember, Tag Team titles on the line.
Your brother, Kane, has been red-hot lately, Undertaker.
Oh my God. What a DDT.
Unbelievable. There's a cover. It's over.
-No, near fall. -[Lawler] Wow.
[Ross] Spinning heel kick on Bradshaw.
[Undertaker] When Big Show realizes that he's a killer,
then there will be nobody left in this ring.
But until he realizes that, I'm gonna leave him to fend for himself.
[Ross] Even if it costs you the Tag Team Championship?
[Undertaker] I'm Tag Team Champion because I wanna be.
Those titles are just the first step in a major plan.
And when the Show is ready, I'll reveal that plan.
[Ross] And this is a free-for-all environment here,
a Triple Threat matchup for the Tag Team titles.
Kane and Bradshaw now, double-teaming the 500-pound Big Show.
-[Undertaker] Come on! -[Ross] Look out! Big Show thrown outside.
-Excuse me. -[Ross] Well, certainly.
[Undertaker] Show, get over here.
Show!
[Lawler] Big Show here in front of us--
[Undertaker] Come here. Do you wanna be a killer?
Do you want the knowledge?
Then act like it. Get your ass in there.
[Ross] My God.
Under--
[Lawler] That should fire him up. That's motivation for you.
[Ross] The 500-pounder. You talk about tough love.
That was some-- that was a stiff shot there, Undertaker.
Oh my God.
[Undertaker] It's only gonna get stiffer.
[Ross] X-Pac in a piledrive position.
And Faarooq went downstairs with--
[Undertaker] See, now he's motivated. He's mo--
[Ross] Oh, Bradshaw caught that leg. The Acolytes now.
-[crowd groaning] -[Ross] Oh my God.
X-Pac almost broke in half there.
And your partner, Undertaker, in a huge degree of trouble.
The 500-pounder is in a bad way--
[Undertaker] If he doesn't get up, he's gonna be in more trouble.
[Lawler] Undertaker, you said that you wouldn't hesitate
to stick a knife in your own partner's back
if he loses the Tag Team titles.
Will he get stabbed tonight?
[Undertaker] Don't worry about it.
[Ross] Kane got the tag.
[Undertaker] He's got a mission he's fixin' to fulfill.
[Ross] Kane, the Big Red Machine went flying!
Kane! Kane!
A chokeslam!
[Undertaker] Get up, Show.
[Ross] Oh, Kane, he's got Faarooq now. This, the Big Red Machine.
And he drills Faarooq.
[Lawler] Undertaker, do you realize that if your brother beats
one of these Acolytes, you lose?
[Undertaker] If I lose, everybody loses.
[Ross] Oh God.
Kane now and The Big Show.
Now, what a rivalry here.
Your brother, The Undertaker--
[Undertaker] Half-brother.
[Ross] All right. Well, your half-brother has been unbelievable.
And here's X-Pac.
[Undertaker] That lets him see X-Pac. Why'd he tag back in?
The Big Show is gonna break his little body in half
if he doesn't get out.
-[Ross] X-Pac made the tag. -[Lawler] He just got slapped down.
[Ross] And now the Acolytes on the outside with Kane.
X-Pac-- oh my God, a dropkick.
[Undertaker] Show, you better…
-[Ross] Uh-oh. Oh God. -[Lawler] Here we go.
[Undertaker] This is over.
Pin him. Pin him right.
[Ross] The leg is hooked.
[bell ringing]
No mercy.
[announcer] Your winners and still
World Wrestling Entertainment Tag Team Champions,
The Big Show and The Undertaker.
[Lawler] I think that slap from The Undertaker did it.
[Undertaker] It's in hand.
[Ross] Talk about motivating somebody.
My God, I've never seen--
I've never been in a more intense situation
sitting here in my life next to The Undertaker.
Did you see the way he slapped The Big Show, King?
[Lawler] Thought he was gonna plant one of those on you.
[Ross] My God.
X-Pac, he gave it all he had, ladies and gentlemen.
There you saw the 500-pounder,
must outweigh X-Pac at least 300 pounds.
Hey, there's Test.
He's still awaiting the-the arrival of Stephanie McMahon
and the… her answer to Test's marriage proposal.
That's a nervous young man and rightfully so.
Steph, this is driving me nuts. I gotta know.
Do you have an answer for me?
Yup.
What the hell does that mean? Steph, hold on.
[Ross] If I didn't know better,
I'd say we're gonna get Stephanie's answer
right here tonight on SmackDown.
Well, here comes the Big Boss Man,
former prison guard from Cobb County, Georgia.
Six-six, just a little over 300 pounds.
One of the meanest, legitimately meanest, men that I have ever been around
in my career, King.
[Lawler] Well, the last time we saw him, he was, uh, well, he abducted Pepper,
that little Chihuahua that belongs to Al Snow, and…
Al Snow is heartbroken, no doubt about it,
that his little dog, Pepper, has been abducted,
no doubt about it, by that man.
I hear Al Snow's looking for me.
Well, the Big Boss Man's six foot seven, 310 pounds,
and I'm not hard to find. So Al Snow, get your butt out here
because everybody in this building knows I got something of yours.
[Al Snow] What does everybody want?
["What Does Everybody Want?" playing]
[Boss Man] Whoa, boy. You stay right there.
-Look, look, look, look… -[Boss Man] What I've got, I can say here.
Please, just tell me where Pepper is. Is he all right? Please.
You don't need to worry about that damn dog.
You understand me? That dog's safe.
He's safe for now, but anything can happen.
Everybody knows I'm not a patient man.
But one thing's for sure.
If that little SOB bites me again, I'm gonna send him straight to hell.
Look, look, look, look, look.
I'm sure he didn't mean it. I'm sure he was just scared.
He misses me. Just give him--
[Boss Man] Quit your whining. Quit your crying.
If you wanna see that mutt again, what you're gonna do
is go to the back, get that Hardcore belt,
and you're gonna bring it out here.
I'm gonna go get that damn dog.
-You understand me? -[Al] I understand.
The Hardcore belt's gonna be on the line.
Win, lose, or draw, you get your dog back, I get my shot.
-That's the deal. -Just, whatever, just don't hurt the dog.
Whatever you want, I'll do whatever you want.
Anything you want, just give me--
give me my friend back, please.
You're right, you're gonna do anything I want.
So don't let nothing happen to you
between now and the time you get in this ring.
Because if you don't show up,
I'm dead serious about this,
I'm gonna take that dog, that mutt of yours, that rat,
to a cold, dark place and show him what hard times is all about.
That won't be necessary. I'll be here with the belt.
Don't you worry. Just give me my friend back.
[Ross] The Hardcore title is gonna be on the line,
but all a heartbroken Al Snow wants
-is his little dog, Pepper, back. -Give me my friend back.
That's what you're gonna do, boy.
[Ross] Welcome back to SmackDown here on UPN.
It didn't take the Hardcore Champion, Al Snow, long to return
with his Hardcore title.
But, King, all Al wants back is his little dog, Pepper.
[Lawler] Well, Magic: The Gathering presents WWE Unforgiven.
Magic: The Gathering, the trading card game,
the ultimate battle of wits.
Unforgiven happens Sunday night, September 26th,
from the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.
[Big Boss Man's theme music playing]
[Ross] Well, Al Snow is the Hardcore Champion.
All he wants back is his dog, Pepper, folks.
[Lawler] There's Pepper.
[Ross] There's Boss Man. What kind of human being
would steal a man's dog just to gain a Hardcore title match?
King, what kind of man does it take to do something like that?
[Lawler] Oh, look, he's got a muzzle on Pepper.
Did you see earlier, Big Boss Man's fingers had been bitten.
[Ross] How bad could they have been bitten?
[Lawler] Hey, hey, hey, those dogs are vicious.
I'm telling you, they are vicious.
[Ross] I hope Boss Man hasn't mistreated this little fella.
[Lawler] Wait, they urinate a lot.
What do you want me to do? You want me to hold him?
[inaudible]
Okay. I got him.
[Ross] Good Lord, bless his little heart.
-Oh. -He's shivering and…
I hope he hasn't been mistreated.
[Lawler] No, wait. Wait a minute.
[Ross] Oh my gosh. Well…
[Lawler] Gimme a napkin.
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] Accidents happen, King.
The Hardcore title is on the line here and it was a…
almost a…
nothing but a blatant, horrible plan by the Big Boss Man.
My God, I can't get over the kind of human being the Boss Man must be
to steal this little dog.
-And Here comes Al. -[Lawler] Hold on.
[Ross] He just wants his dog back.
Oh, wow! And Boss Man caught Al Snow in this Hardcore title match,
coming around the bend with a thunderous clothesline.
This poor little fellow is shaking and, again, muzzled.
[Lawler] But what about the dog?
[Ross] That's what I was referring to, King, you know that.
-You love dogs. -[Lawler] He seems all right.
I love puppies, but the kind of puppies I love have only two legs.
This mangy-- well, Pepper, he seems okay.
You okay, Pepper?
[Ross] Quite frankly, looks like Pepper's been fed well
and in pretty good shape, a little nervous.
[Lawler] That little muzzle on him there. Watch him.
Don't… don't bite anybody.
[Ross] Look, how can you blame Al?
Al's a little-- he's a heartbroken guy right now.
All he has ever wanted was his dog back.
[Lawler] Well, he can see the dog's okay.
He's got the dog back. The dog's sitting right here.
He's gonna get the dog whether he wins or loses.
[Ross] That's the good news.
Ooh! Up top.
That's a unique way to use a cookie sheet.
Al Snow, this is not a ladder match, but those…
those sort of weapons I guess you'd say are legal
in this sort of Hardcore rules matchup.
[Lawler] I think what Al Snow's looking for is just some revenge
on Boss Man for stealing Pepper.
All right there, Pepper?
[Ross] Oh, Al Snow, right off the top rope, all the way to the floor.
[Lawler] Oh my gosh.
[Ross] The ladder almost came back on the Boss Man,
but Al Snow, who is the reigning Hardcore Champion…
[Lawler] Did you see-- Pepper saw that.
We need another napkin.
Give me another Kleenex.
Oh my gosh.
[Ross] Snow and Boss Man fighting over that ladder,
right back in the Boss Man's face.
The challenger for the Hardcore title is down.
This is an environment where there are no count-outs, no disqualifications.
-Pepper! -[Lawler] Look, Pepper is looking at Al.
[man] C'mere, you little weenie dog.
[Lawler] They're communicating some way.
-No, wait, look out! -[Ross] Oh, that nightstick!
The Boss Man just nailed Al Snow with a nightstick.
And the falls count anywhere.
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] We've got a new champion.
[Big Boss Man's theme playing]
-[announcer] Here's your winner… -[Lawler] Boss Man got what he wanted.
[Ross] At least Al Snow will get his dog back.
[Lawler] Wait, Boss Man. Wait!
[Ross] You said you were gonna give the dog back to Al Snow.
Hey!
-[Lawler] Boss Man! -[Ross] Boss Man!
This dog is mine.
[Ross] That's not--
The Boss Man's the new Hardcore Champion
and he broke his word. He didn't give little Pepper back to Al.
[Lawler] I can't believe the Boss Man. I… Hey, Al, I didn't…
[Ross] Al Snow has been KO'd with the Boss Man's nightstick.
And again, what kind of human being--
Wait a minute. There's X-Pac.
-Better off on your own. -Is he leaving the…
I'm sick of this. I'm sick of being the weak link.
[Ross] Weak link?
Maybe I can't handle it anymore. It's enough.
[Kane] Sean!
[Ross] Was that Kane?
Time to save this show. My people are waiting.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Well, Chris Jericho, ladies and gentlemen,
will make his long-awaited,
anxiously awaited debut here momentarily.
Poor old Al is just able to get up.
-[Lawler] Al, he took, he took the dog. -[Ross] The Boss Man took him, Al.
We don't have the dog.
-We don't have little Pepper. -[Al] I gotta get him!
[Big Boss Man's theme music continues]
[Ross] There you see The Rock,
who will challenge Triple H for the WWE title right here tonight.
It cannot, it will not ever be any bigger than this tonight,
the premiere of SmackDown here on UPN.
["Smack" by Jim Johnston playing]
-[Lawler] There's Al Snow… -Where are you, you bastard?
[Lawler] Frantically looking for Boss Man,
but Al, our reports tell us that he's already left the building.
Big Boss Man got what he wanted.
He got the Hardcore title and now he's left with Pepper again.
[Road Dogg] Oh, you didn't know?
-["Oh, You Didn't Know?" playing] -[crowd cheering]
Yo' ass better call somebody.
[Lawler] Well, speaking of dogs, JR… [laughs]
[Ross] He's the Road Dogg and he's here for a fight.
Kansas City, you're damn right.
It's me, it's me, it's the D-O-double-G.
[Ross] What an amazing night it has been and it will be.
Triple H and The Rock for the WWE title tonight
with Shawn Michaels as a special guest referee.
[crowd cheering]
And, King, this is gonna be somethin'.
The debut of Chris Jericho, who…
Tell me, what happened here Monday night, King?
[Lawler] Well, Howard Finkel, he believes in Chris Jericho.
And Chris Jericho has got Howard Finkel believing that he's a warrior.
He sent him out to do some damage to Road Dogg
but Finkel didn't get the job done. But Chris Jericho did.
[Ross] It was a setup, in my view.
Jericho used Finkel as a pawn to set up the Road Dogg.
[music fades]
Kansas City, welcome to the Dogg house.
[crowd cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages,
D-Generation X proudly brings to you,
I'm T to the R to the U to the E,
I'm that D, that O, that double G,
the Road Dogg, Jesse James.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] JR, you like it doggy style?
-[Ross] Beg your pardon? -Jericho…
in cell block D-O-double-G,
I couldn't trade your ass for a pack of cigarettes.
-[Lawler] Oh. -[Ross] Man.
Tonight I don't wanna trade it. I wanna whip it.
And speaking of it, I got two words for ya.
[crowd] Suck it!
[countdown playing]
[Ross] Wow, this is gonna be somethin'. Road Dogg with fire in his eyes.
And on our premiere broadcast of SmackDown here on UPN,
what more fitting place to see the wrestling debut of Chris Jericho?
[explosion]
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
♪ You know I got ya ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ One, break the walls down ♪
♪ For those about to rock I'm what ya want ♪
♪ Baby, you know you're Judas And I'm your priest ♪
[Ross] The controversial, talented, young superstar, Chris Jericho.
♪ Step in the arena And break the walls down ♪
[Lawler] I think the Road Dogg is fixin' to experience
a Y2J problem, firsthand.
Oh man.
[Ross] Road Dogg is ready for a war here.
There's some payback coming to, uh, the arrogant young Chris Jericho.
And it could come, King, at the hands of the Road Dogg,
who you know as well as I do, just loves to fight.
[Lawler] But I'm gonna tell you, we've heard so much
about this young man right here, Chris Jericho.
Y2J is here and we are about to experience his debut
here on SmackDown.
This is great!
[music fading]
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] And here we go.
Man, this should be something.
Jericho and the Road Dogg.
[Lawler] Uh-oh.
Jericho is one of the most anticipated superstars to ever appear
in a WWE ring. Here he goes!
[Ross] Jericho forcing Road Dogg back.
What a night it's gonna be. Mankind still to take on Shane McMahon.
The WWE title at stake tonight with HBK as a referee.
Hard shoulder block by Chris Jericho.
[Lawler] That's not all, is it, JR?
[Ross] No, it certainly isn't. We got a lot more.
What about the evening gown match?
[Lawler] Oh, an evening gown match!
Oh, you know what? Y2J is having problems of his own right now.
[Ross] What a right hand by the Road Dogg.
He nails Y2J, all right.
[crowd cheering]
This is a computer virus that Jericho may not be able to cure.
Road Dogg right outside.
Road Dogg is very comfortable out there in the-- in the no-man's-land.
Oh my. But what a reversal by the talented Jericho.
[Lawler] That wasn't very comfortable for ya, was it, Dogg boy?
[Ross] Well, every dog needs a bone to chew on
but Road Dogg maybe will not be chewing on anything
before this one is said and done.
[Lawler] You never answered me about doggy style, JR.
-[Ross] Oh! -[Lawler] Oh no!
[Ross] Jericho landing rather gingerly on the top turnbuckle.
Oh, what a ride this could be.
Could… Road Dogg be able--
Yes!
Oh, what a superplex, right off the top rope.
[Lawler] I don't think this debut is going exactly as Chris Jericho had planned.
[Ross] That's gotta be a ten-foot drop.
-[Lawler] Look at this. -[Ross] There's a Fink.
-[Lawler] Howard Finkel. -[Ross] He's got a…
[Lawler] He's offering a cold beverage-- oh, look at this!
[Ross] And Fink thinks he's a warrior. Whatever that was,
throwing it in the Road Dogg's face.
[Lawler] If he's a warrior, he's a regular block of Jell-O.
[Ross] Backbreaker applied by Chris Jericho.
Look at the Fink running for cover.
Come on, baby!
[Ross] I think Jericho has Finkel brainwashed.
[Lawler] Well, Finkel's his lackey. He thinks he's a machine, doesn't he?
[Ross] He sure does.
Irish whip in but the Road Dogg was ready for that one.
And, oh, look out. Jericho.
[Lawler] Oh man!
[Ross] Double-arm tilt-o-whirl, back end right into the backbreaker.
And again, it seems like Jericho is focusing on the lower back now
-of the Road Dogg. -[Lawler] Wait a minute.
He's gonna get disqualified here in his debut on SmackDown.
You don't want-- Hang on, Chris. You don't wanna get disqualified.
[Ross] Jericho will-- That's exactly what will happen
if Jericho brings that table, I would think, in the ring.
[Lawler] If he uses it, that'll happen.
This is not a Hardcore match.
[Ross] I didn't think he's gonna redecorate here.
What do you-- I would assume he's gonna use it,
but maybe I'm wrong.
Jericho stomping again.
Look at the focus of Jericho right in that lower back of the Road Dogg.
What?
[Lawler] You're right. He's gonna use it.
[Ross] Jericho setting this…
I don't like the looks of this. This does not look good.
Look at the Road Dogg try to pull himself up.
Road Dogg is hurting.
And referee Tim White admonishing Chris Jericho,
but I don't think Jericho is obviously paying any attention.
[Lawler] He's calling his shot.
[ref] I'm warning ya.
[Ross] The referee says he's warning Jericho.
And wait, Road Dogg blocked it.
Jericho trying to suplex.
[Lawler] He got him! Oh.
-[Ross] Road Dogg turned it into a DDT. -[Lawler] Oh, DDT!
[Ross] What a counter by the Road Dogg,
but that may have taken everything the Road Dogg had left, King.
[Lawler] I can't believe this.
I gotta figure that Chris Jericho is just not too happy with his debut.
I don't think he was expecting this much of a fight out of the Dogg.
-Road Dogg, left hand. Get him, Road Dogg. -[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] What do you mean, "Get him, Road Dogg"?
-Who you for? -[Ross] Left hand here. And a right hand.
How could anybody be against the Road Dogg?
[Lawler] It's easy.
[Ross] Well, Jericho, hung up there.
Oh my.
[Lawler] I'm against his doggy style.
[Ross] Road Dogg holding that lower back. I'm concerned about that.
[Lawler] Wrenched his back.
-[Ross] Yeah. -[Lawler] Oh!
[Ross] Shake, Rattle, and Knee Drop.
Road Dogg, looking for a cover. Can't get all that weight on it.
Road Dogg, his back may be really cramping up,
or something worse could be wrong with it, I don't know.
I don't wanna prophesize that.
[Lawler] Send him to a vet, then.
[Ross] Jericho showing great athleticism there.
And now, oh, Jericho, waist lock.
-[Lawler] What do you think? -[Ross] Powerbomb.
Oh, a double powerbomb.
Off the top!
-[bell ringing] -Right on the table!
Referee Tim White is gonna disqualify Chris Jericho here
for the use of that table.
The Road Dogg is hurt badly.
The Road Dogg's lower back is hurt badly.
And now Jericho with that painful submission move
on the Road Dogg.
Enough's enough.
-Putting that torque on the lower back. -[bell ringing frantically]
[Lawler] The Road Dogg doesn't look like a winner in my book.
[Ross] Look at Jericho.
Jericho almost with a maniacal expression on his face.
[Lawler] Some sort of modified Boston crab
with a little extra pressure applied there by Chris Jericho.
[bell ringing frantically]
[crowd booing]
[Ross] These refs, they gotta pull…
Jericho being pulled off the Road Dogg.
My God, I shudder to think what could be--
-He's gonna get him again! -[Ross] Come on, that's enough.
[Lawler] Got him again!
Man, you gotta… you gotta love the tenacity of Chris Jericho.
He's relentless.
[Ross] Jericho's gone a little nuts here.
[Lawler] It's his debut.
-["Break the Walls Down" playing] -The debut of SmackDown.
Chris Jericho is out to prove a point.
He's here to save the WWE. [laughs]
[Ross] We'll never forget Jericho's debut here on SmackDown.
[Ross] We're back on SmackDown, ladies and gentlemen. Moments ago,
Chris Jericho with a thunderous powerbomb, King.
And we're not sure exactly how badly the Road Dogg is injured.
We don't want to speculate,
but Road Dogg is getting medical attention
back in the locker room area as we speak.
Howard, shut up. You see how easy it could be?
You see how easy it is for Y2J to be dominant in this ridiculous company?
-Do you understand? Get it? -Gotcha. Absolutely.
Okay, look. Look at this. Look at this guy.
-Yeah? -Look at this idiot.
-What has he ever done to deserve-- -Nothing.
Shut up when I'm talking.
What has he done to deserve to be in the ring?
He doesn't have the charisma that you have.
-Yeah. -He doesn't have the hair that you have.
-He doesn't have the looks that you have. -I'm the best!
-He doesn't have the fashion sense. -I am the best!
Why is he in the ring and you're here?
-You are a warrior. -I am a warrior.
-You are a warrior for Y2J. -I'm a machine!
I think you should go out there and prove to me
that you are the best,
that you're a machine,
that you're a Y2J warrior.
-I'm gone. -Go! Go, little trooper, go!
-[Lawler] What in the world? -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
[Lawler] Well, we got Tony Chimel in the ring and Howard…
[rock music playing]
Ken Shamrock's scheduled to be out here now. Look at this.
[Ross] Here comes…
[Lawler] What is Howard Finkel doing? He's an idiot.
[Ross] He's a-- Well, I was starting to say--
Howard Finkel, what is he-- who does he think--
-Who does Howard think he is? -[Lawler] He says he's a warrior.
Starting to believe-- He looks pretty impressive.
[Ross] He may be a warrior I reckon.
[Lawler laughs]
[Ross] Good grief.
Jericho has Finkel brainwashed.
You!
I am the best at what I do. Make no mistake about it.
You are no good.
I want my job back.
And I'm gonna take it back right now.
You're outta here. Hit the bricks, man.
Hit the bricks.
-[Ross] Uh-oh. Wow. -[Lawler] Whoa!
[Lawler] Howard Finkel has just shoved
Tony Chimel on his rear.
Ladies and gentlemen, the--
-[Lawler laughs] -[Ross] Chimel retaliating on the Fink!
-[Lawler] Look at this! -[crowd cheering]
He's choking the Fink.
[Ross] And look at Jericho.
That one's gonna leave a mark.
[Lawler] Look at Tony Chimel. He's really pouring it to Howard Finkel.
[Ross] Chimel is retaliating on the Fink here.
And the, uh, warrior Fink is…
[Lawler] Look!
[Ross] And another first in the WWE, ring announcers fighting.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Man, what else is gonna happen here on SmackDown?
[Ross] I hope everybody on UPN is ready for this.
A ring announcer brawl.
[Lawler] Finkel is trouble.
He's got too much bone in his head and not enough in his back.
-[crowd booing] -[Lawler] Uh-oh.
-Tony, uh… -[Ross] Here comes Chris Jericho back.
Jericho's protégé, the Fink,
didn't fare too well in that exchange just moments ago.
Get up!
What's the matter with you? Come on!
[Ken Shamrock's theme music playing]
[Ross] Here we are. Get ready for Ken Shamrock.
[crowd cheering]
[Tony] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 242 pounds,
the World's Most Dangerous Man,
Ken Shamrock.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] What an ovation for Ken Shamrock,
ready to take on Val Venis in one-on-one competition.
And Shamrock evidently…
bumping into Jericho there, King.
[Lawler] Looks like Shamrock is trying to pick a fight with Jericho.
[Ross] That could happen.
[Lawler] Now what?
What?!
[Ross] Jericho just sent Finkel back.
[inaudible]
What is Finkel doing, King?
[music ends]
[Lawler] I think he's telling him not to ever put-- Oh, oh, wait a minute!
He's gonna break the Fink's hand here.
-Hey, look at-- look at Jericho. -[Ross] Jer-- Jericho.
-[Lawler] He's got a chair. -[Ross] Oh God! Jericho just…
That steel chair right in Shamrock's head.
[crowd shouting]
-["Break the Walls Down" playing] -Jericho gathering up the Fink.
But, man, was the damage done to Ken Shamrock.
♪ Break the walls down ♪
[Lawler] Look out. Look at Shamrock.
[crowd cheering]
I'll tell you what, I wouldn't wanna be Jericho or Howard Finkel
if Ken Shamrock gets his hands on 'em.
Well, I wouldn't wanna be Howard Finkel no matter what.
-That's a good point. -I'm gonna tell you something.
Jericho has got Finkel believing he's a warrior
and Finkel's liable to get himself killed.
I tell you, we know that the-- Oh.
There's Stephanie McMahon, ladies and gentlemen.
[Lawler] Oh, please, Stephanie, come to your senses.
[Ross] I can't wait to hear--
I hope that Stephanie gives Test an answer to his-his marriage proposal
that we-- that we all heard on Monday.
[Lawler] Shane McMahon's sister, Vince McMahon's lovely daughter.
And she's been proposed--
or she's been asked for her hand in marriage by a common wrestler, Test.
I mean, okay, sure, he's a very good second-rate wrestler,
but still he's just--
I mean, he's not in the same class.
[Ross] She's been thinking about this since Monday.
Andrew, will you please come out here?
-[Lawler] Andrew? -[Ross] That's Test.
-[Lawler] Come on, Stephanie. -[Ross] A gleam in her eye.
[Lawler] Think of Mason-Dixon. Draw the line somewhere. Don't--
["This Is a Test" playing]
Brush him off!
[Ross] Well, here comes Test, who was in one hellacious war
at SummerSlam with Stephanie's brother, Shane,
and one of the most amazing contests I've ever seen.
It was a "Love Her or Leave Her" match this past Sunday at SummerSlam.
Test was victorious.
And then the marriage proposal made on Monday.
[Lawler] Kick him to the curb, please.
Last-- this Monday night, you asked me a question.
And I said I needed some time.
But only because I wanted everything to be right.
Now we're alone in the ring and I have an answer for you.
Wait. Steph, if you want this to be right, let me make it right.
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Oh no, please!
[Ross] Gallantry is not dead, ladies and gentlemen.
[Lawler] Where's Shane?
Steph, will you give me the honor of being my wife?
Yes, I will!
-[Ross] Oh man. Yeah, yeah! -[Lawler] Oh my God.
[Ross] Attagirl!
[Lawler] What do you mean, "Attagirl"? Oh my God.
[Ross] They love each other.
Oh… Oh God. Oh, wait a minute!
-[Lawler] Please. Thank God. -[Ross] Dammit.
Oh, the Posse's back.
Shane McMahon and his Posse are back here.
-[Lawler] And Shane has got Stephanie. -[Ross] Shane has broken his word.
He said he'd stay out of Stephanie's life.
[Lawler] How can you stay out-- that's his sister.
[Ross] Rodney with that cast just knocked down Test.
[crowd cheering]
And wait a minute, here comes Mankind!
[Lawler] What?!
-[Ross] Mankind! -[Lawler] Shane, look out! He's got--
[Ross] He's got a chair.
Mankind's got a steel chair.
[Lawler] Shane, look out!
Oh!
Mankind just blasted Rodney. Oh! There goes Pete Gas.
Joey Abs!
[Ross] The Posse is down.
Test is hurt.
Shane McMahon admonishing his sister here…
I'm gonna marry him!
[Ross] …right in front of us.
Shane, why don't you just leave those two alone?
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] That's his sister. He can't.
[Mankind] It's my second time out here tonight,
and I'm not walking down that ramp again.
You and I are going to have our match right now.
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] Right now?
[Lawler] Wait. No, he can't.
It's not time yet.
[Ross] Shane McMahon and Mankind.
-[Mankind] Come on, tough guy. -I'm not ready.
-[Ross] Shane screwed-- -Come on. You cost me the WWE title.
-[Ross] Damn right. -You're a big man with your chair.
So I'll tell you what, I'll sweeten the pot.
-[Lawler] Shane's not ready. -I'm gonna leave this chair
that I just dented over your buddies' skulls
and I'm gonna leave it right here,
and I want you to find
the testicular fortitude…
[Lawler] What?
[crowd cheering]
[Mankind] …to walk into this ring,
and I'm gonna let you have one shot.
One shot, Shane, so make it a good one.
-[Lawler] Wait a minute. -And while you're thinking about it,
I'll be over here hanging with the Posse.
[Lawler] Shane don't have to think. You give Shane one shot, he'll take it.
I'm telling you, JR.
[Ross] I don't know how smart this was of Mankind.
-[Lawler] He's gonna blast him. -[Ross] No doubt. Oh!
-Damn. Man, what a shot. -[Lawler] He's down.
-[Ross] Mankind down. -[Lawler] Yes!
I'm the King of Hardcore. I'm the King.
[Ross] Shane, what a shot to the back of Mankind.
But wait! Wait a minute. Mankind's up.
-[Lawler] Shane, look out! He's up. -[Ross] Mankind was--
He sucked Shane McMahon in, it would seem here.
[Lawler] My God, Shane, look out. Get out of there, Shane.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] This match is underway with…
[Lawler] Oh no!
[Ross] There's no-- there's no referee out here.
Mankind with a headbutt on Shane McMahon--
-[Lawler] Get out! -[Ross] Every man for himself.
What a clothesline, over the… over the top.
My gosh, Shane McMahon's head just smacked this announce position.
The Posse being thrown out of the ring by Mankind.
You talk about some carnage. Test is down.
Stephanie's with Test here on the outside.
-[Lawler] You all right? Get behind here. -[Ross] Look out.
[Lawler] Behind! Get behind here.
Leave him alone! Oh!
[crowd shouting]
Look out.
Stop him, ref. Get a-- get a hold of him.
Stop him, ref.
[crowd] Foley! Foley!
[Lawler] Stop it.
[man] Get up.
[Lawler] What's the matter?
He's torn up-- he's torn up JR's headset. This is…
Somebody come down here and get this idiot Mankind out of here.
Look out, Shane!
-[Lawler] Get on the other headset. -[Ross] Hear me?
[Lawler] I can.
[Ross] Man, this is a war zone out here.
They're tearing up equipment.
They're tearing up their own bodies.
Shane McMahon rolled back in the ring now.
Man, this is-- you talk about a chaotic, unpredictable night
here on UPN's SmackDown.
Oh! Side Russian leg sweep.
Shane McMahon is down.
[Lawler] I mean, Mankind thinks that Shane screwed him last Monday.
Thank goodness. Come on, Posse.
[Ross] Mankind won the championship at SummerSlam,
was screwed Monday night by Shane McMahon out of it with Triple H.
And now look at the Posse, they're triple-teaming Mankind.
[Lawler] Look out. Here comes Test.
-[crowd cheering] -[Ross] Test is up.
-[Lawler] Oh! -[Ross] My God, what a foot.
A shot to the face.
[Lawler] Oh no. Look at this. It's the stooges.
[Ross] Patterson and Brisco.
Pat Patterson and Jerry Brisco.
[Lawler] They're blasting the Posse.
[Ross] Former long-time McMahon associates
have had their problems with the Posse in the past.
[Lawler] Look at Stephanie.
[Ross] And Stephanie has got Pete Gas.
What a shot by Test.
[Lawler] Pete Gas was about to get Test from behind
and Stephanie jumped Pete Gas.
[Ross] Shane McMahon came off the second rope on Mankind.
We got action everywhere.
[Lawler] This is SmackDown, JR. This is SmackDown.
[Ross] Test getting Stephanie out of harm's way.
Double-arm DDT. Double-arm DDT by Mankind.
[Lawler] Shane's hurt. Shane's hurt bad.
-Oh no! -[Ross] Nobody here left to help Shane.
Shane McMahon is all alone
and he's about to get introduced to Socko.
[Lawler] Stinking Mr. Socko.
[Ross] Payback is hell in World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Lawler] Shane!
[Ross] Mandible claw.
Mankind got those fingers right down the gullet.
Wait, there's… there's Chyna.
-[Lawler] What's she doing? -[Ross] Wait, here comes the WWE Champion.
Triple H with a shot right to Mankind's legs.
No, come on!
[bell ringing]
-[Ross] I can't believe this. -[Lawler] Shane wins.
[Ross] Shane McMahon has beaten Mankind.
-[Lawler] Shane wins. -[announcer] Shane McMahon!
[Lawler] Shane wins! [laughs]
♪ Up against a machine too strong ♪
[Ross] Chyna distracted the referee,
who did not see the WWE Champion with a chair shot on Mankind
that enabled Shane McMahon to upset Mrs. Foley's baby boy.
[Lawler] What do you mean upset? I knew Shane had it in him.
Like you say, the apple don't fall too far from the tree.
Shane McMahon. He won.
[Ross] There's Howard Finkel and Chris Jericho
leaving the scene of the crime and…
Open, Chris. Come on.
-[Lawler] In a Taurus? -Open the door! Chris, Please.
-[Ken] Come here! -[Fink] Open the door.
[Ken] Come back!
[Ross] Jericho had the Fink locked out.
-Damn! -[Fink] Chris…
-[Fink screams] -[Ken shouts]
-No! No! No! No! -Don't you ever, ever touch me!
[panting] No, no, no…
What the hell's that smell?
Did you crap on yourself?
Oh jeez!
[Ross] Welcome back, everybody, to the premiere broadcast of SmackDown.
We're in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Kemper Arena, King.
[Lawler] Right. Tonight, SmackDown is brought to you by
Hansen's Energy Drink, the real high-energy deal.
[Ross] And by 10-10-220.
Dial it and talk up to 20 minutes for only 99 cents.
[Lawler] And by JVC Kaboom Box. So loud it hurts.
[Ross] Well, ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know, at SummerSlam,
thanks to a heinous attack with a steel chair,
Triple H severely injured the knee of the Rattlesnake,
the incomparable "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
Earlier this week, Michael Cole had the opportunity to sit down
and speak with the Rattlesnake.
Going into SummerSlam, the world knew
you weren't a hundred percent.
Triple H knew that too and went after that knee
after the main event with a steel chair.
And we understand from doctors that you suffered
severe ligament and tendon damage. How are you doing tonight?
I had a torn ligament prior to the match at SummerSlam.
I had a brace for the knee to get me through the match.
And it was SummerSlam, so that's what you do.
You don't sit there at the house and wish you could wrestle.
You go and wrestle.
Uh, after the match was over,
the attack with a steel chair only made things worse,
so I'm out of action here for a bit.
But I'll be just fine with some rehab.
A month and a half or whatever it takes.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley has hell to pay when I get back.
Steve, Triple H on Raw this past week begged to differ.
He says you'll never, ever be the same again.
Could he be right?
I think that's a big bunch of bull [bleep].
It ain't for Triple H to say whether I'm gonna be the same or not.
It's only up for Steve Austin to go out there
and do the rehab and do what it takes
to get back in that ring.
And then I'll decide if I'm a hundred percent or not.
But I'll tell you this. Triple H will know exactly
how far along or how good this knee is
when the bell rings and me and him get in that ring again
for the WWE title. And I'll show him first and exactly
what kind of condition that this knee is in.
Because I'll kick his ass all around that ring
and take his little belt from him.
And ain't a damn thing he can do about it.
[Cole] And Triple H has had this serious mean streak as of late,
very vicious over the past few months.
And many people say that you're to blame,
that Triple H has taken a page out of your playbook.
What do you say about that?
Well, if he took a play out of my book, that's just fine
because I think I have influenced a lot of people.
And nobody knows better than me that it takes a mean son of a bitch
to get to the top of World Wrestling Entertainment.
So if he stole a page out of my book, that's just fine.
The fact of the matter is, he hasn't read the whole book.
And, uh, like I said, when I get his ass in that ring,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is gonna beat his ass
and that's all I got to say about that.
[Ivory's theme music playing]
[Ross] The Rattlesnake, I tell you, he will be back.
His heart is beating stronger than ever
and there'll be hell to pay.
And we've got an evening gown match here, King.
[Lawler] This is it. And I think…
I think we got a naked woman on the way to the ring somewhere too.
[announcer] …non-title evening gown match.
Making her way to the ring,
she is the World Wrestling Entertainment Women's Champion, Ivory.
[Ross] Ivory, the WWE Champion, successfully defending her title
at SummerSlam, King.
And then when the match was over, that wasn't enough for Ivory.
She wanted to humiliate Tori.
[Lawler] Well, she tried to tear her clothes off, no doubt,
and that's how this evening gown match has come about tonight.
The only way you lose an evening gown match
is to get stripped of your evening gown, all your clothes torn off.
[Ross] Right down to your bra and panties.
[Lawler] Woo! Bra and panties! Ha!
[Tori's theme music playing]
[announcer] And her opponent, Tori.
-[Ross] This is an evening gown match. -[Lawler] Here she comes!
[Ross] And Tori, not gonna be wearing an evening gown,
but at least she's, uh, she's covered up, at least for the time being.
The match continues until one of these ladies
has been stripped to her bra and panties.
[bell ringing]
[Lawler] We're gonna be the winner no matter what. [laughs]
[Ross] Tori got some payback for the WWE Women's Champion here.
The Women's title not on the line.
Ivory wearing a beautiful gown and…
can't quite say the same for Tori,
even though it's a nice shirt that Tony Garea loaned to Tori.
-[Lawler] Oh! I Can't wait. -[Ross] Here we go.
[Lawler] Bra and panties. Bra and panties!
[Ross] Ripping at that evening gown of Tori.
[Lawler] Tori trying to keep it on.
Oh my gosh.
[Ross] Ivory rammed face-first into the turnbuckle.
[Lawler] Ooh!
[Ross] Look at those right hands by Tori with a vengeance.
There's some retribution right here by Tori after what happened
at SummerSlam on Sunday.
[Lawler] Oh, wait a minute. Here goes the clothes.
[Ross] Ivory ripping at Tori's shirt,
and a backhand shot there.
Another knockdown.
-Oh, Ivory down to her bra. -[screaming]
-[Lawler] Oh, and panties! -[Ross] Panties and--
-And this one is over. -[bell ringing]
Ivory has been stripped to her bra and panties.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Tori!
[Ross] And it's over.
[Lawler] It's not enough. She won't stop though.
[Ross] Tori just hammering away.
[Tori's theme music playing]
Tori wants some more revenge.
And wait a minute. There's Luna.
-[Lawler] Let her go! -[Ross] Luna trying to restrain Tori
from doing more damage
to the defeated Ivory in this evening gown match.
Triple H, it's the premiere of SmackDown.
The Rock claims it's his show
and tonight he's taking back his title.
Listen, honey. I'm gonna cut you some slack, okay?
I don't know who you are or where you came from.
What you need to do is show the champ a little respect.
What I'm gonna do right now is I'm gonna give you a little education.
The Rock wants to play this game
where he can step up to the plate all he wants.
But he better bring everything he's got
because it's not gonna do him any good.
This is leaving with me.
And as far as Shawn Michaels goes,
he can referee all he wants
but he better remember two things.
One is to call it down the line.
The other is to stay out of my way
or I swear I will make sure
that Shawn Michaels never walks again.
[Ross] My God. Did you hear that?
[Lawler] That's a threat. Or a promise.
[Ross] Here comes The Rock.
He will challenge for the richest prize in the game.
The WWE title on the line right here.
It's gonna be one of the greatest matches
we'll ever have the privilege of seeing.
And that man, Shawn Michaels, the commissioner of the WWE,
will be the special referee.
This is gonna be a slobberknocker.
Pepper!
[Ross] There's Al Snow,
looking for his little dog, Pepper.
Pepper!
-[Ross] Snow lost the Hardcore title. -[Al] Where are you?
[Ross] And the Boss Man reneged on his deal to return
the little dog, Pepper.
[Lawler] Well, he's got to realize that the Boss Man is gone
and he's taken Pepper with him.
[Al] Pepper!
[indistinct chatter]
-Congratulations! -Thank you.
Earl, I expect an expensive gift.
-[Stephanie] Thank you! -Expensive? From Earl?
-Congratulations. -Thank you. Thank you so much.
-Congratulations. -[Lawler] I can't believe this, JR.
Also leaving, Test and Stephanie. And they're engaged!
[Ross] They certainly are. What a night it's been.
A momentous night and it's gonna continue right here.
The WWE title will be at stake momentarily
and there you see the special referee for a match.
["Sexy Boy" playing]
[Lawler] What kind of referee attire is that?
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for
the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.
Let me first introduce, making his way to the ring,
the special guest referee, commissioner Shawn Michaels.
♪ I make them shiver Their knees get weak ♪
[Ross] Shawn Michaels will keep law and order
just like Jesse "The Body" Ventura did
this past Sunday at SummerSlam.
What a great job done by the Body.
♪ Like they're on cloud nine ♪
[Lawler] I don't think this is fair, JR.
I think it's a conspiracy to get the title off Triple H.
♪ Ha! Yo, Jimmy Hit me with that Triple H ♪
["My Time" playing]
♪ Yeah, you let the music keep playin' Mr. Dumb ♪
[announcer] And making his way to the ring,
being accompanied by the Ninth Wonder of the World, Chyna,
from Greenwich, Connecticut, weighing in at 260 pounds,
he is the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, Triple H.
[Ross] It's been an explosive week
for the World Wrestling Entertainment title.
Sunday, Mankind beat Stone Cold in a Triple Threat match at SummerSlam.
And then Monday night, Shane McMahon screwed Mankind
out of the WWE title, and Triple H became
the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
[Lawler] Oh, you're talking about a week in the life of the title.
Let's talk about a lifetime for Triple H.
His entire life he spent building up to this moment,
to become the WWE Champion.
All the obstacles he's overcome, all of the roadblocks he's surpassed.
And finally, to wear that WWE title belt around his waist.
And now, they wanna take it away from him.
They want to rob him of that glory and that gold.
It's a conspiracy, JR, I'm telling you.
[Ross] Folks, let us remind you this Monday night,
Raw is War on USA Network. Normal time on the West Coast,
but eleven Eastern, ten Central on USA Monday night.
♪ Do you smell what The Rock is cooking? ♪
-[crowd cheering] -["Do You Smell It?" playing]
[announcer] And the challenger, from Miami, Florida,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
The Rock.
[Ross] He is the People's Champion. What an amazing young superstar.
Twenty-seven-year-old Rock, six-five, 275.
[Lawler] I thought sparks were gonna fly a second ago
when Shawn Michaels took that WWE title out of the hands
of Hunter Hearst Helmsley.
But I guarantee you, Shawn Michaels just can't wait
to put that title belt into the hands of The Rock here tonight.
[Ross] The Rock, the People's Champion, wants the WWE title.
The Rock knows what it's like to be on top of the WWE mountain.
[Lawler] I like The Rock, all right. He's cool and everything.
I like to listen to him talk.
I like to watch him lay the smack down.
But I'm just telling you this isn't fair
the way Triple H is being treated here tonight.
[Ross] Folks, there could not be a bigger match
than this main event here on our premiere of SmackDown.
Again, thank you for being with us.
We'll be with you each and every week right here
every Thursday night here on UPN.
-[bell ringing] -And the referee, Shawn Michaels,
calls for the bell, and look at that intensity.
[inaudible]
These two young gladiators, Helmsley on your right, the WWE Champion,
The Rock, the challenger. And here we go.
Right hand starting it out here.
We know that these guys have a huge rivalry.
We've seen it evolve in the last few months.
And it's come to a head right here tonight on SmackDown.
[Lawler] Oh!
[Ross] Irish whip in. The Rock going for the Rock Bottom!
Looking for the Rock Bottom. Helmsley countered.
And now, Helmsley, looking for the Pedigree.
Helmsley going for the Pedigree.
And The Rock counters with a back body drop.
[Lawler] Both guys trying to put each other away early
but they're too tough for that.
Each of 'em are.
[Ross] WWE title is on the line here.
And The Rock measures the champion, Triple H,
with a right hand and another right hand.
Helmsley lowered that head. You can see it coming.
-[Lawler] Oh man! -[Ross] But great counter by the champion.
[Lawler] Oh, I can't wait to see Triple H try to pin Rock.
I guarantee you we'll see a slow count from Shawn Michaels.
[Ross] Helmsley may be a miserable, no-good human being.
-[Lawler] What? -[Ross] But he is an amazing athlete.
-[Ross] You heard. -[Lawler] How's your arm?
What did it feel like when Helmsley broke your arm, JR?
-[crowd chanting "Rocky!"] -[Ross] Got in a shot there.
What Helmsley did to Stone-- the hell with my arm,
what Helmsley did to Stone Cold's knees…
Triple H-- or, excuse me, Shawn Michaels
having some words with Chyna on the outside.
What Triple H did to Austin's knees at SummerSlam
was absolutely heinous in my view.
[Lawler] I think I agree with Triple H, Austin will never be the same again.
-[Ross] Well, he might be right. -[Lawler] Oh, look at this!
[Ross] Helmsley over the top rope.
Man, that's a bad place to be for the champion.
It's a dangerous area out there.
And The Rock now follows Triple H outside,
and here comes our referee, Shawn Michaels.
[Lawler] Come on, Shawn, do your job. Get 'em back in the ring.
[Ross] Michaels is not gonna be standing in the middle of the ring
with a-- utilizing a count-out here.
Normally, these men have a ten-count to return to the ring.
[Lawler] Where they going? Gonna let 'em fight.
I guess Shawn Michaels is content to let these guys
go all over this arena here.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels wants there to be a clear-cut winner in this thing.
I like The Rock's chances.
Helmsley going for a suplex and The Rock trying to block it.
[crowd shouting]
-[Lawler] Oh my God. -[Ross] Oh man.
What a suplex by The Rock.
And Helmsley's spine just bounced off that steel.
Back in the ring, Rock.
Gotta get him back in the ring to pin him.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels telling these two men to get back in the ring.
Rock cannot win the title up on that staging area.
[Lawler] I'm gonna tell you.
Even if one of these guys pins each other up there,
I don't think Shawn Michaels will count.
-[Lawler] Gotta get in the ring. -[Ross] Well, Jesse Ventura didn't.
Jesse Ventura was a referee for the fans.
Called it right down the middle.
And that's what Shawn Michaels is gonna do here.
Oh, look out. Look out. Oh!
And both men flattened there. That was a side Russian leg sweep.
And The Rock with that-- he's got a mean streak too, King.
-[Ross] You know that. -[Lawler] I realize that.
I told you, I like The Rock as well as the next guy.
But I got a lot of respect for Triple H. He's the WWE Champion.
[Ross] I respect Triple H for being the champion and that's it.
[Lawler] Plus he broke your arm.
[Ross] And the champion is in trouble.
Helmsley staggering back toward the ring area…
Oh! Helmsley waiting on The Rock with that shot.
And The Rock knocked right into the steel steps.
Helmsley buying himself some time here
being admonished by the special referee,
the commissioner, Shawn Michaels.
[Lawler] It's like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin said.
Maybe Triple H has taken a page out of the book of Stone Cold.
He's now the champion. He wants to stay the champion.
[crowd chanting "Rocky!"]
It's gonna take a huge effort by The Rock to beat him. Oh!
[Ross] It takes a mean SOB to be the WWE Champion.
You gotta pay the price.
-[Lawler] Helmsley, get out of the way. -[Ross] Look out here.
[Lawler] Oh! Smack is being laid down by The Rock.
[Ross] And The Rock with a right hand. And the WWE Champion, a big problem here.
-[Lawler] Look out! -[Ross] From behind!
That was a low blow right there.
Chyna with a low blow.
-[Ross] Oh, Michaels! -[Lawler] She's being ejected.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels is ejecting Chyna
just like Jesse "The Body" Ventura did Sunday at SummerSlam.
[Lawler] Chyna's thrown out. I can't believe it.
[Ross] She deserves to be thrown out. That was a blatant low blow.
[indistinct]
[Ross] Oh, Helmsley now…
going to confront HBK.
And Helmsley doesn't want that Ninth Wonder of the World,
that ace in the hole to be ejected.
[Lawler] Right, it's a conspiracy, JR. I told you it was a conspiracy.
She should be allowed to stay.
[Ross] Triple H wants every unfair advantage that he can muster
because he knows, does Triple H, he's gonna need it
before this is all said and done.
[Lawler] Uh-oh.
[Ross] And a DDT! There's a cover.
The Rock's got-- Hey, Shawn!
-Shawn Michaels… -[Lawler] Here he comes.
[Ross] …sprinting down the rampway.
Michaels' delay with Chyna gave Helmsley enough time to…
to regroup there somewhat, but the champion is in a bad way here.
[Lawler] Chyna's gone.
[Ross] WWE title in jeopardy.
-Wait, there's Shane McMahon. -[Shane] Hey! You can't kick her out!
-[Ross] What's he doing? -[Lawler] I don't know.
He's the owner. He can do whatever he wants to.
-[Ross] I know. -I don't think so. Can't kick Chyna out.
-[crowd] Asshole! -[Lawler] He owns that ring.
He owns this, uh, this rampway here, those steps.
[Ross] There is no love lost, I assure you, folks,
between Shane McMahon and Shawn Michaels.
That has been well documented.
Triple H burying that shoulder into The Rock
with the WWE title on the line here tonight on SmackDown.
What a night it's been here on UPN.
[Lawler] Listen, what do you think will happen if Shane were to interfere?
Do you think Shawn Michaels can throw Shane outta here?
[Ross] Well, good question. I bet he would. I bet he'd try.
[Lawler] I don't think he could.
[Ross] I hope we don't find out.
But I wouldn't wanna cross, uh, Shawn Michaels if I were Shane McMahon.
[Lawler] I wouldn't cross Shane McMahon.
He owns this whole thing.
[Ross] I understand. You mentioned that twice in the last 30 seconds. I realize.
[Lawler] And forget all the ownership aside,
Shane McMahon single-handedly beat Mankind out here.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
[Ross] How could you?
[Lawler] Shane might take matters in his own hands if Shawn tries to throw him out.
Shane might just beat Shawn.
[Ross] I'll tell you, we know this.
The richest prize in this game is the WWE title.
It is on the line right here.
The champion, Triple H. The challenger, The Rock.
And what a suplex by the champion.
I don't like the son of a gun, but he's a hell of an athlete is Triple H.
What a knee.
Perfectly executed right in the head.
There's a lateral press. One, two.
And a kick-out by The Rock. A near fall.
And now Triple H has the challenger grounded.
The WWE title on the line right here tonight on SmackDown.
[crowd] Rocky! Rocky!
[Lawler] Look at Shane. He's just kinda keepin' an eye on things.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels is a heck of a referee.
He knows that Shane McMahon could and perhaps will do anything
to make sure that Triple H doesn't lose his title here.
[Lawler] We've seen-- we've seen Shane McMahon do absolutely anything.
I saw him climb to the top rope and dive--
Like, like I've never seen anybody dive in my life,
risk life and limb to dive on Test, bust him through a table.
[Ross] That was at SummerSlam this past Sunday.
It was an amazing move,
an amazing performance by Shane McMahon in that contest.
You got to give him credit for that. No doubt about it.
[Lawler] And you thought Shane's arm was broken, didn't you?
-[Lawler] Oh, get ready to ring the bell. -[Ross] Uh-oh.
[Ross] Shawn Michaels testing The Rock.
Michaels will raise that arm, and if it drops for the third time,
this match will end.
And The Rock is still in this game. The Rock reaching down.
With the gold on the line.
The owner of the Smackdown Hotel
is putting the smackdown on the-- on Triple H.
That was a great move by Helmsley.
-[Lawler yelping] -[Ross] Wotcha!
-[Ross] Helmsley hung on the-- -[Lawler] Look at Shane.
[Ross] And The Rock-- again, The Rock's got this match won.
[Lawler] Shane and Shawn tying it up.
[Ross] And Triple H-- well, Shane McMahon
had Shawn Michaels-- was right in Michaels' face
and made a distraction there.
Helmsley's a lucky man, I'll tell you.
And look at The Rock. Nothing pretty or fancy about those right hands.
[Lawler] Rock couldn't help Triple H down anyhow.
-Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Swinging neckbreaker.
Well, the first third-generation superstar in WWE history--
[Lawler] Shane!
[Ross] Is gonna take care of Shane McMahon.
[Lawler] He hit the owner!
-Oh no. -[Ross] Look out here. It's gonna be over.
-[Lawler] I can't believe this. -[Ross] Rock Bottom!
We're gonna have a new champion.
[Lawler] Oh no, here he comes.
[Ross] We're gonna have a new champion.
[Lawler] I think I'm smelling what The Rock's cooking here.
[Ross] People's Elbow coming up, King.
[Lawler] We're fixin' to see the most electrifying move
in sports entertainment today.
[Ross] Here it comes.
It's over-- oh, what the hell?
Shawn Michaels just superkicked The Rock.
[crowd booing]
-[Ross] My God. -[Lawler] Did you--
[Ross] What did we just see?
What is this?
Shawn Michaels just superkicked The Rock
when The Rock had the WWE title won.
[Lawler] I'm in shock. I think I saw it.
[Ross] Oh no.
The Rock had the title won,
and there's a Pedigree.
-[Michaels] One! Two! Three! -[Ross] And now… Oh, this is…
-[bell ringing] -[Ross] King, are you kidding me?
[Lawler] I can't believe it.
[announcer] Here's your winner, and still
World Wrestling Entertainment Champion…
-[Ross] We've got a crooked commissioner. -[announcer] …Triple H.
[Ross] Look at this collusion!
[Lawler] Well, we got Triple H still the WWE Champion.
[Ross] We've got an overbearing owner,
a crooked commissioner,
and son of a [muted] for a WWE Champion.
["My Time" playing]
I can't believe this.
[Lawler] I can't either. Look, here comes Chyna back.
[Ross] Chyna was ejected. That was all a ruse.
Rock had this title won. I swear.
[Lawler] No, no, no, wait a minute, JR.
Don't jump to conclusions. You don't know that.
[Ross] Nobody gets up from the Rock Bottom and the People's Elbow.
Nobody, King, and you know it.
[Lawler] Well, let's take a look again at exactly what happened.
I thought we were fixing to see the People's Elbow.
[Ross] What a shot.
[Lawler] Did you hear that?
[Ross] One more look at the Pedigree.
It was academic after the superkick.
The Pedigree certainly put The Rock away.
Can you believe what we have just seen?
[Lawler] It was the Pedigree that won the match, JR.
Admit it.
[Ross] The Rock had the WWE title won.
[Lawler] All that matters is that Triple H is still the WWE Champion.
[Ross] This is-- I can't believe what we've just seen. WWE Champion.