[rock music playing]
[The Rock] Triple H and Stephanie,
tonight, you will reinstate Mick Foley now.
If you do not meet our demands,
we've got every single WWE Superstar ready to walk out on your candy asses.
As of right now, Mick Foley is back in World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Ross] Mick Foley has been reinstated.
Mick Foley is back in the WWE!
[The Rock] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
The Rock says we're not done.
Tonight, it's gonna be the entire DX facing The Acolytes.
All four of us against The Acolytes, no sweat.
The Acolytes won't be alone.
They're gonna have a tag team with them,
and that tag team is gonna be The Rock 'n' Sock Connection.
-[Ross] Oh, man. -[Lawler] What?
[Ross] A Rock 'n' Sock Connection tonight
back together with The Acolytes against DX.
Otherwise, they're gonna make a tag here.
Oh, wait a minute. What the hell is that? DX is not tagging their leader.
DX is walking out on Triple H and his wife.
Our eight-man tag has disintegrated into two men
with a keen hatred for each other.
[Lawler] Oh, no. Oh, not here.
-[thud] -[grunts]
-[Lawler] That's it. -[Ross] Triple H has Pedigreed Mick Foley
right through our table to the concrete!
I can't believe this.
[Lawler] Oh, Mankind is still standing, but he won't be for long.
[Ross] Helmsley with a Pedigree. Damn it.
I can't believe that the night has turned out like this!
[Lawler] Triple H is The Game.
He proved it tonight, he'll prove it at the Rumble.
[Ross] And Mick Foley's not gonna stop.
Mick Foley has been busted up from ear to ear at the hands of Triple H.
There's no stopping Mick Foley.
Nothing's gonna stop Mankind.
[Lawler] Triple H, look-- oh!
[Ross] Tonight, there's still [indistinct].
Nobody can get as dirty as Mick Foley.
Triple H has started a war here.
Will he be able to finish it?
["Everybody on the Ground" playing]
[explosion]
[cheering]
[Cole] Triple H has indeed started a war with Mick Foley.
But he has problems in his own camp as well.
We are just ten days away from the Royal Rumble.
And tonight, we come to you from Chicago's Allstate Arena,
which has been sold out for weeks.
I'm Michael Cole along with Jerry "The King" Lawler at ringside.
Welcome to SmackDown.
["My Time (Triple H)" playing]
♪ Ha, yo, Jimmy, hit me with that Triple H ♪
♪ Yeah, you let the music keep playing, Mr. Dunn ♪
♪ Yo, tell me whose time it is now ♪
[Cole] He is the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
Triple H, along with his wife, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
And, King, one can only wonder
what the past few days have been like for this couple.
We know Triple H has been gloating all week long
after his victory over a reinstated Mankind
in a big eight-man tag team match this past week on Raw.
But, King, Triple H has a major reconstruction project
where D-Generation X is concerned.
[Lawler] Let me get one thing straight. He is not just the WWE Champion.
He is The Game, Michael Cole.
And don't ever doubt it for one minute.
Sure, life has been hectic.
It's been a little rough past couple of days
for Triple H and Stephanie McMahon,
but-- well, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
I think… I think by now he's probably got everything worked out.
We'll probably… we'll probably see a healing process
and… and then he'll bring some closure to this situation.
[Cole] That situation with D-Generation X,
a major reconstruction project as far as DX is concerned,
but we learned on Monday night that in ten days at the Royal Rumble,
Triple H will defend the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship,
King, against the newly reinstated Mankind.
[Lawler] Well, don't worry, all great leaders face challenges.
And believe me, Triple H is the greatest leader
this company has ever had.
He'll come out all right.
He's The Game.
[Cole] Well, he will be able to prove in ten days at the Rumble
whether or not he is indeed The Game.
-[Lawler] You doubt it? Do you doubt it? -[Cole] Triple H, Mankind, one on one.
[Lawler] Now, this is no way to show respect to the…
to the first couple of World Wrestling Entertainment.
[Cole] Capacity crowd at the Allstate Arena,
here in Chicago, on its feet.
First of all…
[crowd shouting, booing]
[Lawler] Come on, show some respect.
We'd like to clear up a misunderstanding.
[shouting, booing continues]
[Cole] See, I knew it was just a misunderstanding.
[Lawler] Will you people shut up?
[Cole] That's a huge understatement, King.
[mouthing]
[Cole] Uh-oh.
[crowd shouting, booing]
As it pertains to Monday night on Raw,
no World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars are leaving this company.
-[crowd cheering] -[Lawler] You hear that?
Triple H and I have righted the wrong.
And as always, we've dealt with things in a very fair manner.
[Cole] Even-handed.
Now, we're a little bit confused
because we don't understand why any one of you
would ever threaten to leave.
I mean… you can always come talk to us.
We're…
-[Cole] They have an open door. -Our doors are always open.
We're… we're fair.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Fair?
[Lawler] And Superstar-friendly.
But there is one thing to remember:
There is only one McMahon running this company right now.
[Lawler] Here we go.
And that's me,
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
And I just happen to be married
to the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion,
"The Game" Triple H!
[Lawler] Stand up, Michael.
[Cole] Stephanie loves the power, doesn't she, King?
She's relishing in the spotlight.
[Lawler] Rightfully so.
Now, you know, after Monday…
[crowd shouting]
[Cole] This crowd has been relentless on the champion.
[Lawler] They don't have much to cheer for here in Chicago… the Bulls,
the White Sox, Bears.
After Monday, I can't help
but feel the need to… to come out here and apologize…
to humbly stand before people
and just say, "Hey, I'm sorry. I apologize."
Not to any of you…
[crowd boos]
…and certainly not to any of the 50 ingrates
that surrounded this ring threatening to walk.
-[Lawler] That was extortion. -Because those 50 people
do not understand the sacrifice
that the two of us…
put out each and every week for them.
We are their leaders for them,
and I am their,
and I am your
World Wrestling Entertainment Champion for you.
[Cole] He calls screwing with people's lives
and careers a sacrifice?
So I make no apologies to you,
but I do make apologies…
to DX.
[Lawler] That's big-hearted.
I was wrong.
We all made mistakes.
And I tried to fix those mistakes with tough love.
I did to you as I would have you do to me.
I showed you tough love
and you showed me tough love back, Dogg, Billy, X-Pac.
Monday night, when you walked out on me,
you showed me tough love,
and you made me realize the error of my ways.
So now, I'm here to apologize to you and not only apologize
but to right the wrong.
Tonight, I will show you just how sorry I am.
[Cole] I'm getting emotional, this is [sniffles]…
And I will start with The Outlaws.
Dogg, Billy, tonight…
I will make a match.
This is kind of good and bad
but bear with me for a second,
because tonight, in this very ring,
the two of you will face…
in a handicap match,
Bradshaw of The Acolytes.
[Cole] Hey!
No Disqualification, and if Faarooq interferes in the match,
The Acolytes lose their shot at the Tag Titles at the Rumble.
[Lawler] What? That's fair, you can't… you…
Now for the bad,
I do feel sorry about this but…
you're gonna have to work twice tonight.
[Lawler] What?
You're gonna have to get in this ring twice
because when you finish that match,
you'll have to come back out here
and face, in a handicap match,
Faarooq of The Acolytes in a No-DQ Match.
And if Bradshaw interferes,
The Acolytes will lose their shot at the Tag Team Titles at the Rumble.
[Lawler] Wow, two handicap matches in one night for The Outlaws.
Now, X-Pac,
you and I have been the tightest.
Kid, you're like a brother to me.
So you and I are gonna get in this ring tonight together.
[Lawler] What?
We're gonna stand side by side,
and we are gonna take on…
-The Big Show… -[Cole] Whoa!
…and The Rock.
[Lawler] Wow!
Here tonight, Triple H, X-Pac, against Big Show and The Rock.
-[Cole] Is that a good idea? -[Lawler] What? I don't…
Now, as for Mick Foley,
as for Mankind…
if Monday, you thought you had me backed against a wall,
sorry, but you were wrong.
Monday, Mick Foley,
I beat you in the center of this ring…
one, two, three…
and I left you laying in a puddle of your own blood.
[Lawler] He did, that's why he's The Game.
Now, Mick Foley…
at the Rumble in New York City,
what you experienced Monday is gonna just be a small taste
of what you will receive at the Rumble.
Mick Foley, your blood will stain New York City.
I promise you that.
And I will beat you worse than you have ever been beaten
in your entire life.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Wow, that's a… that's quite a beating.
But…
Mick, I know you're in the back.
I know you're here.
After all, we so ever graciously reinstated you.
So, Mick, I'll tell you what,
I've got nowhere to go, I've got nowhere special to be.
So if you've got the guts, we don't have to wait until the Rumble.
Why don't you bring it down here right now,
and I will finish what I started Monday.
[Cole] King, Triple H is challenging Mankind to a match right here
tonight on SmackDown.
Come on, show some of that testicular fortitude
you always talk about and make the walk.
Get in the ring with The Game and let's get it done.
-[Cole] Look out now. -[Lawler] Oh, no.
[Cole] Triple H, Mankind, right here tonight on SmackDown.
And this is gonna be a war, King.
[rock music playing]
[Lawler] Look at this.
Triple H is ready.
[Cole] Hey, wait a minute.
[Lawler] Poor pathetic Mankind.
-[Cole] King. -[Lawler] What?
[Cole] I smell a rat.
[Lawler] What are you talking about? It's your upper lip.
-[Cole] That's not Mick Foley. -[Lawler] What?
What a cynic you are. It's Mankind.
[Cole] That is not Mankind.
[Lawler] What do you mean it's… We've seen this… we've seen this…
[Cole] We've seen that nasty shirt before, that tattered tie,
that… that nappy hair, and that stupid mask. That's Mankind.
[Cole] King, you have been following his career for 15 years and…
[Lawler] Be careful, Game. He's dangerous.
First things first.
[Cole] Know that voice anywhere.
[Lawler] Oh, come on now.
I just like to say that I'm sorry
you had to kick my butt last Monday on Raw.
And I'm sorry that you're probably the greatest wrestler
I've ever seen, watched, or thought about my entire life.
-[Cole] This is disgraceful. -And I'd just like to apologize,
Triple H, because every time I see you,
it just makes me feel more pathetic.
[Cole] Are you convinced now it's not Mick Foley?
You are the most pathetic person
I have ever met in my life.
[Lawler] Sure it's him.
Well, you know something…
I've been pathetic for my whole life,
especially over the last couple of weeks.
And I tell you what, I'm kinda getting to like it.
-[thud] -[Cole] Wait a minute.
[rock music plays]
[Cole] King, look out.
["Wreck" playing]
-[Lawler] What is this? -[Cole] I'll tell you. That's Mick Foley.
That's the real Mankind.
[Lawler] Nobody asked him to come out here.
[Cole] Triple H did just a few moments ago.
[crowd cheering]
[song fades]
Triple H,
that is enough.
[crowd chanting "Foley"]
[Cole] We saw a vicious side of Mick Foley Monday night
after being driven through the table by Triple H.
Is this what you get off on, making fun of me?
How much more do you want from me?
[Foley] First,
you take away my job, then you bring this idiot out there,
and you take away my dignity.
Then Monday night,
in what should have been the greatest night of my life,
when I was reinstated on Raw is War…
you take me and you ruin my shirt.
[Lawler] What?
[Foley] And you ruin my face.
And I'll be honest, when I stepped into that shower,
when I let the cold water run down on my head,
and I looked down at the blood as it swirled around that shower drain…
-[Lawler] Uh! -[exhales]
…I started thinking a little bit about what Mankind was.
Well, Mankind [panting]…
is an entertaining son of a gun.
Mankind is a pretty damn good author.
Mankind…
is one tough SOB.
[crowd cheering]
And Mankind is one hell of a fighter.
So it saddens me to say
that after the beating you gave me on Monday night,
one thing Mankind is not
is ready to face you in a street fight
at the Royal Rumble in Madison Square Garden.
[Lawler] He's not?
Because you are without a doubt The Game.
-[mouthing] -You are the best
in the business right now.
-And as you said, well… -[mouthing]
…Mankind, in some ways,
is nothing more than a beaten up pathetic fool.
But I think the WWE fans deserve a substitute in that match.
[Lawler] Substitute? He's chickening out?
What I'm gonna do, Triple H, is I'm gonna name him right now.
As a matter of fact, I think you know the guy.
-[Lawler] Huh? -[Cole] Uh-oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Oh, no. No, no, no. No!
[crowd cheering continues]
And I think you know him pretty damn well.
His name is Cactus Jack.
-[crowd cheering] -[Lawler] He's back.
And his first official act as part of the WWE
is to kick your teeth all over the city of Chicago.
[Cole] Cactus Jack is back!
Cactus Jack is back and he's a dangerous human being.
Cactus Jack after Triple H, and here we go.
Cactus Jack hammering away on the WWE Champion.
Get out of there, Game.
Mick Foley is more vicious, more dangerous than ever, King.
Cactus Jack [indistinct] Mick Foley.
And there's the phony Mankind with a steel chair.
-[Lawler] Get in. -[Cole] Cactus Jack.
-[Lawler] What? -[Cole] Wait a minute.
Cactus Jack, look out.
Cactus Jack with a chair
-and hammering away on the phony Mankind. -[grunts]
-[Lawler] Watch it. -[Cole] Look out now.
Cactus Jack throwing Mankind through the ropes.
-[Lawler] He's dangerous, Michael. -[Cole] Yeah, Triple H is very dangerous.
Oh, look out! Look out now. Incoming!
The phony Mankind flying over the announcer table.
[Lawler] What happened?
[Cole] Triple H and Stephanie watching from the stage.
-Look out, King! -[grunts]
Towards the back of the head of the phony Mankind.
King, do you think Triple H knows what the hell
he's gotten himself into for the Royal Rumble?
[Lawler] No, I don't.
This is not good. There's that music, Michael.
This guy's psychotic.
-[Cole] King… -He's homicidal.
[Cole] The metamorphosis is complete.
He's more vicious and dangerous than ever… Cactus Jack.
Triple H, so at the Royal Rumble, you're gonna make me bleed?
[panting] I've got some news for you, it will not be the first time,
and it sure as hell will not be the last,
because I've got an awful lot of blood to give.
[Lawler] That's a scary thought.
But as far as you, you look into my eyes
and realize I mean every word
when I tell you I'm gonna tear you apart in New York City.
[crowd cheering]
[panting]
And then I will take what you hold dearest…
I'm talking about your cherished WWE Championship belt.
[breathes heavily]
I will take it and it will be mine, mine!
All mine! Bang, bang!
[crowd cheering]
[Lawler] Insane, he's deranged.
[Cole] Does Triple H have any idea what he's getting himself into
in ten days at the Royal Rumble?
It's now Cactus Jack, Triple H,
with the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship on the line.
The metamorphosis is complete.
Cactus Jack is back.
[Lawler] This is bad.
[Cole] We're back on SmackDown. And King, what a shocker.
Cactus Jack is back, and look what he did to the phony Mankind.
Oh, man.
And then Cactus Jack left Triple H with these words
about the most cherished thing he plans to take
from The Game at the Royal Rumble.
I'm talking about your cherished WWE Championship belt.
-[panting] -[crowd cheering]
I will take it and it will be mine.
Mine, all mine!
Bang, bang!
[Cole] Cactus Jack, the most aggressive Superstar the WWE has ever known.
♪ Oh, you didn't know? ♪
♪ Your ass better call somebody ♪
[Cole] What else is gonna happen on SmackDown here tonight?
King, this match-up here was set up by Triple H
and it should go a long way in, uh, repairing
Triple H's relationship with his DX brethren.
Chicago, you're damn right.
This is me.
It's me.
It's the D-O-Double-G…
rolling once again with that B-A-Double-D.
[Cole] The New Age Outlaws set for a handicap match-up here
against Bradshaw, The Acolytes.
You saw The Outlaws go one-on-one against each other
this past Monday night on Raw.
[Lawler] Yeah. And this is part of the repair job
that… that Triple H has got to perform here on DX.
I mean, they were on the verge of being completely decimated
Monday night on Raw,
but hopefully, hopefully this will help put things back together.
[Cole] Well, two motives in this match-up.
One, to repair the strained relations with DX.
-Two, to decimate The Acolytes. -Cut the music.
[music stops]
The Outlaws would love not to worry about The Acolytes.
Chi-Town, welcome to the Dogg House.
[audience boos]
Whether you're a foe or a fan,
it is too grand,
and we are the man,
and if you don't like it, you can…
[crowd chatter]
Not yet, that's Billy's part, you idiots.
[Lawler] Huh!
And of course, if you're not down with that,
we got two words for you.
-[crowd chants] Suck it! -[Cole] There they are.
Well, in ten days, at the Royal Rumble,
The New Age Outlaws will defend the Tag Team Titles
against The Acolytes.
[Lawler] Wait a minute, don't get ahead of yourself.
-[Cole] Why? -That can all go out the window
right here tonight.
Two ways as a matter of fact.
Either The New Age Outlaws
completely destroy The Acolytes one by one,
or either The Acolytes… wait a minute.
Bradshaw brought… he brought some ammunition with him.
Powder to the eyes of the Road Dogg
and No Disqualification in this match-up, King.
-[Lawler] No Disqualification? -[Cole] And Bradshaw sending Billy
over those steel stairs.
Bradshaw trying to isolate The Outlaws in this handicap match-up, King,
but with no disqualifications, set up by Triple H.
If Faarooq interferes in this match,
The Acolytes will forfeit their title shot at the Royal Rumble.
[Lawler] It's not fair. Road Dogg can't see, he's blinded.
[Cole] Well, No Disqualification.
This will not be for the weak of heart.
And Road Dogg flying over the table, and here comes Bradshaw.
Billy Gunn, face first.
Bradshaw has left New Age Outlaw carnage
here at ringside at the announcer table.
And now steel steps into the ring.
-Billy Gunn has been isolated. -[grunts]
And Bradshaw now.
Oh, he's not gonna do this. Wait a minute.
Road Dogg with a steel chair to the back of Bradshaw,
and Billy Gunn with the big back body drop.
Whew! Thank goodness.
DX's goal over the past few weeks has been to eliminate The Acolytes.
So The Outlaws wouldn't have to face him at the Royal Rumble
and they're doing a good job of it right now.
Steel steps to the head of Bradshaw.
[Lawler] Oh, I tell you, all of this thanks to good old Triple H.
What a guy. Talk about fairness, that idiot Bradshaw…
Oh, poor Road Dogg right here, right on me.
[Cole] Well, King, you know, Triple H…
Triple H can't fire anybody anymore.
He can't go around firing people.
He should fire these Acolytes.
Well, this is how he's gonna take care of people he doesn't like.
[laughs] Case in point, if Faarooq can't come out here to help out his partner,
The Acolytes are gonna have to forfeit
that Tag Team Title match against The Outlaws at the Rumble.
[Lawler] Yeah, you don't think that's fair?
We don't need outside interference in these matches.
-[Cole] Oh, yeah, that's real fair. -[Lawler] Wow!
[Cole] Steel chair to the back of Bradshaw.
Keep in mind, this is No Disqualification.
-That's fair. -And The Outlaws
are gonna get a chance to take out Faarooq
in a handicap match a little bit later on with the same stipulation.
-No outside interference… -[Lawler] Oh, Bradshaw on the boot.
And here comes Bradshaw [indistinct] getting DDT'd by the Road Dogg.
[Cole] Planting Bradshaw in the middle of the ring.
It has been a wild night in Chicago already.
Cactus Jack has returned and will meet Triple H in ten days
at the Royal Rumble for the WWE Title.
And look at The Outlaws doing a number on Bradshaw.
Take your time, guys. We got a long time here.
Just really, really torturing, pulverizing, punishing.
Billy Gunn with a right-hand,
Road Dogg lying in wait with that steel chair.
And Bradshaw has been beaten silly by The New Age Outlaws.
-[Lawler] Oh, watch this. -Oh!
[Cole] Boot to the face! Bradshaw has got something left.
-Look at this. -[grunts]
And Bradshaw catching Billy Gunn,
steel chair to the head of Bradshaw.
Billy falls on and hooks the leg and it's over.
[bell rings]
The New Age Outlaws have accomplished the first part of their mission.
[announcer] The New Age Outlaws.
[Cole] They have defeated Bradshaw, The Acolytes,
and Faarooq is next on The Outlaws' hit list.
We can thank Triple H for this. This was a great match.
It was a steel chair to the head of Bradshaw
that allowed The Outlaws to pick up the victory.
Standing by right now, the People's Champ,
-The Rock. -[Lawler] Huh!
Standing by with The Rock.
And Rock, how do you feel about teaming up with the--
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chanting "Rocky!"]
Finally, The Rock has come back to Chicago.
[crowd cheering]
Rock, how do you feel about tonight?
Before you ask The Rock any questions,
The Rock has got a question of his own.
Who are you?
It's okay. You can answer The Rock.
Well, Rock, if… if it matters, my name is Jonathan Coachman.
Jonathan?
Well, that's interesting.
Well, Jonathan, welcome to the WWE,
and welcome to The Rock's show, SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
Well, thank you, Rock, but actually they call me "Coach" for short.
They call you what?
They call-- they call me Coach.
"Coach"?
Coach as in the coach of the little girls' softball team?
Coach?
Ask The Rock your question.
Well, Rock, how do you feel about teaming up
with The Big Show tonight on SmackDown?
Well, The Rock feels like this.
Teaming up with Big Show or teaming up with Big Bird,
The Rock's tag team partner just doesn't matter to The Rock
as long as The Rock gets to Triple H.
But… seeing as The Big Show is The Rock's partner,
what better partner would The Rock want to have?
The Big Show, seven feet.
The Big Show, 500 pounds.
The Big Show, former WWE Champion,
so The Rock is cool with that.
But The Rock has one more question for you.
How is it… that, uh,
you came up with the name Coach?
When I was a kid, it was a nickname--
It doesn't matter how you came up with the name Coach.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd clamor]
[crowd chanting "Rocky!"]
If you smell what The Rock is cooking.
[Cole] Back on SmackDown, and getting down with Rikishi and Too Cool.
And, King, guess what?
All three of these guys are gonna be involved in the Royal Rumble match,
ten days away, from the Garden.
Well, folks, tonight, WWE SmackDown
is brought to you by WWE The Music, Volume 4.
Get the latest and greatest official WWE Superstar entrance themes,
now available at all Disc Jockey Music locations.
And by Western Union money transfer,
the fastest way to send money worldwide.
And by PhoneFree.com.
Free long distance calls over the internet.
[rock music playing]
[announcer] And their opponents first, from Mobile, Alabama,
at a combined weight of allegedly well over 800 pounds,
Crash and Hardcore Holly.
[Cole] Well, King, you know the Hollys have had some success
with the Jericho-Chyna team over the past week,
all because the co-Intercontinental Champions can't work together.
This past week on Raw, Chris Jericho refused to tag Chyna.
[Lawler] Look at that. Every time she went for the tag,
he gave her the old short arm.
And that resulted in Chyna taking the loss.
[Cole] And the Hollys picking up the victory.
And Hardcore and Crash tonight are being forced to team up with the…
[Lawler] You saw Jericho didn't seem too upset about that either, did he?
[Cole] Not at all.
The Rikishi and Too Cool set for action.
Hardcore and Crash Holly on the other side.
They're gonna be teaming up with Al Snow.
And check out Crash…
setting the scale.
[announcer] And their tag team partner, from Lima, Ohio,
weighing in at 249 pounds,
Al Snow.
[Cole] So it's Al Snow and the Hollys against Rikishi and Too Cool.
[Lawler] I used-- I used to think this guy was a big pain in the neck
but now, I got a much lower opinion of him.
[intense rock music playing]
Whoo! Look at… look at Rikishi, I don't like seeing him that close,
-that's like an extreme close up. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Well, we all know Al Snow is a little out there,
but he's also been having problems, uh, playing with others,
getting along with his tag team partners in recent weeks.
I saw some problems with Al Snow and The Dudley Boyz
and then this past Monday night on Raw,
Al Snow having some problems with The Headbangers.
[Lawler] Well, he's just simply in a world of his own.
Let's face it, it's--
Oh, cheese has slid off his cracker or something, I don't know.
[Cole] So it's Hardcore Holly going to work on Grandmaster Sexay.
Reversal, Holly off the rope,
Sexay with a big knockdown by Hardcore Holly.
It's been a wild night already on SmackDown.
We've seen the return of Cactus Jack,
who will meet Triple H in ten days at the Royal Rumble.
And, King, I have to ask you the question I have.
Do you think Triple H has any idea what he's getting himself into
-at Madison Square Garden in ten days? -[Lawler] Well, I've told you once,
I've told you a thousand times, Triple H is The Game.
Sure, it's gonna be tough, it's gonna be rough.
I mean, Cactus Jack is… I said he's psychotic.
-He'll do absolutely anything to anybody. -[thud]
Somehow, The Game will find a way to prevail.
I… I believe in him.
[Cole] Cactus Jack, the most aggressive WWE Superstar
we've ever seen here in World Wrestling Entertainment.
Grandmaster Sexay going to work on Crash Holly.
Oh, man, that's pretty aggressive right there.
Look at this. Getting jiggy with it.
A little bit of dancing for Grandmaster Sexay,
and makes the tag and here comes his partner,
Scotty 2 Hotty.
[Lawler] I bet you wish you could dress cool like those guys.
All your cool clothes must be in the wash, huh?
-[Cole] I think I dress fine. -[grunts]
Scotty 2 Hotty off the rope,
switch in there by Crash, big shoulder knock down.
-[crowd cheering] -And Scotty 2 Hotty enjoying that one.
Big leapfrog by Crash, went for the hip toss,
countered, Scotty 2 Hotty again.
[Lawler] Watch it.
[Cole] Oh, what a kick to the midsection.
-[Lawler] Oh, I can… here we go. -[thud]
[Cole] King, still to come tonight, Triple H and X-Pac,
as Triple H continues to try to repair the wounds with D-Generation X,
are gonna team up to take on The Rock and The Big Show.
Look at the bulldog by Scotty 2 Hotty.
[Lawler] I don't really understand exactly how that's doing the-- Oh, look at this.
I think we're gonna see The Worm!
-[Cole] I thought it's The Centipede. -[Lawler] That is The Worm. Hoo! Hoo!
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Got him!
That shot to the chest of Crash Holly by Scotty 2 Hotty.
Scotty 2 Hotty ripped off the ropes,
and look at that-- from behind, Al Snow hammering away on Scotty 2 Hotty.
Big right-hands by Al Snow, who isn't quite there,
or hasn't been there for the past few weeks.
He was one of the only Superstars in World Wrestling Entertainment
happy to see Mick Foley fired.
Mick Foley has been since reinstated in the state of that metamorphosis
to Cactus Jack, as we saw earlier on tonight.
[Lawler] I hate that.
[Cole] You're talking about that Rock, Big Show, X-Pac, Triple H match,
and I knew where you were going with that.
Doesn't seem like much of a reward for X-Pac
-to take on The Rock and Big Show. -[Lawler] Right. I don't get it either.
[Cole] Do you think The Rock and Big Show can get along?
Both of those men will be in the Royal Rumble match
in ten days at the Rumble.
[Lawler] Remember when The Rock said-- Look out!
[Cole] Oh, man.
[Lawler] Remember The Rock said he was gonna throw 29 other jabronis
over the top rope at the Royal Rumble?
[Cole] Yeah.
[Lawler] I guess he means he thinks that The Big Show
is one of those jabronis.
[Cole] Crowd starting to come alive for Scotty 2 Hotty,
both Scotty 2 Hotty and Hardcore in trouble.
Al Snow is begging for a tag.
[Lawler] I saw Rikishi having a… I wanna see Rikishi in there.
Get the big man in.
[Cole] Hardcore to the corner, makes the tag to his cousin Crash
and here comes Rikishi.
Rikishi, well over 400 pounds, hammering away on Crash Holly.
What a chop.
[Lawler] Four hundred pounds? This guy is huge.
His belly button doesn't have lint, it has sweaters.
[Lawler] Oh, man.
[Cole] Rikishi Phatu. Oh, what a kick to the face of Al Snow.
[Lawler] Unreal.
[Cole] Hardcore, kicker, nice dropkick to the face of Rikishi,
knocking the big man down,
but he better not start the celebration quite yet.
[Lawler] Now, watch at your back!
[Cole] Hardcore walked into the belly-to-belly.
[Lawler] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Double-team outside the ring.
Too Cool slamming Al Snow into the steel ring post.
Crash Holly's in La La Land.
Here comes that sit-out piledriver.
[Lawler] Oh my gosh. Got it.
[Cole] Rikishi planting Crash Holly, who is the legal man,
-and this one is over. -[bell ringing]
[Lawler] Poor Crash bounced about three feet in the air.
[announcer] Here are your winners, Too Cool and Rikishi Phatu.
-[Lawler] Look. -[Cole] Hardcore and Crash Holly…
Where is he going?
[Lawler] A little hand to get out of there, Al, you lost.
[Cole] Too Cool and Rikishi pick up the win
over the Hollys and Al Snow.
[Lawler] What's he doing? Look at this.
What is Al Snow doing now?
-He hitting the-- Oh! -[Cole] He just knocked
Crash and Hardcore down.
I cannot depend on anybody!
Every single time, you let me down!
All I want… is one partner.
[Cole] King, I'll tell you, Al Snow is not making any friends
before the Royal Rumble.
And the Royal Rumble match, in which Al Snow will be a part,
is just ten days.
[Lawler] Al, he's an idiot. Let's face it.
Hey, wait a minute.
This crowd is on its feet, and I think they want Rikishi,
as does Too Cool, to come back into the ring and…
and get jiggy with it.
It's like at a rock concert.
Look at the people, they got their lighters out and everything.
The curtain call. And sunglasses to boot for Rikishi.
There's some sort of transformation there too
when he gets those… those shades on.
He gets really cool.
[funky R&B music playing]
Look at this.
Look. [laughs]
[Lawler] Rikishi and Too Cool getting down on SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
I got to admit, King, he's got rhythm for a big man.
[Lawler] Oh, look at this. [laughs]
[Cole] Check it out! Rikishi getting down.
And the crowd, they love it. Oh!
I just wanna tell you guys, congratulations.
-[Road Dogg] One down and one to go. -Right.
-One to go. -You guys are doing great.
Hey, you guys see X-Pac?
Yeah. Where is he?
He's been busy. I ain't see nobody but him and…
[rock music playing]
[Cole] He is the most aggressive Superstar that WWE has ever seen.
Cactus Jack carved his name and hardcore legend in Japan,
wrestling in rings surrounded with razor sharp barbed wire.
Cactus Jack has total disregard for his body,
yet he seems to draw strength from his pain.
Cactus Jack is more sadistic, more dangerous than anyone
as Triple H will find out firsthand in 10 days at the Royal Rumble.
Cactus Jack, Triple H, in a street fight for the title.
It may be the wildest match Madison Square Garden has ever seen.
[Cole] It is gonna be a war at the Royal Rumble.
We're just ten days away.
["The Brood" playing]
So Gangrel being accompanied to the ring by Luna.
[music continues]
Gonna have his hands full tonight with this man.
[announcer] And his opponent, he weighs in 282 pounds,
Test.
[Cole] Well, King, on Raw Monday night,
we saw Test team with The Big Show
to take on the Big Boss Man and Prince Albert.
[Lawler] Right.
[Cole] What a match that was too.
It was The Big Show, and then Test followed it up with the boot,
and then Test delivering that elbow from high over the top rope,
the exclamation point helping Test and The Show
pick up the win over the Boss Man and Prince Albert.
So Test has had his share of women problems as of late,
particularly with his former fiancée, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
[Lawler] Not to mention, remember the little incident where he,
I guess, sexually harassed Tori?
-[Lawler] What are you talking about? -[Cole] Oh, I don't know.
Test with a right-hand to Gangrel.
Gangrel whipped across the ring.
-[Lawler] But Tori said-- Oh! -Boots to the face now with Test.
Going to work again on that nose.
Kick to the midsection.
Gangrel, nice takedown by Gangrel.
Later on tonight, Triple H is gonna team with X-Pac.
Triple H and X-Pac are gonna take on The Big Show
and The Rock later on here tonight on SmackDown.
-[Lawler] Watch your nose there, Test. -[Cole] Oh, Luna.
[Lawler] Look, Mom, more women trouble. [laughs]
[Cole] Luna raking her nails across the back of Test.
[Lawler] Just don't hit his nose. He's already had more nose jobs
than Linda Tripp.
[Cole] You know, King, Triple H says it's a reward for X-Pac
to be involved in this tag team match-up with him
against The Big Show and The Rock.
I still can't figure that one out.
Nice elbow to the sternum.
[Lawler] So once again, you're doubting Triple H's word?
-[Cole] Here we go now, cover by Gangrel. -Uh!
And a kick out after two by Gangrel.
Now, check out Luna, Gangrel's love of his life.
Oh, look at this here. Oh!
Test with right-hands to Gangrel again.
Gangrel ducks up underneath,
and Test with a boot to the face of Gangrel, right on the forehead.
[Lawler] What about Gangrel's nose?
[Cole] Test, reversal off the ropes. Oh, kick to the midsection.
-Test set Gangrel up. Look out. -[Lawler] Oh no. Look out.
[Cole] Oh, what a slam by Test.
Cover, hooks the leg,
referee distracted by Luna, who's on the apron.
[Lawler] You leave the woman alone, Test.
[Cole] Gangrel counters, rolls him over, small package,
hooks the leg, there's two.
And Test kicks out before the count of three.
Almost a big upset by Gangrel.
[Lawler] Why would it be an upset?
[Cole] Both Test and Gangrel will be involved in the Royal Rumble match…
Wait a minute.
Gangrel is using the ropes but Test still kicks out after two.
-Come on. -[Cole] Gangrel getting leverage
on the ropes that time.
Test kicked out after the count of two.
Look out, Gangrel in trouble.
Oh, what power! Cover, hooks the leg…
Wait a minute, Luna… Luna just grabbed referee Teddy Long,
and pulled him out of the ring.
[shouting]
[Lawler] What the heck?
Hey, Test, better pay attention!
-[Cole] And Luna just clocked the referee. -[Lawler] What?
[Cole] And great Gangrel walked into Test, belly to belly.
[Lawler] Oh, look at this! Luna's in the ring!
[Cole] And Luna on the back of Test.
[Lawler] I'm telling you, women are just attracted to him.
-[thud] -Oh, what the heck.
[Cole] Test is giving it to Luna.
-[Lawler] Momentarily. -[bell rings]
[Cole] And referee Teddy Long calls for the bell.
He was clocked by Luna outside the ring
and now Luna has pulled off that… that protective nose gear of Test.
-[Lawler] More women problem for Test. Oh. -[thud]
[Cole] Test just cleaned Gangrel's clock,
and Luna slapping the face of Test, and look out.
I think… I think Luna is going for a ride.
-[Lawler] No way! -[thud]
-[Cole] Oh, man. -[Lawler] What the…
-[thud] -[Cole] And there goes Gangrel.
Well, you may have hit the nail on the head, King.
Test may have been sick and tired of women meddling in his affairs.
He's channeled that anger and he's gonna fly, top rope.
What hang time! Deliver the elbow to Gangrel,
Test picking up the win.
[announcer] The winner of this match, as a result of a disqualification,
Test.
[Cole] So, Test picks up the win after Luna clocked the referee.
Now, we've been talking about it.
Test is lassoing in the emotion, King.
Try to calm down and relax, take it easy.
-Don't go crazy. -I'm fine.
-Oh, you're fine? -I just wanted to take two seconds
and I simply wanted to tell you,
I wanted to talk about last Monday night.
Oh, about Monday night?
-I wanted to tell you that I'm not upset. -Oh, you're not upset?
I don't know if I did something that upset you.
-If I did, I'm sorry. -Well, you did.
I mean, I would have much rather had you,
you know, be part of my team,
instead of turn your back on me, but you know--
-Like you did on me. -For whatever reason,
I'm willing to let that go, I wanna let bygones be bygones
and, uh, I really wanna try
and make this work between the two of us and, you know…
-Really? -…let's step in this together.
-You really feel that way? -Please.
No more of these crazy-- crazy head games?
No, I mean, come on. We're both adults.
-Shake. -All right.
-I'll accept your apology. -Okay.
It was big of you to admit that you were wrong.
-We can do this. -Okay. Yes, you're right, we can do this.
[chuckles]
[Cole] Back on SmackDown, earlier tonight,
we saw the reincarnation of Cactus Jack.
I think you know the guy.
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler] Ah! -[Cole] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Oh, no. No, no, no!
[crowd cheering]
His name is Cactus Jack.
[Cole] He's back!
Cactus Jack hammering away on the WWE Champion.
Get out of there, Game.
Mick Foley is more vicious, more dangerous than ever, King.
[Cactus Jack] Triple H, at the Royal Rumble,
I will take what you hold dearest,
your cherished WWE Championship belt
and it will be mine, all mine!
-Bang, bang! -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] So, King, the bottom line is this, in ten days at the Royal Rumble,
Triple H is gonna have to defend
his World Wrestling Entertainment Title in a street fight against Cactus Jack.
[Lawler] I'm gonna tell something, Cactus Jack is evil,
he's… he's dangerous, he's sadistic.
[Lawler] I like that in a person, but not in Cactus Jack.
[announcer] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, being accompanied by Terri,
from Cameron, North Carolina,
at a combined weight of 430 pounds,
Matt and Jeff, The Hardy Boyz.
[Cole] And, King, of course, we all know the long history of Cactus Jack.
Mick Foley, of course, from Long Island,
the stories of hitchhiking to Madison Square Garden.
And since the Rumble takes place in Madison Square Garden,
those odds may be too much for the champion, Triple H, to overcome.
[Lawler] Wait a minute. I got a better idea.
[announcer] And their opponents,
with a combined weight of 652 pounds,
the Hardcore Champion, the Big Boss Man and Prince Albert.
[Lawler] Maybe that idiot Cactus Jack will try to relive his past, deja vu,
and hitchhike to Madison Square Garden for the Royal Rumble,
and nobody will pick him up, give him a ride.
[Cole] Well, I have no sympathy for Triple H in this one,
he drove Mick Foley to this.
He brought Cactus Jack out of Mick Foley.
And this should be a good tag team match-up.
The Hardys set to take on Prince Albert and the Big Boss Man.
You know, saw Prince Albert and Boss Man
have some words the past couple of weeks
but Prince Albert refers to the Boss Man as his mentor.
[Lawler] He told me that he really thinks the world of the Big Boss Man,
said he'd give him the hair off his back if he had to.
[Cole] You're a funny guy.
Prince Albert, kick to midsection, high-pitched chop to Jeff Hardy.
And here we go.
Matt Hardy, been out a few weeks with a broken cheekbone,
but the Hardy's back with a vengeance this past Monday night on Raw, King.
Big victory over Steve Austin and Kurt Angle.
[Lawler] Yeah, but they're completely outmatched here.
I mean, just too much weight, too much brawn,
too much physicality here with Prince Albert and the Boss Man.
[Cole] Prince Albert showing his strength right now
as he goes to work on Jeff Hardy.
[Lawler] See, what'd I tell ya.
[Cole] Catches Jeff Hardy in midair on the shoulder.
Look out, Prince Albert into the turnbuckle.
And a dropkick from behind to the small of the back.
The Hardys are gonna have to win this thing with quickness,
with their athletic ability, their agility, their acrobatic moves.
-And double-teams, elbow to the face. -[grunts]
[Lawler] Well, that all sounds good on paper, Michael.
[Cole] Cover, hook to the leg, kick-out.
[Lawler] Doesn't sound hot coming out of your mouth, but,
like I said, it's easier said than done.
[Cole] And here's Matt Hardy, big right-hands to Prince Albert,
off the rope.
And look at the strength of this 350-pounder
slamming Matt Hardy off the top rope.
He caught Matt Hardy in midair.
-[Lawler] A slingshot there. -[groan]
[Cole] Hear this crowd chanting for Terri?
Prince Albert again, oh, man. Oh.
A version of a swinging neckbreaker, backbreaker,
so to speak, by Prince Albert, tagged by the Big Boss Man.
And here comes the veteran of this team.
And the Boss Man will be a part of the Royal Rumble match
in ten days, as will Prince Albert and The Hardy Boyz.
-Oh, look out. -[thud]
Matt Hardy just returning on Raw this past Monday night
after a few weeks on the injured list,
courtesy of D-Generation X.
Uh-oh. Watch this. Boss Man off the ropes.
-[grunts] -Oh, man.
Speaking of DX, Triple H continues to try to repair his relationship
with The Outlaws and X-Pac.
[Lawler] Hey, look at this.
[Cole] Look out now, Boss Man's got Terri.
-What's Boss Man doing to Terri? -[Lawler] What?
[Cole] Take your hands off her, Boss Man. Oh, and Jeff Hardy from behind.
You all right?
[Cole] And Jeff Hardy getting to Terri in time,
getting the Boss Man from behind.
[Lawler] I'm thinking Boss Man was actually bringing her over here as a gift.
-[Cole] For who, you? -[Lawler] What?
Looked like it.
[Cole] She's not Boss Man's to give, King. Terri's with The Hardy Boyz.
-Never look a gift horse in the mouth. -Matt Hardy in a world of trouble.
-What a reversal by Matt. -[grunts]
-Oh, man. Oh, no. -[thud]
[Cole] Neckbreaker by Matt Hardy.
And Boss Man in trouble.
-One… -And, you know, the…
Matt Hardy calls that maneuver the twist of fate,
we understand, King.
-[Lawler] Who told you that? -[Cole] A little birdie.
[Lawler] Twist of fate?
[Cole] And Matt Hardy with a slap tag now to Jeff Hardy.
And Jeff goes to work on the Big Boss Man, dropkick,
knocking Boss Man back into the corner.
Oh, no. Look out, Prince Albert.
Nobody home! Prince Albert just steamrolled his partner, Boss Man.
[Lawler] Three hundred and seventy pounds, this dude's like a freight train.
[Cole] Double-team, Jeff Hardy across the chest of Prince Albert.
[Lawler] What do they call that?
[Cole] And to the other side. Boss Man just caught Jeff Hardy in midair,
-slams him to the mat. -[grunts]
A bicycle kick to Matt. Oh, and…
[Lawler] I think Boss Man calls that a fate worse than death.
[shouting]
[Cole] Uh-oh. Look out. Oh.
Boss Man and Prince Albert arguing. Jeff Hardy rolls up Boss Man from behind.
-[Lawler] Wait a minute! -And The Hardy Boyz pick up a huge win.
[Lawler] Now, that's what I call an upset.
[Cole] The Boss Man upset and cleaning the clocks for the Hardy Boyz,
but his issue may be with Prince Albert.
-[Lawler] Look at this! -Boss Man, Albert, exchanging blows.
[Cole] Boss Man and Prince Albert exchanging blows.
[Lawler] They've lost it.
[Cole] We've seen this brewing for the past few weeks
but we thought they had mended their ways.
[Lawler] Guys are all over each other. This is bad.
-Oh, look out. -Oh.
[Cole] And Boss Man clocking the referees.
Prince Albert going after the officials as well.
[Lawler] Never break up a fight between these two.
[indistinct shouting]
[Cole] Well, this tension has been brewing over the past few weeks.
[Lawler] Go over there, Michael, try to break it up.
[Cole] King, earlier tonight, Lilian Garcia caught up with The Big Show.
Well, Big Show, how do you feel about your tag team match tonight?
I gotta be quite honest with you,
I'm excited about tonight
because I've got my chance to get my hands on Triple H.
You know, I'm the only former WWE Champion
that's never gotten a rematch.
I also got my chance to get my hands on X-Pac,
who's running around telling everybody how he beat The Big Show.
Yet he forgets to tell everybody
how also DX was involved, and it took a chair.
So I've got scores to settle with those two.
And let's talk about my partner for tonight, The Rock.
You know, last Monday on Raw,
when all of us were standing around the ring,
supporting Rock, 'cause he's our spokesperson…
he's talking about himself
and how he's gonna win the Royal Rumble.
And he calls everybody a bunch of jabronis.
Well, I took that personal. I'm not a jabroni.
And as far as Rock winning the Royal Rumble,
you know, I think he's putting the wagon before the horse,
'cause I'm seven-foot-two, 500 pounds.
There is no way Rocky is gonna throw me over the top rope.
It's gonna be the other way around.
I'm gonna grab Rocky
and I'm gonna throw him into the seventh row.
But hey, let's talk about tonight.
Tonight, I'm a professional, so tonight I'm The Rock's partner,
and that's what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna be The Rock's partner.
But make no mistake about it, Lilian,
I don't like The Rock.
-Tori, Tori, oh, God. You got a sec? -Yeah.
I have something… sort of bad to tell you.
What? What? What? What could be so bad?
I think we can fix it, but let me tell you about it…
What?
[dramatic music playing]
[Lawler] What was that?
[Cole] I can tell you what's up with this.
It's Kurt Angle and Steve Blackman set for tag team action.
[Lawler] I know that, but what was Chyna wanting to talk to Tori about?
-[Cole] I don't know. -[announcer] …scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 482 pounds,
"The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman, and the only Olympic gold medalist
to grace the World Wrestling Entertainment ring
and the most celebrated real athlete in the WWE history,
Kurt Angle.
♪ You think you know me? ♪
[Cole] Well, these sometimes friends, sometimes foes,
Steve Blackman and Kurt Angle…
[announcer] And their opponents, at a combined weight of 455 pounds,
Christian and Edge.
[Lawler] I don't like this. Where are these guys?
Watch your back. They could come from anywhere.
Camera searching for Christian and Edge
in front of this capacity crowd, and they're all there
in Chicago for SmackDown.
This should be a great tag team battle.
Edge and Christian against Blackman and Angle.
The Royal Rumble comes your way live in just ten days
from the sold out Madison Square Garden in New York City.
1-800-Collect presents the Royal Rumble.
1-800-Collect, the easy way to save.
And, King, speaking of the Royal Rumble,
Edge and Christian, along with "The Lethal Weapon"
Steve Blackman, will be participants in the Royal Rumble match.
Three of the 30 Superstars in the Royal Rumble match.
Steve Blackman going to work on Edge, middle of the ring.
Huge tag team battles still to come tonight on SmackDown,
The Big Show and The Rock to take on Triple H and X-Pac.
[Lawler] What about what The Big Show said a while ago?
I mean, I don't think you could make a statement any plainer
than what he did when he said-- Oh!
"Make no mistake about it, I don't like The Rock."
[Cole] But, King, he also said that he's professional
and tonight, he is The Rock's tag team partner.
But The Big Show did take exception to the fact
that The Rock called him-- Oh, my. Called him one of the 29 jabronis
The Rock planned on throwing over the top rope during the Royal Rumble.
[Lawler] I knew that wasn't gonna sit well with the big guy.
[Cole] Meanwhile, I still can't figure out this whole Triple H, X-Pac attitude.
Triple H trying to repair damage done when his buddy, X-Pac,
roped him into a match with The Big Show and The Rock.
Cover now by Christian, two and a kick-out.
[Lawler] Like I said before, just, uh,
just being partners with The Game,
WWE Tag… er, WWE Champion, being his tag team partner,
that's an honor.
-[thud] -[Cole] Nice hip toss by Christian,
going to work on the undefeated Superstar, Kurt Angle.
Olympic gold medalist from the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.
Watch it, Kurt. Nobody home.
-Oh! -Christian right into that steel post.
Hey, hey, hey! [indistinct shouts]
[Cole] And Edge now into the ring.
Also later on tonight,
New Age Outlaws handicap match-- Oh, man!
Blackman dismantling Christian outside the ring
as Kurt Angle wisely distracted the referee.
Later on tonight, the Outlaws get a chance to take out Faarooq.
They took out Bradshaw earlier on in a handicap match-up.
[Lawler] Well, we've seen The Outlaws and let's see.
-[Cole] And Triple H, yeah. -Triple H, I have not seen X-Pac.
-Have you seen X-Pac today? -[Cole] That's a good point.
I haven't seen him either.
Kurt Angle in control of Christian,
tremendous suplex, hooks the leg.
Here's the cover now, there's two and a kick-out.
[referee] Two!
[Cole] And Kurt Angle, chin lock on Christian.
[Lawler] I understand Triple H is still looking for X-Pac, too.
[Cole] I'm sure Triple H wants to get together with X-Pac
to make sure they're on the same page
before they take on The Rock and Big Show later on tonight.
Christian trying to gain momentum, elbows to the midsection of Kurt Angle.
Nice reversal into the corner.
And Angle, I think he just hit his head on the back of Christian's head.
-[Lawler] That's not good. -[Cole] Nose first.
And Christian reverses-- Oh, look out. Oh, man.
Center of the ring.
[Lawler] Don't want one of those testy noses.
[Cole] And Christian needs to make a tag to his brother Edge.
We found out on Raw Monday night that Edge
is marrying Val Venis's sister.
Val and Edge are soon to be brother-in-laws.
And here's the tag to Steve Blackman, and here comes Edge.
-[Lawler] Brothers-in-law, you idiot. -[Cole] Oh, man.
Spinning heel kick up underneath the chin for Edge.
Who's cooking now?
Angle kicked off the apron.
And Blackman, oh, with that bicycle scissors kick
to the chest of Edge.
Nearly drove his foot clear through.
["Hello Ladies" playing]
[Lawler] What?
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Well, speak of the devil. -[Lawler] What's up with this now?
-Hello, Blackman. [laughs] -[Lawler] We're in the middle of a match.
You weren't planning on using weapons like this
on my future brother-in-law now, were you?
[laughs]
[Cole] Blackman distracted and Christian with a missile dropkick.
-[Lawler] Wait! -[Cole] Edge, he's got him covered.
-There's two. It's over. -[bell ringing]
Val Venis popping up on the Ovaltron, distracting The Lethal Weapon.
And Edge and Christian pick up the win.
[announcer] …Christian and Edge.
[Lawler] Wait a minute. That's very unsportsmanlike, Michael,
that distraction is not fair.
[Cole] Well, Kurt Angle is livid.
[Lawler] I guess so.
Well, he didn't lose, but I guess that sort of makes you…
close to a loser.
[Cole] Well, Kurt Angle's still undefeated.
He's still unpinned but he's…
Tori, I wanted to talk to you in private about this.
I haven't even told Miss Kitty about this because it's sort of embarrassing.
I mean, Chris Jericho is really crossing the line this time.
Oh, is he… is he okay?
-I mean, are you okay? -[gasps]
Oh, he's okay, Tori. He's a young, virile man, might I add.
Tell you the truth, I can't stand being around him most of the time.
But now, all he talks about is Tori, Tori,
-Tori, I mean… -Chris Jericho?
Yeah, this stupid fantasy he has about you
in a-- get this-- a flight attendant's uniform.
-The really short kind with no underwear. -Oh… Oh, God.
-How stupid is that? -Huh!
And, Tori, listen, he is disgusting.
All he talks about is how he could add some new positions to the Kama Sutra.
-It is disgusting. So gross. -Oh, God. Oh, well.
Oh, Tori, wait, wait, wait. Tori, though, if you tell Kane,
I know he's gonna wanna beat Chris up,
but maybe it should be a match or something,
-a non-title one, of course, but I mean… -Yeah.
Oh, this is insane…
[Lawler] Could you believe that?
[Cole] I can't believe what I just saw.
[Lawler] Poor Jericho.
[rock music playing]
[Cole] Where in the world is Cactus Jack going?
Oh, no. Cactus Jack climbing the ladder here.
This is not a ladder match.
Cactus Jack is climbing up on the giant Titantron.
Folks, I promise you, you won't see this anywhere but here in the WWE.
Cactus Jack is getting himself in position.
-It's… -[Lawler] Oh, no.
[Cole] Good grief. Right in the trash, right in the garbage!
There's Road Dogg and Billy Gunn, The New Age Outlaws,
with their adversaries in that dumpster.
Road Dogg and Billy.
Billy don't, wait a minute. Wait a minute!
Oh my gosh, don't you dare do that!
-[thuds] -[crowd gasping]
["Oh, You Didn't Know" playing]
♪ Oh, you didn't know? ♪
♪ Your ass better call somebody ♪
[Cole] Well, earlier on, The New Age Outlaws
-took on Bradshaw in a handicap match. -What's up, Chicago?
You'll get the pleasure one more time.
[Cole] Now, The New Age Outlaws are gonna take on Faarooq in a handicap match.
[Road Dogg] You about to watch us do it again.
[Lawler] So nice, we're gonna get to watch it twice. Ha!
[Cole] In ten days at the Royal Rumble,
The Outlaws take on The Acolytes for the Tag Team Titles on the line.
These two handicap matches
-set up by Triple H tonight. -Cut the music!
[music stops]
Chicago,
let's see if we can make a little noise up in this…
[Cole] Wait a minute, it's Faarooq.
Faarooq, getting to the ring to start this one off quickly.
-[Lawler] What is he doing? -The Outlaws quickly on top of Faarooq.
He tried a sneak attack, a surprise attack.
Handicap match, No Disqualification,
and keep in mind, King,
Bradshaw cannot interfere in this match-up.
If he does, The Acolytes will forfeit their title match in the Rumble.
I guess Faarooq figured his only chance, after what he saw happen to Bradshaw,
thought his only chance was to rush these guys.
What a slam by Faarooq.
Here comes Road Dogg. He's gonna take him on as well.
-What strength by Faarooq. -[blabbering]
Hey, King, listen to this. We understand that,
that Kane has demanded
and has been granted a match with Chris Jericho
-here tonight on SmackDown. -[grunts]
[Lawler] How do you think that came about?
You don't think Tori just happened to run at the speed of light back
to Kane's locker room, do you?
[Cole] Before we went to break, we saw Chyna…
Oh, double shoulder by Faarooq.
We saw Chyna setting up Chris Jericho, it seemed like.
Telling Tori that Jericho has been fantasizing about her,
and I'm sure that Tori ran to her boyfriend to tell him about it.
[Lawler] Just like a woman, isn't it?
[Cole] So Kane has demanded and will get a match-up
against Chris Jericho later on tonight on SmackDown.
And The Outlaws are cooking against Faarooq.
Oh, knee to the sternum. Hook to the leg.
Double cover now. There's two.
-And it's over. -[bell rings]
[Cole] The New Age Outlaws made quick work of Faarooq.
[announcer] Here are your winners, The New Age Outlaws.
[Lawler] Well, he's got-- Oh, look out now.
[Cole] Bradshaw, Bradshaw, with a threat in his hand.
And Bradshaw going after The Outlaws.
[Lawler] Got some sort of pipe or something.
[Cole] Keep in mind, Triple H said Bradshaw
couldn't interfere during the match, but the match-up's over now, King.
And I'll tell you, The Outlaws are gonna be in
for a world of trouble in ten days
when they take on The Acolytes at the Royal Rumble.
-That was great. -How about that?
-Two for two. -Very good.
-Two for two. -Acolytes don't stand a chance
-at the Rumble. -Oh, not a chance.
-They may back out after that. [laughs] -All right.
-Might not show up. -Yeah.
Have you guys seen X-Pac?
Yeah, where is he? We can't find him anywhere.
Well, if you've noticed, we've been kind of busy.
[funky music playing]
[Cole] Well, they still can't find X-Pac, King.
And Triple H and X-Pac, later on tonight,
are supposed to take on The Rock and The Big Show.
[Lawler] I'm gonna tell you, I don't really have a good feeling about the fact
that X-Pac is nowhere to be found right now.
[Cole] I think… I think I got a good feeling about this.
[Lawler] Oh, yeah! Hey, it's The Godfather and D'Lo.
[Cole] The Godfather and D'Lo Brown having a good time.
And here come the ladies.
[Lawler] Whoo-hoo! The Godfather's lovely ladies.
Well, The Godfather and D'Lo Brown set for tag team action.
[announcer] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 588 pounds,
D'Lo Brown and The Godfather.
[Cole] You know, D'Lo has got a hat now, cigar, vest.
-Looking good, ain't he? -[Lawler] Yeah.
And D'Lo and The Godfather look like they have [indistinct]
the finest ladies to ever walk the streets of Chicago.
[laughs] Hello!
[Cole] Capacity crowd on its feet at the Allstate Arena in Chicago
for what's been a wild ride already tonight on SmackDown.
And we still got "The Big Red Machine" Kane
going one-on-one against "Y2J" Chris Jericho
and The Rock and Big Show taking on Triple H and X-Pac.
[hard rock music playing]
[Lawler] I'm gonna tell you something…
Jericho's fixing to get the short end of the stick on this deal.
[announcer] And their opponents, at a combined weight of 492 pounds,
Mosh and Thrasher, The Headbangers.
[Cole] Well, they love to express themselves.
They live an alternate lifestyle.
-Mosh and… wait a minute. -[man] The mood is about to change.
Survive.
Who can stop the path of rage?
[Lawler] What'd they say?
[Cole] It said something about the mood is about to change.
[hard rock music playing]
[Lawler] You should know that, just check your mood ring.
[Cole] Well, The Headbangers set for tag team action
against The Godfather and D'Lo Brown.
You were talking about Chris Jericho getting…
-Hey. -Wait.
Man, what is going on with you guys?
Man, one week, you dress like women, you got skirts on there.
I got to know, man.
What… what's going on in your minds, man?
Are you guys all there?
[Lawler] I can answer that for him. No.
The problem's not with what we're wearing.
The problem's with you, it's 'cause you're a little upset
that we look a whole lot better than your trolls do.
[Lawler] Trolls?
So, why don't you get your trolls out so we can get funky in here?
[Lawler] Trolls?
The Godfather's ladies. Ooh, look at that dress.
So, The Headbangers are ready for tag team action
against The Godfather and D'Lo Brown.
You made that point before about-- Look at Mosh from behind…
-[bell ringing] -…going to work on D'Lo Brown.
You made the point before about "Y2J" Chris Jericho
perhaps getting the end of the stick,
his short end of the stick in his match-up
against "The Big Red Machine" later on tonight.
[Lawler] Right.
I don't… I just think that… oh.
-[Cole] Crossbody. -[Lawler] Trying to set him up.
[Cole] Well, trying to set him up, it's pretty plain to see that.
-[Lawler] Look at… -[Cole] Heel kick to the chin by D'Lo.
[Lawler] Chyna sets him up and you know that Kane will knock him down.
Poor old Jericho might stay down after that.
[Cole] That's The Godfather going to work on Mosh.
Godfather, D'Lo and both Headbangers
will be a part of the Royal Rumble match
at the Royal Rumble itself, just ten days away.
Here comes Thrasher.
Godfather taking exemption to the fact that Mosh called his ladies trolls.
And The Godfather loves to have fun, he's just a fun-loving guy.
Always entertaining.
[Lawler] How many girls are over there anyway?
One, two, three-- Wow! Four, five, six, seven.
Whoa. Can you handle this by yourself, Michael? I need to…
[Cole] Oh! Leg drop by The Godfather across the sternum of Thrasher.
And here comes D'Lo.
[Lawler] Think they have business cards?
Could I go get some numbers or something?
[Cole] Double-team by The Godfather and D'Lo, Thrasher off the ropes.
Double kick to the midsection.
-[Lawler] Here we go. Oh! -[Cole] Oh, look at this.
Triple H and X-Pac.
If Triple H can locate his friend X-Pac,
gonna take on The Rock and Big Show.
[Lawler] What is the deal with X-Pac?
[Cole] I don't know. I have no idea. He hasn't been seen all day.
Triple H can't find him.
Triple H has set X-Pac into a tag team match
to take on The Big Show and The Rock later on this evening.
And, King, speaking of The Big Show and The Rock,
we understand that both of those gentlemen,
who will be tag team partners tonight,
are standing by and we're gonna have a…
an exclusive interview with The Rock
and Big Show coming up immediately following this match-up.
And Mosh poking fun at D'Lo Brown.
Gonna be interesting to see what The Rock and Big Show have to say.
They've exchanged barbs throughout the evening.
And Mosh whipping D'Lo across the ring.
Nobody home for Mosh.
[Lawler] Mosh has got that skirt on and I think I've seen a smiley face.
It is a smiley face!
[Cole] Both men are down and out and D'Lo Brown
needs to make a tag to The Godfather.
[Lawler] Where do you get boxer shorts like that?
[Cole] Godfather cheering D'Lo Brown on, along with his ladies.
Never seen anything like it.
-Mosh… -[Lawler] Oh.
[Cole] Oh, man.
-[Lawler] Here we go. -[Cole] Look at The Godfather,
-big right-hands to Mosh and Thrasher. -[grunts]
Godfather scooping him up.
-Look out. -Oh.
Godfather knocking Mosh over the top rope.
Uh-oh.
[Lawler] I think I see it coming.
We're gonna go for a little train ride.
[Cole] And The Godfather setting them up. It's train time.
-Oh, man. -[Lawler] Oh, yes.
[Cole] And D'Lo Brown tagged in.
Thrasher's in trouble.
-D'Lo, top rope. Wow. -[Lawler] Oh, down.
[Cole] D'Lo caught him. Hook to the leg. It's over.
-[bell rings] -Godfather and D'Lo pick up the win.
[Lawler] And it's party time in the Windy City.
[announcer] Here are your winners, D'Lo Brown and The Godfather.
[Cole] So, The Godfather and D'Lo celebrating this win
over Mosh and Thrasher, The Headbangers, and here come the ladies.
Standing by, the Coach with The Rock and Big Show.
To be a great tag team, you have to have great coordination.
Gentlemen, what about it?
Well, The Rock says--
Listen, I don't give a damn about what The Rock has to say.
I told everybody before
and now I'm telling you straight to your face, Rock,
I don't like you.
The only thing I need you to do tonight is to be my partner,
stand on the ring apron, raise your pretty little eyebrow
and stay out of my way.
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[chanting getting louder] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[chanting continues]
The Rock says at Royal Rumble, The Big Show, he's a worthy opponent.
The Big Show, former WWE Champion,
but there is something that The Big Show is not,
and he will never be, and that is The People's Champion.
[crowd cheering]
Tonight, in Chicago, The Rock says Triple H, X-Pac,
he's an equal opportunist.
Triple H, you get the back of The Rock's hand.
X-Pac, you get the front.
So The Rock can layeth the smacketh down
on your candy asses.
If you smell what The Rock…
[audience] …is cooking.
…is cooking.
[rock music playing]
[Cole] There he is. He's a legend in his own time.
He is the King of Hardcore.
[Lawler] Cactus Jack, two men versus one in the handicap match.
But you got to wonder, with a reputation like Cactus Jack,
in this environment, who's… who has the handicap?
Oh, man.
[indistinct]
[Lawler] Well, this goes anywhere in the building, use anything you want,
anything you get your hands on.
-[Cole] Oh no. -[Lawler] Oh my God.
That's… oh.
-[Lawler] That idiot, Cactus Jack. -[Cole] He loves this, JR.
You know he does. Cactus…
-[Lawler] What? -[Cole] Yes. Yes.
-[thud] -Cactus Jack.
Cactus Jack, the King of Hardcore!
-[explosion] -Oh!
[Cole] We are back on SmackDown
on a night where we have seen the return of Cactus Jack.
We're about to see the "Big Red Machine" Kane
go one-on-one with "Y2J" Chris Jericho.
Kane is lovesick, blind with passion for his girlfriend Tori.
And as we've seen on a number of occasions, King,
Kane will do anything for Tori.
[Lawler] And Tori just has not been the same Tori that we knew
and, uh, some of us loved, since Christmas.
I mean, since she spent the holidays with X-Pac,
she came back a changed woman
and… even though X-Pac was a perfect gentleman throughout that…
throughout the holidays, it's just… it's just, Tori's been different.
[Cole] Well, all this… all this boils down to, King,
is Chyna set Chris Jericho up.
Chyna told Tori that Chris Jericho has been fantasizing about her,
and, of course, Tori ran and told her boyfriend about it.
Hence, this match-up, Jericho versus Kane.
Non-title, mind you.
[Lawler] I hate to agree with you, but you're right.
-[explosion] -[Lawler] Oh!
[Cole] "Y2J" Chris Jericho set to go one-on-one with Kane.
[rock music playing]
♪ For those about to rock ♪
♪ I'm what you want ♪
♪ Baby, you know you're Judas And I'm your priest ♪
[Cole] The first time in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment,
we have Co-Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho and Chyna.
King, this is the building Y2J made his debut in this past summer.
[Lawler] I know and I remember it. I'll never forget it.
Kane, first of all, I have no problems wrestling you,
but I realize that Tori is your girlfriend
and you believe everything she says.
-But in this case, she's a liar. -[Lawler] What?
I mean, well, I don't mean she's a liar. What I mean is, this is all Chyna's doing.
I saw what she was pulling on the monitor.
She's trying to cause trouble between us.
I don't want that.
Believe me, from the bottom of my heart
when I tell you there is nothing
even remotely attractive about Tori to me.
No, no, no. I don't… I don't mean that. I don't mean that.
She's just not my type.
I like prettier girls. I mean, no…
-[Lawler] Oh my gosh. -She's not that ugly but…
-[Lawler] Oh boy. Stop, please, stop. -What I'm trying to say is,
I like girls with a little bit more intelligence.
I mean, no, not that she's stupid, but, Kane, what…
-[Lawler] Open mouth, insert foot. -[Cole] Yeah, insert Kane's foot.
…a lunatic, psycho…
[Cole] Well, Kane's had enough
and "Y2J" Chris Jericho is fighting for his life here.
And here we go. Non-title match-up.
Jericho and Kane, Jericho went straight into that one, the backbreaker.
-Kane will be, as Chyna and Kat-- -[Lawler] Look. Look at this. Look!
-[grunts] -Chyna's loving it!
[Cole] Yeah, Chyna laughing along with Kat.
Chyna set up Chris Jericho.
[Lawler] Oh my gosh. Oh!
[Cole] Kane whipped across the ring into the turnbuckle
and Jericho battling back with everything he's got.
[groans]
You know, King, Kane will be a part of the 30-man Royal Rumble match
in ten days from Madison Square Garden.
And the "Big Red Machine" may very well win
that Royal Rumble match in ten days.
[Lawler] Oh, man.
Well, you know, this is all a retaliation from Monday night on the part of Chyna.
[Cole] Yeah, when Chris Jericho refused to tag into that tag team match.
Kane, top rope.
Oh!
Three hundred twenty-five pounds slamming into "Y2J,"
and Jericho may be out cold.
[Lawler] Good thing this is a non-title match.
Of course, trying to make sure that--
Look at this!
[Cole] Nobody home.
Kane missed, Jericho ducked underneath him.
And Chyna made sure it's a non-title match.
She, of course, is co-holder of the Intercontinental Title.
If Jericho went into this thing and lost,
Chyna would lose the championship as well.
[Lawler] Boy, Jericho, I can't believe…
What were some of the things he said on the way?
That somebody'd have to be retarded to find Tori good looking?
[grunts]
Or he likes prettier girls than Tori?
[Cole] Jericho hanging Kane up on the top rope.
-Jericho flies. -[thud]
Nice maneuver, off the top rope,
kick to the side of the head of the "Big Red Machine" Kane.
Kane slowly back up, nobody home for the baseball slide.
And what a right-hand by Kane, flattening Jericho.
Talking about Kane in the Royal Rumble match,
we know The Rock and Big Show are gonna be in the Royal Rumble match as well.
[Lawler] Boy, Rock and The Big Show, both totally determined
to win the Royal Rumble.
They're forgetting about a guy like Kane, aren't they?
[Cole] Well, yeah, they are. And you know, Rock… oh, look at this.
Steel steps from Kane.
Nobody home. Steps into the post.
Jericho trying to use his quickness, and he does.
Nice leg sweep. Into the steel steps, Kane goes face-first.
Rock and Big Show will team up later on tonight.
In fact, that'll be next folks, against Triple H and X-Pac.
Don't forget, The Big Show said, "I don't like The Rock."
But he said he's gonna be professional about this match-up.
Missile dropkick, top rope.
The Big Man is knocked down.
And look at… look at Jericho.
Jericho is going for the walls of Jericho and Kane.
Can he get the big man over, King?
[Lawler] I'll bet Chyna can't believe this.
[Cole] This is a submission maneuver.
-If Jericho can get him over… -[Lawler] Speaking of Chyna,
look who's here.
[Lawler] Chyna, all smiles, along with The Kat.
[Cole] Jericho's Co-Intercontinental Champion.
And here's Kane.
The distraction got Jericho in trouble.
-[King] Oh! -[Cole] Chokeslam.
Jericho is going for the walls of Jericho.
Chyna distracted him,
and Kane with a chokeslam.
[mouthing]
[Lawler] Look at The Kat.
They're loving this.
Which one of these women is worse, Tori or Chyna? Oh, no.
[Cole] Tombstone piledriver.
Forget about it.
Kane wins the non-title match-up, and Chyna looks…
-doesn't look the least bit concerned. -[announcer] Here is your winner,
-Kane! -[Lawler] Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!
What?
And she's grabbing the Intercontinental Title belt.
[Cole] The Kat just catnapped the Intercontinental Title belt.
[Lawler] Catnapped?
[Cole] Well, not really a catnap, it belongs to Chyna as well.
[Cole] Look at Kane.
[Lawler] At least he's avenged the honor of Tori.
[Cole] He may have done that, but Jericho,
the victim of a set-up by his co-champion, by Chyna.
-[Lawler] Unbelievable. -Hey.
-[Lawler] Hey, there's X-Pac. -I'm sorry.
I can only say it so many times, right? We're sorry for this whole thing.
I'm sorry, too.
[laughs]
I don't want to hear that.
-You know, maybe-- -I am sorry.
You know, you and I…
-Come on, man. -I mean, I can go with that,
you, but just not her.
You got to have faith in the deal, all right?
Hey, this has worked out for The Outlaws. We're making good on this whole thing.
Yeah, The Outlaws are doing great, two-on-one.
Pshh! What about me?
It's the same stuff as before,
Big Show, Rock, go out there with X-Pac,
-get the crap kicked out, you know. -No.
But you're together.
We're together. You've got to trust me on this.
Trust us.
Trust me, all right?
Just trust me.
You know you can do that.
[Cole] Triple H, X-Pac, Rock, Big Show next.
[narrator] And now, the WWE slam-of-the-week
presented by 1-800-Collect, the easy way to save.
-[Lawler] Oh, no. -[crowd cheering]
Triple H!
Wait a minute.
-I'm right here! -[thud]
-[Ross] My God. -[Cole] Look out.
[Lawler] That's it.
[Ross] Triple H has Pedigreed Mick Foley right through our table to the concrete.
For God's sake, stop it.
♪ Are you ready? ♪
[Cole] King, did that Pedigree to Mankind from Triple H
snap Mick Foley into the realm of Cactus Jack?
[Lawler] You think that's what to blame?
♪ You think that you're better? ♪
♪ Well, you better get ready ♪
♪ Bow to the masters ♪
♪ Break it down ♪
[Cole] And here you'll notice that they're playing the DX music.
-[Lawler] Right. -[Cole] Perhaps as a show of unity.
Triple H asking X-Pac to trust him in this match-up.
Triple H and X-Pac set to take on The Rock and The Big Show,
but will Triple H be completely focused on this match, King,
knowing that in ten days, a week from this coming Sunday
at Madison Square Garden,
Triple H puts the title on the line against Cactus Jack?
[announcer] The following tag team match is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, being accompanied
by Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley,
at a combined weight of 482 pounds, X-Pac,
and the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, Triple H.
[Cole] Well, X-Pac will be a part of the Royal Rumble match itself
with 29 other Superstars
a week from this coming Sunday at the Royal Rumble.
This match was set up by Triple H earlier on tonight
as a way to repair his damaged relationship
with his DX brethren, his buddy, X-Pac.
[Lawler] And you remember what Triple H said? "Just trust me."
[Cole] We have to believe that the McMahon-Helmsley era
has got to have something up its sleeve.
-It always seems that it does. -[Lawler] No, wait.
You don't, you don't have to start being cynical.
[Cole] I'm not being cynical.
[Lawler] Yeah, you said they got something up their sleeve,
I mean, you know, you see a glass, it's always half empty.
[Cole] I said perhaps.
[Triple H] Now, uh…
let me make a guess there, butterball,
who's gonna walk through there next.
I got a feeling I know, because, uh…
the way I see it,
there's no way that The Rock is gonna walk out here next,
'cause with an ego as big as his, he's got to come down last.
He's got to make the big impression, get the big pop, right?
[Cole] Grand entrance.
So, let me see…
that leaves the man
that The Rock called a jabroni.
-[Lawler] Uh-oh. -[Cole] Oh, boy.
[rock music playing]
[Cole] Triple H is doing it, folks.
Here comes the former WWE Champion.
-[Lawler] Let me think. The big jabroni! -[announcer] And their opponents…
introducing first, making his way to the ring,
he weighs in at 500 pounds,
The Big Show!
[Cole] King, I wouldn't say that too loud if I were you,
and, uh, Triple H wisely ducks out of the ring.
You know, Big Show cannot wait to get his hands on Triple H.
Big Show has never been granted a rematch
after Triple H defeated him for the championship.
[Lawler] Well, I'm sure that day would have come because The Game…
-[explosion] -Oh, man!
Scared the crap out of me.
[rock music fades]
♪ If you smell ♪
♪ What The Rock is cooking ♪
Uh-oh.
[announcer] And his tag team partner,
from Miami, Florida,
weighing in at 275 pounds,
The Rock!
[Cole] The Allstate Arena is coming unglued, King!
[Lawler] I can't hear. Are you talking?
[Cole] They're on their feet in Chicago
for the most electrifying man in Sports Entertainment today,
The Rock!
[Lawler] This is unbelievable. Listen to this!
[Cole] The Rock, along with The Big Show
heading to Madison Square Garden
in ten days for the Royal Rumble.
Both men, teammates tonight, will be opponents
in the Royal Rumble match itself in ten days at the Royal Rumble.
[Lawler] Hey, look at The Big Show, he's all over The Rock.
I think The Big Show is telling Rock he'll start.
The Rock don't…The Rock don't take orders from nobody.
[Cole] Well, the question is, King, how in the world are The Rock and Big Show
gonna be able to team up in this match?
You heard The Big Show earlier on, say, "Bottom line,
I don't like you, Rock. I don't like you at all."
-That's what The Big Show said. -[Lawler] Okay.
Bottom line is we're about to find out.
Anything can happen here in the WWE.
[Cole] So, you got Triple H and X-Pac, two best of friends on one side
with a strained relationship in recent weeks.
On the other side, you got two assertive personalities,
The Big Show and The Rock.
Can they get along?
We're gonna find out.
Big Show, 7'2", 500 pounds,
pounding away on the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion.
[grunts]
[Lawler] And there you see, there's The Game right there.
-[Cole] Oh, what a headbutt. -[Lawler] Mistake, mistake.
[Cole] It was Triple H who single-handedly defeated The Big Show
to win the WWE Title with The Big Show upset
that he never got a rematch.
[Lawler] That's just probably bad negotiations.
I think probably Big Show should get a better agent.
[Cole] Now, look at this. Triple H taking the sidewalk slam by The Big Show.
Man.
-[Lawler] But, you know, The Game caught-- -[Cole] Hey!
Rock went for a tag and The Big Show refused to tag him.
[Lawler] Huh? Well, you know, Triple H called it.
Oh! He said that The Rock would have to make the grand entrance.
Save the best for last. Look at that!
[Cole] Well, X-Pac tried to make a grand entrance as well,
shuffled in the corner, and there's a DX sandwich
-and the bread is The Big Show. -[Lawler] Yo!
-Oh, man. -[thud]
[Cole] A biel out of the corner,
and Triple H gets one as well from the 7'2", 500-pound Big Show.
And Rock is demanding a tag, King.
[Lawler] He wants to get in there and lay a SmackDown himself.
-[Cole] Triple H off the rope. Oh! -[Lawler] Oh.
[Cole] Facebuster. Now, tag.
And the champ now, The Game, walks right into a--
And what a strike! What a slam by The Big Show.
-[Lawler] Wait a minute. -Ahh!
[Cole] And The Big Show saying this one's over
and Rock just tagged himself in.
The Rock said enough of this, I want in this match.
[Lawler] The referee saw it.
The Big Show raised that big huge hand up in the air and The Rock tagged it.
[Cole] And The Rock with a right-hand and Triple H in another one.
And here comes X-Pac. And The Brahma Bull is cooking.
-[Lawler] Oh! -[thud]
[Cole] The Rock and Big Show, two huge, assertive personalities.
And X-Pac over the top rope. Here comes The Rock.
-[Lawler] Oh, no. -[Cole] Triple H stepped right into it.
[Lawler] I can't believe that The Rock is manhandling the WWE Champion,
he owns Triple H right now.
Michael, I think we're about to see it.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Here it comes now.
X-Pac with a steel chair to the back of The Rock
and the referee never saw it.
Right into the back of the head, King, of The Rock.
[Lawler] He's out. Rock's out.
[Cole] And Triple H with a clothesline.
And The Game, now, coming to play.
[Lawler] It put a huge smile on the face of Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
[Cole] Well, if there are any doubts that X-Pac and Triple H
would work together, it's been settled. DX will work together in this one
against The Rock and The Big Show.
[Lawler] Now, look at this.
[Cole] Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley looks on, enjoying it.
[crowd chants: "Rocky"]
It was an X-Pac steel chair to the head of The Rock
that smacked up… Oh! Champion down!
And The Rock counters the bronco buster with a clothesline.
-[Lawler] I can't believe it! -[Cole] And what a heel kick,
spinning heel kick. Here's the cover.
[Lawler] Hook to the leg. X-Pac may have him.
-No! -[Cole] And shoulder up by The Rock.
Boy, X-Pac was less than a second away from getting the win over The Rock.
And here comes Triple H, the WWE Champion,
who in ten days at the Rumble has to take on Cactus Jack
with the title on the line in a street fight.
[Lawler] Michael, you have to agree that the continuity
and the confidence is growing minute by minute with Triple H and X-Pac.
[Cole] I just said that if there was any doubt they'd work together,
it's been settled.
Triple H and X-Pac working like a well-oiled team.
And the champion choking The People's Champion, The Rock.
[Lawler] It was a perfect well-oiled choke.
[Cole] Well, The Rock really needs to make a tag here as he tries to battle back.
Exchanging blows with The Game.
[crowd cheering]
Reversal, Rock off the ropes,
ducks underneath the right-hand by Triple H.
They both knocked each other down.
[Lawler] Oh my gosh.
Now what? Stephanie, do something.
[Cole] I can tell you "now what," Rock needs to tag The Big Show,
Triple H needs to tag X-Pac.
Well, The Rock and Triple H are out in the middle of the ring.
As this crowd, this capacity crowd, starts to chant The Rock's name.
[Lawler] Put your arm in there, X-Pac, reach in there.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] Can you imagine what the atmosphere like,
is gonna be like, King, at the Garden in ten days?
Wait a minute. The Rock went for the tag but The Big Show,
it looks like he was distracted by X-Pac.
[Cole] Well, he went to meet X-Pac in the corner down there.
Rock was close to getting the tag, The Big Show wasn't there.
And here comes X-Pac now.
-[Lawler] Oh. -[thud]
[Cole] Continuity between DX but no such continuity
between The Big Show and The Rock.
[Lawler] Bad break for The Rock.
[Cole] We wondered aloud at how The Rock and Big Show
would get along as tag team partners,
and it hasn't been so great so far.
-What a kick by X-Pac. -[Lawler] Wow.
[Cole] To the side of the head of The Rock.
Big Show well-rested, The Rock needs to make a tag
as Triple H comes back in in the ring.
-[Lawler] Oh, man. -[Cole] Suplex to The Rock.
Cover center of the ring, hook to the leg. There's two and The Rock kicks out again.
[Lawler] Look at The Big Show starting to get a little disgusted,
he wants in there bad.
[Cole] The Rock doesn't look like he has much left, King.
-He really needs to get to his corner. -[Lawler] Uh-oh.
Right-hand by The Rock,
trying to battle back, desperately, The Brahma Bull.
[Lawler] Well, just when you think The Rock is down,
he'll come back, lay the SmackDown on you. Look at this.
-What'd I tell ya? -[Cole] DDT by The Rock to the champion.
-Whoo! -[Cole] Let me tell you something.
The Game is in trouble right now. The Game needs to make a tag.
The Rock, though, needs to make a tag as well, King.
But The Game is a lot closer to his partner, X-Pac,
than The Rock is to The Big Show.
Big Show screaming to The Brahma Bull,
trying to give him encouragement to make the tag.
[Lawler] Stephanie screaming to her husband, Triple H.
[Cole] Rock with a dazed look in his eyes.
His eyes are glassy.
Can he make it to his partner, The Big Show?
-[Lawler] I think he is gonna. -[Cole] The Rock's there. Wait a minute.
The Big Show just dissed The Rock.
-[Lawler] What? -[Cole] I can't believe it.
The Big Show said he was gonna be professional about it, King.
[Lawler] This has gotten really personal.
-This is more personal than I thought. -[Cole] Oh. Triple H with a low blow.
Referee was distracted, never saw it.
Setting up The Rock now,
Pedigree time for The Brahma Bull and it connected.
And Big Show has left The Rock high and dry and this one is over.
[bell ringing]
[Lawler] You don't call that guy a big jabroni and get away with it.
[announcer] Here are your winners, X-Pac and Triple H.
[Cole] This is extremely personal between The Rock and Big Show.
The Show refused to tag The Rock.
He pulled his arm away.
Triple H capitalized, delivering the Pedigree to The People's Champion.
Oh, no, look out, Big Show in the ring.
Rock, Rock, baby, go in for the right hand.
The Show about to present an exclamation point
to The People's Champion, chokeslam to The Rock.
The Big Show had something to prove!
It's a personal issue with The Rock.
The Big Show upset that The Rock called him a jabroni.
Oh, my!
What's gonna happen on Raw?
Will The Big Show and The Rock explode? him a jabroni.