[indistinct transmission]
[gentle electronic music playing]
[low growling]
[music fades]
[dramatic music playing]
[McMahon] It's time to shake up Raw…
time to shake up SmackDown,
time to shake up the entire World Wrestling Entertainment brand,
and by God, the shakeup begins right here tonight.
I've hired two new general managers.
One general manager for Raw,
another general manager for SmackDown.
Allow me to introduce you to the new general manager of Raw…
[dramatic music playing]
…Eric Bischoff!
[Lawler] I cannot believe this.
[Ross] I am at a complete loss. This is so surreal.
[Bischoff] I am here to put the E in WWE.
And we're gonna kick it off this Sunday at Vengeance,
because it's not going to be the NWO that signs Triple H,
that would be me.
[Ross] And there's a lot of mixed reactions, I'll tell you,
about the fact that Eric Bischoff is our new boss here on Raw.
[Lawler] Some of these guys wish he would get the F out already.
Listen, Rock.
Don't know if you're watching Raw. Hopefully, but if you haven't heard,
Vince McMahon has made me the new general manager for Raw.
I am a huge fan.
I mean, a huge fan,
and I really believe that Raw needs The Rock.
I hate leaving messages, so I'm really looking forward
to talking to you Thursday at SmackDown.
Maybe we can get some business done. See you there.
[Ross] What the hell is this about? Can he do that?
[Lawler] He's raiding SmackDown.
[dramatic musical sting]
["The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson playing]
♪ The beautiful people ♪
[song distorts]
[Manson vocalizes]
♪ The beautiful people The beautiful people ♪
♪ Hey you, what do you see? ♪
♪ Something beautiful or something free? ♪
♪ Hey you, are you trying to be mean? ♪
♪ If you live with apes, man It's hard to be clean ♪
[glass shattering]
[popping explosions]
[Manson vocalizes]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We are just 72 hours away,
three days from Vengeance on pay-per-view,
but the question tonight,
who is the new general manager of SmackDown?
We're sold out in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
at the First Union Arena.
And what a main event!
[Tazz] The Rock will go against Kurt Angle tonight
in the main event on SmackDown.
[Cole] And also tonight,
the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment,
Mr. McMahon, will introduce us all
to the new general manager for SmackDown here tonight.
-[countdown droning] -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Hey, you know what, Cole? Tomorrow is Ozzfest.
-[Cole] Yeah. -And you know,
Jericho has got ties to that band Fozzy.
Could you imagine
if Jericho were to bump into or run into Ozzy Osbourne?
[Cole] Listen to this, good tickets available
in the New York City area for Ozzfest Saturday
at the PNC Bank Arts Center.
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring, from Winnipeg, Manitoba,
weighing in at 227 pounds, Chris Jericho!
[Cole] And as we mentioned,
speculation running rampant over who will be in charge of SmackDown.
And standing by outside,
awaiting the arrival of the new general manager is Marc Lloyd.
Well, Michael, on Monday,
we found out that Eric Bischoff is the new general manager on Raw.
So, tonight, we anxiously await the arrival
of the new general manager here on SmackDown.
Who is it?
Well, we're about to find out.
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[Cole] Who do you think it is, Tazz?
[Tazz] I've been snooping around, talking to my people all day,
I can't find out.
I don't know. I'm pumped up to find out.
At least it ain't going to be Eric Bischoff.
[Cole] Chris Jericho demanded this match against the rookie tonight.
[announcer] And from Boston, Mass, weighing in at 249 pounds,
John Cena!
[Cole] The young up-and-comer John Cena teaming with The Undertaker
against Chris Jericho and Kurt Angle in tag action last week.
And Cena, the young upstart, surprising Chris Jericho.
Jericho was embarrassed and humiliated
when he lost to the rookie in the tag matchup.
[Tazz] He lost to the rookie with an Oklahoma Roll but The Undertaker…
-[bell ringing] -[Tazz] …cost that match.
Undertaker blasting Jericho with a soup bone and Y2J capitalized.
-[Cole] Yeah, Chris Jericho was not done. -[bell ringing]
As we mentioned, embarrassed and humiliated,
Jericho beat the hell out of the rookie, John Cena.
And Jericho is so angry
that he wants to get the job done here tonight against the rookie, Cena,
to teach the rookie a lesson as we kick off SmackDown.
[no audible dialogue]
[Cole] And the trash talking has begun.
[Tazz] Oh, Jericho is the master at talking trash.
-But one-- -Cena ain't impressed.
-But one thing we had-- Uh-oh. -[Tazz] Oh.
-There's a slap by Jericho to Cena. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] Cena slapping Jericho a couple of weeks back,
and the rookie wasting little time, getting things started against Jericho.
[Tazz] Jericho, I spoke to him earlier today, Cole, and…
Oh!
…and of course, Jericho seething to get his hands on Cena.
Couldn't wait for this match.
[Cole] Jericho up…
Oh, and a [indistinct] spinebuster by Cena.
Quickly into the cover, hook of the leg, Jericho with the shoulder up.
And John Cena hopes tonight's the night to make it two in a row
against Chris Jericho.
[Tazz] That's easier said than done.
Jericho the first ever Undisputed Champion! Uh-oh.
[Cole] John Cena up over the top
and there is the veteran poise of Chris Jericho,
as he looks to take control of the rookie, Cena, in this matchup.
There's no denying though, Tazz, how…
Oh, wow!
…how impressive John Cena has been here in recent weeks.
[Tazz] John Cena has been more than impressive.
He's been opening up some eyes around here in the WWE and on SmackDown especially,
and Jericho has got a point to prove.
Jericho's hot at this kid and he wants to hurt him and beat him,
maybe not in that order.
[Cole] Well, Chris Jericho,
as we've mentioned it a number of times here,
embarrassed and humiliated
by the fact that Cena pinned him in a tag match last week.
[Tazz] But you can't f--
-Oh. -[Cole] A [indistinct] by John Cena.
[Tazz] Well, thanks to The Undertaker, and Undertaker teamed with Cena
because The Undertaker respects Cena.
[Cole] And Cena with the forearms to Chris Jericho,
and the rookie taking it to the veteran here in this matchup tonight.
Cena knocking Jericho down, forearm to the forehead,
and look out, Jericho in trouble with a suplex by Cena.
Cena into the cover, hooks the outside leg,
may have him-- And a kickout by Jericho.
[Tazz] Jericho landed really high on that German.
[Cole] Here is the reversal, Cena whipped into the corner,
and Jericho went for the clothesline and Cena ducked underneath it.
And there's the belly-to-belly as he plants Jericho.
Cover again, and again, Jericho with the shoulder up.
[Tazz] That's what I like about John Cena, he's relentless.
He keeps going for pin covers, and that's how you win matches.
[Cole] Oh, look at this, Jericho rolls Cena up
and perhaps into the Walls of Jericho.
John Cena battling,
trying to prevent from being rolled over-- And a stomach and a great counter.
[Tazz] I'm telling you, Cole, Jericho has got Cena on the brain.
[Cole] Oh, Jericho is flustered! Off the DDT.
Cover by Cena, and Jericho just gets the shoulder up.
Jericho has been consumed with this rookie.
And the fact that Cena defeated Jericho last week,
and may have the number again this week with Jericho, prevents…
Oh, look out, lionsault.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Cena moves out of the way.
-Could this be Cena's night again? -[Tazz] Oh, look at this.
[Cole] Jericho rolls up, he's got him. No, Jericho just, just kicked out.
[Tazz] My God, that was close, one second away.
[Cole] Oh!
-[bell ringing] -And a blatant low blow by Jericho.
[crowd booing]
[announcer] The winner of this match, at a result of a disqualification,
John Cena!
[Tazz] I guess Jericho didn't want a repeat from last week.
[Cole] And now, Chris Jericho, not only a sore loser, but now a mad man,
with the Walls of Jericho locked into the rookie.
[Tazz] This John Cena has got established Superstars threatened.
-[screaming] -No!
You cannot make me!
[Cole] And Chris Jericho,
humiliated and embarrassed by the rookie again tonight.
[Tazz] We've seen Jericho snap. We know he's got a sick dark side
And we're seeing it again right here.
[Cole] I believe Chris Jericho got himself intentionally disqualified here tonight.
I don't believe Jericho thinks tonight was his night.
No excuses for Jericho tonight.
He was having all the problems he could handle with the rookie, Cena.
[Tazz] You know what they say, Cole, time is everything
and this just wasn't the time for Jericho to finish the match.
[Cole] And Jericho with a steel chair.
Jericho is consumed with humiliating this rookie.
[Tazz] Oh!
Jericho is obsessed with this kid
because this kid, John Cena, has countered…
[Cole] Oh-ho-ho!
[Tazz] …has countered everything Jericho has thrown at him.
[Cole] Well, this rookie, Cena,
has embarrassed and humiliated Chris Jericho.
-[Cole] And tonight… -Oh!
…Jericho wants to turn the tables on Cena.
-Bam! -[Tazz] Payback is an SOB, man.
[Cole] Whoa.
[crowd exclaiming]
[Cole] Vicious shots with the chair by Jericho.
["Break the Walls Down" playing]
[Tazz] I guess John Cena brought the worst out of Chris Jericho.
[Cole] Chris Jericho, a raving lunatic,
all brought on by the young upstart, Cena.
Well, folks, this must be the new general manager on SmackDown,
and I'll tell you what, what a big moment as we…
Eric Bischoff?
[crowd booing]
I don't understand. I mean…
Why is the general manager of Raw here on SmackDown?
[booing continues]
["Downfall" by Trust Company playing]
[Cole] Three days from Vengeance in Detroit,
live on pay-per-view, home satellite, or WWE.com.
Registration is underway now to see Vengeance at WWE.com.
Have your credit cards ready for Vengeance.
Hey, Randy Orton.
Eric Bischoff, new GM, Raw. How you doing, man?
-Good to meet you, sir. -Looking good, but tell me,
I heard Hulk Hogan's dressing room is here somewhere?
-Know where? -Right around the corner.
-Keep up the good work. Looking good. -Thank you very much.
[sighs]
[crowd buzzing]
Hulk Hogan, I presume.
[crowd cheering]
Well, look what the cat drug in.
[Bischoff laughs] Cat drug in?
What? No handshake? No hug? Where's a little hug, brother?
It's nice to see you, Eric.
Good to see you.
Did you hear the news?
You're looking at the new GM for Raw.
Carte blanche from Vince McMahon, change anything I want to change.
Take that show to number one. Make it bigger than it's ever been.
This is going to be kinda like old times, brother.
I mean, I'm gonna do everything but reinvent the wheel,
and you know I can do it.
I mean, I'm going to go right for the throat.
Right for the top. Sign the best talent.
Yeah. I heard you're trying to sign Triple H.
Yeah, of course. I mean--
Well, I don't know how you're gonna do that here, Eric,
because this isn't down south, power trip…
-Whoa. -…pulling strings, brother.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
You always taught me, cover your own back, and I have.
I got it covered. No problem. No sweat.
I know why you're here, Eric.
You're here to see The Rock, brother, not me, okay?
I'd like to see The Rock but then I'd like to see you too.
But hey, what about Edge? Is he here?
I mean, this guy is fresh. He's fast, he's strong, he's young.
Is he around? I mean, are you guys a package?
We negotiating?
[laughs] That's the other thing you always taught me, man.
Always negotiating.
[crowd cheering]
Negotiate my [bleep].
-♪ Stand back ♪ -[Tazz] Exactly.
♪ There's a hurricane coming through ♪
[Cole] The relationship between Bischoff and Hogan has always been controversial
but the fact of the matter is this.
How can Eric Bischoff run around negotiating, so to speak?
I mean, Hulk Hogan's signed to SmackDown. How could Bischoff bring him to Raw?
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
In the ring, weighing in at 215 pounds, The Hurricane!
[Cole] Tazz, SmackDown, coming from Indianapolis, Indiana next week,
and by the time we get to SmackDown in Indianapolis,
we're gonna have a new general manager.
And who the-- who the hell is that new general manager gonna be?
I guess we're gonna find out tonight.
[Tazz] Mr. McMahon said it would happen tonight.
Can't wait to find out. Wondering who it's gonna be.
[announcer] And from El Paso, Texas,
weighing in at 213 pounds, Chavo Guerrero!
[Cole] You know, Tazz, Eric Bischoff said on Raw Monday night
that he would be at SmackDown,
that he would be here to try to pry The Rock away from SmackDown
and bring him to Raw.
But honestly, I never really thought Bischoff would show up here tonight.
[Tazz] Well, Bischoff, I don't really know the guy.
I've only heard nothing but negative things about him,
so I'm the type of guy that listens to my friends,
so if they don't like him, I don't like him.
So, uh, the hell with Bischoff, let him stay on Raw.
[Cole] Eric Bischoff has always been brash,
and he called himself ruthless on Raw this past Monday night.
Gonna be interesting to see who his counterpart is going to be
to run things here on SmackDown, and to find out
what that counterpart thinks of Eric Bischoff
running around in the locker room area,
trying to recruit SmackDown talent for Raw,
as Hurricane starts things off against Chavo Guerrero.
[Tazz] Chavo didn't wanna shake no hands and now The Hurricane, he's posing weird.
[Cole] Hurricane up over the top. As these two Cruiserweights go at it.
Of course again, tonight, folks, The Rock and Kurt Angle
one-on-one in a huge matchup just three days away
from the triple threat match at Vengeance on pay-per-view.
Here's Chavo, whipped off the ropes and…
Oh! Big back body drop by The Hurricane.
You know, you talk about Vengeance on pay-per-view,
as The Hurricane takes to the top ropes.
-[Tazz laughs] Nice. -[Cole] Crossbody and lateral press.
Hook of the leg. Chavo kicks out.
You know, the entire complexion of World Wrestling Entertainment, Tazz,
could change Sunday at Vengeance.
Well, it will change because Eric Bischoff claims
that he is going to bring Triple H…
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Oh!
…from SmackDown to Raw, Sunday at the pay-per-view Vengeance.
[Tazz] Well, if Bischoff can do that, if…
Oh, Hurricane might be hurt here.
-Hold on. -Hold on, let's check this out.
Hurricane, he might have blew a knee out here, and look at Chavo.
[Cole] Chavo gonna show little compassion.
No sportsmanship as he goes to work on that injured leg of Hurricane.
[Tazz] Move for suppression.
In this industry, there's no such thing as timeout.
You're hurt, suck it up, try and finish,
or else a guy like Chavo will hurt you more.
[Cole] Chavo Guerrero has his eyes set on that Cruiserweight Title,
which of course, the champion, Jamie Noble
puts on the line against Billy Kidman at Vengeance Sunday.
But look at Chavo Guerrero,
we saw this on Velocity this past Saturday night.
Guerrero loves to pick a body part
and then go to work at it throughout the entirety of the matchup
and that's what he's doing.
[Tazz] Hey, Cole, who do you think Chavo is trying to impress more?
Bischoff or the new GM on SmackDown?
Because he's impressing the hell out of me.
[Cole] And Chavo again to that injured left knee of The Hurricane.
[Tazz] This is… This is just, you know, Wrestling 101.
Pick a part, a body part, especially a limb.
It's like a table with, you know, three legs, it don't stand.
[Cole] And just like his Uncle Eddie from Raw,
Chavo Guerrero with a mean streak.
-And here's Chavo. Look out. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] He walked right into The Hurricane, perhaps going for the big chokeslam here.
And Chavo with an elbow to the back of the head.
[Tazz] Oh, nice.
[Cole] And, oh, what a takedown by Chavo Guerrero.
[Tazz] Modified drop toehold, very nice.
[Cole] Talking about SmackDown being in Indianapolis next week,
SmackDown debuts in Seattle next month.
"The Big Red Machine" Kane will be at the box office
at the KeyArena this Saturday morning at 10:30
as tickets go on sale for SmackDown at the KeyArena.
And Hurricane trying to battle back as Chavo keeps up the pressure.
[Tazz] Looking at Chavo who's just dissecting the left knee of Hurricane,
but Hurricane still fighting back.
[Cole] And Hurricane knocking Chavo out of the corner.
Favoring that left knee.
And what a shot to the back of the head.
[Tazz] Hurricane calls that the Japanese Shining Wizard Kick.
[Cole] Here's the cover and Chavo kicks out.
And again, Hurricane favoring that knee that Guerrero is just picking apart.
[Tazz] You don't kick a guy after you work on your knee,
but that's Hurricane, he's a superhero.
Hurricane-- Hurricane's gonna go flying a little bit more.
Oh!
[Cole] Great takedown by Hurricane, action you'll only see on SmackDown.
The Cruiserweight division. Hurricane crawling,
desperately trying to finish this matchup quickly.
Hook of the leg and Chavo gets his foot on the bottom rope.
The longer this match goes on
the more of an advantage it is for Guerrero.
[Tazz] Abso-- I mean, look, look, no, Hurricane is a one-legged man right now.
Chavo is showing a lot of intensity here.
And then Chavo is coming back, he's going back to the…
-Look at this. -[Cole] Oh!
Chavo picking apart that left knee of The Hurricane.
-Here's a unique maneuver. -What do you say, Hurricane?
[Tazz] Just completely twisting the ligaments and cartilage on Hurricane.
Hurricane grabbing the rope but Chavo could care less about the rope.
[Cole] Chavo closing back into the center of the ring
and continues the pressure on the left knee of The Hurricane.
[Tazz] Oh, look at that.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh, wow!
Just tweaking that knee at every turn.
[Tazz] STF right here.
[Cole] Stepover Toehold Facelock by Chavo.
[Tazz] That's what I just said, Joe Play-by-play. STF.
-Will The Hurricane tap? -He's tapping.
-[Cole] And he did tap out. -[bell ringing]
Chavo Guerrero making The Hurricane tap
as he continues the pressure.
[announcer] Here is your winner, Chavo Guerrero.
[Tazz] STF, extreme dangerous submission hold,
and Chavo, he's got that bad boy down pat.
[Cole] Well, The Hurricane was injured early.
It showed a lot of guts from The Hurricane to continue in this matchup.
[Tazz] Chavo has got something to say here.
Excusa me.
[crowd booing]
Damas y caballeros…
I am the premiere Latin-American Cruiserweight
in the WWE.
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] He just proved that.
Yet, every time I turn around,
all I see is propaganda
on Rey Mysterio Jr.
[crowd cheering]
"He's coming. He's coming."
"He's coming. He's coming. He's coming."
He's not! I'm sick of it!
I'm here right now,
so what I say is that next week,
right here on SmackDown…
Rey Mysterio
makes his big in-ring debut against me,
Chavo Guerrero.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rey Mysterio Jr. debuts next week on SmackDown in Indianapolis.
Will he accept Chavo Guerrero's challenge next week?
[funky music playing]
[Tazz] Does anybody take a taxi anymore?
Well, this must be the new general manager here
on SmackDown.
Let's hope it… Mr. McMahon?
[crowd cheering]
We were expecting the new general manager here on SmackDown.
Oh, really?
Well, maybe the general manager of SmackDown is already here.
Well, did you know that Eric Bischoff is here?
Really?
Well, then this is gonna make for a very interesting evening.
If you'll excuse me.
[crowd cheering]
And might I add, you are so impeccably dressed,
but if you're ever in need of my services, please don't hesitate to call me.
Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. But listen, I'm looking for The Rock.
Do you know where his dressing room is?
It's down the hallway, then to your right, Mr. Bischoff.
-All right, man. Thanks. -Okay.
[crowd exclaiming]
-Oh. -Whoa!
Eric, uh, good to see you.
I was told that you were here tonight.
Had to stop by and check it out, Vince.
Yeah, is that right?
Well, you are aware that I'm gonna name a new general manager very shortly
for SmackDown tonight, right?
Yeah, I'm aware of that and I'm sure you're aware
that there's nothing like checking out the competition live,
in person, face-to-face.
Not that concerned then, huh?
Not at all, because you and I both know,
it really doesn't matter who the new GM is for SmackDown
because there's nothing he's gonna be able to do
to keep me from signing Triple H this Sunday at Vengeance.
Now, you wanted to see ruthless aggression?
I'm gonna give you ruthless aggression.
You wanted to see competition?
I'm gonna give you competition.
I'm gonna show you what a GM is all about
because in this talent rate…
Triple H is number one but not the last one.
I'm on my way to see The Rock.
-Well… -Excuse me, sir.
Good luck.
[Bischoff] Thanks.
He's a weasel.
Can you believe Bischoff had the guts or the stupidity
to put his hands on Mr. McMahon in a… this type of fashion?
You know, this Bischoff, he's just floating around, wants to get his…
get his hands or his voice on The Rock. Gotta wonder if it's going to happen.
He says he's going to speak with The Rock
but The Rock has other things on his mind.
Later on tonight on SmackDown,
The Rock goes one-on-one with Kurt Angle.
What an extraordinary main event!
This matchup just three days from Vengeance on pay-per-view,
where The Rock and Kurt Angle will be involved in the main event.
[Tazz] Triple threat for the WWE Undisputed Championship.
The Rock, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle all going for the Undisputed Championship.
[Cole] Well, we mentioned The Rock and Kurt Angle.
Tonight, The Undertaker is here on SmackDown as well.
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to sit down
with the WWE Undisputed Champion.
A poignant, in-depth interview with The Undertaker,
and he had a lot of things to say about Kurt Angle and The Rock.
Undertaker, we certainly appreciate you taking the time to sit down here today
and speak with us about a variety of issues,
including your title defense this coming Sunday
at Vengeance of WWE Undisputed Championship,
in a triple threat match versus The Rock and Kurt Angle.
Well, Michael Cole,
we wouldn't be taking this time if I didn't think
I had something to say about it.
So you've done your job…
so may I suggest you set back now and pay attention?
Because there's a few facts I think I need to get straightened out
about The Undertaker…
and the Undisputed Title.
You see, I am the Undisputed Champion,
and I am so not because I kissed anybody's [bleep].
Nor have I been protected since I won the title.
I have defended the title against anybody and everybody
who stepped up, in any kind of match they wanted.
The reason I am the Undisputed Champion…
and this is the part that's important,
I am the Undisputed Champion
because there's nobody that can beat me in a championship match.
Now you take The Rock, "The People's Champ,"
at King of the Ring, he decided to step up and take his shot at me.
And he chose King of the Ring
because he knows deep down that one-on-one, face-to-face…
he can't beat me.
And he also realizes-- He's smart.
He also realizes that that would be the best way to get my attention.
But what Rock has to realize…
when he gets my attention…
he needs to expect my wrath.
And, Cole, you know, here's something for you
and everyone else to think about.
Let's go back to last week right here on SmackDown
when Kurt Angle and The Rock were having their little catfight.
Big dog came down, saw what was in the yard,
and kicked both their [bleep].
That's all I got to say about The Rock.
But that does bring Kurt Angle up now.
The third dance partner in the triple threat.
You see, Kurt Angle,
he's living in a world of a delusional state, I think, right now.
You know, he got some little half-assed victory over me
a few weeks back on SmackDown.
Non-title match.
Now he's been jumping around and claiming
that he's the greatest thing the world's ever seen.
And then on top of that, he thinks he made me tap.
Michael Cole, how should I put this?
If Kurt Angle and I had 1,000 matches in 1,000 consecutive days,
Kurt Angle could not make me tap.
The bottom line is, is I stacked him up and I pinned him, one, two, three.
And if anything else would've happened that night,
I would not be the Undisputed Champion,
nor would I have the Undisputed Title with my name on it.
It would say "Kurt Angle."
So I don't know what his problem is…
but Sunday at Vengeance,
we're gonna get a lot of things straight.
One thing being The Rock and Kurt Angle both
are gonna find out why I am The American Badass,
and why that ring over there is my yard.
I'm coming to take the yard.
If you're caught in it, you're gonna pay.
♪ You look so good to me ♪
[Cole] Back on SmackDown from the sold-out First Union Arena in Wilkes-Barre.
Hey, check it out.
See behind Billy and Chuck up there, the, uh,
little advertisement for Velocity,
our hot new show on Saturday night on the new TNN.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Being accompanied to the ring by Rico,
at a combined weight of 534 pounds,
Billy and Chuck!
[Tazz] And you've just seen Chuck right there, Cole,
doing a special version of the Chucky Shuffle.
[Cole] Yeah, the Chucky Shuffle?
[Tazz] That's his little dance he does.
Dancing around like a silly little freak. That's his thing.
[Cole] Well, this is an important matchup for Billy and Chuck
after losing the Tag Team Titles a couple of weeks back.
And check out Billy.
[Tazz] Yeah. What the… What is he doing?
[Cole] I have no idea.
[Tazz] Well, Subway presents WWE Vengeance.
Vengeance will be live this Sunday from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit,
and exclusively on pay-per-view.
Fresh-made sandwiches on fresh-baked bread.
-Subway. Eat fresh. -♪ How do you like me now? ♪
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And at a combined weight of 478 pounds,
Hardcore Holly and The Big Valbowski.
[Cole] And if you can't be in Detroit for Vengeance,
the second best place to be, The World in Times Square,
live Vengeance Sunday night.
Guess who's gonna be there?
Torrie and Dawn Marie live at The World.
[Tazz] That's our old stomping ground, Cole.
My hometown, New York City.
[Cole] Talked about the Undisputed Title match,
triple threat match in Vengeance between The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, and The Rock.
And after looking in The Undertaker's eyes earlier today,
seeing the emotion in his face,
seeing how focused he is on keeping the title Sunday,
I have to believe that The Undertaker
is indeed going to keep the Undisputed Title at Vengeance.
[Tazz] Well, wouldn't it be nice if you asked me, your partner, Tazz,
who I pick?
-[Cole] Oh, yeah. Who do you pick? -[Tazz] Thanks for asking. Kurt Angle.
I think Kurt's gonna win the whole thing.
[Cole] But on, you know, second thought, how about "The Brahma Bull" The Rock?
The Rock is back, he's raring to go, he wants to win the title Sunday.
You know, matter of fact,
all three of these Superstars could stake claim to winning the championship,
Sunday, at Vengeance.
And Billy with the right hands to Hardcore Holly.
Chuck and Billy believe they have something to prove
after losing the Tag Team Titles a couple of weeks back.
Oh, what a right hand by Hardcore Holly.
I'll tell you, this team of Hardcore Holly and The Big Valbowski has been impressive,
as Billy whips Hardcore off the ropes.
And a big shoulder knockdown by Hardcore Holly.
Hardcore Holly is… He's put together.
And what an athlete Billy is.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Oh!
[Tazz] Best dropkick in the business right there, Hardcore Holly.
[Cole] Up underneath the chin for Hardcore Holly,
and Billy's reeling, but there's the reversal.
Off the ropes goes Hardcore. Up over the top, Billy and Hardcore Holly.
Oh, Billy doing a little bit--
-Oh, here we go. -[Cole] Looked like celebrating.
[Tazz] This might not even hurt Billy.
-Oh! -Oh, and a shot to the lower extremities.
[Tazz] I guess I was wrong. Oh!
[Cole] And a clothesline by Hardcore, quickly into the cover.
Hooks the outside leg. And Billy just gets the shoulder up
and quickly makes a tag to his partner, Chuck.
[grunting]
[Cole] Oh, and Chuck right into the inverted atomic drop.
Here's the tag to The Big Valbowski.
And a right hand from Valbowski to Chuck.
[Tazz] Talk about put together. All four of these guys are put together.
Some big, beefy dudes in there.
[Cole] Oh, whipped into the corner goes Valbowski,
and a boot to the face with authority to Chuck.
And oh, there's an elbow.
[Tazz] Nice forearm shiver, actually. Beautiful.
[Cole] Oh, and Valbowski with a boot as well.
Off the ropes, and Chuck knocks him down.
[Tazz] Bipped him down.
[Cole] The new general manager for SmackDown
will be announced here tonight.
The Raw general manager, Eric Bischoff,
is running around trying to recruit SmackDown talent.
[Tazz] You know, maybe this Bischoff is a little…
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh!
Here's the cover by Valbowski.
Hook of the leg and a kickout.
Maybe this Bischoff's a little smarter than I gave him credit for, Cole.
[Cole] Well, you know, Bischoff made his name raiding Mr. McMahon's talent.
He seems to be up to his old tricks,
but you make a great point about it being smart.
[Tazz] Well, no, what I mean is he's spending his Thursday…
-I mean, Bischoff-- -[Cole] Wow!
[Tazz] Bischoff's spending his Thursday nights
recruiting SmackDown talent.
You know, because SmackDown, we're better than Raw.
[Cole] Oh!
[Tazz] SmackDown's got better action,
better announcers, and it's because we're…
-[Cole] Oh! -[Tazz] …we have a better show.
You know what, if JR and King got a problem with me saying that…
[Cole] Here's the cover off the suplex, kickout by Hardcore.
[Tazz] …I'll be the guy in the orange and black suit sitting ringside
on Thursday nights.
[Cole] And Rico, the stylist, looks on with a sense
of, well, anticipation that Chuck and Billy may pick up the victory here.
But Hardcore Holly reverses things with a suplex of his own.
And Hardcore needs to make a tag to his partner.
The momentum could shift.
[Tazz] Well, Chuck too.
Chuck needs to slip on over there and get his partner, Billy, in.
Billy don't want the people making noise because Hardcore's feeding off of it.
[Cole] Sold-out crowd in Wilkes-Barre, as Chuck makes the tag to Billy.
And Hardcore gets to The Big Valbowski. And here we go!
Valbowski with the right hands, Billy with the reversal.
-[Tazz] Oh! -And Valbowski with a big shoulder tackle.
-And a shot to Chuck as well. -[Tazz] Nice.
[Cole] Valbowski with a dropkick under the chin.
[Tazz] Speed and size. Valbowski!
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Chuck cleared out of the ring.
Billy misses right hand.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] There's that spin-out powerbomb.
Cover. One, two, and Chuck breaks up the three count.
[Tazz] Awful great tag team.
[Cole] Hardcore coming to his partner's aid.
Chuck knocked out of the ring.
And referee Jimmy Korderas becoming heavily involved in the matchup.
[Tazz] So is Rico.
[Cole] And the stylist with a heel kick to the chin.
-[crowd cheering] -And Hardcore makes him pay for it.
[Tazz] Hardcore punched him dead in the mouth.
[Cole] Chuck pulling Hardcore out.
Billy shoves the referee.
Down for the pinfall, and a kickout by Valbowski.
[Tazz] Hell of a tag match.
[Cole] Billy thought he had the three count,
the referee signals two.
[Tazz] No wonder why Bischoff's trying to steal SmackDown talent.
[Cole] Well, Billy was gonna set up Valbowski for the Famouser!
[Tazz] Oh.
[Cole] But he walked into the Alabama Slam.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Here goes Valbowski.
He's gonna go flying.
[Cole] The money shot.
-Valbowski and Holly win. -[bell ringing]
[funky music playing]
[announcer] Here are your winners, Hardcore Holly and The Big Valbowski.
[Tazz] Cole, you got to call an upset.
Valbowski and Hardcore have not been tagging nowhere near as long
as Billy and Chuck.
And with Billy and Chuck's success as former champions, this was an upset.
[Cole] You got to be impressed with Holly and Valbowski here tonight on SmackDown.
[Tazz] I'm still amazed that Rico's up after getting punched
dead in the face by Hardcore Holly.
[Cole] It has been a wild night already.
And still to come, as Valbowski and Hardcore Holly celebrate,
the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment,
Mr. McMahon, will name SmackDown's new general manager
still to come tonight.
But, Tazz, coming up next, huge six-man action.
[Tazz] "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Edge, Rikishi
go up against Christian, Storm, and Test.
["The Beautiful People" playing]
[announcer] And now, the Extreme Blast of the Night
rocked by JVC's Tower of Power, with 460 watts of mind-numbing sound,
dual eight-inch subs, and MP3 playback to keep the party rocking all night long.
The Tower of Power by JVC,
the only system big enough to crush the competition.
[rock music playing]
[Cole] And Rikishi, the Samoan Drop to Test.
The cover by Rikishi. Hook of the leg and it's over.
Rikishi steals one, and here come the vultures, the three-on-one.
-[Tazz] Look-- Oh, whoa! -[Cole] And it's Edge.
-[Tazz] Spear! -[Cole] A spear!
[Tazz] And Hogan coming to the aid of Rikishi.
[announcer] JVC's Tower of Power.
[Cole] We are sold out in Wilkes-Barre for SmackDown.
And tonight, The Rock meets Kurt Angle,
plus the new general manager for SmackDown will be announced.
But the Raw general manager, Eric Bischoff, Tazz,
is running around on a recruiting mission.
[Tazz] More like sliming around back there.
He's just trying to hook everyone.
Oh-ho!
["Voodoo Child" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following is a six-man tag team match scheduled
for one fall.
Making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 871 pounds,
Rikishi and the Tag Team Champions,
Edge and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan!
[Cole] Well, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
did not seem to be the least bit interested
in negotiating with Eric Bischoff.
Bischoff did mention Edge as someone he'd love to recruit to Raw.
Perhaps, Rikishi would be on that shortlist as well.
But I still can't figure out, Tazz, what gives Bischoff
the power to run around, try to negotiate contracts?
These three guys, they're signed to SmackDown.
[Tazz] I don't get it either, what Bischoff's doing.
I don't know what gives him the right either.
I don't really… I don't know.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Tonight, SmackDown is being brought to you by Maxim hair color for guys.
Easy to do, hard to resist.
Play I Wanna Go! on WWE.com to win a Dinner with a Diva.
[Cole] And by the new Above the Rim collection from Reebok,
in stores now.
[Tazz] And by Subway.
Fresh-made sandwiches on fresh-baked bread.
Subway. Eat fresh.
[crowd cheering]
["We Salute" playing]
[Tazz] Talk about the mood changing.
[announcer] And at a combined weight of 736 pounds,
Test, Christian, and Lance Storm.
[Cole] Well, this Sunday at Vengeance on pay-per-view,
Lance Storm and Christian will meet "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
and Edge for the WWE Tag Team Titles.
And talk about a trio here,
these Anti-Americans who have a huge chip on their shoulder.
[Tazz] Yeah, and that chip ain't red and white and blue either.
[Cole] Six-man tag team matchup set to get underway.
And don't forget, Edge and Christian,
who will be on opposite sides, you mentioned,
are brothers and also part of perhaps
the most successful tag team in WWE history.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Cole] This sold-out crowd coming to its feet for "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan,
but the 350-pound Rikishi wants to start this matchup
after that three-on-one assault at the hands
of The Anti-Americans last week.
[Tazz] Yeah, Rikishi will beat the tar out of somebody,
and looks like Christian's gonna get some of that.
[Cole] And the right hands by Rikishi to Christian.
Christian whipped across the ring, this crowd…
[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] This sold-out crowd in Wilkes-Barre is in a frenzy here tonight
and, of course, waiting in anticipation,
for not only The Rock and Kurt Angle but the announcement
of a new SmackDown general manager here tonight.
Oh! What a double clothesline!
[crowd cheering]
And the tag to Edge.
And Edge up to the top ropes.
Oh, and knockdown! The flying clothesline to Lance Storm.
And there goes Christian sailing over the top rope.
Test misses, and a knockdown by Edge.
[Tazz] There's no brotherly love there.
Whoa! What a forearm by Edge.
[Cole] Edge has been all fired up since returning from that shoulder injury
at the hands of Jericho a couple of weeks back, and Test…
-[Tazz] Test… Test tripped him up. -[Cole] Referee never saw it.
Had his back turned and now The Anti-Americans
begin to pick apart one half of Tag Team Champions.
Cover, hook of the leg by Storm, and a kickout.
[Tazz] Love Storm or hate Storm, he's a tremendous in-ring competitor.
Phenomenal, phenomenal athlete.
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
[Cole] Thousands of Hulkamaniacs on their feet as "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
wants into the matchup.
And Christian hammering away on Edge.
This six-man tag action continues when we come back.
We are back on SmackDown in front of a sold-out crowd in Wilkes-Barre.
Six-man tag action,
The Anti-Americans against Hulk Hogan, Edge, and Rikishi.
Oh, and a knockdown by Test to Edge, and Test continues the assault on Edge
who's been in the ring for an extraordinary amount of time.
[Tazz] These Anti-Americans have been putting it to Edge.
Edge needs to get a tag over to Rikishi or his tag partner, Hogan.
[Cole] Test continues the pressure. Edge's arm down one time.
Referee Brian Hebner begins the count.
There's two. If it goes down a third time, it's over.
[Tazz] But a guy the size of Test…
Oh. Edge stomping his own hand.
Got a guy size of a guy like Test in a rear chinlock,
could choke a guy like Edge out, but Edge coming back.
[Cole] And listen to this electric crowd.
Sold out in Wilkes-Barre on SmackDown.
Edge battling out, and Test with a knee to the midsection.
And the powerful Test setting Edge up for the pumphandle.
-[Tazz] Deadly pumphandle. Slam! Wow! -[Cole] And he plants Edge.
[Tazz] Seeing Test do that now, Test is going for that big deadly boot.
Look at the look on Test's face.
-[Cole] Edge struggling to his feet. -[Tazz] Look at that face.
[Cole] Test looking for the finishing blow.
-Here it comes. -[Cole] Misses with a boot.
-And Edge! -[Tazz] Face plant!
[Cole] Face-first goes Test and now Edge needs to make a tag.
This is the point of the match where the momentum could shift,
where the match could be decided.
[Tazz] The people, listen, really can feel it.
Rikishi and Hogan can feel it.
And so can Storm and Christian. Storm and Christian need Test.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Edge crawling to the corner,
trying desperately to reach his tag team partner.
Christian in, knocking Hogan down.
[Tazz] Great tag team work right there by Christian.
One reason why he's been so successful in tag team division.
[Cole] And it draw… It drew Hogan and Rikishi into the ring
and allowed a three-on-one assault at the hands of The Anti-Americans.
[Tazz] That's what the quality of being a Tag Team Champion is made of.
Even though Hogan is a Tag Champ right now,
Christian knocking Hogan off the apron.
You have to believe that the Raw general manager,
Eric Bischoff's in the back,
mightily impressed with the work of Storm, Christian, and Test.
-[Tazz] Look at Storm. -[Cole] Oh, and what a counter!
A desperation counter by Edge.
-And now, Edge makes the tag. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] And here comes Hogan.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Oh.
[Cole] And "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan is cleaning house.
[Tazz] Hulkamania's running wild.
[Cole] And Test from behind.
Edge back into the ring. Rikishi as well.
All six men are involved in the matchup.
[Tazz] Storm's alone with Hogan. Hogan don't see Storm.
[Cole] And a savate kick to the chin! Cover by Storm.
-[Tazz] Upset. -[Cole] Oh, and Hogan kicked out.
[Tazz] What a coup that would've been for Storm, but look at Hogan.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Hulk Up Time.
It's coming.
[Cole] Storm's right hands…
-Here we go! Look-- -[Cole] …seem to have no effect.
[Tazz] Oh! I love this.
Say your prayers, Storm, and need some vitamins.
[Cole] Storm realizes he could be in trouble.
Hogan with a right hand!
[Tazz] Might be. He's in there with Hogan.
[Cole] And here's the tag to Edge.
Storm whipped into the corner.
Off the clothesline. Edge with a spear to the gut.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Uh-oh.
[Tazz] 6'2", 350 underway, baby.
[Cole] Backing it up.
[Tazz] And look at Test pulling Edge out.
Christian pulled Hogan out.
[Tazz] Oh-ho! Look at this.
[Cole] But Lance Storm--
[Tazz] I'd say that Lance ain't no Canadian bacon here.
[Cole] And a boot to the chin of Rikishi.
A thunderous boot by Test.
Now Hogan back in.
A boot from Hogan to Test!
A bit of Test's own medicine.
[Tazz] You know what time it is!
Time for Christian to stop Hogan. Wow!
[Cole] Christian plants "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan.
Spear! Spear from Edge!
[Tazz] Little brother just got some spear!
[Cole] Blocked a kick. Edge, look out.
Edgecution! Edgecution!
Cover, hook of the leg. It's a-- Oh!
-[bell ringing] -[Tazz] What a match!
[announcer] Here are your winners, Rikishi, Edge, and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan.
[Tazz] No wonder why Bischoff's back there trying to scout SmackDown talent.
Now, that's a SmackDown match right there. Big time rockin'.
[Cole] Edge pinning Lance Storm.
Will the same thing happen Sunday at Vengeance on pay-per-view
when "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan and Edge
defend against The Anti-Americans, Lance Storm and Christian?
[Tazz] The look on Test's face. Anti-Americans are furious.
[Cole] Test making sure that Hogan, Edge, and Rikishi
realize this is far from over.
["Never Gonna Stop" playing]
[crowd cheering]
There he is, The People's Champion!
Rock…
Eric Bischoff.
New GM for Raw.
Now, listen, I don't know if you got any of my messages Monday night,
but I'm gonna get right to the point.
I want you at Raw Monday nights, live.
Now, listen, think about this.
Nothing personal, because I know you're a really talented guy.
All right. But The Rock and Eric Bischoff, together on the same show,
on the same team, pulling in the same direction.
I mean, think about it, put this in your head,
my creative direction, and The Rock,
I can take you places where you've never been before.
I can take you places where no one's ever been before in this industry.
What do you think?
[crowd jeering]
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Finally, The Rock has come back to Wilkes-Barre!
[crowd cheering]
You say you want The Rock live this Monday night on Raw?
-Absolutely. -Is that what you want?
-That's what I want. -Well, The Rock says this, he'll be there.
Yes! Yes!
And let me tell you something, Rock,
the first thing we do when we sign our deal--
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
The Rock is not signing anything.
You think The Rock is gonna go to Raw just because of you?
No. No. No. No. No. No.
The Rock is going to Raw, live this Monday night,
but it's gonna be because of what The Rock does at Vengeance
this Sunday night.
You see, The Rock is in a triple threat match.
The Undertaker, Kurt Angle,
The American Badass, the American bald ass!
[crowd cheering]
And when all the dust is settled, all the smoke…
oh, has cleared,
and all the grade A smacketh has been laid down,
The Rock is walking out of Vengeance Undisputed Champion!
[crowd cheering]
-And you know what that means? -Yes!
-Yes! You like that? -I love it.
You're gonna love this. Know what that means?
Well, The Rock can go on any show,
any show, and The Rock means any show!
The Rock can go on Raw, The Rock can go on SmackDown,
The Rock can go on The Osbournes, The Rock can go on The Sopranos,
The Rock can go on Frasier and kick him right in the nuts if he wanted to.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz laughs] That'd be good.
"Oh, oh, oh, I say, Niles. This lat--"
Oh, shut your mouth, jabroni!
Wham! [grunts]
[laughter]
You're… you're killing me, man. You-You definitely are the star.
And if I would have had you at Nitro a couple years ago, you and me…
-I mean, can you-- -The Rock on Nitro?
The Rock would have loved to have been on Nitro.
Can you imagine, The Rock,
the most electrifying man in sports and entertainment on Nitro?
But you know what happened?
While you were on Nitro,
and you were giving all your creative genius,
all your creative input to WCW…
The Rock was doing his part about putting your company out of business.
[crowd cheering]
It's nothing personal.
[crowd chanting] Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
[announcer] And now, the WWE Burn of the Night
is brought to you by STACKER 2, the world's strongest fat burner.
Call 1-800-Lite-Line or visit STACKER2.com.
Allow me to introduce you to the new general manager of Raw,
his name is Eric Bischoff!
[Lawler] I cannot believe this.
JR, I used to sit in the same broadcast booth with Vince
when he would wish death upon Eric Bischoff.
["No Chance in Hell" playing]
♪ No chance ♪
[Cole] If Mr. McMahon would go to that extreme
to bring in Eric Bischoff as general manager of Raw,
what could Mr. McMahon have in store for us here on SmackDown?
[Tazz] Vince McMahon said he's gonna shake up
some stuff on Raw and SmackDown
and, as usual, Mr. McMahon delivered.
Oh, boy.
Never before…
Never before have I seen such angst,
such concern on the faces of WWE Superstars.
All I did was make one simple announcement last Monday night.
There'd be a new GM for Raw and a new GM for SmackDown.
I can say this…
To all the Superstars on Raw, if you're that concerned,
if you think the grass is greener on the other side,
over here on SmackDown, you are free to negotiate
with the new GM of SmackDown.
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] Who it is?
Likewise, all the Superstars of SmackDown,
if you think the grass is greener over on Raw,
hey, you can go ahead and negotiate with Raw's new GM.
[crowd] What?
I'm sure many of you thought I lost my mind
when I named Eric Bischoff general manager of Raw.
[crowd booing]
I assure you I have complete control over all of my mental faculties.
I know you're thinking, "Wait a minute."
"Eric Bischoff tried to put you out of business, McMahon."
[crowd] What?
Yeah. He tried.
But I named Eric Bischoff general manager of Raw
because he's the best person for the job,
and because he is innovative, and because unquestionably,
he enjoys ruthless aggression.
[crowd] What?
Which would then bring us to tonight's announcement
and the announcement of your SmackDown general manager.
[crowd] What?
Likewise, this general manager is the best person for the job.
Much like Bischoff, this person, as well, tried to put me out of business,
and also has a history of ruthless aggression.
[crowd] What?
The only difference between Bischoff and the new GM of SmackDown,
as I said to the Raw audience,
they truly deserve Eric Bischoff as their general manager.
I'm not so sure that all of you people,
the SmackDown audience actually deserve your new general manager.
[crowd] What?
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] Who's it gonna be?
So, with that in mind,
allow me to introduce you to the new general manager of SmackDown…
Stephanie McMahon!
[Tazz] Whoa.
["All Grown Up" playing]
[Cole] You mean Mr. McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon.
[Tazz] That'd be the one, my man.
There's only one Stephanie McMahon, and you're looking at her.
She's our new boss!
[Cole] And the SmackDown Superstars in the back…
I don't think any of them can believe what's going on.
[Tazz] Ruthless aggression?
Steph McMahon has got ruthless aggression in her bloodline.
[crowd booing]
Welcome to my show…
SmackDown!
[crowd booing]
Eric Bischoff is a parasite,
Shane was right.
But the one thing my brother was wrong about
was when he said that he was going to screw Vince McMahon,
screw this company, and screw my family,
because I won't let that happen.
And I won't allow Eric Bischoff
to steal your SmackDown Superstars from you.
Those Superstars include The Rock!
They include Hulk Hogan.
They include Edge,
and they include the man who Bischoff says would have made WCW a success,
the man who Bischoff
knows to be the greatest ring general in the world today,
the man who has truly earned the moniker "The Game,"
Triple H.
[Cole] That's her soon-to-be ex-husband.
Bischoff claimed that his first official act
as the general manager was going to be at Vengeance
when he signed Triple H to Raw.
So, Bischoff, at Vengeance,
if you want Triple H to go down to that very ring
and choose between Raw or SmackDown,
I don't have a problem with that
because the egg is gonna be on your face Bischoff
when you're left standing there, and Triple H leaves Vengeance,
and comes back home to his fans at SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
Now, I am the general manager of SmackDown
with the full support of Vince McMahon,
the same way you, Bischoff, are the general manager of Raw.
But the only advantage you have over me, Bischoff, is about three days.
Now, you said your official act,
your first official act was going to take place at Vengeance,
well, my first official act as general manager of SmackDown
is gonna take place right now
when I throw you the hell out of my building!
[Tazz] Whoa!
Well, no warming up in the ball pit for Stephanie.
She's chucking Bischoff.
[Cole] Stephanie McMahon, all business, and she claimed
she's gonna throw Eric Bischoff out of the building.
[Tazz] Cole, Cole, right now.
Camera's following her through the…
I don't believe this. Where is she going?
What's up for her…
She's gonna look for Bischoff, I guess.
[crowd buzzing]
[indistinct chatter]
You better turn around.
You have two choices, Eric.
You can either walk your little self out of my building
or I will have you thrown out.
[crowd cheering]
You want me out of the building?
Oh yeah.
I'll be out of the building.
But let me tell you something, Steph…
a lot can happen between now and Sunday.
Oh, you're right.
I'll see you at Vengeance.
[announcer] And now, the WWE Slam of the Week
is brought to you by the new Above the Rim collection from Reebok,
in stores now.
[Cole] Billy Kidman tossing Noble back into the ring.
-Uh-oh. -And be… Oh.
[Cole] And Nidia knocking Kidman down, and shot to the kidney by Kidman to Noble.
-Whoa! -Oh!
[Cole] Off the top rope, he got him.
Kidman pins the Cruiserweight Champion.
[dramatic music playing]
[Cole] Set for Cruiserweight action on SmackDown
but this crowd is still abuzz, and frankly, I'm shocked, Tazz,
with what transpired a few moments ago.
Mr. McMahon naming his own daughter,
the daughter that tried to put him out of business,
Stephanie, as new general manager of SmackDown.
Shocking.
Stephanie is our new boss, new GM of SmackDown.
But check this out, during the break, a little birdie just told me something,
"The Game" Triple H, reportedly, he's in the area.
Triple H?
Someone spotted him in the area.
There's a good chance he might pop up around here.
Well, that leads to an interesting question,
what's Triple H gonna do come Sunday at Vengeance?
Sign with Bischoff at Raw or Stephanie at SmackDown?
[Tazz] Well, speaking of Vengeance.
[Cole] The Cruiserweight Title will be on the line
Sunday on pay-per-view.
Billy Kidman, who you saw moments ago pinned Jamie Noble in a tag team matchup,
beats Noble for the Cruiserweight Championship,
Sunday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
[Tazz] Cole, I'm being told right now by my people
that Eric Bischoff has left the building.
-Thank God. -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Marching the ring, from Japan,
weighing in at 206 pounds, Tajiri!
[Cole] I guarantee we'll see Eric Bischoff again this Monday night on Raw
live from Grand Rapids.
But boy oh boy, the gauntlet has been thrown down here tonight.
[Cole] The new SmackDown general manager Stephanie McMahon
vows that she will not allow Eric Bischoff to steal SmackDown talent.
In fact, her first order of business?
Throwing Eric Bischoff out of the building.
[Tazz] Well, Stephanie McMahon, not surprising--
[Cole] Oh, wow! Counter by Kidman.
[Tazz] Not surprising, Stephanie making her presence known
here on SmackDown as the new general manager.
-Oh! -[Cole] Oh!
[Tazz] And letting Eric Bischoff see who's the boss
around these parts here on SmackDown.
Well, what about this startling news, the fact that Mr. McMahon,
the owner of World Wrestling Entertainment,
has basically said that there will be an open season
on all talent here at WWE.
-The fact that… -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] …all contracts are now open
so all SmackDown stars can negotiate with Raw.
Raw stars can negotiate with SmackDown.
And there's gonna be a bidding war.
Nasty business propositions could be on the way.
-[Tazz] Well, I bet you-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Tazz] I bet you a guy like Bischoff would love a guy like Kidman.
He had Kidman at WCW,
kind of dropped the ball on him, in my opinion,
especially if Kidman can get that Cruiserweight Title
at Vengeance from Noble.
[Cole] Oh, went for the Tarantula,
great counter by Kidman, and a shot to the ribs by Tajiri.
Such an important matchup for Billy Kidman.
And here is the Tarantula, locked in by Tajiri to Kidman.
Billy Kidman can ill afford to get injured here in this matchup tonight Tazz.
He has a date with Noble for the title Sunday.
[Tazz] And if-- The Tarantula does not have to be applied--
[Cole] And here's the cover on Kidman and a kickout.
[Tazz] The Tarantula does not have to be applied long
to have some pain through your body with that move.
It's dangerous, it really hurts.
[Cole] Well, you know, Tajiri has an extremely close relationship
with the Cruiserweight Champion Jamie Noble.
-[Tazz] And Nidia. -And Nidia as well.
And do you think perhaps the three of them got together
maybe earlier on today, and maybe Noble and Nidia said,
"Hey, Tajiri, do us a favor."
"Soften up Billy Kidman a little bit for Sunday."
[Tazz] I'm sure that happened.
I mean, Tajiri's like the fifth wheel with Nidia and Noble,
if you smell what I'm cooking.
No pun.
[Cole] Both of these Superstars are former Cruiserweight Champions.
And speaking of the Cruiserweight division,
will Rey Mysterio Jr. who makes his debut right here
next week on SmackDown,
accept the challenge laid out by Chavo Guerrero
earlier on tonight?
[Tazz] A lot of people around here, even yours truly,
very excited about Mysterio coming to WWE, especially on SmackDown.
He's gonna make some impact here for sure, especially in the Cruiserweight division.
Think you've seen high-flying, you ain't seen nothing.
[Cole] Look at this. Kidman, with a shot to the kidneys,
and a desperation dropkick by Billy Kidman.
[Tazz] Beautiful counter by Kidman for that…
for that handspring elbow by Tajiri.
[Cole] I still can't stop thinking about it.
How Stephanie is gonna be able to negotiate with her…
well, soon-to-be ex-husband Triple H.
They probably haven't… haven't spoken--
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Wow! What a neckbreaker!
Here's the cover by Kidman.
-[Tazz] Got to be it. -Hook of the leg and a kickout.
You realize Stephanie and Triple H probably haven't spoken…
-[Tazz] I don't know. -…unless through attorneys in months.
[Tazz] I don't even wanna go there.
[Cole] Look at this.
Kidman misses with a big clothesline, and a kick by Tajiri.
[Cole] Wow. That was unique. Here's the cover.
Hook to the leg and Kidman who gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Hell of a matchup here. Great matchup.
But we're talking told about Stephanie being the new general manager,
but yet, let's not take away from Tajiri, Kidman,
phenomenal matchup right now.
[Cole] Well, Tajiri, "The Japanese Buzzsaw," lands on his feet.
Tremendous balance. But Kidman counters.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] And here…
Well, I thought he was gonna go for the cover.
[Tazz] So did I.
[Cole] But perhaps he's setting Tajiri up for the Shooting Star Press.
-I love this. -[Cole] Kidman's favorite maneuver.
[Tazz] I love the way Kidman does this move.
Shooting S coming up.
[Cole] And connects!
Kidman hooks the leg.
And if he connects Sunday, Kidman will win the Cruiserweight Title.
[announcer] Here's your winner, Billy Kidman.
[Tazz] Look at this. That's Noble.
[Cole] Hey, that's Jamie Noble, the Cruiserweight Champion.
An ambush on Kidman, but Kidman is trying to…
[Tazz] Kidman's on fire tonight, man.
[Cole] And a… Oh, he missed.
Tajiri with a miss to eyes of Billy Kidman.
[Tazz] Oh-ho!
[Cole] And Jamie Noble, the Cruiserweight Champion
sending a message.
[Tazz] And here comes Nidia.
She's gonna give a little message too to Kidman.
Hey, come and get it, punk.
[Tazz] Oh.
You got to wonder
what the new GM of SmackDown, Stephanie McMahon,
thinks of the lovely duo of Nidia and Noble.
[Cole] Sunday at Vengeance on pay-per-view,
Jamie Noble defends the Cruiserweight Title
against Billy Kidman.
[crowd booing]
Steph-- Stephanie!
-Hey, Chris. -Oh, it's so great to see you again.
Hey. It's great to see you too.
Oh, congratulations.
I mean, you're the general manager of SmackDown.
-You're the boss. -That's right.
You're the boss.
Of all the people I would've chosen to be the boss of SmackDown,
you're at the top of the list.
And I really, really mean that.
-I can tell you mean that, Chris. -I really do.
But you know, you're always so complimentary to me.
-You deserve it. -Well, thank you.
But I feel you deserve compliments too.
-Me? -Yes.
And when I was watching SmackDown last week,
I was overwhelmed.
You were so unselfish.
I mean, you gave up the match that you wanted most.
You gave up Chris Jericho versus Edge, one of the main events at Vengeance.
And you gave it up so that Edge and Hogan
could defend their Tag Team Titles.
-Yeah. -I mean, your generosity is overwhelming
and I feel it deserves a reward.
That's why next week, right here on SmackDown,
I'm gonna give you what you want.
Really?
I'm gonna give you the match that you gave up for Vengeance.
Next week on SmackDown,
it's gonna be you, Chris Jericho, versus Edge!
[crowd cheering]
-Me versus Edge? -You versus Edge.
That's great to me. That's…
It's just what I was hoping for.
You're welcome.
Thanks, Steph.
Welcome back, boss.
Me versus Edge.
Jericho versus Edge, huh?
[Stephanie] Shut the door.
[crowd cheering]
[bleep]!
[eerie music playing]
["619" playing]
[Tazz] Mysterio next week.
[Cole] Oh, there's "The Brahma Bull" The Rock.
Fresh off telling Eric Bischoff where to go,
he now turns his focus to the main event.
Coming up next, The Rock versus Kurt Angle.
With the general manager of Raw, Eric Bischoff,
the new general manager of SmackDown, Stephanie McMahon,
Triple H is up for grabs.
Wow, Vengeance takes on a new meaning now.
Vengeance will be off the charts now, for sure,
as if it wasn't gonna be already.
[Cole] Listen to this.
[Tazz] All right.
[Cole] That's "Downfall." Trust Company's "Downfall,"
the official theme song from Vengeance.
And the main event Sunday on pay-per-view from Detroit,
the Undisputed Title, a triple threat match,
The Rock, Kurt Angle, and The Undertaker.
[Tazz] The Gold Medalist, The Great One, and The American Badass.
Only one can leave Undisputed Champion.
[Cole] Tag Titles on the line,
Hogan, Edge versus Lance Storm and Christian.
[Tazz] This is bigger than political philosophies
as the Tag Team Titles are on the line.
["Downfall" by Trust Company playing]
[Cole] Also, a huge decision.
Will Triple H choose Raw or SmackDown?
[Tazz] The balance of power will be decided.
Between SmackDown and Raw, which way will The Game go?
[Cole] No disqualification, no count out, The Big Show and Booker T.
[Tazz] This is simple, It's the Spinaroonie
head up against the chokeslam.
[Cole] A tag team table match at Vengeance,
Bubba Ray and Spike Dudley against Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Master of the crossface tease with Latino Heat,
and the Dudleys wanna put them both through tables.
[Cole] The Intercontinental Title on the line.
The champion, Rob Van Dam, the challenger, Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] The Next Big Thing is going for the Intercontinental Championship,
but Rob Van Dam is in his way.
[Cole] Plus the Cruiserweight Title on the line,
Jamie Noble and Billy Kidman will…
[Tazz] What the hell?
["Medal" playing]
[Cole] It looks like Kurt Angle…
[crowd] You suck!
[Cole] …doesn't wanna wait to get the main event started.
[crowd] You suck!
You suck!
[popping explosions]
[Cole] Sunday on pay-per-view at Vengeance, Kurt Angle,
The Undertaker, and The Rock in a triple threat match.
This Sunday at Vengeance,
I will become the next Undisputed Champion.
[crowd jeering]
It's practically a foregone conclusion.
See, everybody, I already made The Undertaker tap.
[crowd] What?
And tonight, right here on SmackDown…
Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Keep cheering.
Your Olympic hero, and next Undisputed Champion,
can and will make The Rock tap too.
Oh, it's true.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Will Kurt Angle make The Rock tap?
["You're Gonna Pay" playing]
[Tazz] What the heck? Deadman! Taker.
[Cole] It's supposed to be Kurt Angle and The Rock.
But ladies and gentlemen,
this is the Undisputed Champion…
The Undertaker.
[no audible dialogue]
[Tazz] You got to wonder what the hell Taker's doing out here.
I mean, granted he's the Undisputed Champion,
and he's in that main event against Angle and Rock
come this Sunday at Vengeance,
but Kurt Angle is gonna wrestle The Rock right now.
[Cole] The parameters of this match have drastically changed.
It's The Rock versus Kurt Angle next.
But what is the Undisputed Champion, The Undertaker, doing out here?
What's the purpose of the champ at ringside?
[crowd cheering]
We are back on SmackDown.
Kurt Angle set to meet The Rock, but the Undisputed Champion,
The Undertaker's at ringside, and the question remains, why?
Well, I'm not gonna ask him why. He can do what he…
Take a look. That's what they're fighting about.
That's it. That's what they're fighting about.
You heard it, right here, Undisputed Title, right in front of us.
♪ If you smell ♪
♪ What The Rock is cooking ♪
[crowd cheering]
["If You Smell" playing]
[Cole] And The Brahma Bull…
-[Tazz] Beeline. -[Cole] …wasted little time.
-[Tazz] Beeline, beeline. -[Cole] Back in action on SmackDown.
[Cole] The Rock and Angle, three days from Vengeance,
getting it on tonight.
-[Tazz] Well, Rock hasn't lost a beat. -[Cole] Wow!
Big knockdown by The Rock to Kurt Angle.
And The Rock came out of the chute snorting.
[Tazz] You ain't lying, man.
Snorting, that's the best way to put it, my man.
[Cole] The Undisputed Champion, The Undertaker,
here with us at ringside as The Rock drills Kurt Angle
head first into the steel steps.
The Undertaker placed the Undisputed Title down here on the table.
He said, "This is what they're fighting about."
And it's a tremendous point
because The Rock, Kurt Angle, even The Undertaker
will battle for the title
in a triple threat match Sunday on pay-per-view.
[Tazz] Right on Taker's bike.
And you can see the look on Taker's face. He ain't a happy Deadman.
[Cole] The Undisputed Champion earlier on tonight
in an interview told us all…
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa!
[Cole] …what the Undisputed Title means to him.
The Rock showing you tonight what the title means to him.
Hoping to take Kurt Angle out of the equation
before Vengeance Sunday.
[Tazz] I mean, The Rock does one more of those back suplexes on that steel ramp,
we might not see Angle again ever.
Oh man.
[Cole] Oh, look out. Rock missed.
And Kurt Angle flooring The Rock, and Angle going to work on him.
[Tazz] No!
[Cole] Head first off the steel post.
[Tazz] The Rock looked like a torpedo.
Angle just [indistinct] him face-first into the steel.
[Cole] Kurt Angle trying to buy some time.
Suplex done to that unforgiving steel on the ramp.
[Tazz] I mean, Angle landed hard on that steel.
He's still feeling the effects of it on the back of his head on that ramp.
[Cole] And Kurt Angle showing you the competitor he is,
rolling in to break the ten count.
He wants this match to continue.
He wants to make good on his vow to make The Rock tap here tonight.
[Tazz] Exactly. He wants The Rock to tap.
He wants to break The Rock's ankle, does Angle.
[Cole] And Kurt Angle could be considered an odds-on favorite
to win the title Sunday at Vengeance.
And look at the vicious aggressiveness of Angle.
[Tazz] You don't win a gold medal, Cole, just by technique and training.
You win them because you have a mean streak.
[Cole] Kurt Angle with words to The Undertaker.
But think about what Kurt Angle has accomplished in recent weeks.
[Tazz] Oh, nice.
[Cole] Kurt Angle, off the suplex. The cover.
Hook of the leg, and Rock kicks out.
At King of the Ring, Kurt Angle made "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan tap out
to the ankle lock.
It was the first time in history. Then, just a couple of weeks ago,
Kurt Angle made The Undertaker tap.
One, two, three to the triangle choke.
Will Angle make The Rock tap here tonight, and make it a trifecta?
[Tazz] Look at these vicious blows by Kurt Angle
all over Rock.
You got to wonder the condition of The Rock,
the in-ring conditioning of The Rock.
He's been out of the ring for four months,
and Angle has been on an active, full schedule.
[Cole] Oh, what a chop by Kurt Angle.
But you got to wonder what is going through the mind
of the Undisputed Champion, The Undertaker, at ringside.
Triple-- Oh, look at The Rock reversing and The Rock, "The Brahma Bull"
taking it to Kurt Angle!
[Tazz] The Rock's got that never-say-die attitude.
He's all heart.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Do-si-do as The Rock shoves Angle across the ropes.
-Look at this! -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] A tremendous throw by The Rock. Into the cover.
Quick as a cat. Hook of the leg and Angle gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Talk about some ruthless aggression.
The Rock's got it and always had.
[Cole] Looking over the shoulder of the Undisputed Champion
who is in tremendous jeopardy come Vengeance Sunday.
[Tazz] German!
[Cole] German by Angle to The Rock.
Keep in mind, the Champion, The Undertaker,
under triple threat rules,
does not have to be pinned or submit to lose the title.
He doesn't have to be involved in the decision, The Undertaker.
If Kurt Angle could pin The Rock, Angle would become champion or vice versa.
And look at Angle pointing over at "The Deadman,"
saying, "Watch this. This is you on Sunday."
[Cole] Wow! We saw Kurt Angle deliver a German to The Undertaker last week.
-[Tazz] Oh! -There's a second one to The Brahma Bull.
[Tazz] And Undertaker's got the best seat in the house.
-[Cole] Wow! -[Tazz] Scouting…
Undertaker's scouting Angle.
[Cole] Kurt Angle, cover, hook of the leg. Rock gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Undertaker just bearing a hole in that ring,
just staring at both guys, both Rock and Angle
watching what's coming this Sunday at Vengeance.
[Cole] You know, The Undertaker said it in an interview earlier tonight, Tazz,
how much the Undisputed Title means to him.
He realizes that these two men are gunning for that title.
And The Undertaker out here to watch two of the best athletes in the business
go at it here on SmackDown tonight.
[Tazz] Well, both Angle and Rock are both former WWE Champions
but never Undisputed Champion.
And they want this title badly.
[Cole] And look at the confidence in the face of Kurt Angle,
allowing The Rock to just, to pull himself,
to crawl up the singlet of Angle
and then the one right hand to knock The Brahma Bull down.
[Tazz] Angle's picking apart The Rock.
[Cole] Oh, Rock blocked the right hand and The Brahma Bull trying to battle back.
Sold-out crowd at Wilkes-Barre.
-Coming to watch-- -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] Telegraphed that one, shot to the chest.
-[Tazz] Whoa! -[Cole] Knockdown by The Rock.
[Tazz] Look at the speed of these guys.
[Cole] And a Samoan Drop, cover, hook of the leg.
-Rock's got him here. -[Tazz] No!
[Cole] And Angle just got the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Woo, that was a second away.
[Cole] If you're The Undertaker, Tazz,
and you're scouting these two men at ringside,
what is running through your mind?
[Tazz] Well, if I'm The Undertaker right now,
I'm watching Kurt Angle put some serious, hard-hitting,
smash-mouth offense on The Rock,
if I'm The Deadman, I'm a little concerned right now.
[Cole] And you got to be concerned. We talked about it earlier.
Angle has made Hogan tap out.
The Undertaker knows what it's like to tap out to Kurt Angle
and now Angle, putting a hurt on The Brahma Bull.
[crowd buzzing]
[indistinct chatter]
[Tazz] But Angle's taunting The Undertaker. Oh!
[Cole] He just told The Undertaker to, "Watch this."
[Tazz] Undertaker's been watching everything.
[Cole] Can you see the confidence just oozing from the eyes of Kurt Angle?
[Tazz] Why shouldn't Angle be confident?
[Cole] Every blow… Every blow he delivers--
[Tazz] No, he's beating the hell out of The Rock, Kurt Angle is,
and doing it in front of all of these people,
millions at home and the Undisputed Champion
is ringside watching.
[Cole] I don't believe, following this industry, Tazz,
that I've ever seen anyone on the roll that Kurt Angle
has been on over the past month.
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's been on a roll, but Deadman don't sweat nobody,
and here comes The Rock, man!
The Rock battling back.
Angle turning his attention to The Undertaker,
causing a distraction. Knockdown!
Rock rolls into the cover, and a kickout by Angle.
Kurt Angle cannot allow The Undertaker to distract him in this matchup.
And he did it for a split instant
but Angle back on top with the advantage again.
[Tazz] Angle just pancaking The People's Champ
with that stiff clothesline.
Man, what a shot!
[Cole] Kurt Angle may not be pretty. He is a blue-collar worker in the ring.
[Tazz] It's a… Oh! Whoa!
[Cole] But by suplexes like that,
Kurt Angle may become the next Undisputed Champion
Sunday in Detroit.
[Tazz] He is my pick, Angle is.
[Cole] I agree with you. That is a great pick.
Check this out.
[Tazz] Man! Wow!
Hell of a clothesline!
[Cole] And The Rock…
Oh, look out now, belly-to-belly by Angle.
The cover, hook of the leg on The Rock. He's--
-[Tazz] No! -[Cole] The Rock.
The Rock, the guts of The Brahma Bull,
the never-say-die attitude, but is it just a matter of time
for Kurt Angle to put away The Rock?
[Tazz] Angle's picking apart the lower back of The Rock.
Seventy-two hours, that's all Rock has to recover from this beating he's getting,
till Vengeance Sunday.
And now, Kurt Angle seems to be in a tight rear chinlock,
wearing down The People's Champ.
[Cole] As The Undertaker intently looks on.
The Undertaker, a 12-year WWE veteran
who is the Undisputed Champion.
[Tazz] Look at that look.
[Cole] And you know he's making mental notes
of everything that is transpiring in this matchup
of how to combat Kurt Angle
who's now using the ropes in unfair advantage.
[Tazz] It's unfair, absolutely. Extra leverage. But know what?
If the ref ain't looking, and you can get away with it, go for it.
[Cole] Referee Mike Chioda, one of the best in the business
but he has his hands full here tonight.
And just think of the referee
how his hands are gonna be full at Vengeance…
[Tazz] There it is.
[Cole] …with these three men in the ring.
[Tazz] There is the shot right there. You see The Undertaker watching Angle
and just wearing down The Rock.
Look at the eyes on The Deadman.
And this is what it's all about, the Undisputed Title,
the WWE Undisputed Title.
[Cole] Kurt Angle continuing the pressure. The Rock's arm goes down one time.
Three times the charm for Angle. Twice now and The Rock looks out of it.
[Tazz] Choking The Rock out.
[Cole] And The Rock in trouble.
-Oh! -[Tazz] Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] And also brings Angle cinching that rear chinlock even tighter.
He tightened his grip.
[Cole] We talked about Angle's prowess but what about the heart,
what about the guts, what about the resilience
The Brahma Bull has shown in all his years here in the WWE.
[Tazz] No one's got a fight in him like The Brahma Bull, like The Rock,
and he's [indistinct] that on Kurt Angle.
[Cole] The Rock with the right hands.
Kurt Angle… Uh-oh.
-[Tazz] Angle Slam! -[Cole] Angle Slam!
-[Tazz] Oh my God! -[Cole] And he connected.
[Tazz] That was a high and tight one.
-[Cole] Kurt Angle connected. -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] Watch out for The Brahma Bull.
Oh no!
The Rock got the shoulder up somehow.
And The Undertaker has to be impressed with The Rock kicking out of this.
[Tazz] Look at this. Angle Slam, look at that!
He got some serious altitude onto The Rock.
What impact on The Rock's head!
[Cole] The Rock kicking out, all instinct.
Kurt Angle arguing but it's allowing The Rock valuable time…
-Don't lose your cool. -…to try to catch his breath.
Don't lose your cool, Kurt. Go in for the kill. Go in for the kill.
[Cole] Kick to the midsection.
Rock countered, leg lace takedown by The Rock.
And The Rock setting Kurt Angle up for perhaps the sharpshooter.
It's locked in, the sharpshooter locked in.
Will Kurt Angle tap?
[Tazz] Where did The Rock get this from?
Where did he get the energy to pull this out?
[Cole] And Kurt Angle makes it to the ropes,
and notice how he crawled on his elbows
so there'd be no confusion to whether Angle was tapping out.
[Tazz] The Rock has been getting…
The Rock's been getting his ass kicked for the past few minutes out here.
He sucking wind, he's hurting and he's--
[Cole] And he's stalking Angle.
Went for the Rock Bottom. Angle countered.
And a big clothesline, almost knocking the head off The Rock.
[Tazz] Completely just almost decapitated.
[Cole] And Kurt Angle, he can feel it now, Tazz.
Oh, The Rock gets up!
[Tazz] Oh, look at this!
He's coming back. The Rock! Comes a good punch.
[Cole] And a right hand to Kurt Angle.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Kurt Angle's right in front of us.
[Cole] Kurt Angle knocked over the top rope.
[Tazz] The Rock's coming out to meet him.
[Cole] And here comes The Brahma Bull.
The Brahma Bull with a right hand to Angle.
[Cole spluttering] Oh, Kurt Angle.
Oh, look out.
The Undertaker, the champ.
And The Rock clearing The Undertaker out!
Went for Angle, hit The Undertaker, and now Kurt Angle takes advantage.
[Tazz] Right here on the table.
[Cole] The Rock bouncing off the table. Kurt Angle in control.
[Tazz] Ow!
[Cole] And the trash talking from Angle to The Brahma Bull.
Back into the ring. The ten count broken up.
Kurt Angle now stalking The Rock, and I think Kurt Angle believes the…
There! The ankle lock!
-This is the end. -The ankle lock is locked in.
-[Tazz] Counter! -[Cole] And counter by The Rock.
[crowd cheering]
And here is The Rock off the ropes. Kurt Angle…
-Uh-oh. -[Tazz] No!
[Cole] A DDT!
The Rock floated over and connected. Cover, hooks the leg, and got it.
-[Tazz] This is it! -[Cole] No!
Oh, wait a minute.
The champ on the apron. And goes for the right hand.
[Tazz] There goes The Deadman.
[Cole] Spinebuster! Spinebuster! Here it comes.
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Going for the People's Elbow. -[Tazz] Takedown!
[Cole] And he ran into The Undertaker's clothesline.
[Tazz] Undertaker like a middle linebacker
just picking The Rock right off with that clothesline.
[Cole] And the Undisputed Champion, The Undertaker, thunderous right hands.
[Tazz] The Undertaker beating the snot out of The Rock.
[Cole] These two and Angle will be in the triple threat match Sunday.
-[crowd cheering] -[man] Rocky!
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute.
Kurt Angle, steel chair.
The Rock and Undertaker oblivious.
[Tazz] Taker don't see him.
-[Cole] Oh! To the back of The Undertaker. -[Tazz] Oh man!
Whoa.
[Cole] Now, Rock with a clothesline.
The Brahma Bull knocking Angle down, went for the Rock Bottom.
[Tazz] No!
-[Cole] And Kurt Angle, -Kurt Angle ankle lock!
-[Tazz] Beautiful! -[Cole] Ankle lock, Kurt Angle.
Wants to break the ankle.
The Rock tapping to the ankle lock.
[Tazz] He's tapping. He was tapping, all right.
[Cole] Kurt Angle vowed to make The Rock tap.
And The Brahma Bull tapping out.
Even though this match is over with,
Kurt Angle proving that he could make The Rock tap.
[Tazz] Come Sunday at Vengeance, if Kurt Angle makes The Rock tap,
that triple threat may go right in the hands of Angle
and Angle will be the new champ.
[Cole] Yeah, he may be one of two challengers
but he may be the man to beat.
Three men, one goal, an Undisputed Title,
Sunday at Vengeance on pay-per-view.
I tell you. I saw, I saw.
There. Triple H! Triple H!
Triple H, one question, who are you going to sign with?
-Is it going to be Raw or SmackDown? -Hunter.
[crowd cheering]
Can I have a minute? A couple minutes.
I need-- I really need to talk to you.
-Hunter-- -What?
This is… This is strictly business, no tricks, no nothing.
If I could just get you alone and sit you down
and if we could just hash some things out.
Please.
Oh, you… you sure you wanna do that alone?
You sure you don't want to have your, uh, your lawyer there?
Sure you don't want your lawyer there to do your business for you?
That seems the way it's been recently between us.
I deserve that.
But this is business.
Sunday, this Sunday,
I will hear everything that you have to say.
I will hear it all from all sides,
and I'll make my decision this Sunday at Vengeance.
But, uh…
You gaining weight?
[crowd roaring]
Ha.
-That's nice. -[laughing]
Hey, but don't worry, Steph, I think you look great.
[laughing]
See you Sunday! [laughing]
You bastard! y! [laughing]