[WWE signature intro playing]
[epic music playing]
We're gonna present the final fate of Hardcore Holly,
because Hardcore Holly's match is All Or Nothing.
The A-Train and Matt Morgan
against Hardcore Holly and Shannon Moore.
[Cole] It's simple, folks.
Holly wins, he gets a title shot against Brock Lesnar.
-Holly loses, his career is over. -[music turns ominous]
[Tazz] Let's not forget, Cole,
Hardcore's partner Shannon Moore was set-up and destroyed
at the hands of Brock Lesnar.
[Cole] Here comes A-Train and Matt Morgan.
And Shannon Moore, he's left alone in the ring.
Was this Lesnar's strategy to have Moore start the match?
Hardcore Holly did not want Shannon Moore to start this matchup.
Now, A-Train and Matt Morgan are beating the hell out of this kid.
Hardcore Holly is helpless on the outside.
The fate of his career is in the hands of his partner.
[Tazz] Shannon Moore needs a miracle here.
-[Cole] A-Train… 350 pounds. -[Tazz] Oh my God.
[Cole] Shannon Moore… Oh.
Shannon Moore countered.
[Tazz] Shannon's only chance to make a tag, Cole.
-Oh! -[Cole] And now, here comes Hardcore.
[Tazz] All Or Nothing, Holly, All Or Nothing.
[Cole] Holly has nothing to lose.
This could be his last match ever, and he's giving it everything he has.
But is everything he has enough?
-And here's the Champion. -[Tazz] Got that steel chair in his hand.
[Cole] Oh! Steel chair off the head of Holly.
And that's the so-called Greatest Champion of All Time?
[Tazz] Holly's done, Cole.
Matt Morgan needs to hit one high-impact move,
and the story is done.
-[Cole] Matt Morgan… -[Tazz] There it is, powerbomb.
-[Cole] The sitout powerbomb. -[Tazz] It's fundamental.
[Cole] It's over. Oh! But Holly rolls the shoulder out.
[Tazz] That's instinctive, Cole.
That's all that was, an instinct to kick out of that.
[Cole] When you're backed into a corner, you're at your most dangerous.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Bicycle kick to his own partner.
This could be the opening for Hardcore Holly.
-Look at this. -[Tazz] Alabama Slam time.
[Cole] Could it be? Can Holly do it?
-Hooks the leg, shoulders down. -[Tazz] One, two-- Whoa!
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Hardcore Holly does it.
[Tazz] Against all odds, Cole,
Hardcore Holly has earned a shot at Brock Lesnar's championship.
["I Want It All" playing]
♪ I won't stop, uh, uh ♪
♪ 'Til it's all mine Get it, get it, get it ♪
♪ Come on ♪
♪ No, you won’t take this from me ♪
♪ Uh, yeah, I work too hard ♪
♪ Ay, yo, it's my life, my time ♪
♪ My rights, my rhymes ♪
♪ My grind, my struggle ♪
♪ Hustle, sweat, and my blood, too ♪
♪ A predator smells fear And I smell a lot ♪
♪ My competitors fled scared 'Cause they smelt I was hot ♪
♪ I want it all, excess ♪
♪ The sex and much success Stress sucks ♪
♪ I want it all, no less, so come on ♪
-[fireworks exploding] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Happy New Year and welcome to 2004.
This is SmackDown from Laredo, Texas. Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.
And Tazz, what a New Year's gift for Hardcore Holly.
[Tazz] Cole, big news, huge news.
WWE Championship on the line at the Royal Rumble.
And Hardcore Holly, the challenger, will face the champion, Brock Lesnar.
[Cole] January 25th, Philadelphia at the Rumble.
But now, the Cruiserweight Title's on the line.
["619" playing]
♪ Who's that jumpin' out the sky? R-E-Y Mysterio, here we go ♪
♪ When the mask out The girls, they pass out… ♪
[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
And it is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.
Approaching the ring, the challenger from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 175 pounds,
Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] Mysterio, the No. 1 Contender for the Cruiserweight Title
after defeating Jamie Noble two weeks ago in that No. 1 Contender Matchup.
What an opportunity tonight for Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] Tremendous, humongous opportunity for Rey Mysterio.
This is gonna be, I'm telling you, an outstanding contest.
Tajiri, the Cruiserweight Champ, on his way out right now.
[entrance music playing]
[Chimel] And being accompanied to the ring by Akio and Sakoda,
from Japan, weighing in at 206 pounds
is the Cruiserweight Champion, Tajiri.
[Cole] Tajiri, perhaps, with the advantage in the matchup
because he is flanked by his henchmen, Akio and Sakoda.
-What role will they play? -[Tazz] I don't know, Cole.
Those guys are shady, no doubt about it, Sakoda and Akio.
But put all that aside, man, the Champion, Tajiri "The Japanese Buzzsaw" right there…
going against Rey Mysterio right now.
These athletes,
two of the greatest cruiserweights in the world today, bar none.
[Cole] There is no doubt a tremendous rivalry has developed
between the Cruiserweight Champion, Tajiri,
and the challenger, Rey Mysterio.
It was back in September that Tajiri defeated Mysterio for the title
using, keep in mind, that red mist at the time.
[Tazz] You know, Tajiri, once he became WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
he became a national hero in his home country of Japan.
But right now, this ain't Japan. This is Laredo, Texas.
And you gotta watch the dangerous feet of Tajiri.
The striking style, the martial arts Japanese style of Tajiri.
[Cole] Lock up center of the ring. Strategy here.
First off, for the champion, Tajiri.
[Tazz] Well, strategy is again, ground… There you go. …ground Rey Mysterio.
Oh, Tajiri is tremendous at submission and strike.
That's a… Right there, it's a cross armbreaker by Tajiri…
by Mysterio quickly.
The mat work of Tajiri is switching that…
But if you… if you got that luchador style of Rey Mysterio…
[Cole] Look at this. First cover of the matchup. Tajiri kicks out.
[Tazz] That luchador style of Rey Mysterio,
that high-flying, high-risk style,
clashing styles, both these cruiserweights here.
As we go, this is a toss-up, my man, toss-up.
[Cole] Tajiri, the Cruiserweight Champion,
trying to ground the challenger Rey Mysterio,
hence the reason Tajiri working on that, those legs early on in the matchup.
[Tazz] Yeah, modified single leg right there, crossing those legs.
Tajiri controlling the lower body, preventing Rey Mysterio from doing
-those high-flying luchador moves he does. -[Cole] And look at this.
Rey Mysterio on the shoulders of Tajiri. Rolls through.
The champion's shoulders down, and a kickout.
-What a way to kick off SmackDown 2004! -[Tazz] Yup.
[Cole] With the Cruiserweight Title on the line.
And again, Tajiri grounding the challenger.
[Tazz] That was a quick victory roll by Rey Mysterio,
but Tajiri got out and into a side armbar.
And right there, Mysterio trying to pick the ankle,
but again the mat technique of Tajiri.
These guys are so evenly matched.
[Cole] This huge crowd in Laredo are expecting a big night,
but we have a huge surprise for you a little bit later on.
[Tazz] And Rey Mysterio nailed that high-snap mare
and then that leapfrog, and then, boom, a double chop to the throat by Tajiri.
[Cole] Mysterio whipped into the top turnbuckle.
And you saw his head, his neck of Mysterio snap back
as the champion goes on the attack.
[Tazz] Cole, that might've been Mysterio's throat that was driven,
driven into that top turnbuckle there. That's steel under that pad.
[Cole] And here's Tajiri whipped into the corner.
Mysterio lands on the second rope.
-Tremendous balance by the challenger. -[Tazz] Nice.
[Cole] Arm drag. Champion's in trouble. Rey Mysterio lands on his feet
and goes to work now on the Japanese Buzzsaw
as we take another look…
-[Tazz] The handspring. -Look at this. Oh.
Mysterio countering Tajiri through the second rope.
[Tazz] Oh, here we go. Rey Mysterio…
That luchador style, high-risk I was talking about.
-Oh my God. -[Cole] Oh, Mysterio over the top rope.
[Tazz] With that huge senton over the top rope.
[Cole] And there's Akio and Sakoda.
Rey Mysterio in control
of the Cruiserweight Champion here tonight.
[Cole] Cruiserweight Championship is on the line.
-Rey Mysterio, the challenger. -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] Tajiri, the champion.
And Mysterio has been taking it to Tajiri all throughout the commercial break.
[Tazz] Look at the speed right here of Mysterio, ducking the clothesline.
-[Cole] Tajiri caught on the second rope. -[Tazz] Uh-oh, uh-oh.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] 619 time baby. Come on, man.
[Cole] But Akio providing interference for Tajiri.
-Mysterio back for the 619. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] Sakoda caught him. You saw Akio distract the referee,
allowing Sakoda to get the interception of Mysterio for Tajiri.
[Tazz] Well, it's handicap, three on one right here.
Tajiri utilizing his henchmen, Sakoda and Akio.
[Cole] Here's the cover by the champion, hook of the outside leg,
shoulders down, Mysterio kicks out.
And we talked about it early on at the matchup.
What role will Akio and Sakoda play in this Title Match here tonight?
[Tazz] I think it's safe to say not a, oh, not a fair role.
And there it is, the dangerous feet of the Buzzsaw.
[Cole] And Tajiri continues to ground Mysterio.
[Tazz] Those stinging, striking blows of those feet, those kicks.
[Cole] And Mysterio desperately trying to fight back,
but the Cruiserweight Champion continues to keep Mysterio grounded in this match.
[Tazz] I don't know, Cole. I mean, Mysterio is in a lot of trouble.
[Cole] Oh, wow.
[Tazz] And there's no sign of Tajiri slowing down his offense.
[Cole] Shoulders down, and Mysterio just rolls the shoulder up.
But as we've seen in the past, Rey Mysterio…
We saw it a couple of weeks ago in a Title Match against Brock Lesnar.
A tremendous amount of resilience and heart for Mysterio,
but Tajiri continues the attack.
Rey Mysterio, Cole, is-- The sunset flip.
[Cole] Shoulders down. May have surprised the champion,
but Tajiri just kicked out.
[Tazz] Mysterio is loaded with [indistinct] fortitude,
but Mysterio might just be… We might be watching his demise.
Rey Mysterio getting picked apart here, that leg,
because of that early attack by Sakoda and Akio.
[Cole] And speaking of Sakoda and Akio,
you see Akio creeping ever so closely to Mysterio.
-[crowd chanting indistinctly] -…three…
[Cole] This crowd all over Tajiri.
[Tazz] I don't know if Tajiri understands what they're saying, but I do.
-[Cole] And Tajiri… -What a way to kick off New Year's, huh?
-Not for nothing. This is great. Oh! -[Cole] Cruiserweight Title Match.
And Tajiri drills that elbow into the injured left knee of Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] You gotta point out though, Cole,
the point of the elbow, that just brings all the force
and pain right into that thigh, that quadricep of Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] Mysterio, literally, crawling to the bottom rope
to try to buy himself some time.
-And Tajiri… -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
…hanging Mysterio up on the top rope,
and Mysterio is in all kinds of trouble here,
and a dropkick to the knee.
And you could almost see Mysterio come out of his tights.
-[Tazz] That might be it. -[Cole] Shoulders down.
Mysterio again rolls out.
And Tajiri perhaps beginning to become frustrated here.
You saw the look on the champion's face.
[Tazz] And you don't wanna do that to Tajiri.
You don't wanna get frustrated with an athlete like Rey Mysterio.
He can beat you so quick with a… with a high-risk move.
[Cole] And Mysterio with a right hand trying to battle back.
Mysterio realizes this is desperation time.
Knowing Tajiri and the way he is as champion,
this could be perhaps Mysterio's final opportunity
to regain the Cruiserweight Title.
[Tazz] You can see that Mysterio is standing on one leg, though.
-Missed right there. -[Cole] Tajiri shot to the mid-section.
Look out now. Going for the tarantula.
And Mysterio wisely hanging on to the bottom rope.
Tajiri tries to roll through. Mysterio rolls through.
A kick to the face, and the champion's in trouble.
[Tazz] No doubt, Tajiri is in a lot of trouble.
That dropkick, that low dropkick, all of it was nailed by Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] But how much does Mysterio have left?
As Mysterio desperately tries to change the momentum here
in this Cruiserweight Title Matchup.
-Tajiri, top rope. -[Tazz] Oh, man. High-risk, high-risk.
[Cole] Here comes Mysterio from the top rope, a hurricanrana.
[Tazz] That's classic luchador style.
[Cole] He's got a title on the line.
And Tajiri just rolls the shoulder out.
[Tazz] What a matchup to kick off SmackDown in 2004.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio is so close to regaining the Cruiserweight Title,
and the first man to his feet here could gain the upper hand
in this crucial matchup.
[Tazz] You got it, Cole. It's the turning point of the match, Cole.
Who's gonna get to that, to a vertical base first,
-the champ or the challenger? -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Rey Mysterio being willed on by this crowd at Laredo.
Shot to the midsection, and a right hand,
and here comes the challenger trying to battle back.
But again, the quick kicks of the Japanese Buzzsaw
going right to work on an injured left leg of Mysterio.
-Mysterio, second rope… -[Tazz] Springboard.
[Cole] Lateral press, but he rolled through.
[Tazz] He's hanging on. Mysterio's holding that hamstring.
Mysterio going for something, got caught.
[Cole] But he reversed it.
-Face-first. -[Tazz] Bulldog.
[Cole] Hook of the leg… No.
And Tajiri just kicks out at a count of two.
Mysterio so close again.
[Tazz] It's near fall after near fall here.
-Deep arm drag there, nice. Look at this! -[Cole] Hangs on.
Shoulders down. He got him. And Tajiri rolled out.
And Mysterio really taking it to the champion,
as the Japanese Buzzsaw measures the challenger. Up over the top.
[Tazz] Mysterio trying to get a pin, but hanging on there.
Tajiri don't realize it. Springboard.
[Cole] Went for… That's the West Coast Pop.
And look at Tajiri pulling through, single leg crab.
[referee indistinct]
[Tazz] Mysterio's gonna try to hang on. He's close to tapping out there, Cole.
[Cole] Submission maneuver, Mysterio in trouble,
trying to make it desperately to the bottom rope.
[Tazz] That leg's gotta be killing Mysterio.
Come on, Rey. You're close to the rope, kid. Come on.
[Cole] Mysterio trying to get out of this predicament here.
-The Cruiserweight Title is on the line. -He's close, Cole.
[Cole] Mysterio gets to the bottom rope and forces referee Brian Hebner
to break Tajiri's hold.
[Tazz] Got a five count. Got a five count.
Tajiri could get disqualified if he don't let go.
[Cole] But how much more can Mysterio take, Tazz?
Tremendous amount of punishment on that left leg.
An enzuigiri to the back of the head. Tajiri caught up in the corner.
[Tazz] But how much of that enzuigiri was delivered
with the force that Mysterio could usually deliver that with
-because of the one leg? -[Cole] Off the second rope.
Mysterio took a little too much time because of the injured leg
getting into the corner.
[Tazz] Mysterio is fighting hard, though, Cole. You gotta give him a ton of credit.
-Ton of heart here. -[Cole] And Tajiri with a right hand.
Mysterio perhaps doesn't know where he is.
-Come on, let's go. Come on. Hey! -[Tazz] He's in a lot of trouble,
because Tajiri might be going for a superplex from the top rope.
[Cole] Headbutt. Tajiri knocked off the top rope.
Referee knocked down as well.
Rey Mysterio up to the top rope.
-The challenger… -[Tazz] Mysterio's gonna fly.
[Cole] Knocked off the top rope by Akio.
[Tazz] You gotta get these guys out of here, ref.
-[Cole] And Tajiri… -[Tazz] Powerbomb coming right at-- Oh!
[Cole] A running sitout powerbomb. Shoulders down.
-[Tazz] That's it. Oh! -[Cole] And Mysterio kicked out.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Akio almost cost Mysterio the matchup.
But how did Mysterio kick out? Check it out.
[Tazz] Look at the force. A running sitout powerbomb.
The average man would've been pinned on that.
How the hell did Rey kick out?
[Cole] And Tajiri believes the end is near.
-Measuring his opponent… -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Going for the put-away kick. Mysterio ducks underneath. Shoulders down.
He could have it here. No.
[Tazz] Oh man. That was close.
[Cole] What a Cruiserweight Title Matchup to kick off SmackDown here
in the year 2004.
[Tazz] Up on top, Mysterio may be going for the another… [indistinct]
Punching the hell out of the head of Tajiri.
[Cole] Trying to battle back. Look at this. Tajiri caught on the second rope.
Mysterio barely on one leg.
-[Tazz] Oh, look at this 619. -[Cole] The 619 connects.
Can Mysterio take advantage?
[Tazz] That one nailed… [splutters]
Mysterio nailed that one right across the face of Tajiri.
Springboard.
[Cole] Mysterio up for the West Coast Pop.
-[Tazz] Oh man! -[Cole] Tajiri with the kick to the face.
-Mysterio needed one more good move. -[Tazz] Oh, come on.
[Cole] Couldn't connect.
[Tazz] Sakoda is hook on the-- on the hook in the arms.
[Cole] And look at this, the green mist.
Mysterio ducked. Sakoda hit with the mist.
Akio-- Oh! Knocked off the rope.
[Tazz] That's one of Tajiri's moves.
[Cole] Look at this. Hurricanrana.
-Shoulders down… -[Tazz] One, two, three.
-[Cole] Mysterio got it. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Mysterio is the champion.
["619" playing]
[Chimel] Here's your winner
and the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion,
Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] A standing ovation for Rey Mysterio.
What a way to kick off New Year's.
[Tazz] A big-time Happy New Year
for Rey Mysterio right here in Laredo, Texas.
Mysterio is the new Cruiserweight Champion,
defeating Tajiri.
A Champion… a Handicap Match
with the henchmen of Tajiri getting involved constantly,
Sakoda and Akio.
Let's check out the mist here.
When Tajiri went for this mist, Mysterio ducked,
Sakoda ate the green mist.
Tajiri getting right on, and then check out…
Here's the finish to the matchup.
Duck, beautiful hurricanrana. Boom.
-One, two, three. -[bell rings]
[Tazz] The new Cruiserweight Champion, 2004.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd] One, two, three.
-[bell rings] -[Cole] Wow.
[Tazz] What a way to kick off the new year for Mysterio.
♪ But guess what? Looks like a winner to me ♪
♪ Come on Who's that jumpin' out the sky? ♪
[Cole] Congratulations, Rey Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
And Rey, Happy New Year. What a way to kick off the new year.
Thanks, Michael.
You know, Rey Mysterio…
Rey Mysterio has a New Year's resolution,
and that was to become the Cruiserweight Champ.
[crowd cheering]
Now, Cole, I'll be honest with you, dawg.
I didn't think it was gonna happen tonight.
[crowd cheers]
And I'm proud to say… I'm proud to say that I love what I do,
and that's performing for all of you.
[crowd cheers]
From Memphis to Melbourne, from Tokyo to Texas.
[crowd cheering]
And since… since this is a new year,
I wanna say Happy New Year to everybody around the world.
[speaking Spanish] And to all my people…
Happy New Year!
[exclaims]
[crowd cheering]
-[in English] -♪ Well ♪
-♪ Well, it's The Big Show… ♪ -[Tazz] What the hell? Big Show?
What the hell is Big Show coming out here for?
I guess Big Show wants to spoil Rey Mysterio's party.
I guess when you're the largest athlete in the world,
you can just do that.
[indistinct] …Big Show.
I mean, it's a great moment for Rey Mysterio,
a very special moment, and it's ruined,
ruined by The Big Show out here.
The United States Champion.
What the hell is he doing out here, though?
[song fades out]
-[chuckling] -[crowd booing]
[crowd chanting indistinctly]
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Congratulations. You're the Cruiserweight Champion.
Meanwhile, I got more important business to discuss right now.
[Cole] How disrespectful is this?
The business I wanna discuss
is the hottest thing on the market right now.
What you're looking at is the newest piece of Big Show merchandise.
[crowd booing]
Hold on a second, bud.
Now, you notice the front… The front says, "Chicks dig it big."
That's one of them there innuendos.
You know what I'm saying?
[inaudible]
That's a good idea. I'll show them the back too.
See, on the back,
it says, "And it just don't get any bigger than this."
Okay. That's one of them innuendos, too.
So kind of a little play on words.
Now, you'll notice the size of this shirt. I took into consideration
that not all of you are finely-tuned athletes like myself,
as in-shape as myself,
and then some of you out there are, well, kind of fat.
[crowd boos]
So I figured, why shouldn't you have a piece of WWE merchandise yourself?
So don't be the only fan in town
that doesn't have the hottest shirt on the market right now,
and that's The Big Show's "Chicks dig it big" shirt.
Make sure you get yours.
We have them in extra-large, all the way up to 3X.
Just for some of you fans who are a little,
well, overweight, so to say.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Good for Mysterio.
Now, look, if you want one,
I'll be more than happy to sell you one, okay?
That one is mine. Please give it back.
[crowd shouting indistinctly]
Rey, give me back my damn shirt now. That's my shirt.
Give me back my shirt.
-Give me back my shirt. -[man] Kick his ass, man!
Give me back my shirt.
You-- What are you trying to-- If you throw my shirt…
And these people did not pay for that shirt.
If you throw that shirt over that top rope, I swear,
I'm gonna beat your little ass right here.
[crowd booing and cheering]
Now, put my shirt in my hand and quit playing around.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz and Cole] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Well, Big Show did come out here and spoil Mysterio's party.
You can't blame Mysterio.
[Tazz] Yeah, I know, but the threat was given out by The Big Show,
and Mysterio has given up a ton of size, no pun intended.
Oh, he's so mad.
-[Cole] But Mysterio with his speed. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Cole] The new Cruiserweight Champion taking it to The Big Show for a moment.
Oh, and that frying pan-like hand to the chest of Mysterio.
[Tazz] Rey Mysterio just went through a grueling match with Tajiri
and won the Cruiserweight Championship. And now…
Mysterio is cornered by the big giant.
[Cole] Oh, what a biel.
Big Show stole Mysterio's spotlight, stole his moment here tonight,
and now he's about to beat the living hell out of him.
[Tazz] Mysterio is gonna be in a world of hurt. He's goozled…
[Cole] Wait a minute. Hardcore… Hardcore Holly with a dropkick
-to the back of The Big Show. -[Tazz] What a shot, 619.
[Cole] A 619, Mysterio to Big Show.
-[crowd cheering] -Come on.
[Cole] Hardcore Holly coming out here and evening the odds for Rey Mysterio.
Holly getting Mysterio out of harm's way.
[Tazz] A couple of weeks back, Hardcore was dressed up
like one of Mysterio's family members.
But I'll tell you what, The Big Show is livid.
The Giant is irate. I'm telling you, there's gonna be hell to pay, Cole.
Hell to pay.
This ain't good for somebody tonight.
[Cole] Big Show embarrassed and humiliated by Mysterio and Holly.
Hello. My name is Sergeant Duke. I'm from Milburn, Oklahoma.
I'm Specialist Jerrod Howard from Silverton, Oregon.
And I'm Captain Jack Owens from Moore, Oklahoma.
And we would like to say…
[together] Happy New Year.
[narrator] Bodies have been bruised.
[JR] How do you learn to fall off a 20-foot ladder?
He may've been broken in half.
I thought Shane might've been knocked out.
-I dislocated my right shoulder. -I think I broke my tailbone.
[narrator] Necks broken.
I ruptured a disc which fragmented into my spinal column.
[narrator] Careers ended in an instant.
Yes, this is entertainment, but the hazards are real.
[JR] How's he even able to stand?
[Cole] Trainers, EMT's, referees down.
[narrator] No matter who you are,
whatever you do, please, don't try this at home.
[Cole] Moments ago, Big Show, being a jerk,
spoiling Rey Mysterio's party
after Mysterio won the Cruiserweight Title.
[Tazz] Yeah, well, Rey Mysterio all around the world…
The new Cruiserweight Champion all around the world
to throw that shirt into the audience because he was disrespected
by The Big show, spoiling Rey Mysterio's party.
[Cole] Yeah, but Big show wasn't through.
He warned Mysterio not to throw the T-shirt.
He was about to chokeslam Mysterio until Hardcore Holly would even the odds.
[Tazz] Shocking moment. Out of nowhere, Hardcore came out here,
oh, with that 619, devastating, and Big Show deserved it.
[groans]
[crowd booing]
[grunting angrily]
Show, Show, Show. Show, stop. Stop, please.
Please, listen to me. Please, listen.
I know you're frustrated, Show. And I understand your frustration,
and you have every right to be frustrated. You were victimized tonight,
and nobody should victimize you. You're seven feet tall.
You're 500 pounds. You need a piece of meat.
Let me give you that piece of meat, Show. Please, listen to me.
Tonight, Show, I wanna give you a match.
I wanna give you a match against the man that dropkicked you
in the back and the head and victimized you.
I want to give you a match against the man that wants to take the WWE Title
away from Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.
Tonight, I want to make the match,
The Big Show one-on-one versus Hardcore Holly.
[crowd cheering]
Okay? Please?
[grunting angrily]
[Cole] The Big Show, irate, humiliated, embarrassed,
gets to take it out on Hardcore Holly tonight.
[Tazz] It's like throwing raw meat to a lion.
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, weighing in at 293 pounds,
he's a member of the APA, Bradshaw.
[Cole] What an experience, what an honor!
Last week's SmackDown: Christmas from Baghdad,
much of it the result of the efforts of that man, Bradshaw.
[Tazz] Bradshaw, the first to volunteer, wanted to help orchestrate.
Bradshaw helped orchestrate the tremendous trip.
The honor for us to go to Baghdad and visit our troops, and John--
And Bradshaw has just been outstanding from Afghanistan to Baghdad,
supporting our troops.
A real proud, great American, that's John Bradshaw.
[Cole] Bradshaw has spent the weekend at the Walter Reed Medical Center
in Washington DC, visiting the troops.
[Chimel] And from Detroit, Michigan, weighing in at 275 pounds, Rhyno.
[Cole] Well, this is the rubber match, third match with Bradshaw and Rhyno.
Two weeks ago, Rhyno knowing Bradshaw went to Iraq early,
challenged Bradshaw to a match.
When Bradshaw didn't show up, Rhyno demanded a count-out victory,
but Faarooq, Bradshaw's partner, showed up instead.
[Tazz] Usually when you see Bradshaw, you see Faarooq.
But out of nowhere, Faarooq showed up. And right there, an illegal low blow,
and he got damn near his head screwed right in front of the referee.
Rhyno looked like he just wanted to be disqualified
with that low blow in front of the referee.
[Cole] And after the low blow, the Gore to Farooq.
So, Bradshaw looks for some retribution here tonight.
Rhyno and Bradshaw have each won a match apiece.
This is the rubber match here tonight on SmackDown.
Locked up, center of the ring for Bradshaw and Rhyno.
And you know what? I hate to give Paul Heyman a credit,
but I guess Heyman knows what he's doing.
Sacrificing Hardcore Holly here tonight for The Big Show.
And perhaps a way to take Holly out of the equation
for that match versus Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble.
[Tazz] I'm sure that's the situation. And Bradshaw--
[Cole] Here's the cover. Shoulders down. And a kickout by Rhyno.
And just a reminder, tonight, a huge surprise coming your way
on SmackDown, in just a little bit.
As Bradshaw delivers the right hands to Rhyno, whipped into the corner.
Wow!
Rhyno, kick to the midsection. Planted Bradshaw with a DDT.
[Tazz] Nice DDT too.
Rhyno nailed all of that right there on Bradshaw. It's a cover.
One, two…
[Cole] Shoulders down, and Bradshaw just gets the shoulder up.
[Tazz] That's a mistake. You gotta hook a leg for a big dude like Bradshaw.
[Cole] We mentioned earlier tonight that at the Royal Rumble,
it's gonna be Hardcore Holly and Brock Lesnar.
And general manager Paul Heyman
only seems to be protecting the champion, Brock Lesnar,
trying to do so again tonight by putting Big Show
into that matchup with Hardcore Holly.
[Tazz] Sometimes I wonder who the hell is in charge.
Is it Lesnar, or is it Heyman?
[Cole] Well, the way things have worked as of late over the past few weeks,
it seems to be the WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar.
[Tazz] Well, right now, Rhyno is in charge of Bradshaw.
[Cole] Oh, and a big suplex.
[Tazz] Big vertical suplex there. Rhyno… Rhyno can't capitalize.
Oh, there's a cover.
[Cole] Cover, shoulders down, and Bradshaw rolls the shoulder up.
[Tazz] Don't quite know why Rhyno is not hooking that leg.
You've got to. You've got to hook the leg with a man like Bradshaw.
See, now here comes Bradshaw with that arsenal.
[Cole] Bradshaw from Texas. Right here tonight,
we're in Laredo for SmackDown,
-kicking off the new year. -[Tazz] Uh-oh. Got caught.
[Cole] And Rhyno got caught.
[Tazz] Last Call might be coming up, Cole.
That caught-- Last Call.
[Cole] And fallaway slam, the Last Call as Bradshaw likes to call it,
and Rhyno is in trouble.
The man-beast from Detroit, Michigan, as Bradshaw makes it to his feet.
-[Tazz] Well, if Rhyno gets nailed… -[Cole] Oh.
[Tazz] …with another big boot or possibly the Clothesline from Hell,
that could be it, but then again, if Rhyno nails that Gore on Bradshaw,
that'd be it for Bradshaw.
[Cole] Thumb to the eyes perhaps, by the 275-pounder.
[Tazz] First man to hit that high-impact move might be the winner.
-[Cole] And there it is. -[Tazz] Oh, there it goes.
-[Cole] Clothesline from Hell. -[Tazz] That's gotta be it.
-[Cole] Bradshaw wins the rubber match. -[bell rings]
[Tazz] What a shot.
[crowd cheering]
[Chimel] Here's your winner, Bradshaw.
[Cole] What a win for the big Texan, Bradshaw,
here tonight on SmackDown.
Take another look, and you talked about that one high-impact move,
providing one of these men with a victory.
[Tazz] Yeah, and this was it.
That humongous, dangerous Clothesline from Hell
by that very tough, proud American, Bradshaw. Tough to get out of that one.
-Later on tonight, tag team action. -Look at this. Wait, hold it.
-Los Guerreros are right here in Texas. -Hey, yeah, you know what I'm looking at?
-Yeah, the Lowrider magazine. -Check that out right there.
[Tazz] That's Latino Heat, baby, Eddie Guerrero right there.
Yeah, normally on the Lowrider magazine, you got these hot girls on the cover.
Eddie Guerrero, the first man to ever grace the cover.
Well, a couple of hot tomatoes on the cover along with Guerrero.
Well, earlier today, Eddie and Chavo invited by a local radio station
to take part in a Lowrider Parade.
["We Lie, We Cheat, We Steal" playing]
[Cole] A total of 30 lowriders involved.
And Eddie and Chavo checking things out.
[Tazz] Cool, man, check this out. How come I wasn't invited to this?
I'm tight with the Guerreros. [laughs]
[Cole] Eddie and Chavo having fun, and they're gonna have fun later tonight…
[Tazz] Look at that ride.
[Cole] …as they take on the world's greatest tag team.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] SmackDown, first one in the new year, coming your way
from the Entertainment Center in Laredo, Texas.
And tonight, Hardcore Holly takes on The Big Show.
It could be hell to pay in that one, but I gotta keep thinking back
to last Thursday night, Christmas from Baghdad
here on SmackDown, what an incredible-- What an incredible show.
Now, Cole, no doubt about it, man, it was an honor and a privilege.
You know, for us in WWE SmackDown, to perform for our brave men and women
in the armed forces in Baghdad, it was a great-- It was great.
I mean, we just had a great time there. It was great visiting with them.
Salute to the armed forces. Happy New Year.
[woman] The WWE is actually going to be performing for the troops in Iraq.
[Austin] It's about one thing. It's about our brothers and sisters,
our men and women and how we're gonna support them
and showing them that we love them and appreciate what they're doing.
["Alive Again" by Atmospheres playing]
♪ Your light breaking through the rain ♪
♪ And I feel so alive again ♪
♪ All your colors washing over me ♪
♪ I've never felt so completely free ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm alive again ♪
♪ And I'm seeing through the rain ♪
♪ And I'm alive in you ♪
♪ I'm seeing sky again ♪
♪ Light is pouring through a broken sky ♪
♪ Grace pours out And your light floods my eyes ♪
♪ With everything in me I'll worship you ♪
♪ You never let go Your love pulls me through ♪
♪ 'Cause I'm alive again ♪
♪ And I'm seeing through the rain ♪
♪ And I'm alive in you ♪
♪ And I'm seeing sky again ♪
♪ I'll praise you now, praise you now ♪
[song ends]
[crowd chanting] USA! USA!
Now, I know this is a little bit out of character for me,
but I have to come clean.
I have to tell you people what an honor and a privilege it was
for all of us here on SmackDown
to support the fighting troops of the United States of America.
The brave men and--
[crowd cheering]
I hope you know what you're doing.
You don't.
Slim, you need to take the needle off the record.
You're talking about how much of an honor it was to perform in front of the troops?
You talk about it. We be about it.
You see, I was over in Baghdad.
I was over there supporting our men and women
who hold the M16 every day putting their lives on the line
for people like me…
and scum like you.
You need to check yourself, bro. Where the hell were you?
Mr. SmackDown GM, Mr. All That And A Bag Of Chips?
-I was in-- -[mocking]
You were scared. You know what?
I see through all your crap, your phony smiles, and speeches.
You ain't nothing but a big…
[pats Paul's stomach]
…fat, coward…
bruh.
You know, John, I've been called a lot of things in my life.
I've never been called a coward. Do you know why?
Because I, sir, am a leader of men.
I would lead my SmackDown troops into battle
because I, John, would fight for my country,
because I believe in my country, John.
I believe in the land of opportunity.
You don't believe that, John? I got news for you.
Let me-- let me demonstrate you, just off, like, for example, the top off my head,
how much I believe in opportunity.
Let's talk about, oh, the Royal Rumble.
The opportunity for 15 SmackDown Superstars
to compete in a 30-man Battle Royale for the mere opportunity
that makes this land great, to wrestle for the WWE Title.
See, John, I control that opportunity for 15 SmackDown Superstars.
And so far, you're not in the Royal Rumble.
But I'll give you the opportunity to be in it,
because John Cena, if you win your match tonight,
-you, sir, will be in the Royal Rumble. -It's on.
-Ready? -Let's go.
Tonight, John Cena and a partner of his choice
versus all three members of the F.B.I.
Oh, I didn't mention that it's a Handicap Match now, did I, John?
The good news is, though, if you and your partner win,
the two of you enter the Royal Rumble,
and you have plenty of time to find a tag team partner, John.
As a matter of fact, the match is next, so, on your way to the ring,
maybe you'll bump into somebody who wants to take that risk.
Because the risk, John, is that if you lose,
both you and your partner
don't get into the Royal Rumble.
Oh, and John,
Happy New Year.
[Cole] We are back on SmackDown.
[Chimel] The following Handicap Match is scheduled for one fall.
In the ring, at a combined weight of 731 pounds,
Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo, and Johnny Stamboli,
The Full Blooded Italians, F.B.I.
[Cole] The F.B.I. is set for a Handicap Match
versus John Cena and a partner if Cena can find one.
["Basic Thuganomics" playing]
[Chimel] And from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 248 pounds,
John Cena.
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.
This is way out a line, way outta whack.
Me fighting the F.B.I.?
There's no way that I can do this.
Now, to get to the Royal Rumble, I gotta beat The Three Stooges.
[crowd cheers]
[Cena] That's not all.
I heard your door swings the wrong way, bro.
Not me. I hit on chicks like drunk Broadway Joe.
Hey, enough of that talk about John Cena being a man [bleep].
Let me tell you people what F.B.I. really stands for.
Forget your greased up hair and that stupid cigar, Chuck.
The F means that you guys are stupid as…
[crowd] Fuck!
[laughing]
Yeah, that's right. What you gonna get when you step to me.
Dude, I seek you out with straight ESP.
You try to come at me, bring another hit.
You're not full-blooded. You're full of bull…
[crowd] Shit!
And The Doctor of Thuganomics is about to take you to class,
because that I stands for I'm about to kick your…
[crowd] Ass!
[Cole] But who is John Cena's partner gonna be?
[Tazz] Yeah, there's three very incredibly tough people in that ring.
John Cena better watch himself here.
[Cole] John Cena didn't have any time to get a partner.
Perhaps, the steel chain around his fists is his partner.
-["Whatever" playing] -[Cole] Wait a minute.
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Benoit.
Chris Benoit.
And Chris Benoit and John Cena don't even really like each other.
[Tazz] Well, John Cena is as surprised as we are and everybody in this arena.
Chris Benoit?
-[crowd cheering] -[song ends]
[Tazz] Whoa.
You know, I've got absolutely nothing to lose.
I'm sick and tired of Heyman's crap.
I'll be your partner tonight.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Wow.
And make these [bleep] tap.
-Word Life. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Wow.
[Tazz] That's Benoit doing a rap, but that's not the big picture here.
-Out of nowhere, Chris Benoit coming out. -[Cole] And it is a Handicap Matchup.
It is three-on-two.
And let's set the stage. There is so much at stake in this matchup.
If John Cena and Chris Benoit can somehow win,
they'll both be one of thirty men, or two of thirty men,
in the Royal Rumble Match.
If Cena and Benoit lose, they cannot enter the Royal Rumble Matchup.
And John Cena starts things off with Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what. You gotta remember what-- Oh, here we go.
Oh, it's a Knuckle Shuffle right there by Cena.
You gotta remember what Paul Heyman said a couple of weeks back.
Oh, maybe the FU.
[Cole] And look at this. [indistinct] …with a shot to the head,
knocking John Cena down.
[Tazz] Yeah. But it's a three-on-two advantage right now.
[Cole] And here is the cover, and a kickout by John Cena.
[Tazz] Well, John Cena almost got beat. Again, a three-on-two advantage here.
And John Cena's-- There's no strategy for Cena or Benoit,
because John Cena didn't know who his partner was gonna be.
Benoit seen just a little opening to get a chance at the WWE Championship,
and you know what I'm saying by that.
If they could win, Cena and Benoit, they're going to the Royal Rumble Matchup.
If you win that, you get a shot at the champion.
[Cole] And Palumbo in off the tag, going to work on John Cena,
trying to isolate him from his corner and Chris Benoit.
Chris Benoit basically said that he had nothing to lose anyway,
and it's starting to dawn on me a little bit here.
Chris Benoit wasn't gonna get the Royal Rumble Match anyway.
Paul Heyman was never gonna allow Benoit to get another WWE Title shot.
But remember, Heyman in his haste, after his manhood was insulted
by John Cena, never thought of Benoit
and Benoit's score to settle with the F.B.I.
in his opportunity now to get into the Royal Rumble Matchup.
[Tazz] Well, John Cena, all that being said,
oh, that's true, but Cena and Benoit…
[Cole] What a suplex, cover, hook of the leg,
and Chris Benoit saves the matchup for his team.
And, Tazz, remember, Paul Heyman made a promise a few weeks ago
that Chris Benoit would never ever get a shot at the WWE Championship.
Well, it could be a long shot. But it could all be thrown out the window.
Because if Cena and Benoit win this matchup,
Benoit would have a hell of a chance to win that Royal Rumble Match
on January 25th and meet the WWE Champion.
[Tazz] That is all true, but John Cena and Chris Benoit
have to defeat three men. It still is--
What a right hand by one of the best right hands in the business.
Big-time right hand by a very incredible Chuck Palumbo.
And speaking of Palumbo,
we saw Palumbo and Benoit, a couple weeks back, go at it,
and Palumbo gave Benoit one hell of a fight.
[Cole] And John Cena battling out of the corner,
trying to make it to Chris Benoit, and Palumbo caught him in mid-air
and continues to isolate the Doctor of Thuganomics.
[Tazz] Big-time sprint right there by Palumbo, but look at this.
[Cole] There's the double team. Chris Benoit coming to Cena's aid.
[Tazz] Well, using the post into the crotch,
the groin of Cena, illegal maneuver.
[Cole] It is a Handicap Match, but that wasn't legal.
And here's Nunzio now, in on the attack on John Cena.
The F.B.I. have a done a tremendous job
isolating Cena from his corner and Chris Benoit.
And remember, Cena and Benoit's opportunity
to enter the Royal Rumble Matchup hangs in the balance.
[Tazz] Well, that's very powerful Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli
with that rear chinlock grounding John Cena,
keeping Cena near the corner,
cutting the ring off,
cutting the ring in half, and not let Cena near Benoit.
That's a great strategy for three-on-two situation.
[Cole] And did you see the color of the face?
You get a close-up there of John Cena
turning red off the pressure from Johnny "The Bull."
[Tazz] Johnny "The Bull" is strong as an ox.
Maybe he's strong as a bull, hence the name Bull.
[Cole] Look at this. Cena quickly rolls Bull up…
-And almost had him. -[Tazz] A small package there.
-[Cole] And a big old clothesline. -[Tazz] Right across the throat.
It's a cover and a hook of the leg. Might have it.
[Cole] And a shoulder roll-out by John Cena.
We talked about all the possibilities of the matchup
and the fact that Benoit got into this thing with nothing to lose.
Do you think the general manager of SmackDown, Paul Heyman,
realized what he did here?
[Tazz] Oh, you know, Paul Heyman-- Oh, what a boot!
Heyman might've outsmarted himself here, Cole,
if Benoit and Cena can win this thing, but right now, not looking too good.
[Cole] And Benoit saving the matchup because remember,
Chris Benoit's fate is in the hands of John Cena as well,
and Benoit realizing that, saw Cena was in trouble.
[Tazz] Benoit's gotta be careful he don't get disqualified.
I know he's trying to save Cena, but look at this.
[Cole] Palumbo bounced off the top turnbuckle.
John Cena… Look at that.
[Tazz] Spinning bomb, then going for back suplex, spinning,
looked like a… like a powerbomb position there.
[Cole] This could be the opening John Cena needs.
He desperately needs to make a tag to Chris Benoit.
Both men's shot to get into the Royal Rumble Match…
-[Tazz] That's it. -[Cole] …hangs in the balance.
[Tazz] Cena, is about six-- about seven feet away from Benoit. There it is.
[Cole] And here's Chris Benoit off the tag.
Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli as well.
And Chris Benoit, who desperately wants to have a shot at the WWE Title…
[Tazz] Here comes another Snap Suplex.
-[Cole] …laying it all on the line. -[Tazz] The Wolverine is on the hunt.
Running back elbow, forearm, another punch to the face.
[Cole] Chris Benoit wants to be in the Royal Rumble Match.
-[Tazz] What a right hand again. -And he's taking it out on the F.B.I.
-Chuck Palumbo. -[Tazz] Power again.
[Cole] Back suplex--German. And Benoit connecting.
Nunzio… German suplex as well.
[Tazz] Three time's a charm. Happy New Year, F.B.I.
[Cole] Wow! A must-win situation for Benoit and Cena.
And Benoit trying to go in for the kill here.
[Tazz] Wolverine's got wings, and they're gonna fly.
Can Benoit do it?
[Cole] And he connects! Benoit connects to The Bull.
-[Tazz] Gotta cover, Chris. -[Cole] Here's the cover. Hook of the leg.
Oh! Nunzio just breaks up the three count.
[Tazz] And that numbers game, that's the difference maker here.
[Cole] This is desperation time.
This is crunch time.
-And there's the double team by the F.B.I. -[Tazz] Look at this.
Talk about innovative.
[Cole] Cover by The Bull, hook of the leg, shoulders down. There's two.
John Cena just saving the matchup.
[Tazz] Well, John Cena saving an opportunity for himself
and Benoit to enter the Royal Rumble Match.
[Cole] And look at Chris Benoit. Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli in trouble.
[Tazz] Sharpshooter, Cole. Sharpshooter by Benoit.
[Cole] The sharpshooter is locked in, but the referee busy with Cena.
Palumbo back into the ring.
-[Tazz] And Palumbo… -[Cole] And Chris Benoit just got whacked.
[Tazz] Palumbo looking good in this match.
[Cole] This got to be it. The shoulder's down.
The cover. Hook of the leg, and Benoit just got the shoulder up.
Benoit and Cena almost were not going to the Rumble Match.
[Tazz] Tons of heart and toughness by The Rabid Wolverine
kicking out of that. Look at the power of this kid, Johnny "The Bull."
-[Cole] And look at that. -Crossface.
-[Cole] What a counter. -[Tazz] Crossface.
[Cole] The crossface locked in.
[Tazz] Cena cutting the ring off, getting Palumbo in an FU situation.
-There it is. -[Cole] FU.
-[Tazz] Bull tapping out. -[bell rings]
[Cole] Benoit, Cena heading to the Rumble.
[Tazz] They did it.
["Whatever" playing]
[Chimel] Here are your winners, Chris Benoit and John Cena.
[Tazz] Against all odds, Cole,
John Cena, Chris Benoit in a three-on-two situation,
victorious, and they're going to the Royal Rumble.
[Cole] The bottom line is the general manager, Paul Heyman,
after having his manhood insulted by John Cena,
was outsmarted tonight by Chris Benoit and John Cena.
Benoit, Cena, the first two men to be entered in the Royal Rumble Match,
January 25th from Philadelphia.
[Tazz] Somewhere backstage,
Paul Heyman has got a big, old lump in his throat right now.
Never thought of this possible… [indistinct]
[cheering]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, Happy New Year
to the armed forces not only in Iraq, but all over the world.
[Tazz] Look at that.
[Cole] And check this out, a line a mile long.
[Tazz] Look at the faces, Cole. Look at the look on these proud men and women.
Those are the real Superstars right there. We salute our troops. We are so proud.
We love them, and Happy New Year to all of them. This is great.
[Cole] This footage was from Baghdad, from Christmas in Baghdad.
These men and women of the armed forces
lined up to get autographs from the WWE Superstars.
But as you mentioned before, you wanna talk about Superstars?
These people are the real Superstars.
They are the real heroes, the men and women,
who have protected all of us, protected our freedom throughout the entire world.
[Tazz] That's why we get to live like we live
in the greatest country in the world
because of men and women like this.
Happy New Year. We love you.
-[Cole] A slice of Americana. -[Tazz] No doubt.
["Medal" playing]
-[Cole] And speaking of Americana… -[Tazz] Oh, baby.
[Cole] Kurt Angle is back.
[Tazz] Check it out.
[crowd chanting] You suck! You suck!
[fireworks exploding]
-[Tazz] Talk about Americana! -[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome, Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Talk about Americana, Cole!
Olympic gold medalist,
one of the proudest Americans I've ever got to meet,
that man right there, Kurt Angle. Look at this.
[Cole] We talked about a huge surprise all night long.
And here it is, Kurt Angle gift-wrapped and unwrapped on a new year, 2004.
Kurt Angle back on SmackDown.
[Tazz] And Kurt, as usual, looks phenomenal.
Great shape, great big smile on his face. Happy New Year.
[crowd cheering]
[chanting] USA! USA! USA! USA!
Your Olympic hero is back, baby.
[crowd cheers]
And after spending a well-deserved break away with my family,
I have to admit quite frankly, it's great to be back.
[crowd cheers]
But after watching Christmas in Baghdad last week on SmackDown,
I felt this enormous sense of pride,
and it was this pride that brought me out here tonight
to say to each and every one of those troops over there in the Middle East
who are defending our liberty…
I wanna say thank you.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA!
That's what I wanna hear. Yeah.
[crowd cheers]
You know, I had the rare opportunity to go overseas
to the Middle East about three weeks ago,
and it was an opportunity of a lifetime.
I got to know these soldiers.
Soldiers, people just like you and me,
over there fighting for our freedom.
And I have to admit,
I was overwhelmed with joy, with pride.
I was proud to be an American.
[crowd cheers]
And getting to know these soldiers,
there was a young man in particular, a young soldier about 22 years old,
and he's been over there for about a year.
And before he left to go over to fight for his country,
his wife was eight months pregnant.
And after six weeks… six weeks went by,
being away from his wife, his family,
his wife gave birth to a newborn baby,
a little baby girl.
And it was this girl he was so excited about
because every day he was over there,
all he could think about is he wanted to live just long enough
to see his baby girl for the first time.
All he want to do is get to know his little baby girl.
And what was tearing him up inside is each and every day he spent over there,
each and every day he spent,
he knew he was missing out on that precious time with his little girl.
He wasn't able to hold her in his arms,
to get to know her, to love her, to see her first steps.
He wasn't able to hear her speak for the first time to say, "Daddy,"
because he was over there fighting for all of us.
[crowd cheers]
He was 10,000 miles away,
and when he finally gets the chance to get back to see his little baby girl,
the one he loves more than anything in the world,
she will know him as nothing more than a mere acquaintance.
See, that's what our soldiers do. They sacrifice.
They sacrifice time away from their families.
They not only sacrifice their lives,
but they sacrifice that time away from their families.
I have a little baby girl myself,
and I can't imagine being away from her for a full year,
never getting that precious time back,
never getting to know my little baby girl like we all do.
Spending all that time over there thinking about,
"When do I get a chance to see my little girl?"
But that's what our soldiers do, and sometimes,
I wish I could do what our soldiers do, and that's kick ass for this country.
[crowd cheers]
[crowd chanting] USA! USA! USA!
[chanting continues] USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
But I'm not a soldier. I'm a wrestler.
But what I can do is I can kick ass right here in this ring.
[crowd cheers]
And since this is the new year, I have a new year's resolution.
I'm gonna enter myself in the 2004 Royal Rumble right now.
[Tazz] Wow!
[crowd cheers]
And I'm not just gonna enter.
I'm gonna throw 29 other Superstars right over that top rope
and win the Royal Rumble for the first time in my career.
[crowd cheers]
But your Olympic hero isn't gonna do it for himself. Oh no.
He's gonna do it for every one of those soldiers,
those young, brave men and women
that are over there that are fighting for our freedom,
and I just wanna say this one last time.
Everyone over there, thank you for what you do and God bless you.
[crowd cheering raucously]
["Medal" playing]
[Cole] An emotional speech from Kurt Angle tonight
as he joins John Cena and Chris Benoit in the Royal Rumble Match.
[Tazz] I have seen Kurt Angle come out here for a long time
and get on the microphone and say some things.
Kurt's very entertaining at times. Kurt can be very serious at times.
But right there, Kurt was speaking from the bottom of his heart.
And I'll tell you what, it was touching to hear Kurt say that.
It was great to see a true American here like Kurt Angle
talk about the real heroes, our troops. Big-time respect for that.
[Cole] Kurt Angle visited the troops in Iraq
with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Myers.
Kurt Angle, very proud to be there,
giving all he could give to the US armed forces in the Middle East.
And coming up next, Hardcore Holly meets the 500-pound Big Show.
It's next on SmackDown.
♪ Well… ♪
-♪ Well, it's The Big Show ♪ -[fireworks explode]
[Cole] He's seven-foot tall, 500 pounds, the largest athlete in the world today.
[Tazz] He's not in a good mood, I guarantee it.
-[Cole] Look at his face. -[Tazz] You ain't kiddin'.
-Look at that stomp down that aisle way. -[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following non-title contest is scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring, weighing in at 500 pounds,
he's the WWE United States Champion, The Big Show.
[Tazz] Embarrassed and humiliated earlier tonight.
This is gonna get ugly.
[Cole] Big Show irate after what happened earlier tonight.
This jerk, The Big Show, would rain on Rey Mysterio's parade
after Mysterio won the Cruiserweight Championship.
Mysterio would toss a t-shirt into the crowd, and this is what happened.
[Tazz] Well, disrespecting-- Big Show disrespecting Rey Mysterio
spoiling… well, Rey Mysterio's moment,
his moment of the Cruiserweight Gold,
and then just out of nowhere,
Hardcore Holly blasting from behind with that dropkick.
[Cole] Hardcore Holly and the new Cruiserweight Champion Rey Mysterio
embarrassing, humiliating The Big Show.
General manager Paul Heyman throwing the red meat to the carnivore.
[Chimel] And from Mobile, Alabama, weighing in at 234 pounds,
Hardcore Holly.
[Cole] January 25th, Holly, Lesnar for the title at the Rumble.
[Tazz] Well, SmackDown and RAW present WWE Royal Rumble
sponsored by PlayStation 2.
WWE Royal Rumble comes to you live Sunday, January 25th
at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia exclusively on pay-per-view.
-[Cole] And Big Show wants Hardcore Holly. -[Tazz] Here we go.
[Cole] Wasting little time, matchup's underway.
Holly with the right hand.
[Cole] Hardcore Holly returning to action a couple of weeks ago
after having his neck broken last year.
Oh, look out.
I should say in 2002 by Brock Lesnar.
Hardcore Holly is back. He has a title shot at the Rumble January 25th.
Oh, and what a clothesline. Did you feel that impact?
[Tazz] I mean, Hardcore Holly has got some heavy hands. He's a heavy hitter.
He hit a bunch of right hands on Big Show.
Damn near not affecting Show.
Clothesline followed up by a big old elbow drop.
[Cole] It takes so much energy just to knock this big man down.
As he delivers that huge right paw to the chest of Holly.
[Tazz] Hasn't been a happy new year for Hardcore Holly thus far, Cole.
-[Cole] You think? -[Tazz] Oh, I know it.
Hardcore Holly, one of the toughest men probably ever to enter a WWE ring.
Oh, and a headbutt right to the, like, the back of the neck
or maybe the back of the head, that surgically-repaired neck of Holly.
[Cole] Big Show is no dummy. Multiple-time WWE Champion,
realizes the weakness of Hardcore Holly is in the neck,
and the big man is exploiting that weakness as we speak.
We showed you the heart-- I should say Hardcore Holly showed us
his heart and resilience a couple of weeks ago
when he won that tag team match.
-[Tazz] Whoa, there's that hog log… -[Cole] Wow.
-[Tazz] …that Big Show pulled. -[Cole] 500 pounds.
-Cover, get him on two, and Big Show… -[Tazz] Oh man!
[Cole] Now I think I'm starting to get the picture a little bit.
[Tazz] That wasn't… My opinion, that was not too smart by The Big Show.
If you get a chance to get a victory over an athlete,
a tough dude like Hardcore, you get the win. He kicked his head off.
[Cole] And what a knee to the midsection. Hardcore began to mount some offense.
He was cut off by the 500-pounder.
-[Tazz] Look at this. -One, two, three.
[Tazz] Yeah, using the bottom rope and his 500 pounds,
The Big Show is gonna hurt.
You put that rope against that… It was the back of head.
[Cole] Again working the neck area, the injured neck of Hardcore Holly.
That's 500 pounds leaning onto a surgically-repaired neck.
And now, driving the elbow into the base of the spine.
[Tazz] No matter how much you train that surgically-repaired neck,
and I don't know too many athletes who train harder than Hardcore Holly,
and that's the truth.
It's-- You damn near never really fully recover from that neck surgery,
and Hardcore, Hardcore is getting the tar whipped out of him
-by the largest athlete in the world and-- -[Cole] Oh!
[Tazz] Taking that knee out, bringing him down a couple of notches.
[Cole] Well, that's the veteran instinct of Hardcore Holly.
Knocking the big seven-footer down to the mat,
bringing him down to your size, but can Holly take advantage?
[Tazz] Right now, both athletes… Well, Hardcore is up to a vertical base.
Big Show is-- And Hardcore threw punches.
Trying to go for the goozle, Big Show, but…
[Cole] Hardcore blocked it.
[Tazz] He knows that could be the end right there.
[Cole] Into the corner goes Hardcore Holly.
Big Show rolling out of the way
as Hardcore Holly bouncing off the top turnbuckle,
The Big Show, Hardcore Holly hanging The Big Show… Whoa!
This could be the opening that Hardcore Holly needs.
[Tazz] Right across the neck now. Hardcore climbing up to the top rope,
which we don't see Hardcore Holly do often.
[Cole] High-risk maneuver, taking the big man down.
-Here's the cover, shoulders down… -[Tazz] And one, two… Look out.
[Cole] Big Show kicks out.
[Tazz] Maybe if Hardcore could've hooked that leg a little earlier,
but Big Show's body is so thick.
Hardcore couldn't get across his body quick enough to hook the leg.
[Cole] Sidewalk slam connects.
Trying to hook the leg of The Big Show
is like grabbing of those redwood trees around its base.
[Tazz] You ain't kidding.
And Hardcore is down now, hard from that side slam,
which again, is usually, like a three-foot drop.
But from an athlete like The Big Show,
a side slam is like a six-and-a-half-foot drop.
[Cole] Big Show embarrassed and humiliated earlier tonight
taking out his anger on Hardcore Holly, and the end could be near.
-Yeah, Hardcore is in trouble now, Cole. -[Cole] Oh, look at this.
Is he gonna plant him on that surgically-repaired neck here?
-[Tazz] Is he-- Oh! -[Cole] Oh! Driven into the knee.
[Tazz] That shoulder breaker, which affects your neck,
and that sting has got to be shooting through the vertebrates
and the spinal cord of Hardcore Holly.
[Cole] You heard Big Show yelling, "I wanna break his neck,"
as he measures and stalks Hardcore Holly,
who reaches back, trying to make it to his feet here,
but how much does Holly have left?
[Tazz] Hardcore is tough as hell, but that's a full nelson,
trying to break that neck… trying to break that neck
of Hardcore Holly with that power, the power of The Big--
[Cole] Wait a minute. Rey Mysterio with a steel chair.
[Tazz] Mysterio--
[Cole] Right into a right hand by The Big Show.
Can you believe that?
[Tazz] Well, Rey Mysterio brought the chair in the ring
trying to get a measure of revenge for Big Show spoiling and ruining Mysterio,
disrespecting him earlier.
-[Cole] Oh, and a low blow. -[bell rings]
[Cole] And referee Brian Hebner calls for the bell,
a blatant low blow, an obvious disqualification.
And a steel chair off the skull of The Big Show.
[Tazz] Oh my God!
Those vicious chair hits to the head.
[Cole] And Hardcore Holly earning his name.
Hardcore Holly going hardcore.
-And a steel chair… measuring Big Show. -[Tazz] Oh my God. Oh.
[Cole] And a chair to the skull.
-Big Show has been busted open. -[Tazz] And a viscous hit.
[Cole] Hardcore Holly has completely lost it.
[Tazz] Hardcore snapped, Cole, straight up.
["How Do You Like Me Now?" playing]
[Tazz] I'll tell you what, Hardcore Holly does that at the Royal Rumble
for the championship against Lesnar,
he won't be champ, 'cause he'll be disqualified using a steel chair.
But Big Show is hurt, down-and-out at the hands of Hardcore.
[Cole] Let's take another look. And Hardcore Holly exploded here.
[Tazz] Hardcore exploded, but Rey Mysterio…
-[bell rings] -Here's your disqualification, low blow.
Rey Mysterio, he introduced that steel chair to the match,
and then Holly introduced that steel chair to the big head of The Big Show.
[Cole] Well, Holly had sensed The Big Show trying to break his neck.
Imagine what Holly will do to the man who really broke his neck,
Brock Lesnar, at the Royal Rumble.
["Ass Man" playing]
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I love to love 'em ♪
♪ I love to kick 'em ♪
♪ I love to shove 'em ♪
♪ I love to stick 'em ♪
♪ Love to flaunt 'em ♪
♪ I love to watch 'em ♪
♪ I love to pick 'em ♪
♪ And I'm gonna kick 'em ♪
[song ends]
[crowd cheering]
Paul, when are you gonna give me the cover
of that SmackDown magazine like you promised?
[door smashes open]
-Dawn, take a walk now. -[Benoit laughing]
I, uh, I suppose you're proud of yourself, huh?
Well, for someone who wasn't even supposed to be in the Royal Rumble,
well, you may be looking at the next winner of the Royal Rumble.
No, no, in fact,
you're looking at the next WWE Champion.
-Is that a fact? -[chuckles] That's a fact.
See, Chris, I think this is the time that you and I should have a man-to-man talk.
Man-to-man.
Because, you see, there is a difference between me
and everybody that comes to see SmackDown Live.
-Oh, I'd say. -Yeah.
They're working grunts.
Me, I'm management.
-You have nothing. -Management.
Nothing that differs between you and everybody that comes to SmackDown,
because you are just like everybody else, Chris.
You are a working stiff. You're a common working man.
You are a working grunt for a management like me.
See, Chris, people like you,
they get stopped dead in their tracks by people like me.
Sometimes you get stopped because of injury.
Sometimes you get stopped because of fate.
Well, my friend, at the Royal Rumble, you get stopped by management.
Oh, you can scratch, and you can claw, and you can work your way to the top
like everybody out there pursuing the American dream.
But do you know what happens, Chris? People like me stop people like you.
You give up time with your family.
You take time away from your wife and your children to be number one.
Well, Chris, I'm gonna make you number one,
but not the number one at being the WWE Champion.
No, my friend, I'm gonna make you number one
because you are the number one entry into the Royal Rumble. You are number one.
You're the first guy that will be in the Royal Rumble.
Twenty-nine other people come after your ass. Do you understand me? I--
Do I understand you? Do I understand you?
-You're breaking… -My wife, my kids, my sacrifices.
Do I understand you?
You understand me.
I will win the Royal Rumble. I will be the next WWE Champion.
-You won't, you'll never break my will. -Ow.
[breathing heavily]
Olé, olé, olé.
[speaking Spanish indistinctly]
You know the zip code thing.
For you, for your family, for La Raza, so proud of you.
That's it, man!
That title looks good on you, homes. You know what, man?
We gotta change the plates. We gotta put "Rey Mysterio" here.
-Oh, yeah. -Put a little mask right here?
-[speaking Spanish] - 100% Mexican. -Come on, dude!
-[in English] What did he say? -Chicano, homes.
-All right. Yeah. Yeah, man. -That gold-- That gold looks sweet, man.
Makes me want some gold of my own.
Maybe I'll put my bid in at the Royal Rumble, too.
-What do you think about that? -[all overlapping]
-Can I talk to you, bro? -About what?
Hey, look. Hey, congratulate him.
-He just won the Championship belt. -A splendid moment for you.
I need to talk to you. I need to talk to you.
-What's the matter? -Tito, give me a hug, dawg.
Yeah, congratulations.
Where are you going? What's the matter?
[all speaking indistinctly]
He just won the Championship.
-What's going on with you? -What's going on with me? Nothing.
-I'm just… -Did I hear you correctly?
About what?
Did you say you're gonna join the Royal Rumble?
No, I just-- I just said I might put my bid in, man. What…
-How selfish can you be? -Selfish?
This is not about Eddie all the time, bro.
This is about you and me. This is about us.
Chavo, I was just mentioning the Royal Rumble.
Look, you remember we're a tag team, right? We're Los Guerreros.
-Yeah, we're Los Guerreros. -Do you remember our family goal
is to bring home the WWE Tag Team Championship, right?
-It's any gold. -Forget about the Royal Rumble.
We got a match tonight. You focused? You with-- you with me?
Ese, I'm always focused. And you're right, man. It's about us.
Royal Rumble. Come on. Get ready for your match.
-I'm getting. -Come on.
[jazz music playing]
[boss] Finish this before you go home tonight.
[door opens]
[boss] You're not gonna go home anytime soon.
-[door slams shut] -[announcer] Boss being bossy?
[man gasps]
[announcer] Go ahead. Smack your TV.
[upbeat music playing]
[Tazz] This is unbelievable. Someone's going for big a ride.
[Cole] What is going on around here? Wow!
-[announcer] WWE SmackDown on UPN. -[Tazz] Well, here comes the pain.
-[crunch] -[whimpering]
♪ Viva la raza! ♪
["Viva La Raza" playing]
♪ We lie, we cheat, we steal… ♪
[Tazz] Viva la raza!
I love that saying, Cole. You like that?
Oh, look at that!
-Looks like a Monte Carlo. -[bell rings]
[Chimel] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, from El Paso, Texas,
at a combined weight of 441 pounds,
Chavo and Eddie, Los Guerreros.
[Tazz] I'd like to point out the velvet interior and the color of it is orange,
in memory of me, but I'm not dead, yet.
[Cole] Well, we saw Eddie and Chavo earlier today
having a lot of fun in the lowrider parade
here in Laredo. A total of 30 lowriders involved.
-[Tazz] Look at that. -[Cole] But I'm still trying to figure out
what transpired a few moments ago between Eddie and Chavo.
Eddie said that he was thinking about getting involved
in the Royal Rumble Matchup.
Chavo did not take too kindly to that comment.
[Tazz] Yeah. Some tension there for sure.
How about that lowrider?
[Cole] That's something new for the Guerrero family.
[Tazz] Well, WWE SmackDown is being brought to you
by the power of Arm & Hammer.
[Cole] And by PlayStation 2.
[Tazz] And by Taco Bell, where you can spice up the night.
[Cole] Tremendous reaction for Los Guerreros.
["Heroes" playing]
[Chimel] And at a combined weight of 489 pounds,
Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin,
the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Tag Team.
[Cole] The rivalry continues between Shelton Benjamin, Charlie Haas
and Eddie and Chavo Guerrero here on SmackDown.
[Tazz] We've seen some outstanding matchups by these four athletes.
Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin have grappled, have wrestled, have fought
Los Guerreros many times, and every match has been a [indistinct].
[crowd chanting] Eddie!
[Cole] Well, the chant has…
seemed to drive Chavo Guerrero crazy in recent weeks,
the Eddie Guerrero chant,
fill the Entertainment Center here in Laredo.
And Eddie Guerrero set the lock up with Shelton Benjamin center of the ring.
Guerreros from just down the road…
Well, actually in Texas, it's just down the road.
For the rest of the country, it's about 500 miles away,
but the Guerreros from El Paso, Texas.
As Eddie goes to work on Shelton Benjamin.
[Tazz] El Paso is 500 miles from here?
-Yeah, pretty much. -Wow, that's far.
[Cole] And Chavo Guerrero in off the tag. There's the snap there.
Takedown by Eddie Guerrero.
Chavo and Eddie Guerrero working well as a team, early going on this matchup.
You heard earlier on how Eddie, Tazz,
talked about possibly throwing his hat into the ring
for the Royal Rumble Matchup.
Royal Rumble really starting to take shape.
We learned tonight that Billy Gunn, John Cena, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit,
all going to be a part of the Royal Rumble Matchup,
January 25th in Philadelphia.
Remember, 30 Superstars will be a part of this.
Fifteen from Raw, fifteen from SmackDown. The winner will get a title shot.
-Look at this. Chavo Guerrero off the top. -[Tazz] Nice dropkick right there.
Looks like Charlie Haas was going for a backdrop, but no.
[Cole] Cover, hook of the leg, and Charlie Haas just kicks out.
What about the news we heard earlier on tonight, Tazz?
Paul Heyman sticking it to Chris Benoit.
Naming Chris Benoit the first entry into the Royal Rumble Match,
meaning Benoit has to overcome 29 other Superstars to win the thing.
And look at this. Tag made, and I don't think Chavo saw it.
[Tazz] Heyman doesn't like Benoit.
My view, because Benoit is all the things…
made up of all the things that Heyman is not.
-He's a-- Nice slam! -[Cole] Wow.
[Tazz] Oh, a suplex, sometimes called a t-bone.
[Cole] And a cover, hook of the leg, and a kickout just barely by Chavo.
[Tazz] Paul Heyman is not made up of the same ingredients as a man like Benoit.
A hard work ethic, honesty, a blue-collared guy, a tough guy, a…
[Cole] Oh!
Here's the cover. Shoulders down and a kickout.
And another thing Paul Heyman doesn't like about Chris Benoit
is the fact that Chris Benoit, at one point in time,
actually made the WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar, tap out.
And it seems in recent weeks,
Heyman has been in the pocket of the WWE Champion.
[Tazz] And now Haas is in control over Chavo Guerrero.
[Cole] Oh. A shot to the face.
[Tazz] Yeah, running right into that boot there. Another one.
-[Cole] Chavo battling back again. -[Tazz] [indistinct] Charlie.
[Cole] Chavo Guerrero assault… Looking at the corner.
Thinking about whether to make a tag, and he probably should've.
-Yeah! -[Cole] And Charlie Haas all pumped up.
[Tazz] Charlie probably should [indistinct] powerslam.
[Cole] And the arrogance of Charlie Haas caught him as Eddie got him from behind.
[Tazz] Well, Eddie Guerrero bit Charlie Haas in the back of the head.
-You gotta grab this rope. -[Cole] Look at Eddie.
Well, Nick Patrick explaining,
"You gotta grab the tag rope before you make a tag."
[Tazz] Eddie don't wanna hear it.
[Cole] And Chavo crawling toward the ropes.
[Tazz] Chavo needs to get a tag over to Eddie Guerrero.
You're getting real close, Chavo. Make that tag, kid.
[Cole] Look at Eddie.
-[Tazz] Make the tag, Chavo. -[Cole] Why isn't Chavo making a tag?
-[Tazz, indistinct] -[Cole] That's twice now.
Chavo had the opportunity to make the tag to Eddie Guerrero.
And you hear Eddie saying, "Chavo, what are you doing?"
Here's the cover by Charlie Haas and a kickout by Chavo.
[Tazz] Don't quite know why Chavo Guerrero is doing that.
[crowd chanting] Eddie!
[Cole] Twice in this matchup, Chavo had a perfect opportunity to tag
his uncle Eddie into this match, and he didn't do it.
It's Chavo with a right hand to Charlie Haas again.
[Tazz] Chavo very far from a dumb wrestler.
He's very smart in that ring, Chavo Guerrero.
I don't know what Chavo's doing here. Fighting back right now with Charlie Haas.
I don't know why he didn't make the tag to his uncle Eddie Guerrero.
[Cole] Up over the top goes Charlie Haas. Both men knocked down center of the ring.
First man to his feet here could change the momentum of the matchup.
And Chavo Guerrero gets to his feet, needs to make a tag to Eddie.
[Tazz] Eddie, I thought was coming in illegally, but-- Where is Eddie going?
That's not his corner.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero trying to draw Shelton Benjamin into his matchup.
-He's doing a good job of it. -The veteran instincts of Eddie Guerrero.
Eddie Guerrero into the ring.
He's gonna try to roll Chavo into the corner.
He does. Eddie grabbed the tag rope. Chavo is close to the corner.
[Tazz] It's a family tradition, Cole. Lie, cheat, and steal.
[Cole] And now, Eddie makes the tag, and here comes Eddie Guerrero.
One way or another, Eddie Guerrero is getting into this matchup.
And Latino Heat is all fired up.
[Tazz] Great extension on that dropkick, big-time backdrop on Shelton Benjamin.
Back suplex by Eddie Guerrero.
[Cole] And Eddie Guerrero with a shot to Shelton Benjamin.
-Eddie Guerrero going to the top rope. -[Tazz] Look that balance. Balance.
-[Cole] Armdrag head-scissors. -[Tazz] Two for the price of one
in year 2004.
Uh-oh. Turn around, Haas. He's caught.
[Cole] This is why Eddie Guerrero is one of the best in the world.
-Check out the hat-trick. -[Tazz] The triple verticals.
Vintage Eddie Guerrero, spinning those hips for the momentum.
Charlie Haas, third time's the charm.
[crowd chanting] Eddie!
-[Cole] I think Eddie is getting ready… -[Tazz] Viva la raza.
[Cole] Perhaps for the frog splash. Wait a minute.
-[Tazz] Chavo just tagged his… -I am going up.
-What are you talking about? -I made the tag.
He got a tag.
-[Cole] Shelton with a shot to Eddie. -[Tazz] Oh, yeah.
And the Los Guerreros arguing there,
and Shelton Benjamin, you can't blame the guy,
took advantage of it.
[Cole] And now Chavo going to the top rope.
-[Tazz] What the hell is Chavo doing here? -[Cole] This is what his uncle Eddie does.
Setting up for a frog splash.
[Tazz] Chavo is taking a lot of time, though. Frog splash.
[Cole] And Charlie Haas countered. Knees to the midsection.
[Tazz] Chavo was legal and…
[Cole] Oh! And what a shot by Shelton Benjamin.
-That's gotta be it, Cole. -[Cole] Shoulders are down.
[bell rings]
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero tried to get in, couldn't make the save.
Eddie and Chavo lose this one.
[Chimel] Here are your winners, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin,
the self-proclaimed World's Greatest Tag Team.
[Tazz] I don't know what Chavo Guerrero's thinking here.
[Cole] Well, let's just recap this just for a moment.
Eddie Guerrero looked like he was setting up to go for the frog splash.
Chavo tagged himself into the matchup,
wanted to do the frog splash himself, and it cost him.
[Tazz] Now, Chavo is mad at Eddie. I don't…
You know what, Eddie took some shot with that kick by Benjamin--
-I'm sorry, Chavo did. -[Cole] Oh man.
Whatever Chavo's strategy was, it backfired.
Eddie was closing in on a victory,
and Chavo may have cost this team the matchup.
This is a very public thing.
So, I'm gonna say it in front of all of these people.
[crowd shouting]
Do you know why we lost the match tonight?
[crowd booing]
It was because of you.
[crowd booing]
[indistinct]
Yeah. I'm sick of it.
I work just as hard as you in this tag team,
just as hard, but night in and night out, are there Chavo chants? No.
[crowd chanting] Chavo! Chavo!
All I hear, every single night,
is, "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie, Eddie."
[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
You know what? I'm sick of it.
And…
-I love you, bro. -…I'm sick…
-I love you, man. -…of you.
[crowd boos]
-[Cole] Oh. -[Tazz] Man.
[Cole] What the hell has gotten into Chavo?
[Tazz] That's Chavo's uncle right there. Chavo looked up to Eddie.
Slapping chop.
What the hell is Chavo Guerrero doing here?
[crowd chanting] Eddie! Eddie! Eddie!
[Tazz] That's not a good look by Eddie.
[Cole] I mean, he looked hurt for a moment, but…
it looks like he's boiling.
That Latino temper is beginning to boil in Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Look at the eyes on Eddie Guerrero.
I don't know if Eddie is just disappointed in his nephew or…
[Cole] He should be disappointed. I wanna know what's gotten in to Chavo.
[Tazz] Eddie's gonna… Eddie's gonna…
-[Cole] Wait a minute. -[Tazz] Kurt Angle?
Kurt Angle is out here.
[Cole] Apparently, he's playing peacemaker, is Kurt Angle.
-[Tazz] Kurt Angle doing the right thing. -[Cole] Chavo exiting stage right.
[crowd booing]
-[Cole] But I'll tell you… -Get away.
-That's your family, man. Come on! -Get away.
-He just slapped me. -He's your family.
He just slapped me.
[Cole] You hear Kurt Angle saying, "Come on. You're a family, guys."
And thank God for Kurt Angle.
Who knows what would have happened between Eddie and his nephew
-if Kurt Angle didn't come out here. -[Tazz] You know, absolutely, I agree.
Explosive situation.
[Cole] Angle helping cooler heads prevail.
Well, hopefully, when we come back from break,
we're gonna get a word from Eddie about what the hell is going on here.
[Cole] Moments ago, bizarre behavior out of Chavo Guerrero.
Eddie Guerrero looked like he was closing in on a victory here.
Eddie Guerrero going for the frog splash, and for some reason,
Chavo Guerrero would tag himself in.
I believe, to steal the spotlight for himself.
[Tazz] You might be right, partner.
A catastrophic mistake by Chavo Guerrero.
As you see here, he crashes and burns right there.
And then illegally, Shelton Benjamin illegally comes in
and, bingo, knocks out Chavo.
[Cole] Shelton Benjamin taking full advantage of the five count.
[Tazz] And then this.
-I'm sick of it. And… -I love you, bro.
-…I'm sick… -I love you.
…of you.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] Chavo Guerrero slapping his own uncle Eddie.
And then Latino Heat would reach a boiling point.
[Tazz] Latino Heat about to explode, but then Kurt Angle came out.
Come on, come on. Hey, come on. Hey.
-Calm down. -What do you mean calm down?
-Calm down about what? -Hold on a second.
-My nephew just slapped me on national TV. -I know, Eddie.
-And you're telling me calm down? -Listen to me.
Listen to what, man? That's my family.
-I know what it is. -I don't believe this.
-Listen. Just listen. -No, I won't listen.
-Let's be rational. -After everything I've done for Chavo?
Oh, wait a minute. He's your family. You're supposed to do for him.
That's right, Eddie. You're supposed to do for Chavo.
-I'm supposed to do for him? -Listen to me.
-I don't know why-- -I do out of love, not because I have to.
I'm entering the Royal Rumble because I wanna win it for my country.
[laughs] You wanna…
You wanna enter the Royal Rumble…
-Why? -…for yourself.
-Because you're selfish, Eddie. -I'm selfish?
Chavo is your family. He's your flesh and blood.
Wait a minute. Talk about family, flesh and blood.
Who the hell are you to me, ese?
-You ain't in my blood. -You're right.
-You ain't my family. -You're right, but Chavo is.
-Get out of my face. -Chavo is.
-This has nothing to do with you! -Chavo is your family. Listen to me.
-[speaking Spanish] -You know what-- All right, all right.
-You know what the problem is, Eddie? -What is the problem, Kurt?
It's about traditional American family values.
You wanna know what the problem is? I want you to go in the mirror.
-I want you to go in the mirror. -Family values?
Look into the mirror, and you'll see what the problem is, Eddie.
You know what? This may not… this may not be a popular point of view.
-What? ¿Qué? -But Chavo is right.
-That's right. -[speaking Spanish]
Chavo is right? Look in the mirror?
-Wow. -Not a good situation.
Kurt Angle, he's levelheaded.
I mean, Eddie Guerrero is hot-tempered, and so is Chavo Guerrero.
There's a lot of tension between uncle and nephew.
I mean, Eddie being the uncle, and Chavo being the nephew,
and Kurt is just trying to be levelheaded,
and he's a family man trying to calm things down.
It's explosive, man.
Well, Kurt Angle playing peacekeeper here tonight.
At least he was trying to explain…
trying to make some sense out of Chavo Guerrero's mindset
and trying to explain that to Uncle Eddie,
perhaps trying to preserve this relationship
between Eddie Guerrero and his nephew, Chavo Guerrero.
-Explosive situation here tonight. -Yup. Well, Cole, it's 2004.
[Cole] Happy New Year, everybody. For Tazz, I'm Michael Cole,
and the rest of the WWE, have a great New Year.
We'll see you next week on SmackDown.
[rock music playing] ek on SmackDown.