-[WWE intro music plays] -[rapid chatter]
-["Longhorn" playing] -[crowd booing]
[Cole] SmackDown in San Diego, California is sold out tonight in the iPayOne Center,
four days removed from a record-setting WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles.
[Chimel] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome former WWE Champion,
John Bradshaw Layfield.
[Cole] And you heard Tony Chimel say it, Tazz. The former WWE Champion.
After a 242-day title reign, the longest in…
in a decade, John Bradshaw Layfield
no longer carrying the title to the ring.
[Tazz] And I'm shocked, personally.
I wanted to see JBL be victorious at WrestleMania.
Didn't happen.
Shocked to hear the champ is no more the champ.
-[music fades out] -[crowd booing]
I have shown over the past year,
by defeating opponent after opponent, night after night, day after day,
that I am the greatest WWE Champion of all time,
and I will be known forever in history as such.
[crowd booing]
I allowed you people to marvel at my greatness.
And after all I did for you…
the way you thank me at WrestleMania
is to cheer for a piece of common white trash like John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
I am a wrestling god.
[crowd booing]
You do not disrespect your gods.
[crowd booing]
John Cena left this ring last week,
right here on SmackDown, in handcuffs.
That is what you have as your current champion.
[crowd chatter]
A man with absolutely no class,
a common low-life thug that, quite frankly,
is not in my league.
[crowd booing]
I am positive… I am absolutely positive
that you people here would be just happy
if I went back to New York, to the great life I built for myself.
[crowd cheering]
You people shut up and listen to me.
[crowd booing]
I am a once-in-a-lifetime performer.
I do not ride so easily into the sunset.
I want my championship back!
[crowd booing]
I want my rematch.
Because whether you people realize it or not,
you need me as your champion.
You people want me as your champion.
Deep down in places you don't talk about,
-you people have that-- -♪ Viva la raza ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Wait a minute.
["Viva La Raza" playing]
-Eddie Guerrero? -♪ I lie, I cheat, I steal… ♪
-[Tazz]Oh! -[Cole] Check out the lowrider,
the same one he cruised into the Staples Center for us
at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] Well, what this audience needs, Cole, is Latino Heat!
And they're getting it baby, wow!
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero a part of WrestleMania this past Sunday…
a wonderful event at the sold-out Staples Center.
Tazz, 48 of 50 states represented.
Dozens of countries represented.
Hollywood's biggest celebrities were there
to see men like JBL and Eddie Guerrero perform on The Grandest Stage of All.
But the question is,
what brings Eddie Guerrero out here tonight on SmackDown?
[Tazz] Well, this sold-out, humongous SmackDown fan base here
is going nuts here for Latino Heat, though, Cole.
♪ You're fast asleep When I sneak in your casa ♪
♪ Your life sucks 'cause you're bankrupt And I'm laughin' ♪
♪ You can't trust me, ese 'Cause I'm Latin ♪
-♪ I lie, I cheat, I steal ♪ -[song fades]
Órale mi raza!
[crowd cheering]
There are no green cards being handed out here.
Get your [bleep] out of my ring.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Take it easy, homes.
[chuckles] Let-let-let-let me just get this right.
Did I just hear this right?
Did I just hear you say that these people
need you as their champion?
[crowd booing]
Yes, you did.
No, no, no, no, no, homes.
The only thing these people need
is for you to shut up.
[crowd cheering]
And the only thing you need to know
is that if you want your WWE Title back,
you're gonna have to go through me, ese.
Because if there's gonna be one person,
and if there's gonna be the first person in line
to challenge John Cena for that belt,
it's me, Latino Heat.
Viva mi raza!
-[crowd cheering] -♪ Can you dig it, sucka? ♪
-[Cole] Now what? -[Tazz] What?
-["Can You Dig It?" playing] -[Cole] Booker T?
JBL is irate.
He believed that this was his moment.
He was gonna explain how he wanted his title back.
And now, Eddie and Booker T.
[Tazz] I don't blame JBL for being upset out here.
This is his time, and Guerrero rained on his parade.
Now the Book, man.
[song fades out]
Yo, yo, yo, yo.
Hold the damn phone.
You see something, Eddie Guerrero and JBL,
both of you guys can step to the--
[crowd chants "Eddie!"]
[Cole] Deafening "Eddie" chants.
[crowd chants "Eddie!"]
You see, both of you guys can step to the back of the line.
See, because the first one to get a shot at John Cena
for the WWE Championship is gonna be Booker T,
the five-time, five-time, five-time,
-five-time, five-time-- -["Big" playing]
-♪ Well, it's the Big Show ♪ -[crowd cheering]
-[Tazz] Oh! Wow. -[Cole] Oh my God.
I can honestly say that I've never seen anything quite like this before.
[Tazz] Me neither, Cole.
I've never seen anything like this either, and…
everything just got a little bit bigger 'cause The Largest Athlete in the World
is heading to the ring.
[Cole] Well, JBL, Booker T, and Eddie Guerrero all claim
that they should be first in line to…
to battle John Cena for the WWE Championship.
♪ You won't see it comin'… ♪
Well, apparently, the seven-footer has something to say about all this.
♪ It's the Big Show ♪
[song fades out]
[indistinct arguing]
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on.
First of all, it's…
[crowd chants "Eddie!"]
I don't care what they chant. You are in my ring.
You hold on and bite your lip
before I shove that hat somewhere you'll never find it again.
[crowd cheering]
Now, first of all, you've got the wrong three here.
The next person to face John Cena for the WWE Title
is gonna be seven foot tall,
is gonna be 500 pounds.
-["619" playing] -♪ Who's that jumpin' out the sky ♪
-♪ R-E-Y Mysterio, here we go ♪ -[crowd cheering]
♪ When the mask out The girls, they pass out… ♪
[Cole] Rey Mysterio, from right here in San Diego.
[Tazz] And roof damn near came off this joint,
and Rey Mysterio now, I guess, wants in the mix of it, Cole.
Can John Cena take on all these individuals?
Well, I don't know. I mean, maybe he could. I don't know.
[Cole] Well, maybe he can, maybe he can't, but the bottom line is,
is all of these individuals want the first shot at the WWE Championship.
That's what it's all about. And remember, Eddie and Rey are tag team partners,
Tag Team Champions.
♪ Who's that jumpin' out the sky ♪
♪ R-E-Y Mysterio, here we go ♪
♪ When the mask out The girls, they pass out ♪
♪ The boys just black out Better tap out ♪
♪ Come on Who's that jumpin' out the sky ♪
♪ R-E-Y Mysterio, here we go… ♪
[Cole] Look at the size of Rey compared to everybody else in the ring,
including The Big Show.
[crowd cheering]
Try it in English.
[Rey] Why are you tripping, Bradshaw?
Hey, I know, I know. Y'all wondering why I'm out here, right?
Hold on, let me explain myself.
You know, if my tag team partner, Eddie Guerrero…
[crowd cheers]
…if he…
if he's gonna throw his name in the hat to challenge John Cena,
then so is Rey Mysterio.
[crowd cheering]
[inaudible yelling]
That's right. 'Cause we're in the 6-1--
-["Medal" playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Kurt Angle, now what?
[Tazz] Oh man, Cole.
[Cole] I honestly can say that this is
the craziest start of SmackDown that I have ever been a part of.
[crowd chant] You suck! You suck!
[Tazz] Well, Kurt Angle, the most decorated athlete
in the history of WWE,
First-ever Olympic gold medalist in the WWE.
Talk about throwing his hat in, now he's throwing his hat in the mix here.
I-I've never seen this, Cole. This is amazing.
[Cole] It's unbelievable.
[song fades out]
[crowd chatter]
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
First of all, you, you, and you
lost at WrestleMania 21.
And Booker T, look at me.
Booker, you weren't even on WrestleMania 21.
[crowd chatter]
And let me inform you, little man,
in order to challenge the WWE Champion,
you at least have to be an adult.
[crowd booing]
Okay, fine.
Now, something very serious happened to me.
Sunday night, after WrestleMania 21,
I was arrested.
[crowd chatter]
-[Tazz] Huh? -[Cole] What?
-Did he say arrested? -[Tazz] Yes.
I was arrested for armed robbery.
Because I stole the show at WrestleMania, baby!
-[crowd chatter] -[Tazz laughs]
-[Tazz] He did that. -I made Shawn Michaels tap,
and I can make each and every one of you tap.
So if anyone deserves a shot at the WWE Title,
it's your Olympic hero, Kurt Angle.
Oh, it's true.
[crowd booing]
[inaudible dialogue]
I have absolutely no idea
what in the hell you people are thinking.
I am on the level that you people cannot possibly fathom.
[crowd chatter]
And you, I wait behind nobody.
Now get out of my ring, every one of you.
-["MacMilitant" playing] -♪ You know it's the mack militant ♪
-[crowd cheering] -[Cole] Well, finally…
someone who can clean up this mess, the General Manager, Theodore Long.
[Tazz] I'm gonna tell you right now, if anybody deserves an opportunity
to face John Cena for his newly won WWE Championship,
the way I see it, that man is Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle should be.
[Cole] Yeah, but what about JBL? He's the former champion.
He held the title for 242 days.
But, then again, I can see
-all the other Superstars having a gripe. -Hold on. Hold on. Just a minute, players.
Hey, hey. Y'all stay back.
Stand back. I got this, player.
Now, first of all, JBL, let's get one thing straight.
This is not your ring.
[crowd cheering]
This is my ring.
Now, since we're all talking about WWE Title matches…
Which I deserve. Don't screw me again.
Well… [laughs] seems to me
that you forgot a little provision
that was in the contract at WrestleMania.
You see, player,
you were so confident that you were going to beat John Cena…
you overlooked the fact
that there is no rematch clause in the contract.
[Tazz] Whoa.
[crowd cheering]
Now…
Now, if you got a problem with that JBL,
you can get your high-price lawyers to check it out.
It's in black and white.
I will sue you.
Well, what that means, player,
if you want a rematch, then you are going to have to earn it.
[crowd cheering]
I already have.
In fact, all of you
are going to have to earn a WWE Title match.
What are you talkin' about, man?
Now, there are six of you
that are challenging John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
And I want you to know
that I assure each and every one of you
that I will give you the opportunity.
But first thing we must do we…
somehow I…
I must pair you up in matches,
and then we will see
who deserves a WWE Title match.
And that is going to start tonight.
[crowd cheering]
And it is going to start with you, JBL.
Because tonight, you will be going one-on-one
with San Diego's finest!
[crowd cheering]
And San Diego's finest
is the master of the 619,
-Rey Mysterio. -[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] Oh my. JBL and Mysterio… -["619" playing]
…one-on-one tonight.
[Tazz] That's big time, man. Huge.
[Cole] But I wonder what the new WWE Champion, John Cena,
thinks of all this.
We'll find out later on tonight because the champ is here.
[Tazz] Oh yes. SmackDown is looking like it's real pretty tonight, Cole,
Big time.
[Cole] And speaking of SmackDown being real pretty…
[Tazz] Uh-huh.
[Cole] Also tonight, how about a ring full of divas.
It is the Viva Las Divas Bikini Contest here tonight on SmackDown.
[Tazz] It sounds good to me, Cole.
I'll tell you what, up next,
we got some Cruiserweight gold on the line.
The new champ, Paul London,
he's putting the title on the line against Billy Kidman.
Can Billy Kidman become Cruiserweight Champion again?
We'll find out next.
["New Rocker" playing]
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship of the World.
In the ring, from Austin, Texas, weighing in at 195 pounds,
is the Cruiserweight Champion of the world, Paul London.
[Cole] Paul London set to defend his Cruiserweight Championship.
Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside,
joined by the former Cruiserweight Champion, Chavo Guerrero.
Chavo, I gotta ask you off the bat,
have you ever experienced anything like we saw moments ago,
six men trying to become Number One Contender for the WWE Title?
Michael Cole, have you ever experienced anything
that happened like what happened to me last week on SmackDown,
-when 25 guys… -[Cole] That's a really good point.
…ganged up on me and threw me out?
-[Cole] Let's take you back last Thursday… -They cheated.
…a Battle Royal for the Cruiserweight Championship.
Describe to us what happened.
[Chavo] There I am. 25 guys jumping on me.
I'm obviously the biggest threat in the ring.
They decide to all cheat and conspiracy. They throw me out.
[Cole] Wait, wait, wait. Chavo, 25 guys?
There was only eight men, including yourself, in the ring.
[Chavo] Twenty-five, eight. Whatever it was…
it was still a conspiracy against me,
the best cruiserweight in the world. Obviously, they conspired.
[Tazz] Chavo, you went into this match as the Cruiserweight Champion,
so you gotta figure they'll be gunning for you.
There you see Paul London becoming victorious.
[Chavo] You know, what I believe is that… I think in the history of the WWE,
I'm the only champion, not just cruiserweight,
but the only champion to be stripped off his title
by defending it and never losing it.
[Cole] Chavo, first up…
-I didn't lose. I didn't… -[Cole] Yeah, you did.
-You got eliminated from the Battle Royal… -I did not get pinned.
Do you think Paul London… Paul London, the Cruiserweight Champion, you call it,
-he didn't beat me. He can't beat me. -["You Can't Run" playing]
There was no pinfall. There was no disqualification…
[Chimel] And the challenger, from Allentown, Pennsylvania,
weighing in at 215 pounds, Billy Kidman.
[Cole] Nonetheless, Chavo, Paul London is the Cruiserweight Champion,
and tonight, he defends that newly won title
against a former friend of his, a former Tag Team Champion partner of his,
Billy Kidman.
[Chavo] That's what kind of person Paul is.
He's got a lot of former friends, if you know what I mean.
[Tazz] Oh, so Paul London, he's a type of guy that no one likes,
he can't keep a friend, that's what you're saying?
[Chavo] I don't like him. Do you like him?
[Tazz] I've never really talked to him, so…
If I did, I probably wouldn't like him. I know Cole likes him, though.
[Chavo] But nobody likes Cole, so don't worry about that.
[Tazz] That's true.
[Cole] It's all about the Cruiserweight Championship of the World here tonight.
Paul London and Billy Kidman one-on-one,
former champion Chavo Guerrero here at ringside. Chavo, by all rights--
-Stop saying "former champion." -[Cole] By all rights--
-In my mind, I'm still the champion. -I should be champion!
[Cole] By all rights, Paul London, well, should have won the championship
at No Way Out in that big elimination matchup.
[Chavo] He should have won? He should have won it?
Shoulda, coulda, woulda?
[Tazz] Shoulda, coulda, woulda was it?
[Chavo] Maybe you shoulda picked your clothes better
if you wanna say "shoulda woulda."
[Cole] I recall you cheated in that matchup, but nonetheless.
Bounced off the top turnbuckle,
Billy Kidman off the neckbreaker.
[Chavo] Cheating, whatever you want to call it…
[Cole] Here's the cover by Kidman. Hook to the leg and a kickout.
[Chavo] When you look at the win-loss column,
-all you're gonna see is W. -[Tazz] That's right.
-Some sort of closure, right? -There's no asterisk.
[Cole] Chavo, you talked about all you're gonna see is
the W in the win-loss column.
All you gonna see under Paul London's name in the Battle Royal last week
is a win for the Cruiserweight Title.
[Tazz] Cole, why are you come out here and disrespect-- Chavo,
Chavo is the former Cruiserweight Champ.
I'm sorry, Chavo, I shouldn't have said "former."
-Thank you. -Don't disrespect the man.
He's a hell of a competitor, a great wrestling family.
-Come on. -[Chavo] Thank you.
Just because I'm out here commentating
doesn't mean that I won't step up and slap you out here.
-[Tazz] See. There you go. -[Cole] I'm sure you will, Chavo.
-Just tell me so I can get out of the way. -[Cole] Billy Kidman continues the assault
on the new champion, Paul London.
[Chavo] Not taking away from anybody in the ring here.
These are two great competitors.
-Oh! -The best cruiserweights in the world,
-and I, by far, am the greatest. -[Cole] Here's the cover.
-Hook of the leg… -One!
…shoulders down, and a kickout.
[Chavo] My opinion, that was a slow count by the referee, Charles Robinson.
[Tazz] Well, you gotta watch that Robinson, he's shady.
[Cole] How do you know he's shady?
-[Tazz] I know him, he's shady. -[Cole] Oh, wow.
With authority, Irish Whip into the corner,
and Kidman suddenly in total control of the champion.
[Tazz] And Kidman got no remorse. He knows Billy Kid-- uh…
Paul London is hurt, and these two men were former Tag Team Champions.
[Cole] And friends.
[Tazz] And friend… oh, what's with the friends?
[Chavo] Tazz, I value your opinion very much
being a former competitor, former great competitor, by the way.
So if you say he's shady, I'm gonna listen to you.
[Cole] Oh! And London trying to battle out here.
Been well-documented the jealousy factor that Billy Kidman has for Paul London.
[Tazz] Chavo, Billy Kidman, you got to admit, he's got a mean streak in him.
[Chavo] He does, and I actually like it. I like it.
I think Paul London's in a run for his money tonight.
Well, it's respect.
I mean, you see, Cole, that's something, you know, a guy with the anger,
the rage that Chavo, the man to my right, has within him to make him a champion,
and that's what Kidman has in him, and it's just a respect thing.
[Cole] But nonetheless, Chavo Guerrero would also know that Paul London
has the heart of a champion.
Tremendous guts and resilience.
You can never count this kid, Paul London, out.
[Chavo] We're gonna see if he's got the heart of a champion.
Tonight, by the way, is his first title defense.
[Cole] It is that, as London slugs away,
trying to battle out of trouble here against Kidman.
And Kidman, tremendous move.
-Paul London… -[Chavo] Bravo.
[Cole] …bouncing off the bottom turnbuckle and out of the ring.
[Chavo] That's the heart tenacity you need to be a champion.
[Tazz] He landed right on the back of his head on the turnbuckle dead-on.
Let's take another look at this here.
Watch Paul London's neck and head here. Watch th--
[Cole] And here's the cover and the hook of the leg.
-[Chavo] Oh man, landed right on his neck. -[Cole] A kickout at two by Paul London.
Kidman, a half second away from becoming Cruiserweight Champion.
[Chavo] What I would do is I'd go work right on Paul's neck.
-He made a run on that outside. -[Tazz] He's bleeding.
I think there was some blood there.
There's blood on the chest of Paul London, or his head may be bleeding.
[Cole] Yeah. I believe it's his forehead as he…
London tumbled out of the ring,
and the right hand to the midsection of Billy Kidman.
-[Tazz] Say… look at this. -[Cole] Paul London…
that mule kick to the back.
[Tazz] Great athleticism by London.
He's a great athlete, Chavo. You gotta admit it.
-[Chavo] I'll give that to him. -He's bleeding bad. Look at this.
He's busted open. Ooh, that's nasty.
[Cole] Oh, look at this. A clothesline. Knocking Kidman down again.
[Tazz] See it here, right here.
Right into the metal… the turnbuckle, the metal part of the turnbuckle.
That's probably what gaffed his head open.
[Cole] But Paul London building momentum in the ring off the flying elbow.
The Cruiserweight Champion realizing he's gotta put Kidman out here.
Hurricanrana takes Kidman down.
[Chavo] I'm not taking away from any of these competitors.
They're both great athletes.
-[Cole] Wow! -[Tazz] They are, but I'll tell you--
[Chavo] Not as good as me, of course, but they are great athletes.
[Cole] Here's the cover, shoulder down. London might have Kidman here.
Hook to the leg, and did he kick out? Yes, he did.
[Chavo] Another slow count by Charles Robinson.
-[Cole] At two. -[Tazz] Come on, he's shady.
Well, London's bleeding really bad.
He had a… He's got a hell of a gash in his head.
[Cole] Perhaps the referee should think about stopping this matchup.
[Tazz] I'm the one telling you that the referee's a little out of it.
[Cole] Elbow to the… that open wound of Paul London.
[Chavo] Get on it, Kidman. There you go. There you go.
-[Tazz] Right on the… He's got it. -[Chavo] One, two…
-[Tazz] New champ! -[Chavo] Oh, come on, Charles.
That's shady. That's what you guys say, shady.
[Tazz] That's true. But that Paul London, man,
tons of toughness in this guy.
You're right, Cole, I've gotta give him his credit.
-It's true, though, Chavo. -[Chavo] He's very tough.
I've been with him in the ring with many times, and he's very tough.
He's not Guerrero tough, but he's very tough.
[Tazz] Oh, no, he's not Guerrero tough, I never said that.
[Cole] Well, look at this.
Paul London trying to battle back against Kidman.
The forearms and the rights, Kidman reeling a little bit.
No, no, no!
[Tazz] Couldn't get him up, he might lost a lot of--
-Stop the match. -[Chavo] He did lose a lot of blood.
-[Tazz] Hey, listen, listen. -No, no, no. Knock it off.
Hey, hey, hold on. Let me check you out.
-Hey. -[crowd chatter]
Do you wanna go on? Do you wanna continue?
-Yeah. -You wanna continue?
[Cole] Referee Charles Robinson asking Paul London if he wants to go on,
and London with an emphatic yes.
-Wow. The BK Bomb. -[Chavo] He should've said no.
[Tazz] Yeah, I think he should've.
[Cole] And Paul London is down and out.
And it just could be a matter of moments
before Billy Kidman becomes Cruiserweight Champion.
[Chavo] I'm enjoying this match thoroughly, this beating.
[Tazz] London's hanging on to Kidman's boot there… Ooh, that's nasty.
[Chavo] Keep kicking him right in that face.
[Cole] Right into the open wound of London.
[Chavo] I love it.
[Tazz] Look at this. Look at this.
He went for a bulldog, but nice counter by London.
-And look at this. -[Cole] Oh, what a big back body drop.
Billy Kidman, as Paul London tries to battle back here.
Where's he going?
-Paul London to the apron. -[Tazz] He's going outside the ring.
[Cole] Paul London to the apron.
Billy Kidman in trouble. London to the top rope.
[Tazz] Might be going for that 450. Oh!
[Cole] 450, landed on his feet.
-Kidman rolling out of the way. -[Chavo] Uh-oh. There it is.
[Cole] London trying to hang on. He's got Billy Kidman, roll through.
Look at this. Hooks the leg.
-He's got him. -[Chavo] Oh, come on now.
[Cole] What a win by Paul London.
[Tazz] Wow. Oh…
[Chimel] Here is your winner,
and still Cruiserweight Champion of the World,
Paul London.
[Cole] What a victory for Paul London in his first title defense here tonight.
The guts, the heart of this champion.
[Tazz] Very impressive.
That kid, Paul London,
that Cruiserweight Champ left it all in the ring.
Split wide open across the head somewhere.
I'll tell you what, major, major ups and props to this Paul London.
[Cole] At one point, the referee asked Paul London
if he wanted to stop the matchup.
[Tazz] He wouldn't. He didn't wanna quit. Chavo's not happy about it.
[Cole] What's Chavo-- Look at this. From behind, Billy Kidman.
Chavo Guerrero drawing Paul London to him,
Kidman with an assault from behind.
Pick him up, pick him up. His match is over.
[Tazz] Well, this kid's hurt. Chavo's directing traffic here…
and wait, they were…
-Oh! Wow. -[Cole] Right hand to the open wound.
This is a two-on-one mugging.
[crowd booing]
-Kick him. -Pick him up.
[Cole] All this by a jealous Chavo Guerrero,
upset that Paul London won the Cruiserweight Title last week.
-[Tazz] Oh my God. -[Cole] Oh!
-[Tazz] This is nasty. -[Cole] A kick to the ribs.
[Tazz] London's hurt bad, and Chavo and Kidman not caring a lick.
Wow.
[Cole] Pitiful performance by the former champion, Chavo Guerrero.
Sickening.
Oh, not… not another one.
-Get out of here. -[Cole] For what?
What does this prove? You're not the champion, Chavo.
Why?
[Tazz] I guess he's sending a message, Cole.
I mean, Paul London needs to get some help, medical attention or something.
He's hurt, hurt bad.
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, tonight, for the first time ever,
John Cena will show up on SmackDown as the new WWE Champion.
Cena looks back at his shocking WrestleMania victory,
tonight in San Diego.
The champ is here.
[rock music playing]
[Cole] We are sold out for SmackDown tonight in San Diego, California.
And still to come,
San Diego's own Rey Mysterio goes on one-on-one with JBL,
as we start the series of matches
to determine who will face John Cena for the WWE Championship.
[Tazz] Cole, check it out, some of the San Diego Chargers in the house,
Jamal Williams, Adrian Dingle, Carlos Polk, Kassim Osgood,
and Cleo Lemon, baby. The Chargers in the house.
[Cole] And we like to say thank you to all who watched WrestleMania this past Sunday.
Now, we'll look back at WrestleMania 21.
-[determined music plays] -[Commodus] Slave!
You remove your helmet and tell me your name.
[Jim Ross] Welcome, ladies and gentlemen around the world.
We are live in Hollywood, and this is WrestleMania.
[music continues]
[uplifting, dramatic music playing]
My name is "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And tonight, I unleash hell!
[upbeat music plays]
[Hassan] What I don't like is being excluded
from the biggest show of the year.
[Ross] It's Hulk Hogan!
[music continues]
[Ross] This is a WrestleMania moment.
[music continues]
[Piper] Welcome to Piper's Pit.
[Austin] Thank you very much for having me, you little son of a bitch.
[crowd cheering]
[Carlito] Neither of you two is cool.
[Lawler] Look out.
[Ross] He's gonna stomp a mud hole, and Austin…
-[Lawler] Ah! -[Ross] Oh, Stunner!
-I think it's time to celebrate. -[Lawler] Hey, look out.
[Ross] Oh, Austin with Stunner on Piper!
[music continues]
[music fades out]
Man, that was good.
It was the biggest night of the year.
-WrestleMania. -WrestleMania.
-The biggest WrestleMania. -Absolutely.
You know, two weeks ago,
I told everybody that Big Show was gonna embarrass
-the entire locker room. -He did.
He did embarrass them. That's right.
-Of which we happen to be a part of. -That's right. SmackDown.
In front of millions of SmackDown viewers all over the world.
I mean, what was he thinking?
[indistinct chatter]
Akebono has had 654 sumo matches.
-[crowd chatter] -Big Show, zero.
-All he had to do was the math. -That's the problem right there.
-[crowd chatter] -Come on, man.
I told everybody
that Akebono was gonna shove his big butt all over that ring.
I remember, I remember, I remember.
And speaking of big busted,
-did you see Big Show's butt? -Ew.
-Oh my God. -Oh my God.
That thing looked like a planet that got hit by a meteor storm.
-[group chatter] -Yeah.
He looked like a walrus in a giant thong.
Oh man, get out.
-[crowd chatter] -Hold on.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Watch this. Watch this.
[All] Oh no, what are you gonna do?
-Ew. -No, no. Oh no.
Ugh!
[crowd chatter]
[group laughing and chattering]
Can you believe it?
He wanted to wrestle like grand sumo… What?
-[crowd cheering] -[laughing]
Whoo! That sure is funny. [laughing]
You're right, Luther.
You're absolutely right.
I lost a sumo match to Akebono.
But you see, that…
That was an honor.
Now, considering you've got so much energy to run around and entertain everybody,
why don't you meet me out in that ring tonight?
[crowd cheering]
Better yet, why don't you meet me in the ring right now?
[crowd cheering]
You're on.
[crowd cheering]
Oh, one more thing.
You might wanna pull your shorts out of your mouth.
-[all] Oh. -[crowd cheering]
What are you laughing at?
Oh man.
Shut up.
[Tazz] Big Show and Luther… Whoa, look at this.
-[Cole] Yeah, look at Torrie Wilson… -[Tazz] Whoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] …preparing for the Viva Las Divas Bikini Contest
that yours truly gets to host tonight.
I cannot wait for that.
-[Tazz] She looks beautiful, no doubt. -[Cole] Always does.
[Cole] And also tonight, the road to determine the new champion,
John Cena's first opponent begins.
Match number one pits San Diego's own Rey Mysterio
versus former champion, JBL, tonight.
-["Big" playing] -♪ Well, well, it's the Big Show ♪
-[explosive booms] -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say The Big Show is not happy
that Luther Reigns was making fun of him moments ago.
[Tazz] Someone might lose a limb in this one.
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Approaching the ring, standing seven feet tall,
weighing in at 493 pounds,
The Big Show.
[Tazz] Look, Cole, I disagree with you.
I think Big Show is happy as a pig in you-know-what.
I think Big Show wants to get his hands on Luther Reigns.
Luther Reigns has been talking a lot of trash about Big Show,
and he wants to get his paws on him.
[Cole] Big Show's back in his element tonight,
although you have to give the seven-footer a hell of a lot of credit
for his performance against Akebono at WrestleMania.
[Chimel] …weighing in at 295 pounds, Luther Reigns.
[Cole] Well, Luther Reigns continues to put his foot,
or his shorts, in his mouth.
Two weeks ago, Luther Reigns drove a Jeep out here on SmackDown,
claiming he'd show Big Show who'd push who around.
Well, Luther Reigns couldn't clutch the Jeep,
got manhandled by The Big Show,
and then watch this amazing feat of strength.
[Tazz] Unbelievable feat of strength here. Look at the power, man. Look at this.
[Cole] 4,400 pounds,
that's 2.5 tons, that Jeep weighed.
[Tazz] I mean why would you mess with someone
who's pushing around vehicles?
I don't get it.
Luther Reigns, you know, his past is well-documented,
-he's spent a lot of time incarcerated… -[bell ringing]
[Tazz] …extremely tough, barbaric individual is Luther Reigns.
-[Cole] And Big Show, the 500-pounder… -[Tazz] Oh.
[Cole] …with the kicks to the midsection,
and Big Show extremely focused here tonight.
-Did you hear that? -[Tazz] Yes, I did.
-[Cole] Could you imagine feeling that? -[Tazz] No.
[Cole] That would be like taking a skillet
and hitting somebody across the chest with it.
[Tazz] Something I don't wanna do is feeling the skillet hit my chest,
or that big paw of The Big Show.
[Cole] And Luther Reigns knocking The Big Show on that steel post,
and this could be the opening that Luther Reigns needs.
[Tazz] Definitely, could be the difference maker, utilizing that post.
You got to watch referee Nick Patrick in that, that count out there.
[Cole] And Big Show back into the ring as he shoves Luther Reigns away.
Luther Reigns, a power house.
Tazz talked about his past being well-documented.
[crowd cheering]
-[Tazz] Luther's smart, going right at… -[Cole] And look at this.
Some sumo technique used by Big Show there like we saw against--
[Tazz] From that sumo training, but this right here boozled.
[Cole] And Luther Reigns battles out of it.
Oh, and a shot to the side of the head.
[Tazz] That's impressive for Luther to pop both those hands off of his neck.
Oh, look at this.
[Cole] It's like what Akebono did to Big Show Sunday at WrestleMania.
[Tazz] Actually that same move,
he popped his hip in and took the man by his head and threw him out,
so Big Show got something out of…
Of being in the ring, sumo match with Akebono.
[Cole] That was only after Big Show lifted the 500-pound--
Oh! And what a shoulder knockdown.
There's the cover, and a kickout with authority.
[Tazz] Speaking of off his feet,
Luther Reigns knocking Show off of his feet, which is rarely seen.
[Cole] Well, Big Show with a big headbutt.
It's like getting hit in the head with a typewriter.
[Tazz] Well, yeah, no doubt Luther is extremely tough,
and he just keeps coming after The Largest Athlete in the World.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Tazz] My God, wow. That was nasty.
[Cole] Another big, size 22 5E boot to the jaw.
[Tazz] Oh, watch out. Watch out!
[Cole] That's 500 pounds.
[Tazz] And he's run-- he's on a hop.
[Cole] Oh, and a shoulder.
That's like getting hit by an Amtrak train.
[Tazz] Some of those Chargers in the front row better take heed
and look at how you throw a shoulder block. [laughs]
[Cole] Big Show all fired up here tonight. Luther Reigns in trouble.
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Cole] The hand around the throat.
[Tazz] What goes up… must come down.
-[Cole] Chokeslam. -[Tazz] Wow. Holy cow.
[Cole] The cover, hooks the inside leg.
Big Show put Luther Reigns and his mouth to bed.
-["Big" playing] -♪ Well, it's the Big Show… ♪
[Chimel] Here is your winner, The Big Show.
[Tazz] Impressive, Cole.
Dominant, vicious, impressive.
That chokeslam, all impact all the time, put Luther Reigns down hard.
Big Show, big time impressive.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
he grew up a huge WWE fan,
and Sunday, on the grand stage of WrestleMania,
he realized his dream.
The new WWE Champion, John Cena, will join us next.
♪ …the Big Show… ♪
["The Time Is Now" by John Cena and Tha Trademarc plays]
[crowd cheering]
[crowd applauds]
[Cole] The time is indeed now for John Cena…
the new WWE Champion.
[Tazz] Cole, against all odds, man, Cena did it.
I didn't think he could.
I was one of those doubters, but he did it.
I was wrong.
Congratulations to the WWE Champion, the new WWE Champion.
That is real.
[Cole] A standing ovation from this capacity crowd in San Diego.
♪ A soldier And I stay under you fightin'… ♪
[Cole] Sunday, at WrestleMania, John Cena's will would not be denied,
and that is what John Cena is all about.
Never say die.
♪ Wishin' they could run with my division But they gone fishin', with no bait ♪
♪ Kid, your boy hold weight ♪
♪ I got my soul straight ♪
♪ I brush your mouth like Colgate ♪
♪ In any weather, I'm never better Your boy's so hot… ♪
[song fades]
[crowd cheering]
[cheering intensifies]
[crowd chants "Cena!"]
The champ…
is here.
[crowd cheering]
JBL…
[crowd mildly booing]
"wrestling god,"
longest-running WWE Champion in the last decade…
has survived the Triple Threat Match,
the Fatal 4-Way Match,
has beat The Undertaker,
beat Eddie Guerrero in a steel cage,
and then again in a Texas Bull Rope Match…
survived The Big Show
in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match.
[crowd chatter]
But the champ
is here.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chants "Cena!"]
I'm supposed to be a thug.
I don't talk like a champion.
They say I don't…
I don't fit the dress code, but I think I'm doing a'ight.
[crowd cheering]
It's been said that I'm not a superstar,
because I put myself on the same level as the people that I fight for.
[crowd cheering]
This one's good. [chuckles]
I have no respect for this business,
and I have no respect for its championships.
You see, when I, uh… modified the United States Championship…
apparently, wrestling traditionalists,
and JBL, got a little offended.
Well, I got news for you.
Take a look.
Take a last look at your…
coveted prize,
because if you think what we did to the US Title was disrespectful…
hell, you better lock the door at the country club,
because the champ is here!
[crowd cheering]
[crowd chants "Cena!"]
[crowd cheering]
Listen.
You hear that?
[crowd cheers]
I said, do you hear that?
[crowd cheering louder]
Look around.
This is what we do.
[crowd cheering]
So it don't matter if you're Booker T,
Kurt Angle, Big Show,
JBL.
Hell, it don't matter if you're the Brooklyn Brawler,
"Iron" Mike Sharpe, S.D. Jones, or Steve Gatorwolf…
our time is now!
[crowd cheering]
This is the chain gang.
And we ain't hard to find.
You want some,
come get some,
because the champ is here!
["The Time Is Now" plays]
[Cole] Well, Tazz, you are looking at a man
who absolutely loves being WWE Champion.
A dream come true four nights ago for John Cena.
[Tazz] You know what, Cole? Here at WrestleMania.
[Cole] And appropriately, John Cena celebrating tonight…
in this capacity crowd in San Diego.
Not one stranger among the champion here tonight.
Well, over the next few weeks,
a series of matches will be held to determine
John Cena's first opponent.
Match number one, tonight. Rey Mysterio versus JBL on SmackDown.
["The Time Is Now" continues]
[Cole] The new WWE Champion, John Cena,
celebrating with the people throughout the entire commercial break.
This capacity sellout crowd in San Diego
and boy, does John Cena ever love being WWE Champion.
["Medal" playing]
[Cole] And here is one of the six men
who will have an opportunity to face John Cena
for the championship if he can win
the Number One Contender series, which gets underway tonight.
[crowd chanting "You suck!"]
[Tazz] But what about the performance by this man, Kurt Angle,
at WrestleMania with HBK, "Mr. WrestleMania," Shawn Michaels.
What a classic matchup.
What an outing by Kurt Angle. It was a phenomenal matchup.
[Chimel] The following contest is the Kurt Angle Invitational.
In the ring, he's the only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history
and a former WWE Champion,
Kurt Angle.
[music fades out]
[crowd booing]
That's right, Cena.
You celebrate with the people.
And maybe they'll tell you
the real highlight of WrestleMania 21…
when Kurt Angle
made Shawn Michaels tap out in the middle of the ring.
[crowd chatter]
And I want you to enjoy this, Cena.
I want you to enjoy your time as WWE Champion.
Because at the right time,
I'm gonna make you tap faster than you can say "fluke champion."
[crowd booing]
Now, I just came from Teddy Long's office,
and he just informed me that next week on SmackDown,
I will be facing…
Eddie Guerrero.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] Wow.
And once I make Eddie Guerrero tap next week on SmackDown,
John Cena, your days as WWE Champion…
are over.
Word freaking life.
Now bring out my opponent.
[generic rock music playing]
[Cole] You were talking about Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels
in the wonderful match in WrestleMania.
What about what Shawn Michaels said last Monday Night on Raw, Tazz, that…
Well, he didn't know how, when, or where,
but Shawn Michaels saying he would cross paths again with Kurt Angle.
I would love to see that.
[Tazz] I would too, but what about what Kurt just said,
that Kurt Angle will be facing Eddie Guerrero next week…
[Cole] In Chicago on SmackDown.
[Tazz] And Kurt vows to make Eddie tap, more or less guaranteed a victory.
Wow, you…
You look like you could be Eddie Guerrero's cousin.
Now, what's your name and where you from?
Me llamo José Quesada
y soy de San Diego, California!
[crowd cheering]
Speak English, son. You're in America.
[crowd booing]
Now, just out of curiosity,
do you realize you're wrestling me for the Olympic gold medal?
Okay. Something I won in 1996. It's very important to me.
Out of curiosity…
[crowd chanting "Asshole!"]
Out of curiosity, I just wanna know
if any of your family members have attended?
Of course. They're sitting right over there.
[Cole] Oh!
-[bell ringing] -An ambush by Angle with that microphone.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] And look at Kurt Angle, with a kick to the back of the head,
the kidney area, as Kurt Angle begins to destroy this young man
with a German suplex. The clock is ticking.
This young man must last three minutes
with Kurt Angle in order to take the Olympic gold medal.
-Oh! But an Angle slam. -[Tazz] Well, it's at 2:38, I mean…
I mean is this kid gonna be able to beat Kurt Angle for his gold?
Somebody's gonna do it eventually, I'm sure.
And right now-- Look at this!
-[Cole] Oh, the ankle lock is locked in. -Man.
[Cole] The ankle lock locked in.
-[Tazz] that's it. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] He has no choice but to tap out. Oh, come on, you proved the point.
Get rid of the ankle lock.
[Tazz] I don't think Kurt's done proving his point,
he's gonna snap this kid's ankle.
-[bell ringing] -[Cole] Come on, now. Break the hold.
-["Medal" playing] -[crowd booing]
-[Cole] Kurt Angle… -[Chimel] Here is your winner, Kurt Angle.
[Tazz] Cole, I'm telling you, some place,
Shawn Michaels is watching this
and, you know, he knows what that ankle lock feels like, HBK does.
Kurt Angle's got a vicious streak, man, I'm telling you.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero must be watching this as well.
Kurt's opponent next week.
Oh.
Eddie Guerrero,
this is what your future holds for you.
-Oh… -Get off the guy.
Jorge, José, whatever your name is,
I want you to tell Eddie the Spanish translation
for "unbearable pain."
-[Angle grunting] -[José screaming]
[Cole] What is this? Come on, now.
[Tazz] He put the mic right in front of the kid's mouth
so we can hear him screaming in pain.
[Cole] How pathetic.
[crowd chatter]
[Tazz] Angle just snaps sometimes, man. He's…
[Cole] Sometimes?
[crowd chants "Eddie"]
[Cole] Now the Eddie chants begin from this crowd.
Eddie,
just like Shawn Michaels,
just like this amigo here,
just like everyone I wrestle,
next week on SmackDown,
you will tap out.
[crowd booing]
And when I get through with Eddie Guerrero,
John Cena's gonna find out that the champ, the real champ,
is here.
[Cole] I'll tell you what, next week in Chicago,
Eddie Guerrero is running into a buzz saw.
I don't believe I have ever seen Kurt Angle as intense,
as focused as he has been the past few months.
[Tazz] Cole, I can't disagree with you.
The match next week from Chicago between Angle and Guerrero,
definitely gonna be a blockbuster.
[Cole] This rivalry with Shawn Michaels has stirred something inside Kurt Angle
and has sent him off the deep end.
-[Tazz] Whoa, whoa. -[Cole] Oh my.
-["What Love Is" playing] -[Cole] Oh man.
SmackDown gets better and better every week.
[Tazz] Well, that's a…
[Cole] It's Chris Jackie getting ready for Viva Las Divas Bikini Contest…
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Cole] …tonight.
[crowd booing]
Carlito, WrestleMania 21 was a great night,
an awesome spectacle, a night full of surprises.
In fact, we were surprised to see you on Piper's Pit.
Surprised to see Carlito on Piper's Pit?
Everyone was falling asleep.
Someone had to come in there and spice things up.
I mean, think about it…
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin,
"Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
You got one guy wearing a skirt,
a bald guy wearing daisy dukes.
That's not cool.
You know what's cool?
Carlito's cool.
I mean, look at me.
Look at the way I dress, huh?
Look at my good hair.
That's cool.
Piper had his own show, Piper's Pit.
Carlito should have his own show.
Matter of fact,
next week, Carlito's gonna host…
Carlito's Cabana.
What do you think of that, huh?
And I'm gonna give…
I'm gonna give anyone who thinks they're cool
a chance to come on down and prove it.
I mean, even people like…
Who are you? You…
You think you're cool?
Yeah. Yeah, I think I'm cool.
I'll tell you what Carlito thinks of you.
No, no. I'm not cool. I'm not cool.
[crowd chatter]
That's what I thought. [chuckles]
[crowd cheering]
-[Eddie] Hey, Rey. -Hey, Eddie.
-You ready, homes? -Yes.
-Are you ready, ese? -Yeah.
-Man, I'm excited for you. -Thank you.
-Órale, man. -I'm ready to win.
-Taking on JBL tonight, man. -Yes.
Ese, you know how mad he is, homes?
He just lost his WWE Championship. Whew.
-You know what, Eddie? -Oh my God, man.
I don't care about that.
I'm ready to win tonight.
Ese, I'm gonna make sure you win tonight.
-What do care about that, cabrón? -Make sure we win tonight.
-What, you… -Well, you know, ese.
-Just like always. -What?
I got your back, homes, ese.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, cabrón.
Man, that think about… having each other's backs.
That quite didn't work for us last week.
Oh, th-th-that was just last week. I mean, yeah, come on.
You can't bring up the old, the past. The past is the past.
-I know, I know. -Today's today. It's a new day.
But today is today. Today is my day.
This is San Diego, carnal. 619.
I gotta do this on my own.
Wait a minute, man.
You know, just let me remind you of something.
You know, I know what it is to lose a WWE Title.
I know how crushed up and hurt and mad I was.
-JBL's that way tonight. -I know.
And I gotta be honest with you, man.
I really don't think you can beat him alone.
Whoa, whoa.
Why would you say something like that, Eddie?
I mean, no offense, but you know what,
I-I-I honestly think I can beat anybody in the locker room on any given night.
Hey, and don't forget…
Sunday, at WrestleMania, carnal, I…
-I beat you. -Yeah, yeah.
And tonight, right here in SD,
in the West Coast, I'm gonna beat JBL.
You watch.
[crowd cheering]
-["What Love Is" playing] -♪ Let me show you what love is… ♪
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen, coming up next…
[crowd cheering]
…Viva Las Divas,
the SmackDown Divas Bikini Contest is next.
Ladies and gentlemen, the images you are viewing are from the upcoming
WWE Divas Magazine,
and also from the DVD entitled…
Viva Las Divas.
Now, you see, each year,
our divas jet off across the globe to exotic locations…
so they can participate in these breathtaking pictorials just for you.
Well, here tonight in San Diego, California,
some of the divas featured in the magazine
and on the DVD are going to give you a sneak peek,
a little preview…
[crowd cheering]
…as we get set for a SmackDown Divas Bikini Contest.
[crowd cheering]
And we are going to kick things off with none other than Miss Jackie.
["Purple Marry" playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Miss Jackie.
Miss Jackie looks great.
I'll tell you, in my opinion, here on SmackDown
we have the hottest, hottest, fanciest woman, the hottiest…
hottest looking woman.
Glamorous ladies, don't get me wrong,
on, you know, on Raw they got some beautiful class ladies, of course.
Whoa, whoa, wait, time out, let's look at this.
[crowd cheering]
Wow.
Unbelievable.
[crowd cheering]
I like that bikini.
Wow.
Pink and black kind of goes together, don't it?
Know what I mean? A little touch of white--
Whoa, look at that. Hey, yeah. That's cool.
Miss Jackie, yeah.
[crowd cheering]
She's gotta be one of the favorites to win this thing for sure.
["Bytch Slapped" playing]
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, Dawn Marie.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] Oh, what do we got here?
Kind of like a, uh…
a gangster-looking thing. That's cool.
Dawn looks very… She looks glamorous and I like that.
The hat. I love the hat.
Like the hat, little Madonna thing, the…
[crowd cheering]
I just wanna borrow that hat. I wish I could've…
My head might be too big, but let me use the hat. I like that hat.
Oh, a little tie on. A pink tie.
Oh, whoa.
Oh, wait. Well, Let's see.
Well, it is a bikini contest, so…
Well, a lot of buttons on that shirt. Well, they're off now.
-[crowd cheering] -All right.
Wow.
A little pearl necklace on, a pink and black bikini.
-["Need a Little Time" playing] -Who's next? Who's next?
[Cole] And Torrie Wilson!
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Oh boy. One of my favorites here.
Uh-oh.
Torrie just…
One of the most glamorous women, you know, that I've ever personally met,
and SmackDown's finest divas, in my opinion.
Former Playboy cover girl. I think Torrie is absolutely beautiful.
♪ Who do you turn to When you need to get away ♪
♪ I know only your love can get me there ♪
♪ What do you do… ♪
And I'm not, I'm not, you know, not gonna--
-Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[crowd cheering]
Wow.
I mean, I'm not… she's a beautiful woman.
I mean, come on, bar none.
-She's just a great gal on top. -Okay, girls.
We are gonna line up here and we are going to get San Diego involved.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Let's line up, and now you, San Diego, are going to vote for…
-["Only Love Can Do It" playing] -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa.
-What's this? Hey, more divas. -[crowd cheering]
All right.
And they're striking a pose. Look at this.
Wow.
Well, what's better than three divas in the ring?
Three more coming to the ring.
[Tazz] I don't think Dawn was too happy, and I don't think Miss Jackie is either.
That's Lauren Jones right there. Whoa, with the pink heel on.
Joy Giovanni in the middle,
and that's Michelle McCool getting in the ring last.
Three more beautiful, glamorous ladies.
[music fades out]
Hold on a minute, Michael.
There is something I have to say.
Bienvenidos, San Diego.
[crowd cheering]
Aquí estoy para ti.
We're the new blood here on SmackDown, and before the fans vote,
they need a chance to see all the divas.
So why don't you let us show our stuff?
In case you all didn't know, I'm Joy Giovanni.
-[crowd cheering] -[up-tempo music playing]
[Tazz] Wow. All right. Well, Joy's gonna go first then,
and she definitely is. Whoa. Joy Giovanni, wow.
[crowd cheering]
Well, I think Torrie might be… Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
I didn't know that thing could do that.
Amazing lady there, Joy Giovanni. Now--
What's up, San Diego?
I'm Lauren Jones.
Whoo!
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Kind of an interesting… mirror kind of effect there with that…
Whoa, whoa. Wow, what?
Oh man.
Lauren looks beautiful.
Wow.
And I'm Michelle McCool.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] And she is.
What a tremendous athlete Michelle McCool is, for sure.
And I'll tell you what, San Diego's digging it.
Whoa, wait, let's see that bikini.
-Wow. -[crowd cheering]
Like I said, wow.
What's this? Whoa, oh! A double wow. [laughs]
A backflip.
How about the new divas? I'll tell you.
Now we've got 'em all in the ring.
Well, San Diego, it seems like we have three new contestants.
So how about we line the ladies up,
and we let you decide which SmackDown Diva looks best in her bikini?
And we will start off with Michelle McCool.
-[crowd cheering] -[slow beat music playing]
Lauren Jones.
[crowd cheering and catcalling]
Joy Giovanni.
[crowd cheering]
Miss Jackie.
[crowd cheering]
Dawn Marie.
[crowd cheering]
And Torrie Wilson.
[crowd cheering loudly]
And ladies and gentlemen, the winner is
Torrie Wilson.
-["Need a Little Time" plays] -[Tazz] Oh, look at that. Hey.
Never say-- I never thought I'd be jealous of Michael Cole,
but by golly, I am right now.
Well, let's shift gears now, because coming up next,
the Number One Contenders Championship Series Match
between Rey Mysterio and JBL.
Can Rey Mysterio defy the odds and defeat JBL?
We'll find out next.
[Cole] We learned of this huge news earlier tonight.
Next week, SmackDown, the Allstate Arena in Chicago,
home of WrestleMania 22.
In a WrestleMania-caliber matchup,
Kurt Angle one-on-one with Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] I can't wait for that one, my man. That's gonna be off the chain.
-["Longhorn" playing] -[Cole] And now, the first matchup
in this Number One Contenders Series of matches.
It all begins tonight on SmackDown.
[bell ringing]
[Chimel] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from New York City,
weighing in at 297 pounds,
John Bradshaw Layfield.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] And Tazz, I was informed
by General Manager Theodore Long's office during the commercial break
that this series is gonna work like this.
You're gonna have three matches.
Of course, tonight, JBL versus Rey Mysterio.
Next week, Eddie Guerrero versus, of course, Kurt Angle.
And then, Booker T versus the Big Show.
The three winners will meet in a Triple Threat Match
in the United Kingdom at the end of the month,
to determine who will face John Cena for the WWE Championship.
[Tazz] That is gonna be phenomenal, no doubt.
And JBL, look at the face. All business tonight.
All business is the former WWE Champion.
And in tow, Orlando Jordan.
[Cole] JBL begins going down the road to vindication here tonight.
And tonight, SmackDown is sponsored by King's Ransom,
starring Anthony Anderson. In theaters April 22nd, Rated PG-13.
And by Big Lots. Smart shopping means Big Lots.
Brand names, closeout prices, happy people.
[Tazz] And by Xbox. It's good to play together.
[Cole] You saw the United States Champion. There he is, to the right of JBL,
Orlando Jordan, "The Chief of Staff."
And you know that JBL wants to bring
the WWE gold back to his camp, back to his cabinet.
-["619" playing] -[crowd cheering]
♪ Who's that jumpin' out the sky ♪
-[Tazz] wow. -♪ R-E-Y… ♪
[Chimel] And from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 170 pounds,
one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] And Rey Mysterio's got that 619 Cam in hand.
Rey wanting to get a look at his hometown crowd here,
but… love Rey Mysterio all over the world, no doubt about it.
Rey Mysterio's got a tough task at hand, Cole.
He gotta deal with JBL. It's gonna be tough for him, I'm telling you.
[Cole] Well, Rey Mysterio is on a roll.
He defeated his partner,
his Tag Team Champion partner, Eddie Guerrero, at WrestleMania.
The first time in WrestleMania history
Tag Team Champions have squared off with one another.
And you heard what Mysterio said moments ago,
he believed that today is his day.
[Tazz] Well, we also heard what Eddie Guerrero had to say,
and Eddie Guerrero,
you know, he doesn't believe that Rey Mysterio can defeat JBL.
[Cole] And there are three of Rey Mysterio's biggest fans.
His family here tonight,
including his daughter on the 619 Cam and his son, Dominik.
There's Dominik, eight years old today,
and what a birthday present it would be if his dad, Mysterio,
could knock off JBL here tonight in San Diego.
[Tazz] This thing's gonna heat up quick, it looks like,
'cause JBL is not in the mood to play nice with anyone.
And looks Mysterio, you could see he's in no fun mood himself.
[Cole] Well, look at the look in the eyes of John Bradshaw Layfield,
former WWE Champion.
-[bell ringing] -Held the title for 242 days
before losing to John Cena at WrestleMania.
[crowd chants "619"]
[Cole] The 619 chants beginning.
And apropos here in San Diego
because that is the area code in Rey's hometown.
Hence the name.
So if you're Rey Mysterio, what you have to do, strategically, in this matchup
against a much bigger man?
[Tazz] You've got to stay from JBL. And he won't be able to do it if he…
Once he gets cornered, JBL's gonna have his way with him.
This is the proverbial David versus Goliath.
[Cole] Mysterio looking to use his quickness
early on and perhaps frustrate the former champion.
[Tazz] Don't get cornered now, Rey.
[Cole] JBL and-- Look at this. Rey Mysterio through the legs of Bradshaw.
[Tazz] Okay.
It looked like that was frustrating to, you know, JBL a little bit there.
[Cole] And Rey Mysterio gonna duck out of the ring and buy himself some time.
-[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa. -[Cole] Now, join Bradshaw out, as well.
[Tazz] I don't know if this is good, a good move on JBL's part here.
JBL's falling right into this trap. You don't want to start doing--
[Cole] Oh! And there's a dropkick. Right to the jaw.
Mysterio baited the former champion in,
and Bradshaw bought it.
[Tazz] Less movement is better if you're JBL.
And he's got him cornered. I told you, Cole. He's got him now.
[Cole] Oh! What a club to the back of the neck.
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Now the kicks to the back of Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Cole] And this is what you said JBL has to do.
-Physically wear down the smaller man. -[Tazz] Oh!
[Tazz] JBL's extremely physical smashmouth style.
[crowd chanting "619"]
[Cole] This is a home game for Rey Mysterio.
This crowd firmly behind-- The sold-out crowd--
-Oh! And do you see how big JBL's hand is? -[Tazz] Yeah.
He's almost palming Mysterio's head like a basketball.
[Tazz] But you never know with Mysterio.
He could pull out something out of nowhere.
-[Cole] Oh. -[Tazz] Rey Mysterio…
This is what I'm saying. Watch Mysterio here.
[Cole] Mysterio doesn't sweat anyone.
And he hangs Bradshaw off of the top rope.
And now Mysterio has perhaps an opening. Here comes the high flyer.
Got him from the dive off the top rope across the sternum. Right into the cover.
Hook of the leg. He's got him. No.
Bradshaw kicks out at two.
[Tazz] Oh, he's on a hop, he's on the run. Oh!
[Cole] And there's a boot the midsection again,
that clubbing blow to the small of the back.
[Tazz] JBL is just… You can't say it enough.
The physicality he brings to the ring.
Mysterio now is caught not where he wants to be.
[Cole] It's the sign of the Cabinet with the Longhorns, with JBL.
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
-[Cole] Rey Mysterio up on the shoulders. -[Tazz] Fighting out, though, Cole.
-[Cole] Trying to fight out. -[Tazz] He's punching his way out of this.
-[Cole] Mysterio, grabbing the top rope… -[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] …bringing JBL right out over the top rope and here in front of us.
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] And JBL… Oh, watch out. Oh.
[Cole] The Chief of Staff trying to get involved. Rey Mysterio is rolling.
Mysterio, up over the top, taking out JBL.
Mysterio in control
as this Number One Contender Championship Series continues
when we return to SmackDown in San Diego, next.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] We're sold out in San Diego for SmackDown.
During the entire commercial break, Rey Mysterio has been in control of JBL,
as he cinches in the sleeper hold here.
And JBL desperately trying to get out of this hold,
and the former champ's in trouble.
[Jordan] Come on, John! Come on, JBL.
[Cole] Mysterio trying to wear JBL down.
The winner will advance in this series of matches
towards determining the Number One Contender
for John Cena's championship.
[Tazz] And you could just see the force, the amount of power that Mysterio's
putting on JBL's throat.
And JBL… This is… You can see he's trying to reach back, and…
-[Cole] Oh! -[Tazz] …got him off.
[Tazz] Now, that might've been Mysterio's only hope there for a moment.
[Cole] JBL realizing that he's been cut in the mouth.
-Now focusing on his opponent. -[Tazz] Oof.
[Cole] And you're right, that may have been the last gasp for Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] Might have been.
[Cole] JBL is brutal, and he's not in a good mood.
You know how much being champion meant to JBL.
[Tazz] I do. And JBL will show no mercy on Rey Mysterio, I'm telling you.
He's hooking on, Rey Mysterio stopped--
[Cole] And a knee to the midsection,
and another blow to the back of the neck in a vicious chop.
[Tazz] I tell you, man, JBL is just… Really just bringing it hard, boy.
Uh-oh.
[Cole] Oh, and a shoulder knockdown with authority.
Like walking into a brick wall.
-[Tazz] Here we go. -[Cole] Here's the cover.
[Cole] Forearm across the face, and Mysterio at two kicks out.
[Tazz] You hear that shoulder block, though, Cole? The flesh on flesh
and the pure mass of JBL hitting Rey Mysterio's body, man.
What a thud that was.
[Cole] Oh, and a headbutt.
And Rey Mysterio in all kinds of trouble, in the second rope.
[Tazz] Well, I tell you, Cole.
Mysterio may be half the size of JBL,
but Rey Mysterio's heart is just as… is… maybe…
just as big, or bigger, than JBL's heart.
And heart and intestinal fortitude is what you need to win a match.
[Cole] And Rey Mysterio's got the proverbial sixth man
in his corner here tonight.
[crowd chanting "619"]
[Cole] The hometown crowd trying to will Mysterio on,
but JBL continues to physically pick apart Rey Mysterio.
And look at the look in the eyes of JBL.
[Tazz] He's got a busted lip. Well--
-Here's the cover! -[Cole] Hook of the leg, shoulders down,
Mysterio at two and a half.
[Tazz] Well, that's a… You call that a gaze.
I see that the blood's coming out, from maybe his nose, of JBL.
And JBL, I'm telling you,
he's got a… a strange gaze in his eyes,
a vicious gaze in his eyes, and he's a vicious man.
[Cole] He looked a bit surprised that Mysterio kicked out.
And look at Mysterio.
-[Tazz] He's still fighting, man. -[Cole] He's got guts, heart of a lion.
Mysterio with the rights and lefts-- And then a thumb to the eye,
a thumb to the eye by Bradshaw.
[Tazz] Yeah, but Cole, JBL had to stop Rey Mysterio.
He was mounting himself a comeback.
You gotta try and stop the man.
-[Cole] Mysterio… in a corner… -[Tazz] Oh!
…and a straight right hand drops Mysterio to the mat.
[Tazz] Wow.
You saw Mysterio's knees just got spaghetti-like.
I mean, what a… What a punch that was.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio looked excited to have his matchup tonight.
He may be thinking differently about that.
He's placed on the top rope.
-[Tazz] Watch this. -[Cole] Oh.
[crowd] Woo!
-[Tazz] And Mysterio's in trouble. -[Cole] Oh, and a right hand.
[referee, indistinct]
[Tazz] I mean, can somehow Rey Mysterio reach way down,
just like John Cena did against this man at WrestleMania,
against JBL, and become victorious?
-But Rey's in trouble, Cole. -[Cole] Oh no.
-Not from the second rope. -[Tazz] Oh my God!
[Cole] Fallaway slam from the second rope bending Mysterio in half.
And did you see the impact as Mysterio bounced off the mat?
[Tazz] It's gotta be it. It's mercifully-- It's over. It's done
[Cole] Here's the cover, shoulders down, and…
-[Tazz] Oh. -[Cole] …Mysterio with the wherewithal
to put his foot on the bottom rope,
and Bradshaw cannot believe it.
[Tazz] Mysterio has great ring sense of mind,
great ring presence by Mysterio
to know where he was, to use the foot,
because he couldn't kick out after the impact of the fallaway slam.
[Cole] Well, perhaps just on instinct, but nonetheless,
Mysterio gets to breathe another few moments in this matchup.
[Tazz] You know what, this match is reminiscent of the match
at WrestleMania where JBL was--
[Cole] Oh man! A boot to the jaw.
[Tazz] JBL was all over Cena at WrestleMania, and then-- Look at this!
[Cole] A hook to the leg, shoulders down again,
and a kickout off the elbow.
And Mysterio continues to kick out,
and JBL continues to grow more frustrated here.
What do you say?
[Tazz] How much more can Rey Mysterio withstand, though, Cole? I mean, really.
[Cole] We've seen Mysterio
take a tremendous amount of punishment before.
[Tazz] Well, he's smart to get out of the ring, but J--
-[Cole] Oh, off the barricade. -[Tazz] Oh man.
[Cole] But Mysterio is up against a vicious, ticked off former champion.
[Tazz] And he's focused. That's the problem. JBL is very focused.
He knows…
[Cole] Oh! Can you imagine that impact,
driving you off your feet, to that mat?
[Tazz] I mean, some of these fans are chanting Eddie Guerrero to come out,
but Rey Mysterio wants to do it on his own.
Eddie Guerrero is not gonna
'cause Rey said, "I'm gonna do this on my own."
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero has gotta worry about Kurt Angle next week.
As JBL picks Rey Mysterio up, tosses him back into the ring.
-And JBL continues this… -[Tazz] Well, you know--
[Cole] …this assault that's become almost hard to watch.
[Tazz] Earlier, Eddie Guerrero said to Rey Mysterio,
and he makes a great point, Eddie does, JBL's gonna be extreme--
[Cole] Oh! And look at that, The Chief of Staff,
The United States Champion with a cheap shot, and for what?
-Bradshaw's dominating the damn matchup. -[Tazz] Well, I don't know.
It was behind the referee's back to boot.
Now a bear hug, really just bringing…
Just-just a pain to your back and your ribs, but my point was,
Eddie Guerrero said to… said to Rey Mysterio,
"JBL is gonna be irate. He's gonna be angry."
Of course. He was defeated at WrestleMania and lost the title.
Well, Eddie Guerrero was right. Look at the intensity.
[Cole] Well, it's the superior size coming in to play,
and the strength of JBL as he wears Rey down.
Remember, the back began to be worked on off that fallaway slam
from the second rope a few minutes ago.
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa! Oh, look at this. He's… Wait a minute, what?
[Cole] I think he's biting JBL, I believe.
Oh. And an elbow.
Anything Mysterio can do to stay in this matchup.
-[Tazz] Uh-oh, here we go. -[Cole] Here's the cover.
Shoulders down and a kickout again. Again Mysterio kicking out.
[Tazz] Oh man. That JBL… I gotta give it to Rey, Cole, I mean, if he got…
That was the smartest thing he could do is bite the man on the head
to get out of it by any means necessary.
[Cole] JBL claiming it's a matter of time.
[crowd chants "619"]
This crowd desperately trying to will Mysterio on,
as he's dropped on his skull.
[Tazz] Nothing pretty about that spinebuster.
And now, look at that grin, the cocky grin of the arrogant…
He knows… He knows… He knows that Rey Mysterio is gone, he's done.
[Cole] Hook to the leg again, shoulders down, and a kickout again.
Again, Mysterio somehow feeding, perhaps off this crowd,
perhaps off his adrenaline, somehow staying in this match.
[Tazz] You might be right. It might be adrenaline.
And in front of his family in the front row here.
[Cole] Oh! Look at Mysterio, with a right hand,
trying to battle back with those blows to the thighs.
And another kick by JBL.
[Tazz] Rey is so competitive, Cole, I've gotta hand it-- Look at him.
Look at this guy fight. He's destroying the hamstring.
He's trying to chop that big redwood down.
That's what he was trying to do.
Oh no, he's gonna…
Oh, JBL's gonna… He's gonna tee off.
-Oh! -[Cole] A right hand. Did you see that?
Right on the jaw.
[Tazz] That's the size difference, Cole.
You know, Rey Mysterio's mounting that offense,
coming back with a bunch of shots
and then, boom, tees off with one punch.
[Cole] Mysterio whipped across the ring with authority.
[Tazz] Sternum first, right into the turnbuckle. Uh-oh.
[Cole] Mysterio has no clue where he's at.
-[Tazz] Like a cat and a mouse. -He can hardly defend himself.
[Tazz] Oh, absolutely. Like a cat and a mouse, I just-- JBL…
Oh my God. Watch-- Did you hear that clubbing blow?
-[fan] Come on, Rey-Rey! -[Cole] And now what?
[Tazz] Anything JBL wants, Cole.
[crowd booing]
Wow.
-Uh-oh, uh-oh. -[Cole] JBL is in complete control.
[Tazz] Rey, you gotta fight.
[Cole] Mysterio trying to hold on, trying to hold on again to the top rope.
-[Tazz] Better hang on. -[Cole] A right hand.
Come on, Rey, another right, Mysterio with authority.
-[Tazz] Look at him. -[Cole] Trying to battle out of this.
[Tazz] Unloading it. Oh man, look at this.
[Cole] Mysterio building some momentum.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] JBL knocked off the top rope.
-Mysterio goes up high. -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
Watch out. Look at this!
-[Cole] Moonsault sends JBL down! -[Tazz] Oh my God! He did it!
-He got him, Cole. -[Cole] A kickout by JBL.
[Tazz] Wow, that was close, man. Wow.
[Cole] Mysterio, somewhere, somehow, dug down deep inside,
had enough for that moonsault to take down JBL,
but perhaps that was the last gasp for Mysterio.
Or perhaps not. A chop to the hamstring, a chop to the knee.
[Tazz] Going to the knees-- Again, blow to the knees,
-trying to bring him down. [Cole] Mysterio off the ropes--
-Oh, and he brings JBL down to his knees. -[Tazz] He's quick… Look at the quickness.
[Cole] A dropkick to the face, into the cover,
hooks the inside leg, and the shoulder out by Bradshaw.
But the momentum beginning to shift in the matchup.
[Tazz] Man, I can't believe this.
This Mysterio, I'm telling you, he's amazing.
-He's tough as nails. -[Cole] Across the ring…
-[Tazz] Tilt-a-whirl… Oh! -[Cole] Headscissors.
[Tazz] Wow. Oh man.
[Cole] Mysterio pulling all the arsenal out of his offense.
[Tazz] Can Rey Mysterio do it? He might be able to now.
[Cole] Oh, caught in mid-air. -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
[Cole] Bradshaw, as Mysterio's momentum is…
-[Tazz] Look at this. Uh-oh. -[Cole] Look at Mysterio, a DDT.
-What a counter. -[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Mysterio might have it, Cole. I'm telling you, you gotta cover him, Rey.
[Cole] JBL planted with a DDT.
Mysterio trying to somehow shake the cobwebs to get to a cover here.
[crowd chanting "619"]
[Cole] Uh-oh. Bradshaw's in trouble on the second rope.
[Tazz] You're not kidding. Bradshaw's in trouble.
You better hurry up, Rey.
[Cole] And-- Look out.
-[Tazz] Oh! -[Cole] Orlando Jordan again.
[crowd booing]
Again, The Chief of Staff…
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] Wait-wait, Guerrero!
[Cole] Look at this. It's Eddie Guerrero.
-[Tazz] What the hell? -[Cole] Rey's tag team partner.
[Tazz] Wait what… Guerrero stopped.
-[Cole] Eddie lying in wait. -[Tazz] Look at this.
-[Cole] Oh! Orlando down. -[Tazz] Oh man, that was hard.
[Cole] Eddie Guerrero evening the odds here,
taking out The Chief of Staff, coming to Mysterio's aid.
And then a kick to the back of the head.
[Tazz] Yeah, JBL just kicked Guerrero… Look at this!
[Cole] And Rey from behind, springboard dropkick.
[Tazz] Here it comes, Cole.
-Bang. -[Cole] 619 connecting.
Mysterio's gonna do it.
[Tazz] He's gonna do it all right.
-Springboard seated senton -[Cole] He's got him.
There's one… two…
-Wait a minute -[Tazz] Eddie?
-[Tazz] What? Eddie's blowing his stack. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] Latino Heat just blew his temper.
-[crowd booing] -[indistinct arguing]
-What are you doing? -He hit me!
No!
[indistinct yelling]
[Chimel] The winner of this match as a result of a disqualification,
-John Bradshaw Layfield. -[Cole] Oh my.
-[Tazz] Man. -["Longhorn" playing]
[Cole] Now, you know, unfortunately, for Rey Mysterio,
Eddie's temper got the best of him.
Rey Mysterio was… was a second away
-from winning this matchup. -[Tazz] Whoa…
[Cole] Look at The Bashams the co-Secretaries of Defense.
[Tazz] Out of nowhere The Bashams, and now…
[Cole] And now Orlando Jordan back in the ring.
[bell ringing]
[Tazz] The cabinet in full effect, Cole. Guerrero and Mysterio are in trouble.
-[crowd cheering] -[Tazz] Uh-oh.
-[Cole] Here he comes. -[Tazz] Cena! Cena, the champ, is here.
[Cole] John Cena with a big clothesline, taking The Bashams out.
[Tazz] Oh man.
-[Cole] John Cena cleaning house. -[Tazz] No doubt…
-Wow! -[Cole] Big back body drop.
JBL's hightailing it.
-[Tazz] Cena's on fire. -[Cole] Sideslam to The Bashams.
-[Tazz] Uh-oh. -[Cole] Here we go.
-[Tazz] FU. -[Cole] FU by Cena.
[Tazz] There's one.
-[Tazz] Uh-oh. -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] The move that won the championship.
-[Tazz] Man. -[Cole] Another FU.
-[crowd cheering] -[triumphant yelling]
[Tazz] Wow.
-[Cole] John Cena all fired up. -["The Time Is Now" playing]
♪ You can't see me, my time is now… ♪
[Cole] The new WWE Champion has arrived.
[Tazz] No, Cole, the new WWE Champion, the champ is here.
Wow.
I want my championship back!