[Melina] I was recently the victim of a sexual predator.
-Hey, Batista. -Hey, Melina.
-Getting ready for your match? -Yes.
[Melina] I admit to an innocent flirtation with Batista.
But that innocent flirtation soon turned into something abhorrent.
I told Batista to stop… and he didn't.
I have decided to take a stand.
And at this time, that I will be officially suing
one David Batista for sexual harassment.
[man] Champ, I got to ask you, do you have any response to Melina's shocking
sexual harassment accusations against you from earlier tonight?
I think you're gonna have to just consider the source on that.
Tonight, I got a big night, big match.
I need to stay focused on showing everybody
why me and Rey Mysterio, Mr. 619, are the WWE Tag Team Champions.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, Rey Mysterio may have to control the mindset
of his team here tonight, to keep his partner Batista
focused on the task at hand, the WWE Tag Team Titles.
[Tazz] This is the mandatory rematch clause in MNM's contract.
If they don't gain the WWE Tag Team Titles in this match,
they might not ever get another opportunity for the title.
[Cole] Here comes The Animal!
[Tazz] The Animal's about to be unleashed, man.
[Cole] It's the beginning of the end, ladies and gentlemen.
-[Tazz] Oh no. -[Cole] Referee knocked down.
Referee knocked down off a running Powerslam.
There's no referee.
-Wait a minute! -[Tazz] Who the hell…?
[Cole] Oh my God!
-[Tazz] That's Mark Henry. -[Cole] The World's Strongest Man.
[Tazz] Mark Henry?
-[Cole] From out of nowhere, Mark Henry. -[Tazz] Batista's shocked.
-[Cole] Oh my God! -[Tazz] Oh my God.
Look at this power.
[Cole] And slamming Batista!
Batista struggling to catch his breath. And look at Melina.
Melina getting Mercury to crawl toward the cover.
[Tazz] Not like this.
[Cole] The referee never saw what happened. Oh my God!
[Tazz] What the hell's going on now? No!
[Cole] MNM win the Tag Team Titles.
Mark Henry, devastating.
And apparently, Melina had a plan.
Mark Henry, The World's Strongest Man,
has apparently aligned himself with Melina and MNM.
How could Batista contend with The World's Strongest Man?
["Rise Up" by Drowning Pool playing]
♪ And I wont be denied ♪
♪ 'Cause all I've got left is my pride ♪
♪ And I will rise up ♪
♪ Break it out, break you down Breaking rules, breaking ground ♪
♪ Had your chance, now it's gone All you take, all you've done ♪
[fireworks popping]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Happy New Year, everybody.
And welcome to the first Friday Night SmackDown of 2006.
Michael Cole and Tazz at ringside.
And tonight, history will be made.
[Tazz] And, Cole, for the first time, in six long years, man,
the WWE Tag Team Titles will be on the line tonight, Cole.
Check it out. Tag Team Title Match in a steel cage.
Oh man. We had new Tag Team Champs last week in MNM, and there's the cage.
[Cole] Yeah, there is the steel cage that will surround the ring tonight.
It is there to make sure what happened last week with Mark Henry
does not repeat itself tonight.
Mysterio and Batista versus MNM for the Tag Team Titles.
Also tonight, can Chris Benoit tie his Best Of 7 Series
for the United States Championship?
It's do or die, Benoit versus Booker T's substitute, Randy Orton.
[Tazz] And, Cole, big night on SmackDown, baby.
Friday Night SmackDown kicking off.
["Longhorn" playing]
[Tazz] Oh, my man.
[Cole] And we are kicking off the new year
totally different than any way we've kicked off New Years before.
JBL, Matt Hardy, in a Falls Count Anywhere Matchup.
[Tazz] And talk about physicality and brutality, Cole.
This match doesn't have to start in the ring or end in the ring,
it could-- it could end anywhere.
[crowd booing]
[Cole] And there is the long white limo, the trademark of JBL.
I'm sure he cruised over I-80…
up 81 to get here to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
[Tazz] Yeah, we count for it. And there's our lovely Jillian Hall,
the image consultant of JBL.
Look at that little two-step, JBL's renowned for his two-step.
[crowd booing]
What better way to start 2006
than with the biggest Superstar in the history of SmackDown,
JBL?
[crowd booing]
In a match, falls count anywhere,
that I have never lost against an opponent…
You know, it doesn't really matter my opponent, Matt Hardy.
So you see, I can take Matt, I can beat him up on the announce table,
I can beat him in the concession stand.
I can beat Matt Hardy in the parking lot.
-In fact… -[Tazz] Whoa!
I can take Matt Hardy to the Internet kiosk,
where he can type in his new website,
www.goodlordhelpme
JBLsbashingmybrainsin.com.
So, Matt, oh, Matt, why,
why start this in the ring?
Start it with the people who love me.
Because 2006 will be like 2005, like 2004…
Matt Hardy, let's get it on right now,
in the year of the wrestling…
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] The year of the wrestling?
…God!
[Tazz] I was about to say, the year of the wrestling God.
That could be, but here comes Hardy.
["Live For The Moment" by Monster Magnet playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Tazz] This might not be a cakewalk for JBL, though, Cole.
[Cole] No, not at all. Normally, Matt Hardy
would be the underdog against JBL,
but Hardy's accustomed to tables, ladders, and chairs.
So this type of matchup may be right up Matt Hardy's alley.
[Tazz] And JBL is the former WWE Champion, hence the cockiness.
Also, JBL just said it, Cole.
He's never lost a Falls Count Anywhere,
and this thing could break down, and it's about to, I guess.
Here goes Hardy.
[Cole] Matt Hardy, wasting little time,
-gonna meet JBL. -[Tazz] Yo, here we go.
[Cole] Here we go. Again, falls count anywhere.
Matchup does not have to start in the ring, obviously.
It doesn't have to end there, either.
And JBL and Matt Hardy with virtually no rules in this type of matchup.
And remember, this started right before Armageddon last month,
when JBL interrupted a Matt Hardy interview.
And these two have been at each other's throats ever since.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what. Pure hatred, Cole.
Pure hatred between these two SmackDown Superstars.
And that's legal. JBL's choking out Hardy with his T-shirt.
Or his jacket.
[Cole] SmackDown fans all fired up for what should be a historic start to 2006.
-[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa! -[Cole] Here's JBL, reversal, Matt Hardy.
Over the barricade, and right out in front of us.
[Tazz] Yeah, right here to our right.
And now JBL's on the prowl and Matt Hardy landed hard. Heads up here.
-Wait a minute. -[Cole] Watch out.
-[Cole] And JBL wasting no time. -[Tazz] Watch out, heads up!
And Matt Hardy bounced off the top of the announce table,
and quickly JBL is in control.
[Tazz] It could be finished off right here, Cole.
If JBL-- If JBL can nail whatever the heck he's trying to do.
[Cole] And look at Matt Hardy battling back here.
-Watch out. -Matt Hardy battling back.
-Oh God! -JBL through the announce table!
This is gonna be it. Here's the cover. Whoa!
Here's the cover on the announce table.
And JBL got the shoulder up just before a count of three.
What an explosive way
to start Friday Night SmackDown, ladies and gentlemen.
[Tazz] We're not even ten minutes into the damn show,
the table's just about exploded thanks to Hardy and JBL.
-And we said… -Falls count anywhere, Cole. This is it.
We said at the start of the matchup, Tazz, that this would be up Matt Hardy's alley,
and Matt Hardy is taking it to JBL here in the get-go.
[Tazz] And this is… I'll tell you what… Watch out. Watch out.
[Cole] Bounced off the steel steps, head-first.
And JBL, wasting little time.
-[Tazz] Let's take a look. Watch out! -Steel chair across the spine.
A steel chair across the spine of Matt Hardy.
Did you hear that?
[Tazz] The vicious and brutality that JBL just brought to the spine.
I mean, ironically, they're back in the ring. Here we go.
[Cole] Here's the cover, hook of the leg, referee there just to count.
And a kickout by Matt Hardy at a count of two.
Remember, falls count anywhere, including in the ring.
[Tazz] I'll tell you, this fight started in the stands,
amongst the SmackDown audience here,
it might be finished in the ring, but it started right in the audience.
I love this. I love Falls Count Anywhere, man.
It's a pure fight.
[Cole] I'll tell you, General Manager Theodore Long,
making sure that 2006 is gonna be a banner year already.
[Tazz] Thank you, Mr. General Manager, I love this new year already.
Falls count anywhere, now look at this. JBL… Uh-oh, watch out.
[Cole] Matt Hardy counters with a back body drop.
[Tazz] Nice counter, very nice counter by Matt Hardy.
And Jill… Oh, look at that thing on her face… Watch out!
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] JBL, up over the top.
And Matt Hardy in control.
[Tazz] Yeah, Matt Hardy, now he's… But can Matt Hardy capitalize, Cole?
Can he finish off what maybe he's got in mind?
JBL's trying to get to a vertical base on the outside.
[Cole] And look at Matt Hardy up over the top rope, taking out JBL.
-Wow! -[Tazz] Hey, cover, cover, cover.
[Cole] Here's the cover again.
And a kickout in Falls Count Anywhere action.
[Tazz] You got to be careful, Cole. I've been in a lot of these matches,
and you could get caught on the outside with a pin cover.
Here we go again, watch, look.
[Cole] Cover again, hook of the leg again, and again, a kickout.
[Tazz] You don't know when the pin cover's coming.
-It could come at any time, anywhere. -[Cole] And many times, you use…
You get outside the ring as a chance to catch your breath,
and you can't do that in this type of matchup.
[Tazz] You don't catch your breath, your opponent is on the hop after you,
as is Hardy with JBL.
What's he looking for? Uh-oh! Uh-oh!
[Cole] Well, Matt Hardy, pulling out the ladder, speak of the devil.
[Tazz] Well, he's well-versed, Matt Hardy is, with those ladders…
Tables, ladders, and chairs, the experience.
Watch out, JBL.
[Cole] And a ladder into the gut.
JBL may be taking back those words he said earlier on today.
-[Tazz] Watch out, watch out! -And again, a ladder to the ribs.
[Tazz] JBL's hurting, Cole. Easy now, be careful,
limo's over there, you don't wanna scratch that thing.
-[Cole] You wouldn't wanna do that. -No, you don't wanna do that.
-[Cole] Oh, Matt Hardy. -Watch out!
[Cole] Went for a Bulldog, and JBL countered
as Hardy went sternum-first into that steel barricade.
[Tazz] And, look, JBL, see, you don't wanna let him get the upper hand on you.
He is so vicious, and he's focused, and he said he's undefeated, he's brutal.
JBL's a brutal man. Oh!
[Cole] Using his own limo as a weapon.
JBL, The Barroom Brawler,
suddenly is taking control of this Falls Count Anywhere Matchup.
[Tazz] Oh, look, Matt Hardy.
[Cole] Oh, not for long, Matt Hardy with that trash can lid off the skull.
[Tazz] Very smart… Oh my God, that was nasty.
[Cole] Continuing to deliver the punishment.
-And again! -[Tazz] Look at the trashcan lid,
it's just bent into the shape of the head of JBL.
[Cole] And JBL, crawling on the hood of his limousine.
Remember, the referee is there just to count any visible pinfalls.
[Tazz] JBL may be out, Cole. I'm telling you.
[Cole] May be out cold.
[Tazz] And what the hell is Hardy gonna do?
[Cole] And Hardy… Matt Hardy's setting the ladder up.
[Tazz] Wait a minute. Oh, I don't like this.
JBL's prone on that limo. And Hardy's got that ladder.
[Cole] Matt Hardy, gonna climb to the top of the ladder.
And Jillian Hall, look at the image consultant,
grabbing the leg of Matt Hardy.
You're gonna get hurt, Jillian. Get out of there. What the hell?
[Cole] Well, she did her job, and allowed JBL to…
[Tazz] She's worried about her man,
-but look at JBL now. -[Cole] Oh my! Oh my!
[Tazz] Right across the lower back with a steel chair.
[Cole] And now across the skull,
and onto the hood of the Limousine, is Matt Hardy.
-[Tazz] Here we go! -[Cole] And here's the cover,
-hook of the leg again. -[both] He got him!
[Cole] JBL with the victory.
[Tazz] Did you hear that thud, Cole?
[Tony] Here is your winner,
John "Bradshaw" Layfield.
[Cole] Matt Hardy was knocked off that ladder,
thudding to the hood of the limousine, spine-first,
as JBL picks up the victory in the Falls Count Anywhere Matchup.
[Tazz] Well, Jillian Hall, congratulating JBL,
and tell you what, that was great.
-[Cole] It was a big victory for JBL. -[Tazz] Well, that did… Oh, wait a minute.
What is that, JBL's limo overheating?
♪ I'm the Boogeyman ♪
[Cole] No, it's not overheating.
Oh, that's The Boogeyman! And he's in Bradshaw's limo!
He's in the limousine!
[Tazz] How the hell did he get in the limousine?
The Boogeyman? Oh no!
[Cole] The Boogeyman just popped out of the moonroof of the limo.
-[Tazz] Out of nowhere. -[Cole] And much like last week,
The Boogeyman is slowly stalking JBL and Jillian Hall.
-[Tazz] Stalking? -Look at this!
[Tazz] The Boogeyman is slithering down the aisle.
And JBL is terrified, as is Hall, Jillian Hall.
Get out of there!
[Cole] And Boogeyman got his eyes trained on…
Oh my! And Boogeyman's got her.
-Look at the… -[Tazz] He's got…
He's got Jillian Hall, and…
[Cole] There's a tug-of-war between… Well, JBL… Oh no!
[Tazz] Oh my God!
[Cole] Oh no!
[Tazz] Oh my God! What the hell?
[Cole] Oh, JBL gave up in the tug-of-war.
[Tazz] He's got the worms in his pocket, Cole.
[Cole] Oh my.
[Tazz] What the hell is… What's the Boogeyman gonna do?
-[Cole] He's not gonna, he's not gonna-- -[Tazz] Whoa, whoa! Oh!
[Cole] He just put the worms in her panties!
[Tazz] Are you kidding me?
-[Jillian screaming] -What the hell is going on here?
No! Get it out!
Jillian Hall is freaking out.
She's got worms flying out of her skirt and her underwear…
Oh, this guy's a whackjob.
[Cole] He's eating the worms.
[Tazz] He eats the worms every week, but…
Oh my, he's doing that slithering, that little crazy…
Jillian Hall is bugging out right now.
[Cole] Well, this is what happened,
The Boogeyman somehow appeared out of JBL's limo.
[Tazz] How the hell did he get in the limo, and…
Look at The Boogeyman.
[Cole] And watch this.
A handful of worms, shoving them down Jillian's panties.
[Tazz] Oh my God. This is nuts.
[Cole] JBL, horrified.
[Tazz] JBL's lips are bleeding, he's freaking out,
his eyes are gonna bulge out of his head.
He's watching his image consultant with her underwear full of worms.
[Cole] I don't-- I don't know what to say.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Could tonight be the end of Chris Benoit's quest
to become the United States Champion?
It may be over tonight.
It's do or die.
If Benoit loses to Randy Orton,
Booker T will win the United States Championship.
Match number six is tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheering, chanting]
Shaneicus, how do I appease these people?
Well, then Caesar, this year, we have a new concept.
It's called the "Royal Rumbles."
-[crowd cheering] -Thirty men.
One lion's den.
-[lion roars] -[crowd cheering]
Let the Rumbles begin!
[announcer] WWE Royal Rumble, live Sunday January 29th, only on pay-per-view.
-[grunts] -Oh!
Et tu, Shaneicus?
[bell rings]
The following contest is scheduled for three falls,
in which one Superstar will have to beat
these three men in succession.
-[Tazz] What? -Rob Eckos,
Jon Troske, and Gus Harlacher!
[crowd clamoring]
[Tony] And their opponent…
[Tazz] Three falls? What the hell is this?
-[Cole] Yeah, in succession. -[Tazz chuckles]
[Cole] And there is The World's Strongest Man.
[Tony] From Silsbee, Texas, weighing in at 400 pounds,
"The World's Strongest Man"
Mark Henry!
[Cole] And again, last week on Friday Night SmackDown,
we saw the development, perhaps, of some sort of relationship
between Melina and Mark Henry.
Mark Henry costing Batista and Mysterio the WWE Tag Team Titles.
And what about the way this man dominated the Heavyweight Champion?
[Tazz] Oh, absolutely. Mark Henry was completely dominating Batista, for sure.
But, Cole, three men at one time? Three men in succession?
What the hell is this?
Well, this might be-- this might be a three against one.
This may be a little too much for Mark Henry, even for Mark Henry.
-[Cole] Well, this is Jon Troske… -[bell rings]
…who has the unenviable task of starting things off for his team, so to speak.
And there is the former Olympic competitor,
Mark Henry, The World's Strongest Man.
[Tazz] Hey, did you see how Mark Henry just drove him down to the mat?
-Look at this. Wow, God! -[Cole] Oh, into the steel post.
Driving him down to the mat.
What about what Mark Henry did to Batista,
the Press Slam last week?
[Tazz] Well that could've… That's how you break someone's ribs, by the way,
with that Press Slam into the Powerslam. And this, I mean, bending a guy
around the ring post the way your spine's not supposed to be bent.
-Oh, the power here from Mark Henry. -[Cole] Straight power.
[Tazz] I mean, he's got an attitude, Henry.
I mean, we just saw that last week with…
Look at this, look at the face on him.
Let's see. With ease.
I mean, you're looking at The World's Strongest Man here, folks.
-Oh, look at this. -[Cole] Oh my!
[Tazz] This guy's got to give up, and I guess he did.
[Cole] Well, Troske submitting to Mark Henry,
who's destroyed one of the three men.
[Tazz] You got to beat them three in a row.
[Tazz mumbles indistinctly]
[Cole] Eckos and Harlacher, depending on the…
[Tazz] No, neither one of them wants to get in.
[Cole] Not at all. And this is Gus Harlacher…
[Tazz] Well, go get him, Gus.
[Cole] …who The World's Strongest Man is going to bring into the ring the hard way.
And look at the strength! Right on the top rope, rib-first.
[Tazz] And Melina's loving it.
[both exclaim]
Oh, just…
-[Cole] Oh! -[Tazz] The viciousness of Mark Henry.
You're in my world, boy!
[Tazz] No wonder why these guys don't wanna get in the ring with him.
[Cole] He's near 400 pounds, he's built like a brick wall.
[Tazz] Oh, the back of the… Oh my God, is that the back of this guy's head?
Look at this, look at this! Oh my God.
[Cole] What power, and Melina with a huge smile on her face.
-[Tazz] Goodbye. Thanks for coming. -[Cole] Here's the cover, two down.
One two go, and that means Rob Eckos…
Trying to get the upper hand on Mark Henry here.
[Tazz] I give this young man credit. Go at it. Go for it.
What the hell? You got no options now.
Uh-oh. Well, maybe I-- maybe he shouldn't have went for it.
-[Cole] Oh! -[Tazz] God Almighty.
Rob Eckos… he's hearing echoes 'cause his head just got shattered.
[Cole] You made mention of Mark Henry's attitude.
How about bad attitude?
[Tazz] Nothing but a bad attitude and now, well, Mark Henry
just defeated two men in a row, and, uh-oh.
-[Cole] Where the hell is he… -[Tazz] Oh man.
[Cole] This is 400 pounds, ladies and gentlemen.
-[Tazz] Oh my God-- -Near 400 pounds
-crashing down into the kidneys. -[screaming]
[Tazz] It's like a small foreign car just falling on your back.
[Melina] Go ahead, Mark.
-[Cole] Rob Eckos screaming in pain. -[Tazz] Wow. Look at that.
[Cole] Mark Henry showing no mercy.
[Tazz] Uh-oh. And this is the move we saw him hit Batista with last week,
-this Front Slam! -[Cole] Break ribs.
[Tazz] Oh my God, Cole.
[Cole] Mark Henry beats three men in a row.
[Tazz] With ease.
[Tony] The winner of these matches, "The World's Strongest Man"
Mark Henry!
Tazz, I'll tell you what. I'm gonna go find out
what Melina's relationship is
with "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry.
[Tazz] Yeah, well, good luck there, buddy. Go get him.
Uh-oh, watch out, watch out! Oh!
There goes Rob Eckos chucked out of the ring.
And now let's take a look at the domination.
Here's the first. This backbreaker by Mark Henry.
This young man had no option but to give up.
That's the first victory.
And then here's the second one. It's like an inverted choke… Watch this.
Face-first slam.
Mark Henry with all the power in the world.
And then this front Powerslam
which we saw Batista get handed to him by Mark Henry
last week here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Melina, we know that you are the manager
of the current WWE Tag Team Champions MNM
and I can only assume that your relationship is the same
with "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry.
[crowd chanting] Slut!
Last week, I was reluctant.
Reluctant to announce that I was suing…
[Tazz] Reluctant?
[crowd chanting] Batista!
I can't… I can't believe this.
Take your time.
These people.
[crowd booing]
I announced that I was suing Dave Batista for sexual harassment.
[crowd booing]
I had to do what I did so that he would not violate me or…
or any other vulnerable woman ever again.
What I did was right.
I did the right thing.
[scoffs] No.
No.
[crowd chanting] Batista!
Shut up.
I had to make sure that he would not come after me again.
So I had to make a stand.
Mark Henry here…
Mark Henry is here for my protection and my protection only.
I'm sorry.
Cole, you got to remember, I'm the victim here.
[crowd booing]
[Tazz] She's the victim?
Well, thank you, Melina. Thank you.
["Echo" by Bryan New playing]
[Tazz] Well, Melina still visibly upset, but look at that monster,
Mark Henry, hired for Melina's protection,
and her protection only.
Mark Henry ever so dominant against three men.
I'll tell you what. I wouldn't wanna be Batista.
Not me, no thanks.
[Cole] The first SmackDown of 2006
comes to you from the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
[Tazz] Yeah!
[Cole] And tonight, it is match number six in the Best Of 7 Series
for the United States Championship.
Chris Benoit versus the substitute for an injured Booker T, Randy Orton.
Let's take you back to last week on Friday Night SmackDown.
In match number five, Chris Benoit going for the victory.
Orton looked like he was going to tap out to the Crossface,
but Booker T's wife, Sharmell, would get involved.
[Tazz] Hey, Chris Benoit had the victory in my opinion right here.
Orton was fixed into tapping and bam!
Sharmell, Booker T's wife, with that crutch across the head.
[Cole] Chris Benoit winning the matchup, but at what cost?
["Whatever" by Our Lady Peace playing]
Nice.
Yo, Randy, it wasn't supposed to go down like that, man.
It wasn't supposed to happen like that. You got to trust me on that, man.
Book, I trust you, man. I know it wasn't supposed to happen like that.
If it wasn't for Sharmell, none of it would've happened.
-Oh, wait. Step off, Randy. -Step off what?
-You were about to tap out. -I was gonna tap out?
I wasn't about to tap out to nobody. I own Benoit.
I beat him for the World Heavyweight Title.
-Randy, that was a long time ago. -It don't matter when it was.
-Come on, now. -It don't matter when it was.
I didn't get disqualified.
I was… wasn't gonna tap out to Chris Benoit.
And all you gotta do tonight is trust me, Book.
All you gotta do is trust me in that ring
-and keep your wife out of my business. -Oh, wait a minute.
-You can't talk to me like that. -Baby, come on now.
-Oh, I can. -Come on now. Take a chill pill.
Just chill for a second. Let the man speak his mind.
-Go ahead, Randy. -Book, it's as simple as this.
I'm gonna go out there tonight, I'm gonna face Chris Benoit
like I've done many times before,
and like I've done many times before, as a Legend Killer,
I will reign victorious because that's what I do.
And once I have that, once I have what I want, that victory,
then I'm gonna bring you, I'm gonna hand deliver
what you want, what you deserve.
And that, my friend, is the United States Championship.
I'm gonna put it on a silver platter, and I'm gonna deliver it to you.
And before I do, you gotta make one thing perfectly clear.
-What's that, man? -You're gonna owe me one.
-All right. -All right?
Yeah.
Now, that's what I'm talking about.
[chuckling]
-♪ Mr. Kennedy! ♪ -[Tazz] Whoa.
-[Cole] Ken Kennedy's back. -[Tazz] I love Kennedy.
["Turn Up The Trouble" playing]
[Cole] And we know that Ken Kennedy was out with a…
with a leg injury and a torn tendon in his lat muscle,
and, well, he's back on Friday Night SmackDown this week.
What a way to kick off the first SmackDown of the new year!
It has been explosive and wild so far.
[Tazz] Oh, exactly, I mean, definitely been explosive,
surprises up the wazoo.
We got a steel cage match coming up for the WWE Tag Team Titles
in a little while. And now we got Mr. Kennedy.
Oh, look at this. This is the best part, Cole.
-[Cole] I know your favorite part. -[Tazz] Yeah, I know.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you not only the man
who is single-handedly changing Friday nights.
[crowd booing]
But also the man who will very shortly be changing the way
that SmackDown is called on Friday nights.
And that's me,
Mr.
Kennedy!
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute. What's he talking about?
[Tazz] I have no idea what's he talking about, but…
-[Cole] Maybe we're gonna find out. -[Tazz] Coming over here?
Well, he's looking at the damage from the JBL-Matt Hardy
Falls Count Anywhere Match earlier on tonight.
Well, you know, I know I'm supposed to bring a house-warming gift.
If you would've told me, I would've brought a table.
[Tazz] That's pretty funny. How are you doing, Mr. Kennedy?
-How are you doing, Michael Cole? -You know what happened here…
What's going on there?
-You don't wanna eat that. -Five-second rule.
-Fourteen seconds, not for nothing. -That's all right. All right.
-What are you doing? What's going on? -What am I doing?
-What's going on? -The network sent me out here.
Do you guys… Hey, do you guys realize
that since SmackDown went to Friday nights on this network,
that the ratings on this network on Friday nights
happened to go up 86%?
-Yep. We know that one. -Yeah. You're right.
And you know what? That is a testament to guys like myself, Mr. Kennedy.
And the rest of the SmackDown crew, Mr. Kennedy.
[Tazz] Are we gonna sit down anytime soon, what do you think?
[crowd clamoring]
[bell rings]
[Tony] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship of the World.
Approaching the ring, weighing in at 205 pounds,
it's your Cruiserweight Champion of the World, Kid Kash!
[Cole] Kid Kash, the new Cruiserweight Champion.
Championship Matchup kicking off 2006 on Friday Night SmackDown.
Last week, Kid Kash in an interview with Funaki showed no couth.
Let's face it.
What in the world is a Juventud?
It means a Mexican Salamander.
I'm Kid Kash.
I'm the greatest cruiserweight in the world that ever lived.
Get it?
Got it? Good.
[Cole] And for absolutely no reason, Kid Kash did that.
And then the Dead Level to Funaki.
What the hell was that all about?
[Tazz] Well, that delayed Brainbuster, that Dead Level is nasty.
Kid Kash, he's the new Cruiserweight Champ,
-but he's not playing games, my friends. -[Cole] Friends?
[Tazz] I say that as plural because there's two of you.
-[Kennedy] Thank you. -[Tazz] You're welcome.
So the network sent you here…
[engine humming]
[Tony] And the challenger, he is a member of the Mexicools,
weighing in at 200 pounds,
Juventud!
[Kennedy] The Juice!
[Cole] So Juventud versus Kid Kash, rematch from Armageddon.
Cruiserweight Championship on the line.
[Tazz] Hold on. By the way, what is a Mexican Salamander?
Anybody know? What the hell is that?
[Kennedy] It's a lizard. It's like a lizard.
-[Tazz] A salamander? -[Kennedy] Yeah, a Mexican lizard.
[Tazz] Like a Mexican lizard from Mexico?
-[Kennedy] Yeah. -That's pretty cool.
[Kennedy] That is cool.
[Tazz] I guess so if you're into lizards from Mexico.
That's what it's all about, ladies and gentlemen,
the Cruiserweight Championship, Juventud versus Kid Kash, one-on-one.
We're joined by Ken Kennedy out here at ringside with us,
who, from what we understand, is a representative of the network.
Yes. Well, I told you before that, you know, 86%…
-86% is a good number. -[Tazz] Yes.
[Kennedy] But, like, 96 would be a hell of a lot better.
138% would even be better.
So basically what the network had said…
[Cole] Juventud backed into the corner by the Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash,
and Juventud with the right hands,
who has taken exception to what Kid Kash has said
about him over the past couple of weeks.
Oh, and a drop kick right on the button.
[Tazz] Beautiful high-flying… by Juventud with that drop kick.
And I'll tell you what, hey, Kennedy, the network's gotta be impressed
with the cruiserweights and the new Cruiserweight Champion, Kash.
[Kennedy] They are. We love the new Cruiserweight Champ.
[Cole] Here is the cover. Hook of the leg. Kickout by Kid Kash.
Cruiserweights can only be seen on Friday nights.
[Kennedy] Basically, what I was saying before is that there's always… God!
[Tazz] One of us should try to call the match.
Basically, I think the network's more impressed with that 18th…
[Cole] Oh, look at this. The former Cruiserweight Champion on the top rope.
-[Tazz] Head's up! Kid Kash! -[Kennedy] Ay-yi-yi!
[Tazz] Whoa!
[Cole] And exploding on the announce table.
-[Tazz] Whoa! -Front row.
[Cole] This announce table is taking a beating tonight.
-[Tazz] That front Hilo off the top rope. -That hurt a little bit?
-[Tazz] Wow. Tell you what. -[Kennedy] God!
[Tazz] Talking about leaving it in the ring or leaving it out of the ring,
Juventud trying to regain his Cruiserweight Championship.
-[Cole] Watch this, and listen. -[Tazz] Look at that.
-Look at this! -[Kennedy] Unbelievable.
You know, he got pretty high there,
almost as high as the ratings on the network.
[Tazz] A good point. Great segue too.
[Cole] And here's Juventud into the cover again.
And Kid Kash, the Cruiserweight Champion,
but perhaps not for long if the offense keeps up for Juventud.
[Tazz] I think Juventud might have hurt his elbow
when he did that big Hilo dive off the top rope here.
Kid's grabbing at his elbow.
[Cole] And here's Juventud.
[Tazz] And Kid Kash grabbing that foot… Watch out!
Oh God, wow. A lot of impact on the ankles.
[Kennedy] That had the smart just a little bit.
-[Tazz] Had what? -[Kennedy] Smart.
[Tazz] Oh, okay. God bless you.
And now Kid Kash trying to get control in…
He's got control of the leg of Juventud.
[Kennedy] Here's a man after my own heart, going after a body part,
going after that leg.
[Tazz] And now… full body slam by Kid Kash.
Now, Kid Kash's trying to set up what looked like maybe…
maybe he's trying to stomp that leg.
He's got Juventud all spread out here.
[Cole] Look at this. Nobody home!
Kid Kash rolled out of the way…
I should say Juvi rolled out of the way as Kid Kash missed with the Moonsault.
[Tazz] Kid Kash crashed and burned, man.
And ducking that clothesline, it looks like…
A power round kick to the hamstring.
Might be going for Dead Level. Can't get him.
[Cole] And Juventud blocking Dead Level that time, that Brainbuster.
Juventud with a kick to the midsection.
He really wants that Cruiserweight Championship back.
[Tazz] It's how you get it done, you get it done in between the ropes.
Mr. Kennedy, you understand what that's about,
-and that knee is hurting… -[Kennedy] Oh jeez.
[Tazz] …of Juventud.
[Cole] That, of course, when Juventud came off the top rope
and crashed into the announce table moments ago.
[Kennedy] Hey, you know what…
the coveted 18-34 year-old male demographic is doing on Friday nights?
They're watching SmackDown, typically.
[Tazz] Oh, that's cool.
And you know what the 12-17 year-old male teens are doing on Friday nights?
-[Tazz] What? -Right here, baby.
They're watching SmackDown.
[Tazz] That's great. SmackDown… Kicking it hard.
Watch out. Oh!
[Kennedy] Two number ones and an 86%.
[Cole] Look at this. Juvi may have it here.
New champion! And Kid Kash at two kicks out again.
-Wow! -That was close. That was close.
[Cole] This is awesome action on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Kennedy] I am loving this action.
[Cole] You can only see the cruiserweights right here on Friday night.
[Tazz] Got caught in a single leg Boston Crab.
-[Cole] And I think that's the bad leg. -[Tazz] It is the bad leg.
Kid Kash putting to Juice. Is he gonna give? Is he gonna tap?
[Cole] Juventud trying to make it to that bottom rope,
but he's in trouble, center of the ring. Juventud crawling,
these SmackDown fans trying to will Juvi on.
[Tazz] The Juice is close to that bottom rope.
Juventud, you gotta reach out, my friend.
[Cole] Juvi trying to get there. Can he get there? He does.
-[Kennedy] They're liking The Juice. -[Tazz] Say that again?
[Kennedy] They're liking The Juice. The Juice is good.
[Tazz] That's like a Hispanic accent you got going on?
-[Kennedy] What are you talking about? -[Tazz] You do impersonations too?
[Kennedy] What kind of juice do you drink, Cole?
-[Cole] Kool-Aid. -[Kennedy] Huh? Kool-Aid?
-That's not juice. Well, sort of. -[Tazz] No, it's not.
It's a cold beverage, but it's not juice. You're right. It's made with lemons.
It's not really juice. Oh!
[Cole] And the Cruiserweight Champion Kid Kash in all kinds of trouble.
[Tazz] Speaking of, what a hell of a match this is.
What a great match. Speaking of lemons, he landed on them.
[Cole] Great night for Ken Kennedy to be out here.
[Tazz] Yeah. Watch out!
[Cole] Hurricanrana from the top rope.
Juventud could be moments away from recapturing the Cruiserweight Title.
Here's the cover, hook to the leg, and a two-count, Kid Kash kicks out.
-[Kennedy] This is a great match. -[Tazz] This is a phenomenal match.
This is how we roll on Friday Night SmackDown.
-Come on, Kennedy, you know that. -[Kennedy] I've missed it.
-It's good to be back. -[Tazz] We've missed you, my friend.
It's great to have you back. I don't understand… [babbling]
[Kennedy] You know what, these cruiserweights
are exclusive to SmackDown, right?
[Tazz] Yes. You are dead on, my friend.
You've done your homework. You're dialed into the network.
[Kennedy] I was a cruiserweight when I was 12.
-Oh, really? -Yeah.
[Tazz] I was one when I was about, you know, four-ish.
-Four-ish, how about you, Cole? -[Cole] I'm still one.
And Juventud, top rope, knocked down by Kid Kash,
and here comes the champion with the right hand to Juventud.
[Tazz] And Kid Kash is fired up, The Juice is in trouble.
-Oh, maybe not. -[Kennedy] I like Kid Kash's attitude,
-he really lays it in, hammering. -[Cole] Oh yeah, he's a great guy.
He really showed Funaki how great he is last week.
[Tazz] He is a pretty good guy.
[Kennedy] He speaks his mind, you got a problem with that, Cole?
[Tazz] You gotta be opinionated, and I'll tell you what, Juventud,
can he hold his balance with that leg? Wow!
-Looking for that 450. -[Kennedy] That was a pretty cool move.
[Cole] Missed with the 450.
And again, Juventud landed hard on that bad knee.
-[Tazz] God, man, what a way… -[Kennedy] Put a fork in him, he's done.
[Tazz] He just might be done, you just might be right.
[Cole] Juventud can't even stand up, here it is.
-[Tazz] Dead Level! -[Kennedy] There you go!
[Cole] The Brainbuster, the Dead Level connecting!
[bell rings]
[Cole] Kid Kash retains the Cruiserweight Championship.
[Kennedy] Good work, my friend, like I said, I liked his attitude.
[Tony] Here's your winner and still Cruiserweight Champion of the World,
Kid Kash!
-Kid Kash, you like his attitude? -I do, I do.
-[Tazz] I like his attitude. -[Kennedy] The network likes his attitude.
[Tazz] The network, what's the network think of me?
-[Kennedy] They like you. -[Cole] What about me?
I don't know. They don't say anything about you.
[Tazz] Kid Kash is victorious here in a very, very tough cruiserweight battle.
Tell you what, Juventud's got nothing to be ashamed of, man.
He left it all in the ring, boy, that was some match.
[Cole] Well, Juventud, he missed the 450 Splash here,
get The Juice, landing on the bad knee, and Kid Kash would capitalize.
[Tazz] Look at this impact here of this Dead Level. Bam!
Right on the back of your neck, let's take another look at this.
What's the network think of this, Mr. Kennedy? Check it out.
-[Kennedy] Kapow! -[Tazz] Whoa, goodnight, Irene.
Wow. Kid Kash.
[Cole] Kid Kash retaining the Cruiserweight Championship.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, reporters from all over
gathering in the locker room
with the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista.
It's been a rough week for the champ, losing the Tag Team Title,
having to go face-to-face with Mark Henry, now facing sexual harassment charges.
Batista meets the press to discuss these allegations.
It's next on Friday Night SmackDown.
Ladies and gentlemen, Booker T and Sharmell.
Now, Booker, I understand that you're a very busy man.
In fact, you're on the way out to the ring right now to commentate.
-That's right. -But I have one question for you.
Is it ever difficult being on SmackDown and being married?
Oh, hell no, you know, that's the greatest job on earth.
You know, like being in paradise every day, you know what I'm saying.
Sweet brown sugar always, baby.
-You know what else is sweet? -What the hell you want, man?
Making the right decisions. Oh, yeah, that's right.
You messed up, didn't you?
If you would have let me go out there last week,
then you'd be United States Champion right now.
-Oh yeah? -But, hey,
you could still make the right choice.
I'm gonna give you one more chance to pick me as your substitute
and beat Chris Benoit,
bring the United States Championship back to you.
You know I can do this, Book, come on, man.
-[laughs] -You're kidding me, right?
-Wait, wait, wait.
Orlando, the only chance you gonna get is the chance to tap out to Benoit again.
You don't walk up here with all that bass in your voice, man.
You need to check yourself, man.
You need to get your heels to tappin' right now.
You know what? I'm sick and tired of you laughing at me,
talking about tapping out, tap this, tap that.
Let me remind you of something, I was United States Champion.
I was United States Champion a hell of a lot longer than you or Chris Benoit,
so what y'all need to do is show me a little bit of respect.
-Respect? -That's right.
You got to be kidding me, right? Let me tell you something, man.
Only way you get some respect around here, you gotta earn it.
-The old fashioned way. You dig? -Really? You want me to earn your respect?
-You damn skippy. -All right.
Just remember you said that, Book. Remember you said that.
Well, Booker T, not making any friends, Tazz,
but he only needs one friend and that's Randy Orton,
who meets Chris Benoit tonight, in match number six
of the Best Of 7 Series,
but let's switch gears and talk a bit about Melina and Batista.
Remember that breaking news last week that Melina
is suing Batista for sexual harassment.
And then we heard earlier tonight, I mean, Melina hired…
hired Mark Henry for protection, to protect her from Batista.
Well, Batista's standing by
to address these allegations in this press conference.
[cameras clicking]
Is everyone here? Yeah. All right.
Uh, real quickly, I just wanna make a statement.
It's not a prepared statement, it's not written,
but I do wanna address the accusation and the lawsuit filed by Melina.
Um…
I'm innocent of these charges, bottom line.
I don't know how else to say it.
Uh, I have never sexually harassed anyone.
Uh, Melina and I, we were intimate,
but she never said no, she never said stop.
Uh, these are serious charges.
I would never wish sexual harassment on anyone,
nor would I ever force myself on a woman.
So, you know, I don't know why Melina has trumped up these charges,
I just don't know, so with that being said,
if you guys have any questions, anything to ask me,
-I'd like to answer them now. -[overlapping chatter]
Hey, champ!
I got a question.
What is your malfunction?
I mean, exactly what is your problem?
You take advantage of an innocent woman…
I mean, what's going on inside you? You're just sick inside or something?
You got this good, wholesome image,
and there you go, you do something like that.
But I'll tell you what, what if it was the other side?
What if it was me taking advantage of you?
What if it was me, Batista?
What if it was me?
Mark, this isn't the time
or the place, unless you say it is.
If not, get out of my face.
[breathing heavily]
[upbeat rock music playing]
["Whatever" by Our Lady Peace playing]
[crowd cheering]
[bell rings]
[Tony] The following contest is match number six
in the Best Of 7 Series
for the Undisputed United States Championship.
Making his way to the ring from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 234 pounds…
"The Rabid Wolverine" Chris Benoit!
[Cole] Chris Benoit is down three matches to two.
Once again it is do or die, Benoit must win this matchup
or Booker T will become United States Champion.
[Tazz] Well, SmackDown is brought to you by Big Momma's House 2,
January 27th, only in theaters.
["Burn In My Light" by Mercy Drive playing]
[Tony] And from St. Louis, Missouri, weighing in at 245 pounds…
"The Legend Killer" Randy Orton!
[Cole] Randy Orton is Booker T's substitute.
Booker T is injured.
If Randy Orton wins this matchup tonight versus Chris Benoit,
then he will present the United States Championship to Booker T.
But remember, Orton told Booker,
"Hey, I win this matchup, Booker, you owe me one."
[Tazz] We're gonna find out what the hell that means, maybe.
I don't know, we heard Kristal on [indistinct]
very lovely, by the way, say that Booker T is gonna
be out here for commentary, well…
Maybe he's not coming out, I don't know.
We'll have him join us here, but I'm more excited to see this match.
You heard Orton right, he said on a silver platter.
He said he would give the US Title, the United States Title to Booker T,
but you'd owe me one.
[Cole] Well, Randy Orton's résumé as The Legend Killer is expanding,
and he'd love to add Chris Benoit to that list.
United States Championship match number six, again,
sudden death for Benoit, needs a victory tonight.
[Tazz] Oh, here comes the man.
["Can You Dig It" playing]
Wearing those crutches for that groin injury.
[Cole] Well, Booker T has a lot at stake in this matchup.
A victory by Randy Orton, and Booker T will leave here tonight
as the United States Champion.
[Tazz] Well, I'd like to point out, Cole, that's a damn shame
that Booker T can't compete on his own.
Of course, I know he'd love to, you know, he'd love to come out here…
-[Cole] Well… -[Tazz] What? He would.
-[Cole] And the bell rings. -[Tazz] He-- Cole, he went up 3-0.
He went up three wins to zero on Benoit.
[Cole] And that he did with the help, in a couple of those matches,
from his wife Sharmell.
But nonetheless, locked up, center of the ring,
and now Randy Orton taking it to "The Rabid Wolverine" Chris Benoit.
[Tazz] Rabid punches to the back of the head,
now punch right to the face, and here comes Benoit fighting right back.
[Cole] Randy Orton with a big knee to the midsection
as Booker T comes over to ringside.
-Joining us here… -[Tazz] Oh, face-first.
[Cole] Gonna be graced with the presence of Booker T yet again here tonight.
[Tazz] And now here comes your wife. Could we get a chair for Sharmell, please?
Here, take mine. Look at the knees by Benoit.
-No, no, you take my chair. -[Cole] I'm glad chivalry is not dead.
[Tazz] I'm trying to be a gentleman.
[Cole] Benoit knocking Randy Orton--
[Tazz] I can't get this chair over there, forget about it.
[Cole] Benoit with a kick to the midsection.
-[Tazz] Sorry, man, I'm trying to… -Don't worry, she's a stand-up lady…
[Cole] Here's the cover by Benoit, shoulders down, and a kickout.
Booker T joining us here at ringside on commentary.
And, Booker, I've got to ask you,
if Randy Orton wins this matchup, you become United States Champion,
but Randy Orton said to you, if I win, you owe me one, Booker T.
[Booker T] Yeah, I'm not worried about that right now.
What I'm worried about is just getting out here,
getting this business done, let Randy Orton go out here,
get his business done and once he hands me that title,
then we'll deal with that, you know what I'm saying?
-[Cole] Oh, wait a minute. -[Booker T] Sharmell, what are you doing?
-Sharmell, what are you doing? -[Cole] What do you mean what's she doing?
-[Tazz] Shades of last week. -[Cole] Wait a minute.
-What are you talking about? -Yes, you did!
I've seen it with my own eyes.
[indistinct yelling]
[Cole] Randy Orton is telling the referee what Sharmell did.
Yo, yo, wait a minute, Nick…
[Cole] And Sharmell's being sent off.
[Tazz] What the hell is going on here?
Wait, she's got my… I need that crutch…
Ref? What is going on here?
[Cole] Sharmell is a crutch for you in more ways than one.
[Tazz] Come on, Cole, let's…
Referee Nick Patrick, he's the senior referee around here,
but that right there was wrong. That was wrong, that was unjust.
[Tazz] But what about Randy Orton dropping dime, what's up with that?
I thought he was, you know, you and him were hooked up.
[Booker T] I don't know what's going on with Randy right now.
He's a man of his own.
I can understand he wants to go out here and do this on his own.
[Tazz] Randy was almost disqualified by Sharmell out here
again this week like last week.
[Cole] And if that happens this week, Booker, then Chris Benoit…
Nice dropkick, then Chris Benoit will be tied in this series at three-three.
He caught him with that leg, he's just gonna maul him,
he's gonna ground and pound him right there,
he's going with the ground and pound effect.
He's gonna try to do all that, he's right there on the Adam's apple.
-He's got it. -[Cole] Here's the cover and a kickout.
[Tazz] Randy Orton, pinpoint now with that rear naked choke.
[Booker T] I'm so excited right now, it's like a playoff atmosphere right now.
He's got this, this is the biggest game right here
of the season for Booker T because right now tonight,
I'm gonna walk out as a-- the United States Championship.
You can feel it in the air, you can cut it with a knife, man.
[Cole] And Randy Orton's gonna hand that title to you on a silver platter,
he says, if he wins this matchup.
[Booker T] That's exactly what he's gonna do,
he's gonna-- he's gonna hand that title over to me,
he's gonna give me that title right in my hands tonight.
And I am gonna be the four-time United States Champion,
now can you dig that?
[Tazz] Yes, we can dig. Booker, as good as Randy Orton is, and he is,
I know you would rather be competing yourself…
-I know you'd rather be in there your-- -[Cole] Here's the cover.
-Kickout! -I would love to be in there,
but Randy just hit him with that giant suplex,
and he almost got a three-count right there, he almost had it.
We almost walked outta here tonight right here with that…
[Tazz] You seem a lot more nervous this week than last week,
I'll tell you that. You're hyperventilating.
[Cole] Benoit is only down 3-2 now, Tazz.
[Tazz] Thank you, Captain Obvious.
[Booker T] I can only hope one thing, I can only wish one thing, man.
I wish I was in that ring right now, because this thing would be over.
It would be over with right now.
Benoit would be licking his wounds at home somewhere,
and I'll be, you know, sipping on some champagne somewhere,
enjoying my title for this new year.
-[Tazz] Here we go, watch out. -[Cole] Wait a minute.
-Benoit from behind. German suplex! -[Tazz] Oh my God!
Laid him with that German suplex right there, come on, Randy.
[Tazz] I'll tell you what, Randy Orton damn near exploding when he hit the mat.
[Booker T] You drop him on the back…
-[Cole] Chris Benoit over the top rope. -[Booker T] Good move, Randy.
[Tazz] Very good move, that dropping his level there.
[Cole] And Chris Benoit in trouble, desperately trying to stay alive,
when we return to SmackDown.
[Cole] We are back on SmackDown, Chris Benoit versus Randy Orton,
the stand-in for Booker T.
If Benoit wins, it's 3-3 in the Best Of 7 Series
for the United States Championship.
If Orton wins, Orton will give Booker T the United States Championship.
[Tazz] Before the break, look at that back suplex by Benoit on Orton.
Oh my God, that's not good for you.
Randy Orton, he's a tough guy, he's a tough kid.
And we are joined by Booker T here at ringside, Booker T's wife,
Sharmell has been sent to the back after getting involved
in the matchup early on.
[Booker T] That was an injustice what happened earlier
with Referee Nick Patrick,
but right now Randy Orton is taking care of his business,
he got him in a rear chin lock,
and he's just trying to suck all the wind out of Benoit right now.
Give him another five seconds, it could be over,
trying to cut that carotid artery.
[Tazz] Nice arm drag, that was Benoit.
[Booker T] That's desperation, he did that out of desperation right there.
Come on, Randy, you gotta fight!
[Cole] No one let Benoit build momentum, you know what that's like, Booker.
[Booker T] He's lookin' like he's gonna go for that triple.
Come on, he's going for that triple. Come on, come on, Randy.
[Cole] The Three Amigos, paying homage to Eddie Guerrero.
[Tazz] Randy Orton is very confident, he's gonna win this thing now for you.
I mean, Randy Orton became the youngest World Champion of all time against Benoit.
But Orton's in trouble here.
[Booker T] Come on, Randy, you gotta move right here, kid.
You gotta move, you gotta suck it up, you got to do what you got to do.
[Cole] Watch out! Benoit connecting!
And Benoit could be moments away from tying this Best Of 7 Series.
[Tazz] Booker standing up here.
Come on, Randy, come on, you gotta kick out right now.
-[Tazz] Here we go. -Come on, Randy, you got it.
[Cole] Kicked out at two.
-[Tazz] God, that was close. -Come on, Randy.
Suck it up, Randy.
Randy's gonna come out of this thing right there,
he's just luring Benoit in, he's trying to take him…
-Take him into the deep waters. -[Cole] Look at Chris Benoit.
-Benoit going for the Sharpshooter. -[Booker T] Fight it, you gotta fight.
-Going for the Sharpshooter. -You gotta fight it, Randy.
Randy is fighting it for sure, Book, he is fighting.
[Cole] If the Sharpshooter is applied, this one's over.
Benoit has to turn Orton on his belly.
[Booker T] I talked to Randy about this move right here, I told him how to block.
[Tazz] Talking ain't doing. You know that.
-[Booker T] He's got all his weight… -[Cole] Benoit's gonna win this thing.
Benoit's gonna win, he deserves to win! Benoit deserves to tie this thing!
-[Tazz] Oh, look at this. -[Cole] He's got him in the Crossface.
Oh my God, he's got it!
[Booker T] You cannot tap! You gotta kick out.
-[Tazz] Randy is in deep, deep trouble. -[Booker T] You're doing good, Randy.
[Tazz] And so are you, Book, you're in trouble.
[Booker T] Randy, come on. Come on, Randy, you got to get there.
You gotta get there, Randy.
-[Cole] Will Orton tap out? -[Booker T] He's not gonna tap out.
[Cole] And Orton made it to the bottom rope.
[Tazz] Wow, that was so close.
[Booker T] This is exactly what Randy was trying to explain to me earlier,
just let him go out and do his job and he will get the job done.
That's why I underestimated him last week. I thought he was in a precarious position,
but I didn't think that he could fight his way out of it,
but he's a tough kid. Come on, Randy.
-[Tazz] Oh, watch out. -[Booker T] Great roll through.
-[Cole] Rolled through, went for the RKO. -You see that? Come on, Randy.
[Tazz] Gonna find out how tough Orton is, we're finding out right now.
-And he's tough. -[Booker T] Right here. Hit him with it.
[Cole] Oh! And remember the injured neck of Benoit.
Right there, he's working on that surgically… the bad neck.
Now, he's gonna hit him with that RKO. He's gonna finish him.
-We're finna go home. -[Tazz] Randy Orton is measuring.
He's measuring him for the RKO.
-Measuring for the… Who the hell is… -[Cole] Wait a minute!
It's Orlando Jordan. Orlando Jordan just took out Booker T.
-[Tazz] Orlando with the crutch. -[Cole] The crutch to Benoit.
-The referee calls for the bell. -[Tazz] What's going on here?
[Cole] Jordan attacked Booker T and then Benoit.
[Tazz] He got dropped here by Orlando.
[Tony] The winner of this match as a result of a disqualification,
Chris Benoit!
And the Best Of 7 Series for the United States Championship
is now tied 3-3.
[Cole] So Orlando Jordan hit Benoit, and got Orton disqualified.
-And Benoit tied this thing at 3-3. -[Tazz] I can't believe this!
[Tazz] What the hell happened?
It's tied up!
[Cole] Maybe he should have shown Orlando Jordan a little bit more respect
earlier on tonight.
[Tazz] Orlando Jordan assaulted Booker T out here.
But the big picture is Booker T, I'm sorry, it's Chris Benoit.
He tied up this series.
[Cole] So, we've come down now to one match.
Chris Benoit is even with Booker T at 3-3.
Orlando Jordan from out of nowhere.
[Tazz] Blindsiding Booker T.
He attacked the injured Booker T and then, boom!
Right across the face with that crutch.
[bell ringing]
I cannot believe this turn of events, Cole.
-[Cole] Well, I can. -[Tazz] Listen, Cole.
That man right there, Chris Benoit, was down three to nothing.
I can't believe this, this is 3-3 now, he came back.
[Cole] Benoit is back in it, it's tied three-three.
The winner of the matchup will become Undisputed United States Champion.
Wow!
-[Tazz] Hey, Book, you need your crutches? -I don't believe this crap!
[announcer] Raw Magazine presents the Raw Rebound.
[Lilian] The following is a First Blood Match.
The first man to make his opponent bleed will be declared the winner.
[Lawler] Nearly 18,000 fans, they've all got their favorite here in this match.
[Coachman] It's a big-time atmosphere, and that's exactly what this match is,
a big-time match.
[Lawler] A bloody nose, that ain't gonna get it done.
-[Coachman] No, no, no, no, no! -You're gonna have to bleed profusely.
[commentator] The exposed turnbuckle ring.
[Coachman] Ref, check his head.
Is he bleeding? Is he… No, no, he's not.
No.
The counter by John Cena sends Referee Chad Patton
crashing into Kurt Angle, but Angle's got the chair.
-Oh no. -Oh my God, is he ever bleeding.
-Kurt Angle was looking for the FU. -Missed.
Look at this, it's the STFU.
Kurt Angle is tapping, Daivari is reviving the referee
to take a look at John Cena's face.
John Cena has first blood, Kurt Angle is the winner.
-Wait a second, here comes Carlito. -Here comes Carlito and The Masterpiece.
Everyone wants soften up the WWE Champion before the Elimination Chamber.
Oh, Superkick!
Shawn Michaels, he's got his eye on the WWE Champion.
-No! FU! -He's got him up.
Look at the carnage, all of these Superstars laid out.
All of these men will be in the Elimination Chamber this Sunday night.
Who will emerge from the Elimination Chamber
with the WWE Championship?
[Cole] Ladies and gentlemen, still to come tonight,
for the first time in six years,
the WWE Tag Team Titles will be defended inside a steel cage.
Batista and Mysterio versus the new champions, MNM,
inside a cage, tonight.
[Finlay] This is Carrickfergus Castle,
my ancestors settled on this land.
For over 400 years, we have fought for everything we have.
It is the way we tend our business,
care for our family, and live our lives.
My grandfather and father before me prided themselves on the fighting spirit.
My name's Finlay,
and I've given new meaning to the term "Fighting Irish."
[Tazz] Hey, Cole, that's one tough Irishman, man.
I'm telling you right now, he's gonna make a serious impact here on SmackDown.
[Cole] Here comes one tough competitor.
-He's a fitness guru. -[Tazz] What?
[Tony] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Simon Dean!
[Tazz] I love the Dean Machine.
You know, you were supposed to buy me one for Christmas. You didn't do it.
[Cole] You gonna use the Simon System for New Year's resolution?
[Tazz] Been using, I'm gaining weight, I don't know what the hell's going on.
-[Cole] You're taking way too much. -[Tazz] Yeah, maybe.
He looks fit.
People, my name is Simon Dean.
And Simon says that 2006 is gonna be the year of my patented Simon System.
In fact, tonight, I'm feeling so good that I am ready for some competition.
So I am not just calling out just one Superstar for some competition.
Oh no. I am calling out any two Superstars in the back
who are willing to come out here and answer my physical challenge?
[Cole] I think he had a little too much eggnog over the holidays.
Come on, people. I know you're back there.
There's got to be some… Now, I know this is a daunting task,
and it is, but there's got to be somebody back there
-who's willing to come out here. -[Tazz] Maybe that Simon System works.
[Cole] We saw Mark Henry beat three men earlier tonight.
-[Tazz] Yeah, but Simon is no Mark Henry. -[Cole] Exactly!
-[Tazz] What the hell? -[Cole] Wait a minute.
[Tazz] London and Kendrick?
They got those funky masks on, it's a little weird.
-[Cole] You should borrow them. -[Simon] Hold on a minute.
Batman, Robin, now, I know you guys are out here for some competition.
-[Tazz] Put the mask back on. -Are you guys ready to do this? All right.
You guys got that look on your face. No, no, you guys misunderstood me.
This isn't gonna be competition against me, no, no, no, no, no.
This… I wanted you guys out here so you guys could give some competition
to the new tag team sponsored by my patented Simon System,
the Gymini.
[Tazz] Gymini? Gymini? New tag team?
What the hell is this? Gymini.
Whoa, whoa, look at this guy. There's only one guy.
[Cole] But he's big enough to be two, though.
Look at the size of him.
-[Tazz] Who, London? -[Cole] No, Gymini.
[Tazz] Well, yeah. Whoa, oh, there's the other one. Wait a minute.
Wait a minute, they look the same. I think they're identical.
[Cole] I think they're twins, Tazz.
[Tazz] Yeah, that's why I said identical. Thanks, Cole.
[Cole] Hence the name Gymini.
[Tazz] Gemini means two? These guys-- these guys are monsters.
[Cole] Kendrick and London wasting little time,
-up over the top! -[Tazz] Oh God!
[Cole] London taking one of the men out, the other caught in midair by…
-Look at this, what the hell? Oh God. -One more, one more.
[Cole] Oh, driven into the post.
[Tazz] These guys are vicious already.
[Cole] Gymini sponsored by the Simon System.
-[Tazz] I guess that stuff does work. -[Cole] You gotta get on that.
-Look at this… -[Tazz] Watch out…
-Reversal. -[Cole] Oh!
-With authority. -[Tazz] Heads up.
[Cole] What a belly-to-belly throw.
[Tazz] Yeah, release belly-to-belly suplex.
Oh my Lord.
[Cole] Oh my God.
[Tazz] Look at how London went flying.
[Cole] The two guys are huge, Tazz. They're huge!
I think both shoulders were just pulled out of joint on Brian Kendrick.
[Tazz] What the hell? They're gonna do whatever the hell they want.
Gymini… What the hell?
Holy smokes!
London must've fell ten feet.
Are you kidding me? I never saw nothing like that in my life.
[Cole] And Simon Dean is loving it,
prancing around out here like a cheerleader.
[Tazz] Cole, did you see how high Paul London just went?
He almost hit the cage hanging above the ring.
-Now what? -[Cole] Brian Kendrick planted!
[Tazz] Oh my Lord.
[Cole] Where the hell did these guys come from?
[Tazz] It's that Simon System, it just makes you bitter and angry.
[Tazz mumbles indistinctly]
-What's Simon saying? -[Cole] I have no idea.
[Tazz] Simon says, Simon says.
These guys are unbelievable, Cole.
Oh my God!
They just tossed London and Kendrick over the top rope
like they're pressing them.
That's what I'm talking about.
[Tazz] Oh my Lord. How are you gonna contend with these guys?
Tell you what. Business just picked up in the tag team ranks here on SmackDown.
[Cole] I'll tell you, 2006 may be a very good year for Simon Dean.
How the hell did he find these two?
[Tazz] Watch this, they dunked London with both arms.
Criss-cross slam. Now watch Paul London.
Oh my God.
[Cole] Just went ten feet in the air, at least.
Flung him in the air like he was a piece of nothing. Look at this.
Those guys are impressive, Cole. Talk about an impact.
I said Finlay was gonna make an impact, which he will.
As did Gymini, sponsored by the Simon System.
[Cole] Can you believe the way that 2006 kicked off here on SmackDown?
And we still have a steel cage match tonight
with the Tag Team Titles on the line.
MNM defending against Mysterio and Batista
inside the cage, and it is next.
My name is Bobby Lashley.
And I've been invited to this year's Royal Rumble.
I'm so ready for it.
My goal is to win the Royal Rumble,
and to go on to WrestleMania to battle for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Imagine this.
Me, Bobby Lashley, versus Dave Batista
for the World Heavyweight Championship.
I like the sound of that.
[Cole] Those are the aspirations of the powerful, explosive,
exciting, young athlete.
And now, crashing into your living room, none other than Lashley.
How dominating has this Superstar, Lashley, been?
[Tazz] Lashley is on the rise here on Friday Night SmackDown.
[Cole] What a physical specimen!
[Tazz] He's a machine, he's a vicious, violent, incredible, athletic stud, man.
I'm telling you. He's got the whole deal, Cole.
[Cole] Lashley remains undefeated.
[epic rock music playing]
[music fades]
[Tazz] Well, Cole, that Lashley, soft-spoken but very hard-hitting.
[Cole] And there is the steel cage that will surround the ring
for the first time in six years.
The Tag Team Titles will be defended inside that cage.
And the cage, Tazz, tonight has one purpose,
to keep Melina's insurance policy, Mark Henry, out,
so we don't have a repeat of what happened last week.
[Tazz] Hey, look, or anybody else, not just Mark Henry.
Because, I mean, come on, first time in six years
for the WWE Tag Team Titles in a steel cage,
that's heavy duty, baby. Wow.
[bell rings]
[Tony] The following, a steel cage match,
is scheduled for one fall.
And it is for the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Now, in this match, there is no escape.
You must win by pinfall or submission inside the cage.
["Paparazzi" by Jim Johnston playing]
[Tazz] Here we go.
[Cole] Here come the WWE Tag Team Champions.
[Tazz] Brand-new. Red carpet, baby.
The paparazzi's in the house.
[Tony] Making their way to the ring, from Los Angeles, California,
at a combined weight of 440 pounds,
they are the WWE Tag Team Champions,
Mercury, Nitro, and Melina, MNM!
[Tazz] Well, Melina encouraging Mercury and Nitro.
I mean, she realizes what they're going into here
because this is a… this could be a nasty matchup
in a steel cage, and the titles are on the line.
They won these titles last week, MNM, and they could drop or lose them
right here tonight to Batista and Rey Mysterio.
[Cole] Well, we saw last week what Melina is capable of,
helping MNM winning the Tag Team Titles.
-But, ladies and gentlemen, what a year… -[Tazz] Yeah, but, but…
Hey, not tonight though, pal. I'm telling you.
What a year it was for MNM in 2005, twice recapturing the tag team gold.
I tell you, I don't remember a tag team that has exploded on the scene
quite like MNM has here in SmackDown.
[Tazz] Hey, I don't disagree with that statement one iota,
but I'll tell you what. I don't know… I don't know, can…
If you're going into a cage match, and you're letting that cage
rent space in your head already, look at Mercury looking over that cage.
I mean, you don't know their experiences with something like this.
This could be a dangerous setting.
[Cole] Well, I believe it is the first time that MNM has been involved
in a steel cage matchup,
and not only are they getting locked in a cage against
just any old Superstar, against Batista and Rey Mysterio.
Ladies and gentlemen, coming up next on Friday Night SmackDown,
the WWE Tag Team Titles on the line inside the cage,
MNM versus Batista and Mysterio, next.
[Cole] For the first time this decade,
the Tag Team Titles will be defended inside a steel cage.
The champions are MNM getting last-minute instructions from Melina.
[Tazz] Hey, TV that's changing Friday nights, baby.
Here comes Mysterio.
Where is he? Where is he?
-Oh, there he is. -[Cole] Whoa!
[Tony] Making his way to the ring, one of the challengers,
from San Diego, California,
weighing in at 170 pounds,
Rey Mysterio!
[Cole] Rey Mysterio and Batista were robbed last week
of the WWE Tag Team Titles,
so they quickly exercised their rematch clause in the contract
to have this matchup against MNM here tonight.
[Tazz] And I'll tell you, having it in a steel cage I think is very smart.
I mean, it's dangerous for your career, for physical reasons, obviously,
but you wanna try and keep out anybody, especially Mark Henry.
[Cole] And Rey Mysterio, of course, wearing the Eddie Guerrero
dedication T-shirt, Mysterio and Eddie, best friends,
as close as brothers,
and Rey Mysterio now surveying the situation.
Mysterio with a lot of experience inside cage matches
as has his partner, Batista.
[Tazz] Oh, he's The Animal, Cole. The Animal.
["I Walk Alone" by Saliva playing]
[Tony] And his partner, from Washington D.C.,
weighing in at 300 pounds,
he's the World Heavyweight Champion,
Batista!
[fireworks popping]
-[Tazz] Wow. -[Cole] Earlier tonight,
Batista met reporters from all over, and he proclaimed his innocent…
His innocence, I should say, in the sexual harassment lawsuit
that has been filed by Melina.
Batista said that he would never wish sexual harassment charges on anyone,
and Batista claims that he is indeed innocent.
[Tazz] Well, Tag Team Championship right now, Cole.
Tag Team Titles are on the line,
a great opportunity for Batista and Rey
to regain the titles they had just last week,
and we're doing it in a steel cage.
Six long years, Cole,
we haven't seen one of these Tag Team Title Matches in a cage.
We're getting one right now.
[Cole] Did you see the way that Batista smiled
at the Tag Team Champions once that cage was closed?
And now being locked by Referee Charles Robinson?
And again, the rules of the matchup,
you cannot win this cage match by escape, you can only win by pinfall or submission,
unlike traditional cage match rules.
If this is a look at how things are gonna go
this year on Friday Night SmackDown, man, oh man!
We've had a Falls Count Anywhere Matchup here tonight,
the match number six in the Best Of 7 Series
for the United States Championship.
And now, inside a steel cage, the Tag Team Titles are on the line.
[Tazz] I want to point out, there's no tags in this matchup.
It's more or less tornado style, no one needs to tag nobody.
Except, well, Mysterio and Batista are more or less tagging
MNM right now, if you know what I'm saying.
[Cole] So pretty much Referee Jimmy Korderas is going to have
his hands full with all four men at the ring at the same time.
I think all he's there for more or less. Oh!
I would have to say is pinfall and/or submission.
[Cole] Again, there are really no rules.
I mean, you can use the cage as a weapon,
we've seen that in the past.
And there's the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Tazz] I've been in cages and that's the key, my friend.
When you're in a cage match, the cage is a weapon,
a deadly weapon, and you need to utilize that cage for your benefit.
[Cole] And Melina showing concern over the state of her team.
She realizes MNM has very little experience in these types of matches.
Rey Mysterio dropping the leg, there's Batista working on Nitro.
[Tazz] Right out of the box, I mean, Batista and Mysterio, I mean,
they have motivation obviously because of what happened last week,
but they are just putting it to the champions, MNM.
[Cole] And again, like last week, Batista has to concentrate on business
in this matchup here tonight.
High elbow to Joey Mercury in the corner.
[Tazz] You know what, Cole? It's a good thing I guess for MNM
that the non-escape clause is in there.
I mean, you got to win via pinfall or submission,
as Rey Mysterio, this guy's like damn Spider-Man,
he can jump right over that damn cage like it's nothing.
[Cole] Exactly right.
Now the former Tag Team Champions, Batista and Mysterio,
looking at each other, developing strategy here against the current champs, MNM.
[Tazz] And now might be an opportune time for…
-Oh my God, watch out! -[Cole] MNM!
[Tazz] Nice block, but to no avail… Or maybe not.
-[Cole] Nitro… Wait a minute, guys. -[Tazz] Where are they going?
-Hey, guys, whoa, guys, you can't… -[Cole] There's no escape.
[Tazz] So what, you get out, big deal. You're not gonna win.
Well, they're trying… [chuckles]
[Cole] MNM's in trouble, the Tag Team Titles
hang in the balance inside a cage when we return.
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, we're back here on SmackDown,
and Batista is cleaning house on MNM.
[Cole] The Tag Team Titles are on the line.
MNM against Batista and Mysterio inside a cage.
-[Tazz] Watch out! -Batista using the cage as a weapon.
And again, ladies and gentlemen, you only win by pinfall or submission,
not by escape in this particular matchup tonight.
[Tazz] Batista's using the cage as a weapon,
he's using MNM as javelins, and, uh-oh, watch out.
They're still trying to get out, I have no idea why.
They just wanna escape, I think. They don't even care about winning.
[Cole] And here's Rey Mysterio.
Mysterio trying to keep MNM in the cage
so Batista and Mysterio can regain the Tag Team Titles.
[Tazz] As I said earlier, Mysterio's like a damn cat.
[Cole] Watch out!
[Tazz] And the cat just fell off a tin roof.
You know, he's not the cat but you get my drift.
-Watch this. -[Cole] Watch out! Oh my!
A Bulldog from the top rope!
Mysterio, Bulldog Leg Drop, hook to the leg.
[Tazz] A Bulldog Leg Drop, Cole. Holy smokes.
[Cole] And Mysterio and Batista moments away perhaps from
recapturing the Tag Team Titles as we take another look at this Bulldog Leg Drop.
[Tazz] Look at this. Oh my Lord.
[Cole] How innovative, how unique is Rey Mysterio's offense?
[Tazz] He's one of a kind, Mysterio's world class, baby.
International Superstar.
No one like Mysterio in the world, I'm telling you that right now.
[Cole] And where can you see him?
-[Tazz] Only on SmackDown and… -[Cole] On Friday nights.
[Tazz] It's that 1904, I think it was. It's that move,
-it's like a Bronco Buster. -[Cole] What does that mean?
[Tazz] I still don't know. I gotta find out.
[Cole] Mysterio launched into the steel cage,
spine-first, hung up on the top rope and crashing to the apron.
[Tazz] Went to the well one too many times and Batista cleaning the clock.
[Cole] But the bottom line here, Tazz, is Batista now,
despite being in control, is outnumbered
-because Mysterio is down and out. -We don't know how long.
And there's the Missile Dropkick!
[Tazz] Oh my God, from the blind side,
Mercury with that Missile Dropkick right in the mush of Batista.
-[Cole] Melina… -Going for a cover here.
Well, they got something else in mind, some bad intentions on their mind.
[Cole] Melina telling MNM to use their head.
-Oh, and there's the DDT. -They did, they used Batista's head,
drove it into the ground.
-Here we go. -[Cole] Here's the cover.
Shoulders down, kickout by the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Tazz] And the World Heavyweight Champ, Dave Batista,
he's so powerful, he kicks out with that upper body strength and…
MNM now going to town on him.
[Cole] Delivering that knee to the sternum is Mercury.
Rey Mysterio trying to shake the cobwebs out of this head
as MNM continues the double team on Batista.
[Tazz] I didn't know what to expect, Cole. But I didn't expect this.
Uh-oh, what the hell? Wait, a double chokeslam?
[Cole] Oh man!
[Tazz] Never saw MNM do that.
-[Cole] Planted center of the ring. -That could do it.
Here's the cover, hook of the leg. Shoulders down and a kickout again,
ladies and gentlemen. You don't have to pin both members of the team,
you only have to pin one member to win this matchup.
[Tazz] And again, no need to tag, no need to tag,
tornado style, you hear the Batista chant from his SmackDown fans, watch out!
[Cole] Double dropkick, driving Batista into the cage.
[Tazz] Hey, that was impressive, Cole.
Like them or not, MNM were very impressive,
Melina's very impressed with her guys.
[Cole] Mercury and Nitro taking their time,
picking Mysterio and Batista apart inside a steel cage.
[Tazz] They're bouncing from each guy now… Ooh, leg drop.
[Cole] But that's good strategy, I would believe.
-[Tazz] Oh, it is good strategy. -Here's the cover on Mysterio,
hook of the leg and a kickout, but never say die for Rey Mysterio.
[Tazz] I'm flat-out impressed with MNM. They got this topsy-turvy,
this ping-pong type of offense going on.
Beat on one guy, go beat on the other, back to the other, here they come again.
[Cole] And again, driving Batista into the steel cage.
[Tazz] Second time in this match, Melina's even more impressed.
[Cole] The spine of Batista crashing against that steel support,
not once but twice after the impact by MNM,
and now singling out Rey Mysterio, MNM so dangerous.
-[Tazz] This is not good, Cole. -[Cole] Now, the double team.
And launching Mysterio face-first into the steel cage.
Did you see the way Mysterio bounced off the cage?
-Here's the cover. Hook of the leg. -That's it.
And Mysterio somehow kicked out.
Take another look, classic double team
by the Tag Team Champions MNM, Mysterio off the cage.
Again, MNM continues the pressure,
not allowing the World Heavyweight Champion Batista
to get out of the box here,
continuing to pin the champ against the steel cage.
[Tazz] I'm not too sure if Batista… I'm sorry, if MNM,
if this is just great offense or if this is just a desperation offense.
I still don't think MNM likes being in that damn cage.
[Cole] Can you blame them?
[Tazz] No, I don't blame them but they're looking good, Cole, like them or not.
[Cole] Big clothesline to Mysterio, Melina loves what she sees.
Double team now on the World Heavyweight Champion.
[Tazz] Look at this, look at this. Double Russian, oof.
[Cole] Connecting with that Russian legsweep.
[Tazz] Double Russian legsweep and Batista's down and out,
-as is Mysterio. -[Cole] MNM wearing their opponents down
in this matchup with the Tag Team Titles on the line.
[Tazz] This constant beating down by Mercury and Nitro
on Mysterio and Batista and again,
these Batista chants crank up here by the SmackDown fans.
[Cole] Mysterio whipped into the corner.
-[Tazz] Here they come. -Mercury, and Mysterio got the boot up.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio got the boot up,
into the cage goes Mercury, and there's Nitro from behind.
-[Tazz] Look at this. Got a Crucifix… -[Cole] Rey Mysterio.
Wow. Shoulders down, may have it here. The new champions…
No, and a kickout at two.
[Tazz] Beautiful Crucifix by Rey Mysterio on Nitro.
Very tough move to pull off.
[Cole] Rey Mysterio trying to get back into this matchup.
Mysterio going to the top rope, what's he gonna do here?
[Tazz] He's the human highlight reel of sports entertainment, Cole.
Don't go… Rey, don't go up there, Rey.
-Wait a minute, Rey. Uh-oh. -[Cole] Oh my God.
Oh my God. No way. Right over top of the cage.
Oh my Lord.
[Tazz] Oh my God, that's no man's land, Cole.
[Cole] And look at Mercury knocking Nitro out of the way.
And Rey Mysterio with a crossbody, here's the lateral press.
And Nitro saved the matchup…
but Mysterio with a crossbody from the top of the cage,
almost winning the Tag Team Titles.
[Tazz] You got to be kidding me, off the top of the cage with a crossbody.
[Cole] Let's take another look. Mysterio perched high in the air
and watch him fly.
[Tazz] Risking his life. Look at Rey Mysterio!
Did I tell you he's one of a kind? I did say that, right?
[Cole] Rey Mysterio ducks underneath, look at this.
Face-first goes Mysterio, great counter by MNM.
[Tazz] Face-first for sure, and Mysterio might be knocked wheezy and silly there.
[Cole] Mysterio's sent through the ropes into the cage.
And again MNM…
And wait a minute! Batista is up, and Batista's exploding!
[Tazz] Sure as hell did. There goes Nitro, there goes Nitro.
[Cole] Big back body drop.
-[Tazz] Watch out, the power. -[Cole] Mercury driven into the corner.
Here are the shoulders by the champ.
[Tazz] Look at the power of the World Heavyweight Champion, Dave Batista.
[Cole] And he ran into a boot by Nitro.
[Tazz] Uh-oh.
Here's Nitro going… He's gonna try…
Wait a minute, uh-oh, Batista got him by the back of his pants.
[Cole] Oh no. Oh no, this doesn't look good for Nitro.
[Tazz] Cole, look at this. Look at this.
[Cole] And look at Mercury trying to help his partner out.
[Tazz] Uh-oh, he's holding on to the hand of…
Mercury's holding Nitro's hand, pulled him back.
[Cole] And Batista… Look at this!
-[Tazz] Oh my God. Happy New Year. -[Cole] Wow.
And then the double head knocker.
-[Tazz] Yeah, you're not kidding. -[Cole] Both men knocked off the top rope.
-[Tazz] Watch out! -[Cole] Into the cage.
Did you see the power of the champ?
-[Tazz] All animal, baby, all animal. -[Cole] Oh my God, look at Batista.
[Cole] The Animal's at home in the cage. Spinebuster!
[Cole] Well, it could be the beginning of the end.
-[Tazz] The Animal… Wait a minute. -[Cole] Oh my!
It's Mark Henry. It's Melina's insurance policy.
[Tazz] There's a cage up, Mark Henry can't do nothing, Cole.
-There's a cage up, what's he gonna do? -[Cole] I have no idea.
Batista staring at The World's Strongest Man.
And Mark Henry…
[Tazz] Well, he's pulling on there… He's trying to get in there.
[Cole] Maybe he's looking for a way in?
[Tazz] There is no way. You can climb over there but…
No way in, no way out, Cole.
Get in there!
[Cole] And The World's Strongest Man looking for a way into this.
[Tazz] Frustrated, he's frustrated. Batista knows he can't get in.
-[Cole] And Batista… -[Tazz] I don't…
I think Batista wants Mark in there.
[Cole] And this is exactly why this cage was placed around the ring tonight--
[Tazz] Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's Henry… What's he pointing at?
[shouts]
What the hell's Mark Henry doing? What the hell!
-[Cole] He's trying like hell to get in. -[Tazz] Sure is.
[grunts]
-[Cole] Oh my. Oh my. -[Tazz] Did he just break it?
[Cole] Mark Henry just… He just broke the chain!
[Tazz] Are you kidding me?
-[Cole] That had that door locked. -What the hell?
[Cole] And the door is open. And Mark Henry is staring at Batista.
-[Tazz] Mark Henry busted that chain. -[Cole] With his bare hands.
-[Cole] Mark Henry… Look! -[Tazz] What the hell is this?
[Cole] Mark Henry just knocked the steel door off its hinges.
[Tazz] He just whipped that door off the hinge!
[Cole] Mark Henry just threw… he just threw the door in the ring.
[Tazz] And Mercury's hanging on to Batista's waist.
[Cole] And Batista with the right hands, but Mark Henry…
[Tazz] Watch out! Oh wow!
Oh man, this is not good for Batista.
[Cole] No, not good at all.
[Tazz] Look, Batista's in a bad way.
[Cole] Well, can you imagine getting run over by a 400-pound truck?
[Tazz] And Mark Henry is on… This is all legal too, Cole.
The whole deal's legal.
-[Cole] Mark Henry… -[Tazz] Oh my God.
-[Cole] …sends Batista! -[Tazz] Oh my God.
[Cole] Batista pressed again,
and thrown into the steel cage by The World's Strongest Man.
[Tazz] How powerful and dominant is Mark Henry?
God Almighty. Now what?
Look at that face, Cole. Look at those eyes. Look at that…
Batista's in trouble, Cole. Batista's in big trouble.
-Oh, no, no. Don't do this, Mark. -[Cole] Oh no. No.
Oh no! The steel door on the skull of Batista!
The Animal falling in a-- in a slumping heap.
-[Tazz] Look at the look on Mark Henry. -[Cole] Well, it's all Melina.
She hired Mark Henry for insurance.
[whistling]
-She hired Mark Henry for protection… -[Tazz] Watch out!
…and now the steel door off the skull of Mysterio.
Mark Henry laying waste to everything in his path.
[Tazz] Mark Henry destroyed Mysterio
and destroyed Batista.
-Look at this! What the hell's this? -[Cole] And here is the cover.
-[bell rings] -And MNM retains the Tag Team Titles.
-[Tazz] And it's all legal. Oh my God. -[Cole] Thanks to Mark Henry.
[Tony] Here are your winners and still WWE Tag Team Champions,
MNM!
[Cole] I'll tell you, Tazz, we thought Mark Henry made an impact last week.
Wow, talk about making a major impact.
Mark Henry, a human wrecking ball.
Let's take a look at the devastation.
First, Tazz, The World's Strongest Man busting the chain with ease.
[Tazz] How the hell he did this, I don't know.
Look at how thick that chain is!
And look at this, Cole, ripping the door off the hinge.
[Cole] And then Henry would use that door as a weapon.
First, he would pick up Batista, slam him into the cage,
pick up the door, and Mysterio would be the next to suffer.
[Tazz] Watch this, bam, look at that impact.
[Cole] Watch the champion.
[Tazz] Mark Henry, he's so dominant, Cole.
[Cole] Watch the champion.
[Tazz] Oh my God.
[Cole] Mark Henry leaving waste in the ring.
Mark Henry with a symbolic statement here tonight
that he's on top of the world, that he's on the top of the heap.
If you're Batista, how do you stop this guy?
[Tazz] I don't have a clue, Cole. I don't have a clue.
Mark Henry, so dominant.