Yes, sir. We promised you a great main event here tonight.
-Freddie Blassie, the Maker of Champions. -Andre the Giant!
-WrestleMania. -[Hogan] Hulkamania is running wild.
-Rest in… -[Ross] My God, what a night!
-Rock! -[The Rock] If you smell!
[Vince] You're fired!
-Give me a hell yeah! -[crowd] Hell yeah!
-It's not over. -The world is watching.
[dramatic musical sting]
[Cole] We are 48 hours away, two days from No Way Out.
Welcome to Seattle, Washington and Friday Night SmackDown,
Michael Cole and JBL at ringside.
And, John, this is a special edition.
Two huge main events tonight.
[JBL] John Cena and Shawn Michaels, two of the greatest champions of all time,
against the young breed, MVP and Mr. Kennedy.
[Cole] And also tonight, opponents in WrestleMania,
teammates tonight and at No Way Out,
the World Champion Batista, the number one contender The Undertaker
take on Rated-RKO from Raw.
It's tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ I'm The Boogeyman And I'm coming to get you ♪
["The Horror" playing]
[Cole] Well, not quite the way that I wanted to kick off
Friday Night SmackDown tonight, but nonetheless, the very eerie,
the very strange, the one and only Boogeyman.
[JBL] Who cares, Michael?
It's a strange night.
We got RKO visiting us from Raw.
We got Shawn Michaels, John Cena. What a hell of a night we have tonight!
And let's go ahead and start it off with this freak, The Boogeyman.
-[Cole] Oh! -[crowd cheering]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from The Bottomless Pit,
weighing in at 265 pounds, The Boogeyman.
[Cole] The Boogeyman hasn't been in a pleasant mood, John.
Last week, right here on Friday Night SmackDown,
he suffered his first loss.
[JBL] And he's about to suffer another one, Michael.
[crowd cheering]
-The guy who loves to fight… -[Cole] And look at this.
…doesn't care if you hide under the bed,
doesn't care if you're The Boogeyman.
[Cole] And Finlay lying in wait, attacking Boogeyman,
as we get things started here on Friday Night SmackDown.
The fighting Irishman wasted little time driving
The Boogeyman into the steel steps.
[JBL] Finlay figured out what I did not figure out,
what Booker T, the King, did not figure out
and that was a way to get The Boogeyman.
[Cole] Yeah, last week, Little Bastard, Finlay's little leprechaun…
[JBL] Hey, hey, watch your language. He's got parents, okay?
[Cole] …who lives under the ring--
[JBL] What, are his parents Mr. And Mrs. Bastard?
Little Bastard tried to steal the…
-[JBL] He's a leprechaun, Michael. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] …tried to steal Boogeyman's worms, as this matchup officially gets underway.
And off that distraction,
Finlay used a shillelagh to the back of the knee
to pin Boogeyman here last week.
-[JBL] You have a problem with that? -[Cole] Oh, not at all.
And, you know, set up for No Way Out, Boogeyman and Finlay one-on-one,
little preview here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
And look at Finlay hammering away on Boogeyman.
And how do you combat Boogeyman?
[JBL] I never figured it out.
I didn't.
I was champion longer than anybody in the WWE and SmackDown history
and I never figured it out.
-Well, maybe Finlay-- -[JBL] King Booker didn't figure it out.
[Cole] Oh! Maybe Finlay has the right recipe, so to speak.
[grunting]
You have Finlay in here, you think has the edge because of experience,
but you have the completely unorthodox Boogeyman.
Throw all that out the window.
[Cole] Finlay continues the pressure on The Boogeyman as we kick off with…
well, John said earlier on, is going to be a strange night,
a very special night.
A special edition of Friday Night SmackDown
two nights away from perhaps the biggest tag team main event
in SmackDown history at No Way Out.
[JBL] Perhaps? There's no doubt about it, Michael.
You got both World Champions,
you got the Tag Team Champions,
all four of them World Champions or previous World Champions,
gonna be in one ring Sunday at the Staples Center at No Way Out.
[Cole] And Boogeyman trying to get back to his feet.
Finlay with that knee right to the midsection,
and seems to have the puzzle of The Boogeyman solved
at least for the past couple of weeks.
Boogey whipped into the corner.
There's a big boot to the face of the fighting Irishman
and Finlay follows it up with a clothesline.
[JBL] Not only that, Michael, if you remember on ECW,
Teddy Long invited Bobby Lashley to be here tonight.
[Cole] Yes, and here…
Look at this. Kickout by The Boogeyman.
Happened this past Tuesday night, ECW on Sci-Fi, and it was Teddy Long,
the general manager of SmackDown, who really…
Well, Lashley thanked Teddy Long for really helping his career here.
Remember, Lashley started right here on SmackDown.
In fact, won his first championship
from you right here on SmackDown, United States Title.
I don't think that's important you bring that up.
[Cole] Oh, and Finlay sent through the second rope to the floor below.
And look at the look on the face of this really weird dude, The Boogeyman.
[JBL] Weird dude?
That's how you characterize a guy with red paint all over his face…
-How the-- -…that has worms in his pockets?
[Cole] How the hell would you characterize him?
[JBL] A nut! He's a freaking lunatic.
[Cole] Oh, inverted atomic drop. Boogeyman thrust to the throat of Finlay.
Very unorthodox style, to say the least.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] All these gyrations Boogeyman goes through in the ring.
[grunting]
Nobody home, Finlay steps out of the way.
Went for the clothesline and just caught Boogeyman in the back of the head.
[JBL] Michael, it tells you something about SmackDown
when you have all three promotions,
your biggest stars…
-[Cole] Here's the cover, and a kickout. -[JBL] …all wanting to be here.
I've driven the ratings so high, Michael, everybody wants to hop on my bandwagon.
-[Cole] You? -[JBL] Yes. Me.
[Cole] And look at this, Finlay.
[Cole] Unorthodox style, as well. Next you're gonna start thanking people.
I guess you're gonna start taking credit for selling out the Staples Center
for No Way Out Sunday night in Los Angeles.
I sold it out with Eddie Guerrero,
sold it out at WrestleMania, and now as an announcer.
Hell yeah, I'll take credit.
[Cole] Finlay trying to take that protective covering
off that steel turnbuckle.
And as the referee goes back to the turnbuckle,
Finlay grabs the shillelagh.
And lookit, Little Bastard.
[JBL] He's a leprechaun, here he comes.
[Cole] With a second shillelagh in hand.
And the Little Bastard going after The Boogeyman.
-Wait a minute. -[JBL] What in the hell?
[Cole] What the hell is that?
[crowd cheering]
You gotta be kidding me!
[crowd cheering]
That… that's a little Boogeyman! Where the hell did he come from?
[JBL] How many people are under the ring?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Little Boogeyman, I…
[JBL] Finlay, Finlay looks like Gulliver.
[Cole] Finlay looks like he's seen a ghost and so is Little Bastard.
And there's Boogeyman with that staff to the gut.
Here's the cover, and Boogeyman pulls one out of Finlay's playbook.
Payback tonight for The Boogeyman.
[announcer] Here is your winner, The Boogeyman.
[Cole] I'm seeing double.
[JBL] You're seeing one and a half.
What the hell just happened?
-[Cole] Little Bastard-- -[JBL] Tell me this didn't just happen.
Somebody make some sense of this, please.
This is the damnedest thing I've ever seen in…
Oh my God.
[Cole] What did he… And he eats worms too!
-[JBL] Oh no, come on. -[Cole] He eats worms too.
Little Boogeyman.
[JBL] Little Boogeyman?
What the hell are you talking about, Little Boogeyman?
[Cole] Well, what… How would you describe the guy?
We… You…
We gotta see this again to believe it,
and I don't even know if this replay is gonna do it justice.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] What in the hell!
[Cole] Look at the face on Little Bastard.
[JBL] He's not a Little Bastard.
Meantime, a little bit of a payback for last week.
Referee never saw it, referee Chris Kay is shocked as well,
as everybody else, and Boogeyman picks up the victory here tonight.
[JBL] What the hell was that?
[Cole] Well, ladies and gentlemen,
last night on Raw in a huge 8-Man Tag Team match,
things exploded between No Way Out combatants,
the team of Batista and The Undertaker
and John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
Later on tonight, we will show you what happened on Raw.
And who knows what's gonna happen.
These two teams are in action in separate matches tonight.
[JBL] Of all of the sexy women that have graced the cover of Playboy,
from Marilyn Monroe to this month's girl,
the sexiest of them all, our own Ashley,
is gonna reveal the cover tonight.
[dramatic music playing]
[Ross] Donald Trump, live and in person here on WWE Raw.
This is a historic moment.
Donald Trump in the ring with Mr. McMahon.
[Lawler] Look at that sight.
First of all, I don't appreciate the fact that you stole
my catchphrase, "You're fired."
I don't appreciate the fact that you thought my little stunt
with the Rosie caricature and so forth was lame.
The one thing, however, I do not appreciate at all,
on McMahon Appreciation Night,
you dropped thousands of dollars on top of the audience.
[Trump] Let me put it very simply, Vince.
I'm here to challenge you to a match in WrestleMania.
-[crowd cheering] -[Lawler] What!
You gonna challenge me to a match at WrestleMania?
I will kick your ass.
The answer… the answer is no.
[crowd booing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
I appreciate your proposal, but I think I have a counter proposal.
Why don't I find a handpick competitor to represent me,
you find someone to represent you,
I'll be in my guy's corner, you'll be in his.
What do you say?
Put 'er there.
[dramatic music playing]
[Trump] I have another idea.
You pick a representative, I'll pick a representative.
If you lose, I get to shave your head.
[crowd cheering]
If I lose, you get to shave my head.
I still think you've got something up your sleeve,
Mr. Trump, but you know what?
The match is on!
[Ross] Two of the biggest deal makers on this planet have just made a deal.
The Battle of the Billionaires and their hair on April 1st.
[dramatic music peaks, then fades]
I still cannot believe what I heard last night on Raw.
I mean, you go to the same barber…
-I have the same barber. -…as Mr. McMahon.
I know Vince McMahon's hairdo and how great it actually is.
People say we actually look alike.
-Oh, please. And-- -Hey, but you know what?
It's PT Barnum versus John Rockefeller,
billionaire versus billionaire.
Two biggest egos, two biggest hairdos of all time, WrestleMania.
[Cole] Can you believe it?
One of the billionaires is gonna have his head shaved.
[JBL] That, Michael, is a WrestleMania moment.
People are gonna talk about this as long as they talk about WrestleMania.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring from the other side of the tracks,
weighing in at 230 pounds, Deuce.
[Cole] Well, Deuce 'n Domino went over
SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long's head earlier in the week.
They demanded a Tag Team Title match at No Way Out
and the WWE board of executives agree.
So since Deuce 'n Domino now own
two non-title victories over the champions,
they're gonna get a chance with the gold on the line
to take the titles in two nights at No Way Out.
["I'm All About Cool" playing]
[Cole] Deuce 'n Domino with an opportunity to take the Tag Team gold Sunday.
-But you know what? -I don't think they can do it.
[JBL] I absolutely believe they can do it.
They've had four matches here on SmackDown.
They have beaten the Tag Team Champions twice.
[Cole] Well, that they have,
but they haven't done it in a Tag Team Title match yet, John,
and what's gonna be interesting come Sunday
is the fact that they're gonna be in a pay-per-view on the big stage
for the very first time in their career.
And how are they gonna react?
How are they gonna react to the fact that the Tag Team Titles
are on the line Sunday at No Way Out?
["I'm All About Cool" continues]
[Cole] Deuce in one-on-one action tonight trying to keep the momentum early
against one half of the Tag Champs.
[announcer] …from Olympia, Washington, weighing in at 181 pounds,
here's one half of the Tag Team Champions,
Brian Kendrick.
[Cole] So, Brian Kendrick with an opportunity here tonight, John,
to sort of, well, stop the momentum that Deuce 'n Domino
have created over the past couple of weeks.
[JBL] Michael, they…
Deuce 'n Domino acknowledge they've dominated the Tag Team Champions.
They have beaten them in the middle of the ring
two weeks in a row.
[crowd cheering]
-[Cole] So, that is Deuce. -[bell ringing]
I see Cherry on the roller skates outside the ring,
Deuce's girlfriend, and Domino is Cherry's brother.
Brian Kendrick, tell you one thing about Kendrick and London.
They're not gonna back down from teams that are tougher,
rougher, and bigger than them.
Look at Kendrick coming right back at Deuce.
[crowd chatter]
-[Cole] Oh! -Thing about London and Kendrick, Michael,
you think about it, the Hardys, MNM, Regal, Taylor,
they have fought the best we have on SmackDown
and they have, every single time…
[Cole] Here's the cover by Deuce and a two count and a kickout.
[JBL] …have held those championships, retained those championships.
They step in the ring with these two out-and-out newcomers,
Deuce 'n Domino, and they have been dominated from go to woe.
[Cole] And you see Domino looking on, shouting instructions to Deuce.
Into another cover for Deuce and a kickout by Kendrick
at two in this one-on-one matchup.
[JBL] And how unbelievable could it be, Michael,
if Deuce 'n Domino are going to No Way Out
in what would be their fifth week in the company and win a championship.
[Cole] Brian Kendrick and Paul London won the Tag Team Titles
last May at Judgment Day,
held them for just about nine months now,
and Deuce 'n Domino with those two non-title victories.
What are going through the minds right now,
John, of the Tag Team Champions?
They've got to be thinking whether they can beat this other team or not.
There are times, Michael, when you get--
I never had this happen to me--
when you're losing to someone and you try everything
you can possibly try and it doesn't work.
[Cole] Can you say Rey Mysterio?
I can say Rey Mysterio all I want. He's gonna be there in San Diego.
[Cole] And look at Brian Kendrick up over the top,
and Deuce spinning out of it and delivering a right hand.
[JBL] From what I understand, he's basically in a wheelchair now.
[Cole] He's not in a wheelchair,
Rey is gonna update the SmackDown fans on his progress as he recovers…
-Who cares? -…from knee surgery.
[JBL] Who… Honestly, who cares?
[Cole] Well, a lot of people in San Diego do. We're sold out next week.
And look at Deuce.
People all over the world,
WWE fans worldwide care about Rey Mysterio,
former World Champion.
[JBL] Yeah, the INS cares about him too.
[Cole] And Deuce, saying this one is over.
I tell you, Deuce 'n Domino, so confident.
Why shouldn't they be
after what they've accomplished here in their short time on SmackDown.
Knee to the temple. Cover. Two count, and Kendrick kicks out.
[JBL] Thing I like about Deuce 'n Domino is they're not fancy, they're not pretty,
they just beat people up.
They are efficient, they are effective.
[Cole] It's the same style as the old APA was.
[JBL] Very much the same style. That's why I like them.
That's what I like about tag teams.
You step in there, you win matches, you don't have to impress.
You just simply have to beat people up.
[Cole] SmackDown fans trying to get the ever resilient Brian Kendrick
back into the matchup.
Kicks to the skull, Deuce reeling a bit, but right back on the offensive.
Kendrick into the corner and… Oh, what a kick by Brian Kendrick.
A Kendrick who, when he starts to build a little bit of momentum,
and starts flying around the ring, can make things happen.
High octane offense, fast break style, picking up.
Deuce knocked off his feet.
-[crowd cheering] -Get up!
[JBL] This is where it gets exciting.
I've said all along, these guys are like a car crash waiting to happen.
[Cole] Kendrick bounce-- And look at Domino.
And Paul London, coming to his partner's aid.
[crowd cheering]
You guys stay over here. No, stay over here.
[Cole] Referee John Cone being very authoritative in the matchup.
Meanwhile, Deuce and Kendrick still going at it in the ring,
the two combatants in the matchup.
Brian Kendrick sent up over the top,
somehow hangs on.
[indistinct shouting]
Get over there!
[Cole] Look at Brian Kendrick. And referee busy with Paul London,
Domino got involved, knocking Kendrick off the top rope. And a knee to the face.
[JBL] Crack 'em in da Mouth, they call it.
[Cole] And here's the hook of the leg. And it's over.
-[bell ringing] -They do that in two days, Michael,
that right there, Deuce 'n Domino are gonna be your Tag Team Champions.
[announcer] Here's your winner, Deuce.
[JBL] Just a month in the company.
That right there could be the two gentlemen that carry the gold
for the Tag Team division.
[Cole] Deuce 'n Domino continue dominating…
-Impressive as hell. -…The Tag Team Champions.
[JBL] And not only that, you see the teamwork.
You see them working behind the referee's back.
These guys have got the entire package.
[Cole] We're gonna show you what happened.
Watch Domino. Referee distracted. Kendrick knocked off the top rope.
And, John, tell me about this.
Tell me about the Crack 'em in da Mouth.
["I'm All About Cool" playing]
[JBL] It's not fancy, it's not pretty,
but that right there could bring them gold in two days.
-[bell ringing] -Add sweet little Cherry to it
and we have ourselves a total package.
[Cole] It is an historic night here on Friday Night SmackDown,
two huge inter-promotional main events.
Still to come tonight, John Cena and Shawn Michaels from Raw
will take on SmackDown's Kennedy and MVP.
Cena and Michaels looking to build momentum
heading into No Way Out.
[heavy rock music playing]
And also, Batista and The Undertaker will team up
as they get set for No Way Out
to take on Rated-RKO from Raw.
This may be one of the biggest nights
in recent memory here on Friday Night SmackDown.
Friday Night SmackDown has got it all.
You've got the top stars from every promotion gonna be here.
RKO, Shawn Michaels, John Cena.
Bobby Lashley told Teddy Long he's gonna be here.
No telling what's gonna happen tonight, Michael,
but we're gonna be here to watch it.
Well, we got a little bit of a barometer last night on Raw
about what may happen here tonight.
I'll tell you, Batista and The Undertaker really were sending a message
to Cena and Shawn Michaels.
When we come back, we'll take you back to Raw.
[Lawler] One of the most star-studded, eight-man tag battles ever on Raw.
John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Batista,
The Undertaker, all on one side against Edge,
Randy Orton, Mr. Kennedy, and MVP.
What a match, JR.
[Ross] Several agendas exist within this match.
[dramatic music playing]
[Lawler] Oh, here we go.
[Ross] Orton and The Undertaker.
[Lawler] Whoa. Undertaker cleaning house.
[Ross] My God.
The Deadman knocking down everything in sight.
And Shawn Michaels got the tag.
Michaels tagged himself in.
[Lawler] Well, The Showstopper wants to strut his stuff for a little bit.
[Ross] And Edge back in the ring.
[dramatic music playing]
All hell is breaking loose here in Portland.
Orton, lookout. Oh.
-[Lawler] Whoa. -[Ross] Orton ducked the superkick.
[Lawler] Wait a minute!
-[Ross] Oh my God. My God. -[Lawler] Wait a minute.
[Ross] The Undertaker's gonna chokeslam Michaels, I think.
[Lawler] Now, he's got MVP.
[Ross] And Orton just shoved Shawn Michaels into The Undertaker.
Undertaker just saw Michaels got Orton.
Oh, and Michaels--
[Lawler] The Sweet Chin Music.
[Ross] And the three.
[crowd cheering]
-[Lawler] Look out! -[Ross] Oh, wait a minute.
Oh, The Undertaker taking exception to Shawn Michaels.
And now John Cena coming to Shawn Michaels' aid.
The Batista Bomb, with authority, on WWE Champion John Cena.
[Lawler] Our Raw Superstars have been laid wasted here.
[Ross] It looks like there's "no way out" for Shawn Michaels and John Cena,
but we'll find out this Sunday.
[crowd cheering]
Yeah, I know. Everybody knows.
WrestleMania XXIII, HBK versus John Cena for the WWE Championship.
Everybody also knows after what happened on Raw,
I got your back.
I just wanna make sure tonight you got my back.
John Cena, let me guarantee you,
whether it be tonight at No Way Out
or anywhere on the Road to WrestleMania…
my only goal in life is to make sure
absolutely nothing happens to John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Well, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
And the same holds true for these two men.
SmackDown's Kennedy and MVP set for action.
What a match versus the World Tag Team Champions,
HBK and Cena next.
[announcer] And now, the WWE Slam of the Week
is brought to you by Just For Men.
Stay in the game with Just for Men hair color.
[Ross] Who is going to go to WrestleMania?
Who will face John Cena?
[Lawler] Things are deteriorating here, JR.
-[Ross] Oh, double crossbody. -[Lawler] Wow.
Look at Shawn Michaels. Uh-oh.
Look out. Oh!
[Ross] Michaels sidestepped. Oh, the kick.
The superkick.
[crowd] …two, three!
[Ross] Shawn Michaels is going to WrestleMania.
[Ross] And John Cena here in the ring.
Shawn Michaels gets the chance
to live his dream one more time at WrestleMania.
["Are You Ready?" playing] ♪ Are you ready? ♪
[crowd cheering]
♪ You think you can tell us what to do? ♪
♪ You think you can tell us What to wear? ♪
♪ You think that you're better? ♪
♪ Well, you better get ready ♪
♪ To bow to the masters ♪
♪ Break it down ♪
♪ Degenerate into something, fool… ♪
[Cole] No, ladies and gentlemen, do not adjust your sets.
It is Friday night. It is Friday Night SmackDown.
And what a treat to be joined by one half of the World Tag Team Champions,
The Heartbreak Kid.
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
In the ring, from San Antonio, Texas
is one half of World Tag Team Champions,
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels.
[Cole] For the fifth time in his career,
on April 1st, Shawn Michaels will headline WrestleMania
when he meets John Cena for the WWE title.
-[popping explosions] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] But John, before we get to WrestleMania,
Shawn Michaels and John Cena got a little business
to take care of on their end Sunday at No Way Out.
[JBL] In just two days, Michael,
the biggest Tag Team match in SmackDown history
happens at No Way Out.
["The Time is Now" by John Cena and Tha Trademarc playing]
[crowd cheering]
[announcer] And his partner, from West Newbury, Massachusetts,
weighing in at 248 pounds,
he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions
and the WWE Champion,
John Cena.
[Cole] Well, I am proud to say that John Cena
got his start right here on SmackDown.
[JBL] I'm not proud to say that.
You can say whatever the hell you wanna say.
♪ A soldier, and I stay Under you fightin' ♪
♪ Plus I'm stormin' on you chumps Like I'm thunder and lightning ♪
♪ Ain't no way you breakin' me, kid I'm harder than nails… ♪
[Cole] Well, tonight, Friday Night SmackDown
is sponsored by the auto parts experts at AutoZone.
Get in the zone, AutoZone.
And by BowFlex.
And by McDonald's.
And I am lovin' it.
I'm loving this.
I'm loving the World Tag Team Champions here on SmackDown in action tonight.
[JBL] These two guys got more bling than a rappers' convention.
And what a matchup we have coming in two days,
Michael, look at this team right here.
We got Shawn Michaels, The Showstopper.
My first WrestleMania is when he rappelled from the ceiling against Bret Hart…
-[announcer] Making his way to the ring… -[JBL] …with the young lion, Cena.
[announcer] …from Green Bay, Wisconsin, weighing in at 235 pounds,
Mr. Kennedy.
["Turn Up the Trouble" playing]
[Cole] Mr. Kennedy staring at his opponents here tonight.
["I'm Coming" by Silkk The Shocker playing]
♪ One, two, you hear the clock tickin'? ♪
♪ Tick-tock, you about to stop livin' ♪
♪ Tick-tock, I want you to remember me ♪
♪ Tick-tock But the day don't have no memory ♪
♪ I'm comin'! ♪
♪ Nobody could stop me Nobody could hold me, nobody control me ♪
[Cole] Well, John Cena and Shawn Michaels may be the World Tag Team Champions,
but they don't have a hell of a lot of experience
teaming with one another.
Kennedy and MVP have teamed together in the past.
[announcer] And from Miami, Florida, weighing in at…
[JBL] And look at what we have here, Michael.
[announcer] …Montel Vontavious Porter, MVP.
[JBL] You got two guys, Michaels, "HBK," and Cena
have headlined WrestleMania before
and you've got Kennedy, MVP,
guys who are going to headline WrestleMania.
I am not so sure that if Michaels
and Cena wanna make a statement tonight on SmackDown,
they probably should've picked somebody different than these two young studs.
[Cole] So, this is the first of two inter-promotional main events
here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown.
Mr. Kennedy and MVP from SmackDown to take on those two men,
John Cena, Shawn Michaels from Raw, opponents at WrestleMania,
teammates here tonight and also Sunday at No Way Out.
Now, remember, when Shawn Michaels
told John Cena just a few moments ago, John,
"I will have your back,"
but it'll be a different story at WrestleMania.
Shawn Michaels wants John Cena at WrestleMania.
Bottom-line. Michaels believes in his heart,
"He has another title run in him and so do I."
[Cole] And Mr. Kennedy backing Shawn Michaels into the corner.
Referee Charles Robinson trying to get a clean break, and he does.
And there's that cocky, that arrogant attitude of Mr. Kennedy.
Some call it disrespect, especially toward a man like Shawn Michaels
as the "HBK" chants begin.
[JBL] Who cares about respect?
It's about wins, it's about losses.
Kennedy has defeated six World Champions.
You have two in there right now, Michaels and Cena,
that he hasn't defeated.
He could add to his streak tonight.
[Cole] And Mr. Kennedy. Shawn Michaels working behind Mr. Kennedy.
Actually, you could even, uh…
As you see, Shawn Michaels in all kinds of trouble here.
Shawn Michaels and John Cena, No Way Out Sunday,
against Batista and The Undertaker.
Many people call the Royal Rumble, John, the…
well, the start of the Road to WrestleMania.
Well, there's gonna be a hell of a clash on that road at No Way Out Sunday.
Shawn Michaels, the side headlock on Kennedy.
[JBL] It's like corner two of the Daytona.
A lot of people hit the wall, a lot of people crash.
We are going to have a blowup and a four-car pileup
at the Staples Center in just two days.
[Cole] And you have to believe, John, that somewhere,
here in the KeyArena in Seattle tonight,
The Undertaker and Batista are watching this match carefully.
Boy, did The Undertaker and Batista ever send a message
to Cena and Shawn Michaels just last night on Raw.
Undertaker with the thunderous chokeslam to Shawn Michaels,
Batista with the Batista Bomb to John Cena.
[JBL] They were carrying them off like cordwood last night on Raw.
And the question here, Michael,
Shawn Michaels, one of the greatest of all time,
but a narcissist, an egomaniac.
-[Cole] What? -[JBL] Just like this guy, John Cena.
-[Cole] John-- -Both of them, egomaniacal human beings.
Can they coexist?
[Cole] You're crazy. John Cena, with a hip toss to Kennedy.
The WWE Champion John Cena taking it to a man
that may one day be champion.
And Kennedy, hook of the leg, kickout by Mr. Kennedy.
John Cena, Shawn Michaels look very confident here tonight.
[JBL] And it was the Staples Center when Cena first won that WWE Championship.
[Cole] John, and of course, you know who he beat, you.
And lookit, John Cena continues the assault on Kennedy.
That was at WrestleMania.
Perhaps the defining moment of John Cena's career a couple of years ago.
And look at this, nobody home.
And Kennedy follows it up with a clothesline.
And a tag made to MVP, and Montel Vontavious Porter,
who has really been through the ringer
and survived over the past couple of months here on SmackDown.
He's been in cage matches, inferno matches, street fights.
Here's the cover of the WWE Champion! And a kickout.
[JBL] He smells like smoke 'cause he's been through fire, Michael.
But the gentrification of MVP this year has been utterly amazing.
[Cole] MVP and Mr. Kennedy hoping, I guess,
to wear Cena and Shawn Michaels down, at least in the name of SmackDown
as we head for that big inter-promotional match Sunday.
[JBL] No, hell no. They wanna make a damn statement.
That's what they wanna do.
This whole thing is about these two egomaniacs,
-Shawn Michaels and John Cena. -Oh, will you come on now, John!
[JBL] You're leaving two guys out who are going to headline WrestleMania,
Kennedy and MVP.
[Cole] Tag made by Shawn Michaels.
You wanna talk about egomaniacs, what about Mr. Kennedy?
What about MVP?
Two of the cockiest young men you're ever gonna meet.
And there's the kip-up by Shawn Michaels.
And who will ever forget Shawn Michaels
pulling that off in the Royal Rumble match last month at San Antonio
when it came down to Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker,
the last two men standing
in one of the most historic Rumble matches of all time.
[JBL] It was surely a moment in time, Michael,
that you will tell your kids about.
It was absolutely history that we will watch.
[Cole] And Shawn Michaels, going up to the top rope.
Mr. Kennedy in trouble, Shawn Michaels,
the patented elbow drops into the heart of Mr. Kennedy
and The Heartbreak Kid is fired up tonight.
[JBL] And don't forget, Shawn Michaels' first big WrestleMania moment.
That moment in the 60-minute match with Bret Hart
occurred just down the road from the Staples Center in Anaheim.
[Cole] And Shawn Michaels tuning up the band.
MVP ran into a right hand from the champion.
And Michaels and Cena working together like a well-oiled machine tonight.
Mr. Kennedy wants nothing to do with a kick from Shawn Michaels.
[crowd roaring]
The Heartbreak Kid and Cena are rolling.
Can they continue dominating Kennedy and MVP when we return to Seattle!
-[smack] -[groaning]
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
Shawn Michaels and John Cena,
the World Tag Team Champions from Raw, against SmackDown's Kennedy and MVP.
The first of two huge inter-promotional main events here tonight,
just two nights away from No Way Out.
[JBL] Shawn Michaels is peaking on the Road to WrestleMania.
He knows what it's like to go there.
He knows what it's like to main event the big dance.
-[Cole] What… -But he's got a car crash
waiting for him at the Staples Center in just two nights.
[Cole] Tag made to John Cena.
Michaels and Cena working well together as a team here tonight.
But let's not forget what happened to this team, as Cena goes into the cover.
Hook of the leg, and Kennedy kicks out at two.
Let's not forget what happened to the team of Cena and Michaels last night, John.
Just 24 hours ago on Raw,
when Undertaker and Batista made a statement
against their No Way Out opponents.
[JBL] And let's not forget, they're both egomaniacs.
-[Cole] Who? -[JBL] Cena and HBK.
Here's the cover again.
Hook to the leg, he's got it… No, kickout at two.
[JBL] They're both vying for the number one guy.
HBK has been for so many years.
Cena comes along.
He's wanting to take that… take that from HBK.
HBK doesn't wanna pass the torch.
That's what WrestleMania is all about.
That's what we're gonna find out in two nights, Michael,
if these two egomaniacs can get along.
They're getting along pretty well here tonight.
-John Cena, the WWE-- -[JBL] When the goin' is good, Michael
everybody gets along.
Kennedy with the right hands to Shawn Michaels,
the man who will headline his fifth WrestleMania,
April 1st at Ford Field in Detroit.
Kennedy drops the elbow to Shawn Michaels.
And here's the tag to MVP.
You made a really good point earlier on, John, that…
[JBL] Well, hell yes, I did.
[Cole] …by pinning Michaels or Cena tonight,
MVP and Kennedy would really make a name for themselves.
[JBL] You're overlooking these guys.
What Teddy Long has done his entire… his tenure here.
They overlook these two young stallions, MVP and Mr. Kennedy.
It's all about Michaels, all about Cena.
Fine, they're terrific performers, but who gives a rat's ass about them?
These are our guys, Mr. Kennedy and MVP.
[Cole] Well, the SmackDown fans are calling MVP, your hero, a Power Ranger.
Shawn Michaels almost ran into the referee,
and MVP almost hit the referee.
Look at Kennedy draw the ropes, and Michaels outside the ring.
[crowd chatter]
And now Mr. Kennedy outside the ring
with a wicked clothesline right here in front of us.
And that's that aggressiveness of this young stallion,
as you like to call him, Mr. Kennedy.
[JBL] That's the amelioration process of Mr. Kennedy.
These two guys, both of them.
[Cole] Here's the cover by MVP.
Forearm in the face and a kickout.
[JBL] Hey, what kind of upset is this gonna be if Kennedy and MVP
defeat HBK and Cena tonight?
It would be a major upset.
HBK and Cena, the World Tag Team Champions.
[JBL] Look at him. Look at him.
He's feeling it. MVP is in his element.
[Cole] Non-title matchup, but a big win nonetheless for MVP and Kennedy.
But this is what MVP has got to be careful of.
Enough with the showboating already.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] Like Terrell Owens.
You don't want him to showboat in the end zone,
don't let him score.
[Cole] Well, MVP taking it to Shawn Michaels.
Cover again, forearm to the face again and a kickout by HBK.
Again a cover by MVP, and again a kickout by Shawn.
And MVP now with the direct right hands.
[JBL] MVP is on one of the greatest wrestling shows of all time,
that's SmackDown,
and he's got one of the greatest stars of all time now in HBK.
If that ain't worth showboating, nothing is.
[Cole] Tag made to Kennedy. Kennedy into the ring now.
Look at John Cena.
Look at the way John Cena is pacing,
moving like an animal on the apron of the ring,
trying to get Shawn Michaels into this matchup.
That's what teammates are all about.
So much for your theory that they're not gonna get along.
[crowd chanting] HBK! HBK!
[Cole] And the "HBK" chants begin again from, yes, these SmackDown fans.
[JBL] No, no, no. What Cena's ranting for,
back and forth about is the fact that fans are chanting "HBK."
That egomaniac wants them chanting his name.
These two guys can't get along, I'm telling you right now.
-What match are you watching anyway? -[JBL] The same one you're watching.
[Cole] Kennedy with the big boots to the gut.
And here's Cena.
He was just shouting words of encouragement to his teammate,
Shawn Michaels.
[JBL] Why don't you talk about the guys that are winning right now, Michael?
Why don't you talk about Mr. Kennedy?
[Cole] Oh!
-[JBL] Talk about MVP. -[Cole] I was talking about them.
[JBL] Instead of your little drinking buddies, Cena and HBK.
[Cole] What are you talking about?
They're your favorites, your idols, so you talk about them.
To call the match right down middle.
[Cole] And here's the cover by Kennedy.
Shoulders are down, and a kickout by Shawn.
You're the one that's having delusional perspective
of what's going on outside the ring with John Cena.
And here's the tag made to MVP.
And Montel Vontavious Porter into the ring
with the right hands to the ribs of Shawn Michaels.
[JBL] You wonder if Michaels and HBK
are feeling little effects from last night.
They were decimated by The Undertaker and Batista.
[Cole] And Kennedy, wise move with the referee's back turned.
Shawn trying to battle back.
And I don't think there's any doubt, John,
that Shawn and Cena are feeling the effects of last night's attack
by Batista and Undertaker. And what a boot by MVP!
[JBL] That's how you make a statement.
You kick a guy in the mouth.
[Cole] MVP trash talking. Forearm to the face, kickout by Shawn.
Here's again the cover, hook of the leg again,
and kicks out at two and a half.
[JBL] MVP and Kennedy have been overlooked…
Damn it, they've been overlooked their entire career here.
They are choosing tonight to make a statement.
[Cole] Oh, they are doing that. I'll give you that much.
Kennedy, MVP, extremely impressive in this matchup
against the World Tag Team Champions.
Off the snapmare, Kennedy trying to wear Shawn Michaels down.
[JBL] He is wearing him down. He's laying on him.
-Come on! -[Cole] Listen to Cena.
Come on, man. Here, come on. Come on up.
[crowd chanting]
[Cole] You can feel the electricity tonight,
on a historic Friday Night SmackDown, a very special edition,
just two nights away from No Way Out in Los Angeles.
Shawn Michaels, the gallant veteran.
Shawn is game tonight, back to his feet, but needs to make a tag to John Cena.
[JBL] Shawn's always game.
Shawn was flying around tonight like it was 1996.
The guy is better than he's ever been in his entire career.
[Cole] Oh.
Kennedy-- Uh-oh.
Shawn in trouble. Mr. Kennedy, center of the ring.
Here's that rolling reverse senton by the…
I should say Samoan Drop by Mr. Kennedy, who's gonna go to the top rope
and perhaps set up Shawn Michaels for the Kenton.
Nobody home!
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] The roof is gonna blow off this place, Michael,
if Shawn Michaels can make it to John Cena.
And if he does, get ready 'cause all hell is about to break loose.
Stop him, Mr. Kennedy. Stop him.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Just stop and listen.
[crowd cheering]
[ref shouts indistinctly]
There you go!
Here comes Cena!
John Cena exploding off the tag, taking out Kennedy, taking out MVP,
the WWE Champion, well rested, is rolling.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] They better find a way to stop Cena.
[Cole] Kennedy over the rope.
[crowd cheering]
[shouting indistinctly]
[JBL] Batista and Undertaker are watching,
and Cena is trying to send a message.
[crowd cheering]
Talk about somebody hot dogging. There's your egomaniac.
[Cole] Five-Knuckle Shuffle.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] John Cena measuring MVP.
Look at… Look at… From behind!
Kennedy with a steel chair, and Shawn Michaels, Sweet Chin Music.
[crowd cheering]
-Here's the cover. -[crowd] One, two…
[Cole] Shawn Michaels said he would have John Cena's back,
and by God, he did tonight.
[announcer] Here are your winners,
Shawn Michaels and John Cena.
[Cole] I have to say this, John.
But I'll tell you what,
if John Cena and Shawn Michaels coexist like this on Sunday,
Batista and Undertaker, they could be in some trouble.
[JBL] That's what we're gonna find out at the Staples Center, Michael.
That's why I'm telling you, it may be the Road to WrestleMania,
but we're about to see a car crash at No Way Out.
[Cole] And John Cena, little nod of respect.
Shawn Michaels kept his word.
Earlier tonight, he said he'd have John Cena's back and he did.
Kennedy, with a steel chair, was looking to ambush Cena
and Shawn Michaels, with a little Sweet Chin Music,
followed up by the champ.
[crowd cheering]
And Cena and Shawn Michaels make a mark tonight…
-[bell ringing] -[Cole] …on Friday Night SmackDown.
♪ It's The Franchise Boy, I'm shinin' now ♪
♪ You can't see me, my time is now! ♪
♪ It's gon' be what it's gon' be ♪
♪ Five pounds of courage, buddy Bass, tint, pants with a gold T… ♪
Woo-hoo! Wow! Woo-hoo! Wow!
Yeah, all right. All right. All right.
-You know what? -What?
I just think you need to go and practice just a little bit more.
-I'll get back with you. -You're absolutely right. Okay?
-All right. Thank you. -See you.
[singing nonsensically]
She has no talent,
and it doesn't matter what she sings because I am winning the talent contest.
And speaking of talent…
I, um…
I have a hidden talent that I wanna show you.
[crowd cheering]
[clears throat]
[clears throat, sighs]
[crowd cheering]
[sighs]
[Cole] Welcome to a very special edition of Friday Night SmackDown
because we are two nights away from No Way Out,
the final stop on the road to No Way Out here in Seattle.
And, ladies and gentlemen, last night on Raw,
we learned the first inductee
into the class of 2007 WWE Hall of Fame.
[Ross] This capacity crowd coming up to its feet.
They wanna get a look at…
[announcer] Out of Austin, Texas,
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
♪ American ♪
♪ Dream ♪
["Common Man Boogie" by Jimmy Hart & JJ Maguire playing]
[man] A man who has figuratively set the wrestling world on fire.
Mr. Soul.
Mr. Charisma.
Mr. Dusty Rhodes.
It was like something instantly hit the people.
[announcer] And the roar of the crowd now is for The American Dream.
They love Dusty Rhodes because he was one of the people.
[Rhodes] When I was growing up,
I sure didn't think 265 pounds of blue-eyed soul
would captivate a country like I have.
That was my idea with the fans.
If I was winning, they were winning.
[announcer] Dusty Rhodes has done it.
The new World Heavyweight Champion,
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
[dramatic music playing]
Dusty Rhodes was one of the greatest performers
in the history of our business.
[Rhodes] The greatest sports attraction in the world today,
the little plumber's son who come out of the ditch
at eight years old and became so sweet.
[Triple H] He was the blue-collar man.
I think that's what made him connect with people so much.
I am the hit maker, the record breaker.
I have wined and dined with kings and queens,
and I have slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans.
[Triple H] He just oozed charisma.
[Rhodes] This is Broadway. This is the Super Bowl.
Get a dream, hold on to it, and shoot for the sky.
I knew there was an American dream out there somewhere
and I was gonna go and get it.
Congratulations to him. He has a career that most of us only dream about.
[gentle music playing]
Congratulations to "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.
I would hate to pay for catering at the Hall of Fame
for "The Son of a Plumber" Dusty Rhodes.
It is what it is, brother, if you will.
And the WWE Hall of Fame really has become a part, a staple
of WrestleMania weekend.
The night before WrestleMania this year,
we come to you from the historic Fox Theatre
right there in Detroit, the home of WrestleMania.
Kristal, I'm looking forward to seeing you this Sunday.
-[knocking on door] -Come in.
-[Bobby] What's up, Mr. Long? -Bobby Lashley.
-How you doing? -All right, man.
Glad to have you back on SmackDown, player.
Glad to be back, Glad to be back. Uh, you all right?
[laughs] Getting a little warm in here, Bobby.
Teddy?
-Whoa, whoa, you slow-- -Did you see what happened out there?
-Did you see what happened? -What are you whining about now?
Did you see what happened out there? Thanks a lot. Thanks again.
In case you were wondering, in case you were wondering,
I happen to be a tag team-- not a tag team competitor.
-A singles competitor. -You've been in tag matches.
I have beaten la-di-da-di everybody there is on SmackDown.
I even beat you when you were on SmackDown.
-You beat who? -That's right, you.
And you know what?
I think I'll beat you again…
for your ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
-Bring it. Bring it. -Oh, yeah.
I'll beat you again. I'll beat you again. You know something, Teddy?
I think it's kind of ridiculous
that the future of sports entertainment isn't even competing this Sunday.
Don't you think that's a little bit ridiculous, huh, Teddy?
-I'll tell you what… -You know what?
No, I'll tell you what.
Mr. Kennedy,
Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Make it happen.
I'll tell you what.
I'll talk to the ECW officials, and I'll see what I can do.
[crowd cheering]
Make it happen.
[Cole] Whoa, GM Long, get on the phone.
Get on the phone. Make it happen for Sunday.
Can you imagine if that match is added to the card?
[JBL] What a lineup we're gonna have at the Staples Center in two days.
What a lineup we have right now!
Oh my God.
Smokin'!
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome SmackDown Diva
and soon-to-be Playboy cover girl, Ashley.
WWE has the sexiest women on television. I'll tell you.
We have the sexiest right here on SmackDown.
Playboy cover girl Ashley, and it's the moment of truth here tonight.
[JBL] Think about it, Michael,
from Marilyn Monroe all the way to our lovely Ashley,
the sexiest women in the world
and we have the sexiest of them all right here, Ashley,
and she's about to reveal the cover.
-[Cole] Shh! Be quiet. -Woo!
-[crowd cheering] -[giggling]
When I was a little girl,
I couldn't really put my finger on what I wanted to do with my life.
So, I went on to college, graduated with a degree in communications.
-[crowd shouting] -[giggling]
And then one day, my whole life changed.
And that was the day
that you guys voted me to become your next WWE Diva.
[crowd cheering]
So, now, I get to travel and perform all over the world.
And today, I get to entertain you guys in a very different way.
You guys wanna see the cover?
-[crowd cheering] -[giggling]
-[JBL] I wanna see the cover. -Well, let's get on with it.
You guys gonna help me count this down?
[JBL] I'll count right now.
Three, two, one. [chuckles]
Drumroll, please.
[JBL] She's communicating with me.
Three…
-[JBL] Two, one. -…two…
-[JBL] Two, one. One. -…one.
Here it is.
[echoing pop]
♪ You better hold on tight ♪
-♪ 'Cause I'm gonna love you nice ♪ -[JBL] Wow.
-♪ I'm gonna do it right ♪ -[JBL] Wow.
-Even you got to like that, Michael. -[Cole] Oh my. Woo.
[JBL] My…
-[Cole] Oh my-- -[JBL] …God.
[Cole] I-I-I-I can't wait till March 12.
I cannot wait until March 12. Hey, you got connections on Wall Street.
-Damn right I do. -Get us some advanced copies.
Do something.
[JBL laughs] I'm gonna call Hugh right now.
Wow.
She said she got a degree in communications.
She's communicating to me right now.
Holy cow.
[Cole] Yes. Very nice.
[JBL] That right there might be the next Mrs. Layfield.
[Cole] On March 12, newsstands everywhere.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, still to come tonight,
a tag team match of epic proportions.
Opponents in WrestleMania, teammates tonight and Sunday.
World Champion Batista, number one contender Undertaker,
meet Raw's Rated-RKO. Explosive action tonight.
[dramatic music playing]
[Ross] Donald Trump live and in person here on WWE Raw.
This is a historic moment.
I'm here to challenge you to a match in WrestleMania.
[Lawler] What?
You're gonna challenge me to a match at WrestleMania?
I will kick your ass.
The answer…
The answer is no.
[crowd booing]
Why don't I find a handpicked competitor
to represent me,
you find someone to represent you.
I'll be in my guy's corner, you'll be in his.
What do you say? Put 'er there.
[Donald] I have another idea.
You pick a representative, I'll pick a representative.
If you lose, I get to shave your head.
[crowd cheering]
If I lose, you get to shave my head.
I still think you've got something up your sleeve, Mr. Trump,
but you know what?
The match is on!
[crowd cheering]
♪ Listen ♪
[Cole] Again, I cannot believe that either Donald Trump
or Mr. McMahon is gonna get their head shaved at WrestleMania.
[JBL] Two of the biggest hairdos of all time, Michael.
-Two billionaires. -[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way to the ring, from Raleigh, North Carolina,
weighing in at 215 pounds,
he's the longest reigning champion in SmackDown history
and the Cruiserweight Champion of the World,
Gregory Helms.
[JBL] Michael, can you actually believe at WrestleMania,
we've got the Battle of the Billionaires,
two guys worth over a billion dollars each.
One of them gets their head shaved.
Vince McMahon, Donald Trump.
[announcer] …weighing in at 207 pounds, Scotty 2 Hotty.
[JBL] It's like PT Barnum versus John D. Rockefeller.
["Bangin' It" playing]
[Cole] So, Scotty 2 Hotty set for action in this non-title match
against the Cruiserweight Champion, Gregory Helms,
who's held that title for over a year.
[JBL] You know, Tony Chimel's got a centerfold coming out
for Farm Almanac.
[Cole laughs]
How hot is Ashley's Playboy cover?
[JBL] Smoking.
[Cole] I… You know, I can't wait… I can't wait till March 12th.
I don't know what I'm gonna do over the next month.
Don't even answer that question
[JBL] High road. High road, Michael. High road.
[Cole] From behind, Gregory Helms attacking Scotty 2 Hotty
and this matchup is underway.
Ladies and gentlemen, it has been an absolutely historic night
here tonight on Friday Night SmackDown, a very special edition.
We are two nights away from No Way Out.
We talked about this earlier, John.
They call the Royal Rumble the start of the Road to WrestleMania.
We are about to have a major car wreck on that road
two nights away at No Way Out Sunday.
[JBL] We have simply the biggest tag team matchup in SmackDown history.
And if Teddy Long, Captain Cialis,
can leave Kristal alone long enough to make a match,
we're gonna have a hell of a match between Bobby Lashley and Mr. Kennedy.
[Cole] Yeah, Teddy Long, the general manager of SmackDown
says he's gonna get in contact with ECW officials
and try to make the ECW World Title Match for Sunday at No Way Out
Mr. Kennedy against Lashley.
And Scotty with a right hand,
trying to knock off the Cruiserweight Champion here.
Remember, last week, John, in a non-title matchup,
Gregory Helms, well, he lost to Daivari.
-[sharp smack] -Oh!
[JBL] Which could be the lowlight in all of Gregory Helms' career.
[Cole] And Scotty 2 Hotty,
well, Helms may lose to Scotty 2 Hotty here tonight.
[JBL] Scotty 2 Hotty is a two-time Tag Team Champion.
[Cole] Yes, the Master of the Worm.
Scotty taking it to Gregory Helms.
[JBL] What did you just say?
-[Cole] Scotty taking it to Gregory Helms. -[JBL] The Master of the Worm?
[Cole] Yeah, Scotty is the Master of the Worm.
-[JBL] Yeah. -[Cole] That's how he wins matches.
He does. And there's the bulldog,
and this is what I'm talking about, almost on cue.
[crowd cheering]
-[JBL] The Worm. -[Cole] Listen.
[JBL] You're excited for the Worm?
[Cole] Shh.
Can you be quiet for one time tonight?
[crowd cheering]
[grunting, yelling]
[JBL] Why are these people cheering this?
-[crowd] W-O-R-M! -[Cole] O-R-M.
[JBL] I can spell, Mr. Grammarian.
[Cole] Oh, wait a minute.
-That's Daivari. Speak of the devil. -[bell ringing]
[Cole] What the hell's he doing out here?
[crowd booing loudly]
[Cole] Funaki?
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] What-what is going on?
[JBL] Funaki, SmackDown's number two announcer now, right behind me.
[Cole] And Jamie Noble.
Jamie Noble, Daivari, Funaki…
Oh.
[JBL] Funaki told me he "rikes" my announcing.
What the hell do we got here?
-[Cole] Shannon Moore! -[JBL] What the hell is this?
[Cole] What's he doing on Smack… What's going on?
Cruiserweights galore, everywhere.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] They're all after Gregory Helms, I guess.
[Cole] And the Cruiserweight Champion back in the ring.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] I don't think I'd upset Gregory Helms.
He's standing tall just like he's done for over a year.
[Cole] Oh no, he isn't!
[Cole] Jimmy Wang Yang. Yee-haw!
[JBL] What the hell is going on? Do we not have security anywhere?
[Cole] SmackDown's resident redneck.
[JBL] He's not a resident redneck. He's a resident goof.
[Cole] Yee-haw! Jimmy Wang Yang.
[JBL] What did you just say?
[Cole] Yee-haw.
-[JBL] You're a doof. -[speaking indistinctly]
[Cole] Perhaps the Cruiserweight Champion is a marked man.
[JBL] They had all year to knock him off.
If they haven't done it by now, Michael, I'm not sure they're gonna do it.
[Cole] Well, that's not all because still to come tonight,
the second huge inter-promotional main event of the evening,
the World Champion Batista and The Undertaker
look to build momentum heading into No Way Out
where they take on the former World Tag Team Champions,
Rated-RKO, tonight.
[gentle, sultry music playing]
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
I knew you would be back for more.
[gentle music continues]
Welcome back to Friday Night SmackDown.
I'm ready for more action. Are you?
[Cole laughs] You got to be--
-You got to be kidding me. -[JBL] Oh my God.
[Cole] Oh my.
When you and I are on the same page,
we're the best tag team in the world.
Who do you think you're talking to?
Of course, I know that. Man, of all people, I know that.
But here's my point, Edge.
Tonight, it's just not some regular matchup, man.
We're talking about The Undertaker.
We're talking about the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista.
Now, you saw what they did to John Cena and HBK on Raw last week.
[splutters] What do you think they have in store for us, man?
What do you… Here's my point.
We have to do more,
a whole hell of a lot more, than just be on the same page.
You know what? And we will.
Because we're gonna force Undertaker and Batista
to focus on each other instead of us.
I mean, they're going head-to-head at WrestleMania XXIII.
There is no way they trust each other.
It's simple. Divide and conquer.
They'll be lucky if they make it to No Way Out without exploding.
So, what we do is we take that weakness, that-that mistrust…
and we exploit it.
Tonight, we make The Undertaker and Batista turn on each other
and there is no way they can beat us.
What can-- What can I say, man? I love it. I love it.
We're gonna get it done.
-[no audible dialogue] -["Rise Up" by Drowning Pool playing]
♪ Had your chance, now it's gone ♪
♪ A new day, a new dawn ♪
[intense dramatic music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And next week, Rey Mysterio's hometown of San Diego,
special appearance by the former World Champion.
Mysterio gonna update us on his recovery from his injured knee.
[heavy rock theme music playing]
[bell ringing]
[announcer] The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, at a combined weight of 495 pounds,
Edge, Randy Orton, Rated-RKO.
[Cole] Well, John, moments ago, Rated-RKO from Raw said that,
oh, there's no way that Undertaker and Batista can defeat them here tonight
because Edge and Orton are gonna get Batista and Undertaker
to focus on one another,
as opposed to allowing them to work as a team.
[JBl] It's the same problem that Shawn Michaels and Cena
are gonna have at No Way Out,
The Undertaker and Batista are gonna have tonight.
You have two egomaniacs trying to coexist.
It's not gonna happen.
["I Walk Alone" by Saliva playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ Yeah ♪
[announcer] Making his way to the ring, from Washington, DC,
weighing in at 290 pounds,
is the World Heavyweight Champion,
Batista.
[Cole] The Animal looks fired up tonight.
[JBL] He may look fired up tonight, Michael,
but he's trying to knock off the legend,
The Undertaker, 14-0 at WrestleMania.
You think these two guys can coexist?
Not a chance in hell.
[fireworks exploding]
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Batista and The Undertaker better coexist not only tonight,
but two nights from tonight at No Way Out
because they're gonna go head-on against John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
[JBL] But don't slight the two guys in the ring, Michael.
You have RKO, both of them World Champions.
Together, former Tag Team Champions.
They are stepping in the ring tonight, Batista and Undertaker are,
with two champions that wanna make a statement themselves.
♪ I guess I'll have to chew them up And spit them out ♪
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] They are on their feet for the World Champion in Seattle,
these SmackDown fans,
as Randy Orton and Edge look on with that…
with a smug look on their face.
-[crowd cheering] -[bell tolling]
[JBL] That smug look just got erased.
["Rest in Peace" playing]
[bell tolling]
[announcer] And from Death Valley,
weighing in at 305 pounds,
The Undertaker.
[Cole] There's absolutely nothing like the feeling when The Undertaker…
when he enters an arena.
["Rest in Peace" continues]
[Cole] Bone-chilling could be one way to describe it.
John, you have been in the ring and you've watched
The Undertaker, as your opponent, walk down that aisle.
What goes through your mind as you watch this transpire?
[JBL] You doubt everything about yourself when you watch The Undertaker come down.
You think you're ready. You think you're in shape.
You think you got a game plan. Everybody's got a game plan
until they see The Deadman, and that changes everything.
[Cole] On April 1st in Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field,
The Undertaker, 14-0 at WrestleMania,
will take on Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship.
But tonight, those two men will team together as they will Sunday
at No Way Out.
-[bell tolling] -[crowd cheering]
[Cole] And again, John, it is the fact that The Undertaker and Batista
are opponents for the World Championship at WrestleMania
that Rated-RKO hopes to exploit here in this matchup tonight
to try to turn the teammates against one another here on SmackDown.
[JBL] Well, look at the audacity and temerity of Batista.
He says he can knock out the legend,
The Phenom, the 14-0 undefeated streak of Undertaker at WrestleMania.
I don't think that sets very well with The Deadman.
My bet is they don't coexist.
[Cole] Well, earlier tonight,
you said Michaels and Cena wouldn't get along, they did.
We saw it last night on Raw, John,
that Batista and Undertaker could work together
when they left Cena and Michaels lying in the ring.
[JBL] Weekend's not over, Michael.
When the weekend is over and these four guys
get along on their respective teams,
that's when you can talk about my predictions not coming true.
But you talk about the entrance of The Undertaker.
You look at the glare of Edge and you look at RKO.
It all changed when The Undertaker just walked out.
[Cole] Matchup underway.
Undertaker gonna start things off against Edge.
This is the second of two huge inter-promotional main events here tonight
on this very special edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Undertaker, a former champion, Edge, a former champion as well.
And Undertaker looking to wear down Edge.
[crowd chatter]
[JBL] And what a matchup we have here tonight, Michael.
Forget No Way Out for a minute.
We got four World Champions in the ring tonight.
[Cole] Former World Tag Team Champions--
Look, Cena and Shawn Michaels,
the current World Tag Team Champions
and Undertaker and Batista's opponents Sunday,
looking on back in the locker room area.
[JBL] They better be taking notes.
[Cole] Undertaker trying to stretch out that left arm of Edge.
Undertaker to the top rope, vintage Undertaker.
A little bit of old school on Friday Night SmackDown.
[crowd cheering]
And what an intimidating presence,
what an intimidating force for 16 years--
[JBL] There's never been a more intimidating presence
in the WWE's history, Michael.
Forget just the 16 years.
[Cole] Oh. World Champion Batista in off the tag.
Big shoulder knockdowns by the powerhouse,
"The Animal" Batista.
Slamming Edge, middle of the ring, and knocking Orton off the apron.
Batista looks extremely intense here tonight.
-[crowd chatter] -Batista!
[Cole] Batista and The Undertaker, on the Road to WrestleMania,
hit a little bit of a pothole Sunday night
when they teamed together against Michaels and Cena at No Way Out.
And Batista…
Rated-RKO in deep trouble.
Edge and Orton over the top rope.
Batista and The Undertaker are dominating.
Can they keep it up on the road to No Way Out when we return to Seattle?
[crowd roaring]
[Cole] We are back on Friday Night SmackDown.
The World Champion Batista
teaming with The Undertaker much like they will do
Sunday at No Way Out, here tonight against Rated-RKO in the second
of two huge inter-promotional main events here tonight.
[crowd cheering]
Rated-RKO,
the former World Tag Team Champions from Raw.
And there's Randy Orton with a knee to the back.
[JBL] Whoa.
[Cole] And Batista sending Orton into the announce table,
Edge over the top rope as well.
And how good does the champ look tonight?
[crowd cheering]
Ooh. Kidney-first goes Edge into the apron.
Three.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] And Batista…
And lookit, from behind, Randy Orton. Randy Orton from behind, backbreaker.
[JBL] That's the teamwork right there of the former Tag Team champions.
[Cole] Oh.
Baseball slide knocks the champ to the floor below, and suddenly,
Rated-RKO, who know every trick to the book,
are dominating Batista.
[JBL] And remember, Rated-RKO
is not just two former champions tag teaming.
These guys are two former Tag Team Champions tag teaming.
They know each other well.
-Five! -[crowd chatter]
[Cole] Former Tag Team Champions tag teaming?
[JBL] Former World Champions tag teaming.
-[Cole] Oh. Here. -[JBL] Like you're the grammarian.
-Quit correcting me. -[Cole] Double-team by Rated-RKO.
Batista knocked down.
Here's the cover, hook of the leg, and a kickout by the champ.
[JBL] That is what's so--
is so interesting about No Way Out, Michael.
It is a different world, the tag team world,
than it is in single competition.
It's something that Orton and Edge are very good at.
[Cole] Mr. McMahon, well, he really hit the nail on the head, JBL,
when he made this matchup a few weeks ago.
Here's the cover by Orton. Undertaker breaks up the three count.
Mr. McMahon said the main event at No Way Out, in all likelihood,
will never, ever happen again, and it probably won't.
Batista-Undertaker versus Cena and Michael.
[JBL] Four distinct entities, Michael.
You look at Shawn Michaels,
one of the greatest tag teams of all time, The Rockers.
That was a long time ago.
His ego has taken over him.
He now just simply wants to be the top dog, as do all four guys.
You're telling me they can coexist at No Way Out?
Not a chance in hell.
[Cole] I'm not saying they can
but they're coexisting well tonight, both teams.
Although, Edge and Orton in complete control
of the World Champion Batista.
And Randy Orton, former World Champ himself,
has that cocky attitude.
That has, well, played a part in Orton's success,
Believes in himself.
Snapmare takedown.
Batista the champ, as Orton…
[JBL] Orton bred to be a champion, a third-generation wrestler.
I tag teamed with his dad, "Cowboy" Bob Orton in Japan years ago
when he used to talk about how great his son was in high school wrestling.
The kid was born to be a champion and he's showing it tonight.
[Cole] Seeing Undertaker stomping around on the apron,
wants in this matchup bad, would love to get his hands on Orton.
Undertaker knows Orton well from their battles in the past.
[JBL] This is game changer.
It's a game changer if Batista hits the tag.
[Cole] And Edge gonna make sure that the game didn't change right there.
That is the veteran instinct of Edge.
[JBL] That is a veteran tag team guy.
You remember Edge was part of one of the best tag teams of all time,
just like Orton.
These guys are working well together.
[Cole] Edge trying to make a tag, and he does.
And Batista makes a tag
and now Edge has to go face-to-face with "The Phenom" The Undertaker.
And The Undertaker,
perhaps one of the best pure strikers in the history of the game
with the right hands to Edge and Orton.
Oh! Undertaker's 300 pounds.
That's like a freight train.
[JBL] Never looked better. He has never looked better.
[Cole] Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Showtime.
[Cole] And Rated-RKO, double boot to the gut.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] Look out, vintage Undertaker.
Batista drags Orton out of the ring. Undertaker focusing on Edge.
-[grunting] -Let him go!
[JBL] Edge is in a bad spot.
He better find a way to get out and he better find a way to get out quick.
[crowd chatter]
[Cole] Oh. And referee Jimmy Korderas caught in the crossfire.
Snake Eyes.
[JBL] Duck, Edge.
-[Cole] Boot to the skull. -[JBL] Too late.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Undertaker…
stalking Edge.
Oh, and Batista driven into the steel post by Orton.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Look at this. Spear.
Spear by Edge off the distraction.
[JBL] That's his chance.
[Cole] No referee.
Referee Jimmy Korderas was…
-Come on, referee. Come on, damn it! -…knocked down moments ago.
And things do not look good out here for The Undertaker and Batista.
Rated-RKO. Oh no.
Edge with the steel chairs, and you know what this means.
It could be Con-Chair-To time.
[JBL] Somebody forgot to tell Edge he's a potted plant in this entire layout.
I think Edge wants to make a statement himself.
[Cole] John, John.
Edge is setting The Undertaker up for the Con-Chair-To
here on SmackDown.
And The Undertaker, John, The Undertaker sat up.
[crowd cheering]
The Phenom had a different plan.
And Orton with a low blow!
No referee, who had been knocked down,
and a blatant low blow by Orton to The Undertaker.
[crowd booing]
[JBL] Rated-RKO's debut on SmackDown is looking pretty good.
[Cole] Randy Orton, with steel chair in hand, measuring The Undertaker,
stalking The Phenom.
Look at the look in the eyes of Orton.
Steel chair off the skull, thundering through the arena.
[JBL] Two days away from No Way Out,
I'm not sure it's such a good idea to take on RKO.
Well, Randy Orton trying to get…
trying to get Jimmy Korderas, the referee, back into this matchup.
Here's the cover by Edge.
[Cole] Look at this. Here, a new referee.
A new referee into the ring and The Undertaker kicked out at two.
A second referee entered the ring, and Undertaker, miraculously,
got the shoulder up and the World Champion back in the ring,
and Batista taking out Rated-RKO.
Spinebuster.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] We got a referee and we got a fired up Animal.
Here comes the Batista Bomb.
[Cole] Setting up Orton.
And Edge, spear! A spear, as Batista went for the Batista Bomb.
[crowd cheering]
Edge!
[crowd roaring]
Chokeslam by The Undertaker.
[JBL] With authority.
Here we go.
[Cole] Undertaker measuring Edge.
The blood trickling from the steel chair to the skull,
but it doesn't stop The Phenom.
[crowd cheering]
[JBL] Ball game.
[Cole] The two legal men, Undertaker and Edge.
Tombstone piledriver.
[crowd] One, two…
-[Cole] Undertaker and Batista… -[bell ringing]
…are rolling to No Way Out.
[announcer] Here are your winners, the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista…
-[Cole] Wait a minute. -[announcer] …and The Under--
[Cole] Shawn Michaels, John Cena.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] Cena and Michaels seeking revenge for what happened last night on Raw.
[crowd cheering]
[Cole] A mirror image of what happened last night,
but tonight, the rules have been reversed.
[JBL] The Road to WrestleMania, Michael.
The car crash has started.
["The Time is Now" playing]
[Cole] Shawn Michaels and John Cena fire the latest salvo
as we head towards Sunday.
Two WrestleMania main events pitted against each other,
Undertaker and Batista versus John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
Somebody's got to give, Sunday at No Way Out.
["The Time is Now" playing]
[Cole] What a conclusion to this special edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Sweet Chin Music to The Undertaker,
and then Cena, taking up the World Champion, The Animal,
WWE Champ to World Champ.
Watch Cena to Batista, watch Michaels to The Undertaker.
Could this be what will transpire
Sunday night at No Way Out?
Will Cena and Michaels be leaving the Staples Center victorious
or will The Undertaker and Batista gain revenge?
We'll find out Sunday, as the Road to WrestleMania continues
at No Way Out.
♪ It's The Franchise, Boy, I'm shining now ♪
♪ You can't see me My time is now! ♪