[intro music playing]
Well, now, here's the WWE, and here's WCW. Well, there's Jeff Jarrett.
And here we have the owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment
and now the owner of WCW.
That's right, I'm Vince McMahon,
I have purchased, I own my own competition.
And tonight,
Tonight I have the ability to address WWE fans as to what this means.
I have the ability to address WCW stars as to what this means to them.
And yes, I have the ability to address WCW fans as to what this actually means
to them as well.
Tonight, at the right time, there'll be a special simulcast.
And let me just say that tonight, for sure, one man will make history.
And that's me, Vince McMahon.
Now, as far as the Jeff Jarretts of the world are concerned,
you know how Jeff spells his name? That's J-E-double-F.
Well, you know what?
Mmm, I would suspect that we'd spell it a different way after tonight.
That would be capital G-double-O-double-N-double-E.
Gone.
["Thorn In Your Eye" playing]
♪ It's my life in a box And charred to beat! ♪
♪ Taking chalk in my arms It's the soul of me! ♪
♪ You want fire Ashes see me laying face down ♪
♪ What has caught the thorn in your eye? ♪
[heavy metal music playing]
[Jim Ross] And historic WrestleMania will be this Sunday on Pay-Per-View.
But tonight, from the sold out Gund Arena here in Cleveland, Ohio,
we will make history.
A simulcast of our fans in WWE New York, our fans around the world,
are set to experience history in the making.
We've got Mr. McMahon's big announcement plus our main event,
it will be Stone Cold and The Rock against The Undertaker and Kane.
A slice of tag team hell.
Thanks to Mr. McMahon and Commissioner William Regal.
Hello again, everybody. I'm Jim Ross alongside Paul Heyman.
And we welcome you to WWE Raw and here comes the Olympian.
-Here comes Kurt Angle. -["Medal" playing]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, making his way to the ring, Kurt Angle!
[Ross] A former Entertainment champion and Olympic gold medalist
on the biggest Monday night in sports entertainment history.
The war, the war is finally over and Vince McMahon is the winner.
Tonight is his victory party.
And Kurt Angle has been in a very distant mood all day long
and one can only imagine why.
[crowd booing]
Not a raucous reception.
It's amazing, isn't it?
From the fans on the street, to the people backstage,
to all of you here in the crowd tonight, to the people at home watching,
you're all just up in arms, giddy in anticipation over the big news.
And I have to admit,
It's pretty damn shocking.
And the big news that I'm referring to is, while there's less than one week remaining
until WrestleMania,
your Olympic hero still does not have an opponent.
-I know. I can't believe it either. -[Ross] That's true.
I mean, what kind of world do we live in
When the gobbler, whatever his name is,
the gobbly gooker, the freaking gobbly gooker,
has an opponent at WrestleMania, and me, a former European,
Intercontinental, and WWE champion, doesn't.
I mean, it's a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.
[Ross] Angle very upset.
And the only thing that keeps me going is the fact that although
I do not have a match, an opponent at WrestleMania,
I am still the best wrestler in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
-If not, the whole entire world. -[crowd booing]
[Ross] Well, that's an arguable point.
-And I argue with it. -I am now and forever
the only Olympic gold medalist in WWE history.
[Ross] And that is also true.
And if this company is too preoccupied with other things than finding me
an opponent for WrestleMania,
then I have no other choice than to keep complaining
and keep protesting until they finally do.
For over four months, four months, people.
["Whatever" playing]
[Ross] Now there's the rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit.
Benoit and Angle were tag team partners last week, but not a lot of continuity…
quite frankly.
[inaudible]
Kurt Angle.
[crowd cheering]
I've got some good news for you, and I've got some bad news for you.
The good news is, I don't have an opponent at WrestleMania just like you.
And the bad news is I don't have
an opponent at WrestleMania just like you.
You know, listening to you complain
and whine and moan reminds me of the fact
that I've had to listen to you complain
and whine and moan for over a week now.
To be honest with you, Kurt,
your voice, it annoys me.
[crowd cheering]
But what annoys me more is your claim to be the best wrestler in the WWE.
That annoys me, you annoy me.
But what annoys me more than anything above and beyond everything,
It's the fact that I know if you give me just a little bit of your time,
I could make you tap, tap, tap
like the bitch that you are.
It's true. It's true.
[Ross] Wow.
Sounds like Benoit's calling out Kurt Angle.
[Heyman] Doesn't sound like it. It's actually happening.
Oh, is that so?
Is that so?
How dare you?
Does Canada even have an Olympic team?
I'll tell you what, Benoit.
I'm tired of carrying you like I did last week.
You want some bad news?
I'll give you some bad news and some worse news.
The bad news is, if what you said before was some sort of a challenge for a match
at WrestleMania, I accept.
[crowd cheering]
The worst news is there is no way in hell I'll ever tap out
to that stupid crossface thing, please.
And this crap, that's right, crap about you being
"the best technical" wrestler in the WWE.
Well, I'll tell you what, I could make you squeal in seconds, pal.
And if you don't think so, prove me wrong.
[Heyman] Now, that sounds like a challenge to me.
[Ross] I think we got us another match at WrestleMania.
-[Heyman] Yeah! -[Ross] Angle and Benoit getting it on.
Angle and Benoit. And Benoit going for the crossface.
And Angle counters it.
Angle's trying to get the ankle off of Benoit.
Benoit counters again. And now Benoit for the crossface of Angle.
[Heyman] Angle is tapping! Angle is tapping!
-[Ross] Kurt Angle tapping out. -[Heyman] Kurt Angle is tapping!
[Ross] And wait, there's Edge and Christian.
Kurt Angle's friends, Edge and Christian.
Assaulting Chris Benoit.
Come on, Benoit.
Edge and Christian and the… just dropped down for Benoit
who made Kurt Angle tap out just moments ago
in the Crossface.
But we have another match-up apparently that has been agreed to for WrestleMania.
Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, this Sunday at WrestleMania on pay-per-view.
[Heyman] Benoit made him tap. I don't believe it.
Now, can you believe this? I mean, what else we can see?
You got Kurt Angle tapping out.
You got Luger and Buff Bagwell on the screen.
I mean, the Lex Express has run out of gas and Buff's been stuffed.
I mean, that could happen tonight. You know, I want you and Triple H.
You just simply take it easy on your vacation.
Listen, if two people deserved it, you two definitely deserve it.
And stay tuned because not only are you gonna see the simulcast later on,
but tonight, I mean, think about this.
Think about the fact that I'm gonna team Austin and Rock up together
in a tag team match.
Yeah, now, against, wait a minute, listen up, against Undertaker and Kane.
Tonight, that's right, yeah.
Everything will be just fine.
You know, it's a tough job, but I'll do my best.
I'll talk to you later. Bye.
Champagne's good. Strawberry's even better.
Ah.
Excuse me, Debra.
Debra, could you tell us the demeanor of your husband, Stone Cold, tonight?
Can he coexist with The Rock in their tag team match?
You know, Michael, I really just don't want to talk about that right now, okay?
[Ross] I think I can answer that question. The answer is no.
And neither can The Rock coexist with Stone Cold.
But thanks to Mr. McMahon and Mr. Regal,
Austin, The Rock, Undertaker, Kane, tag team war tonight.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, last Thursday night on UPN SmackDown,
with Tazz doing commentary, RTC came out to address the crowd.
And they have something specific to say to Tazz.
You will be censored.
[commentator] Wham! Tazz takes on Steven Richards. And watch this.
The Tazzmission. The Kataha Jame.
And the RTC beat the crap out of Tazz.
But they could not get rid of Steven Richards.
And the Acolyte, the APA, saved Tazz from the beating he was going to get.
[crowd booing]
[Ross] This is going to be a lumberjack matchup.
And by the way, we can tell you, this Sunday at WrestleMania
on pay-per-view.
You heard about Angle and Benoit, one-on-one.
It's gonna be the RTC against Tazz and the APA in a six-man tag.
Val Venis and Tazz, and this is a lumberjack matchup for the APA
and the RTC serving as lumberjacks in this one-on-one match.
[announcer] The following lumberjack match is scheduled for one fall.
It's the Lumberjack, APA!
[Heyman] I think Jacqueline is wearing the latest in lumberjack attire.
[Ross] It's Tazz and Val Venis one-on-one. The APA and the RTC will be lumberjacks.
It looks like Jackie is here.
Honorary APA member, I would say.
[Heyman] I think she's earned her stripes now.
She should be considered part of the game.
[Ross] Great right hand by the Goodfather in this Lumberjack matchup.
And I guarantee you there's a lot of emotion.
-[Heyman] He's got it! -[Ross] The Tazzmission on Val.
A lot of emotion with Austin and Rock being part of it tonight.
The Stephen kick for the referee's back turn.
The Steven kick and now the APA and the RTC
-and an F-I-G-H-T on the outside. -[Heyman] And Val is going up.
Val Venis with the money shot.
[Ross] But nobody there for Val.
We got a hell of a fight on the outside.
Tazz with a suplex and Tazz with a victory.
-[bell rings] -["Survive (If I Let You)" playing]
[announcer] Here is your winner, Tazz!
[Ross] Well, this Sunday on Pay-Per-View at WrestleMania,
Tazz and the APA to meet the Right To Censor
in a six-man tag team matchup.
Of course, Ivory, the RTC, will fight Chyna for the WWE Women's title.
[Heyman] Ivory against Chyna for the WWE Women's title, a six-man tag team match.
Tazz with the Northern Lights, you fight for the win!
Well, uh…
Commissioner, what do you think? There's Animal.
I mean, you wonder how Animal feels about the new owner of WCW.
Yeah, huh?
And you seem to be quite ready for your tune-up match here
just prior to WrestleMania.
Yes, I'm more than confident in my abilities tonight, sir.
-Thank you. -Best of luck to you, Commissioner.
You know,
now, I'm sure this is going to be very interesting, just like…
the rest of the night…
-[chuckles] -…will be very interesting for you.
[narrator] After another phenomenal game, Tommy Maddox proved he's the top QB
in the XFL and possibly the MVP.
[commentator] Maddox over the top. Touchdown, LA!
[narrator] With four TD strikes, the extreme clinched the top playoff seed
in the West.
Darnell McDonald continued his touchdown streak,
scoring in his eighth consecutive game.
Will the Maniacs be able to control this out-of-control passing attack?
The XFL, Sunday at 4:00 Eastern on TNF.
This classic Wrestlemania moment is proudly presented by Snickers Cruncher.
Hungry? Crunch this.
-[Ross] Wait a minute, King. -[Jerry Lawler exclaims]
He rolled the mole-man!
-[Lawler] Oh! -Team Road just got chokeslammed.
[Lawler] No, Rikishi, please, don't do it. Don't open your… [exclaims]
Once again, he's way ahead of himself.
[Ross] Wrestlemania this Sunday on pay-per-view,
one of the men that will be in the, in a Battle Royal is a Doink the Clown
who is here tonight.
There you see Doink in this sold-out Gund Arena crowd.
And Doink, one of at least 15 competitors that will be competing WWE Legends,
-if you will, Paul, this Sunday. -Legends?
Call it like it is. They're gimmicks. Brother Love in a battle…
I love you!
Brother Love in a Battle Royal? Sergeant Slaughter?
-I go PSA! -Look at all those gimmicks.
It's a gimmick. It's a gimmick battle. Look, even the graphic tells you.
It's a gimmick battle royal.
[Ross] In any event, that's this Sunday on pay-per-view.
And I'm still wondering, Commissioner Riggle says that
he has a tune-up match here tonight.
And unfortunately, we don't have that information as we speak.
["Regality" playing]
But here comes our beloved commissioner.
[Heyman] Perhaps he'll inform us of it right now.
[Ross] I'm sure he will.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, making his way to the ring,
United Kingdom's goodwill ambassador and the Commissioner
of World Wrestling Entertainment, William Regal!
[Ross] William Regal has signed himself to challenge Chris Jericho
this Sunday at WrestleMania for the Intercontinental title,
and it certainly seems to me that the deck is stacked against Chris Jericho
in this one.
I don't believe our commissioner is a fair man.
[Heyman] Shh! The commissioner has something to say!
Shh!
Being your WWE commissioner, I have a very important thing to tell you.
[Ross] That'll be a first.
It concerns WC Fields.
Yes.
Now WC Fields once said, "The only cure for insomnia is sleep."
And I will not sleep, or rest, my friends,
until I am the new Intercontinental Champion
and beat that filthy, lowlife, miserable toe rag, Chris Jericho.
[crowd cheering]
Anyway, tonight for my warm up match before WrestleMania 17,
I am going to fight
someone from a very prestigious wrestling family,
a very tough person indeed, the Hollys.
[Ross] Hollys?
-Regal calling out-- -Come on, I want to fight
one of the Holly family.
["Slow Death" playing]
[Ross] Here comes Crash, the WWE light heavyweight champion,
worse than his cousin Molly Holly.
Crash Holly and William Regal in this tune up match.
Man, what an historic night.
That's McMahon buying WCW.
Big announcement about that from Mr. McMahon himself
on simulcast live in a few moments.
Stepping Stone tonight?
No.
In case you've forgotten, I don't ever back down from a fight.
Molly, cousin, hold this.
I'm going to show The Commish who the real Stepping Stone is.
[Ross] Wait a minute, what's Regal doing? He's got Molly Holly.
Don't tell me that Regal's called out Molly Holly for his tune-up match.
[Heyman] Okay, I won't tell you, but that's exactly what happened.
[Ross] This is just pathetic.
What kind of human being is William Regal? I can tell you, I can answer that myself.
And now he's got the STF on Molly.
What is Regal even thinking?
[Heyman] He's thinking he wants to send a message to Jericho.
He wants to be the next Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion.
-[Ross] And now with the STF. -Come on, come on, come on.
-Come on. -Hey, wait a minute.
-[Heyman] There's Doink! -[bell rings]
Doink the Clown.
Now, this ain't right.
No way should a clown be fighting The Commissioner.
[Ross] Doink not waiting until the, uh, the legends,
uh, gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania.
Wait a minute. That's a Walls of Jericho.
-[bell rings] -What in the…
And Regal is tapping out at The Walls of Jericho.
[Heyman] Now, where did Doink learn that?
All of a sudden, Doink is a great wrestler.
-I don't buy it. -[grunts]
[Ross] And Regal, he's getting ripped apart here at The Walls of Jericho.
And I got a feeling that William Regal may have been duped here.
Indeed, it is Chris Jericho.
Jericho in Doink attire.
One more time for the one-upsmanship on The Commissioner.
And Regal is irate.
Regal and Jericho on pay-per-view.
One of 11 huge matchups this Sunday on pay-per-view.
[Heyman] He made a clown out of The Commissioner.
And the Commissioner cannot be made to look like a clown.
It was a rather embarrassing moment for our Commissioner with Doink the Clown,
but speaking of embarrassing, look, there's a…
You know what that is? That's Dustin Rhodes, okay?
That was Goldust.
Now, do you know what Goldust wanted to do one time?
Believe it or not.
He wanted to have these great big implants,
breast implants, put on his chest.
Can you imagine the absurdity of someone who would want to have…
These voluptuous, succulent,
tender breasts.
[Ross] We are back live here in Cleveland and William Regal in a tune up match,
selected Molly Holly.
Crash Holly got involved, and then Doink the Clown, who was entertaining.
It was not Doink the Clown. It was Chris Jericho.
[Heyman] It was Y2J making a bozo out of our esteemed Commissioner.
And I'm disgusted by it.
[Ross] We didn't know it was Y2J until the signature maneuver of Chris Jericho.
[Heyman] Yeah, The Walls of Doink.
[Ross] The walls of Jericho and Regal tapping out.
Didn't we see the reveal of Chris Jericho,
the Intercontinental Champion?
And Jericho once again has made a clown out of The Commissioner.
Well, Commissioner Regal, it appears like Chris Jericho got one over on you again.
Is that so, Sunshine? Well, you listen to me.
Would you please inform that miserable, putrid little toe rag Chris Jericho that
he has a non-title match tonight with,
now let me see, I know, The Big Show.
Thank you.
[Ross] Man…
[laughs]
Kurt, great news, mon frere.
Right before Regal got attacked by a clown,
we had a little discussion with him.
And Team ECK lives again.
It's the three of us against Benoit and the Hardys tonight.
Well, good. That's the best piece of news I've heard all day.
You know, I wasn't tapping before. I was just trying to get to the ropes.
-I wasn't tapping. -Kurt, Kurt, we know.
We know. By the way, there's someone we want you to meet.
He's a big fan. So, Christian, get the you-know-what.
Hey, I wasn't tapping. I was just trying to get the rope.
Kurt, we know. We know.
-Kurt. -What the hell is that?
Kurt, I'd like you to meet an old friend of ours, Rhyno.
-Kurt. -Hi.
It's an honor.
And just so you know, I go way back with these guys.
And any friend of theirs is a friend of mine.
-Great. -I'll bleed for you, man.
-Good, good. -Bleed for you.
-All right, all right. -Relax, relax.
-That bleeding thing rules, man. -Nice to meet you.
So what do you think?
Well, I don't know about the intelligence or the integrity,
-but the guy's got intensity. -Yeah, he's pretty cool.
See ya.
Not in high school, not in college, not in the Olympic trials,
not in the Olympics, and not in the WWE
has Kurt Angle ever tapped.
Chris Benoit made him tap, and tonight they will clash
in a six-man tag team match.
I cannot wait.
And ladies and gentlemen, we turn our attention now
to this Sunday on Pay-Per-View, the main event,
the most eagerly anticipated main event perhaps in the history of WrestleMania.
It will be the Rattlesnake.
Stone Cold Steve Austin, deep in the heart of Texas,
in the Reliant Astrodome, challenging the Incomparable Rock
for the WWE title.
And Paul, I'll tell you, of all the ages, all the great main events
in WrestleMania history, nothing has captivated WWE fans
around the world like this.
This is the big one, the two biggest stars in sports entertainment today,
Stone Cold Steve Austin and the WWE Champion, The Rock
head up one-on-one at WrestleMania, and it all happens this Sunday night.
This Sunday on pay-per-view, but tonight they're going to be
tag team partners against The Undertaker and Kane.
Can you imagine that?
Let's take you back and show you how these two men,
The Rock and Austin, have the gift.
Can you imagine the scene?
60,000 in the Astrodome to see The Rock and Stone Cold for the WWE title.
♪ Just one more fight about ♪
♪ A lot of things ♪
♪ And I will give up everything ♪
♪ To be on my own again ♪
♪ Free again, yeah ♪
♪ This time I'ma let it all come out This time I'ma stand up and shout ♪
♪ I'ma do things my way It's my way ♪
♪ My way or the highway ♪
♪ Someday you'll see things my way ♪
♪ 'Cause you never know No, you never know ♪
[commentator] And no way, the WWE Champion
just rock bottomed the Rattlesnake right out of his boots.
Ladies and gentlemen, last Thursday night on UPN SmackDown,
I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to both Austin and The Rock.
And I even thought Austin might be willing to be The Rock's tag team partner.
I'm willing to be his tag team partner. What a big mistake you made.
How could you tick off Steve Austin to that degree?
You simply asked him the question, would you like to team with The Rock?
And you almost got the hat slapped right off you.
What, roll the tape, watch this, I'll show you.
Now Steve, I don't know how much stroke I have with The Commissioner these days,
but would you be willing to step up and be The Rock's tag team partner tonight?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, Jim, you don't have to ask Stone Cold that,
you should ask me that.
I don't need a partner, I don't want a partner.
And at this point in time, he'd be the last guy
I would ever want as a tag team partner.
You gonna answer all my questions?
-Did you ask me the question? -Yes, I did.
You gonna answer all my questions?
You know what, you got that little T-shirt that says,
"Just bring it," on the front of it.
Well, that night when you're looking up at the lights
and that little T-shirt says, "Just bring it,"
you will know that Stone Cold just brought it.
Yeah, well, you got your little t-shirt right there too, "Austin 3:16."
Austin 3:16 says, "I just whipped your ass," right?
Well, I say, just bring it. You say, I just whipped your ass.
So on April 1st, won't you just come try and whip the Rock's ass?
The fact of the matter is this, is I will give you every drop of sweat,
every drop of blood, every ounce of energy I have.
Win, lose, or draw, you are gonna get the absolute best of The Rock
at WrestleMania.
And there's a reason why they call me The Rock.
There's a reason why they call me the most electrifying man
the world has ever seen, and all that.
And there's a reason why they call me the best.
Come April 1, two unstoppable forces will meet.
And all questions will be answered.
Do I wanna beat you on a personal level?
Oh, hell yeah, I do.
But on a professional level,
which bleeds over in my personal existence,
I need to beat you, Rock.
I need it more than anything that you can ever imagine.
There can be only one,
there can be only one World Wrestling Entertainment champion.
And that will be, Rock, when it's all said and done,
Stone Cold Steve Austin,
with all due respect.
Debra, we've known for a while now that tonight Stone Cold and The Rock
must team up to take on The Undertaker and Kane.
We know they're not happy about it.
Is there any more insight you can give all of us on
what's going through their minds right now?
You know, Coach, now is just not a good time, okay?
Well…
Trish, now is the time for me
to go address the WCW stars
and WCW fans and all of that.
I just have to go talk about me, Vince McMahon, owning WCW.
But before I go, maybe I need just a little bit of luck.
-I can help with that. -You can.
Ooh. That's a lot of luck.
-Yeah. -Go get 'em.
I'll do just that.
[narrator] It's an experience WWE fans can't resist.
WWE Axxess, the fan festival.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet your favorite
World Wrestling Entertainment superstars up close and personal.
Experience WrestleMania Weekend like never before.
Friday, March 30th to Sunday, April 1st. Logon to wwe.com for ticket information.
[Ross] We are back live on Raw in the sold out Gund Arena
here in Cleveland.
And of course, this Sunday on Pay Per View,
Mr. McMahon will fight his son Shane in a street fight.
But tonight, Mr. McMahon's attention
is on his acquisition of WCW.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the chairman of the World Wrestling Entertainment,
Mr. McMahon.
[Heyman] They say that Alexander the Great sat down on a rock
and cried for he had no world left to conquer.
Tonight, the Monday Night Wars are over.
And the victor,
the victor of the Monday Night Wars is clear.
-It's that man. -Cut the music, cut the music.
A man of my distinction deserves a great deal more respect than this.
Announce me again.
I said announce me again when I give you the cue.
-You know why he's doing this? -[Ross] Not really.
[Heyman] Because he can!
["No Chance In Hell" playing]
[crowd jeering]
[Ross] Well, Mr. McMahon, who has bought WCW
and here to address publicly for the first time.
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the chairman
of the World Wrestling Entertainment, Mr. McMahon.
[Heyman] The chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, the owner of WCW,
the man that will fight his own son this Sunday at WrestleMania,
live on pay-per-view, the winner of the Monday Night War,
ladies and gentlemen, the man himself, the czar of sports entertainment,
Vincent K. McMahon!
-With another great intro. -[Ross] What are you, bucking for a raise?
Mr. McMahon to publicly address his acquisition of WCW for the first time
to the world here.
For the first time ever.
For the first time ever in sports entertainment history,
this broadcast is not only being seen here on TNN
and Cleveland, Ohio.
[crowd cheering]
But it's also being seen across TNN,
Turner Network Television.
Now, there's only one way that that can happen.
There's only one way and one man that can make history like this happen.
Obviously, you all know
I have acquired WCW.
[crowd cheering]
That's right, I bought my competition.
Now then, that's not exactly final.
Well, it is and it isn't.
You see, the only thing is Time Warner can't sell this property
to anybody else because nobody really knows what to do with it.
So therefore, this is what's going to happen.
Time Warner is practically begging me.
They're practically begging me to buy WCW, and I have agreed.
There's only one small caveat that they're hearing for the first time,
and that is this.
Time Warner, they've signed the contract, and I will sign the contract.
But I'll sign it this Sunday on pay-per-view at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
And I'll sign it when Ted Turner himself walks down the aisle
at WrestleMania and delivers the contract in front of me.
[crowd cheering]
Now then, some would say, geez, Vince, how did you do it?
How did you do it, Vince?
I mean, you were up against this media conglomerate,
Time Warner.
You're up against a billionaire. I mean, how could you possibly do this?
Well, some might say I had a little help
along the way with certain WWE superstars
and things of that nature, but quite frankly,
the truth is, I did it all on my own.
It was my effort.
It was my money.
And it's like, okay, Vince, how can you possibly beat a billionaire?
Well, there's only one answer to that, and that's become one yourself.
[crowd cheering]
So now, you have to understand, when Ted Turner walks down the aisle
at WrestleMania and practically begs me to sign the contract,
I'm going to do it and then I'm going to reserve a seat for Ted.
I'm going to put him right over here, right in the corner,
because I want Ted Turner to watch what
I do to my very own son Shane.
Some would say, "Come on now, Vince, don't boo me."
Some would say, "Vince, you can't do that to your own son.
He's your flesh and blood."
But you've got to understand what it means to be a competitor.
Nobody understands that better than I do.
Because you have to grab your competition by the throat
and you've got to squeeze the life out of your competition.
Just like I did to WCW.
[crowd cheering]
And just like I'm going to do to my son Shane this Sunday.
And by the way, may I add in my corner will be my charming
and lovely daughter Stephanie.
Will also be my companion Trish.
And Trish will wheel down in the wheelchair.
Trish will wheel my very own wife.
Linda, and we're gonna park Linda right over here in this corner.
And Linda's gonna watch what I do to Shane McMahon this Sunday at WrestleMania.
Now then, what should I do with WCW?
Well, there are a lot of things I could do with it.
I might like to have some input from some of you here in a moment.
I mean, I could take WCW and just kind of like put it on the shelf.
[crowd cheering]
I could do that.
I mean, I could sit back and watch those videotapes of Hogan
doing that ridiculous whatever you call that.
I can watch that over and over.
Them talking about how they're gonna bury the WWE.
I'd get a great deal of pleasure just sitting there watching night after night.
Sitting there watching the videotapes backwards and forwards.
Because you see, there's an old expression.
They used to laugh at WWE.
There's an old expression about he who laughs last, laughs best.
And you can see I'm not exactly laughing, but I've got a real big smile on my face.
Then again, if we don't take WCW and put it on the shelf,
we could do something else with it.
We could take WCW and perhaps turn it into this huge media conglomerate,
much like World Wrestling Entertainment is today.
We know how to do that.
But if we do that, I'm wondering, well,
who should be a part of this WCW?
And maybe you can help me out here.
Um…
When I give you a thumbs up or a thumbs down, I want you to react.
Maybe you can help me out a little bit, assuming we'd want to acquire
some of those stars.
Let's start with Hulk Hogan, up?
[crowd booing]
Hogan down.
All right.
Let's go to Lex Luger, up?
[crowd booing]
Lex Luger down.
[crowd cheering]
How about Buff Bagwell, up?
[crowd cheering]
Bagwell down.
[crowd cheering]
How about, let's see, Booker T, up?
[crowd cheering]
Booker T down.
[crowd booing]
You guys are a mixed group out here.
How about Big Papa Pump, up?
[crowd cheering]
Papa Pump down.
[crowd booing]
Oh, wow.
Well, I…
I don't know that you've necessarily helped me except that,
let me just say this.
[crowd clamoring]
[crowd chanting] Goldberg!
There are a few others. All right.
Sting. You want Sting?
[crowd cheering]
All right. Goldberg?
[crowd cheering loudly]
Well, this is very interesting. You see, I had a choice to make tonight.
That choice was coming here before you in Cleveland and, quite frankly,
gloating, which I think I'm doing a very good job of at the moment.
[crowd cheering]
Or I could do this.
Instead of gloating, what I could have done was
get in my plane, and assuming they have an airport there,
fly down to the Redneck Riviera,
Panama City Beach, Florida,
and walk out there and give every WCW star a piece of my mind.
[crowd cheering]
'Cause that's what I really want to do. But how appropriate is it that
WCW's last broadcast is in a beer hall?
[crowd laughing]
How appropriate is that?
Surrounded by a bunch of beer-drinking rednecks.
[crowd cheering]
There are obviously a few here tonight.
But nonetheless, I've opted to come before you here
as opposed to walking in the ring and lining each and every
one of those stars up, every single one of them,
so I can look right in their face and say,
"Goldberg, Booker T," and all the rest of them
to look him right in the face and say, "You're fired."
[crowd cheering]
And that's exactly what's going to happen because WCW is going on the shelf.
It's going nowhere. WCW is buried.
[crowd cheering]
WCW will remain buried,
just like anybody here in this arena or anyone in the world
that gets in my way.
Every single one of you, when you attempt to compete with me,
and that includes my son Shane, and I'm not too proud to say it,
every single one of you will be buried.
[boy] You suck!
Just like WCW is buried.
[boy] You suck!
[boy] Asshole!
Don't start with that.
-[man] Fuck you! -[crowd booing]
I deserve more respect than that.
Damn it, I'm Vince McMahon.
-[crowd booing] -Damn it!
I own WCW!
I own the WWE! And you will treat me with respect!
[crowd booing]
Or I'll walk out of this arena!
["No Chance In Hell" playing]
[crowd cheering]
♪ No chance ♪
Oh, my.
[Ross] Shane McMahon must be here in Cleveland, LaCoste.
And Mr. McMahon's ready for a fight with his own son.
It's officially gonna happen at WrestleMania, but…
Apparently, it's gonna happen here tonight.
Oh!
♪ It's just a matter of time 'Cause you got no chance ♪
Wait a minute.
Where's Shane?
♪ In hell You got no chance in hell ♪
Oh, it looks…
-♪ No chance in hell ♪ -He's not in Cleveland?
[Heyman] He's in Panama City!
[Ross] Shane McMahon is on Nitro!
[Heyman] What in the hell is he doing?
Shane…
Where are you?
What's up, Vince?
[crowd cheering]
Surprise, Dad.
You're in Cleveland, Ohio.
And I'm here in Panama City Beach, Florida.
[crowd cheering]
Standing in a WCW ring.
[crowd cheering]
And as usual, Dad, your ego has gotten the best of you.
Your ego has gotten the best of you.
I mean, Dad,
you wanted to finalize this deal of WCW at WrestleMania.
You wanted, you have the audacity to ask Ted Turner himself
to come down and finalize that deal.
Well, Dad, that's just the opportunity that I was looking for.
[crowd chanting] Fuck Vince! Fuck Vince!
Because, Dad, the deal is finalized with WCW.
And the name on the contract does say McMahon.
[crowd cheering]
However, the contract reads Shane McMahon.
-[Ross] Oh, my God! I don't believe it! -That's right.
I now own WCW.
[all cheering]
And, Dad, just like WCW did in the past,
how it kicked your ass in the past, and it will again.
[crowd cheering]
That's exactly what's gonna happen to you this Sunday at WrestleMania.
[crowd cheering]
-[Ross] I do not believe what we've heard. -["No Chance In Hell" playing]
Shane McMahon has bought WCW
and Mr. McMahon is in absolute shock.
Mr. McMahon is, he cannot believe it.
And quite frankly, neither can I.
Shane McMahon has bought WCW right from under his father,
and Vince thought he had the deal.
[Heyman] Shane McMahon has screwed his old man
and now, now the fight at WrestleMania
is for so much more, because Shane McMahon has one upped
the star of sports entertainment, Vince McMahon.
[Ross] Well, folks, still to come here tonight on TNN, tonight live on TNN,
Austin and The Rock against The Undertaker and Kane.
It's gonna be live, Raw, here tonight on TNN.
Gonna be a slobber knocker.
-["My Way" by Limp Bizkit playing] -[narrator] Stone Cold, The Rock.
WrestleMania.
♪ Yeah, this time I'ma let it all come out This time I'ma stand up and shout ♪
♪ I'ma do things my way It's my way ♪
♪ My way or the highway ♪
[announcer] One epic battle.
One unforgettable night.
♪ 'Cause you never know No, you never know ♪
[announcer] The Rock. Stone Cold.
WrestleMania. Live this Sunday on Pay-Per-View.
♪ Yeah This time I'ma let it all come out ♪
♪ This time I'ma stand up and shout I'ma do things my way ♪
♪ It's my way My way or the highway ♪
♪ Check out Check out my melody ♪
[Ross] There's no doubt that the sports entertainment world is abuzz
as we take you back to moments ago with Vince McMahon's rant
about his purchase, he thought, of WCW.
Damn it!
I own WCW! I own the WWE!
And you will treat me with respect!
[crowd booing]
Or I'll walk out of this arena.
["No Chance In Hell" playing]
♪ No chance That's what you got ♪
♪ Up against a machine too strong ♪
[Ross] And then Shane McMahon let us all know where he was.
He was not here in Cleveland.
Shane McMahon was in Panama City Beach, Florida.
And Shane McMahon had this shocking statement to make.
♪ It's just a matter of time ♪
The deal is finalized with WCW
and the name on the contract does say McMahon.
[crowd cheering]
However, the contract reads Shane McMahon.
[crowd cheering]
That's right.
I now own WCW.
And the look on Mr. McMahon's face was absolutely horrifying.
He could not believe it.
How ironic is Karma after all these years?
It's not Vince McMahon who screws Vince McMahon.
It's Shane McMahon who screws Vince McMahon.
Well, Shane and Vince will go one-on-one in the street fight
Sunday on pay-per-view at WrestleMania.
-There's going to be hell to pay. -Oh, Shane has outsmarted the old man.
You listen to me, damn it? Shut up! Shut up!
You attorneys, just shut up! You listen to me, damn it!
Look, I don't care what I said.
I don't give a damn what I… How could you let that happen?
How could you possibly… How could you possibly let that happen?
Huh?
You son of a bitch!
Huh? You're good for nothing! Look what you did!
You ruined this whole damn thing!
[clatters]
["Loaded" playing]
[Ross] Man, I wouldn't want to be one of McMahon's barristers
for anything in the world.
Here come the Hardys.
Wow. Wow. What a night.
[announcer] The following six-person tag team contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Making their way to the ring, being accompanied by Lita
from Cameron, North Carolina.
At a combined weight of 441 pounds,
Matt and Jeff, The Hardy Boyz.
It's going to be TLC II, tables, ladders, and chairs,
too, Paul, this Sunday at WrestleMania.
[Heyman] This Sunday at WrestleMania, TLC II, Edge and Christian,
the WWE Tag Team Champions, the Dudley Boyz
and the Hardy Boyz, tables, ladders, and chairs.
Oh, my!
[Ross] It will be an awesome confrontation.
You talk about risk-taking and holding your breath on that one.
[announcer] Their tag team partner from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
weighing in at 229 pounds, Chris Benoit!
Earlier tonight, Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit went nose-to-nose.
The challenge was accepted.
They're going to meet at WrestleMania, and then watch what happened here.
It was Benoit and Angle who didn't want to wait until this Sunday on pay-per-view.
[Heyman] Check this out. Benoit trying to go for the cross face.
Angle going for the ankle lock. But there's Chris Benoit.
He does the impossible. He hooks the crossface.
And he made Kurt Angle tap.
Kurt Angle tapped.
I cannot believe the magnitude of that statement.
And then, Edge and Christian go to work on Chris Benoit
and the intensity level tonight is only going to pick up Benoit
and the Hardys who don't like each other against Edge, Christian, and Angle.
-["You Think You Know Me" playing] -Man, am I pumped.
Man!
[announcer] From Toronto, Canada, at a combined weight of 464 pounds,
Edge and Christian!
[Ross] Well, last week on UPN SmackDown, Edge and Christian,
Buddy Rhyno put Spike Dudley on the shelf.
A short career here apparently for Spike.
[Heyman] Rhyno, the last man to ever hold the ECW Championship.
Wham!
Glory Spike right through the table, and poor Spike Dudley,
5'5," 155 pounds, is already on the shelf, and he's no pushover.
He is one tough guy, and he got put out by Rhyno.
Edge and Christian waiting at the top of the stage area for their partner,
Kurt Angle, who, yes, no matter how much he wants to deny,
did tap out earlier to the clip from Crossface.
Kurt Angle!
So now Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit will go one-on-one.
This Sunday at WrestleMania, 11 matches signed, headlined by Austin and The Rock.
And here we go with these six.
The Hardys and Benoit against Edge, Christian and Angle
in the six-man tag team matchup.
I don't envy referee Mike Chioda.
The takedown by Matt Hardy on Edge.
This crowd here, and the stun, a level of shock
that I can't ever remember experiencing.
[Heyman] You're sitting here in Cleveland, and you're waiting for
the greatest announcement in sports entertainment history.
Wham!
-And all of a sudden, Shane… -[Ross] There's a cover.
-Here we go. -[Heyman] All right, Mr. Costas,
don't go interrupting me.
And all of a sudden, Shane McMahon trumps his father.
I cannot believe that Shane McMahon has bought WCW.
Right out from underneath Vince McMahon's nose.
[Ross] Quite frankly, Shane McMahon has outsmarted his father.
And, of course, those two, the father and son,
will meet in a street fight as a part of an 11-match extravaganza this Sunday
at WrestleMania on pay-per-view.
And now Kurt Angle opening up on the very resilient,
the risk-taking Jeff Hardy.
-Tables, ladders, and chairs, too. -[Heyman] Oh, my.
[Ross] It was the first table, ladders and chairs match at SummerSlam
this past year in Raleigh, North Carolina
that was overwhelmingly voted by WWE fans as the match of the year
in the World Wrestling Entertainment.
Can these six individuals top what they did last August at SummerSlam?
[Heyman] You've got to give the advantage in this match to Edge, Christian,
and Kurt Angle.
They are a well-oiled nation. Bam!
And now Hardy needs to make the tag, and he tags in Benoit.
[Ross] Benoit on the clothesline, knocking down Edge and Christian.
Benoit says he's the best technical wrestler in the WWE.
The waist lock, with a suplex, and Angle in with a cheat shot.
Did Angle make a blind tag? I didn't see it.
[Heyman] Doesn't matter. They're a well-oiled machine.
These three guys get along. Angle gets along with Edge and Christian.
[Ross] The poetry in motion there on Kurt Angle.
-[Heyman] He's going for it! -[Ross] Crossface.
He can tap again.
And look at Christian stomping on Benoit right on the head.
And Benoit looking to get the press base on Christian.
-And he counters. -[Heyman] He got it.
[Ross] The Wolverine counters. It's a matter of time.
-And they're tapping. -[bell rings]
-["Whatever" playing] -Benoit.
And now Kurt Angle comes to get him some of Benoit.
What a match this is gonna be at WrestleMania this Sunday.
And Benoit just almost beheaded Angle with that clothesline.
[Heyman] Benoit's on the move.
[Ross] And Benoit, my God.
The tope to the second, third rope, that blowing headbutt.
-Benoit and Angle both down. -[bell rings]
Just got flanked by Matt Hardy. Wait a minute.
[Heyman] It's Rhyno! It's Rhyno!
[Ross] Edge and Christian's associate, Rhyno,
almost broke Matt Hardy in half with that. He just floored him.
-And Lita… -[Heyman] Rhyno's backing away!
[Ross] Come on, you don't-- He won't-- Good God!
Good God Almighty!
Rhyno just floored Lita!
What a miserable human being!
What the hell did she ever do to ever deserve that?
[Heyman] He took out Spike Dudley, and now in his second week
in the World Wrestling Entertainment, he took out Lita.
Rhyno has made an impact in the WWE.
[Ross] While Lita's hurt, Matt Hardy holding Lita in his arms.
What has Rhyno done, for God's sakes?
Lita was only taking her boyfriend, her significant other.
[Heyman] Watch Rhyno, here he comes. All the momentum in the ring.
Rhyno takes her down. He's floored her right out of her seat.
[Ross] A 270-pound man breaking Lita in half,
by God, this is uncalled for.
-[Heyman] I like the odds. -[Ross] Oh, I think it's sickening.
What kind of… Oh, poor Lita.
Wow.
[narrator] He rushed for an XFL record 180 yards, then disaster struck.
[commentator] Very questionable decision by Ron Meyer to put Avery back in.
[narrator] Will John Avery be back for a must-win battle in New York?
It will beat Chicago's ass, I promise you.
[narrator] The XFL, NBC this Saturday.
[Ross] It's a cold, snowy night here where later the Rock and Stone Cold
take on The Undertaker and Kane.
But folks last week on UPN SmackDown, it was Triple H using a sledgehammer
to literally assault The Undertaker that necessitated 16 staples
in The Undertaker's head, Paul.
[Heyman] Check that out, wham, right into the skull.
-The cerebral assassin-- -At WrestleMania?
-[Heyman] …got physical. -Deadman Inc. goes belly up.
Gentlemen, tonight you take on both Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
But after what happened on SmackDown, how does it make you feel,
Undertaker, knowing that Triple H has the night off?
How does it make me feel?
Well, Kevin Kelly, let me ask you this.
If you were Triple H, wouldn't you have taken the night off?
You're damn right you would have.
You see, Triple H can take off as many nights as he wants.
I'm a patient man.
In fact, he can hide behind McMahon. He can hide behind his skank old lady.
And he can hide behind all the police that he wants.
But there's one thing that he can't hide behind.
And that's the fact that WrestleMania is six days away.
He can't hide from the fact that in six days, I'm gonna step off in his ass.
And he can't hide from the fact there ain't a damn thing
that he can do about it.
You see, 16 staples, 16 staples and the taste of my own blood,
that didn't piss me off.
What it did, it made me hungry.
And the only thing that's gonna stop that hunger are these soup bones
right here covered with Triple H's blood.
Now, as far as Rock and Austin go, I understand them boys got
their own issues and I can respect that.
But if they're not on the same page tonight,
Rock nor Austin may make it to WrestleMania.
-You got anything else? -No, sir.
I didn't think so.
[Heyman] Kane's rather talkative, isn't he?
[Ross] Man, what an intimidating pair.
They'll meet The Rock and Austin later tonight.
Here comes the European champion.
Test will meet Eddie Guerrero this Sunday at WrestleMania for the European title.
But he's about to go into action in a non-title matchup.
[bell rings]
[announcer] The following non-title match is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, weighing in at 282 pounds,
he is the World Wrestling Entertainment European Champion, Test!
[Heyman] Ahem, ahem, ahem! Check this one out!
Tonight's historic edition of Raw Is WAR is brought to you
by new Uncle Ben's Mini Bowls!
[Ross] And by Adidas, who invites you to experience
the new SL for yourself, only at Foot Locker!
[Heyman] And by Burger King! Got the urge?
[Ross] You're supposed to read them, not recite them.
♪ Yeah, yo ♪
[Heyman] I'm into it. Can you blame me?
[Ross] Here's another in the interest of fairness.
[announcer] …from Minneapolis, Minnesota,
weighing in at 222 pounds, X-Pac!
[Ross] X-Pac along with Albert, which doesn't give me
a very peaceful, easy fitting as far as Test is concerned.
X-Pac to go one-on-one with Test here tonight.
[Heyman] I mean, Malcolm, why should a peeping Tom
just call me on my cell phone?
He said, boy, thanks, man, boy. What a show it's been!
What a show!
I don't suppose you know it. Boy, he's based here.
He's from Oklahoma and all.
[Ross] You'll tell me all the time, I'm sure.
["Latino Heat" playing]
And, well, Eddie Guerrero, we heard some rumors of this next…
[announcer] And ladies and gentlemen,
your special guest referee, Eddie Guerrero.
The special referee for this matchup, this non-title match, Eddie Guerrero,
who will meet Test this Sunday on pay-per-view at WrestleMania
for the European title.
And, by the way, folks, let's remind all of our great fans
in the state of Florida that the WWE is coming live to Tallahassee, Pensacola,
and Fort Myers in just the next couple of weeks.
And by the way, our fans in Indianapolis, Indiana,
a lot of great WWE fans in Indy, tickets go on sale this Saturday
in Indianapolis for an upcoming SmackDown.
♪ Latino heat Latino ♪
And Test has got to smell a rat here.
[bell rings]
[Heyman] Are you saying that X-Pac is the rat, Justin Credible is the rat,
Albert is the rat, or Eddie Guerrero is the rat?
[Ross] The fact that Eddie Guerrero has assigned the referee this matchup.
It's a little fishy to me, and of course, I'm sure it's all done in the interest
of fairness, as Commissioner William Regal would like to say.
Now, if Ed's chopped by X-Pac…
Took the slam!
There's the cover, the leg is hooked. What the…
-Yeah. -Uno, dos…
What's Guerrero think he's working by the hour?
[Heyman] This is what happens when you go up against the Commissioner.
-You can't fight City Hall. -I am the referee, I will disqualify you.
[Ross] X-Pac…
That reverse spinning heel kick, catching Test,
who was straddled on the top rope.
I cannot believe Shane McMahon has fought WCW.
Mr. McMahon's still here. There's a cover and a near fall.
He must be absolutely distraught as Mr. McMahon.
[Heyman] I can't blame him. I mean, tonight was his night.
Tonight was the night that he finally gets to claim victory
in the Monday Night Wars, and his son messed it all up.
[Ross] Look at, did you see that? Wait a minute, and look at the fast count.
Eddie Guerrero kicking the leg out of Test.
You gotta wonder how many of McMahon's lawyers he's fired.
If any lawyers are listening,
I wouldn't plan on my kids going to private school.
Spinning heel kick, down goes Test.
And X-Pac with a cover.
And look at the, oh, there's a little quicker count
when X-Pac has the advantage.
[Heyman] Well, of course, you were complaining before about the uno, dos.
And here he goes, uno, dos. He gets his referee.
Guerrero's not a professional referee. He has to get into the swing of things.
[Ross] I realize he isn't. That's why he should not be in this match.
[Heyman] Well, Commissioner Regal feels that he should.
Are you telling me that you know better than Commissioner Regal?
[Ross] That's not the point here.
And X-Pac did a little too much preening and prancing
and Test, the European champion, back up.
Nobody wants to talk about Chris, Austin and Rock,
Everyone certainly has been quiet tonight about that.
-[Heyman] Here we go. Come on, uno. -[Ross] Oh, has he got a cramp?
[Heyman] Uno.
[Ross] Eddie got away with something. See, this stinks.
-[Heyman] He has a spasm. -[Ross] Yeah, a spasm.
-What the hell you doing? -[Heyman] He has a back spasm.
You got it?
[Ross] And Test just…
leveled the referee, Eddie Guerrero, with a huge right hand.
And another spinning heel kick by X-Pac, taking down Test.
[Heyman] Now, how stupid can you be with two men at ringside
and one capable athlete like X-Pac in the ring?
And you punch out the referee, which allows for outside interference.
[Ross] X-Pac's got the European title belt in his hand.
And King was coming off to nail Test with it.
But Test buried the right hand deep in the abdomen of X-Pac.
Pump handle, power slam.
But there's no referee.
Remember, Test, you knocked the referee out.
-But there's another referee. -[Heyman] What?
One, two…
[Ross] Eddie Guerrero just made sure that referee didn't count to three!
-[indistinct argument] -Eddie Guerrero's determined
-to pull the shaft of Test here. -[Heyman] Eddie Guerrero and the referee
have disrupted this match. We have got to see it to its rightful conclusion.
[Ross] But the power of Test, elevating X-Pac to that corner.
And both referees on the outside, and here comes the 6'7," 350 lbs, Albert.
And he just delivered a bongo bomb!
How could Guerrero miss that?
-Uno, dos, tres. -[bell rings]
[Heyman] A wonderful match!
[Ross] Oh, speak for yourself.
[announcer] Here is your winner, X-Pac!
[Ross] It reeked when it was announced that Guerrero was gonna be the referee.
Referee Jim Cordero has tried to do the right thing,
and this Albert is a difference maker.
And now look at Eddie Guerrero.
Sure, after Test has been bongo bombed,
Guerrero getting his licks in on a defenseless European champion.
-[inaudible] -[man on speaker] Latino Heat.
[Heyman] I applaud Eddie Guerrero as a referee. I think that--
-[Ross] You do? -[Heyman] Hey, for his career
as a sports entertainer is over, he should become a full-time referee.
[Ross] All I know is that our main event, Stone Cold and The Rock,
against The Undertaker and Kane, it'll be tag team hell.
Count on it.
Stone Cold, could I ask you a quick question about your match tonight?
You have to team with The Rock against Undertaker and Kane.
Welcome back, everybody, here to WWE Raw.
Jim Ross and Paul Heyman here at ringside.
And this has been the most memorable night that I can ever remember experiencing
-in over 25 years of this business. -Will you stop gloating?
This was Vince McMahon's moment of glory.
And his own son, his own flesh and blood screwed him on the deal.
Shane McMahon signing the contract out from underneath his own father's nose.
He outsmarted Vince McMahon. You don't do that.
Shane McMahon, the new owner of WC… Wait a minute.
Hey, look! It's Mick Foley!
Mick Foley is here! I can't believe it!
-Mick Foley is here! Paul! -[Heyman] I know, I know!
Mick Foley is here! But why? He was fired!
He was fired! Mick Foley!
[Ross] It's great seeing Mick Foley back!
[Heyman] He's trespassing in Mr. McMahon's ring.
He doesn't belong here. The man was fired.
-[Ross] You gotta love Mick Foley. -[Heyman] I don't gotta do anything.
He was fired. He doesn't belong here. Get in there and throw him out, JR.
-Get in the ring and throw him out. -[Ross] Hey, give it a rest.
[crowd chanting] Foley! Foley! Foley!
[Ross] Listen to this chant.
-Fans on their feet for Mick. -Thank you.
It's nice to know that you remember who I am.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] How can we ever forget you, Mick?
Now, I know a lot of you are probably wondering why I'm here.
Maybe you're thinking that I chose this moment
to come here and promote my new book,
Foley is Good,
which will be available at bookstores everywhere starting May 8th.
But that's not why I'm here.
Maybe you're thinking that I needed a little vacation.
And what better place to get a little rest and relaxation
than right here in Cleveland, Ohio.
[crowd cheering]
[Heyman] Oh, what a sucker.
-Please. -But that's not why I'm here either.
Now the truth is I'm here because at the risk of sounding
just a little bit egotistical,
I just kind of believe that WrestleMania wouldn't be WrestleMania
without Mick Foley involved.
[crowd cheering]
[Ross] Indeed, I agree with that.
So with that in mind, what I've done is I've kind of taken it upon myself
to get involved in one of the really big matchups at WrestleMania.
Wait till you hear what I have in store for this match,
because it's really going to make the show far more…
[Heyman laughing] Oh!
-Yes! Hello, Vince! -[Ross] Mr. McMahon is back.
[crowd booing]
[Foley] Hey, Vince.
I'm in no mood.
I'm in no mood for this.
[crowd chanting] Asshole! Asshole!
I fired you.
If you're not out of that ring…
I'm going to call the cops and they'll take you out
because you are trespassing on my property.
Now get the hell out of my ring.
[crowd booing and chanting profanities]
Wait, wait.
Vince, can't we talk this over a little bit?
You're trying to tell me that I can't be a part of WrestleMania?
[crowd chanting] Foley! Foley! Foley!
Well, Vince, look.
I hate to disagree with you, and by golly, I hate to quote
the little engine who could, but as the little engine once said,
Vince, "I think I can, I think I can, and I'll tell you why."
[crowd cheering]
You see Vince, I happen to be a little bit of a history buff,
and I'm gonna give you a short history lesson right now.
Do you remember back in June of 2000
when you departed the WWE, you kinda abdicated your throne to become,
as I recall, a genetic jackhammer back in Connecticut.
[crowd cheering]
A adventure that I'm told you were quite unsuccessful at.
[crowd laughing]
And so in June of 2000, we saw me become the WWE commissioner
and the WWE enjoyed a period of prosperity…
…and fun that was unequal,
but apparently, realizing the futility of your jackhammering deeds,
you came back to the WWE in the beginning of December
and it was only, I guess, about three weeks later
right before Christmas that you fired me.
[crowd jeering]
-[Ross] Sad day for us. -I fired you.
Now, get the hell out of my ring.
Wait, wait, wait, the history lesson's not done yet, Vince,
because remember, you came in the beginning of December,
you fired me right before Christmas.
Now, Vince, I may look dumb but I'm not stupid.
I knew what you had in mind and that is why your wife and I,
before you forced her into a sanitarium,
well, we had a very important business meeting
on December 5th of 2000,
and I'd like you to take a look at that right now.
Turn around, Vince. Turn around.
[crowd cheering]
Vince, Vince, it's me,
a voice from the past, it's Mick Foley.
And listen, it's the morning of December 5th, the year 2000.
And you just made your return to the WWE last night
and I've got to tell you, I've got a kind of sickening feeling on my stomach.
A feeling that you don't really want me around
and the problem is, I wanna stay around
and chances are, if you're looking at this,
I'm no longer officially the Commissioner of the WWE,
but what we have done to ensure that the WWE
continues to proceed in a just and fair manner
is Linda McMahon, the CEO of the WWE and I
are about to embark on a lengthy and strenuous signing session.
Well, Mick, at your request,
I've had our legal department draw up this pretty tall stack of documents
and I think you will just proceed and get them signed
and then everything will be official.
Oh, we'd better get right to it. We got a lot of work to do.
And Vince, by the way, your life as you know it is about to change.
Have a great show.
[crowd cheering]
So I guess what that just showed is,
those documents are all legal
because I signed them when I was still the WWE Commissioner.
Now, I guess you saw that stack of papers there, Vince,
we signed a lot of documents and yes, true to my word,
your life is going to change a whole hell of a lot.
But the document that I'm interested in right now is this one right here
which more or less says that at WrestleMania,
I can be the special guest referee
at any match of my choosing.
[crowd cheering]
And, Vince, Vince, I'm going to give you one good guess,
to see which match I'm choosing.
Come on, Vince, try to smile because you're gonna be in the same ring with me
when I'm the special guest referee
when you take on your son,
the new owner of WCW, Shane McMahon.
And Vince, just in case you weren't having one before,
have a nice day.
[Ross] I don't believe it.
Mick Foley will be at WrestleMania.
Mick Foley will officiate at
Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon street fight.
[Heyman] I have nothing to say. I have no comment.
I don't believe this.
This has become the worst day in Vince McMahon's life, no comment.
[Ross] Vince McMahon thought he was on top of the world.
But he's found himself looking up at it.
Mick Foley in the ring at WrestleMania officiating the McMahon street fight.
All of this WrestleMania is gonna be extraordinary.
And there is The Big Show.
The man that has been assigned
to punish the Intercontinental Champion, Chris Jericho here tonight
by Commissioner William Regal,
the 500-pounder looking to take Jericho to the woodshed, next.
[narrator] It happens only once a year,
a phenomenon so large the world stands still to watch.
Welcome to WrestleMania.
[narrator] Be a part of the spectacle and grandeur
with the WrestleMania special edition magazine.
Relive WrestleMania's greatest moments with images that capture
the magic of the greatest event in sports entertainment.
Wrestlemania, the showcase of the immortals.
Wrestlemania special edition magazine is available now
at wweshopzone.com or wherever publications are sold.
[Ross] They were certainly shocked when Shane McMahon announced
that he had bought WCW
but then Mick Foley reappeared
and had this shocking announcement to Mr. McMahon.
At WrestleMania, I can be the special guest referee
at any match of my choosing.
[crowd cheering]
And, Vince, Vince, I'm going to give you one good guess
to see which match I'm choosing.
Come on, Vince, try to smile
because you're gonna be in the same ring with me
when I'm the special guest referee
when you're take on your son,
the new owner of WCW, Shane McMahon.
[crowd cheering]
And Vince, uh…
["Break Down The Walls" playing]
[Ross] It has not been a good night for Mr. McMahon to say the very least.
[crowd cheering]
And it may not be a good night
for the Intercontinental Champion Chris Jericho either, Paul.
[crowd cheering]
Earlier tonight, Commissioner William Regal
had a submission with The STF on Crash Holly
when Doink The Clown,
or at least they thought it was Doink The Clown,
came in to take the lead.
[Heyman] Well, as the Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion,
Jericho is one of the best.
But as the clown, he nearly saw-- Here we go, slam.
Takes the fight to Regal, and then Chris Jericho
dressed as Doink,
he's got the Walls of Jericho on the Commissioner.
[bell rings]
[Ross] And then we found out conclusively it was Chris Jericho,
the man that won the Intercontinental title
at WrestleMania against Commissioner William Regal,
that's a stacked deck if I ever heard one.
And now…
[Heyman] Stacked deck, talking about stacked deck.
Now, now Jericho, the title match has to face the 7'2,"
500-pound monster, The Big Show.
[announcer] The following non-title match is scheduled for one fall.
Making his way into the ring, weighing in at 500 pounds, The Big Show.
Big Show has fought at WrestleMania.
The Big Show, Kane, and the Hardcore Champion Raven
will meet in a Triple Threat Match for the Hardcore Title at WrestleMania
this Sunday in the Reliant Astrodome.
And Chris Jericho wanted to get a quick start…
[bell rings]
…on the 7'2," 500-pound Big Show
who has been sent here by Commissioner Regal
to punish the Intercontinental Champion.
[Heyman] Oh, and that's not all he has been sent here to do.
The Big Show now is going to soften up Y2J,
so that this Sunday at WrestleMania,
the Commissioner wins the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship.
[Ross] Great velocity by the 500-pounder, right into the abdomen of Chris Jericho.
Jericho, indeed the Intercontinental Champion.
[Heyman] Is he going coming up?
[Ross] His title on the line… I don't know how…
Good God, the ring may break.
Big show is at least 500 pounds.
And Big Show, I don't know what he was thinking about there,
but whatever it was, luckily for Chris Jericho, it didn't work.
Still to come The Rock and Stone Cold, somehow have to co-exist
and I don't know what somehow means
because I don't think they can do it.
Austin and The Rock, tag team partners,
against The Undertaker and Kane later here tonight, live.
[Heyman] The Brothers of Destruction against Stone Cold and The Rock.
And here comes The Big-- I stand corrected.
Here comes the low blow.
[Ross] I tell you what, we have seen Chris Jericho,
he's been at wars with McMahon before like Kane, and Jericho has no fear.
A crossbody taking both Jericho and the 500 pounder over the top rope.
[Heyman] Jericho has to sacrifice himself… Wham!
…in this match, has to sacrifice himself if he had to play against The Big Show.
[Ross] Jericho, perhaps he should be intimidated
with this 500-pound behemoth
but he is not, look at the unmitigated power of the seven…
-[Heyman] Oh, God, it's Kane. -[Ross] It's Kane.
Where the hell did Kane come from?
Kane, assaulting The Big Show,
not waiting until WrestleMania to get his hands on this man.
And The Big Show has had-- Wait, there's Raven.
Raven with a…
And moonsault into the ring!
And wait, there's William Regal, the Commissioner!
And Regal taking down Jericho.
Jericho, may have got the pin thanks to Kane on The Big Show.
But Regal wouldn't let that go down.
Look at Regal, so happy with what he has done here.
[Heyman] If The Big Show gets this, it's over.
[Ross] What a chokeslam.
What a chokeslam.
And The Big Show victorious, thanks to The Commissioner…
["Crank It Up" playing]
And here comes Kane, Kane's got a steel chair.
The Big Red Machine!
Boom!
What a shock, to the back of the head and spine of The Big Show,
and Raven showing his guts
or lack of intelligence, mounting Kane.
[Heyman] That's what happens when you have more guts than brains.
And now Kane, Kane is waiting for the moment.
[Ross] The Hardcore Champion going up and he's damn sure coming down.
Kane, Raven and The Big Show this Sunday at WrestleMania.
Anything goes, falls count anywhere.
There'll be virtually no rules for those three men.
And still to come tonight, it's Stone Cold and the--
Oh, here's The Rock.
Stone cold and The Rock will meet The Undertaker and Kane.
Excuse me.
I'm walking all around looking for Steve Austin's locker room.
-Do you know where it's at? -It's down that way.
Down that way.
Down that way left, right, up, down, where?
-Down and to the right. -Down to the right.
Are you new?
The Rock.
-My name is… -Nuh-uh.
Mmm-mmm.
Thank you.
[Ross] Uh-oh.
[narrator] Stone Cold, The Rock, WrestleMania…
["My Way" by Limp Bizkit playing]
One epic battle, one unforgettable night,
The Rock, Stone Cold, WrestleMania,
live, this Sunday on pay-per-view.
And now the WWE Overdrive of the Week
brought to you by Greyhound, go Greyhound and leave the driving to us.
[commentator] Edge and Christian with the chairs! Oh! Nobody home!
And Spike… Oh, look at that! Oh!
Rhyno spearing Spike Dudley into the table.
The impact, right in the table that's broken in half.
Rhyno, leaving a mark on The Dudley Boyz.
Well, SmackDown, they got it last week.
Lita got tonight from Rhyno.
That's what happens when you cross The Man Beast, Rhyno,
the last man to hold the ECW title.
And this all leads up to TLC II this Sunday night at WrestleMania.
Well, ladies and gentleman, our-- in the WWE New York,
Bubba and D-Von, The Dudleys, are there
in WWE New York, in the heart of Times Square.
And Bubba and D-Von, thanks for being with us here tonight.
I got two things for you, Bubba. Number one, how is Spike,
and secondly you're comments on TLC II at WrestleMania.
Well, you know something, JR, Spike is hurt but he's getting better.
It's gonna take more than what Rhyno did to keep him down.
Bubba, testify.
Six days, WrestleMania 17,
Houston, The Astrodome,
The Hardys, Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boyz.
Tables, Ladders, Chairs, Two!
We are gonna take this match to new heights.
And when it's all said and done,
and the smoke clears in Houston,
these World Tag Team titles are coming back to Dudleyville.
Oh, my brother, testify!
Excuse The Rock, one second.
Just so we're clear on this, you don't want to team with The Rock.
The Rock doesn't want team with you.
Our match against The Undertaker and Kane tonight,
just as long as we know, you don't mess with The Rock,
The Rock won't mess with you.
Now, hold on, what you're saying is cool with me.
But when the match is over, all bets are off.
Is that understood?
You're damn right it is.
Good.
[Ross] Man, this is gonna be something.
The Undertaker and Kane, it's gonna be tag team hell
and it's gonna be live next.
-All right, bro. Let's shred! -Yeah.
[narrator] When you're coming through some killer powder,
or, bro, just ripping it to the extreme,
you need Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli.
You think that's extreme?
This is extreme.
[both] Whoa!
[presenter] The zesty hardy goodness of Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli
satisfies the most extreme hunger.
This stuff definitely feeds the need.
["Slow Chemical" playing]
[Ross] And we are back live here on the road to WrestleMania.
The Big Red Machine, who's already made his presence known earlier tonight
with Raven and The Big Show, on his way,
and I guaran-damn-tee you, that big man means business.
[announcer] The following tag team contest
is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first, weighing in at 323 pounds, Kane.
[Ross] Man, what a night it has been.
The announcement Shane McMahon has bought WCW right from under his father's nose.
The fact that Mick Foley has returned
and will officiate the McMahon street fight this Sunday at WrestleMania.
The fact that Benoit and Angle has been added
as the eleventh match for the WrestleMania extravaganza.
And now this.
["Rest In Peace" playing]
He's got 16 staples in his head, The Undertaker.
He's here and he's damn sure ready
to fight just six days before WrestleMania for pay-per-view.
Man, what an emotional night. It is off the charts.
I don't have the vocabulary to describe the emotion that we have seen,
we have felt here tonight on Raw.
[Heyman] That's because you're not as articulate as I am.
Maybe one day you'll catch up to me.
[Ross] Maybe.
I'll work on it.
What an ovation for The American Badass.
[Heyman] Snickers Cruncher presents WrestleMania.
Snickers Cruncher! Hungry towards this,
WrestleMania will be live in just six days, this Sunday
from the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas,
exclusively on pay-per-view.
-Not bad, right? -[Ross] Not bad.
["Electrifying" playing]
[announcer] Being accompanied by Debra, from Miami, Florida,
weighing in at 270 pounds,
he is the World Wrestling Entertainment Champion, The Rock.
[Ross] The Rock and his manager Debra.
Debra, the wife of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And yes indeed, before our 60,000 fans
in the Reliant Astrodome this Sunday,
it will be The Rock, defending the most coveted prize in this business,
the WWE title against the "Texas Rattlesnake,"
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And what an ovation for The Rock.
The number one man in this business because he's the WWE Champion.
But this one ain't gonna be pretty.
This has got slobberknocker written all over it.
["I Won't Do What You Tell Me" playing]
[announcer] From Victoria, Texas, weighing in at 252 pounds,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] We are in the midst of the biggest league,
I would say, for all four of these men in this match
in their collective career.
With WrestleMania just six days away,
there he goes now, that's Stone Cold, and The Rock does not wanna be
partners here tonight, but they are.
Thanks to Mr. McMahon and the Commissioner, William Regal.
Of course, Paul, in the act of fairness.
[Heyman] Everything is in the act of fairness.
But I'll tell you what, I love the intensity in the ring right now.
The Brothers of Destruction,
16 staples in the head of The Undertaker,
the natural intensity of Kane,
the WWE Champion, The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] Austin and The Rock said they'll try to co-exist here in the match.
But when the match is over, all bets are off.
And by that, they mean all bets are off.
[Heyman] Well, since all bets are off, that means right now all bets are on,
I think you should pick-up, JR,
which team do you think walks away tonight with the victory?
[Ross] I don't see how I can bet against Kane or The Undertaker.
At least they're on the same page.
And Kane and The Rock, the WWE Champion
are starting it out here, this tag team matchup.
This is going to be an awesome contest.
Four the most popular men in the WWE.
Arguably, four of the most popular men in the history of the WWE
here in Cleveland, tonight.
And The Rock going airborne, almost beheading Kane.
But Kane gets right and back up and Rock looking for The Rock bottom.
But here comes The Undertaker, then Kane.
My, goodness, clothesline!
[Heyman] What I love about this match here is The Rock and Austin have to co-exist.
They have to co-exist because no one man on the face of the planet
can fight both Kane and The Undertaker at the same time.
[Ross] Kane knocking out The Rock with that big foot,
and now Kane, that blatant choke.
Come on, quit choking him.
None of these four are here for some sort of popularity contest.
This is a very important matchup.
You got to know that leaving WrestleMania,
The Rock or Austin will be the WWE Champion.
And certainly, Kane and The Undertaker
has something to say about who will be the champion after that.
They want in line, they want their opportunity
and they could send some serious messages here.
Hard rights by The American Badass, The Undertaker.
The Undertaker and Kane have isolated The Rock
away from Stone Cold, Paul.
[Heyman] Away from Stone Cold.
And more importantly, you got to think that on The Undertaker's mind,
every time he looks at anybody, he has to be seeing Triple H.
[Ross] The Rock sending The Undertaker for the ride.
Misses the clothesline and The Undertaker goes airborne.
And there's the cover, lateral press,
and The Rock got a shoulder up.
The Undertaker, 6'10" and a half, 330 pounds,
showing his great athleticism, making the tag
to his younger brother Kane,
who's close to the seven-foot mark and around 330 pounds himself.
[Heyman] And notice the power of Kane. Notice like a shark that smells blood
how he dissects his opponent.
How he picks The Rock apart, how he smells the weakness and moves in for the kill.
[Ross] Can you imagine what it's gonna be like with Kane
in that Hardcore Triple Threat match, no rules, anything goes,
good grief, what an extravaganza Sunday.
And Kane now, and The Undertaker is trying to beat down The Rock.
But The Rock is not gonna stay down long. Double up kip-up into the spinebuster.
And The Rock in his corner, needs to make the tag.
And Austin doesn't--
Well, Austin will take the tag but he doesn't look extremely involved.
There's a tag right there.
Maybe I was wrong.
And Austin and The Undertaker.
These two big men hammering each other with the right hands.
and The Undertaker gets the better of this situation.
But Austin comes back and Austin hitting Kane,
but Undertaker taking Austin down almost out of The Rattlesnake's boots.
Stone Cold and The Rock, all the hype.
It's almost over.
Now, wait a minute, there's The Rock trying to pull Kane off the apron.
That's awesome.
That's the Irish whip to the corner by The Undertaker.
And now Kane and The Rock are fighting on the outside.
Austin taking that foot right to the face of The Undertaker.
Undertaker, in the face. Piston-like right hands by The Rattlesnake.
And Kane hammered Austin right in the back of the head.
Again, The Rock and Kane on the outside hammering each other.
[Heyman] Yeah, but more importantly on the inside, Austin is down
and The Undertaker is standing over him.
And The Undertaker knows, he knows how to take advantage of a situation.
[Ross] The Undertaker picking Austin up and measuring him
and now The Rattlesnake helplessly up on The Undertaker's shoulder.
But Austin able to kick-free looking for The Stunner.
And Undertaker sending Austin right into The Rock.
-[Heyman] He got him by the throat! -[Ross] It could be a chokeslam.
Yes it-- It is a chokeslam.
The Undertaker just chokeslammed the hell out of Austin.
And Kane dropped The Rock right on our table, face first.
-Oh, wait! -[Heyman] The Undertaker
-is going for The Last Ride. -[Ross] Wait a minute!
-[Heyman] He's going for The Last Ride. -[Ross] That's Triple H!
Steel chair to the back of The Undertaker's head!
Triple H, The Game!
And now Kane has The Game on the outside.
Austin's got the cover.
[bell rings]
Stone Cold beats The Undertaker, thanks to The Game.
[announcer] Here are your winners, The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] The Game with a wild blow. Oh, my God. Look at The Undertaker's eyes.
Can you imagine what The Undertaker might want to do to The Game
this Sunday at WrestleMania?
There's gonna be some serious hell to pay.
[Heyman] Right now, I think it's time for Triple H to take a vacation
until either SmackDown or WrestleMania.
He stopped off in Cleveland for just a moment to say hello.
[Ross] That Triple H… Imagine what he has done to The American Badass
just six days before WrestleMania.
Oh, my God.
There's gonna be hell to pay.
And Stone Cold…
[Heyman] Stone Cold, the lucky man,
because if The Undertaker would've taken that Last Ride,
in my personal opinion, he would've beat "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
[Ross] I don't think there's any doubt about that.
But that's not the way that it went down.
And Stone Cold celebrating.
Celebrating a victory here tonight
possibly celebrating in advance
what he hopes to do this Sunday at WrestleMania on pay-per-view
and that is to once again become the WWE Champion.
And I'll tell you, that was--
Wait a minute, there's The Rock back in the ring.
I don't think he'll be celebrating with Austin, but maybe I'm wrong.
[Heyman] Oh, you're wrong.
In my opinion, you're dead wrong.
[Ross] Oh, there's The Rock-- Wait a minute.
The Rock just-- The Rock just gave a Stone Cold Stunner
to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
He's stuffing it in The Rattlesnake face.
The WWE Champion has just used Stone Cold…
Stone Cold's own finishing maneuver!
And Debra, Austin's wife, The Rock's manager,
can't believe what she is seeing!
And now The Rock calling for the cold beverage.
[Heyman] How personal, how personal can this get?
[Ross] And now, The Rock just gave Austin a beer to remember him by.
The rock just stunned "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And my God, can you imagine what it's gonna be like when Austin comes to.
Can you imagine what it's gonna be like this Sunday at WrestleMania?
The biggest extravaganza in the history of WWE,
and that man, The Rock has just shoved it, put it all down the gut
of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
And now he gives a salute, a toast.
My God, WrestleMania, The Rock and Austin, Sunday! ll down the gut